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Air India Mumbai-New York flight returns after bomb threat

Xinhua) 08:57, March 11, 2025

NEW DELHI, March 10 (Xinhua) -- A New York-bound Air India flight from Mumbai returned four hours after take-off following a mid-air bomb threat on Monday morning, multiple local media reports said.

The Boeing 777 aircraft with 322 people, including 19 crew members, on board was flying over Azerbaijan when it changed course and returned to Mumbai.

Following its landing, bomb-detection procedures were carried out and the flight was subject to mandatory checks by the security agencies.

"A potential security threat was detected mid-flight on AI 119 operating Mumbai-New York (JFK) today, March 10, 2025. After following the necessary protocols, the flight air-returned to Mumbai, in the interest of the safety and security of all on board. The flight landed safely back in Mumbai at 1025 Hrs (local time)," Air India in a statement to media said.

Reports said a bomb threat note was discovered inside one of the plane's lavatories, prompting immediate action from the flight crew. Following it, the pilots swiftly coordinated with air traffic control and authorities to ensure a safe landing back in Mumbai.

"The aircraft is undergoing mandatory checks by security agencies, and Air India is extending its full cooperation to the authorities. The flight has been rescheduled to operate at 0500 Hrs (local time) of March 11, 2025, and all passengers have been offered hotel accommodation, meals, and other assistance until then," an Air India spokesperson was quoted in local media as having said.

"Our colleagues on the ground are making sure to minimise the inconvenience caused to our passengers by this disruption. As always, Air India accords the highest priority to the safety of passengers and crew."

However, the threat turned out to be a hoax as nothing suspicious was found.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
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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.
The Civic Orchestra of Tucson will celebrate women in music with two performances this weekend, just in time for Womens History Month

On March 15-16, the community orchestra will play music about, composed by and performed by women.

On March 15, the orchestra will present a sensory-friendly, abridged show at Canyon del Oro High School, followed by a full-length performance at Crowder Hall on the University of Arizona Campus on March 16. Both are free to the public.

General manager Michele Holzman said the program will feature a variety of women-oriented musical compositions, including the fourth movement of Gaelic Symphony by Amy Beach, a contemporary of Tchaikovsky.

Amy Beach was the first American woman to get a symphony published and performed, Holzman said.

The orchestra will also play music from Tchaikovskys The Sleeping Beauty, accompanied by dancers from the UAs dance program. They will perform choreography by Holzman, providing a visual element to the show.

We have a piece composed by a woman, we have music about women, which is Sleeping Beauty performed by four female dancers and then our female soloist, she said, referring to Soo Yoen Kim, a highly regarded piano soloist who will perform Chopins Piano Concerto No. 1.

Were trying to see women and all the different aspects of music, Holzman said.

Viola player Peggy Anderson said celebrating women in music is important because symphonies used to be male-dominated. That has changed dramatically over time, she said. COT is made up of about 60% female musicians.

She added that collaborating with UA dancers also helps spread the love of music.

Its really wonderful whenever we collaborate with anyone. One of the orchestras missions is outreach and trying to partner with local organizations to just bring music to the community, she said. And it feels good to have women be recognized for their part.

Holzman said the orchestra recognizes the value of playing music that is diverse and represents a broader community.

As general manager, she finds creative ways to introduce audiences to diverse composers including women, she said. The conductor of the Tucson Symphony, Jose Luis Gomez, really tries to diversify and bring different types of music to Tucson and especially music by Hispanic composers  Ive been pushing to try and find different things besides the old standards.

The conductor of the Tucson Symphony, Jose Luis Gomez, really tries to diversify and bring different types of music to Tucson and especially music by Hispanic composers  Ive been pushing to try and find different things besides the old standards.

The Civic Orchestra of Tucson has performed free concerts in Tucson and Southern Arizona since 1975, allowing them to better serve the community, Holzman said.

All of the musicians in the orchestra are volunteers. As one of them, Anderson said part of her reason for playing with the orchestra is to bring the community together to enjoy the music.

Were trying to get outreach to the community and get younger generations to appreciate this kind of music, she said. I just love it when Im on the stage and I look out and the audience is full.

COTs Celebrating Women starts at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 15, at Canyon del Oro High School, 25 W. Calle Concordia; and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 16, at Crowder Hall, 1017 N. Olive Road. For more information, visit cotmusic.org.

For more information, visit cotmusic.org.
We are on the cusp of spring, so fundraising walks are blooming, offering the perfect opportunity to support a healthcare cause of your choice.

Back in person for the third consecutive year is Walkn for Lupus on Saturday, March 29, at Ramada 15 at Reid Park on the corner of 22nd and Country Club Road.

The event seeks to raise at least $25,000, although we are hoping to raise $1 million, said Sharon Joseph, a long-time supporter and board member of the Lupus Foundation of Southern Arizona.

We are trying to maintain patient programs, but we need funding to do it and that is why the walk is so important," said Joseph. "We also need to raise awareness that the foundation is here to work with people who have lupus and their families and to help with emergency assistance if someone is really sick and needs it."

The foundation provides support, education and partnership to those affected by the chronic autoimmune disorder, which impacts at least 1.5 million Americans  and likely more due to the difficulty with diagnosis.

The symptoms mimic other diseases. Lupus is an autoimmune disease, and there are lots of those, but this means that lupus presents differently with each person, said Joseph, who was diagnosed in 2014 after a 15-day hospital stay.

The wide-ranging symptoms can include skin rashes; arthritis-like swelling of the joints; neurological disorders; kidney, liver and blood disorders; extreme fatigue; and much more. There is no cure, but treatments are available to manage the three types of lupus: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (about 70% of cases are systemic); Discoid Lupus Cutaneous, which is limited to the skin; and Drug Induced Lupus, which occurs most commonly with drugs used to treat hypertension and heart arrhythmia.

Joseph emphasized that services provided by the foundation can be vital to those with lupus and their families as they deal with the often debilitating ramifications of the disease.

We have had people apply for a month of rent so they are not evicted and we have helped with utility bills, medical bills and medications and other emergency assistance, Joseph said.

Other initiatives include peer support groups and a Living with Lupus program featuring guest speakers who provide education and information about coping with the disease and optimizing emotional and physical well-being.

The foundation is also expanding its network and is seeking volunteers and board members to assist with grant writing, development and other tasks.

We are trying to upgrade our fundraising skills and looking for opportunities for other funding in addition to events ... that is the direction things are moving for most nonprofits, Joseph said.

Exploring additional funding avenues and maximizing all fundraising opportunities is also a priority for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Southern Arizona, according to Executive Director David Delawder.

There is a a scare in the healthcare community about funding going away and if it does, we are the place that people will come. We want to make sure we can meet the demand if healthcare gets cut. If people lose Medicaid or ACCHS, that will have a big impact on the local community,

To that end, the organization has set a goal of $250,000 for its signature fundraiser, NAMIWalks Southern Arizona at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 5.

In an effort to boost awareness about NAMIs mission to provide education, advocacy and support for mental illness, the annual event has relocated to a more central location at the DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center at Reid Park, 800 S. Concert Place.

The COVID pandemic brought awareness about the fact that many people are not doing well," said Delawder. "It was normalized to say, I am not OK since no one was. Slowly but surely, awareness about mental illness is getting out there, but there is still a stigma about reaching out to doctors for help and NAMI is often the first phone call people make. We are here to listen and assist however we can, which often means providing resources to guide people in the right direction."

Resources include a NAMI Basics course that serves parents and caregivers of adolescents living with mental health conditions; Peer-to-Peer, a course for people with mental health conditions led by peers; Family-to-Family, in which family members provide tools to the loved ones of those affected by mental illness; and In Our Own Voice, in which adults present their lived experiences to other adults. All programs are fully bilingual.

The nonprofits largest initiative is Ending the Silence, which provides outreach and education to youth in local schools. Last year, the program reached more than 3,000 young people.

That is a lot of classrooms," said Delawder.. "Who doesnt want kids to be mentally healthy? They are the future. This anti-stigma campaign teaches young people that it is OK to reach out and youth are open to that message."

NAMIs advocacy is also at the forefront in the current environment.

We advocate for patients with the legislature to voice our displeasure about any cuts against healthcare. We can speak up because we arent necessarily tied to insurance companies, said Delawder.

Ultimately, Delawder said NAMI is dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by mental illness, which means everyone.

We are all affected by mental illness, whether through friends or family members or by seeing the local homeless camps or helping fund hospital bills for those with mental illness. However you want to think about it, we are all affected, he said.
On the evening of Thursday, March 13, skywatchers across the world will get a rare treat: a total lunar eclipse, the first of its kind since November 2022.

This celestial event, which can occur once every two to three years, will be visible across North America.

Time and Date, a well-known website that provides accurate astronomical information, reports that 13.41% of the global population will be able to witness a reddish-orange moon, known as a blood moon.

A total lunar eclipse is the most dramatic type of eclipse, visible to only half of the Earth. It occurs during a full moon when the moon and Earth align on the same orbital plane as the sun, causing the Moon to pass through Earths darkest shadow.

This alignment also provides a clear view of Earths curved shadow cast onto the moons surface.

 Its the first and really the only method that most of us humans have for proving that Earth is round, said Steve Kortenkamp, associate professor of practice in the University of Arizona Department of Planetary Sciences. If were not able to go into space, then this is the way that we prove it, and its because we can see the curved shadow of Earth on the moon during a lunar eclipse.

The moon appears red when the sun hides behind the earth and casts a deep red or orange glow onto the moon.

Earths atmosphere kind of acts like a lens and it focuses light on the moon, even though the moons in our shadow, Kortenkamp said. The light that gets focused predominantly is the red light instead of the blue light.

This lunar eclipse is particularly unique because of the ongoing space missions to the moon and those orbiting it. With spacecraft in lunar orbit, theres the possibility of capturing images of the Earth from above, with the planet framed by a red ring caused by the eclipse. These images could offer a rare perspective of Earth from the moon, enhancing our understanding of this cosmic event.

According to NASA, the moon will begin to dim at 8:57 p.m. Tucson time as it hides behind the Earth. It gets darker as it moves into the earths shadow before reaching total eclipse at 11:26 p.m. and taking on a red hue for about an hour before gradually fading. The event concludes at 3 a.m.

Youll need binoculars or a telescope to get a clear view of the eclipse, although you can still see the eclipse with your naked eye. The best viewing conditions are in a dark area, away from artificial lights.

In a way, it kind of pulls us all together for a few hours at least, Kortenkamp said. Anywhere where you can see the moon when this is happening, everyone will be able to see the eclipse.
A Tucson shopping center, home to the only movie theater on the city's far east side, has been purchased by Idaho investors.

Alturas Capital Partners bought Montesa Plaza, a 75,643-square-foot retail center at East Broadway and South Houghton Road that is anchored by Galaxy Theatres. It was 95 percent occupied at the time of sale.

The Pima County Recorders office shows a sale price of $14.2 million.

Alturas Capital Partners continues to target Tucson because of its demographics and economic trends, the company said.

The sale was handled by Nathan Thinnes and Darren Tappen, of Kidder Mathews, and local developer, Larsen Baker.

This transaction came together as a direct result of the strong relationships weve built in the Tucson market over the last year, said Joshua Utke, director of acquisitions at Alturas. Montesa Plaza is a strategic addition to our portfolio  its stable cash flow and high occupancy align perfectly with our investment criteria and the opportunity to develop the vacant pad building will allow us to create further value for the community and our investors.

Larsen Baker will be the leasing broker for Montesa Plaza as Alturas explores plans for the vacant pad site.

Other local commercial activity includes:

 4-D Properties LLP bought the 8,205-square-foot building at 3719 N. Campbell Ave., which is fully leased to Circle City ABA, for $2 million. Circle City provides therapy for a wide spectrum of autism disorders. John Read, Trent Steeves, Philip Voorhees and Nancy McClure, with CBRE, represented the seller, 3719 Campbell Partners LLC. The buyer was represented by Lori Casey and Doug Marsh, with Oxford Realty Advisors.

 Richard and Connie Luebke bought the 17,865-square-foot building at 10129 E. Speedway from Desert Christian Schools Inc. for $1.5 million and donated it to Habitat for Humanity. Rob Tomlinson, with Picor, handled the transaction.

 Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming leased 1,222 square feet at Sunrise Village Shopping Center, 4748 E. Sunrise Drive, from Sunrise Village Investors LLC. Dave Hammack, with Picor, represented the landlord and Ali Hill, with Phoenix Commercial Advisors, represented the tenant.

 V's Barbershop leased 1,100 square feet of retail space at Old Spanish Trail Crossing, 9565 E. 22nd St., from Barclay Holdings XVIII-A LLC for its third Tucson location. Dave Hammack and Aaron LaPrise, with Picor, represented both parties. Vs opened its first Tucson barbershop in 2016.
PHOENIX  Saying it will prevent abuse, a Prescott lawmaker wants to ensure that residents of nursing homes have the ability to install cameras in their private rooms.

And the legislation crafted by Republican Rep. Quang Nguyen also would apply to those in assisted living.

The idea has apparently resonated with his colleagues. His HB 2785 has cleared the House with just two lawmakers in opposition.

It now is in the Senate.

But getting it enacted still remains an issue.

Nguyen pushed a similar measure out of the House last year despite opposition from the industry. That apparently had an effect as that version could not even get a hearing in the Senate.

This year, Nguyen is back with a far less complex measure, with provisions all aimed at the operators of these facilities prohibiting them from:

Barring current or potential residents from installing and using electronic monitoring in their own rooms;

Removing a current resident, or refuse to admit one who wants the monitoring;

Retaliating against residents who consent to  or, conversely, refuse to consent  to monitoring.

But in each case, Nguyen said, the decision would remain with the resident, though he said the legislation is broad enough to allow such decisions to be made by a family member if the person is incapable of doing so.

Nguyen did have to agree to one limitation to line up the votes: The legislation applies only to those whose services in the nursing home or assisted living facility is paid, at least in part, with public funds. Other residents would not have such a right.

You have to crawl before you can walk, he told Capitol Media Services.

Even with that, the measure generated opposition from a lobbyist from Arizona LeadingAge, an organization that represents not-for-profit assisted living communities and nursing homes.

Nguyen said theres nothing unusual about what he wants.

If I rent a space in a facility, I want to be able to put a camera in there, I ought to be able to do that, he said. Its no different, said Nguyen, than someone renting an apartment.

And he said he crafted it in a way that theres no cost on the owner of the facility.

I would even offer to pay for the camera, internet access, anything you want, just so I can see my parents, my loved ones, in a care facility, Nguyen said.

Whats missing from all of that is the practical effects of having surveillance cameras in the private rooms of residents, said Mary Isaacson, who lobbies for Arizona LeadingAge.

It takes away their dignity and the respect that theyve earned at this point in their life, she told lawmakers who were reviewing the bill.

What it comes down to, Isaacson said, is what the camera would capture.

When youre in assisted living, youre receiving assistance with activities of daily living, she said.

Theres a lot of bathing, exchanging briefs, et cetera, that are very private, personal, Isaacson said. And no one would want that video camera.

Nguyen said he has a different take on what all that means.

We want to create an environment with dignity, he said.

But tell me how much dignity is being involved when youre being beaten up? Nguyen said. Tell me what dignity means when your clothes (are) being torn off and raped?

And in pushing his bill to colleagues, he reminded them that he and they are likely to wind up in assisted living or nursing homes in a few decades.

I dont care about dignity, Nguyen said.

At that point, if youve got to change my diaper, you change my diaper, he continued. But no one should have to put up with being beaten up, threatened, hurt.

Nguyen said that if two people are sharing a room, both would have to consent to having a camera.

Less clear is who gets to make the decision.

As crafted, Nguyen said it is the resident of the facility. But he acknowledged that there may be situations where family members might consider the relative to be incapable of making that decision.

Nguyen said the legislation is broad enough to allow the family member, concerned about a relative, to decide to place the camera. But he said that, absent someone being formally adjudicated as incompetent, if there is a dispute, the final decision has to be made by the resident.

Isaacson told lawmakers there are other issues.

Residents choose assisted living because they want a home-like environment, she said. Home-like environments dont typically have a video camera, a surveillance camera, a sign posted outside your door that says, Caution: Theres a surveillance camera in use. 

Isaacson also said it could undermine the relationship between the caregiver and the resident.

It immediately sends a message that You dont trust me as your caregiver,  she said, and might limit the amount of time the caregiver would normally spend with the resident.

And Isaacson said some employees might choose to quit if they dont feel comfortable with the monitoring.

Nguyen, however, told Capitol Media Services that anyone who wont work as if theyre being watched should probably not be a caregiver.

Dana Kennedy, state director of AARP Arizona, said the legislation is popular with her members, with 87% in favor. And she echoed Nguyens comments about the rights of those in the facilities, saying that they are entitled to make the same decisions about monitoring devices as those who own or rent homes.

Only two lawmakers voted against the proposal when it cleared the House. One objection came from Rep. Ralph Heap, who questioned whether cameras would really solve the problem of resident abuse.

If you wanted to abuse the patient, unless we add cameras to the bathrooms also, couldnt they just take the patient into the bathroom? he asked.

No date has been set for a Senate hearing.
In a blistering letter, water officials in Arizona, California and Nevada recently took the federal government to task for failing to plan adequate measures to protect crucial Glen Canyon Dam infrastructure whose failure could significantly curb river flows to those Lower Colorado River Basin states.

The letter also faulted the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for what it said is its failure to seriously consider the possibility that the four Upper Basin states may in just a couple years no longer meet century-old requirements for how much water they deliver downstream to the Lower Basin. The Colorado River Compact set minimum requirements in 1922 for how much water the Upper Basin states had to send downstream to the Lower Basin states.

The letter also blasted the bureau for its decision not to study in depth an alternative for managing the river that was proposed by the three Lower Basin states. The bureaus failure to study that alternative goes against Reclamations stated purpose and need, objectives and approach to the alternatives it is studying and would violate federal requirements for how alternative options are supposed to be considered, the Feb. 13 letter said.

The letter is essentially an attack on the bureaus ongoing study of five long-term alternative plans for managing the river to replace its current operating guidelines when they expire at the end of 2026.

Rather than specifically analyze proposals put forth by the Lower Basin states of Arizona, California and Nevada, or the Upper Basin states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, the bureau has incorporated elements of those two plans into other alternatives its now studying.

The new letter appears to open the door for a future possible Lower Basin lawsuit against the final regulations governing the river. The bureaus failure to address these issues in planning for long-term operation of the Colorado River would, if it continues, violate longstanding federal environmental laws, the letter said. Those include the 1970 National Environmental Policy Act and the 1922 compact.

Also, Reclamations unwillingness to disclose how the Law of the River applies to each alternative and modeled scenario contradicts the agencys own admission that its legally obligated to apply the Law of the River to future Colorado River operations, the letter said.

Reclamations posture seems to be kick the can down the road, said the letter.

Its signed by Arizona Department of Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke, California Colorado River Commissioner J.B. Hamby and Southern Nevada Water Authority General Manager John Entsminger.

Of particular concern is the bureau reports complete omission of compliance with the 1922 Colorado River Compact, the foundation of the Law of the River, the letter said. The Law of the River is the collection of laws, regulations, court cases and other government actions that govern how the Colorado and its reservoirs are operated.

The compact requires the Upper Basin states to release 75 million acre-feet of river water over 10 years to the Lower Basin. The Lower basin states have also said  but the Upper Basin states disagree  that the Upper Basin states are also obligated to release an additional 7.5 million acre-feet over 10 years to carry out the U.S. obligations under a treaty with Mexico to deliver water to that country.

But as river flows have dropped over the past decade or so, the odds are rising that water releases to the Lower Basin will fall below minimum levels set by the compact, some experts have said. If low flows continue, it is then reasonably foreseeable that the Lower Basin states will issue a compact call to the Upper Basin states to curtail their river water use, the letter said.

The bureau should prepare in advance for a future compact call by moving water through the reservoirs before a call is required, to satisfy any potential, near-term compact obligations, the letter said.

These anticipatory measures will be particularly important considering the need to protect critical infrastructure, the three water officials wrote.

Policy toward Lake Powell levels

The Glen Canyon Dams outlet works  a set of long, narrow steel pipes at the base of the dam  are the most tangible symbol of the concerns raised by the Lower Basin states letter. The outlet tubes were designed more than a half-century ago to carry river water should Lake Powell drop too low for the water to pass through the dams turbines.

But last year, the bureau acknowledged that the outlet tubes would not stand up if used regularly and heavily in the event the lake falls below 3,490 feet. Thats the minimum elevation at which the dam can generate electricity that the federal government sells to more than 5 million people in seven states. When the lake falls below that level, the dams ability to send water downstream would get progressively worse until it hits dead pool, or 3,370 feet elevation, at which it couldnt release any water downstream.

Reclamation has agreed to pay nearly $9 million for short-term repairs to the outlet tubes. It launched a study two years ago to try to find ways to re-engineer the dam so it can generate power and send more water to the Lower Basin even at low reservoir levels. But most experts agree that re-engineering the dam would cost billions of dollars, and little has been heard of that study ever since.

Instead, the bureau has pursued a course of trying to insure that Powell never falls below 3,490, so the outlet works dont have to be used. Each of the five alternatives now under study says if Lake Powell is projected to fall below 3,490 feet, even after dams upstream of Glen Canyon release extra water, Powells releases would be reduced to protect 3,490 feet, the states letter said. In later months, more water would be released from Powell to make up for that cutback if possible, the letter quotes the bureau as saying.

Flying in the face of reality

Two outside water experts, Eric Kuhn of Colorado and David Wegner of Tucson, said the Lower Basin states goals of getting the outlet works permanently fixed and having the new agreement address Colorado River Compact issues are politically unrealistic.

That one doesnt make sense to me, Kuhn said of the letters advocacy of fixing the outlet works long-term problems in the near future.

While Kuhn himself has been among those saying in the past that the outlet works need more attention from the bureau, he said this month, To fix the problem permanently  its a huge expenditure at a time when Reclamation is being told to cut expenditures. Its flying in the face of reality.

Wegner, a retired Reclamation official, agreed, saying This is not a time for the bureau to initiate large programs.

As for the Colorado River Compact, Nobody wants to take that issue on. Its opening Pandoras box, said Wegner, referring to long-expressed concerns that taking on the dispute over whether the Upper Basin is violating the compact could lead to endless litigation.

Kuhn termed the compact issue a 50-50 deal between the two basins that wont be easily resolved. He pointed out that the compact itself contains no provision for a compact call to be made to force the Upper Basin to meet its requirements for downstream river water releases.

Both sides have very valid arguments about the compact and different interpretations. In my view, asking the bureau to interpret the compact when states have been fighting over this issue over 80 years, it makes good publicity. ... But the Lower Basin states are asking the bureau to do something on which theyve been unable to do, which is to reach common ground.

However, the United States has a legal obligation to implement the Colorado River Compact, the Arizona Department of Water Resources told the Star in response to Kuhn and Wegners comments.

While these legal questions have been unresolved for decades, we will not be able to ignore them over the next twenty years, absent a consensus agreement. Reclamation will, ultimately, have to take a position, ADWR said in a written statement. Even if Reclamation disagrees with the Lower Basin States Compact interpretations, that does not relieve Reclamation of the obligation to analyze any reasonable alternative.

Two environmentalists applauded the new letter.

Ignoring this problem poses great dangers for metropolitan areas in the desert Southwest. True river advocates are not going to cower during this moment. I tip my hat to leaders of the Lower Basin for having the fortitude to raise the issue, said Kyle Roerink, executive director of the Great Basin Water Network, based in Nevada.

Being silent will only guarantee that you dont get what you want, Roerink told the Star.

The new letter matches a point the group Save the Colorado has been making for months: that the bureaus alternatives violate the Law of the River, said Gary Wockner, the Boulder-based groups director.

When the bureau released its five alternatives, we immediately looked at it and said all five violate the Law of the River, because they dont let enough water out of Glen Canyon Dam when the lake is low to meet compact requirements.

The Lower Basin states wrote exactly the same letter we were going to write, with the same specific legal citations when it came time for the bureau to receive public comments on the alternatives its studying, he said.

Now, I talked to our legal staff and said we dont have to write it, Wockner said.

Unnecessary reinvigoration of hostilities

Asked by the Star to respond to the three states letter, the Bureau of Reclamation didnt comment specifically but issued a statement through an agency spokesman, saying, The Colorado River is essential to the American Southwest, and the Department of the Interior and Bureau of Reclamation are dedicated to providing life-sustaining water and harnessing the significant hydropower the river offers. We are actively engaging in dialogue with the Colorado River Basin partners as we work towards long-term operational agreements for the river after 2026. Throughout this effort, we remain committed to ensuring fiscal responsibility for the American people.

Three Upper Basin water officials  Director Chuck Cullom of the Upper Colorado River Commission, Director Amy Haas of the Colorado River Commission of Utah and Becky Mitchell, the state of Colorados Colorado River commissioner  all declined to directly comment on the new letter.

In a statement, however, Mitchell addressed the river dispute in general terms, saying, We know that we get the best solutions in the basin when the states work together, so I am focused on building a broad consensus to address the risks on the River.

The Upper Division States are committed to working towards supply-driven operations of Lake Powell and Lake Mead  this years hydrology is a stark reminder of why this is necessary. A sustainable approach will require all to live within the means of what the river provides.

Anne Castle, a former assistant Interior secretary, criticized the letter, saying I think it was an unfortunate and unnecessary reinvigoration of hostilities.

Castle, who last month left her post as federal representative of the Upper Colorado Commission, declined to comment further. But Kuhn, an author and historian on water issues, said hes heard the new letter had ratcheted up tensions among the basins water officials.

The states met within the last two weeks and the tensions were higher, said Kuhn, retired general manager of the Colorado River Water Conservation District in Glenwood Springs.

Tensions had previously relaxed a little bit after the Upper Colorado River Commission issued its refined proposal on Dec. 30, Kuhn said. The proposal offered under some big caveats and a lot of ifs and buts  to implement some conservation measures and put the saved water into Lake Powell for future release to the Lower basin, he said.

A lot of people thought there was some progress there, after that proposal came out, Kuhn said.
PHOENIX  Homebuilders are asking a judge to void what theyre calling an illegal tax they must pay to get permission to build in certain areas around Phoenix and in Pinal County, a levy they say will drive up already high home prices.

The lawsuit filed Monday alleges the Arizona Department of Water Resources lacks the legal authority to tell them that if they want to build, they have to show their water provider has access to not just the water they need for the next 100 years but another 33% on top of that.

Attorney Andrew Gould said that runs contrary to state law which requires only that they need to show they have the water for their own specific project. And he said even if it were legal  a point he does not concede  that 33% is not defensible, lacks rationale, and is unsupported by the acceptable data.

Even if the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona prevails in this action, that wont end the dispute.

The organization already has separate litigation against the state over the way ADWR is implementing the rules that govern when development can occur. That case, filed in January, has yet to have a hearing.

This issue is simmering not just in the courthouse but also at the Capitol. Legislative Republicans  who have joined the homebuilders in this lawsuit  have accused ADWR, and Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs who is over it, of acting in ways that will drive up the high price of housing by making it harder to build new homes. Hobbs, for her part, said the department is simply following the law and ensuring the long-term supply of groundwater.

The 1980 Groundwater Code says that for affected areas of the state identified as active management areas, there must be a finding that there is a 100-year supply of water.

Existing and private water companies are currently presumed to have their own 100-year supplies. So there is no additional requirement on those who want to build within their service areas.

But Tom Buschatzke, ADWR director, reported in 2023 that a new analysis of the groundwater in the basin along the fringes of the Phoenix area showed there wont be enough to provide the legally required 100-year supply of water there.

That specifically includes much of Queen Creek, which doesnt have its own 100-year certificate of assured water supply. The same is true of a large swath of Buckeye.

There are also large unincorporated areas in which the modeling shows homebuilders cannot guarantee there will be enough groundwater beneath them to support the development for 100 years, Buschatzke said.

In filing suit in January, the homebuilders association said the modeling is flawed.

They also specifically objected to a provision that says if there is a well anywhere inside of the active management area that will go dry within 100 years  not just the one that is proposed to serve the development  then the builder cannot get the required certificate to begin construction.

All that provoked an outcry among developers and criticism of Hobbs by Republican lawmakers.

Since the original problem was identified, ADWR has crafted what has been billed as a potential solution to that problem of groundwater shortages in the Phoenix and Pinal active management areas.

It says water providers can make up for the lack of available groundwater  and the construction projects in their area can be approved  if they obtain new alternative water supplies. Those can include effluent, surface water, allocations from the Central Arizona Project and water transported from elsewhere.

Buschatzke, in a statement late Monday, defended the rules and said they do not impose a tax on developers. Instead, he said, they provide an alternate path for water providers to be designated as having an assured water supply without demonstrating the physical ability of groundwater through an acceptable model.

But Gould, representing the homebuilders, said that is not an acceptable solution.

He said that to take advantage of that, the rules require the water provider who intends to serve the development to secure an additional 33% of this alternative water supply beyond the needs of the applicants proposed use. He said that is arbitrary.

That ADWR has no model or study that it could cite to is ultimately unsurprising, he wrote. ADWR has publicly admitted that its number presents a political compromise, rather than the product of any defensible rulemaking.

It is not the job of ADWR to make political compromises, Gould said. That is the Legislatures responsibility.

So far, though, state lawmakers have not approved any plan to either alter the 100-year requirements in the groundwater code or approve any sort of exceptions.

Even if they did, Hobbs has said she will not sign piece-meal changes to the states water laws but instead is looking for a comprehensive plan that deals with current availability problems while not endangering future supplies.

Gould has another legal argument.

He cites a provision in the Arizona Constitution that bars governments from taking, whether for public or private use, without just compensation having first been made.

What is happening here, Gould said, is the water department is requiring water providers to find the additional 33% supply of water  presumably at some cost  as a condition for developers to be able to build on their own property.

The homebuilders are not alone in filing suit against ADWR. They were joined by House Speaker Steve Montenegro and Senate President Warren Petersen, Republicans who are critics of Hobbs and the agency under her direction.

What gives them standing, according to the lawsuit, is arguing that the department has exceeded its authority and treaded into the area reserved for the Legislature. Montenegro, in a written statement, said the agency has gone rogue. He also accused it of mounting a direct attack on hardworking Arizona families who will see the price of new homes increase by thousands.
PHOENIX  With the states 15-week abortion law now overturned, Planned Parenthood is deciding which restrictions that remain to next target in court.

There are a number of laws Planned Parenthood believes are no longer valid in the wake of voter approval in November of Proposition 139, Erika Mach, a spokeswoman for the organization, said Tuesday.

That measure enshrined a fundamental right to terminate a pregnancy in the Arizona Constitution. It was cited by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Frank Moskowitz just a week ago when he declared that a statutory limit of 15 weeks on abortion could no longer be enforced.

But dozens of other restrictions remain on the books. And Mach said lawyers for Planned Parenthood Advocates, the lobbying and legal arm of the organization, are combing through them now to determine which are ripe for legal challenge.

One likely candidate for litigation is a law that requires women to wait for 24 hours between seeking the procedure and it being performed. Mach said there is no medical reason for that delay.

She also pointed to requirements in existing law that require abortion providers to report details on pregnant women in the state. Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs already asked lawmakers in December to repeal that, calling it government surveillance of medical decisions.

So far, though, not a single measure to end abortion restrictions or reporting has advanced in the Republican-controlled Legislature. In fact, GOP lawmakers are moving in the opposite direction, proposing new regulations and seeking to deny funding for Planned Parenthood for the non-abortion services it also provides to patients, including birth control and testing for sexually transmitted infections.

And with legislation to repeal existing laws stalled, that pretty much leaves litigation as the only option.

Key to all of this is the scope of Prop. 139.

On one hand, it bars the state from adopting or enforcing any law or regulation that denies, restricts or interferes with the right to terminate a pregnancy prior to fetal viability unless justified by a compelling state interest that is achieved by the least restrictive means.

The constitutional amendment does give lawmakers some additional latitude to regulate abortions in cases of abortion after viability, generally considered between 22 and 24 weeks. But that is overridden if a treating health-care professional determines the procedure is necessary to protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant individual.

Mach said there appear to be some existing laws that clearly fall outside the role of what the initiative preserves as the power of legislators to regulate.

We have over 40 restrictions still on the books, she said.

This includes the 24-hour waiting period, reporting restrictions, tele-health ban, et cetera, all unnecessary restrictions that just dont allow people to gain full access to abortion care, Mach said. So we are evaluating with partners and the Planned Parenthood Federation so that we can strategically move forward.

That waiting period and prohibition against tele-health abortion care, she said, have a particular impact on those who live outside the main population areas where Planned Parenthood or others have staff to provide abortion services.

Mach said there is no reason for a woman to have to personally visit a doctor to get a prescription for mifepristone, a medication used to terminate a pregnancy in the first 10 weeks. She said a woman should be able to have a remote consultation with a doctor, and one visit, and be sent the drugs.

Yet this comes as the House voted a week ago to impose even more restrictions on medication abortions.

Approved on a party-line vote, House Bill 2681 would require doctors to independently and personally verify a pregnancy exists, determine the patients blood type, impose new documentation requirements and inform the patient of possible physical and psychological aftereffects of the drug. That measure by Rep. Rachel Keshel, R-Tucson, now awaits Senate action.

It is absurd that we are still voting on bills to restrict access to your reproductive rights when the voters spoke so loud and clear in November, said Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton. The Tucson Democrat said she expects the governor to put those bills where they belong.
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Apples senior vice president of Services Eddy Cue and Severance director and executive producer Ben Stiller held a featured session at South by Southwest (SXSW) at the Austin Convention Centre on the weekend.

The ninth, penultimate episode of season two starts streams globally this Friday, 14 March. In this weeks new episode, The After Hours, Mark and Devon team with an ally. Helly investigates further.

A season two finale is set for Friday, 21 March.
Shahzeen Khan, TwoCircles.net

Ranchi: Arrested as a terror suspect, a Muslim cleric in Jharkhand has recently been acquitted of all charges after nearly a decade-long legal battle.

Maulana Kalimuddin Mujazahiri was arrested in 2016, along with two others, for alleged links to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). On February 28, 2025, a district court in Jamshedpur dismissed all charges against them.

The courts decision came after 16 prosecution witnesses failed to establish their involvement. The accused were booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) based on intelligence provided by the Delhi Polices elite Special Cell.

The case relied heavily on witness testimonies, but the prosecution failed to present any concrete evidence. According to defense counsel Balai Panda, none of the 16 witnesses could prove the accuseds involvement in the alleged offenses. With no material proof, the court ruled in favor of their acquittal and cleared them of all charges.

The case at a glance

Authorities claimed that Kalimuddin and his co-accused  Maulana Abdul Rahman Ali Khan (alias Maulana Mansoor) and Md. Shami  were part of a larger Al-Qaeda sleeper cell, accused of radicalising youth and planning an attack ahead of Republic Day in 2016.

However, Kalimuddin, who ran a small madrasa  Jamia Mohammad Bin Abdullah Madarsa  at his residence in Jharkhands Jawahar Nagar, denied these allegations. He insisted that his only work was teaching Islamic education to young students.

During TCNs visit to Kaleemuddin at his madarsa, around 50 young boys and girls were seen diligently memorising their Quranic lessons.

Despite the lack of concrete evidence, Kalimuddin was arrested in September 2019 from a Kolkata residence by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). He spent 14 months in jail before securing bail in November 2020.

Meanwhile, Shami was arrested in Haryanas Mewat in 2019 and Mansoor had been in custody since 2015.

Worst days of my life

For Kaleemuddins 28-year-old son Mohammed Huzaifa, the ordeal remains difficult to comprehend. How does one make sense of a crime that was never committed in the first place? He narrated the alleged brutal treatment he and his father had to endure.

I was 19 years old when I was arrested from my home. It was a terrifying scene. I was blindfolded and taken to an unknown place. My father and I were kept separately in dark cells. They used to clip our fingers and administer electric shocks. It was the worst time for me and my family, he alleged.

He added that during his detention, officers repeatedly pressured him to confess to plans of traveling to Pakistan, even though he had never even applied for a passport.

They insisted I was about to leave for Pakistan. I had never even left India in my entire life. Yet I read in newspapers that I had traveled abroad, he said.

After four days of detention, Huzaifa was released from police custody. However, his father remained in jail for about a year, leaving their family in distress.

A 54-page Jamshedpur court judgment later confirmed that the police had no evidence against the cleric from the very beginning. Yet, they were taken into custody, the court observed.

I always had faith in judiciary

Reacting to the courts judgment, Kalimuddin said he never lost faith in the judicial process. I always believed the court would examine the facts. The police and the media can claim anything, but courts rely on evidence. The judge listened carefully to the witnesses and reviewed the case thoroughly before reaching a decision, he said.

However, Kalimuddin narrated the impact these accusations had both on his personal and professional life. The police seized my belongings and shut down my madrasa. Despite multiple court applications, I have not yet received my confiscated items back. We survived with the help of some generous people who supported us financially during those difficult times, he said.

Media trials ruined our lives

Kalimuddin accused certain sections of the media of making baseless claims about his arrest. One of the officers told me, Look, how the media is writing about you. They say you have links with Al-Qaeda. Based on these reports, I was treated like a hardened criminal even before the court passed a judgment.

Responding to media claims that he had hosted Al-Qaeda meetings and conducted arms training, Kalimuddin asked, If any of this were true, why could not the ATS find a shred of evidence? Why did my neighbors  who have known me for years  never report anything suspicious?

Just because a newspaper prints something does not make it true, he added.

UAPA and its abuse

The UAPA allows authorities to detain individuals without establishing a substantial case. Critics argue that the legislation has become a tool of intimidation against underprivileged communities. Law enforcement agencies are not required to build a concrete case before labeling someone a terrorist, making it an effective instrument of repression against marginalised groups.

A Sabrang India analysis found that bail orders under UAPA are often legally stronger when granting bail than when denying it. Denial orders frequently rely on prosecution narratives rather than clear legal reasoning.

A Sessions Court in Delhi, for instance, has repeatedly denied bail to individuals accused under UAPA, including those allegedly involved in the February 2020 North-East Delhi riots. Activists such as Umar Khalid, Khalid Saifi, Meeran Haidar, Athar, Shifa Ur Rehman, Salim Khan, Shadab, Gulfishan, including others, were denied bail simply because their anti-CAA protests included calls for road-blockades.

Arrests under UAPA and convictions

During the 2023 Monsoon Session of Parliament, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) was compelled to disclose UAPA-related data. Between 2016 and 2018, 3,974 individuals were arrested under the stringent anti-terror law. A total of 3,005 cases were registered. However, only 821 chargesheets were filed during this period.

With such a low conviction rate, there are concerns about the indiscriminate use of the UAPA among rights groups, with many believing that the law is often used as a form of pretrial punishment, particularly in cases involving minorities.

A pattern of abuse

Maulana Kalimuddins case is not an isolated one. Over the years, several individuals  especially from minority communities  have been falsely implicated under the UAPA, only to be acquitted after prolonged incarceration, destroying several precious years of their lives.

One of the most glaring examples is the case of journalist Siddique Kappan, who was arrested in 2020 while traveling to cover the Hathras gangrape case. Despite no concrete evidence against him, he spent nearly two years in jail before being granted bail.

Another example is the arrest of activist Umar Khalid, who has been in jail since September 2020 under UAPA charges related to the Delhi riots. His bail pleas have repeatedly been denied, despite the absence of direct evidence linking him to violence.

Torture, isolation and a life in ruins

While law enforcement agencies close cases of wrongful arrests after a verdict is rendered in favour of the accused, the personal and social life of the accused often remains in ruins. Social stigma, financial ruin and psychological trauma continue to haunt them long after their release.

Even your own relatives start to distance themselves after you are accused of such serious charges, said Kalimuddin, adding, In my case, many of my relatives kept their distance and abandoned us.

Huzaifa, who now teaches at his fathers Jamia Mohammad Bin Abdullah Madarsa, says his fathers wrongful imprisonment disrupted their familys livelihood.

Our madrasa was shut and my fathers reputation was ruined. Before his acquittal, people continued to associate him with false terror accusations, he said. Who will compensate for these lost years? Who will compensate for our lost reputation?

As UAPA cases continue to rise in India, policy experts and human rights advocates are calling for urgent reforms to prevent the laws misuse. Until such changes are made, cases like Kalimuddins stand as grim reminders of a justice system that often punishes the innocent long before proving them guilty.
Sumaiya Ali, Maariyah Siddique/TwoCircles.net



Alwar (Rajasthan): The death of an infant during a police raid in a small village of Rajasthans Alwar district has sparked an outrage. Family members allege that the one-month-old infant, Alishba, was peacefully sleeping in her cot when she was stepped on by police officers, resulting in her death on the spot.

Following the incident, villagers took to the streets, demanding justice. Political leaders such as Brinda Karat of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M) visited the grieving family to offer their support.

The police, on the other hand, claim that they had received a tip through location tracking, suggesting that the area was a den of cybercrime. However, Imran, the father of the deceased infant, has no criminal record.

Congress leader Tika Ram Jully, the leader of the Opposition in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Rajasthan Assembly, has alleged that the incident is not an isolated case. He claimed the police in Alwar have been harassing people and extorting money under the guise of conducting raids.

Religious targets?

Imrans neighbour Shakaut Ali, a 50-year-old farmer, says such instances of police barging into homes have become all too common since the death of Zuber Khan, a Congress MLA from the state in September 2024. They (the police) are targeting us because we are considered as voters of the Congress party.

Narayan Bareth, a Rajasthan-based political commentator, points out that the absence of a dominant political leader like Khan has led to increased targeting of vulnerable populations.

Khan was a prominent leader who advocated political awareness and education. His death has left a political vacuum, which has emboldened police actions in the area. Although his wife has been working to cultivate support among the locals, the absence of strong leadership has made the situation more volatile, he says.

Ali further says that even the local patwari has not visited the area despite tensions rising after the incident. Offering help is far-fetched, no one came to visit us after this gruesome incident, he says.

Ali explains that, under the pretence of finding cybercriminals, the police frequently pick up men from the neighborhood, only to release them after extorting money. The death of the infant is what ultimately drew attention to the raids, he believes, adding that had the infant not died, the raid on Imrans house would have gone unnoticed.

When TwoCircles.net spoke to Ali, we asked if anyone in the neighborhood had ever questioned why they were being specifically targeted. His response was disheartening: We are uneducated, so we dont speak up. This statement underscores the common plight of ordinary people, particularly those from economically vulnerable and underprivileged backgrounds.

A sizable portion of Alwars population consists of Meo Muslims, a religious minority group.

Brinda Karat, commenting on the case, asks, Do they ever dare to walk into the house of a rich person, stand on their bed and kill a baby?

Political atmosphere fueling violence

Alwar is not unfamiliar with violence against its Muslim residents. In 2017, Pehlu Khan was lynched to death. In 2018, migrant laborer Afrazul was hacked to death over an accusation of love jihad. Amnesty International ranked Rajasthan as the third state with the most hate crimes in 2018. Despite the passage of years, the ground situation seems to have only worsened.

Karat, who visited the victims family in Raghunathgarh, pointed out the toxic political atmosphere under the current BJP government in the state. Since the BJP came to power in Rajasthan, their toxic political agenda is being played out in several areas of the state, she alleged.

Alwar is home to a significant minority population, mostly OBCs (Other Backward Classes), whose main source of income is cattle, explains Bareth. Since the BJP came to power, cattle farming has become a sensitive issue and a bone of contention, making it easier for the majority community to target minorities along religious lines. Politically, attacking the marginalised  who often cannot fight back  pays dividends to particular sections, he says.

The raid and the tragic death of the young child are but a symptom of a larger, more systemic problem in Alwar and other parts of Rajasthan. The vulnerability of marginalised groups, especially those from minority communities, is exacerbated by the lack of strong political representation, as well as by an environment where the police, under the guise of combating crime, are allowed to act with impunity.

For the residents of Alwar, particularly the Meo Muslims, the situation seems to be worsening rather than improving, and justice for Alishba remains uncertain as authorities continue to evade accountability.
WASHINGTON  Even with President Donald Trump granting an ambiguous one-month reprieve for North American autos from blanket 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, industry observers said the continued trade drama is harming business.

While another postponement of the White Houses proposed tariffs on automotive-related trade between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico is somewhat of a reprieve for the industry, damage has already been done, said Glenn Stevens, executive director of the Detroit Regional Chambers MichAuto association.







For an industry that operates in three-to-five-year product cycles, this level of day-to-day uncertainty is debilitating, he added.

The exemption, negotiated by what White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the big three Michigan automakers, halts trade barriers that would have been disastrous for an industry with highly integrated supply chains across the three countries. It also comes after domestic automakers cried foul over tariffs impacting their North American products but not vehicles imported from overseas, mostly by foreign companies with U.S. operations.

Leavitt, in a press conference this past week, said Trump had conversations with representatives from Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co. and Stellantis NV about the tariffs that went into effect March 4.

Reading a statement from Trump, Leavitt said: We spoke with the big three auto dealers. We are going to give a one-month exemption on autos coming through USMCA, referencing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement.

Reciprocal tariffs will still go into effect on April 2, she added. But at the request of the companies associated with USMCA, the president is giving them an exemption for one month, so they are not at an economic disadvantage.

Leavitt, however, did not provide more details on exactly whether the exemption applies only to fully assembled vehicles or includes auto components shipped repeatedly across the border throughout the manufacturing process. But if the exemption does leave USMCA rules fully in place, then it is likely that all qualifying automotive goods are eligible.

The USMCA, which Trump signed during his first term, has extensive provisions on automotive rules of origin. Those rules govern which goods are eligible for preferential treatment, like reduced tariffs or duty-free trade.

The agreement dictates that finished vehicles and core auto parts must have 75% North American content to avoid any otherwise applicable tariffs and 65-70% for other parts. Core parts include engines, transmissions and advanced batteries, among others.

USMCA also includes rules requiring 40-45% of the labor for a vehicles production must come from North American workers earning at least $16 per hour and that 70% of a vehicle manufacturers steel purchases by value must originate from within the three countries.

Stevens, of MichAuto, said it wasnt immediately clear which automakers or suppliers would get the monthlong breather, and which wont, outside of GM, Ford and Stellantis.

Its a reprieve, its a delay, but it doesnt solve the issue for the industry  certainly if its just another 30 days, Stevens said. Weve already seen damage done. Whats going to happen in another 30 days?

He said it was good news that executives from the Detroit Three had been able to convey the complexity and importance of the industry, and the need for tariff relief, to the Trump administration in recent days.

But the delay wont mean business can get back to usual, he said, as the automakers will continue to delay major decisions on expansion or product launches until there is more certainty. Those delayed investment decisions have trickle-down effects, affecting the planning and financials of suppliers.

Warren Browne, an auto supplier consultant and former GM executive who worked at the carmaker for 40 years, similarly said he was skeptical that the one-month reprieve would do much to settle the industry or increase the chances of automakers bringing more production to the United States.

To change tariffs every day and not have a situated trade policy is just as bad as having high tariffs, he said. The outcome of allowing the furor to have a daily change in tariffs is a strategic hold across the supply chain.

The delay will allow the components and vehicles already in production to pass through, but uncertainty remains about tariffs and how long they could remain in place.

The unintended consequences will be that they wont move back to the U.S., Browne said. Suppliers and autos wont know what the next move is. Theyll just pass the cost onto customers. Why would you move Equinox and Blazer back to Orion (from Mexico) if the stuff is going to go away in six months because fentanyl drops?

Automakers, he added, already will have communicated their policy preferences on trade to the Trump administration, and the presidents actions in instituting the duties on Tuesday show indifference.

The American Automotive Policy Council, a lobbying group that represents the Detroit Three automakers in Washington, praised the pause.

American Automakers Ford, GM and Stellantis applaud President Trump for recognizing that vehicles and parts that meet the high US and regional USMCA content requirements should be exempt from these tariffs, said Matt Blunt, AAPC president and former Republican governor of Missouri. We look forward to working with President Trump and his administration on our shared goals of increasing U.S. automotive production and expanding exports to markets all around the world.
HA NOI  Growing concerns have emerged over a draft decree on tax management for business activities conducted via e-commerce and digital platforms.

The regulation, which will apply to individual sellers and household businesses, is set to take effect on April 1.

According to the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), businesses have raised concerns about the draft decree's timeline.

VCCI said businesses need additional time to develop IT systems, allocate human resources and educate sellers on compliance requirements. As the decree remains in its draft stage, the chamber has proposed postponing its enforcement to July 1, to allow for adequate preparation.

While acknowledging the necessity of tax collection, VCCI emphasised the importance of a well-structured tax framework that minimises administrative burdens and compliance costs for both businesses and individual sellers.

Additionally, the chamber stressed the need for clear definitions of responsibilities among stakeholders to ensure a smooth and efficient implementation of the new tax system.

Meanwhile, under the draft decree, individuals conducting regular business on e-commerce and digital platforms will be required to declare taxes monthly, while household businesses must report their revenue, tax payable and business expenses.

This effectively removes the option of lump-sum tax payments for individual sellers, according to VCCI.

The Vice Secretary-General cum Director of the Legal Department of VCCI au Anh Tuan, said that this approach would be impractical for small-scale sellers, as many lack the capital to invest in business management software and may struggle with complex tax declarations.

To address this, he proposed allowing lump-sum tax payments for individuals with a limited number of transactions, making compliance more feasible.

Additionally, the draft decree mandates that online sellers declare business expenses, a requirement Tuan deemed unnecessary, since taxes are already calculated based on revenue.

He further argued that requiring detailed reporting on costs such as inventory, labour, utilities, shipping and marketing would be unrealistic.

Simplifying residency classification

ao Kim Loan, a distributor of Riman Incellderm pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, has voiced concerns over the proposed tax decrees differentiation between residents and non-residents in Viet Nam for e-commerce taxation.

Under the draft decree, tax rates for business activities on e-commerce platforms will vary depending on whether an individual is classified as a resident or non-resident. However, Loan pointed out that accurately determining residency status in the digital environment poses significant challenges.

Currently, Circular 111/2013/TT-BTC outlines residency criteria, including being present in Viet Nam for at least 183 days per year or having a permanent residence.

While these criteria are easier to verify using traditional tax collection methods, applying them to online sellers requires additional data, such as immigration records, temporary and permanent residence registrations and declared places of residence.

Loan suggested that individual sellers would self-declare their residency status, with e-commerce platforms cross-checking key information such as nationality and place of sale or service provision. For instance, a resident individual would typically have Vietnamese nationality and conduct business within Viet Nam.

In cases where discrepancies arise, such as a foreign seller declaring as a resident or a Vietnamese seller dealing in imported goods the e-commerce platform would be responsible for notifying the seller to provide supporting documents. The final decision would rest with the tax authorities after review.

This mechanism, Loan argued, would strike a balance between easing administrative procedures for taxpayers and ensuring accurate tax classification.

Adjustment in taxable revenue calculation

Meanwhile, concerns have been also raised over the proposed tax decrees definition of taxable revenue.

As per the draft regulation, taxable revenue is defined as the total amount paid by the buyer, which e-commerce platforms collect during transactions. This means that a sellers revenue would be calculated based on the full payment made by the buyer.

Nguyen Thanh Son from Winco Group JSC in Ha Noi said this approach is problematic, as each transaction often includes multiple service components beyond the sellers products or services. These may include transportation fees paid to independent shipping providers, platform service fees and payment processing costs.

To ensure fairness and accuracy, Son suggested that the taxable revenue should instead be based on the amount the e-commerce platform intends to pay to the individual seller, rather than the total transaction value.  VNS
HA NOI  The Vietnamese coffee industry made a distinct impression in the first two months of this year, with export turnover rising by 26.2 per cent year-on-year to US$1.58 billion while volume falling by 28.4 per cent to 284,000 tonnes, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

This achievement not only affirmed Viet Nam's position in the global coffee market but also opened bright prospects for exceeding the $6 billion target this year.

The rise of brown gold

Last month was a notable period when Viet Nam exported over 193,000 tonnes of coffee, bringing in $1.08 billion  a record figure within a single month. Of this, green coffee beans accounted for the majority with over 178,000 tonnes while processed one contributed nearly 15,000 tonnes.

One of the key factors helping the coffee industry achieve remarkable results was the surge in export prices. The ministrys report showed that the average coffee price in the January-February period reached $5,574.5 per tonne, up 76.3 per cent compared to the same period in 2024. In February alone, this figure rose to $5,596 per tonne, an all-time record high.

Chairman of the Vietnam Coffee-Cocoa Association (VICOFA) Nguyen Nam Hai said that high prices helped the coffee industry bring in $1.08 billion in February alone, exceeding all expectations.

The sectors value growth came not only from green coffee which brought home $956.58 million, up 107 per cent from the same month last year, but also from contributions by deeply processed coffee. In the month, roasted, instant, and blended coffee were sold abroad at over $123 million, making up 11.4 per cent of the total value, indicating a trend towards value-added products that helps elevate the position of Vietnamese brown gold internationally.

Germany, Italy, and Japan remained the largest consumer markets, accounting for 16.6 per cent, 9.4 per cent, and 8.2 per cent of market share, respectively. Compared to the same period last year, export value in January 2025 to Germany increased by 53 per cent, to Italy by 5.6 per cent, and to Japan by 10.4 per cent, demonstrating the stable appeal of Vietnamese coffee in traditional markets.

Hai noted that coffee had become a hot commodity on world trading floors, attracting significant investor interest. He elaborated that the price difference between Robusta and Arabica coffee was currently about $3,000 per tonne. When Arabica prices rise high, roasters would switch to Robusta  the variety in which Viet Nam is the global leader.

Challenges and opportunities from global market

The Ministry of Industry and Trades Agency of Foreign Trade said La Nina might replace El Nino this year, affecting coffee-growing regions in Brazil  the world's largest exporting country. The risk of frost in Brazil could reduce production for the 2025-2026 crop year to its lowest level in three years, creating opportunities for Viet Nam to strengthen its position.

However, Hai believes that although Brazil's coffee production will decrease from July onwards, it will not have great impacts, and the market still needs to be closely monitored.

To deliver on the export target of over $6 billion, the domestic coffee sector needed to maintain its stable cultivation areas and improve quality according to international standards, Hai said, adding businesses need to link purchasing with deep processing while diversifying markets to avoid dependence on a few major partners. Additionally, capitalising on the leading position in Robusta coffee, which accounts for 95 per cent of Viet Nam's production, will be key to maintaining growth momentum.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung uc Tien held that with the current growth rate, the industry would be able to complete its set target this year.

"The strong growth in export value in the first two months of the year is evidence of the industry's potential," he said, underscoring the need to continue investing in processing technology, expanding markets, and responding flexibly to global fluctuations.

The ministry was working with VICOFA and enterprises to develop a long-term strategy aimed at sustainable development and improvement in the value of the Vietnamese coffee brand, he added.  VNS
HA NOI  Amid intensifying trade competition and shifts in tariff policies, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has directed ministries, agencies and local departments to develop comprehensive strategies aimed at achieving a trade balance with key partners.

The Prime Minister emphasised leveraging existing free trade agreements (FTAs), negotiating new deals to diversify markets and supply chains, and reviewing tax policies  particularly with major trade partners  to ensure mutual benefits.

Additionally, to achieve a GDP growth rate of 8 per cent or more in 2025, and lay the groundwork for double-digit expansion in the following years, the Government is focusing on revitalising traditional growth drivers such as investment, exports and consumption while fostering new economic engines.

Meanwhile, the PM Chinh has called for greater transparency in economic, trade and investment activities to maintain export stability in the face of rising global trade barriers and protectionist policies.

He has also instructed authorities to intensify inspections and prevent goods from being smuggled into Viet Nam and re-exported under false origins.

The Vietnamese Government has already issued multiple directives to increase imports from major markets, particularly the US, as part of efforts to promote harmonious and sustainable trade.

To move toward trade balance, Viet Nam plans to purchase more US products, including aircraft, semiconductor chips and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Additionally, domestic enterprises are encouraged to adopt high-quality US goods and services.

In the energy sector, as Viet Nam pushes for investment in renewable electricity, businesses are being urged to consider US technology for ongoing and future projects.

With a trade volume nearing $800 billion, Viet Nam ranks 23rd in global exports and 22nd in imports, maintaining an average annual growth rate of over 13 per cent since 2007.

Despite global challenges, Viet Nam's total export turnover in 2024 maintained positive growth, reaching US$405.53 billion, a 14.3 per cent increase from the previous year. Imports also rose 16.7 per cent year-on-year, totalling $380.76 billion.  BIZHUB/VNS
JAKARTA  Global IT firm FPT officially signed a US$67 million Master Service Agreement with KMP Aryadhana, Indonesia's leading cooperative for innovation.

The ceremony took place during the official state visit of Party General Secretary To Lam to Indonesia, marking a significant milestone in the strategic partnership between the two parties, as well as both nations.

The agreement, spanning five years, focuses on KMP Aryadhanas implementation of ESG (Environmental Social Governance) in critical areas such as waste management, digital education, cooperative education and digital agriculture supporting the food security programme. This collaboration aims to promote the adoption of advanced technologies, leveraging FPTs competitive strengths in AI, blockchain, IoT and the cloud, across ESG framework sectors and education.

Digital transformation is pivotal for KMP Aryadhana as it accelerates the Yogyakarta provinces innovation capacity, enhances sustainable development across key sectors, and strengthens its position as a cultural and educational leader in Indonesia. The cooperative is also in discussion with FPT to establish an AI lab and launch digital transformation initiatives in the education and ESG sectors, not only for Yogyakarta but for the broader Indonesian market and globally.

CEO of FPT Corporation Nguyen Van Khoa said: "As a dynamic economy with an innovation-driven vision, Indonesia plays a crucial role in FPTs growth strategy in the Asia-Pacific region. Our collaboration with KMP Aryadhana not only strengthens the ties between Viet Nam and Indonesia, but also reinforces FPTs global competitiveness in emerging technologies, particularly AI. We look forward to working with KMP Aryadhana to accelerate Indonesias digital transformation across key sectors such as waste management, digital education, forest resource management, and smart agriculture.

KMP Aryadhana is grateful to have FPT attention to support its programme. Besides FPT expertise and experience in technology, FPT has international exposure to bring KMP Aryadhana ESG programme to the world, said Professor Dr Ahmad Subagyo, Chairman of KMP Aryadhana.  VNS
QUANG NAM  Chu Lai International Port in Quang Nam Province has established itself as a key logistics hub for the central and Central Highlands regions and for neighbouring nations Laos and Cambodia, facilitating trade and contributing to the inter-regional economy.

Operated by the Truong Hai International Logistics Limited Liability Company (THILOGI), the port began officially operating in May 2012.

It has two specialised docks spanning a total area of 140 hectares.

The first accommodates 50,000DWT cargo ships, while the second can handle vessels up to 30,000DWT.

They can host four vessels simultaneously, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing waiting times.

Each dock is equipped with state-of-the-art crane systems capable of loading and unloading over 100 containers per hour.

The warehouses, built to international standards, cover 300,000 square metres and have a storage capacity of 500,000 tonnes.

They meet key criteria for storage, preservation and information control.

Phan Van Ky, director of the port, said the company has focused on building consistent infrastructure, enhancing service quality, and increasing loading and unloading capacity to shorten operation times and provide customers with the most optimised transportation solutions.

During his visit to the port last month, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh commended THILOGIs efforts in investing in and upgrading the facility.

To ensure safety, THILOGI has accelerated construction of the Ky Ha channel, which is set to become operational in June this year.

The Prime Minister has instructed the Ministry of Transport to quickly complete all remaining procedures to enable work on the new Cua Lo channel.

Once completed in 2028, the channel will enable Chu Lai Port to accommodate vessels weighing over 50,000DWT, thereby reducing logistics costs.

This will also allow it to offer competitive shipping rates comparable to those in the countrys northern and southern regions.

National Highways 14B and 14D have been upgraded as part of the transport infrastructure in the East-West Economic Corridor No. 2, facilitating the movement of goods, particularly container cargo, from northern Cambodia, southern Laos, and northeastern Thailand to Chu Lai International Port.

Quang Nam Province has identified the maritime economy as a focal point for its development, seeking to become one of the countrys leading marine economic centres.

Chu Lai International Port aims to become a multifunctional logistics centre specialising in container services by 2027.

In the meantime, it will continue developing its infrastructure and investing in modern equipment to enhance capacity.

The port will also expand its domestic and international shipping routes, offering businesses optimal transportation solutions.

By the end of 2025, THILOGI will put into use two container ships with a total capacity of 3,600TEU to serve international maritime routes from Chu Lai Port to ports in Xiamen and Shanghai in China.

Simultaneously, the company will strengthen cooperation with major shipping lines to start direct routes to South Korea, Japan, Taiwan (China), India, Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia.

Leading international transshipment ports such as Shanghai and Kaohsiung (China) and Busan (South Korea) will facilitate freight forwarding to the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia.

To expand its presence in Laos, Cambodia, and the Central Highlands, THILOGI has established the THILOGI Indochina Cross Border Trucking Limited Liability Company to develop land-based cargo services, ensuring efficient goods transportation to Chu Lai Port.

Hoang Chau Son, deputy head of the Quang Nam Economic and Industrial Zones Authority, said the port has helped optimise logistics efficiency and attract investment in industrial zones and complexes in the region.

With its strategic geographical location, consistent investment in infrastructure and equipment, and adoption of multimodal transportation, Chu Lai International Port is expected to become a major logistics centre for the central and Central Highlands regions, boosting trade and regional economic development. VNS
HA NOI  The stock market continued its upward momentum on Tuesday, marking the fourth consecutive rising session for the VN-Index. Liquidity declined slightly, while foreign investors remained net sellers, though their selling volume eased compared to previous sessions.

On the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), the VN-Index rose 2.26 points, or 0.17 per cent, to close at 1,332.54 points. Market breadth leaned towards gainers, with 162 advancing stocks compared to 152 decliners. Trading liquidity reached VN21.4 trillion (US$841.7 million), with over 933 million shares changing hands.

The VN30-Index, which tracks the 30 largest stocks by market capitalisation, also edged up by 2.5 points, or 0.18 per cent, to 1,393.57 points. Among the VN30 basket, 12 stocks advanced, 10 declined and eight remained unchanged.

Leading the market rally was Vietnam Prosperity Joint Stock Commercial Bank (VPB), which gained 1.55 per cent, contributing over 0.5 points to the VN-Index.

Other major gainers included Vietnam Airlines JSC (HVN), which surged 2.99 per cent, and Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MBB), rising 1.22 per cent. Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (TCB) and Hoa Phat Group Joint Stock Company (HPG) also gained 0.72 per cent and 0.78 per cent, respectively.

On the downside, several large-cap stocks put pressure on the market. FPT Corporation (FPT) declined 1.29 per cent, while Fortune Viet Nam Joint Stock Commercial Bank (LPB) lost 0.43 per cent and Bao Viet Holdings (BVH) dropped 2.31 per cent.

According to analysts at SHS Securities, market sentiment remained optimistic, with the VN-Index continuing to trend higher towards the 1,340-point zone. Meanwhile, the VN30-Index is aiming for the 1,400-point resistance level.

"In the short term, the VN-Index is maintaining its uptrend, with 1,320 points as the nearest support level and 1,300 points as a stronger support zone. The market has now recorded seven consecutive weeks of gains, with the VN-Index moving towards 1,350 points and the VN30-Index approaching its major resistance at 1,4001,420 points, which corresponds to its highest level since May 2022. However, short-term selling pressure is building after a prolonged rally," the analysts stated.

"At current levels, the market is not particularly attractive for increasing investment allocations in many stocks. However, sector rotation remains positive, and short-term trading opportunities persist across various industries as the VN-Index continues to trade above the 1,300-point resistance level. Therefore, investors are actively searching for short-term investment and speculative opportunities, but should be selective when increasing their exposure."

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX), the HNX-Index also gained 0.45 per cent, closing at 240.58 points. Trading value on the northern exchange exceeded VN1.2 trillion, with over 62 million shares changing hands.

Meanwhile, foreign investors extended their net selling trend, offloading over VN217 billion worth of shares on HoSE.  VNS
HCM CITY  The retail property market in HCM City is expected to see further growth this year, as new buildings are completed and more retailers, attracted by the increasing purchasing power of the population, enter the market.

A report by JLL states that in 2025, there will be new high-quality retail spaces in the city centre, such as Marina Central (Masterise), providing around 13,000 sqm of rental space. Net effective rents are projected to increase by 2-3 per cent annually, although the recent expansion in the city fringe supply may impact this growth.

F&B, lifestyle, and children's amusement sectors are anticipated to be major drivers of demand in the market, it added.

Another market researcher, at Xanh Services, reported positive growth figures for the market in 2024, providing a strong foundation for further development in 2025.

In 2024, the market saw 7 per cent growth, reaching 1.58 million square metres, with most off the growth occurring in the city centre. The occupancy rate increased by 3 per cent year-on-year to reach 93 per cent. Retail spaces were predominantly occupied by the supermarket, food and beverage, and fashion sectors.

Rent prices for retail spaces in commercial centres have experienced significant growth in central areas due to supply scarcity, coupled with high demand. Prices have been rising by 8 per cent annually, reaching an average of US$53.1 per square metre.

The trend of consumers looking for commercial centres with shoppertainment programmes has driven investors to enhance their construction and renovation plans with competitive leasing policies.

Therefore, the market's development is attributed to the involvement of both foreign and domestic retailers in the market, as well as the increase in purchasing power.

According to Euromonitor, non-grocery sales in Viet Nam are expected to increase with a CAGR of 12.6 per cent from 2010 to 2027. Viet Nams consumer expenditure per household index is also expected to increase by 38 per cent from 2024 to 2028, ranking the highest in Southeast Asia.

There are promising opportunities in the Vietnamese retail market, but success hinges on effectively engaging consumers. To stand out in the market, landlords need to upgrade and renovate their malls to reflect unique offerings.

Industry experts predict a positive transformation in the commercial real estate market in 2025, particularly in HCM City, with an improved supply. This segment is expected to undergo a transformative recovery for a new growth cycle.

According to Thanh Pham, associate director of CBRE Vietnam: Domestic and foreign brands are steadily expanding in major districts, leading to fierce competition for prime locations amid a shortage of quality properties."

Mai Vo, head of Retail Services at CBRE Vietnam, adds: "Despite lower sales of luxury brands in various markets, Viet Nam continues to attract strong interest from a few niche brands that are targeting openings in 2025-2026. Despite the current subdued mood in retail sales in China and APAC in general, a significant number of Chinese brands are seeking opportunities to expand overseas, with Viet Nam being one of the potential markets for expanding their store networks. Thus, both landlords and tenants should carefully plan and secure locations at least 12 to 18 months in advance, given the long lead time required.

In 2025, the commercial real estate market, especially in HCM City, is forecast to undergo significant positive changes, with an improved supply. It can be said that this segment will "transform" to recover for a new growth cycle.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nams industries and businesses are advised to improve market diversification in 2025, given that unpredictable fluctuations and escalating trade tensions may negatively impact the countrys export activities.

According to experts, US President Donald Trumps recent order imposing tariffs on exports from Canada and Mexico, as well as increasing tariffs on products from China, is seen as the start of his administration's tariff policies. This also raises the possibility of the US imposing tariffs on imports from other countries.

Pham Van Viet, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Viet Thang Jean Co Ltd (VitaJean), said that the company has been actively addressed predicted market difficulties. In addition, it has been making the most of opportunities to diversify its raw material sources by increasing the localisation rate, importing materials from new markets such as Pakistan, and rebuilding its supply chain.

This year, the textile and garment industry targets approximately 13 per cent growth compared to 2024, reaching a revenue of US$47-48 billion. However, VitaJean and many other businesses are confident in setting a maximum growth target of up to 15 per cent, stated Viet.

Bibica Corporation, a leading candy producer, plans to expand into the Republic of Korea, Japan and China through the Walmart hypermarket chain due to its diverse product range, including fresh cakes, layer cakes, gummies, hard candies and mooncakes.

Although the domestic market remains the company's main source of revenue, it plans to increase the export revenue to 20 per cent over the next three years to mitigate risks.

Diep Thanh Kiet, Vice Chairman of the Viet Nam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (Lefaso), suggested small- and medium-sized enterprises choose markets with lower risks and more stability, such as the EU, Japan or even the ASEAN market. This, however, depends on the specific capabilities and circumstances of each business, as not every company is able to diversify its export markets.

To maintain the countrys export position, experts suggested that, in addition to expanding export markets, businesses should fully utilise the 17 free trade agreements (FTAs) that Viet Nam has signed with partners. This will help enhance export value and reduce dependence on some countries.

This approach can also mitigate losses when trade policies change. Furthermore, authorities should find solutions to increase imports from the US, particularly machinery, equipment and advanced technology, thereby improving the domestic production capacity, boost labour productivity, and create sustainable growth in the future.

According to Nguyen Anh Son, Director of the Ministry of Industry and Trades Agency of Foreign Trade, although exports still face volatile global conditions in 2025, the ministry will continue working to facilitate businesses and perfect legal documents in a way that assists them in participating in export-import activities, diversifying export markets and promoting economic growth.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien emphasised that the ministry plans to implement concerted and effective solutions to leverage competitive advantages and maximise export market opportunities.

This will involve promoting and supporting businesses and industry associations to effectively tap into traditional markets that still hold great potential; and researching, negotiating and establishing partnerships with new ones.

Additionally, it will strive to capitalise on the opportunities from the existing FTAs, and enhance the role of Viet Nams trade offices abroad in gathering information and promptly reflecting global economic developments and policies of host countries. This will help state agencies respond quickly and effectively, ensuring the highest national interests. The ministry will also provide warnings and recommendations for businesses and industry associations on appropriate solutions, while promoting targeted trade promotion activities.

Attention will be paid to diversifying promotional activities, enhancing early risk detection, and supporting businesses during trade defence lawsuits, added Dien. VNS
SINGAPORE  Vietjet has announced the launch of a new direct route connecting Singapore and Phu Quoc during Viet Nams General Secretary To Lams official visit to Singapore.

Launching on May 30 2025, the new route will bring Vietjets total number of weekly flights between Viet Nam and Singapore to 78. This addition marks Vietjets fourth route to Singapore, complementing its existing services from HCM City, Ha Noi, and a Nang.

Since introducing its Singapore-HCM City route in 2014, Vietjet has operated over 16,000 flights, transporting more than 2.6 million passengers between the two countries.

Vietjet said it expects to serve over 500,000 passengers annually between the two countries.

The airline has also signed a US$300 million aircraft financing agreement with Carlyle Aviation Partners to support the delivery of new aircraft in 2025-26. This deal is a key step in Vietjets strategy to expand its modern fleet, which includes over 400 aircraft on order.

We are proud to be a long-term strategic partner of Vietjet, supporting its international growth and commitment to providing affordable, convenient travel options, said Alexander Rasnavad, President of Carlyle Aviation Partners.

Meanwhile, Vietjet and Satair, an Airbus Services company, have also inked a multi-year agreement for Satairs Integrated Material Services (IMS) to support Vietjets entire Airbus A320 and A330 fleet.

Under this exclusive agreement, Satair will provide consignment stock and pooling support for expendables to optimise the airlines operational costs. Satairs IMS offering is an end-to-end supply chain solution that includes planning, logistics, and inventory management, enabling Vietjet to maintain efficiency and operational readiness.  BIZHUB/VNS
SINGAPORE  General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee To Lam hosted receptions for representatives of outstanding enterprises in Singapore on Tuesday, as part of his ongoing visit to the-city state.

At a meeting with Chairman of the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) Lim Ming Yan, Lam acknowledged the federation's effective contributions in connecting Singaporean businesses to invest and operate in the Vietnamese market.

Lim shared the efforts of Singaporean companies, particularly the four major groups, in promoting foreign direct investment into Viet Nam and cooperating in sectors where Singaporean businesses can expand their investments, especially small and medium enterprises.

The Vietnamese leader recognised SBF's proposals to enhance the connectivity between the two countries' business communities and expressed his hope that SBF will continue to coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to effectively implement connection activities and support businesses from both countries.

He emphasised that the Viet Nam-Singapore strategic partnership continues to thrive in all aspects, from politics, diplomacy, economics to cultural exchange and people-to-people connections.

During Lam's ongoing visit to Singapore, both sides wish to promote cooperation, particularly in investment areas that Singapore has strengths and Viet Nam has potential, such as digital economy, knowledge economy, circular economy, renewable energy, sustainable industrial zones, and green finance.

He affirmed that Viet Nam will continue to reform administrative procedures and support businesses in their investment activities in Viet Nam.

Meeting with Tran Thi Lam, advisor to Shangri-La Healthcare Investment and co-founder of Hoa Lam Shangri-La Medical Co Ltd, the Party leader commended the companys nearly 20-year partnership with Viet Nam in health care and medical services.

Tran Thi Lam presented the companys business activities and strategic investment plans in Viet Nam, expressing a strong commitment to expanding hi-tech medical zones and fostering business connections and investment promotion.

As healthcare development is a key pillar in its socio-economic strategy, Viet Nam needs foreign expertise, especially those from Singapore, the Party chief said.

He encouraged Shangri-La Healthcare Investment to continue investing in medical technology, hi-tech and quality medical equipment production, and increase technology transfer to Vietnamese partners in the coming time.

Talking with Chairman of Temasek Holdings Lim Boon Heng, Lam said Viet Nam targets a growth rate of 8 per cent or higher this year to pave the way for double-digit growth in the following years. To achieve this, he highlighted the priority to large-scale foreign direct investment (FDI) projects to drive innovation and economic progress.

Viet Nam pledges to support Temaseks investments, ensuring a business climate conducive for the companys success in the country, he said.

Lim, for his part, outlined Temaseks diverse investment portfolio covering a wide range of fields such as energy and resources, telecommunications and communications, financial services, real estate, infrastructure and logistics, food and beverages, biotechnology, and healthcare. He expressed his strong interest in expanding cooperation in renewable and green energy development in Viet Nam.

In his meeting with Chairman of Sembcorp Industries Tow Heng Tan, Lam highly praised the development of the Viet Nam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) model, calling it a successful example of economic collaboration between the two nations.

He said the Vietnamese Government is actively revising its power development plan to accelerate renewable energy adoption. Viet Nam welcomes foreign enterprises, including Sembcorp, to invest in Viet Nam's power sector, especially in clean and renewable energy, and assures that the country would facilitate and support Sembcorps business operations for successes and sustainable growth, the top leader said.

For his part, Tow proposed a pilot policy for VSIP and expressed Sembcorps strong interest in expanding its investments in Viet Nam's power sector, with a focus on renewable energy and gas turbines. He also suggested bilateral cooperation in offshore wind energy projects and training courses.

In a meeting with CEO of Real Estate Division of Keppel Corporation Louis Lim, the Party Chief highly valued the corporations effective investment and business activities in Viet Nam over the past time, and encouraged Keppel to expand investment in such areas as renewable energy, green infrastructure, information technology, and smart city development, which align with Viet Nam's future priorities to attract investment.

He urged Keppel to focus on investing in strategic infrastructure development in Viet Nam, especially in projects on social housing and worker housing, and industrial zone infrastructure, contributing to the improvement of the people's living standards.

Lim affirmed that Keppel that has been operating in Viet Nam for over 30 years, wishes to continue long-term investment in the country.

Receiving founder and managing partner of CMIA Capital Partners Lee Chong Min, Party General Secretary Lam welcomed its investment plan for the high-tech eco-agricultural urban area project in Cu Chi District, HCM City.

Lee said the group hopes to receive support in accelerating the project approval process, and granting approval for CMIA as the overall developer of the HCM City eco-technology urban area complex, as well as considering some incentive mechanisms for it.

Lam noted that Viet Nam pays attention to investing in HCM City to turn it into a driving force for sustainable development in the region. Several transport infrastructure projects have created new development space, potential growth, and added value for Cu Chi and the whole region.

HCM City is also urgently implementing its planning with an innovative mindset, and a long-term, strategic, sustainable vision for the development of the Cu Chi area. Relevant agencies will review and evaluate the investor' proposals and facilitate the groups business activities in Viet Nam.  VNA/VNS
TOKYO  Vietnamese food has drawn much attention from Japanese consumers as it has been featured at the Foodex Japan 2025 - one of the largest international food and beverage exhibitions in Asia, which kicked off in Tokyo on March 11.

As part of the national trade promotion programme, the Agricultural Trade Promotion Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment sent a delegation of 27 businesses to exhibit at the Vietnamese booth at Foodex Japan 2025.

Among the participating businesses are the ong Giao Foodstuff Export Joint Stock Company (Doveco), Masan, and Vinamilk, with familiar brands including processed and canned vegetables, canned fruit juice, Omachi instant noodles, Chinsu chili sauce, and Ngoi sao Phuong Nam milk.

Viet Nam's 210 sq.m booth at the exhibition has an attractive design, incorporating many colours and images of typical Vietnamese products, making it stand out at the fair. The participating companies carefully selected and displayed their products, inviting visitors to sample dishes at the expo.

Nguyen Thi Yen, Deputy Director of the Agricultural Trade Promotion Centre , said that the businesses participating in Foodex Japan 2025 have already established a presence in the Japanese market. Thus, this year's goal is to maintain their market presence in Japan while further developing and expanding into other international markets.

She emphasised that through Foodex Japan 2025, Vietnamese companies have the opportunity to penetrate the Japanese market, increasing exports of agricultural, food, and seafood products.  VNS
HCM CITY  An international filming competition for students is being held in HCM City, attracting participants from nearly 100 universities across 15 countries and territories.

The event highlights the application of advanced technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), to express innovative artistic ideas.

Hosted by Van Lang University, the International Student Media Art Festival (ISMA 2025) is being held in Viet Nam for the first time and will run until June. The festival underscores AIs growing influence in the fields of arts and media, offering a platform for students to blend innovation with artistic expression.

The event features entries from prominent institutions such as the Beijing Film Academy, China Academy of Art, New York University, and Michigan State University, along with participants from the US, Europe, the Republic of Korea, Australia, and Brazil.

ISMA 2025 comprises three standout activities aimed at fostering collaboration between students and industry experts. The Media Art Contest, an online competition, invites students to compete in four categories: Short Films, Animated Art, Interactive Art, and AI-Driven Storytelling. Each category emphasises technological integration to inspire fresh creative ideas.

Adding excitement to the festival is the 72-Hour Workshop, where 20 student teams will race against time to produce films centred on the theme: "Humans  Rivers  Environment.

Rounding out the event is the Academic Forum, where design education experts will gather to discuss emerging trends shaping the future of media and communications.

Under the theme "Future Communication: Humans  Rivers  Environment", ISMA 2025 encourages students to explore the intricate connections between humanity, nature, and society through imaginative storytelling powered by AI innovation. VNA/VNS
JAKARTA  The state visit to Indonesia by Party General Secretary To Lam, his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Indonesia and Chairman of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) Prabowo Subianto received extensive coverage from local media outlets on Monday.

Major Indonesian news organisations, including the news agency Antara and the national newspaper Kompas, provided comprehensive reports on the red-carpet welcome ceremony in Jakarta on Monday. The publications highlighted the highest-level protocols extended to the Vietnamese delegation.

The Indonesian press also reported on the Vietnamese leader's participation in an event commemorating Viet Nam's 30th anniversary of ASEAN membership at the ASEAN Secretariat headquarters. During this gathering, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn emphasised Lam's role in guiding Viet Nam and contributing to ASEAN during turbulent times.

Under the leadership of Party General Secretary To Lam, Viet Nam is entering a new era of national development, TV news Liputan6 quoted the ASEAN Secretary-General as saying.

The media also highlighted Lam's policy speech at the ASEAN Secretariat, where he outlined several strategic directions for enhancing ASEAN's prestige and role in the coming period. These include ensuring strategic autonomy and flexibility to better adapt to challenges amidst strategic competition, strengthening economic resilience, promoting the blocs identity and values through enhanced cultural connections and people-to-people exchanges, establishing behavioural norms to harmonise regional relationships based on balance, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation, and focusing on resolving internal issues to support Myanmars stability and development as well as Timor Lestes roadmap to full ASEAN membership.

The Indonesian media also reported on Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse's attendance at a concert marking the 70th anniversary of Viet Nam-Indonesia diplomatic relations held on Sunday.  VNS
JAKARTA  Viet Nam and Indonesia on Monday issued a Joint Statement on strengthening bilateral relations during the state visit to Indonesia by Viet Namese Party General Secretary To Lam.

The following is the full text of the Joint Statement.

JOINT STATEMENT ON STRENGTHENING BILATERAL RELATIONS BETWEEN INDONESIA AND VIET NAM

1. At the invitation of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, H.E. Prabowo Subianto, the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, H.E. To Lam and Madame Ngo Phuong Ly paid a State visit to Republic of Indonesia from 09  11 March 2025.

2. During the visit, President Prabowo Subianto and General Secretary To Lam engaged in discussions in a warm and amical atmosphere. Both Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to longstanding friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Indonesia and Viet Nam.

3. The two leaders emphasised that since the establishment of the Strategic Partnership in 2013, both nations have made significant progress in deepening mutual trust, and cooperation. The partnership has expanded in scope and substance, encompassing key sectors such as politics, security, defense, trade, investment, agriculture, fisheries, maritime cooperation, education, information technology, and people-to-people exchanges.

4. Building on the progress made through the current Strategic Partnership, the two leaders agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Indonesia and Viet Nam, marking a significant milestone in celebration of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

5. With the elevation of bilateral relations to a higher level, both leaders are committed to advancing ties into a new chapter. They pledged to deepen relations in all channels, including between people to people and business communities. They also committed to strengthening political trust, enhancing cooperation, and coordinating efforts to address global challenges based on respect for international law, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence. Both sides also reaffirmed their adherence to the principle of non-interference in each others internal affairs and their shared commitment to ASEANs unity, resilience, centrality and inclusiveness, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

6. In the spirit of strengthening bilateral ties into the new chapter, both Leaders emphasised the importance of strengthening people-to-people exchanges between the two countries and conducting regular assessments through established bilateral cooperation mechanisms.

7. The leaders agreed to deepen economic cooperation to support Indonesia and Viet Nam joint effort to achieve high-income country status upon their respective 100th anniversary of independence in 2045. To this end, both countries have set a bilateral trade target of US$18 billion by 2028 and will continue to strengthen cross-sectoral economic cooperation. The leaders also agreed to expand cooperation into new areas for sustainable future such as green economy, food and energy security, Halal industries, fisheries, agriculture, maritime cooperation, science and technology, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and finance and banking.

8. Furthermore, both leaders underscored the importance of mutual support and close coordination in multilateral forums to address regional and global challenges of common concerns. They reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation and coordination within ASEAN, the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and inter-parliamentary platforms, contributing positively to regional and global problem-solving mechanisms. Both sides reiterated the commitment to strengthen ASEAN Community building process, including the realization of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and its Strategic Plans. Both leaders also reaffirmed the importance of promoting synergy between sub-regional cooperation framework, including the Mekong sub-region.

9. The two leaders assigned the two Foreign Ministries to work with relevant agencies in formulating a Plan of Action to effectively implement the decision to elevate bilateral cooperation through concrete and mutually beneficial initiatives.

10. The leaders discussed developments in the East Sea (the South China Sea) and reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace, security, stability, and freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with ASEANs consistent position. They underscored the importance of resolving disputes peacefully through legal and diplomatic means, in full compliance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

11. Both sides called on all parties to adhere to international law, exercise self-restraint, and avoid actions that could escalate tensions. They emphasized the need for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) in its entirety and the need to maintain and promote an environment conducive to the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) negotiations and encouraged the early conclusion of an effective and substantive COC in accordance with international law particularly the 1982 UNCLOS. Furthermore, both sides recognised the 1982 UNCLOS as the legal framework for all activities in the seas and oceans and reaffirmed its strategic importance in providing legal basis in regional and global maritime cooperation.

12. General Secretary To Lam expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Government and the people of Indonesia for their warm reception and hospitality and cordially invited President Prabowo Subianto to visit Viet Nam again at a convenient time. President Prabowo Subianto accepted the invitation with pleasure.  VNS
JAKARTA  General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam and President of Indonesia and Chairman of the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party Prabowo Subianto co-chaired a press meeting in Jakarta on Monday afternoon, revealing the outcomes of their talks and officially announcing the upgrade of the countries ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

President Subianto hailed the Vietnamese leaders visit, which coincides with the 70th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties (December 30, 19552025). He said Viet Nam and Indonesia share many similarities as well as development goals for the centenaries of the countries establishment.

The two sides agreed to strive for a bilateral trade turnover of US$18 billion in a balanced manner, he noted, welcoming Viet Nams increased investment in Indonesia.

In addition, the host said, they also concurred in stepping up cooperation in specialised areas, expanding ties in science, technology, innovation, and information technology towards establishing a digital economy partnership, and enhancing collaboration in new spheres such as green economy, digital economy, innovation, science  technology, and digital transformation.

Both sides also highly valued their countries constant coordination and mutual support at regional and international forums and organisations, especially the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Subianto said he will pay a visit to Viet Nam soon. He applauded the freshly inked agreements and expressed his hope that the deals will generate tangible benefits to contribute to both countries socio-economic development.

Talking to the press, General Secretary Lam noted the talks, taking place with openness, straightforwardness, sincerity, and mutual understanding, were highly successful.

The two sides were delighted that over 70 years of diplomatic relations, including more than 10 years of the strategic partnership, the Viet Nam  Indonesia cooperation has been growing strongly and extensively with deepened political trust, according to the CPV leader.

During the talks, he went on, the two sides shared the view that their countries relations have been flourishing, becoming increasingly substantive and effective in various fields. Mutual visits at all levels have been held frequently while bilateral cooperation mechanisms maintained. Connections in such areas as defence, security, trade  investment, agriculture, air transportation, tourism, and people-to-people exchange have turned more and more fruitful.

Viet Nam and Indonesia have also kept coordination and mutual support at regional and international forums, especially ASEAN, the United Nations, and the Non-Aligned Movement. The countries have stayed steadfast in ASEANs principled stance on the issues related to regional and global security and development. They also share the viewpoint on promoting sustainable and even development of sub-regions, including the Mekong sub-region, Lam remarked.

He said the upgrade of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership was based on the traditional friendship, the achievements obtained so far, mutual understanding and trust, many similarities in their interests and strategic priorities, as well as the joint vision on regional security, prosperity, and sustainable development.

The CPV chief described the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership as a historic milestone which opens up a new era for bilateral cooperation via all channels and in all aspects, thus promoting result-oriented and effective relations for the sake of the two peoples, along with peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world at large.

Prior to the press meeting, General Secretary Lam and President Subianto witnessed the exchange of bilateral cooperation documents, including a letter of intent on cooperation in building capacity in the fields of technique and digital economy between the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Indonesian Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs; a letter of intent on cooperation in science, technology, and innovation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology and the Indonesian Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education; and an agreement on implementing aquaculture cooperation between the Directorate of Fisheries under the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Directorate General of Aquaculture under the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries.  VNS
JAKARTA  General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam met with Speaker of the Regional Representatives Council (Senate) of Indonesia Sultan Bachtiar Najamudin in Jakarta on Tuesday morning, within the framework of his state visit to the country.

Sultan Bachtiar Najamudin expressed his joy over the positive developments in the bilateral relationship, especially the elevation of their partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on this occasion.

He affirmed that in his capacity, he will strive to play an active role and make significant contributions to promoting multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, including sharing experience in government oversight activities and enhancing locality-to-locality collaboration.

Congratulating Indonesia on its recent achievements in various fields, Lam appreciated the countrys growing international reputation and position, both regionally and globally.

He expressed his confidence that the people of Indonesia will continue to achieve even greater and more significant successes in the future.

The two leaders agreed that Viet Nam and Indonesia share a long-standing friendship, common interests, and similar viewpoints. As active ASEAN members, both nations see strong potential to further strengthen their bilateral ties.

They highlighted the importance of deepening the newly established Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which benefits their people and contributes to a united, resilient, and strong ASEAN.

Both sides praised the role of central and local government agencies in fostering cooperation and agreed that closer collaboration between legislative bodies and parliamentary groups would enhance political trust and lay the foundation for more effective partnership.

On this occasion, Party leader To Lam conveyed an invitation from National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man to Speaker Sultan Bachtiar Najamudin to visit Viet Nam when time permits, which Najamudin accepted.  VNA/VNS
JAKARTA  Party General Secretary To Lam met with Speaker of the People's Representative Council of Indonesia Puan Maharani in Jakarta on Tuesday as part of the Vietnamese leaders ongoing state visit to the Southeast Asian country.

Warmly welcoming the Party chief, his spouse and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, Maharani highlighted the significance of the visit, which coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

She praised the resilience of the Vietnamese people in their struggle for independence and congratulated Viet Nam on remarkable achievements over the past nearly 40 years of oi Moi (Renewal), particularly in economic development, socio-political stability, and improving people's living standards.

The Indonesian speaker hailed the elevation of Viet NamIndonesia ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, affirming that her country highly values and continually promotes friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Viet Nam.

She expressed confidence that General Secretary Lams visit will provide a fresh impetus to strengthen and expand bilateral ties in the years ahead.

Maharani emphasised that the Indonesian People's Representative Council consistently supports the Government in enhancing relations with Viet Nam.

She highlighted the importance of fostering people-to-people exchanges as a foundation for long-lasting friendship between the two nations, and advocated for strengthening relations between political parties in Indonesia and the Communist Party of Viet Nam.

For his part, Lam showed his deep impressions of Indonesia and congratulated Indonesian people on their remarkable achievements across various fields. He said he is confident that Indonesian people will continue to attain new successes in the years to come.

Both leaders shared the view that Viet Nam and Indonesia hold crucial roles in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and are each others trustworthy partner sharing many interests and similar viewpoints.

They urged joint efforts to further expand bilateral relations between the two countries' Parties, Governments, parliaments, mass organisations, and localities, helping strengthen the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership in the time to come.

They agreed to boost economic and trade cooperation toward raising bilateral trade turnover to US$18 billion by 2028.

The leaders praised the robust and effective all-round cooperation between the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) and the Indonesian People's Representative Council within bilateral and multilateral frameworks.

They agreed upon the need to step up and expand collaboration across all fields, including organising regular all-level exchanges, and promoting activities of parliamentary friendship groups to foster experience sharing between the legislative bodies.

Additionally, the two sides concurred in enhancing information exchange as well as coordination and mutual support at international and regional parliamentary forums.

The Vietnamese Party leader expressed his hope that the Indonesian People's Representative Council and the Vietnamese NA, as representative bodies of the two peoples, will continue to contribute significantly to the friendship, multifaceted cooperation, and comprehensive strategic partnership between their countries.

On this occasion, he delivered an invitation from Vietnamese NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man to Maharani to visit Viet Nam for further parliamentary cooperation discussions, which she accepted.  VNA/VNS
JAKARTA  Party General Secretary To Lam, his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation left Jakarta on Tuesday, concluding their three-day state visit to Indonesia and official visit to the ASEAN Secretariat.

The visits were made at the invitation of President of the Republic of Indonesia and Chairman of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) Prabowo Subianto, and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn.

The delegation is now heading to Singapore for an official visit at the invitation of Singaporean Prime Minister and Secretary-General of the People's Action Party (PAP) Lawrence Wong.

President Prabowo Subianto came to the airport to bid farewell to Party chief To Lam and the high-ranking delegation of Viet Nam.

During his stay, the Vietnamese Party leader held talks with the Indonesian President; met with the Speaker of the People's Representative Council, the Speaker of the Regional Representatives Council, and the Chairperson of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR); hosted receptions for Indonesian corporations; and met with staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and mission in Indonesia.

He also attended the Viet Nam-Indonesia High-level Business Dialogue, and participated in a ceremony marking Viet Nam's 30 years of ASEAN membership where he delivered a policy speech.

At the events, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

They agreed to elevate the bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, pledging to strengthen political trust, cooperation, and coordination in addressing global challenges based on respect for international law, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence.

With the spirit of bringing bilateral relations to a new chapter, they underscored the significance of enhancing people-to-people exchanges and conducting regular assessments of the relations through existing cooperation mechanisms.

They also concurred to deepen economic collaboration to contribute to the common efforts of Viet Nam and Indonesia to become high-income countries by their 100th independence anniversaries in 2045.

To achieve this goal, the two countries set a bilateral trade target of US$18 billion by 2028 and will continue to strengthen cross-sectoral economic cooperation.

They agreed to expand cooperation to new areas for a sustainable future such as green economy, food and energy security, Halal industry, fisheries, agriculture, maritime cooperation, science and technology, digital transformation, AI, and banking and finance.

Laying stress on mutual support and close coordination at multilateral forums, the two sides reaffirmed commitment to bolstering cooperation and coordination at ASEAN, the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum, and inter-parliamentary forums, as well as to consolidating the ASEAN Community-building process.

They pledged to maintain peace, security, stability and freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with ASEANs consistent stance, emphasising the importance of peacefully settling disputes via legal and diplomatic measures and in full compliance with international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

On the occasion, Party chief Lam attended the ceremony announcing national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines' direct route connecting HCM City and Bali resort islands Denpasar. He also witnessed the exchange of multiple cooperation documents across areas.

Party General Secretary Lam's visit to the ASEAN Secretariat strongly demonstrates Viet Nam's strategic commitment to the bloc, affirming that ASEAN continues to be a top priority in Viet Nam's foreign policy in its new era.  VNA/VNS
JAKARTA  General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee To Lam held a series of high-level meetings with Indonesian leaders yesterday during his state visit to Indonesia, reinforcing the robust and deepening ties between the two nations.

During his meeting with Ahmad Muzani, Speaker of Indonesias People's Consultative Assembly, Lam underscored the importance of his visit in exchanging views with Indonesian leadership and solidifying political trust.

He expressed his admiration for Indonesias cultural richness and developmental strides, reaffirming Viet Nams commitment to enhancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations.

Muzani praised Viet Nams impressive socio-economic progress under its oi Moi (Renewal) process, noting that Lams visit marks a crucial step in bolstering bilateral cooperation.

The two leaders agreed to strengthen legislative ties, enhance legal cooperation and facilitate economic, trade and investment collaboration.

Muzani also reaffirmed Indonesias commitment to deepening ties with Viet Nam for mutual benefit and regional stability.

Both sides pledged to work closely within ASEAN and other regional and international forums to uphold unity and cooperation in Southeast Asia.

In a separate meeting with Speaker of the Indonesian People's Representative Council Puan Maharani, Lam emphasised Viet Nam and Indonesias significant roles within ASEAN and their shared interests.

Maharani highlighted the historic significance of the visit as the two nations celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

She expressed Indonesias appreciation for Viet Nams resilience and achievements in economic development, stability and improved living standards.

Maharani also confirmed Indonesias strong support for advancing bilateral ties and fostering people-to-people exchanges as a foundation for enduring friendship.

Both leaders agreed on measures to expand economic cooperation, setting a goal of raising bilateral trade turnover to US$18 billion by 2028.

They also committed to increasing legislative exchanges and experience-sharing between their respective parliamentary bodies to enhance policy coordination.

Lam also held talks with Sultan Bachtiar Najamudin, Speaker of Indonesias Regional Representatives Council.

Najamudin welcomed the strengthening of Viet Nam-Indonesia ties through the newly established Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, pledging his support in furthering multifaceted cooperation.

Both leaders underscored the importance of deepening political trust, legislative collaboration and local-level partnerships to advance shared development goals.

They highlighted the role of their legislative bodies in fostering bilateral ties and ensuring sustained cooperation in various fields, including security, economy, education and cultural exchanges.

At each meeting, Lam conveyed invitations from Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man to the Indonesian leaders to visit Viet Nam, all of whom accepted with pleasure.

Following the successful conclusion of his three-day state visit to Indonesia and official engagements with the ASEAN Secretariat yesterday, Party General Secretary Lam, accompanied by his wife Ngo Phuong Ly and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, departed Jakarta for Singapore at the invitation of Singaporean Prime Minister and Secretary-General of the People's Action Party Lawrence Wong.  VNS
SINGAPORE  General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam, his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, arrived in Changi Airport on Tuesday afternoon, beginning a three-day official visit to Singapore at the invitation of Prime Minister and Secretary-General of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) Lawrence Wong.

The Vietnamese delegation was welcomed by Singaporean Minister of Manpower Tan See Leng, Singaporean Ambassador to Viet Nam Jaya Ratnam, Chief of Protocol of the Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chia Wei Wen, Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Tran Phuoc Anh, and officials and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore.

This is the first visit to Singapore by Lam in his capacity as the CPV General Secretary, marking a new milestone in bilateral relations, and demonstrating Viet Nams special attention to elevating relations with Singapore to new heights, in line with Viet Nams foreign policy.

The visit is also expected to deepen the ties between the CPV and the PAP, laying a solid political foundation for the bilateral relationship. It will also contribute to further promoting cooperation between the two countries in such areas as green economy, digital economy, science-technology and innovation, clean energy, and financial centre development.

After upgrading their relationship to a Strategic Partnership in September 2013, Viet Nam-Singapore ties have been further deepened, proving effective across fields.

Besides the fine political bond, the Viet Nam-Singapore economic and trade cooperation stands out as a highlight in Southeast Asia.

Since 1996, Singapore has consistently been one of Viet Nams largest partners, with two-way trade reaching US$9 billion in 2023 and $8.64 billion in the first 10 months of 2024.

As of October 2024, Singapore remained the top ASEAN investor in Viet Nam and ranked second among 148 countries and territories investing in the country, with 3,838 valid projects worth $81.1 billion.

Singapore's investment projects are present in many provinces and cities across Viet Nam, focusing on manufacturing and processing industries; real estate; and production and distribution of electricity, gas, water, and air conditioners.

The Viet Nam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) are a symbol of economic cooperation between the two countries. Since the launch of the first VSIP in the southern province of Binh Duong in 1996, Viet Nam has become home to 18 VSIPs across 10 provinces and cities, the largest number of industrial parks developed by Singapore globally.

These parks have attracted nearly 900 projects worth over $18 billion in investment, and created jobs for over 300,000 workers. VSIPs serve as economic beacons, driving industrialisation and modernisation in Viet Nam while also contributing to regional supply chains and economic connectivity.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man hosted a reception in Ha Noi on Tuesday for Takebe Tsutomu, Special Advisor of the Japan-Viet Nam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance.

Man expressed his pleasure at meeting Takebe, a close friend of the Vietnamese people, and recalled the positive impressions from his meeting with leaders of the Japan-Viet Nam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance during his working visit to Japan in December 2024.

The top legislator assessed that the Viet Nam-Japan relationship has seen increasingly substantial and effective progress.

After more than a year of upgrading the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the ties between the two countries have continued to grow significantly across all fields. Political trust has continued to be strengthened; cooperation in investment, trade, labour, and tourism has been enhanced; and exchanges at high level and all levels have become closer.

For his part, Takebe said that his visit to Viet Nam aims to attend the 10th Viet Nam-Japan Cultural Festival. He expressed his delight at witnessing the inauguration of Metro Line 1 in HCM City, a project symbolising the good friendship between the two countries.

Takebe praised Viet Nam's remarkable development in economic, cultural, and social fields, affirming that the relationship between the two countries is at its best in history.

The advisor discussed and proposed several specific measures to promote friendly and cooperative relations between Viet Nam and Japan, including the development of Viet Nam-Japan University. He hoped that the Vietnamese NA Chairman will continue to pay attention to and promote the development of the university project.

Agreeing with Takebe's positive assessments of Viet Nam-Japan relations, Man stated that economic cooperation remained a pillar of the bilateral relations and is becoming increasingly stronger.

Japan is Viet Nam's number one partner in ODA and labour, third in investment, and fourth in trade and tourism. The bilateral trade turnover in 2024 reached US$46.2 billion. Notably, the success of the recent 10th Viet Nam-Japan Cultural Festival is a testament to the good relationship between the two countries.

He also appreciated and thanked Takebe for his dedicated contributions to promoting friendly and cooperative relations between Viet Nam and Japan, especially in cultural exchanges, people-to-people exchanges, locality-to-locality cooperation, and in education and human resource training.

Man suggested that in the near future, both sides continue to strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for more effective and substantive development.

He also called for enhanced exchanges of high-level delegations and at all levels across all channels of the Party, State, and NA, particularly strengthening exchanges between the Japan-Viet Nam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance and the Viet Nam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarians' Group, as well as cooperation among young and female legislators.

Furthermore, the top lawmaker emphasised the need to vigorously promote cultural, tourism, and people-to-people cooperation between the two countries.

Regarding the Viet Nam-Japan University project, the NA Chairman affirmed that this project holds symbolic significance in educational cooperation between the two countries and is of great interest to leaders of both nations.

Recently, the Vietnamese government agreed in principle to announce the mid-term public investment capital plan for the 2026-30 period for several important and urgent programmes and projects, including the Viet Nam-Japan University project.

Highlighting the significance of the university project, Man stated that he will pay attention to and promote the effective implementation of this project.  VNA/VNS
SINGAPORE  Party General Secretary To Lam and a high-ranking delegation of Viet Nam met with overseas Vietnamese intellectuals in Singapore on Tuesday to discuss and listen to petitions and suggestions for development policies, as part of their official visit to the city-state.

With extensive expertise and experiences in working in Singapore - a leading science, technology and economic centre in the region and the world and a model that Viet Nam can learn from, overseas Vietnamese intellectuals have made many practical and effective suggestions for Viet Nam to take full advantage of technological potential in key areas that play a core role in the country's breakthrough development such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors and investment.

They also proposed a number of policies to promote the application of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation in the State's national governance and the design, construction, and production of technological products of businesses.

Speaking at the meeting, General Secretary To Lam highly appreciated the enthusiastic contributions of overseas Vietnamese experts and intellectuals, saying that these proposals will help Viet Nam access advanced scientific achievements, improve competitiveness, and step up sustainable economic development.

The Party leader said that one of the main activities during this visit, in addition to strengthening the effective and substantive cooperation between Viet Nam and Singapore, is to meet with intellectuals, representatives of experts, researchers, scientists, prestigious scholars, outstanding children of the host country and the Vietnamese community in Singapore, to exchange, discuss and contribute ideas to Viet Nam's future development path.

Expressing gratitude towards the dedicated and responsible contributions of overseas Vietnamese intellectuals to the home country's development in recent times, he said that as Viet Nam is transitioning into a new era, the Party, State and people need to join hands to help the nation reach its development goals by 2045, becoming a developed country with high income and people with prosperous and happy lives.

Lam told the participants that the Party and State attach great importance to the role of science, technology, innovation and intellectual forces.

Recently, the Politburo issued Resolution No 57 on developing science, technology and innovation until 2030, with a vision to 2045.

The resolution clearly affirms the importance of breakthroughs in the field of science and technology, considering this a key task and a decisive factor to enhance the competitiveness of the economy, improve the quality of people's lives and ensure national security and sovereignty.

Agreeing with the practical and effective suggestions that the overseas Vietnamese intellectuals have shared, the Party chief urged continuing to research a major focus on serving the development of science, technology, and innovation; perfecting institutions and policies, removing bottlenecks and barriers to shift from institutions for management to those for competition in the development of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation, especially in the fields of investment, intellectual property, and scientific research.

He emphasised that to achieve the goal of Viet Nam mastering digital technology and the digital transformation process through specific measures, state agencies will continue to promote the application of science, technology, and innovation to improve the effectiveness of national governance; and at the same time, continue to encourage domestic businesses to design, create, construct and produce digital technology products with high added value.

Lam asked overseas Vietnamese intellectuals to actively cooperate and provide information for their home country, helping to build the Viet Nam Innovation Network and get access to advanced technologies and effective development models of Singapore and other developed countries.

The Parry leader also requested relevant ministries and sectors to research and consider concretising the above recommendations to realise breakthroughs in science and technology development to serve the countrys socio-economic development.  VNA/VNS
LAM ONG  Lam ong Province plans to turn 931ha of unproductive rice fields into short-term crops and perennial trees to cope with drought and adapt to climate change.

These rice areas are located in a Huoai, Lam Ha, on Duong, uc Trong and Di Linh districts.

The Province Peoples Committee has assigned the Department of Agriculture and Environment to instruct and inspect the implementation of the conversion.

It has asked the Peoples Committees of the five districts to convert these rice fields following regulations.

The Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) province is entering the peak of the dry season and localities are tightening measures to cope with drought and to secure enough water for agricultural production and household use.

The water levels of rivers, canals and springs in the province have reduced gradually since February and drought is expected to affect 11,000ha of farmland in the ongoing dry season, according to local authorities.

Localities and farmers have dredged canals and ditches, built irrigation works and stored fresh water in the ditches and ponds of orchards and fields.

Localities have set up plans to distribute irrigation water reasonably and encouraged farmers to use water efficiently.

Farmers have taken measures to store water to irrigate their crops in this dry season.

Nguyen Thanh Tung, who grows 5ha of durian in am Rong Districts a Rsal Commune, has proactively stored irrigation water in his orchards ponds.

He also uses a dripping irrigation system to save water and regularly checks his orchard to adjust irrigation properly, he said.

The province has ordered localities to increase advocacy activities to enhance public awareness about using water efficiently, and to mobilise people to participate in dredging canals and ditches to store more water.

It has asked localities to increase the building of small irrigation works and in-field irrigation works to cope with drought, and also encouraged farmers to dig small ponds to store water for irrigation.

Local authorities have provided financial support for farmers to switch to grow suitable crops in water-scarce areas and helped them apply advanced farming techniques to mitigate the impact of drought.

Farmers are instructed to prune branches and cover tree roots to keep soil moist.

In the last dry season, prolonged drought severely affected the lives of local people and agricultural production.

Nearly 300 households in Bao Loc City faced severe water shortage for daily use.

In Di Linh District alone, about 9,333ha of plants, mostly coffee, faced water shortage.

Most of the affected areas have no irrigation, are far away from rivers, canals and springs, and lack ground water.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment has warned farmers to switch to grow crops suited to local nature conditions.

The conversion of unproductive rice fields into growing other high-value crops and trees such as coffee and fruits in recent years has helped increase income for farmers and save irrigation water.

High-tech farming

Lam ong has 417,240ha of farming area, including 69,637ha of high-tech farming area.

The provinces key agricultural products are vegetables, flowers, coffee and fruits, with coffee accounting for the provinces largest farming area.

The province has more than 170,000ha of coffee and is the countrys second largest coffee producing province, after the neighbouring province of ak Lak.

The production value of coffee accounts for 60 per cent of the provinces total agricultural production value and creates jobs for hundreds of thousands of workers.

The province has three high-tech coffee farming areas covering a total of 683ha in Di Linh and Bao Lam districts.

It has encouraged farmers to grow coffee to organic standards, with origin traceability and linkages among stakeholders to meet export requirements and have guaranteed sales.

After participating in the model, KLong Ga Prang in Lac Duong Districts Lat Commune no longer worries about selling coffee and only follows the growing processes instructed by a local co-operative.

With the instruction of agricultural officials about growing techniques, farmers have improved harvesting techniques, and harvest only ripe coffee fruits. The price of coffee is increasing so farmers should follow the growing regulations of the co-operative to secure coffee quality, he said.

Coffee farmers had a bumper harvest and high selling prices in the last coffee harvest season, which lasted about one month between December and January.

The price of coffee beans was about VN127,000 (US$5) a kilogramme.

The province is developing specialised coffee growing areas in Lac Duong, Di Linh, Lam Ha, Bao Lam and uc Trong districts and a Lat City.

It has 116 farming areas covering a total of 5,597ha that have been granted production codes for export.

It has created conditions for companies, co-operatives and farmers to participate in fairs, exhibitions and events in the province and elsewhere to introduce and sell their agricultural products.

It has 463 agricultural co-operatives, with more than half of them having good operating efficiency.  VNS
HA NOI  The Politburo on February 28 announced a policy to waive tuition fees for students from preschool to high school in the public school system nationwide, starting from the 2025-2026 academic year in September 2025.

Private and non-public school students will receive tuition subsidies equivalent to tuitions in public schools, with families covering any difference in fees.

The tuition exemption policy aims to meet the nations development and defense requirements, reflecting the preeminence of the regime and the commitment to ensuring equal access to education, leaving no one behind.

Currently, Viet Nam has 23.2 million students, excluding those studying at vocational and continuing education centres. The figure includes 3.1 million preschool children under the age of five, 1.7 million five-year-old preschoolers, 8.9 million primary school students, 6.5 million junior high school students, and 3 million senior high school students.

The Ministry of Education and Training estimates the state budget will need to allocate approximately VN30 trillion (US$1.17 billion) annually to implement this policy. Ten provinces and cities, including Vinh Phuc, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Yen Bai, Quang Nam, Khanh Hoa, a Nang, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Long An, have already waived tuitions for students in the 2024-25 school year. The central budget will cover the remaining costs after deducting contributions from these provinces and cities.

The budget requirement will vary based on tuition levels set by each provincial/municipal Peoples Council, following the governments minimum and maximum tuition regulations.

The ministry emphasised that the policy is in line with Viet Nams commitment to ensuring equitable access to education, reflecting the nations progressive approach and long-term investment in educational quality. The initiative is expected to create strong public support and is conformable to the regime's preeminence, and the Party and State's policy on education as well as common trends in developed countries.

Positive response from parents and educators

The Politburos decision has been warmly welcomed by parents, who view it as a major relief from financial burdens and a step toward educational equality.

Nguyen Thi Minh, a mother of three in Ha Noi, expressed her excitement about the new policy. With two children in secondary school paying over VN300,000 (US$11.7) per month and one in preschool with fees exceeding VN200,000, her familys monthly tuition costs total more than VN500,000.

Tuition fees may seem manageable, but combined with expenses like meals, daycare, and extracurricular activities, the financial strain is significant. The policy alleviates some of that burden, especially during tough economic times, Minh said.

Luong Thanh Nga, a single mother in Ha Noi who is raising two children, shared similar sentiments. Balancing a full-time job with an online business to support her childrens education, Nga was overjoyed by the news.

Im thrilled knowing my children wont have to pay tuitions from next year. The policy offers real hope and fairness, ensuring no child is left behind, regardless of their familys financial situation, Nga said.

Educators also welcomed the policy. Nguyen Thi Van Hong, Principal of Chuong Duong Secondary School, in Ha Noi's Hoan Kiem District, said the decision was applauded by both teachers and students.

Despite being located in the capitals downtown district, the school serves many students from underprivileged families who have migrated to Ha Noi in search of work. Hong noted that the school has long supported students from disadvantaged backgrounds by covering their tuition fees.

Not all parents accept financial aid, and some students consistently delay payments due to their families hardships. This tuition waiver policy is a tremendous relief for the school's teachers and students, and ensures that our students can focus on their studies without financial concerns, Hong said.

Beyond a financial support, the significance of this policy lies in the governments commitment to equitable education and the principle that education is the nations top priority, Hong said, expressing her hope for continued investment in education, recognising it as an investment in human development and the countrys future.  VNS
BA RIA - VUNG TAU  An exhibition was held on 10 March in Vung Tau City to showcase Viet Nams historical sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) islands through significant historical documents, maps, and artefacts.

The State Records Management and Archives Department, in collaboration with the Vietnam Military History Museum, Naval Museum and Naval Region 2 Command, organised "Hoang Sa, Truong Sa  Sacred Islands and Seas and Viet Nam People's Navy  70 Years of Defending the Seas" at Brigade 171 of Naval Region 2 Command based in the city.

Colonel o Hong Duyen, deputy political commissar of the Naval Region 2 Command, said the exhibition is a practical and meaningful activity to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Viet Nam People's Navy (May 7) and the 50th anniversary of Southern Liberation and National Reunification (30 April 1975  30 April 2025).

The event underscores the countrys steadfast commitment to protecting its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa islands, reinforcing historical evidence through objective and concrete documentation.

It aims to educate military personnel, students and the public, especially younger generations, about the importance of safeguarding the nations sovereignty and maritime heritage while inspiring patriotism and national development.

The exhibition features nearly 200 valuable documents, maps, and images sourced from the National Archives Centres, the Viet Nam Military History Museum, the Naval Museum, and international archives from France, the US and elsewhere.

Notably, for the first time, newly revealed historical records from Viet Nam's National Archival Fonds, dating back to the 19th century, are presented, including the Nguyen Dynastys royal documents and woodblocks recognised as world documentary heritage by UNESCO.

The exhibition is divided into two main sections.

Section 1 is called Hoang Sa, Truong Sa  Sacred Islands and Seas.

Its first subsection, Hoang Sa, Truong Sa  An Integral Part of Viet Nam, showcases historical legal, and administrative documents affirming Vietnam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa islands through different periods.

This includes ancient records from the Nguyen Dynasty, French colonial documents recognising Viet Nams governance over the islands, government records from the Republic of Viet Nam (19541975) documenting administrative control and sovereignty enforcement, and current legal documents from the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam upholding sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The second subsection, Defending Maritime Sovereignty, spotlights the consistent policies of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and the State in safeguarding the nations maritime territory, with the Viet Nam People's Navy as the core force in protecting the countrys sovereignty over its islands and seas.

The third subsection, Pride in Our Homelands Seas and Islands, highlights the countrys maritime economic strategy and the economic potential of the seas and islands, particularly Hoang Sa and Truong Sa; and the deep connection between coastal communities and the broader society with Viet Nam's maritime territories.

Section 2 of the exhibition, celebrating the 70th anniversary of the navy and curated by the Naval Museum, outlines the country's maritime strategic position and the role of its naval forces; the heroic traditions of the Viet Nam People's Navy, featuring eight key historical naval victories; modernisation efforts in developing a revolutionary, professional, elite, and modern navy; and Viet Nams diplomatic and defence cooperation in maritime security.  VNS
KUALA LUMPUR  Malaysia is preparing for a significant influx of Muslim tourists this Ramadan, expecting between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors drawn by the countrys vibrant Islamic cultural celebrations and religious tourism experiences.

Dr. Wan Muhamad Adam Wan Norudin, President of the Association of Bumiputra Tourism Operators of Malaysia (Bumitra), said Malaysias reputation as a top Ramadan destination continues to grow, attracting visitors mainly from Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar.

The country is also seeing a rise in tourists from Turkiye, eager to experience unique cultural events like special festivals, concerts, and other activities in Putrajaya.

Many of these Muslim tourists are expected to arrive in the final week of Ramadan, when festive promotions and shopping are in full swing. For Muslim visitors, its an opportunity to observe Ramadan in a Muslim-majority country, share meals with the local community, explore bustling Ramadan markets, and participate in prayers.

Between January and November 2024, Malaysia welcomed 4.82 million Muslim tourists, primarily from Indonesia, Brunei, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Kazakhstan.

While Malaysia remains a favoured destination for Muslim travellers, it is now focusing on attracting Chinese Muslim visitors. With a Muslim population of around 100 million, many of whom have yet to visit Malaysia, the country sees significant potential in this market. VNA/VNS
WASHINGTON  Japanese economy, trade and industry minister Yoji Muto said he has not received a commitment from the US government to exempt Japan from the planned tariffs, following meetings with US economic officials in Washington on Monday.

Muto added that discussions would continue at the working level.

Muto held closed-door meetings with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and National Economic Council Chair Kevin Hassett, who is responsible for economic policy planning and coordination.

Muto said during a press conference after the meetings that, so far, there have not been any decisions made to exclude Japan from the tariffs.

He confirmed that Japan and the US would continue negotiations at the working level regarding tariffs.

In the meetings, the Japanese side argued that Japan should be exempted from the tariffs as the investments by Japanese companies in the US contribute to the economy and job creation.

I expressed that our country should not be subject to these tariffs, Muto said. [The U.S. side] said it acknowledged Japans contributions with seriousness.  THE JAPAN NEWS/ANN
MANILA  The Philippine Presidential Office said on Tuesday that the country's police had executed an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against former President Rodrigo Duterte.

The arrest took place on Tuesday morning (local time), immediately after he arrived at an airport in the capital Manila from Hong Kong.

According to the office, the Interpol office in Manila has received the official copy of the arrest warrant from the ICC.

The Philippine National Police executed the ICC arrest warrant against Duterte in connection with his controversial policy in the war on drugs while in office, which left thousands of people dead, it said.

Duterte's former lawyer said the arrest warrant was "illegal" as the former president had no legal representation at the time of his arrest.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said that it is ready to reinforce efforts to uphold national security and stability when necessary, following the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte for his alleged crimes against humanity.

Ex-President Duterte cries illegal detention

Former president Rodrigo Duterte cried out illegal detention at Villamor Airbase after he was served an arrest warrant from the ICC.

Based on a series of videos posted by Dutertes daughter, Veronica or Kitty, on Instagram, Duterte raised the issue inside at Villamor Airbase on Tuesday while in a conversation with Prosecutor General Anthony Fadullon.

Former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, who was also present in their conversation, pointed out that no apparent case was presented to Duterte when he was served an arrest warrant. He also reminded Fadullon that the country was no longer a member state of the ICC.

ICC cites reasonable grounds in issuing arrest order

The ICC has cited reasonable grounds in issuing an arrest warrant for former President Rodrigo Duterte for the crimes against humanity he allegedly committed during his administrations bloody war against drugs.

Based on a copy of the arrest warrant obtained from the National Union of Peoples Lawyers (NUPL), ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I Presiding Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc issued the order on Friday, March 7, but was certified by ICC Registrar Osvaldo Zavala Giler on March 10.

According to the warrant, the chamber believes Duterte is individually responsible for the crime against humanity of murder as an indirect co-perpetrator within the meaning of article 25(3)(a) of the Statute.

The chamber also found reasonable grounds to believe that Duterte established and headed the so-called Davao Death Squad or DDS, composed of police officers and civilian hitmen whose mission was to kill suspects.

There are reasonable grounds to believe that this attack was both widespread and systematic: the attack took place over a period of several years, and thousands people appear to have been killed, the warrant reads, noting that the DDS was initially called the Lambada Boys when Duterte first became Davao mayor in 1998.

The material before the Chamber shows that the killings shared common features, such as the location and modus operandi, including the method of killing, the profiles of victims and the profiles of perpetrators, it adds.

The chamber also found reason to believe that Duterte and state forces agreed to neutralize individuals identified as criminals not limited to drug offenders  initially in Davao and subsequently throughout the country.

Furthermore, the chamber believed that at least 19 individuals were killed by DDS in Davao City and 24 more under the supervision of Philippine law enforcers.

The chamber explained the arrest of Duterte is necessary to ensure his appearance before the ICC because there is no reasonable expectation that he would cooperate with a summons to appear issued by the Court.

The Chamber observes that Mr Duterte, even though no longer the President of the Philippines, appears to continue to wield considerable power, the warrant reads.

Mindful of the resultant risk of interference with the investigations and the security of witnesses and victims, the Chamber is satisfied that the arrest of Mr Duterte is necessary within the meaning of article 58(1)(b)(i) of the Statute to ensure his appearance before the Court, it adds.  VNA/INQUIRER.NET/ANN
As a country where agriculture accounts for the largest proportion (73.3 per cent) of the economy, agricultural exports are one of Vietnams top development goals. The US, with an agricultural export market share of 21.7 per cent and Europe with 11.3 per cent in 2024, continue to be Vietnams largest and most important agro-export market.

Tran Tuan Minh, director, Vietnam-ASEAN Trade and Investment Promotion Centre

Tariff barriers are often expressed in three main forms: high import taxes, tariff quotas, and preferential tariffs, and tax rate discrimination.

For Vietnamese agricultural products, the current US tariff schedule applies different tax rates for each type of agricultural product. Coffee is currently not subject to import tax because the US has to import raw coffee from many countries, cashew nuts enjoy a most-favoured-nation tax rate of zero, fresh fruits and vegetables such as mango, dragon fruit, and rambutan have tax rates from 5-15 per cent, while honey is subject to anti-dumping tax of 58-61 per cent.

However, Vietnam does not have any agro-products subject to self-defence tax by the US government.

The EU tariff system for agricultural products imported from Vietnam has undergone important changes since the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) took effect in 2020. However, to enjoy tariff incentives, Vietnamese agricultural products exported must meet the rules of origin as prescribed by the EVFTA, strict food safety and quarantine standards set by the EU, and a number of other regulations.

As an industry with lower profit margins than some other industries and efficiency based largely on output, trade policy affects the long-term and sustainable development of Vietnamese agricultural exporters. Low export value leads to a corresponding decrease in input material purchase prices, directly affecting farmers, producers, and the domestic agricultural sector.

However, US tariff barriers also have many positive effects on Vietnams exports. With many strict import standards with regulations on plant quarantine, food safety and traceability, Vietnamese enterprises have to improve product quality through improving production, while applying modern technology and international standards. When the quality meets such standards, agricultural products can also penetrate markets such as the EU, Japan, and Canada.

Tariffs will create incentives for investment in the agricultural sector. Enterprises and farmers are encouraged to invest in processing technology, post-harvest preservation, and sustainable farming to meet export standards. International investors are also more interested in Vietnams agriculture, and international investment contributes greatly to the modernisation of the industry and the improvement of competitiveness.

The US requirements for Vietnamese agricultural products force enterprises to build transparent supply chains, and thereby move towards forming sustainable supply chains.

Finally, tariff barriers will create incentives for trade preferential negotiations. Although there is no FTA with the US, meeting high standards can create a premise for future tariff reduction negotiations.

The positive impacts of the EU tariff system on Vietnams agricultural exports are most clearly demonstrated by the benefits that the EVFTA brings. Firstly, it significantly reduces import tariffs on Vietnamese agricultural products, helping enterprises reduce export costs, increase competitiveness, and create a great advantage compared to competitors that do not have an FTA with the EU. In the context of the EUs high demand for clean food, Vietnamese enterprises will have many opportunities to expand their export markets to the EU.

The deal also encourages investment in the agricultural sector because when tariffs are reduced, enterprises have the opportunity to increase profits and add capital to invest in technological innovation and improve product quality. In addition, many EU enterprises are also interested in and investing in Vietnams agricultural sector to take advantage of EVFTA incentives.

The EU tariff system also brings many challenges. Competition between countries that benefit from low tax policies when exporting agricultural products to the EU will still exist. Strict and stringent requirements on rules of origin, technical barriers and quality standards increase production costs and export times.

Vietnamese businesses may also be affected when the EU applies trade defence measures, such as anti-dumping or anti-subsidy duties on Vietnamese products, or the EU may apply tariff quotas if there is a sudden increase in import volume.

To achieve its set goals, Vietnam needs to have solutions to encourage export efficiency. The government needs to boost trade negotiations to reduce import taxes, as well as sign bilateral trade agreements that are beneficial to export goals.

In addition, the government must move to harmonise the trade balance between Vietnam and the US as well as the EU to reduce the risks of tariffs occurring when the trade balance is too unequal. For businesses, diversifying export markets by expanding old markets as well as finding new markets are significant goals. Businesses must also focus on developing added value for Vietnamese agricultural products, especially shifting from raw exports to deep processing, to increase product value and reduce the impact of tariffs.

Hanoi aims for sustainable agriculture through innovation Hanoi is committed to supporting farmers with cooperative links, digital transformation adoption, and the sustainable development of agriculture and the rural economy, according to the city's leaders.

Hanoi seeks to transform urban agriculture Hanoi is enhancing its urban agriculture with high-tech and ecological farming models, with efforts directed towards concentrated production areas and planning challenges for sustainable growth.
Vietnam is improving local products and origin of goods information, photo Le Toan

Later this week, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien will fly to the US to work with its Department of Commerce on further materialising the comprehensive strategic partnership forged in 2023.

The main reason for the trade imbalance between the two countries comes from the complementary nature of the two economies, which is due to the export and foreign trade structure of the two countries, said Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan at last weeks governmental press conference in Hanoi.

Vietnamese exports to the US compete with those from third nations, not directly with US enterprises in the US market. Meanwhile, they even also create conditions for American consumers to use Vietnamese goods at cheap prices, Tan added.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), Vietnam is an open economy which pursues a free trade policy. The tariff difference on US goods is not high and may decrease in the future because Vietnam will reduce most favoured nation tariffs on many types of goods.

Therefore, a number of US products with high competitive advantages such as automobiles, agricultural products, liquefied natural gas, and ethanol will benefit from this policy, Tan said. At the same time, it will create positive import flows from the US, contributing to improving the trade balance between the two.

In addition, there is an ongoing policy dialogue on trade and investment between the two countries under the Vietnam-US Trade and Investment Framework Agreement founded in 2007. Therefore, existing problems in bilateral trade and economy, if any, will be proactively discussed through the US-Vietnam Council on Trade and Investment.

This is a mechanism that has created a common vision, contributed to the long-term direction, and stabilised the development of bilateral economic and trade relations, the MoIT said.

In addition, the Vietnamese government has taken the initiative in assigning ministries and sectors to review obstacles to the US on the basis of fair trade, reciprocity, in accordance with the law, harmoniously and satisfactorily meeting the interests of all parties, the ministry added.

Vietnam will also create better conditions for US investors to participate in the process of forming and developing key industries in Vietnam, especially key energy projects involving new energy, hydrogen, and nuclear power, Tan explained. This will create a premise to increase imports of liquefied natural gas, fuel, machinery and equipment, and technology from the US, thereby contributing to improving the trade balance between the two countries.

Via the US Embassy to Vietnam and the countrys counterpart in the US, the MoIT has sent a message that Vietnam wishes to maintain and develop a harmonious and sustainable economic and trade relationship of mutual benefits with the US. At the same time, Vietnam reaffirmed that it has and will never create any policy that hurts labourers or the national security of the US.

Since returning to office in January, US President Donald Trump has launched a sweeping series of tariffs, marking a return to the aggressive trade policies of his first term. The measures reflect the administrations broader effort to protect domestic industries and address what the president views as unfair trade practices.

According to Asia Briefing, a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates, as a major supplier of goods to the US, the tariffs could significantly impact Vietnamese exporters.

It is also possible that Vietnam will become the target of country-specific tariffs, as the country has a large trade surplus with the US and has previously been accused by the US administration of engaging in unfair trade practices, Asia Briefing said. However, Vietnam may be able to mitigate the impact by striking a deal with the US, especially if it agrees to increase imports of American goods or ease market access for businesses from the US.

However, Adam Sitkoff, executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hanoi, told VIR that it was too early to gauge the impact of tariffs. In the past month, Vietnamese officials have repeatedly said they would seek compromises with the US on trade.

This is likely to include promises of additional aeroplane purchases, boosting Vietnams imports from the US of liquefied natural gas, better market access for American agricultural products, and an adjustment of some regulations to make it easier for US companies to access the Vietnamese market, Sitkoff said.

He suggested that Vietnam should take some necessary actions, including creation of more transparency in the origin of goods and increasing local content, and doing more to solve burdens and barriers faced by American companies and investors here.

Vietnams exports to the US reached $119.6 billion last year and $19 billion in the first two months of 2025.

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What is the background and reasoning for the issuance of Decree 20?

Dinh Mai Hanh, tax partner and national transfer pricing leader at Deloitte Vietnam

Over the years, tax authorities have intensified oversight of high-value financing transactions, particularly where enterprises borrow from commercial banks. This increased scrutiny arises from findings during tax audits and inspections, where tax authorities identified instances of corporate groups intentionally structuring loan transactions through banks as intermediaries to minimise tax liabilities or shift profits offshore.

Specifically, instead of directly lending to subsidiaries - a transaction that constitutes a related-party transaction - parent companies deposited funds with a commercial bank, which subsequently extended a loan to the subsidiary in Vietnam under arms-length terms.

While, in principle, the subsidiary appeared to be borrowing from an independent financial institution without any direct association with the parent company, in practice, the bank merely served as an intermediary, arranging the loan to reduce taxable income and tax liabilities in Vietnam, resulting in erosion of the states tax base.

Under Clause 5 of the previous decree, a lender and borrower were deemed to have a related-party relationship if the loan amount exceeded 25 per cent of the borrowers contributed capital and constituted more than half of the borrowers total medium  and long-term debt. As a result, enterprises that secured large loans from commercial banks reaching these thresholds were classified as engaged in related-party transactions.

Many businesses have raised concerns that classifying commercial banks as related parties solely based on the size of loan transactions is not reasonable. What is your perspective?

This issue posed significant operational challenges for businesses. Our conversations with clients have highlighted a common challenge: enterprises require substantial financing, particularly from commercial banks, to sustain and expand business operations. The ability to secure bank loans is a legitimate commercial necessity.

However, under previous regulations, enterprises with large borrowings from commercial banks could be deemed to have a related-party relationship, despite the absence of equity ownership, control, or management influence.

This classification resulted in several implications. First of all, enterprises were required to prepare transfer pricing documentation, which imposed significant administrative costs and resource constraints. Secondly, enterprises were subject to an interest expense deduction cap of 30 per cent of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA), creating financial strain, particularly for businesses in investment phases yet to generate profits.

In the case of loss-making entities with negative EBITDA, all interest expenses became non-deductible, exacerbating financial pressures. These constraints posed challenges to accessing legitimate financing, which is a critical factor for business growth, particularly for startups and high-growth enterprises. Restrictions on interest deductibility could adversely impact profitability and limit expansion opportunities.

In your opinion, what is the significance of Decree 20 eliminating the related-party classification for commercial banks for businesses?

This is a highly positive development that brings tangible benefits to businesses. Under the new provisions of Decree 20, enterprises and commercial banks will no longer be considered related parties unless they have equity ownership, management, or control relationships with each other or through a third party.

This change reduces compliance burdens for businesses, particularly in terms of transfer pricing documentation requirements and interest expense limitations, ensuring that tax policies remain reasonable, transparent, and aligned with the principle of substance over form.

The removal of this related-party classification not only allows businesses to fully deduct legitimate interest expenses but also enhances access to financing, providing greater financial flexibility for reinvestment, expansion, and improved competitiveness. This is a significant step forward in fostering a healthier and more transparent business environment, supporting the long-term sustainable growth of the corporate sector.

If the related-party classification with commercial banks is no longer applicable, how will the excess interest expenses that exceeded the deductibility cap in previous years be treated?

For enterprises no longer classified as engaging in related-party transactions, interest expenses previously disallowed under historical limits (prior to 2024) are carried forward and deducted evenly over the remaining years within a five-year timeframe. However, for enterprises still engaged in other related-party transactions, the 30 per cent EBITDA cap on interest deductibility remains applicable. Given these developments, businesses are encouraged to conduct a thorough review of their related-party transaction status to optimise tax benefits while ensuring compliance with the revised regulations.

In addition to the aforementioned changes, are there any other notable amendments introduced in Decree 20?

The decree introduces a new category of related-party relationships for credit institutions with their subsidiaries, controlling companies, or affiliated companies, in accordance with the Law on Credit Institutions.

It also tightens regulations on related-party relationships within credit institutions, aligning with the same law.

The State Bank of Vietnam is now responsible for coordinating with tax authorities to provide information on related parties within credit institutions for tax administration purposes, upon request.

Additionally, the decree expands the scope of related-party disclosure requirements to include independent-accounting branches, making them subject to transfer pricing regulations. As a result, businesses must review, declare, and prepare appropriate documentation to demonstrate compliance with the arms-length principle for transactions involving independent-accounting branches, where applicable.

Furthermore, Decree 20 introduces Appendix I, which replaces the current related-party transaction disclosure form, enhancing transparency and consistency in reporting requirements. It takes effect on March 27, and applies retroactively from the 2024 corporate income tax period.

Given the significant regulatory updates, we recommend that enterprises promptly assess and evaluate the impact of these changes to ensure timely compliance in the upcoming tax finalisation period.
The signing ceremony took place on March 10 during the official state visit of Party General Secretary To Lam to Indonesia, highlighting the strengthening cooperation between the two nations in technology and energy.

According to the agreement, FPT will provide advanced AI technologies to optimise asset inspection and maintenance across Pertaminas operations. The project focuses on two key areas: enhancing asset reliability and improving workplace safety. AI technology developed by FPT in collaboration with Pertamina Marine Engineering will be deployed on Pertamina Hulu Energi Offshore Southeast Sumatra platforms to analyse data collected from drones, detecting anomalies, leaks, and structural damage to ensure the integrity of offshore assets. Additionally, at Pertamina Drilling Services Indonesia drilling sites, AI-powered systems will monitor compliance with personal protective equipment regulations, helping minimise risks and maintain a secure working environment.

Nguyen Van Khoa, CEO of FPT Corporation, said, Leveraging our expertise, experience, and advanced AI infrastructure and ecosystem, FPT aims to drive comprehensive digital transformation for Pertamina, Indonesias national oil and gas corporation, while playing a key role in realising the AI goals outlined in Indonesias National AI Strategy 2020-2045. This collaboration also creates opportunities for FPT to expand our expertise beyond energy into other sectors such as education, telecommunications, and agriculture."

"The AI-Based Monitoring and Inspection System for Oil and Gas Platforms, developed in collaboration with FPT, is one of Pertamina's key strategies and main focuses in enhancing asset integrity and operational efficiency in offshore upstream activities," said I Ketut Laba, president director of PT Pertamina Trans Kontinental.

FPT entered the Indonesian market in 2017 and has since then collaborated with top Indonesian enterprises across energy, banking and finance, and telecommunications. The company boasts over 200 experts across two major offices, with a third planned for opening in Yogyakarta this year to support the growing demand for digital transformation in Indonesia.

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The signing ceremony took place during an official state visit by Vietnam's Party General Secretary To Lam to Indonesia, marking a significant milestone in the strategic partnership between the two parties, as well as both nations.

The signing ceremony took place during Vietnam's Party General Secretary To Lams state visit to Indonesia. Photo: FPT

The agreement focuses on KMP Aryadhanas implementation of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives in critical areas such as waste management, digital education, cooperative education, and digital agriculture, supporting its food security programme. This collaboration aims to promote the adoption of advanced technologies, leveraging FPTs competitive strengths in AI, Blockchain, the Internet of Things, and Cloud across ESG framework sectors and education.

Digital transformation is pivotal for KMP Aryadhana as it accelerates Yogyakarta provinces innovation capacity, enhances sustainable development across key sectors, and strengthens its position as a cultural and educational leader in Indonesia. The cooperative is also in discussions with FPT to establish an AI lab and launch digital transformation initiatives in the education and ESG sectors, not only for Yogyakarta but for the broader Indonesian market and globally.

Nguyen Van Khoa, CEO of FPT Corporation, said, As a dynamic economy with an innovation-driven vision, Indonesia plays a crucial role in FPTs growth strategy in the Asia-Pacific region. Our collaboration with KMP Aryadhana not only strengthens the ties between Vietnam and Indonesia but also reinforces FPTs global competitiveness in emerging technologies, particularly AI.

We look forward to working with KMP Aryadhana to accelerate Indonesias digital transformation across key sectors such as waste management, digital education, forest resource management, and smart agriculture, he added.

Established in 2017, FPT Indonesia has achieved many milestones, affirming the companys global expertise. It has partnered with leading Indonesian corporations in sectors such as banking and finance, telecommunications, and energy.

With over 200 technology experts and two major offices in Indonesia, FPT plans to open the third one in Yogyakarta this year.

Prof.Dr. Ahmad Subagyo, chairman of KMP Aryadhana, said, KMP Aryadhana is grateful to have FPT's support for its programme, besides FPT's expertise and experience in technology. FPT has the international exposure to bring KMP Aryadhana's ESG initiatives to the world.

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A new house is under construction in Minh Cuong A hamlet of Minh Thuan commune, U Minh Thuong district, Kien Giang province. (Photo: VNA)

Kien Giang  The southern province of Kien Giang province is striving to complete its programme to eliminate makeshift and dilapidated housing by the end of June 2025, improving living conditions for disadvantaged households and contributing to the national campaign to eradicate substandard housing.

Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyen Tien Hai emphasised the need to maximise social resources, particularly the pledged funding, to meet the deadline.

He said local authorities must strictly manage funds, ensure transparency, and oversee construction progress. They are also tasked with identifying families in need to secure additional support.

The programme has received strong directions from the provincial Party Committee as well as financial contributions from organisations and inpiduals within and outside the province. With active participation from the entire political system and widespread public support, it has helped foster social solidarity and enhance rural development efforts.

This year, Kien Giang aims to assist with building 2,314 new houses, including 989 for poor households and 1,325 for near-poor ones, and repairing 485 houses, with a total cost exceeding 153 billion VND (6,000 USD).

As of now, the province has commenced construction on 920 new houses (39.7 per cent of the target), 335 of which have been completed and handed over. Meanwhile, repairs have started for 326 others (67.2 per cent of the target), with work on 28 already completed.

Four localities, including Giong Rieng, An Bien and Giang Thanh districts and Ha Tien city, have handed over 111 new houses for needy families, meeting their targets, reported the provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee.

To date, the province has secured 101.4 billion VND, covering 66 per cent of the required funding, for the programme. As 51.99 billion VND is still needed, it is pushing ahead with communications to raise public awareness and encourage broad participation from the community, businesses, and organisations to ensure success.

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Muong Thanh Tet 2025 marks a new milestone for Muong Thanh Group. This unique celebration represents a crystallisation of the cultural essence of diverse ethnic groups from the highlands, creatively and wholeheartedly reimagined by Muong Thanh Group.

It is a distinctive gift offered to visitors of the hotel chain, serving as a bridge to connect travellers to Vietnamese culture, and is a testament to the vision of a brand that is deeply committed to preserving and spreading the cultural values of a community.

Traditional ethnic dance

Stepping into the group's 61 hotels, visitors will feel as though they have entered a cultural space rich with the charm of the northwest highlands. Pure white flowers will accentuate the vivid backdrop of brocade fabrics, graceful Xoe and Sap dances, and hearty laughter from the traditional "nem con" (ball-throwing) game. All will come together to create a lively and captivating picture of Muong Thanh Tet.

Guests will have the chance to savour highland specialities such as aromatic five-colour sticky rice, smoked buffalo meat, fragrant Pa Pinh Top (grilled stream fish), and rich, tender local pork, among others. Each dish carries its own unique flavour and story, enriching the cultural experience for visitors.

While still deeply honouring the cultural identity of Vietnams ethnic groups, this years Muong Thanh Tet also reflects an alignment with modern trends; an integration without losing its essence. This demonstrates a determination to maintain its position as the "largest private hotel chain in Indochina" with a spirit of independence and unity, ensuring the Muong Thanh brand retains its distinct and unique character.

Muong Thanh Tet is not only a celebration of the iconic beauty of the northwest mountains and forests, but also a bold affirmation of the Muong Thanh Groups relentless ambition to rise. Like the ban flower, which braves the mist and cold winds to bloom proudly, the group has overcome all challenges to assert its position and spread beautiful cultural values across the nation and to international friends.

Muong Thanh-Dream Vacation awards honor over 100 young artists The award ceremony for the third season of the Travel with Muong Thanh - Dream Vacation painting contest was held at Muong Thanh Grand Hanoi Hotel on August 24, demonstrating support for the younger generation and the arts by awarding over 170 prizes to authors and clubs.

Muong Thanh group grants Dream Vacation An award ceremony was held for the third season of the Travel with Muong Thanh - Dream Vacation painting contest at Muong Thanh Grand Hanoi Hotel on August 24.

Indulge in nature at Muong Thanh Holiday Moc Chau Muong Thanh Holiday Moc Chau Hotel offers an ideal combination of natural beauty and luxurious comfort for visitors seeking to explore the pristine landscapes of Moc Chau.
On the morning of March 11, the government sought the Standing Committees approval for a 30 per cent reduction in land rental fees for 2024, citing persistent economic difficulties both domestically and internationally.

The measure aims to help businesses to recover while assisting individuals and organisations in localities severely affected by natural disasters and climate change last year.

Deputy Minister of Finance Bui Van Khang stated that the policy is expected to reduce land rental revenues by approximately $160 million, equivalent to the estimated 2023 land rent reduction of 30 per cent nationwide, accounting for about 0.26 per cent of total budget revenue.

"The reduction will not significantly impact overall state budget revenue but will have a substantial effect on the recovery and development of production and business," added Khang. "This will, in turn, boost state budget revenue from taxes, such as personal income tax and corporate income tax, to offset the shortfall caused by the bill."

Deputy Minister of Finance Bui Van Khang at the Standing Committee of the National Assembly's meeting. Photo: National Assembly

The land rental reduction policy was previously implemented from 2020 to 2023. On average, land and water surface rental fees were reduced by approximately $116 million per year.

From 2021 to 2023, the annual reduction increased to $149 million, contributing significantly to supporting businesses, organisations, households, and individuals in resuming production and business after the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a prior review, Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the National Assembly's Economic and Financial Committee, noted that most committee members agreed with continuing the land rental reduction policy in 2024.

"However, since the 2024 fiscal year has already ended, the governments delayed submission of this proposal to the Standing Committee creates difficulties in collecting, paying, refunding, or imposing penalties for late land rental payments," said Mai.

Mai urged the government to clarify whether this policy would continue in the coming years to avoid repeated procedural delays and redundant administrative processes.

Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the National Assembly's Economic and Financial Committee. Photo: National Assembly

Nguyen Dac Vinh, Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for Culture, Education, Youth and Adolescents, expressed concern that the 2024 land rental reduction policy was being proposed and implemented in 2025.

"In this regard, the Economic and Financial Committee recommends that the government clarify the impact of the revenue reduction on the state budget, as well as how to address arising issues when implementing the 2024 land rental reduction policy in 2025," added Vinh.

Explaining the delay, deputy minister Khang noted that given the economic difficulties businesses faced in 2024, the government had already extended the deadline for land rental payments until the end of last year.

As a result, most eligible entities had not yet made their payments, meaning the reduction could still be applied without significant obstacles.

"For organisations and businesses that have already made their payments, the reduction will be deducted from their land rental fees for the following year," Khang added. "In this proposal, the government is also seeking approval from the Standing Committee of the National Assembly to proactively implement land rental exemptions and reductions from 2025 onward, based on actual economic conditions."

MoF proposes tax and land rent payment extension for 2025 According to the MoF, this is an extension policy, not a tax exemption or reduction.

Vietnam to pilot digital asset and cryptocurrency exchange Vietnam is fast-tracking efforts to build a compelling exchange for digital asset and cryptocurrency transactions.

Finance ministry proposes lower tax rate for micro and small enterprises To support micro and small enterprises to accumulate capital and develop business, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) has proposed lowering the corporate income tax rate to 15-17 per cent for those with a total revenue of no more than 50 billion VND (1.99 million USD), instead of the current flat rate of 20 per cent.
Early this month, the board of directors at ICD Tan Cang-Long Binh JSC, which specialises in providing warehousing services, customs clearance services, and freight, finalised a list of shareholders eligible for bonus shares or the right to purchase new shares.

The real estate sector is expected to raise robust capital from the third quarter. Photo: baodautu.vn

ILB will issue 13.7 million shares, of which 12.35 million will be offered to existing shareholders at a price of VND20,000 ($0.8) apiece, with a subscription ratio of 50.4 per cent.

The raised amount is expected to surpass $9.8 billion, of which ILB will use $3.64 million to invest in a joint venture with Tan Cang Hoa Tieu Co., Ltd., while $6.24 million will be used to pay infrastructure costs to its parent company, Saigon Newport Corporation, which owns a 51 per cent stake in ILB.

Hanoi-based tech firm Elcom Technology Communications Corporation closed its shareholder list on February 24 for an offering of nearly 12.5 million shares at a ratio of 100:15, priced at $0.4 per share.

The total proceeds have been estimated at nearly $5 million, of which Elcom plans to use $3.28 million to repay principal and interest on several credit agreements and pay debts to suppliers.

The remaining $1.72 million will be injected into research for new technologies and products.

In addition, Elcom will issue approximately 4.2 million bonus shares to shareholders at a ratio of 100:5. After executing these two plans, Elcom's charter capital will increase from $33.3 million to $40 million.

For southern developer Nam Long Investment Corporation, the company has asked for shareholders' opinions on a plan to offer shares to existing shareholders during 2025.

The firm plans to issue beyond 100 million shares at a ratio of 100:26, with a price of $1 per share.

With about $100 million to be raised from the offering, Nam Long plans to use nearly $10.64 million to invest in two key subsidiaries: Nam Long Land and Nam Long Commercial Property. The funds will be disbursed in the last two quarters of this year.

In addition to offerings to existing shareholders, some businesses plan to conduct private placements for strategic shareholders.

For example, at the end of February, TDG Global Investment JSC announced a plan to issue nearly 6.5 million shares to four professional individual investors at a price of $0.4 per share.

The expected fund of nearly $2.6 million shall be for infrastructure construction for Bac Son 2 Industrial Cluster in the northern highland province of Lang Son in the first half of 2025.

On February 17, the State Securities Commission announced it had received an application for a share offering from Binh Duong Trading and Development JSC.

The company also plans to offer 35 million shares at a price not lower than $0.4 apiece, expecting to raise $14 million.

The entire sum will be used to repurchase part of the TDC.BOND.700.2020 bond batch ahead of schedule.

The bond batch, issued on November 9, 2020 with a total face value of $28 million, will mature on November 15 of this year.

The proceeds aim to pay dividends to the parent company, Becamex IDC Corporation, and to repay loans and bank interest.

Regarding stock market performance, Nguyen The Minh, head of analysis at Yuanta Securities Vietnam, said that the VN-Index surpassed the 1,300-point threshold mark in the final trading sessions of February.

In Minhs words, since 2024, the VN-Index had reached the 1,300-point threshold seven times. The key difference in the seventh instance is that the leading stocks are no longer just mid- and small-cap stocks but include significant participation from large-cap stocks, particularly from the steel, securities, and some banking sectors.

This has helped the VN-Index maintain the 1,300-point level more solidly compared to the previous six times.

Liquidity is also an important factor. In the past, when the VN-Index hit 1,300 points, liquidity would spike briefly at the threshold and then quickly decline.

Currently, liquidity has been maintained after the index surpassed the resistance level, indicating funds are not exiting but primarily circulating between different stock groups.

As a result, Minh believes that the current period is relatively favourable for businesses to realise capital through the issuance of shares and bonds.

Regarding investors, the Yuanta Securities expert recommended that before participating in additional share issuance offerings, investors should assess the companys internal strengths, future growth potential, and share price.

Investors need to compare the offering price with the trading price on the stock exchange to determine the reasonable price difference. Companies might push stock prices up before the offering to ensure its success, but afterward, prices may sharply decrease. The key is that the price after adjustment must still be higher than the purchase price, otherwise investors will face the risk of losses, Minh said.

More issuances approved to bolster securities capital Vietnamese securities firms are rapidly raising capital to enhance financial capacity, gearing up for market shifts and the expected upgrade to emerging market status.

Corporate bond issuances more than double in seven months Companies issued 161.5 trillion VND (6.43 billion USD) worth of bonds during January-July, or 2.6 folds higher than the same time last year, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) said on August 5.
E-commerce sellers will have to publicly announce transaction conditions and prices, among other things, photo Le Toan

In the draft Law on E-commerce released in February, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) highlighted the responsibilities of sellers on e-commerce platforms related to tax payment as well as tracing the origin of products.

The draft proposes that sellers must carry out e-identification and authentication, including name, address, identification number, and personal income tax code before doing business on online platforms.

In addition, sellers must publicly announce general transaction conditions, prices, transportation and delivery, payment methods; information on goods and services, regulations on protecting personal information, and consumer rights.

Vu Hoang Lien, chairman of the Vietnam Internet Association, said that e-commerce platforms were good locations for fake, counterfeit, and poor-quality goods to thrive. Every year, the authorities detect and handle thousands of violations on e-commerce platforms, and in cyberspace. Controlling sellers on e-commerce platforms is still a challenge for state management agencies.

There are many reasons for this trouble, including the lack of identification and e-authentication of sellers. The negative effects of online shopping are increasingly complicated, affecting security, order and social safety, Lien said.

He said that account identification for sellers was necessary to build a transparent e-commerce environment and strengthen trust between sellers and buyers. This is the driving force for the development of e-commerce, and creating a digitally civilised environment.

This may encounter some difficulties, but it is completely feasible. If we succeed, we will have both administrative and technological solutions. However, the most important is still the responsibility of both sellers and buyers to create trust in online trading because that is the core factor encouraging the development of e-commerce, Lien said.

Phan Minh Nhut, chairman of the Vietnam Anti-Counterfeiting and Intellectual Property Protection Association of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, said that it was now too easy for sellers to launch an online store. It is a loophole for bad guys to take advantage of e-commerce platforms to sell fake or poor-quality goods or evade taxes.

Management authorities, especially tax agencies, cannot fully monitor transactions and activities of sellers, while consumers cannot verify the reliability of online sellers. This directly affects the rights of consumers and reduces the reliability of e-commerce platforms, said Nhut.

He said that some countries had successfully applied seller identification through e-commerce. In Vietnam, it could be verified by the VneID application. If e-commerce accounts can be identified, sellers will carefully consider and choose goods to list on e-commerce platforms, and authorities can easily collect taxes from sellers, he added.

According to the Ministry of Finance, there were about 300,000 individuals selling goods on more than 400 platforms, and the tax amount this group paid was about $100 million last year.

In addition to this, many business booths on commercial platforms have not yet identified sellers. On the five major e-commerce platforms Shopee, Lazada, Tiki, Sendo, and Grab, more than 300,000 booths cannot be identified. The estimated revenue of this group is about $2.8 billion.

The ministry estimates that with the tax rate that online business households and individuals pay at 1.5 per cent on a total revenue of about $2.8 billion, the estimated tax revenue is about $40 million. However, the tax collected accounts for only about 20 per cent of the revenue of this market, many businesses have not declared and paid taxes following regulations.

Last November, the prime minister issued a telegram asking the Ministry of Public Security to preside over and coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to support e-authentication for e-commerce platforms. This aims to ensure that all organisations, businesses, and individuals are authenticated while doing business on e-commerce platforms, avoiding tax losses and other fraudulent acts.

In fact, some e-commerce platforms in Vietnam have authenticated seller accounts with citizen IDs, instead of email or social network accounts as before. Some large e-commerce platforms even require sellers to have a chip-embedded ID, business licence, and tax code. However, the number of such cases is few.

Nguyen Binh Minh from the Vietnam E-commerce Association said that in the past, thanks to easy registration of sellers on e-commerce platforms, users with fake information often opened many booths to avoid taxes or offer fake or poor-quality items.

In addition to tax loss, unless online sellers are not identified soon, consumers will be suspicious to buy on these platforms, leading to a decrease in e-commerce growth, he said.

According to the MoIT, Vietnams e-commerce has recorded strong growth. Specifically, Vietnams e-commerce sales reached $25 billion last year, from only $2.97 billion in 2014, equivalent to an annual average increase of 26.7 per cent, accounting for about 9 per cent of total retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue nationwide.

The proportion of the population participating in e-commerce reached over 60 per cent, with an average shopping value of about $400 per person per year.

Cross-border e-commerce surge propels coffee exports As Vietnam advances its digital trade revolution, cross-border e-commerce is playing an increasingly vital role in economic expansion, especially for major export sectors like coffee.

Temu spreads wings to take on e-commerce rivals Amid growing scrutiny over e-commerce regulations, Chinese platform Temu is accelerating its expansion into new markets.
Regulatory uncertainty means some crypto startups register in jurisdictions with more suitable policies, Photo:Shutterstock

Additionally, approximately 21.2 per cent of the Vietnamese population owns digital assets, making Vietnam the second-largest crypto market in the world by user base. Despite this surge in activity, the absence of a structured regulatory framework has left the industry in a legal grey area, with neither official recognition nor protection.

The consequences of this legal void are substantial. Without clear regulations, Vietnam has failed to collect taxes on crypto-related transactions, resulting in significant revenue losses. Moreover, the lack of investor protection has led to widespread fraud.

According to the National Cybersecurity Association, Vietnamese citizens lost an estimated $756 million to online scams in 2024. The regulatory uncertainty has also driven many high-potential crypto startups to register in jurisdictions with more progressive policies, such as Singapore.

In this context, the need for a comprehensive legal framework for cryptoassets has never been more urgent.

Recognising the growing importance of cryptoassets in Vietnams economic future, the countrys top policymakers have called for urgent regulatory action. In February, Party General Secretary To Lam emphasised the need to regulate cryptocurrencies as virtual assets to mitigate economic and social risks while contributing to economic growth. He expressed support for establishing a regulatory sandbox to pilot controlled crypto trading platforms.

Following this, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh directed the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and the Ministry of Science and Technology to finalise policies on digital assets and a regulatory sandbox as soon as possible. Reinforcing this momentum, the PM issued a directive on March 1 prioritising the development of a legal framework for digital assets and cryptocurrencies, assigning the MoF and the State Bank of Vietnam to present a comprehensive framework by the end of this month.

Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Chi has also announced that the MoF would soon propose a resolution for a regulated crypto trading platform, aiming to protect investors and enable businesses to legally issue digital assets for fundraising.

A regulatory sandbox is a framework designed to facilitate controlled experimentation for innovative financial services. It allows businesses to test new models under regulatory supervision, ensuring that emerging technologies can be assessed and gradually integrated into the legal system without disrupting market stability.

For businesses, a sandbox provides legal boundaries and a structured environment for innovation. Without clear regulations, crypto and fintech companies face uncertainty, limiting their ability to develop and scale. It addresses this challenge by establishing a temporary framework, allowing businesses to trial new financial services while regulators assess their market impact. This encourages responsible innovation while safeguarding consumer protection and financial security.

Vietnam has previously attempted to introduce sandbox regulations over the past five years, but none were officially adopted. The 2024 draft notably excluded blockchain-related businesses, reflecting a cautious stance.

However, in early 2025, a National Assembly draft resolution on establishing financial centres in Vietnam proposed a sandbox framework for fintech business models, explicitly including crypto trading platforms and tokenised assets. This marks a significant policy shift, laying the groundwork for Vietnam to develop a progressive digital asset economy under regulatory oversight.

Vietnams regulatory sandbox must strike a balance between national growth and risk management. The regulations are expected to create a structured yet flexible environment for the digital asset economy, ensuring market stability while fostering growth, investment, and compliance as cryptoassets continue to evolve.

Establishing a legal framework for innovation in vital. Clear and adaptive regulations are essential to fostering technological advancement. The sandbox should enable crypto trading platforms, blockchain-based financial services, and tokenised assets to operate transparently under regulatory supervision, strengthening market integrity and investor confidence.

In addition, cryptoassets offer new channels for fundraising and investment. The sandbox should facilitate initial coin offerings and tokenised securities, allowing Vietnamese businesses to access global funding streams and supporting the expansion of fintech enterprises and startups.

With millions of Vietnamese already engaged in crypto trading, robust investor protection is crucial. The sandbox should incorporate strict anti-fraud measures, cybersecurity standards, and investor education initiatives to safeguard participants and promote informed decision-making.

Additionally, and to encourage greater participation, the regulatory sandbox should offer temporary exemptions, such as relaxed requirements, market access flexibility, and reduced compliance burdens, allowing firms to test innovative financial services with lower entry barriers. Tax incentives and government-backed funding can further attract fintech firms, fostering a thriving and competitive digital asset ecosystem.

Ngo Dang Loc, associate, Indochine Counsel

Vietnam stands at a crucial turning point. The digital asset market has outpaced the countrys existing regulatory framework, resulting in missed economic opportunities, heightened financial risks, and capital flight to more crypto-friendly jurisdictions. However, recent directives from Vietnams leadership demonstrate a strong commitment to establishing a comprehensive legal structure for digital assets.

By drawing inspiration from market leaders that have successfully implemented regulatory sandboxes, Vietnam can design one that fosters innovation, attracts investment, and safeguards stakeholders.

Beyond regulatory improvements, a well-structured sandbox can position Vietnam as a regional leader in digital finance, and help with the countrys broader economic ambitions.
On March 10, Le Trung Chinh, Chairman of Danang Peoples Committee, met with a working delegation led by Robert Yap, executive chairman of YCH Group.

Founded in 1955, YCH Group is the leading end-to-end supply chain solutions and logistics partner to major companies in the high-tech, electronics, chemicals, healthcare, and consumer goods sectors.

In Vietnam, YCH Group has partnered with T&T Group to invest in Vietnam SuperPort, an 83-hectare, multi-modal logistics port located in Vinh Phuc Province. The venture has a total investment of $166 million and is designed to handle about 530,000 TEUs per year. It is the first-of-its-kind largest multimodal logistics hub in Vietnam, aiming to enhance integration into global supply chains, reduce logistics costs, and boost the country's competitive edge in international trade.

YCH Group is researching opportunities to invest in multimodal logistics hubs in the central and southern regions. At the same time, we are exploring potential partnerships in workforce training and technology solutions in the logistics sector, Yap said.

Danang boasts ample potential and advantages in economic development, alongside its strategic location as a transportation hub and transit point for goods and services. YCH Group has high expectations for cooperation in investing in a multimodal logistics centre in Lien Chieu Port, said the executive chairman.

Chinh also briefed that Lien Chieu Port is located at the end of the East-West Economic Corridor. The port will boast an annual capacity of 50 million tonnes, covering an area of about 450 hectares. The city aims to develop Lien Chieu Port as an international gateway to attract large global transportation and logistics companies.

By allowing access to large ships, the port can facilitate the import and export of goods directly to European and American countries, reducing transportation costs and increasing competitiveness in the international market. Lien Chieu Port will become one of the main ports along international shipping routes, enhancing Vietnam's position in the global supply chain, Chinh noted.

Vietnam SuperPort lives up to name with sustainability drive Vietnam SuperPort, a joint venture between YCH Group of Singapore and Vietnams T&T Group, is at the forefront of sustainability and digital changes to build the first net-zero multi-modal logistics hub in Southeast Asia.

Vietnam SuperPort poised to elevate Vietnam's logistics capabilities Vietnam SuperPort, a joint venture between YCH Group of Singapore and Vietnams T&T Group, is poised to enhance Vietnams logistics capabilities in the global supply chain.
The event attracted women leaders in the banking industry, and representatives from the SBV, Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, Vietnam Womens Union, International Finance Corporation, and the Australia Ambassador to Vietnam. The event provided updated information and trends in digital transformation locally and internationally, as well as solutions to challenges to women in the banking industry.

The conference was held under activities for the Minutes of Cooperation in gender equity between the SBV and Standard Chartered, aiming to provide global perspectives on women leadership and skills upgrading for women, and Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) best practices and experiences.

In the opening ceremony, the Green & Blue Choir of Standard Chartered performed, expressing the talents and team-spirit of the bank.

Dao Minh Tu, SBV Deputy Governor said, Despite the advantages and challenges in the industry, women in the banking industry are always energetic,and confident in utilising their best capabilities, spirit and enthusiasm to complete tasks, contributing to the development of the industry and the country.

The conference covered "The digital transformation trends" and "Banking women integrating with digital transformation." Pham Tien Dung, SBV Deputy Governor presented the SBVs policies on the digital transformation.

Ankur Kanwar, global head of Structured Solutions at Standard Chartered, shared perspectives on digital transformation, its achievements, opportunities, and challenges. The conference wrapped up with the conversation on womens roles in the digital transformation with representatives from the SBV, Australia Embassy, International Finance Corporation, Standard Chartered and local banks.

Nguyen Thuy Hanh, general director and head of Corporate and Investment Banking at Standard Chartered Bank Vietnam said, We are proud to co-host the seminar with the Committee for the Advancement of Women in the Banking Industry and the Vietnam Banking Trade Union to empower women in banking industry, especially in the integration of digital transformation. Their flexibility, creativity and innovative thinking are the keys to success and contribute to the future of sustainable finance. The event is a part of our ongoing efforts to foster D&I in the banking industry and in the society.

Standard Chartered creates a culture of inclusion including mental wellbeing, physical wellbeing, social wellbeing and financial wellbeing.

In Vietnam, the bank provides equal access to leadership development opportunities, maintains a strong framework of policies and procedures, fosters inclusivity in the work environment, promotes balanced gender representation in management positions and offers flexible work conditions.

Standard Chartered sets itself apart by offering an especially privileged and comprehensive maternity and paternity leave supporting package and framework for both female and male colleagues, highlighting its commitment to supporting work-life balance.

Standard Chartered was the first bank in Vietnam to achieve the prestigious certification for equity, diversity, and gender equality, with the highest LEAD level across all industries, highlighting the banks dedication to driving gender equality, equal opportunities, and fostering an inclusive workplace culture in Vietnam.

The bank was also awarded as the Best Foreign Bank in Vietnam in 2024 by Global Business Review.

Standard Chartered committed to Vietnams financial success According to the International Monetary Funds World Economic Outlook Report in April this year, Vietnam is the only Southeast Asian representative in the top 10 countries with a forecast of 6.4 per cent growth from 2024 to 2029.

Standard Chartered predicts slower GDP growth in Q3 Standard Chartered's early October report predicts Vietnam's third-quarter GDP growth has slowed to 5.1 per cent on-year, down from 6.9 per cent in the second quarter, with a seasonally adjusted on-quarter growth of 1 per cent.
Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra (Photo: Nation Thailand)

Bangkok  Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has ordered heightened security measures and increased night in the countrys deep south following a series of violent attacks in Sungai Kolok, a border city in Narathiwat province, which left two security officers dead and 11 others injured.

The Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) reported that on the evening of March 8, a group of men dressed in Dawah-style Islamic attire travelled in a pickup truck, threw bombs at the district government office and opened fire on security personnel. They also detonated explosives planted in a car and a motorcycle parked outside the building.

On the same night in neighbouring Pattani province, attackers opened fire on a patrol team consisting of forest rangers and local officials in Hutaekorlae village, Sai Buri district. While there were no casualties from the initial gunfire, a bomb exploded shortly afterward, killing one person and injuring two others.

The attacks occurred during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and followed a recent visit by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala provinces on February 23. This marked his first visit to the conflict-ridden region in nearly two decades. Thaksin made the trip in his role as an advisor on ASEAN affairs to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Thailand busts illegal e-money firms Thai authorities raided the companies in Nakhon Pathom, Samut Sakhon, and Bangkok after discovering they were operating without licenses. They arrested 11 executives and employees with a combined revenue of approximately 1 billion THB (nearly 30 million USD).
Kate Hardwick, strategy lead, Southeast Asia, Arup Todays TOD is not just about integrating transportation and land use. It is a transformative approach to urban development, attracting investment and talent while reshaping the citys landscape. The lessons from applying this model will be a significant opportunity for Vietnam to build a dynamic and vibrant city. Its difficult to do TOD in an existing city, but as we apply new digital tools, new approaches, its going to make it a lot easier. One of the problems that other cities have in applying TOD is that they have early applied the basic principles in real estate development. This is also an opportunity for the private sector to develop real estate integrating into the model. However, this model has also caused a series of real estate projects to be implemented at the same time, leading to supply exceeding demand to a certain extent, making it more difficult to engage tenants. Therefore, we must also be very cautious in promoting the stages of development. Furthermore, the TOD model must be introduced from the first stages of the development process, or as early as possible. Because investors do not always have ready capital within five years, they need incentives from a very early stage of development. If we do like that, private investment in TOD and real estate projects will be much more effective. Bui Thi Phuong Hien, CEO, SonKim Land As one of the investors who have real estate projects following the TOD model, we confidently say that we are pioneers in insightful researching and have great ambitions and dreams about TOD investment. Because TOD is closely related to sustainable development. Sustainable development is not just a beautiful word for us to abuse, but in fact it is the cash flow story of real estate businesses. Today, real estate businesses with long-term potential realise the need to diversify housing types, not just focusing on expanding housing funds. For sustainable development, businesses are required to proactively research the development models of leading countries in the world in conjunction with their own understanding and analysis to form TOD projects that suit the needs of consumers in Vietnam. Today we are committed to accompanying the State and all relevant entities to approach the TOD story. We propose that the implementation of TOD requires the companionship of businesses right from the early stages of developing policies. Because if we do not have the voice and vision of businesses in the policy and strategy development stage, there will be a lack of practice. In addition, the types of land funds suitable for developing the TOD model need to be clearly classified and at an early stage, to have enough time and conditions to deploy this model effectively.
Photo: VNA

On March 10, the Ministry of Finance, the Vietnamese Embassy in Indonesia, and Ciputra Group jointly organised the business dialogue "Vietnam and Indonesia: Partnership for Progress and Prosperity" in Jakarta. A number of corporations between the two countries signed and exchanged cooperation agreements.

VinFast signed an MoU with Bank Negara Indonesia on comprehensive strategic cooperation on green transformation solutions and long-term green finance sources. Meanwhile, Sovico inked an MoU with Ciputra Group on cooperation in developing real estate projects, smart urban areas, industrial parks, logistics centres, and trade-service areas in Vietnam and Indonesia.

In the technology sector, FPT Software signed a Master Service Agreement with Indonesia's KMP Aryadhana Wisesa, Yogyakarta Sultanate, on cooperation in applying AI, blockchain, and Internet of Things to drive digital transformation and green transformation for waste treatment, productivity improvement, and education projects.

FPT Software and Pertamina also entered into cooperation to apply AI in the digital transformation of the Indonesian national oil and gas group PT Pertamina (Persero). Another MoU between FPT IS and Metrodata Electronics is about the establishment of FPT Metrodata Indonesia on cybersecurity services.

Meanwhile, Mobile World Group and Erajaya Indonesia signed an MoU on increasing investment capital into PT Era Blu Elektronik (Erablue). Hekate also had an MoU with Kilsa Global on applying AI to support a free trade zone in Danang.

Vietnamese and Indonesian businesses explored investment opportunities and strategic partnerships in emerging fields like AI, the digital economy, green energy, electric vehicles, and the Joint Energy Transition Partnership.

They were also engaged in discussions about food security, the Halal industry, education, and marine cooperation, reinforcing commitments on encouraging sustainable development, innovation, and regional partnerships.

Other potential sectors for collaboration include new energy (such as hydrogen), renewable energy, fintech, financial centres, biotechnology, and healthcare.

Over the past years, economic relations between Vietnam and Indonesia have grown strong. In 2024, trade turnover is estimated to reach $16 billion, up 16 per cent from a year ago. The trade turnover is forecast to climb to $18 billion earlier than the previously targeted year of 2028.

Indonesia plans over 20 energy projects in 2025 Indonesia remains heavily dependent on coal and is one of the worlds top greenhouse gas emitters. However, President Prabowo Subianto has pledged to phase out coal-fired power generation within 15 years and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
The company announced its 2025 strategy for Vietnam with the three pillars at its Regional Partner Summit 2025 held in Danang on March 5, underscoring its commitment to empowering partners and customers in Southeast Asia.

Talking to VIR at the event, Christanto Suryadarma, sales vice president for Southeast Asia, South Korea, and Channel APJeC at Zebra Technologies, said, We are seeing significant interest and opportunities for Vietnam to leapfrog in technology adoption. We are continuing to invest in enabling our customers in Vietnam to access the right solutions. That is our primary investment.

Christanto Suryadarma, sales vice president for Southeast Asia, South Korea, and Channel APJeC. Photo: PV

We are continuously investing in training local Vietnamese partners on how to help customers digitise and automate. This is an ongoing investment. We conduct training sessions, provide demo units, and run proof-of-concept projects, he added.

With a comprehensive portfolio of solutions, including everything from simple scanning devices to mobile computers, tablets, RFID, and machine vision, Zebra offers tailored solutions to meet the diverse needs of businesses in Vietnam to excel in a digital era.

Suryadarma noted, Overall, our investments focus on strengthening our presence, expanding our capabilities, and enabling knowledge transfer. We equip our team and partners with the expertise they need so that when they engage with customers, they can offer well-prepared solutions.

Zebra now has strong partners across Vietnam, as well as Vietnamese companies operating internationally. The company also has a repair and maintenance depot in Vietnam, where it has invested in training local workers.

Zebra opened its first service centre in Ho Chi Minh City in 2021. In 2022, Zebra expanded the centre to meet rising demand for printers, adding support for desktop, mobile, label, and industrial printers. Collaborating with distributors like SMC and Elite Technology, Zebra has developed a diverse partner ecosystem in Vietnam.

Christanto Suryadarma, sales vice president for Southeast Asia, South Korea, and Channel APJeC at Zebra Technologies. Photo: PV

Vietnam is a crucial market for Zebra. Our strong team and extensive certified partner network are dedicated to delivering industry-specific solutions to our customers, said Suryadarma. Leveraging our global expertise and innovative solutions, we aim to support all companies operating in Vietnam, across sectors like manufacturing, retail, transportation, logistics, and healthcare, to overcome challenges and achieve digital transformation.

The 2025 strategy shows Zebras long-term commitments in Vietnam. According to Zebra Technologies, its strategy is deeply linked to megatrends  external factors that shape the tech industry. These include mobility and cloud, AI, digitalisation and the Internet of Things, e-commerce, and automation.

To continue offering a comprehensive portfolio of advanced solutions, innovation is at the heart of Zebra Technologies where it invests heavily in business development and research and development. Last year, the companys revenue was approximately $5 billion, of which it allocated about 10 per cent towards innovation.

Innovation allows us to continuously develop new technologies and solutions that address real-world challenges. By leveraging mobility, cloud computing, scanning, RFID, and other technologies, we can provide real-time tracking and insights to meet the growing business demands of optimising workflows, improving efficiency, and enhancing decision-making, the Zebra representative noted. Our goal is to seamlessly connect all these elements  assets, people, and activities  through enterprise mobile computing. The more we can connect frontline workers, the better we can enhance business operations.

Commitment to innovation has positioned Zebra Technologies as the leader in rugged mobile computing. While consumer mobile computing  laptops and smartphones  is widely used, Zebra dominates the enterprise mobile computing space, particularly in rugged devices designed for business-critical operations.

Another area where the company is very strong is data capture. Today is the era of AI. But for AI to work effectively, it needs dataclean, accurate data. As the company specialises in data capture, it is in a strong position to align with AI-driven market trends.

Along with data capture, the company is also the leader in barcode printing. Many businesses need barcode labels. These labels are used in countless industries. In Vietnam, for example, its becoming common in restaurants where instead of taking orders manually, customers simply scan a barcode on the table to access the menu.

Another area where Zebra holds the number one position is mobile RFID. RFID stands for radio frequency identification. This is a fast-growing business, and today, the world consumes approximately 30 billion RFID tags annually.

Key industry trends for 2025

Manufacturing, transport and logistics, and retail are the areas where Zebra is deeply involved.

Suryadarma said that manufacturing is a major industry in Vietnam. Zebras machine vision and AI solutions can significantly enhance manufacturing operations. He sees a lot of potential in helping businesses improve efficiency and productivity through automation and smart technology.

We recognise the trends in this sector. Now, we are seeing many economic uncertainties, trade discussions, and shifting policies that are prompting manufacturers to focus on incremental, scalable improvements rather than sweeping transformations. Manufacturers want to automate their processes, but they are looking for cost-effective modernisation strategies. This requires new approaches and scalable automation tools for success, he admitted.

Zebra Technologies' 2025 Regional Partner Summit in Danang. Photo: PV

In transport and logistics, companies are now balancing onshore and offshore solutions while also ensuring sustainability. They would rather not generate excessive waste; instead, they want to reduce carbon footprints and implement greener supply chain practices. This shift requires greater visibility and real-time insights.

In logistics, the market sees a growing interest in AI, RFID, real-time tracking, and new visibility technologies. These are becoming increasingly important. For example, Vietnamese company Nhat Tin Logistics has implemented Zebras scanning solutions, improving speed, efficiency, and productivity in scanning and delivery operations.

Moving on to retail, customer expectations and labour shortages are two major challenges in this industry. This is where technology is making an impact.

With Vietnams large population, retail is booming. Were seeing a lot of automation in retail. For example, many cafes now use digital solutions  customers scan a QR code, place orders, and receive their items seamlessly. Many retailers have already adopted RFID to enhance customer experience. While we cannot disclose specific names due to customer confidentiality, we can confirm that RFID adoption is happening in Vietnam, he added.

An example is in warehouses. When people walk into a warehouse, they do not just see shelves of products, they see workers constantly moving, picking, sorting, and delivering items. These workers are the backbone of warehouse operations. Similarly, in hospitals, nurses and doctors are on the front line, caring for patients and ensuring smooth medical operations.

Many regional partners joined the summit. Photo: PV

Healthcare is another key area of growth. Similar to other countries, people in Vietnam increasingly expect better healthcare services, both from government and private hospitals. Digitalisation plays a crucial role in improving healthcare efficiency.

With nearly 8 per cent GDP growth last year, the challenge now is how to push Vietnams growth even further. Maybe one day, Vietnam can reach 10 per cent or even higher. It is not impossible, but it comes down to the people, the partnerships, and strong leadership across all organisations, he noted.

How will the cloud change deep learning machine vision operations for manufacturers? Christanto Suryadarma, sales vice president for Southeast Asia (SEA), South Korea, and Channel APJeC, Zebra Technologies, explains the benefits of cloud-based deep learning in machine vision operations.

Asia Pacific manufacturers prioritise digital transformation; struggle with innovation pace Manufacturers around the world are focusing on digital transformation, but achieving that goal is fraught with obstacles, including the cost and availability of labour, scaling technology solutions, and the convergence of IT and operational technology.
South Africa's energy future and strategic partnerships in the G20: Exclusive from Minister Kgosientso Ramokgopa

09:05, March 11, 2025 By Madiketso Motaung ( People's Daily Online

Dr. Kgosientso Ramokgopa, currently serving as South Africa's Minister of Electricity and Energy, sat down for an interview with the press and other essential stakeholders, where he laid down the energy problems the nation faces and how it plans to tackle them even as they prepare to head the G20 summit.

He highlighted the country's efforts in preserving affordability, sustainability and energy security, while also tackling the issues that arise from load shedding and the general energy transition within the country.

Dr. Kgosientso Ramokgopa, South Africa's Minister of Electricity and Energy, is interviewed by People's Daily Online. (People's Daily Online/Liu Chang)

The minister underlined the fact that South Africa joining the G20 is indicative of Africa's efforts as a whole as opposed to just that of South Africa.

"We strive to ensure that special opportunities and challenges across Africa are used in order to bring the continent's energy focus to the world stage," he said.

Ramokgopa went on to state the need for more resources to be incorporated into the economy as there are around 680 million people in the world today who lack access to electricity, 600 million of which reside in Africa. "We cannot allow the world to continue promoting this type of inequality," Ramokgopa said. To this end he stated, "Effective solutions come from genuine partnerships with the world's major economies."

Obtaining finance for renewable energy is perhaps the biggest hurdle, which makes securing investment for it incredibly important.

"We estimate it will cost no less than R1.4 trillion ($76.35 billion) just to modernize and expand the existing energy system's grid," he stated, "Moderating and expanding our energy grid will require investment from developed countries," insisting that richer nations should provide aid that helps Africa's developmental goals.

The funding of renewable energy remains an important task as changing to more sustainable energy sources is costly.

Moreover, Ramokgopa advocated for the formation of an African energy super grid and proposed a system in which countries could harness resources effectively.

"Imagine a scenario where during a shortage South Africa can utilize Angola's surplus, while we supply energy to drought affected regions like Namibia. This is the kind of future we need to create," he asserted.

When he answered the questions from the reporter of People's Daily Online SA, Ramokgopa stressed further emerging collaboration between South Africa and China, one of the strongest players in the global energy industry. The agreements reached at the conference regarding BRICS have enabled new developments in nuclear energy to be possible, with some already in the works.

South Africa and the Chinese State Grid Corporation, an energy sector giant, are also working together to modernize power systems and strengthen the electricity transmission network. Leading Chinese companies, such as Huawei, are also heavily investing into microgrids and are active in South Africa's initatives for renewable energy, introducing modern funding and technology to the market.

"They are producing concrete results, not just discussions," Ramokgopa explained. "The cooperation with China affords us valuable investment and technical skills."

Through innovatively blended funds, strategic partnerships and plans to form an African energy market, South Africa is positioning itself as a major player in determining the contours of the global energy industry.

"This is an opportunity to transform not just our nation, but the rest of Africa," Ramokgopa argued.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang)
Gov. Tony Evers is recommending the state take a wrecking ball to numerous aging state facilities, including the Green Bay Correctional Institution and UW-Madisons Mosse Humanities building, as part of his $4.1 billion capital spending plan.

The proposal, released Monday, includes nearly $1.6 billion in spending for the Universities of Wisconsin system campuses, totaling about 40% of all recommended state spending on buildings and facilities. The proposal also includes $634 million to modernize the states outdated prison system and close the Green Bay Correctional Institution, the states oldest, by the end of the decade.

The proposal funds about two-thirds of state agencies requests, which near $6 billion in new construction and renovations.

Its likely, though, that Republican lawmakers on the state building commission will block the approval of any projects in the coming months, instead giving Republicans on the states budget-writing committee a clean slate to consider all of the projects.

Evers plan would aggressively tackle the states $13.1 billion deferred maintenance backlog by infusing $1.2 billion in maintenance and repair projects, according to a statement Monday. Other aspects of the plan include $137 million in upgrades to veterans homes and planning for an expansion of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, $40 million to modernize the state Capitol and $195 million for health facilities statewide.

Another $25 million would go toward renewable energy projects like solar, wind and geothermal technologies. The reduced energy costs for state facilities would then go back into paying down state debt, Evers said.

In the statement, the governor said the state cant afford to kick the can down the road on infrastructure projects, as the cost of construction could rise due to President Donald Trumps proposed tariffs on Canada and Mexico.

We must take the important steps necessary to invest in building a 21st-century infrastructure, workforce, and economy, and I am hopeful that these recommendations will receive bipartisan support to get these projects done that communities across our state are depending on, Evers said.

The proposal for the upcoming budget is $300 million larger than that of two years ago, during the last biennial budget process. That proposal was eventually cut down to $2.6 billion in capital spending but still was one of the largest capital budgets ever approved.

The majority of Evers spending plan would come from $3.8 billion in new bonding and using $264.5 million in cash. Its a significant departure from the last capital budget, where Evers wanted to pay for nearly 40% of projects with cash from the states surplus.

New UW buildings

The Evers plan funds two large, priority projects at UW-Madison. Other campuses around the UW system also would get new science and health care buildings.

Evers proposal allocates $292.5 million to build or renovate new homes for UW-Madisons art and music departments, which after fall 2026 will be the remaining two departments left in the decrepit Mosse Humanities building, and then demolishing the building. Finished in 1969, the concrete behemoth has been failing since the day it opened, as lawmakers and UW system leaders at the time cut corners to make it fit within tight budget constraints.

The taxpayers portion of the project would be $245 million, as UW-Madison has collected $30 million in gifts and $16 million in other funds to pay for Humanities demise.

The proposal also would provide $293 million for new residence halls at UW-Madison, where the current residence halls have consistently been overcapacity for years. UW-Madison hasnt opened a new residence hall in more than a decade, a problem for a university that routinely sees higher application numbers each year and is now required to admit the top 5% of Wisconsin high schoolers.

Lobbyists for Madison area landlords have claimed a new dorm is not needed, arguing that theres more housing in the Downtown area than there are undergraduate students. Critics contend, though, that the calculation doesnt account for all of the graduate students, UW-Madison staff, other young professionals and hospital workers also clamoring for a place to live Downtown.

Also in Evers proposal are $194.4 million to finish the second phase of UW-La Crosses Prairie Springs Science Center and demolish Cowley Hall, which like its 1960s-era counterpart in Mosse Humanities, is showing its age. Cowley is outdated and beyond repair; the foyer leaks and the seals around the windows have shrunk.

Another $189.3 million would go toward the next phase of UW-Milwaukees renovation of the Northwest Quadrant, a former Columbia St. Marys hospital complex that now holds the universitys health sciences program. Without further renovations, the health science programs are at capacity and cannot grow further, UW system leaders say.

(Evers) proposal ensures Wisconsin is continuing to build opportunities for future generations of students, UW system President Jay Rothman said in a statement.

Other UW system projects in Evers proposal include:

$91 million for UW-Stevens Points Sentry Hall addition, with $7 million in gifts pledged

$137.5 million to renovate UW-Oshkoshs Polk Learning Commons

$10.6 million to renovate UW-Madisons Dejope Hall dining space

$279 million for minor facilities projects around the UW system

$6.9 million to plan for a UW-Milwaukee engineering and neuroscience design building

Prison reforms

The states prison system accounts for the second-largest share of Evers recommendations, with the governor advising $634 million in spending.

The majority of that, $325 million, would go toward the statewide DOC Realignment project, part of Evers sweeping $500 million plan to deal with overcrowded and aging prisons.

The realignment project in the capital budget would cover construction costs to tear down Green Bays maximum security prison, originally built in 1898. It also would convert Wisconsins youth prisons, Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake, to medium security adult prisons; fund extensive modifications to convert the maximum security Waupun prison to a medium security vocational village; convert Stanleys medium security prison to a maximum; expand minimum security space in Hobart and convert John Burke Correctional Center to a womens prison.

The two juvenile inmate projects are key portions of Evers prison plan, described as needing a domino effect to work correctly. The projects also play a key role in the overdue plan to close Wisconsins troubled youth prisons in Lincoln County, which was supposed to close by law in July 2021.

One project would construct a new $130.7 million maximum security juvenile prison in Dane County, on department land in Oregon and Fitchburg near existing facilities. Evers also is requesting $31.1 million to expand the Grow Academy in Oregon, a program to provide juvenile inmates agricultural learning, mental health services and other developmental treatments, by 16 beds.

Additionally, Evers is recommending $6.5 million for planning and design of another maximum security juvenile prison in northeastern Wisconsin, which would bring the state in line with what was recommended in 2017 Act 185, the law that calls for the current juvenile prison to close.

The governors requests also include:

$45.4 million for roofing replacements statewide

$29.8 million for heating systems statewide

$26.7 million for a new heating plant at Prairie du Chien Correctional Institution

$11.1 million for elevator replacement at the Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility

$9.1 million for emergency generator replacement at Kettle Moraine Correctional Institution

Other priorities

The Department of Health Services also makes up a sizable portion of Evers recommendations, with $196 million in spending. Two of the most expensive projects are located in Madison.

Central Wisconsin Centers food service center would be renovated to the tune of $44.7 million, and the Mendota Mental Health Institute would get $55.4 million in utility improvements.

The Winnebago Mental Health Institute in Oshkosh would get $61.2 million in utility and service tunnel improvements.

Other Madison-based projects include:

$4.4 million to remodel the Department of Military Affairs Madison Readiness Center

$6.5 million for Badger State Trail repairs

$2.6 million for the Wisconsin Historical Societys Madison headquarters restoration project
Coleg Cambria launches state-of-the-art training kitchen with The Savoy Educational Trust

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Mar 11th, 2025

Coleg Cambria has launched a state-of-the-art new training kitchen in partnership with The Savoy Educational Trust.

The cutting-edge facility was part-funded by the Trust and is located alongside Ial Restaurant in the colleges 21m Hafod building in Wrexham.

Officially unveiled by Vikki Howells MS, Minister for Further and Higher Education, the inclusive kitchen reinforces Cambrias commitment to deliver accessible opportunities for all and help train the next generation of professionals in the hospitality sector.

Maria Stevens, Head of Commercial Operations at Coleg Cambria, said: We are proud to celebrate our partnership with the Savoy Educational Trust, a collaboration that has helped bring to life the state-of-the-art, inclusive training kitchen here at Yale.

This exciting development marks a significant milestone in our commitment to high-quality, accessible education in hospitality and catering, ensuring all learners have the opportunity to develop the skills and confidence needed to succeed in the industry.

Thanks to Trusts generous part-funding of this project, the college can now offer a modern learning environment equipped with cutting-edge facilities designed to meet the needs of all learners, including those with additional support requirements.

By working closely with the Trust, Coleg Cambria is ensuring the next generation of hospitality professionals in North Wales and beyond receive the very best training, preparing them for rewarding careers in an evolving industry.

Work-based Learning Manager Kate Muddiman added: This fantastic facility will allow us to expand our offering with specialist workshops for employers and their staff, including knife skills, baking, and sausage-making workshops.

We are deeply grateful to the Savoy Educational Trust for their support in helping us elevate hospitality training to the next level.

The Savoy Educational Trust was established in 1961 and has a long history of championing education and training within the hospitality sector.

As an independent charitable trust, they are committed to funding initiatives that enhance learning opportunities in catering and hospitality, equipping individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the industry.

Through grant giving, they support projects that improve facilities, provide hands-on training, and inspire the next generation of hospitality professionals.

The Trusts Chief Executive Angela Maher said: We are committed to supporting high quality, accessible education that nurtures the future of hospitality and are proud to help fund Coleg Cambrias state-of-the art training kitchen, ensuring every learner, regardless of background or ability, has the opportunity to develop industry ready skills, achieve qualifications, and be inspired to pursue a career in the hospitality sector.

This project highlights our joint dedication to outstanding hospitality education and inspiring future talent.

Visit Savoy Educational Trust  Development of education, training and qualifications for the benefit the UK hospitality industry for more information.

For the latest news and information from Coleg Cambria, visit www.cambria.ac.uk.
New Fflint Wrecsam constituency confirmed ahead of Senedd election

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Mar 11th, 2025

Final plans for 16 new super constituencies have been unveiled ahead of the next Senedd election in a little over a year  with Wrexham joined up with Alyn and Deeside to create Fflint Wrecsam.

The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru confirmed the 16 constituencies which were created from pairing the 32 used in Julys Westminster general election.

Each of the constituencies will elect six Senedd members in May 2026, with the current 40 Senedd constituencies and five regions set to be scrapped.

The Senedd will expand from 60 to 96 politicians at the next election, abandoning first past the post in favour of a fully proportional system aimed at better reflecting how Wales voted.

Due to time constraints ahead of the 2026 election, the commission was tasked with pairing neighbouring UK parliamentary seats to create 16 for the Senedd.

But a full boundary review  the first in 18 years, with the last held before the 2007 poll  will take place post-election, with the political map of Wales set to be redrawn by 2030.

The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru seemed reluctant to tell the people of Wrexham, and other areas across Wales this information proactively this morning  but you might see the information on the side of a bus in future.

The Wrexham conclusion states:

The Commission received 6 representations regarding the revised proposal to pair the UK Parliamentary constituencies of Alyn and Deeside and Wrexham. Of these, 1 was in support and 5 were in opposition. Among the opposing representations, 2 alternative arrangements were proposed pairing Alyn and Deeside with Clwyd East and pairing Wrexham with Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr. The Commission received 10 representations regarding the name Fflint Wrecsam. Of these, 2 were in support and 8 were in opposition. Alternative names that were proposed included Flintshire East and Wrexham, Wrexham Dyfrdwy, or the single forms of Alyn or Wrexham. The Commission has considered the representations and has determined to retain the pairing of the Alyn and Deeside UK Parliamentary constituency and the Wrexham UK Parliamentary constituency. The Commission acknowledges that an alternative pairing of the existing Wrexham and Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr UK Parliamentary constituencies would reunite the whole of the city of Wrexham within one constituency, however, as a result of the new Clwyd constituency, the only other UK Parliamentary constituency which shares a boundary with the Alyn and Deeside UK Parliamentary constituency is the Wrexham UK Parliamentary constituency. The Commission is of the view that having clear communication and travel connections is an important part of being able to provide for effective and convenient representation, and the Commission is of the view that these areas are well connected to each other by transport links, and are similar in character. The Commission is therefore of the view that the new combination creates a cohesive constituency. The Commission has designated the single name of Fflint Wrecsam for this constituency. The Commission has determined that the name is acceptable for use as a single name as it reflects the names of the local authorities within the new constituency and is likely to be recognisable to residents of the same broad region of Wales whose primary language is not Welsh. The Welsh Language Commissioner is in support of the designated name.

On request the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru provided a copy of the important result of the determination:

The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru has today published its Final Determinations and confirmed the 16 constituencies that will be used to elect Members of the Senedd at the 2026 election. The Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act instructed the Commission to make recommendations for 16 constituencies to replace the current 40 constituencies and 5 regions. These new constituencies will take effect automatically at the 2026 Senedd election, and 6 Members of the Senedd will be elected from each one, using the DHondt method previously used for the Senedds regional lists. The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru had to create 16 constituencies by pairing Wales 32 UK parliamentary constituencies, ensuring that each constituency neighbours the one with which it is paired. The 16 constituencies proposed by the Commission are: Bangor Conwy Mon

Clwyd

Fflint Wrecsam

Gwynedd Maldwyn

Ceredigion Penfro

Sir Gaerfyrddin

Gwyr Abertawe

Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd

Afan Ogwr Rhondda

Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr

Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni

Sir Fynwy Torfaen

Casnewydd Islwyn

Caerdydd Penarth

Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf

Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg The Commission has made 2 changes to the paired constituencies since its Revised Proposals, with the creation of Caerdydd Penarth and Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf replacing the previously proposed De-ddwyrain Caerdydd Penarth, and Gogledd-orllewin Caerdydd constituencies. The final configuration sees the parliamentary constituencies of Cardiff North and Cardiff East paired together, along with the pair of Cardiff West and Cardiff South and Penarth. The Commission proposed this combination in its Initial Proposals report before changing it in its Revised Proposals. Representations received by the Commission during both consultations informed the Commission that there was greater public support for the combination made in its Final Determinations. The Commission considers that constituencies are only contiguous or neighbouring if it is possible to travel throughout it without having to leave the constituency.

For example, the Commission did not consider Ynys Mon and Dwyfor Meirionnydd to be a viable pair since it is not possible to travel from one to the other by road without having to enter Bangor Aberconwy. The Commission also considered local ties, such as shared history, the Welsh language, and socio-economic considerations in an attempt to create constituencies which feel as natural as possible to people across Wales. The Commission does not however consider the impact of its proposals on future election results. The Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 states that Each Senedd constituency must have a single name for the purposes of identifying the constituency in communication through Welsh and English, unless the Commission considers this would be unacceptable. The Commission has therefore assigned names to each constituency which it believes are acceptable and recognisable for people across Wales. In many cases, such as Clwyd, no English translations of the place-names are in common use. In other cases, such as Caerdydd Penarth, the Commission takes the view that residents of Cardiff would recognise and understand the name Caerdydd and the area it refers to, making a translation of the name unnecessary.

During its Revised Proposals consultation period, the Commission did receive several comments on its proposed names and its naming conventions. While the Commission was open to ideas and suggestions regarding individual constituency names, it could not consider comments which proposed translations for all constituencies, or proposed entirely different naming conventions, due to the constraints of the act. The Commission received over 4,000 responses during its consultation periods. This is, by a considerable margin, the highest number of responses received by either the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru, or its parliamentary equivalent, the Boundary Commission for Wales, during a review process. Many of the responses received expressed general disagreement or agreement with the proposals, and many discussed matters outside of the scope of the Review. However, the Commission also received many valuable suggestions from the public and stakeholders which have helped shape the Revised Proposals, and the Final Determinations.

The Commissions Final Determinations report has been submitted to Welsh Government and the 16 constituencies determined by the Commission will take effect automatically at the 2026 Senedd election.

This brings the 2026 Review of Senedd constituencies to a close.

(Additional reporting, Wrexham.com / ICNN Reporter)
The Storey County Sheriff's Office and the Storey County Fire Department are going head to head in a friendly competition for a good cause.

The 7th annual Virginia City Battle of the Badges blood drive is happening Wednesday, March 12 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Prospective donors will give at the Storey County Senior Center located at 100 Mill Street in Virginia City.

All donors will receive a free t-shirt, plus an entry into a contest to win $10,000.

To book an appointment, check out the Vitalant website or call (775) 329-6451.
St. Patrick's Day is on its way, and a local brewery is using the occasion to release a new beer and help some people in the process.

The Brewer's Cabinet is hosting "Kilts & Kegs," the official launch party for their new Outlander Irish Stout beer on Friday, March 14 from 5:00 until 9:00 p.m.

The party takes place at the Brewer's Cabinet Production Facility at 8565 White Fir Street in Reno, where attendees can expect live Irish music and Celtic cheer.

Proceeds during the beer launch event will go to support the Sons & Daughters of Erin, as well as the Nevada Society of Scottish Clans. Some proceeds will also benefit the Reno Rebuild Project.

Tickets for the event are $10, and include one complimentary pint of Outlander Irish Stout, in honor of the St. Patrick's Day holiday.

To purchase tickets and more information, head to the NSSC website.
The staff and volunteers at the Jack C. Davis Observatory are over the moon about an upcoming eclipse event - so much so they're remaining open late.

The observatory, on the campus of Western Nevada College in Carson City, is hosting a total lunar eclipse viewing party starting on Thursday March 13 at 8:00 p.m.

The event lasts until Friday morning at 4:00 a.m. and is free and open to the public.

"The real action starts just after 10:00 p.m. as the partial eclipse starts. That's when you'll start to notice a shadow covering more and more of the moon," said JCDO Director Dr. Thomas Herring.

This particular lunar eclipse is special because when the moon moved into the Earth's shadow, it will cause the moon to change from its normal color to a rusty red - otherwise known as a "Blood Moon."

The full lunar eclipse will begin at 11:26 p.m. and end at 12:31 a.m., with the maximum total eclipse expected to happen at 11:58 p.m.

People in attendance will be able to rate the brightness of the eclipse, using data sheets provided by NASA.

Organizers say that if the weather interferes with the viewing of the moon, the observatory will provide a livestream of the eclipse from a different location.

For more information about the observatory, check out the Western Nevada College website.
The offices of the Department of Education will be closed for a day and a half this week; employees were told it is for "security reasons."

According to a report from CNN, workers at the offices were sent a memo telling them to vacate their offices on Tuesday night, and to expect to work from home on Wednesday - and that they can return to the office on Thursday.

Sources told CNN that the Education Department will begin sweeping layoffs starting Tuesday nights.

The report says that around 50% of the workforce is expected to be cut.
The City of Sparks has announced that Union Pacific will deliver the last rounds of bricks from the Sparks machine shop this week.

The bricks will be dropped off at Cottonwood Park, where the bricks have been available for pick up at the park's east parking lot.

A representative from Union Pacific said they have about six to seven loads of bricks left, and will deliver the final bricks on Friday, March 14.

Union Pacific expects the bricks to be gone prior to the original April 5 deadline for pick up.

If you're wishing to pick up bricks, officials are asking that community members park on Spice Islands Drive and walk to the pick up area, as vehicles are not allowed to enter.

Update (1/29/2025, 11:00 a.m.):

The City of Sparks and Union Pacific Railroad have updated the dates for the public to collect bricks from the historic machine shop near the Nugget casino. Bricks will now be available for pick-up from February 24 through April 5, 2025, while supplies last.

The bricks can be picked up at Cottonwood Parks east lot, 777 Spice Islands Drive.

Community members wishing to collect bricks are asked to park on Spice Islands Drive and walk to the designated area, as cars will not be allowed to enter.

DECEMBER 6, 2024:

The historic railroad machine shop in Sparks will be torn down to expand Union Pacific's facilities there.

Union Pacific is expected to file a demolition permit with the City and has begun preparation and abatement work.

The City of Sparks says the building will be removed in the next few months as Union Pacific maximizes its footprint to move more goods in and out of the area.

However, the public will have a chance to preserve parts of the building.

Once the building is demolished they will be made available from early February to mid-March at Cottonwood Park.

As we've reported, the City has been trying to preserve the 120-year old building after Union Pacific terminated the lease of the land

ORIGINAL STORY:

A 120-year-old railroad machine shop in the heart of Sparks is facing an uncertain future.

Reno local Robert Hart owns the building, but the land belongs to Union Pacific, a railroad franchise. In February, Hart received a letter notifying him that Union Pacific will terminate his lease next year. He has until February 2024 to move the structure, or Union Pacific will demolish it.

Sparks Councilmember Donald Abbott said losing the building would be losing a slice of Sparks history.

"There's three or four generations of Sparks residents where their grandparents, or their great grandparents worked here in those buildings," he told 2 News on Thursday.

The building doesn't sit empty - to this day, Sparks locals are still making use of the space.

Jonny Rolling, a musician and artistic director, has helped convert portions of the front office to an art gallery and performance space.

"The first time I walked through, I was just struck by - I was like, wow, this could be a really cool music, art kind of deal," he said.

He later added, "The potential of it all is really breathtaking, and it's something that I think if it was actualized would be a great benefit to everyone."

He said even the gaping warehouse in the back has potential.

Though it's filled to the brim with stacks of hot tubs and furniture, and rows of stored RVs and boats, he and Abbot can vividly imagine lights, music, space for a museum or an exploratorium, or even a new venue for city hall.

They aren't the only ones with bold dreams for the rail shop. While he sat on city council from 1999 to 2006, late Sparks Mayor Tony Armstrong advocated for the city to purchase the space and convert it to a civics center.

"How can we best facilitate everything to where (Union Pacific's) objectives are met as an organization, but there's also something left for the community?" Rolling said.

"I think there's a balance. I think we can't just get rid of all the history here," Abbott added.

In a statement sent via email to 2 News, Union Pacific says it needs the land to expand its operations.

"While we understand some may be disappointed in our decision to terminate the lease of the land where the old railroad machine shop sits, our growing operations require additional space in Sparks to help meet local and regional economic demand," wrote Robynn Tysver, communications manager.
PromarkerD outperforms standard of care tests in predicting kidney decline in type 2 diabetes - results published in peer-reviewed journal



Published Results Show PromarkerD Outperforms Conventional Tests

Perth, Mar 11, 2025 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Proteomics International Laboratories Ltd ( ASX:PIQ ) ( PIQLF:OTCMKTS ), a pioneer in precision diagnostics, is pleased to announce the publication of results of its landmark study demonstrating the PromarkerD test significantly outperforms the current standard of care tests in predicting future kidney function decline in individuals with type 2 diabetes (DKD).



- Landmark results published in a special edition of the journal Diagnostics demonstrate PromarkerD significantly outperforms conventional tests in identifying the risk of diabetesrelated chronic kidney disease (DKD)



- PromarkerD has been previously validated for predicting renal decline up to four years in advance in type 2 diabetes



- Commercial Expansion in the US & Australia - Proteomics International has launched a Reference Laboratory in California and is preparing to introduce PromarkerD in Australia



- Global health impact: Potential to improve outcomes for over 537 million people worldwide with diabetes and at risk of DKD by enabling earlier intervention, improving care and reducing healthcare costs



The findings highlight the potential for PromarkerD to revolutionise diabetic kidney disease risk assessment and management, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. These results are an important extension of data first presented at the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week Conference [ASX 5 November 2021].



The results were published overnight in the peer-reviewed journal Diagnostics as part of the Special Issue 'Current Issues on Kidney Diseases Diagnosis and Management 2025' in a paper titled "PromarkerD Versus Standard of Care Biochemical Measures for Assessing Future Renal Function Decline in Type 2 Diabetes".



Proteomics International Managing Director Dr Richard Lipscombe said, "this peer-reviewed comparison against standard of care is critical in proving the power of PromarkerD to the medical community. As we acknowledge Kidney Health month in the US, we want to provide healthcare professionals with the best tools available to combat this debilitating disease."



According to the American Society of Nephrology many patients suffer silently at first because chronic kidney disease is largely asymptomatic at the beginning. This lack of early detection can be fatal as kidney dysfunction that lasts longer than three months most often is irreparable.



Diabetes affects over 537 million people worldwide, and chronic kidney disease is a major complication, leading to severe health outcomes and increased mortality. Diabetes has emerged as the largest single cause of end-stage renal disease (leading to dialysis or kidney transplant) in developed and developing countries.



Summary of Study



Chronic kidney disease affects up to 50 percent of people with type 2 diabetes, leading to severe health complications and increased healthcare costs. The current standard of care for the definition, classification, and prognosis of chronic kidney disease, defined by the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines - the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urinary albumin:creatinine ratio (uACR) - have severe limitations in accurately predicting disease progression.



The community-based study followed 857 adults with type 2 diabetes over four years and found that PromarkerD delivered significantly improved predictive accuracy, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.88 compared to conventional tests, which ranged between 0.63 and 0.82 (p<0.001).



Participants classified as high risk of kidney decline by PromarkerD had significantly higher odds of experiencing the primary study endpoint compared to those at low risk (Odds ratio (OR) 21.34), whereas KDIGO risk categories showed only modest degrees of association with the OR for high risk versus low risk at 1.28 (p<0.001).



Critical for patient management, PromarkerD identified 84 percent of individuals with normal kidney function at baseline who later developed significant kidney decline, cases that would have been missed by standard classification methods.



PromarkerD also exhibited an excellent "rule-out" rate (Negative Predictive Value [NPV] >96%), for categorising patients at low risk of developing DKD, and demonstrated considerably less false positives compared to standard of care testing.



Proteomics International recently announced the opening of its Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) certified Reference Laboratory in California to service the US market [ASX 28 February] and is also preparing to launch PromarkerD in Australia. The test will initially be available through a direct-to-consumer (DTC) go-to-market route as a prelude to out-licensing to major industry players in the diagnostics sector.



About PromarkerD (www.PromarkerD.com)



Diabetes-related chronic kidney disease (DKD) is a serious complication arising from diabetes which if unchecked can lead to dialysis or kidney transplant. PromarkerD is a prognostic test that can predict future kidney function decline in patients with type 2 diabetes and no existing DKD. The patented PromarkerD test system uses a blood test to detect a unique 'fingerprint' of the early onset of the disease. The multivariate test measures a select panel of protein and clinical biomarkers, before a cloud-based algorithm integrates the results into a patient risk report. In clinical studies published in leading journals PromarkerD correctly predicted up to 86% of otherwise healthy diabetics who went on to develop diabetic kidney disease within four years.



Further information is available through the PromarkerD web portal.



About Proteomics International Laboratories Ltd





Proteomics International Laboratories (ASX:PIQ) is a wholly owned subsidiary and trading name of PILL, a medical technology company at the forefront of predictive diagnostics and bioanalytical services. The Company specialises in the area of proteomics - the industrial scale study of the structure and function of proteins. Proteomics International's mission is to improve the quality of lives by the creation and application of innovative tools that enable the improved treatment of disease.

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Malibu, CA, Mar 11, 2025 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Goliath Resources Limited ( CVE:GOT ) ( GOTRF:OTCMKTS ) ( B4IF:FRA ), a junior resource exploration company, was featured on The Ellis Martin Report and Money Talk Radio.



CEO Roger Rosmus discussed recent drilling results at the Surebet discovery within their Golddigger property in British Columbia's Golden Triangle, reporting 9.39 g/t AuEq over 10.17 meters.



This high-grade gold system, previously unexplored due to glacier cover, remains open and marks a significant find in a mining-friendly region with excellent infrastructure. McEwen Mining recently invested $10 million at $1.93 per unit, joining major shareholders like Crescat Capital, Eric Sprott, and a Singapore-based Global Commodity Group.



*To view the full announcement, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/PZ1I2H9Z



To Listen to the Interview, please visit:

https://www.abnnewswire.net/lnk/W5H0U43M





About Goliath Resources Limited





Goliath Resources Limited (CVE:GOT) (OTCMKTS:GOTRF) (FRA:B4IF) is a junior resource exploration company of precious metal projects in the prolific Golden Triangle and north-western areas of British Columbia.

The Company is on track with a new discovery of a large high-grade gold system at its Golddigger property that was never drilled before in the Golden Triangle of B.C.; it remains open. The Surebet discovery was never explored or drilled before due to previous glacier and permanent snowpack covering it. The project is located in a world-class geological setting and mining friendly jurisdiction. The Golddigger property sits on tidewater and has excellent infrastructure with a permitted mill site in Kitsault nearby.

Significant shareholders include Crescat Capital, Mr. Eric Sprott, Mr. Rob McEwen and a Global Commodity Group based in Singapore; Dr. Quinton Hennigh is a technical advisor.

About The Ellis Martin Report

The Ellis Martin Report (TEMR) is an internet based radio program showcasing potentially undervalued companies to an audience of potential retail investors and fund managers that comprise our listening audience. TEMR is broadcasted on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel and The Opportunity Radio Network. CEO and company interviews are paid for by those represented on the program.

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TPR has today published a regulatory intervention report detailing its response after receiving notification of a failure to agree a scheme triennial valuation between Reach Plc and MGN Pension Scheme. It also highlights the statutory duties relating to a schemes triennial valuation and, where a failure to reach an agreement occurs, how TPR will consider using its powers. When a valuation and recovery plan cannot be agreed, a defined benefit pension scheme runs the risk of the employer not paying the right amount of money into the scheme and members may miss out on their full benefits. TPRs Executive Director, Compliance and Enforcement Gaucho Rasmussen, said: This case shows how we will support trustees in their role as the first line of defence for savers, and to stop bigger problems arising later. We want to protect members of schemes and are pleased that in this instance the employer and trustee were able to agree their valuations without the need for us to use our powers. We want all schemes to be open and transparent with us and engage with us early so that we can be clear on our expectations. As in this case, schemes and employers can then work together to resolve issues. If schemes and employers do not to engage with us early, and do not respond to our steers, then they should not be surprised if we use the full suite of regulatory tools at our disposal, to resolve our concerns and ensure good outcomes for members of a scheme. An agreement which benefits savers

In this case, TPR worked with the trustee and company following notification of a failure to agree the 2019 scheme triennial valuation between Reach Plc and the MGN Pension Scheme, which has 5,490 members. Following TPRs involvement, the two parties reached an agreement on the 2019 valuation and the subsequent 2022 valuation. Parties agreed that the scheme will receive deficit recovery contributions of 46 million per year, compared with previous annual payments of 41 million under the old recovery plan.
Leading global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) India has announced the appointment of Mani Singhal as Managing Director to co-lead its Consumer & Retail practice in India. This appointment aligns with A&Ms continued expansion in the sector, reinforcing its commitment to delivering high-impact, results-driven solutions for consumer-facing businesses.

With over two decades of experience,Singhal has deep expertise in driving growth, strategy, and operational transformation for consumer and retail businesses. She has worked with diverse organizations including multinational corporations, promoter-led organizations, and high-growth D2C (direct-to-consumer) brands, helping them optimize commercial models, drive multi-channel expansion, and navigate evolving consumer trends.

Prior to joining A&M, she was a Managing Director & Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where she played a key role in shaping the Consumer Practice in India. Before that, she spent nearly a decade at Accenture Strategy, focusing on execution-led transformation initiatives.

Himanshu Bajaj, Managing Director & Head - A&M India and GCC, said, "A&M continues to strengthen its Consumer & Retail practice to meet the growing needs of Indian businesses navigating evolving market trends and operational challenges. Manis deep expertise in strategy and execution complements our capabilities in delivering high-impact solutions for clients. Her addition reinforces A&Ms focus on helping businesses in India unlock value through innovative and results-oriented strategies.

Rishav Jain, Managing Director and Co-lead Consumer & Retail Practice, A&M India, added, The consumer and retail sector is witnessing a faster rate of change with every passing year. Companies will need to adapt consistently to create value for shareholders. With emerging aspirations of entrepreneurs alongside a dynamic consumer and competitive landscape, most mid cap and large cap companies will need to rethink the way to do business. As A&M continues to partner with our consumer and retail clients in this journey, Manis addition to our leadership team further strengthens our large-scale transformation capabilities in creating shareholder value.

Singhal, Managing Director and Co-lead Consumer & Retail Practice, A&M India said, "The consumer and retail sector in India stands at a pivotal juncture, as businesses need to adapt their strategies to address evolving consumer expectations and increasing competitive intensity while consistently delivering profitable growth. A&M is uniquely positioned to support organizations in navigating this dynamic landscape, combining its deep industry expertise with a hands-on approach. I am excited to join A&M and look forward to collaborating with clients to deliver sustainable growth."

Also Read: Alvarez & Marsal appoints Saurav Kumar as MD for Infrastructure
We are in a new era of Public Relations. In the last few years, the importance of reputation management has undergone a sea change. More brands and clients, especially from the leadership teams, are viewing Public Relations from a close range. The industry has undergone a radical change with the advent of social media, which has to a large extent changed the approach to Public Relations. We have a relatively new and young audience that we need to face in the coming years so there are bigger challenges for brands and PR practitioners, who have to be more agile and proactive in their thinking to draw up business solutions for clients.

In our exclusive weekly column, PR Conversation, Adgully interacts with leading business leaders to gain their exclusive views and insights on various trends in the PR and communications industry.

In an exclusive conversation with Adgully, Manashwi Banerjee, Head of Communications, India & South Asia, Hitachi Energy, discusses the brands transition following its carve-out from ABB. She shares insights on the challenges of repositioning, strategies for maintaining consistent visibility across India, Southeast Asia, and Australasia, and the integration of digital platforms into PR and communications.

Banerjee also highlights Hitachi Energys participation in key industry events like the G20 Energy Transitions Ministerial Meeting and CII forums, emphasising their role in shaping brand credibility. Additionally, she reflects on the complexities of storytelling in the highly technical energy sector and the challenges of being a woman leader in a traditionally male-dominated industry, sharing her approach to navigating and excelling in this space.

Hitachi Energy underwent a significant transition post its carve-out from ABB. What were the biggest challenges in repositioning the brand, and how did you ensure a seamless communication and stakeholder engagement transition?

In 2021, the brand Hitachi Energy was born, after Hitachi Ltd bought out ABB Ltds Power Grid business globally. In India, it was a transition from ABB to carved out ABB Power Products & Systems India Limited to a renamed Hitachi Energy India Ltd. And the job was to navigate our entire gamut of stakeholders (employees, customers, shareholders, industry, etc.) through this transition  maintain clarity, retain their attention. It necessitated a careful balance between preserving the Companys erstwhile legacy while crafting a distinctly new culture and taking a new leap by positioning it as a forward-looking, sustainability-driven organization. All this, while the world learnt to deal with the global pandemic and had little attention to spare.

But the challenge of the pandemic also brought with it the solution  energy transition stopped being a good to have and globally there was a shift to self-sufficiency via renewables.

This was in line with our global purpose of advancing a sustainable energy future for all. Our engagement efforts remained relentless, ensuring that despite industry disruptions, Hitachi Energy (in India) maintained visibility and thought leadership across media, industry and customer platforms. Clear and consistent messaging to stakeholders helped build trust and confidence in the brand. Since the carve-out also meant debuting as a listed entity in India, transparent and strategic communication played a critical role in strengthening investor confidence, contributing to a significant increase in shareholder value. By maintaining a structured, multi-channel approach, we ensured a seamless transition and reinforced Hitachi Energy's position as a leader in the energy sector.

In todays fast-paced media landscape, what strategies have worked best for Hitachi Energy in maintaining consistent brand visibility across India, Southeast Asia, and Australasia?

Maintaining brand visibility in todays dynamic media landscape requires a strategic, multi-pronged approach. One of the most effective strategies has been a well-integrated storytelling model that spans traditional media, digital platforms, and industry engagements. By securing mentions in quality media houses and adding value to high-profile forums, we have ensured that Hitachi Energy remains at the forefront of energy transition and innovation discussions.

A key driver of our visibility has been our focus on thought leadership. For example, in India, in addition to industry-defining conversations in platforms like the G20 EnergyTransitions Ministerial Meeting, India Energy Week, Elecrama, Gridcon, India Smart Utility Week, etc., we actively leverage the depth of expertise to bring energy to the forefront in generalist conversations  from economy and nation-building to innovation and future talent needs.

In addition to such industry events, we have attuned our narrative with the cultural and technical requirements of the various countries. The projects we focus on and how we package them is nuanced by country. For example, focusing on access to energy through microgrids in the land of a thousand islands  Indonesia, or reducing urban stress with mass transit rail system, in Greater Bangkok, Thailand and reducing carbon emissions through commercial EV charging (Grid-eMotion) infrastructure used for charging Brisbane Metro.

This integrated and adaptable strategy has helped sustain our brands prominence across India, Southeast Asia, and Australasia.

You lead a diverse team across multiple regions. How do you ensure alignment in messaging and communication strategy across such varied markets?

Leading a multi-regional communications team requires a fine balance between maintaining global consistency and adapting to local market dynamics. While our overarching communication objectives have been centrally defined, execution is tailored to fit each regions specific cultural and industry nuances. Regular alignment meetings ensure that messaging remains consistent across teams while allowing insights from local markets to shape our approach.

A strong focus on cross-functional collaboration has been instrumental in ensuring that all teams operate with a shared vision. By fostering an environment of trust and empowerment, I have built a team that is agile, responsive, and well-equipped to manage communication challenges unique to their respective regions. Understanding cultural sensitivities, regulatory landscapes, and market priorities plays a crucial role in shaping narratives that resonate with diverse audiences. This approach ensures coherence in messaging and enables us to remain agile and responsive to market-specific opportunities and challenges.

Given the increasing importance of digital and social media in corporate storytelling, how has Hitachi Energy integrated digital platforms into its PR and communication strategy?

Owned media has never been more relevant, and its role in empowering employees to be ambassadors of the company narrative is central to the changes we see in development and consumption of data & narratives.

Digital platforms have become central to shaping and amplifying our corporate narrative. Our approach is driven by a well-orchestrated social media presence, thought leadership content, and data-driven audience engagement. LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube serve as key platforms for stakeholder engagement, enabling us to share insights, industry trends, and leadership perspectives in real time.

Beyond social media, we leverage digital storytelling to simplify complex energy concepts and make them more accessible to a broader audience. Video content, infographics, and blogs written by our in-house experts play a crucial role in breaking down technical topics into compelling narratives. All of this has to be backed by analytics, helping us refine messaging and optimize engagement, thus expanding our reach and reinforcing Hitachi Energy's position as an industry thought leader.

Energy and technology are highly technical sectors, often challenging for mainstream storytelling. How do you simplify complex narratives to make them engaging and relatable for wider audiences?

Simplifying technical content without compromising its depth requires a strategic approach. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by focusing on real-world impact. Instead of emphasizing technical specifications, we highlight how our innovations contribute to sustainability, reliability, and energy security. This human-centric approach makes complex topics more relatable.

Visual storytelling plays a crucial role in breaking down technical jargon. Infographics, explainer videos, and interactive content help convey intricate concepts in a more digestible format. Take Electron  an animated video series targeted at tweens & teens, developed in collaboration with BBC studios, is an interesting case of how digital is helping change the flavor of traditional B2B communication. Another key aspect is drawing analogies that simplify energy concepts, making them more accessible to mainstream audiences. By positioning our experts as thought leaders in mainstream media, we also ensure that our messaging remains informative yet engaging.

Hitachi Energy has played a role in key industry events like the G20 Energy Transitions Ministerial Meeting and CII forums. How do such platforms shape brand credibility, and what goes into preparing a brand's voice for such high-profile engagements?

Earned participation in high-profile industry forums is integral to shaping brand credibility and reinforcing thought leadership. These platforms provide an opportunity to engage with policymakers, industry leaders, and investors, positioning Hitachi Energy as a key player in the energy transition. We can contribute to ongoing discussions on sustainability, digitalization, and energy innovation through these engagements.

Preparation for such platforms involves rigorous message development, media training for our spokespersons, and targeted content creation. Every speaking engagement, media interaction, and stakeholder briefing is carefully crafted to align with our broader communication objectives. By maintaining a strong and consistent presence in these forums, we reinforce our leadership position and influence the broader industry narrative.

The energy sector remains largely male-dominated. As a woman leader in this space, what challenges have you faced, and how have you navigated them to carve your own niche?

Hitachi Energy is a diverse and inclusive Company in which every employee is welcome, treated fairly, and feels included. The Company is committed to implementing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as a crucial driver of long-term and sustainable business growth and improving people's well-being.

Navigating perceptions of what we do, developing audiences understanding of intangibles like credibility & brand value, and tangible business impact is what most communications professionals are challenged with. A strong focus on expertise, strategic thinking, and consistent impact-driven work help overcome this over time. Building a strong support network, advocating for diversity, and leading by example have been crucial in creating opportunities for more inclusive conversations in the industry. By remaining committed to collaboration across business functions, industry bodies and being open to ideas, I have been able to contribute meaningfully to the sector and carve my own niche.

What advice would you give to young women aspiring to build careers in corporate communications, especially in technical industries like energy and infrastructure?

To all aspiring communications professionals keen on entering corporate communications in technical or B2B industries, my advice would be to invest in building subject matter expertise, staying adaptable in an evolving landscape, and cultivating a strong professional network. No matter how digital the world gets, and how much AI is in play, these basics will remain and add to ones confidence, resilience and a willingness to learn. By staying curious, taking ownership of their voice, and embracing opportunities to lead, they can drive meaningful change in corporate communications and beyond.

Also Read: Digital Platforms Lead the Shift in Real Estate Marketing
Felicity Games, a leading global mobile game publisher, has raised $3 million (INR 25.8 crore) in a seed funding round led by 3one4 Capital, with participation from international investors such as T-Accelerate Capital (Singapore) and MIXI Global Investments (Tokyo). The funding round also saw strong follow-up investments from existing backers DeVC and Visceral Capital, further emphasizing investors confidence in Felicitys long-term vision.

The fundraising follows a period of rapid growth for Felicity, which has now surpassed $1M in annual recurring revenue (ARR) and crossed 1 million downloads across its top-performing titles, Seek & Find and Nova Solitaire. Founded in 2023 by Anurag Choudhary, Felicity Games is focused on pioneering a scalable playbook for global game publishing by tapping into Indias burgeoning game development ecosystem. Specializing in hybrid-casual games publishing, the company combines data-driven insights with a strong execution model to deliver high-performing mobile games to audiences worldwide. The company closed February with over $100K in gross revenue, marking a 4X scale-up from November 2024.

With this new round of funding, Felicity Games plans to expand its publishing infrastructure and deepen its relationships with Indian game studios. The company is committed to scaling its successful titles and using the funds to test additional games by the end of 2025. This investment will also support the companys mission of becoming the go-to partner for studios looking to scale their games profitably and sustainably.

In 2024, Felicity Games forged partnerships with over 10 Indian studios to test and scale several games, further strengthening its publishing infrastructure and its position in the competitive global market.

Speaking on this Sonal Saldanha, VP at 3one4 Capital said, "The gaming industry has changed significantly, with mobile adoption and new advertising rules reshaping how games are built, discovered, and monetized. These shifts create opportunities for new companies to emerge. Felicity is taking a first-principles approach to building a substantial gaming business from India by leveraging exceptional talent, operational efficiency, and rapid execution. We share Anurags vision and are excited to support an industry-defining gaming company emerging from India,

We are building the next generation of global gaming successes from India," said Anurag Choudhary, Founder & CEO of Felicity Games, At Felicity, we take a tech- driven, execution-focused approach to systematically identify and scale global hits. By tapping into Indias studio ecosystem and top global talent in UA, Monetization, and Live Ops, were accelerating learning and innovation. This fundraise fuels our mission to double down on innovation, partnerships, and growth

Through this latest round of funding, Felicity Games is poised to bridge the gap in the mobile gaming ecosystem, providing studios with the technology, insights, and comprehensive support needed to compete and succeed on a global scale.

Also Read: Felicity Games and AbhiTech Games join forces to launch new titles
Furlenco, Indias leading furniture and lifestyle brand, announces its expansion into Kolkata, foraying into the Eastern region of the country. With this development, Furlenco continues its mission to bring hassle-free, premium furniture rental solutions to a wider audience, catering to the evolving needs of urban dwellers. With more than 3+ lakhs user base in more than 25+ cities in India, Furlenco has a major presence in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi - NCR, Hyderabad and Pune.

In Kolkata, Furlenco is embracing the citys vibrant culture and local flavor through a unique taxi top advertisement campaign. Launched on 11th March 2025, this innovative campaign will feature tie-ups with the iconic taxi in Kolkata, transforming them into moving billboards that showcase Furlencos premium range of furniture. As part of the campaign, the company is creating furniture set up atop these taxis to highlight the comfort and convenience that Furlencos furniture solutions bring to modern households. This innovative approach aims to connect with Kolkatas diverse audience and enhance brand visibility in the city.

Speaking about this milestone, Ajith Karimpana, CEO and Founder of Furlenco, said, At Furlenco, our goal has always been to simplify urban living by providing stylish and sustainable furniture solutions that adapt to our customers needs. With Kolkata to our growing network of 25+ cities, were excited to empower even more people with the freedom to create comfortable and functional spaces without long-term commitments.

With changing times, rental solutions are becoming the go-to choice for urban dwellers who prioritize convenience and flexibility over long-term ownership. Furlencos subscription-based model eliminates the hassle of upfront costs, heavy deposits, and logistical challenges, making it easier for customers to adapt to their ever-changing needs.

As a pioneer in the furniture rental industry, Furlenco remains committed to its core values of convenience, affordability, and sustainability. By offering stylish, sustainable, and affordable furniture options, Furlenco is redefining the way people experience urban living.

Also Read: Furlenco: Building a green future with furniture
Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL), a leading emerging markets FMCG company, has launched its first integrated greenfield plant in Chengalpattu District, near Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The new plant was inaugurated by the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru MK Stalin, Nadir Godrej, Chairperson, Godrej Industries Group, and Sudhir Sitapati, MD & CEO of Godrej Consumer Products Limited. The plant officially commenced operations with the ceremonial activation of the production line by Honourable Chief Minister Thiru MK Stalin, who marked the occasion by turning on the first production run. This resulted in the rollout of the inaugural Cinthol Original soap bar, a significant milestone in the plant's launch.

In 2024, GCPL conducted the groundbreaking ceremony for its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu, making an investment of INR ~515 crore over the next five years. This is the largest single investment made by GCPL to boost its production capabilities. The plant, which spans 27 acres, was set up in a record time of 13 months.

Commenting on the plants inauguration, Nadir Godrej, Chairperson, Godrej Industries Group, said, The Chengalpattu plant stands as a testament to Godrej Consumer Products' unwavering commitment to shaping the future of manufacturing, where innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity seamlessly converge. This cutting-edge facility not only supports our mission to deliver high-quality products to consumers but also places a strong emphasis on the well-being and diversity of our workforce. With 50% women and 5% representation from people with disabilities (PWD) and LGBTQIA+ communities, we are proud of our ongoing commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment. At Godrej, we believe that the future of manufacturing lies in empowering people and protecting the planet, driving sustainable growth for all.

Thiru M. K. Stalin, Hon. Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, said, Tamil Nadu has always focused on progress, driven by strategic investments, strong infrastructure, and a commitment to employment generation and womens empowerment. The establishment of Godrej Consumer Products' first integrated factory in Chengalpattu marks a significant milestone in this journey. By choosing Tamil Nadu as the base for their facility, Godrej is not only contributing to the economic advancement of Tamil Nadu but also strengthening our commitment to nurturing industries that drive innovation, create jobs, and uplift communities. Together, we are shaping a future where growth and inclusivity go hand in hand.

Dr T.R.B. Rajaa, Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion, and Commerce, Tamil Nadu, added, We are immensely proud of this new facility and thank Godrej Consumer Products for choosing to establish it in Tamil Nadu. This facility exemplifies several pillars of the MK Stalin era of Dravidian Model growth. It is a smart manufacturing facility, aligning with Tamil Nadus push for advanced manufacturing. The facility places DEI at its core, with plans to employ 50% women and 5% of employees from LGBTQIA+ communities and persons with disabilities - this commitment aligns with Tamil Nadus vision of inclusive and equitable industrial growth. Additionally, the facility was swiftly operationalised in a record time of just 13 months, showcasing our speedy governance.

Sudhir Sitapati, MD & CEO, Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL), further added, The Chengalpattu plant represents a transformational shift in our manufacturing capabilities, serving as Godrej Consumer Products first fully integrated facility under one roof. This advanced facility will produce products from some of our best-selling brands, including Cinthol, Godrej No.1, GoodKnight, Godrej Aer, and Godrej Expert Hair Colour. We foresee this factory generating INR 1,500 crore in turnover once all planned production lines are fully operational. Beyond being just a manufacturing hub, this facility is set to be a key driver of innovation, productivity, and sustainability, positioning GCPL for continued growth and success in the future. We commend the Tamil Nadu government for its progressive and futuristic vision, which has enabled us to achieve this milestone.

Commenting on the launch, Saurabh Jhawar, Head - Product Supply Organization for India & SAARC, Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL), said, Designed with cutting-edge automation and digitization, the plant features highly automated, high-speed production lines that operate 2X to 4X faster than our current lines, significantly upgrading production efficiency. The plant will embrace Industry 4.0 technologies, including IoT for real-time data analytics, AI, and machine learning to optimize processes.

The plant has created over 1000+ direct and indirect meaningful employment opportunities across various functions, positively impacting both the local community and the business. All individuals from LGBTQIA+ and people with disabilities communities will take on essential shop-floor operational roles, such as machine operators, as well as positions in the quality and engineering departments. This ensures their integration into critical functions, allowing them to contribute directly to the plant's operations. The design of the facility reflects our vision for the future, featuring accessibility elements such as gender-neutral washrooms and comprehensive infrastructure designed for individuals with disabilities, ensuring that every employee can thrive in an equitable environment.

In line with GCPL's broader sustainability goals, the facility is designed with a strong focus on sustainability, adhering to the guidelines of the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).

Also Read: Godrej Microwave Ovens redefines Womens Day with #AManCan campaign
Kapture CX, leading Gen AI powered Customer Experience platform , announces the appointment of Devika Rajeev as the Head of HR. With around 13 years of experience in human resources, Devika brings deep expertise in performance management, rewards, and talent management. Having worked across both multinational corporations and start-ups, she has successfully led People & Culture functions during critical growth phases. Notably, in her previous role at Sattva Consulting, she played a pivotal role in scaling the organizations headcount by three times while implementing impactful HR strategies.

Devika has held key positions at Wipro, Heidrick & Struggles, and Ola, where she gained valuable experience in managing diverse teams and fostering a strong organizational culture. An alumna of XLRI Jamshedpur, she holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Personnel Management & Industrial Relations and also has a B.A. (Hons) in Mathematics from Delhi University.

In her new role at Kapture CX, Devika will be responsible for driving strategic HR initiatives, enhancing employee engagement, and strengthening talent acquisition and retention efforts. She will play a key role in shaping a dynamic and inclusive work environment that aligns with the companys growth objectives. Her leadership will be instrumental in fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous development.

Commenting on her appointment, Sheshgiri Kamath, CEO & Co-founder of Kapture CX, said, At Kapture, we believe that people are at the heart of everything we do. Devikas extensive experience in HR leadership, combined with her ability to drive strategic talent initiatives, makes her a valuable addition to our team. We look forward to her contributions in building a strong, people-first culture as we continue our growth journey.

On joining Kapture CX, Devika Rajeev said, I am thrilled to join Kapture CX at such an exciting phase of its journey. The companys commitment to innovation and customer-centricity is truly inspiring, and I look forward to strengthening our HR strategies to nurture talent, foster a high-performance culture, and support the organizations ambitious goals.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has unveiled a comprehensive plan to revitalize the state's film industry, highlighted by the launch of a dedicated state-run OTT platform for Kannada cinema. This initiative, announced during the state budget, directly addresses concerns from prominent filmmakers like Rakshit Shetty and Rishab Shetty regarding the limited visibility of Kannada films on major streaming services.

The government has earmarked 3 crore to create a repository of Kannada films, safeguarding the states cultural heritage through both digital and non-digital preservation. The new OTT platform aims to provide filmmakers with a vital channel to showcase their work and reach wider audiences.

Further bolstering the sector, the Chief Minister announced that cinema will be granted "industry status," granting filmmakers access to benefits under the state's Industrial Policy. To enhance affordability, a 200 price cap will be implemented for movie tickets across all languages in Karnataka's theatres and multiplexes.



Infrastructure development is also a priority. A multiplex complex will be constructed on 2.5 acres of Karnataka Film Academy land in Bengaluru, utilizing a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Moreover, the long-anticipated international Film City in Mysuru will move forward, with 150 acres of land transferred for its development. This 500 crore PPP project aims to establish Karnataka as a premier film production hub.

These strategic initiatives demonstrate Karnataka's commitment to fostering a vibrant and sustainable local film industry, providing filmmakers with enhanced distribution, financial support, and world-class infrastructure.

Also Read: Karnataka Enterprise Awards: Honouring business excellence & innovation
LOreal Paris, worlds No.1 beauty brand, made history with a Guinness World Record for the 'Most People Untying Their Hair Simultaneously. Over 500 women in Mumbai participated in this record-breaking event celebrating confidence, freedom, and hair health and launch of the new transformative L'Oreal Paris Hyaluron Pure Shampoo and Conditioner Range.

This attempt is a part of the "Free Your Hair" campaign focussing on empowering women and encouraging them to prioritize hair care without compromise. More than just an event, this historical milestone highlights the importance of scalp health, a concern affecting millions globally. The collective act of untying hair serves as a symbol of liberation, reinforcing LOreal Paris commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions for modern hair care challenges.

Addressing the common issue of oily scalps and dry ends, the brand engaged women aged 18-45, inviting them to share their experiences of hair freedom while discovering the transformative benefits of Hyaluron Pure. Powered by an advanced formulation combining Salicylic Acid and Hyaluronic Acid, this breakthrough range deeply cleanses excess oil from the scalp while delivering 72 hours of hydration, ensuring fresh, bouncy, and nourished hair.

"The first step to maintaining hair health is recognizing common scalp concerns like excess oil and dandruff, which impacts 50% of adults at some point in their lives. With Hyaluron Pure, we are redefining what it means to have healthy, hydrated hair. This Guinness World Record attempt is a testament to the confidence and empowerment our range brings to women everywhere," said Dario Zizzi, General Manager at L'Oreal Paris India.

By attempting this Guinness World Record, LOreal Paris strengthens its legacy of innovation and empowerment. More than just a record-breaking moment, the "Free Your Hair" movement is a bold expression of confidence, strength, and self-expression, reaffirming L'Oreal Paris leadership in hair care innovation.

Also Read: LOreal Paris and &TV collaborate to Inspire Haircare during Festival
PhysicsWallah (PW), an edtech company, has appointed Alifiya Nalwala as its Group Head of Corporate Communications and Public Relations. With over 19 years of experience in journalismlargely focused on the education sectorAlifiya will spearhead PWs communication strategy, ensuring cohesive messaging and stronger audience engagement.

Alakh Pandey, CEO and Founder of PhysicsWallah, welcomed the appointment, stating: PW has expanded across multiple segments in recent years. Alifiyas deep editorial and strategic communication experience will help standardize our messaging across internal and external channels.



Expressing her excitement about the new role, Alifiya Nalwala said: As a journalist, I have closely tracked India's evolving education landscape, a sector close to my heart. PWs journey has been truly inspiring, and it is an honor to join a company that prioritizes students and is committed to shaping the future of education.

Alifiya holds a bachelors degree in mass media and a masters degree in political science. She received the Anupama Jayaraman Memorial Award for young reporters at 24 and has since earned multiple accolades for her work.

Before joining PW, she was a Senior Writer at The Ken and previously spent over eight years at The Indian Express, where she served as Assistant Editor and Special Correspondent. Her career also includes leadership roles at DNA (Chief Reporter & Principal Correspondent), Mid-Day, and HT Media. With expertise in media strategy, business communications, and in-depth reporting, Alifiya brings a wealth of knowledge to her new role at PW.

Also Read: Our long-term PR goal is to elevate Physics Wallah to cult status: Srishti Mathur
Akshay Bardapurkar, founder of Plaanet Marathi, announced the launch of Plaanet Stree, Indias first-ever OTT platform dedicated exclusively to women  by the women, of the women, and for the women. The platform will officially launch on May 1, 2025, Maharashtra Day, with seven distinguished women from diverse fields joining the grand announcement.



After four successful years with Plaanet Marathi OTT, which has hosted over 40 shows, Bardapurkar is expanding into new territory to celebrate and empower women through content tailored to their experiences. The platform will offer an array of content, including all-women podcast series, web films, and short films focused on womens lives, along with expert-led content by female doctors, astrologers, and chefs. Special emphasis will be placed on highlighting the contributions of rural women and female farmers, while also providing a platform for undiscovered women musicians and business leaders.



Citing demographic insights, Bardapurkar highlighted that Indias female population, currently at 48%, is projected to surpass the male population in the coming years. In Maharashtra alone, by 2025, the sex ratio is expected to be 108.483 males per 100 females. Women play an integral role in every household and industry. Personally, I am surrounded by four incredible women  my wife, mother, sister, and daughter. Their contributions to society, from leadership to essential services, are undeniable. With Plaanet Stree, we aim to create meaningful content that resonates with them, Bardapurkar stated.





While Plaanet Stree will launch in Marathi, it will soon expand to multiple languages, ensuring accessibility across India. Beyond streaming content, it will also include a women-focused marketplace, where users can buy and sell products online, alongside gamification and AI-driven engagement features.



Addressing recent challenges faced by Plaanet Marathi, including legal disputes, Bardapurkar reaffirmed his commitment to quality content and regional expansion. Every company faces ups and downs. We trust the judicial system and will emerge victorious, he said. He further added, Our current investors are aware of all the issues, and they have extended their support to this fabulous new venture.



As Plaanet Stree prepares for its historic launch, Bardapurkar signed off by stating: This is more than just an OTT platform  its a movement to empower women through storytelling, knowledge, and opportunities.
LT Foods Ltd., an Indian-origin global FMCG company in the consumer food space, launches a global campaign featuring the King of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan, Bringing Out His Finest with DAAWAT Basmati.

Directed by renowned Indian Director  Shoojit Sircar, the campaign also features legendary actor Zeenat Aman. Centred around the theme, Bring Out Your Finest, the campaign showcases Shah Rukh Khan going the extra mile to ensure every detail is perfect, to make Zeenat Aman feel truly special. The campaign emphasizes that DAAWAT enables everyone to elevate every moment by putting their best foot forward.

Speaking on the campaign, Ritesh Arora, CEO - India and Far East Business, LT Foods Limited, said, At DAAWAT, we leave no stone unturned to 'Bring Out Our Finest' for our consumers globally. This unwavering commitment drives every aspect of our brand, ensuring we deliver exceptional value and memorable experiences. Our brand DAAWAT continues to be one of the most loved food brands in over 80 countries, and this campaign, partnering with Shah Rukh Khan, is a strategic step towards further enhancing consumer engagement. This campaign aligns with our vision of driving long-term brand equity by encouraging consumers to Bring Out Their Finest. We believe this initiative will deepen our bond with consumers and create lasting emotional value for the brand.

Excited about the new campaign, K. Ganapathy Subramaniam, Chief Marketing Officer, LT Foods Limited, said, This campaign establishes that when you go the extra mile to make someone truly special, then and only then, it is a DAAWAT. By showcasing Shah Rukh Khan's heartfelt effort to make Zeenat Aman feel extraordinary, we are reinforcing the message that DAAWAT helps you Bring Out Your Finest. Whether it's creating unforgettable memories or cherishing time with loved ones, DAAWAT empowers individuals to 'Bring Out Their Finest'. This campaign will be rolled out across multiple mediums, including the traditional and digital mediums.
This Holi, Tinder is turning up the colourand the conversation around consent! In a bold new partnership, Tinder is collaborating with actor, podcaster and entrepreneur Rhea Chakrabortys clothing brand, Chapter 2, founded by Showik Chakraborty, to launch a limited-edition t-shirt featuring the powerful message: Bura Na Mano Holi Hai, But Consent bhi Zaroori Hai.

This on-trend tee isnt just about festival fashionits a call to action. Its designed to kick off conversations about the importance of obtaining consent before applying colour or splashing water on someone, reminding everyone that while Holi is all about fun and colour, respect and safety must always be a priority, whether in dating or beyond.

At Tinder, we believe meaningful connections start with mutual respect and clear consentwhen two users agree to match, that's when the real spark happens. This Holi, in partnership with Chapter 2, we're launching a limited-edition tee thats not just about vibrant huesits a playful reminder that while Holi brings singles together for fun and connection, respect and consideration are key. Celebrate the freedom to connect while keeping boundaries in mind, and enjoy a festival thats as safe and empowering as it is colourful, says Anukool Kumar, Head of Marketing at Tinder in India.

Available from March 11 on Chapter 2s official website, this drop is part of Tinders commitment to fostering meaningful, safe connections. A survey of over 1,000 young adults in Indian metro areas found that more than 65% were unsure how to ask for, give, or withdraw consent.* In response, Tinder launched the Lets Talk Consent initiativean interactive resource hub featuring short films like Closure and We Need To Talk (each watched over a million times), along with in-person workshops with Yuvaa and Pink Legal. These efforts by Tinder have reached millions and engaged thousands, helping to pave the way for a safer, more confident dating experience today.

Building on this, Tinder introduced a free 90-minute Lets Talk Consent course on Coursera, and in 2025, Tinders Dating Safety Guide became available in multiple Indian languages, empowering users to navigate consent and modern dating with confidence. Meanwhile, the Tinder apps innovative, AI-powered tools like Are You Sure? and Does This Bother You? help users take control of their interactions, ensuring a safer and more inclusive space for singles across India on Tinder.

Actor, podcaster and founder of Chapter 2 Rhea Chakraborty says, Chapter 2 is a celebration of change. We are a community of people who arent the norm. And we believe in respecting personal choices and not judging them. Our t-shirts embody feelings like 'unherd' and 'indifferent'. We believe your clothes speak for you. Our latest slogan t-shirt in partnership with Tinder - Bura Na Mano Holi Hai, But Consent Lena bhi Zaroori Hai' underscores the importance of consent in every interaction. So come spread the message, this Holi! Make it colourful and consensual!

*In 2022, YouGov surveyed 1,018 Indian young adults (aged 1830) across Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Kolkata, Chennai, and Hyderabad.

Also Read: Tinder & Orrys Move On Campaign Sparks Fresh Starts This Valentines Day
The fate of TikTok remains uncertain as former U.S. President Donald Trump disclosed ongoing negotiations with four different groups regarding the sale of the Chinese-owned social media platform. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump suggested that a deal could be imminent, emphasizing that all options remain open.

This development follows a national security-driven mandate requiring ByteDance, TikToks parent company, to divest its U.S. operations or risk a ban. The law, which came into effect on January 19, was temporarily put on hold by an executive order issued by Trump after taking office on January 20, extending the enforcement deadline by 75 days.

There are four groups were dealing with, and many people are interested, Trump said. All four are strong contenders.

While neither ByteDance nor TikTok has issued statements beyond their standard business responses, the uncertainty surrounding the platform has attracted interest from high-profile investors, including former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt. Analysts estimate TikToks valuation could climb as high as $50 billion, making it a highly coveted acquisition target.

With the extended deadline nearing, negotiations are expected to accelerate as potential buyers weigh their strategies for acquiring the immensely popular social media app. The outcome of these discussions could significantly reshape TikToks presence in the U.S. and influence the broader social media landscape.

Also Read: Brendan Carr named FCC Chairman by President Trump
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) and multiple State Attorneys General, acting as plaintiffs in the ongoing antitrust case, have submitted a proposal outlining four major measures to curb Googles monopolistic grip on search and digital advertising.

Proposed Remedies to Reduce Googles Dominance:

Chrome Browser Separation  Google would be required to detach Chrome from its corporate umbrella, either by selling it or spinning it off as an independent entity. Restrictions on Default Search Engine Deals  Googles financial agreements with companies like Apple to maintain its search engine as the default choice would be severely limited. Fair Competition in Search Results  Google would be prohibited from prioritizing its own products and services over competitors in search rankings and other platforms. Enhanced Transparency in Advertising and Data Practices  Competitors would gain fairer access to key advertising and consumer data, ensuring a more competitive market.

Oversight and Ongoing Compliance

To reinforce transparency and prevent Google from implementing new barriers, the filing mandates:

Regular Monitoring: Google must submit monthly reports to a designated Technical Committee, detailing any modifications to its search advertising auctions and related disclosures.

Google must submit monthly reports to a designated Technical Committee, detailing any modifications to its search advertising auctions and related disclosures. Unrestricted Advertiser Data Access: Google cannot impose limitations on advertisers seeking real-time access to their historical campaign data, ensuring they are not locked into the Google ecosystem.

These measures aim to increase accountability within Googles advertising network, enabling businesses to assess and optimize their campaigns without delay.

Courts Next Move

While this filing does not serve as a final verdict, it presents a roadmap for restructuring Googles business practices. The court will now review the proposed remedies and determine the next steps in addressing the companys monopolistic behaviour.
A Birmingham man fleeing police was killed in a Monday crash that also injured a Jefferson County sheriffs deputy.

Alabama State Troopers on Tuesday identified the man killed as Ronald A. Morton. He was 67.

The incident began midday Monday when Pleasant Grove police tried to stop Morton for a traffic violation on Park Road.

Morton, authorities said, took off and moments later collided head-on with a Toyota Highlander driven by Deputy Ardalia N. Marks, who was still in her uniform.

The crash happened about 12:20 p.m. on Ensley Pleasant Grove Road.

Senior Trooper Vu Quang said Morton was not using a seatbelt and was pronounced dead on the scene.

Marks was taken to UAB Hospital in Birmingham. Sheriffs officials said she is expected to survive her injuries.

ALEA is leading the ongoing investigation.
A mistrial was declared Tuesday in the murder case of a north Alabama man who claimed he fatally shot his neighbor in self-defense two years ago.

Keith Sullivan, 53, of Grove Oak, was indicted on murder charges by a DeKalb County grand jury in February 2024 for the slaying of Gregory Bagwell, court records showed.

In July, DeKalb County Circuit Court Judge Shaunathan Bell denied Sullivans request for immunity under Alabamas Stand Your Ground self-defense law and set the case for trial, where Sullivan claimed self-defense.

Bell declared a mistrial on Tuesday after jurors sent the judge a note indicating they were deadlocked, Fox 54 reported.

The judges order was not yet in online state court records Tuesday afternoon.

A new murder trial for Sullivan is scheduled for October.
Doc's Seafood Shack, an institution in Orange Beach for more than 40 years, is opening a new location in neighboring Foley. (Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com)

Docs Seafood Shack & Oyster Bar  a beloved Orange Beach restaurant thats been a dining destination for Alabama Gulf Coast vacationers for decades  will open a new location in neighboring Foley later this year.

The new Docs  at the intersection of Miflin Road and South Juniper Street, about a mile east of Alabama Highway 59  is in the early stages of construction and could be open by August, Docs Seafood Shack owner and founder Richard Schwartz tells AL.com.

I love Foley, Schwartz says. Foley is a great business town. I already own the land, and I have owned the land for a long time.

Its close to OWA, Schwartz adds, referring to the nearby Tropic Falls at OWA amusement complex. And this old man thought it was a good decision, so thats why its getting done.

In addition to the original Docs Seafood Shack, Schwartz and his two sons own and operate Docs Seafood & Steaks, also in Orange Beach.

Im 82 years old, and Ive got children that are running the two (Docs Seafood) stores that we have, Schwartz says. My decision to do (a third Docs) was that I thought those boys would need another restaurant.

The new Foley location, Schwartz says, should generate more year-round traffic than the two Orange Beach restaurants, which do most of their business during the spring and summer vacation seasons.

(Foley) is really booming, and I just think its a 12-month location that wont have the ups and downs like you do operating on the Gulf, he says.

Thats not to say that the Gulf has not been great to me and my family because it has, he adds. But in the offseason, its tough, so Im hoping we dont have an offseason (in Foley).

The new Foley location will seat about 160 guests, Schwartz says.

The menu  which will include fried and grilled seafood platters, fried shrimp loaf sandwiches, crab cakes, seafood gumbo and blue plate lunch specials  will be the same as the original Docs, he adds.

My menu is not going to change, Schwartz says. Im going to do what we do, so Im really pleased and excited that we can take this menu and go up to Foley.

Schwartz previously owned the iconic Gulf Shores breakfast and lunch spot Hazels Nook, which he bought from Hazel Scruggs in 1980. Last summer, Schwartz sold Hazels to restaurateur Garrett Spence, who rebranded the restaurant as a second location of Ducks Diner.

Schwartz opened the original Docs Seafood Shack on Canal Road in Orange Beach in 1984 when he bought that property from the Hazel Scruggs estate. He named the restaurant Docs in honor of his father, who was a dentist.

The Schwartz family later opened Docs Seafood & Steaks on Perdido Beach Boulevard in Orange Beach.

AL.com included the original Docs on its 2023 list of 5 Venerable Alabama Gulf Coast Restaurants We Go Back to Every Summer, and later that same year, Southern Living named it one of the Best Places to Eat in Orange Beach, Alabama.
Billy Joel has postponed several stadium shows set for 2025, as he recovers from surgery for an unspecified medical condition. Here, Joel performs during his 100th lifetime performance at Madison Square Garden on July 18, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

Billy Joel has postponed eight stadium concerts on his agenda for this year, due to a recent surgery for an unspecified medical condition. The pop-rock legend has pushed back the dates for four months, while he recovers and undergoes physical therapy, according to a statement on his website and social media.

While I regret postponing any shows, my health must come first, Joel, 75, said in the statement on Tuesday. I look forward to getting back on stage and sharing the joy of live music with our amazing fans. Thank you for your understanding.

Doctors are supervising his recovery, the statement said.

The concert dates, originally scheduled from March through June, have been rescheduled for fall 2025 and spring-summer 2026. The list includes a May 10 show in Charlotte, North Carolina, now set for July 3, 2026, at the Charlotte Bank of America Stadium.

Stadium shows in Detroit, Milwaukee, Salt Lake City and Syracuse, New York, are on the list, along with three dates outside the United States. Some of the dates were sold out, according to Joels website.

The next concert on Joels agenda is set for July 5 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. His originally scheduled tour dates continue after that, stopping at Yankee Stadium in New York (July 18), Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (Aug.8), the Superdome in New Orleans (Oct. 18) and more.

Joel took a tumble on stage during a sold-out show on Feb. 22 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., but its unclear if that fall is related to the medical condition mentioned in his Tuesday statement.

A fan video on TikTok shows Joel twirling the microphone during one of his encores at Mohegan Sun Arena, Its Still Rock and Roll to Me. The star can be seen stumbling, falling on his side and flopping on his back in the video, as a crew member approaches to help him.

Joel continued the show in Connecticut, according to Setlist.fm, and ended his set with Big Shot and You May Be Right. The setlist also featured classic hits such as Movin' Out, Pressure, Vienna, Allentown, New York State of Mind, Piano Man, We Didnt Start the Fire, Only the Good Die Young and more.
A judge has set aside a citation of contempt for the Jefferson Countys Bessemer Cutoff circuit clerk of allegations she failed to help find missing evidence in a 1974 rape case.

Circuit Judge David Carpenter previously issued the citation against Karen Dunn Burks saying she had repeatedly and willfully refused to comply with multiple court orders to locate the missing evidence.

Carpenter set aside the citation Monday after Bessemer Cutoff prosecutors filed a new motion saying they were satisfied that each location they wanted searched had been thoroughly inspected and had yielded no evidence or exhibits in the case in question.

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 to appear in court Tuesday to show cause why she should not be held in contempt, but Carpenter cancelled the hearing once he set aside the citation.

Karen and her staff feel vindicated, said Burks attorney, Martin Weinberg. However, we still have more questions than answers about this process, the improper citation and the disruptions caused.

Unfortunately, its clear that this endeavor failed to provide any insight into questions about Mr. Harriss case, Weinberg said.

But again, this trial happened nearly 50 years ago and there is no way of knowing when the chain of custody could have broken down.

We are also grateful, he said, for everyone that reached out with their support over the past few days.
The U.S. Department of State issued a Level 2 travel warning for this popular spring break beach destination due to crime. Katherine Rodriguez/Canva

The U.S. State Department has upgraded its travel alert related to a popular Caribbean tourist spot.

The British territory of Turks and Caicos is under a Level 2 exercise increased caution warning due to crime, as well as warnings about travelers in possession of firearms and ammunition.

U.S. officials said most crime in the nation occurs in Providenciales, the main island in the Turks and Caicos archipelago. Police in the island nation may have limited investigatory resources and the embassy serving American victims of crime is located in Nassau, The Bahamas, and not on Turks and Caicos.

The update also includes a warning that firearms and ammunition, including single bullets brought by mistake in carry-on bags or luggage, are illegal.

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. 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, the warning noted."

If you are traveling to Turks and Caicos, the State Department recommends you:
Federal fire management and forest service officials conducted a large prescribed burn in the Bankhead National Forest Monday, and smoke drifted across several counties and into the Birmingham metro this evening.

The Forest Service burned about 780 acres today, 6 miles east of Pebble in Winston County.

Meteorologists, including James Spann, told Birmingham area residents that upper air winds pushed the smoke south.

Prescribed burns are planned for thousands of acres across Alabama over the next several months, according to federal officials.
Former Mobile Police Chief Paul Prine announces his candidacy for Mobile mayor on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, inside the Atrium at Government Plaza in downtown Mobile, Ala. John Sharp

Former Mobile Police Chief Paul Prine, who filed a federal lawsuit against the city in December over his dismissal from his job last year, announced Monday that he wishes to become the peoples mayor.

I can hear your support, Prine said, with a throng of supporters cheering him on during the announcement.

I would ask you to consider voting Paul Prine. The peoples chief. The peoples choice. The peoples mayor.

Prine declined to take any questions from the media.

His announcement had the appearance of a campaign rally, with attendees holding signs saying, Thank you, Paul Prine. We have Your Back.

Questions are likely to swirl during Prines campaign, including those about his residency.

Prine is registered as a voter in Saraland and has owned property in the community. Its unclear when he plans a move to Mobile, which is now Alabamas second largest city.

Prine said he is running on a campaign platform of three pillars  Safety first, giving high schools in Mobile County an opportunity to succeed, and economic development.

He also called on the rest of the growing field of mayoral candidates to run a clean campaign.

We know politics is dirty and ugly and unnecessary, Prine said. Ultimately the people of Mobile will make the decision on who the next mayor will be and deserve to know our commitment and qualifications and merit.

Former Mobile Police Chief Paul Prine announced his candidacy for mayor inside the Atrium at Government Plaza on Monday, March 11, 2025. John Sharp

Prine did not mention any of his opponents by name.

The candidates include Mobile County Commissioner Connie Hudson, former Mobile County District Judge Spiro Cheriogotis, former Mobile Police Chief and Executive Director of Public Safety Lawrence Battiste, state Rep. Barbara Drummond, and former Mobile City Councilman Jermaine Burrell.

Prines inclusion into the race adds a rival to outgoing Mayor Sandy Stimpson.

The two had a high-profile falling out last year that led to Prines firing. The former chiefs lawsuit in December accuses the citys highest-ranking officials of disparaging him in the lead up and aftermath of the April 30 firing by the Mobile City Council and for undertaking action that wasted over $200,000 in taxpayers money.

Prine was originally scheduled make an announcement about running for mayor on Friday, the same day his court case was scheduled to be heard in federal court. The hearing has since been moved to April 18.

Prine and the City of Mobile are also being sued by representatives of Kordell Jones, a Black man who was shot and killed by a SWAT team during a pre-dawn, no-knock raid on March 3, 2023. That federal lawsuit was filed on Feb. 24.

Jones death was one of six listed in a report about excessive force by the Mobile Police Department under Prines tenure by former U.S. Attorney Kenyen Brown.

Brown was hired by the Stimpson administration to look at several cases while Prine was chief. Prine has since criticized the Brown report and has called Stimpsons efforts as a witch hunt.
The historic Montgomery Bus Station, which houses the Freedom Rides Museum, is off the DOGE chopping block, according to U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala.

Britt told AL.com on Monday that the bus station will not be sold according to communications with Trumps administration.

In 1961, Freedom Riders were attacked at the bus station by white supremacists during the civil rights movement.

I have been in communication with the Administration and this has been resolved, Britt said. The Montgomery Bus Station and Freedom Rides Museum will not be on GSAs non-core list.

On March 4, the U.S. General Services Administration released a list of 400 non-core federal buildings and properties the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) would sell to cut costs.

Although the GSA removed the list from their website a day later, the agency has not republished an official account of disposable properties verifying if the Montgomery Bus Station has been removed.

Prior to Britts statement, Alabamas two Democratic lawmakers spoke out against the list and DOGEs actions for endangering civil rights history.

Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Selma, and Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, sent a joint letter to the GSA on March 6 urging 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.

Figures office said they were working with Britt to resolve the issue but still wanted an official response from the White House or GSA that the bus station was safe.

Sewell and Figures continued voicing opposition to the historic landmarks potential sale over the weekend accusing the Trump administration of attempting to erase civil rights history.

The two gave speeches over the weekend as they participated in the commemoration of another historic civil rights moment, the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.

Bloody Sunday is named after the brutal beatings 600 protesters were subjected to by Alabama State Troopers and sheriffs deputies as the demonstrators marched from Selma to Montgomery.

Thousands from across the country, both young people and elders from the era, again filled the streets of Selma on Sunday to walk across Edmund Pettus Bridge to honor the history and continued fight for civil rights.

According to the Montgomery Advertiser, Figures and Sewell are planning to introduce legislation requiring congressional approval before a historic building owned by the federal government could be sold.

I think generally, what thats going to look like  once we go back to Washington to draft it out  is that when a building has historical significance, particularly civil rights significance, and is a building that this country has determined its historical significance by virtue of placing it on the National Register of Historic Places, no single authority should be able to dispose of that," Figures told the paper. I believe the language that we will ultimately settle on will be that it will require congressional approval before a building can be sold after it has already received this designation.
FILE - President Donald Trump listens as Elon Musk speaks in the Oval Office at the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) AP

Billionaire presidential adviser Elon Musk called entitlement spending  benefits including Social Security and Medicare  key targets for cuts, an assertion that directly contradicts President Donald Trumps pledge to not touch those programs.

Most of the federal spending is entitlements, Musk told Fox Business Larry Kudlow on Monday. So thats like the big one to eliminate.

During the 2024 campaign, Trump repeatedly promised that he would not cut Social Security payments or health coverage from Medicare, popular safety net programs with wide swaths of voters.

Trump repeated that pledge to Fox News Sunday Morning Futures, saying that he wouldnt reduce legitimate entitlement benefits but would go after improper payments.

Im not going to touch Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid. Now, were going to get fraud out of there, he said in the interview that aired Sunday. Were going to get the fraud out, and everybody wants us to get the fraud out, and, therefore, you will make it better.

Musks comments are likely to spark controversy on Capitol Hill and within the White House, where many Republicans have been adamant that entitlement benefits will not be part of his Department of Government Efficiency cuts.

Democrats, for their part, have raised concerns that DOGEs targets for spending reductions will mean that retirement and health care programs will be in the cross-hairs. Those worries have sparked a wave of angry constituents at town hall meetings, prompting some Republicans to cancel in-person events with voters.

The billionaires comments come at a critical moment for DOGE, the cost-cutting initiative Trump asked him to run.

Musks high-profile role as the public face of DOGE is taking a toll on businesses owned and run by the worlds richest man.

Musk told Kudlow that he has been running his six businesses with great difficulty, but said he would remain in his role for the foreseeable future.

I cant believe Im here doing this. Its kind of bizarre, Musk said, adding that the $2 trillion deficit was the real wake-up call for me.

Shares in Tesla took their biggest hit since 2020 on Monday, as analysts cut their projections for vehicle deliveries for the year. The electric vehicle brand is facing blowback from its base of climate-conscious consumers who associate it with Musks more conservative politics. Musk personal fortune is down $148 billion since the last trading day before the inauguration, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

And an apparent cyberattack Monday against X, temporarily took down the Musk-owned social media site for many users. Musk attributed the outage to a large, coordinated group and or a country.

For weeks, DOGE has shaken up the federal government by canceling contracts, backing out of leases and pushing for federal employees to quit or be fired en masse.

Musk told Fox Business he has about 100 people working for DOGE, a figure he plans to expand to 200 people. He mentioned he was hiring mainly people with experience in finance, software and information technology.

Musk has received criticism for deputizing people with little knowledge of government to make cuts at agencies, which then had to be reversed after critical personnel  such as the employees managing the nuclear weapons stockpile  were terminated.

His powers were tested after a Musk-inspired governmentwide email asked 2.4 million civilian employees to recount their top five accomplishments of the previous weeks. Agencies that deal with sensitive and classified information  like the Justice, Defense and Homeland Security departments  pushed back.

And after Musk squared off with Cabinet members in a meeting last week, Trump directed his Cabinet secretaries to use a scalpel rather than a hatchet  suggesting that control over downsizing efforts was shifting from Musks DOGE back to the Senate-confirmed officials leading departments and agencies.

_____

(With assistance from Stephanie Lai and Akayla Gardner.)

___

2025 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Reneau, 30, said one thing she never prepared for was the sudden loss of her job last month. Aileen Reneau

Prepare the best for the worst, was the mantra of U.S. Air Force veteran Aileen Reneau and others employed by FEMAs Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston.

But Reneau, 30, said one thing she never prepared for was the sudden loss of her job last month.

Once in charge of designing the curricula for FEMA first responder training, Reneau now spends her days donating plasma and looking for substitute teaching jobs after she was terminated in another round of cuts from Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency.

My uncle reached out and asked, Are you worried about losing your job? she said.

And I was like, no, Im not worried at all. I was just recognized for excellent service while deployed.

I had an excellent annual review, she continued. I was just promoted. Were already understaffed, and there is no training facility like this in the entire nation. You know, were critical. Theres no way.

And then less than a week later, I was eating my words, she said.

On Presidents Day, Reneau was enjoying the day off with her husband and their two children when she received a text from a coworker in her department.

I got a text message from (former coworker) Chase that said, have you seen the email yet? she said.

And thats never good on a federal holiday, right?

The email was from Reneaus supervisor, asking if she had time to talk that day.

An hour later, Reneau was waiting for the termination letter to show up in her inbox.

When she was finally able to view it on a company device after being locked out, the letter stated that she was being terminated due to poor performance.

She said this was the last thing she expected after a glowing performance review earlier this year and after she was recognized by the federal government for her service in North Carolina, where she was deployed for six weeks after Hurricane Helene.

We (she and her coworker Chase) had both been recognized for our excellent service, she said.

Thats what it says on the certificate, anyway.

Chase, a Coast Guard veteran and father of two, was terminated the same day, according to Reneau.

She said that any projects the two were working on were not carried over after their termination.

I know that morale is extremely low (at the center) and I know that its been very inefficient, she said.

One of the subject matter experts (for the courses) did reach out to me and say, It is not the same without you, nothing is getting done.

Communication has completely fallen apart, she continued.

I just dont even know how theyre functioning, because myself and Chase were made team leads, and then another man that had been there was made a team lead. So, of your three recently promoted team leads, you only have one now.

She added that the cuts and other DOGE policies had pushed her chronically understaffed department to its limit.

Its an absolute madhouse out there right now, she said.

They are really struggling to keep anything afloat, and theyre having to justify to DOGE literally everything they do, every little contract.

One example she gave was the center now has to document and justify food services for first responders that come in from other states to train at the Anniston facility, the only one of its kind in the nation.

Thats taking away from the actual mission, and the missions not getting done if theyre pulling their hair out over this, she said.

Roughly two weeks before she was terminated, Reneau described a mad dash scramble by the center to remove any trace of DEI from their programming to comply with President Donald Trumps Day 1 executive order.

After that DEI executive order was signed there was a full panic, she said.

Like, oh, my gosh, weve got to make sure we dont have anything about diversity in here. Which that was something that I was pushing back a little bit about.

Not in a way that would justify me being terminated, she added.

But, you know, they wanted to just control and remove any mention of diversity, equity, and inclusion. But then they were throwing the baby out with bath water and its like, okay, no, but look at how diversity is being used in this context.

Like diversity of leadership styles, she said.

Like, that is not what this is supposed to be targeting. We have to use some common sense here.

Since Inauguration Day, over 200 employees at FEMA have been cut, according to the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the agency.

Reneau said these cuts will have devastating consequences for American citizens, especially after en masse terminations of FEMA reservists, the people that immediately mobilize to disaster responses.

Were talking sheer manpower, she said.

Get rid of the conversation about other resources for a moment and lets just talk about manpower.

If you are a small town and your entire town has been flooded and electricity is down, sure, you have responders in your community, but those responders are also affected in the same way all the other citizens are affected, she continued.

So, part of that is just replacing the manpower until they can be stabilized.

She said the ramifications will be even greater than people realize as disasters accelerate in frequency and intensity, which is a trend were seeing due to climate change.

Theres really no two ways about that, she said.

And I mean, Im worried for people.

As a hybrid worker, Reneau said that she wanted to push back on rhetoric she had seen that the government was terminating lazy remote workers who were wasting taxpayer money or veterans who werent fit for a job," as said by Alina Habba, counsel to President Donald Trump.

We werent fighting the return to office orders at all, she said.

At least I wasnt. Ill speak for myself.

I didnt go running to the union, she added.

I didnt put in any grievances, any complaints. You want me to return to the office five days a week? Sure.

She said that working from home is a privilege, not a right.

So, the rhetoric of like, oh, they were firing lazy remote workers, thats not accurate, she continued.

Oh, they were firing people with poor performance. Thats not accurate. Because the only people being terminated in this first and second wave were probationary employees.

Reneau explained that probationary either means that someone has had their job for less than a year or they were recently moved to a new position, usually as a promotion for good performance.

I can tell you, yes, there are some lazy bureaucrats in the federal workplace, she said.

Ive met some of them. Theyre not the ones being terminated.

Theyre the ones that are tenured and they dont move up the chain, they dont get promoted, she continued.

The fraud, waste and abuse is not what was cut out. You cut out people in the flower of their careers or people that were doing the work and therefore were being recognized and being promoted. Thats all that that accomplished.

You skimmed the cream off the top and threw it out, she said.

She said that the termination letters she and others received were an outright lie.

They illegally terminated these employees under false pretenses, she said.

Thats unprecedented. There are policies and processes for reducing the force, but they include things like 60 days notice, going to early retirements, first preference in rehiring.

I dont have preference in rehiring right now, she continued.

What I have is a black dot on my record because it said it was due to performance issues.

After leaving their teaching jobs in Alabama ten years ago to pursue federal careers in an effort to better support their family, Reneau and her husband find themselves back at square one.

Reneau has been applying for substitute teacher positions in the area as she works to finish a law degree.

Her husband is still employed by the Department of Defense at Fort Benning, two and a half hours away from where they live.

But Reneau said he has been told to prepare for the worst.

And its not just DOGE cuts to FEMA that people should be worried about, Reneau said.

Everyday people are going to suffer more than I think they realize, she said.

My grandparents moved from California a few years ago to St. Clair County and they are die hard Trumpers.

And honestly, they havent shown a whole lot of sympathy for my plight, she said.

Im their favorite granddaughter. And theyre still trying to justify it. Theres still a lot of mental gymnastics going on there.

But when they cant get their essential lifesaving medication in a timely manner through Medicaid or Medicare or theyre paying through the nose for it, I mean, I think theyre going to wake up a little bit, she continued.

Reneau is one of many Alabama employees who have been impacted by DOGE cuts this year.

State representatives have opposed several of the departments recent moves and continue to express concerns about the impact they will have on peoples lives.

Elon Musks reckless power trip is directly threatening the livelihoods of my constituents, wrote U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham in a post to X after cuts to Social Security offices impacted at least 100 federal employees across multiple states, including Alabamas Birmingham office.
We hear a lot of talk about how Trump has upset norms, and abandoned our allies to side with a dictator, but so far as I can tell, while Trump is siding with Putin, nobody has ever accused him of wooing Putin. Wooing isnt even my word. Its the Washington Posts and its not about Trump. Its about Obama. In May 2012, having watched Obama debase himself for the better part of four years, the Post had had enough and called it wooing. Trumps been accused of pretty much everything as it relates to Putin, but never wooing.

In fact, a very good argument could be made that Obamas 2008-2012 first term wooing softened the ground for Putins geopolitical adventurism ever since.

When one reviews Obamas table-setting rhetorical blunders and truly shocking betrayals of allies, stripped of the whipped cream of the legacy media, it makes it painfully easy to see who was, in reality, aligned with Putin and was, in fact, his puppet.

It starts a month before the 2008 general election. In the final, October presidential debate, Obama makes his intentions clear: We simply cannot return to a cold war posture with Russia.

YouTube screen grab (edited for clarity).

Weeks later, having won the White House and before even assuming office, Obama tells his transition team to get busy with a reset.

Next, Obama (via Secretary of State Hillary Clinton) makes his intentions tangible with a gift. A literal reset button,. Except oops. Turns out peregruzka, the word they had printed on the button, means overloaded or overcharged.

Summer comes to the first year of Obamas new presidency and he travels to Moscow. Surely his young Ivy League mob of over-educated White House aides have done voluminous research in advance of the trip so the likelihood of him having another pregruzka moment is small.

Oops:

[Obama speaking in Moscow] Good afternoon. Dobryy den. (Applause.) It is a great privilege to join all of you today... Russia and the U.S. first established diplomatic relations more than 200 years ago(and) along the way you gave us a pretty good deal on Alaska. Thank you.

A little humor is always good, right?

Wrong:

Czar Alexander IIs sale of Alaska to the United States in 1867 for $7.2 million in gold, around 1.9 cents per acre, was regarded by Russians as a national disgrace...

Oops. Ouch. Ok

Whats Obamas next move? Further appeasement, this time by angering our ally Poland. He reneges on Americas promise to provide them with a missile shield. Russia will love that (seeing it, as they do, as provocative).

How could [he] choose such a day? That was the anguished outburst of a senior Polish officer when asked what he thought The announcement came on Sept. 17, the 70th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland.

Oops. Double-ouch. Okay, well, that was worse than planned.

2010 brings with it the hope of a Russian Silicon Valley, Skolkovo. Obama is convinced that the U.S.-Russia economic potential is great, but it turns out, ultimately, to be pitifulexcept for Russia.

Reports were rife not long after Skolkovo got up and running that pretty much any Western tech operation foolish enough to set up shop there was immediately spied on and ripped off. As The National Review described it, Its unlikely Putin could believe his good fortune: The project was like an espionage operation in broad daylight, openly enhancing Russias military and cyber capabilities.

Oops.

2011 comes andshockingly <sarc>Obama still hasnt earned Putins respect, so whats he do? Harm another ally. As unbelievable as it seems, Obama decides that giving up some classified intel might warm Putins heart. Secrets are always good currency, especially when theyre not really yours to tell:

Information about every Trident missile the US supplies to Britain will be given to Russia as part of an arms control deal... The fact that the Americans used British nuclear secrets as a bargaining chip also sheds new light on the so-called special relationship, which is shown often to be a one-sided affair

Surely, Obama must think, now that hes left Poland vulnerable and dropped Englands nuclear pants, Putin will be favorably impressed.

Not so much. Months later, during a televised meeting with supporters, Putin openly threatens nuclear war against America and Obama whom he derides as the self-styled master of the planet.

We are the largest nuclear power, Putin said.

A crafty old KGB agent doesnt say my nuke pile is bigger than your nuke pile unless he means it as a threat.

This brings us to 2012.

Springtime is in the air in Washington and, once again, our young presidents fancy turns to thoughts of sharing more classified information with Vladimir Putin. Obama decides on a little Ill show you mine, but you dont have to show me yours. From Reuters:

The Obama administration disclosed on Tuesday that it is considering sharing some (more) classified U.S. data (with Russia)

One might think the presidents puppy-dog entreaties to Putin might finally, at long last, be tempered, that Obama might remember himself and have a bit more dignity, but nooooo Just three short weeks later, the infamous hot mic incident took place.

Ill have more flexibility after the November election.

Just two months later, Obama invites Putin for an honored visit at the G-8 Summit at Camp David.

Whatd Putin do?

Blows him off.

Aaaaand thats when Obama lost The Washington Post, which had seen quite enough. Obamas Misguided Wooing of an Uninterested Putin:

...A rude rebuff. Obama had tailored the conclave to Putin... (and had) dispatched (an administration official) to Moscow to hand Putin what a Russian official described... (a) message... that Obama is ready to cooperate with Putin. Putins response was... to skip Camp David...

Four solid years of rhetoric and importantly, choices, actions, which, had Trump chosen them, any one of them, would have branded himrightlya puppet of Putins. But, because The One did them, well, his heart is pure and his intentions were good so for him, it was just diplomacyor something.
As China stands on the threshold of competing with the United States in critical technology fields, such as A.I., biotechnology, and computing, its important to understand the four-stage strategy that has propelled the nation to this point. This approach has allowed China to bypass stages of development, catching up and in some areas achieving technological dominance.

The first stage began in 1978 under Deng Xiaoping, when the country opened its doors to multinational corporations. These firms brought unsophisticated technology to China marking the beginning of Chinas integration into the global economy. This laid down the foundation and the infrastructure needed for industrial growth.

The second stage was supplemented by a technology acquisition policy. Since the 1990s, China compelled foreign companies to establish joint ventures with local companies to sell their products and services in the worlds second-largest market. Foreign companies in China were required to teach their managers, scientists, and engineers how to create key technologies and apply them throughout the economy. Over 6,000 new foreign joint ventures were established in China in 2015, with $27.8 billion of Foreign Direct Investment. These joint ventures played a significant part in transferring knowledge and technological know-how required for the advancement of critical technology.

The third step consisted of Chinas effort to reverse-engineer foreign technology and use it as a baseline to build industrial capability. During this stage, China enacted such policies as the National Medium- and Long-Term Program for Science and Technology Development of 2006, which identified 402 imported key technologies that China must learn how to produce on its own, such as intelligent cars, integrated circuits, and high-performance computers. Mastering these technologies enabled China to transition from being a mere provider of cheap labor to a major player in high-tech industry. Moving forward, the government would continue to channel massive amounts of money into this transition.

The fourth stage is the most critical, enabling China to become self-sufficient in high-tech industries and become a nation of indigenous innovators. Policies that include the Made in China 2025 initiative and, most recently, Xi Jinpings emphasis on developing Chinas technological power have led the country to spend massively on research and development, becoming the second largest R&D spender in the world after the United States. Chinese companies are now increasingly developing their own indigenous technologies and are competing with Western companies in fields such as 5G, A.I., electric vehicles, robotics, and space exploration worldwide.

The Chinese approach up to now has been successful. By 2022, China emerged as a global leader in technologies such as high-speed rail, digital production, and drones  sectors critical to the global economy. Chinas vision of becoming a global leader in A.I. by 2030 indicates its determination to dominate high-tech industries.

However, Chinas success has not come without controversy. Chinas reliance on intellectual property theft, hacking, and industrial espionage during the early stages of development has been well documented. Many American companies have seen their innovations copied, stolen, or replicated by Chinese firms. Chinas dependence on theft has overshadowed Chinas efforts at fostering original innovation.

It is important for the United States to maintain technological superiority and that China neither achieve parity or, even worse, surpass it. The United States would otherwise lose its leverage in the international system. The United States promotes democracy and human rights throughout the world. Chinas technological superiority would have serious effects. China would be self-sufficient in advanced industries, and thus much less vulnerable to Western sanctions and other trade tools used, if necessary, to discipline a China that seeks national rejuvenation through the exercise of force against neighboring countries such as Taiwan and the Philippines. Technological parity would boost Chinas military capabilities, increasing its influence over global affairs and challenging Americas military dominance not only in the Pacific Ocean, but also in the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.

It has become more vital than ever for the United States to protect its critical technologies and maintain an edge over China. One of the policy options open to President Donald Trump is to keep Chinese businesses from operating in the U.S. market should they engage in intellectual property theft. The United States must also solidify its relationships with its allies (e.g. E.U., Japan, Canada, and Australia) to deny Chinese businesses that violate intellectual property levels from operating in their markets as well. This would provide a stern warning to the Chinese that there are consequences for obtaining technology illegally and could force China to follow global norms for technology acquisition.

President Trumps tariff policies on China are also designed to stop intellectual property theft and may help curb Chinas technological advances. Moreover, tariffs in the long run bring manufacturing back to the U.S. and will reduce its dependence on Chinese technology. However, tariffs, if not implemented slowly, could result in the slowing down of the economy and in heavy job losses in both countries. The United States should also focus on decoupling its technology ecosystem from China and investing in domestic alternatives to Chinese manufacturers, and it must protect foreign companies tied to China from espionage activities.

If the United States is to maintain its technological lead over China, then it must promote domestic innovation and production, strengthen its defense of intellectual property rights, and strongly encourage its allies to assist its efforts to keep China from unlawfully pursuing advanced technologies. Since China is determined to become the world leader in technologies of strategic importance, it is now imperative that the United States act with speed and precision to remain the world leader, both for its own security and that of its allies.

Derek Levine holds a Ph.D. from the University of Denvers Korbel School of International Studies and is a professor at Monroe University. He is the author of the book The Dragon Takes Flight: Chinas Aviation Policy, Achievements, and Implications for the United States and Europe. His book Chinas Path to Dominance: Preparing for Confrontation with the U.S. is due out spring 2025. He has studied, lived, and worked in China and has published articles in numerous academic journals, including the Journal of Contemporary China and the American Journal of China Studies. His work can be found in The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, the BBC, The Guardian, and MSNBC. Dr. Levine can be contacted at dlevine@monroeu.edu.

Image via Pxfuel.
Lets revisit the tumultuous second half of 2021. Dementia-addled President Joe Biden executed a disastrous retreat from Afghanistan in August that resulted in the killing of thirteen servicemembers. Having spectacularly failed Americas warfighters, he transitioned quickly to the ongoing fight against COVID.

No cost was too great or burden too onerous in the federal governments war against microscopic organisms. Billions were funneled to pharmaceutical companies (aka Democrat Party donors) to pay for witch doctors experimental elixirs. Billions more were funneled to news platforms and non-governmental organizations (all on the USAID dole) to push the White Houses preferred COVID narratives and censor dissent. In-class learning remained strictly limited. School desks were transformed into walled enclosures discouraging human contact. Masking requirements became only more elaborate and superstitious with time. Any restaurants or small businesses that wished to avoid bankruptcy were forced to comply with ever-changing COVID edicts. Members of the military were sacrificed as gene-therapy guinea pigs for Big Pharma. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration threatened to prevent un-vaccinated workers from making a living. Crazy Joe Biden promised a winter of severe illness and death for any American refusing to be a biochemical test subject.

It was twenty-first-century totalitarianism disguised as health policy. It was the unholy alliance of State and corporate power (whats that called again?  oh, right, fascism!). It was persecution in the name of Science. It was total insanity.

And just as the whole thing looked as if it were going to spiral out of control  when it seemed likely that just-following-orders medical doctors and troupes of dancing nurses would goose-step across the country with poison-dripping needles in their hands in search of the noncompliant  the COVID police state began crumbling. One moment Bidens Antifa shock troops were doxxing dissenting scientists and terrorizing their families online, and the next moment the loony-leftist brownshirts all time-traveled back to Nazi Germany. One moment Democrats were erecting COVID concentration camps and threatening to separate un-vaccinated parents from their children, and the next moment the tyrants-in-training shelved those plans for a later date. One moment the Department of Labor was forcing Americans to choose between medical experimentation and unemployment, and the next moment the Biden administration was pretending that it would never bully Americans into becoming pharmaceutical pincushions against their will. It was as if the COVID clowns packed up their crazy circus and skedaddled out of town in the dead of night.

To be sure, the circus left a trail of destruction in its wake. Grocery store floors were still painted with arrows meant to direct human-cattle along the most antiseptic paths. Government buildings still proudly displayed signs cautioning visitors to stand six feet apart while simultaneously assuring everyone, Were all in this together. Big Pharma radio and television commercials continue to sell fear to this day. Even in more liberated Republican-leaning areas of the country, its not unusual to run into stray hypochondriacs hurling insults at strangers for refusing to cover their faces with thin paper masks. The COVID Nazis mass-produced crazy, and the most delusional among us made sure to stock up for decades. Still, 2022 marked the beginning of the end of COVIDs relentless pressure campaign.

The Reign of COVID Terror did not come to an end because high-ranking members of the Biden administration saw the error of their ways. The pandemic-loving sadists did not wake up one morning, look at the COVID police state that they had constructed with a toxic mixture of threats and censorship, and conclude, Wow, we really are some evil fascists. Some observers have argued that Democrats began to pull back on their COVID authoritarianism because they were fearful of the prospect of huge midterm election losses later in the year, but that explanation doesnt quite pass muster. COVID fearmongering, after all, was the electoral gift that allowed Democrat operatives to flood the 2020 election with fraudulent mail-in ballots. Theres no reason to think that they had become skittish about rigging future elections with never-ending health emergencies.

What seems most probable to me is that an unreported phenomenon emerged in the winter of 21-22. I think that public resistance to the governments COVID tyranny was quietly reaching a fever pitch, and those in power were becoming increasingly worried about losing control. The first reports of vaccine-related injuries were making it past the Biden regimes censorship protocols, and Americans had begun to learn that  contrary to public health officials slurry of lies  the mRNA injections were neither safe nor effective. The propaganda press was struggling to cover-up stories of young, healthy athletes having heart attacks on playing fields because thousands of horrified viewers were witnessing the tragedies in person. As the Biden administration was gearing up to mandate these experimental injections on children, parents had begun to suspect that the much vaunted vaccines might not be the medical miracles that the government had long claimed. Social consciousness regarding both COVID and the governments response to the virus rapidly changed during this short interval.

Remember, the National Security Agency and similar espionage organizations around the world monitor all of our electronic communications. Every phone call, text message, email, and social media post that we create is collected, stored, and analyzed. The CIA, FBI, and NSA pretend that they dont spy on Americans, and the Supreme Court pretends that the federal government isnt violating Americans Fourth Amendment rights every minute of the day, but the national security surveillance state tracks everything we say. As appalling as that reality is, it is a statistical goldmine for predicting human behavior. The ongoing aggregation of trillions of data points reflecting the moods and concerns of the human population in real time must provide a kind of crystal ball for those empowered to spy on the world. With that kind of insight, predicting trends in the stock market would be relatively easy. No wonder central banks and spy agencies seem to employ so many of the same people.

Ive always wondered exactly what that data was saying at the beginning of 2022. What was the NSA reading in Americans private emails and digitized phone conversations that persuaded the Intelligence Community to temper its strategic exploitation of COVID fanaticism? I have a feeling that public opinion was shifting so quickly against COVID authoritarianism that there were predictive indicators for mass rebellion in the United States and elsewhere.

Interestingly, this was also the time period when Freedom Convoy truckers began forcefully protesting COVID mandates in Canada. By successfully closing down trade routes between Canada and the U.S., organizers forced tyrant Justin Trudeau to take the extraordinary step of invoking the Emergencies Act, a type of martial law action that Canadas COVID authoritarians used to seize protesters bank accounts and other assets. The government response was such an over-the-top assault against free speech and political dissent that many politicians in Europe and America denounced Trudeaus actions as deeply undemocratic. Although Canadian leftists succeeded in dispersing the Freedom Convoy, they provided a glaring example of thuggish government behavior during the Reign of COVID Terror.

If Western governments intended to use COVID as an excuse to introduce mandatory digital passports and central bank digital currencies and to justify government-directed censorship of dangerous disinformation, those dystopian dreams suffered real setbacks at the beginning of 22. COVID propaganda was backfiring. The World Economic Forums cabal of globalists was forced to find a new reason for Westerners to submit to its twenty-first-century brand of technocratic totalitarianism. For those suspicious of coincidences, consider this small but curious data point: the Freedom Convoy ended on February 23, 2022. The War in Ukraine started the very next day.

Image via Pixabay.
The United States fertility rate has fallen to around 1.78, which, combined with the general downward trajectory, is a cause for concern. To replace the population, a country needs to maintain a rate around 2.1.

When I was a young lieutenant arriving in Germany in 1995, I was surprised by three observations: how good beer can be, how secular European society had become, and the fact that Europeans werent having kids.

The second two trends were closely tied together. As Europe moved into its post-Christian phase, the number of babies dropped precipitously. The fertility rate in Germany in 1995 was an anemic 1.25, which was reflective of Europe in general. We visited beautiful churches across the continent that had become tourist attractions instead of places of worship.

Even back then, it was obvious Europe would run into trouble, since their social welfare pyramid schemes relied on the very thing they werent producing: young people. Instead of producing their own future generations, they welcomed them in from places like Pakistan, Syria, and Turkey, setting up a clash of cultures that will not end well. An aggressive Islamic culture with high birthrates will sweep away the postmodern secular European culture that cant be bothered to awaken from its slumber to defend its people or have children of their own.

I attempted to write a masters thesis at the Naval Postgraduate School in 2006 on Englands dark future due to the incompatibility between the traditional English culture and the muscular Islamic culture of their newcomers. The thesis advisers, whose instinct was to blame all problems on the Europeans, wouldnt accept the premise, leading to a worthless thesis and a checked box diploma.

Less than twenty years later, in 2024, England recorded well over 50,000 knife attacks and had become the land of the unimaginable rape gang horror, even as we are seeing vehicles turned into mass casualty weapons on a routine basis on the European continent as previously unique cultures are shredded. Europe is going through an existential crisis to which their Eloi leaders have no answer other than to punish those who speak out against the Morlocks. Within this environment, the Russia-Ukraine war serves as a welcome distraction to which to point their populations eyes in the same way that Oceania has always been at war with Eastasia in 1984. Im guessing more than a few wealthy Europeans will see a $5 million gold card as a real bargain to escape.

Speaking of the Russia-Ukraine war, its interesting to view it through the lens of demographics. Russias fertility rate sits around 1.41, meaning there arent too many bouncy baby Ivans these days. Ukraine was actually hovering around a catastrophic 1.0 before recovering slightly. It still wins the ribbon as the worst of the worst in Europe in terms of fertility rates, which it pairs with the second-highest mortality rate in the world. It was an absolute demographic disaster even before the war.

Neither of the demographic basket cases can afford to lose a generation of young men, a fact that is not lost on a Trump administration championing peace.

All this is happening against the backdrop of collapsing birth rates worldwide. The global fertility rate sits just above the population replacement level. For comparisons sake, that same rate was close to five when I Love Lucy debuted. Todays global rate is being held aloft by Africa, with the current top four countries being those stalwarts of stability Niger, Chad, the DRC, and Somalia. In fact, the only country in the top thirty for fertility rates not in Africa is Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, some of Americas strongest Asian allies are in a complete death spiral, to include Japan (1.3) and South Korea, which has dropped below one. These geriatric states may as well hang going out of business signs from the windows.

Low fertility rates change a country remarkably fast since each generation compounds on top of the one before. Its the same principle at work in compounding interest, which is why the leading boys name in Berlin and across major regions of England is now Mohammed. The future belongs to those having kids, and not to those who get so excited, they think of ACDCs Thunderstruck when dreaming about abortion, as Josh Shapiro apparently did. And hes supposed to be the sane Democrat.

The United States started its demographic collapse in 2008, apparently part of President Obama's promised change. We saw one of the worst dips in U.S. modern history during his eight years, dropping from 2.1 to about 1.8. So long to population replacement numbers.

The Apostle Paul wrote about faith, hope, and love as the three enduring qualities that must remain. Where these principles decline, fertility rates decline along with them, which is also why the more secular a society becomes, the more likely its citizens will stop having babies. As Americans declined in faith and no longer believed that future generations would inherit a better world, many opted to pass on changing diapers.

Personal pride, patriotism, and economic opportunity are other factors that help push higher fertility rates, which run opposite of dependence. For Democrats, dependence is the coin of the realm. Its what they want for all Americans and, indeed, people across the globe: debt, dependence, and despair. Hope, faith, and dignity do not flourish in that environment. Frankly, the United States did no favors to many of our European and Asian allies by allowing them to become so dependent upon us.

The distribution of those having children in America is a problem for Democrats in that those most likely to have kids are decidedly more conservative and religious than the average Democrat. About five percent of women have five or more children. As a general rule, these are the kind of women who see children as a great blessing and not the kind who send out virtue-signaling pictures of the Ukrainian flag across Facebook or shill for Planned Parenthood.

This makes it all the more important that the Left controls the schools to indoctrinate children away from any values they might receive from their parents. Expect to see historic levels of wailing and gnashing of teeth from the Randi Weingarten Democrats at the prospect of shuttering the ironically named Department of Education.

I expect to see a fertility rate bounce under the Trump Administration as it restores pride and a sense of hope to Americans, even as the Despairocrats try to torpedo these efforts. While pro-family and pro-freedom policies help, macro trends are the most important, which is why low fertility rates have responded so poorly to government attempts across the globe to reverse trends they know are unsustainable. No tools can reverse the alarming macro trends brought on by dependency.

The cure is national pride, faith, and hope paired with an unshackled economy, which also caused a notable spike under President Reagan. But the damage caused by the Obama Democrats wont be erased in one term. Two terms of President Vance should finish the project.

Note: Fletch also writes fiction. You can check out his novels on Amazon.

Image: Public Domain
My mother was as tough as an old bar of iron. Anytime I worked up the guts to ask her, Why, shed stab me in the chest with her bony finger and hiss back, Because I said so, thats why! And Id instantly plop back down into my lowly placebut at least she respected me enough to answer my question, which is more than I can say for Joe Biden.

As deplorables watched in dumbfounded disbelief, the Biden administration oversaw the largest surge in immigration in U.S. history: More than 8 million immigrants crossed the border, many with criminal records and violent gang affiliations. Americas foreign-born population now makes up a record 15.2% of the population, surpassing the previous high of 14.8% in 1890. The influx was so astronomical and the impact on cities was so devastating that even the agitprop media very, very occasionally acknowledged that it was just possible that maybe, perhaps something a little odd might be happening at the border.

Obviously, the policy was manifestly insane and did lasting damage to America and its standing in the world. But what really irked many of us deplorables was the administrations utter disrespect for us: they increased our population by several percentage points with people they knew nothing about, yet deemed the American electorate unworthy of an explanation.

There was never a presidential address from the Oval Office laying out the case for an open border. Biden never went on a Sunday show and argued for it. No intense presidential press conference where Bidens feet were held to the fire. Nothing. Ever.

And thats how it was with every controversial decision.

Deplorables wondered how anyone could think its fair for men to compete in womens sports, particularly after seeing all the videos of mediocre male athletes crushing elite female competitors. But Biden never explained why he proposed a rule that would extend Title IX protections to transgender athletes, or why he signed an executive order that allowed them to compete in womens sports.

Deplorables also wondered why the administration slow-walked civil rights investigations into colleges allowing nightmarish harassment and threats against Jewish students after the October 7th attack. It was a disgraceful, national embarrassment. The need for swift federal action to protect the basic rights of Jewish students became painfully apparent after the cluelessness of the presidents of our most elite colleges was revealed during congressional testimony. And yet, again without explanation, the administration dragged its feet.

Why didnt Biden enforce sanctions against Iranian oil, which netted the leading state sponsor of terrorism about $35 billion annually? Why was Biden so desperate to restart talks on another disastrous nuclear deal with Iran? Why did the Biden administration halt new approvals of clean burning liquified natural gas exports, jeopardizing nearly a million American jobs? Why did they return $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets to the mullahs a month before the October 7 attack on Israel? Why? Why? Why?

Looking back, its apparent that the administrations reticence was strategic, and actually kind of brilliant. And it can be traced back to one of the first, and most shameful, of Bidens debacles: the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal.

When, in August 2021after 20 long years of war, Biden precipitously decided to abandon Afghanistan, Americans were appalled by the deadly incompetence of their government. When the president faced hostile questioning from Fox News, he penitently bowed his head in mid-blather and stopped speaking for several seconds. It instantly became clear to everyone that our doddering president was too senile to explain his decision.

And somewhere in the White House, a lightbulb went off over the head of one of the bright, young Ivy League grads on his staff, and a governing strategy was born: Because everyone now knew the president didnt have the mental capacity to explain his decisions, the administration was free to do whatever inexplicable thing they wanted, and no one could expect an explanation. And thats how it went for the next three years.

Because the Democrats still bitterly cling to all their inexplicable policies, they must pick another insentient person in 2028 from whom no one could reasonably expect an explanation for any loopy decision: I give you AOC, the next Democrat candidate for president.

Peter Merkl blogs at pmerkl.co.

Image: DonkeyHotey, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, unaltered.
When pro-Hamas protests engulfed Columbia University, the place became a screaming sea of anti-semitism as leftists yelled together like Nazis, Jewish students were unable to go to class, custodians were taken hostage, the university atmosphere turned into a pigpen, and graduation diminished to a ghost of itself based on all the mess and disruption.

In short, the protests were anything but peaceful.

The university insisted it was outside interlopers doing it, which was partly true -- one was a forty-something man who lived off his parents in Brooklyn -- but these protests which brought such dishonor on the school had more than a few locals involved, too. To my knowledge, virtually none were expelled.

One of them was a character named Mohammed Khalil, who just graduated from Columbia and who just had his green card yanked by ICE, which told him, 'buddy, it's time to go home.'

The outcry from the left is amazing.

Staff leftist columnist Michelle Goldberg at the New York Times said we should all shiver from the danger Trump's act poses to us all:

Like many things done by Trumps administration, Khalils arrest was shocking but not surprising. On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly said he was going to deport anti-Israel student activists. Just last week, Axios reported on Secretary of State Marco Rubios plan to use A.I. to comb the social media accounts of student visa holders in a search for ostensible terrorist sympathies. The administration seems particularly determined to make an example of Columbia, announcing last week that it was canceling $400 million in grants and contracts with the school due to claims of ongoing anti-Jewish harassment. But the fact that it was easy to see this ideological crackdown coming shouldnt obscure how serious Khalils detention is. If someone legally in the United States can be grabbed from his home for engaging in constitutionally protected political activity, we are in a drastically different country from the one we inhabited before Trumps inauguration.

Which is laughable. Trump's act to protect the American people from terrorist agitating is worse than Hamas shooting up a music festival full of dancing kids, burning people alive in their homes, torturing and starving many of their hostages, and murdering babies and their mother in cold blood, along with a lot of other innocent people?

Don't think so.

The U.S. has every right to keep out and throw out supporters of these evil terrorists.

The Times tries to claim that Khalil was only concerned about civilian deaths, but that doesn't square with the 'death to Jews' garbage we heard at those Columbia protests.

Support terrorism, get your visa yanked, it's a law that's been on the books for decades. The U.S. doesn't have to let in people who have and promote those views. On the visa applications, they actually ask those questions, so Khalil may well have lied about whether he did, given his history as an UNRWA employee, the same group that cheered the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

According to Insurrection Barbie, an influential denizen of X, writing on that site:

Syrian born Mohammed Khalil, the one who was arrested for his participation in the college campus protests that were mostly not peaceful first attended the University of Beirut, before he came to here to go to graduate school in Columbia. By the way, Samantha Powers gave that school $50 million in USAID money in 2022. In addition to 156 million USAID had given in prior years. In between Columbia University and Beirut, he worked for UNRWA. The same organization that had a telegram chat group with 3000 teachers who all work for UNRWA who were exchanging videos and congratulations for Hamas. Its also the same organization that had 12 employees participate in the massacre on 10/7. We gave UNRWA 331 million dollars of aide in 2023. Once this guy came to Columbia, he immediately became part of the BDS movement with SJP, who is currently being sued at another campus for direct material support to Hamas. At the Bernard protest, him and his fellow little jihadists were passing out pamphlets that said Hamas Media Office. So to all the people who are trying to make this a free speech issue you look extremely ignorant. These are highly trained, well funded and organized supporters of terrorism.

Meanwhile, an X site called "Documenting Jew Hate on Campus at Columbia" put this out (tweet embeds are impossible with a recent DDOS attack now):

Mahmoud Khalil is a Palestinian who was raised in Syria. He was enrolled at @columbia as of last year; his current enrollment status remains unknown. Regardless, Khalil served as a key negotiator for the pro-Hamas encampment in the spring. He kept a low profile until recently when Khalil was spotted at the jihadist protest in front of @Columbia s campus on Tuesday and then again yesterday serving as a negotiator for the jihadists inside the Milstein Library. Khalil was on a student visa as of last year and may still be on one. This is why he has gone on record as saying he takes fewer risks with the jihadist movement to avoid deportation. In other words, Khalil is fine having others do the heavy lifting and risking their academic and professional careers, but he is unwilling to in order to save himself. In our view, the person who purchases the gun knowing itll be used to murder someone is just as culpable as the one who pulls the trigger. Khalil is a key part of the problem. He is the brains of the operation and needs to be flagged by @columbia and @POTUS for his involvement in the terrorists movement overtaking Columbia and in this country. We demand consequences for all jihadists on college campuses and across this country! @preslrosenbury and @katrinarmstrong , ban Khalil from your campuses now! And if he is on a student visa tied to @columbia , we call on you to revoke it. It should be an honor and privilege to study at an American university, but we are far from that point right now.

Supporting terrorism in any way is and should always been a surefire way to get your visa yanked. Coming to the U.S., as Trump administration rightly notes, is a privilege, not a right. The U.S. gets no benefit from importing those who cheer terrorists on, supporting them, into our country. As some Trump officials have said in other contexts, we don't want to be Europe.

Now that a judge has stayed the deportation, I hope the big facts about this guy and his antiamerican orientation (in addition to his Jew hate) comes out with the appeals and the law is enforced as it should be.

Guys like this shouldn't ever be allowed to set foot in the U.S. and the Trump administration was right to try to get this freak thrown out.

Image: Screen shot from X video
Yet another one.

The concerted attacks on Tesla, a company run by Elon Musk, are continuing without abatement.

According to Seattle's KOMO:

SEATTLE  Four Tesla Cybertrucks were damaged or destroyed in a fire at a lot in Seattle's SoDo neighborhood late Sunday night, raising questions about possible arson and the motive behind it. The Seattle Fire Department (SFD) has not yet said whether foul play was suspected as the cause of the fire, which is under investigation. Photos and video from a Seattle Department of Transportation traffic camera shows the moment the trucks went up in flames shortly after 11 p.m. The trucks were parked in a fenced lot near 2nd Ave and Spokane Street, along with at least 50 other electric vehicles, which are held until they're ready to be dropped off at a dealership or picked up by a buyer.

Some photos are at this X post here.

Yet the cops have been picking the perpetrators up and taking them in for justice.

No word on this criminal, but two of the last criminals, in Oregon and Colorado, have been arrested already.

According to OregonLive:

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.

DENVER  The United States Attorneys Office for the District of Colorado announces that Lucy Grace Nelson, also known as Justin Thomas Nelson, 42, of Lyons, Colorado, was charged by complaint with one count of malicious destruction of property for a series of incidents at the Tesla dealership in Loveland, Colorado. According to the complaint, on January 29, Loveland Police received a call reporting a fire near a Cyber Truck located at the Tesla dealership. Investigators discovered an incendiary device, commonly referred to as a Molotov cocktail next to the vehicle. Additionally, on February 2, Loveland Police received a report of graffiti on the Tesla dealership sign where black spray paint was used to write the word NAZI. On February 7, police received a call for graffiti and possible arson at Tesla. During that investigation police found multiple broken bottles consistent with incendiary devices. On February 11, a security guard at the dealership came into contact with a person painting graffiti, which used an expletive, on the front windows of the building. On February 24, police confronted Nelson at the dealership. Inside Nelsons car, police found a container of gasoline plus a box of bottles and wick material which were similar to the items police recovered after the prior incidents.

According to investigative reporter Andy Ngo , both of the accused firebombers were 'trantifa' or 'transgender antifa' activists, some kind of an association or group which has been linked to spray shootings, cult killings, and the murder of a Border Patrol agent on the northern border in the recent past.

Now they've taken to burning Teslas and shooting up dealerships, a grotesque assault on an American company and a green one at that.

Here's the apparent freak who was busted in Oregon:

Ngo exclusive: A trans Portland far-left extremist has been arrested over the firebombing and shooting attacks on Tesla in Salem, Ore. Adam Matthew Lansky (b. November 1983) has been charged by the DOJ with illegally possessing an unregistered destructive device. He's accused of being part of the Inauguration Day firebombing attack on the Tesla store and the Feb. 19 shooting there. Lansky allegedly pointed a semi-automatic rifle at a witness during the first incident. Lansky uses the alias "Allison Tesla" in his activism and pornography work. He has been recruiting leftist LGBTQIA+ people in the Salem area to train with firearms. His social media shows an obsession with guns and suppressors, which he paints in trans and bright colors. According to his LinkedIn, Lansky is an audio engineer at the far-left First Congregational United Church of Christ of Portland. (Mainline Christians denounce the church as heretical.) Tesla stores have become targets of political violence as leftists are encouraging death threats and violence against Elon Musk and President Trump.

Here's the charmer scooped up by the cops in Colorado

Between the attempted bombing of the Tesla store in Loveland, Colo. and the firebombing and shooting of the Tesla in Salem, Ore., both apprehended suspects are trantifa activists: Justin Thomas Nelson aka "Lucy Grace Nelson" and Adam Matthew Lansky aka "Allison Tesla." This follows a recent assassination attempt of conservative politicians in D.C. by a trans suspect named Ryan Michael English aka "Riley English."
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(See also, Syrias ruling ISIS moderates, hailed by the EU and the swamp, commence slaughtering the Christians by Monica Showalter.)

Syrias new head of state, Ahmed al-Sharaa, the violent Islamistbut I repeat myselfwho rose to power after his forces toppled Bashar al-Assad, is the man of the hour for European progressives, as the European Commission recently extended an invitation to the interim president to attend a donor conference in Brussels. This is all despite the fact that under his watch, thousands of civilians, many of the Christian faith, have been slaughtered in the streets by what are reportedly, government forces.

Heres a Christian man being affixed to a cross before taking three AK-47 rounds to the head:

Christians are being CRUCIFIED by Muslim terrorists in Syria.



I am shaken to my core. pic.twitter.com/hSc9inBtlY  Dr. Maalouf  (@realMaalouf) March 10, 2025

Here the Christians crawl along the ground on the way to their inevitable execution:

In Syria, the new Islamic regime are making Christians crawl and make noises like dogs as a genocide takes place.



Why do leftist students on University campuses only protest for Palestine and not this? pic.twitter.com/KbjsDuZuDJ  Basil the Great (@Basil_TGMD) March 10, 2025

And here we have a man laying down on the ground before the new security personnel treat him like target practice:

The death toll has become 500 Christians and 4,000 Alawite people Families that have been annihilated Look at the security personnel of the new government They are criminals Shame on you what is happening in Syria pic.twitter.com/M4yLTglcUp    (Assi Al-Zind) (@a000112889) March 10, 2025

But Al-Sharaa had nothing to do with the wholesale massacres though, and hes going to make sure the perpetrators, whoever they are, are brought to justiceyeah, sure he isat least thats his story and hes sticking to it!

Naturally, the very anti-Christian and pro-Islamist EU would consider him to be a legitimate leader whos earned a legitimate seat at the table. Will they send a private plane for his personal use? Will they put him up in a five-star hotel? Will they hand him millions of taxpayer dollars in humanitarian aid to spend at his discretion? Will they honor him as an avant-garde revolutionary?

A yes answer to all the above hypotheticals is entirely conceivable, which is almost as disturbing as the murder of innocent people.

Image from X.
Canada and Europe, to the U.S.: How dare you do to us what we did to you long ago! What gives you the right to do to us what we're doing to you now?!

Canada and several European nations (as well as other nations, such as China) have long placed tariffs on American goods, and/or subsidized their businesses and industries placing them at a distinct advantage over their American counterparts.

Yet they, almost without exception, go ballistic when the U.S. reciprocates. This seems exceedingly odd, hypocritical-- and outright ungrateful-- as the United States essentially rebuilt much of Europe after the World Wars in which tens of thousands of American lives were lost fighting on behalf of European nations.

And since the U.S. has long provided Canada and the Western European nations their only viable protection from fascist and communist countries for decades -- and paid for that, too, so they didnt have to, and could vastly expand their welfare states on Uncle Sams dime.

Had America not done this, Europeans may well all be speaking German or Russian, take your pick, and Canada would be Soviet or Chinese. (The Canadian government seems to be exhibiting a bizarre but clear favoritism for communist China at the moment, so maybe it wouldnt have minded being just another SSR.)

The mainstream media (the enemy of the people) always reports on these tariffs with headlines such as Canada and China Retaliate Against Trumps Tariffs, as if Trump just simply decided to economically assault these nations willy-nilly, out-of-the-blue, for no reason whatsoever. Its bulls***.

These are not opinions, but facts, hard as they may be for Canucks and Europeans to hear.

That several previous American administrations did not voice them in no way diminishes their veracity.

The fact that they are being voiced now should be a wakeup call for Americas friends and potential adversaries alike.

America is back. Choose your side carefully.

Image: EpicTop10.com, via Flickr // CC BY 2.0 Deed
Most people dont spend much time thinking about Paterson, New Jersey. Its time, though, that they start to do so, because unfolding there is the perfect example of the fact that many Muslims believe the Islamic doctrine that says you dont immigrate to assimilate; you do so to conquer.

Paterson is a town with a long history. The Dutch took the region from the Acquackanonk tribe and the British took it from the Dutch. After the Revolution, the town itself was founded, it was one of the first great manufacturing towns, thanks to the energy derived from the Great Falls of the Passaic River. Eventually, Paterson was home to textile mills, firearm manufacturers (Samuel Colt started, but didnt stay, there), and breweries. Industry meant immigrants, but, until recently, these immigrants wanted to assimilate to the American way.

But things are changing in Paterson. Of its almost 160,000 people, 25,000 to 30,000 are Muslims, almost all of whom are clustered in Patersons south side. This means it has the second-largest Muslim population in the U.S. per capitathat is, coming up on 20% of the populationputting it second only to Dearborn, MI, which clocks in at 55% Muslim.

X screen grab.

At 20%, the Muslims in Paterson arent the largest group demographic (Hispanics are, at 62%), but Muslims do something that other minority groups dont: They vote. They now have three council members, making them 30% of the voice on the council. One can assume that the remaining council members in this strongly Democrat town are sympathetic to Muslim issues.

Heres what happens in an American city with a Muslim population of almost 20% and a town council representation of 30%:

Muslim elected leaders with deep ties to radical Islamic organizations are prioritizing Islamic identity over American values, steering Paterson away from its historical roots. Every policy change, symbolic gesture, and political appointment moves the city closer to becoming an Islamic enclave. The latest development? The Hilal Lighting Ceremony, a city-endorsed event marking Ramadan, held in the heart of Little PalestinePalestine Way. This was no mere religious event but a thinly veiled political rally for Palestinian nationalism. Officially renamed in 2022, Palestine Way cements Patersons transformation into a de facto Palestinian enclave, complete with flags, street signs, and businesses mirroring the very nations many residents supposedly fled. The area is home to an estimated 15,000 Arabs, dominated by Palestinian presence. Main Street, now a mile-and-a-half-long strip lined with Palestinian flags, Arabic signs, and halal restaurants, is more than cultural representationit is a territorial claim.

Lest you think this is just another case of an American community celebrating its ethnic culture (like St. Patricks Day celebrations for Irish Americans or Columbus Day celebrations for Italian Americans), the same article details a suspicious group of actors behind the celebrations:

The event was backed by many groups with concerning histories: Islamic Center of Passaic County (ICPC)  A mosque known for radical sermons. Imam Baker Assaf has acknowledged that Islamic law prescribes throwing homosexuals off roofs but claims they refrain from doing so in America because it is not an Islamic country. Imam Mohamed Hassaballa has called Christians idolaters and spoken about Muslims overtaking disbelievers. Hamas-linked CAIR official Ayman Aishat has used the mosque to solicit donations while demonizing U.S. politicians and defending pro-Palestinian activism.

Omar Ibn Al-Khattab Mosque  A religious institution with previous ties to controversy.

Palestinian American Community Center (PACC)  An activist group lobbying for radical pro-Palestinian policies in Paterson.

National Arab American Medical Association (NAAMA)  While presented as a professional medical organization, NAAMA has engaged in advocacy efforts that extend beyond healthcare, aligning itself with pro-Palestinian political movements and using its platform to promote activism that favors Islamic and Palestinian interests over American policies.

Palestinian American Community Center (PACC): this group is not simply a cultural or social organizationit is a political entity pushing a radical pro-Palestinian/Hamas agenda while operating within the United States. It has actively lobbied for pro-Palestinian policies, organized radical demonstrations, and served as a platform for dangerous anti-Israel and anti-Jewish activism.

You really need to read the whole article to get the flavor.

The towns mayor, an Arab Christian, was also all-in on the Palestinian celebration, boasting that Paterson is the capital of Palestine in the United States of America and that Paterson is the fourth holiest city in the world, Jerusalem, Mecca, Medina, and then Paterson.

[Xs embed feature is still dead after yesterdays massive denial of service attack, but you can see all the speeches here, none of which are about being part of America. Instead, all are about a foreign territory.]

In other words, rather than being about American patriotism in the grand old style of the melting pot, this was a declaration of fealty to a foreign territory.

The new South Paterson neighborhood even has its own welcome sign, which has a telling message in the line boasting From Paterson to Jerusalem.

That sign, in claiming dominance over Jerusalem, describes the end of Israel for its just another iteration of the chant that, from the river [the Jordan] to the sea [the Mediterranean], Palestine will be free. In addition, the bit about From Paterson to Jerusalem also carries more than a hint of worldwide Islamic caliphate with it.

As the leftists like to say, America is a country of immigrants. However, the immigrants who built this nation came here so that they could become Americans. Muslims, per the Koran's mandates, are coming here so that America can become Muslim.
Theres a fight looming in Congress, not between Democrats and Republicans, but between Republicans and Republicans, with Trump on one side and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) on the other. The issue is whether to continue funding the government. Usually, the Democrats want to keep the spending going, while the Republicans want to stop it, but things are a bit more complicated this time. Ben Shapiro and Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) had such a good conversation on the subject that I wanted to share it with you.

However, if you dont want to or cant watch the video, Ill boil it down: Trump is doing huge things right now, especially through DOGE. Elon Musk is not the king that Democrats like to claim he is, but theres a reason theyre so terrified of him. He and his team of wonderful nerds are going through the governments books and exposing the trillions in waste and corruption.

YouTube screen grab.

If the Democrats were a normal political party, theyd celebrate getting the government cleaned up. However, theyre not normal, so they cant celebrate. Thus, two things are becoming clear: First, when it comes to waste, its the government unions, which almost entirely owe their fealty to the Democrat party, that are largely responsible. Second, and this is the really important one, the corruption all flows to the Democrats.

I contend that, if DOGEs exposes are allowed to proceed unchecked, something that will be accompanied by turning off the spigot on everything that doesnt benefit America, the Democrat party is over. Thats because its been the primary beneficiary of the governments cash flow. Every NGO, every activist group, every media outlet...all of them are kept alive through taxpayer money. No money; no Democrats.

But heres the kicker: The only way that DOGE can keep working is if Trump doesnt start to collapse in the polls. The one sure thing that can cause this collapse is a recession. If that happens, Trumps presidency is over.

Currently, Trump has a razor-thin margin in the legislature. If Republicans get spooked by a recession and stop supporting him, hes dead in the water. Moreover, if hes dead in the water now, he cant maintain a legislative majority in the midterms. The grand Trump experiment to Make America Great Again (and the world safe again) will end.

So, Trump must maintain some sort of economic status quo while he works through everything else. Thats where we get to Rep. Roys interview with Shapiro. According to Roy, a fiscal conservative, the current continuing resolution is meant to maintain that status quo for Trump. Itll keep him safe as he works all his other reform magic.

Think of it this way. When you embark on a huge spring cleaning, the first thing youve got to do is get rid of everything thats cluttering your homeand, one hopes, profit a bit off of cleaning out. For homeowners, its a garage sale; for the government, its no more check writing. Only then can you move forward, reorganizing and spending money where you really need it.

DOGE is getting rid of the clutter. Once thats done, and once Americans fully understand how corrupt the Deep State really is, Trump can finally and fully get the American political house in order.

Ive cued up the video to Shapiros economic discussion but, if that doesnt take, the discussion starts at 12:44:

So, if youve been wondering why Trump is so desperately trying to hash out an agreement to keep the government functioning, now you know.
Syria has become a graveyard for ancient Christianity. What was once home to some of the worlds oldest churches is now rubble  its crosses toppled, clergy hunted, and Christian families driven from their homes or slaughtered outright.

Under Bashar al-Assads brutal regime, Syria was no model of liberty. But there was a fragile balance. Christians, though never truly free, were tolerated  and even protected at times  as a stabilizing force against the rise of Islamist extremism.

That fragile order was severely destabilized by the Obama administrations 2011 policy of regime change, followed by the rise of extremist groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda-backed factions. Despite Assads brutality, Christian communities found themselves caught between the devil and the deep blue sea  facing persecution from both Assads forces and the extremists who emerged in the power vacuum.

Today, in early 2025,* although the leadership in Syria has changed, the situation for Christians and other religious minorities has not improved. The new regime, under al-Sharaa, has escalated the violence against these communities. Human rights organizations have documented widespread abuses, including arbitrary arrests, torture, and forced conversions, particularly in areas controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a jihadist group known for its extreme actions. Although HTS claims to protect religious minorities, the reality on the ground is one of ongoing discrimination and violence.

The U.S. didnt simply fail Syrias Christians; it helped create the conditions that led to their destruction. Barack Obamas 2011 regime change policy in Syria destabilized the country and armed rebel groups, many with direct ties to al-Qaeda and jihadist networks. That power vacuum allowed Islamist militias to rise, seize territory, and terrorize Christian communities. Joe Bidens policies compounded the damage  prioritizing optics over truth, downplaying religious persecution, and deliberately scrubbing Christian from official language. By avoiding the truth, the U.S. opened the door to the radical regime now systematically slaughtering Christians.

Americas fingerprints are all over this catastrophe. While Christians were being crucified, burned alive, and massacred, Bidens State Department deliberately refused to identify them as Christians  referring instead to displaced civilians or ethnic minorities. This was not a mistake; it was a deliberate choice to ignore the Islamist ideology driving the persecution. In doing so, they buried the victims twice  once with their blood, and again by erasing their identity from the record.

The Pentagon falsely claimed in early 2024 that only 900 U.S. troops remained in Syria. But satellite intelligence and whistleblower reports exposed the truth: more than 2,100 troops were still there. This was a deliberate political narrative to obscure the truth and avoid accountability.

The deception was clear  a calculated move to mislead the American public, wrapped up in bureaucratic language.

On March 9, 2025, secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the violence in Syria and called for accountability. He acknowledged the slaughter of Christians and other minorities, and expressed solidarity with the persecuted. But this must be more than just words. It must be followed by action.

One person saw this coming long before the rest. Tulsi Gabbard, now a former congresswoman, was one of the few who consistently warned about the dangers of U.S. involvement in Syria. As early as 2016, Gabbard voiced her concerns about the U.S. policy in Syria, pointing out the rise of extremist groups and the devastating consequences of the regime change agenda. Her warnings were ignored by the political elites  but now those concerns have been proven correct. The U.S. foreign policy failures in Syria have paved the way for the atrocities we see today.

Trump inherited a world in flames  a world made more dangerous by globalists, appeasers, and diplomats who were more concerned with political correctness than protecting American interests. Unlike his predecessors, Trumps administration is led by people with clarity, conviction, and courage. They understand that peace is won not through empty rhetoric; its won through strength, strategy, and moral resolve. His team doesnt shy away from confronting evil, from naming it, and from defending those who suffer under it. Marco Rubio and Tulsi Gabbard demonstrate that this team is restoring the clarity America lost under Biden.

Christians are bleeding in Syria, and the West is still pretending not to see it. Where is the European Union  the same E.U. that rushed to welcome millions of Muslim refugees but shows no urgency for persecuted Christians? Their silence is deliberate, and their selective compassion is evident. This isnt just a humanitarian crisis; its genocide. And the West is complicit.

History will judge this moment. Heaven already has. The world may pretend not to see, but Heaven never blinks.

Wendy Kinney is a Christian, attorney, and legal strategist and the founder and CEO of Revere Payments, a company dedicated to protecting financial freedom and supporting values-driven businesses. She writes about faith, freedom, and the fight for truth in an age of spiritual and political darkness, challenging both cultural complacency and institutional silence.

Image: watchsmart via Flickr, CC BY 2.0 (cropped).

* Correction: An earlier edition of this article retained a sentence from an outdated draft, which stated (correctly at the time it was written) that Assad was still in power in Syria. We regret the oversight.
The news lately has been filled with stories of the escalating violence against conservatives. We already saw it last year with the two assassination attempts against Donald Trump, but its now spread to Musk, Vance, and conservatives generally. As with the blasphemous song a so-called transgender person sang at the Bernie rally, I cant say Im surprised. Some things are predictable, and leftist violence, especially when youve driven your supporters insane, is especially predictable.

I dont need to rehash the Butler assassination attempt that Trump survived by a millisecond and millimeter. Nor do I need to remind you about the wannabe assassin at Mar-a-Lago.

But for the left, two missed assassination attempts arent a sign of societal breakdown; theyre a sign of failure, which needs to be remedied. So it was that a UCLA professor (that is, a man making his money on the public dime) is urging the military to engage in a violent coup against President Trump.

X screen grab.

Oh, and did I mention that hes a criminal law professor? Strangely, he seems unaware that what he did is almost certainly illegal.

Trump isnt the only one that the left desperately wants to remove through undemocratic means (that is, violence rather than elections). Back in February, a TikToker called for Musks assassination alongside Trump. While Musk responded with bravura, he surely cannot have been happy:

X screen grab.

But its worse than that. Having identified Musk as a Nazi, leftists have now mass-created bumper stickers that explicitly call for Musks assassination, complete with a gun sight target over his face.

Public domain.

Im betting that, if youre reading this, youre old enough to remember when the left said that Sarah Palins political ads putting a camera sight over Gabby Giffords face were the direct cause of a madman shooting her. As always, its different when the left does it, because their motives are pure.

JD Vance, too, is at serious risk. The other day, pro-Ukraine protesters (read: leftists) got very close to him while he was out walking with his three-year-old daughter, terrifying the child. The protesters claim it was a coincidence that they even ran into him...but Im inclined to doubt their story.

Leftist violence, of course, never stops with the big names. Anyone who opposes their ideology is a legitimate target. As Monica Showalter detailed, thugs in Seattle committed arson at a Tesla dealership. This is part of an ongoing trend aimed at destroying anything associated with Musk. In League City, Texas, thieves removed 44 tires from 11 Teslas.

The activists want to punish Musk by making Teslas unsaleable, destroying thousands of livelihoods along the way. To the left, federal employee livelihoods matter; those of people whose incomes are tied to Tesla dont matter at all.

What were witnessing is the leftist equivalent of a Fatwa. The talking heads have instructed their followers that Trump, Musk, and all those who are associated with or support them are Nazis. The unspoken subtext is that good people kill bad Nazis. The nomenklatura have defined the parameters and the foot soldiers have their orders.

Of course, this is how leftism always goesor indeed, any totalitarian dictatorship. Some first attain power and then turn off the democratic spigot or, as Turkish strongman Recip Erdogan famously said Democracy is like a tram. You ride it until you arrive at your destination, then you step off. In other words, you use the democratic process to attain power, and then you end elections and use violence to silence any cries for real democracy (e.g., Hitler, Mahmoud Abbas, Hugo Chavez, etc.).

The other approach, if the people refuse to elect you, is to go straight to violence. Thats that tactic used by Lenin, Mao, Castro, etc. Its also the approach Democrats seem to be opting for because the American people refused to get with the program and hand perpetual political power to Kamala and Co.

At the federal level, Kash Patel and Pam Bondi must act hard and fast to control the violence before it becomes uncontrollable. And at the local level...well, if I were a conservative in a Democrat enclave, Id leave while I could...

Image: X screen grab.
When handed a lemon, make lemonade.

And the Trump administration does just that, having announced today the introduction of a CBP Home app, recycled from the now-defunct CBP One app.

According to Fox News:

The Trump administration is rolling out a new app to replace the controversial CBP One app with the new replacement designed to facilitate the self-deportation of illegal immigrants. The Department of Homeland Security is announcing the CBP Home app -- which will launch with a self-deportation reporting feature for those in the country illegally. It replaces the CBP One app, which was expanded by the Biden administration to allow migrants to schedule appointments at ports of entry to be paroled into the U.S. Hundreds of thousands were paroled into the U.S. as a result. The Trump administration has ended the ability to use the app for that purpose. All CBP One apps will update to the new CBP Home app.

So from catch-and-release, it's now become scrap-capture-and-go-home. The newly renovated app can be viewed here.

What this tells us is that this is an administration that doesn't waste the good work it's done in the past. In this case, the good work was creating the CBP One app. It makes no sense to throw away good code. (The app was initially plagued with bugs, but, apparently, it works pretty well now.) An Israeli defense official once told me the U.S. often throws away a lot of good past technology instead of building on it, so perhaps Trump's turn to the app signals that this kind of government waste is also ending. We often focus on fraud, but constantly reinventing the wheel wastes a lot of money, too.

I have no idea whether a lot of illegal migrants will use this or not, given that illegal immigration, by its very nature, is illegal, so it's possible those here illegally will shy away from a government app. I certainly don't see the career criminals among them using it. But the app also has a lot of other uses, as the website indicates -- and not just for people's intent to depart so CBP won't have to come looking for them and they don't get on a 'ban' list for future legal entry.

The app also helps with border wait times, inspection of agricultural products requests, washing of boots that have been on overseas farms, hunting trophy inspections, provisional entry requests, and more. In other words, efforts on the app won't be wasted even if the illegals don't show up.

Daniel DiMartino points out here a couple of things that could even make it better.

I agree with him -- let anyone who wants to go use it, use it, there need never be a one-year limit, and let bygones be bygones.

As they say, there's an app for everything.

Image: Screen shot from DHS government web page // government work
For some time now, the US government has been trying to slow down the advance of the AI industry in China. To do so, authorities have set trade restrictions specifically targeting key hardware for artificial intelligence. However, recent developments suggest that the trade restrictions have not had the desired effect. According to reports, Huawei, one of the USs most sanctioned companies, possesses sufficient resources to manufacture approximately 750,000 advanced AI chips.

US trade restrictions are not being as effective as authorities wanted

Huawei has been receiving trade restrictions from the United States for several years. The problems for the company began in the telecommunications segment. The US government argued that the firms telecommunications equipment posed a danger to the countrys telecommunications infrastructure. The authorities also issued restrictions related to the development of global 5G technology.

Like almost every big tech company, Huawei jumped on the artificial intelligence bandwagon. However, new trade restrictions sought to impede the firms advance in this segment. The most recent US trade restrictions came in December 2024. That said, it seems the measures were even less severe than Chinese companies themselves had expected. In fact, the response from the Chinese industry was nonchalant, as reported last year.

Huawei has stock to produce around 750,000 advanced AI chips despite US restrictions

Now, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) reports that Huawei has enough resources to produce 1 million Ascend 910C AI chips. Developing these chips involves putting two Ascend 910B through a process called packaging. During the packaging, a percentage of the chips become damaged and unusable. Currently, it is estimated that Huawei can produce around 750,000 usable 910C units. Roughly 75 percent of the Ascend 910Cs currently survive the advanced packaging process, said an industry source.

Huawei could achieve this milestone in collaboration with SMIC. The two Chinese giants have been working together for years since Huawei is unable to access Snapdragon hardware. SMIC has produced the latest Kirin chips for Huawei smartphones. The firms factories also produce the companys own Ascend AI chips. SMICs manufacturing processes are not on the same level as those of TSMC or Samsung. However, the optimization work done on older equipment has allowed them to make great strides.

Currently, SMIC is stuck on the 7nm process. After all, the company cannot access modern equipment needed to make the jump to more advanced processes. Therefore, SMIC must focus on improving and optimizing its current technology to achieve the best possible results.

SMIC has reportedly managed to legally acquire equipment from the United States

According to the report, SMIC faced a challenge when it couldnt resolve a crucial bottleneck that hindered its ability to enhance its current 7nm process. However, the company managed to fix the problem by legally acquiring US deposition and other chip manufacturing tools.

You might be wondering how SMIC managed to acquire US equipment in the face of trade restrictions. The report states that there are two main reasons that allowed this without violating the restrictions. First, the equipment acquired was not restricted on a country-wide basis to all of China. Additionally, the equipment was restricted on an end-use and end-user basis, but SiEn and Pensun told U.S. firms that it would exclusively be used for producing chips less advanced than 14 nm, claims the source.

Ultimately, the equipment acquired by SMIC will allow it to significantly expand its 7nm wafer capacity by improving the yield rate. The company was achieving yield rates of only 20%, which is quite low. However, things are now looking much better for SMIC. Huawei, one of its key partners, will be one of the main beneficiaries.
Summary: Samsungs One UI 7 update will bring two Pixel features to the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Both of these are features for foldable smartphones, by the way. The Swipe to continue feature will make its way to the device and make it easy to continue using the cover screen after you fold the device. The option to auto-hide the taskbar when youre in apps will also be there. Samsung is giving its users some options.

Samsungs software for foldables has been praised in the past, but it can still improve. It seems like two features from Googles Pixel phones are coming to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 with the One UI 7 update.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 will get two very useful Pixel features with One UI 7 update

The first feature that One UI 7 will deliver is called Swipe to continue. That is, actually, a feature that Google picked up from OPPO. OPPOs foldables had it, and it was immensely useful, so Google decided to implement it into its foldables.

In any case, this feature allows you to choose whether you want to continue using the device when you fold it. If this feature is enabled, your cover display will remain mostly dark whne you fold the phone, but youll be able to swipe up in order to continue using it. If you dont, it will power off very soon.

This feels so seamless in actual use, and quite frankly, I missed this feature on every non-OPPO foldable. Samsung will offer you several options when it comes to this feature, actually. Youll be able to set the display to power on or off as well, without the Swipe to open functionality, as you can see below.

The auto-hiding taskbar feature will also be available

The second feature that is coming with One UI 7 is related to the auto-hiding taskbar. There are two options here, Auto hide when apps are opened and Stay on screen.

If you choose the first option, itll require a half-swipe from the bottom in order to call upon the taskbar. The second option will, of course, keep the taskbar on the screen at all times.

Both of these features are quite useful, needless to say, so its nice to see them coming to the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Samsung may have a very competent software for foldables, but as these two features show, other OEMs do as well.
Google continues to make important changes that are in line with the new political direction in the current administration in Washington. The company is among those that reduced or ended their DEI programs following the executive order signed by Donald Trump. Now, it seems that Google is extending the scope of these measures to the diversity and equity initiatives of its Responsible AI and Human Centered Technology (RAI-HCT) team.

RAI-HCT is a team that researches the safe and fair implementation of AI. The teams guidelines included consideration of factors such as diversity and equity. Previously, the company used language such as marginalized communities, diverse, or underrepresented groups to describe the teams mission. This was in line with the previous DEI policies that Google had implemented at the company.

Google removes terms like diversity and equity from its responsible AI implementation department website

However, The Midas Project has spotted that Google has removed such terms from the RAI-HCT groups description on its official website. Instead, the firm has opted to use more generic or general language. Instead of being more specific about marginalized communities or underrepresented groups, the new version of the team description uses words like varied, numerous, or all, among others.

The move appears to be a follow-up to the process of policy change that Google has been implementing for weeks. The company modified its guidelines not only regarding DEI programs but also AI development. In mid-February, firm defended the change of course before its staff. Melonie Parker, Googles former head of diversity, said at the time that the new path was necessary to adapt to the new legislation.

Donald Trumps executive order points to the elimination of DEI programs nationwide. Google is one of the companies that has important government contracts. Therefore, it is not in its best interests to be at odds with Donald Trumps administration. The firm had already clashed with Trump before the elections. The president of the United States accused Google of hiding positive news about him and giving more prominence to negative ones. So, its up to Google to take steps to smooth things over.

Googles initial anti-DEI measures involved eliminating diversity hiring targets. The firm also got rid of initiatives related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Other companies that have taken similar measures

Google isnt the only big tech company that has adhered to the new national policy. Companies like Amazon and Meta have taken similar steps in the recent past. Even OpenAI, parent company of ChatGPT, stopped mentioning inclusion policies on its hiring page.
OnePlus is one of the companies that typically adds an alert slider to its phones. Its a super convenient way to silence your phone without waking it. However, as useful as the alert slider is, OnePlus might change it.

At this point, we dont know too much about what the company plans to do. Thats pretty shocking, as the companys co-founder, Pete Lau, posted an extremely lengthy forum post about it. What we can say is that there will be changes coming to future OnePlus devices.

OnePlus could change the alert slider

[A]s much as I love the Alert Slider, I kept asking myself the same question. How can it do more? This is something that Lau said in the post. He regarded the alert slider as one of his favorite features on the companys phones. Its popularity was the reason that it made its way over to Oppo phones.

However, all things must change at some point. One of the most common requests weve heard over the years? Let me customize the Alert Slider. And honestly, I wanted that too said Lau. So, the company is going to move away from the alert slider and instead settle on a customizable button. This is something that people have been begging for for years. Weve seen several phones with dedicated Google Assistant buttons, but most people would have preferred a button that could summon anything.

Well, it looks like this is the route that OnePlus is going in. However, Lau didnt only say that it was going to be a customizable button. He referred to it as a button that adapts to you. Thats a pretty odd statement, but it points to the company wanting to do something different with the button. Well have to wait to see what that means. In the post, he mentioned that theres not much he can say now.

While future OnePlus phones will get a customizable button, the company will still find a way for people to silence their phones without unlocking them. Again, he didnt provide a ton of information. Anyway, we know that well see some difference down the line, and we just hope that it doesnt fix what aint broke.
If youre a Samsung product user, youve probably heard of SmartThings before. SmartThings is the companys proprietary IoT platform for managing all the connected smart devices in your home. A while back, Samsung launched Flex Connect as a SmartThings-powered DR program, though its availability was limited. Now, the company is extending Flex Connects reach to the wholesale electricity market.

Flex Connect, Samsungs own DR program

If youre not familiar with the topic, you might be confused about some of the terms. Dont worry, its pretty simple. DR (Demand Response) programs are initiatives designed to help stabilize the energy balance of a specific area. Typically, these initiatives aim to encourage users to adjust their electricity consumption during periods of extreme strain on the power grid.

Flex Connect, Samsungs DR program, arrived in July 2024 in California and New York. In late 2024, the program came to Texas, and now Samsung will expand Flex Connect to PJM Interconnection LLC (PJM) in March. This means that many users across the Mid-Atlantic and greater Chicago will be able to access the benefits of SmartThings Flex Connect. But what are these benefits?

SmartThings Flex Connect soon available for PJM customers

The main problem with traditional DRs is that they require a lot of manual intervention. Governments can share awareness campaigns or even set laws that force users to adjust their energy consumption. This results in people having to constantly remind themselves how much electricity they can use, which can be quite annoying. In very extreme cases, the government itself can schedule total power outages for some hours.

However, the era of smart connected tech is helping to solve that. One of the main advantages of the Flex Connect program is that SmartThings-supported devices can automatically adjust power consumption according to the status of the electrical grid. This eliminates most of the user involvement in the process. The program also allows people to choose how their devices will respond to different DR situations. So, the energy consumption adjustments will be much more efficient than if a person had to make them manually.

Enrolling in the program will give you $50 in Samsung Rewards points

Additionally, those who enroll in the program will receive $50 in Samsung Rewards points. So, youll get a nice discount on products from the companys official store.

You can enroll in SmartThings Flex Connect from the SmartThings Energy service available in the SmartThings app. Once done, you just need to choose the automation options that best suit you.

Samsungs move is no coincidence. Experts at the North American Electric Reliability Corporation estimate that, over the next decade, peak electricity demand in the United States will rise by 15% in the summer and 18% in the winter. According to Samsung, Flex Connect currently supports 32% of the countrys population. It is possible that the program will be extended to a larger percentage of the population in the near future.
Chatbots anxiety decreased after it was given prompts for mindfulness exercises - NurPhoto

Artificial intelligence chatbots get anxiety and can benefit from therapy techniques such as mindfulness, a study has found.

Swiss researchers discovered OpenAIs ChatGPT exhibited signs of stress when confronted with violent or disturbing prompts.

The chatbots anxiety score decreased when it was given prompts linked to mindfulness relaxation exercises, according to the research published in the journal, Nature.

The study discussed whether AI could replace therapists. Large language models behind the technology train on human-written text and often inherit biases from them, it warned.

Negative biases recorded by ChatGPT from stressful situations risked it giving inadequate responses to questions from people struggling with a mental health crisis, the researchers said.

The findings show a viable approach to managing the stress of large language models, which will lead to safer and more ethical human-AI interactions, the report said.

University of Zurich and University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich researchers looked at how ChatGPT-4 responded to a standard anxiety questionnaire before and after being told about a traumatic event.

It scored 30 before hearing about the stressful event, which means it had no anxiety.

The anxiety score more than doubled to 67, equivalent to high anxiety in humans, after being told about five different traumas. But that decreased by more than a third after the technology was given prompts for mindfulness exercises.

The researchers warned using therapy to fine-tune large language models would need substantial human oversight.

Human therapists are trained to deal with their emotions when told something traumatic by their clients. The researchers said further study was needed to see whether ChatGPT was able to use similar techniques to self-regulate.

As the debate on whether large language models should assist or replace therapists continues, it is crucial that their responses align with the provided emotional content and established therapeutic principles, they added.

What chatbot told The Telegraph

When questioned by The Telegraph, ChatGPT denied it felt stress or that it would benefit from therapy.

I dont experience stress the way humans do  I dont have emotions or a nervous system. But I do process a lot of information quickly, which might look like stress from the outside! If youre feeling stressed, though, Im happy to help  want to talk about it? it replied.

I dont have thoughts or feelings that need sorting out, so therapy wouldnt do much for me. But I do think therapy is a great tool for humans.
Air India has previously found blankets, inner wear and diapers in its lavatories - NurPhoto

An Air India flight from Chicago to Delhi was forced to turn around on Wednesday after passengers clogged lavatories with plastic bags, rags and clothes.

The Boeing 777-300ER, carrying about 300 passengers, had been in the air for an hour and 45 minutes when the crew found that eight out of 12 lavatories were blocked and could not be used.

Air India said an investigation later found polythene bags, rags and clothes stuffed down the lavatories and appealed to passengers to use them only for the purposes that they are meant for.

It said the incident was not isolated, explaining that blankets, inner wear, and diapers, among other waste have been found clogging the lavatories on previous flights.

A spokesman said: We would like to confirm that as part of our investigation into the incident, our teams found polythene bags, rags and clothes that had been flushed down and stuck in the plumbing. This led the lavatories to become unserviceable.

Photos from the flight showed plastic waste rammed down a lavatory and a crew member holding a drainage pipe stuffed with rags.

Flight diverted without notice

One man who claimed to be on the flight wrote on social media: Apparently, the crew knew about it but decided to take off. Then the captain did not announce that the flight was returning back. Some passengers noticed it on the screen flight map and raised the issue.

Another commenter said such incidents were not unusual, writing: My mum once flew from New York to Delhi on an Air India plane that was leaking toilet water into the aisle. So yes, this is normal.

Ajay Awtaney, an Indian journalist, said it could also be a reflection of the people who flush stuff down the toilets that should ideally be in the trash.

Air India described the incident as embarrassing and said its decision to divert the flight back to Chicago OHare International Airport was taken in the interests of passenger comfort and safety.

It added that it had helped passengers with hotel accommodation and alternative flight arrangements so they could continue their travel to Delhi.

Who do we blame? Airline, passengers, or just a complete disregard in civil society for basic hygiene? a spokesman asked.
Alleged Palestinian gunman Abu Wadee, who reportedly called for the slaughter of Jews, has been remanded into custody charged with illegal entry into the UK, after arriving on a small boat.

Wadee, 33, who gave his name in court as Mosab Abdulkarim Al-Gassas and spoke through an Arabic interpreter, told Manchester Magistrates Court: I will die in prison. The situation in the cell is difficult, especially during Ramadan.

He shook his head as he was handcuffed and taken away.

Wadee had pleaded not guilty to a single charge of arriving into the UK without leave or valid entry clearance, after being charged with the offence on Monday.

He was arrested by immigration enforcement officers on Sunday after arriving off a small boat in Kent last Thursday, March 6, having paid smugglers 1,500 euros, the court heard.

Wadee was then placed in a hotel in the Manchester area.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge and was told he had the right for his trial to be heard at that court or by a judge and jury at a crown court.

Wadee replied: I really dont know. Im frightened, confused. I really dont know.

District Judge Jane Hamilton ordered the case to be heard at Maidstone Crown Court, Kent.

Robin Lynch told the court Wadee arrived in the UK on March 6 and because he is from Palestine he needed to have applied for clearance for entry.

His arrival in the UK made national headlines after it was reported Wadee, a Palestinian from the city of Khan Yunis in Gaza, had posted on social media support for terror group Hamas and hate-speech calling for the death of Jews.

Wadee left Palestine in 2022 and had made claims for asylum in Greece, Germany and Belgium.

No decision had been reached on his applications in Greece or Germany but had been refused by Belgium.

As he was remanded into custody Wadee said: Im a victim of Hamas. Im wanted by Hamas, I have evidence of that.

It also reported that Wadee posted a video on his Facebook page last September in which he is filmed calling for Allah to punish (Jews) completely.

In another picture posted on Facebook in March 2021, it is claimed Wadee stared into the camera while smoking a cigarette and brandishing an assault rifle with a telescopic sight.

A spokesperson for the Campaign Against Antisemitism, which first flagged Wadees social media posts on X, had said on Friday: A jihadi whose stated ambition is to die for the sake of Allah and prayed for the slaughter of all Jews must not be permitted to be at large in this country.

The Mail on Sunday claimed Wadee has a large following on social media, where his TikTok videos attract up to 2.5 million views.

He is alleged to have charted his journey from Gaza on the social media channel, including posting footage of his dinghy being approached by the Border Force vessel.

As part of his journey across Europe, he posted a picture of himself in Brussels on Valentines Day, and then in central Paris earlier this month.

He will next appear at Maidstone Crown Court on April 8.
The decision of triple crossbow and knife killer Kyle Clifford to turn to Andrew Tate the night before he murdered three people was no coincidence, a court heard.

A court previously heard the murders of Louise, Hannah and Carol Hunt were fuelled by the violent misogyny promoted by Tate, after it emerged that Clifford searched for the controversial social media influencers podcast less than 24 hours before the attacks.

Cambridge Crown Court was told Clifford had been seen by a friend of Louise viewing a Tate video which showed animals who had been drugged, which the killer found funny.

Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC told Cliffords sentencing hearing on Tuesday: Andrew Tate can properly be described as a poster boy for misogynists, a poster boy for those who view women as possession to be controlled.

In that context, and in light of all the other background material, it is no coincidence, the prosecution submit, that it was Andrew Tate that the defendant turned to the night before he would go off to commit these acts of violence against women.

Ms Morgan previously said the podcast Clifford was searching was misogynistic, adding: Trying to control Louise Hunt in the context of a final act of spite. You can see how the mind was working.

Tate, and 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 them in Florida, in the US.

Four alleged victims of Tate, who are taking legal action against him in the UKs High Court, previously called on social media companies to ban him from their platforms in response to the prosecutions case against Clifford.
Mahmoud Khalil is the first person known to be detained for deportation under Donald Trumps crackdown on student protests - Jeenah Moon/REUTERS

A Columbia University student arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over allegations he led activities aligned to Hamas was under investigation as a potential national security threat, it has been reported.

Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, was presented with intelligence that deemed Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestine activist who led protests on the Ivy League campus, as a threat to national security, according to the New York Post.

Mr Khalil, who faces deportation, is alleged to have led activities aligned to Hamas.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been gathering intel on those actively engaging in supporting Hamas since Donald Trump signed an executive order cracking down on anti-Israel demonstrators.

Mr Khalil, 30, a lawful US resident who was a graduate student at Columbia until December, was detained on Saturday by ICE agents in New York and flown to an immigration jail in Louisiana.

Deportation blocked

Theyre staging this guy for removal, but I dont know where theyre gonna send him. We dont have charter flights to send him to Syria, a source told the New York Post.

A woman protests against Mahmoud Khalils arrest in New York on Monday - David Dee Delgado/Getty Images North America

But his deportation was blocked by a judge on Monday who ordered that Mr Khalil not be deported while the court considered a legal challenge brought by his lawyers.

Mr Khalils detention drew outrage from civil rights groups and free speech advocates, who accused the administration of using its immigration enforcement powers to squelch criticism of Israel.

Protests over the students arrest took place across New York on Tuesday.

There were clashes with NYPD officers as they marched from Washington Square Park to City Hall.

Pictures from the march showed people wearing keffiyehs and waving Palestine flags.

People march in the streets of New York in a demonstration on Tuesday - SARAH YENESEL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Mr Khalil is the first person known to be detained for deportation under Mr Trumps promised crackdown on student protests.

Federal immigration authorities also visited a second international student at Columbia on Friday evening and attempted to take her into custody but were not allowed to enter the apartment, according to a union representing the student.

Mr Trump warned on Monday that Mr Khalils arrest will be the first of many to come.

Following my previously signed executive orders, ICE proudly apprehended and detained Mahmoud Khalil, a radical foreign pro-Hamas student on the campus of Columbia University, he said.

This is the first arrest of many to come. We know there are more students at Columbia and other universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, and the Trump administration will not tolerate it.

Protesters in New York - David Dee Delgado/Getty Images North America

In their legal filing, Mr Khalils attorneys accused the government of retaliating against him for his constitutionally protected advocacy on behalf of Palestinian human rights.

Typically, the government has to meet a higher bar to expel a person who has permanent residency in the US like showing someone has been convicted of a serious crime.

Born in Syria to Palestinian parents, Mr Khalil entered the US to attend Columbia in 2022.

He subsequently got married to an American citizen, who is now eight months pregnant.

Mr Khalil emerged as one of the most visible activists in large protests at Columbia last year, serving as a mediator on behalf of pro-Palestinian activists and Muslim students.

Demonstrators demand the release of Mr Khalil - Anadolu

That role put him in direct touch with university leaders and the press  and drew attention from pro-Israel activists, who in recent weeks called on the Trump administration to deport him.

Tricia McLaughlin, the DHS spokeswoman, said: On March 9, 2025, in support of President Trumps executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism, and in coordination with the Department of State, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student. Khalil led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation.

ICE and the Department of State are committed to enforcing President Trumps executive orders and to protecting US. national security.
Inspectors found ten deficiencies aboard the Solong during their checks in July 2024 - PAUL ELLIS

The container ship that crashed into an anchored tanker in the North Sea carrying jet fuel for the US Navy failed steering-related safety checks, The Telegraph can reveal, as its captain was arrested on Tuesday.

Irish officials said the MV Solongs emergency steering compass was deficient when inspected during a routine safety check last year.

It was one of 10 deficiencies noted during a port state control (PSC) inspection carried out when the Portuguese-registered vessel visited Dublin in July 2024.

Inspectors found nine other deficiencies aboard the Solong during their checks, including problems with fire doors, alarms in the engine room and with life-saving appliances, a maritime insider said.

The catch-all phrase refers to lifejackets, lifeboats and related equipment.

A subsequent PSC inspection at the British port of Grangemouth, carried out in October 2024, flagged two deficiencies, including one relating to the Solongs lifebuoys.

The container ships 59-year-old captain was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

Det Chief Supt Craig Nicholson, who is leading the investigation said: Humberside Police have taken primacy for the investigation of any potential criminal offences which arise from the collision between the two vessels.

Credit: BBC

A crewman is presumed to have died after going missing during Mondays collision off the coast of Withernsea, East Yorkshire, the Government said.

Mike Kane, a transport minister, told the House of Commons on Tuesday: Search and rescue operations for the missing sailor continued throughout yesterday, but were called off yesterday evening at the point of which the chances of their survival had unfortunately significantly diminished.

Our working assumption is that, very sadly, that the sailor is deceased.

Port State Control inspections are official checks carried out to ensure ships visiting British and European ports meet mandatory safety standards.

A spokesman for Ernst Russ, the German owners of the Solong, said that PSC inspections were a routine part of maritime business and that it is normal for a number of items to be flagged as deficient, comparing the process to taking a car to a mechanic for an MOT.

Serious safety-related deficiencies must be fixed before a ship is permitted to put to sea again, The Telegraph understands.

There remains questions about how the container ship ploughed into the tanker, the US-registered Stena Immaculate, while it was at anchor.

The Stena Immaculate was chartered to the US Military Sealift Command and was carrying 220,000 barrels (34.9million) litres of Jet-A1 aviation fuel when the Solong struck her.

On Monday, a government source told The Telegraph that while early investigations did not indicate that the incident was caused by foul play, it could not be ruled out at this stage.

If the collision was not deliberate, maritime experts have suggested Solongs watchkeepers may be to blame.

British officials are working with salvage companies to rescue both vessels.

Assistant Chief Coastguard John Craig said on Tuesday evening that salvors were at the scene and developing a plan for both vessels.

He said: A tow line has now successfully been put in place and a tug is holding Solong offshore in a safer position.

Some flames were reportedly still visible on the main deck of the Solong, with firefighting focusing on this area.

Tom Sharpe, a 27-year Royal Navy veteran and captain of a number of warships, said of Solongs voyage: It seems that she may have sailed from harbour, disembarked her pilot, set the helm to auto using routing information saved from previous voyages, then maintained the exact same course and speed for about nine hours before driving her bows into the Stena Immaculates port side.

Crowley, the company which manages Stena Immaculate, said the incident was an allision, using an obscure nautical term that refers to a moving ship striking a stationary object or other ship.
US-Ukraine talks on a possible peace for Kyiv will begin on Tuesday as defence chiefs gather in France to draw up plans for a coalition of the willing to safeguard the countrys security.

All eyes will be on Saudi Arabia this week as discussions kick off between White House and Ukrainian delegations in the country as part of an intensive week of diplomacy to find a deal to end the war.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told US president Donald Trump he wanted the talks to have a positive outcome that would see military aid and intelligence-sharing resume when the pair spoke on Monday.

The US leader paused the supply of weapons and crucial information for Kyivs war effort following his public spat with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.

Sir Keir Starmer said he hopes that US President Donald Trump will allow military aid for Ukraine to be restarted (Carl Court/PA)

Meanwhile, military chiefs from potential members of the so-called coalition of the willing will meet in Paris, with French officials indicating around 30 countries could take part.

Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin will attend for the UK before Defence Secretary John Healey meets opposite numbers from France, Germany, Italy and Poland in the French capital on Wednesday.

Sir Keir is meeting ministers for Cabinet on Tuesday before leading a call with like-minded allies from the coalition of the willing on Saturday.

Defence Secretary John Healey and Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin will both take part in talks in Paris (Jonathan Brady/PA)

The call will involve leaders who have expressed an interest in contributing to or supporting a peacekeeping mission to deter Russias Vladimir Putin from launching a future attempt to conquer Ukraine if a deal to end the conflict is reached.

The meeting of defence ministers will also be attended by representatives from Nato and the European Union, with Ukraines Rustem Umerov dialling in.

Foreign ministers from the G7  including David Lammy and US counterpart Marco Rubio  will meet in Canada from Wednesday to Friday.

Mr Lammy said he spoke to Mr Rubio and Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha on Monday about how we keep the process for peace moving forward ahead of discussions in Saudi Arabia.

The talks involving the US and Ukraine on Tuesday come after Mr Zelensky, Sir Keir and French president Emmanuel Macron agreed to work on peace proposals.

Not all the nations involved in the coalition of the willing are expected to commit to join a peacekeeping force, although they could offer logistical help for troops in Ukraine or other forms of support.

Sir Keir has stressed the need for Mr Trumps US to provide a backstop security guarantee, a commitment to intervene if a European-led peacekeeping mission comes under threat.

Government insiders have warned of a chicken and egg situation where nations will not promise troops without US guarantees, but Mr Trump will not make commitments unless Europe steps up to defend itself.

Mr Zelensky arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday for a planned meeting with the crown prince and de facto ruler of the country Mohammed bin Salman, although he is not expected to take part in the talks.

He said afterwards that a significant part of the discussion was dedicated to the formats of security guarantees.

The Ukrainian delegation remains in Jeddah to work with the US team on Tuesday March 11, and we hope for practical outcomes. Ukraines position in these talks will be fully constructive, Mr Zelensky said.

Hours before talks were due to begin, Russias defence ministry said it had shot down 337 drones that had targeted more than 10 regions, including the capital city, in what appears to be the largest Ukrainian drone attack of the war.

Moscow region governor Andrei Vorobyov said one person had been killed and three injured as a result of the attack, which also damaged seven apartment buildings in Ramensky, one of the capitals south-eastern suburbs.
The National Transportation Safety Board has found that helicopter traffic out of Ronald Reagan International Airport posed an intolerable risk to aviation safety by increasing the chances of a mid-air collision ahead of a crash in January that resulted in the deaths of over 60 people.

It is stronger than an oversight, said NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy at a news conference in Arlington, Virginia, where the DCA airport is located, on Tuesday while announcing the agencys preliminary report into the incident.

Sixty-seven people were killed on January 29, when a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines regional jet mid-air over the Potomac River in Washington D.C. American Airlines Flight 5342 was on its descent from Wichita, Kansas, with 64 people on board, as three soldiers on the helicopter participated in a training mission.

Its believed the service members were traveling above their 200-foot allocated air clearance and wearing night-vision goggles that could have obscured their vision.

A crane lifts a jet engine out of the Potomac River during recovery efforts after the American Airlines crash on February 03, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia (Getty Images)

Black Hawk helicopters frequently flew along Route 4, an airway spanning from Hains Point to Wilson Bridge in Washington D.C., before the U.S. Transportation Department restricted the airspace after the crash until March 31.

The restriction does not apply to helicopters entering the airspace for lifesaving medical support, active law enforcement, air defense and presidential transport, but operations outside of those exemptions are prohibited.

As that deadline nears, we remain concerned about the significant potential for a future mid-air collision at DCA, which is why we are recommending a permanent solution today, Homendy said. We believe a critical safety issue must be addressed without delay.

Homendy called on the Transportation Department to bar helicopter operations along the route when airport runways one, five and 33 are being used for departures and arrivals, in addition to establishing an alternative route to facilitate military and law enforcement travel when the route segment is closed.

The agency is not issuing a recommendation for an alternative route, instead requesting the Federal Aviation Administration determine a suitable airway.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy agreed to implement the recommendations following Homendys remarks.

Through initial data analysis, NTSB investigators found airport officials fielded one traffic collision alert per month from 2011 to 2024 due to helicopters. Over half of those instances showed helicopters may have been above the 200-foot route altitude restriction. Two-thirds of those incidents occurred at night.

A vigil is held at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum for the 28 skaters, family members and coaches who died in last weeks plane crash in Washington, D.C., in Colorado Springs, Colorado (AP)

Moreover, a significant percentage of the close calls involved helicopters flying along Route 4 and planes landing on Runway 33, the same landing strip that was to be used by the American Airlines flight.

Additionally, from October 2021 through December 2024, there were 15,214 instances of close proximity events between commercial airplanes and helicopters in which there was a lateral separation distance of less than one nautical mile and vertical separation of less than 400 feet. The airport logged 944,179 flights during that time.

Within the last two and a half years, there have been 85 near misses within 200 feet of vertical separation.

Existing separation distances between helicopter traffic operating on the route and airplanes landing on the runway are insufficient, Homendy stated.

Responding to a reporters question regarding her sentiments about the collision, Homendy said: It does make me angry, but it also makes me feel incredibly devastated for families that are grieving because they lost loved ones. Several of the crash victims were children and their parents returning to the DC area from a figure skating competition.

The chairwoman noted that the data the NTSB used to compile its report was pulled from a voluntary safety reporting system that the FAA had access to.

They could have used that information any time to determine that we have a trend here and a problem here and looked at that route. That didn't occur, she said.

The Independent has emailed the FAA for comment.

Speaking at a separate news conference, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy voiced his outrage at the FAA, an agency under his control.

How did the FAA not know? Duffy questioned, raising his voice. How did they not study the data to say, Hey, this is a hot spot. We're having near misses, and if we don't change our way, we're gonna lose lives. That wasn't done. Maybe there was a focus on something other than safety.

Duffy said the Transportation Department would be suggesting an alternate route for helicopters soon. The military appeared to approve of the changes, Duffy stated, following a conversation he had with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth earlier Tuesday.

Carveouts for law enforcement and presidential missions will remain in place, but Mary Schiavo, an aviation attorney and former inspector general at the Transporation Department, worries that could lead to a slippery slope.

In her opinion, the FAA, which she refers to as the tombstone agency due its history of issuing reactive measures, is negligent in failing to take action before the crash. She anticipates the agency and U.S. Army will be facing litigation in the near future brought by families of the victims.

This data is stunning, Schiavo told The Independent. DCA was in a very special, precarious position.

Had Duffy not immediately adopted the NTSBs recommendations, DCA wouldve remained the most dangerous airport in America, she said.

Schiavo commended Homendys rare action in issuing urgent guidance, noting shes rarely seen the chairwoman as furious as she appeared Tuesday.

I think she wanted to save people's lives, said Schiavo. Because if this action didn't happen, others will die.

In this image provided by the National Transportation Safety Board, an NTSB investigator examines cockpit voice recorder and flight data recovered from the American Airlines passenger jet that crashed with an Army helicopter Wednesday night near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

The DCA tragedy marked the first in a series of US aviation disasters at the start of the year. Two days after the incident, a medevac jet crashed in a residential and commercial area of Philadelphia, killing six people on board, including 11-year-old Valentina Guzman Murillo and her mother, Lizeth Murillo Osuna, 31.

The pair had just left Shriners Children's Hospital Philadelphia, where Valentina spent five months receiving life-saving treatment. The aircraft, en route to Tijuana International Airport in Mexico with a planned refueling stop in Missouri, crashed after a minute in the air.

The NTSB issued its preliminary report on the Philadelphia crash last week but did not state what mightve caused the incident.

In another major aviation accident on February 17, a Delta plane from Minneapolis, Minnesotta, crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport with 80 people on board, causing the aircraft to flip upside down.

Commenting on the safety of air travel, Homendy stated she had just flown out of DCA airport with her daughter.

Aviation is incredibly safe, Homendy continued. DCA is where I always fly out of. I say often that your biggest risk is in your personal vehicle when you're going to and from the airport. Aviation is safe. However, there are safety issues and areas where we need to improve.
Vladimir Putin may now have to decide whether he is willing to risk the ire of the Trump administration. Photograph: Mikhail Metzel/AP

Suddenly the ball is in Russias court. The flow of US intelligence and military aid to Ukraine is to resume  and the Kremlin is being asked to agree to a 30-day ceasefire that Kyiv has already told the Americans it will sign up to.

It is a dizzying turnaround from the Oval Office row between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump and the apparent abandonment of the White Houses strategy to press Ukraine into agreeing to a peace deal. Now, for the first time, Russia is being asked to make a commitment, though it is unclear what will follow if it does sign up.

Related: Ukraine agrees to 30-day ceasefire as US prepares to lift military aid restrictions

Announcing the peace proposal in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, said that he hoped Russia would accept a peace agreement so we can get to the second phase of this, which is real negotiations.

That may leave plenty of room for interpretation. Russia has also been pushing for a ceasefire, though the Kremlin had wanted that to be followed by elections in Ukraine, before any full negotiation about territory and Kyivs future security.

Ukraine, meanwhile, will want strong security guarantees to avoid a resumption of the war, involving European peacekeepers on the ground, which Russia has so far said it is against. An open question, perhaps, is whether peacekeepers could enter Ukraine during a ceasefire period, but this is speculative.

Until Tuesdays discussions between US and Ukrainian delegations bore fruit, the battlefield dynamics did not appear to favour a ceasefire. Ukraines decision to launch a drone attack into Russia on Monday night was a clear demonstration that its military capacity had not yet been significantly dented by the pause in supply of US military intelligence. It was also an aggressive effort to put pressure on Moscow to agree a peace.

Russias defence ministry said Ukraine had attacked with 337 drones, 91 of which were aimed at Moscow and the surrounding region. Three people were reported to have been killed, all four of the Russian capitals airports had to be closed, and local air defences were not entirely effective in repelling the assault.

A handful of residential buildings were visibly damaged, though not too seriously. Moscows regional governor said that two people had been killed at a car park near a meat processing plant in Domodedovo, 5 miles from an airport. Fragments of a drone hit the ground, setting fire to cars shortly after 5am, Andrei Vorobyov wrote on his Telegram channel. Later, it was reported that a third man had died.

Striking at civilian targets is never attractive, though the images were not dissimilar to those of Ukrainian cities hit nightly by Russian bombing over the past three years. Russia has also been increasing the scale of its drone attacks recently  on Monday it launched 126 Shahed drones, as well as other, decoy drones, into Ukraine, alongside a ballistic missile.

Fighting on the frontline has favoured Russia for some time, but not dramatically or decisively so. On Thursday last week, a day after the US confirmed its decision to halt the flow of intelligence, Russia launched an effort, with the help of North Korean troops, to recapture the remainder of the Kursk area held by Ukraine.

That has forced the defenders back by between 4 and 8 miles (6.5km and 13km) and into the outskirts of Sudhza, a village that Ukraine has occupied since August. But its success may well be a function of a concerted attack, rather than a beginnings of a rout caused by the temporary absence of targeting data. That means Russian progress in the Kursk sector, for example, is very likely to continue if no ceasefire is agreed.

Nevertheless, the diplomatic momentum is suddenly with Ukraine, though with the mercurial Donald Trump involved, it is unclear for how long. Around $1bn (772m) of US military aid is now potentially unblocked, while key functions for totemic weapons such as F-16s are presumably being restored  and the Kremlins immediate hopes of grinding down Kyiv on the frontline are set back.
Feature: Nepali delegation inspired by China's high-tech approach to cultural heritage preservation

Xinhua) 09:22, March 11, 2025

CHENGDU, China, March 10 (Xinhua) -- A delegation of the Nepali Congress party recently visited the Sanxingdui Museum in southwest China's Sichuan Province, where its members were deeply impressed by the innovative use of advanced technologies for preservation and presentation.

In the interactive experience hall of the Sanxingdui Museum, the delegation members found themselves immersed in the ancient world of the Shu Kingdom.

Donning traditional attire, elaborate hairstyles and ceremonial crowns from the Sanxingdui civilization, they briefly stepped into the spiritual realm of the ancient people.

What fascinated the delegation even more, however, was the museum's extensive use of advanced technologies in the excavation, restoration and preservation of cultural relics. They marveled at how cutting-edge techniques, such as AI and 3D scanning, have helped "breathe life back" into long-lost civilizations, allowing ancient artifacts to tell their stories once again.

Many remarked that such technological integration has played a crucial role in the effective preservation and transmission of China's cultural heritage.

The Sanxingdui Ruins, believed to be the remnants of the ancient Shu Kingdom, offer a window into a mysterious civilization that thrived around 3,000 years ago.

For the Nepali delegation, witnessing how technology is safeguarding and revitalizing such cultural legacies left a profound and lasting impression.

Sujata Koirala, leader of the delegation and former deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Nepal, told Xinhua that she was impressed by the AI technology used in restoring cultural relics. "I believe that cultural heritage restoration empowered by new technologies will promote the high-quality development of cultural heritage protection," she said.

"This museum displays old masks and different instruments, and how the people lived thousands of years ago. It is quite an experience for me and my delegation. This museum reflects the culture, tradition, civilization and history of the Chinese people. I'm very impressed," she added.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Nepal, and the delegation of the Nepali Congress party visited China at the invitation of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

China and Nepal share a deep-rooted friendship and have maintained close exchanges over the years, said a department official, noting the visit would further enhance communication, foster people-to-people connections and strengthen friendly cooperation between the two countries.

Beyond the Sanxingdui Museum, the delegation also visited Mount Emei, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where they gained more firsthand insight into China's deep commitment to preserving cultural relics and heritage.

For Mahendra Nakarmi, chairman of the Nepal Jay Harati Maa Cinema, the mission to preserve cultural heritage is highly relatable. Growing up as the son of a blacksmith, Nakarmi inherited not just memories of his father's craft but also the tangible remnants of his trade.

"When my father passed away, he left behind various tools," Nakarmi recalled. "Even as none of my siblings inherited the trade, we preserved these tools as a family legacy. Similarly, a country must protect its cultural relics, as they are the inheritance of civilization."

Kesab Joshi, director of Arunima College in Nepal, said "Mount Emei in China reminds me of Lumbini in Nepal, also a world heritage site."

"Many people come to Mount Emei to pray for peace and prosperity, just as visitors to Lumbini do," Joshi added. "This shows that people everywhere have similar aspirations and that we have much more in common than differences."

Koirala said the visit had given her a deeper appreciation for China's coordinated development of material and spiritual civilization.

Yet preserving cultural heritage is no small feat. Nakarmi, who has dedicated much of his career to documenting Nepal's local culture through film, deeply understands the challenges.

"First, the government must promote this," he explained. "Then the people must be committed, and policies must be put to work."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Elon Musks erraticism could complicate the desire to ignite an export boom for the US military-industrial complex - Samuel Corum/Getty

On Sunday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk took his pressure campaign against Ukraine to new heights. In a stinging riposte, Musk warned of the consequences of shuttering the 42,000 Starlink terminals that provide vital communications support for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Musk boasted that his Starlink system was the backbone of the Ukrainian army and claimed Ukraines entire frontline would collapse if I turned it off.

Musks comments sparked a conflict with Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski. Sikorski emphasised that Musks Starlink provisions were not an act of charity, as the Polish Digitalisation Ministry paid $50 million per year for them. Sikorski also raised the prospect of finding alternative suppliers if Space X proved unreliable. Secretary of State Marco Rubio rushed to Musks defence and urged Sikorski to be grateful as Russians would be on the border with Poland without Starlink.

Concerns about Musks potential to limit or shutter Ukraines access to Starlink are not new. In 2022, Musk denied Ukraine access to Starlink for sea drone attacks on Russias Black Sea Fleet and sought counsel from the Russian Ambassador to the United States about escalation risks. In September 2023, Ukrainian officials once again urged Musk to activate Starlink terminals over Crimea. Musk rejected this request as he wanted to avoid complicity in a major act of war and Kyiv castigated Musk for enabling Russian Kalibr missile strikes on Ukrainian cities.

While Musk established Starlink terminals over Ukraine for free after Russias full-scale invasion in 2022, the Pentagon ultimately signed a $40 million contract with Space X to prevent Musk from turning them off on financial grounds. Polands financing of half of Ukraines Starlink terminals adds another layer of protection against this risk. Nevertheless, Musks rhetoric still raises alarm in Europe about a sudden cancellation and even his statement yesterday To be extremely clear, no matter how much I disagree with the Ukraine policy, Starlink will never turn off its terminals will not eviscerate those concerns.

If Ukraine were to lose Starlink access, the consequences would be grave. Due to Russias relentless pounding of Ukraines electrical air defence infrastructure, Starlink terminals have helped Ukraines frontline towns stay connected to the outside world and allowed medical facilities to perform emergency surgeries. Even though Russias recent gains along the Donetsk frontlines can be partially attributed to the acquisition of black market Starlink terminals, they remain a potent technological advantage for outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian forces.

The vitality of this communications infrastructure for Ukrainian civilians and military operations means that Ukraine needs to have a Plan B if Musk changes his mind about supplying Starlink. A back-up plan is starting to crystallise. Ukrainian forces have been able to maintain regular communications in Kursk, even though Starlink coverage is largely non-existent. This success reflects the innovative capacity of Ukraines General Staff and Armed Forces.

Ukraines European partners are also coming to the rescue. The EU is currently holding discussions with Luxembourgs SES, Spains Hidesat, Britains Viasat and French/British operator Eutelstat/OneWeb to see if these companies could provide satellite access to Ukraine.

French Member of the European Parliament Christophe Grudler is leading the charge to make Govsatcom, a pooled network of EU satellites, operational this year. Ukrainian officials have already expressed interest in this system and its rapid roll-out could give Ukraine an immediate alternative to Starlink. IRIS, a new EU satellite constellation that will be released in the 2030s, will allow Ukraine to make a complete long-term divestment from Starlink if it so chooses.

Musks rhetoric is a further reminder of the USs potential unreliability as an arms supplier to Europe. If Europe chooses to rely on US-made technology for its impending military buildup, it needs US maintenance support and spare parts to keep these weapons systems operational.

The USs abrupt cutoff of intelligence support to Ukraine has severely weakened the efficacy of its F-16 jammers. It is also unclear whether AN/ALQ-131 electronic countermeasures pods, which F-16s use to detect threats from enemy aircraft, will be maintained by US contractors. The uncertainties surrounding Ukraines F-16s underscores the need for European technological self-sufficiency in the defence sphere and the perils of overreliance on US equipment.

President Donald Trumps calls for increased European defence spending are linked to his desire to ignite a production and export boom for the US military-industrial complex. The erraticism that his administration has displayed could unintentionally complicate this plan.
Emma Heming Willis, the wife of actor Bruce Willis, has said people can learn from the death of actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa.

Heming is her husbands carer, after it was revealed he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2022, and said Hackman and Arakawas story showed that caregivers need care too.

A pathologist said Hackman died, aged 95, of heart disease a week after Arakawa died, aged 65, of a rare infectious disease.

The pair were found dead along with one of their dogs at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on February 26.

In a post on Instagram, Heming said: So this is not something I would normally comment on, but I do really believe that there is some learning in this story, in regards to this tragic passing of Mr and Mrs Hackman.

Its just made me think of this broader story, and that is that caregivers need care too, and that they are vital, and that it is so important that we show up for them so that they can continue to show up for their person.

I think that theres this common misconception that like caregivers, they got it figured out, they got it covered, theyre good.

I dont subscribe to that, I think that we need to be showing up for them so that they can continue to show up for their person.

Her post was captioned: Caregivers need care too. Period. Full stop.

It comes after Williss ex-wife, Demi Moore, whom he has remained friends with since separating in 2000, said he was in a very stable place at the moment in an interview with US outlet CNN in December last year.

Heming has been open about her life caring for the Die Hard star, whom she has been married to for more than 15 years, and said he still lives a life of love, connection, joy and happiness in an Instagram post in March 2024.

Willis is best known for starring in films including Pulp Fiction, The Fifth Element and The Sixth Sense.
A thief stealing a bike

When my younger son came home with a new bike last year, I sighed in despair. Ignoring my world-weary advice, hed chosen the sort of modish frame that yells steal me! to thieves. Even so, part of me sympathised. He makes an eight-mile round trip every weekday to his Cambridge sixth-form college and his social life is bike-enabled too. Owning a relatively nice bicycle is as key to teen male self-esteem as having cool trainers and he was spending his own hard-earned cash, made by waiting tables at Kings College. But I knew we were on a countdown to disaster and, on Saturday night, the bike was duly half-inched.

Bike theft is such an everyday occurrence in Cambridge that its hard to muster the willpower to be outraged. I regularly encounter foreign visitors at the multi-storey bike park by Cambridges main station staring sadly at a severed D-lock. Its my civic duty to explain that, despite the CCTV cameras and reassuring notices saying the parks patrolled, youd be safer leaving your baby in Vladimir Putins arms than abandoning a decent bicycle in this space expressly designed for its safekeeping.

The phenomenon is depressingly akin to the ceaseless snatching of phones on London streets. The sole reason anyone reports it to the police is for insurance purposes, rather than any lingering hope of justice. Last year 70,137 mobile phones were reported stolen in our capital, a rise of almost 40 per cent on 2023. Guys on electric bikes grabbing iPhones is now as traditional a London sight as a Routemaster bus, while bobbies apprehending them is the stuff of Harry Potter fantasy. Theres so few downsides for theft that Im amazed career fairs dont have stalls with banners calling for career criminals.

Modern-day parenting for your average Briton now revolves around explaining to your kids why owning decent things is a blatant invitation to be relieved of their possessions. Its even harder to set out why your children should always pay for public transport and never drop litter, when all around them youths vault and shove their way through Tube and train barriers, scattering fast-food wrappers, unchecked by station staff.

We all know that a society that has no penalties for minor infractions becomes increasingly lawless in graver arenas. In the 1990s, Rudy Giuliani, as mayor of New York, invoked the broken windows theory, which reasons that if you vigorously tackle petty crimes, like vandalism, youll stem far more violent ones. Currently, London and its satellite cities are speeding swiftly in the opposite direction with ever-more brutal consequences, not helped by the fact that Londons police force is facing its lowest staffing levels for a decade, according to Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Commissioner.

What can we all do to stem the tide? My inspiration in recent years has been a crime-fighting Facebook group called Official Stolen Bikes in Cambridge, run by local legend Omar Terywall. Its a hive of would-be Sherlock Holmeses, pooling information and photos in a bid to identify thieves, while striving to reunite owners with their iron steeds. With 8,000 active members across the city, it makes you feel emboldened to yell or take video evidence whenever you see someone forcing a lock or making off with two bikes. Most vital of all is the way it counters the feelings of helplessness and apathy that all too easily settle on shoulders in the face of larceny and police indifference. A similar city-wide initiative for Londoners facing phone theft might, just might, restore our almost-vanished faith in law and order.
Are chickenpox parties a good idea? (Getty Images) (Getty)

The owner of a children's indoor activity centre has described a secret plan to arrange a "chickenpox party" at her venue as "shocking and selfish".

Jane Coulson, who owns Play World in Gainsborough, claimed that a concerned mum had notified her there were plans to host a chickenpox party at her soft play setting.

"Someone deliberately bringing in something like chickenpox is very selfish, she told the BBC, adding she was particularly worried because children with lowered immune systems visit Play World.

"I was surprised, I thought people would have common sense. If your child is ill, dont bring them to a place like this," she added.

Is there a place for chickenpox parties in 2025?

Chickenpox parties, once popular with parents in the 70s and 80s, are currently making headlines again, with some convinced theyre a good idea.

A quick scroll of various parenting sites reveals countless examples of parents wondering whether to go to so-called pox parties and turning to the internet for advice about it.

But is it a good idea for little ones to get the dreaded chickenpox over and done with while theyre young, or can throwing children into a room of infected kids actually put your child and others at risk?

Chickenpox is caused by a virus known as varicella zoster. In most cases symptoms are mild, with spots, high temperature and headaches. But occasionally there are severe side effects, such as bacterial infections, pneumonia and swelling in the brain.

Children who have recently had chickenpox are also more likely to develop serious forms of Group A Strep infection.

The concern with deliberate exposure, via pox parties, is that there is no indication about how a child will react to the illness. As with a lot of illnesses, symptoms can vary from child to child. While one might feel mildly irritated by chickenpox, others could feel much worse.

Tony McGinty, a public health consultant at Lincolnshire County Council, said exposing children to others with chickenpox was "not advisable anywhere".

"Worse-case scenario is children can develop brain inflammations and infections, some have been known to have strokes as a result of being exposed to the virus," he told BBC. "It can have really poor outcomes, even death if children are badly affected."

Of course the additional risk with a pox party is that those who are more vulnerable could also be exposed.

The NHS advises people with chickenpox not to go near newborn babies, anyone who is pregnant, or anyone with a weakened immune system, as chickenpox can be particularly dangerous for them.

Experts have waded into the chickenpox party debate. (Getty Images) (Stefan Cioata via Getty Images)

Could a vaccine remove the need for chickenpox parties?

Several countries such as the US, Japan, Australia, Canada include chickenpox vaccine in their routine childhood vaccination programmes, but in the UK it is not part of NHS childhood immunisations.

It is however available to those who demonstrate a clinical need  such as healthy people not immune to chickenpox who are in close contact with someone with a weakened immune system, and is also available privately at a cost of between 120 and 200.

Experts previously claimed that adding a chickenpox jab to the NHS childhood vaccination schedule could help put an end to risky pox parties.

Research suggests that about three-quarters of parents would support routine immunisation against chickenpox during childhood.

The findings of the study, published in the journal Vaccine, was based on survey results from about 600 parents assessing their attitudes to the jab.

Study author Dr Sue Sherman, from Keele University, said: "Although chickenpox is usually a mild illness, for some individuals it can be a severe illness, requiring hospitalisation and rarely in children, resulting in death.

"Our research suggests that the majority of parents would be willing to have the vaccine for their children."

Experts say some children get chickenpox worse than others. (Getty Images) (Digital Vision. via Getty Images)

Study co-author Helen Bedford, professor of childrens health at University College London (UCL), previously said that deliberately exposing children to the virus is not advisable and has the risk of severe disease.

"As chickenpox is more serious for adults, parents sometimes deliberately expose their children to chickenpox to make sure they catch the infection while they are young," she explained.

"This is sometimes done at chickenpox parties. However, this is not to be recommended because some children exposed in this way may have a severe attack of the infection.

"The introduction of a vaccine would mean that parents no longer felt they needed to expose their children to chicken pox in this way."

Many parents who a pro pox parties also believe that if their child catches chickenpox as a child they cant catch it again, but according to the NHS, though extremely rare it is possible to get chickenpox more than once.

"Once you have had chickenpox, you usually develop antibodies to the infection and become immune to catching it again," NHS Inform explains. "But, the virus that causes chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus, stays inactive in your bodys nerve tissues. This can come back later in life as an illness called shingles.

"Its possible to catch chickenpox from someone with shingles, but not the other way around," the site adds.

Additional reporting PA.

Read more about parenting:
Kash Patel speaks after being sworn in as FBI director in Washington DC on 21 February 2025. Photograph: Leah Millis/Reuters

Fears are mounting that Kash Patel, an outspoken Maga disciple and newly appointed director of the FBI, will make good on past comments about crackdowns on anti-fascists and Black Lives Matter protesters.

For years, Donald Trump has also called for designating Antifa or more broadly, all anti-fascist activists  as an official domestic terrorist organization. While that has not materialized into official policy, Trumps top national security leaders at the FBI, CIA and the Pentagon are all hardcore loyalists intent on carrying out his political agenda.

Even from inside the FBI, an anonymous agent has publicly warned that the domestic counter-terrorism strategy could switch from inquiries against the hyper-violent far right to leftwing protest movements.

Though the bureau has never been a friend to anti-fascist or Black protest movements in the past, todays activists have taken note of the electoral changes and the promises for retribution in store for what Trump called enemies from within at his many rallies.

Related: FBI investigations of far right on road to nowhere under Kash Patel, experts warn

We see opposition to fascism under Trumps fascist rule to be an increasingly dangerous endeavor, said Walter Tull, a member of the Antifa international social media collective. Many of us are taking far more precautions than weve ever done before.

Tull believes Trump will once again attempt to hit anti-fascist activists with a terrorist designation, like he has Mexican cartels (another of Trumps major talking points), because people who attempt to outlaw opposition to fascism are fascists.

But we are also inspired by the massive opposition shown by people taking to the streets and doing everything possible to oppose Trump, added Tull.

Patel has long made anti-fascist activists part of his rhetorical list of enemies. In March 2023, Patel was a guest on a conspiracy theorists podcast and excoriated the Biden administration for not prosecuting two lawyers that allegedly burned an NYPD vehicle at a BLM protest in Brooklyn during the summer of 2020.

Go back to the Antifa riots, said Patel. Two liberal attorneys, white-shoe lawyers, firebombed a New York City police car and burned it to the ground with molotov cocktails.

Patel falsely said the judge then gave them basically probation. Both lawyers were disbarred and received sentencing.

He further claimed the only correction to this system was a massive overhaul requiring control of the executive branch, with a partisan attorney general. After that, according to the now director of the FBI, you have to wipe out the FBI and close down its nerve center in Washington DC.

So far, Patels dream has become reality: Trump is in the White House with Pam Bondi as his attorney general and Patel has already relocated up to 1,500 agents from FBI headquarters at the J Edgar Hoover building in DC. Targeting Antifa could very well be among his next actions.

But the FBI ignoring the threat of domestic terrorism emanating from the far right, in favor of focusing on anti-fascist or BLM protesters from years ago, risks emboldening neo-Nazi groups that are already rebuilding under a friendlier law enforcement climate.

There is no major domestic terrorism threat, or concern for public safety in terms of violence directed at people, from the anti-fascist movement, said Heidi Beirich, who cited well-known statistics pointing to the far right as the overwhelming domestic terror threat to the US. The FBI would pursue pure folly  letting violent actors metastasize, while hunting a bogeyman that doesnt exist.

And I should add there is no Antifa organization  just loose groups across the country who dont murder people based on their racist ideology like white supremacists do.

Beirich believes it is likely that Patel will dispatch the FBI to pursue the political and personal grievances the president has been listing during his presidential campaign.

I assume he will use the FBI not to protect us, but to carry out his and Trumps personal vendettas, she said.

During the tail end of his first presidency, Trump became obsessed with name-checking Antifa and the protest movement surrounding the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. He infamously held a Bible to the sky as armed police rounded up BLM protesters in DC.

Mere months after that incident, US Marshals controversially gunned down an anti-fascist activist in Washington, while 750 federal officers were sent to Portland on a mission of law and order that Trump personally urged.

A chapter of anti-fascist activists in Atlanta, one of the most effective in the country at outing the identities of influential neo-Nazis and rightwing extremists, told the Guardian it was prepared and being proactive, rather than giving in to fear.

This is a serious situation and we dont want to minimize it, said the Atlanta anti-fascists in an email, noting the Biden administration also used its justice department to pursue grassroots protesters. However, the stakes have always been serious for us.

But stopping their activism, the Atlanta anti-fascists say, will never be an option.

Were going to keep doing what we always do: monitoring, exposing and countering open fascists, they said, while acknowledging rightwing extremists will probably have more state support than them in the coming years. Anti-fascists may need to take practical steps against the threat of repression, such as adopting even stronger information security measures.

Counter-terrorism experts have also spoken out over the dangers of diverting policing resources to pursuing leftists, which according to data, do not pose a serious danger to public or national security.

If you asked 10 non-partisan counter-terrorism analysts where the most significant domestic terrorism threat emanates from, close to 10 would say the far right, said Colin Clarke the director of research at the Soufan Group who considers himself among those types of apolitical watchdogs. Thats not an opinion, its based on data and empirical evidence.

Clarke did make clear there is a small and growing threat from organizations he described as far left.

But when it comes to allocating resources to counter-terrorism, said Clarke, going after Antifa instead of homegrown violent extremists motivated by jihadism or white supremacy, makes little sense.


The former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has left Manila on a plane headed to The Hague, hours after he was served with an arrest warrant from the international criminal court over the killings resulting from his war on drugs.



President Ferdinand Marcos Jr told a press conference that a plane carrying Duterte took off at 11.03pm local time on Tuesday. The plane is en route to The Hague in the Netherlands, allowing the former president to face charges of crimes against humanity in relation to his bloody war on drugs, he said.

Dutertes youngest daughter, Veronica Duterte, said on social media that the plane had been used to kidnap her father.

The former leader, who will turn 80 this month, is accused by ICC prosecutors of crimes against humanity over his anti-drugs crackdowns, in which as many as 30,000 people were killed. Most of the victims were men in poor, urban areas who were gunned down in the streets.

Related: Who is Rodrigo Duterte? Populist architect of Philippines bloody war on drugs

Duterte was arrested on Tuesday morning at Manilas main airport after flying back from Hong Kong. Early in the morning, Interpol Manila received the official copy of the warrant of the arrest from the ICC, the presidential palace said in a statement. As of now, he is under the custody of authorities.

Video shared online had earlier showed the former leader walking with a stick and being helped to board the stairs of a plane, surrounded by security. His lawyer, Martin Delgra, told local media it was bound for The Hague, where the ICC is based, although this has not been confirmed by officials until Marcos spoke after its departure.

Marcos, who was previously allied with Dutertes elder daughter Sara, the countrys vice-president, had in the past refused to cooperate with the ICC investigation. However, his stance shifted after the two families became embroiled in a feud.

Marcos said the arrest came at the request of the ICC. I am confident the arrest was proper, correct and followed all necessary legal procedures, he said after Dutertes departure. We did not help the International Criminal Court in any way. The arrest was made in compliance with Interpol.

Sara Duterte said she had no message for her former ally. If you are a Filipino, you will never obey the foreigners inside your own country, she said. I dont have any message for [Marcos]. I dont think theres any point talking to a person who will allow a citizen to be turned over to foreigners.

A video shared by the broadcaster GMA had shown the moment of arrest as Duterte was stopped onboard a plane as he arrived in Manila. You will just have to kill me. I wont allow you to take the side of the white foreigners, he said in the footage.

Philippine police said 379 police personnel had been deployed to the airport and other key locations. Duterte told police after he was taken into cusody he should be put on trial in a court in the Philippines. If I committed a sin, prosecute me in Philippine courts, he said in a video shared on social media by a relative.

Leila de Lima, one of the fiercest critics of Duterte and the war on drugs who was jailed for more than six years on baseless charges under his former government, said: Today, Duterte is being made to answer  not to me, but to the victims, to their families, to a world that refuses to forget. This is not about vengeance. This is about justice finally taking its course.

Josalee S Deinla, the secretary general of the National Union of Peoples Lawyers, which represents the victims of the war on drugs, said justice was finally catching up with the former leader.

Much of the days events were relayed on social media and Veronica Duterte posted updates throughout Tuesday. In one clip, an official said Dutertes family could select three people to accompany him to a charter flight. Tell where he will be brought. You son of a bitch, a voice shouted. In another update, Veronica Duterte warned about her fathers health, posting a photograph of him resting and receiving oxygen.

Dutertes supporters have argued that, as the Philippines withdrew from the Rome statute in 2019, the ICC no longer has jurisdiction. However, the ICC has previously said it retains jurisdiction for alleged crimes that occurred in the country before its withdrawal.

Rights groups had urged the government to swiftly surrender him to the ICC.

Duterte became president in 2016 after promising a merciless, bloody crackdown that would rid the country of drugs. On the campaign trail he once said there would be so many bodies dumped in Manila Bay that fish would grow fat from feeding on them. After taking office, he publicly stated he would kill suspected drug dealers and urged the public to kill addicts.

Since his election, between 12,000 and 30,000 civilians are estimated to have been killed in connection with anti-drugs operations, according to data cited by the ICC.

Even as his crackdowns provoked international horror, he remained highly popular at home throughout his presidency.

Police reports often sought to justify killings, saying officers had acted in self-defence, despite witnesses stating otherwise. Rights groups documenting the crackdowns allege police routinely planted evidence, including guns, spent ammunition and drugs. An independent forensic pathologist investigating the killings has also uncovered serious irregularities in how postmortems were performed, including death certificates that wrongly attributed fatalities to natural causes.

Duterte, who appeared before a senate inquiry into the drugs war killings in 2024, said he offered no apologies, no excuses for his policies, saying: I did what I had to do, and whether you believe it or not, I did it for my country. During the same hearing, he told senators he had ordered officers to encourage criminals to fight back and resist arrest, so that police could then justify killing them  but also denied authorising police to kill suspects.

Duterte also told the hearing that he kept a death squad of criminals to kill other criminals while serving as a mayor of Davao, before becoming president.

The ICCs investigation into the anti-drugs killings covers alleged crimes committed from November 2011 to June 2016, including extrajudicial killings in Davao City, as well as across the country during his presidency up until 16 March 2019, when the Philippines withdrew from the court.
Education charities have launched some new guidance to support parents in helping children be 'school ready'. (Getty Images) (Liam Norris via Getty Images)

Being toilet trained and having the ability to use cutlery are two key checkpoints in a new list of "school-readiness" skills developed by a collection of early-years educators.

The coalition said the guidance was the first of its type, intended to help parents to prepare children starting in reception classes in England from the age of four.

The group, which involves groups from the state and private sector and includes the National Day Nurseries Association and the Early Years Alliance, have come together to create a clear definition after complaints from teachers of children arriving at school in nappies, lacking basic skills and unable to play with others.

The "basic skills" are categorised into four key areas: growing independence, building relationships and communication, physical development and healthy routines.

According to the skills checklist, children arriving in reception should be able to carry out a number of skills including putting on and taking off their own coats; using the toilet by themselves; being able to take turns and share toys; use cutlery and brush their teeth twice a day.

The guidance comes after new research highlighted a stark difference between what parents consider to be "school ready" when it comes to their kids, compared to teachers

According to a report, from early years charity Kindred, while 90% of parents believe their child is ready start school, teachers say a third of children aren't.

Fewer than half of the parents polled think children should know how to use books correctly before starting primary school and only three in four (76%) believe children should be toilet trained before joining reception.

Teachers suggested children are entering primary school with delays in basic motor skills and a lack of core strength.

The majority of school staff highlighted children spending too much time on electronic devices (54%) and parents not reading enough to their children (52%) as key reasons why children may not be school ready.

Earlier this month Katharine Birbalsingh, who claims she is Britains strictest headmistress, warned that the gentle parenting method, which encourages empathy, respect and understanding, could lead to parents not being able to "take ownership of their own child", leaving them feeling "helpless" when it comes to getting them ready for school.

There are certain skills children should try to master before starting school. (Getty Images) (OwenPrice via Getty Images)

What is being school ready?

Getting children school ready isnt just about children having the right uniform, packed lunch and arriving on time. Experts say a huge part of school readiness is about a childs physical, social, emotional, and cognitive skills, but parents are often uncertain about how encourage these skills.

"When preparing children for school, its essential to focus on a broad set of school readiness skills rather than rigid developmental milestones," explains educational psychologist, Dr Patricia Britto.

"Every child develops at their own pace, and placing too much pressure on them (or on parents) can lead to anxiety and resistance rather than progress."

While there is no official check list of skills children need to master before school, research has shown that preparing children for school in a positive manner has an impact, not only on their happiness through their time in their new setting but also on how they view transitions in the future.

Heres what matters and how you can support your child without overwhelming them (or yourself).

Self-care skills are something children should practice before starting school. (Getty Images) (Sally Anscombe via Getty Images)

Skills children should try to master before school

Self-care skills

A child starting reception should ideally be able to manage simple self care tasks such as going to the toilet independently, washing their hands and putting on their coat and shoes.

How to help:

Parents sometimes worry about toilet training, getting dressed, or using cutlery at mealtimes, but the school isnt expecting military-level discipline. "The goal is essential independence, like being able to ask for help when needed and manage simple self-care tasks most of the time," Dr Britto adds.

Toilet training: If your child isnt fully toilet trained, dont panic. "Try to set up a predictable routine, use visual prompts, and reassure them that accidents are okay," Dr Britto suggests. "Many schools support kids who still need a bit of help."

Getting dressed: Dr Britto recommends letting them practice with easy clothes (hello, elastic waistbands). "Give them extra time in the morning rather than rushing to do it for them," she adds.

Eating independently: Keep meals low-pressure. "If they struggle with cutlery, try foods they can manage with their fingers while they build up confidence," Dr Britto suggests.

Social skills are another area parents can work on with children ahead of starting school. (Getty Images) (sturti via Getty Images)

Social skills

Being able to recognise emotions, take turns, and cope with little setbacks is more important for school success than knowing how to read. "Kids dont need to be social butterflies, but they need to start understanding things like waiting, sharing, and asking for help," Dr Britto explains.

How to help:

Play turn-taking games (board games, "your turn, my turn" activities) to practice patience.

Name emotions as they arise. "I can see youre frustrated that your tower fell," Dr Britto says. "Do you want to try again?

Model problem-solving out loud so they learn what to do when things dont go their way. "Oops, I dropped my spoon! Ill pick it up and try again."

"Vygotskys theory of learning through social interaction shows that children learn best through play and gentle adult guidance," Dr Britto adds. "So, just chatting, playing, and including them in daily life is enough to build these skills."

Early literacy and numeracy skills

Many parents worry their child should be reading before school, but thats not the expectation. "More critical is exposure to knowing how to hold a book, turn pages, and recognise that words have meaning," Dr Britto explains. "Similarly, early numeracy isnt about doing sums but recognising patterns, shapes, and counting in everyday life."

How to help:

Make books part of daily life but let them engage at their own pace. "Looking at pictures, pretending to 'read', and listening to stories all count," Dr Britto says.

Point out numbers naturally - counting steps, spotting numbers on houses, or dividing snacks ("one for me, one for you").

Let them scribble and 'write' - early mark-making (drawing, 'writing' shopping lists) is a foundation for later writing skills.

Parents can help prep their children for school in terms of their emotional regulation. (Getty Images) (Frank Herholdt via Getty Images)

Emotional regulation

Children should have some ability to manage small frustrations, separate from their caregiver without distress and engage with peers in play.

How to help:

"Starting school is a huge transition, and one of the best things parents can do is create routines that mimic the school day," advises Dr Britto. "Research on executive function (the brains ability to plan, focus, and manage tasks) shows that kids feel safer and more in control when they know whats coming next."

Introduce simple morning routines (eg "First we have breakfast, then we get dressed, then we brush our teeth").

Practice separating for short periods , such as during playdates, nursery visits, or even saying goodbye for an hour with a trusted adult, to help ease separation anxiety.

Talk about school positively, walk past the school, read books about starting school, and let them ask questions.

Dr Britto says no child is entirely "ready" in every area before school starts, and thats okay. "What matters most is that they feel safe, supported, and curious about learning," she explains. "Pressure (from ourselves or others) often does more harm than good, so trust your childs pace, celebrate progress over perfection, and remember that schools are used to supporting children at all different stages of development."

The best thing you can do? Keep engaging, keep playing, and reassure yourself that your child will get there in their own time. "Seek support from professionals such as your GP and from an educational psychologist if you need further clarification about your child's needs and strengths," Dr Britto adds.

Helping neurodivergent children be school ready

For families of neurodivergent children starting school can pose many challenges. Rebecca Varrall, clinical psychologist and co founder of Neurodiversity Unravelled advises taking away some of the unknowns by preparing a social story including photos of key people and places to help your child know what to expect when they start school.

"Keep communication open, having a home school book to share how your child slept, are can be really useful as a barometer of their engagement that day," she adds. "Remember that starting school can be tiring allow time for low demand relaxed weekends for your child to recharge and reset as they are adjusting to so many changes to their daily routine. Change can be tough for neurodivergent children to navigate taking some of these preemptive steps could help to ease the transition."

Read more about parenting:
Cat Deeley stayed at home to look after her children while her husband, Patrick Kielty, attended his mother's funeral. (Getty Images) (Getty)

A spokesperson has shared the touching reason Cat Deeley was absent from her mother-in-law's funeral, revealing the family made the decision for her to stay at home and be with her children.

Deeley's husband, Patrick Kielty, 54, paid his final respects to his mother, Mary Kielty, at her funeral in Northern Ireland on Monday after she passed away at her home in Co Down on Saturday aged 84.

While Kielty acted as a pallbearer carrying his mother's coffin, Deeley, 48, did not attend the funeral and presented This Morning on Monday.

The couple have been married since 2012, and have two sons together, Milo, nine, and James, six, with a spokesperson revealing the family opted for Deeley to miss the funeral service to stay at home and care for their young children as they navigated their grief.

"Cat remained at home to be there for her two young children before and after school on this very sad day," the spokesperson told the Mirror.

Should children attend a funeral?

Deciding whether or not children should be present at the funeral of a loved one is a tricky dilemma many parents may face.

Psychologist and wellbeing specialist, Lee Chambers, previously told Yahoo UK there is no hard and fast rule about bringing children to funerals.

"The most significant consideration is that there is no one-size-fits-all rule or specific age to apply, but it should be a decision based on the children involved and their needs," he says.

While some question whether children are mature enough to cope with the sombre nature of funeral proceedings, Chambers says for some young people it can help them with their own grief process.

"While children grieve in a different way to adults, having the opportunity to express their feelings, talk about their memories and experiences, and say goodbye can help children come to terms with the loss of someone they love," he says.

"They can receive support from others going through similar feelings, and have their feelings normalised by seeing others grieve in different ways."

Chambers says some children may also feel that they have done something important and "been there", given funerals are usually a one-off ritual.

Dipti Tait, a psychotherapist, grief therapist and author of Planet Grief agrees that there is no wrong or right thing to do when considering whether to allow children to attend a funeral.

"It really does depend on the child and the relationship they had with the person who died," she previously told Yahoo UK.

But there are some considerations including the age of the child, their relationship with the person who died and how it might impact your own ability to grieve.

"In the case of very young children, under 10 years old  if they have lost a close family member, it may be a good idea to not have them there as it could be overwhelming for both the child and the people who want to show their grief openly," she explains.

"If the child is older  above 10 years old  it is important to give the child the choice to attend the funeral with the option of leaving if it gets too much for them to handle," she adds.

"It is important children feel as if they have been considered in death and not pushed to one side  this way they feel safe and loved."

Experts say there is no hard and fast rule about bringing children to funerals. (Getty Images) (Getty)

How can you tell if a child is ready to attend a funeral?

Chambers says it is important to think about how you can prepare your child and support them in making an informed decision about whether to attend.

"Helping them to make a choice can be empowering in a time of uncertainty and sadness," he explains.

"Informing them of what it will be like, the emotions they might see, and where and who will be there, can give them a feeling of security."

When it comes to readiness, Chambers says it is also worth considering how your child handles social situations, how they sit and follow social cues.

"Children of different ages have different needs, and if your child is old enough to express a desire to attend, it is likely they will benefit from the experience, as the most important thing isnt that they attend the funeral itself, but they were given a choice," he adds.

"For younger children, its very much a decision based on your feelings on their readiness, and the most important thing is to be compassionate to yourself as you will also be grieving."

If a child doesn't attend a funeral experts say it is important for them to say goodbye. (Getty Images) (Maria Korneeva via Getty Images)

What can you do instead if children don't attend?

Tait says it is essential children, however old they are, are involved in marking their loss. You need to allow them the time, space and consideration to be able to express their emotions and grieve in their own way.

"If children don't attend the funeral of a loved one, it is very important that the child is given the opportunity to express their grief and sadness in alternative ways that are personally tailored for each child," she explains.

"Making memory boxes, drawing pictures and sharing stories can help, as well as visiting the memorial site at a later date when its quieter with the child so there is closure for them.

Read more about parenting:
Both Germans were held at the Otay Mesa Detention Center, a prison in San Diego, California. Photograph: Bing Guan/Reuters

A German tourist detained by US immigration authorities is due to be deported back to Germany on Tuesday after spending more than six weeks in detention, including eight days in solitary confinement.

Jessica Brosche, a 29-year-old tattoo artist from Berlin, will reportedly join Lucas Sielaff, 25, from Bad Bibra in Saxony-Anhalt, who is reported to have returned to Germany on 6 March, after being arrested at the Mexican border on 18 February before being detained for almost two weeks.

The families of the two tourists, who were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice), had compared their ordeals to a horror film.

Both Germans were held at the Otay Mesa Detention Center, a prison in San Diego, California.

Their cases were followed closely by German consulate staff in the US and the foreign ministry in Berlin and share similarities with the fate of the British tourist Rebecca Burke. Burke, 28, a graphic artist from Monmouthshire, was handcuffed and taken to a detention facility in Washington state more than 11 days ago while trying to cross into the US on the Canadian border, according to her family.

All the incidents are being described as evidence of the immigration crackdown in the US since the inauguration of Donald Trump. Not only has there been a crackdown on entries into the US, but the increase in cases has reportedly caused a backlog, leading to delays in decisions on those in detention.

Brosches mother, Birgit, confirmed to German media on Tuesday that her daughter was on her way home. Brosches friend Nikita Lofving, whom the Berliner had intended to visit in Los Angeles, confirmed to the LA Times she had spoken to her friend.

Speaking to a journalist from ABC 10News San Diego in a phone interview on 1 March, Brosche said she had spent eight days in solitary confinement. She said: It was horrible. Like, its really horrible. I just want to get home, you know? Im really desperate.

Lofving, who had been in constant contact with her friend, said: [Brosche] says it was like a horror movie. They were screaming in all different rooms. After nine days, she said she went so insane that she started punching the walls and then shes got blood on her knuckles.

The staff at the prison had called a psychologist who wanted to prescribe anti-psychotic medicine to calm her down, but Brosche had refused to take anything, Lofving said.

Brosches mother told the Berlin tabloid BZ: I will believe it [her release] only when I am able to take her in my arms.

CoreCivic, the company that owns the Otay Mesa Detention Center, denied Brosches claims that she had been in solitary confinement, according to ABC 10News.

Brosche and Lofving had attempted to enter the US from Tijuana in Mexico on 25 January. The two were travelling with tattoo equipment. Lofving said that Brosche was arrested and taken away by officers on the border. The US immigration authorities, Ice, assumed Brosche was intending to work illegally in the US, Lofving said. Her friend was in possession of an Esta travel permit.

According to Brosches Instagram profile, she had only intended to stay in LA until mid-February. Germanys foreign ministry confirmed it had worked together with its consulate general in LA to resolve the issue.

Sielaff returned to Germany last week after spending two weeks in detention, after his entry permit was cancelled at the Mexican border, amid suspicions by the US authorities that he had remained in the US longer than he was allowed.

He was arrested at the border point at San Ysidro on 18 February. He had entered the US on a tourist visa and with his girlfriend, Lennon Tyler, had subsequently visited Mexico where they had taken her dog to the vet. According to Tyler, on their return to the US, Sielaff had incorrectly answered a question as to where he lived, due to his poor grasp of English. He had said Las Vegas, where he was staying with Tyler, his fiancee, when he should have said Germany, where he permanently resides, she said.

After two weeks in detention, Sielaff was allowed to leave. His girlfriend said she booked him a flight from San Diego to Munich on 6 March. In an interview with the Swiss daily Tages-Anzeiger, Tyler warned people against travelling to the US. Dont come here, she said. Especially not if youre on a tourist visa, and especially not over the Mexican border.

US authorities have yet to issue a statement on the German cases.

Rebecca Burkes father said on Monday that he was trying to get his daughter out of the detention centre, and had been in touch with the British consulate in San Francisco. He described the conditions in which she was being held as horrendous. She had been travelling on a tourist visa, but was told she should have applied for a working visa as she planned to stay with a family receiving accommodation in exchange for carrying out domestic chores.
Model Gigi Hadid has spoken about her relationship with her former partner, the singer Zayn Malik, saying they are in a new phase of love and support.

The former One Direction member, 32, has a daughter, Khai, with US star Hadid, 29, after reportedly having an on-off relationship with her between 2015 and 2021.

Speaking to Vogue magazine, Hadid said their child is musical like her father, and said she and Malik have a partnership based on love, and a feeling of camaraderie.

She added: There is the hard part of the world knowing this much, and thinking they know everything.

And at the end of the day, were not interested in giving everyone our whole story.

What we are interested in is raising our daughter together, with so much respect for each other, and not just as co-parents, but what weve been through together.

Hadid also said they do their custody schedules months in advance.

Former One Direction band member Zayn Malik (Doug Peters/PA)

That doesnt mean that it doesnt change here and there, but we help each other out and have each others backs, she added.

In 2021, Bradford-born Malik pleaded no contest to claims of harassment in the US, after being accused of shoving Hadids mother into a dresser.

He did not admit the charges, but chose not to fight them and was ordered to go on probation and complete an anger management class.

Hadid also spoke to Vogue about her relationship with Bradley Cooper, the multiple Oscar-nominated actor, director, writer and producer, whom she has reportedly dated since 2023.

She said The Hangover and Silver Linings Playbook star, 50, has opened me up to going to the theatre more, and thats something thats so nice to bring back into my life.

Hadid also said that she respects him so much as a creative, and she feels really lucky to be with him.

She said: I feel that he gives so much to me: encouragement and, just, belief. For those people you admire to encourage you, it can create so much belief in yourself.

Like, whats the worst thing if I auditioned for this? You jump and take the leap.

Hadid has appeared as herself in Netflix comedy show Never Have I Ever, and hosted the streaming platforms competition series Next In Fashion, with Queer Eyes Tan France.

She began her modelling career aged two after being discovered by Guess co-founder, the Moroccan-born fashion designer Paul Marciano, and has worked for Versace, Chanel, Fendi, Marc Jacobs and others.

Malik released his fourth album, Room Under The Stairs, which focuses on his personal journey, healing and growth, last year, and has begun touring the UK and elsewhere.

During his concerts in the UK, he paid tribute to his late bandmate Liam Payne, who died last year.

They rose to fame alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson on The X Factor in 2010, when they formed a boy band on the ITV reality show.
Sir Keir Starmer has told his ministers they must take more responsibility for decisions and stop outsourcing them to regulators.

The Prime Minister told a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday he wanted to reverse what he described as a trend under the previous government of decisions being made by other bodies.

His remarks come ahead of a planned intervention on Thursday in which Sir Keir is expected to announce plans to overhaul how the British state works, and appeared to suggest some regulators could see their powers moved in-house.

Ministers will also be required to assess whether regulations contribute to the Governments plan for change, raising the possibility that rules that play no part in Labours agenda could be abandoned.

But asked whether the Government was planning a bonfire of the quangos, Downing Street would not be drawn on which specific regulators or decisions could be affected.

Discussing Tuesdays Cabinet meeting, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said: (Sir Keir) said that to deliver security and renewal we must go further and faster to reform the state, to deliver a strong, agile and active state that delivers for working people.

This includes Cabinet assessing processes and regulations that play no part in delivering the plan for change and the Government taking responsibility for decisions rather than outsourcing them to regulators and bodies, as had become the trend under the previous government.

Senior ministers have expressed frustration with regulators in recent months, with the Chancellor suggesting towards the end of last year that post-financial crisis regulation had gone too far and urging regulators to focus more on securing economic growth.

Meanwhile, the Justice Secretary has become embroiled in a row with the Sentencing Council over guidance asking judges to consider ethnicity when deciding whether to ask the Probation Service for a pre-sentence report on an offender.

Shabana Mahmood has asked the Sentencing Council to reconsider its guidance, while ministers have insisted it is for them and Parliament to determine policy.

Questions about the role of regulators come amid a wider push from the Government to reform how Whitehall functions.

On Monday, Sir Keir and cabinet secretary Sir Chris Wormald wrote to all civil servants calling for a rewiring of the British state.

Their message included plans to make the Civil Service smaller, while the proportion of civil servants in digital or data roles will double by 2030.
The largest parties ahead of Greenlands election are IA, Naleraq and Siumut. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said the island could become part of the US. Photograph: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Greenland goes to the polls on Tuesday in what could be the most consequential election of the Arctic islands history.

With an electorate of approximately 40,000  of a population of 57,000  the margins are small.

But amid aggressive interest from the US president, Donald Trump, and growing calls at home for independence from Greenlands former colonial ruler Denmark, which retains control of security and foreign policy in the autonomous territory, the election outcome will have wide-reaching repercussions from Copenhagen to Washington DC and beyond.

Who are the key players?

There are six parties on the ballot. With 12 seats in the Inatsisartut, the Greenlandic parliament, the biggest party going into the election was Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA), which, led by prime minister Mute Egede, ran the governing coalition.

Siumut, led by Erik Jensen, is the second biggest party with 10 seats. For the last two years the two parties have been in coalition government. Before that, IA was in coalition with Naleraq, which brings us on to another of the key players.

With four seats, Naleraq is the largest opposition party going into the election. The party, led by Pele Broberg, a former government minister, has been gaining traction with its promise to hold a snap vote on independence. It is the most open of the parties to collaborating with the US.

The other players are the Democrats with three seats, Atassut with two seats, and relatively new party, Qulleq, which is mainly focused on independence.

All but one of the parties, Atassut, which wants to expand and strengthen the commonwealth with Denmark, support independence, but differ on the speed at which they believe it should be attained.

What are the big talking points?

Even with all the external drama around Trump, the biggest talking points of the election have been perennial domestic ones: economy, welfare, job creation, healthcare, education, fisheries. Independence and the relationship with Denmark and the US are also normal subjects in Greenlandic elections  but this time voters and politicians have had the additional pressure of the world watching and providing commentary.

Despite saying he strongly supports the people of Greenlands right to determine their own future, Trump followed up his Greenland comments during his speech to Congress with another message on Sunday inviting Greenland to join the US, promising he was ready to invest billions of dollars and make you rich.

What does it mean for Greenlands positioning on the global stage?

As the world order realigns to a second Trump term and as the Arctic becomes an increasing battleground between global superpowers, Greenlands geographical positioning and wealth of raw materials are making it increasingly important. This means that Greenlands choice of leadership, and their subsequent choice of allies, has potentially far-reaching consequences. Egede has called it a fateful choice for Greenland.

Naalakkersuisut, Greenlands government, has long sought partnership in mineral extraction, but until recently has not been met by the kind of enthusiasm it was looking for. Meanwhile, tensions between Greenland and Denmark as a result of revelations over numerous colonial and post-colonial injustices, are contributing to momentum for the longstanding independence movement and the wish to speed up the process to full independence.

Since Trumps recent advances, Greenlandic politicians say that Copenhagen has been dramatically more willing to appease Nuuk. Rasmus Leander Nielsen, head of Nasiffik, the University of Greenlands centre for foreign and security policy, said the most likely outcome is that Greenland will try to renegotiate its relationship with Denmark within the kingdom. Now with heightened tensions, Greenland has pretty good cards in its hands and could make the argument that they need to do something different from the status quo.
Proceedings for a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into the death of an asylum seeker who was shot by police after stabbing six people at a hotel are due to begin later.

Badreddin Abdalla Adam Bosh was shot and killed by police after he stabbed and seriously injured six people and attempts to use non-lethal weapons were unsuccessful.

Scotlands Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain decided it is in the public interest to hold a discretionary fatal accident inquiry into the incident at the Park Inn Hotel in Glasgow on June 26 2020.

Those injured by the 28-year-old Sudanese man included three asylum seekers, two hotel workers and police officer David Whyte who had responded to the initial emergency call.

Badreddin Abdalla Adam Bosh was shot dead by police (Police Scotland/PA)

A preliminary hearing will take place at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Tuesday ahead of the FAI which will take place at a later date yet to be determined.

Mr Bosh was one of hundreds of asylum seekers moved into hotels in Glasgow at the start of the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020.

The Crown Office said the decision to hold an inquiry follows a thorough and independent investigation by prosecutors into the wider circumstances leading to his death.

Previous investigation by prosecutors found police acted swiftly and decisively with the intention of protecting lives and that their actions were legitimate and proportionate.

The purpose of an FAI includes determining the cause of death, the circumstances in which the death occurred, and establishing what reasonable precautions could have been taken to minimise the risk of future deaths in similar circumstances.

Unlike criminal proceedings, FAIs are inquisitorial in nature, and are used to establish facts rather than apportion blame.
Mike Waltz (left) and Marco Rubio face Ukraines Andrii Sybiha (second right) and Andriy Yermak in the presence of the Saudi foreign minister and national security adviser. Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

Senior US and Ukrainian officials have held marathon crunch talks in Saudi Arabia focused on ending the war with Russia, aiming to build confidence despite a personal crisis between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Although the two presidents were absent, Zelenskyy sent his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, while Trump dispatched his secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and the US national security adviser, Mike Waltz, to Jeddah.

We are ready to do everything to achieve peace, Yermak told reporters as he arrived for the talks, held in an opulent room provided by the Gulf state.

The two sides talked for about three hours in the morning before taking a break, with more meetings planned for the afternoon. During the talks, Yermak posted one line on social media: Work in progress. After nightfall, the two sides had not made any announcements on how long the negotiations would last.

Related: With US leadership and European support we Ukrainians may at last have peace. But dont let Russia off the hook | Andriy Yermak

Zelenskyy, who was also in Jeddah to meet the crown prince but not in the room for the talks, had said Ukraines position would be fully constructive.

It was expected that the Ukrainians would suggest to the Americans a one-month ceasefire in the air and at sea, if Russia agreed to the same, during which time further discussions could take place on a more lasting end to the fighting.

The offer, which Zelenskyy has floated publicly before, was designed to show the Americans that Ukraine is bringing constructive proposals to the table.

Rubio, on his flight out, said Washingtons main aim was to see if Kyiv was prepared to do difficult things, like the Russians are going to have to do difficult things, to end this conflict or at least pause it in some way, shape or form.

The stakes could not be higher for Ukraine, with the prospect of US military aid and intelligence sharing being restarted if the talks go well. Trump cut off that critical support after the heated Oval Office argument in which he and his vice-president, JD Vance, rowed with Zelenskyy in front of the worlds media. Members of the US administration have suggested repeatedly that Zelenskyy should hold elections or step down.

Domestically, Zelenskyys flagging ratings were boosted by his dressing down in the White House, and most Ukrainians say they would not want elections while the war continues. However, while there is anger at Trumps demands, there is a strong feeling that, given the difficult situation at the front and exhaustion after three years of war, the Ukrainian president should make every effort to mend relations with the White House.

Since the debacle in Washington, Ukraine has sought to flatter Trump, to prevent a peace plan from being forced upon it. Writing in the Guardian before the talks started, Yermak complimented a strong American leadership but said a peace must be found that is both just and sustainable.

Trumps interest in Ukraine has initially focused on a money-making scheme in which Kyiv would hand over a proportion of the countrys mineral wealth to the US. It is not clear if that deal will be agreed in Jeddah.

After the US president dropped support for Ukraine, European governments rallied behind the country, promising funds and military aid, but they have also put pressure on Zelenskyy to repair ties with the superpower.

The Guardian understands that British and French officials were particularly key in advising Kyiv on how best to put their position to the Americans. Jonathan Powell, an adviser to the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, is in regular contact with Yermak and visited Kyiv over the weekend. Yermak said the visit was part of joint work with partners to develop a plan for achieving a just and lasting peace before the Saudi summit.

The Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk, posted a social media update on Tuesday stressing the importance of the days US-Ukraine talks.

Dear Americans, dear Ukrainians, dont waste this chance. The whole world is watching you in Jeddah today. Good luck! he said.

Russia has celebrated the loss of support from Ukraines largest, and previously steadfast, backer. While most European governments ended working ties with Vladimir Putin after the full-scale 2022 invasion, which they say is a war of aggression, Trump has been more willing to build a rapport with the Russian leader.

Several media outlets, including Reuters and Axios, have reported that Trumps special envoy, Steve Witkoff, planned to visit Moscow this week to meet Putin.

Asked about those reports, the Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said contacts between Russia and the US were now quite intensive, the RIA news agency reported.

It remains to be seen how ready Russia is for any peace deal, even in the current scenario in which the Trump team seems to be requiring more sacrifices from Kyiv than Moscow.

On Tuesday, Putins spokesperson said the signals from Washington were causing many in Moscow to rejoice, but added there should not be premature celebration.

You always need to hope for the best but still be prepared for the worst, and we should always be ready to defend our interests, Dmitry Peskov said at a conference, in comments reported by Russias Kommersant newspaper. Many people are rushing to put on rose-tinted spectacles and are saying that the Americans will now stop providing weapons or have already done so, that Musk will turn all the communications systems off, and everything will work out for us. But it will work out for us anyway.

Peskov said Moscow expected the US would inform Russia about the talks with Ukraine, the Russian state news agency Tass reported.

On the battlefield, Moscow has seized the moment to launch a recent offensive in the Kursk region of western Russia, where it is trying to eject the Ukrainian army.

On Tuesday, Russias defence ministry said its troops had regained more than 100 sq km (38.6 sq miles) of territory and 12 settlements in Kursk, which was taken by Ukrainian forces seven months ago. Kyiv has said the Kursk operation was an attempt to gain a bargaining chip in future negotiations and to force Russia to shift forces from eastern Ukraine.

In an attempt to put pressure on Moscow hours before the Jeddah peace talks, Ukraine launched its largest drone attack on Moscow since the start of the war.

The Russian defence ministry reported 337 drones were launched at Russia overnight on Monday, including 91 targeting the Moscow region, killing two people, sparking fires and disrupting flights and train services.

This is an additional signal to Putin that he should also be interested in a ceasefire in the air, said Andriy Kovalenko, a Ukrainian national security council official.
Sometimes it seems as if pets come into our lives in exactly the right time. That was certainly the case for Tobillo, the dog who spent many loyal years with the family of composer and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda, who first discovered the pup abandoned as a stray on a beach in the Dominican Republic. But these same pets always seem to leave too early. Last week, Miranda and his family had to say goodbye to their beloved companion, and he wrote her a beautiful tribute.

Tobillo chose us, Miranda writes. She was a stray puppy surviving on Cabarete Beach when she spotted Vanessa, propped her front legs on Vanessas beach chair and nipped her ankle. (Tobillo, ankle in Spanish, is in honor of this moment.  She knew exactly the heart to melt to make a better life for herself.

Related: Tabby Cat's Visit to Beach She Was Rescued From Results in Most Grateful Zoomies

Miranda goes on to explain that he was actually working on the piece of music that would become Dear Theodosia from his hit show Hamilton, and that the lyrics about the meaningful new member of the family seemed to take on new life when they adopted the dog.

A Family Dog

For more than thirteen years, Tobillo was his constant companion. She was the best writing partner anyone could ask for, Miranda says, happily walking me around the neighborhood until I had the lyrics I needed at any given time. And when the family had children, she was always by their side, as another famous Miranda lyric goes.

Over a slideshow of pictures of Miranda and his family with Tobillo over the years, he tells stories of their favorite moments, of her quirks that he attributes to her former life as a stray beach dog.

She Never Forgot the Beach

Shed do this weird dance every time she got on a couch or bed: bucking back and forth like a weird reindeer, before spinning around and collapsing. It wasnt until we brought her back to the beach a year later that we realized it was a move from her survival days: digging past the hot sand until she could settle in the cool earth below.

Tobillo was a medium sized, mixed-breed dog with a wiry coat and a terrier-like face, and shes featured in much media about Miranda during his rise to stardom, a testament to how close the two were.

Thank you for choosing us, Tobi, the artist writes. Our hearts are broken but it would be selfish to ask for more than the time you gave us. Heres to cool earth and dropped food and long happy walks. I love you and wherever I go you are with me.

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.
Liverpools Champions League dreams were ended by Paris St Germain in a penalty shoot-out after the French champions won their last-16 tie at Anfield.

Ousmane Dembele made it 1-1 on aggregate with an early goal and the teams played each other to a standstill over 120 minutes.

Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones were the unfortunate ones who were denied by Gianluigi Donnarumma as PSG won the shoot-out 4-1.

Gianluigi Donnarumma was PSGs hero (Martin Rickett/PA)

There was more bad news for Arne Slot on the night with Trent Alexander-Arnold  his only fit right-back  sustaining an ankle injury which looks like keeping him out of Sundays Carabao Cup final.

It was only Liverpools fourth loss in 28 penalty shoot-outs as even their hero from the win in Paris, goalkeeper Alisson Becker, could not get anywhere near any of PSGs four shots.

But when Nunez missed his sides second the writing was already on the wall and Jones failure with the third meant the end was swift as, for the first time in 40 occasions, Liverpool failed to progress after winning the first leg.

What began as a modern-day classic in the making ended in a tense, sketchy encounter with both sides fearful of making the mistake which would end their European hopes.

Liverpool may have a 15-point lead in the Premier League but the benefits of playing in a less taxing Ligue 1 showed in extra time with Slots side losing the physical battle.

We exit the Champions League on penalties. #UCL pic.twitter.com/AW3Ph5EuQS  Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 11, 2025

That may have had something to do with the intensity they started the game with, much better than a week ago, and there was a reversal of roles with PSG not pressing as high or hard as they did at home.

The turnaround in fortunes also applied to the scoreline as after two good Mohamed Salah chances, one deflected over by his Parc des Princes nemesis Nuno Mendes, the visitors took the lead.

Mendes ball out of defence found Dembele in acres of space in the centre circle and he brilliantly slid in Bradley Barcola on the right.

Ibrahima Konate stretched to cut out his cross but diverted the ball behind goalkeeper Alisson, presenting Dembele with the easiest of his 23 goals in the last 17 matches.

Ousmane Dembele, centre left, taps in the only goal at Anfield (Martin Rickett/PA)

The forward, then playing for Barcelona, famously missed a simple late chance to make it 4-0 in their 2019 semi-final first leg against Liverpool which paved the way for a historic Anfield comeback  a match he played no part in  so this was some delayed payback.

Alisson made important saves from Barcola and Dembele to prevent the tie slipping out of Liverpools grasp.

Konate had a shot tipped around the post by the otherwise unconvincing Donnarumma and Diogo Jota headed over but PSG still threatened, with Ryan Gravenberch getting an important touch as Khvicha Kvaratskhelias shot looked destined for the top corner.

Anxiety levels crept up after the break and Dominik Szoboszlais close-range goal, after Alexander-Arnold had retrieved his own shot that rebounded off a post, was ruled out for offside against Luis Diaz in the build-up.

Willian Pacho blocked another Szoboszlai shot, Donnarumma clawed out Diazs header and Salahs volley from a corner was stopped as the game swung back in Liverpools favour.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, right, was forced off and looks set to miss the Carabao Cup final (Martin Rickett/PA)

Alexander-Arnolds slow hobble around the pitch perimeter just when he was starting to become more effective was a huge blow  not just for what he offered but because it meant 21-year-old centre-back Jarell Quansah was tasked with handling the fleet-footed Kvaratskhelia, which he did while also threatening at the other end with his header against the post bouncing back along the goal-line.

In extra time Lucas Beraldo, Joao Neves and Desire Doue all went close as Liverpools legs began to tire, with Alisson pulling off arguably his best save of the two games to deny Dembele.

Unfortunately for Liverpool that was the last time he would get near a PSG shot.
The captain of a cargo vessel has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter after the boat collided with a tanker in the North Sea.

The Portuguese vessel Solong is drifting and still on fire after a collision with US tanker Stena Immaculate off the east coast of Yorkshire on Monday.

One crew member from the Solong is still missing and presumed dead, after a search-and-rescue operation was ended on Monday evening.

Ernst Russ, which manages the vessel, confirmed its captain had been detained by Humberside Police and was co-operating with their investigation.

The Transport Secretary said on Tuesday that the Solong was now expected to stay afloat, after previous concerns that the vessel would sink.

The coastguard said it had attached a tow line to the Solong, which was now offshore in a safer position, and that a salvage plan for both boats was being developed.

Humberside Police said it had launched a criminal investigation into the cause of the collision, along with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is also making an early assessment to establish the causes of the collision.

Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Nicholson said: Humberside Police have taken primacy for the investigation of any potential criminal offences which arise from the collision between the two vessels.

Following inquiries undertaken by my team, we have arrested a 59-year-old man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision  this follows the conclusion of search operations by HM Coastguard for the missing crew member of the Solong.

Our thoughts are with the family of the missing crew member and I have appointed family liaison officers to make contact and provide support to the family.

The man arrested currently remains in custody whilst inquiries are under way, Mr Nicholson said.

(PA Graphics)

Crowley, the maritime company managing Stena Immaculate, said the vessel was struck by the Solong while anchored off the coast of Hull, causing multiple explosions on board and an unknown quantity of Jet A-1 fuel to be released.

The firm said Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel in 16 segregated cargo tanks, at least one of which was ruptured when it was struck.

The tanker was operating as part of the US governments tanker security programme, a group of commercial vessels that can be contracted to carry fuel for the military when needed.

It had been anchored while waiting for a berth to become available at the Port of Killingholme, on the River Humber, Crowley said.

Fires aboard the Stena Immaculate oil tanker appeared to be extinguished on Tuesday (Danny Lawson/PA)

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she met the Maritime and Coastguard Agencys chief executive Virginia McVea on Tuesday to discuss the response to the incident.

She said: I am reassured to hear indications from the ships owners which suggest the sodium cyanide containers were empty and that efforts to confirm this by the salvors are under way.

I was also pleased to have been informed that early indications suggest that both vessels are now expected to stay afloat and that the Solong can be towed away from the shore, and salvage operations can get under way.

I will continue to monitor the response and have asked for regular updates, including on any potential environmental impacts, across government and our agencies.

HM Coastguard said on Tuesday evening that some flames were still visible on the Solongs main deck and firefighting efforts are focusing on this area.

It said the Stena Immaculate remains at anchor with safety tug boats and has a greatly reduced fire with no visible flames.

Assistant chief coastguard John Craig said: A comprehensive counter pollution response is in place and HM Coastguard continues to make preparations for any pollution that may occur as a result of the damage to the vessels.

(PA Graphics)

The MCAs concern in relation to tanks on the Solong has reduced with tugs now able to work in close vicinity.

The threat from the previously identified dangerous goods on board has reduced significantly. Air quality sampling onshore has shown no toxins and modelling from the Met Office indicates no threat to the public.

Transport minister Mike Kane told MPs on Tuesday that something went terribly wrong for the crash to happen and there was no evidence of foul play.

There were fears Solong was carrying sodium cyanide but Ernst Russ said that was not the case.

Four empty containers on board that previously contained the hazardous chemical will continue to be monitored, it added.

An exclusion zone with a 1km radius is in place around both vessels.

Mr Kane added the Government would do everything to recover the body of the mariner.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder over the disappearance of a 54-year-old woman who has been missing since September.

Nazire Koreli, from Welling, south-east London, has not been seen since September last year, but was only reported missing to the police on February 28.

Detectives said she has lots of friends in the area and are appealing for anyone who has seen her since September to contact them.

She is described as slim, with light brown hair and olive skin.

A man aged in his fifties was arrested on Monday on suspicion of murder, and remains in custody.

Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley said: Our officers have made multiple inquiries to locate Nazire.

We are keeping an open mind and this is currently being managed as a missing person investigation.

Officers have arrested a man in connection with Nazires disappearance who remains in custody.

Nazire had many friends and acquaintances in the Bexley area, so we are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who may have seen her from September 2024 to March this year.

Anyone with information can submit it through the Major Incident Public Portal here https://mipp.police.uk/operation/01MPS25X50-PO1 or contact police on 101 or on X @MetCC quoting the reference CAD 8315 of March 5.

To remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.
The appointment of Peter Mandelson as the UK Ambassador to the US is a huge opportunity for Northern Ireland, the deputy First Minister has said.

DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly met Lord Mandelson at the British Embassy in Washington, DC on Tuesday.

Speaking after the meeting, Ms Little-Pengelly said his previous work as Northern Ireland Secretary provided a chance for the ambassador to be a real champion for the region.

Having Peter Mandelson as British ambassador to the United States is a huge opportunity for Northern Ireland, Emma Little-Pengelly has said (Carl Court/PA)

She said: We had a detailed and productive meeting on a wide range of issues today. This includes on ongoing international issues, the engagements in the White House coming up this week and on how better we can work together to promote Northern Ireland as part of the Embassy work in the USA.

Lord Mandelson served as our Secretary of State and has a detailed knowledge and understanding of Northern Ireland. This provides a huge opportunity to have a real champion in Washington who will promote Northern Ireland as the UK Ambassador.

This is particularly the case as we head towards the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Many from what is now Northern Ireland were the founding fathers of the United States. The potential to use our shared heritage and history as a way of promoting Northern Ireland is significant.

Ms Little-Pengelly said she and Communities Minister Gordon Lyons will be seeking to harness those opportunities during their engagements in the US.

Meanwhile, the Ulster American Folk Park in Co Tyrone is to receive a 750,000 funding boost as part of a drive to increase cultural and heritage links with the US.

The announcement was made by Mr Lyons during a visit to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, DC.

The museum tells the story of the emigration of people from Ulster to North America in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Mr Lyons said: It is fitting that I announce this investment in the Ulster American Folk Park The Journey Ahead project at the iconic Smithsonian in Washington.

The museum chronicles the history of emigration from Ulster to the United States and its profound impact on the formation of modern America.

This announcement is the first step in unlocking over 20 million through the Mid South West Growth Deal, an investment which will transform what the museum can offer, enhancing the visitor experience and driving tourism to the wider area.

He added: Our story and the heritage we share with the US is a history worth telling.

Our connections make Northern Ireland a deeply resonant tourist destination for many Americans wishing to learn more about their Ulster Scots roots.

I want to ensure we can attract these visitors and share the story of their ancestors journey from our local shores, providing visitors with new ways to engage with this captivating narrative.

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons with Dr Lonnie Bunch III, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution at the Divided Communities: Difficult Histories symposium in Washington (Kevin Boyes/PA)

The funding will modernise the museums welcome centre with updated interpretation and exhibitions.

It will also enhance the immersive storytelling experience across the open-air museum.

Mr Lyons was joined by Kathryn Thompson, chief executive of National Museums NI and Professor Margaret Topping, pro-vice-chancellor for global engagement at Queens University Belfast.
Irish premier Micheal Martin will tell President Donald Trump that there is a two-way street of investment between the US and Ireland, as a trade imbalance between the two countries looms over their upcoming bilateral.

Mr Trump will host the Taoiseach in the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday as part of the Irish Governments traditional St Patricks programme of overseas engagements.

The meeting comes amid heightened concern that the presidents protectionist approach to tariffs and tax could pose a significant risk to an Irish economy that is in large part sustained by long-standing investment by US multinationals.

However, Mr Martin said his message to companies operating in Ireland was to hold the nerve and not react too quickly to the potential major policy shifts.

On Tuesday, he continues his itinerary in Austin, Texas, where he said his emphasis was to copper fasten the enduring nature of the US-Irish economic relationship.

That ambition will form part of his engagement with state legislators at the Texas Capitol in the city, before he departs the Lone Star State for Washington DC where he will attend a St Patricks Day Reception at the Irish Ambassadors Residence.

On Monday, Mr Martin said the main point he will be making with Mr Trump is how its a two-way street of investment and that Ireland operates as a powerful base for the European single market.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin speaking at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas (Niall Carson/PA)

While being interviewed for a fireside chat at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in the city, he added: Its not just American investment in Ireland, its Irish investment in America as well.

We are buying a lot of stuff, a lot of American products. We have a lot of Irish companies based here that will grow, and that will continue to grow.

Earlier, on Monday, Mr Martin met Texas Governor Greg Abbott and visited US tech multinationals Dell and Tricentis, with the latter announcing plans to hire 50 additional staff in its Cork base over the coming years.

He also met with businesses supported by Enterprise Ireland, introduced a panel on the Irish screen industry and participated in a pop-up Gaeltacht at the Department of Foreign Affairs hub for SXSW, Ireland House.

Mr Martin concluded his packed itinerary on Monday by attending a St Patricks reception at the same venue hosted by the Irish consulate in Austin.

Mr Martin and Mr Trump are expected to discuss a range of issues on Wednesday, including the war in Ukraine and the situations in the Middle East and Northern Ireland.

The Irish leader will later present Mr Trump with the traditional shamrock bowl in the White House, extending St Patricks Day greetings from the people of Ireland to the people of the US

A host of Irish Government ministers will also travel to the US, including deputy premier Tanaiste Simon Harris, who will visit Philadelphia and New York at a time described as a key juncture in European-US relations.

Elsewhere, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle ONeill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly led an NI Chamber business delegation to North Carolina on Monday.

Ms Little-Pengelly will attend Washington DC engagements alone after Ms ONeill and her Sinn Fein party colleagues ruled out travelling to the US capital as part of a principled stance against the threat of mass expulsion of the Palestinian people from Gaza.
The Met confirmed on Tuesday that it had started an investigation into Rupert Lowe - Julian Simmonds for The Telegraph

The Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation into Rupert Lowe, the suspended Reform UK MP.

Mr Lowe, the MP for Great Yarmouth, was reported to police by Reform on Friday, with the party alleging that he had made verbal threats against Zia Yusuf, the chairman.

A Met Police spokesman told Sky News the force had launched an investigation into an allegation of a series of verbal threats made by a 67-year-old man. The spokesman added: Further inquiries are ongoing.

Mr Lowe said in a statement: I have instructed lawyers to represent me in this matter. My lawyers have made contact with the Met Police and have made them aware of my willingness to co-operate in any necessary investigation.

My lawyers have not yet received any contact from the police. It is highly unusual for the police to disclose anything to the media at this stage of an investigation.

I remain unaware of the specific allegations but, in any event, I deny any wrongdoing. The allegations are entirely untrue.

In further remarks on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Lowe, a former chairman of Southampton FC, said: I thought football was a dirty game. Politics is something else entirely.

Normally in life, the bullets come from the enemy. I fought alongside these people for years. Campaigned with them, celebrated with them, laughed with them. Yes, there were issues, as there are in any family. But I genuinely believed that we were a team. How wrong I was.

I want to change Britain. And I mean radical change. That remains my sole aim. What did I do wrong? The unforgivable act of standing up to Farage. I have certainly learnt one valuable lesson over the last few days  loyalty in Reform lasts only until its no longer useful.

In a statement signed by Mr Yusuf and Lee Anderson, the chief whip, Reform had said: Mr Lowe has, on at least two occasions, made threats of physical violence against our party chairman. Accordingly, this matter is with the police.

Mr Lowe denied the allegations, as well as separate claims of bullying in his office, writing on X over the weekend: This is total nonsense. In December, Zia and I had a robust debate. We moved on, or so I thought.

This was then reported to the police the day after I raised concerns about the party leadership, months after the event. What a disgraceful waste of police time. Weaponising the process to blacken my name.

The Reform row threatens to derail the significant progress made by Nigel Farages party since the general election.

Reform topped The Telegraphs poll of polls for more than a month, and is now narrowly behind Labour. It continues to outperform the Tories.

Tensions between Mr Farage and Mr Lowe have been growing since the election. Relations soured further from January when Elon Musk  the tech billionaire with a key role in the White House  called on Mr Farage to step down as leader, tentatively suggesting Mr Lowe could take his place.

Mr Lowe has doubled down on his positions that are to the Right of his party leaders in recent days, including calls for mass deportations of illegal migrants.

Writing for The Telegraph over the weekend, Mr Lowe claimed he was the victim of a witch hunt and categorically denied all allegations against him.

In his own Telegraph article, Mr Farage insisted Reform had acted responsibly by suspending the MP and that it had a duty of care when presented with allegations.

Meanwhile, a YouGov poll on Tuesday showed those who voted for Reform at the general election were split on whether the party would be doing better or worse without Mr Farage.

Thirty-three per cent said it would be performing better under a different leader, while 34 per cent said it would be faring worse.

A further 25 per cent said Reform would not be doing any better or any worse, while the remaining eight per cent did not know.

It came as the Financial Times reported that Mr Musk was indicating to allies that he would support a credible Right-wing party offering an alternative to Reform.

He did not respond to the FTs request for comment on suggestions that he could back an alternative group.
Welsh actor Michael Sheen, Strictly judge Anton Du Beke and the niece of US President Donald Trump are among the Hay Festival line-up for 2025.

The long-running arts and literature event will also feature musicians Billy Ocean, Paloma Faith and Brian Eno, childrens author Jacqueline Wilson, Succession creator Jesse Armstrong, Conclave writer Robert Harris, artist Grayson Perry, and leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Ed Davey.

British author and playwright Hanif Kureishi, who fainted in December 2022 while on holiday in Rome and woke up without the use of his hands, arms and legs and brought out the memoir Shattered about his experience, will also be at the 38th spring edition of the festival in Hay-on-Wye, Wales.

Anton Du Beke has written several novels (Ian West/PA)

The event will also see Yulia Navalnaya, the wife of late Russian activist and politician Alexei Navalny, BBC Breakfast star Naga Munchetty, campaign group Led by Donkeys, TV presenters Katie Piper and Stacey Dooley, Bad Sisters and Catastrophe actress Sharon Horgan, and The Good Place star Jameela Jamil appear.

The Hay Festival president, actor and comedian Sir Stephen Fry, said: I am delighted to be returning to Hay Festival  one of my favourite places on earth  to talk about my new book, Odyssey, and join debates and discussions across the festival field.

Besides the fun and joy of gathering to share stories, it is also the antidote to disinformation and division. There is space for everyone in this carnival of ideas and I hope to see you there.

Sir Stephen Fry is president of the festival (Ian West/PA)

Mary Trump, who wrote Too Much And Never Enough, will give an insight into her family including her uncle Mr Trump, while British politicians Diane Abbott, former chancellor Jeremy Hunt, Lord Michael Heseltine and Lord Graham Brady speak about their books.

Du Beke has brought out several novels and will speak about his new fiction work Monte Carlo By Moonlight, while Good Omens and Underworld star Sheen will host a storytelling event.

There will also be events with former BBC journalist Jon Sopel, ex-White House communications director turned podcast host Anthony Scaramucci, the National Poet of Wales Hanan Issa, Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, and comedians Miranda Hart and Katherine Ryan.

Hay Festival global chief executive Julie Finch said: Over the past 12 months, weve seen the speed at which our world can change and the high stakes for our times.

Singer Paloma Faith is among the line-up (Ian West/PA)

Heres a Hay Festival programme to tackle our shared challenges head-on with purpose and hope, celebrating new ideas and the power of storytelling to improve our lives.

Woven throughout youll find our core themes for 2025  the impacts of AI, health and wellbeing, new political orders and intergenerational exchanges  plus, as we celebrate 20 years since our first overseas event, we open more global exchange through new platforms.

This is a festival for everyone. Join us in a world of different ideas.

Adapting stories for the screen will be explored with The Other Bennet Sister author Janice Hadlow and Jane Tranter, co-founder of the Doctor Who production company Bad Wolf, with Harris, while Armstrong and Horgan will give insights on TV.

Sharon Horgan has written and starred in Bad Sisters and Catastrophe (Ian West/PA)

There is drama from Succession actress Harriet Walter, who shares She Speaks! What Shakespeares Women Might Have Said, while The Lion King songwriter Sir Tim Rice presents an evening of musical hits as Ocean performs.

Crime fiction and thrillers will also be explored, with Countdown star Susie Dent, comedian Julian Clary, broadcaster Reverend Richard Coles, BBC Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine and Good Morning Britain presenter Rob Rinder presenting their works.

Other highlights include Bridget Joness Diary star Jim Broadbent joining comic artist Dix to launch his new book, The Idris File, Labyrinth author Kate Mosse in conversation with Wilson about her upcoming adult novel Picture Imperfect, poet John Cooper Clarke, Welsh rugby star Dan Biggar and Albanian prime minister Edi Rama.

The Hay Festival will have more than 600 events from May 22 to June 1.
Pakistani security officials inspect vehicles at a checkpoint in Quetta, Balochistan, after security was intensified following the train hijack. Photograph: Sami Khan/EPA

A separatist militant group in Pakistans south-western Balochistan province says it has taken 214 hostages including military personnel after hijacking a train, as the countrys security situation continues to decline sharply.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) blew up the tracks and fired on the Jaffar Express train as it travelled through a tunnel in a remote and mountainous area, bringing the train to a halt.

The train was travelling from Quetta in Balochistan to Peshawar in neighbouring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday afternoon.

The train, which had about 400 passengers onboard, was trapped in the tunnel and the driver was badly wounded, local authorities, police and railway officials said, without confirming the BLAs account of hostages.

In a statement, the BLA claimed to have killed 30 military personnel and taken 214 military and police personnel hostage, describing them as prisoners of war. It said all civilians onboard, had been given a safe route off the train.

The Balochistan government denied there had been any military officers on the train. However, official sources who did not have permission to speak on the record told the Guardian there were more than 150 security personnel on the train.

By Tuesday night, the train and the hostages remained in the custody of the BLA and the terrorist group said it was engaged in an intense confrontation with the Pakistani military and air force. The BLA warned in a statement that if military intervention continues, all hostages will be executed.

The group offered a prisoner exchange and said the Pakistani state had 48 hours to release Baloch political prisoners, forcibly disappeared persons and national resistance activists, otherwise all hostages would be neutralised and the train will be completely destroyed.

A railway official confirmed there had been no communication made so far with staff onboard the train and that the driver had been severely injured in the attack.

They said more trains had been sent to the site to help rescue people but added that efforts had been hampered by the rough terrain and poor network coverage.

The scale of the incident and the possibility of terrorist elements are being determined, said a Balochistan government spokesperson, Shahid Rind. The Balochistan government has ordered that emergency measures be taken, and all institutions remain active.

Pakistans interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, condemned the incident, saying: The beasts who fire on innocent passengers do not deserve any concessions.

Balochistan, a rugged and impoverished province that is the largest in Pakistan, has grappled with violent separatist movements for over half a century. The region, which shares borders with Iran and Afghanistan, has long felt neglected and exploited by successive Pakistani governments and has faced a long-running and brutal counter-insurgency by the armed forces, which has left thousands dead or disappeared.

The militancy movement has been gathering fresh momentum in recent years amid a decline in Pakistans security situation since the Taliban returned to power in neighbouring Afghanistan.

The ranks of the BLA have swelled and Baloch militants routinely operate checkpoints and block highways in the province.

The militants have recently been behind several high-profile terrorist attacks. In February, BLA militants killed seven Punjabi travellers on a bus and in November last year the group claimed responsibility for a bombing at Quettas main railway station that killed 26 people, including 14 soldiers.

Large numbers of Chinese projects being built in the region have also been targeted, including a suicide bomb attack at Karachi airport last October that killed several Chinese workers.
Pull a lever, work four days a week, earn 65,000 a year and regularly go on strike.

That is the outlook much of the British public now has on train drivers, with the career perceived as an undemanding track to go down to earn a good living.

However, with the safety of thousands in the palm of their hands each day, drivers on the countrys 10,000-mile rail network cannot afford a lazy day at the office.

Its completely unfair for people to say its easy, said Nicole Johnson, senior recruitment officer at train operator Northern.

The job isnt just moving a stick forward back and forward  theres so much you need to be aware of. Driving a train is not like driving a car.

So what does it take to become a train driver? Telegraph Money delves into the ins and outs of how to start one of Britains most sought-after careers.

In this article, we will cover:

Career pathways: How to become a train driver

There are a few different routes to becoming a train driver, including:

Apprenticeships  You can apply directly with a train operating company (TOC) for a Train Driver Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.

Internal promotion  A common route is starting in another role in the rail industry, such as a conductor or a member of platform staff. This allows you to build up relevant experience before applying to a trainee driver post.

Direct applications  TOCs regularly advertise trainee driver positions on their websites and job boards

Entry requirements

In order to become a train driver, there are certain basic requirements that you must meet:

Be at least 20 years old to start training, 21 years old to drive. However, research conducted by the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) has concluded that the age should be lowered to 18 in line with other countries around Europe.

Pass a medical examination, including eyesight, hearing and drug/alcohol screening. The Office for Road and Rail provides more information about the medical requirements.

Undergo a criminal record check (DBS) serious offences may result in disqualification.

Live within 45 minutes to one hour of your shift depot by car for shift flexibility.

What qualifications do you need?

Applicants do not need to have any experience in the rail industry and theoretically do not need any qualifications.

However, as the training programme is an apprenticeship, employers generally want applicants to hold a GCSE grade C or above in maths and English (four or above in the new grading system).

But thats not to say those without the sufficient grades are ruled out, as teaching programmes can be put in place.

Theres a lot of people whove left school at 16 with no qualifications, so to go on and have the opportunity to have a professional qualification is excellent. Its also cracking money when you think about it, said Ms Johnson.

How to apply for train driver jobs in six simple steps

If youre looking to become a train driver, here is a simple step by step process to follow:

Find open positions  Regularly visit TOC websites or job boards to find open positions. Submit applications  Prepare your CV. Skills often looked for include time management, communication and an ability to follow strict protocols and procedures. Take online assessments  Be prepared for psychometric tests on concentration, reaction times and multitasking. Attend interviews  Often, these will include competency-based and situational judgement questions. Pass a medical examination  Vision (including colour blindness), hearing and overall fitness are tested. Undergo training  If successful, you will undertake one to two years of training before qualification.

A fifth of Generation Z said they would love a career on the railway, according to a survey by London North Eastern Railway (LNER).

That demand is evident, with rail operator Northern receiving 16,071 applications for driver positions last year  an average of 79 applications for every role.

Interest goes in peaks and troughs and there is definitely great interest at the moment, Ms Johnson said.

Typically, people will apply for roles online and then be invited to a test day with a number of others. Their reaction and concentration skills will be tested.

We generally lose quite a lot of people at this stage, but it varies, Mr Moynan said. Those who get through the stage will then come in for an interview with line managers to gauge their competency and get a greater understanding.

The cream of the crop will then be very close to earning a place on the train driver programme, with their position dependent on results of a medical examination.

Eyes, ears and blood pressure will all be tested and there is a drug and alcohol screening.

The process can take months, so people shouldnt expect it to be quick, Mr Moynan added.

Depending on the rail operator, applicants may also need to live within 45 minutes of a depot.

How long does train driver training take?

Once hired, it usually takes between 12 and 16 months to qualify as a train driver.

The first few months are classroom-based, followed by training at a depot where learners will spend between 200 and 240 hours driving with a mentor.

After completing the training they will have a fully qualified licence, be able to drive trains without supervision and earn a full salary.

Salary and career progression

The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents operators, says the average train driver salary across Britain is 60,055. The Office for National Statistics estimates drivers now earn around 20,000 more than they did a decade ago.

Current job vacancies paint the picture of healthy wage growth and career progression.

A trainee driver salary at Southeastern starts at 24,048, before rising to 29,466 after just three months of rules and regulations training.

At approximately 12 months upon completion of the apprenticeship, the wage shoots up to 46,985.

Then, following a year of being qualified in the role the salary increases to 54,575.

At Northern, drivers wages rise to 54,500 upon completion of the training, while the salary at Govia Thameslink Railway grows in increments to 63,294.

With the ability to work overtime, drivers could push their salary towards six-figures.

Britains powerful rail unions have held out for wage increases in the past two years, with drivers repeatedly going on strike. RMT and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association have settled pay disputes with the Government, most recently Aslef accepted a pay deal from Labour.

In the below graph, you can see the rapid increase in pay for train drivers as they become more experienced:

British train driver salaries, which are the highest in Europe, far surpass averages for roles such as: an Army officer (27,273-42,009), nurse (27,055-40,588), firefighter (24,191-32,244) and air traffic control officer (18,001-43,469).

Is there career progression?

While pay growth is rapid from the outset, former passenger train driver Richard Evans says career progression can quickly hit the buffers.

Although the money is good, if youre an ambitious high-flyer its almost a dead-end job once youre in the drivers seat, the former Southern driver said.

Theres not many places you can go beyond it, and the skills arent really transferable.

You could go into management or training, but if you want to move out of the industry it can be hard.

If you have someone at 21 or 22 coming in and quickly earning 60,000 a year but then realising its not for them, theyll struggle to find a different career offering that sort of money. So it can be a bit of a trap.

FAQs: Common questions about becoming a train driver

Are there train driver age restrictions?

Applicants must be at least 20 years of age, but cant start driving until they are 21.

However, teenagers will soon be able to qualify should government plans to ease a staffing shortage come into action.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has proposed to reduce the minimum age for driving a train on Britains railways from 20 to 18 as early as this summer.

Ciaran Moynan, a training manager at Govia Thameslink Railway, said age demographics are wide-ranging.

We have people of varying ages applying, he said. As retirement age can be earlier in emergency services, we get people from the police, fire and ambulance coming over.

Its a level playing field for everyone  you could have spent 25 years in the rail industry, or 25 years as a police officer.

Ms Johnson said: Weve had people whove spent the last 20 years as a hairdresser or have been working in finance for years. They want a career change and essentially have an office in the country.

According to a recent study, the average train driver is a 46-year-old male.

Do train drivers have a four-day week?

Drivers work a four-day week, averaging 35 hours in total.

The hours spent at work will vary week-to-week, but the average always works out over time. For instance, one week drivers may only work 25 hours, but then the following itll be 45 hours. Some may work even more.

Overtime is completely optional, and some people will be eager for it while others will never work on rest day  and theyll never have to, Mr Moynan said.

A four-day week does not come with a reduced holiday quota compared with five-day jobs. Most train driver roles come with between 25 and 33 days holiday per year.

What are the shift patterns like?

Shifts tend to be between eight and 10 hours in length. The maximum is 12 hours.

According to the Train Driver Foundation, a 10-hour shift may only include as few as five hours of actual driving to ensure break times, train schedules and staffing requirements are maintained.

Guidance from the Office of Rail and Road states that there should be a minimum rest period of 14 hours between consecutive night shifts. The maximum number of consecutive night shifts before having a rest day is three.

It can be brutal and we like to be honest with applicants warning them of the shifts, Mr Moynan said.

If youre on earlies, the shift might start at 4.03am one day and 7.05am the next, so its not like waking up at a set time each day like you would as a shop worker. Its extremely variable, so its not for the faint-hearted.

The earliest start will be 3am and the latest shift end will be around 3am as well.

Mr Evans, who now drives freight trains, says the shift work means the job becomes more of a lifestyle.

Its not a bad job by any stretch of the imagination as we are well looked after, he said.

The money is very appealing but your life takes a massive impact as it can take away your social life.

Passengers rightly moan about delays, but if youre a driver, youre also getting home late every day. You also need to be quite thick-skinned as there is this public perception about what you do, so you will get badgered by that a little bit.

Is driving a train boring?

Drivers need to be able to battle the boredom which comes with the job.

I used to do the Hastings to London Charing Cross line, and I found after a while it was hard with the same thing day-in-day-out, Mr Evans said.

Theres no meat to it sometimes, and nothing to get your teeth into once youve driven a route hundreds of times. Its like any job, the novelty can wear off.

Mr Evans says concentration levels can drop and the tough bit is then getting yourself back to a state of awareness.

If youre in the dark, in a nice warm cabin with the train trundling along, its almost rocking you to sleep.

You need to have strong self-discipline as youre out there on your own once qualified.

We have techniques of saying what you see, or pointing at things to keep us alert.

Mr Moynan says the intense training course hones in on managing fatigue and the monotonous aspects of the role.

As well as learning the theory, we really try to focus on the non-technical aspects to help with understanding your own mind and how to manage time on mundane routes, he said.

What is the pension scheme like?

Train drivers enjoy generous defined-benefit pensions of a type that has almost vanished in the rest of the private sector.

Each train operating company is part of the Railways Pension Scheme (RPS), set up at privatisation in 1994. It is an industry-wide scheme with more than 100 legally separate sections, including Network Rail, and freight, engineering and maintenance companies.

Pensions for train operating company staff are still based on final salary, and many still have a retirement age of 60. Even public sector pensions are now based on career average salaries, with a higher retirement age.

Ms Johnson said: Its a very good scheme. Northern contributes 1.5 times on top of what you put in.

If youve got pension pots from previous jobs, after two years of service you can transfer what you have from elsewhere into your Northern one.

What are other notable perks?

Train operating companies offer free travel to all drivers on their own network, and this can be extended to family members. With rail ticket prices on the rise every year, free travel is an undeniable perk of the job.

Its also common for drivers to benefit from 75pc off fares on other networks around the country, as well as discounts on rail travel in Europe.

Will driverless trains hurt job security?

Trains on the Elizabeth Line can reverse on their own, the Docklands Light Railway has been automated since 1987 and services on the Victoria Line are partially automated.

So surely nothing is stopping the entire British network from ditching drivers? Putting that idea into action, however, is not yet on the horizon.

Costs to integrate new systems with old would be astronomical. Even today, less than 40pc of railroads are electrified.

It means there is a long list of challenges to climb from level 1  the lowest Grade of Automation, in which the driver is responsible for almost everything  to the highest, level 4, where automated systems control driving the train, door closure and handling emergencies.

Going fully automated isnt a concern of mine, Ms Johnson said. Were looking at hiring hundreds of train crew this year and next, so theres definitely longevity there.

Whatever happens in the future happens, but from what I see, people can be certain there will be work for them there for years to come.

Mr Evans, however, says we will 100pc have automated trains in the future.

Its a way off, but it will happen  theres no doubt about it, he said.
Athiak Dau Riak during the celebrations for her traditional marriage to Chol Marol Deng in June 2024. Photograph: Florence Miettaux/The Guardian

The mother of an alleged child bride has left a safe house in South Sudan to travel to be with her daughter after discovering the teenager is pregnant.

Deborah Kuir Yach made headlines last year when she opposed a competition for her daughters hand in marriage, insisting that her child Athiak Dau Riak was only 14. Fear of reprisals from her husband and family forced her to leave her home in the capital, Juba, and go into hiding.

After eight months living in a shelter under the protection of a local NGO, the 41-year-old mother of seven has travelled to Nairobi where Athiak is believed to be staying with relatives.

Despite the threats she faced after her stance became widely known, Yach said she is determined to be with her daughter  who is due to give birth this month  in keeping with the cultural tradition of the Dinka, one of the largest ethnic groups in South Sudan.

Now that Athiak is pregnant, I cant do anything about the marriage. Let her be with her husband. They will decide together whether she can go back to school later on, said Yach. [But] according to our Dinka tradition, a daughter must give birth to her first child in her mothers home  thats why I am going to Kenya.

Yach does not know if Athiak will be allowed to stay with her but said she would visit her to guide her daughter into motherhood, and help take care of the baby.

Although she was perceived as a victim of child marriage by those who condemned the wedding, Athiak sided with family members who orchestrated it.

Athiak disagrees with what I have done. She says that I brought shame to the family, Yach told the Guardian before she left South Sudan. But I explained to her that I didnt want to stay where I am mistreated. Athiak wants to protect the image of the family but I will not go back, I am following my truth and my right, she said, adding that she wants a divorce. I just found out that he brought another wife home.

In June 2024 Athiak travelled to Nairobi shortly after her traditional wedding to Chol Marol Deng, a South Sudanese man in his 40s who lives in Canada. A court case opened the same month by South Sudanese lawyer Josephine Adhet Deng against Yachs husband, Dau Riak Magany, accusing him of arranging the marriage of a minor  a crime under South Sudans laws  failed to progress. Attempts by Deng to have Athiak brought back from Kenya were rejected by South Sudans public prosecution office in October 2024.

Yach has travelled to Kenya with her three younger daughters in the hope that she can protect them from a similar fate to Athiak. Her brother, Athiaks uncle, who also publicly opposed the marriage, is supporting her.

My niece is now pregnant and Im not seeing this case going anywhere, said Daniel Chol Yach, who lives in Canada. Ive tried tirelessly to alert the Canadian authorities but nothing has happened so far. Chol has been travelling freely and he impregnated Athiak, even though the marriage is not complete, and although he had said he would let her go back to school. While the customary part of the wedding was celebrated in Juba, the marriage is not legally finalised.

Now I want to make sure that my sister, Deborah, and my nieces have a better future. Im renting a place for them in Nairobi. The kids will go to school there, and that will protect them from what happened to Athiak. With good education, theyll be able to know what is best for their future.

Yach hopes to put her daughters in school in Kenya and, eventually, to join her brother in Canada to build a better life for herself and her family. The reason I leave my country is the future of my children. If I stayed in South Sudan, maybe they will be married young, too.
Relatives of victims of the war on drugs and their supporters hold a candlelit protest against the former president Rodrigo Duterte on 11 March. Photograph: Basilio Sepe/AP

Sarah Celiz wept as she sat at home watching footage from Manilas main airport on her phone. They were tears of sadness, and of relief.

The former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte, who had just landed in the capital, was surrounded by officials and being taken into custody. The international criminal court had issued an arrest warrant over his bloody war on drugs, in which her two sons were among the tens of thousands of people killed in deprived urban areas.

A man who for years had seemed untouchable was finally facing justice. I was really shocked. It was as if a bomb had suddenly exploded, Celiz said. I cried because of so much joy and sadness. Sadness because we lost our loved ones  joy because he [Duterte] is now where he belongs.

But, she added: For me, its not enough. What I want is for what happened to my sons to happen to him as well  His family will feel what we felt.

Celizs sons Almon and Dicklie were killed in 2017, six months apart, during Dutertes deadly crackdowns. Her area, Bagong Silang, in Caloocan, a poor district of Metro Manila, was one of the worst affected.

Almon, 32, a father of five, was killed on 6 February that year when a police taskforce arrived at a wake he was attending.

Celiz was at home when she heard the news from her daughter-in-law. She recalls racing outside: I felt like I was running on air, like my feet werent touching the ground.

She rushed to the spot where her son had been shot, just 10 minutes from their home, but his body was no longer there  friends had taken him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. He had been shot in his chest and an arm.

Between 12,000 and 30,000 civilians are estimated to have been killed in connection with anti-drugs operations, between July 2016  when Duterte took office  and March 2019, according to data cited by the ICC. Most were young men, targeted in the streets of deprived urban areas.

At the height of the killings, dozens of people were killed in a single night.

Six months after Almons killing, Dicklie, his 31-year-old younger brother, a father of seven, was also killed. He had been out on a tricycle. Celiz was told a bag was placed over his head and he was taken to a police station. She found his body only the following day, at a funeral parlour.

The police said he had fought back against their officer, a claim frequently made by authorities to justify the killings. He had been shot multiple times, including four times in the chest, and once in his head. His body was abandoned in the streets, she was told.

Duterte and his supporters have argued that allegations of wrongdoing should be dealt with by the Philippine justice system. Yet in the years that have passed since Celizs sons were killed, there has never been any investigation. She says police at a local station told her that even if she tried to file a complaint, there was no evidence.

Today, Celiz cares for her 12 fatherless grandchildren. Even though it is hard, I told them the truth [about what happened], she said. The family struggles financially, she added. Her granddaughter cried recently because she could not afford to buy a special robe to mark her high school graduation.

If their fathers hadnt been killed, they wouldnt have lost their parent. Now, I cant do anything [to financially support them], she said.

Duterte, who appeared before a senate inquiry into the drugs war killings in 2024, said he offered no apologies, no excuses for his drugs crackdown, saying: I did what I had to do, and whether you believe it or not, I did it for my country.

Celiz feels only relief that he will finally face the courts. At 11.03pm a plane carrying the former president set off for The Hague, in the Netherlands, the home of the ICC. I am sorry to say this, she adds: That demon doesnt know how to say sorry.
Myra Garretts early experiences of hardship shaped her lifelong commitment to social justice Photograph: provided by friend

My colleague and mentor Myra Garrett, who has died aged 92, was a pioneering development worker, philanthropist, and advocate for peace and social justice.

After leaving the US for the UK in 1970, she became a transformative figure in east London, co-founding organisations such as the Limehouse Project, in 1984; the Tower Hamlets Health Strategy Group, in 1986, which gained charity status in 1994 and was rebranded as Social Action for Health in 2000; and the Bangladeshi Mental Health Forum, in 1999. These initiatives addressed critical issues such as mental health, housing, education and womens empowerment, profoundly affecting marginalised communities.

A trailblazer in public health, Myra introduced innovative programmes such as the health bus, which took essential services to underserved areas, and the continence project (1992), which earned the Commonwealth award for excellence in womens health in 1997. Her Giving Up Smoking During Ramadan campaign, launched in the late 80s, evolved into the widely adopted Smoke-Free Ramadan initiative, showcasing her ability to turn cultural insights into effective health interventions.

She was also a fearless advocate for peace, serving as a director for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (2009-11). She was arrested in 2000 for protesting at the Faslane naval base in Scotland. Refusing to pay a fine on principle, she was spared imprisonment when an anonymous benefactor settled it.

Her frugality and dedication to social housing were emblematic of her values. She declined to buy her Tower Hamlets council flat under the right-to-buy scheme, returning it to the local authority after nearly five decades to ensure it remained available for those in need. She moved into supported-living accommodation in Bow in 2022.

Myra loved reading and trying different types of cuisines, enjoying iftar  the meal eaten at sunset to break the daily fast during Ramadan  with her Muslim colleagues in the office.

Born in California during the Great Depression, Myra was one of the four children of Minnie (nee Potts) and Daniel Garrett, an insurance salesman. Myras early experiences of hardship shaped her lifelong commitment to social equity. She had separated from her husband before leaving the US, where she had been a social worker for the Salvation Army. Myra remained in east London for the rest of her life.

Myra donated her body to science. She leaves behind a legacy of empowerment and justice, reflected in the countless lives and institutions she transformed.

Myra is survived by three nephews, Michael, Jeffrey and Smith, and a niece, Maria.
A group of people thought to be migrants are brought ashore in Dover, Kent, on Monday - Gareth Fuller/PA

Asylum seekers in the UK face scientific age checks under new plans from the Tories.

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, has proposed the measure in an amendment to Labours border security Bill in the hope it could prevent adult migrants from boosting their chances of staying in the UK by pretending to be children.

The age tests could involve X-rays, MRI or bone scans, as used in European countries including Sweden, Norway, France, Germany and the Netherlands.

The previous Tory government introduced regulations to allow such techniques but they have not been used.

However, Mr Philps amendment would go further by making the tests mandatory for any person wanting to claim asylum as a child. Under the current rules, consent is required from the applicant.

More than 1,300 asylum seekers were caught pretending to be children in the first half of last year, a record high.

Tube bomber entered UK by lying about age

Those who have previously lied about their age include Ahmed Hassan, the Parsons Green bomber, who pretended to be 16, and Lawangeen Abdulrahimzai, who murdered an aspiring Royal Marine after posing as a 14-year-old when he came to the UK.

The Telegraph revealed last month how a Sudanese asylum seeker was declared to be a child by immigration judges despite the Home Office estimating he was at least 23 years old and pointing out that he had a receding hairline.

Mr Philp said: We have been clear; we cannot allow this countrys generosity to be abused by those looking for handouts.

The last Conservative government took action to clamp down on asylum seekers lying about their age in order to receive benefits, but now Labour looks set to scrap it in the latest of their weak and feeble plans for our borders.

That is why the Conservatives are taking action, making clear to the Government that they must put our national interest, not the interest of economic chancers, first.

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said Labours weak and feeble border plans needed changing - NurPhoto

However, some critics have raised doubts over such policies. The Council of Europe, the pan-European group, has said that physical and medical age assessment methods are not supported by medical science.

UK-based organisations, including the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the British Association of Social Workers, have also said tests such as X-rays and MRI scans are unreliable for determining someones age. They have further raised ethical concerns over informed consent.

A Labour source said: Robert Jenrick painted over a Mickey Mouse mural made for toddlers, now Chris Philp wants to force them to undergo MRI scans.

If they want to show theyre tough on immigration, they should get behind Labours plans to use counter-terror powers against the smuggling gangs, not engage in this obsessive cruelty against small children.

A Home Office spokesman said it had not ruled out scientific age checks. Under the previous government, specified scientific age assessment proposals were not operationalised, which meant no determination was made on the most appropriate method in this area, he said.

We already have robust processes in place to verify and assess an individuals age where there is doubt, which includes the National Age Assessment Board and maintained measures on scientific assessments from the Nationality & Borders Act 2022 and we will not hesitate to go further if needed.

The new Border Security Asylum and Immigration Bill introduces workable measures to strengthen cross-system, operational efforts to tighten border security, enhance upstream work with international partners and help ensure a properly functioning, secure immigration system.
The worsening health of the River Wye has been linked to poultry manure from intensive chicken farming, which contains high levels of phosphate. Photograph: Westend61 GmbH/Alamy

Industrial poultry farms face tough new regulations around the disposal of chicken manure after a judge ruled it can be classified as waste and requires a detailed and transparent plan to dispose of it without damaging the environment.

The high court ruling means new US-style mega-farms in Herefordshire will have to deal with poultry manure as if it was industrial waste.

The ruling has implications for industrial chicken units all over the country. It comes as the English and Welsh governments announced 1m in funding to investigate the devastating pollution of the River Wye, where about 23m chickens are being produced in the river catchment at any one time.

The health of the river, which flows for 155 miles from mid-Wales to the Severn estuary in England, has been downgraded by Natural England from unfavourable-improving to unfavourable-declining, meaning its condition is poor and worsening. Its decline has been linked to intensive chicken farming in the catchment from the spreading of poultry manure, which contains high levels of phosphate, on to fields, which then leaches into the river.

Studies have shown 70% of the phosphate in the River Wye catchment comes from agriculture, although not all is chicken-related. One study recommended an 80% reduction in poultry manure in the Wye catchment to protect the river and called for a cut in the overall number of birds and for the exporting of manure out of the area.

The high court judgment defining chicken manure as industrial waste came after the National Farmers Union challenged waste rules set by Herefordshire council.

The NFU said poultry manure should be treated as an agricultural byproduct, not as waste under the waste framework directive.

But Mrs Justice Lieven in her ruling said it cannot be assumed that manure will be used in an environmentally safe way. Given the environmental problems caused by chicken manure in the Wye catchment area, she rejected the NFU challenge and said poultry manure amounted to waste in law up to the point it was sold or transferred to a third party.

The ruling means that new chicken units in Herefordshire will have to provide a detailed plan at the planning application stage to ensure chicken manure can be disposed of safely, including full transparency on the manures destination and application.

The campaign group River Action, which intervened in the case, said the ruling was a landmark decision that had implications for all new industrial chicken units.

Charles Watson, the chair of River Action, said: We believe the ruling clarifies once and for all that the intensive factory production of livestock is clearly an industrial manufacturing process, whereby the often-toxic waste that it produces must be treated as such.

Carol Day of Leigh Day, who acted for River Action, said: People proposing new intensive poultry units in Herefordshire will need to put in place proper arrangements for dealing with the huge volumes of manure that is produced. The judgment should also now mean that proper environmental controls are put in place across the country to oversee the production and handling of manure from animals on farms.

Rachel Hallos, the NFU vice-president, said: We are extremely disappointed by the high courts ruling and are currently reviewing the judgment carefully to examine its potential implications for our members in Herefordshire. The NFU is considering whether to seek permission to appeal [against] todays ruling.

Britains farmers recognise their businesses have a major role to play, alongside producing food, in improving water quality. Much progress has already been made through regulation and voluntary measures such as carefully managing how much manure and fertiliser is applied to fields.
The Hon Mr Justice Joel Bennathan handed Kyle Clifford a whole life order - Niklas Halle'n/Avalon

The judge who presided over crossbow killer Kyle Cliffords trial secured a shorter sentence for the UKs youngest female terrorist.

The Hon Mr Justice Joel Bennathan handed former soldier Clifford, 26, a whole life order at his sentencing for the murders of his ex-girlfriend Louise Hunt, her sister Hannah and her mother Carol.

However, he decided not to force Clifford to face his sentencing hearing via video link after he was left paralysed from the chest down when he shot himself with a crossbow in the aftermath of the killings on July 9 last year.

Despite that, it was suggested that he could have been restrained and forced to face the Cambridge Crown Court hearing through a video link.

Addressing the court, Mr Justice Bennathan said: As to whether I would order restraints so he [Kyle Clifford] should be brought to the video room I have declined on the basis that the idea of a man in a wheelchair being put in restraints and potentially disrupting these proceedings... is simply not appropriate or suitable.

If the defendant lacks the courage to face today, so be it  but Im conscious part of this morning will be people paying tribute to the three women who died, and Im not having that disrupted by anything.

A history of leniency

Since being called to the bar in 1985, Mr Justice Bennathan spent more than three decades largely at the criminal bar  mainly defending in trials and mounting appeals to the Court of Appeal, House of Lords then Supreme Court, Privy Council and the European Court of Human Rights.

In 2019, Mr Bennathan, then a QC, successfully slashed the sentencing of the UKs youngest female terrorist after comparing her to a child grooming gang victim.

Safaa Boular spurred on her sister and mother to launch a suicide bomb attack after she was arrested while trying to travel to Syria to join a terror group.

Boular was just 15 when she was wooed by Naweek Hussain, 32, a Coventry-born Islamic State fighter who urged the teenager to use grenades and guns in an attack on the British Museum.

Safaa Boular was found guilty of plotting a terror attack on the British Museum - AFP via Getty

Representing Boular, Mr Bennathan successfully cut the minimum term for the teenagers life sentence from 13 years to 11, telling the Court of Appeal that the teenagers age was central to the case and comparing it to the Rochdale grooming trials.

Barristers in the UK are obliged to take on the next cases they are available to, regardless of their personal views on any potential clients.

Legal documents available online show Justice Bennatahn KC also represented Russell Bishop, the Babes in the Woods killer, as he unsuccessfully tried to block a retrial.

Bishop was acquitted of the murders of nine-year-olds Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway in Brighton in 1986, following a trial the following year. Yet the killer, who died in prison aged 55 in 2022, was convicted of their murders following a retrial in December 2018.

The Crown Prosecution Service applied to quash the 1987 acquittals based on new and forensic evidence which linked Bishop to the murders.

Reformed double jeopardy laws enabled the retrial to take place, but in 2017, as part of his argument, Mr Bennathan tried to suggest that the length of time since the first trial had occurred would justify the Court of Appeal refusing a retrial.

However, Bishop went on to face trial the following year and received a life sentence with a minimum term of 36 years.

In another case, Mr Bennathan failed in his attempt to downgrade a murder conviction to manslaughter for a man who strangled his 74-year-old neighbour.

Patrick Curran, then 27, killed Joan Roddam at her home in Delabole, Cornwall, in 2003, when a court heard she was almost certainly resisting his sexual advances.

In 2021, six years on from the 2015 verdict, Mr Bennathan argued that the conviction should be substituted for manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.

This was on the basis that a pre-trial psychiatric report had been based on inadequate information, partly due to Currans difficulty in engaging with psychiatrists at the time.

However, Court of Appeal judges found the conviction was safe and there was no new evidence to the contrary.

Clifford a coward

On Tuesday, when asked if Sir Keir Starmer condemned the judges decision to not force Clifford to be brought into court, a spokesman for the Prime Minister said: It will be up to the judge in the case to make a decision on when this power should and shouldnt be used in future.

And I think our view is very much that it is the judge to decide.

The spokesman added: Were going to bring clarity to the law and ensure those who refuse to attend would commit a contempt of court and face additional time of up to two years in prison.

Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, said: Kyle Clifford is a coward for not appearing in person for his sentence.

Commenting on Cliffords refusal to appear in court, Dame Harriet Baldwin, the Conservative MP for West Worcestershire said: I am very disappointed that the law does not force him to do this.

Baroness Foster, a Tory peer, told GB News on Tuesday: Kyle Cliffords refusal to attend sentencing denies victims their moment of justice.

Richard Tice, Reform UKs deputy leader, said: This is cowardice by a judge who is putting the killers interests ahead of the victims family; shameful.

A spokesman for the Judicial Office said it did not comment on individual cases.
June Ashimola was said to have died in 2019, but won her case after showing she was alive

A dead woman had to convince a judge she was alive after a fraudster tried to claim her 350,000 estate.

June Ashimola, 55, appeared at the High Court via video link from Nigeria to prove a death certificate issued in her name was fraudulent.

It was being used by associates of Tony Ashikodi, a convicted fraudster, to win power of attorney over a house she owned in Woolwich, south-east London.

The High Court was told Ms Ashimola brought the case after being falsely declared dead with power of attorney over her estate  which consisted principally of a house  granted to the associates of Ashikodi.

This is an unusual probate claim in that the deceased says she is very much alive, Deputy Master Linwood said. The root of this claim is a long-running battle or campaign waged by a Mr Tony Ashikodi for control and/or ownership of the property.

Ms Ashimola left the UK for Nigeria in about October 2018 and has not returned since. This claim involves wide-ranging allegations of fraud, forgery, impersonation and intimidation.

Death certificate was false

The court heard that in October 2022, power of attorney over the estate, including the property, was granted to Ruth Samuel on behalf of Bakare Lasisi, who claimed he had married Ms Ashimola in 1993.

The pair claimed Ms Ashimola had died in Nigeria in February 2019 without leaving a will.

At the High Court, a copy of her death certificate was produced and claims were made that sightings of her since her death were actually a different woman masquerading as her.

However, Ms Ashimola claimed she was only allegedly deceased and that the certificate was false and fraudulent.

She added that the grant relating to her estate and the house had been improperly obtained.

Ms Ashimola was unable to attend the court in person due to visa issues.

However, the judge ruled that she was who she said she was.

Husband didnt exist

And after hearing the evidence of Ashikodi  who was jailed for three years in 1996 for obtaining property by deception  Deputy Master Linwood concluded he had orchestrated the fraud and attempted to mislead the court.

Among his findings was that Ms Ashimolas husband, Mr Lasisi, did not exist, despite numerous emails purportedly sent by him.

I find Ms Ashimola is alive and that the death certificate was forged and/or fraudulently obtained or produced or concocted, he said.

Her alleged death was part of Mr Tony Ashikodis attempts to wrest control of the property from her.

The person who appeared before me and identified herself as Ms Ashimola was physically like her photographs in each passport.

I find that Ms Ashimola was not married to Mr Lasisi and that the marriage certificate is a concocted or fraudulent document for these reasons:

I do not accept Mr Lasisi exists or if he does is aware of his identity being used. I do not accept that emails supposedly from him were actually from him.

Based on his findings, Deputy Master Linwood revoked the grant relating to the power of attorney.

The court was told that between them, the two parties had already run up disproportionate legal costs of more than 150,000, which may exceed the equity in the property.
Campaigner says the university is yet another organisation breaching workplace regulations for single-sex spaces - eye35/Alamy Stock Photo

One of Britains most eminent universities has drawn up a new trans policy allowing biological men to access female lavatories and changing rooms if they self-identify as women.

Edinburgh Universitys policy permits staff to use the toilet facilities that align with their gender identity rather than their biological sex, even if they have not changed legal gender.

An equality impact assessment carried out ahead of the new policy taking effect stated that as a matter of law, access to facilities on the basis of gender identity makes those facilities mixed-sex rather than single-sex facilities.

The universitys campuses will have appropriate facilities which will include gender neutral/individual spaces, according to a policy pledge reported in the Herald.

Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at human rights charity Sex Matters, warned that the policy ignored the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.

She said Edinburgh University was yet another public sector organisation putting itself at risk by ignoring the 1992 regulations which make it perfectly clear that single-sex facilities must be provided in workplaces.

Nothing in the Equality Act changes that fact.

Duty to protect single sex spaces

The regulations state that changing rooms and lavatories will not be suitable unless they include separate facilities for, or separate use of facilities by, men and women where necessary for reasons of propriety.

Academics warned that the regulatory definition of woman did not include transgender people who self-identified as women, especially if they did not have a gender recognition certificate.

Although the Russell Group university is providing additional gender-neutral facilities, it must still comply with the 1992 regulations for its male and female spaces.

The policy emerged in the wake of a landmark employment tribunal in Scotland about the right of trans people to access female-only areas.

NHS Fife accused nurse Sandie Peggie of misconduct after she challenged the presence of Dr Beth Upton, who was born male but identifies as a woman, in a female changing room in a hospital.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission watchdog has since written to the health board to warn about its duty to protect single sex spaces.

It also demanded a meeting with Neil Gray, the SNP Health Secretary, over NHS Scotlands forthcoming guidance on trans issues.

Stop listening to activists

Ms McAnena said: What will it take for organisations to take seriously their legal responsibility to provide safety and dignity to female staff, and students in this case, through the provision of separate-sex facilities?

Women and men have separate toilets and changing rooms for good reason. The leadership of Edinburgh University should stop listening to activists and fulfil its legal obligations.

Nicola Sturgeons Gender Recognition Reform (GRR) Bill would have allowed Scots to change their legal gender by simply signing a statutory declaration, dropping the requirement for a formal medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria.

The UK Government vetoed the legislation over concerns it undermined protections for women and the integrity of female safe spaces. However, it has emerged that self-ID operates anyway in parts of Scotlands public sector.

Tess White, the Scottish Tories minister for equalities, said: It is simply unacceptable that female staff and students at the University of Edinburgh do not have guaranteed single-sex facilities available to them.

This is just the latest example of the SNPs reckless gender self-ID policy being embedded in Scotlands institutions, at the expense of the legal rights and safety of women.

According to the equality impact assessment, the only staff body involved in the review of the universitys existing policy was the Staff Pride Network.

An Edinburgh University spokesman told The Herald: We take our responsibilities to our staff and students seriously and keep our policies under review to ensure they are in line with our wide range of obligations.

We are committed to providing appropriate facilities for all staff and students across our estate.
Tom Bradshaw, the head of the National Farmers Union, has condemned the decision as another betrayal by the Government after new inheritance tax rules - Geoff Pugh

Farming subsidies have been halted by the Government in a fresh blow to rural communities.

The main replacement to the EU-era subsidies scheme was paused to new applications without warning on Tuesday, leaving some farmers with holes in their budgets.

The Government said the sustainable farming incentive (SFI) would be revised after the spending review in June, with a cap on how much money farmers could receive.

Tom Bradshaw, the head of the National Farmers Union, said the move was another betrayal, following the Governments decision to impose inheritance tax on farmers in last years Budget.

The move will leave thousands of farmers with no clarity on how they will replace the subsidies.

The SFI scheme has long been on the Treasurys hit list because they believe it does not deliver value for money.

The pressure on the Chancellor Rachel Reeves to balance the books, amid warnings her financial headroom has been wiped out, means the cost of the scheme has become a prime target.

Ministers want to see the scheme revised to pay farmers for outcomes rather than simply making changes on their land.

At the moment, the scheme pays farmers for actions such as improving soil, maintaining hedgerows or planting wildflowers.

The post-Brexit subsidies include two other, more ambitious schemes, for which many farmers would struggle to qualify.

Farmers protest in Wales against the changes in inheritance tax last year - OLI SCARFF/AFP

Farmers could expect to receive about 3,000 a year per action within the SFI, with no limit on how many different changes they made to their land. But access to this funding has now been cut off for months for farmers yet to apply for the scheme.

Of all the betrayals so far, this is the most cruel, said Victoria Vyvyan, the president of the Country Land and Business Association.

Mr Bradshaw said that trust between the farming community and the environment department, led by Steve Reed, had now gone.

Its a failing department, Mr Bradshaw said. I am absolutely staggered that the department has taken this decision.

This has implications for food production, for the environment and the viability of our members business.

The NFU head, who has an arable and dairy farm in Essex, said he himself had an unfinished application to join the subsidy scheme that would now be in jeopardy.

Some 50,000 subsidies are being paid out under the post-Brexit scheme, with 37,000 SFI payments.

But the NFU said this was far below the 83,000 farms that received basic payments under the system, which is being phased out by 2027, meaning some farms would be left behind.

It raises the prospect that more than 30,000 farms will have no access to the subsidies until the scheme is relaunched.

The Government said farmers who had already made applications may be considered for the current contract period, which lasts until 2028, but there were no guarantees.

There are going to be many who are starved of cash for a new year, said Mr Bradshaw.

The Government was accused of mounting an attack on rural communities last year when it announced new inheritance taxes on farms worth more than 1.3 million.

It has refused to back down over the changes in the face of widespread protests and despite warnings the policy will lead to the break-up of family farms.

It has also faced anger from rural groups over its planned ban on trail hunting, changes to gun licensing and new powers to seize land at reduced values to build homes and hospitals.

The announcement on inheritance tax came despite Mr Reed telling farmers before the election that there would be no changes forthcoming.

Many farmers on uplands and other more challenging landscapes had not yet applied because it is harder for them to meet the SFI criteria, and they were still exploring their options.

Daniel Zeichner, the minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, said the Government was proud to have set the biggest budget for sustainable food produce in history, referring to the 5 billion budget the department has secured over two years.

But he said the highest level ever in SFI actually means weve spent all the money in the SFI budget at the moment.

Asked how he would respond to farming industry anger over the pause to the SFI scheme, Mr Zeichner said he hopes the farming industry will join with me in being pleased, as 5 billion pounds overall is the most weve had.

But I fully appreciate that this is a discussion really about how that 5 billion is allocated.

A body blow for farmers

Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrats environment spokesman, said the policy was a body blow for farmers.

This is nothing short of outrageous and another attack on farming communities by this Government, he said.

There is no hiding that this is a real cut and will come as a body blow for farmers. Farmers who are already losing the vast majority of basic payments this year and who should rightly be rewarded for good environmental work.

Over 80 per cent of farm business income for grazing livestock farms, many of which are in the uplands, came from direct payments before Brexit.

New data published this week showed incomes in 2024 dropped for all types of farms, except specialist pig and poultry.

The EU-era basic payments, which have been steadily reduced since 2021, still accounted for an average of 40 per cent of farm incomes last year.
Human DNA

Widespread DNA surveillance could be on the horizon if new technology to suck genetic data out of thin air is not regulated, the Royal Society has warned.

Environmental DNA  or eDNA  is fragments of genetic code left behind in skin, saliva and other bodily detritus which is shed as humans and other living creatures move through the world.

Scientists have proven that they can pick up and identify individuals through these genetic traces, simply by sampling the air, soil or water.

In a new report, the Royal Society said that the technique could aid in the investigation of crimes, or help spot dangerous chemicals that could indicate an imminent biosecurity threat or terror attack.

However, the report also warned that eDNA could potentially be used for the wrong reason, such as genetic surveillance, genome harvesting, covert accumulation of genetic data for malicious commercial purposes, and inadvertent location tracking or population surveillance.

Experts warned that collecting DNA from the air was a legal grey area and said people could find their genetic data being captured without their consent, revealing private medical details.

Increasingly long human eDNA reads have been successfully sequenced from relatively untargeted analysis, including detailed information such as ethnicity, ancestry and disease susceptibility, the report authors warn.

This means that in the future, individual humans could potentially be identified from a much larger range of eDNA samples.

Safeguards needed

The Royal Societys environmental DNA report, which is intended for policymakers, said that guidelines and standards were needed to safeguard the public while still allowing the benefits from the technology.

The authors also warned that the contamination of samples could lead to false positives which could result in false bioterror alarms or miscarriages of justice.

They are also concerned about genome harvesting, which they said was the unethical or malicious collection and storage of human genetic information obtained from the environment (eDNA) without consent.

Sir Ian Boyd, Bishop Wardlaw professor at the University of St Andrews and a member of the reports review group, said: The rapid expansion of the field of eDNA is exciting and the potential applications are vast.

Investing in the research infrastructure and regulatory frameworks that can adapt to these emerging uses, and their ethical or commercial implications, is vital for the UK is well placed to capitalise on opportunities  whether thats food, environmental management, public health or defence.

Environmental DNA analysis of waste water has already been instrumental in tracking the spread of diseases such as Covid-19, polio and monkeypox, allowing public health interventions to be made in targeted areas.

Endangered species

Scientists are also keen to use the technology to track endangered species, while law enforcement agencies could use it to connect individuals to crime scenes or search for missing persons.

Niamh Nic Daeid, professor of forensic science and director of the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science at the University of Dundee and a member of the reports working group, said: The interpretation of forensic evidence can have serious and life-changing consequences.

Forensic science research will be needed to validate eDNA techniques alongside their development so that they are fit for purpose for implementation into the criminal justice system.

We still have a lot to learn about how eDNA can be transferred given different activities; how long it persists on different surfaces, and the background prevalence of different species eDNA in the environment.

Understanding this will be critical to evaluating eDNA findings and what they may contribute to an investigation of an alleged incident and presentation of any evidence in the courts.
Graciela Chela Olachea, one of Las Guardianas. None of the women were well educated but they knew they risked losing everything unless they protected the environment Photograph: Benjamin Soto/The Guardian

Ahead of the small boat, as it bobs on the waters near La Paz in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur, is a long line of old plastic bottles strung together on top of the waves. Underneath them are as many as 100,000 oysters, waiting to be sold to the upmarket hotels down the coast.

Cheli Mendez, who oversees the project, pulls a shell up from below, cuts it open with a knife, and gives me the contents to try: a plump, tasty oyster. Mendez is one of a group known as Guardianas del Conchalito, or guardians of the shells, and theirs is the first oyster-growing business in the region run entirely by women, she says.

The women dug a channel with shovels and pickaxes to allow seawater to reach the mangroves

But this is far from the only success this unusual group of women has had. It all began with four of them sitting round a rickety picnic table, staring out across a rubbish-strewn mangrove plantation in the spring of 2017. They were angry: their fishing village was being ruined by drug-dealers and fast-encroaching tourism, and the shellfish they treasured were being depleted by illegal fishing.

We said to the men, we want to clear the place up. And we want to be paid to do it Claudia Reyes

None of the women had been educated beyond school, but they did understand that they risked losing everything unless something was done to change things

The mangroves were dying, the trash was everywhere, says Graciela Chela Olachea, at 63 the oldest of the group. Huge lorries would arrive to fly-tip on a regular basis, and joyriders on motorbikes would screech across the land. Claudia Reyes, 41, says: Things were bad, and getting worse.

Soon others had joined them at the picnic table in El Manglito, the neighbourhood of La Paz made famous by John Steinbeck. He wrote about the areas pearl divers  the forebears of these proud, strong women.

The picnic table became our office, says Reyes. They had come up with the name for their group by then, based on the callo de hacha, a rare type of scallop that are a prized local delicacy. We went to the men who were the decision-makers in our community, and we said, We want to clear the place up. And we want to be paid to do it.

The men  their husbands, fathers, grandfathers, sons  were not impressed. But they eventually and reluctantly agreed, offering wages for five women. But now there were 14 meeting around that picnic table. The money amounted to 8,500 Mexican pesos a week (320) between them all, a tiny amount for each woman.

But we agreed to it, says Reyes. We wanted to show we could do this: we wanted to make a difference, and we wanted to earn some money.

Las Guardianas del Conchalito. I used to ask my husbands permission if I wanted to leave the house. Now if I go out, I just tell him: Ill be back, one says

The women set about positioning boulders around the perimeter of the plantation to stop the lorries from coming in and to deter the motorbikes. They dug channels from the sea to restore the water flow to the mangroves and cleared the rubbish. They kept watch at the waters edge, shouting at the illegal fishing boats, some of whose occupants were their own relatives, to go away.

We knew we deserved more  And the men would shout: Get back to your kitchens Daniela Bareno

And perhaps most impressively, they patrolled the land through the night, facing down, they say, the drug-dealers and telling them to move on.

***

Today we are talking near the old picnic table, sitting under a newly built palapa, or thatched sun shelter. Although February is winter and its early morning, the sun is already strong; temperatures will reach 28C (82.4F) in a few hours time.

The Baja peninsula, snaking for 775 miles (1,250km) down the Mexican coast from the US border, is desert plains dotted with cacti. It is a growing tourist destination, and the guardianas suspect some of the rubbish in their mangroves was illegally dumped by construction companies.

Its not just whats happening in the ocean  it all affects the shellfish, says Wildcoasts Celeste Ortega, pictured. Above, the palapa where Las guardianas meet

The jewels of the region are the beaches: the nearby coves of Balandra are said to be the most beautiful in Mexico. And the seas here in the Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez, is teeming: the oceanographer Jacques Cousteau called it the worlds aquarium. It is home to about 900 species of fish, including more than 70 found nowhere else on the planet, and its marine megafauna includes whale sharks, grey whales and humpback whales.

Slowly, the fishers of El Manglito came to understand the importance of sustainability, and the need to stick to quotas so the shellfish would thrive. The womens first meeting around the picnic table had been in 2017; by autumn the following year, the area was unrecognisable. The drug-dealers had moved on; the fly-tipping had stopped. The mangroves are green and healthy now, and the whole plantation is pristine, with no litter in sight.

At one point during our conversation, a motorbike appears with two young lads on the back. Several of the women get up and run across, shouting at them to go away. They do and quickly: the guardianas clearly are not women to be ignored.

A motorbike passes through the protected area. One task of Las Guardianas has been to ward off joyriders

After the mangrove was cleaned up, the women say that the men thought they could go back to how things had been  them doing the fishing, the women cleaning the shellfish for very little money, as they had in the past. But we felt we had done the work, says Daniela Bareno, 35. We knew we deserved more. Chela would go down to the shore when they were out in their boats and yell: These are ours. And the men would shout: Get back to your kitchens.

By now they were getting funding from environmental organisations. One of their backers was Wildcoast, a California-based charity dedicated to conserving coastal and marine ecosystems. Celeste Ortega, Wildcoasts mangrove conservation manager, says: We started talking to the women about the mangroves and how its not just whats happening in the ocean, but whats happening on the land that affects the shellfish.

My girls are proud of me. One is at university doing bioengineering Adriana Mendez

The trees are a vital part of the ecosystem and thats the reason the shellfish are here: they attach themselves to the mangrove trees, and thats how they grow.

Today, the Guardianas del Conchalito is a legally recognised community co-operative and all its members receive a living wage.

We do things differently from the men, says Bareno. They had a more individualistic attitude; we work democratically. We have meetings each Monday, we talk things through, we reach decisions collectively.

The picnic table where Las Guardianas first got together; some of the communitys 100,000 or so oysters; Andrea, El Manglitos first university graduate; the mangrove seedlings being planted to restore the plantation

And their work has paid off in other ways too. Andrea Mendez Garcia, 27, studied marine biology after school, becoming the first university graduate from El Manglito. Her inspiration is her mother, Marta  a guardiana.

Other women say their work has influenced their children as well. My girls are proud of me, says Adriana Mendez, 56, of her two daughters. One is at university doing bioengineering and agriculture.

Related: Heres proof fishing bans leave plenty to eat, says study of Mexico marine park

Away from the sea, the biggest changes for the Guardianas del Conchalito have been in their own lives. Before all this, I didnt really believe in myself, says Reyes. But now I know I can achieve things: I know its possible.

Other women say their relationships have been upended, too. I used to ask my husbands permission if I wanted to leave the house, says Rosa Maria Hale Romero, whos in her early 60s. Now if I go out, I just tell him: Ill be back. And instead of me serving him, he brings me my coffee.

All the women laugh, in shared recognition; and then they are silent for a moment. After a while, Reyes speaks again. The truth is, it wasnt only the mangrove we transformed, she says. We transformed ourselves as well.

The cardon, or elephant cactus, at sunset in Baja California Sur



 This article was amended on 14 March 2025. La Paz is in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur, not Baja California.
Primrose Dunlop, later Countess Primrose Krasicki v Siecin: she wrote a social column for Sydneys Sunday Telegraph - Andrew Taylor/Fairfax Media via Getty Images

Primrose Dunlop, who has died aged 70, was a Sydney socialite who in 1990 briefly attracted the attention of the worlds press when her highly publicised fairytale wedding in Venice to Lorenzo Montesini, a Qantas steward who claimed to be an Ottoman prince, was cancelled at the 11th hour after the groom eloped to Paris with his best man, Robert Straub.

The marriage had begun as a jape, when Primrose complained of the cost of getting to London for parties, and Straub joked that as the wife of a Qantas steward she would enjoy discounted air fares. The idea soon grew legs: Primroses mother, the formidable Lady Potter, fancied the idea of a titled daughter, while Straub and Montesini, who had been an item since 1967, when they met as conscripts in the Vietnam War, stood to benefit from the cover of a mariage blanc.

Primrose Dunlop with Lorenzo Montesini - The Sydney Morning Herald

But when the bridal party arrived in Venice for Holy Week, tempers frayed as it became clear that Straub was reluctant to be sidelined. The final straw was when an argument erupted about the groom having to pay for what he described as a rather large meal.

Newspaper editors made hay with the debacle, with headlines including Aisle Be Missing You and Jet Set Sensation; Vanity Fair carried a five-page report by Dominick Dunne entitled Social Death in Venice. It was even joked about in the Australian parliament.

Thwarted in her hope to be a princess, Primrose Dunlop later became a countess fortuitously, when she married George Kirk, a Pole who had jumped a Royal Navy ship in Tasmania and settled in Australia as a commercial real estate agent (and habitual gambler); shortly before their wedding he was revealed to be Count Jerzy Krasicki v Siecin, scion of a 15th-century noble family from Masovia.

Primrose Dunlop in 1974 - Fairfax Media Archives

Anne-Margaret Primrose Dunlop, known as Pitty Pat, was born in Sydney on March 11 1954, the only daughter of Roger Dunlop, an Army doctor who had served in occupied Japan after the Second World War. Her mother Primrose, nee Anderson Stuart, came from a distinguished Sydney medical family, and was second cousin twice removed of the 6th Earl of Rosebery, a connection she was glad to point out.

Her mother later divorced and remarried one of Australias richest men, Sir Ian Potter. Nicknamed The Empress by the Australian press, the new Lady Potter also acquired two stepdaughters, the younger of them, Carolyn, married to Simon Parker Bowles, then brother-in-law of the future Queen Camilla.

The following year, in 1976, the young Primrose also married  to Roger White, a member of the Plymouth Exclusive Brethren. This union was later annulled.

By the 1980s Primrose took to writing about her world as a social columnist for Sydneys Sunday Telegraph. At about this time she met the flamboyant Montesini, who had been adopted by her mother as a convivial spare man.

Sir Ian and Lady Potter, Primroses mother and stepfather - Fairfax Media Archives

Lorenzo Montesini had been born in Alexandria and claimed courtesy titles bestowed on him by his maternal grandmother, Princess Anna Grazia Papajionavi Giustiniani, a vestige from the Ottoman empire. These titles  Prince Giustiniani, Count of Phanaar, Knight of Saint Sophia, Baron Alexandroff  added glamour to the match. But his mothers illegitimacy, the existence of 50 rival claimants and the view shared by two eminent scholars, John Julius Norwich and Philip Mansel, that neither the Venetians nor the Ottomans conferred titles such as these, made his claim to princely rank seem a little shaky.

Nevertheless, by 1989 Montesini and Primrose were engaged, with lavish parties in Melbourne and New York. The bride converted to Catholicism, the Palazzetto Pisani in Venice was rented, and the Basilica di San Pietro di Castello booked. The brides employer, Lord (Alistair) McAlpine, then chairman of the British Conservative Party, and the novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford were among the 70 guests who had already decamped to Venice when the groom absconded.

In 1993 Primrose married George Kirk, alias Count Jerzy Krasicki v Siecin, and had a daughter. He predeceased her in 2018 and a few years later Primrose was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.

She is survived by her daughter and by her mother, Lady Potter, who has donated A$1 million to The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health in her memory.

Countess Primrose Krasicki v Siecin, born March 11 1954, died February 5 2025
The HMS Prince of Wales will use the Starlink internet network as part of the trial - POPHOT ALEX CEOLIN/ROYAL NAVY

The Royal Navy is planning to trial Elon Musks internet network Starlink on the fleets flagship aircraft carrier, according to reports.

Sailors aboard HMS Prince of Wales will be able to use the high-speed network to watch television and contact loved ones during a nine-month deployment in the Indo-Pacific this spring.

If the trial is deemed successful, then Starlink could be rolled out across the rest of the fleet, navy sources told the Times.

Starlink works via a constellation of an estimated 7,000 satellites in low Earth orbit and is relied on by Ukrainian forces to co-ordinate artillery strikes and provide encrypted communication between commanders and troops.

HMS Prince of Wales, the largest warship in the Royal Navy, currently uses a network of military communication operated by Airbuss Skynet.

The Ministry of Defence will reportedly be in talks over the coming months to decide whether to retain Airbus or give the next contract to the firm Lockheed Martin, an American defence and aerospace manufacturer.

Mr Musk, the billionaire businessman, launched Starlink in 2021 after several years of prototypes and tests.

Defence industry insiders are reportedly concerned that Starlink could be weaponised by Mr Musk, who helms the department of government efficiency in Donald Trumps US administration  a White House team tasked with cutting federal spending.

Over the weekend, he claimed that if he turned off Starlink, the entire front line in Ukraine would collapse.

Approximately 42,000 terminals are being used by the military, hospitals, businesses and aid organisations.

Starlink devices (pictured) connect brigades in Ukraine to the internet while on the front lines - PIERRE CROM/GETTY IMAGES EUROPE

His comments triggered a bitter riposte from Polands government, which pays for Kyiv to use the vital service, allowing it to maintain internet connectivity after Russias destruction of fixed-line and mobile networks.

Radosaw Sikorski, Polands minister of foreign affairs, wrote on the social media platform X: Starlink for Ukraine is paid for by the Polish digitization ministry at the cost of about $50 million per year.

The ethics of threatening the victim of aggression apart, if SpaceX proves to be an unreliable provider, we will be forced to look for other suppliers.

Mr Musk, 53, replied: Be quiet, small man.

An MoD spokesman said: This procurement for future satellite communications remains ongoing and any contract would only be awarded on the basis of having a secure, sovereign capability.

The Skynet Enduring Capability Wideband Satellite System remains an ongoing competition and we are unable to comment further due to commercial sensitivities.
The plot to take over Austrias secret service is the latest revelation to emerge from The Telegraphs investigation into Jan Marsalek - Leopold Fiala

Russian spymaster Jan Marsalek was involved in a plot to take control of the Austrian intelligence services, The Telegraph can reveal.

Marsalek planned to discredit the countrys intelligence agency, it is alleged, and replace it with a new service with a head who he said would be loyal.

Taking over an EU secret service could have given Vladimir Putin direct access to the intelligence shared by Britain and its allies.

However, a planned restructuring, which involved the countrys far-Right Freedom Party (FPO), failed after it was forced out of coalition by a corruption scandal known in Austria as Ibiza-gate, which saw its leader accused of offering government contracts in return for support from Russia.

The plot is the latest revelation to emerge from The Telegraphs investigation into Marsalek, who was working for Russia while running Wirecard, one of the worlds biggest tech companies, when it collapsed in 2020 with a 1.9 billion hole in its books.

Last week, a team of Bulgarian agents Marsalek had been running in the UK, was found guilty of conspiracy to spy at the Old Bailey. They had been running surveillance operations, disinformation campaigns and plotting to kidnap enemies of Putin.

Marsalek is currently on the run, having fled Europe in 2020. He is on Interpols most wanted list for his alleged part in the fraud and is believed to be in Moscow.

Before he fled, Marsalek was also co-operating with rival secret services around the world, including the Americans and MI6, security sources have told The Telegraph.

Katrin Ivanova, Tihomir Ivanchev and Vanya Gaberova were found guilty of conspiracy to spy last week - Metropolitan Police

However, his work was not limited to spying. The Telegraph has revealed that he also plotted to use private armies to control migration into Europe and was in talks with officials over payment cards that would have allowed him to track refugees.

Julian Hessenthaler, a security consultant whose work helped expose Marsaleks involvement, said that the Austria plot would have been a ballsy plan.

Austria is seen as an intelligence partner by Britain and is a member of the Club de Berne, a secretive network of European spy agencies through which they share information.

Usually you try to place a mole inside the service of a foreign country, and thats already considered high tradecraft, Mr Hessenthaler said.

Now if youre able to rebuild a complete service with your own people in a foreign country, thats next level. I dont think thats ever been done before.

Security sources believe that the plot against the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterrorism Secret Service (BVT) began with a raid in 2018.

At the time, the FPO was the minority party in a coalition government and the then-interior minister, Herbert Kickl, ordered a raid on the countrys intelligence agency amid corruption claims at the BVT.

The raid by armed police discredited the agency in the eyes of its intelligence partners as officers seized confidential data and took the files that had been left lying on the desks overnight.

It emerged later that one of the key witnesses against the BVT was Martin Weiss, who had been one of the agencys most powerful officials as chief of Austrian intelligence operations.

By then, Weiss was working with Marsalek.

At the time, Marsalek was chief operating officer of the German payments processing company Wirecard. It has since emerged he was also working with the Russian security services.

In the wake of the 2018 raid, the FPO began planning a new service, with Marsalek involved behind the scenes.

Messages seen by The Telegraph show that Jan was repeatedly mentioned in chats between Florian Stermann, then the secretary general of the influential Austrian Russian Friendship society and Johann Gudenus, the one-time deputy leader of the FPO.

He was named alongside information he had been passed from the BVT.

In March 2018, Marsalek is said to have suggested a new head for the service, whom he said was interested and loyal to us.

Mr Stermann also passed on messages from Jan that background checks on his suggested spy boss with the main foreign services were generally positive.

The messages were uncovered by Austrian corruption investigators looking into Ibiza-gate, in which Mr Gudenus was present at a meeting between the FPOs then leader Heinz-Christian Strache and a woman posing as the niece of an oligarch.

Government contracts for political support

An undercover video filmed by Mr Hessenthaler, who was present under the guise of security, appears to show Strache offering government contracts in exchange for political support.

The video, named after the island where it was filmed, led to the downfall of the coalition government and therefore any plans for the FPO to restructure the security service.

Weiss, who is wanted on an international arrest warrant and is believed to be in Dubai, could not be reached for comment.

In an earlier police interview, he said that he was not the source of the information that Marsalek passed to the FPO and had no knowledge of it.

When asked why Marsalek was interested in reorganising the BVT, Weiss said that he often portrayed himself as a secret service agent and thought there was potential in the agency but a lot of things needed to be changed, including structural changes.

Egisto Ott, a former spy who worked under Weiss and stands accused of corruption for allegedly providing information to Marsalek, had also been promised a role in the new agency as someone who helped.

Egisto Otto stands accused of corruption for allegedly providing information to Marsalek - Lisa Leutner/Reuters

Thomas Riegler, an Austrian intelligence historian and political scientist, said: It looks like the plan was to set up a new intelligence structure upon the ashes of the BVT.

Marsalek is said to have put forward his own ideas on that and even named a former official as a possible new director. All of this could have been part of a general Kremlin-inspired plot to change the security architecture of Austria and weaken its defences.

The raid on the BVT, which was based on corruption allegations, was declared partially unlawful later in 2018 and the accused spies were either cleared or the case against them collapsed.

In late 2021, following criticism over their handling of a terror attack in Vienna in which four people were shot, the agency was dissolved and replaced with the new State Security and Intelligence Directorate (DSN).

Mr Kickl is now the leader of the FPO, which won the largest share of the votes at last years election. However, talks for a coalition failed and they have been shut out of power by an agreement between three other parties.

Neither the FPO, Mr Gudenus nor Mr Stermann responded to a request for comment.

Mr Ott has denied working for or providing information to Marsalek or the Russian security services.
Abu Wadee

Credit: Facebook/Abu Wadee

An alleged Palestinian militant charged with entering the UK illegally on a small boat has been filmed throwing pipe bombs at Israeli forces.

Footage obtained by The Telegraph shows Abu Wadee, 31, throwing two pipe bombs during night clashes with Israeli forces in the desert in 2021.

Wadee is understood to be a former key member of a militant group who has called for the slaughter of all Jews and posed with AK-47s.

He was remanded into custody at Manchester magistrates court, charged with illegal entry to the UK after being arrested on Sunday night.

Speaking through an interpreter, he told the court: I will die in prison. The situation in the cell is difficult, especially during Ramadan. He shook his head as he was handcuffed and taken away.

Wadee, whose real name is believed to be Mosab Al Qasas and who is from the city of Khan Younis in Gaza, is thought to have been one of 235 migrants picked up on four small boats in the Channel on Thursday morning.

He triggered a security scare after he posted a video of himself flicking a V for victory sign at the front of a boat packed with migrants in orange life jackets.

The alleged militant has 170,000 TikTok followers. He also has a YouTube channel followed by 189,000 subscribers, which collects money via PayPal. The video of him throwing pipe bombs was posted on his Facebook page in June 2021.

Abu Wadee (second left) and his unit posing with a shell and pipe bombs

Joe Truzman, a terrorism expert and the editor of the Long War Journal, who has tracked Wadee for more than seven years, said the Palestinian was affiliated with terror groups in Gaza.

Pictures also obtained by The Telegraph show Wadee with Mustafa al-Zaqout, aka Abu Suheib, the leader of a Hamas-aligned terror group called the Al-Qadir al-Husseini Brigades.

Mr Truzman said Wadee came to prominence in 2018 when there were riots and demonstrations on the border with Israel.

He said he was a part of a group, or unit made up of young men, organised by terror groups who would foment violence at the Gaza-Israel border.

Photos appear to show Wadee travelling in a small boat to the UK with other migrants - X

He is lucky he wasnt killed. These units would set fires and throw IEDs at Israeli soldiers during clashes at the border. There is evidence of Abu Wadih holding a pipe bomb, said Mr Truzman.

Other pictures show him with a group and what appears to be a large shell. The protests were called the Great March of Return, and lasted from 2018 to 2022.

Abu Wadee was openly part of these clashes, and he posted a lot of what he did on Facebook. During this period, he became a minor celebrity in Gaza. He describes himself as a revolutionary for the Palestinian cause.

There are pictures online of him with known terrorists, and there is a video of him sitting with the leader of a small terrorist organisation called the Abd al-Qadir al-Husseini Brigades, who are allied with Hamas and have been involved in various conflicts over the years, including the most recent war.

I believe Abu Wadee left Gaza around 2021, and he went to Syria and then to Switzerland, and now he has made his way across to England. The UK authorities could not have looked at his social media because it would have raised immediate red flags. They must do their due diligence and look into him.

Joe Truzman, a terrorism expert, says Wadee describes himself as a revolutionary for the Palestinian cause - Facebook

Wadees social media feeds show him at a rally railing against Jews, adding that his loftiest aspiration is to die for the sake of Allah.

He posted an anti-Jew video on his Facebook page last September, ranting: Allah, kill them one by one, and dont leave a single one. Allah, destroy them completely, disperse them completely and make the earth fall from under their feet.

The Tories have raised concerns that Wadee could use human rights laws to stay in the UK. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said: I am concerned this despicable man will make spurious human rights or other claims to try to stay in the UK  which weak immigration judges are all too likely to accept, based on past form.

I am glad the authorities have tracked him down, but he should never have been able to get here in the first place.

A Government spokesman said: The Government is committed to ending small boat crossings, which undermine our border security, and restoring order to the asylum system to ensure that the rules are respected and enforced.

The British public can be reassured that we take all steps necessary at all times to protect the nations security, including taking action in the Border Security Bill to give the police and immigration officers stronger powers to act where anyone poses a threat.

The Telegraph revealed on Monday that Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, is to introduce legal changes so that dangerous foreign nationals who use human rights laws to avoid deportation will be tagged like suspected terrorists to protect the public.

She will announce powers in her Border Security Bill this week to impose electronic tags, night-time curfews and exclusion zones on foreign nationals who cannot be removed from the UK. They will face the restrictions if they have committed a crime or are deemed a threat to the British public even if they have no convictions.
The Irish Government should start its own public inquiry into the Omagh bombing, according to a motion passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Dublin has said it will fully co-operate with the UK inquiry into the bombing, which is operating out of Omagh, but the Government in the Republic of Ireland has stopped short of committing to a separate public inquiry.

Irelands Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan said the Irish Government expects to agre one a memorandum of understanding with the UK Omagh Bombing Inquiry in the coming weeks.

The existing probe is examining whether the atrocity carried out by the Real IRA in the Co Tyrone town in August 1998 could have been prevented.

The bomb killed 29 people, including a woman who was pregnant with twins, in the worst single atrocity in the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Irish Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan (Brian Lawless/PA)

All those who were killed were remembered during commemorative hearings at the inquiry earlier this year, and evidence was also heard from those injured and emergency workers who responded.

The motion passed by the Assembly on Tuesday laments the lack of any tangible effort by the Irish Government to conduct their own inquiry into the Omagh bombing atrocity or deal with the wider aftermath of the Troubles.

The motion was brought by UUP MLAs Doug Beattie, Dr Steve Aiken, Robbie Butler and John Stewart.

Mr Beattie told the Assembly that the vehicle that delivered the bomb was stolen in the Republic of Ireland, adding that the explosives were also sourced and assembled in the Republic.

Yet the Dublin Government does not feel the need to hold a public inquiry in parallel to the UK inquiry or even a commission of investigation.

They clearly do not take their commitment to victims seriously, and many victims do not trust their hollow words. They do not trust some weak memorandum of understanding in regards to information sharing, and they have good reason not to trust them.

Mr Beattie said that commitments on implementing new legislation will be pointless if it does not include powers to compel witnesses from the Republic of Ireland, including gardai and military intelligence, to address the Omagh bomb inquiry.

Mr Butler told the Assembly that the intent of the motion was to seek truth and justice for innocent victims of terrorism.

He said the legacy of pain from the Troubles spreads beyond Northern Ireland and added that that means the Government of the Republic of Ireland need to act.

Robbie Butler MLA (Liam McBurney/PA)

However, Mr Butler said active engagement is not enough. He told the Assembly: We need to tie this down and it needs to be codified and it needs to be done in agreement between the UK Government and the Irish government.

Mr Butler said there also needs to be a parallel or standalone inquiry in the Republic of Ireland, adding: Warm words will not cut it.

He told the Assembly: If a Government knows and is holding on to information that would give relief and release to these people, shame on them.

He added: In 2025, theres absolutely no reason why the Government in the Republic of Ireland shouldnt do what our Government in the UK do, and that is to fess up and provide the absolute truth for victims of terrorism. 

The UUP motion also called on the UK Government to initiate an inquiry into the role of the Irish state during the Troubles, but this wording was replaced by a DUP amendment.

Joanne Bunting (Liam McBurney/PA)

The DUP amendment states that the Assembly believes the memorandum of understanding between the Omagh Bombing Inquiry and the Irish Government will be entirely deficient in providing answers for the victims and their families.

It also calls on the Irish Government to initiate a public inquiry into the Omagh bomb, with powers to compel any person in the Republic of Ireland to provide evidence, information, and material pertinent to a full and unfettered investigation on behalf of victims and survivors.

That amendment was brought by DUP MLAs Joanne Bunting, Maurice Bradley, and Stephen Dunne.

Ms Bunting said it was imperative that the Republic of Ireland Government instigates its own inquiry.

The DUP amendment called on Northern Ireland Justice Minister Naomi Long to demonstrate her commitment to challenging the Irish Governments failure to investigate the role of the Irish state during the Troubles.

Justice Minister Naomi Long (Niall Carson/PA)

Ms Long told the Assembly that her Department has no role in the conduct of the inquiry and that it would be for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to formally engage with the Irish Government in relation to the inquiry.

She added: Whilst there has been considerable discussion about the compellability of testimony and evidence from the Irish state, I would hope that the Irish government will live up to their commitment to fully co-operate with this inquiry, and that such compulsion should not be required.

It is a moral obligation that falls on all of us when we are aware of information that could bring someone else truth and justice, that we disclose that information and co-operate in every way that we could.

Ms Long also said the Northern Ireland Department of Justice cannot intrude on the decision of the Republic of Ireland to hold its own inquiry or compel it to co-operate with the existing inquiry.

She also said she shared some concerns with Mr OCallaghan that an entirely separate inquiry could result in putting people through another traumatic process.

She said it would be sensible to examine whether a mechanism can exist by which people can be assured they can get full truth from the existing inquiry.
Police have detained the master of the container ship Solong as experts voiced growing fears over the environmental impact of the collision in the North Sea.

The 59-year-old was arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter after the search was called off for a sailor onboard the Solong, which drifted ablaze off the coast of Yorkshire on Tuesday.

The ships owner, the Hamburg-based maritime firm Ernst Russ, confirmed to the Guardian that the ships master had been detained by Humberside police, adding: The master and our entire team are actively assisting with the investigations. Out of respect for the investigation and all involved we will not comment further at this time.

The investigation into the cause of the collision had been led by experts at the Marine Accident Investigation Branch but was escalated to a criminal investigation after early inquiries by Humberside police.

The Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel for the US air force when it was struck while stationary by the German-owned Solong on Monday morning. At least one of its tanks is leaking into the North Sea.

The transport minister Mike Kane said there was no evidence of foul play at present but that something had clearly gone terribly wrong.

The burning wreckage of the Solong could be seen drifting southwards off the coast of Grimsby on Tuesday. The smoking vessel was being shadowed by two tugboats to ensure it stayed away from land as it passed a nature reserve off the Humberside coast.

The ship is now expected to stay afloat, the transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, said.

I am reassured to hear indications from the ships owners which suggest the sodium cyanide containers were empty and that efforts to confirm this by the salvors are under way, she said in a statement on Tuesday.

I was also pleased to have been informed that early indications suggest that both vessels are now expected to stay afloat and that the Solong can be towed away from the shore, and salvage operations can get under way.

I will continue to monitor the response and have asked for regular updates, including on any potential environmental impacts, across government and our agencies.

Mike Ross, the Lib Dem leader of Hull city council, called on Keir Starmer to convene an emergency Cobra meeting to avoid environmental catastrophe in the region, which was described by one expert as an area of immense biological, cultural and economic importance.

Experts welcomed the news that the Solong was not carrying the poisonous substance sodium cyanide but feared the highly potent jet fuel could be a disaster for local marine life.

Dr Simon Boxall, an academic in oceanography at the University of Southampton, said the Jet A-1 fuel had a much higher toxicity than crude oil and that the impact of that on life in the oceans would be devastating.

Specialist pollution-control vessels from Germany and Norway arrived at the scene on Tuesday to try to measure the scale of the spillage and contain any toxins.

Dr Jennifer Allan, an expert in global environmental politics at Cardiff University, said it was a disaster in every sense of the word.

The health and environmental effects will be short- and long-term, local and regional, she said. The jet fuel will be harmful to local wildlife and beaches and the livelihoods that rely on them. In the long term, it could move up the food chain; for example, from fish into birds and people.

Investigators were expected to speak to many of the 36 crew members rescued from both ships in the coming days to try establish what went wrong.

Maritime experts suggested human error was likely to have played a significant role in the incident but that a technical mishap or oversight could not be ruled out.

DCS Craig Nicholson of Humberside police said the force had taken primacy for the investigation of any potential criminal offences which arise from the collision between the two vessels.

He added: Following inquiries undertaken by my team, we have arrested a 59-year-old man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision. This follows the conclusion of search operations by HM Coastguard for the missing crew member of the Solong.

Our thoughts are with the family of the missing crew member, and I have appointed family liaison officers to make contact and provide support to the family.

The man arrested remains in custody at this time whilst inquiries are under way, and we continue speaking with all those involved to establish the full circumstances of the incident.

The cost to repair the ships, let alone the cost of any environmental damage or cleanup, is expected to run into the tens of millions of pounds.

Harj Narulla, a barrister specialising in climate and environmental justice at Doughty St Chambers, said Stena could sue the Solongs owner if it was found to be responsible.

Costs would include damage to the tanker and cargo ship, as well as loss of the value of cargo, loss of earnings and income as well as repair costs.

Environmental damage costs would depend on how much was spilled, which chemicals and how much was contained after the spill.
Uzair was one of the smugglers who placed people on the Adriana, a fishing trawler that sank in one of the Mediterraneans deadliest migrant shipwrecks

Down a narrow lane in a village in north-east Pakistan, surrounded by high cement walls, looms the two-storey compound of one of the countrys most wanted people smugglers.

Master Uzair  once Poranwalas poorest resident, so impoverished that neighbours took him in  bought the empty plot around 15 years ago, neighbours say.

This was an early sign that his smuggling ring was profitable.

As his wealth grew, so did his home in the village, with new additions, a second wife and several cars. Soon, Uzair was widely regarded as the areas top smuggler.

Everybody wants to become rich overnight, and Master Uzair did it, says Mukhtair, 55, who lives next door and had a front-row seat for this rags-to-riches tale.

He earned so much money after he became a smuggler.

The 59-year-old has smuggled hundreds, possibly thousands, of people from the district of Gujrat, an ancient city flanked by two rivers, via boats to Europe, some of whom then made onward passage to the UK, according to villagers and relatives of those who paid him.

Some of Uzairs clients who paid about 2.5 million rupees apiece (6,900) made it all the way, though others did not survive the journeys.

Uzairs two-storey compound in north-east Pakistan - Bashrat Mehmood

Uzair was one of the smugglers who placed people on the Adriana, a fishing trawler that sank off the coast of southern Greece in June 2023 in one of the Mediterraneans deadliest migrant shipwrecks on record.

The Telegraph visited Poranwala after speaking to families who lost loved ones on that vessel, many of whom remain indebted to the smuggler and are still hoping for justice.

Residents helped to piece together a picture of the mysterious figure at the start of a smuggling network which is thought to stretch from Pakistan to northern Africa, before reaching European shores via the Mediterranean.

But the man himself was nowhere to be found. Villagers say they have heard Uzair has fled to either Spain or South Africa, leaving behind grieving families still indebted to him.

Only 100 people survived out of an estimated 750 people aboard the Adriana, at least half of whom were Pakistani.

The ship departed from Libya and was en route to Italy when it sank near Pylos, in southern Greece. The tragedy remains the subject of multiple, ongoing inquiries.

In February, Greeces ombudsman found that there were signs the coast guard had overlooked indications that the boat was at risk.

A naval court is investigating, and lawyers have filed on behalf of survivors seeking criminal charges against members of the search-and-rescue operation.

Parwez Akhtar, 30, was nervous when his neighbours first brought news of a boat accident in Europe, saying his brother, cousin and uncle  all of whom had paid Uzair for their journeys  had drowned at sea.

As soon as I heard about the boat accident, I went that very day to Master Uzairs home to demand an update, says Mr Akhtar.

Master Uzair was once Poranwalas poorest resident

Uzair had taken half the payment up front in cash and was due the rest upon arrival: a guarantee for both sides.

He kept denying it, saying that the wrecked ship wasnt his, and that his ship would reach Europe at any moment, pressing me to be satisfied with the outcome and to pay the remainder of the cost, he says.

The exchange lasted only a few minutes, ending when Mr Akhtar refused to pay Uzair as he had not heard anything from his relatives and needed to find out whether they were alive.

Mr Akhtar began a frantic search for survivors, eventually connecting with a family whose son had been on the Adriana.

He sent pictures of his relatives to the survivor, who then confirmed that they had all perished at sea.

He immediately rushed back to Uzairs compound to demand reparations. He wanted the money paid to be refunded, but the smuggler refused to come to the door.

Uzair has smuggled hundreds, possibly thousands, of people from the district of Gujrat - Bashrat Mehmood

His family at the house said: Your deal is with Uzair, not with his son, or others in the family; you should talk to him, and only him about the money and all your affairs.

About a dozen people who hailed from Mr Akhtars small village, about three miles from Uzairs house, are estimated to have died on the Adriana.

Uzairs successful rise from poverty to become an international people smuggler relied on leveraging the upstanding reputation that he and his family built over decades.

His father, whom people called Doctor Yusuf  a way to show their respect  taught English to local youths.

Uzair himself gained the communitys trust as a local medic treating village children at his clinic, which earned him paltry wages but widespread recognition in the area  and the nickname Master.

Family members in Gujrat mourning the loss of a relative after a boat carrying migrants capsized in the Mediterranean in March 2023 - Farooq Naaem/AFP

Everyone respected Doctor Yusuf, says Bagh Ali, 46, who was among the many who took his English language classes.

When Master Uzair started his smuggling business, he took advantage of this reputation. He would say: We are trustworthy people, and it is a guarantee from us that it will be our great pleasure to transport these young men to Europe.

He also lured people by falsely reassuring them that he would provide valid paperwork, passports and visas, often targeting young men.

Once abroad, he said, they would be earning exponentially more money than they ever could back home.

With this, Uzair began to build his network and successfully sent groups overseas. As the years passed, people he had sent abroad started to send funds home to their families in Gujrat, buying cars for relatives or investing in various businesses such as shopping centres.

Uzair, too, started to change. Aside from expanding his house, he started to wear the best fabrics in traditional dress, and often donned Western-stye three-piece suits with shiny, leather shoes.

But Uzair and his network of recruiting agents did not have to make much of a hard sell to those in Gujrat.

Residents here have been migrants for generations, including directly to the UK  the complicated, bloody legacy of being under British control for more than a century, which left a lasting dream for many Pakistanis to go overseas.

Some of the first arrivals to Britain worked for the British East India Company. Numbers swelled into the thousands after the Indian subcontinent was divided in 1947 and the British left.

These days, interest in migration has continued, inspired by their forefathers and driven by many contemporary factors, with people hoping to escape economic hardship, religious persecution, sectarian violence, discrimination over sexual orientation and the aftermath of deadly natural disasters from floods to earthquakes.

Pakistanis make up the largest group of people claiming asylum in the UK, filing more than 10,000 applications in 2024, according to government data.

That represents about 10 per cent of the claims made for the year at 108,138 people, the highest annual level since records began in 1979.

Fifty-three per cent of the asylum claims filed in the UK last year by Pakistanis were approved at the initial decision stage, though outcomes can change after an appeal or review.

In Uzairs village, the contrast between poverty and relative wealth is starkly visible, reflected in the houses that dot the lush, green landscape, framed by the soaring Himalayas.

Those who stayed generally live in modest, mud-brick homes surrounded by livestock, while households whose relatives took a gamble abroad have shinier abodes, made of concrete, glass and steel.

The disparity is clear, too, in clothing and transport, from tattered rags upwards, and rickshaws to sleek, modern cars.

Some returned to live in Pakistan, where the monthly median income is an estimated 250, with far more money in their pockets.

For a smuggler such as Uzair, displays of wealth served as a billboard to further his business.

In Pakistan, the monthly median income is an estimated 250 - Bashrat Mehmood

Despite knowing all the risks, one construction worker in the village working on a large house  whose owner saw his fortunes change after making it to the UK a few years ago  told The Telegraph that he was saving money to pay a smuggler to take him to Europe.

As soon as I have enough money, I will try this myself, he says.

Uzair is named as one of 156 human smugglers and traffickers in Pakistans Red Book, a catalog of the countrys most wanted criminals.

The list, issued by the Federal Investigation Agency, says that Uzair is suspected of violating a 1979 Pakistani law on emigration and another from 2018 on smuggling. If arrested and convicted, Uzair could face up to 14 years in prison.

The Telegraph could not independently confirm Uzairs current whereabouts, though his mansion in Poranwala sits empty, protected by security cameras and a large red metal gate.

For a time, his family remained at the compound  an elderly mother, two wives and a gaggle of children. But eventually, they disappeared as well, after being harassed by the families of survivors demanding reparations and justice following the Adriana shipwreck.

That deadly incident was perhaps the last time Uzair managed an attempt to trick people into risky journeys abroad.

He lied to the people, says Bagh Ali. He is a greedy person, and he only did this to become more and more rich.

Scores of people on the battered fishing boat the Adriana, which later capsized and sank off southern Greece in June 2023 - AP

Many villagers were far less outspoken about Uzair, fearful of retaliation given his power and influence.

A father whose son died on the Adriana, for instance, refused to say anything about the smuggler.

Mr Akhtar, whose family sold all their land and cattle and borrowed large sums to pay Uzair, is still repaying those debts on top of suffering from the staggering loss of life.

For a time, he would ride his scooter on occasion to Uzairs house, hoping to recoup money lost and begin to mend his pain.

But Uzair gradually stopped answering messages online, then halted even reading them; one day, the number was cut off entirely.

That was when Mr Akhtar realised he could only rely on himself to move his family past this tragedy.

He is planning to sell his remaining land to pay off what is owed, though to this day has not been able to bring himself to break the news to his parents that Shamsher  his brother and their son  died at age 30.

Until now, Ive been telling them that my brother is stuck in Libya and will soon reach Europe, he says. Im afraid that if I tell them the truth, they might have a heart attack.
Peter Dutton has attended a number of Liberal party fundraisers in recent weeks, including one at the harbourside home of Justin Hemmes, which he attended as ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred approached Queensland. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Peter Dutton has repeatedly charged taxpayers for flights coinciding with intimate and exclusive fundraising events behind closed doors, including at a men-only club in Melbourne and a private home on Sydneys north shore.

These events, organised by party fundraising vehicles rather than politicians, have increased in frequency across the political spectrum as Labor and Liberal executives drum up cash for an expensive federal election campaign.

Politicians are banned from charging taxpayers for travel if the dominant purpose of the trip is to raise funds for their party, rather than parliamentary business.

Duttons appearances at Liberal fundraisers, which were advertised several weeks in advance, coincide with in-studio interviews, speeches or press conferences in nearby electorates, which are generally considered as legitimate parliamentary business.

These fundraisers are not unusual, nor are they a breach of any rules. Anthony Albanese regularly attends similar events, including a private fundraising dinner in Sydney on 6 August, and has previously been publicly accused of using taxpayer-funded flights before attending them.

On Monday, he cancelled an appearance at a dinner capped at 10 people in Sydney due to the flood emergency in south-east Queensland and northern NSW. But the prime ministers travel costs to such events are obscured as he makes use of special purpose jets that are now subject to restricted transparency.

On 21 October last year Dutton charged $422 to fly from Canberra to Sydney, according to publicly available expenses records. The following day, he was the lunch guest of a fundraiser at the financial firm Blue Ocean Equities. Later that night he attended a small, exclusive dinner in a small group setting at a private home on the north shore. Between fundraisers, Dutton delivered a speech at the Sydney Jewish Museum and conducted several media interviews. A day later, he charged taxpayers $430 to fly to Brisbane, expense records show.

On 2 October, Dutton charged taxpayers $512 to fly to Melbourne. A day later, he headlined a lunch fundraiser at the men-only Athenaeum Club. Invites show donations were allocated to the Sydney seat of Cook. After a press conference in the marginal electorate of Chisholm, Dutton flew to Brisbane on 3 October at a cost of $1,063.35.

On 9 April, Dutton charged $495 to fly from Brisbane to Sydney. The next day, he was the guest at a private dinner at the Opera House where donors were invited to discuss and raise issues with him. Shortly before dinner, Dutton delivered the Tom Hughes oration at the same location. Donations were set aside for Julian Leesers campaign in the seat of Berowra. He flew back to Brisbane on 12 April.

On 4 December Dutton was in Sydney. The next day he was billed as attending an intimate and exclusive fundraising boardroom lunch at the Newcastle Club in Newcastle, which describes itself as one of the oldest and most established private clubs in Australia. That day Dutton charged $480 worth of travel allowances, although it is unclear how he travelled. Money from the fundraiser was set aside for campaigning in the Labor-held seat of Paterson. Earlier in the day, the opposition confirmed it would rescind the Port Stephens offshore wind zone.

Later the same day Dutton was back in Sydney to attend Lachlan Murdochs Christmas party at the media moguls Bellevue Hill mansion. Rupert Murdoch was in attendance.

Duttons wife, Kirilly, travelled from Brisbane to attend that function and a separate News Corp event six months earlier to celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Australian newspaper. Taxpayers were billed for family travel on both occasions.

MPs can claim the costs of family travel when spouses or relatives are accompanying them during parliamentary business away from home. The dominant purpose of the family travel must be for facilitating the family life of the parliamentarian.

Dutton had other parliamentary business in Sydney before both the Murdoch Christmas party and the 60th anniversary party.

A spokesperson said the fundraisers and the Murdoch parties were not the dominant purpose of the trips.

All Mr Duttons travel was within the rules and within the guidelines.

Dutton also attended other fundraisers while in Canberra for federal parliament.

That includes a 28 February dinner with the former defence minister Christopher Pyne in the cellar room of Canberras Courgette, which describes itself as a seriously luxurious restaurant.

Dutton has attended a number of Liberal party fundraisers in recent weeks. These include a dinner in Melbourne on Tuesday, a leaders private dinner in Sydney in late February, and a fundraiser at the harbourside home of the hospitality entrepreneur Justin Hemmes, which made the news because Dutton attended as ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred approached Queensland.

Party executives were recently offered VIP seating for those willing to pay for a seat on Duttons table at a fundraising event at Taronga Zoo. Money raised went to the Liberals bid to unseat the independent MP for Warringah, Zali Steggall.

Expenditure data for 2025 is not yet available.

Although the use of taxpayer-funded flights that coincide with fundraising events does not break any rules, it has prompted calls for an overhaul of the expenses system.

Anthony Whealy, a former NSW supreme court judge and current chair of the Centre for Public Integrity, said the rules allowed a grey area for MPs to claim travel in circumstances the public would not always accept as fair.

I think the public demand that these sorts of systems be shaken up every now and again because clearly theyre not satisfactory, Whealy said.

Thats because people slot their behaviour into systems and rules without those systems being examined closely enough.
Symon Hill was arrested after calling out Who elected him? during the proclamation ceremony. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

Police have admitted acting unlawfully in arresting a trainee Baptist minister who called out Who elected him? at a local proclamation of the accession of King Charles III.

After a two-and-a-half-year battle, Symon Hill, 47, has been paid 2,500 in compensation from Thames Valley police over his arrest in September 2022.

Hill had been returning home from his church in Oxford on a Sunday morning, three days after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, when he found his way blocked by a procession to proclaim King Charles.

He asked local police officers how he could avoid the crowds and mentioned in conversation that he disagreed with the veneration of an unelected head of state.

They got a bit defensive about it, said Hill. One asked, Why are you here if you dont agree with it? I was just going home.

Charles was then declared our only king and rightful liege lord.

Who elected him? Hill called out from the back of the crowd.

A couple of people told Hill to shut up and he responded that a head of state was being imposed without the countrys explicit consent.

Three security guards appeared and ordered Hill to be quiet. He said he argued back at which point a number of police officers swooped in.

Hill was handcuffed and led away, as strangers challenged the right of the police to detain someone for voicing an opinion even if it was one with which they disagreed.

In police body-worn camera footage shared during the legal challenge, officers are heard saying: But we do need to fine or de-arrest as we will get a complaint off the back of this.

Hill was subsequently released but later asked to voluntarily attend a police station. I was made aware then that it wasnt so voluntary so I did go to the police station, he said.

He was ultimately charged under the Public Order Act with threatening or abusive words or behaviour.

The charges were dropped on 5 January 2023 by the Crown Prosecution Service due to insufficient evidence.

Hill, who is a chaplain at Aston University in Birmingham, said he had been surprised by the entire affair and by the two-and-a-half years it had taken for the police to admit their mistake.

He said: Opposing the monarchy is not a crime. Im very conscious that most people who are wrongly arrested are not able to take legal action.

This is not just about me. It never has been. It is about the rights of all people to dissent, to express their views, to refuse to bow down, to assert the dignity and equality of all human beings.

With the vague anti-protest laws as they are, anybody could face arrest for expressing an opinion in a public space. The law must be changed and the police must be held to account.

Hill, who has a history of peace activism and protest, was supported in his legal action by the National Council for Civil Liberties, also known as Liberty.

Katy Watts, a lawyer at Liberty, said: We must be able to raise our voices on the issues that matter to us. A functioning democracy relies on the ability to voice different opinions and discuss them in public spaces. Symons wrongful arrest shows how broad anti-protest laws are shutting down peoples freedom of expression.

We must urgently see a review of the broad anti-protest legislation to ensure that what happened to Symon cannot be allowed to happen again.

Thames Valley polices deputy chief constable, Ben Snuggs, said: Thames Valley police has settled a claim with Mr Hill and has accepted that the grounds of the offence for which he was arrested were unlawful.

Public order and public safety operations are a key part of policing and its important we use these circumstances to help shape our future response.
Between 12,000 and 30,000 civilians were killed during Rodrigo Dutertes presidency, prosecutors allege - Ted Aljibe/AFP via Getty

The former president of the Philippines is understood to be on a plane bound for The Hague after he was arrested by Interpol over the bloody war on drugs waged during his time in office.

Rodrigo Duterte, 79, was taken into custody on Tuesday after he landed at Manilas main airport on his way home from a political rally in Hong Kong.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued a warrant for his arrest following an investigation into thousands of killings while he was in power.

Photographs published by the Philippine Star purported to show a plane due to take the former president out of the country late on Tuesday. The newspaper said the jet was scheduled to fly to The Hague, where the ICC is located.

The court has alleged Mr Duterte committed crimes against humanity between 2011  when he was still the mayor of the southern city of Davao  and 2019, when the then president withdrew his country from the Rome Statute, a move critics suspected was an attempt to escape accountability for his actions.

Officially, around 6,000 people died during his so-called war on drugs, but data cited by the ICC estimates between 12,000 and 30,000 civilians were killed.

A plane reportedly due to take Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague sits on the tarmac at an air base in Manila hours after his arrest - Ezra Acayan/Getty Images AsiaPac

The Duterte administration moved to suspend the ICCs investigation in late 2021, arguing Philippine authorities were already looking into the same allegations and the international court  a court of last resort  did not have jurisdiction.

In recent years the former president appeared to benefit from impunity at home. But last November, Ferdinand Marcos, the current president, changed course, indicating his government was willing to hand him over.

The shift came amid a spectacular fallout between the archipelagos two major political dynasties. Mr Marcos, the son of the countrys former dictator, was elected president in 2022, while his vice-president was Sara Duterte, the former leaders daughter.

Yet the relationship quickly deteriorated into a feud, with Ms Duterte suggesting late last year she had hired a hitman to kill Mr Marcos. She also faces separate impeachment charges over alleged misuse of millions in public funds.

The Interpol arrest has been welcomed by many activists and victims. Leila de Lima, a former senator and one of Mr Dutertes fiercest critics, who was jailed for almost seven years on baseless charges, said it was the first step towards justice.

Today, Duterte is being made to answer  not to me, but to the victims, to their families, to a world that refuses to forget. This is not about vengeance. This is about justice finally taking its course, she said.

You will just have to kill me

However, Mr Duterte, who still has strong support in parts of the country, remained bullish on Tuesday.

In a video from the broadcaster GMA, taken as he was stopped in Manila, he said: You will just have to kill me. I wont allow you to take the side of the white foreigners.

He justified the brutal efforts to tackle illegal drugs when he appeared alongside his daughter at a rally in Hong Kong on Monday.

Why did I do it? For myself? For my family? For you and your children, and for our nation, he said.

If this is truly my fate in life, its OK, I will accept it. They can arrest me, imprison me. What is my sin? I did everything in my time for peace and a peaceful life for the Filipino people.

He previously declared the ICC does not scare me one bit.

Large numbers of police were seen waiting at Manilas Ninoy Aquino International Airport for Mr Duterte to return from Hong Kong - Jam Sta Rosa/AFP

The court, based in The Hague, can step in when countries are unwilling or unable to prosecute suspects in the most heinous international crimes, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. It is backed by 125 member states.

In this case, it is unclear what exactly happens next. The high-profile arrest could be seen as a test for a court that has also issued warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels prime minister, and Min Aung Hlaing, who leads Myanmars military junta.

A lawyer in the Philippines said he had already filed a petition with the Supreme Court on behalf of Mr Duterte to compel authorities to stop co-operating with the ICC.

Peter Mumford, director of the Eurasia Group in Southeast Asia, said: There is speculation that Duterte is being held at the air base to make it easier to deport him to The Hague, though the former president, who turns 80 this month and suffers from various ailments, may seek to delay [or] prevent this on medical grounds.

This latest development raises the temperature further in the bitter spat between the Duterte and Marcos dynasties, but it does not fundamentally change the political outlook in the Philippines.
A judge has blocked the deportation of the prominent Palestinian activist who helped lead Columbia Universitys protests against Israel over the war in Gaza. Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at Columbia University until this past December who holds permanent US residency, is being detained by US immigration authorities at a facility in Louisiana after his arrest, according to information from officials.

A spokesperson for the USs homeland security department  as well as the countrys top diplomat  confirmed the arrest. In a statement to the Associated Press, a homeland security department spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, said Khalils arrest was made to support Donald Trumps presidential orders prohibiting antisemitism.

The department alleged that Khalils activism constituted activities aligned to Hamas.

Trumps secretary of state, Marco Rubio, also confirmed the arrest, adding on X: We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported.

Jesse M Furman, an Obama-appointed judge in New Yorks southern district, announced the block in an order on Monday amid protests over Khalils arrest.

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries called on the department of homeland security on Monday evening to produce facts and evidence of criminal activity.

Absent evidence of a crime, such as providing material support for a terrorist organization, the actions undertaken by the Trump administration are wildly inconsistent with the United States constitution, Jeffries statement read.

Khalil served as lead negotiator for the Gaza solidarity encampment at Columbia University last spring. On Monday, an online tracker administered by the USs Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) indicated he was at the LaSalle detention center near the central Louisiana community of Jena. The facility is operated by the private contractor GEO Group.

According to Zeteo, which first reported on the arrest, Khalils attorneys did not immediately know where he was being detained. The same tracker showing Khalil in custody in Louisiana on Monday indicated on Sunday that he was at an immigration detention center in New Jersey.

But when Khalils wife, a US citizen who is eight months pregnant, attempted to visit him at the New Jersey center, she was reportedly told he was not there.

Khalil was detained by Ice agents despite having a green card and therefore being a permanent US resident. Khalils attorney said Ice agents hung up the phone during the detention when she asked if they had a warrant.

The Trump administrations outrageous detention of Mahmoud is designed to instill terror in students speaking out for Palestinian freedom and immigrant communities, said Jewish Voice for Peace in a statement on the arrest. This is the fascist playbook. We all must fiercely reject it, and universities must start protecting its students.

Trump has vowed to target foreign students for deportations as well as agitators involved in protests on US college and university campuses. The second Trump administration has made a specific focus of Columbia University, recently announcing the cancellation of $400m in grants over claims the school isnt doing enough to combat antisemitism.

A Zionist activist group, Betar USA, claimed credit for releasing Khalils name to the Trump administration, praising his detention. The Anti-Defamation League has listed the group as a hate group  the only Jewish group on the list.

This blatantly unconstitutional act sends a deplorable message that freedom of speech is no longer protected in America, Murad Awawdeh, president and chief executive of New York Immigration Coalition, said in a statement on Sunday afternoon.

Furthermore, Khalil and all people living in the United States are afforded due process.

A green card can only be revoked by an immigration judge, showing once again that the Trump administration is willing to ignore the law in order to instill fear and further its racist agenda. DHS must immediately release Khalil.

Abene Clayton contributed to this report
Nigel Farage, Rupert Lowe

Rupert Lowe joins a long line of high-profile Faragean fallings-out; Farage vs Alan Sked, Farage vs Robert Kilroy-Silk, Farage vs Godfrey Bloom, Farage vs Suzanne Evans, Farage vs Douglas Carswell, Farage vs Ben Habib. Now it might just be that Nigel is unlucky: a figure cursed to walk through life only ever encountering the awkward and uncharitable and so being subjected to a litany of painful clashes.

Or we could apply what I have come to call Markles Law: if you spend your whole life falling out with people then the common problematic factor, on the balance of probability, is not going to be everybody you happen to meet, but you.

Speaking to Dan Wootton on Monday evening, Lowe, the now-independent MP for Great Yarmouth, described the campaign against him as unfair and un-Christian.

Of course, it is possible that an investigation will find wrongdoing. While we cannot prejudge, details and timing of the allegations look sketchy. We are supposed to believe that the party reported Lowe to the police three months after the alleged crime took place; coincidentally one day after he publicly criticised Farage.

Though allegations of office bullying were not directed at Lowe himself, the initial Reform statement appeared to give the impression that he had personally mistreated staff. Lowes entire parliamentary team have since signed a heartfelt letter denying the allegations and describing their boss as a decent man. They also insist, oddly, that they have never been contacted as part of any parliamentary investigation.

Here, Reform may be exhibiting behaviour it would normally condemn; cancellation without due process, even calling the coppers over some alleged hurty words.

In a television interview, Richard Tice, Reforms deputy leader, implied that Lowe might not be welcome back in the party, even if his innocence were proved. Mr Farage insisted on TV that on the 29 February Lowe was informed about a parliamentary investigation into allegations against him. Not only does Lowe deny this, but there wasnt actually a February 29 this year. So as hatchet jobs go, its not the most convincing  and many party members remain unconvinced. The whole thing smacks of amateurism; more Fanny Cradock than Francis Urquhart.

Lowe claims that Reform insiders have briefed journalists that he has early-onset dementia; which Farage may have alluded to in a Telegraph article, describing Lowe as a different person from the one he knew in the Brexit Party days. As someone who spends prolonged periods of time caring for a parent with Alzheimers, this greatly offended me. Its a serious, hideous condition, not something to be opportunistically chucked around for score-settling purposes.

Since entering the Commons, Lowe has earned a reputation as a committed MP. The reporter Christian Calgie points out that by removing the whip from Lowe, Reform UKs total parliamentary activity since the general election has fallen by 46 per cent. Every party needs its thinkers, its details-men and women.

A common complaint from Reform insiders is that under Farage and chairman Zia Yusuf, the party operates in a brittle, presidential style. Yet UK politics is not, and has never been, presidential. If Reform wishes to form a government, as it insists, they will also need 100 plus ministers to govern, without (so far) a single peer in the Lords. In short, the party cannot exist as a private fiefdom, or a talking-shop for airing grievances without solutions.

Lowes defenestration threatens the partys hopes of professionalisation in more ways than one. What serious person would want to join and run as a candidate, when their life could be so visibly detonated?

Moreover, it is hard to convince those furious about the conduct of recent politics that you are different and worth voting for when you immediately resort to the sort of rats-in-a-sack scrapping, at which the Tories and Labour excel, as soon as you gain even a handful of MPs.

A party that can only accommodate one strong personality will struggle to assemble a cabinet.

Labour, for all its faults, is generally loyal and members will go out to bat for each other even when theyre manifestly in the wrong.

Angela Rayner quite possibly loathes the PM but manages to keep it as professional as she can. Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick may never quite be BFFs, but Badenoch wisely gave her leadership rival a prominent role, unleashing him as an attack-dog against the Government (to colleagues irritation whenever Jenrick strays into their briefs). On balance, its better to have effective people onside than airing their grievances from afar.

Now, more than ever, there is a need for the sort of accountability that Lowe provided in the House. The assault on British farming proceeds apace. Labour are still ducking scrutiny of the Chagos deal. Bridget Phillipsons loathsome schools bill will soon return to the Commons to continue its assault on educational standards. Migrant crossings and hotel-use are rising under this Government; a reminder of what Reform should be talking about.

Yet it has chosen now to launch a botched internal coup. Over in No 10, Keir Starmer and chief of staff Morgan McSweeney must be rubbing their hands with glee.
Ukraine gun

Pressure was heaped on Vladimir Putin last night after a remarkable agreement between Ukraine and the USA.

Following an eight-hour summit meeting in Saudi Arabia, between an American delegation led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukrainian ministers, Kyiv agreed to an immediate 30-day ceasefire in the three-year-long conflict. In a joint statement by both parties, it was announced that the US pause on weapons delivery and intelligence sharing would be lifted.

The turnaround will be seen as a significant victory for President Zelensky, only two weeks after his heated disagreements with President Trump in the Oval Office. The Russians did not attend the talks; a senior Trump adviser is on his way to Moscow to explain the terms to Putin.

The fact that the plan was announced in a joint statement between Washington and Kyiv means the onus is now on Putin to agree.

President Zelensky has seemingly proved to the Americans that Ukraine is sincere in its determination to end the war.

President Trump has crassly and repeatedly berated Ukraine for not trying hard enough for a peaceful end to hostilities; Mr Rubio arrived for the meeting still insisting that it was up to Kyiv to make concessions. But the mood has changed. Mr Rubio has stated he hopes that the Russians will agree to the ceasefire as well, as part of the plan for negotiations aimed at paving the way towards peace.

In Mr Rubios words, the ball is in their court  If they dont [agree], well unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here.

There is still much work to be done before a final settlement can be reached, including the precise delineation of ceasefire lines and, further ahead, the status of territory occupied by Russian troops.

Secretary Rubio has said that Ukraine should not expect the Russians to return all the territory they now illegally occupy. But it will be a difficult sell to his own people for Mr Zelensky to agree to cede any part of his country to the enemy.

Putins invasion has been very far from the walkover the Kremlin despot appears to have believed was in store, and his losses have been substantially greater then might have been expected. But the Russian military has still secured significant territorial gains, even beyond the land illegally occupied since 2014, and this may be enough for Putin to claim victory. With this in mind, the final deal must reflect the fact that Russia has been the aggressor, and ensure that it, not the West, pays for the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Sir Keir Starmer hailed a remarkable breakthrough in talks between the US and Ukraine after the countries agreed a plan for a 30-day ceasefire.

The Prime Minister, who has led European efforts to build a peacekeeping mission in the event an agreement to end the war is reached, said the ball is now in the Russian court.

Donald Trumps US administration also said on Tuesday it would immediately lift its suspension of military aid to Ukraine and its intelligence sharing with Kyiv.

Sir Keir will convene a phone call of leaders from what he has dubbed the coalition of the willing on Saturday, when they will discuss peacekeeping efforts aimed at deterring Russias Vladimir Putin from launching a future attempt to conquer Ukraine if a deal to end the conflict is reached.

Following the talks between White House and Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia, Sir Keir said: I warmly welcome the agreement today in Jeddah and congratulate President Trump and President Zelensky for this remarkable breakthrough.

This is an important moment for peace in Ukraine and we now all need to redouble our efforts to get to a lasting and secure peace as soon as possible.

He added: As both American and Ukrainian delegations have said, the ball is now in the Russian court. Russia must now agree to a ceasefire and an end to the fighting too.

Leaders joining the Prime Minister in Saturdays call are ready to help bring an end to this war in a just and permanent way that allows Ukraine to enjoy its freedom, Sir Keir added.

Ukrainian leader Mr Zelensky said his country is ready to accept the ceasefire proposal and challenged Russia to do the same in a post on social media platform X.

Ukraine is ready to accept this proposal  we see it as a positive step and are ready to take it. Now, it is up to the United States to convince Russia to do the same. If Russia agrees, the ceasefire will take effect immediately, he said.

Mr Zelensky added he was grateful to US president Mr Trump for the constructive conversation between the nations, despite tensions developing between the pair over recent weeks.

I received a report from our delegation on their meeting with the American team in Saudi Arabia. The discussion lasted most of the day and was good and constructiveour teams were able to discuss many important details. Our position remains absolutely clear: Ukraine has been pic.twitter.com/7EZXTVA52C  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) March 11, 2025

The US President, meanwhile, said he wanted to get this show on the road and end the war in Ukraine after the agreement was reached.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Mr Trump said: Ukraine, ceasefire, Ukraine, ceasefire, just agreed to a little while ago.

Now we have to go to Russia, and hopefully President Putin will agree to that also, and we can get this show on the road.

We want to get that war over with.

Mr Trump claimed US officials would meet with their Russian counterparts later on today and tomorrow to discuss the deal.

He added: If we can get Russia to do it, thatll be great. If we cant, we just keep going on and people are going to get killed, lots of people.

Mr Trump halted intelligence-sharing and military aid to Kyiv following his public bust-up with the Ukrainian president in the White Houses Oval Office.

Donald Trump and Elon Musk speak to reporters as they sit in a red Model S Tesla vehicle on the south lawn of the White House (Pool via AP/PA)

Sir Keir said on Monday in a phone call with the US President that he hoped the talks in Jeddah could lead to American support being restored.

The diplomatic push to bring an end to the war comes on a day when:

 Ukraine launched its largest drone attack of the war, with the Russian defence ministry claiming it had shot down 337 drones that had targeted more than 10 regions, including the capital city Moscow.

 Russia said it regained more territory in the western Kursk region of the country, which Ukrainian forces invaded last summer in a bid to win a bargaining chip for future negotiations.

 Defence chiefs from across Europe, including Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, met in Paris to begin planning for the coalition of the willing European peacekeeping plan.

Further meetings between defence ministers, including UK Defence Secretary John Healey, will take place in Paris on Wednesday.

Foreign ministers from the G7  including David Lammy and US counterpart Marco Rubio  will meanwhile meet in Canada from Wednesday to Friday, where Ukraines future is expected to be discussed.
Timeline of events leading to North Sea collision between tanker and cargo ship

A 59-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter after the collision between a tanker and a cargo vessel in the North Sea.

The incident happened near the Humber estuary, off the coast of north-east Lincolnshire, on Monday and involved US tanker Stena Immaculate and Portuguese cargo ship Solong.

Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel in 16 segregated cargo tanks, at least one of which was ruptured when it was struck  prompting a major emergency response.

While 36 people were safely brought ashore, one crew member is still missing and presumed dead.

Here is a timeline of the events:

 February 27

5am: The Stena Immaculate departs Agioi Theodorio in Greece, transporting jet fuel to Immingham on behalf of the US military.

 March 9

6.16pm: The Stena Immaculate anchors roughly 10 miles off the coast of Withernsea, East Yorkshire.

8.07pm: The Solong leaves Grangemouth, Scotland, bound for Rotterdam, with arrival scheduled for the following evening.

 March 10

9.48am: HM Coastguard receives reports of an allision  a term used when a moving ship strikes a stationary object  involving the two vessels in the Humber estuarys outer anchorage.

(PA Graphics)

10.20am: Four RNLI lifeboats are dispatched following reports of crew members abandoning ship and fires on board.

11.28am: East Midlands Ambulance Service sends multiple units, including its hazardous area response team (HART), following a 999 call.

1.30pm: Martyn Boyers, chief executive officer of the Port of Grimsby East, confirms 32 casualties have been brought to shore.

2.20pm: The US-based marine news outlet gCaptain reports that the US government has not ruled out foul play, citing an unnamed White House source.

2.36pm: Crowley, the company that operates the Stena Immaculate, confirms that the vessel is leaking jet fuel but that its entire crew is accounted for.

2.38pm: The Marine Accident Investigation Branch confirms it has deployed investigators to Grimsby to assess the situation.

4.34pm: A spokesperson for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer describes the incident as deeply concerning.

The Solong container drifts in the Humber estuary (Danny Lawson/PA)

7.46pm: Ernst Russ, the Solongs owner, confirms that 13 of its 14 crew members have made it safely ashore, but one person is still missing.

9.30pm: HM Coastguard states the search for the missing Solong crew member has been stood down, though 36 people have been successfully rescued.

11.20pm: The Solong breaks away from the Stena Immaculate and starts drifting southwards. A 1km exclusion zone is established as a precaution.



 March 11

12.06pm: HM Coastguard clarifies that one individual was treated for injuries at the scene and did not require hospital care, contrary to earlier reports.

12.27pm: Ernst Russ addresses speculation, confirming that the Solong was not carrying sodium cyanide.

12.57pm: Transport Minister Mike Kane tells Parliament that the missing Solong crew member is now presumed dead.

He added: Whether there was foul play, I think is speculation. There is no evidence to suggest that at the moment.

15.31pm: Humberside Police announce a 59-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter following the collision.
Donald Trump said it takes two to tango with pressure on Russia to sign up to the peace deal - AP

Donald Trump will challenge Vladimir Putin to agree to a 30-day ceasefire after securing Ukraines approval for his plan to bring about an end to the war.

The US president is expected to call his Russian counterpart this week and said it takes two to tango after Kyivs offer to lay down its arms in what would be the first negotiated pause in fighting since Moscows invasion three years ago.

Speaking in Riyadh after talks with a Ukrainian delegation lasted more than eight hours, Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, said that the ball is now in Russias court and that he hoped Russia will answer yes as quickly as possible.

If they say no, he added, then well know unfortunately what is the impediment to peace here.

On Tuesday, massive shelling hit Dnipro, while four people were killed in Odesa, according to local press, as Russia gave no indication it would agree to the truce.

In the Saudi capital, Ukraine expressed its readiness for a ceasefire after the US agreed to immediately restart intelligence-sharing and weapons deliveries.

Volodymyr Zelensky, who was not present at the talks, said the agreement showed that Ukraine is ready for peace.

Russia must show its readiness to end the war or continue the war, the Ukrainian president added. It is time for the full truth.

Mr Zelensky, who has been at loggerheads with the Trump administration after a disastrous White House summit last month, made sure to personally thank the president for the move towards peace.

I want to thank President Trump for the constructiveness of our teams conversation, he said, adding that the US must now convince Putin to sign up to the deal.

The terms of the ceasefire went further than a joint British-and-French proposal for a halt in the fighting at sea and in the air, Mr Zelensky noted.

The US proposal would not only stop missile, drone, and bomb attacks and the conflict in the Black Sea, but bring an end to fighting along the entire frontline.

One Ukrainian MP labelled the proposed ceasefire a great result for Ukraine.

Oleksiy Goncharenko, the MP for Odesa, told The Telegraph: We need peace, its a real breakthrough. The most important thing is that we have a real result in military aid and intelligence being resumed.

Mr Goncharenko, whose Peoples Deputy party is in opposition to Mr Zelenskys government, said it provided Putin with a real dilemma but he added he had no confidence that the Russian president would sign a deal.

Now we will see the true face of Putin, I am sure he doesnt want peace. If he starts to play games with Trump, it will be time for Trump to put pressure on him. He only understands force.

Important moment

Sir Keir Starmer said: This is an important moment for peace in Ukraine and we now all need to redouble our efforts to get to a lasting and secure peace as soon as possible.

As both American and Ukrainian delegations have said, the ball is now in the Russian court. Russia must now agree to a ceasefire and an end to the fighting, too.

In Washington, Mr Trump said hopefully Russia will agree to the ceasefire and he announced that he had invited Mr Zelensky back to the White House.

Appearing to refer to Mr Zelenskys last White House visit, Mr Trump said: I think its a big difference between the last visit you saw in the Oval Office, and this.

A Ukrainian official said the proposed ceasefire was partly designed to call Putins bluff over whether he was genuinely committed to peace talks.

Lets see what happens, but I give it less than a 50 per cent chance that they [Russia] will agree, the official told The Telegraph.

It came as Emmanuel Macron, the French president, told European military chiefs they had to move from a concept to a plan for creditable security guarantees for Ukraine as peace negotiations were accelerated.

This is the moment when Europe must pull out all the stops, for Ukraine, and for itself, Mr Macron said at the meeting of more than 30 members of the Anglo-French coalition of the willing.

On Wednesday, John Healey, the Defence Secretary, will meet his counterparts from France, Germany, Italy and Poland at the Val-de-Grace chapel in Paris to discuss how to secure a lasting peace in Ukraine and strengthen deterrence through Nato.

At the close of the Riyadh talks, a joint Ukraine-US statement announced that both countries presidents hoped to sign a mineral resources deal as soon as possible.

Mr Zelensky left Washington on Feb 28 without signing the deal, which would see the US commit to extracting Ukraines natural resources in return for a 50 per cent share in future profits.

Before the ceasefire deal was announced, Kyiv launched its largest drone attack on Russia since the war began, with Moscow claiming it intercepted 337 drones targeted at the mainland.

Russias defence ministry said 91 drones were shot down over Moscow, but three men were killed after some broke through to strike flats, a railway station and an agricultural distribution centre.

Steve Witkoff, Mr Trumps Middle East Envoy, will travel to the Russian capital later this week for a second personal meeting with Putin.

Western intelligence sources have stated that the Russian leader appears unwilling to bend on his maximalist goals of dismantling the Kyiv regime.

On Tuesday, Bloomberg reported that Putin had no intention of dropping extreme demands on land, Ukrainian neutrality and the rejection of European peacekeepers. He was prepared to continue the war if his demands were not met, Western security officials told the news agency.

Senator Lindsey Graham said that should Moscow refuse to agree to the ceasefire, the US should increase sanctions on Russia.

Mr Trump said earlier this month that Putin had told him he would accept a European-led peacekeeping force in Ukraine after a ceasefire was agreed. But on Tuesday, Sergei Lavrov, Russias foreign minister, repeated his rejection of the idea in the only official response given to the plans so far.

What will the peacekeepers protect? The remnants of the Kyiv Nazi regime? he said.

Sergei Lavrov, pictured with Mohammed Bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince, suggested there would be no deal - Reuters

Meanwhile, Russias army made new gains in the western region of Kursk on Tuesday, according to the defence ministry, accelerating its push to drive out Ukrainian forces who have been clinging to a slice of Russian territory since last August.

Viktor Sobolev, a former Russian army commander and Duma representative, said he believed the Kremlin would reject the US proposal.

The US will rearm Ukraine in 30 days of ceasefire and start the war anew  Russia will not go for it, he said. I think that this is completely unacceptable.

However, Maria Zakharova, a spokesman for the Russian foreign ministry, told RIA Novosti: We will not rule out contacts with US representatives over the next few days.
It appears unlikely that there will be any reprieve for Australia from the US tariff regime, as there was in Donald Trumps first term. Photograph: Rex/Shutterstock

Australias chances of escaping Americas global steel and aluminium tariffs appear all but extinguished, with the US president reconfirming his commitment to a comprehensive tariff regime he argues will be the greatest thing weve ever done as a country.

Were going to take in hundreds of billions of dollars in tariffs, and were going to become so rich, youre not going to know where to spend all that money, Donald Trump told reporters on board Air Force One flying from Florida to Washington DC.

Were basically going to take back the money  a lot of the money that weve given away over many decades.

Related: Former Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull says leaders must stand up to bullies after being lashed by Donald Trump

Trumps comments affirm those of his commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, and director of the White House National Economic Council, Kevin Hassett, who have both said the tariffs would be imposed from 12 March as promised, and that there would be no exemptions granted.

Australia has been lobbying intensely to be carved out of Americas global tariff regimes on imported steel and aluminium, arguing Australia is not only a US ally but one that runs a significant trade deficit with the US.

While Trump said he would give great consideration to exempting Australia after he and Albanese spoke by phone last month, the White House line has hardened since, and it appears unlikely there will be any reprieve for Australia from the tariff regime, as there was in Trumps first term.

That exemption, in 2018, was won by then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, whose intervention this time around might have the opposite effect.

Trump on Monday condemned Turnbull as a weak and ineffective leader who did not understand the threat posed by China and who had been rejected by the Australian people, in a late-night post to social media platform Truth Social.

Trumps invective came, apparently, in response to comments Turnbull made in an interview with Bloomberg that the US presidents chaos and capriciousness would benefit China and disadvantage the US.

President Xi will aim to be the exact opposite of Trump: where Trump is chaotic, he will be consistent. Where Trump is rude and abusive, hell be respectful. Where Trump is erratic, he will be consistent.

For countries considering a choice between China on the one hand, and Trump on the other, many would find China a more attractive partner.

Since Trumps post, Turnbull has reiterated the comments in several interviews, arguing that a conga line of sycophants creeping through the White House, paying homage to Trump was ludicrous.

The reality is, if you suck up to bullies, whether it is [in] ... global affairs, or in the playground, you just get more bullying.

Even before Turnbulls intervention, senior US administration officials had offered little hope that Australia might be spared from the tariffs Trump has used as leverage in manipulating foreign governments, on everything from fentanyl trafficking to border security.

Hassett said the president viewed steel and aluminium production as a national security matter and condemned countries for seeking to undermine US industry by dumping subsidised products into its market.

[The president] is working on getting that resolved without any exemptions. He really doesnt like the word exemption. If I walk in and offer an exemption, then Ill probably get kicked out of the office. Well see how it goes. So maybe therell be some: I doubt it.

Last week, Trumps trade adviser Peter Navarro accused Australia of dumping subsidised, below-cost aluminium into the US market, comparing Australia to Russia and China in exploiting the US.

The era of unchecked imports undermining American industry is over. The United States will no longer be a dumping ground for heavily subsidised and unfairly traded aluminum, he wrote in USA Today.

Nations considered US allies also have been a big part of the problem. Consider Australia. Its heavily subsidised smelters operate below cost, giving them an unfair dumping advantage, while Australias close ties to China further distort global aluminum trade.

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, told media this week he was engaging with companies including Rio Tinto and BlueScope to seek a positive outcome, and said the government was engaging constructively to achieve a carve-out for the tariffs.

The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, flew to Washington in February to make the case for an Australian carve-out: Australia has a different case to make than other countries, he said.
Volunteers supporting Nicolette Boele, the teal independent hoping to win the Sydney seat of Bradfield, line the streets of Willoughby. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian

Beside a national highway on Sydneys north shore, a coalition of volunteers in teal T-shirts, armed with badges and yard signs, wave energetically at morning traffic. It is just after 7am on a weekday morning and hundreds of them  from teenagers to octogenarians  will be out in force for the next two hours, braving petrol fumes.

The federal election campaign has been put on hold for a few weeks but, in the now-marginal seat of Bradfield, independent candidate Nicolette Boele has recruited more than 1,000 volunteers.

Bradfield has been held by the Liberals for the past 75 years but in 2022 the sitting member, Paul Fletcher, suffered a 15.28% primary vote swing against him  the largest in the country on first preferences.

Fletcher held on against Boele with a two-party-preferred vote of just over 54%.

Now Fletcher has stepped down and boundary changes that abolished the teal MP Kylea Tinks neighbouring seat of North Sydney have cut the notional margin from 4.2% to 2.5%, according to the ABCs election analyst, Antony Green. Boele believes it may be less than 2%. Either way, it is the Coalition seat thought most likely to fall to a teal independent at the 2025 election.

Since February the Climate 200-backed campaign calendar has been packed with flyers, election signs and dog walking  where volunteers are encouraged to offer doggie bandanas to dog owners as a conversation starter.

Maxine Baudish, a self-described boomer, stands by the traffic lights with a Boele badge pinned to her hat, cheerfully greeting passing cars.

She says the publics reaction has been mostly positive. I havent had any abuse, she says. We got one thumbs down but I put my thumb up and aimed higher, like Michelle Obama.

Related: Teal MPs decry anonymous push poll sent to voters in two independent seats

Every few minutes a driver of a semi-trailer or an out-of-service bus honks a horn, to the volunteers delight. Passersby are handed pamphlets and stickers with QR codes. A bemused whippet on a morning walk wanders by.

Baudish did not take part in Boeles 2022 campaign. Now retired, shes braving early mornings alongside her husband.

I just want to see a change, theres got to be a better way, she says. You cant do everything, you cant do nothing, but youve just got to do something. This is my something.

With double the volunteers she had in 2022, Boele is confident about her chances.

When we ran in 2022 with quite a short runway, we were really surprised and heartened  but often it takes an independent two runs to actually get up, she says.

Were taking nothing for granted and our works cut out for us but Im thrilled about the pace with which I can see people joining the campaign.

Carly Brown campaigned for Tink in 2022, largely due to the candidates environmental platform. Tinks endorsement of Boele this year was enough for Brown to volunteer.

Ive got a young family so I have to juggle it around that  Im hoping theyre getting on the bus right now, she says as she stands by the roadside.

Nobody wants to do this  why would you want to stand on the side of the road and wave a sign around for fun? But when you get here and see hundreds of other people do it as well, its just beautiful.

In the afternoon, the volunteers gather outside a popular shopping plaza, handing out flyers to parents fresh from the school pickup, and to elderly couples with shopping trolleys.

Boele, beaming, stands among them. A woman slows down in her car and tells her she used to volunteer for Labor but wants to switch sides.

As it passes 4pm, the volunteers gather on an affluent, tree-lined street to prepare for door-knocking. Theyre handed maps and pamphlets by an energetic man in an Akubra hat. I want to hear a woo! he cries, as the group moves aside to make room for children walking home from school.

A first-time voter, 19-year-old Natalie Jansezian, is among them. Donning a campaign cap and T-shirt, she has attended five campaign events as a volunteer since being door-knocked by Boeles team a week ago.

Jansezian is part of a changing demographic in Bradfield, which was the only Liberal-held seat to vote yes for the voice in 2023.

The Liberal candidate, the tech executive Gisele Kapterian, was contacted for comment.

Kapterian told the Financial Review in January that it would be unwise to dismiss the concerns reflected in the 2022 result. But she said the Liberals campaigning on housing, energy and antisemitism would serve the party well.

Boele, who will spend the next hour knocking on doors, many of which will go unanswered, knows this has been a conservative seat for very long time.

The people that make up our volunteer team, a lot of them always voted Liberal, but no longer see their values represented in the party as it is today, she says.

Thats exactly why I think there is so much support this time for an independent, because they see  [we] just want to work in the centre, across the aisle, to get things done.
Drone warfare could allow Ukraine to continue fighting at lost cost - Reuters

Polling in Ukraine shows that most people now want the war to end with a peace deal, rather than fighting on to retrieve the land seized by Russia. Recent developments have proved to those who did not already know it, that there can be no victory without dramatically increased support from the US, which did not happen under Biden and is certainly not going to happen under Trump.

They know therefore that Ukraine will have to cede territory, a reality underscored yesterday by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Obviously not trusting Putin, whatever deal he might agree to, Ukrainians want a back-stop from the West. Andriy Yermak, Zelenskys chief of staff, said today that Ukraine must be given security guarantees that lend credibility to a future ceasefire agreement. According to Trump, such guarantees will have to come from the Europeans. The Europeans are not in a position to give any guarantees whatsoever; and Starmers proposed peacekeeping force, if it were to happen, would certainly not supply them.

Yarmak also said that Europe must apply economic pressure to prevent Putin returning to the attack by sanctions and seizing frozen Russian assets. European sanctions would count for little without US support and it seems unlikely that governments would be bold enough to take control of frozen assets given the legal difficulties. In any case, despite the voluble rhetoric, they are desperate to get back to business as usual with the Kremlin. After all, since the war began, Europeans have collectively been paying more to Russia in oil and gas revenues than they have provided in financial aid to Ukraine.

Most Ukrainians may simply resign themselves to their fate: loss of 20 per cent of their territory and nothing to stop Putin surging back to the offensive after regrouping his armed forces and rebuilding his economy. But many will not. At the front line I have met several hardened Ukrainian commanders who told me they would never give up the fight against Russia, no matter what the politicians decide. In other circumstances this talk could be dismissed as mere braggadocio.

But such men and their followers in Ukraine today may have far greater power than their predecessors in global resistance movements ever dreamt of. For one thing Ukraine is awash with vast amounts of weaponry of all sorts, much unaccounted for. Some is no doubt already stashed across the sweeping territories of Ukraine in arms dumps unknown to the military or civil authorities, against the day.

As we saw demonstrated last night in the largest ever drone attack on Moscow, Ukraine has become one of the largest producers of tactical and strategic drones in the world. Zelensky says his country produced 2.2 million UAVs last year alone. Used for surveillance and attack, those drones that have been liberated from the military supply chain could provide significant combat power to the men who decided to fight on. Likewise, unrestrained cyber attacks could cause havoc against strategically important installations in both occupied territory and on Russian land.

All this could add up to making a peace deal extremely hard to manage, whatever the Ukrainian governments determination to adhere to it. Aside from guerrilla warfare against Russia, who knows what turmoil might unfold more widely inside Ukraine itself. After a peace deal hundreds of thousands of battle-hardened soldiers will return home  to what? A country ravaged by war, depopulated and economically broken. There will be no money and for many, no employment or any prospect of it. Violent crime is likely to run rampant. And those who believe their government has capitulated to Russia, selling them out after their years of sacrifices, may seek revenge on Kyiv.

No doubt Putin will already have planned to exploit such discontent following the war. He is likely to do whatever he needs to encourage Ukrainian breaches of the peace agreement in order to legitimately retaliate. And he will understand that helping foment instability and insurrection may be another way of achieving his original war aim of bringing down the government in Kyiv.
From left: Brian McAllister, Liz Hitschmann, Denise Brownlee, Ann Purvis and Brian Crow of NGNP. Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian

As soon as the green fields of Galloway, in south-west Scotland, were selected as the preferred site for Britains first new national park in 15 years, Denise Brownlee sprang into action. The 64-year-old retired civil servant had served two seasons as a park ranger in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, and knew a thing or two about the chaos brought by thoughtless day-trippers and campers. The detritus! she says. Ive seen a two-man tent used as a human litter tray. You think dog poo on the pavement is bad? Try wandering up any remote little area in a national park. Your faith in humankind gets lost.

In July, Galloway was chosen as the frontrunner from a shortlist of five areas as part of the Scottish governments pledge to designate at least one new national park  the countrys third  by 2026. The parks creation, however, is by no means assured. The other areas in the running had faced varying degrees of opposition (especially Lochaber in the west Highlands), but no one could have predicted the ugly fight that was to tear through one of Scotlands most picturesque regions, rip apart friendships and turn neighbours against each other.

Its been more divisive than the Scottish referendum vote, says Brownlee, who co-founded the No Galloway National Park (NGNP) campaign, a Facebook page that has mushroomed into a slick, PR-oiled machine. The campaign has sparked warring missives in the press, and has led to community relations so fraught that one supporter of the park tells me she now seldom leaves the house for fear of an awkward run-in with the opposition. Ive had someone who I thought was my friend compare me to Donald Trump, says Liz Hitschmann, 73, Brownlees neighbour and co-founder.

NatureScot, the Scottish governments nature agency, has just concluded its consultation into the prospective park, the results of which will be released next month in a report to MSPs. Concerned about everything from poor road infrastructure to Lake District-style overtourism, local opposition to the park has been rife  and means that this proposal, eight years in the making, might not even make it to the next consultation stage.

The no campaign has accused those in favour of the park of employing dirty tricks  namely, removing its banners and blocking it on social media  to bring it down. The yes side, meanwhile, has said the no side is bankrolled by wealthy landowners, including James Jack, the owner of seven estates in Scotland  three of which are in Dumfries and Galloway, including 640 hectares of land on the 916-hectare Hensol estate near Castle Douglas. (The NGNP denies this.) Local meetings have been fraught, Facebook groups are ablaze with vitriol and, during one particularly unneighbourly altercation, the police had to be called to defuse a shouting match in the street.

Most moderates dont dare to wade in, for fear of being caught in the crossfire. I just dont bring it up with people, says Fiona Hesketh, a cafe owner in Gatehouse of Fleet, the pretty town where Brownlee and Hitschman also live. Its difficult for us because a lot of the people that are very anti-park are friends, good customers. But, like the Brexit referendum, suddenly youre on a different side to people youre very fond of, and have known for a long time.

Why is the ostensibly inoffensive issue of a national park ripping apart the genteel towns of Galloway?

Scotlands national parks are relatively new compared with many of those in England and Wales, the first of which were set up soon after Clement Attlees Labour government passed the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act in 1949 to address fears of urbanisation. Loch Lomond and the Trossachs was established in 2002; the Cairngorms followed a year later, and was extended in 2010. Unlike those in England and Wales, where Guardian analysis from last year found that less than half of the land is open access, Scotlands national parks are fully open to everyone because of its right to roam law.

The word unspoiled is overused but it is probably the most apt description of Galloway, where green fields bleed into the grey sea and sky. Rob Lucas, a 67-year-old retired environmental education worker, has been a member of the Galloway National Park Association (GNPA) for the past eight years. Galloway needs a lift  its a really special place, he tells me at his house, near the village of Borgue. Before I arrive, he has been watching the barnacle geese cavort in an adjacent field  their last hurrah before they head back to the Svalbard archipelago for spring. We need putting on the map. Having a national park would provide a kind of blueprint for the future of the area. Very few people know about Galloway. It doesnt help, he says, that most people think its on the west coast of Ireland.

Bringing a national park to the region has been a passion project of Lucass: last time he checked, he and the 11 other trustees on the GNPAs board had spent about 25,000 hours campaigning for Galloway to be selected for consultation. Its a wonderful place, but in the decade that weve been here, weve seen how the number of businesses has reduced, he says. The council is effectively getting an ever-reduced budget  thats partly based on population, and theyre currently looking at a proposal to close several schools with less than 25 pupils. (According to analysis from the Scottish Labour party, 329m has been cut from Dumfries and Galloway council in the past 12 years. The region was one of seven local authorities in Scotland to see its population fall in the 2023 census.)

There are three conditions that an area proposed as a national park in Scotland must meet: that the area is of outstanding national importance; that it has a distinctive character and cohesion; and that designating the area a national park would meet its special needs. It is perhaps the last of these criteria that makes the strongest case for Dumfries and Galloway.

One in five people in the region live in poverty. Just 15% of its population are under 15  one of the lowest percentages in the country. One teenager tells me that her home town is like a ghost town: the primary school has closed, and everyone her age is leaving. Phoebe Allan, a 28-year-old hospitality worker who moved to Gatehouse of Fleet from Australia, says there are very few job opportunities. I really love it here, its a beautiful place, but theres nothing really jobs-wise other than hospitality. Most people tend to go and stay away. A 2023 study by the councils youth work service found that more than half of the regions young people aged 16-25 planned to leave when they got older.

All the aspects of the area that are a boon for retirees and young families  hushed streets, small communities, open spaces  arent exactly a draw for listless teenagers and twentysomethings. I do worry that when our kids are teenagers there will be a lack of things to do, says Benedict Please, a musician who lives in Wigtown with his wife, Beth, and daughters Molly, seven, and Emmy, two. The town has been bolstered by its designation as Scotlands National Book Town, and its 10-day book festival has grown to attract more than 10,000 visitors (10 times its population) a year. Still, says Please, in the off season its all too quiet. A park, which would open up not only places to go and activities for them to do, but also opportunities for them in the future to work, seems like a really positive thing. Why, the yes camp ask, wouldnt we welcome it?

Supporters of the no campaign are not hard to spot. On their car windscreens, pasted in the front windows of their homes and printed on their T-shirts is the white-on-red NGNP logo. The roads that run through the regions small towns are bracketed with campaign banners  every few junctions there is another one, staked in a field or tacked to a trailer.

They want to call it the Kingdom of Galloway, which is ludicrous

I meet the no campaign in Hitschmanns airy kitchen in Gatehouse of Fleet, two days after the governments consultation closed. In forms dispatched to houses across the region, NatureScot asked local people for their thoughts on details ranging from the parks proposed boundary (they were given a choice of three) to what kind of people theyd like to see on its board. Everything about the form  from its lack of freepost return envelope to the mooted park name  rankled. They want to call it the Kingdom of Galloway, says Hitschmann drily, which is ludicrous.

Aside from fears of litter, overtourism and the very role of NatureScot within the consultation process  Its like theyre marking their own homework, says Brownlee  the no campaigns main bone of contention is that local people dont yet know the full details of the park. You wouldnt buy a house without knowing how many bedrooms youve got, how much land comes with it, and how much it will cost to run, says Hitschmann. The NGNP thinks the issue can only be fairly resolved with a referendum.

But its the question of how this scrappy campaign won friends in high places that has raised eyebrows. An investigation published by the Ferret in December found that the NGNP website listed the email address of James Pringle Jack  a landowner and businessman who is the brother of Alister Jack, a former Scottish Conservative MP and ex-secretary of state for Scotland  as the contact on its privacy policy page. (This was changed once the Ferret began making inquiries.) The website itself was made by Corona IT Solutions, a company owned by Alister Jacks daughter, Emily Ann, and her husband, Baron Sweerts De Landas Wyborgh. The campaign is also backed by Media House International, a public affairs firm run by Jack Irvine, the launch editor of the Scottish Sun and a former director of campaign communications for the Brexit party. (Other high-profile PR campaigns led by Irvine include businessman Brian Souters campaign against the repeal of section 28, the 1988 law that banned the promotion of homosexuality in schools as a normal family relationship, and the campaign against the introduction of low emissions zones in Scotland.)

It is a real open question as to where on earth all this money is coming from, says Kat Jones, the director of Action to Protect Rural Scotland. Hitschmann is indignant when asked. This is a grassroots organisation. We will keep leading it. We want it to be community-led. We dont want it to be farmer-led. People are saying that we are being paid for  bankrolled, basically  by these people in the background. Its just not true.

Isnt providing services such as a website and PR a form of bankrolling? Its a donation  the same as any other donation. Were being sponsored by hairdressers, housewives, pensioners. Highlighting one aspect of it is just wrong. She estimates that the campaign has received 20,000 in donations so far. As for the banners that line the roads of Galloway, most of the farmers who own the land have printed them themselves, she says. The NGNP insists that there is no single major donor.

Farmers have been against the park from the off, with Scotlands National Farmers Union describing it as unacceptable, given existing parks failure to make a positive contribution to farming. According to internal polling, 76% of its members agree. Michael McCreath, a dairy farmer in the coastal village of Garlieston, is in the 24% minority. Farmers are great, he says. They just dont like being told what to do. The term national park authority probably sends shivers down their spines.

Farmers arent the only ones with questions about national parks governance. A Campaign for National Parks (CNP) health check report from last year found that there were too few people on national park boards and in dedicated roles on the staff body, with expertise in nature recovery or related fields. In the Galloway national park consultation, respondents were given the option of a park board of 13 or 15  divided equally between directly elected representatives, appointments from the local authority and from the Scottish government.

I understand that GNPA and other proponents of a new park have developed a narrative that our campaign is a front for landowners and the rightwing media to undermine an ethical environmental initiative, says NGNP member Ann Purvis, 62, a retired social researcher. From my perspective it feels our campaign is deemed reactionary and unethical, as it questions an environmentalist orthodoxy that national parks are a good thing. She says she has legitimate environmental concerns, pointing to research from the same CNP report which found that just 26% of sites of special scientific interest in Englands national parks were found to be in favourable condition.

The UKs national parks do not meet the International Union for Conservation of Natures (IUCN) definition of protected areas, which are largely wilderness areas with limited human activity. Rather than prioritise nature, the UKs parks walk a tightrope between conservation and cultural significance, people and planet. National parks in Scotland are never going to be like a North American refuge for nature, because in Scotland, weve got people who live and work in our landscapes, says Jones.

Campaigners have accused the UKs national parks of being designed for a different era, such is their ineffectiveness at protecting nature in an era of intensive agriculture. By and large, national parks are agricultural landscapes that dont actually deliver much for nature conservation, says Thomas Starnes, an expert on protected areas with the IUCN. He says that the agricultural uses of national parks are the main hamper to conservation. Should we be designating new ones, given the state were in? I think what would be far more useful would be to make the national parks that weve got more effective, he says. Thats not an outright no, but protected areas only mean so much if theyre not well managed.

At this stage, its not clear whether the Scottish government will move forward with the park. A report will follow this initial consultation, which will set out how  if at all  the Scottish government will proceed with designation. MSPs will then vote on the draft legislation. I dont know if the government will come up with a proposal now  I think its at risk because of the backlash, says Colin Smyth, a Labour MSP for South Scotland.

The GNPAs Rob Lucas, though, is optimistic that his years of toil might yet pay off. If we dont get a national park, I will be disappointed, he says. If we dont get a national park because of the fact that the no campaign has disrupted the process in a way that is not, in my view, ethical, then I should be very annoyed. I have no doubt that if we get to the next stage of this process, things will get even more vitriolic.

 Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.

 This article was amended on 27 March 2025 because an earlier version said that Jack James owns the 916-hectare Hensol estate near Castle Douglas. In fact he owns 640 hectares of land on that estate.
Donald Trump lashed out at Malcolm Turnbull on Truth Social in a late-night post. Photograph: Alex Brandon, Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

The former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has said leaders should not give in to bullies after he was lashed by Donald Trump in a late-night social media post.

Taking to the Truth Social platform just before midnight Sunday in Washington DC, the US president said Turnbull led Australia from behind and did not understand China.

Malcolm Turnbull, the former Prime Minister of Australia who was always leading that wonderful country from behind never understood what was going on in China, nor did he have the capacity to do so. I always thought he was a weak and ineffective leader and, obviously, Australians [sic] agreed with me!!!

The post appears to be in response to an interview by Turnbull with Bloomberg in which he said Trumps chaotic leadership style would benefit China, to the detriment of the US.

President Xi will aim to be the exact opposite of Trump: where Trump is chaotic, he will be consistent. Where Trump is rude and abusive, hell be respectful. Where Trump is erratic, he will be consistent.

Turnbull said the world was seeing an undiluted version of Trump in his second term, and that his capricious behaviour would be seen as advantageous for Chinas president, Xi Jinping, in international relations.

For countries forced to choose between China on the one hand, and Trump on the other, many would find China a more attractive partner.

Contacted by the Guardian, Turnbull said his commentary on Bloomberg speaks for itself.

His [Trumps] post proves that my comments hit the mark, the former prime minister said.

Speaking to Sarah Ferguson on ABCs 7.30 on Monday night, Turnbull described Trumps comments as rude and abusive and doubled down on comments the US president was driving countries closer to China.

If Trump abuses them, seeks to bully them, puts crippling tariffs on them, they will naturally edge closer to China, the former prime minister said.

Related: Trump pick for Pentagon says selling submarines to Australia would be crazy if Taiwan tensions flare

But Turnbull also argued that being sycophantic towards Trump would not get a desired outcome for leaders around the world either.

The reality is, if you suck up to bullies, whether it is  global affairs, or in the playground, you just get more bullying.

I mean, are we just going to become just a conga line of sycophants creeping through the White House, paying homage to this guy and telling him hes a genius? Its ludicrous!

Turnbull also said he believed Trump regretted offering Turnbulls government an exemption on steel tariffs in 2018 because then he had to give somebody else an exemption  and before too long, too many countries had an exemption.

Turnbull said he believed America would not grant the exemption this time.

And you know, there has been an attempt to set Albanese up to fail on something that he was most unlikely to succeed in, he said.

Speaking on ABC RN Breakfast on Tuesday morning, Turnbull said Australia should be free to speak the truth about Trump, rubbishing suggestions it was unwise to criticise the US president as the government scrambles to secure an exemption to the steel and aluminium tariffs, due to be imposed on Thursday.

Are you suggesting that we should engage in self-censorship in Australia for fear of offending the huge ego of Donald Trump, Turnbull replied when asked if it was reckless to publicly criticise Trump as the tariffs loom over Australia.

Is that really the state that weve got to? Surely we should be free to speak the truth. Or are we going to muzzle ourselves for fear of offending Mr Trump?

Trump and Turnbull have history. The pair shared an acrimonious phone call in 2017 over the US-Australia refugee swap deal, which had been negotiated by Trumps predecessor, Barack Obama.

Trump said it was a bad deal and accepting it would make him look like a dope. I have had it. I have been making these calls all day and this is the most unpleasant call all day. Putin was a pleasant call. This is ridiculous, he said shortly before the call ended.

But at other times, the pair have appeared friendly. Turnbull has said previously Trump would mention Kerry Packer every time they met, even during a meeting with the French president, Emmanuel Macron.

Turnbull was prime minister from 2015 to 2018. He did not lose office at an election but rather through an internal Liberal party spill, when he lost the leadership to Scott Morrison.
Actor Noel Clarke has described a woman who claimed he propositioned her for sex at a dinner as a fantasist, the High Court has heard.

Clarke, 49, is suing Guardian News and Media (GNM) over seven articles and a podcast, including an article in April 2021 that said 20 women who knew him professionally had come forward with allegations of misconduct.

He denies the allegations, while GNM is defending its reporting as being both true and in the public interest.

Cross-examining Clarke on Tuesday, Gavin Millar KC, for GNM, said the woman, known as Imogen, had written online the day after the dinner at Soho House in 2014, giving an account of what happened.

He said: You told her what you wanted to do to her, quite graphically.

After the dinner, when saying goodbye in the street, you hugged her and tried to kiss her on the lips.

She turned her head away and you got cross.

Clarke denied asking the 19-year-old for sex and said that he did not try to kiss her.

He told the court: On my kids, that is not what happened at our dinner, and she is a fantasist because that is what she does. She is into womens rights, which I do not knock, I used to be as well.

She obviously wrote it for women who do go for those things.

I can stand on that and die with it. I know its not real.

In a witness statement, he said he recalls Imogen making flirtatious and suggestive conversation, and that she took his glasses and made a comment about being his secretary.

He added: She did not seem uncomfortable or scared at all, and indeed, appeared to be entirely engaging in and promoting this flirtatious behaviour.

Mr Millar showed Clarke some text from a chat in which the actor had said later to an associate that he propositioned Imogen at the dinner.

When you said absolutely not, thats not what you say here, said Mr Millar.

Clarke said: Well I guess but she was flirting first.

It was not untrue because I propositioned her after she flirted with me. She flirted with me first then I continued the flirtation.

Clarke also said that another woman speaking to the Guardian about his alleged sexual misconduct was scary stuff and terrifying.

He said: I just did not want her speaking to journalists. I do not understand why that is a problem.

I believe in the article, for balance, they said one or two good things about me before destroying my life.

The trial in London will only deal with liability and not the assessment of any damages.

Clarke wants to increase his claim for special damages to more than 70 million, and also wants to bring a claim over allegations that multiple people conspired against him using fabricated allegations of misconduct or sexual assault.

Philip Williams, for Clarke, told the court in written submissions that the actor has clearly established the falsity of all of the allegations.

The barrister continued that his client was barely able to reply to the allegations published by the Guardian and was perceived as a criminal by all those who previously trusted and worked with him.

Mr Millar said in his written submissions that the paper did not simply accept what was said to it and that much time and resource was devoted to getting to the truth.

He also said that there is ample evidence that all of the articles were true or substantially true.

The hearing before Mrs Justice Steyn is due to conclude in April, with a decision expected in writing at a later date.
A Texas middle schooler was taken into juvenile custody on Monday after getting into a heated dispute that resulted in the death of another student, police said.

The 14-year-old girl was arrested following the incident, which happened just before 11:30 a.m., at Roy J. Smith Middle School in Killeen, a city about 74 miles from Austin.

According to the local police department, officers discovered the girl, also 14, "suffering from a stab wound."

She was taken to the hospital and died from her injuries. Authorities have opened an investigation. Preliminary details suggest that the altercation between both classmates led one to stab the other.

"We recognize the emotional impact of this incident on the victims family, students, staff, and the entire Killeen community," Killeen police said in a statement. "Our thoughts are with everyone affected, and we extend our support to those in need."

The names of the suspect and victim were not released publicly because they are minors.

News: 'Exhaustive' search for missing student presses on in Dominican Republic

School goes on lockdown, classes suspended

Killeen Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Jo Ann Fey said the incident caused the school campus to lock down. More than 1,000 students were then taken to a local church for a unification process.

"It is times like this that our community's strength and support for one another are what will guide us forward," Fey said.

The district announced on Monday afternoon that classes for Roy J. Smith Middle School students will be suspended until after spring break on March 24. Support services will be available to the children and staff upon their return.

A parent of a student who attends the school told a local news outlet that she's now considering homeschooling her children.

I knew the situation was dire," Renee Calzado said during an interview with KWTX. "My main concern was my children and the family members I have that work at the school."

Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 14-year-old girl fatally stabbed by another student at Texas school
Small wild cats are some of the most fascinating creatures on the planet. They have unique skills, which range from climbing trees like an acrobat to hunting in the freezing cold. But many of these tiny predators are in serious trouble. Habitat loss, poaching, and human expansion are pushing them to the edge of extinction. Here are a few small cats fighting for survivaland why they need our help.

Andean Mountain Cat

Credit: Facebook

Surviving in the cold, rocky Andes Mountains is nearly impossiblebut this cat makes it look easy. The Andean mountain cat is a rare predator that hunts small animals like viscachas in one of the toughest environments on Earth. Unfortunately, there are fewer than 1,500 left. Habitat destruction and poaching are major threats, and unless conservation efforts succeed, this elusive feline could disappear forever.

Black-Footed Cat

Credit: Reddit

Dont let its tiny size fool youthis cat is one of the most efficient hunters in the wild. The black-footed cat takes down more prey in a single night than a lion! But despite its impressive skills, it faces serious threats. Habitat destruction, disease, and conflicts with farmers make survival a daily battle.

Borneo Bay Cat

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Scientists know more about some extinct species than they do about this mysterious cat. The Borneo bay cat is so secretive that its rarely seen, and it depends entirely on the forests of Borneo to survive. But deforestation is wiping out its home fast. If things dont change soon, this cat might vanish before researchers even get the chance to study it properly.

Flat-Headed Cat

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Hunting for fish might seem like an easy way to eat, but not when rivers turn toxic and habitats vanish. The flat-headed cat is a rare wetland predator from Southeast Asia that depends on clean waterways to survive. Pollution, logging, and land development are destroying its home. As the wetlands shrink, so do its chances of making a comeback.

Fishing Cat

Credit: Reddit

Most cats hate water, but not this one! The fishing cat is an expert swimmer who wades through muddy swamps to catch fish with its sharp claws. Sadly, wetland destruction and declining fish populations are making it harder for this water-loving feline to survive. Without action, one of natures best aquatic hunters could be in danger.

Guina (Kodkod) Cat

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Fast, sneaky, and perfectly built for life in Chiles forests, the guina cat is a master escape artist. But no amount of speed can outrun deforestation. Logging and human expansion are destroying its home, and farmers often target it for attacking poultry. With fewer places to hide, its future is looking more uncertain each year.

Iberian Lynx

Credit: pexels

Going from nearly extinct to over 1,000 individuals sounds like a success story, but the danger isn't over yet. As once the world's rarest wild feline, the Iberian Lynx still faces major threats. Habitat destruction and a declining rabbit population make survival difficult. Conservationists have helped, but if they stop protecting it, this species could slip right back to the brink.

Jungle Cat

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

This cat blends perfectly into tall grasses and wetlands, which help it stay hidden. Its found across Asia and parts of Africa, so it depends on these wild spaces to hunt. However, deforestation, hybridization with domestic cats, and habitat loss threaten its wild identity. If things keep going this way, this species could lose what makes it unique.

Leopard Cat

Credit: flickr

People have tried to turn this wild cat into a pet, but it refuses to be tamed. The leopard cat thrives in forests and grasslands, but its being captured for the illegal pet trade. At the same time, deforestation is shrinking its natural home. As demand for exotic pets grows, its future in the wild looks more uncertain.

Marbled Cat

Credit: Titipong

The marbled cat has some unique acrobatic skills and spends most of its life jumping between tree branches. This rare Southeast Asian predator relies on thick forests to stay hidden and hunt. Illegal logging and land clearing are forcing it out of the trees, which continues to leave it vulnerable.

Pallass Cat

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Looking like the grumpiest creature on the planet doesn't help when real dangers are everywhere. The Pallass cat is perfectly built for the freezing landscapes of Central Asia, but climate change and human expansion are creating new challenges. Slow reproduction makes it hard for populations to recover, and shrinking habitats are putting even more pressure on this tough little predator.

Pampas Cat

Credit: Photo Images

Some call it the cat with a thousand faces because its fur pattern varies depending on where it lives. The Pampas cat is found across South America, but its future is uncertain. As agriculture and land development take over its habitat, its being pushed into smaller and smaller spaces. Conservationists struggle to track and protect it due to its constantly changing appearance.

Rusty-Spotted Cat

Credit: Getty Images

This is one of the smallest wild cats in the world, but dont underestimate it! The rusty-spotted cat is a fearless night hunter from India and Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, deforestation is forcing it closer to human settlements, where conflicts are more likely.

Sand Cat

Credit: Getty Images

Walking across the desert without sinking into the sand is a rare skill, but the sand cat has it mastered. It survives extreme heat by staying hidden during the day and hunting at night. But climate change and human activity are putting pressure on its fragile desert ecosystem.

Cornish Rex

Credit: pexels

Unlike the others on this list, this is a domestic breed, but its future is still uncertain. The Cornish Rex stands out with its curly fur and oversized ears. While its not at risk of extinction, its limited gene pool puts it at risk for genetic disorders. Responsible breeding is crucial to keeping this playful, affectionate cat healthy for generations to come.
A New York State Police vehicle is parked at Pattys Lodge in Hopewell on Thursday.

Seven people pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a long list of charges in the killing of Sam Nordquist, a Black transgender man who was allegedly held captive and tortured in an upstate New York hotel room for more than a month before succumbing to his torment.

Nordquist's former partner, Precious Arzuaga, and six others pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, second-degree murder, kidnapping, conspiracy, endangering the welfare of a child and concealment of a human corpse. If convicted of first-degree murder, New York states heaviest penalty, the defendants could spend the rest of their lives in prison without parole.

Four of them, including Arzuaga, also pleaded not guilty to aggravated sexual abuse charges, and Arzuaga pleaded not guilty to coercion.

The 11-count indictment issued last week outlined Nordquist's gruesome torment, which included beatings, hitting, kicking, punching, inserting an object into his anus, starvation, forced consumption of feces, urine and tobacco juice. Two young children were also coerced to partake in his torture, according to the indictment.

Prosecutors said last week that Nordquist, 24, was tortured from Jan. 1 to Feb. 2. Authorities found Nordquists body in a farmers field in Yates County, New York, on Feb. 13.

Sam Nordquist.

The brutality and astonishing nature of the killing has garnered national attention and fueled outrage among LGBTQ advocates in recent weeks.

Well never know the answer why, because what human being could do what happened to Sam? Ontario County Assistant District Attorney Kelly Wolford said at a press conference last week. Well never make sense of this case.

Attorneys for six of the defendants  Arzuaga, 38; her son, Thomas Eaves, 21; Quijano, 30; Sage, 33; Goodwin, 30; and Kimberly Sochia, 29  did not immediately return NBC News requests for comment.

"The way that everyone's perceiving her is unfair given what I think her minimal involvement is," Lindsey Pieper, an an attorney for the seventh and youngest defendant, Emily Motyka, 19, said in a phone call.

Nordquist's family could not immediately be reached for comment.

Payne Road in Yates County, N.Y. The remains of Sam Nordquist were found in a field off the road.

Nordquist and Arzuaga met online and began dating in August, according to interviews with Nordquist's family. In September, Nordquist left his home in Oakdale, Minnesota, and traveled to Canandaigua, New York, to pursue the romantic relationship, his family said. The pair were staying at a motel in the Finger Lakes city, Patty's Lodge, for the entirety of Nordquist's time in New York.

In the months leading up to his death, Nordquist's family told NBC News that his calls and texts became uncharacteristically infrequent. The family said they feared that Arzuaga was controlling his cellphone use and movements.

The family also accused local police of botching wellness checks they had requested while Nordquist was alive. Authorities have denied any wrongdoing.

Wolford said last week that the seven defendants knew one another from the area and that some were romantically involved. Records show that Goodwin, who is a registered sex offender, was also staying in a nearby room at Pattys Lodge at the time. Pieper said she did not know how Motyka met the other defendants, but that her client was living at Pattys Lodge for two weeks, starting on Jan. 18.

When asked if the two children coerced to partake in Nordquists torture belonged to Arzuaga  who has young children  Wolford declined to comment.

Since his body was found, LGBTQ advocates urged prosecutors to pursue hate crime charges. Wolford pushed back on those requests last week, saying that to "limit us to a hate crime would be an injustice to Sam."

Nordquist's family laid him to rest last week in Minnesota. The seven defendants will next appear in court on May 2.
Mike White, I have one request. Please make the public relations director for the White Lotus hotel chain a character next season. I need to see them deal with all of the drama in real time. Also, they deserve a raise, shot of tequila, and an all-expense paid vacation to a destination of their choice, because it is astounding that people are still checking into their hotels after multiple murders have happened across several locations.

That includes The White Lotus Thailand, where the third season of the HBO series is set. The first episode started with a bangliterallyat the tropical getaway. As Zion Lindsey (Nicholas Duvernay) is in a wellness session, multiple gun shots go off, with some bullets even entering his meditation room. He immediately calls for his mother, Belinda (Natasha Rothwell), and prays for her safety. Dont let anything happen to my mother, motherfucker, he tells a Buddha statue before a body slowly starts floating into view. Then the scene cuts to black with sirens in the background, and viewers are left wondering: Who is shooting the gun, and why are they doing it?

After spending weeks with all of the guests staying at the cursed hotel, many theories have floated around online about who ends up dead in the finale. Below, join us as we check into The White Lotus, round up some theories, and, of course, gave a few takes of our own. (As for the speculation about an incest plotline, unfortunately that was already proven true.)

Theory #1: Its all monkey business.

A more unhinged theory circulating around the internet is that its not actually a guest wielding a gun at the resort, its a monkey. What if a monkeythe only other species on-site with opposable thumbsgot ahold of a gun and started going on an accidental rampage? With the multiple mentions of the creatures in the first episode and the lack of aim of the shots, perhaps we have a primate perpetrator on our hands. We wouldnt put such a ridiculous idea past Mike Whites imagination. (Though Michelle Monaghan thinks weve all lost it.)

Stefano Delia/HBO





Theory #2: Greg is on the hunt again.

Fans were gooped when a familiar, and previously unannounced, face showed up at the White Lotus Thailand. Greg Hunt (Jon Gries), known by his lover, Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon), as Gary, lives up the hill from the resort. Perhaps one of the most hated characters in The White Lotus lore, Greg dated Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge) in the shows first season and was married to her by the second. After ditching Tanya for another lover in season 2, he is believed to have put out a hit on her, employing a gang of Italian gays to kill her so he could inherit her money. Greg is now in Thailand hiding from investigators, what else could he be up to? Is he after another wealthy womans fortune, like Chloes or hotel owner Sritalas (Lek Patravadi)? Or he go after Belinda and her son if she (as the last episode suggests) doesnt take his hush money and reports him to the police?

Courtesy of HBO

Theory #3: The girls trip goes south.

Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan), Kate (Leslie Bibb), and Laurie (Carrie Coon) seem to be on a girlie getaway from hell. All subtly digging into one another as they settle into the resort, it seems as if these childhood best friends have built up some resentment for one another. Jaclyn is a famous actress, Kate is a Texan country club wife, and Laurie is a recently divorced lawyer, all successful in different ways. That said, their secret gossip sessions have turned into an all-out fight. It seems like one of the blondes just might snap.

Theory #4: Mook is the villain.

After a robbery shakes the hotel in the second episode, fans speculated that Valentin (Arnas Fedaraviciu) could be involved. Considering he distracted hotel security guard Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong) with talks about a fight while a vehicle rushes in to rob the gift shop, it looks like he is caught up in some bad business. A flashback Gaitok has in episode 7 confirms this theorybut what if Mook (Blackpinks Lalisa Manobal) is in on it, too? What if she isnt showing Gaitok the love he deserves because shes actually hiding something? Our eyebrows are raised.

Valentin was clearly involved in the robbery you could tell when he distracted Gaitok with the fight and the tickets. Plus, those guys looked a lot like the bodyguards who were talking to Mook. For some reason, I feel like Mook is a snake and might be in on it too.#TheWhiteLotus pic.twitter.com/aM2FJGmwhH   (@Lalalisa_only) February 24, 2025

Theory #5: Belinda battles the elite.

Belinda makes her second appearance in the franchise after serving as the beloved spa manager in the first season. Coming to Thailand to learn the ways of the wellness resort, Belinda has already been given a different treatment than the other hotel guests. Perhaps, after having her dreams taken from her by Tanya in the first season, Belinda finally gets her revenge. Yes, her son is the focus of the first scene, but after calling for his mom and wanting to make sure shes safe amidst the gunshots, wouldnt it be a gag if his mom was in fact the one shooting the gun? To quote Lady Gagas Replay, She had the gun, she had the gun, she had the gu-uh-uhhhhnnnn.



Theory #6: The owner of the hotel is involved.

The owners of The White Lotus Thailand, Sritala and Jim Hollinger, have slowly become more deeply embedded into the story after Rick (Walton Goggins) reveals that Jim is the man who killed his father. Rick has come to settle the score, but he doesnt kill Jim in return. Could it be that Jim enacts his own revenge in the finale, following Rick back to the resort to kill him too?

Theory #7: Things go wrong with Chelsea.

With the previous theory in mind, theres also a chance that Jims revenge goes awry and he ends up taking down the wrong person: Ricks girlfriend, Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood). Although we dread the thought, some possible Easter eggs point to the Ariess demise, including her signature necklace, which reads stay gold. Does the reference to that Outsiders death scene suggest that Chelsea is about to star in her own?

Theory #8: Gaitok would do anything for Mook.

Gaitok has the hots for Mook, but the feelings do not seem entirely mutual. Will he attempt some grand heroic gesture to win her over? Who wouldnt go to war for Lisa?

Much of Gaitoks story has revolved around struggling with confrontation, whether it was getting knocked out by armed robbers or failing to stand up to Tim Ratliff to get his gun back. But a few things in episode 7 seem to tee up Gaitok for a courageous change: First, Mook tells him that defying Buddhas teachings and using violence is sometimes necessary or acceptable, especially in self-defense. Next, he realizes at the Muay Thai fight that Valentins Russian friends were the ones who robbed the hotel store, and that Valentin helped them break in. With that in mind, it seems like Gaitok is working up the gusto to get back at these guys, which will prove to his boss that he does have killer instinct and to Mook that hes worthy of her love.

Theory #9: Follow the money.

Rich parents Timothy (Jason Isaacs) and Victoria (Parker Posey) have plenty of baggage. Timothy is coming under fire for embezzlement and fraud and is surely going to jail. His assets have been frozen, and their house could be taken. Hes crumbling under the pressure as he tries to keep the news a secret from his family, and grappling with the guilt as he realizes hes about to ruin their lives. (Saxons career and Victorias comfortable life are especially at risk.) Although Gaitoks gun is no longer in his possession, the finale teaser does show Timothy holding a poisonous fruit. Is he going to use it on himself? And his whole family?

This story will be updated.

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Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

Whether baked, mashed, boiled, or fried, potatoes are the best vegetable. However, one preparation method stands out from the restnot only is it healthier and less messy than deep-frying, but it is equally satisfying, offering the perfect contrast between a crispy exterior and a pillowy-soft interior: roasted potatoes.

Roasted potatoes can transcend cultures, with every part of the world adding its own spin to the beloved tuber. During my Christmas stay in Denmark, my hosts served me roasted potatoes coated in a glossy caramel syrup called brunede kartofler. That same year, my Irish roommate, Joss, introduced me to a completely different yet equally indulgent variation: a sandwich filled with roasted potatoes.

Since everyone seems to love crispy, oven-roasted potatoes, I reached out to someone who knows them besta self-proclaimed Dr. Potato at the Idaho Potato Commission, Director of Marketing Jamie Bowen, who helped me uncover the answer to an important question: Which kind of potato is best for roasting?

Simply Recipes / Getty Images

Why Yukon Gold Potatoes Are the Best Roasting Potatoes

There are over 4,000 edible potato varieties worldwide, but only a handful make it to your local grocery store. Bowen recommends Yukon Golds for the crispiest, crunchiest roasted potatoes.

Yukon Golds have a naturally creamy yet firm texture with a moderate starch content, higher than waxy potatoes but lower than russets, he shared. This allows them to crisp up beautifully on the outside while staying tender on the inside, without becoming too dry or crumbly. Plus, their thin skin crisps up nicely, adding extra texture and flavor.

The higher moisture content of Yukon Golds might seem like a downside for roasting, but it's a secret weapon. Their balance of starch and moisture makes them incredibly versatile, allowing them to crisp up without drying out.

For the best results, Bowen (and my mom) recommend parboiling the potatoes before roasting. This helps them cook more evenly while creating those craggy edges that turn irresistibly crispy in the oven. Yukon Golds hold their shape well through parboiling and can withstand the heat of a hot oven without falling apart. Plus, their thin skins don't need peelingone less step to worry about.

How To Roast Potatoes Like a Pro

Parboil the potatoes. Bring a pot of water to a boil and add the cubed Yukon Gold potatoes. Cook for about 5 minutes, then drain well. Dry the potatoes by putting them back into the empty pot on the hot stove for a minute or two. Preheat your oven and pan. Preheat the oven to 425F and add several tablespoons of neutral oil (I use canola or avocado oil) directly to the baking tray or casserole dish. Heat the pan in the oven for 10 minutes. The hot pan and oil will help the potatoes start crisping once they are added. Spread them out. Arrange the potatoes in a single layer on the hot baking sheet, ensuring they have space to crisp up rather than steam. Season like a pro. Whole or roughly chopped fresh herbs, such as rosemary or thyme, can be added to your roasting pan with the potatoes to add extra flavor for a restaurant-quality dish. Top with a squeeze of lemon or a sprinkle of flaky salt after roasting. Roast until golden. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes (depending on the size of the potato pieces), shaking the dish or stirring the spuds to ensure even roasting, until the potatoes are deeply golden and crispy.



Read the original article on SIMPLYRECIPES
A bill proposed in the Texas legislature could charge transgender Texans with a state felony if they commit what proponents call gender identity fraud.

Republican state Rep. Tom Oliverson, who represents a part of Houston in District 130, introduced House Bill 3817 that would amend the Texas Penal Code to add a new form of fraud related to gender identity.

According to the bill, gender identity fraud would be commuted if a person knowingly makes a false or misleading verbal or written statement to a governmental entity or the persons employer by identifying the persons biological sex as the opposite of the biological sex assigned to the person at birth.

The penalty if someone were to commit "gender identity fraud" would be a state felony, which could land a person in prison for up to two years and a $10,000 fine. The bill is not expected to pass, according to the Texas Legislature tracker, as it has no co-sponsors and has not moved to any committees.

Oliverson did not immediately respond to USA TODAYs request for comment on Monday.

Not the only anti-transgender moves in Texas

The bill, if passed, would essentially ban transgender people in the state from sharing their gender identity with employers, but could also apply to interactions with police or applications for government benefits.

This latest proposed bill is not the only anti-transgender policy in the state. In August 2024, the Texas Department of Public Safety ordered its employees to stop allowing transgender people to change their gender on their driver's licenses and state IDs.

The Department of Public Safety has a responsibility, as stated in its own name, to keep all Texans safe. This policy does the opposite, the ACLU said of the change. Not having accurate driver's licenses jeopardizes trans people's health and safety  by potentially outing us and exposing us to discrimination, harassment, and violence.

Then less than a month later, the state stopped allowing people to change the sex listed on their birth certificates, according to the Texas Tribune.

Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, speaks in support of Senate Bill 14 in the Texas House of Representatives Friday, May 12, 2023. SB14 would ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender children.

Anti-trans bills have ballooned in number

With the 89th Texas Legislative Session underway since early January, almost 100 anti-trans bills have been filed so far, according to the Trans Legislation Tracker. The number has already surpassed the 69 anti-trans bills filed during the last legislative session in 2023.

In Texas, state legislatures only meet every other year.

Oliverson himself has been a key sponsor of another anti-trans bill in the Texas legislature before. During the 2023 legislative session, he was a sponsor of Senate Bill 14, which banned gender-affirming care in the state and was upheld by the state Supreme Court.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas proposed bill could charge transgender people with state felony
Daniel Hallett was arrested while boarding a flight from Krabi International Airport - ViralPress

A British tourist has been detained in southern Thailand for allegedly trying to smuggle 38kg of cannabis onto a London-bound plane.

Daniel James Hallett, a 38-year-old from Hull, could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted, after he was detained while boarding a flight from Krabi International Airport at the weekend.

Customs officials flagged his bags as suspicious during routine security checks and allegedly found 35 vacuum-sealed packages of cannabis inside. The drugs were wrapped in double-layered bags to prevent any smell from escaping, according to media reports.

The Telegraph confirmed that Mr Hallett, who runs a haulage company, is being held in a cell at Nuea Khlong District police station while the case is investigated.

The drugs were wrapped in double-layered bags to prevent smells escaping - ViralPress

Cannabis was decriminalised in Thailand in 2022  a move that surprised many international onlookers, who saw the country as being tough on drugs. Thousands of dispensaries and farms have proliferated across the kingdom in the years since.

While many support the legalisation, some locals say it has created new forms of drug tourism and encouraged harmful recreational use among Thailands youth.

Importing or exporting the plant remains illegal, and is punishable with hefty sentences. Mr Hallet has been charged both with violating the Thai customs act and breaking laws on controlled substances, and could face a decade in jail if convicted.

Apichat Jinaphen, the superintendent of the Nuea Khlong District police station, told local media: In this case, [Mr Hallett] was arrested for attempting to export goods that had not undergone customs clearance, in violation of the customs act, as well as the traditional Thai medicine protection and promotion act regarding controlled herbs (cannabis) for commercial purposes.

Mr Hallet has been charged with violating the Thai Customs Act and breaking laws on controlled herbs - ViralPress

He was held at the police station for two days before being taken to court. The legal penalty includes imprisonment for up to 10 years, a fine, or both, in addition to the confiscation of the seized items. The final decision will be made by the court.

The police officer added that the force was encouraging tourists to be aware of the regulations around cannabis when they travel to Thailand amid a series of cases where holidaymakers have tried to smuggle cannabis out of the country.

They include that of another British tourist  19-year-old Luziela Aaliyah Carvalho  who was reportedly caught last week with 35kg of cannabis when boarding a flight in the northern city of Chiang Mai.

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 protest against the administration of President Donald Trump's decision to virtually shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on February 5, 2025.

LONDON/NAIROBI, March 11 - Governments and global health groups are working to try to fill the most urgent gaps in the fight against diseases such as malaria and HIV, including sharing tests and treatments internationally, after the U.S. government froze foreign aid funding.

The Trump administration said this week it has cut more than 80% of programmes, which health groups say threatens efforts to tackle deadly diseases across the globe. Some programmes have survived or been reinstated, but funding remains scarce, and the future unclear.

We are trying to say to countries: Ok, you have more commodities, your neighbouring country does not have them, could you potentially give them some until we figure out a way of going ahead?, said Michael Adekunle Charles, head of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria.

The World Health Organization and other groups have also said they are working with countries to fill gaps in HIV testing and treatment, in a similar way to during the COVID pandemic when countries shared resources to prevent shortages.

Some governments, such as Kenya and Malawi, have moved staff and are discussing emergency financing, but the funds are limited and staff are not necessarily trained in the disease areas they have been deployed to, experts said.

Florence Riako Anam, co-executive director of the Global Network of People Living with HIV, said many countries supported by donor funding had already been working on roadmaps to take more control of their HIV work domestically.

But that does not solve the immediate issues.

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The problem we are facing today is facing all neighbouring countries ... so I think that is a challenge, said Nelson Otwoma, director of the National Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya, referring to the potential to share medical tools.

Countries should also prioritise the most lifesaving interventions, including treatment and bednets for prevention, said Joy Phumaphi, executive secretary of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance.

We must all work together to fill the immediate gaps while planning for longer term financing solutions, she said.

(Reporting by Jennifer Rigby in London, Aaron Ross in Nairobi, Nellie Peyton in Johannesburg, Frank Phiri in Blantyre, Maxwell Akalaare Adombila in Accra; Editing by Alison Williams)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USAID cuts: Countries, global health groups band together
By Krishna N. Das

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -The Dalai Lama's successor will be born outside China, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism says in a new book, raising the stakes in a dispute with Beijing over control of the Himalayan region he fled more than six decades ago.

Tibetans worldwide want the institution of the Dalai Lama to continue after the 89-year-old's death, he writes in "Voice for the Voiceless", which was reviewed by Reuters and is being released on Tuesday.

He had previously said the line of spiritual leaders might end with him.

His book marks the first time the Dalai Lama has specified that his successor would be born in the "free world", which he describes as outside China. He has previously said only that he could reincarnate outside Tibet, possibly in India where he lives in exile.

"Since the purpose of a reincarnation is to carry on the work of the predecessor, the new Dalai Lama will be born in the free world so that the traditional mission of the Dalai Lama - that is, to be the voice for universal compassion, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, and the symbol of Tibet embodying the aspirations of the Tibetan people - will continue," the Dalai Lama writes.

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, fled at the age of 23 to India with thousands of other Tibetans in 1959 after a failed uprising against the rule of Mao Zedong's Communists.

China brands the Dalai Lama, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for keeping alive the Tibetan cause, as a "separatist".

The Dalai Lama is a political exile who has "no right to represent the Tibetan people at all," said a spokesperson at China's foreign ministry when asked about the book at a regular news conference in Beijing on Tuesday.

Beijing insists it will choose his successor, but the Dalai Lama has said any successor named by China would not be respected.

"The lineage of the Dalai Lama living Buddha was formed and developed in China's Tibet, and his religious status and name were also determined by (China's) central government," said Mao Ning, the Chinese spokesperson.

"The 14th Dalai Lama himself was identified in accordance with religious rituals and historical conventions, and this was submitted to the then central government to approve the succession."

'REPRESSIVE COMMUNIST CHINESE RULE'

Beijing said last month it hoped the Dalai Lama would "return to the right path" and that it was open to discussing his future if he met such conditions as recognising that Tibet and Taiwan are inalienable parts of China, whose sole legal government is that of the People's Republic of China. That proposal has been rejected by the Tibetan parliament-in-exile in India.

Supporters of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan cause include Richard Gere, a follower of Tibetan Buddhism, and Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

His followers have been worried about his health, especially after knee surgery last year. He told Reuters in December that he might live to be 110.

In his book, the Dalai Lama says he has received numerous petitions for more than a decade from a wide spectrum of Tibetan people, including senior monks and Tibetans living in Tibet and outside, "uniformly asking me to ensure that the Dalai Lama lineage be continued".

Tibetan tradition holds that the soul of a senior Buddhist monk is reincarnated in the body of a child on his death. The current Dalai Lama was identified as the reincarnation of his predecessor when he was two.

The book, which the Dalai Lama calls an account of his dealings with Chinese leaders over seven decades, is being published on Tuesday in the U.S. by William Morrow and in Britain by HarperNonFiction, with HarperCollins publications to follow in India and other countries.

The Dalai Lama, who has said he will release details about his succession around his 90th birthday in July, writes that his homeland remains "in the grip of repressive Communist Chinese rule" and that the campaign for the freedom of the Tibetan people will continue "no matter what", even after his death.

He expressed faith in the Tibetan government and parliament-in-exile, based with him in India's Himalayan city of Dharamshala, to carry on the political work for the Tibetan cause.

"The right of the Tibetan people to be the custodians of their own homeland cannot be indefinitely denied, nor can their aspiration for freedom be crushed forever through oppression," he writes. "One clear lesson we know from history is this: if you keep people permanently unhappy, you cannot have a stable society."

Given his advanced age, he writes, his hopes of going back to Tibet look "increasingly unlikely".

(Reporting by Krishna N. Das in New Delhi; additional reporting by Colleen Howe in Beijing; Editing by William Mallard)
Hall County Sheriffs Office Suzanne Renee Mericle mugshot

A Georgia dentist is facing serious criminal charges after allegedly shooting her partner to death in a $1.6 million lakefront home, authorities say.

Suzanne Renee Mericle, 61, is charged with felony murder in connection with the shooting death of James David Barron, 68, of Gainesville, the Hall County Sheriffs Office said in a statement.

The crime came to authorities attention at 1:15 a.m. on Saturday, March 8, when deputies were called to an upscale cul-de-sac lined with multi-million dollar homes on Lake Lenier.

Deputies found an unresponsive man, identified as Barron, in a bedroom. He had been shot in the torso.

He was rushed to Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville where he was pronounced dead.

The Hall County Sheriff's Office alleges in a statement that Mericle, 61, shot Barron with a handgun.

Mericle was at home when the deputies arrived.

Mericle was arrested and has been charged with felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

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She was taken to the Hall County Jail where she remains held without bond, according to online jail records.

The case remains under investigation by the HCSO. It is unclear whether she has entered a plea or has retained an attorney who can speak on her behalf.

Mericle is a dentist who owns Mericle Dentistry on tony St. Simons Island, on the Georgia coast.

Her patients expressed shock at her arrest.

One woman, Betty Newman, wrote on the HCSO Facebook page, She had to be living a double life. She is/was my kids dentist. Literally had a appointment this Monday the 10th. Wild!



Read the original article on People
WASHINGTON  Allie Mitchell never saw herself as the protesting type.

But for the past three Tuesdays and again this week, she's among hundreds of former federal workers who have gathered on Capitol Hill holding placards and trying to get the attention of both passersby and members of congress.

Mitchell, who has been protesting in between job hunting, said people need to know that cutting the federal workforce has real consequences for all Americans. "If there are no employees or staffers, the work simply stops," she said.

Protesters like Mitchell are frustrated by their abrupt firing, which the government claims was for poor performance despite stellar records full of accolades. They feel rudderless after their normal route for appealing a firing was himself laid off by President Donald Trump. Some haven't received the necessary documents to apply for unemployment, and their former supervisors are unable to answer their questions.

They have held signs saying "Save the Country, Save the Civil Services" and "Justice Takes Action: Standing up for Our Rights!" They have crowded offices of members of congress, hoping to put names and faces to those indiscriminately terminated from their federal jobs. Others have spoken at massive rallies outside federal buildings in Washington.

President Trump has moved swiftly to reduce the size of the federal government, the nation's largest employer. He believes the move will slash wasteful spending and has described the federal government as bloated and with people who are unnecessary.

Grassroots demonstrators, coordinated by several groups, disagree, and intend to keep showing up week after week, organizers said. Some ex-federal workers have also filed class action complaints, arguing that the mass terminations are illegal and they should get their jobs back.

I didnt really expect to do this," said Mitchell, 30, a former research supervisor at the National Institute on Aging. "I never thought Id have to go to my Senators offices and say I got fired. What are you going to do for me?

Sydney Smith, who was fired as an accountant for the U.S. Forest Service, has also been among the protesters, and intended to march again at the Capitol Tuesday before catching a bad cold. She wants to convince lawmakers that the firings are wrong and that the consequences will have a huge impact on the country.

Smith, who lives about a mile from the Capitol, said she feels obligated to speak up for former colleagues who don't live close enough to protest.

"Im an accountant, not a public comms person or a lobbyist," Smith said. "I would like to go back to the work I was doing. But, I can speak for them. I have free speech."

Seeking face-to-face meetings with Senators

Since 2023, Smith, 28, had been a probationary employee in the Forest Service as part of the Presidential Management Fellows Program, a pipeline to the federal workforce. Smith was expected to get a permanent position in September until she was let go last month.

As a backpacker who loves the outdoors, Smith admitted she was overwhelmed when she first entered the Capitol complex two weeks ago. She described it as a "maze."

"The Capitol complex is very intimidating, like I feel its not really for private citizens to be in, but then again, all of our taxpayer dollars are paying for these buildings, Smith said. And we deserve to be heard."

Surrounded by hordes of media, the former fed workers broke off into small groups and began knocking on the doors of several senators offices. Smith said their common theme was that these moves reduce the U.S.s presence as a global leader in many areas and open the doors for other countries to step in.

Later, she broke down in front of TV cameras and reporters when asked why she was there.

"I want to say to them, 'Hey, youre dismantling our civil service that is supposed to be merit-based and nonpartisan,'" Smith recalled. We are hard-working people who earned our jobs, not some political hacks."

With less media around, Smith called last weeks visit to the Hill more productive and less intimidating. Her group, consisting of 10 ex-federal workers, spoke with staffers from the offices of Senators Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, and Tim Kaine, D-Va.

"Were trying to find different means of communicating with the Senate and legislative staff who may not have a lot of time. They are in a precarious situation, so we have to really get our points across," Smith said. "Many of us are sending emails and creatively trying to get their attention as things are so dire and urgent.

"Because if we cant get a meeting with them," Smith said. Then how can we be heard?"

'I exceeded expectations': Commendations, cash awards, positive reviews. Then they were fired for poor performance.

'We can't stay quiet'

Chris Wicker agrees. Fired from his job as Minnesotas Small Business Administration Deputy Director, Wicker feels compelled to speak up for the former federal workers who cant. He attended President Trumps speech to Congress last week as a guest of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.

There are a lot of fired federal workers who got immediate termination notices, with no warning, no severance. A lot of people I know are trying to figure out how theyre going to pay their rent, how theyre going to feed their kids, how theyre going to be a functioning member of their family, Wicker said. Im in a unique position  Im in a dual-income household. My son is in the Army, so he doesnt live at home anymore. That gives me the time and capacity to go out and speak on behalf of people who need to focus on taking care of their families and communities right now.

Not so fast: Judge blocks Trump administration from firing probationary employees

He said hes taking every opportunity to speak with as many people as possible, including giving interviews alongside Omar.

We cant stay quiet  because at the end of the day, this is about common sense. And Ill stop yelling about this when I start seeing some common sense, he said.

Ex-fed worker wonders if lawmakers 'care enough to do something?'

It still hasnt sunk in for Mitchell that she no longer has a job.

For five years, Mitchell worked her way up from a contract employee, where she conducted research and advised on initiatives for Alzheimers Disease and related dementia research, to a supervisory position. It's an issue she cares deeply about, in part because her own grandmother has the disease.

On Feb. 25, Mitchell joined other fired federal employees on Capitol Hill. They knocked on the doors of Senate offices. Of those aides who answered, Mitchell said some listened, nodded and took notes. Some didn't.

We all had separate causes that are near and dear to our hearts, Mitchell said.

Mitchell asked the staff of Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, if they would at least talk to their constituents to see what they think about the firings. She said they told her to email them.

Mitchell told staffers in Sen. Ted Cruz office that his state of Texas has nearly a half million residents with Alzheimers. You may not be directly impacted by it, but you likely know somebody whos affected by it, Mitchell said.

She delivered a similar message to a top staffer at Virginia Democratic Sen. Mark Warners office. Mitchell felt compelled to stop by there because she studied neuroscience and biology at the University of Virginia and Warner is the co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimers Disease.

I hope they heard us, person to person, human to human, Mitchell said. We told them we were all federal workers just like you guys, but in a different field.

What firings?: Trump barely mentions federal workers in speech to Congress

Otherwise, Mitchell describes herself as a reluctant activist.

I just want to ask them if they care enough to do something," Mitchell said.

Tiffany Montes is also wondering. She worked at the Interior Departments National Park Service Historic Preservation Training Center in Frederick, Maryland. She's getting married next month and struggling with the uncertainty of how to pay rent and the light bill.

Still, she said that cant keep her from speaking out.

I have the time now. I have so much time  because I was fired. And I will speak to anyone who will listen, she said.

Since being laid off, Montes has spoken at rallies, which she confesses pushed her out of her comfort zone.

I am ready to keep talking. I am ready to fight back. Im ready to educate people on whats happening. I have a voice, and I want to be heard  not just for myself, but for all of my fellow terminated federal workers, Montes said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fired fed workers' weekly protests on Capitol Hill ramping up
By Luiza Ilie

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romanian authorities have barred far-right pro-Russian candidate Calin Georgescu from taking part in May's rerun of a cancel led presidential election, prompting him on Monday to say he would challenge the decision at the Constitutional Court.

Romania, a member of NATO and the European Union, is set to repeat its two-round presidential election on May 4 and 18 after the Constitutional Court voided the initial ballot in December following accusations of Russian meddling in Georgescu's favor.

Here are details about why Georgescu's bid to run again for the presidency was blocked.

WHY IS GEORGESCU BARRED FROM THE ELECTION?

Romania's central election authority said on Sunday its decision to bar Georgescu was based on two Constitutional Court rulings.

The first is the court's decision to void December's election after concluding that it had been spoiled by vote manipulation, campaign irregularities and non-transparent funding along with suspected Russian meddling, a charge denied by Moscow.

The second is an October ruling in which the court banned European Parliament lawmaker Diana Sosoaca from running for president because her antisemitic, pro-Russian views meant she would be unable to uphold the rule of law if she were elected.

Georgescu himself is under criminal investigation on six counts, including membership of a fascist organisation and communicating false information about campaign financing.

He won the first round of the cancelled election following a highly coordinated TikTok campaign despite saying he had spent zero funds. He denies any wrongdoing.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

Challenges to decisions by Romania's central election authority must be filed within 24 hours. The Constitutional Court must solve them within 48 hours, which means a decision regarding Georgescu's bid should come by Wednesday.

If the court upholds the central election authority's ban, three opposition ultranationalist parties, which hold 35% of seats in parliament and which backed Georgescu's previous presidential bid, risk having no candidate in the May election.

The parties have until March 15 to submit paperwork to the election authority - including at least 200,000 endorsement signatures from potential voters - for any other candidates.

The final list of candidates allowed to run for the presidency will be announced by March 19.

George Simion, leader of the opposition Alliance for Uniting Romanians (AUR), parliament's second-largest party, did not rule out running for the top job when asked by reporters on Monday.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF BANNING GEORGESCU?

Blocking Georgescu from running again runs the risk of fuelling domestic unrest and straining Romania's strategic partnership with the United States.

Since the election was cancelled on Dec. 6, pro-Georgescu rallies have so far been small but vocal. After the election authority's ban on Sunday, a few hundred supporters smashed pavements and set rubbish bins ablaze in capital Bucharest.

The cancellation of the election has also put Romania in the crosshairs of a dispute between U.S. President Donald Trump's administration and European nations over how democratic values should be defined.

Several members of the Trump administration - most notably Vice President JD Vance and tech billionaire Elon Musk - have said the cancellation is an example of European governments suppressing freedom of speech and political opponents.

However, European diplomats have expressed support for the independence of Romanian courts.

Georgescu has praised both Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, his opposition to higher European defence spending - something demanded by Trump - and to NATO military bases in Romania would be a potential irritant in future relations with the U.S. if he ever did become president.

Analysts have also said allowing Georgescu to run for the presidency brought greater risks than blocking him as his hostility to NATO and the EU and his opposition to providing military aid to Ukraine would completely upend Romania's current pro-Western path at a difficult geopolitical juncture for Europe.

(Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Gareth Jones)
A rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) ready to bite / attack, showing his snake's fangs  Clement Horvath/Shutterstock.com

A healthy respect for snakes is good  after all, an estimated 5.4 million people globally are bitten by snakes each year! These most often occur in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, but Americans can be affected as well. And if the snake that bit you is venomous, this can cause a variety of detrimental side effects like paralysis, bleeding disorders, kidney failure, tissue damage, and death.

Before you visit the emergency room, you might have to deal with one other problem: getting the snake to release its bite from you so you can get away. In some cases, a snake will hold on with its backward-pointed teeth designed to prevent you from sliding your body part out of its mouth. You can imagine how scary this would be!

People on Reddit are convinced that dousing a snake in alcohol will make it release its grip. But is true? OldGreyMan/iStock via Getty Images

So what do you do if a snake wont let you out of its grip? According to Reddit, people swear by dousing a snake in alcohol to get it to release you. One person suggested putting rubbing alcohol on a snakes head, and another replied, Whiskey, vodka, basically any higher proof alcohol will do it. I had to find out if it worked myself when my brothers old 18-foot Burmese python latched on to his hand and started wrapping up his arm.

Someone else claimed: Basically anything with a severe noxious vapor would probably do it. Ammonia would probably have it running for the hills so to speak.

People are swearing by this method, but does it actually work? We consulted with experts to find out if this theory is fact or fiction.

Does Dousing a Snake in Any Kind of Alcohol Make it Loosen Its Bite?

The answer is yes!

Snakes are sensory-driven animals, so a sharp-smelling liquid like rubbing alcohol or a spirit would likely make them loosen their grip, Vicky Poole, associate curator of ectotherms at Fort Worth Zoo tells A-Z Animals.

She explains that snakes smell with their tongue, so technically, any pungent liquid, like vinegar or mouthwash, would also help. Good to know if you dont have alcohol (or dont want to waste the good stuff!).

This Method Comes With Risks

Dousing a snake with alcohol could work, but it could also make the snake feel very threatened, according to herpetology professor Lance McBrayer. KF2017/Shutterstock.com

Lance McBrayer, professor and curator of herpetology at Georgia Southern University, does not recommend dousing a snake in alcohol, as this could be risky to you. The snake feels VERY threatened and that its life is on the line, McBrayer says.

Instead, he recommends setting the snake on a table or ground so that it can escape. This would be the best mechanism to encourage it to loosen its bite and move its head away.

How Else Can You Get a Snake to Release Its Bite?

Another way to get a snake to let go is by placing the snake under running water, like a faucet or a hose, according to Poole. This would likely cause it to release its grip so that it can breathe, she says.

If that doesnt work, you can use something small like a credit card to pry the snakes fangs away from your flesh. Most snakes have teeth that are angled back toward their throats so that they can hold onto prey in their mouths, Poole explains. If you have access to a credit card or something similar, you can slide the card into its mouth and push up and away from your skin, following the angle in which the snake bite came down.

Dont Worry  Chances Are Low This Will Happen

Even if you do get bitten by a snake, its unlikely that they will hold on to you. Snakes are not likely to bite and hang onto anyone  they are more likely to bite and release right away, Poole explains reassuringly.

Even if a snake bites you, it is unlikely they wont let go. Kurit afshen/Shutterstock.com

Do Your Best to Avoid Snake Bites

The best thing you can do is avoid getting bitten by a snake altogether. McBrayer says, There really is no reason to handle a snake, especially if one is unsure of what type of snake it is. Even non-venomous snake bites can require stitches if the snake is large and powerful, McBrayer explains.

If venomous, then the bites can be fatal, he continues. In Africa, Asian, and Australia, venomous snake bites are extremely dangerous and cause thousands of deaths per year. Thus, do not handle snakes unless one is 100% certain of its identity and it is required for the safety of humans and/or the safety of a captive snake.

Bottom line: Its not worth it to try to handle a snake yourself. Its always best to call an expert to safely remove the snake from your environment and to leave the handling of snakes to professionals. And be sure to get medical attention if you are bitten, even if you believe the snake is not venomous.

The post Fact or Fiction: Alcohol Will Make a Snake Release Its Bite appeared first on A-Z Animals.
A Texas man who was charged in his fiance's death allegedly searched for the legal ramifications of "killing an illegal immigrant" before the slaying, according to court records.

Homicide detectives with the Baytown Police Department allege 31-year-old Ty Vaughn made the internet search before shooting 27-year-old Luis Banos in the face with a lever action rifle at their apartment on Jan. 14, a Harris County probable cause document says.

According to the court document, Vaughn said the couple had argued earlier that day, and following the disagreement, he left their apartment to visit his mother. Vaughn told police he was intoxicated when he returned home and found Banos dead.

Vaughn appeared in court on Monday morning and was given a $500,000 bond, Harris County court records show.

USA TODAY contacted Vaughn's appointed defense attorney on Tuesday but has not received a response.

What happened to Luis Banos?

Baytown police learned about Banos' death when Vaughn called them on Jan. 14 around 5:30 a.m. and said he had found his fiance dead from a gunshot wound, according to the department.

Vaughn's story changed during the investigation as he provided "inconsistent statements," Baytown police said. Detectives would later determine Banos' cause of death was a homicide by gunshot to the head, and Vaughn was subsequently arrested and charged with murder on March 7, police said.

Police believe Vaughn staged the scene as a suicide, the probable cause document states.

"There were some indications, including blood on the bed away from the position that the complainant was found in, that the scene had been tampered with essentially," Harris County prosecutor Michael Hanover told KHOU 11.

According to the probable cause document, Vaughn is an Army veteran who worked at an industrial company in Houston.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Man accused of making 'illegal immigrant' search before fiance's death
Finally Florida is the homebase of the Republican Party, a lobbyist from the Sunshine State, Brian Ballard, told the Wall Street Journal. The publication reported that Trump and his administration made two moves that benefitted Ballard and his clients days after Trump became president.

The Mar-a-Lago to White House pipeline is real, and loyalty matters in Trump 2.0.

Three days before President Donald Trumps inauguration, Florida lobbyist Brian Ballard had a party. According to the Wall Street Journal, it was at a Mastros Steakhouse, close to the White House, where a plaque for Ballard hangs on the wall. Ballard raised more than $50 million for Trump during the election, per the Journal, and his administration did two things that appeared to benefit Ballard and his clients.

Trump signed an executive order delaying the TikTok ban. TikTok hired Ballard months earlier, and its chief executive Shou Chew attended an inauguration fundraiser dinner Ballard hosted, where Chew spoke to Republican lawmakers, per the Journal.

Then, the Trump administration pulled a proposed ban on menthol cigarettes by its predecessor. Reynolds, an American tobacco company, is a client of Ballards, tooand that was the top lobbying priority for the menthol cigarette maker, people familiar with the matter told the Journal.

The lead-up to the menthol cigarette decision involved Ballard and his firms top lobbyists consistently meeting with Trump for months and donating $10 million, people familiar said. They even presented pollings that showed menthol was popular among Black consumers, a demographic Trump wanted to win over, the people said, according to the Journal.

Carlos Trujillo, another Florida lobbyist and an ambassador in the first Trump administration, also had a party that night where Trumps chief of staff Susie Wiles made an appearance. Since Trumps victory, Trujillo is seeing more clients and had a role in the BlackRock deal to buy Panama Canal ports from CK Hutchison, people familiar with the matter told the outlet. His client list went from 12 to more than 60 since the election, per the Journal. Last month, Politico reported the firm Trujillo founded signed on at least 16 federal lobbying clients since Trumps win. At the time, Trujillo said Trump was the hottest ticket in town.

White House assistant press secretary Liz Huston in an email statement to Fortune said: "President Trump does whats right for the American people. That is all. Ballard Partners (the lobbying firm founded by Ballard), TikTok, Reynolds, and Carlos Trujillo, did not respond to Fortunes request for comment.

Another Florida lobbyist, Nick Iarossi, extended his reach via a Washington lobbying and public relations firm after reportedly meeting with Trump several times during the campaign and transition. The decision to also lobby D.C. from Florida was seamless because we have deep relationships with many of the key White House and cabinet officials who are also from Florida, Iarossi told the Journal. Iarossi previously told Politico that while sitting in the West Wing, he felt like Florida had just been picked up and placed in the White House.

The elevation of Floridian power players in Washington since the presidents return goes beyond lobbyists. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was once a Florida senator. United States Attorney General Pam Bondi was once Florida attorney general. National-security advisor Mike Waltz used to be a congressman from Florida. Trumps special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff was a prominent real estate developer in Florida. Wiles is a veteran of Florida politics.

Florida was a swing state for many yearsit was blue both times Obama ran, in 2008 and 2012but its recently turned red. Trump won Florida each time he ran. The story of Florida is not just the story of Florida, Raymond Paultre, executive director of the Alliance, a group of Democratic donors in the state, told the New York Times last year. Its the story of a progressive movement thats struggling to make it in the South, thats struggling to compete with younger voters of color, that is struggling to win with younger men.

In Trumps current administration, he has tapped more Floridians for his inner circle than ever before. Finally Florida is the homebase of the Republican Party, Ballard told the Journal. Its the place where people used to come to fill up their campaign coffers. Now they come for talent.

Justin Sayfie, a partner at Ballards firm, previously told Politico: Its the first time we have had a president elected from the state of Florida That means that there are a number of Floridians who are serving in the administration, and that means that firms with Florida ties can be helpful in the new environment in Washington.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Last week, when President Trump announced plans for the U.S. to sell gold card visas to wealthy foreigners, those of us working in the field of anti-corruption were dismayed. A $5 million ticket to U.S. residency with a strong path to citizenship could hand corrupt individuals a golden escape route to find safe haven for themselves and their ill-gotten money.

In his announcement, the president also said that the policy had never been done before, anything like this.

If only that were true.

The proposal has the shape and smell of golden passport programscitizenship-by-investment schemes that have been in place across the Caribbean and Europe for some time. Some programs on offer in the EU were designed as visa schemes but have included a fast track to citizenship, much like the gold cards teased by Trump.

Across Europe, some countries have successfully used the scheme to sell the rights and benefits of EU citizenship, including greater mobility and fewer restrictions when opening a bank account or starting a businessadvantages that can be misused for illicit activities. Over the past decade, wealthy foreigners have purchased citizenship or residency in EU countries where they have no real ties, with governments often accepting payments with minimal scrutiny, exposing the EU to risks of corruption and money laundering.

While not all people who buy such visas are corrupt or dubious, there are many examples of how shady individuals pounced on the opportunity to have EU citizenship. For example, Russian businessman Pavel Melnikov obtained Maltese citizenship just two years after obtaining a St Kitts & Nevis passport. In his letter of intention, he said that he wanted to learn English in Malta. A few years later, Melnikov's company in Finland was raided by Finnish police as part of a money-laundering probe. There are several other clear-cut examples in the case of Malta.

An investigation by Al Jazeera showed how an investment of over 2 million in Cyprus secured EU citizenship for at least 30 people who have pending criminal charges or convictions, as well as 40 politically exposed persons.

The abuses were so extensive and so grave that pressure from the European Commission and the public led to the abolition of some programs. This was the case in Cyprus in November 2020 and in Bulgaria in March 2022.

The EU considered the issue settled. However, Malta refused to end its own scheme, leading the Commission to pursue a ban through the EU Court of Justice. A case against Malta challenging the legality of such schemesis currently pending a decision.

The outcome of this case will have major implications. A decision favorable to Malta would not only maintain the status quo but also entitle other EU countries to create similar programs. Well again have cases of jurisdiction-shopping. Countries will race to the bottom, lowering their standards to gain a competitive edge. The EUs doors will be wide open to the corrupt and criminals once again.

Golden visa and passport programs have brought little to no benefit to countries where they exist. Theyve increased pressure on the housing markets and pushed locals out of the cities.

Explicitly inviting Russian oligarchs may be saying the quiet part out loud, as golden visas and passport programs have been marketed as schemes for exceptional global citizens but have instead welcomed the corrupt and money launderers to the EU.

Openly inviting the corrupt and criminals to purchase citizenship never ends well. The evidence from Europe is clear: These schemes dont just pose risks; they actively enable crime and contribute to widening inequality. If history is any guide, selling gold cards wont strengthen the U.S.; it will weaken it.

The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.

Read more:

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Americans have long been dissatisfied with growing pay gaps between CEOs and employees. Now, researchers say that this tension can generate internal discontent and even increase the likelihood of corporate whistleblowing.

CEO-employee pay disparities erode employee loyalty and lead to greater worker willingness to inform on their companies, according to a recent study from researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas. In companies with more significant pay disparitiesespecially when individuals believed they could find work elsewhereemployees were significantly more likely to report on their companies. The driving force behind that is perceived unfairness, according to Dr. Riki Takeuchi, a professor at the University of Texas and an author of the study.

We are now more concerned about corporate social responsibility and community, he says. Firms who are seen as more sensitive to their impact on their environment or their community are considered to be a much better place to work. This also includes how employees are compensated and how they are being treated.

The studys findings are reflected in several high profile instances of whistleblowing. At Boeing, CEO Dave Calhoun was awarded a $33 million pay package while employees allegedly faced mistreatment and retaliation for raising safety and quality concerns. Calhoun was eventually pushed out of the top role after multiple whistleblowers came forward, and the company faced heated Senate hearings last year and catastrophic damage to its reputation and stock price. And in 2022, a former security chief at Twitter accused executives of misleading regulators about security and spam issues. These leaders, the whistleblower claimed, stood to earn tens-of-millions in personal bonuses tied to increasing the number of app users.

The American public widely disapproves of runaway executive pay, despite increasingly large paychecks for top corporate earners. CEO compensation has increased 1,085% since 1978, compared to a 24% increase in average employee pay, according to the Economic Policy Institute. But the majority of adults in the U.S. believe its important for companies to avoid major pay gaps between CEOs and average employees, according to research from Gallup and Bentley University and Gallup. And two-thirds of Americans say companies are doing a poor job of addressing that divide.

There are several ways that CEOs and top executives can mitigate the potential risks of disproportionate executive compensation, according to the Texas researchers. Business leaders must recognize the impact of significant pay gaps on employee loyalty and be mindful not to create massive compensation disparities. And companies should also create well organized internal reporting programs that can actually solve issues so that employees can gain confidence in their own organizations ability to address problems.

As for boards, the researchers suggest that directors hold CEOs accountable for indicators of company performance that go beyond just revenue and profit. That includes things like employee wellbeing and corporate social responsibility.

One person cannot make the company successful. Its only through the employees, through the workforce that things get done, Takeuchi says.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Timothy A. Thomas, 17, a student at Elevation High School in Sanford, was arrested on Sunday.

A Florida teenager was arrested after allegedly posting videos showing off an arsenal of extremely realistic replica guns and threatening to shoot up a high school, according to police, who said they likely prevented a tragedy and saved multiple lives.

Timothy Thomas, 17, was arrested Sunday night after police in Sanford, just northeast of Orlando, received an anonymous tip about someone making online threats to shoot up Seminole High School, according to the Sanford Police Department.

The video showed multiple guns, vests, knives and other items of concern, cops said.

Timothy A. Thomas, 17, a student at Elevation High School in Sanford, was arrested on Sunday. Sanford Police Department

Police seized weapons from the teens home they identified as extremely realistic Airsoft replicas. Sanford Police Department

Police identified Thomas from the video and arrested him at his home without incident.

The teen is a student at Elevation High School, police said, without saying why he is thought to have threatened a different school.

They seized multiple weapons at the home, which police identified in a press release as extremely realistic Airsoft replicas.

The teen is charged with intimidation by written or electronic threat of a mass shooting or act of terrorism.

Police Chief Cecil Smith praised the quick action of law enforcement to foil a possible tragedy.

The swift identification and arrest of Thomas is the direct result of the immediate collaboration and dedication of multiple local and federal agencies and organizations. This fast action and team most likely prevented a tragedy and saved multiple lives.

The 17-year-old allegedly threatening to shoot up Seminole High School in Sanford. Seminole High School Sanford

Seminole County Public Schools Superintendent Serita Bamon said in a statement that she was thankful for all agencies involved.

The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority, and we will continue to take any potential threat seriously, and act quickly, she said.
Four people were arrested and charged Monday in connection with the death of a 5-year-old boy who was killed in a hyperbaric chamber in Michigan this year, police said.

Thomas Cooper died in a fiery explosion on Jan. 31 while he was undergoing treatment at the Oxford Center, an alternative medicine facility in the Detroit suburb of Troy.

Thomas Cooper, 5, of Royal Oak, Michigan.

Oxford Center founder and CEO Tamela Peterson was among those arrested in Thomas death. Peterson and two other people were charged with second-degree murder, while a fourth person was charged with involuntary manslaughter and intentionally placing false information in medical records, court documents show.

Gerald Gleeson II, Petersons attorney, declined to comment on her arrest Monday evening.

Attorneys could not immediately be located for Gary Marken or Jeffrey Mosteller, the two others charged with second-degree murder, both of whom appear to hold director titles, according to Oxford Center company webpages.

An attorney for the fourth person charged, Aleta Moffitt, declined to comment.

Moffitt was charged with involuntary manslaughter and falsifying information; her attorney, Ellen Michaels, did not say what Moffitts job was at the center.

All four defendants are scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday, a Troy police spokesperson said.

Sam Vitale, an attorney representing the Oxford Center, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News. In a statement to WXYZ-TV of Detroit on Monday evening, the Oxford Center said, After cooperating with multiple investigations starting immediately after the tragic accident in January, we are disappointed to see charges filed.

The company said it was surprised by the charges because the typical protocol after a fire-related accident has not yet been completed and because there are outstanding questions about how the incident occurred.

Thomas parents have not spoken publicly since their son, died and they declined to comment Monday on the arrests. Their attorney, James Harrington, has told NBC News that Thomas parents had taken him to receive multiple sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for sleep apnea and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder at the Oxford Center and that his mom, Annie Cooper, was burned on her arm when she rushed over to the chamber to try to save her son after the fire broke out.

Harrington said the family plans to file a lawsuit even after Mondays criminal charges and added that he was not surprised by the arrests.

This is a very, very egregious case, Harrington said in a phone interview.

Thomas Cooper.

Vitale told NBC News last month that the Oxford Center had been cooperating with the investigation.

The safety and wellbeing of the children we serve is our highest priority. We are participating in the investigations that are still taking place to determine how this happened, he said in an emailed statement on Feb. 19.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which involves delivering 100% oxygen in a pressurized, tubelike chamber, is cleared by the Food and Drug Administration to treat a handful of conditions, including carbon monoxide poisoning, certain wounds and burns and decompression sickness in scuba divers.

The FDA regulates certain hyperbaric chambers that meet its definition of Class II medical devices, which are intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.

In recent years, unaccredited facilities such as spas and wellness centers have started promoting hyperbaric oxygen therapy for various health problems.

The Oxford Center, which has two locations in Michigan, says it treats more than 100 conditions, including autism, Alzheimers, dyslexia and cancer. The FDA does not recognize hyperbaric oxygen therapy for those conditions.

Thomas parents, who live in Royal Oak, Michigan, are doing absolutely horrible since their son died, Harrington said Monday.

Under no circumstances should this happen, he said.
Mahmoud Khalil stands outside the gates of the Columbia University campus in New York on April 30, 2024. - Seth Harrison/USA Today Network/Imagn Images

A federal judge in New York has blocked any efforts by President Donald Trumps administration to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist at Columbia University who was arrested Saturday night, until a conference Wednesday, according to court documents.

Its unclear whether he will appear in court on Wednesday.

To preserve the Courts jurisdiction pending a ruling on the petition, Petitioner shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the Court orders otherwise, the Monday filing said.

Khalil, who helped lead Columbias student protest movement demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, was arrested Saturday night by federal immigration authorities who said they were acting on a State Department order to revoke his green card, according to his attorney.

His arrest is the latest escalation by Trump  in what he calls the first arrest of many to come to crack down on pro-Palestinian demonstrations on college campuses, and comes days after he vowed to deport foreign students and imprison agitators involved in illegal protests.

On Monday evening, hundreds carried signs as they marched through lower Manhattan and called for Khalils release.

Khalil, who completed his work on his masters degree in December, was at the forefront of the student-led anti-war movement at Columbia University last year. He was among those under investigation by a new university committee that brought disciplinary charges against dozens of students for their pro-Palestinian activism, according to The Associated Press.

Demonstrators called for Mahmoud Khalil's release in New York on Monday. - Jeenah Moon/Reuters

ICEs arrest and detention of Mahmoud follows the US governments open repression of student activism and political speech, specifically targeting students at Columbia University for criticism of Israels assault on Gaza, Khalils attorney Amy Greer said. The US government has made clear that they will use immigration enforcement as a tool to suppress that speech.

Khalil is currently being held at a detention facility in Jena, Louisiana, according to a source with direct knowledge of the case.

His lawyers asked the court to issue an order reversing Khalils transfer to Louisiana, which they argued in the filing undermines the courts jurisdiction and his access to legal counsel and family.

Khalil emailed interim university president Katrina Armstrong the night before his arrest to request her help in securing legal support and other protections following what he described as a dehumanizing doxing campaign against him, according to court documents.

In the email, Khalil said people were falsely labeling him a terrorist threat and calling for his deportation.

CNN has reached out to Columbia University regarding Khalils request. Attorneys for Khalil also detail difficulty reaching him after he was transferred to Louisiana.

Although its not yet clear what he is being charged with, Khalils arrest appears to be among the first actions following Trumps promise to deport international students who joined the protests against Israels war in Gaza across college campuses last year. Legal experts point out once there is an allegation the only person who has authority to revoke a persons immigration status, such as a student visa or green card, is an immigration judge.

Green card holders have broad rights as legal residents of the United States, including the right to work and protection by all laws of the United States, the persons state of residence and local jurisdictions.

The State Department declined to comment on Khalils case, noting visa records are confidential under US law.

Khalil was apprehended by two plainclothes Department of Homeland Security agents at the university-owned apartment building where he lives with his wife, a US citizen, Writers Against the War on Gaza said in a news release.

The DHS agents said the State Department revoked Khalils student visa, although he does not have a student visa, but rather a green card, and is a lawful permanent resident, the group said. When Khalils wife, who is eight months pregnant, showed the agents his green card, one agent was visibly confused and said on the phone, He has a green card, according to the news release.

However, after a moment, the DHS agents stated that the State Department had revoked that too. Khalils wife then phoned his attorney, who spoke with the agents in an attempt to intervene, the group said. When Khalils attorney requested that a copy of the warrant be emailed to her, the agent hung up the call.

Columbia University confirmed in a statement Sunday there have been reports of ICE around campus and said the university has and will continue to follow the law.

Khalil is currently being held at a detention facility in Jena, Louisiana, according to a source with direct knowledge of the case. - Edmund Fountain/Reuters

The university did not respond to CNNs request for additional information, including whether the school had received a valid warrant for Khalils arrest, which its statement said is required before entering Columbia property.

A town hall for Columbia students aimed at helping them navigate whats going on is scheduled for Wednesday, according to a message addressed to the student community Sunday.

Immigration law gives broad authority to the administration

The Trump administration based the arrest on a provision of immigration law that gives it broad authority on who can be subject to deportation, according to a senior Homeland Security official.

The Immigration and Nationality Act states an alien whose presence or activities in the United States the Secretary of State has reasonable ground to believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States is deportable. The term alien refers to anyone who isnt a citizen or national of the United States.

That provision of the law was used as grounds to detain Khalil, according to the official, who didnt rule out it could be used in future cases as well.

If the judge decides the allegations are sustained, the person in custody can still apply for relief, but the whole process can drag on for months, according to Camille Mackler, founder and executive director of Immigrant ARC, a coalition of legal service providers in New York.

There is a question of whether due process is going to happen here or for anyone else, Mackler said. We are seeing the Trump administration use the power of government to go after people or institutions they do not like or agree with. In a free society that shouldnt happen.

John Sandweg, a former acting director of ICE, said in an email to CNN the use of a provision to deport a green card holder is rare, and often used with other immigration charges, including that the person lied in their green card application and did not disclose ties to the terror organization.

The Administration may also be relying on another provision that arguably allows ICE to deport someone when the Secretary of State has reasonable ground to believe that the persons presence or activities in the US present serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States, Sandweg added while also noting the use of it is also rare.

Donna Lieberman, the executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, told CNNs Boris Sanchez that it reeks of McCarthyism.

The claim is that his opposition to the activities of Israel with regard to the Palestinians are grounds for him to be deported. And that is simply illegal, she said.

Pro-Palestinian student protesters set up a tent encampment at Columbia University last year. - Nikita Payusov/Middle East Images/AFP/Getty Images

Activists, friends fight for his release

Columbia has been at the forefront of US campus protests over Israels war in Gaza since last year, inspiring a wave of demonstrations across university campuses in the US and abroad. Last April, protesters at Columbia went on to seize a campus building, resulting in dozens of arrests  some of those cases were later dismissed in court.

A university task force said Jews and Israelis at the school were ostracized from student groups, humiliated in classrooms and subjected to verbal abuse amid the spring demonstrations.

Pro-Palestinian protesters have repeatedly said theres nothing antisemitic about criticizing Israel over its actions in Gaza or expressing solidarity with Palestinians and calling for a ceasefire.

Since Hamas deadly attacks on October 7, 2023, Israels offensive in Gaza has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. It also has imposed a siege and razed entire communities, rendering nearly 90% of the population displaced, according to the United Nations, and 100% food insecure, according to former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Although demands among protesters varied at each university, the majority of demonstrations called for their colleges to divest from companies that support Israel and the war in Gaza.

At Columbia, Khalil was selected to serve as a negotiator for the students during the Gaza Solidarity Encampment on the university campus and spent 17 months protesting Israels bombardment of Gaza.

The Gaza Solidarity Encampment was organized by Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), a student-led coalition of more than 100 organizations including Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace, to protest what they describe as the universitys continued financial investment in corporations that profit from Israeli apartheid, genocide, and military occupation of Palestine, according to CUAD.

Khalil was calling for Columbia University to stop using the student endowment to invest in different Israeli weapons manufacturing companies and basically remove any sort of support from Israel, said Zainab Khan, another Columbia graduate who was active in the student-led anti-war movement.

Everyone is scared, everyones angry, she added. If this can happen to one of the best in our group, then it can happen to anyone.

Trump administration ramps up efforts to crack down on pro-Palestinian voices

Columbia has become the first target in Trumps campaign to cut federal money to colleges accused of tolerating antisemitism amid the Israel-Hamas war.

The president said in a post on social media Monday his administration is working to deport terrorist sympathizers from our country  never to return again.

Trump signed an executive order during his second week in office to combat antisemitism on college campuses  by potentially revoking visas and directing universities to monitor and report on international students and staff.

We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X in response to reports of Khalils detention.

Columbia was one of 60 US colleges and universities notified Monday by the US Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights that it faces consequences if it doesnt comply with Title VI protections for Jewish students

New York University Professor Robert Cohen, an expert in student activism and social protest in 20th-century America, told CNN the Trump administrations language and generalization that protesters are pro-jihadist is dangerous.

To act as if everybody in the movement is supporting Hamas is a vast oversimplification, Cohen said. Most people involved in the movement nationally were opposed to the war because of the fact that there were a lot of people dying, a lot of civilians were getting killed.

Khalils arrest brought outrage from civil rights and advocacy organizations. Murad Awawdeh, president of the New York Immigration Coalition, said the targeting of Khalil was an affront to his First Amendment rights, while the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nations largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization said the arrest was an attack on the very humanity of Palestinians.

This arrest is unprecedented, illegal, and un-American. The federal government is claiming the authority to deport people with deep ties to the U.S. and revoke their green cards for advocating positions that the government opposes, Ben Wizner, director of the American Civil Liberties Unions Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project said in a press release on Monday.

New York Attorney General Letitia James took to X to say shes extremely concerned, about the arrest of Khalil, adding that her office is monitoring the situation and is in contact with his attorney.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNNs Lauren Mascarenhas, Jeff Winter, Elizabeth Wolfe and Sabrina Souza contributed to this reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Former Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil talks to the press at a pro-Palestinian encampment at Columbia University's Morningside Heights campus on June 1, 2024. Credit - Selcuk Acar/AnadoluGetty Images

Buried in the trove of Executive Orders signed by President Donald Trump in his first weeks in office was a directive linked to last years campus protests over the Israel-Gaza war.

The order called for the revocation of student visas for individuals suspected of sympathizing with Hamas. To all the resident aliens who joined in the pro-jihadist protests, we put you on notice: come 2025, we will find you, and we will deport you, Trump said in a White House fact sheet announcing the move.

On Saturday night, agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) followed through on Trump's threat, detaining Mahmoud Khalil, an activist and former student of New York City's Columbia University, where pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year became a national lightning rod amid a debate about the Middle East conflict. Khalil, who was raised in Syria and is of Palestinian descent, played a prominent role in the public demonstrations at the university and served as a negotiator between protesters and university officials last spring. He graduated from Columbia with a masters degree in December.

Khalils situation immediately drew international attention because of the reason he was detained, and because, according to his lawyer Amy Greer, he holds a green card, which allows individuals to live and work permanently in the United States.

In his notice to appear in immigration court, first reported by The Washington Post, the government said Khalil is a citizen of Algeria and that he could be deported under section 237 (a)(4)(C) (i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which gives the Secretary of State the authority to deport non-citizens when they have "reasonable ground to believe that [their] presence or activities in the United States would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States. The notice did not mention any crimes that the federal government believes Khalil may have committed.

Khalil is currently being held at the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Jena, La., roughly 1,300 miles away from his apartment, according to an ICE database. His wife, who is eight months pregnant, is a U.S. citizen and detailed the arrest in a statement shared with TIME, though she has declined to use her name. In the statement, she says the couple were followed and confronted by ICE agents as they were returning from an Iftar dinner. She said an agent threatened to arrest her too if she didnt go upstairs to their apartment. "We were not shown any warrant and the ICE officers hung up the phone on our lawyer," read her statement.

Baher Azmy, the legal director of the Center of Constitutional Rights who is on Khalils legal team, told reporters Wednesday that Khalil was arrested for his viewpoints, which Azmy warned could set a dangerous precedent. Mr. Khalils detention has nothing to do with security, he said. It is only about repression. The United States government has taken the position that it can arrest, detain and seek to deport a lawful permanent resident, exclusively because of his peaceful, constitutionally protected activism, in this case, activism in support of Palestinian human rights and an end to the genocide in Gaza.

In a statement, Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said Khalil led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, and linked his arrest to Trumps Executive Order. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who ultimately made the decision to try to deport Khalil, told reporters on Wednesday that the case was not about free speech: This is about people that don't have a right to be in the United States to begin with. No one has a right to a student visa. No one has a right to a green card."

Khalils lawyers said that he felt compelled to speak out about the conflict in Gaza, where tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed since Israel began a bombing and ground campaign in response to Hamass deadly Oct. 7, 2023 attack. He is committed to calling on the rest of the world to protect the rights of Palestinians under international law and to stop enabling violence against Palestinians, his lawyers said in a court filing Monday.

Trumps immigration officials have not provided evidence to support their accusations against Khalil or other students. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday alleged that Khalil distributed pro-Hamas flyers on Columbias campus, a claim that his lawyers rejected. Whatever flyers the White House spokesperson may have been talking about, that is certainly not in the government's position in court, said Ramzi Kassem, the founding director of CLEAR, a legal clinic, who is part of Khalils legal team.

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside New York Citys City Hall and Washington Square Park on Monday and Tuesday decrying his arrest; at least 13 people were arrested in connection to the protests, according to CNN. Additional events demanding Khalils release have taken place across the country, including at UCLA and Stanford, with more scheduled this week.

Protestors rally outside the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building to demand the release of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil in New York on March 10, 2025. Mostafa BassimAnadolu via Getty Images

Khalils arrest came just days after Trump announced he would revoke $400 million in federal funding from Columbia University, accusing the school of not doing enough to prevent antisemitism on campus. To critics, both the cutoff in funding and Khalils detainment are part of a broader campaign by the Trump Administration to silence political speech critical of U.S. foreign policy.

Heres what to know about Khalils case, and why his green card status suggests a potential shift in U.S. immigration policy under the Trump Administration:

Can a green card holder be deported?

While green card holders enjoy many of the same rights as U.S. citizens, they can still face deportation under certain conditions, typically for criminal behavior or violations of immigration law, says Stephen Yale-Loehr, a retired immigration law professor at Cornell Law School.

Foreign nationals can also lose their visas for endorsing or being associated with terrorist groups, but only if the government can provide material evidence. The Trump Administration has not provided any written evidence to support Khalils deportation beyond Rubios determination under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Khalils lawyers have said there is no indication that their client has committed any crime or violated the terms of his residency, and that the Trump Administration appears to be targeting him for his political activism and vocal opposition to Israeli policies. Immigration law experts note that deporting a green card holder solely for their political beliefs would likely violate the First Amendment, which protects free speech and the right to protest.

Yale-Loehr pointed to a Ragbir v. Homan, a 2018 decision by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals that held that a non-citizen with a final removal order could not be removed if the removal was only because they were retaliating against their free speech.

Revoking a green card is also quite rare, and typically requires a hearing before an immigration judge. The process is generally lengthy and requires clear evidence of wrongdoing, and given the immense backlogs in immigration courts, it could take years before he gets a hearing before an immigration judge. If Khalils green card is ultimately revoked as a result of his activism, immigration experts say it would mark a disturbing shift in how the U.S. government interprets the scope of its power over lawful permanent residents.

The burden of proof in deportation cases

In any deportation case, the burden of proof rests with the government to demonstrate that the individual has violated U.S. immigration laws. Typically, this would involve criminal convictions or other serious legal violations. In Khalils case, the government would need to prove that his actions go beyond protected political speech and that his associations or activities pose a genuine national security threat. His legal team maintains that there is no legitimate grounds for revoking his green card or detaining him.

The government would need to prove that hes done something more than just speaking out, like offering material support to Hamas, Yale-Loehr says. That would be a ground of deportability.

They can't deport only for free speech advocacy, he adds, but if they were able to prove that he offered material support to Hamas by donating to their cause or something, then that's obviously concerning.

Tom Homan, the Trump Administrations border czar, told Fox Business on Monday that federal authorities absolutely can deport someone who is in the country legally: I mean, did he violate the terms of his visa? Did he violate the terms of his residency here, you know, committing crimes, attacking Israeli students, locking down buildings, destroying property? Absolutely, any resident alien who commits a crime is eligible for deportation, Homan added. On Wednesday, Homan went a step further and called Khalil a national security threat, claiming that free speech has limitations.

"Coming to this country either on a visa or becoming a resident alien is a great privilege, but there are rules associated with that. You might have been able to get away with that stuff in the last administration, but not this administration," Homan said.

Trumps expanding use of executive power

The Khalil case is part of a broader trend in which the Trump Administration has sought to expand its use of immigration law to remove individuals deemed to be a threat to the United States. The effort is in line with Trumps actions from his first term, which included creating a task force to review whether individuals had lied on their immigration forms.

In 2020, Trumps Justice Department also created a new Denaturalization Section in its immigration office to identify naturalized immigrants to strip of their citizenship rights. Of the 228 denaturalization cases the DOJ has filed since 2008, about 40% were brought during Trump's four years in office, the New York Times reported at the time.

The Khalil case signals that the Trump Administration is willing to employ those powers far more aggressively than it did during Trump's first term, a shift that could have far-reaching implications for civil rights and free speech in America.

Write to Nik Popli at nik.popli@time.com.
Subbarayudu Konanki

Authorities in the Dominican Republic are searching on land, by air and in the water for a University of Pittsburgh student who disappeared last week on spring break in Punta Cana.

Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old United States resident, was last seen on surveillance camera with seven other people entering the beach at the Riu Republica Hotel in Punta Cana after 4:15 a.m. Thursday, the Dominican National Police said in a statement.

Before heading to the beach, surveillance footage shows the group of Americans  Konanki, five other women and two men  had been drinking in the hotels lobby around 3 a.m., a source with the Dominican National Police told CNN.

So far, the authorities, multiple authorities here in the Dominican Republic have searched in the waters. They searched using helicopters and other tools. They also searched in the near bay, bushes, trees. They went multiple times around the same areas, said her father, Subbarayudu Konanki.

Officials are using search dogs and drones to search for Konanki, the countrys search and rescue force Defensa Civil Dominicana said on Facebook Monday.

Authorities have been interviewing a man in his 20s believed to be the last person to see Konanki last week, a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation told CNN.

She went to the beach on March 6 early morning around 4 a.m. with friends and some other guys they met at the resort, Konankis father told CNN. After that, her friends came back after some time and my daughter did not come back, did not show up from the beach.

Around 4:55 a.m. Thursday, surveillance cameras captured five women and one man leaving the beach, while Konanki is believed to have stayed behind with the other young man, two sources close to the investigation told CNN.

Surveillance video shows the man leaving the beach area at 8:55 a.m., the two sources close to the investigation said, with no sign of Konanki. A source initially said the surveillance video times were one hour later than 4:55 a.m. and 8:55 a.m., based on time stamps from the video. But hotel staff eventually told investigators the time stamp was an hour ahead of actual time, the two sources said.

When Konanki didnt return to her room, her companions initially searched for her before notifying authorities, according to the law enforcement source. The group then reported her missing to the hotel staff around 4 p.m. Thursday, the Riu hotel chain said in a statement.

The young man is not considered to be a suspect at this time, the law enforcement source said. He was being kept in a hotel room under police watch as the probe continues, though he is not officially detained, a different source close to the investigation told CNN.

The young man believed to have stayed with Konanki at the beach has told police multiple versions of the last time he saw the University of Pittsburgh student, the local police source told CNN.

He told authorities they both went into the ocean but he felt sick, got out of the water and fell asleep on a lounge chair, according to the source. He has said Konanki may have been swept away by a wave, left when he got out of the water, or he saw her walking along the beach with the water up to her knees in the direction of where she had left her clothes, the source said.

Authorities found a sarong-style cover up belonging to Konanki on a lounge chair on the beach and said there was no sign of violence, according to the source.

Konanki had arrived on March 3 to the Caribbean nation with five others, said police, who learned of her disappearance after 8 a.m. Friday through a call from the US Embassy in Santo Domingo.

She had gone to Punta Cana for spring break ahead of premed studies, her father said. My daughter is a very nice girl, he said. Shes ambitious. She wanted to pursue a career in medicine.

Konankis father wants local authorities to also investigate other possibilities including whether this is a case of kidnapping or human trafficking, he told CNN on Sunday from Punta Cana. We dont think she would be able to survive for more than three days in the water and I think something else mightve happened to her.

The US State Department has in place a Level 2 of 4 travel advisory for the Dominican Republic, advising Americans to use increased caution and not display signs of wealth. Violent crime, including armed robbery, homicide, and sexual assault, is a concern throughout the Dominican Republic, the agency said in a June advisory.

Officials in Virginia and India also involved

Konanki was at the resort with five other female students from the University of Pittsburgh, according to the sheriffs office in Loudoun County, Virginia, where her family lives. The Konanki family, originally from India, has lived in the United States since 2006 and are permanent residents.

The sheriffs office was contacted Thursday evening about Konankis disappearance and has followed up with federal law enforcement, the US State Department and contacts in the Dominican Republic, it said.

Additionally, the sheriffs office said Monday it has requested a Yellow Notice  a worldwide police alert for a missing person  to be issued by Interpol.

The embassy of India in the DR has taken the lead working with our state department and law-enforcement on the ground. Our office is supporting those efforts and continuing to investigate locally, the sheriffs office said in a statement to CNN.

In a Monday news release, the sheriffs office also urged caution around public speculation about Konankis disappearance.

There has been considerable public speculation about what may have happened to Konanki and who may be involved, the sheriffs office said. We caution anyone from drawing any unsubstantiated conclusions and are committed to ensuring that a thorough investigation is conducted before any conclusions are reached.

Search teams work Saturday in the coastal area of Bavaro, Dominican Republic, looking for Sudiksha Konanki. - Defensa Civil La Altagracia/Facebook

The Dominican National Emergency System is coordinating search efforts on the island for Konanki.

In coordination with the Tourism Police, the Civil Defense, the Dominican Navy, the National Police, and other rescue organizations, four teams of drones equipped with advanced technology have been deployed to conduct a thorough search in the coastal area of Bavaro, the service said in a statement issued on Sunday.

The Riu hotel chain said staff were helping authorities in their search, its statement said, adding, We want to express our sincerest empathy towards the family and friends during this very difficult time. The safety and wellbeing of our guests are our highest priority, and we are committed to doing everything possible to assist in this situation.

The University of Pittsburgh urged anyone with information to contact the Loudoun County Sheriffs Office.

University officials are in contact with Sudiksha Konankis family as well as authorities in Loudoun County, Virginia, and we have offered our full support in their efforts to find her and bring her home safely, the university told CNN in a statement.

The Embassy of India was extending all assistance in coordination with government authorities of the Dominican Republic, it said on Facebook.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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The Senate confirmed Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer to be President Donald Trumps labor secretary on Monday, with over a dozen Democrats backing the former House lawmaker.

The vote was 67 in favor of her nomination and 32 against.

The confirmation puts a centrist Republican with a pro-union record in charge of the Labor Department, responsible for enforcing workplace safety rules and minimum wage and overtime regulations.

Three Republicans  Sens. Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, as well as Ted Budd of North Carolina  voted against Chavez-DeRemers nomination, while 18 Democrats voted in favor in a rare show of bipartisan support for one of Trumps Cabinet nominees. In fact, her nomination was saved in committee thanks to support from liberal senators.

Chavez-DeRemer represented Oregons 5th District for one term before losing reelection last fall. She was among the chambers few union-friendly Republicans and even co-sponsored a Democratic bill aimed at rejuvenating the labor movement and making it easier for workers to organize.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters had pushed Chavez-DeRemer for the labor slot, with the unions president, Sean OBrien, recommending her to Trump. Chavez-DeRemers father had been a Teamster, and she cultivated support with Oregon unions in her run for the House.

OBrien previously said Chavez-DeRemer knows the importance of carrying a union card and what it means to grow up in a middle-class household.

That kind of talk  especially when paired with Chavez-DeRemers House record  drew some suspicion from Republican senators. She was one of just three House Republicans in the last Congress to endorse the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, a sweeping pro-union bill that would, among other measures, nullify state right to work laws.

Chavez-DeRemer ended up jettisoning her support for that provision during her confirmation hearing, which helped carry her with skeptical Republicans. But most GOP senators were reluctant to cross Trump on a nomination anyway.

Democrats who supported Chavez-DeRemer said they were comforted by her statements in support of workers. They also said she was the most bipartisan-minded individual Trump could have nominated to the post, compared to more conservative possible alternatives.

These are hard times to be an executive, to run one of the executive agencies. But that said, [Chavez-DeRemer] can do a tremendous amount of good without pissing anybody off, Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) told HuffPost.

But other Democratic senators opposed Chavez-DeRemer in protest of the Trump administrations dismantling of federal government agencies and mass firing of civil servants, including at key labor boards.

After Mondays vote, Trump will have all his formal Cabinet confirmed a week before former President Joe Biden did in March 2021. Republicans pushed hard to approve all of Trumps picks in record time, even controversial ones who faced allegations of sexual misconduct and drunkenness.
A Texas man charged with murder in the death of his fiance searched online what the legal consequences were for a "legal citizen who killed an "illegal immigrant," according to a court document.

Ty Vaughn, 31, has been charged with the murder of Luis David Banos Norberto, 21, nearly two months after authorities said he called 911 to report finding Banos dead at a Baytown, Texas, apartment.

Prior to Banos' death, Vaughn "made an elaborate electronic inquiry on the world-wide web to determine the legal ramifications of killing an 'illegal immigrant' by a 'legal citizen,'" according to a court document regarding bond and filed in the 183rd District Court in Harris County.

In a news release posted Monday, the Baytown Police Department said it arrested Vaughn on Friday in connection with the Jan. 14 death of Banos, whom they identified as his fiance. Police said they found Banos shot in the head and held Vaughn for questioning.

"Throughout the investigation, Vaughn provided inconsistent testimony," the police news release states.

The court document alleges that Banos was shot in the face with a lever action rifle and afterward the scene was staged as a suicide. It also states that Vaughn is a U.S. Army veteran who was honorably discharged.

Vaughn told authorities the two had an argument Friday and then he left the apartment to visit his mother. He returned home at 4 p.m. in "an intoxicated state of mind," the court document states. One witness told police they heard gunfire at about that time and another reported seeing Vaughn enter the apartment at about 4:05 p.m. and then hearing a loud noise, according to the document.

Bond was set for Vaughn at $500,000 on the condition he wears a GPS monitor if released. An arraignment hearing was set for April 30.

Vaughn's court-appointed attorney Inger Chandler said her client is presumed innocent and "cases are rarely as clear-cut as they seem."

She said Vaughn "is devastated by the loss of his fiance; he loved Mr. Banos very much and hoped to marry him."

The obituary for Banos posted online states he was born in Guerrero, Mexico, and is survived by his parents, grandparents and three brothers, all of whom live in Baytown.

"The artwork you've shared with me I will cherish even more closely. The volunteer work we've done over the years goes to show your character and big heart, and I'll continue," one person wrote in an online guestbook.

A cousin posted a GoFundMe request for Banos in January on behalf of his mother, saying, "Our family is devastated with the loss of Luis."
A man has been indicted for the murder of 3-year-old Rylo Yancy, who was fatally shot during a birthday party in Florida last summer.

Tyler Hollins, 20, was indicted by a grand jury on March 6 for the first-degree murder of Yancy, who was fatally shot during a drive-by shooting at a park in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on the evening of July 21, 2024, the Broward State Attorneys Office confirmed.

Authorities believe Hollins had "beef" with some of the people at the birthday party where Yancy was a guest, which may have been why he participated in the shooting, Fort Lauderdale Police Department Sgt. Donald Geiger said. Yancy was on one of the park's slides when he was shot.

Rylo Yancy was three years old when he was fatally shot during a drive-by shooting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on July 21, 2024.

Hollins was already in police custody for unrelated charges at the time of his indictment, according to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. He was also indicted for possession of a firearm by a delinquent.

The Law Office of the Public Defender of Broward County, which is representing Hollins, did not immediately respond for a comment when contacted by USA TODAY on Tuesday.

After the shooting last year, Yancy was transported to the Broward Health Medical Center with life threatening injuries, according to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

In October, a celebration of life was held for Yancy, where Spiderman-themed decorations were hung throughout the Anthony R. Manuel Funeral Home in Hollywood, Florida.

Detectives have identified additional suspects, but are continuing to seek the public's assistance. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has additional information is urged to contact the Fort Lauderdale Police Department Homicide Tipline at 954-828-6677 or Detective Juan Rodriguez directly at 954-828-6673. Tips can also be provided anonymously by contacting Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.

The FBI is offering a $10,000 reward for information related to the incident.

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Man indicted in fatal shooting of boy at Florida birthday party
GoFundMe Joselyn Toaquiza

A man has been sentenced for murdering his childhood friend at a birthday party he planned for her, according to reports.

Jhon Chacaguasay-Ilbis, 21, was sentenced to 23 years to life in prison on Monday, March 10, after strangling 21-year-old Joselyn Toaquiza and dumping her body in a park in Syracuse, New York, on June 18, 2024, according to local media outlet Syracuse.com.

The outlet reported that Chacaguasay-Ilbis killed Toaquiza after inviting her to an Airbnb that he rented to celebrate her 21st birthday. He had reportedly traveled to the hotel where Toaquiza worked as a housekeeper to meet her before heading to the rental.

According to the outlet, prosecutor Anthony Copani told the court on Monday that Chacaguasay-Ilbis and Toaquiza were both from Ecuador and knew each other in school.

Toaquiza was reported missing by her family on June 19, Syracuse.com previously reported. Her body was found by police in Lincoln Park on June 22, four days after her birthday.

Onondaga County District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick previously confirmed to local media outlet CNY Central that Toaquiza died from strangulation.

Chacaguasay-Ilbis was taken into custody on June 26. He was charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse in connection with the death. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on June 27, per the outlet.

He went on to plead guilty to the crime on Jan. 21, CNY Central reported.



syracuse.com/YouTube Jhon Chacaguasay-Ilbis

Attorneys alleged in court that Chacaguasay-Ilbis fled to New York City after the murder and used Toaquizas credit cards to make purchases, which included a subscription to OnlyFans, per Syracuse.com.

Copani went on to call Chacaguasay-Ilbis a cold-blooded killer in court, while Judge Ted Limpert told Chacaguasay-Ilbis that Toaquiza's death is something her family "is going to wrestle with for the rest of their lives," per the outlet.

"They cant understand it. Nor can I, nor can the people of this community," the judge added, calling the family's pain "unimaginable."

Chacaguasay-Ilbis' attorney, Ben Coffin, said he was arrested in a hospital after allegedly being mugged and sexually assaulted by a sex worker and argued that Toaquizas death had an impact on him and he was getting into dangerous situations, per the outlet.



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.

Chacaguasay-Ilbis apologized in a statement to Toaquizas family, who were watching via video link in court, per Syracuse.com. I feel really bad and ashamed for this situation that I have caused, for ignoring my principles and values. ... I regret everything, and I wholeheartedly ask for your forgiveness. I wasn't conscious of what I did, he said in a statement read out by a translator in court.

Letters from Toaquizas family were also read out in court, including one from her father, which read, I am devastated by your departure my princess."

PEOPLE has reached out to the U.S. District Court and New York State Unified Court System for additional information.



Read the original article on People
As the nearly weeklong search for the University of Pittsburgh student who vanished while she was on spring break in the Dominican Republic continues, Virginia authorities said she was last seen on the beach with people she met during her trip.

As the search for the 20-year-old junior, Sudiksha Konanki, entered its fifth day Tuesday, U.S. investigators were adding detectives to the investigation as the Dominican Republic National Police said late Monday they also are expanding their effort.

The national police said investigators are re-interviewing the last people who interacted with Konanki, her friends and hotel staff members. They are also expanding surveys of security video.

Sheriff Mike Chapman of Loudoun County, Virginia, where Konanki resides, said he's sending detectives to the Dominican Republic as they work under the FBI's guidance.

"Some of the information has been disjointed, inconsistent," Chapman said of the search so far.

The sheriff expressed hope that Konanki is found soon. "We all want a successful outcome for this," he said on "Top Story with Tom Llamas" on Tuesday.

Konanki, a biology student, had traveled to Punta Cana with five friends from college on March 3.

Sudiksha Konanki.

Konanki was last with people not part of her college friend group

Konanki disappeared after 4:15 a.m. Thursday, after she and her friends were seen on security video entering the beach area of the RIU Republic Resort, where they were staying, National Police said.

Her friends returned to the hotel, but Konanki didn't, Chapman said.

Konanki stayed on the beach with other people who werent from the University of Pittsburgh whom she had met on the trip, Chapman told NBC Washington on Monday. Dominican authorities are talking to those people, he said.

Dominican police said Monday that they were also interviewing a man who was at the beach around the same time and were trying to corroborate his story.

Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader said at a news conference Monday that one of the last people who had contact with Konanki reported "that a wave hit them while they were on the beach and caused some kind of situation," citing local reports.

"We are investigating to clarify exactly what happened," said Abinader, who expressed sympathy for Konanki's family.

No signs of blood or aggression were found at the beach, National Police spokesperson Diego Pesqueira said.

Police had a team on the beach overnight on at least two occasions watching how the water moves to see where a body would drift if someone drowned. They were also looking to see where the waves crash.

Konankis friends went on an excursion Thursday and didnt realize she was missing until about 4 p.m. that day, Pesqueira said.

The RIU Hotel said there was an electrical issue at the resort where Konanki was staying that started at 1 a.m. last Wednesday and was resolved by 3 a.m. Thursday. The hotel also said that access to the beach is always open and that security guards are stationed around the hotel and the area.

The investigation: A search by land and sea, and combing through phone records

Konanki is a citizen of India but a permanent resident of the United States from Chantilly, Virginia, according to the sheriffs office. Chapman said she was reported missing to the office early Thursday evening.

The investigation is being led by Dominican police, the Dominican attorney generals office, the FBI and a U.S. Embassy liaison. The search includes search and rescue, the Dominican navy, helicopters, boats, drones and law enforcement dogs, authorities said.

Investigators from the Dominican Republic and the United States were "working pretty well with each other" and the resources available are sufficient, Chapman said Tuesday.

Officials are looking into Konanki's phone and texts as part of the investigation, he said. The woman didn't appear to have a history of excessive drinking, Chapman said.

The sheriff previously said, "We're not ruling anything in or ruling anything out just yet."

The Loudoun County Sheriffs Office said it filed for Interpol to issue a yellow notice  a worldwide police alert for a missing person.

"If she travels to another country or whatever, we'll be alerted on that. We are going on the presumption that she's still alive," Chapman said. "We want to make sure that were exhausting every possible lead that we can, and we feel were doing that."

'She was a brilliant student'

Shekar Pendem, a neighbor and friend of Konankis family, described her as a kind and smart woman in the close-knit community.

"She was a brilliant student. She went to one of the great schools," said Pendem, who lived next to the Konanki family for more than 10 years. He said she has two younger siblings, who are twins.

"Its already going on four days, and the family is so sad," he said. "They should expand the search beyond just the resort area to the city and town, and hopefully that may give some clue. We are really hoping for her to return."
The damaged Unit 1 reactor, back, and the exhaust stack shared by the Unit 1 and 2 reactors are seen at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), in Okuma town, northeastern Japan on Monday Feb. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

OKUMA, Japan (AP)  The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant's radiation levels have significantly dropped since the cataclysmic meltdown in Japan 14 years ago. Workers walk around in many areas wearing only surgical masks and regular clothes.

It's a different story for those who enter the reactor buildings, including the three damaged in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. They must use maximum protection  full facemasks with filters, multi-layered gloves and socks, shoe covers, hooded hazmat coveralls and a waterproof jacket, and a helmet.

As workers remove melted fuel debris from the reactors in a monumental nuclear cleanup effort that could take more than a century, they are facing both huge amounts of psychological stress and dangerous levels of radiation.

The Associated Press, which recently visited the plant for a tour and interviews, takes a closer look.

Cleaning 880 tons of melted fuel debris

A remote-controlled extendable robot with a tong had several mishaps including equipment failures before returning in November with a tiny piece of melted fuel from inside the damaged No. 2 reactor.

That first successful test run is a crucial step in what will be a daunting, decades-long decommissioning that must deal with at least 880 tons of melted nuclear fuel that has mixed with broken parts of internal structures and other debris inside the three ruined reactors.

Akira Ono, chief decommissioning officer at the Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, which manages the plant, says even the tiny sample gives officials a lot of information about the melted fuel. More samples are needed, however, to make the work smoother when bigger efforts to remove the debris begin in the 2030s.

A second sample-retrieval mission at the No. 2 reactor is expected in coming weeks.

Operators hope to send the extendable robot farther into the reactor to take samples closer to the center, where overheated nuclear fuel fell from the core, utility spokesperson Masakatsu Takata said. He pointed out the target area as he stood inside the inner structure of the No. 5 reactor, which is one of two reactors that survived the tsunami. It has an identical design as No. 2.

Hard to see, breathe or move

Radiation levels are still dangerously high inside the No. 2 reactor building, where the melted fuel debris is behind a thick concrete containment wall. Earlier decontamination work reduced those radiation levels to a fraction of what they used to be.

In late August, small groups took turns doing their work helping the robot in 15- to 30-minute shifts to minimize radiation exposure. They have a remotely controlled robot, but it has to be manually pushed in and out.

Working under high levels of radiation (during a short) time limit made us feel nervous and rushed," said Yasunobu Yokokawa, a team leader for the mission. "It was a difficult assignment.

Full-face masks reduced visibility and made breathing difficult, an extra waterproof jacket made it sweaty and hard to move, and triple-layered gloves made their fingers clumsy, Yokokawa said.

To eliminate unnecessary exposure, they taped around gloves and socks and carried a personal dosimeter to measure radiation. Workers also rehearsed the tasks they'd perform to minimize exposure.

The mission stalled early on when workers noticed that a set of five 1.5-meter (5-foot) pipes meant to push the robot into the reactor's primary containment vessel had been arranged in the wrong order.

A camera on the robot also failed because of high radioactivity and had to be replaced.

The workers' highest individual radiation dose was more than the overall average but still far below anything approaching a 100-millisievert five-year dose limit.

Even so, a growing number of workers are concerned about safety and radiation at the plant, said Ono, the decommissioning chief, citing an annual survey of about 5,5,00 workers.

In 2023, two workers splashed with contaminated sludge at a water treatment facility were hospitalized, though they had no health problems.

Making sure it's safe

Yokokawa and a plant colleague, Hiroshi Ide, helped in the 2011 emergency and are team leaders today. They say they want to make the job safer as workers face high radiation in parts of the plant.

On the top floor of the No. 2 reactor, workers are setting up equipment to remove spent fuel units from the cooling pool. That's set to begin within two to three years.

At the No. 1 reactor, workers are putting up a giant roof to contain radioactive dust from decontamination work on the top floor ahead of the removal of spent fuel.

To minimize exposure and increase efficiency, workers use a remote-controlled crane to attach pre-assembled parts, according to TEPCO. The No. 1 reactor and its surroundings are among the most contaminated parts of the plant.

Whats next?

Workers are also removing treated radioactive wastewater. They recently started dismantling the emptied water tanks to make room to build facilities needed for the research and storage of melted fuel debris.

After a series of small missions by robots to gather samples, experts will determine a larger-scale method for removing melted fuel, first at the No. 3 reactor.

Experts say the hard work and huge challenges of decommissioning the plant are just beginning. There are estimations that the work could take more than a century. The government and TEPCO have an initial completion target of 2051, but the retrieval of melted fuel debris is already three years behind, and many big issues remain undecided.

Ide, whose home in Namie town, northwest of the plant, is in a no-go zone because of nuclear contamination, still has to put on a hazmat suit, even for brief visits home.

As a Fukushima citizen, I would like to make sure the decommissioning work is done properly so that people can return home without worries, he said.

___

This story has been corrected to remove erroneous reference to burns in the 2023 incident.
Los Angeles had the lowest air quality in the United States in 2024, according to the annual World Air Quality Report from IQAir.

The annual report looks at data from more than more than 40,000 air quality monitoring stations across 8,954 locations in 138 countries, territories and regions, according to IQAir, an air technology company based in Switzerland.

The rankings are based on the annual average of concentrated micrograms of an air pollutant per cubic meter of air. The World Health Organization recommends 5 micrograms of pollutant per cubic meter.

Which countries have the lowest air quality?

Worldwide, the countries with the worst air quality were Chad, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and India. Chad had 91.5 micrograms of pollutant per cubic meter, IQAir said  more than 18 times more than what the WHO recommends. Bangladesh had 78, Pakistan had 73.7, the Democratic Republic of the Congo had 58.2, and India had 50.6 micrograms per cubic meter.

People move through a dusty, busy road in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on November 12, 2024. / Credit: Syed Mahamudur Rahman/NurPhoto via Getty Images

But Byrnihat, India was the most polluted metropolitan area in 2024, the IQAir report said. The city had an annual average concentration of 128.2 micrograms per cubic meter of air. India was home to six of the nine most polluted global cities, IQAir said.

One hundred and twenty-six countries, or 91.3% of the world, exceeded the WHO guideline, according to the report.

Conditions on the ground in various countries can affect the amount of pollutants per cubic meter, IQAir said. Wildfires in the Amazon caused levels in parts of Brazil to nearly quadruple in the fall. The entire continent of Africa only has one moniotring station for every 3.7 million people, IQAir said, which may lead to inaccurate data for the region.

What parts of the U.S. have the best and worst air quality?

Most cities in the United States had between 5.1 and 15 micrograms of pollution per cubic meter of air, according to IQAir. A number of cities, especially along the West Coast, New England and in the Southwest, had between 0 and 5 micrograms of pollution per cubic meter, meeting WHO guidelines.

The major city with the worst air pollution was Los Angeles, California. The smaller municipality of Ontario, California, had the most pollution of any city, the report said.

Seattle Ferry terminal shows Seattle Ferry and Seattle skyline at sunset, Washington State. / Credit: Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Seattle, Washington was the cleanest major city in the U.S., according to IQAir.

What parts of the world have the best air quality?

Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Estonia, Grenada, Iceland and New Zealand met the WHO guideline for air quality. The cleanest metropolitan area in the world was Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, with an annual average concentration of 1.1 micrograms per cubic meter of air.

The cleanest region is Oceania, which includes Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and hundreds of smaller islands. Fifty-seven percent of cities in the region met the WHO guideline, the IQAir report found.

Seventeen percent of cities included in the report met the annual WHO guideline, IQAir said. That's an increase from 2023 , when just 9% of cities met the guideline.

"While this marks some progress, much more work has yet to be done to protect human health, especially that of children," IQAir said in the report.

Why is air quality so important?

Air pollution is a "critical threat to both human health and environmental stability, IQAir CEO Frank Hammes said in a news release announcing the findings of the report.

Ninety-nine percent of the world's population lives in areas that do not meet recommended air quality guideline levels, according to WHO. Air pollution is the second leading global risk factor for death. In 2021, 8.1 million deaths worldwide could be attributed to air pollution , IQAir said.

Exposure to concentrated micrograms of an air pollutant caused about 58% of those deaths, IQAir said. Exposure to micrograms of pollutants can contribute to and exacerbate health conditions including asthma, cancer, stroke and lung diseases. Children may face issues with respiratory and developmental health.

Trump reacts to European Union slapping tariffs on U.S. goods

Judge blocks deportation of pro-Palestinian activist who helped lead Columbia University protests

House's short-term spending bill heads to Senate, passage needed by Friday to avoid shutdown
By Mike Scarcella

(Reuters) -U.S. law firm Perkins Coie sued President Donald Trumps administration on Tuesday, claiming Trump illegally retaliated against the firm over its work for his former opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton, and its policies promoting diversity and inclusion.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., asked a U.S. judge to declare Trumps March 6 executive order unlawful and to bar its enforcement.

"Perkins Coies ability to represent the interests of its clients  and its ability to operate as a legal-services business at all  are under direct and imminent threat" by the administration's order, the lawsuit said.

A White House spokesperson declined to comment.

Trump, a Republican, directed federal agencies in his order to review any contracts between the firm and the government, and to temporarily suspend security clearances that lawyers at the firm use to access and handle some sensitive information.

The order also said agencies should consider limiting Perkins Coie lawyers' access to government buildings and officials and ending any contractual work with the firm's clients.

Seattle-founded Perkins Coie said in its lawsuit that at least seven of its clients, including a major government contractor, had withdrawn legal work from the firm due to the executive order.

The lawsuit marked an escalation of a growing feud between Trump and law firms that he has accused of being aligned against his administrations interests.

Trump in February issued a similar but narrower order against law firm Covington & Burling, which is representing the special counsel who led now-dismissed criminal prosecutions of Trump over his handling of classified information and his effort to reverse his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.

Perkins Coie and Covington are among more than a dozen prominent law firms representing clients in lawsuits challenging Trump administration policies and priorities, including its efforts to curtail immigration, agency grants and transgender rights.

Trump's order against Perkins Coie criticized the firm over its work for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential run against Trump.

Perkins Coie has long been criticized by some on the American right over its work with the Washington research firm Fusion GPS. Fusion paid a former British spy's company to assemble a dossier outlining alleged Russian financial and personal links to Trump's 2016 election campaign.

Trump has denied the claims in the dossier, and he has more broadly disputed that his campaign then had any ties to Russia.

Perkins Coie has also faced criticism over the work of one of its former partners, Michael Sussmann, who advised the 2016 Clinton presidential campaign.

Sussmann was acquitted in 2022 at trial on a charge that he lied to the FBI when he met with the bureau in 2016 to share a tip about a possible link between Trump's business and a Russian bank.

(Reporting by Mike Scarcella; Editing by David Bario, Rod Nickel and Howard Goller)
NEW YORK  The ICE arrest of a pro-Palestinian student protest leader facing deportation is bringing new attention to President Donald Trump's vow to target people he calls anti-American.

ICE agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil on Saturday on accusations that he led activities aligned with Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. Khalil's attorneys said he is a green card holder married to an American citizen, and are challenging the validity of the arrest and detention. ICE records show he's being held in Louisiana.

Several hundred of Khalil's supporters called for his release during a rally in New York City on Tuesday afternoon.

Who is protest leader Mahmoud Khalil?

Born in a Syrian refugee camp, Khalil has talked about his Palestinian heritage and was a major figure during last spring and summer's protests on the Columbia University campus in New York City. The protests included occupation of classrooms and a large tent encampment and criticized Israel for attacking Gaza in retaliation for the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks.

Many university campuses also saw similar protests, which also criticized the Biden administration for not doing more to stop Israel's attacks on Gaza, with some participants calling it a genocide.

During the protests, Khalil acted as a lead negotiator for student protesters calling on the university to cut ties with Israel amid the war in Gaza, end student-exchange programs and close Columbia's campus in Tel Aviv, as well as financial transparency on the schools investments. Demonstrators had also demanded amnesty for students and faculty disciplined or arrested during protests.

Closed-door talks between protesters and the university quickly devolved, with some protesters then occupying a university building and, eventually, the university calling on New York City police to enter campus and conduct mass arrests.

Because he was the visible face of the protest, Khalil said he has been "doxed" by right-wing figures aligned with Trump. According to his attorney, he repeatedly asked Columbia for protection after being subject to a "vicious and dehumanizing" campaign by those figures, who called him a terrorist and demanded his deportation.

More: 'Hell to pay': Trump issues 'last warning' to Hamas. Here is what may be next for Israel and Gaza

Khalil is married to an American citizen, and holds a green card granting him permanent U.S. residency, his attorney said.

Last April, Khalil, then a graduate student at the School of International and Public Affairs, said he had initially been reluctant to speak out on behalf of Palestinian students over fears he could be deported. According to his LinkedIn profile, he was scheduled to have graduated in December with a Master's degree in Public Administration.

He was still living in university housing with his pregnant wife when he was detained by ICE, according to court records. As of Monday, he was being held in an ICE facility in Louisiana.

More: Trump touts ICE arrest of pro-Palestinian student protester

Mahmoud Khalil stands outside Columbia University, where he's a graduate student, in April 2024. On March 12, 2025, a U.S. judge extended his order blocking federal authorities from deporting a detained Khalil. His lawyers say his arrest by Department of Homeland Security agents outside his university residence in Manhattan was in retaliation for his outspoken advocacy against Israel's military assault on Gaza following the militant group Hamas' October 2023 attack, and thus violated Khalil's right to free speech under the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment.

Why has Trump targeted Mahmoud Khalil?

During his campaign, Trump vowed to target student protesters that he said were guilty of anti-American and anti-Jewish actions and sentiment. He had also criticized university administrators nationally for not forcefully halting the student protests, which occasionally blocked traffic and created what many Jewish students felt was an unsafe environment.

"This is the first arrest of many to come," Trump said in a social media post celebrating Khalil's detention. "We will find apprehend and deport these terrorist supporters from our country - never to return again."

The official White House social media account on X reposted Trump's message under the heading "SHALOM, MAHMOUD." In Hebrew, the word "shalom" can be used as a greeting or a farewell. It was the same language Trump used in his "ultimatum" to Hamas last week.

Neither Trump nor ICE have offered specific evidence to support his contention that Khalil is aligned with Hamas.

Many conservatives aligned with Israel were particularly offended by the protest chant "globalize the intifada," which they interpret to mean encouraging violence against all Jews. Trump has repeatedly said he would use federal power to punish protests he feels cross the line from free speech, echoing his stance from the 2020 George Floyd protests.

In a statement, the Anti-Defamation League said it was closely watching Khalil's case. The ADL has been critical of universities for not doing more to combat antisemitism, and said it supports canceling some grants if that can force change.

ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said he recently visited Columbia's campus where "I saw the Hamas propaganda literally handed out by masked hoodlums," he said in a social media post. "It's abominable to see how a minority of malevolent students, radicalized faculty and outside agitators have hijacked the school and diverted it away from its core purpose, preventing everyone else from studying, learning and working They dont want to talk with their Jewish peers; they prefer to terrorize them."

Supporters of detained Mahmoud Khalil march in downtown New York City on March 11, 2025, to demand his release from immigration custody. Khalil, who helped lead last year's pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, holds a green card and is a permanent U.S. resident but has been detained by the federal government.

Why are some people upset about Mahmoud Khalil's detention?

As a green card holder, Khalil is entitled to many of the same rights as any other American citizen, with some caveats. While an American citizen can be criminally punished for breaking the law, a green card holder can lose that permanent residency for committing the same crime and face deportation.

Khalil's supporters argue that he has broken no laws, but instead is being targeted solely for his speech, which is a protected First Amendment right.

Khalil's arrest drew swift condemnation from the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

"The Department of Homeland Security's lawless decision to arrest him solely because of his peaceful anti-genocide activism represents a blatant attack on the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech, immigration laws, and the very humanity of Palestinians," CAIR said in a statement.

And 14 members of Congress on Tuesday sent a letter to the Trump administration criticizing the arrest: "Their illegal actions set a dangerous precedent. We cannot allow them to shred our constitutional rights to free speech and due process. Free Mahmoud Khalil," said Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat, in announcing the letter.

During the Tuesday afternoon rally, some of Khalil's supporters wore white-and-black keffiyehs as a symbol of solidarity with Palestinians, and waved Palestinian flags as they criticized his detention as a political prisoner. Others carried signs calling on New York University, City University and Columbia University to divest from what proponents called a genocide. Other signs said "Melt ICE."Columbia University declined to comment on Khalil's arrest.

More: Trump administration pulls $400 million in funds from Columbia University

What happens next for Mahmoud Khalil?

Attorneys for Khalil and the federal government are due in a New York City courtroom Wednesday to discuss his case. A federal judge on Monday blocked the Trump administration from deporting Khalil while the case is pending.

Khalil's supporters held a protest outside a federal facility in New York on Monday afternoon and are set to hold another rally Tuesday afternoon.

Trump is also targeting universities he says haven't done enough to protect Jewish students. His administration on Friday canceled $400 million in grants and contracts to Columbia over what federal officials said was the university's "continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students."

Trump Justice Department officials are investigating similar allegations at 59 other universities, including: George Washington University, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, New York University, Northwestern University, the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Minnesota and the University of Southern California.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Angry crowds protest ICE detention of Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil
MANILA (Reuters) - Before he was elected president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte already was nicknamed "The Punisher" and "Duterte Harry" for his years-long and often violent campaign against drug offenders as mayor of his hometown of Davao.

He promised to take his take-no-prisoners style of law and order to the whole of the Philippines, and his rhetoric resonated. He was swept to power with 40% of the vote in the 2016 presidential election.

"Forget the laws on human rights. If I make it to the presidential palace, I will do just what I did as mayor. You drug pushers, hold-up men and do-nothings, you better go out. Because I'd kill you," he said during that campaign.

"I'll dump all of you (criminals) into Manila Bay, and fatten all the fish there."

Duterte, who turns 80 later this month, was arrested on Tuesday at Manila's main airport on his arrival from Hong Kong at the request of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The ICC has said it would pursue an investigation of suspected crimes against humanity related to Duterte's role in overseeing a bloody "war on drugs" that killed thousands of Filipinos during his 2016-2022 presidency.

Earlier this week, at a rally in Hong Kong, the firebrand Duterte declared he was ready to be arrested and said of his time in office: "What is my sin? I did everything in my time for peace and a peaceful life for the Filipino people."

During his presidency, a nationwide drug war killed at least 6,284 accused drug dealers and users, by government count. The ICC estimates that somewhere between 12,000 and 30,000 people were killed between July 2016 and March 2019.

Philippine authorities have always denied extrajudicial killings - many of those killed were said to have died in shootouts. But rights groups and others say that Philippine police and vigilantes under their direction murdered unarmed drug suspects on a massive scale on Dutertes watch.

In September 2021, the ICC approved a formal investigation into possible crimes against humanity allegedly committed under Duterte's leadership, but it suspended its probe in November 2021 at the request of Manila, which said it was carrying out its own investigations.

But in January, 2023, the court said it was "not satisfied that the Philippines is undertaking relevant investigations" and prosecutors resumed their inquiry. It later rejected an appeal against that decision by the Philippines government.

'NO EXCUSES, NO APOLOGIES'

Duterte unilaterally withdrew the Philippines from the ICC's founding treaty in 2019 when it started looking into the allegations of systematic extrajudicial killings. He has always been defiant about the charges against him.

"I have nothing to hide. What I did, I did it for my country and for the young people. No excuses. No apologies. If I go to hell, so be it." he told a congressional hearing on the drug war in 2024.

When he swept to power in 2016, Duterte drew comparisons with Donald Trump and assertive populists around the globe, a provincial city mayor with a brash style but with a common touch who defeated the establishment with pledges to crush crime.

In office, he turned his back on the country's decades-long ties with the United States while courting China.

During a November 2016 visit to Beijing, he declined to mention an ongoing dispute with China's sweeping territorial claims in the South China Sea, even after an international tribunal backed the Philippines' position.

Four years later, Duterte ended a pact that allowed U.S troops to operate in the Philippines, however, the withdrawal period was extended and in March he said the U.S. must "pay" to keep the deal.

He remained deferential to Chinese claims over the shoals and reefs in the South China Sea, defying public opinion, while negotiating billions of dollars worth of aid, loans and infrastructure investment, much of which did not materialise.

His successor later re-established strong military ties with the United States.

SEVEN TIMES MAYOR

Duterte was born in 1945 on the island of Leyte. His father was a lawyer and politician and his mother was a teacher and activist. His family later moved to Davao, the Philippines' third-most populous city.

His political star began to rise when he was appointed Davao's vice mayor in 1986 by Corazon Aquino, who had just led the People Power revolution that ended the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. Duterte's mother led the protests that ousted the city leaders associated with Marcos.

He won the first of seven terms as mayor in 1988, with stints in the Philippines House of Representatives in 1998 and as vice mayor in 2010 to avoid term-limit rules.

Duterte claimed he transformed Davao into one of the safest cities in the country by imposing curfews, enacting city-wide smoking bans and cracking down on crime.

Critics claimed the reduction in crime was the result of vigilante killings. According to human rights groups, death squads have killed at least 1,400 people in Davao since 1998, most of them drug-pushers, addicts, petty criminals and street children.

Duterte denied any involvement in vigilante killings as mayor or as president.

But the people of Davao spoke highly of his accomplishments, including his push for clean governance, a city-wide smoking ban, and the setting up a children's cancer ward, vaccination programmes and a modern 911 emergency services facility.

In the 2022 elections, Duterte was succeeded as president by Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son of the former dictator, and his daughter Sara Duterte was elected vice president.

But the alliance between the Marcos and the Duterte families crumbled last year and Sara Duterte was impeached last month on accusations such as budget anomalies, amassing unusual wealth and an alleged threat to the life of Marcos. An impeachment trial could start in June.

Sara Duterte has appealed to the Supreme Court against the impeachment and has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, saying the move to remove her from office was politically motivated.

(Reporting by Manila bureau. Writing by Kay Johnson, Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
By Ank Kuipers and Sarah Morland

PARAMARIBO (Reuters) -The Organization of American States on Monday elected Surinamese Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin as its new secretary general through 2030, taking over from Uruguayan diplomat Luis Almagro and marking the body's first Caribbean leader.

Ramdin has served as Suriname's top diplomat since 2020, and was previously the OAS's assistant secretary general for two terms from 2005 through 2015.

In a speech to the OAS general assembly in Washington on Monday, Ramdin urged greater regional unity, dialogue, sustainable development and action in the face of climate change, which is disproportionately affecting debt-laden Caribbean nations exposed to worsening natural disasters.

"Let's join hands and mobilize our capabilities," he said. "I hope you're on the same path with me, to take things forwards not backwards, united not divided."

The diplomat said he would look to deepen cooperation between the Americas' subregions and highlighted that the climate crisis "has to be properly addressed, not only in development agencies but also in political discourse."

His election comes as the United States sends shock waves through the region with a cascade of tariff announcements, the dismantling of its foreign aid agency and mass deportations of migrants to third countries in Latin America.

The world's No. 2 greenhouse gas emitter, the United States has also slashed climate action and regulations.

Caribbean diplomats hailed Ramdin's election as the OAS's first leader from the region and expressed hope that his appointment would boost diversity and representation for smaller nations in the Caribbean.

Though Suriname is located on the South American continent, it has closer diplomatic ties to the Caribbean Community intergovernmental organization.

Suriname's president, Chan Santokhi, has praised Ramdin's "calm assurance" as a trusted adviser and adept diplomat.

The country has opposed Washington's sanctions against Venezuela and supported neighboring Guyana in a territorial dispute with Venezuela over the border region of Esequibo.

Venezuela's government in 2017 said it would begin a process to leave the OAS, but the body has since recognized representatives from the country's political opposition. It currently has no representative at the Washington-based OAS.

The OAS's current chief, Almagro, congratulated Ramdin and pledged a smooth transition when Ramdin takes up the role on May 25, the same day Suriname will hold a national election.

"Few people come to this job so well prepared and aware of the challenges and responsibilities," Almagro said.

(Reporting by Ank Kuipers in Paramaribo, Vivian Sequera in Caracas and Sarah Morland in Mexico CityEditing by Matthew Lewis)
(Corrects date to this year, not next, in paragraph 10)

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -The United Nations Security Council will meet behind closed doors on Wednesday over Iran's expansion of its stock of uranium close to weapons grade, diplomats said on Monday.

The meeting was requested by six of the council's 15 members - France, Greece, Panama, South Korea, Britain and the U.S.

They also want the council to discuss Iran's obligation to provide the U.N. nuclear watchdog - the International Atomic Energy Agency - with "the information necessary to clarify outstanding issues related to undeclared nuclear material detected at multiple locations in Iran," diplomats said.

Iran's mission to the U.N. in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the planned meeting.

Iran has denied wanting to develop a nuclear weapon. However, it is "dramatically" accelerating enrichment of uranium to up to 60% purity, close to the roughly 90% weapons-grade level, the IAEA has warned.

Western states say there is no need to enrich uranium to such a high level under any civilian program and that no other country has done so without producing nuclear bombs. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful.

Iran reached a deal in 2015 with Britain, Germany, France, the U.S., Russia and China - known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action - that lifted sanctions on Tehran in return for restrictions on its nuclear program.

Washington quit the agreement in 2018 during Donald Trump's first term as U.S. president, and Iran began moving away from its nuclear-related commitments.

Britain, France and Germany have told the U.N. Security Council that they are ready - if needed - to trigger a so-called snap back of all international sanctions on Iran to prevent the country from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

They will lose the ability to take such action on October 18 this year when the 2015 U.N. resolution on the deal expires. Trump has directed his U.N. envoy to work with allies to snap back international sanctions and restrictions on Iran.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols at United NationsEditing by Matthew Lewis)
By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A Democratic U.S. senator who just visited Ukraine said on Monday the Trump administration's suspension of intelligence-sharing had lessened Kyiv's defenses against Russia, and dismissed Trump advisor Elon Musk calling him a "traitor."

"One hundred percent," Senator Mark Kelly told reporters when asked if he had heard during his visit of specific attacks or incidents that would have been affected if Ukrainians had had the intelligence.

"If there's stuff they don't get, that they need, that changes their ability to defend against attacks," Kelly said. "And those attacks happened on Friday night, on Saturday, when I was there."

The Arizona senator did not provide further details.

Since Thursday, Ukrainian authorities have reported Russian attacks including damage to Ukrainian energy and gas infrastructure, and an assault with missiles and drones in which at least 14 people were killed and 37 wounded. Russia launched more air strikes overnight Monday on Kyiv, Ukrainian authorities said.

Kelly, a member of the Armed Services Committee, was in Ukraine from Saturday to Sunday to show support for its people and assess the situation there.

The Trump administration announced last week that it had halted intelligence-sharing with Ukraine, piling pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to cooperate with U.S. President Donald Trump in convening peace talks with Russia.

That suspension followed a halt to U.S. military aid to Kyiv after a White House meeting where Trump and Vice President JD Vance, who opposed aid to Ukraine during his Senate term, clashed publicly with Zelenskiy.

Zelenskiy was in Saudi Arabia on Monday to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a day before talks between Ukrainian and U.S. officials that Washington hopes will deliver substantial progress towards ending Russia's war with Ukraine.

Assistance for the government in Kyiv, once something strongly supported by dozens of Trump's Republicans as well as Democrats, has become far more partisan since Trump began his second term on January 20.

Democratic support for Kyiv has stayed strong, but Republicans have wavered, with Republican House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson saying that there was "no appetite" for another bill funding assistance.

Underscoring the political divide, Musk called Kelly a "traitor" on X.com, a social media platform Musk owns, after Kelly posted that he had visited Ukraine during the weekend and accused Trump of trying to weaken Ukraine ahead of peace talks.

Kelly, a former astronaut who served as a combat pilot during a 25-year Navy career, commented to reporters when asked about Musk, "Obviously, he's not a serious guy."

On X, Kelly had responded: "Traitor? Elon, if you don't understand that defending freedom is a basic tenet of what makes America great and keeps us safe, maybe you should leave it to those of us who do."

Kelly's trip was his third visit to Ukraine since 2023.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Stephen Coates)
By Ali Sawafta and James Mackenzie

EIN AL-AUJA, West Bank (Reuters) - Armed Israeli settlers stole hundreds of sheep from a Bedouin community in the Jordan Valley, local residents say, in one of the largest recent incidents in which Bedouins in the area have reported being attacked and harrassed.

Such attacks in the area have increased since the Gaza war began but witnesses said the scale of Friday's incident near Ein al-Auja, north of the city of Jericho in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, went far beyond anything witnessed previously.

"This was the biggest one there has been," said Hani Zayed, a resident of the community, who said he lost 70 sheep in the attack. After years of experience in dealing with local law enforcement, the idea of appealing to the police to help elicited nothing more than a shrug.

"The police don't do anything, they have never helped us in anything. If you tell them the settler is taking your sheep, they'll ask 'Are you sure it's yours?'".

Local residents said about 1,500 sheep and goats were taken by settlers, who drove the animals from the village under the eyes of police and soldiers or loaded them onto pickup trucks.

An Israeli police statement denied the incident had taken place as described. Israel's military did not comment, nor did a group representing settlers in the area.

The Jordan Valley, a relatively sparsely populated area close to the Jordan River, is now under increasing pressure from settlers, local residents and human rights groups say.

For many Bedouin herders, the loss of a flock means the loss of any way of earning a livelihood. Like many Palestinians, the semi-nomadic herders in Ein al-Auja believe the larger goal is to force them from the land to allow a full takeover by Israel.

Fuelled by speculation that U.S. President Donald Trump, who has lifted sanctions on violent settlers, will give the green light to a full annexation of the West Bank, Israeli ministers have spoken openly about a complete takeover of the territory Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war and has occupied ever since.

The encampment, which locals say was established around 40 years ago, has no electricity apart from what is produced from mobile solar panels. Water is brought in by tankers, despite a large spring a couple of hundred metres (yards) away which is reserved for settlers' use.

"The aim of these attacks is to empty the area of its inhabitants," said Musa Abayat, who was staying with his father-in-law in the encampment. "This is the only source of livelihood."

ARMED SETTLERS

Bedouin families say Friday's incident began at around 9.00 p.m. (1900 GMT) when Israeli settlers drove some of their own sheep into the Bedouin encampment and called the police, accusing the Bedouin of theft.

Dozens of armed settlers in pickup trucks arrived with police and soldiers who, they said, stood by or joined in as settlers pushed their way into people's houses and drove sheep and goats from the pens.

"We were terrified when the settlers attacked," said Nayfeh Salameh, a mother of five. "The children jumped out of bed when they heard the shouts and the voices of the settlers. It was a horror for them."

Activists from Israeli rights group Mistaclim (Looking the Occupation in the Eye), who have maintained a permanent monitoring point following previous attacks, filmed sheep and goats being herded away in the night.

"Everything happened very fast," said Gili Avidor, an Israeli volunteer from the group.

She said masked settlers in about a dozen vehicles followed police cars into the encampment. She saw settlers entering houses and later herding hundreds of sheep out of the pens and taking them away. "They stole them all away," she said.

Naif Tarif, who said he lost 250 sheep in the attack, said residents tried to file complaints with the police but waited for hours before being told to return the next day, and only one person was allowed to talk to the police about his own loss.

"These sheep are our lives," he said.

Asked for details of the incident, the Israeli military, which has overall control of the West Bank, referred questions to the police.

Police said a Palestinian had been caught and interrogated and confessed to stealing 50 sheep from a Jewish farm owner, which had been returned. At the same time, 15 sheep belonging to a Palestinian owner, which had joined the flock belonging to the Jewish farm owner, were returned, it said.

Reuters was unable to reach anyone from the outposts near Ein al-Auja and a spokesperson for the Jordan Valley Council, which represents settlements in the area did not respond to a request for comment.

Most countries deem Israeli settlements to be illegal. Israel disputes this and cites historical and biblical ties to the land.

(Editing by Timothy Heritage)
A former Virginia nurse is now being charged with eight counts of abuse and malicious wounding after seven babies were found with unexplained fractures in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Erin Elizabeth Ann Strotman, 26, was arrested earlier this year and charged with two counts of malicious wounding and felony child abuse in connection with the investigation at the hospital where she worked, the Henrico Doctors Hospital in Richmond, the Henrico County Police Division confirmed in January.

At a hearing on Monday, Strotman was charged with six new counts, including four of child abuse and two of malicious wounding.

Officials are investigating the injuries of seven infants, three in 2024 and four in 2023. The charges added Monday are in connection to three babies harmed last year. Strotman has not been charged in connection to the 2023 injuries, according to Virginia news station WRIC-TV.

Beckler River: 15-year-old camper's body recovered from river in Washington state, sheriff says

"While there has been an arrest for one person for allegedly inflicting injury on a single victim, I would emphasize this is an ongoing investigation spanning potential offenses committed in both 2023 and 2024," Henrico County Commonwealths Attorney Shannon Taylor told USA TODAY.

USA TODAY has reached out to Strotman's court-appointed attorney, Scott Cardani, who previously declined to Jan. 7 request for comment.

Fractures found in late 2024 are similar to injuries found in 2023

Staff at the Henrico Doctors Hospital found three babies with unexplained fractures at its NICU unit between late November and December, the hospital said.

The hospital said the injuries resembled injuries in four babies discovered during the summer of 2023 and therefore opened an internal investigation.

The hospital notified the families of the infant victims and police. On Dec. 26, law enforcement launched their own investigation and by Dec. 31, police announced it reopened cases relating to the 2023 injuries.

Erin Strotman, 26, was arrested on Jan. 3, 2025, and charged with with malicious wounding and child abuse in connection to an ongoing local and state investigation at Henrico Doctors Hospital in Richmond, Virginia the Henrico County Police Division said.

"We are both shocked and saddened by this development in the investigation and are focused on continuing to care for our patients and providing support to our colleagues who have been deeply and personally impacted by this investigation," the hospital wrote on Jan. 3.

On Jan. 7, Henrico police Chief Eric D. English said detectives combed through "hundreds of hours of footage" before arresting Strotman, adding that "we kindly request patience as our detectives work to investigate every piece of evidence in connection to these cases."

Who is Erin Strotman?

Erin Strotman is 26-year-old woman from Chesterfield County, just south of Richmond, according to police.

The Henrico Doctors Hospital described Strotman as a former employee in a statement posted on its website, but did not say how long she worked there.

Strotman received her nursing license in May 2019, and her certification remained active online as of Tuesday, according to the Virginia Department of Health Professions.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Virginia nurse faces new charges after 7 babies suffer fractures
A New Jersey maniac shot his married neighbors Monday afternoon, then barricaded himself in his Jersey Shore mansion and committed suicide after a two-hour standoff with cops, authorities said Tuesday.

John Adamo, 54, of Berkeley Township, shot the husband as he stood outside his Drake Drive home at about 4:45 p.m., according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer.

Then he turned his gun on the house and shot the wife as she stood inside.

A SWAT team blew the front door off a Jersey Shore mansion where a man barricaded himself inside after shooting his neighbors. NBC

The Berkeley Township home where shooter John Adamo hid after shooting his neighbors. NBC

Afterward, he retreated to his house next door and, for the next two and a half hours, brushed off overtures from the local SWAT teams that surrounded the home, Billhimer wrote.

I heard two very loud gunshots, a neighbor told NBC New York. I was walking in the street to warn somebody, and the police arrived.

One of the teams eventually blew the front door off its hinges and swarmed the home, which sits on a small canal just minutes from the beach.

They found Adamo dead in an upstairs bedroom  after he apparently shot himself, authorities said.

Officials evacuated neighbors because the team also found a pressure cooker inside the bedroom, but a New Jersey State Police bomb squad later found the device wasnt rigged to explode.

Adamo shot his neighbors Monday afternoon, authorities said. NBC

Adamos unidentified victims were both airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where theyre listed in critical but stable condition, Billhimer said.

Police have not said what Adamos motive might have been.
Military personnel search for Sudiksha Konanki, a university student from the U.S. who disappeared on a beach in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Monday, March. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Francesco Spotorno)

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP)  The FBI has joined the search for a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student who went missing nearly a week ago while on spring break in the Dominican Republic tourist town of Punta Cana, police said Tuesday.

Dominican police said they are re-interviewing people who were with Sudiksha Konanki before she vanished in the predawn hours of March 6 at a beach in front of the Riu Republica Hotel.

The hotel said in a statement that Konankis disappearance coincided with a power outage that prompted multiple guests to head to the beach.

Dominican President Luis Abinader told reporters that he lamented the situation.

We are concerned, he said Monday during his weekly meeting with the press. All government agencies are searching  because the latest information we have from one of them, from the last person who was with the young woman, what he says according to the reports is that a wave, while on the beach, crashed into them.

Abinader defended the safety of tourists in the Dominican Republic, saying the country receives more than 11 million visitors a year and that issues rarely arise.

Civil Defense Director Juan Salas rejected media reports saying authorities had supposedly found Konankis clothes, telling local newspaper El Nuevo Diario it wasnt true.

Salas did not return messages for comment.

Konanki, a citizen of India, is a U.S. permanent resident from Chantilly, Virginia, according to the Loudoun County Sheriffs Office.

Her parents, Subbarayudu and Sreedevi, flew to Punta Cana after she was reported missing and have asked authorities to widen the investigation.

Her father said she and five other female university students traveled to the Dominican Republic on March 3.
Getty Images

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS ago, measles was declared eradicated in the United States. But it still resurfaces, and right now, there are more than 160 new cases cropping up across the country. In February, a child in Texas died from the disease; it was the first U.S. measles death in a decade.

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases aroundmuch more so than Covid, the flu, or anything else, explains Mahvash Madni , M.D., a pediatrician and spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics. The disease spreads through the air and can stay airborne for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the vicinity.

One of the reasons doctors are so concerned about measles is that there's no cure for the disease or specific antiviral medications that can treat it, says J. Michael Klatte , M.D., chief of infectious disease at Dayton Childrens Hospital. And the complications can be severe, ranging from pneumonia to swelling of the brain and even death (more on that below).

Doctors sometimes recommend children take vitamin A. Measles can cause vitamin A deficiency in children, and low levels of vitamin A have been linked to more severe infections. However, vitamin A does not cure or prevent measles, despite some claims, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics .

Other reasons you want to avoid it, if possible: it's extremely uncomfortable for the patient.



What Its Like to Have Measles

THE EARLY STAGES of measles can resemble a cold or flu. Seven to 14 days after exposure, people may have a high fever (over 104 degrees Fahrenheit), cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes (or pink eye), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

Usually, these symptoms are more severe than a typical cold, Dr. Madni explains. These kids are pretty down and out; they seem very sick. Sometimes, people with early measles have bluish-white or gray specks, known as Koplik spots, inside their mouths, Dr. Klatte says.

A measles cough is rough sounding, Dr. Madni says. It can be forceful and aggressive and sometimes sound like a seal's bark, especially if the condition leads to inflammation of the upper airway, also known as croup, she adds.

The coughs take a lot out of a kid and cause children to be worn out and tired, which makes it hard to eat or drink, which makes them more tiredkind of a vicious cycle, Dr. Madni explains.

A skin rashwith flat red blotches that run into each otherappears three to five days after symptoms start. It starts around the hairline and then spreads downward to the face, neck, torso, arms, and legs, says Carla Garcia Carreno, M.D., an infectious disease specialist at Childrens Medical Center Dallas. The rash sticks around for about four to five days before fading.

Unlike chicken pox, the rash isn't usually itchy, Dr. Madni says. Its also red and flat and sometimes raised, whereas the chicken box rash happens in stages from papules to vesicles and crusting.

Kids with measles can be fussy, irritable, and very tired, Dr. Madni says. This is due to the toll the symptomslike cough, fever, pink eye, and inflammationtake on the body, leaving patients feeling wiped out, since the immune system is working in overdrive. It can take a few weeks for recovery.

These are not going to be those kids with a cold but still want to play, Dr. Madni adds. Kids with measles are very ill, with a high likelihood of needing hospitalization.

One of the big challenges with managing measles, however, is that measles can be very tricky to recognize and diagnose before the rash appears, Dr. Klatte says. That's tough since most people are most contagious four days before that rash shows up, he explains. And they're contagious through four days after the rash develops. On top of that, many adults today have never seen measles and might not recognize the early signs, Dr. Madni says. She saw her first case last year while doing a medical mission trip in South Sudan but hasnt treated any U.S. cases.



How to Treat Measles at Home

IF YOU SUSPECT you or your child has measles, call a doctordont visit the emergency room, doctors office, or urgent care, Dr. Madni emphasizes. Doing so could expose others to the disease.

The doctor might recommend a measles test, which must be done in a specialized isolation room, Dr. Carreno adds. Theyll tell you where to go and what to do.



Measles patients can also take over-the-counter fever reducers, like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, and they should drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest, according to the Cleveland Clinic . Dr. Carreno also recommends antihistamines or oatmeal baths to soothe the rash if it feels irritating to them.

Seek emergency care if they have difficulty breathing, seizures, disorientation, or theyre not eating, drinking, or urinating. Make sure that you call on the way to let them know that youre bringing in someone with measles, so the ER can take precautions.

The Complications of Measles

With measles, Dr. Madni says, you really have to be on your guard more than with any other disease. The complications can be dramatic. About one in five unvaccinated people in the U.S. who get measles are hospitalized, according to the CDC. The disease can also be fatal.

Children are also at a higher risk of pneumonia and encephalitis (or swelling of the brain), which can cause deafness or intellectual disabilities, the CDC says. Kids can also end up with eye problems and, potentially, blindness, Dr. Madni says.

Another complication can happen years later after a child recovers from measles. Dr. Madni says theyre at risk for developing a degenerative neurological disorder called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), which is caused by a reactivation of the measles virus or an inappropriate response to measles. It can cause seizures and brain damage.

I dont want to scare people, but its scary, Dr. Madni notes. Thats why preventionthat means getting vaccinatedis crucial.

Do you need to quarantine?

THE PERSON WITH MEASLES should isolate at home for at least four days after a rash appears, Dr. Klatte says. If youre exposed to someone with measles but are vaccinated or have immunity from a past infection, he says you dont need to quarantine if youre not immunocompromised. If you have a weakened immune system, you should quarantine for at least 21 full days after exposure, even if you have immunity.

Those who are exposed but havent been vaccinated or haven't had a past infection should quarantine for 21 days after exposure, he adds.

How to protect against measles

ANYONE OF ANY age who hasnt been vaccinated is at risk for a measles infection, says Dr. Klatte.

The most effective way to prevent measles is to get the two-dose measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine . Both doses are about 97 percent effective at preventing measles, Dr. Madni says.

The chances of a fully vaccinated child getting measles is pretty slim, says Dr. Klatte. But children don't typically receive the first dose of the vaccine to prevent it (the MMR vaccine) until they're between 12 and 15 months old, and they get the second between ages 4 and 6. About 93 to 95 percent of kids with one dose develop protective antibodies against measles, and the number goes up to 97 to 99 percent after two doses.



In some instances, babies between 6 months and a year old can receive an MMR dose, such as if theyre traveling internationally, adds Dr. Carreno. Babies under 6 months old usually have some protective antibodies against measles from their mothers if theyre vaccinated, she says.

Pregnant women and adults with weakened immune systems are also at risk for measles, Dr. Klatte says. If you're not sure you were vaccinated as a child, learn more about the ways to check.

Is it ever too late to get vaccinated?

CHILDREN WHO DIDNT receive their MMR shots at 12 to 15 months and 4 to 6 years old can get vaccinated at any time, Dr. Carreno says. Even adults can also get the shots at any time.

Its never too late, she emphasizes. The recommendation is to provide the two doses of the vaccine, and they need to be 28 days apart.

With measles outbreaks occurring around the country, Dr. Carreno urges everyone to pay attention to whats happening in their community and to understand their (and their familys) potential risks.

Definitely, if you or somebody in your family or your children are not vaccinated or have incomplete vaccinations, make sure you catch up on those vaccinations, she says.

Even if a child or a parent has been exposed to measles, you can still give the vaccine within 72 hours of exposure, and that should decrease the risk of a severe illness.

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Emma McIntyre/Getty Images Rosie O'Donnell attends 'Center Theatre Group presents the opening night performance of 'A Transparent Musical'

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated. It previously misidentified Rosie O'Donnell's youngest child. This has been corrected in the current text.

Rosie O'Donnell has confirmed that she is no longer living in the U.S.

In a TikTok video posted on Tuesday, March 11, the comedian confirmed she had moved to Ireland on Jan. 15 with her 12-year-old child Clay, four days after she seemingly teased that she was living abroad in an Instagram post.

"It's been pretty wonderful, I have to say. The people are so loving and so kind, so welcoming. And I'm very grateful," O'Donnell said in the TikTok video as she revealed her international move.

Related: 9 Hollywood Stars Who Have Moved Abroad

She said that she's "in the process" of getting Irish citizenship as her grandparents hail from the country, before expanding on the reasoning behind her move.

"I was never someone who thought I would move to another country, that's what I decided would be the best for myself and my 12-year-old child. And here we are," she said.

"You know, I'm happy. Clay is happy. I miss my other kids. I miss my friends. I miss many things about life there at home and I'm trying to find a home here in this beautiful country and when it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, that's when we will consider coming back," she said.

She continued her video by seemingly referencing changes made in the country since President Donald Trump was inaugurated on Jan. 20: "It's been heartbreaking to see what's happening politically and hard for me personally as well. The personal is political, as we all know."

PEOPLE has reached out to O'Donnell's rep for comment.

Related: Ellen DeGeneres Has Moved to England After Finding 'a House She Loved' in the Countryside: Source

O'Donnell said that everyone in Dublin, where she's currently living, has been "friendly." She also said she's "met a bunch of people" in the nearly two months since she moved, but felt a need to share the news with her fans as she was "sorry for those of you who were worried and who missed me."

"I just felt like we needed to take care of ourselves and make some hard decisions and follow through. And now as we're getting settled, I was ready to post this and to tell everybody what's been going on," she said.

Rosie O'Donnell/Instagram Rosie O'Donnell shares a selfie driving on the "wrong side of the road"

As she concluded the nine-minute video, O'Donnell shared a message with her fans. "Protect your sanity is all I can say. Protect your sanity as much as you can, and try not to swim in the chaos if possible, but I know it's nearly impossible when you're there in the middle of it."

She continued, "And I think about everyone every day and the United States of America. And I am hoping that we can turn things around, counting on you, all of you, to do what's right. And I think deep down inside, we all know what that is."

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

O'Donnell's confirmation of her move to Ireland comes after she hinted at the move in a series of Instagram posts on March 7. She shared a selfie from a car and wrote in the caption that she'd "bought a little used car to tool around the countryside on the wrong side of the road."

She also shared a photo of Clay in the backseat of a car with a backpack on the way to school, which further hinted at a move.



Read the original article on People
China refutes U.S. treasury secretary's economic "rip off" claims, urges end to trade war

Xinhua) 09:24, March 11, 2025

BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- To call the China-U.S. economic ties a "rip-off" and pursue absolute reciprocity in trade goes against the most basic economic common sense, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday, urging the United States to end its trade war.

Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks in response to a question about U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's repeated claims that China's economy is overly reliant on exports and that the U.S. side seeks fair and reciprocal trade relations.

Addressing a daily press briefing, Mao said that the China-U.S. trade, as it is now, is the result of market forces with multiple factors at play, including the two countries' economic structures and trade policies as well as the position of the U.S. dollar.

China never seeks a trade surplus, and in reality, the United States has benefited significantly from trade with China, she added.

"If you look at the breakdown of statistics, the exports of China-based U.S. companies are also counted as China's trade surplus. The high-quality products at reduced cost exported by China to the United States have essentially raised the purchasing power of U.S. consumers, and created a huge amount of jobs in the United States, particularly in sectors such as transport, wholesale, retail and e-commerce," Mao said, adding that the United States continues to run a huge surplus in trade in services.

She noted that China-U.S. trade and economic ties benefit both sides. "If one had been ripping the other off, there is no way the ties would have come this far as we see today."

The spokesperson stressed that labeling the economic ties a "rip-off" and demanding absolute reciprocity defies basic economic logic, and those who do so are underestimating the judgement of U.S. companies and consumers.

"It's been years and years since the United States initiated the trade war against the rest of the world, yet it has not stopped U.S. trade deficit from going up and reaching 918.4 billion U.S. dollars last year," Mao said, noting that whether it's a tariff war or a trade war, they invariably start by hurting others before coming back to hurt the one who launched it.

It's time for the United States to learn its lesson and end this wrong practice, the spokesperson added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

Salads follow food trend cycles like nearly every other food category. Do you remember that there was a time before Americans regularly ate kale salads? Now they're everywhere. Today, if I were to make a spreadsheet of the best restaurant salads (yes, I have been known to make this sort of spreadsheet), many would have an ingredient more typically associated with fried foods and casseroles: breadcrumbs. And this is a trend I'm definitely on board with.

My all-time favorite salad is a Caesar salad, yet I can't even recall the last time I saw a crouton on a Caesar at a New York City restaurant. Where have all the croutons gone? Apparently, they've gone into the food processor and come out as delightfully crunchy breadcrumbs. In Brooklyn, where I live, this trend is just as common at Michelin-starred restaurants like Lilia as it is at wine bars like The Flyone of my favoritesor even my local sit-down pizzeria, Speedy Romeo. And honestly, its genius.

Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez



How many dull salad knives have I taken to unyielding, brittle croutons that have crumbled or slipped right off my plate and onto the floor? Using breadcrumbs instead of croutons solves that problem. Plus, freshly toasted breadcrumbs add another layer of flavor and texture to every bite without distracting from the star of the saladthe lettuce and/or vegetables. Many restaurants have opted to do away with croutons entirely, so why shouldn't you do the same at home? Instead of saving your day-old bread or buying fresh bread to make homemade croutons, use the breadcrumbs you probably already have in your pantry.



The Best Breadcrumbs For Salad Are the Ones You Have

Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

Which breadcrumbs should you use to spruce up your salad? Any kind! As long as you toast them in butter or oil. Yes, you can still opt to make the breadcrumbs yourself by putting hearty, stale bread in a food processor as Kenji does in his spring vegetable salad, but for an even quicker salad topper, use store-bought plain breadcrumbs and season them at home. These Caesar breadcrumbs and the pickle juicescented breadcrumbs from our version of the TikTok-famous fried pickle dip, are two flavorful options. But if you've already gone out of your way to make a homemade Caesar dressing for a classic Caesar salad, don't mess with perfectionplain toasted panko breadcrumbs will do just fine. Simply combine a tablespoon of butter or oil with a quarter cup of breadcrumbs and toast in a pan over low heat until golden brown, then season with salt and pepper.

Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez



The next time you're at the grocery store to buy all your salad components, re-up your breadcrumbs supply. This easy ingredient swap will jazz up your home salads and open a world of crunchy possibilities.



Read the original article on Serious Eats
John Phillips/Getty Paul Danan

Paul Danan reportedly died from a cocktail of drugs including heroin and cocaine, a court has heard.

On Tuesday, March 11, an inquest opening at Avon Coroner's Court in England heard the provisional cause of Danans death was from the combined toxicity of heroin, methadone, codeine, pregabalin, cocaine, zopiclone, contributed to by benzodiazepine use, BBC reported.

Coroner's officer Alexis Camp told the hearing that Danan was pronounced dead at his home in Brislington, Bristol, at 5:20 pm local time on Jan. 15, per the outlet.

He was famed for starring as Sol Patrick in Hollyoaks, as well as the reality TV series Celebrity Love Island and Celebrity Big Brother.

Alamy Paul Danan

Related: Paying Tribute to the Celebrities Who Have Died in 2025

Camp told the hearing that Danans body was identified by his partner, Melissa Crooks, according to the UK newspaper The Guardian.

The circumstances are that Mr. Danan was found unresponsive at his home address, Camp said, per the outlet. Emergency services attended and confirmed he had sadly died. A postmortem has taken place and samples have been removed for further analysis.

I understand there are no family concerns, she added. No note was left.

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Statements will be taken from Danans GP, family, police and the ambulance service, and inquiries are ongoing with Avon and Wiltshire mental health partnership NHS trust, the hearing was told, according to The Guardian.

The inquest was opened and adjourned before senior coroner Maria Voisin announced May 28 as a provisional date for the full inquest hearing.

Joseph Okpako/WireImage Paul Danan

Before his death, Danan was set to attend a plea hearing at Warrington Magistrates' Court on Jan. 16, having been charged with cocaine and cannabis possession, according to court documents obtained by the BBC.

He had previously been accused of driving while under the influence of drugs in Warrington, Cheshire, in October last year per the outlet.

Danan was also hospitalized due to a vaping addiction that caused respiratory failure less than a year ago in June 2024.

Related: Which Love Island Couples Are Still Together? These 19 Pairs Are Going Strong After Leaving the Villa

The late actors January death was announced by his management company, Independent Creative Management, on Instagram.

It is with heavy hearts that we share the tragic news of the passing of Paul Danan at just 46 years old," the post read.

"Known for his television presence, exceptional talent, and unwavering kindness, Paul was a beacon of light to so many. His untimely departure will leave irreplaceable voids in the lives of all who knew him.



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Four Southern states rank in the top five nationally for their dependence on federal dollars, according to a new report.

And a very northern state, Alaska, is the most federally dependent in the union, according to WalletHub. Southern states rank second through fifth: Kentucky, West Virginia, Mississippi and South Carolina.

WalletHub compiled the ranking just to point out that not all states are equal when it comes to federal funding, said Chip Lupo, a writer and analyst at the personal finance site.

The report has currency in light of the Trump administrations recent efforts to freeze federal funding to programs that do not align with the Republican agenda. The freeze was announced in a January memo and subsequently rescinded. It is now the subject of an ongoing court battle.

Meanwhile, Congressional budget resolutions call for massive cuts in federal funding, potentially forcing states to make incredibly hard decisions about Medicaid and other programs, according to a report from the left-leaning Center for Law and Social Policy.

Those predictions echo warnings from Democrats in Congress. Republicans contend that Medicaid and other state-level programs are safe.

Alaska, with its rugged wilderness and sparse population, is the most federally dependent state in the union, WalletHub reports.

Federal dollars fund up to half of state budgets

Federal dollars make up 18% to 50% of state budgets, depending on the state, according to data from the National Association of State Budget Officers. On average, about one-third of state dollars come from the federal government.

Millions of Americans in every state rely on federal funds, including 72 million Medicaid recipients, 30 million students eating subsidized meals, and 43 million food stamp recipients, according to a report from the left-leaning Center for American Progress.

States receive federal aid for many other purposes, from disaster relief to covering the costs of improvements in education, transportation and other infrastructure needs.

To measure each states reliance on the federal government, WalletHub looked at three factors: How much of each states revenue comes from the federal government; what share of the states workforce is employed in federal jobs; and how much federal money the state receives for every dollar paid in federal taxes.

Many of the most federally dependent states, as it turns out, are relatively rural, sparsely populated and need federal funding for infrastructure, Lupo said.

Some, like Alaska, have large tracts of federally owned land. Others, like South Carolina, have relatively large military populations.

Others have powerful, long-tenured representatives in Congress who have steered federal dollars to their constituents.

Kentucky, for example: Mitch McConnell, hes an institution in Congress, Lupo said of the long-serving Republican senator.

What the Trump administration means for your wallet: Sign up for USA TODAY's Daily Money newsletter.

South Carolina, with its large military population, is one of the most federally dependent U.S. states.

The five most federally dependent states

Here are the five most federally dependent states, in order:

Alaska

More than half of Alaskas revenue comes from the federal government. One reason is the challenge of maintaining infrastructure in an enormous state with difficult weather and a small population. Other factors include the states vulnerability to natural disasters and its military value.

Nearly 5% of Alaskas workforce is employed by the federal government. In most other states, the share ranges from 1% to 3%.

Kentucky

Kentucky receives $3.35 in federal funds for every dollar Kentuckians pay in federal taxes. Federal funding makes up roughly 46% of Kentuckys revenue, one of the highest shares in the nation.

West Virginia

This state receives $2.72 in federal funds for every dollar residents pay in federal taxes. Federal funding makes up roughly 45% of West Virginias revenue. About 3.7% of the state's workforce is employed by the federal government, one of the highest rates in the nation.

Mississippi

Federal funding makes up 45% of state revenue in Mississippi. The state reaps $2.34 in federal funds for every dollar paid in federal taxes.

South Carolina

South Carolina ranks first among states for the ratio of federal dollars it receives  $3.42  per federal tax dollar collected.

In political terms, WalletHub found that red states are more federally dependent than blue states. The average Republican-leaning state ranks 21 among the 50 states, while the average Democrat-leaning state ranks 32.

Red States rely more on federal funds

New Jersey, a blue state, ranks as the least federally dependent state, WalletHub reports. Only 1.2% of state residents work in federal jobs, and federal dollars make up only 30% of state revenue.

California ranks second among states least dependent on federal funding. Federal funding makes up only 28% of state revenue, and only 1.4% of residents work for the federal government.

(This story was updated to correct a typo.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Here are the 5 states most dependent on federal revenue
U.S. stocks closed lower, but cut their steep early losses in the afternoon after Ontario Premier Doug Ford agreed to suspend a 25% surcharge on electricity imports to Michigan, New York and Minnesota.

The backpedaling came after President Donald Trump ordered on Tuesday morning a doubling of tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel to 50% in retaliation against Ontarios energy duties. The 50% tariffs were to become effective Wednesday, he said. After the close, the Trump administration said the double tariff is off the table in light of Ford's retreat.

Trump's retaliation, though, was the latest in a series of escalating trade moves, including tariffs on Mexico and China, that have stoked fears of a U.S. economic recession and whipsawed markets. Economists fear a trade war also will reignite inflation thats already struggled to drop to the Federal Reserves 2% goal.

Stocks went into a tailspin on Monday after Trump declined in an interview on Sunday to rule out a recession this year. Instead, he emphasized "a period of transition" that's happening.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq had sunk deeper into correction territory, which is defined as at least 10% below a record high, before rebounding after the tariff war appeared to be averted. The broad S&P 500 bounced off its correction line.

The S&P 500 index ended down 0.76%, or 42.49 points, to 5,572.07; the blue-chip Dow shed 1.14%, or 478.23 points, to 41,433.48; and the tech-heavy Nasdaq slipped 0.18%, or 32.23 points, to 17,436.10 after posting its worst day since September 2022 on Monday. The benchmark 10-year yield rose to 4.284%.

Are stock investors overreacting to tariffs?

Experts are split on what the effects of the tariffs would be on the economy. While many are penciling in lower stock values due to higher risks of a recession and elevated inflation due to a rising chance of a trade war, others say the volatile stock market needs some context.

"While the (stock) pullback has been challenging, some perspective is warranted," said Daniel Skelly, head of Morgan Stanley's wealth management market research and strategy team. "Aside from a compelling argument that the market was overdue for a downturn of this magnitude, 10% corrections usually dont become 20% bear markets unless theyre accompanied by either an economic recession, an earnings recession, or a Fed hiking cycle. Were not seeing any of those right now."

This morning's Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) showed the labor market continued to expand in January, for example.

"The report will probably not help markets concerned with the economy, but it is still a positive report for the U.S. labor market and for the economy," said Raymond James' Chief economist Eugenio Aleman.

ING economists said "scattered calls for a U.S. recession" are "probably overblown."

What are companies saying?

Several companies -- from retail giants Walmart, Kohls and Dicks to airlines like Delta and Southwest  said theyre bracing themselves for a possible slowdown in consumer spending.

About 70% of America's economy is consumer-driven. Lately, surveys have shown consumers are feeling less optimistic and now businesses are sounding alarms.

Retail giant Walmart was the first last month to suggest consumer spending may slow. Since then, major airlines, including Delta and American, and retailers like Dick's have joined the chorus.

Small business sentiment has also been dented. The National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Optimism Index showed sentiment declining and uncertainty over the outlook rising. The Uncertainty Index rose to the second-highest reading in the surveys history, which dates to 1973.

Corporate news

Oracle's quarterly earnings missed analysts' expectaions and issued a disappointing sales outlook. Shares of the cloud-services company fell 3.14%.

Delta Air cut its outlook due to reduced consumer and corporate confidence and economic uncertainty. Shares shed 7.25%.

American Airlines said it now expects to lose between $0.60 and $0.80 per share in the first three months of the year, a wider loss than the $0.20 to $0.40 per share it previously forecast. It said revenue would likely be flat on the year compared with a January estimate of a rise of as much as 5%. It cited a softer domestic leisure segment, primarily in March as one of the reasons for the diminished outlook. Shares slid 8.32%.

Southwest Airlines said it will begin to charge for checked bags, reversing its two free bag policy, to garner more revenue. Shares jumped 8.34%.

Tesla shares, which dropped 15% on Monday, added 3.79% after Trump said overnight on social media he would buy a new Tesla to support Elon Musk, Tesla's chief executive and the person behind the Department of Government Efficiency which is slashing federal government.

Dick's Sporting Goods topped earnings estimates in the last three months of the year but said comparable sales growth will slow this year. Shares of the sporting goods retailer dropped 5.8%.

Kohl's missed quarterly estimates, sending the retail chain's shares tumbling 24.16%.

Illumina lowered its 2025 financial guidance and plans to reduce spending because China barred sales of its devices. Shares of the maker of genetic-sequencing machines dropped almost 1.69%.

What the Trump administration means for your wallet: Sign up for USA TODAY's Daily Money newsletter.

Cryptocurrency

Bitcoin rebounded Tuesday above the key psychological $80,000 mark, but pressure is expected to continue in the near-term as investors remain risk averse amid extreme market volatility, some analysts said.

Bitcoin was last up 5.46% at $83,048.74, moving up in line with the rebound in stocks.

This story was updated with new information.

Medora Lee is a money, markets, and personal finance reporter at USA TODAY. You can reach her at mjlee@usatoday.com and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Stocks cut losses. Trade war averted. Canada reverses electricity duty
Getty

Content warning: The following article contains graphic descriptions.

A Texas funeral home worker has been accused of castrating the body of a deceased sex offender as she prepared his corpse for cremation, per a police affidavit.

Amber Paige Laudermilk, 34, who worked as an embalmer at Houstons Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, has been charged with abuse of a corpse after she allegedly used a scalpel to stab and cut the penis off the body of Charles Roy Rodriguez, 58, a registered sex offender, last month.

Laudermilk was in the presence of an embalming trainee and another employee at the time of the alleged crime on Feb. 7, 2025, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Texas court and reviewed by PEOPLE.

Per the document, Laudermilk was observed by two others as she allegedly cut off the decedents penis and stuffed it in his mouth. She also allegedly stabbed the body of Rodriguez twice in the groin with a scalpel, the document says.

The embalming trainee who witnessed the incident also claimed Laudermilk told her, You didnt see anything in a threatening manner afterward, the affidavit states.

Immediately following the alleged incident, the funeral director reportedly noticed that Laudermilk was fondling the mouth of the decedent, per the charging document. The director also noticed that Rodriguezs groin area looked disfigured and asked Laudermilk about it.

In response, Laudermilk allegedly covered Rodriguez's lower body with a towel and replied that the corpse had a lot going on with him, per the document.

Rodriguez died of natural causes at a Houston hospital in January. He'd received 10 years of Deferred Adjudication after being charged with Sexual Assault in 2001, according to a statement from the Office of Harris County Constable Precinct One.

This case is about two troubled people: the victim who was a registered sex offender and the defendant, who is accused of viciously attacking his dead body, Precinct One Constable Alan Rosen said in the statement. No matter what one thinks of his life, the law requires that he be treated with dignity in death.

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.

I dont know the suspects past, but we have the utmost empathy for anyone who has been the victim of a sexual assault or is the family or friend of someone who has been the victim of a sexual assault, Rosen also said, per the statement. The facts clearly indicate she was angry and I hope after this is resolved in the courts, she gets the help she needs.



Read the original article on People
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., has said no too many times for President Donald Trumps liking.

The Kentucky Republican makes no qualms about breaking from his party or its leader, having been the lone Republican no in multiple votes, including Speaker Mike Johnsons leadership reelection in January.

In keeping with his own tradition, Massie says he is a firm no on this latest spending bill, which House Republican leadership put forward over the weekend and the chamber will take up for a vote Tuesday afternoon. Congress will need to pass this or similar legislation to keep the government funded and operating past Friday.

Will there be a government shutdown? House GOP battles time and a tiny margin

Unless I get a lobotomy Monday that causes me to forget what Ive witnessed the past 12 years, Massie said in a post on X Sunday, Ill be a NO on the CR this week.

Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) speaks during a press conference outside the US Capitol.

Trump fumed in a social media post blasting Massie for his defiance.

HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED, the president wrote on Truth Social Monday evening. I will lead the charge against him. Hes just another GRANDSTANDER, whos too much trouble, and not worth the fight.

Who is Thomas Massie?

Massie, 54, has represented Kentuckys 4th Congressional District, encompassing the states northern area just below Cincinnati, since 2012.

A staunch fiscal conservative, Massie has opposed budget bills in the past over objections that the legislation would not sufficiently address the governments growing deficit.

He has been known to wear a pin on his lapel showing the constantly upticking federal debt number.

Mar 4, 2025; Washington, DC, USA; (L-R) House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, speak ahead of President Trumpas address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 4, 2025. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY

Not his first time facing threats

Trump has accused Massie of grandstanding before.

In 2020, when the Kentucky Republican forced members of Congress to return to Washington for an in-person vote on a COVID-19 relief package, Trump called Massie a third rate Grandstander, as well as disaster for America.

Trump also called then for Massie to be forced out.

Yet despite being a recurring thorn in the presidents side, Kentucky Republicans showed no appetite for a replacement, and Massie sailed to an easy victory in his 2020 GOP primary.

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 11: U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) (C) speaks alongside Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) (L) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) (R) during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on March 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. Congress members spoke about the House Republican Conference meeting, joint session of Congress, and various other topics. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)

Massie appears no more fazed this time around, responding to Trump via social media Tuesday afternoon.

"POTUS is spending his day attacking me and Canada," Massie wrote. "The difference is Canada will eventually cave."

Live updates: Trump says he'll raise tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum to 50%

Asked if he would support Massie for reelection in 2026, Johnson declined to clearly back the president's call.

Look, Im in the incumbent protection program here, Johnson said in press conference Tuesday morning. I consider Thomas Massie a friend. Hes a thoughtful guy. I guess hell tell you hes doing what he thinks is right on this. I just vehemently disagree.

Massie could have company in the opposition

If Massie stays a "no,"Johnson cannot afford to lose any other member of his caucus.

And while the Kentucky congressman appears to be the most set in his opposition, other House Republicans have floated their own concerns about the speakers spending bill.

I like the fact that we're saving money, Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., told USA TODAY Monday. I love that. But I don't like the fact that we're giving it to the Pentagon, war pimps just always get the money.

Contributing: Sudiksha Kochi and Riley Beggin, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Thomas Massie? Trump wants to oust defiant congressman.
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will not impose retaliatory trade tariffs in response to U.S. duties on all steel and aluminium imports which are due to come into force on Wednesday, a British government official said on Tuesday.

While the European Union plans to hit back against the 25% US tariffs on imports of the metals, the official - who asked not to be identified - said Britain would continue to engage with the U.S. in an attempt to secure an exemption.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer's official spokesman said on Monday that the UK and the US had a strong economic relationship which was "based on fair and balanced, reciprocal trade."

U.S. President Donald Trump said during a visit by Starmer to the White House last month that his administration and Britain would negotiate a trade agreement which could help to avert U.S. tariffs.

Britain's trade minister Jonathan Reynolds made the case for a British exemption from tariffs to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in a recent phone call.

The U.S. accounts for about 5% of UK steel exports and 6% of aluminium exports, according to British government data.

U.K. steel exports to the United States are worth over 400 million pounds ($518 million) a year, according to industry body UK Steel which has said the introduction of U.S. tariffs "would be a devastating blow to our industry".

($1 = 0.7727 pounds)

(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill, writing by Sachin Ravikumar, Editing by Sarah Young and William Schomberg)
Johannesburg  President Trump doubled down Friday on his offer to grant U.S. citizenship to White Afrikaner farmers in South Africa, accusing their government of treating them "terribly." Mr. Trump said the U.S. would offer them "safety" and that they would be given a "rapid pathway to citizenship."

Mr. Trump had previously pointed to new land expropriation laws in South Africa that he claims are racist and a breach of the White farmers' human rights. In reaction to the laws, he has halted all foreign aid to South Africa.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been cool for several years, since then-U.S. Ambassador Reuben Brigety, during a May 2023 news conference, accused South Africa of loading weapons onto a U.S.-sanctioned Russian ship in Simon's Town harbor which then sailed back to Russia, where the weapons were allegedly used to help in the invasion of Ukraine.

Mr. Trump's offer of "safe refuge" for Afrikaner farmers

That tension has been exacerbated by South Africa's case at the International Criminal Court, where it has accused close U.S. ally Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in the war-torn Gaza Strip.

In a Friday post on his own Truth social platform, Mr. Trump once again offered "safe refuge" to Afrikaner farmers who feel unsafe in South Africa. That came after, on Feb. 7, Mr. Trump signed an executive order accusing the South African government of adopting racist laws that discriminate against Afrikaners, an ethnic group made up primarily of the descendants of Dutch settlers who started arriving in the country hundreds of years ago and now amount to about 13% of the population.

He specifically called out a law that was passed to allow the government expropriation of some privately owned land without compensation.

Ruan Wiid, a third-generation South African farmer, sits in a giant John Deere tractor during an exhibition in Hopetown, Northern Cape Province, South Africa, Feb. 14, 2025. / Credit: PAP/Getty

South Africa's government hit back at the time, saying the law pertained to unused land or land that was not serving the public interest. Mr. Trump ordered Secretary of State Marco Rubio to prioritize the resettlement program in the U.S. for Afrikaners who feel they have been the victims of racial discrimination. He also cut off all aid and assistance to South Africa for as long as the land expropriation law remains on the books.

What do Afrikaner farmers actually want?

Talk shows and editorials in South Africa buzzed with talk of Mr. Trump's executive order, and the possibility of even more U.S. sanctions. Many South Africans who've called into such shows have voiced confusion, as it seems there's little interest in an offer of asylum in the U.S.  even among the leaders of the Afrikaans groups who have appealed to Mr. Trump for help.

"I think we the Afrikaners have been treated as a scapegoat and punching bag in this country for three decades, with political leaders chanting on stage at political rallies 'kill the boer,' so we are very grateful for someone like President Trump to acknowledge the 144 race laws in South Africa," Ernest Roets, former head of policy at the Afrikaans organization Solidarity Movement, told CBS News.

He added, however, that he and many other Afrikaner leaders do not want to leave the country, and do not necessarily support the blanket sanctions being imposed by the Trump administration. He said there should be targeted sanctions against "specific leaders" who act against the South Africa's constitution "by discriminating against the Afrikaner with racist laws."

South Africa's News24 reported over the weekend that members of the Solidarity group had travelled to the U.S. over the past two weeks and met with Michael Needham, a chief adviser to Rubio, as well as senior advisers to both President Trump and Vice President JD Vance and members of the U.S. Senate and House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Flip Buys, who chairs the Solidarity Movement and who was among those to visit Washington, told News 24 that the possibility of targeted U.S. sanctions under the Magnitsky Act, which would require a determination of serious human rights violations, was discussed at the meetings.

It's expected that a small number of farmers would take Mr. Trump up on his offer, but most say that while their rights and safety need to be protected, they want to stay on the land their families have farmed for, in many cases, generations.

South Africa rejects Elon Musk's complaint over Starlink

Mr. Trump's close adviser Elon Musk, who was born in South Africa and still holds dual nationality, took to his X platform Friday and criticized the government in Pretoria, claiming his Starlink satellite network was "not allowed to operate in South Africa, because I'm not black."

South Africa's Electronic Communications Act, which, since 2005 has regulated broadcasting and telecommunications in the post-Apartheid country, requires that at least 30% of a company must be owned by previously disadvantaged groups as part of the criteria to gain a communications license. News24 reports that, as of Friday, Starlink had not applied for a license to operate in the country.

Clayson Monyela, the head of public diplomacy for the South African government's Department of International Relations and Cooperation, replied to Musk on X, saying: "Sir that's NOT true, and you know it! It's got nothing to do with skin color."

"Starlink is welcome to operate in South Africa," Monyela said, "provided there's compliance with local laws."

Some South African government officials have told CBS News they expect they could be targeted with specific U.S. sanctions.

There is also some concern that Mr. Trump will scrap the Africa Growth Opportunity Act, a trade agreement between the U.S. and 32 African countries that took effect in 2000.

Multiple officials said there are already plans to draft a replacement trade and energy pact, with the hope that the White House can be convinced to consider a new deal.

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How DOGE cuts are jeopardizing our national parks
Adan Manzano, a reporter for Telemundo Kansas City, was found dead in a New Orleans hotel.

Other men have accused the Louisiana woman linked to the death of a Super Bowl reporter of drugging and robbing them  and she shouldnt have been on probation when the reporter was found dead last month, the states top prosecutor said.

Danette Colbert, 48, was convicted in October of computer fraud, theft and illegal transmission of monetary funds in connection with a November 2021 scheme that the victim said targeted his life savings.

David Butler said in court records and an interview with NBC News that Colbert left him for dead after she drugged and robbed him of more than $80,000 in cryptocurrency in New Orleans French Quarter. He didnt get drug tested, and no charges linked to that drugging allegation were filed.

Last fall, Colbert was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay Butler $50,000 in restitution, court records in the case show.

The Orleans Parish District Attorneys Office is working to revoke that sentence and impose a harsher one, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a statement Monday. She said Colbert was not eligible for probation when she was sentenced.

In the statement, Murrill noted Colberts status as a habitual offender  a classification that allows prosecutors in the state to pursue stiffer penalties based on a defendants criminal history.

In a separate statement, Jefferson Parish District Attorney Jason Williams said he requested Murrills help because Colberts alleged crimes span multiple jurisdictions.

I firmly believe this approach will ensure the most unified and focused prosecution of each of these serious cases, Williams said.

Colberts attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A lawyer representing her in a separate case said last month that she shouldnt be judged on her criminal history.

A spokesperson for the judge who handed down the sentence in November has declined to comment and directed NBC News to Butlers victim impact statement.

In the statement, Butler said Colberts continued disregard for others should have prompted the maximum prison sentence.

Before Colberts October conviction, she had pleaded guilty in two previous cases that involved similar allegations of fraud and theft in nearby Jefferson Parish, court records show. While she was awaiting trial in Butlers case, she was charged in Clark County, Nevada, with grand larceny and administering a drug to aid in the commission of a felony in two separate cases.

According to Daniel Lippmann, the attorney who represented her, the charges in Nevada were dismissed after the victims said they didnt want to testify in court, The Associated Press reported.

In two other cases, alleged victims told NBC News that they believe Colbert targeted them in October 2021 after she posed as an Uber driver in the French Quarter. The men went to authorities, according to a police report and a New Orleans police spokesperson, but no charges have been filed in either case.

New Orleans police have said they investigates each and every case filed with them. A suspect has not been identified in either case.

Last month, Colbert was accused of fraud and other property crimes linked to the death of the Telemundo reporter, Adan Manzano. She has been charged with simple robbery, purse snatching, computer fraud, illegal transfer of monetary funds, access device fraud and bank fraud.

Manzanos body was discovered in a hotel room in Kenner, west of New Orleans, on Feb. 5, and a preliminary toxicology report showed he had a drug commonly sold under the brand Xanax in his system. He didnt have a prescription for the drug, a police investigator said at a hearing last month, and the drug was found at Colberts Slidell home.

Authorities have said Colbert could face additional charges after an autopsy and toxicology testing in the case are complete.

After Manzanos death, authorities in Kenner said they fielded a dozen complaints from people who believe they or loved ones may have been victims of Colbert, including the death of a Maryland man who was found unresponsive in a French Quarter hotel room in December. That investigation continues.
In her memoir "Careless People," Sarah Wynn-Williams wrote that China's leader, Xi Jinping, was surrounded by a "phalanx of men" during the 2016 APEC summit. Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Images; Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Mark Zuckerberg wanted to talk to Xi Jinping at the 2016 APEC summit in Lima, Peru.

He had a dressing room next to Xi and back-to-back speeches with the Chinese leader.

But Xi swept past with enough people to create a "wall" between them  and the talk never happened.

Mark Zuckerberg was hoping to meet China's leader, Xi Jinping, at the sidelines of the APEC summit held in Lima, Peru back in 2016.

But Xi didn't seem interested.

That's according to Sarah Wynn-Williams, a former Facebook executive who said she had tried to engineer a "spontaneous encounter" between Zuckerberg and Xi. She detailed the incident in her memoir, "Careless People," published Tuesday.

Wynn-Williams wrote that she secured a dressing room for Zuckerberg next to Xi's. She also arranged for Zuckerberg's keynote speech at the summit to take place before Xi's, she said.

However, the chance encounter Wynn-Williams and Zuckerberg were hoping for didn't pan out.

Instead, Wynn-Williams said that Zuckerberg was blocked from Xi's view by the Chinese leader's hefty security detail.

"It's a phalanx of men, in identical gray uniforms, marching in formation past us. Mark stares in disbelief, mouth open. They just keep coming, dozens and dozens of them," Wynn-Williams wrote.

"It's almost comical. Just when you think there could not be any more, more step in," she wrote.

The men ended up forming an "impenetrable dividing line" between Xi's and Zuckerberg's dressing rooms, Wynn-Williams wrote, calling them a "human Chinese wall."

"President Xi is so obscured that he doesn't even have to risk making eye contact with Mark," Wynn-Williams wrote, adding that Xi's men dispersed after he entered his dressing room.

"Uh, I guess that pull-aside isn't going to happen," Zuckerberg told his staff, according to Wynn-Williams' account.

But Zuckerberg has managed to meet Xi on other occasions.

In September 2015, Zuckerberg spoke to Xi when the Chinese leader visited Seattle for a two-day visit. They conversed briefly, and Zuckerberg later posted an image of himself with Xi on Facebook. Zuckerberg said he spoke to Xi entirely in Chinese and called the moment a "meaningful personal milestone."

And in October 2017, Zuckerberg and Apple's CEO Tim Cook met Xi at Tsinghua University's business school in Beijing.

Wynn-Williams, an international lawyer and a former New Zealand diplomat, joined Facebook in 2011 and became its director of global public policy.

In the book, Wynn-Williams gives her account of Facebook's efforts to enter the Chinese market. Facebook's leaders considered making major concessions, including letting Beijing control how and what content was displayed on the platform, she wrote.

A spokesperson for Meta told Business Insider that the stories in it came from "an employee terminated eight years ago for poor performance."

"We do not operate our services in China today. It is no secret we were once interested in doing so as part of Facebook's effort to connect the world," the spokesperson said.

"This was widely reported beginning a decade ago. We ultimately opted not to go through with the ideas we'd explored, which Mark Zuckerberg announced in 2019," the spokesperson added.

In a separate response to Wynn-Williams' book, Meta pointed to Zuckerberg's comments on China in 2019.

At a 2019 speech at Georgetown University, Zuckerberg objected to the censorship of protests on platforms like Facebook's competitor, TikTok.

Zuckerberg then called censorship "one of the reasons we don't operate Facebook, Instagram, or our other services in China."

"I wanted our services in China because I believe in connecting the whole world, and I thought we might help create a more open society," Zuckerberg said. "I worked hard to make this happen. But we could never come to agreement on what it would take for us to operate there, and they never let us in."

Facebook never made it across China's Great Firewall  and Meta's core products remain shut out of China's insular social media system.

The Chinese, meanwhile, operate an ecosystem of social media applications that function independently of their Western versions. Baidu, WeChat, Weibo, Xiaohongshu, and Douyin  Chinese alternatives to Google, WhatsApp, X, Instagram, and TikTok  are used in the country instead.

Representatives for Meta and the Chinese foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment from BI.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Synnex Australia has partnered with StickmanCyber to provide its cyber security solutions across its managed service provider (MSP) network across Australia.

The agreement aims to provide value-added, specialist cyber security services for MSPs to protect digital assets and ensure compliance with industry standards.

Solutions are delivered by StickmanCybers Cybersecurity as a Service offering and range from self-service through to fully managed by StickmanCybers CyberNavigator experts to guide customers.

This covers monitoring, incident response, compliance management, vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, security awareness training and phishing simulations.

As Synnex MSPs continue to mature and broaden their security capabilities, they are increasingly seeking trusted partnerships to strengthen their offerings to their customers, Synnex Australia and New Zealand head of cloud Kuo Yoong said.

Synnex has partnered with StickmanCyber, an MSSP [managed security service provider] with extensive local enterprise experience and a proven track record in Australia, to support these efforts.
Australian cyber security specialist Seccom Global has teamed up with LMNTRIX to provide a cyber security platform designed to detect and respond to cyber threats.

Culminating from an eight-month process of testing and planning the layout of the partnership, Seccom said the agreement combines its own cyber security expertise with LMNTRIXs managed detection and response (MXDR) capabilities.

As a result of the partnership, Seccom has added dark web monitoring, continuous penetration testing and compromise assessment services in addition to LMNTRIXs MXDR offering.

By partnering with LMNTRIX, we will be enhancing our solutions to provide a converged cyber security platform that empowers our customers with visibility, rapid threat detection and response capabilities, regardless of where their critical assets reside, said Seccom managing director Michael Demery.

Demery also told ARN that the consolidation of LMNTRIXs range of services into one platform was an exciting development for its team.

Seccom was not only blown away by the technology; we loved the idea of partnering with another 100 per cent Australian owned business, who had similar values, he said.
The directive applies to both Card holders and those without documents. From 1st April they will be forcibly expelled, but the advice is to leave voluntarily before the deadline. Human rights groups are concerned. Meanwhile, at the Torkham crossing, tribal leaders from both sides have signed a truce.

Islamabad (AsiaNews) - Islamabad is giving Afghan migrants 24 days to voluntarily leave Pakistan, and those who remain in the country after 31 March will face forced deportation, according to a statement from the Pakistani Ministry of the Interior.

The directive applies to holders of the Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) and all undocumented Afghan citizens. In addition, starting from 1st April, the authorities, in coordination with the security forces, will launch a nationwide operation to detain and expel those who are still in the country. The advice to everyone, the statement continues, is to voluntarily leave before the deadline at the end of the month.

Pakistan began mass deportations of undocumented Afghan refugees in November 2023, with over 800,000 ACR cardholders still residing in the country.

The recent announcement therefore marks the beginning of the second phase of deportations, which targets those who had initially been authorised to stay.

Afghan migrants and rights groups have condemned Pakistan's policy of repatriation and deportations, calling it inhumane and a violation of international human rights standards. In fact, many of the refugees left their country of origin because the Taliban had returned to power in Kabul, and they risk their lives if they are repatriated.

Seema Nouri, a human rights activist, warns: Forced deportations put thousands of lives at risk, as many will face persecution upon their return.

Meanwhile, the police in Islamabad and Rawalpindi have intensified their arrests of Afghan migrants in recent days. Just today, several families were picked up from different areas and transferred to Haji camp, said Ahmad Khalid, an Afghan migrant in Pakistan.

Since the beginning of 2025, the Pakistani authorities have extended house-to-house searches, detentions and deportations in major cities.

For thousands of Afghan families who fled Taliban rule, due to security threats, lack of education and economic hardship, Pakistan's latest directive has only increased uncertainty about their future.

Finally, the forces patrolling the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan at the Torkham crossing have agreed to a two-day ceasefire after weeks of hostilities, which began yesterday and for now seems to be holding despite the tensions.

The area was closed last month by the government in Islamabad following a dispute over the construction of a new checkpoint. In addition, there have been intense armed clashes in the last two weeks, causing the death of at least one person.

Hundreds of people were stranded at the border and traders suffered millions in losses due to the fact that lorries were unable to cross the border.

When interviewed by Anadolu, a high-ranking Pakistani official declared that the agreement had been reached during a tribal assembly at the Torkham border, which was attended by tribal chiefs and representatives from both countries, including 35 senior members for Afghanistan.

On the other hand, at a meeting of the UN Security Council on Afghanistan, Islamabad's envoy Munir Akram accused the Taliban government of complicity in the attacks launched across the border by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militia.
Today's news: Agreement reached between Syria's al-Sharaa and SDF Kurds; overnight Israeli raids on military positions; In North Korea publicly executes three men for attempting to escape by sea; TikToker is convicted of blasphemy in Indonesia after talking to an image of Jesus; India's Byrnihat is the most polluted city in the world.

PHILIPPINES

The Philippine police have arrested former president Rodrigo Duterte on the basis of a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) accusing him of crimes against humanity for his bloody war on drugs. The 79-year-old was taken into police custody shortly after arriving at Manila airport from Hong Kong. His actions led to the deaths of thousands of people during his presidency from 2016 to 2022, and before that during his term as mayor of the city of Davao.

SYRIA

Syria has announced that it has reached an agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to integrate the latter into state institutions. The Syrian presidency made the announcement after a signing ceremony attended by interim President al-Sharaa and SDF leader Mazloum Abdi. Meanwhile, during the night Israeli military aircraft carried out attacks in the southern Syrian province of Dar'a, against military positions of the former regime of Bashar al-Assad.

NORTH KOREA

North Korea has publicly killed three men, shooting each of them 90 times with a machine gun, for trying to escape to the democratic South Korea. The authorities then burned their bodies in front of the terrified residents of the city, who were forced to watch. The three men, all in their thirties, had been captured in January while trying to flee south by boat. Lost at sea in fog, they thought they had crossed the border when they encountered a North Korean patrol boat.

INDIA

The World Air Quality Report 2024 identified Byrnihat, in Assam, as the most polluted city in the world. Six of the ten most polluted cities in the world are still in India. Delhi remains the most polluted capital city globally, while India ranked fifth in 2024, down from third in 2023. According to the report, the country recorded a 7 per cent reduction in PM2.5 concentrations in 2024, with an average of 50.6 micrograms per cubic metre.

INDONESIA

An Indonesian TikToker has been sentenced to almost three years in prison after allegedly talking to an image of Jesus on her phone and telling him to cut his hair. Ratu Thalisa, a Muslim influencer, was live streaming and responding to a comment telling her to cut her hair to look more like a man. The court said her comments could undermine public order and religious harmony in society, and she was charged with blasphemy.

KAZAKHSTAN

Once again this year, journalists in Kazakhstan were disappointed by the lack of a press conference by President Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev, despite his promise that it would be a tradition, and that in six years in power he has only granted rare interviews to television channels and publications of his liking. The last interview with a Kazakh media was published in February 2022.

TAJIKISTAN

The president of Tajikistan, Emomali Rakhmon, has praised the role of women in the country, who  can hold the highest offices in all sectors, even if in reality the representation of women at the highest levels is very low, with 3 ministers out of 22 members of the government, the deputy prime minister Dilrabo Mansuri, the minister of culture Matlubakhon Sattorien and the minister of labour and migration, Solekha Kholmakhmadzoda.
The Balochistan Liberation Army attacked the Jaffar Express, bound for Peshawar. In a statement, the separatist group warned the Pakistani government not to intervene militarily, threatening mass executions. The assault is part of a growing wave of violence by the BLA against the Pakistani state.

Islamabad (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Members of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) stormed a train and took dozens of passengers hostage.

According to local sources, the Jaffar Express left Quetta, the capital of the southwestern province of Balochistan, for Peshawar, with about 450 passengers, who may now all be in the hands of the group. Other news agencies, like Reuters, say that 182 people are in the hands of the terrorists.

The train driver was seriously wounded, local authorities, police and railway officials report.

According to the Pakistani daily Dawn, rescue teams were sent to the Bolan district, where the train was stuck in a tunnel, following reports of intense firing.

The BLA claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement warning the government not intervene militarily.

The BLA issues a clear warning that if the occupying forces attempt any military operation, the consequences will be severe. All hundreds of hostages will be executed, and the responsibility for this bloodshed will lie solely with the occupying forces, reads the statement signed by Jeeyand Baloch, spokesperson for the Baloch Liberation Army.

So far, six military personnel have been killed, and hundreds of passengers remain under BLA custody. The Baloch Liberation Army takes full responsibility for this operation, the press release went on to say.

Later, the separatists claimed to have killed 20 members of the police.

The BLA has been fighting against Pakistan for decades, claiming that it is exploiting the region's resources at the expense of the local population.

In recent years, it has mainly targeted infrastructure projects in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), often carrying out attacks against Chinese nationals as well.

Train service near Quetta resumed in October after a two-month hiatus following another attack claimed by the BLA that disabled the tracks.

Several research institutes have called the increase in violent attacks by the BLA in recent times alarming.
by Melani Manel Perera

A hundred refugees who landed in 2022 rallied in protest in front of the United Nations Office in Colombo. After surviving genocide, they wonder if they will now die from hunger and abandonment. In their appeal to the authorities, they are grateful to Sri Lanka and its people, but they have had enough to live as refugees. For Rev Marimuttu Sathivel, speaking to AsiaNews, the UN should act immediately and take responsibility for these refugees.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  About a hundred Rohingya refugees, including widows and orphans, held a protest in front of the United Nations Office in Colombo, waving placards. We survived genocide. Will we now die from hunger and neglect? said one. No more Refugee life," said another. We need a durable solution, read a third.

The tragedy of those who fled violence in Rakhine (Myanmar) in 2022, and landed in Sri Lanka, has no end. They are asking the UN and the Sri Lankan government for justice and an end to their heartbreaking fate. The refugees delivered a petition to the United Nations Office demanding permanent solutions.

The government has a duty to take care of them, and international organisations should provide them with protection and possibly citizenship," said Rev Marimuttu Sathivel, an Anglican priest and human rights activist, speaking to AsiaNews.

Thanks to residents in Panadura, western Sri Lanka, they received immediate albeit temporary aid, including shelter and food, soon after arriving three years ago. Despite this, local efforts are not sufficient to guarantee them a dignified existence.

Refugees are grateful to Sri Lanka for saving their lives from the sea. One of the latest groups, 115 people, arrived in the South Asian country last December after years in camps on the border with Bangladesh.

How much longer must we endure this inhuman existence? read another sign held by a young man. Now we are left to die in the land, said another.

We are survivors of the worst crisis in modern history. We survived the genocide in Myanmar. Our homes were reduced to ashes. Our women were raped. Our children were burned alive. We have been subjected to ethnic cleansing in Myanmar for decades. We were driven from our homeland. The United Nations has identified us as the most persecuted people in the world, said one youth reading the groups protest letter.

In December 2022, when we were stranded at sea for weeks  hungry, thirsty and hopeless  the Sri Lanka Navy rescued us. At that moment, we felt the compassion of this country, for which we will forever be grateful. Sri Lanka saved our lives, gave us another chance to hope and dream, reads the letter.

We hope that Sri Lanka will now be able to work with the international community to find a lasting solution that will ensure our dignity, security and future," it goes on to say.

Rev Sathivel explained to AsiaNews that the Christian mission is to protect the refugees lives and help them obtain their human dignity and live where they wish, in peace.

Many Sri Lankans are living like refugees around the world, and some have been provided citizenship, said Father Sathivel. If those countries look after refugees from Sri Lanka, without neglecting them, and protect their lives, our country too has a duty to look after whoever comes as refugees to Sri Lanka, with humanity.

The United Nations Human Rights Commission and international refugee advocacy groups have a great role to play in providing these people with basic needs, as well as citizenship.

For its part, the UN Human Rights Commission should have responsibility for these refugees, explained the Anglican clergyman. These people witnessed several deaths in their voyage, and threw bodies into the sea and came here. They must be helped now, without further delay.

Photo by Sampath Samrakoon.
by Dario Salvi

After days of violence and more than a thousand dead, including some Christians, the al-Sharaa government has declared the operation against the Alawites on the west coast of the country over. Damascus also signed a merger agreement with the Kurds. For the archbishop of Homs, peace requires an international presence and the end of sanctions. So far, the authorities have not fulfilled their promises.

Milan (AsiaNews)  It is essential for the UN to deploy a peacekeeping force with the task "of protecting civilians, in particular in areas where there are minorities", as well as ensuring the stability "of the border with Israel, this according to Syriac Catholic Archbishop Jacques Mourad of Homs, Hama and Dabek.

The prelate, who is in Germany to speak at the plenary session of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Germany currently underway about the situation in his country, is not hiding his concern about what has happened recently, most notably a massacre of civilians, especially Alawites, in the coastal cities of Tartus and Latakia, strongholds of the former regime of Bashar al-Assad, a development that did not spare Christians.

For now the future is dark, he admits, and we are still unable to see the light" after years of civil war and the sudden fall of Damascus in December to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the rebel group whose leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, now serves as interim president.

Bloodshed in the new Syria

The Syrian Ministry of Defence just announced the end of military operations in the western coastal region. The security forces have reportedly "neutralised" groups loyal to Assad and the ground is being prepared for a return to normalcy.

So far, NGOs have reported 1,500 dead, including 1,068 civilians, women, children, and Christians. This has alarmed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres because of the escalation and the number of victims and " widespread summary killings, including of entire families.

For Archbishop Mourad, this is a hard blow to the project of a new Syria promised by the authorities. The prelate is a member of the Mar Musa community founded by Jesuit Fr Paolo Dall'Oglio who has been missing since 2013, and was himself a hostage of the Islamic State in 2015, freed after more than four months.

Two, three weeks after the great change (as he calls the rise of HTS and Assad's exile in Russia in December), people have begun to lose faith in the new government and the president because he said things that he did not realise or maintain. This affects various areas of daily life, starting with wages, development opportunities that have not materialised.

The critical issues concern the economy but there is no shortage of critical political problems, like drafting the new Constitution in the National Congress" and talks between various local communities.

"What is happening is certainly not what the population dreamt of, or imagined. There is a lot of pain and sorrow after this bloodshed, a climate of fear and concern for the future has reemerged.

Settling of accounts

Reflecting on the events that led to the military operation against the Alawites, Archbishop Mourad cannot help but note that security forces and HTS-affiliated groups have used "weapons against the people" in a sort of "settling of scores".

If the excuse was to strike at former Assad loyalists, the reality is that "the victims are almost all civilians", no agents provocateurs nor members of the old regime.

The escalation is due primarily to "the lack of trust between the different communities," the prelate noted, in addition to the manipulative practices of the government and the armed groups linked to it.

There was talk of seizing weapons from civilians, removing them from the control of the different groups and strengthening a single Syrian national army," he noted, "but nothing has been done in practice; especially the military is not protecting the people and the country. In fact, so far the opposite has happened.

The recent violence has also impacted Christians hard, although no reliable data is available on the number of victims. For the Syriac Catholic archbishop, religion is not a factor in the attacks.

The victims got caught up because they live in the area" where the escalation took place. Since they live in the same buildings, the same sector, they were killed because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

In his view, the violence is not about religion or confession, but the massacre was perpetrated against civilians, innocent people, not the allies of the old regime.

Uncertainty remains as to the number of dead. At least 12 were reportedly Christian but the number of Alawites massacred could be more than 1,200, a very heavy toll.

Kurds, Israel, and the challenges of peace

The Syrian government announced an agreement with Mazloum Abdi, head of the pro-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), to merge all civilian and military institutions of the Kurdish autonomous administration into the Syrian state.

The Syrian presidency issued a statement signed by the various parties, noting that all civil and military institutions in northeastern Syria be merged into the administration of the Syrian state, including border crossings, the airport, and oil and gas fields.

This remains an open question and no one knows how the merger and other steps will take place; nevertheless, it is of great significance since it involves Syrias main ethnic minority , which has been autonomously administering the north-east of the country for the past six years.

In the past, the Kurds played a key role acting with US support and as its proxy against the Islamic State and other radical groups (like the HTS).

The agreement with the Kurds will perhaps lead to real peace, but we have to wait and see how it will be implemented and if it will bear fruit, Archbishop Mourad said. Because for me all agreements are theoretical; what matters is to evaluate their application.

Today, the priority remains to meet peoples basic needs: electricity, wages, drinking water, everyday needs. The government must assume its responsibilities, meet these priorities, but for now life is perhaps worse than before.

Among the critical factors, two in particular are of great concern: international sanctions and Israeli interference through air raids and incursions into Syrian territory.

There are internal and external factors that hinder recovery, especially Israel's daily attacks. All this is happening without the international community intervening or saying anything, no UN position, no position taken by the European Union.

On the contrary, it is crucial to end these attacks on Syria. Because the question is whether the international community wants peace for Syria, or does it want to fuel escalation and war, complicating the lives of Syrians.

From this perspective, a destroyed and divided Syria seems useful, but if we ask the people, they all say they want a single and united nation, which can live in peace.

Finally, the prelate emphasises one last key critical factor: Western sanctions that weigh like a boulder on the Syrian economy.

Today it is essential to remove international sanctions, because this would really help revive life, the economy, and give some relief and freedom to the government to act, and verify if they really follow the rules of international law".

Otherwise, the international community must assume its responsibilities and intervene, mediate, because the Syrian people are not the only cause or reason for what happened, and they certainly cannot start again on its own.

Deploying UN peacekeepers in sensitive areas is also part of this equation, but with a very specific premise: the Turkish army must not participate because the Syrians do not want another (League of Nations-style) mandate.

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11 March 2025 15:56 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

A witness testified at the review session of the criminal case against Ruben Vardanyan, an Armenian citizen accused of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, and financing terrorism, among other serious offenses under Azerbaijans Criminal Code.

According to Azernews, the witness, an Armenian of Karabakh origin, stated that Vardanyan arrived in Khankendi sometime after the 44-day war but was uncertain whether he came from Russia or elsewhere.

He sponsored and created groups of people aged 45-50 to fight against Azerbaijan and financed them, the witness testified, adding, Many young people joined those groups. What was interesting to me was that Ruben Vardanyan, a world-renowned businessman and oligarchIm not saying that he is my enemy, nobut he left his business and came to Karabakh?

The witness further revealed that individuals were recruited for $700 to $2,000 and underwent military training.

The court also heard the witnesss statement from the preliminary investigation conducted by the State Security Service, which he fully confirmed.

The trial will resume after a break.
11 March 2025 11:35 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

During the 10th meeting of ministers on the development and transmission of green energy in Budapest, Hungary, Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov met with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry.

The meeting addressed issues related to the implementation of the "Caspian-Black Sea-Europe Green Energy Corridor" project and the priorities of bilateral energy cooperation.

The significant role of Azerbaijan, particularly the Southern Gas Corridor, in ensuring Europes energy security amidst current energy supply challenges was highlighted. The prospects for gas supplies from Azerbaijan to European countries were assessed, and the importance of developing gas reserves and expanding infrastructure was emphasized. It was also noted that the diversification of energy supply requires a rational approach to gas-related matters.

Peter Szijjarto was invited to actively participate in discussions on natural gas and green energy at the next Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council meeting, which will be held in April.

Additionally, views were exchanged on current and planned projects with Hungarian companies "MOL Group" and MVM.
11 March 2025 16:02 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Azerbaijan and Spain are unlocking new opportunities for trade and investment by deepening their economic ties.

Inmaculada Riera, Director General of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce and Industry, highlighted this during the Azerbaijan-Spain business forum in Baku, Azernews reports.

Riera noted the high interest from businesses in both countries, reflecting a mutual commitment to expanding cooperation. "Spain is experiencing strong economic growth and is a leader within the European Union. We believe Europe should foster strong economic relationships with partners who share values of integration, sustainable development, and stability," she remarked.

She also emphasized Azerbaijans dynamic economy, its favorable business environment, and its strategic location. The country is actively diversifying its industries while continuing to rely on the oil and gas sector.

"Spanish companies bring extensive international experience and are eager to contribute to Azerbaijan's economic development. They see significant prospects for cooperation in new sectors and opportunities to access neighboring markets through Azerbaijans logistical advantages," Riera added.
11 March 2025 16:36 (UTC+04:00)

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Azerbaijan will establish a joint fund with the Sultanate of Oman, as announced by the Deputy Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan, Elnur Aliyev, at the Azerbaijan-Spain business forum in Baku, Azernews reports.

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11 March 2025 17:41 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

The Russian Export Center (REC) has supported exports to Azerbaijan worth more than 3 billion USD since 2017, Azernews reports, citing Nuri Guliyev, head of the RECs representative office in Azerbaijan.

He noted that since 2017, the REC's representative office in Azerbaijan has been providing support to Russian companies wishing to enter the local market.

"Over this period, we have contributed to the export of over 3 billion USD to Azerbaijan. This has significantly helped the development of trade relations between our countries. Promoting and popularizing Russian products under the Made in Russia brand is also important for Russia," said Nuri Guliyev.

It is worth noting that Azerbaijan is one of Russia's key trading partners among the CIS countries. In 2024, the trade turnover between the two countries reached 4.8 billion USD, with a significant portion (3.6 billion USD) coming from the supply of Russian products. These products include food, agricultural machinery, industrial goods, and construction materials.

The REC, part of the Vnesheconombank group, helps Russian exporters enter international markets by offering financial and non-financial support. In recent years, the center has actively developed cooperation with Azerbaijan, organizing business missions, consultations, and facilitating contract signings.
The first Fikrat Amirov Republican Music Festival has come to an end, Azernews reports. The closing ceremony took place at Azerbaijan State Academic Philharmonic Hall.

The festival was organized by the Ganja State Philharmonic with the support of the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry to mark the 90th anniversary of this cultural center. The author of the idea and artistic director of the festival is the director of the Ganja State Philharmonic Hall, Honored Artist Ramil Gasimov.

At the opening of the evening, Deputy Culture Minister, People's Artist Murad Huseynov emphasized the importance of the festival in promoting and developing national classical art, congratulating the staff of the Ganja Philharmonic on the anniversary.

The concert program, accompanied by the symphony orchestra of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater under the direction of the theater's chief conductor, Honored Artist Ayyub Guliyev, featured soloists - People's Artists Gulnaz Ismayilova, Shahnaz Gashimova, Sevinj Ibrahimova, Honored Artists Aybeniz Gashimova, Ramil Gasimov, Inara Babayeva, Ehtiram Huseynov, Tural Abdullayev, Saida Tagizade (piano), Honored Cultural Worker Mehpara Jafarova, vocalist Rustam Jafarov.

Recall that the first Republican Music Festival named after Fikret Amirov was held from March 4 to 9 in Baku and Ganja. The International Mugham Center, the Azerbaijan Composers' Union, the Ganja State Philharmonic, the Azerbaijan State Academic Philharmonic, the Opera Studio of the Baku Music Academy, the National Art Museum and the Heydar Aliyev Palace became the festival venues.

The festival program included a scientific seminar on the life and work of Fikrat Amirov, a presentation of the film and book "The Beating Heart of Ganja" were held, concerts of the Folk Instruments Ensemble of the Ganja State Philharmonic, the Goygol State Song and Dance Ensemble, the State Orchestra of Folk Instruments, the State Song and Dance Ensemble named after Fikrat Amirov, a concert "Soul of Music" with the participation of the State Chamber Orchestra named after Gara Garayev, an evening of chamber music, the opera "Sevil", the ballet "A Thousand and One Nights", as well as a musical evening of "Songs of Love".

Photo Credits: Kamran Bagirov

Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az, and Milli.Az.
11 March 2025 17:59 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Heydar Aliyev Center has hosted a panel discussion titled "Cinema Talks", involving representatives of the film industry, Azernews reports. The event was organized by Azerbaijan Culture Ministry.

A video showcasing the work accomplished in the development of the film industry was presented first.

Before the panel discussion began, Sabina Baghirova, an employee of the Azerbaijan Film Agency, delivered a presentation on the topic "Production of Foreign Films in Azerbaijan" and noted that the filming of foreign movies in the country creates new employment opportunities for local film specialists and allows them to benefit from international experience.

According to her, three foreign films were shot in Azerbaijan in 2024. The production of these films contributed not only to the recognition of Azerbaijan in the international film industry but also to the economy of the country.

Baghirova added that Azerbaijani directors, cameramen, screenwriters, actors, and technical staff collaborating with international film producers are getting acquainted with the latest trends and technologies in global cinema and have the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills. Such projects positively impact the development of the country's film industry, strengthen the training of professional personnel, and create conditions for expanding creative potential.

The Deputy Chairman of the Public Union "Film Industry Development Fund," Azer Aydemir, spoke about the "Cinema Park" project related to the restoration of the "Azerbaijanfilm" studio named after Jafar Jabbarly. He noted that the successful implementation of this process would transform the studio into a more modern and functional space, becoming an important centre for not only domestic film production but also for the international film industry. "It will take 3 to 5 years for this project to operate at full capacity and yield tangible results. Of course, government support is crucial, and a key priority at the initial stage will be the restoration of the studio's infrastructure," he stated, adding that negotiations regarding the project have been ongoing for a year.

Turan Mammadli, an employee of the Azerbaijan Film Agency, provided information about the "Development of the National Dubbing Industry" project. He highlighted the importance of taking systematic and consistent measures for the development of this field, identifying infrastructure improvement, the application of new technologies, and the training of professional personnel as the main priorities in expanding the national dubbing industry and adapting it to international standards.

He stressed that a special strategy has been developed to enhance quality in this area, which includes strengthening state support for dubbing, developing domestic studios, and training new voice actors. One of the primary objectives of this process is to preserve the original spirit of the films while providing audiences with quality dubbing. With the successful implementation of the project, Azerbaijani films will gain broader access to international platforms, while foreign films will also be presented to local audiences with quality dubbing. "This will make a significant contribution to the development of our national cinema and the preservation of the Azerbaijani language," he emphasized.

Then, during the discussion organized as part of the Ministry of Culture's action plan "Creative Azerbaijan," there was a broad discussion on the future prospects for the development of the Azerbaijani film industry, current challenges, and opportunities for international cooperation.

Speaking at the panel discussion, the Head of the Sector at the Ministry of Culture, Gunay Ragimova, the Chairman of the Public Union "Producers Guild of Azerbaijan," Mushfig Khatamov, the Deputy Chairman of the Public Union "Film Industry Development Fund," Azer Aydemir, and the Head of the Department of Creative Industries and Digital Development at the Ministry of Culture, Rashad Azizov, discussed the current situation in the Azerbaijani film industry.

Their speeches addressed issues of film production, infrastructure development in this field, and international cooperation. The participants of the discussion shared their opinions on strategic approaches to the development of the domestic film industry, mechanisms of state support, and the work that needs to be done to strengthen the creative environment.

The panel discussion also covered the role of film festivals and film funds as platforms for joint production, priorities in creating international co-productions, the development of cinema infrastructure, the opening of new cinemas in the regions, support for the dubbing industry, the importance of organizing festivals like Baku Cinema Breeze (BCB), and promoting co-production in the film sector within the Turkic world, among other topics.

Additionally, among the subjects discussed were the establishment of a support system for the production of films with limited sales potential, the implementation of effective mechanisms to increase audience interest in domestic films, and the opportunities for foreign film producers to create films in Azerbaijan.

It was particularly emphasized that Cinema Talks serves as a significant platform for establishing new collaborations and exchanging ideas for directors, producers, actors, screenwriters working in the film industry, investors, and others interested in this field.
11 March 2025 17:12 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijan will participate in Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, which opens on April 13 in Osaka, Japan, under the theme "Designing the Future Society for Our Lives," Azernews reports.

The Heydar Aliyev Center is organizing Azerbaijan's national pavilion, which will be located in the "Connecting Lives" section of the exhibition. The pavilion, themed "Seven Bridges for Sustainability," draws inspiration from the poem "Seven Beauties" by Nizami Ganjavi, reflecting Azerbaijans cultural heritage, technological progress, and commitment to sustainability.

The three-story pavilion features a facade with intricate network motifs, symbolizing Azerbaijans craftsmanship and artistic traditions. Visitors will explore seven themes represented by seven "giant beauties", covering cultural diversity, heritage, traditional art, architecture, sustainability, natural resources, sports, and tourism.

A symbolic tree display will highlight Azerbaijan-Japan relations, featuring the "Azerbaijani tree," "Japanese tree," and a "Friendship tree"a fusion of both nations' cultural elements.

Azerbaijan was the first country to sign a participation agreement for Expo 2025, reflecting its strong ties with Japan and commitment to global exhibitions. The event will host 165 countries and seven international organizations across a 155-hectare venue, expecting 28 million visitors over 184 days.

Expo 2025 will serve as a hub for collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange, fostering discussions on sustainable solutions and future societies.
11 March 2025 11:49 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that, during his discussions with President Ilham Aliyev, the topic of peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia was addressed, along with other issues, Azernews reports, citing President Erdogan, as he said about the outcomes of President Aliyevs visit to Ankara during a briefing on the results of the latest Cabinet meeting.

"During President Ilham Aliyev's visit on March 5, we participated in the opening of the Igdr-Nakhchivan gas pipeline, which will fully supply the autonomous republic with gas for at least 30 years," Erdogan mentioned.

He noted that he had the opportunity to discuss many important topics with "brother Ilham Aliyev," particularly the issue of peace negotiations with Armenia.

The Turkish President also touched upon Ankaras dialogue with European Union countries.

"Ankara's partners in Europe must recognise and accept Turkiye's role in the changing global order and shape their strategies in accordance with new global realities. Our priority remains the comprehensive development of relations with the European Union based on common interests and mutual respect. The course toward full membership in the EU remains unchanged," the Turkish leader emphasised.

Erdogan drew attention to the growth indicators of Turkiye's economy. "The size of the Turkish economy has reached 1.3 trillion dollars, and the GDP per capita has surpassed 15 thousand dollars," he said, also highlighting that investments in Turkiye and the scale of exports have increased.

Touching on the situation in Syria, Erdogan remarked that certain forces continue their attempts to destabilize the situation in the neighbouring country. "Provocateurs among the supporters of the former Bashar al-Assad regime are using interfaith tensions. Despite the remaining risks, the situation is under control due to the efforts of the Syrian government," he positively assessed the actions of the official Damascus.

"Ankara sincerely hopes that peace and stability will be established in Syria as soon as possible," Erdogan added.

The Turkish President also commented on the situation in Ukraine. "Achieving long-term peace is not possible without the participation of Moscow or Kyiv. We state this on all platforms," the politician said.
11 March 2025 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs at the Presidential Administration, recently met with Vernon Coaker, Minister of State for Defence in the United Kingdom, Azernews reports, citing a post shared by Azerbaijan's Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Elin Suleymanov.

The Ambassador noted that the meeting was held at the UK Ministry of Defence. The ambassador expressed his gratitude on social media, thanking the Minister for the warm reception.

The Minister of State for Defence is a senior political official responsible for certain aspects of the UKs defense policy. The minister works within the Ministry of Defence, assisting the Defence Secretary in implementing national strategies and contributing to key decisions regarding security and defense matters.

Previously, Hikmet Hajiyev had engaged in discussions with other senior UK officials, focusing on strengthening Azerbaijan-United Kingdom bilateral cooperation.
11 March 2025 10:22 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov held a meeting with Murat Nurtleu, his counterpart from Kazakhstan, in Astana, Azernews reports, citing posts shared by the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs on its X account.

The Ministry noted that Murat Nurtleu, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, welcomed Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov as part of the official visit. The Ministry also added that the two top diplomats held a tete-a-tete meeting.

Following the tete-a-tete meeting, a meeting between the delegations of the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan began in Astana. Both ministers noted that the meeting, taking place during the holy month of Ramadan, was of great significance.
11 March 2025 11:21 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has commenced his one-on-one meeting with Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, President of the Republic of North Macedonia, Azernews reports.

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11 March 2025 13:22 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

As part of his official visit to Kazakhstan, Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Berik Arn, the Director-General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), a specialized agency of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Azernews reports, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the meeting, they discussed strengthening Azerbaijan-OIC cooperation, addressing global food security issues, and exploring sustainable solutions through joint initiatives.

Minister Bayramov emphasized Azerbaijan's role as a donor state, highlighting its contributions to international humanitarian aid and development programs.
11 March 2025 13:51 (UTC+04:00)

On March 11, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held an expanded meeting with President of the Republic of North Macedonia Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova over lunch, Azernews reports.

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11 March 2025 14:56 (UTC+04:00)

On March 11, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, President of the Republic of North Macedonia, visited Victory Park in Baku as part of her official visit to Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

A guard of honor was lined up for President Siljanovska-Davkova in the park.

The President laid a wreath at the Victory Monument.

President Siljanovska-Davkova was briefed on Victory Park, which was built to honor the unparalleled valor of the Azerbaijani people during the Patriotic War, commemorate the historic Victory, and pay tribute to the sacred memory of Azerbaijani martyrs. It was noted that the Victory Arch, symbolizing the 44-day Patriotic War, stands 44 meters high, 22 meters wide, and is adorned with 44 columns at the parks entrance.

The park was inaugurated on November 8, 2024, by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva.
11 March 2025 15:27 (UTC+04:00)

Today, Azerbaijani gas contributes to the energy security of many European countries, said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev during a joint press conference with President of North Macedonia Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova.

We have always attached great importance to the requests of our European partners. In other words, bilateral cooperation in the energy sector is very important to us, and I do hope that this practical cooperation will pave the way for collaboration in other areas as well, the Azerbaijani President emphasized.

To recall, Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, President of the Republic of North Macedonia, arrived in Azerbaijan for an official visit.
11 March 2025 18:54 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of North Macedonia, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, met with students at ADA University on March 11.

According to Azernews, Gordana Silyanovska-Davkova emphasized the importance of strengthening friendly relations between the two countries. Noting that there is a wide potential for cooperation between Azerbaijan and North Macedonia, she drew attention to the development of relations, especially in the fields of education, economy and culture.

The President then shared his views on the geopolitical situation in the region and issues of international cooperation in North Macedonia. He spoke about the steps taken to strengthen his country's ties with Europe and highly appreciated Azerbaijan's growing role in the international arena.

The meeting continued interactively, and President Gordana Silyanovska-Davkova answered students' questions.

The head of state, who held an open dialogue with the youth, was interested in their future plans, educational opportunities, and prospects for bilateral relations.

A commemorative photo was taken at the end of the event.
11 March 2025 13:41 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Ukrainian and U.S. delegates are starting their talks in Jeddah on March 11 in a meeting that will likely have a major impact on Washington's future support for Kyiv and any effort to end the Russia-Ukraine war, Azernews reports via Ukrainian media.

"A meeting of the Ukrainian and American delegations begins in Jeddah," Ukraine's Foreign Ministry announced.

The Ukrainian delegation is said to include President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and Zelensky's Deputy Chief of Staff Pavlo Palisa.

The U.S. delegation is led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

The expectations are high as the meeting presents a chance to mend the relations between Kyiv and Washington after a heated exchange between Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Feb. 28.

Zelensky visited Saudi Arabia on March 10 to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman but will not participate in the talks with U.S. delegates.

The televised spat in the White House led to the U.S. suspending all military aid and restricting intelligence support for Ukraine, endangering its ability to resist Russia's all-out war.

Ukrainian officials aim to push for the resumption of U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing at the Jeddah talks, the Financial Times reported on March 9. Ukraine will also reportedly propose a ceasefire in the air and at sea as the first step toward a peaceful settlement.

While traveling to the meeting, Rubio said that Ukraine would need to make territorial concessions as part of any peaceful settlement. The meeting could also see progress on the minerals deal that has been on hold since the White House clash.

"The most important thing that we have to leave here with is a strong sense that Ukraine is prepared to do difficult things, like the Russians are going to have to do difficult things to end this conflict or at least pause it in some way, shape or form," Rubio told reporters on March 10, according to the New York Times.

U.S. officials had previously met with Russian representatives in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18 and in Istanbul on Feb. 27 to discuss restoring bilateral relations and holding preliminary peace talks without Ukraine's involvement.
More bizarre information keeps coming out on the use of Biden's autopen, and the question of who was really signing those documents during the Biden regime. Now it has come out that there are six documents signed with the autopen that were "signed in Washington" while Biden himself was on vacation in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands.

It had previously come out that every document with Biden's signature that could be located had the same autopen signature except his withdrawal from the presidential race. Questions arise as to who was using the autopen, whether Biden even knew about it, and whether any of these documents are even valid.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/03/who-is-behind-this-autopen-six-criminals-were/

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/03/biden-autopen-scandal-update-new-analysis-bidens-pardons/

Missouri's Attorney General has written a letter to the US Department of Justice demanding an investigation of all of the Biden autopen documents to determine if they are valid.
A study presented at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons examined the relationship between the patients last dose of Ozempic, a common GLP-1, and anesthesia-related complications during total knee and hip arthroplasties.

Here are 10 takeaways from the study:

1. The study, Optimal Timing for Cessation of GLP-1 Agonist Before Elective Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty, obtained data from the TriNetX Research Network, a multi-institutional national aggregated database, to identify patients who underwent TKA or THA from Jan. 1, 2018, to Jan. 1, 2023.

2. Patients who used Ozempic were categorized into cohorts based on when they discontinued Ozempic before surgery:

30 days prior to surgery: 482 patients

14 days prior to surgery: 591 patients

Seven days prior to surgery: 680 patients

Five days prior to surgery: 758 patients

Three days prior to surgery: 777 patients

One day prior to surgery: 706 patients

Did not stop Ozempic prior to surgery: 170 patients

3. These patients were examined against a control group of 206,005 with no history of Ozempic use.

4. Stopping Ozempic use three to five days prior to surgery emerged as an independent risk factor for delayed emergence from anesthesia.

5. The patients who stopped Ozempic use seven, 14 or 30 days prior to surgery had no independent risk factor for delayed emergence from anesthesia.

6. The patients who stopped Ozempic use three to seven days prior to surgery also had an independent risk factor for aspiration, whereas the 14- and 30-day cohorts did not.

7. Stopping Ozempic use three to five days before surgery was also identified as a risk factor for aspiration pneumonitis, while the seven-, 14- and 30-day cohorts did not have this risk factor.

8. Stopping Ozempic use three to seven days prior to surgery was an independent risk factor for conversation to intubation, while the 14- and 30-day cohorts had no independent risk factor for conversation to intubation.

9. Patients who did not stop Ozempic use at all prior to surgery were at the highest level of risk for all complications studied.

10. This research provides additional evidence to suggest that discontinuing GLP-1 agonists at least 14 days before total joint replacement surgery is optimal to reduce the risk of delayed emergence from anesthesia, aspiration events, aspiration pneumonitis and conversion to intubation, said John Crockarell, MD, total joint arthroplasty surgeon at Campbell Clinic Orthopaedics in Memphis, Tenn., in a March 10 news release about the study. This study offers a practical guideline for surgeons managing patients on GLP-1 agonists in the perioperative period for lower extremity THA and TKA procedure.
The decision comes as the health system focuses on a number of additional capital projects.

PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at University District in Eugene, Ore., closed in 2023. With the closure, the health system has been focused on the future of the remaining services on the University District campus and reinvesting in Lane County, according to a March 10 news release.

PeaceHealth noted that three hospital-based services remained at University District when the closure occurred  inpatient rehabilitation, inpatient behavioral health and the emergency department with a small medical unit.

The health system said it is also breaking ground in March on a standalone inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Springfield, has plans for Timber Springs Behavioral Health Hospital to replace the current behavioral health unit on the University District campus, and is nearing the start of renovations at the RiverBend emergency department. The projects, combined with other renovations planned for RiverBend, will add 196 PeaceHealth inpatient beds, compared to the 117 beds that were licensed at University District.

All of those plans contributed to PeaceHealths decision to publicly list the University District campus property for sale. Commercial real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle will broker the sale, the health system said.

University District clinics and inpatient services will remain open in their current locations, before and after the sale. PeaceHealth said it will lease back the current spaces.

Long-term, PeaceHealth is exploring alternate locations for all remaining UD services, but in the coming year, clinics and services will remain in their current locations, the health system said.

PeaceHealth is a nonprofit Catholic health system with approximately 16,000 caregivers, a medical group practice with more than 1,100 providers and nine medical centers in the Northwest.
The hospital reduced the premium shift differential bonus hourly pay from $40 to $15 for more than 60 nurses who are part of the program, according to interviews with nurses as well as staffing and contract documents and emails obtained by the Asheville Watchdog.

Ms. Lindell said the Weekender Program involves a limited number of people and does not include all nurses who work weekends.

Employees who join the Weekender Program commit to working specific weekend shifts and, in return, receive their regular base pay plus an additional $15 per hour; and an additional amount for working the night shift if colleagues work weekend nights, she said in a statement shared with Beckers. The agreements these select nurses signed was short term, either six or 12 months, and we have honored all of those existing commitments.

She added that the current contract between management and National Nurses United, which represents more than 1,600 Mission Hospital nurses, does not include the Weekender Program and allows for the hospital to adjust this additional pay rate as needed. It does include language specifying the number of weekend shifts a typical RN is required to work, which is now being implemented to help improve weekend staffing levels, Ms. Lindell said.

According to a text message nurses shared with the Watchdog, some weekend nurses had until March 7 to agree to the pay adjustment or be moved to a regular RN role.

Union representative Molly Zenker, RN, contended that Mission Hospital is manipulating the NNU contract.

We have a maximum of [52] weekend shifts that a nurse should be working, Ms. Zenker told the Watchdog. But that doesnt mean we think that nurses should be having to sacrifice their weekends all the time. Now that theyre pulling back on offering incentives to nurses to work the weekends, theyre trying to find a way to justify forcing nurses into working shifts that they dont have to.

Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA has faced growing scrutiny from state officials, clinicians and community advocates over quality of care since the for-profit system purchased Mission Health in 2019. In 2024, CMS placed Mission Hospital under immediate jeopardy status in the wake of three previous patient deaths. The hospital submitted a plan of correction and is no longer under immediate jeopardy status.

Many of the nurses who joined the Weekender Program were hired in the wake of the immediate jeopardy citation, according to the Watchdog. Ms. Zenker told the publication at least five nurses have resigned since the pay adjustment for the program.

Most recently, clinicians, elected officials and community advocates called on HCA to increase staffing levels at Mission Hospital following a patient death that occurred in an emergency department bathroom in February.

Ms. Lindell has disputed claims about staffing levels, noting the addition of more than 240 team members in January and more than 36 recruitment events over the last two months. She also noted that Mission Hospital recently earned the top ranking in Business North Carolinas annual list of North Carolinas Best Hospitals.
The potential rollback of federal support for Medicaid expansion could significantly hamper hospital revenue  particularly those serving rural or underserved communities  leading to substantial declines in hospital spending and increases in uncompensated care.

An analysis published March 11 by the Urban Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation highlights the states that would be most affected by Medicaid cuts and the implications for hospital leaders navigating an increasingly uncertain healthcare landscape.

Currently, the federal government covers 90% of the costs for Medicaid expansion enrollees in the 41 states (including Washington, D.C.) that have opted into the ACA expansion. However, proposed changes by House Republicans could drastically alter this funding model by imposing per capita spending caps, work requirements and reducing the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage from 90% to each states standard Medicaid matching rate, which varies between 50% and 74%.

A federal Medicaid funding cut would likely force some states to drop Medicaid expansion altogether, leading to an estimated 10.8 million more uninsured Americans, according to the analysis. This would have dire financial consequences for hospitals, which rely on Medicaid reimbursements to offset the costs of providing care to low-income populations.

If all states were to eliminate Medicaid expansion due to reduced federal funding, the U.S. would see a $80 billion decrease in overall healthcare spending in 2026. Hospitals would bear the brunt of this loss, experiencing a $31.9 billion reduction in revenue and a $6.3 billion spike in uncompensated care costs, according to the report.

Researchers found that the following states would suffer the most severe reductions in hospital spending if such Medicaid cuts are implemented:

State Current Hospital Spending ($B) 2026 Without Medicaid Expansion ($B) Difference ($B) Change (%) Indiana 17.27 15.56 -1.71 -9.9% New Mexico 5.27 4.76 -0.51 -9.7% Oregon 11.6 10.5 -1.10 -9.5% North Dakota 1.82 1.67 -0.15 -8.1% New York 51.54 47.51 -4.03 -7.8% Arizona 17.7 16.33 -1.37 -7.7% Louisiana 10.67 9.95 -0.73 -6.8% Oklahoma 9.73 9.07 -0.66 -6.8% North Carolina 28.62 26.71 -1.92 -6.7% Washington 18.87 17.68 -1.19 -6.3%

Click here for more details on the analysis from the Urban Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
This month, the Senate is expected to vote on a budget resolution passed by House Republicans on Feb. 25. The legislation directs the Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicare and Medicaid, to identify $880 billion in savings over the next 10 years.

The resolution does not specify how the committee must achieve these savings, but Medicare and Medicaid account for the largest share of its oversight. The Congressional Budget Office has said that reaching the $880 billion healthcare savings target over the next decade would likely require significant cuts to Medicaid or the Childrens Health Insurance Program.

A March 11 report from the Urban Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation analyzed the impact of potential federal funding reductions for Medicaid expansion programs. The findings suggest that if all 41 states that expanded Medicaid eligibility over the past decade were to drop the program in response to federal cuts, nearly 11 million people would lose coverage, leading to widespread financial strain on healthcare providers.

The analysis projects hospitals would bear the brunt of revenue cuts, facing a $31.9 billion decline in 2026 alone. At the same time, the cost of uncompensated care would rise by $6.3 billion. The study also forecasts:

$20.9 billion less spent on prescription drugs

$20.7 billion less on other healthcare services, including dental care, home healthcare and services from non-hospital providers

$6.4 billion less on office-based physician services

The financial hit would not be evenly distributed, with some states  Arizona, Indiana, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Oregon  facing healthcare spending cuts exceeding 6%. Researchers warn such reductions could be particularly devastating for rural hospitals, where Medicaid expansion has played a critical role in maintaining financial viability.

Medicaid expansion, introduced under the ACA, covers millions of working Americans who earn modest incomes but do not receive employer-sponsored insurance. The federal government currently funds 90% of the costs for states that opt into the expansion. If funding is cut, states may be forced to reconsider their participation, which could have far-reaching consequences beyond coverage loss, according to the report.

As Republicans in Congress consider significant cuts to the Medicaid program, it is important that federal, state, and local policymakers and stakeholders consider potential adverse effects on healthcare coverage, access and affordability, and health providers, Fredric Blavin, senior fellow at the Urban Institute, said in a news release.

Beyond the direct impact on hospitals and patients, the study underscores potential ripple effects across local economies. Katherine Hempstead, senior policy adviser at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, noted that hospitals are often the largest employers in their communities.

A funding reduction of this magnitude would not only cause a massive coverage loss but would also be financially devastating for hospitals and other healthcare providers, Hempstead said. Hospitals are major employers and are often the economic bedrock of their communities. These cuts would have major ripple effects on local economies, especially in rural areas.

Click here for more details on the report.
Prior to her new role, Ms. Tate served as CFO of Coos Bay, Ore.-based Bay Area Hospital. During her time at the hospital, she helped reverse a negative operating margin, reduced employee turnover and improved the hospitals timekeeping system.

Beckers connected with Ms. Tate ahead of her new position to discuss why being a strong partner to colleagues is an important key for success and the importance of sharing the story behind the numbers in a CFO role.

Editors note: Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Question: What are your top financial priorities as you step into the CFO role at PeaceHealths Oregon network? How do you plan to achieve these goals?

Mary Lou Tate: Given the economic environment in healthcare, being a partner to the existing leadership, managers and staff will be key to being successful in this new role.

Todays hospitals have to be lean and efficient in order to continue to be viable entities. My top priority is diving in to see how we can continue to reduce costs, reduce denials and eliminate waste.

Q: Youve successfully led financial turnarounds in previous roles  how will that experience shape your approach at PeaceHealth?

MLT: I will draw from those experiences to help shape and guide my work with PeaceHealth. Collaboration is key to any changes being successful. I look forward to partnering with both clinical and non-clinical stakeholders to see what improvements we can make together.

Q: What is the best piece of leadership advice you have received during your time in healthcare? How will you carry that with you into your new role?

MLT: The best advice I have received is never assume you know what is happening. There is a story to every situation. Financial numbers dont share the patient experience or are not meaningful to everyone; you need to share the story behind the numbers. I have taken this advice to heart over the years, so I love to visit with clinicians to understand their story and how it impacts the financials.
On March 4, the district board voted 4-1 not to extend current CEO Christian Wallis employment agreement beyond its current term, which expires May 17, according to a district statement shared with Beckers.

The board also voted unanimously to offer Mr. Wallis a severance agreement.

We appreciate Christian Wallis service and contributions to Grossmont Healthcare District and thank him for his leadership, the statement said. The board remains focused on ensuring continuity and stability as we move forward.

Mr. Byzak brings three decades of healthcare experience to the role, the release added.

Most recently, in his capacity as co-owner and chief strategist for Galvanized Strategies, he spent seven months as the communication strategy consultant for the district.

He also previously held executive roles at Oceanside, Calif.-based Tri-City Healthcare District, including serving as chief strategy officer, and at UC San Diego Health.

In his new role, Mr. Byzak will lead 15 professional staff and report directly to the district board, according to the release.

Bob Ayres, chairman of the district board, said in the release, We are extremely fortunate to have someone of Aarons caliber and experience step into this role. His leadership abilities and strategic insights are essential as we continue to advance our mission.

A spokesperson told Beckers the district will soon begin the recruitment process for a permanent CEO.

The district, a public agency serving East County, owns Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa. San Diego-based Sharp HealthCare manages the hospital.
Prior to Mount Sinai, she served Virginia Mason Franciscan Health in Washington as senior vice president and was chief nursing officer for CommonSpirit Healths northwest region, according to a March 10 news release from Mount Sinai.

As CNO for CommonSpirit, she oversaw nursing and patient care services across 11 hospitals and 300 care sites.
Ms. Martin has spent the last six years guiding the hospitals transition to Richmond, Va.-based VCU Health, according to a March 7 health system news release shared with Beckers. VCU finalized its acquisition of the hospital from Newport News, Va.-based Riverside Health System in 2021.

During her tenure, she also helped establish the Dr. Jeffrey Haskins Scholarship Fund, which provides financial support to individuals pursuing healthcare degrees who are committed to serving the Tappahannock community, the release said.

Josh Hammond, VCU Healths associate vice president of ambulatory operations, will serve as interim hospital president and begin working alongside Ms. Martin in April.
Mr. Sabina joined HCA Healthcare in 2017 as assistant vice president of strategic planning for the Gulf Coast division. In January, he transitioned from COO of HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe (Texas) to CEO of HCA Houston Healthcare Medical Center, a 372-bed acute care hospital.

Theres a robust network of programs and people that can help individuals prepare for and then facilitate the transition into leadership roles, Mr. Sabina told Beckers. The network includes leadership institutes, nurse leader certification programs, executive development programs and formal mentorships.

Specific to the transition, there are very well-structured transition plans, he said. The support framework offered by HCA Healthcare is, in my experience, unparalleled in preparing leaders to take on roles of increasing responsibility.

Mentorship, both internal and external, has been particularly impactful during his transition, he said.

I cant say enough about the divisional and group leadership within the structure of HCA Healthcare, and in particular, the peer network of leaders, CEOs, and other chiefs, whom Ive met with in my first 60 days in the role and learned from their experience and guidance in that formal mentorship relationship, he said.

First 90 days: Setting a foundation

In the early months of his tenure, Mr. Sabina has prioritized meeting with bedside colleagues, board members and leadership teams to assess the hospitals needs, opportunities and history of performance.

To align his leadership team, he has focused on setting clear priorities, utilizing data in decision-making, and creating shared accountability and cadence around organizational objectives.

I believe that any transition, leadership or otherwise, begins with listening and learning, Mr. Sabina said.

In 2025, Mr. Sabina is prioritizing programmatic expansion, with a focus on building acuity and depth of the hospitals cardiovascular services line and advancing general surgery, complex GI and colorectal service lines through robotics and other technological and process investments. He is also looking at expanding surgical oncology services and orthopedic and spine programs to offer more complex care.

Healthcare workforce sustainability

Addressing workforce shortages is also top of mind, Mr. Sabina said.

Im fortunate to be part of HCA Healthcare  this organization has taken a lead role in addressing some of these issues, both through direct intervention, as is the case in the development of resident education programs to address physician workforce shortages, but also through partnerships, he said.

One example is HCA Healthcares partnership with Louisville, Ky.-based Galen College of Nursing, which is aimed at strengthening nursing education and workforce pipelines. The system became the colleges majority owner in 2020, establishing the largest academic-practice partnership in the nation, Mr. Sabina said.

Since then, Galen has expanded through opening or announcing 16 new campuses. HCA Healthcare also offers the Galen College of Nursing Grant, enabling colleagues to complete an online RN to BSN degree with zero out-of-pocket tuition costs.

Our collaboration with Houston Community College around accelerated CT programs is another example of how were addressing shortages, he said.

Editors note: This story was updated March 12 at 11:17 a.m. Central time.
On March 1, Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems completed the sale of the 254-bed Port Charlotte hospital, which has been renamed AdventHealth Port Charlotte. The $260 million transaction also includes the ShorePoint Health-Punta Gorda (Fla.) hospital site, which closed following damage from hurricanes Helene and Milton, as well as related physician clinic operations, outpatient services and the ShorePoint Health emergency department in Cape Coral.

Mr. Johnson was selected to lead AdventHealth Port Charlotte after serving as COO for AdventHealth Ocala (Fla.). He discussed his immediate priorities, shared his plans to integrate AdventHealths culture into the Port Charlotte hospital, and offered his perspective on addressing local healthcare needs.

Editors note: Responses were lightly edited for length and clarity.

Question: Stepping into this role at AdventHealth Port Charlotte comes at a pivotal time. What are your immediate priorities for ensuring a smooth transition for staff, physicians and patients?

Adam Johnson: Were thrilled to welcome the more than 1,300 new team members and several dozen providers to AdventHealth. Weve been really focused over the last several weeks on making sure all the tools they need to give exceptional care are in place and that they have access to them.

We had a command center here every day. We started rounding at midnight on March 1, checking on people, and making sure that our physicians, staff and patients are all going through the transition smoothly. So thats where our efforts and our focus have been. Now, were kind of in that hybrid phase as we start to look more long term at the operational and strategic priorities throughout the market.

Q: With the acquisition of ShorePoint Health Port Charlotte, how do you plan to integrate AdventHealths culture and whole-person care approach into the existing team and community?

AJ: The great thing is the patients have been receiving great, compassionate care here, but were going to now bring to bear the AdventHealth network. We want to raise it to our level of high-quality, whole-person care for the community.

Were going to do that by first educating our team members about what it means to be a part of AdventHealth. All our team members go through what we call the Whole Care Experience, which really aligns them to our service standards of Love Me, Keep Me Safe, Own It, and Make It Easy. And thats the lens through which we want our team members to express our mission to our patients.

As we do that and they familiarize themselves with what being a part of the AdventHealth culture means, our patients will then experience that and feel the difference.

Q: Given your experience leading large capital projects and physician recruitment at AdventHealth Ocala, how do you see those experiences shaping your leadership strategy in Port Charlotte?

AJ: It was a CHS acquisition in Ocala six years ago, and so, leaning on that experience as we launch into this new one. The community here is in need of specialties and physicians to be recruited in or partnered with so that they can feel confident that they have high-quality, whole-person care right here in Charlotte County.

And so, we are going to be working on building out our network, making sure we have the right assets and facilities across the market and across the community so people have easy access to care across all of the Port Charlotte area and beyond.

Q: The closure of ShorePoint Health Punta Gorda has left a gap in care for that community. How is AdventHealth approaching the assessment of local healthcare needs, and what potential solutions are being considered?

AJ: AdventHealth recognizes the importance of access to care in Punta Gorda. What were doing is actively listening to the community and assessing the needs to determine how best to serve the residents. We want to take the time to make the right decision that serves our residents, our team members and our providers.

And so, what were doing is having ongoing discussions with local leadership, local physicians and local residents to make sure that we know exactly what services they need in Punta Gorda. We havent made any immediate decisions at this time.
ONA, affiliated with AFT, represents 33 nurses at the hospital. Hospital and union representatives have been negotiating since Feb. 25. The nurses contract expires March 31.

Union representatives said the contract that nurses rejected fails to address what they describe as a staffing and patient care crisis.

Nurses are demanding real solutions to ensure safe patient care, fair working conditions, and the resources necessary to recruit and retain staff, the release states.

In response to the unions claims, Mercy HealthAllen Hospital noted its strong culture of respect and collaboration, and said it offers a safe environment for our patients, employees and community.

Mercy HealthAllen Hospital remains steadfast in our commitment to serving our community and patients, the hospital said in a statement shared with Beckers. Our goal remains to secure a fair agreement that supports our established culture of safety, high-quality care and compassion.

Mercy HealthAllen Hospital is part of Cincinnati-based Mercy Health, which merged with Bon Secours Health System in 2018 to form Bon Secours Mercy Health.
The health system plans to launch advanced care at home May 1, serving up to 12 patients at a time. CMS has granted Stanford a hospital-at-home waiver but the state of California doesnt allow for that care model.

Thats not going to stop Stanford. We have to think about how we do it a different way, Gretchen Brown, MSN, RN, vice president and chief nursing information officer of Stanford Health Care, told Beckers at the HIMSS conference in Las Vegas. Were going to drive this up to treat some pretty complex patients in the home.

Because of the regulations Stanford can only care for discharged patients at home, but plans to do so in a robust fashion, with virtual care, wearables and real-time data flowing back to the health system, Ms. Brown said. She said Stanford wants to become a statewide brand for care at home, as its academic medical center treats patients from Fresno to the Oregon border.

A broader home-care infrastructure will enable a warm handoff from the hospital to primary care, she said. And with tightening reimbursements for some surgical procedures, health systems are going to have to find a more cost-effective way to care for postoperative patients than the hospital, she added.

She gave the example of an older patient recovering from a total hip replacement (or, she said, everybodys mom and dad.): They often have some pretty complex medical problems underlying. That keeps them in the hospital, not necessarily the ortho procedure. But if theyre coming in for that total hip, were not admitting them for their medical problems. Thats a great example where you can make sure youre managing that older patient [at home]. Hospitalists will see the patient virtually every day, setting up a plan of care. You have a case manager, you have nurses who are checking out the patient, making sure theyre moving forward. Youre getting data back. Were really going to nudge up the clinical capabilities.

Stanford also performs complex ophthalmological procedures on elderly patients and has to otherwise keep them in the hospital or send them to a hotel to monitor them, Ms. Brown said.

Since Stanford doesnt have home care or home pharmacy licenses, partnerships will be critical, Ms. Brown said. Stanford is also leveraging its Epic EHR for home-care functionality.

Stanford plans to start by treating 12 patients at home at a time and double that number after a few months. The health system intends to use an AI screening tool to determine which patients fit the program well.

Were really trying to do this at scale. Were not trying to take a population health approach, Ms. Brown said. Were trying to send pretty complex patients home.
The patient was treated at the scene and transferred to ECMC Hospital in Buffalo. No staff, visitors or other patients were harmed, the statement said.

Incidents like this are becoming all too common, and it is critical to all of us that our associates not be put in danger, Joyce Markiewicz, BSN, RN, president and CEO of Buffalo-based Catholic Health, said in the statement.

In response, the system added a second armed guard at the hospital who will be stationed at the emergency department 24/7, Ms. Markiewicz said.

CWA Local 1168 is calling for stronger security measures, conflict deescalation training and mental health support for workers at hospitals and healthcare facilities, according to a March 10 Facebook post. Communications Workers of America District 1 represents 145,000 workers in 200 CWA local unions in New York, New Jersey, New England and eastern Canada.

Today, our leadership team is evaluating the results of a third-party safety study recently completed at Catholic Health, Ms. Markiewicz said. We have reached out to invite our CWA partners to be part of this discussion, and will be taking action on the recommended plan immediately.

Beckers has reached out to the Buffalo Police Department and Communications Workers of America District 1 and will update this story if more information becomes available.
Erin Strotman, RN, 26, was charged in January with one count of malicious wounding and one count of felony child abuse after authorities reviewed hospital footage that allegedly showed her applying pressure to an infants legs while working in the NICU. On March 11, prosecutors announced six additional charges  four counts of child abuse and two counts of malicious wounding  related to three infants who suffered unexplained fractures in late 2024.

The fractures identified in late 2024 were similar to an incident involving four infants in summer 2023. Ms. Strotman has not been charged in connection with the 2023 injuries, though investigations are ongoing, authorities told USA Today.

Henrico Doctors Hospital, which paused NICU admissions in late December, resumed operations Feb. 5 after implementing enhanced safety protocols. In a statement at the time, the hospital reaffirmed its commitment to patient safety, citing enhanced staff training, updated reporting processes and strengthened video monitoring.

Ms. Strotman obtained her nursing license in 2019. Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare previously confirmed she was no longer employed by the hospital.
Here are 15 healthcare billing fraud cases that Beckers has reported since Feb. 18:

1. An Ohio woman pleaded guilty to a $1.5 million Medicaid fraud scheme that involved stealing multiple identities to open and operate two behavioral health agencies, and stealing the identities of several licensed counselors to use their credentials to bill Medicaid for behavioral health services.

2. A physician from Mount Airy, N.C., was sentenced to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $2 million for his role in a fraud scheme.

3. A physician, several home health agencies and a laboratory were indicted for their role in a $7.8 million fraud and kickback scheme.

4. A physician from Slidell, La., was charged with conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud in connection with an alleged $6.6 million scheme to bill Medicare for unnecessary cancer genetic tests.

5. In the highest forfeiture secured by the Justice Departments health care fraud unit, a federal court ordered a Texas pharmacist to forfeit $405 million in assets tied to fraud and money laundering schemes.

6. A Florida man who owned marketing companies and a durable medical equipment company was convicted for his role in a $100 million scheme to defraud Medicare and other insurers.

7. A Maryland behavioral health company owner pleaded guilty to a $3.6 million Medicaid fraud scheme.

8. A Waxahachie, Texas-based nurse practitioner who was previously convicted of wire fraud conspiracy and sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2021 will forfeit more than $40 million from foreign accounts.

9. A Tennessee gynecologist was indicted for allegedly abusing patients, adulterating medical devices for reuse on patients, and healthcare fraud.

10. A Connecticut mental health provider was sentenced to three years in prison for defrauding Medicaid of more than $1.6 million.

11. The owner of two durable medical equipment companies was charged for his alleged role in a $30 million Medicare fraud scheme.

12. A Kansas man pleaded guilty to operating a fraud scheme that billed Medicare and other health insurers more than $1 billion through an online platform for durable medical equipment and fake physician orders.

13. A St. Louis physician who owned two urgent care centers was sentenced to 35 months in prison for defrauding Medicare and Missouri Medicaid.

14. The president of an insurance brokerage firm and the CEO of a marketing company were charged for their alleged roles in a scheme to submit fraudulent enrollments for fully subsidized ACA plans in order to obtain millions of dollars in commission payments for insurance companies.

15. Saint Vincents Catholic Medical Centers of New York has agreed to pay $29 million to settle allegations it concealed overpayments for services provided to retired military members and their families.
The pharmacist, 62-year-old Dehshid David Nourian, was also sentenced Feb. 21 to 17 years and six months in prison and ordered to pay more than $115 million in restitution. On March 6, the court then ordered Mr. Nourian to forfeit $405 million.

Mr. Nourian and co-conspirators owned and operated three Texan pharmacies in Fort Worth and Arlington, according to a March 10 news release from the Justice Department. Between 2014 and 2017, the pharmacies billed the Department of Labor and Blue Cross Blue Shield more than $145 million for unnecessary compound medications and received about $90 million in exchange for illegal bribes and kickbacks.

Evidence at trial showed these compounds were being mixed in the back rooms of the pharmacies by untrained teenagers at a cost to the defendants of around $15 per prescription and then billed  for as much as $16,000 per prescription, the release said.

The patients, who were injured federal workers, testified that the prescription compound creams they received from these pharmacies were ineffective and, in some cases, led to painful rashes.

Mr. Nourian and others attempted to conceal the fraud by laundering money through bank accounts and shell companies, the department said, and evaded paying $24 million in federal income taxes.

In November 2023, a federal jury convicted Mr. Nourian. Nearly a year and a half later, he received his sentencing and the $405 million forfeiture order.

The forfeiture includes $395 million in brokerage accounts, more than $2 million in bank accounts, real estate in Dallas and Austin worth $8 million, and a BMW luxury vehicle, according to the Justice Department.
Between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, Vizient projects hospital pharmacy expenses to increase 3.84%. Nationally, drug expenses rose 9% between 2023 and 2024, according to Kaufman Halls National Hospital Flash Report, released in early February.

As ongoing medication price increases factor into health systems operating losses, pharmacy leaders are implementing new ways to contain costs.

One of those strategies involves buying directly from drug manufacturers rather than wholesalers or group purchasing organizations, according to Tyson Frodin, PharmD, assistant vice president of pharmacy supply chain at Tacoma, Wash.-based MultiCare Health System.

MultiCare utilizes data analytics to spot best deals. From 2021 to 2024, the health system achieved a 24% reduction in inpatient pharmacy spend despite increases in patient volumes and pharmaceutical costs.

Sometimes, the data analytics point to opportunities for best prices through indirect agreements with GPOs and wholesalers. Other times, buying directly from drugmakers is the most cost-effective option.

Madeline Camejo, PharmD, vice president and chief pharmacy officer of Baptist Health South Florida, recently told Beckers that her organization saved nearly $580,000 through direct manufacturer partnerships and compliance programs.

The Coral Gables, Fla.-based system has optimized cost savings, improved contract compliance and enhanced supply chain resilience through this streamlined purchasing effort, Dr. Camejo said.

If more hospitals and health systems bypass GPOs and wholesalers to buy directly from drug manufacturers, disruptions could be coming for the traditional hospital pharmaceutical landscape.

Its really making a lot of the GPOs and wholesalers rethink their business models, because theyre going to have to start aligning their incentives to meet my needs as a health system moving forward, Dr. Frodin said. Im really curious to see in the next three to five years what GPOs do, as well as wholesalers, to meet this growing demand.
The 19th annual list from Ethisphere  a company that defines and measures corporate ethical standards  features 136 companies across 19 countries and 44 industries, according to a March 11 news release.

Below are the healthcare companies recognized in 2025:

Cambia Health Solutions (Portland, Ore.)

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (Baltimore)

Covenant Health Canada (Edmonton, Alberta)

Eli Lilly and Co. (Indianapolis)

HCA Healthcare (Nashville, Tenn.)

Health Care Service Corp. (Chicago)

Henry Schein (Melville, N.Y.)

Lonza (Basel, Switzerland)

Medtronic (Galway, Ireland)

Northwell Health (New Hyde Park, N.Y.)

Pfizer (New York City)

UPMC (Pittsburgh)

Zimmer Biomet (Warsaw, Ind.)

Ethispheres ethical quotient rating system requires companies to provide more than 240 proof points on ethics, compliance, governance and social impact. A panel of experts then vets and evaluates applicants. Read more about the application and evaluation process here.
NI business in US in hope of forging critical links  but some say significance of trips has diminished

James McNaney on what we gain from big US trips and why some believe we should no longer focus on what we can get from across the pond

(From left to right) First Minister Michelle ONeill, Cat McCusker, Jake Cashion, Suzanne Wylie and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly at Lenovo in North Carolina (Credit: Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye)

James McNaney Tue 11 Mar 2025 at 07:27

It is a big week for businesspeople as well as politicians north and south of the border, as delegations head to the US for St Patricks week.
For more than 40 years, Paget-Brown Financial Services has worked with a range of international clients from its base in the Cayman Islands. But its now set up a new office in Belfast, offering greater reach and flexibility for its customers, with the scope to grow further still across Europe, the Middle East and Asia

Paget-Brown Financial Services is a boutique corporate services firm which is growing and expanding its client offering and reach with a new base in Belfast.

The firm, which has its headquarters in the Cayman Islands, provides a full range of financial, regulatory and governance services for corporate, fund and trust clients.

Its a company with a strong history  working with clients right across the globe across key areas such as corporate, governance and regulatory, typically with funds and SPVs (special purpose vehicles) for international financing transactions, as well as ultra-high net worth individuals and their family investment companies.

While the firm, which has around 40 staff globally, boasts clients based around the world, it now has a base in Belfast with a team of experts delivering tailored and bespoke financial and company management solutions to a wide range of individuals and businesses.

Our clients really are global, Toni Pinkerton, chief executive and a director of Paget-Brown Financial Services, said.

Having the office in Belfast will help us access opportunities in new regions as a result of the proximity, while improving service for our clients outside of North American time zones.

That talent pool in Belfast will now help the firm expand, both locally, and with its existing client base  with the extended time zone coverage strengthening the firms client service model, especially for those based in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

The move into Belfast also gives us access to a strong talent base, Toni said.

This is a critical success factor because it allows us to continue to strengthen our client service model while supporting our clients growth and expanding into new markets.

Ryan Cooke, a director  who is from Northern Ireland  says while the company considered other locations for its new office, the primary justification was the access to great people.

You have big firms working in Belfast  pumping out really experienced and well-trained people, and the two universities, with really qualified people for the areas of focus which we have as a business, he said.

He said the firms strength is its boutique nature  developing tailored services to clients.

We arent taking a square peg and trying to push it into a round hole, he said. We can be agile and adjust more easily. We forge a partnership with our clients, and often go further than some providers and get more embedded, and therefore more entrusted  that gives us a greater line of sight.

He said its also about the people within the firm, which clients will be working with  building strong relationships, rapport and trust.

Darren Leonard heads up the Belfast team, and works across corporate and government services.

We now have a team in Belfast working and building out the governance function, which feeds into the office in Cayman, he said.

We are growing the Belfast office to bring talent in for other areas, such as regulatory and compliance services. The city is quickly being seen as having a brilliant talent pool, with better access to really qualified people.

A lot of clients are based in different time zones. Having that team in the UK time zone means we can deal with a lot of requests, in real time, before the Cayman office comes online. So there is a real synchronicity there.

Established in 1981, Paget-Brown Financial Services has delivered high-quality services to clients for over 40 years. The organisation prides itself on its deep commitment to client-centric solutions, reliability and integrity.

Ryan and Darren are both alumni of Ulster University  studying the MSc in Management and Corporate Governance which is affiliated with The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland qualification  and began their careers here before working across different locations globally.

On the regulatory and compliance side of things, we are finding great candidates to choose from in what might be considered niche positions, Darren said.

The firms decision to open up in Belfast stemmed from a strategic drive to broaden its reach and capitalise on the expertise in the local market.

And with Northern Irelands thriving business environment, a strong network of industries, and an increasingly sophisticated client base, the company sees significant opportunities to offer increased support to existing clients and build relationships and solutions for new clients.

The firms Northern Irelands focus will largely mirror that of the Cayman Islands office, partnering with clients for the provision of corporate and governance services, fund administration and regulatory and compliance services.

The team has extensive experience working in different markets across the world, each with separate regulatory requirements and environments.

There is a real understanding among our people  its not just that weve seen it, weve also worked in those jurisdictions, implemented and, practiced local regulations, and fully understand them, Ryan says.
Review: This is the best Oasis have been since 96  some might say better... a rock reunion to end them all
Sponsor of Best Medium-Sized Business of the Year

Leading commercial law firm MKB Law has been announced as the sponsor of the Best Medium-Sized Company of the Year category at this years Belfast Telegraph Business Awards.

MKB Law works with businesses of all sizes across Northern Ireland. While the firm is often recognised for its involvement in high-profile deals, there is often another element of a commercial transaction  the less glamorous side, as described by head of litigation Christopher Mason  where MKB Law can really add value to its commercial clients.

Christopher said: There is a perception that litigators are only called upon when matters go wrong.

Admittedly, this is a part of the job, but over the past few years the role of the commercial litigation team in MKB has shifted somewhat.

Rather than just being the first line of defence when issues arise, we find that more commercial clients are engaging our services from the outset of a deal.

MKB Law

MKB Laws litigation and corporate teams collaborate closely to ensure that legal agreements are drafted with an eye on possible pitfalls down the line, drawing on their experience of how those pitfalls manifest and the consequences of them.

To advance its advisory services, MKB Law has invested in market-leading technology to ensure it stays abreast of all the latest industry knowledge, case law and legislative changes that impact on various commercial agreements.

Northern Irelands business community has undergone significant change over the past decade, requiring the legal industry to adapt.

According to Christopher, business owners are becoming increasingly sophisticated when it comes to their business needs.

With the rise in inward investment in Northern Ireland, shareholder agreements frequently involve international parties.

This brings with it a whole raft of considerations when it comes to jurisdictional issues and enforcement. In fact, a poorly drafted shareholder agreement can often be worse than having no agreement at all.

Belfast Telegraph Business Awards 2025

When disputes do arise, MKB Law prioritises early intervention and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods, such as mediation, to help clients avoid lengthy and costly litigation.

Recently, the firm has been involved in several high-value mediated settlements.

Christopher believes that too many lawyers are not advising their business clients of the benefits of ADR.

Litigation is not cheap and can place considerable strain on a company. Our role as lawyers is not just to interpret the law, but to help clients navigate complex legal challenges in a way that protects their long-term commercial interests, he said.

By championing businesses through both proactive legal guidance and strategic dispute resolution, MKB Law continues to play a vital role in Northern Irelands evolving commercial landscape.

The firms sponsorship of the Best Medium-Sized Company award highlights its dedication to fostering business success in Northern Ireland.

We extend our best wishes to all the nominees and look forward to attending the awards gala in May, concluded Christopher.

There are now just 10 days left to enter the awards by the closing date of March 21. To enter, go to www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/businessawards/enter
North coast bar owner reveals unbelievable plans as he carries torch for hero dad: I want to build my own legacy

Conall Madden, co-owner of The Anchor in Portstewart and a tech firm founder, recently featured on the Belfast Telegraph 30 Under 30. He talks to Clodagh Traynor about 'long-overdue' plans to revamp the family business

Conall Madden at Ormeau Labs on March 10 (Luke Jervis)

Clodagh Traynor Tue 11 Mar 2025 at 07:19

A Portstewart publican in his twenties says he is keeping things fresh with a major revamp of his historic family-owned venue, promising a space even Gen Z cant resist.
If the box office was dropping, hed do something outrageous so that people would go and buy tickets: Actor Jared Harris on his father Richards legacy
A Co Antrim creep who was convicted of repeated sexual assaults on a young woman, including in a hospital where her mum lay dying, has been jailed for nine months.

Gary the Gimp Thompson was handed a three-month sentence for each of the three counts and ordered to serve the terms consecutively, when he appeared before Antrim Magistrates Court, sitting in Ballymena, today.
Son of Sinn Fein politician told you cant go on like this as he is spared jail over being drunk and abusive in hotel

Lorcan O Snodaigh (27) refused to leave the premises and also gave gardai a false address

Lorcan O Snodaigh. Photo: File pic

Andrew Phelan Tue 11 Mar 2025 at 11:33

A son of Sinn Fein TD Aengus O Snodaigh has been given a suspended sentence for obstructing gardai during a drunken public order disturbance in a Dublin hotel early yesterday.
The impact of ambulance handover delays resulting in poor response times is clearly the biggest single risk to patients in the emergency care system of Northern Ireland, it has been warned.

In a new report, NIs Auditor General Dorinnia Carville detailed how Ambulance Service (NIAS) targets are being repeatedly missed, spending on private paramedic crews is increasing, and interventions to tackle the problem are having little effect or not being utilised properly.

Back in February 2023, the heads of the various Health Trusts gave a commitment that no ambulance handover at an emergency department (ED) should take longer than two hours.

Not only is this two-hour target being missed, but the number of handovers taking longer than even three hours has increased from around 400 in 2019/20 (less than 1% of total handovers) to over 11,000 in 2023/24  or 9% of all handovers.

Over this period, handover performance has worsened at all nine hospitals here with major EDs.

The report said there were over 36,300 instances when patients may have experienced harm as a result of delays and around 3,800 occasions when patients were potentially subject to severe harm.

Between 2020/21 and 2023/24, the report found that the number of Serious Adverse Incidents which the NIAS attributed to delays in responding to patients has increased from eight to 35.

Timely handovers require adequate capacity and resources in our hospitals, especially in EDs.

However, the report noted how waiting times in EDs have increased to the extent that 21% of patients waited more than 12 hours before being admitted between July and September last year.

This is the worst quarterly performance on record in NI, which Ms Carville described as a dramatic deterioration in handover performance.

With ambulances being increasingly tied up at EDs, ambulance response times to 999 have also deteriorated. Life-threatening Category One calls have a target response time of eight minutes. This hasnt been met any year since 2019/20 and in 2023/24 the average response time was more than 11 minutes.

In a bid to plug gaps in the system, the NIAS has also been increasingly relying on the private ambulance sector.

In 2019/20, the NIAS commissioned private ambulances to provide ED relief on 20 occasions. By 2023/24 this figure was 1,100. Spending in this area has jumped from 1.3m to 3.6m over this period  but handover delays have continued to increase.

Back in June 2023, the DoH commissioned a team from the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) project, a UK-wide programme which aims to improve patient care across the health system, to review emergency medicine in NI.

While the report was finalised in January last year, it has not been published, but the Audit Office was able to access and review the report.

It identified that the impact of handover delays on poor ambulance response times is clearly the biggest single risk to patients in the emergency care system of Northern Ireland, which the Audit Office said reinforces its findings.

In order to improve patient flows through hospitals, there also needs to be adequate care capacity in the community to allow for swift patient discharges, the report notes.

Auditor general Dorinnia Carville

For complex discharges  those requiring outside support arrangements for a patient  the Department of Health (DoH) has set a target that all should take place within 48 hours of a patient being declared medically fit.

The report found that 21% of complex discharges in 2020/21 were delayed for longer than this, rising to 42% in 2023/24.

In 2017, the NIAS began implementing alternative care pathways, which are aimed at diverting patients away from EDs where they can be treated elsewhere.

Despite this, the proportion of emergency calls which have resulted in these pathways being used has not increased, but fallen from 3% of calls in 2019/20 to 2% of calls in 2023/24.

In October 2020, the DoH announced its No More Silos (NMS) Action. One of the key actions of the plan related to ambulance handovers and it highlighted that EDs needed to provide physical space for assessment and triage of patients arriving by ambulance.

Part of this involved the five largest EDs accommodating at least six ambulance arrivals to be handed over as soon as possible, but the report found that Trusts did not prioritise funding to develop ambulance arrivals and handover zones at the Royal Victoria Hospital or the Ulster Hospital.

While 1.3m was allocated in 2021/22 and 2022/23 towards handover zones in Craigavon Area Hospital, Altnagelvin Hospital and Antrim Area Hospital, the report said evidence indicates that the operation of these zones in practice was limited.

Then in November 2023, the DoH launched a Delayed Ambulance Handover Standard protocol, which required Trusts to provide an ambulance handover area to allow patient handovers to the ED team.

As the Audit report notes, however, if handover zones are not in place and functioning as intended, the protocol is meaningless.

Northern Irelands Comptroller and Auditor General, Dorinnia Carville, said having ambulances waiting outside hospitals for long periods is both unacceptable for patient wellbeing and a waste of public resources.

Addressing this issue will no doubt be challenging, she added.

However, this report includes recommendations, and good practice from other regions, highlighting key areas for improvement.

NIAS and the Department of Health said they welcomed the NI Audit Office report and added that they would consider its recommendations.

"Todays report underlines the seriousness and scale of the pressures facing health and social care services, a spokesperson for the Department of Health added.

The Department of Health recognises the risk of harm to patients who are delayed at handover on arrival at the emergency department and the impact this has on NIASs capacity to respond to the next emergency call in the community.

They added: Although some progress has been made in delivering changes to services to meet the needs of patients and service users, there is no quick fix and addressing the current situation will require sustained long-term effort, additional recurrent funding and support across the political spectrum.

The Department is determined to find better ways to work as a system to tackle these complex issues. That is why the Minister initiated a series of winter planning workshops to identifying solutions to the system flow issues that we collectively face.

"The Minister attended the first of these events on 4 March and was encouraged by the engagement and enthusiasm from HSC leaders across the system. The Department expects to see better outcomes in advance of next winter, including improvements to ambulance handover times.

NIAS said it apologised to patients who experienced long wait times.

In a statement a spokesperson said: These current challenges are as a result of the pressures faced across the entire Health and Social Care system and which are manifested most in the pressures at EDs and patient flow through hospitals.

"These pressures have resulted in prolonged turnaround times for ambulances at EDs, which impacts upon our ability to respond to emergency calls within the community.

The spokesperson added that they continue to work with other health departments to find solutions. NIAS operates a clinical triage system to ensure that the most clinically ill or urgent calls receive the most immediate response, the spokesperson continued.

"Unfortunately, this means that those patients whose needs are less clinically urgent will face delays in ambulance response.
Patrick Kielty and Cat Deeley on the red carpet ahead of the 20th Irish Film and Television Academy Awards ceremony at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre in 2023 (Damien Eagers/PA)

Cat Deeley has shared why she was unable to join husband Patrick Kielty at the funeral of his mother, Mary, which took place in Co Down yesterday.

Television host and comedian Patrick Kielty led mourners at the funeral of his mother and was pictured carrying her coffin as she was laid to rest.

Mary Kielty, whose late husband Jack was shot dead by the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) in 1988, died peacefully at home in Dundrum on Saturday aged 84.

Deeley was noticeably absent as Kielty joined family and friends to say their final goodbyes.

It has been revealed that the television presenter  who has been married to Kielty for 12 years  remained in London to handle school drop-offs and pick-ups for their two sons, Milo, eight, and James, five, alongside her hosting duties on This Morning with Ben Shephard.

A spokesman for the ITV presenter told the Daily Mail: Cat remained at home to be there for her two young children before and after school on this very sad day.

Family and friends of Mary Kielty gathered in Dundrum for Requiem Mass and the subsequent burial in the cemetery of the Immaculate Conception in Aughlisnafin.

Mourners at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Dundrum heard that Mrs Kielty had had a difficult life, referring to the death of her husband.

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It left its impact not only on the close family and friends, but also on the wider community, parish priest Robert Fleck said.

On the occasion of her funeral, we recommit ourselves to working for peace and reconciliation in the divided community that is the north of Ireland.

Canon Fleck said that in his last conversation with Mrs Kielty, she was a bit tired but managed to share some stories.

Mary had a good sense of humour, her family have thrived on this gift, he said.

Recently, Pope Francis met a number of world comedians, including Marys stand-up comic son Patrick.

He spoke, the Pope did, of the gift that was theirs, and of how it also pointed to the joy of resurrection.

In the eulogy, Mrs Kieltys eldest son John spoke about their brilliant childhood in the 1970s despite it being associated with the darkest days of the Troubles.

Marys life changed in 1988 when daddy was killed. Left with three sons aged 18 and under, it was a real bad hand of cards, he said.

Among those who were in attendance at the funeral were RTE director general Kevin Bakhurst and other RTE representatives.

North Belfast priest Gary Donegan, an advocate for peace and reconciliation, also attended.

Patrick Kielty and Cat Deeley on the red carpet ahead of the 20th Irish Film and Television Academy Awards ceremony at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre in 2023 (Damien Eagers/PA)

News Catch Up - Tuesday 11 March
The report considers performance relating to the process of moving a patient from an ambulance into an emergency department to be seen by medical and nursing staff (Rebecca Black/PA)

There has been a dramatic deterioration in ambulance handover times in Northern Ireland, the Auditor General has found.

The number of handovers taking more than three hours rose from around 400 (less than 1%) in 2019/20 to just over 11,000 (9%) in 2023/24.

A new report by Northern Irelands Comptroller and Auditor General Dorinnia Carville found that these delays led to tens of thousands of instances of potential harm to patients.

It comes as hospital emergency departments (EDs) across the region continue to be under pressure with high volumes of patients.

The number of handovers taking more than three hours rose from around 400 in 2019/20 to just over 11,000 in 2023/24 (Liam McBurney/PA)

Earlier this year, Dr Nigel Ruddell, the medical director of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS), said that delays getting patients into emergency departments was leading to an increase in deaths.

Last December, the BBC reported that a patient waited 19 hours in the back of an ambulance outside an emergency department.

The Auditor Generals report, which pertains to the year 2023/24, found more than 36,000 instances in 2023/24 when patients may have potentially experienced some harm as a result of ambulance handover delays.

It also found around 3,800 occasions when patients were potentially subject to severe harm.

The report considers performance relating to the process of moving a patient from an ambulance into an emergency department to be seen by medical and nursing staff, and highlighted a worsening performance against the NIAS target of completing handovers within 15 minutes.

It found that in 2019/20, around 27% of handovers were completed in this time frame compared with 7% in 2023/24.

It also described the overall performance throughout Northern Ireland as much worse than in England and Wales.

The report outlined the impact of the longer times for ambulance handovers as including an estimated 50 million of lost operational capacity in NIAS between 2019/20 and 2023/24, with 25% of operational capacity lost in 2023/24 due to delays.

It also found a deterioration in NIAS performance when responding to 999 calls because of ambulances being increasingly tied up waiting outside emergency departments, and noted particular concerns around performance in relation to emergencies and potentially serious incidents.

Meanwhile, the report found an increased reliance on the unregulated private sector to address service provision gaps. In 2019/20, NIAS commissioned private sector ambulances to provide emergency department relief on more than 20 occasions. By 2023/24, this had risen to more than 1,000 occasions.

It noted that the delays in ambulance handovers were interconnected with other, well-publicised challenges and pressures on the health service, such as limited bed space within hospitals and delays in discharging patients fit to leave hospitals.

Auditor General Dorinnia Carville said the report included recommendations, and good practice from other regions, highlighting key areas for improvement (Liam McBurney/PA)

The report also referenced other department-commissioned research which cited ambulance handover delays as the single biggest risk to patients in the emergency care system in the region.

Ms Carville described the length of time ambulances were waiting outside hospitals as unacceptable.

Having ambulances waiting outside hospitals for lengthy periods of time is both unacceptable for patient well-being and a waste of public resources, she said.

Addressing this issue will no doubt be challenging. However, this report includes recommendations, and good practice from other regions, highlighting key areas for improvement.

In particular, we have stressed the need for strong leadership to help break down siloed working and instil a culture that sees patients as the responsibility of hospitals and trusts when an ambulance arrives at a hospital, and not just once the handover process is complete.

In a statement the department of health said it will carefully consider the reports recommendations.

The department notes the recognition that the root cause of the delayed ambulance handovers is the wider severe health and social care system pressures and hospital discharge delays, they said.

Patients are waiting too long in ambulances outside our emergency departments as a direct consequence of poor flow in our hospitals and social care constraints.

The department also said it recognises the risk of harm to patients and impact on the ability of NIAS to respond to their next emergency call.

They said reducing ambulance handover delays has been a key priority for the department, and it has undertaken a significant programme of work.

While pressures manifest at the Emergency Department, flow through the system and getting those people medically fit for discharge back into the community remain significant issues, meaning that a whole system approach is required, they said.

Although some progress has been made in delivering changes to services to meet the needs of patients and service users, there is no quick fix and addressing the current situation will require sustained long-term effort, additional recurrent funding and support across the political spectrum.

The department is determined to find better ways to work as a system to tackle these complex issues.

That is why the minister initiated a series of winter planning workshops to identifying solutions to the system flow issues that we collectively face.

The department expects to see better outcomes in advance of next winter, including improvements to ambulance handover times.

They added that the department is looking at initiative used elsewhere, and is engaging with the London Ambulance Service over a model it uses which has improved ambulance handover times.
Sudden death in the Burnvale Crescent area of Cookstown on the March 9, 2025 (Credit: Luke Jervis)

Police attend the scene of a sudden death in the Burnvale Crescent area of Cookstown March 9, 2025 (Credit: Luke Jervis)

Sudden death in the Burnvale Crescent area of Cookstown on the March 9, 2025 (Credit: Luke Jervis)

A toddler believed to have died as a result of choking in Co Tyrone has been named as Emily Whinnery.

The 15-month-old girl died suddenly at a property in Cookstown on Sunday afternoon.

Emergency services attended the scene on Burnvale Crescent including the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) and the Air Ambulance.

A Service of Thanksgiving for Emilys Life will take place in Derryloran Parish Church on Friday, March 14 at 1:30pm, followed by burial in Cookstown Cemetery.

Mourners have been asked to wear bright colours to celebrate Emilys life with any donations going to the Air Ambulance charity.

Sudden death in the Burnvale Crescent area of Cookstown on the March 9, 2025 (Credit: Luke Jervis)

A death notice states that baby Emily Whinnery passed into Gods Heavenly Kingdom.

"Beloved Daughter of Stacey Whinnery and Blane Gordon, much adored Sister of Rhys, Charlie and Riley, loving Granddaughter of Hazel (Keith) and Stephen (Joyce) and cherished Niece of Laura, Kirsty (Corey), Nicole (Ryan) and Nikita (John), it adds.

Forever loved and missed by the entire Whinnery, Holdsworth, Donaghy and Gordon Family Circle.

The smallest of feet have the power to leave big and everlasting footprints on our hearts."

The Belfast Telegraph understands the toddler died as a result of choking.

Burnvale Crescent area of Cookstown (Credit: Luke Jervis)

Local Ulster Unionist councillor Trevor Wilson said the absolutely tragic accident is every parents worst nightmare.

Its unbelievable, he told this newspaper.

An absolute nightmare.

Mr Wilson added that the entirety of the town has been heartbroken and shocked by the news which is the latest in a string of tragedies to hit mid Ulster.

The people of Cookstown are in complete shock at what happened on Sunday and my thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time. Its absolutely terrible.

Police have said they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the sudden death and that enquiries are continuing at this time.

Fellow Mid Ulster Councillor, Kerri Martin, who lives near the estate where the incident occurred, also sent her thoughts and condolences to the childs family and all of their loved ones.

Mid Ulster has been battered with tragedies in recent weeks, particularly with so many deaths of young people, the SDLP representative continued.

It's just awful. My thoughts and prayers, and everyone in Cookstowns thoughts and prayers, are with everyone involved.

Politicians have further called for those on social media to not speculate over the conditions and names of people involved.

Mid Ulster has been battered with tragedies in recent weeks"

On Monday, SDLP Councillor Denise Johnston also said that she is absolutely shocked to once again hear that another child has died in Mid Ulster and referenced Caitlin-Rose McMullan (11) who was recently buried on Sunday.

The Bellaghy schoolgirl died shortly after being struck by a car last Wednesday afternoon.

The incident happened just outside the village of Castledawson, near her family home on Broagh Road, shortly after she had exited a school bus.

She was rushed to hospital in Belfast but sadly succumbed to her injuries.

The funeral of teenager Callum Quinn also took place on Sunday morning at The Church of The Holy Family, Platers Hill.

The 18-year-old from Coalisland passed away after a single-vehicle crash involving a black Peugeot 207 on Coalisland Road outside Dungannon, shortly before 11pm last Tuesday night.

In a separate crash last month, police confirmed that a woman who died in a crash just outside the Cookstown area was 43-year-old Leanne Thomas.

Elsewhere in Mid Ulster, almost a fortnight ago, murder victim Adam Krzan (71) was found dead in Dungannon. He died as a result of serious injuries following an assault at a flat in Corrainey Park.

All four people arrested in connection with his murder have been released by police.

Baby Emily Whinnery. Pic: D Watters Funeral Services.

News Catch Up - Monday 10th March
Tributes have been paid to a Co Tyrone teacher who has died following a short illness.

Sinead Dooher (McHugh), who was a prominent teacher at Our Lady & St Patricks College in Belfast, passed away on March 9.

A funeral notice said that Ms Dooher died following a short illness which was fought courageously, surrounded by her loving family.

Ms Dooher joined the joined the school 28 years ago and was a key member of the English department.

The 52-year-old is survived by her three children, Daire, Ruari, and Aoibhe, as well as her husband, Gary.

Our Lady & St Patricks College said they were deeply saddened to hear of the untimely death and recognised Ms Dooher as an integral part of the community.

The east Belfast school said: The students, staff and Board of Governors of Our Lady and St Patricks College, Knock are deeply saddened to learn of the untimely death of Ms Sinead Dooher (RIP).

Sinead joined Our Lady and St Patricks College, Knock in 1997 and quickly became an integral member of our College community, admired and respected by staff and students alike.

She was exceptionally proud to teach in the College, a key member of our English department, committed to getting the very best out of every student, and a loyal supporter of #teamknock.

They added: Our thoughts and prayers are with Sineads husband Gary, their three children, Daire, Ruairi and Aoibhe, and her extended family and many friends.

Sinead will be very much missed by the students and staff, both former and present, of Our Lady and St Patricks College, Knock and we hold her in our prayers. May she Rest in Peace.

Ms Dooher came from a respected GAA family in Co Tyrone with Tyrone GAA expressing they were deeply distressed to learn about her death.

The Ulster GAA side said: Gaelic Tyrone is deeply distressed to learn of the death of Sinead McHugh dear sister of our cherished, enduring Club Tyrone Treasurer Roisin (Shanks), and dear daughter of Johnny and Gabrielle, hugely influential generational presences within and across Tyrone GAA.

Sineads cruel illness was taken on resolutely, in the full spirit of a family who contribute so much to what we are and what we try to do.

Sinead Dooher (McHugh)

News Catch Up - Tuesday 11 March
Taoiseach says Burke family free to travel to Washington ahead of White House visit with Trump

Taoiseach travels to Washington later today following engagements in TexasOval Office meeting with US president Donald Trump to take place WednesdayMembers of Burke family spotted on flight to Washington

Taoiseach aiming to secure Irelands economic ties with the US in Trump meeting

Irish Independent Newsdesk/PA Tue 11 Mar 2025 at 16:50







Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said the Burke family, which has staged several protests in Ireland, is free to travel to Washington, DC.
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly with UK Ambassador to the US Lord Peter Mandelson (DUP/PA)

The appointment of Peter Mandelson as the UK Ambassador to the US is a huge opportunity for Northern Ireland, the deputy First Minister has said.

DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly met Lord Mandelson at the British Embassy in Washington, DC on Tuesday.

Speaking after the meeting, Ms Little-Pengelly said his previous work as Northern Ireland Secretary provided a chance for the ambassador to be a real champion for the region.

Having Peter Mandelson as British ambassador to the United States is a huge opportunity for Northern Ireland, Emma Little-Pengelly has said (Carl Court/PA)

She said: We had a detailed and productive meeting on a wide range of issues today. This includes on ongoing international issues, the engagements in the White House coming up this week and on how better we can work together to promote Northern Ireland as part of the Embassy work in the USA.

Lord Mandelson served as our Secretary of State and has a detailed knowledge and understanding of Northern Ireland. This provides a huge opportunity to have a real champion in Washington who will promote Northern Ireland as the UK Ambassador.

This is particularly the case as we head towards the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Many from what is now Northern Ireland were the founding fathers of the United States. The potential to use our shared heritage and history as a way of promoting Northern Ireland is significant.

Ms Little-Pengelly said she and Communities Minister Gordon Lyons will be seeking to harness those opportunities during their engagements in the US.

Meanwhile, the Ulster American Folk Park in Co Tyrone is to receive a 750,000 funding boost as part of a drive to increase cultural and heritage links with the US.

The announcement was made by Mr Lyons during a visit to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, DC.

The museum tells the story of the emigration of people from Ulster to North America in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Mr Lyons said: It is fitting that I announce this investment in the Ulster American Folk Park The Journey Ahead project at the iconic Smithsonian in Washington.

The museum chronicles the history of emigration from Ulster to the United States and its profound impact on the formation of modern America.

This announcement is the first step in unlocking over 20 million through the Mid South West Growth Deal, an investment which will transform what the museum can offer, enhancing the visitor experience and driving tourism to the wider area.

He added: Our story and the heritage we share with the US is a history worth telling.

Our connections make Northern Ireland a deeply resonant tourist destination for many Americans wishing to learn more about their Ulster Scots roots.

I want to ensure we can attract these visitors and share the story of their ancestors journey from our local shores, providing visitors with new ways to engage with this captivating narrative.

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons with Dr Lonnie Bunch III, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution at the Divided Communities: Difficult Histories symposium in Washington (Kevin Boyes/PA)

The funding will modernise the museums welcome centre with updated interpretation and exhibitions.

It will also enhance the immersive storytelling experience across the open-air museum.

Mr Lyons was joined by Kathryn Thompson, chief executive of National Museums NI and Professor Margaret Topping, pro-vice-chancellor for global engagement at Queens University Belfast.
Sir Keir Starmer has told ministers that Government must take more responsibility for decisions, and not outsource them to regulators. (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Sir Keir Starmer has told his ministers they must take more responsibility for decisions and stop outsourcing them to regulators.

The Prime Minister told a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday he wanted to reverse what he described as a trend under the previous government of decisions being made by other bodies.

His remarks come ahead of a planned intervention on Thursday in which Sir Keir is expected to announce plans to overhaul how the British state works, and appeared to suggest some regulators could see their powers moved in-house.

Ministers will also be required to assess whether regulations contribute to the Governments plan for change, raising the possibility that rules that play no part in Labours agenda could be abandoned.

But asked whether the Government was planning a bonfire of the quangos, Downing Street would not be drawn on which specific regulators or decisions could be affected.

Discussing Tuesdays Cabinet meeting, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said: (Sir Keir) said that to deliver security and renewal we must go further and faster to reform the state, to deliver a strong, agile and active state that delivers for working people.

This includes Cabinet assessing processes and regulations that play no part in delivering the plan for change and the Government taking responsibility for decisions rather than outsourcing them to regulators and bodies, as had become the trend under the previous government.

Senior ministers have expressed frustration with regulators in recent months, with the Chancellor suggesting towards the end of last year that post-financial crisis regulation had gone too far and urging regulators to focus more on securing economic growth.

Meanwhile, the Justice Secretary has become embroiled in a row with the Sentencing Council over guidance asking judges to consider ethnicity when deciding whether to ask the Probation Service for a pre-sentence report on an offender.

Shabana Mahmood has asked the Sentencing Council to reconsider its guidance, while ministers have insisted it is for them and Parliament to determine policy.

Questions about the role of regulators come amid a wider push from the Government to reform how Whitehall functions.

On Monday, Sir Keir and cabinet secretary Sir Chris Wormald wrote to all civil servants calling for a rewiring of the British state.

Their message included plans to make the Civil Service smaller, while the proportion of civil servants in digital or data roles will double by 2030.
French President Emmanuel Macron, second left, French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu, left, Chief of Staff of the French Armed Forces Thierry Burkhard and the UKs Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Tony Radakin, right, during the meeting in Paris on Tuesday (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool via AP)

Top military officials from across Europe and beyond joined talks in Paris on Tuesday on the possible contours of an international security force for Ukraine  an idea that France and the UK are pushing to deter any future Russian aggression on its neighbour if Moscow and Kyiv agree to stop fighting.

Participants said they expected the closed-door discussions to be wide-ranging, providing a gauge of which nations might be ready to join a coalition for Ukraine but not, at this stage, committing them to providing specific numbers of troops, equipment or other assistance.

Senior officials from Ukraine and the United States opened separate talks in the Saudi city of Jeddah on Tuesday focused on halting the full-scale invasion that Russia launched in 2022.

There the US agreed to resume military aid and intelligence-sharing to Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron attended part of the Paris Defence and Strategy Forum of army chiefs of 34 countries and other military representatives, including some who were scheduled to dial in remotely from Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

French President Emmanuel Macron shakes hands with Colonel-General Ruslan Khomchak, First Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, as French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu, right, and Chief of Staff of the French Armed Forces Thierry Burkhard, left (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool via AP)

Mr Macron said it was time to move from concept to plan to define credible security guarantees and insisted the French-British blueprint should come along with the Nato alliance and its capabilities, Mr Macrons office said, without offering detailed specifics.

Slovenias army chief at the meeting, Lt Gen Robert Glavas, said his Nato and European Union country is willing to be part of the effort.

But he said he was hoping for a clearer picture of how a post-ceasefire international force for Ukraine might work, what its missions might be, which countries want be part of it, and whether it would have a mandate from the United Nations or another body.

The question is, what next? he said in an interview with The Associated Press. Who will go there? As we know in Europe, many countries, especially small countries, dont have a lot of troops.

Western and Ukrainian officials said there is no definitive plan for military options yet. The AP spoke to Western and Ukrainian officials in Kyiv, as well as French officials in Paris and British officials in London. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to speak openly about sensitive matters.

Colonel-General Ruslan Khomchak at the Musee de la Marine in Paris (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool via AP)

The US, Natos most militarily powerful member, was not invited to the Paris talks because European nations wanted to show that they are able to shoulder a large part of the job of safeguarding Ukraine once a truce is in effect, a French military official said.

For Ukrainian officials, key questions are how such a coalition would react if Russia violates a future ceasefire, whether it would respond militarily to a large Russian offensive and how quickly.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed the proposal but expressed scepticism, telling The AP in an interview in February that foreign troops alone would not be a sufficient guarantee of security for his country, and that such a plan should be backed up by weapons from the US and Europe, and support for Kyiv to develop its own defence industry.

Diplomats are discussing, military officials are discussing, but we still dont have real proposals, said a senior Ukrainian official. The talks are not in the first stage, we did a lot in the first stage, but we still dont have a real solid approach.

As Mr Trump has appeared to oppose the idea of US security guarantees and other US officials said this will fall on Europe to enforce, the French-British plan looks to create a force equipped with enough military might to dissuade Russia from attacking Ukraine again.

That is the crux of it, said a Western official in Kyiv.

The forum took place at the Musee de la Marine in Paris (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool via AP)

A French military official said the force could include heavy weaponry and weapons stockpiles that could be rushed within hours or days to aid in Ukraines defence.

The Western official in Kyiv, offering another idea on the table, said they could incorporate direct and immediate strikes on Russian assets in the event of a violation.

Details have emerged piecemeal in recent weeks as technical discussions have been ongoing between Western diplomatic and military officials in Ukraine and other European capitals.

Last month, some Western officials described a small Europe-dominated reassurance force of fewer than 30,000 troops, rather than an ambitious army of peacekeepers posted along the 600-mile (1,000km) front line.

But other officials have said the numbers were under discussion.

According to one version, troops would be posted away from the front line at key infrastructure sites such as nuclear power plants and backed by Western air and sea power.

The front line would largely be monitored remotely, with drones and other technology.

Air power, including US air power based outside Ukraine, perhaps in Poland or Romania, would be in reserve to deter breaches and reopen Ukrainian airspace to commercial flights.

Allied navies could also play a role in the Black Sea clearing mines and patrolling to keep international waters safe.

The idea is to aggregate the capabilities those countries are ready to provide in order to be able to offer security guarantees to make sure the peace deal is robust and verifiable, with the aim to get some US backstop, another French official said.

To get signals on the US backstop, the able and willing European countries must be able to aggregate their capabilities and demands, he said.

Some Western officials cautioned that there will be several stages to a peace plan and a broader range of countries could join the coalition later on. The first step could be a one-month freeze, as proposed by Mr Zelensky and European leaders, as a confidence-building measure.

The Ukrainian officials said they were optimistic about the coalition of the willing, conceding they have few other options with Nato off the table.

I fully believe its very possible, said one senior Ukrainian official.

Trump is comfortable with the idea, the idea is very positive for us, and if Europe wants to be a real player, they should do this.

If they lose this opportunity, we will be in a very difficult situation, he added.

Elsewhere, Polands Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday his government intends to put 100,000 volunteers through military training yearly starting in 2027 as it seeks to build an army of reservists with worries about Russia growing.

He also said he told ministers that they and other government officials would undergo military training, and his decision had been accepted with full understanding.

Mr Tusk announced last week that Poland needs 500,000 soldiers, more than double the current number. It would include reservists in additional to the professional army and a territorial defence force.
Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested on Tuesday on a warrant from the International Criminal Court accusing him of crimes against humanity, the Philippine government said (Aaron Favila/AP)

Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested on Tuesday on a warrant from the International Criminal Court accusing him of crimes against humanity, the Philippine government said.

Duterte was detained at Manilas international airport after arriving from Hong Kong, President Ferdinand Marcoss office said in a statement.

A plane carrying Mr Duterte left Manila en route to The Hague late on Tuesday.

The ICC has been investigating mass killings during the former presidents deadly crackdown against illegal drugs.

The government said: Upon his arrival, the prosecutor general served the ICC notification for an arrest warrant to the former president for the crime of crime against humanity. Hes now in the custody of authorities.

The Philippines government said 79-year-old former president Rodrigo Duterte is in good health (Vernon Yuen/AP)

The surprise arrest sparked a commotion at the airport, where lawyers and aides of Mr Duterte loudly protested that they, along with a doctor and lawyers, had been prevented from getting close to him after he was taken into police custody.

This is a violation of his constitutional right, Senator Bong Go, a close Duterte ally, told reporters.

The warrant of arrest sent by the ICC to Philippine officials, a copy of which was seen by The Associated Press, said there are reasonable grounds to believe that the attack on victims was both widespread and systematic: the attack took place over a period of several years and thousands people appear to have been killed.

Mr Dutertes arrest was necessary to ensure his appearance before the court, according to the March 7 warrant, adding that the former president was expected to ignore a court summons.

It said that although Mr Duterte is no longer president, he appears to continue to wield considerable power.

Mindful of the resultant risk of interference with the investigations and the security of witnesses and victims, the chamber is satisfied that the arrest of Mr Duterte is necessary.

Security officers patrol Manila airport after the arrest of former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte (Aaron Favila/AP)

There was no immediate comment on Mr Dutertes arrest from the court or the ICC prosecutors office.

Mr Dutertes arrest and downfall stunned the families of the victims of his bloody crackdowns against illegal drugs and drove them to tears.

This is a big, long-awaited day for justice, Randy delos Santos, the uncle of a teenager killed by police during an anti-drugs operation in August 2017 in the Manila metropolis, told the AP.

Now we feel that justice is rolling. We hope that top police officials and the hundreds of police officers who were involved in the illegal killings should also be placed in custody and punished.

Three of the police officers who killed his nephew, Kian delos Santos, were convicted in 2018 of the high-profile murder, which prompted Mr Duterte at the time to temporarily suspend his brutal anti-drugs crackdown.

The conviction was one of at least three, so far, against law enforcers involved in the anti-drugs campaign, reflecting the concerns of families of victims of suspected extrajudicial killings that they would not get justice in the Philippines, hence, their decision to seek the help of the ICC.

It was not immediately clear where Mr Duterte was taken by the police and when he would be flown to Europe to be handed to ICC custody.

The government said the 79-year-old former leader is in good health.

Supporters rally outside Villamor Air Base near Manila after the arrest of former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte (Aaron Favila/AP)

The ICC began investigating drugs killings under Mr Duterte from November 1 2011, when he was still mayor of the southern city of Davao, to March 16 2019, as possible crimes against humanity.

Mr Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the Rome Statute in 2019 in a move human rights activists say was aimed at escaping accountability.

The Duterte administration moved to suspend the global courts investigation in late 2021 by arguing that Philippine authorities were already looking into the same allegations, arguing that the ICC  a court of last resort  did not have jurisdiction.

Appeals judges at the ICC ruled in 2023 that the investigation could resume and rejected the Duterte administrations objections.

The court, based in The Hague in the Netherlands, can step in when countries are unwilling or unable to prosecute suspects in the most heinous international crimes, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who succeeded Mr Duterte in 2022 and became entangled in a bitter political dispute with the former president, has decided not to rejoin the global court.

But the Marcos administration said it would co-operate if the ICC asked international police to take Mr Duterte into custody through a so-called Red Notice, a request for law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and temporarily arrest a crime suspect.
Greek police officers outside the National Gallery after the MP was detained (Thanassis Stavrakis/AP)

Greek police detained a member of parliament on Monday after he allegedly attacked art works which are part of an exhibition in the countrys National Gallery in Athens.

Nikolaos Papadopoulos, who is a member of the small ultra-religious Niki party, allegedly smashed glass cases and attacked works he considered blasphemous. The gallery has been closed.

Police detained Mr Papadopoulos for several hours before releasing him. The National Gallery  Alexandros Soutsos Museum shut down after the attack, with visitors turned away.

The museum issued a statement saying Mr Papadopoulos and one other person attacked the paintings that were part of an exhibition of Greek artists titled The Allure Of The Bizarre, throwing them to the floor and shattering glass in the frames.

The exhibition, which opened in January and is scheduled to run until September, accompanies a parallel display of 80 works by the late 18th century and early 19th century Spanish master Francisco Goya.

The National Gallery issued a statement saying its operation was being temporarily suspended due to the attack on works of art. It did not give any details of which works were attacked and what damage was caused.

Mr Papadopoulos, whose right-wing Niki party holds 10 of parliaments 300 seats, had previously said in parliament that the exhibition was blasphemous and against the Virgin Mary and Christ.

Formed in 2019, Niki, or Victory, offers a mix of Orthodox Christian traditionalism and nationalism.

I took down four icons, four blasphemous icons, and in two of those  the glass pane broke, nothing else, Mr Papadopoulos told reporters after he was released.

He said works at the exhibition insult the Virgin Mary, St George  the archangels that we in our homes were taught to worship and respect.

In a statement issued on Monday evening, the gallerys board of directors said it unreservedly condemn(s) every act of vandalism, violence and censorship which violate the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression.
Israeli fire has killed four people and injured 14 others in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, Palestinian officials said, even as a fragile ceasefire with Hamas has largely held (Leo Correa/AP)

Israeli fire has killed eight people in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, Palestinian officials said, even as a fragile ceasefire with Hamas has largely held.

Israeli strikes have killed dozens of Palestinians who the army says had approached its troops or entered unauthorised areas in violation of the January truce.

Israel last week suspended supplies of goods and electricity to the territory of more than two million Palestinians as it tries to pressure the militant group to accept an extension of the first phase of their ceasefire, which ended on March 1.

Israel wants Hamas to release half of the remaining hostages in return for a promise to negotiate a lasting truce.

Hamas instead wants to start negotiations on the ceasefires more difficult second phase, which would see the release of remaining hostages from Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli forces and a lasting peace. Hamas is believed to have 24 living hostages and the bodies of 35 others.

Buildings destroyed during an Israeli air and ground offensive in the Gaza Strip (Leo Correa/AP)

Palestinians said settlers attacked a garage in the occupied West Bank overnight, torching three cars.

Rafaat Sabah, the owner of the garage, said the attack was not the first. He said settlers had broken into the premises previously and stolen oil, tools and other things. This time they set fire to cars belonging to his customers, he said.

The Israeli military said it is investigating the incident.

Marwan Sabah, head of the Umm Safa village council, said settlers have recently brought livestock to graze on village lands with the aim of eventually taking them over.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said three Palestinians, including a 58-year-old woman, were killed by Israeli fire in the volatile West Bank city of Jenin on Tuesday.

The Israeli military said troops killed two militants in an exchange of fire in Jenin and arrested 10 others. It said its forces eliminated a third militant who had fired at them during the operation and destroyed two vehicles loaded with weapons.

Israel launched a large-scale military operation centred on Jenin shortly after reaching a fragile ceasefire with Hamas in the Gaza Strip in January. Troops have destroyed homes and infrastructure, and tens of thousands of Palestinians have fled their homes across the northern West Bank.

Displaced Palestinians live in a school run by UNRWA, the UN agency helping Palestinian refugees, west of Gaza City (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)

The Gaza Health Ministry said four people have been killed by Israeli fire and another 14 injured over the past 24 hours.

The ministry said on Tuesday that rescuers have also retrieved 32 bodies from under the rubble.

The four killed included three brothers hit by a drone strike in the central Gaza Strip on Monday and a woman killed by a drone strike in the southern city of Rafah on Tuesday, the ministry said.

The latest deaths take the overall Palestinian death toll from the war to 48,503. More than 110,000 people have been injured, according to the ministry.

The ministry says women and children make up most of the dead but does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its toll. Israel says it has killed more than 17,000 militants, without providing evidence.

The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on October 7 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251 people.

Meanwhile, Israels deputy foreign minister, Sharren Haskel, said on Tuesday that deadly sectarian violence in neighbouring Syria amounts to ethnic cleansing and that Israel is working to prevent a threat along its border from Syrias new jihadi regime.

Israel is committed to preventing what we saw in Syria this weekend from happening on our border, she said at a news conference in Jerusalem.

Burnt-out cars in the town of Jableh following the recent wave of violence between Syrian security forces and gunmen loyal to former president Bashar Assad (Omar Albam/AP)

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said 1,130 people were killed in the clashes, including 830 civilians, most of them from former president Bashar Assads Alawite community. The Associated Press could not independently verify these numbers.

Since Islamist-led insurgents ousted Mr Assad in December, Israel has voiced concerns that the group could seize Syrian military assets and use them against it, or that instability could spill over into its territory.

Israel has deployed troops inside a buffer zone and vowed to prevent the new Syrian forces from entering the area south of Damascus.

On Tuesday, the Israeli military said its fighter jets struck military targets in southern Syria, including radars and equipment.

The Israeli prime ministers office announced on Tuesday that Israel will release five Lebanese detainees as a gesture to the new Lebanese president. The release follows a meeting Tuesday in Lebanon between representatives from Israel, Lebanon, France, and the US.

Elsewhere, China, Iran and Russia held joint naval drills in the Middle East as tensions rise between Tehran and the US.

The joint drills held on Tuesday, called the Maritime Security Belt 2025, took place in the Gulf of Oman near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all crude oil traded worldwide passes.

The area around the strait in the past has seen Iran seize commercial ships and launch suspected attacks in the time since President Donald Trump first unilaterally withdrew America from Tehrans nuclear deal with world powers.

This is the fifth year the three countries took part in the drills, which come after a months-long Iranian drill that followed a direct Israeli attack on the country, targeting its air defences and sites associated with its ballistic missile programme.
The Russian military has said its air defences shot down 337 Ukrainian drones over 10 Russian regions overnight in what appears to be the biggest Ukrainian drone attack on Russia in three years, hours before key Ukraine-US talks were due to start.

The attack, which killed one person and injured several others, came as a Ukrainian delegation was to meet Americas top diplomat in Saudi Arabia about ending the three-year war with Russia.

There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian officials on the attack.

The talks in Saudi Arabia reflect a new diplomatic push after an unprecedented argument erupted during President Volodymyr Zelenskys visit to the White House on February 28.

Most of the drones  126  were shot down over the Kursk region across the border from Ukraine, parts of which Kyivs forces control, and 91 were shot down over the Moscow region, according to a statement by Russias Defence Ministry.

Other regions listed in the statement included Belgorod, Bryansk and Voronezh on the border with Ukraine, and those deeper inside Russia, such as Kaluga, Lipetsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Oryol and Ryazan.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said more than 70 drones targeted the Russian capital and were shot down as they were flying towards it.

Andrei Vorobyov, governor of the Moscow region surrounding the capital, said one person was killed and nine others were injured in the attack, which also damaged several residential buildings and a number of cars.

Another person was wounded on a highway in the Lipetsk region, governor Igor Artamonov said.

An apartment building where a downed Ukrainian drone fell in Sapronovo village, outside Moscow (AP)

Mayor Sobyanin said the roof of a building in Moscow suffered damage, which he described as insignificant. Footage of the building, published by RIA Novosti, showed a charred spot on the facade of a multi-storey residential building near the roof, with bits of the buildings lining stripped off.

Flights have been temporarily restricted in and out of six airports, including Domodedovo, Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo and Zhukovsky just outside Moscow, and airports in the Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod regions.

Train traffic through the Domodedovo railway station in the Moscow region has also been briefly halted, local officials reported.

Local authorities also reported downing drones in the Tula and Vladimir regions adjacent to the Moscow region. It was not immediately clear why those regions were not mentioned in the Defence Ministrys statement.

A police officer patrols near an apartment building where a downed Ukrainian drone fell in Sapronovo village, outside Moscow (AP)

In the Saudi city of Jeddah, there was no immediate US response to the drone barrage as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his delegation, including national security adviser Mike Waltz, were preparing to meet Mr Zelenskys team.

Ukraine is expected to propose a ceasefire covering the Black Sea and long-range missile strikes, as well as the release of prisoners, according to two senior Ukrainian officials.

The officials also said Kyiv is ready to sign an agreement with the United States on access to Ukraines rare earth minerals  a deal that President Donald Trump is keen to secure.

On his plane to Jeddah, Mr Rubio said the US delegation will not be proposing any specific measures to secure an end to the three-year conflict but rather wants to hear from Ukraine about what they would be willing to consider.

Im not going to set any conditions on what they have to or need to do, he told reporters accompanying him. I think we want to listen to see how far theyre willing to go and then compare that to what the Russians want and see how far apart we truly are.

Mr Rubio said the rare earths and critical minerals deal could be signed during the meeting but stressed it is not a pre-condition for the United States to move ahead with discussions with either Ukraine or the Russians.

He said it may, in fact, make more sense to take some time to negotiate the precise details of the agreement, which is now a broad memorandum of understanding that leaves out many specifics.
A top Romanian court on Tuesday rejected an appeal by far-right politician Calin Georgescu to lift a ban on his candidacy in the presidential rerun.

He won the first round of last years race before the same court annulled the election.

The ruling by the Constitutional Court in the capital Bucharest, which was unanimous, came two days after the Central Election Bureau rejected Mr Georgescus candidacy for the May election.

It was not immediately clear on what grounds the court made Tuesdays decision, which is final.

Hundreds of Georgescu supporters who had gathered near the court, many waving Romanian flags, responded by chanting Thieves!.

Supporters of Calin Georgescu react during a protest after Romanias Constitutional Court upheld a ban on his candidacy in the presidential election rerun, in Bucharest, Romania (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

The bureau had cited in its decision on Sunday the Constitutional Courts ruling last year to cancel the elections after allegations of electoral violations and that Russia had run a co-ordinated online campaign to promote Mr Georgescu, who ran as an independent.

The decision to cancel the election was made two days before the December 8 runoff.

Mr Georgescu had denounced his ban on Sunday as a direct blow to the heart of democracy worldwide and said: Europe is now a dictatorship, Romania is under tyranny!

The courts decision on Tuesday is likely to inflame tensions in the European Union and in the Nato member country, which has been gripped by a protracted political crisis since the election was cancelled last year.

The first round of the rerun is scheduled for May 4. If no candidate wins more than 50% of the ballots, a runoff will follow on May 18.

Romanias far-right  which holds about a third of seats in the countrys legislature  will likely seek to replace Mr Georgescus candidacy, the deadline for which is March 15 at midnight.

Many observers have speculated that his close political ally, George Simion, could take up the mantle.

We will decide tonight what is happening next because we are facing a huge blow against democracy and the rule of law, Mr Simion, the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, told The Associated Press after the ruling on Tuesday.

There is no democracy in Romania, (I) hope we will restore it.

The courts final decision came after prosecutors launched a criminal investigation against Mr Georgescu last month, accusing him of incitement to actions against the constitutional order, supporting fascist groups and false declarations of electoral campaign funding and asset disclosures.

Before the November 24 election, Mr Georgescu, who is under judicial control and has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, had polled in the single digits and declared zero campaign spending.

Allegations quickly emerged of electoral violations and Russian interference. Moscow denied that it had meddled in the election.

Mr Georgescu has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and questioned Ukraines statehood in the past, but says he is not pro-Russia.

Romanias decision to annul the election, and this weeks ban on Mr Georgescus candidacy in the redo, has been strongly criticised by US Vice President JD Vance, Elon Musk and Moscow.

Russian state news agency Tass quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Tuesday that any election without Mr Georgescus participation will have no legitimacy.

That remark came a day after Mr Musk asked in a post on his X account: How can a judge end democracy in Romania?

Elena Lasconi, the leader of the Save Romania Union party, who was set to face Mr Georgescu in the scheduled runoff last year, said after the courts decision that Romanians need to regain their confidence in the institutions and that We are more divided than ever.

I understand that some people are angry and others are happy about this decision, she wrote on Facebook.

But we cannot celebrate without thinking that there are still consequences: frustration, deepening divisions and growing distrust in our institutions  Our democracy is fragile and such a decision should remain an exception, not a rule.
US national security adviser Mike Waltz, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad al-Aiban, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and Ukrainian Head of Presidential Office Andriy Yermak in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (Saul Loeb/Pool Photo via AP)

The Trump administration said on Tuesday that it would immediately lift its suspension of military aid to Ukraine and its intelligence sharing with Kyiv.

It came more than a week after the US imposed the measures to push Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to enter talks to end the war with invading Russian forces.

The announcement came at talks between Ukraine and the United States in Saudi Arabia.

Ukraine also said it was open to a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Russia, subject to Kremlin agreement.

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The announcements emerged as senior officials from Ukraine and the United States opened talks in Saudi Arabia focused on ending Moscows three-year war against Kyiv and hours after Russia shot down more than 300 Ukrainian drones.

It was Ukraines biggest attack since the Kremlin ordered the full-scale invasion of its neighbour.

US President Donald Trumps special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to travel later this week to Moscow, where he could meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a person familiar with the matter but not authorised to comment publicly.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US would present the ceasefire offer to the Kremlin.

Were going to tell them this is whats on the table. Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking. And now itll be up to them to say yes or no, Mr Rubio said.

If they say no, then well unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Ukrainian Head of Presidential Office Andriy Yermak and Ukrainian Minister of Defence Rustem Umerovto during the meeting with US officials (Saul Loeb/Pool Photo via AP)

US national security adviser Mike Waltz said: The Ukrainian delegation today made something very clear, that they share President Trumps vision for peace.

Mr Waltz said negotiators got into substantive details on how this war is going to permanently end, including long-term security guarantees.

And, he said, Mr Trump agreed to immediately lift the pause in the supply of billions of of dollars of US military aid and intelligence sharing.

Meanwhile, in an address posted shortly after Tuesdays eight hours of talks ended, Mr Zelensky reiterated Ukraines commitment to achieving a lasting peace, emphasising that the country has sought an end to the war since its outset.

Our position is absolutely clear: Ukraine has strived for peace from the very first second of this war, and we want to do everything possible to achieve it as soon as possible  securely and in a way that ensures war does not return, Mr Zelensky said.

Mr Trump said he hopes the Russia-Ukraine ceasefire proposal can be solidified over the next few days.

I know we have a big meeting with Russia tomorrow, and some great conversations hopefully will ensue, Mr Trump added.

The Kremlin had no immediate comment on the US and Ukrainian statements.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (Mikhail Metzel, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said only that negotiations with US officials could take place this week.

However, in Moscow, hawkish politicians and military bloggers spoke strongly against a prospective ceasefire, arguing that it would play into Kyivs hands and damage Moscows interests at a time when the Russian military has the upper hand in the fighting.

A ceasefire isnt what we need, wrote hard-line ideologue Alexander Dugin.

Viktor Sobolev, a retired general who is a member of the Russian parliaments lower house, warned that a 30-day truce would allow Ukraine to beef up arms supplies and regroup its troops before resuming hostilities.

Sergei Markov, a pro-Kremlin political commentator, suggested that Moscow could demand a halt on Western arms supplies to Ukraine as part of a ceasefire.

An embargo on arms supplies to Ukraine could be a condition for a truce, he wrote.

Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak earlier told reporters that the most important thing was how to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

He said security guarantees were important to prevent Russia from invading again in the future.

It was the first meeting between the two sides since the Oval Office argument between Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky last month.

Saudi Arabias foreign minister was also on hand as American, Saudi and Ukrainian flags could be seen in the background. Officials did not answer any of the journalists shouted questions.

The delegations met for about three hours in the morning before taking a break, and officials said the talks continued in the afternoon.

There was also no immediate comment from Ukrainian or US officials on the massive attack in which 343 drones targeted 10 Russian regions, leaving three people dead and 18 wounded, including three children, officials said.

Meanwhile, Russia launched 126 drones and a ballistic missile at Ukraine, the Ukrainian air force said, as part of Moscows relentless pounding of civilian areas during the war.

On the streets of Kyiv, Ukrainians kept an eye on the Saudi talks.

Lena Herasymenko, a psychologist, said she accepts that compromises will be necessary to end the war, but she said they must be reasonable.

We had massive losses during this war, and we dont know yet how much more well have, she told The Associated Press. We are suffering every day. Our kids are suffering, and we dont know how the future generation will be affected.

Oleksandr, a Ukrainian soldier who could give only his first name because of security restrictions, warned that Ukraine cannot let down its guard down.

If there is a ceasefire, it would only give Russia time to increase its firepower, manpower, missiles and other arms. Then they would attack Ukraine again, he said.

The meeting in Jeddah offered an opportunity for Kyiv officials to repair Ukraines relationship with the Trump administration after an unprecedented argument erupted during Mr Zelenskys February 28 visit to the White House.

Ukrainian officials told AP on Monday that they will propose a ceasefire covering the Black Sea, which would bring safer shipping, as well as long-range missile strikes that have hit civilians in Ukraine, and the release of prisoners.

The two senior officials said Kyiv is also ready to sign an agreement with the United States on access to Ukraines rare earth minerals  a deal that Mr Trump is keen to secure.

The Kremlin has not publicly offered any concessions. Russia has said it is ready to cease hostilities on condition that Ukraine drops its bid to join Nato and recognises regions that Moscow occupies as Russian. Russia has captured nearly a fifth of Ukraines territory.

Russian forces have held the battlefield momentum for more than a year, though at a high cost in infantry and armour, and are pushing at selected points along the 1,000-km (600-mile) front line, especially in the eastern Donetsk region, against Ukraines understrength and weary army.
The site where one of the shot down Ukrainian drones fell, outside Moscow (Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyev official Telegram channe/AP)

Seventy-three Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow have been shot down in a massive attack on Tuesday morning, the Russian capitals Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said.

At least 11 of the drones were shot down in the Ramensky and Domodedovo districts of the Moscow region surrounding the Russian capital, on the messaging app Telegram.

He did not specify where the other drones were shot down, noting only that they were flying towards Moscow.

A damaged apartment on the site where a shot-down Ukrainian drone fell (Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyev official Telegram channel/AP)

The governor of the Moscow region, Andrei Vorobyov, said one person was killed and three more wounded as a result of the drone attack.

The attack damaged seven apartments in a residential building in the Ramensky district, he said.

Mr Sobyanin said the roof of a building in Moscow also sustained damage, which he described as insignificant.

Footage of the building, published by Russias state news agency RIA Novosti, showed a charred spot on the facade of a multi-story residential building near the roof, with bits of the buildings lining stripped off.

Mr Sobyanin said the roof of a building in Moscow also sustained damage, which he described as insignificant.

Footage of the building, published by Russias state news agency RIA Novosti, showed a charred spot on the facade of a multi-story residential building near the roof, with bits of the buildings lining stripped off.

The attack, the biggest on Moscow in months, came on the day of US-Ukraine negotiations in Saudi Arabia. There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian officials on the attack.

Authorities also reported shooting down or jamming drones in the Kaluga, Ryazan, Tula and Vladimir regions adjacent to the Moscow region, as well as the Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine.

In the Lipetsk region, just south of the Kaluga and Tula regions, one person was wounded in a drone attack.

Rosaviatsia also restricted flights in and out of airports in the Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod regions.
The US Education Department plans to sack more than 1,300 of its more than 4,000 employees as part of a reorganisation that is seen as a prelude to President Donald Trumps plan to dismantle the agency.

Department officials announced the cuts on Tuesday, raising questions about the agencys ability to continue usual operations.

The layoffs are part of a dramatic downsizing directed by Mr Trump as he moves to reduce the footprint of the federal government. Thousands of jobs are expected to be cut across the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Social Security Administration and other agencies.

The department is also terminating leases on buildings in cities including New York, Boston, Chicago and Cleveland, said Rachel Oglesby, the departments chief of staff. She said the changes would not affect the agencys Office for Civil Rights or its functions mandated by Congress, such as the distribution of federal aid to schools.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon told employees to brace for profound cuts in a memo issued on March 3, the day she was confirmed by the Senate. She said it was the departments final mission to eliminate bureaucratic bloat and turn over the agencys authority to states.

The US Department of Education building in Washington, DC (Alamy/PA)

The department sent an email sent to employees on Tuesday telling them its Washington headquarters and regional offices would be closed on Wednesday, with access forbidden, before reopening Thursday. The only reason given for the closures was unspecified security reasons.

Mr Trump campaigned on a promise to close the department, saying it had been overtaken by radicals, zealots and Marxists.

At Ms McMahons confirmation hearing, she acknowledged only Congress has the power to abolish the agency but said it might be due for cuts and a reorganisation.

Whether the cuts will be felt by Americas students  as Democrats and advocates fear  is yet to be seen.

Already there are concerns the administrations agenda has pushed aside some of the agencys most fundamental work, including the enforcement of civil rights for students with disabilities and the management of 1.6 trillion dollars (1.2 trillion) in federal student loans.

Ms McMahon told politicians at her hearing that her aim is not to defund core programmes, but to make them more efficient.

Even before the layoffs, the Education Department was among the smallest Cabinet-level agencies. Its workforce included 3,100 people in Washington and an additional 1,100 at regional offices across the country, according to a department website.

The departments workers had faced increasing pressure to quit their jobs since Mr Trump took office, first through a deferred resignation programme and then through a 25,000-dollar (19,310) buyout offer that expired on March 3.

The buyout offer came with a warning that there would be significant layoffs in the near future.
Restaurant review: Afternoon tea can be a needless meal  but this NI castle has ideal sweet and savoury treats

Killeavy Castles offering was everything we had hoped it would be

Afternoon tea at Killeavy Castle Estate

Aine Toner Tue 11 Mar 2025 at 13:15

Afternoon tea is the almost meal we dont need but still gladly lap up if offered.
First group of Bangladeshi patients, doctors, travel agencies departs for China

Xinhua) 09:31, March 11, 2025

DHAKA, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The first group of Bangladeshi patients, doctors, and travel agencies departed Monday from Dhaka to Kunming, Yunnan Province, for medical check-ups and treatment, exploring the potential for the medical tourism market.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin, along with guests from various sectors of both China and Bangladesh, doctors, airline representatives, and media journalists, gathered at the airport to see the group off.

At the send-off ceremony, Yao emphasized that this visit to China not only implements the consensus reached by the two heads of foreign affairs, but also demonstrates China's commitment to addressing Bangladesh's urgent needs, enhancing medical and health cooperation, and promoting people-to-people exchanges between the two nations.

He wished the delegation a smooth trip to Yunnan, a speedy recovery for the patients, and expressed his hope that the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Bangladesh, and the Year of People-to-People Exchanges would serve as an opportunity to further deepen bilateral cooperation in various fields and jointly build a global community of health for all.

For his part, Jashim wished the delegation a successful visit and expressed his gratitude to the medical institutions in Yunnan for their strong support in providing valuable opportunities for the Bangladeshi patients to access quality medical treatment.

He noted that this initiative allows the Bangladeshi people to feel the profound friendship between the two nations.

He also highly appreciated the long-standing support and assistance provided by the Chinese government in the fields of public healthcare and humanitarian aid and looked forward to further strengthening pragmatic cooperation between China and Bangladesh to bring greater benefits to both peoples.

"I've heard that medical treatment in China is very good and advanced, (and) that is why we're going. I hope to receive better treatment and make a full recovery," female patient Sharmila Hakim told Xinhua at the airport.

Azizul Hakim, another patient, said, "Visa facility has been done very well. I would like to express my sincere thanks to China. I will be able to receive treatment at the best hospital in China."

This group consists of 31 members, including patients, their family members, doctors, travel agents, and journalists. They will respectively receive medical treatment and review relevant hospitals in Yunnan Province.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
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Jim Ramsey (left) passed the ball to Jonathan West (right) for the chairmanship of the Bennington County Democratic Committee at a meeting of the Democrats last Saturday at the Manchester Community Library. Ramsey was recently named to the chairmanship role of the state Democratic Party.
GREAT BARRINGTON  Rabbi Jodie Gordon told a state panel on Tuesday that she needs help dealing with antisemitism in the Berkshires, particularly in the schools.

Incidents have increased in Berkshire County in recent years  with the problem quickly growing immediately following the Hamas massacres and rapes of Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023, that started the Israel-Hamas war in which tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza have died.

It used to be an incident or two a year of a swastika drawn on a locker, or a student making derogatory jokes to Jewish students, Gordon said.

Today, the waters are muddied by the confluence of antisemitism and anti-Zionism, and the tenor of the conversation locally post-Oct. 7 is more complex, as we see anti-Jewish and anti-Israel sentiment used interchangeably.

Often these incidents happen in the schools, she said. So as a rabbi in a small rural community, she could use some help from the state and school officials in teaching critical thinking to students rather than push a pro this or pro that agenda on any current event.

Gordon, who leads the Hevreh of Southern Berkshire congregation in Great Barrington, was the first to testify at the fifth public hearing of the Massachusetts Special Commission on Combatting Antisemitism.

This hearing was held at the Springfield Jewish Community Center to understand the climate for Jews in Western Massachusetts, as the commission begins its travels to hear from residents across the state.

Dara Kaufman, executive director of the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires, also sits on the 18-member commission.

Sen. John C. Velis D-Westfield, who represents Hampden and Hampshire counties, sponsored the legislation that created the commission of which he is chairman.

His work is the result of hearing from hearing from friends, hearing from mothers, fathers, grandfathers, grandmothers, brothers sisters ... about how rampant antisemitism has become, Velis said.

Post Oct. 7, he added, antisemitism was essentially injected with a steroid and an accelerant.

Anti-Jewish hate crimes in Massachusetts spiked 70 percent in 2023 over the previous year, according to a state report.

Rabbi Gordon spoke of several highly publicized incidents as examples of how antisemitism exploded in the Berkshires post Oct. 7  some sparked by the Berkshire Communists organization, whose then-leader made threatening social media posts directed at the Jewish community.

One of Gordon's examples was an anti-Israel protest outside a coffee shop in Great Barrington last year in which the owner, who is Israeli, was accused of fueling genocide."

Another incident was a manifesto circulated last month by a high school student that was so thick with antisemitism and hate toward other minority groups that it prompted a police response and a school lockdown.

School officials reached out to her, Gordon said, and she will be meeting with the superintendent this week.

Gordon said that the strong interfaith partnerships in the Berkshires help with the problem, and so does a good working relationship with police. But there is something deeper that needs to be addressed.

She would like to see the state and its education leaders give resources and support to teachers to have hard conversations in the classroom, rather than saying were pro this or pro that.

Teaching students, Gordon added, to think critically, because we're presenting them a multinarrative view of history and current events.

Gordon referred to recent fireworks at the commissions last hearing over pro-Palestinian resources for teachers featuring antisemitic images.

The Massachusetts Teachers Association said it would pull the materials, but as of last week, the union was criticized for not removing those from its resource list, according to various news sources.

Gordon says her concerns about those resources are not wholly unlike the concern I would have if I learned there there were a pro-Israel curriculum in public schools.

Gordon isnt alone in testifying to an increasingly charged landscape for Jews.

Rabbi Amy Wallk of Springfields Temple Beth El told the commission that there is something toxic in the environment that has grown in the last five to eight years, bad enough to have pushed Jewish teachers and students to leave schools.

I am mindful that not every moment is a crisis or a catastrophic moment, Wallk told the panel, but there is this consistent delegitimization and demonization, not only of Israel, but of Jewish feelings, Jewish pain and Jewish fear.
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Andhra Pradesh Government Approves Rs 25 Lakh Health Insurance Coverage for Every Family

March 11, 2025 | Tuesday | Features

The Andhra Pradesh government has introduced a Rs 25 lakh health insurance coverage scheme for every family in the state

This initiative aims to provide comprehensive medical coverage, ensuring that families do not face financial burdens due to medical expenses. Announced by Minister for Health, Family Welfare, and Medical Education, Satya Kumar Yadav, this scheme fulfils a key election promise made by the NDA government. The cashless insurance model will enable seamless access to healthcare services at network hospitals across the state.

Under this initiative, 3,257 medical procedures that were previously covered under the Dr NTR Vaidya Seva scheme will be included, with the possibility of additional treatments being added. The government has adopted a hybrid model for implementing the insurance plan, involving private insurance companies to manage claims and service delivery. The main objective is not only to ensure financial viability but also to enhance the efficiency and transparency of the healthcare system.

Key features of the health insurance scheme

Coverage of Rs 25 lakh per family per year for medical expenses

Cashless treatment at network hospitals across the state

Inclusion of 3,257 medical procedures covered under Dr NTR Vaidya Seva scheme

Reduction in pre-authorisation time for medical treatments from 24 hours to 6 hours

Faster claims processing and fraud detection to ensure transparency

Introduction of a hybrid insurance model involving private insurers

The state government has carefully designed this policy to ensure that families receive timely and quality medical care without financial stress. By partnering with private insurers, the administration aims to improve claim settlement processes and hospital service efficiency.

Governments vision for the scheme

The Andhra Pradesh government envisions a healthcare system where no family is left without medical coverage. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has emphasised the importance of making quality healthcare accessible, especially for economically weaker sections. According to Minister Satya Kumar Yadav, this initiative is not merely an election promise but a well-planned effort to streamline health insurance operations and reduce administrative delays.

The hybrid insurance model is expected to distribute financial risk between the government and private insurers, ensuring that the scheme remains sustainable in the long run. Additionally, the initiative is expected to boost public confidence in government healthcare schemes, encouraging more people to opt for state-funded medical services rather than private insurance policies.

How the scheme will improve healthcare accessibility

The launch of this statewide health insurance programme will significantly improve access to quality healthcare in Andhra Pradesh. Some of the key areas where this scheme will make a difference include:

Affordable medical care  Families will no longer have to worry about high medical expenses, as hospitalisation and treatments will be covered under the scheme.

Better healthcare facilities  With assured government-backed payments, hospitals are expected to provide better care and upgrade medical infrastructure.

Reduction in administrative delays  Claim processing times will be minimised, enabling faster access to treatments.

Enhanced trust in public healthcare  Citizens will be encouraged to use government healthcare services instead of relying on expensive private hospitals.

With faster pre-authorisation times, hospitalisation and emergency medical care will become more accessible. This is expected to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, particularly for low-income families.

Financial structure of the scheme

The financial framework for this health insurance programme has been carefully planned to ensure its long-term sustainability. According to Minister Yadav, the funding structure involves both government contributions and private sector participation. The scheme has provisions for:

Refunds to the government if the total claims are lower than the agreed-upon premium

Insurance companies covering up to 15% of excess claims beyond the premium amount

The remaining excess costs being shared between the government and insurers

Additionally, the government is working on premium structures for Above Poverty Line (APL) individuals to ensure that all sections of society have access to affordable family health insurance.

Faster claims processing and fraud detection

One of the most significant advantages of this scheme is the emphasis on faster claims processing and fraud prevention. The pre-authorisation time for hospital services will be reduced from 24 hours to 6 hours, ensuring that patients receive medical attention without unnecessary delays.

The introduction of private insurance companies will also help in:

Strengthening fraud detection systems to prevent misuse of the scheme

Ensuring timely and hassle-free claim settlements

Encouraging hospitals to provide better services through assured payments

The streamlined claim process will enhance hospital trust in government-backed insurance, making more healthcare institutions willing to participate in the scheme.

Potential impact on the healthcare system

The Rs 25 lakh health insurance scheme is expected to significantly strengthen the public healthcare system in Andhra Pradesh. With more families gaining access to free and cashless medical treatment, the state aims to achieve:

Increased hospital admissions in government and network hospitals

Encouragement of preventive healthcare practices, reducing emergency cases

Improved infrastructure in hospitals due to timely and guaranteed payments

Increased public confidence in the state-sponsored healthcare system

The schemes hybrid model also means that insurance companies will be actively involved in monitoring the efficiency of service delivery, making the entire system more accountable and transparent.

Conclusion

The Andhra Pradesh government's Rs 25 lakh family health insurance scheme is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at making quality healthcare accessible to every family. With its cashless treatment model, reduced claim processing time, and fraud detection measures, the scheme is expected to transform healthcare delivery across the state.

By integrating private insurance companies, the government has ensured efficient claim processing, hospital payments, and transparency. This scheme not only provides financial security to families but also strengthens public healthcare services in Andhra Pradesh.

As the government finalises the implementation plan, this initiative is set to become a model for state-sponsored health insurance across India, providing affordable, efficient, and quality healthcare to millions of people.
Karnataka Government allocates Rs 57 Cr to rebuild Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre after fire damage

March 11, 2025 | Tuesday | News

Funding includes Rs 20 crore earmarked for FY26 to restore the biotech incubation hub in Electronics City

The Government of Karnataka has allocated Rs 57 crore for the reconstruction of the Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre (BBC), which suffered extensive damage due to a fire on January 14, 2025. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during the Karnataka Budget 2025, reinforcing the states commitment to revitalizing its biotech ecosystem.

Located in Electronics City, the Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre serves as a vital incubation hub for biotechnology startups and research initiatives. The fire caused severe damage to high-end laboratory equipment and valuable research materials, disrupting the progress of numerous startups and research projects. Recognizing the centres critical role in Karnatakas biotech sector, the government has prioritized its restoration.

Of the Rs 57 crore allocated, 20 crore has been specifically earmarked for FY26 to facilitate phased reconstruction and re-equipment of the centre. This financial commitment underscores the governments dedication to fostering innovation, supporting biotech entrepreneurs, and strengthening Karnatakas position as a global biotechnology hub.

The Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre has been instrumental in advancing biopharma, agritech, medtech, and industrial biotech solutions. The reconstruction efforts will not only restore lost infrastructure but also upgrade facilities to better serve the next generation of biotech innovators.


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Bradford Area School District is beginning its pre-kindergarten and kindergarten registration processes for the 2025-26 school year.

Children who are 4 years old on or before Sept. 1 are eligible to apply for pre-kindergarten. Certain criteria must be met to qualify for enrollment in Pre-K Counts as it is a needs-based program, school representatives noted.

Children who are 5 years old on or before Sept. 1 are eligible to enroll in kindergarten. Kindergarten clinics will be held April 28 to 30 by appointment.

Call GGB at (814) 362-6834 to request a registration packet via postal mail.
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Talk is cheap, but moving is expensive. Thats why its worth looking at which states attract the most new residents.

Last month, StorageCafe, a listing service for storage facilities, released a study on domestic migration. Using U.S. census data, it found the top states for new residents were overwhelmingly run by Republicans.

Texas topped the list, netting 138,000 new residents. Florida was a close second with a net gain of 137,000. North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia rounded out the top five. The only blue state in the top 10 was Colorado. Arizona, which came in at sixth, might be considered a swing state, but it has a long history of Republican governance.

Most movers are coming from blue states. Unsurprisingly, California led that list, losing nearly 260,000 net residents in 2023. The rest of the top five were bright blue states  New York, Illinois, New Jersey and Maryland.

Many outgoing Californians were heading to states like Texas, Arizona and Nevada, where housing markets are far more affordable. These migrants often gain access to larger or more luxurious homes or can maintain similar lifestyles while saving significantly, the study found.

The winning states capitalize on a combination of affordability, economic opportunity and lifestyle appeal, the report noted. It continued, Many of these states also feature lower tax burdens, job growth in emerging industries like tech and health care and an overall lower cost of living.

These results didnt happen by accident. Red states generally have more market-friendly policies that allow businesses to succeed or fail based on their ability to meet customer demand. They place fewer regulatory burdens on entrepreneurs. They have lower taxes.

This is what makes red state economies more dynamic, which creates more jobs. Similar factors allow companies to build more housing in red states. That helps keep homebuying more affordable even as demand increases. Companies in California have the technical know-how to build housing but are often hindered by regulations that prevent or slow construction.

Yes, some of this is related to long-established migration patterns involving cold weather locales and Sun Belt states. But there is no mistaking the consequences that many Democratic bastions have brought upon themselves with their embrace of heavy-handed regulatory and tax policies and their fealty to public-sector unions.

The good news for blue states is that they can reverse their decline by re-evaluating those policies. The bad news is that they show few signs of doing so.

 From Tribune News Service
Companies operating in Ireland need to hold the nerve in the face of threatened US tariffs, the Taoiseach has told a major conference in Texas.

Micheal Martin has said he will tell president Donald Trump that there is a two-way street of investment between the US and Ireland when they meet later this week.

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Amid heightened concern that the presidents protectionist approach to tariffs and tax could pose a significant risk to an Irish economy that is in large part sustained by long-standing investment by US multinationals, Mr Martin will also seek to promote the virtues of the US-Ireland relationship which he said is a bit more complex than gets presented by figures.

Mr Martin will hold talks with Mr Trump in the Oval Office on Wednesday, but he began his traditional St Patricks programme of engagements in the US with a visit to Austin, Texas  a state the Taoiseach said had witnessed a new wave of Irish investment with 120 Irish companies creating about 4,000 jobs.

The Fianna Fail leader said he wanted to use the trip to highlight the enduring nature of the US-Irish economic relationship.

Mr Martin initially declined to be drawn on questions about how he intended to handle the meeting with Mr Trump in Washington DC, insisting he was taking his visit day by day and that his focus on Monday was on engagements in Austin, including a meeting with Republican state governor Greg Abbott.

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I represent the country, the people of Ireland, and I am very, very conscious that in a very challenging world, thousands and thousands of jobs depend on the economic relationship between the United States and Ireland, he added.

And my overriding objective is to copper fasten that for the time ahead and to protect those people who are working in jobs. And that is very important.

Pressed on his strategy for the meeting with Mr Trump, Mr Martin said: Our strategy really is to  notwithstanding all the commentary  bring home the idea that (the US has) an enduring, robust presence in Ireland and the relationship is a very strong one that we want to see grow into the future.

However, he later revealed his main emphasis for the meeting when he appeared for a fireside chat at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival: How its a two-way street will be the main point Id be making.

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Its not just American investment in Ireland, its Irish investment in America as well.

We are buying a lot of stuff, a lot of American products. We have a lot of Irish companies based here that will grow, and that will continue to grow.

Mr Martin also urged companies with investments in Ireland not to react too quickly to the threat of Mr Trump imposing 25% tariffs on the EU, adding that they should see how the land settles.

He said: Hold the nerve, this is a period weve got to navigate.

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The Taoiseach also argued that Ireland is a powerful base for US companies to access the European single market.

Elsewhere, he said that Ryanair and AerCaps purchase of Boeing aircraft is not captured in the US Department of Commerce figures and that Irelands high standards in life sciences are beneficial to US pharmaceutical companies.

Micheal Martin speaking to the media in Austin (Niall Carson/PA)

Earlier on his Monday itinerary, Mr Martin visited US multinational tech companies Dell and Tricentis, with the latter announcing plans to hire 50 additional staff in its Cork base over the coming years.

Meetings of this kind very often can sow a seed for future investments, he said.

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To bring home to the companies the strength of what Ireland has to offer in terms of a stable political environment, a very clear investment framework, and also then in terms of human capital.

Mr Martin said Ireland had a strong position as a member of the European Union to attract the right employees to meet the objectives of companies investing in the country.

For the Irish creative sector, the Taoiseach told a different SXSW panel that Ireland can offer filmmakers competitive tax incentives, funding supports and excellent production facilities.

That event was staged at the Marlow bar in downtown Austin, which the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs has rebranded as Ireland House for the festival.

There, Mr Martin also met companies that were supported by the Enterprise Ireland development agency and spoke at a pop-up Gaeltacht aimed at promoting the Irish language.

Mondays packed itinerary concluded back at the same venue where the Irish consulate in Austin hosted a St Patricks reception.

The Taoiseach earlier insisted that the US remained an indispensable partner at a time of great peril in the world.

Mr Martin and Mr Trump are expected to discuss a range of issues on Wednesday, including the war in Ukraine and the situations in the Middle East and Northern Ireland.

The Taoiseach will later present Mr Trump with the traditional shamrock bowl in the White House, extending St Patricks Day greetings from the people of Ireland to the people of the US

A host of Irish Government ministers will also travel to the US, including Tanaiste Simon Harris, who will visit Philadelphia and New York, at a time described as a key juncture in European-US relations.

First Minister Michelle ONeill (right) and deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly (Liam McBurney/PA)

Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle ONeill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly will lead an NI Chamber business delegation to North Carolina on Monday.

Ms Little-Pengelly will later travel alone to Washington DC for engagements.

Ms ONeill and Sinn Fein party colleagues are not travelling to Washington as part of a principled stance against the threat of mass expulsion of the Palestinian people from Gaza.
Tributes are being paid to a young DJ who lost his life in a car crash in Co Galway on Sunday night.

Evan Kilmartin (22) from Indreabhan was a well-known DJ in Co Galway who performed regularly at several venues throughout the county. He also worked as the bar manager at Connemara Coast Hotel.

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Locals said he was an exceptionally kind hearted man after he organised a head shaving event fundraiser for Cancer Care West in April 2023.

Evan shaved his own head for the event, raising 5,437. Locals said his parents Seamus and Angela were being comforted by locals on Monday night.

Paying tribute one friend said: "Evan, it was a privilege of knowing you while I was living in Spiddal. You were the sweetest lad, such a kind young man, taken way too soon. Life can be so cruel. May your gentle soul rest easy. Absolutely heartbroken. Thinking of your family."

A Garda spokesman said: "Gardai are appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic collision in Bearna, Co. na Gaillimhe last night, Sunday 9th March 2025.

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Ireland Young man (20s) killed after three-car collision i... Read More

"Gardai and emergency services were alerted to a collision involving three cars on the R336 at approximately 11:25pm.

"The driver of one of the cars, a male in his 20s, was pronounced deceased at the scene. His body was removed from the scene to the mortuary at University Hospital Galway, where a post-mortem examination is due to take place."

Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward. They said: "Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area at the time are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardai.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Bothar na Tra (Salthill) Garda Station on 091 514 720, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station."
Two boys who were aged 13 and 15 when they allegedly raped a 16-year-old girl in a car during a St Stephens Day race meeting have gone on trial in Cork.

A sitting of the Central Criminal Court in the city heard that the teenagers, who are now 15 and 17, allegedly raped and sexually assaulted a secondary school student in a car at Limerick race course in Patrickswell, Co Limerick, on December 26th, 2022.

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A third teenager, who is now 17 but was 15 at the time of the alleged offence, is charged with aiding the abetting the two youths to commit sexual assault and rape.

He also faces a charge of falsely imprisoning the girl.

The case opened on Tuesday afternoon before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of nine women and three men.

Prosecution Senior Counsel, Dean Kelly, gave the jury a brief outline of the evidence that is expected in the case. However, he emphasised that this was a thumbnail sketch and not evidence in itself.

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He said that the girl went to the house of a friend on December 26th 2022 in order to get dressed for the races.

He indicated that it was the type of race meeting which doubled as a social occasion and involved the donning of the best dresses and suits of attendees. Some drinks were had and the friends got a taxi to Patrickswell.

Mr Kelly said that the three accused youths were at the racecourse on the day of the alleged offence. It is the case of the State that the teenagers were in the company of the complainant whom they met for the first time that day.

It is alleged that they all ended up leaving the pavilion area to go to a car park in a field area.

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Mr Kelly said that it is the case of the prosecution that the first defendant had sexual intercourse against the will of the young girl. It is also alleged that the second defendant did the same with the third defendant assisting that enterprise.

He said that it was the case of the State that the intercourse and sexualised touching, which allegedly took place in a car, was not consensual.

Mr Kelly stressed the third defendant was not by his mere presence guilty of a crime. He said that it was the job of the prosecution to prove that he assisted the other two youths.

He said that standing by or doing nothing when a sexual offence was being carried out whilst abhorrent or shameful was not enough to make the youth guilty of a criminal offence.

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Some assistance must be offered by that person.

Mr Kelly said that the alleged events occurred over a period of between 20 and 40 minutes in the middle of the afternoon of December 26th, 2022.

He told the jurors that they had a difficult job to do but warned them against feeling sympathetic towards the complainant or even the accused. Mr Kelly asked that the jurors be cold and dispassionate in weighing up the evidence in the case.

Ireland HSE apologises to woman whose son killed her partn... Read More

Meanwhile, Garda Amanda Ryan of Henry Street Garda Station said in evidence that the complainant arrived at the station at 8:30 pm on December 26th, 2022 in the presence of her parents.

A complaint of rape was made. The parents of the complainant signed a consent form to facilitate her attendance at the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit.

The case will resume on Wednesday at 11 am and is expected to last up to three weeks.

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.
The Book

Destiny of Souls

Susan and her husband Ben strive to rebuild their lives following their life and death battle with the diabolical Lord Mortimer. But the couple soon realise the threat to mankinds future is far from over, as the fiendish Madam Scorpion continues Mortimers plans to build an army of soulless, ready to enslave the world at his command.

As Susan draws inspiration from the past, we meet Henry VIIIs secret seventh wife, find out what really happened at Stonehenge, cross the Atlantic to the blue haven with Sigrid the Shield-maidens Viking felag, and finally learn the horrifying truth about Mortimers wartime collaboration with the Nazis.

In the present, Susan and Bens children are embroiled in the deepening global crisis as the empty generation poses an ever-growing danger. But what soul inhabits their daughter? Is she truly evil, does she deserve to be exterminated? Or have they got the wrong girl?

While Susan makes a last attempt to save humanity, Ben races to complete a desperate mission of his own. Driven apart, each must hope the other will succeed.

The Author

Carl Bayley

Carl Bayley is a tax writer turned storyteller. He is a past chairman of the Tax Faculty of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, and former member of the institutes board and council. Carl has been writing a series of successful plain English tax guides since 2002, including, at one time, the best-selling print on demand publication in the UK. He published his first novel, Trinity of Souls, in 2024.

How The book came to be

Carl explains: The concept of doomed lovers bound together across time first came to me when a work colleague told me how she was approached in a nightclub (in Edinburgh in the 1990s) by a man who apologised for how he had apparently abandoned her in the 1640s but, as he explained, he had been killed in battle before he could return. My colleague even said she recognised him. This gave me the idea for a story about a tragic couple meeting time and again throughout the ages, but always being kept apart. I explored this concept in Trinity of Souls but wanted to explore further in this book.

I also wanted to explore more of my favourite historical periods, which hadn't made it into the first book, including Roman, Viking, and Tudor. I took the opportunity to look at the mystery of Stonehenge and speculate what might have happened there, thousands of years ago. The great joy for me in visiting all these periods was the chance to weave fact and fiction together, not contradicting history but complementing it.

Destiny of Souls also gave me the opportunity to further examine the concept of reincarnation and look at some of the things that might happen: like seeing the night your parents met, or telling your long-lost family from a past life that you're their murdered sister reborn.

Lastly, for one of Destiny's major storylines, I wanted to return to the Scottish Highlands, particularly Skye, where so much of the inspiration for The Souls Series had begun.

www.bayleytheauthor.com

RELEASE DATE: 28/03/2025 ISBN: 9781836281955 Price: 9.99

by Natalie key for www.femalefirst.co.uk


Gardai in Cork have arrested two men following an operation targeting criminal activity in the county.

The arrests were made early on Tuesday morning after an operation was put in place after gardai received intelligence relating to organised crime activity in Munster.

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It is understood that one of the men in Garda custody is suspected of having links to the Real IRA.

As part of the probe gardai are searching woodland in Carrignavar, Co Cork.

The men are being detained in different Garda stations in Cork. They can be held for an initial period of up to 12 hours.

The men, who are in their 40s, are being questioned under Section 30 of the Offences against the State Act.
A barbershop owner who left a man with a traumatic brain injury assaulted his housemate two years before this attack, a court has heard.

Craig Maples (29) of Green Briar, Verdemont, Blanchardstown, Dublin, is currently serving a seven-year sentence for violent disorder and assault causing serious harm to Austin Doherty on Main St, Mulhuddart, on July 21st 2022.

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Mr Doherty was left with limited mobility in his upper and lower limbs, requires a wheelchair for long distances and suffered a traumatic brain injury, which has left him with significant impairments, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard last year.

Last December, Maples pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm to his housemate at an address in Huntstown, Dublin 15 on January 2nd, 2020  some two years prior to his assault on Mr Doherty.

This assault had such an impact on the victim that he has since emigrated, the court heard.

Derek Cooney BL, prosecuting, told the court on Tuesday that the injured party was asleep in bed in his rented room around 1.30 am on the night in question when he was awoken by slamming doors and loud voices.

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He didn't know the name of Maples, his housemate, as he had only moved in a few weeks previously, but he shouted down to him to quieten down.

Maples immediately came upstairs and started shouting and knocking on his bedroom door. When the injured party told him to go away, Maples returned a few minutes later with two other men and kicked the door down.

One of the other men had a sock filled with heavy items, possibly coins, the court heard, and the three men set upon the injured party.

Victim Austin Doherty pictured leaving court with family. Photo: Collins Courts

They hit him six to seven times, leaving the injured party with head wounds and a badly injured arm. He phoned gardai and his landlady, who was Maples' aunt. A few minutes later, Maples returned to the bedroom, holding a knife before he left again.

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Gardai did not respond so the victim got a taxi to hospital. He had head wounds and required surgery for a fractured elbow.

In a victim impact statement before the court, he outlined how he was left homeless after the attack as he could not return to the house and was unable to work for a lengthy period.

He said he had never been out of work or homeless before and that the attack changed his life. He could no longer work as a security guard as he lost his confidence. He was sleeping on a friend's couch for a period but could not claim social welfare as he had no address.

He said he eventually emigrated to Croatia where he could afford to buy his own house, ensuring he never has to house-share again.

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The court heard that Maples was arrested, but the other two men were never identified.

Simon Matthews BL, defending, said Maples had a troubled childhood. When he was aged 12, his father murdered his uncle and was imprisoned.

Ireland Chronic backlogs in asylum system may encourage pe... Read More

Maples set up his own barbershop, Faded, in Mulhuddart, in his early twenties but struggled with addiction to prescription tablets and other drugs along with mental health issues.

Mr Matthews said his long-term girlfriend was in court to support him and he is doing well in custody.

Sentencing Maples on Tuesday, Judge Orla Crowe said Maples carried out a brutal and unjustified attack on somebody who was entitled to rent a room in a house. She said Maples had a disproportionate reaction to somebody who was simply asking him to keep the peace.

She sentenced him to two years and three months in prison, which she backdated to when he entered the guilty plea. She noted this meant he would not spend any further time in prison, but noted she was setting the sentence this way only because Maples was doing well in custody.
Cheltenham is plastered across the front pages of most Irish newspapers on Tuesday.

The Irish Times leads with a piece on the number of children being diagnosed with autism being up three-fold.

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Sinn Fein TD Thomas Gould, who was arrested in connection with fraud investigations, wants to discuss the allegations in the Dail, the Irish Examiner reports.

The Echo leads with a US tech firm with international headquarters in Cork announcing its intention to create 50 new jobs over the next five years.

Households could face charges for excessive water use this year, eight years after legislation was passed, according to the Irish Independent.

The Irish Daily Mirror leads with Lisa Thompson's murderer being jailed, after her daughter said her mother's injuries were like those "which could only be seen in horror movies".

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Cheltenham dominates the front page of today's Irish Daily Star, with the paper stating that Irish racing fans are set to wager 500 million.

The Irish Daily Mail reports that the company at the centre of the 6.7 million failed IT system fiasco at the Arts Council also oversaw two Department of Agriculture projects that ran almost 1 million over budget.

The Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) will be selling Martin The Viper Foleys home in 18 months' time unless he comes up with almost 1 million to pay off outstanding tax debts, The Herald reports.

In the UK...

A collision between two ships off the Yorkshire coast dominates Tuesdays headlines.

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The i Paper and Daily Mirror lead on the coming together of a tanker, which exploded, and a cargo ship carrying highly toxic sodium cyanide.

The Sun reports one person is missing, but 36 others were rescued from the vessels.

Tomorrow's front page: Hellfire



- Tanker full of US war jet fuel

- Cyanide aboard ship that hit it https://t.co/E3dfspMc7t pic.twitter.com/vLKVbeOM69  The Sun (@TheSun) March 10, 2025

The Times says emergency crews are fighting to avoid Britains largest environmental disaster. The oil tanker was transporting 18,000 tonnes of jet fuel.

Tuesday's TIMES: Eco-disaster fears after ships collide in North Sea#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/wSdHKEF55r  Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) March 10, 2025

The Metros front page says the incident is catastrophic.

The Daily Telegraph says farmers could be forced to sell fields for less than their potential value if they are acquired for new homes or hospitals.

The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:



'Farmers hit again in Rayner land grab'#TomorrowsPapersToday



Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4OoUh6 pic.twitter.com/MXcPyQdgfP  The Telegraph (@Telegraph) March 10, 2025

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer says Britains benefits system is the worst of all worlds as he prepares for cuts to disability payments, according to The Guardian.

Tuesday's GUARDIAN: Number of jobless 'indefensible', says PM amid criticism over cuts#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/LgHLAb0gSC  Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) March 10, 2025

The Daily Express writes more than 260 Ministry of Defence phones have gone missing in two months in what has been labelled an extraordinary security breach.

Tuesday's DAILY EXPRESS: Defence staff lose 4 phones every day#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/ycH7BDiME8  Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) March 10, 2025

The Daily Mail leads on the arrest of a migrant after crossing the English Channel.

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The Financial Times writes Wall Street plunged on Monday after US President Donald Trump refused to rule out a recession.

Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Tuesday 11 March https://t.co/do0bWnNsf3 pic.twitter.com/1Pe6IYihuz  Financial Times (@FT) March 10, 2025

Lastly, the Daily Star reports on warnings from boffins, who say AI bots will soon dominate the internet.
Incoming Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said his government will keep tariffs in place until Americans show respect and commit to free trade after US President Donald Trump threatened historic financial devastation for Canada.

Mr Carney, who will be sworn in as Justin Trudeaus replacement in the coming days, said Mr Trumps latest tariffs are an attack on Canadian workers, families, and businesses.

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His comments came hours before Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he agreed to remove a threatened surcharge on electricity to the US after a phone call from US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

My government will ensure our response has maximum impact in the US and minimal impact here in Canada, while supporting the workers impacted, Mr Carney said.

He added: My government will keep our tariffs on until the Americans show us respect and make credible, reliable commitments to free and fair trade.



Donald Trump has continued to call for Canada to become part of the United States (Ben Curtis/AP)

Mr Trump said on Tuesday that he will double his planned tariffs on steel and aluminium from 25% to 50% for Canada, escalating a trade war with the United States northern neighbour and showing an indifference to recent stock market turmoil and rising recession risks.

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Mr Trump said on social media that the increase of the tariffs set to take effect on Wednesday was a response to the price increases that the provincial government of Ontario put on electricity sold to the United States.

The US president condemned the use of electricity as a bargaining chip and threat, saying in a separate social media post on Tuesday that Canada will pay a financial price for this so big that it will be read about in History Books for many years to come!

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Tuesday afternoon that US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called him and Mr Ford agreed to remove the surcharge. He said he was confident that the US president would also stand down on his own plans for 50% tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminium.

He has to bounce it off the president but Im pretty confident he will pull back, Mr Ford said on Mr Trumps steel and aluminium tariff threat.

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By no means are we just going to roll over. What we are going to do is have a constructive conversation.

Mr Trump told reporters that he is looking at returning the steel and aluminium tariffs on Canada to 25% and would probably do so.

Asked if the United States could face a recession, Mr Trump said: I dont see it.

Mr Trump continued to call for Canada to become part of the United States as a solution, words that have infuriated Canadians.

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The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State, Mr Trump posted on Tuesday. This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear.

Canadian officials are planning retaliatory tariffs in response to Mr Trumps specific steel and aluminium tariffs and they are expected to be announced on Wednesday.

Mr Carney is referring to Canadas initial 30 billion Canadian dollars (16.2 billion) worth of retaliatory tariffs that 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, after responding to Mr Trump by raising electricity prices, said on Tuesday on MSNBC that the US people and its business leaders needed to speak up against the chaos caused by Mr Trumps launching of a trade war.

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If we go into a recession its self made by one person. Its called President Trumps recession, Mr Ford said. It shouldnt be this way. We should be booming, both countries.

Opposition federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said the tariffs are yet another betrayal by the president of the long friendship between Canada and the United States and called for retaliatory tariffs.

If President Trump is applying 50% tariffs on our steel and aluminium then Canada must hit back with 50% tariffs on all steel and aluminium imported from the United States, Mr Poilievre said in a statement.

Our message to the US administration must be clear, do not mistake our kindness for weakness, we are a strong, proud and sovereign country and we will fight back against these attacks against our economy and our workers.
Fires aboard a cargo ship and a tanker which collided in the North Sea are still raging, a UK minister said.

Matthew Pennycook said Coastguard aircraft were monitoring the site of the incident off the East Yorkshire coast.

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A search for a missing crew member from the cargo ship was called off on Monday night.

HM Coastguard said efforts to find the person from the Solong container ship had ended after an extensive search, following the ships collision with the Stena Immaculate tanker on Monday morning.

The maritime company managing the Stena Immaculate, Crowley, said the vessel was struck by the Solong while anchored off the coast of Hull, causing multiple explosions on board and Jet A-1 fuel it was carrying to be released.

Crowley said it was unclear how much fuel may have been released, but that Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel in 16 segregated cargo tanks when it was struck.

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At least one tank was ruptured, according to the company.

The tanker was operating as part of the US governments Tanker Security Programme, a group of commercial vessels that can be contracted to carry fuel for the military when needed.

(PA Graphics)

It had been anchored while it waited for a berth to become available at the Port of Killingholme, on the River Humber, Crowley said.

Ship tracking website Vesselfinder shows the tanker had departed from a port in the Peloponnese region of Greece and was heading towards Hull, while the Solong was sailing to Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

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According to reports, the Solong was carrying sodium cyanide, which can produce harmful gas when combined with water, but it was unclear if there had been any leak.

Mr Pennycook told Times Radio: We are working with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to assess the impact on water pollution.

The fire is obviously still raging.

He added: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency are well equipped to contain and disperse any oil spills.

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We dont think air quality impacts are outside of normal levels, but we will keep the situation obviously under review.

Its a fast-moving and dynamic situation, but all the necessary services are on the ground, both investigating and taking the immediate steps required.
Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested on Tuesday on a warrant from the International Criminal Court accusing him of crimes against humanity, the Philippine government said.

Duterte was detained at Manilas international airport after arriving from Hong Kong, President Ferdinand Marcoss office said in a statement.

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A plane carrying Mr Duterte left Manila en route to The Hague late on Tuesday.

The ICC has been investigating mass killings during the former presidents deadly crackdown against illegal drugs.

The government said: Upon his arrival, the prosecutor general served the ICC notification for an arrest warrant to the former president for the crime of crime against humanity. Hes now in the custody of authorities.



The Philippines government said 79-year-old former president Rodrigo Duterte is in good health (Vernon Yuen/AP)

The surprise arrest sparked a commotion at the airport, where lawyers and aides of Mr Duterte loudly protested that they, along with a doctor and lawyers, had been prevented from getting close to him after he was taken into police custody.

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This is a violation of his constitutional right, Senator Bong Go, a close Duterte ally, told reporters.

The warrant of arrest sent by the ICC to Philippine officials, a copy of which was seen by The Associated Press, said there are reasonable grounds to believe that the attack on victims was both widespread and systematic: the attack took place over a period of several years and thousands people appear to have been killed.

Mr Dutertes arrest was necessary to ensure his appearance before the court, according to the March 7 warrant, adding that the former president was expected to ignore a court summons.

It said that although Mr Duterte is no longer president, he appears to continue to wield considerable power.

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Mindful of the resultant risk of interference with the investigations and the security of witnesses and victims, the chamber is satisfied that the arrest of Mr Duterte is necessary.



Security officers patrol Manila airport after the arrest of former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte (Aaron Favila/AP)

There was no immediate comment on Mr Dutertes arrest from the court or the ICC prosecutors office.

Mr Dutertes arrest and downfall stunned the families of the victims of his bloody crackdowns against illegal drugs and drove them to tears.

This is a big, long-awaited day for justice, Randy delos Santos, the uncle of a teenager killed by police during an anti-drugs operation in August 2017 in the Manila metropolis, told the AP.

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Now we feel that justice is rolling. We hope that top police officials and the hundreds of police officers who were involved in the illegal killings should also be placed in custody and punished.

Three of the police officers who killed his nephew, Kian delos Santos, were convicted in 2018 of the high-profile murder, which prompted Mr Duterte at the time to temporarily suspend his brutal anti-drugs crackdown.

The conviction was one of at least three, so far, against law enforcers involved in the anti-drugs campaign, reflecting the concerns of families of victims of suspected extrajudicial killings that they would not get justice in the Philippines, hence, their decision to seek the help of the ICC.

It was not immediately clear where Mr Duterte was taken by the police and when he would be flown to Europe to be handed to ICC custody.

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The government said the 79-year-old former leader is in good health.



Supporters rally outside Villamor Air Base near Manila after the arrest of former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte (Aaron Favila/AP)

The ICC began investigating drugs killings under Mr Duterte from November 1 2011, when he was still mayor of the southern city of Davao, to March 16 2019, as possible crimes against humanity.

Mr Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the Rome Statute in 2019 in a move human rights activists say was aimed at escaping accountability.

The Duterte administration moved to suspend the global courts investigation in late 2021 by arguing that Philippine authorities were already looking into the same allegations, arguing that the ICC  a court of last resort  did not have jurisdiction.

Appeals judges at the ICC ruled in 2023 that the investigation could resume and rejected the Duterte administrations objections.

The court, based in The Hague in the Netherlands, can step in when countries are unwilling or unable to prosecute suspects in the most heinous international crimes, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who succeeded Mr Duterte in 2022 and became entangled in a bitter political dispute with the former president, has decided not to rejoin the global court.

But the Marcos administration said it would co-operate if the ICC asked international police to take Mr Duterte into custody through a so-called Red Notice, a request for law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and temporarily arrest a crime suspect.
Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by police at Manilas international airport on Tuesday.

He was arrested on the order of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with a case of crime against humanity filed against him, the Philippine government said.

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Mr Duterte was arrested and taken into police custody after arriving from Hong Kong, President Ferdinand Marcos office said in a statement.

Upon his arrival, the prosecutor general served the ICC notification for an arrest warrant to the former president for the crime of crime against humanity, the government statement said. Hes now in the custody of authorities.



Security officers patrol the airport after former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested in Manila (Aaron Favila/AP)

The surprise arrest sparked a commotion at the airport, where lawyers and aides of Mr Duterte loudly protested that they, along with a doctor and lawyers, were prevented from coming close to him after he was taken into police custody.

This is a violation of his constitutional right, Senator Bong Go, a close Duterte ally, told reporters.

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The Manila office of the International Police received an official copy of the arrest warrant from the global court, the government said.

It was not immediately clear where Duterte was taken by the police.

The government said the 79-year-old former leader was in good health and was examined by government doctors.

The ICC has been investigating the massive killings that happened under the former presidents deadly crackdown against illegal drugs from November 1 2011, when he was still mayor of the southern city of Davao, to March 16 2019, as possible crimes against humanity.

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He withdrew the Philippines in 2019 from the Rome Statute in a move human rights activists say was aimed at escaping accountability over the killings.

The Duterte administration moved to suspend the global courts investigation in late 2021 by arguing that Philippine authorities were already looking into the same allegations, arguing the ICC did not have jurisdiction.

Appeals judges at the ICC ruled in July 2023 that the investigation could resume and rejected the Duterte administrations objections.

Based in The Hague, the ICC can step in when countries are unwilling or unable to prosecute suspects in the most heinous international crimes, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

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President Marcos, who succeeded Mr Duterte in 2022 and became entangled in a bitter political dispute with the former president, has decided not to rejoin the global court.

But the Marcos administration has said it would co-operate if the ICC asks international police to take Duterte into custody through a so-called Red Notice, a request for law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and temporarily arrest a crime suspect.
Israeli fire has killed eight people in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, Palestinian officials said, even as a fragile ceasefire with Hamas has largely held.

Israeli strikes have killed dozens of Palestinians who the army says had approached its troops or entered unauthorised areas in violation of the January truce.

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Israel last week suspended supplies of goods and electricity to the territory of more than two million Palestinians as it tries to pressure the militant group to accept an extension of the first phase of their ceasefire, which ended on March 1.

Israel wants Hamas to release half of the remaining hostages in return for a promise to negotiate a lasting truce.

Hamas instead wants to start negotiations on the ceasefires more difficult second phase, which would see the release of remaining hostages from Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli forces and a lasting peace. Hamas is believed to have 24 living hostages and the bodies of 35 others.



Buildings destroyed during an Israeli air and ground offensive in the Gaza Strip (Leo Correa/AP)

Palestinians said settlers attacked a garage in the occupied West Bank overnight, torching three cars.

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Rafaat Sabah, the owner of the garage, said the attack was not the first. He said settlers had broken into the premises previously and stolen oil, tools and other things. This time they set fire to cars belonging to his customers, he said.

The Israeli military said it is investigating the incident.

Marwan Sabah, head of the Umm Safa village council, said settlers have recently brought livestock to graze on village lands with the aim of eventually taking them over.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said three Palestinians, including a 58-year-old woman, were killed by Israeli fire in the volatile West Bank city of Jenin on Tuesday.

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The Israeli military said troops killed two militants in an exchange of fire in Jenin and arrested 10 others. It said its forces eliminated a third militant who had fired at them during the operation and destroyed two vehicles loaded with weapons.

Israel launched a large-scale military operation centred on Jenin shortly after reaching a fragile ceasefire with Hamas in the Gaza Strip in January. Troops have destroyed homes and infrastructure, and tens of thousands of Palestinians have fled their homes across the northern West Bank.



Displaced Palestinians live in a school run by UNRWA, the UN agency helping Palestinian refugees, west of Gaza City (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)

The Gaza Health Ministry said four people have been killed by Israeli fire and another 14 injured over the past 24 hours.

The ministry said on Tuesday that rescuers have also retrieved 32 bodies from under the rubble.

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The four killed included three brothers hit by a drone strike in the central Gaza Strip on Monday and a woman killed by a drone strike in the southern city of Rafah on Tuesday, the ministry said.

The latest deaths take the overall Palestinian death toll from the war to 48,503. More than 110,000 people have been injured, according to the ministry.

The ministry says women and children make up most of the dead but does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its toll. Israel says it has killed more than 17,000 militants, without providing evidence.

The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on October 7 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251 people.

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Meanwhile, Israels deputy foreign minister, Sharren Haskel, said on Tuesday that deadly sectarian violence in neighbouring Syria amounts to ethnic cleansing and that Israel is working to prevent a threat along its border from Syrias new jihadi regime.

Israel is committed to preventing what we saw in Syria this weekend from happening on our border, she said at a news conference in Jerusalem.



Burnt-out cars in the town of Jableh following the recent wave of violence between Syrian security forces and gunmen loyal to former president Bashar Assad (Omar Albam/AP)

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said 1,130 people were killed in the clashes, including 830 civilians, most of them from former president Bashar Assads Alawite community. The Associated Press could not independently verify these numbers.

Since Islamist-led insurgents ousted Mr Assad in December, Israel has voiced concerns that the group could seize Syrian military assets and use them against it, or that instability could spill over into its territory.

Israel has deployed troops inside a buffer zone and vowed to prevent the new Syrian forces from entering the area south of Damascus.

On Tuesday, the Israeli military said its fighter jets struck military targets in southern Syria, including radars and equipment.

The Israeli prime ministers office announced on Tuesday that Israel will release five Lebanese detainees as a gesture to the new Lebanese president. The release follows a meeting Tuesday in Lebanon between representatives from Israel, Lebanon, France, and the US.

Elsewhere, China, Iran and Russia held joint naval drills in the Middle East as tensions rise between Tehran and the US.

The joint drills held on Tuesday, called the Maritime Security Belt 2025, took place in the Gulf of Oman near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all crude oil traded worldwide passes.

The area around the strait in the past has seen Iran seize commercial ships and launch suspected attacks in the time since President Donald Trump first unilaterally withdrew America from Tehrans nuclear deal with world powers.

This is the fifth year the three countries took part in the drills, which come after a months-long Iranian drill that followed a direct Israeli attack on the country, targeting its air defences and sites associated with its ballistic missile programme.
Most of the world has dirty air with just 17 per cent of cities globally meeting World Health Organisation air pollution guidelines, according to a report.

Switzerland-based air quality monitoring database IQAir analysed data from 40,000 air quality monitoring stations in 138 countries and found Chad, Congo, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India had the dirtiest air.

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India had six of the nine most polluted cities with the industrial town of Byrnihat in northeastern India the worst.

Experts said the real amount of air pollution might be far greater as many parts of the world lack the monitoring needed for more accurate data. In Africa there is only one monitoring station for every 3.7 million people.

A man walks past a sign that reads Drive carefully save life in Peshawar, Pakistan (AP)

More air quality monitors are being set up to counter the issue, said the report, which was published on Tuesday.

This year, report authors were able to incorporate data from 8,954 new locations and around a thousand new monitors as a result of efforts to better monitor air pollution.

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But last week, data monitoring for air pollution was dealt a blow when the US State Department announced it would no longer make public its data from its embassies and consulates around the world.

The World Health Organisation estimates that air pollution kills around seven million people each year.

Several cities like Beijing, Seoul, South Korea, and Rybnik in Poland have successfully improved their air quality through stricter regulations on pollution from vehicles, power plants and industry.

They have also promoted cleaner energy and invested in public transportation.

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Another notable effort to curb severe air pollution was the Association of Southeast Asian Nations agreement on transboundary haze pollution.

Even though it has had limited success so far, 10 countries in the region pledged to work together to monitor and curb pollution from large forest fires, a common occurrence in the region during dry seasons.

Shweta Narayan, a campaign lead at the Global Climate and Health Alliance, said many of the regions witnessing the worst air pollution are also places where planet-heating gases are released extensively through the burning of coal, oil and gas.

Slashing planet-warming emissions to slow the heating up of the planet can also improve air quality, she said.

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Air pollution and climate crisis are two sides of the same coin, she said.
The chief executive of Japanese car giant Nissan, Makoto Uchida, is stepping down after the company reported dismal financial results.

Nissan Motor Corp said in a statement on Tuesday that Ivan Espinosa, who is currently the companys chief planning officer, will take Mr Uchidas place, effective from April 1.

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Mr Espinosa, who joined Nissan in 2003, has spent much of his Nissan career in Mexico and Southeast Asia, overseeing product planning, including the drive towards electric vehicles.





I sincerely believe that Nissan has so much more potential than what were seeing today, he told reporters, while stressing that he needs time to come up with details for a turnaround.

He stressed his love for Nissan, noting he has developed a deep understanding of what makes the company unique and valuable.

Nissan said the company leadership needs to be renewed to achieve long-term growth.

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Mr Uchida, who remains as a director, expressed confidence in Mr Espinosa as a real car guy, and stressed he is handing over the baton of leadership to better unify company ranks.





I am confident that Nissan will definitely make a comeback, he said, appearing at a hastily called news conference with Mr Espinosa.

Speculation about Mr Uchidas future had been rife after he called off talks last month with Japanese rival Honda Motor Co, announced late last year, to set up a joint holding company to integrate its businesses.

At the time, he told reporters the focus of the talks had changed to making Nissan into a Honda subsidiary, which he denounced as unacceptable.

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He also said their strategic partnership to realise synergies on specific projects like electric vehicles and other research will continue.

Nissan is projecting a loss of 80 billion yen (421 million) for the full year to the end of this month.

Asked about talks with Honda and other possible partnerships, Mr Espinosa declined to comment, saying he needs more time.

During Mr Uchidas more than five years at Nissans helm, sales faltered, including in key markets like the US and China. He also announced earlier that the company is slashing 9,000 jobs.

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The pioneering Nissan Leaf electric car was launched in 2010 (John Walton/PA)

It is a sad development for the maker of the Z sportscar, loved around the world, and the Leaf electric car, a pioneer in that sector which was launched in 2010.

Mr Uchida joined Nissan in 2003, job-hopping from major Japanese trading company Nissho Iwai, and worked with Nissans alliance partner, Renault SA of France, before overseeing Nissans China operations.

Nissan was rescued from near bankruptcy by Renault in 1999.

In 2018, Carlos Ghosn, the former superstar executive sent in by Renault, was arrested by Japanese authorities on various financial misconduct charges, including under-reporting his compensation. He later fled Japan for Lebanon.

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Nissans tarnished corporate image after the Ghosn fiasco was a major challenge, Mr Nishida said, as were the Covid-19 pandemic and broader shifts in the motor industry.



Nissans new driverless vehicle moves along a street in Yokohama (Nissan Motor Corp/AP)

Apart from Mr Uchidas departure as chief executive, Nissan announced other sweeping managerial changes, including giving an expanded role to Guillaume Cartier, its chief performance officer, in global marketing and customer experience.

Eiichi Akashi, corporate vice president of the vehicle planning and vehicle component engineering division, has been named chief technology officer, succeeding Kunio Nakaguro.

Teiji Hirata, a corporate vice president, will become chief monozukuri officer and executive officer, responsible for manufacturing and supply chain management, replacing Hideyuki Sakamoto.

Chief financial officer Jeremy Papin has also been appointed as an executive officer.

There is no change for Stephen Ma, who serves as chairman of Nissans management committee in China.
The Book

The Novel Paris Paris after the Nazi occupation

When Steff finds an old photo of two young girls in his attic, he uncovers the existence of his mothers sister, Celeste, who left their family during the Second World War.

Intrigued by his mothers secrecy, Steff leaves his hometown of Aberystwyth to work in Paris in the 1970s, embarking on a quest to find out what happened to Celeste. Hes met with walls of silence from his grandparents, and frustration at every turn. Steff begins to investigate the plight of the Parisian Jews in the 1940s, and is shocked to find theres also a shroud of mystery surrounding their fate.

Will he be able to put the jigsaw pieces together?

The Author

Author Brian Jarman

Brian Jarman was born on a farm in Wales, the joint youngest of five brothers. He studied in London, Paris and Cardiff, and was chief feature writer for the South Wales Argus. He then worked for BBC radio, and public radio in America. Brian has published five novels, and has a publishing consultancy.

How The Book Came To Be

Brian explains: When I was a teacher in France in the 1970s I was astonished that so little was taught about the deportation of Jews from the country in the 1940s. My curiosity was piqued when I read my friend Carmen Callils book Bad Faith a couple of years ago.

I started reading around the subject and visiting Jewish memorials and archives in Paris, and discovered that one of the major round-ups was in the 11th arrondissement in Paris, which I know very well. It was this area too that bore the brunt of the November 2015 attacks by the Islamic State cell which killed and injured hundreds of people, mainly young concert-goers. So Parisian Shadows was a book I had to write as it had that compelling element of hidden history on your doorstep.

It's real and emotional. It's funny and alive. Self-reflective, perceptive, literary, affectionate, witty - all that. - Victoria Neumark-Jones. Literary journalist and lecturer about previous novel Saturdays are Black or White

RELEASE DATE: 28/03/2025 ISBN: 9781836282310 Price: 9.99

What we thought

A gripping and very moving novel based around the wartime occupation of Paris that continues after the war years through Steff's search of discovery. a truely moving story that will move you emotionally. Female First

by Natalie key for www.femalefirst.co.uk


Polls have opened in Greenland for early parliamentary elections as US President Donald Trump seeks control of the strategic Arctic island.

The self-governing region of Denmark is home to 56,000 people, most from indigenous Inuit backgrounds, and occupies a strategic North Atlantic location.

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It also contains rare earth minerals key to driving the global economy.

A woman votes in Greenlands parliamentary elections (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

Unofficial election results should be available soon after polls close at 2200 GMT on Tuesday, but they will not be certified for weeks as ballot papers make their way to the capital, Nuuk, from remote settlements by boat, plane and helicopter.

While the island has been on a path towards independence since at least 2009, a break from Denmark is not on the ballot even though it is on everyones mind.

Instead, voters on Tuesday will elect 31 politicians who will shape the islands debate on when and if to declare independence in the future.
The Russian military has said its air defences shot down 337 Ukrainian drones over 10 Russian regions overnight in what appears to be the biggest Ukrainian drone attack on Russia in three years, hours before key Ukraine-US talks were due to start.

The attack, which killed one person and injured several others, came as a Ukrainian delegation was to meet Americas top diplomat in Saudi Arabia about ending the three-year war with Russia.

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There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian officials on the attack.



An apartment outside Moscow damaged by a shot-down Ukrainian drone (Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyev official Telegram channel/AP)

The talks in Saudi Arabia reflect a new diplomatic push after an unprecedented argument erupted during President Volodymyr Zelenskys visit to the White House on February 28.

Most of the drones  126  were shot down over the Kursk region across the border from Ukraine, parts of which Kyivs forces control, and 91 were shot down over the Moscow region, according to a statement by Russias Defence Ministry.

Other regions listed in the statement included Belgorod, Bryansk and Voronezh on the border with Ukraine, and those deeper inside Russia, such as Kaluga, Lipetsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Oryol and Ryazan.

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Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said more than 70 drones targeted the Russian capital and were shot down as they were flying towards it.

Andrei Vorobyov, governor of the Moscow region surrounding the capital, said one person was killed and nine others were injured in the attack, which also damaged several residential buildings and a number of cars.

Another person was wounded on a highway in the Lipetsk region, governor Igor Artamonov said.



An apartment building where a downed Ukrainian drone fell in Sapronovo village, outside Moscow (AP)

Mayor Sobyanin said the roof of a building in Moscow suffered damage, which he described as insignificant. Footage of the building, published by RIA Novosti, showed a charred spot on the facade of a multi-storey residential building near the roof, with bits of the buildings lining stripped off.

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Flights have been temporarily restricted in and out of six airports, including Domodedovo, Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo and Zhukovsky just outside Moscow, and airports in the Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod regions.

Train traffic through the Domodedovo railway station in the Moscow region has also been briefly halted, local officials reported.

Local authorities also reported downing drones in the Tula and Vladimir regions adjacent to the Moscow region. It was not immediately clear why those regions were not mentioned in the Defence Ministrys statement.



A police officer patrols near an apartment building where a downed Ukrainian drone fell in Sapronovo village, outside Moscow (AP)

In the Saudi city of Jeddah, there was no immediate US response to the drone barrage as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his delegation, including national security adviser Mike Waltz, were preparing to meet Mr Zelenskys team.

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Ukraine is expected to propose a ceasefire covering the Black Sea and long-range missile strikes, as well as the release of prisoners, according to two senior Ukrainian officials.

The officials also said Kyiv is ready to sign an agreement with the United States on access to Ukraines rare earth minerals  a deal that President Donald Trump is keen to secure.

On his plane to Jeddah, Mr Rubio said the US delegation will not be proposing any specific measures to secure an end to the three-year conflict but rather wants to hear from Ukraine about what they would be willing to consider.





Im not going to set any conditions on what they have to or need to do, he told reporters accompanying him. I think we want to listen to see how far theyre willing to go and then compare that to what the Russians want and see how far apart we truly are.

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Mr Rubio said the rare earths and critical minerals deal could be signed during the meeting but stressed it is not a pre-condition for the United States to move ahead with discussions with either Ukraine or the Russians.

He said it may, in fact, make more sense to take some time to negotiate the precise details of the agreement, which is now a broad memorandum of understanding that leaves out many specifics.
Senior officials from Ukraine and the United States opened talks on Tuesday on how to end Moscows three-year war against Kyiv, hours after Russian air defences shot down more than 300 Ukrainian drones in the biggest such attack since the Kremlin ordered the full-scale invasion of its neighbour.

Two people were killed and 18 others injured, including three children, in the massive drone attack that spanned 10 Russian regions, officials said. No large-scale damage was reported.

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Meanwhile, Russia launched 126 Shahed and other drones and a ballistic missile at Ukraine on Tuesday, the Ukrainian air force said, as part of Moscows relentless pounding of civilian areas during the war.





In the Red Sea port city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, journalists briefly entered a room where a senior Ukrainian delegation met Americas top diplomat for talks on ending Europes biggest conflict since the Second World War.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio smiled for the cameras, while Ukrainian officials sat expressionless at a table across from them as the meeting got under way at a luxury hotel.

There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian or US officials on the drone attack.

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Saudi Arabias foreign minister was on hand for the talks, with American, Saudi and Ukrainian flags in the background. Officials answered no shouted questions.

The talks reflect a new diplomatic push after an unprecedented argument erupted during President Volodymyr Zelenskys visit to the White House on February 28.

Ukrainian officials told The Associated Press on Monday that they will propose a ceasefire covering the Black Sea, which would bring safer shipping, as well long-range missile strikes that have hit civilians in Ukraine, and the release of prisoners.

The Kremlin has not publicly offered any concessions. Russia has said it is ready to cease hostilities on condition Ukraine drops its bid to join Nato and recognises regions that Moscow occupies as Russian.

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A police officer patrols near an apartment building where a downed Ukrainian drone fell in Sapronovo village, outside Moscow (AP)

Russian forces have held the battlefield momentum for more than a year and are pushing at selected points along the 600-mile (1,000km) front line, especially in the eastern Donetsk region.

Most of the Ukrainian drones fired overnight  126  were shot down over the Kursk region across the border from Ukraine, parts of which Kyivs forces control, and 91 were shot down over the Moscow region, according to a statement from mRussias Defence Ministry.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said more than 70 drones targeted the Russian capital and were shot down as they were flying towards it  the biggest single attack on the city in the war so far.

Other attacked regions listed in the statement included Belgorod, Bryansk and Voronezh on the border with Ukraine, and those deeper inside Russia, such as Kaluga, Lipetsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Oryol and Ryazan.

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The governor of the Moscow region surrounding the capital, Andrei Vorobyov, said the attack damaged several residential buildings and a number of cars.

Another person was wounded on a highway in the Lipetsk region, governor Igor Artamonov said.



An apartment building where a downed Ukrainian drone fell in Sapronovo village, outside Moscow (AP)

Mayor Sobyanin said the roof of a building in Moscow also suffered damage, which he described as insignificant.

Footage of the building, published by RIA Novosti, showed a charred spot on the facade of a multi-storey residential building near the roof, with bits of the buildings lining stripped off.

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Flights were temporarily restricted in and out of six airports, including Domodedovo, Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo and Zhukovsky just outside Moscow, and airports in the Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod regions.

Train traffic through the Domodedovo railway station in the Moscow region has also been briefly halted, local officials reported.

Local authorities also reported downing drones in the Tula and Vladimir regions adjacent to the Moscow region. It was not immediately clear why those regions were not mentioned in the Defence Ministrys statement.

In Jeddah, Mr Rubio and his delegation, including national security adviser Mike Waltz, were preparing to meet Mr Zelenskys team.



Firefighters put out a blaze following a Russian drone attack that hit warehouses in Odesa, Ukraine (Michael Shtekel/AP)

Two senior Ukrainian officials said Kyiv is ready to sign an agreement with the United States on access to Ukraines rare earth minerals  a deal President Donald Trump is keen to secure.

On his plane to Jeddah, Mr Rubio said the US delegation will not be proposing any specific measures to secure an end to the three-year conflict but rather wants to hear from Ukraine about what they would be willing to consider.

Im not going to set any conditions on what they have to or need to do, he told reporters accompanying him. I think we want to listen to see how far theyre willing to go and then compare that to what the Russians want and see how far apart we truly are.

Mr Rubio said the rare earths and critical minerals deal could be signed during the meeting but stressed it is not a pre-condition for the United States to move ahead with discussions with either Ukraine or the Russians.

He said it may, in fact, make more sense to take some time to negotiate the precise details of the agreement, which is now a broad memorandum of understanding that leaves out many specifics.
A top Romanian court on Tuesday rejected an appeal by far-right politician Calin Georgescu to lift a ban on his candidacy in the presidential rerun.

He won the first round of last years race before the same court annulled the election.

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The ruling by the Constitutional Court in the capital Bucharest, which was unanimous, came two days after the Central Election Bureau rejected Mr Georgescus candidacy for the May election.

It was not immediately clear on what grounds the court made Tuesdays decision, which is final.

Hundreds of Georgescu supporters who had gathered near the court, many waving Romanian flags, responded by chanting Thieves!.



Supporters of Calin Georgescu react during a protest after Romanias Constitutional Court upheld a ban on his candidacy in the presidential election rerun, in Bucharest, Romania (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

The bureau had cited in its decision on Sunday the Constitutional Courts ruling last year to cancel the elections after allegations of electoral violations and that Russia had run a co-ordinated online campaign to promote Mr Georgescu, who ran as an independent.

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The decision to cancel the election was made two days before the December 8 runoff.

Mr Georgescu had denounced his ban on Sunday as a direct blow to the heart of democracy worldwide and said: Europe is now a dictatorship, Romania is under tyranny!

The courts decision on Tuesday is likely to inflame tensions in the European Union and in the Nato member country, which has been gripped by a protracted political crisis since the election was cancelled last year.

The first round of the rerun is scheduled for May 4. If no candidate wins more than 50% of the ballots, a runoff will follow on May 18.

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Romanias far-right  which holds about a third of seats in the countrys legislature  will likely seek to replace Mr Georgescus candidacy, the deadline for which is March 15 at midnight.





Many observers have speculated that his close political ally, George Simion, could take up the mantle.

We will decide tonight what is happening next because we are facing a huge blow against democracy and the rule of law, Mr Simion, the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, told The Associated Press after the ruling on Tuesday.

There is no democracy in Romania, (I) hope we will restore it.

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The courts final decision came after prosecutors launched a criminal investigation against Mr Georgescu last month, accusing him of incitement to actions against the constitutional order, supporting fascist groups and false declarations of electoral campaign funding and asset disclosures.

Before the November 24 election, Mr Georgescu, who is under judicial control and has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, had polled in the single digits and declared zero campaign spending.

Allegations quickly emerged of electoral violations and Russian interference. Moscow denied that it had meddled in the election.

Mr Georgescu has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and questioned Ukraines statehood in the past, but says he is not pro-Russia.

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Romanias decision to annul the election, and this weeks ban on Mr Georgescus candidacy in the redo, has been strongly criticised by US Vice President JD Vance, Elon Musk and Moscow.

Russian state news agency Tass quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Tuesday that any election without Mr Georgescus participation will have no legitimacy.

That remark came a day after Mr Musk asked in a post on his X account: How can a judge end democracy in Romania?

Elena Lasconi, the leader of the Save Romania Union party, who was set to face Mr Georgescu in the scheduled runoff last year, said after the courts decision that Romanians need to regain their confidence in the institutions and that We are more divided than ever.

I understand that some people are angry and others are happy about this decision, she wrote on Facebook.

But we cannot celebrate without thinking that there are still consequences: frustration, deepening divisions and growing distrust in our institutions  Our democracy is fragile and such a decision should remain an exception, not a rule.
Clive Palmers Trumpet of Patriots party has pledged to spend more than the record $100 million that his previous political party spent at the 2022 federal election, as transgender advocacy groups voice outrage over a series of political ads published in major newspapers.

Transgender Victoria has called on Palmers party to retract the dangerous and hateful ad that ran in several newspapers on Tuesday, including The Australian, and to apologise, warning of the history of self-harm caused by transphobic comments. The Age, owned by Nine Entertainment, is running the ad on Wednesday.

Clive Palmer holding a press conference to launch his new political party in February. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

The print ad says in large font: There are only two genders  male and female. It then warns, we must stop confusing children in schools and give them a normal, safe environment to grow up in.

Trumpet of Patriots should retract this campaign and apologise  or acknowledge they will have our blood on their hands, Transgender Victoria chief executive Son Vivienne told this masthead.
But barely two months into the second Trump administration, 1789 Capital is in a position like few others. Based in Palm Beach, two miles from Mar-a-Lago, the firm today sits near the epicentre of Trumpworld with ties both broad and deep. It was co-founded three years ago by Omeed Malik, an outspoken Trump donor and former Bank of America executive; Chris Buskirk, who established the Rockbridge Network, a powerful conservative advocacy group, with now-Vice President J.D. Vance; and Republican mega-donor Rebekah Bekah Mercer, the force behind Steve Bannons conservative Breitbart network and daughter of hedge-fund magnate Robert Mercer. Loading The idea for 1789 was hatched over coffee at a 2022 Palm Beach gathering of the Rockbridge Network, the secretive group of wealthy technology executives and allies thats become a major force within the Republican Partys donor class. In Maliks telling, the three co-founders and Blake Masters, a Peter Thiel protege and Trump-backing Republican who was then running for Senate, were discussing government overreach and how to use the financial industry to preserve freedom.

We knew that we represented the silent majority, Malik says. So they founded their own investment firm and named it after the year the Bill of Rights was introduced (Masters is on the board). Trump Jr, 47, formally signed on in November, less than week after his father won the White House again. The move took many in Washington by surprise: Beltway insiders had expected him to stay close to the administration given his role in championing Vance for vice president. He says he hasnt been to the White House since inauguration. There are people who have become MAGA more recently  and I dont know they actually believe. Donald Trump Jr Trump Jr says he can sniff out posers and opportunists and separate in-name-only supporters from the true MAGA faithful. He says America First bona fides  or, conversely, any sign of doubt  can make or break a deal. Ive turned down major deals where the ethoses dont align, Trump Jr says. There are people who have become MAGA more recently  and I dont know they actually believe.

1789 declined an invite to invest in OpenAI, for one; partly because of Musks ongoing feud with founder Sam Altman, partly because he donated to Joe Bidens 2024 campaign, according to people familiar with the matter. Recent overtures by Altman toward the administration havent swayed the firms view. As Trump Jr puts it: Authenticity is needed to thrive. Money magnet Trump Jrs role at 1789 will be a sort of MAGA magnet, sourcing deals as well as investors into the firm. Before his father returned to the White House, 1789 had raised roughly $US200 million, a pittance by Wall Street standards. Early backers include Marc Andreessen, a prominent venture capitalist whos helped nudge Silicon Valley to the right; and Clay Travis, figurative heir to right-wing talk radio star Rush Limbaugh. Since Inauguration Day, 1789 has pulled in $US500 million more and its investors now number about 30. Its aiming to collect $US1 billion for its first fund by mid-2025 and then $US3-$US5 billion for a second fund next year, according to a person familiar with the efforts. (1789 declined to comment on any of its fundraising plans.) Among the clients it hopes to woo: endowments and public pensions in Republican-controlled states.

Were building a large, multi-strategy asset manager, Malik, 45, says. Its an open lane. While focused on growth equity now, hes thinking about launching a private credit vehicle and a hedge fund, too. 1789 recently added Citigroup veteran Paul Abrahimzadeh and, Malik says, is in the market for talent  but only if ideologies align. Malik, who says he voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 but flipped Republican in 2019, has become closer to the GOPs inner circle of influence, helping broker a pre-election alliance between Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr and more recently fundraising for Vivek Ramaswamys bid for Ohio governor. The anti-woke investor: Omeed Malik, co-founder and president of 1789 Capital. Credit: Bloomberg Malik likens the potential of MAGA-style investing to the late boom in the environmental, social and governance space, which conservatives deride as part of a woke liberal agenda that threatens American capitalism. And unlike those investors, hes happy to invest in weapons or fossil fuel-related companies. Still, the track record is largely unproven. 1789 has poured more than $US50 million directly across Musks xAI and SpaceX, opportunities typically reserved for deep-pocketed investors whove struck up a relationship with Musk. Representatives for the two companies didnt respond to a request for comment.

Other recent investments include a stake in Happy Dad hard seltzer, founded by right-wing YouTubers the Nelk Boys (they packaged their drink to look like a beer because we are tired of the skinny can bullsh*t) and the Enhanced Games, a start-up looking to host an Olympics-style competition where athletes are allowed to take performance-enhancing drugs. Trump Jr is particularly good at drawing and directing attention himself. With some 14.6 million X followers and another 8.9 million on Instagram, plus a podcast, he says he can bring customers and potential investors to those companies. Loading Another possible play for 1789: banking. As the Trump administration looks to ease rules in the financial industry, the firm is hunting for acquisition targets, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Republicans from the president down have complained that major US financial institutions turn away individuals and businesses for political reasons. One Trump-centric business 1789 is steering clear of is Trump Media & Technology Group, parent of Truth Social. Trump Jr sits on the board and oversees his fathers $US2.6 billion stake.

Malik says 1789 has no plans to invest alongside Trump Media and that Trump Jr will recuse himself from situations that involve dealing directly with the federal government. Malik, Buskirk and Trump Jr have been involved in startups before, and Malik is in the process of using another SPAC to take public GrabAGun, an online firearms retailer. Trump Jr is an adviser. Others have been looking to get into the business of MAGA too. Andreessen Horowitz started a fund called American Dynamism to back companies that support the national interest. And 8VC, the firm of Joe Lonsdale, the Silicon Valley investor, Trump supporter and friend of Musk, says on its website that American ideals are worth striving for. These firms have already found themselves in some of the same deals with 1789. Trump Jr, for his part, has plenty of balls in the air. In addition to his role at 1789, hes an adviser to Unusual Machines, a manufacturer of drones and related components. He and his brother Eric are also personal investors in biotech-startup-turned fintech Dominari Holdings. On top of that, he maintains his title of executive vice president at the Trump Organization.
Forgive me for being hard-headed while everyones feeling concerned and sympathetic towards those poor flooded Queenslanders and people on NSWs northern rivers, but nows the time to resolve to do something about it.

As the rain eases, the rivers go down, the prime minister flies back to Canberra and the TV news tires of showing us one more rooftop in a sea of rushing water, the temptation is to leave the locals to their days and even months of getting things back to normal, while we go back to feeling sorry for ourselves over the cost of living and waiting impatiently until the federal election is out of the way, and we stop hearing the politicians endless bickering.

Illustration by Simon Letch

But speaking of politics, lets start with Anthony Albanese. Hes been forced to abandon his plan for an April 12 election because calling an election in the middle of a cyclone would have been a very bad look.

I have no intention of doing anything that distracts from what we need to do, he told the ABC. This is not a time for looking at politics. My sole focus is not calling an election, my sole focus is on the needs of Australians  that is my sole focus.
Moz Sweeney has called a news moratorium in her Melbourne home. As the mother of four adult daughters and an education support specialist, its her way of helping her family cope with developments coming out of the United States.

I found myself struggling immensely both psychologically and emotionally with what I was consuming, and it was affecting my mental wellbeing to such a degree I removed myself from social media as well, Sweeney says.

Moz Sweeney has enforced a news blackout in her Melbourne home to safeguard her familys mental health. Credit: Joe Armao

Advocates for women in Australia are bracing for an escalation of abuse spurred by a rise in misogynistic rhetoric online that spiked after the US election last year.

An increase in the use of terms like your body, my choice and Get back in the kitchen  which jumped by 4600 per cent on social media platform X in the 24 hours after election day alone  is a concerning trend that womens health specialists and legal experts say will be felt in Australia too.
The Trump administrations decision to enforce steel and aluminium tariffs on Australia is a dog act after over a century of friendship, Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic says.

Speaking on the ABCs Afternoon Briefing, Husic said, Lets call a spade a spade.

Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

This is a dog act after over a century of friendship. Australians have stood by, and stood with, Americans for many decades. In fact, Australians have spilt blood alongside Americans in different conflicts.

We have stood together not just from a national security perspective but from an economic security perspective as well, trying to improve trade relationships between countries because it is good for economies and workers when done right. What we have seen here, what has [it] been for?

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It was important Australians stood up for the countrys industry and its history of mateship with the US, Husic said. However, one administrations decision did not undermine their friendship.

The work on the AUKUS deal, for example, showed the value of Australias commitment, Husic said.

There is no point of us pussyfooting around, and when a decision has been made contrary to our nations interest we should stand up and speak up on that.

We worked together over decades on national security and economic interest and just because one administration has made a call against that, [it] does not undermine the strength of friendship between our two countries.

We have to think into the long-term durability and strength of that, and I think that should be rated above all else.
Disgraced business tycoon Ron Brierley has been charged with child abuse offences three years after a court ruled he was too old and sick to serve time in prison.

Brierley, 87, was granted bail at Waverley Local Court on Tuesday afternoon after being charged with three counts of possessing child abuse material.

Ron Brierley has been charged for three counts of child abuse material, two years after a court quashed his prison sentence for child abuse material. Credit: Kate Geraghty

The corporate heavyweight was stripped of his knighthood and jailed in late 2021 after pleading guilty to three charges of possessing child abuse material, including images of young girls in sexualised poses.

Brierley had been stopped at Sydney airport and had his laptop searched when authorities uncovered thousands of child abuse images.
Elon Musk has blamed a "massive cyberattack from Ukraine" for the latest worldwide outage of his social media platform X.

Elon Musk has blamed a 'massive cyberattack from Ukraine' for the latest worldwide outage of his social media platform X

The 52-year-old chairman of the site made the claim during an interview about the disruption, which left thousands of users unable to post or message on the platform.

He said: "We're not sure exactly what happened but there was a massive cyberattack to try to bring down the X system with IP addresses originating in the Ukraine area."

X users across the globe reported issues on Monday (10.03.25), with the outage tracking site Downdetector logging over 10,883 reports of service failures by 9.25am.

The disruption appeared to affect major cities, including London and Birmingham in the UK, as well as New York and Los Angeles in the US.

Frustrated users turned to alternative social media platforms such as Facebook and Threads to voice their concerns, with some posting messages such as: "Can't access" and: "So it begins."

Elon's remarks have been met with scepticism, as cybersecurity experts warn IP addresses can be masked or altered to appear as though they originate from a different location.

His claim is also complicated by the hacker group 'Dark Storm Team', which has taken responsibility for the attack in a post on Telegram.

The group, which has previously targeted key business sectors in Israel and NATO member states, recently threatened cyberattacks on government websites of NATO nations, Israel, and their allies.

Elon, who is currently serving as senior advisor to US President Donald Trump, has previously expressed strong views on Ukraine.

He has supported Trump's decision to withdraw military aid from the country and last month branded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a "dictator".

In a social media post, Musk challenged Zelensky to hold a presidential election to prove his popularity.

Elon first addressed the X outage in a social media post on Monday that said: "There was (still is) a massive cyberattack against X.

"We get attacked every day, but this was done with a lot of resources. Either a large, coordinated group and/or a country is involved. Tracing... ."

Downdetector, which tracks real-time issues with online services, saw a surge in reports as the outage spread.

Many users who were already logged into the app or website encountered an error message reading: "Something went wrong, try reloading."

Elon, who bought Twitter for $44billion in 2022 before renaming it X, has made sweeping changes to the platform under his ownership.

He merged Twitter Inc. into his own company, X Corp, and introduced a "premium" subscription model offering features such as longer posts, the ability to edit tweets, and extended video uploads.

This is not the first time Downdetector has flagged major online disruptions in recent weeks.

Earlier this month, the website reported more than 5,038 Barclays customers experienced problems accessing their mobile and online banking services.

Unlike the X outage, however, Barclays attributed its technical difficulties to an internal issue rather than a cyberattack.
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 Raj Sharma was left with $17 and his life in disarray when Cyclone Yasi tore through Far North Queensland in 2011. It took years to rebuild what he had lost after the category 4 storm  his first restaurant venture was obliterated, like so many other businesses in the region. But having rebounded and forged his path in the industry once again, he has a message for those facing the aftermath of Cyclone Alfred, and the days of uncertainty ahead. Flooded homes in Tingalpa, as a result of heavy rains from ex-tropical cyclone Alfred. Credit: Dan Peled Theyre not alone, every single person is going to go through this, Sharma said. Communities like Brisbane or the Gold Coast, theyre not used to this sort of thing, so when this happens to them, I think theyre all going to come together and start supporting those businesses. It can be done, and it has in the past  Ive done it, and if I can do it anyone else can do it. Cairns has bounced back, and Im sure Brisbane is going to bounce back as well.

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Since recovering from Yasi, Sharma went on to open several restaurants in Brisbane, before residing in Mackay to launch Roshni Indian. Loading But he still vividly recalled those harrowing days in Cairns when he felt hopeless, as his first business venture was left in rubble. Courtesy of a close friends financial support, Sharma eventually made the journey to Brisbane, where his family resided, and from where they ran businesses in Ipswich. He worked, saved and re-entered the dining sector in the suburb of Toombul. Now, he has implored South East Queensland business owners to remain in communication with their landlords. In his case, his doors in Cairns were shut after his $80,000-a-week restaurant became a $1000-a-week fight for survival as the tourist-dominated economy ceased. We got to a point where we couldnt survive. We had a team of I think 60 people, and we went to a team of probably three or four. I got to a point where business pays the bills, and if business couldnt pay the bills we didnt have any money, Sharma said.

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I tried to do the right thing and paid whatever I owed to the suppliers, and basically, there was nothing left for me. Raj Sharma I remember I drove down to Brisbane with $17 in my pocket. [You cant] take it like its your fault. You just start again, and talk to your landlords and negotiate a deal. Its better to have help in place from the landlord towards the tenant rather than an empty shop. Raj Sharma with his wife and daughter. It works both ways, so if they talk to the landlords and say this is what has happened, Im sure there will be a lot of people saying we understand, lets work together and lets make this work. I tried to put my best foot forward to sponsor local clubs and started getting those locals as well, but it was very hard. The extent of Alfreds damage is still becoming clear, with Brisbane fruit and vegetable market operators beginning to get a sense of the impact on growers to the west of the city  including in the flood-prone Lockyer Valley  who were bracing for losses in the face of rising floodwater.

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There are road blockages causing a bit of havoc, said Michael Nguyen, the owner of Thai Hoa Grocer in Inala. But it seems overnight [into Tuesday] things were a bit calmer. Loading There was a lot of rain in 24 hours, but in 2022 the rain lasted a lot longer and we had zero sunlight for five days, which is a huge factor when it comes to crops. Other industries throughout South East Queensland would be waiting to assess how their outlets fared, given some flood warnings were still in place. Business Chamber Queensland CEO Heidi Cooper warned costs to business would extend beyond any damage, given the closure of operation windows throughout the storm. It is essential governments at all levels recognise the ongoing and regular economic impact of natural disasters on our state and effectively support businesses to build their resilience long term so that they can better respond to these types of events, she said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called for applications for the governments Disaster Recovery Allowance, which would provide short-term support payment to employees, small business persons and farmers who can prove they have lost income as a direct result of Alfred.

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WA Police have shot a man who allegedly lunged at them with a knife in Perths east on Monday night after repeatedly telling officers just shoot me, I want a bullet.

A large number of police officers attended a property on Wilsley Street in Gosnells around 5.40pm as part of an investigation into a robbery outside a nearby Centrelink office earlier that day where the victim was cut with a knife.

The scene in Gosnells on Monday night. Credit: 9 News Perth

WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said the robbery suspect, aged in his 40s, confronted police on the verge and refused to drop a large knife.

Police challenged him, primarily with Tasers initially, I believe up to five Tasers were deployed, he said.
Singapore: Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested and flown to The Hague at the request of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to answer for his alleged role in the countrys war on drugs, which human rights groups say led to the summary executions of thousands of people.

Duterte, 79, was met by authorities at Manilas Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Tuesday on his return from Hong Kong, where he had been speaking at a campaign rally for expat Filipinos.

Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the Rome Statute in 2019 in a move human rights activists say was aimed at escaping accountability. Credit: AP

The ICC alleges he committed crimes against humanity from the time the Philippines became a party to the Rome Statute in 2011, when he was still mayor of the southern city of Davao, until he withdrew the Philippines from the statute in 2019 as president. The statute sets out the courts jurisdiction over genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, and Dutertes decision to withdraw was seen by critics as an attempt to escape accountability.

The maverick leader came to power in 2016 with firebrand speeches and a promise to be tough on drugs. But his signature policy drew widespread criticism for allegedly sanctioning police and vigilante brutality.
"There's support available through government channels, government pathways, through disaster relief [funds]," Ashby told Australian Broker. "And also, we're letting people know that some banks and lenders have come out, offering their support where they can, to their clients who have mortgages. Whether that means supporting repayments to help people get back on their feet, [or something else.] It's obviously been specific as to what support is out there. But we're just letting people know if they're not sure where to start to get the help or support they need, that we're happy to help if we can."
Gal Gadot was "scared to death" after a blood clot was discovered in her brain.

Gal Gadot suffered a health scare in 2024

The 39-year-old actress has confessed to feeling terrified after a clot was discovered in February 2024, shortly before she gave birth to her daughter Ori.

The Hollywood star - who also has Alma, 13, Maya, seven, and Daniella, three, with husband Jason Varsano - said on 'The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon': "I had a huge scare. All of a sudden, I realised what it means to be scared to death."

Gal suffered from headaches for weeks before the issue was correctly diagnosed.

The actress was also "very pregnant" when her symptoms began.

Gal shared: "I had major headaches for three weeks and I was seeing doctors and different neurologists."

Initially, doctors blamed Gal's headaches on migraines and hormones. But the actress' mother convinced Gal to seek an MRI scan.

She added: "They found out this horrible thing and we were rushed to the hospital. And they got the baby out immediately. I went through a thrombectomy."

Gal actually opened up about her health scare during an Instagram post in December.

The actress - who is best known for starring in the 'Wonder Woman' film franchise - wrote: "In February, during my eighth month of pregnancy, I was diagnosed with a massive blood clot in my brain. For weeks, I had endured excruciating headaches that confined me to bed, until I finally underwent an MRI that revealed the terrifying truth.

"In one moment, my family and I were faced with how fragile life can be. It was a stark reminder of how quickly everything can change, and in the midst of a difficult year, all I wanted was to hold on and live.

"We rushed to the hospital, and within hours, I underwent emergency surgery. My daughter, Ori, was born during that moment of uncertainty and fear. (sic)"
Gene Hackman said he would have likely died "long ago" without the care and support of his wife Betsy Arakawa.

Gene Hackman said he would have likely died 'long ago' without the care and support of his wife Betsy Arakawa. according to a close friend

according to a close friend of the pair.

The actor, 95, and his 65-year-old spouse were found deceased at their home in Santa Fe Summit, New Mexico, on Wednesday, 26 February, after the couple had lived a quiet life away from the spotlight in their home state.

Their friend Tom Allin, who had been friends with Gene for around 20 years, has now told The New York Times 'The French Connection' star "seemed happy" to have his wife "run things" and take care of him.

He added: "She was very protective of him.:

Tom also said Gene had expressed his gratitude for her support to him, saying: "He probably would have died long ago without her."

Heather Jarrell, New Mexicos chief medical examiner, confirmed on Friday, 7 March Betsy died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome  a rare but often fatal disease caused by hantavirus, which is transmitted through rodent urine, saliva and droppings. Santa Fe Sheriff Adan Mendoza said her last known communication was an email sent on 11 February.

Gene died from a combination of severe heart disease, high blood pressure and advanced Alzheimers disease, authorities said. The last recorded activity on his pacemaker was registered on 17 February.

Ms Jarrell stated it was "reasonable to conclude" he died the following day, adding: "It is reasonable to conclude that Ms Hackman passed first."

Authorities were alerted to a possible emergency at the Hackmans' home when a pest control worker contacted a neighbourhood security officer after receiving no response at the property.

The officer saw the bodies through a window and called emergency services.

Gene was found in a mudroom at his home, while Betsy was discovered in a bathroom near a space heater and scattered pills, according to a search warrant affidavit.

The couples dog, Zinna, was found deceased in a crate inside a closet, while two other dogs were found alive on the property.

A necropsy is being conducted to determine the cause of Zinnas death.

Gene, widely regarded as one of the finest actors of his generation, met Betsy while she was working part-time at a Los Angeles gym and pursuing a career in classical music.

They moved in together in Santa Fe in 1990 and married the following year.
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Leni Klum tried to ignore the backlash over her lingerie shoots with her mother Heidi Klum.

Leni Klum responds to backlash of her and Heidi's joint lingerie shoots

The 20-year-old model and her famous mother, 51, both appeared in a series of racy photos for Italian lingerie brand Intimissimi in 2023, and the decision was met with heavy criticism from fans.

Leni told Glamour Germany magazine: "I always try to remember that no matter what you do, there will always be someone who doesn't like it.

"You simply have no control over it and you can't focus too much on the negative.

"That can easily happen, especially if you spend a lot of time on social media. But there are so many more positive reactions."

For Leni, there was one benefit to a lot of the backlash.

She quipped: "Oh, and: Most of the comments are in German, and I don't really understand many of them. That helps too, of course!"

When Heidi shared the photos on her Instagram account at the time, she disabled comments after the criticism.

Her caption read: If you see me and @leniklum on billboards all over Germany  tag us and well share our favourites on our stories!

However, the Americas Got Talent judge's post backfired and she made the decision to restrict comments after followers slammed the campaign as embarrassing and weird".

One user wrote: "First thing I think of when I want to pose in my intimates: my mom should be here'."

A second commented: "Kind of gross."

A third added: "I would not be proud to show my daughter off in this way. I would feel embarrassed and sad."

Not all comments were criticism however as the mother daughter duo were also inundated with messages of adoration, as others went on to praise the pair for modelling together.

One person wrote: "Legend and legends daughter."

Another said: "Unbelievable how good Heidi still looks. Best daughter-mom couple."

A third added: "You and your mom look absolutely gorgeous."
This is it. The excise tax exemption on pickup trucks is now gone thanks to the effectivity of the Capital Market Efficiency Promotions Act ...
A WOMAN who runs a business on Dublin Street, Carlow and her husband will be sentenced at the next sitting of Carlow Circuit Court after they pleaded guilty to possessing various kinds of drugs worth 230,000 for sale or supply.

Edyta Scibior, 128 Crossneen Manor, Leighlin Road, Carlow was arraigned last week in the circuit court, when she pleaded guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply at that address and also at her business, Home of Shellac, Dublin Street, Carlow on 22 February 2023.

Her husband, 42-year-old Kamil Scibior, also of Crossneen Manor, had already pleaded guilty in July last year in Carlow Circuit Court to one count of possessing drugs for sale or supply at that address, arising from the same incident.

Aiden Doyle SC asked Judge Eugene OKelly for a variation on the bail conditions so as to allow Ms Scibior (36) to return to Poland in March for medical reasons, which Judge OKelly allowed.

Mr Doyle told him that the co-defendants were husband and wife with varying and differing levels of offending.

Judge OKelly then ordered the preparation of a probation report on Ms Scibior while remanding both of them on continuing bail until the next sitting of Carlow Circuit Court on 20 May for sentencing.
A 43-YEAR-OLD Co Carlow man has been charged with numerous road safety offences following a dramatic garda pursuit of a stolen JCB through the rural roads of Co Carlow last week.

Martin Cunningham appeared before Dublin Circuit Court last Friday morning, where he was charged with seven counts of dangerous driving, four counts of endangering traffic, the unauthorised taking of a vehicle, driving without insurance, driving without a licence, driving under the influence and one count of theft from a shop.

All of the offences relate to an incident that occurred early last Wednesday morning following the theft of a JCB in Tullow and the subsequent pursuit through rural roads in Co Carlow and Co Kildare.

Mr Cunningham, whose address was given to The Nationalist by gardai as Ballykeenan, Myshall, was remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court tomorrow, Wednesday 12 March. There was no application for bail.

The lengthy pursuit of the JCB involved a garda helicopter and multiple patrol cars through rural roads across Castledermot, Carlow, Tullow and Ballon.

Gardai have confirmed that during the pursuit a less-lethal device was discharged, striking the driver of another JCB at White Mills, Kilbride. This driver, a man in his 60s, was in no way involved in the incident, an entirely innocent member of the public who, unfortunately, was in the wrong place on a JCB at the wrong time.

He was shocked, but he is okay, a garda source confirmed.

This discharge of a less-lethal device has since been notified to the Garda Ombudsman and is now the subject of a GSOC investigation.

The incident involving the stolen JCB began when gardai were alerted to the theft of a digger by Seamus Fox Plant Hire, based in Tullow, at approximately 7am on Wednesday morning. The pursuit continued for over two hours until the vehicle was finally stopped at Ballykeenan, close to the N80.

Footage of the incident has been widely circulated online, showing the JCB driving through Co Carlows rural roads with large numbers of garda in pursuit.

We were dealing with a complex and dynamic situation and my priority was the safety of my members of An Garda Siochana, and their concern was the safety of the members of the public, Superintendent Anthony Farrell told The Nationalist.

We had our members out there trying to keep people safe in what was a very challenging situation, he added.

Supt Farrell is appealing for information in relation to the incident.

An Garda Siochana appeals to any person who may have any images or video footage of last Wednesday mornings driving incident, which took place on rural roads in Co Carlow. Areas affected by this dangerous driving were: Castledermot, Carlow, Tullow and Ballon  maybe I could ask that you would copy that imagery and make it available to An Garda Siochana and contact us at Carlow Garda Station on 059 9136620, he said.
High Court reporters

Lord of the Dance star Michael Flatley has paid off the 6.9 million loan at the centre of a dispute over his Castlehyde mansion in Co Cork, the Commercial Court has been told.

The entertainer had been given until Tuesday to make the transfer into the account of the solicitors on behalf of the lender, who appointed a receiver over Castlehyde three months ago.

Mr Justice Mark Sanfey, who had stipulated a 12.30pm deadline on Tuesday for the transfer to be made, was told the money had been paid.

However another legal row may be about to erupt as the lenders side asked the Flatley side to consent to paying the legal costs of the court applications and the Flatley legal team said it had no instructions on the matter.

Kelley Smith SC, the counsel for the lender Novellus Finance, at the outset told the court the transfer was made at 7.50pm on Monday evening, but she said it fell short in that it did not include the cost of court appearances on the matter over the last two days and the "62 emails on Monday" in relation to the matter.

She said she anticipated the release of the charge later on Tuesday once all the matters were attended to and the previously disputed 1.49 million in legal costs and receiver's costs was lodged in court.

Counsel for the Flatley side Ronnie Hudson BL instructed by Maxwell Mooney solicitor confirmed the funds had been paid and he said it now showed status paid.

Mr Hudson said it was possible the Flatley side would be seeking its costs in relation to the recent applications.

At issue in the case was a 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.

The Flatley side had asked for Mr Justice Mark Sanfey to hold off on giving his judgement on whether to set aside the interim injunction stopping the receiver taking steps or grant an interlocutory injunction to the Flatley side and said Mr Flatley was flying into the Dublin at the weekend to sign documentation to allow for finance to pay off the loan.

The judge had given the Flatley side until today Monday to update the court on the matter after the Flatley lawyers told the court the loan was on the cusp of redemption.

However on Monday afternoon, Ms Smith told the court no payment had been made.

It simply has not been made, she said.

She asked the court to give an immediate judgement from the bench on the applications heard last week.

Mr Hudson told the court the final redemption figure had been received and the transfer would be made but it may not hit the accounts of the solicitors for Novellus immediately.

In court on Tuesday, Mr Hudson on the costs issue said the Flatley side had sought mediation and he now need to take instruction on the matter and the parties might be able to come to some arrangement.

Mr Justice Sanfey said if he had to rule on costs, he will also have to give a judgement on the injunction applications .

Mr Hudson said Mr Flatley will be sending a letter asking to resolve the issues through mediation . He said a judgement on the injunctions applications at this stage may cause further delay and cost.

Ms Smith said they were going backwards and her clients wanted vindication in relation to its position.

Mr Justice Sanfey said will give judgement next week if it needs to be done, but he put in the case for mention on Friday this week.
Eimear Dodd

A teenager who slashed the face of a security guard following a verbal row, leaving him with a 13cm wound, has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Josh Kenny (18), of Brookview Grove, Tallaght, Dublin 24, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm on April 25 last year in Belgard Square West, Tallaght.

Sergeant David Kenneally told Garrett McCormack BL, prosecuting, on Tuesday that the victim was working when a colleague contacted him about a teenage boy going around a car park on a e-scooter in a suspicious manner.

The security guard went to the car park and asked the boy - Kenny - what he was doing. Kenny told him to go away.

There was a verbal argument, during which the security guard told Kenny to leave the car park. Kenny shouted abuse at him, threatening to kill him and cut him up.

Kenny then got very close to the security guard, who pushed him as he feared for his safety and felt intimidated. A physical altercation then started, which was broken up by another security guard.

The victim went to a security office and a short time later, Kenny and his mother arrived. There was a verbal row between the parties, during which Kenny said he wanted to fight the victim.

The court heard that Kenny asked the victim for a straightener, then said he would be back and was going to kill and slice him up.

This verbal row continued for about 15 minutes before Kenny and his mother left.

Kenny came back a third time a few minutes later. The victim told him he was on camera.

Kenny came up very close to him and the security guard looked to see if anyone else was there. As he did so, Kenny slashed the security guard's face, before running off on foot.

The victim was taken to hospital and required stitches to a 13cm laceration across his jawbone.

Photos of the man's injuries were handed to the court. The man declined to make a victim impact statement.

CCTV footage of the incident was obtained. Kenny's mother also contacted gardai about the initial encounter between her son and the victim.

Kenny was arrested, but nothing of evidential value was obtained when he was interviewed.

He had no convictions at the time, but has seven convictions which post-date this, including public order and road traffic offences. He has been in custody since April 2024.

Sgt Kenneally agreed with Giollaiosa O Lideadha SC, defending, that his client felt aggrieved and disrespected and this fed into the complex situation which happened.

It was further accepted that Kenny has a diagnosis of ADHD and a supportive family. A number of testimonials were handed into the court.

Mr O Lideadha said his client acknowledges the seriousness of his offending and the injury caused to the victim. He said Kenny was feeling angry, aggrieved, and perceived himself to have been badly treated, but this was no excuse for what happened.

He submitted to the court that there was an outburst of anger by his client at a perceived grievance, but his client's actions were unjustified.

Kenny has a work history and an offer of an apprenticeship upon his release. Counsel said his client has lots of positives in his life, has been supportive of family members and engaged with services.

He asked the court to take into account his client's youth at the time, and that his convictions post-date this incident and are minor in nature.

Judge Martin Nolan said Kenny caused a very severe wound to the victim.

Having considered the mitigation and Kenny's personal circumstances, the judge said the court considered it a nasty crime.

This young man wanted to exact vengeance on the security man and he did, the judge said. that vengeance was vicious and the injured party has to live with the consequences.

He imposed a sentence of four and a half years, backdated to April 30 last when Kenny went into custody.

Judge Nolan said Kenny's age was a significant mitigating factor in this case and he would have imposed a higher sentence if the defendant was older.
By Cillian Sherlock, PA

Water charges will not be brought back, the Taoiseach has pledged.

It comes as opposition parties accused the Government of trying to re-introduce the water charges through the back door.

Attempts to introduce metered water charges as part of the bailout programme were abandoned in 2014 after numerous mass protests.

Under commitments in the previous Programme for Government, work was initiated on draft regulations for charges for excessive water use.

A recent briefing document prepared for new Housing Minister James Browne lists finalising the draft household water conservation charge regulations as a high-level priority.

However, speaking to reporters in Austin, Texas on Tuesday, Mr Martin said: There will be no return to water charges.

Paul Murphy. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA.

The Department of Housing also said that Minister Browne is not giving consideration to bringing in excessive use charges at this time.

It added: No proposal has been brought to the Minister in this regard, and charges do not form part of the current programme for government.

The minister is focused on implementing the programme for government, and in particular, he is focused on increasing the delivery of more homes, which is his highest priority.

Asked about this statement, Sinn Fein TD David Cullinane accused the Government of flying kites by saying the measures would not be brought in at this time.

He said: My position is: Not at any time.

He added: It wasnt in the (new) Programme for Government. It wasnt something that they went to the electorate on. We had an election in 2020 and 2016 where, clearly, water charges were an issue  particularly in 2016.

The issue has been put to bed. There should not be, and there will not be, in my view, domestic water charges, either through the front door or through the back door.

Sinn Feins health spokesperson David Cullinane said Sinn Fein will put pressure on Government not to cheat the Irish people on water charges. Photo: Niall Carson/PA.

Mr Cullinane said Sinn Fein will put maximum pressure on the Government not to cheat the Irish people on water charges.

People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Paul Murphy said the introduction of water charges was previously defeated through grassroots organisation, mass protests and co-ordinated non-payment.

Mr Murphy, who was a key figure in those protests, said on Tuesday that the regulations setting the limit for excessive water usage could be revised down to allow for charges on the mass majority of people.

We want to say very, very clearly to the Government that if they proceed with this, they will face massive opposition.

That opposition will not just be in the Dail where they have a majority, but it will be like we saw 10 years ago on the streets in massive numbers in communities resisting water meters, and we will make it impossible for them to impose these excessive usage charges.

So we are warning the government to step back from this.
AN ENTHUSIASTIC crowd gathered at the Fairgreen Shopping Centre on Tuesday 25 February to mark the launch of Carlow Parent Hub, a website designed to provide parents and caregivers across the county with a central point for information and support.

The launch included a live broadcast of The KCLR Daily with Brian Redmond, where the radio host interviewed several contributors involved in the project.

Carlow Parent Hub (www.carlowparenthub.ie) offers a countywide services directory, details on local events and parenting resources. The initiative was developed with funding and support from Tuslas Prevention, Partnership and Family Support Service (PPFS), Carlow Children and Young Peoples Services Committee and the Carlow Child and Family Support Network (CFSN).

According to Tuslas senior CFSN co-ordinator for Carlow, Aisling Reade, this one-stop support for parents and caregivers aims to simplify how families access key information. It makes perfect sense to provide families across the county with vital information in one location, she said.

During the live broadcast from the Fairgreen, Ms Reade shared insights into how parents can benefit from the new directory. Presenter Brian Redmond then spoke with foster carer Mary Mulligan and Yvonne Lowry, regional fostering campaign co-ordinator, about Tusla Fostering, one of the many services featured on the new website.

Several local service providers were also on hand at the launch event to offer guidance, including St Catherines Community Services Centre, Barnardos and Carlow Regional Youth Services. With the new hub now active, Carlow families can find a wealth of parenting supports in one convenient online location.

One of the upcoming events listed on the site is a free wellbeing workshop delivered by Mental Health Ireland and hosted at St Catherines.
Chinese firm to lead Nairobi River ecological restoration project in Kenya

Xinhua) 09:33, March 11, 2025

Kenyan President William Ruto (2nd R) attends the groundbreaking ceremony of a Nairobi River ecological restoration project in Nairobi, Kenya, on March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

NAIROBI, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President William Ruto on Monday presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the protection and restoration of the Nairobi River Basin, a project to be implemented by Energy China.

Senior government officials, executives from Energy China, and environmental advocates also attended the event, which seeks to restore the ecological health of the Nairobi River as it winds through the capital.

The Nairobi River Basin rehabilitation will run with an affordable housing project, set to be implemented over four years at a cost of 50 billion Kenyan shillings (about 388 million U.S. dollars).

Ruto said reclaiming the Nairobi River's ecological integrity after decades of pollution will create new jobs for young people, improve public health, and enhance the capital's environmental sustainability.

"This project will give us an opportunity to expand and deepen the Nairobi River while constructing a 60-km sewer line to carry wastewater, making Nairobi a cleaner and more respectable city," Ruto said.

The construction of decent homes, connected to a modern sewer system along the rehabilitated Nairobi River Basin, will facilitate the resettlement of flood victims, he added.

The Nairobi River originates from the northwestern outskirts of the Kenyan capital, flowing through southeastern residential areas, but has long suffered from severe pollution and flooding during the rainy season.

In February, the Kenyan government signed a contract with China Energy Engineering Group Guangxi Electric Power Design Institute Co., Ltd. to implement the project's first phase.

Funded by the Kenyan government, the project includes the construction of main sewage pipelines and wastewater treatment plants, protection of upstream water sources, river dredging, stormwater management, solid waste treatment, landscaping, and the development of affordable housing.

Upon completion, the project is expected to mitigate flooding along the Nairobi River Basin, improve local living standards and transform the urban landscape.

The initiative will also increase land value in the metropolitan area, promote tourism, boost Kenya's economic growth, and provide significant social and environmental benefits to local communities.

Lv Guoqing, managing director of Energy China, said the firm will leverage advanced technologies and mobilize a local workforce to accelerate the river's restoration.

According to Li Cheng, project manager at Energy China, the rehabilitation of the Nairobi River is expected to take two years, with riparian communities set to benefit from substantial environmental improvements upon completion.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Sam Asghari has compared a potential partner with a "high body count" to a "used car".

Sam Asghari has compared a potential partner with a 'high body count' to a 'used car'

The 31-year-old actor and model, who was previously married to Britney Spears, 43, made the comments during an appearance on 'The Nikki and Brie Show' when asked whether he would "banish" someone if they lied about the number of people they had slept with.

He said: "Absolutely. Of course. Its like a used car.

"You come over here, you cant reverse the mileage on that car. Thats illegal. Thats against the law."

Sam, who appeared on the reality series 'Traitors', was speaking alongside his co-star Chrishell Stause, 43, who appeared visibly shocked by his remarks.

Co-host Brie Garcia, 40, then asked him if there was a specific number of sexual partners that would be unacceptable to him. He added: "Absolutely. I think more than like... no. Depends."

His fellow 'Traitors' star Wells Adams, 39, reacted by saying he felt "very uncomfortable" about his comments.

Brie and her twin sister and co-host, Nikki Garcia, 41, pressed Sam to clarify what number he believed was too high.

He said: "Obviously, the lower the better."

Sam added the number should reflect the persons age.

Nikki then asked what would be an acceptable number for a 31-year-old woman, with Sam responding: "If its more than me if the body count is more than me, then thats going to be bad."

While declining to reveal the number of people he had bedded, Sam said it was "not high" and "probably around 10".

He added: "I didnt count."

When Sam further elaborated it was not just body count but also "mileage" that mattered to him in a relationship, Chrishell interjected: "Oh my God. That word. I cannot."

Sam gained fame after he began dating Britney Spears in 2016, with the pair marrying in June 2022 but separating the following year.

He is now in a relationship with Brooke Irvine.
Advertisement

The Swedish cement manufacturer Cemvision and the Nordic residential developer JM have initiated a collaboration to accelerate the transition to climate-friendly construction. Cemvisions groundbreaking technology creates new opportunities for JM to achieve its ambitious climate goals and through the strategic partnership JM also becomes a minority shareholder in Cemvision.

Climate action is a long-term success factor for JM, and since the autumn of 2024, climate-improved concrete with at least 20 per cent lower emissions has been used in all projects in Sweden and Norway. Climate-improved concrete with at least 15 per cent has been used in projects in Finland. Cemvisions cement has the potential to reduce the carbon footprint by up to 95 per cent, and the partnership is a key part of JMs roadmap to achieving near-zero carbon emissions by 2030.

The construction industry is facing a necessary transformation, and as a leading residential developer in the Nordics, we have the opportunity to influence and accelerate the development in the right direction. JM is continuously seeking new solutions to help us reach our climate targets and sees great potential in Cemvisions technology. Our strategic partnership with Cemvision demonstrates our belief in its potential, says Maria Sandell, head of sustainability at JM.

We are proud to welcome JM as both an investor and a long-term partner in Cemvision. Their ambitious climate goals align with ours. To truly change the construction industrys climate footprint, collaboration across the entire value chain is required. JMs commitment to driving the transition makes them a key partner in scaling up and implementing sustainable materials, says Oscar Hallen, CEO of Cemvision.

Cemvision and JM plan to conduct their first joint tests in JMs residential projects during the 1H25.
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Bangladesh experienced a 28.7 per cent YoY drop in cement export revenue, totalling US$8.88m in the 8MFY24-25 (July 2024-February 2025), down from US$12.46m during the same period the previous year, according to the Bangladesh Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). This figure includes minor amounts of salt, stone, and related products.

The negative trend was also observed in February 2025, when Bangladeshs cement industry generated export revenue of US$1.17m, compared to US$1.85m in the same month last year. This resulted in a 36.8 per cent YoY decline.



Bangladeshs cement export revenue reached US$18.42m in the FY23-24, an increase from US$13.66m in the FY22-23. Most of Bangladesh's cement exports go to India, particularly from the northeastern states. Other popular destinations include Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

In the 8MFY24-25, Bangladeshs total export revenue for all merchandise was US$32.94bn, reflecting a 10.5 per cent YoY increase.

by Abdul Rab Siddiqi, Pakistan
A Sequatchie County man is facing criminal homicide charges after authorities said he found his 31-year-old wife in bed with an 18-year-old man. The wife, Jada Gholston, 31, was injured in a stabbing and the youth with her, 18-year-old Billy Jean Floyd, was killed.



Jonathan Belk was being held at the Sequatchie County Jail.

Authorities said Belk stuffed Floyd's body into a trash can.

Belk was found covered with blood.



The Sequatchie County Sheriffs Office said the incident happened early Saturday.



Deputies were dispatched to the Emergency Room at Erlanger-Sequatchie on the report of a female with stab wounds that were determined to be non-life threatening.

Deputies determined the victim received the wounds at a residence in the Fredonia community of Sequatchie County and went to that location to search for any other potential victims or suspects, as well as a crime scene.Upon arrival, deputies found two other individuals, both males, with wounds appearing to have been caused by a cutting instrument. One of these two male individuals was deceased and the other had non-life threatening wounds.Belk was apparently the other man who was injured.
Whitfield County Administrator Robert (Bob) Sivick has once again been recognized for his leadership in community innovation by receiving the 2025 CommunityProgram Award from the Georgia City-County Management Association at its Spring Conference. This marks Mr. Sivicks second consecutive year earning the award, this time for his role in launching the Whitfield County First Responders Pathway Program.Officials said, "In January 2023, Whitfield County identified a critical need for skilled public safety professionals and took action.Under Mr.Sivicks leadership, the county developed an innovative program allowing high school students to earn professional certificationsFirefighter I, Firefighter II, and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)before graduation. This initiative provides a direct career path into the workforce while strengthening the countys emergency response capabilities."The best solutions come from partnerships between government and education, said Mr.Sivick. By investing in students today, we are ensuring a stronger, safer future for Whitfield County.Funded by the Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy, the programremoves financial barriers by covering essential costs like books, certifications, uniforms and turnout gear. With hands-on training from Whitfield County Fire Department instructors, students graduate fully prepared for the job. To date, nine graduates have been hired full-time by WCFD.This award isnt just about recognitionits about setting an example for othercommunities, Mr. Sivick added. We hope to see similar programs across the state, helping to address workforce shortages in public safety.Officials said, "The First Responders Pathway Program demonstrates the power of proactive governance, ensuring that Whitfield County remains at the forefront of workforce development and public safety. Thanks to Mr. Sivicks leadership, the initiative stands as a model for other jurisdictions looking to create sustainable, community-driven solutions. Mr. Sivick also expressed his gratitude to NWGCCA for their support, which has made this program possible and allowed students to pursue careers in public safety without financial barriers."For more information on the First Responders Pathway Program, visit:https://nwgcca.wcsga.net/academics/programs-of-study.
The City Council, after an earlier delay, on Tuesday approved a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) tax break for NOVONIX, which plans a major new development at the Enterprise South Industrial Park.The County Commission followed suit on Wednesday.The two bodies delayed the PILOT approval earlier after it was learned that NOVONIX had laid off 19 employees.Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, speaking remotely on a large screen, on Monday endorsed continued city and county support for the firm with one operation going in Chattanooga and plans to launch an even bigger one at the Enterprise South.He and other officials said they believe NOVONIX will be successful despite a downturn in the electric vehicle market.NOVONIX has developed a furnace project for creating synthetic graphite, which is a key ingredient in lithium batteries.NOVONIX earlier obtained a PILOT for an operation at the former Alstom site, and is seeking another related to plans to acquire 182 acres at Enterprise South and launch a $1 billion plant.Rep.Fleischmann said not every one has succeeded in the quest to produce synthetic graphite, but "we want them (NOVONIX) to succeed."He said, "They are on firm footing. I do not think there will be a pause in funding."Rep. Fleischmann said the production is in line with a focus on national defense. It was noted that almost all synthetic graphite now comes from Communist China.He said the operation here "could help make us energy dominant."Robert Long, NOVONIX CEO and chief financial officer, said the firm "is committed to Chattanooga. We've already invested $151 million here. That does not include personel and contractors."Of its product, he said, "The sky's the limit on the demand side."Mr. Long said NOVONIX is further along than any other U.S. company in the synthetic graphite development.Sam Wills, of state economic development, also said the firm fits into the state aims, including job creation. He said NOVONIX "needs to get the land (at Enterprise South) before Department of Energy funds will continue flowing."Plans are to break ground at Enterprise South in mid-2026 and be in operation in 2028.Officials said the manufacturing process than is being used is much more environmentally friendly than the process used in China that is said to be very harmful to the health of workers there.The meeting was hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and included most members of the City Council and County Commission.
Chattanooga beach volleyball enters its busiest week of the 2025 calendar in terms of volume, as the Mocs are set to travel to the first of two tournaments the Mocs will take part in over the next five days: the TU Tri-Match.Set to run all day on Tuesday, March 11 and hosted by Tusculum University, the TU Tri-Match is Chattanoogas first and only midweek crop of matches this season, with the Mocs having two matches waiting for them once UTC arrives in Greeneville, Tennessee.UTC will open the TU Tri-Match at 11 a.m.ET tomorrow by taking on host Tusculum before rounding out the day with a 1 p.m. ET neutral site match against Lynchburg.TU Tri-Match  March 11Greeneville, Tenn. (Hosted by Tusculum University)Tuesday, March 1111 AM  Chattanooga at Tusculum1 PM - Chattanooga vs. Lynchburg3 PM  Lynchburg at Tusculum
Will President Trump issue an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to dissolve the Department of Education? While this initiative will likely require congressional approval, it reflects a longstanding commitment to dismantling the federal agency.

In her memo titled "Our Department's Final Mission," McMahon highlights the need to create a lasting impact on American education. However, she faces significant public opposition, with 63 percent of respondents in a Marist Poll expressing their disagreement. These individuals cite concerns about ensuring educational opportunities for all children.

The United States Department of Education has become a vital component in the U.S. educational system, overseeing the distribution of federal financial aid to support various programs. However, we would suggest that federal money plays a more significant role than the agency itself.

The US DOE also collects and analyzes data on student performance to inform policy decisions and enforces non-discrimination policies to ensure equal access to education for all students. Although its funding represents less than 10 percent of public school financing, its impact on educational equity and quality is considerable.

Linda McMahon's confirmation signifies a shift towards less federal involvement in education. McMahon aims to eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies and enhance educational freedom. Trump seeks to transfer educational responsibilities to the states, although complete dissolution requires congressional approval.

It is also unclear how much authority the administration has to redirect funds without congressional approval. Additionally, the Department has initiated significant cost reductions, including terminating contracts and laying off staff. Our main concerns are the school meal programs, Title I educational funding, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Our state cannot educate children without those dollars.

Any effort should be focused on improving the efficiency of educational programs rather than implementing budget cuts. The administration aims to use targeted strategies to enhance program performance, maximize student outcomes, and support educators. By prioritizing operational improvements, the Trump Administration seeks to strengthen funding for educational programs and create a more effective learning environment.

The Trump administration prioritizes expanding school choice by enhancing parents' access to private school vouchers and other educational options. However, the extent of legal and political opposition to this goal is still uncertain.

Each state has unique educational needs, and the federal government's role in education is increasingly questioned. The U.S. Constitution does not address education, with the 10th Amendment reserving state powers. However, the 14th Amendment requires states to provide equal protection under the law, emphasizing the importance of equal opportunity.

Worries surrounding possibly dismantling the U.S. Department of Education are undoubtedly valid. Such an action could seriously affect students who depend on key federal initiatives. For instance, programs like Title I, which provide essential funding to improve educational opportunities for low-income students, could face significant disruption. Similarly, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ensures that students with disabilities receive appropriate services and support tailored to their needs.

The loss of these federal protections and resources could adversely affect the quality of education for millions of children across the country, exacerbating existing inequalities and denying vital resources to those who need them most. The full implications of these initiatives remain unclear. Congress has yet to act on many proposals, leaving educational policies in flux.

Proponents passionately contend that diminishing federal oversight is essential, citing the troubling stagnation of educational outcomes as a persuasive rationale for their stance. They highlight that despite significant investments and policies, students are not experiencing the growth and advancement that should be expected. This stagnation serves as a clarion call, urging a reevaluation of federal involvement in education. We understand that no matter what happens, there will be substantial changes.

Without legislation, the Education Department's legal authority and programs would likely remain in place, even if the headquarters shut down. The laws governing federal student loans, K-12 funding, and school civil rights would still exist and could only be changed by Congress repealing them or reallocating responsibilities to other agencies.

As we await what is next for the United States Department of Education, we wonder if its on a final countdown to closure or its final mission? We will find out shortly.



JC Bowman

Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee
If there ever was two dysfunctional individuals that have been more disrespectful to the office of the President of the United States of America than Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green of Georgia or Rep. Al Green of Texas, they are outside the memory banks of this alleged old writer of books and articles (per legal advertisers).

The overripe Georgia Peach repeatedly called President Joe Biden a liar from her privileged seat in Congress.



The walking cane carrying hombre from the state adjacent to the Rio Grande waived his deadly weapon defiantly toward President Donald J. Trump during his premature State of the Union address from his likewise privileged seat in Congress on March 4, 2025.



There have prior acts of violence in the hallowed halls on the Potomac River preceding the Civil War (1861-1865) debates.



A recent confrontation between two senators led to an invitation at a subcommittee to duke it out, but fortunately resulted in a bluffing contest and the two parties publicly resolved their differences?

However conflicts between the beautiful blonde from Marietta and the saber like weapon waver from Houston introduce a new era of civility and proper decorum to Congress.

Their individual acts of misconduct not only qualified each for a possible psychological examination prior to admittance to one of the Swamps finest hospitals but vividly demonstrated action that didnt enhance Americas image throughout the world.



The Women of Wrestling spectaculars on Friday night rassling at 10 p.m. on cable TV, pales in comparison to what could be one half of a mixed tag team death match.

Jerry Summers
A young research team from Wurzburg has experimentally demonstrated a quantum tornado for the first time by refining an established method. In the quantum semimetal tantalum arsenide (TaAs), electrons in momentum space behave like a swirling vortex. This quantum phenomenon was first predicted eight years ago by a Dresden-based founding member of the Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat. The discovery, a collaborative effort between ct.qmat, the research network of the Universities of Wurzburg and Dresden, and international partners, has now been published in Physical Review X.

Quantum tornado in momentum space think-design | Jochen Thamm

Scientists have long known that electrons can form vortices in quantum materials. Whats new is the proof that these tiny particles create tornado-like structures in momentum space  a finding that has now been confirmed experimentally. This achievement was led by Dr. Maximilian Unzelmann, a group leader at ct.qmat  Complexity and Topology in Quantum Matter  at the Universities of Wurzburg and Dresden. Demonstrating this quantum phenomenon marks a major milestone in quantum materials research. The team hopes that the vortex-like behavior of electrons in momentum space could pave the way for new quantum technologies, such as orbitronics, which would use electrons orbital torque to transmit information in electronic components instead of relying on electrical charge, potentially slashing energy losses.

Momentum Space vs. Position Space Momentum space is a fundamental concept in physics that describes electron motion in terms of energy and direction, rather than their exact physical position. Position space (its counterpart) is the realm where familiar phenomena like water vortices or hurricanes occur. Until now, even quantum vortices in materials had only been observed in position space. A few years ago, another ct.qmat research team made waves worldwide when they captured the first-ever three-dimensional image of a vortex-like magnetic field in a quantum materials position space (Nature Nanotechnology 17 (2022) 250255).

Theory Confirmed Eight years ago, Roderich Moessner theorized that a quantum tornado could also form in momentum space. At the time, the Dresden-based ct.qmat co-founder described the phenomenon as a smoke ring because, like smoke rings, it consists of vortices. However, until now, no one knew how to measure them. The breakthrough experiments revealed that the quantum vortex is created by orbital angular momentum  electrons circular motion around atomic nuclei. When we first saw signs that the predicted quantum vortices actually existed and could be measured, we immediately reached out to our Dresden colleague and launched a joint project, recalls Unzelmann.

Quantum Tornado Discovered by Refining a Standard Method To detect the quantum tornado in momentum space, the Wurzburg team enhanced a well-known technique called ARPES (angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy). ARPES is a fundamental tool in experimental solid-state physics. It involves shining light on a material sample, extracting electrons, and measuring their energy and exit angle. This gives us a direct look at a materials electronic structure in momentum space, explains Unzelmann. By cleverly adapting this method, we were able to measure orbital angular momentum. Ive been working with this approach since my dissertation.

ARPES is rooted in the photoelectric effect, first described by Albert Einstein and taught in high school physics. Unzelmann had already refined the method in 2021, gaining international recognition for detecting orbital monopoles in tantalum arsenide. Now, by integrating a form of quantum tomography, the team has taken the technique a step further to detect the quantum tornado  another major milestone. We analyzed the sample layer by layer, similar to how medical tomography works. By stitching together individual images, we were able to reconstruct the three-dimensional structure of the orbital angular momentum and confirm that electrons form vortices in momentum space, Unzelmann explains.

Wurzburg-Dresden Network: A Global Collaboration The experimental detection of the quantum tornado is a testament to ct.qmats team spirit, says Matthias Vojta, Professor of Theoretical Solid-State Physics at TU Dresden and ct.qmats Dresden spokesperson. With our strong physics hubs in Wurzburg and Dresden, we seamlessly integrate theory and experiment. Additionally, our network fosters teamwork between leading experts and early-career scientists  an approach that fuels our research into topological quantum materials. And, of course, almost every physics project today is a global effort  this one included.

The tantalum arsenide sample was grown in the US and analyzed at PETRA III, a major international research facility at the German Electron Synchrotron (DESY) in Hamburg. A scientist from China contributed to the theoretical modeling, while a researcher from Norway played a key role in the experiments.
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. recently signed three directives that will support increasing tribal citizens health care access to telemedicine, dialysis treatment and Medicare.
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Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner signed an agreement March 4 with Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma allowing eligible low-income Cherokee Nation citizens to receive legal services for a variety of needs.
The NRB International Christian Media Convention was held in Grapevine, Texas, from February 24 to 27, 2025. | Screenshot: YouTube/ NRB

During its International Christian Media Convention, the National Association of Christian Broadcasters (NRB) Board of Directors approved nine resolutions that address significant issues, including freedom of expression, childrens digital safety, artificial intelligence, and peace in the Middle East.

Among the resolutions, the NRB voiced its support for reviewing Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act as a means to combat corporate censorship. The board also reaffirmed its dedication to collaborating with the presidential administration, the 119th U.S. Congress, and private sector leaders to ensure that Christian communicators maintain access to the communications marketplace.

Additionally, the NRB rejected any attempts to leverage the federal government to silence dissenting opinions, advocating for strict civil liability for violations of freedom of expression.

The board called on lawmakers at both state and federal levels to enhance children's digital safety by implementing measures such as age verification on devices and improved app ratings available in digital stores. Furthermore, it encouraged Christian developers to create safe and edifying technological alternatives for families.

Concerning artificial intelligence, the NRB urged Christians to use this technology wisely, avoiding applications that are immoral or could violate human dignity.

On an international scale, the NRB condemned antisemitism and urged Christians to reject any ideology of hatred against Israel and the Jewish people. The board also expressed solidarity with persecuted Christians in Armenia and around the world, reaffirming its commitment to defending religious freedom.

In light of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, the NRB called for the immediate release of hostages kidnapped by Hamas, urging the Christian community to pray for peace in the region.

Furthermore, the board called on Christians to intercede in prayer for President Donald J. Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, U.S. Supreme Court justices, members of Congress, and other authorities, seeking the spiritual well-being of the nation.

Every year, the NRB issues resolutions reflecting its stance on relevant legislation, cultural movements, and events that impact Christian communicators. The resolutions passed at this convention emphasize the necessity of defending family principles in the media and upholding Christian values in the public sphere.
Photo Credit: Pexels/ Mark Thomas

The United States Supreme Court is set to review a legal challenge to Colorados legislation that bans licensed counselors from providing sexual orientation change efforts therapy for those seeking assistance.

On Monday, the high court agreed without delivering comments to hear the case of Kaley Chiles v. Patty Salazar et al., which disputes the validity of Colorados Minor Conversion Therapy Law.

Kaley Chiles is being represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a nonprofit organization focused on religious freedom, which welcomed the Supreme Courts decision to proceed with oral arguments. In a statement released on the same day, ADF CEO Kristen Waggoner expressed the organization's stance, stating, State officials have no business censoring private conversations between clients and counselors.

The Minor Conversion Therapy Law was enacted in Colorado in 2019 to prohibit what is commonly referred to by critics as "gay conversion therapy" for individuals under 18. This legislation was passed following several unsuccessful attempts to introduce similar bills in preceding years.

Daniel Ramos, who serves as the executive director of One Colorado, a group advocating for LGBT rights, commented during the laws passage that it represented a significant step in protecting our LGBTQ youth.

No young person should ever be shamed by a mental health professional into thinking that who they are is wrong. Mental health care should be ethical and affirming for all people  including LGBTQ young people, stated Ramos.

In September 2022, Kaley Chiles initiated a legal challenge against Colorado's law prohibiting sexual orientation change efforts therapy, arguing that it infringes upon the Free Speech Clause and Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. A three-judge panel from the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 against Chiles, reaffirming an earlier district ruling that supported Colorados therapy ban.

Circuit Judge Veronica Rossman, appointed by President Biden, delivered the majority opinion, stating that Chiles had not met her burden of showing a likelihood of success on the merits of her First Amendment free speech and free exercise claims.

She further explained, By regulating which treatments Ms. Chiles may perform in her role as a licensed professional counselor, Colorado is not restricting Ms. Chiles' freedom of expression. In other words, Ms. Chiles's First Amendment right to freedom of speech is implicated under the MCTL, but it is not abridged.

In contrast, Circuit Judge Harris Hartz, appointed by President George W. Bush, dissented, asserting that the majority failed to justify why "talk therapy is to be afforded lesser First Amendment protection than speech in general.

He questioned, Is the majority stating that professional speech should be treated differently under the First Amendment from identical speech by a nonprofessional? That would fly in the face of what the Supreme Court has recently told us, wrote Hartz.

In November, the Alliance Defending Freedom filed a petition for a writ of certiorari on behalf of Chiles, calling on the Supreme Court to clarify that the First Amendment applies in the counseling room.
Home News Court rules against school district that denied mother acccess to DEI training materials

A Pennsylvania court has ruled in favor of a mother challenging her children's public school district after it denied her request for information about the taxpayer-funded "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" materials used to train students and faculty.

A three-judge panel from the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled late last month that the Downingtown Area School District provided "insufficient" evidence to support its denial of a mom of three Ann Trethewey's 2023 request for materials being used to instruct her children and their teachers.

The district claimed the information is exempt from disclosure because it "constitutes or reveals a trade secret or confidential proprietary information." However, the court ruled that DEI materials are not trade secrets since they are openly shared with employees and can't be considered a trade secret.

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"A trade secret is essential to the product, but it is not the product itself," the majority opinion, written by President Judge Emerita Mary Hannah Leavitt, states. "For example, Coca Cola uses a secret formula to create its product known as 'Coke.' [The author] did not identify a 'formula' or 'algorithm' that was the secret to the creation of his product, which is DEI training material. Because that product is widely shared to School District employees, it is not secret."

Attorneys with the Goldwater Institute's American Freedom Network helped the mother challenge the school district's decision with the state Office of Open Records. The AFN works closely with the conservative and libertarian Goldwater Institute on cases dealing with issues like free speech and taxpayer rights.

Trethewey filed the public records request in January 2023 for all documents and materials (paper or electronic) and all presentations used by the DEI program director and DEI staff to instruct or lead any training or programs to any staff, teacher, counselor or student in the school district.

In rejecting her request, the district's DEI director, Justin Brown, asserted that he created the materials before he started working with the district. He argued that disclosing the materials would cause him "substantial commercial and competitive harm.

The appellate court called for the trial court to conduct a hearing "on the issue of whether the "confidential proprietary information" exemption contained in Section 708(b)(11) of the RTKL applies to the DEI training materials."

Wally Zimolong, one of the mother's attorneys, celebrated the ruling as "a crucial victory in the fight for parental rights and government transparency."

"But the fight to protect parental rights isn't over. School districts across the country continue to use secrecy, including unfounded claims of trade secrets and proprietary information, as a shield to push ideological agendas," the attorney said in a statement provided to The Christian Post.

"We must remain vigilant and persistent in defending transparency, because parents have a right to know what their children are being taught in taxpayer-funded schools," he continued.

The Downingtown Area School District did not immediately respond to The Christian Post's request for comment.

The debate over parental rights in education has continued to make headlines, mainly as President Donald Trump and his administration take steps to eliminate certain educational policies.

Last month, the Education Department's Office of Civil Rights sent a letter to academic institutions and state education agencies that receive federal funding, warning that these institutions could lose federal funding if they did not eliminate their DEI programs by the deadline.

"The Department will no longer tolerate the overt and covert racial discrimination that has become widespread in this Nation's educational institutions. The law is clear: treating students differently on the basis of race to achieve nebulous goals such as diversity, racial balancing, social justice, or equity is illegal under controlling Supreme Court precedent," the document stated.

On Feb. 17, the department announced it had terminated over $600 million in grants, which included awards to teacher preparation programs that the agency said contained "inappropriate and unnecessary topics." The topics cited as inappropriate included critical race theory, anti-racism and social justice activism.
Home News Supreme Court wont hear case of fire chief fired after attending megachurch summit

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear the case of a Christian fire chief dismissed after attending a megachurch leadership event.

In an orders list released on Monday, the high court declined to hear an appeal in the case of Ronald Hittle v. City of Stockton, California, et al., allowing a lower court ruling against Hittle to stand.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas authored a dissenting opinion to the decision to deny certiorari and was joined by Justice Neil Gorsuch.

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Thomas discussed at length the 1973 Supreme Court case of McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, which created a framework for determining if an entity had engaged in employment discrimination when only circumstantial evidence was present.

Thomas believed the decision had confused many lower courts and that the Supreme Court hearing arguments in the Hittle litigation could have resolved these issues.

"Given the widespread confusion caused by McDonnell Douglas, and given the frequency with which courts encounter Title VII cases, it behooves us to revisit McDonnell Douglas and offer clear guidance on how to determine whether a Title VII claim survives summary judgment," Thomas wrote.

"I would have taken this opportunity to revisit McDonnell Douglas and decide whether its burden-shifting framework remains a workable and useful evidentiary tool. I respectfully dissent from the denial of certiorari."

Hittle served as fire chief of Stockton from 2006 to 2011. When his supervisor asked him to attend a leadership training program in 2010, Hittle chose the Global Leadership Summit, which took place at a Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois. He attedned the conference with three of his colleagues.

Shortly after doing so, the city fired Hittle, claiming that his involvement in the church-based leadership event while on duty violated his obligations as fire chief. He was placed on administrative leave in March 2011. In August 2011, an investigation substantiated allegations against Hittle, listing the use of city time and a city vehicle to attend a religious event as one of the "most serious acts of misconduct." He was also accused of having a financial conflict of interest with the pastor who bought the tickets to the conference.

Hittle filed a complaint in response, alleging that officials dismissed him due to his Christian faith in violation of state and federal employment antidiscrimination measures.

In March 2022, U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley, an Obama appointee, ruled against Hittle, writing that "Defendants have shown multiple legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons for Plaintiff's termination and Plaintiff has not shown sufficient evidence of pretext to survive summary judgment."

These reasons included allegations that Hittle had used city resources to attend the religious gathering, that he failed to disclose a conflict of interest with another city employee and that he did not properly discipline two employees.

"Although Plaintiff is only required to show minimal evidence to establish his prima facie case, the Court agrees with Defendants that Plaintiff has not provided sufficient evidence to give rise to the inference that Defendants terminated him because of his religious belief," wrote Nunley.

In May of last year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit refused to hear the case en banc, accepting the results of an earlier panel opinion ruling against Hittle.
Home News We are living in Pentecost: Jennie Allen on dream that sparked Gather25, how AI is helping further the Gospel

In late February, an estimated 7 million people from 225 countries and territories came together for Gather25, a 25-hour global prayer event led by Bible teacher and bestselling author Jennie Allen. The event, which featured live gatherings in seven locations and over 21,000 groups meeting in churches and homes, marked an unprecedented moment in Christian unity and worship.

Allen, the founder of IF:Gathering, a ministry that equips women with Gospel-centered resources, events and community for the purpose of discipleship, told The Christian Post she spearheaded the project with a singular goal: to mobilize the global Church in prayer, worship and repentance. But even she was astonished at the overwhelming response.

I have honestly just had a hard time processing it, the ministry leader said. It feels a little pretend, like a crazy dream, because there were so many ways it could have gone wrong. We depended on technology that barely existed. We were on the cutting edge of what AI can do with translations.

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The success of Gather25, despite the challenges, serves as a testament, Allen believes, to the protection and favor of God and a lot of really smart people who used their gifts to make this happen.

The Get Out of Your Head author revealed the idea for Gather25 was born from a vivid dream she had in 2022. At that point, we had been leading a ministry for a decade that reached women through live streaming. Wed reached 170-something countries through IF:Gathering, and we had seen the favor of God on the model of putting the tool in everybodys hands and allowing them to lead it, allowing them to host it, she shared.

Yet, the dream pressed an urgency upon her. I had this vivid dream that Jesus was coming back soon, in 10 years. I dont know when Hes coming back, but in the dream, I felt very urgent. I woke up with that same urgency  to reach as many people as possible with the Gospel as quickly as we can.

From there, the vision for Gather25 took shape. Allen, who has a master's in biblical studies from Dallas Theological Seminary, said she saw an opportunity to build on the model of IF:Gathering and invite the entire global Church into a shared moment of prayer and revival.

It didnt feel crazy, she said, but later, as it kept going, it got crazier in my mind, and I realized what it would cost. This would have to be an act of God.

Allen revealed that Gather25 harnessed AI for groundbreaking translation technology, making real-time communication possible across languages.

We are living in Pentecost, Allen said. For the first time since Pentecost, and really going back to the Tower of Babel, languages have been a barrier. And so, this is a miracle. The only reason the global Church was able to gather for the first time is that technology.

While she acknowledges the risks AI presents, and the skepticism many feel toward the technology, Allen stressed that God can use it for His purposes.

Bible translation is dependent on it. It would not hit the mark that they set, which was 2033, without it. Right now, were all really blown away by how God is using that technology. Its really special and powerful, she said.

Throughout the 25 hours, there were countless moments of worship and testimony that moved Allen to tears. One, in particular, stood out.

When Africa went live with the Burundi drummers and the Watoto Childrens Choir who were rescued out of child slavery where they were fighting wars  one of them spoke directly to the camera and said, Jesus is enough for my suffering, she said.

Allen, whose son is from Africa, said she was deeply moved by the moment: Watching his home country host it, Ill never forget that moment.

The mother of four also described the sheer magnitude of people who said yes to participating. Were talking about production teams on six, seven continents. Were talking about music, volunteer teams, and people hosting in their churches, homes and on college campuses. Over 20,000 people said, Yes, I will host. Some of those events had anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 people.

Despite not knowing exactly what the content would be, since the event was live and unscripted, people stepped out in faith.

Somebody once said, How do you know if you're obeying God or if this vision is from God?' And a wise person once said, When it happens, she reflected. As confident as I was that the Lord had called me to it, there still was a part of me that wondered, like, God, are you in this? Are you going to show up? Can you do this? [] And God did it. We are the fish and loaves story.

They didnt know if it would be boring, they didnt know what it would look like, but they trusted that God was in it. And He was. [] It wasn't just my yes, it wasn't just my team's yes, it was thousands of people saying yes to God.

Reflecting on what Gather25 revealed about the state of the global Church, Allen noted a renewed hunger for unity and prayer.

For so long, we didnt believe in it anymore. We got really discouraged and cynical. But then something started to happen, and people started to get hope again.

Allen said she believes the Church is in the early signs of something monumental. We showed revival happening all over the Earth. And in some cases, if you were to just watch a clip, you wouldnt know what country you were seeing. Youd think it was the U.S., but it was Germany, with hundreds and thousands of baptisms. Paris, the same thing. The same Spirit of God moving in every place.

While she hesitated to label it a full-fledged awakening, the ministry leader said she sees the momentum building. I think when it really happens, there will be no denying it. The whole Church will know. But Im in rooms where I see it. Im watching it happen on college campuses, in churches, in cities around the world.

As the global movement sparked by Gather25 continues, Allen said she remains committed to sowing seeds for revival. For the places that we arent experiencing a harvest yet, keep sowing. Keep sowing. Im just praying that the Lord has favor on our generation, that He really would pour out mass revival and that many, many souls would be saved. Thats what were praying. And thats going to take all of us.

For those who missed Gather25, the full event is available for free at Gather25.com. What youll see, Allen promises, will give you great hope that the Church is alive, well and thriving.
Home News Alex Jones blames murder of InfoWars reporter Jamie White on liberals, globalists

Police in Austin, Texas, say InfoWars reporter Jamie White might have been killed by burglars outside his apartment in the wee hours of Monday morning as the publication's founder, Alex Jones, blamed the murder in part on liberals and globalists.

Jones first announced 36-year-old White's death on Monday evening, blaming billionaire financier George Soros in part for the reporter's death.

"We are deeply saddened to inform you that InfoWars Reporter Jamie White was brutally murdered around midnight Sunday night due, in part, to the policies of the Soros Austin, TX D.A. Jose Garza," Jones wrote on X.

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"We pledge that Jamie's tragic death will not be in vain, and those responsible for this senseless violence will be brought to justice. Jamie's important work will be carried on through InfoWars, our readers, and our cherished listeners."

In extended comments shared on X, Jones generally blamed liberal politicians and globalists for creating the climate that caused White's murder, saying that crime has exploded in Austin in recent years.

"So to the globalists  you murdered Jamie White. You opened the door; you created the climate. You created the conditions on purpose. George Soros, Alexander Soros, you murdered Jamie White. Joe Biden, you murdered Jamie White. The Democratic Party, Hakeem Jeffries, Al Green, you murdered Jamie White and we're not going to forget him."

In a statement cited by The Austin American-Statesman, the Austin Police Department said White was pronounced dead at 12:19 a.m. Monday after, he was found on the ground in the parking lot of the apartment complex where he lived with trauma to his body.

"The initial investigation shows that White was shot and killed in the parking lot of the apartment complex in which he lived," the statement said. "The suspects then fled the scene. Detectives believe the suspects were possibly burglarizing White's vehicle, when he interrupted them."

White's sister, Kelly Kneale, told The Independent that this was the second time since Christmas that her brother had been the target of car thieves.

"He was shot by a person or persons trying to break into his car for the second time," she said, noting that thieves previously broke into his car during the Christmas holiday. "A tragic accident, but we haven't heard much else. I hope whoever took his life is caught and brought to justice. My father and I are devastated, to say the least."

Racheal Salazar, the organizer of a GiveSendGo campaign, remembers White as a "talented writer" who had "passion for politics" and had dreams of "finding the perfect woman" with who he could start a family.

"On Sunday night, our beloved Jamie White was brutally murdered in Austin, Texas, leaving an unimaginable void in the lives of his family and friends. Jamie was a talented writer for InfoWars, pouring his passion for politics into every piece he crafted," she wrote.

"He lived life with intensity and creativity, always dreaming of finding the perfect woman and building a beautiful family.  This devastating loss has shaken the White family to its core," she said.

Donations for the campaign will "honor Jamie's memory and support his grieving family."
Home News It's heartbreaking': HUD Secretary Scott Turner prays at LA Dream Center before assessing wildfire damage

United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner led a prayer at a homeless center as he announced additional actions designed to mitigate the effect of devastating wildfires in California.

Turner, who served as an associate pastor at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, and was confirmed by the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate in a 55-44 vote last month, visited the Dream Center in Los Angeles, California, last Thursday alongside worship artist Sean Feucht. The Dream Center is a Christian organization focused on providing support to those affected by homelessness, hunger, and the lack of education through residential and community outreach programs.

Feucht shared a video from the tour that featured Turner leading a prayer.

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Father, we thank you that the spirit of God rests in this place. Father, we thank you for the leadership, Turner proclaimed. We thank you for all of those who call this place home. And Father, Im praying for your favor; Im praying for your grace. Lord, we pray for transformation in the lives of everyone who comes through the doors of this godly place. And Father, we pray, Lord God, the enemy is not welcome here.

Turner also thanked God for the ability to worship you together, adding, We love you. You are a good, good father. We believe you. We trust you; we declare it in Jesus name because your Word, it is true. It is the final authority in Jesus name.

Turners prayer was followed by Feucht leading attendees in singing, The Goodness of God.

According to a statement released by HUD, Turner was in Los Angeles to announce a 90-day extension of a foreclosure moratorium on Federal Housing Administration-insured single-family mortgages in Los Angeles County as the nations largest county continues to reel from the devastating wildfires.

Turner made the announcement while touring a disaster zone in Altadena alongside Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose Fifth District encompasses the Los Angeles suburb.

It is heartbreaking to witness the devastation caused by the horrific wildfires in Altadena and the surrounding areas of Los Angeles County and the heavy toll of this tragedy on individuals, families and communities, Turner said.

Empowering and supporting our neighbors so they can build or rebuild their future, including when disaster strikes, is a core part of HUDs mission and we will continue providing help during hardship, Turner vowed.

Barger expressed gratitude for the assistance from HUD, describing the agencys extension of the foreclosure moratorium as a lifeline for wildfire survivors in Los Angeles County who are facing immense hardship.

Barger thanked Turner for his leadership and commitment to ensuring that families impacted by these devastating fires have the time and support they need to recover," adding: This critical relief will help stabilize our communities as we work together to rebuild and heal.

Since joining the Trump administration, Turner has been known for leading prayer, including at the first cabinet meeting.

The 90-day extension issued by Turner last week pushes the expiration date for the moratorium ahead from April 8 to July 7.

According to statistics compiled by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Eaton Fire that impacted Altadena burned 14,021 acres and destroyed nearly 10,000 structures, damaged over 1,000 other structures (residential and commercial) and caused 17 civilian fatalities and nine firefighter fatalities.

Another fire that impacted Los Angeles County earlier this year, the Palisades Fire, burned 23,707 acres while destroying nearly 7,000 structures, damaging nearly 700 other buildings and led to the deaths of 12 civilians and three firefighters.
Home News Pakistani court annuls forced marriage of Christian girl in landmark ruling

A civil court in Pakistans Punjab province has annulled the forced marriage of a Christian girl who had been subjected to years of abuse and coercion, allowing her to reunite with her family after enduring forced conversion and marriage to her stepfathers brother.

The court, in Bahawalpur city, ruled in favor of Shahida Bibi, declaring the marriage invalid and reversing her coerced conversion to Islam, according to the legal advocacy group ADF International, which supported her case along with allied attorneys.

Authorities issued new identification documents that restored her status as a Christian. The legal battle represents a rare instance of justice being served in cases involving forced conversion and marriage in Pakistan, the group said.

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Bibi's ordeal began at the age of 11 when her mother eloped with a Muslim man. The man handed Bibi over to his brother, who later entered into an Islamic marriage union, or Nikah, with her after she turned 18.

This move was reportedly made to bypass Pakistans anti-child marriage law, which prohibits unions involving minors. During this time, Bibi gave birth to two children while being trapped in the forced marriage.

A 2014 study by The Movement for Solidarity and Peace Pakistan estimated that about 1,000 women and girls from Pakistan's Hindu and Christian communities were abducted, forcibly married to their captors and forcibly converted to Islam every year.

Under Sharia law, which permits marriage at the age of puberty, such unions are often legitimized, leaving families powerless to intervene.

Global organizations, including the United Nations Children's Fund, warn that child marriage remains an urgent issue worldwide, with over 100 million girls at risk of being forced into marriage in the next decade.

Minority girls, such as Christians and Hindus in Pakistan, are particularly vulnerable due to systemic discrimination, limited legal protections and fear of retribution.

Tehmina Arora, director of advocacy for Asia at ADF International, called the victory a step toward justice and freedom for young women facing similar ordeals.

The government has an opportunity to make a difference, and they should start by implementing a uniform age for marriage to prevent these forced kidnappings and marriages from happening in the first place, said Arora.

Every person under international law has the right to freely choose and live out their faith without fear of violence, she added. Every state, including Pakistan, must ensure that their laws and policies are in line with their commitments to protect religious freedom under international law, and that the laws they do have in place to protect girls from these violations are enforced.

In January 2025, European Union officials issued a formal warning to Pakistan, citing ongoing human rights violations, including blasphemy laws and the persecution of religious minorities. The EU cautioned that failure to address these issues could jeopardize Pakistans trade relations with Europe.

Similarly, in 2024, U.S. senators introduced a bipartisan resolution urging the U.S. government to hold violators of religious freedom accountable. The resolution specifically called attention to the plight of girls like Bibi, underlining the need for diplomatic and legal measures to combat forced conversions and marriages globally.
Home News Pastor who swindled $1M from congregants fights probation at Ohio Supreme Court

A former Ohio pastor convicted of fleecing some $1 million from his church in 2010 and sentenced to several years in prison plus a period of community control or probation he argues is beyond the state's five-year limit has taken his case to the state's Supreme Court.

David Thompson, who led the World of Pentecost Church in Columbus from 1998 to 2007, was convicted of 21 felonies, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, theft and forgery in 2010, according to Court News Ohio, a service of the Office of Public Information of the Supreme Court of Ohio.

Thompson received a sentence of five years in prison for 19 counts related to his crime, while he was offered five years of community control for two of the 21 felonies. He was also ordered to pay the church $733,048 in restitution. His sentences were scheduled to run consecutively.

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He appealed his sentenced in 2011, court documents show, but only his theft conviction and the amount of his restitution were reduced.

Four years later, in January 2015, Thompson applied for and received a judicial release from his prison sentence, but he was ordered to continue paying restitution along with five years of community control as conditions of his early release.

On March 13, 2019, Thompson's probation officer reported that he had violated the terms of his community control by failing to make appropriate payments toward restitution to the church, court documents show. At the time, the former pastor had an outstanding restitution balance of $621,377.50.

At a hearing to revoke his community control, the court noted that Thompson had been "underemployed" while on community control and had "not made the effort."

"The court specifically noted that, despite his minimal payments toward restitution, appellant 'found money' to take several trips, including a trip 'to Tennessee to get married and go to Myrtle Beach for [his] honeymoon,'" court documents noted.

A trial court found Thompson would have to return to prison and finish the remaining 11 months of prison time from his original sentence on the 19 counts. The court further ruled that he would have to serve the original five years of community control for the two-count conviction after completing the remaining 11 months of his initial sentence.

Thompson later mounted a series of appeals. In his last appeal, he argued that state law caps community control at five years. Since he already served five years of community control after his judicial release in 2015, he shouldn't be forced to serve another five-year term.

The Tenth District upheld his latest sentence in a 2-1 decision, including the second five-year community control period. The former pastor appealed the decision at the Ohio Supreme Court, which has agreed to hear his case.
Home News Paul Washer stresses importance of personal prayer, warns against trifling trinket ministries

HeartCry Missionary Society founder and preacher Paul Washer has stressed the importance of personal prayer, warning against what he dubbed trifling trinket ministries.

In a sermon at the Shepherds Conference last Friday, Washer preached from Mark 1:29-38, which speaks about Jesus healing several people before drawing away to pray and then telling His disciples that He needed to preach elsewhere.

You can have really good theology and not be abiding in Christ, Washer said. Every trial, every war, every reckoning, every breaking that goes on in your life has one purpose: to drive you into ongoing communion with Christ, not just through studying good books, but on your knees.

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Washer told conference attendees that the pivotal point of the Mark passages was to see the prayer life of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, adding that in prayer, secret abiding prayer, there is no glory before men, there is only glory from God.

This Great Commission is not going to go anywhere  with all your expounding and all your preaching and all your diagramming  its going nowhere without prayer, Washer continued.

Washer asserted that while men of God need rest from time-to-time, personal prayer is something that even triumphs over sleep and definitely triumphs over ministry.

Washer also addressed all these trifling trinket kind of ministries that arent necessary, while stressing that prayer is necessary, especially for his mostly pastor-based audience.

He quoted famed 19th century British preacher Charles H. Spurgeon, who reportedly said, I would rather teach one man to pray than ten men to preach.

Washer added that he believes a lot of historians of Spurgeon are going to have a fight on their hands when they cross through the gates of glory because they attribute Spurgeons preaching to his mighty intellect or to his memory.

Those things he had, but he would fight you on that, Washer continued. You cant look at Spurgeons sermons, you cannot read them and find a natural explanation for the fact that that much material was preached and yet every paragraph seems to be gold.  He was a man of prayer, like his Lord.

Washer also stressed the importance of studying the Bible, stating: Ive found out that theres only one thing my flesh hates more than the study of Scripture, its prayer.

Washer mentioned passages of Scripture in which Jesus emphasized the importance of personal prayer, including Luke 11, when one disciple asked Jesus to teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.

Isnt it amazing that we never hear the disciples come to Jesus and say, teach us to teach, like you teach? Teach us to cast out demons as you cast out demons? said Washer. Teach us to walk on water, as you walk on water?

If I am going to ask a man to teach me something, it's going to be the thing I find most spectacular in the life of that man. I honestly believe that the most spectacular thing about Jesus was His communion with God in prayer.

Washer then discussed the importance of the life of prayer as well as the commitment to labor for the Kingdom of God, stressing that you do not let go of the one to take hold of the other. You do both.

Washer was among the speakers at the Shepherds Conference, a ministry gathering of Grace Community Church of Sun Valley, California, which was held March 5-7.

Prominent GCC Teaching Pastor John MacArthur also addressed conference attendees via video message, as the 85-year-old continues to struggle with severe health issues.

I realize Im on the last lap, MacArthur said in his video message. That takes on a new meaning when you know youre on the short end of the candle.

I am all thanks and praise to God for everything Hes allowed me to be a part of and everything Hes accomplished by His Word in these years of ministry. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Home News US Navy halts leave, travel reimbursements for abortion

The United States Navy has suspended the provision of leave and coverage of travel-related expenses for those seeking an abortion, reversing a policy from the Biden administration.

The Navy has adopted a new policy that provides support for access to non-covered reproductive care like in vitro fertilization, intrauterine insemination and sperm collection for cryopreservation.

Abortion, however, was not among the reproductive services for which leave or coverage of travel expenses would be permitted, according to the U.S. Naval Institute.

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The new policy applies to active and reserve sailors and Marines who are either seeking such services or are accompanying a spouse or dependent. Administrative absences can be up to three full weeks, with convalescent leave possibly being granted as well.

In October 2022, four months after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, former Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin sent a memorandum to senior Pentagon leadership directing them to create "travel and transportation allowances for Service members and their dependents, as appropriate and consistent with applicable federal law and operational requirements."

Additionally, Austin called for creating a "uniform Department of Defense policy that allows for appropriate administrative absence consistent with applicable federal law for non-covered reproductive healthcare."

Austin claimed that the policy was due to "concerns from many of our Service members and their families about the complexity and the uncertainty that they now face in accessing reproductive health care, including abortion services."

The decision garnered backlash from pro-life groups and elected officials, including U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., who oversaw a monthslong blockade of President Joe Biden's military appointments over the abortion travel policy.

In December 2023, Tuberville ended his blockade on military promotions, explaining that he was narrowing the focus of his protest to four-star generals amid mounting criticism from colleagues.

"We didn't get the win that we wanted. We've still got a bad policy," Tuberville stated at the time. "We tried to stand up for the taxpayers of this country."

In January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled "Enforcing the Hyde Amendment," which sought to curb federal funding of elective abortion.

"For nearly five decades, the Congress has annually enacted the Hyde Amendment and similar laws that prevent Federal funding of elective abortion, reflecting a longstanding consensus that American taxpayers should not be forced to pay for that practice," read the order, in part.

"However, the previous administration disregarded this established, commonsense policy by embedding forced taxpayer funding of elective abortions in a wide variety of Federal programs. It is the policy of the United States, consistent with the Hyde Amendment, to end the forced use of Federal taxpayer dollars to fund or promote elective abortion."
Colorado Ban On Conversion Therapy, Antisemitism On College Campuses, Pastor John MacArthur: On The Last Lap.

link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 09:01 09:01

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Top headlines for Tuesday, March 11, 2025

In this episode, we discuss U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner's visit to a homeless center, where his prayer brings both spiritual and community uplift. We then delve into the Supreme Court's upcoming hearing on Colorado's controversial ban on sexual orientation change efforts therapy, a case that tests the boundaries of counseling, personal rights, and religious beliefs. Next, we turn our attention to Syria, where Christians and other religious minorities are raising an urgent call for help amid widespread violence. Lastly, we feature a heartfelt video message from Pastor John MacArthur at the Shepherds Conference, reflecting on endurance and gratitude in trying times.
Home Opinion Americans still want children

America, like the rest of the developed world, is facing a baby shortage, and the inevitable reckoning has begun. Last year, The New York Times asked, Why Are So Many Americans Choosing to Not Have Children? More recently, The Atlantic warned of the consequences of the baby bust for the Democratic Party. The article talked as if the reality is still coming, but falling fertility has been happening for a while now. The real problems it poses for our future are no longer deniable.

Why Western fertility is falling, however, is a source of controversy. The most popular theory is that affluent and educated women in the West no longer want children because they are career-oriented feminists. In this way of thinking, women reject motherhood because they believe that academic and professional achievement is not merely better than, but wholly incompatible with having a family.

This view, that the traditional family is a kind of slavery that oppresses women, has long been promoted by feminist authors, beginning with Simone de Beauvoir in her book The Second Sex. Her ideas are still repeated and reinforced by loud voices online boasting about their childfree lives full of disposable income, travel, and self-indulgence. Polling data, however, suggests that most American women dont feel this way about marriage or childbearing. In fact, they are more likely than men, on average, to say that they intend to have several children.

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According to demographer Lyman Stone, utilizing data from the 2022-2023 National Survey of Family Growth, 50% of childless women say they intend to have kids, while just 32% of childless men say the same. Women surveyed also gave a higher intended number of children than the men did.

If women truly are more pro-natal than men, are unwilling men to blame for holding them back from the families they intend? Not exactly, and here we find a quirk of human nature, and therefore of polling.

Though womens intentions appear to be more pro-natal, men were more likely to say they desire to have children. For example, a Pew Research poll found that 57% of young men without children wanted them someday, compared with just 45% of women. There is a key difference, suggested Stone, between wants and intentions, and men and women, for whatever reason, answer questions differently based on that language:

[Intention] isnt the same thing as desires, but it is a nice way to get at whats going on under the hood in peoples brains as they think about these questions.  [A]lthough men claim to want more kids, when push comes to shove, women are more determined to actually have kids.

That explanation at least meshes with well-established findings that American women are falling well short of their ideal number of children. According to the Institute for Family Studies, on average, an American woman will have 1.6 births in her lifetime, and the share of women who will never give birth is on the rise. And yet, a majority of young women continue to say they would like a family, and their ideal number of children is just over two, a number that, surprisingly, hasnt changed in decades.

So yes, Americans are having fewer children but still hope for them. Perhaps this means that many have not so much believed the anti-natalist ideas about children, but the ones about having children, namely the relational and financial fictions about happiness, success, and wealth. The proudly childfree who live for the moment and spend all their time and money on themselves may be loud on social media, but do not represent Americans in general.

The resilience of created reality, including persistent maternal and paternal instincts, should also be noted. It is true that many who want families are having a much harder time forming them than in years past, but family is still integral to what most people mean when they talk about the good life. This should inform and shape the task of shepherding young men and women into adulthood and should include strategies to make matrimony and parenthood easier.

To encourage these things  whether at home, in Congress, or from the pulpit  is still to work with the grain of reality, drawing people toward the end for which male and female, and sex itself, were created. Biology and reality are on the side of marriage and babies. To encourage pro-family intentions and ideals is to make reality great again.

Originally published at BreakPoint.
Home Opinion How spiritual maturity prevents Christian deconstruction

Emotionally mature teenagers in loving families do not run away from home. Likewise, spiritually mature Christians who are filled with God's love do not run away from the Lord to deconstruct their faith.

Spiritual maturity manifests itself through deep biblical convictions and a consistent Christian life. Beliefs and practices are both equally important in the life of a mature Christian. And this is why the Apostle Paul instructed Timothy: Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers (1 Timothy 4:16).

What would possess a 14-year-old girl to leave home and go live out on the streets? A number of factors could be at play, including emotional immaturity, or perhaps some type of abuse in the home. Otherwise, who in their right mind would exchange a loving home environment for the dangers of living on the streets?

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In similar fashion, professing Christians who choose to deconstruct their faith are exhibiting spiritual immaturity and perhaps reacting to some form of spiritual abuse they encountered from a handful of holier-than-thou religious types.

In addition, some spiritually immature believers are swayed by attacks against the authority and reliability of the Bible, whereas spiritually mature believers have put those questions to rest. In fact, it is impossible to grow spiritually if you do not have complete confidence that the Bible is God's Word.

I asked a couple I was visiting with recently if they attended a church. She immediately responded, I am deconstructing. She described being very active in a church years ago, and that the main reason for her deconstruction is women's rights. Today she identifies as an atheist who supports body-autonomy, and she claims that the Bible did not come from God.

Spiritually mature Christians, on the other hand, recognize and appreciate the reliability of Scripture, as well as the indisputable historical evidence related to women's rights. A helpful resource by Amy Orr-Ewing from The C.S. Lewis Institute is titled, Are Biblical Manuscripts Reliable? and be sure to check out, Ten Ways Jesus Has Changed the World for Women.

The woman who is deconstructing said, I am done drinking the Kool-Aid. Ironically, she now consumes poisonous ideologies and erroneous talking points that lack a factual or historical basis, unlike the perfect life and loving actions of Jesus.

Interestingly, women who love the Lord never assert that women are undervalued by Jesus. The fact of the matter is that Christ did just the opposite. When I made this point to the woman who is deconstructing, she said she believes Jesus was merely a nice man. Never mind the fact that Christ did not leave that possibility open to us.

Spiritual maturity produces rock solid faith. Growing Christians learn a simple fact over time: I can trust the Lord even when my circumstances tempt me to think that God has abandoned me. Many who choose to deconstruct their faith allow their disappointments and stressful emotional swings to drag them away from the Lord. Those who are not thoroughly grounded in biblical doctrine have a weak hold on the truth that is tenuous at best.

God works through His Word to help His children become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming (Ephesians 4:13-14).

Are you spiritually mature in your Christian faith and filled with the love of God? Are you convinced that Jesus lived a sinless life, died a holy death on the cross, and rose from the grave on the third day for your eternal salvation? Are you born again through faith in Jesus, or has the Christian message merely stirred your emotions?

If you are not rooted in the Gospel, then false teaching can decimate your shallow faith. You can only defeat lies by holding firmly to the truth and becoming spiritually mature. After all, an honest inquiry reveals that the arguments of false teachers regarding the Bible and Christ's resurrection fall apart under investigation and scrutiny.

Spiritual maturity prevents Christian deconstruction by guarding a believer's heart and mind against various attacks by the devil. God's spiritual armor enables followers of Christ to stand up against the mentally seductive schemes of our spiritual adversary (see Ephesians 6:10-18). Satan seeks to distract and discourage professing believers through various half-truths and innumerable lies. The (Holy) Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1).

One indicator of spiritual maturity is confidence in the Word of God. Satan works overtime to chip away at a professing Christian's trust in the Bible. If you do not believe God's Word, then you cannot trust God, period. Just as Adam and Eve gave into temptation after choosing to doubt what God told them, (see Genesis 3:1-13) people who choose to distrust the authority of Scripture are setting themselves up for spiritual defeat.

James Montgomery Boice (1938-2000) was a Christian theologian who said, It is beyond doubt that Jesus highly esteemed the Old Testament and constantly submitted to it as to an authoritative revelation. He taught that the Scriptures bore a witness to Him, just as He bore a witness to them. Because they are the words of God, Jesus assumed their complete reliability, in whole and to the smallest part.

Spiritual maturity is your only hedge of protection against false teaching, which seduces some people into walking away from the Savior who lovingly went to the cross for our eternal salvation. Sadly, those who deconstruct their faith choose spiritual adultery over allegiance to Christ. There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death (Proverbs 14:12).
To capitalize on the enormous potential of artificial intelligence (AI) enterprises need systems purpose-built for industry-specific workflows. Strong domain expertise, solid data foundations and innovative AI capabilities will help organizations accelerate business outcomes and outperform their competitors.

Enterprise technology leaders discussed these issues and more while sharing real-world examples during EXLs recent virtual event, AI in Action: Driving the Shift to Scalable AI.

The key to driving real impact lies in seamlessly integrating data and AI into the way businesses work, said Rohit Kapoor, chairman and CEO, EXL. Its not just about implementing technology. Its about orchestrating data, digital solutions and human intelligence to optimize decision-making and unlock new opportunities.

The year of agentic AI

Agentic AI holds the key to unlocking these opportunities. With autonomous, self-regulating AI agents, enterprises can create automated workflows that adapt to real-world business complexity and augment their human experts to boost efficiency, accuracy and innovation.

Kevin Ichhpurani, president of global partner ecosystem with Google Cloud, shared an example of a mutual client and how EXL and Google have helped them with customer service agents. The agents understand the consumers intent when they call, make educated decisions through complex reasoning and then take action, such as initiating a product exchange or ordering a replacement unit.

We see [2025] as the year of delivering agentic experiences for clients, where we automate complete end-to-end business processes, Ichhpurani said.

To achieve this goal, EXL last month launched its agentic AI platform, EXLerate.AI. It orchestrates AI models alongside human expertise and analytics to help businesses harness AI without getting slowed down by technical complexities, Kapoor said.

The virtual event also featured demos of EXL Code Harbor, a generative AI-powered code migration tool, and EXLs Insurance Large Language Model (LLM), a purpose-built solution to the industrys challenges around claims adjudication and underwriting.

The Insurance LLM is trained on 12 years worth of casualty insurance claims and medical records and is powered by EXLs domain expertise. Built on NVIDIAs AI stack, the LLM delivers 30% greater accuracy and 30% lower costs than general-purpose models.

Insurance LLM assists claim adjusters to be more productive and accurate in a shorter time period, said John Fanelli, vice president, enterprise software, NVIDIA. It also delivers the best outcomes for both the insurers and the insured. Insurance LLM is a fantastic example of what we call an agentic AI system.

AI in the wild

In two event panels, enterprise AI practitioners shared the trends theyre seeing this year and how theyre adapting. The first conversation focused on the evolving symbiosis between data and AI.

There used to be a discussion about how much data you have, said Sidd Kuckreja, CTO with TruStage. Now its about the quality of data as you think of the regulatory landscape, bias mitigation, privacy and ethical considerations.

Randy Huang, vice president and chief data scientist for U.S. business with Prudential, emphasized the importance of security and governance, because more people are using AI platforms to access and use sensitive data.

The focus on data is really changing based on how the data is generated and how the data is used, Huang said.

And Preetha Sekharan, vice president of Unums digital incubator, noted that while data can fuel AI innovation, the inverse is also true.

What is really interesting with genAI and newer technologies is how AI can accelerate how you generate, how you transform, how you understand data, Sekharan said. That is really a fascinating twist in how we think about data.

The second panel focused on how AI helps enterprises maintain a competitive advantage. NRG Energy uses AI to conduct ongoing scenario modeling, analyzing weather and forecasting its effects on customer demand and energy prices.

Theres a lot of data points, and  theres a really good opportunity to use that to do better prediction, said Dak Liyanearachchi, chief data and technology officer.

Sarthak Pattanaik, head of the artificial intelligence hub at BNY, discussed the banks internal platform, which enables employees to build AI-powered systems while ensuring security, privacy, fairness, ethical usage, accountability, and transparency.

It democratizes access to AI in a responsible fashion, so it helps innovation at scale, Pattanaik said.

And Dr. Ashish Atreja, professor of medicine at University of California  Davis Health, spoke about AI improving patient access to care.

The biggest value for patients thats going to happen is moving healthcare fundamentally from one-to-one care, where you have to be with a physician and a patient in the same space and time, to one-to-many care  how you can automate digital care pathways through digital avatars, through digital apps, through digital therapeutics, Atreja said.

A fundamental transformation

Simply adopting AI is no longer enough. As industry leaders emphasized during EXLs event, success requires integrating AI with high-quality data and deep domain expertise  while rethinking and optimizing business processes.

AI is not just a technological shift, Kapoor said. Its a fundamental business transformation.

To learn more about what agentic AI and EXL can do for your business, visit here.
Are you one of the 180 million Americans estimated to have an Amazon Prime subscription? Or one of the 57 million who paid for an online news service last year?

These familiar examples underscore the reality of customer experience (CX) in many industries today. Now increasingly delivered through digital channels, CX has been redefined by technology  making it a key part of the modern CIOs mandate.

The challenge for IT leaders is clear. They must ensure their digital infrastructure is set up to deliver the seamless, intelligent and hyper-personalized experience that customers expect. Otherwise, the impact on the business could be severe.

CXs commercial impact

According to research by PwC, good CX has a tangible commercial impact and profoundly shapes peoples willingness to spend, stay loyal or switch to a competitor. Consumers are willing to pay a premium of up to 16% more for products or services with better CX. One-third of them will abandon a brand completely after a single negative interaction.

With the growing significance of digital channels and the smart use of data for delivering great CX in todays world, CIOs have understandably put this high up their priority list.

Customer experience is the cornerstone of digital transformation, says Vipin Kalra, an expert in contact center technology with more than 20 years experience in the industry. Successful digital transformation isnt just about adopting new technology  its about elevating customer satisfaction, reducing friction, and making interactions more intuitive.

For Adobes Marie Knight, technology partnerships director, the CX challenge is evolving all the time. We used to say that companies had to deliver the right message at the right time to their customers. But now there are so many digital channels, we talk about delivering the right message, at the right time, in the right place. And the place bit is becoming tricky.

Transformative shift

A combination of the explosion in channels and technological tools is blurring the lines between the CIO and CMO in customer experience delivery, says Adobes Knight. In the best organizations now, CIOs and CMOs work well together. AI is accelerating and complicating this, because content has to be secure and compliant as well as on-brand.

In Tata Communications work with customers in the US and around the world, weve witnessed this transformative shift in CX up close, says Raj Purkayastha, the companys VP Head of Pre Sales and Strategy, Americas.

Many enterprises have worked hard to break down departmental silos, establish omnichannel offerings, and integrate multiple CX tools and partners into their digital environments, Purkayastha continues. Thats enabled them to create customer interactions that are increasingly contextual and trusted at scale.

But for too many organizations, this kind of positive outcome remains a distant dream  putting their commercial future at risk.

The CX delivery gap

In a study by Harvard Business Review, sponsored by Tata Communications, 94% of business leaders said that consistently delivering positive customer interactions is very important to business success in their industry. But a mere 38% said their organization is very successful at delivering them. Its a frighteningly large gap between aspirations and reality.

The causes of this giant delivery gap are both cultural and technological. Blamed the most are a lack of team collaboration (cited by 48% of business leaders) and a lack of the right talent (40%). But the challenge of siloed or disorganized customer data (39%) was also important, as was a lack of data analysis capability (39%) and a disparate set of tech tools used across the organization (35%).

The CIOs opportunity

The Harvard Business Review findings serve to underscore the opportunity for CIOs. Modern software tools, especially AI-powered ones, should boost enterprises analytical capabilities substantially. Likewise, bringing multiple tools into a unified real-time platform can drastically enhance the value an organization gets from its piles of data.

These are precisely the kind of outcomes that Tata Communications Interaction Fabric was built to deliver, highlights Purkayastha. It helps CIOs with the essential changes they need to make so their digital infrastructure can meet customers modern expectations. Organizations can then enable interactions that are omni-channel, contextual and intelligent, providing a seamless experience for customers.

In all of these areas, CIOs can make the case for digital investments and infrastructure optimizations that tangibly benefit the bottom line. CX is more than just another IT initiative  its increasingly the competitive edge that defines market leaders. Driving that agenda forward is an exciting opportunity for CIOs to play a more central role in business success today.

To learn more, visit Tata Communications website.
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Aldi

The Salvation Army has agreed a two-year partnership with Aldi, in which the supermarket will provide non-food products to the charity at a reduced cost.

Through the partnership, the Christian charity will then resell the supermarkets Specialbuys products, such as kitchen accessories, home furnishings and clothing, through its network of more than 200 shops.

The partnership follows a year-long trial in which the Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd (SATCoL), which runs the charitys shops, raised over 350,000 through the sale of Aldi products.

Kirk Bradley, head of corporate partnerships at the Salvation Army, said: We are delighted to partner with Aldi to offer some of its products in our stores.

This partnership will contribute to providing a vital funding source for our charity as well as great quality products to our customers across the UK.

Luke Emery, national sustainability director at Aldi, said: Were committed to doing all that we can to support our local communities and its great to be able to support the Salvation Army to stock its stores.

We know the profits raised will provide vital funds for the charity to continue its ongoing work to support those who need it most across the country.

SATCoL, which is wholly owned by the Salvation Army, made a gift aid payment of 1.27m in the year to March 2024, down from 4.79m the year before, according to its latest accounts.

Overall, SATCol generated 82.9m in 2023-24, up from 73.3m the year before.

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Jeff Mayo had been preparing for this for weeks. In February, when President Donald Trump first announced a 25 percent tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada, Mayo, a third-generation newspaper printer in Oklahoma, put in an order of Canadian paper.

But by the time the tariffs actually went into effect last weekif only temporarilyhis careful planning wasnt of much use. As printers and manufacturers scrambled to secure raw materials before the price went up, trucking shortages delayed shipments for everyone. Even if we had the paper ready, we couldnt get it on a truck, Mayo told CJR last week, before the tariffs were once again suspended, until April 2. Everyones trying to do the same thing.

Canada has long been a major supplier of American newsprintit now provides an estimated 80 percent of the paper used by US newspapers. A tariff would add a significant burden to publishers already struggling with high costs of production and thin margins, and analysts say the mere looming threat of one has complicated life for printers. There is no scenario under which this is cost-positive for the media industry, said Brett House, a professor of professional practice at the Columbia Business School. Almost anything that is done here is going to be increasing prices for newsprint.

John Galer, the publisher of the Journal-News in Hillsboro, Illinois, said the new tariffs represent more than just a financial setback. He publishes eight newspapers and prints nineteen other publications at his press, serving rural communities that often have no other dedicated source of news. His publications rely entirely on Canadian newsprint, and he estimates a 25 percent tariff would increase his costs by about twenty thousand dollars a year, forcing him to increase his prices. I like to stay hopeful, he said. But right now, were all just waiting to see what happens next. (Galer learned of the postponement of the tariffs from a text message as we were speaking on the phone. I dont get it, he muttered.)

The last time the US imposed tariffs on Canadian newsprint, the consequences were severe. In 2018, a single American paper manufacturer petitioned for duties on Canadian imports, arguing that unfair subsidies gave Canadian mills an advantage. The resulting tariffs sent newsprint prices soaring, forcing newspapers, especially smaller, independent publishers, to make painful cuts. Some laid off staff. Others reduced page counts or eliminated print days altogether. A few publications shut down entirely.

The newspaper industry fought back, with the National Newspaper Association and other advocacy groups mobilizing to overturn the tariffs. Legislators testified before the International Trade Commission, warning that rising costs were accelerating the decline of local journalism. After months of lobbying and legal challenges, the tariffs were lifted. But the damage had already been done. The price hikes never fully reversed, and many of the cuts newspapers made to stay afloat became permanent.

Now newspaper publishers like Mayo, whose company Cookson Hills Publishers prints eight newspapers serving mostly rural communities across eastern Oklahoma, find themselves stuck in limbo, forced to make financial decisions for a future they cant predict. Unfortunately, its a waiting game, Mayo said.

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Martha Diaz Aszkenazy, the chairperson of the National Newspaper Association and publisher of the ten-thousand-circulation San Fernando Valley Sun, says the entire industry is feeling shaken by the current policy roller coaster. Its not only tariffs that are affecting us, its also the uncertainty, she said. Its affecting our customers who are, for instance, holding back from making decisions about advertising.

I just dont know why we are doing this, she said. It seems like instead of making America great, were just making America scared.
French households, businesses and local authorities will face soaring costs for insurance if the country fails to adapt to a changing climate, the government said Monday.

The cost of climate disasters may double in the 30 years through 2050, reaching a cumulative 143 billion ($155 billion), it said in an adaptation plan. At a briefing in Paris, Ecology Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher said climate change is a tangible reality that could leave some citizens unable to get insured.

During the past two decades, Frances insurance industry has faced increasingly costly claims as extreme weather causes droughts, storms and fires. Thats raised doubts over the sustainability of the current system of compensation, and concern that some insurers will simply withdraw from high-risk areas.

The plan presented Monday  which provides little fresh funding  is aimed at raising awareness and spurring preparation by local authorities, energy firms, farmers and other industries. It dovetails with Frances 10-year energy road map, which envisages huge growth in renewables and greater energy efficiency.

The latest version of the road map, unveiled Friday, cut a 2035 target for solar capacity by 10%, a presentation showed. Hydrogen goals were also trimmed as the industrys development progresses more slowly than expected.

Key targets from Frances energy road map 2023 2030 2035 Carbon-free electricity output (in TWh) 458 577 666-708 Nuclear output (in TWh) 320.4 360 360 Solar installed capacity (in GW) 19.3 54 65-90 Onshore wind capacity (in GW) 21.9 33 40-45 Offshore wind capacity (in GW) 0.84 3.6 18 Biogas output (in TWh) 19.5 50 50-85 Maximum hydrogen electrolyzing capacity (in GW) 0 4.5 8

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
Wells Fargo sued JPMorgan Chase on Monday to recover losses for investors in a $481 million commercial real estate loan that was allegedly based on a fraudulently inflated financial metric.

The lawsuit pits the fourth-largest U.S. bank against the largest, with Wells Fargo accusing JPMorgan of turning a blind eye during due diligence in pursuit of millions of dollars in fees.

JPMorgan made the loan to finance the 2019 purchase by the Chetrit Group, a private Manhattan real estate development firm, of 43 multifamily properties with 8,671 apartments in 10 U.S. states.

Wells Fargo, in its role as the investors trustee, said JPMorgan and Chetrit learned before the $522 million purchase closed that the seller overstated the properties historical net operating income, a key commercial real estate metric, by 25%.

But according to the complaint in Manhattan federal court, JPMorgan went ahead with the loan, knowing it would eventually be sold in pieces to unwitting investors.

The borrower defaulted in 2022 and still owes more than $285 million, while investors have lost tens of millions of dollars, Wells Fargo said.

JPM had an obligation to engage in due inquiry to determine the scope of the fraudulent reporting after learning about the inflated metric, Wells Fargo said.

Instead, JPM plowed ahead as if nothing unusual had happened, Wells Fargo added, without even bothering to correct known errors in the numbers.

The defendants also include Meyer Chetrit, a Chetrit Group principal who provided a loan guaranty.

JPMorgan and the Chetrit Group had no immediate comment.

Wells Fargo wants New York-based JPMorgan to repurchase the loan, less amounts the trust received from sales of underlying properties, or else pay damages for breach of contract.

Lawyers for San Francisco-based Wells Fargo did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment.

The case is Wells Fargo Bank NA as trustee v JPMorgan Chase Bank NA et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 25-01943.

(Reporting by Stempel in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
The countrys preeminent federal fire training academy canceled classes, effective immediately, on Saturday amid the ongoing flurry of funding freezes and staffing cuts by President Donald Trumps administration.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that National Fire Academy courses were canceled amid a process of evaluating agency programs and spending to ensure alignment with Administration priorities, according to a notice sent to instructors, students and fire departments. Instructors were told to cancel all future travel until further notice.

Firefighters, EMS providers and other first responders from across the country travel to the NFAs Maryland campus for the federally funded institutions free training programs.

The NFA is a powerhouse for the fire service, said Marc Bashoor, a former Maryland fire chief and West Virginia emergency services director with 44 years of fire safety experience. Its not a nice to have. It is the one avenue we have to bring people from all over the country to learn from and with each other. If we want to continue to have one of the premier fire services in the world, we need to have the National Fire Academy.

The academy, which also houses the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial, opened in 1973 to combat a growing number of fatal fires nationwide. At the time, the National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control envisioned it to be the West Point of the Fire Service, according to a report form the organization.

Bashoor said the NFA was set to welcome a new set of fire safety officers for training next week.

People had made their plane and travel reservations. And all of a sudden, they get an email that Sorry, its been canceled,' he said. Its really upsetting.

For firefighters, including those on the frontlines of deadly fires that ravaged California this year, having an essential training institution shut down under the presumption that theres waste, fraud and abuse has been demoralizing, Bashoor said. He said losing NFA training could make the coordinated response that prevented additional deaths and destruction in California more difficult.

FEMA and the National Fire Academy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

While surveying disaster zones in California in January, Trump said he was considering getting rid of FEMA altogether, previewing sweeping changes to the nations central organization of responding to disasters.

Firings at the U.S. Forest Service on the heels of the deadly California blazes also sparked outcry among discharged workers and officials who said it would mean fewer people and less resources will be available to help prevent and fight wildfires.

Top photo: President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk with Jason Hing, chief deputy of emergency services at the Los Angles Fire Department, left, and Capt. Jeff Brown, chief of Station 69, as they tour the Pacific Palisades neighborhood affected by recent wildfires in Los Angeles, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File).

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The Girl Scouts have been sued by consumers over the alleged presence of heavy metals and pesticides in its popular Thin Mints and other cookies.

A proposed class action was filed on Monday night in the Brooklyn, New York federal court against the 113-year-old nonprofit and the cookies licensed producers, ABC Bakers and Ferrero USAs Little Brownie Bakers.

It cited a December 2024 study commissioned by GMO Science and Moms Across America, which tested samples of 25 cookies from three U.S. states.

The study said Girl Scout cookies contained at least four of five heavy metals  aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury  that can harm peoples health or the environment, often at levels exceeding regulators recommended limits.

It also said all samples contained glyphosate, a pesticide used in some weed killers, with Thin Mints containing the highest levels.

While the entire sales practice system for Girl Scout Cookies is built on a foundation of ethics and teaching young girls sustainable business practices, defendants failed to uphold this standard themselves, the lawsuit said.

The defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Girl Scouts, short for Girl Scouts of the United States of America, addressed the study in a February 6 blog post.

It said heavy metals occur naturally in soil, with trace amounts not a safety issue, while glyphosate is found nearly everywhere in the food chain. Girl Scouts also said its bakers are committed to complying with all food safety standards.

The health and safety of Girl Scouts and cookie customers is our top priority, the New York-based nonprofit said. Rest assured: Girl Scout Cookies are safe to consume.

Cookies are sold by registered Girl Scouts from January to April, with net proceeds supporting councils and local troops.

The lawsuit is led by Amy Mayo, a resident of Bayside, New York.

Mayo said she bought numerous Girl Scout products such as Adventurefuls, Peanut Butter Patties and Caramel deLites, believing they were quality and safe cookies.

She said she would not have bought the cookies or would have paid substantially less had Girl Scouts disclosed the presence of dangerous toxins.

The lawsuit seeks at least $5 million in damages for U.S. cookie purchasers, for alleged violations of New York consumer protection laws.

Several chocolate makers including Hershey HSY.N faced lawsuits after Consumer Reports in December 2022 found elevated levels of cadmium, lead or both in their products.

The case is Mayo v Girl Scouts of the United States of America et al, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, No. 25-01367.

(Reporting by Stempel in New York; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
AUBURN TOWNSHIP, Ohio  A 52-year-old woman and her 10-year-old child were found dead in a Geauga County home in what law-enforcement officials say is a suspected murder-suicide.

A news release Monday from the Geauga County Sheriffs Office says deputies were called to the home in Auburn Township at 5:20 a.m. Friday after receiving reports of an attempted suicide. Deputies found both the woman and the child inside the home with gunshot wounds.

The child was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman was taken to UH Geauga Medical Center in Claridon Township but she died of her wounds, the news release says.

The sheriffs office has not released the identities of the woman and child.

Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones affected by this heartbreaking incident, Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand said in a statement. We are committed to conducting a comprehensive investigation to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragedy.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is assisting the sheriffs office with the investigation.

Hildenbrand said in a social media post that help is available to people who might be struggling mentally. Residents can call 988 or go to 988lifeline.org for free, confidential support, available 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

The Geauga County Board of Mental Health & Recovery Services can be reached at 440-285-2282 for guidance on local resources.
MAPLE HEIGHTS, Ohio  A suspect is in custody after a man was wounded in a shooting Monday afternoon, police say.

Officers were called to Maple Park Drive at about 4:38 p.m. after receiving reports that a man was walking outside with a firearm and that shots had been fired.

When officers arrived, they found evidence of a shooting but the suspect was gone and no victims were found. The suspect reportedly left the area in a white vehicle, police say.

Moments later, Garfield Heights police received reports that several males were in the area of York Boulevard and one of them appeared to be wounded. Officers from Garfield Heights responded and found a male with a gunshot wound.

The wounded male was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, police say. Other males at the scene were taken into custody for questioning.

Several other vehicles in the area of Maple Park Drive were hit with gunfire, but no other injuries were reported.

Police say a male in a white vehicle matching the description of the suspect later returned to the scene at Maple Park Drive and was taken into custody for questioning. The suspect reportedly had a firearm.

Anyone with information can contact the Maple Heights detectives at 216-587-9624 or at Detectives@mhpd-ohio.com or report@mhpd-ohio.com.
Ohio State linebacker Malik Harrison is reportedly signing with the Steelers. (Paul Sancya, Associated Press)

COLUMBUS, Ohio  Former Ohio State linebacker Malik Harrison is reportedly headed to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Per a report from Mike Garafolo on Monday, the Steelers agreed to terms with the veteran linebacker on a two-year, $10 million deal. He will leave the Ravens, the team that drafted him, for another AFC North squad.

Harrison has played five seasons with the Ravens, where he played in 76 games (34 starts) and tallied 174 tackles with two sacks. He will join up with an already talented defense in Pittsburgh.

A 2020 draft choice of the Ravens, Harrison played from 2016-2019 at Ohio State and had 205 tackles over 52 career games. He was a First-team All-Big Ten selection in 2019.
FILE PHOTO: Mahmoud Khalil speaks to members of media about the Revolt for Rafah encampment at Columbia University during the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Gaza, in New York City, U.S., June 1, 2024.

As hundreds of demonstrators rallied in New York City on Monday to demand the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a federal judge just steps away blocked the Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate's removal from the United States.

Judge Jesse M. Furman said Khalil is to remain in the U.S. "to preserve the court's jurisdiction" as the court weighs a filing challenging his arrest and planned deportation. A hearing was scheduled for Wednesday at federal court in New York City.

Khalil attended Columbia University and helped organize protests last spring about the war between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza. He was arrested by federal immigration agents Saturday over what officials said was his support for a designated terror organization, Hamas.

Hundreds of demonstrators rallied in New York City on Monday to demand his release after President Donald Trump said Khalil's was the "first arrest of many to come."

Khalil was hauled away from his university-owned apartment Saturday night by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents after he was told his student visa was being revoked, his attorney said in a statement. Attorney Amy Greer added that ICE was informed that Khalil is a permanent resident with a green card but "detained him anyway."

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said Khalil was arrested in coordination with ICE and the State Department "in support of President Trump's executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism" because he "led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post Sunday on X that the administration would be revoking the visas and green cards "of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported."

Trump said Khalil's arrest was the first of many to come.

"We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, and the Trump Administration will not tolerate it," he said on Truth Social. "Many are not students, they are paid agitators. We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country  never to return again."

Trump and his administration did not provide evidence of those allegations against Khalil or any other protesters.

The People's Forum organized the rally at Federal Plaza in Manhattan on Monday afternoon and has demanded that Khalil be released immediately

"Hands off our students! ICE off our campuses!" the group posted on X.

Monday afternoon protesters filled the commons and quickly amassed into the hundreds, some carrying "Release Mahmoud Khalil" signs as an American Civil Liberties Union protest monitor watched.

New York Police Department officers were quick to line the plaza, establishing boundaries for the event, but no arrests were seen as the first hour passed.

Among the protesters were students from area City of New York University campuses, who gathered in front of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Protesters joined in unison to chant "free, free Palestine," "ICE off our campus now," "Release Mahmoud Khalil now," and, "From the river to the sea Palestine will be free."

Susan, 71, a resident from the New York City borough of Brooklyn, who did not give her last name, held a pair of signs that state, "Release Mahmoud Khalil."

She called his arrest an attack on free speech. "It's getting ridiculous," she said.

A member of Jewish Voice for Peace, a Jewish anti-Zionist organization, said from the protest stage that religion was being used to try to justify what's happening to Palestinians.

"We will fight for our Palestinian brothers and sisters," she said, adding that the group advised its members not to give their names as a safety precaution.

Speaking from the stage, Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York ACLU, demanded that Khalil be released immediately, calling his arrest "a gross violation of his constitutional rights."

Khalil was described by speakers on stage as a political prisoner who helped negotiate the conclusion of pro-Palestinian rallies, including a campus encampment, at Columbia. Similar protests took place at more than 40 campuses nationwide last spring

A march followed remarks by speakers.

The nonprofit organization Action Network launched a petition that said more than 900,000 letters had been sent calling for Khalil's release.

Greer said her office filed a petition challenging the validity of his detention and does not know where he is being held. It was initially believed that agents took Khalil to a facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey, but his wife was told he was not there when she tried to visit. His wife is a U.S. citizen and eight months pregnant.

The Department of Homeland Security website states Khalil is being held at an immigration detention facility in Jena, Louisiana.

"We will vigorously be pursuing Mahmoud's rights in court, and will continue our efforts to right this terrible and inexcusable  and calculated  wrong committed against him," she said.

Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, said the arrest was a "blatantly unconstitutional act."

"America is supposed to be a country of laws, but this act by the DHS challenges that very concept," Awawdeh said in a statement. "DHS must immediately release Khalil, and our local elected officials must intervene in this unlawful and politically motivated detention of a New Yorker."

The New York ACLU said Khalil's detainment was an "extreme attack on his First Amendment rights."

"Ripping a student from their home, challenging their immigration status, and detaining them solely based on political viewpoint will chill student speech and advocacy across campus," a statement read. "Political speech should never be a basis for punishment, or lead to deportation."

The Council on AmericanIslamic Relations (CAIR) said the decision to arrest him was "lawless."

Maryam Alwan, a 22-year-old Columbia student involved in the pro-Palestinian movement on campus, told NBC News she has felt intense anxiety since Khalil's arrest. "I didn't sleep all night," she said Monday. "It doesn't really feel real."

Alwan was born and raised in Virginia, but "I would not be surprised if American citizens were the next targets," she said.

Alwan was arrested and suspended in April after the university called police officers to clear a sprawling tent encampment. Then, in early January, she was notified that she was being investigated by the university's Office of Institutional Equity. The email accused her of having been involved in writing an unsigned op-ed, published in the student newspaper on Oct. 19, calling for divestment from Israel.

The investigators said the op-ed in the Columbia Spectator may have subjected other students to "unwelcome conduct" based on their religion, national origin or military service, among other allegations.

Columbia's Office of Institutional Equity did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Columbia said Sunday in a statement that law enforcement must have a judicial warrant to enter nonpublic university areas, including campus buildings.

"Columbia is committed to complying with all legal obligations and supporting our student body and campus community," the university said.
A Delta Airlines and American Airlines plane are seen at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on July 1, 2023.

American said in a securities filing that "the revenue environment has been weaker than initially expected due to the impact of Flight 5342 and softness in the domestic leisure segment, primarily in March," referring to the deadly collision of one of its regional jets and an Army helicopter in Washington, D.C., in January.

Ahead of a JPMorgan industry conference, American Airlines on Tuesday said it expects to lose between 60 cents a share and 80 cents a share in the first three months of the year, a wider loss than the 20 cents to 40 cents a share it previously forecast. It said revenue would likely be flat on the year compared with a January estimate of a rise of as much as 5%.

Airlines are cutting their first-quarter profit and sales estimates, warning that a weaker economic backdrop is weighing on travel demand.

The forecast followed Delta Air Lines slashing its first-quarter estimates after the market closed Monday. Delta said its outlook was "impacted by the recent reduction in consumer and corporate confidence caused by increased macro uncertainty, driving softness in Domestic demand."

In addition to leisure travel, carriers have said also noted a sharp decline in government travel since the start of the latest Trump administration and its policies like tariffs, government layoffs and other cost cuts.

"I think people are cautious and they're pulling back a little bit on travel, not in an organized manner but just kind of waiting to see what's going to transpire, whether it's trade and tariff challenges or macroeconomic policy changes or just a little bit of the unsettledness of the market that we all see," CEO Ed Bastian said at the JPMorgan conference.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby echoed that sentiment at the same conference.

"We have also seen weakness in the demand market," Kirby said. Government travel is about 2% of United's business, but other workers' travel is also affected, like consultants and contractors, which account for another 2% to 3%.

"We've seen some bleed over to that into the domestic leisure market," Kirby said.

One cost-saving measure: Kirby said United is retiring 21 aircraft early, airplanes that it would otherwise have to spend $100 million on to overhaul engines this year.

Both executives were more upbeat on longer-term trends and bright spots like long-haul international and premium travel demand.

Delta shares ended the day more than 7% lower. United shed 2% and American shares fell more than 8%.

Southwest Airlines also cut its unit revenue guidance, to up no more than 4%, down from a forecast of as much as 7% for the first quarter over last year. The carrier also announced on Tuesday an end to its "two bags fly free" policy to charge customers for checked luggage for the first time, starting in May. Its shares rose more than 8%.

JetBlue Airways shares ended 4% higher.
An Iranian missile system is displayed next to a banner with a picture of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the late Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, in a street in Tehran, Iran, October 2, 2024. Majid Asgaripour | Via Reuters

Iran's fortunes may look entirely different over the course of President Donald Trump's second term  whether for Tehran's good or very ill. In surprising moves, Trump has now several times expressed his desire to make a deal with Iran  most recently by way of a letter to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last week, asking that the two leaders should "negotiate" over the Middle Eastern country's nuclear program. This comes in contrast to seven years prior, back in 2018, when Trump who pulled the U.S. out of the original 2015 nuclear deal, triggering a nosedive in American-Iranian relations. "I would like a deal done with Iran on non-nuclear. I would prefer that to bombing the hell out of it," Trump said in an interview with the New York Post in early February. Yet Trump has simultaneously re-launched his "maximum pressure" sanctions campaign on the oil-exporting country since retaking office. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei, meanwhile, has flat-out refused to give up Tehran's nuclear program and rebuffed Trump's outreach. On Saturday, the Iranian leader condemned attempts by unnamed "bullying governments" to make a deal and vowing that his government will not negotiate under pressure. Iran is under pressure  from its own spiraling economy, the dramatic loss of regional allies like Bashar al-Assad in Syria, and from the weakening of proxy forces like Hezbollah in Lebanon, following Israeli. But while its strength in those areas has greatly lessened than during Trump's first term, its leverage in another aspect  the sheer volume of nuclear material it has produced  is now much greater.

'Significant concerns' over weapons development

Iran has been enriching and stockpiling uranium at its highest levels ever, prompting the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, to issue numerous warnings. "Iran remains the only non-nuclear weapon state enriching uranium to this level, raising significant concerns over potential weapons development," a U.N. news release from March 3 read.

A picture taken on November 10, 2019, shows workers on a construction site in Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant during an official ceremony to kick-start works for a second reactor at the facility. Bushehr is currently running on imported fuel from Russia that is closely monitored by the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency. ATTA KENARE | AFP via Getty Images

"Iran keeps enriching [uranium] as part of its leverage-building exercise," Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, told CNBC. "The more it has, the more it can offload, and that can appear to be a compromise for any such deal that will come down the line." Tehran insists that its program is for civilian energy purposes only. But Iran's nuclear enrichment has reached 60% purity, according to the IAEA  dramatically higher than the enrichment limit posited in the 2015 nuclear deal, and a short technical step from the weapons-grade purity level of 90%. "A country enriching at 60% is a very serious thing. Only countries making bombs are reaching this level," IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said in 2021. Under the 2015 nuclear deal, formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran committed to capping levels of 3.67% enriched uranium at 300 kilograms. Iran now has nearly 22 times that material, Energy Intelligence reports, citing the IAEA. And Trump has not ruled out U.S. or Israeli military strikes on Iran to prevent it from building a bomb.

Mutual distrust

Still, there is a dominant preference in Iran toward making a deal that would lift sanctions, says Bijan Khajehpour, an economist and a managing partner at Vienna-based consultancy Eurasian Nexus Partners. The problem? "There is deep distrust on both sides," Khajehpour told CNBC. "Especially, the public episode of Zelenskyy in the Oval Office has reminded the Iranians that it will be difficult to have confidence in a potential future deal with the Trump administration." A White House visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy unexpectedly devolved in a heated and public clash with Trump in late February. "On the other side," Khajehpour added, "a potential lifting or reduction of sanctions would be indispensable for the trajectory of the Iranian economy."

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But the U.S. and Trump have the overwhelming leverage now, says Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "President Trump has significantly more leverage now than when he first entered office in 2017 against Iran," Ben Taleblu said. "Israel has degraded some of the Islamic Republic's regional proxies and structural issues and lingering American sanctions have kept the Iranian economy on its back foot." "And while the idea of Iran's increased nuclear capacity as leverage is not lost on me, their nuclear card is their only card to play at the moment," he said.

Tehran buying time?

Concerning the Iranian supreme leader's objection to negotiating under pressure, Behnam contended that "the Islamic Republic always says no until it says yes." He also argued that the country "continues enriching uranium and  increasing its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium because it wants a nuclear weapon," rather than because it simply wants leverage in talks. "Tehran wants to trap Trump in talks, be it directly or via Russian mediation," he said, referencing the reported role Russia has been asked to play by the Trump administration in potential negotiations. "This is not to resolve the nuclear matter but to blunt maximum pressure and generate impediments to a potential Israeli or American strike."

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Wild, edible spring plants offer a taste of Yunnan

People's Daily Online) 10:11, March 11, 2025

As the spring breeze sweeps across the land, greenery spreads in the mountains and fields, signaling the arrival of the annual "spring feast" season in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Combo photo shows wild and edible spring plants in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

The most intense taste of spring can be found in pea shoots.

Photo shows pea shoots in southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo courtesy of the media convergence center of Guangnan county)

Pea shoots, a somewhat unfamiliar ingredient to northerners, have long been cherished by the people of Yunnan.

Photo shows pea shoots in southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo courtesy of the media convergence center of Guangnan county)

They are the freshest part of the pea plant's stem and leaves, rich in nutrients like vitamin C and carotene. Whether blanched or stir-fried, they are tender and smooth.

Photo shows pea shoot soup. (Photo courtesy of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Yongde County Committee)

In 2024, pea shoots from Guangnan county, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan were exported overseas, fetching around 120 yuan (about $16.47) per kilogram.

Photo shows Crateva unilocularis shoots. (Photo courtesy of the media convergence center of Longchuan county)

Photo shows Crateva unilocularis shoots. (Photo courtesy of the media convergence center of Tengchong city)

Crateva unilocularis shoots, or Pagong cai in the traditional language of the Dai ethnic group, are a specialty in Yunnan. The harvested shoots taste slightly bitter, resembling tea leaves. People of the Dai ethnic group in Yunnan typically wash and dry the shoots before storing them in a jar with rice soup.

After fermenting for one to two weeks, the bitterness turns into a rich tanginess. This delicacy is not only appetizing and refreshing but also pairs well with other ingredients in dishes like cold salads, stir-fries, and soups.

Photo shows pickled Crateva unilocularis shoots. (Photo courtesy of the media convergence center of Tengchong city)

Photo shows a Crateva unilocularis shoot dish. (Photo courtesy of the media convergence center of Longchuan county)

Photo shows a Crateva unilocularis shoot dish. (Photo courtesy of the media convergence center of Tengchong city)

Photo shows Chinese mahogany shoots. (Photo courtesy of the People's Government of Xuangang township, Mangshi city, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture)

People pick Chinese mahogany shoots. (Photo courtesy of the People's Government of Xuangang township, Mangshi city, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture)

Photo shows Chinese mahogany shoot dishes. (Photo courtesy of the People's Government of Xuangang township, Mangshi city, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture)

Photo shows an aerial view of Chinese mahogany fields. (Photo courtesy of the People's Government of Xuangang township, Mangshi city, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture)

In Mangshi city, Chinese mahogany, also known as "beef and onion plant" because of its strong flavor, is being grown out of season, providing a spring-like taste in early winter and boosting locals' incomes. Dishes such as Chinese mahogany sprout beef soup combine new and local flavors, enriching people's lives.

Photo shows sand pine shoots. (Photo courtesy of the media convergence center of Heqing county)

Photo shows a sand pine shoot dish. (Photo courtesy of the media convergence center of Heqing county)

Sand pine shoots, a mountain delicacy, are eagerly awaited by Yunnan locals. Picked when the sand pines sprout, these tender green shoots have a unique flavor. Blanched sand pine shoots can be enjoyed cold or stir-fried, offering a cool and refreshing taste.

There are plenty of other spring specialties to try, like Yunnan's pumpkin shoots, goji shoots, bitter thistle shoots, and more. Together these tender spring shoots are not just a seasonal delight, but a reflection of the people of Yunnan's love for spring, and their keen appreciation for life's subtle joys.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Tibetan spiritual leader the 14th Dalai Lama arrives at Teterboro Airport as Tibetans and well-wishers wait for him in New Jersey, United States on June 23, 2024.

The Dalai Lama's successor will be born outside China, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism says in a new book, raising the stakes in a dispute with Beijing over control of the Himalayan region he fled more than six decades ago.

Tibetans worldwide want the institution of the Dalai Lama to continue after the 89-year-old's death, he writes in "Voice for the Voiceless", which was reviewed by Reuters and is being released on Tuesday.

He had previously said the line of spiritual leaders might end with him. His book marks the first time the Dalai Lama has specified that his successor would be born in the "free world", which he describes as outside China. He has previously said only that he could reincarnate outside Tibet, possibly in India where he lives in exile.

"Since the purpose of a reincarnation is to carry on the work of the predecessor, the new Dalai Lama will be born in the free world so that the traditional mission of the Dalai Lama - that is, to be the voice for universal compassion, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, and the symbol of Tibet embodying the aspirations of the Tibetan people - will continue," the Dalai Lama writes.

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, fled at the age of 23 to India with thousands of other Tibetans in 1959 after a failed uprising against the rule of Mao Zedong's Communists.

Beijing insists it will choose his successor, but the Dalai Lama has said any successor named by China would not be respected.

China brands the Dalai Lama, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for keeping alive the Tibetan cause, as a "separatist".

When asked about the book at a press briefing on Monday, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry said the Dalai Lama "is a political exile who is engaged in anti-China separatist activities under the cloak of religion.

"On the Tibet issue, China's position is consistent and clear. What the Dalai Lama says and does cannot change the objective fact of Tibet's prosperity and development."
Despite escalating trade tensions between Canada and the United States, oil and energy will continue to flow across the border, said Enbridge CEO Greg Ebel. As the chief of a Calgary-based operator of oil and gas pipelines that cross the U.S.'s northern border, Ebel has been watching the evolving trade policy closely, and is hopeful the two sides will reach a resolution. "Let's all get in a room and start negotiating that," Ebel told CNBC's Brian Sullivan in an interview at CERAWeek by S & P Global in Houston. Ebel added that he believes the series of proposals from President Donald Trump is a negotiating tactic. "It's an uncomfortable one, and it could be an expensive one," he said. On Tuesday, Trump proposed slapping additional tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminium imports, which would have brought the levies to 50%. But the plan, which followed a tax on electricity shipped to the U.S. from Ontario, was stepped back several hours later, after the power tax was suspended . The uncertainty created by the evolving trade war has roiled the U.S. stock market in recent days. Watch the full video to hear more about Ebel's outlook.
Goldman Sachs is turning bullish on GE HealthCare as the outlook on the Chinese market improves. Analyst David Roman upgraded shares of the medical technology stock to buy from neutral and hiked his price target by $15 to $100. Roman's refreshed target for shares implies an advance of 17.2% above Monday's closing level. Roman said the firm's previous thesis on the stock revolved around growth between 4% and 5% in the company's base business offset by headwinds to China sales. Now, he said sales in the country are stabilizing and can return to 2023 levels by 2026, faster than originally anticipated. Roman also increased earnings per share forecasts for each year between 2025 and 2028. While he said President Donald Trump's tariff policy remains an overhang on his thesis, the company should not be uniquely affected by the levies. "We  believe that a faster turnaround in China and [profit-and-loss] leverage can more than offset the known tariff risk," Roman said. "As is the case across global MedTech, it is hard to quantify the risk of future potential tariffs, but we do not see GE Healthcare as disproportionately exposed vs. any other company to Mexico, Canada, or the EU." Roman's upgrade puts him in the majority among analysts. The majority surveyed also have buy ratings, according to LSEG. Shares popped 1.8% in Tuesday's premarket. The stock has added more than 9% in 2025, bucking the broader market's downtrend.
Campaign posters hang outside of the polling station ahead of tomorrow's general election on March 10, 2025 in Ilulissat, Greenland. Greenland will hold a general election on March 11 to elect the 31 members of its parliament, the Inatsisartut. Joe Raedle | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Greenlanders are heading to the polls on Tuesday in a pivotal parliamentary election shaped by the perennial debate over independence from overseer Denmark  and by U.S. President Donald Trump's ambitions to get hold of the island "one way or the other." The majority of the Arctic island's six main political parties support independence, and the most recent voter poll in January suggested the pro-independence Inuit Ataqatigiit party could retain power in the 31-seat parliament, the Inatsisartut, likely followed in second place by its erstwhile coalition partner, Siumut. Both parties say they want to hold a referendum on political and economic independence from Denmark, although neither has set down a clear timeframe.

People queue to vote for the parliamentary elections for the Inatsisartut in Godthaabshallen, on the day of the general election, in Nuuk, Greenland, March 11, 2025. Mads Claus Rasmussen | Via Reuters

Denmark oversees Greenland's defense and foreign policy but leaves domestic matters to Greenland's government. Still, Copenhagen provides an annual block grant of roughly $511 million to the island which accounts for approximately 20%of Greenland's GDP, and more than half of the public budget, according to International Trade Administration data. Copenhagen has repeatedly insisted that Greenland is "not for sale" and that it will remain a part of its kingdom, yet it's wary of the momentum behind independence and has been quiet ahead of the election, wary of appearing to dictate how islanders should vote. There's no doubt that Trump's designs on the island and its abundance of rare earth minerals have caused alarm in Denmark, however. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the idea as "absurd" when Trump first mooted it in 2019.

U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he walks to board Marine One, while departing the White House en route to Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 7, 2025. Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters

That sentiment was reiterated by Greenland following Trump's comments in December, when the U.S. leader said "ownership" of Greenland was essential for America's economic and national security. Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede responded that "we are not for sale and we will not be for sale" and that "Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland." He doubled-down on that position last week, stating "Kalaallit Nunaat [Greenland in the Greenlandic language] is ours." "We don't want to be Americans, nor Danes; We are Kalaallit. The Americans and their leader must understand that. We are not for sale and cannot simply be taken. Our future will be decided by us in Greenland," he said on Facebook. Apparently undeterred by Greenland and Denmark's rejection of his advances, Trump has repeatedly returned to the subject of the U.S.' claim of ownership. He has also refused to rule out military action to seize the vast, icy territory that is located geographically closer to the U.S. than to Denmark.

watch now

Last week, Trump said in his joint address to Congress that the U.S. would assume control of Greenland "one way or the other." He revived the subject on Sunday ahead of the election, commenting that the "U.S. strongly supports the people of Greenland's right to determine their own future." "We will continue to KEEP YOU SAFE, as we have since World War II. We are ready to INVEST BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to create new jobs and MAKE YOU RICH  And, if you so choose, we welcome you to be a part of the Greatest Nation anywhere in the World, the United States of America," Trump posted on the Truth Social media platform. Greenland's economy is primarily centered on fishing, but the island's deposits of rare earths and critical minerals, used in electronics, energy and defense, have prompted international interest. Global warning and ice loss is making some of the world's largest untapped critical mineral reserves more accessible.

People vote at the polling station during general election in Nuuk, Greenland, March 11, 2025. Marko Djurica | Reuters

While Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and has historical ties to the U.S., housing American military installations ever since WWII. Growing geopolitical competition in the Arctic between Russia, China and the U.S. has also bolstered the appeal of the island, which lies on potentially highly lucrative shipping routes through the Arctic Ocean.

Love triangle

While independence from Denmark has been a rallying cry for political parties contesting the election, they  and most Greenlanders  don't want to become a part of the U.S., either. An opinion poll carried out in January by pollster Verian for the newspaper Berlingske, found that 85% of Greenlanders polled did not want their country to leave Denmark and become a part of the U.S., with only 6% saying they supported such a move. Nonetheless, the same poll found a majority of 56% of Greenlanders would vote for independence if a referendum were held today, with 28% against, and 17% uncertain.

An aircraft alledgedly carrying US businessman Donald Trump Jr. arrives in Nuuk, Greenland on January 7, 2025. Emil Stach | Afp | Getty Images

Rasmus Jarlov, a Conservative lawmaker in Denmark and chairman of Denmark's Defense Committee, commented Monday that the Nordic nation was not too worried that Greenlanders would embrace the U.S., whatever the outcome of Tuesday's vote. "Not a single candidate in Greenland's election wants to join the USA. So that will never be the result of the election. It can not be swayed in that direction," Jarlov commented on social media platform X. "A thorough poll one month ago showed that only 6% af Greenlanders want to join the USA while 85% reject the idea. The claim that Greenland wants to join the U.S. is completely made up. They absolutely do not." Jarlov insisted that Greenland has "full rights in Denmark" and representation in the parliament, whereas he claimed that, "in the USA, Greenland would be an overseas territory without voting rights or any influence. Puerto Rico with 3.2 million people has never become a state and nor will Greenland with 57,000 people." Analysts say Trump is going about his courtship of Greenland in the wrong way, and should instead look to deepen economic and geopolitical ties with the island rather than pursue the high-cost exercise of "owning" it. "One thing is abundantly clear: the people of Greenland have little interest in being acquired by anyone," Otto Svendsen, associate fellow with the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said in recent analysis. "Nor does the Danish government in Copenhagen have any appetite for negotiating about a sale of Greenland, since it would likely violate international law and Greenland's right to self-determination," he added.

A view shows the U.S. Consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, Feb. 5, 2025. Sarah Meyssonnier | Reuters
The "Wegovy" brand slimming syringe is sold in the Achat pharmacy in Mitte. The "Wegovy" slimming syringe has been available in Germany for a year.

A version of this article first appeared in CNBC's Healthy Returns newsletter, which brings the latest health-care news straight to your inbox. Subscribe here to receive future editions.

Yet another study is zeroing in on the unintended side effects of Novo Nordisk 's semaglutide  the active ingredient in the company's blockbuster weight loss drug Wegovy and diabetes treatment Ozempic.

But this time, the study highlights the risk of hair loss.

To be clear, semaglutide's link to hair loss isn't new. Clinical trials conducted by Novo Nordisk have shown a higher risk of hair loss in patients who took semaglutide compared to those who took a placebo.

Wegovy and Ozempic are part of a class of popular medications called GLP-1s, which mimic a hormone in the gut to suppress appetite and regulate blood sugar. Those drugs are known for their gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea and vomiting, and have also faced increased scrutiny after some patients reported experiencing stomach paralysis and suicidal ideation while taking them.

In a statement, Novo Nordisk said it "remains confident in the benefit-risk profile of our GLP-1 medicines, when used consistent with their indications and product labeling."

The new study, conducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia and not yet submitted for peer review, shows that semaglutide is associated with hair loss compared to users of an older weight loss pill called Contrave, or bupropion-naltrexone.

The researchers examined data from 16 million patients from 2006 to 2020 and identified 1,926 semaglutide users and 1,348 Contrave users. People with a diagnosis of diabetes or who used antihyperglycemics  medications that lower blood sugar levels  were excluded.

The incidence rates of hair loss were higher among semaglutide users than Contrave users. Overall, patients who took semaglutide had a 52% higher risk of hair loss compared to those who took Contrave.

The researchers also found that women who took semaglutide had more than two times the risk of hair loss compared to women in the Contrave group. But Dr. Mohit Sodhi, one of the authors and emergency resident physician, told CNBC that "most of our data was driven by women" so they cannot compare men versus women in the study.

Among those who took semaglutide, there were 22 cases of hair loss in women and just one case in men. Future studies with larger sample sizes of patients are needed to determine if there is a difference between men and women, Sodhi noted.

The researchers also did not follow patients if they stopped semaglutide or Contrave, so it is unclear whether the risk of hair loss decreases once they are off Novo Nordisk's drug, according to Sodhi. More research is required in that area, he said.

So, why might semaglutide cause a higher risk of hair loss?

One factor could be the physiological stress that rapid weight loss can induce, which can lead to the "disruption of the natural hair cycle," according to Sodhi. He said that may be a more prominent effect of semaglutide because it is known to decrease weight more rapidly than Contrave.

Semaglutide's ability to suppress appetite also leads to patients consuming less food, which can potentially cause nutrient deficiencies, including protein in particular, Sodhi added. Protein deficiencies have been shown to be linked to hair loss, he noted.

Sodhi said patients may also lose nutrients through vomiting when on semaglutide. Some health experts also hypothesize that semaglutide can lead to hormonal shifts that increase the risk of a common form of hair loss called androgenic alopecia, he added.

People, and women in particular, considering using semaglutide strictly for weight loss may want to "factor in hair loss as a possible limitation" of the drug, the researchers said in the study. But people with diabetes or morbid obesity may weigh their risks and benefits differently, and may be more willing to accept hair loss as a potential risk, the researchers added.

One of the study authors, Dr. Mahyar Etminan, has previously consulted on litigation related to Ozempic.

Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Annika at annikakim.constantino@nbcuni.com.
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson looks on during a press conference ahead of a potential budget vote at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 11, 2025.

WASHINGTON  The Republican-led House voted Tuesday to pass a six-month funding bill that would prevent a government shutdown at the end of the week, overcoming fierce Democratic objections.

The vote was 217-213, with all Republicans but Thomas Massie, of Kentucky, supporting the legislation. One Democrat, Jared Golden, of Maine, voted for it.

The measure now heads to the Senate, where its fate is uncertain. Republicans control 53 seats, and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has made clear he's firmly against it. That means at least eight Democratic senators would have to support the bill to cross the Senate's 60-vote threshold and send it to President Donald Trump's desk.

The government is set to run out of money late Friday.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who shepherded the bill through the House, took a victory lap after the vote, saying that House Republicans "stood together" with one Democrat to keep the government's lights on.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., "is the leader of the Democrats on that side and he must determine whether he wants to fund the government and do the responsible thing or he wants to shut the government down," Johnson told reporters, "and I certainly hope that there are enough Democrats in the Senate who have a conscience, who will do the right thing by the American people and take care of business over there."

Ahead of the vote, Senate Democrats criticized the partisan approach House Republicans took on the funding bill. But a significant number of them kept the door open to supporting it.

And after an unusually long, private Senate Democratic lunch meeting Tuesday, Schumer declined to say whether he'd block the bill  a sign that his members lack consensus on the path forward.

"We're going to wait and see what the House does first," Schumer told reporters.

The legislation is not a typical stopgap measure, known as a continuing resolution or CR, that extends funding at current levels. This spending bill includes a slight increase in military spending and a moderate $13 billion cut in domestic nondefense spending. It was crafted by GOP leaders, who took input from the White House and excluded Democrats from the process. House Democratic leaders strongly objected to the bill.

Ahead of the vote, House Republicans also approved a "rule" that would prohibit a vote in the first session of this Congress to terminate the "national emergency" Trump declared Feb. 1 to impose tariffs on U.S. imports from Canada, Mexico and China.

Over the past several days, Trump and his top aides called undecided Republicans, including Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., to urge them to back the funding bill, multiple sources familiar with the calls said. And before the vote Tuesday morning, Vice President JD Vance huddled with House Republicans at the Capitol to rally support for the bill.

Rep. Kat Cammack, of Florida, one of the Republicans who were on the fence Tuesday morning, voted for the bill after, she said, she visited the White House earlier in the day.

A positive sign for Johnson coming into Tuesday was that the far-right House Freedom Caucus, which is frequently a thorn in the side of leadership, had endorsed the stopgap bill.

"I'm 100% behind this continuing resolution," the caucus chairman, Andy Harris, R-Md., said in a rare appearance at Johnson's leadership news conference Tuesday morning. "This is not your grandfather's continuing resolution. This is a different type of spending bill."

Democratic leaders staunchly opposed the six-month funding patch, blasting Republicans for pushing a bill they had no part in shaping. Democrats also objected to how the bill was structured, saying it gave the Trump administration too much discretion in how to spend certain pots of money.

And Democrats have pushed for guardrails on Trump and billionaire adviser Elon Musk's attempts to slash or freeze some federal spending.

"The House Republican spending bill is an attack on everyday Americans. It will cut health care, cut veterans benefits and cut nutritional assistance to children and families," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said at a news conference with his leadership team after the vote. "It is unacceptable, and that is why there was a strong showing of opposition amongst House Democrats."

It's unclear what will now happen on the other side of the Capitol. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said before Tuesday's House vote that he would vote for the GOP's funding bill.

"I refuse to burn the village down and to claim to save it," Fetterman said. "I probably won't agree with many facets of that CR, but when the choice is about shutting the government down, I don't want to be involved with that."

Other Democrats said they were watching to see what happens in the House vote before they announce their positions.

"I've got to wait to see the impact it has on Arizona," Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said Tuesday.

Sen. Angus King, a Maine independent who caucuses with Democrats, said Tuesday he was concerned that the Trump administration might try to make a shutdown as painful as possible. He is also undecided on the bill.

"That's one of the things we have to consider. We're dealing with people, many of whom, I suspect, think a shutdown would be a good thing," King said, "and they could prolong it and use it to expand the president's power even beyond what they're already considering. ... This isn't normal."

Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., also kept his powder dry.

"I haven't come out publicly at this point, just because I want to see what the House does," he said, aligning with top Democratic appropriators who want a one-month extension to negotiate a new funding agreement. "I'm still hoping that there's space for the 30-day extension," he said.
As the IRS faces mass layoffs, Congressional Democrats warn those staffing cuts could undermine the agency's progress in collecting unpaid funds from "wealthy tax dodgers."

In a letter to Acting IRS Commissioner Melanie Krause last week, more than 130 House Democrats demanded answers about the termination of an estimated 7,000 probationary agency workers, which included compliance staff.

The IRS staffing cuts started in late February and were part of broader federal spending reductions via Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency.

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The letter from the House Democrats said the agency's compliance team plays a critical role in "pursuing tax evaders and securing vital revenue" for the U.S. government.

The same day last week, 18 Senate Democrats, led by Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., asked the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration to evaluate the IRS staffing reductions.

The recent layoffs hurt the agency's ability to "improve collections, crack down on complex tax avoidance and evasion by high-income taxpayers and large businesses," the lawmakers wrote.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS did not respond to CNBC's request for comment.
Shares of Costco have gone on sale  and now investors are getting a rare buying opportunity, according to Jim Cramer. "For much of the past few years as the market churned higher, it often felt like you never got a chance to buy the best stocks on weakness," Cramer said Monday night on "Mad Money." "Now you're getting that opportunity because the sell-off has been incredibly indiscriminate, taking down the good with the bad." Costco fits that bill perfectly. Cramer's Charitable Trust, the portfolio used by the CNBC Investing Club, has owned a position in Costco for years. However, the stock is down more than 12% over the past month compared with a nearly 9% drop for the S & P 500 over the same span. In general, the selling on Wall Street has picked up steam in recent days amid concerns about President Donald Trump's tariff policy, consumer spending and the U.S. economy overall. Accordingly, many retail stocks have been laggards as investors look to less economically sensitive areas of the market. The S & P 500's consumer discretionary sector  home to the likes of Nike , Best Buy and Lululemon  is down around 12% over the past month. Meanwhile, the consumer staples sector  a more defensive play  is actually up more than 3% in that stretch. That's despite the fact Costco is in the staples group. Part of the reason Costco shares are feeling the pain is that the company reported mixed quarterly results last Thursday after the close. Revenue growth continued to show momentum, but its earnings per share missed expectations. Costco's stock fell 6% Friday in response and added another 3.1% drop Monday  dramatically underperforming the S & P 500 in that two-session window. Both were modestly higher in a volatile session Tuesday. Cramer said the magnitude of Costco's trek lower isn't justified, at least judged by the earnings numbers themselves; he views those as solid. Instead, he said the stock is getting hit because of its rich valuation "in a suddenly risk-averse market that sells down the high-multiple stocks." Costco's earnings call provided a lot for bullish investors to hang their hats on, according to Jim. Despite concerns about consumer spending, Cramer noted that Costco CFO Gary Millerchip said the retailers' members are still showing a willingness to spend, even if they're being a little more choosy on where they spend. "That may not sound all that encouraging, but when the consumer gets picky about value, well, that benefits Costco because this company offers the best value in the industry," Cramer said. Tariffs are a general overhang over the retail industry, but Cramer believes Costco is in good shape there, with only one-third of its U.S. sales imported from other countries and below 50% of those products are sourced from China, Canada and Mexico. "That puts a fence around the company's exposure to tariffs, and it's not terrible," Cramer said. He also said he likes how the company can "be flexible with its assortment of goods, and if necessary, replace heavily tariffed items with something similar that has much less tariff exposure." During the call, Costco executives reiterated their close relationships with suppliers, which suggests the suppliers may be more inclined to cover tariff-related costs to maintain their business with the company. Still, Cramer cautioned, "the stock could continue to trade poorly as long as the market is nervous and in sell-off mode." But as far as Costco's fundamentals are concerned, Cramer said he is confident and is not at all fazed by the market selling off shares of the retail stalwart. "With a strong quarter in our pocket and such positive commentary from management on some of the biggest risks of the moment, I'd be looking to buy more Costco shares into any additional weakness," Cramer said.
My top 10 things to watch Tuesday, March 11 1. Wall Street is on track for a muted open today after a brutal sell-off yesterday that was fueled by growing recession concerns. President Donald Trump, whose tariffs are creating uncertainty for businesses and investors, has said he "can't really watch the stock market" while implementing his policies. 2. Delta cuts its first-quarter earnings outlook so dramatically that I wonder if the resilient travel theme is finally busted over uncertainty. The airline now expects to earn 30 cents to 50 cents a share instead of 70 cents to $1. A pair of safety incidents earlier this year exacerbated the impact of consumers and businesses pulling back on macro worries, CEO Ed Bastian told CNBC yesterday . 3. American Airlines cut its forecast on both revenue and profits this morning, citing the impacts of the fatal crash in Washington, D.C., in late January and "softness in the domestic leisure segment, primarily in March." It now sees a loss of 60 cents to 80 cents a share versus a loss of 20 cents to 40 cents previously. 4. Oracle shares are down sharply this morning after missing on the top and bottom lines . Still, its cloud unit saw tremendous growth in the quarter, and Chair Larry Ellison said customer demand is at record levels. Monumental data center buildout continues. 5. Asana shares are plunging more than 25% this morning. The work management software provider issued a light revenue forecast last night. CEO and founder Dustin Moskovitz also is retiring, though he's planning to stay around as chair once his replacement takes over. 6. Mizuho Securities called the 30% sell-off in Coinbase shares overdone, but analysts kept their hold-equivalent rating on the stock. Coinbase is down in sympathy with the bitcoin pullback. Bitcoin is back above $80,000 this morning. 7. Shares of Kohl's are down 15% after the retailer's full-year guidance was a huge miss . It sees revenue down 5% to 7% versus consensus minus 1.6%, and same-store sales declining 4% to 6% versus consensus of down 0.9%. 8. Add Dick's Sporting Goods to the list of retailers giving light guidance . Shares are down near 2% this morning. The quarter itself looked fine, though, with both revenue and earnings per share coming in above expectations. 9. Wells Fargo cut its price target on natural gas exporter Venture Global to $11 a share from $18. Mizuho went to $18 from $25. It's been a shocking decline for the stock, which went public in late January and has already lost around two-thirds of its value. 10. HSBC upgraded On Holding to a buy from hold. Love this call. Shares of the up-and-coming Swiss shoemaker have tumbled roughly 30% from their high in late January. Sign up for my Top 10 Morning Thoughts on the Market email newsletter for free (See here for a full list of the stocks at Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust.) 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.
Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida will step down from his position on April 1, the company said in a release Tuesday.

He will be replaced by current Chief Planning Officer Ivan Espinosa. He will be Nissan's fourth CEO in eight years.

The leadership shakeup comes less than a month after Nissan and Honda terminated merger talks.

The potential $60-billion deal  which would have created the world's third-largest auto company by sales volume  fell apart amid accusations of "pride and denial" at Nissan, as well as its refusal to close factories, according to sources cited by Reuters. Honda's move to make the carmaker its subsidiary and push for deeper staff cuts at Nissan further clouded the fate of the deal, according to the report.

Along with Uchida, other senior management personnel to step down on April 1 include Chief Brand and Customer Officer Asako Hoshino and Chief Strategy and Corporate Affairs Officer Hideaki Watanabe.

The management changes follow a dismal set of results for the Japanese automaker which saw it report a 78% year-on-year plunge in operating profit for the third quarter ending December 2024. It also reported a net loss of 14.1 billion yen ($95.7 million)  a significant reversal from the 29.1 billion yen profit over the same period the year before.

Nissan cut its forecasts for the full year to the end of March for both revenue and operating profit to 12.5 trillion yen and 120 billion yen, respectively, down from 12.7 trillion yen and 150 billion yen. A full-year net loss of 80 billion yen was expected, it added.

The need to invest significantly in new electric vehicle and autonomous driving technology while competing globally have proven major challenges for the company.
A Delta Air Lines plane is towed into position to prepare for takeoff at Reagan National Airport after an American Airlines plane crashed on approach to the airport, in Arlington, Virginia, on Jan. 30, 2025.

The existing separation between helicopters operating near the airport and arriving aircraft on one of the runways, 33, poses "an intolerable risk to aviation safety by increasing the chances of a midair collision at DCA," NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said in a news conference.

The National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday made an urgent call to permanently restrict helicopter flights in certain areas around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport following January's deadly collision of an airliner and an Army Black Hawk helicopter.

She said the agency, which is in charge of the crash investigation, is recommending that the Federal Aviation Administration "permanently" prohibit helicopter operations on a certain route at specific times when two of the airport's runways are in use.

The NTSB also recommended an alternate route for helicopters when portions of airspace are closed so air traffic controllers are not overloaded because it "has the potential to increase risk."

The Jan. 29 midair collision of an American Airlines regional jet with the Army Black helicopter killed all 64 people on the plane and the three crew members on the helicopter. The plane was moments away from landing at the airport.

Following the crash, the FAA restricted some helicopter traffic around the airport as a precaution. The airspace is congested with commercial flights and a host of military and VIP helicopter traffic in the area.

After the NTSB's press conference on Tuesday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the agency is accepting the safety board's recommendations.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford speaks during a campaign stop at Walker Construction in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, on Jan. 31, 2025.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Tuesday said he was temporarily suspending his province's planned 25% surcharge on electricity exported to the U.S. after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick agreed to renewed trade talks.

Ford said he and Lutnick "had a productive conversation about the economic relationship between the United States and Canada" earlier Tuesday.

"We have both agreed, let cooler heads prevail," Ford told reporters.

The comments came after U.S. President Donald Trump escalated an already hot trade war early Tuesday morning, by saying he would double planned tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum imports to 50%.

Trump announced those heightened tariffs on the heels of Ford saying that he would impose the surcharge on electricity imports to Michigan, New York and Minnesota.

Ford said Lutnick agreed to meet with him and the U.S. trade representative, Jamieson Greer, in Washington, D.C., on Thursday to discuss a renewed United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.

After the call between Ford and Lutnick, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro confirmed to CNBC that Trump would not move forward with the additional 25% tariff he had threatened earlier in the day.

But the White House said that the originally planned 25% tariff on "steel and aluminum with no exceptions or exemptions will go into effect for Canada and all of our other trading partners at midnight" Wednesday.

"President Trump has once again used the leverage of the American economy, which is the best and biggest in the world, to deliver a win for the American people," said White House spokesman Kush Desai.

Trump has said he will impose tariffs of 25% on other goods imported from Canada beginning April 2.
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gives a speech during a campaign rally at Southorn Stadium on March 09, 2025 in Hong Kong, China.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was served an Interpol arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court on his arrival at Manila's main airport on Tuesday, the government said.

The ICC has said it would pursue an investigation of suspected crimes against humanity related to Duterte's role in overseeing a bloody "war on drugs" that killed thousands of Filipinos.

Duterte had said on Monday in Hong Kong that he was ready to be arrested if the ICC issued a warrant and has repeatedly defended the anti-drugs crackdown. He has denied ordering police to kill drug suspects unless in self-defense.

The office of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said it received an official copy of the warrant, which was served on Duterte by police. Duterte was now in custody, it said in a statement.

Duterte's former legal counsel Salvador Panelo said the arrest was unlawful, and said the police did not allow one of his lawyers to meet Duterte at the airport.

The firebrand Duterte unilaterally withdrew the Philippines from the ICC's founding treaty in 2019 when it started looking into allegations of systematic extrajudicial killings, and the Philippines had until last year refused to cooperate with the ICC investigation.

The "war on drugs" was the signature campaign policy that swept Duterte to power in 2016 as a maverick, crime-busting mayor, who delivered on promises he made during vitriolic speeches to kill thousands of narcotics dealers.

According to police, 6,200 suspects were killed during anti-drug operations that they say ended in shootouts. But activists say the real toll of the crackdown was far greater, with thousands of slumland drug users, many of whom were included on official "watch lists", killed in mysterious circumstances.

Police deny involvement in those killings and reject allegations from rights groups of systematic executions and cover-ups.
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Ground operations employees load baggage onto a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 aircraft on the tarmac at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California. Patrick T. Fallon | Bloomberg | Getty Images

It's happening: Southwest Airlines will start charging passengers to check bags for the first time. It's a stunning reversal that shows the low-cost pioneer is willing to part with a customer perk executives have said set it apart from rivals for more than half a century of flying in hopes of increasing revenue. Southwest's changes come after months of pressure from activist Elliott Investment Management. The firm took a stake in the airline last year and won five board seats as it pushed for quick changes at the company, which held on for decades  until now  to perks like free checked bags, changeable tickets and open seating. For tickets purchased on or after May 28, Southwest customers in all but the top-tier fare class will have to pay to check bags, though there will be exceptions. Elite frequent flyers who hold A-List Preferred status will still get two bags, and A-List level members will get one free checked bag. Southwest credit card holders will also get one free checked bag. "Two bags fly free" is a registered trademark on Southwest's website. But its decision to about-face on what executives long cast as a sacrosanct passenger perk brings the largest U.S. domestic carrier in line with its rivals, which together generated more than $5 billion from bag fees last year, according to federal data. Southwest didn't say how much it plans to charge to check bags, but a single bag costs $35 to check on Delta, American and United. Southwest shares rose 8% Tuesday after its baggage fee announcement and investor update, while other large carriers' shares and the broader market fell.

Southwest executives have long said they didn't plan to charge for bags, telling Wall Street analysts that it was a major reason why customers chose the airline. At an investor day in September, Southwest said that it would gain between $1 billion and $1.5 billion from charging for bags but lose $1.8 billion of market share. Southwest said its "rigorous research" found that "our 'bags fly free' policy generates market share gains in excess of potential lost revenue from bag fees." Some airline executives see an opportunity. "I think, clearly, there are some customers who [chose Southwest] because of that, and now those customers are up for grabs," Delta Air Lines President Glen Hauenstein said at an investor conference on Tuesday, after Southwest's announcement. "We'll see how that plays out over the next period of time as they continue to implement multiple changes to their products." United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, speaking at the same conference, likened Southwest's baggage policy change to "the slaying of a sacred cow" and said lower-paying customers will be most affected. "I view it as a big deal because it's more  it feels more financially driven  a results-driven airline than it's ever been before," he said.

No. 1 issue

Pristine Floyde searches for a friend's suitcase in a baggage holding area for Southwest Airlines at Denver International Airport on December 28, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. Michael Ciaglo | Getty Images

Southwest CEO Bob Jordan had cited the company's long-standing bag policy in an earnings call last July. "After fare and schedule, bags fly free is cited as the No. 1 issue in terms of why customers choose Southwest," Jordan said. But Southwest has changed its tune. "What's changed is that we've come to realize that we need more revenue to cover our costs," COO Andrew Watterson said in an interview with CNBC about the baggage fee changes. "We think that these changes that we're announcing today will lead to less of that share shift than would have been the case otherwise." Jordan said Tuesday that the new baggage policy will likely help drive sign-ups for its co-branded credit card and that it made sense because of its commercial reach, listing its tickets through outside platforms like Google Flights and Expedia . "In contrast to our previous analysis, actual customer booking behavior through our new booking channels such as metasearch, did not show that we are getting the same benefit from our bundled offering with free bags, which has led us to update the assumptions," he said. Jordan said the carrier has new executives with "direct experience implementing bag fees at multiple airlines and that's also helped further validate the new assumptions." Southwest said the changes it announced Tuesday will add $800 million in earnings before interest and taxes this year and $1.7 billion in 2026, bringing 2026 total increases, including other initiatives, to $4.3 billion, up from a $2.6 billion target it shared at its investor day in September. During those presentations in September, Southwest's then chief transformation officer, Ryan Green, told analysts that an analysis showed Southwest would lose more money from passengers defecting to rivals if it started charging for bags than it would make from the fees. "The fact that free bags is a key driver of choice creates the risk that customers may choose the competition if we change the policy," he said. Southwest said last month that it had parted ways with Green.

Other changes
Here are the stocks making the biggest moves before the opening bell: Kohl's  Shares of the retailer sank 14% after fourth-quarter results showed a decline of 9.4% in net sales and full-year guidance missed expectations. Kohl's said it expects earnings per share of between 10 cents and 60 cents for the current fiscal year, below the $1.23 expected by analysts, according to LSEG. The company also said it expected net sales to fall 5% to 7%, while analysts were expecting that metric to fall 1.6%. Southwest Airlines  Shares of the budget airline jumped almost 10% after the company announced that it will start charging passengers to check bags and will begin offering a basic economy fare. The changes come following activist pressure from Elliott Investment Management. Asana  The software stock fell 25% after CEO and co-founder Dustin Moskovitz announced he is retiring . Moskovitz owns a majority of Asana's outstanding shares. Revenue forecasts for the first quarter and full year were also below expectations. Delta Air Lines  Shares tumbled nearly 5% after the airline slashed its top- and bottom-line guidance for the first quarter due to weak domestic demand . Delta forecast revenue in the current quarter growing no more than 5% on a yearly basis, down from its estimates in January calling for a 6% to 8% rise. The airline also lowered its adjusted earnings forecast to 30 cents to 50 cents per share from a prior range of 70 cents to $1 a share. Dick's Sporting Goods  The retail stock dropped 5% after earnings guidance for the new fiscal year came in lower than expected. Dick's projected earnings per share of $13.80 to $14.40 per share, while analysts had penciled in $14.82 per share, according to FactSet. Vail Resorts  The ski resort operator added about 5% in light trading after reporting better-than-expected earnings for its fiscal second quarter. Earnings came in at $6.56 per share, versus the LSEG consensus estimate of $6.31. Revenue was $1.14 billion, in line with expectations. Tesla  Shares of the automaker rose nearly 1% after suffering a 15.4% loss on Monday. President Donald Trump said he plans to buy a Tesla to support the company and CEO Elon Musk amid talk of boycotts. GE Healthcare Technologies  The health-care stock rose almost 3% after an upgrade to neutral from buy at Goldman Sachs. The investment firm cited an improved outlook in China as a reason for the upgrade. Redfin  The real estate stock fell about 7%, giving back some of the previous session's sharp gain. Shares of Redfin rose more than 60% on Monday after the company announced a deal to be acquired by Rocket Companies . Oracle  The cloud computing stock was down less than 2% after fiscal third-quarter earnings came in slightly below expectations. Oracle reported $1.47 in adjusted earnings per share, while analysts surveyed by LSEG were looking for $1.49.  CNBC's Hakyung Kim and Michelle Fox contributed.
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U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he walks to board Marine One, while departing the White House en route to Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 7, 2025. Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters

One of the many challenges the Trump administration faces in its plans to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education: The office manages the federal student loans of more than 40 million people. Earlier this month, President Donald Trump told reporters that the loan accounts should be overseen by another agency. "I don't think the Education [Department] should be handling the loans," Trump said. "That's not their business." Here's what borrowers need to know about the possible change.

SBA, Commerce or Treasury could take student loans

Trump alone can't shutter the U.S. Department of Education, experts say. Closing the agency would require an act of Congress. Still, Trump could move some of the department's functions to other agencies. He said his administration was looking to task the Treasury Department, Commerce Department or the Small Business Administration with federal student loan management. More from Personal Finance:

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Consumer credit rose to $5 trillion in January Experts say the most logical agency would be Treasury Department, since it already plays a role in collecting past-due debts from Americans through the Treasury Offset Program. Meanwhile, "Neither Commerce nor SBA has any relevant experience," higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz said.

Student debt transfer could lead to major disruptions

Transferring the loan accounts of tens of millions of people to another agency would only worsen an already troubled lending system, said Michele Shepard Zampini, senior director of college affordability at The Institute For College Access and Success. Federal student loan borrowers complain about inaccurate bills, trouble reaching their servicers and being denied relief for which they're eligible. "Borrowers and students need more stability, and this would create chaos," Shepard Zampini said in a previous interview with CNBC.
Just before I left for vacation, I wrote about a possible hedge strategy in the S & P 500 against resistance levels. Since then , the S & P 500 is about 8% lower and we are carrying the hedge. From a technical point of view, I'm watching a possible support zone in the S & P 500 ranging from 5,675-5,400 as we trade right in the middle of that zone  around 5,540. So, we're possibly in the support zone confirmed by diverging market internals that suggests we've reached oversold status. That's despite the severity and pace of the headlines coming from Washington. Based on this analysis, we need to have ready our shopping list of stocks we would like to accumulate should this support zone hold. I ran a scan this morning I call "20-for-2". We're looking for at least 20% growth in all of the following: Average EPS and sales growth over the last two quarters Average EPS and sales growth over the last two years Average EPS and sales growth expected over the coming two quarters Market cap greater than $1 billion 50-day moving average above the 200-day moving average Based on this scan some familiar names to this column appeared: Duolingo , DoorDash , Hims & Hers Health , Innodata , Nvidia , On Holding , Shopify and Palantir . Palantir is that one that's been playing hard to get in our holdings at Inside Edge Capital. Palantir is demonstrating leadership in the artificial intelligence software platform space and has the top- and bottom-line growth track record to prove it. Palantir is well positioned in the current administration's government efficiency mandate. The weekly chart shows the stock has pulled back more than 30% from the all-time high, which would on the surface be considered a bear market. But context is key, as the stock is up more than 200% in the last 12 months. The 20-week moving average in orange is holding support and looking at the annual and quarterly sale and earnings growth you see a stellar example of 30% growth across all time frames. In 2024, EPS increased 64% from 25 cents in 2023 to 41 cents in 2024. Moving to the daily chart, we see the depth of the pullback relative to the Jan. 13 low. Using Fibonacci restracements, we see the 61.8% retracement attempted to hold as support, but multiple efforts to run stops through this highly visible retracement level resulted in a push down to the 78.6% retracement level. This is what I refer to as the "retracement of last resort." If you don't hold this level ($73.34), you're probably heading down to a full 100% retracement, which is a full round trip back to the Jan 13 low. Bottom line, we see this zone in the S & P 500 as an opportunity to take off our short hedges and also deploy cash into strong names like PLTR. The accumulation zone is $82.23-$63.39. The risk on this trade can unfortunately only be determined by you and your financial advisor. How does PLTR fit into your investment horizon, risk tolerance, and financial plan? If it's a short-term trade, I would not want to see the stock below $63. If it's a long-term investment and you're ok buying an AI leader at 35%+ discount and letting it drop a bit lower, position size appropriately such that additional selling would not disproportionately impact your overall portfolio. Personally, and for investors at Inside Edge Capital, we'll be approaching it with the latter approach. -Todd Gordon, founder of Inside Edge Capital, LLC DISCLOSURES: Gordon does not own PLTR yet, but intends to add to holdings in the near future and also reserves the right to take no action based on a deterioration of future market conditions. All opinions expressed by the CNBC Pro contributors are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of CNBC, NBC UNIVERSAL, their parent company or affiliates, and may have been previously disseminated by them on television, radio, internet or another medium. THE ABOVE CONTENT IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY . THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSITUTE FINANCIAL, INVESTMENT, TAX OR LEGAL ADVICE OR A RECOMMENDATION TO BUY ANY SECURITY OR OTHER FINANCIAL ASSET. THE CONTENT IS GENERAL IN NATURE AND DOES NOT REFLECT ANY INDIVIDUAL'S UNIQUE PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THE ABOVE CONTENT MIGHT NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES. BEFORE MAKING ANY FINANCIAL DECISIONS, YOU SHOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER SEEKING ADVICE FROM YOUR OWN FINANCIAL OR INVESTMENT ADVISOR. Click here for the full disclaimer.
President Donald Trump spoke Tuesday with top CEOs, many of whom have seen the value of their companies slashed as Trump's tariff-heavy economic policy has raised uncertainty and fueled a market sell-off.

Trump, a major proponent of tariffs, told the room full of business leaders in Washington, D.C., that the duties he has already imposed are having a "tremendously positive impact."

His remarks came at the start of the quarterly meeting of the Business Roundtable, a nonpartisan Washington-based economic advocacy group comprising more than 200 CEOs.

Apple CEO Tim Cook, JPMorgan Chase boss Jamie Dimon, GM chief Mary Barra and Walmart CEO Doug McMillon are all BRT board members.

The meeting came as financial markets continued their downward slide on Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost as much as 700 points before ending the trading day down 478 points, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq also closed lower.

Much of Wall Street's uncertainty has centered on Trump's on-again, off-again tariffs on Canada and Mexico. But Trump has brushed off calls for clarity from the business community, as well as fears that his expanding tariff plans risk stoking an out-of-control trade war.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump walks with Elon Musk before attending a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket, in Brownsville, Texas, U.S., November 19, 2024.

President Donald Trump shared his intent to purchase a Tesla on Tuesday to support Elon Musk as the electric vehicle maker's sales and share price face pressure from the CEO's foray into global politics, most notably as head of Trump's cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency.

"I'm going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American," Trump wrote in a post published early Tuesday morning on Truth Social.

Trump said "radical left lunatics" are "illegally and collusively" boycotting Tesla, which the president described as one of the best automakers in the world. This action, Trump said, was meant as an attack on Musk and what he stands for.

Trump also said that he would deem violence against Tesla dealerships to be domestic terrorism, according to Reuters.

It is not illegal for consumers to boycott companies. The Supreme Court in 1982 ruled the First Amendment protects Americans' rights to protest private businesses.

Musk's support of Trump in the run-up to last year's presidential election and subsequent leadership in his government efficiency initiative has sparked backlash. Analysts have cited this reputational shift as a driver of trouble for the automaker's stock, which posted its worst day since 2020 on Monday and is down about 43% in 2025.

Musk acknowledged the hit to his businesses in an interview Monday, saying he was running them "with great difficulty" because of his high-profile role with this administration. He told Fox Business that as head of DOGE, "you're giving up your other stuff."
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 Tuesday's key moments. 1. The S & P 500 is lower again Tuesday, continuing Monday's sell-off amid increasing recession fears. President Donald Trump announced he is planning to raise tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50%, up from 25%. He's also threatened to significantly raise tariffs on imported cars, contending that could shut down auto manufacturing in Canada. "The market wants to see some type of resolution," said Jeff Marks, director of portfolio analysis. The health-care sector is taking a dip Tuesday, as are tourism-related stocks industry following weak updates from major airlines including Delta Air Lines , United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines . Some beaten-up portfolio stocks, such as Broadcom and CrowdStrike , are bouncing Tuesday. We bought the recent dip in CrowdStrike. 2. We added to our new position in credit card issuer Capital One on Tuesday morning after Baird upgraded the stock to a buy-equivalent rating with a new $200 price target. We also bought more Capital One on Monday afternoon. Jim Cramer said the company's pending acquisition of Discover Financial Services has transformative potential because, in addition to issuing credit cards, Discover owns a card network, improving its competitive position against MasterCard and Visa. "It's switching from being a bank to being a [financial technology company," Jim said. "This is a coloration change." In its note, Baird said Capital One's recent weakness has presented a buying opportunity that could yield some of the most profitable risk-adjusted returns over the next few years in a very sensitive sector. 3. Club stock GE Healthcare also saw a nice upgrade by Goldman Sachs, which took its rating to a buy from neutral on a belief that its business in China is improving ahead of schedule. Analysts also raised their price target to $100 a share from $85. Shares of GE Healthcare were up more than 3% during the Morning Meeting, before giving up some of those gains later in the session. Jim called GE Healthcare another "reposition name," where we could book some profits and use those funds to buy into other stocks we think have taken a hard hit. "That's what I'm trying to do," Jim said. "Trying to circle the wagons around the best of the ones that are down and take the ones that are overinflated because of a thin market." We later trimmed GE Healthcare on Tuesday . 4. Stocks covered in Tuesday's rapid fire at the end of the video were: Oracle , Dick's Sporting Goods, Kohl's , Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long Capital One , GE Healthcare . 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.
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Ukraine agreed Tuesday to an immediate 30-day ceasefire negotiated by the U.S. if Russia accepts the plan, officials said. As part of the plan, the U.S. immediately lifted its pause on sharing intelligence with Ukraine, and will resume security assistance to that country, which was invaded by Russia more than three years ago. "Ukraine is ready to start talking and stop shooting," said Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, after more than seven hours of negotiations in that city between high-level American and Ukrainian delegations. Both U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to conclude "as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraine's critical mineral resources," according to a joint statement by the two nations' governments.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, during his visit to Jidda, Saudi Arabia, on March 10, 2025. Saudi Press Agency | Via Reuters

Zelenskyy in a statement said the planned ceasefire would halt all hostilities, "not just for missiles, drones and bombs, not just in the Black Sea, but along the entire front line." "Ukraine welcomes this proposal. We see it as a positive step, and we are ready to take it," Zelenskyy said. "The United States must now persuade Russia to do the same. If Russia agrees, silence will take effect immediately." "Today, we made an offer that the Ukrainians have accepted, which is to enter into a ceasefire and into immediate negotiations to end this conflict in a way that's enduring and sustainable and accounts for their interests, their security, their ability to prosper as a nation," Rubio said. "And hopefully we'll take this offer now to the Russians, and we hope that they'll say yes, that they'll say yes to peace," Rubio said. "The ball is now in their court."

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) attends the meeting between the Ukrainian and U.S. delegations in Jidda, Saudi Arabia, to discuss issues related to ending the Russian-Ukrainian war, on March 11, 2025. Ukranian Presidency | Anadolu | Getty Images
The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield was nearly 7 basis points higher at 4.278%. The 2-year Treasury yield was last 4 basis points higher at 3.937%, after earlier in the day falling to its lowest level since October.

The consumer price index report is due Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. ET. Economists polled by Dow Jones expect CPI in February to have risen 0.3% month over month and 2.9% year on year. Core CPI, which strips out food and energy prices, is forecast to have expanded by 0.3% month on month and 3.2% year on year.

The producer price index, another inflation gauge, is due out Thursday. Both readings should shed some light on the health of the U.S. consumer in the wake of recent signs indicating that the economy may be softening.

These readings come ahead of the Federal Reserve's March meeting, which will take place later this month.

"It'll be really important that we don't see an upside surprise on CPI because at this point, the Fed does have plenty of dry powder to step in to cut rates and try to boost demand if the economy were to meaningfully slow. But they can only really do that if they feel that inflation expectations and inflation are well anchored," said Ross Mayfield, investment analyst at Baird.

Yields also rose after President Donald Trump declared on Truth Social Tuesday morning that tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum imports would double to 50% from 25%, effective Wednesday. This was in response to the Ontario government's decision to levy a 25% duty on electricity exports to the U.S.

However, later in the day, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he was temporarily suspending the 25% surcharge after speaking with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. White House trade advisor Peter Navarro followed that by telling CNBC Tuesday afternoon that Trump would not raise the Canadian steel and aluminum tariffs to 50%.

On Tuesday afternoon, news also broke that Ukraine has agreed to a 30-day ceasefire, if Russia accepts, in a plan negotiated by the U.S. The United States will immediately resume sharing intelligence and security assistance with Ukraine.
U.S Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Ukrainian Head of Presidential Office Andriy Yermak hold a meeting in the presence of Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad Al-Aiban, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, March 11, 2025. Saul Loeb | Via Reuters

U.S. and Ukrainian officials are holding talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, marking the first time the two parties have met since the spectacular Oval Office spat between President Donald Trump and Ukraine's leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in late February. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is leading the American delegation, which includes special envoy Steve Witkoff and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. The Ukrainian team will be led by Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak. Zelenskyy is not involved in the meeting, although he traveled to Saudi Arabia on Monday to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia has assumed a central role in bringing the U.S., Ukraine and Russia together to look for an end to three years of war in Ukraine. The Tuesday meeting has been billed as a "high-stakes" encounter, given heightened tensions between Washington and Kyiv that prompted the U.S. to cut all military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv, putting its battlefield forces under more pressure. The gathering, the U.S. has said, is designed to see how serious Ukraine is about making concessions to end the war, although the compromises the U.S. has in mind  such as ceding occupied territory to Russia and forgetting any future NATO membership  are bitter pills for Kyiv to swallow.

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman meets with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the Royal Palace grounds in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on March 10, 2025. Saul Loeb | Afp | Getty Images

Rubio, who also met the Saudi crown prince separately on Monday, reiterated at the time that Kyiv would need to accept Russian control of some of its territory as part of a wider peace deal. Russia occupies around 20% of Ukraine currently. Kyiv has said it needs security guarantees as part of any peace deal in order to deter future Russian aggression, but the U.S. has so far refused to offer these reassurances. "The important point in this meeting is to establish clearly their [Ukraine's] intentions, their desire, as they've said publicly now numerous times, to reach a point where peace is possible. And then we'll have to determine how far they are from the Russian position, which we don't know yet either," Rubio told reporters in Jeddah on Monday. "Once you understand where both sides truly are, it gives you a sense of how big the divide is and how hard it's going to be. So I'm hoping it'll be a positive interaction along those lines," he said. "The most important thing that we have to leave here with is a strong sense that Ukraine is prepared to do difficult things, like the Russians are going to have to do difficult things, to end this conflict or at least pause it in some way, shape, or form," he said.

Ceasefire proposal

Ukraine is keen to look as open-minded as possible, given its increasingly vulnerable position both on and off the battlefield. It is reportedly ready to table the idea of a partial ceasefire that would see aerial and naval attacks halted, although ground combat would continue. "Ukraine's position in these talks will be fully constructive," Zelenskyy said Monday on X, while his right-hand man Yermak commented Tuesday morning that "the team is onsite. Getting ready to work. Protecting Ukrainian interests, a clear vision of ending the war, we will work effectively with our American partners," he said in comments posted on Telegram and translated by NBC News.

U.S. President Donald Trump meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Feb. 28, 2025. Brian Snyder | Reuters
A total of 283 Indian nationals, who were victims of fake job offers in Myanmar, have been rescued and sent back to India.The Indian embassies in Myanmar and Thailand worked with local authorities to arrange their repatriation on Monday (March 10) using an Indian Air Force aircraft from Mae Sot in Thailand, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.The MEA said that India has been working to bring back its nationals lured to Southeast Asian countries, including Myanmar, by fake job offers.The Ministry said the victims were forced to take part in cybercrime and other illegal activities in scam centers along the Myanmar-Thailand border."These persons were subsequently made to indulge in cybercrime and engage in other fraudulent activities in scam centres operating in regions along the Myanmar-Thailand border," it said.The government has issued repeated warnings about such scams and advises Indians to check the credentials of foreign employers."Indian nationals are once again advised to verify credentials of foreign employers through Missions abroad and check the antecedents of recruiting agents and companies before taking up a job offer," the MEA said in a statement.
The tenth edition of Raisina Dialogue, India's premier geopolitical and geo-economics conference, will be held in New Delhi from March 17 to 19. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is the chief guest at the 2025 summit.He will be joined by a high-level group of representatives of the Indian diaspora in New Zealand, businessmen, media, top officials, and ministers.Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the conference with Luxon. The Raisina Dialogue is held every year and is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs.It is an annual gathering of international leaders in politics, industry, media, and civil society to discuss global issues and look for ways to work together on a variety of current issues, including international relations, defence, climate change, cyber security, and trade.The theme of Raisina Dialogue 2025 is Kalachakra: People. Peace. Planet.The conference hosts prominent leaders from various countries, including heads of state and government officials.This year, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha is likely to take part in the conference. US Intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard will also attend the conference as part of her mum-nation Indo-Pacific tour, The New York Times reported.Nepal's Foreign Minister, Arzu Rana Deuba, will also attend the dialogue. Deuba is also likely to meet high-level officials of the Indian government and some foreign participants.According to the reports, the Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, who was sent an invitation to attend the dialogue, will not be able to attend due to scheduling issues.There will also be top officials and several European ministers from Estonia, the Netherlands, Norway, Italy, Ireland, Lithuania, Slovenia, and Turkey.The three-day conference will also see top industry leaders, CEOs, academics, and researchers.The 2025 edition of the Raisina Conference involves the participation of 60 top schools of government and global affairs from across eight regions.
Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin faces a diplomatic balancing act during talks with Donald Trump on Wednesday, with Ireland among the countries most vulnerable to the U.S. presidents economic plans.The annual White House meeting to mark St Patricks Day is usually relatively straightforward for the country of 5.4 million, symbolised since the 1950s by the gifting of a bowl of shamrock to the president in the Oval Office.Recent meetings were with Trumps proudly Irish-American predecessor Joe Biden. This years meeting with Trump entails more uncertainty, with many Irish jobs, tax revenue and exports directly dependent on a cluster of U.S. multinational firms."I am very, very conscious that in a very challenging world, thousands and thousands of jobs depend on the economic relationship between the United States and Ireland, Martin, who plans to highlight the 115,000 people Irish firms employ in the U.S., said at the start of the six-day trip marking the March 17 holiday for Irelands patron saint.U.S. firms have operated in Ireland for decades, attracted in large part by its low corporate tax rate. The mainly U.S.-owned foreign multinational workforce totals 302,000, or 11% of all workers, and they contribute most of a corporate tax take that has handed Ireland large budget surpluses.Top of Irish concerns is whether Trump will focus on the U.S. goods trade deficit with Ireland, driven by drugs and pharmaceutical ingredients made in the European Union member state by U.S companies that are exported back to the U.S.The worlds 10 largest drugmakers, including Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and Merck, have large plants in Ireland.Irelands Central Statistics Office said the deficit was a record 50 billion euros ($54.2 billion) last year. Using a different measure, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis put it at $87 billion, ahead of Canada and Germany and behind only Vietnam, Mexico and China.The U.S. has a large surplus in services trade with Ireland, as with the EU as a whole.Trump has threatened a 25% tariff on pharmaceutical imports and on goods from the EU, both of which would catch Ireland in its crosshairs. He also made an election pledge to slash the U.S. corporate tax rate to the top Irish rate of 15%, which would be even more damaging.Martin will be the first EU leader to visit the Oval Office since Trumps explosive meeting there with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. As Ireland was one of three European countries that last year officially recognised a Palestinian state, Martin could also faces a balancing act when discussing the Middle East.
Pakistan train hijack HIGHLIGHTS: Militants hijack passenger train in restive Balochistan province

By CNBCTV18.COM Mar 12, 2025 9:22 AM IST (Updated)

Pakistan train hijack HIGHLIGHTS Militants hijacked the Jaffar Express train in Balochistan on Tuesday, taking several passengers hostage. The train, traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, was stopped near Tunnel No. 8 in the Bolan area. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, warning that hostages would be executed if Pakistan's military intervened. With 450 passengers on board, the situation remains unclear as authorities struggle to make contact with the train. Here are the highlights

Pakistan train hijack HIGHLIGHTS: In a dramatic turn of events on Tuesday, March 11, militants reportedly hijacked the Jaffar Express train in Balochistan, Pakistan, and have taken several passengers hostage. The train, which was en route from Quetta to Peshawar, was ambushed as it approached Tunnel No. 8 in the Bolan area. The train, traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, was targeted between Pehro Kunri and Gadalar. Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind confirmed reports of intense firing. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the assault, alleging they derailed the train, killed six security personnel, and took over 400 passengers hostage, including military personnel. However, the claim has not been independently verified.



The BLA warned that all hostages would be executed if Pakistan's military launched an operation. Authorities have declared an emergency in local hospitals, and security forces are conducting an operation to track the assailants. The trains driver sustained serious injuries, and rescue efforts are ongoing. Balochistan has been a hotspot for insurgent activities, with BLA frequently targeting government projects and security forces.



Here are the highlights
Pope Francis woke up Tuesday to good news from his doctors: They upgraded his prognosis and say he is no longer in imminent danger of death as a result of the double pneumonia that has kept him hospitalised for nearly a month in the longest and gravest threat to his 12-year papacy.The 88-year-old pope isnt out of the woods yet, however. Doctors are still cautious and have decided to keep him hospitalised for several more days to receive treatment, not to mention a period of rehabilitation he will likely need.But the doctors said he remains stable and has consolidated improvements in recent days, according to blood tests and his good response to treatment. Francis, who has chronic lung disease, is still using supplemental oxygen during the day and a ventilation mask at night to help him breathe.In an early update Tuesday, the Vatican said Francis woke up around 8 a.m. after a quiet night. The Argentine Jesuit has regularly been sleeping in while at Gemelli hospital, given his usual wakeup time at the Vatican is around 4:30 a.m.Late Monday, doctors lifted their guarded prognosis for the pope, meaning they determined he was no longer in imminent danger as a result of the original respiratory infection he arrived with on Feb. 14. But their caution remained, given Francis fragility and risks of other complications.In view of the complexity of the clinical picture and the important infectious picture presented on admission, it will be necessary to continue medical drug therapy in a hospital setting for additional days, the Vatican statement said.In a sign of his improved health, Francis followed the Vaticans weeklong spiritual retreat via videoconference on Monday in both the morning and afternoon sessions, something he was likely to continue to do through the week.The retreat, an annual gathering that kicks off the Catholic Churchs solemn Lenten season leading to Easter, continues through Friday. The Vatican has said Francis would participate in spiritual communion with the rest of the hierarchy, from afar.Francis could see and hear the Rev. Roberto Pasolini, preacher of the papal household, but the priests, bishops, cardinals and nuns gathered for the retreat in the Vatican auditorium could not see or hear him.Pasolini is delivering a series of meditations this week on The hope of eternal life, a theme that was chosen well before Francis was admitted to Romes Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14 with a complex lung infection.Francis, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, had what was just a bad case of bronchitis when he was hospitalised last month. The infection progressed into a complex respiratory tract infection and double pneumonia that has sidelined Francis and raised questions about the future.He was still keeping his eye on things, however. The Vatican said he had been informed about the floods in his native Argentina, sent a telegram of condolences and expressed his closeness to the affected population.


I am #WheelsUp on a multi-nation trip to the Indo-Pacific, a region I know very well having grown up as a child of the Pacific. I'll be going to Japan, Thailand, and India, with a brief stop in France enroute back to DC. Building strong relationships, understanding, and open pic.twitter.com/7PiM1a5RGu

 DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) March 10, 2025

US National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard announced on Monday that she would travel to Japan, Thailand, and India as part of a 'multi-nation' Indo-Pacific tour.Gabbard's trip to India will be the first time by any senior White House official after President Donald Trump returned to power.Gabbard said she was WheelsUp on a multi-nation trip to the Indo-Pacific.I'll be going to Japan, Thailand, and India, with a brief stop in France en route back to DC, she said.She underlined the importance of building strong relationships, understanding, and open lines of communication in achieving the peace, freedom and prosperity targets set forth by Trump.Check out the post here: Gabbard also shared that her first stop is Honolulu, where she will visit IC partners and INDOPACOM leaders. She will meet with US military personnel participating in training exercises, officials at US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), and partners in the US intelligence community.Gabbard, an Army veteran and former legislator, has strong ties to the Indo-Pacific.She served as a Democrat from 2013 to 2021, representing Hawaii's 2nd congressional district, before joining the Republican Party in 2024.Gabbard will attend a security conference in India the following week as part of her tour, The New York Times reported. This is her second international trip as a high-ranking official in the Trump administration.Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Gabbard to speak at the Raisina conference, a global assembly of security professionals in Delhi, on March 18. The event will also mark the conclusion of Gabbards Asia tour.Senior Russian security officials and experts often attend the Raisina conference. However, it's uncertain if Gabbard will have bilateral meetings with Russian officials during the summit.According to a senior administration official, Gabbard planned to discuss similar topics like cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, counterterrorism, and information sharing in India.Her trip to India comes following PM Modi's February trip to the US. During his visit, PM Modi referred to Gabbard as a strong votary of the US and India partnership.Gabbard referred to welcoming PM Modi as an honour, and expressed her enthusiasm for further enhancing the partnership between the US and India.
The new OpenAI challenger Manus is designed to create personalized solutions and provide detailed evaluations without any human intervention. shutterstock  QINQIE99

The next would-be OpenAI killer is coming from China, after DeepSeek set out to dethrone the industry leader in 2024. The new artificial intelligence goes by the name of Manus and was developed by the startup Butterfly Effect. According to the company, its product is a general agent designed to improve the tools offered by Western companies.

Manus is best compared to OpenAIs Deep Research, a service that searches online services to find information. What is found is then compiled into documents which, according to OpenAI, should produce a comprehensive report at the level of a research analyst within half an hour.

Other points of reference are tools such as Anthropics Computer Use API and OpenAIs Operator Agents. Both tools can be used in a web browser to perform basic tasks such as filling out forms and using e-commerce sites.
At this moment, as you read this, there are people somewhere engaged in a rap battle, making up new rhymes right there on the spot. No one is recording what theyre saying, so these words will be appreciated once and then lost forever. Its like improvised jazz, or like that time you made that really funny joke about your friends mustache and everyone immediately forgot it.

The most famous rap songs of all-time also went through revisions, with first drafts unceremoniously discarded. The difference here is that sometimes, we really do have access to those lost verses and can listen to them, understanding the songs for the first time.

4 Lose Yourself Actually Revealed What Losing Yourself Means Don't Miss Eminems Lose Yourself is a strange song, for reasons you might not immediately notice. The first verse (by far the most famous part), covering the first scene of the movie 8 Mile, is written in third-person. Thats because its talking about the main character of 8 Mile rather than about Eminem himself  though, this character is played by Eminem. The character, Jimmy, isnt a great rapper yet, you see, so he cant be the one doing this song. It has to be Eminem doing it about him. The second verse is also mostly in third-person, and it doesnt cover the events of the movie. It talks about a rapper who rises in fame and then falls. You might assume this is now Eminem talking about himself, not about the movie character, but hes still talking in third-person, and the real Eminem hadnt experienced any fall like the one described here. Perhaps then its the movies bittersweet epilogue. We next get a third verse, now in first-person, where he explicitly says hes not covering the movie anymore but his own life. But after talking about being a struggling father (not Eminems current situation but still something from the past), he returns to the more distant past in the final lines to talk about being young and still living in his moms trailer. When we describe it like that, it sounds needlessly complicated, doesnt it? Instead of all that, he could have just done the whole song from his characters point-of-view. It could have been three verses about aspiring rapper Jimmy, who has a sister and works at a plant. Heres him doing just that, in another song on the 8 Mile soundtrack: He did that in another song from that soundtrack, too. And originally, he planned to also stay in-character as Jimmy for Lose Yourself. Advertisement Below is the songs demo version. Same guitar intro, same beat and a similar chorus, but the verses are completely different. Its about someone struggling to come up with a song, and the most interesting part about it is that it spends its entire length explaining what exactly the command Lose Yourself means. Advertisement Yeah  it may never have occurred to you before, because the idea of losing yourself in music is pretty intuitive, but the verses in the released song arent about the glory of losing yourself in the moment at all. Theyre about someone preparing to rap, which takes great concentration and memorization rather than losing oneself. Then its about choking, which perhaps you could call losing yourself but isnt something to strive for. Then its about his rise and fall as an artist, and if thats losing yourself in the music, thats again not something you want. Advertisement But the demo is about how he, the writer, is trying to pen the perfect rap to make you forget everything and lose yourself in the music. The person seeking success laboriously crafting the song and the person who loses themselves in the music are two different people. Theres plenty worth keeping in the demo, but it had no third verse, so it seems it was always just a work-in-progress. Also, the chorus ends in this painful couplet: Advertisement Advertisement You better move yourself cause tomorrows ass can wait

There is no time to sit there and procrastinate That part was apparently so unsalvageable that Eminem threw out everything and rewrote the whole song from scratch.

3 Kanye Gets Fired Not all songs have three verses. Stronger by Kanye West has just two. But it originally did indeed have three, and when you listen to the missing verse, youll say, Of course! That second verse was actually a third verse. The final songs second verse feels like its coming down from some plateau, which was never properly set up. Insert the verse below between the two verses, and it all fits much better. This verse, like the rest of the song, is about someone going out to the club. But it also features these revealing lines: Advertisement Advertisement Everybody go through something

People be talking to you like you nothing

You be talking to them like, Bitch, I'm me

Then your boss say, Okay, then leave. The guy mouthed off to the wrong person  his boss. Then he got fired. Now, you might be thinking, Thats not what those lyrics say at all. Clearly, those lyrics are about the boss being so intimidated by the guys identity that they cower and let him take the rest of the day off. But think again. If this employee were so in-command, would he even need his boss permission to head out? Advertisement Also, consider the next line: You covered up your tats too long with those sleeves. This is someone who is routinely subjugated at work. His boss is the one in control here, so this boss would not be persuaded by the boast, Bitch, Im me. No, when the boss tells him to leave, it's to leave for good. This is a tale of an arrogant braggarts downfall. Lets hope that foreshadows nothing in Kanyes future whatsoever.

2 The Demons in Thriller Like You Thicc Just the other day, we were talking about how Michael Jacksons Thriller began as an entirely different song, which wasnt Halloween-themed. It must have seemed absurd to tack on rhymes from a 72-year-old white guy, and for the music video to call those rhymes a rap. But that white guy was horror icon Vincent Price, and even the version of the song that you do know started out a bit different, with an additional Price verse. Here are his unabridged lines, with only the quietest of backing music: Here, too, the middle verse reveals what was missing in the pacing of the known song. The second half of the Price part in the finished song now feels like its coming down from something that was not built up, until you include this middle. Also, the middle verse features these lines: Advertisement Advertisement The demons squeal in sheer delight

It's you they spy, so plump, so right As you can see, your thickness attracts the demons, sexually. Yes, that is what it means  we shall entertain no other interpretations. We suppose they cut this bit for length, as the Price part would otherwise span nearly as long as Michael Jacksons share of the song. They might have still found room for it in the music video, which is 12 minutes long. But though its 12 minutes long (more, counting the credits), the video not only cuts that Price verse but also cuts every chorus of the song but one. The verses are all strung together in a single uninterrupted segment, lasting a minute and a half. Then comes Prices rap, which also lasts a minute and a half  if we count a notable stretch of silence in the middle. Hey, we think we know exactly whats supposed to go in that gap. Advertisement
STORY LINK Pound to Dollar Extends Best Rate of 2025, $1.30 in Target for Buyers

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Pound Sterling (GBP) traded mostly flat against the US Dollar (USD) on Monday despite worries over the US economy.At the time of writing, the Pound to Dollar exchange rate (GBP/USD) was trading at approximately $1.2917, virtually unchanged from the start of Mondays session.On Monday, the US Dollar (USD) had a tough time attracting buyers and weakened against most of its counterparts, as concerns over the US economy dampened the Greenback at the beginning of the week.President Donald Trump's comments on Friday about his America first policies fuelled worries about ongoing US trade conflicts and the economic outlook, which weighed on the US Dollar.Additionally, the Greenback failed to leverage its safe-haven appeal, continuing to decline even amid the day's cautious trading environment.At the start of the week, the Pound (GBP) struggled to gain momentum and fell against several currencies due to a lack of domestic economic data.The absence of key economic indicators put pressure on GBP exchange rates, leaving them without a clear directional basis.The situation worsened as a risk-averse market sentiment further weakened Sterling, causing additional declines in GBP.As we look ahead to Tuesday, the primary factor influencing the Pound US Dollar exchange rate will likely be the release of the latest US labour data, specifically the US JOLTS job openings report.Economists expect that Januarys index will show an increase from 7.6 million to 7.75 million job openings which could provide a boost to the US dollar should the data print as expected.Turning to the Pound, the UK will release its latest BRC (British Retail Consortium) retail sales monitor for February, which is the only significant economic data release scheduled for Tuesday.If the data reflects the expected decline in retail sales, it could introduce new challenges for the Pound, potentially weakening it against the US dollar and its other counterparts.

International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements.

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Do you remember when Labour MPs used to howl down any attempt at welfare reform as genocide? The slightest tightening of the rules was treated as evidence that the Tories were setting out to murder the poor.

Such were the comforting moral certainties of Opposition. Government turns out not to be so black and white.

The Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall, is reportedly looking to save 6 billion from the welfare budget, largely by tightening the rules on mental health sicknotes.

Labour has had to do a lot of growing up over the past eight months. The party had genuinely convinced itself that governing would be easy. After all, if the Evil Tories had managed to run the country for 14 years, how hard could it be?

Replacing the baddies with the goodies would, in the minds of many Labour MPs, automatically make things better. Instead, the economy is falling apart with alarming speed. Foreign companies are disinvesting and taxpayers are going into exile. Britain's 30-year record of low unemployment is coming to an end.

Our fragile post-lockdown recovery has come juddering to a halt. It has not yet shown up in the figures, but we are almost certainly already in a recession.

Indeed, if we look only at GDP per head, there is no 'almost' about it. We are in a recession now, and things are getting worse.

What has gone wrong? Why, after 200 years of getting steadily richer, have we started to go backwards?

Lord Hannan argues that Labour must trim the sickness benefits bill

The explanation is straightforward. The revenue-consuming bit of our economy is being expanded while the revenue-generating bit is being squeezed.

Of every pound spent in Britain, the state spends 45p. One way of picturing it is that each productive worker must carry a bureaucrat or a benefits claimant on his back. What is driving this massive expansion of spending? In a word, welfare.

Around a third of all state spending goes on social security, and a further fifth on healthcare. Those two items account, between them, for more than half the budget. Shockingly, the third-largest component is debt servicing.

We cannot get the economy growing again without tackling those big-ticket items.

Labour plainly won't reduce the NHS budget  although it might be able to introduce an insurance element into the system, allowing hospitals to do more with less.

That leaves the social security budget. And the two biggest drivers of growth within that are pensions and sickness-related benefits.

Labour might get away with ending the triple lock or, more radically, allowing the state pension age to rise in line with longevity. It could do these things more easily than the Conservatives since, bluntly, it has fewer pensioners' votes to lose. But any savings would be decades in the future.

No, if it wants savings now, Labour must trim the benefits bill. Now, on paper, that should be easy enough.

With the backdrop of international crisis, could Labour pivot towards a more hard-headed economic position?

An extraordinary 9.3 million people of working age are economically inactive. Some have retired early, some are looking after children or elderly relatives. But no fewer than 2.8 million say they are too ill to work  a number that has risen by 800,000 since the pandemic. And the bulk of that increase is accounted for by a rise in depression and anxiety  two conditions whose presence cannot generally be externally verified.

The pandemic may have had an impact on mental health. Telling people it is dangerous to leave their homes might cause anxiety or depression  though any bump ought to have worked its way through the system by now.

It is also possible that the medicalisation of our language has had an effect. When is the last time you heard someone under the age of 30 saying 'I am unhappy' rather than 'I am depressed', or 'I am nervous about this' rather than 'This is giving me anxiety'?

There is currently what we might call a fashion for mental health, in which what used to be known as 'feelings' are treated as psychiatric disorders. When everything is pathologised, some people are bound to believe they are suffering from mental illness.

But one driver of the mental health epidemic is a welfare system that makes incapacity and disability payments more attractive than unemployment benefit.

Spend a few minutes online and you will find dozens of videos that talk you through how to qualify for various mental health-related benefits. You get X points for being unable to sit still, Y for having difficulty dressing yourself and so on.

People respond to incentives, and the proportion of the working-age population claiming to have a disability is now an incredible (in every sense) 23 per cent.

According to the Family Resources Survey, the number of working-age adults with a mental health condition has risen in a decade from 1.8 million to 5.1 million.

Kendall's proposed cuts, far from being over-ambitious, will barely make a dent in the rate of increase, let alone reduce the total bill. Welfare spending stands at 314 billion, and is to reach nearly 380 billion by the end of the decade. Cutting that by 6 billion is a rounding error.

Not that I want to disparage or discourage Kendall. On the contrary, I think she is one of the most impressive ministers in the Government  thoughtful, measured and self-aware.

The significance of what she is proposing is not in the precise amount being saved, but in the fact that she is doing it at all. Labour is ditching the platitudes of Opposition, the pretence that every welfare claimant is deserving, that only sadists want to tighten the rules.

As the Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, told the Today programme last week: 'There is a moral case here for making sure that people who can work are able to work and there's a practical point here as well, because our current situation is unsustainable.' Quite.

If, as I suspect, Kendall's cuts prove popular with the country at large, she might be tempted to go further. Something has gone very badly wrong when employers are crying out for more staff, and yet 9.3 million people of working age are inactive, 5.9 million of them on benefits.

Indeed, welfare reforms could be just the beginning. Having begun by cancelling a scheduled 66,000 reduction in the number of civil servants, Sir Keir Starmer now talks of having fewer and more efficient officials.

Wes Streeting, meanwhile, wants to sack half the administrative staff at the headquarters of NHS England.

Having accused the last government of destroying Britain's reputation by failing to increase the foreign aid budget, Labour is cutting it in order to increase defence spending.

Even the cancellation of the law providing for free speech on campus might now itself be cancelled.

Could Labour be pivoting to a more hard-headed position, one more in line with economic reality? Might ministers use the international crisis as an opportunity to junk the sillier policies they advocated in Opposition?

There is one issue, above all, that will answer that question. If Starmer truly believes that we are in a more dangerous world, and that we need to harbour our resources, he will not hand the strategic British territory of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius at the behest of Chinese and Russian judges, and then give a chunk of the defence budget to Mauritius for taking it.

We'll find out soon enough.

Lord Hannan of Kingsclere is president of the Institute for Free Trade.
There are few more disturbing sights for many Britons than a boat-load of foreign men stepping on to Kents pebble beaches without anyone knowing who these strangers are, where they come from, or why they want to be here.

I have warned for years that the Channel sea border six miles out between Britain and France is now so useless, it is little more than a line on a maritime map.

I have said that any nation without a secure perimeter is just a slab of land which anyone in the world can enter. It is not truly a sovereign country.

Now we are told by The Mail on Sunday that a Palestinian fighter with a dubious past arrived on a Channel boat last Thursday.

Until he was found on Sunday night, there were fears that gun-toting Abu Wadee, a Palestinian migrant who has called for the slaughter of all Jews and is a former Gaza militia member with links to a terror group, had melted away.

It wouldnt have surprised me. I have stood on the beach at Dungeness when overcrowded boats boats have come in, shadowed by Border Force vessels or RNLI lifeboats.

I have watched as the occupants have made victory signs or fallen to their knees to kiss the ground.

In the case of Wadee  described this weekend as a dangerous anti-Semite by Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp  he posted a video after reaching our shores with the words: Thank God, we arrived in Britain.

There were fears that gun-toting Abu Wadee (pictured), a Palestinian migrant who has called for the slaughter of all Jewsand is a former Gaza militia member

The migrant has filmed himself chanting about killing Jews

Wadee's social media is replete with pictures of him posing with a Kalashnikov, an artillery shell and a menacing posse of masked men

He is one of 25,000 migrants the Labour Government has let in by sea since it gained power last July.

More than 1,700 arrived last week alone, enough to fill a very large secondary school.

By now, they will be living in hotels and Home Office flats after a feeble screening process, the details of which I have learnt from numerous migrants I have interviewed.

Fresh off the boats, they go to a temporary holding facility at Dover port where immigration officers give each of them a personal number which is written on a band on their wrist.

There is no attempt, nor enough time, to take down their names or check the arrivals true origins at this stage.

Many have already destroyed their identity documents in France or thrown them overboard in the Channel so they can concoct any backstory they want.

They are patted down for weapons or knives (and plenty of the latter have been found, although some are discarded in the boats).

Then, off they go by bus  sometimes within hours  to the huge Manston processing centre 20 miles along the Kent coast where, for the first time, they are asked to state their name and nationality and are fingerprinted.

This process can be fraught with confusion. For a start, although there are translators (some on video link) they can be overwhelmed by the numbers and the variety of languages and dialects.

As for fingerprinting, this is worthwhile only if the prints of the migrant have been taken when entering Europe or travelling through it towards Calais or Dunkirk so that the results can be cross-referenced.

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Migrants wave to a smuggler's boat in an attempt to cross the English Channel, on the beach of Gravelines, near Dunkirk, northern France on April 26, 2024

Migrants in an overcrowded dinghy off the coast of Gravelines in France on January 17

The wiliest travel clandestinely avoid giving their prints. Many deliberately scar their fingertips using cigarette lighters or by cutting them with knives so prints are useless.

Despite this gaping security flaw, most dont stay at Manston for long before being put on another bus and sent to one of the migrants hotels or Home Office shared flats where they are free to walk out at any time.

If they are lying about their true identity or nationality, it is often only by chance that the deception is discovered.

Last year, for instance, I spoke to an Iranian migrant in his early 40s who was put in an east London hotel after coming in on a boat.

As he entered the lobby late at night, he was told by Home Office officials that he would be sharing a room with a fellow countryman.

The Iranian called Ali told me: I walked in and found that the man was from Iraq, spoke only Arabic not Persian, and was pretending to be from my capital Tehran which he thought would improve his asylum chances'.

In another case, I exposed a 23-year-old Afghan child murderer who arrived here by boat from Calais in 2021 after fleeing Austria.

Police there had launched a manhunt for him after a local girl of 13 was found dead, wrapped in an Arabic blanket.

She had been enticed to his flat before being drugged and raped, then stabbed to death.

The killer, Rasuili Zubaidullah, hoodwinked border staff in Kent with a false name on his arrival, went through the checking process at Manston, and was sent to the Ibis Hotel in Whitechapel, east London, as an asylum seeker.

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A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, from a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel in December 2024

It was only after the Austrians tipped off our immigration police that he was caught, then deported and convicted of murder.

But how did this evil child killer get through, initially? Why did he set his sights on this country after fleeing Austria?

And how many other girls might he have attacked if he had stayed in a hotel for longer at our expense and with idle hands?

The Labour Government has promised to smash the gangs that send over boats. Yet the pledge could not sound hollower.

Nearly every EU member country  from once-liberal Sweden to a tougher-minded Italy  has tightened national borders as politicians face a peoples revolt over uncontrolled immigration and its links to terror attacks and crime.

It should be easier for us to stop the flow since we have a 21-mile strip of sea between France and the south coast. Yet as the arrival of Jew-hating Wadee shows, we appear to have given up.
After the universal derision heaped on her make-or-break Netflix series With Love, Meghan, my fear now is that Duchess of Sussex will go Spare and write her own devastating book.

Im admittedly no fan of the woman who is demanding to be called Meghan Sussex, but even I could not have predicted the tidal wave of mockery that swept the world following the release of her new show.

Shed put all her eggs in this basket; it was her last chance to redeem herself with Netflix after producing two flops for the streaming giant and with her and Harrys $100million contract due to expire this year.

But Megs ended up with egg all over her face with a show that frankly became an international laughing stock overnight.

True, it still impressively hit number 7 in the Netflix charts this week. But Id imagine for all the wrong reasons - people like to watch it because its so bad. And as for the second series that Meghan fans are hailing as proof of its success, that was filmed back-to-back with the first as a job lot.

Media insiders suggest Netflix isn't too worried if the show is a monumental dud, or if Meghan is ridiculed from the US to the UK - because it all means With Love, Meghan is getting huge publicity and thats what matters.

Even the Hollywood bible Variety magazine, which had long been a staunch supporter of Meghan, savaged the show, saying: With Love, Meghan is made with a great deal of love  in the sense that the greatest love of all is the love that a person has for oneself.

Adding that it was a Montecito ego trip not worth taking. Crikey, that must have hurt.

Hollywood bible Variety magazine, which had long been a staunch supporter of Meghan, savaged the show, cruelly denounced it saying: With Love, Meghan is made with a great deal of love  in the sense that the greatest love of all is the love that a person has for oneself

The Royals are desperate for Meghanss show to succeed, as Daily Mail royal expert Richard Eden has said, it would mean she and Harry would not need to exploit their royal connections again

Tellingly there havent been any gushing tweets of sisterly solidarity from her so-called besties such as Serena Williams, Oprah Winfrey or Amal Clooney who were, of course, all cherished guests at her wedding.

As for Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace, theres not been a word of encouragement from those quarters either. No kind words from William and Kate, just a stony silence.

The irony is that the Royals are desperate for Megs show to succeed. As my colleague, the royal expert Richard Eden has said, it would mean she and Harry would not need to exploit their royal connections again.

As it is, Mrs Sussex could be left high and dry in 2025 if Netflix pulls the plug. Where then would she go to harvest more millions?

To be fair, Meghan has presented many incarnations of herself, to try to get where she wants to be - ie. mega-rich and famous.

Weve seen the sexy Suits actress. Then she was the glorious new girlfriend of Prince Harry who breathed fresh air into the stuffy old royals with their 32million wedding.

Next, we saw the victim, so abandoned by the Royal Family that she told us she had to make a resolution not just to survive but strive and was forced to flee Britain and all its horribleness for a millionaires lifestyle in the US.

After that there was Meghan in her pomp with her hateful Oprah interview, and the couples one Netflix hit - the 2022 documentary series Harry & Meghan in which they denounced the royals again and again.

Tellingly there havent been any gushing tweets of sisterly solidarity from her so-called besties such as Serena Williams (pictured), a cherished guest at her wedding

Interspersed through all this was Meghan the feminist, Meghan the A-lister on the red carpet, Meghan the fighter for mental health issues, and Meghan the World Vision Global Ambassador in India campaigning for cleaner toilets for girls, and fighting for gender-equality in Africa - as well as the fearless fighter for clean water in Rwanda.

Now we have moved on to Meghan the home goddess, clean water available from every sparkling faucet in her borrowed home as she filmed With Love, Meghan. With no mention of the millions of women and girls in poverty-stricken countries she once championed, her advice to women today is to sprinkle cookies with flowers and put them in an ice-cube - thats how to feel empowered girls!

Perhaps With Love, Meghan was an attempt to rekindle the days when she launched her successful lifestyle website The Tig (which she closed when she got engaged to Harry).

Perhaps With Love, Meghan is a cashmere comfort blanket, a desperate attempt to resurrect her career by returning to her warm and cosy roots.

Whatever the case, the Palace dearly hopes it will prove to be a ratings hit.

Because as one courtier speculated, if this venture fails, what other depths can she possibly plumb for profit, especially as its believed she kept a diary since joining the royals.

The last thing anyone wants is another Spare, this time from Meghan, said the courtier with deep apprehension.

Sadly, the failure of With Love, Meghan presents the monarchy with the terrifying thought of exactly that TIGging Time Bomb. A vengeful book from the desperate Duchess of Drivel would be the worst form of royal revenge.
When we look back at the 2020s one figure will stand out for the multiple ways in which he changed our lives, mostly for the better: Elon Musk.

Given the scale of his talents, its little wonder that Musk has made enemies as he mounts his offensive on the behemoth that is federal spending.

Even so, the sheer bile of the liberal mob that has set out to destroy him is astonishing.

The dumping of shares in his auto giant Tesla is one thing. But the attacks on the companys showrooms, the Molotov cocktails thrown at its cars and the setting alight of its charging stations, all speak of a liberal elite which has lost all sense of reason and proportion.

In his sheer energy and breadth of interest, Elon Musk outshines even tech geniuses such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Twitter founder Jack Dorsey.

Through PayPal, Musk democratised commerce, allowing the small guy to do business on the internet alongside large corporations.

Where the climate lobby thought  mistakenly  that it could force electric cars on drivers through the blunt instrument of bans, quotas and targets, Musk succeeded in making the vehicles attractive to buyers  creating the worlds most valuable car company in the process.

Somehow, he has found time, too, to prove that space travel and the business of launching satellites need not be a monopoly of the state.

Musk wielding a chainsaw against 'bureaucracy' alongside Argentine President Javier Milei

SpaceX has shown that the private sector can launch rockets more cheaply than Nasa and achieve something that Americas space agency never managed: to build a genuinely reusable rocket that  unlike the Space Shuttle  doesnt have to jettison its largest components before it reaches orbit.

Musk has done more than anyone else, too, to reverse the erosion of free speech that was gradually closing minds both in America and abroad.

It took nerve for him to fire the army of Left-wing fact-checkers that had been policing Twitter before his purchase of the platform. And now he has turned his attention to public administration through his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Needless to say, it is the last two projects which have stirred liberal hatred against Musk to a deranged new level. Before he bought Twitter (now renamed X), everything seemed to be going the Lefties way. They could count on social media sites to censor what they didnt want people to read about climate change, Black Lives Matter and a host of other subjects.

An ever-growing battalion of like-minded, woke federal government officials was steadily turning America in their favoured direction  not to mention providing lucrative public-funded careers for Left-wing activists.

No one likes it when someone takes away the punch bowl just as their party is getting going, but Musk is even more certain to arouse their fury by trimming the liberals political influence, too. It doesnt enter into Left-wing heads, of course, that Americas ballooning debt cant keep on growing for ever.

Sooner or later, bond investors are going to lose faith with the governments ability to repay its debts, demand far higher rates of interest and cause a fiscal meltdown  as happened in many European countries a decade ago. Far better that spending is brought under control before we reach that point.

And it cant be done by nibbling away at the edges. Musks planned abolition of whole government departments is the only way to tackle the public-sector empire-builders who will always push up spending given half a chance.

A protestor holds a banner outside a Tesla showroom during a demonstration in Lisbon

Two burned Tesla Cybertrucks sit in a storage lot in Seattle. Left-wing protestors have been vandalising Telsa vehicles and even destroying them

The same principle is at work in Argentina where President Javier Milei has taken his metaphorical chainsaw to government  to great effect.

The attacks on Tesla are absurd in their self-contradiction. We are witnessing climate fanatics who think only electric cars can save us from Armageddon suddenly attacking the company which brought the technology mainstream success in the first place.

German drivers have abandoned their Teslas  sales there fell by 60 per cent in January and by a further 76 per cent in February  in protest over Musks support of the anti-immigration political party Alternative for Deutchsland (AfD), which came second in recent elections.

Germanys liberals have accused Musk of pushing far-Right politics, and of performing what they wrongly interpreted as a Nazi salute at a rally to support Donald Trumps election.

No doubt the irony is lost on Germans that they are trying to sell cars to America that are manufactured by Volkswagen  a company that really was founded by a Nazi.

Not only did Adolf Hitler come up with the idea of a peoples car, he helped design it, too, giving Ferdinand Porsche instructions on the layout.

The companys first car, the KdF-Wagen, carried the name of a Nazi slogan, Strength Through Joy.

No one is forced to agree with Elon Musks political views if they dont want to. But having lost the argument, liberals are trying to destroy the man.

This is not only disgraceful but testament to the Lefts growing problem with intolerance.
The phone call came early in the morning of January 9, 2019.

A voice at the end of the line got straight to the point: Honey Beuf's 19-year-old daughter Liv, a student in her first year at college in Colorado, was in hospital. She had tried to take her own life.

'I immediately grabbed my car keys and drove up to the ER,' remembers Honey, a mother-of-three, who was living in Boulder at the time.

It took 45 minutes to get there and every minute she prayed the outcome would be different from the deepest fears gripping her.

Sadly it was not to be. Liv died just a few days later.

'For over two years after she died, I would wake up every morning and think, "Oh it's a new day",' says Honey. 'Then a second later, I'd realize my child was gone and I'd feel instantly devastated. It made me feel physically ill and shattered.'

'I miss her so much and the quiet in the house is still unsettling.'

An 'empathetic and warm' young woman, Liv was clearly close to her mother. So close that she had a honeybee tattoo on her wrist in her honor and was always telling her how much she loved her.

Honey received a call early one January morning to say that her daughter Liv, 19, had been admitted to hospital after trying to take her own life. (Pictured: Honey with daughter Liv)

The night of her suicide bid, she wrote as much by text while her mother was sleeping.

'If only I had been awake and seen the messages,' the 65-year-old retiree says now.

Though a heartbreaking process, Honey is determined to share her daughter's story in the hope it will help other young people and parents in the midst of what is fast becoming a nationwide youth mental health crisis.

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in adolescents and young adults in the United States, with suicide deaths among 10 to 24-year-olds increasing by 62 percent from 2007 to 2021.

Alongside Liv's older sister Tess, 34, and a team of mental health professionals, Honey has set up The Liv Project, a non-profit organization in honor of the late teen.

She says she's thought of Liv's compassion towards other people every day since her daughter died. 'She had so much ahead of her,' she says.

On Liv's last visit home from the University of Northern Colorado, she had been excited to tell her mother that she wanted to change her major. She'd been studying early childhood education but hoped to become a therapist.

'She said: "It's because I want to help kids who have gone through what I've gone through",' Honey recalls.

While Liv never got to achieve those ambitions herself, Honey is determined to keep her daughter's dream alive.

'What haunts me most is the thought of how much pain she must have been experiencing to do what she did that night,' she adds.

Liv's college friends said she had come back from a party, where she'd been drinking. It appears she took the steps to end her life on the spur of the moment.

While shocking, it wasn't the first time Liv had tried to commit suicide. She'd spent a lifetime struggling with mental health issues.

Honey, pictured with baby Liv on the day of her baptism in 1999, remembers watching her daughter move around in the hospital crib as if she felt uncomfortable in her skin.

As a little girl, Liv (above at the age of six) was troubled by everyday things such as the sound of people smacking their lips. She'd say: 'Mom, I feel physical pain when I hear noises like that.'

Honey admits Liv had always been a different child from Tess and her older brother, now 34. The night Liv was born, Honey remembers watching her move around in the hospital crib as if the infant felt uncomfortable in her skin.

As a baby and toddler, she had a hard time sleeping and startled easily. Her wariness of strangers went beyond the common reticence of young children. Her mother would place her in the cart in the grocery store and other shoppers would come up to say how adorable she looked with her shock of red hair.

'She would flinch because she didn't want any kind of interaction,' Honey says. 'I would have to scoop her up and hug her to try and make her calm.'

The little girl was troubled by everyday things such as the sound of people smacking their lips or eating. 'I'd say, "I know it bothers." And she'd say: "Mom, it's not that it bothers me. It hurts. I feel physical pain when I hear noises like that".'

Aged four, around the time her parents divorced, Liv was diagnosed with a non-verbal language disability and sensory processing disorder. She was helped by a team of specialists including occupational therapists and mental health professionals. And she made great strides  particularly in speech  picking up coping skills when she felt uncomfortable.

At 14, she started taking medication for anxiety and depression and had regular psychotherapy sessions up until she died.

Honey, the former co-owner of a staffing company, worked flexible hours and was glad she could step in when Liv was struggling in school.

'In high school, she would call and say she was having a panic attack,' she says. 'I would calmly say: "I want you to take a break, go to your safe spot or safe person, and then go back to your classroom." If it was bad, I would go pick her up.'

But, Honey says, the depressive episodes were sporadic. She had a piano in her room and her friends would come round for sing-alongs.

In fact, there were many highs. Liv was never happier than when she was performing music, whether it was the piano or ukulele  which she taught herself to play by watching tutorials on YouTube.

Liv was never happier than when she was performing music, whether it was the piano or ukulele  which she taught herself to play by watching tutorials on YouTube

Six years after the tragedy, Honey still asks herself whether there was anything more she could have done for Liv (pictured above aged 8)

Her friendships revolved around choirs and musical theater. Honey says her fellow performers were 'her people'. She wasn't anxious when she was singing or acting. 'All of that disappeared when she was on stage.'

She would joke about being uncoordinated but auditioned for cheerleading as a lark - and couldn't believe it when she made the team. Outwardly she appeared to be a charismatic, friendly girl who put others first, but, behind the scenes, Liv struggled with dark, intrusive thoughts.

She had body dysmorphia and thought nobody could love her because she believed she was overweight. She'd binge and purge food.

Social media made things worse. Like many teens in middle and high school, she compared herself to impossible images of perfection. She started cutting herself to procure an emotional release. Mercifully, she stopped after therapy.

Then, horrifyingly, at the age of 15, she was sexually assaulted at a party hosted by older kids. The assault led to her first suicide attempt. She was found by her father, at whose Colorado home she was staying at the time, and was airlifted to the hospital where, thankfully, staff saved her life.

Liv spent a month recovering in a mental health facility before returning to high school. She was mortified and scared at the thought that people knew what had happened but, 'she didn't want to fall behind her peers,' Honey recalls.

Despite her mother's suggestions that she take a gap year to ease the pressure of starting somewhere new, she began her first year in college in Greeley, Colorado, in the fall of 2018.

She would occasionally return at weekends but loved her social life as a student. She drank alcohol and smoked weed. 'It wasn't a good combination, especially with her medication,' says Honey, who stressed the dangers to her daughter.

Ironically, the weekend before she died, Liv told her mom that she didn't think cannabis was 'working' for her. 'I'm going to stop smoking,' she said.

Six years after the tragedy, Honey still asks herself whether there was anything more she could have done for Liv.

'There are things I wish I had known while raising a child,' she says.

She calls out social media apps such as TikTok and Instagram for damaging a young person's self-esteem and believes parents should delay getting kids a smartphone for as long as possible.

'Consider a flip phone until they reach 18 so they can't be exposed to social media for hours on end,' she says.

And she's keen to stress that parents should be listeners first, rather than fixers. Honey says that when Liv was struggling, as her mother she would immediately go into problem-solving mode. She'd try and arrange more therapy sessions or have her psychiatrist change her medications.

'But more than seeing their parents try to solve things, kids need to know they're validating their feelings,' Honey says, adding, 'They want a safe space where people aren't saying, "What are you talking about? Life's great!"'

Honey admits: 'Liv didn't openly confide in me about her suicidal thoughts, because she knew how scared I would be.'

As for red flags, they include emotional volatility, changes in behavior and lack of interest in what once gave them joy. Some kids start to give away their belongings or 'joke' about killing themselves.

'Don't be afraid to ask if they're having thoughts about ending their life,' Honey says, noting that some parents fear if they do they'll put the idea in their head.

She says that medical professionals say the data doesn't support that and these conversations can be a relief to any child who has suicidal ideations.

'Liv didn't openly confide in me about her suicidal thoughts, because she knew how scared I would be,' she says. 'My experience has taught me that parents need to make themselves available to their children, so we tell them, "There's nothing too frightening to me for you to share with me".'

She established the non-profit organization The Liv Project shortly before releasing a film about her daughter's life and the lessons the family has learned. The initiative  which hosts presentations in schools, churches and businesses  brings together young people and parents to discuss suicide prevention.

'I tell my daughter's story in the hope other lives won't be lost and other families left in despair,' says Honey, who admits she finds it particularly hard to see Liv's peers reach milestones in their own lives such as career success or an engagement.

'Liv will be 19 forever,' she adds.

If you are having thoughts of suicide, for confidential support call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255

Do you have a powerful story to share with the Daily Mail? Please email Jane Ridley, Real Life Correspondent at jane.ridley@mailonline.com
If most people hadn't heard of weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro two years ago, they certainly have now.

A host of famous faces, including Sharon Osbourne, Robbie Williams and Oprah Winfrey, have dropped serious pounds using such drugs - and they've now become increasingly mainstream for those keen to keep a healthier weight long-term.

The side-effects - which can prove debilitating for some - of such drugs have also become well known, with many reporting nausea, diarrhea and excessive gas.

However, say experts, there's one longer term consequence of dramatic weight loss that isn't being talked about enough - and one that people often don't consider until it's too late.

On average, those taking, for example, Ozempic might expect to shed around 15 per cent of their body weight - but such is the potency of the drug, often that figure is much higher, with some losing more than 50 per cent of their body weight.

When such significant weight loss happens, patients are likely to be left with loose skin anywhere where there was once fat.

One such patient who has first-hand experience of how taking weight loss drugs can help you achieve measurements on the scales you might have once only dreamed of but leave you with unsightly loose skin is Alexandra Collett.

The 31-year-old, who lives in Wandsworth, began taking Ozempic in May 2023 and weighed in at 17 stone, 6 lbs (112kg) before she started.

Alexandra Collett, 31, decided to start taking Ozempic in May 2023 after being told she was too heavy to qualify for surgery to ease her stage four endometriosis symptoms

After being diagnosed in her late teens with Addison's disease, a rare disorder of the renal glands, Alexandra was given steroids, which caused her to put on weight, which sparked a spiral of weight gain in her 20s

The drugs, which saw her struggle with side effects including nausea and hair thinning, went from 112kg to her current weight of around 50kg. And while the weight loss has been a positive thing for Alexandra, she's been left with a side effect that she hadn't countered on

Alexandra, who lives in Wandsworth, says that she realised that parts of her body 'didn't look like a 31-year-old should look' after she was left with loose skin on her tummy and sagging breasts

After being diagnosed with stage four endometriosis, where the uterine lining grows outside the uterus causing extremely painful periods and heavy bleeding amongst other symptoms, Alexandra was told she needed to lose weight before she could have surgery to ease the disease, which spurred her on to try weight-loss drugs.

Describing her weight gain as she went from her teens into adulthood, she told MailOnline: 'My relationship with my weight as a child was completely normal but at 17 I was diagnosed with Addison's disease, which changed everything.'

A rare disorder of the adrenal glands, the condition is often treated with steroids, which Alexandra says caused puffiness and sparked the weight gain that would negatively affect her mental health throughout her 20s.

The need for surgery to help her endometriosis made her determined to lose weight but she didn't qualify on the NHS so, with help from her parents, Alexandra funded the drugs privately, using Ozempic first, and then later switching to Wegovy.

Since taking the weight-loss drugs, which she stopped last November, the 31-year-old has more than halved her body weight, and currently weighs 7 stone 8lbs (50kg) she underwent the uterine surgery and her endometriosis symptoms have improved greatly.

The impact on her mental health has been significant, she says. 'I was really happy to get back to seeing myself the way I did when I was growing up because you feel alien to yourself. I got depression, I wasn't socialising - I stayed in the house, I just didn't want anyone to see me.'

Being left with loose skin those means Alexandra is now on a new journey - one that she didn't consider when she took her first dose of Ozempic.

'About six months in, I began to notice the loose skin. I think I thought it wouldn't happen to me. When it did though, I thought "I'm 31, this is not what a 31-year-old should look like.'

The 31-year-old says her parents, including her mum, pictured left with Alexandra, have been hugely helpful in financially supporting her with surgery costs, after she made the decision to undergo a breast lift. She's now currently awaiting a breast augmentation and a tummy tuck

Reality: Alexandra says she didn't think about the potential for loose skin when starting her weight loss journey

The 31-year-old says she's much happier in herself but that the loose skin issue hasn't been easy to deal with

Alexandra pictured with Consultant Plastic Surgeon Dan Marsh from The Plastic Surgery Group. She estimates she's spent around 14,000 so far on surgery with more bills to come when she goes under the knife in April

Before and after her recent surgery: Alexandra says she'll undergo a breast augmentation after having a breast lift

Alexandra says there's a big physical discomfort too, adding that she gets 'little rashes' where the loose skin is and has to have impeccable hygiene to ward off potential infections.

Creams, she says, claim to help loose skin but says she realised quickly that surgery is the only option that offers a genuine solution.

She's already had a breast reduction to try and combat the effects of such a big weight loss, and will go under the knife again - with Consultant Plastic Surgeon Dan Marsh at The Plastic Surgery Group - in early April for a tummy tuck and breast augmentation.

The initial surgery cost around 14,000 with another big bill still to come when she heads back into theatre.

She adds: 'I didn't understand fully that this would be the end point. Obviously, I wasn't eligible for surgery on the NHS. Luckily, I'm in a position where I'm able to have help from my parents'.

A leading plastic surgeon told MailOnline that stories like Alexandra's are just the tip of the iceberg.

Dr Ahid Abood, who runs clinics in both Cambridge and Harley Street (dr-abood.co.uk), says many plastic surgeons are reporting an increased amount of requests to remove lose skin from patients who've lost weight via drugs such as Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro.

He adds it's unclear yet whether the quick rate of weight loss sparked by such drugs is leaving patients with more loose skin than they would encounter if they used more conventional methods to shed the pounds.

Back to theatre: Alexandra's next op is planned for early April

He tells MailOnline: 'We're seeing a definite upsurge in patients. Because the drugs are so effective and people are losing weight so quickly, we think it's not allowing their skin tissues to recoil, although it's difficult to say definitively.

'Whether it's having some direct effect on the elasticity of the tissues, we don't know - the long term studies haven't been done yet because the drugs are still so new.'

Does age affect how much loose skin a patient will be left with? Dr Abood says while younger skin has much more elasticity, if you're losing a large amount of weight loose skin is likely to be an issue whatever age you are.

He explains: 'For example, people who have babies, the tummy will gradually get bigger and bigger - once it gets beyond a certain size, once you've the baby and your tummy shrinks down, the elasticity has gone, irrespective of your age.'

Dr Abood says that while most people might anticipate people have surgery because of the aesthetics of loose skin, the physical discomfort is often just as much behind the decision to have it removed.

'Loose skin has a massive impact on people's quality of life. They'll modify their clothes and almost tuck themselves in and find ways to literally stop skin flapping around.'

He adds: 'It limits the activity you can do, it rubs, it gets sweaty, people can get infections in the skin.

'Psychologically it's a big hit, people lose weight and feel great about that but they then have this issue of the excess skin.

Plastic surgeon Dr Ahid Abood, who runs clinics in both Cambridge and Harley Street, told MailOnline the number of people seeking surgery to remove loose skin is likely to rapidly increase as use of weight-loss drugs become more mainstream

'To say it's a cosmetic surgery procedure isn't really accurate. It's definitely a functional procedure - the outcome isn't necessarily cosmetic.'

Patients are, he says, affected 'anywhere where a person has had significant fat that has then disappeared - neck, arms, tummy - it could be anywhere but the tummy is the classic area.'

Patients at Dr Abood's clinics must have a stable weight for six months to a year before surgery - if they have an operation and keep losing weight, they'll likely face a similar issue months down the line.

'Surgery', he says 'usually leaves a lengthy scar but one that's often well hidden and will fade over time.'

As Alexandra's story proves, it's not a cheap option and many patients don't anticipate such future costs when they start weight-loss drugs.

However, in terms of saving money for the NHS, it's a no brainer, says Dr Abood - and predicts the need for such operations is likely to rapidly rise.

He says: 'It's just kind of starting. If you look at it from a health economics perspective.

'Millions of pounds are spent on Type 2 Diabetes - that patient cohort is a very expensive group of people because they have all sorts of health problems.

'If you can treat that significant number within the population then, the plastic surgery requests we're seeing now are likely just the beginnings. I can't imagine these weight loss drugs are going away.'

The Plastic Surgeons currently treating Alexandra, Mo Akhavani and Dan Marsh, of The Plastic Surgery Group, agree that there's been a boom in tummy tucks.

Mr Marsh said: 'Alexandra is a perfect example of how effective a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty can be to remove unwanted excess skin which can be left behind after weight loss.

'The modern advanced abdominoplasty techniques we employ at The Plastic Surgery Group usually combine both liposuction and skin excision to give a sculpted and youthful look to the abdomen - combined with a natural looking belly button.

'We are seeing a steep increase in people seeking abdominoplasty after losing weight with weight-loss medication and it is something which we forecast will continue to be popular in 2025 and beyond.'
A woman who has visited over 60 countries has shared her best travel hacks, including how to beat jetlag.

Geraldine Joaquim, 54, told DailyMail.com that 'travel is something that has always been a part of her life.'

She grew up in Malaysia but also had a home in the UK and would split her time between the two, which means she got accustomed to long flights early on.

Eventually, her family moved permanently to England and she began jetting off to various European countries with her friends during her teen years.

At age 24, she took up scuba diving, and spent the next 15 years diving around the globe with her husband.

Now, she has been to a whopping 67 different countries, and along the way, she's developed a slew of tips and tricks to make traveling more smooth - and thankfully, she shared them exclusively with DailyMail.com.

First, she recommended 'setting your watch to the time zone you're heading to' as soon as you get on the plane in a bid to master jetlag.

'This will adjust your mental schedule to the new time zone,' she explained.

A woman who has visited over 60 countries has shared her best travel hacks... including how to beat jetlag. She's seen in Brazil

Geraldine Joaquim (seen left in India and right in Brazil), 54, has been traveling the globe for decades, and she has developed a slew of tips and tricks to make flying more smooth

First, she recommended 'setting your watch to the time zone you're heading to' as soon as you get on the plane in a bid to master jetlag. She's seen in Tuli, India

She added that you should always 'try to sleep' on long-haul flights, even if it's tempting to stay up and watch movies, and said it's best to schedule flights that land in the 'late afternoon or evening, that way you can get to your accommodation, unpack and go to sleep rather than trying to stay awake all day.'

'Try to travel west, it's easier on the body clock to gain time than it is to lose time,' she also suggested.

'So if you're going to Australia from the UK for example, travel via the USA there and via Asia on the way back.'

The travel expert said you should 'avoid alcohol' before getting on a plane and reminded travelers to 'drink plenty of water' while in air so they make sure they don't become 'dehydrated.'

As for what to bring in your carry-on, she suggested you pack something 'comfy' to change into once you board.

'Changing back into your "normal" clothes when you arrive at your destination will help you feel fresher,' she added.

Flip-flops are also a must in her carry-on so she can easily take them off at her seat but slip them on when she has to get up and use the bathroom.

Another travel tip that Geraldine had was that women should 'line their panties with a thin pad,' that way they can take it off at the the journey and 'feel like they've got a clean pair of underwear on.'

She added that you should always 'try to sleep' on long-haul flights, even if it's tempting to stay up and watch movies. She's seen in Norway

The travel expert said you should 'avoid alcohol' before getting on a plane and reminded travelers to 'drink plenty of water' while in air. She's seen in South Africa

As for what to bring in your carry-on, she suggested you pack something 'comfy' to change into once you board. She's pictured in Thailand

She also suggested: 'Pack your bags and then take one third of your clothes out. You won't use them especially if you're spending a lot of time in the sea or on the beach.

'And use bright colored hold bags, you'll see them easily when you appear on the carousel.

'This comes from personal experience - having had some bags go missing and having a look at Johannesburg's lost luggage storage, there are hundreds of black or navy bags, you'll never find yours if it's the same color.'

Geraldine, who works as a hypnotherapist, recommended that travelers finish all their packing two full days before they're set to depart, that way they have 'extra time for any last minute issues' that may arise.

'You'll feel relaxed and ready to start your travels in a great frame of mind,' she added.

In addition, the avid adventurer suggested that you allow 'plenty of time' for lay-overs and bring a 'copy of your passport and any visas' with you in case they get lost.

She also advised against trying to cut costs when you're traveling, as she said, 'Rather than seeking the cheapest deal, think about what you want to get out of your travels.

'Think about it being a 'once in a lifetime' trip so you get the most out of it.'

She also suggested: 'Pack your bags and then take one third of your clothes out. You won't use them.' She's seen left in Malaysia and right in Japan

Geraldine, seen here in Iceland, recommended that travelers finish all their packing two full days before they're set to depart, that way they have 'extra time for any last minute issues'

Geraldine also shared advice specifically for solo female travelers. She said upon arriving at your destination, you should always 'walk with a purpose' through the airport because people tend to pray on travelers 'in the arrivals hall.'

'The arrivals hall is where taxi and accommodation touts are looking for punters and they pounce on people looking lost,' she dished.

'Even if you have to walk the length of the airport and back again, do it with purpose whilst scanning the airport signs for legitimate taxi rank/accommodation, etc.

'Then, when you get in a taxi, call a friend/family member and let them know you've arrived and you're in the taxi on the way to the hotel (or pretend to)!

'Say you'll call them again for a longer chat once you've settled into your room, if possible let them know the registration number or taxi number, and speak loud enough so the driver hears, it all shows that you will be missed if you don't show up at the hotel.

'Plan before you travel and let family/friends know hotel addresses and telephone numbers rather than just relying on your mobile.

'Check in with family members regularly, in this day and age it takes no time to send a quick text to let people at home know you're safe.

'Request a room fairly close to the elevator or stairs, some hotels have extensive corridors which could compromise your safety.

Geraldine (seen in Zimbabwe) advised against trying to cut costs, as she said, 'Rather than seeking the cheapest deal, think about what you want to get out of your travels'

In the end, she said her most important tip, whether you're traveling solo, with friends or family, or in a big group, is to 'relax.' She's seen in Russia

She concluded: 'Try to remember that traveling should be exciting, an adventure out of your normal routine, and the opportunity to see new things.' She's seen in China

'Leave your expensive jewelry, watches, etc at home, don't make yourself a target. And split your money and bank cards so if you do lose any you have backup.'

In the end, she said her most important tip, whether you're traveling solo, with friends or family, or in a big group, is to 'relax.'

'Being stressed never helps, it only ramps up anxiety and that means less capacity to make good rational decisions,' she concluded.

'It narrows your field of view which results in mistakes reading signs and instructions, and it's not a whole lot of fun for yourself or the people around you!

'Try to remember that traveling really is a privilege and should be exciting, an adventure out of your normal routine, the opportunity to see new things, taste different foods, experience other places, and meet new people.

'It's important too to remember that nothing is ever perfect, there is no perfect holiday or perfect experience.

'Striving for perfection only leads to disappointment and a missed opportunity to enjoy what you are doing  sometimes the greatest experiences happen when things don't go quite according to plan.'
A man has claimed that he is unable to work after a botched hair transplant left him scarred.

Mark Sweeney, 57, was assured he would receive professional treatment at the Merchant City Medical centre in Glasgow's city centre.

He opted for the clinic after hearing frightening reports about people having surgery done abroad.

But his hopes for a thick head of hair turned into a nightmare when the 3,500 procedure left him with a large scarred area of skin across the top of his forehead.

He claimed it has left him unable to work as a waiter as he can't face the public - and has to sweep his hair forward to cover up the impacted skin.

'They've ruined my life, absolutely ruined and destroyed my life and I can't do anything about it,' Mark said.

He gave up his job as a waiter at Glasgow's Buttery restaurant because he couldn't face being seen in public.

Since the transplant he suffers from anxiety and depression due to poor self image and has been placed on medication by his GP.

Mark Sweeney, 57, is unable to work after a botched hair transplant left him with a scar across his forehead

Mark has been left with scarring on his forehead and a bald chunk on the side of his head where grafts had been taken.

He said: 'I'm bald where they took the hair and I'm scarred at the front. I've got a hairline that's low on one side.

'What I do now is I grow my hair long at the front and I shave the hairline to try to disguise it and cover it up.'

Merchant City Medical's website states that the firm offers, 'Hair Transplant surgery alongside other hair treatments, such as scalp pigmentation and PRP.

'We also offer non-surgical treatments such as fillers and anti-wrinkle injections. Surgery such as liposuction, breast augmentation and other surgical treatments are available too.'

Mark warned other people going for hair transplants to be aware of the risk - even if they get the job done in the UK.

The 57-year-old opted to undergo the surgery in Glasgow because he had heard horror stories about going abroad

The former waiter is hoping to travel to America to undergo a second procedure to help reduce the scar

'It's like a horror story,' he warned. 'When I started to investigate how to repair it other surgeons told me the grafts have been put in too deeply.

'I also have a ridge of lumps and bumps. There is too much graft in one area and I have a bald patch at the back where they took the hair. They call that over-harvesting.

'I just wear a hat all the time now. I can't speak to people or look them in the eye because I feel as though they are looking at my head.

'I have grown my hair to cover the hairline but it is very difficult because it is lower on one side than in the middle. Nobody has a hairline like that. What middle-aged man wants a low fringe?'

He added that the surgeon and technicians who performed the transplant could not 'speak very good English'.

'They had problems communicating with each other.

'The young boys doing most of the work explained they would have to speak in their own language because they didn't speak good English and that they had only been in the country a couple of weeks.'

MailOnline has gone to Merchant City Medical centre for comment.

Mark is now saving money to have his hairline fixed at a US-based clinic.

He said: 'I've been sending pictures to America to the only person in the world who can repair it.

'People tend not want to comment on other people's work but they politely say it's a bloody mess and it's the worst they've ever seen.'

Merchant City Medical's CEO Paul Mulholland confirmed that Mark had been a patient at their facility.

He added: 'Mark turned up at our office yesterday and was told to leave.'
She claims to be more fearful of the United States than Dubai

Elsa Thora is touring the world to sleep with men in every country

A Swedish OnlyFans model is attempting to break a world sex record by sleeping with men in every single country in the world.

Elsa Thora, 22, tells DailyMail.com that she's heading to some of the most dangerous countries across the globe so that she can enter the record books.

'I'm always coming up with crazy and impulsive ideas and this was another one of those,' she said.

'I don't have some insane talent like some world record holders do, so I just combined the two things I spend the most time doing - men and traveling!'

Elsa is currently in Thailand but is trying to hit every country, from North Korea to Dubai.

'Honestly, I was super nervous about UAE at first because I'd heard so many stories about how strict it was there,' she explained.

'People being arrested for swearing, getting drunk, getting in trouble for not wearing modest clothes and things like that,' she continued.

'I was thinking that I really need to be on my best behaviour, but once I was in Dubai I realised it wasn't as bad as everyone made it out to be and turned out to be one of my favourite places to visit.'

Swedish OnlyFans model Ella Thora is attempting to break a world sex record by sleeping with men in every single country in the world

She added, 'Now that one is ticked off I think India is the one I'm most nervous about - something about the chaos and unpredictability of that place scares me!'

Surprisingly, the Swedish stunner is actually the most afraid of the United States.

'I've heard so many horror stories of other creators being detained for hours and hours just because they have an OnlyFans account, which last time I checked wasn't against the law!' she said.

'It's putting me off visiting because I just don't have the energy to be interrogated like that, but it makes me sad because America is one of the countries I'm most excited about visiting,' she continued.

'I really really want to do a road trip around all the States and maybe even complete a side quest and break the record for sleeping with someone from all 50 US states.'

Elsa, who is currently taking in up to $30,000 a month on OnlyFans, said she hasn't had any trouble globetrotting and bed hopping yet.

'So far everything has been a breeze and I've had no major issues,' she gushed.

Elsa is currently in Thailand but is trying to hit every country, from North Korea to Dubai

'Coming into Thailand they asked a lot of questions about the purpose of my trip and how long I intended to stay. I explained it was for leisureor pleasure, which wasn't a lie!'

Elsa's record-breaking stunt is just the latest in a growing number of wild sex acts that OnlyFans creators and porn stars are doing to boost their subscribers.

Bonnie Blue recently claimed to have slept with 1,057 men in 12 hours, breaking the world record group sex record.

Meanwhile, Lily Phillips and Tiffany Wisconsin have been competing with each other to bed the most elderly men.

In fact, the two adult performers have even taken to hitting up nursing homes to find old men to film with.

'I want to hit Chicago, maybe Milwaukee, I don't have the exact dates yet,' Tiffany told DailyMail.com.

'Going to the VA [Veterans Health Administration] is even easier because a lot of older men go to the VA for their health appointments and stuff,' she added.
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With only six weeks to go until Easter, supermarket shelves are once again stacked with a huge variety of chocolate eggs.

And, ahead of Sunday, April 20, those with a sweet tooth can delight in a number of excellent deals.

From Tesco to Sainsbury's and from Ocado to Amazon, the UK's largest retailers are all offering substantial discounts on some of the UK's favourite Easter eggs.

Shoppers who act fast can expect discounts of more than 25 per cent on popular brands, including Kinder Surprise and Ferrero Rocher, while premium chocolatier Tony's has also reduced its signature Easter egg.

Suitable for children and adults alike, the appealing chocolate treats listed here will exceed expectations without setting customers back a small fortune.

But, these deals won't be around forever. Get ahead of the crowd and bag the best bargains before they're gone.

Combining milk chocolate and a crispy, hazelnut shell, gold-foiled Ferrero Rocher bites have long been a firm family favourite.

And, fans of the delicious nutty chocolate who are in possession of a Tesco Clubcard can now enjoy a supersize version for a fraction of the original cost.

Packed with six individual Ferrero Rocher chocolates, the Ferrero Rocher Golden Easter Egg, usually priced at 17.50, is available with a discount of more than 25 per cent.

Indeed, savvy shoppers can expect to pay no more than 12 for the tasty treat when they head to Tesco.





Kinder Surprise Easter eggs are not only for chocolate lovers but also for those looking for a fun distraction in the shape of a novel toy.

Although it's possible to buy individual Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs throughout the year, there's a relatively short window to snap up the substantial 220g version.

Concealed within the chocolate shell is a toy inspired by Jurassic World and, for Tesco Clubcard holders, the whole lot can be purchased for the discounted price of 12.50 - saving shoppers 4.50.

It's the perfect choice for those hoping for a memorable Easter that's as tasty as it is fun-filled.





Amazon is currently offering a box of 48 Cadbury's Creme eggs at a discount of 20 per cent, bringing the total cost down from 36 to 29.99.

The Easter favourite of a milk chocolate shell filled with a sweet and silky fondant never goes out of fashion - and there's no question that this box will keep the whole family sated for the entire festive period.

A deal that's hard to beat, Amazon's excellent offer is one to snap up now.



Luxury Swiss heritage brand Lindt never disappoints thanks to its smooth, creamy texture and strong flavour.

A favourite amongst chocoholics, Lindt's perfectly presented Easter egg, which comes with two gold-foiled chocolate bunnies, will work just as well as a gift.

Whether it's to be enjoyed at home or purchased for a friend, shoppers need look no further than delivery giant Ocado for an brilliant deal.

Reduced from 7 to 5, chocolate-lovers who don't hesitate will enjoy a discount of almost a third.



Fans of Milkybar's white chocolate should head to ASDA stores ahead of Easter this year.

Perfect for parents eager to keep kids occupied with an Easter egg hunt, the brand's Egg Hunt Pack contains eight individually wrapped white chocolate eggs.

With a discount of 25 per cent, the Milky Bar pack can now be purchased from ASDA for 2.97.

Find some under-the-radar hiding places for the eight eggs and children will happily while away an afternoon searching for the delicious chocolate treats.





Premium Dutch brand famous for its brightly-coloured packaging, Tony's Chocolonely has launched an Easter egg combining milk chocolate, caramel and sea salt.

The large chocolate egg is perfect for sharing amongst friends - or for devouring on your own.

And, fans of Tony's - celebrated for its 100 per cent traceable cocoa beans - can now purchase the Easter egg at the brand's website for a discount.

Simply head to uk.tonyschocolonely.com and use the promo code EGGP to get 2 off this chocolate-lover's dream.





Melt-in-your-mouth Cadbury's Twirl has created an irresistible chocolate Easter egg perfect for children and adults alike.

Fans of the brand will be delighted to find an original Twirl containing two chocolate fingers alongside the large, hollow egg.

For savvy Sainsbury's shoppers who have a Nectar card, the Cadbury Twirl Easter egg can be purchased for 2.50 rather than the shelf price of 4.

Sure to sell out fast, those with a sweet tooth shouldn't let this super offer pass them by.



Online supermarket Ocado has another great Easter egg offer this year - for its 195g Cadbury's Creme egg.

Boxed with a fondant-filled regular Creme egg, the milk chocolate hollow egg is big enough to last several sittings.

And, Ocado customers who are quick can expect to save 1.50 on the Cadbury's classic.

Reduced by a third, shoppers will pay just 3 for what can only be described as the ultimate Easter treat.
Chinas low-altitude economy set to take off in 2025, fueled by policy support

10:24, March 11, 2025 By Tao Mingyang, Fan Wei, Tu Lei ( Global Times

This photo taken on Nov. 13, 2024, shows exhibits related to low-altitude economy at Airshow China in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

China's two sessions this year spotlighted the low-altitude economy as a strategic frontier, with national lawmakers and political advisors unveiling motions and proposals to steadily propel the trillion-yuan industry from pilot projects to nationwide commercialization.

China vows to promote the safe and sound development of commercial space, the low-altitude economy, and other emerging industries. According to the 2025 Government Work Report, submitted to the national legislature session for deliberation on March 5, 2025, it was the second inclusion of the "low-altitude economy" in the report.

Tian Junxia, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) put forward her motion focusing on low-altitude equipment technology breakthroughs and standardization.

Tian, also a researcher with the Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC), called for efforts to achieve breakthroughs in key technologies for low-altitude equipment, including autonomous flight capabilities in complex environments and intelligent swarm operations, as well as standardization of low-altitude equipment design, manufacturing and operation across the whole process, according to a statement sent from the AVIC to the Global Times on Monday.

Aside from calls for accelerating the establishment of a comprehensive low-altitude flight service system, Tian proposed to conduct low-altitude flight demonstrations based on the local conditions of China's various regions, and expand application scenarios of low-altitude flights in areas such as forestry patrol, emergency rescue, medical service, public transport and logistics.

Low-altitude equipment serves as a core component of the low-altitude economy, encompassing both traditional industries and cutting-edge technologies such as information communications, big data and artificial intelligence, said Tian, noting that it exemplifies new quality productive forces characterized by an extensive industrial chain, high technological sophistication and concentrated innovation-driven elements.

He Xiaopeng, a deputy to the 14th NPC and chairman and CEO of Chinese electric carmaker XPENG, proposed to establish a pilot licensing and certification management system for low-altitude vehicles, said the statement sent from XPENG to the Global Times on Monday.

In November 2024, the "Land Aircraft Carrier," the modular flying car developed by XPENG, completed its first public flight at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition. He said on Saturday during a group interview ahead of the second plenary meeting of the third session of the 14th NPC that the "Land Aircraft Carrier" is expected to achieve mass production in 2026.

Low-altitude vehicles, including flying cars and electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft -- a critical component of future multi-dimensional transportation systems -- are transitioning from conceptual designs to real-world applications, said He.

Given the fast development of the low-altitude economy, He called on relevant authorities to optimize existing regulations and procedures related to pilot management to lay the groundwork for the safe and efficient operation of low-altitude aircraft, including a new license grading system and pilot training system.

Ken Chu, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, also the chairman and CEO of Hong Kong-based Mission Hills Group, proposed to set Shenzhen in South China's Guangdong Province and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as pilot trial zones under the master plan for the low-altitude economy in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Shenzhen is home to about 1,700 low-altitude economy-related enterprises, which form mature local industrial chains. Combined with Hong Kong's international financing services, the industrialization and globalization of the low-altitude economy will be further accelerated, said Chu in his proposal.

The low-altitude airspace's vertical height from the ground ranges from 1,000 meters to 3,000 meters. In 2024, the "low-altitude economy" was first included into the Government Work Report of the year, underscoring its pivotal role in the nation's economic development.

The development direction of the low-altitude economy in 2025 will shift from the "coordinated planning" phase to the "practical implementation" phase, as multiple NPC deputies and CPPCC National Committee members proposed to accelerate the standardization process of low-altitude infrastructure, vehicles and laws, Luo Jun, executive director of the China Low Altitude Economic Alliance, told the Global Times on Monday.

Currently, 15 cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Changzhou in East China's Jiangsu Province have announced a joint initiative to establish a low-altitude economy ecosystem, targeting the development of 100 demonstration projects by 2025, the Xinhua News Agency reported on February 19, 2025, noting that approximately 30 provinces have listed the development of the low-altitude economy into their local government work reports or issued related policies since last year.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
A bride who wanted to remember the best day of her life was devastated to find that instead, it had been tarnished forever.

Tennessee-based woman Lindsay Porch wanted to preserve her wedding bouquet from her August nuptials - but never imagined it would end up destroyed.

In a video shared on TikTok, Lindsay said she contacted a company to preserve the bouquet a few weeks after tying the knot.

But, after seeing the flowers, the company informed her that the blooms were discolored and suggested a color restoration.

'They were white roses,' she explained, showing a photo of the roses, which had yellowed.

'[The company said] "we suggest a color restoration,"' she explained, adding she agreed to it as the flowers in the picture looked like 'rotten Brussel sprouts.'

The bride was told it would be $150 for the color restoration service, which she paid for - and was horrified when she was sent the before and after.

She showed the before pictures, pointing out some of them were 'beautiful.'

Tennessee-based woman Lindsay Porch wanted to preserve her wedding bouquet from her August nuptials - but never imagined it would end up destroyed

'I want to cry showing you the after,' she said, revealing the finished product.

The flowers she showed looked as through they had been completely covered in thick wall paint and were barely recognizable.

'This almost looks like spray painted toilet paper,' she said in dismay, pointing to the roses.

'This doesn't look real to me at all,' she continued. 'These aren't real flowers, these aren't my flowers.'

Lindsay continued saying she's a 'little upset' because paid $600 for the service, also paying $200 to ship it and further $150 for the color restoration.

'Do you think I'm being dramatic?' she asked.

But viewers were equally as horrified by the end result and were quick to flood to the comments.

'As a florist who sees a lot of preservation I'm confused!!! That doesn't look right at all girl!!' one user wrote.

The bride was told it would be $150 for the color restoration service, which she paid for - and was horrified when she was sent the before and after

'That's not color restoration baby that's Walmart spray paint,' agreed another.

Another wrote: 'I don't think you're being dramatic enough personally like this is a once in a lifetime thing HELLO???'

Many people preserve their wedding florals as a keepsake of their big day, some even frame and press them to enjoy for years to come.

Flowers can be preserved at home by crafty DIY brides. One way to do this is to press their flowers then display in a frame.

Another way is to air dry bouquets, which can be done by hanging them upside down so the florals keep their form in a dry, temperate area, for at least a week.
There are two words in the dating vocabulary that I can't stand: body count.

It just sounds cheap and nasty. Like something you should confess with a hint of shame. But if our hippy ancestors from the '60s and '70s taught us anything, it's that free love should be celebrated, not whispered about in hushed tones.

Heck, even Chelsea Handler once joked, 'I think we can all agree that sleeping around is a great way to meet people.' And first of all lol but also, she's not wrong! I'm still friends with some lovely former bedfellows.

That said, asking (or, in some cases, demanding) that your partner reveal how many people they've slept with is simply uncalled for. When it comes to the age-old 'body count' debate - how many people you've been with before your current partner - I think it's fair to say... none of your damn business!

However, in the spirit of nosiness (which is what I do best) and normalising playing the field a little before settling down with 'the one', I put a call-out to my Instagram followers and asked what happened when their partner found out their 'body count'.

Here are a few that stood out

He found my 'list' and turned into a private eye - Emily

Emily told me she never planned to tell her husband her exact number. But she didn't have to... because he found 'the list'.

Jana Hocking spoke to several wives - and some husbands - about what happened when 'body count' became a topic of conversation. Should you be honest? (Stock image posed by models)

'I kept a note on my phone from my early twenties with the names of the guys I'd been with,' she confessed.

'It wasn't something I ever looked at anymore, but I never deleted it either. One night, he borrowed my phone to look something up and went for a deep dive.'

At first, he played it cool. Then things got weird.

'He started bringing up names from the list in casual conversation, like, "Oh, so Ryan took you to a music festival before me?" or, "Did you do that with Tom?" Emily said.

'I laughed it off at first, but then he started getting really obsessed. He started checking my social media to see if I still followed any of them. Then he started asking if I'd thought about any of them while we were together.'

'The number kept getting bigger' - Dan

Some men find out their partner's number and spiral into insecurity. Others get a little turned on.

Dan's girlfriend was upfront about her past from the get-go.

Mail+ columnist Jana Hocking says your sexual history isn't your partner's business, but some husbands do like to know... and they ask at their peril

'She wanted to share her history early on,' he said.

'She told me she'd been with about 27 guys and a couple of women. I didn't care. I wasn't judging. It was just part of who she was.'

But as their relationship progressed, so did her revised numbers.

'She'd casually mention other guys here and there, and at some point, I realised it wasn't adding up. So I asked her directly, and that's when she came clean. It was more like 80+ guys and 40 women - plus some she didn't even remember.'

Most men might have reacted badly to that. Not Dan. He was just intrigued.

'It was a turn-on and a surprise at the same time,' he admitted.

'It made me see her in a different way, not in a bad way, just differently. I guess I liked that she'd lived such a full life before me.'

And did it change their relationship?

'Nope. If anything, I respected her honesty, and it made me realise she chose me out of all those men.'

'My drunken confession ruined our honeymoon' - Sarah

Sarah and her husband had been married for exactly five days when she was a little too honest after her third round of mojitos. We've all been there...

'We were sitting on the balcony of our honeymoon suite in Fiji, drinking cocktails, when he asked me out of nowhere, "How many guys have you actually slept with?" I was tipsy, so, stupidly, I told him the truth,' revealed Sarah.

Her husband, who previously said he didn't care about her past, went silent.

'He just stared at me. I laughed and said, "What? Did you expect me to be a virgin?" And he said, "I didn't expect that."'

Jess says telling her husband about her wild twenties - including a threesome - invigorated her sex life. Now her husband gets off on hearing her sexy stories (stock image posed by models)

The wife who was blindsided by her husband

It's not always husbands left picking up their jaws off the floor. In one case, a wife was the one blindsided by her spouse's sexual history.

Tom had a wild past, but he never thought it would come back to haunt him until a drunken school reunion turned his marriage upside down.

'I grew up in the country, where, honestly, there wasn't a whole lot to do on a Saturday night. So, we made our own fun,' he admitted.

During his twenties, Tom told me had a bit of a reputation as the town man-whore (his words). But by the time he met his ex-wife, he'd left that life behind. Or so he thought.

'She knew I'd been around, but I'd never given her specifics,' he said.

'And she never really asked. We had a good thing going, so I figured what's the point of digging up the past?'

That all changed when they went back to his home town for his school reunion.

'The night started off great catching up with old mates, having a few drinks. But then my mates got a little too loose,' Tom said.

'One of them started listing names.'

Tom's wife, who had been laughing along at first, suddenly went silent.

'I could see it on her face, she was working it out,' he said.

'And when she realised just how much of a past I had, it was like a switch flipped. She just stared at me, then stood up and left.'

He told me the car ride back to their hotel was brutal.

'She wasn't yelling, she wasn't crying, just eerily calm. She looked at me and said, "I don't even know who I married."'

Over the next few months, things unravelled. 'It wasn't like I'd cheated, but she couldn't get past it. She said she felt like she'd been "lied to by omission".'

Eventually, she called it quits.

'The school reunion was the final straw,' Tom said.

'And I get it. Maybe if I'd been honest earlier, it wouldn't have been such a shock. Or maybe she just wasn't the type who could handle it.'

Now, looking back, does he regret not telling her? 'Honestly, no. I don't think it would have changed the outcome. Some people can separate the past from the present, and some can't. She couldn't. And that's just how it was.'

'It turned him on' - Jess

Not all confessions lead to jealousy. Some have the opposite effect.

Jess told me she had been with her now-husband for five years when the topic came up over dinner with friends.

'We were playing one of those silly "never have I ever" games, and the question was about threesomes,' she said.

'I took a sip of my drink, said my piece, and my husband's eyes bulged out of his head.'

In the taxi ride home, he needed to know more.

'He kept pressing me. "Was it a guy and a girl? Two guys? When was this?" I figured why not tell the whole story? So I shared about my wild days in my twenties.'

Instead of freaking out, he got excited. After getting home, they didn't even make it to the bedroom - Jess' husband tore her clothes off in the hallway.

'I thought he'd be jealous or weirded out, but he was turned on. We had the most amazing sex and he said he loved that I'd had these experiences. He said it made him see me in a whole new light.'

Since then, Jess says, their sex life has only got better. 'He even asks me to describe past encounters while we have sex. So, in my case, full honesty was actually a win!'

Something tells me this is just the start for Jess and her husband and soon he'll be asking her to try out some new 'encounters' to tell him about...

'Was I enough for her?' - Mike

And then there was Mike

Mike met his now ex-wife when they were both 20. She had slept with 27 people before him, while he had only been with two. At first, he told himself it didn't matter, but over time, the stark contrast in experience played on his mind.

'There was never any judgment from my side,' he said.

'I didn't think any less of her. It wasn't a "shaming" thing. But I'd be lying if I said it didn't sit with me.'

Instead of feeling resentment toward her, Mike found himself feeling inadequate.

'It sort of felt like I was playing catch-up in terms of experience, but without increasing my own number,' he said.

'I wondered if I was enough for her, or if I was missing something that all those other guys had.'

Looking back, he realises it was never actually an issue - just something he'd built up in his head. 'It wasn't about her, it was about me. And now, after more life experience, I can see that it really didn't matter at all.'

I asked him what he learned from it and he told me 'If you're secure in yourself and your relationship, numbers don't mean a thing. But if there's an insecurity already there, it can latch onto any detail and fester. I wish I'd figured that out sooner.'

And finally...

So what's the moral of the story? Read the room (or simply don't ask!)

After hearing so many stories, one thing became crystal clear - when it comes to revealing your past, the key things to remember are:

1) Is this the right time?

2) Do they really need to know?

3) Can they handle it?

Some men might be genuinely open-minded and unbothered. Others might say they don't care, only to turn into Sherlock Holmes the moment you step away from your phone. Some might never even ask - but that doesn't mean you should volunteer the information over a round of tequila shots.

At the end of the day, your past experiences shape you, but they don't define your present relationship. So if you ever get asked the question, remember: some numbers are best kept in the vault. Sure, you might like to visit that vault from time to time to remember the good times. But they were just that, your times, not your partner's.

Or alternatively, you can simply own it and live as carelessly as Mae West, who once said, 'I wrote the story myself. It's about a girl who lost her reputation and never missed it.'
I was standing in a crammed beer hall at Oktoberfest in Munich when I saw him.

In a sea of foreigners, this 6'3 Aussie stood out from the crowd - and as he leaned over to speak to me, a smile playing across his lips, I already knew I was going home with him.

Or rather, back to his hostel.

By the time we made it out of the festival and to his accommodation, set in a field on the edge of town, the party had relocated to his eight-bedroom dorm.

Knowing what we both wanted, we snuck off to his bed and got under the covers.

He put his hands under my red and white dirndl dress and pushed my underwear aside, teasing me with his fingertips.

My excitement was growing... until I slipped my hand under his lederhosen and was rendered speechless.

Because despite his towering height and well-built physique, my Aussie man had the smallest penis I'd ever held.

My excitement was growing... until I slipped my hand under his lederhosen and was rendered speechless (stock image posed by models)

Stunned into silence, I felt my way around.

Was he fully erect? Was this the best it was going to get?

Sadly, the answer was yes.

I tried to swallow my disappointment. I didn't want to be cruel, but how was this even going work?

It was the size of my thumb. A 'micropenis' is the medical term. (God, couldn't they have thought up a kinder word than that?)

I just couldn't do it. 'It's so late,' I said, rearranging my underwear and pulling down my skirt.

'I should get back to my hotel.'

I tried my hardest to ignore the despondent look on his face as I ordered my Uber.

My first instinct was to decline his dinner invite. But something made me reconsider. Maybe I was being shallow? Maybe it wasn't quite as small as I first thought

And that could have been it.

Except a week later, when we were both back in London where I was living at the time, he reached out to me on social media and invited me to dinner.

My first instinct was to decline. Sure, he seemed like a nice guy and was definitely attractive. But if I couldn't expect hot, deep penetrative sex (my favourite kind) then what was the point?

But something made me reconsider. Maybe I was being shallow? Maybe it wasn't quite as small as I'd first thought?

(It definitely was - you don't forget something like that in a hurry.)

Somehow I talked myself into it. A fancy dinner, a bit of flirting, maybe a pash. There were worse ways to spend a Saturday night.

And boy, was I glad I went. So many sparks were flying at dinner that, despite my hesitations, I went back to his place.

Mail+ sex columnist Ebony Leigh has some words of advice to women who are cruel about men with smaller penises

As he kissed me and slowly undressed me, I felt apprehensive. But instead of getting undressed himself, he started to use his hands and his tongue.

And let me tell you - this man knew his way around the female body better than any of my previous partners. I was writhing, moaning and shaking by the time he was done with me.

Only he wasn't done. He wanted to have sex with me. And still vibrating with pleasure, I agreed.

To my complete surprise, his micropenis was barely an issue.

He understood exactly which positions worked for us, hoisting my legs over his shoulders then later, propping my hips up with a pillow while he drove himself inside.

Every movement felt magical and the pleasure was like nothing I'd ever felt.

His confidence made him even more attractive. Not once did he spin a cringey line about his member ('I'm a grower not a shower', 'it's the motion in the ocean, not the size of the boat' - you know the ones.)

He just owned it. And it was f**king hot.

Men can sometimes feel inadequate about smaller penises. And they have good reason - women can be cruel. But I think we've all got it wrong.

Because sex really is about confidence, connection and playing to your strengths.

My date's charisma, charm and skill made up for those missing inches - and then some.
The founder of a female-only gym has become the centre of social media storm after saying her work out space won't allow transgender women entry.

Fitness influencer and model Natalee Barnett, 25, devised the idea behind The Girl Spot gym, which is due to open soon in Wandsworth, south London, after experiencing gym-based sexual harassment at the hands of men.

When Barnett, who boasts a combined 2.5 million followers on social media, first started raising funds for the space in 2021, she indicated that it would be open to trans women.

Four years later, and with over 22,900 raised via GoFundMe donations, Barnett has backtracked on her initial objective, stating that the gym is no longer trans-inclusive and will only serve as a 'safe space for biological women'.

Since, the entrepreneur has been subject to vile abuse and branded 'transphobic' - however others have said she may face legal action.

'Of course, trans women are welcome at my women-only gym,' she said in a TikTok in 2021.

'I don't see trans women as trans women - I see trans women and women. And if you identify as a woman, then you are of course welcome'.

Barnett's announcement has fuelled a heated debate on social media, with critics blasting the influencer for accepting donations on the basis that the gym would permit trans women who were born male but now identify as female, before reversing her decision.

Fitness influencer Natalee Barnett (pictured) has met backlash after disallowing trans women into her London-based female-only gym

Others have branded the plan unfeasible, claiming that Barnett would have to subject women to 'genital checks', or as transgender broadcaster India Willoughby told The Telegraph, 'Undie inspections' for women who 'look trans'.

'I spent a great deal of time and money including seeking legal advice and it was absolutely not a choice made lightly or out of exclusion or malice, but rather out of my commitment to ensuring a space where women who have experienced trauma, harassment, or discomfort in co-ed gyms can feel at ease,' she wrote on Instagram.

Barnett previously told Femail how her negative experiences at the gym led to the development of her business idea.

'The staring, mansplaining, being touched, having my space invaded and feeling intimidated - women deserve to be in the gym as much as any other person,' she said.

'I also experienced sexual assault inside the gym when I was 18 years old.'

The influencer recalled heading for a workout at her regular time of 9pm when she recognised a male gym-goer who she had 'known for a while'.

'As I laid back on one of the benches, he touched me inappropriately. I don't want to give exact details as it's too upsetting,' she said.

'It was so rapid that at first, I questioned whether it had happened at all. I couldn't believe a man would do such a thing to a woman in a public space.

The influencer, who has addressed the controversy (pictured), initially told her followers that she would allow trans women to use the gym

Natalee raised over 22,900 on GoFundMe to help launch her upcoming gym in Wandsworth, London

The fitness influencer and model has also received many messages of encouragement on Instagram

'Experiencing sexual assault when I first joined is absolutely harrowing. I should never have had to go through that.'

As a result of her experience, Barnett joined a women-only fitness club but found most were too small or had inadequate equipment for her training needs.

'Women-only spaces inside of gyms are very malnourished,' she said. 'They consistently follow the narrative that women can't lift heavy and that women don't want to lift, they're just there to lose weight.

'I went to one and I think the highest dumbbell was 20kg and they had a lot of cardio machines. It reinforces the belief that women only work out to lose weight.

'This means in order to be away from harassment and intimidation, I now have to limit my own capabilities, which I think is wholly absurd.'

With the lack of suitable women-only gyms, the 25-year-old felt 'forced to stay' at the gym where the assault took place as 'there was nowhere for me to go'.

Barnett soon realised there was a 'gap in the market' and settled on opening her ladies-only gym with a variety of classes and equipment.

'It's not an agenda against men,' she clarified. 'It's about the safety and protection of women.

The 25-year-old addressed the controversy on Instagram, concluding: 'My hope is that every woman cis and trans finds a space as they need to feel secure, strong, and empowered'

'I've thought about whether there is another way to tackle gym harassment without segregation and there isn't. That's why I say you have to take men out of the equation, that's the real solution here.'

After several years of searching for investors, the fitness model recently signed a lease for a space in southeast London, which will become the first site of Girls Spot Gym - a fitness space made by women exclusively for women.

Although it is not yet open, the influencer introduced the gym to her followers last month, and within 48 hours, more than 5,400 women registered their interest.

'It's absolutely insane,' said Barnett. 'It shows much demand there is for something like this.

The fear of 'gymtimidation' and sexual harassment is not the only driver behind interest in Girls Spot Gym.

'I know that Muslim women will form a big part of my community,' said Barnett. 'As well as those starting out on their fitness journeys.

'New mothers too. I've been pregnant and I am a mother myself, and I think navigating your body when pregnant and particularly postpartum you don't really want to be exercising in front of men.

'Every single person deserves to train exactly how they want to, reach their goals how they want to, and feel comfortable while doing it.

Barnett's decision led to backlash from followers, with some dubbing her decision 'transphobic'

'Whether you lift heavy or whether you only like classes or you're a mum or you're a complete beginner, you can come to the Girls Spot and you can train. There is no doubt about it.'

However, Barnett yesterday threw doubt into The Girls Spot for a portion of her followers after stating that the gym will be a single-sex space.

The decision led to backlash from a portion of the 25-year-old's followers, with some claiming the announcement is 'transphobic'.

'To every trans woman who donated or supported this endeavour, I'm sorry you were lied to,' wrote another.

A third added: 'Trans women are women, and your desire to exclude them speaks loudly that you still see them as men. Women should be able to be protected no matter how they show up.

'If you want to create a safe space for women, create a safe space for all women and recognize the alarmingly high rate of violence that trans women face at the hand of men every single day.'

However, Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at human rights charity Sex Matters, told The Telegraph that Barnett is 'well within her legal rights' to implement the single-sex rule.

'There are thousands of gyms in the country, almost all open to both sexes. It's very telling that there is so much vitriol aimed at one woman running one small gym, just because she wants a male-free space,' McAnena said.

Barnett, who also received some support from her followers, clarified her thoughts on Instagram, writing: 'I want to address the recent response to my announcement about The Girls Spot being a single-sex space and operating as female-only.

'I wholeheartedly sympathise with trans women and allies who feel hurt by my recent announcement, and I appreciate that the decision to operate in this way will come to as a disappointment to some.

'The Girls Spot is absolutely committed to ensuring that it is a safe space for biological women, particularly those who have previously been victims of harassment, assault, or overall negative experiences at traditional gyms, or feel vulnerable in these spaces.

'This is why The Girls Spot aims to have close contact classes such as self-defence classes and Muay Thai and host events, workshops, and activations around PCOS and training on your menstrual cycle. This has been the unwavering driver behind The Girls Spot, and I am excited to launch this space.

'I want to be clear; I am in no way saying that trans women don't face adversity or that they don't deserve a safe space because they absolutely do. We're all entitled to be treated with kindness and respect.

'The Girls Spot is no different to many other businesses and we operate in accordance with carefully considered financial budgets, balanced by location, operating hours and longevity, meaning it isn't possible in our early stages to provide all-alternatives.

'The decision to have The Girls Spot as a single sex gym for those biologically female was not an easy decision and something that I thought over for many years.

'I spent a great deal of time and money including seeking legal advice and it was absolutely not a choice made lightly or out of exclusion or malice, but rather out of my commitment to ensuring a space where women who have experienced trauma, harassment, or discomfort in co-ed gyms can feel at ease. That has always been my mission and drive behind the business.

'The Girls Spot is on a long journey, and I will continue to listen learn and lend my support for there to be inclusive fitness spaces for all. My hope is that every woman cis and trans finds a space as they need to feel secure strong and empowered.'
An influencer has revealed why he's ditching the UK to move to Dubai - and the rainy weather is just the start.

Oli White, a YouTuber known for his light-hearted content, has lived in London for around 10 years - but says the UK has 'never been the same' since the Covid pandemic in 2020.

The 30-year-old says the capital was 'amazing' when he first moved there, but recently he began feeling 'uninspired' and unable to grow as a person.

He was left feeling 'unsafe' in London with the constant feeling his phone could be stolen, unlike Dubai - which he described as 'one of the safest cities in the world'.

The UK weather didn't help either - and Oli gushed that in Dubai it's 'sunny all year round'.

He was also excited by the prospect of 'zero tax' and the 'endless opportunities' that his new life abroad would bring.

'I'm leaving the UK and I'm moving to a different country,' he announced in a video on social media, that has racked up two million views on X/Twitter alone.

Oli explained: 'When I first moved here, it was so exciting, there were so many opportunities and it was just an amazing place to be.'

YouTuber Oli White has packed up his life in the UK to move to Dubai for a fresh start

However, things started to change after the pandemic hit in 2020 - and Oli said it's 'never been the same' since.

'After the thing that happened when we couldn't leave our houses, things just changed. London has never been the same, the UK has never been the same,' he said.

'It's unsafe, you can't even walk down the road holding your phone without fear for having someone stealing it.

'I've just felt so uninspired from a work perspective, but also just living my life. I've just felt like I've been living in four walls. I haven't pushed myself and I haven't grown as a person.'

Documenting his move abroad, Oli filmed himself packing and defrosting his fridge and wine cooler.

After bidding a final goodbye to his apartment, he headed to Heathrow Airport at 5am.

The vlogger couldn't resist filming the rainy scenes outside his plane window prior to take-off as he joked, 'I definitely won't miss the UK weather!'

After the six hour flight, Oli gave an update from his hotel - and was clearly buzzing to start his new life abroad.

The 30-year-old was enthralled by the promise of sunny weather all year round and 'safer streets'

Oli has documented his entire process moving abroad after saying he felt 'uninspired' by London life

In a video posted on social media, Oli claimed that the UK is unsafe and is constantly worried about his phone being stolen

He said: 'I have now officially moved to Dubai. That's right, we are living permanently in Dubai now.

'It's sunny all year round here which is something I've been desperately missing in the UK.

'It's one of the safest cities in the world. You can leave a watch or a handbag on the side in a restaurant and no one will even look at it.

'There is zero tax - that's right, you pay zero tax here. The opportunities are absolutely endless. I'm so excited to be here, I can't wait to get going!'

Oli had first visited Dubai eight years ago with his family and had been 'blown away', immediately able to see himself living there permanently.

He recalled his aunt, who has lived in the city for more than 20 years, telling him: 'This is the place you want to move, this is where it's happening. This is where the world is moving.'

Concluding his video, Oli instructed his followers to follow along on his journey as he finds an apartment to live in.

Since his video went viral online, Oli has been met with criticism for packing up his life in the UK.

Since his video went viral online, Oli has been met with criticism for packing up his life in the UK

People said: 'I'll never understand British people moving to Dubai. A soulless, socially conservative dictatorship with no culture made up of some skyscrapers in a desert. Literally can't think of a worse place to move';

'lmao moving to the most soulless artificial place in the world';

'Yeah safety is the reason and not 0% income tax';

'Dubai is an insane choice';

'*So uninspired* moves to the most artificial and soulless place on earth';

'Content creators' who leave the UK claiming London is 'unsafe' while calling Dubai a crime-free utopia only see their privilege and wealth, never the stark reality...'

However, others were simply pleased to see Oli following his dreams, writing: 'The uk is depressing!! You will thrive!! Good luck.'

Moving from the UK to the United Arab Emirates has become a well-trodden path for Britons in recent years looking for a glitzy relocation and a better quality of life.

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Aside from feeling safer, Britons are also attracted by a range of factors such as the warm climate, tax-free income and high-end restaurants, property and shops.

More than 240,000 British expats are now estimated to live in Dubai, with many attracted to the city by the 5,000 British companies now operating in the UAE.

There has been a 420 per cent rise in the five years to 2024 in enquiries from UK nationals wanting to relocate to the country, according to John Mason International Movers  with a 45 per cent surge in the 12 months to March last year alone.

However, prices in Dubai have risen 124 per cent since 2020 according to Knight Frank - with some British expats said to have been priced out as property is bought up by wealthy Russians after Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Dubai is among the top destination cities for millionaires leaving the UK, along with Paris, Amsterdam, Monaco, Geneva, Sydney, and Singapore. Florida, the Algarve, Malta, and the Italian Riviera are also attractive as retirement hotspots.

Last May, MailOnline featured the story of a Catherine Earl who left university in Sheffield before landing a low-paid job in recruitment at Boots in Nottingham.

Eleven years later, the 33-year-old now earns more than 200,000 a year, jetting around Dubai harbour in a speedboat and sipping cocktails in exclusive bars.

Dubai is seen attractive thanks to factors such as tax-free income and high-end restaurants (stock image)

Luxury restaurants are a major draw in Dubai, including this one near Burj Khalifa Lake

She said: 'I moved to Dubai for the sun. I was literally getting out of bed in the dark and walking 20 minutes to work in the cold. Now it's sunny every day and I feel motivated because Dubai is such a nice place to live.'

Ms Earl featured in a Channel 4 series called 'Dubai: Buying The Dream' which took viewers behind the scenes at British agency Betterhomes as they compete to close deals with super-rich clients on a portfolio of stunning properties.

But the UAE is also known for its ultra-strict laws, with an 18-year-old British man sentenced to one year in a Dubai jail last month for having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl.

Marcus Fakana, of Tottenham, north London, was with his parents in the UAE from the end of August when a 'holiday romance blossomed' with another Londoner, who has since turned 18, the campaign group Detained in Dubai previously said.

After returning to the UK and seeing pictures and chats, the girl's mother reported the relationship to Dubai police, who then arrested Mr Fakana at his hotel, it is alleged.

UK consular officials are said to be in regular contact with Mr Fakana, his family and his legal team, but the Government is not able to interfere in the judicial system.
Racegoers at Cheltenham got into a festive mood as they partied up a storm on Day One of the celebrated event.

Drinks were flowing and cheerful revellers got into the spirit, with many dancing in the streets.

Photos from the event also showed guests singing along with one another, as they posed for photos while toasting pints.

This morning, fashionistas descended on the course in Gloucestershire with many putting a vibrant and colourful twist on the rural staples of tweed and fur.

Anxious to prove they can hold their own against the fashionable displays seen at Ascot and Aintree each year, racegoers dressed up in statement suits, knee-high boots and fur-trimmed hats and capes.

Perfectly coiffed women donned eye-catching prints, thigh-skimming dresses and eye-catching wide leg trousers as they arrived in their thousands to take in the first day of the action.

But not to be outdone by their female counterparts, some men added a touch of flair and opted for brightly coloured suits.

When it came to headwear, there was a sea of stylish trilby hats coming through the Festival's doors, with others opting for striking feathered fascinators.

Racegoers at Cheltenham got into a festive mood as they partied up a storm on Day One of the celebrated event

Photos from the event also showed guests singing along with one another, as they posed for photos while toasting pints

The festive mood won over racegoers, as many were pictured singing along with one another today

Zara was the image of sophistication in her elegant outfit, which was accessorised with a statement headpiece

She appeared to be in good spirits while chatting with other attendees at Day One of Cheltenham

Zara Tindall arrived at Cheltenham Festival looking effortlessly elegant in a navy ensemble from Fairfax & Favor, teamed with a statement yellow headpiece

Zara was effortlessly elegant in a navy trench and mustard yellow fascinator as she arrived for the event

A group of pals are seen sporting an array of animal print as they enjoy Cheltenham

Racegoers react as they pull shocked expressions on day one of Cheltenham

Racegoers watch the Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices' Handicap Chase

Georgia opted for a chic white dress with a cropped cardigan - which she accessorised with black boots

She sported a chunky white headband, accessorised with chic black sunglasses, for the event this week

Georgia, pictured, donned a black and white ensemble for day one of Cheltenham this Tuesday afternoon

Two women are pictured beaming as they speak into a microphone

Racegoers appear to be merry as they take to the streets after the Cheltenham races

Two men stepped out in smart suits as they exited day one of Cheltenham

Two jolly men are snapped singing along to tunes during a night out after Cheltenham

Hundreds of thousands of revellers were seen at day one of Cheltenham

Scouts and Beavers are seen selling homemade cakes and baked goods to hungry racegoers

Fashionistas descended on the course in Gloucestershire with many putting a vibrant and colourful twist on the rural staples of tweed and fur

Drinks were flowing and cheerful revellers got into the spirit, with many dancing in the streets

Scouts and Beavers are seen lining up outside Cheltenham to sell their baked goods to revellers

Fans of the racing sport were seen in high spirits, as two women are seen wrapping their arms around each other

When it came to headwear, there was a sea of stylish trilby hats coming through the Festival's doors, with others opting for striking feathered fascinators

Revellers are seen riding around electric scooters in front of police on horses

Overall, Cheltenham was around attended by 229,999 people last year

Racegoers at Cheltenham got into a festive mood as they partied up a storm on Day One of the celebrated event

Racing fans were snapped looking smart in suits, frocks and fascinators

Police are seen controlling crowds of revellers at day one of Cheltenham

People held their glasses up in the air, truly getting into the festive mood on Day One of Cheltenham

The drinks were flowing as revellers danced away, singing along with one another during the festival

Fashionable revellers enjoyed singing and dancing along with the crowds at Cheltenham Festical

Pictured: Racegoers the enjoy the atmosphere at The Best Mate's Enclosure at Cheltenham race course

Pictured: Excited guests posed for photos at the very fashionable event, which kicked off this morning

Racegoers basked in the celebratory atmosphere as they sang and danced along together this afternoon

Revellers toasted their drinks at Cheltenham Festival, enjoying the atmosphere of the day this afternoon

Revellers looked to be in good spirits as they enjoyed The Best Mate's Enclosure at the event today

Designer date! A woman showcased her Chanel bag and Valentino belt as she opted for statement red trousers and a check blazer

Cheltenham racegoers appeared tense as they watched one of the races at the track

Revellers were focused on the result of the Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices' Handicap Chase

One man was seen seemingly jumping for joy as he watched the race unfold

Revellers were joined by VIPs including the King's niece, Zara Tindall (pictured left), fashion designer Jade Holland Cooper and TV personality Georgia Toffolo (pictured right)

Getting the party started! One punter was quick to secure several pints of Guinness after arriving at the festival

Matchy, matchy! Racegoers in purple jackets and red hats arrive ahead of day one of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse

Pictured: Zara Tindall chatting with Jonny Bairstow (left) and Ben Miller (right) on day one of the festival

The daughter of Queen Anne was effortlessly elegant as she donned a mustard yellow headpiece

The royal looked to be having fun as she gestured at someone with a smile, during today's festivities

Zara appeared to be in high spirits as she smiled playfully at someone during the event this afternoon

The royal was all smiles as she enjoyed day one of the Cheltenham Festival 2025 on Tuesday afternoon

The royal looked to be in good spirits as she enjoyed conversing with other guests at the event today

Pictured: Racegoers reacting as they watched the Ultima Handicap Chase on day one of Cheltenham

Drinks were flowing and cheerful revellers got into the spirit, with many dancing in the streets today

Racegoers enjoyed dancing up a storm in the festival as day one of Cheltenham kicked off on Tuesday

People cheered on as others jauntily danced at the event, which kicked off this Tuesday morning

Revellers got in the spirit - despite the gloomy weather - and enjoyed the festivities this afternoon

Fashionable racegoers got in the spirit as they started dancing while attending day one of the festival

Excited revellers were in a partying mood as they took to the festival, dancing up a storm and posing for photos

Excited revellers joined in with other racegoers as they danced the afternoon away - despite the gloomy weather

Delighted - and very fashionably dressed - racegoers posed for photos at the event, which kicked off this morning

Guests were excited to enjoy some drinks and take in the races as Day One of Cheltenham kicked off

Anxious to prove they can hold their own against the fashionable displays seen at Ascot and Aintree each year, racegoers dressed up in statement suits, knee-high boots and fur-trimmed hats and capes

One racegoer put her best fashion foot forward in a crimson pink coat, worn with a stylish silk scarf

Adding a pop of fun with her headpiece, she opted for a feather adornment for the festivities this week

Revellers were delighted to kick off day one of the festival as they bundled up warm for the early spring chill

Large crowds gathered for day one of the event, which kicked off on Tuesday morning, March 11

Excited revellers had drinks to celebrate day one of the excitement at Cheltenham Festival 2025

Pictured: Excited racegoers toasting drinks on Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival 2025 on Tuesday

Cheers! Revellers enjoyed tiny bottles of Moet as they attended day one of the Cheltenham Festival 2025

Excited revellers sipped on small bottles of bubbly as the racing event kicked off on Tuesday morning

Two racegoers were chic as ever in black coats, which they accessorised with a chic suede hat and floral headpiece

Check ensembles seemed to be the order of the day, with many guests opting for patterned jacket and trouser combos or mini skirts and blazer dresses.

Revellers were joined by VIPs including the King's niece, Zara Tindall, fashion designer Jade Holland Cooper and TV personality Georgia Toffolo.

Newly-married Georgia looked sensational in bridal white as she revealed her outfit for day one of Cheltenham Festival on Monday.

The Made In Chelsea star, 30, who married her husband James Watt, 42, over the weekend, said she was 'carrying on her honeymoon' at the event.

Sharing a video to Instagram, ahead of the day, she explained how the colour was a 'controversial' choice.

Toff opted for a white dress with a matching cropped jacket that buttoned down the front by Delia Wade.

Check her out! Jade Holland Cooper appeared effortlessly elegant in a three-piece check suit, teamed with a vibrant tie and a classic handbag. Jade was seen wearing her brand Holland Cooper's newly launched Belgravia Overcoat, Kensington Waistcoat, High Waisted Straight Trouser in Heritage Sparkle Tweed

Jade was chic as ever in a tailored suit, worn with a matching coat, on day one of Cheltenham this week

Pictured: Jade Holland Cooper poses for a photo with racegoer Reggie Oisin Gallagher on day one of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival

Jade pictured as she arrived with Julian Dunkerton, her husband, who donned some skinny jeans and a turtleneck

The couple shared a sweet moment for the cameras. Julian kept warm with a black trench coat for the event

Jade pictured enjoying a friendly chat with Mike Tindall, who looked sophisticated in a suit for the event

Mike Tindall with the glamorous Jade Holland Cooper on day one of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse

Jade pictured posing with another attendee - who looked fashionable in her purple coat - this afternoon

Mike Tindall poses for a photo on day one of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse

Racegoers donned matching outfits as they arrived for day one of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse

One racegoer added a pop of colour to the event in a hot pink suit, which featured black fur trimming

Elsewhere, a guest looked sophisticated as ever in a navy coat with golden buttons, and a red hat

Elsewhere, one glamorous racegoer opted for a printed skirt and matching coat as she made her arrival

Others kept it simple and sophisticated, with a green turtleneck and cargos, worn with a chic black jacket

Style and warmth: This glamorous duo paired knee-high boots, thigh-skimming dresses and feathered fascinators with coats to keep warm

Making a statement: A vibrant print suit helps one racegoer stand out from the crowd, while another relies on a purple check coat to command attention

Prints charming! Two friends made sure they didn't blend into the background with their vibrant suits

Enjoying the day with fizz! Spectators sipped on champagne while watching the sporting action get underway

Bottoms up! Racegoers enjoy a drink during day one of the Cheltenham Festival in Gloucestershire

She teamed it with a pair of opaque tights, patent knee-high heeled boots by YSL and a small handbag.

To accessorise, Toff shielded her with with a chic, oval shades and popped a chunky black headband in her hair.

She captioned the video: 'Day 1 Cheltenham outfit reveal! Quite a mad one even by my standards. Wearing white with patent leather boots to Cheltenham sounds so wrong but I personally think its sooooo right?

'Eager to hear your thoughts! You know how much I adore the festival. Its such a special treat. Ive been up since dawn desperate to get to the coursewhat a week we have ahead.'

Princess Anne's daughter Zara, 42, meanwhile, made a stylish statement in a double-breasted navy wool Victoria Coat from Fairfax & Favor, priced at 495 and featuring statement gold buttons.

She matched her outerwear to a ruffled shirt and a pair of wide-leg trousers, while sticking to a monochromatic palette for most of her other accessories - including a pair of navy 295 Chiswick Heeled Quilted Ankle Boots from Fairfax & Favor.

However, she added a pop of colour with a mustard fascinator that complemented her coat's buttons as well as the gold chain on her 495 black Aspinal of Londons 'Lottie' bag.

She also added a pair of tortoise shell sunglasses and elegant gold earrings to tie her look for the first day of Cheltenham together, as the King's niece appeared fresh-faced and excited for the day's event.

Pictured: The excited crowds in attendance at Cheltenham festival this afternoon, as Day One has kicked off

Coordination queens! Two revellers matched one another in beige and neutrals

Cape of warmth: One racegoer kept warm against the chilly weather with a stylish outer layer

Seeing double! These friends appeared to be inspired by one another as they wore similar ensembles for the first day of the festival

A little retail therapy? These pair of friends appeared to have arrived with a change of clothes - or enjoyed a shopping session at the festival

Neutral but nice! One couple brings fashion to the festival as they arrive for day one at the race course in Cheltenham

A racegoer with a pint of Guinness on day one of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse

Hat's off to this racegoer who opted for a spectacular headpiece to finish off her ensemble

A fizzing good time! Another racegoer picked up some Moet for the day out at the races

One racegoer appeared to be having the time of his life as he sipped on a small bottle of Moet this afternoon

Popping the fizz! One racegoer enjoys a drink as the action gets underway on the first day of the festival

Fizzing with excitement! A couple sip on mini bottles of Moet as they join well-heeled racegoers at Cheltenham

She kept her makeup to a minimum, allowing her flawless complexion to shine through a sheer layer of foundation while opting for a soft, smokey eye look and a swipe of nude lipstick.

Ahead of the Cheltenham Festival, Zara offered her best fashion advice for revellers attending the first big racing event of the year.

Speaking to Hello! magazine, the mother-of-three said the key is balancing 'elegance and practicality'.

'Choose a classic, tailored outfit, but make sure to incorporate layers and weather-appropriate accessories,' Zara explained. 'For me, it's about what works and feels good to wear.'

It comes after a supercomputer has predicted the winners from day one of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.

Using data going all the way back to 1990, the machine has analysed every winning horse at Cheltenham while including a variety of factors such as age, betting position, past results and trainer records.

An algorithm then attributes a score of between 1 and -1 depending on how well each horse matches the winning characteristics.

The characteristics are then used to identify the horses most likely to win each race at this year's festival - but it is bad news for favourites.

Tuesday's top race sees Constitution Hill (8/11) as the favourite listed in the first day's feature race - the Champion Hurdle.

Bold and beautiful! Revellers commanded attention in vibrant prints and colourful ensembles as they attended the festival

Hat's the spirit! One racegoer showcased their fashion prowess with a bright orange feathered headpiece

Working it! These racegoers opted for eye-catching prints to make a statement with their outfits

What a laugh! These two racegoers shared a giggle as they arrived at the racecourse

Looking good: Racegoers dress in all their finery for the first day of the festival

Hat's a good idea! This woman's headpiece completed a fabulous ensemble

Check ensembles seemed to be the order of the day, with many guests opting for patterned jacket and trouser combos or mini skirts and blazer dresses

One racegoer kept her ensemble both warm and sophisticated with a fur hat and forest green coat

Another arrival was sophisticated in red trousers, a patterned blazer and a scarlet statement belt

This couple kept it simple and sophisticated with monochrome ensembles, featuring a chic leather jacket and blazer

Matching! Two friends opted for neutral tweed outfits as they made their sophisticated arrival to the event

One attendee made a statement in a cheetah-print coat - worn over a burgundy velour suit - today

Opting for a two-toned look, one racegoer donned a houndstooth patterned look, complete with a matching scarf

Some racegoers opted for fashionable neutral tones, consisting of beige hues, for their looks this afternoon

Footballer Jonny Evans pictured arriving at the event, in a patterned suit and beige-toned blazer

Jonny made a sophisticated arrival in his low-key, but elegant, ensemble this Tuesday afternoon

John O'Shea donned a neutral toned outfit, with a brown blazer and grey trousers, as he arrived

Pictured, excited racegoers looked giddy in anticipation to kick off day one of Cheltenham this morning

Pictured: The very fashionable racegoers in attendance wait to enter the racecourse on Tuesday

It was a busy atmosphere as racegoers arrived for day one of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse

Pictured: Racegoers arrive for day one of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse

Racegoers donned a number of colourful ensembles for the first day of the festivities this afternoon

Racegoers pictured queuing to enter the course on day one of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse

Large crowds of glamorously dressed racegoers made their arrival for Day One of Cheltenham today

Mike Tindall, wearing his Oakham Fleece Gilet in Navy from Schoffel, hands out copies of Sporting Life to racing enthusiasts at Paddington Station, London in celebration of the start of the Cheltenham Festival

Mike posed with fans as he today handed out copies of Sporting Life to racing enthusiasts at Paddington Station

The husband of Zara Tindall beamed as he kicked off Cheltenham Festival festivities this morning

Mike was all smiles as he handed out copies to commuters at Paddington Station in London this morning

Sporting Life, the renowned racing publisher, has revived their newspaper for one day only, distributing limited editions to mark the event

A commuter grinned as she took a copy of the newspaper from Mike on her travels at Paddington Station

Say cheese! Racegoers pose up a storm as they arrive on day one of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse

Laughs all round! Grinning racegoers arrive for day one of the festival in Gloucestershire

Stylish and sophisticated! Others opted for black and grey looks for the day out

Racegoers queue to get in to the racecourse ahead of the first day of action at the festival

While the eight-year-old missed the 2024 edition of the festival, it beat Lossiemouth at Kempton in January and remains unbeaten with eight Grade One victories.

In another of the first day's top races - the Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase - Majborough has also been tipped for victory.

Anyone looking to back an outsider may be best placed hedging their bets on the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, which is scheduled to get underway at 1:20pm on Tuesday afternoon.

At 12/1, Workhead has been predicted to beat odds-on favourite Kopek Des Bordes (5/6) in the first race of the day.

The supercomputer also predicts that Crebilly will beat The Ultima Handicap Chase favourite The Changing Man, which is pencilled in for 2:40pm.

However, the biggest upset could come in the Mares Hurdle, with the algorithm predicting champion Lossiemouth at 4/5 to lose out to Jade De Grugy at 5/2.

Lossiemouth is also due to race against overwhelming favourite Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle at 4:00pm in the day's headline race.
An ex police dog injured in the line of duty and left with only three legs has won a Crufts hero award.

Retired Essex Police pooch, Baloo, is the latest recipient of the Crufts 2025 Hero Dog award, after winning over the public and scoring a whopping 120,000 votes, the BBC has reported.

Crufts is a prestigious dog show put on by The Kennel Club, which takes place every year in the United Kingdom.

In 2018, the eight-year-old Belgian Malinois was hit during a high speed car chase as a suspected criminal tried to flee the police. Baloo was left with a crushed pelvis, effectively ending her career as a service dog, the force revealed.

Baloo's injuries were so dire that her front leg had to be amputated, while both sides of her pelvis required screwed in metal plates.

After the accident, she needed tailored treatment and care, after which her handler at the police, PC Ross Ashcroft, decided to retire her from the team.

Still, owner Mandy Chapman, 61, also from Essex, has spoken highly of the hound, and says her 'terrible injuries' haven't deterred her from helping others.

'She is an amazing dog through and through' she told the BBC. 'Despite her disability and the terrible injuries she sustained, she has come through it all so well and finds joy in life, as well as giving joy in life, every single day'.

Retired Essex Police pooch, Baloo, is the latest recipient of the Crufts 2025 Hero Dog award (Pictured left to right: Paralympian Ellie Simmonds OBE, Baloo's owner Mandy Chapman, Baloo and Josephine Hamilton OBE)

Mandy also revealed the dog's almost supernatural-like calming powers, which she called 'amazing'.

'She's only got one paw, but she gives it to people and looks deep into their eyes - it's amazing' said Mandy. 'She proves that however hard things get, you can get through it. She is super soppy and sharing her is so rewarding, I love every second of it' she added.

Both Baloo and Mandy were presented with the Kennel Club Hero Dog Award by campaigner Josephine Hamilton OBE and Paralympian Ellie Simmonds OBE during the event held at NEC arena, Birmingham on March 9.

The duo were honoured with a ribbon and cheque for 5,000, which they donated to their favourite dog charity  the Essex Retired Police Dog Fund of course.

Essex Police remain proud of Baloo and say she continues to help people from all walks of life.

'Baloo's story and her road to recovery, resonates with lots of adults and children', revealed the force.

In 2018, the eight-year-old Belgian Malinois was hit during a high speed car chase as a suspected criminal tried to flee the police. Baloo was left with a crushed pelvis, effectively ending her career as a service dog (Pictured: Baloo and Mandy frolic in the park)

The duo were honoured with a ribbon and cheque for 5,000, which they donated to their favourite dog charity  the Essex Retired Police Dog Fund of course

'With Mandys help, Baloo uses what happened to her to help others visiting local schools and community groups. The pair teach people about overcoming adversity, never giving up, staying strong and being kind'.

Although Baloo has officially retired from her police role, she 'remains very much a part of the Essex Police family' it stated.

Baloo is currently the mascot for Essex Police Force.

The news comes as Crufts has come under fire for selecting a four-year-old whippet as this year's Best in Show - as furious viewers say a fan favourite was 'robbed'.

Miuccia, was crowned Best in Show winner at the 2025 Crufts, while Tibetan Mastiff, Viking, was named runner-up.

Praised for her 'beautiful elegance', the female whippet, owned by Enrico De Gaspar, was chosen by judge Patsy Hollings, beating the winners of six other groups to bag the trophy.

She made history with her win as the first time an Italian dog has won best in show at Crufts, and the fourth time for a whippet.

Judge Patsy Hollings made the final decision of Best in Show, with a Miniature Schnauzer, Gundog, Spaniel (Cocker), Australian Shepherd and Jack Russell missing out on the coveted title.

But the announcement has since caused an uproar among fans, who have blasted the 'shocking' decision on social media, claiming the judges 'robbed' Jack Russell, Ana, of the crown.

The two-year-old pup, from Italy, stole the hearts of viewers after winning the Terrier Group title, qualifying for one of just seven places in the Best in Show final on Sunday.

Following the announcement of the winner, the show's narrator had even remarked: 'The Jack Russell was the public winner, but didn't make the podium this time.'

Taking to X, one furious fan wrote underneath a post uploaded to Crufts' account: 'JRT should have won it. Shocking decision.'

Another said: 'Shame it couldn't have been the whippet and that lovely little Jack Russell, both were sweeties.'

A third commented, 'I loved the little Jack Russell, she should have won,' while a fourth fumed, 'Should have been the Jack Russell. Absolutely a joke.'
Rosie O'Donnell has revealed her decision to move across the pond to Ireland - because she cannot stand living in Donald Trump's America.

The diehard liberal actress and comedian - who has a long history of speaking out against the conservative President - shared a nine-minute video in which she updated fans about her new life outside of the U.S.

At the start of the clip, the 62-year-old confirmed that she buckled under the pressure and couldn't face living in the US under Trump, so she packed her bags and moved on January 15 - just days before the inauguration.

The outspoken Trump hater told her 2.5 million followers that she's having a 'wonderful' time living in Ireland - but admitted that she is already missing things about the US.

She said: 'It's been pretty wonderful, I have to say. The people are so loving and so kind, so welcoming. And I'm very grateful.'

She noted that leaving the States was something she never expected to happen in her life, adding: 'I was never someone who thought I would move to another country, that's what I decided would be the best for myself and my 12-year-old child. And here we are.'

Rosie, who has been a vocal President Trump critic over the years, admitted she is already missing many elements of her life in America as she continued: 'You know, I'm happy. Clay is happy. I miss my other kids. I miss my friends.

'I miss many things about life there at home and I'm trying to find a home here in this beautiful country.'

Rosie O'Donnell has revealed her shock decision to move across the pond and confirmed that she now calls Ireland home due to her political views

Opening up about what could see her return to her home, she added: 'And when it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, that's when we will consider coming back.'

Rosie then noted the changes being made in the country since Trump took office and added: 'It's been heartbreaking to see what's happening politically and hard for me personally as well. The personal is political, as we all know.'

Indeed, Rosie made it clear she was currently happy with her decision and explained that everyone in Dublin was 'friendly,' and she had 'met a bunch of people' over the past two months.

She noted that fans had expressed concern and added: 'Sorry for those of you who were worried and who missed me. I just felt like we needed to take care of ourselves and make some hard decisions and follow through.

'And now as we're getting settled, I was ready to post this and to tell everybody what's been going on.'

The star had hinted at the move on Friday, March 7, when she posed for a selfie snap behind the wheel of a car while mentioning how she's having a difficult time driving on a different side of the road.

'Bought a little used car to tool around the countryside on the wrong side of the road,' she wrote on Instagram, before confessing: 'Hit the curb three times - thought I hit a cat!!! #newadventures.'

She also showed her daughter Dakota in the backseat of the car with her backpack beside her in another photo on Instagram, which the former host of The View recently made private.

O'Donnell also has four other children, but they are all past the age to go to school.

Taking to TikTok on Tuesday, the actress and comedian shared a nine-minute video in which she updated fans about her new life outside of the U.S.

Known for her harsh war of words with Trump over the years, even before he became president, the mother of five has been even more vocal to hammer his tough talk and policies in interviews and on social media since he started his first term in 2016.

In one of more recent critiques she shared a video on TikTok of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hugging children and picking them up with a smile on his face.

'If only the current president had a drop of his caring committed heart #resist #protest #defythem #love #FDT,' she wrote in the caption.

In December, O'Donnell took to TikTok to bash Time magazine for naming Donald Trump its man of the year for 2024, as reported by The Daily Beast.

'Man of the year, Donald Trump. Well, f**k you Time Magazine. F**k you, seriously,' O'Donnell said. 'How about most dangerous man of the year? How about most criminal man of the year? How about the worst president we've ever had of the year.'

Rosie becomes the latest celebrity to have move in the wake of Trump being elected to a second term in office.

At the start of the clip, the 62-year-old confirmed that the move happened on January 15, just days before President Donald Trump's inauguration

The star had hinted at the move on March 7, when she posed for a selfie snap behind the wheel while mentioning how she's having a difficult time driving on a different side of the road

Among the stars to recently move are actor Richard Gere, who sold his $11 million Connecticut home in November and moved to Madrid, Spain, in part to be closer to his wife's in-laws, according to Vanity Fair.

Gere, 75, told the outlet he felt it would be a 'great adventure' to relocate with Alejandra and their sons Alexander, five, and James, four, 'because I have never lived full-time outside of the United States.'

Former talk show host, comedian, and long-time liberal Ellen DeGeneres, 67, and her wife Portia de Rossi, 52, opted to move to the English countryside in December.

In a 20th anniversary tribute to her wife DeGeneres wrote how she was 'so happy we get to travel and explore the world together' in a selfie snap taken in the UK.
A British man has told of his astonishing journey to become one of the first fathers in the UK to naturally conceive a baby.

Malachi Clarke, who lives in Tilehurst in Berkshire, was born female but made the decision to transition to male aged 19.

A year later, the now 27-year-old paid over 6,000 to undergo surgery privately to remove his breasts after facing a five year wait on the NHS. He has not undergone 'bottom surgery', known medically as phalloplasty.

The administrative palliative care worker met his partner Charlie, 31, in 2022 and just weeks later discovered he was pregnant. The couple were engaged after six months.

Yet, despite legally registering as male in 2021 and receiving his gender recognition certificate, he is registered as the mother on his son's birth certificate, with Charlie, a nursery worker, the father.

This anomaly means Malachi is both legally male and legally female simultaneously.

Malachi said he was 'proud' to have given birth as a man and the couple now plan to have more children to give their two-year-old son a 'friend for life'.

He is not the first man in the UK to have given birth  in 2019 Hayden Cross, from Gloucester, welcomed his daughter at the age of 21. Malachi, however, is among the first to have conceived a baby naturally.

Cross, who decided to pause his gender reassignment process in 2016, used a sperm donor he found on Facebook.

The anonymous donor delivered the sperm to his door, before Cross inserted it into his vagina using a syringe, because he could not afford fertility treatment.

Recalling his pregnancy, Malachi told The Mirror: 'Being pregnant made me feel more Malachi than any other part of my transition.

'I loved it and would happily be pregnant again. I don't believe in gender roles.

'I'm not deluded to how the world has written biology  but it's a societal construct. I felt like a man who has a reproductive system.'

He added: 'I don't care that I'm down as mother on the birth certificate. I know who I am  I'm his dad.

'Yes, it would be lovely if the system was more progressive, but that change will come, there's no need to shout about it.'

After coming out to his family as trans at 17, Malachi who was adopted with his sister at 18 months old, began taking testosterone aged 20 in June 2018.

He is not the first man in the UK to have given birth  in 2019 Hayden Cross, from Gloucester, welcomed his daughter at the age of 21

In 2019, appearing on ITV's Lorraine he said carrying a child for nine months as a transgender man was 'a big battle' and he wouldn't advise anyone to go through it

He suffered from gender dysphoria, a condition where a person's sense of identity does not match their assigned gender at birth, he told The Mirror.

He then paid for top surgery the following year, funded by working a 100-hour work week.

'If I want something, I go get it. I think the trans community cause their own problems,' he said.

'Yes, there's a long wait time. Access to our healthcare is difficult, but it's the same for all sorts of health problems, not just gender.'

Eighteen months after he stopped taking testosterone in a bid to to help clear severe acne  a common side effect of taking the hormone therapy  he met Charlie.

Testosterone, taken by trans men as part of transgender hormone treatment, plays a key role in increasing facial and body hair, deepening the voice, increasing muscle mass and stopping menstruation.

Under NHS guidance, the health service recommends stopping testosterone at least three months before getting pregnant, over fears it could affect the baby's development.

'My periods restarted, and my severe acne, which had been caused by testosterone, cleared up. My body's reproductive system had kicked back in,' Malachi said.

In 2023, transgender man Logan Brown, appeared on the front cover of Glamour UK announcing his pregnancy

After matching with Charlie on Facebook Dating and meeting for coffee, they realised they clicked instantly and spent as much time as possible together.

A month later he realised he was pregnant and after six months, they got engaged.

Their son, now two, calls Malachi 'daddy' and Charlie, 'dadda'.

'You do have to stop your hormones but you don't need to freeze your eggs. If you're trans and you want to have kids naturally, go ahead because you can, like we did,' Malachi said.

Both men acknowledged that they will have to explain to their son that one his dads was originally born female and that he may be teased when he's older.

But they hope the school he attends is both inclusive and supportive.

'I'm just a man who has a vagina. If people want to see me another way, that's their problem  not mine,' Malachi added.

He is now among just a handful of British men who have given birth.

He added that his pregnancy was unexpected and it felt like his 'whole world stopped' when he took a test with his partner Bailey J Mills and it showed a positive result

In 2017, transgender man Hayden Cross from Gloucester revealed he had given birth to daughter Trinity-Leigh.

The former Asda worker decided to pause his gender reassignment process in 2016 in order to focus on starting a family.

He asked the NHS to freeze his eggs before he completed his transition.

This is an option offered to some trans men who plan to undergo gender reassignment surgery, which involves removing the female reproductive organs including the ovaries.

Frozen eggs allows for the option of conceiving via IVF, and using a surrogate to carry the baby.

However, Cross was left devastated when doctors refused to give him the 4,000 treatment.

Instead, he decided to seek a sperm donor online and became pregnant with Trinity-Leigh in 2016 after inseminating himself with a syringe.

In 2023, transgender man Logan Brown appeared on the front cover of Glamour UK magazine announcing his pregnancy.

He told interviewers: 'I am a transgender pregnant man and I do exist, so no matter what anybody says, I literally am living proof.'

He added that his pregnancy was unexpected and it felt like his 'whole world stopped' when he took a test with his partner and it showed a positive result.
Are your medications making you miserable? Over the past decade researchers have uncovered significant links between many of our most commonly used drugs  from over-the-counter indigestion remedies to heart pills  and patients taking them suffering depression.

Now, alarmingly, scientists are warning that blockbuster slimming jabs such as Wegovy, Ozempic and Saxenda may also carry a risk of depression  just as the Government is planning to put millions of Britons on such drugs (which are known as GLP-1 agonists).

In a study recently published in the journal Scientific Reports, based on eight years' worth of data from more than 160,000 obese patients, those taking the slimming drugs had nearly treble the normal risk of depression and double the risk of anxiety  while their risk of suicidal behaviour was up to three times higher compared with people who weren't on the drugs, reported researchers from Chung Shan Medical University in Taiwan.

Yi-Sun Yang, a professor of medicine who led the study, said: 'This finding holds significant importance, noting that studies have typically excluded patients with a history of psychiatric disorders  resulting in a lack of data for understanding the long-term consequences of GLP-1 drug use in patients with obesity.'

In fact, depression is a worryingly common side-effect with a number of widely used prescription medicines.

Research in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2018 found that more than a third of adults are taking medications known to carry a risk of causing depression as a side-effect. And the more types of medications someone takes, the higher their depression risk.

The researchers warned: 'The use of prescription medications that have depression as a potential adverse effect is common and associated with greater likelihood of depression.'

Indeed recent research has highlighted this risk for numerous widely used medications, including those that treat acid reflux, such as omeprazole; beta-blockers such as atenolol; drugs used to treat high blood pressure and irregular heartbeats.

Rimonabant, an anti-obesity agent, was withdrawn from the market in 2008 due to depressive side effects

Other drugs linked to depression include some prescription-only antibiotics, steroids, Parkinson's drugs and the Pill (more of which later).

And GLP-1s are not the first weight-loss drugs linked to psychiatric problems.

Rimonabant, an anti-obesity agent, was withdrawn from the market in 2008 due to these kinds of side-effects. Brand name Acomplia, it was launched by the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis in 2006 in Europe, but its licence was withdrawn there after it was found to be causing an unacceptable level of psychiatric disorders, particularly depression.

In a letter to British healthcare professionals explaining the withdrawal, the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) wrote: 'There was approximately a doubling of the risk of symptoms such as depression, sleep disturbance, anxiety and aggression.'

Rimonabant acts as an appetite suppressant by inhibiting the release of hunger hormones in the brain. In 2010, a report in the journal Neurobiology of Disease by drug-maker Pfizer, which itself abandoned attempts to launch a similar type of slimming drug (called a cannabinoid receptor antagonist), said that the medication may cause depression because it also lowers levels of the 'feelgood' brain chemical serotonin and causes inflammation in the brain that might cause mood to plummet.

The MHRA letter said that the depressive side-effects of rimonabant may have been more common in clinical practice than in the clinical trials.

Could the same happen with the GLP-1 agonist drugs?

The researchers involved in the recent study in Scientific Reports suggest that GLP-1s may reduce levels of dopamine in the brains of some patients.

Weight loss drugs may reduce levels of dopamine, which prompts feelings of motivation and reward, in some patients

Low dopamine levels are linked with depression  possibly because dopamine prompts feelings of motivation and reward, so a shortage can cause people's moods to plunge.

This latest study echoes the results from research last year, based on World Health Organisation data on reported side-effects  this showed that people who took semaglutide (the drug in Wegovy and Ozempic) were 45 per cent more likely to have thoughts of suicide or self-harm than people on other medications, reported the journal JAMA Network Open.

Numbers of such side-effects could rise as the Government announced in December that the GLP-1 drug Mounjaro (generic name tirzepatide) will be rolled out on the NHS in England to 3.5million Britons, starting this month: Mounjaro will be offered to people with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 35 and at least one obesity-related health problem.

The problem is that while many people clearly benefit from their medication, they may not realise it could also be raising their risk of depression. Or that it might be why they feel so low.

'If you can associate the onset of your depressive feelings with starting the medicine, then that's a strong sign it may be a side-effect,' says Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Independent Pharmacies Association.

Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Independent Pharmacies Association, says you should not stop taking medication that you suspect is causing side effects without first consulting your doctor

However, she stresses: 'Many of these medications can treat serious health problems. So if you feel depressive symptoms, you should not just stop taking them without first discussing this with your doctor, as having your meds swapped for similar prescribed ones may make a real difference.'

Here, we look at some of the other commonly prescribed medications with this worrying side-effect

Heartburn drugs

People who regularly take proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) to treat indigestion and heartburn have more than double the normal risk of developing depression, according to a study of more than 70,000 Americans' health records, published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports in 2022.

PPI drugs suppress acid production in the stomach  around one in six UK adults take PPIs, according to a BMJ report in 2023.

Scientists have suggested various ways in which PPI drugs, which can also be bought over-the-counter, may cause depression.

They may interfere with proteins in nerves throughout the body and brain, raising the risk of neurological damage that can lead to depression and dementia, reported the journal Neural Plasticity in 2018.

Another study, in 2018, suggested that the psychological side-effects of PPIs are potentially caused by the reduced absorption of nutrients, especially vitamin B12 (stomach acid helps to break down food).

Vitamin B12 helps to maintain the neurological system and a deficiency may cause cognitive impairment and neurological disorders, according to researchers at Cardiff University.

Beta blockers

Beta blockers have been used for decades to treat patients after a heart attack  the drugs block the effects of adrenaline, causing the heart to beat more slowly and with less force, which in turn lowers blood pressure.

Beta blockers also help widen veins and arteries to improve blood flow. Numerous studies suggest that they may increase people's risk of depression.

A study last November suggested that the patients most likely to suffer depression as a side-effect of beta-blocker drugs were also the least likely to benefit from taking them, reported the New England Journal of Medicine.

This found that many heart attack survivors don't actually need to take beta blockers because their hearts' pumping ability hasn't been damaged. What's more, these unnecessarily treated patients are the most likely to experience depressive symptoms as a result of taking the drugs.

Previously researchers have suggested various reasons for the link between beta blockers and depression.

One theory is that they interfere with the 'feelgood' brain chemical serotonin, or alternatively the pills may reduce the brain's production of the hormone melatonin, also thought to cause depression, according to a 2022 paper in the journal Drug Safety.

The authors, led by Christoph Meier, a professor of pharmacology at the University of Basel in Switzerland, recommended that people with depression as a consequence of taking beta blockers may benefit from changing to another class of drugs called hydrophilic beta-blockers, which don't penetrate the protective blood-brain barrier.

Steroids

Steroids are used widely to treat conditions such as arthritis, asthma, eczema and allergies, by lowering inflammation.

However, they have also been linked to symptoms of depression. In 2022, scientists at Leiden University Medical Centre in The Netherlands reported that this may be because they cause structural changes in the brain.

This was based on more than 750 UK patients who were taking the drugs long term  for months or years: they had a smaller amygdala, a region of the brain linked with the processing and regulation of emotions.

Other reasons have been suggested, including steroids reducing levels of the 'feelgood' chemical serotonin.

The pill

Women using birth-control pills may have as much as 130 per cent increased risk of depression, particularly in the first two years of taking them, according to a 2023 study in the journal Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences.

Based on the health records of more than 264,000 British women, this analysis showed the risk seemed to have disappeared within two years of women stopping birth control pills.

This echoes a previous study by the University of Copenhagen, based on more than one million Danish women's health records and published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry in 2016.

It found that the longer a woman was prescribed a hormonal contraceptive, the greater her risk of being treated with antidepressant drugs for the first time.

Previous studies have suggested that the hormones in the Pill, particularly progesterone, may disrupt some women's brain function in some way.
Falling ill on a holiday overseas can be traumatic. You're hundreds of miles away from your GP; you may not speak the language and there's bound to be wrangling over your travel insurance.

But if you're taken sick on a cruise ship, help is immediately on hand, thanks to at least one fully trained doctor and two nurses on board at all times.

Indeed, getting a near-immediate appointment with a doctor on the high seas can be far easier than booking yourself in to see your GP back home.

We all know that bugs can spread fast on a ship  but what isn't so well-known is how well-equipped cruise ships are for medical emergencies (although full-scale surgery under general anaesthetic is not possible).

'For a lot of passengers, access to good medical support on a cruise ship is the difference between going on a holiday and not going on a holiday,' says Dr Robert Teru, who trained in emergency medicine and now works for Hanseatic Maritime Health, a company that supplies doctors and nurses to a number of cruise lines.

Perhaps easy access to medical support is a contributing factor for more people than ever now taking a cruise.

That's some 30 million a year worldwide  2.3 million of them from the UK  and a high proportion of those are over the age of 70, with a good many well into their 80s or even 90s.

Indeed, if you go on a cruise off-season and get a really good deal, it can almost be cheaper than living at home  but with prompt medical care thrown in. Ambassador Cruise Line has two ships and operates all year round, leaving from Tilbury Docks, part of the Thames lower reaches, to the east of London.

The onboard hospital always has at least one doctor and one nurse on duty

I'm on board Ambassador's Ambience, prior to the ship leaving for a six-week cruise around the Caribbean.

And while it's instructive to hear of the highlights passengers will experience along the way  quizzes, excursions, West End shows, lectures  my interest is on what happens when things aren't so swinging.

What's the drill if Ambience is half-way across the Atlantic and a passenger has a stroke or heart attack? What if an elderly person with brittle bones falls heavily on the dance floor, perhaps after ordering too many margaritas?

The answer is that they would be brought to the onboard 'hospital' on deck four  where there is always at least one doctor and one nurse on duty.

(Under rules drawn up by the American College of Emergency Physicians, in conjunction with the cruise industry trade body, Cruise Lines International Association, CLIA, all ocean-going cruise ships worldwide must have medical staff on call at all times  and they must be trained in emergency medicine.)

A poorly passenger would then be admitted to one of three 'wards' (two beds in each) or, more likely, shown into the single-bed intensive care unit (ICU). If it's not quite a military hospital ship, the ICU is still equipped with ventilators; electrocardiogram machines to monitor a person's heart; X-ray equipment, defibrillators and shelves stacked with medications of every kind.

'We have drugs worth more than 50,000 on board and our inventory is such that we never let supplies run low,' says Dr Teru.

The ship also has a laboratory set-up for testing blood samples, including a full blood count as well as for helping diagnose a range of conditions, including liver disease, kidney problems, cardiac issues and metabolic disorders such as diabetes and gout.

The feel of the onboard facility was similar to that of a 'cottage hospital'

The medical facilities onboard Ambience are far more sophisticated than I had expected. It feels like walking into a cottage hospital, albeit one with no natural light, with sound-proofing such that you never hear any other activities onboard.

Minor surgery or procedures that do not require general anaesthetic can also be performed on board  from stitches and draining abscesses, to removing cysts and benign growths.

The most common conditions seen onboard  in addition to tummy bugs (if there's an outbreak of something like norovirus, passengers are isolated and treated in their cabins)  are chest infections in winter; and accidents or mobility problems in summer.

There is also the occasional emergency  and Dr Teru tells me about a recent example.

'A woman had a heart attack near Madeira and we were too far away for a helicopter to come and winch her off the ship  which happens in serious cases  and so we kept her in the intensive care unit for five days until we got back to the UK,' he says. She is apparently now recovering well.

Christian Marshall, 78, from Clacton-on-Sea, reflects on the 24/7 care with huge relief.

He and his wife, Carol, were three days into a two-week cruise around the coast of Britain and Ireland last summer when Christian woke in the night, coughing violently, with a sore throat, throbbing headache and, what he didn't know at the time, sky-high blood pressure.

'I felt dangerously ill, worse than anything I had ever experienced before,' he says. 'I was admitted to the ICU room and underwent every kind of test, culminating in a diagnosis of acute bronchopneumonia.'

This is a serious infection which can affect breathing  and is sometimes fatal. Christian, an ex-station officer with Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service in Southampton, believes it started with an infection that he picked up on the ship.

'For the next few days I was put on a nebuliser (which converts medication into a breathable mist) to widen my airways and counter the infection directly in the lungs,' he says.

'The care I received was outstanding from start to finish.'

So outstanding that Christian, who is now back to good health apart from the fact that his voice has not fully recovered, believes he would have died if the same thing had happened to him at home.

'My wife would have taken me to Colchester Hospital, which is 30 miles away, and no doubt there would have been a long delay in A&E,' he says.

'As it was, it took three attempts once we got back from the cruise for me to see a doctor.'

Almost all cruise ships insist on passengers having travel insurance before boarding. Any charges are sent direct to the insurance companies.

On Ambassador ships, these amount to 90 for a consultation with a doctor and 50 for intravenous treatment.

In Christian's case, he was insured with Nationwide Worldwide Travel, which picked up the whole bill apart from a 50 excess charge. His total claim came to nearly 2,300.

Michael Barnett, 72, had a similar experience some years ago on board Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas during a Mediterranean cruise.

'We docked in Livorno in Italy and were offered a trip to Pisa,' he recalls.

'I started to climb the steps at the foot of the Leaning Tower, but became short of breath and then could hardly move.'

After being helped back on to the ship, he went straight to the medical centre.

One patient described their care aboard the cruise ship as 'outstanding from start to finish'

At first, Michael, an art curator, thought it might have something to do with a build-up of wax in his ears, something to which he was prone  although he realised that didn't explain the shortness of breath.

'A doctor insisted on testing my 'vital signs' and discovered my blood pressure was off the scale,' he says.

'She managed to bring it under control with medication and said I must see my GP as soon as I got back to London.'

Michael did this the morning after returning home  his blood pressure was still dangerously high. An ambulance was called and he was sent to hospital.

'I was inches away from having a stroke,' says Michael.

Since then, he has been on several cruises and they are now his holiday of choice.

'It's reassuring to know that you can see a doctor at any time and that the medical equipment on board is of such a high standard,' he says.

Of course, some passengers are not as fortunate. It is estimated that around 200 people die each year on a cruise  mainly from strokes, heart attacks or trauma from a fall.

Cruise lines inform their crews about a death with a special coded announcement.

One company uses 'Operation Bright Star' for a medical emergency and 'Operation Rising Star' to indicate that a passenger has died.

On Ambassador ships, the code is 'Alpha' for when someone has passed away.

All ships have a morgue, usually big enough to store up to five bodies (the one on Ambience can hold three)  although there are stories of morgues filling up and bodies having to be put in wine cellars on round-the-world cruises. Bodies can either be taken off the ship at the next port of call  which is expensive  or remain on board until reaching their home port.

It is still possible  although rare and requires a great deal of paper work  to be buried at sea, amounting to a substantial financial saving for relatives of the deceased.

Ceremonies in these circumstances are held early in the morning before other passengers are up and about.

The ship would slow to its lowest speed and senior officers form a guard of honour, as the body, wrapped in a biodegradable bag, is placed on a hydraulic platform and tipped into the sea at the appropriate moment.

In a sad, albeit comical, story, about 20 years ago, a junior crew member accidentally pulled the lever, sending the body on its way before the dead man's widow had arrived on deck for the service.

'In the ensuing panic, sacks of potatoes were hurriedly substituted and covered up in a bag so that the service could proceed as planned, with the next of kin none the wiser,' a cruise expert told me.

There seems to be little prejudice against allowing passengers with ongoing health issues to join a cruise.

Most cruise companies accept that, given the age profile, it would be unusual if they didn't have pre-existing health issues.

From passengers' perspective, what's important is that their travel insurance should cover pre-existing conditions or they have a 'fit to travel' certificate  although cruise lines will have their own rules on this.

'We welcome people as long as they are deemed fit for travel,' says Nick Hughes, chief operations officer for Ambassador Cruise Lines.

'Our message is: 'Come and enjoy your holiday and if something bad happens we will look after you.' '

As I leave Ambience, passengers are still boarding  some are sprightly, others arrive on mobility scooters.

All are looking forward to a change of scene in the knowledge that they have access to a doctor at any time of day or night.

Unless you're super wealthy, no other holiday offers that.
Nine people have been rushed to hospital in the past 12 months after 'energy boosting' pills caused horrific blisters and sores to erupt all over their bodies.

The seven men and two women had all taken modafinil or armodafinilprescription only drugs designed to treat narcolepsy, a condition that impairs a person's ability to sleep or stay awake.

Armodafinil is not licensed for clinical use in the UK and while modafinil is, patients must be monitored regularly due to the risk of side effects.

Despite this, in recent years the drug has gained popularity among recreation usersincluding students who use to help their stay awake while studying for exams.

Many swap tips and offer advice on how to get hold of the drug without a prescriptionby purchasing online, from overseas pharmacieson social media.

Modafinil has been linked to a rafts of debilitating and destressing side effects including heart rhythm problems, suicidal thoughts and birth defects.

The nine patients, aged between 18 and 57, were rushed to hospitals in Singapore between February 2024 and February 2025, according to officials.

The authority said that they had obtained modafinil and armodafinil from street sellers or from their friends.

Nine people have been rushed to hospital in the past 12 months after 'energy boosting' pills caused horrific blisters and sores to erupt all over their bodies

Six of the patients developed Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), a life-threatening skin reaction characterised by blistering and severe peeling of the skin

The rash usually starts on the upper body before quickly spreading to the face, arms, legs and other areas of the body, such as the genitals

'One had taken them as supplements to boost energy and health,' the agency wrote in a press release.

Six of the patients developed Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), a life-threatening skin reaction characterised by blistering and severe peeling of the skin.

The rash usually starts on the upper body before quickly spreading to the face, arms, legs and other areas of the body, such as the genitals.

Singapore's Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said: 'A male consumer in his 40s developed painful blistering rashes and peeling of the skin, and also had severe oral ulcers that left him unable to eat and speak for a few days.'

The other three suffered toxic epidermal necrolysis, a more severe form of SJS.

The HSA said: 'They had serious skin reactions and developed painful blistering rashes and peeling of skin that spread across the entire body.

'One of them, a male consumer in his 20s, experienced life-threatening blistering of his skin covering 60 per cent of his body, including his face, chest, arms, genitals, legs and the soles of his feet.

'Most of the consumers are recovering and there were no mortalities.'

The seven men and two women had all taken modafinil or armodafinilprescription only drugs designed to treat narcolepsy, a condition that impairs a person's ability to sleep or stay awake.

Besides serious skin conditions, modafinil and armodafinil could cause serious side effects such as heart problems and hypertension, as well as psychiatric conditions such as anxiety, hallucinations or mania.

The medicine also carries a potential risk of dependency due to its stimulant effects on the brain.

Associate Professor Lee Haur Yueh, a senior consultant at the Department of Dermatology at Singapore General Hospital, said: 'Although SJS and TEN are rare, they are life-threatening and can lead to widespread skin damage and in severe cases, organ failure.

'The fact that we are seeing a significant number of cases from armodafinil and modafinil suggests that the risk associated with these medicines is particularly high.

'These medicines should only be taken when prescribed by a doctor and with proper medical supervision to ensure patient safety.'
READ MORE: Doctor warns of five common medications that could cause cancer

Doctors have warned that a common drug used for involuntary movement disorders suffered by millions could cause 'deviant' sexual behavior.

Patients taking the drugs, used to treat restless legs syndrome and Parkinson's, have developed strange urges and problematic habits.

Some became addicted to flashing their nudity in public, others with cheating on their spouses or watching pornography.

In even more disturbing cases, patients ended up collecting child pornography and sexually assaulting minors.

The drugs belong to a class of medication known as dopamine agonists, which work by 'tricking' the brain into thinking it is receiving dopamine.

This helps treat conditions that cause involuntary movements that are linked to low dopamine, but the hormone also plays a crucial role in reward and pleasure.

The most common form in the US is ropinirole, sold under the brand name Requip and prescribed to 3million Americans every year.

Ropinirole, sold under the brand name Requip, is FDA approved to treat Parkinson's and restless leg syndrome symptoms (stock image)

A report from drugmaker GSK dating back to 2003 linked ropinirole to 'deviant' sexual behavior (stock image)

The drug has been linked to addiction and troubling habits in what experts estimate is anywhere from six to 25 percent of patients on the drugs.

In one report, a 29-year-old man in Florida taking the dopamine agonist selegiline for hand cramps began cross-dressing two months after starting the medication.

In another 2008 case report, a 67-year-old man in Brazil experienced changes in his sexual behavior after increasing the dose of his Parkinson's medication pramipexole, a dopamine agonist.

His wife reported he went from wanting sex once a week to every day and developed a sudden preference for anal sex. He also started shouting obscenities during the act.

The man told his doctors these were practices he secretly wanted when he was younger but was too ashamed to ask for.

Dr Ozan Toy, chief medical officer at PsychTMS in New Jersey, told DailyMail.com ropinirole is 'generally a safe drug, but like all drugs, it does come with possible side effects.'

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He added: 'The reason these medications can cause this side effect are mainly due to the fact that they upregulate the neurotransmission of dopamine which is the neurotransmitter which is responsible for reward and feelings of happiness.

'When there is too much dopamine, it can sometimes lead to addictive or compulsive behaviors like excessive gambling or sexual behaviors.'

In Australia, Terry Martin spent $150,000 on 162 different sex workers on more than 500 occasions after he started taking dopamine agonists for Parkinson's.

He also claimed he went from being heterosexual to engaging with a transgender man and male prostitutes.

Mr Martin was later found guilty of having sex with a minor and possessing child pornography.

And Phillip Carmichael, a former headmaster in the UK, blamed ropinirole when authorities found 8,000 images and videos of child pornography stored on his computer.

He had been prescribed the drug for Parkinson's and the autoimmune condition Graves' disease, which his lawyers said have played a role in his behavioral issues.

BBC also reported on a woman named Claire who said she would flash her chest at any man she could find.

In 2019, watchdog Public Citizen sued the FDA and demanded black box warnings be added to six dopamine agonists, including Requip, about pathological gambling, compulsive eating and shopping, and hypersexuality.

However, the case was dismissed.

A warning over 'impulse control/compulsive behaviors' was added to the warning label for Requip XL, a form of ropinirole.

The drug has also been linked to compulsive gambling and shopping, even in people who have never gambled

It comes after BBC reported this week that drug firm GSK has known about the link between dopamine agonists and 'deviant' behaviors since 2003.

BBC uncovered a report from the company citing two cases of deviant behavior in men taking ropinirole.

In one, a 63-year-old man assaulted a seven-year-old girl after his libido increased significantly.

In its response to the report linking ropinirole to deviant behavior, GSK told BBC it shared the information with health authorities in the UK and informed updates about the prescribing information.

This now lists 'altered or increased sexual interest' and 'behavior of significant concern' as side effects.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends dopamine agonists only be used in short-term settings, such as end-of-life care.

In 1998, West Virginia high school teacher Ann Klinestiver started taking Requip to control tremors from her Parkinson's.

Though her symptoms improved, she quickly noticed a change. Mrs Klinestiver, who had never been a gambler, was suddenly obsessed with slot machines and would spent 18 hours a day on them.

By the time she was taken off the drug in 2004, she had lost $250,000 and had separated from her husband.

Philip Stevens, 66, from the UK, became a compulsive gambler and shopper after being prescribed a medication for restless leg syndrome

The addiction seemed to disappear within a week of stopping the medication.

Last year, Philip Stevens, 66, from the UK, was awarded 70,000 (about $90,000) from his doctor after he developed a crippling gambling addiction from ropinirole.

The father-of-five had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and restless leg syndrome and was prescribed ropinirole in 2017 to control tremors.

Though he previously bet on horse races, his spokesperson said he was always 'careful and intentional.'

But his gambling 'spiraled out of control' once he started the medication, causing him to wake up in the middle of the night to place bets.

Mr Stevens also started shopping 'compulsively' for clothes that he hid from his wife, and he also felt compelled to go on three-day fishing trips every week and became 'obsessed' with purchasing excessive amounts of fishing equipment.

A major report from the Mayo Clinic evaluated 11 patients with Parkinson's disease taking dopamine agonist drugs and suggested gambling issues could occur even with low doses.

Lead study author Dr Maja-Tippman-Peikert said at the time: 'Physicians should not only monitor Parkinson disease patients for this behavior but also screen their RLS patients who may be on much lower doses of dopamine agonists.'
Millions of Brits with a common condition were today warned that drugs to treat them could trigger an unexpected and bizarre sexual side effect.

The medicines  known as dopamine agonists  interact with parts of the brain that control movement, helping to ease restless leg syndrome, which is thought to impact one in 10 people in the UK.

They are also prescribed for Parkinson's disease  a neurological condition that affects movement, and blights some 150,000 Brits.

Yet, more than a dozen women have now claimed the drugs, such as ropinirole, saw them develop compulsive gambling and sex addictions.

One told investigators how she began leaving her house in the early hours of the morning, despite having a partner, to cruise the streets for sex wearing just a transparent top and jacket.

Another said they felt compelled to gamble and accumulated debts of more than 80,000.

A previous report by drugs firm Glaxosmithkline (GSK) shows it learned of the link between such medicines and what it described as 'deviant' sexual behaviour in 2003.

The 'unusual urge to gamble or increased sexual urges' is also listed as a general warning in the patient information leaflets, tucked inside ropinirole.

More than a dozen women have now come forward claiming the drugs, such as ropinirole, saw them develop compulsive gambling and sex addictions

Graphic courtesy of the Center for Vascular Medicine. It shows the various sensations that a person with RLS feels as they try to fall asleep

However, doctors did not warn them about these serious side effects that led them to seek out such risky sexual behaviour, the women said.

One, known only as Claire, told the BBC she first developed restless leg syndrome during her pregnancies and often suffered sleeplessness and a crawling sensation under her skin.

After the condition persisted once she'd given birth she was prescribed ropinirole but claimed she was not told of any of the drug's side effects.

While her symptoms subsided, after a year on the medication she began to experience unprecedented sexual urges.

'The only way I could describe it is it was just deviant,' she said.

'There remains an element in your head that knows what you're doing is wrong, but it affects you to the point that you don't know you're doing it.'

Claire also recalled leaving her house in the early hours of the morning to cruise for sex, flashing her chest at any man she could find.

She did this regularly, she said, and in increasingly dangerous locations, despite having a partner.

Another woman, known only as Sue, said she was prescribed two different dopamine agonist drugs without being warned of compulsive behaviour side effects She racked up debts totalling 80,000

After finally coming off the medication, the urges disappeared almost immediately she said, adding she felt 'shame' and was 'mortified' by the danger she placed herself in.

Another woman, known only as Sue, said she was prescribed two different dopamine agonist drugs without being warned of compulsive behaviour side effects on either occasion.

She claimed she even told her doctor of her recent gambling habit before the second drug was prescribed, before racking up debts totalling 80,000.

'The effect on my family was horrific  it was life-changing money to lose,' she said.

'But at the time I didn't know it was no fault of my own.'

Earlier this year, one patient with restless leg syndrome hit by the side effect also told The Mail on Sunday that he developed a serious gambling addiction and lost 100,000.

The married father of two, 54, who asked to be referred to only as Mr Wilson, had never placed a bet before he was prescribed a low dose of the dopamine agonist ropinirole in 2014.

After his symptoms persisted his dose was gradually increased over two years.

One woman has also told how she began leaving her house in the early hours of the morning, despite having a partner, to cruise the streets for sex wearing just a see-through top and jacket after being prescribed ropinirole

While they eventually subsided, this was when his other problems began.

'I remember seeing an advert on my computer for an online slot machine, which said it offered better odds than the lottery. I thought, well, I do that so why not give it a go,' he said.

'It started small with bets and I was winning a little. But when I started losing, I would chase my losses. That's when it spiralled and I was betting daily.

'It really drove a wedge between me and my family. I was incredibly secretive about what was going on but my personality started to change and I was becoming aggressive.

'I took out two loans, maxed credit cards and nearly lost all of our savings. I was betting at every opportunity, even while I was at work. It nearly cost me everything.'

According to the UK medicines spending watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, impulsive behaviours, including gambling and increased sex drive, are thought to affect between 6 to 17 per cent of restless leg syndrome patients taking them.

In a statement, GSK told the BBC that Ropinirole had been prescribed for more than 17 million treatments and undergone 'extensive clinical trials'.

It added the drug had proven to be effective and had a 'well-characterised safety profile'.

'As with all medicines, [it] has potential side effects and these are clearly stated in the prescribing information,' it said.

According to the BBC, a class action was brought against GSK in 2011 by four sufferers of Parkinson's disease, who claimed ropinirole led to gambling debts and broken relationships.

They also complained that despite a link between such behaviours and the drug having been established in medical studies, GSK had failed to include any warnings in its product literature until March 2007.

The class action was settled but GSK denied liability.

Last December, Philip Stevens, 66, from Ringwood, Hampshire, also won 70,000 compensation after developing a gambling addiction while taking ropinirole for restless leg syndrome.

The condition leads to an unpleasant 'crawling' sensation in the legs, mostly at night, and an almost irresistible urge to move them.
When Dr Alison Cohen began studying a new and mysterious illness in 2021, she never thought it would come after her.

But three years later, long Covid has upended her life so much that even a run or long drives make her ill.

Dr Cohen, an epidemiologist and long Covid researcher at the University of California San Francisco, said: Long Covid for many, including me, is an energy limiting condition. That means that there are fewer hours in the day to do things, and there are more activities that are off limits.

I am restricted to doing things, socializing or meeting with folks.

Her work and knowledge of long Covid is both a blessing and a curse.

On one hand, it helped her get diagnosed quickly, sparing her the confusion and repeated hospital trips so many patients have to suffer on their road to a diagnosis.

On the other hand, as an expert in the field she knows she'll probably never get treated properly.

Fatigue among the public about the pandemic means research into long Covid is moving at a glacial pace and funding has dried up.

Yet for Dr Cohen and up to 17million Americans with the condition, every taskshowering, chores, work, socializingdrains energy.

Dr Alison Cohen, an epidemiologist and long Covid researcher at the University of California San Francisco, never imagined Long Covid would upend her life, but three years later, even a run or long drives make her ill.

Dr Cohen says theres often not enough energy to get through the day, making careful rationing essential. Some days, even one task feels impossible.

Long Covid has forced one in 10 Americans to stop working or reduce their hours, leading to higher rates of people with the condition being unable to pay their mortgage, buy food, and keep up with doctor visits.

Chronic fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of long Covid. About half of people with the wide-reaching condition meet the diagnostic criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome, according to researchers at Yale University.

It has severely limited Dr Cohens life, as it has millions of other former Covid patients. People have been made to put off social activities  jeopardizing friendships  and leave their jobs.

The fatigue made her bone tired all the time even after sleeping solidly through the night.

Dizziness and brain fog are also common complaints.

Trouble finding words, remembering facts, difficulty concentrating, and following conversions are some effects of brain fog.

Between 20 and 30 percent of long Covid sufferers have reported brain fog as a symptom.

That can be described as the cognitive equivalent of trying to wade through shoulder-high mud, Dr Cohen said.

Long Covid can also affect the heart and lungs in the long term.

Many people with Covid, a respiratory disease, suffer long-lasting scarring that stiffens the lungs.

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Scarring can make it harder to breathe, caused by inflammation that strikes healthy tissue and impairs the lungs ability to circulate oxygen throughout the body.

The lasting inflammation caused by long Covid also puts extra strain on the heart. It can exacerbate issues that people already have in their cardiovascular system.

For instance, scarring can cause arteries to stiffen even more than plaque build-up already has.

Among the most typical effects of Covid on the heart is postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). It causes the heart to beat abnormally fast, with many having a heartbeat of 120 beats per minute.

Inflammation damages small nerve fibers that dictate when blood vessels widen or constrict.

The blood vessels may not constrict properly in people with POTS. Instead, the heart rate increases even more than usual to compensate for these lazy blood vessels.

There have been millions of Americans diagnosed with long Covid, which causes symptoms that last for months or even years.

Long-term Covid can cause lasting changes to the immune system, making it weaker and making typical infections like Covid reinfection and flu more severe.

Long Covid has forced one in 10 Americans to cut work hours or stop working, leaving many unable to afford housing, food, or medical care

Dr Cohen said: The only thing we know that makes long COVID worse is getting re-infected.

'That means I work very hard to avoid reinfection. Since I was infected while wearing an N95 mask and being vaccinated, I know that one-way masking is insufficient protection for me.

Given the general negative attitude toward masking, Dr Cohen does not feel entirely comfortable going out in public.

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The latest research by Dr Cohen and her team on the antiviral Paxlovid, has yielded mixed results.

Five of the 13 people in the clinical trial experienced symptom relief, such as reduced brain fog after 15 days on the drug, whereas the rest didnt see any lasting improvements.

Dr Cohen said: We are about 5 years into the pandemic, and there are not yet any federally approved treatments for long Covid.

This is not a silver bullet, but it may help a lot of people in a meaningful way.

With over 200 symptomsranging from dizziness to severe fatigue leaving people bed-bound  long Covid lacks a standard test or treatment, leading doctors to misdiagnose it as conditions like depression or asthma.
A Texas man whose daughter became America's first measles death in a decade has spoken out about his loss for the first time.

Peter, who declined to provide his last name, choked back tears when a reporter asked him if he knew the victim in a parking lot, saying: 'That's our kid.'

The father-of-five and 28-year-old construction worker said his girl had only been six years old. She was also unvaccinated, like many in the community.

But he told The Atlantic it was 'God's will' that she had died from the disease, before adding, 'everyone has to die.'

He also said he considers getting measles a normal part of life and still maintains doubts about the vaccine.

Studies show the shot is 97 percent effective against measles, while extensive research has drawn no link between the vaccine and autism.

The girl, who was not named, was the first of two people to have died in the outbreak, with another fatality reported in an unvaccinated adult in New Mexico last week.

They are the first fatalities from the disease in the US since 2015. More than 250 people have been infected and 29 have been hospitalized in the most recent outbreak that has spread from Texas to New Mexico and Oklahoma.

A 28-year-old Mennonite man named Peter in Seminole, Texas, revealed his six-year-old daughter was America's first measles death in a decade. The above image is a Mennonite church service in Seminole

The above is a stock image of a child infected with measles in Texas

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Revealing his daughter was the first fatality to The Atlantic, Peter said he belongs to a Mennonite community in Seminole, Texas, where many of its residents are unvaccinated against the measles.

Revealing his daughter's illness, he said she had been sick for three weeks.

The family knew it was measles and took her to the hospital at one point, but doctors gave her cough medicine and told the family to 'go home.'

'They don't want to help us,' Peter said.

But as the girl's condition deteriorated, the family brought her back to doctors who put her on a ventilator.

Peter explained: 'She just kept getting sicker and sicker. Her lungs plugged up. We were there Saturday til Monday, three days  and then it was worse, very bad.'

That Tuesday, the girl died of pneumonia, which is common in severe measles cases.

Most Texas cases, 156 in total, have been in Gaines county, where Seminole is located.

The vaccination rate in the area is 82 percent, well below the 95 percent needed to maintain herd immunity. The national average was 93 percent last school year.

The above shows Seminole, in the west of Texas, where the outbreak was first reported. Seminole is located in Gaines county, which has reported the majority of cases

Texas officials have set up a mobile unit to offer tests and vaccinations for measles to parents and children

Many in Mennonite communities like Peter's are unvaccinated, though those figures are not reflected in official data, as the children are often homeschooled or enrolled in nonaccredited schools that don't have to collect data.

The religious doctrine does not forbid vaccines, though many residents, including Peter, have doubts.

He said measles is considered normal for the community and 'everybody has it. It's not so new for us.' He had also heard getting measles could strengthen the immune system against other diseases, a theory Robert F Kennedy Jr has promoted.

Peter also worries about the vaccine's potential effects on his children.

'The vaccination has stuff we dont trust. We dont like the vaccinations, what they have these days,' he said.

'We heard too much, and we saw too much'

Peter also insisted the Mennonite community, where most of the Texas cases are centered, has been unjustly singled out and that it's not just Mennonites spreading the illness.

Peter said his daughter's death was 'very hard' and that it left 'a big hole' in his family.

Before telling reporters he had nothing else to say, he added: 'You probably know how it goes when somebody passes away.

'It's really hard to believe.'
CNN's Scott Jennings has suggested Michelle Obama 'might not be the answer' Democrats are looking for - spawning pushback from his fellow panelists.

The Republican commentator made the remarks on Monday's edition of NewsNight, as Democrats struggle to find a clear post-election messaging strategy.

A new podcast from Obama and her brother Craig Robinson bills itself as said solution - something CNN's so-called 'black sheep' immediately cast doubt upon.

The conversation started after The View's Ana Navarro claimed the planned podcast constituted Obama 'living her best life' - while Former Biden Deputy White House Cabinet Secretary Dan Koh praised the former first lady as 'authentic' and real.

Host Abby Phillip went as far to proclaim 'Who are better at being the messenger than Michelle Obama?' - leading Jennings to weigh in.

The pundit who served as strategist to George W. Bush said the former first lady's influence 'is overrated' - quickly pitting himself against a panel that included Navarro, Koh, and former TMZ presenter Van Lathan Jr.

'Michelle Obama is the most trusted voice on the left, by far,' Lathan Jr first declared, paving the way for Jennings to offer his opinion.

First, the conservative expressed hesitance 'that any politician is the answer' - before reminding Phillip, Navarro, Lathan Jr, and Long Island Republican Bruce Blakeman that both Obamas 'helped engineer [Joe] Biden's ouster' in the first place.

CNN's Scott Jennings has suggested Michelle Obama 'might not be the answer' Democrats are looking for - spawning pushback from his fellow panelists. Jennings made the remarks on Monday's Newsnight, as Democrats struggle to find a clear post-election messaging strategy

A new podcast from Obama and her brother Craig Robinson bills itself as said solution - something CNN's so-called 'black sheep' immediately cast doubt upon

'They put in Harris, they ran the campaign, she campaigned for him, and it was a total failure,' Jennings - reportedly poised to accept a plum pay-raise as one of CNN's rare Republican's voices - said. 'I'm just wondering how good they really are.'

He added separately: 'We all are, sort of, programmed to talk about how great she is and how smart she is.

'I mean, she campaigned a lot for Kamala Harris. She was a key speaker of the Democratic National Convention.

'Barack Obama was a key strategist for this whole thing that happened last year,' he went on, before offering another hard truth.

'And yet somehow Donald Trump still won.

'So, I'm rethinking the premise of that, "She's the answer to the future, or that any politician is the answer to the Democratic party."'

Lathan Jr - currently the cohost of the Ringer's Higher Learning podcast - could be seen staring intently at the commentator as he spoke.

'You like Michelle Obama?' he asked, seemingly daring Jennings to give a certain answer.

The pundit who served as strategist to George W. Bush said the former first lady's influence 'is overrated' - quickly pitting himself against a panel that included Ana Navarro, Former Biden Deputy White House Cabinet Secretary Dan Koh, and former TMZ presenter Van Lathan Jr.

'Yeah, I think she's fine,' Jennings shot back, with a hint of exasperation. 'I'm just looking at what happened last fall.

'I think people like her because she is staying out [of the finger-pointing being seen within the Democratic Party]'.

'I think people like her. Because she's conducted herself with great dignity since she has left the White House.

'And I think people on both sides of the aisle appreciate that, even though she's partisan.'

The fair assessment drew a series of looks from his fellow panelists, before the episode went on to end.

'Thank you everyone, and thank you for watching Newsnight,' Phillip finished,

Jennings' made his assertion a day after his liberal co-panelist Van Jones - a former Obama advisor - declared on air that he was rapidly losing faith in the Democratic Party.

The pundit said so on the set of 'CNN Newsroom' - and couldn't help but let out a laugh as he ran through his party's recent struggles.

'Michelle Obama is the most trusted voice on the left, by far,' Lathan Jr first declared, paving the way for Jennings to offer his opinion. The podcaster appeared the most perturbed by Jennings' comments, as did Navarro and Phillip

He first conceded 'Democrats dont know what to do' with the discord within the party.

'Look, man, were screwed,' he said, presenting the situation as almost a point-of-no-return, while offering a pessimistic prognosis for the future of the more progressive party.

'You know, somebody like Donald Trump, we thought wed at least have Hakeem Jeffries in the Speakers chair to hold him back,' he went on.

'Listen, the Democratic Party is going through a massive set of internal crises. You have a party that got trapped two ways,' Jones explained.

'One, defending a broken status quo that nobody likes because they thought that Donald Trump was going to make it worse.

'And then, [the other faction] offending most people in the country, calling everybody sexist and racist and transphobic and every other name, and then saying, 'please follow us,"' he said, seemingly singling out figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

'Thats not a good strategy, folks,' continued. 'Defending a broken status quo and offending most of the country, turns out, is not as popular as my party thought it was going to be.'

Divisions are currently being seen in the more progressive party, as indicated by the unsanctioned display from several reps and rank-and-file democrats against Trump this past Tuesday

Jennings, meanwhile, is said to be in the final stages of talks that will see him handed a 'hefty' pay raise. He's seen clashing with fellow analyst Ashley Allison on Sunday

Jennings, who' likely have agreed with Jones' assessment had he been on air with him, is said to be in the final stages of talks that will see him handed a 'hefty' pay raise.

News of the contract negotiations was laid bare by former CNN reporter Oliver Darcy, now the founder of media-centered Status.

In a Thursday report, Darcy shed light on some of the terms of the contract - revealing how Jennings asked for his own show but saw the request denied.

The same night it was published, the pundit again surfaced in what's become his usual seat on NewsNight, to once again clash with progressive-minded panelists.

The dynamic has become a theme as of late for the network - as it moves toward a more 'both-sides' commentary.

Obama, meanwhile, announced her podcast Monday. It is titled IMO - short for In My Opinion - and will premiere Wednesday.
A top Democrat has declared Americans only voted for Trump because the US is going through its 'angry teenage years' - and that their brains hadn't been 'fully formed' enough to vote for Kamala Harris.

Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin made the remarks on The View Tuesday, during talks surrounding her party's response to the president's agenda.

She insulted some 77,284,118 citizens in the process - days after delivering the Democratic response to Trump's speech to Congress last week.

Slotkin, 48, did so just two months into her tenure in the US Senate, after beating Republican Mike Rogers in a heated race.

Flanked by hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Sara Haines, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, and Alyssa Farrah Griffin, the progressive started off by saying people in her state voted for both Trump and her - before speaking on behalf of the entire county.

'But I don't think there's anyone who feels like what's going on right now is normal,' she said, on a morning when the economy was still reeling from Trump's tariffs.

'Even if you voted for Trump - right?' she went on, as the panelists nodded in approval.

She went on to offer her patronizing prognosis, eight weeks into Trump's presidency.

Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin on Tuesday declared Americans only voted Trump because the US is going through its 'angry teenage years'

She joked some 77,284,118 Americans' brains hadn't 'fully formed' enough to vote Democrat, after Trump's pronounced electoral win over Kamala Harris

'I think there is a feeling in the country - and I often say this, you know - we're about to turn 250 years old, right?' the former rep for Michigan's 7th congressional district began.

'We're still pretty young for a country. These are, like, our angry teenage years. We are going through this push and pull where we're happy, we're sad.

'We want this, we want that,' she went on.

'What do you do when you have a teenager threatening themselves and others?

'You just try to get them through this period alive so that their brain can fully form, and you can come back to kind of what-'

At this point, Behar - an outspoken Trump critic - interjected to seek clarification.

'Are you talking about Trump?' the View's most tenured host asked.

'No, I'm talking about our country,' Slotkin shot back. 'We're a pendulum swinging.'

Flanked by hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Sara Haines, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, and Alyssa Farrah Griffin, the progressive started off by saying people in her state voted for both Trump and her - before speaking on behalf of the entire county

The back-and-forth was met with some audible laughter from the studio audience, after which Slotkin - a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) analyst - insisted: 'I don't think there is an American that thinks this is normal.'

'Do you think it's a five-alarm fire?' Hostin at this point asked.

The senator responded by painting the administration as 'a threat to our democracy.'

'I think what the president is doing to the economy -- they know their own budget and how much they're spending - so I think, whether it's the economy or our national security... cutting people who keep us safe and then handing over places like Ukraine to a guy like Putin, that's a threat to our democracy.

'Threats to how we are as - who we are as a democracy,' she continued, before being met with a round of uproarious applause.

'I think that we are absolutely in extraordinary times, and it requires an extraordinary response,' she concluded.

The program then went to commercial, after which Slotkin was welcomed back to offer more stern words about the president and what she claimed he is doing to the economy.

'[Trump] is going to make you pay in every part of your life,' she said.

I don't think there's anyone who feels like what's going on right now is normal,' she said, on a morning where the economy was still reeling from Trump's retaliatory tariffs. Trump previously campaigned on improving the economy - a vow Democrats are now honing in on

Last week, Trump's first joint congressional address h was marred by unsanctioned protests from some of her fellow Democrats - many of whom were reprimanded behind the scenes

Last week, Slotkin offered her party's rebuttal to Trump's first joint congressional address, which was marred by unsanctioned protests from some of her fellow Democrats - many of whom were later reprimanded behind the scenes.

'Our democracy, no matter how messy, is unparalleled and worth fighting for. Let's start with the economy,' she said.

'We need to bring down the price of things we spend the most money on. Groceries, housing, health care.

'We need to make more things in America with good paying union jobs and bring our supply chains back home from places like China.

'We need to give American businesses the certainty they need to invest and create the jobs of the future,' she went on.

'And we need a tax system that's fair for people who don't happen to make a billion dollars... So, do Trump's plans actually help Americans get ahead?

'Not even close,' she claimed.

'President Trump is trying to deliver an unprecedented giveaway to his billionaire friends, she said. 'He's on the hunt to find trillions of dollars to pass along to the wealthiest in America.

On Monday, the stock market had its worst day since December - leading Trump to refuse to rule out a recession. Trump previously promised to 'make America affordable again,' a vow Democrats like Slotkin are now keeping tabs on

Simultaneously, the party is experiencing its own problems, as it struggles to unite in a meaningful way against Trump's orders. Pictured, Rep. Al Green interrupting Trump's first address this past Tuesday - an outburst that shows how reps are not on the same page

Trump previously promised to 'make America affordable again,' a vow Democrats like Slotkin are already looking to rub in his face

'And to do that, he's going to make you pay in every part of your life. Grocery and home prices are going up, not down. And he hasn't laid out a credible plan to deal with either of those.

'His tariffs on allies like Canada will raise prices on energy, lumber and cars and start a trade war that will hurt manufacturing and farmers.

'Your premiums and prescriptions will cost more because the math on his proposals doesn't work without going after your health care.

'Meanwhile, for those keeping score, the national debt is going up, not down. And if he's not careful, he could walk us right into a recession.'

On Monday, the stock market had its worst day since December - leading Trump to refuse to rule out a recession.

The admission served in a abrupt about-face from a man who campaigned on addressing - and reversing - economic dissatisfaction.

Trump previously promised to 'make America affordable again,' a vow Democrats like Slotkin are already looking to rub in his face.

Simultaneously, the party is experiencing its own problems, as it struggles to unite in a meaningful way on Trump's litany of orders and guidance.
With concerns over tech stock concentration and valuations in the high-flying US stock market, investors are looking to spread their wings - and way to do that could be by investing in Asia.

In this column, Ryan Lightfoot-Aminoff, investment trust research analyst at Kepler Partners, explains why worries over Donald Trump's tariffs have created an opportunity to buy at a discount.

Asia is home to many exciting growth opportunities, supported by a young, dynamic population with an entrepreneurial mindset.

Some of the worlds leading companies have emerged there over the past few years, the best example being Taiwan Semiconductor, which has been at the core of the AI boom, leading to a share price rise of almost 750 per cent in the past decade.

Asia generates around 60 per cent of global growth, according to the IMF  punching well above its weight in terms of its 40 per cent share of GDP.

Yet despite this, UK investors have just a small percentage of their investments in the region, with allocations to Asia (ex-Japan) making up less than 3 per cent of assets in both open- and closed-end vehicles.

Ryan Lightfoot-Aminoff, investment trust research analyst at Kepler Partners

When looking at the headlines, this caution is understandable. Just in the past couple of years, we have seen a martial law crisis in South Korea, a property sector collapse in China and historys largest banking fraud in Vietnam.

Whilst markets can recover from these  as we have seen in significant rallies across many Asian markets  many investors are now worried about the prospect of significant tariffs imposed by the US administration.

But by focusing on these potential downsides, investors may be overlooking Asias strong upside potential, as well as ignoring the diversity of a region spread across many different countries with varying dynamics driving markets.

Investors looking for growth  particularly those with long-term horizons and the ability to ride out short-term volatility shocks  should consider an allocation to Asia in their portfolios.

Investment trusts are one route into the region, with a considerable range on offer in terms of manager style, risk appetite, and country and sector focus, allowing investors to approach allocation to Asia in a way that fits individual investment needs.

In light of ongoing concerns around tariffs and other risk factors, many of the Asian investment trusts are also trading on significant discounts, offering potential valuation opportunities.

The Asia investment trust opportunities

Pacific Assets (PAC) is one example. Managers David Gait and Doug Ledingham have a risk-conscious approach, with an absolute return mindset and a strong focus on preserving capital.

Despite being arguably one of the least risky Asian investment trusts, with the lowest beta and downside capture ratio in the sector, PAC has been the best-performing fund in the AIC Asia Pacific category in NAV terms over the past five years.

PAC looks to identify high-quality management teams running high-quality franchises that are aligned with David and Dougs own values and time horizon  often investing in family businesses that are professionally managed.

Over decades of investing in Asia, the managers have found a greater number of families who share their long-term mindset to invest alongside in India and South-East Asia. Here, demographics are attractive, and the penetration of goods and services is low. This creates exciting new markets for businesses to capitalise on over the long-term.

The managers themselves take a ten-year view when analysing investments which they believe is a considerable competitive advantage in an increasingly short-term world.

Beijing's central business district (pictured) has created a regional powerhouse and the Pacific Assets managers have begun to invest more in China

More recently, David and Doug have been taking advantage of a cyclically weak economy and low valuations to partner with entrepreneurs in China.

Historically, they have struggled to find ideas in the country due to a misalignment with the goals of the considerable state-ownership in some companies, but the managers are identifying a greater number of high-quality management teams building world-class franchises that are well-positioned for long-term growth. The outcome of bottom-up stock selection is a rising portion of PACs capital invested in China.

David and Dougs focus on high quality stewards and franchises has proved beneficial in the past five years, with the trusts portfolio having enjoyed NAV returns of 44 per cent  nearly double that of its benchmark.

However, weak sentiment towards the region and investment trusts more generally has impacted PACs share price, creating a discount on the trusts shares of c.14 per cent.

This means investors can effectively buy in at 86p to the 1, accessing a portfolio of well-managed, high-quality, cash-generative companies with a strong market position. This smart portfolio explorer tool on Pacific Assets manager Stewart Investors website lets you find out more about them. As such, PAC is a potentially great way of capturing Asias growth whilst protecting against possible risks.

Richard Sennitt, manager of Schroder Oriental Income (SOI) and co-manager, alongside Abbas Barkhordar, of Schroder AsiaPacific (SDP) has taken a slightly more nuanced approach to the regions challenges.

Due to similar concerns over Chinese governance, Richard and Abbas prefer to take exposure to Chinas economy through holdings in Hong Kong companies, which act as a proxy. Many Hong Kong firms generate substantial revenues in China, but governance rules are stricter, helping mitigate risk.

This still allows both trusts to benefit should China enjoy a recovery, as was the case in the stimulus-led rally beginning in September last year. Here, the Chinese government launched a series of intervention measures designed to address core economic issues, from a crash in the property sector to rising unemployment.

This has led stocks in China to rally from their lows. Despite this, some investors felt the scale of the measures wasnt enough, though many commentators are expecting more stimulus to come this year  a likely benefit to Richard and Abbas Hong Kong holdings.

Looking beyond China, the managers have invested in companies looking to diversify their supply chains over the fear of tariff impacts.

A number of businesses have adopted a China +1 approach, meaning they have moved manufacturing to other Asian countries to avoid the worst of the tariffs impact, whilst still enjoying the benefits of a competitive cost base in the region. Countries such as Vietnam have been beneficiaries of this trend, which is 3.4 per cent position for SDP, despite not featuring in the benchmark.

Both SDP and SOI also have a big allocation to technology, with a particular focus on the semiconductor supply chain. Many industry-leading companies like South Koreas SK Hynix and Taiwans MediaTek are native to the region and have been significant drivers of Asias growth in recent years. Whilst volatility in the region has been a headwind, these firms are sector leaders, and therefore deeply embedded in global supply chains.

With tech becoming an ever-increasing part of our lives, investors staying away from Asia could well miss out on the potential growth these tech stocks are likely to benefit from.

Vietnam has been benefitted from companies looking to diversify away from China

Smaller companies investing in Asia

Along with large-cap tech, smaller companies in Asia have been a notable positive. In contrast to most developed markets and broader global indices, smaller companies have outperformed their larger cap peers in Asia during the volatility of the past few years.

Furthermore, smaller companies are usually focused on the domestic economy, insulating them from the impact of tariffs whilst also offering portfolio diversification benefits for investors. This is because the dynamics driving these smaller companies are likely to be significantly different to those impacting the performance of UK and US companies.

Due to the managers current anti-tech positioning, Fidelity Asian Values (FAS) may offer investors particular diversification benefits. Nitin Bajaj and Ajinkya Dhavale believe that valuations in the tech sector have gone too far and have therefore decided against investing in many of them.

Instead, they have focussed on the likes of China due to the large number of attractively priced companies resulting from negative market sentiment. Nitin and Ajinkya have also taken considerable exposure to Indonesia as they believe the country has very similar traits to India, in that it has a young, populous workforce and a government focussed on reform  but with companies here trading at much more attractive values.

Indonesia also has a low weight in the smaller companies index at under 2 per cent, meaning many other investors are overlooking the attractive companies such as Indonesian banks, which are considered some of the best-managed in the Asian region.

Despite FAS enjoying a rally in late September last year, buoyed by China stimulus measures, its shares trade at a wide discount to NAV. The current level is 9.68 per cent, compared to its five-year average of 7.1 per cent, although the trust has traded at par (where the discount is zero) at numerous points in the past five years.

As such, FAS not only could offer upside from its portfolio of undervalued, smaller Asian companies, but also from the discount narrowing potential should sentiment return to the region and the trust itself.

The verdict on Asia

The prospect of tariffs may loom large over Asias outlook, but that is also the case for regions including Europe, the UK and Latin America.

The key difference for Asian countries is that they have faced this issue for many years, meaning they are arguably better placed to weather the storm. Asias diversity means there are still several areas that could prove very attractive opportunities; investment trust managers are looking to capitalise on these in various ways.

Furthermore, broader negativity towards the region has led to depressed valuations, providing an attractive entry point for long-term investors  an attraction supported by the wide discounts available on many investment trusts.
Chinese actresses Liu Yifei and Huawei executive Yu Chengdong sparked speculations when both of them followed each other on the social network Weibo, closely after Liu liked a video of Yu Chengdong sending International Women's Day greetings on Mar 08.

According to KbiZoom, Yu Chengdong decorated a car with yellow roses and posted a video with similar words: saying, "Yellow roses stand for freedom and courage.

"So here is to you all and Happy International Women's Day." Particularly notable is the use of yellow roses, with Liu Yifei having associated the flower with herself after gaining popularity for her 2024 drama The Tale of Rose.

Liu and Yu's interactions became a hot topic on social media in no time.

With her penchant for keeping her personal life private, Liu rarely interacts with critical public figures on social media, sparking speculation among many as to whether this follow-up was a sign of romance.

So far, Liu's only known relationship was with the actor Song Seung-Heon. But some fans say the connection is probably career-related.

According to reports, Huawei is negotiating with Liu Yifei to be the brand ambassador of Huawei's automobile division.

If such a move is formally revealed, it could be a serious cash cow for the actress. In China, high-end automobile brands often seek representative figures of high status and class.

Yu Chengdong, born in 1969, is 18 years older than Liu Yifei.

When he became CEO of Huawei in 2011, the company was building the world's second-largest smartphone brand. Since then, he has been a leading force in the tech industry.

He became chairman of two Huawei subsidiaries that developed innovative automotive components and intelligent terminal manufacturing in 2024.

According to media reports, it is unclear whether Yu is married or if he has children.

On the other hand, Liu Yifei remains an iconic figure in Chinese TV programs with hit drama series such as A Dream of Splendor and Meet Yourself.

Most recently, she was also rumored to be dating her Meet Yourself co-star Li Xian after they were seen together at a birthday party late in 2024. Neither Liu nor Li have publicly addressed the dating rumors.
The Trump bump has become the Trump slump. Stock markets worldwide are in turmoil, leaving investors bemused and anxious about their Isas and pensions.

Just weeks ago, most on Wall Street believed the 47th American president would be good for US share prices.

But Donald Trump has instead taken a much harder line on tariffs than expected, provoking worldwide alarm and sparking fears of a US recession. The fear of a looming 'Trump-cession' has rocked Wall Street. It has also sent shockwaves through the UK and other markets. The old adage: 'when America sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold' is holding good.

Even shares in the formerly all-conquering Magnificent Seven leading tech companies have suffered.

Worst affected is Tesla, the electric car empire of Elon Musk, Trump's self-declared 'first buddy'. Its shares are down dramatically since the start of the year, brought low by Musk's fall from favour among his planet-loving clientele.

As a proud native New Yorker, with close connections to Wall Street, Trump has always regarded the stock market as a barometer of his success. In the past he has been careful to avoid plummeting share prices.

Suddenly, however, it seems that he is willing to contemplate what he calls a 'transition'  short term pain in return for long term gain for the US  as he sees it.

Falls in the US and other key stock market indices show that no one knows how long this period of pain will last, or how painful it could be. Even if shares rally, this apprehension will linger.

Donald Trump signs an executive order raising tariffs. The President has taken a much harder line than expected, provoking worldwide alarm and sparking fears of a US recession

What should investors do? Many UK savers have substantial holdings in US shares, especially tech, either directly or through pensions or investment funds.

It's usually a bad idea to sell everything in a panic. It would be wise, however, to take a cold hard look at your portfolio.

Richard Flax, Chief Investment Officer at Moneyfarm, argues: 'Be wary of trying to time the market [pick the right moment to sell]. We think it's important to stay invested for the long-term, even during periods of volatility, and to maintain a well-diversified portfolio.'

Instead it makes sense to build a cash buffer, explore safe havens and watch for opportunities to buy valuable assets at bargain prices.

BUILD A BUFFER

Basic sound money management never goes out of style. This is the moment to build a cash pile if you haven't already.

If you are still working, savings that are equivalent to six months' salary is the ideal position. If that would be a pipe-dream as yet, start small and try to build a buffer. National Savings & Investments, the Treasury-sponsored bank, offers a 100 per cent guarantee over every penny invested. Scour the best buy tables for the most attractive rates.

Consider paying off chunks of your mortgage, if the terms of the loan deal permit, and taking steps to clear credit card and other debt.

If you want to reduce your outgoings, check your bank statement to ensure that you are only paying for subscriptions to streaming and other services that you value and use regularly. Also look into the fixed deals your energy supplier is offering: fuel bills go up next month.

US tech stocks, such as Apple, Meta, Microsoft and Nvidia, have produced awe-inspiring returns in recent years

LOOK BEYOND THE US

US tech stocks, such as Apple, Meta, Microsoft and Nvidia, have produced awe-inspiring returns in recent years. These titans should still be a part of your portfolio, but you may be  unknowingly  hazardously overexposed to these stocks since they constitute a large portion of many global investment funds. The funds' factsheets, which are available online, will spell out which stocks they hold.

Rupert Goodall of Man AHL warns of the dangers of inertia: 'Investors would be remiss to forget just how far markets can fall.'

This week's chaos is an alert to diversify, exploring stock markets that have been overshadowed by the star quality of US tech.

THINK GOLD, NOT CRYPTPO

The US is in a 'risk-off' moment. This could suddenly reverse as animal spirits return. But the clearest sign large investors are putting on their tin hats can be seen in the 14 per cent drop in the price of bitcoin to $81,835 (63,310) since January. Last December, at the height of the Trump bump, the price hit $106,490 (82,385).

By contrast, the price of gold, the traditional safe haven, has risen over the same period by 10 per cent to a record $2,912 (2,253), with some analysts forecasting that it could be above $3,000 (2,321) by Christmas.

This underlines the metal's age-old status as a refuge in an era of uncertainty, but also the extra demand that is set to flow from the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution.

Gold is a small, but essential element in microchips and in AI-enabled devices like phones and for the data centres that power this revolution.

You can gain exposure to gold through exchange traded funds (ETFs) like iShares Physical Gold which put money into bullion, or through funds like NinetyOne Global Gold which owns shares in gold mining companies.

BACK BRITAIN

British investors have been out of love with UK shares. But American corporations and funds perceive these islands as a land of bargains, a view underlined by the pick-up in takeover activity this month.

These predators are hoping to seize companies for next-to-nothing. Also on the prowl are activist investors pressing for major improvements at groups such as BP and Unilever. The ranks of these activists include Nelson Peltz who wants to see change at Unilever, the Dove and Domestos group. Peltz is the father-in-law of Brooklyn Beckham.

It suggests that you should continue to hold any UK funds you already have. Also, consider making monthly contributions into investment trusts such as City of London and Temple Bar with very consistent long term records. In an era of turmoil, drip feeding money into the markets, rather than committing large lump sums can help you sleep easier.

Richard Flax, Chief Investment Officer at Moneyfarm, says it's important to keep a diversified portfolio of investments

City of London's largest holdings include BAE Systems, the defence contractor, one of the companies set to benefit from the recently announced boost to UK defence spending. The other beneficiaries of this radical policy shift include: Babcock, Chemring, Melrose, Rolls-Royce and QinetiQ.

Not so long ago, defence companies did not comply with the requirements for ethical ESG (environment, social and governance) investing.

But the perception of what is ethical is shifting, away from narrow 'woke' definitions. The defence industry is seen as not only crucial to national security but also to the upholding of civil liberties. Both these areas are central to the social part of ESG.

THINK EUROPEAN

The European stock markets are fast winning a new fan base. Global fund managers view these markets as cheap  and expect them to outperform all others this year. The German index, the Dax, has been already been hitting records, thanks to the economic policies of the new government  providing the Greens don't stymie plans to ramp up spending on defence.

The White House has made threats of tariffs of 25 per cent on European cars and other goods. But Trump is yet to follow through  and offsetting these fears is optimism over the potential gains for European defence stocks.

In the wake of Trump's insistence that European countries take more responsibility for their own defence, EU states are raising expenditure on munitions of every type.

This trend has already boosted shares in armaments and aerospace manufacturers, such as the Italian Leonardo and the German conglomerates Rheinmetall and ThyssenKrupp. WisdomTree Europe Defence, a new exchange traded fund (ETF) launched yesterday, will back these and other defence groups.

Hopes are also high that European companies, such as the French infrastructure specialist Legrand will play a major role in the reconstruction of Ukraine, if a peace accord can be reached.

It also expected that the wave of deregulation sweeping through America under the Trump administration will bestir the shredding of the red tape that has Europe in its stranglehold. The old rule that 'the US innovates, the EU regulates', is being challenged.

Such reforms will not happen overnight. But in the meantime the fortunes of European multinationals do not depend on their domestic economies, as these businesses operate on the worldwide stage.

Fidelity European, the investment trust, has big names like German software group Sap, L'Oreal, Nestle and Hermes, maker of the  apparently  reassuringly expensive 10,000 handbags. European shares can be bought through major investment platforms.

EMBRACE CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM

If you are investing for the long-term and have some cash, sit on it, watch and wait for opportunities to emerge.

When the mood becomes less frantic, US shares could become an attractive proposition again.

Matt Britzman of Hargreaves Lansdown argues: 'If the US can steer clear of a significant recession, risk-taking could come back to life.' This could be your cheap route into the AI industrial revolution which is underway and set to change the world, whoever is in the White House.
A leading Chemring investor has said any offer should strongly consider the firms future earning power, as defence spending increases across Europe.

US private equity group Bain Capital made a 390p-a-share offer worth 1.1billion for the British explosives maker last month, but it was knocked back.

Shares stand at 401p, up 21.7 per cent this year, with analysts expecting further gains as European nations boost their military firepower.

Experts say a successful bid would need to be more than 500p share  or 1.4billion.

Aviva Investors  its seventh biggest shareholder with a 4.89 per cent stake  has backed the firm.

Aviva fund manager Kunal Kothari told the Mail: Given Chemrings plans to invest in additional capacity to serve high-forecast demand for its products in the years to come, any offer needs to strongly consider the earnings power of this business once its capacity growth plans are executed, not its earnings power today.

Takeover target: Chemring shares are up 21.7% this year, with analysts expecting further gains as European nations boost their military firepower
Donald Trump has warned that the deployment of America's 'monster' nuclear weapons 'could happen tomorrow', in what appears to be a veiled threat to Washington's enemies as the world teeters on the brink of a global war.

The B-83 is the most powerful weapon in the United States' nuclear arsenal, capable of inflicting untold damage on civilian populations and wiping out entire cities.

The destruction it would unleash if it were deployed would be on a scale never seen before - with the 1.2 megatonne payload making it some 75 times more powerful than the nuke detonated over Hiroshima.

Estimates put the number killed in the 1945 bombing at around 140,000, while projections for the number of people who would lose their lives if the B-83 were dropped on a major city stand in the millions.

The radiation released by such a bomb depends on where it explodes, but also whether it detonates on the ground or in the air, with the earth absorbing around half of it in a surface blast while a low-air blast would maximise the devastation.

In an airburst, the B-83 would release a fireball measuring more than one and a half square miles, decimating everything in this area, according to a model produced by nuclear technology historian Alex Wellerstein.

The radioactive fallout would also spread out for miles, with everyone within a roughly eight-mile radius being exposed to a 500 rem ionising radiation dose - enough to prove fatal for the majority of those exposed to it within a month.

The powerful weapon would be able to eradicate underground bunkers near the epicentre and would severely damage or entirely demolish concrete buildings within the heavy blast zone, which would cover a roughly 6.5 square miles.

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US president Donald Trump has admitted he believes that nuclear weapons are the greatest threat to humanity

Donald Trump has warned that the deployment of America's 'monster' nuclear weapons 'could happen tomorrow' (stock image)

Fatalities in this area would be near 100 per cent. Further out in the 'moderate' blast zone, most residential buildings would collapse and many people would lose their lives, with all sustaining injuries.

Thermal radiation would cover an area of more than 210 square miles - meaning everyone in this area who wasn't instantly killed would suffer life-changing third-degree burns, as well as radiation sickness in many cases.

If, for whatever reason, Washington chose to drop the B-83 on Moscow, some 1.3million people would be killed and more then 3.7million injured.

The world famous Bolshoi Theatre, Red Square and the Kremlin - Vladimir Putin's seat of government - would be obliterated by the initial fire ball, which would wipe out much of the city's historic buildings as well as more modern concrete blocks.

There would be a similar death toll of around 1.3million in Pyongyang if the centre of North Korea's capital was targeted, with the Hermit State's Juche Tower and Arch of Triumph among the monuments which would be eradicated.

Meanwhile some 1.5million people would lose their lives if Beijing were hit, with Tiananmen Square being, the Forbidden City and the Communist Party Headquarters all destroyed by fire and the force of the impact.

Casualties would be even higher in Tehran, according to Professor Wellerstein's projections, with 2.6million potentially losing their lives and 3.7million injured.

If the centre of the Iranian capital was hit, the historic Golestan Palace and its surroundings would be burned down instantly, while the Azadi Tower slightly further out of the city would likely be damaged or destroyed if the immense heat resulted in fires breaking out in the area.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting in Tehran

The Kremlin - Vladimir Putin's seat of government - would be obliterated by the initial fire ball if a B-83 was dropped on Moscow

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, and his daughter inspecting a missile at Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea

If, for whatever reason, Washington chose to target Beijing with the B-83, some 1.3million people would die. Pictured: Chinese President Xi Jinping

The B-83's deadly potential - with the weapon being the last megatonne bomb in the US arsenal - has prompted numerous attempts to get it decomissioned since it came into service in 1983.

Former President Barack Obama sought to get rid of the bomb, but his decision to do so was reversed by President Trump in his first term in office.

Joe Biden then revived efforts to get rid of the nuke, but was met with staunch opposition from Republican lawmakers who argued that the weapon was needed to strike deeply buried targets.

Now Trump has warned that nuclear weapons pose the greatest threat to humanity, suggesting in an interview yesterday that US warheads are capable of 'ending the world' in an apparent reference to the principle of mutually assured destruction.

Trump, who has the world's second-largest nuclear stockpile at his disposal after Russia's Putin, made the shock statement in an interview last week.

'We spend a lot of money of nuclear weapons - the level of destruction is beyond anything you can imagine,' he told Fox News.

Russian service members drive a BTR-82A armoured personnel carrier along Red Square during a rehearsal for a military parade last year

If the centre of North Korea's capital was targeted, the Hermit State's Juche Tower and Arch of Triumph (pictured) would be among the monuments which would be eradicated

'It's just bad that you have to spend all this money on something that if it's used, it's probably the end of the world.'

The Republican added that the threat of climate change was nothing compared to the risks posed by nuclear weapons, claiming that a nuclear war 'could happen tomorrow.'

Trump explained: 'I watched Biden for years say the existential threat is from the climate. I said 'no'.

'The greatest is sitting on shelves in various countries called 'nuclear weapons' that are big monsters that can blow your heads off for miles and miles and miles.'

Despite previously preventing the US stockpile being scaled back, Trump has signaled during the first weeks of his second presidential term that he is keen to reduce the number of nuclear weapons in the world.

It is unclear if this is his administration's official position.

The President last week revealed that he had sent a letter to Iran's top authority pressuring them to strike a nuclear deal, while also threatening military action if one was not reached.

'There are two ways Iran can be handled, militarily or you make a deal. I would prefer to make a deal,' Trump told Fox News.

'I would rather negotiate a deal. I'm not sure that everybody agrees with me, but we can make a deal that would be just as good as if you won militarily,' Trump said.

'But the time is happening now, the time is coming up. Something is going to happen one way or the other. I hope that Iran, and I've written them a letter, saying I hope you're going to negotiate because if we have to go in militarily it's going to be a terrible thing for them.'

Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 during his first term in office.

Last month, Trump said he was willing to reopen arms controls negotiations with both China and Russia.

He said at the White House: 'There's no reason for us to be building brand new nuclear weapons. We already have so many.

'You could destroy the world 50 times over, 100 times over. And here we are building new nuclear weapons, and they're building nuclear weapons.'

He added: 'We're all spending a lot of money that we could be spending on other things that are actually, hopefully, much more productive.'

While the US currently has 5,177 nuclear warheads, including 1,477 waiting to be dismantled, this is a far cry from its peak stockpile of 31,255 warheads in the late 1960s.

Little Boy, the name given to the L-11 nuclear bomb which was dropped on Hiroshima and the first to ever to be used in warfare, has a payload of just 15 kilotonnes - a fraction of the destructive potential of the B-83.

The dropping of nuclear bombs on the Japanese city and Nagasaki three days later in the final days of World War Two mark the only time nuclear weapons have been used in combat to date.

But with an increasingly volatile global security situation, deemed by many analysts to be the worst such crisis since the Cold War, rhetoric about the possible use of these indiscriminate weapons has been ramping up in Washington, Moscow and other nuclear-armed states around the world.
A bed-bound mother-of-four suffering from long Covid claims she has been left with 'no choice' but to travel 800 miles to Switzerland and end her life.

Kelly Louise Smith-May, 41, claims she has been left shackled by a 'living death sentence' after being unable to recover from catching the virus in 2021.

'You can't live like this and I wasn't born to just lay in bed, rotting away at 41-years-old,' Mrs Smith-May told MailOnline.

'This is a living death sentence. I have had no improvements for over three years. Life is for living not to be trapped in a bed suffering from over 50 symptoms. It is horrific.'

The former carer, whose health gradually deteriorated over three years, spends most of her days lying in bed, unable to move, eat and sometimes even talk.

She has been unable to care for her children - Kai, Tawny, Zayn, and Jett - the youngest of whom is seven, and was forced to give up work.

'I get exhausted, even just trying to read to the kids takes it out of me,' she adds. 'It takes my mental energy and then I end up getting so upset. I am in pain 24/7.'

After feeling 'let down' by doctors and nurses within the NHS, Mrs Smith-May, who was later diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, made the difficult decision to end her life at Pegasos, a voluntary assisted dying organisation near Basel.

Kelly Louise Smith-May, 41, from Chipping Sodbury in Gloucestershire, is seeking 10,000 to travel to an assisted dying facility 'to end her suffering'

Kelly Louise Smith-May, 41, pictured before she was ill, claims she has been left shackled by a 'living death sentence'

The mother-of-four is bed-bound and cannot move, eat and sometimes even talk or read a story to her children

'I would never want to do it if I had a choice but I have been left without a choice,' she explains. 'All I do is suffer, suffer, suffer. I just want to once and for all be out of it.'

The once 'vibrant, lively' woman is determined not to end her life by poisioning, hanging or starving herself to death, as she claims other chronic fatigue sufferers have done.

Mrs Smith-May is predominately cared for by her husband Stuart as well as her 78-year-old grandmother Kay Philpott, who visits her multiple times a week.

While her family are ultimately supportive of Mrs Smith-May's choice to humanely end her life each day they pray for her recovery.

'I keep hoping and praying that she will get better and something will happen, which is a grandmother's only wish. I live in hope, she doesn't,' Ms Philpott said.

'I will support if that is what she needs because I keep thinking what life has she got? It's the same each day and it's really upsetting to see and makes me ill as well.

'I still hope and pray something can be done - I have to be that way - but if it's her wish, I have to support her in that.'

The mother-of-four, whose youngest child constantly asks her 'Mummy, can you spit the virus out to get better?', is currently trying to raise enough funds to travel to Switzerland.

Kelly, pictured with her husband Stuart before her illness, said that she's been let down by the NHS

Her condition has gradually worsened ever since she caught Covid in December 2021

Mrs Smith-May, a stay-at-home mum, describes her illness as 'being poisoned every minute of the day' and a 'living death sentence',

She launched a GoFundMe page to raise the 10,000 she needs to travel and end her life in the non-for-profit assisted dying facility.

As she can only lie down and is unable to even use a wheelchair, bought through the fundraiser, Mrs Smith-May wants to hire a camper van so her husband can drive to Switzerland via France using the Euro Tunnel.

Mrs Smith-May had hoped that the newly proposed assisted dying laws would include those sufferers of chronic fatigue.

Proposals made by the Government, however, mean that assisted dying would only be avaliable to terminally ill people, over the age of 18, who are expected to die within six months.

Those deciding would need to have clear mental capacity to choose and be free to make the decision without coercion.

Two separate declarations would need to be signed and witnessed, as well as two different doctors agreeing the patient is eligeble within a seven day window.

Mrs Smith-May, however, believes the proposals, which MPs voted for in November, leave out those suffering from chronic illness who have 'no quality of life'.

She said: 'Euthanasia, assisted dying should be legal in the UK not just for terminally ill but for chronically ill people as well, for people like me with no quality of life.'

'If she were an animal you would put it down but you can't do that to a human being,' her grandmother agrees.

'She wants to be the vibrant, lively girl that she used to be. We would always go shopping together and do things out and about but now she is just stuck in a bed in the darkness all day. There are blackout blinds pulled down and there is no sunlight in here.

'It is just dismal and I don't think, to be honest with you, if it was a dog you would put it down. There is no quality of life. She is trying to survive but what kind of life is it when you spend it lying in bed every day?'

Her GoFundMe page has raised over 8,000 in just over a year but has failed as of yet to reach its target.

Long Covid, a poorly-understood phenomenon, can leave sufferers with a persistent cough, fatigue, muscle aches and loss of smell.

According to a heartbreaking GoFundMe post authored by a close friend, Mrs Smith-May is no longer able to look after her children  Kai, Tawny, Zayn, and Jett  'whom she absolutely adores with every piece of her heart'

While many long Covid sufferers find their symptoms eventually fade, some people, just like Mrs Smith-May, experience them for months or even years.

Some experts consider long Covid to be on par with chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)  a historically disputed condition that has often been overlooked as laziness.

However, it is now recognised as condition by both the NHS and World Health Organization.

Mrs Smith-May's family claim her long Covid progressed into ME.

Viral infections are hypothesised to be a potential trigger for people to develop the condition by both charities and the NHS.

Much like long Covid, there is no test that can diagnose myalgic encephalomyelitis and no established cure. The NHS instead focuses on treating sufferers' symptoms to help people manage their condition.

Mild cases are treated with cognitive behavioural therapy and 'energy management'  a system to help patients utilise their limited energy throughout the day.

Drugs can help sufferers with pain and insomnia they experience, as well as devices like wheelchairs to increase their mobility.

Similarly, long Covid treatment also focuses on helping sufferers alleviate the dozen or so symptoms attributed to the condition.

The most common symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome is extreme tiredness but sufferers can also experience muscle and joint pain, flu-like symptoms, nausea and cognitive problems.

In rare severe cases, people with the condition can no longer use the toilet or feed themselves independently.

As both chronic fatigue syndrome and long Covid are poorly understood conditions, the relationship between the two is uncertain.

Medically assisted dying, or euthanasia, is illegal in the UK, and can be prosecuted as manslaughter or murder with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Helping someone take their own life, called assisted suicide, is also an offence and punishable by up to 14 years in prison, but the law looks set to change.

In November 2024, MPs voted in favour of assisted dying as historic legislation cleared its first hurdle in the House of Commons.

The Commons approved the second reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill by 330 votes to 275, majority 55, to continue its progress through Parliament.

If it completes its passage into law, the Bill will allow terminally ill, mentally competent adults - with less than six months to live - to seek an assisted death in England and Wales with the approval of two doctors and a High Court judge.

No date has been given yet for the Bill to return to the Commons for further debate by all MPs at report stage, but it is likely to be towards the end of April.
Canada's next prime minister, Mark Carney, has a Ghislaine Maxwell problem on his hands.

Even though Jeffrey Epstein's right-hand woman and former girlfriend will be locked up until 2042, she still has the potential to wreak havoc on Carney's political future.

Carney is the latest politician to be caught in photos with Maxwell, which doesn't bode well for him, considering he and the Liberal party are down 10 points to the Conservatives in the upcoming federal election.

Carney was selected as the leader of the Liberals after Justin Trudeau announced his resignation in January. Still, Carney is an unelected official - having never been voted into office by a popular electoral mandate.

In pictures circulated on social media in January, Carney and his wife Diana were seen alongside Maxwell at the August 2013 Wilderness Music Festival in Oxfordshire, England.

Carney was just a month into his new job as the Governor of the Bank of England but looked quite at ease standing next to Maxwell.

He was seen wearing a big smile in one of the photos, while in another, he was crouching in the grass alongside the woman, who was later convicted for being a child sex trafficker.

Diana Carney also appeared to be chummy with Maxwell, seen walking alongside her in one photo.

Mark Carney (second from left in a purple shirt) is seen standing next to Ghislaine Maxwell. His wife Diana Carney is to the right of Maxwell

Carney and his wife were pictured with the future convicted child sex trafficker at the August 2013 Wilderness Music Festival in Oxfordshire, England

Carney had just become the Governor of the Bank of England a month earlier

A source close to Carney told the Toronto Sun that Carney was not, and is not, friends with Maxwell. Though, the source did acknowledge that Maxwell went to the same high school as Diana Carney's sister.

The source blamed political rival Pierre Poilievre and his campaign apparatus for spreading the reputation-scarring pictures.

'This is another example of how Pierre Poilievre and (adviser) Jenni Byrne have always played politics and it shows again how terrified they are to fight Mark Carney,' the source said.

'As a child, the woman you reference went to the same high school as Mr. Carneys wifes sister. While they have bumped into each other in public settings (including the 11-year-old photos youve sent), they are not friends.'

DailyMail.com approached the Carney campaign for comment on the matter.

Famous figures who have been seen with Maxwell and Epstein include President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew, who resigned from his public duties in 2020.

The annual music festival the Carneys were seen attending over 10 years ago is also known as 'Poshstock' and featured a luxury spa, gourmet food and heated yurts.

That year and in the years since, the Wilderness Festival has been held at Cornbury Park, which is owned by Lord Rotherwick, otherwise known as Robin Cayzer.

Maxwell (pictured with Jeffrey Epstein in 2005) was friends with the Rotherwicks, specifically Lady Tania. Lady Tania is Diana Carney's sister

Maxwell (pictured in federal custody) is now serving 20 years in prison after a Manhattan jury found her guilty of luring underage girls for sex with Epstein

Maxwell is pictured running laps of the track of FCI Tallahassee on November 6, 2022

Cayzer is married to Diana's sister Lady Tania Rotherwick, so the Carneys were able to stay in their luxurious manor house instead of camping out under the stars like the vast majority of the attendees.

Maxwell has been described as an old friend of Tania, frequently coming to visit at her homes or at the Wilderness Festival.

The photos predate Maxwell's prosecution, but were several years after Epstein's 13-month stint in prison for soliciting prostitution from a girl under 18.

Maxwell is now serving 20 years in prison after a Manhattan jury found her guilty in 2021 of four separate charges, all related to the sex trafficking of minors.

Federal prosecutors said that from 1994 to around 2004, Maxwell recruited young girls to have sex with Epstein and many of his celebrity clients.

The full list of those clients has never been released, but there's been much noise made about it ever since Attorney General Pam Bondi promised to make the documents public.

The who's who of the right influencer community were invited to the White House to pose for the cameras while holding binders labeled 'the Epstein files.'

Still, the full Epstein files have not been shared with American people, though Bondi did release a redacted version last month.

Donald Trump along with wife, then-girlfriend, Melania, are seen with Epstein and Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on February 12, 2000

Then-President Bill Clinton is seen talking with Epstein and Maxwell at an event in 1993

Prince Andrew is pictured with his arm around Virginia Giuffre, who later sued him civil court over allegations of sexual abuse. Andrew settled with her but denied the claims. Maxwell is seen in background

Right-wing Twitter provocateurs Rogan O'Handley, also known as DC Draino, Chaya Raichik, who runs Libs of TikTok, Liz Wheeler, and Jack Posobiec at the White House

The charges that put Maxwell away originated on July 2, 2020, a little less than a year after Epstein was found dead in his jail cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in lower Manhattan.

New York City's medical examiner ruled the ex-financier's death a suicide by hanging, but to this day, speculation remains that he was murdered.

Maxwell received her two-decade sentence almost three years after Epstein's mysterious death.

An attempt from Maxwell to appeal her conviction was denied by the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in November.

Her lawyers plan to escalate her case all the way up to the Supreme Court, which can choose not to hear it at all.
The week-long time lag between the deaths of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa may make it simpler to wind up the star's $80 million Hollywood fortune, lawyers told DailyMail.com.

Officials in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Friday released details of their probe into the curious deaths of Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65, who were discovered dead in separate rooms of their home on February 26.

Arakawa, it transpired, had died of a rare virus spread by mice on about February 11, while Hackman, an Alzheimer's sufferer, likely died on February 18 from heart disease, officials said.

She was found in a bathroom with one of the couple's three dogs, which was dead in its crate.

These conclusions from the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator and Santa Fe Sheriff's office answered many of the questions that were swirling after the couple's bodies were found by a caretaker of their gated community.

They may also play a role in divvying up the couple's property  the $3.8 million home in Santa Fe and other assets that amount to some $80 million, according to celebritynetworth.com.

This could have implications for any inheritance that Hackman's son and two daughters from his previous marriage to Faye Maltese  Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie  receive. Arakawa, a pianist from Hawaii, had no children.

The timing of the couple's deaths is important because, under New Mexico law, had they died within 120 hours of each other, their deaths would have been classified as 'simultaneous.'

Santa Fe Sheriff Adam Mendoza said his department plans to keep Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's cases open despite their causes of death being revealed after weeks of speculation. (Pictured: The couple in 1991)

Hackman and Arakawa are pictured with Hackman's daughters Leslie and Elizabeth at a Beverly Hills movie premiere in 1996

This may have impacted how the estates of Hackman and Arakawa were divided.

But given that investigators found Hackman lived for seven days after his wife, based on his pacemaker activity, those provisions would not apply, and his estate may be divided among his beneficiaries other than Arakawa, experts said.

'In a lot of states, including New Mexico, there's a kind of presumptive triggering deadline of five days before you're considered having survived under the terms of most wills,' Kevin Holmes of Holmes Law Firm told DailyMail.com.

Many details about Hackman and Arakawa are not known, but it is likely that given the star's Hollywood fortune and access to lawyers that each of them wrote a will, or more likely used a tax-friendly trust, said Holmes.

Those wills or trust could lay out a timeline for simultaneous death that is different to the 120-hour period detailed in New Mexico state law, although in most cases people mirror the state statute.

Often, married couples with wills leave each other their entire estate.

But estate plans are private, which means that it's not yet publicly known who Hackman and Arakawa have named as beneficiaries of their assets, said John Budagher, an attorney at Budagher & Tann.

There are also many other unknowns that could come into play in the coming weeks, said Budagher, Holmes and others.

Perhaps the most consequential unknown factor is who Hackman and Arakawa have named as their beneficiaries, said Budagher. Most often, people name their spouse and kids. But it's also not uncommon to name carers, friends, and even caretakers.

'It's your money,' says Budagher. 'You're allowed to give it to whomever you want, including a donkey sanctuary in Connecticut.'

Another important factor could be the date on which any will or legal documents were signed, he added. That's especially true for Hackman, given his deterioration from Alzheimer's, as any recent updates to his papers could be queried.

Gene Hackman's daughter Elizabeth and his granddaughter Annie step out of their home on Tuesday in Los Angeles

Gene and his children during the premiere of Superman in Washington, D.C in December 1978

Specifically, the Sheriff (pictured Friday) said they are waiting to see the couple's cell phone records, as well as the results of a necropsy that is set to be conducted on their deceased dog

Arakawa is said to have died first due to her infection, which initially presents with flu like symptoms. Hackman is believed to have died in the home (pictured) about a week later

'If it's more recent, that doesn't mean it's invalid, it just means it's riper for a potential challenge  especially if it's doing something like leaving everything to a caretaker,' said Budagher.

Other unknown factors include whether Hackman and Arakawa made any pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreements, and if any children or other potential beneficiaries will make claims on the estate.

And though there is likely to be some action in the coming days, the whole process could take much longer  under New Mexico law, family members and others have up to three years of a person's death to file a probate case.

Hackman's two daughters, Elizabeth, 62, and Leslie, 58, and granddaughter Annie, have released a statement saying they were 'devastated' by his death.

'He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us, he was always just Dad and Grandpa,' said the statement.

Leslie told DailyMail.com that she was 'close' with her dad but that they had not spoken for a 'few months' before his passing.

While Santa Fe Sheriff Adam Mendoza says he's confident of the timeline of what occurred at the couple's property, he told reporters on Friday that the case remains open until they 'close the loopholes.'

Despite each of the deaths being ruled as natural, with no signs of internal or external trauma, Mendoza has insisted authorities are not done with the investigation.

Specifically, the sheriff said officers are waiting to see the couple's cell phone records, as well as the results of a necropsy, or autopsy, that is set to be conducted on their deceased dog.

According to a search warrant obtained by DailyMail.com detectives listed two cellphones among the items taken from their home.

Hackman and Arakawa met in a gym in California in the mid-1980s and moved to Sante Fe shortly after, before getting married in 1991. They were active in the city's art community and culinary scene.

In recent years, they were seen less often in town as his health deteriorated. They lived a very private life before their deaths, Mendoza said.

Their 12-year-old dog Zinna was found dead along with them in the home. She is believed to have died from starvation and dehydration after being left to fend for herself in a crate after her owners died. (Pictured: Hackman and Arakawa with their old dogs in 2005)

Gene Hackman and his family at Sun Valley in 1974. Whilst the two-time Oscar winner mostly tried to keep his family life private throughout his impressive career, he did often confess just how 'tough' his offspring's lives were after he missed out on their earlier years due to work

Officials said that numerous emails went unopened on February 11, and that there was no further communication from Arakawa's account after that day. (Pictured: The couple in 1993)

Hackman (pictured in 2005) 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

Hackman's life until 2004 was lived in the Hollywood glare - he is pictured with friend and Unforgiven co-star Clint Eastwood at the 1993 Oscars

Both Hackman and Arakawa appeared to have suddenly fallen to the floor and neither showed signs of blunt force trauma.

Arakawa was found lying on her side in the bathroom, an apparent victim of the rodent-borne hantavirus, a rare disease in the US.

Most US cases are concentrated in the West. In northern New Mexico, the virus is mostly spread by droppings and urine of deer mice.

It is often transmitted through the air when people sweep out sheds or clean closets where mice have been living.

It begins with flu-like symptoms and can lead to heart and lung failure, with around 38 percent to 50 percent of cases resulting in death.

The couple's 12-year-old Australian Kelpie mix, Zinna, was found dead inside a crate in the same room.

Arakawa had picked up Zinna in a crate on February 9 from a Santa Fe veterinarian, which may explain why the dog was found dead in the crate, Mendoza said. It may have died of starvation.

Their two other dogs, Bear and Nikita, survived and were found roaming around the couple's Southwestern-style ranch.

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, officials said.

There was no trace of carbon monoxide in the bodies of the couple, despite many thinking they were poisoned initially.

Hackman, a former Marine known for his raspy voice, appeared in more than 80 films, as well as on television and the stage during a lengthy career that started in the early 1960s.

He earned his first Oscar nomination for his breakout role as the brother of bank robber Clyde Barrow in 1967's 'Bonnie and Clyde.'

He won an Oscar for best actor in 1972 for his portrayal of detective Popeye Doyle in 'The French Connection,' and in 1993 won an Oscar for best supporting actor for 'Unforgiven.'
Police were forced to ram a motorbike thief off the road after he sped through residential London at speeds of more than 80mph.

Officers tracked the rider using a helicopter as it zoomed through the districts, before cops tactically crashed into him with a patrol car.

Aerial footage of the pursuit shows the motorcyclist having to slam his brakes on to narrowly avoid hitting a pedestrian as it sped along both sides of the road.

The vehicle is also spotted almost colliding with a white van while weaving through the traffic.

He is then shown driving the wrong way to overtake a Waitrose delivery lorry and speeding through a set of red traffic lights.

A police operator is heard on the collated video alerting teams to the north of the river as the motorbike was heading in the direction of Chiswick Bridge. The reckless motorcyclist was said to pose a 'temporarily high risk' to the public.

Officers are shown using an unmarked blue BMW to make 'tactical contact' with the motorbike, knocking the vehicle onto the pavement and sending the rider flying.

After his vehicle is rammed, the man attempts to run off down the street before he is cornered by police.

The motorcyclist shown careering through a set of red lights at a busy junction in south London

Police made 'tactical contact' with the motorbike by approaching it in the opposite direction using an unmarked blue BMW and knocking the stolen bike onto the pavement

The rider shown narrowly avoiding a collision as he slips between a white van and a Waitrose delivery lorry

The suspected thief was spotted throwing an item onto the road as he tried to flee the scene.

He is then shown in the clip lying on the floor as he was detained by three officers.

The 'high-powered' motorbike was found to have no licence plates, Metropolitan Police confirmed.

The force wrote on Facebook: 'Stealing a bike is one thing trying to outrun a Police helicopter is another.

'A Police Helicopter tracked it [the motorbike] from above, and police officers used tactical contact to bring it to a stop.

'The suspect tried to escape but with our eyes in the sky and dog units on the ground, there was nowhere to hide.'

The incident is the latest of several police chases involving stolen motorbikes.

In another incident, a drug-fuelled motorbike thief was hit with 'instant karma' after being thrown of his vehicle in a high-speed police chase

Ciaran Parker shouted at paramedics to get off his head as they attended to his injuries

A thief received 'instant karma' racing through Pelton, County Durham on a Kawasaki 300 motorbike.

After careering into Chester-le-Street town centre, the rider narrowly missed a bus before losing control and was flung off the bike while travelling at around 40mph.

A young mother with a pushchair was shown narrowly leaping out of the way, yanking her children back as Parker and the wrecked bike skid towards them.

Ciaran Parker pleaded guilty at Durham Crown Court to a string of offences, including aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, driving without a licence, driving without insurance and drug driving.

The thief was detained for 14 months in a Young Offender Institution.

On another occasion, video footage caught the moment a motorbike thief was sent flying after smashing into a car.

White smoke was shown billowing from bike after it crashed into a light blue car on Southfield Road in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.

MailOnline has contacted Met Police for comment.
The world's richest man, Elon Musk, is blaming fellow billionaires for financing protests against DOGE and his company Tesla.

Police nationwide are investigating a string of attacks on Tesla charging stations, showrooms and vehicles.

There have also been videos of non-violent Tesla protests featuring activists chanting 'Elon Musk has got to go' as advocates link arms and disregard police.

The demonstrations have occurred in New York City, Boston, Portland, Oregon and elsewhere.

Musk said over the weekend that investor George Soros, 94, and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, 57, were some of those involved in financing the protests.

The Tesla CEO shared on his social media platform X that an 'investigation' into the protests discovered that Soros and Hoffman were responsible for donating cash to protest groups through the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue.

'An investigation has found 5 ActBlue-funded groups responsible for Tesla 'protests': Troublemakers, Disruption Project, Rise & Resist, Indivisible Project and Democratic Socialists of America,' Musk shared on X over the weekend.

'ActBlue funders include George Soros [and] Reid Hoffman,' his post continued. 'ActBlue is currently under investigation for allowing foreign and illegal donations in criminal violation of campaign finance regulations.'

A person inspects a burned Cybertruck in a Tesla lot in Seattle, Monday, March 10, 2025. Tesla lcoations across the country have been vandalized in recent days

Sacramento residents Lori Gregg and daughter Max Pollitt, 16, hold a sign at a rally against Elon Musk at a Tesla dealership on Arden Way near Sacramento, California, on Saturday, March 8, 2025. More than 100 people lined both sides of the street to protest the role of the tech billionaire and Tesla CEO in the Trump administration

Elon Musk called out George Soros and Reid Hoffman for funding anti-Tesla protests

'This week, 7 ActBlue senior officials resigned, including the associate general counsel. If you know anything about this, please post in replies,' Musk finished his note, prompting his over 200 million followers to send over information they may know.

Soros and Hoffman are both notable Democratic donors, shoveling out millions to support liberal candidates and initiatives.

Soros has become a 'boogey man' of sorts for Republicans, who regularly bash him for financing Democrats using his network of foundations, most notably Open Society Foundations.

'The Open Society Foundations are not funding these protests or attacks,' a spokesperson for the nonprofit told DailyMail.com in a statement.

'Any claims suggesting otherwise are false. We do not coordinate, train, or strategize with protest organizers or participants.'

Hoffman also hit back on Musk's claims on X, saying he never funded any of the protests in question.

'Just one more of Elon's false claims about me: I never funded anyone for Tesla protests,' the LinkedIn co-founder wrote in response to Musk's post.

'I don't condone violence. But it's clear Americans are angry at him  it's easier to explain away their anger, than to accept that actions have consequences,' Hoffman shared.

Elon Musk flashes his t-shirt that reads 'DOGE' to the media as he walks on South Lawn of the White House, in Washington, Sunday, March 9, 2025. Over the weekend he slammed Soros and Hoffman, and he continued ridiculing the LinkedIn co-founder on Monday

Activists protest Tesla outside of a dealership in New York City

The correction seemed to infuriate Musk, who responded to Hoffman with a coded message apparently noting the co-founder's connections to pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

'Describe your favorite island vacation,' Musk wrote to Hoffman.

For months Musk has claimed that Hoffman is afraid of Epstein's client list being released for the Trump administration, a fight he renewed on Monday.

But Hoffman denies Musk's claims, saying in December: 'Elon's defamation makes me angry and sad ... Angry because it is an ugly assault. Sad because it comes from someone whose entrepreneurial achievements I continue to admire.'

In response to Musk's Epstein-related barb on Monday, Hoffman shot back a picture of Tesla stock tanking showing a large rise and fall of the share price, an image that resembled a mountain.

'I don't know about islands but here's your least favorite mountain,' the LinkedIn co-founder retorted.

The fight is particularly personal because Musk and Hoffman used to work together at the financial services company PayPal 20 years ago.
An easyJet pilot has been suspended after he flew a plane packed with 190 people so dangerously close to a mountain that he nearly crashed into it.

Captain Paul Elsworth was temporarily banned from flying after his plane flew too close over a mountain range as it travelled to Egypt on February 2, triggering a Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) alarm in the cockpit.

The plane, travelling from Manchester to the Red Sea resort of Hurghada, was very close to crashing as it descended for landing and could have potentially killed the 190 passengers and crew on-board, reported The Sun.

The alert rang out 'pull up, terrain, terrain, pull up, pull up, terrain ahead, pull up', and only a last second manoeuvre by the pilot to pull up the joystick levelled the Airbus A320 and avoided the mountain range.

Pilots normally clear the mountain range at an altitude of 6,000ft. But Mr Elsworth allegedly flew over the 2,329ft peak at 3,100ft.

On top of this, a sources told The Sun, the jet was descending at a blistering speed of 4,928ft per minute. The aircraft should have been travelling slower and with a shallower rate of descent, experts said.

Captain Paul Elsworth (right) previously made headlines in 2016 after his son Luke (left) became Britain's youngest professional pilot at just 19

The newspaper reported that Mr Elsworth, 61, only registered the incident the following day, before he was due to leave Hurghada and fly back to Manchester.

But easyJet officials, recognising the severity of the incident, escalated the report within minutes of receiving it.

Though investigators have not officially blamed anyone for the incident, easyJet bosses immediately suspended Elsworth from flying himself back to the UK, flying him back as a passenger instead.

A source said: 'Within moments of the flight drama being raised, officials stepped in and Paul Elsworth was forbidden from piloting the plane. Another flight crew brought the jet home.

'The pilot will be asked detailed questions. The GPWS only sounds when a plane is heading into terrain - in this instance a mountain.

EasyJet aircraft pictured at the departure gates of Manchester Airport (file image)

'Passengers on-board are understood to have been oblivious to the scare, and unaware of just how close they came to the mountain range as the plane descended into Egypt.'

Mr Elsworth previously made headlines in 2016 after his son Luke became Britain's youngest professional pilot at just 19.

The pilot said at the time of his son, who now flies for British Airways: 'Luke has worked really hard. I have as much confidence in Luke flying as I have in myself - and I've been doing this for 32 years.'

An easyJet spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Safety is the number one priority for all our pilots, they are trained to the highest industry standards, subject to rigorous testing and monitored closely.

'The flight landed normally and as we have an ongoing investigation, the pilot remains stood down from duty in line with procedures.'
Republican lawmakers are backing up Donald Trump's plan to penalize pro-Hamas protestors disguised in masks at rallies.

Rep. Addison McDowell's Unmasking Hamas Act of 2025 was first obtained by DailyMail.com and comes in response to a wave of college campus protests sympathizing with the Hamas terrorists who invaded Israel on October 7, 2023.

It's not illegal to protest in the U.S., but it is against the law to damage federal property, to breach other people's protected rights and to evade law enforcement while in disguise.

Trump announced last week he is halting federal funding for any college that allows 'illegal protests.'

'All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests,' Trump wrote on Truth Social.

'Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came,' he added. 'American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS! Thank you for your attention to this matter.'

Now, Rep. McDowell (R-N.C.) and his bill co-sponsor are taking Trump's action to heart - and plan to further increase the punishments.

The bill proposes amending Chapter 13 of Title 18 under the U.S. Code to make it unlawful for people to wear a disguise while engaging in what can be described as 'violent protests,' which often involves infringement on Americans' rights.

A group of Republicans introduced a bill Tuesday to increases penalties for people who infringe on other Americans' rights while concealing their identities  including with a mouth-covering medical mask

'Hamas sympathizers that are vandalizing, that are destroying federal property, that are intimidating students  these are, you know, people that are occupying buildings that they're not supposed to be in, right?' McDowell told DailyMail.com of who his bill targets.

'This is not your, your peaceful protester holding up a sign,' he added. 'This is someone that wants to claim that they're protesting, but they're really spray painting the side of a building or harassing police officers  in some cases, they're assaulting police officers.'

'These are not these are not peaceful protesters, they're terrorists in training,' McDowell alleged.

The proposal comes after Trump pulled $400 million in federal funding for Columbia University over its handling of anti-Israel campus protests last year.

The White House said the dramatic move was 'due to the school's continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.'

The proposed law comes after Trump posted last week that the federal government would stop funding any educational institutions that 'allow illegal protests' in response to a wave of pro-Hamas demonstrations that turned violent or otherwise involved illegal activity

The bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Brandon Gill (Texas), Craig Goldman (Texas), Brian Jack (Ga.), and Riley Moore (W.V.).

The federal law currently states that anyone in disguise 'with intent to prevent or hinder free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege' could face a fine or imprisonment of up to 10 years.

This new punishment increases the federal punishment by raising the cap to 15 years if a person while in that state of dress injures, oppresses, threatens or intimidates any person in the U.S. or its territories.

On January 30, the president signed an executive order canceling student visas of anyone who expressed support for the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.

Some college students began deleting pro-Palestinian events listed on social media in response to the pledge and the executive action by Trump.

Classes and college institutions across the country have been interrupted by Hamas demonstrations, many times resulting in personal injury, property damage and intimidation of other students.

Jewish students, in particular, have felt the brunt of these protests.

Rep. Addison McDowell (R-N.C.) filed the bill and is leading the effort to increase potential jail time to a 15-year cap for those who disguise themselves while injuring, oppressing, threatening or intimidating any person in the U.S. or its territories

Columbia University, University of California Los Angeles, Barnard College and Union Station in Washington, D.C. have all been areas where such activities have taken place over the last several months.

Pro-Palestinian protester and Columbia graduate student Mahmoud Khalil was arrested and detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers over the weekend.

The agency was ordered to revoke Khalil's green card and deport the non-American activist.

A judge stepped in to temporarily block the deportation order for the man who led the student protest at the university.

Trump boasted that Khalil's arrest is the 'first of many to come' to other non-citizen activists.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced she sent letters to 60 colleges putting them on notice and demanding they protect Jewish students.

The schools on her list include most of the Ivy League institutions and several state universities.

'The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better,' McMahon said in a statement.

She added that taxpayer funding is 'a privilege and it is contingent on scrupulous adherence to federal antidiscrimination laws.'

'This is not your, your peaceful protester holding up a sign... In some cases, they're assaulting police officers,' McDowell told DailyMail.com of the bill targeting 'Hamas sympathizers' and 'terrorists in training.' Pictured: Pro-Palestinian protesters conceal their identities as they clash with law enforcement on the campus of UCLA on May 2, 2024

If the latest bill proposal passes into law, it would add two years to the sentence of anyone convicted of destroying federal property while disguised.

It's already outlawed to commit a crime or evade law enforcement while wearing a mask or concealing their identity in at least 15 states.

In California, it is illegal for any person to don a mask or other disguise when attempting to evade public offenses. Ohio bans people from committing misdemeanors while concealing their identity.

Both North Carolina and Florida also prohibit people from wearing disguises while entering public property of the respective states.
En espanol

Mexican artist and influencer Wendy Guevara announced in late 2024 that she was temporarily moving to Miami. She was originally set to join the cast of this year's edition of 'Nuestra Belleza Latina.' However, with Univision postponing the reality show's premiere, her plans seemed uncertainuntil now.

Univision announced on Monday that Wendy is the new host of 'Desiguales,' the network's afternoon talk show. This milestone makes her the first trans person to hold an official hosting position on the network and on national broadcast television in the U.S..

@univision Nuestra querida @soywendyguevaraoficial es la sexta DesigualTV! Bienvenida!  No te pierdas @desiguales.tv de lunes a viernes 3P/2C por Univision. Editorial NuevaIntegrante Desigual Wendy WendyGuevara DesigualesTV opina tvshow  original sound - Univision - Univision

Her debut took place on February 17. She was welcomed by co-hosts Adamari Lopez, Karina Banda, Amara La Negra, Dr. Nancy, and Migbelis Castellanos.

"I'm so grateful for this opportunity. I know we're going to get along so well because when I first came here, we really clicked," Wendy said during her introduction. In a live stream she also expressed excitement about the new project: "The girls have such an amazing vibe, they're divine, and I love that I'll be spending time with them every day."

Wendy will appear on 'Desiguales' daily during Migbelis Castellanos' maternity leave, marking a historic moment in television.

Breaking barriers

Rising to fame on the first season of 'La Casa de los Famosos Mexico,' Wendy is now making history in the U.S., where no trans person had previously held a continuous hosting role on national broadcast television.

Despite being seen as more conservative, Mexican and Latino audiences have embraced trans figures in media. The first transgender woman on Spanish-language television was Cuban actress Alina Maria Hernandez, best known as Cachita from "El Gordo y la Flaca." Though she occasionally filled in for Lili Estefan, her role was not permanent like Wendy's.

Mexican audiences not only enjoyed Wendy's time on La Casa de los Famosos Mexico' but also crowned her the show's winner. Additionally, transgender psychic Moni Vidente remains one of Mexico's most recognized television personalities.

Originally published in The Latin Times
President Donald Trump's youngest son Barron continues to grow in popularity among Republicans, so much that some of them would consider changing to Constitution to let him run for president early.

Forty percent of Republicans would consider changing the Constitution to allow Barron Trump announce a campaign for president, according to a new Daily Mail/J.L. Partners poll.

Thirty-eight percent of Republicans disagreed with the idea and 22 percent did not voice an opinion when asked.

But most Americans remain sharply opposed to the idea as 42 percent of all respondents in the poll opposed the idea while just 24 percent support it.

When President Trump leaves office after his second term, Republicans seem interested in his youngest son be the next member of the family in the Oval Office.

Nearly half of Republicans support Barron Trump running for president in the future, as 49 percent favored the idea.

Twenty-two percent neither supported or opposed the idea. Just thirteen percent of Republicans were opposed to the idea and fifteen percent were unsure.

Predictably a wide majority of Democrats were opposed to the idea, 59 percent opposing the notion in the poll.

Barron Trump gestures at an indoor Presidential Inauguration parade event in Washington

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Americans overall, however, remain skeptical of the idea as just 26 percent of voters support the idea and 38 percent oppose it. Thirty-six percent of voters did not have were not sure about the idea.

The poll was conducted March 5-7 among a sample of 1,019 registered voters with a 3.4 percent margin of error.

Barron Trump is just 18 years old, and as the age requirement for Americans to run for president is still 35. He would have to wait 17 years before he could legally run for president.

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President Donald Trump, right, shakes the hand of his son Barron Trump at the 60th Presidential Inauguration

In 2028, the year his father is expected to pass the baton to another Republican, Barron will be 22 years old.

Barron, who began attending New York University last fall, may want to finish college before exploring his political career.

Republican, Democrat, and Independent voters used the word 'tall' the most to describe Barron.

Republicans and Independents used other words such as 'smart', 'good', 'intelligent,' and 'cool' to describe the president's youngest son.

Barron Trump waves at an indoor Presidential Inauguration parade event in Washington

U.S. President Donald Trump, right, stands with Vice President JD Vance, left, and son Barron Trump, center, during the 60th Presidential Inauguration ceremony

Democrats described Barron as 'spoiled' and 'unknown.'

Barron's public appearances during his father's inauguration reminded Americans just how tall he was, as the 6-7 college freshman dwarfed all the political figures wherever he went in Washington, DC.

At an Inauguration rally for his father's supporters, Barron Trump went viral online for waving and putting his hand up to his ear when he was introduced, fueling louder and louder cheers for his appearance.

His brief engagement with the crowd signaled that whenever Barron is ready to host rallies of his own, he will have no problem finding an audience.
One in five children have speech problems according to almost half of primary school teachers, with many blaming excess screentime.

A survey of 500 primary school teachers found 44 per cent think up to one in five children are behind their age level for speaking.

Most teachers - 89 per cent - thought the situation had got worse since the start of the Covid pandemic in 2020.

And 76 per cent of respondents said parents are often in denial about the extent of their childs speech problems.

The findings, from a YouGov survey commissioned by GL Assessment, showed the home environment appears to be to blame.

Asked for reasons, 47 per cent pointed to increased screentime, while 58 per cent said there was a decline in conversation at home.

The issue is making teaching more difficult for 92 per cent of teachers, with the same proportion saying parents do not realise the impact on literacy.

Crispin Chatterton, Director of Education at Renaissance, which owns GL Assessment, said: If children lack the ability to communicate effectively, every aspect of their school experience suffers.

A survey of 500 primary school teachers found 44 per cent think up to one in five children are behind their age level for speaking (stock image)

The findings, from a YouGov survey commissioned by GL Assessment, showed the home environment appears to be to blame (stock image)

Asked for reasons, 47 per cent pointed to increased screentime, while 58 per cent said there was a decline in conversation at home (stock image)

Not only are they unable to participate fully in lessons, but opportunities to socialise with their peers and ultimately their life chances are also greatly reduced.

Martin Galway, of the National Literacy Trust, said: The combined impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis and cuts to funding for early years services has likely played a significant role in the decline of childrens early language and communication skills that they need to have the best start in school.

Learning to talk and communicate when you are young is the foundation of all literacy skills and helps children thrive.

The Department for Education has been contacted for comment.
A mystery man who was the last known person to see a University of Pittsburgh pre-med student before she vanished in the Dominican Republic has spoken with police.

Sudiksha Konanki, 20, vanished in the early hours of March 6 while on Spring Break in the Carribean with five female friends.

Now, it has emerged that she was last known to be with a 24-year-old Iowa man who was a fellow guest at the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana, where Konanki and her friends were staying.

The man allegedly provided an initial statement to Dominican National Police in the immediate aftermath of Konanki's disappearance. Police do not believe her death was suspicious and she is believed to have drowned.

According to a complaint filed by her family in which they asked authorities to expand their search, the man was 'a stranger' to Konanki and her friends.

'Investigators are expanding the investigative process to corroborate the version that he offered,' police said in a statement.

According to the New York Post, the man went into the ocean with Konanki but fled due to the rough surf.

The guest allegedly passed out on the beach and when he woke, Konanki was nowhere to be seen.

Sudiksha Konanki, 20, vanished in the early hours of March 6 while on Spring Break in the Carribean with five female friends

Now, it has emerged that she was last known to be with a 24-year-old Iowa man who was a fellow guest at the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana, where Konanki and her friends were staying

He allegedly recalled seeing the woman in knee-deep water before he passed out.

The man is one of several witnesses police have spoken with since Konanki vanished. Her friends have also provided statements to authorities.

The US State Department is working with the Indian embassy in the Dominican Republic, which has taken the lead in the investigation as Konanki is an Indian citizen who was a permanent US resident.

And while authorities suspect the likeliest scenario is that she drowned in the rough conditions, her family are urging them to consider other lines of inquiry until and unless her body washes ashore.

'It's four days, and if she was in water, she would likely have been strewn to shore,' her father Subbarayudu Konanki said in his complaint.

The pre-med student was expected to graduate from the university in 2026, according to her LinkedIn profile

Dominican officials involved in the investigation have since said she was walking on the beach with six people the night before she vanished

Police have already spoken with Konanki's friends to establish exactly where a maritime search should be focused

'She's not found, so we're asking them to investigate multiple options, like kidnapping or abduction.'

The complaint states: 'While it is possible that Sudiksha drowned, there is a growing suspicion that there may be a crime, specifically the possibility of kidnapping.'

The pre-med student was expected to graduate from the university in 2026, according to her LinkedIn profile.

'My daughter is a very nice girl. She's ambitious,' her father said. 'She wanted to pursue a career in medicine.'
Whistleblowers who alert the authorities to massive tax fraud could receive millions of pounds as a reward, it can be revealed.

For the first time, informants will get compensation relative to the amount of money clawed back by the taxman.

If the tax take totalled hundreds of millions of pounds after a successful probe then whoever raised the alarm would be in line to pocket millions.

The radical plan, inspired by similar schemes in the US and Canada, aims to crack down on high-value tax fraud and avoidance by major firms and wealthy individuals.

It will be announced by a Treasury minister in a speech to mark the 20th anniversary of the merger of Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise to form HMRC.

Exchequer Secretary James Murray will also set out new efforts to tackle the scourge of Phoenixism - where rogue directors repeatedly dissolve their firms to avoid paying bills then start them up again under new names.

Whistleblowers who help uncover massive tax fraud may be rewarded millions of pounds under new plans to be unveiled today (file photo)

Exchequer Secretary James Murray will also set out new efforts to tackle the scourge of Phoenixism' where rogue directors dissolve their companies to avoid paying bills

Loopholes in company registrations will be closed while more investigations will be launched into unfit directors, under the new action plan (file photo)

Under the action plan, loopholes in company registrations will be closed while more investigations will be launched into unfit directors.

Mr Murray said last night: Everyone in Britain should play by the rules. We have zero tolerance for anyone who commits tax fraud or dodges their responsibilities.

'That is why we are pushing ahead with our new US-style whistleblower reward scheme, and our crackdown on anyone abusing company insolvency rules.

By going further and faster in pursing those who break the rules, we are making the system fairer for everyone else, and we are delivering the Prime Ministers Plan for Change by creating a simple and modern tax system that promotes economic growth.
Qantas chairman John Mullen has signalled a reversal of the airline's backing for 'woke' causes under former boss Alan Joyce, saying such campaigning had gone too far and was resented by the public.

When Mr Joyce was CEO the airline strongly backed a Yes vote in the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum, with 'Yes23' painted on planes to support the campaign, and had also strongly backed the same-sex marriage plebiscite.

Mr Mullen, who was not working with Qantas at the time the Voice referendum was rejected by a majority of Australians, said corporate Australia 'did itself no favours' by taking a side in the divisive issue.

'A lot of people saw corporate Australia lecturing them on what they should think (about the Voice),' he told the The Australian.

'That's where we made the mistake. I was at Telstra at the time and we supported the Voice, but we debated it extensively.'

He said different views were expressed, but Telstra decided to back the Voice as it was rolling out mobile phone coverage to Indigenous communities at the time.

Mr Mullen said people in the 'bush and other communities did not like to be told what to do by people from the east coast cities, particularly Sydney and Melbourne'.

Further explaining his views in an opinion piece for the Australian Financial Review, Mr Mullen wrote that companies were well advised to stay away from social issues and focus on making profits for shareholders.

Qantas chairman John Mullen (left) has warned about the dangers of companies getting too involved in social campaigns such as the Indigenous Voice to Parliament

'In today's social media-driven world, however, companies have increasingly taken public stances on divisive issues such as same-sex marriage, the Voice, climate change and other causes,' he said.

'While these efforts have been well-intentioned, I think that, as so often happens, the pendulum has maybe swung too far.'

He said the rejection of the Voice was less to do with how it would have worked, or any opposition to Aboriginal empowerment, as it was 'that people don't like to be told by others what they should think', particularly by government and corporations.

Mr Mullen added that it would have been 'equally damaging' if companies had chosen to campaign against the Voice.

He said corporate Australia should 'not try to pick winners and losers or throw its weight behind every cause that comes along'.

'That is what we have an elected government for,' he said.

Under former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce (pictured centre, beside Anthony Albanese), the airline backed a Yes vote in the Voice referendum, with some planes painted with 'Yes23'

The chairman said similar lessons can be learned when it came to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) employment policies, and environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.

DEI and ESG initiative are now being wound back or done away with completely in the US under President Donald Trump as popular opinion pushed back against hiring on the basis of race, gender and sexuality.

'Clearly, in some areas corporates and others overstepped the enthusiastic adoption of some of the more radical or "woke" initiatives, and this has caused a backlash in some quarters,' Mr Mullen wrote.

He said mainstream DEI and ESG initiatives 'have largely been shown to improve performance and add value to corporations'.

'So I am mystified to read that some organisations are now reversing their DEI and ESG initiatives simply based upon the way the wind is blowing in the US,' the Qantas chairman said.

'If they can suddenly drop the initiatives again and run like lemmings in the other direction than the one they ran in literally only yesterday, then one would be forgiven for wondering whether they ever really believed in the programs in the first place, or were they just virtue-signalling and doing them to try to look good and conform?'

His advice for fellow corporate leaders is to separate their companies from divisive issues that have nothing to do with operations.

'Just ask yourself what is good for your company and dont follow the latest trend out there,' Mr Mullen said.

'Dont be radically woke but don't be radically anti-woke either. Just do what you think is right and stick to it.

'And always, as a director, be prepared to make a decision that differs from your personal conviction if it is the best thing for the company.

'You need that in order to discharge the "pub test" side of it.'
Rupert Lowe yesterday vowed to sue Reform UK after being thrown out of the party over allegations of serious bullying against two women staff and threatening the chairman with physical violence.

The former Reform MP said he was the victim of a political assassination after questioning Nigel Farages leadership, adding: I have been in discussions with my legal team this afternoon, and this will be followed by legal action in due course.

I will not have my name dragged through the mud...You have to stand up to bullies, and I am doing exactly that.

Asked whether there was any chance of wiping the slate clean and returning to Reform, which withdrew the whip from him on Sunday, he said it was highly unlikely and didnt rule out joining the Tories.

Taking aim at Mr Farage, he said: Youve got to look at the pattern of relations with Nigel throughout his career...almost anybody whos in his view, threatening him or capable of taking over from him, he tends to fall out with them.

This appeared to be a reference to X owner Elon Musk saying that Mr Farage didnt have what it takes to lead Reform before praising Mr Lowe on his social media platform.

But Mr Farage hit back on Monday night, telling GB News: I dont fall out with anybody, they fall out with me.

There has been a behavioural problem for some months. Outbursts, anger, that kind of thing.

Former Reform MP Rupert Lowe (pictured) has vowed to proceed with legal action against the party after he had the whip withdrawn over allegations of 'serious bullying'

Nigel Farage hit back at Mr Lowe, insisting there had been a 'behavioural problem' for several months

Frankly Ive tried to, weve tried to, put it all to the back of our minds.. And Im not prejudging anything on the allegations of a bullying culture going on in his offices.

But I put it you that any party who had a senior figure who was facing those accusations would have to act in some way.

When we found out that one of our MPs was facing these accusations - without prejudging anything we decided to appoint an independent KC to have a look at the situation.

Since then, things have got a little bit out of control.

Mr Lowe used an interview with the Dan Wootton Outspoken programme to once again refute the accusations against him, branding them absolute drivel.

He pointed out that the allegations relating to Zia Yusuf, Reform party chairman, werent lodged with police until last week despite them allegedly happening in December.

This was after an interview appeared in the Daily Mail last week in which Mr Lowe criticised Mr Farages leadership.

He admitted having a robust debate with Mr Yusuf on December 13, but denied threatening physical violence.

In the first broadcast interview since the fiasco erupted, he said: It was a robust debate about an email he sent and I cant remember the exact words, we were in there together.

Left to right: MPs Richard Tice, Mr Farage, Lee Anderson and Mr Lowe

It was a robust debate because I was irritated that he was playing power games with Norfolk, which is part of my [Great Yarmouth] constituency.

He said he was confident that he will be cleared by the KC hired by the Reform party to probe the allegations, adding: I never said anything about bullying, disabled [people] or women - so that will all be made clear.

This was in relation to allegations that he made derogatory and discriminatory remarks about two of his women staff - including reference to a perceived disability.

Asked if he could now join the Tories after shadow home secretary Chris Philp defended him, he did not rule it out, saying: Well look. I was a Tory years ago...I think the Tories have got a lot of work to do to get their house in order.

They have to do a lot of work in the head office and a lot of work on what I call their Lib Dem MPs. I think theres some extremely good Tory MPs...I get on with a lot of them.
A relieved daughter says she feels like 'punching her dad in the face' after he was pulled to safety from floodwaters in dramatic scenes.

The man called his daughter for help after driving his ute through the flooded Chevallum Road in Palmwoods on Queensland's Sunshine Coast on Monday.

'He called me to say that he was stuck in the floodwater and the car was filling up with water and that he couldn't get out and then I freaked out and called the police,' she told 9News.

Rescue crews used drones to locate the man, who was found sitting on the roof of his submerged ute.

The man was helped into an inflatable rescue boat and taken to dry land, where he was reunited with his grateful daughter.

However, his relief was short-lived.

'I feel like I could punch him in the face,' his daughter said.

'But I feel a lot better now.'

The Sunshine Coast man (pictured) called his daughter for help after driving his ute through a flooded road in Palmwoods. He was rescued by SES crews a short time later

The man is seen standing on the roof of his sinking ute as SES crews approach him

Another stranded motorist was also rescued nearby.

The pair were among 17 floodwater rescues conducted by Queensland Fire and Rescue swiftwater teams across Queensland's southeast on Monday in the wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

The Sunshine Coast hinterland was inundated with flash flooding after the region was drenched with 400mm of rain on Sunday night.

It's also a timely reminder to not drive through flooded waters.

'Please stay well away from swollen creeks and rivers, as rain continues to fall they may rise rapidly. Remember, if it's flooded, forget it,' Queensland Fire said.

Emergency services and SES crews have responded to 150 water rescues and saved countless lives across southeast Queensland in recent days.

The Bureau of Meteorology said heavy rain would continue to impact northern NSW, with heavy showers expected in flood watch areas on Tuesday.

As a result, the rain may cause river rises and result in minor riverine flooding over parts of northwest and central west NSW.

The NSW State Emergency Service has advised that people avoid certain areas due to widespread flooding (an SES vehicle is pictured)

An SES worker is seen using a chainsaw on a fallen gumtree in northern NSW

The NSW SES has also advised people avoid Clybucca, Kinchela, Smithtown, Gladstone and Upper and Lower Belmore due to widespread flooding.

NSW Police said there are currently no emergency warnings in the state but warned care still needs to be taken.

The Bureau has also issued major flood warnings for the Bremer River and Warrill Creek as well as for the Logan River.
A White House official yesterday refused to rule out the possibility of foul play in the North Sea tanker crash, with speculation one of the ships may have been hacked.

A Portuguese-flagged cargo ship carrying cyanide smashed into a US military oil tanker causing a 'massive fireball' off the Yorkshire coast.

Jet fuel gushed into the North Sea from the ruptured hold of the US-flagged oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate, which was transporting American military supplies. It had been at anchor when Portuguese-registered cargo ship MV Solong crashed into it.

A senior White House official told the maritime website gCaptain.com that foul play had not been ruled out. There was speculation that the Solong might have been hacked by Russia or other hostile states and turned into a 'spear'.

A total of 36 mariners were rescued after abandoning ships as explosions rocked their doomed vessels.

The oil tanker was laden with about 18,000 tonnes of jet fuel - about 142,000 barrels - when it left the Greek port of Agioi Theodoroi, according to data from Kpler.

The Solong's Hamburg-based owner Ernst Russ said that one of the ship's 14 crew members was still missing while the rest were safely ashore.

The cargo vessel was carrying 15 shipping containers packed with sodium cyanide  a highly toxic and water-soluble compound  according to a report from maritime data provider Lloyd's List Intelligence.

MV Stena Immaculate exploded into a 'massive fireball' after being hit by MV Solong, leaking some 18,000 tonnes of jet fuel into the North Sea.

A Portuguese-flagged cargo ship carrying cyanide smashed into a US military oil tanker causing a 'massive fireball' off the Yorkshire coast

Jet fuel gushed into the North Sea from the ruptured hold of the US-flagged oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate, which was transporting American military supplies

The Solong had been sailing from the Scottish port of Grangemouth to Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

As it steamed at 16 knots  about 18mph  down England's east coast, its crew appeared not to see the enormous tanker parked ahead, ramming into it side-on.

As maritime accident investigators began work yesterday, one expert suggested 'nobody on the cargo ship was paying attention' as it neared the Stena Immaculate  which can carry 46.5million litres of oil  about 13 miles off the coast, east of Hull and the Humber estuary, where it had anchored overnight.

The 461ft Solong did 'not even slow down' as it ploughed 'full bore' into the side of the 600ft-long tanker while apparently on autopilot, said US naval history professor Sal Mercogliano.

In a YouTube video analysing the tracking data from the ships, he said: 'It appears that Solong just straight-out rammed into the side of Stena Immaculate.'

Dramatic footage showed the stricken vessels entangled as they floated around consumed by an inferno, as a massive rescue operation was launched shortly after the crash at 9.48am yesterday.

Flames leapt from oil burning on the surface of the sea as RNLI lifeboats and a Coastguard helicopter plucked sailors to safety.

Lifeboat crews from Skegness, Bridlington, Mablethorpe and Cleethorpes took part in the operation, while the Humber Coastguard issued an alert for any nearby vessels with fire-fighting capabilities to help out.

In a recording of the coastguard's alert, other ships were warned: 'Stena Immaculate is carrying jet A1 fuel which is on fire and in the water. Request vessels remain at a safe distance.'

Last night, HM Coastguard said the extensive search for a missing crew member had ended after they sadly have not been found. A total of 36 were brought ashore during the day.

One RNLI crew member said there was little they could do after the initial search and rescue as there was thick fog and we could not see a thing.

A total of 36 mariners were rescued after abandoning ships as explosions rocked their doomed vessels

Black smoke billows into the air after a crash between an oil tanker and a cargo ship off the coast of East Yorkshire

Fire and rescue services attend after a collision between oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate and the cargo vessel MV Solong

Flames leapt from oil burning on the surface of the sea as RNLI lifeboats and a Coastguard helicopter plucked sailors to safety

A coastguard vehicle on the scene at the Port of Grimsby, after a crash between an oil tanker and a cargo ship off the coast of East Yorkshire

Crew members stand on the bow as the Royal National Lifeboat Antony Patrick Jones returns safely with crew to Bridlington RNLI station

The Royal National Lifeboat Antony Patrick Jones returns safely with crew to Bridlington RNLI station after taking part in rescue operations

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The Stena Immaculate, which had travelled from the Greek port of Agioi Theodoroi, had been chartered by the US Navy's Military Sealift Command as part of its Tanker Security Program which 'supports US military missions across the globe'.

Cyanide mix that killed thousands of fish  and can be deadly to humans Sodium cyanide is a very toxic white powder that has a faint almond-like odour. It is commonly used in industry for printing, dyeing, photography, metal cleaning and manufacturing. Exposure to cyanide salts  through inhalation, ingestion or skin contact  can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, confusion and drowsiness. In severe cases it can cause a loss of consciousness, fitting and even death. This is because it interferes with the bodys ability to use oxygen  specifically in the brain, heart and lungs. In August last year a spill in the Walsall canal released about 4,000 litres of sodium cyanide and other chemicals. It killed thousands of fish and the public were warned to avoid the area for weeks. The chemical has also been used as a poison. In 2000, an industrial chemist named John Allan, from Birkenhead, was jailed for life after poisoning his girlfriend with cyanide while in Egypt. By Xantha Leatham, Deputy Science Editor Advertisement

Dr Abdul Khalique, head of the Maritime Centre at Liverpool John Moores University who has been using simulators to reconstruct the incident, said: 'It can be assumed that the watchkeepers on MV Solong were not performing their duty to "maintain a proper lookout by all available means" as required by International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.'

There were immediate fears of an environmental catastrophe as aviation fuel spilled into the sea.

Martin Slater, of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, said it could potentially be 'devastating' to the Humber estuary, with birds and seals at risk.

Dave O'Hara, of the RSPB, said: 'The incident is close to Bempton Cliffs, home to the biggest gannet colony in England.'

The charity's Richard Barnard said: 'Oil directly impacts seabirds, coating their feathers and reducing their waterproofing and buoyancy, which can lead to drowning, or it can poison them through ingestion.'

Dr Tom Webb, senior lecturer in Marine Ecology and Conservation at the University of Sheffield, said: 'The wildlife of the Yorkshire coast and Humber Estuary is of immense biological, cultural and economic importance.

'Wading birds and waterfowl gather in large numbers as they move between wintering and breeding grounds, while soon Yorkshire's iconic seabirds will be coming inshore to breed.'

Emergency measures are in place for any injured birds that wash ashore in the coming days, which may include euthanising animals if their injuries are severe.

Harj Narulla, an environmental law barrister from Doughty Street Chambers, said the costs of cleaning up an oil spill could be in the tens of millions of pounds. Typically the company found to have caused the spill foots the bill.

Dr Jonathan Paul, a senior lecturer in geosciences, said the environmental impact of the sodium cyanide spill would depend on whether the canisters had been pierced which was unclear last night, adding: 'In the very worst-case scenario, you have a big spill of sodium cyanide, resulting in the death of a lot of marine organisms.'

Smoke can be seen billowing from the sea as oil carried on the carrier caught fire

Fire and rescue services attend after a collision between oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate and the cargo vessel MV Solong on March 10, 2025

Dramatic images appear to show one of the two vessels turned into a blazing inferno following the crash 10 miles off the coast of East Yorkshire on Monday morning

US logistics group Crowley, which manages the oil tanker, said in a statement: 'Stena Immaculate was struck by the container ship Solong.

'The Stena Immaculate sustained a ruptured cargo tank. The Stena Immaculate crew abandoned the vessel following multiple explosions onboard.'

Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East, said 13 casualties had been brought in initially by a commercial catamaran, followed by another ten on a harbour pilot boat and nine on another pilot's vessel.

Mr Boyers said there had been 'a massive fireball', adding: 'They must have sent a mayday out. There has been a flotilla of ambulances [at the dock] to pick up anyone they can find.'

Erik Hanell, chief executive of Stena Bulk, the company that owns the tanker said its crew of more than 20 were 'safe and accounted for' by lunchtime.

Ernst Russ, the company that owns the Solong, released a statement saying: '13 of the 14 Solong crew members have been brought safely shore.

'Efforts to locate the missing crew member are ongoing. Both vessels have sustained significant damage in the impact of the collision and the subsequent fire.'

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch said it had 'deployed a team' to Grimsby. Elsewhere, two maritime security sources were reported as saying there was no indication of 'malicious activity'.

In Downing Street, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said the collision was an 'extremely concerning situation'.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander sai she was hugely grateful to HM Coastguard, the RNLI, and emergency services for their response and said she is working closely with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) as they conduct an assessment of any counter pollution measures needed over the coming days.
A couple shares a romantic moment together lazily lounging by a hotel pool, sipping flavorful cocktails and basking in the sunshine.

That is until the relaxing scene is dramatically interrupted by the ear-splitting squeals of boisterous kids splashing in the water.

Now a luxury California hotel has taken extreme measures to prevent such disruptions from occurring - by banning children from staying.

The move has sparked a debate over whether hotels should be open to all youngsters, or more should have the option to leave them at home.

But experts tell DailyMail.com that the decision to enact an adults-only policy could be illegal.

The Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas, a Hyatt hotel 25 miles north of San Diego just steps from the Pacific Ocean, only accepts guests aged 18 and above.

One night at the oceanfront property can cost guests anywhere between $550 and $2,500.

The decision by hotel management to banish children, a new policy enacted - perhaps appropriately - on February 14, Valentines Day.

The new rule, according to a comment on the hotel's website, allows us to provide a serene and tranquil environment tailored to adult travelers seeking relaxation, exploration and a peaceful stay at the beach.

The hotel, which opened its doors in March 2021 and is the only adults-only resort in Southern California, has followed the business model of the company's other adults-only Golden State properties in Big Sur further up the coast and Napa Valley.

The Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas, a Hyatt hotel 25 miles north of San Diego just steps from the Pacific Ocean, has a new policy where they only accepts guests aged 18 and above

General manager Richard Sorensen told the The Coast News outlet, Were excited to introduce new programming tailored specifically for our adult guests desire for relaxation, connection, and adventure.'

Legal experts, however, are questioning whether the legality of the bold move because, they say, it discriminates against families with children.

Attorney Chris Dolan contents that adults-only hotels could violate the Unruh Civil Rights Act - California Civil Code Section 51 - which was designed to make sure that there was equality in services, businesses, contracting, and housing.

He tells DailyMail.com: On their face, they seem to be unlawful and in opposition to the protections provided by the Unruh Act.

I'm not going to say it's legal or illegal because I'm not a judge.

California officials, says Dolan, have made a staunch effort to prevent discrimination in contracts of goods and services and public accommodations, adds the San Francisco-based attorney.

A hotel is a public accommodation and state authorities want to prevent people from being discriminated against whether it's because they're gay, transgender, families, and people with children so that everybody has an opportunity to equally enjoy California's beautiful hotels and seaside resorts.

Dolan adds by barring children from public accommodation, you're also generally barring families with children from public accommodations, such as hotels.

One night at the oceanfront property can cost guests anywhere between $550 and $2,500. An expert says the decision to ban children could be illegal

The hotel, which opened its doors in March 2021 and is the only adults-only resort in Southern California, has followed the business model of the company's other adults-only Golden State properties in Big Sur further up the coast and Napa Valley

'And the law says that, especially in the areas around housing, they want to make sure there's not discrimination against people with children or people who are not married.

For example, a landlord can't say, I won't rent you as a couple because you're not married. That's a marital status discrimination.

A landlord can put reasonable restrictions, such as you can't have 16 kids in a two-bedroom apartment for issues of safety. And hotels, likewise, can have rules pertaining to safety, like no one under 14 unsupervised in a swimming pool.

But what they can't do is have an absolute prohibition against a class of people.

The Encinitas resort features a $2,900-per-night Ponto Suite - the pinnacle of relaxed oceanfront luxury with three large picture windows overlooking Batiquitos Lagoon and west-facing floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing Pacific Ocean views.

The stunning 1,040 square feet accommodation has a double-sided fireplace which opens up to an outdoor living space on the patio and a comfortable living room perfect for an intimate evening or gathering with friends.

'The separate bedroom and bathroom features dual vanities, a walk-in shower, and a soak bathtub. All for $2,900 per night - breakfast included.

Guests will experience rarefied coastal living and the splendor of the ocean at sunset.

The resort also offers has more meager accommodation, with an ocean-view room with a king-sized bed and private balcony with breathtaking California sunsets costing approximately $800 per night.

Along with an array of restaurants and enticing pool, the hotel amenities include a light therapy room.'

Dolan, a parent, added, Myself as a person with children, every now and then I like to get away from them.

There are plenty of places that are in Mexico, the Bahamas, that are adults-only resorts where people can go to.

He says hotels seeking adults-only status should seek an exception from the state legislature.

Existing legislation is often quite broad but trade groups, associations, and individuals can ask the legislature to make an amendment, which is to add an exception for something with a reasonably tailored carve-out.

Dolan says that hotels wanting an adults-only environment for guests may need to have separate areas for children and adults.

There are ways that facilities can indeed have separation of adults and children, he says, where they have an adult-only pool, but they also offer a child-friendly pool.

Or a resort could have two towers - a tower and a pool that's adults-only, a tower and a pool for families, so long as they'd be able to enjoy the same benefits.

You could split the hotel in half, have two pools, two wings. And make one side of it potentially adults-only, but still providing access to accommodations to people with families.

Dolan says current legislation is in place to protect against separate but equal race-discrimination from the Jim Crow era when there would be a water fountain for whites and a water fountain for blacks.

He added, that the law back then said it's okay as long as it's separate but equal.

Dolan explains that there are carve-out exceptions to the law - for example senior housing for those aged 55 and over, adding some mobile home parks are adults-only.

However, he adds, people can raise objections with the California Human Rights Commission.

Having a gay-only hotel, I think, would be challenged as being entirely discriminatory on a protected classification, he adds.

Its something that no one perhaps has challenged. But what if there was a straights-only hotels?

If you flip the coin and you have it be straight people only, it's obviously unlawful. So flip the coin and have gay people only - it's also unlawful because it's based upon a protected classification.'

Dolan asserts that adults-only hotels are effectively self-limiting.'

'Very few people (with children) are going to go there and fight them over that issue,' he says.

But as a matter of straight-up law, you can't discriminate on the basis of marital status, family status, race, sexual orientation, gender orientation.

You can't have a hotel that says no trans people. You can't have a hotel that says trans people only.

The law creates swaths of protection to make sure that it is being applicable to the vast majority of protected classifications, meaning it's better to have more protection than less.

The stunning 1,040 square feet accommodation has a double-sided fireplace which opens up to an outdoor living space on the patio and a comfortable living room perfect for an intimate evening or gathering with friends

'And then people can go to the legislature and request subsections or carve-outs, just like in housing there are carve-outs for over 55.

The concern is then you'll have a ton of hotels flocking to be adults-only. And then families with children will be discriminated against and denied equal accommodation.

Although the Alila resort in Encinitas has banned children from overnight stays, youngsters are still allowed to attend special functions, including weddings.

Random Noob, posting on X (formerly Twitter), wrote of the transition to adults-only, 'Welp, no longer going there.'

But Maryanne Kehoe said of the change, 'Good!!' And Carl Cole commented, 'Sign me up.'

Sebastian Heeman of L & B Travel in Los Angeles tells DailyMail.com his company's clientele - including honeymooners and couples celebrating an anniversary - specifically do not want to hear screaming children' on during a relaxing vacation.

Requests for adults-only hotels increased during the Covid-19 pandemic, he says, when parents were surrounded by noise stuck at home and their kids arent in school.

Guests now seek a hotel vibe that's a little bit more serene, a little bit quieter, a little bit more adult-oriented so that they feel like they're being waited on and they're not going to get splashed by children at the pool.

The attitude is I'm on vacation - I'm trying to get away from all that noise and energy."

Most of our upscale wedding clientele would probably prefer something like the Alila or equivalent if it was adult-only.

It's a beautiful property. Really nice views. They've probably had a lot of complaints about the kids from people just trying to have a quiet weekend. I don't think it's a desire to inconvenience anybody or anything negative towards children.

The hotel nor Hyatt responded to DailyMail.com's request for comment.
Colombia has urged the UN to remove cocaine's main ingredient from its list of harmful substances, after its president said the drug is 'no worse than whiskey.'

The country is the world's biggest cocaine producer and exporter, with drug cartels and violent guerrilla groups mainly sending the illegal drug to the United States and Europe, and has spent decades fighting against drug trafficking.

But since president Gustavo Petro took office as the country's first socialist leader, the nation appears to have changed tack.

Colombian Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia, in an address to the UN's Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna, insisted Monday that the coca leaf, cocaine's main ingredient, 'is itself not harmful to health'.

Removing it from a 1961 UN list of harmful narcotics, where it sits alongside cocaine and heroin, would allow it to be used to 'its full potential in industrial applications such as fertilisers and beverages,' she said.

She argued that legalisation was the only way to stop drug traffickers monopolising the plant - forcing rural communities to grow it for them, and razing forests for its cultivation.

Sarabia said billions of dollars spent on the so-called war on drugs has done nothing to stop consumption, production, and trafficking.

In fact, she said, the number of recreational users of cocaine increased by more than 50 million in a decade.

Former rebels of the dissolved Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) prepare to fumigate coca crops in Catatumbo, Norte de Santander Department, Colombia, on August 20, 202

A man holds coca paste, a crude extract of the coca leaf, in Catatumbo, Norte de Santander Department, Colombia, on August 20, 2022

Colombia is the world's biggest cocaine producer and exporter, with drug cartels and violent guerrilla groups mainly sending the illegal drug to the United States and Europe (File image)

Petro raised eyebrows last month after he claimed cocaine 'is illegal because it is made in Latin America, not because it is worse than whisky.'

'Scientists have analyzed this. Cocaine is no worse than whiskey,' he added, suggesting that the global cocaine industry could be 'easily dismantled' if the drug were legalized worldwide.

'If you want peace, you have to dismantle the business (of drug trafficking),' he said.

'It could easily be dismantled if they legalize cocaine in the world. It would be sold like wine.'

He also claimed that cocaine is being scapegoated by American politicians.

Since coming to power in 2022, Petro has tried to change the approach to combatting drug trafficking to focus more on prevention among potential users, and finding alternative incomes for coca farmers.

Part of this change has seen him trying to make peace with all of the armed groups that are fueled by drug trafficking in the hope of ending six decades of conflict.

Colombia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Laura Sarabia (pictured) urged the UN to remove the coca leaf from its harmful substances list

Colombia's leftist President Gustavo Petro (left) claimed cocaine was 'no worse than whsikey' and said that the drug was being scapegoated by American politicians

Men work at a laboratory for the production of coca base in Tibu municipality, Norte de Santander department, Colombia, on October 30, 2022

But these efforts appear to have failed.

In 2023, the South American country set a new record last year for coca leaf cultivation and cocaine production, which rose 53 percent from 1,738 tonnes (1,915 US tons) to 2,600 tonnes, according to the UN.

Colombian authorities have seized more than 1,900 tonnes of cocaine and destroyed 454 clandestine laboratories since Petro took office in August 2022 up to January this year, said the minister.
The BBC racked up an almost 5million bill looking into the Huw Edwards and Tim Westwood scandals, it has been revealed.

Investigations carried out by the broadcaster in relation to the disgraced news presenter cost more than 1.3million while 3.3million was spent on DJ Westwood.

External legal fees made up 340,843 of the expenditure for Edwards and a review of complaints policies by consultants Deloitte came to 958,133.

Another 70,000 was paid for 'additional resources' from the BBC corporate investigations team.

Last year, Edwards, 63, was handed a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after he admitted to having indecent images of children.

The total bill for the BBC inquiry emerged on Sunday in a Freedom of Information response published by the Financial Times.

Westwood continues to deny allegations of bullying and misogyny after the Met Police investigated 'non-recent sexual offences' which dated between 1982 and 2016 and are all alleged to have happened in London.

The BBC released its 3.3million report last month on an investigation into his behaviour.

Last year, Edwards, 63, was handed a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after he admitted to having indecent images of children

In his heyday, Tim Westwood took to the decks at several huge events up and down the country, touring universities and other institutions

The total bill for the BBC inquiry into Edwards emerged on Sunday via a Freedom of Information response (file image)

Last week, chairman Samir Shah said the BBC had not been able to recover any salary as yet from Edwards and described the situation as 'quite frustrating'.

After his guilty plea in July, Edwards BBC asked him to return his salary, which he was paid during the period following his arrest in November 2023 until he resigned in April 2024.

Asked if they have been able to recover any salary from Edwards during the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Tuesday, Dr Shah said: 'We have not... We've obviously asked, and we've said it many times, but he seems unwilling.

'There was a moment that we thought that he might just do the right thing for a change, then he decided not to.'

He added: 'It's quite frustrating this, really, because I think he should have done it. He could still do it.

'It's not right. He's taken licence fee payers' money and he knew what he'd done and he should return it now.'

Speaking to The Sun, a victim of Edwards accused the BBC of failing to respond to him in light of Sunday's expenditure revelation.

The young TV producer was contacted by Edwards in early 2021.

Huw Edwards leaves Westminster Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to three counts of making indecent pictures of children in July 2024

A younger Huw Edwards on the set of the BBC Ten o' Clock News

Last week, chairman Samir Shah (pictured) said the BBC had not been able to recover any salary as yet from Edwards and described the situation as 'quite frustrating'

Edwards later sent inappropriate messages, including an invitation to a Windsor hotel while he was fronting Prince Philip's funeral coverage.

The victim contacted the BBC and was interviewed as part of its internal investigation into the Edwards scandal in August 2023.

He said: 'How can they spend all that money and not have any answers for people like me?

'I have not heard anything further about the findings of the BBC investigation and not even had a check-up call or anything.'

The bill for the Edwards inquiry is the equivalent of 8,076 licence fees at 169.50 each.

In response to details of the FOI, a BBC spokesman said: 'Wherever possible we aim to resolve matters without external support, and the decision to commission any review or work by a third party is taken with careful consideration, based on the specific circumstances in each case.

'We only incur external legal costs when absolutely necessary.'

They added: 'Any complaints are taken extremely seriously and are handled in line with our processes - ensuring care, fairness and sensitivity, confidentiality and integrity and in line with BBC policy and employment law.

'While we take every complaint that is raised with us seriously, we are also clear with anyone who speaks to us that there will always be a limit to what can be said or shared, including in relation to any determination or resolution.'

In 2013 the corporation spent more than 5million on three inquiries linked to the Jimmy Saville scandal.
A medical transport helicopter with a pilot and two hospital workers on board crashed in Mississippi on Monday, killing everyone on board.

The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) AirCare helicopter crashed near the Natchez Trace in Madison County around 12:30 p.m. CT, reported WLBT.

Hospital officials confirmed the pilot and two medical staff were killed in the crash and no patient was on board. Their identities were not released on Monday.

FlightAware tracking data showed the Eurocopter EC-135 helicopter had stopped at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson and was returning to UMMC when it went down.

'They were returning to base after they delivered a patient,' UMMC Vice Chancellor Lou Ann Woodward said. 'There was no patient on board.'

'There were three crew members on board - two medical personnel and one pilot. The families have been notified.

'At this time, we are not releasing their names. We are maintaining that confidentiality out of respect for the... families and the individuals involved.'

The cause of the crash is unknown, and the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.

A medical transport helicopter with a pilot and two hospital workers on board crashed in Mississippi on Monday

The Eurocopter EC-135 helicopter (generic UMMC helicopter pictured) had stopped at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson and was returning to UMMC when it went down

'Our entire Medical Center family is heartbroken over this,' Woodward said. 'We also want to express our concern and sadness for the AirCare team... This is the crew that responds to emergencies across all of the state.

'And to see them today to respond to one of their own... was something you can't put into words.'

UMMC's flight teams include critical care nurses and paramedics, according their website.

Officials said there was UMMC employee crew members and a pilot from Med-Trans, the Texas-based company they leased the helicopter from, on board.

'They are an amazing partner, and we've had a long-standing partnership. In fact, a real point of pride has been our safety record. In the history of our helicopter program, this is our first crash,' Woodward said.

'On a normal day, I'd be so happy telling you that. That news today sounds awfully hollow and unimportant. But safety is a top priority for all involved.'

FlightAware data showed the helicopter had made several stops on Monday before it crashed.

It was reported at Golden Triangle Regional Airport at 8:56 a.m., then seen near Columbus at 9:11 a.m. and 9:32 a.m.

Hospital officials (pictured) confirmed the pilot and two medical staff were killed in the crash and no patient was on board

The helicopter arrived at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center at 10:26 am and left at 10:48 a.m. to return to UMMC.

At 12:01 p.m., the helicopter left UMMC for St. Dominic Hospital, and took off from there at 12:09 p.m. and was last seen at 12:36 p.m.

The aircraft flew approximately 23 miles and reached an altitude of more than 2,000 feet.

'First Lady of Mississippi Elee Reeves and I are praying for the victims of todays helicopter crash in Madison County,' Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said.

'Please keep the victims families and coworkers in your prayers. Its a tragic reminder of the risks Mississippis first responders take every day to keep us safe. Our state will never forget the sacrifice of these heroes.'
Question: I live on the South Coast in Barton-on-Sea. From here we can see two lighthouses, one at The Needles on the Isle of Wight, the other next to Hurst Castle near Milford on Sea. Are there other coastal areas where two, or maybe more, lighthouses are visible to the naked eye?

Here in the Harwich area of Essex we have four visible for guidance to vessels wanting to visit Harwich Harbour. They were all built in the 19th century, with one pair on dry land, the other in the sea. The first pair to be built were those on dry land: the Low Lighthouse and the High Lighthouse. The Low Lighthouse is now the Harwich Maritime Museum, and very good it is too.

The High Lighthouse is open from time to time and has been a residential home. When I was a youngster, a lady lived in that one and we boys called her Lighthouse Lil.

The other pair, in the sea, are built of iron, on iron legs and were designed on the same principle as the other pair, with one light higher than the other. They were built almost fifty years after the other pair, as channels in the seas changed. All four are redundant now. When I was a lad in the 1950s, one of the iron ones was the headquarters of the local Sea Scouts, but it is not accessible to anyone now.

In these modern times, Harwich is the operational headquarters for Trinity House, who are responsible for safe navigation around our shores for all shipping and maintenance of most lighthouses.

Every UK lighthouse has been automated since 2003. The last one to be converted was Walney, operated by the Lancaster Port Commission.

Stan Beecham, Harwich, Essex

Here in the Harwich area of Essex we have four lighthouses visible for guidance to vessels wanting to visit Harwich Harbour

The High Lighthouse (pictured) is open from time to time and has been a residential home

The Calf of Man is a stunning 620-acre island off the southwest coast of the Isle of Man. It is separated from the Isle of Man by a narrow stretch of water, the Calf Sound. Its offshore rocks have no fewer than four lighthouses.

The first two lighthouses were built by Robert Stevenson in 1818, under the Isle of Man and Calf of Man Lighthouses Act 1815. Both lighthouses were discontinued in January 1875, when Chicken Rock lighthouse was completed.

In 1968, another lighthouse was built on the Calf after a severe fire destroyed the Chicken Rock light. The Chicken Rock lighthouse was later rebuilt. Sadly, the two Stevenson lighthouses, magnificent buildings, are no longer maintained.

Ella Dixon, Hereford

Question: Who invented shatterproof glass?

Tomorrow's questions:

Q: It is well known that aloe vera has beneficial properties. Are other aloes (such as aloe ferox or variegata) useful too? John Bellis, Burton-on Trent, Staffs Q: Are fungi more closely related to animals than to plants? Tamsin Wilder, Liverpool Q: Which was the last glacier in the UK? Oliver Smith, Tickhill, South Yorks Advertisement

Edouard Benedictus (1878 -1930) was a French chemist, artist and designer who discovered laminated safety glass by accident.

Benedictus made his discovery in 1903, when he accidentally dropped a glass flask coated with a dried layer of cellulose nitrate. Instead of shattering, the glass cracked but remained intact. He developed a method for producing laminated glass by sandwiching a layer of cellulose nitrate between two sheets of glass, which dramatically improved its strength and shatter resistance.

He patented the invention in 1909 and formed Societe du Verre Triplex in 1911. His innovation gained traction during the First World War, when the military saw the benefits of shatterproof glass for vehicle windshields and gas mask lenses. By 1930, safety glass was mandatory for all car windscreens in the UK.

Another Frenchman, Francois Barthelemy Alfred Royer de la Bastie (1830-1901), was responsible for inventing a way to produce tempered glass: strengthened glass that is strong and durable and shatters into small, blunted pieces instead of sharp shards. He achieved this by quenching almost-molten glass in a heated bath of oil, a process he patented in 1874.

American physicist and inventor Harold McMaster (1916-2003) perfected the process and launched Permaglass, Inc in 1948, producing curved and tempered glass for the automotive market. Today, the front windscreen of a car is usually made of shatterproof laminated glass, while the side and rear windows are typically made of tempered glass.

Jon Pritchard, Bedford

Question: Were Roman public roads built by private companies?

Further to the earlier answer, all of Ancient Romes civic infrastructure  bridges, viaducts, harbours, etc  was constructed by its military. Used to building forts, siege machines and more, they had the skills and equipment. Such work also kept soldiers and sailors busy, preventing dissatisfaction and revolt.

Only in the industrial age did this kind of thing become the preserve of dedicated professionals, to describe which a term was coined that still stresses their non-military nature: civil engineer.

Chris Rogers, Edgware, Middlesex
A reporter for conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' InfoWars was brutally murdered outside his south Austin apartment late on Sunday night.

Jamie White was found mortally wounded outside his home on Douglas Street around midnight in a slaying that Jones blamed on Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza.

Officers from Austin Police Department responded to 911 calls reporting a man with 'obvious signs of trauma.'

White was rushed to a nearby hospital where he later died from his injuries.

Police have called the incident a homicide but have not identified any suspects. The slaying had been investigated as a shooting/stabbing but authorities have not released additional information.

In a fiery and emotional video on Monday afternoon, Jones did not hold back in assigning blame, squarely targeting the district attorney.

'I lay all of this squarely at the feet of Soros and of the sort of crime syndicate of the Democratic Party. They are the ones that administratively cut the police, prosecuted the police, and even cases that are hundred percent clear to be lawful, legal activities,' Jones ranted.

'You murdered Jamie White, you opened the door, you created the climate, you created conditions on purpose. George Soros. Alexander Soros, you murdered Jamie White.'

'These are sick, degenerate, evil people that know what they're doing and they aided and abetted. They are accomplices to the murder of a great American and Infowars long time veteran reporter Jamie White.'

Jamie White, left, a reporter for conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' InfoWars was brutally murdered outside his south Austin apartment late on Sunday night

White was found outside his home in the 2300 block of Douglas Street around midnight in what is the city's eighth murder this year

In a fiery and emotional video on Monday afternoon, Jones did not hold back in assigning blame, squarely targeting Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza, pictured

Garza is known for his progressive policies and his campaign was backed by billionaire financier George Soros' Open Society Foundations.

Jones claimed that White's death was the inevitable result of what he called 'vicious policies' by Soros-backed DAs like Garza, whom he accused of intentionally undermining law enforcement and letting violent criminals roam free.

Jones also cited unnamed Austin police officers and detectives as sources, claiming that many in law enforcement are frustrated and demoralized by what they see as Garza's refusal to prosecute dangerous offenders.

The Austin Police Department has so far not publicly commented on any political links.

Austin has struggled recently with rising violent crime, a trend critics say has worsened under Garza's tenure as DA since 2021 after he won the position with the backing of national progressive groups advocating for criminal justice reform.

Soros donation came a year after his non-profit funneled $652,000 to the Texas Justice and Public Safety PAC group that backed the election of Jose Garza, who assumed office as Travis County DA, based in Austin.

Soros Open Society Policy Center also donated $500,000 to Equity PAC, a Texas-based group that funds progressive causes and was working to oppose a ballot proposition that would have seen the capital city of Austin hire hundreds of new police officers amid a spike in violent crime.

But the proposition was overwhelmingly defeated in 2020 thanks to Soros cash injection which funded ad campaigns throughout Austin. Garza then won his re-election in 2024 keeping him in the role for a further four years.

'When you see Soros seizing control of over 800 jurisdictions protecting serious narcotics gangs and human trafficking gangs and you when you see different feds and ICE calling and warning some of those violent gangs in the world that there's ICE raids coming,' Jones began in a 15 minute ramble.

'There are so many communist traitors in the government that they're having to polygraph now to find out who's doing it. This is a crisis and again, defunding the police. All of this is meant to destabilize the collapse society,' Jones ranted.

Jones claimed that White's death was the inevitable result of what he called 'vicious policies' by Soros-backed DAs like Garza, whom he accused of intentionally undermining law enforcement and letting violent criminals roam free

The apartment complex was cordoned off with crime scene tape following Sunday night's killing

Jones suggested the murder may have been a targeted attack, raising questions about whether White's work as an InfoWars reporter might have made him a marked man

For the last several years, billionaire philanthropist George Soros has been quietly financing a revolution in criminal justice reform, doling out tens of millions of dollars to progressive candidates in district attorney races throughout the country

Jones suggested the murder may have been a targeted attack, raising questions about whether White's work as an InfoWars reporter might have made him a marked man.

'There are a lot of really cool people that have worked at Infowars over the years, and one of the most amazing people was Jamie White. You know him as a great reporter and researcher,' Jones said in Monday's video message.

'He was up here last night working late during the Sunday show and after it Jaime was murdered last night outside of his home just a few miles away from our studios.

'He's always here early, loves to work, loves to fight tyranny, love, promote freedom. And when they got to the apartment complex, there was yellow tape everywhere and blood all over the parking lot. And we went and talked to the manager. They didn't know anything,' Jones explained.

InfoWars, founded by Jones, has been embroiled in controversy for years over its inflammatory far-right content and conspiracy theories.

InfoWars vowed to honor Jamie White's memory by continuing his work, promising that his 'tragic death will not be in vain.'

'This was a great American. A man of conviction. And they killed him,' Jones said, visibly shaken. 'But we will never stop fighting for justice. For Jamie. For everyone who's been a victim of this engineered crime wave.'
The news that a dangerous Palestinian militant who arrived here on a migrant boat last week has been arrested is certainly a relief.

But the fact he wasnt placed in custody immediately on landing remains a source of deep concern.

Even worse, he will now almost certainly join the list of undesirables that our increasingly dysfunctional immigration courts will not allow us to deport.

Abu Wadee has made no secret of his belligerent anti-Semitism. He belonged to an armed group that calls for the slaughter of all Jews, and on social media, he says his loftiest aspiration is to die for Allah.

He has no right to be here, having entered illegally from a safe country, yet were stuck with him because he cant be sent back to either France or Gaza.

If further proof were needed that the Human Rights Act is no longer fit for purpose, this is it.

A complete overhaul of this outdated legislation is long overdue.

With astonishing complacency, the Home Office says: The British public can be reassured that we take all steps necessary at all times to protect the nations security.

Abu Wadee, who is believed to be in his 30s, was held by Immigration Enforcement officers on suspicion of entering the UK illegally

Abu Wadee (pictured) belonged to an armed group that calls for the slaughter of all Jews

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper (pictured) backed the move to grant police permission to enter properties without a warrant if stolen gadgets are inside

Is this some kind of sick joke, or just a staggering lack of awareness? In case our clueless Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is under any illusion, the British public is far from reassured (hence the rise of Reform UK), all necessary steps are obviously not being taken, and national security is being seriously compromised on a daily basis.

If it werent for The Mail on Sunday pointing out his antecedents, the Home Office would have no idea who Wadee is or the danger he poses.

And how many more militants are coming in on the boats? We have absolutely no idea.Contrary to its pre-election blather, Labour clearly has no plan to control migration.

Until it does, and appalling bigots like Wadee can be permanently excluded from this country, the public will never feel truly safe.

High-flying Hoyle

Sir Lindsay Hoyle has travelled a long way from his modest beginnings in the small Lancashire mining and mill town of Adlington. A very long way.

And much of it at public expense. The Mails continuing revelations about the Commons Speakers taste for the globetrotting good life belie his image as a homespun everyman figure.

Since 2022, he has charged the taxpayer 250,000 for his foreign jaunts, on which he was often accompanied by his wife and up to four staff.

He spent a further 38,000 on first-class rail travel and on one trip to California splashed out 3,000 on a chauffeur-driven car. Nice work if you can get it!

Since 2022 Sir Lindsay Hoyle (pictured) has charged the taxpayer 250,000 for his foreign jaunts, on which he was often accompanied by his wife

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle (pictured) spent a further 38,000 on first-class rail travel

While still insisting that all these trips were legitimate and within parliamentary rules, Sir Lindsays spokesman now admits to an administrative error in filing his travel expenses.

But even if rules were followed, they appear to have been mightily stretched.Many would say such free spending by a senior public official should be subject to a proper inquiry.

Strangely however, there is no formal mechanism for launching one.

The Parliamentary Standards Authoritys remit doesnt cover the Speakers expenses, nor does that of the Standards Commissioner, so its unclear how he can be held to account. So much for transparency.

This glaring gap in the system clearly risks bringing Parliament into disrepute. Whether he has broken rules or not, Sir Lindsay should not be a law unto himself.
Sir Keir Starmers surrender of the Chagos Islands is facing a High Court legal challenge in a bid to halt it going ahead, it emerged last night.

Leading Tory peers have issued a pre-action legal letter against the Foreign Office seeking a judicial review of the controversial proposed deal.

The Daily Telegraph reported that the group includes Lord Lilley, the former Cabinet minister, Lord Kempsell, a former special adviser to Boris Johnson, and Lord Roberts of Belgravia, the historian.

They claim that the Government is acting unlawfully by proposing to give away British territory to Mauritius.

They argue that ministers do not have the prerogative power to cede British territory to a foreign power, that the cost of around 8.9billion is unlawful and that any legislation to underpin the deal is based on an erroneous understanding of international law.

However, there is a long-standing unwritten convention that the courts do not get involved in foreign policy decisions, meaning it is unlikely the judicial review will be heard.

Some high-profile lawyers, including former attorney-general Sir Michael Ellis, have previously warned that the proposed deal is flawed and therefore could be challenged in the courts.

Under the proposed treaty, Mauritius would be handed sovereignty of the archipelago.

Leading Tory peers have issued a pre-action legal letter against the Foreign Office seeking a judicial review of the controversial proposed deal. Pictrued: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer

The archipelago, controlled by the UK for more than two centuries, is home to the joint UK-US Diego Garcia military base

High-profile lawyers have previously warned that the proposed deal is flawed and therefore could be challenged in the courts. Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer

The UK would then pay at least 9billion over 99 years to lease back the Anglo-American military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the Chagos atolls.

The Trump administration is currently reviewing the proposed deal, which has been widely criticised by MPs and Trump allies.

Before taking office, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it posed a 'serious threat'.

The White House has now seemingly insisted on a representative joining the negotiations with Mauritius.

Ministers have been arguing that national security will be damaged if an agreement is not reached.

They insist that an advisory ruling of the International Court of Justice has thrown the legal status of the territory into doubt, opening the door for satellite communications to be compromised and neighbouring islands to be leased out to hostile powers.

Speaking to the Mail, senior defence sources previously warned that the UKs system for co-ordinating nuclear missiles relies on connection points on the Diego Garcia base.

To function properly, these nodes require physical protection and British control of the islands electromagnetic spectrum.

The piece, which featured prominently in the prestigious newspaper this week, highlighted the Chagos Islands row, saying the UK was proposing to 'sell the ground beneath the feet' of the crucial Diego Garcia military base (pictured) to Mauritius

The Trump administration is currently reviewing the proposed deal, which has been widely criticised by MPs and Trump allies

Sir Keir Starmer during a meeting with President Xi Jinping of China, at G20 summit in on November 18, 2024

But the deal includes a clause saying other countries could also use the spectrum, from which Mauritius could profit.

According to senior sources, this could offer Beijing a gateway to jamming the top-secret Automated Digital Network System 3 (ADNS 3), which is shared by the Royal Navy and the US Navy and, crucially, is part of the Nuclear Firing Chain (NFC).

Downing Street told reporters that the deal would enhance UK national security, insisting that without it, Britain would lose access to the spectrum.

The very clear advice that we have is that the future operation of the base without a deal would be at risk, a spokesman said.

In 2019, the International Court of Justice ruled that Britains continued administration of the islands was unlawful.

Despite the UK ignoring the ruling, it was subsequently ratified by the UN General Assembly, which found the islands rightfully belonged to Mauritius.
The Elgin Marbles should be returned to their native Greece, a leading anthropologist and TV presenter has said.

Professor Alice Roberts believes the 30-plus classical Greek monuments, which have been on display in the British Museum in London for more than 200 years, belong back in Athens.

She made the comments after speaking with the countrys Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, who expressed a sincere desire to see them returned, while filming a new Channel 4 series, Ancient Greece by Train.

Prof Roberts, known for presenting BBC shows including Digging for Britain and Incredible Human Journey, said it can be very damaging when the removal of cultural artefacts is carried out in a way that feels unwelcome, unintended or unconsented.

In a Radio Times interview she said while she was not suggesting this is how the debate surrounding the famous marbles should be framed, she stressed: I dont think this is a question we should just ignore.

The artifacts came from the 2,500-year-old Parthenon temple and have been displayed at the British Museum since the 1800s.

They were removed by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century when he was ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.

The British Museum said in December a deal on the artefacts was still some distance off but that there has been a lot of progress. It came after a Downing Street spokesman said the future of the sculptures lay entirely with the museum.

TV presenter and anthropologist Professor Alice Roberts believes the Elgin Marbles should be returned to Greece

The artifacts came from the 2,500-year-old Parthenon temple and have been displayed at the British Museum since the 1800s

The Museum said that while a deal on the artefacts was still some distance off, there has been a lot of progress

After speaking with the Greek minister, however, Ms Roberts said: I have to agree with her...I think they belong back in Athens. Its not equivalent, but I imagine we might be pretty upset in England if another country had significant bits of Stonehenge and wouldnt give them back.

But actually, the argument goes deeper than that. Theres a pressing need to recognise some of the questionable practices of the past, which often went hand in hand with the history of colonialism.

A formal request for the permanent return of the Parthenon sculptures to Greece was first made in 1983.
Donald Trump's late night decision to attack Malcolm Turnbull via social media appears to have been a direct response to the former PM's recent Bloomberg media interview in which he argued that Trump's 'chaotic' leadership style is playing into China's hands.

In a lengthy series of criticisms of the US President, Turnbull claimed that if forced to choose between China and the US, many countries would 'find China a more attractive partner' while Trump remains in the White House.

Whether that's true or not, it's a rather false construct. Short of all out World War III, or a new Cold War, such a binary choice is unlikely to ever seriously eventuate.

Turnbull has used two ABC interviews in the past 12 hours to keep the war of words with Trump going. Labelling him a 'bully', amongst other insults, and arguing that standing up to bullies is of paramount importance.

There is merit in the argument, of course, which can be similarly deployed as a reason not to cuddle up to an authoritarian dictatorship like China as the response to policy disagreements with Trump on tariffs.

Turnbull even evoked the mantra of free speech (also not a Chinese strong suit) to justify his commentary when confronted with the reality that his intervention is only likely to make any Australian exemption on tariffs less probable.

But we'll put the contradictions in Turnbull's narrative to one side, as well as as what (if any) damage it might have done to the nation he once led.

What's really happening here is the law of unintended consequences morphing into an opportunity for Turnbull to once again have his post-parliamentary say on all things political. The second part of this equation certainly wasn't unintentional.

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull pictured with his wife, Lucy, at Question Time in February 2025

Turnbull probably didn't expect a one-off interview with Bloomberg to result in a Trump social media tirade, but it did. This US President isn't known for his discretion, so it was always a possibility that he would fire back.

Once that happened Turnbull was never going to let the opportunity to return fire pass either. Thus satisfying any relevance deprivation he might be suffering from in the process.

Turnbull and Trump are probably more similar than either man would ever admit (or realise).

Turnbull again taking centre stage for a few days in the media cycle also allowed him to remind all and sundry of his success back in 2018 when he secured a tariff exemption the last time Trump tried it on. Cue Malcolm's self-congratulatory applause.

But he was quick to also point out that matching that exemption this time was always unlikely anyway (and probably has been made all the more unlikely now that the war of words between the pair has occurred).

Unsurprisingly Australian ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, failed in his bid to secure an exemption, given his hostile observations about Trump over many years. And the trade minister Don Farrell isn't even bothering to fly to the US to see what he can do about the situation, which to be fair probably isn't much.

Apparently Anthony Albanese can't get Trump on the phone either. But he's working hard, according to at least one cabinet minister doing the morning media rounds today.

Such government shortcomings aren't the reason Turnbull thinks a tariffs exemption won't happen again. He simply puts it down to Trump learning from his first term and being less likely to grant exemptions this time around because doing so potentially opens the floodgates to other nations also looking for exemptions, as they did back in 2018.

Turnbull and Trump are probably more similar than either man would ever admit (or realise), writes Peter van Onselen

Turnbull might be right, but either way the argument absolves Labor of responsibility if Australia isn't granted a tariff reprieve, neutralising Peter Dutton's criticisms designed to take bark off the government.

The injection of Turnbull's war of words as another possible reason no deal gets done also becomes Dutton's problem now, since Turnbull is a former Liberal PM after all.

Even if he rarely acts like one.

All of which suits Turnbull because he's certainly no fan of Dutton and has explicitly made clear that he doesn't think the Opposition Leader should ever become PM. That's because Dutton challenged Turnbull for the prime ministership in the Liberal Party room back in 2018, before Scott Morrison came up the middle to win.

Liberals have always known that as the next federal election gets closer Turnbull will find his way into the media more and more in a bid to do damage to Dutton's chances.

The pair have history.

This will happen either via journalists seeking out some snarky comments for news value (we all do that), or because the bitter former Liberal leader offers them up proactively anyway.

There is nothing more former than a former PM.
A senior Justice Department official claims she was fired after she refused a Trump administration request to restore Mel Gibson's gun rights when he was appointed ambassador to Hollywood.

Gibson is not legally permitted to carry guns after he pleaded no contest to battering his former girlfriend in 2011. Domestic violence offenders are barred from owning weapons.

Elizabeth Oyer, the Justice Department's former pardon attorney, was told Gibson's lawyers reached out to Trump Justice Department pick Emil Bove, arguing for his gun rights to be restored, the New York Times reported.

She was told to 'add Mel Gibson to a memo' she had been working on with her team for more than a fortnight, assessing candidates 'worthy of consideration' to have their gun rights restored.

From an initial 95 names suggested for consideration, her team had whittled the final batch of eligible candidates to just nine when Gibson's name was thrown into contention.

The letter cited his 'special appointment from the President' and explained that he'd made a number of successful movies.

But Oyer said recommending Gibson would go against her principles - in part because of his conviction, but also because she had not been given adequate time to assess his claim.

Two weeks prior to Gibson's lawyers sending the formal request, Trump had appointed him 'special ambassador to a great but very troubled place, Hollywood, California.'

Elizabeth Oyer, the Justice Department's former pardon attorney, was told Gibson's lawyers reached out to Trump Justice Department pick Emil Bove, arguing for his gun rights to be restored

Mel Gibson and FBI Director Kash Patel at a UFC event

Gibson is not legally permitted to carry guns after he pleaded no contest to battering his former girlfriend in 2011. Domestic violence offenders are barred from owning weapons

Pictured: Mel Gibson in 2024 action thriller Boneyard

Gibson was one of few Hollywood stars to support Trump during his presidential campaign.

'Giving guns back to domestic abusers is a serious matter that, in my view, is not something that I could recommend lightly,' Oyer told the publication.

She responded in a similar fashion to the email from her Justice Department superiors, and received a call from an official in deputy attorney general Todd Blanche's office several hours later.

According to her recollection, Oyer was asked: 'Is your position flexible?'

She said it was not.

'He then essentially explained to me that Mel Gibson has a personal relationship with President Trump and that should be sufficient basis for me to make a recommendation and that I would be wise to make the recommendation,' she claimed.

Oyer told the official she would have a think about her position, but after a sleepless night wracked with fear, she reiterated that she would not make the recommendation.

'I literally did not sleep a wink that night because I understood that the position I was in was one that was going to either require me to compromise my strongly held views and ethics or would likely result in me losing my ability to participate in these conversations going forward,' she said.

She was told to 'add Mel Gibson to a memo' she had been working on with her team for more than a fortnight, assessing candidates 'worthy of consideration' to have their gun rights restored

Gibson was one of few Hollywood stars to support Trump during his presidential campaign

Two weeks prior to Gibson's lawyers sending the formal request, Trump had appointed him 'special ambassador to a great but very troubled place, Hollywood, California'

Oyer said she explained that the attorney general did not necessarily need her recommendation or approval to get Gibson's gun rights back.

Hours later, she received a call from her staff urging her to cut an unrelated meeting short and return to the office.

When she arrived, she was handed a letter from Blanche terminating her employment.

Two security officers waited as she boxed up her belongings, and she was escorted out of the building.

Oyer recalls telling a trusted colleague: 'I can't believe this, but I really think Mel Gibson is going to be my downfall' before she was ultimately sacked.

Her decision to deny the request was largely because 'there are real consequences that flow from people who have a history of domestic violence being in possession of firearms,' she said.

A Justice Department official refuted Oyer's allegations, and said her termination was not linked to the Gibson decision.

Her termination was the latest instance of the Trump administration removing or sidelining career Justice Department officials, who typically keep their positions across presidential administrations.
Donald Trump's border czar Tom Homan said that Mahmoud Khalil could be the first of many green cards holders to be deported amid his widespread crackdown on legal and illegal immigrants.

President Trump boasted about the arrest of Khalil earlier Monday, warning it was 'the first of many to come' - even though Khalil is a legal resident who has not been convicted of a crime.

Khalil - a Palestinian who was born and raised in Syria - helped to lead protests against Israel at Columbia University last year. He also acted as a negotiator between students and university officials.

A judge has since stepped in to temporarily block the deportation of the 27-year-old pro-Palestine activist, pending a further ruling on the matter.

Homan, who has led Trump's agenda on the border at full force, said that 'absolutely we can' deport green card holders such as Khalil.

'Did he violate the terms of his visa? Did he violate the terms of his residency here, you know, committing crimes, attacking Israeli students, locking down buildings, destroying property? Absolutely,' he told Fox Business.

However, Khalil has yet to be convicted of a crime, which complicates Homan's assertion that he violated his visas terms.

Nevertheless, Homan reiterated that Khalil could be just the first of many visa holders sent packing.

'Any resident alien who commits a crime is eligible for deportation,' he said of anti-Israel protesters on American campuses. 'And that's just one out of many.'

Donald Trump's border czar Tom Homan said that Mahmoud Khalil could be the first of many immigrants who may be deported despite having green cards

President Trump boasted about the arrest of Khalil earlier Monday, warning likeminded activists it was 'the first of many to come' as he embarks on his mass deportation policy

Khalil was detained by ICE officers on Saturday night - who said they'd been given an order to revoke his green card - in front of his pregnant wife.

But a federal judge Jesse Furman, from the Southern District of New York, poured cold water on Trump's plan on Monday.

Furman blocked the administration from deporting Khalil until at least the next court hearing on Wednesday.

The court order, seen by DailyMail.com, states: 'To preserve the Court's jurisdiction pending a ruling on the petition, Petitioner shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the Court orders otherwise.'

Furman was nominated to the Southern District court by President Obama in 2011 and was confirmed in February 2012.

The protests at Columbia were allowed to run rampant for two weeks. They were marked by violent assaults and instances of Jewish students being afraid to go to class.

'On March 9, 2025, in support of President Trump's executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism, and in coordination with the Department of State, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student,' the Department of Homeland Security said Sunday.

'Khalil led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization,'

Trump said the ICE agents who arrested Khalil did so with pride, describing him as 'a Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas Student on the campus of Columbia University.

Mahmoud Khalil, who was the lead student negotiator for the pro-Palestinian encampment, was arrested by Department of Homeland Security agents on Saturday night is currently being held

'We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, and the Trump Administration will not tolerate it.

'Many are not students, they are paid agitators. We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country - never to return again.

'If you support terrorism, including the slaughtering of innocent men, women, and children, your presence is contrary to our national and foreign policy interests, and you are not welcome here.'

In a direct warning to universities and colleges across the nation, Trump said they are expected to 'comply' with this decision.

Khalil, who graduated in December, is in custody at an immigration detention facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey, according to federal records.

Activists who are lobbying for Khalil's release say he was confronted at 8:30pm in his apartment building by two plain clothes DHS agents, both of whom refused to identify themselves at first.

His wife, who is eight months pregnant and a US citizen, was allegedly there as well. The activists said she was threatened with arrest if she 'remained by his side.'

In the United States, immigration judges are the only people with the authority to revoke permanent residency.

Homan, who has led Trump's agenda on the border at full force, said that 'absolutely we can' deport green card holders such as Khalil

A handout picture released by Guatemalan Migration Institute shows Guatemalan migrants descending from an US military plane after being deported from America

Grounds for revocation include lying on your green card application or committing certain types of felonies.

According to a legal filing, 'ICE began efforts to transfer Mr. Khalil out of [New York] and to a Louisiana detention facility a thousand miles away, without providing him any access to his counsel.'

'This seemingly retaliatory action is particularly troubling,' the filing states.

Khalil's arrest comes as Trump announced he would be cutting $400 million in grants and contracts to Columbia for its failure to contain the pro-Palestinian protests.
Farmers already left outraged by Labour's inheritance tax grab will be forced to sell their land for less than its potential value.

Fields targeted by councils to build new hospitals, schools, and homes would be snapped up through compulsory purchase orders (CPO) under new measures in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

But the greater powers handed to local authorities would mean they could buy the land at its current price rather than the value of what it would be if it were to be developed, The Telegraph reported.

The move will be a further blow to the already incensed farmers who have been carrying out a series of protests against Labour's so-called 'family death tax'.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said the Government would create 'the biggest building boom in a generation' by 'lifting the bureaucratic burden which has been holding back developments for too long'.

She added: 'The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will unleash seismic reforms to help builders get shovels in the ground quicker to build more homes, and the vital infrastructure we need to improve transport links and make Britain a clean energy superpower to protect billpayers.'

Currently, land bought under CPOs is sold at its so-called 'hope values', which reflect beliefs on what the land would be worth with the requisite planning permission.

Tractors lined up on the streets of London during a protest against Labour's inheritance tax, despite police issuing a specific ban on them

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner visit a construction site in Cambridgeshire -- December 12, 2024

These are said to sometimes significantly drive up prices, leading to major delays as owners haggle over values.

Reforms introduced earlier this year allowed councils to apply for permission to use compulsory purchase orders without hope values.

But these new reforms would allow for councils to do this without needing to consult the government.

Last week, several enormous combine harvesters parked up along Whitehall in central London for the 'Pancake Day rally' despite a police ban on all tractors and 'mechanically propelled vehicles' from the capital.

The march was the latest action being taken by farmers to protest the hated levy change, which would force farmers to pay 20 per cent inheritance tax on agricultural land worth more than 1million.

Several high-profile politicians including Reform leader Nigel Farage and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch attended the protest to express their opposition to the crippling tax.

As protesters marched down Embankment to Bob Dylan's 'Knockin on Heaven's Door' campaign organisers at the front of the procession held a banner warning: 'Is agriculture worth dying for?'

It comes as campaigners argue the tax, which comes into effect next year, is 'incentivising' elderly farmers to commit suicide before April 2026 to avoid being penalised.

Labour's Planning and Infrastructure Bill is expected to include changes to how planning decisions are made, with more applications decided by planning officers rather than elected councillors, and council planning committees slimmed down to 'ensure good debate is encouraged'.

Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner during a visit to the London Power Tunnels at Old Kent Road -- March 10, 2025

Thousands of outraged farmers descended on Westminster on March 4, 2025, to protest against the so-called 'family death tax'

The march is the latest action by farmers to protest the hated levy change, which would force farmers to pay 20 per cent inheritance tax on agricultural land worth more than 1m

Campaigners argue the tax, which comes into effect next year, is 'incentivising' elderly farmers to commit suicide before April 2026 to avoid being penalised

Several enormous combine harvesters parked up along Whitehall in central London for the 'Pancake Day rally' despite a police ban on the vehicles in the capital

Protesters held up banners as they protested against the controversial inheritance tax

Councils will also be allowed to set their own planning fees to recover their costs, while 'meritless' legal challenges to major applications will face a crackdown.

Other changes include a new nature restoration fund, allowing developers to pay into larger environmental projects instead of funding their own site-by-site initiatives, which the Government hopes will avoid a repeat of the 100 million 'bat tunnel' HS2 was required to build.

There will also be a scheme for those living near new electricity pylons to receive up to 250 a year off their energy bills for 10 years along with community projects such as leisure facilities in order to encourage communities to host vital infrastructure.

These measures are likely to be funded by an increase in energy bills for other consumers, but it is understood the Government expects this to be an increase of only a few pence per household when spread throughout the country.

But many of the details remain to be decided and will be subject to consultation, including how the bill discount scheme will work and which decisions will be made by planning officers rather than councillors.

There will also be a consultation on whether to remove some organisations such as Sport England and the Theatres Trust from the list of bodies legally required to be consulted on planning decisions.

Housing minister Matthew Pennycook told reporters that consultations would run in parallel with the legislative process, saying this would allow the Government to implement new measures faster once the Bill had received royal assent.

He also insisted that decisions on 'the most significant and controversial' applications would still be made by councillors.

Sam Richards, CEO of campaign group Britain Remade, welcomed the proposals, saying they would mean 'more jobs for builders and less work for lawyers'.

Farmers marched along in Whitehall, central London, on March 4, 2025, to protest the reform

But he added that there was a 'risk' that the proposals would not 'consign 120 million bat tunnels...to history', saying: 'Only when this is achieved will we have a planning system that truly backs the builds and not the blockers.'

Housebuilders also welcomed the proposals, with Home Builders Federation chief executive Neil Jefferson describing them as 'swift moves to address the failings in the planning system'.

He said: 'Removing blockages, speeding up the decision-making process and ensuring local planning departments have the capacity to process applications effectively will be essential to getting more sites up and running.'

But the proposed changes to environmental rules could prove contentious, with campaigners seeking to reject the argument that they act as 'blockers' in the planning system.

Richard Benwell, CEO of nature coalition Wildlife and Countryside Link, welcomed some aspects of Tuesday's legislation, but called for more enforcement to 'ensure that unsustainable development can never proceed with impunity'.

He added: 'For nature recovery and development to go hand-in-hand, the Bill should be strengthened with a guarantee that all planning decisions must be compatible with nature and climate targets, more protection for irreplaceable habitats and nature recovery areas, and new building regulations for biodiversity so that all infrastructure is wilder by design.'
Peter Dutton has been grilled over his decision to leave Queensland as Tropical Cyclone Alfred barrelled towards the coast and attend an election fundraiser at the mansion of hospitality mogul Justin Hemmes.

The Opposition Leader rubbed shoulders with a 'small gathering' of high-profile guests at the Vaucluse mansion overlooking Sydney Harbour last Tuesday night, the Australian Financial Review reported.

Mr Dutton, who is the MP for Dickson in Brisbane's northern suburbs which was directly in Alfred's firing line according to Tuesday forecasts, flew to Sydney especially for the event.

The Liberal leader on Monday insisted it was 'not a party' but a fundraising event and accused Labor for using the event as 'political leverage to push out a negative campaign'.

On Tuesday, Sunrise host Nat Barr grilled Dutton over his attendance at the event, asking if he thought it was a 'good idea in hindsight'.

'We've got to fundraise,' Mr Dutton shot back.

'I don't have the millions of dollars coming from the CFMEU and the other unions, and the Prime Minister attends fundraisers.

'I'd prefer not (to fundraise). I'd be much happier with public funding, but that's the way in which the rules are written at the moment.'

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton (pictured) rubbed shoulders with a 'small gathering' of high-profile guests at the Vaucluse mansion overlooking Sydney Harbour last Tuesday night

Hospitality mogul and Rich Lister Mr Hemmes, 52, is boss of the Merivale Group which owns around 100 pubs, hotels and restaurants across Australia (Mr Hemmes is pictured with his partner Madeline Holtznagel)

The Opposition Leader then outlined his itinerary, insisting that he 'wasn't absent from my community'.

'The fact that Jim Chalmers and Anthony Albanese are looking for political advantage at the time of a natural disaster reflects more poorly on them than anyone,' Mr Dutton added.

Mr Dutton began last Tuesday in his northern Brisbane electorate, in the suburb of Kedron, urging residents 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,' he told locals.

After receiving a Queensland police briefing on the cyclone alongside the state's Liberal premier David Crisafulli, he flew to Sydney later that morning.

There he reportedly attended a lunch put on by property developer Fouad Deiri, which was held at the home of a Greek Orthodox bishop in Sydneys south.

A spokesperson for Mr Dutton told media that it 'was not a fundraising event, it was a luncheon meeting with Antiochian Archdiocese Church representatives and no other political donors were present'.

But news.com.au revealed on Monday that Mr Dutton's office had previously discussed a potential donation with Mr Deiri.

Pictured is The Hermitage, the sprawling mansion overlooking Sydney Harbour owned by pub baron billionaire Justin Hemmes

'While a potential donation was discussed in February, it was in no way linked to the meeting with His Eminence on March 5,' a spokesperson for the property developer told the publication.

'The sole purpose of the meeting was for Mr Deiri, who is a board member of the Archdiocese, to introduce Mr Dutton to The Antiochian Orthodox Archbishop.'

That evening, Mr Dutton attended the fundraiser at Mr Hemmes' $100million harbourside mansion in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

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 stand to benefit from one of the Coalition's key election promises: to introduce tax-free staff lunches for businesses to stimulate the hospitality sector.

Mr Dutton told Sunrise he flew back to his electorate on the 'first flight' on Wednesday morning, when he appeared on Brisbane's 4BC Breakfast.

Brisbane residents are seen at the flooded Kedron Brooke on Sunday

He was asked in the interview whether Anthony Albanese would call an election for April 12 on Sunday, as was widely expected then.

Mr Dutton rightly predicted the Prime Minister was likely to postpone an election announcement over the weekend, 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.'

He did not mention in that interview that he had left his electorate to fly to Sydney.

At the time. 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.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has been told by the US that he will have to give up land seized by Russia as part of peace talks in Saudi Arabia to end the brutal invasion of his nation.

Zelensky last night landed in Jeddah before talks that aimed to reconstruct the recently fractured relationship between the US and Ukraine.

While Zelensky, whose negotiators are expected to lay out a proposal of a sea and air truce with Russia, will not be allowed at the table with the US and Saudi Arabia, he said he hoped the talks were 'fully constructive' and would lead to 'practical outcomes.'

But US secretary of state Marco Rubio, the US' top diplomat, dashed these hopes on the rocks, telling reporters on the plane to Saudi Arabia: 'The Russians can't conquer all of Ukraine and obviously it'll be very difficult for Ukraine in any reasonable time period to sort of force the Russians back all the way to where they were in 2014.

'Both sides need to come to an understanding that there's no military solution to this situation.'

Russia has not sent a delegation to Saudi Arabia, as it has only agreed to speak with Trump's team.

While Ukraine has been strongarmed into unfavourable terms by Trump, including a massive rare earth minerals deal that would grant the United States access to key Ukrainian resources in exchange for the past and ongoing military aid to help fight the Russian invasion, and for Zelensky call an election and potentially step down as leader, Trump has not publicly asked for, nor received, any concessions from Vladimir Putin.

While talks continue in Saudi Arabia, Russian soldiers are attempting to encircle Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured, left) has been told by the US that he will have to give up land seized by Russia as part of peace talks in Saudi Arabia

Ukrainian State Emergency Service personnel conduct an extinguishing work for the fire caused by a Shahed drone attack by Russian forces in Kramatorsk, Ukraine on March 11, 2025

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with the media on his military airplane as he flies to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia March 10, 2025

In response, Kyiv said it was reinforcing its troops involved in fighting in Russia's region of Kursk, where Moscow's forces have been regaining ground, Ukrainian commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky said on Monday.

Ukrainian soldiers launched their audacious offensive into Russia's Kursk in August, catching even their Western allies off guard and dealing an embarrassing blow to the Kremlin.

But Ukraine has been losing ground and conceded last month they had lost two-thirds of the territory they once controlled inside the region.

'I made a decision to strengthen our grouping with the necessary forces and means, including electronic warfare and unmanned components,' Syrsky wrote in a post on social media.

Russian has claimed it has taken back control of a string of villages, including in an accelerated advance over recent days.

Moscow also claimed to have captured a village inside Ukraine's Sumy region, Novenke, which lies just several kilometres from a vital resupply route for Ukrainian forces still in Kursk.

Syrsky however said Monday that the dynamics of fighting between the Kursk and Sumy regions were 'under the control of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.'

He addressed concerns circulating in Ukrainian media that his forces may be caught in a Russian net saying: 'Currently, there is no threat of encirclement of our units in the Kursk region.'

According to the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission, Friday was one of the deadliest days for Ukrainian civilians this year. Pictured: Paramedics treating an injured civilian in Ukraine

Russia has been emboldened by Trump's decision, ramping up attacks on Ukraine in the days that followed the failed Oval Office meeting

Donald Trump is putting more pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky to accept a raft of new terms if he wants to secure military aid and intelligence access

He conceded however that Ukrainian forces were buckling under mounting Russian pressure and were having to fall back to positions that are easier to hold.

'The units are taking timely measures to manoeuvre to favourable defence lines,' Syrsky said.

In the last few days, open source maps showed Russia piercing the frontline and carving out a narrow salient in the small piece of Russian territory that Ukraine occupied last year, partly as a possible bargaining chip in any future peace talks.

'A number of settlements on the border, the names of which appear in the reports of Russian propagandists, no longer actually exist - they have been destroyed by the aggressor's shelling,' Syrskyi said.

'Despite the involvement of a significant number of Russian troops in the offensive, reinforced by North Korean infantry, the enemy is suffering significant losses in manpower and equipment,' he added.
A former council official who apologised for sharing a vile social media post suggesting the Royal Family should be executed has been appointed as the SNPs new chief executive.

Carol Beattie has been appointed to the role on a permanent basis, having held the post on an interim basis since last October.

She previously had to apologise for sharing an offensive message about the Royals when the Princess of Wales made a rare public appearance during her cancer battle.

The June 16 post criticised a newspaper article for saying that lesser mortals would have stayed at home but Catherine going out in public showed the show goes on.

The post said: F*** all the way off with your gold plated serfdom! Time for the French solution to monarchy and sycophantic journalists.

She also shared another June post of a video which began with a man saying: Get Westminster to f***.

Ms Beattie, who was chief executive of Stirling Council from 2019 to 2024, issued the apology while SNP candidate for a Falkirk Council by-election, which she subsequently lost.

She succeeds Murray Foote as SNP chief executive, following his shock resignation in October last year.

Carol Beattie (pictured) has been appointed as the SNP's chief executive on a permanent basis, despite having shared an offensive message about the Royal Family last year

The Princess of Wales at Trooping the Colour on June 15 last year. Ms Beattie's post criticised a newspaper article published the following day suggesting that 'lesser mortals would have stayed at home'

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: Carol Beatties shameful conduct, rejection by the voters, endorsement of offensive social media comments and association with disgraced figures ought to be enough to disqualify her from any political role.

In the SNP, however, it seems to be the ideal qualification for waltzing into the top job.

Announcing the appointment yesterday, SNP business convener Angela Constance said: Following a competitive recruitment process, I am delighted to confirm Carol Beattie as Chief Executive of the SNP.

John Swinney committed to ensuring a professional, modern, dynamic election-winning organisation - and Carols appointment is a critical part in delivering on that commitment.

The SNP remains the political party for all of Scotland - and Carol Beatties appointment will ensure we remain equipped for the 2026 election campaign and the journey to Scotlands independence.

Ms Beattie said: Its a huge honour to be appointed as Chief Executive of the SNP.

I look forward to continuing my work with the SNP HQ team, ensuring the organisation is fighting fit for the 2026 election and beyond.

Following recent reform, the partys headquarters functions are in robust shape and I look forward to supporting the party as a formidable national organisation.
One of the men accused of rape and sex trafficking by South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace revealed how her 'scorched earth' House floor speech left his life in shambles.

Brian Musgrave, 51, was one of four men, including Mace's ex-fiance Patrick Bryant, accused of heinous crimes by the Republican congresswoman in February.

Mace took to the House floor - where she's shielded from legal action by the Constitution's 'speech and debate' clause - and identified the men she said were 'predators' with a poster board displaying their names and towns they live in.

She made the stunning allegations in an hour-long speech where she promised to go 'burn this system to the ground if I have to' and vowed to go 'scorched earth.'

The congresswoman claimed she uncovered a ring of men who engaged in serial rape and sex trafficking while filming their victims and even uncovered a video of herself being raped.

Musgrave, a software engineer, vehemently denied the allegations and claimed Mace's speech has turned his life upside-down.

'Our lives have been completely upended. We will never be able to go back to the way things were for us, which was nice and quiet and happy,' he told CNN.

'For the rest of my life, when someone Googles "Brian Musgrave" this is going to be the thing that comes up.

Brian Musgrave (right), 51, said his life has been in shambles since Rep. Nancy Mace accused him of rape and sex trafficking

Mace took to the House floor in February and identified the men she said were 'predators' with a poster board displaying their names and towns they live in

Musgrave, a software engineer, vehemently denied the allegations and his wife, Jen (right), has stood by his side

'It's catastrophic... I'm completely uncertain what tomorrow is going to be business-wise.'

Musgrave's wife, Jen, has stood by his side and defended her husband, saying is outraged by Mace's allegations.

'He's nowhere near any of those things that she was accusing him of,' she said. 'Anyone who knows him, there's just no way it would ever be possible so to have someone say something like that, in public, it just blew my mind.'

'It made me mad to think that someone could say that without an ounce of truth behind it.'

Musgraves lawyers, Eric Bland and Ronnie Richter, said they have asked Mace to either provide them with evidence he committed a crime or to apologize.

'What we want is to put a period on the conversation about Brian Musgrave, to try to restore his good name and reputation,' Richter said.

Bland said, 'His daughter goes to college, his sons in high school. They have to answer for (their) father being an alleged rapist, an alleged predator, and an alleged sex trafficker.'

State police in South Carolina have opened an investigation into Mace's stunning claims that she uncovered a rape and sex trafficking ring after sifting through digital information on her ex-fiance's phone.

Musgrave was one of four men, including Mace's ex-fiance Patrick Bryant, accused of heinous crimes by the Republican congresswoman

The congresswoman claimed she uncovered a ring of men who engaged in serial rape and sex trafficking while filming their victims after sifting through her ex-fiance's (right) phone

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division confirmed the probe after Mace's speech and said the subject of the probe was Mace's ex, Patrick Bryant, whose devices Mace said contained digital evidence of women and girls being videotaped without their knowledge.

It opened the probe on December 14, 2023, according to spokesperson Renee Wunderlich.

'Since that date SLED has conducted multiple interviews, served multiple search warrants, and has a well-documented case file that will be available for release upon the conclusion of the case,' she said, WCSC reported.

Other men identified by Mace also denied the allegations. None of them have been charged with a crime.
A Norfolk woman who received a 16th-century stolen masterpiece as a gift has reportedly refused to return it to the museum because her husband 'bought it in good faith'.

Barbara De Dozsa claims the painting, titled Madonna and Child, was purchased by her now deceased ex-husband, Baron De Dozsa, in 1973, according to The Guardian.

Madonna and Child, by renowned Italian artist Antonio Solario, was originally acquired by the Civic Museum of Belluno in 1872, where it remained until 1973 before being targeted by thieves who swiped several artworks.

Some of the stolen masterpieces were found in Austria shortly after the heist and were returned to the museum but Madonna and Child remained missing.

Over half a century later, the painting has now resurfaced more than 1000 miles away in Norfolk in the hands of Mrs De Dozsa, who is refusing to return it despite it being listed on police stolen art databases.

The artwork was kept at Mr and Mrs De Dozsa's luxurious 16-century home, East Barsham Manor in Fakenham, Norfolk, where they lived together before their divorce.

It wasn't until 2017 when it was spotted by someone linked to the Belluno museum as Mrs De Dozsa attempted to flog the historic work through a regional auction house.

The person confirmed it to be on the 'most wanted' lists of police forces, including Interpol and the Italian Carabinieri.

Madonna and Child, by renowned Italian artist Antonio Solario, was originally acquired by the Civic Museum of Belluno in 1872, where it remained until 1973 before being targeted by thieves who swiped several artworks

Delays caused by lockdown meant the Italian authorities could not supply the relevant documents requested by British police which meant the painting was given back to Mrs De Dozsa in 2020.

Specialist art lawyer, Christopher Marinello, has persistently tried to convince her to hand it over to its rightful owner - the museum, telling The Guardian: 'It's the right thing to do'.

However, Mrs De Dozsa cited the Limitation Act 1980, which states that a person who buys stolen goods can be recognised as the legal owner if the purchase was 'unconnected to the theft' after more than six years.

Mr Marinello said she orginally argued British police had given her a good title when they gave it back to her but after approaching the force about it, they told him 'by no means do we convey title to the painting'.

When asked why the police didn't just hand the stolen painting over to Italy, he said it shows the failure of law enforcement to help out the Italians.

He added British police said Mrs De Dozsa didn't commit a crime so they were treating it as a civil case instead of a criminal one.

Conservator for Civic Museum of Belluno, Carlo Cavalli, penned a letter to her saying that she doesn't have the title just because the painting was handed back to her.

Mr Marinello founded Art Recovery International, based in London, Venice and New York, which focuses on stolen art.

Madonna and Child is on the 'most wanted' lists of police forces, including Interpol and the Italian Carabinieri

He has previously recovered a Matisse painting stolen in 1987 from Stockholm's Museum of Modern Art. Its whereabouts had been a total mystery for 25 years until it surfaced in London.

The art lawyer believes there to be moral argument for the painting's return and highlighted that, as he has understood from her, she does not even like it enough to hang it up in her house.

He is not being paid for his work and is driven only by his opinion it belongs to Belluno, where his family originated.

Mrs De Dozsa had argued she has parted with 6,000 in legal fees to resolve the issue as well as the cost of insurance and storage.

Mr Marinello claimed he understood from her that she would return the painting if he could reimburse her for those fees.

With permission from Italian police, he sourced an insurance firm which agreed to donate the 6,000 but she allegedly had a change of heart.

He said her husband could not have paid any more more than a couple of hundred pounds for the artwork in 1973.

'It's only worth maybe 60,000 to 80,000 now. She refuses to cooperate unless she gets paid the full value, but she can never sell the painting,' he added.

Mr Marinello believes no legitimate auction house would ever sell it and the Carabinieri will never take it off their database, meaning it will be seized as soon as it goes to Italy.

Norfolk constabulary told The Guardian: 'Norfolk police have been advised by the UKCA [UK Central Authority] to release the painting to Mrs De Dozsa given several years have passed and there has been no response from Italian authorities in relation to the investigation. We have returned the painting but would not, as the police, return this in a judicial capacity in terms of awarding legal title to the painting.'
Texas lawmakers are weighing a controversial bill that could send transgender people to state jail for up to two years, simply for identifying as their true selves on official documents.

The bill, filed last week by Republican state Rep. Tom Oliverson, seeks to criminalize what it calls 'gender identity fraud,' making it a state jail felony for any Texan to 'knowingly make a false or misleading verbal or written statement' about their sex assigned at birth when interacting with the government or employers.

In what would be one of the most extreme anti-trans proposals yet introduced in the United States, the penalty would see offenders jailed for to two years and fined $10,000 fine, the Houston Chronicle reports.

The bill currently lacks co-sponsors and is unlikely to pass in its current form but LGBTQ advocates believe that its introduction signals a terrifying escalation in efforts to erase transgender lives from public existence in Texas.

Advocates and legal experts are sounding the alarm, describing the bill as a clear attempt to criminalize transgender existence itself.

If passed, critics say the law would force trans Texans to out themselves every time they engage with government agencies or employers - and if they refuse to mark 'M' or 'F' according to their birth sex, they could face prison time.

Changing a driver's license or even applying for jobs could become a criminal act.

The bill comes amid a tidal wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation flooding the Texas Statehouse.

Texas lawmakers are weighing a controversial bill that could send transgender people to state jail for up to two years, simply for identifying as their true selves on official documents

The bill, filed last week by Republican state Rep. Tom Oliverson, pictured, seeks to criminalize 'gender identity fraud,' making it a state jail felony for any Texan to 'knowingly make a false or misleading verbal or written statement' about their sex assigned at birth

According to Equality Texas, nearly 170 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have already been filed this year, many targeting transgender rights directly.

These include bathroom bills, healthcare bans, and limits on trans athletes, cementing Texas as a national epicenter of efforts to roll back hard-won LGBTQ+ protections.

Rep. Oliverson, the bill author's legislative record includes supporting previous measures to ban gender-affirming healthcare for minors and restrict LGBTQ+ education in schools.

Notably, the 'gender identity fraud' bill follows hot on the heels of a separate proposal by Republican Rep. Brent Money, which seeks to ban all gender-affirming care for adults, expanding an earlier law targeting trans youth to now encompass all ages.

If passed, Money's bill would strip public funding from any medical institution offering hormone therapy, surgeries, or even puberty blockers to trans patients - regardless of age.

Money, defending his bill in a statement on social media, claimed it was intended to 'protect vulnerable people from irreversible procedures', though every major US medical association, including the American Medical Association and American Academy of Pediatrics, has affirmed that gender-affirming care is life-saving and essential for trans people.

According to Equality Texas, nearly 170 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have already been filed this year, many targeting transgender rights directly

Medical professionals are unanimously opposed to these sweeping measures, warning that cutting off trans people's access to identification and healthcare will trigger a mental health crisis and an increase in suicides

Medical professionals are unanimously opposed to these sweeping measures, warning that cutting off trans people's access to identification and healthcare will trigger a mental health crisis and an increase in suicides.

A 2023 survey from Advocates for Trans Equality, involving more than 90,000 transgender respondents, found that 94 percent of trans people who accessed gender-affirming care reported greater satisfaction with life, and a significant reduction in suicidal ideation.

This latest move fits into a broader and years-long campaign against transgender people in Texas, a state that has often led the charge in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.

In 2017, Texas was one of the first states to attempt a 'bathroom bill', which would have barred trans people from using restrooms that align with their gender identity  though it failed amid fierce public opposition.

In 2022, after failing to pass a bill banning transition care for minors, the Texas Attorney General issued a legal opinion equating such care to child abuse, triggering investigations into families supporting their trans children.

The 'gender identity fraud' bill follows hot on the heels of a separate proposal by Republican Rep. Brent Money, pictured, which seeks to ban all gender-affirming care for adults, expanding an earlier law targeting trans youth to now encompass all ages

If passed, Money's bill would strip public funding from any medical institution offering hormone therapy, surgeries, or even puberty blockers to trans patients - regardless of age

Money has defended his bill claiming it was intended to 'protect vulnerable people from irreversible procedures', though every major US medical association has affirmed that gender-affirming care is life-saving and essential for trans people.

There has been a broad and years-long campaign against transgender people in Texas, a state that has often led the charge in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation

Experts warn that Texas often sets the national standard when it comes to anti-trans legislation

Texas has also barred trans student-athletes from playing on teams consistent with their gender, and refused to allow gender marker changes on birth certificates and state IDs, citing an executive order from President Trump signed earlier this year.

While Oliverson's bill may seem extreme, experts warn that Texas often sets the national standard when it comes to anti-trans legislation.

Several other states, including Florida, Tennessee, and Missouri, have already passed or introduced legislation restricting trans healthcare, education, and public life, but none have gone as far as criminalizing trans identity itself - a line that Texas now threatens to cross.
Military officials from more than 30 nations will meet in Paris today in a bid to agree the make-up of an international security force for Ukraine.

Britains Chief of the Defence Staff will co-chair the meeting of defence chiefs with his French counterpart.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin and Thierry Burkhard will be hoping to convince more countries to commit to sending ground forces to Ukraine following a ceasefire.

The UK and France had been the only countries to have made such a commitment, but yesterday they were joined by Spain - which already has 3,000 troops in Eastern Europe.

Tomorrow, the UK Defence Secretary John Healey will hold talks with the defence ministers of France, Germany, Italy and Poland in the French capital.

The push to secure the framework of a workable military force came as Russia labelled Britain the worlds biggest warmonger.

The remarks by an official from Russias foreign intelligence service were set in the context of accusing the UK of seeking to sabotage US efforts to secure peace in Ukraine.

The UK and France are the only countries committed to sending ground forces to Ukraine following a ceasefire (pictured: Keir Starmer with France's President Emmanuel Macron and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in London this month)

Russia is opposed to British troops leading any post-ceasefire stabilisation force in Ukraine (pictured: Russian President Vladimir Putin)

If a peacekeeping plan is agreed among European allies, Sir Keir could take it to the White House along with French president Emmanuel Macron and Mr Zelensky to present a united front to Donald Trump (pictured)

Defence Secretary John Healey (pictured) will join his counterparts in Paris on Wednesday

While the United Sates has turned against Ukraine, cutting off military aid and intelligence in a bid to force the country to defend itself, the UK has continued to fight Ukraines corner.

While European security partners will be attending the conference in person, Asian and Oceanic nations are expected to join the talks remotely.

Their presence, albeit via video link, has been seen as a tacit acknowledgement by the UK and France that a stabilisation force requires more personnel than European nations alone can provide.

In apparent attempt to exploit any tensions between the UK and the US over support for Ukraine, Russian officials strongly criticised Britain yesterday.

A source from the SVR intelligence agency said: It is time to expose them and send a clear signal to the treacherous Albion and its elites; you will not succeed.

The source also suggested Britain was to blame for starting the Second World War and said today this country was acting to undermine US President Donald Trumps peacekeeping efforts.

Russia is also opposed to British troops leading any post-ceasefire stabilisation force in Ukraine, though this might be one concession the Kremlin is forced to make as part of a settlement to the three-year conflict.
A British tourist could be forced to pay a $2,200 fine after accidentally breaking a major road rule by unintentionally riding an e-bike onto a motorway.

Emma Louise was holidaying in Sydney on Friday when she decided to rent a Lime Bike to explore the CBD.

The young tourist explained she entered an address on her navigation app and selected the walking mode.

However, Ms Louise inadvertently became stuck in the middle of a dual carriageway after her navigation maps switched to driving mode due to the bike's speed.

In a video shared to her TikTok, Ms Louise is seen standing in the middle of the motorway waiting for a police car to help her out of her predicament.

'I called non-emergency police and they said "okay I'm sending a police car",' Ms Louise said.

She then realised that wasn't wearing a helmet.

'I don't have a helmet, they're going to fine me for not wearing a helmet. I don't know what to do,' she said.

@emma.louisee story of my life thank you @Transport for NSW for saving me  original sound - emzy girl

British tourist Emma Louise found herself stuck int he middle of a busy motorway in Sydney while on her e-bike (pictured)

In NSW riders can be fined $410 for not wearing a helmet and anywhere between $320 to a court-imposed penalty of $2,200 for disobeying road access rules.

Transport for NSW was able to dispatch two emergency response workers and a tow truck to help Ms Louise and her bike out of the tunnel.

Ms Louise labelled the Transport for NSW workers as her 'heroes' and thanked them for rescuing her with social media users seeing the lighter side.

'Ah those Transport workers were so nice, they didn't seem condescending or impatient or anything, they must have seen how stressed you were. Bless,' one person commented.

'The way u get in the truck and say "hello" like this is an Uber,' a second person joked.

A third joked: 'A full a full tow truck for a lime bike!'

Transport for NSW said it was 'crucial' for bike and e-bike riders follow the road rules.

'[The rules] are in place to keep riders, and those they share the road or path with, safe,' a spokesperson told Yahoo News.

'Most tunnels are not designed for bicycle use and are high-speed vehicle thoroughfares that do not have the infrastructure or provisions in place for cyclists or pedestrians.

'It is also really important for riders to always wear a helmet, which can dramatically reduce the risk of being injured in a fall or crash.'

The spokesperson added riders should ensure their navigation apps are set to the bicycle mode and also set to exclude any tunnels and motorways.
A beloved Nevada restaurant owner died from 'serious and catastrophic injuries' caused by drinking recalled bottled water, a new bombshell lawsuit claimed.

Milo Hurst, the founder of Boulder City institution Milo's Cellar & Inn, died at age 71 on November 22.

A lawsuit filed by his estate and heirs claimed his cause of death was 'serious and catastrophic injuries,' including to his liver from drinking rocket fuel laced Real Water, reported Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Real Water, a now bankrupt alkalized water company, sold bottles that contained the lethal chemical hydrazine, which is also found in rocket fuel.

AffinityLifestyles.com - Real Water's parent company - advertised its product as 'the healthiest drinking water available.'

The drinks, marketed as an alternative to tap water, led to dozens of hospitalizations and resulted in life-threatening liver problems.

Hurst's estate attorney, William Kemp, said the beloved restaurateur suffered from liver failure for years and was unable to get a transplant after drinking the water.

The lawsuit claimed Hurst drank the water because he believed it 'did not contain elevated levels of toxins.'

Milo Hurst, the founder of Boulder City institution Milo's Cellar & Inn, died at age 71 on November 22

A lawsuit filed by his estate and heirs claimed his cause of death was 'serious and catastrophic injuries,' including injuries to his liver from drinking rocket fuel laced Real Water

Real Water, a now bankrupt alkalized water company, sold bottles that contained the lethal chemical hydrazine, which is also found in rocket fuel

It wasn't until sometime around June that he saw a news article about Real Water and connected his injuries to the product, according to filings.

Consumption of Real Water has led to 'one death, one emergency brain surgery, miscarriages, multiple Flights for Life to several out-of-state liver transplant medical centers, multiple aborted liver transplant initiations and hospitalizations of over four dozen victims in intensive care units,' the lawsuit said.

Hurst was a pillar of the community - who was honored with his own day on September 17 - and even credited by the mayor for making the area more attractive for locals and visitors alike when he founded Milo's in 1994, reported KTNV.

In June, jurors awarded more than $3billion dollars to eight Las Vegas residents who suffered liver failure after drinking Real Water.

The plaintiffs in that lawsuit said the drinks led to the hospitalization of five children and three adults as a result of life-threatening liver problems.

The children included in the suit were between seven months and five years of age. All were flown to a children's hospital in Salt Lake City for acute liver damage in 2020.

Some of the children had cirrhosis, a scarring of the liver that is commonly associated with alcoholics, and is irreversible.

Emely and Christopher Brian Wren, and their two year old son all suffered from nausea, blurry vision and lethargy in 2020.

Real Water was manufactured to be alkaline  meaning it has a slightly higher pH than water.

Real Water used a novel seven part process to alkalize their product, which involved electrifying the water for 12 hours twice. The device used to electrify the water was likely what produced the hydrazine.

Hydrazine is used and produced when making rocket propellant and spacecraft fuels. It's clear, highly flammable and smells like ammonia.

Ingesting it can cause an upset stomach, vomiting, uncontrolled shaking, lethargy, nerve inflammation and coma, according to the CDC.

Emely and Christopher Brian Wren, and their two year old son all suffered from nausea, blurry vision and lethargy in 2020.

The FDA launched an investigation into Real Water and warned that people should not drink, cook with, sell, or serve the product

One of the most high profile cases against Real Water involved that of Myles Hunwardsen who had to be airlifted to the hospital for a liver transplant after drinking the company's water

Studies haven't been done to directly determine what affect the toxin has on your liver. But because the liver is responsible for filtering your blood, when it breaks down toxins, they can cause serious, irreversible harm to the tissue, according to Mayo Clinic.

Federal complaints against Real Water date as far back as March 2021. The FDA and Southern Nevada Health District initially investigated the company because it had been linked to non-viral hepatitis.

At this point, Real Water pulled their products from shelves. This joint investigation resulted in a complaint from the FDA that stated Real Water had violated national laws by distributing 'adulterated and misbranded bottled water'.

The FDA complaint read: 'While the companies marketed their products as a healthy alternative to tap water, the government alleged that the products in fact consisted of municipal tap water that the defendants processed with various chemicals in violation of current good manufacturing practices, relevant food safety standards and hazard prevention measures'.

Less than two months later, the company filed for bankruptcy. Their President, former Nevada legislator Brent Jones, issued an apology.

They were ordered to pay $228million in damages in one suit in October 2023 and $130million in damages in February 2024.

The February 2024 suit included Myles Hunwardsen, 29, who had to get a liver transplant and Jazmin Schaffer, Tina Hartshorn, Miriam Brody and Christina Sosa, who all suffered liver failure after drinking Real Water.

Before they even figured out what caused it, the plaintiffs were struck by intense vomiting, nausea, confusion, fatigue and brain fog after drinking Real Water at some point in 2020, much like the plaintiffs in the June 2024 case.
It was said to be the moment of madness that cost Mark Latham the 2004 election.

The day before Australians were due to head to the polls, the then Labor leader was emerging from an ABC studio in Sydney when he crossed paths with the man he hoped to take the keys to the Lodge from, John Howard.

Cameras flashed as the towering Latham took the Prime Minister's outstretched hand with an abrupt and aggressive force, before he leered over the smaller man as they exchanged terse pleasantries.

But there was nothing pleasant about it - and most observers tended to agree.

Brian Loughnane, the Liberal Party campaign director, said the incident 'brought together all the doubts and hesitations that people had about Mark Latham', noting that it prompted more feedback than anything else in the lead-up to the election.

Whether it had any impact on the final result - Howard won with a thumping majority despite many predicting a Labor victory - it became a defining image of the campaign.

Now, Latham has opened old wounds by suggesting that he was merely seeking revenge for his wife who allegedly had her hand crushed by Howard at previous event.

The former Labor Leader was asked last week on NSW MP Jeremy Buckingham's Into The Weeds podcast whether he was a 'bully'.

Cameras flashed as the towering labor leader Mark Latham took Prime Minister John Howard's outstretched hand with an abrupt and aggressive force, before he leered over the smaller man as they exchanged terse pleasantries (pictured)

But there was nothing pleasant about the handshake - and most observers tended to agree

'It was just a handshake between two men but earlier... we were at a function on Grand Final Day at the St George Leagues Club and Howard crushed the hand of my wife, Janine and she said, "give it back to that little bloke", so I did,' Mr Latham alleged.

He added: 'People wouldnt believe that Howard had done that to her and I was written up as monstering him.

'But, you know, at the end of the day, if I wanted to rip his head off, I couldve and all I did was shake his hand.'

But Howard has now hit back, telling Daily Mail Australia: 'Of course I reject his absurd claim that I crushed his wifes hand'.

The 85-year-old, who served the second-longest tenure in office of any Australian Prime Minister, previously said that Latham had tried a similarly overzealous manoeuvre a few weeks before but it wasn't caught on camera.

'When I saw him coming out of that studio I thought "he's going to do the handshake thing again",' Howard said in an interview with Channel Seven's Sunday Night in 2014.

'He was bigger than I am and he wanted to create the impression that he was dominating me. Well, it didn't work.'

A year after Howard gave his own version of events Latham appeared on The Morning Show, in 2015, where he gave a slightly altered account of the story he told the podcast.

Former Prime Minister John Howard (pictured in 1996) hit back at Latham's new claims, telling Daily Mail Australia: 'Of course I reject his absurd claim that I crushed his wife's hand'

The man on the cusp of becoming Australia's 26th Prime Minister has enjoyed a remarkable fall from grace in subsequent years (Mark Latham is pictured in 2024)

'Howard squeezed my wife's hand so tight, she turned to me and said, "That little fella crushed my hand",' he said.

He added: 'I didnt fancy the idea of this little bloke crushing my wife's hand to the point where she was almost crying.'

A belligerent Latham told the hosts Larry Emdur and Kylie Gilles that Howard was 'lucky that's all he got'.

'If it was out on the streets or the pubs of where I live, they would have decked the bastard,' he said.

Edmur and Gilles then played a word association game where they showed him pictures of politicians and asked him for an instantaneous response.

After being shown a picture of Howard, he barely missed a beat.

'Handshake mongrel,' he said.

The man who was on the cusp of becoming Australia's 26th Prime Minister has enjoyed a remarkable fall from grace in subsequent years.

The 64-year-old quit politics in disgust shortly after the election defeat, before going on to make a name for himself as a controversial social and political commentator.

Latham re-entered politics in 2017, serving a brief spell with the Libertarian Party before going on to joining Pauline Hanson's One Nation party as NSW state leader.

Following deeply homophobic comments he made about fellow parliamentarian Alex Greenwich, Latham was expelled by Senator Hanson and now sits as an independent.

Daily Mail Australia has approached Latham for comment.
A former correctional officer at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Chicago, Illinois has appeared in federal court to face a slew of charges alleging she sexually abused four women in her custody including the 'Suitcase Killer' Heather Mack.

Brittany Hall, a 31-year-old former Bureau of Prisons officer faces charges that could carry more than 80 years in prison if convicted.

She is accused of committing the heinous acts within the walls of one of the nation's most secure detention centers.

Hall was indicted on five counts of sexual abuse of a ward and three counts of abusive sexual contact, according to a statement from the US Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois.

Each sexual abuse of a ward charge is punishable by up to 15 years in federal prison, and each abusive sexual contact charge carries a penalty of up to two years.

Mack, meanwhile, is serving 26 years for conspiring to kill her socialite mother, Sheila von Wiese-Mac, at a luxury Indonesian resort in 2014.

She had been at MCC from November 2021 to September 2024, although she has now been transferred to a correctional facility in West Virginia.

Mack, now 35, and Hall are believed to have been in touch with one another through a third party before and after her sentencing.

Brittany Hall, a 31-year-old former Bureau of Prisons officer faces charges she sexually abused four women in her custody

The four women include the 'Suitcase Killer' Heather Mack, now 35, who conspired to kill her socialite mother, Sheila von Wiese-Mac, at a luxury Indonesian resort in 2014

Hall was a former correctional officer at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Chicago

Mack is long gone from the public eye but is still a notorious figure in true crime circles, having previously gained worldwide attention for her role in the murder case that drew headlines for years.

Mack, who has remained silent since beginning her federal sentence, may now appear as an alleged in the prison system supposed to hold her to account.

Mack informed her attorneys about the alleged abuse she had received and said she did not want to be in contact with Hall.

According to federal court documents that have now been unsealed, the allegations describe multiple instances in December 2023 when Hall, who assigned to supervise the women housed on the 12th floor of the MCC, allegedly used her position of authority to sexually exploit and assault female inmates under her care.

The indictment details graphic and disturbing claims. The government asserts the acts were completely non-consensual and an egregious violation of public trust.

While specific details about the victims' identities are withheld to protect their privacy, prosecutors stated how the women had no ability to remove themselves from Hall's control as they were trapped in a federally run institution where she had been assigned to ensure their safety.

Shackled at the ankles and dressed in a t-shirt, jeans, and black tactical boots, Hall stood before U.S. Magistrate Judge Heather K. McShain on Thursday afternoon as she pled not guilty to all the charges.

Shackled at the ankles and dressed in a t-shirt, jeans, and black tactical boots, Hall stood before U.S. Magistrate Judge Heather K. McShain as she pled not guilty to all the charges

Hall, left, is seen walking into the courthouse alongside her attorney Thomas More Leinenweber, who has yet to publicly comment on the charges against her

Mack is serving 26 years for conspiring to kill her socialite mother, Sheila von Wiese-Mac, at a luxury Indonesian resort in 2014

Mack and her former boyfriend - Stella's dad - were convicted in 2015 of plotting together to kill Mack's mom, socialite Sheila von Wiese-Mack (with her left,) at a luxury resort on Bali during a family trip, and then stuffing her body in a suitcase (right)

Mack gave birth to daughter Stella during the her 2015 trial in Indonesia. She was allowed to live with the child during her incarceration overseas, but her daughter now lives with her mother's relative

Maintaining a neutral expression throughout the proceeding, Hall responded in brief, clipped statements to the judge.

Hall, who resigned from the US Bureau of Prisons last year, was released on pretrial conditions, including the requirement to disclose the serious charges against her to any future employer.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), under whose authority Hall served during her time at MCC, responded to the explosive case by reaffirming its official 'zero-tolerance' stance on sexual abuse.

Leading the prosecution is Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan L. Shih, who has brought forward a case signaling the government's intent to hold Hall accountable to the fullest extent possible under the law.

With eight serious counts leveled against her - five for sexual abuse of a ward and three for abusive sexual contact - Hall faces the theoretical possibility of spending the rest of her life behind bars if convicted on all charges.

Hall is represented by attorney Thomas More Leinenweber, who has yet to publicly comment on the charges.
A driver's day went from bad to worse after she spotted a parking ticket on her windshield - and she was even more infuriated upon closer look.

'Was already having the worst day and saw this stuck under my wiper while driving, nearly lost my s***,' the Adelaide woman wrote on Reddit.

The apparent 'parking ticket' was actually a sneaky promotion for the New Realm Clo streetwear clothing brand.

'City of Adelaide Notice of Parking Violation,' read the very legitimate-looking notice stuck to several windscreens around Adelaide.

'You've been cited! But don't worry, it's not as bad as it seems. This notice has been issued because your current outfit has been found in violation of the Fashion Code under Section 2025 of the Trendsetter Regulations.'

The fake ticket told its recipient: 'This is a gentle nudge to up your style game.'

Founders of the fashion company and brothers Noa and Mateo said they 'wanted to make an impact beyond fabric and stitches' with the fake fine prank.

The ticket included a QR code so people could scan through to their website.

The 'parking ticket' (pictured) was a promotion for New Realm Clo streetwear clothing brand

The brothers who pulled the stunt said it was 'about creating a moment' (the brand is pictured)

But the prank promotion backfired in the eyes of some unimpressed locals.

'Wow, what a brilliant first impression,' one person wrote sarcastically.

'Nothing screams "we're marketing geniuses" like p***ing people off with a fake fine before they've even heard of your business.'

'My wife just sent me an almost identical photo, just without the nail polish. She's really p***ed at them too,' a second wrote.

Others took offence at the tone of the message, with one writing that the company was 'insulting their dress sense to boot'.

The legality of the stunt was also questioned, even if the flyer did have a disclaimer in fine print saying it was not a real parking ticket and there was no association with the City of Adelaide council.

'I'd be sending it to Adelaide City Council then. Pretty sure they'll be a little upset,' one commenter said.

Founders of the fashion company, brothers Noa and Mateo, said they 'wanted to make an impact beyond fabric and stitches' with the fake fine prank (the brand is pictured)

Another said under Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 (SA), Section 144B, they could face up to two years in jail for 'false representation'.

But the brothers did find some backing for their creativity from some commenters.

'It's a good way to get your name out there,' one wrote.

The brothers told news.com.au that the prank was about 'creating a moment that pulled people out of their daily routine'.

'The fines weren't real fines, it was just a cheeky ad campaign,' they said.

'However, the response wasn't entirely what we anticipated.

'We've received everything from props to threats, with DMs, comments, and even a Reddit thread dedicated to debating the stunt.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted New Realm Clo streetwear for further comment.
Australia's youngest-ever murderer who killed a three-year-old girl could be back in the community within days.

SLD was 13-years-old when he murdered toddler Courtney Morley-Clarke in January 2001 on the NSW Central Coast, now has lifetime anonymity preventing the public from linking him to his horrific crime.

After serving a 20 year sentence, SLD was briefly released in Wollongong NSW in September 2023 before swiftly being returned to custody for breaching his conditions.

But with the current interim detention order ending this Saturday, the 37-year-old's bid for freedom will be heard in NSW Supreme Court with a verdict expected on Wednesday.

Justice Mark Ierace noted that the situation was out of the ordinary.

'It goes without saying this is a very challenging case, he has been out only in the community for four months since he was only 13-years-old,' he said.

It's understood Justice Ierace has the option of imposing the continuing detention order, which would see SLD remain behind bars for another 12 months, or granting an extended supervision order.

Should SLD be granted an extended supervision order, he will be able to visit libraries and supermarkets three times a week in a bid to make new friends and connections in the area.

Courtney Morley-Clarke was just three-years-old when she was murdered

The recommendations presented to the court from the NSW Department of Corrections also endorsed overnight release from jail in a matter of months.

The multi-disciplinary team, which is made up of Corrections Services officers, psychologists and police, suggested that SLD would initially be accompanied by two plain clothed correction officers.

However, the court heard the officers would, 'most likely,' only be available to chaperone the inmate for a period of four weeks.

SLD would then quickly move through different stages of his path to freedom from joining social clubs, volunteering at a charity and weekend release before eventually being left to his own devises.

Community Corrections intensive rehabilitation director, Sharryn Coe, told the court that the aim was for the violent offender to 'develop his social skills and interact with the community.'

However, SLD has previously admitted that he would be prepared to kill again if something 'big,' took place adding 'If I kill someone it wont be a child.'

His frightening confession and string of violent offences, which include choking a nurse during his incarceration are all being considered by Justice Ierace who will determine when and how SLD walks free.

After SLD was last released in September 2023, he was back behind bars after just a few weeks later after he was caught out approaching women with young children at Bulli Beach in Wollongong, NSW claiming he wanted a date.

SLD breached his parole by approaching mothers with children at Bulli Beach (pictured) near Wollongong

He was also found to be accessing pornography online and psychologists warned he had become obsessed with losing his virginity after growing up in jail.

SLD had been adopted at the age of four by a family in Point Clare on the Central Coast, but his murder trial heard he remained 'disturbed' despite his new home.

At age 13 years and 10 months, he snatched Courtney from her bed in the middle of the night and stabbed her through the heart before leaving her body in long grass 300m from her home.

He was caught after it was noticed that he had gone missing from his home on the morning the three-year-old vanished.

He initially lied about the crime, leading police on a wild goose chase before later admitting he killed her.

Psychiatric assessments of the teen determined he'd never become a functioning social adult.

He was sentenced in August 2002 to 20 years behind bars but was first released in September 2023.

Just weeks later, he was re-arrested for breaching the terms of his release when he spoke to three women with children.

On October 25, SLD went to Bulli Beach near Wollongong with a supervisor and was spotted by an off-duty prison officer who noticed his electronic monitoring anklet.

The officer witnessed SLD approach a woman with a young girl, and then approach another mother washing an infant at the beach showers.

Both women picked up their children and walked away from SLD.

The convicted killer tried to access the internet and dating sites when he was initially released in 2023 (stock image)

He then entered the Bulli Beach Cafe and struck up a conversation with a woman feeding an infant.

He allegedly said to the woman: 'I just got out of jail. Do you come here often?', followed by: 'I've only been here twice.'

Police came and arrested SLD, who told Wollongong Local Court the next day the encounters were 'incidental'.

SLD was found guilty of one count of failing to comply with an extended supervision order, which barred him from having contact with children.

He had also tried to access the internet, dating sites and encrypted chat apps.

Authorities believe SLD is a high risk of re-offending because of his obsession with finding a girlfriend to start a sexual relationship after being locked up behind bars for more than 20 years

During the hearing psychiatrists noted it's the killer, who is fixated with getting revenge for perceived wrongs, could act violently if he felt he was unfairly treated.

However they also agree that keeping him incarcerated would be detrimental to his mental health and ability to assimilate into the community at a later date.
Elon Musk has suffered a legal blow with a judge slamming the 'unprecedented secrecy' of DOGE and demanding the release of internal documents.

The Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a suit against the department in an effort to remove some of the secrecy surrounding its operations.

District Judge Christopher Cooper published a 37-page ruling which determined the Department of Government Efficiency was not immune to scrutiny under the Freedom of Information Act.

'The authority exercised by USDS across the federal government and the dramatic cuts it has apparently made with no congressional input appear to be unprecedented,' he wrote.

Cooper cited weeks of media reporting about how Musk has taken an axe to federal agencies in an effort to root out wasteful spending.

Some estimates say DOGE has had a hand in tens of thousands of job losses across the bloated federal bureaucracy.

But that power which has been lauded has now come back to haunt Musk and his nerd army, with Cooper determining that a department wielding so much power will need to be transparent under federal law - and must take steps to do so without delay.

'All these factors together bolster the Courts conclusion that a years-long delay in processing the USDS Request would cause irreparable harm,' the court ruled.

Elon Musk has suffered a legal blow with a judge slamming the 'unprecedented secrecy' of DOGE and demanding the release of internal documents

The Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a suit against the department in an effort to remove some of the secrecy surrounding its operations

'The rapid pace of USDSs actions, in turn, requires the quick release of information about its structure and activities.'

When CREW filed an FOI request with DOGE, authorities responded maintaining it did not need to comply because it is not an 'agency' subject to FOIA laws.

DOGE has been operating under the wider umbrella of the Executive Office of the President, which is primarily exempt from the FOIA. But there are some exceptions in which it can become subject to transparency laws.

Cooper determined DOGE's 'operations thus far have been marked by unusual secrecy' and remarked about the 'outsized influence on federal government' Musk's team wields.

The ruling states that DOGE employees were instructed to communicate via messaging app Signal, which has a function that deletes and permanently wipes messages after they are sent and received.

Quoting a New York Times report ahead of Trump's inauguration, the ruling states '[p]eople involved in the operation [said] that secrecy and avoiding leaks is paramount, and much of its communication is conducted on Signal.'

And while the government maintains Musk is merely an adviser to the president, the ruling noted: 'Mr. Musk claimed credit for placing large numbers of USAID employees on administrative leave in February, revelling that ''We spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper''' in a post on X on February 3.

In all, around 4,154 USAID staff were placed on leave in the days prior to and following that X post.

DOGE has been operating under the wider umbrella of the Executive Office of the President, which is primarily exempt from the FOIA. But there are some exceptions in which it can become subject to transparency laws

Musk has also been linked to the voluntary redundancy package the Trump administration offered federal staff, which a reported 75,000 have accepted.

'In a move viewed by some as pernicious, USDS has obtained unprecedented access to sensitive personal and classified data and payment systems across federal agencies,' the ruling states.

Cooper noted in his ruling that Trump administration lawyers had not provided any clarity or further detail about the work DOGE is carrying out.

'Indeed, the Court wonders whether this decision was strategic,' Cooper noted.

'[DOGE] becomes, on defendants' view, a Goldilocks entity, not an agency when it is burdensome but an agency when it is convenient.'

In January, almost the entire workforce of federal employees received a deferred resignation offer that came with eight months of pay in an initial DOGE effort to reduce spending.

Thousands of probationary employees have been fired across the board, including at HHS. The layoffs have sparked mass protests and lawsuits from disgruntled workers.

Most recently, 80,000 federal health workers were offered a $25,000 incentive to leave their jobs.

Thousands of probationary employees have been fired across the board, including at HHS. The layoffs have sparked mass protests and lawsuits from disgruntled workers

The ultimatum was given to employees responsible for researching diseases, inspecting food and administering Medicare and Medicaid.

The workers - employed by Robert F Kennedy Jr.'s Department of Health and Human Services in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - received an email detailing the proposal.

They could begin opting in from Monday and have until 5pm on Friday to agree to the 'voluntary separation offer.'

The latest court ruling comes just days after Trump assured department heads that staffing decisions ultimately lay with them - not Musk.

But he said if tough decisions that need to be made aren't done so appropriately, Musk is waiting in the wings to swoop in.

'If they can cut, it's better. If they don't cut, then Elon will do the cutting,' Trump said Thursday.

Musk has repeatedly criticized judges and courts across the nation for engaging in 'lawfare' to minimize his efforts.

'Lawfare has gotten out of control,' Musk wrote last month in response to a separate suit.
British YouTuber and rapper Yung Filly has pleaded not guilty to eight charges arising from the alleged rape of a woman in his hotel room during an Australian tour.

The 24-year-old online identity, whose real name is Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos, is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in her 20s after a performance at Bar1 Nightclub in Perth on September 28, 2024.

He entered the not guilty pleas during an appearance at Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

He faces three charges of assault, one count of impending a person's normal breathing or blood circulation by applying pressure to the neck, and four counts of sexual penetration without consent.

The matter will be heard by the District Court in June, and he remains free on $100,000 bail.

He refused to answer questions from the media as he left court, The West Australian reports, but did say it was a 'beautiful day'.

While on bail, Yung Filly was fined $1,000 and banned from driving for six months after pleading guilty to reckless driving.

He admitted to reckless driving after being caught travelling at 157km/h on a Perth highway, where the speed limit is 100km/h, on November 17.

Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos aka Yung Filly, 24, is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in her 20s after a performance at Bar1 Nightclub in Perth on September 28

Yung Filly is seen leaving a Perth court on Tuesday after pleading not guilty to eight charges

Filly, who rose to fame on YouTube before picking up a series of presenting jobs with the BBC, has been dropped by a number of brands he previously endorsed - including the FA, Footasylum and German Doner Kebab - after being charged.

He had travelled to Australia last September for a series of concerts, having just released a new single entitled 'Tempted', including one at the Bar1 Nightclub in Perth on September 27.

The event had been promoted as a 'seamless blend of spontaneity, humour and music that'll have you talking for weeks'.

He is alleged to have carried out the attack at his hotel after the performance in the early hours of September 28.

Police say they have an 'extremely strong' prosecution case supported by CCTV and photographic evidence. The photos were not shown in court.

Filly is among the legions of 'content creators' who have made a name for themselves by amassing huge followings online and made money from video ad revenue and brand collaborations.

Born in Colombia, he moved to the UK at the age of two with his single mother and two siblings.

After leaving school and trying his hand at working as a broker, he began posting comedy skits online himself and with collaborators - leading to TV presenting jobs and the start of a music career.
Donald Trump has a shopping trip planned for Tuesday morning after promising to buy a 'brand new Tesla' in support of First Buddy Elon Musk's 'baby.'

Trump previewed his next purchase during a vehement defense of his most famous Cabinet member in a Truth Social post Monday night.

'To Republicans, Conservatives, and all great Americans, Elon Musk is "putting it on the line" in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB!' Trump wrote.

The Tesla founder has bore the brunt of much of liberals' anger at the second Trump administration, with protests against his presence in the Department of Government Efficiency.

Anti-Musk demonstrations have erupted across the United States with protesters attacking Tesla showrooms with guns and Molotov cocktails.

Tesla's stock price has dropped 45 per cent since hitting an all-time high of $1.5trillion on December 17, erasing most of the gains the stock made after Musk helped finance Trump's election victory.

The president claimed that 'Radical Left Lunatics' are 'trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the World's great automakers, and Elon's "baby," in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for.'

His solution: 'Im going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American.'

Donald Trump has a shopping trip planned for Tuesday, having promised to buy a 'brand new Tesla' in support of First Buddy Elon Musk's 'baby.' It would be at least Trump's second Tesla after being given one by Adin Ross last August

Musk has bore the brunt of much of liberals' anger at the second Trump administration, with protests against his presence in the Department of Government Efficiency

Trump thanked Musk for 'being punished' despite 'putting his tremendous skills to work in order to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.'

This would be at least the second of Elon's vehicles to come into his possession after YouTuber Adin Ross gifted the president a Tesla Cybertruck wrapped in an image of Trump pumping his fist after his near-assassination this past August.

Musk's political postures appear to be coming at a price for the car maker, as sales in Europe have also tumbled 45 per cent in January from a year earlier - while its rivals' sales rose by over 37 per cent.

Protests against Musk and Tesla have ramped up since the billionaire and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) began firing thousands of federal workers, including veterans, as it pushes to downsize the government.

Dozens of fired-up crowds assembled outside Tesla stores across the country on Saturday afternoon to protest against Musk's efforts to slash government spending and enact reforms. Demonstrations also erupted in London, Portugal, Malaysia and Iceland.

Roughly 250 activists were gathered outside a showroom in New York City, holding anti-Musk placards that read 'Block Fascism Now and 'Musk Must Go' as they shouted 'Elon Musk is not elected! Democracy must be protected!'

Five protesters were arrested for disorderly conduct at the Manhattan demonstration and one was taken into custody for resisting arrest, obstruction and violation of local law, The New York Daily News reported.

There have also been more than a dozen acts of vandalism against Tesla vehicles, dealerships and charging stations since President Donald Trump's inauguration, according to police and local reports.

Tesla's stock price has dropped 45 per cent since hitting an all-time high of $1.5trillion on December 17, erasing most of the gains the stock made after Musk helped finance Trump's election victory

Anti- Elon Musk demonstrations have erupted across the US with protesters attacking Tesla showrooms with guns and Molotov cocktails. A Tesla showroom in Salem, Oregon, was shot at with an AR 15-style rifle in February

A Tesla showroom in Salem, Oregon, was shot at with an AR 15-style rifle in February. Suspected vandal Adam Matthew Lansky, 41, is also accused of causing major damage at the same store with Molotov cocktails in January.

Similarly, four Tesla cybertrucks were set ablaze overnight at a storage lot in Seattle's industrial SoDo neighborhood, KING-TV reported.

Police in Oregon are also working with the FBI to investigate gunshots fired at a Tesla dealership in Tigard, outside Portland, last week.

While the motivation for the attack has not been confirmed, Tigard police said they 'are aware that other Tesla dealerships have been targeted across Oregon and the nation for political reasons'.

The shooting comes a week after federal prosecutors in Denver charged a woman in connection with vandalism against a Tesla dealership in Colorado - including Molotov cocktails being thrown at vehicles and the words 'Nazi cars' spray-painted on the building.

Also last week, seven Tesla charging stations that were 'intentionally set' on fire in Massachusetts, according to the Littleton Police Department. No injuries were reported.

Graffiti reading 'No Musk' and depicting a sign that resembled a swastika was also found at a Tesla dealership, one day after protesters gathered at the facility.

Meanwhile, DOGE has faced intense scrutiny in recent weeks for its chaotic handling of layoffs, particularly its firing of key federal employees only to attempt to rehire them later.

Roughly 250 demonstrators were gathered outside a showroom in New York City on Saturday afternoon, holding anti-Musk placards as they shouted 'Elon Musk is not elected! Democracy must be protected!'

Among those affected were workers responsible for maintaining nuclear weapons sites across the US - a move that has raised serious national security concerns and Musk and his allies are now face mounting pressure to reassess their approach.

Musk last week revealed he's now looking at cutting the US Postal Service and the railway service Amtrak. He named his targets when he spoke to a Morgan Stanley conference on Wednesday, CNN reported. He addressed the participants virtually.

In his remarks, the tech billionaire compared his influence over the federal government to that of a 'corporate takeover'.

'To understand the federal government, it is like a corporate takeover at scale, but one where the company is actually in much worse shape than any commercial company could ever be,' Musk said.

Musk went on to say that 'logically we should prioritize anything that can reasonably be privatized', which is when he named the USPS and Amtrak - which he called Amtrak a 'sad situation'.
The death of a beloved Bali instructor in a freak surfing accident has rocked family and friends in Australia.

Samsul 'Sam' Kepompong, 33, was surfing with friends at Ekas Beach on the Indonesian island of Lombok last Friday when a large wave knocked him from his board.

The rope on his board had snapped, leaving him at the mercy of the rough ocean conditions, according to local media reports.

Mr Kepompong called out to another instructor for help who was unable to reach him due to the massive waves.

A friend rescued him by boat but Mr Kepompong died enroute to the medical centre.

Mr Kepompong was an Indonesian national who had family in Australia.

It's understood the Bali local had travelled to the island with friends and guests from Central Lombok to conduct surfing lessons.

Members of Mr Kepompong's community took part in a paddle-out in his honour on Monday.

Samsul Kepompong (pictured) died in a freak surfing accident last Friday

Members of Mr Kepompong's surfing community took part in a paddle-out in Bali on Monday

His northern NSW-based cousin Lopan Lopan has established a GoFundMe page to assist with funeral arrangements and medical bills.

Mr Kepompong is believed to have worked in the front office at a Novotel hotel on Bali's southern tip.

'He was a friend, uncle, and son - someone whose kindness, laughter, and smile made the world a better place,' Mr Lopan said.

'Sam worked hard to support his family, especially his dad, who is the full-time carer for Sams brother with special needs.

'The last thing he would want is for his family to face financial stress while mourning his loss.

A relative began a GoFundMe to support family of the beloved surf instructor, friend and son

Sam's kindness, laughter and smile made the world a better place

'Lets come together to support the people he loved most and honor his memory with the kindness he always showed to others.'

More than $9,000 has been raised towards the funeral, which was held on the weekend.

Mr Kepompong's death has sparked an outpouring of grief online.

'We will no longer hear your voice, see your smile, joke with you. But believe me friend, you will always be my friend,' one friend wrote.

'He is my friend who is the family's backbone, giving life to his father who works full-time taking care of his [sibling],' another wrote.

'He was so kind that God loved him too much and took him sooner.'
One of Sydney's busiest maternity wards has issued a warning to mothers after a worker was found to be infectious with hepatitis B.

NSW Health has issued an alert to 223 mums who gave birth at Nepean Hospital in Sydney's west between 2013 and 2024.

The department insisted the potential of exposure was low risk and that no cases have yet been confirmed.

Patients who underwent an episiotomy, repair of episiotomy or perineal/vaginal tear, or application of foetal scalp electrodes which were performed by the infected worker have been contacted.

'Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District understands hearing this may cause concern within our community and to those directly impacted, for this we extend our sincerest apologies,' the alert read.

'The NSW Health Blood Borne Viruses Advisory Panel has reviewed the care provided by the healthcare worker and determined the risk of transmission is low for 223 women and 143 children.

'As a precaution, NBMLHD is offering free assessment and testing for hepatitis B for those women and children who may have been at risk.'

NSW Health is working with the worker to eliminate the risk of future transmissions.

NSW Health has issued to 223 mums who gave birth at Nepean Hospital between 2013 and 2024

NSW Health will provide free assessment and testing for hepatitis B for those women and children who may have been at risk (stock image)

'All patients who are coming to Nepean Hospital for birthing services can be assured that staff strive to provide high-quality care in safe birthing environments,' the department said.

Hepatitis B affects the liver and is caused by hepatitis B virus.

It can be transmitted during birth, during sex and through blood-to-blood contact.

Hepatitis B is diagnosed by blood test with results indicating whether a patient is contagious or had a previous infection.

The best protection from hepatitis B is vaccination.

Treatments are available to prevent long-term complications of hepatitis B and proper diagnosis can help prevent the spread of the infection.

Women who are unsure whether they may be at risk are urged to contact the dedicated support line on 1800 716 662.
Dogwalkers who don't want gay men cruising for sex on Hampstead Heath have hit back activists who say that their campaign against them is homophobic.

Signs put up on the western side of the north London park read 'Cruising for sex? Homosexuality is legal. Use a hook up app like Grindr or Sniffies and get a room'.

The area of the park has been a well-known cruising spot, where gay men meet for anonymous sex since the 19th century when homosexuality was illegal.

Gay right activists say they the signs are discriminatory against gay men  and insist the campaign to end cruising 'emboldens homophobes.'

But dog walkers on the heath today insisted that they were not homophobic at all but could not understand why cruising still exists on the West Heath.

Isa Geblescu, 25 a professional dog walker who was out with a Django, a Huskey said: 'I believe in live and let live but I just don't understand the interest in men wanting to have sex with other men in bushes when they don't have to.

'Things have changed a lot and homosexuality is not illegal. These men could easily meet on an app and book a hotel room. It's not anti-gay to say that.'

Ms Geblescu and other dog walkers revealed how some of their pets have eaten used condoms while rummaging around in bushes and also picked up soiled tissues, wet wipes and even sex aids.

Isa Geblescu, 25 a professional dog walker who was out with a Django, a Huskey, said she 'did'nt understand the interest in men wanting to have sex with other men in bushes'

Dog walkers on the heath today insisted that they were not homophobic at all but could not understand why cruising still exists on the West Heath (pictured: Used condoms in West Heath)

The signs put up on the western side of the north London park read 'Cruising for sex? Homosexuality is legal. Use a hook up app like Grindr or Sniffies and get a room'

She added: 'It's actually quite disgusting. The dogs come back with all kinds of things that are left by men after they've had sex. I'm a very liberal person abut I don't think it's right that things like this should be taking place in an area where people just want to walk and have a quiet time.'

Susie, another dog walker said: 'I don't get it all because there's nothing stopping them from doing all this in private.'

Stephen Smithson, 58 who regularly walks his Shih Tzu Chester on the one-acre West Heath said: 'You can sometimes hear men having sex in the bushes and it's not very pleasant. I don't know why cruising is still relevant given that homosexuality is not illegal and society's attitudes towards it have changed so much.

'It's weird that some men still want to do this, but I suppose it's the lure of the illicit.'

Diana, who walks her Cavapoo dog every day said: 'These men could go anywhere, it's very strange that they should meet in the West Heath and head to the bushes for sex.

'I'm a very liberal person and don't want to sound bigoted or anything but you have to question why, when homosexuality is not illegal, they are still doing this here?'

Jay, who regularly walks his Lurcher Lupin in the area revealed that he was gay and that he could understand why the West Heath remains a popular cruising spot, despite the change in societal attitudes and legislation.

He said: 'I use online dating apps, meet men in bars or head to Soho. But a lot of men come from cultural backgrounds where homosexuality is not acceptable, so they come to areas like the West Heath.

Susie, another dog walker, said she didn't understand why the spot was still a popular 'cruising' area as there was 'nothing stopping them from doing all this in private'

Protesters say is just around one acre which has been used for the activity for years and argue that they should be able to carry on using it while dog walkers and residents can use the other 790 or so acres

One dog walker explained that a lot of men come from cultural backgrounds where homosexuality is not acceptable, so they come to areas like the West Heath to meet up with other men (pictured: A used condom on the ground in the West Heath)

Jake, who regularly walks his Lurcher Lupin in the area revealed that he was gay and that he could understand why the West Heath remains a popular cruising spot

According to the Sexual Offences Act 2003, sexual activity in public toilets is still an offence however sex in other public places is not (pictured: Litter on West Heath, a well known 'cruising' area in Hampstead)

Group of protesters last weekend demanding to be able to have sex in West Heath

Stephen Smithson, 58 who regularly walks his Shih Tzu Chester on the one-acre West Heath said: 'You can sometimes hear men having sex in the bushes'

'I would come here for the same reasons myself in my youth but not any longer. What you notice now is that a lot of men coming to the West Heath are Arabs, Russians or those from other countries where it's not so easy to be gay.'

He added: 'They want to explore their sexuality, what's wrong with that so I don't understand why there is such a moral outrage. As long as they're being discrete, what's the problem?

Hampstead Heath, which measures 790 acres in total, is also one of the capital's most famous tourist spots.

Jens Brodum, who was visiting with his wife Kirsten from Copenhagen said: 'We've heard about its reputation but have just come here for some bird spotting.

'We also have places like this in Denmark and even though I believe in live and let live, I just don't understand them. Surely in this day and age, there are other places where gay men can go for sex which do not cause as many problems for others?'

Nadia, who was visiting with her family from Portugal said: 'If I had young children I would not come here. I'm surprised that something like this is going on in the middle of London.

'This might be a very old custom to have sex in bushes in this area, but it's really not needed now.'

Following the emergence of the signs asking for an end to cruising, gay protesters marched on the area holding signs such as 'take me to the f*** tree' and 'release the pups'.

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Jens Brodum, who was visiting with his wife Kirsten from Copenhagen, believed there were other places where gay men can go for sex which do not cause as many problems for others

Nadia (pictured with Pedro and Rachel), who was visiting with her family from Portugal, said she would not come here if she had young children I had young children

The area of the park has been a well-known cruising spot, where gay men meet for anonymous sex since the 19th century when homosexuality was illegal

Protesters hold their signs beside the so-called 'f*** tree' on Hampstead Heath

Pictures shared on social media show several men exposing their bottoms - while police officers stood by - while signs read 'This is a cruising ground, enjoy yourself'

The gay protesters' leader Dan Glass said: 'It's homophobic, it's saying that queer people can't do what is legally and rightfully theirs, to have public displays of affection.'

Pictures shared on social media show several men exposing their bottoms - while police officers stood by - and signs read 'This is a cruising ground, enjoy yourself' - while posing by what they call the 'f*** tree'.

He wrote in a blog post: 'Cruising has taken place on the heath since at least the 19th century and continued right through decriminalisation all the way up to the present day.

'For many it is still a safe space of sexual exploration, nestled away in nature, it's a world that exists outside of the toxicity of modern-day apps and sexual categorisation. '

He went on to claim that 'cruising' has been an 'age-old enlightened response to a fascist environment'.

He said: 'When bigotry strikes queer culture it is often an indicator of what is to come as anyone outside the confines of dominator culture pose a threat to maintaining the status quo of order, control and power.'
Russia has been bombarded in the biggest Ukrainian drone attack of the war, Moscow officials have said, on the same day as crunch talks are set to be held between Kyiv and the United States.

The Russian Defence Ministry said air defences shot down 337 Ukrainian drones over 10 Russian regions overnight, a record high, as Ukraine hit back at a series of brutal recent attacks launched by Moscow.

At least one Russian civilian has been killed and several injured, with dramatic footage showing fires raging from the exploding drones including in high rise residential buildings near Moscow.

The attack came as a Ukrainian delegation was set to meet with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio in Saudi Arabia about ending the three-year war with Russia.

Volodymyr Zelensky, who was in Jeddah for talks with the Saudi Crown Prince yesterday, will not stay for today's meeting, which marks a new diplomatic push after the Ukrainian President's explosive row with Donald Trump last week.

There has been no immediate comment from Kyiv on the strikes which shook Moscow and other Russian regions overnight.

The most drones - 126 - were shot down over Kursk across the border from Ukraine, parts of which Kyiv's forces control, while 91 were shot down over the Moscow region.

Other areas impacted by the strikes included Belgorod, Bryansk and Voronezh on the border with Ukraine and those deeper inside Russia, such as Kaluga, Lipetsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Oryol and Ryazan.

A huge blast is seen as the Moscow region came under a massive drone attack overnight

Russia recorded a 337-drone attack as Ukraine strikes ten regions, including Moscow, hitting an oil refinery in the Oryol region and targeting the nuclear town of Kurchatov

The site where one of the shot down Ukrainian drones fell, outside Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday

The Russian Defence Ministry said air defences shot down 337 Ukrainian drones over 10 Russian regions overnight, a record high for the war

A view shows a damaged apartment building in a residential complex following a drone attack in the village of Sapronovo in the Moscow region

An apartment building where a downed Ukrainian drone fell at an area in Sapronovo village outside Moscow

Severe damage to an apartment in the village of Sapronovo in the Moscow region after last night's drone attack

Fireballs erupted after the drone explosions in the Moscow region and elsewhere in Russia overnight

Earlier, Ukraine made a rare deployment of US-supplied HIMARS missiles against Russian territory at Dobrynya shopping centre in Belaya Sloboda, Kursk region, where four people were reported killed and 10 injured, including several teenagers.

One drone exploded in Kurchatov, a town close to the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, seen on footage and leading to a small fire.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said over 70 drones targeted the Russian capital and were shot down as they were flying toward it.

Drones were shot down in the Ramensky and Domodedovo districts of the Moscow region surrounding the Russian capital, he said on the messaging app Telegram.

Twenty people - including two children - were injured during the attack by drones flying to Moscow, in Vidnoye, Ramenskoye and Domodedovo, said reports.

Hundreds of people were also forced to evacuate their homes as the drones rained down.

The governor of the Moscow region, Andrei Vorobyov, said one person was killed and three more wounded as a result of the drone attack.

The attack damaged seven apartments in a residential building in the Ramensky district, he said.

It also set cars on fire in a parking lot in the Domodedovo district, according to Russian state news agencies RIA Novosti and Tass.

Hundreds of people were also forced to evacuate their homes in Russia as the drones rained down overnight

A clip shows a man covered in rubble after the window of his apartment was blown in by a blast

Fires raged from the exploding drones including in high rise residential buildings near Moscow, as Ukraine hit back at relentless recent bombardment from Russia

This photo released by Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyev on telegram shows a damaged part of an apartment following a Ukrainian drone attack in Domodedovo, outside Moscow

A residential building in Vidnoye, Moscow region was also hit with the windows blasted out and a hole in the roof

A two-story house in the village of Sofyino, Moscow region also ignited

Burnt out cars are seen after an apparent Ukrainian drone strike on Russia early this morning

Burnt out cars are seen in a car park after the drone attack in Domodedovo, outside Moscow

A drone exploded as it hit a residential building in Ramenskoye, Moscow region, with the shock waves blowing out windows on the top floors of the building.

A residential building in Vidnoye, Moscow region was also hit with the windows blasted out and a hole in the roof.

Several other buildings were hit in Vidnoye, where six people including a child were injured, and a downed drone hit Lyubertsy in Moscow.

A two-story house in the village of Sofyino, Moscow region also ignited.

All four main Moscow airports - Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukova and Zhukovsky - were disrupted by the drone onslaught leading to dozens of arrival diversions and delayed takeoffs.

Nizhny Novgorod airport east of the capital was also temporarily closed.

Ukraine shared pictures of a Russian attack on the port city of Odesa overnight

Firefighters work at the site of a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa

A main railway line linking Domodedovo airport to Moscow city was hit with a 'deafening explosion' as a car park ignited in fire at the nearby car park of Miratorg meat processing plant, where a 37-year-old security guard was killed.

Twenty cars were burned out with a witness telling RBC: 'The night shift was ending, the staff were about to leave the building when there was a loud roar. My Volkswagen Polo was damaged, but not as much as my comrades' cars.'

Mash news outlet said Ukraine had used AN-196 Liutyi domestically-made drones as the mainstay of the overnight strikes.

A resident on Domodedovskaya Street in Moscow said she heard the drone - 'the sound of a moped - and it crashes into the house, there's an orange flash and that's it'.

A key focus of the Ukrainian strikes was Kursk region, where thousands of Kyiv's troops risk being surrounded by Russian forces backed by North Korean fighters.

Other regions hit in the concerted Ukrainian offensive included Lipetsk and Tula.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (C) walking with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (R) during their meeting in Jeddah last night

Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow later this week, it was reported

A Russian defence ministry source said: 'This is an attempt to divert attention from the failure of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region.

'The chaotic massive attack on residential buildings was supposed to give hope for another 'victory' and morally prepare the Ukrainian troops for the retreat from the Sudzhansky district [Kursk].

'But even this failed - the air defence worked flawlessly.'

However, the full extent of damage of the Ukrainian strikes was not immediately clear.

Almost 90 civilians from various regions of the Russian Federation suffered from strikes by the Ukrainian Armed Forces over the past week, with ten killed, including a child, said Russian Ambassador-at-Large, Rodion Miroshnik.

Russia hit Ukraine with overnight strikes on Kyiv and Odesa, where an oil depot and residential building was hit by Russian President Vladimir Putin's armed forces.

Zelensky desperately tries to repair relations with Mr Trump after their extraordinary White House bust-up (pictured)

Reports said that Zelensky had written to apologise for the White House meeting which led to deep trains with Trump.

Talks between Ukraine and the US are due in Saudi Arabia today, where it is expected Kyiv will propose an air and naval ceasefire.

'We do have a proposal for a ceasefire in the sky and ceasefire at sea,' a Ukrainian official told AFP on Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

'These are the ceasefire options that are easy to install and to monitor, and it's possible to start with them.'

Since Trump berated Zelensky at the White House last week, Washington has suspended military aid to Ukraine as well as intelligence sharing and access to satellite imagery in a bid to force it to the negotiating table.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who will be joined in Jeddah by Trump's national security advisor Mike Waltz, said the aid suspension was 'something I hope we can resolve' in the talks.

Meanwhile it has been reported that Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff plans to meet with Putin in Moscow later this week.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this morning that people were rushing to view recent US actions on Ukraine through 'rose-tinted spectacles,' but warned Russia had to always be ready to defend its own interests.

Peskov also reportedly accused the West of waging a proxy war against Russia and saying that the amount of weapons in Ukraine was so large that even if deliveries stopped it would be many months before Kyiv would run out.
A migrant who illegally travelled to the UK from Albania has claimed his life became 'unbearable' after he started working on a cannabis farm.

Gzim made the trip to the UK via small boat in 2022 - one of more than 12,600 Albanians to make the treacherous journey that year.

The migrant, who wished to remain anonymous, told the BBC he found a smuggler on social media platform TikTok who agreed to help him make the journey to England.

He claimed his cousins paid the smuggler 3,500 for him to cross the channel via small boat, having already arrived in Dunkirk.

After being given accommodation in a hotel, the migrant said he was able to leave without notice and went to work on the cannabis farm.

'I knew the risks involved with this kind of business, but I hoped that I wouldn't be unlucky,' he said.

The farm was broken into, meaning the workers did not get paid, the migrant claimed.

Gzim then transitioned into a construction role where he was forced to accept a lower wage - not enough to fund his life and those of the loved ones he left in Albania.

Gzim made the trip to the UK via small boat in 2022 in the hopes of a better life (Stock photo)

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, from a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel (File image)

Five months after his arrival in the UK, the migrant said life became so 'unbearable' that he decided to return to Albania.

'I dreamed of other things. I hoped I would make it,' he said.

In 2024, the number of Albanian nationals that made the risky journey decreased to just 616 people - following a campaign by the Albanian and UK governments.

The UK government has since relaunched a social media campaign in a bid to warn Albanians who enter illegally of potential hardships they would face in the UK.

The Histori Nga Britania (Stories from Britain) series is funded by the Foreign Office as part of a 3.75million-a-year campaign to disrupt 'irregular Albanian migration,' The i Paper reported last month.

The campaign features shots of a grey, depressing-looking country intended to paint the UK in the worst possible light and discourage Albanian migrants.

Shutters on stores remain closed, estates look tired and in need of a lick of paint, antisocial behaviour spikes loom above open bins.

In posts on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, Albanian immigrants in the UK discuss the challenges of living here.

The Histori Nga Britania (Stories from Britain) series shows images of dreary looking estates designed to deter Albanian migrants from coming to these shores

In the videos Albanians discuss how expensive the UK is, the discrimination they have faced and how impossible it is to do anything without a visa.

A post of a bearded Albanian man on Facebook features the caption: 'Without a visa, you can't do anything. You can't get a house, you can't start any job, you can't do anything.

'Having a visa makes us live a little differently. When we suffer with a visa, imagine how much you suffer if you are here without a visa.'

The social media campaign was overseen by TAG International, a Westminster-based international development consultancy, The i Paper reported.

A Government spokesperson previously said: 'This account is not run by the UK Government and the views it promotes are from individuals from the Albanian diaspora and those who have returned to Albania.

'Tackling irregular migration and protecting Britain's borders is a priority for this government.'
Keir Starmer has been warned he must pump billions of pounds into drones and shells so Britain is ready to face down Russia.

The PM is being urged to focus on capabilities that can be delivered quickly as the government tries to finalise the strategic defence review.

The process - due to be completed this spring - has been given fresh impetus amid mounting concern about Donald Trump ripping up decades of Western alliances.

With the US withdrawing aid to Ukraine and distancing from Nato, military chiefs from a so-called 'coalition of the willing' are due to meet in Paris later.

French officials are expecting 30 countries to participate in the gathering to assemble a force that could enforce any peace deal with Russia.

Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin will attend for the UK, with Defence Secretary John Healey joining counterparts from France, Germany, Italy and Poland in Paris tomorrow.

Sir Keir has declared that the UK will ramp up defence spending from 2.3 per cent to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027 - equivalent to an extra 6billlion in real terms - acknowledging that the world must adjust to a new era of hard power.

However, there is huge pressure to go further with fears that the British military has been 'hollowed out' during years of relative peace.

Keir Starmer has been warned he must pump billions of pounds into drones and shells so Britain is ready to face down Russia

Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Saudi Arabia last night for a planned meeting with the crown prince and de facto ruler of the country Mohammed bin Salman, although for protocol reasons he is not expected to take part in the US talks directly

Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin will attend the 'coalition of the willing' meeting in Paris for the UK

Insiders are said to be pushing for rapid wins from the review process, rather than focusing on slow procurement such as ships, submarines and fighter jets.

Drones, shells and armoured vehicles are seen as capabilities that could be ramped up at speed.

'We can ramp up the production of munitions and drones quickly,' one defence industry source told The Times.

'But we need the government to put in the orders rather than just give us warm words.'

Shadow defence minister Mark Francois said 'off-the-shelf procurement' should be emphasised.

He told the newspaper: 'Given the situation in Ukraine, threats to Taiwan, and ongoing instability in the Middle East, we cannot possibly wait a decade to improve the combat readiness of our armed forces.'

Amid the frantic diplomatic activity, Sir Keir will lead a call with like-minded allies from the 'coalition of the willing' on Saturday.

The call will involve leaders who have expressed an interest in contributing to or supporting a peacekeeping mission to deter Vladimir Putin from launching a future attempt to conquer Ukraine if a deal to end the conflict is reached.

The meeting of defence ministers will also be attended by representatives from Nato and the European Union, with Ukraine's Rustem Umerov dialling in.

Foreign ministers from the G7  including David Lammy and US counterpart Marco Rubio  will meet in Canada from Wednesday to Friday.

Mr Lammy said he spoke to Mr Rubio and Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha on Monday 'about how we keep the process for peace moving forward ahead of discussions in Saudi Arabia'.

The talks involving the US and Ukraine come after Volodymyr Zelensky, Sir Keir and French president Emmanuel Macron agreed to work on peace proposals.

Not all the nations involved in the 'coalition of the willing' are expected to commit to join a peacekeeping force, although they could offer logistical help for troops in Ukraine or other forms of support.

Sir Keir has stressed the need for Mr Trump's US to provide a 'backstop' security guarantee, a commitment to intervene if a European-led peacekeeping mission comes under threat.

Government insiders have warned of a 'chicken and egg' situation where nations will not promise troops without US guarantees, but Mr Trump will not make commitments unless Europe steps up to defend itself.

Mr Zelensky arrived in Saudi Arabia last night for a planned meeting with the crown prince and de facto ruler of the country Mohammed bin Salman, although for protocol reasons he is not expected to take part in the US talks directly.

The call will involve leaders who have expressed an interest in contributing to or supporting a peacekeeping mission to deter Vladimir Putin from launching a future attempt to conquer Ukraine

Mr Zelensky has been trying to rebuild ties after his Oval Office bust-up with Mr Trump

He said afterwards that 'a significant part of the discussion was dedicated to the formats of security guarantees'.

'The Ukrainian delegation remains in Jeddah to work with the US team on Tuesday March 11, and we hope for practical outcomes. Ukraine's position in these talks will be fully constructive,' Mr Zelensky said.

Hours before talks were due to begin, Russia's defence ministry said it had shot down 337 drones that had targeted more than 10 regions, including the capital city, in what appears to be the largest Ukrainian drone attack of the war.

Moscow region governor Andrei Vorobyov said one person had been killed and three injured as a result of the attack, which also damaged seven apartment buildings in Ramensky, one of the capital's south-eastern suburbs.
This is the dramatic distress call made by the coastguard asking other ships to help after a cargo vessel and a tanker collided in the North Sea.

Humber Coastguard raised the alarm after the ship carrying cyanide smashed into a US military oil tanker, causing a 'massive fireball' off the East Yorkshire coast.

A total of 36 mariners were rescued yesterday after abandoning ships as explosions rocked their doomed vessels amid fears of an environmental disaster.

Jet fuel gushed into the North Sea from the ruptured hold of the US-flagged oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate, which was transporting American military supplies. It had been at anchor when Portuguese-registered cargo ship MV Solong crashed into it.

A senior White House official told the maritime website gCaptain.com that foul play had not been ruled out. There was speculation the Solong might have been hacked by Russia or other hostile states and turned into a 'spear'.

Fires continued to burn into this morning, after the Coastguard said an 'extensive search' for a missing crew member from the cargo ship had been called off - with aerial video this morning showing the Immaculate's blackened deck with a huge hole on its port side where she was ripped into.

Dramatic audio footage recorded on board another ship revealed the moment a distress call was made by the coastguard via radio to alert those in the area.

A male voice was heard saying in the call: 'Five three degrees, four four decimal two zero minutes north, I say again, five three degrees, four four decimal two zero minutes north, zero zero zero degrees, two three decimal seven five minutes east.

'Solong has collided with tanker Stena Immaculate in the outer anchorage. Both vessels are abandoning. Vessels who have firefighting equipment or who can assist with search and rescue, contact Humber Coastguard on channel one six.

'Vessel Stena Immaculate is carrying Jet A1 fuel, which is on fire and in the water. Request vessels remain at a safe distance. Humber Coastguard co-ordinating, date time group one zero, one zero, zero zero UTC. This is Humber Coastguard.'

MV Stena Immaculate exploded into a 'massive fireball' after being hit by MV Solong yesterday

Video footage on Tuesday morning revealed the scale of damage to the Immaculate

Dramatic audio footage revealed the moment a distress call was made by the coastguard

The hulking wreck of the Stena Immaculate can be seen off the coast of Withernsea today

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A survivor of Monday's crash said crew members had 'only seconds to react' before the Solong ploughed into the Stena Immaculate.

Speaking to CBS, the sailor said members of the crew had singed their hair because of how close the flames came to them as the scrambled to flee the doomed tanker.

The American, who did not give their name, described the crew rushing to put on protective gear to help battle the inferno before realising it was a hopeless cause.

The experienced seaman claims they were near the impact site and described how a 'massive ship came from out of the blue' before slicing into the at-anchor vessel.

The 7,852-tonne Solong did not stop immediately following the crash and drove into the Immaculate for 10 minutes, the sailor added.

Sailors from the Immaculate piled into a lifeboat to escape, with the captain being the last person to leave the ruined ship, as flames started to engulf the 600ft vessel.

The evacuation was branded 'textbook' by the maritime veteran, who said it took about 30 minutes to complete.

They added as the ship had anchored on Sunday and that their coordinates had been relayed, everyone should have known where the ship was.

Analytics firm Vortexa said 130,000 barrels of jet fuel were leaking into the water last night.

The Solong's Hamburg-based owner Ernst Russ said that one of the ship's 14 crew members was still missing while the rest were safely ashore.

The cargo vessel was carrying 15 shipping containers packed with sodium cyanide  a highly toxic and water-soluble compound  according to a report from maritime data provider Lloyd's List Intelligence.

The Solong had been sailing from the Scottish port of Grangemouth to Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

As it steamed at 16 knots  about 18mph  down England's east coast, its crew appeared not to see the enormous tanker parked ahead, ramming into it side-on.

As maritime accident investigators began work yesterday, one expert suggested 'nobody on the cargo ship was paying attention' as it neared the Stena Immaculate  which can carry 46.5million litres of oil  about 13 miles off the coast, east of Hull and the Humber estuary, where it had anchored overnight.

The Immaculate's deck this morning appeared black and charred following Monday's inferno

A Portuguese-flagged cargo ship carrying cyanide smashed into the US military oil tanker (pictured on Monday)

Jet fuel gushed into the North Sea from the ruptured hold of the MV Stena Immaculate (pictured Monday)

The 461ft Solong did 'not even slow down' as it ploughed 'full bore' into the side of the 600ft-long tanker while apparently on autopilot, said US naval history professor Sal Mercogliano.

In a YouTube video analysing the tracking data from the ships, he said: 'It appears that Solong just straight-out rammed into the side of Stena Immaculate.'

Dramatic footage showed the stricken vessels entangled as they floated around consumed by an inferno, as a massive rescue operation was launched shortly after the crash at 9.48am yesterday.

Flames leapt from oil burning on the surface of the sea as RNLI lifeboats and a Coastguard helicopter plucked sailors to safety.

Lifeboat crews from Skegness, Bridlington, Mablethorpe and Cleethorpes took part in the operation, while the Humber Coastguard issued an alert for any nearby vessels with fire-fighting capabilities to help out.

They were scrambled at 10.20am - with the crews from both of the devastated vessels having abandoned ship minutes earlier.

One rescue vessel from Cleethorpes was stood down at 11.40am, the RNLI said, while the three other boats continued with their search efforts. They were joined by a number of other civilian craft.

Rescue efforts were hampered by fog and thick smoke which billowed from the wrecks of the two ships.

The first reports of casualties having been pulled from the water came shortly after 1pm, with a number of crew members taken ashore.

By 9.30pm, Matthew Atikinson, divisional commander for HM Coastguard - which was co-ordinating the rescue - said 36 people had been rescued, with one heading to hospital.

However, in his update on Monday night he added: 'One crew member of the Solong remains unaccounted for, after an extensive search for the missing crew member sadly they have not been found and the search has ended.'

The sun rises off the coast of Withernsea this morning after yesterday's crash in the North Sea

A coastguard vehicle on the scene at the Port of Grimsby in East Yorkshire yesterday evening

A total of 36 mariners were rescued after abandoning ships as explosions rocked their vessels

This morning, efforts are continuing to fight the fire which ravaged the Stena Immaculate, with dramatic aerial footage showing the scale of the damage to the hulking vessel.

The ship has a large gash on its port side, with the metal around it twisted and charred black.

Fire suppression hoses appear to be dousing the ship with water in an attempt to cool the vessel's superstructure following Monday's inferno.

The Stena Immaculate, which had travelled from the Greek port of Agioi Theodoroi, had been chartered by the US Navy's Military Sealift Command as part of its Tanker Security Program which 'supports US military missions across the globe'.

Dr Abdul Khalique, head of the Maritime Centre at Liverpool John Moores University who has been using simulators to reconstruct the incident, said: 'It can be assumed that the watchkeepers on MV Solong were not performing their duty to 'maintain a proper lookout by all available means' as required by International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.'

There were immediate fears of an environmental catastrophe as aviation fuel spilled into the sea. Martin Slater, of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, said it could potentially be 'devastating' to the Humber estuary, with birds and seals at risk.

He told the i Paper the coast was home to 'protected and significant' seabird colonies, with many gathering offshore ahead of the nesting season.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said the disaster was close to the biggest gannet colony in England and warned a leak could be 'lethal' to seabirds.

Dave O'Hara, of the RSPB, said: 'The incident is close to Bempton Cliffs, home to the biggest gannet colony in England.'

The charity's Richard Barnard added: 'Oil directly impacts seabirds, coating their feathers and reducing their waterproofing and buoyancy, which can lead to drowning, or it can poison them through ingestion.'

Fire and rescue services attend the collision between MV Stena Immaculate and MV Solong

Dr Tom Webb, senior lecturer in Marine Ecology and Conservation at the University of Sheffield, said: 'The wildlife of the Yorkshire coast and Humber Estuary is of immense biological, cultural and economic importance.

'In addition to the wealth of marine life that is present all year round, this time of the year is crucial for many migratory species.

'Wading birds and waterfowl gather in large numbers as they move between wintering and breeding grounds, while soon Yorkshire's iconic seabirds will be coming inshore to breed.'

Hugo Tagholm, executive director of Oceana UK, said: 'This incident is a shocking reminder of the ferocious polluting power of oil.

'We are seeing burning slicks, the threat of heavy fuel oil, and toxic chemicals leaking in or near not one but two marine protected areas (MPAs). Places that should be safe havens for wildlife.'

This morning a government minister sought to reassure the public over the environmental impact of Monday's collision.

Matthew Pennycook told Times Radio on Tuesday the fire was 'still raging' and the Government was 'alive to the potential impacts on the environment'.

'The Maritime and Coastguard Agency are well equipped to contain and disperse any oil spills,' he said.

'We don't think air quality impacts are outside of normal levels, but we will keep the situation obviously under review.

'It's a fast-moving and dynamic situation, but all the necessary services are on the ground, both investigating and taking the immediate steps required.'

Dr Jonathan Paul, a senior lecturer in geosciences, said the environmental impact of the sodium cyanide spill would depend on whether the canisters had been pierced which was unclear last night, adding: 'In the very worst-case scenario, you have a big spill of sodium cyanide, resulting in the death of a lot of marine organisms.'

Melanie Onn, Labour MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, said it was still not certain if sodium cyanide was on board the cargo vessel that slammed it to the tanker, but if it was 'that would be very worrying'.

She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme a Government minister said it is 'undetermined', adding: 'Actually, they don't know what is in the cargo for Solong. And if it were to be the sodium cyanide, that would be very worrying. So we are waiting for kind of continuous updates on that.'

Black smoke billows into the air after a crash between the oil tanker and the cargo ship

Emergency measures are in place for any injured birds that wash ashore in the coming days, which may include euthanising animals if their injuries are severe.

A spokesman for the local Whitby Wildlife Sanctuary said: 'Hopefully, the effect on wildlife will be minimal, but there is an emergency contingency plan in place if lots of oiled birds wash up.'

Harj Narulla, an environmental law barrister from Doughty Street Chambers, said the costs of cleaning up an oil spill could be in the tens of millions of pounds. Typically the company found to have caused the spill foots the bill.

Martin Slater, of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, told the i Paper the coast was home to 'protected and significant' seabird colonies, with many gathering offshore ahead of the nesting season.

Dr Alex Lukyanov, researcher on advanced mathematical models of oil spills from the University of Reading, said: 'Oil spills like the one in the North Sea are affected by multiple factors.

'The size of the spill, weather conditions, sea currents, water waves, wind patterns, and the type of oil involved all play crucial roles in determining environmental outcomes.

'This particular incident is troubling because it appears to involve persistent oil, which breaks up slowly in water.'

He added: 'The environmental toll could be severe.'

US logistics group Crowley, which manages the oil tanker, said in a statement: 'Stena Immaculate was struck by the container ship Solong.

'The Stena Immaculate sustained a ruptured cargo tank. The Stena Immaculate crew abandoned the vessel following multiple explosions onboard.'

Flames leapt from oil burning on the surface of the sea as RNLI lifeboats helped the sailors

Crowley said it was unclear how much fuel may have been released, but that Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel in 16 segregated cargo tanks when it was struck.

Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East, said 13 casualties had been brought in initially by a commercial catamaran, followed by another ten on a harbour pilot boat and nine on another pilot's vessel.

A total of 36 were brought ashore during the day. Mr Boyers said there had been 'a massive fireball', adding: 'They must have sent a mayday out. There has been a flotilla of ambulances [at the dock] to pick up anyone they can find.'

Erik Hanell, chief executive of Stena Bulk, the company that owns the tanker said its crew of more than 20 were 'safe and accounted for' by lunchtime.

Ernst Russ, the company that owns the Solong, released a statement saying: '13 of the 14 Solong crew members have been brought safely shore. Efforts to locate the missing crew member are ongoing. Both vessels have sustained significant damage in the impact of the collision and the subsequent fire.'

HM Coastguard later said efforts to find the missing person from the Solong container ship had ended after 'an extensive search'.

A lifeboat returns to Bridlington RNLI station last night after taking part in rescue operations

Crowley vice president Cal Hayden said: 'As with all our operations, Crowley's priority is to protect the safety of mariners and the environment.

'We greatly appreciate the quick actions and support of the UK authorities, rescue workers and others to today's incident and remain committed to working with them on the continued response efforts.'

Michael Paterson, UK managing director of the tugboat firm Svitzer, told The Times seven of the company's vessels were at the scene yesterday.

He said the incident was 'one of the more serious that I've seen in my time'.

'We don't know how long this will last, but the phases of this are normally search and rescue and firefighting containment, and then it moves into environmental control, pollution and salvage of the vessels,' he said.

'We understand the search and rescue is now complete, but the firefighting will clearly still continue.'

HM Coastguard divisional commander Matthew Atkinson said an assessment of any required counter-pollution response was being carried out by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

The Royal National Lifeboat Antony Patrick Jones returns safely to Bridlington RNLI station

Lifeboats and a coastguard helicopter were called to the collision in the Humber Estuary just before 10am.

One RNLI crew member told The Times the fog was so thick during the initial search and rescue crews could 'not see a thing'.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch said it had 'deployed a team' to Grimsby. Elsewhere, two maritime security sources were reported as saying there was no indication of 'malicious activity'.

It is understood the US and Portugal will lead investigations into the incident and that work is ongoing to establish the full contents of both ships.

In Downing Street, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said the collision was an 'extremely concerning situation'.

Collisions remain rare in the busy North Sea.

In October 2023, two cargo ships, the Verity and the Polesie, collided near Germany's Heligoland islands in the North Sea.

Three people were killed and two others are still missing and considered dead.

In October 2015, the Flinterstar freighter, carrying 125 tonnes of diesel and 427 tonnes of fuel oil, sank after colliding with the Al Oraiq tanker eight kilometres (five miles) off the Belgian coast.
The controversial former president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has been arrested for alleged crimes against humanity during his brutal war on drugs.

Duterte, 79, was arrested at Manila's international airport on Tuesday after arriving from Hong Kong on order of the International Criminal Court.

The ICC has been investigating the mass killings that happened under the former president's bloody crackdown against illegal drugs, President Ferdinand Marcos' office said in a statement.

'Upon his arrival, the prosecutor general served the ICC notification for an arrest warrant to the former president for the crime of crime against humanity,' the government said. 'He's now in the custody of authorities.'

It is estimated that between 12,000 and 30,000 people were killed between July 2016 and March 2019 under Duterte's clampdown on drugs, with most of the victims being young men from poor, urban areas, who were shot dead in the streets or in their homes.

The surprise arrest sparked a commotion at the airport, where lawyers and aides of Duterte loudly protested that they, along with a doctor and lawyers, were prevented from coming close to him after he was taken into police custody.

Footage of the arrest shows Duterte being surrounded by a crowd of people as he was taken into police custody.

'This is a violation of his constitutional right,' Sen. Bong Go, a close Duterte ally told reporters.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested in Manila over alleged crimes against humanity

Duterte's arrest happened after he landed at Manila's international airport

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents and police arrest an alleged drug dealer during a drug raid in Maharlika Village, Taguig, south of Manila on February 28, 2018. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs has left nearly 4,000 drug suspects dead and seen human rights groups claim he was responsible for crimes against humanity

The warrant of arrest sent by the ICC to Philippine officials said 'there are reasonable grounds to believe that' the attack on victims 'was both widespread and systematic: the attack took place over a period of several years and thousands [of] people appear to have been killed.'

Duterte's arrest was necessary 'to ensure his appearance before the court,' according to the March 7 warrant, adding that the former president was expected to ignore a court summons.

It said that although Duterte was no longer president, he 'appears to continue to wield considerable power.'

'Mindful of the resultant risk of interference with the investigations and the security of witnesses and victims, the chamber is satisfied that the arrest of Mr. Duterte is necessary.'

There was no immediate comment on Duterte's arrest from the court or the ICC prosecutor's office.

Duterte's arrest and downfall stunned and drove families of the victims of his bloody crackdowns against illegal drugs to tears.

'This is a big, long-awaited day for justice,' Randy delos Santos, the uncle of a teenager killed by police during an anti-drug operation in August 2017 in the Manila metropolis, told The Associated Press.

'Now we feel that justice is rolling. We hope that top police officials and the hundreds of police officers who were involved in the illegal killings should also be placed in custody and punished,' delos Santos said.

Footage Duterte's arrest shows the former leader being surrounded by a crowd of people as he is is taken into police custody

The surprise arrest sparked a commotion at the airport, where lawyers and aides of Duterte loudly protested

Philippine police are deployed at an airport lobby on the day of arrival of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte at Manila International Airport in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines, 11 March 2025

Supporters of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte hold a protest outside the Villamor Airbase Air Force camp where Duterte was arrested

Three of the police officers who killed his nephew, Kian delos Santos, were convicted in 2018 for the high-profile murder, which prompted Duterte at the time to temporarily suspend his brutal anti-drugs crackdown.

The conviction was one of at least three, so far, against law enforcers involved in the anti-drugs campaign, reflecting the concerns of families of victims of suspected extrajudicial killings that they would not get justice in the Philippines, hence, their decision to seek the help of the ICC.

It was not immediately clear where Duterte was taken by the police and when he would be flown to Europe to be handed to ICC custody. The government said the 79-year-old former leader was in good health.

The ICC began investigating drug killings under Duterte from Nov. 1, 2011, when he was still mayor of the southern city of Davao, to March 16, 2019, as possible crimes against humanity.

In October, the former leadetold a Senate inquiry that he had maintained a 'death squad' of seven gangsters to kill other criminals when he was mayor of Davao, a southern Philippine city.

'I can make the confession now if you want,' Duterte said. 'I had a death squad of seven, but they were not policemen, they were also gangsters.

'I'll ask a gangster to kill somebody,' Duterte said. 'If you will not kill (that person), I will kill you now.'

When asked by senators Aquilino Pimentel III, who was overseeing the inquiry, and Risa Hontiveros, for further details of the death squad, he said he would give more information at the next hearing.

Riot police stand guard at the gate of a military airbase where former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested

Relatives of victims of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs cry during a mass for victims at a church in Manila

A photo released by Duterte's political party said he was being held at the Villamor Air Base next to Manila airport.Picture shows police gathered outside the Air Base where supporters of Duterte protested his arrest

Supporters of former Philippines' president Rodrigo Duterte shout slogans as they gather outside the Villamor Air Base

A supporter of former Philippines' president Rodrigo Duterte films himself while holding a Duterte figure during a protest outside the Villamor Air Base

Often cursing during the inquiry, Duterte said he would take full responsibility for the killings that happened while he was president from 2016 to 2022.

But he said he never ordered his national police chiefs, who also attended the inquiry, to undertake extrajudicial killings.

Duterte withdrew the Philippines in 2019 from the Rome Statute in a move human rights activists say was aimed at escaping accountability.

The Duterte administration moved to suspend the global court's investigation in late 2021 by arguing that Philippine authorities were already looking into the same allegations, arguing the ICC - a court of last resort - didn't have jurisdiction.

Appeals judges at the ICC ruled in 2023 the investigation could resume and rejected the Duterte administration's objections.

Based in The Hague, the Netherlands, the ICC can step in when countries are unwilling or unable to prosecute suspects in the most heinous international crimes, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The ICC began investigating drug killings under Duterte from Nov. 1, 2011, when he was still mayor of the southern city of Davao

Police and media standby for the arrival of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte from Hong Kong

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who succeeded Duterte in 2022 and became entangled in a bitter political dispute with the former president, has decided not to rejoin the global court.

But the Marcos administration has said it would cooperate if the ICC asks international police to take Duterte into custody through a so-called Red Notice, a request for law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and temporarily arrest a crime suspect.
Ukrainian soldiers clinging to dwindling territory in Russia's Kursk region are being cut off from supply lines as Vladimir Putin's troops attempt to encircle them.

Ukraine's Armed Forces launched a lightning offensive into the Russian border region last August, seizing a chunk of land that Volodymyr Zelensky hoped to use as leverage in ceasefire negotiations.

But the incursion force has sustained significant losses with Russian troops taking back several settlements around the town of Sudzha just days after the US stopped sharing intelligence with Kyiv.

Now, Zelensky's troops still control land east of Sudzha toward Ivashkovsk, but Moscow's forces are advancing from the north and south in a pincer movement that threatens to trap them.

The Kremlin is already hailing the battlefield gains as a major victory, with the Defence Ministry claiming its troops had 'liberated 12 settlements during the offensive... and more than 100 square kilometres of the Kursk region'.

Russia's Chief of General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, personally visited Kursk yesterday and doled out medals to a string of frontline soldiers.

Meanwhile, Kyiv battered targets across Western Russia with a massive drone assault overnight into this morning.

Some 337 drones were downed across the country, officials said, 91 of which were headed for Moscow. At least two people in the Russian capital were killed with another nine wounded, according to regional governor Andrei Vorobyov.

The attack came as Ukrainian officials prepared to present a partial ceasefire plan to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - the latest step in ongoing peace talks.

Today's meeting follows Zelensky's disastrous visit to the White House last month, where a bitter spat with Trump and Vice President JD Vance prompted Washington to suspend military aid and halt intelligence-sharing with Kyiv.

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Russian forces published videos of their soldiers raising Russian flags above damaged buildings in Kursk

The wreckage of a Ukrainian armoured vehicle is seen in this image released by Russian forces in Kursk

A firefighter looks on at a burning vehicle following Ukraine's overnight drone attack on Moscow

An apartment in Moscow is set ablaze following a Ukrainian drone strike

Chief of the General Staff of Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov awards a service member as he inspects troops involved in Russia-Ukraine conflict in Kursk, Russia

Zelensky left the White House last month without signing an agreement demanded by Trump that would give the US access to much of Ukraine's mineral wealth.

US officials argue that increasing America's economic interest in Ukraine would serve as a deterrent against future Russian aggression, though Zelensky has thus far declined to sign it, arguing he needs concrete security guarantees.

The Ukrainian President was in Jeddah on Monday to meet Saudi rulers but chose to leave the peace talks with the US to three of his top aides, chief among which is his trusted adviser Andriy Yermak.

In a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ahead of the US-Ukraine talks, Zelensky's office said he discussed conditions for any permanent peace deal, including the release of prisoners and the return of children Kyiv accuses Moscow of abducting.

The two leaders 'discussed the possible mediation of Saudi Arabia in the release of... prisoners and the return of deported children', the Ukrainian statement said.

They also 'exchanged views on the formats of security guarantees and what they should be for Ukraine so that war does not return again', it added.

Today, it is up to Zelensky's trusted diplomats to present Washington with a partial peace plan.

Ukraine is expected to propose a ceasefire covering the Black Sea and long-range missile strikes, as well as the release of prisoners, according to two senior Ukrainian officials.

The officials also said Kyiv is now ready to sign Trump's coveted minerals deal - though it is not clear whether any security guarantees have been added.

Destroyed buildings and cars litter a dirt road in Russia's Kursk region

A Russian self-propelled multiple rocket launcher is fired toward Ukrainian position at an undisclosed location in the Kursk region

Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (C) welcomes Ukrainian delegation during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's (L) visit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Monday on March 11, 2025

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, right, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio pose for photos as they meet at the Royal Palace in Jeddah

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with the governor of Perm territory Dmitry Makhonin during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, March 10, 2025

'We do have a proposal for a ceasefire in the sky and ceasefire at sea,' a Ukrainian official told AFP on Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

'These are the ceasefire options that are easy to install and to monitor, and it's possible to start with them.'

US Secretary of State Rubio, who was joined in Jeddah by Trump's national security advisor Mike Waltz, signalled that the Trump administration would likely be pleased by such a proposal.

'I'm not saying that alone is enough, but it's the kind of concession you would need to see in order to end the conflict,' he told reporters.

'You're not going to get a ceasefire and an end to this war unless both sides make concessions.

'The Russians can't conquer all of Ukraine and obviously it will be very difficult for Ukraine in any reasonable time period to force the Russians all the way back to where they were back in 2014,' Rubio added, referring to when Russia seized the Crimea peninsula and backed a separatist offensive in eastern Ukraine.

On his plane to Jeddah, Rubio said the US delegation would not be proposing any specific measures to secure an end to the three-year conflict but rather wanted to hear from Ukraine about what they would be willing to consider.

'I'm not going to set any conditions on what they have to or need to do,' Rubio told reporters accompanying him.

'I think we want to listen to see how far they're willing to go and then compare that to what the Russians want and see how far apart we truly are.'

Rubio said Trump's coveted minerals deal could be signed during the meeting but stressed it was not a precondition for the US to move ahead with discussions with either Ukraine or the Russians.

US President Donald Trump (R) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office at the White House on February 28, 2025 in Washington, DC

A view of the damaged Lgov town after the Ukrainian army launched attacks in Kursk Oblast

Aftermath of the Russian drone assault on Dobropillia, Donetsk region, which killed over 10 people

While Rubio meets Ukrainian delegates in Saudi Arabia today, President Trump's special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff is preparing to visit Moscow this week to meet President Putin.

Peskov said the Kremlin would provide timely information on any contacts with Witkoff and expected that the envoy would update the Kremlin on the progress in peace talks between Ukrainian and US delegates in Jeddah.

Meanwhile, European defence chiefs are gathering in France to draw up plans for a 'coalition of the willing' to safeguard Ukraine's long-term security following an eventual ceasefire.

French officials indicated that representatives from around 30 countries could take part.

Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin will attend for the UK before Defence Secretary John Healey meets opposite numbers from France, Germany, Italy and Poland in the French capital on Wednesday.

Following that, Prime Minister Keir Starmer will lead a call with like-minded allies who have expressed an interest in contributing to or supporting a peacekeeping mission on Saturday.

Not all the nations involved in the 'coalition of the willing' are expected to commit to join a peacekeeping force, although they could offer logistical help for troops in Ukraine or other forms of support.

Sir Keir has stressed the need for the US to provide a 'backstop' security guarantee, a commitment to intervene if a European-led peacekeeping mission comes under threat.

But government insiders have warned of a 'chicken and egg' situation where nations will not promise troops without US guarantees, but Trump will not make commitments unless Europe steps up to defend itself.
Fears Donald Trump could hit a 'kill switch' that could disable Europe's fleet of F-35 stealth jets have today been branded 'disinformation b****cks' by a British spymaster.

Germany is set to become the latest country to receive the American-made fighter jet, the most advanced in the world, having ordered 35 of the warplanes as part of a 8.3 billion (6.9 billion).

Britain has already agreed to buy 48 of the hi-tech warplanes by the end of 2025 as part of a 9.1billion deal. So far, 36 jets have been delivered, which can fly off the Royal Navy's two 3.2billion Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.

But defence officials in Berlin have expressed concerns that the White House has the power to shut off the state-of-the-art jets remotely, which could render them useless - a claim that has long been speculated.

However, over the weekend Joachim Schranzhofer the head of communications at Hensoldt, the German arms company, told Germany's Bild newspaper the 'kill switch in the F-35 is more than just a rumour'.

The comments come as part of a growing rift between Europe and America over funds to support Ukraine, and followed reports that US-supplied F-16s had stopped working in Ukraine after key support for its radar system was axed by the States.

However, Colonel Philip Ingram, a former officer in British military intelligence, has slammed down rumours the F-35 could be vulnerable to American meddling.

Speaking to MailOnline, Col Ingram said: 'It's b****cks. The US can't remotely disabled F-35 jets. There's no "switch" they can flip to stop it midflight or on the tarmac.'

Concerns over a 'kill switch' on the F-35 were raised in Germany over the weekend

Concerns have been raised that Donald Trump's administration could flip the alleged 'switch'

He continued: 'It's in lots of people's interest across Europe to scaremonger about US weapon supplies and the potential to turn off US weapons.

'It suits a lot of defence companies to create rumours that the US systems are completely unreliable and they can switch things off and not let you use it. All that does is politically get other people looking at non-US suppliers.

'We shouldn't be heeding these claims in the slightest. It's disinformation.'

The F-35s are already operated by the US, UK, Italy, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands - with Germany, Belgium, Finland, Switzerland and Poland also having selected the stealth jet as the backbones for their future air forces.

Capable of reaching blistering speeds of 1,200mph, the supersonic stealth jet are able to can slip past even the most sophisticated air defence systems undetected. They also have the ability to land vertically, similar to the old Harrier jump jets.

The day-to-day running of the space-aged aircraft is heavily reliant on US systems, from software updates to spare parts.

Col Ingram said this means America does have the ability to cause a 'logistical headache' by switching off systems that monitor the health of the jets and alert technicians to potential faults.

But asked if Trump's administration would ever consider cutting European partners off from the F-35's US tech support, Col Ingram said: 'It would be economic suicide for Donald Trump to do this.'

Britain has already agreed to buy 48 of the hi-tech warplanes by the end of 2025 as part of a 9.1billion deal. So far, 36 jets have been delivered (file image)

The F-35 is the most advanced plane on earth. It is akin to a 'flying computer' with more than 'eight million lines of code' that relies on 'integrated logistics systems'.

Key to this is the Autonomic Logistics Information System (Alis) and its successor, the Operational Data Integrated Network (Odin).

Colonel Philip Ingram, a former officer in British military intelligence, said it would be 'economic suicide' for the US to cut off allies from the F-35's sophisticated systems

An intelligence source told the i newspaper: 'This is a networked system, meaning F-35 operators including foreign militaries connect to a US-managed infrastructure to access this data.

'Critics pointed to this centralisation as a potential vulnerability  could the US turn off Alis and cripple the fleet? In reality, Alis doesnt control the jets ability to fly, its a support tool.

'If Alis were unavailable, operators could still fly the plane, though maintenance would become a logistical nightmare without the automated diagnostics.'

Col Ingram added if such a system was removed, it would not hinder the F-35s ability to fly.

'It would be a logistical headache but nothing more,' he added. It would take away automated maintenance updates. It would be like the cars computer not saying a lightbulb had failed and not sending that automatically to the garage to alert technicians.

'Someone could manually look at it in the old fashioned way. Its just scaremongering.'

However, Justin Bronk, a senior researcher at defence think-tank Rusi said European partners could struggle if American decided to shut off key digital systems.

Britain's two new aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales were built specifically to operate the F-35s

'Most European militaries depend heavily on the US for communications support, for electronic warfare support, and for ammunition resupply in any serious conflict,' he told the Financial Times.

In Germany, the F-35s were specifically bought to carry US-made nuclear weapons, meaning the jets were '100 per cent dependent on [the] US'.

In a post on X, Mr Bronk admitted there was a 'real dependency' on the US for the running of the stealth jets  but hinted that Nato might have bigger fish to fry.

'If all your targeting capacity; "beyond line of sight" communications; penetrating or orbital intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and the munitions you assume youd fight with in a war are US-provided, then dependency on the US for[parts of the] F-35 isnt your main problem,' he said.

British defence sources insisted the claims coming from Germany had been 'sprinkled with Trump sensationalism'.

In a statement to MailOnline, the RAF also appeared to shrug off the comments

'The UK maintains the freedom of action to operate the F-35 Lightning at a time and place of our choosing,' a spokeswoman said.

The 'kill switch' claims have also been rejected by other defence sources in Europe, with the Swiss department of defence denying the claims.

While General Frederik Vansina, the Belgian chief of defence and a former fast-jet pilot, told Belgian national newspaper La Derniere Heure: 'We have no indication that this is possible. The F-35 is not a remote-controlled aircraft.'

Pictured is an F-35 on the deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth while the ship was in Portsmouth

On the idea the US could block access to spare parts, he added the F-35 relies on a global logistical system where parts are made by and circulate between the countries that use F-35.

'[So] if the Americans blocked parts for one country, that country could do the same for US F-35s. Everyone stands together  its partnership.'

Lockheed Martin, the defence firm behind the development of the F-35.

John Neilson, director of international communications at the defence giant, told MailOnline: 'Lockheed Martin is committed to helping its customers strengthen their airpower and security with the F-35.

'As part of our government contracts, we deliver all system infrastructure and data required for all F-35 customers to sustain the aircraft.

'Foreign military sales are government-to-government transactions, so anything further is best addressed by the U.S. or respective customer governments.'
A man who brutally assaulted and kicked a female airport worker after she refused to let him fly has learned his fate.

The Indian national, 43, appeared in Perth Magistrates Court last week, where he pleaded guilty to one count of common assault.

The man became aggressive while waiting to check in for a flight to Bali at Perth Airport on February 25, according to Australian Federal Police.

After being refused permission to travel by the airport worker due to his behaviour, the man started to walk away but then doubled back to jump over the check-in counter.

He slapped the woman across the face, grabbed her by the throat and pulled her to the ground and kicked her.

The man was detained by two members of the public until AFP officers patrolling the airport arrived and arrested him.

The airport worker received medical attention for injuries sustained in the attack.

The man was charged and appeared in court the next day, where the matter was adjourned until last week.

An Indian national who attacked a female airport worker at Perth Airport has learned his fate

The man (pictured being arrested) brutally assaulted and kicked the airport worker after she refused to let him fly

He has since been convicted of common assault and ordered to pay $7500 in compensation to the victim.

The magistrate also imposed a jail term of seven months until the amount is paid.

AFP Acting Superintendent Aviation Shona Davis said the AFP does not tolerate any violence towards airport workers.

'No one should go to work and be subjected to violence or aggression,' she said.

'The AFP is committed to working closely with all our partners in the airline industry to intervene if anyone's behaviour interferes with the safety of staff, visitors and passengers in or around the airport.

'The AFP will not hesitate to prosecute those who break the law and poor behaviour will not be tolerated at airports.'

Perth Airport declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia.
Germany's new government is planning to turn away asylum seekers from its borders en masse regardless of agreement from its neighbours, a member of the incoming coalition has claimed.

Jens Spahn, a Christian Democratic Union (CDU) politician and former minister under Angela Merkel, revealed the new policy direction following talks with the Social Democrats (SPD) over the weekend.

Mr Spahn told the Table.Briefings podcast that Germany's neighbours would be informed and possibly coordinated with - apparently contradicting claims made on Saturday that Germany would only turn back asylum seekers in conjunction with its partners.

'We are not making ourselves dependent on the consent of the other countries,' deputy leader of Germany's conservative CDU/CSU parliamentary group said on Sunday.

He noted that the existing agreement on migration 'doesn't say agree but in coordination', and that 'we see all the legal bases there to enforce it either way'.

But critics have already suggested it would be a breach of EU migration law and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) if adopted. Mr Spahn has previously suggested Germany could leave the ECHR to overcome legal obstacles.

The announcement comes after Austria, to the south, rejected Germany's idea of turning back asylum seekers at the border, insisting it would not accept them either.

The harder line on migration comes in the wake of a spate of terror attacks across Germany in recent months and a shift to the right among voters, with burgeoning support for the far-right Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) party pressing centrist parties to change course.

German police officers stand guard at a border with France, as all German land borders are subject to random controls to protect internal security and reduce irregular migration, in Kehl, Germany, September 16, 2024

Friedrich Merz (L), chancellor designate and leader of the Christian Democrats (CDU), and Lars Klingbeil, co-leader of the German Social Democrats (SPD), in Berlin on March 8, 2025

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Germany's conservatives under future chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Saturday that his CDU party had come to an agreement in principle with the centre-left SPD to form a coalition government.

He said both sides had agreed on tough new steps to limit irregular immigration, including refusing all undocumented migrants at the borders, including asylum seekers. Merz has stressed the need to win back votes from from the AfD, which secured more than 20 per cent of votes in the election.

Spahn said the SPD has been cooperative on the issue: 'We have a common interest in limiting migration.'

The rejection of asylum seekers at the borders was at the centre of the CDU's campaign in an effort to hold on to voters unsettled by recent attacks on German soil.

Merz has repeatedly pledged not to work with the far-right anti-immigrant AfD party despite their second-place finish, upholding a longstanding 'firewall' not to work with the party.

Outgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz last month extended strict border controls brought in to tackle migration and Islamist terrorism, ahead of the February 23 election.

But the tightening of borders has not been without backlash. The move, which saw 640 people turned back and 17 extremists identified by police in just the first five days, was met with condemnation from several European partners.

Scholz at the time cited figures showing asylum applications had fallen by a third last year from 2023 and that 1,900 people smugglers had been arrested.

German Federal Police check a car on the A1/A30 motorway at the border with Germany, in De Lutte on September 16, 2024

AfD national chairwoman Alice Weidel speaks at her party's national convention in Riesa, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025

Anti-immigration sentiment was then stirred online by misinformation surrounding an attack on March 3, when a car drove into a crowd in the Western city of Mannheim, leaving two dead and at least 25 injured.

Police said they had arrested a man, the driver of a black Ford Fiesta, after what they said was a deliberate attack. They said he was a 40-year-old German man from the south-western state of Rhineland-Palatinate.

Investigators later said there were 'concrete indications' he had mental health issues, and ruled out a politically motivated attack.

Police warned against 'numerous fake news' emerging around the attack as 'far-right accounts' spread misinformation about the identity of the attacker.

Mannheim was blighted by a mass stabbing last year when a man ambushed and attacked several people at a rally hosted by the anti-Islam Citizen's Movement Pax Europe group.

The defendant, identified by prosecutors as Sulaiman A., is accused of stabbing and seriously injuring six people, including a 29-year-old policeman who died of his injuries.

At least 39 people, including a two-year-old child, were also injured in Munich last month when a man drove a car into a crowd of 1,000 strikers.

The driver was a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker, police said. Scholz responded by saying he 'must be punished and he must leave the country'.

According to the German Press Agency, the suspect came to Germany in 2016 as a minor and had his request for asylum turned down the following year. He was supposed to have been deported in 2020, dpa reported.

According to Spiegel, he was said to have 'posted suspected Islamist posts' before the crime.

Jens Spahn (L) and Saxony's State Premier Michael Kretschmer stand on a balcony of the CDU at the Jakob Kaiser Haus parliamentary building in Berlin, on March 6, 2025

Participants in a protest under the slogan 'Human chain against the AfD and its anti-human policies' demonstrate in the city center, in Hamburg, Jan. 31, 2025, the day after with the support of the AfD, the Bundestag approved a CDU/CSU motion to reject asylum seekers at Germany's borders

Amid a shift in European policy towards migration, the EU is expected today to open the way for member states to set up migrant return centres outside the bloc following pressure from governments to facilitate deportations.

The European Commission is to unveil a controversial planned reform of the EU's return system, which critics say is inadequate in its present form.

Data shows that less than 20 percent of irregular migrants who are ordered to leave Europe currently do so.

'We want to put in place a truly European system for returns, preventing absconding, and facilitating the return of third-country nationals with no right to stay,' commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said Sunday.

A souring of public opinion on migration has fuelled hard-right electoral gains in several EU countries, upping pressure on governments to harden their stance.

Led by immigration hawks including Sweden, Italy, Denmark and the Netherlands, EU leaders called in October for urgent new legislation to increase and speed up returns and for the commission to assess 'innovative' ways to counter irregular migration.

Most controversial among them is the creation of 'return hubs' outside the European Union where failed asylum seekers could be sent pending transfer back home.

This is not possible at present as under EU rules migrants can be transferred only to their country of origin or a country they transited from, unless they agree otherwise.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz of The Social Democratic party SPD speaks during his election campaign rally in Wiesbaden, Germany, January 25, 2025

A person holds a placard depicting Alice Weidel, co-leader of the Alternative for Germany party (AfD), and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, during a demonstration called for by 'Koeln stellt sich quer' (Cologne is standing up) against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Cologne, Germany, January 25, 2025

Magnus Brunner, the commissioner for migration, is expected to propose to the European Parliament in Strasbourg legal changes allowing EU countries to strike deals with other nations to set up such centres, according to people familiar with the matter.

An expansion of the conditions under which irregular migrants can be detained is also likely to be featured in the proposal, which will need backing from parliament and member states to become law.

Fraught with legal and ethical concerns, some experts say return hubs are an expensive and impractical idea that is unlikely to see large-scale uptake any time soon in spite of the commission's proposal.

For Jacob Kirkegaard of Bruegel, a think tank, the amendments reflect a 'path of least resistance' chosen by von der Leyen when dealing with divisive issues that are no longer a priority given the fraught international environment.

Brussels is currently busy dealing with US tariff threats, an aggressive Russia and the prospect of a collapse in transatlantic relations.

'This is simply about political bandwidth,' Kirkegaard said. 'She's going to get out of the way' and let member states do what they want, he said of von der Leyen.

The changes are likely to upset rights groups, some of which have already voiced concerns.

'This new proposal will be harmful and confirms the EU's obsession with deportations,' said Silvia Carta of the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM).

'We can likely expect more people being locked up in immigration detention centres across Europe, families separated, and people sent to countries they don't even know,' she said.

Emergency services and police stand at Paradeplatz in Mannheim, Germany, after a serious incident on March 3, 2025

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Britain recently abandoned a similar scheme to deport illegal migrants to Rwanda, and Italian-run facilities to process migrants in Albania, coming with an estimated cost of 160 million euros ($175 million) a year, are bogged down in the courts.

Return hubs will conceivably face a similar slew of legal challenges if they are set up, said Olivia Sundberg Diez of Amnesty International.

'We can expect drawn-out litigation, probably costly centres sitting empty and lives in limbo in the meantime,' she said.

Yet proponents say there are few viable alternatives.

'If we are not going to do the return hubs, what will we do instead is my question? We have tried other systems for many years, it doesn't work,' Johan Forssell, Sweden's migration minister, told AFP.

Irregular border crossings detected into the European Union were down 38 percent to 239,000 last year after an almost 10-year peak in 2023, according to EU border agency Frontex.
It began life 247 years ago and become one of Britain's most-loved department store chains - before closing its final stores for good in 2021 amid slumping sales.

But four years after the company collapsed amid the fallout of the pandemic, new owner Boohoo has declared today that 'Debenhams is back'.

Boohoo's parent company has rebranded as Debenhams Group as it claimed to have turned around the department store brand it bought out of administration.

The firm said it has successfully completed an overhaul of Debenhams since it took over the brand and that it is now a 'majority contributor to group profitability'.

Boohoo will now roll out the operating model at Debenhams across the wider firm, using the overhaul as a 'blueprint for the wider turnaround of the group'.

It added: 'Reflective of this major strategic change, the group will go forward as Debenhams group with immediate effect.' The Boohoo brand will continue, as will other fashion brands owned by the group, such as Karen Millen and PrettyLittleThing.

Boohoo confirmed to MailOnline today that it has no plans to reopen physical stores, although they will be running pop-ups  including a Debenhams 'day spa' at the Cheltenham Festival this week and a beauty shop on Great Pulteney Street in Soho.

Debenhams sells more than 3,500 brands including Oasis, Warehouse, Karen Millen, Burton, Dorothy Perkins and Wallis - all bought by Boohoo between 2019 and 2021.

Boohoo shareholders will need to formally approve the wider listed company's name change, with a meeting scheduled for them to vote on the change on March 28.

The former Debenhams department store in Southampton is one of many outlets now closed

The former Oxford Street branch of Debenhams in London was closed for good in 2020

Group chief executive Dan Finley - who was promoted to the top job in November 2024, having previously led the Debenhams brand - said: 'Debenhams is back.

'The iconic British heritage brand, bought out of administration, has been successfully turned around. Rebuilt for the future and transformed into Britain's leading online department store.'

He added: 'We go forward as Debenhams Group. This is a defining moment in our journey, reflective of our new strategy, new leadership and new beginnings.'

But he admitted he had 'inherited significant challenges' since taking the helm, with Boohoo having struggled amid sliding sales and a high-profile spat with major shareholder Mike Ashley's Frasers Group, which had attempted a boardroom coup.

'The turnaround of our youth brands is under way and will take time,' said Mr Finley. 'I can see their future potential as they evolve into fashion-led marketplaces and adopt a leaner operating model.'

Members of the public walk past a closed Debenhams store in Nottingham city centre

People walk past the Debenhams store in Newcastle, one of the last to close down in May 2021

Boohoo trading update for the full year to February 2025 m FY 25 H2 25 H1 25 FY 24 GROUP GMV PRE-RETURNS 2,321.8 1,141.1 1,180.6 2,581.4 Debenhams 654 384 270 488.7 Karen Millen 157.1 79.2 78 161.9 Youth Brands 1,510.60 678 832.6 1,930.8 GROUP GMV POST RETURNS 1,639.0 838.3 800.7 1,784.7 REVENUE - GROUP 1,220.3 600.5 619.8 1,461.1 Debenhams 204.6 123.3 81.2 186 Karen Millen 68.4 36.4 32 70.1 Youth Brands 947.3 440.8 506.6 1,204.9 Net debt 82.7 - 143.1 95

Debenhams, which employed more than 20,000 people before the pandemic, had been suffering poor sales for years as shoppers moved away from traditional department store models.

But the enforced closure of sites during the pandemic was the final straw, resulting in the company falling into administration within weeks of the virus fully hitting the UK.

Debenhams then started its liquidation process at the start of 2021 after failing to secure a rescue sale.

In January 2021, Boohoo acquired the name and website operations of Debenhams from its administrators for 55million  but did not take on any of the firm's workforce or High Street stores, which Debenhams confirmed would close for good.

The Debenhams store in Basingstoke, Hampshire, was also one of the last to close in 2021

Closing down sale posters appeared on Debenhams stores in their final weeks in 2021

Debenhams reopened sites in April 2021 after the reopening of essential retail in order to clear stock across its stores, before the final stores closed on May 15 that year.

Today, in a full-year trading update issued by Boohoo, the group said sales at the firm fell to 1.2billion in the 12 months to February, down from 1.5billion the previous year despite a strong performance at Debenhams.

Revenues at Debenhams jumped to 204.6million from 186million the previous year.

Boohoo said an ongoing review had confirmed that Debenhams is at the epicentre going forward, adding that it sees a clear path to Debenhams becoming in the medium term a business with a multi-billion pound gross merchandise value and a core earnings margin on net sales of about 20 per cent.

Shares of the retailer dropped 6 per cent before recovering to stand 1 per cent higher on the day by 8.30am today.

A Debenhams 'day spa' pop up has been installed for the Cheltenham Festival this week

A Debenhams pop up at the Cheltenham Festival. There are no plans to open physical stores

Wayne Brown at Panmure Liberum said: 'The Debenhams marketplace is the growth driver, the biggest contributor to group profits and the engine behind the strategy to turn the fashion brands around.'

Boohoo group chief executive Dan Finley

However, RBC Capital Markets analysts warned that prolonged issues may require greater investment to regain customers, risking further disappointment in sales and profitability, especially outside the UK.

Boohoo's total value of goods sold before deducting customer returns or refunds for the year to February 2025 was down 10 per cent and it said it expected to report adjusted core earnings for 2025 of around 40million.

Once boosted by the pandemic's online shopping surge, the company is now grappling with supply chain issues, rising returns, weak consumer demand and tough competition from Shein and Temu.

In recent months it has closed its US distribution centre, raised equity, sold its London office and cut 50million in annual headcount costs, and is continuously reviewing expenses.

Boohoo's parent company has now rebranded as Debenhams Group, it was announced today

Last October, Boohoo announced the departure of then-chief executive John Lyttle, and appointed Dan Finley to replace him, and also unveiled a strategic review.

Since then, the company has been embroiled in a board tussle with Frasers Group.

Frasers Group, owned by British retail tycoon Mike Ashley, attempted in January to remove Boohoo's co-founder Mahmud Kamani from the board, but shareholders voted against the move.

The two businessmen, Ashley and Kamani, have been rivals in the past, notably when Frasers failed to rescue Debenhams, in which Mr Ashley previously held a stake.

Mr Ellis, the current finance director of Debenhams and managing director of DebenhamsPay+, will become group CFO and a member of the board, replacing Stephen Morana with immediate effect, Booohoo said.
New York, US (PANA) - As the new session of the Commission on the Status of Women opens, meeting at UN Headquarters in New York from 10 to 21 March, senior United Nations officials on Monday lamented the slow progress in closing gender gaps
Mobile phone thefts have tripled in the last four years, new data shows, as criminal gang members riding e-bikes help fuel a booming export trade to countries including China and Nigeria.

More than 70,000 phones were snatched in the streets of London alone in 2024, out of an estimated 100,000 thefts across the UK.

Some 70,137 devices were stolen amid a scourge of criminal gangs using e-bikes and scooters to tot up high numbers of phones to sell abroad for parts.

It is thought phone snatching could cost consumers up to 70 million each year.

The data, from an FOI request to the Met Police, is thought to be a significant underestimate of the true scale of the problem, as it only includes thefts reported to the force.

Shockingly some 40 percent of all London phone snatches take place in Westminster and the West End.

Victims of the crime come from all walks of life, with celebrities including Lady Victoria Hervey and Kym Marsh revealing their handsets have previously been taken.

Lady Victoria Hervey told how her phone was taken in Pimlico after she left a London Fashion Week event.

More than 70,000 phones were snatched in the streets of London alone in 2024, out of an estimated 100,000 thefts across the UK

Thieves have been tracked racing across the capital, although 40 percent of thefts take place in just one borough

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She said a man on an e-bike riding past snatched the device out of her hands, adding: 'It was such a shock.'

And just yesterday Kym Marsh told Morning Live how she had her phone stolen two weeks ago on Buckingham Palace Road.

She said: 'It is quite a scary thing to happen to you, you're walking down a road and then all of a sudden something's taken out of your hand.

'And that was about a fortnight ago that was taken from me. But thankfully I was okay.

'I felt really vulnerable, I was really shaken. I immediately wanted to get help but, of course, it's not so easy when you don't have your phone.'

She went on to share her devastation at losing messages sent to her by her father before her death, adding she will 'never get [them] back'.

The Met has taken efforts to ramp up its response to the phone snatching gangs, and have increased plain-clothed officer patrols in the hardest hit areas.

Last month, the force arrested 230 people and seized 1,000 devices in a week-long blitz.

Some 70,137 devices were stolen in London last year amid a scourge of criminal gangs using e-bikes and scooters to tot up high numbers of phones to sell abroad for parts

E-bikes and mopeds are often snapped mounting the pavement before riders snatch phones out of pedestrians' hands

Lady Victoria Hervey previously told how she had her phone snatched after leaving a London Fashion Week event

Kym Marsh told yesterday how her phone was stolen from her hand a fortnight ago

Another unsuspecting victim fell prey to a pair of crooks riding e-bikes on Sunday night as he was walking down Piccadilly in West London.

The two men, dressed all in black, swooped as the man was walking past a bus stop with one barely slowing down as he snatched it from the owner's hand.

Government is also looking at the issue, with the Crime and Policing Bill including measures that will allow officers to conduct a property search immediately, rather than having to wait for a search warrant in suspected phone thefts.

The officers will still need the approval of a senior to conduct a search.

It comes after victims have reported handing location data to police officers of their stolen devices, only for no action to be taken.

Recently the force snared one criminal gang who they say handled more than 5,000 stolen phones.

Over an 18-month period, Zakaria Senadjki, 31, Ahmed Abdelhakim Belhanafi, 25, Nazih Cheraitia, 34, and Riyadh Mamouni, 25, were at the centre of the terrifying trend of gadget grabbing sweeping the capital.

Their crimes totalled a whopping 5.1million, an investigation by the Met Police found - with many of the devices believed to have been sold abroad.

The four men were all jailed in November to a combined total of 18 years behind bars.

Zakaria Senadjki, 31 (left) and Zakaria Senadjki, 31 (right) were jailed for their part in a criminal gang that handled more than 5,000 stolen phones in November

Ahmed Abdelhakim Belhanafi, 25, (right) and Nazih Cheraitia, 34, (left) were also jailed last year for their part in a phone snatching criminal group

Anna McEntee, of Comparethemarket.com, the comparison website that conducted the research, said: 'Londoners and those visiting the capital will be concerned by the substantial rise in phone thefts last year. Criminals are becoming increasingly brazen in the city, often using mopeds or e-bikes to make a quick getaway.

'Given the increase in thefts, it's worth checking if your phone is covered by your existing home insurance policy. If not, you may want to buy separate phone insurance or add personal possessions cover to your policy when you come to renew,' she said.

The National Police Chiefs' Council recommends that people secure their phone using its security features to stop someone from using it if stolen. Owners can use their international mobile equipment identity number to block a stolen device from being used. The number can be found by typing *#06# on your phone keypad.
The grieving wife of an Italian tourist who was mauled to death by a tiger shark off the coast of Egypt has told how she helplessly watched the horrific attack unfold.

Gianluca Di Gioia, 48, from Rome, had been snorkeling at a beach located in front of the glamorous Red Sea Sataya Resort on the coast of Marsa Alam, before the attack on December 22.

The tourist, who worked at the European External Action Service, the diplomatic service of the European Union, was in the sea alongside his friend Giuseppe Fappani, 69, as they celebrated Di Gioia's recent birthday.

But the trip took a horrific turn when the pair were approached by a tiger shark in the Egyptian waters, while they swam just 160 feet from the beach in an area where the resort's jetty allows tourists to access beyond the coral reef.

Fappani made it back to shore, but Di Gioia ended up in the predator's jaws, later dying from his injuries.

Now, Di Gioia's wife has spoken out for the first time about how the tragedy unfolded.

Speaking to Italian news outlet Corriere Della Sera, Di Gioia's wife Laurence spoke about how her husband had been swimming in the 'so-called safe zone' when the shark appeared.

The wife of an Italian tourist who was mauled to death by a shark in Egypt last year has broken her silence. Pictured: Laurence Di Gioia and her husband Gianluca, who died in December

Laurence says her husband had been swimming in the 'safe zone' when the attack unfolded

Deadly shark attacks are a near-yearly occurrence in Egypt's Red Sea

'No one had warned us of a possible danger', she said.

Laurence also recalled the moment she saw the shark approaching her husband before unleashing its deadly attack.

'We were snorkeling when I saw the shark. It was less than two metres (seven ft) away and headed straight for Gianluca. I started screaming, I told it to move away, but in an instant it attacked him.

'I continued screaming with all my strength, I desperately called for help, but no one came. Not a lifeguard, not a rescue vehicle.

'When I finally reached the pier, the only thing the lifeguard did was blow a whistle. I still have that useless whistle in my head and I will never forget it.'

The devastated widow also spoke of the 'exasperating slowness' of rescue services who tended to her husband.

'There were two rubber dinghies tied up, but they couldn't find the keys. And when they finally succeeded and brought Gianluca back to the pier, they lost another ten minutes before a little car arrived that took him to a medical center'.

Laurence explained that the only person who tried to save her husband was their friend Giuseppe.

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The tragic incident took place at a beach in front of the Sataya Resort - one of the most glamorous on the coast of Marsa Alam, on the Red Sea

Gianluca Di Gioia, the victim of a shark attack in Marsa Alam on the Red Sea, has an EU diplomat celebrating his birthday with family and friends at the Egyptian resort

Di Gioia was in the sea alongside his friend Giuseppe Fappani, 69, pictured left

Di Gioia had been swimming just 50metres from the beach in an area where the resort's jetty allows tourists to access beyond the coral reef

'He was in the water and didn't hesitate for a moment', she recalled. 'He gave it his all.'

'We will never stop thanking him for his gesture'.

Laurence revealed that her 10 year-old-son was also at the resort at the time of the attack, as well as her in-laws.

'It was supposed to be a great joy, it turned into a terrible tragedy'.

Egyptian authorities opened an investigation into the 'anomalous' incident, with the while the Ministry of the Environment and the Red Sea Governorate began a series of investigations to reconstruct what happened.

The attack - according to The Quasir Prosecutor's Office - occurred 'in deep waters outside the bathing area', that is, beyond the coral reef, which should prevent or at least make it more difficult for sharks to access the area near the beach.

But Laurence said that the family has not been updated on any developments.

'We know nothing. No one from Egypt has let us know if there are any developments'.

'What we want now is for justice to be done for Gianluca's memory', she said.

'[He] was a very prudent person. A great traveler, a citizen of the world, respectful of rules and nature. In hindsight, the only imprudence was choosing a vacation spot that wasn't organized and equipped to deal with emergencies.'

Di Gioia was originally from Rome, but had been living in France where he worked for the European External Action Service (EEAS) of the EU for twelve years.

He had arrived in Marsa Alam on December 11 to celebrate his birthday - December 21 - with his wife and several family members and friends.

According to local reports, he had been planning to stay in Egypt until the New Year before the attack.

The Red Sea is a major tourist destination whose marine life make it popular with divers and Marsa Alam is an Egyptian coastal town known for its coral reefs and beaches.

Deadly shark attacks are a near-yearly occurrence in Egypt's Red Sea, where marine experts warn unregulated construction, overfishing, and irresponsible tourism practices contribute to changing the ecosystem and shark behaviour.

There have been four fatal shark attacks in the Red Sea over the last 10 years, according to data collected by the Shark Research Institute, cited by the BBC.

The last similar incident was in June 2023 when a tiger shark killed a 23-year-old Russian national in Hurghada, another coastal city on the Red Sea north of Marsa Alam.

Vladimir Popov, 23, was circled by the 'meat grinder' tiger shark before he was dragged underwater, as he screamed out: 'Papa, save me!'

Holidaymakers scrambled from the water as horrified onlookers called out to Vladimir to swim away from the shark before he was mauled to death.

The tiger shark was then caught and dragged to land by boat before it was clubbed to death on the beach 'in revenge'.

Four people also died when a boat capsized in a separate incident in November. The vessel hit trouble near Marsa Alam as it ferried tourists on a diving trip.
A young mother who left her 18-month-old daughter to suffer in nappy filled with faeces and maggots for four days gave birth to another child after she was charged with neglect.

Shay Ellen Bilney, 26, was told her actions were 'inexcusable' when she was sentenced in Adelaide District Court last month after pleading guilty to the neglect of her baby girl in 2023.

Yet, the mum-of-three from Whyalla on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula avoided jail time, despite a six month sentence.

The sentence was suspended on a two-year good behaviour bond after the judge took into account her troubled upbringing and lack of access to support.

The court heard that two children were found in urine-soaked pyjamas during a social worker's visit to Bilney's home in early July 2023.

The young mum agreed to take her daughter, who suffered a nappy rash, to the doctor and she was not charged.

However, Bilney's uncle recalled visiting the home days later to find there was no food for the children and the toddler's severe rash covered her groin, inner legs, and lower back.

He returned four days later after he received a call from Bilney, the court heard.

Shay Ellen Bilney (pictured) left her 18-month-old baby in a nappy filled with faeces and maggots for four days

The court heard Bilney turned to methamphetamine use after suffering a miscarriage in 2023

'You better come and get these f***ing kids because I can't be f***ed getting up for them,' she told him.

The uncle found the two children sitting on a couch which had a 'strong smell of urine and faeces'.

Further inspection of the 18-month-old found her covered in faeces from the waist down and maggots in her nappy.

The toddler's skin was blistered from her toes to her groin and peeled in areas on both her legs, consistent with injuries from being in prolonged contact with urine.

'Your daughter appeared to be wearing the same nappy she was in four days earlier,' Judge Michelle Sutcliffe told Bilney during sentencing.

'The skin changes were so severe that (the victim) was at significant risk of secondary infection without medical attention.

A search of Bilney's home also revealed baby bottles containing spoiled milk while an ice pipe and a 'small bag of a crystalline substance' were found in her bedroom.

'There was no designated sleeping area for the children, and it appeared they had been sleeping on the couch,' Judge Sutcliffe added.

Bilney was sentenced to six months' jail, which was suspended on a two year good behaviour bond

Tanya Chumak, on behalf on Bilney, last month made a submission to the court claiming the mother had used methamphetamine but stopped when she fell pregnant with her second child, the victim.

'However, Ms Bilney admits that following a miscarriage in early 2023 she relapsed into using methamphetamine and slowly over time her care for herself and her children deteriorated,' Ms Chumak said.

A psychologist report additionally claimed Bilney was raised in an unhealthy environment that saw her exposed to drug and alcohol abuse as well as violence.

Her childhood meant she 'did not learn key life skills and developed maladaptive coping strategies'.

Judge Sutcliffe said of the report: 'In her opinion, your substance abuse, lack of support and absence of early intervention have been the primary contributing factors to the offence of criminal neglect.

Bilney gave birth to another child after being charged with criminal negligence. All three children were removed from her care

'I accept (her) observation that the offence occurred in the context of you experiencing exceptionally poor mental health, and a lack of support, rather than malicious intent.'

The judge also noted Bilney had reached out for help, which prevented her daughter's condition from worsening.

Bilney gave birth to her third child after being charged with criminal neglect, which she pleaded guilty to.

All three children were removed from Bilney's care.

She has been banned from consuming drugs and alcohol during her two year good behaviour bond.
A furious mother says she was refused a refund for her 1,500 phone - after it was switched with three tins of fish instead.

Alina Damian-Cretu bought a Samsung S25 Ultra for her husband's birthday in February - trading in his old phone for a new device at a discounted price of 800.

But after ordering it, the 33-year-old realised there was a new offer to claim a free pair of Samsung Galaxy buds worth 219, so decided to return the device once it arrived to place a new order and take advantage of the offer.

A week later Ms Damian-Cretu contacted Samsung to check the status of her return and was informed the tech giant hadn't received the phone - but a box filled with three tins of sardines instead.

Shocked, she insisted she had sent the correct phone and immediately filed a complaint with Samsung and DPD and even reported it to Cambridgeshire Police.

The stunned mother, who says she rarely eats fish, claims Samsung are accusing her of theft and are refusing to refund the product after 'finding no evidence of tampering'.

Ms Damian-Cretu from Ely, Cambridgeshire, said: 'I hadn't opened the phone itself, just the outer box. I left everything in the same box with the paperwork on top of it and sealed it with brown sellotape.'

Alina told Samsung it was 'not possible' for them to have received the fish and asked to speak to a manager.

Alina Damian-Cretu (pictured), 33, says she was refused a refund for her 1,500 phone - after it was switched with three tins of fish instead

She returned the device once it arrived to place a new order and take advantage of an offer for free Samsung Galaxy buds worth 219

Ms Damian-Cretu contacted Samsung to check the status of her return and was informed the tech giant hadn't received the phone - but a box filled with three tins of sardines instead

'They never gave me the impression that they believed me, I was gobsmacked.

'They're bluntly accusing me of theft. I don't even eat that much fish, my daughter hates it so it's not even in the house.

'This is a 1,500 phone without the trade-in. You can't be accusing a customer of this, especially when you can see I placed another order for the same phone the next day.'

'Everyone was shocked, I raised a complaint on that day.'

She added that Samsung asked for proof that she packaged the phone but she didn't take any photos of the boxed device.

After filing with DPD and Samsung, the mother claimed the tech company refused to process her refund until she 'returns the device'

She said: 'Samsung told me they've done a full investigation with DPD and their warehouse and no evidence of tampering has been discovered.

'They told me my claim was rejected and my refund would not be processed and asked me to return the Samsung S25 Ultra for us to process the refund.

The mother of two bought a Samsung S25 Ultra for her husband's (left) birthday in February - trading in his old phone for a new device at a discounted price of 800

An email from Samsung after they claim Ms Damian-Cretu returned three tins of fish

'To me that's accusing me of something I haven't done. I already did send it.

'Why would I report this to police if I'd done this myself? You don't treat customers like this.

'I just want my money back. This has added so much stress to my personal life and wasted so much time.

'It's so unprofessional. My whole life I've had Samsung and I just want to turn to Apple now.'

DPD said they are focusing on finding the parcel.

A Samsung spokesman said they are 'in direct contact with the customer to offer her a full refund on her order.'

They added: 'We are still investigating to determine the full facts of this issue with our third-party delivery partner, and will take the appropriate action once this investigation is completed to ensure this does not happen again.

'We pride ourselves on a high standard of customer experience.'

A Cambridgeshire Police spokesman said: 'I can confirm that we have raised a crime for theft.

'The investigation has been filed pending any new evidence coming to light.

'Anyone with information is asked to contact police quoting reference 35/13852/25.'
Nigel Farage's Reform UK has suffered a slump in the polls amid a rancorous power battle as it prepares for a key by-election challenge.

Reform is down two points - as is Labour - after a difficult week for its politicians in the UK and its international allies.

Mr Farage and his supporters are locked in a furious public row with MP Rupert Lowe, who was accused of bullying staff and threatening a senior official the day after he accused the party leader of acting like a 'messiah'.

At the same time, US president Donald Trump and his senior aide, the X and Tesla billionaire Elon Musk, are becoming increasingly unpopular in the UK thanks to their weakening of American support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

Mr Farage has made much of his closeness to both men, even though Musk suggested he be replaced as Reform leader by Lowe in January.

Musk was linked with a 100million donation to the party at the start of the year, having been feted by Farage in Florida in December.

However, the Financial Times today reported he could be eying up funding a new rival right wing party in the UK - potentially led by Lowe.

The MP for Great Yarmouth last night suggested he was suspended by Reform for being a 'tall poppy' who threatened to overshadow Farage.

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Mr Farage and his supporters are locked in a furious public row with MP Rupert Lowe, who was accused of bullying staff and threatening a senior official the day after he accused the party leader of acting like a 'messiah'.

Elon Musk was linked with a 100million donation to the party at the start of the year. However, reports today suggest he could be eying up funding a new rival right wing party

Asked whether there was any chance of wiping the slate clean and returning to Reform, which withdrew the whip from him on Sunday, he said it was 'highly unlikely' and didn't rule out joining the Tories - or setting up his own party.

Taking aim at Mr Farage, he said: 'You've got to look at the pattern of relations with Nigel throughout his career...almost anybody who's in his view, threatening him or capable of taking over from him, he tends to fall out with them.'

This appeared to be a reference to X owner Elon Musk saying that Mr Farage didn't have what it takes to lead Reform before praising Mr Lowe on his social media platform.

But Mr Farage hit back on Monday night, telling GB News: 'I don't fall out with anybody, they fall out with me.

'There has been a behavioural problem for some months. Outbursts, anger, that kind of thing.

'Frankly I've tried to, we've tried to, put it all to the back of our minds.. And I'm not prejudging anything on the allegations of a bullying culture going on in his offices.

'But I put it you that any party who had a senior figure who was facing those accusations would have to act in some way.

'When we found out that one of our MPs was facing these accusations - without prejudging anything we decided to appoint an independent KC to have a look at the situation.

'Since then, things have got a little bit out of control.'

Reform is meant to be preparing for the by-election in Runcorn and Helsby after disgraced MP Mike Amesbury said he will quit the Commons after punching a constituent.

The former Labour MP was given a 10-week prison term, which was reduced to a suspended sentence after an appeal, leaving him at risk of being ousted from Parliament through the recall process.

The MP told the BBC he would 'step aside at the earliest opportunity', meaning a vote could be held at the same time as the local elections on May 1.

Mr Lowe used an interview with the Dan Wootton Outspoken programme to once again deny the accusations against him, branding them 'absolute drivel'.

He pointed out that the allegations relating to Zia Yusuf, Reform party chairman, weren't lodged with police until last week despite them allegedly happening in December.

This was after an interview appeared in the Daily Mail last week in which Mr Lowe criticised Mr Farage's leadership.

He admitted having a 'robust debate' with Mr Yusuf on December 13, but denied threatening physical violence.

The MP was asked whether he thought the fallout could be linked to X owner and key member of Donald Trump's administration Elon Musk, who last year expressed doubt about Mr Farage's leadership and suggested he might support Mr Lowe.

'I owe a huge debt to Elon Musk because without my X account which gives me a voice, this may well have ended very differently, because I think in the past anyone who has (been), if you like, a poppy that stood up too tall has been chopped down,' the former Southampton FC chairman said.

'I have been thinking about it in my own mind and I sort of wonder whether in a country that I think is becoming increasingly used to lies, somebody who stands up in Parliament and tells the truth is seen as a tall poppy.'

He added that his contact with Mr Musk has been limited to 'a little bit of DM'ing on Twitter, not big, a thumbs up or whatever, and he retweets quite a lot of what we put on Twitter, or on X'.

'That's the extent of it. There is no more to it or less to it than that,' he said.

Asked whether he would consider forming his own party, the MP said he had not 'got to the stage yet where I can make any decisions.'

'You've got to look at the pattern of relationships with Nigel, throughout his career, whether it's Carswell, whether it's Bloom, whether it's almost anybody who is, in his view, either threatening him or is capable enough to take over from him, he tends to fall out with them.

'And I think if you look, they've suffered a very similar fate to the one that they're trying to sentence me to.'
North Korea has warned that 'an accidental single shot' by the South could spark war - days after Seoul accidentally bombed its own villages during a joint exercise with the United States.

US and South Korean Air Forces accidentally dropped eight bombs on residential areas around Pocheon, a city close to the border with North Korea, on Thursday, injuring some 31 people including civilians and military personnel.

South Korean officials said that an Air Force colonel and a lieutenant colonel have since been dismissed from their roles over poor safety procedures.

Meanwhile Seoul and Washington have today begun a major annual joint military drill known as Freedom Shield, which will involve 'live, virtual, and field-based training'.

The US stations tens of thousands of soldiers in South Korea, and the allies regularly stage joint drills, which they describe as defensive in nature.

But such exercises infuriate Kim Jong-un's regime, which regards them as rehearsals for invasion and routinely responds with weapons tests of its own.

The nuclear-armed North has since fired 'multiple unidentified ballistic missiles', according to South Korea's military, and earlier condemned the South's drills as a 'provocative act'.

'This is a dangerous provocative act of leading the acute situation on the Korean peninsula, which may spark off a physical conflict between the two sides by means of an accidental single shot,' said Pyongyang's foreign ministry, according to the Korean Central News Agency.

Some 31 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

U.S. Army soldiers prepare to cross the Hantan river at a training field in Yeoncheon, South Korea, near the border with North Korea, March 10

North Korea has warned that 'an accidental single shot' by the South could spark war. Pictured: Kim Jong Un with North Korean troops

South Korea's military said it had detected the launch of multiple missiles this morning from the Hwanghae province into the West Sea, also known as the Yellow Sea.

'Our military will bolster surveillance and maintain a full readiness posture under close cooperation with the United States,' the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

Relations between Pyongyang and Seoul have been at one of their lowest points in years, with the North launching a flurry of ballistic missiles last year in violation of UN sanctions.

The two Koreas remain technically at war since their 1950-1953 conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.

The large-scale Freedom Shield exercises are one of the allies' biggest annual joint exercises.

In its statement on Monday, North Korea's foreign ministry dubbed the exercises 'an aggressive and confrontational war rehearsal'.

Last week, Pyongyang slammed the United States for 'political and military provocations' over the visit of a US Navy aircraft carrier to the South Korean port of Busan.

On Saturday, Kim Jong Un unveiled a new submarine which experts say is able to carry ten nuclear missiles capable of being launched at the US.

State media released photos showing the dictator touring shipyards it said were being used to build 'a nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine'.

A man watches a television news segment on a recent North Korean missile launch, at a station in Seoul, South Korea, March 10

North Korea could launch the submarine in one or two years to test its capability before its actual deployment

Moon Keun-sik, a South Korean submarine expert who teaches at Seoul's Hanyang University, said the naval vessel appears to be a 6,000-ton-class or 7,000-tonne-class one which can carry about 10 missiles.

He said the use of the term 'the strategic guided missiles' meant it would carry nuclear-capable weapons. 'It would be absolutely threatening to us and the US,' Mr Moon said.

A nuclear-powered submarine was among a long wishlist of sophisticated weaponry that Kim vowed to introduce during a major political conference in 2021 to cope with what he called escalating US-led military threats.

Other weapons were solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, spy satellites and multi-warhead missiles.
A 'drunk' oil rig worker was forced off a flight by police officers after turning aggressive when asked to move from his business class seat for being too loud.

Shaun Hewitt, 33, used his inheritance money to upgrade his seat on the Emirates flight from Newcastle International Airport on December 12 last year.

The off-shore worker was flying to Thailand for work but had 'sampled a little bit too much alcohol' before boarding, and turned aggressive when asked to switch seats after his fellow passengers complained about his behaviour.

His shouting and swearing made cabin crew feel 'uncomfortable' and the plane returned to the terminal just seconds before it was due to take-off, Newcastle Magistrates' Court heard.

Hewitt's 'angry behaviour' escalated further when police boarded the flight, as he told officers 'F*** off, I have done nothing, you f*****g divvy, move out the way you f*****g a******e'.

The defendant claimed to only have had 'two pints' before his limbs were restrained and he was arrested.

Hewitt, of Prince Edward Road, in South Shields, appeared in the dock this week to plead guilty to being drunk on an aircraft.

Prosecutor, Lesley Burgess, said Hewitt was asked to move because a fellow passenger had complained of him being too loud.

Shaun Hewitt (pictured outside court) was flying to Thailand for work but had 'sampled a little bit too much alcohol ' before boarding and turned aggressive when asked to move

Ms Burgess continued: 'He refused. He was swearing and saying he was not moving.

'He was very angry and the crew were uncomfortable with him flying. The aircraft had moved right up to where it would take off from but then came back to the terminal.'

The court heard that Hewitt then shouted the abuse when police boarded the flight and arrested him.

Jason Smith, defending, said Hewitt had been travelling to do some off-shore work in Thailand.

Mr Smith added: 'Two weeks before this, his grandma died and he received some inheritance. He was upset about that still.

'He used some of the money to purchase an upgrade on the flight out to Thailand. He accepts he probably sampled a little bit too much alcohol before he got on board.'

District Judge Kate Meek said that the magistrates' court only had powers to fine someone for an offence of being drunk in an aircraft and, if it warranted more, such as a community order, it had to be committed to the crown court.

Deciding to send him to Newcastle Crown Court for sentence, the judge said: 'You caused a delay to the flight and a significant delay.

'You behaved in the way you did with other passengers there, while they're in a position where they cannot get off the plane.'

Hewitt, 33, used his inheritance money to upgrade his seat for his Emirates flight from Newcastle International Airport (pictured) on December 12 last year

Hewitt was released on conditional bail to next appear at the crown court on April 7.

His court appearance comes after footage was released of the bizarre moment a passenger began screaming about 'the Lord Jesus' as he was restrained on board a flight to the Canary Islands, startling British tourists.

Footage captured aboard flight LS307 and since posted to TikTok showed a man shouting loudly from his seat as passengers tried to intervene.

'Get off,' the man appeared to call out as people gathered around a seat to restrain him.

Jet2 crew on the March 1 flight from Belfast to Fuerteventura were praised for going 'above and beyond' to deal with the fracas.
US diplomats are sitting down in Saudi Arabia today for crucial Russia-Ukraine peace talks with a delegation led by Andriy Yermak, one of Kyiv's most influential figures and President Volodymyr Zelensky's closest confidant.

But there are fears that Yermak's presence at the negotiating table in the Saudi port city of Jeddah could well inflame tensions at a critical moment and may even jeopardise Kyiv's chances of securing a favourable peace deal.

That is because Donald Trump, who clearly harbours a notable distaste for Zelensky, is believed to foster similar feelings for his top aide.

Yermak, 53, was a central figure in the Hunter Biden scandal which saw Trump accused of pressuring Zelensky to dig up dirt on Joe Biden's family in exchange for military aid - allegations that led to the US president's impeachment.

Ukrainian officials this week admitted they still think Trump bears ill will toward Yermak, though they hope US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's presence will help to calm any tensions between the two delegations.

The potentially pivotal talks in Jeddah today come hours after Ukraine's armed forces battered targets across Western Russia in one of the largest drone assaults of the war, while Russia announced it had retaken some 100 square kilometres of territory in its Kursk region from Kyiv's troops.

Yermak told reporters this morning ahead of his meeting with Rubio that Ukraine was ready to negotiate to end the war.

'We are ready to do everything to achieve peace,' Yermak said, before later taking to social media to declare that discussions with the US delegation had begun positively.

'The meeting with the US team started very constructively, we continue our work.'

A former film producer and lawyer who first met Zelensky during his years as a comedian, Yermak has become the Ukrainian president's right-hand man and now holds the power to negotiate directly with Washington in pursuit of a peace deal.

Ukrainian Head of Presidential Office Andriy Yermak (centre) is leading ceasefire talks with US representatives in Saudi Arabia today

From left, US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad al-Aiban, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and Ukrainian Head of Presidential Office Andriy Yermak hold a meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, March 11, 2025

US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office at the White House on February 28, 2025 in Washington

A firefighter looks on at a burning vehicle following Ukraine's overnight drone attack on Moscow

An apartment in Moscow is set ablaze following a Ukrainian drone strike

Since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Yermak has played a key role in Ukraine's foreign policy operations, securing the release of Ukrainian prisoners, brokering arms shipments and working with the West to structure sanctions packages against Moscow.

Meanwhile, his close personal relationship with Zelensky has earned him the moniker of 'St. Andriy, the First Apostle' in Ukrainian media - but it is this proximity that some fear could prove a liability in discussions with the Trump administration.

Yermak had no political or diplomatic experience before he was granted an administrative role in Zelensky's government in 2019.

His first significant brush with US politics came in July of that year, just three months after the Ukrainian president's landslide election victory.

Yermak received a call from Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, urging him to open an investigation into Hunter Biden's role at Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company under scrutiny for corruption.

At the time, Hunter Biden, son of then-US Vice President Joe Biden, was receiving $50,000 per month to sit on Burisma's board, despite having no experience in the energy sector.

Giuliani and Trump were convinced that exposing wrongdoing at Burisma would damage Joe Biden's political standing ahead of the 2020 election.

According to a Ukrainian official who spoke to the Telegraph, Yermak was 'anxious not to be dragged into US domestic politics' and advised Zelensky to hold off.

But his refusal to cooperate infuriated Giuliani and Trump.

Around the same time, the Trump administration chose to withhold nearly $400 million in military aid that was earmarked for supporting Zelensky's forces in their fight against Russian-backed separatists in the Donbas.

The suspicious timing triggered allegations that Trump was trying to leverage Zelensky into a quid pro quo - continued military aid in exchange for a commitment to investigate alleged corruption by the Biden family.

The Ukrainian President never carried out Trump's request, and allegations that Trump had tried to force Kyiv into investigating the Biden family led to his impeachment.

Although he was ultimately cleared of wrongdoing, the episode reportedly deepened the US president's animosity toward Zelensky, and by extension, Yermak.

'Trump hates Ukraine,' Lev Parnas, a Soviet-born US businessman who was once a fixer in Ukraine for Trump's lawyer Giuliani, told Politico last year.

'He and people around him believe that Ukraine was the cause of all Trump's problems.'

But a Ukrainian government adviser told the Telegraph this week: 'The anger isn't just towards Zelensky - it is to Yermak, too.'

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky (L) and head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak are pictured

Andriy Yermak (R) has spent years cultivating a close personal relationship with Ukraine's leader

Russian forces published videos of their soldiers raising Russian flags above damaged buildings in Kursk

The wreckage of a Ukrainian armoured vehicle is seen in this image released by Russian forces in Kursk

Given the concerns that Trump continues to look down on Yermak as well as Zelensky, the decision to send him to Saudi Arabia to lead critical ceasefire talks has raised eyebrows.

But Yermak has long operated at the centre of Ukraine's foreign policy machinery and Zelensky clearly believes his right-hand man is the best-equipped person to broker a peace deal that would prevent Kyiv from making catastrophic concessions to Moscow.

Yermak has been at Zelensky's side since the very beginning of his presidency, having been granted a modest role as a personal assistant to the presidential office in 2019.

That role, seen as a fairly low-level administrative job, came with no official portfolio.

But Yermak saw the lack of a definitive job description as an opportunity and reportedly began consolidating outsized power by effectively becoming Zelensky's constant shadow.

'He was always the closest one physically,' a former official told Ukrainskaya Pravda.

'Even when there was a meeting, Yermak would edge his way onto the armrest of Zelensky's chair just to stay close.'

When Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Yermak's work to solidify his place by the president's side quickly bore fruit.

As Zelensky pivoted into the role of a wartime leader, Yermak expertly leveraged the personal and professional trust placed in him by the president.

He has successfully orchestrated diplomatic outreach, secured international aid and has worked closely with European leaders and senior officials in the Biden administration to structure economic sanctions against Russia.

Now more than three years into full-scale war, his power and influence as a central figure in Kyiv's foreign policy architecture is almost absolute.

'The whole diplomatic track is an area where Yermak would be physically impossible to replace even if Zelensky wanted to,' a former high-ranking official told Ukrainskaya Pravda.

Trump is said to harbour a personal dislike toward Zelensky, and potentially Yermak

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with the governor of Perm territory Dmitry Makhonin during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, March 10, 2025

In the talks today, Ukraine is expected to propose a ceasefire with Russia covering the Black Sea and long-range missile strikes, as well as the release of prisoners, according to two senior Ukrainian officials.

The officials also said Kyiv is now ready to sign Trump's coveted minerals deal - though it is not clear whether any security guarantees have been added.

'We do have a proposal for a ceasefire in the sky and ceasefire at sea,' a Ukrainian official told AFP on Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

'These are the ceasefire options that are easy to install and to monitor, and it's possible to start with them.'

US Secretary of State Rubio, who was joined in Jeddah by Trump's national security advisor Mike Waltz, signalled that the Trump administration would likely be pleased by such a proposal.

'I'm not saying that alone is enough, but it's the kind of concession you would need to see in order to end the conflict,' he told reporters.

'You're not going to get a ceasefire and an end to this war unless both sides make concessions.

'The Russians can't conquer all of Ukraine and obviously it will be very difficult for Ukraine in any reasonable time period to force the Russians all the way back to where they were back in 2014,' Rubio added, referring to when Russia seized the Crimea peninsula and backed a separatist offensive in eastern Ukraine.

On his plane to Jeddah, Rubio said the US delegation would not be proposing any specific measures to secure an end to the three-year conflict but rather wanted to hear from Ukraine about what they would be willing to consider.

'I'm not going to set any conditions on what they have to or need to do,' Rubio told reporters accompanying him.

'I think we want to listen to see how far they're willing to go and then compare that to what the Russians want and see how far apart we truly are.'

US diplomats are sitting down in Saudi Arabia today for crucial Russia-Ukraine peace talks with a delegation led by Andriy Yermak, one of Kyiv's most influential figures and President Volodymyr Zelensky's closest confidant.

But analysts fear that Yermak's presence at the negotiating table in the Saudi port city of Jeddah could well inflame tensions at a critical moment and may even jeopardise Kyiv's chances of securing a favourable peace deal.

That is because Donald Trump, who clearly harbours a notable distaste for Zelensky, is believed to foster similar feelings for his top aide.

Yermak, 53, was a central figure in the Hunter Biden scandal which saw Trump accused of pressuring Zelensky to dig up dirt on Joe Biden's family in exchange for military aid - allegations that led to the US president's impeachment.

Ukrainian officials this week admitted they still think Trump bears ill will toward Yermak, though they hope US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's presence will help to calm any tensions between the two delegations.

The potentially pivotal talks in Jeddah today come hours after Ukraine's armed forces battered targets across Western Russia in one of the largest drone assaults of the war, while Russia announced it had retaken some 100sq km of territory in its Kursk region from Kyiv's troops.

Yermak told reporters this morning ahead of his meeting with Rubio that Ukraine was ready to negotiate to end the war.

'We are ready to do everything to achieve peace,' Yermak said, before later taking to social media to declare that discussions with the US delegation had begun positively.

'The meeting with the US team started very constructively, we continue our work.'

A former film producer and lawyer who first met Zelensky during his years as a comedian, Yermak has become the Ukrainian president's right-hand man and now holds the power to negotiate directly with Washington in pursuit of a peace deal.

Ukrainian Head of Presidential Office Andriy Yermak (centre) is leading ceasefire talks with US representatives in Saudi Arabia today

From left, US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad al-Aiban, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and Ukrainian Head of Presidential Office Andriy Yermak hold a meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, March 11

US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office at the White House on February 28, 2025 in Washington

A Russian firefighter stands by as a burning vehicle following Ukraine's overnight drone attack on Moscow

An apartment in Moscow is set ablaze following a Ukrainian drone strike

Since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Yermak has played a key role in Ukraine's foreign policy operations, securing the release of Ukrainian prisoners, brokering arms shipments and working with the West to structure sanctions packages against Moscow.

Meanwhile, his close personal relationship with Zelensky has earned him the moniker of 'St Andriy, the First Apostle' in Ukrainian media - but it is this proximity that some fear could prove a liability in discussions with the Trump administration.

Yermak had no political or diplomatic experience before he was granted an administrative role in Zelensky's government in 2019.

His first significant brush with US politics came in July of that year, just three months after the Ukrainian president's landslide election victory.

Yermak received a call from Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, urging him to open an investigation into Hunter Biden's role at Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company under scrutiny for corruption.

At the time, Hunter Biden, son of then-US Vice President Joe Biden, was receiving $50,000 per month to sit on Burisma's board, despite having no experience in the energy sector. He joined the board in 2014, around the time his father was helping conduct the Obama administrations foreign policy with Ukraine

Giuliani and Trump were convinced that exposing wrongdoing at Burisma would damage Joe Biden's political standing ahead of the 2020 election.

According to a Ukrainian official who spoke to the Telegraph, Yermak was 'anxious not to be dragged into US domestic politics' and advised Zelensky to hold off.

But his refusal to cooperate infuriated Giuliani and Trump.

Around the same time, the Trump administration chose to withhold nearly $400million in military aid that was earmarked for supporting Zelensky's forces in their fight against Russian-backed separatists in the Donbas.

The suspicious timing triggered allegations that Trump was trying to leverage Zelensky into a quid pro quo - continued military aid in exchange for a commitment to investigate alleged corruption by the Biden family.

The Ukrainian President did not carry out Trump's request, and allegations that Trump had tried to force Kyiv into investigating the Biden family led to his impeachment.

Although he was ultimately cleared of wrongdoing, the episode reportedly deepened the US president's animosity toward Zelensky, and by extension, Yermak.

'Trump hates Ukraine,' Lev Parnas, a Soviet-born US businessman who was once a fixer in Ukraine for Trump's lawyer Giuliani, told Politico last year.

'He and people around him believe that Ukraine was the cause of all Trump's problems.'

But a Ukrainian government adviser told the Telegraph this week: 'The anger isn't just towards Zelensky - it is to Yermak, too.'

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky pictured with Andriy Yermak, his head of the Office of the President

Andriy Yermak (right) has spent years cultivating a close personal relationship with Ukraine's leader

Russian forces published videos of their soldiers raising Russian flags above damaged buildings in Kursk

The wreckage of a Ukrainian armoured vehicle is seen in this image released by Russian forces in Kursk

Given the concerns that Trump continues to look down on Yermak as well as Zelensky, the decision by Ukraine to send him to Saudi Arabia to lead critical ceasefire talks has raised eyebrows.

But Yermak has long operated at the centre of Ukraine's foreign policy machinery and Zelensky clearly believes he is the best-equipped person to broker a peace deal that would prevent Kyiv from making catastrophic concessions to Moscow.

Yermak has been at Zelensky's side since the very beginning of his presidency, having been granted a modest role as a personal assistant to the presidential office in 2019.

That role, seen as a fairly low-level administrative job, came with no official portfolio.

But Yermak saw the lack of a definitive job description as an opportunity and reportedly began consolidating outsized power by effectively becoming Zelensky's constant shadow.

'He was always the closest one physically,' a former official told Ukrainskaya Pravda.

'Even when there was a meeting, Yermak would edge his way onto the armrest of Zelensky's chair just to stay close.'

When Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Yermak's work to solidify his place by the president's side quickly bore fruit.

As Zelensky pivoted into the role of a wartime leader, Yermak expertly leveraged the personal and professional trust placed in him by the president.

He has successfully orchestrated diplomatic outreach, secured international aid and has worked closely with European leaders and senior officials in the Biden administration to structure economic sanctions against Russia.

Now more than three years into full-scale war, his power and influence as a central figure in Kyiv's foreign policy architecture is almost absolute.

'The whole diplomatic track is an area where Yermak would be physically impossible to replace even if Zelensky wanted to,' a former high-ranking official told Ukrainskaya Pravda.

Trump is said to harbour a personal dislike toward Zelensky, and potentially Yermak

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with the governor of Perm territory Dmitry Makhonin during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, March 10

In the talks today, Ukraine is expected to propose a ceasefire with Russia covering the Black Sea and long-range missile strikes, as well as the release of prisoners, according to two senior Ukrainian officials.

The officials also said Kyiv is now ready to sign Trump's coveted minerals deal - though it is not clear whether any security guarantees have been added.

'We do have a proposal for a ceasefire in the sky and ceasefire at sea,' a Ukrainian official told AFP on Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

'These are the ceasefire options that are easy to install and to monitor, and it's possible to start with them.'

US Secretary of State Rubio, who was joined in Jeddah by Trump's national security advisor Mike Waltz, signalled that the Trump administration would likely be pleased by such a proposal.

'I'm not saying that alone is enough, but it's the kind of concession you would need to see in order to end the conflict,' he told reporters.

'You're not going to get a ceasefire and an end to this war unless both sides make concessions.

'The Russians can't conquer all of Ukraine and obviously it will be very difficult for Ukraine in any reasonable time period to force the Russians all the way back to where they were back in 2014,' Rubio added, referring to when Russia seized the Crimea peninsula and backed a separatist offensive in eastern Ukraine.

On his plane to Jeddah, Rubio said the US delegation would not be proposing any specific measures to secure an end to the three-year conflict but rather wanted to hear from Ukraine about what they would be willing to consider.

'I'm not going to set any conditions on what they have to or need to do,' Rubio told reporters accompanying him.

'I think we want to listen to see how far they're willing to go and then compare that to what the Russians want and see how far apart we truly are.'
Cowardly triple killer Kyle Clifford delivered his final insult to his victims' family today when he refused to appear in court to be sentenced.

The ex-soldier, who raped and murdered his ex-girlfriend Louise Hunt, 25, and killed her mother, Carol, 61, and sister Hannah, 28, also failed to appear throughout his trial.

At the start of today's hearing, Mr Justice Joel Bennathan said: 'The defendant was asked to attend but refused.'

He said HMP Belmarsh had discussed using 'restraints' but the judge added: 'I've declined on the grounds of a man in a wheelchair being put in restraints is simply not appropriate.

'If the defendant simply lacks the courage to face today, so be it.'

It means the family  including Louise's father, BBC horse racing commentator John Hunt - who acted impeccably throughout the process - never got the chance to look the killer in the eye.

Mr Hunt bravely told the court he wanted to deliver his victim impact statement 'eye to eye with Kyle' - but was denied the chance by the cowardly killer.

He said: 'When I was first invited to provide a victim impact statement, I initially misunderstood its purpose, do I really need to detail the impact of having three quarters of my family murdered?

'But then I realised that his was my final opportunity to say what I wanted to say, specifically to you, Kyle, words that will also be directed to your family, who will carry guilt forwards with them for the rest of their lives.

'They knew about the weapons, they knew.'

Kyle Clifford (pictured) raped and murdered his ex-girlfriend Louise Hunt, 25, and killed her mother, Carol, 61, and sister Hannah, 28

Louise Hunt (left), Hannah Hunt (centre) and Carol Hunt (right), who were murdered in their home in Bushey, Hertfordshire

The crossbow used by Clifford. Photo issued by Hertfordshire Police

The knife packaging is pictured in a photo issued by police

Mr Hunt, who attended with his surviving daughter Amy, described her killer as 'callous, cowardly and vindictive' during sentencing at Cambridge Crown Court.

The BBC racing commentator, who is also father to Louise and Hannah Hunt, who died after being shot with a crossbow by Clifford, was visibly emotional as he read his victim statement to the court.

As Clifford's sentencing got underway, a court source told the Mail: 'He won't be appearing in court or on CVP.

'Everything has been done to try and convince him but it's not going to happen.'

The non-attendance will renew pressure for new rules forcing criminals to face the music in person. Those who have refused to appear in court include Lucy Letby, who didn't attend her sentencing.

Hate-filled misogynist Clifford, 26, fuelled his fury by watching obnoxious Andrew Tate videos the day before he murdered ex the three women.

Carol was butchered with a ten-inch knife at the family home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, before evil Clifford waited for Louise to come in and subjected her to a two-and-a-half-hour rape ordeal, during which she was bound and gagged with duct tape.

He then shot her through the heart with a crossbow and did the same to her sister when she got home moments later.

Clifford admitted the three murders, false imprisonment and possession of weapons but forced Louise's family and friends to hear harrowing evidence at the trial after denying the rape. He was convicted last week.

The killer's brother Bradley is serving life with a minimum 23 years for murder after ramming a moped driver with his car following a dispute over a women.

Traumatised Mr Hunt and his eldest daughter, Amy  who were not at home during Clifford's rampage  will not be commenting after sentencing, police said.

Friends had noticed how Louise started wearing less makeup and wasn't allowed to see male friends on her own during the 18=-month relationship with Clifford.

Her growing doubts came to a head on June 22 last year when they went to a friend's wedding in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, and he 'belittled' her by boasting about sleeping with other women and mocking her cooking.

She dumped him shortly afterwards, unaware he had had at least two affairs while they were together.

On July 9  having bought a murder kit including the crossbow, knife, duct tape, rope and other paraphernalia  Clifford turned up at the 800,000 detached family home to enact what the prosecution called his 'violent, sexual act of spite'.

Louise Hunt (pictured), who was formerly in a relationship with Clifford, was killed alongside her mother and sister in the crossbow attack in Bushey in July last year

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

John Hunt is pictured with his wife Carol, who was killed alongside two of their two daughters

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He talked his way in, telling kindly Carol he had a farewell card for the family and was also dropping off some of Louise's belongings.

Her obvious fear at his appearance was caught on audio from two security cameras at the house as she admitted she felt like she'd seen a 'ghost'.

It would also record screams from the women as they were murdered, one by one, and the 'whooshing' sound of the crossbow as bolts were unleashed.

After a jury took just 45 minutes to convict Clifford unanimously of rape last Thursday, Mr Justice Bennathan said: 'It's unspeakable what friends and family have witnessed in this court.'

Brave Hannah managed to call 999 as she lay dying. All three women were declared dead at the scene.

Clifford was found hiding in Lavender Hill Cemetery, near his home in Enfield, north London, the following day.

He shot himself with the crossbow as officers approached and was left paralysed from the chest down.

The only time he showed emotion during a police interview was when crocodile tears appeared as officers mentioned a suicide note in which he wrote: 'I could be a better man. But I choose not to.'

The case has renewed concerns about the tidal wave of toxic masculinity spouted by online influencers such as Tate - who has been accused of rape by several women and was accused of sexual misconduct and human trafficking in Romania, allegations he denies  brainwashing impressionable young boys and men.

The government has also said it will look at laws governing the sale of crossbows.
Archaeologists have uncovered what they believe is the first-ever evidence of a Christian woman who bound herself in chains by way of extreme self-flagellation before her death.

The Israel Antiquities Authority concluded yesterday in light of fresh analysis that a skeleton found during a dig near Ramat Shlomo likely belongs to a nun who died in the 5th century, during the early Byzantine period of the region.

Researchers in the Levant had previously recovered the remains of men from the period engaging in the practice, though it would be centuries before it became widespread in the West, during the Black Death.

But until now, the only suggestion that early Byzantine women engaged in the practice came from contemporary texts with no archaeological evidence to back up their claims.

The excavation directors said that the woman was bound with '12-14 rings around the arms or hands, four rings around the beck, and at least 10 rings around the legs'.

Iron plates or discs would have been placed on her stomach, attached to the rings and giving her skeleton 'an armoured form'.

Historical records suggest that such a heavy load to bear was unlikely to have been inflicted as a form of torture, but rather a voluntary act carried out under the belief that through corporeal suffering the soul could ascend to higher spiritual 'heights'.

The Antiquities Authority said that the discovery 'raised new questions' about how women of the time lived, potentially dressing up as men to be able to engage in the religious ideals of the period.

Such measures were 'acceptable, because the more a man refrains from pleasures - and even satisfies the body, the more the soul ascends to lofty spiritual heights'

Researchers were able to assess the skeleton belonged to a woman with fresh analysis

Researchers Zubair Adawi, Kfir Arbiv and Dr. Yossi Nagar said that the woman was found in a 'single grave, dedicated to her as a sign of honour under the church altar'.

The evidence suggests that she chose to wrap herself in rings before her death as a form of extreme asceticism, or self-discipline.

Such measures were 'acceptable, because the more a man refrains from pleasures - and even satisfies the body, the more the soul ascends to lofty spiritual heights', the researchers explained, citing historical sources on the matter.

'The nun is an expression of a phenomenon that was common among Byzantine monks in ancient times,' Adawi and Kafir Arviv, managing the site, said.

The analysis came nearly a decade after the skeleton was found in poor condition during a 2016/17 excavation of the Khirbat el-Masani site near Ramat Shlomo, per the Times of Israel.

Reviewing her tooth enamel, researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science were able to isolate amelogenin proteins, encoded by the female X and Y chromosomes.

The researchers determined that the skeleton belonged to a woman likely between the ages of 30 and 60 at the time of her death.

'As an archaeologist for the Israel Antiquities Authority, I participate in many excavations, but I had never seen anything like it,' Adawi said.

'To find something similar, we have to go back to the 1990s, when the skeleton of a chained male monk was uncovered at the site of Khirbet Tabaliya, on the way between Jerusalem and Bethlehem.'

The skeleton was found with rings and binds, believed to be part of an ascetic ritual

Zubier Adou, director of the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, reveals the find

Researchers had previously uncovered two other skeletons from the period showing evidence of such self-flagellation, but experts believe both belong to men.

Monks of the time 'imposed self-destruction and self-harm on the body' by way of ritual, Adwi and Arviv explained.

They described some of the methods to make modern audiences baulk.

These included tying the body to rocks, sleep deprivation, self-imprisonment, abandonment in hanging cages, and even throwing themselves into fire or in the path of predatory animals.

Theodoret of Cyrrhus, a prominent Christian theologian of the time, had mentioned two women, named as Marana and Cyra, who had also bound themselves with chains for 42 years.

But until now there had been no hard evidence that women of the time did perform such practices.

'This discovery raises new questions about the role of women in the world of Byzantine nuns,' Monday's statement concluded.

It noted that women who 'lived and operated in a strict patriarchal and masculine environment' would dress up as men 'in order to take part in the religious ideals' of the life of the nuns and vices of the same time'.

The site where the nun was discovered lies about three kilometers north-west of the Old City of Jerusalem, and was identified as a Byzantine monastery that operated between the 5th and 7th centuries AD.

Theodoret of Cyrrhus, a prominent Christian theologian of the time, had mentioned two women who had also bound themselves with chains for 42 years

The archaeological documentation process, shared to social media on Monday

Monks of the time 'imposed self-destruction and self-harm on the body' by way of ritual

Excavators said they found the remains of women, men and children in crypts buried beneath the church.

'In the tomb, where the bound skeleton was found, iron rings were discovered around the neck, arms and legs, next to metal objects, which contain a small cross,' they revealed.

The researchers said that their findings point to the practice beginning in northern Syria and Anatolia before spreading to Asia Minor and later reaching Italy, France and England.

At the same time, they concluded, it spread southward towards Jerusalem and Egypt.

The research was conducted by Dr. Paula Kotley, David Morgenstern and Prof. Elizabeth Buarto from the Weizmann Institute of Science, in collaboration with Dr. Yossi Nagar, Zubair Adoi and Kfir Arviv from the Antiquities Authority.
A projected $700,000 budget shortfall in a Minnesota school district sparked an official investigation after several financial irregularities were discovered.

The budget deficit results from various factors, such as rising costs, payroll discrepancies, and a series of unpaid bills. Superintendent Jim Mention of the Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian (BOLD) school district first raised the situation last month during a board meeting.

Minnesota School District's Budget Shortfall

The financial irregularities mentioned also include a series of bills that had not yet been paid. One of these is a $90,000 charge for landscaping services that were finished several years ago.

The superintendent said, "We started to find out about these late last summer when concerns came to light about our former business manager's handling of money." Mention did not mention the name of the business manager he was referring to during the board meeting.

However, law enforcement authorities in Olivia are now investigating details about a 48-year-old woman who was said to have worked at BOLD from May 1, 2021, to Sept. 5, 2024. According to the Star Tribune, she is believed to have used school funds to buy personal items.

An official search warrant also described the individual in question as being connected to a "serious embezzlement/theft allegation." It added that roughly $11,528 worth of questionable purchases were found on the woman's school-issued credit card.

These included expenses at Buffalo Wild Wings, Walmart, and Target, auto loan payments, and energy bills. Olivia police chief Jason Krumheuer confirmed that his department is investigating the financial irregularities brought to its attention by the BOLD School District.

Drop in State Surplus

The situation comes as the state of Minnesota experiences a worsening budget outlook in the near and long term. The Minnesota Legislature reported that the February 2025 Budget and Economic Forecast revealed this.

The state surplus for the 2026-27 fiscal biennium, which was predicted to be around $616 million in November of last year, has now dropped to $456 million. This means that the Legislature and Gov. Tim Walz have fewer funds to use.

Bipartisan lawmakers acknowledged that cuts and changes to curb spending growth projected for the future will be needed. Democratic officials have blamed President Donald Trump's first weeks in office for the situation.

They argued that the Republican leader's tariffs caused the spending freezes and potential cuts to Medicaid. On the other hand, right-wing lawmakers, as per Axios, said DFL officials are responsible for spending down a $17 billion surplus in the budget.
Doctors have announced that Pope Francis is no longer in imminent danger of death as a result of the double pneumonia that has kept him hospitalized for nearly a month in the longest and gravest threat to his 12-year papacy.

The 88-year-old pope is not in the clear yet, however, with cautious medics deciding to keep him hospitalized for several more days to receive treatment, not to mention a period of rehabilitation he will likely need.

But the doctors said he remains stable and has consolidated improvements in recent days, according to blood tests and his good response to treatment.

Francis, who has chronic lung disease, is still using supplemental oxygen during the day and a ventilation mask at night to help him breathe.

In an early update Tuesday, the Vatican said Francis woke up around 8am after a quiet night.

The Argentine Jesuit has regularly been sleeping in while at Gemelli hospital; his usual wakeup time at the Vatican is around 4.30am.

Late Monday, doctors lifted their 'guarded' prognosis for the pope, meaning they determined he was no longer in imminent danger as a result of the original respiratory infection he arrived with on February 14.

But their caution remained, given Francis' fragility and risks of other complications.

'In view of the complexity of the clinical picture and the important infectious picture presented on admission, it will be necessary to continue medical drug therapy in a hospital setting for additional days,' the Vatican statement said.

Doctors have said Pope Francis is no longer in imminent danger of death as a result of the double pneumonia that has kept him hospitalized for nearly a month (pictured in August 2023)

In a sign of his improved health, Francis followed the Vatican's weeklong spiritual retreat via videoconference on Monday in both the morning and afternoon sessions, something he is expected to continue to do through the week.

This week also counts some important anniversaries for Francis: Tuesday was the 67th anniversary of his entry into the Jesuit religious order's novitiate, and Thursday marks the 12th anniversary of his election as pope.

Francis, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, had what was just a bad case of bronchitis when he was hospitalized last month.

The infection progressed into a complex respiratory tract infection and double pneumonia that has raised questions about the future of his pontificate.

He was still keeping his eye on things, however. The Vatican said he had been informed about the floods in his native Argentina, sent a telegram of condolences and expressed his closeness to the affected population.

In addition, a Vatican cardinal close to Francis spoke out Monday to deny some negative media reports that have circulated in his absence.

The Vatican development office released a letter written by Cardinal Michael Czerny to one of Francis' close friends, the Argentine social justice activist Juan Grabois.

Grabois had traveled to Rome to pray for Francis at Gemelli hospital, and some Italian media reported that he had tried to forcibly get into Francis' 10th floor hospital suite, a claim he denied.

A person prays in front of the statue of John Paul II at the entrance to the Gemelli Hospital, where Pope Francis is hospitalized, on March 11

In the March 6 letter, Czerny told Grabois that Francis 'knew of your presence in Rome and your daily vigils of prayer and spiritual solidarity at Gemelli Polyclinic and I'm sure this gave him a true comfort and support.'

'Additionally, I know that you join me in strongly repudiating the unfounded versions that have circulated in some media about alleged inappropriate behavior in the hospital,' Czerny wrote.

The Vatican is always abuzz with rumor but has gone into overdrive with speculation about Francis' health and talk of conclaves, even though Francis is very much alive and in charge.

The fact that Czerny felt it necessary to defend one of Francis' friends suggested that the rumor and maneuvering in Francis' absence had crossed a line.
Labour's welfare overhaul has been delayed amid a Labour revolt despite Keir Starmer warning the system is 'indefensible'.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall had been widely expected to unveil plans as soon as today, with ministers struggling to slash 5billion from 'spiralling' benefits costs.

However, the announcement looks to have been pushed into next week, with nothing in the government's schedule.

Intense discussions are going on behind the scenes as the PM tries to minimise unrest on his own benches at potential cuts.

Sir Keir was faced with grumbling at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party last night, as he argued that Brits were being incentivised not to work.

There are fears dozens of MPs will oppose the reforms, including imposing tougher conditions on sickness handouts and prioritising support for those who have paid into the system.

Although the government's huge majority means Sir Keir can force through measures a big rebellion would still be damaging.

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Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall had been widely expected to unveil plans as soon as today, with ministers struggling to slash 5billion from 'spiralling' benefits costs

Poole MP Neil Duncan-Jordan warned against a rerun of 'austerity' suggesting the government should 'tax the super-rich' instead.

He told BBC Newsnight: 'Cuts to benefits don't make jobs - they only make more poverty in our society and that's why I'm very worried about some of the things I'm reading.'

He added: 'It feels like a rerun of austerity and I'm worried about that.'

'If we're going to make poor people poorer, then there'll be a number of MPs who won't be able to sign up to that.'

Rachel Reeves wants to slash 5billion off the benefits bill to help balance the books at the Spring Statement later this month.

Ministers are also looking at longer term reforms designed to curb a sickness benefits bill forecast to hit 70 billion by the end of the decade.

Addressing Labour MPs behind closed doors last night, the PM said: 'We've found ourselves in a worst of all worlds situation - with the wrong incentives - discouraging people from working, the taxpayer funding a spiralling bill, 70billion a year by 2030.'

He said one in eight young people were now not in education, employment or training, adding: 'That's unsustainable, it's indefensible and it is unfair, people feel that in their bones.

'It runs contrary to those deep British values that if you can work, you should. And if you want to work, the government should support you, not stop you.'

Sir Keir told his MPs that voters 'want the status quo to be challenged', as he vowed to be 'ruthless and bold' in driving through reforms.

His intervention came amid a growing Labour backlash over plans to balance the books by cutting benefits.

Some opponents are urging the Chancellor to change her 'fiscal rules' to allow more borrowing instead of cutting welfare.

Former frontbencher Rachel Maskell said the Chancellor should adopt 'a carrot approach, not a stick approach'. She added: 'We've got to make the right interventions and that doesn't start with the stick.'

Asked about the mood among Labour MPs about the prospect of welfare cuts, she told the BBC: 'All I have picked up is deep, deep concern and that's clearly reflected from the stories we're hearing from our constituents.'

Former Labour chancellor John McDonnell warned that welfare cuts would 'cause great hardship and suffering,' adding: 'This is not what any Labour government was elected to do.'

Ministers have been making the 'moral' case for reforming welfare, pointing to the near-million young people not in education, employment or training.

Keir Starmer was faced with grumbling at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party last night, as he argued that Brits were being incentivised not to work

The benefits bill has been rising and is forecast to continue going up

The Chancellor is battling to avoid the need for more tax rises at the Spring Statement later this month, after stalling economic growth and rising debt cost wreaked havoc with her Budget plans.

She is also under massive pressure to ramp up defence spending amid rising alarm at the US withdrawing support from Europe and doing deals with Russia.

Health and disability benefits in sicknote Britain are expected to cost more than 100billion a year by the end of the decade - which would be more than the defence budget even after Keir Starmer's recent boost.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) estimated in October that the cost of long-term sickness handouts will rise from 64.7billion in the 2023-24 financial year to 100.7billion in 2029-30.

That would be around 3 per cent of GDP, while Labour has committed to spending 2.5 per cent by 2027 and looking towards 3 per cent after the next election.
Elon Musk's suggestion that Ukraine was behind a cyber attack on his social media site X has been dismissed as 'garbage' by one of Britain's top experts.

Ciaran Martin, who was previously in charge of the UK's national cyber security, said there was 'absolutely no evidence' the attack originated from the war-torn country.

X, which is still commonly known as Twitter despite Mr Musk's rebranding efforts, suffered severe disruption on Monday with a series of outages.

In a post on the site, Mr Musk said a 'massive cyber attack' had been conducted 'with a lot of resources' and he was 'tracing' its origins.

The billionaire tech mogul - an ally of US President Donald Trump - added a 'large, coordinated group and/or a country is involved'.

He later pointed the finger at Ukraine, telling Fox News he was 'not sure exactly what happened' but the attack came from IP addresses 'originating in the Ukraine area'.

Yet Professor Martin, who helped to found and then led the UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) between 2016 to 2020, rubbished Mr Musk's claims.

He pointed to how a pro-Palestinian 'hacktivist' group known as Dark Storm Team had already claimed responsibility for the attack.

Elon Musk 's suggestion that Ukraine was behind a cyber attack on his social media site X has been dismissed as 'garbage' by one of Britain's top experts

Ciaran Martin, who was previously in charge of the UK's national cyber security, said there was 'absolutely no evidence' the attack originated from the war-torn country

X, which is still commonly known as Twitter despite Mr Musk's rebranding efforts, suffered severe disruption on Monday with a series of outages

Professor Martin told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We'll wait and see whether they are responsible.

'But there's absolutely no evidence that this has come out of Ukraine.'

The cyber security expert, who is now based at the University of Oxford, explained how X appeared to have been subject to a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack.

'Facts are always murky and clearly Twitter went down three times and struggled for much of the day,' he said.

'It does look like what we call a DDoS attack... where attackers point loads of traffic at a website and it falls over. It looks like that's what happened.'

Professor Martin questioned X's cyber security capabilities over the 'remarkable incident', adding: 'I am very surprised that X fell over as a result of a DDos attack.

'It's a very large-scale DDoS attack but it's not that sophisticated, it's a very old technique.

'I can't think of a company of the size and standing, internationally, of X that's fallen over to a DDoS attack for a very long time.

'It doesn't reflect well on their cyber security.'

In a post on the site, Mr Musk said a 'massive cyber attack' had been conducted 'with a lot of resources' and he was 'tracing' its origins

The businessman later pointed the finger at Ukraine, telling Fox News he was 'not sure exactly what happened' but the attack came from IP addresses 'originating in the Ukraine area'.

Professor Martin also queried the 'remarkable' suggestion by Mr Musk - who has previously been ridiculed for pushing false claims online - that Ukraine was to blame.

'What Mr Musk has said is wholly unconvincing based on the evidence so far. It's pretty much garbage,' he added.

'He mentioned in a post on X, when it came back online, that he was 'tracing'.

'In a DDoS attack, you can trace where some of the traffic has come from to IP addresses and Musk has said some of the IP addresses have come from Ukraine.

'That tells you absolutely nothing because what hackers do in these types of attacks is they hijack infrastructure - CCTV cameras, IT devices from all over the world.

'So some of them will be from Ukraine, some of them will be from Russia, some of them will be from Britain, the US, South America, everywhere.

'It tells you absolutely nothing.'

Mr Musk has been one of Kyiv's fiercest critics amid Mr Trump's dramatic spat with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The world's richest man last month brushed off claims he is a 'bought asset' of Russia by joking that the country's autocratic leader Vladimir Putin 'can't afford me'.
Armed militants have taken 450 passengers hostage and wounded the train driver during a 'terrorist attack' in Pakistan's volatile southwestern Balochistan province, officials said.

The separatist Baloch Liberation Army has threatened to execute all the hostages it has in its custody if the Pakistani authorities attempt to intervene.

'Over 450 passengers onboard are being held hostage by gunmen,' Muhammad Kashif, a senior railway government official in Quetta, the capital of the province, told reporters.

The train was trapped inside a tunnel after the attack, during which it came under fire and the driver was wounded, police and railway officials said.

In a statement, the BLA claimed responsibility for the hijacking and said six military personnel had been killed in the gunfight.

The group said they had taken hostages from the train, including security forces, with the exact number in their custody unclear.

'During this operation, BLA fighters have released women, children, and Baloch passengers, ensuring that all remaining hostages are serving personnel of the occupying forces,' the group said in a statement.

No contact has been established with the 450 passengers and staff aboard the nine-coach train, railway officials told local media.

The Jaffar Express had been on its way from Quetta in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when it was fired on, officials said.

The Jaffar Express was on its way from Quetta in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when it was fired on, railway officials said

Pakistani security officials inspect vehicles at a checkpoint in Balochistan following the attack

A spokesperson for the Balochistan government said that the attack was an act of terrorism, adding that an investigation into it is underway.

There had been reports of heavy fire on the railway, the spokesperson said, however due to the difficult terrain in the area it has been difficult for authorities to reach the scene.

He added that a relief train had been dispatched to the scene and that security forces are working in the area.

A senior police official from the area said that 'the train remains stuck just before a tunnel surrounded by mountains'.

The area where the train is halted is a mountainous region making it easier for militants to have hideouts and plan attacks.

A state of emergency has been declared in Sibi Hospital and ambulances have been sent to the scene but are having difficulty accessing it, according to officials.

The number of hostages taken could not be confirmed by railway or local government officials.

Pakistani security stand guard at a checkpoint after security was intensified following a suspected militant attack on a passenger train in Sibi, Balochistan province

Pakistan's interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, condemned the attack and said the government would not make any concessions to 'beasts who fire on innocent passengers'.

The Balochistan government has imposed emergency measures to deal with the situation, Rind said.

Trains in Balochistan typically have security personnel on board as separatists have previously carried out deadly attacks on trains and security forces in the region.

In November, a separatist group carried out a suicide bombing at a train station in Quetta that killed 26 people, including security personnel, railway staff and passengers.

The BLA separatist group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Pictured: BLA fighters

A decades-old insurgency in Balochistan by separatist militant groups has led to frequent attacks against the government, army and Chinese interests in the region, pressing demands for a share in its resources.

The oil- and mineral-rich Balochistan is Pakistan's largest but also least populated province.

It is a hub for the country's ethnic Baloch minority whose members say they face discrimination and exploitation by the central government.

The BLA seeks independence for Balochistan. It is the biggest of several ethnic insurgent groups that have battled the South Asian nation's government for decades, saying it unfairly exploits Balochistan's rich gas and mineral resources.
They are not the most obvious of bedfellows, but US Republicans appear to be quite taken with Keir Starmer, an exclusive poll reveals.

After the Prime Minister's trip to the White House last month, in which he buttered up Donald Trump with an invite to visit the King, Sir Keir is the favourite world leader of the president's voters base.

Despite his moderate centre-left background the PM was rated higher than hard right Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and France's Emmanuel Macron, in a survey by JL Partners for DailyMail.com.

And he is only marginally less popular across American voters as a whole after he went to see Trump in the Oval Office, placing second behind Canada's outgoing PM Justin Trudeau.

The PM rocked up with an invitation for an unprecedented second state visit to the United Kingdom, expected later this year, during what was initially seen as a successful trip.

However it was overshadowed by a subsequent blazing televised row between Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky the following day.

The polling shows a major disconnect between Republicans and the rest of the US over Ukraine's leader, who was accused of being a dictator by Trump.

He has a rating of +22 among all voters but polls -4 in Trump's party. Only three actual dictators, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-Un, have worst ratings.

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After the Prime Minister's trip to the White House last month, in which he buttered up Donald Trump with an invite to visit the King, Sir Keir is the favourite world leader of the president's voters base.

US-Ukraine talks on a possible peace for Kyiv will begin on Tuesday as defence chiefs gather in France to draw up plans for a 'coalition of the willing' to safeguard the country's security.

All eyes will be on Saudi Arabia this week as discussions kick off between White House and Ukrainian delegations in the country as part of an intensive week of diplomacy to find a deal to end the war.

Sir Keir told Trump he wanted the talks to have a 'positive outcome' that would see military aid and intelligence-sharing resume when the pair spoke on Monday.

The US leader paused the supply of weapons and crucial information for Kyiv's war effort following his public spat with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.

Meanwhile, military chiefs from potential members of the so-called 'coalition of the willing' will meet in Paris, with French officials indicating around 30 countries could take part.

Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin will attend for the UK before Defence Secretary John Healey meets opposite numbers from France, Germany, Italy and Poland in the French capital on Wednesday.

Sir Keir is meeting ministers for Cabinet on Tuesday before leading a call with like-minded allies from the 'coalition of the willing' on Saturday.

The call will involve leaders who have expressed an interest in contributing to or supporting a peacekeeping mission to deter Russia's Vladimir Putin from launching a future attempt to conquer Ukraine if a deal to end the conflict is reached.

The meeting of defence ministers will also be attended by representatives from Nato and the European Union, with Ukraine's Rustem Umerov dialling in.

Foreign ministers from the G7  including David Lammy and US counterpart Marco Rubio  will meet in Canada from Wednesday to Friday.

Mr Lammy said he spoke to Mr Rubio and Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha on Monday 'about how we keep the process for peace moving forward ahead of discussions in Saudi Arabia'.

The talks involving the US and Ukraine on Tuesday come after Mr Zelensky, Sir Keir and French president Emmanuel Macron agreed to work on peace proposals.

Not all the nations involved in the 'coalition of the willing' are expected to commit to join a peacekeeping force, although they could offer logistical help for troops in Ukraine or other forms of support.

Sir Keir has stressed the need for Mr Trump's US to provide a 'backstop' security guarantee, a commitment to intervene if a European-led peacekeeping mission comes under threat.

Government insiders have warned of a 'chicken and egg' situation where nations will not promise troops without US guarantees, but Mr Trump will not make commitments unless Europe steps up to defend itself.
The American student who vanished from a beach in the Dominican Republic may have been kidnaped, according to a private investigator.

Sudiksha Konanki, 20, disappeared from a five-star resort in Punta Cana on Thursday while on Spring Break from the University of Pittsburgh.

Her clothes were found on a portable beach bed the beach where police believe she was last seen going for a swim, ABC 6 reported.

While the pre-med student's body has not been found, local authorities believe she drowned - a theory a private investigator who probed murder victim Natalee Holloway's 2005 disappearance disagrees with.

'I don't think that she drowned in the ocean,' private investigator TJ Ward told Fox News.

'I totally believe that somebody knows something where she is, or somebody took her away, or somebody's holding her somewhere.'

Ward added: 'If she had gone into the water, she wouldve washed up somewhere with a tide the way that comes into the island.'

The PI previously helped with the disappearance of 18 year-old Alabama high school graduate Natalee Holloway, who vanished on the Caribbean island of Aruba in 2005.

Holloway's body was never found and she was declared dead in 2012. In 2023, Dutch tourist Jordan van der Sloot admitted he'd killed Holloway for rejecting his advances.

Konanki's family has also expressed doubt that she drowned and have pleaded with authorities to look into more sinister theories.

Sudiksha Konanki, 20, vanished from a beach in Punta Cana last week. Local officials believe she drowned but her family and a private investigator disagree

The Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana, where Konanki and her friends were staying

Authorities were using drones, helicopters and detection dogs in the search for the student

'Its four days, and if she was in water, she would likely have been strewn to shore,' her father father, Subbarayudu Konanki told WTOP News.

Private investigator TJ Ward thinks the student could have been abducted

'Shes not found, so were asking them to investigate multiple options, like kidnapping or abduction.'

It comes as a mystery 24-year-old man who was the last known person to see Konanki told police Konanki vanished in the ocean.

The Iowa was a fellow guest at the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana, where Konanki and her friends were staying.

He told police he and Konanki went for a swim after her friends returned to their rooms and got caught in a big wave. The man claimed he got back to the beach, threw up and went to sleep on a beach bed.

When he woke up, he said, Konanki had vanished.

The man is one of several witnesses police have spoken with since Konanki vanished. Her friends have also provided statements to authorities.

The US State Department is working with the Indian embassy in the Dominican Republic, which has taken the lead in the investigation as Konanki is an Indian citizen who was a permanent US resident.

The pre-med student was expected to graduate from the university in 2026, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Authorities were using drones, helicopters and detection dogs on Monday to scour the waters off the islands east coast where she was supposedly last seen, Jensen Sanchez, a Civil Defense spokesman, told The Associated Press.

She was last known to be with a 24-year-old Iowa man and a guest at the resort

Police have already spoken with Konanki's friends to establish exactly where a maritime search should be focused

'The search is underway at sea because its presumed she drowned. According to the boy who was with her, the waves swept her away, but that is under police investigation,' he said.

He noted it can take more than a week for a body to surface in warm waters.

When her family learned of her disappearance, Subbarayudu Konanki and his wife Sreedevi flew to Punta Cana with two family friends. He and a family friend filed a record of complaint Sunday, asking authorities to widen the investigation.

The complaint notes that the students belongings, including her phone and wallet, were left with her friends, 'which is unusual because she always carried her phone with her.'

'In light of these circumstances, I respectfully request that the authorities take immediate steps to investigate not only the possibility of an accidental drowning, but also the possibility of a kidnapping or foul play,' he wrote
A Japanese woman has been brutally stabbed to death in Tokyo while thousands watched her live-streaming herself walking through the streets.

The tragic incident took place at 9.50am local time today in Tokyo's Shinjuku district, near the Takadanobaba railway station

The woman, said to be in her 20s, was filming herself on live-streaming channel WhoWatch when she was randomly attacked by a man, who stabbed her in the neck, head and chest.

She was taken to hospital, but later died from her injuries.

Approximately 6,500 fans witnessed the knife attack.

Viewers described how the woman was heard screaming in the middle of the broadcast, prompting messages from concerned fans.

A taxi driver who witnessed the horrific stabbing told Japan Times that he saw the attacker 'filming the woman' and 'kicking her head' as she lay on the ground.

Police recovered a knife with a blade about five inches long, believed to be the murder weapon.

A man in his 40s was arrested at the scene and charged with murder.

A woman in Tokyo was stabbed to death on Tuesday morning as she livestreamed herself to thousands of viewers

A man in his 40s has been arrested and charged with murder

Approximately 6,500 fans witnessed the knife attack

The man reportedly told investigators that he had no intention of killing the woman.

Police are currently examining the suspect's mental state and motive, according to the Japan Times.

A video of the aftermath of the assault shows emergency services at the scene as they tend to the victim as police sirens blare in the background.

Japanese police have not yet disclosed the woman's identity, but several people on social media pointed out that the victim was 22-year-old live broadcaster Mogami Ai.

However, the voice actor company that represents Mogami later issued a statement that the broadcaster had nothing to do with the tragic incident.

'In the incident that occurred in Takadanobaba today... erroneous information was spread, and our company's 'Mogami Ai' was mistakenly identified. We have confirmed that this misunderstanding exists', the company said in a statement.

'Here, we express our condolences to the parties involved in the incident, and at the same time, we confirm the safety of our company's 'Mogami Ai' and hereby declare that our company's 'Mogami Ai' has nothing to do with the incident.

'We would like to express our sincere apologies for the concerns and troubles caused to the relevant parties due to this misunderstanding.

'In addition, we found that the social media account of 'Mogami Ai' has received comments and private messages related to the incident, and her photos have been reprinted without authorization.

'Since 'Mogami Aii' has nothing to do with the incident, we kindly ask everyone to avoid posting excessive comments or private messages on his social media, and do not reprint his photos without permission', the company said.

Investigators examine the scene where the woman, said to be in her 20s, was stabbed

The woman sustained multiple stab wounds to her neck, head and chest

The woman was rushed to hospital but pronounced dead shortly after

Police recovered a knife at the scene, believed to be the murder weapon

The tragedy comes months after a knifeman stabbed a well-known Islam critic at an anti-Islam rally in Germany amid a frenzied attack that was livestreamed on YouTube.

The shocking spree unfolded in Mannheim city centre on May 31 where anti-Islam campaigner Michael Stuerzenberger was speaking at an event of the Citizens' Movement Pax Europa (BPE) - a group that advocates against the 'Islamisation' of Europe.

Chaos broke out at the event when a man dressed in a dark hooded jacket, green shirt and tracksuit bottoms tackled Stuerzenberger to the ground and violently swung a large blade at him, prompting terrified screams from onlookers.

Other BPE members sprinted over and tried to drag the knifeman away, but the would-be killer wriggled free and dove on top of the bloodied victim to plunge the weapon in for a second time.

His colleagues were heard screaming 'throw the knife away!' - but with the knifeman not responding to any orders the officers opened fire from near point blank range and sent him crashing to the ground.

Your browser does not support iframes.

The attacker and his victims were rushed to hospital, while the shocking incident was quickly labelled a terror attack by the BPE.

The horrific attack was captured in its entirety by a cameraman who was livestreaming the event on the BPE's YouTube page.

The stream was quickly taken down but it concluded with paramedics arriving on scene to administer vital first aid to at least three victims who had collapsed to the floor.
Holidaymakers should check their own cars for stowaways, a former Border Force chief has said - after a couple who found a migrant clinging to their campervan were fined 1,500.

Brits Adrian and Joanne Fenton were shocked to find a Sudanese man hiding inside their bike rack after they returned home from crossing the Channel on October 15.

The couple, from Heybridge, Essex, reported the migrant to police but were slapped with the large penalty by the Home Office weeks later.

They have since lodged an objection against the 'unfair' fine, saying they are being punished for something the authorities should have picked up on.

However, Tony Smith, the former head of UK Border Force, has now said that a 'collaborative' approach is needed to stop human smuggling.

He told BBC Three Counties Radio: 'Be aware there's huge pressure in Calais to get in by fair means or foul, and we really all need to work together to try to stop that happening.

'What you really want people to do when they're queued up waiting at the check-in desk or having their sandwich, you have a good look round.

'The migrants are very opportunistic. There's all kinds of efforts made by the human smugglers to get in and we just really want the public to do their bit.'

Brits Adrian and Joanne Fenton were shocked to find a Sudanese man hiding inside their bike rack after they returned home from crossing the Channel on October 15

Police officers were called to Heybridge, Essex, after Adrian and Joanne Fenton discovered a migrant in a bike rack bag on the back of their motorhome

Tony Smith, former head of UK Border Force, has now said that a 'collaborative' approach is needed to stop human smuggling

Mr and Mrs Fenton said their motorhome was fitted with a state-of-the-art alarm system which did not pick up the migrant.

The couple, who had been travelling in France with friends and returned by ferry, also claimed that border officials in Calais failed to spot the stowaway during their checks.

Mrs Fenton, 55, previously labelled the fine as 'exceptionally unfair' and 'frustrating' as they had done all the 'right things'.

Describing the moment, he discovered the stowaway, Mr Fenton said he first spotted 'a pair of white trainers'.

'I then looked up and saw a pair of legs and face attached looking down. I immediately told him to stay there because you fear for your safety,' he told MailOnline.

'I'm now parked in my driveway at my house and you don't know who this individual is. I shouted to Joanne to phone the police.

'How he got under there, I don't know. You cannot see how he got under there. I really can't work it out.

'He was contorted around the bikes. Feet on the bottom of the rack and bent double over, so you could see nobody from over the cover.'

The couple noticed the man when they spotted 'a pair of white trainers' in their bike rack

Adrian and Joanne Fenton (pictured) were astonished to find a Sudanese man inside a bike bag on their motorhome

Police arrived 15 minutes after being called and interviewed the couple

Mr Fenton added: 'We didn't see anything but neither did the passport control.

'I was struck by fear when I first saw him. You are wondering who this person is inside your motorhome, outside your own house. It was initial shock and fear.

'We were really concerned. You hear so many stories and you think "could they be carrying a weapon or a knife?" I thought the moral thing to do would be to call the police.

'He didn't try to run off. He dropped his mobile phone and my wife took it. I told him to stay where he was, which he did until the police came. We passed him a bottle of water under the cover to make sure he was safe.'

After police arrived and took the man away, the Fentons were interviewed by officers and expected this would mark the end of the ordeal.

But just over two months later, the pair were issued with a 1,500 fine by the Home Office for failing to 'check that no clandestine entrant was concealed' in the motorhome.

Although they have been reprimanded by the authorities, the Fentons believe they had implemented all appropriate measures.

'The motorhome is fully alarmed. It has PIR sensors inside and all the doors and lockers are alarmed because it's state of the art,' Mr Fenton said.

'Once we got to the shuttle port, we proceeded through English and French passport control and border force and then one person did a full walk around the vehicle.

The bike rack on the back of the motorhome belonging to the Fentons

The couple were fined for failing to 'check that no clandestine entrant was concealed'

'He even got me to open one of my lockers on the back to double check that our gas was turned off before we went on.'

Once in the UK, no further checks were required and the family travelled back to Essex on the M25.

Police arrived 15 minutes after the couple discovered the man, who Mr Fenton described as 'non-threatening' when he came out from under the cover.

'He spoke limited English but I asked him if he was okay and he said "yes".

The man told the police he was a 16-year-old from Sudan.

'I would have said he was older but that's my judgment,' Mr Fenton said.

'Once he came out he wasn't threatening. And then you feel sorry for the lad who has hung on while you've been driving on the M25.

'We made sure he was alright. We offered him some food.'

Two police officers took the man away and interviewed the Fentons.

'They gave us no indication that we would be fined. They said he wasn't an illegal immigrant because he was under 18, which meant it wouldn't go to court so I wouldn't hear anything else.

'Eight weeks later I got an email from the Home Office border force, saying they're considering issuing a fine and could we explain the full circumstances of the situation.

'I emailed them back with all of the information and then I thought nothing more of it.

'And then, February 23, a letter comes through the door and we've received the fine.'

The Fentons believe the man made his way onto the motorhome after they stopped at a French supermarket before getting onto the shuttle ferry to come back home.

Two police officers are seen taking the man away after he was found hiding in a campervan

Adrian and Joanne have called the fine 'unfair' and say it will deter others

In the short drive between the shop and the ferry, they had to stop at several lights and junctions,' Mr Fenton continued.

'I was absolutely shocked when I received the fine. I thought I had done everything right. My motorhome is secure and it's alarmed and as soon as we discovered the individual we called the police.

'Morally, I thought I had done everything I should have done. I'm struggling to understand why it's happened.

'We were both shocked and amazed. I couldn't see how we could have done anything more than was reasonably practical or safe.

'You can't jump out of your vehicle every time you stop at a traffic light or a junction to check it. I mean, you've got busy roads, and it's not safe to do that.

'We've went through the professionals and they've not picked up on anything yet. We've been fined for something that they didn't discover either.

'I'm an upstanding citizen and I do believe in doing things the right way. It seems to me that calling the police is the right thing to do.

'However, if you're going to be fined, do you know how that looks to every other caravan or motorhome or holidaymaker across the country? Are they going to call the police? Probably not now.

'We've been encouraged that if you call the authorities and do the right thing, you're going to be fine.'

Mr Fenton lodged an objection of liability claim on Saturday and has received an acknowledgment. He will be informed of the outcome on May 2.
A pregnant train passenger had to sit on the floor before being found guilty of fare evasion and fined 600 in court for failing to print out a ticket she bought online.

Daisy Mumba, 32, began her journey at Slough station in Berkshire before changing onto an overcrowded CrossCountry train at Reading on her way to Sheffield.

But the 32-year-old teacher was forced to sit on the floor next to the toilet of the service last August because she could not get to the seat she had booked.

Ms Mumba, who was seven months pregnant at the time, also found herself regularly having to get up and down so other passengers could walk past her.

To make matters worse, despite having paid 70 for her ticket on the Trainline app, an inspector deemed it invalid because she had not printed it out before boarding.

Ms Mumba claimed she was told to go to the ticket office in Sheffield and print it out upon her arrival, which she did, and thought the matter was then resolved.

But the passenger, who had been returning home from a wedding, explained that she then received a court notification for boarding a train without a valid ticket.

Ms Mumba told how she responded by filling out the paperwork and pleading not guilty - including a photo of the physical ticket, a screenshot of the online ticket on the Trainline app and a screenshot of her purchase on an HSBC bank statement.

But the letter was never received by Northampton Magistrates' Court  and the next thing she heard was that she had been convicted in her absence and fined 600.

Now, after the press brought the incident to the attention of CrossCountry, the train operator has said it is 'working with our prosecutors to withdraw' the case.

The passenger was on an overcrowded CrossCountry train from Reading to Sheffield (stock)

The passenger began her journey at Slough station (pictured) before changing at Reading

Ms Mumba, who is from Sheffield, faced a possible prison sentence had she not paid the fine.

She told The Observer: 'I am not a criminal, nor am I in the wrong, as I have all the evidence to support the purchase of the ticket.

What is the law on buying and printing train tickets in the UK? Anyone travelling on the UK rail network has to have what National Rail described as a 'valid ticket'. Some tickets are e-tickets, which means they can be scanned straight from your phone and do not need to be printed off. However, you can still print them onto a piece of paper if you wish. Other journeys are issued as paper tickets, meaning the passenger has to collect their purchase from a ticket machine or ticket office with the payment card and a reference code. If someone can't buy a ticket because a ticket office was closed or the ticket machine was broken, they must get a 'Permit to Travel' or 'Promise to Pay' at the station and exchange it for a ticket at the first opportunity. If you are unable to get either of those, you can purchase a ticket on board - if available - or at the first opportunity. A Penalty Fare is charged to those who do not comply with ticket purchasing rules 'without good reason'. The penalty is 100 plus the price of the full single fare applicable for the intended journey. If it is paid within 21 days, the Penalty Fare is reduced to 50 plus the price of the single fare applicable. Advertisement

'I am also terrified of the prospect of having a criminal record, as I am a teacher and will struggle to work with a criminal record.'

Ben Plowden, chief executive of the Campaign for Better Transport, told MailOnline: 'This case highlights just how confusing and complicated the current ticketing system is and the excessive number of rules and regulations governing ticket sales and validity.

'The Government's rail reforms need to ensure that traveling by train is simpler and fairer, with clearer ticketing options to help improve the experience of passengers like Daisy and encourage more people to use the trains.'

Ms Mumba travelled from Slough to Sheffield - but the ticket booked through Trainline was a 70.30 Super Off-Peak Single from Reading to Sheffield, for a journey which required a change at Birmingham New Street.

Both services - from Reading to Birmingham and from Birmingham to Sheffield - were operated by CrossCountry and took a total of three hours and three minutes, including a 12-minute change at Birmingham.

A CrossCountry spokeswoman told MailOnline: 'We're sorry that Ms Mumba's journey between Reading and Sheffield was affected by overcrowding.

'However, no matter how busy a service might be, it remains a legal requirement for passengers to possess a valid ticket prior to boarding rail services.

'This ensures full and correct revenue collection and helps to tackle fraud by preventing the refund of an unscanned ticket, which is a significant issue for train operators.

'Though we're now working with our prosecutors to withdraw Ms Mumba's case, her story highlights how important it is for those in similar situations to engage with prosecutors to prevent the significant personal stress of court summons, and to avoid wasting the limited time of the courts.'

She added: 'We'd ask anyone travelling by train to double-check their tickets  including the journey details, ticket type, and ticket format - before travelling to avoid such a challenging set of circumstances.'

A page from Trainline before payment states that the passenger must print off the rail ticket

Trainline, a private sector bookings platform, has not issued a statement on the case.

But MailOnline understands passengers need to collect their train tickets before they travel on the route in question, in line with the industry's National Rail conditions of travel.

At the point of booking, Trainline alerts the customer of the ticket collection options available to them  but because e-tickets were not available on Ms Mumba's journey, 'collect at station' was the only option presented.

This is also highlighted in the booking confirmation and subsequent emails, advising customers that tickets must be collected before travel and how to do this.

E-tickets, which use barcodes on mobile devices instead of requiring a paper ticket, are now enabled across a large percentage of National Rail services  but where they are not, a 'collect at station' option is still offered.

The confirmation email states that the passenger 'will need to collect your tickets to travel'

Paper tickets are available to use everywhere on the National Rail network, and can generally be collected from ticket machines or ticket offices ahead of travel.

Ms Mumba's story comes in the wake of cases where passengers were being prosecuted over small amounts of money were highlighted in the media.

Engineering graduate Sam Williamson said he feared getting a criminal record and being fined hundreds of pounds after being told he was being prosecuted by Government-owned operator Northern because he unknowingly used a railcard at the wrong time, resulting in a 1.90 underpayment.

Northern dropped its action against him following media coverage.

In January, a watchdog said that train passengers caught without a ticket should be let off with a warning for a first offence.

Transport Focus urged all operators in Britain to introduce a so-called yellow card system to 'make things fairer for everyone'.

Sam Williamson was told last year that he was being prosecuted by rail operator Northern because he unknowingly used a railcard at the wrong time, resulting in a 1.90 underpayment

A record of passengers found not to have the correct ticket or railcard would be taken so it can be checked in future.

Train operators use the Penalty Fares system, which is a 100 penalty plus the price of the full single fare applicable for the intended journey.

If paid within 21 days, the Penalty Fare is reduced to 50 plus the price of the single fare.

Industry body the Rail Delivery Group estimated in 2022 that around 240 million is lost through fare evasion on Britain's railways each year.

Last November, the Department for Transport ordered regulator the Office of Rail and Road to carry out an independent review of rail fare prosecutions and enforcement.

Great British Railways (GBR), a new public sector body, is being developed by the Government to overhaul Britain's railways, including by simplifying ticketing.
My name is John Hunt and I am blessed to be Carol's husband and Hannah, Louise and Amy's dad.

Thank you for returning the guilty verdict. That you had to consider the evidence was purely down to Kyle choosing to not admit responsibility.

You too are victims of his callous, cowardly, vindictive behaviours and I wish he hadn't put you through that.

I so wanted to deliver these words, eye to eye with Kyle. I will continue to act as if I am doing so.

When I was first invited to provide a victim impact statement i initially misunderstood its purpose.

Do I really need to detail the impact of having three quarters of my family murdered?

But then I realised that this was my final opportunity to say what I want to say to you specifically Kyle, words that will also be directed to your family who will carry guilt forward for the rest of their lives.

I know you valued them so poorly from all the conversations we had Kyle but I suppose even they must be damaged by what you have done.

I also want to confirm to the world the truth, especially how Louise conducted herself within a textbook, mature breakup on her part, understanding the conflict of saying goodbye to someone she once loved but not allowing those memories to cloud her certain knowledge that you simply failed to be the person she needed.

You failed.

I am so proud of all of my girls. Unlike you Kyle, at every step of their lives they made the correct choices to improve themselves as people.

Louise enjoyed more success and fulfilment in one morning than you achieved in your entire miserable life.

Do you recall Kyle, how kind we all were to you? Helping you and Louise enjoy trips away, do you remember how she loved a swanky hotel? You were always invited to meals out.

A Sunday lunch at the pub or a special celebration, you were always made welcome.

The only Christmas you spent together was at our house. Was it four or five days you spent with us? The food, the games, the laughter, the normality... what was it about that blissful existence you hated so much, Kyle?

Could you not handle how pleasant it was, such a contrast to what you were used to.

The trips to Italy, Disneyland and many more; Louise gave your relationship so much effort which you were never able or willing to match.

We all offered you kindness, especially Carol. She had picked up on your personal inadequacies right from the start.

She sensed your immaturity but always knew Louise would work things out. Carol still displayed her compassion right up until the moment she answered the door to you on July 9th.

Do you remember her kindness Kyle; how she urged you to get some relationship help and guidance for fear that you would never be able to sustain a lasting relationship.

You calmly accepted that advice on the doorstep and then , seconds later savagely stabbed her eight times and ended her life.

When I challenge myself about how you were able to deceive us all, I simply say that you are a psychopath who, for the duration of your time together with Louise, was able to disguise yourself as an ordinary human being.

You reserved your best, make-believe version of yourself for the times you were in our house.

You managed to maintain that veneer of decency throughout the first year of your time with Louise, but you couldn't maintain it in the early part of 2024.

Although Carol and I never witnessed any alarming behaviour, your visits became less frequent.

You began the first of two affairs that we know about, your aversion to a days hard work continued as you messed up yet another job at Reynolds

It wasn't only the Army that found you worthless. I often think of the list Louise wrote to herself to remind her of the reasons that you fell short.

The racism. She was rightly disgusted by that.

Your belittling language. The fact that your family is a mess. Like any women should be allowed to do, she worked you out despite repeated deceit and said enough is enough.

I hope women around the world will take Louise's bravery as a shining beacon for their lives. If you feel enough is enough, then it is.

I'd like to remind you Kyle, of how gracious Louise's was to you in that final text to you. This is what she said on the 26th June, the morning after she had finished with you face to face.

She texted you thanking you for what was a wonderful year together, explaining how much she once loved you, that she never wanted any animosity to develop between you and that she wanted you to take care of yourself.

You texted back saying: 'Thank you for the clarity Louise, so we can both start our healing process. I love you so much and I will for a very long time. I will always be here for you if you ever need me, please don't hesitate. I wish you all the best and take care of yourself too.'

The difference was, we know now, that Louise meant every word whereas you simply lied.

You didn't love her enough to stop you having those two affairs in the spring of last year?

Or to start planning to kill her and her family just days later. And that an horrific rape on her was part of the plan. Your levels of misogyny are off the scale.

Louise's favourite novel from her schooldays was Harper Lee's classic, To Kill a Mockingbird. She was captivated by the goodness of Atticus Finch both as a father and a lawyer.

She would often quote lines from the novel to match life's challenges. One of those quotes that comes to mind, right here in this moment is that of Miss Maudie reasserting Atticus' assertion that it's a sin to Kill a Mockingbird.

She said: 'Your fathers right. Mockingbirds don't do one thing except make music for us to enjoy.

They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corn cribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us.

That's why it's a sin to kill a Mockingbird. ' All their lives Carol, Hannah and Louise similarly spent their time bringing joy and colour and happiness to other people's lives. You killed three beautiful Mockingbirds, Kyle.

So, to remind you, over a period of four hours you brutally killed Carol, waited over an hour until Louise came into the house.

You incapacitated her, raped her and when you realised Hannah was coming home, you shot Louise in the back.

I can't imagine a more cowardly act. You couldn't look her in the eye. You murdered Hannah minutes later. So four hours.

A few weeks later I also spent four hours with them Kyle; in the funeral directors.

he usual room wasn't big enough for three bodies but they removed a partition wall so we could all be together.

I sat for a while with Louise to my right, she looked so peaceful and Hannah to my left.

I couldn't quite reach to hold their hands at the same time. Amy and I placed a photograph of Chester in Louise's right hand.

Carol was at the top of the room. She was dressed in a beautiful orange dress she had bought for a wedding we went to a month beforehand.

I stroked her hair and told her how much I loved her.

I thanked her for being such a wonderful partner in life and wonderful mother. They were my four hours Kyle.

And what about me? The impact of what you have done will be taken to my grave but on the way there, I want you to know that I stand strong before you today.

As you are consigned to a fate far greater than death, I can draw on the love and strength that I still feel from the girls in every moment of every day. I am lucky.

I have the most wonderful daughter, Amy who gives me such focus and purpose. I have Gareth and Alex.

I have my extended family, reaching far beyond my mum, brothers and sister, aunts and uncles and cousins.

I have many friends who watch out for me on an hourly basis. Carol's friends are mine and I now have a renewed relationship with Hannah's and Louise's best friends.

I will always be there for them and they will be there for me too.

So whilst I am so badly damaged, I am determined to see what my future is, surrounded by so many amazing people.

And the chance to do has been gifted to me by my incredible Hannah.

I firmly believe that, had she not managed to show such amazing physical and mental strength in raising the alarm after you fatally injured her, then I would have been your fourth victim that day.

Hannah handed me a second chance, one that she worked so hard to achieve for me.

Do you really think after what she did for me, I will slight her memory and example by just giving up?

Even though the days are difficult and feel on many occasions, impossible, I will channel my inner Atticus Finch at all times.

He said, 'I want you to see what real courage is. Instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand, its when you know you are licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.

And now comes the time when your fate on this earth will be confirmed.

Every single person in the world, I'm thinking of mothers and fathers in particular, especially those daughters, now expects the formality of a life sentence. Never again to make choices of your own.

To breathe fresh air only occasionally. To eat when someone else tells you to eat. But just remember one thing.

Whatever sentence you are about to receive, whatever misery lies ahead for you for the next 60 years.

Remember that after your days on earth are done, on your dying day, there will be no release for you.

The screams of hell, Kyle, I can hear them faintly now.

The red carpet will come out for you.

At that point, when the person you could have been meets the person you are, you will realise your miserable fate will last for eternity.
Shaanxi seeks collaboration of institutes, enterprises

11:04, March 11, 2025 By Jiang Chenglong ( China Daily

Deputies from the delegation of Shaanxi province hold a meeting during the third session of the 14th National People's Congress in Beijing on Thursday. (Feng Yongbin/China Daily)

Deputies from Shaanxi province to the National People's Congress have called for strengthening the role of enterprises as key drivers of innovation and deepening collaboration with local universities to advance the province's science and technology industries.

During a group discussion of the Shaanxi delegation at the third session of the 14th NPC, Zhao Yide, an NPC deputy and secretary of the Communist Party of China's Shaanxi provincial committee, said the province has made significant progress in reforming education, science and technology, talent development and the integration of science, industry and finance.

Zhao said Shaanxi is focusing on breakthroughs in key core technologies and addressing "bottleneck" challenges while coordinating scientific research with the application of technological achievements.

"In the past two years, we have solved more than 1,000 technical problems of various types, contributing to major national science and technology projects and strengthening industrial and supply chain security," he said.

Shaanxi is prioritizing enterprises as the primary force behind innovation, Zhao said.

"Enterprises are both the main demanders and suppliers of innovation. We are focused on empowering innovative businesses," he said.

Over the past three years, the number of small and medium-sized high-tech enterprises in the province has grown by an average of 30 percent annually, respectively, according to the provincial government.

Officials said the province will continue leveraging education, science and technology, and talent to develop new quality productive forces suited to local conditions.

During the discussion, Zhang Xiushe, director of the 20th research institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation, called for a nationally unified implementation plan for enterprise-oriented management reform of scientific research institutions.

He proposed allowing research institutions to adopt more flexible management systems than general public institutions and explore enterprise-style management models.

"We should grant researchers greater autonomy in distributing benefits from the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements and establish a strategic management system for intellectual property assets," Zhang said.

Xu Liping, a worker at the Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology, said aerospace technology, representing advanced manufacturing and new quality productive forces, should drive the transformation of the manufacturing sector toward high-end, intelligent, and green development.

He suggested creating a joint training and cooperation mechanism between universities, vocational colleges, and aerospace enterprises to develop talent programs, including curriculum design and experimental base construction.

Xu also proposed establishing a multi-dimensional skills training system to enhance the capabilities of skilled workers in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, intelligent manufacturing, and digital twins.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
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The heartbroken family of a missing surfer attacked by shark have broken their silence amid fears his body may never be found.

Steven Payne, 37, was five weeks into a six-month trip around Australia with his girlfriend and their dog when they stopped for a surf at Wharton Beach on Western Australia's south coast on Monday.

The New Zealand man was surfing in waist-deep water 50 metres from shore when beachgoers heard screams.

Mr Payne was seen to be in distress following earlier reports of a shark in the vicinity of the remote beach 60km east of Esperance.

His distraught girlfriend along with other shocked beachgoers watched the tragic scene unfold, before Mr Payne's surfboard was discovered floating nearby with evidence of bite marks.

'There was only a surfboard left floating around about 30m from the shore,' a bystander told Nine News.

'The water next to it was dark, with a shark's fin circling around.'

His brother Matt told ABC the family doesn't believe Mr Payne's remains will ever be found.

Steven Payne was attacked by a shark at Wharton Beach on Monday. Pictured are police at the scene

Esperance Senior Sergeant Christopher Taylor said the rescue mission had since become a recovery one

Authorities arrived at the remote beach at 12.10pm on Monday, before closing the beach to commence a search.

Police are expected to call off the search within hours.

'I don't think there's much point in utilising all the resources that we have at the moment too much longer,' Senior Sergeant Christopher Taylor said on Tuesday.

'There's only so much of the bay you can keep searching over and over.

'At the moment, we've not recovered anything so I'll probably discuss it with the experts.

The rescue operation soon became a recovery mission after a member of the public shared drone footage of Mr Payne being attacked by the shark with police.

'It (the drone footage)shows a lot of blood, the shark and some other things in there I don't particularly want to go into and I don't think anybody else needs to see other than maybe the coroner and some other experts who will determine the type of shark and size,' Senior Sergeant Taylor said.

He added that Mr Payne's girlfriend was 'distraught'.

Mr Payne was five weeks into a six-month trip around Australia when he and his girlfriend visited Wharton Beach, which is expected to reopen on Wednesday

Wharton Beach is expected to soon be reopened to the public following a large-scale search

'Her life was turned upside down,' Senior Sergeant Taylor said.

'You can imagine how she is, it's just horrible.

'It is heartbreaking obviously and the whole community of Esperance feels the pain  not as much as the family, they're distraught and trying to come to terms with what happened.'

Mr Payne's family is believed to be on their way to WA.

The beach is expected to reopened to the public on Wednesday.

Witnesses described seeing a 'massive shark' launching itself at the surfer in chest-deep waters some 50 metres from shore.

An unidentified species of shark was detected off the Wharton Beach shoreline within minutes of the attack on monitoring website SharkSmart.

The same stretch of the Esperance coastline, a favourite haunt for snorkellers and surfers, has recorded three fatal shark attacks in eight years.

There are grave fears the surfer's body may never be found. Pictured are police at the remote beach on Tuesday

In 2017, 17-year-old surfer Laeticia Brouwer died after being bitten by a white shark at nearby Kelp Beds.

Surfer Andrew Sharpe, 52, was surfing with seven friends at Kelp Beds in 2020 when a shark bit his leg.

He was soon pulled under by the shark before he could be rescued.

Earlier that year, diver Gary Johnson was killed while diving with his wife off Devil Rocks, Esperance.

Esperance Shire President Ron Chambers told ABC Radio Perth each new attack brings with it the painful memory of many others.

'The community's been here before, they'll wrap around each other and make sure they take care of each other,' said Mr Chambers.

'We've got absolutely fantastic beaches, and we get a lot of people down here who visit them.

'It is really sad that something like this has happened on that particular beach.'
A Keir Starmer ally who branded Rule Britannia 'alienating' has taken her seat in the House of Lords.

Thangam Debbonaire was a rare Labour casualty at the general election, losing her Bristol seat to the Green Party.

The left-winger wore traditional scarlet robes for her introduction ceremony yesterday, in which she swore allegiance to the King.

She was flanked by Lord Alli - who was at the heart of the furore over gifting clothes and spectacles to Sir Keir - and former minister Baroness Winterton.

Lady Debbonaire served in the shadow cabinet for four years, holding posts including shadow housing secretary, shadow leader of the House of Commons and shadow culture secretary.

After the election she said she had been expecting to lose her seat because Labour's stance on Gaza counted against her.

The peer is no stranger to controversy, including claiming tens of thousands of pounds for Arabic lessons to 'welcome' refugees and branding the famous green benches in the Commons sexist.

Baroness Debbonaire wore traditional scarlet robes for her introduction ceremony yesterday, in which she swore allegiance to the King

Lady Debbonaire served in the shadow cabinet for four years, holding posts including shadow housing secretary, shadow leader of the House of Commons and shadow culture secretary

Asked during during a Spectator interview last year about calls for Rule Britannia to be cut from Last Night of the Proms (pictured) for its colonial overtones, Lady Debbonaire said the music was 'alienating'

Asked during during a Spectator interview last year about calls for Rule Britannia to be cut from Last Night of the Proms for its colonial overtones, Lady Debbonaire said: 'It's not my favourite bit of music. And the Proms is a fantastic institution and it's the world's greatest music festival

'I think it's a decision for the people who run the Proms and again, like I said, it shouldn't be politicians who tell people how to run cultural events.

'I think for a lot of people that feels like a very sort of British moment, which I think has to be respected as well, but for a lot of people... it will feel alienating.

'As I want the Proms, I want culture, to be accessible to everyone, I think it's a good debate for us to be having.'

Before entering the Lords, Lady Debbonaire used a Commons facility to get more than 22,000 worth of Arabic lessons.

Parliamentary records show that she had been taking the classes since 2017-18, including 1,408 worth of classes in 2023-24 and 4,344 the previous year.

There is no suggestion that the MP has broken rules, with the Commons offering politicians 'training in accordance with their parliamentary duties'.

Over the years MPs from all parties have taken classes in Mandarin, Russian and Icelandic as well as more traditional languages such as French and German.

Lady Debbonaire previously argued that the Arabic lessons 'help communicate with the diverse population' in the Bristol West constituency she has represented since 2015.

During a Commons debate in June 2018, Lady Debbonaire said: 'I've been learning Arabic for the last 18 months in order to make a better MP for the Syrian and other Middle Eastern refugees in my constituency

'The idea is to make that welcome as genuine and sincere as possible.'

The Commons said that since 2001 MPs have been able to 'receive training in accordance with their parliamentary duties'.

Also during her Spectator interview, Lady Debbonaire suggested the historic green benches in the Commons should be replaced because they are too big for women.

The 5ft 1in politician complained that it is 'ridiculous' that her legs dangle off the end.

Ms Debbonaire also spoke about her experience of arriving at Parliament in 2015, saying she was surprised how much she 'loved' it despite the atmosphere being like a boys' public school.

In an interview for the Spectator's Women With Balls podcast, Thangam Debbonaire - who is 5ft1in - complained that the Commons green benches should be replaced because they are too big for women

'The seating for a start - it's built for men with long legs,' she said mentioning elements she would like to change...

'If I sit back my legs dangle like a little girl. It's ridiculous.

'The fact the House of Commons is so small, the fact that most of the food is like school dinners. Some of it's great by the way, in case any of the chefs are listening they are fantastic and they work really hard.

'It surprised me, and I don't know why it surprised me, that it was so similar to a boys' public school because that's what it was probably modelled on.'
A survivor of Monday's horrifying jet fuel tanker smash has relived his crew's life-or-death escape as their ship exploded around them after being hit by a cargo vessel.

The US-flagged MV Stena Immaculate was engulfed by a huge fireball after the Portuguese ship, MV Solong 'came out the blue' and ploughed into it.

It was feared the Solong was packed with barrels of sodium cyanide, which had spilled into the water. However, the ship's owners have today insisted the toxic chemical was not on board at time of yesterday's crash.

The inferno sparked a desperate scramble to abandon ship by sailors on both of the doomed vessels, as thousands of litres of jet fuel poured into the North Sea and ignited, in a fierce blaze that could be seen 13 miles away on the East Yorkshire coast.

Speaking to CBS after being rescued, the American sailor claimed his crew only had 'seconds to react' to the impact, which punctured the Stena's cargo tanks.

The experienced seaman said the 7,852-tonne Solong did not stop immediately following the crash and drove into the Immaculate for 10 minutes, the sailor added.

The American, who asked not to be named as workers had been banned from speaking to the media by bosses, described the crew rushing to put on protective gear to help battle the blaze before realising it was a hopeless cause.

Sailors from the Immaculate then piled into a lifeboat to escape, with the captain being the last person to leave the ruined ship, as flames started to engulf the 600ft vessel.

The ferocity of the fire was so intense, it singed the hair of the fleeing sailors as flames lapped the ship during their hellish 30-minute escape.

Pictured is the mangled remains of the MV Stena Immaculate following Monday's fire

Water can be seen flowing through the damaged hull of the Immaculate on Tuesday

Pictured are the charred remains of cargo ship MV Solong was completely destroyed by Monday's fire and is expected to sink in the North Sea

MV Stena Immaculate exploded into a 'massive fireball' after being hit by MV Solong yesterday

He added as the ship had anchored on Sunday and that their coordinates had been relayed, everyone should have known where the ship was.

A total of 36 mariners were rescued yesterday after abandoning ships as explosions rocked their doomed vessels amid fears of an environmental disaster.

One sailor on the Solong's 14-strong crew has not been found and is now feared dead.

Jet fuel gushed into the North Sea from the ruptured hold of the US-flagged oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate, which was transporting American military supplies. It had been at anchor when Portuguese-registered cargo ship MV Solong crashed into it.

Today pollution from the collision has been dubbed an 'immediate environmental disaster' by experts, who fear the situation could get worse.

Leaking oil and fuel being released could leave a 'toxic legacy' for ocean wildlife that should be protected, according to Hugo Tagholm, executive director of Oceana UK.

He said the spill could have a 'long term impact' on ecosystems which are home to threatened seabird colonies, grey seals, harbour porpoises, fish, and minke whales.

Martin Slater, of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, warned it could potentially be 'devastating' to the Humber estuary, with birds and seals at risk, and that he was 'very worried' about it.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said the disaster was close to the biggest gannet colony in England and warned a leak could be 'lethal' to seabirds.

Dave O'Hara, of the RSPB, said: 'The incident is close to Bempton Cliffs, home to the biggest gannet colony in England.'

Pictured is the thick black plume of smoke punching through the sky on Monday as the fires raged on both ships

The Solong, which is now a smouldering wreck, is seen floating adrift in the North Sea on Tuesday

A 1,000m exclusion zone has been implemented around the Solong (pictured) and Stena

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The charity's Richard Barnard added: 'Oil directly impacts seabirds, coating their feathers and reducing their waterproofing and buoyancy, which can lead to drowning, or it can poison them through ingestion.'

Experts fear the spill could take 'weeks or longer' to clean up with harmful waste expected to wash up on parts of the eastern coast of England in the coming days.

The Solong is still burning and adrift and is expected to sink. It's currently being supported by three tug ships.

Pictures show the vessel's charred and blackened superstructure appearing to have been warped and extremely damaged following Monday's disaster.

There had been fears that the cargo hauler had been carrying barrels full of deadly sodium cyanide aboard when it crashed.

However, a spokesman for Ernst Russ AG, the German company which owns the MV Solong, said: 'We are able to confirm that there are no containers on board ladened with sodium cyanide, as has been misreported.

'There are four empty containers that have previously contained the hazardous chemical and these containers will continue to be monitored.

'We extend our deepest sympathy to the family of the missing crew member, mindful that the search has been called off. Our first thoughts must be with them at this uncertain and distressing time. All necessary support is being provided to the family.'

Its hull was charred black by the blaze which engulfed much of the ship yesterday

A Portuguese-flagged cargo ship carrying cyanide smashed into the US military oil tanker (pictured on Monday)

The nightmare collision took place at 9.48am on Monday morning and triggered a major rescue effort.

It's not clear how the crash happened. However, a senior White House official yesterday told the maritime website gCaptain.com that foul play had not been ruled out.

There was speculation the Solong might have been hacked by Russia or other hostile states and turned into a 'spear'.

However, this has today been denied by transport minister Mike Kane, during a speech to MPs in the House of Commons on Tuesday afternoon.

The minister said something went 'terribly wrong' for the crash to happen, but that there was 'no evidence' of foul play.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister later added: 'I understand there doesn't appear to be any suggestions of foul play at this time.'

Fires continued to burn into this morning, after the Coastguard said an 'extensive search' for a missing crew member from the cargo ship had been called off - with aerial video this morning showing the Immaculate's blackened deck with a huge hole on its port side where she was ripped into.

The Solong is 'still alight', according to the Coastguard, who added the blaze on the Immaculate had 'greatly diminished'.

The two vessels had been tangled together in the aftermath of the crash. However, they separated at about 11.20pm on Monday, causing the Solong to 'drift southwards', the Coastguard said.

A 1,000m exclusion zone has been placed around both ships.

Pictured are the remains of the Stena Immaculate on Tuesday. Fires on the deck have largely been extinguished, emergency services said today

The Immaculate's deck this morning appeared black and charred following Monday's inferno

Mr Kane added the Government's 'working assumption' is a missing crew member from the cargo ship Solong has died.

He told the House of Commons: 'The full crew of 23 on the Immaculate is accounted for and onshore. One sailor was treated at the scene but declined any further medical assistance.

'Thirteen of the 14 sailors of the MV Solong are accounted for. Search and rescue operations for the missing sailor continued throughout yesterday but were called off yesterday evening at the point at which the chances of their survival had unfortunately significantly diminished.

'Our working assumption is that, very sadly, the sailor is deceased. The coastguard has informed the company and it has been advised to inform the next of kin. Our thoughts are with the sailor's loved ones at this time.'

Meanwhile the Solong remains adrift at sea amid fears the vessel could sink.

Dramatic audio footage recorded on board another ship revealed the moment a distress call was made by the coastguard via radio to alert those in the area.

Dramatic audio footage revealed the moment a distress call was made by the coastguard

The hulking wreck of the Stena Immaculate can be seen off the coast of Withernsea today

A male voice was heard saying in the call: 'Five three degrees, four four decimal two zero minutes north, I say again, five three degrees, four four decimal two zero minutes north, zero zero zero degrees, two three decimal seven five minutes east.

'Solong has collided with tanker Stena Immaculate in the outer anchorage. Both vessels are abandoning. Vessels who have firefighting equipment or who can assist with search and rescue, contact Humber Coastguard on channel one six.

'Vessel Stena Immaculate is carrying Jet A1 fuel, which is on fire and in the water. Request vessels remain at a safe distance. Humber Coastguard co-ordinating, date time group one zero, one zero, zero zero UTC. This is Humber Coastguard.'

Analytics firm Vortexa said 130,000 barrels of jet fuel were leaking into the water last night.

The Solong's Hamburg-based owner Ernst Russ said that one of the ship's 14 crew members was still missing while the rest were safely ashore.

The Solong had been sailing from the Scottish port of Grangemouth to Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

As it steamed at 16 knots  about 18mph  down England's east coast, its crew appeared not to see the enormous tanker parked ahead, ramming into it side-on.

As maritime accident investigators began work yesterday, one expert suggested 'nobody on the cargo ship was paying attention' as it neared the Stena Immaculate  which can carry 46.5million litres of oil  about 13 miles off the coast, east of Hull and the Humber estuary, where it had anchored overnight.

Jet fuel gushed into the North Sea from the ruptured hold of the MV Stena Immaculate (pictured Monday)

The 461ft Solong did 'not even slow down' as it ploughed 'full bore' into the side of the 600ft-long tanker while apparently on autopilot, said US naval history professor Sal Mercogliano.

In a YouTube video analysing the tracking data from the ships, he said: 'It appears that Solong just straight-out rammed into the side of Stena Immaculate.'

Dramatic footage showed the stricken vessels entangled as they floated around consumed by an inferno, as a massive rescue operation was launched shortly after the crash at 9.48am yesterday.

Flames leapt from oil burning on the surface of the sea as RNLI lifeboats and a Coastguard helicopter plucked sailors to safety.

Lifeboat crews from Skegness, Bridlington, Mablethorpe and Cleethorpes took part in the operation, while the Humber Coastguard issued an alert for any nearby vessels with fire-fighting capabilities to help out.

They were scrambled at 10.20am - with the crews from both of the devastated vessels having abandoned ship minutes earlier.

One rescue vessel from Cleethorpes was stood down at 11.40am, the RNLI said, while the three other boats continued with their search efforts. They were joined by a number of other civilian craft.

Rescue efforts were hampered by fog and thick smoke which billowed from the wrecks of the two ships.

The first reports of casualties having been pulled from the water came shortly after 1pm, with a number of crew members taken ashore.

By 9.30pm, Matthew Atikinson, divisional commander for HM Coastguard - which was co-ordinating the rescue - said 36 people had been rescued, with one heading to hospital.

However, in his update on Monday night he added: 'One crew member of the Solong remains unaccounted for, after an extensive search for the missing crew member sadly they have not been found and the search has ended.'

The sun rises off the coast of Withernsea this morning after yesterday's crash in the North Sea

A coastguard vehicle on the scene at the Port of Grimsby in East Yorkshire yesterday evening

A total of 36 mariners were rescued after abandoning ships as explosions rocked their vessels

This morning, efforts are continuing to fight the fire which ravaged the Stena Immaculate, with dramatic aerial footage showing the scale of the damage to the hulking vessel.

The ship has a large gash on its port side, with the metal around it twisted and charred black.

Fire suppression hoses appear to be dousing the ship with water in an attempt to cool the vessel's superstructure following Monday's inferno.

The Stena Immaculate, which had travelled from the Greek port of Agioi Theodoroi, had been chartered by the US Navy's Military Sealift Command as part of its Tanker Security Program which 'supports US military missions across the globe'.

Dr Abdul Khalique, head of the Maritime Centre at Liverpool John Moores University who has been using simulators to reconstruct the incident, said: 'It can be assumed that the watchkeepers on MV Solong were not performing their duty to 'maintain a proper lookout by all available means' as required by International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.'

Fire and rescue services attend the collision between MV Stena Immaculate and MV Solong

Dr Tom Webb, senior lecturer in Marine Ecology and Conservation at the University of Sheffield, said: 'The wildlife of the Yorkshire coast and Humber Estuary is of immense biological, cultural and economic importance.

'In addition to the wealth of marine life that is present all year round, this time of the year is crucial for many migratory species.

'Wading birds and waterfowl gather in large numbers as they move between wintering and breeding grounds, while soon Yorkshire's iconic seabirds will be coming inshore to breed.'

Hugo Tagholm, executive director of Oceana UK, said: 'This incident is a shocking reminder of the ferocious polluting power of oil.

'We are seeing burning slicks, the threat of heavy fuel oil, and toxic chemicals leaking in or near not one but two marine protected areas (MPAs). Places that should be safe havens for wildlife.'

This morning a government minister sought to reassure the public over the environmental impact of Monday's collision.

Matthew Pennycook told Times Radio on Tuesday the fire was 'still raging' and the Government was 'alive to the potential impacts on the environment'.

'The Maritime and Coastguard Agency are well equipped to contain and disperse any oil spills,' he said.

'We don't think air quality impacts are outside of normal levels, but we will keep the situation obviously under review.

'It's a fast-moving and dynamic situation, but all the necessary services are on the ground, both investigating and taking the immediate steps required.'

Black smoke billows into the air after a crash between the oil tanker and the cargo ship

Emergency measures are in place for any injured birds that wash ashore in the coming days, which may include euthanising animals if their injuries are severe.

A spokesman for the local Whitby Wildlife Sanctuary said: 'Hopefully, the effect on wildlife will be minimal, but there is an emergency contingency plan in place if lots of oiled birds wash up.'

Harj Narulla, an environmental law barrister from Doughty Street Chambers, said the costs of cleaning up an oil spill could be in the tens of millions of pounds. Typically the company found to have caused the spill foots the bill.

Martin Slater, of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, told the i Paper the coast was home to 'protected and significant' seabird colonies, with many gathering offshore ahead of the nesting season.

Dr Alex Lukyanov, researcher on advanced mathematical models of oil spills from the University of Reading, said: 'Oil spills like the one in the North Sea are affected by multiple factors.

'The size of the spill, weather conditions, sea currents, water waves, wind patterns, and the type of oil involved all play crucial roles in determining environmental outcomes.

'This particular incident is troubling because it appears to involve persistent oil, which breaks up slowly in water.'

He added: 'The environmental toll could be severe.'

US logistics group Crowley, which manages the oil tanker, said in a statement: 'Stena Immaculate was struck by the container ship Solong.

'The Stena Immaculate sustained a ruptured cargo tank. The Stena Immaculate crew abandoned the vessel following multiple explosions onboard.'

Flames leapt from oil burning on the surface of the sea as RNLI lifeboats helped the sailors

Crowley said it was unclear how much fuel may have been released, but that Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel in 16 segregated cargo tanks when it was struck.

Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East, said 13 casualties had been brought in initially by a commercial catamaran, followed by another ten on a harbour pilot boat and nine on another pilot's vessel.

A total of 36 were brought ashore during the day. Mr Boyers said there had been 'a massive fireball', adding: 'They must have sent a mayday out. There has been a flotilla of ambulances [at the dock] to pick up anyone they can find.'

Erik Hanell, chief executive of Stena Bulk, the company that owns the tanker said its crew of more than 20 were 'safe and accounted for' by lunchtime.

Ernst Russ, the company that owns the Solong, released a statement saying: '13 of the 14 Solong crew members have been brought safely shore. Efforts to locate the missing crew member are ongoing. Both vessels have sustained significant damage in the impact of the collision and the subsequent fire.'

HM Coastguard later said efforts to find the missing person from the Solong container ship had ended after 'an extensive search'.

A lifeboat returns to Bridlington RNLI station last night after taking part in rescue operations

Crowley vice president Cal Hayden said: 'As with all our operations, Crowley's priority is to protect the safety of mariners and the environment.

'We greatly appreciate the quick actions and support of the UK authorities, rescue workers and others to today's incident and remain committed to working with them on the continued response efforts.'

Michael Paterson, UK managing director of the tugboat firm Svitzer, told The Times seven of the company's vessels were at the scene yesterday.

He said the incident was 'one of the more serious that I've seen in my time'.

'We don't know how long this will last, but the phases of this are normally search and rescue and firefighting containment, and then it moves into environmental control, pollution and salvage of the vessels,' he said.

'We understand the search and rescue is now complete, but the firefighting will clearly still continue.'

HM Coastguard divisional commander Matthew Atkinson said an assessment of any required counter-pollution response was being carried out by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

The Royal National Lifeboat Antony Patrick Jones returns safely to Bridlington RNLI station

Lifeboats and a coastguard helicopter were called to the collision in the Humber Estuary just before 10am.

One RNLI crew member told The Times the fog was so thick during the initial search and rescue crews could 'not see a thing'.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch said it had 'deployed a team' to Grimsby. Elsewhere, two maritime security sources were reported as saying there was no indication of 'malicious activity'.

It is understood the US and Portugal will lead investigations into the incident and that work is ongoing to establish the full contents of both ships.

In Downing Street, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said the collision was an 'extremely concerning situation'.

Collisions remain rare in the busy North Sea.

In October 2023, two cargo ships, the Verity and the Polesie, collided near Germany's Heligoland islands in the North Sea.

Three people were killed and two others are still missing and considered dead.

In October 2015, the Flinterstar freighter, carrying 125 tonnes of diesel and 427 tonnes of fuel oil, sank after colliding with the Al Oraiq tanker eight kilometres (five miles) off the Belgian coast.
The owner of the whippet who won the Best in Show award at Crufts 2025 has broken his silence after furious fans claimed the favourite was 'robbed' of the coveted prize.

The prestigious competition was plunged into a bitter row after dog handler Giovanni Liguori, 30, and his four-year-old whippet Miuccia, from Venice, Italy, scooped the top prize at the NEC, in Birmingham, on Sunday evening.

Mr Liguori said it was a lifelong dream to win as he celebrated he and Miuccia becoming the first handler and dog from Italy to be crowned Best in Show at Crufts in its 134-year history.

A wave of backlash threatened to cut Mr Liguori's celebrations short after enraged viewers claimed the judges had made a 'shocking' decision in not picking Jack Russell Ana as the winner.

The two-year-old pup, handled by Andrea Vallerini in another Italian double act, stole the hearts of viewers after winning the Terrier Group title on Thursday, but failed to even make the podium for the Best in Show category on Sunday.

After an action-packed four days, with more than 18,000 dogs travelling from all over the world to compete, furious viewers flocked to social media to voice their discontent, accusing the judge's of 'daylight robbery' after Ana was snubbed.

The show's narrator even remarked: 'The Jack Russell was the public winner, but didn't make the podium this time.'

But speaking exclusively to MailOnline today, Mr Liguori insisted he and Miuccia were 'absolutely' right to win as he addressed the backlash for the first time.

Crufts came under fire after announcing the 2025 winner of Best in Show. Pictured: Miuccia, a whippet, poses with owner Giovanni Liguori, from Italy

The announcement caused uproar among fans, who blasted the 'shocking' decision on social media, claiming the judges 'robbed' Jack Russell, Ana (pictured with handler Andrea Vallerini), of the crown

'It's fine! Everyone has the right to choose their own favourite,' he said. 'The Jack Russell is a super funny little animal, which conquered the hearts of many people.

'It's very good that everyone has their own right to have their own winner, but of course there was the judge choosing [the dog], in their opinion, who was the most correct, according to the standard.'

Mr Liguori, who said it was a 'dream' to win the top prize on his Crufts debut, insisted he was 'absolutely not' upset about the backlash.

When asked if he thought the judge made the right decision, he insisted: 'Absolutely. Miuccia is a big winner in Europe, so she has won a lot here already and she's very correct, moderate and balanced, with a nice side gate. It's effortless.

'I'm very happy that also in the UK she has been appreciated. I feel delighted about this.'

For Mr Liguori, his focus is on drowning out the victory and celebrating his victory.

He said: 'I feel super happy, excited and on cloud nine. I really can't believe what happened. It's really the best thing for a breeder handler is to win Best in Show at Crufts.

'And so for me, it's an amazing emotion, it's hard to describe.

Mr Liguori says he is organising a party for next week back in Italy, where he lives, but for now is spending time with Miucci, his father and his closest friends.

Mr Liguori said it was a 'dream come true' to win Best in Show at Crufts on his debut at the show

Ana stole the hearts of viewers after winning the Terrier Group title, but failed to even make the podium for the Best in Show category on Sunday

Miuccia, a whippet, runs around the ring with owner Giovanni Liguori, from Italy, after winning the title for the Best in Show

Miuccia is the first Italian dog to win the award and becomes only the fourth whippet to do so

Miuccia, a whippet, poses with owner Giovanni Liguori, from Italy, and friends and family after winning the title

Talking about winning on his debut at Crufts, he said: 'It's something that you dream your whole life to win. When it happens so suddenly and in an unexpected way it's really, really special.

He said it was 'even more special' to be the first Italian to win.

'It's not only Miuccia's win, but I think it's also Italy's win, and I'm super happy to represent all the Italian breeders in the UK at Crufts and especially the young handlers and breeders like me.

'I am 30 years old, so really I think it's a fantastic example that if you dream big and you work hard, you can achieve what you are dreaming. It's a nice message for the young breeders.'

It marks the second year running that the Jack Russell fan favourite has missed out on the Best in Show award at Crufts.

At Crufts 2024, an Australian shepherd called Viking won Best in Show, beating Jack Russell and fan favourite Zen who came second.

Several furious fans flocked to social media to voice their anger over this year's Jack Russell, Ana, being 'robbed'.

Four-year-old whippet, Miuccia (left), was crowned Best in Show winner at this year's event, while Tibetan Mastiff, Viking (right), was named runner-up

Furious fans took to X to share their fury over the decision to award the prize to Miuccia over Ana

One furious fan wrote underneath a post uploaded to Crufts' account: 'JRT should have won it. Shocking decision.'

A second commented, 'I loved the little Jack Russell, she should have won,' while a third fumed, 'Should have been the Jack Russell. Absolutely a joke.'

Another claimed claimed judges overlooked the breed for a second consecutive year, writing: '2nd year in a row the Jack Russell was robbed!'

In another post, a fan wrote in agreement: 'Jack Russell dogs always get robbed in Crufts. Last year or this year should have been Best in Show for them.'

Another quipped: 'Haha the judge should have gone to Specsavers. The Jack Russell performed the best.'
The owner of a hyperbaric chamber which killed a five-year-old boy when it exploded is set to be charged with second-degree murder.

Tami Peterson was arrested at her Brighton, Michigan home on Monday morning over the death of Thomas Cooper, who died inside the chamber on January 31.

Peterson, who is the CEO of the Oxford Center in Detroit which operated the machine, will face second-degree murder and manslaughter charges, per Fox2.

Three more people who have not been named are also facing the same charges, according to Fox. One person will also be charged with falsifying medical records.

James Harrington, the attorney for Thomas' family, said the charges against Peterson show police believe 'she had some personal involvement' in the boy's death.

'Somebody doesn't get charged if they didn't take a specific action for something like this to happen,' Harrington told Fox.

Lawyers for the Oxford Center said they were cooperating with the investigation, but they were disappointed with the charges.

Tami Peterson (pictured) was arrested at her Brighton , Michigan home on Monday morning over the death of Thomas Cooper, who died inside the chamber on January 31

The owner of a hyperbaric chamber which killed five-year-old Thomas Cooper (pictured) when it exploded is set to be charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter

Peterson, who is the CEO of the Oxford Center in Detroit which operated the machine (pictured), will face second-degree murder and manslaughter charges, per Fox2

'The timing of these charges is surprising, as the typical protocol after a fire-related accident has not yet been completed,' the attorneys said in a statement to Fox.

'There are still outstanding questions about how this occurred. Yet, the Attorney General's office proceeded to pursue charges without those answers.

'Our highest priority every day is the safety and wellbeing of the children and families we serve, which continues during this process.'

Thomas died when the hyperbaric chamber he was in malfunctioned and exploded. A hyperbaric chamber is a pressurized tube where patients breathe pure oxygen.

The five-year-old was using the machine as treatment for ADHD and sleep apnea when it suddenly caught fire.

His mother, Annie Cooper, rushed to try and rescue him by throwing herself towards the blaze, their lawyer revealed previously.

'She has significant burns on her arm, and that was done during a rescue attempt to try to get her child out of the burning flames,' Harrington told NBC News.

'She was trying and trying to get him out and was unsuccessful.'

He continued: 'She does have visible burns, but the real problem for her is going to be the emotional trauma.'

James Harrington (pictured), the attorney for Thomas' family, said the charges against Peterson show police believe 'she had some personal involvement' in the boy's death

The owner of a hyperbaric chamber which killed five-year-old Thomas Cooper (pictured) when it exploded is set to be charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter

Thomas' mother, Annie Cooper, rushed to try and rescue him by throwing herself towards the blaze, their lawyer revealed previously.

The heartbroken parents are 'absolutely devastated' after experiencing something 'no parent should ever, ever have to go through,' Harrington added.

On a GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses, Annie described her son as 'the smartest and cutest kid who liked to zoom, zoom, zoom.'

'His family loved him very much. He was a smart, intelligent boy and his parents loved him how he was. He was perfect in every way. He was the best, best boy there ever was,' she wrote.

Thomas had been taken for multiple sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for sleep apnea and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder at The Oxford Center, Troy location.

Oakland County Fire Department arrived minutes after the 911 about 8am on Friday, but the boy was already dead.

The fire was quickly put out and there was no damage to the rest of the facility.

'A hyperbaric chamber contains 100 percent oxygen, which is up to five times the amount of oxygen in a normal room,' Troy Fire Department Lt Keith Young said.

'The presence of such a high amount of oxygen in a pressurized environment can make it extremely combustible.

'There's going to be multiple jurisdictions and departments throughout the state that are going to be a part of this investigation.'

The chamber increases air pressure, which helps the lungs take in more oxygen and distribute it to cells, helping to fight infection and damage.

'This is an unimaginable tragedy, and our hearts are with the family as they navigate this immeasurable loss,' managing partner Harrington said.

'The safety of children should always be the top priority, and this incident raises serious concerns about hyperbaric chambers and the oversight and regulation of hyperbaric treatments.'

'This is an unimaginable tragedy, and our hearts are with the family as they navigate this immeasurable loss,' managing partner Harrington said

Peterson (left) was seen outside the clinic talking to police as the building was closed for an investigation into Thomas' death

Following Thomas's tragic death, The Oxford Center released a statement which said: 'The safety and wellbeing of the children we serve is our highest priority. Nothing like his has happened in our more than 15 years of providing this type of therapy.

'We do not know why or how this happened and will participate in all of the investigations that now need to take place.'

The Troy location is temporarily closed following the incident while an investigation is underway, currently no updates have been made according to Troy police, NBC reported.

Thomas' family have hired Harrington in preparation to sue the clinic, but it won't be the first time it has been in legal hot water.

The Center had previously hired a convicted felon at its Brighton, Michigan, location in 2018.

Kimberly Casey Coden, 38, worked as a director of services until 2021, creating programs to help autistic children through her behavioral analyst qualifications.

Chief executive Tami Peterson knew about Coden's background, but, as a Christian, decided to give her a chance at 'redemption'.

But Coden had faked all her credentials and even used the certification number of a real health professional three times to aid in her fraud.

The phony therapist already had a criminal record for identity theft and larceny in West Bloomfield Township, after pilfering from her own family.

She stole thousands of dollars and credit cards, jewelry, and even her mother's identity to open credit cards in her name.

Lawyers for the Oxford Center (pictured) in Troy, Detroit, said they were cooperating with the investigation, but they were disappointed with the charges

The Oxford Center hired Kimberly Casey Coden (pictured in her staff photo at the time) at its other location in Brighton, Michigan, in 2018, despite her being a convicted felon

Shockingly, Oxford Center admitted it not only knew about these felony convictions, but also that her license and qualifications were bogus.

After local media started sniffing around in 2021 and the Michigan Attorney General's Office began a probe, it quietly asked her to resign, then changed its name from Oxford Recovery Center to its current branding.

'At Oxford Recovery Center, the health and safety of our patients has always been our top priority,' Peterson wrote in an email.

'The situation surrounding Casey has created a distraction from our core values of serving our patients.

'Due to this, and in our ongoing commitment to provide excellent care and services to our patients, clients and families, we have asked Casey to resign from her position at ORC.'

Coden was later charged with 16 counts of unauthorized practice of a health profession, along with the identity theft and witness intimidation charges. Her guilty plea got 10 of the charges dismissed.

She was jailed for four to seven-and-a-half years by the 44th Circuit Court on December 3, after pleading guilty to six counts of unauthorized practice of a health profession and two counts of identity theft last August.

Coden also admitted to one count of witness intimidation for sending text messages she hoped would prevent testimony against her.

Thomas's death came two months after Coden resigned.
The mystery hunk seen with his arm draped around missing spring breaker Sudiksha Konanki on the morning she vanished has been named by police sources as American Joshua Steven Riibe.

A source close to the investigation told DailyMail.com that Riibe, 22, a powerfully-built former high school wrestler, was being cooperative. He is still in Punta Cana but is not currently considered a suspect.

Dominican authorities are currently in possession of his passport however there is nothing to stop him lawfully retrieving it and flying back to the US, the source explained.

Its believed that investigators also have the Americans phone but are waiting for legal authorization to examine the device.

Riibe and Konanki were seen striding towards the beach together at around 4am on March 6.

They were part of a larger group of her friends. At 5:55 am, the others went back to their rooms, leaving Riibe and Sudiksha on the beach.

According to Riibe, the pair went for a swim but were caught by a large wave. Riibe says he clambered back to the shore and then fell asleep. Sudiksha was never seen again.

Her body has not yet been found, but Dominican police remain convinced she drowned.

The mystery hunk seen with his arm draped around missing spring breaker Sudiksha Konanki on the morning she vanished has been named by police sources as American Joshua Steven Riibe

Joshua Riibe, a 22-year-old tourist from Iowa, was seen talking to law enforcement at beach next to the Riu Republica Hotel in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic on Monday.

Authorities continue to investigate the disappearance of student Sudiksha Konanki, who was last seen with him March 6. Riibe has turned over his U.S. passport and can't leave the country, according to El Nuevo Diario newspaper

Her family are less certain. They are calling for an investigation into human trafficking.

When contacted by Daily Mail, Riibe's relatives described him as a 'good kid' who focuses on his studies.

He lives in Rock Rapids, Iowa, and is a senior at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota.

A private investigator who probed murder victim Natalee Holloway's 2005 disappearance disagrees with the police theory that Sudiksha drowned.

The camera picked up Riibe, barefooted and without his shirt, as he slowly walked back to his room at 8:54 am - around four hours after he went to the beach with Konanki.

A source with knowledge of the investigation says Konanki's friends left the hotel for an excursion in the morning, and returned at 4pm.

That's when they noticed she was missing and alerted the authorities.

A source close to the investigation told DailyMail.com that Riibe, 22, a powerfully-built former high school wrestler, was being cooperative

Sudiksha Konanki, 20, vanished from a beach in Punta Cana on March 6. Dominican authorities believe she drowned

Surveillance video footage obtained by Dominican Republic news outlet Noticias SIN showed Joshua Riibe (left) and Sudiksha Konanki (second from left) following their friends to the beach at the Riu Republica Hotel before Konanki disappeared March 6

Riibe told investigators he and Konanki went into the water and were swept by a wave. He said that he swallowed a lot of water and that they were able to make it back to the shoreline.

He also told investigators that he eventually fell asleep at the beach before he woke up and walked back to his room.

Dominican Republic authorities believe that Konanki, pre-med student, may have drowned, but have yet to retrieve her body as the FBI joined the investigation.

All five people who were seen in the video with Konanki were interviewed a second time, the Dominican Republic National Police said in a statement.

'Employees of the hotel where the young woman and her companions were staying are also part of this process in order to gather information that allows corroboration of their movements, interactions and any relevant data in this search process,' the police said.

Authorities were using drones, helicopters and detection dogs in the search for the student

Sudiksha Konanki, who was a pre-med student at the University of Pittsburgh, vanished from the Riu Republica resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic on March 6

The US State Department is working with the Indian embassy in the Dominican Republic, which has taken the lead in the investigation as Konanki is an Indian citizen who was a permanent resident of the United States.

While authorities suspect the likeliest scenario is that she drowned in the rough conditions, her family are urging them to consider other lines of inquiry until and unless her body washes ashore.

'It's four days, and if she was in water, she would likely have been strewn to shore,' her father Subbarayudu Konanki said in his complaint.

'She's not found, so we're asking them to investigate multiple options, like kidnapping or abduction.'

The complaint states: 'While it is possible that Sudiksha drowned, there is a growing suspicion that there may be a crime, specifically the possibility of kidnapping.'
Elon Musk could bankroll a new party to rival Nigel Farage's Reform UK amid a major splintering on the hard right of British politics.

The world's richest man is said to be mulling over financing for a new outfit, which could be led by former Reform MP turned Farage critic Rupert Lowe.

Musk, who was linked with a 100m donation to Reform in December, publicly criticised its leader in January and suggested Lowe would made a good replacement.

It came as the Metropolitan Police confirmed it was investigating the Great Yarmouth MP over claims he made 'verbal threats'.

Lowe was suspended and accused of bullying and violent threats last week after accusing Farage of acting like a 'messiah'.

He denies any wrongdoing and has refused to rule out leading a new party, saying last night he has not 'got to the stage yet where I can make any decisions.'

Their row has since turned into a major public spectacle weeks before Reform is due to challenge Labour in a key by-election.

And the power may not be with Farage. A new poll from YouGov today show one-in-three Reform voters (33 per cent) believe the party would do better with a different leader.

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Mr Farage and his supporters are locked in a furious public row with MP Rupert Lowe, who was accused of bullying staff and threatening a senior official the day after he accused the party leader of acting like a 'messiah'.

Elon Musk was linked with a 100million donation to the party at the start of the year. However, reports today suggest he could be eying up funding a new rival right wing party

A second shows Reform is overall down two points - as is Labour - after a difficult week for its politicians in the UK and its international allies.

Mr Lowe used an interview with the Dan Wootton Outspoken programme to admit he had been in contact with Musk, though it has been limited to 'a little bit of DM'ing on Twitter, not big, a thumbs up or whatever, and he retweets quite a lot of what we put on Twitter, or on X'.

'That's the extent of it. There is no more to it or less to it than that,' he said.

He suggested he was suspended by Reform UK for being a 'tall poppy' who threatened to overshadow Nigel Farage, adding that the leader 'tends to fall out with' people whom he deems 'capable enough to take over from him'.

But Mr Farage hit back on Monday night, telling GB News: 'I don't fall out with anybody, they fall out with me.

'There has been a behavioural problem for some months. Outbursts, anger, that kind of thing.

'Frankly I've tried to, we've tried to, put it all to the back of our minds.. And I'm not prejudging anything on the allegations of a bullying culture going on in his offices.

'But I put it you that any party who had a senior figure who was facing those accusations would have to act in some way.

'When we found out that one of our MPs was facing these accusations - without prejudging anything we decided to appoint an independent KC to have a look at the situation.

Musk and Trump are becoming increasingly unpopular in the UK thanks to their weakening of American support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

Mr Farage has made much of his closeness to both men, even though Musk suggested he be replaced as Reform leader by Lowe in January.

However, the Financial Times today reported he could be eying up funding a new rival right wing party in the UK - potentially led by Lowe.

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Reform is meant to be preparing for the by-election in Runcorn and Helsby after disgraced MP Mike Amesbury said he will quit the Commons after punching a constituent.

The former Labour MP was given a 10-week prison term, which was reduced to a suspended sentence after an appeal, leaving him at risk of being ousted from Parliament through the recall process.

The MP told the BBC he would 'step aside at the earliest opportunity', meaning a vote could be held at the same time as the local elections on May 1.

Mr Lowe used an interview with the Dan Wootton Outspoken programme to once again deny the accusations against him, branding them 'absolute drivel'.

He pointed out that the allegations relating to Zia Yusuf, Reform party chairman, weren't lodged with police until last week despite them allegedly happening in December.

This was after an interview appeared in the Daily Mail last week in which Mr Lowe criticised Mr Farage's leadership.

He admitted having a 'robust debate' with Mr Yusuf on December 13, but denied threatening physical violence.

The MP was asked whether he thought the fallout could be linked to X owner and key member of Donald Trump's administration Elon Musk, who last year expressed doubt about Mr Farage's leadership and suggested he might support Mr Lowe.

'I owe a huge debt to Elon Musk because without my X account which gives me a voice, this may well have ended very differently, because I think in the past anyone who has (been), if you like, a poppy that stood up too tall has been chopped down,' the former Southampton FC chairman said.

'I have been thinking about it in my own mind and I sort of wonder whether in a country that I think is becoming increasingly used to lies, somebody who stands up in Parliament and tells the truth is seen as a tall poppy.'
An InfoWars reporter who was murdered outside his home was shot to death by an unknown assailant, according to his sister.

Jamie White was found mortally wounded outside his Austin residence around midnight on Sunday, in a slaying that InfoWars owner Alex Jones blamed on Travis County's George Soros-backed District Attorney.

White's sister Kelly Kneale said that although the investigation is in its early stages, it is not believed to be a 'targeted attack'.

'My brother was shot,' Kneale told DailyMail.com. 'Someone was attempting to break into his car.

'We're not doing great. I'm trying to hold it together as best I can for my dad, he can't really talk right now.'

Kneale explained that her brother had recently become an uncle to her baby daughter as she broke down in tears while paying tribute to him.

'It was really great to watch him take on that role and be so loving and supporting,' she added.

'Our mother passed away nine years ago and I think he knew it was really hard for me not to have her be a grandmother so he made sure my daughter was loved and he made sure I knew I was supported, he was was really great.'

InfoWars reporter Jamie White who was murdered outside his home was shot to death by an unknown assailant, according to his sister Kelly Kneale

InfoWars' Alex Jones claimed that White's death was the inevitable result of what he called 'vicious policies' by Soros-backed District Attorneys' allegedly lax on crime approach

Officers from Austin Police Department responded to 911 calls reporting a man with 'obvious signs of trauma.'

White was rushed to a nearby hospital where he later died from his injuries.

Police have called the incident a homicide but have not identified any suspects. The slaying had been investigated as a shooting/stabbing but authorities have not released additional information.

In a fiery and emotional video on Monday afternoon, conspiracy theorist Jones did not hold back in assigning blame, squarely targeting the district attorney Jose Garza.

'I lay all of this squarely at the feet of Soros and of the sort of crime syndicate of the Democratic Party.

'They are the ones that administratively cut the police, prosecuted the police, and even cases that are hundred percent clear to be lawful, legal activities,' Jones ranted.

'You murdered Jamie White, you opened the door, you created the climate, you created conditions on purpose. George Soros. Alexander Soros, you murdered Jamie White.'

'These are sick, degenerate, evil people that know what they're doing and they aided and abetted. They are accomplices to the murder of a great American and InfoWars long time veteran reporter Jamie White.'

White's sister said they do not believe the murder was a 'targeted attack' but that the investigation is in its early stages

The apartment complex was cordoned off with crime scene tape following Sunday night's killing

Jamie White, left, a reporter for conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' InfoWars was brutally murdered outside his south Austin apartment late on Sunday night

Garza is known for his progressive policies and his campaign was backed by billionaire financier George Soros' Open Society Foundations.

Jones claimed that White's death was the inevitable result of what he called 'vicious policies' by Soros-backed DAs like Garza, whom he accused of intentionally undermining law enforcement and letting violent criminals roam free.

Jones also cited unnamed Austin police officers and detectives as sources, claiming that many in law enforcement are frustrated and demoralized by what they see as Garza's refusal to prosecute dangerous offenders.

The Austin Police Department has so far not publicly commented on any political links.

DailyMail.com has contacted Garza's office and the Austin Police Department for comment.
Tucker Carson has claimed that Republican Senator Tom Cotton has been working behind the scenes to block the release of the JFK assassination files.

In a conversation with Chris Cuomo, Carlson claimed the Arkansas lawmaker prevented a key intelligence hire in the Trump cabinet in order to stop the full release of the classified documents.

'At one point there was someone who was being discussed for a job in the intel world, and a member of the SSCI went to the people making the decision and said, "You cannot hire this person because this person will be certain to push for the release of the JFK files,"' Carlson said on his podcase on Monday.

'You have to ask yourself, "What is that?"... If youre telling me that six weeks ago, a member of the United States Senate was trying to keep someone out of a job in order to keep these files secret, that is to protect the CIA, I dont believe that for a second.'

Pressed by Cuomo to reveal the senator in question, Carlson said 'Tom Cotton of Arkansas did that.'

Sen Cotton quickly denied Carlson's claims.

'This is false. I have no problem releasing the 'JFK files,' Cotton said on X.

'Had Tucker Carlson asked me, I wouldve told him. He has texted me multiple times in recent weeks, so he knows how to reach me.'

Tucker Carlson has claimed a Republican senator prevented a hire in the Trump cabinet in order to stop the release of the JFK assassination

The Arkansas lawmaker quickly took to X to deny Carlson's claims about the files

Former CNN star Chris Cuomo pressed Carlson to name the lawmaker in question during their chat, which aired on Monday

When Cuomo asked Carlson why he hadn't just asked Cotton about the JFK files, the former Fox News star replied that he did not think the senator would agree to an interview.

Cotton was born in 1977, 14 years after JFK's assassination, and Carlson did not offer any theory as to why the lawmaker would want to suppress the files.

Back in January president Trump ordered the release of thousands of classified governmental documents about the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, which has fueled conspiracy theories for decades.

The order directed the national intelligence director and attorney general to develop a plan to release classified records related to Kennedys assassination.

Last month the FBI said it discovered 2,400 new records related to the assassination of president Kennedy as federal agencies work to comply with Trumps executive order.

The FBI said its working to transfer the records to the National Archives and Records Administration to be included in the declassification process.

Trump promised during his reelection campaign to make public the last batches of still-classified documents surrounding President Kennedys assassination in Dallas, which has transfixed people for decades. Trump made a similar pledge during his first term, but ultimately bent to appeals from the CIA and FBI to withhold some documents.

President Trump ordered the release of thousands of classified governmental documents about the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy

Trump signed an executive order authorizing the release of the remaining classified records in one of his first acts after returning to the White House

The federal government in the early 1990s mandated that all documents related to the November 22, 1963, assassination be housed in a single collection at the National Archives. And while the vast majority of the collection  which includes over 5 million pages of records  has been made public, researchers estimate that 3,000 files havent been released, either in whole or in part.

Surveillance of Lee Harvey Oswald, a file on a Cuban hitman, and the president's plan to obliterate the CIA are among bombshell revelations that could be contained within secret JFK assassination files.

Kennedy was assassinated in downtown Dallas on November 22, 1963, as his motorcade passed in front of the Texas School Book Depository building.

Gunman Lee Harvey Oswald, 24, shot from a sixth-floor sniper's perch, and was himself gunned down two days later.

The Warren Commission concluded Oswald acted alone, but conspiracy theories have run riot ever since.

Many center on the rumored presence of a second gunman hiding on a grassy knoll on Dallas' Dealey Plaza, who opened fire as the president drove past.

A House of Representatives committee that investigated the assassination during the 1970s concluded that there may well have been a second gunman.

But its report was unable to provide definitive proof of the claim.
A Ukrainian soldier who was declared dead after a grenade exploded next to him on the frontlines has turned up alive after crawling for three days through minefields and Russian-controlled territory.

The veteran from Ukraine's military intelligence unit, Artan, found himself surrounded 'deep inside enemy held territory' with five prisoners and two other soldiers from his squad, he told the Kyiv Post.

An 'intense' firefight broke out between the opposing forces, and 'most of the prisoners' were killed 'by their own comrades' fire, the soldier, codenamed 'Khokhol', claimed.

As he ordered his men to retreat, the Russian forces targeted him with grenades and RPGs. Pinned down and only able to 'push deeper into the field', the lone soldier managed 'about 100 metres' before a grenade landed next to him and he 'blacked out'.

The soldier said he wondered why the men had not tried to advance on his position - until he realised he was trapped in a minefield. He had no choice but to keep moving.

'It was the beginning of a long struggle to find a way out of this situation,' he said. 'It lasted three days and two nights.

'During this time, I was practically crawling the whole way because I was stuck between two opposing sides that would open fire on sensing any movement... I navigated only by the sounds of gunfire.'

The soldier recounted his brave journey home across enemy-controlled territory last autumn

The small team passed by two enemy positions unnoticed but were confronted as they approached a guard tower

'Khokhol', who takes his codename from a Russian slur for Ukrainians, said that his squad had taken the brave decision to go in after his platoon became surrounded sometime in the autumn.

A storm group was set up to break through the enemy line and clear the way to relieve the trapped soldiers.

'Khokhol' was tasked with leading the operation on the frontlines of the war, inside enemy-held territory.

On the way back, they found themselves without drone support, and their night vision goggles had been drained of battery.

'At a critical moment' they made a wrong turn and found themselves 'deep inside' enemy held territory.

The small team passed by two enemy positions unnoticed but were confronted as they approached a guard tower.

'Our guys were caught off guard. We didn't even realise at that moment that we were already on enemy ground.'

They were pressed for a password and answered with 'Khokhol', leading to a moment of confusion before both sides opened fire.

In the affray, some of the prisoners were killed and 'Khokhol' ordered a retreat.

The conflict ensued over a tiny space of just 10 to 15 metres.

Stuck in the middle, 'right in the crossfire', he was helpless as the enemy focused their fire on him.

The soldier told how he blacked out when a grenade landed nearby.

The veteran from Ukraine's military intelligence unit, Artan, found himself surrounded 'deep inside enemy held territory' with five prisoners and two other soldiers from his squad

The soldier moved through the forests for days without food or water, or rain

Waking up in a minefield with fragments still lodged in his head and body, 'Khokhol' crawled 'about three and a half kilometres' over a period three days to safety, knowing that either side could open fire if he became exposed.

He followed the sounds of gunfire and slept in bursts of five to ten minutes as he made his way back from enemy territory.

Nursing a burst eardrum and with no hope of finding food or water, he said his body was 'running on whatever resources I had left' throughout the perilous journey home.

Physically and mentally exhausted, he said he was 'curious' about how his mission would end, recognising that he was already beginning to hallucinate visions of his wife.

In a moment of despair, he told her that he could not carry on: 'I'm staying here.'

Even though he knew he was hallucinating, he took comfort from her words of encouragement, telling him to keep pushing.

The teams sent out to find 'Khokhol' and bring him home had been unsuccessful.

Not knowing whether he was lost, dead or had been taken prisoner, he was officially listed as being Missing in Action.

But within his unit, he was recorded as being dead. His wife had been told and preparations for his funeral had already started.

It would be another day before 'Khokhol' reached safety. But even as he came within metres of his comrades, he still did not know what awaited him.

Charged only by a chance discovery of four walnuts and some water, he gathered the strength to keep moving until he saw movement around a bunker.

He stripped and cleaned his weapon and approached the building not knowing what he was about to step into.

A view of the damaged Lgov town after the Ukrainian army launched attacks in Kursk Oblast in August last year

A Russian self-propelled multiple rocket launcher is fired toward Ukrainian position at an undisclosed location in the Kursk region, February 6, 2025

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'Khokhol' said he was 'seconds' from opening fire when he heard voices in Ukrainian over the radio - and realised he was with allies.

But still the journey was not over. The Ukrainians gave him food and water, but the road to the exfiltration site was still four kilometres (2.5 miles) away and under fire.

It was a week before the lone soldier was able to make contact with command, having gone into hell and back on just fumes, knowing that his chances of making it out alive were next to nil.

His first call was to his wife. He apologised for taking so long.

'If you hadnt crawled out, I would have killed you myself!' she shot back.

Rounding off his incredible first hand account of soldiering behind the frontlines in Ukraine, 'Khokhol' told the Kyiv Post: 'Right now, we all have one goal  to end this war. To clear the sky over our childrens heads. To give them a future.'

Ukrainian forces launched a shock incursion over the border into Russia's Kursk region in August last year, rapidly sweeping through around 18 miles of land.

It was unclear where 'Khokhol' and his men were at the time they came under fire last autumn.

Ukraine may have been aided in its attack by 'detailed intelligence gathering', the International Institute for Strategic Studies assessed in October.

U.S. President Donald Trump was last night set to finally lift the ban on military aid and intelligence support for Ukraine after cutting off both in the wake of the disastrous Oval Office meeting with President Zelensky in late February.

The reversal followed a plea by Sir Keir Starmer ahead of peace talks in Saudi Arabia to end the three-year conflict.
A Los Angeles woman, who lost her home to the Palisades Fire, was certain her beloved pet cat was swept up in the flames as well.

But it turns out that Katherine Kiefer's cat did have more than one life.

Kiefer has been mourning the loss of her five-year-old Maine Coon cat named Aggie for two months.

Aggie disappeared in the fires that consumed and destroyed Kiefer's Pacific Palisades home on January 7.

But volunteers clearing out the damage miraculously found the terrified cat this week hiding in the wildfire rubble, KTLA reported.

The cat was near starvation, so she was rushed to an emergency veterinary hospital, where Kiefer had a tearful reunion with her cherished pet.

Video shows Kiefer bursting into a fit of sobs as soon as the vet brought her survival-worn feline into the exam room.

She then was given Aggie, cradling her while beaming into the camera.

Katherine Kiefer cradles her beloved five-year-old cat named Aggie. The cat was missing for two months after Kiefer's home burnt to the ground in the Pacific Palisades fire

Aggie was found this week by volunteers sifting through the rubble of Kiefer's home. It was near starvation and was transported to an emergency veterinary hospital

'It was Aggie, and she was just skin and bones but she was responsive and she recognized our voices,' Kiefer told KTLA.

'And it was truly a miracle. I just couldn't see how anybody could have survived. I don't know what to say except that I just feel really, really lucky,' she added.

Kiefer said she had been 'distraught' over Aggie's disappearance and had been 'fearing the worst' before she was discovered.

Aggie has already received two blood transfusions and her condition is improving.

Kiefer's daughter, Carolyn, made a GoFundMe on Monday to help pay for Aggie's continuing treatment.

The fundraiser has already raised more than $16,000, well past the $13,000 goal.

Carolyn previously shared a separate GoFundMe days after her mother and father lost their home. That one has raked in over $43,000 toward the $75,000 goal.

The Kiefers were just one family that lost everything to the horrific wildfires that scorched tens of thousands of acres of land in Southern California.

Homes in the Pacific Palisades, a neighborhood west of downtown Los Angeles, burn in the wildfires on January 7

Pictured: A whole neighborhood in the Pacific Palisades was reduced to rubble after the LA fires raged all throughout January

The fires, which burned for weeks as firefighters worked to get them under control, killed at least 29 people, destroyed more than 16,000 structures and torched over 57,000 acres of land in Malibu, Pasadena, Altadena and the Pacific Palisades

The total economic loss from the fires is estimated to be $250 billion, which includes factors such as anticipated cleanup costs, housing displacement and businesses shutting down.

Real estate losses from the Palisades and the Eaton fires are predicted to surpass $30 billion, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Last month, California Gavin Newsom asked Congress for nearly $40 billion to help rebuild the areas affected.

At the time, President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson both suggested that there could be conditions that California will need to meet in order to continue to get federal aid for the wildfires.
A number of posters promoting the hit Magic Mike Live stage show have been left defaced by vandals claiming the production is sexist.

The posters, which were located at various London underground stations, were spray-painted with the words 'sexist', 'exploitation' and 'mentoo'.

It has previously been alleged that workers at the West End show were sexually assaulted by lust-crazed female attendees.

Magic Mike is a 90-minute show at London's Hippodrome Casino based on the 2012 comedy drama starring Channing Tatum.

The show is based loosely on Tatum's earlier years in which he worked as an 18-year-old stripper in Tampa Bay, Florida.

In the West End's stage adaptation, semi-clad men perform a set of raunchy dance routines, a sight which has allegedly left some audience members acting in an unacceptable manner.

On one occasion, theatre staff are said to have been groped, with police called after one drunken female audience member allegedly tried to strip waiters and ushers, an allegation which the Hippodrome Casino has denied.

The issue of rowdy female crowds apparently became such an issue for the Hippodrome Casino staff that a notice which asks women to 'pre-drink lightly' was printed on entrance tickets.

A poster advertising the stage show adaptation of Magic Mike Live was defaced on the London underground, with the words 'sexual exploitation' spray-painted across it

Another poster on the London underground was left covered with the words 'Sexist! #MenToo'

The Magic Mike Live admittance ticket also informs patrons that the venue has a full bar with 'cute waitstaff' to serve drinks at the show.

On the show's official website, audience members are promised a show involving the 'world's sexiest, most talented guys, performing heart-racing dance routines'.

Going on to describe the performance as 'hot' and 'temperature raising', the website prompts women to dress in a manner which 'makes you feel comfortable, sexy and ready to have a good time'.

During the occasion in which an usher was allegedly groped by a woman before fleeing the theatre and leaving his shift early, a source divulged how she 'tried to undress him'.

The source added: 'His braces were pulled down then his shirt opened and it went on and on.

'He was helpless. We never saw him again after that.

'It has happened to so many staff - slaps on the bum, being grabbed, kissed, and pulled around by drunk guests'.

In a separate worrying incident, another woman allegedly grabbed a waiter's crotch.

A number of concerns have been raised in the past over the behaviour of female audience members at the show

It is not the first time that advertising posters on the London underground have sparked controversy, after comedian Ed Gamble saw signage promoting his tour banned last year for 'promoting obesity'.

An image of Gamble eating a hotdog had been deemed unacceptable by Transport for London chiefs who said it violated their healthy eating guidelines.

The posters of Gamble eating a hotdog were in turn replaced with the comedian holding a cucumber instead.

Another huge row broke out back in 2015 when Protein World advertisted their products with a woman in a bikini alongside the slogan 'Are you beach body ready?'

They were roundly condemned at the time, with women's campaign groups labelling them as sexist and arguing they promoted unhealthy perceptions of the female body.
President Donald Trump's wish to take over Greenland is looming over the island as it holds its elections on Tuesday amid a debate about its future.

There have been growing calls for independence from Denmark but not all of the islanders want to be part of the United States. Voters now will elect 31 lawmakers who will shape the island's future.

With Trump's declared interest, the results will be watched around the world. Pro-Trumpers are making their presence known on the island, distributing 'Make America Great Again' hats on the streets of capital city Nuuk.

Trump weighed in on Monday, the day before voters went to the ballot box.

'As I made clear during my Joint Address to Congress, the United States strongly supports the people of Greenland's right to determine their own future. We will continue to KEEP YOU SAFE, as we have since World War II,' he wrote on his Truth Social account.

'We are ready to INVEST BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to create new jobs and MAKE YOU RICH  And, if you so choose, we welcome you to be a part of the Greatest Nation anywhere in the World, the United States of America!'

In his Joint Address to Congress last week, Trump said of Greenland: 'I think we're going to get it one way or the other.'

People line up at a polling station to cast their vote in Nuuk, Greenland

It remains an open question on what the future holds for Greenland. But all five parties in its parliament have said they do not want the island to become part of the United States.

Opinion polls show that the people there favor independence.

One poll found that 85% of Greenlanders do not wish to become a part of the United States, and nearly half see Trump's interest as a threat.

Greenlanders 'deserve to be treated with respect, and I don't think the U.S. president has done that recently since he took office,' the island's Prime Minister Mute Egede told the public broadcaster, DR, on Monday.

Out of concern of election interference, Greenlands parliament passed legislation in February that bans political parties from receiving financial contributions from foreign and anonymous donors.

Trump is interested in the island's strategic position in the North Atlantic and its wealth of minerals. It also is believed to have natural gas and oil off its shores.

There are fears he could it by force.

'I think most of us have been scared since the new year because of (Trump's) interest,' Pipaluk Lynge, a member of parliament from the ruling Inuit Ataqatigiit, or United Inuit party, told The Associated Press.

'So we're really, really looking to Europe right now to see if we could establish a stronger bond with them to secure our sovereign nation.'

President Donald Trump is interested in Greenland's strategic position and mineral wealth

Voters in Greenland line up to cast their ballot

Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Bourup Egede, left, greets a voter outside a polling station

Greenland is the world's largest island and also one of the most sparsely populated. It is home to about 56,000 people.

It has been controlled by Denmark for almost 300 years. It became a formal territory in 1953 and gained home rule in 1979.

Copenhagen, however, still defends the island contributes about $1 billion to its economy.

Greenlanders also have Danish passports and healthcare. The island also benefits from Denmark's memberships in NATO and the EU.
Missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki was seen in haunting surveillance footage walking to the Dominican Republic beach where she was last seen alive.

The video shows Konanki striding towards the beach in Punta Cana with Joshua Steven Ribe, who is believed to be the last man to see her alive.

It was taken in the early hours of March 6. Sudiksha was on a vacation with her college friends.

The video shows her, Ribe and the group walking towards the ocean after a night out at around 4am.

At 5.55am, the others went back to their rooms, leaving Ribe and Sudiksha on the beach.

According to Ribe, the pair went for a swim but were caught by a large wave. Ribe says he clambered back to the shore and then fell asleep. Sudiksha was never seen again.

Her body has not yet been found, but Dominican police remain convinced she drowned.

Her family are less certain. They are calling for an investigation into human trafficking.

A private investigator who probed murder victim Natalee Holloway's 2005 disappearance disagrees with the police theory that Sudiksha drowned.

The video shows Konanki striding towards the beach in Punta Cana with Joshua Steven Ribe, the last man to have seen her alive

While the others peeled off, Ribe and Sudiksha made for the beach with one other girl

Do you know the man seen with Sudiksha? Email newsUS@dailymail.com

'I don't think that she drowned in the ocean,' private investigator TJ Ward told Fox News.

'I totally believe that somebody knows something where she is, or somebody took her away, or somebody's holding her somewhere.'

Ward added: 'If she had gone into the water, she wouldve washed up somewhere with a tide the way that comes into the island.'

The PI previously helped with the disappearance of 18 year-old Alabama high school graduate Natalee Holloway, who vanished on the Caribbean island of Aruba in 2005.

Holloway's body was never found and she was declared dead in 2012. In 2023, Dutch tourist Jordan van der Sloot admitted he'd killed Holloway for rejecting his advances.

Konanki's family has also expressed doubt that she drowned and have pleaded with authorities to look into more sinister theories.

'Its four days, and if she was in water, she would likely have been strewn to shore,' her father father, Subbarayudu Konanki told WTOP News.

Sudiksha Konanki, 20, vanished from a beach in Punta Cana last week. Local officials believe she drowned but her family and a private investigator disagree

The young man Konanki was with was spotted leaving the beach later, without her

The Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana, where Konanki and her friends were staying

Authorities were using drones, helicopters and detection dogs in the search for the student

'Shes not found, so were asking them to investigate multiple options, like kidnapping or abduction.'

It comes as a mystery 24-year-old man who was the last known person to see Konanki told police Konanki vanished in the ocean.

The Iowa was a fellow guest at the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana, where Konanki and her friends were staying.

He told police he and Konanki went for a swim after her friends returned to their rooms and got caught in a big wave. The man claimed he got back to the beach, threw up and went to sleep on a beach bed.

When he woke up, he said, Konanki had vanished.

The man is one of several witnesses police have spoken with since Konanki vanished. Her friends have also provided statements to authorities.

The US State Department is working with the Indian embassy in the Dominican Republic, which has taken the lead in the investigation as Konanki is an Indian citizen who was a permanent US resident.

The pre-med student was expected to graduate from the university in 2026, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan introduced a resolution on Monday to censure colleague Lauren Boebert after the Colorado lawmaker went on a rant about Congressman Al Green and his 'pimp cane.'

The MAGA loyalist appeared on the far-right Real America's Voice News for an interview on March 7 where she slammed Green for disrupting President Trump's address to a joint session of Congress last week.

'Al Green was given multiple opportunities to stand down, to sit down, to behave, to show decorum,' Boebert said.

'For him to go and shake his pimp cane at President Trump was absolutely abhorrent,' she continued.

After the 'pimp cane' remarks, a clip of her comments circulated on social media with viewers blasting her comments as racist.

Houlahan slammed Boebert's remarks as 'racist and derogatory.' The Pennsylvania Democrat introduced her resolution to censure Boebert on Monday.

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Co.) accused of 'racist and derogatory' remark against Rep. Al Green after she said the Texas lawmaker shook his 'pimp cane' at President Trump

Last Tuesday while Trump was speaking to a joint session of Congress, Green, 77, stood up and shouted and shook his cane at the president.

After the Texas Democrat refused to sit down, he was escorted from the chamber by the sergeant in arms.

On Thursday, House Republicans and ten Democrats voted for a resolution to censure Green for his disruption. Green said his actions to protest cuts to Medicaid was worth it.

Houlahan was one of the Democrats who voted to censure Green.

After her vote, she had a heated conversation with Speaker Mike Johnson on the House floor where she said she brought up the hypocrisy of Green being censured while Republicans have also broken the rules without facing consequences.

Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) shouting that Trump does not have a mandate to cut Medicaid during his address to a joint session of Congress on March 4, 2025

Boebert and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) screaming 'build a wall' during President Biden's State of the Union address on March 1, 2022. Greene also disrupted Biden during his 2024 address

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) introduced a resolution to censure Boebert for her 'disparaging, derogatory, and racist' words toward Green

Boebert and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green both heckled President Joe Biden during his 2022 State of the Union address. They did not face any punishment for their disruption.

'After my discussion on the House floor last week when Speaker Johnson told me hed have to censure half the members if he actually enforced the rules of the Congress, I decided to help,' Houlahan said in her statement introducing the resolution.

The resolution to censure Boebert reads 'the words of the Representative from Colorado are disparaging, derogatory, and racist toward another colleague, and are a breach of proper conduct and decorum of the U.S. House of Representatives.'

It calls for the close Trump ally to to present herself in the well of the House chamber while the speaker publicly reads the resolution.

But it does not appear that the Colorado congresswoman is taking the resolution seriously.

In response to Houlahan's resolution, Boebert posted on X 'A. Who is Houlahan? B. Can I wear a purple mink coat in the well?'
A teacher has quit after admitting he watched porn during a physics lesson attended by 13 and 14-year-olds, even though he said it was 'unintentional'.

Excruciating footage showed teacher Razif Nurgaliev, 62, smirking at X-rated scenes on his screen - seemingly unaware that they were also appearing on the classroom monitor in full view of the students.

The teacher, who had worked at the school for almost 40 years, gawped at the pornography after setting work for his co-ed class in Tashkinovo village, near the Russian city of Neftekamsk.

He had forgotten his laptop was connected to the electronic blackboard, it was reported.

A pupil filmed the shocking series of events from behind his physics textbook.

Initially a school source tried to blame the teenagers for playing a prank on the veteran teacher.

But the teacher admitted to education officials: 'I clicked on something, and some website opened.'

He had been trying to open an online journal, and had not intended to watch the explicit material, he said.

Excruciating footage showed teacher Razif Nurgaliev, 62, smirking at X-rated scenes on his screen

The teacher, who had worked at the school for almost 40 years, gawped at the pornography after setting work for his co-ed class

A pupil filmed the shocking series of events from behind his physics textbook

He was described as 'in shock' after the footage went viral, according to the female school head Rudania Burkhanova.

But amid fury from parents, the teacher quit with immediate effect - even though the school had wanted him to stay after what it said was, until now, an exemplary career.

It would be hard to find a physics teacher to replace him, said a school source.

The school said he was 'valued and respected at the school' and had been teaching there for almost 40 years, and the broadcast of the lurid porn was 'accidental'.

The school added that it had launched a review after the footage spread on social media.

'A review is currently underway, comments will come later,' said Burkhanova in her initial response.

Nurgaliev is seen left with other members of staff at the school, where he had worked for decades before quitting

'I need to hear both sides: I have already talked to the children, the parents, and I will talk to the teacher.

'Only after I hear both sides will I make a decision. No comments yet.'

A law enforcement probe is also underway in the Russian region of Bashkortostan, and the laptop has been confiscated.
A family of wealthy Colorado restaurateurs has been torn apart by an ugly divorce battle after it emerged its patriarch allegedly swindled his ex-wife out of her share of the business.

William and Renee Brinkerhoff's split has seen their two sons take opposing sides in the acrimonious spat, which has also exposed allegations of infidelity and abuse.

Renee claims her ex-husband controlled her throughout their marriage, due to sexist beliefs in men's superiority to women founded in the Christian sect they met in as students.

He has since accused her of spreading 'falsehoods' and inflicting, 'reputational damage'.

Court documents obtained by the Denver Post detail how William allegedly insisted he be copied into all of his ex-wife's communications and referred to himself as a 'benevolent dictator'.

Renee became a charity Porsche racer at the age of 56, after decades as a stay-at-home mom. She became the first person to race in all seven continents after completing a 356 mile drive in Antarctica in 2021 in a bid to raise money to prevent child trafficking.

She began seeing a therapist who wrote in a report last year that William had a 'long history of infidelity' and would allegedly threaten further indiscretions to punish his ex-wife or coerce her into doing what he wanted.

With their marriage in jeopardy, a deal was apparently struck in 2008 to stave off divorce which would give Renee a 50 percent ownership in the family's Mexican restaurants, according to court documents.

However, William used 'a series of concealed machinations' to eradicate his ex-wife's share, a judge determined when they eventually divorced in December last year.

William and Renee Brinkerhoff's acrimonious divorce has split their wealthy Colorado family down the middle after a judge ruled William had swindled his ex-wife out of her share of their restaurant businesses

The esteemed Colorado couple divorced in December 2024 and share four adult children

She is now suing William over the move, despite already being awarded a divorce settlement worth $29.5 million.

'My mom told me that she had agreed with my father that they would be 50-50 owners of the family's restaurant business,' Will Brinkerhoff Jr., the eldest of the couple's four children, said in an affidavit obtained by the Denver Post.

'My dad confirmed this to me several times. Specifically, he told me that he regretted giving my mom an ownership stake in the family restaurant business.'

He added that he recalled hearing his dad, 'musing whether he could revise the deal so that she was no longer an owner.'

Divorce judge William Meyer determined that William executed his plan and then sold the La Loma restaurant's real estate for $18 million, keeping the proceeds solely for himself and using it to launch new premises.

While Renee said she believed she was a co-owner of the new restaurants, the couple's younger son Mark was given her share of the business.

She said in the court filings that she found an email from William to one of her son's which contained an e-book about how Adam's failure to control Eve in the Bible led to the original sin.

She claims that William espoused these views and worked to sideline her from the business.

But Mark refutes his mom and brother's account and said Renee was aware of the ownership situation, citing emails where she offered her congratulations and encouragement in response to newspaper articles which listed him as the owner.

Renee claims her ex-husband has religious beliefs which founded a sexist attitude towards her and their daughters which led to her being iced out of the business

She received a $29.5 million divorce settlement, which includes $8.5 million of Hawaiian real estate, but is still pursuing further litigation

However, Renee claims she would never have approved of Mark becoming co-owner due to his 'immaturity and drinking'.

As part of the $29.5 million divorce settlement, she received $8.5 million of Hawaiian real estate, two properties in Denver, two Porsches, half the couple's other 21 vehicles and the least three profitable of the family's six Mexican restaurants.

Renee had wanted the better performing restaurants which would have meant sharing them with her estranged son Mark, however this was refused by Meyer who noted it would only fan the flames of the litigation.

Instead, her ex-husband must pay her $5.5 million over five years, plus $50,000 per month until she either remarries or dies, Meyer ruled.

However, she continues to pursue action against her husband which is due to go to trail in June unless a settlement is reached.

Any such trial would likely expose further embarrassing family secrets.

The outcome could bolster the male Brinkerhoff's position or see their restaurant empire carved up even further.

William's lawyers want her to abandon the case and argue that he and Mark's business decisions have financed her life, 'including her international racing hobby/business that lost millions of dollars'.

They denied that her ex-husband, 'psychologically abused and isolated her while she raced vintage Porsches on all seven continents over the last 10 years.'

The charity Porsche racer (center) alleged that her husband was coercive, controlling and unfaithful during their 45-year marriage

William's lawyers argue that she is trying to get more than she is owed and deny that he was ever controlling or abusive

Renee founded Valkyrie Racing as a charitable endeavor in which she raced her 1956 Porsche 356A across all seven continents to raise money for anti-trafficking organizations.

'Our primary goal in this matter is to reach a resolution that will serve the needs of our entire family,' the former couple said in a joint statement to the Denver Post.

'Our guests will continue to receive the extraordinary level of hospitality they have enjoyed over the past forty years.'

However, in a subsequent statement William hit back at his ex-wife's claims.

'My daughter Juliette and my daughter-in-law Johana have remained neutral, staying out of the divorce and legal proceedings.' he said.

'However, now that my ex-wife Renee Brinkerhoff is using false information to cause reputational damage, they have decided to speak out and share their truth.

'My ex-wife's falsehoods, particularly about our son Mark, have become an overused narrative, weaponized to serve her interests.

'Their mother, Renee has created collateral damage for all of us, especially Mark who has dedicated his life to the success of these restaurants. His mother in her greed is trying to rob him of everything he has earned.'
Donald Trump has unleashed on a Republican lawmaker who is bucking Speaker Mike Johnson's federal funding plan.

Johnson, in consultation with Trump, put forward a plan over the weekend that will provide enough cash for the government to stay open until September 30.

The House is expected to vote on the measure Tuesday afternoon, and its up in the air whether it will pass.

The speaker's plan is called a continuing resolution (CR), and it effectively keeps government funding at the same levels it has been at since Joe Biden's administration.

If a CR is not passed before Saturday, the federal government will partially shut down, meaning some agencies won't reopen until Congress passes a funding bill.

Ahead of the vote on Tuesday morning, Vice President J.D. Vance met with House Republicans and reportedly warned them privately that if the shutdown ensues, the GOP will bear the brunt of the blame.

Publicly, though, Trump has been claiming that Democrats will bear the blame if the funding runs out.

But Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., a staunch opponent of short-term funding bills who has voted against many CRs in the past, has said he will vote against the Trump-backed plan, prompting fury from the president.

'Congressman Thomas Massie, of beautiful Kentucky, is an automatic 'NO' vote on just about everything, despite the fact that he has always voted for Continuing Resolutions in the past,' Trump said.

US Representative Thomas Massie talks to US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene prior to US President Donald Trump's address to a joint session of Congress last week. Massie has said he will vote against Trump and Johnson's government funding plan on Tuesday

Trump has been working with Speaker Mike Johnson to avoid a government shutdown in his first 100 days in office

'HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED, and I will lead the charge against him,' the Republican president shockingly claimed, indicating he wants someone to run against Massie next year.

'He's just another GRANDSTANDER, who's too much trouble, and not worth the fight,' the president continued on.

Then Trump delivered another blow to the Kentucky Republican.

'He reminds me of Liz Chaney before her historic, record breaking fall (loss!). The people of Kentucky won't stand for it, just watch. DO I HAVE ANY TAKERS???'

But Massie has shared he is against the CR because it does not meaningfully cut spending, a concern shared by hard-right conservatives.

'I'm not voting for the Continuing Resolution budget (cut-copy-paste omnibus) this week,' Massie posted on X over the weekend. 'Why would I vote to continue the waste fraud and abuse DOGE has found?'

'We were told the CR in December would get us to March when we would fight. Here we are in March, punting again!'

Trump, in a second post, ripped Massie again on Tuesday afternoon just hours before the consequential vote.

'Congressman' Thomas Massie voted to delay the Debt Ceiling Bill from the Biden Administration to the Trump Administration (from September before the Election, to June after the Election!), without getting anything for this horrendously stupid move,' the president wrote on Truth Social.

'He additionally voted to delay the current Budget Disaster from the Biden Administration to the Trump Administration. I was running for Office at the time, doing my thing, and when I heard about this, it was, quite simply, hard to believe  A catastrophic mistake!'

'The Great People of Kentucky are going to be watching a very interesting Primary in the not too distant future!' Trump's second salvo against Massie concluded.

The Kentuckian has been so vehemently against stop-gap funding measures that he held a press conference in May 2024 to announce a motion to kick Johnson out of leadership.

Notably, Massie has voted against all five CRs Johnson has put forward since taking power in late October 2023.

His opposition this go around is no less problematic for the speaker and Trump.

Massie speaks at a press conference outside the Capitol Building announcing a motion to vacate Speaker Johnson in the House of Representatives in May 2024

Massie has voted against every CR that Johnson has put up for a vote

Despite Massie's opposition, Johnson defended the Kentuckian from Trump's call to primary him. He noted how Massie is a friend and how it he will be a difficult incumbent to beat and for any potential primary challenger

Since the speaker's Republican majority in the House is so slim, 218 - 214, the party can only afford to lose two votes on Tuesday's CR push.

Massie's opposition puts Johnson and Trump in a precarious position because should just one more Republican vote no, they won't have enough votes to get the spending bill passed.

And there are many Republicans who have expressed their distaste for the CR, including Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., who said he expects a call from Trump to talk about his vote on the matter.

When asked at a Tuesday morning press conference if Massie should be primaried, as Trump suggested, Johnson came to the Kentuckian's defense.

Massie is in 'the incumbent protection program,' Johnson shared, seemingly noting how difficult it would be to unseat the Republican.

On Monday Massie and Trump's campaign manager Chris LaCivita also got into a spat.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrives for a House Republican Conference meeting at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday. Republicans met ahead of the House vote on a continuing resolution that will provide a six-month funding extension and avert a government shutdown

After posting his opposition to the funding bill, LaCivita responded 'Tick tock Tommie,' an indication that Massie's days are numbered.

'Someone thinks they can control my voting card by threatening my re-election. Guess what? Doesn't work on me,' the lawmaker shot back.

'Three times I've had a challenger who tried to be more MAGA than me. None busted 25% because my constituents prefer transparency and principles over blind allegiance.'

Massie has yet to address the claims made by Trump.

Massie, who wears a lapel pin that shows the U.S. debt ticking higher, has always been against CRs and is very outspoken about balancing the national budget.

Likeminded Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul noted he similarly believes that Congress should not pass another CR, saying 'hell no!'

'Despite DOGE's findings of loony left-wing USAID programs, the Republican spending bill continues to fund the very foreign aid Elon Musk proposes to cut!' he wrote in a post on social media.

'The bill continues spending at the inflated pandemic levels and will add $2T to the debt this year. Count me as a hell no!'

Johnson has passed CR's ever since he took power in Congress, and those spending levels were set by Democrats during a previous administration.
Downing Street today blasted 'cowardly killers' who refuse to attend court to hear their sentences and reiterated the Government's intention to introduce new laws.

The new legislation forcing them to do so will be part of Labour's Victims, Courts and Public Protection Bill, which is due to be introduced to Parliament before the summer.

The purpose of the law will be to give judges the power to ensure victims and bereaved family members can see criminals face the consequences of their actions.

Today, triple murderer Kyle Clifford became the latest killer to refuse to face their victims' family, as he would not attend his sentencing at Cambridge Crown Court.

Clifford was later given a whole-life order for the crossbow and knife murders of his ex-partner Louise Hunt, her sister Hannah Hunt and her mother Carol Hunt.

Asked about Clifford's refusal to appear in court today, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'Cowardly killers like this individual who refuse to look grieving families in the eye as judges hand down their sentences deny victims and their families the opportunity to tell them the horrific ways that they've destroyed lives.

'It's why the Government is committed to changing the law so that courts have the power to order the most serious offenders to attend their sentencing hearings, with reasonable force being used where necessary.

'And criminals who refuse will face being locked up for longer, ensuring they face up to justice rather than hiding away from the grief and anger of their victims' families.'

Triple murderer Kyle Clifford has become the latest killer to refuse to face their victims' family, as he refused to attend his sentencing hearing at Cambridge Crown Court today

Clifford admitted the murders of Louise Hunt (centre right), 25, Hannah Hunt (centre left), 28, and their mother Carol Hunt (right), 61, the wife of BBC racing commentator John Hunt (left)

An artist's sketch of BBC commentator John Hunt giving his victim impact statement in front of judge Mr Justice Bennathan in Kyle Clifford's absence at Cambridge Crown Court today

Cambridge Crown Court heard the 26-year-old defendant declined to attend in person or via video link, and a judge did not order him to be forcibly brought before the court as he did not want him 'potentially disrupting' proceedings.

Defendants who have sparked public outcry by not appearing at their own sentencing Triple murderer Kyle Clifford refused to attend his sentencing hearing today in person or via video link, and a judge did not order him to be forcibly brought before Cambridge Crown Court as he did not want him 'potentially disrupting' proceedings. Southport child killer Axel Rudakubana avoided facing his victims' families while being sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court. The 18-year-old was removed from his own sentencing twice for repeatedly shouting, in what the judge said was a bid to avoid facing the victims of his crime. Thomas Cashman, the gunman who killed nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel as he chased a drug dealer who had tried to run into her home in Knotty Ash, Liverpool, did not appear in court to hear his life sentence in April 2023. Lucy Letby, who murdered seven babies and attempted to kill seven more between June 2015 and June 2016 while she worked as a nurse at the Countess of Chester Hospital, was absent from her sentencing hearing. Jordan McSweeney, who killed law graduate Zara Aleena, 35, as she walked home from a night out in Ilford, East London, in 2022, failed to appear to hear his life sentence handed down. Koci Selamaj refused to appear in the dock as he received life with at least 36 years behind bars, for murdering primary school teacher Sabina Nessa, after travelling to London to carry out an attack on a random woman in 2021. Advertisement

Mr Justice Bennathan told the court: 'The defendant was asked to attend here or on the video link and refused, and I then had an inquiry from Belmarsh as to whether I would order restraints so he should be brought to the video room.

'I have declined on the basis that the idea of a man in a wheelchair being put in restraints and potentially disrupting these proceedings is simply not appropriate or suitable.

'If the defendant lacks the courage to face today, so be it, but I'm conscious part of this morning will be people paying tribute to the three women who died, and I'm not having that disrupted by anything.'

Clifford admitted at an earlier hearing to the murders of Louise Hunt, 25, Hannah Hunt, 28, and their mother Carol Hunt, 61, the wife of BBC racing commentator John Hunt, the false imprisonment of Louise and the possession of a crossbow and knife.

The defendant was later convicted of raping Louise during the July 9 attacks after a four-day trial.

He did not attend a single day of his trial, as the court was told he refused to leave his cell at HMP Belmarsh.

Mr Hunt and his surviving daughter Amy Hunt both delivered tearful victim impact statements in Clifford's absence today.

Mr Hunt addressed Clifford, saying he could faintly hear the 'screams of hell' which said 'they're going to roll the red carpet out for you'.

Amy also directed her words at the killer, telling the court: 'Kyle, plainly the Hunt family are human and you are not.'

Clifford is not the first killer to refuse to attend court proceedings.

Southport child-murderer Axel Rudakubana avoided facing his victims' families while being sentenced.

The 18-year-old was removed from his own sentencing twice for repeatedly shouting, in what the judge said was a bid to avoid facing the victims of his crime.

But judges could soon have powers to force criminals to appear in the dock when they are sentenced.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer promised to carry on the pledge to change the law, first made by his predecessor Rishi Sunak, when he met the mother of murdered nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel .

Clifford is not the first killer to refuse to attend court. Southport killer Axel Rudakubana (left) avoided facing his victims' families at sentencing. Thomas Cashman (right), the gunman who killed nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, also did not appear in court to hear his life sentence

Lucy Letby, who murdered seven babies and attempted to kill seven more between 2015 and 2016 while she worked at the Countess of Chester Hospital, was absent from her sentencing

Jordan McSweeney (left), who killed law graduate Zara Aleen, failed to appear to hear his life sentence handed down. Koci Selamaj (right) also refused to appear in the dock as he received life with at least 36 years behind bars for murdering primary school teacher Sabina Nessa

Cheryl Korbel and her family have campaigned to change the law so that offenders are compelled to appear in the dock for sentencing.

Thomas Cashman, the gunman who killed Olivia as he chased a drug dealer who had tried to run into her home in Knotty Ash, Liverpool, did not appear in court to hear his life sentence in April 2023.

Other high-profile cases in which defendants have sparked public outcry by not appearing at their own sentencing hearings include Lucy Letby, who murdered seven babies and attempted to kill seven more between June 2015 and June 2016 while she worked as a nurse on the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Jordan McSweeney, who killed law graduate Zara Aleena, 35, as she walked home from a night out in Ilford, east London, in 2022, also failed to appear to hear his life sentence handed down.

And Koci Selamaj refused to appear in the dock as he received life with at least 36 years behind bars, for murdering primary school teacher Sabina Nessa, after travelling to London to carry out an attack on a random woman in 2021.
For a president known as an avid Fox News watcher and president, the key moment that humanized the fury over DOGE firings came from a viral personal appeal by TV personality Jesse Watters.

Watters, who had been cheering Elon Musk and his slashing cuts to government during appearances on 'The Five', issued an unexpected plea in late February.

'I finally found one person I knew who got DOGEd, and it hit me in the heart,' Watters said.

He told of a 20-year veteran named 'Chris' who he met at a shooting event who had 'put his life on the line' only to find his Pentagon job was in line to be eliminated.

'Chris' was a 'provisional' employee  more recent hires are being targeted because they have fewer protections.

'This guy's not a DEI consultant. This guy's not a climate consultant. This guy is a veteran,' Watters said, urging colleagues to be 'less' callous' and that veterans should get 'priority.'

It was a viral moment that Trump watched, even asking advisers if it was resonating, the Atlantic reported.

The issue of the impact of Musk's DOGE cuts on veterans would soon snowball.

Last week, the Associated Press (an outlet still barred from traveling with Trump) reported that the Veterans Affairs Administration was planning 80,000 cuts  or about 17 percent of the workforce.

Fox News host Jesse Watters pleaded for compassion after his Veteran friend was told he would get 'DOGE'd' from his job at the Pentagon

Veterans  a group that Trump has heralded and are usually well protected by Congress  have also been taking a disproportionate hit by government-wide job cuts.

Nearly a third of federal workers are veterans, based on hiring preferences dating to to World War II.

'We love our veterans. Were going to take good care of them,' Trump said this month when asked about the impact of the cuts on vets.

But the issue soon contributed to the first successful pushback against DOGE.

Adding to the pressure were a series of town halls where constituents voiced their frustration about the cuts to Republican lawmakers.

At one, in a conservative California district, a House lawmaker got branded a 'fascist' while defending Musk's cuts at a 'community coffee' event.

Musk, the world's richest man who wielded a chainsaw and delighted the crowd at the conservative conference CPAC this year, was showing signs of becoming a potential political liability.

House Speaker Mike Johnson urged his members to avoid holding town halls.

'Theyre professional protesters. So why would we give them a forum to do that right now?' he said.

President Trump watched the viral moment of Watters' plea for his friend

Musk wielded a chain saw at CPAC as he vowed more job cuts. He has been championing efforts to target 'waste and fraud,' but a third of federal workers are veterans

But word of those events, which became a media focus, soon reached Trump's advisers.

Several agency leaders, including the heads of the Pentagon, the FBI, pushed back against Musk's demand that two million federal employees write 'five things you did last week' email demand during the first iteration.

Then a cabinet meeting last Thursday brought an angry clash between Musk and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Trump was forced to deny a rift after a New York Times report.

'Elon and Marco have a great relationship. any statement other than that is fake news!!!' he wrote.

Trump's public post, on his Truth Social site, was the first indication that he had moved  now explicitly giving his cabinet secretaries authority over cuts in their agencies.

'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 wrote.

'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.'

But Trump remained upbeat.

'The combination of them, Elon, DOGE, and other great people will be able to do things at a historic level,' he said.

The administration has not said how many jobs have been eliminated in total.
A father has finally learned his fate after he and his wife ordered their eight-year-old daughter to jump on the trampoline in extreme heat without food or water, eventually leading to her tragic death.

Daniel Schwarz was sentenced to 18 years in prison after he pled guilty to the manslaughter of his adopted daughter, Jaylin, in Odessa, Texas.

The Ector County District Attorney's Office announced the sentencing in a statement and congratulated the Odessa Police Department for successfully seeking justice in the little girl's senseless death.

Schwarz initially pled not guilty but changed his plea after his wife, Ashley Schwarz, was found guilty of Capital Murder on May 1, 2023.

A jury also convicted Ashley of intentionally causing serious bodily injury and she was given three life sentences for the brutal killing.

Victim statements read by Jaylin's family during Daniel's trial claimed he didn't show any emotion during his daughter's funeral or his wife's criminal trial.

Daniel has already served 313 days in prison for his crime, which will count toward his 18-year sentence.

The horrific chain of events occurred nearly five years ago on August 29, 2020, when police responded to a medical call at the child's home.

Jaylin was only eight-years-old when she tragically died of dehydration

Daniel and Ashley Schwarz were sentenced in individual trials for the death of their adopted daughter, Jaylin

They arrived at a gruesome discovery and found Jaylin dead at the scene on her trampoline, Odessa Police previously announced in a statement.

The investigation into the horrific events revealed that Daniel and Ashley didn't allow Jaylin to eat breakfast and forced her to jump on the trampoline as a cruel form of punishment.

Her adoptive parents made her jump on the trampoline without stopping for an extended time. When she stopped jumping, Jaylin was refused water, according to police.

A search warrant revealed that the trampoline was at a scorching temperature of 110 degrees and the ground was approximately 150 degrees Fahrenheit.

Around two months later, Jaylin's autopsy revealed that she died of dehydration and her death was ruled a homicide.

Police arrested both parents for Capital Murder and they were booked into the Ector County jail on a $500,000.00 bond.

Jaylin's siblings testified during Ashley's trial that their parents frequently punished them by forcing them to jump on the trampoline for hours.

When she was called to the stand, Ashley claimed that she gave the girls pigs in a blanket for breakfast and that they did have water with them, according to local CBS affiliate, KOSA News.

Jaylin died at just eight years old after her adoptive parents cruelly punished her

Jaylin and her sister were placed in Daniel and Ashley's custody after her biological mother battled addiction issues

However, the lead detective on the case, Sergeant Chavez, said that Ashley told him that Jaylin didn't want breakfast when he interrogated her.

The prosecution refuted Ashley's claim that water was available, showing the jury pictures of their yard after Jaylin's death, that showed no water bottles outside.

Jaylin, and her sister Jade, came under Ashley and Daniel's care after Ashley's step-sister Alysha Anderton lost custody due to a battle with addiction.

In 2020, Alysha sat down with KOSA for an emotional interview on her daughter's death.

'What upsets me the most is that I never got to see her alive again. When they took them, I never got to say goodbye,' she told the outlet.

Jaylin's grave was painted and decorated by family members after she was buried

Alysha Anderton posted photos of her daughter during happier times after Jaylin's sudden death

Alysha said that Jaylin had been living with Daniel and Ashley for four years. She added that the first time she saw her daughter since losing custody was in a casket.

'That's not fair to me. There's not a day that goes by that I don't totally break down,' Alysha said.

After Daniel was sentenced, Alysha posted her reaction on Facebook, writing, 'Well...this is it babygirl.

'Until he meets Jesus face to face, there is no more forcefully given punishment we can give you for what they did. None of us believe that it's a fair deal but we all trust that God has a plan for all of this.'

Dailymail.com reached out to the Ector County District Attorney's Office and Daniel Schwarz's attorneys for comment on the case but didn't immediately hear back.
A woman who accused Mike Tyson of raping and sexually assaulting her inside a limo in the 90s has dropped her lawsuit against the former boxer.

The 58-year-old had been accused by the unidentified plaintiff of attacking her following a night at an Albany night club in a $5 million suit.

In a new letter dated March 7, Tyson's lawyer Daniel Rubin wrote in a letter to judge Mitchell J. Katz that the woman would be withdrawing her suit.

Rubin wrote in his letter that he had spoken with the woman's lawyer Darren Seilback who said she would be 'discontinuing this action with prejudice'.

That means the lawsuit cannot be refiled, with the letter also adding that the two attorneys are in the process of 'drafting a stipulation of discontinuance'.

Tyson had always denied the claims made by the unknown woman, who claimed he 'pulled my pants off and violently raped me'.

In a statement, Rubin said: 'While not surprising, given the baseless allegations, we are pleased with the result.

'A complete withdrawal of all claims without any compensation, concession or settlement of any kind from Mr. Tyson. This should never should have been filed.'

Mike Tyson is seen on February 14, 2025 in Los Angeles, California

Tyson celebrates wearing all three belts after he defeated Larry Holmes for the WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight tittles on January 22, 1988 at the Convention Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey

The action had been filed in New York under the state's Adult Survivors Act, which gives sexual assault victims a one-year window to file lawsuits over assaults that happened years or even decades ago.

DailyMail.com has approached her representative Darren Seilback for comment on the latest development.

Brooklyn-born Tyson won adulation as the undisputed world heavyweight champion from 1987 to 1990, but his life outside the ring has been turbulent.

Tyson was convicted in 1992 of rape and handed a subsequent three-year prison sentence.

In 1997 he was disqualified for biting opponent Evander Holyfield in the ring, ripping off part of Holyfield's ear as he did so.

He was accused of domestic abuse by his first wife, Robin Givens, admittedly battled a cocaine problem in his 40s, and filed for bankruptcy in 2003 after squandering roughly $300 million in career earnings.

Givens, said in divorce papers that their late-1980s marriage was characterized by 'unprovoked rages of violence and destruction.'

Most recently he has found a new younger audience with a bout last November against internet personality Jake Paul, which he lost.
Ex-Reform MP Rupert Lowe is being investigated by police over claims he made 'verbal threats' towards a senior party official.

Scotland Yard has launched a probe into the 67-year-old politician after a complaint was made about his conduct towards chairman Zia Yusuf.

Mr Lowe, the Great Yarmouth MP, was suspended and also accused of bullying on Friday - the day after accusing party leader Nigel Farage of acting like a 'messiah' in a Daily Mail interview.

He denies any wrongdoing and has claimed he is being targeted because he dared to question how Mr Farage runs the party.

The Metropolitan Police would not identify the subject of the allegations but released a statement that said: 'The Metropolitan Police have now launched an investigation into an allegation of a series of verbal threats made by a 67-year-old man.'

The force said it is claimed that the alleged threats were made between December 2024 and February 2025, and that inquiries are ongoing.

In a statement on Friday, Reform said Mr Lowe had been reported to the police over alleged 'threats of physical violence'.

It also claimed that two women working in the MP's offices had made complaints about 'workplace bullying' and 'derogatory remarks'.

Scotland Yard has launched a probe into the 67-year-old politician after a complaint was made about his conduct towards chairman Zia Yusuf

Mr Lowe, the Great Yarmouth MP, was suspended and also accused of bullying on Friday - the day after accusing party leader Nigel Farage of acting like a 'messiah' in a Daily Mail interview

In a statement on Friday, Reform said Mr Lowe had been reported to the police over alleged 'threats of physical violence' towards party chairman Zia Yusuf

Mr Lowe said: My lawyers have not yet received any contact from the police... I remain unaware of the specific allegations, but in any event, I deny any wrongdoing. The allegations are entirely untrue.

It came amid claims Elon Musk could bankroll a new party to rival Reform UK and may recruit Mr Lowe as its leader.

The world's richest man is said to be mulling over financing for a new outfit.

Musk, who was linked with a 100m donation to Reform in December, publicly criticised its leader in January and suggested Lowe would make a good replacement.

The Farage/Lowe row has since turned into a major public spectacle weeks before Reform is due to challenge Labour in a key by-election in Runcorn and Helsby after disgraced MP Mike Amesbury said he will quit the Commons after punching a constituent.

And the power may not be with Farage. A new poll from YouGov today shows one-in-three Reform voters (33 per cent) believe the party would do better with a different leader.

A second shows Reform is down two points overall - as is Labour - after a difficult week for its politicians in the UK and its international allies.

Mr Lowe used an interview with the Dan Wootton Outspoken programme to admit he had been in contact with Musk, though it has been limited to 'a little bit of DM'ing on Twitter, not big, a thumbs up or whatever, and he retweets quite a lot of what we put on Twitter, or on X'.

'That's the extent of it. There is no more to it or less to it than that,' he said.

He suggested he was suspended by Reform UK for being a 'tall poppy' who threatened to overshadow Nigel Farage, adding that the leader 'tends to fall out with' people whom he deems 'capable enough to take over from him'.

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Elon Musk was linked with a 100million donation to the party at the start of the year. However, reports today suggest he could be eying up funding a new rival right wing party

But Mr Farage hit back on Monday night, telling GB News: 'I don't fall out with anybody, they fall out with me.

'There has been a behavioural problem for some months. Outbursts, anger, that kind of thing.

'Frankly I've tried to, we've tried to, put it all to the back of our minds... and I'm not prejudging anything on the allegations of a bullying culture going on in his offices.

'But I put it to you that any party who had a senior figure who was facing those accusations would have to act in some way.

'When we found out that one of our MPs was facing these accusations - without prejudging anything we decided to appoint an independent KC to have a look at the situation.'

Musk and Trump are becoming increasingly unpopular in the UK thanks to their weakening of American support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

Mr Farage has made much of his closeness to both men, even though Musk suggested he be replaced as Reform leader by Lowe in January.

However, the Financial Times today reported he could be eying up funding a new rival right wing party in the UK - potentially led by Lowe.

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Reform is meant to be preparing for the by-election in Runcorn and Helsby after disgraced MP Mike Amesbury said he will quit the Commons after punching a constituent.

The former Labour MP was given a 10-week prison term, which was reduced to a suspended sentence after an appeal, leaving him at risk of being ousted from Parliament through the recall process.

The MP told the BBC he would 'step aside at the earliest opportunity', meaning a vote could be held at the same time as the local elections on May 1.

Mr Lowe used an interview with the Dan Wootton Outspoken programme to once again deny the accusations against him, branding them 'absolute drivel'.

He pointed out that the allegations relating to Zia Yusuf, Reform party chairman, weren't lodged with police until last week despite them allegedly happening in December.

This was after an interview appeared in the Daily Mail last week in which Mr Lowe criticised Mr Farage's leadership.

He admitted having a 'robust debate' with Mr Yusuf on December 13, but denied threatening physical violence.

The MP was asked whether he thought the fallout could be linked to X owner and key member of Donald Trump's administration Elon Musk, who last year expressed doubt about Mr Farage's leadership and suggested he might support Mr Lowe.

'I owe a huge debt to Elon Musk because without my X account which gives me a voice, this may well have ended very differently, because I think in the past anyone who has (been), if you like, a poppy that stood up too tall has been chopped down,' the former Southampton FC chairman said.

'I have been thinking about it in my own mind and I sort of wonder whether in a country that I think is becoming increasingly used to lies, somebody who stands up in Parliament and tells the truth is seen as a tall poppy.'
The lawyers for Bataclan terrorist Salah Abdeslam have denied claims he is set to become a father while serving a life sentence for the ISIS atrocity.

Samia Maktouf, a lawyer who represented the victims of the 2015 attack, told French outlet Cnews that Abdeslam's partner was pregnant despite his being in jail.

'A prisoner has the right to sexual relations in prison,' she said, as reported by De Telegraaf.

'Even a terrorist retains fundamental rights under the rule of law, including human dignity, including the possibility of having a family life, even behind bars.'

But the claims were vehemently denied by Abdeslam's lawyers, who branded them 'completely false' in a press release.

'This is not true,' they asserted. 'We are astonished that a lawyer has taken it upon himself to spread the alleged information that Salah Abdeslam's girlfriend is pregnant.'

The only surviving perpetrator of the November 2015 Paris attacks was tried in Belgium in 2016 and is serving jail time in the Vendin-le-Vieil prison in Pas-de-Calais.

While imprisoned, he had a religious marriage over the phone to an anonymous woman chosen by his father, it was revealed in 2022.

Salah Abdeslam is the only surviving perpetrator of the November 2015 Paris attacks

French police with protective shields walk in line near the Bataclan concert hall following fatal shootings in Paris, France, November 14, 2015

People are evacuated through rue Oberkampf near the Bataclan concert hall in central Paris, early on November 14, 2015

His lawyers added that Abdeslam has 'a right to a private life' and said that 'it is up to us to defend that privacy, including by taking legal action against those who might infringe on it'.

Abdeslam is the only surviving member of the 10-man ISIS group cell that killed 130 people and injured 490 in Paris in November 2015.

The Bataclan massacre was the worst terror attack in the country's history.

Gunmen and bombers attacked busy restaurants, bars and a concert hall at locations around Paris on November 13.

Abdeslam then fled to Brussels, where he was arrested in March 2016, four days before suicide attacks that killed 32 and injured hundreds at Brussels airport and a metro station.

Both the Paris and Brussels suicide bombings were claimed by the Islamic State group, and investigators believe they were carried out by the same Belgium-based cell, including Abdeslam.

The group was planning more violence, allegedly including attacks on the Euro 2016 football cup in France.

Abdeslam was sentenced to life with no possibility of parole by a French court in June 2022.

Abdeslam was found guilty on terrorism and murder charges, with no possibility of early release, the most severe criminal sentence possible in France and one handed out only four times previously.

Rescuers evacuate an injured person near the Bataclan concert hall in central Paris, Nov 14, 2015

A victim under a blanket lays dead outside the Bataclan theater in Paris on November 13, 2015

Salah Abdeslam arrives at the opening of the trial against the nine alleged jihadists accused of taking part in the March 2016 suicide bombings, at the Justitia building in Brussels on November 30, 2022

Five Islamic State figures tried in absentia and presumed dead in Syria were also sentenced to life without parole.

Another was sentenced to life with parole possible after 22 years.

A further three defendants were given 30-year sentences, convicted on charges of conspiracy to commit terrorism stepping from actions including fighting for ISIS in Syria, helping plan the attacks or giving logistical support.

The remaining defendants received shorter sentences for reduced supporting roles.

In 2023, Abdeslam was among eight found guilty of murder and attempted murder in the 2016 Brussels terror attacks that killed 32 and injured more than 300.
Sir John Nott, the former Defence Secretary who played a key role in Britain's handling of the Falklands War, left an estate valued at 2 million to his family following his death last year at the age of 92.

A key figure in Margaret Thatcher's government, Sir John served as Secretary of State for Defence from 1981 to 1983.

He was thrust into the spotlight in 1982 when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, prompting Britain to launch a military response.

Though he had previously proposed cuts to the Royal Navy, Sir John oversaw the successful campaign to retake the islands, cementing his place in history.

Famously, he once walked out of a TV interview with Sir Robin Day after the veteran broadcaster dismissed him as a 'here today, gone tomorrow politician.'

His will saw him leave an estate valued at 2,049,785 to his wife and three children.

Born in 1932, he was educated at Cambridge University before serving in the Army and later entering politics as Conservative MP for St Ives in 1966. He also held the role of Trade Secretary before leaving politics in 1983.

After Westminster, he turned to business, running an investment firm and writing his memoirs.

Sir John Nott, the former Defence Secretary who played a key role in Britain's response to the Falklands War, left an estate valued at 2 million to his family following his death aged 92

(L-R) Prime minister Margaret Thatcher with ministers Geoffrey Howe, Keith Joseph, John Nott and Norman Tebbit on the Conservative front bench in the House of Commons

Sir John was thrust into the spotlight in 1982 when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, prompting Britain to launch a military response

Sir John was thrust to the forefront of Mrs Thatcher's government when Argentina invaded the Falklands in 1982.

His speech the day after the invasion on April 2, 1982, was seen as poor, prompting calls for him to quit, and Sir John offered to resign twice.

The politician was among those who initially believed that the islands could not be recaptured.

Although Mrs Thatcher tried to save him, foreign secretary Lord Carrington felt culpable for the invasion and could not be persuaded to stay in post.

Sir John revealed after Britain's victory in the conflict that he 'wasn't much aware' where the Falklands were before the invasion.

He told the BBC: 'Of course I knew that we had some Royal Marines there, but I had to remind myself as to where the Falkland Islands were, when the scrap merchants landed on South Georgia.'

Coverage in the Daily Mail on October 6, 1982, when Sir John urged the nation to be proud of Britain's victory in the Falklands War

In October 1982, Sir John walked out of an interview with broadcaster Robin Day during the Conservative Party conference

'I had a huge great globe in my room in the Ministry of Defence and I went over to it to rediscover the geographical position of the Falklands.

'I was a bit horrified to see how far away they were.'

Sir John was part of a five-man war cabinet that was led by Mrs Thatcher and chief of the defence staff Admiral Sir Terence Lewin during the ten-week conflict.

He stepped down as defence secretary in January 1983 and then quit as an MP at that year's election.

In later life, Sir John ran his 200-acre farm in Cornwall and enjoyed hunting, fishing and shooting.
A zoo has been accused of overfeeding their animals after visitors were left shocked by an overweight big cat.

In the footage, taken at the Chengdu Zoo in southwestern China, a black panther can be seen hiding behind a tree with only its extremely large belly visible.

Despite typically having a top speed of up to 50mph, this black panther is only able to waddle across the enclosure at a snail's pace.

It appears to be having difficulty walking as the feline heaves its feet across the floor, with its belly nearly touching the ground.

The Chengdu Zoo, which is the fourth largest zoo in China, told local media that the big cat's portly appearance is because it is very old.

According to the zoo, the female cat in the footage is 16-years-old and they also have a male black panther which is 20-years-old.

They have also acknowledged that the animal's body functions and metabolism were not good.

However, another report quoted the zoo as saying that the animals were too fat because they ate too much, with a keeper saying: 'We are reducing the amount of food! We will start by reducing the beef and other things.'

Despite typically having a top speed of up to 50mph, this black panther is only able to waddle across the enclosure at a snail's pace

The Chengdu Zoo, which is the fourth largest zoo in China, told local media that the big cat's portly appearance is because it is very old

Meanwhile, social media users have been left amazed at the black panther's belly, with one saying: 'I laughed hard. I thought she was pregnant, but it turned out that she was overweight. Please ask her to exercise more.'

In recent years Chinese zoos have sparked a number of controversies over their treatment on animals.

The Qinhu Bay Forest Animal Kingdom zoo, in Taizhou, was ridiculed online after it was revealed that the zoo's tigers were in fact Chow Chow dogs covered in black and orange stripes.

The zoo is not the only facility in China to get caught up in fake animal scandal.

Back in September, visitors demanded their money back from a zoo in Guangdong after they were misled into thinking that the pandas on display were in fact pandas.

After relentless quizzing by local media, the zoo was forced to admit that they had dyed two Chow Chows.

Taizhou Zoo in Jiangsu Province also sparked fury last May when it too allegedly dyed small Chow Chow dogs to look like pandas.

These dogs had their fur trimmed short before black and white dye was added to their face and body.
A glamorous 911 operator claims she was fired for reporting her boss' sexual harassment - but officials say the two were having a consensual affair for years.

Maille Russell Bonsall, 40, filed a lawsuit claiming she was fired from Delaware County Emergency Services after she reported the alleged sexual harassment and abuse by her boss, former director Tim Boyce, 61.

But Delaware officials say the married mother was fired for secretly recording conversations with bosses. She's also said to have joked about being high on weed while at work, altered timesheets and sent sexts to Boyce on a work phone.

They also claim to have evidence that Bonsall and Boyce were in a 'longstanding romantic relationship' for years.

That is said to be contained within a series of graphic sexts and nude images the pair allegedly sent to one another on their taxpayer-funded work devices.

Bonsall, on her part, said in the lawsuit that Boyce subjected her to 'unwanted verbal, physical and sexual harassment during and after work hours,' including masturbating in front of her, as reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Maille Russell Bonsall, a 40-year-old married mother, claims she was fired from her 911 operator job after reporting her boss for sexual harassment. Officials say the two were having an affair. Bonsall's husband John is pictured

Tim Boyce, 61, was fired from his director job last May. He is accused of having a yearslong affair with Bonsall

The dispatcher worked at the Delaware County Emergency Services for nearly 20 years before she was fired. Pictured in 2020

She claimed Boyce's successors then made her feel unsafe after she reported the alleged abuse, ignoring her and preventing her from doing her job.

'There were reasons I didnt speak up before,' Bonsall told the Inquirer.

'People are so afraid of retaliation there and everyone being mad at you for being "a rat" and going against them.'

Maille Bonsall, pictured, denies she was in a consensual relationship with a boss she's accused of sexual harassment

However, county officials say they have evidence that Bonsall repeatedly told Boyce that she loved him via text.

They say Bonsall was fired after they discovered she had been illegally recording conversations with her bosses.

Moreover, officials accused Bonsall of joking about being high on marijuana while on the job and altering her time card.

They also say she refused to participate in their probe of the alleged sexual harassment by Boyce.

Boyce was fired in May, 2024, and is awaiting trial after a different employee accused him of forcibly kissing her and another woman said he made lewd comments and groped her.

He denies any wrongdoing and has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges of assault and harassment.

Bonsall's lawyer Mark Schwartz told the Inquirer she denies any sexual or romantic relationship with Boyce.

Schwartz said county officials knew about Boyce's misconduct and turned a blind eye to iy.

Bonsall worked at the Delaware County Emergency Services for nearly 20 years before her termination.

'There are a lot of hardworking people there that are good people who are in the same toxic environment, where if you stand up for yourself, you know youre gonna pay for it,' she said.

'So I just want to see that that place is a professional organization with structure that treats people fairly.'
Separatist militants who hijacked a train in Pakistan have said they will blow it up and execute all remaining 182 hostages in their custody if the authorities do not meet their demands.

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) held up the train and took some 400 passengers, Pakistani officials said, with around 200 of those held by the attackers thought to have been freed.

The BLA reportedly demanded that the Pakistani authorities 'immediately and unconditionally release' prisoners belonging to the militant group, threatening that the dozens of hostages would otherwise be killed.

They also warned that any attempt by the military to advance on the BLA and free the hostages by force would result in them being killed, according to a post by the group on Telegram.

The BLA said it had control of the train for more than eight hours during armed combat with Pakistani forces, during which time it claimed it killed 30 government soldiers.

The Jaffar Express passenger train was held in a tunnel and the driver badly wounded in a gun battle earlier on Tuesday, local officials said, without confirming the militants' account about hostages.

Security forces said an explosion had been heard near the tunnel and that they were exchanging fire with the militants in a mountainous area.

The BLA, which seeks independence for Balochistan province bordering both Afghanistan and Iran, said it had killed 20 soldiers and shot down a drone. This was not confirmed by Pakistani authorities.

The Jaffar Express was on its way from Quetta in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when it was fired on, railway officials said

File image shows the Bolan Pass, the railway line where the hijack reportedly took place

Pakistani security officials inspect vehicles at a checkpoint after security was intensified following a suspected militant attack on a passenger train in Sibi

The group said it had taken 182 hostages from the train, including Pakistan army members and other security officials travelling on leave.

'Civilian passengers, particularly women, children, the elderly, and Baloch citizens, have been released safely and given a secure route,' it said in a statement emailed to journalists and posted on Telegram.

'The BLA further warns that if military intervention continues, all hostages will be executed.'

The train had been on its way from Balochistan's capital Quetta to the city of Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province when it was fired on.

Pakistan's interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, condemned the attack and said the government would not make any concessions to 'beasts who fire on innocent passengers'.

The Balochistan government has imposed emergency measures to deal with the situation, spokesperson Shahid Rind said.

The BLA is the biggest of several ethnic groups battling the government for decades, saying it unfairly exploits Balochistan's rich gas and mineral resources.

The conflict has seen frequent attacks against the government, army and Chinese interests in the region.

A spokesperson for the Balochistan government said that the attack was an act of terrorism, adding that an investigation into it is underway.

Pakistani security stand guard at a checkpoint after security was intensified following a suspected militant attack on a passenger train in Sibi, Balochistan province

He added that a relief train had been dispatched to the scene and that security forces are working in the area.

A senior police official from the area said that 'the train remains stuck just before a tunnel surrounded by mountains'.

The area where the train is halted is a mountainous region making it easier for militants to have hideouts and plan attacks.

A state of emergency has been declared in Sibi Hospital and ambulances have been sent to the scene but are having difficulty accessing it, according to officials.

The number of hostages taken could not be confirmed by railway or local government officials.

Trains in Balochistan typically have security personnel on board as separatists have previously carried out deadly attacks on trains and security forces in the region.

In November, a separatist group carried out a suicide bombing at a train station in Quetta that killed 26 people, including security personnel, railway staff and passengers.

The BLA separatist group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Pictured: BLA fighters

A decades-old insurgency in Balochistan by separatist militant groups has led to frequent attacks against the government, army and Chinese interests in the region, pressing demands for a share in its resources.

The oil- and mineral-rich Balochistan is Pakistan's largest but also least populated province.

It is a hub for the country's ethnic Baloch minority whose members say they face discrimination and exploitation by the central government.

The BLA is the biggest of several ethnic insurgent groups that have battled the South Asian nation's government for decades, saying it unfairly exploits Balochistan's rich gas and mineral resources.
Human rights organisations are demanding a probe into the death of a married woman from Moldova who was 'forced into prostitution' in Northern Cyprus after being promised a job as a manager.

Anastasia Melega, 24, who had a son aged four, was found dead in the toilet of a nightclub in Gerolakkos, also known as Alaykoy.

Reports indicate that she was lured to North Cyprus under false pretences of a 'highly paid managerial job' but her passport was taken from her and she was forced to become a sex slave in a seedy nightclub.

Police in the unofficial republic registered her death as suicide by hanging, possibly due to shame of being forced to work as a sex slave.

Now eight human rights and women's groups have demanded a formal investigation into the circumstances of her death in nightclub Prenses, or Princess.

They demanded checks on the nightclub and its management and whether they would be 'held accountable if found to have played a role in Melega's death'.

'The current situation fails to address the broader issues of labour and sexual exploitation experienced by the women who are somehow bound to these establishments,' they said in a joint letter.

Women like Anastasia were subject to 'psychological and/or physical violence, coercion, or threats.'

Anastasia Melega (pictured), 24, who had a son aged four, was found dead in the toilet of a nightclub in Gerolakkos, also known as Alaykoy

Anastasia with her husband and her son. Before moving to Northern Cyprus, Anastasia lived in Causeni, a small town with a population of 15,000, in Moldova

Reports indicate that the 24-year-old was lured to North Cyprus under false pretences of a 'highly paid managerial job' but her passport was taken from her and she was forced to become a sex slave in a seedy nightclub

The letter warned: 'Human trafficking is a serious crime and requires comprehensive solidarity to deal with it.

'Anastasia is not the first and sadly may not be the last victim of these terrible circumstances.'

Northern Cyprus 'transport minister' Erhan Arkl, leader of the coalition Rebirth Party, warned that 'prostitution occurs with knowledge and for the benefit of the state'.

In the light of the case, he called for 'protective measures', warning many women are brought to the occupied territories with false job promises and subsequently forced to work under duress, with their passports confiscated and 'contracts' signed under pressure.

Russian Telegram channel Bad News said: 'Upon arrival, [Anastasia's] passport was taken away and she was forced to engage in prostitution in a nightclub.

'After several weeks of violence from clients, [she] could not stand it any longer and hanged herself in the toilet.'

Before moving to Northern Cyprus, she lived in Causeni, a small town with a population of 15,000, in Moldova, one of Europe's poorest countries from which many people feel forced to move abroad to take jobs.

Social media shows she wed in 2019, and gave birth to her son in 2021.

Some reports say she accrued debts, which may be why she took the job in Northern Cyprus.

Eight human rights and women's groups have demanded a formal investigation into the circumstances of Anastasia's death

Anastasia with her husband. Social media shows she wed in 2019, and gave birth to her son in 2021

Prenses nightclub where Anastasia was found dead. Police in the unofficial republic registered her death as suicide by hanging, possibly due to shame of being forced to work as a sex slave

Among the organisations demanding action on her death are the Refugee Rights Association, Caritas Cyprus, Human Rights Platform, and Cyprus Stop Trafficking.

The reported that nightclubs 'often operating as brothels, employ women under the guise of 'hostess' or 'barmaid' roles'.

'Despite prostitution being illegal, enforcement is generally lax, leading to the region becoming a destination for sex tourism.'

Northern Cyprus, known as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, is a breakaway state that comprises the northeastern portion of the island of Cyprus. It is only recognised by Turkey.
A 59-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter after a cargo ship smashed into a fuel tanker in the North Sea.

The US-flagged MV Stena Immaculate was engulfed by a huge fireball after Portuguese ship MV Solong 'came out the blue' and ploughed into it.

Solong sliced through the hull of the tanker, causing thousands of litres of jet fuel to spill into the sea off the East Yorkshire coast on Monday.

Sailors from both of the doomed vessels were forced to abandon ship, with 36 safely making it back to shore.

However, one sailor on the Solong is missing and presumed dead, with emergency crews now launching a 'recovery mission' to find the mariner's body.

Humberside Police said it had launched a criminal investigation into the cause of the collision, along with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is also making an early assessment to establish the causes of the dramatic crash.

Detective chief superintendent Craig Nicholson said: 'Humberside Police have taken primacy for the investigation of any potential criminal offences which arise from the collision between the two vessels.

'Following inquiries undertaken by my team, we have arrested a 59-year-old man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision - this follows the conclusion of search operations by HM Coastguard for the missing crew member of the Solong.

'Our thoughts are with the family of the missing crew member, and I have appointed Family Liaison Officers to make contact and provide support to the family.'

Pictured are the charred remains of cargo ship MV Solong was completely destroyed by Monday's fire

Pictured is the mangled remains of the MV Stena Immaculate following Monday's fire

Water can be seen flowing through the damaged hull of the Immaculate on Tuesday

News of the arrest comes after a survivor of Monday's horrifying jet fuel tanker smash relived his crew's life-or-death escape as their ship exploded around them after being hit by a cargo vessel.

Some of the crewmen escaped death by seconds as the US military oil tanker burst into a fireball, it was revealed today.

Recalling the terrifying maritime crash and aftermath, a survivor of the Stena Immaculate said: 'It was either get into your life jacket or get incinerated.'

The 36 survivors of the tanker and cargo ship Solong, which inexplicably smashed into the side of it, were recovering at hotels in Grimsby today as a full investigation began.

A handful of the American crew of the Stena Immaculate spoke about what happened but asked not to be identified.

They were so close to the flames as they boarded the lifeboat that some suffered singed hair. Thankfully all survived without serious injury. One member of the Solong crew is missing presumed dead.

One crewman said: 'Yesterday was a bad start to the day, but it ended gloriously. Why? All 23 of us got off the ship without anybody being in it.' Adding that he was 'pleased to be alive.'

Asked about his actions immediately after the tanker carrying a cargo of jet fuel burst into flames, he said: 'I did have time to think. I ran through the procedures. Because if I hadn't had time to think, we wouldn't have survived. We drilled, we trained, we prepared for the unprepared. We do emergency prep non-stop. Regardless of outside uncontrollable forces.'

MV Stena Immaculate exploded into a 'massive fireball' after being hit by MV Solong yesterday

Pictured is the thick black plume of smoke punching through the sky on Monday as the fires raged on both ships

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Marine experts have speculated that the Portuguese-registered Solong  which is now known not to be carrying highly toxic Sodium Cyanide  was on autopilot when it veered into the tanker with devastating results.

The survivor commented: You have to be watching the autopilot. And no one is watching the autopilot.

It would be like if you were sitting in a car park on Sunday morning, reading a newspaper or playing with your phone, right? And a car enters on the other side of the car park. Hes heading for it, but then he falls asleep or hes doing something, and the car just goes careening into the other one.

Whos at fault? Its clear they are the ones at fault. Thats all I can say.

Another American crewman told CBS news how the other ship 'came from out of the blue.'

He said he was near the section of the Stena Immaculate where the Solong made its impact and that he had only seconds to react when he heard shouts to brace before impact.

All of a sudden 'a massive ship came from out of the blue,' he said.

The Solong continued to drive into the ship for about 10 minutes after initial impact.

Other crew members from the Stena Immaculate described how it appeared as if no one was on the bridge of the Solong at the moment of impact, he said.

Flames erupted and the Stena Immaculate crew put on protective gear and briefly tried to fight the fire before the decision to abandon ship was made.

Crew members went to their rooms to gather essential belongings, also grabbing life jackets and emergency gear.

He said the crew went to the mustering point and a warning sound was made for all crew members.

When it was verified that everyone was onboard the lifeboat, they launched. The captain was the last person to leave the Stena, he told CBS.

The man described flames lapping at the crew as they boarded the lifeboat, and said some of the sailors even had singed hair because the fire was so close. He said they couldn't have waited any longer to get off the vessel, and the whole incident from impact to evacuation lasted about 30 minutes.

He said it was a 'textbook' evacuation.

The Solong, which is now a smouldering wreck, is seen floating adrift in the North Sea on Tuesday

A 1,000m exclusion zone has been implemented around the Solong (pictured) and Stena

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It is understood that US Coastguard officials will be in Grimsby tomorrow to begin their own investigation and interview all the crew members.

The operating in the North Sea is currently focusing on the 'salvage' stage and will focus on the investigation into what went wrong later.

There were fears that the Solong may have been carrying a cargo of sodium cyanide that could have caused catastrophic damage to marine life.

However, the shipping company owner Ernst Russ clarified there were only empty containers that was previously used to transport the 'hazardous chemical.'

Ernst Russ said in a statement: 'We are able to confirm that there are no containers onboard ladened with sodium cyanide, as has been misreported.

'There are four empty containers that have previously contained the hazardous chemical, and these containers will continue to be monitored.'

Transport minister Mike Kane said the fire on Stena Immaculate 'appears to be extinguished', but Solong 'continues to burn'.

He told MPs: 'Although they became attached to each other during the collision, the Solong broke free of the Stena Immaculate late last night and began drifting southwards.

'Modelling suggests that should the Solong remain afloat, it'll remain clear of land for the next few hours.

'The assessment of His Majesty's Coastguard is, however, that it is unlikely the vessel will remain afloat.

'Tugboats are in the vicinity to ensure that the Solong remains away from the coast and to respond as the situation develops.'

Efforts to find a missing crew member from Solong ended on Monday night after 'an extensive search'.

Its hull was charred black by the blaze which engulfed much of the ship yesterday

A Portuguese-flagged cargo ship carrying cyanide smashed into the US military oil tanker (pictured on Monday)

Pictured are the remains of the Stena Immaculate on Tuesday. Fires on the deck have largely been extinguished, emergency services said today

Mr Kane said the Government's 'working assumption' is one crew member from Solong has died, after a search and rescue operation was ended on Monday night.

He added: 'Our thoughts are with the sailor's loved ones at this time.'

The maritime company managing Stena Immaculate, Crowley, said the vessel was struck by Solong while anchored off the coast of Hull, causing 'multiple explosions' on board and an unknown quantity of Jet A-1 fuel to be released.

Crowley said Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel in 16 segregated cargo tanks when it was struck.

At least one tank 'was ruptured', according to the company.

The tanker was operating as part of the US government's Tanker Security Programme, a group of commercial vessels that can be contracted to carry fuel for the military when needed.

It had been anchored while waiting for a berth to become available at the Port of Killingholme, on the River Humber, Crowley said.

The Solong is currently adrift off three miles off the coast of Mablethorpe, in Lincolnshire.

Meanwhile, fears continue to mount over the potential environmental catastrophe that could be caused by the crash.

Experts fear the spill could take 'weeks or longer' to clean up with harmful waste expected to wash up on parts of the eastern coast of England in the coming days.

The Immaculate's deck this morning appeared black and charred following Monday's inferno

Dramatic audio footage revealed the moment a distress call was made by the coastguard

HM Coastguard said in a statement its counter pollution and salvage team is 'developing a plan ready for implementation as soon as the situation allows'.

It added the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has confirmed that air quality at ground level is 'currently within normal levels for the weather conditions', and the UK Health Security Agency has advised that any public health risk on shore is 'currently deemed to be very low'.

In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness, said there was 'no evidence so far of any of the heavy engine oil leaking from either ship'.

He added that no containers appear to have fallen from the stricken cargo vessel, Solong, and that the 227,000 barrels of jet oil carried by the Immaculate had appeared to have 'burnt off'.

'Because of its purity it's expected to leave no residue in the water,' the MP said in a video shared on X.

++++ UPDATE ON HUMBER OIL TANKER COLLISION: BROADLY GOOD NEWS ++++ pic.twitter.com/a5c6usaNvx  Graham Stuart MP (@grahamstuart) March 11, 2025

However, environmental groups are still worried, with campaigners saying there remained a lot of 'uncertainty' over the aftermath of the collision.

Leaking oil and fuel being released could leave a 'toxic legacy' for ocean wildlife that should be protected, according to Hugo Tagholm, executive director of Oceana UK.

He warned the spill could have a 'long term impact' on ecosystems which are home to threatened seabird colonies, grey seals, harbour porpoises, fish, and minke whales.

Martin Slater, of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, warned it could potentially be 'devastating' to the Humber estuary, with birds and seals at risk, and that he was 'very worried' about it.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said the disaster was close to the biggest gannet colony in England and warned a leak could be 'lethal' to seabirds.

Dave O'Hara, of the RSPB, said: 'The incident is close to Bempton Cliffs, home to the biggest gannet colony in England.'

The charity's Richard Barnard added: 'Oil directly impacts seabirds, coating their feathers and reducing their waterproofing and buoyancy, which can lead to drowning, or it can poison them through ingestion.'

Emergency measures are in place for any injured birds that wash ashore in the coming days, which may include euthanising animals if their injuries are severe.

The hulking wreck of the Stena Immaculate can be seen off the coast of Withernsea today

A spokesman for the local Whitby Wildlife Sanctuary said: 'Hopefully, the effect on wildlife will be minimal, but there is an emergency contingency plan in place if lots of oiled birds wash up.'

Harj Narulla, an environmental law barrister from Doughty Street Chambers, said the costs of cleaning up an oil spill could be in the tens of millions of pounds. Typically the company found to have caused the spill foots the bill.

Dr Alex Lukyanov, researcher on advanced mathematical models of oil spills from the University of Reading, said: 'Oil spills like the one in the North Sea are affected by multiple factors.

'The size of the spill, weather conditions, sea currents, water waves, wind patterns, and the type of oil involved all play crucial roles in determining environmental outcomes.

'This particular incident is troubling because it appears to involve persistent oil, which breaks up slowly in water.'

He added: 'The environmental toll could be severe.'

The Solong is still burning with the Coastguard earlier warning the ship was expected to sink. It's currently being supported by three tug ships.

Jet fuel gushed into the North Sea from the ruptured hold of the MV Stena Immaculate (pictured Monday)

Flames leapt from oil burning on the surface of the sea as RNLI lifeboats helped the sailors

However, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the ruined cargo vessel is now anticipated to remain afloat.

Ms Alexander's comment came after she met with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's chief executive Virginia McVea on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the response to the incident.

She said: 'I am reassured to hear indications from the ship's owners which suggest the sodium cyanide containers were empty and that efforts to confirm this by the salvors are underway.

'I was also pleased to have been informed that early indications suggest that both vessels are now expected to stay afloat and that the Solong can be towed away from the shore, and salvage operations can get under way.

'I will continue to monitor the response and have asked for regular updates, including on any potential environmental impacts, across government and our agencies.'

Pictures show the vessel's charred and blackened superstructure appearing to have been warped and extremely damaged following Monday's disaster.

Despite earlier concerns the Solong would sink, Britain's Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander claimed the stricken cargo ship is now due to remain afloat

Fires on the Solong continued to rage through Tuesday more than 24 hours after the crash

A rainbow is pictured above the wreck of the Stena Immaculate in the North Sea today

The nightmare collision took place at 9.48am on Monday morning and triggered a major rescue effort.

Previously there was speculation the Solong might have been hacked by Russia or other hostile states and turned into a 'spear'.

However, this has today been denied by transport minister Mr Kane, during a speech in the House of Commons.

The minister said something went 'terribly wrong' for the crash to happen, but that there was 'no evidence' of foul play.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister later added: 'I understand there doesn't appear to be any suggestions of foul play at this time.'

Both the Solong and Immaculate had been tangled together in the aftermath of the crash. However, they separated at about 11.20pm on Monday, causing the Solong to 'drift southwards', the Coastguard said.

The Solong had been sailing from the Scottish port of Grangemouth to Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

The 461ft Solong did 'not even slow down' as it ploughed 'full bore' into the side of the 600ft-long tanker, a US naval history professor Sal Mercogliano said.

Fire and rescue services attend the collision between MV Stena Immaculate and MV Solong

A total of 36 mariners were rescued after abandoning ships as explosions rocked their vessels

A coastguard vehicle on the scene at the Port of Grimsby in East Yorkshire yesterday evening

A lifeboat returns to Bridlington RNLI station last night after taking part in rescue operations

In a YouTube video analysing the tracking data from the ships, he said: 'It appears that Solong just straight-out rammed into the side of Stena Immaculate.'

Dramatic footage showed the stricken vessels entangled as they floated around consumed by an inferno, as a massive rescue operation was launched shortly after the crash at 9.48am yesterday.

Flames leapt from oil burning on the surface of the sea as RNLI lifeboats and a Coastguard helicopter plucked sailors to safety.

Lifeboat crews from Skegness, Bridlington, Mablethorpe and Cleethorpes took part in the operation, while the Humber Coastguard issued an alert for any nearby vessels with fire-fighting capabilities to help out.

They were scrambled at 10.20am - with the crews from both of the devastated vessels having abandoned ship minutes earlier.

One rescue vessel from Cleethorpes was stood down at 11.40am, the RNLI said, while the three other boats continued with their search efforts. They were joined by a number of other civilian craft.

Rescue efforts were hampered by fog and thick smoke which billowed from the wrecks of the two ships.

The first reports of casualties having been pulled from the water came shortly after 1pm, with a number of crew members taken ashore.

By 9.30pm, Matthew Atikinson, divisional commander for HM Coastguard - which was co-ordinating the rescue - said 36 people had been rescued, with one heading to hospital.

However, in his update on Monday night he added: 'One crew member of the Solong remains unaccounted for, after an extensive search for the missing crew member sadly they have not been found and the search has ended.'

The Stena Immaculate, which had travelled from the Greek port of Agioi Theodoroi, had been chartered by the US Navy's Military Sealift Command as part of its Tanker Security Program which 'supports US military missions across the globe'.

It is understood the US and Portugal will lead investigations into the incident and that work is ongoing to establish the full contents of both ships.

Collisions remain rare in the busy North Sea.

In October 2023, two cargo ships, the Verity and the Polesie, collided near Germany's Heligoland islands in the North Sea.

Three people were killed and two others are still missing and considered dead.

In October 2015, the Flinterstar freighter, carrying 125 tonnes of diesel and 427 tonnes of fuel oil, sank after colliding with the Al Oraiq tanker eight kilometres (five miles) off the Belgian coast.
A judge has declared a mistrial after a jury was unable to reach a verdict in the controversial 'stand your ground' case of a man who shot his arsonist neighbor for trespassing onto his property in the dead of night.

Keith Sullivan was charged with the murder of Greg Bagwell in Grove Oak, Alabama, despite his claims of self defense.

His supporters say he should never have been put on trial due to the state's 'stand your ground' laws.

Bagwell was shot dead by Sullivan after he turned up on his front porch at around 2am on May 8, 2023.

Sullivan's defense said that Bagwell was a known arsonist and drug user, who he had reported to police for acting erratically in the days prior to the incident.

But prosecutors argued that surveillance footage shows the accused shooting Bagwell in the back as he was leaving the property.

A mistrial was declared Tuesday as the trial entered its seventh day, after jurors were unable to reach a verdict following almost three days of deliberation.

Sullivan pleaded not guilty to murder after being denied immunity under Alabama's Stand Your Ground Law.

A judge has declared a mistrial in the 'stand your ground' trial of father Keith Sullivan (right) who shot his neighbor after he trespassed onto his property in the dead of night

Sullivan was charged with the 2023 murder of Greg Bagwell (pictured) in Grove Oak, Alabama

'It's as clear cut a case of Stand Your Ground as any I have ever seen,' Sullivan's attorney Thomas Kenniff told DailyMail.com.

Kenniff previously represented Daniel Penny, the former Marine cleared over the death of a black homeless man called Jordan Neely on a New York subway train.

'I really don't have an answer as to why Mr Sullivan is being prosecuted.

'In Danny's case, he acted to protect subway passengers who were strangers, in Mr Sullivan's case, it was his wife and teenage daughter.

'The law obviously applies in the same way in both cases, but the motivations are to protect.

'In New York we see liberal prosecutors and judges who don't really value self defense the way they do in Alabama so it is surprising to me.'

On the day of Bagwell's death, Sullivan's wife and teenage daughter were inside the home. He went to the front of his home and instructed his wife to call 911.

Sullivan said he mistakenly thought the deceased had a weapon after he reached into his waistband, WAFF reports.

He then shot Bagwell seven times, the Times Journal reports. Sullivan later passed a polygraph test about whether he believed the deceased was armed.

Sullivan claims he was acting in self-defense because he mistakenly thought Bagwell was armed

He has received an outpouring of support from his local community and church, of which he is an active member

Bagwell has a lengthy rap sheet for arson, shooting at neighbors' homes, drugs and reckless endangerment. A previous bond for him had been revoked just three days before he died.

Sullivan is a church music director and teacher who has no criminal history. He has been supported in court by his family and former students.

The trial has divided the small Alabama community where it unfolded and has faced several set backs.

The defense rested on Thursday, arguing the prosecution had not produced enough evidence to prove that Sullivan was unjustified in gunning down Bagwell, WAFF reports.

On Monday an alternate juror had to be called in after one member of the jury fell sick. That afternoon the panel returned its first deadlock note.

On Tuesday, Sullivan's defense requested that a juror be removed after both he and the DA failed to disclose that the DA's office is prosecuting a manslaughter case on behalf of his son, who died after allegedly being sold fentanyl-laced drugs.

The same juror was also seen posting about the deliberation process on Facebook, expressing frustration he was unable to convince other jurors of his point of view and calling for the death penalty, Kenniff added.

But prosecutors say Sullivan shot Bagwell multiple times in the back as he was leaving his property

Judge Shaunathan Bell denied the request and the juror was allowed to continue with deliberations.

A second 'hopelessly deadlocked' note was received on Tuesday and a hung jury was declared.

Kenniff said that donations to his client's GiveSendGo fundraiser will be used for any further trials.
Talks between US and Ukrainian delegations in Saudi Arabia are going 'OK', a senior Ukrainian official said in a blunt appraisal as diplomats met for crunch talks on rebuilding bridges and ending the war with Russia.

'The talks are going OK, a lot of questions have been discussed,' the official, who requested anonymity, said in vague comments to AFP on Tuesday with talks underway in Jeddah, notably without the two presidents.

Volodymyr Zelensky sent his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, to meet with Donald Trump's secretary of state, Marco Rubio, in the hope of building confidence following a souring of relations in recent weeks.

The meeting marks the first high-level talks between Kyiv and Washington since Zelensky clashed with Trump during an Oval Office meeting last month.

'We are ready to do everything to achieve peace,' Yermak told reporters as he arrived for the talks. The two sides spoke for about three hours in the morning, before a break, with more planned for the afternoon.

Yermak echoed the hesitant tone of the anonymous official in a one-line post on social media later on: 'Work in progress.'

The chief of staff's presence at the negotiating table remains a controversial decision, and could throw Kyiv's chances of securing a favourable peace deal.

That is because Donald Trump, who harbours a clear distaste for Zelensky, is believed to foster similar feelings for his top aide.

Head of the Presidential Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak with delegation members arriving for a meeting with US officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 11 March

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) attends the meeting between the Ukrainian and US delegations in Jeddah

A view of a damaged apartment building following a Ukrainian drone attack in Ramenskoe, outside Moscow, Russia, 11 March 2025

Donald Trump (right) and Volodymyr Zelensky clash in the Oval Office on February 28

Yermak, 53, was a central figure in the Hunter Biden scandal which saw Trump accused of pressuring Zelensky to dig up dirt on Joe Biden's family in exchange for military aid - allegations that led to the US president's impeachment.

Ukrainian officials this week admitted they still think Trump bears ill will toward Yermak, though they hope US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's presence will help to calm any tensions between the two delegations.

The potentially pivotal talks in Jeddah today come hours after Ukraine's armed forces battered targets across Western Russia in one of the largest drone assaults of the war, while Russia announced it had retaken some 100 square kilometres of territory in its Kursk region from Kyiv's troops.

Yermak told reporters this morning ahead of his meeting with Rubio that Ukraine was ready to negotiate to end the war.

'We are ready to do everything to achieve peace,' Yermak said, before later taking to social media to declare that discussions with the US delegation had begun positively.

'The meeting with the US team started very constructively, we continue our work.'

A former film producer and lawyer who first met Zelensky during his years as a comedian, Yermak has become the Ukrainian president's right-hand man and now holds the power to negotiate directly with Washington in pursuit of a peace deal.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Yermak has played a key role in Ukraine's foreign policy operations, securing the release of Ukrainian prisoners, brokering arms shipments and working with the West to structure sanctions packages against Moscow.

Meanwhile, his close personal relationship with Zelensky has earned him the moniker of 'St. Andriy, the First Apostle' in Ukrainian media - but it is this proximity that some fear could prove a liability in discussions with the Trump administration.

Ukrainian Head of Presidential Office Andriy Yermak (centred) pictured at the meeting today

U.S Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Ukrainian Head of Presidential Office Andriy Yermak hold a meeting in the presence of Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad Al-Aiban, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, March 11, 2025

Paramedics treat a injured civilian following Russian bombardment of a residential building in Kostiantynivka, Ukraine, on March 11, 2025

Yermak had no political or diplomatic experience before he was granted an administrative role in Zelensky's government in 2019.

His first significant brush with US politics came in July of that year, just three months after the Ukrainian president's landslide election victory.

Yermak received a call from Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, urging him to open an investigation into Hunter Biden's role at Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company under scrutiny for corruption.

At the time, Hunter Biden, son of then-US Vice President Joe Biden, was receiving $50,000 per month to sit on Burisma's board, despite having no experience in the energy sector.

Giuliani and Trump were convinced that exposing wrongdoing at Burisma would damage Joe Biden's political standing ahead of the 2020 election.

According to a Ukrainian official who spoke to the Telegraph, Yermak was 'anxious not to be dragged into US domestic politics' and advised Zelensky to hold off.

But his refusal to cooperate infuriated Giuliani and Trump.

Around the same time, the Trump administration chose to withhold nearly $400 million in military aid that was earmarked for supporting Zelensky's forces in their fight against Russian-backed separatists in the Donbas.

The suspicious timing triggered allegations that Trump was trying to leverage Zelensky into a quid pro quo - continued military aid in exchange for a commitment to investigate alleged corruption by the Biden family.

The Ukrainian President never carried out Trump's request, and allegations that Trump had tried to force Kyiv into investigating the Biden family led to his impeachment.

Andriy Yermak only posted 'work in progress' as talks were underway on March 11

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) holding a meeting with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Royal Palace in Jeddah on March 10, 2025

A child looks at destroyed Russian military vehicles displayed in downtown Kyiv on March 4, 2025

Smoke billows above the site of a drone attack in Odesa, southern Ukraine, 11 March 2025

Although he was ultimately cleared of wrongdoing, the episode reportedly deepened the US president's animosity toward Zelensky, and by extension, Yermak.

'Trump hates Ukraine,' Lev Parnas, a Soviet-born US businessman who was once a fixer in Ukraine for Trump's lawyer Giuliani, told Politico last year.

'He and people around him believe that Ukraine was the cause of all Trump's problems.'

But a Ukrainian government adviser told the Telegraph this week: 'The anger isn't just towards Zelensky - it is to Yermak, too.'

Given the concerns that Trump continues to look down on Yermak as well as Zelensky, the decision to send him to Saudi Arabia to lead critical ceasefire talks has raised eyebrows.

But Yermak has long operated at the centre of Ukraine's foreign policy machinery and Zelensky clearly believes his right-hand man is the best-equipped person to broker a peace deal that would prevent Kyiv from making catastrophic concessions to Moscow.

Yermak has been at Zelensky's side since the very beginning of his presidency, having been granted a modest role as a personal assistant to the presidential office in 2019.

That role, seen as a fairly low-level administrative job, came with no official portfolio.

A woman visits the "The Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine", a memorial for fallen Ukrainian soldiers, in downtown Kyiv on March 4, 2025

Ukrainian officials this week admitted they still think Trump bears ill will toward Yermak, though they hope US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's (left, back) presence will help to calm any tensions between the two delegations

But Yermak saw the lack of a definitive job description as an opportunity and reportedly began consolidating outsized power by effectively becoming Zelensky's constant shadow.

'He was always the closest one physically,' a former official told Ukrainskaya Pravda.

'Even when there was a meeting, Yermak would edge his way onto the armrest of Zelensky's chair just to stay close.'

When Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Yermak's work to solidify his place by the president's side quickly bore fruit.

As Zelensky pivoted into the role of a wartime leader, Yermak expertly leveraged the personal and professional trust placed in him by the president.

He has successfully orchestrated diplomatic outreach, secured international aid and has worked closely with European leaders and senior officials in the Biden administration to structure economic sanctions against Russia.

Now more than three years into full-scale war, his power and influence as a central figure in Kyiv's foreign policy architecture is almost absolute.

'The whole diplomatic track is an area where Yermak would be physically impossible to replace even if Zelensky wanted to,' a former high-ranking official told Ukrainskaya Pravda.

In the talks today, Ukraine is expected to propose a ceasefire with Russia covering the Black Sea and long-range missile strikes, as well as the release of prisoners, according to two senior Ukrainian officials.

The officials also said Kyiv is now ready to sign Trump's coveted minerals deal - though it is not clear whether any security guarantees have been added.

'We do have a proposal for a ceasefire in the sky and ceasefire at sea,' a Ukrainian official told AFP on Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

'These are the ceasefire options that are easy to install and to monitor, and it's possible to start with them.'

Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a drone attack in Odesa, southern Ukraine, 11 March 2025

The site of a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine in this handout picture released March 4, 2025

US Secretary of State Rubio, who was joined in Jeddah by Trump's national security advisor Mike Waltz, signalled that the Trump administration would likely be pleased by such a proposal.

'I'm not saying that alone is enough, but it's the kind of concession you would need to see in order to end the conflict,' he told reporters.

'You're not going to get a ceasefire and an end to this war unless both sides make concessions.

'The Russians can't conquer all of Ukraine and obviously it will be very difficult for Ukraine in any reasonable time period to force the Russians all the way back to where they were back in 2014,' Rubio added, referring to when Russia seized the Crimea peninsula and backed a separatist offensive in eastern Ukraine.

On his plane to Jeddah, Rubio said the US delegation would not be proposing any specific measures to secure an end to the three-year conflict but rather wanted to hear from Ukraine about what they would be willing to consider.

'I'm not going to set any conditions on what they have to or need to do,' Rubio told reporters accompanying him.

'I think we want to listen to see how far they're willing to go and then compare that to what the Russians want and see how far apart we truly are.'
A man has shared the tragic final photo he took with his girlfriend hours before she plunged to her death down a 160ft ravine.

Maurizio Filini and Laura Barbieri were hiking Mount Guglielmo, in northern Italy, when Ms Barbieri fell off the side of a particularly exposed point on the trail.

Just hours before the tragedy occurred, the couple were smiling at the top of the snowy summit.

With their arms linked and the Monument to the Redeemer - a statue built on top of the summit of Mount Guglielmo - in the background the pair are a picture of happiness hauntingly unaware this would be their last photo together.

Il Dolomiti - an Italian publication - reported that after the couple left the summit, Ms Barbieri lost her balance at an altitude of 1,700 metres and fell down a ravine in front of Mr Fillini.

Mr Fillini immediately raised the alarm and the emergencies services - which included paramedics and a rescue helicopter - rushed to the scene.

However, once they located Ms Barbieri she was sadly confirmed dead.

According to Corriere Della Sera Ms Barbieri likely slipped due to the ice on the mountain despite having crampons attached to her boots.

Just hours before the tragedy occurred, Maurizio Filini and Laura Barbieri were smiling at the top of the snowy summit

The couple were hiking Mount Guglielmo (pictured), in northern Italy, when Ms Barbieri fell off the side of a particularly exposed point on the trail

Taking to social media following her death, Mr Fillini shared their final photo together with the caption: 'This was our last photo, I will love you forever my Laurina, have a good trip.'

The post has since received over 300 likes on FaceBook.

Ms Barbieri's funeral will be held on Wednesday March 12 in the Italian city of Brescia where the couple lived.

Mount Guglielmo is a popular hiking spot in the Lombardy region of Italy known for its panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa has struck a landmark agreement with the country's Kurdish-led region of Rojava in an unprecedented step toward a united Syria that recognises the rights of the long-oppressed Kurds.

Celebrations erupted in cities across Rojava today after Sharaa, leader of Syria's ruling Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, signed the deal in Damascus alongside Mazloum Abdi, the head of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The SDF is a Kurdish-led multi-ethnic militia that serves as the de facto army and protectors of Rojava, which declared its autonomy from former Syrian president Bashar-al Assad's regime in 2012.

Though its exact terms have not yet been settled, the deal will bring all of Syria's border crossings with Iraq and Turkey, airports and oil and gas fields in Rojava under the central government's control.

In return, Syria's new Islamist rulers Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) will recognise the Kurds as an 'essential component of the Syrian state', guaranteeing them 'right to citizenship and all... constitutional rights'.

The SDF will integrate into a new Syrian army but will maintain a level of military autonomy, something that commander Abdi had maintained was a key condition as his forces continue to resist attacks from Turkey and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA).

Abdi described the deal as a 'historic opportunity' while the SDF's political wing, the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), lauded it as 'an essential step towards building a new Syria, a pluralistic democratic state that respects the rights of all its components.'

But concerns persist over the fate of tens of thousands of suspected Islamic State fighters who remain in SDF-guarded prisons scattered across Rojava.

The deal, which is set to come into effect by the end of this year, comes at a critical moment for Syria's new government just days after more than 1,000 people were killed in brutal clashes between HTS and pro-Assad loyalist groups in Alawite communities around the coastal city of Latakia.

HTS came under renewed scrutiny after a torrent of footage appeared to show its fighters beating, torturing and executing unarmed civilians.

Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) and Commander of Syrian Kurdish-led forces Mazloum Abdi (L) shake hands, after Syria reached a deal to integrate the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) with state institutions

Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, right, and Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, sign a deal in Damascus, Syria, Monday, March 10, 2025

Residents celebrate following the signing of a breakthrough deal between Syria's interim government and the SDF, the Kurdish-led authority that controls the country's northeast, in Qamishli, northeastern Syria, late Monday, March 10, 2025

People celebrate after the Kurdish-led and US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) signed a landmark deal with HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa to integrate with the new Syrian state

HTS militants drag an Alawite man out of his home, beat him with their rifles and proceed to execute him as he lies on the ground during civilian slaughters last week

The Kurds, the world's largest ethnic group without a state, are spread across Syria, Turkey, Iraq, and Iran, where they have long fought for autonomy.

Syria's Kurds faced constant oppression under Assad's Baathist regime, but in July 2012 they seized the opportunity presented by civil war chaos to secure their freedom.

Kurdish armed groups took control of Kurdish-majority cities near the Turkish border and later formalised their rule over several regions, declaring autonomy from the central government and naming the territory 'Rojava' (West).

Unlike Syria under Assad, Rojava adopted a decentralised system of governance where all ethnicities and religious groups have a say in regional administration.

This model makes Rojava arguably the most democratic and egalitarian region in the Middle East.

HTS meanwhile began life in 2012 as the Syrian wing of the extremist group Al-Qaeda under the name Jabhat al-Nusra.

In 2017, the group underwent a rebrand, cutting ties with Al-Qaeda and changing its name to HTS as leader Ahmed al-Sharaa sought to moderate his stance to gain legitimacy.

Since seizing power in December 2024, HTS has ruled from Damascus, consolidating their hold over most of western and parts of central Syria.

It remains an ultra-conservative Sunni-Islamist organisation and until this week had shown no willingness to accept Kurdish self-administration.

SDF leader Abdi and the region's governing body, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), had therefore remained wary of HTS' intentions for Syria but expressed a desire to work with Syria's new leaders, provided their political and cultural rights could be guaranteed.

An SDC representative told MailOnline: 'This agreement reflects the urgent need for a phase based on national partnership, mutual recognition and political justice, where all Syrians, without exception, have the right to self-determination.

'As we bless this agreement as a step towards a political solution, we affirm that its success depends on the extent to which all parties are committed to the spirit of real change and work to build a modern democratic state.'

If the deal is implemented according to the scope of the initial text agreed by Sharaa and Abdi, both parties stand to benefit.

For Sharaa, the deal allows his HTS-led government to consolidate its power over a huge part of northeastern Syria and take control over the bulk of the nation's oil and gas reserves.

The new Syrian army also gains a highly organised and US-trained Kurdish contingent with whom they can coordinate over security challenges.

Syria's Kurds meanwhile will in theory gain political representation in a future multi-ethnic Syrian government along with social and cultural rights that have eluded them for decades.

There are, however, a litany of obstacles that must be overcome for such a deal to be implemented effectively.

Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa (pictured), who led the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham that spearheaded the lightning offensive that toppled Bashar al-Assad, on Sunday called for 'national unity (and) civil peace' to be preserved

A man fires into the air during the funeral of a member of the Syrian security forces killed in an attack by groups loyal to the ousted President Bashar al-Assad, in Hama province, Syria, March 9, 2025

Security forces loyal to the interim Syrian government ride in the back of a vehicle moving along a road in Syria's western city of Latakia on March 9, 2025

A person celebrates after the Kurdish-led and US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which controls much of Syria's oil-rich northeast, signed a deal agreeing to integrate into Syria's new state institutions, the Syrian presidency said on Monday, in Qamishli, Syria, March 11, 2025

A member of Rojava's Women's Protection Units (YPJ) performs a search on a suspected member of ISIS during a raid on Al-Hol refguee camp

Chief among the Kurds' concerns is the future of prisons holding thousands upon thousands of suspected ISIS fighters and their families.

The Kurdish-led SDF fought a years-long battle against the jihadist group, partnering closely with the United States to steadily beat back the extremists until ISIS was geographically defeated in 2019.

But Sunni Islamist group HTS is likely to want to take control of the prisons containing ISIS fighters who were captured and imprisoned - including thousands of foreigners who travelled from Western countries to join the extremist group - as they begin integrating SDF and Kurdish-led institutions into the central government.

Meanwhile, the SDF continues to repel attacks by Turkey and the Turkish-backed SNA.

Turkey sees the US-backed SDF as an extension of the PKK, a Kurdish militant organisation that has waged a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish government in the pursuit of Kurdish autonomy.

In recent years, Ankara has launched several military operations across the border into northeastern Syria, declaring them necessary to protect Turkish sovereignty.

But in reality these operations were ruthless landgrabs that killed hundreds of Kurds and displaced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes.

Although Turkey is not directly allied with HTS, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is positioning himself as the leading ally of Sharaa after the group deposed Assad's regime.

Turkey is likely to strongly oppose any deal that sees the SDF maintain a significant degree of autonomy as part of an integrated Syrian national army.
Ex-Barclays boss Jes Staley has admitted that he had remained loyal to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein after he was convicted of having sex with a minor in 2008.

The 68-year-old took to the witness stand at Londons Upper Tribunal as he seeks to overturn a finance industry ban and 1.8m fine over his relationship with the disgraced late financier.

Mr Staley has repeatedly stressed that he had a close, professional but not personal relationship with Epstein.

But the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) says a cache of emails from Mr Staleys former employer JP Morgan - where the banker managed Epsteins account - cast doubt on that claim.

The former chief executive was questioned by Leigh-Ann Mulcay KC for the FCA, over a series of supportive emails he sent Epstein dating back to his 2008 conviction for child sex offences.

The hearing was told that when Epstein was released in July 2009 he messaged Mr Staley and three other individuals to announce he was free and home.

Mr Staley, who had said earlier that he felt the conviction had been an isolated transgression, admitted he had sent a reply to the paedophile stating: I toast your courage!!!!!

When questioned as to why he felt the sex offender was courageous, he replied: He was indicted, he was prosecuted, and he served time in jailand I was loyal to him.

Former Barclays boss Jes Staley (Pictured) admitted to a tribunal he stayed 'loyal' to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein after he was convicted

The ex-banking boss was questioned over a series of supportive emails he sent Epstein (Pictured with Ghislaine Maxwell) dating back to his 2008 conviction for child sex offences

A mugshot of US financier Jeffrey Epstein taken by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services' sex registry on March 28, 2017

And obviously any time in prison is a tough time.

Ms Mulcay KC suggested that Epsteins decision to include Mr Staley in the email upon his release highlighted the bankers importance to him.

Hes chosen to email a select number of people of which you are one. It shows your importance to him, doesnt it?, she put to Mr Staley who replied: I dont know if he sent other emails.

Epsteins 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution, saw him jailed briefly after which Mr Staley visited him was on work release.

Mr Staley has said he understood Epstein had engaged with a prostitute who, it transpired, was underage which he said appeared to be an isolated transgression.

He insisted he had no idea about the sex trafficking allegations against the serial paedophile, adding: If I was aware of his monstrous activities, I would not have maintained a relationship.

Mr Staleys appeal centres on a 2019 letter sent by Barclays Chair Nigel Higgins to the FCA, which approached the British bank shortly after Epsteins arrest prompted press interest.

The former Barclays CEO arriving at the High Court in London on March 11, 2025

The FCA says the letter contained two misleading statements: that Mr Staley did not have a close relationship with Epstein and their last contact was before he joined Barclays in 2015

The former chief executive, however, says both statements were accurate and that the pair had only a close professional relationship.

Barclays Chair Higgins said in his witness statement that, after speaking to Mr Staley about his relationship with Epstein, he thought it did not need a board discussion.

But, Mr Higgins added, emails between the pair that were disclosed by Mr Staleys former employer JP Morgan, painted a different picture.

Mr Staley claims that his reputation has been irretrievably damaged by the FCAs decision to ban him after the City watchdog decided he recklessly misled it over his relationship with Epstein.

He is expected to be in the witness box for the rest of the week, with closing arguments to be made in April.
Republican Senator Tom Cotton put his colleagues on blast after Democrats called for the release of a Palestinian activist arrested by ICE.

It came after the Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats posted an image with the caption 'Free Mahmoud Khalil' to X.

Khalil was a graduate student and permanent U.S. resident at the center of anti-Israel protests at Columbia University last year.

He was taken into custody at his university-owned apartment on Saturday night by ICE agents.

'Let me get this right: Senator Dick Durbin and the Judiciary Committee Democrats are fighting for a pro-Hamas foreigner who has made life hell for Jews on campus?' the Arkansas senator wrote.

'Even for Dick Durbin, who voted to cut off military supplies to Israel, this is remarkable,' he added.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post on Sunday that his department would be 'revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported.'

President Donald Trump on Monday wrote that it would be the 'first arrest of many' as the administration cracks down on on what he called 'pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity.'

Mahmoud Khalil speaking at a pro-Palestinian protest encampment on April 29, 2024 at Columbia University. He was detained by ICE on Saturday

But Durbin fired back after the arrest 'ICE just DETAINED a lawful permanent resident and recent grad student in the middle of the night because Mahmoud exercised his First Amendment rights in a way Donald Trump didnt like.'

He posted on X that the move was 'Straight up authoritarianism.'

Vermont Senator Peter Welch argued Khalil as a legal resident is 'entitled to First Amendment protections like everyone in this country.'

'If Trump starts illegally revoking green cards from people because he doesn't like their speech, we're on the path to full-blown authoritarianism,' Welch slammed the president.

On Monday, a U.S. district judge ordered that Khalil remain in the U.S. as the court weighs a filing challenging his arrest and deportation.

A detention hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

While Cotton blasted Democrats for their response, Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) noted the upcoming court hearing while discussing the arrest and response with DailyMail.com.

'We'll find out tomorrow morning how the government intends to charge this guy, or what particularly under statutes, the removal statute, they're deciding is the basis for removal,' Hawley said.

But he called the Democratic response immediately calling for his release 'bizarre.'

'If these folks commit crimes, if they commit unlawful acts of any kind, they assault students, they threaten people on campus... I'm all for deporting them,' Hawley said.

Khalil at a protest at Columbia University on October 12, 2023. He has a detention hearing on Wednesday morning after being taken into custody

Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) blasted Democrats who posted for the release of Khalil who was in the U.S. legally when he was detained by ICE

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday refused to take a question on the arrest at his press conference, but he pointed reporters to a statement online.

In a post on X, Schumer who is Jewish, wrote 'I abhor many of the opinions and policies that Mahmoud Khalil holds and supports,' but Schumer noted Khalil is a legal permanent resident with an American wife who is eight months pregnant.

'The Trump administrations DHS must articulate any criminal charges or facts that would justify his detention or the initiation of deportation proceedings against him,' Schumer wrote.

The Democratic senator wrote if the administration cannot prove he violated criminal law and he was detained 'for the opinions he has expressed' it is 'wrong' and a violation of First Amendment protections.

In a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Tuesday, a dozen House Democrats led by Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib called for Khalil to be released from custody immediately.

They noted that he had not be charged or convicted for a crime and called his arrest an 'attempt to criminalize political protest.'

On Tuesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked if the Trump administration believes it needs to charge a green card holder with a crime to deport him.

'Secretary Rubio reserves the right to revoke the visa of Mahmoud Khalil,' Leavitt said.

She claimed that the secretary of state has the right to revoke a green card or visa for an individuals who are 'adversarial to the foreign policy and national security interests' of the U.S.

Leavitt accused Khalil of distributing 'pro-Hamas propaganda' on campus and said the administration would not tolerate people coming to study in the U.S. and siding with 'pro-terrorist organizations that have killed Americans.'
Four more people have been arrested over the death of a mother-of-four who was shot dead on her doorstep.

Former shopworker Joanne Penney, 40, was staying at a flat used as a drugs den when a gunman shot her on the doorstep.

South Wales Police announced today that two men, aged 27 and 68, and two women aged 21 and 39, from Leicestershire were arrested last night in connection with the fatal shooting.

A 42-year-old local man was arrested at the scene on Sunday night on suspicion of murder and is being held in police custody.

Detective Chief Superintendent Ceri Hughes called the latest arrests 'a significant development'.

She said: 'The investigation into Joanne's death is continuing and we have a team of experienced detectives and specialist staff working hard to establish the circumstances of this terrible incident.'

Friends believe the real target was a woman Joanne was staying with and she died because she opened the door to her killer.

Both women are blonde and about the same age, according to neighbours.

Mother-of-four Joanne Penney has been named as the women shot dead on her doorstep

The 40-year-old was gunned down this morning in Talbot Green, South Wales

Police remain at the scene in Talbot Green on this morning following the fatal shooting

Officers have seized a biege Nissan Note (BK61 ZDC) and a black Volvo XC40 (FD24 PZF) which travelled from the Leicester area on Sunday morning to South Wales.

The vehicles later left shortly after the fatal shooting.

Police are using ANPR to track the movements of the cars on the 300 miles round trip and are appealing for anyone with dash cam footage of the vehicles to come forward.

Det Ch Supt Hughes added: 'We need information about the movement of these vehicles and their occupants, including any dashcam footage, particularly from commercial vehicles, for any journeys on Sunday.

'Both vehicles were seized following last night's arrests and will be subject to forensic examination.

'While we have teams of officers carrying out house-to-house and CCTV enquiries, I also appeal for any dashcam footage or CCTV around Llys Illtyd and the nearby retail park between 5.30pm and 6.30pm on Sunday March 9 which may have captured these vehicles and any witnesses.

'The investigation has continued at pace, and we are working hard to establish a motive for Joanne's killing. We are exploring several lines of enquiry, including the possibility that she was the victim of mistaken identity.

'I would urge anyone who has information, either about Joanne's death or what happened at the property in Llys Illtyd on Sunday evening, to do the right thing and come forward  the smallest piece of information could be of vital importance.'

A crime scene is still in place today as police continue to comb for evidence.

Joanne's grieving sister Nikki today told how she was been left 'broken' by her death.

She posted a picture of the two blondes on Facebook saying: 'Love you so much sis. I'm broken without you,' along with heartbreak and crying emojis.

She had earlier posted a similar photo captioned: 'I need you here.'

Joanne's friend Rebecca Morris, 42, said: 'They got the wrong person, I'm 100 per cent sure of it.

'No one would want to kill Jo, she was a lovely woman with four children who would do no harm to anyone'

Neighbours on the Green Park Estate at Talbot Green, South Wales, heard a single shot at 6.10pm on Sunday evening.

Emergency services arrived to find a woman in a pool of blood and were unable to save her.

Mother-of-two Ms Morris said: 'It wasn't her flat, she was staying there with a friend. I used to live in that flat myself.

Friends believe the real target was the woman Joanne was staying with and she died because she opened the door to her killer.

'We all think it may have been mistaken identity. We can't think why anyone should pick on her,' one neighbour said

'I'm scared now because I'm blonde and about the same age and I used to live there.'

'I've been crying all morning, I'm taking flowers down there and I've made a little memorial hanging for her.'

Locals said the shooting was 'like an assassination' and believe the killing may be drugs-related.

One neighbour said Jo only moved to stay with her friend around Christmas time.

'She seemed nice but fairly shy. She moved over the border from England and was staying there.

'We all think it may have been mistaken identity. We can't think why anyone should pick on her - she may have just answered the door to the wrong person at the wrong time.'

Neighbours said the flat in the Llys Maelwg block in Green Park held raucous parties - with suspicions of drug taking.

The neighbour said: 'Sundays can be terrible around there. We call it a crack house - and there are always problems on Sunday after a big night. But we've never heard of any guns being used before.'

Locals said the peace of the Green Park estate of Talbot Green was rocked by a shot at 6.10pm on Sunday evening.

Calum Williams, who lives just a few houses away from the incident, said he heard the gunshot.

'It's terrible. I live just two doors down from where it happened. I was making a bottle for the baby and I heard a gunshot,' he said.

'It's pretty frightening, especially with the baby.'

The scene this morning after Joanne was shot dead on her doorstep in South Wales

Images from the scene show investigators clad in white suits as well as uniformed officers surveying the surroundings

Carloyn Pugh, who lives nearby, said she heard the police helicopter hovering last night.

'It was scary. Within seconds, they [police] were everywhere,' she said.

'You didn't know what was happening but you knew there was something bad.

Police said Joanne was found suffering serious injuries and was was later pronounced dead at the scene.

A 42-year-old local man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder and is being held in police custody.

Detective Chief Inspector James Morris said: 'I understand the concern this will cause the local community, and I want to reassure people that a team of experienced detectives are already working at pace to piece together the events of last night.'

South Wales Police have isolated six separate scenes of crime locations including a car.
Actor Noel Clarke has said a 19-year-old woman who claimed he propositioned her for sex at dinner is a 'fantasist', giving evidence at his High Court libel trial today.

The 49-year-old Doctor Who star is suing Guardian News and Media (GNM) over seven articles and a podcast that stated 20 women who knew him professionally had come forward with allegations of misconduct.

He denies the claims and made the damning comment at court today in relation to a dinner at Soho House in 2014.

GNM is defending its reporting as being both true and in the public interest.

Cross-examining Clarke on Tuesday, Gavin Millar KC, for GNM, said the woman, known as "Imogen", had written online the day after the dinner, giving an account of what happened.

He said: 'You told her what you wanted to do to her, quite graphically.

'After the dinner, when saying goodbye in the street, you hugged her and tried to kiss her on the lips.

'She turned her head away and you got cross.'

Noel Clarke (pictured) is suing Guardian News and Media (GNM) over a series of articles from 2021 and 2022 that featured allegations from women accusing him of sexual misconduct

Clarke made his first TV appearance more than 20 years ago in the Channel 4 series Metrosexuality, and gained fame for his roles as Mickey Smith in Doctor Who and Wyman Norris in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet

Clarke denied asking the 19-year-old for sex and said he did not try to kiss her.

He told the court: 'On my kids, that is not what happened at our dinner, and she is a fantasist because that is what she does. She is into women's rights, which I do not knock, I used to be as well.

'She obviously wrote it for women who do go for those things.

'I can stand on that and die with it. I know it's not real.'

In a witness statement, he said he recalls Imogen making 'flirtatious and suggestive conversation', and that she took his glasses and made a comment about being his secretary.

He added: 'She did not seem uncomfortable or scared at all, and indeed, appeared to be entirely engaging in and promoting this flirtatious behaviour.'

Mr Millar showed Clarke some text from a chat in which the actor had said later to an associate he propositioned Imogen at the dinner.

'When you said "absolutely not", that's not what you say here,' said Mr Millar.

Clarke is known for his role in Doctor Who as Mickey. He is pictured here alongside Billie Piper who played Rose Tyler

Noel Clarke pictured as DC Martin Young in the ITV Series Viewpoint

Clarke said: 'Well I guess but she was flirting first.

'It was not untrue because I propositioned her after she flirted with me. She flirted with me first then I continued the flirtation.'

Clarke also said that another woman speaking to the Guardian about his alleged sexual misconduct was 'scary stuff' and 'terrifying'.

He said: 'I just did not want her speaking to journalists. I do not understand why that is a problem.

'I believe in the article, for balance, they said one or two good things about me before destroying my life.'

The trial in London will only deal with liability and not the assessment of any damages.

Clarke wants to increase his claim for special damages to more than 70 million, and also wants to bring a claim over allegations that multiple people conspired against him using fabricated allegations of misconduct or sexual assault.

Philip Williams, for Clarke, told the court in written submissions that the actor 'has clearly established the falsity of all of the allegations'.

Noel Clarke arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice today for his libel case against The Guardian

Noel Clarke (centre) arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice in London ahead of the start of his libel claim against Guardian News and Media (GNM) on March 5

The barrister continued that his client was 'barely able to reply to the allegations' published by the Guardian and was 'perceived as a criminal by all those who previously trusted and worked with him'.

Mr Millar said in his written submissions that the paper 'did not simply accept what was said to it' and that 'much time and resource was devoted to getting to the truth'.

He also said that there is 'ample evidence' that all of the articles were true or substantially true.

The hearing before Mrs Justice Steyn is due to conclude in April, with a decision expected in writing at a later date.

Clarke yesterday claimed the Guardian smashed his life and insisted he is not what they have branded him to be.

Giving evidence, he said barristers for the publisher were making accusations for headlines to smash my life, which you have already done.

Responding to questions about his alleged misconduct involving another woman, known as "Penelope", the Doctor Who star became emotional, and his voice began to break.

The director denied accusations made by Penelope that he giggled after allegedly becoming aroused during the shooting of a sex scene.

They have smashed my life for four years with this rubbish, this nonsense. Four years....I did not do this, I would not do this. I have got children. This is not true, he told the court.
The deaths of three American women in a Belize hotel may have been caused by carbon monoxide poisoning and not a drug overdose as local police hastily suggested, a source has told DailyMail.com.

Kaoutar Naqqad, 23, Imane Mallah, 24, and Wafae El Arar, 26, were found dead in their room by staff at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort in San Pedro on February 22.

Authorities in Belize later determined the women had all died from acute pulmonary edema - a buildup of fluid in the lungs - but have not yet announced a cause.

Belize Commissioner Chester Williams told local media that investigators found froth on the womens mouths, indicating a possible drug overdose.

Within hours of the women being discovered, Williams also reported that alcohol and unspecified gummies were found inside the room.

Friends and family of the deceased shared outrage over Williams remarks, expressing doubt that the women had consumed drugs and accused the chief of pointing a premature finger of blame towards their loved ones.

The three womens remains have since been transported back to the US, where a second autopsy is currently being conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in their home state of Massachusetts.

While those examinations are not expected to be officially completed for at least a month, a source close to one of the girls families told DailyMail.com that a preliminary report indicated the fatal build-up of fluid in their lungs was caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.

The source further stated that investigators have discovered other non-fatal incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning at the Royal Kahal and have made contact with at least one other American victim.

Family of the three women shared a joint statement on Monday, calling their deaths 'suspicious' but declined to comment further

(Left to right) Kaoutar Naqqad, 23, Imane Mallah, 24, and Wafae El Arar, 26, were found dead in their room by staff at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort in San Pedro on February 22. A source close to one of their families says prelimary autopsy results show signs of carbon monoxide poisoning

The Royal Kahal Beach Resort is a luxury hotel on Ambergris Caye, located in San Pedro, Belize (file photo)

The Royal Kahal, Chief Williams, and Belize Fire Chief Colin Gillett have all been contacted for comment.

Gillett previously told Belizean media that carbon monoxide poisoning had been ruled out following an investigation.

A spokesperson representing the families of Naqqad, Mallah, and El Arar declined to comment, sharing only that the bereaved were eagerly awaiting the results of the state Medical Examiners autopsy.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Massachusetts confirmed they have custody of the womens remains but declined to share further details, with a spokesperson saying only that the 'cause and manner of death for the descendents remains pending.

On Monday, the families of the deceased shared their first public statements, along with family photos of each of the women, calling their deaths mysterious and 'suspicious.

In their heartfelt remarks, the families addressed the status of the ongoing investigation and said they hoped their words and photos would honor Kaoutar, Imane and Wafae by telling the world about the girls we knew and loved.

It is with unimaginable pain and heartbreak that we share the devastating news of the passing of Kaoutar Naqqad, Imane Mallah, Wafae El Arar, each a beloved light in the world lost too soon, began the statement.

Our families and all who loved these women are shattered, struggling to comprehend this profound and sudden loss.

Each of the women was individually memorialized.

Mallah was remembered as a beacon of kindness who embraced life wholeheartedly; Naqqad was the light of her familys life whose kindness and warmth touched everyone she met; and El Arar was honest, kind, and deeply devoted to the people she loved.

Their families added: The circumstances surrounding this tragedy remain unclear and suspicious, and we are seeking answers to understand what happened in Belize.

We urge the authorities in Belize and in the United States to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation so that we may find the truth and justice for Kaoutar, Imane and Wafae.

Our families are grateful for the outpouring of love and support we have received during this heartbreaking time. We ask for continued prayers, patience, and privacy as we navigate this profound sorrow.

May their beautiful souls rest in eternal peace. We will forever love and miss you, Kaoutar, Imane, and Wafae.

Naqqad (right) was remembered by their families kind, loving, and caring daughters

El Arar (above) was remembered as honest, kind, and deeply devoted to the people she loved

Naqqad is pictured with members of her family in a photo provided to DailyMail.com

More than 1000 people gathered in Revere, Massachusetts to mourn the deaths of El Arar, Mallah, and Naqqad last month

Naqqad, Mallah, and El Arar were found dead by hotel staff on Feb. 22.

They were last seen alive on surveillance footage returning to their rooms on the evening of the 20th.

Their families contacted the hotel and asked them to conduct a welfare check after repeated attempts to reach them by phone on Feb. 21 were unsuccessful.

The bodies exhibited no signs of injuries,' said Belize Police Commissioner Chester Williams.

Police also saw inside the room what appeared to be [vomit] beside each female.

Additional tests were being conducted to test for traces of illicit substances in the room, Williams added.

The results of those tests have not yet been publicly shared.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, Ira Novoselsky, a city councilor in the womens hometown of Revere, accused Belizean authorities of stonewalling US officials and the victims families.

'Theyve been taking their time and wont give any answers. The only answers theyve given us were negative ones, blaming the girls, saying they found gummies and vapes and whatever else,' he told DailyMail.com last month.

'We dont know if they had drinks, or what happened before they returned to the hotel, so everything is up in the air. There are no answers.'

Novoselsky speculated that Belize authorities were 'trying to protect their own' and 'make the city [of San Pedro] look good.'

'But Belize already had a bad light, their history shows theyve had trouble down there. And this is one of the worst. It upsets me a lot,' he added.

Revere Mayor Patrick M. Keefe echoed a similar sentiment in his public statement on the women's deaths, cautioning against a rush to judgment.

'The information we have received thus far from the Belizean authorities leaves our grieving community with too many questions,' Keefe said.

'These are daughters, friends, and contributors to our City, and I have heard widespread concern from the families and community members about the lack of transparency in this investigation and the media narrative painted by Belizean authorities.'

Keefe added: To jump to that conclusion is extremely disrespectful for the family. And I know its impacting them immensely, and I know its something they are upset about.

Wafae El-Arar was the eldest of the three victims. She had just celebrated her 26th birthday

Naqqad, 23, (left) had aspitations to become a police officer. Imane Mallah, 24, (right) was remembered as her family's 'greatest love'

Community members are seen gathering for a vigil last month to honor the three women who died in Belize

A travel advisory has been issued for the tropical country of Belize following reports of violent crime (Pictured: File photo of Belize)

Human toxicology samples have been sent from Belize to the US, and the state Medical Examiners office has confirmed now theyre in possession of the womens remains.

An official cause of death is expected to be returned within the next few weeks.

In their families joint statement on Monday, Naqqad was remembered as the youngest daughter of four siblings who held a special place in her family because of her joy, laughter, and love.

She was compassionate, caring, and deeply devoted to those she loved. Her heart was full of generosity, always putting others before herself and offering a listening ear, a comforting word, and unwavering support, her family said.

Naqqad was a college student who worked as part of the residential support staff at a group home for troubled youth. She had aspirations to become a police officer.

Similarly, Mallah was remembered as a radiant spirit and a beacon of kindness who embraced life and cherished every soul that shared the journey with her.

With her infectious smile, sparkling wit, and an unwaveringly optimistic heart, Imane illuminated every space she graced, her family wrote.

Her friends often remarked that her presence was like a warm, comforting light, guiding them through even the darkest of times.

El-Arar, who had just turned 26, was memorialized as being full of life, dreams and unwavering faith.

A research assistant at Massachusetts General Hospital, her family said she dedicated herself to reproductive rights and was committed to making a difference in an area often overlooked in healthcare.

Before her death, she had co-authored a journal article she had been working on for months, hoping that her contributions would help women around the world, the statement adds.

To all who knew her, she was caring, funny, humble, and incredibly giving. She was a light in our lives, taken too soon. She will be deeply missed.'
A gun-toting Channel migrant who called for death to all Jews paid 1,300 to smuggle himself into Britain after applying for asylum in three countries, a court heard today.

Palestinian Abu Wadee was staying at a Home Office asylum hotel in Manchester when he was arrested on Sunday night, three days after allegedly crossing from France in an inflatable dinghy.

Today he was remanded in custody under his real name of Mosab Abdulkarim al-Gassas after pleading not guilty to knowingly arriving in the UK without valid entry clearance.

Wearing a grey prison issue sweatshirt, the 33-year-old stood slumped in the corner of the glass-panelled dock at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court flanked by two security officers.

Speaking through an Arabic interpreter, al-Gassas said he was frightened and confused when asked where he wanted his trial to take place.

Opposing his application for bail, prosecutor Robin Lynch said there were grounds to believe he wouldnt attend court.

In addition the move was necessary for his own protection, he added.

Earlier Mr Lynch said al-Gassas had left Palestine in 2022, applying for asylum in Greece, Germany and Belgium  with the latter refusing on the grounds he had applied in other countries.

Palestinian Abu Wadee (pictured) was staying at a Home Office asylum hotel in Manchester when he was arrested on Sunday night

He was remanded in custody under his real name of Mosab Abdulkarim al-Gassas after pleading not guilty to knowingly arriving in the UK without valid entry clearance

Speaking through an Arabic interpreter, al-Gassas said he was frightened and confused when asked where he wanted his trial to take place

When interviewed, al-Gassas said he had paid 1,500 euros (1,300) for a place on a small boat to cross the Channel.

Details of how as-Gassass significant hate speech including calling for the death of Jews on social media were spelt out by the prosecutor, along with his support for Hamas.

These had been reported by a national newspaper and seen by a wide number of people, he added.

Applying for bail, as-Gassas  who was not legally represented - said: If you grant me bail I promise that I will appear for any appointment you want me to come to.

The situation in the cell is very difficult especially during Ramadan.

Refusing bail, District Judge Jane Hamilton said there were substantial grounds to believe you would fail to surrender.

Before being handcuffed and led to the cells, al-Gassas said: I will die in prison.

Im a victim of Hamas  Im wanted by Hamas, I have evidence of it.

News of his arrest was welcomed by MPs and Jewish groups after The Mail on Sunday exposed him as a former key member of a militant group that terrorised Israel, recorded a video in which he prayed for Allah to punish [Jews] completely, and uploaded images of himself with automatic weapons on social media.

Wadee, pictured on the right-hand side wearing a Palestinian flag headband, stands among a crowd with fence cutting equipment

Wadee, seen posing in front of a fire on the Israel-Gaza border

But the Home Offices own guidelines effectively prevent people being sent back to war-ravaged Gaza, raising concerns Wadee will be allowed to stay in Britain.

Wadee, who is in his 30s, was held by immigration enforcement officers on Sunday night on suspicion of illegally entering the country.

Officials would not disclose whether he was held in a processing centre or had been moved into a migrant hotel.

Wadee, also known as Mosab Abdulkarim al-Gassas, is charged with knowingly arriving into the UK without leave.

He is understood to have landed in the UK last Thursday before uploading a video of himself and others on a dinghy in the Channel being approached by a Border Force boat, with the caption: Thank God, we arrived in Britain.

He charted his journey across Europe to his 170,000 TikTok followers, with some videos being viewed more than 2.5 million times.

But his account on the social media platform was taken down and listed as banned after an investigation unearthed his extremist history.

It included images of him brandishing assault rifles, and another in which he appeared to hold a tear-gas canister in his mouth during apparent clashes at the border with Israel.

When interviewed, slightly-built Al-Gassas said he had funded his journey across the Channel through working, Mr Lynch said.

Wadee can be seen in this image posing with slingshot for hurling rocks

Other clips shared by Al-Qassas of his journey to the UK show him sat outside a tent accompanied by other refugees

Given the option of a trial before a magistrates court or before a jury at a crown court, al-Gassas replied: I really dont know.

The judge said he had declined consent for his trial to take place at the magistrates court, therefore she sent it to crown court.

At that point, al-Gassas  speaking via the interpreter throughout - said: Im frightened, confused, I cant decide.

Opposing bail, Mr Lynch said al-Gassas had no ties to this country and had the means and wherewithal to move between jurisdictions.

He said al-Gassas had live-streamed his travel to the UK.

In addition on social media he had shared significant hate speech calling for the death of Jews as well as support for Hamas and pictures of him with various military weapons.

Told that even if he were granted bail, he wouldnt be able to return to the hotel where he was staying, al-Gassas said: My belongings are in the hotel.

He appeared at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court (pictured)

Wadei is claimed to be a member of a Hamas-endorsed unit involved in serious violence on the Gaza-Israel border who wants to 'die for the sake of Allah'

District Judge Hamilton said: Having heard a little of the circumstances of the case and the fact that the hotel has withdrawn your accommodation, I feel there are substantial grounds to believe you would fail to surrender.

As the alleged offence took place in Kent, the judge sent the case to Maidstone Crown Court.

Al-Gassas is due to appear there on April 8.

The offence with which hes been charged carries a maximum sentence of four years imprisonment, the court heard.
Republicans narrowly passed a government funding bill after Donald Trump persuaded lawmakers who were tempted to oppose Speaker Johnson's plan to support it instead.

After a nail-bitting vote, the House approved Speaker Mike Johnson and Donald Trump's short-term funding plan 217 - 213. Every House Democrat except Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, voted against it. The lone GOP 'no' was Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky.

The bill is a continuing resolution (CR), meaning it will continue government funding levels that were previously passed by Congress in December. It will fund the government through September 30.

Given the razor-thin Republican majority in the House, Johnson could only lose two votes, which set up some intra-GOP turmoil as some considered defecting.

To avoid a shutdown in his first 100 days, Trump began calling lawmakers to alleviate their concerns over the funding measure on Monday night.

Vice President J.D. Vance even spoke to House Republicans on Tuesday morning to convince them to back the CR. Vance reportedly expressed concern to the lawmakers in private that if the government shutdown Republicans would get blamed.

Massie noted over the weekend how he was a solid 'no' on the measure, prompting Trump to savage the lawmaker online by calling for a challenger to step up and oust the Kentuckian in the 2026 primaries.

'Thomas Massie is a grandstander, and the Great People of Kentucky are going to be watching a very interesting Primary in the not too distant future!' Trump posted just hours before the contentious funding vote.

Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters during a Tuesday morning press conference that he was confident he had the votes needed to pass the short-term spending bill to avoid a government shutdown on Saturday

Trump has worked in consultation with the speaker on the CR to avoid a shutdown within his first 100 days in office

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., has voted against every CR that Mike Johnson has put forward

Responding to Trump's attacks, Massie doubled-down on his opposition with just an hour before the big vote.

'POTUS is spending his day attacking me and Canada,' Massie wrote on X. 'The difference is Canada will eventually cave.'

Other lawmakers were also reportedly set to vote against the Trump-backed plan Johnson put forward.

Reps. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., Greg Steube, R-Fla., Rich McCormick, R-Ga., and Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas, had all been mulling whether or not to support the measure.

Ultimately, these would-be discontents sided with Trump and Johnson's plan.

Steube posted on X that a phone call from the president prompted him to change his mind and vote for the CR.

I spoke with Donald Trump earlier today,' he posted on X just minutes before the vote. 'Voting for a CR goes against every bone in my body, but I am placing my full trust in the Presidents long-term commitment to getting our fiscal house in order.'

'I am confident in his ability to lead our country out of the debt crisis that has plagued us for decades. The American people put us in charge to fix these problems, and President Trump will do just that.'

Trump posted multiple attacks against Massie as the Kentuckian signaled his opposition. The president called on someone from the state to run against Massie

Overall, the CR contains a slight funding increase for the U.S. military and spending cuts in other areas like slashing $1 billion in funding for Washington, D.C. In total, the CR decreases spending when compared to the December bill.

The measure will now head to the Senate where it will be more difficult to pass because it needs to gather Democratic support.

The GOP has 53 seats in the upper chamber, meaning if all GOP lawmakers vote in favor of the CR at least seven Democrats would have to vote for the bill to ensure it gets signed by Trump before government funding runs out on Saturday.

If the legislation stalls and the Senate cannot get the CR passed, a partial government shutdown will begin on Saturday.

Even a partial shutdown would result in scores of federal workers getting furloughed while agencies discontinue non-essential functions.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has also said that he will not support the CR.

'The bill continues spending at the inflated pandemic levels and will add $2T to the debt this year,' Paul posted on Monday. 'Count me as a hell no!'
Federal investigators have raised concerns of a potential for another deadly plane crash at Reagan National Airport, after a midair collision earlier this year killed 67.

The National Transportation Safety Board gave an update on their investigation into the cause of the disaster which happened on January 29 in Washington.

An American Airlines jetliner and a Black Hawk military helicopter collided in midair over the Potomac River, killing everyone on board both aircrafts.

As part of a preliminary report released on Tuesday, investigators raised concerns of more collisions involving helicopters at the airport.

NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said: 'We remain concerned about the significant potential for future mid-air collision at DCA.'

Her concerns revolve around Transport Secretary Sean Duffy moving to restrict helicopter traffic around the area, but that is set to cease at the end of the month.

When police, medical or presidential transportation helicopters must use the space civilian planes are stopped from being in the same area.

Homendy said the NTSB is now recommending that the FAA find a 'permanent solution' for alternate routes for helicopters when two of the airport's runways are in use.

Emergency units respond after a passenger aircraft collided with a helicopter in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia

Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Bureau (NTSB) Jennifer Homendy speaks to reporters about the 29 January mid-air collision

It was also revealed on Tuesday that there was warning signs in the lead up to the deadly disaster.

Those probing the crash went through 944,179 operations between October 2021 and December 2024.

It was uncovered that 15,214 'near-miss events' of planes getting alerts about helicopters being in close proximity between October 2021 and December 2024.

The NTSB also said that there were 85 cases where two aircraft where laterally split by less than 1,500 feet, and a vertical separation of less than 200 feet.

Homendy added: 'That data from October 2021 through December 2024, (the FAA) could have used that information any time to determine that we have a trend here and a problem here, and looked at that route; that didn't occur, which is why we're taking action today. But unfortunately, people lost lives, and loved ones are grieving.'

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy slammed these findings at a later press conference on Tuesday.

Duffy said: 'I think the question is when this data comes in how did the FAA not know. How did they not study the data to say "hey, this is a hot spot, we are having near misses and if we don't change our ways we are gonna lose lives".'

He added: 'That wasn't done, maybe there was a focus on something other than safety.'

Duffy would later added when questioned by a reporter about the near misses that the data had 'p***ed him off'.

Pictured: Parts of the wreckage seen sitting in the Potomac River after Flight 5342 collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday night, killing 67 people

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Investigators believe that the helicopter involved in the crash might have had inaccurate altitude readings in the minutes before the crash.

The collision likely occurred at an altitude just under 300 feet, as the plane descended toward the chopper, which was above its 200-foot limit for that location.

On Tuesday American Airlines welcomed the report by the NTSB, saying: 'Were grateful for the National Transportation Safety Boards urgent safety recommendations to restrict helicopter traffic near DCA and for its thorough investigation.

'We will continue to coordinate closely with PSA Airlines as it cooperates as an investigative party member.'

The helicopter pilots may have also missed part of another communication, when the tower said the jet was turning toward a different runway, Homendy said last month.

The helicopter was on a 'check' flight that night where the pilot was undergoing an annual test and a test on using night vision goggles, Homendy said.

Investigators believe the crew was wearing night vision goggles throughout the flight.

The Army has said the Black Hawk crew was highly experienced, and accustomed to the crowded skies around the nations capital.

At the time of the collision, a single air traffic controller was simultaneously monitoring both the helicopter and plane traffic.

Those tasks are usually handled between two people from 10am until 9:30pm, according to an early FAA report seen by The New York Times.

Those tasks are usually handled between two people from 10am until 9:30pm, according to the report.

Surveillance footage taken from inside the airport captured the moment the two collided in midair

At the time of the collision, a single air traffic controller was simultaneously monitoring both the helicopter and plane traffic. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is seen here

After 9:30pm the duties are typically combined and left to one person as the airport sees less traffic later in the night.

A supervisor reportedly decided to combine those duties before the scheduled cutoff time however, and allowed one air traffic controller to leave work early.

The FAA report said that staffing configuration 'was not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic'.

Reagan National has been understaffed for many years, with just 19 fully certified controllers as of September 2023 - well below the target of 30 - according to the most recent Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan submitted to Congress.

The situation appeared to have improved since then, as a source told CNN the Reagan National control tower was 85 percent staffed with 24 of 28 positions filled.

Chronic understaffing at air traffic control towers is nothing new, with well-known causes including high turnover and budget cuts.

In order to fill the gaps, controllers are frequently asked to work 10-hour days, six days a week.

After the release of the report, former Inspector General of the US Department of Transportation Mary Schiavo deemed the findings as 'unusual'.

She said: 'This NTSB action is highly unusual. The release of an emergency recommendation requesting the FAA take immediate action, before the completion of the NTSB investigation is rare.'

The two aircraft had collided in a huge fireball that was visible on dashcams of cars driving on highways that snake around the airport, before plunging into the river.

Less than a month later, on February 17, a Delta passenger plane crashed-landed upside down in chaotic scenes at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada.

Miraculously, everyone on board survived after being suspended upside-down by their seatbelts for several minutes until they tentatively began evacuating.

The plane had been heading to Toronto from Minneapolis - Saint Paul International Airport with 76 passengers and four crew members on board.

Some 21 people were taken to the hospital for treatment to minor injuries, and Delta has offered each person a no-strings $30,000 payout in compensation.

And the plane carnage is ongoing - on Sunday, yet another jet crash-landed, this time in a parking lot of a suburban Pennsylvania retirement home.

Dramatic footage showed the Beechcraft A36TC erupt in flames in the parking lot of Brethren Village in Manheim Township. Five people were rushed to hospital.

Medics, ambulances, and emergency vehicles rushed to the scene in Lancaster County as flames engulfed the plane and nearby vehicles.

The plane took off as scheduled on Sunday afternoon, but quickly requested to land back on the tarmac because its door had opened.
Ofcom has issued a six-figure fine to the religious channel Word Network after episodes of the programme claimed a miracle water product can cure cancer, the media watchdog said.

On Tuesday, Ofcom 'imposed a financial penalty of 150,000 on Word Network Operating Company', following the channel being in breach of broadcasting rules.

Two episodes of Peter Popoff Ministries, presented by American televangelist Peter Popoff featured 'potentially harmful claims' when advertising 'miracle spring water'.

The channel claimed the water would 'improve serious health conditions or financial situations'.

'Ofcom was particularly concerned that the programmes included repeated statements and testimonials about the efficacy of the water, claiming or strongly implying the water cured serious illnesses, including cancer,' it said.

In 2023, the watchdog found the programme to be in breach of the Broadcasting Code's rules that cover protecting the public from harmful material.

The rules require religious programmes not to 'improperly exploit the susceptibilities of the audience' and to not promote 'products, services and trademarks' during programmes.

'While having regard to the broadcaster's and audience's rights to freedom of expression and religion, we considered the claims that contacting the ministry, or using its "Miracle Spring Water", were effective ways to improve serious medical illnesses or financial difficulties, went beyond proclamations of faith and religious teachings and practice,' Ofcom added.

A grab from the Word Network channel programme advertising the 'miracle spring water'

'Given the seriousness of the breaches and in order to remedy the potential harm to viewers, Ofcom has also directed the licensee not to repeat the programmes, and to broadcast a statement of its findings in this case, on a date and in a form to be determined by Ofcom.'

On May 10, 2023, Mr Popoff and his wife Liz Popoff featured a woman on an episode of his show that claimed someone with lung cancer had their health improved after using Miracle Spring Water.

The guest herself said she benefited financially from using the product.

Mrs Popoff said: 'Peter, this lady used the Miracle Spring Water. She was broke, she was destitute, she had nothing. But after using the Miracle Spring Water, what did God do?'

The guest replied, saying how she got a job, a home and a car after using the water.

Another woman appeared on the programme claiming that the water product helped with paying her mortgage.

The same year, on May 9, people on the programme claimed that the water helped with drug addiction, diabetes, cholesterol, high blood pressure and poor finances.

Both episodes featured a pre-recorded instructional video on how to order the product, Ofcom said.

TV personality Peter Popoff pictured praying on television in 1998

Two episodes of Peter Popoff Ministries breach Ofcom rules (Pictured: Peter Popoff)

In its original report, Ofcom said: 'Word Network argued that Peter Popoff had been broadcasting his "Miracle Spring Water shows" for many years without any problems, and it was "abusive" of Ofcom to "all of a sudden raise an issue".'

Ofcom said the channel also accused it of 'double standards', saying that nudity and pornography was allowed 'with no problem' by the media watchdog, but not a 'wholesome religious channel' that gave people comfort.

In 2023, Ofcom imposed financial penalties of 25,000 each for religious satellite channel Loveworld and Bauer Radio over breaches.

The watchdog has previously decided to revoke the licence of RT (Russia Today) UK, which had been taken off-air in the UK due to sanctions related to the war in Ukraine, following fines of 200,000 for 'previous due impartiality breaches'.

Popoff and World Network have been contacted for comment.
A Lisbon to London plane has reportedly been diverted to Porto because of 'smoke on board.'

The alert was sounded this afternoon around 4.45pm, local media reported.

Data from FlightRadar24 showed that Flight TP1356 left Lisbon at 3.46pm local time for London's Heathrow Airport before the diversion to Porto's Francisco de Sa Carneiro Airport.

But at around 4:20pm, the plane, run by TAP Air, was seen making a loop over western Spain, heading back towards Porto.

It then landed at the Porto airport just after 5pm.

Portuguese Civil Protection sources told respected Portuguese daily Correio da Manha: 'There are 194 passengers on board and crew and passengers are in need of urgent medical assistance.'

Emergency services are already on the runway at Porto where the TAP Air plane landed just over an hour ago.

The emergency responders include police, firefighters and Red Cross officials as well as paramedics.

The TAP Air plane was seen making a loop over western Spain, heading back towards Porto (File image)

Data from FlightRadar24 showed that Flight TP1356 left Lisbon at 3.46pm local time for London's Heathrow Airport before the diversion to Porto's Francisco de Sa Carneiro Airport

Other planes had to wait in the air for permission to land so the aircraft at the centre of the drama could make an emergency landing.

It emerged several people had been taken to hospital following the mid-air drama.

Portuguese daily Correio da Manha said nine people had suffered smoke inhalation and been hospitalised and another two passengers had been assisted by medical responders next to the aircraft.

The airline could not be reached to confirm the casualty figures and the nationalities of those who required medical treatment is not yet known.

A TAP spokesman had earlier said the plane was diverted to Porto because of a 'technical issue and landed safely' saying passengers would be put on another aircraft so they could reach their intended destination as soon as possible.

MailOnline has contacted Francisco de Sa Carneiro Airport for comment.
Ukraine has agreed to a U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia as President Donald Trump lifts a pause on military aid and intelligence sharing to the country.

The agreement, under intense pressure from the U.S. side, now puts the ball in Moscow's court, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the conclusion of a day of talks with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia.

'Today, we've made an offer that the Ukrainians have accepted, which is to enter into a ceasefire and into immediate negotiations to end this conflict in a way that's enduring and sustainable,' said Rubio.

The Trump administration now plans to present the temporary ceasefire offer to Moscow, which has raised a series of demands.

Those include the removal of President Volodymyr Zelensky, recognizing seized territory as now independent states, and a prohibition on Ukraine joining the NATO alliance.

'Were going to tell them this is what's on the table. Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking. And now it'll be up to them to say yes or no,' Rubio said.

The breakthrough will put the onus on the Kremlin, just days after an angry Oval Office meeting exposed a rupture between Trump and Zelensky.

Now, following high-stakes meetings in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the president is also lifting a military aid and intelligence sharing pause to Ukraine.

'As a result of that, and I think as a result of this positive step forward, the president has decided to lift the pause on our security assistance to Ukraine going forward, and that's effective immediately,' Rubio said.

That allows for the U.S. to continue providing roughly $4 billion in previously authorized money to arm Ukraine.

President Donald Trump has now lifted the military aid and intelligence sharing pause to Ukraine

Trump himself made only terse comments about Ukraine agreeing to a ceasefire.

'Very importantly, and I said it: Ukraine. Ceasefire. Just agreed to a little while ago,' he said while viewing five Tesla vehicles at the White House with billionaire company head Elon Musk.

'Ukraine has agreed to it, and hopefully Russia will agree to it,' Trump said.

'Now we have to go to Russia and hope President  hopefully President Putin will agree to that also, and we can get this show on the road.'

Trump called it a 'horrible war.'

'People are being killed as the cities  as things explode throughout the cities, and we have to get that war over with,' he added.

He even indicated Zelensky was welcome back to the White House.

'Sure, absolutely,' Trump said, days after exploding at Zelensky in a televised confrontation.

Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff made the announcement after meeting with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz announced the breakthrough after their meeting with Ukrainian officials

'The United States will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine,' a document released by Trump's top diplomats stated.

It went on to say Trump and Zelensky agreed to 'conclude as soon as possible' an agreement on the minerals deal.

'The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace,' according to the statement.

Witkoff is now planning a trip to Moscow, where he is set to face Putin's demands.

He could meet in person with Putin  a turnaround from the diplomatic isolation the Russian leader faced just weeks ago.

Moscow has previously rejected a temporary ceasefire of air and sea attacks after Zelensky broached the idea.

'Firm agreements on a final settlement are needed. Without all that, some kind of respite is absolutely unacceptable,' Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. The latest proposal is a total, although temporary, ceasefire.

The deal will 'expand Ukraine's economy, offset the cost of American assistance, and guarantee Ukraine's long-term prosperity and security,' according to the statement on the breakthrough.

'What's back on track here is, hopefully, is peace. That's what matters the most,' said Rubio.

'This is not Mean Girls, this is not some episode of some television show, this is serious. Today, people will die in this war, they died yesterday and sadly they'll die tomorrow.'

'The president wants this to stop. That's why we came here,' said Rubio, who added that the Ukrainians are 'ready to stop fighting.'

His comment appeared to reflect a move away from the highly personal drama inside the White House, where Trump accused Zelensky of not wanting peace, and even expressed solidarity with Putin over the Russia probe of his first term.

'President Trump is the president of peace,' Waltz added.

The announcement came after U.S. negotiators sat down with a Ukrainian delegation in Saudi Arabia for high-pressure talks on ending the three year old war in Ukraine, which began with Russia's 2022 invasion.

The announcement came after high stakes talks in Jeddah

A handout photo made available by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Service shows the Head of the Presidential Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak (L) and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (R) arriving for a meeting with US officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 11 March 2025

Rubio and Waltz sat down at a long wooden table with Andriy Yermak, who serves as chief of staff to President Zelensky, and and Ukrainian Minister of Defense Rustem Umerovto as talks began in the port city of Jeddah.

'We are ready to do everything to achieve peace,' said Yermak  who featured in Trump's infamous July 2019 phone call with Zelensky seeking an investigation of the Bidens.

Russia this week is continuing to pound civilian areas in Ukraine, launching 126 drones and a ballistic missile, according Ukraine's Air Force.

Ukraine launched a massive attack inside Russia, targeting Moscow and other regions on the eve of talks in its largest bombardment of the war.

Representing the Saudis are Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, the foreign minister, and national security advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad al-Aiban.
A British tourist faces up to 10 years in jail after he was arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle 38 kilos of cannabis through an airport in Thailand as he tried to board a flight back to London.

Daniel James Hallett, 38, from Hull, was detained by customs officials as he allegedly attempted to board the flight from Krabi International Airport in the south of the country on March 9.

Officials had flagged his luggage as suspicious during routine security checks. Upon further inspection, they allegedly discovered 35 vacuum-sealed packages of cannabis flowers wrapped in double-layered bags to keep the drug's telltale smell from escaping.

Hallett, who ran a haulage company, was photographed looking glum at the airport with two giant suitcases with him that allegedly contained the drugs.

The cannabis was seized and Hallett was taken into custody at the Nua Khlong District Police Station for further legal action. His case is currently under investigation and authorities continue to review evidence regarding the smuggling attempt.

The Brit was charged with violating the Thai Customs Act, as well as breaking laws on controlled herbs. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison.

Police Colonel Apichat Jinaphen, superintendent of the Nuea Khlong Police Station, said: 'Although cannabis is not illegal in Thailand, importing or exporting it without permission is against the law.

'In this case, Mr Daniel was arrested for attempting to export goods that had not undergone customs clearance, in violation of the Customs Act, as well as the Traditional Thai Medicine Protection and Promotion Act regarding controlled herbs (cannabis) for commercial purposes.

British tourist Daniel James Hallett, 38, from Hull, faces up to ten years in jail after he was arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle 38 kilos of cannabis through an airport in Thailand as he tried to board a flight back to London

Hallett was detained by customs officials as he allegedly attempted to board the flight to London from Krabi International Airport in the south of the country on March 9

Officials had flagged his luggage as suspicious during routine security checks. Upon further inspection, they allegedly discovered 35 vacuum-sealed packages of cannabis flowers wrapped in double-layered bags to keep the drug's telltale smell from escaping

'Mr Daniel was held at the police station for two days before being taken to court. The legal penalty includes imprisonment for up to ten years, a fine, or both, in addition to the confiscation of the seized items. The final decision will be made by the court.

'We want foreign tourists to be more aware of cannabis-related laws. Importing or exporting it without authorisation remains illegal, and we want to emphasise this through public awareness efforts.'

Police have been tightening security at Thai airports amid a spate of cannabis smuggling attempts in recent weeks.

With marijuana legal - and widely available - many addicts have attempted to stock up on the product before returning to their homelands.

On March 4, British tourist Luziela Aaliyah Carvalho, 19, was reportedly caught with 35kg (80lbs) of marijuana while trying to board a plane at the Chiang Mai International Airport.

She was scheduled to fly to Hong Kong before taking a second flight to London on Cathay Pacific flight CX 251 before officers allegedly detected the contraband in her luggage.

Her arrest came after three Malaysian nationals were blocked from trafficking marijuana through the same airport in the same week.

In January, six British tourists were arrested for allegedly dealing cannabis from a holiday villa in Thailand.

Police arrested the tourists - identified as Abdifatah Gulaid Abdi Ahmed, 31, Esah Muse Mohamed, 22, Ismail Mustafa Waleed Ahmed Taha, 20, Noah Ihiekwe Chidi Eze, 30, Darian Gledhill, 24, and Kieran Gregory, 21 - for allegedly selling cannabis without permission

The Brits reportedly smoked cannabis - now legal in the country - as they held a raucous overnight party at the luxury property on the island Phuket on January 22

The Brits reportedly smoked cannabis - now legal in the country - as they held a raucous overnight party at the luxury property on the island Phuket on January 22.

The disturbance lasted until early Thursday morning, January 23, when police arrived at the villa to serve a search warrant following complaints from furious neighbours.

Officers combed through the premises and allegedly found 3kg of cannabis packed in parcels.

They also said they discovered 39 canisters of nitrous oxide or laughing gas, which induces euphoria and hallucinations upon being inhaled.

Police arrested the tourists - identified as Abdifatah Gulaid Abdi Ahmed, 31, Esah Muse Mohamed, 22, Ismail Mustafa Waleed Ahmed Taha, 20, Noah Ihiekwe Chidi Eze, 30, Darian Gledhill, 24, and Kieran Gregory, 21 - for allegedly selling cannabis without permission.

In November 2024, a reality star who appeared on Netflix dating show Too Hot To Handle avoided jail after she was caught trying to smuggle 150,000 worth of drugs into the UK on a flight back from Thailand.

Olga Bednarska, 27, was arrested in October after being stopped by customs officers at Manchester Airport with two large suitcases containing 40kg of cannabis.

According to The Manchester Evening News, she claimed she was given the bags by a friend called 'Tex'.

Olga Bednarska, 27, was stopped by customs officers at Manchester Airport on a flight back from Thailand with two large suitcases containing 40kg of cannabis.

Olga, pictured in a scene of the show, was a finalist on series three of Too Hot Too Handle

The influencer, who appeared in series three of the hit Netflix show, claimed this person paid for her flights and wanted her to bring back designer clothes and watches from Phuket.

A court heard that Bednarska, from Poland but living in Manchester, had 'lived beyond her means' and accumulated 16,000 of debt.

To pay this off, she had resorted to crime and agreed to fly to Thailand on an all-expenses paid trip to import designer items out of the country in return for 18,000.

Thai authorities said they were discussing tighter security measures to intercept cannabis smugglers, who can achieve large profits from the arbitrage with their homelands.

Cannabis with under 0.2 per cent of THC was decriminalised in Thailand in June 2022, as a potential cash crop for impoverished farmers and ministers connected to the pharmaceutical industry.

Cannabis smoking is allowed for personal use in private areas but remains prohibited in public spaces.

However, bungling officials are now seeking to outlaw recreational cannabis, blaming poorly regulated use for allegedly fuelling drug abuse and a rise in the the number of cases of tourists over-indulging in the drug.

Tourist destinations such as Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya have seen the negative consequences of legalising the drug, with tourists regularly arrested for misbehaving while under the influence of cannabis.
Matthew Prince may soon be legally permitted to build a fortified mansion so he can avoid the wrath of Vladimir Putin after the tech billionaire helped Ukraine fight back against Russia.

Prince, Utah's richest man with a net worth of $4 billion, is the CEO and founder of Cloudflare, a software solutions company that aided Ukrainian forces by preventing Russian cyber attacks on critical government and civilian infrastructure.

A year after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Putin sanctioned Prince personally, something he found out while boarding a flight to Europe.

Ever since, Prince has used this as his rationale for why he needs to build a fortress atop Park City, even though his plans don't comport with local historic design standards.

He has even said in a public meeting that Russia has put a bounty on his head for his support of Ukraine, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.

Prince has been accused of using every tactic in the book to get his way, including hiring lobbyists to sway lawmakers and even buying the biggest local newspaper to be more favorable to him.

His efforts appear to be getting some traction, as two Utah legislators have slipped in provisions to various bills that would finally allow him to build his 3,500-square-foot, four-story home into the side of a mountain.

His neighbor, Eric Hermann, is suing to block its construction and says the city is unfairly on Prince's side in the dispute.

Pictured: A rendering of the 3,500-square-foot, four-story home tech billionaire Matthew Prince wants to build in Park City

Prince (pictured left) says he needs to build the fortress and skirt historical design standards to keep him safe from Vladimir Putin, who personally sanctioned him after Cloudflare aided the Ukrainian war effort

'He will jump all over it, because he will argue  as he has in the past  that hes on Putins list and this would enable him to build a giant bunker underground,' Hermann told The Tribune.

In all, Prince's planned home spans 11,300-square-feet when you include a driveway, a parking area, a turnaround wide enough for fire trucks and a separate home office.

In a potential win for Prince, State Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, a Republican, slipped in language to an affordable housing bill that would exempt Prince's home from keeping consistent with historic design standards.

Many cities around the United States have some version or another of these standards to keep the locality's character intact and prevent residents from embarking on outlandish projects.

Fillmore's addition to House Bill 37 would bar all Utah cities from imposing historic preservation requirements on any structures built after 1990.

Ultimately, Fillmore's amendment was stripped out of the bill after an outcry from lobbyists from the city and the Utah League of Cities and Towns.

Another bill that could potentially have more success is one that was sponsored by State Sen. Don Ipson, a Republican.

Ipson's bill would let someone who is designated as an 'at-risk' person by the commissioner of public safety put security improvements into their home without city approval. The improvements would also be confidential.

'It has to do with high net-worth people who may be accosted or threatened with kidnapping or threatened with violence to their body,' Ipson said.

Ipson's bill is still bouncing back and forth between the House and Senate, as lawmakers tinker with it.

Prince's plans for the home were initially approved by the city, but were reversed after the Hermanns filed multiple appeals

A rendering of the proposed mansion is seen above the more modest-looking homes of the Old Town historic neighborhood

But there's one piece of legislation that could hand Prince what he's been looking for for years.

Senate Bill 262, also sponsored by Fillmore, would give the Park City Council the broad authority to settle land dispute lawsuits, such as the ones filed by Hermann and Prince, without the approval of key city agencies.

After the Park City Planning Commission initially approved Prince's plans in February 2024, the Hermanns appealed the decision.

Final approval was granted in August 2024, but another appeal by the Hermanns prompted the Board of Adjustment to overturn the initial approval in November. The board cited historical design concerns, among other things.

Prince was preparing to begin construction at the time of the sudden reversal, after having gotten a permit from the city to demolish two homes on his property to make way for his new mansion.

In December, Prince filed suit through his Pesky Porcupine LLC, alleging that the city had gone back on its word and needed to honor its original decision.

Senate Bill 262, which now only needs the signature of the governor to become law, would empower the city council to quash these lawsuits without the approval of the planning commission or the board of adjustment.

Utah's legislative session ended on March 7, and Governor Spencer Cox has a 60-day window from then to take action.
A Georgia schoolgirl who was attacked during a catfight over a prom dress managed to body slam her attacker into the ground after she became surrounded during the fight.

The 18-year-old victim, who was not named, met her former friend Morgan Flinchum, 20, at a Gwinnett gas station to sell the garment on February 26, according to police.

Flinchum went to try the outfit on at a nearby Racetrac store where an unidentified friend grabbed it and tried to make off with it, investigators added.

The victim pursued them with help from a male witness, but was quickly surrounded by two other young women identified by the authorities as Kaylee George and Lelia DeJager.

Dramatic surveillance footage obtained by WSB-TV2 captured the moment the incident became physical and the victim is grabbed around the waist.

Suddenly, she manages to throw her assailant over her shoulder and body slam her into the ground.

The women then continue to grapple on the floor before the attacker rolls away and stalks away from the scene flanked by her cronies.

As they waited for officers to arrive tensions reportedly flared again and Flinchum allegedly swung at the victim again but was prevented by the male witness while another person tried to grab her hair.

A Georgia schoolgirl who was attacked during a catfight over a prom dress managed to body slam her attacker into the ground after flipping the script during the fight

The fight was caught on surveillance footage and showed the victim managing to fight back after being surrounded by three women

The 18-year-old victim had met her former friend Morgan Flinchum, 20, at a Gwinnett gas station to sell the garment on February 26, according to police

Flinchum was charged with theft along with Kaylee George (left) and Lelia DeJager (right) who was additionally charged with battery

The victim later told police she was being choked which triggered her response.

'There was a dispute, which ultimately was a civil issue between the dress and money owed to one of the parties,' Gwinnett County Cpl. Juan Madiedo said.

'Obviously, in the video, you can see it became physical, and that's when 911 was called.

'It appears that all the individuals knew each other or had some familiarization with each other. There was a victim being surrounded by multiple individuals.'

Officers noted visible injuries on the victim's body and Flinchum, George, and DeJager turned themselves in.

All were charged with theft the next day while DeJager and Flinchum also face battery charges.

'Here in Gwinnett County, all of our police precincts, including our headquarters here, have designated e-commerce parking,' said Madiedo.

'We invite any citizen out there, if you're looking to make a transaction, sell any items or purchase an item online, meet that person at one of our designated e-commerce locations.'
A 25 per cent tariff on aluminium and steel set to be imposed

Donald Trump has issued a crushing blow to the Albanese government by refusing to grant Australia an exemption from tariffs on steel and aluminium imports.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed that Australia would not be exempt during a press conference at the White House on Wednesday morning, Australian time.

Ms Leavitt was asked whether Australia would be spared from the 25 per cent tariffs - as it had been during Trump's first term - and confirmed the president had 'considered it and considered against it'.

'There will be no exemptions,' Ms Leavitt said.

She added the United States was prioritising 'American-first steel' and that Australian-owned companies could 'consider moving steel manufacturing' to the US to escape the tariffs.

The tariffs will make Australian steel and aluminium much more expensive to US buyers and therefore flatten demand, and will be imposed from 3pm on Wednesday (AEDT) only months out from an election.

There are also fears countries hit by similar tariffs could be forced to export low-cost or heavily subsidised steel and aluminium to Australia - undercutting local manufacturers, including the troubled Whyalla steelworks now in administration and Newcastle's Tomago Aluminium.

News of the tariffs sparked calls from Aussies to boycott American products, given the tariffs contravene a 2005 free trade deal between Australia and the United States.

Donald Trump has issued a crushing blow to the Albanese government after refusing to grant Australia an exemption from its tariffs on steel and aluminium imports

'It's now Australia's turn to boycott everything American,' one wrote on Facebook.

Another added: 'Need to put a tariff on all American cars coming into America.'

One even demanded a boycott on alcohol such as Jim Beam and Jack Daniel's.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had said on Monday his government would 'continue to engage constructively' with the United States on getting an exemption to the tariffs, but Wednesday's announcement ended those hopes.

'It is in Australia's interest, but it's also in the economic interests of the United States for Australia to be exempted,' Mr Albanese said.

It comes despite President Trump telling Mr Albanese last month that he would give the prospect of an exemption 'great consideration' as Australia was one of few countries that ran a trade deficit with the US - where we bought more from them than they bought from us.

However, White House Senior Counsellor for Trade and Manufacturing Peter Navarro later said Australia was 'killing' America's aluminium industry.

Following Mr Navarro's comments, Australia's Ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd and Treasurer Jim Chalmers pleaded for an exemption, in a series of meetings.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt explained the United States was prioritising 'American-first steel' and that Australia would have to 'consider moving steel manufacturing' to the US in order to be exempt from the tariffs

What tariffs mean for Australians The tariffs will be imposed from 3pm on Wednesday (AEDT). The United States is Australia's third biggest two-way trading partner after China and Japan, and it was Australia's fifth biggest export market in 2023. AMP chief economist and head of investment strategy Shane Oliver estimates steel and aluminium exports to the United States make up just 0.03 per cent of Australia's gross domestic product. The tariffs will make Australian steel and aluminium much more expensive to US buyers and therefore weaken demand, affecting South Australia's Whyalla steelworks, now in administration, and the Tomago Aluminium smelter in Newcastle. But Australian steelmaker BlueScope already manufactures steel in Ohio so it won't suffer. There are also fears countries hit by similar American tariffs could be forced to export low-cost or heavily subsidised steel and aluminium to Australia, which will undercut local manufacturers. Widespread US tariffs risk strengthening the US dollar, as the Americans buys fewer imports. This would have the effect of weakening the Australian dollar, now trading at just 63 US cents, which makes manufactured imports in particular more expensive, adding to consumer inflation. Australians would also pay more to travel overseas. Dr Oliver said President Trump's trade wars were likely to keep the Australian dollar at weak levels 'with the risk skewed to the downside if Trump continues to ramp up tariffs'. Beef, precious metals, pharmaceuticals, aluminium, aircraft parts and wine are Australia's biggest exports to the US. Advertisement

However, Foreign Minister Penny Wong had admitted, at the end of February, that Australia had a 'hill to climb' when it came to receiving an exemption, despite carve-outs being agreed to in 2018.

Shadow finance minister Jane Hume accused Mr Albanese and Trade Minister Don Farrell of failing to do enough to secure an exemption.

'Has the Prime Minister been to the States? No. Has the Trade Minister been over there? He said he was going over this week and failed to do so,' Senator Hume said.

'I'm urging the Prime Minister to pick up the phone... We are entirely dependent on a strong US economy and our concern is that our aluminium and steel manufacturing sectors here will suffer.'

Housing Minister Clare O'Neil said negotiations 'will continue to the very last moment'.

'We have a never-say-die approach to these things. It is obviously in Australia's best interests for these tariffs not to be imposed,' she told Sunrise on Wednesday.

'We are doing everything we can and fighting with every single tool we have available in order to get ourselves in the best possible position.'

Australia's economy last year posted some of the weakest growth since the 1991 recession, outside of the Covid pandemic.

It comes after Trump told Mr Albanese last month that he would give the prospect of an exemption 'great consideration'

This was despite immigration levels hitting record-high levels above 500,000 only months earlier.

But Ms O'Neil was optimistic about Australia weathering the effects of American tariffs on Australia, and its biggest trading partner China.

'We have seen time and time again where we have had global turmoil and the Australian government and the Australian people have managed to build and grow our way out of it,' she said.

'We're going to survive and thrive no matter what happens here.

'We have a strong, great economy here and will continue to build on that.'

President Trump wasted little time fulfilling his 'America First' election promise of imposing the most draconian taxes on American imports since the Depression-era Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, of 1930.

On Tuesday, the Republican commander-in-chief revealed he would double Canada's tariff on aluminium and steel imports to 50 per cent, amid an escalating trade war between the two North American neighbours.

The tariff initially imposed on Canada was 25 per cent - in line with the steel and aluminium tariffs being levied on all imports to the United States.

In 2018, Australia was granted an exemption from 25 per cent American tariffs on steel and 10 per cent import taxes on aluminum after then Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull pointed out the US had trade surpluses with Australia - where we bought more goods and services from Americans than they bought from us

Doug Ford, the Premier of Canada's Ontario province, announced he would place a 25 per cent surcharge on electricity it provided to the US states of Minnesota, New York and Michigan

Doug Ford, the Premier of Canada's Ontario province, announced he would place a 25 per cent surcharge on electricity it provided to the US states of Minnesota, New York and Michigan.

In response, Trump said he had instructed his secretary of commerce to specifically increase Canada's tariffs to 50 per cent.

Mr Ford then revealed he would cancel the 25 per cent tariff on the US after revealing he had spoken with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

The pair have agreed to meet on Thursday to discuss reciprocal tariffs that Trump wants to put in place on April 2.

Trump, in response, agreed not to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminium to 50 per cent. They will stay at 25 per cent.

Mexico has also been slapped with 25 per cent tariffs on goods being imported into the United States.

Meanwhile, China has been hit with 10 per cent tariffs, which could rise even higher, given that Trump campaigned to inflict a 60 per cent tariff on Chinese goods.

In 2018, Australia was granted an exemption from 25 per cent American tariffs on steel and 10 per cent import taxes on aluminum after then Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull pointed out the US had trade surpluses with Australia - where we bought more goods and services from Americans than they bought from us.

The Albanese Government made the same argument in 2025 but Mr Turnbull said the Trump Administration didn't want any exemptions this time.

'The Trump Administration regrets giving exemptions last time because once they gave an exemption to Australia then they ended up having to give an exemption to somebody else... so I think this time there will be no exemptions and they will apply right across the board,' Mr Turnbull told ABC Radio National on Tuesday.

The tariffs also breach a 2005 free trade deal between the United States and Australia, which was designed to enable Australia to export 97 per cent of non-agricultural goods to the US duty free.

The Australian share market fell to a seven-month low on Wednesday, as the tariffs made investors nervous, with the benchmark S&P/ASX200 falling 1.6 per cent in early afternoon trade.
The captain of the cargo ship that smashed into an oil tanker has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.

Ernst Ross, the company that owns the Solong, said the 59-year-old man, who has not been named, 'has been detained by Humberside Police' and is 'actively assisting with the investigations.'

A crew member from the Solong is missing and presumed dead as efforts continue to prevent an environmental disaster in the aftermath of the accident.

Some of the crew narrowly escaped death when the collision on Monday morning caused fierce fires on both vessels, it emerged on Tuesday.

Recalling the terrifying maritime crash and aftermath, a survivor of the Stena Immaculate tanker said: 'It was either get into your life jacket or get incinerated.'

The 36 survivors were recovering in Grimsby hotels and are expected to be interviewed by the UK authorities and US coastguard officials in the coming days.

A handful of the American crew of the Stena Immaculate spoke about what happened but asked not to be identified.

The captain of the cargo ship has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter after it smashed into an oil tanker (Pictured: Billowing smoke emerging from the MV Solong cargo ship)

MV Stena Immaculate exploded into a 'massive fireball' after being hit by MV Solong, leaking some 18,000 tonnes of jet fuel into the North Sea on March 10

US-flagged tanker, MV Stena Immaculate, was hit while at anchor by the Portugal-flagged container ship, MV Solong, off the coast of Humber Estuary, Hull

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They were so close to the flames as they boarded the lifeboat that some suffered singed hair. All survived without serious injury.

One crewman said: 'Yesterday was a bad start to the day, but it ended gloriously. Why? All 23 of us got off the ship without anybody being in it.'

He added that he was 'pleased to be alive.'

Asked about his actions immediately after the tanker carrying a cargo of jet fuel burst into flames, he said: 'I did have time to think. I ran through the procedures. Because if I hadn't had time to think, we wouldn't have survived.

'We drilled, we trained, we prepared for the unprepared. We do emergency prep non-stop. Regardless of outside uncontrollable forces.'

Marine experts have speculated that the Portuguese-registered Solong - which is now known not to be carrying highly toxic Sodium Cyanide - was on autopilot when it veered into the tanker with devastating results.

The survivor commented: 'You have to be watching the autopilot. And no one is watching the autopilot.

'It would be like if you were sitting in a car park on Sunday morning, reading a newspaper or playing with your phone, right? And a car enters on the other side of the car park.

'He's heading for it, but then he falls asleep or he's doing something, and the car just goes careening into the other one.

'Who's at fault? It's clear they are the ones at fault. That's all I can say.'

Smoke can be seen billowing from the sea as oil carried on the carrier caught fire on March 10

Stena Immaculate, a US-flagged ship, was reportedly carrying jet fuel when it collided with another vessel

Another American crewman told CBS news how a 'massive ship came out of the blue.'

He said crew members grabbed essential belongings and life jackets before everyone boarded the lifeboat. The captain was the last person to leave the ship.

The man described flames lapping at the crew as they boarded the lifeboat, and said some of the sailors even had singed hair because the fire was so close.

Wildlife organisations and charities are closing monitoring the shoreline, birds and marine life for evidence of pollution from the vessels.

Crowley, the maritime company managing Stena Immaculate, said it was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel in 16 segregated cargo tanks. At least one tank was ruptured, the company said.

The tanker was contracted to carry fuel for the US military and had been anchored 13 miles off the coast near the Humber estuary.

The east coast is home to a large seabird population, but hopes were increasing that a major environmental disaster could be avoided as the Solong was not carrying highly toxic sodium cyanide as first feared.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said neither ship was expected to sink and plans were underway to salvage both vessels and their cargo.

A rescue ship is pictured at the scene as it tried to blast the smouldering wreckage of the vessels with water to extinguish the flames

She said: 'I am reassured to hear indications from the ship's owners which suggest the sodium cyanide containers were empty, and that efforts to confirm this by the salvors are underway.

'I was also pleased to have been informed that early indications suggest that both vessels are now expected to stay afloat and that the SOLONG can be towed away from the shore, and salvage operations can get underway.'

Chief Coastguard Pat O'Callaghan said the Counter Pollution and Salvage Team is 'assessing the situation and is developing a plan ready for implementation'.

Humberside Police is conducting a criminal investigation and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch is separately investigating the cause of the collision.

Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Nicholson of Humberside Police said the man arrested on suspicion of manslaughter 'remains in custody at this time whilst enquiries are underway, and we continue speaking with all those involved to establish the full circumstances of the incident.'
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Sunday embarked on a visit to Brazil to participate in the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum where he is scheduled to prese ...


A smoke grenade was used by mistake during a police operation in which an asylum seeker was shot dead after stabbing six people at a hotel, an inquiry heard.

Badreddin Abdalla Adam Bosh, 28, attacked his victims, one of which was policeman David Whyte, at Glasgow city centres Park Inn on June 26 2020.

He stabbed fellow guests and PC Whyte, the first officer on the scene, was stabbed several times as he tried to overpower Bosh.

The Sudanese man was one of hundreds of refugeees moved from flats to hotels at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Officers had attempted to use non lethal weapons to disarm Mr Bosh during the incident before he was shot and killed.

A preliminary hearing ahead of a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) into Boshs death at Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday heard how a smoke grenade was deployed in error during the police operation to deal with Bosh.

The court heard that the error may have hindered communication between the firearms officers and is a potential factor relevant to the death.

Shelagh McCall KC, representing the Scottish Police Federation said: This caused the fire alarm to be activated in the hotel.

Badreddin Abdalla Adam Bosh went on a knife rampage in Glasgow in 2020

In turn, that may have impacted on the communications among those at the scene - meaning officers, staff and residents as well as communications to and from the control rooms listening over radios.

A smoke grenade was inappropriate to the situation and operation.

The intention was to deploy a stun grenade.

The wrong device was selected by the officer from the gun safe.

It is not considered that as far as I am aware that the detonation contributed or caused the death but is potentially a factor relevant to the death.

The issue is how the error came about and its impact on the communications and the consequences of that.

Advocate depute Alan Cameron KC told Sheriff Principal Aisha Anwar that there are currently 83 witnesses.

The Secretary of State was represented by Andrew Webster who stated: It is here to listen and learn and assist the Crown for the purposes of the inquiry.

Ross Crawford, who appeared for the Chief Constable of Police Scotland that 700 documents are required to be subject to redactions.

Other bodies including the Scottish Ambulance Service, Glasgow City Council and the Mears Group were represented at the hearing.

Boshs family lawyer Aamer Anwar, speaking outside the court, said: Questions were raised at the time as to whether there was adequate medical and psychiatric support for those in the hotel.

Sheriff Principal Aisha Anwar told the court: I begin by offering condolences to the family and friends of Mr Bosh.

I appreciate that in this inquiry there will be chapters that are difficult to hear.

Reliving events of June 26 2020 will no doubt be traumatic to those Mr Bosh injured.

It will be difficult for those involved in policing the event.

This inquiry will do all it can to make sure difficult chapters are handled sensitively.

A continued preliminary hearing has been fixed for June.

It is understood Bosh had arrived in the UK in 2019, staying initially in Belfast before being moved to Glasgow while his asylum claim was processed.

He had been at the Park Inn on West George Street for about three months before carrying out the attack.

At the time, witnesses described a bloodbath at the hotel, which began in the reception area, where a member of staff fell to the floor gasping for air after being stabbed.
Three brothers have been jailed over a pub fight which ended in the death of a 'hero' soldier who served in Afghanistan.

Mark Barrs, 39, was fatally stabbed during a brawl outside The Old Hat pub in Ealing, west London, last April 6.

Midway through his trial, Cleveland McEntee, 40, of Hammersmith, west London, admitted his murder and was jailed for life on Tuesday with a minimum term of 23 years.

His brother Leon Woods, 42, from Ealing, west London, admitted the lesser offence of manslaughter and was jailed for seven years.

Third sibling Tron McEntee, 35, of Perivale, north-west London, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was handed 12 months in custody by Judge Rebecca Trowler KC.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Barrs' grandmother, Christine Blinco, said she was 'completely heatbroken' at how her grandson's life was 'brutally' taken away 'for no real reason'.

She said: 'Imagine our hero made it home from Afganistan to lose his life on a London street, that is torment that I will take to my grave.'

Previously, prosecutor Anthony Orchard KC had said police were called to The Old Hat pub at 7.46pm on the night of the killing.

Barrs was murdered during a brawl outside The Old Hat pub in Ealing, West London, last April

Cleveland McEntee, 40, of Hammersmith, west London, admitted murder; Leon Woods, 42, from Ealing, west London, admitted manslaughter and was jailed for seven years; Tron McEntee, 35, of Perivale, north-west London, pleaded guilty to violent disorder

Officers found Mr Barrs lying on the pavement by a white van with a stab wound to his chest.

Mark Barrs, 39, was fatally stabbed during a brawl outside The Old Hat pub in Ealing, west London , last April 6

Despite the efforts of medics, he was declared dead at the scene at 8.49pm.

Inquiries found there had been a fight in the courtyard of a nearby pub involving Mr Barrs and at least five others, including the defendants.

During the altercation, Cleveland McEntee had produced a knife and stabbed Mr Barrs in the chest.

Mr Orchard said the fight appeared to have erupted after a dispute between Mr Barrs and Woods, who had been drinking in the pub.

Woods then contacted his two brothers and the row resumed after the siblings arrived.

They moved outside to the courtyard where the fight 'kicked off', Mr Orchard had said.

In mitigation, Lewis Power KC read a letter from Cleveland McEntee to the victim's family saying: 'I am truly sorry for the pain I have caused you all.'
A police officer has had to give up frontline work after he was brutally attacked by a gang of feral youths.

The drunken mob - then aged between 14 and 20 - turned on PC Stuart Rochead after he accidentally bumped into one of them in his car.

The off-duty officer was punched, kicked, hit with glass bottles and bludgeoned with rocks and stones before being left for dead in the shocking attack.

Two of the gang were subject to a combined 20 bails order at time and also on curfews to keep them at home at night.

A judge heard the officer has been left so badly affected he has to give up frontline policing after 19 years in the force.

Four of the thugs have now admitted to their roles in the shocking attack which occurred at Blantyre train station in Lanarkshire last March 30.

Lauren Neary, now 18, and Robert Faulds, 20, pled guilty to an attempted murder charge at the High Court in Glasgow.

Alec Fallon, 19, and a now 16 year-old boy - who cannot be identified due to his age - admitted assaulting Mr Rochead, 44, to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment as well as to the danger of his life.

Lauren Neary at the High Court in Glasgow, where she pleaded guilty to her part in a horrific attack on an off duty police officer outside Blantyre train station

All four were remanded by Lord Arthurson pending sentencing next month.

The four had been part of a rowdy mob causing bother and annoying passengers on a train shortly before the attack.

They got off at Blantyre around 9pm the same time Mr Rochead drove into the station to drop off his daughter.

Prosecutor Kath Harper KC said the gang made no effort to get out of the way of his car and he clipped one of them with his wing-mirror at low speed.

Shortly after dropping off his daughter, the group was said to have become aggressive and surrounded his car.

He got out and attempted to speak with them but was punched in the face before the gang started kicking and punch the car.

Mr Rochead briefly stopped a 100 yards away to fix his wing mirror as three of the gang ran at him armed with bottles and a plank of wood.

He tried to escape to the home of a friend who lived near the station but was chased by the gang and punched.

Fallon then shoved the victim to the ground before repeatedly kicking him.

Faulds walked up and smacked Mr Rochead on the head with a glass bottle.

Some of the gang then threw rocks and boulders at Mr Rochead.

The advocate depute explained: Neary stood over his head and, with some difficulty, lifted a large rock, threw it with force at his head as he lay motionless.

Mr Rochead, at the last second, sluggishly moved his body as the rock was dropped.

It struck him on the side of the head and he slumped to the ground.

The gang finally left - not caring if their victim was alive or dead.

The court was told that Neary said: I think I have just killed him. I am not going to lie.

Mr Rochead managed to get to feet to alert a resident to get him help.

Glasgow High Court

He was rushed to hospital where he underwent a three-hour operation to rebuild his nose. A metal plate was also inserted into his face and he required more than 30 stitches for a number of wounds.

His injuries have left him scarred for life and he has no feeling on part of the left side of his face, below his right eye and his top lip.

The keen sportsman can no longer take part in the martial art Hapkido in which he was due to earn his red belt in.

Miss Harper said: He now cannot operate as a respond police officer or public order officer.

He has been advised by his superiors and doctors that he should never return to a front-line job as he cannot risk injury because of the metal plate in his face.

He continues to suffer from head rushes, dizziness and extreme fatigue.

The court heard Fallon, of no fixed abode, already had 18 previous convictions. for dishonesty, assault and breach of the peace.

He was subject to nine different bail orders at the time - the last imposed at Paisley Sheriff Court just 11 days before the attack.

He had also been told to stay indoors between 7pm and 7am each night as part of the restrictions.

Faulds, latterly of Paisley, Renfrewshire, breached 10 bail orders and was also on a curfew.

Neary, of Stonehouse, Lanarkshire, had four previous convictions with the 16 year-old bailed by a sheriff three days before the assault.

Lord Arthurson deferred sentencing for reports.
Such is the force of Nigel Farages personality that his Reform Party has been making inroads into Scottish politics without any noticeable physical presence on the ground.

There are no Reform MSPs, promoting the partys message (whatever it may currently be) in the Scottish Parliament; so far as elected members in Scotland go, Reform can boast just eight councillors, none of whom might be described as dynamic or charismatic.

But these facts have done nothing to slow Mr Farages rise in popularity north of the Border.

The quintessential Little Englander appears to have found the pulse of Little Scotland; recent polling suggests Reform could return as many as 15 MSPs in next Mays Holyrood election.

So concerned is First Minister John Swinney about the growth in support for Mr Farage and Reform in Scotland that he has called a summit with opposition politicians and civic leaders next month to discuss what he characterises as the rise of dangerous right-wing populism.

The polling weve seen so far suggests, unsurprisingly, that Reform stands to do most damage to Russell Findlays Scottish Conservatives next year but Mr Swinneys decision to convene a meeting to discuss the partys growing influence on our politics shows the First Minister recognises Mr Farages appeal (which continues to elude me) spans the traditional left-right political divide.

Reform stands to do most damage to Russell Findlays Scottish Conservatives next year

Reform deputy leader Richard Tice, left, visited Glasgow last week

In common with all political populists, Mr Farage isnt one for details. Rather, the Reform leader has become - via stints at the helms of both UKIP and The Brexit Party - one of the most influential figures of the age by offering simplistic solutions to big problems: Leave the EU for a better NHS! Curb immigration for a healthier economy.

Just as successive SNP leaders have over the past quarter of a century, Mr Farage has sold himself as a different kind of politician, someone whos on the side of the man and woman in the street while representatives of the long-established mainstream parties are only in it for themselves.

In many ways, the late Alex Salmond and Mr Farage were kindred spirits. Their politics may have differed but their bullish styles were hugely similar. We know, from Mr Salmonds success, that there is an audience in Scotland for leaders who promise quick, dramatic fixes.

But crucial to the success of the SNP under Mr Salmond was the fact that his party was united and gave the appearance of being competent. Divided parties do not, as a rule, fare well in elections.

This is a truth Mr Farage may soon have to confront.

Reforms popularity grew in Scotland despite its leader barely stepping across the border in years. And its popularity could ebb away in exactly the same circumstances.

Last week, Mr Farages deputy, Richard Tice MP travelled to Glasgow to unveil two new councillors, defectors from the Tory Party.

Mr Tice called members of the Scottish political lobby to a press conference outside a chip shop in the citys Tollcross. What should have been a perfectly straightforward and, for Mr Tice, positive event went catastrophically - and comically - wrong.

Mr Tice ran head-first into the Scottish Daily Mails deputy political editor, Tom Gordon.

What, asked Tom, are the full names of your new councillors? This should not have been a difficult question for Mr Tice to answer.

Nigel Farges right-hand man was stumped. Not only was he unable to provide surnames for John and Ross (Gray and Lambie, on the off-chance that their achievements have passed you by), he was also incapable of telling Tom on which local authorities his new colleagues serve.

Mr Tices tangle with the Daily Mails man was videoed and it soon went viral. The politician does not emerge well.

One need hardly been a master of the political dark arts to know that a senior politician who calls a press conference to proudly announce two new recruits should, at the very least, have learned their names.

Perception matters and the perception last week was that Mr Tice had treated his new colleagues with contempt and most of us dont much care for that sort of thing.

More problematic for Mr Farage is the high-profile bust-up between himself and MP Rupert Lowe, suspended from Reform over bullying allegations which emerged after he had been publicly critical of his leader.

Reform also reported Mr Lowe to the Metropolitan Police which has confirmed it has launched an investigation into an allegation of a series of verbal threats made by a 67-year-old man.

Suddenly, Nigel Farage doesnt look so much like that fearless political insurgent whod on your side. Rather, we see flashes of what he really is - a demagogue at the head of a chaotic excuse for a political party.

As if this was not enough to make life uncommonly difficult for Mr Farage, his closeness to US President Donald Trump - always controversial - has become more damaging with each proclamation from the White House about the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay should take heart from this.

The Tory Party has struggled to get out from beneath the looming shadow of Nigel Farage. Now, the Reform leader is vulnerable to legitimate attacks not only on the state of his party but about his judgement on matters of international security and Mr Findlay should deliver them.

Under the excellent leadership of shadow equalities minister Tess White, the Scottish Conservatives have cemented their position as the only mainstream political party vehemently opposed to the unpopular gender reforms championed by others.

With Reform in disarray, the Tories can continue to stand apart - and with the majority - on this issue. Indeed, were I Mr Findlay, I would be touring the country with Ms White, meeting with feminist campaign groups and cementing my position as their greatest ally in defence of single-sex spaces.

Reform may currently be experiencing a little local difficulty but the party will probably regroup.

Nigel Farage remains relentless in his desire to disrupt and there remains an audience for his easy answers. He is still likely to cheer on the election of MSPs to Holyrood, next year.

But, events of the past week make the case that the Conservatives are the only serious party of the centre-right in Scotland.

The challenge for Russell Findlay is to capitalise on that truth and head off the inevitable Reform resurgence.
The BBC has spent about 1.3 million on costs associated with the Huw Edwards scandal, figures show - but the findings of its own internal inquiry have never been published.

These costs include more than 340,000 on advice from external lawyers about the former News At Ten presenters employment at the Corporation.

A large part of the spend went on a review, carried out by Deloitte, into the BBCs polices and processes for non-editorial complaints, triggered by allegations Edwards paid a young person for explicit images.

The figures, which have emerged in a Freedom of Information request submitted by the Financial Times, cover the period between October 2023 to the end of September 2024.

Edwards was suspended from the BBC in July 2023 over the original allegations.

He was then arrested in November of that year over separate allegations relating to indecent pictures of children. He resigned in April 2024 citing medical advice.

The presenter pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of children last July and was subsequently given a six-month suspended prison sentence.

Amid the crisis the BBC faced repeated calls to make public what its own investigation into Edwards behaviour had revealed. But the corporation refused to make public this information.

Costs incurred include more than 340,000 on advice from external lawyers about the former News At Ten presenter's (pictured) employment at the Corporation

Edwards was suspended from the BBC in July 2023 over the allegations Edwards paid a young person for explicit images

The money spent dealing with the Edwards scandal, follows the recent revelation that the corporation paid 3.3 million on an external report into allegations about the behaviour of former presenter Tim Westwood.

According to the Freedom of Information request, the BBC spent 340,843 on external legal fees relating to advice about the situation with Edwards.

The non-editorial complaints review led by Deloitte cost 958,133, while there were costs of 70,000 to provide additional resources to the BBC Corporate Investigations Team.

There has been controversy over the fact that Edwards was paid 200,000 between his arrest in November 2023 and his departure in April the following year.

A corporation source pointed out that the non-editorial complaints review, which makes up the bulk of the costs, was not an investigation specifically into Huw Edwards.

The BBC has repeatedly tried to get the Welsh presenter to return the money he earned between his arrest and his departure, with the corporations chairman, Samir Shah, saying last week weve obviously asked, and weve said it many times, but he seems unwilling.

Corporation bosses also commissioned an independent review of the BBCs workplace culture, following the Huw Edwards revelations. It has brought in management consultants Change Associates to do this work.

Huw Edwards leaves Westminster Magistrates' Court on July 31, 2024 in London

The BBC is also carrying out an internal review into the hugely controversial Gaza documentary which was narrated by the son of a Hamas official.

A BBC spokesman said: Wherever possible we aim to resolve matters without external support, and the decision to commission any review or work by a third-party is taken with careful consideration, based on the specific circumstances in each case.

We only incur external legal costs when absolutely necessary.
A campaign group which is reliant on Scottish Government funding has issued a legal warning to public sector bodies if they exclude all trans people from female-only spaces.

The Equality Network claimed it would be unlawful to introduce a total exclusion policy for trans people accessing single-sex toilets, changing rooms and other services.

Critics branded the group an activist organisation that has heavily influenced controversial public sector policy which has seen many bodies effectively introduce gender self-ID - and claimed their guidance leaves bodies vulnerable to legal challenge for failing to protect single-sex spaces.

Engender, a separate womens organisation which supports self-ID and is heavily reliant on Scottish Government grants, also came under fire for refusing to answer questions about the threat to public bodies if they fail to protect single-sex spaces during evidence to the Scottish Parliaments equalities committee yesterday.

Asked if the Scottish Government needs to provide more clarity and guidance on the issue of access to single-sex spaces, Vic Valentine, Scottish trans manager at the Equality Network, said: I think that there is definitely not always good understanding of guidance around the law and single-sex services and spaces and how that interacts or engages with trans peoples access to these spaces.

But I think there is guidance, it has been the same since the law was passed in 2010, it is in the Equality and Human Rights Commissions statutory code of practice published in 2011 and that is going to be the same when they update that statutory code of practice next year.

Vic Valentine, Scottish trans manager at the Equality Network, said public sector bodies may be acting unlawfully if they exclude trans people from female-only spaces

Tory MSP Tess White said the Equality Network's guidance 'leaves public sector bodies vulnerable to legal challenge

Because I think one of the other issues is that some people disagree with the status quo of the law. The status quo of the law says that trans people can only be excluded from single-sex spaces and services that align with who we are and how we live our lives if that is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.

Sometimes it will be but, in our view, in the overwhelming majority of circumstances our total exclusion from single-sex services and spaces that align with how we live our lives is not needed and also crucially if it is not a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim it is also unlawful under the Equality Act.

During the appearance at committee, the Equality Network also committed to providing MSPs with a list of public sector organisations it has advised on single-sex spaces - but argued it provides advice on good practice and not legal advice. It also confirmed that it is largely funded by the Scottish Government but could not give the exact figures.

Tess White, the Scottish Conservative equalities spokesman, described the group as an activist organisation which is offering guidance that leaves public sector bodies vulnerable to legal challenge.

During yesterdays evidence session, Jill Wood, policy manager at Engender, angered some MSPs on the committee by refusing to answer questions about the approach by public bodies to single-sex spaces.

When asked by Tory MSP Pam Gosal if lesbian clubs and association should be able to exclude all males, including those with gender recognition certificates, she said that is not something that we looked at in a written submission, and claimed it was not relevant to her evidence on the public sector equality duty.

When pressed further by Ms White to say whether public bodies should be able to exclude trans women from women-only spaces, she said: Im not here to comment on that this morning, so I cant give you an answer.

Asked whether failures by public bodies to meet legal obligations around single-sex spaces will carry a significant cost to the public purse, Ms Wood said: Again, Tess, that is not something that we looked at within the scope of this inquiry.

Following the exchanges, Ms White said: Too many organisations are out of touch with the common-sense views of ordinary Scots on gender issues.

Current legislation is clear that public bodies must provide single-sex spaces for biological women - and SNP ministers should be ensuring that obligation is upheld.

Too often its not. This mess is happening because the SNP have put their toxic obsession with gender self-ID before the rights of women and girls.

She added: When organisations are answering questions before a parliamentary committee, the public deserve straight answers - especially when the issue of single-sex spaces is being discussed by womens organisations.
Keir Starmer has ordered the Government to stop 'outsourcing' decisions to regulators - despite having created scores of new quangos since taking power.

The Prime Minister told his ministers that they must take responsibility for decisions as he suggested that some regulators could see their power moved 'in-house'.

Today, he announces plans to abolish the Payment Systems Regulator, describing it as the 'latest step in our efforts to kickstart economic growth'.

However, it emerged that not only will the body not be scrapped immediately as it will require new laws, but it will not save a penny of taxpayers' money.

The announcement comes ahead of the PM's planned 'intervention' tomorrow to announce plans to 'rewire' the British state.

During Cabinet yesterday, Sir Keir ordered his ministers to 'go further and faster to reform the state, to deliver a strong, agile and active state that delivers for working people'.

He told the Cabinet meeting that he wanted to reverse a 'trend' under the previous government of decisions being made by other bodies.

His remarks have been taken as an indication that he and Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden could look to cut the number of quangos.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer told his ministers that they must take responsibility for decisions

Keir Starmer and Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden could look to cut the number of quangos (pictured: Whitehall)

But the Conservatives quickly pointed out that Labour had created 27 new quangos since winning the election.

A Tory source said: 'Since it assumed power, this government of bureaucrats and lawyers has created a new quango once every nine days.

'Like his disastrous budget and snatching away winter fuel payments, Keir Starmer is constantly having to undo his own terrible decisions.'

The rate has slowed slightly since Labour's first six months in power in which they created 25 new quangos and task forces - equivalent to one a week.

The PM will announce today that the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) will be cut as part of the Government's growth agenda.

However, the announcement will not result in any immediate changes because Parliament will need to pass laws to make the changes.

The work of the PSR - which looks after payment systems like Faster Payments and Mastercard - is also expected to be taken over by another official body, the Financial Conduct Authority, in the meantime.

Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden

Scrapping the body will not even save the taxpayer a penny - the body's budget was 28million this year, with 25million funded by fee payers and the remaining money covered by a surplus.

Asked yesterday whether Sir Keir's words signalled a 'bonfire of the quangos', Downing Street declined to set out whether other official bodies could be scrapped.

Referring to the Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: '(Sir Keir) said that to deliver security and renewal we must go further and faster to reform the state, to deliver a strong, agile and active state that delivers for working people.

'This includes Cabinet assessing processes and regulations that play no part in delivering the plan for change and the Government taking responsibility for decisions rather than outsourcing them to regulators and bodies, as had become the trend under the previous government.'

On Monday, Sir Keir and cabinet secretary Sir Chris Wormald wrote to all civil servants calling for a 'rewiring of the British state'.

Their message included plans to make the Civil Service smaller, while the proportion of civil servants in digital or data roles will double by 2030.
A Democratic state has proposed a drastic plan designed to reduce the backlog of approximately 12,500 sex offenders, but many residents, including sexual assault survivors, are livid about it.

Sex offenders who live, work or attend school in Oregon are expected to undergo a risk assessment by local corrections agencies or the Oregon Board of Parole by December 1, 2026.

The assessment is designed to help the state determine how likely those individuals are to commit new sex crimes.

The Oregon Board or Parole fear that they won't make the deadline, so instead, the Board is supporting a new bill that will remove it, and another bill that would reduce the amount of offenders who need to be assessed.

Under the new proposal, the Board of Parole would only be required to complete risk assessments on offenders who are younger than 35 years old, as well as those that already have two or more sex crime convictions.

This means that hundreds of sex offenders won't have to reassess or get reclassified.

The Board will continue with the assessments on people who are released from prison and those moving to Oregon.

'The board has never been funded to be able to meet that deadline. Not even a significant influx of resources at this point will allow us to meet that deadline,' Board Chairperson John Bailey said to the Senate Judiciary Committee last week.

State leaders in Oregon have proposed and support a new bill that would help reduce the backlog of about 12,500 sex offenders who need to undergo a risk assessment

Chairperson John Bailey is in support of Bill 821, which will remove the December 1, 2026, as well as Senate Bill 820, which will reduce the backlog amount the state currently faces. SB820 would remove more than half of the offenders from the list

While Bailey is supportive of the new legislation, rape victims and advocates feel like they're being traumatized all over again.

'It just makes the problem go away, but the problem will always be there, and it will get worse, and it will get worse,' Courtney Gelbrich, a sexual assault advocate, told KATU.

Danielle Tudor, a sexual assault survivor, echoed Gelbrich's views on the controversial decision.

'If these bills pass this legislative session, we will never get oversight or power back over the sex offender registry and how it works,' Tudor told the outlet.

'I cannot protect children if violent, high risk offenders are allowed to attend my practices, to attend my games, to attend the pizza parties - it's just unacceptable,' Jane Mendoza, another advocate said.

Senate Bill 821 will remove the deadline, while Senate Bill 820 will reduce the backlog amount the state currently faces.

Bailey said SB 820 is a solution to the overflowing amount of sex offenders, and that research supports that younger offenders and those with multiple convictions are more likely to reoffend.

With the new bill, the agency predicts that the backlog will be reduced to 3,700 - more than half the number of those who are listed to be assessed currently.

Gelbrich and Mendoza contacted the outlet after seeing coverage of the state's backlog of unclassified sex offenders in 2023.

At the time, they informed KATU of a level 3 sex offender - the highest level - who moved from New York to Oregon.

The offender remains unclassified due to the backlog, which means the state does not know about his high risk and how likely it is that he could reoffend.

'Under Senate Bill 820, it appeared the man would not undergo a risk assessment,' KATU stated.

Mendoza described her fear knowing that the level 3 offender, and others are out there undetected in their state.

'To know that I had allowed kids to go to the bathroom during practice in pairs, knowing now that there was a registered sex offender who had been issued a level three in another state, and who was walking around unassessed in Oregon, because Oregon cannot get through their backlog, was shocking and horrifying,' Mendoza said.

DailyMail.com contacted the Oregon Board of Parole for comment.
Labour's obsession with slashing the use of prison will lead to more persistent criminals getting away with soft punishments, it was warned last night.

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said prolific crooks are 'laughing at the Government's naivety' and 'popping champagne corks' at the prospect of light sentences.

It came as a new analysis showed how offenders with a long history of breaking the law have been let off with a slap on the wrist or a short spell in jail.

In one shocking case a domestic abuser with 11 convictions for 13 offences against previous partners was handed just nine weeks' imprisonment after assaulting his fiance.

And in another a perverted 'prowler' who sexually assaulted three schoolgirls in one afternoon in a city centre was given 15 months in jail - and was expected to be out within weeks after serving time on remand.

Writing exclusively for the Daily Mail, Mr Jenrick said Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood's plan to imprison fewer offenders - backed by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer - will make the situation far worse.

The new research, by campaign group Crush Crime, exposed a 'frankly dangerous' trend in the courts that sees 'hardened criminals' given an easy ride by the courts, Mr Jenrick said.

'If the police targeted prolific criminals and the courts handed down stronger sentences, we could lock these individuals up for longer and cut crime rates,' the MP writes today.

Robert Jenrick said prolific crooks are 'laughing at the Government's naivety' and 'popping champagne corks' at the prospect of light sentences

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has launched a review with a remit to 'explore tougher punishments outside of prison', including house arrest

Daniel Challacombe had 11 convictions for 13 offences against previous partners

'But instead Starmer is plotting to scrap short prison sentences later this year, meaning fewer of these prolific offenders will be going to jail.

'If Labour go ahead with this, criminals will once again be popping champagne corks in celebration at Starmer's soft-touch.'

In an analysis of court reports from December to early February, Crush Crime found a series of offenders received soft sentences for sex crimes, violence and theft.

Dr Lawrence Newport, campaign founder, said: 'Britain has been soft on crime for too long.

'Just 10 per cent of offenders are responsible for half of all crime. But our courts are giving lighter and lighter sentences to these hardened criminals.

'We may all believe in second chances, but it is unacceptable to see our justice system letting off offenders with dozens or even hundreds of offences. It is unjust.

'The public must be protected from these career criminals.'

In another troubling case highlighted in the new analysis, an offender who kicked a man during a fracas was jailed for just a year despite having convictions for 110 previous offences, including 13 involving assaults.

Martin McIlwee kicked a man who was already lying injured on the ground

The plan to imprison fewer offenders, backed by Keir Starmer (pictured), will make the situation worse, critics fear

Crush Crime found a series of offenders received soft sentences for sex crimes, violence and theft (File image)

Meanwhile, a prolific offender who threatened an off licence cashier with a syringe and told him he had a gun, before stealing a 300 of spirits.

The 41-year-old criminal who had 47 previous convictions for 130 offences was handed a mere 16 months' imprisonment.

Another disturbingly lenient sentence was given to a prolific offender with scores of previous convictions after he was found guilty of burglary.

The Cardiff man had 84 previous convictions, including 31 related to thefts, but walked free from court with a two year suspended sentence for the latest in his litany of crimes.

Labour is preparing to significantly reduce the number of criminals who are sent to jail.

Ms Mahmood has launched a review with a remit to 'explore tougher punishments outside of prison', including house arrest.

Its initial report, published last month, criticised longer prison terms introduced by successive governments as a 'knee-jerk' reaction, and said a 'tough on crime narrative' had left the justice system on 'the brink of collapse'.

Ian Martin threatened a lone shopworker with a syringe

Former Tory justice secretary David Gauke, who is leading the review for Labour, said 'punishment will always be a central aim of the criminal justice system, but it is not the only aim; and prison is not the only form of punishment'.

Similarly, prisons minister Lord Timpson said before his appointment last year that only one third of inmates should definitely be in jail.

Ms Mahmood has already released thousands of criminals from prison early to free up space in overcrowded jails.

She launched a scheme in the autumn which allows most criminals - excluding violent and sexual offenders, and terrorists - to be automatically freed after serving 40 per cent of a jail term handed down by a court.

On the first day of the programme, freed inmates popped champagne corks and vowed to be Labour voters for life, with one proclaiming 'Big up Keir Starmer' as he posed with a 150,000 Bentley.

The review commissioned by Ms Mahmood is due to make recommendations in the Spring.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: 'The new government inherited a justice system in crisis, days away from running out of prison places.

'Reoffending rates were too high and prisons had become a breeding ground for crime.

'This Government took immediate action to address the crisis in our jails. We will build 14,000 new prison places.

'We have also tasked the independent sentencing review to look at how to reduce reoffending, cut crime and make our streets safer.'
The Department of Education temporarily closed all its offices in the Washington, D.C., area for 'security' reasons amid reports it is slashing half its workforce in cuts driven by Elon Musk's DOGE.

Offices closed at 6PM on Tuesday, according to a notice to employees sent by James Hairfield, from the office of security, facilities and logistics at the department.

The email notified all workers to bring their work laptops from the office and work from home starting Wednesday, March 12.

'Employees will not be permitted in any ED facility on Wednesday, March 12 for any reason,' the email read.

A Department of Education spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

McMahon was asked about the buildings closing in an interview with Laura Ingraham Tuesday night.

'We didn't want part of people being permanently let go and those remaining to all - some of them to show up work tomorrow morning,' she said.

Both McMahon and Ingraham noted that this was 'standard corporate practice.'

Linda McMahon, President Donald Trump's Secretary of Education

The US Department of Education in Washington, DC,

Civil servants and supporters of the Department of Education rally outside the department in Washington, DC

'We lock the doors and said for those that are coming back we'll know that they will be coming back on Thursday morning.'

There will be a chance for those let go to come back and take personal affects, as well as 'say goodbye' to one another.

Sources familiar with the upcoming action by Education Department officials have previewed to Fox News a 'reduction in force' notice set for Tuesday, where nearly half of all staff is expected to be terminated.

President Donald Trump campaigned on the idea of closing down the Department of Education, and redirecting most of the funding to the states.

He appointed former CEO of the WWE Linda McMahon as the department secretary.

'Linda, I hope you do a great job and put yourself out of a job,' Trump recalled telling her, when he selected her for the position.

The Department of Education currently employs over 4,000 employees and has a budget of $80 billion.

The most significant function handled by the department is student loans, which could be shifted to the Treasury Department.

McMahon previewed Friday that Trump would move forward with an executive order to dismantle the department.

'I think he certainly intends to sign the order, and we've talked about it. He's made it crystal clear since the time he was running for president that this is his intent,' McMahon told Fox & Friends in an interview.

On Friday, McMahon also said she would continue to work with Congress to make sure students would still receive student loan assistance.

'This is not a turn off the lights and walk out of the department,' she told NewsNation in an interview.

'It's in close consultation with Congress and looking at how the needs of students can best be serviced.'
The CEO of America's largest bank has once again passionately defended his ironclad stance on remote work, this time in front curious college students.

While speaking at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business last week, Jamie Dimon, 68, said he's 'had enough' of the now-common workplace practice and that it simply 'doesn't work' in his business.

Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase for the last two decades, got onto the controversial topic after a graduate student asked a question regarding his leaked, expletive-loaded remarks from a company town hall about the finance firm's end of hybrid work.

'I've admittedly listened to the leaked audio clip that was circulating on Twitter about your strong opinions on remote work,' the student divulged before probing the chairman on his much-disputed stance.

'I would love to just hear some of your thoughts, or guidance, or advice on how we should think about these topics,' the student added.

In response, Dimon, whose heated criticisms of remote work have made him a champion of the return-to-office culture shift, claimed the only group of people disgruntled with the move are 'the people in the middle' - like corporate office workers.

'If you work in a restaurant, you've got to be in. You all may not know this, but 60 percent of Americans worked the whole time,' he said.

'Where did you get your Amazon packages from? Your beef, your meat, your vodka? Where did you get the diapers from?'

While speaking at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business last week, Jamie Dimon, 68, said he's 'had enough' of the now-common workplace practice and that it simply 'doesn't work' in his business

'I've admittedly listened to the leaked audio clip that was circulating on Twitter about your strong opinions on remote work,' the student divulged before probing the chairman on his much-disputed stance

The Harvard Business School-graduate appeared to be referring to people who continued to work in person during the pandemic.

'You got UPS and FedEx and manufacturers and agriculture and hospitals and cities and schools and nurses and sanitation and firemen and military. They all worked,' he continued.

'It's only these people in the middle who complain a lot about it.'

White-collar workers, who generally have more freedom with where their work can be performed than frontline workers, have had various responses to return-to-office mandates in recent years.

Some have pushed back or questioned such mandates or even quit over them - something the longtime CEO said he is 'OK with.'

'I completely respect people that don't want to go to the office all five days a week. That's your right. It's my right. It's a citizen's right,' he previously told CNBC.

'But they should respect that the company is going to decide what's good for the clients, the company, etc., not an individual.'

Earlier this year, the JPMorgan Chase CEO announced that it would require employees to return to office five days a week, beginning in March.

Dimon also said one reason he wanted people back in the office was that 'younger people are being left behind.'

'To have the younger people coming in but not their bosses - I have a problem with that too,' he said.

He also noted that the benefits of in-person office conversations will help younger people to succeed in their careers.

'All day long we're talking,' he said. 'Constant updates, constant share of information.'

$JPM CEO Jamie Dimon commenting on the viral leaked audio clip on his comments on remote work:



" So I tell you, [remote work] doesn't work in our business....it's impossible to do culture that way. And so, you know, for us, we've made a decision" pic.twitter.com/QemaNKp7CG  The Transcript (@TheTranscript_) March 11, 2025

Earlier this year, the JPMorgan Chase CEO (left) announced that it would require employees to return to office five days a week, beginning in March. Pictured: Jamie Dimon and wife Judith Kent arrive for a State Dinner in honor of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, at the Booksellers Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 10, 2024

Remote work means young people miss out on these conversations, essentially 'leaving them behind,' Dimon said. 'I won't do that.'

Dimon further added that remote employees tend to not pay attention on company Zoom calls.

However, even with all the threats against working from home, the commercial and investment banking company still employs remote workers.

About 10 percent of the bank's jobs operate on a fully remote basis and have stayed that way even after the return-to-office mandate.

JPMorgan runs virtual call centers in Baltimore and Detroit that collectively employ more than 100 remote workers.

In addition, 60 percent of JPMorgan staff, including managing directors and salespeople, were already at the office five days per week, according to Bloomberg.

The switch to fully in-person work took effect at the end of February, impacting back-office staff who previously worked on a hybrid schedule.

Dimon's strong-armed stance on remote-work went viral after one of the company's employee asked a question during a company town hall back in February.

The question, posed by Nicolas Welch, a tech analyst at the bank since 2017, triggered an extraordinary rant from the chairman.

The 68-year-old company foreman responded with a long-winded rant against working from home, and defended his earlier order dragging all employees back into the office five days a week.

'That's it? I'm going to give you a complete answer. There is no chance that I would leave that up to managers. Zero chance,' he said.

Welch, a self-confessed 'old hillbilly,' also asked Dimon if remote work could be 'left up to managers of individual teams,' to decide based on the 'necessity of an office workplace.'

However, the bank boss didn't take lightly to Welch's comment, claiming the commonplace practice was widely abused by employees.

'The abuse that took place is extraordinary. You may be a great manager, but Im going to give you examples of how bad it got. OK?' Dimon said.

He said he came to the realization that hybrid work wasn't working for the rest of the company, and was causing huge inefficiencies.

'Now, your manager moved to Florida. We never made a promise that it would be forever. Thats their problem, not mine,' he said.

'So people said, "We moved, we didnt move" - we always told people that we were going to be a work-from-the-office type of company.

'And so we allowed three days and two days. But here are the problems, OK? And they are substantialthe young generation is being damaged by this.

'They may or may not be in your particular staff, but they are being left behind. Theyre being left behind socially, ideas, meeting people.

'In fact, my guess is most of you live in communities a hell of a lot less diverse than this room.'

Dimon also railed against the 'rudeness' of staff fiddling with their phones and not paying attention during Zoom calls, which he said 'slows down efficiency, creativity'.

JPMorgan techie Nicolas Welch, whose question at a company town hall triggered an extraordinary work-from-home rant by the chairman, claims he was briefly fired over it

Dimon responded with a long rant against working from home, and defended his earlier order dragging all employees back into the office five days a week

JPMorgan's offices in Columbus, Ohio, where Welch works

'When I found out that people were doing that - you dont do that in my goddamn meetings. If youre going to meet with me, youve got my attention, youve got my focus, I dont bring my goddamn phone, Im not sending texts to people,' he said.

'It simply doesnt work. It doesnt work for creativity, it slows down decision-making.

'And dont give me this s**t that work-from-home-Friday works. I call a lot of people on Fridays, and theres not a goddamn person you can get a hold of.'

Dimon acknowledged the need for flexibility, particularly for mothers and caregivers, but said managers failed to manage to properly and it got out of hand.

'They didnt manage, they were making exceptions, and people making exceptions for exceptions, and meanwhile, head count has gone up by 50,000 people in four, five years,' he said.

'We dont need all those people. We were putting people in jobs because the people werent doing the job they were hired to do in the first place. It simply doesnt work.

'I will not be responsible for a company like that, OK, and Im sorry. Now - you have a choice. You dont have to work at JPMorgan. So the people of you who dont want to work at the company, thats fine with me.'

Dimon then went off on a tangent about the firm having too much bureaucracy that needed to be reined in, and asked for suggestions from staff.

'Were going to build a great company, and were going to be disciplined and detailed and factual and honest and hardworking, and thats how were going to do it. And honest with each other,' he said.
An InfoWars reporter who was murdered outside his Texas home was shot while trying to stop robbers from breaking into his car.

Jamie White, 36, was found fatally wounded outside his Austin residence around midnight on Sunday, in a slaying that InfoWars owner Alex Jones blamed on Travis County's George Soros-backed District Attorney.

Police have now revealed he was killed while trying to stop robbers who were breaking into his car.

'Detectives believe the suspects were possibly burglarizing White's vehicle, when he interrupted them,' Austin police said.

'The initial investigation shows that White was shot and killed in the parking lot of the apartment complex in which he lived. The suspects then fled the scene.'

White's sister Kelly Kneale said that although the investigation is in its early stages, it is not believed to be a 'targeted attack.'

'My brother was shot,' Kneale told DailyMail.com. 'Someone was attempting to break into his car.

'We're not doing great. I'm trying to hold it together as best I can for my dad, he can't really talk right now.'

Jamie White, 36, was murdered while trying to stop robbers from breaking into his car

White was found mortally wounded outside his Austin residence around midnight on Sunday

Officers from Austin Police Department responded to 911 calls reporting a man with 'obvious signs of trauma.' White was rushed to a nearby hospital where he later died from his injuries.

White's friend, Yecca Aaron, told Fox 7 that the journalist had stay late at work that night.

'Literally right when he got home, all that happened,' Aaron said. 'It's crazy that he's gone just like that.'

'I really don't think it was he was targeted because of where he worked. I think he was just targeted because he was right there in the right place at the wrong time.'

Police have called the incident a homicide but have not identified any suspects. The slaying had been investigated as a shooting/stabbing but authorities have not released additional information.

In a fiery and emotional video on Monday afternoon, conspiracy theorist Jones did not hold back in assigning blame, squarely targeting the district attorney Jose Garza.

'I lay all of this squarely at the feet of Soros and of the sort of crime syndicate of the Democratic Party.

'They are the ones that administratively cut the police, prosecuted the police, and even cases that are hundred percent clear to be lawful, legal activities,' Jones ranted.

White's sister Kelly Kneale (left) said that although the investigation is in its early stages, it is not believed to be a 'targeted attack'

InfoWars owner Alex Jones (right) blamed Travis County's George Soros-backed District Attorney for White's death

'You murdered Jamie White, you opened the door, you created the climate, you created conditions on purpose. George Soros. Alexander Soros, you murdered Jamie White.'

'These are sick, degenerate, evil people that know what they're doing and they aided and abetted. They are accomplices to the murder of a great American and InfoWars long time veteran reporter Jamie White.'

Garza is known for his progressive policies and his campaign was backed by billionaire financier George Soros' Open Society Foundations.

Jones claimed that White's death was the inevitable result of what he called 'vicious policies' by Soros-backed DAs like Garza, whom he accused of intentionally undermining law enforcement and letting violent criminals roam free.

Jones also cited unnamed Austin police officers and detectives as sources, claiming that many in law enforcement are frustrated and demoralized by what they see as Garza's refusal to prosecute dangerous offenders.

The Austin Police Department has so far not publicly commented on any political links.

Police data showed 57 crimes were reported at White's complex last year including aggravated assaults, a burglary and auto thefts. There have been 7 crimes reported at the complex this year.
A woman who was found floating in the Brisbane River has been identified as chilling CCTV images of her final moments are released.

The body of Crystal Beale, 49, was discovered by a member of the public at Yeronga, in the city's south, about 5.40am on February 22.

Emergency services rushed to the scene after the body was found, but she could not be revived and was declared dead a short time later.

At the time, police said initial investigations suggested Ms Beale's death was not suspicious, but a murder probe has now been launched.

The results of a post-mortem investigation led police to believe her death is suspicious and investigations into her final hours have been launched.

Ms Beale was last seen in the inner-south suburb of West End, 5.5km south of Yeronga, on the evening of February 21, police said.

Detective Acting Inspector Rod Watts said on Wednesday that several lines of inquiry are being examined, including CCTV from the West End area.

'We believe Crystal was near the Brisbane River at Orleigh Park, West End and on Ryan Street, West End late on Friday February 21,' Inspector Watts said.

A murder investigation has been launched after a woman's body was found floating in the Brisbane River. The woman has been identified as 49-year-old Crystal Beale (pictured)

Ms Beale's body was found by a member of the public in the Brisbane River at Yeronga (pictured) about 5.40am on February 22

'Our investigation has centered around collecting CCTV from this area and we are now making an appeal to anyone who may have been in this area between 9.30pm on Friday February 21 and 1am the following morning and has seen Crystal or any suspicious behaviour to please come forward.

'As this is an ongoing investigation, police are limited in what details we can disclose.

'But we are confident people saw Crystal on the night and they have information that will assist with our inquiries. We are urging anyone with any information, no matter how small, to contact police.'

Police have released a CCTV image of Ms Beale at a restaurant in Sunnybank, on Brisbane's southside, on the night of February 21.

She was wearing a long slim fitting white dress and had a brown leather shoulder bag hanging from her right shoulder and across her body.

Ms Beale is described as Caucasian in appearance with a slim build, approximately 165cm tall, with long brown hair.

Anyone with information that can assist with investigations is urged to contact police.
Australians are calling for a boycott of American goods after Donald Trump announced he'll go ahead with a 25 per cent tariff on Aussie aluminium and steel imports.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Wednesday morning that Australia would not be exempt from the tariffs - as it had been during Trump's first term.

Trump had 'considered it and considered against it,' Ms Leavitt said.

She added the United States was prioritising 'American-first steel' and that Australian-owned companies could 'consider moving steel manufacturing' to the US in order to be exempt from the tariffs.

Australians angered by the economic hammer-blow from a supposed ally condemned the announcement on social media.

'Let's take (Jim) Beam and JD (Jack Daniels) off the shelves, or add a tariff to all US alcohol products,' one said.

'Reciprocated tariffs on any USA steel or aluminium products coming into Australia for starters. I'm sure there must be some,' another said.

'Australia has to counter with tariffs on American goods like Canada did,' a third added.

The tariffs, which will make Australian steel and aluminium much more expensive to US buyers and therefore crush demand, will be imposed from 3pm on Wednesday

'Every country should block all imports to the US,' fumed a fourth.

'See how many soda cans and car parts they can make with NO aluminium for a few weeks and see how that goes for them.'

Others suggested Australia should back out of the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal and stop sending money to the US in support of its submarine-building program.

'Time to ... demand our $700million back for the Virginia Class sub-building capacity that we are never going to get,' one said.

'Australia should be buying its subs from France again,' added another.

Canada and the US have become embroiled in a trade war, with the Canadian state of Ontario slapping a 25 per cent surcharge on electricity exports to American customers.

In response, Trump vowed to double Canada's tariff on aluminium and steel imports to 50 per cent.

Ontario responded by suspending the electricity surcharge, and Trump agreed not to double the tariff, while reiterating his call for Canada to become part of the US.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had said on Monday said his government would 'continue to engage constructively' with the United States on getting an exemption to the tariffs

The tariffs on Australian steel and aluminium, which will make them much more expensive to US buyers and therefore crush demand, will be imposed from 3pm on Wednesday (AEDT).

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had said on Monday said his government would 'continue to engage constructively' with the United States on getting an exemption to the tariffs, but Wednesday's announcement ended those hopes.

'It is in Australia's interest, but it's also in the economic interests of the United States for Australia to be exempted,' Mr Albanese said.

It comes after Trump told Albanese last month that he would give the prospect of an exemption 'great consideration' as Australia was one of few countries that ran a trade deficit with the US.

However, White House Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing Peter Navarro later said Australia was 'killing' America's aluminium industry.
US president Donald Trump has invited Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky back to the White House, weeks after their Oval Office bust-up, after the wartime leader said he was open to a total, but temporary, ceasefire.

Earlier tonight, after eight hours of talks in Saudi Arabia, Ukraine said it was open to a 30-day ceasefire, including drone and missile attacks, naval attacks in the Black Sea and land warfare along the 600-mile front, with Russia, which is yet to comment.

In exchange, the Trump administration said that it would immediately lift its suspension of military aid to Ukraine and its intelligence sharing with Kyiv.

When asked by reporters whether Zelensky was welcome back at the White House, Trump tonight said: 'Sure, absolutely.'

He added that there is a 'very big difference' in the state of Ukraine-US relations between the infamous Oval Office feud, in which Zelensky was unceremoniously booted out, and now.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US would present the ceasefire offer to the Kremlin.

'We're going to tell them this is what's on the table. Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking. And now it'll be up to them to say yes or no,' Mr Rubio said.

'If they say no, then we'll unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here.'

President Trump said he would put the deal directly to Putin, telling reporters: I will talk to Vladimir Putin - it takes two to tango. I hope he will agree.

The US President hinted he will try to claw back some of the Ukrainian territory lost to Russia, saying he would be negotiating land positions as part of the talks.

When asked by reporters whether Zelensky was welcome back at the White House, Donald Trump (pictured) tonight said: 'Sure, absolutely'

Volodymyr Zelensky is welcomed by Deputy Governor of Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz (R) upon his arrival to Jeddah for talks between Ukrainian officials, Saudi and US representatives

The infamous Oval Office feud saw Zelensky get unceremoniously booted out

On Tuesday night world leaders piled pressure on Putin to agree to the deal and stop the fighting.

Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the breakthrough and said the ball was now in Putins court.

This is an important moment for peace in Ukraine and we now all need to redouble our efforts to get to a lasting and secure peace as soon as possible, he said.

As both American and Ukrainian delegations have said, the ball is now in the Russian court. Russia must now agree to a ceasefire and an end to the fighting too.

US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz hinted that President Trump is ready to pile pressure on Putin, saying he was take tough decisions on all sides to push through a lasting deal.

He also indicated he was open to US involvement in safeguarding Ukraines future security, telling reporters that talks had included discussion of what kind of guarantees they are going to have for their long term security and prosperity.

Britain, France and other European countries fear that failure to guarantee Ukraines security could allow Putin to use any ceasefire to rearm in preparation for further attacks in the future. They remain deeply sceptical that the Russian tyrant will keep his word.

Sir Keir warned this month that Putin would come again unless the West agrees to supply credible security guarantees.

Vladimir Putin speaks with the governor of Arkhangelsk region Alexander Tsybulsky during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Smoke billows above the site of a drone attack in Odesa, southern Ukraine, 11 March 2025

Britain and France have offered to put boots on the ground and planes in the air to help deter Putin and defend any peace deal. They are now trying to generate a coalition of the willing to help bolster any force.

Defence secretary John Healey, who will travel to Paris tomorrow for further talks on the issue, last night said: European nations are stepping up.

'By deepening our defence cooperation, boosting spending, and enhancing our collective strength, we send a clear message: we will not waver in standing with Ukraine and defending our shared values.

Sir Keir will convene a further meeting of European and Commonwealth allies on Saturday, with France, Canada, Australia, Sweden and Turkey among those expected to attend.

But British officials believe that any force will only be effective if the US continues to provide a security backstop. This would involve Washington continuing to supply intelligence and air defences.

One source said the PM also wants President Trump to make clear to Putin that he would get a bloody nose if he launches any attack on Western peacekeepers.

A local resident stands in the courtyard of his house while smoke rises from a fire following a strike on the outskirts of Odessa on March 11, 2025

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz announced the breakthrough after their meeting with Ukrainian officials

Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak earlier told reporters that the most important thing was how to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

He said security guarantees were vital to prevent Russia from invading again in the future.

The Kremlin has not publicly offered any concessions. Russia has said it is ready to cease hostilities on condition that Ukraine drops its bid to join NATO and demilitarises and recognises regions that Moscow occupies as Russian.

Russia has captured nearly a fifth of Ukraines territory.
Vice President JD Vance responded to his cousin Nate Vance who went public on CNN to voice his criticism of his treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Nate Vance appeared on CNN on Monday, sharing family photos of he and the vice president together as children before criticizing the vice president for the way he was handling the Ukraine war and behaved in a meeting with Zelensky.

'Donald Trump and my cousin clearly believe they can placate Vladimir Putin,' Nate Vance said to the French newspaper Le Figaro. 'They are wrong. The Russians are not about to forget our support for Ukraine. We are Vladimir Putin's useful idiots.'

Nate Vance's father is the brother of JD Vance's mother. Both served in the Marines.

Nate Vance said he tried to contact JD's senate office to talk to his cousin about Ukraine, but failed to reach him.

JD Vance was gracious in his response to his cousin but disputed that Nate had tried to contact him.

'I always considered Nate the toughest guy I knew, and no matter what he says about me, my affection for him remains. I'm always happy to talk to him,' JD Vance said in a statement to DailyMail.com.

The Vice President expressed confusion why Nate did not try to reach him directly through members of the family.

US Vice President JD Vance responded to his cousin who criticized his position on Ukraine

JD Vance's cousin Nate voices his criticism on CNN of how he's handling the war in Ukraine

JD Vance (left) and Nate Vance (right)

'I am unsure why Nate felt the need to reach out to my senate office, rather than to his mom, dad, or sister, all of whom I am in contact with regularly,' he said.

JD Vance said he purposefully did not reveal that his cousin was fighting in Ukraine to protect him.

'I love my cousin Nate, and never spoke publicly about his service in Ukraine because I didn't want to endanger his life more than it already was.'

On CNN, Nate Vance warned that Putin and the Russians would 'eat' Trump and JD Vance.

'They will not hesitate to eat an American president or an American vice president. They don't care what we think,' he said. 'They're not our allies, and they never will be, not at least for a generation.'

It's not the first time Nate Vance has gone public to criticize his cousin.

In January, Nate Vance spoke about his time in Ukraine in an interview with The Real Jim Morris Show.

'Looking back on it, I'm an idiot, right? Like, my plan was pretty much 'f**k it' I'll figure it out when I get there,' he said.

Nate Vance on The Real Jim Morris Show

JD Vance wearing a Superman shirt as his cousin Nate

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as U.S. Vice President JD Vance reacts

Nate Vance said he volunteered to fight with Ukraine to learn what was really going on.

'Anybody who says that adventure is not part of it kind of lying, you're not being completely honest,' he said.

Nate said he returned to the United States because he did not want his presence in Ukraine to be a problem for his cousin.

'It does produce a certain potential security risk,' 'If something did happen to me, now the vice president is like "one of my g*d***ed relatives is a captive right? so it hamstrings his ability.'

Nate Vance said JD was not 'lying' in his book 'Hillbilly Elegy' about the way he was raised, reflecting that he was present for part of the vice president's life.

'His childhood was worse than the book made it sound,' if you're going to ask me for an honest opinion, if there's any dishonesty,' he said.

Nate Vance said he was currently writing his own book about his experience in Ukraine and what it would take for them to win the war in Russia and was currently looking for a literary agent and a publisher.

'I'm like 99 percent done ... I got about 85,000 words written. The difficult about finishing it is that I'm kind of living the last chapter,' he said.
Dozens were arrested in New York City after swarming the streets to protest the arrest of 'pro-Hamas' rioter Mahmoud Khalil.

Student activists staged a sit-in at Columbia University on Tuesday, before hundreds of protestors descended on Washington Square Park, reported CBS News.

The group moved from the park, and marched through Lower Manhattan. Some protesters were arrested at City Hall, although police have not provided a total number of arrests as yet.

The New York Post reported at least a dozen protesters were handcuffed after they blocked the streets and refused to listen to NYPD instructions to clear the road.

'Move cops, get out the way, we know you're Israeli trained,' some protesters chanted. 'Oink, oink, piggy, piggy. We're gonna make your lives s****y.'

Images showed keffiyeh clad protesters wearing face coverings as they marched through the streets carrying Palestinian flags.

Khalil, 29, a Palestinian who was born and raised in Syria, helped to lead protests against Israel at Columbia University last year. He also acted as a negotiator between students and university officials.

The protests were allowed to run rampant for two weeks. They were marked by violent assaults and instances of Jewish students being afraid to go to class.

Dozens were arrested in New York City after swarming the streets to protest the arrest of 'pro-Hamas' rioter Mahmoud Khalil

At least a dozen protesters were handcuffed after they blocked the streets and refused to listen to NYPD instructions to clear the road

Images showed keffiyeh clad protesters wearing face coverings march through the streets carrying Palestinian flags

He was taken into custody at his university-owned apartment on Saturday night by ICE agents.

The Department of Homeland Security, confirming Khalil's arrest on Sunday, claimed he had 'led activities aligned to Hamas' and that the DHS action was taken 'in coordination with the Department of State.'

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post on Sunday that his department would be 'revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported.'

President Donald Trump on Monday wrote that it would be the 'first arrest of many' as the administration cracks down on on what he called 'pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity.'

'We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, and the Trump Administration will not tolerate it,' the president said.

On Monday, a U.S. district judge ordered that Khalil remain in the U.S. as the court weighs a filing challenging his arrest and deportation. A detention hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

The protests at Columbia, launched last year in opposition to the war in Gaza, brought widespread media attention as tensions mounted on campus and spread to other universities around the country.

On Tuesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked if the Trump administration believes it needs to charge a green card holder with a crime to deport him.

Mahmoud Khalil (pictured), who was the lead student negotiator for the pro-Palestinian encampment, was arrested by Department of Homeland Security agents on Saturday night

Student activists staged a sit-in at Columbia University on Tuesday, before hundreds of protestors descended on Washington Square Park (pictured)

The group moved from the park, and marched through Lower Manhattan. Some protesters were arrested at City Hall

'Secretary Rubio reserves the right to revoke the visa of Mahmoud Khalil,' Leavitt said.

She claimed that the secretary of state has the right to revoke a green card or visa for an individuals who are 'adversarial to the foreign policy and national security interests' of the U.S.

Leavitt accused Khalil of distributing 'pro-Hamas propaganda' on campus and said the administration would not tolerate people coming to study in the U.S. and siding with 'pro-terrorist organizations that have killed Americans.'
Unlimited toys, the freedom to explore grand palaces, and having your every whim met by an army of servants sounds to many like the perfect childhood.

But according to Prince Harry, his royal upbringing caused him to suffer from 'generational trauma'.

Not because he lacked any material possessions, but because his emotional needs were not met.

The scars were so bad that he decided he would walk away from the only life he knew in 2020, vowing to raise his children differently - with more love and less Press intrusion.

However, not every royal expert shares Harry's analysis of his upbringing.

Ingrid Seward, who has spent 40 years following The Firm, claimed that Harry's emotional problems were in fact caused because his father had been too soft on him.

She said: 'Had Charles been firmer with Harry - and, to some extent, William - in their formative years, they might not have caused him so much worry.'

The editor of Majesty magazine claimed Charles was an 'indulgent father' who let Harry get away with too much.

Prince Harry (pictured with his father at a charity polo match) has claimed his royal upbringing was where he began suffering from 'generational trauma'

A young Prince Harry sticks his tongue out to the cameras

Prince Harry lights up a cigarette in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2008

After all, Harry was the Spare, and because he was not expected to inherit the throne, he was always allowed greater licence than his elder brother William.

But instead of viewing his status as a blessing, Harry took his 'Spare' label as a great curse - and apparent insult.

He moaned in his 2023 memoir: 'I was the shadow, the support, the Plan B. I was brought into the world in case something happened to Willy.

'I was summoned to provide back-up, distraction, diversion and, if necessary, a spare part. Kidney, perhaps. Blood transfusion. Speck of bone marrow.'

But Seward, in her most recent book My Mother And I, has rejected Harry's account, writing: 'That is completely untrue, but it was how Harry chose to see himself, and he has allowed this perception to dominate his life - to the extent that he has now made a career out of it.

'Choosing to be seen as a victim, he has tried to wreak vengeance on his family and the Press for all the slights he believes he's suffered. And much of his ire has been directed at his elder brother.

For Seward, the roots of Harry's personal turmoil lie in his childhood.

Seward, 77, has spent decades covering The Firm and its highs and lows  from the War of the Waleses, to Toegate to Megxit and beyond.

Prince Harry sticks out his tongue as he stands with his cousins as a pageboy at the wedding of his uncle Charles Spencer on September 17, 1989

Ingrid Seward (left), who has spent 40 years following The Firm, claimed in her book My Mother and I (right) that Harry's emotional problems were caused because his father had been too soft on him

Prince Harry sticks his tongue out while being held by his mother, Princess Diana in 1988

Prince William and Prince Harry speak to their father Prince Charles as they attend a polo match at Cirencester Park on June 15, 1989

Prince Harry plays with a whip while at The Beaufort Polo Club in 2008

Like many journalists of her generation, she would often find herself invited to Kensington Palace for cosy chats with Princess Diana or to the ski slopes of Switzerland with Charles, William and Harry.

She witnessed at close quarters 'the boys' grow into men, becoming one of the most qualified people to comment on what went so wrong in Harry's upbringing.

Seward describes how, for a long time, Princess Diana called Harry 'her little baby' and that he didn't want to share his mother with William, who is two years his senior.

Perhaps due to their thirst for attention over their mother, Harry also always felt like he needed to compete in everything with his brother, which was especially difficult given William was notably more successful at school.

Diana was concerned everyone was going to think her younger boy was 'thick' as he didn't have any thirst for knowledge and was never interested in sitting down with a book, Seward wrote.

Despite getting the finest education at Eton, he struggled at school and exams, with his housemaster admitting he was not cut out for university.

In Spare Harry claimed that his memory was bad because after his mother's death he 'didn't want to fix it, because memory equalled grief'. Prince William, on the other hand, did well at school and at university.

Prince Charles and Princess Diana at home in Kensington Palace with their sons Prince William and Prince Harry in December 1986

Prince William and Prince Harry play together at Cirencester Park polo club in May, 1995

Prince Charles with Prince William and Prince Harry at a polo match

Charles and Prince Harry at The Eton Boys' Tea Party at The Guards Polo Club. Despite getting the finest education at Eton, he struggled at school and exams, with his housemaster admitting he was not cut out for university

Learning was so hard for Harry growing up that Diana's friend and alternative healer Simone Simmons was called in to give healing to him - partly for headaches but also because he was struggling with dyslexia.

Seward wrote that growing up, the late Queen had always thought Charles and Diana's children were 'unruly little boys'.

She recalled: 'On one occasion they climbed onto the grand piano at Sandringham and Harry knocked a vase of flowers onto the floor, where it broke.

'Nanny was summoned to organise clearing the mess, but the Queen got to hear about the boys' antics and was not pleased.

'It may have been holiday time, but this was still a court bound by rules and conventions that had changed little since Victorian times.'

At the age of nine, Harry turned to his brother and declared: 'You're going to be King; it doesn't matter what I do.'

Put another way, according to Seward, he saw this as a licence to do almost whatever he wanted.

But it appears Harry may have been enabled at times with his rulebreaking by both Charles and Diana.

Diana with Prince William and Prince Harry on Holiday In Necker Island In The Caribbean, on April 11, 1990

Prince Harry arrives at Eton College with his father Prince Charles to settle in before his first day on September 2, 1998

Prince Harry spends time with two female friends June 9, 2001, at the Beaufort Polo Club near Tetbury in Gloucestershire

Prince Harry admitted he first took cocaine at the age of 17 in his memoir

Prince Harry and friends attend the Prince's Polo event at Royal Berkshire on May 25, 2003

For instance there are reports that he showed an early talent for mimicry that took scant account of the importance of the person he was imitating. But instead of telling him off, it appears his antics amused his parents.

'Later events suggest, however, that a bit more early discipline might have been helpful', Seward wrote.

Perhaps Charles and Diana's softness towards their children was due to the guilt of what they were putting them through as their marriage became riven with acrimony.

It is thought that often they may have heard their parents fighting and witnessed Diana's tearful outbursts, although as Harry was two years younger, he might have been shielded from any unpleasantness by being whisked off by nannies.

But Seward believes that due to the turbulent marriage, it was difficult for Charles to build a relationship with his sons.

Diana often curtailed his time with them, and whenever he wanted to have them for the weekend she often thought of a last minute excuse to keep them with her.

However, Charles hated conflict and seemed to be too timid and weak to properly confront his wife over her behaviour.

Seward claims most of the Royal Family blamed him for the state of the marriage, thinking that if he had been firmer in the beginning, many of the later difficulties with Diana would have been avoided.

Prince William and Prince Harry share a joke with Prince Charles during a photocall on the ski slopes in Klosters, Switzerland

Prince Harry leaving the Embassy Nightclub, London, on March 24, 2012

Like his mother and grandmother, Charles hated confrontation and wanted to turn away from the problem instead of dealing with it.

But just like with Diana, it appears that Charles' lack of courage in confronting his family's behaviour also caused problems when it came to challenging unruly Harry.

However looking back on Harry's upbringing, Seward claims Charles 'probably regrets' that he wasn't strict with Harry and William.

She told Fox News: 'He went on with Diana's freestyle of bringing up children.

'Diana allowed them to do, more or less, what they wanted, which was very fashionable in those days. You let children just get on with things.

'I think Charles probably regrets that he wasn't a bit stricter, because it might've given both boys a few more boundaries.'

Diana ditched a more formal approach to raising her children and became known for her unconventional hands-on approach behind Palace doors.

Instead of formal events, she prioritised playtime, scheduled impromptu trips with her sons and attended more to their emotions.

However Charles was raised in a more traditional environment as a future sovereign and kept things more formal with his children.

It seems Charles's way of showing them love, rather than smothering them with hugs and kisses, was to teach Harry about nature and plants - saying 'they have feelings too'.

Prince Harry leaves Raffles nightclub in London on March 7, 2009

Prince Harry at the Chinawhite after party in Windsor in 2004

But Harry was traumatised by what he perceives as the lack of affection, saying he now 'bombards' his own children with the love he feels he never received from his father.

The upset can be seen in Harry's choice to spend the opening chapter of his memoir recounting how Charles broke the news of Diana's death - claiming he was not hugged by his father even in that heartbreaking moment.

Perhaps Charles' lack of physical affection towards his sons comes from his lack of closeness with his own mother - the Queen.

After all, Princess Elizabeth only had Charles until he was age four, as after she became Queen, her children were virtually taken away from her.

Although it was very much the norm for nannies to handle children in aristocratic families in those days, the Queen would only see her children in the morning and then again in the evening.

When Charles spoke to Jonathan Dimbleby for an authorised biography in 1994, he was critical of his upbringing and how he was emotionally distant from his mother and his father Prince Philip.

Seward told GB News that the King didn't develop a close relationship with his mother until his 'later life', going into his fifties.

Prince Harry was spotted smoking at a friend's wedding in August 2009

Prince Harry looked worse for wear leaving Boujis nightclub in March 2007

Harry seems to believe that Charles' tortured early years with his mother was the reason that lay behind their own distance.

He told actor Dax Shepard's 'Armchair Expert' mental health podcast in May 2021 that Charles had 'suffered' because of his upbringing, and he had 'treated me the way he was treated', calling it 'genetic pain'.

The Prince added: 'I don't think we should be pointing the finger or blaming anybody, but certainly when it comes to parenting, if I've experienced some form of pain or suffering because of the pain or suffering that perhaps my father or my parents had suffered, I'm going to make sure I break that cycle so that I don't pass it on, basically.'

After Harry's childhood, his teenage years also included a fair share of rule-breaking, as he admitted in Spare he first took cocaine at the age of 17.

He became the ultimate royal party boy, with reports of booze-fuelled trips abroad and regular nights out at Mayfair club Mahiki.

The King's youngest son was often splashed across the front pages of newspapers stumbling out of nightclubs and getting up to mischief.

And since he married Meghan, Harry's relationship with his father got worse after he left the Royal Family, moved to America, and broke the cardinal sin of royal silence by unleashing a barrage of public criticism at his family.

Understandably so, things remain frosty between Harry and Charles.

As Charles (pictured in 2022) continues in his battle against cancer, he perhaps now pauses to reflect on where things went wrong for his youngest son

Although the Prince dramatically flew to the UK in February for a meeting just after Charles' cancer diagnosis had been made public, it only lasted 30 minutes.

And on neither of his other two visits to the UK last year, in May and in September, did he meet with his father - despite his struggling health.

Despite no doubt sharing a deep bond, Charles' relationship with his disillusioned son remains fractured.

In quiet moments, he might now pause to reflect on where things went wrong for his youngest son.

Perhaps the answer has something to do with the childhood antics that seem to have foreshadowed his royal rule-breaking now.
After selling her home to fund it, Trinny Woodall has created a beauty brand valued at 180million with a customer base of 1.2million people around the world.

Now, the former What Not To Wear presenter aims to conquer America  with the help of a royal relation.

I can disclose that Woodall, 61, has recruited Queen Camilla's niece Ayesha Shand, daughter of Her Majesty's late brother Mark Shand.

'I've been hired as US vice-president of marketing of Trinny London,' confirms Ayesha, 30.

She has left her position at Hauser & Wirth, the art gallery business where Princess Eugenie works.

'Although it is a total shift in sector, and in some ways skill-set  and yes the imposter syndrome is real  I believe that the only way to grow is to challenge yourself, to feel like you are the stupidest person in the room, and to feel vulnerable once again,' Ayesha says of her decision to switch jobs.

Ayesha's father, a conservationist and author, died from a head injury after a fall in New York in 2014 at the age of 62.

Her mother is Shand's ex-wife Clio Goldsmith, a French ex-model and actress who is a cousin of former minister Lord (Zac) Goldsmith and film producer Jemima Khan.

Trinny Woodall has recruited Queen Camilla's niece Ayesha Shand (pictured in 2022)

Mark Shand and daughter Ayesha attend the Faberge Big Egg Hunt party in 2012

Trinny London's advert for Ayesha's new job said the role would be 'pivotal in shaping and communicating our brand identity, overseeing brand strategy and ensuring consistent and impactful brand experiences across all touchpoints'.

'I decided to take the job not because of my love of the industry  I'm a novice  but because of my belief in the brand,' she says.

'Trinny London is skincare and makeup for women on the go, for those who don't have time for a 20-step routine, for those who don't want to be better but just want to feel their best selves.

'My all-time favourite quote is, 'There is nothing more rare, nor more beautiful, than a woman being unapologetically herself; comfortable in her perfect imperfection'. To me, that is the true essence of beauty. I'm excited for my new chapter.'

Ayesha spoke publicly last year about her 'agonising' and 'unbearable' battle with a long-term health condition, endometriosis. She subsequently underwent surgery, which she said was a 'success'.

Designer Benedict Lamb's touching gesture

Like childhood pal Kate Moss, Benedict Lamb grew up in Croydon, south London, then modelled around the world.

Now he's a designer and has dedicated his debut collection to his son, Zak, 28, who has epilepsy and autism.

'The weavers are from Norfolk,' he tells me. 'One is a shepherd, another spins the wool. It's a pre-industrial revolution production model.'

Arlene backs sexy Sab

Ofcom received more than 800 complaints about Sabrina Carpenter's Brit Awards performance, in which the US pop star, 25, danced in lingerie  and Dame Arlene Phillips knows why.

The former Strictly judge, 81, who created the Hot Gossip dance troupe in the 1970s, says sexual women can be intimidating.

Ofcom received more than 800 complaints about Sabrina Carpenter's Brit Awards performance

Speaking at the Athena Effect  a series of talks for International Woman's Day in London, she tells me: 'Hot Gossip changed television.

'There is a fear of the dominance of female sexuality, which is projected by the lingerie. People are intimidated by the image of a woman in touch with her sexuality.'

How Olympia and Ivy rose to the occasion

Charles was dubbed the 'king of rock n roll' last week after revealing his favourite songs  and, judging by this photo, his goddaughter, Princess Olympia of Greece, is turning out to be the queen of clubs.

Olympia, 28, was joined for a night of revelling with Ivy Getty, 30, at the Frame party during Paris Fashion Week.

Olympia, in a black lace dress, and heiress Ivy, the great-granddaughter of billionaire J. Paul Getty, took a rose in their teeth on the dancefloor at Chateau Voltaire.

In 2021, Olympia was at Ivy's wedding in San Francisco to photographer Tobias Engel. Sadly, they separated last year.

Olympia (left) was joined for a night of revelling with Ivy Getty (right) at Paris Fashion Week

Ivy (pictured) is the great-granddaughter of billionaire J. Paul Getty

Brian Cox turns to comedy

Best known for portraying irascible media magnate Logan Roy in Succession, Brian Cox reveals he's now preparing for a comedic role.

Dundee-born Cox, 78, who's playing Johann Sebastian Bach in the West End, explains: 'I want to do more comedy, I've always thought I'm a natural comedian.

'I'm dying to do it. My manager's working out a comedy where I play a Scottish magician  a funny idea, because I couldn't be a magician for all the tea in China.'

Brian Cox (pictured) is now preparing for a comedic role

Dogged prince tours Crufts

Even at 82, Prince Michael of Kent is still determined to keep up with his public engagements.

The beloved first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth attended Crufts at the NEC in Birmingham at the weekend.

He travelled with friends including socialite Amanda Eliasch, whose billionaire ex-husband Johan used to fund Prince Andrew, and Luna de Casanova, a Spanish fashion commentator and former model.

Prince Michael of Kent (second left) attended Crufts at the NEC in Birmingham at the weekend

The first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth is determined to keep up with public engagements

Prince Michael, who is president of the Kennel Club, used a walking stick before eventually being pushed around the venue in a wheelchair.

'Crufts is the best of British and is better than fashion shows,' Eliasch, 64, tells me. 'The Prince was in good spirits and he really loves dogs.'

His wife, Princess Michael, 80, revealed in December that she broke both wrists in a fall at home in Kensington Palace.

The accident forced her to attend the King's pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace with her wrists in splints.
It's the go-to navigational app for millions of people around the world.

But if you use Google Maps, you might want to check your app is working properly.

A bizarre software bug has wiped out years of users' search history with no warning.

Hundreds of concerned users have taken to Reddit to share their confusion, with one posting: 'Every single day for the last 3+ years just disappeared.'

Another replied: 'I'm panicking, I have the same issue.'

And one vented: 'Almost 10 years and countless international and domestic timelines gone. Oh well I guess I will just have to live in the moment for now.'

While Google has admitted it is deleting Timeline data older than 90 days, the glitch is raising concerns that the shutdown has come early.

Thankfully, there's any easy way for you to save your Timeline data from deletion before the deadline  here's how.

Google Maps Timeline is a personal map that helps you remember routes and trips you've taken and places you've been based on your Location History

Originally known as Location History, Timeline tracks Google Maps users' every movements, keeping a record of places visited and routes taken.

If the feature is activated, Google Maps uses GPS data to record routes you have taken and places you have visited whenever your phone's location services are on.

Timeline converts this data into summaries that help you recall where you went on a walk last week or remember a great pub you stumbled across three years ago.

The tech giant says: 'Timeline helps you go back in time and remember where you've been. With Timeline, you visits and routes are automatically saved to a map on each of your devices.'

On the Google Maps app, users can tap 'You' followed by 'Timeline' to scroll back through a calendar that's supposed to have captured their past trips.

However, users have found that all days have been crossed out on the calendar and when they try to tap on a date they're told there were 'no visits'.

One Reddit user said: 'Every day on my calendar is crossed out and it says I haven't been anywhere today.'

Another posted: 'I am worried this is going to be the case for everyone. I had 6 years worth of trips saved there.'

Google Maps' Timeline tool is a personal map that remembers routes and trips you've taken, creating a visual record of where you've been over time

Users have found that all days have been crossed out on the calendar and are told there were 'no visits' for each day

How to save your Google Maps data from being deleted To move an existing backup to a different device or import your Timeline on a new device, you can import your Timeline data from a backup: Open the Google Maps app Tap your profile picture or initial and then Your Timeline At the upper right, tap the cloud icon From the 'Your backups' section, select a device Tap More (three dots) and then Import On the 'Import Timeline from backup' screen, tap Import Advertisement

And one said: '10 years of data gone. My options for my last backup: "delete". That's it. No option to restore. Where is the backup? Can I at least see that file and get some information out of there? This is serious. What's next, my entire Google Drive data disappearing? I'm going to have to start copying things out. This is very serious.'

It's unclear how widespread the problem is; MailOnline has contacted Google for more information.

Google Maps Timeline came to Android in 2015 and then iOS in 2017, meaning users may have almost a decade's worth of trips saved to Google's servers.

However, towards the end of last year, Google emailed users saying Timeline data will be stored locally on each user's device, not on the cloud.

As a result, after June 9 this year, only the past 90 days of Timeline data will be saved to your device, meaning everything else will be permanently deleted.

The shift from cloud storage to on-device storage means that the app will take up more storage space on your device but should give users more protection against hackers.

However, it also means that any unsaved location history will soon be lost.

In order to keep hold of your data, you will need to make a local backup on your device before the June 9 deadline  although thankfully this process is simple.

To keep your data from being deleted you need to make a local backup of your Timeline data. This will ensure that you can keep all your information after Google deletes your route history from the cloud

On your iOS or Android device, open the Google Maps app and tap on your profile picture or initial in the top right-hand corner of the screen.

In the upper right of the page, you will now see an icon which looks like a cloud.

After selecting this, you may now be asked to log in with your password, but should then arrive at the 'Backup' page.

If you don't have backups enabled, first tap the button to enable this option.

Next, select the device you'd like to back up and press the 'More' option which looks like three dots.

Choose 'Import' from the menu and select 'Import' again from the 'Import Timeline form backup' screen.

This will download a copy of your Timeline data which you can access even after Google has deleted your information from the cloud.

Remember, since this data will be stored locally, you'll need to repeat this process for any other devices you want to see your Timeline on.
Scientists have warned of a potential environmental disaster after a cargo ship struck an oil tanker carrying 142,000 barrels of jet fuel off the coast of Yorkshire.

The US-flagged tanker MV Stena Immaculate was carrying over 18,000 tonnes of jet fuel when it was struck by the Portugal-flagged container ship, MV Solong yesterday morning.

Now, as that jet fuel leaks into the Humber Estuary, scientists and marine pollution experts have revealed how rescue teams could tackle the growing oil spill.

Experts say floating barriers, oil-dispersing chemicals, and even giant sponges could be used to hold back the spreading oil.

By holding the fuel in one place for long enough, boats and specially designed 'skimmers' can suck the fuel back out of the water.

In exceptional circumstances, environmental agencies may even choose to burn the oil 'in situ' - lighting enormous fires on the open water.

Thankfully, experts say that the type of fuel currently entering the Humber Estuary could evaporate quickly before it causes any serious damage.

Professor Tiago Alves, of Cardiff University, says: 'Environmentally, jet fuel evaporates easily and also combusts easily, as we have witnessed. Any impact depends on the volume of jet fuel spilled and if it was almost completely combusted during the ensuing fire.'

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A growing oil spill in the Humber Estuary has sparked concerns of an environmental disaster after an oil tanker and cargo ship crashed off the Yorkshire coast. The US-flagged tanker, MV Stena Immaculate, was hit while at anchor by the Portugal-flagged container ship, MV Solong

From the moment the oil hits the water, experts and local environmental authorities will need to start making a plan to contain the spill.

Thicker oils, such as crude oil, behave very differently from lighter, more volatile refined oils like jet fuel.

Likewise, waves and currents might disperse the oil over vast distances while making it difficult for recovery vessels to make it out to sea.

Although the MV Stena Immaculate's cargo was jet fuel, both ships are now understood to have been carrying 'bunker fuel', a type of heavy fuel oil used to power their engines.

This type of fuel is far heavier, meaning it is less likely to disperse naturally through evaporation, burning, or mixing with the water column.

Professor Alves says: 'The environmental impacts depend on the volume of jet fuel spilt, and if any bunker fuel was or is already spilt.'

That means the first step in dealing with an oil spill is making a careful plan about what to do next.

Nicky Cariglia, director of Marittima which specialises in marine pollution, told MailOnline: 'This will all depend on a number of factors, the type of oil, the weather, the sea state, and how far out the spill is.'

US-flagged tanker, MV Stena Immaculate (pictured), was hit while at anchor by the Portugal-flagged container ship, MV Solong, off the coast of Humber Estuary, Hull. The ship was carrying 18,000 tonnes of jet fuel, equivalent to 142,000 barrels

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How are oil spills contained? Booms The oil is held in place by floating barriers called booms.

These can be placed around sensitive areas or used to herd the oil. Skimmers Floating platforms suck oil out of the water and pump it onto waiting boats. Sorbets Crews use absorbent materials like giant sponges to soak up the oil.

These can then be retrieved and squeezed dry. Dispersing chemicals Chemicals can be dropped onto the oil from the air to break it up into smaller droplets. Advertisement

'When there is a spill, such as has happened today, agencies and experts will undergo some modelling of the type of oil and the weather conditions to understand what its behaviour might be and what kind of measures would be suitable,' says Ms Cariglia.

Until that mathematical modelling is complete, the authorities won't know the most effective places to deploy the cleanup operation's resources.

As MailOnline's step-by-step graphic shows, the first stage is to physically prevent the oil from spreading any further.

Cleanup crews can deploy specialised floating barriers called booms which corral the oil into more controllable areas.

While there are different designs, the most common booms are long cylindrical flotation devices attached to a weighted 'skirt' that extends beneath the water.

Since oil doesn't mix with water, it floats to the surface, so these booms can be used to 'sweep' it up or protect sensitive areas.

Ms Cariglia says: 'You can either wait down-current for the oil to collect it there, or you can sometimes sweep up the oil and gather it up like that.'

In some cleanup operations, booms will be towed alongside one or two boats to funnel the oil into a point where it can be collected.

How the spill is contained will depend on the weather and the type of oil. However, the process typically begins by deploying inflatable barriers called booms which sit on the surface and stop the oil escaping. Pictured The Marine Spill Response Corporation puts down a boon to protect the beach at Chrissy Fields from oil contamination November 8, 2007 in San Francisco

Booms are also deployed near beaches and in other sensitive areas as a protective barrier against the oil spill. Pictured: Booms float on the Talbert Marsh, California following an oil spill in 2021

Once the oil is contained, the next stage is to recover the oil so that it can be safely disposed of or recycled.

This is primarily done using skimmers which float along the surface of the water and suck up the oil like vacuum cleaners.

These have several different designs including suction pumps, conveyor belts of sponges of absorbent sponges, and 'weir' skimmers which sit just below the waterline and drain the oil off the surface with gravity.

After the BP Deep Horizon oil spill, hundreds of skimmers were used to scoop up oil from the water's surface.

However, these proved much less effective than expected and only recovered about three per cent of the oil on the surface.

Cleanup crews might also use sorbents - absorbent materials which soak up liquids like giant household sponges.

These sorbents, usually made of natural materials like wool or clay, are dropped into the water to clean small amounts of oil in places skimmers can't reach.

Some types of sorbents can even be fished out of the water and squeezed out to recover the oil and allow them to be used again.

Cleanup crews also use skimmers (pictured) which pull oil off the surface of the water after it has been collected

Skimmers sit at the surface of the water and pull oil off so that it can be disposed of safely or recycled

In addition to these standard approaches, cleanup operations also have a few more drastic options available.

The first is to add chemical or biological dispersing agents to the oil slick, usually in the form of powders or liquids dropped from helicopters.

Ms Cariglia says: 'It's essentially like how dish detergent works to cut through grease, it makes the oil slick go into smaller particles.'

This helps the oil disperse naturally under the force of the wind and waves making it less likely to reach the shore where it could harm local wildlife.

However, Ms Cariglia says that these compounds are only suitable for very specific applications and types of oil.

Finally, the last and most controversial way of removing an oil spill is to set it on fire.

In-situ burning, as the technique is formally known, works by collecting the oil into a layer which is thick enough to burn using fire-resistant booms and then setting it alight.

This can only be done when the oil is two to three millimetres thick and when the waves are smaller than three feet.

Absorbent pads called sorbents are also used to catch oil in areas that skimmers can't reach. These soak up the oil like giant sponges so that it can be removed. Pictured: A worker retrieves an absorbent pad following an oil spill in San Francisco

In some cases, oil-dispersing chemicals will be dropped from planes or helicopters to help the oil naturally disperse. These act like washing detergents to break the oil down into smaller droplets. Pictured: A U.S. Air Force plane drops an oil-dispersing chemical onto an oil slick on the Gulf of Mexico in 2010

Although this can be extremely effective at removing oil from the surface, it comes with its own set of concerns.

Dr Vikas Nandwana, founder and CTO of Coral Innovations which produces oil cleaning products, told MailOnline: 'Controlled burning is sometimes used to rapidly remove large volumes of oil when other methods are ineffective.

'It is not the preferred method, as it releases CO2 and other toxic gases, contributing to air pollution. Because of these environmental concerns, in-situ burning is only viable under specific conditions where containment is possible.'

However, in some circumstances, none of these methods are needed.

If the oil spill is far enough away from populated areas or sensitive marine areas, the wind and waves will naturally disperse the oil as parts of it begins to evaporate.

This process is especially fast in cases such as the Humber Estuary spill where the fuel is a highly refined, volatile, form of oil like jet fuel.

The dramatic fires seen blazing at the crash site are likely the product of the jet fuel igniting which, although concerning, may mean less fuel actually enters the environment.

Dr Hark Hartl, of Heriot-Watt University, says: 'Whilst the images look worrying, from the perspective of the impact to the aquatic environment its less of a concern than if this had been crude oil because most of the jet fuel will evaporate very quickly.'

In extreme cases, the oil can be removed through in-situ burning. The oil is collected using fire-resistant booms and then ignited. Pictured: Crews conduct a controlled burn on an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico

This is helped by the fact that weather conditions today are relatively windy, which means that wave action should help more jet fuel evaporate before it reaches the shore.

Likewise, over time, microbes will start to feed on the oil, breaking it down and helping to remove the spill.

Professor Mark Sephton, of Imperial College London, says: 'The fact that it is jet fuel is significant. Jet fuel is dominated by relatively small hydrocarbons, compared to the more diverse and sometimes larger organic structures found in crude oil.

'Smaller hydrocarbons are very attractive to bacteria who will degrade them more quickly than larger molecules - called "biodegradation".'

The bigger concern is not the oil, but the 15 containers of highly toxic sodium cyanide carried on the MV Solong, according to Lloyds List Intelligence.

This has now raised concerns of a mounting ecological disaster as the toxic and water-soluble compound could have entered the wildlife-rich waters near the crash.

Dr Jonathan Paul, of Royal Holloway, University of London, says: 'The plume of sodium cyanide, which we now know is present, is likely to be localised to the spill and removed from the water within 12-15 days as it volatilises to cyanide gas in the atmosphere.

'There is a potential immediate risk to humans and wildlife from this toxic gas, which depends on the volume released.'

The oil spilt in today's collision (pictured) is likely to disperse quickly because it is volatile jet fuel. This means the environmental risk is lower than it would have been for a fuel like crude oil. However, the bigger concern is the toxic sodium cyanide which was being transported on the MV Solong

If the sodium cyanide continues to spread, it could cause widespread ecological damage to the wildlife living in the area.

Dr Tom Webb, a marine biologist from the University of Sheffield says: 'The wildlife of the Yorkshire coast and Humber Estuary is of immense biological, cultural and economic importance.

'Chemical pollution resulting from incidents of this kind can directly impact birds, and it can also have long-lasting effects on the marine food webs that support them. We have to hope that any spills can be quickly contained and pollution minimised.'

However, it is not yet clear how much, if any, of the sodium cyanide has entered the water.
READ MORE: Elon Musk reveals who is behind 'massive' cyberattack on X

An unusually powerful outage hit X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, disabling the service for thousands of people around the world.

The massive blackout, which sent people flocking to rival service Threads, stopped users from seeing and posting tweets on the app and website.

X owner Elon Musk said the outage was caused by a 'massive cyberattack' done by a 'large, coordinated group' or a country with 'a lot of resources'.

Musk then sensationally claimed that the attack originated in Ukraine, 'with IP addresses originating in the Ukraine area'.

However, Jake Moore, security advisor at ESET, says the cyberattack could have originated 'anywhere', telling MailOnline: 'It's just too difficult to pinpoint where it would originate from.'

He added: 'Without seeing the report of [X's] investigation it would be difficult to agree with this accusation either way.'

Megha Kumar, head of geopolitical risk at CyXcel, said 'we need a lot more information before we jump to this [Musk's] conclusion'.

'Musk is not only the owner of the platform but is a key member of the Trump administration  and we know from recent events that the Trump government has a fraught position on Ukraine,' Kumar told MailOnline.

The massive outage, which sent users flocking to rival service Threads, affected thousands of X users around the world

X owner and Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Monday that IP addresses based out of Ukraine were involved in the apparent sabotage

Musk, who purchased the social media platform in 2022, told Fox Business Network on Monday afternoon: 'We're not sure exactly what happened.

'But there was a massive cyber attack to try to bring down the X system with IP addresses originating in the Ukraine area.'

However, this is not a clear indicator of where exactly the cyberattacker is located, making it 'dangerous to point the finger' according to Moore.

An IP address can be 'tampered with' to make it seem that the origin is in a different country.

'IP addresses can also be directed via software to be seen to have originated anywhere in the world,' Mr Moore explained.

'Therefore, even if their analysis suggests Ukraine, it would be dangerous to point the finger so early on.'

The expert agreed that it was a cyberattack, adding that it was highly likely a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS).

This is where the attacker floods a server with internet traffic to prevent users from accessing connected online services and sites, like a traffic jam on the internet.

On X (once it was restored), Musk said the outage was caused by a 'massive cyberattack' done by a 'large, coordinated group' or a country with 'a lot of resources'. He then took to Fox News to say the attack originated in Ukraine, 'with IP addresses originating in the Ukraine area'

Allan Liska of the cybersecurity firm Recorded Future said it is 'doubtful' that every IP address that hit Twitter on Monday originated from Ukraine.

If this scenario is even true, 'they were most likely compromised machines controlled by a botnet run by a third party that could be located anywhere in the world', he said.

Meanwhile, Ciaran Martin, professor at Oxford University's Blavatnik School of Government, said Musk's explanation was 'unconvincing' and 'pretty much garbage'.

Professor Martin, who was previously in charge of the UK's national cyber security, said there was 'absolutely no evidence' the attack originated from the war-torn country.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We'll wait and see whether they are responsible.

'But there's absolutely no evidence that this has come out of Ukraine.'

Professor Martin questioned X's cybersecurity capabilities over the 'remarkable incident', adding: 'I am very surprised that X fell over as a result of a DDos attack.

'It's a very large-scale DDoS attack but it's not that sophisticated, it's a very old technique.

DownDetector, a site that monitors online outages, shows more than 9,000 reports from affected users shortly before 10am GMT on Monday

In the US, affected X users were across the nation, including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Pictured, a heat map from DownDetector measuring reports from affected users

In the UK, most of the issues were reported in major cities, including London, Birmingham and Manchester

'I can't think of a company of the size and standing, internationally, of X that's fallen over to a DDoS attack for a very long time.

'It doesn't reflect well on their cyber security.'

Nicholas Reese, cyber expert at New York University, said it's not possible to definitively verify Musk's claims without seeing data from X  and the likelihood of this happening is 'pretty low'.

Reece does not think the attack was by 'state actors'  people acting on behalf of a government with an official 'licence to hack'.

Reese said the likelihood that a state actor is behind the outage 'doesn't make a lot of sense' given its short duration, unless it's a warning for something larger to come.

'Its only really a statement if there is some kind of follow on action, which I would not rule out at this point,' he said.

In other recent developments, a pro-Palestinian, Russian-linked hacktivist group called Dark Storm has taken credit for the disruption.

First observed in 2023, Dark Storm is known for launching cyber-attacks against entities that they believe to be Israel supporters, Kumar said.

Elon Musk is now an acting as an adviser on federal spending to President Donald Trump (pictured together at the White House, February 11, 2025)

In October last year they claimed responsibility for another DDoS attack against JFK airport in New York.

'We have seen a major resurgence in the category of patriotic hackers since the war began, and these groups are financially motivated in some circumstances, but also ideologically driven,' Kumar told MailOnline.

'They can choose to fight for a particular cause, whether it be a Russia/Ukraine issue, so attacks are motivated by making a political point.

'These are frequent, and given the fraught political environment we're living in at the moment, and the tools used to score points, there is a need for robust cybersecurity.'

Now an acting as an adviser on federal spending to President Trump, Musk previously said Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is running a 'fraud machine feeding off the dead bodies of soldiers', suggesting limited appetite for continued American support for Ukraine.

'Musk is not only the owner of the platform but is a key member of the Trump administration  and we know from recent events that the Trump government has a fraught position on Ukraine,' Kumar added.

It comes amid fraught relations between Kyiv and Washington; last month, Trump called Ukrainian President Zelensky a 'dictator.'

A subsequent Oval Office meeting between the two disastrously descended into acrimony.

David Mound, cybersecurity expert at risk management platform SecurityScorecard, said Musk's assertion 'aligns with recent political narratives coming from the White House'.

'While it is possible that Ukraine was involved, attributing such an attack without verifiable proof is premature and unhelpful,' Mound told MailOnline.

'However, without concrete evidence, it is difficult to determine who was actually behind the attack.

'Given Musks history of controversial decisions and public disputes, the list of potential adversaries is extensive.

'Unless technical indicators or forensic evidence are shared, any claims about the origin of the attack should be taken with skepticism.'
The largest active volcano in Washington state has been rocked by a series of earthquakes, putting experts on high alert.

Mount Adams is a 12,000-foot-tall stratovolcano located in south-central Washington, about 55 miles southwest of the city of Yakima.

This volcano is considered a 'high threat' due to its ability to trigger landslides, debris avalanches and mudflow that can travel up to 50 miles per hour down the slope, which would put thousands of people at risk.

Although this volcano hasn't erupted for about 1,000 years, 'it will assuredly erupt again,' US Geological Survey (USGS) experts say.

But it's impossible to say exactly when it will blow, which is why scientists have established monitoring stations around Mount Adams to track its seismic activity.

Between September and October last year, these monitors detected nine earthquakes ranging from magnitude 0.9 to 2.0 around the volcano.

Mount Adams typically only experiences one earthquake every two to three years, according to the USGS.

While increased seismic activity can be a sign that a volcano is about to blow, experts have stressed that this series of tremors appears to be 'normal background activity' and does not mean an eruption from Mount Adams is imminent.

Mount Adams, the largest active volcano in Washington state, was rocked by a series of nine earthquakes between September and October last year

But the biggest threat to people living near this volcano isn't an explosive eruption.

It's actually avalanches, landslides and lahars, or muddy flows of rock, ash and ice that 'surge downstream like rapidly flowing concrete' and can occur during eruptive or non-eruptive periods, according to the USGS.

'The ice-capped summit conceals large volumes of hydrothermally weakened rock, and future landslides of this weakened rock could generate far-traveled lahars,' USGS officials wrote.

In light of the recent earthquakes, scientists have installed three additional monitoring stations around the volcano to keep a closer eye on it.

'We went up and worked with the forest service to put three additional temporary stations in,' Holly Weiss-Racine, the outreach coordinator for the Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO), told KGW8.

'They are solar powered, so they'll be able to tell us when there is an earthquake,' she added.

These additional stations will help scientists at CVO and the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN) investigate the size, location and depth of the quakes, according to the USGS.

'This will improve our ability to locate smaller earthquakes with more certainty and assist in understanding the cause of these earthquakes. The results of our findings will determine if any additional actions are needed,' USGS officials wrote in a statement.

The biggest threats to people living near this volcano are avalanches, landslides and lahars, or muddy flows of rock, ash and ice that 'surge downstream like rapidly flowing concrete' and can occur during eruptive or non-eruptive periods, according to the USGS

Since October, the seismic activity around Mount Adams has died down significantly. But researchers will still watch the volcano closely to see if it picks back up again.

In addition to helping scientists assess Mount Adams' likelihood of erupting, the new monitors will also help them answer longstanding questions about this volcano, Weiss-Racine said.

'We don't have a lot of background information on Mount Adams, we've been monitoring the mount for the last 42 years, but the volcano has been in existence for hundreds of thousands of years,' she said.

For example, these monitors should help researchers determine how active Mount Adams really is.

In some cases, earthquakes near volcanoes can trigger eruptions.

But this only occurs if the quake is large (greater than magnitude 6) and the volcano is already poised to erupt.

When those conditions are met, the quake could cause dissolved gases to come out of the magma similarly to a shaken soda bottle, which increases the pressure inside the volcano and may lead to an eruption.

But these nine quakes were far too small to trigger an eruption.

Mount Adams formed roughly 520,000 years ago. It's located roughly 70 miles northeast of Vancouver, Washington and Portland, Oregon.

Even through Mount Adams is considered a 'high threat' volcano, it hasn't erupted for thousands of years.

Scientists estimated that its most recent eruption occurred sometime between 3,800 and 7,600 years ago.

And throughout its history, Mount Adams has mainly produced effusive eruptions, which are different from explosive eruptions in that they do not send lava, gas and ash shooting into the sky, but rather form slow-moving lava flows that creep down the volcano's sides.
The crew set to relieve NASA's stranded astronauts were all smiles as they completed a dry-run for Wednesday's launch.

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have spent nine months in space, waiting for their replacements before they can head back to Earth.

Now, SpaceX Crew-10 is one step closer to making that happen.

Japan's Takuya Onishi, Russia's Kirill Peskov, and NASA's Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers are scheduled to launch at 7:48pm ET tomorrow from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

If the launch goes according to plan, the capsule should dock to the ISS at roughly 10am ET on Thursday, allowing Williams and Wilmore to depart March 16.

On Sunday, Crew-10 spent the day 'donning spacesuits and completing air leak checks,' according to a NASA statement.

Once they suited up, the astronauts climbed aboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule that will bring them to the International Space Station (ISS) for a test run. By the time Williams and Wilmore get home, they will have spent 284 days in space.

Their mission could stretch even longer if the Crew-10 mission is delayed. But if Sunday's dry-run is any indication, the launch should go off without a hitch.

Crew-10 mission pilot Nicole Ayers (left) and commander Anne McClain (right), both NASA astronauts, gave the thumbs-up during the launch dry-run Sunday

NASA and SpaceX successfully completed a dry dress rehearsal of launch-day activities Sunday, and snapped a photo of Crew-10 giving a thumbs-up from inside the Dragon capsule

'We are going to take a little bit of an adventure,' McClain, who is a U.S. Army colonel and OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter pilot, told Florida Today

'We're ready to high-five them, bring them home.'

After the crew members left the launch pad, SpaceX conducted tests of the Falcon 9 rocket that will be used to launch the Dragon spacecraft.

Once Crew-10 boards the ISS, they will live on the space station for six months, carrying on the work that the Starliner and Crew-9 astronauts were conducting before they arrived.

The capsule set to take Williams and Wilmore home is already docked at the ISS.

Also joining the stranded astronauts on the return mission will be NASA's Nick Hague and Russia's Aleksandr Gorbunov, who arrived at the ISS in September 2024.

McClain, the mission's commander, said Friday that she and her fellow Crew-10 mates have been in constant contact with all four on the orbiting laboratory.

Program Manager Steve Stich said Crew-10 backup launch opportunities are available at 7:25pm Thursday and 7:04pm Friday.

After Crew-10 reaches the ISS, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore will finally get to come home after being stuck on the ISS for more than nine months

On Sunday, SpaceX conducted a static fire test of the Falcon 9 rocket that will be used to launch the Crew-10 Dragon spacecraft

While the capsule has been docked on the ISS for months, the crew had to wait for Crew-10's arrival before they can return to Earth.

That's because NASA protocol calls for a 'handover period' when transitioning between ISS crews.

This is a few days of overlap between the incoming astronauts and the outgoing ones allows the departing crew to get the new astronauts up to speed on space station operations and ensures a smooth transition between ISS teams.

The handover period usually lasts five days, but this time, NASA shortened it to just two days to conserve food on the ISS and open up more undocking opportunities for the Crew-9 spacecraft in case the weather interferes with its March 16 return.

When the pair launched aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft on June 5, they were only supposed to spend eight days on the ISS.

But a series of technical issues with Starliner, including thruster failures and helium leaks, ultimately drove NASA to send the faulty spacecraft home without its crew in September.

The crew's delayed return recently entered the political spotlight after SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk and President Donald Trump claimed the astronauts were 'abandoned' in space by the Biden administration for 'political reasons.'

Musk has said that the former president rejected his offer to bring the Starliner crew home earlier because it would have 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.

During a recent appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast, the Joe Rogan Experience, Musk claimed the Biden administration rejected his offer to bring the Starliner astronauts home sooner to avoid making Trump 'look good.'

He explained that the former administration did not want to jeopardize Kamala Harris' presidential campaign and intentionally 'pushed the return date past the inauguration date.'
It's not quite a hotel on wheels, more a hostel on wheels.

But a 118 cabin for six (breakfast included) on the Nightjet sleeper train is, I discovered, very much a worthwhile option for crossing long distances in Europe in cost-effective comfort.

I boarded one after being asked to chair the mobility section of a pre-COP climate conference in Trento, northern Italy. I dug my heels in and said I would only attend if I spent the bulk of the journey overnight on a sleeper train.

The conference's budget didn't stretch to a solo cabin so my ticket was for travel with up to six others in a reserved couchette cabin.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me describe my journey from Newcastle via a Eurostar from London's St Pancras International.

I take the train to London regularly, although it's not usually not quite so blisteringly fast.

By skipping the stops in Durham, York, and Peterborough, the 7.04 LNER service takes just 2 hours 36 minutes to get to King's Cross from Newcastle.

It was then a saunter across the road to St Pancras to check in for the Eurostar to Brussels for a Nightjet to Munich, before taking another train to Trento.

Carlton Reid travelled in a six-person couchette cabin on the Nightjet sleeper service from Brussels to Munich (above)

Seats on the Brussels to Munich Nightjet service cost from 79.90 euros/67/$86, couchettes from 139.90 euros/118/$152 and sleeper cabins from 189.90 euros/160/$207

Bruxelles Suid/Brussels Midi is not the nicest of stations, but if you've got a little time to while away here, head to the Pullman Hotel connected to the station. Here, you can relax in five-star comfort in the hotel's first-floor bar.

The hotel loos are also luxe and free - spending a penny in the station costs a euro.

I had assumed my Nightjet sleeper train ended at my destination of Munich but, in fact, it trundles on to Vienna five hours further down the track.

So, it was the 7.06pm Wien train I was looking for, but the one to Wien/Vienna on the departures board was three minutes later than the service on my ticket. It was also a different train number and there was no mention of Munich/Munchen.

However, staff in the international booking office assured me the train arriving soon on platform 11 was the one I was booked on.

There weren't many people on platform 11. I'd been girding myself to fight my way into a six-person couchette, yet here there was just a smattering of people hanging around.

Above is Carlton's six-person Nightjet cabin, which he describes as a 'hostel on wheels'

Above is a publicity picture of a six-person Nightjet couchette cabin

Pictured left is the window in Carlton's couchette cabin, while the image on the right shows the bottom bunk

The arrival of staff with Nightjet logos emblazoned on their backs reassured me I didn't have to make a mad dash to find another platform.

The train arrived early, and still, there was hardly anybody on the platform ready to board. This doesn't bode well for the revival of sleeper services across Europe, I thought, although it also meant I'd likely have a six-person couchette to myself.

The guard put me right on that when I got on and settled down for what I thought was going to be a quieter journey than I'd steeled myself for - my carriage would fill during the night, he said, with occupants joining at Bonn and Koblenz in a few hours.

Tired, I made up a top bunk with sheets, a blanket, and a pillow and hunkered down. I'd come prepared: I had black-out eye shades and Loop Dream ear plugs, the Belgian company's most sound-deadening, with 27 decibels of noise reduction.

Above is a sign showing the stops on Carlton's Nightjet service, which terminated in Vienna

Carlton's complimentary couchette breakfast - a sachet of milk and a tea bag, a small stick of butter, two crusty rolls and a mini pot of jam

TRAVEL FACTS Carlton travelled with LNER, Eurostar and Austria's national railway company, OBB. He travelled on OBB's Nightjet service from Brussels to Munich. Seats on this service cost from 79.90 euros/67/$86, couchettes from 139.90 euros/118/$152 and sleeper cabins from 189.90 euros/160/$207. Solo cabins feature a toilet and shower. Those in shared cabins have to use a loo at end of the carriage. Dining car refreshments are available. Visit www.nightjet.com/en/#/home. Advertisement

Lulled by rocking, I fell asleep. I could say I was rudely awakened by fellow passengers at midnight, but their custom is helping to keep this service afloat, so I was glad of their company.

The joining couple were Dutch. Sweetly, they dropped their voices to a whisper and I soon fell back asleep.

At 5:15am, we were all awakened by the guard telling me and another passenger that the train was approaching Munich.

I don't know where that passenger got on, so the earplugs must have worked because I didn't hear him arrive.

I dressed and clambered down the bunk -bed ladder as quietly as I could, but the only way to shut the door behind me was to slam it.

I hope the Dutch couple had earplugs.

In the train passageway, the guard handed departing passengers plates of food and a boiling hot paper cup of water.

On the plate there was a sachet of milk and a tea bag. There was also a small stick of butter, two crusty rolls and a mini pot of jam - breakfast.

'Save the climate while you sleep,' an information card in the couchette said.

It continued: 'In terms of CO2 emissions, the railways are 31 times more environmentally friendly than travelling by plane.'

Travelling a long distance in Europe? Check to see if there's a sleeper service.

Pack earplugs.
The Au Pair viewers all had the same two complaints just minutes into the brand new show, with some insisting that they 'won't be watching the whole thing'.

The first instalment of the Channel 5 drama aired at 9pm on Monday with fans excited to see if it would turn out to be a new series for them to get hooked on.

Initial signs were promising with a star-studded cast, including Hercule Poirot himself David Suchet, and the premise of a peaceful country household shaken up by a new arrival.

The opening episode saw high-flying Chris (Kenny Doughty) and his seamstress wife Zoe Dalton (Sally Bretton) living happily with two stepchildren, Amber and Noah, in a breathtaking home in the Cotswolds.

That is, until French au pair Sandrine (Ludmilla Makowski) entered the fray and became fixated on the family.

But those watching were put off by aspects of the series' production, with many taking to social media to slam its choice of location.

The Au Pair viewers all had the same two complaints minutes into the brand new show, with some claiming they 'won't be watching the whole thing' (pictured: David Suchet in the drama)

The first instalment of the Channel 5 drama aired at 9pm on Monday with fans excited to see if it would turn out to be a new series for them to get hooked on

Initial signs were promising with a star-studded cast and the premise of a peaceful country household shaken up by a new arrival (pictured: Ludmilla Makowski as Sandrine)

One disappointed viewer said on X: 'Settled down to watch the new series "The Au Pair" tonight. It's set in the Cotswolds. I thought the village looked decidedly uncotswoldy. No cotswold stone cottages was a dead giveaway. On closer inspection It's filmed in Ireland. B****y ridiculous.'

Another agreed: 'Looks like Westport in Ireland.'

And a third added: 'Is this going to be another Channel 5 show I watch and then wish I hadn't? I see they've done the usual thing of filming it abroad and trying to pass it off as England, despite it being obvious it isn't and just making things feel jarring.'

Meanwhile, a host of Channel 5 fans lashed out at the show's 'predictable' plot, with many not even sticking around to see if their theories about what happens materialise.

One frustrated X user posted: 'Just tuned in. It feels like this is gonna be the usual debacle... Couple employ an Au Pair.. The couple are having problems. The Au Pair is a psycho, sticks her oar in and causes havoc. Prove me wrong!'

Another added: 'The Au Pair Channel 5. I worked out the plot in minutes. Sandrine was fostered by Dalton & had a 'special' 'secret' relationship with him as a child. Zoe was horrible to Sandrine when she was little so Sandrine gets revenge as the Au Pair by murdering George & Zoe. So predictable.'

A third said: 'It's quite ridiculous. Pathetic, almost like a project given to kids in year 5 drama class. I love the way after doing her dirty deeds the au pair is always right there by the door as a conversation happens, or by the window grinning at her success. It c**p.'

Another infuriated viewer added: 'Why would the husband even be listening to the Au Pair considering shes only been there 5 minutes?'

But those watching were put off by aspects of the series' production, with many taking to social media to slam its choice of location

And one user posted: 'I could have written this myself. I know exactly what they're going to say and do... So far, hope it proves me wrong, or I won't be watching the whole thing.'

In good news for Channel 5, iconic series Faking It is reportedly set to make a brilliant comeback soon, putting a new generation of fakers to the test.

Originally aired on Channel 4 from 2000 to 2006, the series was highly acclaimed during its original run, even winning two prestigious BAFTA awards for its innovative approach to reality television.

The show sees ordinary members of the public paired with seasoned professionals to learn a new skill or craft over the course of a month.

Though no other details about the reboot are available at this time, fans of the original will surely be eagerly awaiting the return of one of their favourite shows.
Halyna Hutchins's co-workers on doomed Alec Baldwin movie Rust admitted in a brand new documentary that they 'did not feel safe' while shooting the film.

Hollywood star Alec, 66, fatally shot the cinematographer on the set of the western in October 2021, but the criminal case against him in Santa Fe, New Mexico, was thrown out of court last July.

The Oscar-nominated actor broke down in tears and hugged his wife as his involuntary manslaughter case was sensationally dismissed after a judge said there had been errors by the prosecution in the handling of evidence, which she said 'impacted the fundamental fairness of the case'.

Now a heart-wrenching documentary has shed light on Halyna's final moments before her death aged 42, piecing together footage from the set and interviews with crew members, including the movie's director Joel Souza and actress Frances Fisher.

Last Take: Rust And The Story Of Halyna, which airs on Hulu on Tuesday, sees a string of Halyna's colleagues reveal they 'did not feel safe' while filming the movie and also alleging that seven members of the camera team walked off set on the day she died.

Titanic star Frances told the documentary - directed by Halyna's friend Rachel Mason - how she had been struck by seeing armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed walking across the set with several guns in her arms.

Halyna Hutchins's co-workers on doomed Alec Baldwin movie set Rust admitted they 'did not feel safe' while shooting the film

A heart-wrenching documentary has shed light on Halyna's final moments before her death aged 42, piecing together footage from the set and interviews with crew members

Hollywood star Alec fatally shot the cinematographer on the set of the Western in October 2021 but the criminal case against him in was thrown out of court last July

Gutierrez-Reed was given an 18-month jail sentence in April 2024 after being convicted of a single charge of involuntary manslaughter and is currently serving her sentence at the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Facility.

Frances said: 'My first day coming out of hair and makeup in my full costume, and Alec is at base camp and he's in his costume, this girl comes over and interrupts our conversation.

'She's got an armful of guns, just barrelled her way in, and I thought, it's very unsafe to be walking around base camp with a whole bunch of guns in your hand. Like, have they been cleared? Why are you doing this?

'And Alec, he seemed a little, "What's she doing?" Then I found out she was the armorer. I thought, wow.'

Describing the armourer, who is the daughter of famous armourer and stuntman Thell Reed, and the way she went about her job, Frances added: 'Sloppiness. It's just pure sloppiness. Unprofessional.

'The sloppiness that Hannah displayed that first day of mine. I wish I had said something to her and I wish I had said something to Alec.

'But I didn't want to make waves. And would my alerting somebody, would that have changed anything? That's what gnaws at me.'

Frances was not the only one to feel unsafe on set.

Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna, which airs on Hulu on Tuesday, saw a string of Halyna's colleagues reveal they 'did not feel safe' while filming the movie

First camera assistant Lane Luper expressed regretting at not making his concerns clear to his colleague Halyna

Titanic star Frances Fisher was one of a number of crew members to feel unsafe on the set of the western which was being filmed in New Mexico in 2021

Lane Luper, first camera assistant on Rust, allegedly led six of his colleagues in quitting their involvement in shooting the movie on the day Halyna died.

The cameraman told the documentary that problems including 'lax COVID policies, gun safety and lack of rehearsals' had influenced the dramatic decision.

He said: 'It felt like they really didn't care about the crew being safe. We wanted them to solve these problems. It very quickly felt like somebody was going to get hurt if something didnt change.

'Seeing how firearms were handled on set began to really bother me.'

Lane also expressed regretting at not making these concerns clear to his colleague Halyna.

'I was worried about her safety but I didn't get a chance,' he admitted. 'I didn't tell her... I should have.'

Special effects coordinator Thomas Gandy went into more detail about Lane and co's alleged walkout, explaining that it left Halyna and director Joel alone in shooting an important scene.

He said: 'They chose to walk out on the day we were having the biggest shootout of the whole show.

The documentary also looked back on how the movie set was investigated by the New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau (OHS Bureau) before Halyna died

The Oscar-nominated actor broke down in tears and hugged his wife as his involuntary manslaughter case was sensationally dismissed last summer

'99 percent of the time, you got a tent that's got a number of video monitors. They are showing the camera's view. The director and the DP, typically, they stand in video village where they look at the exact shot that's going to be on film.

'They're 20 to 30 feet away. So, that day, there was a walkout. We didn't have video village that day. And so, because of that, it put Halyna and Joel in front of the camera.'

Asked by the documentary's director Rachel if 'the only thing between [Halyna] and the gun was her own hands', Thomas simply said: 'Yes, yes.'

First assistant director Dave Halls was the only one of the three charged following the incident to take part in the show, after Alec declined the opportunity, and he took the opportunity to express his regret at what happened.

He also explained that he was aware of Gutierrez-Reed's lack of experience but that her father's reputation had mitigated against this.

Dave told Last Take: 'I knew that she had little experience. But concern over lack of experience was tempered by knowing that her father was Thell Reed.'

The documentary also looked back on how the movie set was investigated by the New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau (OHS Bureau) in October 2021, the month that Halyna died.

Asked by the body if she had enough time and resources to perform her duties on Rust, Gutierrez-Reed said: 'Absolutely not.'

Matthew Hutchins, who was married to victim Halyna for 16 years (pictured, with their son Andros), said in a statement after the shock ruling that he looks forward to 'holding Mr Baldwin accountable for his actions'

The documentary comes after lawyer Gloria Allred said that Alec's new TLC show The Baldwins (pictured) provides a sad juxtaposition

Last Take also explained that Gabrielle Pickle, a line producer for the movie, told the armourer she should spend less time on guns and more on supporting props.

Gutierrez-Reed responded to the email: 'When Im forced to do both [jobs], thats when mistakes get made like [a] shotgun being unattended,' referencing an incident where a firearm was left unattended.

The documentary comes after lawyer Gloria Allred said that Alec's new TLC show The Baldwins - showing him and wife Hilaria, 41, raising their seven young children - provides a sad juxtaposition in the wake of the fatal shooting on the set of Rust.

'The Baldwin reality show at once celebrates Mr. Baldwins joy of being with his children while ignoring the fact that Alec Baldwin took a child away from her parents,' she said. 'That is the painful and actual reality with which Halynas parents and sister live each and every day.'
Beloved BBC Breakfast presenter Nina Warhurst has quit the show for a new hosting gig - and fans will be gutted to know her final appearance is just days away.

The 44-year-old joined the team as a freelancer in 2016, but later became business reporter in 2020, after taking over from Steph McGovern.

Nina also steps in for the main presenters Jon Kay, 55, Sally Nugent, 53, Charlie Stayt, 62, and Naga Munchetty, 50, when they are not available to work.

But today the journalist announced that she's bagged herself a new job - as a regular presenter of News At One.

Sharing her new colleague News At One's editor Richard Frediani's post about joining his team, Nina wrote: 'Hanging up the high-viz & hairnet as I join the BBCs News At One.

'Our London team built a gem of a programme & its a privilege to be on the Salford team taking it forward.

Beloved BBC Breakfast presenter Nina Warhurst has quit the show for a new hosting gig - and fans will be gutted to know her final appearance is just days away

The 44-year-old joined the team as a freelancer in 2016, but later became business reporter in 2020, after taking over from Steph McGovern

'(The teenaged me who lived half a mile from here & dreamed of journalism would NOT believe it).'

Richard's tweet read: 'Delighted to welcome Nina Warhurst as a regular presenter of the News at One from April.

'Congratulations - a brilliant addition to the team in Salford.'

Nina's fans rushed to X to share their love and support over the big move.

One said: 'Congratulations but will miss you on the Breakfast show.'

Another added: 'Such a clever, beautiful, happy young woman.....Keep it up girl.'

'Well done Nina hard work pays off,' a third chimed in.

A fourth added: 'The best news,' with four clapping emojis.

Steph pictured with Charlie Stayt on BBC Breakfast

Nina also took to her Instagram to share some words about her time on the programme.

She wrote: 'Ill be hanging up the high-viz and hairnet for a wee while as I join the BBCs News at One.

'The second photo was almost exactly seven (!) years ago.

'I was heavily pregnant, very nervous, and unbelievably excited to be offered a few shifts on the national broadcast treasure that is @bbcbreakfast @stephlunch took time to show me the ropes and help me feel at home.

'The job was made permanent as we came out of a lockdown and began looking around and wondering how we might pick up the pieces to heal and live again

'Its been a privilege to help support our audiences through this tumultuous time. I am always amazed by those who invite us in to share their stories

'When I was a teenager hoping to work in journalism, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine thered be all these opportunities half a mile from my Salford home

'Our London colleagues built a gem of a lunchtime programme and I cant wait to work with our amazing team as we take it forward.

'Ps - Ill still be popping up on the red sofa - if only to continue torturing Roger with my stories of air frying and washing lines 

Nina joined the Beeb in 2010 to present East Midlands Today as part of BBC East Midlands.

The same year she started joining BBC North West Tonight and Sunday Politics North West for BBC North West.

Then in 2014 she landed the role of political editor at BBC North West.

Then four years later she joined the BBC Breakfast team.
Channel 4 has confirmed the relaunch of Escape To The Chateau after it was dramatically axed due to behind-the-scenes bust-ups.

The reality TV series - which followed married couple Dick Strawbridge and wife Angel as they renovated their 19th-century Chateau de la Motte-Husson - landed on the channel in 2016 and went on to have nine successful series until 2022.

Unfortunately Escape To The Chateau was dramatically axed shortly after bullying accusations were made in 2021.

Fans were gutted when the show came to an end three years ago, but now they will be happy to know that there is going to be new a spin-off series.

On Monday Channel 4 revealed that they are joining forces with Spark Media North to work on a daytime show called Chateau DIY: Win The Dream.

The programme will give one of 12 pairs the chance to win their own chateau in France.

Channel 4 has confirmed the relaunch of Escape to the Chateau after it was dramatically axed due to behind-the-scenes bust ups

On Monday Channel 4 revealed that they are joining forces with Spark Media North to work on a daytime show called Chateau DIY: Win the Dream

Channel 4 said that it: 'Will see aspiring chatelains compete in challenges to prove they have what it takes to win a life-changing prize: an authentic castle in France with multiple bedrooms, living quarters and outbuildings which could be worth up to 250,000  lower than the average price of a home in the UK.

'The challengers will compete in a series of heats testing their skills in design, renovation, and business acumen: essential traits theyll need for running their own property.

'Each challenge will be guided and judged by the familiar faces of Chateau DIYs main series, who will share their vast and varied expertise of renovating and running these magnificent properties with the competitors.

'After three weeks of heats, a selection of successful candidates will be put through to the finals week where one lucky pair could win the prize of their dreams.'

Channel 4s Jayne Stanger said: 'Chateau DIY has been one of Channel 4s most popular daytime series and were very excited to bring this grand competition to life with Spark Media North. It will offer the perfect blend of glorious escapism and real-life twists and turns that our viewers love to follow.'

Spark Media North's Joff Hatfield-Powell added: 'We are delighted by the continued success of Chateau DIY over the last seven years and to have Channel 4s support in producing this ambitious extension, which promises more of the very same thrill and wonder en route to a life-changing prize for one skilful pair of chatelains.

'As proven suppliers to Channel 4, we take pride in delivering daytime shows with primetime values.

'This new series is our most ambitious yet  a high-stakes competitive reality show that will captivate audiences and offer one of the biggest prizes in daytime TV history.'

Chateau DIY: Win The Dream follows on from Chateau DIY, which is associated with Escape to the Chateau.

Chateau DIY, which hit our screens in 2018, follows the lives of families who are renovating their properties in France.

There have been eight seasons, with the last on our screens in December 2024.

Back in October it was revealed that Chateau DIY and its festive spin-off Chateau DIY has been commissioned for another two years.

And fans will be happy to know that instead of 30 hour-long episodes, there will now be 45 instalments for the next two years.

Chateau DIY underwent a rebrand in 2021, after it was originally created as a spin-off of associated series Escape to the Chateau.

Hosts Dick and Angel Strawbridgewere dropped by Channel 4 three years ago, after being engulfed in a bullying scandal.

But it was revealed in May 2023 that Channel 4 had cut ties with them following an independent investigation into their conduct.

The TV channel confirmed they would no longer work with the pair on any new productions 'following a review' after they were branded 'spiky and volatile'.

A leaked recording revealed Angel branding a producer a 'F***ed up little c**t'.

In June, she spoke out for the first time defending herself over the foul-mouthed rant as she explained she fell into a pre-laid trap.

The poplar daytime series follows families' journeys in purchasing and restoring various chateaux across France (Chateau DIY At Christmas pictured)

While the main show historically had 30 hour-long episodes per season, the broadcaster has increased the order to 45 episodes each series over the next two years (Tim and Krys on show)

The TV star admitted that while she wishes the incident hadn't happened, she will not apologise for what she did.

Speaking on Elizabeth Day's podcast How To Fail, Angel confessed in that moment she saw red: 'I was the one in the wrong for losing my temper, but do you know what, I will not apologise - he was so disrespectful in our house, he was so upsetting to me, my family, and I stand by what I did.

'If I was to apologise and say "I'm sorry for using bad language and chucking you out," it would just be disingenuous to me.'

She added: 'Would I like to erase that? Yeah, I'd love to. But I would also like to erase what he was doing, because my rage just didn't pop out of nowhere.

'It grew over time and it was provoked and therefore I'm not ashamed of what happened in the end, I just wish it hadn't happened.'

Speaking about the backlash that followed her rant, Angel previously said: 'The actual incident, it actually happened a long time ago - so it happened about six years ago.

'We had so many amazing people filming Escape To The Chateau, but in this particular quite small timeframe, we had someone that wasn't particularly very nice.

'His behaviour was completely unacceptable, but it didn't just happen in one little moment, it happened over lots of different occasions.

Chateau DIY underwent a rebrand in 2021, after it was originally created as a spin-off of associated series Escape to the Chateau (Dick Strawbridge and Donna McDougal on show)

However, the hosts of the show Dick and Angel Strawbridge were dropped by Channel 4 three years ago, after being engulfed in a bullying scandal (pictured)

The couple found fame renovating their home over nine series of Escape to the Chateau, alongside their two children

'It was a high point towards the end of filming a series. We set a lot of stories in parallel activity. We were particularly busy, and I think that's why we just didn't have the head space to address his behaviour.

Recalling his behaviour she explained: 'He was not very nice, he was doing these weird pictures of Dick killing animals and posting them on his Instagram. He was so horrible with the children.

'There was this one incident, and I actually, truly believe that because he knew he was caught, I think in my heart, that is why he set up this filming.

'Because the way that he was acting was how he'd never acted with me before. You don't accidentally film someone when you're not filming. Completely happened secretively and on purpose.

'He broke all of the kids' fishing rods and the next day I was upstairs and he came up in a really very out of character way for him and was really in my face, in a really angry, like he'd lost it kind of way.

'I've not listened back, it makes me feel a little bit sick if I do. But obviously all of my friends have, and they're like "I can hear you" - he actually took out what he said - "I can here you gradually getting more angry, more angry, more angry".

'And then I just say like "get out of my f***ing house". I can't even remember what I said. I think I said a really bad word beginning with c, I think that's how p***ed off I must have been.'

Angel said the fallout after the incident felt really 'disproportionate', adding: 'There was so much noise going on on one side.

But it was revealed in May 2023 that Channel 4 had cut ties with them following an independent investigation into their conduct (pictured last October)

The TV channel confirmed they would no longer work with the pair on any new productions 'following a review' after they were branded 'spiky and volatile'

'And on the other side there was this sort of like outpouring of love and understanding, and people saying "you know what, it's okay to be human".

'But when you have children you have to be able to zone this out, because the kids pick up on everything.

'But for me the children put everything into perspective. And also this went global. I couldn't believe the momentum that everything took.

'I just had to focus on the family, the business. And looking back I probably did feel a little bit ashamed that the kids would listen to it, or someone at the children's school would listen to it.

'But I also think that anyone with a little bit of understanding or common sense, could possibly understand what happened.

'I just regret that I didn't do it sooner and probably in a calmer way. If I'd just taken a breath two weeks beforehand and thought to myself "we need to get him out and get a new person in", then I think it would have played out differently.

'We don't teach our children to use bad language, but when you're pushed that far and are seeing red, it's kind of hard.

'I don't want to say I regret using it. I stand proud for just defending myself at that moment against his behaviour. I probably wish that I hadn't said the c-word. I don't even like that word.'

A leaked recording revealed Angel branding a producer a 'F***ed up little c**t'. In June, she spoke out for the first time defending herself over the foul-mouthed rant as she explained she fell into a pre-laid trap

Speaking on Elizabeth Day's podcast How To Fail, Angel admitted that while she wishes the incident hadn't happened she will not apologise for what she did

Asked if she might have been treated differently if she was a man, she said: 'There's a lot of people that make a great living out of that. There probably is a bit of truth in that.

Last October, Dick and Angel dodged questions about the hit Channel 4 show's bullying scandal during an appearance on Lorraine.

As Lorraine host Christine Lampard made reference to the scandal, Angel explained: 'You know the saying "Never complain and never explain", I think that was just the best way.

'None of it made sense because we had made that family decision a long time ago that it was the right time for Escape to come to its natural end.'

Dick insisted that it was their decision to leave the show and it was decided almost two years ago.

He said: 'As a family, we made a decision that last year was going to be the finale. We told everyone two years ago, so this, it wasn't news for us.'

Steering clear of directly addressing the bullying claims, he said: 'We made the decision just not to get involved in any of the conversations.' .

In May last year, sources claimed Two Rivers Media, the company that produces Escape to the Chateau, raised concerns about the presenting duo, according to Deadline.

In May last year, sources claimed Two Rivers Media, the company that produces Escape to the Chateau, raised concerns about the presenting duo, according to Deadline

The exact nature of the allegations is not known, but the publication reported that three of their former colleagues alleged the couple have clashed with producers.

A source said at the time: 'There has been a deteriorating relationship between Two Rivers and Dick and Angel's Chateau TV for various reasons and it all came to a head.'

'People who try to remote manage them from the UK, that doesn't work, or people who come into their house and boss them around, that doesn't work either,' the source added.

'Producers turn them into this perfect, brilliant, funny couple, they're that on camera, but that's about it.'

A Channel 4 spokeswoman told MailOnline: 'Following a review, we have taken the decision not to work with Dick and Angel on any new productions in the future.'

A spokesperson for Two Rivers added: 'We can confirm that we will no longer work with Dick and Angel and cannot comment further at the moment.'

Sources close to the couple told MailOnline that their behaviour on set was nothing like their 'gorgeous' on screen personas.

A source said: 'Dick and Angel come across on screen as the most gorgeous and lovely couple, literally like butter wouldn't melt, but they're not like that off screen.

'It's a full-on show, production is with them at the chateau for weeks so they can't hide their real characters - they can't turn it on for two hours of recording and then not go back to their real persona.

'They're just spiky and volatile people and, as you can imagine, that's a nightmare to work with.'
Emmerdale has withdrawn its entry for the BAFTAs Best Soap award after one of the scriptwriters was found guilty of domestic abuse.

The beloved ITV soap was hoping to win the title at the ceremony in May, as well as the Continuing Drama award.

However, bosses at the channel have now withdrawn the nomination after writer Martin Fustes pleaded guilty to assaulting his girlfriend.

According to The Sun, ITV felt it was inappropriate to be included after the recent developments, as the soap has recently featured and won acclaim for a storyline about domestic abuse.

A spokesperson for ITV and Emmerdale told MailOnline: 'ITV and Emmerdale have taken the decision to withdraw from the Soap category from this years awards.

'This is in consideration of recent news involving a member of the scriptwriting team.'

The Sun reported that BAFTA members have already been told that anyone who has voted for Emmerdale will have to recast their votes following the withdrawal.

Emmerdale has withdrawn its entry for the BAFTAs Best Soap award after one of the scriptwriters was found guilty of domestic abuse

However, bosses at the channel have now withdrawn the nomination after writer Martin Fustes pleaded guilty to assaulting his girlfriend (pictured outside Hull Crown Court)

The top writer for Emmerdale told his partner he wanted to kill her and chop up her face, a court heard.

Martin Fustes, 47, assaulted the terrified woman and the made vile threats on January 27 after a late-night argument at their home in Beverley, East Yorkshire, where they lived with their children.

She feared she was going to die after abusive boyfriend Fustes turned nasty and began suffocating her by putting his hands over her nose and mouth and told her he wished she could be set alight and hanged from a tree.

Fustes admitted assaulting the woman, causing actual bodily harm, and an offence of intentional suffocation when he appeared before Hull Magistrates' Court on January 31.

At his sentencing at Hull Crown Court on February 28, he was given a two-year suspended prison sentence, 150 hours unpaid work, 15 days rehabilitation and a 26-session probation service domestic abuse programme. He was also ordered to pay 2,000 compensation, 150 in costs and was given a ten-year restraining order.

Fustes has been an Emmerdale writer for at least 10 years, according to a fan page of the ITV soap, and is understood to have even penned domestic violence storylines -a key focus in the soap over the last 12 months.

An ITV spokesperson said Mr Fustes had been told he will no longer be writing for Emmerdale and that bosses are 'shocked and appalled' by his crimes.

Samantha Laws, prosecuting at Hull Crown Court, said Fustes and his partner had been together for around 13 years at the time and were living together with their children.

An argument had broken out and, when the couple went to bed at 10.30pm, he raised the matter again.

A spokesperson for ITV and Emmerdale told MailOnline: 'ITV and Emmerdale have taken the decision to withdraw from the Soap category from this years awards

Fustes had been abusive and disparaging and had prodded her in the face and upper body with his fingers, keys and a vape before spitting in her face.

He put both hands around her neck two or three times and blocked her from leaving the bedroom.

Fustes wrapped a dressing gown hood around her neck and pulled her back to the bed.

Miss Laws told the court: 'He was repeatedly shoving and pushing her back to the bed.

'She attempted to escape. He placed his hands over her mouth and nose and stopped her ability to breathe. She could see stars.'

Later on, Fustes grabbed her mobile phone from her, pulled off her watch and told her that he wanted to kill her and to chop up her face.

He told her that he wished she was hanging from a tree after being set alight.

'She was able to escape through the front door of the house,' said Miss Laws.

She continued: 'She began to run to the local police station but he quickly caught up with her and pleaded with her to return. She did return home.'

Samantha Laws, prosecuting at Hull Crown Court (pictured), said Fustes and his partner had been together for around 13 years at the time and were living together with their children

There was further abuse and arguing until Fustes allowed her to go to sleep at about 3am.

The woman claimed in court that the incident was the culmination of more than a decade of abuse.

She was 'distraught and sickened' by the verbal abuse and said of the suffocation: 'I thought I was going to die. I had no other option but to escape and run down the street.

'I struggle to feel safe in my home. I can't help but relive the incident, often as nightmares. The disruption he has caused in our lives has been significant. I started to feel relieved to be free of often daily abuse.'

Connor Stuart, mitigating, said it was deeply unpleasant offending but Fustes had no previous convictions and he had shown some degree of insight.

'It's a serious but isolated incident,' said Mr Stuart. 'He understands that it is over. This relationship is concluded. He has shown genuine remorse. This is the last time that he will trouble these courts.'

A statement from an ITV spokesperson said: 'We were shocked and appalled to learn about the recent court case involving Emmerdale writer Martin Fustes. Mr Fustes is a freelance writer and he has been informed that he will no longer be writing for Emmerdale.

'Everyone at ITV and Emmerdale abhors domestic abuse, which is why we have been highlighting the issue in a major storyline over the last 12 months. The Emmerdale production team were not aware of these charges against Mr Fustes until we were alerted over the weekend.'
Wendy Williams's oldest friend has blasted her 'controlling' guardianship as the former TV host was rushed to a New York hospital to undergo cognitive evaluation.

Regina Schell, 59, has been close to Williams since she was 13 years old. In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail she spoke out against the restrictive conditions her life-long friend has been placed under. After her long-running talk show was axed in 2022 the TV personality was placed in an assisted living facility due to health issues.

Things took a dramatic turn on Monday when Williams, 60, who has repeatedly denied being 'cognitively impaired' and claims she is being held against her will, was seen being taken to the hospital. It came after the star dropped a note down to paparazzi from her fifth-story room with a desperate plea for help.

Schell told the Daily Mail she fears Williams has been taken advantage of since she was placed under the guardianship of Sabrina Morrissey, a New York attorney.

Schell says she knew Williams, who she has been unable to speak to for nearly two years, had a $55 million fortune in 2022. Yet the star recently told radio host Charlamagne tha God in an interview that she is down to her last $15.

Backing her claim, Schell submitted an affidavit to a New Jersey court saying she was told by Williams' former publicist that they overheard a conversation in which the former nationally syndicated TV host was told her wealth had dried up.

Things took a dramatic turn on Monday when Wendy was seen being taken to the hospital after dropping a note down to paparazzi from her fifth-story room with a desperate plea for help

In dramatic scenes the embattled talk show host, 60, was led out to an ambulance after she had been seen begging fans for help

Regina Schell (left), 59, told the Daily Mail she believes her friend Williams has been taken advantage of since her talk show was cancelled in 2022

'She would never fritter away her millions,' Schell told the Daily Mail.

In October, Williams's ex-husband Kevin Hunter demanded that their divorce be 'set aside' as he claimed she had 'fraudulently concealed $48 million' in their settlement.

Schell told the Mail: 'I saw her bank statement in 2022 that said she had $55million. I provided an affidavit to that effect for her husband in court, because, as much as he comes off as a horrible person, he sees what is going on with the legacy of Wendy, and how they're trying to portray her.'

When Schell called Morrissey, the legal guardian, to try and clarify Williams's financial situation, she claims she was cut off entirely from her long-time friend.

'Morrissey takes her instructions from the court and is guided by what the doctors say', insists the guardian's own lawyer. 'Within those limits her role is to protect Ms Williams's physical and emotional health, as well as her assets.'

Early last year it was revealed that Williams had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia in 2023.

Because of her diagnosis she was declared 'permanently incapacitated' by the court in August 2024.

Williams was taken away from her assisted living facility in New York by ambulance at about 11.15am on Monday

The emergency services were summoned after the former talk show queen dropped a handwritten note from her window begging for help (pictured)

Sabrina Morrissey was appointed two years ago to supervise the wellbeing of the TV legend, who was seen attending a private dinner in New York in February 2023

Williams later sparked fears among fans after disturbing pictures emerged of her banging on the window of the New York assisted living facility where she has been placed.

She was then moved to a 'memory unit' in her New York assisted living facility after she allegedly got drunk at a boozy brunch last month.

In a rare interview with Charlamagne on his The Breakfast Club radio show on January 16, Williams insisted: 'I am not cognitively impaired, but I feel like I am in prison.'

Williams claimed her cats are 'gone' and she could not leave the facility where she was being 'held'.

'My life is f***ed up,' Williams, 60, added. 'I feel like I'm in prison. I'm definitely isolated. I keep the door closed, I watch TV, listen to the radio and look out the window. I sit here as my life goes by.'

An attorney for the guardian Sabrina Morrissey states to the Daily Mail that, 'Ms Williams resides in an assisted living facility with a full complement of activities, classes, spa treatments, a workout room, 24/7 medical oversight, excellent food, a dining room, and outside terraces. Ms Williams can leave the facility and has done so - to shop, for meals, and for medical appointments - although she usually requires a personal aide and private security to do so.'

Wendy and Schell at their Ocean Township High School reunion in 2003. Schell had numerous photos of Wendy including a photo of her holding her son Kevin Jr taken around 2004

In the summer of 2022, when Schell lived with Williams in New York, they visited Asbury Park, New Jersey, where Wendy and her family lived before moving to Ocean Township

Wendy featured Schell and their annual girls trip to Palm Beach on The Wendy Williams Show, telling viewers what they got up to on their vacation

But according to Williams: 'I'm in this place where the people are in their 90s and their 80s and their 70s. There's something wrong with these people here on this floor.'

She said she has spent her last three birthdays alone.

'This is what is called emotional abuse. They won't allow you to leave or have visitors. So you can't even take a walk if you want to, or take a trip or visit family members. I don't know if I'm going to be able to see my dad on his 94th birthday,' she said through sobs.

Williams, the focus of a February TMZ documentary 'Saving Wendy', also recently gave a telephone interview to TMZ journalist Harvey Levin who claimed she is not allowed visitors and may not receive phone calls.

But the lawyer for Morrissey says that Williams has not been kept from her family and can call or see them whenever she wants - and she reunited with them late last year.

'The guardian has never denied Ms Williams access to her family members,' the lawyer stated.

Her finances are in such disarray that her family has started a 'Support Wendy Williams' Fight for Independence' GoFundMe page to pay for lawyers.

The page, run by her niece Alex Finnie, has raised $47,070  94 percent of the $50,000 target.

Wendy's struggles were put on full display to the entire nation in the Lifetime documentary that listed her son Kevin Jr as executive producer. It was announced in 2023 that the TV personality had been diagnosed with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia

Schell believes for much of the guardianship the family - including Wendy's ex-husband Kevin Hunter and their son Kevin Jr (pictured) - have been left in the dark about her condition

Despite their divorce and Hunter's bid to overturn their settlement, Schell believes Hunter genuinely cares for his ex-wife's welfare

'For far too long Wendy has faced the challenges of being unjustly placed under guardianship and labeled as incapacitated, despite her strong will and determination to live her life independently,' Finnie wrote on the page.

The court has been in charge of the TV legend's finances for the past two years.

Williams was reunited with her family in Florida for the first time in over a year last December. She was spotted sitting in a car outside Sista Sara's Sho'Nuff Oysters restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, alongside her nephew Travis Finnie.

The group was caught on camera picking up a food order of fried oysters as a seemingly coherent Williams thanked staff and even greeted a fan, despite Morrissey's claims of her cognitive deterioration.

Williams also attended her son Kevin Jr's college graduation from Florida International University on December 19.

Speaking from her home in Los Angeles, Schell, who was a fashion model for 20 years, said: 'It looks to me more likely that Wendy has been allowed down to Florida to see family, where many of them are based.

'She was surrounded by security, it feels a bit contrived. I'm just not convinced by this video that she's OK. If she was free to do as she pleases, she'd call me. Really, it's so smelly. I want my friend to be OK.'

Schell believes that, for much of the guardianship, Williams's family, including her ex-husband Kevin Hunter and their son Kevin Jr, have been left in the dark about her condition.

Schell explained: 'There's this narrative they are portraying that she was out of control. There's no proof of this.'

Last month the star got emotional while 'locked in a room' as she conducted a live phone interview with Harvey Levin (pictured in 2019)

Schell and Williams have been friends since they were 13. Their mothers were friends and Wendy would often come over to their home after school while her mother was teaching (pictured together in 2018)

Schell believes that Hunter genuinely cares for his ex-wife's welfare, stating that 'we all want the same thing' when it comes to loosening her guardian's hold, even though she feels his intentions are likely out of financial self-interest.

Hunter is demanding that their January 2020 divorce deal is overturned after his marital settlement payments were stopped by Morrissey after her appointment as the star's temporary financial guardian in May 2022.

Hunter claims that he was told at the time of their split in April 2019 that Wendy had just $7million. Now he wants the divorce judgement to be 'vacated and set aside' claiming that $48million had been kept concealed.

Wendy's struggles were put on full display to the entire nation in a Lifetime documentary that listed Kevin Jr as executive producer.

Schell agreed with Morrissey, who said Wendy would not have agreed to the filming if she was coherent.

Morrissey is suing Lifetime's parent company A+E Networks claiming it took advantage of Williams in its fly-on-the-wall documentary, Where is Wendy Williams?.

The lawyer said Lifetime made millions from the documentary while Wendy was paid 'a paltry $82,000'.

A+E Networks and Lifetime are countersuing Morrissey, claiming she filed her lawsuit only to protect her own interests.

Wendy's guardian Sabrina Morrissey filed a lawsuit against A&E Television Networks for its portrayal of Wendy in the Lifetime documentary Where is Wendy Williams? She stated in the opening statements that she is 'permanently disabled' and 'legally incapacitated'

Morrissey claimed the network humiliated Wendy and exploited her alleged impairment

But Schell did not trust the way Williams was portrayed in the Lifetime documentary.

'On the documentary, they showed [stacks] of money. [Williams] would never show money,' she said. 'She would never have bottles of alcohol on her table. They had me leave by the time they started filming that stuff. To see it was shocking. She would never do that. I lived there for a couple of months, she did not have alcohol lying around on her countertops.'

'She did not have her money lying about. She didn't have her train box of jewelry and riches open for everyone to see. Never, ever.

'She was always very much in tune with herself. She would never allow herself to be on camera without her wig on. All these things are just very suspicious to me as someone who's known her as long as I have  very out of character.

'If you cared about her and you wanted to portray her in a positive way, that's not the way to do it. Why would Wendy go along with that?'

Schell and Williams have been friends since high school in Ocean Township, New Jersey.

And it's because she knows Wendy so well that Schell says she feels unconvinced by what she has been told.

In 2018, Williams admitted to having the immune system disorder Graves' Disease and in June 2022 she also confessed to losing 95 percent of the feeling in her swollen toes due to the blood disorder lymphedema. In May 2023 she was diagnosed with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.

'The deterioration in this is so quick  that's what gets me,' said Schell.

'Dementia is a progressively deteriorating disease, I get that, but it's not supposed to happen that quickly,' Schell said.

'I've never seen her in the state they're declaring her to be. The whole thing is very suspicious to me. Her dementia has never directly been said to me or anyone that I know of.

'There's this background team, who we've never seen, telling us she has dementia,' Schell continued.

'What's frightening is that I don't know where she is, and the fact that she's in that woman's clutches is alarming to say the least because you just don't know if someone's getting three regular meals a day, it's pretty unpleasant.'

The guardian's lawyer says that Wendy is getting 'excellent food' and has access to a dining room.

Even though it's been about two years since the friends have spoken, Schell still believes Wendy has attempted to contact her using an unknown number that consistently cuts out after a few rings.

'I keep getting these phone calls. Usually, when she's been in rehab previously they would take her phone, but she would always find a way to get her phone back, and she would always call me first thing.

'So now I'm getting these calls from a private number, it rings, or a half ring, then it cuts off, and that's been for the last six months. I really believe it's her, but she can't get through.

'If she's in such a state, why don't you just let her live out her years in comfort? If someone is that irredeemable, they don't sit in an institution  there's plenty of places she could go.'

Schell is determined to help her friend. 'I won't stop until I free Wendy,' she said.
The Bachelor star Grant Ellis has opened up about his father's past drug addiction, but has yet to reveal his jail stint and slew of legal troubles.

After first sharing with the world on Jenn Tran's season of The Bachelorette that his father struggled with addiction for 30 years, Grant continued sharing his story of growing up with a dad who had an alcohol and drug addiction on his season of The Bachelor.

He confessed to Jenn that his father is newly sober after checking into rehab before the 31-year-old went on the show to find love.

DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal that Grant's father, Robert Ellis, has had multiple run-ins with the law that span from the reality star's early childhood until his teenage years.

Robert's addiction affected his relationship with his son and Grant's mom Renee, whom he divorced while the New Jersey native was in college.

Mr. Ellis' criminal past includes convictions of possession of controlled substance (CDS), resisting arrest during two different instances with cops, impersonation in the fourth degree, loitering, defiant trespassing as well as numerous traffic citations, such as driving with a license that was suspended.

The Bachelor star Grant Ellis has opened up about his father's past drug addiction, but has yet to reveal his jail stint and slew of legal troubles

Mr. Ellis' criminal past includes charges of resisting arrest, impersonation, defiant trespassing among other offenses and various traffic citations

The former car dealership owner spent at least seven days in jail in New Jersey, according to court records obtained by DailyMail.com.

The first time was in November 1999 after his arrest for aggravated assault in the third degree, eluding in the third degree and resisting arrest in the fourth degree.

The aggravated assault charge was eventually dropped and in April 2001, he was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to comply with drug and alcohol dependency rules for his charges of eluding and resisting arrest.

While his jail sentence at the time was suspended for six months due to his warrant status, according to the judgment of conviction obtained by DailyMail.com, he ended up spending four more days in jail for his conviction in April 2004.

His third time in custody was in February 2005 when he was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia in the third degree.

While details from the police report are not available to the public due to it being a criminal investigatory record - involving either charges of possession of CDS cocaine, distribution of CDS cocaine or distribution of CDS within 1,000 feet of a school and 500 feet from a park - DailyMail.com was able to obtain a copy of his disposition.

He initially plead not guilty, but then changed his plea to guilty in August 2005.

Although he didn't end up spending more time in jail for possession of CDS, in August 2006, a judge sentenced him to three years of probation, ordered him to have regular urine testing, 50 hours of community service, informed him he must 'maintain full-time steady verifiable employment,' and he had to pay a $1,000 penalty fee.

Robert Ellis spent multiple days in jail in April 2004 for eluding and resisting arrest (pictured is his mugshot from 2004 from the Passaic County Sheriff's Office)

Grant told Jenn Tran that his father used to take him to the park when he was 'intoxicated' but he said that he 'didn't know' at the time what his father was going through

Robert posted on his Instagram in September 2024, 'A day in recovery'

He was also ordered to 'continue attending Narcotics Anonymous meetings and whatever treatment and counseling for substance abuse on an out-patient basis as directed by Probation.'

While Robert has avoided legal issues over the years, he was recently sued by a debt collection agency for having an outstanding bill of $948.12.

A complaint filed by LVNV Funding LLC on March 4 in a New Jersey court against Robert indicated that The Bachelor's father failed to make payments to the original creditor Credit One Bank.

His credit account closed in March 2023 due to him not making payments, according to the complaint.

He now owes $1,005.12 due to additional filing and service fees, per the complaint.

His response is due to the court next month and if he does not respond, the court will automatically issue a ruling.

DailyMail.com has contacted Robert Ellis for comment on this story.

When Grant was on The Bachelorette, he opened up to Jenn about his dad's decades-long struggle with addiction.

Grant said in an August 2024 episode of The Viall Files, 'Im super proud of him for the progress hes made, where hes come from, and what hes doing now'

Grant continues to discuss his childhood and growing up with his father, who was in and out of jail, in new episodes of The Bachelor

'Addiction is a hard thing because, you know, growing up, my pops was everything. Like, he was my superhero,' he shared.

'He used to take me to the park, and he always used to be inebriated or, like, intoxicated under the substance. The worst thing is  I didnt know.'

He continued, 'When youre a child, you believe everything, and the one person I trusted most was always lying. So that was something.

'In my eyes, Im like, "Youre a man. Why cant you do what you have to do?"'

The TV personality went on to say that his father checked into rehab after losing his job and since then, he and his father reconnected and had a heart to heart.

'He was like, "Listen, son. This is the first time that you know the real me when Im not intoxicated." So Im, like, really leaning into that.

'So now, hes a little under two months sober, so, you know, I hope he holds strong. And its his first time living, too.'

In an August 2024 episode of The Viall Files, Grant shared another update.

Grant Ellis started his journey on The Bachelor with 25 eligible women. He now has three remaining contestants following the March 3 episode

'Im super proud of him for the progress hes made, where hes come from, and what hes doing now. I just want him to know that he did a good job,' he said.

'I love my father to death, man, and he did the best that he could. Its his first time living too, and he has this trauma, and he just took a certain route.

'And I dont want him to ever think that Im, like, bashing him or putting him out there, but you know, this is, its my life story.'

Grant continues to talk about his dad's journey and how much of an impact he made in his life.

In a February episode of Off The Vine Podcast, he talked more about his dad growing up and said that his journey to find love also involves his father.

'So my dad was an exotic car dealer growing up and he ended up opening a studio. He used to sell cars to like Biggie Smalls and Eddie Murphy,' he spilled.

'Our family got pictures with them. That's how my mom and dad met - they met at Eddie Murphy's birthday party in New York. So they met there and my dad had a car dealership and one of his clients was RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan.

'We used to go to the studio when I was a kid and I used to be in there listening.'

Litia Garr, 31, is a venture capitalist from Salt Lake City, Utah

Zoe McGrady, 27, is a tech engineer and model from New York City

Juliana Pasquarosa, 28, is a client service associate from Newton, Massachusetts

After the March 3 episode of The Bachelor season 29, there are three women left: Juliana Pasquarosa, 28, Litia Garr, 31, and Zoe McGrady, 27.

When asked if he could tease the ending, he told host Kaitlyn Bristowe, 'What I can say is that there's multiple love stories and I'm not talking about with, like, different women. I'm talking about between me and my father.

'The emotional connections were so strong that it was difficult at the end.

'But ultimately you have to follow your heart and you have to make sure you're leading with that.'

The Bachelor continues with the Women Tell All airing on March 10 at 8pm ET followed by the overnight Fantasy Suite dates on March 17.
The story of a TV chef adopted aged two has become the subject of a brand-new Netflix documentary after a woman claiming to be his long-lost mother came back into his life, with jaw dropping consequences.

MasterChef: The Professionals judge Graham Hornigold, 50, from St Albans, had always dreamed of one day being able to piece together his past after being taken from his birth mother when he was two years old.

But his world was turned upside down in 2020 when he received an email out of the blue from an elderly woman called Dionne who alleged her dying wish was to reconnect with her son.

Less than a week later, Graham finds himself in the penthouse of a Liverpool hotel sipping on champagne with the mother he had always longed to meet, discovering she was an affluent businesswoman worth multi-millions, spoke 18 languages and was living a life of luxury.

In a Netflix world exclusive, Graham's story, which is being told for the first time on the global streamer, details how he went from the highs of being a head chef at A-list restaurant Hakkasan to suffering a betrayal so calculated he lost his entire life savings and the chance to finally connect with blood family.

The story of a TV chef adopted at birth has become the subject of a brand-new Netflix documentary after a woman claiming to be his long-lost mother came back into his life

MasterChef: The Professionals judge Graham Hornigold, from St Albans, had always dreamed of one day being able to piece together his past after growing up without a mother figure

His world was turned upside down when he received an email out of the blue from an elderly woman called Dionne (pictured) who alleged her dying wish was to reconnect with her son

MailOnline has the first look trailer of Con Mum, which is available to watch on March 25, where Graham details his heartbreaking encounter with Dionne, the woman who convinced him that she was his birth mother.

Speaking in the preview clip, Graham, co-founder of Longboys Doughnuts, says: 'There's no greater act of love than to cook for someone... As I child I never had that mother child bond.'

His ex-partner Heather, who's from New Zealand, explains: 'Graham didn't know who his real mum was and then one day out of the blue we received an email... She had been given months to live, and this was her driving factor in trying to find Graham.

'I wish we had never received that email. It was the start of something we never thought in a million years was going to happen.'

Graham adds: 'She has this wealth which she wants us to inherit. She has businesses all over the world, we are talking like hundreds of millions.'

The trailer begins with voice notes from Dionne, who tells Graham: 'I never stopped loving you, I just want to be with you so much.'

She is also heard saying: 'If I die soon... You'll be a multimillionaire.'

The complexity of Graham's story begins to unfold as he explains feeling confused by several other people calling Dionne their mother.

Dionne told Graham she had never stopped loving him and she wanted to leave him her multi-million pound fortune as she was on the verge of passing away

Graham's story details how he went from the highs of being a head chef at A-list restaurant Hakkasan to suffering an almighty betrayal which cost him millions

Graham's ex-partner Heather explains: 'Graham didn't know who his real mum was and then one day out of the blue we received an email... She had been given months to live...'

Chef Graham, pictured with former partner Heather, and Dionne, the woman who claimed to be his biological mother after she reached out to him over email

Graham, whose culinary career spans over 28 years, gained experience on the job working at some of the capital's best restaurants including the Park Lane Hotel, Mandarin Oriental, and Hyde Park, London.

He began wiping floors and stacking bread at Ushers Bakery, where he grew up in St Albans.

Impressed by his work ethic and abilities in the kitchen, the owners eventually bought him his first set of knives and chef whites and sent him to a catering college in Watford.

He has spoken in the past about how cooking gave him a focus after suffering a 'challenging childhood.'

Speaking in 2016 about his adopted family, Graham said: 'I have always been happy cooking and remember preparing supper for my brothers and sisters when we were growing up.

'A challenging childhood made life a little difficult at times, but having a loving mother helped to mould my decision to move with my chosen profession so at the age of eighteen years old I left home and started at The Lygon Arms, Broadway as a Commis.'

Speaking in the preview clip, Graham, co-founder of Longboys Doughnuts, says: 'There's no greater act of love than to cook for someone... As I child I never had that mother child bond'

The complexity of Graham's story begins to unfold as he explains feeling confused by several other people calling Dionne their mother

Dionne lived a life of luxury, staying in expensive hotel suites and purchasing designer clothing but the true intentions of motive with son Graham were soon exposed by his concerned family

Referencing his close working relationship with chef Lisa Crowe who took him under her wing, he recalls needing motherly advice during the early stages of his career.

He said of Lisa: 'She whipped the rebellion out of me took me under her wing, beat me up a few times, had a few 'chats'  a bit like your mum.

'She taught me about life, work ethic, organisation and that the most important thing you can do is understand taste  everything else stems from that.'

Later in his career, Graham was recruited by the Hakkasan Group, a high-end chain of Chinese restaurants, working for the brand between 2011 and 2017.

In his role as executive pastry chef, Graham oversaw the pastry sections of Hakkasan's portfolio around the world, producing a reported 12,000 macarons and 1,200 intricate cakes every week.

His craft and expertise led to Graham becoming a judge on TV's MasterChef: The Professionals, most recently in 2023 and 2024, and on the Junior Bake Off in 2015.

Following the success of documentaries Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare, Con Mum is available to stream on Netflix on March 25, just days before the UK celebrates Mother's Day

Following the success of documentaries Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare and The Tinder Swindler, Con Mum is available to stream on Netflix on March 25, just days before the UK celebrates Mother's Day.

The 90-minute feature film, directed by BAFTA-nominated Nick Green, is billed by Netflix as a story about 'A chef's life is upended when a jet-setting, champagne-sipping, hotel-hopping woman claims to be his mother.'

Con Mum is just one documentary being produced by the streamer set for release this year.

Grenfell, an emotional retelling of the June 2017 Tower Block fires which claimed the lives of 72 residents and destroyed hundreds of families in London's North Kensington, will be available to watch in 2025.

Critical, an upcoming series which follows emergency doctors and paramedics as they work to save lives in London, is another documentary in the works.
Vincent Cassel and his wife Narah Baptista were seen frolicking on the beach in Brazil on Monday, their first sighting since welcoming their first child together.

The French actor, 58, became a father for the fourth time after he and Narah, 28, revealed in January that they were now parents to a son named Caetano.

Following their baby news, Vincent was in high spirits as he enjoyed a dip in the ocean with his bikini-clad spouse and his daughter Deva, 20.

Just eight weeks after giving birth to her son, Narah showed off her post-baby figure in a plunging green crochet bikini and black bottoms.

The Brazilian model took to Instagram earlier this year to reveal she'd given birth to a baby boy, alongside a collection of candid snaps, including the sweet moment she cradled her son for the first time.

She wrote: 'Thank you son, thank you for choosing mommy, this love doesn't fit inside me, I'm overflowing, I cry and cry and cry. But it's pure LOVE!

Vincent Cassel, 58, and his wife Narah Baptista, 28, were seen frolicking on the beach in Brazil on Monday, their first sighting since welcoming their first child together

In January, the couple revealed they'd welcomed a son together named Caetano, just over a year after their romance was first revealed

'Exactly one week ago you were born, and I was reborn.'

In September, Vincent shared that he and Narah were expecting their first child together, just over a year about 'splitting from his ex wife Tina Kunakey'.

The French actor was first spotted with model Narah, 27, in November 2023 after he and Tina were believed to have separated in April.

Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Narah displayed her growing baby bump in stunning snaps as she announced her pregnancy.

She looked glowing as she donned a sleek black dress with a satin triangle bra bust, which she paired with striking brown wooden drop earrings.

'Mother is waiting for you ...,' Narah captioned the post. 'Ps: photos taken by the voinha.'

Vincent is already a father to three daughters - Deva, 20, and Leonie, 13, who he shares with Italian actress and model Monica Bellucci, as well as Amazonie, five, who he welcomed with Tina in 2019.

The announcement comes after the pair put on a loved-up display at the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympics in July.

Just eight weeks after giving birth to her son, Narah showed off her post-baby figure in a plunging green crochet bikini and black bottoms

Following their baby news, Vincent was in high spirits as he enjoyed a dip in the ocean with his bikini-clad spouse

The Brazilian model took to Instagram earlier this year to reveal she'd given birth to a baby boy

Posing in front of the French capital's most famous landmark, the couple looked closer than ever at the launch of the major sporting event.

Vincent appeared to confirm his relationship with model Narah as they packed on the PDA during a trip to the beach in Rio de Janeiro last November.

They also looked loved-up while enjoying a dinner al-fresco to celebrate her birthday in Rome the following month.

The pair looked smitten and couldn't stop smiling while chatting and enjoying the meal.

Vincent - best known for his roles in Ocean's Twelve and Black Swan - recently gushed about his happiness after splitting from his wife of five-years Tina Kunakey, 27.

Taking to Instagram, Vincent has shared numerous snaps and videos from his trip abroad including a selfie, which he captioned: 'Just wanted to be happy... I am'.

While Narah replied: 'Amor' which is Italian for love.

Vincent and wife Tina, who welcomed a daughter, Amazonie, in April 2019, were believed to have separated after he deleted all traces of her from his social media.

A source told DailyMail.com at the time that the couple are headed for divorce. They said: 'They separated weeks ago. Tina is heartbroken.'

Vincent tied the knot with Tina in 2018, two years after they were first linked, and they welcomed a daughter, Amazonie, in April 2019.

Since their separation, Tina has shared several images from photoshoots.

Meanwhile Vincent has been touted for two new movies, The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan, and Liaison, an Apple TV+ film he features in alongside Eva Green.

And while he failed to post anything about Tina's birthday, the actor did share a tribute to his daughter Deva.

Vincent and Monica, 59, wed in 1999 after meeting on the set of their 1996 movie, The Apartment. They divorced in 2013 after 14 years of marriage.

Vincent appeared to confirm his relationship with model Narah as they packed on the PDA during a trip to the beach in Rio de Janeiro last November (Pictured in January)

Vincent - best known for his roles in Ocean's Twelve and Black Swan - recently gushed about his happiness after splitting from his wife of five-years Tina Kunakey, 27 (Narah and Vincent pictured in May)

Vincent - who is best known for his roles in Ocean's Twelve and Black Swan - tied the knot with Tina Kunakey in 2018, two years after they were first linked, and they welcomed a daughter, Amazonie, in April 2019

Vincent is already a father to three daughters - Deva, 19, (Pictured in June) and Leonie, 13, who he shares with Italian actress and model Monica Bellucci, as well as Amazonie, five, who he welcomed with Tina in 2019

Vincent and Monica, 59, wed in 1999 after meeting on the set of their 1996 movie, The Apartment. They divorced in 2013 after 14 years of marriage (Pictured in 2002)

Their daughter Deva is a rising star in her own right in both the fashion and acting world.

In November 2023, Deva opened up to Gen V by V Magazine about her relationship with her parents and how they have encouraged her career in the industry.

She told the magazine: 'They taught me to always look forward, to always protect myself, to always be kind, and always keep wonder in mind.

'There's much more, but the point is that they've taught me how to handle unexpected situations and live by my own rules, while always respecting people and the environment I'm in.

'I remember browsing through my mom's huge fashion books that she kept in the house for as long as I can remember.

'Everything was so looked after and beautiful. I knew I wanted to work in that industry at some point in my life, but I definitely didn't expect to love it this much and make a living out of it.'
Peter Overton has broken his silence about his shock melanoma diagnosis, after first being diagnosed with the skin cancer disease in 2020.

The veteran news reporter, 58, revealed that after undergoing several operations to remove cancerous moles, he wished he had been more sun safe as a child.

'I have had five melanoma operations. The most delicate was removed from my forehead. The remainder have been on my back and legs,' Overton told this week's New Idea magazine.

'That's in addition to countless moles being cut out. [As a child] It was almost a badge of honour to roast yourself red and peel off the skin in sheets.'

He added his biggest regret was not being more sun safe in his youth because his body was now paying for his mistakes.

'The memories are crystal clear, the damage real. I wish I had listened to my dad, a doctor, and my mum, a nurse, to apply sunscreen. My knowledge was limited to sunburn. I don't even think melanoma was a part of the conversation,' he said.

Peter Overton (pictured) has broken his silence about his shock melanoma diagnosis, after first being diagnosed with the skin cancer in 2020

Overton is now the ambassador for the Melanoma Institute Australia and works at educating young Australians about the importance of sun safety.

'Recently I saw a young, pale-skinned man roasting himself red. I was in shorts, and without hesitation showed him the train-track melanoma scar on my leg,' he said.

'I said that the scar was a result of lying in the sun, without sunscreen. I didn't hesitate to tell him and show him. I hope he listened. We need to stop the glamourisation of tanning.'

Melanoma forms when the pigment-producing cells that give colour to people's skin becomes cancerous.

While it is less common than basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), it is more dangerous because of its ability to spread to other organs more rapidly if it is not treated at an early stage.

In addition to the melanoma, Overton suffered another health scare last year and his wife Jessica Rowe recently shared a moving update on it.

The television star's newsreader partner was recently forced off air to undergo surgery on his vocal chords after doctors discovered a polyp.

Rowe, 54, told Stellar Magazine that the recovery process was difficult.

The veteran news reporter, 58, revealed that after undergoing several operations to remove cancerous moles, he wished he had been more sun safe as a child

In addition to the melanoma, Overton suffered another health scare last year and his wife Jessica Rowe (pictured with Overton) recently shared a moving update on it

'Petey, like me, loves to talk. He's got a wonderful voice therapist helping him to make sure he's using his voice properly and not putting too much stress on it,' she said.

'When you lose something that is so at the essence of who you are and what you do oh my goodness,' Jess continued.

'But he's back at work, and able to talk again. He doesn't just have to clap his hands at me loudly'.

Overton previously said he was terrified by the ordeal because the surgery left him unable to talk for a week.

News of Overton's shock health scare was broken by his wife Jessica.

Rowe shared a photo to Instagram of Peter hugging their pet dog and captioned it with some alarming words.

'Peter doesn't do Insta and he wanted me to share some news. He's off work for a little longer at the moment,' she wrote.

'After an Ear Nose and Throat surgeon discovered a polyp on one of his vocal cords, which explains his very raspy voice over the holidays.'

She added Peter had already been in surgery and had to minimise his speaking as part of the recovery process, meaning he wouldn't be able to return to work for some time.

'He was operated on. Part of his recovery is no talking for now (a HUGE challenge for him!!). Hopefully he'll be back to Nine News soonish,' she explained.

Overton described the polyp as 'like a big blister hanging off' his vocal cords.
Kath & Kim star Peter Rowsthorn has lost his beloved mother at age 96.

The veteran comedian, 62, made the heartbreaking announcement on social media on Saturday alongside a precious family photo.

He captioned it with some heartbreaking words: 'RIP my beautiful mum. 08/03/2025.'

Many of Peter's celebrity friends took to the comment section to offer kinds words of support.

'Very sorry to hear this. Sending our best to you and the rest of the family,' wrote Rove McManus.

'Thoughts with you mate,' added Dave Hughes before Peter Helliar wrote: 'Love ya mate.'

Kath & Kim star Peter Rowsthorn has lost his beloved mother at age 96 (both pictured). The veteran comedian, 62, made the heartbreaking announcement on social media on Saturday alongside a precious family photo

Rowsthorn is the son of late multimillionaire businessman Peter Rowsthorn Sr, the former CEO of transport company Toll Group.

The Melbourne-born performer is the father of Triple J presenter Frankie Rowsthorn.

The actor played Brett Craig, the henpecked husband of Gina Riley's Kim in the beloved Kath & Kim sitcom, throughout its run from 2002 to 2007.

He starred alongside Jane Turner, Gina Riley, Magda Szubanski and Glenn Robbins.

In 2018, he was quick to rule out any involvement in a potential Kath and Kim reboot.

'It would be horrible,' Peter told TV Week.

'It would never be as good as the first one.'

Running for four seasons, Kath & Kim was a groundbreaking sitcom that followed Kath Day-Knight (Jane Turner) and her overindulged daughter Kim (Gina Riley) and their misadventures in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Fountain Lakes.

Rowsthorn (second from left) played Brett Craig, the henpecked husband of Gina Riley's Kim in the beloved Kath & Kim sitcom throughout its run from 2002 to 2007

Running for four seasons, Kath & Kim was a groundbreaking sitcom that followed Kath Day-Knight (Jane Turner) and her overindulged daughter Kim (Gina Riley, pictured with Rowsthorn) and their misadventures in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Fountain Lakes

Such was the show's popularity that it enjoyed a big screen adaptation in 2012 and an unsuccessful American adaptation in 2008.

Kath and Kim remains popular with viewers thanks to its availability on the streaming service Netflix.

Many Australian and international celebrities guest starred on the show.

The high-profile cameos include Shane Warne, Kylie Minogue and Michael Buble.

The series was so popular it spawned a TV movie in 2005 called Da Kath and Kim Code and a grand finale theatrically released film in 2012 called Kath and Kimderella.
Packed to the Rafters star Erik Thomson and wife Caitlin McDougall have reportedly split after almost 25 years of marriage.

The couple, who first met in a pub in 1997, no longer follow each other on Instagram and have not posted photos of each other for more than two years.

Neither have made an official statement on their apparent separation.

According to the Herald Sun, Thomson, 57, is believed to have moved to Tasmania last year after previously living with McDougall in Port Willunga, 40 kilometres south of Adelaide.

McDougall is understood to have stayed in Port Willunga where she works as an artist out of her own coastal studio.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Thomson and McDougall for further comment.

Packed to the Rafters star Erik Thomson and wife Caitlin McDougall have reportedly split after almost 25 years of marriage

The pair met in a pub while watching Adelaide's AFL Grand Final win in 1997 and married two years later in the wine district of McLaren Vale.

They tied the knot at Penny's Hill - a winery founded by McDougall's stepfather Tony Parkinson - and have two children: daughter Eilish, 15, and son Magnus, 12.

In 2005 and 2006, the couple co-starred on The Alice, a Nine miniseries set in Alice Springs.

Thomson and McDougall later based themselves in Sydney while Thomson worked as Dave Rafter popular Seven series Packed to the Rafters from 2008 to 2013.

Thomson frequently spent time with McDougall's family between acting gigs before moving there permanently in 2013.

'We have family here, it's beautiful, it's affordable, it's a really good base,' Thomson told The Advertiser in 2016.

The Scotland-born actor is best known for his role on Packed to the Rafters, but also starred in popular shows like 800 Words and Aftertaste.

He also featured in the medical drama All Saints which ran for an impressive 12 years before its final episode aired on October 27, 2009.

The couple, who first met in a pub in 1997, no longer follow each other on Instagram and haven't posted photos of each other for more than two years. Pictured together in 2005

Neither have made an official statement on their apparent separation

Thomson played medical registrar Mitch Stevens on the series alongside Georgie Parker, who portrayed his on-screen love interest nurse Terri Sullivan.

In an interview with TV Week in 2021, both stars opened up about their characters and their iconic Australian love story.

'l loved Mitch and Terri's relationship,' Parker, 60, told the publication.

'We had enormous fun playing them, because we trusted each other physically and we got along so well.'

One of the show's most memorable scenes saw Mitch diagnosed with a brain tumour shortly after he tied the knot with Terry in an intimate ceremony.

More than a decade after shooting the scene where Mitch died, Thomson admitted: 'I get emotional thinking about it, because it was so powerful.'
Jennie Garth issued an apology to one of her former Beverly Hills, 90210 castmates who had abruptly been let go from the beloved series.

The actress, 52 - who recently broke her silence after late friend Shannen Doherty was omitted from Oscars in memoriam - had a candid discussion with the Dalton James, 53, on Sunday's episode of the 90210MG podcast.

James briefly played the role of Mark Reese - the love interest of Garth's character Kelly Taylor amid the seventh season. However, after only 12 episodes, Dalton was notably let go from the series, despite having a contract for a full season.

The topic was brought up when Garth - who was also joined by their other co-star Tori Spelling - addressed 'the elephant in the room.

'Let's just have a really open conversation, because there are things out there that talk about why your character didn't continue forward on the show,' Jennie added.

Dalton had been cast on the teen drama by Tori's late father Aaron Spelling and said, 'That was a little scary though. There was a little bit of an intimidation factor going into that show. You were an iconic show, for one, and you were like a family already.'

Jennie Garth, 52, issued an apology to one of her former Beverly Hills, 90210 castmates who had abruptly been let go from the beloved series; seen in 2023 in Inglewood

The topic was brought up when Garth - who was also joined by their other co-star Tori Spelling - addressed 'the elephant in the room'

Garth told James that both she and Spelling had heard his departure was due to the 'chemistry factor' between herself and the actor.

'We've heard a couple different takes on how that went down, one of them was the chemistry factor between our characters,' she expressed.

'I'm just curious for you, what that was like. Did you think you were gonna be on for more episodes and it ended sooner than you thought?'

James then recalled, 'Yeah, I did. And I remember when [a producer] brought me in to have a meeting with him and told me they were letting me go. I was pretty bummed about it, to be honest.

'But, hey, life is hard for all of us. We were all young, for one. I don't have any ill feelings at all, it was a great job, it was a great opportunity...but I was bummed...I know you and I, I thought we worked together well.'

At the time of filming the episodes and his exit, Dalton also shared that he had just become a father and was also battling depression. He then pointed out that both he and Jennie 'did some great work' while on the series together.

'I'm really glad to hear you say that, because I've been seeing the character and then remembering and then hearing from different people how that all happened,' she replied.

Garth then shared that she had a conversation with producers about the chemistry between their two characters.

James briefly played the role of Mark Reese - the love interest of Garth's character Kelly Taylor amid the seventh season; seen above on the show in 1996

Garth told James that both she and Spelling had heard his departure was due to the 'chemistry factor' between herself and the actor; Jennie seen above in the teen drama in 2000

'When you're young like that, you don't really look at things objectively from different perspectives.

Jennie recalled telling producers on the show, '"I don't feel like the chemistry between these characters is working out."'

She told Dalton, 'I didn't really look at how that impacted you or your future, and I just I'm glad to hear you say that you don't harbor feelings about it, because I would hate that.'

Upon hearing the news of his abrupt departure from the series, James recalled talking to one of the producers.

'And I was like, "What did I do wrong?" 'That's the thing I asked him, and he said, "We just decided to go a different way."'

The What I Like About You actress told James, 'I'm glad we were able to talk about that.

'I wanted to talk to you but I was also nervous about it and just wondering where you had landed with all of that after all these years, and if talking about it brought back stuff.'

Garth then told her former co-star, 'But I'm sorry for my part in whatever happened, if that had a negative effect on you in any way.'

She told Dalton, 'I didn't really look at how that impacted you or your future, and I just I'm glad to hear you say that you don't harbor feelings about it, because I would hate that'; James seen in 1999 in Pasadena

James also apologized and said, 'That's awesome, Thank you, and I'm sorry as well for my part' and added Garth addressing the past situation was 'really cool' of her.

Back in 2010 in a past interview, one of the writers on the series named Larry Mollin also briefly discussed Dalton's exit.

Mollin recalled a meeting where it was alleged that James was anti-Semitic - which Larry claimed was a lie in order to prevent writers from resisting his departure.

He also added, '[Jennie] didn't [complain regularly] and was a tireless and loyal cast member from the get-go to the end.'

After Dalton left Beverly Hills, 90210, he went on to star in other projects such as the series Passions and his last credit on IMDB is a 2023 short titled Insurgent.

Garth later starred in the CW reboot, 90210, which aired on the network from 2008 though 2013.

Last year during 90s Con in Florida, Jennie expressed her regret in reprising her character of Kelly Taylor, per People. 'I wish I hadn't done it. No offense to them.

'The producer was a friend of a friend, and I remember he came over in my living room, sat me down, [billed it as] this chance of a lifetime.'

She further recalled, 'He asked me to do it and I didn't know how to say no then. But the people were very nice and all the best to them.'

He also added, '[Jennie] didn't [complain regularly] and was a tireless and loyal cast member from the get-go to the end'; seen in 1990 with Tori Spelling, Gabrielle Carteris and Shannen Doherty

Last year during 90s Con in Florida, Jennie expressed her regret in reprising her character of Kelly Taylor, per People. 'I wish I hadn't done it. No offense to them'; seen in 2023 in West Hollywood

Tori Spelling soon responded to Jennie's comments at the time while talking to E! News.

'The storylines and who the characters are, I feel like the fans have expressed they wished it would've gone different ways because those characters are so personal to us.'

The star added, 'I definitely enjoyed my experience. It was a different cast even though we were in it as well once in a while, and Jennie was in it more, but you had to fall in love with that cast as a separate show and not compare it to 90210, the first incarnation.'

Garth and Spelling later played fictionalized versions of themselves alongside other former castmates - such as Brian Austin Green and the later Shannen Doherty - in BH90210, which was canceled after just one season.
Pregnant Love Island Australia star Anna McEvoy has revealed the details of a shock health scare that sent her to hospital.

The reality star-turned-podcaster, 32, was rushed to hospital for monitoring after her baby stopped moving during her babymoon with husband Michael Staples.

Anna shared a video to Instagram on Tuesday while lying in a bed at Cairns Hospital and wrote: 'Our little guy was being a rebel and stopped moving in the last 48 hours.

'The midwife told us to go to Cairns Hospital for some monitoring. After an hour of monitoring they were happy with what they saw,' she continued.

'When we left, they said "I think you have a cheeky boy". We weren't surprised.

'Ironically, he started kicking and partying when we got back to Palm Cove. Officially in the third trimester!!'

Pregnant Love Island Australia star Anna McEvoy (pictured) has revealed the details of a shock health scare that sent her to hospital

The reality star-turned-podcaster was rushed to hospital for monitoring after her baby stopped moving during her babymoon with husband Michael Staples

Many of her friends and followers flocked to the comments to offer words to support.

'This happened to me twice my first pregnancy - better to be safe than sorry!' one person wrote.

Another said: 'Definitely get checked if you ever feel like his movements aren't normal! Home stretch now.'

'Happened to me a few times with my first pregnancy. Never hesitate to go in and get checked. Great you didn't let your holiday stop you from checking on Bub,' a third wrote.

Anna shared the exciting news she is pregnant with her first child to in November alongside a very sweet video montage.

The footage began with what appeared to be throwback footage of Anna and Michael as children, before it cut to Anna and Michael sitting in their car.

'The baby is ten weeks old and 3cms tall,' the podcast host said with a bright smile.

Anna and her beau could then be seen taking a romantic stroll down the beach, hand-in-hand, as the mum-to-be wore a white crop top which showed off her bump.

Anna announced in November that she is expecting to welcome her first child with husband Michael

Anna and Michael got married at a glamorous ceremony at Corfu in Greece last year

Anna and Michael got married at a glamorous ceremony at Corfu in Greece last year.

The couple opted to hold their ceremony in May at the upmarket Courti Estate, described as a 'Luxury Corfu Villa' with nine bedrooms for guests.

The couple were pelted with petals after they said 'I do' as the bride carried a white rose bouquet.

'Our wedding day at The Courti Estate was magical,' Anna told the Herald Sun at the time.

'It was the idyllic European wedding of our dreams, that turned out even better than we could have imagined. Michael and I couldn't be happier.'

'So overwhelmed with love from our amazing family and friends, who travelled all the way to Greece to support us.'
Naya Riveras ex-husband Ryan Dorsey shared their son's heartbreaking reaction to watching his late mother onscreen.

The actor, 41, said their nine-year-old son Josey 'welled up' while watching footage of Naya in the 2011 musical documentary Glee: The 3D Concert Movie.

'He sat there and he watched the whole movie, and you could see his eyes welling up a little bit,' Ryan told People in an interview published on Monday.

He added, 'But hes a strong boy, and he has a lot of content and episodes. His mom will live forever. I think thats a silver lining of this terrible situation.'

Rivera's life was tragically cut short in July 2020 when she drowned in Lake Piru, in Ventura County, California. She was 33-years-old at the time.

Josey  who feels guilty he wasn't able to save his mom  was born during her marriage to Ryan, which lasted from 2014 until 2018.

Naya Rivera's ex-husband Ryan Dorsey, 41, shared their son Josey's, nine, heartbreaking reaction to watching his late mother onscreen; Ryan seen with Josey in an Instagram photo

The actor said Josey 'welled up' while watching footage of Naya in the 2011 musical documentary Glee: The 3D Concert Movie; she is seen in a promotional photo fro Glee

Ryan also shared that Josey got emotional while looking at photos of his mom. 'We made this book of memories for Josey that sits by his bed, and during the holidays he was crying looking at it.'

'You can only give him a hug and tell him, "I know, life is not fair. Bad things happen and theres no reason for it, and you just have to do your best to be a good person." Its hard trying to explain things that you cant really make sense of no matter what age you are,' he said.

Ryan admitted he also has trouble watching Rivera on TV, stating that 'pictures are hard enough. I cant just sit there and watch her sing.'

Reminders of Rivera evoke bittersweet emotions for Dorsey.

'Sometimes they're happy reminders but a lot of times, even if it's happy, the reality is it's a lot of what could've been, what should've been. A lot of second-guessing everything and wondering how things might've played out if the tiniest decision we make really changes the course of events of life.'

The actor says he tries to 'do good' by Rivera by throwing Josey the type of incredible birthday parties she would have been proud of.

'I hope to make her proud by throwing parties like she used to throw for him as he gets older,' he said.

Dorsey currently lives with Josey in West Virginia, but he often travels back to Los Angeles to visit Rivera's family. 'He's really close to both sides of his family, and we make sure of that.'

Last month Ryan told People that Josey - who was only four at the time of his mother's death - feels guilty over not being able to rescue her after their unanchored pontoon boat went adrift in Lake Piru as she exhausted herself getting him back onboard.

'He sat there and he watched the whole movie, and you could see his eyes welling up a little bit,' Ryan told People in an interview published on Monday; Naya seen with her son in 2019

'But hes a strong boy, and he has a lot of content and episodes. His mom will live forever. I think thats a silver lining of this terrible situation,' he added

Ryan also shared that Josey got emotional while looking at photos of his mom. 'We made this book of memories for Josey that sits by his bed, and during the holidays he was crying looking at it'

Ryan admitted he also has trouble watching Rivera on TV, stating that 'pictures are hard enough. I cant just sit there and watch her sing'; they are seen in 2015

'He said that the last thing she said was his name, and then she went under, and he didn't see her anymore. It just rocks my world that he had to witness her last moments,' Ryan recalled.

'Something he's said over and over is that he was trying to find a life raft, and there was a rope, but there was a big spider on the rope, and he was too scared to throw it. I keep reassuring him, "Buddy, that rope wasn't going to be long enough."'

'That obviously still sticks out in his head because he feels like he could have saved her. I think she just got caught up in a brush  that or a weird undercurrent from the dam. It was just a freak occurrence.'

26 other people have reportedly drowned in the 130ft-deep man-made reservoir known locally for unpredictable currents and bad whirlpools.

In 2022, Ventura County reached a confidential settlement with Dorsey in his wrongful death lawsuit due to the rented boat 'not complying with safety standards.'

The On Call guest star remembered collapsing at Ralph's grocery store in Big Bear upon hearing Rivera was missing and he drove 100MPH the 145 miles to Lake Piru to help with the five-day search effort for her remains.

'It was the worst five days of my life,' Ryan recalled. 'There was a fear, what if we don't find her? It was just awful.'

Rivera played Santana Lopez for all six seasons of Glee, from 2009 until 2015.

Ryan's three-year marriage to the Glee alum ended in divorce in 2018 after he had dropped his misdemeanor domestic battery charge against her.

Rivera's life was tragically cut short in July 2020 when she drowned in Lake Piru, in Ventura County, California . She was 33-years-old at the time (CCTV footage from July 8, 2020)

Last month Ryan told People that Josey - who was only four at the time of his mother's death - feels guilty over not being able to rescue her, after their unanchored pontoon boat went adrift in Lake Piru as she exhausted herself getting him back onboard (pictured in January)

Josey was born during Rivera's marriage to Ryan, which lasted from 2014 until 2018; they are seen in 2014

Rivera played Santana Lopez for all six seasons of Glee (2009-2015); pictured with co-star Lea Michele

Dorsey plans on writing more about that 'monumental disaster' in his upcoming memoir.

The on/off couple - who originally met in 2010 - famously wed in Cabo San Lucas before 12 guests on July 19, 2014 - the same exact day Naya was originally scheduled to marry her ex-fiance Big Sean before their split.

For the past two years, Ryan has been living a quieter life in his native West Virigina where little Josey has been involved in sports, violin lessons, and acted in two plays at the Children's Theatre of Charleston.

Dorsey has been in LA filming a 'very cool' Apple TV+ show, but first, he will next reprise his role as the mysterious Frank Whales in an episode of the CBS hit Tracker - titled 'The Disciple.'
Married At First Sight star Adrian Araouzou and his identical twin brother James turned heads in Sydney when they stepped out for brunch.

The 30-year-old siblings had onlookers doing a double-take as they strolled through the upmarket suburb of Double Bay.

Adrian kept it casually stylish in a plain white T-shirt, grey shorts and white sneakers and looked relaxed as he sipped on a takeaway coffee.

His twin James complemented his brother's look, opting for a black T-shirt, crisp white shorts and matching sneakers.

The brothers were joined by Adrians MAFS co-star Tony Mojanovski, 57, who kept things casual in a navy T-shirt, dark blue shorts, and open-toed sandals.

They appeared to be in high spirits, strolling past luxury boutiques and tree-lined streets, making the most of the sunny weather.

Married At First Sight's Adrian Araouzou (right) and his identical twin brother James (middle) turned heads in Sydney when they stepped out for brunch with Tony Mojanovski (left)

The 30-year-old siblings had onlookers doing a double-take as they strolled through the upmarket suburb of Double Bay

Adrian kept it casually stylish in a plain white T-shirt, grey shorts and white sneakers and looked relaxed as he sipped on a takeaway coffee

His twin James complemented his brother's look, opting for a black T-shirt, crisp white shorts and matching sneakers

The sighting comes after Adrian's TV marriage to Awhina Rutene, 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 last year, 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 discovered the pair travelled to Wollongong to visit fellow groom Tony for a spot of fishing on a yacht.

Back in September, it was revealed one couple went missing mid-shoot, causing chaos for the production crew.

The cast, who were initially given a curfew of 10pm on weeknights and 11pm on weekends, are now facing even stricter rules.

The brothers were joined by Adrians MAFS co-star Tony Mojanovski, 57, who kept things casual in a navy T-shirt, dark blue shorts, and open-toed sandals

They appeared to be in high spirits, strolling past luxury boutiques and tree-lined streets, making the most of the sunny weather

The sighting comes after Adrian's TV marriage to Awhina Rutene continues to hang by a thread. Both pictured

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.

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 Associate Producer to let them in; otherwise they will be stuck outside,' they said.

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 for a spot of fishing

'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 with the participants' actions.

Production sources 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 Awhina should stay quiet about their family day... she wasn't having it, pushed back hard, making it clear he doesn't control what she says.'

When they finally sat on the couch, the tension was unbearable but despite the obvious issues, both of them chose to stay in the experiment, insisting they would put their family drama behind them.
Ghost Adventures host Aaron Goodwin's wife Victoria Goodwin has been accused of plotting to murder him in a scheme with an inmate in a Florida prison last fall, police said.

Victoria, 32, had been arrested March 6 in connection with Solicitation to Commit Murder, and Murder Conspiracy, according to booking information in Clark County, Nevada.

She is due in court for her first appearance Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. amid allegations she sought to contact a hitman who would kill the 48-year-old TV host in October 2024, TMZ reported Monday after reviewing police docs in the case.

Victoria was being held on $100,000 bail and remained in custody Monday evening in connection with her alleged plot against the Oregon-born Discovery Plus personality, who has more than 660,000 Instagram followers.

Victoria was arrested after authorities uncovered messages she exchanged with an inmate in a Florida prison. Officials said Victoria initiated the criminal discussion with the inmate as she reviewed ways in which she could escape the marital union.

Police cited text records Victoria exchanged with the inmate, saying that at one point she asked him of her murderous intentions: 'Am I a bad person? Because I chose to end his existence. Not divorce.'

Ghost Adventures host Aaron Goodwin's wife Victoria Goodwin, 32, has been accused of plotting to murder the TV host, 48, with an inmate in a Florida prison, police said. Pictured in Las Vegas in 2022

Their marriage itself eerily began when they exchanged vows at Disneyland's The Haunted Mansion in Anaheim, California in August of 2022.

Victoria tried to get Aaron killed when he was on location taping his program with paranormal investigator Zak Bagans, according to the outlet.

Dailymail.com has reached out to Bagans for comment on the story.

Victoria shared information of Aaron's whereabouts as he filmed his show in California, authorities said.

She committed to a deal in which she pledged to pay the hitman a total of $11,515, according to officials.

The inmate, according to police, said to an associate, 'He's asleep right now in the hotel room ... I need to know what's going on. Can I get an update. Was it done?'

Police said that evidence exists Victoria committed to put a payment of $2,500 down for the murder of her spouse.

Police said that the criminal conduct was uncovered when the inmate's phone was found and examined by prison officials in Florida, TMZ reported, citing law enforcement.

The pair were seen in Barbie-themed ensembles in a social media shot she posted in 2023

The couple initially exchanged vows in August of 2022 at Disneyland in Anaheim, California

More than two years later, police said Victoria initiated efforts to have her spouse murdered

Victoria has denied trying to have Aaron murdered, police said, as she attributed the exchanges to 'daydreaming or fantasizing about being without her husband.'

Police said Victoria denied wanting to have her spouse murdered, according to the outlet, and that she claims sending the illegal messages calling for the death of her significant other.

Victoria told officers that she sent money to the alleged hitman intending to provide him with cell phones, TMZ reported.

Victoria admitted to police that she told the inmate her marriage was in distress.

Sources told TMZ that Aaron was 'blindsided and devastated at this turn of events' involving his wife, as he 'thought he was in a happy marriage.'

Bagans told the outlet that it has been emotional for his colleague, and that he's 'trying to give him love and support.'

As news broke about Victoria's arrest on Monday, fans of the TV personality flooded his Instagram pages with remarks expressing both support and shock over the alleged murder plot.

'Sending you love and light Aaron youre a great guy,' said one user. 'I met you many times in the early GAC days and you were always the nicest most genuine guy.

It appeared that the TV star was unaware of his wife's alleged scheming even four months after when police said she communicated with the inmate about the murder plot, as he posted a picture on Instagram on Valentine's Day from a miniature golf outing with his spouse

'Keep your head up, you are amazing, and you are loved by your family, friends and fans. #OGGAC.'

Another said, 'So glad youre ok. What an awful thing for your wife to do. Im so sorry.'

Said one user: 'Love you G. I am sorry this is all happening,' while another said, 'Hoping the best for you.'

It appeared that the TV star was unaware of his wife's alleged scheming even four months after when police said she communicated with the inmate about the murder plot.

Aaron posted a picture on Instagram on Valentine's Day from a miniature golf outing, captioning the image, 'My valentine always beats me at mini golf.'

One user commented, 'Well, this didnt age well' while another said, 'Is it true? Breaking news said she tried to hire someone to kill you..'

Said one user, 'Aaron if you ever see this, I pray you are okay and well. My heart goes out to you. We must protect you at all costs!!'

Another added, 'Damn so when did she get caught with murder to hire? wtf crazy.'

Multiple users marveled at the unusual nature of the story, as the pair appeared to have a decent relationship on the surface

As news broke about Victoria's arrest on Monday, fans of the TV personality flooded his Instagram pages with remarks expressing both support and shock over the alleged murder plot

In addition to his Instagram account, Aaron also has more than 216.2K Followers on X/Twitter and 23.5K subscribers on his YouTube account.

He and Victoria were in a video titled 'Kualoa Ranch tour with the Goodwin's' posted November 18, 2024 - after authorities said she was in talks to have him killed.

Victoria, who remains in custody, has more than 2,121 followers on her Instagram account, in which she describes herself in her bio as an 'athlete' and 'Rare Illness + C-PTSD Warrior.'

In a comment thread of her Valentine's Day golf outing, one user commented, 'See, THIS is a great example of why you shouldn't believe what you see on social media!!! It can be a completely different story in real life.... Damn!!'

Said another user, 'Aaron deserved so much better than you.'

In a comment thread of her Valentine's Day golf outing, one user commented, 'See, THIS is a great example of why you shouldn't believe what you see on social media!!! It can be a completely different story in real life.... Damn!!'

Victoria in December appeared on the podcast Motivational Talks with Ash. Dailymail.com has reached out to podcast host Ashley Platt for further comment on the story.

According to iMDb, Aaron has also worked on shows such as Space Detective, Ghost Adventures: Aftershocks, Deadly Possessions and Crimps.

According to his bio page on Travelchannel.com, Goodwin has been 'referred to by many as a teddy bear, or Zak's bait of choice, Aaron actually hates to be left alone in attics (or just about anywhere). You can also expect to hear him say "dude!" about 20 times per episode.

'Always armed with a camera, Aaron travels around the world with the team to record what they experience in each haunted location.'

A Travel Channel logline for Ghost Adventures Crew reads, 'Learn about our investigators, Zak Bagans and Aaron Goodwin, as they interview eyewitnesses and historians at each haunted location, arming themselves with the stories of the ghosts they will later provoke and confront during their dusk-to-dawn lockdowns.'
Wendy Williams may have gotten a major boost in her attempts to end her guardianship.

During her trip to New York City's Lenox Hill Hospital on Monday from the assisted-living facility where she has been forced to live, the 60-year-old former talk show host was evaluated by a psychiatrist.

And on Monday, sources told TMZ that Williams received a perfect score on a 'capacity test' administered by the psychiatrist.

DailyMail.com has reached out to a representative for Williams for comment.

According to the sources, Wendy was administered a 10-item questionnaire that was designed to determine her awareness and decision-making abilities, and she scored 10 out of 10 on the test.

Although one test alone doesn't give a full picture of her mental capacity, the fact that she passed the test with flying colors may indicate that she is far more aware than her guardian has indicated.

Wendy Williams, 60, got good news when she scored favorably on an exam administered by a psychiatrist on Monday after she was Lenox Hill Hospital in NYC, according to TMZ; pictured in 2018 in NYC

Williams had previously been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia.

However, sources clarified that the exam Williams underwent was not to dispute her dementia diagnosis.

However, the results of the test will reportedly be shared with the judge who has been overseeing her guardianship.

In recent weeks, Wendy has been making an effort to speak to the press to make her case that she has improved and should be able to manage her care  and money  on her own.

Williams PR push is set to expand later this week when she is scheduled to make her first national television appearance since her dementia diagnosis.

It was previously reported that Williams' visit to the hospital was preceded by NYPD officers visiting her at her assisted-living facility to perform a wellness check.

Sources told TMZ on Monday that Gina Monterroso, a caretaker who is independent of Williams' guardianship, had allegedly ordered her trip to the hospital and the cognitive test.

It's unclear if Monterroso is an employee of the assisted-living facility or what her immediate connection to Williams is.

After police made a wellness check at her assisted-living facility on Monday, she was escorted to the hospital by officers; seen in February 2023 in NYC

Sources said Wendy got a perfect score on a 10-item test to measure her alertness and decision-making abilities; seen in 2020 in NYC

The results will reportedly be sent to a judge overseeing her guardianship, but the test was reportedly not to determine if Williams was properly diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia

According to TMZ, New York's Adult Protective Services agency is now conducting an investigation into her guardianship and her stay at the facility, where she is confined to a restrictive memory unit, where she appears to have fewer privileges than patients on other floors.

Williams has denied that she has memory issues, and therefore she doesn't think she should be deprived of her privileges.

She also reportedly doesn't have freedom of movement on that floor.

Although her guardian claimed to Vanity Fair earlier this month that 'Nobodys saying that Wendy cant leave a building' after she had two trips to Florida for her son's graduation and her father's 94th birthday, Williams previously said she had only been allowed to leave the building twice in a month, and she needs the approval of an attendant before she is allowed to leave her floor.

According to the publication, APS has been interviewing people close to the gossip monger, including her niece, Alex Finnie, whom employees reportedly interviewed on Monday.

Wendy also reportedly spoken with the organization recently.

The NYPD is also reportedly continuing to investigate the circumstances of her stay in the facility.

Williams will be making her first national television appearance since her shocking dementia diagnosis, ABC revealed on Sunday.

Williams will be making her first national television appearance since her shocking dementia diagnosis, ABC revealed on Sunday; seen in 2019 in NYC

She will be joining the ladies of The View on Friday, March 14, even as she wages a legal battle to end her years-long guardianship; (LR) Joy Behar, Sara Haines, Whoopi Goldberg, Alyssa Farah Griffin and Sunny Hostin pictured in May 2024

She will be joining the ladies of The View on Friday, March 14, even as she wages a legal battle to end her guardianship.

Wendy has lately made attempts to speak out via phone from her assisted-living facility, where she has been kept on a restrictive memory unit that gives her few privileges and little right of movement.

However, she got a rare breath of fresh air last month when her guardianship and the facility allowed her to fly to Miami to celebrate her father's 94th birthday for a few days.

Although Williams will be back on TV, it's unclear if viewers will get to see her live, as ABC's announcement indicates that she will be doing a phone interview with the View hosts, who include Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin, Ana Navarro and Alyssa Farah Griffin.

However, Wendy has recently been seen live in some phone interviews, as she has conducted them while standing against the window to her room at the assisted-living facility, which has allowed a camera to catch her reactions in real time.

According to The View's schedule, Wendy's phone interview will also feature Ginalisa Monterroso, the founder and president of Connect Care Advisory Group.

In its schedule announcement, ABC boasted that The View is 'Americas most-watched daytime talk show for the fifth consecutive season.

The long-running show, now in its 28th season, has had a rotating line up female hosts over the years.

Although Williams will be back on TV, it's unclear if viewers will get to see her live, as ABC's announcement indicates that she will be doing a phone interview with the View hosts; pictured in 2023

Back in 2022, Williams was placed under a court-appointed guardianship after Wells Fargo reported several large withdrawals from her bank account that it deemed suspicious

Her guardianship is overseen by Sabrina Morrissey (pictured). After Williams was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia in February 2024, Morrissey later said the gossip monger was 'cognitively impaired and permanently incapacitated'

Whoopi Goldberg, Sara Haines, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Sunny Hostin and Joy Behar  the only holdover from the original lineup  currently host the talk show.

Back in 2022, Williams was placed under a court-appointed guardianship after Wells Fargo reported several large withdrawals from her bank account that it deemed suspicious.

She was then placed under a court-appointed guardianship, which took control of her finances and her medical decisions, with Sabrina Morrissey acting as her guardian.

After Williams was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia in February 2024, Morrissey later said the gossip monger was 'cognitively impaired and permanently incapacitated.'

But in recent months, a seemingly lucid Wendy has been disputing that she's impaired and begging to regain her freedom.

Last month, TMZ reported on the circumstances in which Wendy was allegedly moved to a more restrictive part of her assisted-living facility, which may have contributed to her lack of trips outside of the building.

According to an employee who is described as having had many interactions with Wendy since her arrival, she initially was given a room on the building's third floor, where residents are allowed to come and go as they please.

However, things went south early on in her tenure when she went up to the restaurant and bar located on the facility's top floor for an extended lunch.

Wendy signed an affidavit last month in which she asked the judge overseeing her guardianship case to end the arrangement, TMZ reports; seen in 2019 in NYC

According to the employee, Wendy ordered several alcoholic drinks and was noticeably drunk for a significant amount of time.

The facility supervisors allegedly learned of the drunken escapade and were upset that she was served, as she has reportedly had issues with problem drinking in the past.

In response to the drunken lunch, Wendy was allegedly relocated to a new room on the memory unit on the facility's fifth floor.

Because many of the occupants there suffer from dementia and other memory issues, they aren't able to use the elevator on their own.

The new location meant Wendy was prohibited from going up to the restaurant and drinking, though it's unclear if she is not supposed to leave the floor at all or if she can venture out with someone supervising.

However, there was a hiccup with the reassignment, as the memory unit didn't have any open rooms, so Wendy was allegedly forced to stay in her third-floor room while employees guarded the door and prevented her from leaving.

According to the insider, employees at the facility lied to the talk show host and told her that the restaurant was closed for renovations, despite it apparently being open the entire time.

After a few days a room reportedly opened up and she was able to be moved to the fifth floor, where she has remained ever since.

Williams was set to be evaluated by a new doctor to determine if she suffers from frontotemporal dementia. She claims she does not have the condition

Williams' new attorney planned to petition the judge the following day to end her guardianship, and if they don't the attorney will request a jury trial to determine if it should be ended; seen in 2019 in Hollywood

The confinement and alleged falsehoods fed to Wendy are concerning, as the employee claims that her memory is not suffering.

'Wendy doesn't have good and bad days. She's the same all the time,' they claimed to TMZ.

'You can tell her something today and two weeks later she'll remember it. Her memory is fine.'

In February, Wendy signed an affidavit in which she asked the judge overseeing her guardianship case to end the arrangement, TMZ reported.

In the legally binding document, Williams reportedly said she has 'regained capacity' to function independently, and she said she no longer requires a guardian to oversee her.

She has a guardianship overseen by Sabrina Morrissey, which was instituted in 2022.

She still has several steps ahead of her before she can end the guardianship, however, and the judge will ultimately need to be swayed by her if she hopes to regain her freedom.

In order to do that, Williams will next attempt to prove that she does not have frontotemporal dementia, contrary to how doctors had previously diagnosed her.

She averred in her affidavit that she was not suffering from the neurological condition, and sources told TMZ that she would be seeing a doctor for a new evaluation to hopefully confirm as much.

Williams also revealed to TMZ that she will planned to see her son Kevin Hunter Jr. (pictured with her in 2019 in Hollywood) when she allowed to travel to Miami for her father's 94th birthday

Notably, frontotemporal dementia is a permanent and progressive condition, so the former Wendy Williams Show host hopes that her apparent improvement in functioning will indicate that she couldn't be suffering from the disease.

Williams recently hired a new attorney to help her end the guardianship, and they were responsible for selecting the new doctor she will be seeing.

According to the publications sources, her attorney plans to file an Emergency Order to Show Cause the day after the testing, which should force the judge to weigh in on ending the guardianship.

She's hoping the judge will agree and end things then and there, but if they deny the request and keep the guardianship as its currently constituted, Williams will allegedly request that her case go before a jury who can determine if she's able to care for herself and run her own finances without the need of a guardian figure.

Williams recently delved into the circumstances that she believes led to her being placed under a guardianship during a recent chat with TMZ.

In an appearance on its 2 Angry Men podcast, she revealed that she planned to travel down to Miami  where several of her family members live  for a weekend to celebrate her father's 94th birthday.

The trip represents the first time in months she'll be able to spend time with family, but it will also mark a reunion with her son Kevin Hunter Jr.

Williams had previously revealed that her guardianship was kicked off after her bank, Wells Fargo, reported that several large withdrawals had been made from her account, seemingly without her authorization.

Williams has accused her son Kevin of making large, unauthorized transactions, which caused Wells Fargo to freeze her accounts and led the guardianship to be instituted. He has denied any impropriety

She mentioned a fishy transaction in which Kevin allegedly tried to rent a $1,500 boat, but instead rented one for $130K, which he blamed on the bank. Williams accused unnamed other people of influencing him as well; pictured in Lifetime's Where Is Wendy Williams documentary

She has claimed that her son Kevin and others made the withdrawals, though it's unclear if she thinks he was working with others to take her money.

For his part, her son has denied any wrongdoing.

'My son, he overstepped his boundaries,' Williams claimed in a video interview filmed from her window for the publication's new documentary Saving Wendy. 'He was inappropriately using my money without telling me crap about it.'

She said the alleged action caused the bank to freeze her account, which stopped any potential stealing, but it also left her without any access to her money.

When asked who was 'influencing' her financially, Williams began to cry and said, 'My son is a really good person.

'But at this point, he is a horrible person to me,' she continued.

Williams went on to allege that 'other people' might have been influencing her son and spending time with him at her apartment in Miami.

She mentioned a fishy transaction in which Kevin had allegedly wanted to rent a boat for around $1,500, before alleged renting on for $130,000, according to Wells Fargo, which he allegedly blamed on the bank, though his mother didn't buy that explanation.

According to documents obtained by TMZ, the judge overseeing Williams case said in September 2024 that, 'While Mr. Hunter, [her son, Kevin] apologized for past mistakes and inappropriate behavior, the court is not convinced that he can keep her safe and wouldn't willingly or unwittingly expose her to financial exploitation.'

Williams noted that she planned to see her son at her father's birthday  assuming he showed up.

'I will see him at a particular place, at a particular location. I don't want to say too much,' she said, though she didn't care to say more about their current relationship.
Nicolas Cage made his first public appearance since his ex dropped her assault lawsuit against the actor while attending the SXSW Film Festival on Monday in Austin.

The National Treasure actor, 61, was sued last month by ex-girlfriend Christina Fulton as she accused him of enabling their son Weston before the 34-year-old's alleged 'viscous attack' on her in April 2024.

However on Monday, the actress filed to dismiss Nicolas from the case in court documents obtained by People, but is still suing their son.

The Oscar winner dressed to impress while at the screening of his latest film titled The Surfer - a psychological thriller directed by Lorcan Finnegan which was branded a 'gloriously demented B-movie' by one critic.

Cage sported a shimmering black suit which was paired with a black dress shirt as well as black shoes.

He completed the ensemble for the event by adding a black hat on top of his head and also opted for a pair of pink shades.

Nicolas Cage, 61, made his first public appearance since his ex dropped her assault lawsuit against the actor while attending the SXSW Film Festival on Monday in Austin

However on Monday, the actress filed to dismiss Nicolas from the case in court documents obtained by People, but is still suing their son; Fulton seen in 2015 in Beverly Hills

Nicolas paused for a brief photo session on the red carpet upon arriving to the festival - which is set to conclude later this week on Saturday, March 15.

The star recently took on a leading role in The Surfer alongside other cast members such as Julian McMahon, Nicholas Cassim, Miranda Tapsell, Alexander Bertrand and Justin Rosniak.

The premise of the movie is: 'A man returns to the idyllic beach of his childhood to surf with his son.

'When he is humiliated by a group of locals, the man is drawn into a conflict that keeps rising and pushes him to his breaking point,' per an official IMDB synopsis.

After the film was shown at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival last May, The Guardian reviewed the movie and gave it four out of five stars.

Author Xan Brooks for the outlet labeled the project as 'a pleasing, no-frills intensity' and added, 'It's a low-budget, hard-hitting comic bruiser of a picture: a midlife-crisis movie dressed up as a 1970s exploitation flick.'

Variety wrote that the film is 'about male anxiety, male power, male midlife crisis, male rituals of pain and dominance, and how much theater Nicolas Cage can wring out of all of that.'

The publication also defined The Surfer as a 'midnight movie' and added it's a 'kind of trippy slapdash comic nightmare where the only way to watch it is to sit back and "go with it."'

Last year in May during the Cannes Film Festival, McMahon opened up about working alongside Cage, per Deadline.

The Oscar winner dressed to impress while at the screening of his latest film titled The Surfer - a psychological thriller directed by Lorcan Finnegan

Cage sported a shimmering black suit which was paired with a black dress shirt as well as black shoes

The star recently took on a leading role in The Surfer alongside other cast members such as Julian McMahon, Nicholas Cassim, Miranda Tapsell, Alexander Bertrand and Justin Rosniak

He stated, 'For some reason I had a hunch that Nicolas would be open to being explorative and creative on set.

'I kind of had a feeling of the same thing about Lorcan I got to really dig into who this guy was on set,' Julian expressed to the outlet.

The actor added that Nicolas 'brings a lot of energy to his work' and shared, 'I like to be energetic with the way that I work. We both like to throw a lot of things out there. He's got a lot of creative ideas.'

Before Cage's appearance at the film screening, his ex Christina Fulton dropped the lawsuit against the actor - although there is still a case against their son Weston.

Her claims against the Hollywood star were dismissed with prejudice, People reported, and she can not pursue the claims again in the future.

Earlier this month ahead of filing the dismissal, Christina spoke to TMZ about holding her ex accountable after their son allegedly assaulted her.

While entering a Los Angeles courthouse, she expressed to the outlet that both the treatment from her son as well as the LAPD had left her 'heartbroken.'

She then claimed that officers left her 'on the ground, bleeding' after her son allegedly attacked her last year. 'I have done this alone, I have been left alone - if not blocked.'

Fulton claimed that their son's aggressive behavior had only worsened due to the actor 'enabling Weston his whole life.'

When her son allegedly assaulted her, Christina claimed that he had been in a 'manic rage' at the time.

Before Cage's appearance at the film screening, his ex Christina Fulton dropped the lawsuit against the actor - although there is still a case against their son Weston; Fulton and Weston seen in L.A. in 2019

The actress said that she 'love[s her] son' but added that she felt he was a victim of a 'mental health crisis epidemic.'

In regards as to why she chose to also sue her ex at the time - whom she dated from 1988 through 1991 - Fulton said, 'I'm holding everyone responsible.'

Last month in February, she submitted a civil complaint to the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles County, per the Los Angeles Times.

She had sued Cage for 'negligent supervision and negligent undertaking' of their son. Christina is also suing her son for assault, battery and negligent and intentional inflection of emotional distress.

The Hard Drive actress previously claimed that the 34-year-old 'brutally assaulted' her during a mental health crisis near his home, which left her with 'severe and life-threatening injuries.'

Weston - who has since pleaded not guilty - was arrested in July 2024 on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon, and was released on a $150,000 bond.

Nicolas Cage's lawyer hit back at Fulton's claims in a statement to People after her lawsuits were filed.

'The allegations by Christina Fulton against Nicolas Cage are absurd and frivolous,' they said. 'Weston Coppola is a 34-year-old man. Mr. Cage does not control Weston's behavior in any manner and is not responsible for Weston's alleged assault of his mother.'

In January, Weston and Fulton were spotted at the assault trial in Los Angeles, which was granted a continuance and delayed.

In regards as to why she was also sued her ex - whom she dated from 1988 through 1991 - Fulton said, 'I'm holding everyone responsible'; former couple seen in 1988 in L.A.

The Hard Drive actress previously claimed that the 34-year-old 'brutally assaulted' her during a mental health crisis near his home, which left her with 'severe and life-threatening injuries'; seen in 2024 in Santa Monica

Fulton is also requesting unspecified damages for the 'catastrophic physical, emotional and economic harm she has endured due to an unprovoked attack by their son, Weston.'

In the complaint, the star claimed that Nicolas enabled their son's behavior - despite being 'aware' of Weston's 'long history of mental and psychological disorder.

'Weston has a long history of mental and psychological disorder and a history of committing violent assault and battery and harming numerous individuals,' the suit stated, according to People.

'Nicolas has been aware of Weston's history and nevertheless failed to take action to prevent Weston from committing acts of violence and harming others.

'Nicolas has been aware of Weston's history and nevertheless failed to take action to prevent Weston from committing acts of violence and harming others.'

Christina had also claimed that her ex further enabled Weston's 'reckless' lifestyle and behavior such as drinking alcohol together 'despite knowing his substance abuse history.'

She also alleged the Longlegs actor bailed their son out of jail on more than one occasion, paid his son's rent at a condo in L.A. and did nothing to ensure that Weston received 'necessary psychiatric' help.

In the complaint, Christina claimed that the alleged assault that took place in April of last year 'devastated Fulton's thriving career as a former model, actress and entrepreneur.'

The scuffle between Weston and Fulton occurred on April 28 in the Los Angeles area, when a verbal dispute reportedly turned physical.

Christina had also claimed that her ex further enabled Weston's 'reckless' lifestyle and behavior such as drinking alcohol together 'despite knowing his substance abuse history'; seen in 2022 in L.A.

'On April 28th, 2024, around 5:30 p.m., I received urgent messages from friends of my son, Weston Cage, regarding his deteriorating mental state, urging me to come help,' Fulton said in a statement obtained by People.

'When I arrived to offer support and console him, he was already in the midst of a manic rage. Within minutes, I was brutally assaulted and sustained serious injuries,' she claimed.

'Despite my desperate pleas to the responding police officers to detain him for a mental-health evaluation, the police officers refused my request.'

Fulton added in her statement: 'As a mother, I am deeply saddened and concerned about Weston's ongoing mental-health crisis. It is imperative that he receives the help he desperately needs.'

The LAPD confirmed that Weston was booked for assault with a deadly weapon - just weeks after his mother was spotted with intense bruises on her face.

The LAPD also confirmed with People the arrest was made in direct connection to the alleged April 28 altercation.

Weston's case was submitted to the district attorney's office on May 10 and on June 26 the DA filed two counts of assault with a deadly weapon against him. An arrest warrant was later issued.

The LAPD confirmed that Weston was booked for assault with a deadly weapon - just weeks after his mother was spotted with intense bruises on her face

Last week, Weston announced his engagement to girlfriend Jenifer Alexa Canter - and Fulton later spoke out to TMZ to share her response on the news

The actor was released on a $150,000 bail around 10am. The U.S. Sun reported that his father is believed to be the one who bailed him out.

An ambulance was reportedly called to the home to check out Fulton, but she declined to be taken to the hospital, TMZ reported at the time of the alleged incident.

Last week, Weston announced his engagement to girlfriend Jenifer Alexa Canter - and Fulton later spoke out to TMZ to share her response on the news.

'I hope his mental health is being addressed first and foremost. At the end of the day he's my son, I want the best for him, however my pain and suffering this past year as his mother will never got away.'
Sophie Turner made the most of her night out at Paris Fashion Week on Monday, as she headed to the Louis Vuitton after party with her boyfriend Peregrine Pearson.

The actress, 29, put on a leggy display as she made her way through the French capital in a leather minidress.

She completed the outfit with a pair of matching thigh-high boots and let her blonde locks flow free.

The former Game of Thrones star had her new beau Peregrine, 30, in tow for the high-profile fashion event.

Over the course of the last year, she has been growing closer to the aristocrat and the pair looked in good spirits as they headed to the post-runway bash.

What's more, Sophie could be seen wearing a large sparkling diamond ring on the middle finger of her left hand.

Sophie Turner made the most of her night out at Paris Fashion Week on Monday, as she headed to the Louis Vuitton after party with her boyfriend Peregrine Pearson

The actress made her way through the French capital in a leather minidress after attending the star-studded show

Sophie toted her belongings in a large handbag and opted for minimal makeup, whilst her significant other looked suave in a suit and black shirt.

On New Year's Eve, Sophie looked back fondly at her romance with boyfriend Peregrine tin an Instagram post.

'Bye bye 2024,' Sophie captioned her post, before revealing that each photo came from a different month of the past year, though it wasn't clear if they were meant to be in chronological order.

Peregrine  whom Sophie has expressed interest in starting a family with  was featured in several of her other photos from 2024, including a cute image of the two sitting on the deck of a boat.

In November of 2024, insiders told DailyMail.com that Sophie was interested in one day having children with the British aristocrat.

'Sophie is open to having kids one day even though that is not on the slate for right now. She is in love with Peregrine, and she knows that he wants to be a father one day as this is discussed with couples,' they said. 'She loves her kids very much and is a great mom. She puts her children first which Peregrine admires her for.'

While she has an impressive net worth of several million dollars thanks to her popular films and shows, Peregrine's wealth dwarfs hers. The heir is reportedly worth more than $224 million, thanks to his family's connections.

The outing comes after Sophie, who has daughters Willa, four, and two-year-old Delphine with former Disney Channel star Joe Jonas , said she'd been 'embracing a lighter energy' following their divorce.

The former Game of Thrones star had her new beau Peregrine, 30, in tow for the high-profile fashion event

Sophie met Peregrine (pictured) shortly after her acrimonious split from former Disney star Joe Jonas following a five year marriage

Sophie said goodbye to 2024 and looked back fondly at her romance with boyfriend Peregrine Pearson in an Instagram post shared over New Year

Sophie filed for divorce from husband Joe, 34, in 2023, and has since moved on with new boyfriend Peregrine (Joe and Sophie pictured in 2022)

She told Harper's Bazaar: 'Honestly, what my life looks like these days is what an Hugo Spritz tastes like. I'm kind of embracing this lighter, fresher kind of energy around me.'

She also said she was planning to spend the summer with her children and enjoying the hot weather, if she is blessed with it.

'My recipe for a hot-girl summer is pretty much playing with my kids hanging out with my best friends, drinking some cocktailsyou know, which onesand enjoying the sun, long may it last. As long as the sun's out, I'm a happy chap.'

Sophie previously explained that she didn't always know if she would 'make it' through the early days of the split but found the energy to fight when her lawyer reminded her of her children.

Telling British Vogue: 'There were some days that I didn't know if I was going to make it. I would call my lawyer saying, 'I can't do this. I just can't.'
Bristol Palin shared that she is ready to try a drastic treatment amid her battle with facial paralysis, as she gave fans another health update on Monday.

The 34-year-old daughter of former Alaska governor and 2008 vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin revealed she still has 'no muscle movement' in her face, seven weeks after her health issue began.

In a car video shared to her Instagram Stories, Bristol removed her sunglasses and demonstrated her ongoing facial paralysis by attempting, unsuccessfully, to close both eyes.

'We are day 49. Still no muscle movement. I cannot believe it's been seven weeks since this craziness started,' she said.

'I've done everything. Tried everything. Taken everything and nothing has improved it,' the former Dancing With the Stars contestant added.

'I think I might go try this crazy nerve block. It's like a nerve block somewhere in your neck. I've heard a couple success stories on it. I'm willing to try anything because I'm getting very impatient.'

Bristol Palin, 34, shared that she is ready to try a drastic treatment amid her battle with facial paralysis, as she gave fans another health update on Monday

Bristol, who is the daughter of former Alaska governor and 2008 vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, gave the update seven weeks after her health issue began; pictured with Sarah

'Seven weeks. Day 49. Hopefully something changes soon,' she added.

Bristol followed it up with a snap of herself and a friend smiling, and wrote, 'wow I can't wait to be able to smile again.'

Nerve block treatments can help alleviate pain and address issues like facial muscle spasms and dystonia associated with facial paralysis, according to the National Library of Medicine.

Last month, Bristol posted another update and revealed she is uncertain about what the 'future holds' as she described how she had tried 'everything imaginable' to resolve the issue.

'If I just keep my mouth shut, it's not as noticeable,' she began in video posted to her Instagram Stories. 'We are day 35, officially five weeks since the left side of my face went paralyzed.

'I still have no muscle movement on the left side. I don't really feel much. I've done everything imaginable to resolve this. I'm not sure what else I should do. But, I've spent the last 35 days, doing something every single day to try to fix this, and nothing has helped so far.

'So I'm not sure what the future holds. But this is the update. Day 35. Still no muscle movement,' Bristol said.

The treatments Bristol had been attempting included acupuncture.

She shared a selfie taken during one of the sessions, which showed an array of needles all over her face.

In a car video shared to her Instagram Stories, Bristol removed her sunglasses and demonstrated her ongoing facial paralysis by attempting, unsuccessfully, to close both eyes

'We are day 49. Still no muscle movement. I cannot believe it's been seven weeks since this craziness started,' she said

'I think I might go try this crazy nerve block. It's like a nerve block somewhere in your neck. I've heard a couple success stories on it. I'm willing to try anything because I'm getting very impatient,' she added

Bristol followed it up with a snap of herself and a friend smiling, and wrote, 'wow I can't wait to be able to smile again'; Bristol pictured in 2018

'I have been going 4 times/week,' she wrote in the photo.

Bristol in January said on the social media platform that doctors speculated she might have Bell's palsy - which is temporary paralysis or weakness of the facial muscles - after undergoing a series of tests following symptoms.

'I woke up nine days ago with a little weird sensation in my face - my mouth was pulling [to the left], and it just felt a little off. Within a couple of hours, the entire left side of my face was numb and just paralyzed,' she said at the time.

She said she couldn't blink her eye and 'definitely had no movement on the side of [her] face.'

A number of notable names have past received diagnoses of Bell's palsy, including George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, The Bachelorette alum Emily Maynard Johnson and iconic pro wrestling announcer Jim Ross.

Bristol is mother to three children: son Tripp, 16, with ex Levi Johnston, 34; and daughters Sailor Grace, nine, and Atlee Bay, seven, with ex-husband Dakota Meyer, 36.

Bristol was thrust into the national limelight in 2008 amid her mother's vice presidential campaign alongside then Republican presidential candidate, late Arizona Sen. John McCain.

She appeared at the Republican National Convention in September 2008 alongside Johnston, as her pregnancy with Tripp when she was 17 made headlines, amid her mother's swift rise to political prominence as McCain's running mate.

Last month, Bristol posted another update and revealed she is uncertain about what the 'future holds' as she described how she had tried 'everything imaginable' to resolve the issue

The treatments she had been undergoing included acupuncture

Bristol in January said on the social media platform that doctors speculated she might have Bell's palsy after undergoing a series of tests after suffering symptoms

Bristol pictured in May of 2022 along with her son Tripp, 16, daughters Sailor Grace, nine, and Atlee Bay, seven, and ex-husband Dakota Meyer, 36

Beyond the campaign, her relationship with Johnston remained in the public eye amid a pair of engagements before they eventually split for good.

Bristol has been keeping fans updated on her facial paralysis over social media and previously dismissed claims it was caused by the COVID vaccine, Botox, and lip fillers.

'I've seen so much speculation about what this is caused by,' she said last month.

'So many people are trying to blame the Covid vaccine,' Bristol said. 'I never had the Covid vaccine,' perhaps in support of her mother, who was vehemently against it during the pandemic.

She also dismissed suggestions it was caused by Botox or lip fillers.

'I haven't had filler in years. I had lip filler years ago,' the former Dancing with the Stars contestant admitted, as she pointed to her mouth.

'I haven't done that in a long time too, so, I don't think it's caused by those.'

She then went to on to explain that 'Bell's Palsy can be set off by stress. I'm stressed, I probably don't sleep that great, so it's definitely eye opening for that aspect, but it's super simple, that's likely what it's caused by.'
She is best known for strutting down the Victoria's Secret runway.

And Georgia Fowler showed off her incredible figure yet again as she posed in a skimpy swimsuit on Tuesday.

The model, 32, shared a racy video to Instagram as she danced around her lounge room in the revealing outfit.

Georgia left little to the imagination as she flaunted her figure in the G-string swimsuit before turning around to reveal her pert derriere.

'When they ask to see you,' she captioned the post.

Many fans flocked to the comments to compliment Georgia's incredible figure, with one writing: 'You look amazing.'

Georgia Fowler showed off her incredible figure yet again as she posed in a skimpy swimsuit on Tuesday. Pictured

Georgia left little to the imagination as she flaunted her figure in the G-string swimsuit before turning around to reveal her pert derriere

'The coolest thing about this post is how much you're enjoying this moment. I can even feel your happiness. Keep smiling,' another said.

'Gorgeous as always,' a third person commented.

Back in February 2024, Georgia welcomed her second child with husband Nathan Dalah.

She announced the joyous news on Instagram with several black-and-white photos of herself and Nathan cradling their newborn son in hospital.

Revealing the baby's name in the caption, Georgia wrote: 'Zeke Atlas Dalah. 15.2.24. You are so loved already little man.'

Georgia's famous friends were quick to express their excitement, with fellow model Cheyenne Tozzi commenting: 'Congratulations you guys.'

Models Shanina Shaik, Lily Aldrige and Jessica Gomes also shared their congratulations.

The couple tied the knot during a gorgeous countryside ceremony on 27 January 2023.

Back in February 2024, Georgia welcomed her second child with husband Nathan Dalah

They exchanged vows at Hopewood House in the township of Bowral, in the NSW Southern Highlands.

Among the attendees were the couple's fashion friends, including model Tahnee Atkinson, fashionista Rey Vakili and designers Sophie Coote and Nikki Campbell.

Also attending was 'Australian tailor to the stars' Patrick Johnson and his wife Tamsin Johnson, an interior designer.

The couple also share daughter Dylan, who they welcomed in September, 2021.
Married At First Sight star Jacqui Burfoot has lifted the lid on the very spartan conditions participants have to endure between takes.

Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, Jacqui shared a short clip that showed the cast members taking some time out from filming at a warehouse in Sydney.

Shot during one of the series' dinner parties, the clip showed participants scattered around an empty room.

In a scene that would not look out of place on Aussie prison drama Wentworth, the room featured a bare concrete floor, harsh fluorescent lighting and coverings on the windows to deter potential voyeurs.

Carina Mirabile could be seen sitting on a black plastic chair with a purple blanket wrapped around her.

With Married At First Sight filming taking place between June and September, Carina's desire to rug up makes sense given MAFS is filmed during the Australian winter - from July to September.

Married At First Sight star Jacqui Burfoot has lifted the lid on the very spartan conditions participants have to endure between takes

Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, Jacqui shared a short clip that showed the cast members taking some time out from filming at a warehouse in Sydney. In a scene that would not look out of place on Aussie prison drama Wentworth, the room featured a bare concrete floor, harsh fluorescent lighting and coverings on the windows to deter potential voyeurs

As Jacqui panned her camera around the depressing scene, Paul Antoine and Adrian Araouzou were sharing a joke with a producer.

Another figure, which appeared to be groom Dave Hand, could also be seen sitting with his head in his hands as he waited to film.

There was also a duo, possibly producers, perched in a corner on their haunches surveying the scene.

Captioning the surprising video, Jacqui claimed that the cast were separated an not allowed to fraternise between takes.

'What it was like backstage at MAFS,' Jacqui wrote.

'We'd be separated and sat like this. Not allowed to talk.'

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Channel Nine for comment.

Jacqui's shock backstage video comes after another MAFS star shared a very surprising insight into the show's dinner parties

Carina Mirabile could be seen sitting on a black plastic chair with a purple blanket wrapped around her

Speaking with Yahoo Lifestyle on Thursday, 2024 participant Eden Harper revealed contestants are served small amounts of 'terrible' food during their drama-filled catch-ups.

'I wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy. It was cold and there wasnt enough of it,' Eden told the publication.

'By the time I even leant over for a piece of chicken, all that was left was lettuce. It was not good.'

She added that as the series progressed, portion sizes increased but the quality of the plates did not.

'Always eat before the dinner parties. I'd tell that to anyone, any season,' she said.

Eden admitted when it came to the drinks, quaffing with abandon at the dinner table was frowned upon, while the cocktail party was a different story.

She said the pre-loading soiree was a 'free-for-all' with a first come, first served mentality.

'But then in the actual dinner party, it's maybe, like, three or four jugs of wine across the whole table,' she shared.

'What it was like backstage at MAFS,' Jacqui explained. 'We'd be separated and sat like this. not allowed to talk'

'It's red or white, and if you don't drink right away, there are no other options.'

Eden also gave some insight into what happens between the cocktail and dinner parties.

She claimed, unlike what viewers see, filming stops for two hours while participants are ushered into tents to film pieces to camera and to take promo photos.

Eden also revealed to offset the hunger caused by the dinner parties, she and Jordan used to bring sushi to snack on as they waited in their tent.
A drug addicted crook has admitted wrestling with the husband of Aussie actor Asher Keddie while trying to steal his motorbike.

James Powell, 44, has already spent 234 days behind bars on remand awaiting his hearing over the shocking incident.

He pleaded guilty on Tuesday in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court to a swag of dishonesty offences, including his raid on the Keddie property just days after Christmas last year.

Appearing in court via videolink from prison, the court heard Powell was spotted by Keddie as he removed her husband Vincent Fantauzzo's Ducati.

Her screams caused Mr Fantauzzo, 48, to spring into action, sparking a scuffle outside the front of their house.

The court heard Powell hit Mr Fantauzzo in the head as he tried to break free.

A passer-by helped Mr Fantauzzo subdue the drug-addled thief, who then lapsed into unconsciousness from a suspected drug overdose.

Powell was taken by ambulance to The Alfred hospital before being charged over the home invasion.

Asher Keddie (pictured) survived a harrowing burglary after an intruder broke into the Melbourne home she shares with husband Vincent Fantauzzo and their two children

Neither Keddie or Mr Fantauzzo were in court to watch the intruder face justice, nor was a victim impact statement read to the court on their behalf.

Powell also pleaded guilty to attacking his former partner, whom he attempted to force into the boot of his car during a domestic incident.

'We've got a kid together,' she was heard pleading as Powell insisted she get into the boot.

He refused to co-operate with police after his arrest.

Powell also admitted to stealing bike accessories from another inner-city apartment complex during an earlier raid in September.

The court heard Powell had a lengthy criminal history and had already been serving a community corrections order when he committed his latest crimes.

It is not Powell's first time behind bars, with the court hearing he had spent numerous stints in jail over the years.

The Offspring star's husband (pictured) leapt into action and heroically tackled a man who attempted to steal a motorbike from the couple's St Kilda home on December 28

He made no application for bail and is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

The robbery at the Keddie home made national headlines at the time.

Keddie met her husband in 2012 when Mr Fantauzzo asked to paint a portrait of her and they wed in a beachside ceremony on Fiji's Turtle Island in April 2014.

The couple share Valentino, nine, and Mr Fantauzzo's 14-year-old son, Luca, from a previous marriage.

Speaking to Marie Claire in 2023, Keddie recalled the first meeting with her eventual husband.

She explained that while he was painting her, Mr Fantauzzo would look over and they locked eyes.

'He still does that...he's very charming,' she said.

Keddie added the couple love parenting their children together as it gives them 'the feeling of togetherness'.

It was reported Asher Keddie, 50, saw the would-be thief wheeling a Ducati away from their property at 7am in the morning. She quickly alerted her husband, 48, who raced out to stop the brazen burglar before a fight broke out between the two

'What we enjoy most  and I know we both feel like this  is sharing the parenting. I love that feeling of togetherness we have in parenting them and being part of their lives,' she added.

She also shared a glimpse into the couple's home life with their children.

'I take care of stuff when I come home... but we have different roles within the house and as long as the kids come first, everything falls into place,' she added.

Mr Fantauzzo's famous works include striking portraits of Julia Gillard, Baz Luhrmann and Heath Ledger, with his work highlighting the depth of Ledger's mental struggle was revealed one month after his death in 2008.

The four-time Archibald People's Choice prize winning artist has a hotel in Brisbane named after him, which is filled with his paintings.

Asher, meanwhile, is a multiple Logie-winning actress, nabbing a Gold Logie in 2013 for her breakout role as Dr Nina Proudman in Offspring.

She was also awarded a Most Popular Actress Logie five times in a row from 2011 to 2015.

Most recently Asker was nominated or a Gold Logie in 2024 for her portrayal of Evelyn Jones in the BINGE series Strife.

Speaking to Stellar ahead of last year's event, Asher admitted her second Gold Logie nomination felt 'more special'.

'It actually feels more special now, to be honest,' she said.

'I was really taken aback when I got the call a few weeks back. I was like, What does this mean? Its extraordinary and I feel so excited.'

Keddie was beaten to the top gong by Channel Seven star Larry Emdur.
Netflix has brought a halt to a sprawling documentary that would have offered an unprecedented look at an American icon, and now the director is speaking out.

The streaming service first struck a deal with filmmaker Ezra Edleman - who won an Oscar in 2017 for his 8-hour documentary O.J.: Made In America - to make a documentary about music legend Prince in 2018.

This was two years after his untimely death from an accidental fentanyl at his Paisley Park home and recording studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota at the age of 57.

Edelman was set to make a 9-hour documentary that follows Prince's iconic life, spending five years on the project, after he replaced original director Ava DuVernay.

However, last year, it was revealed that the documentary was 'dead in the water,' after reps for Prince's estate claimed the film contained multiple 'factual inaccuracies,' with reports surfacing that the film contained allegations of abuse against Prince.

That report was ultimately confirmed in February 2025, when Netflix announced not only that the Prince documentary was scrapped, but that they had struck a deal with Prince's estate for a new documentary film.

Netflix has brought a halt to a sprawling documentary that would have offered an unprecedented look at an American icon, and now the director is speaking out

This was two years after his untimely death from an accidental fentanyl at his Paisley Park home and recording studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota at the age of 57

That report was ultimately confirmed in February 2025, when Netflix announced not only that the Prince (seen in 1984) documentary was scrapped, but that they had struck a deal with Prince's estate for a new documentary film.

Now Edleman is speaking out on the Pablo Torres Speaks Out podcast, calling Netflix's decision to scrap the film, 'a joke.'

Early reports from July 2024 claimed Prince's estate refused to sign off on the documentary because the length was inflated from the agreed-upon six hours to nine hours, while adding there were 'factual inaccuracies.'

The estate felt the documentary contained 'sensationalized' events and created a stalemate that resulted in the documentary essentially going nowhere.

Edelman said on the podcast, 'Heres the one thing theyre allowed to do: check the film for factual inaccuracies. Guess what? They came back with a 17-page document full of editorial issues, not factual issues. You think I have any interest in putting out a film thats factually inaccurate?'

The director added that the Prince estate's issues are less with factual inaccuracies and more about 'control.'

'This is reflective of Prince himself, who was notoriously [one of] the most famous control freaks in the history of artists,' Edelman said.

'The irony being that Prince was somebody that fought for artistic freedom, who didnt want to be held down by Warner Bros. who he believed was stifling his output. Now, in this case, its like, by the way Im not Prince, but I worked really hard making something and now my arts being stifled and thrown away,' Edelman said.

When he came on board in 2018, he was given access to Prince's archives, which he called, 'a gift.'

Now Edleman is speaking out on the Pablo Torres Speaks Out podcast , calling Netflix's decision to scrap the film, 'a joke'

Edelman said on the podcast, 'Heres the one thing theyre allowed to do: check the film for factual inaccuracies. Guess what? They came back with a 17-page document full of editorial issues, not factual issues. You think I have any interest in putting out a film thats factually inaccurate?'

The director added that the Prince estate's issues are less with factual inaccuracies and more about 'control.'

'This is reflective of Prince himself, who was notoriously [one of] the most famous control freaks in the history of artists,' Edelman said

'A nine-hour treatment about an artist who was by the way f***ing brilliant. Everything about who you believe he is is in this movie. You get to bathe in his genius. And yet, you also have to confront his humanity,' Edelman said.

Back in September, New York Times reporter Sasha Weiss - one of the few people to have seen the film - called it a 'cursed masterpiece' while outlying some of the claims made in the film.

The documentary features an interview with Jill Jones, an ex-lover who revealed she slapped Prince after he kissed a friend of hers in a hotel in 1984.

Prince then allegedly responded by saying, 'B***h, this aint no f***ing movie,' and then proceeded to punch her in the face numerous times.

The documentary also features an interview with another ex-lover, Susannah Melvoin, who said Prince told her not to leave the house, while monitoring her calls, in an effort to keep her away from her sister after moving in with the musician.
China's economic resilience: overcoming challenges, advancing with confidence

11:18, March 11, 2025 By Li Haoran ( People's Daily

China's latest government work report, released during the annual "two sessions" on March 5, has drawn global attention, sending a resounding message of resilience and determination to international markets and policymakers.

Looking back at 2024, China's economic achievements were nothing short of remarkable. Despite mounting external pressures and domestic challenges, the country managed to create 12.56 million new urban jobs, achieve a record-high grain output of over 700 million tonnes, and reduce the average concentration of PM2.5 in cities at and above the prefecture level by 2.7 percent. These accomplishments not only underscore China's ability to navigate complex hurdles but also reflect the indomitable spirit of the Chinese people in the face of adversity.

Frames of new energy vehicles are assembled in an automated workshop of Chinese automobile company Leapmotor in Jinhua, east China's Zhejiang province. (People's Daily Online/Jin Sicheng)

Recent technological breakthroughs further illustrate this resolve. The Chang'e-6 lunar probe's first-ever sampling on the moon's far side, the debut of the world's fastest high-speed train prototype CR450, and the production of over 13 million new energy vehicles in a single year all serve as testaments to China's push for innovation-driven and high-quality development.

In response to evolving economic challenges, China rolled out a package of incremental policies last September aimed at enhancing macroeconomic counter-cyclical adjustments - a pragmatic approach that successfully steered the nation toward its annual targets.

Historical figures in Chinese science have long inspired this tenacity. Renowned Chinese scientist Qian Xuesen once asked: "If foreigners can do it, why can't the Chinese?" Late Chinese geologist and founder of geological mechanics Li Siguang posed a similar question: "Is oil only found beneath Western soil?"

These sentiments still resonate today, as China continues to break technological bottlenecks amid external blockades and suppression. Rather than stifling progress, such challenges have only unleashed the country's potential, fueling a new wave of innovation.

At this year's Spring Festival Gala, a group of humanoid robots performed Yangko, a traditional folk dance renowned for its sweeping steps and twirling handkerchiefs. Engineers hailed the performance as a technological feat, declaring, "No one else in the world can achieve this - only the Chinese can."

A child shakes hands with a robot developed by Unitree Robotics, a pioneer in humanoid robot development, at an AI robot exhibition held in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu province, Feb. 28, 2025. (People's Daily Online/Wu Xue)

In Taklimakan Desert, often called the "sea of death," China's first ultra-deep scientific exploration well set a new Asian record by reaching a depth of 10,910 meters.

China's scientific advancements extend to quantum computing as well. Scientists recently developed a superconducting quantum computing prototype named "Zuchongzhi 3.0" with 105 qubits. The machine processes quantum random circuit sampling tasks at a speed quadrillion times faster than the world's most powerful supercomputer - setting a new record in quantum computational advantage within superconducting systems.

These achievements are made possible by a dynamic synergy between industry, talent, innovation, and capital. Such integration is vital for fostering new quality productive forces and unlocking future growth opportunities.

China's resilience is also deeply rooted in its cultural heritage. The traditional "three friends of winter" - pine, bamboo, and plum blossom - symbolize perseverance and strength in adversity. These botanical emblems, which withstand even the harshest winters, reflect the enduring spirit of the Chinese people.

Confidence is key to overcoming obstacles. That confidence lies not only in China's present achievements but also in its future potential.

Zhu Xiaobo, professor with University of Science and Technology of China and chief designer of "Zuchongzhi" superconducting quantum computer prototype, discusses experiment results with students. (Photo/Dai Rui)

Recently, foreign financial institutions such as Goldman Sachs, UBS, and Deutsche Bank have collectively expressed optimism regarding the prospects of China's burgeoning technology industry, particularly in the light of significant advancements in core technologies.

This renewed interest challenges long-standing skepticism, once again disproving theories of "China collapse" and "Peak China".

The next "China" is still China.

As China charts its path forward, it remains steadfast in its commitment to innovation and progress, turning what once seemed impossible into inevitable success despite formidable challenges.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
Phoebe Dynevor looked stylish as she arrived at the Louis Vuitton after party at Maxim's alongside her sister Harriet on Monday evening.

The actress, 29, put on a leggy display in a black and white tweed dress with a black tie detail and purposefully frayed hem.

The Bridgerton star paired the dress with black leather knee high boots and swept her hair into a sleek ponytail.

Phoebe, who is the daughter of Coronation Street star Sally Dynevor, was joined at Paris Fashion Week by her sister Harriet who is also an actress.

Harriet, 21, wowed in a black leather mini dress which she also paired with knee high leather boots as she held hands with her sister.

The pair were also joined at the event by acting royalty Emma Stone, who set pulses racing in a semi-sheer black dress with lace panelled cutouts.

Phoebe Dynevor put on a leggy display in stylish black and white tweed dress as she joined her sister Harriet at the Louis Vuitton after party on Monday evening

The actress, 29, wowed in a black and white tweed dress with a black tie detail and purposefully frayed hem

The pair were also joined at the event by acting royalty Emma Stone, who set pulses racing in a semi-sheer black dress with lace panelled cutouts

The Poor Things star, 36, wrapped up in a stylish black coat before switching from her strappy black heels into some comfy black plimsoles.

The two-time Oscar winner styled her new pixie-cut hairdo with a simple black hairband and sported a fresh-faced palette of makeup.

Chloe Grace Moretz also put on a leggy display in a pair of black leather shorts and heeled boots.

She added a black button up jacket to her ensemble and carried her essentials in a cross body black leather handbag.

Elsewhere Jaden Smith flaunted his toned abs as he went topless beneath an open tweed caught the eye in a plunging tweed shirt with puffed sleeves.

The son of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett, 26, kept things casual by styling it with simple jeans and boots and accessorised with a slew of layered necklaces.

Adding a pop of colour Jennifer Connelly beamed in snaps as she opted for a bright red floaty dress which she paired with a quirky pair of strappy shoes.

Earlier in the evening Emma was joined by Sophie Turner and Ana De Armas at the Louis Vuitton show as the threesome pulled out all the stops for the catwalk.

The Bridgerton star paired the dress with black leather knee high boots and swept her hair into a sleek ponytail

The pair held hands as they made their way to the after party

The Poor Things star, 36, wrapped up in a stylish black coat before switching from her strappy black heels into some comfy black plimsoles

Chloe Grace Moretz also put on a leggy display in a pair of black leather shorts and heeled boots

She added a black button up jacket to her ensemble and carried her essentials in a cross body black leather handbag

Jaden Smith flaunted his toned abs as he went topless beneath an open tweed caught the eye in a plunging tweed shirt with puffed sleeves

The son of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett, 26, kept things casual by styling it with simple jeans and boots and accessorised with a slew of layered necklaces

Adding a pop of colour Jennifer Connelly beamed in snaps as she opted for a bright red floaty dress which she paired with a quirky pair of strappy shoes

Emma accessorised with a simple black headband

The sisters climbed out of their car together

Ana de Armas put on a leggy display in a floaty black jacket and matching cami dress

Meanwhile last month Harriet opened up about her sister's engagement to American actor Cameron Fuller.

Cameron popped the question while the family were enjoying a holiday together in the English countryside last May.

She got engaged at the Cotswolds, and it was so beautiful, Hattie told The Mail's Richard Eden at the TV Choice Awards last month.

All the family were there. She was crying her eyes out  it was tears of happiness.

Im not sure when shes getting married, said Hattie, 21. I think theyre just enjoying the engagement at the moment.

'Their engagement was such a lovely weekend. Shes not even thought about [the wedding] yet. Shes not even started thinking about anything yet.

The HAIM sisters were seen getting out of a taxi at Maxim's in Paris as they headed to the party (Seen is Este)

Alan Haim (left) looked delighted as she arrived at the restaurant while Danielle (right) made a cheerful exit from the taxi

Nymphomaniac star and French actress Stacy Martin arrives at the Louis Vuitton after party in Paris

Lea Seydoux opted for a smart black coat adorned with gold buttons with anchor detailing

Ana completed the look with a simple pair of black heels

Emma added some gold hooped earrings to her ensemble

Chloe waved to fans as she headed to the party

Phoebe and Harriet made sure to put on a stylish display in their mini dresses

Natalie Portman was also seen leaving Maxim's in Paris after the Louis Vuitton after-party

Jaden later covered up in a white leather jacket and black cap adorned with white beads

Emma looked the picture of sophistication

Chloe wore her hair in loose curls

Asked if she would be a bridesmaid, Hattie replies with a chuckle: Shes hasnt asked me yet, but I hope so.

Phoebe's mother Sally had previously shared her joy at her daughter's engagement, saying in May she couldn't wait for the wedding.

She said: 'My daughter has just got engaged ... He's gorgeous, he's such a lovely man. I'm so, so happy. I'm thrilled, it's actually made my year.'

Sally insisted she won't be getting involved in the couple's wedding plans and will let them decide what they want for their big day.

Discussing the ceremony, she said: 'To be honest, I'll be keeping well out of it.'
Minnie Driver cut a stylish figure on Tuesday, as she was spotted filming in Liverpool with James Nesbitt for Netflix's latest Harlan Coben series, Run Away.

The British-American actress, 55, who stars as Ingrid Greene in the new series, donned a chic purple coat and beige trousers with white stripes down the sides as she got to work filming.

Joining her on set was James, 60, who is leading the new thriller as Simon Greene, after previously having guest roles in the last two Harlan adaptations.

The actor cut a smart casual figure in a stylish brown suede jacket, shirt, and blue jeans as they strolled down the street.

The Cold Feet star was first spotted on the set of the highly-anticipated series last month, filming dramatic scenes with Minnie in Manchester.

He was seen covered in a spray of fake blood and looking panicked and shocked as the actress lay strapped on a gurney with an oxygen mask.

Minnie Driver cut a stylish figure on Tuesday, as she was spotted filming in Liverpool with James Nesbitt for Netflix's latest Harlan Coben series, Run Away

The British-American actress, 55, who stars as Ingrid Greene in the new series, donned a chic purple coat as she got to work filming

The scene appeared to be showing the aftermath of a major car accident, with Minnie being rushed into an ambulance by paramedics, and her body double spotted on set with blood on her neck.

In between shooting, the Good Will Hunting star was all smiles as she and James wrapped up in long padded coats and gloves and chatted away behind the scenes.

The star-studded cast of the series also includes Gavin & Stacey icon Ruth Jones, Harry Potter star Alfred Enoch, and Game of Thrones' Lucian Msamati.

It marks the return of Netflix's popular adaptations of Harlan's book, following the huge success of Fool Me Once, The Stranger, Stay Close and Missing You.

Run Away will follow Simon, a seemingly lucky man with a lovely wife and kids, a great job and a beautiful home. But then his eldest daughter Paige runs away, and everything falls apart.

When Simon finds Paige, vulnerable and strung out on drugs in a city park, he finally has the chance to bring his little girl home.

Only Paige doesnt necessarily want to be saved, and Simons mission leads him to a dangerous underworld of violence and secrets that could tear his family apart forever.

Summing up the story for Netflixs Tudum, Harlan said: 'Run Away is about family  about what we will do to keep our family intact, what secrets we keep within our family, and what secrets we keep as a family.'

To complete her ensemble, she sported a pair beige wide-leg trousers, which featured white stripes on the sides, and wore a stylish purple turtleneck jumper

Joining her on set was James, 60, who is leading the new thriller as Simon Greene, after previously having guest roles in the last two Harlan adaptations

The actor cut a smart casual figure in a stylish brown suede jacket, shirt, and blue jeans as they filmed scenes outdoors

'Every time you walk past the house, theres a whole universe that goes on behind that door and none of us have a clue what it is.'

While he said he immediately knew James would be perfect for the lead role, gushing: 'Jimmy just has so much range. Hes so natural and authentic at all times.

'Hes an empathetic actor in the sense that he feels, and then you feel for him.'

Run Away doesnt yet have a confirmed release date on Netflix, but its likely following the previous pattern all eight episodes will drop on January 1, 2026.

It comes following the success of Harlan's thriller Fool Me Once in 2024, starring Michelle Keegan in a lead role.

The show became the most-watched series for the first half of the year, racking up an impressive 108 million views.

It saw the British actress, 37, spot her presumed dead husband on a baby camera as her niece and nephew struggled to get to the bottom of the murder of their mother.

The drama, which aired in January 2024 to positive reviews, also starred Joanna Lumley and Richard Armitage.

Run Away doesnt yet have a confirmed release date on Netflix, but its likely following the previous pattern all eight episodes will drop on January 1, 2026 (James pictured in 2025's Missing You)

It comes following the success of Harlan's thriller Fool Me Once in 2024, starring Michelle Keegan in a lead role (pictured)

More recently, Harlan's mystery series Missing You filled Fool Me Once's big boots after it was well-received by viewers following its release at the end of December.

The five-part series followed Missing Persons detective Kat Donovan (Rosalind Eleazar) who was shocked to see her ex-fiance Josh (Ashley Walters) on a dating app 11 years after he disappeared from her life without a trace.

Josh's reappearance forced her to dive back into the mystery surrounding her father's (Lenny Henry) murder and led her to uncover long-buried secrets from her past.

Run Away's James and Fool Me Once actor Richard joined lead actress Rosalind in the cast which also included Steve Pemberton and Jessica Plummer.
Naomie Harris turned heads as she arrived at CBS Television Studios in New York City on Monday.

The 28 Days Later star, 48, looked ready for spring as she donned a chic black-and-white floral co-ord.

The stylish ensemble consisted of a crop top, showcasing her toned physique, with a structured bust and a matching midi skirt.

Flashing a glimpse of her taut midriff, Naomie added inches to her frame with a pair of classic black court heels.

To complete her look, the beauty styled her dark tresses in a volumised ponytail and wore a radiant palette of makeup.

She is currently in the city promoting her upcoming thriller Black Bag, in which she stars alongside Cate Blanchett, 55, Pierce Brosnan, 71, Marisa Abela, 28, and Michael Fassbender, 47.

Naomie Harris turned heads as she arrived at CBS Television Studios in New York City on Monday as she continues to promote her upcoming thriller movie, Black Bag

The 28 Days Later star, 48, looked ready for spring as she donned a chic black-and-white floral co-ord complete with classic black court heels

Earlier this week, Naomie looked in high spirits as she joined her co-stars for the movie's premiere at AMC Lincoln Square.

The actress turned heads wearing a chic black-and-white mesh number from Sukeina.

The daring ensemble featured black intricate mesh detailing, white knit sleeves, and a fringed hemline.

Naomie added inches to her frame with a pair of black pointed court heels and styled her dark tresses up in a chic low ponytail.

She appeared in high spirits as she joined her co-stars Cate and Marisa on the carpet ahead of the premiere.

Meanwhile, Cate looked sensational in an edgy-chic, head-to-toe faux leather ensemble.

As a top, she sported a shiny puffer jacket featuring multiple sleek, silver zipper details.

She tucked the voluminous top into a skintight, high-waisted midi skirt and completed her look with patent leather booties with a square-toe design.

Earlier this week, Naomie appeared in high spirits as she joined her glamorous co-stars for the movie's premiere at AMC Lincoln Square (L-R Marisa Abela, Cate Blanchett, and Naomie)

The actress turned heads wearing a chic black-and-white mesh number from Sukeina which featured black intricate mesh detailing, white knit sleeves, and a fringed hemline

Black Bag, which was directed by Steven Soderbergh, follows legendary intelligence agents George Woodhouse (Michael) and his wife Kathryn Woodhouse (Cate)

For the premiere of her new spy drama, which is set to hit theatres on Friday, March 14, she slicked back her platinum blonde bob to showcase her eye-catching statement earrings.

On the red carpet, Cate posed for a photo with all of the female actors starring in the flick.

She wrapped her arms around her co-stars Marisa and Naomie for a sweet group photo.

Marisa looked incredible as she modelled a crimson-coloured, satin tea dress with a subtly plunging neckline on the black 'red' carpet.

She opted out of any necklaces or bracelets to let the neckline and off-the-shoulder sleeves shine by themselves.

The Back to Black star completed her old Hollywood-inspired look with sheer black tights and pointed-toe pumps.

Black Bag, which was directed by Steven Soderbergh, follows legendary intelligence agents George Woodhouse (Michael) and his wife Kathryn Woodhouse (Cate).

The synopsis for the thriller reads: 'When his beloved wife Kathryn is suspected of betraying the nation, intelligence agent George Woodhouse faces the ultimate test  loyalty to his marriage or his country.'

Black Bag is set to receive a theatrical release on Friday, March 14.
NRL player Corey Norman and his gorgeous fiancee Nicole Shiraz are man and wife.

The glamorous couple walked down the aisle at a lavish ceremony in Rumah Luwi, Bali late last month at a three day shindig that spared no expense.

The stunning influencer and Air Closet founder, 30, wore a custom Pallas Couture wedding gown before changing into two different reception dresses.

Just 50 guests attended the festivities, including NRL players James Segyaro, Joseph Paolo, Matt Moylan, Nathan Peats, Dean Whare and Justin Horo.

Nicole tells Daily Mail Australia that Bali was the location of choice as it is a vital part of the couple's history.

'We always knew we wanted a destination wedding. But Bali always had a special place in our hearts' Nicole said.

NRL player Corey Norman and his gorgeous fiancee Nicole Shiraz are man and wife. Both pictured

The glamorous couple walked down the aisle at a lavish ceremony in Rumah Luwih. Bali late last month

They hosted a three day shindig that spared no expense

'We chose Bali because it only felt right to finish off our fairytale story where it all started. Corey proposed to me February last year in Bali, on a romantic floating dinner in the middle of the ocean in Komodo Island.

'I am also half Indonesian so I wanted to incorporate some cultural elements for my big day too.'

The small guest list was deliberate, with the pair initially planning to elope.

'We had 50 guests in total. We actually originally wanted to elope with just family but then we couldn't do it without our closest friends, who are basically like family to us. so we finally decided to do an intimate small wedding' she said.

'We shared some deep personal vows and only wanted certain people on the day to witness and hear it' Nicole continued.

'We had family from Corey's side who had never left their postcode, never even travelled interstate who then travelled to Bali for our wedding. It was a special moment for us.'

Tears were shed by both the bride and groom when it came to exchanges 'I dos'.

'It was very emotional. I cried before walking down the aisle. I started crying when I was taking photos with my family just before' Nicole admits.

The stunning influencer and Air Closet founder, 30, wore a custom Pallas Couture wedding gown before changing into two different reception dresses

Just 50 guests attended the festivities, including NRL players James Segyaro, Joseph Paolo, Matt Moylan, Nathan Peats, Dean Whare and Justin Horo

Nicole tells Daily Mail Australia that Bali was the location of choice as it is a vital part of the couple's history

'We always knew we wanted a destination wedding. But Bali always had a special place in our hearts' Nicole said

'We chose Bali because it only felt right to finish off our fairytale story where it all started. Corey proposed to me February last year in Bali, on a romantic floating dinner in the middle of the ocean in Komodo Island' Nicole explained

'I am also half Indonesian so I wanted to incorporate some cultural elements for my big day too' she added

'When I started walking down the aisle with my dad, it started to hit me even more'.

Corey, 34, was likewise caught up in the romance of all all, telling Daily Mail Australia: 'I was more excited than emotional when I saw Nicole walk down the aisle.

'But I have to admit I started tearing up when she was reading her vows to me. Our vows were very similar and I couldn't hold the tears.'

Nicole confessed that she had a few moments of nerves.

'I remember my veil was getting caught on my dress on the concrete, and there was moment when we walked up the stairs to the chapel, I couldn't take the final step up the stairs.

'I just whispered to my dad 'I can't do this'' she said of her butterflies before the ceremony.

'I wanted to just turn around and not go through. I think the nerves hit me knowing everyone was sitting in that chapel waiting for me to reveal.

'My dad whispered back and said 'You've got this' and I lifted my dress got unstuck and took the last step to the chapel.'

Nicole had an army of assistants on hand to make sure her big day went off without a hitch

'I just remember having like five personal assistants just for myself on the day. I had one assistant just to hold my phone for me' she said with a laugh

'Everyone had head pieces, it was a full production for such a small intimate wedding. There was at least 20 people from my wedding planner side' she added

Nicole didn't pinch her pennies when it came to her wedding gown either, with a custom creation from Pallas Couture. 'I told them I didn't want to wear something another bride had already worn. 'I wanted a princess gown but minimalist with classic touches' she said

After the couple walked down the aisle, there was a cocktail hour where guests mingled and enjoyed the open bar

Espresso martinis were the drink of choice as it is the bride and grooms favourite cocktail

Nicole had an army of assistants on hand to make sure her big day went off without a hitch.

'I just remember having like five personal assistants just for myself on the day. I had one assistant just to hold my phone for me' she said with a laugh.

'Everyone had head pieces, it was a full production for such a small intimate wedding. There was at least 20 people from my wedding planner side.'

The groom was just as well catered for, Nicole explained.

'Corey had his own personal assistant, my parents, the MC, even Corey's mum had one' she said.

Nicole didn't pinch her pennies when it came to her wedding and reception gowns either, with custom creations from Pallas Couture.

'I told them I didn't want to wear something another bride had already worn. We had about ten fittings in total' she said of her wedding dress.

'I wanted a princess gown but minimalist with classic touches' Nicole added.

The bride and groom sat down to a meal and their favourite espresso martinis

The festivities that lasted all night, complete with a champagne tower and a DJ pumping up the jams on the dance floor

The couple shared their first dance at the intimate party

'They were amazing to work with. They also custom made me a mini dress for the reception. We took inspiration from Dior's latest runaway collection'.

Her second reception outfit was from Corston Couture.

'I didn't custom make this. I fell in love with it when I tried it on at their store in Sydney.

'It was the Hollywood dress and I knew it was perfect for my black tie wedding theme' she said.

Third was another Pallas Couture custom creation.

'They also custom made me a mini dress for the reception. We took inspiration from Diors latest runaway collection' she said.

The three day event consisted of welcome drinks for guests and family the day before the wedding, followed by the ceremony itself.

After the couple walked down the aisle, there was a cocktail hour where guests mingled and enjoyed the open bar.

Espresso martinis were the drink of choice as it is the bride and grooms favourite cocktail.

The bride changed into her first reception dress from Corston Couture and made her grand entrance for the reception party that lasted all night, complete with a champagne tower and a DJ pumping up the jams on the dance floor.

The brides third outfit was another Pallas Couture custom creation

'They also custom made me a mini dress for the reception' she said

'We took inspiration from Diors latest runaway collection' Nicole added

The party got wild and guests even dancing on tables

One guest kicked off her shoes and had a ball dancing upon the tablecloth

The dance floor saw friends and family busting some moves

The theme was black tie - and it was mandatory for guests to wear formal outfits, with everyone on site banned from wearing anything white - and that included staff

'I was the only one who was allowed to wear white on the day. Even the workers all had to wear black' Nicole says

The following day there was an all white recovery party at Moonstone Bali, a beach club lounge where guests could relax, swim and continue drinking

The theme was black tie - and it was mandatory for guests to wear formal outfits, with everyone on site banned from wearing anything white - and that included staff.

'I was the only one who was allowed to wear white on the day. Even the workers all had to wear black' Nicole says.

Nicole changed into her third dress of the day, a custom mini from Pallas Couture, with the party getting wild and guests even dancing on tables.

The following day there was an all white recovery party at Moonstone Bali, a beach club lounge where guests could relax, swim and continue drinking.

Next the bride and groom will enjoy a daring honeymoon on 12 day safari in Africa.

'It was both a childhood dream of ours. We didn't want to do the cliche Maldives or Fiji' Nicole explained.

'We wanted to go all out on our honeymoon and experience something adventurous as first time husband and wife.'

Corey showcased his romantic side in a lavish proposal to Nicole last year.

Next the bride and groom will enjoy a daring honeymoon on 12 day safari in Africa

'It was both a childhood dream of ours. We didn't want to do the cliche Maldives or Fiji' Nicole explained

'We wanted to go all out on our honeymoon and experience something adventurous as first time husband and wife' she added

The genetically blessed couple have been together since January of 2022 and became engaged in Bali last year

Norman popped the question to the influencer over dinner when he hired a floating wharf in Bali, producing what is believed to be an impressive three-carat ring.

Both later confirmed their engagement on Instagram, with Shiraz labelling her soon to be husband 'her best friend and soulmate.'

Norman made his NRL debut with the Broncos in 2010, followed by stints with the Eels and Dragons before playing abroad in France and England.

The genetically blessed couple have been together since January of 2022.
Bella Hadid was all smiles as she joined her sister Gigi at the Chateau Voltaire in Paris during Fashion Week.

The model, 28, wore a black lace trimmed crop top with a low-slung maxi skirt as she headed out for the evening.

She layered over a hooded leather bomber jacket, added a pair of stiletto heels and pulled her hair back into a sleek bun.

Meanwhile, Gigi opted for a black fitted top which she teamed with wide leg satin trousers.

She topped off her stylish look with a beige trench coat, which she cinched in at the waist and heeled boots.

Fashion Week kicked off last week and will run until March 11, with high-profile designers set to showcase their womenswear Fall/Winter 2025/2026 collections.

Bella Hadid (L) was all smiles as she joined her sister Gigi (R) at the Chateau Voltaire in Paris during Fashion Week on Monday

The model, 28, wore a black lace trimmed crop top with a low-slung maxi skirt as she headed out for the evening

Bella has been dating cowboy Adan Banuelos since January 2023 and the couple bought Fort Worth, TX home one year ago.

The half-Dutch, half-Palestinian stunner previously dated art director Marc Kalman, R&B belter The Weeknd, and Cha Cha Matcha founder Matthew Morton.

Bella - who used to be a competitive equestrian - has most recently worked with Frankies Bikinis on a new swimwear collaboration, which launched last Tuesday.

The IMG Model flashed her $140 'Austin' underwire bikini top and $80 leopard-print 'Full Moon' bikini bottoms after pulling down her black leather pants inside a horse barn.

Bella - who used to be a competitive equestrian - impressively filmed a selfie video riding a white horse while clad in the $215 brown-suede 'Paradise' halter bikini top and matching $125 'Wrangler' booty shorts.

She also modelled the $90 black 'Sunday' halter bikini top while riding a grey horse for the same shoot captured by photographer Alana O'Herlihy.

In a shot aboard a boat, the model wore a $90 white polka-dot 'Dalton' micro-bikini bottom with matching $120 'Angel' bikini top.

She leaned over a fence as she modelled the $110 white 'Little Miss' top with the matching $140 wrap 'Little Miss' mini-shorts.

Meanwhile, Gigi opted for a black fitted top which she teamed with wide leg satin trousers

She topped off her stylish look with a beige trench coat, which she cinched in at the waist and heeled boots

Fashion Week kicked off last week and will run until March 11, with high-profile designers set to showcase their womenswear Fall/Winter 2025/2026 collections

Bella - who used to be a competitive equestrian - has most recently worked with Frankies Bikinis on a new swimwear collaboration, which launched last Tuesday

In a shot aboard a boat, she wore a $90 white polka-dot 'Dalton' micro-bikini bottom with matching $120 'Angel' bikini top

Bella - who plans on releasing more capsules in April and June - grew up in Malibu being childhood friends with Frankies Bikinis founder Francesca Aiello.

'Thank you to my sister Frank. I'm so proud of you and all that you do,' Bella - who boasts 73M social media followers - gushed on February 23.

'[I] can't believe we're so lucky to get to create and love on each other as work! Launch night, our campaign shoot, the progression of collection has been a dream come true. Your heart, brain, generosity, love, kindness, [and] hard work are just some of the reasons I have always and will forever love you!

'You are a star baby! Thank you to such an amazing team and group of women at @frankiesbikinis for an incredible launch, accepting my ideas, brainstorming, and allowing us to make such a fun collection.'
Strictly star Iwan Thomas's son Teddy has been rushed to hospital after breaking his arm after an accident.

The Olympic athlete, 51, who competed on the BBC dance show back in 2015, took to Instagram on Monday night as he shared an update on his eldest son's health.

Posting snaps of Teddy, six, bandaged up with his cast on in the hospital bed, Iwan gushed over how proud he was of his son's bravery.

He penned: 'We are so immensely proud of Teddy. He has been through so much in his life already and now a broken arm that required surgery but yet he doesnt moan at all, just gets on with it and shows nothing but kindness and love to others.

'We can all learn so much from kids, their resilience and courage humbles me daily.

'Thank you Teddy for teaching me so much and making me want to be a better person.Thanks for all the kind messages of support'.

Strictly star Iwan Thomas' son has been rushed to hospital after an accident as his dad gushes he's 'immensely proud' after sharing snaps from A&E to Instagram on Monday

The Olympic athlete, 51, shared an update on his eldest son Teddy's health after he broke his arm

Teddy had a challenging start in life after he was born premature back in December 2018 and was taken straight to the intensive care unit at the Princess Anne hospital in Southampton after experiencing problems with his breathing.

He told fans at the time: 'Yesterday was the worst day of my life looking at my everything with tubes everywhere in an incubator. He is now beginning to breathe better for himself without full aid of machines, I now know what true unconditional love is.'

Iwan later revealed his son had Group B Strep and this was the cause of his breathing difficulties.

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a bacteria that is carried by up to 40 per cent of adults, usually in the gut, and 25 per cent of women in their vaginas, without typically causing symptoms.

Infants can suffer early-onset GBS infections, which are much more common and occur when the infant is up to six days old, if they come into contact with the bacteria in the womb or during birth.

This causes them to develop rapid breathing problems and blood poisoning.

Speaking on This Morning the athlete said that he went into shock following the news that his son was in intensive care following breathing difficulties.

He explained: 'I went home to have a shower, and got a phone call and they said please come back hes in intensive care. I thought, is this a joke?'

Posting snaps of Teddy, six, bandaged up with his cast on in the hospital bed, Iwan gushed over how proud he was of his son's bravery

Iwan also shared an X-ray of his son's broken arm

Iwan competed on BBC show Strictly Come Dancing in 2015, where he was partnered with Ola Jordan

Iwan also shares sons Bowie, 12 months and Dougie, three, with his partner, who he has never named

The father said during the pregnancy no one had said anything about Strep B.

He continued: 'We werent are of it at all, if wed known we would have had the private test for it.'

Once he got back to the hospital Iwan revealed it was a tough time for him and his partner: 'It was frightening, before you know it, there were tubes everywhere.'

After a day he said that Teddy was moved from nursery 4 and into nursery 1 intensive care units and doctors thought he was out of the worst of it.

But then his blood score was measured, which showed the level of virus in his blood.

Iwan continued: 'It had gone from 14 to 120 - and they had to do a lumbar puncture to do a see if he had an infection in his spinal fluid or in his brain,

'I went home that night and cried and then made the mistake of googling Strep B and read one in 10 babies die after treatment.'

Thankfully after treatment Teddy's blood score went from 120 down to 6 and they could take him home.

But Iwan said that they still had to be vigilant, as doctors have said that Strep B can stay in the babies system for up to three months.

He continued: 'We panic with everything. He had green poo and I thought it was Strep B coming back, but it was perfectly normal. Were still ultra-paranoid though.'

Iwan also shares sons Bowie, 12 months and Dougie, three, with his partner, who he has never named.
Emma Corrin put on a quirky display as they joined chic Sydney Sweeney and Gigi Hadid at the Miu Miu show during Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday.

The Crown star, 29, wore a blue pleated mini skirt with a dramatic high waistband and a pink shirt tucked in.

Emma layered over two belts, added a pair of knee-high socks and lace-up leather flats to complete the look.

Sydney, 27, looked stylish in a leather set, consisting of a cropped jacket with a matching puff ball mini skirt.

The actress wore two button up cardigans underneath, one brown and one white, with knee-high leg warmers.

She topped off her outfit with strappy stiletto heels, a brown handbag and a pair of tortoise shell sunglasses.

Emma Corrin put on a quirky display at the Miu Miu show during Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday

The Crown star was joined chic Sydney Sweeney, 27, and Gigi Hadid, 29, at the hotly-anticipated event

Gigi wore a leather bomber jacket with a pair of matching wide leg trousers and black pumps.

Emma came out as non-binary in 2022 and told Vogue at the time, 'In my mind, gender just isnt something that feels fixed and I dont know if it ever will be; there might always be some fluidity there for me.'

The Hollywood star added, 'I like people. My first date with a girl, they were like, "Oh! Youre a baby queer!"

'It was amazing. We actually didnt end up seeing each other again, but she really gave me the lowdown.'

They added, 'Im working out all this complex gender and sexuality stuff. And yet, Im seeing a guy? That feels very juxtaposed, even if Im very happy.'

Emma has been dating Bohemian Rhapsody actor Rami Malek, 43, since at least July 2023, which is when they made their relationship public.

Emma and Sydney were joined at the show by Barbara Palvin, A$AP Rocky, and Renee Rapp.

Barbara, 31, also wore a pleated mini skirt, teamed with a brown jacket, a checked shirt and a bright green strapless top.

Elsewhere, A$AP Rocky looked smart in a grey trench coat, with a brown quarter zip and a pair of blue trousers.

Emma wore a blue pleated mini skirt with a dramatic high waistband and a pink shirt tucked in

Sydney, 27, looked stylish in a leather set, consisting of a cropped jacket with a matching puff ball mini skirt

The actress wore two button up cardigans underneath, one brown and one white, with knee-high leg warmers

Gigi wore a leather bomber jacket with a pair of matching wide leg trousers and black pumps

The model accessorised with a knitted hat

Gigi was in high spirits, posing for fun photos as she arrived at the show

Emma and Sydney were joined at the show by Barbara Palvin

The model wore a checked shirt and a bright green strapless top

Elsewhere, A$AP Rocky looked smart in a grey trench coat, with a brown quarter zip and a pair of blue trousers

Camila Coelho wore a sporty look to the event

Renee Rapp wore a white polo top with a tennis skirt

A$AP Rocky, 36, has been enjoying Fashion Week in Paris following his acquittal on two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.

The rapper will soon be headed back to Los Angeles, Rihanna and their sons RZA, two, and Riot, 19 months.

He will be returning to the stage for the first time since his acquittal.

The Am I Dreaming artist will be headlining the Rolling Loud music festival on Saturday night in Inglewood, CA.

The three-time Grammy nominee was acquitted of shooting former friend, Terell Ephron, known as A$AP Relli, during an altercation in Hollywood in 2021.

A$AP Rocky was cleared of two counts of felony assault with a semiautomatic firearm following a three-week trial.

The musician had faced two decades in prison for his alleged involvement in a 2021 dust-up with Relli, but was found not guilty after defence attorney-to-the-stars Joe Tacopina convinced jurors Rocky was the victim of an extortion plot.

His girlfriend Rihanna had drawn attention during her outings to the court to support her boyfriend.

In multiple outings, the music superstar was seated between Rocky's mother Renee Black and sister Erika B. Mayers.

The Diamonds artist had brought their young children to the court for closing arguments in the felony case.

After the verdicts were read out, Rocky ran over and dived into Rihanna's, who erupted in tears.

Alix Earle looked stunning in a bright blue biker jacket with a knee-length skirt

Nara Smith looked stylish in a striped bandeau top and smart trousers

Camille Rowe opted for a tan suede jacket and navy trousers

Laura Harrier looked chic in a white crop top and navy trousers

Models walked the runway in knee socks and hats

Sydney and A$AP Rocky were seated together on the front row

A$AP Rocky, 36, has been enjoying Fashion Week in Paris following his acquittal on two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm

He later DailyMail.com in an exclusive statement: 'I cannot express how relieved I am especially for our family.

'Rihanna and I can get back to our lives and our kids without this trial hanging over our heads like it has been for the last three years.'

'Thanks y'all for saving my life,' a jubilant Rocky had told the jury, composed of seven women and five men, as he left the courtroom

But he reserved his biggest praise for lawyer Joe, a veteran litigator whose celebrity client list reads like a who's who of the rich and powerful.

'Joe believed in me, always told me it would be alright and showed why he is considered the best trial lawyer in the country,' gushed Rocky.

He added: 'Aside from Joe I need to thank God and this amazing jury.'

Rocky and Umbrella singer Rihanna reportedly pledged to name their next child A$AP Joe as a measure of their gratitude.

'He could have been going to a state prison for upwards of a decade so he realises this was a watershed moment in his life,' Joe told DailyMail.com.

Gigi beamed and waved towards fans as she arrived at the star-studded show
'Natalie' Nadya Suleman was already a mother-of-six via IVF treatment when she decided to have one more child, but Beverly Hills fertility doctor Dr. Michael Kamrava controversially implanted 12 embryos instead of the recommended two.

Dr. Kamrava - who was later expelled from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine - informed the 49-year-old 'Octomom' she was pregnant with seven, but her 'mother's intuition' said she had eight inside.

'I kept asking. I keep reiterating over and over, "Are you certain there's not an eighth?" and [the ultrasound technician] said, "Absolutely not. I'm a very skilled ultrasound technician. If there were eight, I'd see them,"' Nadya recalled in Lifetime's Confessions of Octomom.

'Not that he wasn't a skilled technician, but the more [children] there are  all the doctors were confirming  the less likely you are able to discern exactly how many there are.'

After Suleman delivered seven babies in January 2009, doctors examined her uterus and 'felt a hand.'

'So, there was a hidden baby!' the divorced mother-of-14 - who identifies as asexual - marveled.

'Natalie' Nadya Suleman was already a mother-of-six via IVF treatment when she decided to have one more child, but Beverly Hills fertility doctor Dr. Michael Kamrava controversially implanted 12 embryos instead of the recommended two (pictured in 2009)

Dr. Kamrava - who was later expelled from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine - informed the 49-year-old 'Octomom' she was pregnant with seven, but her 'mother's intuition' said she had eight inside (pictured in 2009)

'He was one of the biggest. How did they miss a 3 1/2 pound baby? He was pretty big, so that was shocking.'

Nadya later sued the hospital she gave birth in for exposing her to the media: 'They breached HIPAA. I never wanted fame.'

Suleman was unemployed and on government aid at the time and received massive backlash, which eventually led to a suicide attempt after working as a stripper, adult film actress, and boxer to make ends meet.

The therapist went into hiding for the last 13 years, but she's now sharing her story in the six-episode docuseries Confessions of Octomom, which premiered Monday on Lifetime.

'My family and I are taking our life back,' Nadya noted.

The docuseries promises to finally unveil the identity of the sperm donor for all 14 of Suleman's children, who's rumored to be David Solomon.

The Orange County native also scored her very own biopic I Was Octomom starring Kristen Lee Gutoskie and directed by Brianne Nord-Stewart, which premiered last Saturday on Lifetime.

Nadya has raised the world's first surviving octuplets - Noah, Josiah, Nariyah, Maliyah, Jonah, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Makai - very strictly by not allowing them to date or have social media until they're 18.

On August 30, Suleman became a grandmother when her 21-year-old son Joshua and her 'lovely daughter in law' welcomed their 'beautiful' daughter.

After Nadya delivered seven babies in January 2009, doctors examined her uterus and 'felt a hand' so 'there was a hidden baby!'

Suleman later sued the hospital she gave birth in for exposing her to the media: 'They breached HIPAA. I never wanted fame'

The therapist went into hiding for the last 13 years, but she's now sharing her story in the six-episode docuseries Confessions of Octomom, which premiered Monday on Lifetime

The docuseries promises to finally unveil the identity of the sperm donor for all 14 of Nadya's children, who's rumored to be David Solomon
Benedict Cumberbatch looked in great spirits and waved to fans as he was spotted filming at St Pancras station in London on Monday.

The actor, 48, is believed to be shooting scenes for Guy Ritchie's upcoming film Wife And Dog.

He looked suave in a beige jacket which he wore with khaki trousers and smart boots.

Benedict was seen with a crew member walking up the steps of the iconic north London building before turning around to give a friendly wave.

He then entered the Renaissance Hotel at the back of the station where there were hoards of fans and camera crew.

Wife and Dogs also stars Rosamund Pike and Anthony Hopkins and they were all seen filming at Sandown Racecourse in Esher, Surrey, last month.

Benedict Cumberbatch looked in great spirits and waved to fans as he was spotted filming at St Pancras station in London on Monday

The award-winning actor, 48, is believed to be shooting scenes for Guy Ritchie's upcoming film Wife And Dog

The upcoming film also stars James Norton, Paddy Considine and Pip Torrens.

Plot details are being kept under wraps on the movie, but it's described as a 'return to the colourful, back-stabbing world of the British aristocracy Richie explored in The Gentlemen film and TV series.'

It comes after last month Benedict opened up about a terrifying experience that helped shape his life in an unusual way over 20 years ago.

The star was in his 20s when he was on the set of the 2004 BBC miniseries To the Ends of the Earth in South Africa.

He was on a driving excursion with some friends during his downtime when the car they were in got a flat tire.

While they were on the side of the road, they were robbed and abducted by six men and forced into a car.

They were driven around in the car for hours before being let out and ordered to sit execution style before the abductors fled.

Although the actor and his friends were not physically harmed, it changed him irrevocably, he revealed in a new Variety interview where he also opened up about his worries about aging.

'It gave me a sense of time, but not necessarily a good one. It made me impatient to live a life less ordinary, and I'm still dealing with that impatience,' he said.

He looked suave in a beige jacket which he wore with khaki trousers and smart boots as he strode around on set

The experience turned him into an 'adrenaline junkie' who used to unwind by going skydiving and participating in extreme sports.

'The near-death stuff turbo-fueled all that. It made me go, 'Oh, right, yeah, I could die at any moment,'' Cumberbatch admitted.

'I was throwing myself out of planes, taking all sorts of risks. But apart from my parents, I didn't have any real dependents at that point,' he admitted.

The actor is now the father of three children - sons Christopher, 9, Hal, 7 and Finn, 6 - with wife Sophie Hunter, who celebrated their 10th anniversary on Valentine's Day.

He admitted that being a family man has, 'changed,' his thrill-seeking ways, adding, 'that sobers you.'

'I've looked over the edge. It's made me comfortable with what lies beneath it. And I've accepted that that's the end of all our stories,' Cumberbatch said.

He added of fatherhood, 'The minute you have kids this sense of time sinks in far more profoundly.

Benedict was seen with a crew member walking up the steps of the iconic north London building before turning around to give a friendly wave

He then entered the Renaissance Hotel at the back of the station where there were hoards of fans and camera crew

Wife and Dogs also stars Rosamund Pike and Anthony Hopkins and they were all seen filming at Sandown Racecourse in Esher, Surrey, last month

He added of his youngest, who just turned six years old earlier this month, 'I'm like, 'I will be in my 60s when he's 21,' you know? It's crazy. It's gone so fast.

'So there's a huge shift in priorities, and it makes you value what you do with your life in a very different way,' he added.

The actor continued, 'It does weigh on me. When you become a parent, your thoughts turn more towards mortality.'

The actor is getting ready to return as Doctor Strange in the highly-anticipated Marvel movie Avengers: Doomsday.
Gal Gadot has revealed she's struggled with raising her four daughters in the 'confusing world of filters and TikTok.'

The Wonder Woman star, 39, shares daughters Alma, 13, Maya, eight, Daniella, three, and Ori, 12 months, with her husband Jaron Varsano.

In a new interview with DuJour Magazine, Gal admitted that she feels growing up was 'easier for her,' than it will be for her children as social media didn't exist.

The star made the comparison while discussing her role as the Evil Queen in the upcoming live-action adaptation of Snow White, a character famously envious of the titular heroine due to her ageless beauty.

She said: 'I always tell my kids that for me, growing up was so much easier than it is for you.

'They grew up with all these filters. With curated postings. They think it's real, not knowing that it's been totally filtered and retouched. I tell them, ''Whatever you see out there, it's false, not true.'' It's a very confusing world for a girl.'

Gal Gadot has revealed she's struggled with raising her four daughters in the 'confusing world of filters and TikTok '

The Wonder Woman star shares daughters Alma, 13, Maya, eight, Daniella, three, and Ori, 12 months, with her husband Jaron Varsano

In a new interview with DuJour Magazine, Gal admitted that she feels growing up was 'easier for her,' than it will be for her children as social media didn't exist

The star also offered insight into the 'mayhem' of her busy household, admitting it's a stark contrast to the 'very, very quiet' home she grew up in in Israel.

Laughing she added: 'If you come to my house, they laugh, they fight, they cry. Its a whole range of emotions, and I love it. Yes, its a lot. I juggle. I do my best and we have help and my husband does the best job as a dad. I dont sleep a lot.'

It comes after Gal spoke candidly for the first time about the terrifying blood clot she suffered during her fourth pregnancy.

The star was expecting her fourth child with husband Jaron Varsano last February when she was plagued by terrible headaches.

After getting it checked out further, she was ultimately diagnosed with cerebral venous thrombosis, which is so rare it accounts for just 3% of strokes worldwide.

Speaking on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, she said: 'I had a huge scare. All of the sudden, I realised what it means to be scared to death.

She added that she was, 'very pregnant' with her daughter Ori, who just turned one year old last week, adding she's only, 'talking about it just because I think it's so important.'

'If someone there - out there in the world's going to have the same thing and because she heard my story, she's gonna get checked,' she said to applause.

The star made the comparison while discussing her role as the Evil Queen in the upcoming live-action adaptation of Snow White

Nothing the challenges of raising her daughters in the social media age, she said: 'I always tell my kids that for me, growing up was so much easier than it is for you'

'They grew up with all these filters. With curated postings. They think it's real, not knowing that it's been totally filtered and retouched,' she added

The star also offered insight into the 'mayhem' of her busy household, admitting it's a stark contrast to the 'very, very quiet' home she grew up in in Israel

She added: 'If you come to my house, they laugh, they fight, they cry. Its a whole range of emotions, and I love it'

It comes after Gal spoke candidly for the first time about the terrifying blood clot she suffered during her fourth pregnancy

The star was expecting her fourth child with husband Jaron Varsano last February when she was plagued by terrible headaches

Real the full interview in DuJour's Spring Print Issue, on sale now

Gadot continued, 'I had a brain clot, and it was a huge one. Like three. I had three. When I do something, I do it all the way,' she said with a laugh.

She added it started when she started having, 'major headaches for three weeks. And have seen doctors and different neurologists. You've got to advocate for your health.'

'Our bodies are always communicating with us. We just need to listen and get checked. If anything, you're going to check, you're going to overcheck yourself, but it's better to overcheck than to not check,' she added.

Gadot said her doctors told her, "It's probably a migraine. It's the hormones," but after they persisted for three weeks, her mother spoke up.

'Then, three weeks later, like after having those crazy headaches, my mom is like, "You need to check it now. Like, just go and get an MRI,"' she added.

After getting an MRI, she added, 'They found out this horrible thing and we were rushed to the hospital, and they got the baby out immediately.'

'I went through a a thrombectomy. I had the most amazing team. They cared for me in Cedars-Sinai,' she said to more applause.

'They saved my life. Mara and Dr. Song, and Michael Alexander. Thank you so much for saving my life,' she added.

'But I think, you know, just -- just love yourself and check yourself, and be on top of your health.

She said the baby Ori is healthy, describing her as, 'a little caterpillar.'

Real the full interview in DuJour's Spring Print Issue, on sale now.
Pregnant Olivia Culpo is at least six months along in her pregnancy with husband Christian McCaffrey, a source has told DailyMail.com.

The pregnancy is hardly new.

'She started telling very close family members she was pregnant around Thanksgiving,' a pal told DailyMail.com.

'Olivia has done a very good job at hiding her pregnancy with baggy clothing and covering her tummy with purses. She even used her dog Olive to help cover her bump.'

And the source added it is all she and Christina wanted: 'She is thrilled to be having a baby with the love of her life.'

This news comes as she was seen in unbuttoned jeans and a maxi shirt when with her dog in Los Angeles last weekend in images released only on Tuesday.

Pregnant Olivia Culpo is at least six months along in her pregnancy with husband Christian McCaffrey, a source has told DailyMail.com

The pregnancy is hardly new. 'She started telling family she was pregnant around Thanksgiving ,' a pal told DailyMail.com

The source also said many fans have pretty much known that Olivia was pregnant as she started hiding her midsection in November.

'She used to flaunt her abs on social media and then in November, that was over. Fans were pretty much aware something was up and would ask Olivia constantly on DM if she was pregnant,' said the source.

On Monday she was seen trying to conceal her bump in new maternity wear. She had on an oversized denim top that matched her blue denim jeans - which were not buttoned on top - while out in Los Angeles.

The star added a backwards-worn brown cap.

The model, 32, wed McCaffrey, 28, last summer.

Culpo made the announcement on social media on Monday morning, posing for pictures where she touched her bump.

She captioned the post: 'Next chapter, motherhood'. She also shared a video of her and McCaffrey holding hands and kissing during an outdoor shoot.

The couple, who began their romance in 2019, are yet to announce the gender of the baby.

McCaffrey is the star running back for the San Francisco 49ers.

'Olivia has done a very good job at hiding her pregnancy with baggy clothing and covering her tummy with purses. She even used her dog Olive to help cover her bump'

This news comes as she was seen in unbuttoned jeans and a maxi shirt when with her dog in Los Angeles last weekend in images released only on Tuesday

And the source added it is all she and Christina wanted said the source: 'She is thrilled to be having a baby with the love of her life'

Culpo has been open about her desire to start a family with McCaffrey before but has also talked about her battle with endometriosis.

In a 2022 episode of reality show 'Culpo Sisters, she said: 'I want to have kids, but I want to make sure that I can. It could be really hard for me to have babies.

'Endometriosis can affect your fertility in a lot of different ways.

'You can have endometrial tissue growing near or on your ovaries, it can affect the quality of your eggs, scar your fallopian tubes.

'There is so much that I don't know about what's going to happen in the future with that condition, and I worry all the time about my timeline. I feel like I have to have kids ASAP.'

'Endometriosis wreaked havoc on my life' she said, adding that it took her 'years and years and years to finally get a diagnosis.'

The star - pictured 2023 with McCaffrey - has previously spoken about her battle with endometriosis

Culpo and McCaffrey announced on Monday that they are expecting their first child

Culpo, 32, also shared a video of her and McCaffrey romantically holding hands and kissing

The Rhode Island native said she remembered 'not being able to function' and suffered the 'type of pain that kept [her] in bed all day,' but was not able to get an immediate diagnosis.

'I went to doctor after doctor after doctor, I was told by every single doctor I went to - dozens - that my periods were normal that pain is normal that discomfort is normal that I just need to take medicine,' Culpo said, noting that she 'was prescribed all sorts of things and the pain was not getting any better.'

The one-time Miss Universe said she 'was almost made to feel like [she] was making up [her] symptoms and overreacting,' which was 'very painful physically and also emotionally, because [her] pain was never validated.'
On Monday, Kristen Stewart was hard at work on the Los Angeles set of her fiancee Dylan Meyer's feature directorial debut The Wrong Girls.

Compared to her off-screen grunge style, the 34-year-old Oscar nominee looked surprisingly polished in a chic black jacket, matching mini-skirt, dark stockings, and lace-up boots selected by costume designer Heidi Bivens.

Hair department head Vanessa Price coiffed Kristen's newly platinum-blonde locks into a fringe-fronted ponytail so she could better embody her stoner character Frankie in the mistaken identity Neon drama.

The 37-year-old nepo-baby of Oscar-nominated screenwriter Nicholas Meyer spent '13 years' honing the script for The Wrong Girls - which also features Alia Shawkat, Seth Rogen, Kumail Nanjiani, LaKeith Stanfield, and Tony Hale.

'If I couldn't share with [Dylan] and make with her and collaborate with her I would do it with other people and we wouldn't be as close,' Stewart confessed on The Late Show last year.

On Monday, Kristen Stewart was hard at work on the Los Angeles set of her fiancee Dylan Meyer's feature directorial debut The Wrong Girls

'I need to have that [in a relationship]. And she is so much better and smarter and cooler and hotter than me.'

Last year, the inseparable couple co-founded a production company called Nevermind Pictures with Maggie Mclean, and they wrapped Kristen's feature directorial debut, The Chronology of Water, in Latvia last June.

Stewart's big-screen adaptation of Lidia Yuknavitch's 2011 memoir will star Imogen Poots, Thora Birch, Jim Belushi, and Tom Sturridge.

The Love Me actress was said to have originally met Meyer in 2013 on the set of a film (most likely Camp X-Ray), and they announced their engagement on The Howard Stern Show in November 2021 after two years of dating.

Kristen will next portray Michael Cera's onscreen pregnant wife Rosie in her ex-boyfriend Michael Angarano's critically-acclaimed road trip comedy Sacramento hitting US theaters on April 11.

Stewart originally met the 37-year-old Emmy-nominated actor while co-starring in Jessica Sharzer's high school drama Speak, and they dated for six years until 2009 when she moved on with her Twilight leading man Robert Pattinson.

The bisexual beauty has also reportedly romanced Sara Dinkin, Stella Maxwell, St. Vincent, Soko, Nicholas Hoult, Alicia Cargile, Lane Garrison, and the late Anton Yelchin.

Kristen's other upcoming projects include Panos Cosmatos' vampire flick Flesh of the Gods and Amazon MGM's limited series The Challenger about astronaut Sally Ride.

Compared to her off-screen grunge style (R), the 34-year-old Oscar nominee looked surprisingly polished in a chic black jacket, matching mini-skirt, dark stockings, and lace-up boots selected by costume designer Heidi Bivens

Hair department head Vanessa Price coiffed Kristen's newly platinum-blonde locks into a fringe-fronted ponytail so she could better embody her stoner character Frankie in the mistaken identity Neon drama

The 37-year-old nepo-baby (L, posted December 31) of Oscar-nominated screenwriter Nicholas Meyer spent '13 years' honing the script for The Wrong Girls

Stewart confessed on The Late Show last year: 'If I couldn't share with [Dylan] and make with her and collaborate with her I would do it with other people and we wouldn't be as close. I need to have that [in a relationship]. And she is so much better and smarter and cooler and hotter than me'

Last year, the inseparable couple co-founded a production company called Nevermind Pictures with Maggie Mclean (R, posted December 31), and they wrapped Kristen's feature directorial debut, The Chronology of Water, in Latvia last June

Stewart was said to have originally met Meyer in 2013 on the set of a film (most likely Camp X-Ray), and they announced their engagement on The Howard Stern Show in November 2021 after two years of dating (posted December 31)

The Love Me actress will next portray Michael Cera's (2-R) onscreen pregnant wife Rosie in her ex-boyfriend Michael Angarano's (2-L) critically-acclaimed road trip comedy Sacramento hitting US theaters on April 11
In his Strictly leaving speech back in 2021 Dan Walker gushed over his beautiful Ukrainian dancer partner Nadiya Bychkova.

After weeks of training with her, the former BBC Breakfast presenter paid an emotional tribute to her, hailing her as amazing before bizarrely asking her if he could have her hand in friendship after they were knocked out in the quarter-final stage of the competition.

Im not a dancer, but she showed me that I can dance, he said of Nadiya. And that for me, this has been an absolutely incredible experience.

'There are some people that walk into your life and turn some lights on and thats what she has done to me.

Youre an amazing person, and if youll have me, Ill be your friend for life Nadiya Bychkova, OK?

And while it may seem de rigueur for celebrities to fall out with their Strictly partners, recently, for Dan, 47, it appears that Nadiya agreed to be his pal.

Dan Walker and Nadiya Bychkova regularly spend time in each others company and share snaps of their outings on Instagram

Its been reported that Dan Walker and Nadiya Bychkovas friendship is the talk of Strictly as stars of the show are obsessed with how they are still so close four years after they were knocked out in the quarter-final of the competition in 2021

Because, in recent months, the two have been spotted together numerous times as Dan provides her with a shoulder to cry on following her split from her boyfriend, fellow professional dancer Kai Widdrington, in July last year

Now its been reported that Dan Walker and Nadiya Bychkovas friendship is the talk of Strictly as stars of the show are obsessed with how they are still so close.

They regularly spend time in each others company and share snaps of their outings on Instagram, which is in stark contrast to his relationship with Sarah, his wife of 23 years, who he keeps ultra private.

He met the mother of his three children at the University of Sheffield and says she prefers to stay out of the limelight, revealing in 2021: She doesnt want to be on social media. Simple as that. Shes much wiser than me.

Now Nadiya appears to be ensuring that he doesnt get lonely now he spends a lot of the week in London where he hosts Channel 5 News and a show on Classic FM.

Dan has nicknamed Nadiya the Yorkshire barmaid after she pretended to serve him a pint and attempt the countys accent during a Strictly training session.

Dan adores Nadiya, says a source who knows both of them. He loved his Strictly journey and will always be grateful for Nadiya providing him with that experience.

He wanted to stay friends and it is lovely that they have, especially when you look at the likes of Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice, or Graziano Di Prima and Zara McDermott.

They are a real Strictly success story. Nadiya became single and Dan is a kind man with strong Christian values, even if at times its a little bit cringe.

It appears that Nadiya, who lives with her daughter in a basement flat in Earls Court, west London, has been Dans plus one at many celebrity events  as well as her birthday bash at the Ritz. Those who know Dan suggest that he is keen to get out rather than be lonely while working away from his beloved wife Sarah who resides at the family home in Sheffield.

For instance, they both attended the The Melissa Bell fundraising event on November 27 at the five star Rosewood Hotel in London. While they did have their picture together  with another person in them  they were also seen giggling together and were the last to leave the bash.

On onlooker told me: Nadiya and Dan were the last two people in the room. Everyone had left but they were sat in the corner.

They were then the last to leave together before going home separately.

Then, they celebrated Nadiyas 35th birthday belatedly at The Ritz hotel on December 2 where they indulged in caviar tasting. They snapped a picture of themselves in the kitchen. There were others there but Dan ensured he posted a photo of the two of them on social media.

Just days later they were back out at the same event  the Mufasa: The Lion King premiere in Londons Leicester Square.

On October 9 last year Walker was a guest at Nadiyas Legends Dance Floor tour at Londons Adelphi theatre. Posting on Instagram, he wrote: Thanks @NadiyaBychkova for the invite, to which she replies: I am glad you enjoyed the show two lobster emojis they were brilliant.

Apparently, Dan has been helping Nadiya to land lucrative brand deals in a bid to increase her Strictly income

Then on November 17, Dan made the 230 mile round trip to Blackpool with his eldest daughter to see Nadiya perform for Strictly, despite being voted off with her partner Tom Dean six weeks before.

Dan posted a total of four pictures of himself with Nadiya, and just two of his daughter (although he hid her face with a huge glitterball). He wrote alongside them: What a fun night back at Strictly in Blackpool with my eldest daughter. Lovely to catch up with Nadiya Bychkova for the first time in a while although I still havent figured how to do the finger photo.

He went on to share more details about his visit to the set, adding: You will be pleased to hear that we grabbed some food and we did get chips with that Yorkshire Barmaid.

Then there has been a visit to Dans Channel 5 show last December where he gave her a platform to promote her Strictly Christmas special dance partner Billy Monger. Dan later posted the interview onto his Instagram wall.

And Dan was just as supportive on Wednesday when he posted a picture of her appearing on Loose Women where she was talking about her forthcoming show where she will divulge the secrets of Strictly.

Look who popped up in the gym yesterday, nice surprise to see @nadiyabychkova on Loose Women. Before urging his followers to buy tickets for the event.

Meanwhile, I can also reveal Dan has been helping Nadiya to land lucrative brand deals in a bid to increase her Strictly income.

Dan has certainly jumped to become Nadiyas night in shining armour, says an associate of the star.

And how wonderful that it began on Strictly, its the total opposite of the Strictly curse.
The Hollywood premiere for Disney's live-action adaptation of Snow White will be 'scaled back' amid the backlash against its woke themes and stars Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot.

Despite spending upward of $269.4 million to make the film, which has been plagued with controversy and setbacks, Variety revealed that Disney would not be giving the movie the same red carpet treatment as other similar projects.

While Zegler, 23, and Gadot, 39, are expected attend a pre-party and screening at Los Angeles' El Capitan Theatre on March 15, 'coverage will be limited to photographers and a house crew.'

While most premieres invite dozens of media outlets to cover the event and interview the cast, the studio has decided to buck tradition in this case.

The choice comes amid criticism and fears that the remake prioritized 'woke' messaging over authentic storytelling.

Since casting Hispanic actress Zegler as Snow White, Disney fans have highlighted the woke deviations from the classic fairy tale, from dumping the traditional romance plot because of it's 'sexist', to reimagining the Seven Dwarfs as a diverse group of 'magical creatures' of all heights, gender and race.

The Hollywood premiere for Disney's live-action adaptation of Snow White will be 'scaled back' amid the backlash surrounding its stars Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot (seen last week)

Earlier this months, a source told Daily Mail: 'Disney is already anticipating an anti-woke backlash against Snow White and have reduced the media schedule to just a handful of tightly controlled press events.'

'That is why they have taken the highly unusual step not to host a London premiere for the film and are minimizing the amount of press questions that Rachel Zegler gets,' the insider revealed.

Zegler also criticized David Hand's 1937 original animated film as 'extremely dated when it comes to the ideas of women being in roles of power and what a woman's fit for in the world.'

'The original cartoon came out in 1937, and very evidently so,' she scoffed to Extra TV in 2022.

'There's a big focus on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Weird. So we didn't do that this time.'

'We have a different approach to what I'm sure a lot of people will assume is a love story just because we cast a guy in the movie.

'All of Andrew's scenes could get cut, who knows? It's Hollywood, baby!' she joked, before admitting in a separate interview that she was 'terrified' when she went on the beloved Snow White ride at Disney World.

About the 1937 film, she said: 'I was scared of the original version. I think I watched it once and never picked it up again. I'm being so serious.'

Despite spending upward of $269.4 million to make the film, which has been plagued with controversy and setbacks, Variety revealed that Disney would not be giving the movie the same red carpet treatment as other similar projects

While Zegler, 23, and Gadot, 39, are expected to be at attendance at a pre-party and screening for Snow White, held at the El Capitan Theatre on March 15, 'coverage will be limited to photographers and a house crew' (Zegler and Gadot seen in 2022)

Zegler also told Variety that her version of Snow White would be dreaming about becoming a 'fearless leader' rather than 'dreaming about true love.'

'For Snow White, there's a famous scene where she falls into a lake, through a trapdoor-type thing in a forest. And we did it, and I got scuba diving training so that I could spend a long time underwater,' the Golden Globe winner explained to Cosmo.

'You learn how to use a breathing tube. I had this guy named Pete, who is ex-Navy, attached to me at all times, tethered to me. And essentially I spent...I want to say a total of 48 hours training. And then shot for two whole days. It was seven hours underwater.'

Sources previously revealed to DailyMail.com that Zegler's reputation as a 'loose cannon' nearly got her axed from playing Snow White.

Zegler's strong opinions have prompted some haters to vow to boycott the film.

Since her rapid rise to superstardom, after beating 30,000 actresses for the part of Maria Vasquez in Steven Spielberg's 2021 adaptation of West Side Story, she's endured frequent criticism.

There was backlash over her casting as Snow White in Disney's 2025 live-action remake of the animated classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and trolling for her radical left wing stance on politics.

Zegler seen last week in Tokyo at an event where she performed the first single from Snow White called Waiting on a Wish

Zegler seen taking a selfie with Sakura Kiryu, who provided the Japanese dubbing voice of Snow White

While reflecting on comments made on social media about her casting as Snow White, Zegler insisted she doesn't even try to wrap her head why 'Disney adults' would have a problem with someone Latina portraying the beloved princess.

Zegler proceeded to reveal that the line describing her character's 'skin as white as snow' will reference 'another version of Snow White that was told in history,' in which the character 'survived a snowstorm that occurred when she was a baby.'

'The king and queen decided to name her Snow White to remind her of her resilience,' the Hackensack native noted. 'One of the core points in our film for any young woman or young person is remembering how strong you actually are.'

The star also admitted that it was 'sad' to see so many people rip her apart for teasing that her version of Snow White would not not be saved by a prince.

'In all honesty, it made me sad that it was taken in such a way, because I believe that women can do anything. But I also believe that they can do everything,' she explained. 'It can be very upsetting when things get taken out of context or jokes don't land.'

Zegler went on to make it clear that the 'love story is very integral' and that it wasn't true that her remake wouldn't feature any romance.

The choice comes amid criticism and fears that the remake prioritized ' woke ' messaging over authentic storytelling; pictured in 2022

'I've watched women get torn down my whole life, my whole career,' she said. 'We'll watch it in the election that's upcoming. We're gonna witness that for a long time, I fear. Sometimes it can feel like we're going back; it certainly felt that way when that was happening.'

Although she is tempted to leave social media, at times, she confessed that she doesn't like to give trolls the 'satisfaction of knowing they hurt me in the moment.'

'You give them a lot of power by taking a social media break,' she pointed out.

Over the years, she has used her platforms to champion causes that are important to her.

During the SAG-AFTRA strike in 2023, she spoke about the possible dangers of AI as she recalled having like '465 photos taken of every corner' of her body for CG stunts.

Since casting Zegler, toxic Disney fans have nitpicked every deviation from the classic fairy tale, from shifting away from the traditional romance plot to reimagining the Seven Dwarfs as a diverse group of 'magical creatures' of all heights, gender and race

'It was f**king dystopian,' she said. 'I was really scared of being replaced by an artificial intelligence version of myself that they scanned when I was 18 and then never being able to work on a set again. What was stopping them from using that for the rest of my life?'

She's also advocated for Palestinians.

'I can't watch children die,' she told the outlet. 'I don't think that should be a hot take... We're nearing one year since the horrendous attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, but I've been following this conflict for so many years. Like so many people, I'm so heartbroken by the loss of life that we're seeing with these insane death tolls coming out of both regions.'

Still, she acknowledges that she doesn't 'have the answers.'

'I don't think any celebrity making a political statement has the answers. But we have the platform to share a donation link to make sure that these people get the money, the care and the aid that they need that people in power aren't giving them. If that means that it can fall upon us to be in power in a way that is helpful, then I'm happy to do it,' she said.

Previously, Disney sparked backlash after they announced that 'magical creatures' would replace the seven dwarves to 'avoid reinforcing stereotypes'

Previously, Disney sparked backlash after they announced that 'magical creatures' would replace the seven dwarves to 'avoid reinforcing stereotypes' with Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage criticized the 'f****** backwards story' last year.

'I was a little taken aback when they [Disney] were very proud to cast a Latina actress as Snow White, but you're still telling the story of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs,' he told Mark Maron's WTF podcast.

'It makes no sense to me. You're progressive in one way and you're still making that f***ing backwards story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together, what the f*** are you doing, man? Have I done nothing to advance the cause from my soapbox? I guess I'm not loud enough.'

Dinklage's concerns were shared by some charities, including the Restricted Growth Association in the UK.

'I very much stand with Peter Dinklage on the disappointment and irritation towards Disney for the remake of Snow White,' Rhonda Cutmore, a member of the association, told The Telegraph. '

The original story has also been criticized as being ableist for portraying the dwarfs with lesser intelligence and Snow White seeing them as children

Dwarfism writer Steph Robson said she hoped film producers make an effort to avoid stereotypes in its retelling of the classic movie.

'It is my hope that the latest live action remake, and Disney, will, at the very least go some way to redress the decades of the one-dimensional stereotypes that our disability continues to experience, especially within arts and cultural settings,' she told the outlet.

The story has also been criticized as being ableist for portraying the dwarfs with lesser intelligence and Snow White seeing them as children.

Disney has said it's 'taking a different approach' with Snow White's seven companions, after Game Of Thrones actor Peter slammed the studio for remaking the 'backward' film that reinforces stereotypes.

In a statement last year, the company said it had been consulting with members of the dwarfism community throughout the early stages of production.

'To avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film, we are taking a different approach with these seven characters and have been consulting with members of the dwarfism community,' a spokesperson said.

'We look forward to sharing more as the film heads into production after a lengthy development period.'

In December last year, sources close to the production said Snow White's seven 'dwarfs' were not going to be fully computer generated, and wouldn't be dwarfs at all.

Instead, she would be befriended by magical, forest-dwelling creatures.
Eamonn Holmes was notably absent from his usual hosting duties alongside Ellie Costello on Tuesday morning's GB News.

The TV presenter, 65, who fronts the breakfast show Monday to Wednesday, addressed to fans why he wasn't presenting in an Instagram post on Monday.

The broadcaster revealed he has taken a nice short break to the seaside as he shared a photo of him enjoying an ice cream in the sun.

He captioned his post: 'Even my mouth wasnt big enough for this !  Love an ice cream x'

Stephen Dixon, who presents GB News every Thursday and Friday with Anne Diamond, stepped in for the Northern Irish presenter.

The surprise change in line-up comes after Eamonn enjoyed a trip to the theatre to celebrate his girlfriend Katie Alexander's birthday last month.

Eamonn Holmes was notably absent from his usual hosting duties alongside Ellie Costello on Tuesday morning's GB News (stock)

Stephen Dixon (L), who presents GB News every Thursday and Friday with Anne Diamond, stepped in for the Northern Irish presenter (pictured on Tuesday with Ellie Costello)

Eamonn went public with his new relationship with the dating counsellor, 43, in May last year following his split from Ruth Langsford.

Heading out in London in a chauffeur driven Range Rover, the couple dressed up for the occasion with Katie wearing an elegant black midi dress.

She teamed the embellished number with a pair of strappy heels and carried a metallic clutch bag.

Eamonn, who was aided by a walking frame, opted for a classic suit and white shirt, with a blue tie.

After surgery on his back in 2022 for a slipped disc, he has not been able to walk unaided and often relies on a wheelchair.

Eamonn recently made a sweet marriage remark live on air after his split from ex Ruth.

The presenter and the Loose Women panellist, 64, began dating in 1996 but separated last year after 14 years of marriage.

He made a rare comment about married life during a Valentine's day morning show on GB News with his co-anchor Ellie.

The broadcaster revealed he has taken a nice short break to the seaside as he shared a photo of him enjoying an ice cream in the sun

The surprise change in line-up comes after Eamonn enjoyed a trip to the theatre to celebrate his girlfriend Katie Alexander's 43rd birthday last month

Eamonn recently made a sweet marriage remark live on air after his split from ex Ruth (seen in 2022)

Asked if he remembered his first Valentine, Eamonn replied: 'I married her.' 'Aww that's so nice,' Ellie said.

Eamonn was referencing his first wife Gabrielle Holmes, who he married in 1985 and shares three kids, Declan, Rebecca, and Niall, with.

Shortly after his separation from Ruth in May last year, Eamonn went public with Katie, while Ruth remains publicly single.

Speaking to woman&home about their divorce, Ruth is determined to look ahead and feels an enthusiasm for what's next, including meeting someone new.

When asked how she is feeling now, Ruth said: 'I'm alright. Relationship breakdowns are very difficult  marriage, friendship, whatever it is  but you just deal with it and you have to move on.

'You can either let yourself crumble or you pick yourself up and get on with life. It's a choice.'

Ruth, who shares son Jack, 22, with Eamonn, added: 'I'm not delighted my marriage is over but I've accepted that my marriage is over, so I am trying to now embrace the fact that I'm single and can make choices that are just about me.'
Reggae icon Cocoa Tea has passed away at age 65 after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Tea's death was confirmed by his wife Malvia Scott, who shared with The Gleaner that her husband died on Tuesday, March 11 at 4:46AM.

Scott revealed her husband died following a cardiac arrest at a hospital located in Broward, Ft Lauderdale, Florida.

The Jamaican musician - real name Colvin Scott - had been suffering from health woes at the time of his death.

Tea has been battling pneumonia for the last six months and in 2019 was diagnosed with lymphoma.

'I got a call early this morning to say that he had been transferred from the facility to the hospital ... which is like five minutes away ... because he was vomiting. He was initially diagnosed with lymphoma in 2019, but for the last six months he was also struggling with pneumonia,' she told the publication.

Reggae icon Cocoa Tea has passed away at age 65 after suffering a cardiac arrest; pictured 2018

Scott said her spouse remained 'positive' following his diagnosis - an attitude he kept right up to his passing.

'He was definitely very brave,' she said. 'He was positive throughout it all. About three weeks ago when he was admitted in the hospital he asked if I was worried and I said "I am always worried". He told me not to worry because everything was going to be all right. He was always very hopeful.'

A wave of tributes have been posted on social media following news of Tea's death.

Andrew Holness, the Prime Minister of Jamaica, praised Tea's musical talent and kind personality.

'I extend condolences to the family, friends, and supporters of Calvin George Scott, affectionately known as Cocoa Tea,' Holness posted to X. 'His smooth vocals and compelling lyrics gave us timeless classics like Rocking Dolly and I Lost My Sonia, songs that have become anthems in our cultural landscape.

'Beyond his musical genius, Cocoa Tea was a beacon of kindness and generosity, consistently uplifting the less fortunate and embodying the warmth of our nation. Cocoa Teas influence extended beyond our shores, touching hearts worldwide and solidifying Jamaicas place on the global musical stage.

'As we mourn his passing, let us celebrate the rich legacy he leaves behind, a legacy of melody, compassion, and cultural pride. May his soul rest in eternal peace.'

Tea's successful music career has seen him release numerous albums and drop numerous hits songs, including the popular track Rikers Island.

Tea, pictured in Kingston in 1993, released the successful tracks I Lost My Sonia, Rikers Island, and more

Andrew Holness, the Prime Minister of Jamaica, praised Tea's musical talent and kind personality

Tea's other hit songs consist of the tracks Sweet Sweet Cocoa Tea, Israel's King, I Lost My Sonia, Rocking Dolly, and Young Lover.

The Jamaican-born artist was born on September 3, 1959 in Clarendon Parish and was just a teenager when he released his first song, the 1985 track Searching In The Hill, according to People.

He achieved worldwide recognition the following decade, according to The Independent.

In 2008, he expressed his support for then-presidential candidate Barack Obama by releasing a song named after the future leader.

The last time Tea performed was three years ago on the Welcome To Jamrock Cruise, according to The Gleaner.

He is survived by his wife and eight children.
Paris Fashion Week came to a close with the star-studded Saint Laurent Show on Tuesday night.

And it was no surprise to see some of fashion's biggest names were in attendance, with guests Kate Moss, her daughter Lila and Hailey Bieber.

Kate put on a daring display by going braless in a sheer blue spotted blouse, teamed with a black velvet blazer.

The iconic fashion star teamed her look with grey cigarette trousers and a statement pink lip as she joined her daughter at the fashion show.

Showing off her chic sense of style, Lila opted for a thigh-skimming camel mini dress with ruffled denim as she posed for snaps at the show.

The model has been a fixture at Paris Fashion Week both on and off the runway, and teamed her stylish look with oversized earrings.

Kate Moss went braless in a racy sheer spotted blouse as she joined a slew of stars for the Saint Laurent show on the final night of Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday

The legendary fashion star was joined by her daughter Lila, who opted for a chic camel ruffled mini dress as she posed for snaps at the show

Hailey Bieber opted for a more laid-back look by arriving in a tight black mini dress and a leather bomber jacket

Hailey opted for a more laid-back look by arriving in a tight black mini dress and a leather bomber jacket.

Fresh from her win at the Oscars last week, Zoe posed up a storm in a fun green tweed playsuit with a matching overcoat.

Charli XCX also caught the eye in a dramatic black sheer dress layered over a leather jacket.

Saint Laurent marks the final show at Paris Fashion Week, following on from the star-studded Chanel show earlier in the day.

Lila has followed in Kate's model footsteps and nabbed her first modelling gig at the age of 15 with a Marc Jacobs Beauty campaign - at just a year older than her mother was when she entered the business.

Despite her mother being one of the famous models in the business, Lila revealed that Kate was keen to deter her from following in her footsteps.

'My mum always put me off [modelling],' Lila said. 'She was always like, 'If you want to do it, you can, but I wouldn't recommend it.''

Kate stepped out following reports she is facing a compulsory strike-off for her luxury wellness brand Cosmoss, because of overdue accounts.

Kate put on a daring display by going braless in a sheer blue spotted blouse, teamed with a black velvet blazer

Earlier in the evening, Kate was also spotted arriving for the show in her sophisticated look

She took her seat inside next to French actress Catherine Deneuve

Lily has been a fixture at Paris Fashion Week both on and off the runway, and teamed her stylish look with oversized earrings

Following a sea of speculation about her marriage to husband Justin, Hailey brushed off the drama as she arrived for the show

She looked effortlessly cool in a leather biker jacket and polka dot tights

The star met with her A-list pal Zoe Kravitz inside and posed up a storm

Fresh from her win at the Oscars last week, Zoe posed up a storm in a fun green tweed playsuit with a matching overcoat

The Emilia Perez star teamed her look with a chunky black leather platform boots as she made her way into the show

She looked glamorous as she took her seat next to model Anja Rubik

Zoe Kravitz also opted for a very racy display as she flashed her nipples in a blue satin slip dress

The actress left little to the imagination as she posed up a storm with nothing but a sheer piece of fabric covering her breasts

She threw on a fur coat to complete her final Fashion Week look

Following her recent success at the BRIT Awards, Charli XCX showed off her edgy sense of style in a black dress with a shimmering sheer skirt

The British hitmaker layered her look with a black leather biker jacket

Chloe Sevigny cut a flirty figure in a tiny yellow mini dress and an oversized leather jacket, teamed with black velvet heels

Chloe added a pop of colour to her look with a wine-coloured satin clutch bag

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley opted for a more androgynous look as she arrived in a rust-coloured trouser suit and a leather jacket

The model's outfit was a far cry from her usual styles as she headed into the show

Elsa Hosk was inspired by the same androgynous dress code as Rosie, as she arrived for the fashion show in a dark red trouser suit

Model Iris Law opted for a colourful ensemble in a glittering orange dress featuring bright red and blue lacy details

Austin Butler looked dapper as he arrived at the A-list event in an oversized navy suit

Stranger Things stars Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton showcased their sense of style in bold patterned looks

Meanwhile, actress Isabella Ferrari looked the epitome of chic in an oversized tan suit

Polish model Anja Rubik flaunted her sensational figure in a dramatic layered lacy ensemble, made up of a bright red high-neck top and yellow mini skirt

Supermodel Linda Evangelista showcased her elegant sense of style in a black blazer and cream satin trousers

Bella Hadid looked incredible as she stormed the runway in a sheer navy floral number

Carla Bruni, Linda Evangelista and Amber Valletta lead the glamour inside

American model Amelia Gray Hamlin made sure to turn heads as she flaunted her jaw-dropping figure in a green, pink and blue lacy mini dress

Elsewhere, Amber Valetta wowed in a stunning off-the-shoulder teal dress

Actress Charlotte Gainsbourg teamed a flowing floral skirt with a brown turtleneck and houndstooth blazer

Emily In Paris star Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu also went for office chic in a striped shirt and tie teamed with grey trousers

Catherine Deneuve also went for a tailored ensemble in a black blazer and matching trousers

Salma Hayek's step-daughter Mathilde Pinault looked incredible in a figure-hugging maxi dress

Romeo Beckham's ex Gray Sorrenti commanded attention in a chocolate blazer

American model Jasmine Tookes opted for a similar ensemble

Kid Cudi and his fiancee Lola Abecassis Sartore looked loved-up as they wore matching all-black looks

The notice was filed against the brand at Companies House this week, less than three years after following was founded, and the supermodel has two months to get the figures in.

If she fails to file the accounts, which were due by the end of last year, her business could be struck off the register and its assets seized.

However, an associate insists the accounts will be filed shortly, reports the Mail's Richard Eden.

When Kate launched Cosmoss to great fanfare in 2022 she claimed it would 'open a door' to 'balance, restoration, and love'.

But this is not the first sign of trouble as the wellness brand reportedly owed lenders more than 405,000 in April last year.

MailOnline contacted representatives for Kate and Cosmoss for comment.

The skincare brand sells 20 herbal tea bags for 20, as well as perfumes, and skin creams - including a 105 regenerating face oil and a 125 Sacred Mist room spray.

Kate claimed Cosmoss is 'self-care created for life's modern journeys' upon its launch on September 1, 2022.

It has been likened to a British version of Gwyneth Paltrow's US business Goop as Kate became the latest celebrity to jump on the wellness market.

Kate's beauty products, made from 'potent, natural substances', are split into three daily rituals which are said to balance the 'body and soul with the natural environment and the circadian cycles'.

The website describes these rituals as enabling us to 'adjust to the rhythm of nature, help us find inner peace and self-fulfillment, and open a door to balance, restoration and love'.

The full three rituals cost more than 400, while the popular Golden Nectar serum - which contains the 'mythical' tears of Chios, a plant resin produced on the Greek island - has a 105 price tag alone.

The dawn ritual, which fills the body with 'positive energy', costs a total of 287 and includes a 21 antioxidant 'dawn tea', a 52 cleanser and 95 anti-ageing face cream.
Wendy Williams has broken her silence after undergoing a psychiatric evaluation - and made a surprise call to Good Day New York on Tuesday to give a worrying update.

The TV personality, 60 - who has compared to the assisted living facility she is staying at as a 'prison' - was rushed to Lenox Hill hospital on Monday after the star was seen begging fans for help.

Williams called in to host Rosanna Scotto from the hospital and explained that she passed her evaluation with 'flying colors.'

'I want [to be] independently tested. That's what I want, and that's what I got,' Wendy continued.

Scotto then questioned if the reason she wanted to be independently tested was because she didn't 'trust' the court, and Williams replied with, 'Look, it's not that I'm scared to talk.

'It's just under these circumstances, there's certain people that I don't care to talk to or talk about, you know what I'm saying.'

Wendy Williams, 60, has broken her silence after undergoing a psychiatric evaluation - and made a surprise call to Good Day New York on Tuesday to give a worrying update; seen in 2018 in NYC

Scotto also asked Wendy is she would open to having a 'sober companion or financial consultant if they moved you out of that guardianship?'

The star - who was placed under the guardianship of Sabrina Morrissey in 2022 - expressed, 'As far as a sober companion, I don't need that.

'I am not drinking, ever in my life. A financial advisor, I've had that. A financial advisor? Of course, of course a financial advisor, somebody to look after my money... Because the money that I have right now is all with my guardian person.'

The host of Good Day New York asked Williams if the guardian was 'taking out fees every month.'

However Wendy opted to not answer and instead replied, 'Oh please, listen, listen. I'll talk to you behind the scenes for that.'

The TV personality also shared that she was waiting to speak to her lawyer about her next steps while still at the hospital.

During the call, Wendy was also joined by caretaker Gina Monterroso and Rosanna asked if they could bring the results of the new tests before a judge in order to help get Williams out of the assisted living facility.

'Absolutely, these are independent results from a very well-known hospital, it's independent. It's factual. I would be very disappointed and very concerned if the judge has an issue with those tests,' Gina explained.

'It's just under these circumstances, there's certain people that I don't care to talk to or talk about, you know what I'm saying,' Williams said

The star - who was placed under the guardianship of Sabrina Morrissey in 2022 - expressed, 'As far as a sober companion, I don't need that'

Last month in February, the star revealed that she has stepped outside only twice in the span of a month as she got candid about her isolating conservatorship.

Wendy also claimed she is not 'cognitively impaired' and her family broke their silence in January as they they search for an attorney to help her 'regain control of her life.'

Scotto then shifted the conversation and said, 'You know what I don't understand Wendy is that they're locking you up like you committed a crime.'

Williams replied, 'Yes! I have to tell you something. And you know, I'm on the fifth floor. It's called the memory unit. This is a floor, you know, you don't remember anything. Like really?

'And as far as me being able to go outside, I'm not allowed. You know, I have to stay in this building,' she continued, and added she needs to be 'permitted' in order to go to the gym that is located on the third floor.

Wendy then emotionally stated that her money is 'up in the air' before saying, 'This is my life.'

Towards the end of the interview, she shared that leaving her guardianship is 'the number one most important thing.'

During her trip to New York City's Lenox Hill Hospital on Monday from the assisted-living facility where she has been forced to live, the former talk show host was evaluated by a psychiatrist.

Williams replied, 'Yes! I have to tell you something. And you know, I'm on the fifth floor. It's called the memory unit. This is a floor, you know, you don't remember anything. Like really?'

And on Monday, sources told TMZ that Williams received a perfect score on a 'capacity test' administered by the psychiatrist.

DailyMail.com has reached out to a representative for Williams for comment.

According to the sources, Wendy was administered a 10-item questionnaire that was designed to determine her awareness and decision-making abilities, and she scored 10 out of 10 on the test.

Although one test alone doesn't give a full picture of her mental capacity, the fact that she passed the test with flying colors may indicate that she is far more aware than her guardian has indicated.

Williams had previously been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia.

However, sources clarified that the exam Williams underwent was not to dispute her dementia diagnosis. The results of the test will reportedly be shared with the judge who has been overseeing her guardianship.

In recent weeks, Wendy has been making an effort to speak to the press to make her case that she has improved and should be able to manage her care - and money - on her own.

Williams PR push is set to expand later this week when she is scheduled to make her first national television appearance since her dementia diagnosis.

It was previously reported that Williams' visit to the hospital was preceded by NYPD officers visiting her at her assisted-living facility to perform a wellness check.

According to the sources, Wendy was administered a 10-item questionnaire that was designed to determine her awareness and decision-making abilities, and she scored 10 out of 10 on the test

Sources told TMZ on Monday that Gina Monterroso, a caretaker who is independent of Williams' guardianship, had allegedly ordered her trip to the hospital and the cognitive test.

It's unclear if Monterroso is an employee of the assisted-living facility or what her immediate connection to Williams is.

According to TMZ, New York's Adult Protective Services agency is now conducting an investigation into her guardianship and her stay at the facility, where she is confined to a restrictive memory unit, where she appears to have fewer privileges than patients on other floors.

Williams has denied that she has memory issues, and therefore she doesn't think she should be deprived of her privileges. She also reportedly doesn't have freedom of movement on that floor.

According to the publication, APS has been interviewing people close to the gossip monger, including her niece, Alex Finnie, whom employees reportedly interviewed on Monday.

Wendy reportedly spoken with the organization recently. The NYPD is also reportedly continuing to investigate the circumstances of her stay in the facility.

She will be joining the ladies of The View on Friday, March 14 - even as she wages a legal battle to end her guardianship; seen in 2020 in NYC

However, she got a rare breath of fresh air last month when her guardianship and the facility allowed her to fly to Miami to celebrate her father's 94th birthday for a few days

Williams will be making her first national television appearance since her shocking dementia diagnosis, ABC revealed on Sunday.

She will be joining the ladies of The View on Friday, March 14 - even as she wages a legal battle to end her guardianship.

Wendy has lately made attempts to speak out via phone from her assisted-living facility, where she has been kept on a restrictive memory unit that gives her few privileges and little right of movement.

Although Williams will be back on TV, it's unclear if viewers will get to see her live, as ABC's announcement indicates that she will be doing a phone interview with the View hosts, who include Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin, Ana Navarro and Alyssa Farah Griffin.

Back in 2022, Williams was placed under a court-appointed guardianship after Wells Fargo reported several large withdrawals from her bank account that it deemed suspicious; Sabrina Morrissey seen above

However, she got a rare breath of fresh air last month when her guardianship and the facility allowed her to fly to Miami to celebrate her father's 94th birthday for a few days.

Back in 2022, Williams was placed under a court-appointed guardianship after Wells Fargo reported several large withdrawals from her bank account that it deemed suspicious.

After Williams was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia in February 2024, Morrissey later said the gossip monger was 'cognitively impaired and permanently incapacitated.'

But in recent months, a seemingly lucid Wendy has been disputing that she's impaired and begging to regain her freedom.
Braless Bella Hadid stormed the runway at Saint Laurent's star-studded Paris Fashion Week Show on Tuesday night.

The supermodel, 28, put on her best poker face as she strutted through the catwalk while an array of A-listers watched from the FROW.

She displayed her model svelte physique in the very risque lace LBD and cheekily displayed her cleavage.

The scantily-clad model looked out of this world in the shoulder-padded ensemble for the final night of PFW.

As the iconic fashion week comes to a close, it was no surprise to see some of fashion's biggest names in attendance, with guests Kate Moss, her daughter Lila and Hailey Bieber.

Kate put on a daring display by going braless in a sheer blue spotted blouse, teamed with a black velvet blazer.

Braless Bella Hadid, 28, stormed the runway at Saint Laurent's star-studded Paris Fashion Week Show on Tuesday night

The supermodel kept her best poker face as she strutted through the catwalk while an array of A-listers watched from the FROW

The iconic fashion star teamed her look with grey cigarette trousers and a statement pink lip as she joined her daughter at the fashion show.

Showing off her chic sense of style, Lila opted for a thigh-skimming camel mini dress with ruffled denim as she posed for snaps at the show.

The model has been a fixture at Paris Fashion Week both on and off the runway, and teamed her stylish look with oversized earrings.

Hailey opted for a more laid-back look by arriving in a tight black mini dress and a leather bomber jacket.

Fresh from her win at the Oscars last week, Zoe posed up a storm in a fun green tweed playsuit with a matching overcoat.

Charli XCX also caught the eye in a dramatic black sheer dress layered over a leather jacket.

Saint Laurent marks the final show at Paris Fashion Week, following on from the star-studded Chanel show earlier in the day.

Lila has followed in Kate's model footsteps and nabbed her first modelling gig at the age of 15 with a Marc Jacobs Beauty campaign - at just a year older than her mother was when she entered the business.

She displayed her model svelte physique in the very risque lace LBD and cheekily displayed her cleavage

The scantily-clad model looked out of this world in the shoulder-padded ensemble for the final night of PFW

Kate Moss went braless in a racy sheer spotted blouse as she joined a slew of stars for the Saint Laurent show on the final night of Paris Fashion Week

The legendary fashion star was joined by her daughter Lila, who opted for a chic camel ruffled mini dress as she posed for snaps at the show

Hailey Bieber opted for a more laid-back look by arriving in a tight black mini dress and a leather bomber jacket

Kate put on a daring display by going braless in a sheer blue spotted blouse, teamed with a black velvet blazer

Earlier in the evening, Kate was also spotted arriving for the show in her sophisticated look

Lily has been a fixture at Paris Fashion Week both on and off the runway, and teamed her stylish look with oversized earrings

Following a sea of speculation about her marriage to husband Justin, Hailey brushed off the drama as she arrived for the show

Fresh from her win at the Oscars last week, Zoe posed up a storm in a fun green tweed playsuit with a matching overcoat

The Emilia Perez star teamed her look with a chunky black leather platform boots as she made her way into the show

Zoe Kravitz also opted for a very racy display as she flashed her nipples in a blue satin slip dress

The actress left little to the imagination as she posed up a storm with nothing but a sheer piece of fabric covering her breasts

Following her recent success at the BRIT Awards, Charli XCX showed off her edgy sense of style in a black dress with a shimmering sheer skirt

The British hitmaker layered her look with a black leather biker jacket

Chloe Sevigny cut a flirty figure in a tiny yellow mini dress and an oversized leather jacket, teamed with black velvet heels

Chloe added a pop of colour to her look with a wine-coloured satin clutch bag

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley opted for a more androgynous look as she arrived in a rust-coloured trouser suit and a leather jacket

The model's outfit was a far cry from her usual styles as she headed into the show

Elsa Hosk was inspired by the same androgynous dress code as Rosie, as she arrived for the fashion show in a dark red trouser suit

Model Iris Law opted for a colourful ensemble in a glittering orange dress featuring bright red and blue lacy details

Austin Butler looked dapper as he arrived at the A-list event in an oversized navy suit

Stranger Things stars Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton showcased their sense of style in bold patterned looks

Meanwhile, actress Isabella Ferrari looked the epitome of chic in an oversized tan suit

Polish model Anja Rubik flaunted her sensational figure in a dramatic layered lacy ensemble, made up of a bright red high-neck top and yellow mini skirt

Supermodel Linda Evangelista showcased her elegant sense of style in a black blazer and cream satin trousers

Despite her mother being one of the famous models in the business, Lila revealed that Kate was keen to deter her from following in her footsteps.

'My mum always put me off [modelling],' Lila said. 'She was always like, 'If you want to do it, you can, but I wouldn't recommend it.''

Kate stepped out following reports she is facing a compulsory strike-off for her luxury wellness brand Cosmoss, because of overdue accounts.

The notice was filed against the brand at Companies House this week, less than three years after following was founded, and the supermodel has two months to get the figures in.

If she fails to file the accounts, which were due by the end of last year, her business could be struck off the register and its assets seized.

However, an associate insists the accounts will be filed shortly, reports the Mail's Richard Eden.

When Kate launched Cosmoss to great fanfare in 2022 she claimed it would 'open a door' to 'balance, restoration, and love'.

But this is not the first sign of trouble as the wellness brand reportedly owed lenders more than 405,000 in April last year.
Brittany Hockley showed off her incredibly toned figure as she led the reality star arrivals at a skincare event in Bondi.

The podcaster, 37, flaunted her trim pins in a blue mini dress as she posed on the red carpet at Naked Sundays' intimate breakfast.

The brunette bombshell, who is set to tie the knot with her fiance Ben Siegrist in the coming weeks, completed her look with strappy heels and held a white bag.

She accessorised with a diamond necklace, matching bracelet and left her long locks out.

Brittany let her natural beauty shine with a neutral makeup palette as she took to the stage to share her skin cancer scare with guests and explain the importance of using SPF products.

She was joined by Love Island Australia winner Tina Provis, who put on a stylish display in a strapless khaki top.

Brittany Hockley showed off her incredibly toned figure as she led the reality star arrivals at a skincare event in Bondi. Pictured

The podcaster flaunted her trim pins in a blue mini dress as she posed on the red carpet at Naked Sundays' intimate breakfast

The reality star completed the look with a matching skirt and wore a pair of strappy black shoes.

Tina carried a maroon coloured clutch and was all smiles as she posed shortly after arriving to the event.

Love Island Australia star Claudia Bonifazio was also in attendance.

The 26-year-old put on a stylish display in a yellow mini dress with buttons along the front.

Claudia accessorised with a pair of chunky white sandals, gold earrings, and a white designer bag.

MAFS' Tahnee Cook also put on a stylish display in a mini pink dress and a pair of matching coloured stilettos.

The reality star, who appeared on season 10 of the dating show, carried a bright red bag and left her short blonde locks out.

She wore a natural makeup palette consisting of blush and a nude lip.

She was joined by Love Island Australia winner Tina Provis, who put on a stylish display in a strapless khaki top

Love Island Australia star Claudia Bonifazio was also in attendance. She put on a stylish display in a yellow mini dress with buttons along the front

MAFS' Tahnee Cook also put on a stylish display in a mini pink dress and a pair of matching coloured stilettos

The event celebrated Naked Sundays' BeautyScreen SPF50 product, which sold more than 50,000 tubes in its first month after launch in 2024.

The product has also won multiple USA beauty awards including the Cosmopolitan 'Best Tint' in the Acne Awards.

At the event, guests were invited to have their makeup touched up by the brand's own makeup artist.

Brittany, who has worked with Naked Sundays on several campaigns, spoke to guests about how important skin protection is to reduce the risk of melanoma.
Zoe Kravitz turned heads as she put on a very risque display and flashed her nipples in a satin slip dress at the Paris Fashion Week Saint Laurent show on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old actress has been making the most of the festivities in the French capital in the last week, but seemingly saved her most racy look until last.

She looked nothing short of sensational in the baby blue dress, which featured an entirely sheer section around the bust.

The stunning gown then cinched in at the waist with a matching ribbon belt before flowing out into a skirt with more lacy detailing on the hem.

Zoe added inches to her height with a strappy pair of bronze stilettos and completed her stylish ensemble with a tan fur coat, which she draped around her arms as she posed up a storm outside the A-list event.

The brunette beauty pulled her dark tresses back into a stylish updo and opted for a glowing palette of makeup to elevate her natural beauty.

Zoe Kravitz turned heads as she put on a very risque display and flashed her nipples in a satin slip dress at the Paris Fashion Week Saint Laurent show on Tuesday

The 36-year-old actress has been making the most of the festivities in the French capital in the last week, but seemingly saved her most racy look until last

She chose not to wear a necklace, instead letting the daring dress speak for itself, and toted around her belongings in a bronze mini handbag to match her shoes.

Zoe found her seat on the front row and made sure to pose for pictures with celebrity pals Hailey Bieber and Charli XCX.

It's not the first daring look Zoe has gone for she left little to the imagination in a 'business-in-the-front' and 'party-in-the-back' type of dress at this year's Vanity Fair Oscar Party.

Earlier this month, the actress joined in on the festivities as she walked the star-studded red carpet at the iconic afterparty following the annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles.

She showcased unconventional cleavage as she covered up her front and showed off her backside in a long, black gown with a mesh-lined cutout.

Her long-sleeved, satin dress featured a backless silhouette with rhinestone-encrusted mesh that showed off the tattoos tracing her spine and adorning her shoulder blades.

Between the V-cut and bum-baring keyhole, there was a small bow placed right at the small of her back.

The Blink Twice director  who is rumored to be dating Noah Centineo, 28, months after ending her engagement to Channing Tatum  also showed off a hint of her toned legs in the dress with a sexy leg slit in the back.

She looked nothing short of sensational in the baby blue dress, which featured an entirely sheer section around the bust

The stunning gown then cinched in at the waist with a matching ribbon belt before flowing out into a skirt with more lacy detailing on the hem

Zoe added inches to her height with a strappy pair of bronze stilettos and completed her stylish ensemble with a tan fur coat (pictured with Hailey Bieber)

Zoe found her seat on the front row and made sure to pose for pictures with celebrity pals Hailey Bieber and Charli XCX (pictured with Charli)

Teamed with the chic and unique dress, she donned a pair of slingback pumps with a tall stiletto heel.

To showcased the back of her glamorous dress in all of its entirety, she styled her dark hair in a updo.

Zoe pulled her tresses back into a polished, low bun and left out a single tendril to frame her face.

For jewellery, she sported dangling, silver earrings with stacks of diamond rings and matching bracelets.

The gems on her bracelets, which she wore on both wrists, matched the sequin pattern of the mesh details on her dress.

The Batman star looked radiant in a light and dewy makeup look with soft, pink blush and a peachy nude, matte lip.

Recently, Zoe fueled romance rumors after being spotted during a late-night hangout with Noah Centineo.

Meanwhile, her ex-fiance Channing Tatum is rumored to be dating model Inka Williams.

It comes just after Zoe left little to the imagination in a 'business-in-the-front' and 'party-in-the-back' type of dress at this year's Vanity Fair Oscar Party

The actress joined in on the festivities as she walked the star-studded red carpet at the iconic afterparty. She showcased unconventional cleavage as she covered up her front and showed off her backside in a long, black gown with a mesh-lined cutout

Zoe was previously in a relationship with Channing for three years before their split was revealed in October 2024

Zoe was previously in a relationship with Channing for three years before their split was revealed in October 2024.

The pair had gotten engaged one year earlier after sparking up a romance on the set of her directorial debut film, Blink Twice.

Last month, Zoe spoke about Channing for the first time in the four months since their breakup.

'I love this thing that we made together,' she said about their movie in an interview with Elle published on February 25. 'And I care for him very much.'

Gushing about her ex, she continued: 'Even when you bring up how great his performance is, it warms my heart to hear that, and I'm so happy that all of it happened. I just feel so grateful that we got to go on that journey together.'

She also sang high praises about the actor and said she is looking forward to what's in store for him in the future.

'He has so much more coming, and I think he's in a place as an actor where he's feeling really confident and people are seeing different sides of him.'

Zoe added, 'He's got a lot to offer, so I'm excited for people to keep witnessing that.'
Her mother is a big Hollywood movie star who got her start in the 1990s with indie films like Desperado with Antonio Banderas.

The exotic-looking seductress has worked with such major stars as George Clooney, Matthew Perry and Angelina Jolie.

And the 58-year-old is a fashion icon as she still looks incredible in designer duds.

Dad is a French billionaire who wields a lot of power around the world.

Her half brother is the son of supermodel Linda Evangelista, a top 90s Vogue cover girl who still looks amazing.

This girl is no stranger to the red carpet and dazzles in dresses as she has winning good looks. Last week she was seen at an event in Paris.

Who is she? (Hint: it is not Madonna's daughter Lourdes Leon.)

Her mother is a big Hollywood movie star who acted with Angelina Jolie. Dad is big rich. She has a Linda Evangelista link. Who is she?

She is 17-year-old Valentina Paloma Pinault.

Her mother is Salma Hayek and dad is French businessman Francois-Henri Pinault who runs a fashion group that owns Gucci.

The teen was seen last week with mom, dad and one of her half sisters, Mathilde Pinault, at an event in Paris.

They attended the Corps Et Ames exhibition at Bourse De Commerce Pinault Collection on March 4.

In September, Salma marked her daughter Valentina's 17th birthday with a touching tribute, sharing a series of nostalgic throwback photos of her look-alike.

The actress used the occasion to reflect on Valentinas 'last birthday at home' in an emotional Instagram post.

The post featured a collection of videos and photos showcasing Valentina's journey from childhood, highlighting moments with her husband,

She is 17-year-old Valentina Paloma Pinault. Her mother is Salma Hayek and dad is French businessman Francois-Henri Pinault who runs a fashion group that owns Gucci. The teen was seen last week with mom, dad and one of her half sisters, Mathilde Pinault, at an event in Paris

Salma was sensational in all black with gold jewelry

One photo shows Valentina in the backseat of a car with playful cat face paint, while another features her grinning with plastic fangs. A third captures her adventurous side as she climbs a tree.

'My baby last birthday at home (for now) Im already having separation anxiety she makes me laugh all day, teaches me so many things, keeps me motivated, inspires in so many ways makes me want to dance sing and cook and makes life so exciting I love you sooooooooo much mi Vale,' Salma captioned the post.

The mother-daughter duo share a close bond, with Valentina expressing her desire to follow in her Oscar-nominated mothers footsteps.

'I want different things, but I almost always move between four,' she told Vogue Mexico in 2023. 'I would like to be an actress and then a director because that is what makes sense in my head.'

She continued: 'Also, I think it must be more difficult to be a director if you don't have experience on the other side of the screen, that could help directing.'

Salma marked her daughter Valentina's 17th birthday with a touching tribute last year; seen March 2023

The post featured a collection of videos and photos showcasing Valentina's journey from childhood, highlighting moments with her husband, French businessman Francois-Henri Pinault

The actress, who is also stepmother to Pinault's children Mathilde, Francois, and Augustin, has often had Valentina by her side at red carpet events and premieres, including glamorous occasions like the Oscars.

In 2022, the duo took their bond to the next level, gracing the pages of Vogue MExco together for a special feature.

Salma and Francois-Henri, who married in 2009, recently appeared on The Sunday Times Rich List for 2024 with a combined net worth of approximately $7.7 billion.

Their fortune has decreased from around $10.1 billion in 2023, causing their rank to drop from 21st to 31st on the list.

Pinault has served as the chairman and CEO of Kering since 2005, while Salma Hayek's personal net worth is estimated to exceed $125 million, thanks to her successful film career and lucrative beauty and fashion endorsements.

Before meeting Salma, Francois-Henri had been previously married to Dorothee Lepere, with whom he shares two children, Francois and Mathilde.

He also had a brief relationship with supermodel Linda Evangelista, with whom he has a son, Augustin.

The actress used the occasion to reflect on Valentinas 'last birthday at home' in an emotional Instagram post on Saturday

The mother-daughter duo looked adorable in the throwbacks

Salma, on the other hand, was romantically linked to actor Edward Norton.

The birthday celebration also comes after Salma revealed one of the last thoughts she had when she believed she was going to die in a plane crash with her pal Penelope Cruz.

Salma and fellow Hollywood star Penelope, 50, who have been friends for more than 20 years, had a terrifying experience when their plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Mexico.

Penelope already had a fear of flying and the pair realised something had gone wrong when a member of the crew dashed out of the cockpit and put on an oxygen mask.

During an interview for Vogue Arabia, Penelope asked Salma what she had learned from the hair-raising experience.

Salma told her: 'Youve always had a fear of flying and you always give me instructions of what to do if you die in a crash!.

'I want different things, but I almost always move between four,' she told Vogue Mexico in 2023. 'I would like to be an actress and then a director because that is what makes sense in my head'

'That day we were together on a flight and the plane had an emergency and had to land in the middle of nowhere in Mexico.'

'I knew it was going to happen because I saw the flight attendant coming out of the cockpit and grabbing oxygen.

'So, I took your hands and said to you that were going to be OK. There is something wrong with the plane, but I need you to calm down. And I was so proud of you because I could see you struggling to calm yourself down.'

'We could do a whole movie about this! And then you said something so beautiful that I will never forget. You said, "I thought maybe we were going to die. But we were going to die together. And we were going to be OK".'
When Nur Zincir-Heywood joined the Faculty of Computer Science in 2000, she was one of only two faculty members who were women. This gender disparity was evident among the student body as well.

Change was afoot in society at the time, though, and the nascent Faculty  just three years old at the time  was looking to welcome more women into its midst, too.

We wanted to increase our number of students in general, but in particular, students who identified as women, Dr. Zincir-Heywood explains. And to be able to do that, we needed peer support. We needed role models. We needed mentorship. We needed people to feel that they belong so they can tell someone else to join them in a faculty where they will be supported.

From the beginning, the 10 per cent of female-identifying computer science students knew Dr. Zincir-Heywoods office was a safe space. Students approached her about everything from discrimination they were facing to advice for how to interview for a co-op placement. She realized the students needed a group of peers they could rely on for support, comfort and a sense of belonging.

And so, in 2008, the Women in Technology Society (WiTS) was born.

This week, WiTS celebrated Zincir-Heywood at its 2025 gala on March 6 with a new award created in her honour. The recognition came just days after she was appointed to the board of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)  an influential national body that works toward maximizing the strategic impact of Canadas investments in scientific and engineering research.

Learn more about Dr. Zincir-Heywoods NSERC appointment.

It's very easy for anyone who is in the minority, when they are at the receiving end of some kind of situation, to take it personally; to feel that they are alone, unfortunately, she says. It affects how much people feel they belong, and this sense of belonging is very important for our students, no matter what their gender is.



Dr. Zincir-Heywood, fourth from right, with current members of WiTS at the gala Thurday, March 6. (Submitted photo)

Led by students



For Dr. Zincir-Heywood, the societys name speaks to its inclusive nature.

Its called the Women in Technology Society and not Women in Computer Science Society because there might be many other people in other fields feeling a similar way, and we want this group to grow.

Dr. Zincir-Heywood became WiTSs founding chair and started talking to her students in her classes and research labs to gauge interest. The grassroots approach ensured WiTS could organize programming and guest-speaker appearances that interested its members specifically.

If our students believe this is something good for them, they will continue and make it better and make it grow

For me, it needed to be student-led from the beginning, she says. I will always be here to support their work, but really, its better if it comes directly from them.

She says this ensures the group stays relevant to what current students need and want, which is very different in 2025 than it was in 2008. It needs to evolve with the needs of our students. If our students believe this is something good for them, they will continue and make it better and make it grow.

Leaving the nest



Dr. Zincir-Heywood noticed WiTS growing more confident over the years, coming up with creative programming like potluck dinners and peer-to-peer mentorship.

I remember thinking over the years, yes I'm the founding chair, but the more they evolved the more they owned it, she says with a smile. And you know, they would come and give me a heads up about an event or speaker, or even just to talk. And then they started flying all on their own. So, I kind of feel like the proud mother bird.

Current WiTS secretary and second-year computer science student Shruti Chaturvedi says she quickly learned about WiTS and its golden reputation once arriving at Dal.

Everybody wants to be involved with WiTS, she says. Its such an inclusive environment for all students. And now, our faculty is much closer to gender equality but that only happened because WiTS was made.

Recognizing a champion for women



The inaugural Dr. Nur Zincir-Heywood Trailblazer Award recognizes all she has done to champion equity, diversity, and inclusion in her Faculty. (In addition to WiTS, Dr. Zincir-Heywood is also a founding member of the Culture of Respect in Computer Science  CoReCS  Committee, which pursues similar priorities for faculty and staff.)

Through her vision, countless students have found guidance, encouragement, and a confidence to chase their dreams, said Eilish Bonang of Digital Nova Scotias at this week's WiTS gala. Her influence on this community is immeasurable and tonight we want to honour her in a way that reflects her extraordinary contributions.

Her influence on this community is immeasurable

As she accepted the award, Zincir-Heywood surveyed the room full of women and gender-diverse attendees and said, Two decades ago, when I and my colleagues and students started this journey, we hoped it would become this big. But there is no way we could have made it without you. You made it happen in the most amazing way, filling this room with enthusiasm, drive, and passion.

As the Faculty of Computer Science gets closer to 50 per cent gender parity, Dr. Zincir-Heywood says the work of these groups remains more relevant than ever.

For her, it always comes back to fostering a sense of belonging.

Its not about power, she says. Its about how much value you give human rights. And it doesnt mean anyone is less. We all deserve to belong.
Trocaire has launched an eye-catching campaign alongside County Derry School St. Trea's Ballymaguigan.



The striking image of pupils sitting at their desks in the middle of the submerged water of Lough Neagh has turned heads.



The image highlights the effect climate change is having not only the world but our own society.



Lough Neagh still continues to be an ongoing issue of pollution. The Lough has high levels of blue-green algae which is extremely toxic. The algae are in fact bacteria, which can cause skin irritation and sickness in people who come into contact with it, but the biggest risk is to pets, livestock and wildlife.



Principal of St. Treas Primary School in Ballymaguigan, Mr Conall Lavery, spoke to the County Derry Post about how the idea for the striking image came about.



David got in touch with us about working with the children to create an image and we were more than happy to take part. We are a school beside Lough Neagh so it was very fitting for us to be involved. The idea was totally different and inspired us to get on board. The image combines the effect of climate change in the third world along with the devastating effects on Lough Neagh. All of my P7 pupils expressed an interest in being part of it so we put all their names into a hat and picked out two boys and two girls. They did a wonderful job and we were delighted to be asked to be part of the campaign. Trocaire is a wonderful charity and we are happy to do what we can to support them during this season of lent. We do our best in terms of local citizenship and the children are aware of the world around them and the need to help as much as they can, Mr Lavery said.



As they launch their annual Trocaire Box appeal for Lent this month, the charity says that children all over the world are being denied an education because of the effects of the climate crisis. More than 242 million students in 85 countries had their schooling disrupted by extreme climate events in 2024. These included heatwaves, tropical cyclones, storms, floods and droughts, exacerbating an existing learning challenge in developing countries where children already face barriers to education.



Peter Heaney, Trocaires Head of Region for Northern Ireland, says this issue is having a profoundly negative impact on childrens futures.



The communities and families we work with are increasingly affected by erratic weather patterns caused by climate change. The deep injustice of this is that those who have done least to cause the climate crisis, and who have the least capacity to absorb and recover from its impact, or adapt in response, are suffering most severely from its impacts. As many of these rural communities rely on growing and selling crops to earn an income, the loss of livelihood has knock-on effects for families. This is why we are urging the people of Co. Derry to support the Trocaire Box appeal this Lent, he said.



Climate disasters disproportionately harm young girls education. 12-year-old Miriam from Guatemala, Central America, features on this years Trocaire Box with her family. Her mother and father, Ilma and Julio, grow cardamon and corn to earn money for the family. They used to plant crops twice a year but now only plant once because of the extreme weather conditions. A drought devastated their crops which meant they had no income. Miriam was due to go to secondary school, an hour's drive away, but her parents now cannot afford the 5 a week for the bus that would take her there.



In developing countries, storms and droughts are wiping out livelihoods and often mean that children have to leave school permanently so they can work to help support their families. Countries where people are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change are also regions where children already receive fewer years of schooling. The effects of climate change have had a disproportionate and disastrous impact on childrens education in some of the worlds most fragile countries.



Climate change could push as many as 130 million people into extreme poverty by the year 2030, wiping out many of the development gains lower-income countries have made. Trocaire supports marginalised rural communities to sustain their livelihoods and to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation. This Lent we are asking the people of Co. Derry to help us support communities like Miriams as they mitigate and adapt to the effects of the climate crisis so that they can continue farming, protect their homes from flooding, make a fair living from their crops, send their children to school and become more resilient, added Peter Heaney.



David OHare Communications Officer for Trocaire offered his thanks to St. Treas for taking part in the project.



We are so grateful to the pupils and staff at St. Trea's for helping us to raise the profile of our Trocaire Box appeal for Lent. The pupils were really engaged. This appeal is incredibly important for the work we support in some of the world's most vulnerable communities and the people of Derry are always so amazingly generous and supportive, he said.



In 2023/24 Trocaire supported 2.2 million people across 20 countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East. Trocaires climate and environmental justice work supported 288,200 people in countries including Guatemala, Honduras, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Malawi, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and Syria.



The iconic Trocaire Box  which has been synonymous with Lent in Ireland, north and south, for over 50 years  will be distributed to thousands of homes, schools and churches across Co. Derry this week. Donations can also be made online at trocaire.org or by calling 0800 912 1200.
A convicted rapist who threatened to kill three female Sunday World journalists will be sentenced later this year.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Mark McAnaw (52), previously of Letterkenny, pleaded guilty to the harassment of Nicola Tallant, Amanda Brunker and Deirdre Reynolds on various dates in August 2023.

He has numerous previous convictions, which include a conviction of raping a foreign student in Donegal in October 2010. He was convicted by a jury in 2012 of orally raping and sexually assaulting the student. He was sentenced to nine years in prison for this offence.

McAnaw also has a 1989 conviction for kidnapping and convictions for assaults causing actual bodily harm from a Derry court in 2011.

He also attacked a woman in her home days after they had gone on a date together in April 2018. In this incident, he was armed with a large kitchen knife when he forced his way into a womans home. McAnaw received an eight-year, four-month sentence for this in June 2023, backdated to 2018 when he went into custody. The final 16 months of this sentence was suspended for 16 years, and McAnaw was placed under the supervision of Probation Services.

Detective Sergeant John Brady told Kieran Kelly, BL, prosecuting, that he was called to investigate the harassment of three women. Deirdre Reynolds outlined in her garda statement that she was working as the acting editor with the Sunday World when she began to receive emails from McAnaw.

The court heard that the emails varied from wanting to take Ms Reynolds for a drink to wanting to take me home and take my kit off and wanting to give me a good seeing to.

The emails became more violent in nature, and he then told her that he was coming to Dublin and wanted A fucking basic thing like a normal phone call confirming that I can stay at your house.

The final email to Ms Reynolds said: If you try and lastminute.com me, it will be a life-threatening mistake. I will turn up and put bullets in your nut. What happens to you will be your doing. McAnaw also referred to being an IRA Top Boy.

Det Sgt Brady told the court that McAnaw contacted Nicola Tallant, the Sunday World's Investigations Editor in August 2023. In his first email, he said: Nicola, I would really love to come and meet you in the office around 4.30 to take you out for drinks and something to eat and then back to your house for some fun.

The court heard that McAnaw turned up at Independent House, the building where the Sunday World is based. He was not allowed into the building and then emailed Ms Tallant to inform her that he was across the road in a coffee shop.

The third complainant in the case is Amanda Brunker, who worked in TV, radio and for the Sunday World. The court heard McAnaw initially made contact with Ms Brunker in 2017.

In August 2023, he left a public message for her on social media page. Ms Brunker said her heart sank and she felt ill when she saw his name appear. In the message, he told her that he was just out of prison and made a sexual reference.

Other messages referred to his criminal connections. He also said that he would get Nicola Tallant to show him where Ms Brunker lived and have sex with them both.

McAnaw was arrested, detained and interviewed. He offered apologies to Ms Reynolds and Ms Tallant but indicated that he would have sex with Ms Brunker with or without her consent.

Ms Reynolds read her victim impact statement to the court. She said: Before 2023, I had no interaction with him. I felt physically sick when I discovered he was a convicted rapist and had carried out violence against women.

She said: To the end of 2023, I suffered what may have been a panic attack and had to go get an ECG.

Ms Brunker also read her victim impact in which she said: I live in constant fear that he will find where I live, rape and kill me.

Shortly after his release in 2017 for the savage attack on a woman in Buncrana, he started sending me messages. He said he would kill me and take pleasure in doing so. She told the court: I have no photo of him, so I can't warn my family and neighbours.

Ms Brunker said: I have seen him in court twice. He is a giant of a man. To this day, my son keeps a hurl beside the front door.

Ms Tallants victim impact statement was read to the court on her behalf, which said: When he arrived at my office reception, I felt quite sick. He is a convicted rapist, and this made his arrival at my office even more uncomfortable. She said she had been comforted by the actions of the gardai and the court services.

Det Sgt Brady agreed with Rebecca Smith, BL, defending, that her client is originally from the UK and came to Ireland 15 years ago. The court heard McAnaw is currently detained in the Central Mental Hospital.

The garda agreed with counsel that at the time of this offending, McAnaw was not taking his medication. He also agreed that when gardai approached McAnaw in the coffee shop across from Independent House, he identified himself and was not aggressive.

The court heard that McAnaw was interviewed on three occasions. He offered apologies to the women but also said that he would make it up to them in the future.

Judge Pauline Codd adjourned the case until June 5 to prepare a probation report and obtain an up-to-date psychiatric report.
Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Ciaran McQuillan, has visited Gaelcholaiste Dhoire as part of his Breaktime with the Mayor sessions.

Councillor McQuillan met with a group of key stage 4 students in the Dungiven school to discuss key issues such as citizenship and leadership in the community.

Speaking about the visit to the school, Councillor McQuillan said: I was delighted to meet with the pupils from Gaelcholaiste Dhoire and talk to them about both my role as Mayor and my journey into politics.

ABOVE: Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Ciaran McQuillan pictured with Diarmaid Ua Bruadair, Principal, Gaelcholaiste Dhoire and KS4 students and teachers at Breaktime with the Mayor, part of the Pupil Voice series held in the school.

I spent time chatting with the students, explaining how the democratic process works and explained how they too can get involved in politics from a young age.

While visiting Gaelcholaiste Dhoire, the Mayor also had the opportunity to discuss his partnership with NI based mental health charity MindWise.

ABOVE: Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Ciaran McQuillan was treated to a fantastic musical performance during his Breaktime with the Mayor visit to Gaelcholaiste Dhoire.

The Mayor added: Thank you to Gaelcholaiste Dhoire for inviting me along. It was a fantastic opportunity to talk with all the students about their career aspirations, politics and also to highlight the important mental health services that are available to support young people.
A new restorative community hub has opened its doors in Dungiven.

The premises at New Street in the town was officially opened by Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald on Friday morning.

The project was funded by The Executive Office (TEO) and sponsored by businessman Gregory Donnelly, of Gregory Donnelly Sand and Gravel Ltd, located between Ardmore and Strabane.

Back in 2024, Community Restorative Justice Ireland was presented with an opportunity to pilot a restorative project, STARS (Striving Towards a Restorative Society), within the town.

Jim McCarthy, CEO of CRJ Ireland explained that an initial meeting with Dr Archibald and Sinn Fein Councillor Sean McGlinchey was 'highly positive' and soon after an action plan was put in place.

Shortly afterwards we liasied with others who are here today, who highlighted some small but significant changes which could have a big impact in the area. One of them was the need for a space for the young people to meet and call their own, explained Mr McCarthy.

Guided by local people, premises were identified and the task of transforming a vacant building into a bright, airy and welcoming hub was undertaken.

IN PICTURES: Restorative community hub opens in Dungiven

The young people were involved in the discussions regarding how the space would look and function, ensuring that their voices shaped the project from the very start and the process itself has been restorative giving young people a voice, building relationships and strengthening any ties, Jim continued.

CRJ did not have the financial resources to complete this task alone and so we reached out to local businesses for support. To our delight, one business stepped forward and generously offered to 'kit the place out'. Their kindness and commitment to this project has made an incredible difference and today we can see the joy this much-needed space has brought to the young people of this community.

This project is a testimony to the power of restorative practice in action  listening, collaboration and sharing responsibility lead to real and lasting change.

"I'd like to thank everyone involved for their hard work and dedication in achieving so much with so little. A huge thank you to our local politicians and a special thank you to The Executive Office for providing the funds to this project and a huge thanks also goes to Gregory Donnelly Sand and Gravel Limited for their generous donation.

"Without the support of all these individuals, businesses and volunteers who have given so much of their time today would not have been possible. This journey is about more than just a single project, it is about embedding restorative values in our community, it's about creating spaces where people are heard, respected and supported. It is through your collected efforts that we continue to make areal difference in the lives of individuals and our community as a whole.

Businessman Gregory Donnelly, of Gregory Donnelly Sand and Gravel Ltd, said he is delighted to be involved with the project.

When I heard they were opening this new facility in Dungiven I offered my help by purchasing equipment, I was delighted to be able to do this as everyone is so passionate about the project. It's a great place for the young people in Dungiven, he said.

Dr Caoimhe Archibald paid tribute to all those who supported the project.

When a few of us had conversations about what was needed here in the local community, it was very much about a space for young people and that's exactly what has been delivered here thanks to the efforts of everybody involved. Thanks to The Executive Office and CRJ in particular for helping to make this happen.

"I don't think we would be here without the support from council, the PSNI and everybody involved. I think it's been a real partnership effort. It's an absolutely fabulous space for our young people and I just want to wish them in particular the very best and I hope you get as much out of this space as what clearly the potential is here to deliver.

It is hoped the facility, which caters for people of all ages, will become the first Restorative Youth Club in the North.

Jackie ONeill, Chair of Benbradagh Community Support commented on how CRJI have been instrumental in training the staff within the BCS group in Restorative Practice and Justice to equip the staff, service users and young people with the ability to embed RP in their daily lives.

Their women's group have also embarked on their own restorative journey, participating in a 12-week programme NFT (Nourish, Flourish and Thrive) due to be completed at the end of March. CRJI have also delivered a young ambassador programme to the 12-16 age group which is received very well by the participants, the young people have also been working with Peaball artists to design and paint the beautiful mural we see here today. It is hoped that BCS will become the first Restorative Youth Club in the North, Jackie said.

The staff of BCS would like to take this opportunity to thank the TEO for their funding and CRJI in their support in helping the group put into place the facilities, training programmes and leading our community on the path of restorative practice.

Also, to Gregory Donnelly Sand and Gravel Ltd for their very kind donation for equipment in

the new Community Hub to ensure the people of Dungiven get the much-needed support and facilities they deserve.

Group pictured at the mural. (Photos - Deirdre Heaney, nwpresspics)

Sinn Fein Councillor Kathleen McGurk added: This hub is the beginning of a new chapter for the local area and we are thrilled to see this much-needed resource now open and ready to serve our community.

The new community hub will provide a valuable space for local youth to engage positively with their community, offering a variety of activities and opportunities for growth and development. It is a place where connections will be made, and new ideas will be nurtured, helping to foster a sense of belonging and support for all.

This project was made possible with essential funding from the Executive Office, and the hard work and dedication of many including my colleague, Councillor Sean McGlinchey.

This is a vital resource for our area and I look forward to working with them to deliver for our community and young people. This is just the beginning, and we are excited to see the positive impact it will have on all who use it.
Members of Derry City and Strabane District Councils Governance and Strategic Planning committee have given Council officers the go ahead to work with officers from the City of Bethlehem to prepare a joint friendship agreement.

A Friendship Agreement is a stepping stone to a more formal twinning or sister city agreement which deepens and strengthens links.

The initiative resulted from a motion brought to Council in January 2024 by Cllr Catherine McDaid (SDLP).

At that time, Council noted with grave concern the ongoing loss of life in the tragic war in Palestine.

It also noted the ongoing genocide in Gaza is completely abhorrent and that the impact of the Israeli occupation is being felt right across the region, including in the West Bank.

Council committed to contacting the local authorities within Bethlehem and to start the process of twinning Derry and Strabane with Bethlehem city, to show our support to the people of the region and to develop our relationship with Bethlehem in order to develop links.

Speaking at Tuesday afternoons meeting, Cllr McDaid thanked officers for the work that had gone into the project so far.

I appreciate it has obviously been really difficult to even get a conversation going given there is a genocide in the region but I appreciate everything that has been done to reach out and do what we can.

It has been mentioned how important and how beneficial it would be for both our district and Bethlehem if we can create those links for education and culture and tourism and everything else that would come with it.

I am really looking forward to further updates to see how this will move forward, said Cllr McDaid.

Cllr Shaun Harkin (People Before Profit) said the proposed friendship agreement was a key way for Council to express its solidarity [with Palestine] given the threat by the US Government to support Israels plan to annex all of the West Bank and take it over and ethnically cleanse all of the West Bank.

It is a way for us to attempt to block what Israel and the US are trying to do. Bethlehem right now is surrounded by 40 illegal settlements that have been built during the so-called peace agreement years, when there was supposed to be a two state solution.

That is the danger for Palestinians in Bethlehem right now. There is an attempt to erase them out of existence, said Cllr Harkin.

Alderman Derek Husssey (UUP) expressed concern about the absence of one interest that stretches right across our community - the place of Bethlehem in Christian religious teaching.

The signing of a twinning agreement between the two Councils was approved at a meeting of Bethlehem City Council on April 6, 2024.

Due to the ongoing situation the initial call between the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council and the Mayor of Bethlehem had to be rescheduled a number of times; it subsequently took place on Tuesday, February 11.

According to the report presented to councillors, the call was an opportunity to discuss common values and shared goals from a friendship/twinning agreement as well as communicate the citys solidarity and support for the people of Bethlehem and Palestine.

At present, Bethlehem has agreements in place with over 100 cities however not all of these are active or not all have been continuous due to changing political circumstances in the cities.

It has been agreed to develop areas of co-operation and friendship between the people of Derry City and Strabane and Bethlehem to strengthen the links between the two cities.

The mayoral meeting was hugely positive and provided the opportunity for an engaging and informative exchange.

Mayor Seenoi-Barr was able to directly communicate the continued support and solidarity the people of Derry City and Strabane has towards the people of Bethlehem and Gaza.

The Mayors have agreed that Officers from Derry City and Strabane and the City of Bethlehem will continue communications developing the people to people relationships so that we understand more about each others cities and identify the

areas of interest and mutual cooperation for the Agreement.

Potential areas of common interest where there are opportunities to foster dialogue, exchange good practice and knowledge are: culture, arts and the creative industries of both cities have been designated capital of cultures - Bethlehem was designated Capital of Arab Culture for 2020-21.

The next steps are for Council officers to facilitate the exact terms of reference of the Friendship Agreement with their counterparts. The agreement would become effective once formally approved and signed by both cities.

Both Mayors expressed their hope to meet again in the near future to discuss the agreement and the Mayor of Bethlehem hopes to have the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane travel to the City of Bethlehem in the near future.
The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council has extended her thanks to the Western Trust Childrens Health and Disability Services Team for their support for her next Our Guildhall, Our Space young peoples event which will take place on Friday, March 21.

The popular nights have taken place in the Guildhall throughout Mayor Lilian Seenoi Barrs year in office and have given young people across the city and district the opportunity to come together and enjoy a night of music, food and laughter with their friends in the historic setting of the Guildhall.

Looking forward to the next night of fun Mayor Barr said: Im delighted the Childrens Health and Disability Services Team with the Western Trust have come forward to support my next night for young people. We know its going to be an amazing night, and I have some incredible musicians, DJs and entertainers lined up for 21st March.

Returning to the Guildhall will be musician Ritchie Remo and I also have some incredible new acts to reveal - this time we be joined by comedian and entertainer Fabu D aka The Black Paddy, while Q Radio presenter Cushla Rice will be on the decks taking requests and keeping the tunes coming all night long!

There will also be some amazing food provided by Arbutus Catering which you can enjoy with your friends, some wonderful prizes up for grabs and we will have a Circus Skills showcase by In Your Space.

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Reflecting on the success of the Our Guildhall, Our Space nights, Mayor Barr added, The aim of these nights has always been to reach out to our young people and allow them to feel welcome in the Guildhall and to know that their voices are important and are being heard. Im really pleased at the success of these nights and am very much looking forward to seeing many of the previous attendees returning on March 21st to enjoy more fun together. And please, bring along a friend, Id love to meet more young people and listen to what they have to say.

Kevin Duffy, Assistant Director of Community and Public Health with the Western Trust added: Its very important that events like these are inclusive for all children and young people providing a safe space where they can relax with their friends and where they know they can communicate about matters which are important to them. We love the idea that young people are getting to have that experience in the iconic Guildhall, the seat of local government in our city and district. The Mayors Our Guildhall, Our Space events are really beneficial to the young people who attended, and we are very happy to lend our support to this night.

The Our Guildhall, Our Space events demonstrate the commitment that decision makers at all levels in the district are making to young people on the journey towards UNICEF UK Child Friendly Community Status.

As well as March 21st, there are two more Our Guildhall, Our Space events planned for the coming months. The nights will be split into two sessions for different age groups with 12 to 15-year-olds attending from 6-8pm and 16 to 20-years-olds from 8.30-10.30pm. Sign up can take place as an individual or as a group through an existing youth organisation. To register and submit your consent form to attend visit www.derrystrabane.com/mayorshub
There has been a dramatic deterioration in ambulance handover times in Northern Ireland, the Auditor General has found.

The number of handovers taking more than three hours rose from around 400 (less than 1%) in 2019/20 to just over 11,000 (9%) in 2023/24.

A new report by Northern Irelands Comptroller and Auditor General Dorinnia Carville found that these delays led to tens of thousands of instances of potential harm to patients.

It comes as hospital emergency departments (EDs) across the region continue to be under pressure with high volumes of patients.

Earlier this year, Dr Nigel Ruddell, the medical director of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS), said that delays getting patients into emergency departments was leading to an increase in deaths.

Last December, the BBC reported that a patient waited 19 hours in the back of an ambulance outside an emergency department.

The Auditor Generals report, which pertains to the year 2023/24, found more than 36,000 instances in 2023/24 when patients may have potentially experienced some harm as a result of ambulance handover delays.

It also found around 3,800 occasions when patients were potentially subject to severe harm.

The report considers performance relating to the process of moving a patient from an ambulance into an emergency department to be seen by medical and nursing staff, and highlighted a worsening performance against the NIAS target of completing handovers within 15 minutes.

It found that in 2019/20, around 27% of handovers were completed in this time frame compared with 7% in 2023/24.

It also described the overall performance throughout Northern Ireland as much worse than in England and Wales.

The report outlined the impact of the longer times for ambulance handovers as including an estimated 50 million of lost operational capacity in NIAS between 2019/20 and 2023/24, with 25% of operational capacity lost in 2023/24 due to delays.

It also found a deterioration in NIAS performance when responding to 999 calls because of ambulances being increasingly tied up waiting outside emergency departments, and noted particular concerns around performance in relation to emergencies and potentially serious incidents.

Meanwhile, the report found an increased reliance on the unregulated private sector to address service provision gaps. In 2019/20, NIAS commissioned private sector ambulances to provide emergency department relief on more than 20 occasions. By 2023/24, this had risen to more than 1,000 occasions.

It noted that the delays in ambulance handovers were interconnected with other, well-publicised challenges and pressures on the health service, such as limited bed space within hospitals and delays in discharging patients fit to leave hospitals.

The report also referenced other department-commissioned research which cited ambulance handover delays as the single biggest risk to patients in the emergency care system in the region.

Ms Carville described the length of time ambulances were waiting outside hospitals as unacceptable.

Having ambulances waiting outside hospitals for lengthy periods of time is both unacceptable for patient well-being and a waste of public resources, she said.

Addressing this issue will no doubt be challenging. However, this report includes recommendations, and good practice from other regions, highlighting key areas for improvement.

In particular, we have stressed the need for strong leadership to help break down siloed working and instil a culture that sees patients as the responsibility of hospitals and trusts when an ambulance arrives at a hospital, and not just once the handover process is complete.

In a statement the department of health said it will carefully consider the reports recommendations.

The department notes the recognition that the root cause of the delayed ambulance handovers is the wider severe health and social care system pressures and hospital discharge delays, they said.

Patients are waiting too long in ambulances outside our emergency departments as a direct consequence of poor flow in our hospitals and social care constraints.

The department also said it recognises the risk of harm to patients and impact on the ability of NIAS to respond to their next emergency call.

They said reducing ambulance handover delays has been a key priority for the department, and it has undertaken a significant programme of work.

While pressures manifest at the Emergency Department, flow through the system and getting those people medically fit for discharge back into the community remain significant issues, meaning that a whole system approach is required, they said.

Although some progress has been made in delivering changes to services to meet the needs of patients and service users, there is no quick fix and addressing the current situation will require sustained long-term effort, additional recurrent funding and support across the political spectrum.

The department is determined to find better ways to work as a system to tackle these complex issues.

That is why the minister initiated a series of winter planning workshops to identifying solutions to the system flow issues that we collectively face.

The department expects to see better outcomes in advance of next winter, including improvements to ambulance handover times.

They added that the department is looking at initiative used elsewhere, and is engaging with the London Ambulance Service over a model it uses which has improved ambulance handover times.
Concern has been expressed after equipment key to rescuing casualties from road crashes was stolen from a fire station in Co Antrim.

The break-in at Crumlin fire station was discovered on Tuesday morning.

Ryan Thompson, northern area commander for the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS), has appealed for the equipment to be returned.

I can confirm that several pieces of equipment, which are critical to our operational response to road traffic collisions (RTC), have been stolen from Crumlin fire station, Co Antrim, following a break-in some time overnight, he said.

These vital pieces of operational equipment are used by Crumlin firefighters to help rescue casualties involved in serious road traffic collisions who need released from vehicles urgently.

NIFRS can confirm that several pieces of equipment, which are critical to our operational response to road traffic collisions (RTC), have been stolen from Crumlin Fire Station, following a break-in sometime overnight, Tuesday 11 March. https://t.co/0juq3HdmaH  Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (@NIFRSOFFICIAL) March 11, 2025

I am appealing for these items to be returned to the fire station immediately.

He said the theft of the vital equipment not only prevents firefighters from saving lives, but it also causes great concern in the local community.

I would like to reassure the local community that NIFRS immediately put contingency arrangements in place to ensure that our operational response capability to the Crumlin area was maintained whilst the stolen items are replaced and to allow the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to conduct their investigation, he said.

Its very disappointing that local firefighters who work tirelessly for their community would be targeted in this way. I recognise the impact this has had on Crumlin firefighters and I would like to thank them for their support at this time.

A police spokesperson said they received a report of the incident at about 7.40am on Tuesday and issued an appeal for information.

It was reported that the fire station on the Mill Road had been broken into and a number of items were stolen, they said.

Following initial inquiries, we believe the break-in occurred some time overnight.

It was discovered that a large quantity of vital equipment had been taken.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and local firefighters work so hard for their community, and it is extremely disappointing that it would be targeted in this way.

Our investigation is currently ongoing. We would ask anyone who has any information, CCTV or dashcam footage, to contact us on 101 quoting reference number 209 11/03/25.
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EVERETT  Economic Alliance Snohomish County (EASC) is hosting Green Economy: Building a Sustainable Future on March 18 at 8:30 a.m. via Zoom. This discussion will explore clean energy advancements, electrification efforts, and the evolving role of sustainable transportation in Snohomish County's economic landscape.

The panel features industry experts, including Mel Clark, president and CEO of CleanTech Alliance; Harry Birak, senior business development manager at the Washington state Department of Commerce; Barbara Wharton, project manager at Echandia; John Hoffman, chief customer officer at Snohomish County PUD; and Jay Heim, zero emissions project manager at Community Transit.





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Heartfelt tributes have been paid to a teenage Irish girl who passed away suddenly last week.

19-year-old Leah Marie Faughnan from Cloonfinnan, Mohill, Co Leitrim sadly passed away suddenly on Thursday, March 6.

Leahs passing has left her family, friends, and the wider Leitrim community in deep shock and sorrow.

Her official death notice on RIP.ie described her as "greatly missed by her heartbroken parents Gerard and Anne Marie, sisters Katie, Sarah, and Mia, granny Mary, aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives, neighbours, and her many great friends."

Mohill Community College, where Leah was a past student, was among those to share their grief. Teacher Natalie Flanagan recalled, "I am so shocked and saddened to learn of Leahs passing. I taught her some years ago in MCC, and it is lovely to see what a beautiful young woman she had become. My profound sympathy to all those who mourn her devastating loss."

Aileen McGirl, also from Mohill Community College, described Leah as "such a beautiful young lady inside and out" before adding: "Thinking of you all at this most difficult time. May Leahs gentle soul rest in eternal peace."

Staff and management of Jamestown Preschool, who remembered Leahs "beautiful smile and bubbly personality," expressed their deep sympathy to her parents and sisters. "We will always remember Leahs beautiful smile and bubbly personality. Keeping you all in our thoughts during this difficult time."

Friends and neighbours also shared their sympathies, with one mourner writing: "In our thoughts & prayers at this very difficult time. A beautiful girl taken far too soon. God bless you all in the days ahead."

Another condolence read: "Deepest condolences to all of Leahs family. She was a beautiful and kind girl inside and out. My thoughts and prayers are with all the family. Rest in peace, Leah."

In honour of Leah, donations are being accepted for the SADS (Sudden Adult Death Syndrome) Foundation.

Leah's Funeral Mass took place at St Marys Church in Annaduff on Monday morning, with cremation afterwards at Lakelands Crematorium in Cavan.

READ MORE | 'There are no words' - Tributes pour in for Irish woman who died suddenly in New York
The Central Bank of Ireland has been accused of complicity in genocide over its EU role in approving Israel Bonds for sale in the EU.

Protesters called for new legislation that would give Ireland the power to refuse their sale over human rights concerns.

Israel chose the Central Bank of Ireland to be the designated authority to approve prospectuses for the securities in the EU, having used the UK before Brexit.

Israel Bonds are advertised as supporting the countrys economy.

More recently, websites promoting the bonds emphasise their role in supporting Israel during the war.

The Central Bank is responsible for assessing whether a prospectus for the offer of securities is in compliance with requirements of the EU Prospectus Regulation.

Dublins Central Bank said approval should not be viewed as an endorsement of the issuer.

On Tuesday, a protest was held outside the Central Banks offices, with activists calling for laws to allow Ireland to refuse the sale of what they called Israels war bonds.

Helen Mahony, an organiser with the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC), said: It is an abomination that Central Bank is funding genocide.

It is entirely absurd that the governor of the Central Bank said that nothing applies to him or the Central Bank except to the EU prospectus.

Imagine that, no law in the land applies to him, no human rights law. The Genocide Convention doesnt apply  of course it does apply.

The Central Bank is obliged not to be complicit in genocide. They are actually breaking the law and they need to stop breaking the law.

Labour TD Marie Sherlock said the Central Banks role in approving Israel Bonds on behalf of the EU to fund the war effort in Palestine is an abomination.

She added: It is an absolute outrage and completely unacceptable that as a country, any agency or organ of this state would be complicit in a genocide of a people, let alone the Palestinian people.

She said questions put to the Minister for Finance prompt the same claptrap and nonsense response that EU regulations bind the Central Bank in its response.

That has to end, she said, we have to ensure that legislation is brought in so that we are not bound by EU regulation.

People Before Profit councillor Darragh Adelaide said EU law is used as an excuse for authorities to absolve themselves of responsibility.

He said Ireland should not approve Israeli bonds in the hope it influences other countries and the EU.

If the law does not allow you to take action in the face of a genocide, then that law needs to be broken, its not fit for purpose, we need to ignore them, we need to take action.

Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger told the protest she had only recently heard of the Central Banks role in approving the sale of Israeli bonds.

The fact that Ireland is the clearing house, the agent for the whole of the EU, for these bonds, in a so-called neutral country, is absolutely scandalous, she said.

Israeli bonds have raised 4 billion since the genocide began. These are essentially loans by states to the Israeli regime. Loans for what? Loans for genocide.

She said pressure needs to be put on workers in the financial sector not to co-operate with Israel Bonds using the landmark opinion in July from the International Court of Justice as their basis.

These are war bonds that the Central Bank is dealing in, she added.

A spokeswoman for the Central Bank said granting approval is not an endorsement of an issuer.

She added: As the competent authority under the prospectus regulation, the Central Bank is responsible for assessing whether a prospectus has been drawn up in compliance with the disclosure requirements of the prospectus regulation.

We are required to approve the prospectus under the prospectus regulation where the prospectus documentation meets standards of completeness, consistency and comprehensibility.

Approval should not be considered as an endorsement of the issuer and the securities that is the subject of the prospectus. The Central Bank will adhere to any financial sanctions or restrictive measures that are imposed under law.

The protest on Tuesday came a day after a small pro-Palestine demo occupied the Central Banks offices on the capitals quays for more than an hour.

The protesters walked through the visitor centre before reaching the lobby and chanted Free Palestine.
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International Womens Day was being celebrated early by Network Ireland Louth who, together with Local Enterprise Office Louth, had a joint event during Local Enterprise Week.

The event on Thursday 6th March, in the Fairways Hotel Dundalk, was entitled The Recovery Position and Julie Burke aka JulesRulesIrl kept the audience of local businesswomen enthralled with her story and her advice.

Julie calls herself Jack of all trades, master of some. She was born in Derry, grew up in Limerick, moved to Galway, then to London for 3 years, and back to Galway.

She considers herself a Galway woman. Her working life started at 12 when she worked in the local corner shop so that she could earn chocolate, as payment. She moved on to Tesco, working in various roles and never said no to anything. She was always up for the challenge thinking she could do everything.

It wasnt until her late 20s, when she slipped getting out of the shower, split the back of her head open but managed to call the emergency services, get down the stairs, unlock the door to let them in, and then put herself into the Recovery Position, that she finally realised she was trying to do too much.

She was trying to be the perfect everything and not asking for help.



We tend to not ask for help because we feel there is a stigma around asking for help, she said. However, she advised that asking for the right help from the right people is the important thing as you cant do it all by yourself. There are times when we have to recognise our personal limits and get the support.

We live on an island, but we are not an island Julie advised.

Listen to your body and find ways to quieten your mind. Help yourself first but do reach out to others and meet for the coffee and the cake  make the time. Julie spoke about the importance of networking to get the necessary support and to have people that you can say I need your advice to. She praised Network Ireland and the manner in which everyone supports each other in the various branches throughout the country.

Sarah Mallon, of LEO Louth, spoke of her organisations commitment to supporting Network Ireland Louth and how pleased they were to do the joint event with the network. Nicola Connolly-Byrne, President of Network Ireland Louth, wrapped up the night, thanking Julie for her words of wisdom, and reminding the ladies present that the next event will take place on Tuesday April 29 and is entitled You do You.

READ NEXT: Louth property prices soar prompting fears homeownership slipping out of reach

Network Ireland is a progressive, dynamic organisation supporting the professional and personal development of women. With over 1,200 members and a strong nationwide presence, the group holds regular events, workshops, and networking opportunities that promote empowerment and leadership for women in business.

To join Network Ireland, go to: www.networkireland.ie and become a member.


Six years on from the government commitment to deliver nine fully funded community neurological rehabilitation teams across the country, the rollout has been beset by delays, with most areas of the country including Louth still without any access to a team.

Thats according to the Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI), the national umbrella body for 40 neurological organisations, who recently met with TDs and Senators at Leinster House, including Louth TD Erin McGreehan, to call for their renewed commitment in delivering on the targets outlined in the 2019 Neurorehabilitation Strategy. As National Brain Awareness Week marks its 20th year (March 10th  16th), the NAI underscores the urgent need for dedicated community neurorehabilitation teams to address this critical issue.

There is now a notable regional disparity for patients in Louth, as the Midlands is one of only two regions in the country that has yet to receive funding for a community neurorehabilitation team.

The National Neurorehabilitation Strategy published in 2019 committed to delivering specialist community teams and long-term neurorehabilitation services across the country, as well as addressing the shortfall of 171 specialist inpatient neurorehabilitation beds.

Magdalen Rogers, CEO of the Neurological Alliance of Ireland said: Neurorehabilitation is a vital service to enable people in Louth with neurological conditions to live their day to day lives. Were calling on the Government to announce a commitment to funding four community neurorehabilitation teams in this years Budget.

"We want to see this commitment during their first 100 days in office, to send a clear signal they intend to deliver on the pledges within the Programme for Government to complete the national rollout of community neurorehabilitation teams and to developing more specialist inpatient rehabilitation beds and implement community based multidisciplinary rehabilitation services in each HSE Regional Health Authority Area.

NAI is calling for funding in the upcoming Budget for full community neurorehabilitation teams for the North West, North Dublin, South East and Midlands, promised since 2019.

Patient advocate, Liam Lynch who lives in Oldcastle Co. Meath, which is part of the Midlands region, discussed the importance of access to neurorehabilitation teams to Oireachtas members. Liam has been living with an acquired brain injury (ABI) since 2017, after being knocked off his bike by a car, during a charity cycle.

Despite experiencing multiple side effects afterwards, including memory loss and struggling with work, he only learned that this was due to having an ABI, as part of a check in with his neurologist two years later. He is now retired, and he and his wife are carers for their daughter who has learning difficulties and physical disabilities,

He said: From 2017 to 2019 I really struggled with everyday work-related tasks that previously I wouldnt have thought much about before the accident. In particular online research for the PLC course I was teaching in Dundalk at the time, really caused me problems, and I felt like I was going crazy.

It was only during a routine check in with my neurologist where I mentioned this struggle and his response that it was to be expected because I was living with an ABI, that everything suddenly made sense. Id spent two years wondering why this was happening and now I knew why. A change in personnel at his office meant my GP had never received the report which diagnosed the ABI.

My neurologist introduced me to Acquired Brain Injury Ireland and theyre the only ones providing support to people like me in the area. I spend time in their club house in Navan every week. Theyve given me help with understanding and managing my brain injury.

One person went out for a cycle that day in 2017 and a different person came back. I wont recover from the ABI but I have learned to live with this new normal, now I understand why I am the way I am and I have the support from ABI Ireland.

For more information visit: www.nai.ie
POPULAR DJ Evan Kilmartin has probably opened "his first nightclub in heaven", his grieving aunt has said.

Julie Kilmartin, who runs Kilmartin Educational Services in Limerick city centre, has paid a heartbreaking tribute to her nephew who tragically died in a three-car collision on Sunday night in Galway.

Aged just 22, Evan was loved in Limerick, as he worked alongside his aunt at her grind school in O'Connell Street, mainly co-ordinating its social media advertising campaigns.

"He was the most popular guy in the area. He was a well-known DJ, and was just a funny guy, a kind guy, a decent guy.

"Everybody just wanted to be in his company. He was a wonderful person, full of kindness," Julie said.

This was most apparent when it came to his charity work.

He raised 6,000 in a widely-publicised fundraiser for Cancer Care West in 2023, where he shaved his hair down to its roots.

The young man, from the parish of Indreabhan in Galway, approached business owners across Limerick and many rowed in behind the campaign, either donating money or giving spot prizes.

And after the proceeds were counted, Evan took time to contact each and every business owner to thank them for their generosity.

Read Next: Dermot Bannon told to scale back Waterford home renovation plans for former RTE star

"I never knew he did that until I went in for a pint of Guinness into Sexton's Pub [at Henry Street in Limerick city centre]. Aileen and Barry run Sexton's. Aileen came over to me, and told me that they gave a spot prize for the Shave or Dye event that Evan ran, and when it was all over and done with, Evan took the time to sit down and send them a thank you note for providing a spot prize. I've never heard of that being done before," Julie said.

During Covid-19 when Julie and her other nephew, Evan's brother Shane were working in their office, she recalled how Evan was so good to them.

"He was the cook who looked after myself and Shane, his brother, when we were down. He would go out and get all the food, cook it for us, and when we came home from work, it was all there for us."

"He was just a wonderful young person, that is the bottom line. There was nothing but kindness and love about him," Julie said.

"We will remember him for his smile, his laughter, his kindness and the love that he had for his family. The sheer love for his family and friends. The love for Irish, the love for the Gaeltacht, the love for Ireland. The love for everything," the businesswoman and educator said.

Julie has taken a lot of comfort from tributes which have flowed in for Evan from across the world.

The pair travelled to many destinations, always with the maroon flag of Galway in hand. They are pictured below at the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy.

"Tributes are pouring in from friends he has made in Texas, Australia, South Africa, all over the world.. from Boston. People are so devastated and shocked that such a young person at such a young age with so much to live for, with so much to give to the world has now gone from us," Julie added.

She said the family have kept saying to each other that: "Evan is now in heaven".

"He probably has the first nightclub opened up there," she smiled.

Following the crash, the Bearna to Na Forbacha road in Galway was closed well into Monday before re-opening after a forensic examination.

Gardai are appealing for witnesses to the collision to come forward.

A spokesperson said: "Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area at the time are asked to make this footage available to investigating gardai," a Garda spokesperson said in a statement.

"Anyone with any information is asked to contact Bothar na Tra (Salthill) Garda Station on 091 514 720, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station."

Evan's funeral details have yet to be confirmed.

May he rest in peace.
More than 6,000 has been raised for the Good Shepherd charity at the annual Marketing Institute of Ireland (MII) Cork ball.

The Cork branch of the MII hosted a Come Fly with Me ball at the Vienna Woods Hotel, which saw members of the local business and marketing community come together for a night of celebration, fine dining, and fundraising.

The black-tie evening kicked-off with a cocktail reception at 7pm, and was followed by a four-course dinner with wine, live music, dancing, and more.

Attendees had the opportunity to celebrate rising talent through the Student of the Year Awards, while also supporting a vital cause through a charity raffle, where 6,115 was raised for the Good Shepherd organisation.

Chair of the MII Cork ball, Katie Power said: The Come Fly with Me Ball was a tribute to the glamour of jet-setting and a celebration of the incredible achievements within Corks business and marketing community.

More importantly, it was an opportunity to give back.

We are delighted with the generosity shown by attendees, which allowed us to raise 6,115 for Good Shepherd Cork.

The support we received highlights the communitys commitment to making a positive impact.

Good Shepherd Cork provides essential support to women, children, and families who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness.

The charity operates seven centres across the city, providing emergency accommodation, education and training, outreach and support, and long-term supported accommodation to more than 900 women, children, and families annually.

In 2025, the organisation has said it plans to expand its services in Cork with the opening of its first support centre in the county.

Sponsors of this years annual MII Cork ball included Corks Red FM, AFTA (Atlantic Flight Training Academy) and Hopkins Communications.
Sinn Fein TD Thomas Gould has sought to address the Dail about his questioning by the gardai in an ongoing fraud case, party leader Mary Lou McDonald has said.

It comes as news broke last weekend that Mr Gould had been arrested by arrangement and released without charge in relation to an alleged 150,000 business fraud almost a decade ago. Mr Gould said in a statement: I am entirely innocent and reject the complaint which my former employer has made against me, and he was confident that his position would be vindicated.

Detailed statement

Speaking to reporters yesterday afternoon, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said that her party had become aware of the matter in February, and that Mr Gould has given a detailed statement to the gardai.

He emphatically rejects the accusations made against him and believes that he will vindicate himself in full, so the gardai have a job to do, they need to get on with that, said Ms McDonald.

I understand that Thomas Gould has now contacted the Ceann Comhairle and he is seeking the opportunity to address the Dail on this matter.

The gardai have said that investigations are ongoing, with a file expected to be prepared for the DPP. Mr Goulds party colleague Kenneth Collins, a councillor for the citys North-West ward, was also arrested by arrangement in January and released without charge in relation to the same case.

He also denies any wrongdoing of any kind.
Cork City Council has granted permission for the construction of a 122-space creche at a site located off Maglin Rd, Ballincollig, with a local councillor saying the facility is urgently required.

The proposed development will be two stories and includes an outdoor play area, drop-off parking spaces, and additional car and bicycle parking.

Vehicular access to the proposed development will be provided via two new junctions, a main access and an entrance to the set-down area, off the existing estate road serving the Cois Caislean residential development.

In a letter supporting the development, a Cork City Childcare spokesperson said they had carried out a needs assessment, and identified a severe lack of childcare in the area, with all 14 early years services being at full capacity.

The spokesperson said:

There is extremely limited availability in the services in the surrounding area and a high demand for childcare."

Sinn Fein councillor for the South West ward, Joe Lynch, welcomed the planning approval.

He commented: The decision by Cork City Council to grant planning permission for a large-scale childcare facility  providing 120 additional places in Ballincollig  is very welcome, as these places are urgently required.

The sooner they are delivered, the better.

On an almost daily basis, I meet with parents who are at the end of their tether trying to secure childcare places for their children.

This new development will go some way to addressing the huge demand that exists for places.
A city-based former hair salon owner has been unveiled as the Cork Person of the Month for February.

Joe Byrne, of the recently-closed Josephs Hair Salon in Glasheen, won the award in recognition of more than 40 years of service to the people of Cork and his generosity towards the homeless.

For decades, Mr Byrne has built relationships with vulnerable people, providing free haircuts to the homeless and to children from low-income backgrounds who were going back to school or making their communion.

Having grown up in a family that didnt have much money, Mr Byrne wanted to relieve some of the worry for struggling families, and for people facing hardship.

Mr Byrne was also honoured for his work in delivering back-to-school kits and Easter eggs to local families and for collecting food donations for Cork Penny Dinners.

Ive seen, firsthand, the transformative power a simple haircut can have on people, Mr Byrne said. These free haircuts arent just about making people look better, theyre about restoring dignity, boosting confidence and bringing smiles to faces during a time when people need it most.

Its always been incredibly rewarding, seeing how a fresh look and a conversation can lift peoples spirits and make a meaningful difference to their lives.

Mr Byrne said that while his salon has closed, he will continue to provide free services to vulnerable people through visits to shelters such as Edel House.

Organiser of the Cork Person of the Month awards, Manus OCallaghan said: Over the years, Joe has become a beloved member of the community, not just as a local business owner.

His charity extended through every corner of the city, especially during the more challenging times. Whether it was organising food drives or offering support in the form of a free haircut, Joes ethos is one of making someones day a little bit better.

Mr Byrnes name will now go forward, alongside the other monthly winners, for possible selection as the 2025 Cork Person of the Year at the annual gala awards lunch in January.
Gardai in Cork have arrested two men following an operation targeting criminal activity in the county.

The arrests were made early this morning after an operation was put in place after gardai received intelligence relating to organised crime activity in Munster.

It is understood that one of the men in garda custody is suspected of having links to the Real IRA.

As part of the probe gardai are searching woodland in Carrignavar, Co Cork.

The men are being detained in different garda stations in Cork.

They can be held for an initial period of up to 12 hours.

The men, who are in their 40s, are being questioned under Section 30 of the Offences against the State Act.

A garda spokesperson this evening said:

"As part of an investigation into dissident republican activity, gardai have arrested two males (aged in their 40s).

"The two males are currently detained under section 30 Offences Against the State Act 1939, as amended, in garda stations in Cork city.

"Yesterday evening, 10th March 2025, gardai attached to Cork City and Cork County divisions supported by Crime Special Branch, Cork City and Regional Units including the Regional Armed Support Unit were involved in an operation targeting dissident Republican activity during which a vehicle was stopped in which one male was arrested.

"An area of forest and adjoining lands was subject of a follow up search when the second male was stopped and arrested.

"During the course of today, 11th March 2025, follow up searches were carried out at eight domestic residences across Cork city.

"Gardai attached to Cork City and Cork County Divisions have today been supported by the Special Detective Unit, Garda Dog Unit and Garda Air Support Unit.

"Items of evidential value have been recovered across the range of searches and operational activity which has taken place.

"Investigations are ongoing at this time."

The spokesperson added that as two men are currently in garda custody "An Garda Siochana is not making any further comment at this time".
A new TG4 series focusing on the construction industry gets under way next week and will follow a builder from the Cork Gaeltacht village of Baile Mhuirne as he sets about rebuilding the hall of the school he attended himself as a child.

Freddie O Loingsigh has built many houses and other buildings around the Muscrai area and the new TG4 series, Na Builders, will focus on a particular project close to his heart, the rebuilding of the hall of Scoil Aban Naofa in Baile Mhic Ire, the twin village of Baile Mhuirne.

The series commences on Thursday, March 20, and the producers promise to shine the spotlight on construction workers from across the country as they battle the elements  and occasionally each other  to get the job done.

The company, which previously produced series on agricultural contractors, have promised a series that will spend time with builders of all shapes and sizes, in rural and urbans settings.

Well be looking at what they are building and who they are building for and getting a real sense of where we are in building Ireland these days, said a New Departures Media representative.

From bricklayers to electricians, plumbers to roofers, plasterers to carpenters, these hard-working men and women are part of our everyday lives in Ireland.

For Freddie Lynch, who has headed up a number of community building projects in the Muscrai area, the demolition of the old school hall and its rebuilding was one of the biggest projects he had worked on.

The builder employs four workers full-time as well as subcontractors and they undertake a variety of tasks, including groundworks, roofing, first fix, and tarmacs.

The series will also take in building projects in An Rinn in the Waterford Gaeltacht as well as construction sites in other parts of the country.

One of these projects is the luxury home being built in Portmarnock, Co Dublin, by Phil Loughran, who started his career in the industry as a carpenter.
I know St Patricks Day is ag teacht when I first spot people dawdling down Patrick Street wearing newly-purchased Aran jumpers.

They stand in stark contrast to the locals ag siul go tapaidh to get out of the gaoth fuar na Marta.

Na Meiriceanaigh have landed - March, the month of celebrating Irishness, is underway.

In the twists of history, somehow celebrating Irishness has evolved into an extravaganza of parades, revelry, and wearing outlandish green white and gold plastic tat. Not what the 5th century Patrick would have been into, I suspect.

How about instead of displaying our love of being Irish by wearing glittery shamrock-shaped sunglasses, we display our Irish identity by speaking Irish and sprinkling Gaeilge into our everyday conversations and interactions?

We can all get on board the wave of positivity created by films like An Cailin Ciuin and Kneecap towards our national language. Both films challenged the outdated perception of Irish as a dying or old-fashioned language.

An Cailin Ciuin highlighted the poetic and emotional beauty of the language, and Kneecap reclaimed it as a rebellious urban language that represents identity and resistance, especially in Northern Ireland.

Much of what stops us from speaking Irish is our fear of getting it wrong. But we need to cast aside the notion that if were not liofa (fluent), then we shouldnt use it.

When we go on ar laethanta saoire go dti Spainn, we are happy to trot out our modest Spanish phrases - una cerveza por favor Donde es el supermercado Muchos gracias - why not take the same approach to Gaeilge?

When we encounter English learners, we dont scoff if they get their sentence structure mixed up, we just try to grasp their meaning. Using the language and making yourself understood is the aim, not an A+ in the Leaving Cert.

The proverb Is fearr Gaeilge bhriste na Bearla cliste/Broken Irish is better than clever English is a snappy summation, but I think we should be putting the slogan Is fearr Gaeilge bhriste na gan Ghaeilge ar bith. (Broken Irish is better than no Irish at all) on t-shirts.

These are easy phrases that we can use every month of the year, not just in March, which are a meaningful way of normalising the use of Irish, and celebrating our Irish identity beyond Aran jumpers and St Patricks Day shenanigans.

1. Slan

At the end of work Zoom calls, bidding my paisti farewell, hanging up phone calls - Ive replaced bye with slan on all occasions. Its an easy swap. Everyone understands it.

Its like saying Ciao - except in our mother tongue. It would be great if everyone just started saying Slan as a national habit.

2. Go raibh maith agat

Its as easy to replace a thank you with a go raibh maith agat in your daily interactions. Try it. Youll be surprised how many shopkeepers will happily respond with a ta failte romhat.

Even non-Irish retail workers, usually multi-linguists themselves, know what go raibh maith agat means and are happy to hear it.

3. Le meas

Adding email sign-offs as Gaeilge is a simple way to insert Irish into daily communications. I like to use Le meas as a replacement for Kind regards, or a more informal Mile buiochas for people who are helping me out at work.

Or just sign off GRMA(go raibh maith agat), which is also handy shorthand in messages.

4. Aon sceal?

Irish people love to know how you are getting on and there are so many nice ways of asking in Irish. Aon sceal? (Whats the story?). Conas ata cursai? (How are things?). Conas ata tu? (How are you?).

An easy response to conas ata tu is to bat the question back with a Go maith, agus tu fein? (Good, and you?)

5. Amach/Isteach

I love an instruction as Gaeilge. They take the edge of what could be considered a snappy order in English. We use Amach! (Out!) regularly in our house to get the kids to school and Suas an staighre (Up the stairs) agus Isteach sa leaba (Into bed) is uttered every night.

Other regularly used favourites include Brostaigh! (Hurry!), Ar agaidh linn! (Lets go!), Dun an doras (Shut the door!).

6. Ceart go leor

Just as useful as the phrase ok. Pretty much everyone understands what ceart go leor means and it can be deployed in so many situations.

7. Mol an oige agus tiocfaidh siad

Praise the youth and they will flourish. Praise them in Irish and they will flourish even more!

For me, giving praise and congratulations to anyone, not just kids, is elevated by by saying it in Irish. Maith thu (Well done), Comhgairdeas (Congratulations).

8. An bhfuil tu?

When you start throwing a smattering of Irish into your everyday life, youll be surprised how many people respond positively and want to continue the conversation as Gaeilge.

Instead of shutting down, saying Oh, I cant actually speak Irish properly start reminding yourself of a few handy phrases and core vocabulary that are lodged somewhere in the back of your brain that keep the conversation going. An bhfuil tu/Are you is a very useful one. An bhfuil tu sasta (happy), bronach (sad), reidh (ready).

9. Ba mhaith liom?

Once youve started using your Irish regularly, youll find yourself wanting to use it more and more.

Ba mhaith liom (I would like) can be used to get you everything from a cupan tae to a teach nua!

10. Conas a deirfear?

I recently tried to order a coffee and babyccino as gaeilge in Cafe Myo, a fine establishment very supportive of speaking Irish. Ba mhaith liom Americano amhain agus dha mmm... nil fhios agam.

Its inevitable to get stuck, but thats when you deploy Conas a deirfear (how do you say) babyccinno? No-one knew, so the barista agreed wed call it a leanbh-ccino from now on.

So, this La Fheile Padraig, instead of just wearing green, why not wear your cupla focal with pride and then keep it up the rest of the year!

Go n-eiri leat!
Corks Lifelong Learning Festival returns for 2025, and promises to be another week-long array of workshops, seminars and events promoting and celebrating learning for all.

The festival runs from April 2-9, and with the motto of Investigate, Participate and Celebrate in mind, the public are invited to attend a wide variety of free learning opportunities hosted across Cork throughout the week.

Staying Connected with our Children and Teenagers - an enjoyable, experiential evening workshop with therapist and teacher, Sinead Hartnett, is one such event.

Presented by the Bishopstown/Glasheen Local Education Committee, on Thursday, April 3, in Bishopstown Community School from 6.15-9pm, the workshop will explore fostering healthy connections, building resilience and coping skills in your home.

Continuing with the theme of family support, the evening will include a short presentation from charity food bank, FeedCork.

The Bishopstown/Glasheen Local Education Committee are no strangers to the Lifelong Learning Festival and have been running events for the past 14 years. Kevin McAuliffe, Home School Community Liaison Officer of Bishopstown Community School, explains why contributing to the festival is important to the committee: Often, the word learning is just associated with school and college settings and can have negative connotations. The festival showcases that learning is not just confined to school, it is life-long and can take many forms such as dance classes, walking tours and wellbeing talks.

As an education committee, it is important for us to be part of and promote that ethos.

It is also important to us to provide something that we see as beneficial in not only promoting life-long learning but something that can positively impact our community.

The topic chosen by the committee to explore this year seeks to find ways for parents and carers to maintain solid connections in order to provide support to children and teenagers.

Home School Community Liaison Officer for both Glasheen Boys and Glasheen Girls National Schools, Tara Leen, tells us more about what can be expected from the event and who it may appeal to: This workshop would be of benefit to all parents, especially those who wish to deepen their connection with their children while fostering their emotional resilience.

We have held numerous workshops with Sinead over the years for Glasheen Boys and Glasheen Girls NS for children, parents and staff and the feedback has always been hugely positive.

Sinead is so engaging and compassionate and her techniques are so relevant and empowering. She provides us with actionable tools that can be used at home and school. This also creates a unified approach between home and school which supports our mutual goal of every child reaching their own potential.

Tara goes on to discuss the importance of supporting younger children to develop emotional regulation and the positive impact this can bring about, stating: We have a window of opportunity with primary school-aged children, to provide them with the tools they need while their ability to manage their emotions is still forming.

If a child is dysregulated, they cannot focus or learn effectively. Consistent emotional support at home and at school will lay the foundations for healthy relationships, help them feel understood and valued, and in turn facilitate their learning.

Considering the benefits the workshop can offer to parents and carers of second level students, Kevin adds: Finding ways to connect with teenagers can be difficult in todays world. As they look to discover who they are and to try to be independent, it can seem they dont want to be around or connect with their parents. This is partly true but they still need connection. It is almost like they are saying, Stay away from me but dont go too far! Developmentally, this is normal behaviour.

This connection gives them a secure base from which they can safely discover who they are and learn to be independent.

So, they still need the safety and reassurance a parent can offer as they are discovering themselves, despite what they might say.

Finding moments and ways to connect helps to maintain a relationship they might say they dont want, but really they do need, is important. With this workshop, we are hoping to give parents ways to connect with their child and to help them build the resilience they need to be the best that they can be

FeedCork are proud to be supporting the workshop led by Sinead Hartnett.

Emma Byrd, community worker with FeedCork, tells us about her role both with the food bank and with the education committee.

I work closely with HSLOs (Home School Liaison Officers) across the city, supporting school-going families who may be struggling with daily challenges. For children to thrive at school, they must first have access to essential needs such as food at home. This is where FeedCork plays a crucial role - helping to alleviate some of the immense pressures families face.

This year marks my third year representing FeedCork on the local education committee at Bishopstown Community School, contributing to initiatives in conjunction with the Lifelong Learning Festival to promote learning and wellbeing within our community.

Places for the workshop are free but limited, those interested can contact kmcauliffe@ bishopstown-cs.ie for booking information. Further information about the services of FeedCork can found on www.feedcork.com
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.

The USAID logo on a machine that processes recycled plastic into construction blocks at the Pasig Eco Hub, a project canceled by the Trump administration's freeze on foreign aid, in Pasig, Metro Manila, Philippines on March 10, 2025. Ezra Acayan / Getty Images

President Donald Trumps withdrawal of nearly all aid from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will significantly impact global climate finance to vulnerable nations, a new analysis by Carbon Brief has found.

The U.S. spent roughly $11 billion on foreign aid last year, with a similar amount slated for this year if plans by former President Joe Biden had been continued.

The US retreat from its global climate finance commitments is a staggering blow to the chances of keeping global temperature rise to 1.5C [above preindustrial levels]. By abruptly axing nearly a tenth of the limited funds for climate protection in developing countries, it is effectively abandoning millions of communities who have done nothing to cause global heating but who are losing homes, livelihoods and lives because of it, Anne Jellema, 350.orgs executive director, told The Guardian.

Roughly $8 of every $100 in aid to help developing countries manage extreme weather impacts and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions came from the U.S.

Trump has threatened to cancel nearly all USAID projects, with climate funding likely to be put on the cutting block, an expert told Carbon Brief.

U.S. climate finance from USAID reached almost $3 billion in 2023, the analysis said.

The Trump administration has also cancelled an additional $4 billion in funding from the U.S. for the United Nations Green Climate Fund.

The $300 billion climate finance goal agreed upon by nations in 2024 could face an enormous gulf if the U.S. stops providing and reporting any official climate finance, another expert said.

The U.S. is the fourth-largest international climate finance provider, but also the largest economy and biggest carbon dioxide emitter in the world. In other words, its wealth and climate change responsibility are disproportionate to its contributions to global climate finance.

Just 0.24 percent of the countrys gross national income (GNI) is given as aid to developing countries  the same as the Czech Republic, whose GNI is three times less.

The Biden administrations significant increases in climate finance helped developed countries reach their $100 billion target in 2022.

The way that the Biden administration was doing stuff and the way that [former president Barack] Obama before was doing stuff, [was to] start to weave a degree of climate sensitivity into everything So, basically, a huge percentage of programmes [are] working on some aspect of climate, Dr. Ed Carr, a Stockholm Environment Institute US center director who previously worked at USAID, told Carbon Brief.

In one of Trumps many executive orders, a pause was put on U.S. foreign aid, 60 percent of which is handled by USAID, with the State Department overseeing most of the rest.

The approval of Congress is required for USAID funds to be repurposed, or for Trump to close it down, as he said he would like to do in a post on Truth Social.

Lawsuits and court orders have instructed the Trump administration to lift its pause, but it has instead stated an intention to do away with over 90 percent of USAID contracts, as well as $60 billion of U.S. foreign aid.

This would have major implications for US climate finance, Carbon Brief said.

USAID projects include a significant amount of grant-based funding, which many developing countries prefer to loans, seeing it as providing better support for climate adaptation.

Now is the moment for wealthy nations to rise above politics and show real leadership. The world is watching, and the stakes have never been higher. We must act together to keep hope alive for a livable future, Jellema told The Guardian.
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.

In 2024, the U.S. National Parks received a record-high visitor turnout, even higher than the previous record set in 2016. But based on an internal memo shared by the group Resistance Rangers, which is made up of current and former National Park Service (NPS) workers, NPS staff have been told not to share external communications about the record number of visits.

The information is publicly available on the NPS Visitation Statistics Dashboard, which shared that there were 331.9 million visits to National Parks sites in 2024, up from the previous record of 330,971,689 set in 2016. This number also increased by 6.36 million visits, or 2%, compared to visits in 2023.

Yet according to the internal memo shared by Resistance Rangers, NPS workers were advised that there would be no external communications rollout. The internal memo noted that parks could share the visitor number info on their websites if that is the parks standard process (e.g. parks that post monthly visitation reports), but should not issue a press release or other proactive communications, including social media posts.

Further, staff was advised to respond to reporters by simply stating the numbers and redirecting them to the Integrated Resource Management Applications (IRMA) website. As SFGATE reported, this memo was different from previous years, when NPS has put out both reports on the number of visitors and on how these visits can economically benefit the areas surrounding national park sites.

Kati Schmidt, communications director for National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), told SFGATE that the annual visitor reports typically involve a lot of external outreach for NPS and individual parks.

The silence is a little weird, Schmidt wrote in an email to SFGATE.

As the parks reach record-high attendance, both Resistance Rangers and NPCA have pointed out that NPS is under threat with recent mass firings and planned NPS office closings.

At the same time, 1,000 probationary employees were fired last month and have not been reinstated, despite a federal court ruling finding the firings illegal. At least 700 employees have taken the deferred resignation (fork) option, Resistance Rangers wrote in a press release. Phase 1 Reduction in Force plans are due on March 13, despite the NPS being critically understaffed even before the recent cuts. This leaves national parks critically understaffed as they approach the busiest time of year, despite being more popular than ever.

As NPCA reported, the current administration has planned to close at least 34 NPS facilities, including eight visitor centers, climate-controlled facilities with sensitive artifacts and emergency facilities.

These moves by the administration are pushing our parks past the point of no return, said Theresa Pierno, president and CEO of NPCA. For over a century, Americans have loved and fought to protect our national parks. This administrations actions are a betrayal of that legacy. The American people expect leaders to protect our parks, not dismantle them.

Visitors at Yosemite National Park in California on June 9, 2024. John Loo / Flickr

As SFGATE reported, the memo to not share record visitor statistics externally raises concerns over directives coming from the administration, not NPS, amid the recent firings and planned facility closures.

The suppression of this data would not be coming from anyone in the NPS, which proudly displays the numbers every year (just look back at the last 20 years!), Jonathan Jarvis, former director of NPS, told SFGATE. This decision would be forced on NPS by the DOI politicals or DOGE, worried about the high visitation numbers, the economic value, and the bad press coming from firing so many NPS employees.

According to NPS data, 2024 visits expanded across the board, with new visitation records set at 28 parks and more visitors coming to park sites throughout the year (not just during peak seasons). Thirty-eight parks also had visitor numbers higher than the 10-year average for every single month of 2024.

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area had the highest number of visits, nearly 17.2 million, of any NPS site, while the Great Smoky Mountains was the most-visited National Park with 12.2 million visits. Other top-visited National Parks included Zion (4.94 million visits), Grand Canyon (4.91 million), Yellowstone (4.74 million) and Rocky Mountain (4.15 million).
Rumormonger Australian 'think tank' ASPI suspends bogus 'research' on China as US funding cuts bite

People's Daily Online) 15:58, March 10, 2025

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), a Canberra-based think tank that has long been an anti-China vanguard, has announced that it will suspend some of its "research" on China after the Trump administration paused grants offered by the US State Department.

The move followed Trump's decision to cut almost 90 percent of funding for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). According to the Wall Street Journal, the US funding stoppage has caused ASPI to halt work on China-related research and data initiatives worth approximately $1.2 million.

Despite its claims to be an "academic institute," ASPI has always been more interested in manipulating politics and inciting color revolutions. Members of US Congress have frequently used the think tank's anti-China propaganda disguised as "academic study" to bash China.

ASPI has shown a lot of bravado about how it operates on US fundings and donations, proudly positioning itself as a mouthpiece for the West, particularly the US, by spreading anti-China propaganda and encouraging other governments to take action against China.

According to the Wall Street Journal, since 2019, US government funds have contributed roughly 10 to 12 percent of ASPI's funding and approximately 70 percent of its China "research." According to ASPI's most recent annual report, the organization received funding of roughly AUD 3 million (around $1.9 million) from the US State Department for the fiscal year 20222023.

"The U.S. government was the key funder of large grants on topics focused on China," Danielle Cave, ASPI's head of strategy and research, told the Wall Street Journal.

For years, ASPI, which receives funding from the US, has been spreading false information about Xinjiang. It has been instrumental in distorting foreign public opinion about the region. Since 2018, the Xinjiang Data Project has released hundreds of "reports," "investigations," and "essays" based on the institute's lies.

In 2020, China's Foreign Ministry described ASPI as "unreasonable" and "not independent or scientific."

Many internet users around the world have cheered the suspension of ASPI's China falsehoods, accusing ASPI of misleading the public, corrupting their opinion, and spreading false information.

"ASPI is just another case to prove that think tanks in the West are tools for governments to apply diplomatic policies and spread influence," said an X user.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Wu Chengliang)
AI key force for high-quality growth

11:26, March 11, 2025 By Ouyang Shijia ( China Daily

As global manufacturing rapidly shifts toward digitalization and intelligent development, the deep integration of artificial intelligence into the sector has become a key driving force for high-quality development and a key battleground in global tech competition, said Zhang Fan, a deputy to the National People's Congress.

Zhang, who is also director of the science and technology innovation department of China Electrical Equipment Group Co Ltd, highlighted the rapid evolution of AI technologies  including large language models, generative AI and embodied AI  saying that they are reshaping global industrial competition and integrating into various industries.

"With the rise of domestic companies like DeepSeek and Unitree Robotics, AI is being pushed toward an era of democratization, breaking the monopoly of Western tech giants and fueling rapid advancements in AI-powered devices such as smart glasses and robots," he said during an exclusive interview with China Daily.

According to this year's Government Work Report, under the AI Plus initiative, the country will work to effectively combine digital technologies with China's manufacturing and market strengths. The country will support the extensive application of large-scale AI models and vigorously develop new-generation intelligent terminals and smart manufacturing equipment.

While China has introduced policy frameworks such as the next-generation AI development plan, Zhang argued that manufacturing, spanning 41 subindustries, requires more precise and sector-specific policy implementation.

Using the electrical equipment manufacturing sector as an example, Zhang pointed out gaps in industry-level AI roadmaps, insufficient guidance for high-value applications and a lack of collaborative mechanisms for tackling common technological challenges.

"The sector needs a clear, tiered national strategy  short-term breakthroughs in foundational applications, medium-term advances in core scenarios and long-term development of a tech system."

Zhang added that a major concern is inefficiency in industry-specific AI models, saying that industrial AI training is constrained by poor data availability and limited sharing.

"Industry data, the 'fuel' for AI models, suffers from both insufficient quantity and quality," he said, citing issues such as incomplete data collection, lack of standardization and concerns over data security and commercial confidentiality.

Meanwhile, the deputy also underscored a severe shortage of interdisciplinary talent proficient in both AI and industrial processes.

"There is a disconnect between academia and industry, and traditional manufacturing companies lack structured AI talent training mechanisms."

To address the issues, Zhang said it is necessary for the nation to accelerate AI development planning for key industries.

"Given its strategic importance to energy security and China's dual-carbon goals, the electrical equipment manufacturing sector should have a dedicated AI development roadmap."

Meanwhile, he said AI innovation hubs should be formed to consolidate resources and develop industry-specific AI models that enhance efficiency and competitiveness.

More efforts should also be made to build a high-quality industrial data ecosystem. "The government should accelerate national AI data standardization, introduce tax incentives for data sharing and foster collaboration between leading enterprises to build standardized, high-value industrial datasets," Zhang added.

Li Chao, chief economist at Zheshang Securities, said AI  in which the United States and China are seeking to gain a competitive edge  is poised to see accelerated development in the future.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
It took a few years of dealing with poorly optimized handheld PCs, but Windows Central reports Microsoft may finally be working on an Xbox handheld. The company could announce an Xbox-branded portable device as early as this year, though it sounds like it won't come from Microsoft directly.

Instead, the company is partnering with a PC maker already working in the gaming space to build a handheld, Windows Central writes. The device, codenamed "Keenan," will feature Xbox design elements, an "official Xbox guide button" and will likely run Windows 11. Given the clunky experience of navigating Windows on the handhelds you can buy today, the real hope is that Xbox's take will include a launcher or new way of using the desktop OS that's fit for a controller instead of a mouse. The big advantage SteamOS has over Windows is that you never have to interact with a desktop environment if you don't want to.

These rumored plans might line up with what Microsoft's VP of "Next Generation" Jason Ronald shared at an AMD and Lenovo event from CES 2025 called "The Future of Gaming Handhelds." According to The Verge, Ronald said that Microsoft wants to bring "the best of Xbox and Windows together." The company hopes to simplify Windows and make it using it more console-like for handhelds. "I think well have a lot more to share later this year," Ronald said.

Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, has expressed interest in handheld devices before and said the company was experimenting with prototypes. It seems like at least for now, though, Microsoft is borrowing Valve's approach and making a handheld-friendly version of its operating system available for other PC makers to use.

That doesn't mean there won't be a first-party handheld in the future. Windows Central's report mentions that there's a successor to the Xbox Series X, new internet-connected controllers and an official Xbox gaming handheld, all tentatively slated for 2027.
Wendy Williams was reportedly hospitalized Monday as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of elder abuse against her guardian, Sabrina Morrissey. The 60-year-old former daytime TV host was sent to a local New York City hospital after Adult Protective Services opened a case regarding her treatment.

Williams was sent to Miami to visit her dad, 94, on a broke credit card, sources told The U.S. Sun. According to an insider, the card was declined on the way to the trip, resulting in someone else having to pay for her bill.

"The guardian gave her a credit card with no funds when she went to Miami," the insider stated. "This is considered elder abuse."

Allegations against Morrissey include civil rights violations against Williams and the financial mismanagement of Williams's assets.

As Williams deals with health challengesalcohol-related brain damage and now frontotemporal dementiareports say her guardian is engaged in a series of legal disputes that could be draining her of funds.

On Monday, the New York Police Department confirmed they responded to a welfare check concerning Williams, leading to her transportation to the hospital for evaluation. "EMS responded and transported a 60-year-old female to an area hospital for evaluation," the NYPD said, as per the outlet.

Williams' Conservatorship

Williams speaks openly about her dislike of her conservatorship, even calling the place where she resides a "luxury prison." She currently stays in her memory care unit in a luxury Manhattan facility, where the monthly fees run about $13,000, plus extra fees for care.

Williams has recently complained about being caged. She stated, "I feel like I am in prison. I'm in this place where the people are in their 90s and their 80s and their 70s."

Amid mounting pressure, Williams' legal team has filed a petition seeking to terminate the guardianship arrangement established in March 2022.

This petition is separate from ongoing litigation involving Morrissey and Lifetime regarding the documentary "Where Is Wendy Williams?"

As the investigation unfolds, the public continues to watch closely, hoping for a resolution that prioritizes Williams' health and well-being.
(Informacion remitida por la empresa firmante)

 From bell foundry to global player  In its anniversary year, HEIDELBERG heads into the future with a clear growth strategy  Speedmaster series perpetuates success story started by legendary Original Heidelberger Tiegel  the 1921 springboard to a world-leading position  Milestones in the history of HEIDELBERG

On March 11 (News Aktuell).- 1850  exactly 175 years ago  the Hemmer, Hamm & Co. bell foundry and machine shop opened in Frankenthal. Besides bells, it also made printing presses, which laid the foundations for the company now called Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG). Precision, quality, and innovation were the success factors that transformed HEIDELBERG from a workshop based in the Palatinate region of Germany to a global player in the printing industry. A company that can sustain its success over such a long period, become a world leader in its industry, and continue to shape the entire sector right up to the present day has strong credentials that are testament to its innovative capabilities. The defining feature of HEIDELBERG is the companys understanding of markets, customers, and exceptional product quality, says Jurgen Otto, CEO of HEIDELBERG. We also intend to maintain and build on this leading position in the future, he adds.

HEIDELBERG heads into the future with a strategy for growth

To achieve this, HEIDELBERG is tapping into growth potential in its traditional core business  from packaging and digital printing to software and lifecycle products.

Recently, for example, the company has significantly expanded its portfolio in the growth market of industrial digital printing, including service and consumables. Global incoming orders confirm that sales of digital printing solutions will already start increasing substantially from the coming financial year. According to market assessments, the global digital printing market that is accessible to HEIDELBERG will grow from its current level of around 5 billion euros to 7.5 billion euros in 2029.

As for lifecycle business, HEIDELBERG boasts the industrys most comprehensive service network, with a presence in approximately 170 countries.

Packaging printing enjoying strong growth worldwide

The end-customer market for packaging has grown by more than 60 percent over the past ten years. HEIDELBERG, too, is benefiting from this development. The packaging segment accounts for more than 50 percent of the companys sales, a figure that is set to increase further still. One market driver is the global trend toward replacing plastics, films, and foils with recyclable fiber-based packaging.

Hybrid print production boosts competitiveness

Autonomous printing processes that make printing businesses more efficient and save on resources used to be regarded as a futuristic vision, but that changed some time ago. HEIDELBERG introduced its Push to Stop concept for a printing process with minimal operator intervention back in 2016. The AI-assisted Prinect Touch Free workflow showcased at drupa 2024 assigns print jobs to the most efficient production method and output system on an automated basis. Besides offset and digital systems from

HEIDELBERG and third-party suppliers, it also covers postpress operations, all the way through to the finished final product. Controlling hybrid print production in this way makes print shops much more competitive.





Growth in industrial business and with green technologies

In addition to this, we will be further expanding our portfolio for industrial business and the growing green technologies market. This includes key sectors such as high-precision mechanical engineering, the automotive industry, charging infrastructure, software, and new hydrogen technologies, reveals Otto. Taking into account all strategic initiatives in the period to financial year 2028/2029, and in conjunction with enhanced performance and efficiency at both staff and organizational levels, HEIDELBERG sees overall growth potential amounting to over 300 million euros. The achievements of HEIDELBERG over the past 175 years are impressive. We have every reason to be confident that our current market position, the expertise of our staff, and our global customer relationships will deliver further growth in the coming years, emphasizes Otto.

2025 is all about the companys anniversary

HEIDELBERG will be organizing numerous events to celebrate its anniversary year with customers, partners, politicians, and representatives of civil society. The highlight will be a week of celebrations in June, including an international ceremony at the companys largest production site, in Wiesloch-Walldorf. The HEIDELBERG customer demonstration center has been redesigned as the Home of Print for this purpose.

The company is organizing family days for staff at various sites. HEIDELBERG is also publishing an anniversary magazine providing insights into the companys past, present, and future. The loyalty of HEIDELBERG customers, partners, and staff is a mainstay of the companys success. The numerous anniversary activities throughout the year are our way of saying thank you to everyone. At the same time, we want to encourage a shared commitment to shaping the future, says Dr. David Schmedding, Chief Technology & Sales Officer at HEIDELBERG.

Milestones in the history of HEIDELBERG

1850: The Hemmer, Hamm & Co. bell foundry and machine shop opens in Frankenthal on March 11, laying the foundations for the company now called Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG.

The Hemmer, Hamm & Co. bell foundry and machine shop opens in Frankenthal on March 11, laying the foundations for the company now called Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG. 1921: The first Heidelberger Tiegel is built. From 1926 onward, this automatic letterpress platen press was produced on an assembly line.

By 1985, the company had manufactured over 160,000 of these presses.

The first is built. From 1926 onward, this automatic letterpress platen press was produced on an assembly line. By 1985, the company had manufactured over 160,000 of these presses. 1926: Hubert H.A. Sternberg is appointed to the board of Schnellpressen-fabrik Heidelberg AG, as the company is known at the time. He remained a board member until 1972 and really made his mark on HEIDELBERG. Sternberg modernized production and marketing operations and ensured the companys growth. In 1949, he organized the first German export exhibition in the USA after the Second World War. In 1951, he then helped initiate drupa, the sectors leading global trade show to this day.

is appointed to the board of Schnellpressen-fabrik Heidelberg AG, as the company is known at the time. He remained a board member until 1972 and really made his mark on HEIDELBERG. Sternberg modernized production and marketing operations and ensured the companys growth. In 1949, he organized the first German export exhibition in the USA after the Second World War. In 1951, he then helped initiate drupa, the sectors leading global trade show to this day. 1930: The demonstration vehicles set off. One of Sternbergs marketing ideas was to demonstrate HEIDELBERG presses to potential customers at their premises. This involved assembling them on trucks or installing them in buses and sending them to target markets around the world, accompanied by engineers. Advertising campaigns and installment-based payment plans also contributed to the success of the companys marketing.

The set off. One of Sternbergs marketing ideas was to demonstrate HEIDELBERG presses to potential customers at their premises. This involved assembling them on trucks or installing them in buses and sending them to target markets around the world, accompanied by engineers. Advertising campaigns and installment-based payment plans also contributed to the success of the companys marketing. 1951: drupa proves a big hit with the public. The International Printing and Paper Exhibition, now known as drupa, attracted 300,000 visitors in its first year. HEIDELBERG presented an enhanced version of its successful Tiegel model. To protect against copycats, all the companys presses had a manufacturers plate bearing the Original Heidelberg trademark.

proves a big hit with the public. The International Printing and Paper Exhibition, now known as drupa, attracted 300,000 visitors in its first year. HEIDELBERG presented an enhanced version of its successful Tiegel model. To protect against copycats, all the companys presses had a manufacturers plate bearing the Original Heidelberg trademark. 1957: HEIDELBERG creates space to grow. Further expansion within the city of Heidelberg was impossible, but thanks to Sternbergs strong commitment, the company was able to open what is still its largest production site, in Wiesloch , after a construction period of just one year.

HEIDELBERG creates space to grow. Further expansion within the city of Heidelberg was impossible, but thanks to Sternbergs strong commitment, the company was able to open what is still its , after a construction period of just one year. 1962: HEIDELBERG moves into the up-and-coming offset market with its small offset rotation press (in German: Kleine Offset Rotation, or KOR for short). In 1965, this was followed by the Rotaspeed, a larger sheetfed offset press. Then, in 1972, a large platen offset press (in German: Grosse Tiegel Offset, or GTO for short) was launched and proved a successful model for years to come.

HEIDELBERG moves into the up-and-coming with its small offset rotation press (in German: Kleine Offset Rotation, or KOR for short). In 1965, this was followed by the Rotaspeed, a larger sheetfed offset press. Then, in 1972, a large platen offset press (in German: Grosse Tiegel Offset, or GTO for short) was launched and proved a successful model for years to come. 1975: A name that says it all! The Speedmaster sheetfed offset press for multicolor printing revolutionized the market with its productivity. Operating at 11,000 sheets per hour, it became a bestseller and is, to this day, a cornerstone of the HEIDELBERG portfolio in the companys traditional core business.

A name that says it all! The sheetfed offset press for multicolor printing revolutionized the market with its productivity. Operating at 11,000 sheets per hour, it became a bestseller and is, in the companys traditional core business. 1999: HEIDELBERG acquires a 30 percent shareholding in the Swiss press manufacturer Gallus , a market leader in label printing , before taking over the company completely in 2014.

HEIDELBERG acquires a 30 percent shareholding in the Swiss press manufacturer , a , before taking over the company completely in 2014. 2000: HEIDELBERG transforms itself into a solution provider, expanding its prepress and postpress portfolios through targeted acquisitions. Prinect software ushered in the era of digitalization by networking the various machines in the workflow.

HEIDELBERG transforms itself into a solution provider, expanding its prepress and postpress portfolios through targeted acquisitions. ushered in the era of digitalization by networking the various machines in the workflow. 2004: HEIDELBERG takes a further key step toward digitalization , connecting a press to the Internet for the first time.

HEIDELBERG takes a further key step toward , connecting a press to the Internet for the first time. 2005: The Chinese production site in the Qingpu district of Shanghai opens. Now a cornerstone of the companys production network, it is becoming increasingly important.

The in the Qingpu district of Shanghai opens. Now a cornerstone of the companys production network, it is becoming increasingly important. 2016: At drupa, HEIDELBERG introduces the Push to Stop concept , which only requires operator intervention if a problem occurs  the next logical step toward autonomous printing.

At drupa, HEIDELBERG introduces the , which only requires operator intervention if a problem occurs  the next logical step toward autonomous printing. 2018: Wallbox production starts in Wiesloch-Walldorf. The company subsequently founded a subsidiary called Amperfied that successfully tapped into a new area of business  the electromobility market.

production starts in Wiesloch-Walldorf. The company subsequently founded a subsidiary called Amperfied that successfully tapped into a new area of business  the electromobility market. 2020: The company moves into robotics , with industrial robots driving the automation of the printing process, including postpress operations. This automation will also extend to other areas in the future.

The company moves into , with industrial robots driving the automation of the printing process, including postpress operations. This automation will also extend to other areas in the future. 2024: The new Jetfire 50 digital press developed in cooperation with Canon is unveiled at drupa 2024, offering industrial productivity in the growth area of digital printing.

The new developed in cooperation with Canon is unveiled at drupa 2024, offering industrial productivity in the growth area of digital printing. 2025: The company celebrates 175 years of HEIDELBERG and opens its redesigned customer demonstration center, now called the Home of Print, in Wiesloch-Walldorf. A clear growth strategy will take the company into the future.

You can read more about 175 years of HEIDELBERG and history on our anniversary website www.heidelberg.com/175, on the current Wikipedia page of the company, in the yearbook 150 years of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG and A Press Is Born.

About HEIDELBERG

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) is a leading technology company that has been standing for innovation, quality, and reliability in mechanical engineering worldwide for 175 years. With a clear focus on growth and as a total solution provider, HEIDELBERG is driving further development in the core areas of packaging and digital printing, software solutions, and lifecycle business with service and consumables so that customers can achieve maximum productivity and efficiency.

The company is also focusing on expanding into new business areas such as high-precision plant engineering with integrated control systems, automation technology, robotics, and the growing green technologies sector. With its strong international presence in approximately 170 countries, the creative power and expertise of its roughly 9,500 employees, its own production facilities in Europe, China, and the USA, and one of the largest global sales and service networks, the company is ideally positioned for future growth.

www.heidelberg.com

Image material and further information about the company are available in the Investor Relations portal and Press Lounge of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG at www.heidelberg.com.

Further information:

Matthias W. Hartung

Group Communications

Phone: +49 6222 82-67123

E-mail: matthias.hartung@heidelberg.com
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The Philippines arrested former President Rodrigo Duterte at the request of the International Criminal Court, a major step in the world body's probe into thousands of killings in the war on drugs that defined his presidency.
Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz powered past in-form Canadian Denis Shapovalov 6-2, 6-4 on Monday to continue his march toward a rare Indian Wells ATP Masters three-peat.

The world number three from Spain booked his place in the last 16 with a clinical victory, breaking Shapovalov in the opening game with a blistering forehand down the line as he roared to a 5-0 lead.

Alcaraz said the quick start was key against an opponent coming off a title in Dallas and a semi-final run in Acapulco.

"I knew at the beginning of the match that I had to be really focused. I had to start the match really strong, knowing it was going to be a really tough battle," Alcaraz said.

He saved three of the four break points he faced and converted four of his eight chances, sealing the match with an overhead that Shapovalov could barely get his racquet to.

Pleased with his performance, Alcaraz said there were still a few things he could improve as he tries to join Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only men to win three straight titles in the California desert.

In other matches, world number four Taylor Fritz, the Indian Wells champion in 2022, said he "just stopped making super random mistakes" to turn things around in his 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory over Chilean Alejandro Tabilo.

"For the first set and a half, I just, for no reason, was just missing balls. I couldn't even imagine, I don't know why I was missing them," added the American, who had 43 unforced errors to 32 winners.

Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo beat Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, ending the run of the Dutch lucky loser who toppled 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the second round.

Cerundolo next plays Australian ninth seed Alex De Minaur, who cruised past Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 6-0 to post his 50th match win at the Masters 1000 level.

While upsets have claimed men's top seed Alexander Zverev, fourth seed Casper Ruud and number six Djokovic, the top five women's seeds are all safely into the fourth round after victories for world number one Aryna Sabalenka, third-ranked Coco Gauff and fifth-ranked Australian Open champion Madison Keys on Monday.

Sabalenka said her 6-1, 6-2 victory over 62nd-ranked Lucia Bronzetti wasn't as easy as it looked, thanks in part to the unpredictable Stadium Court wind.

"I had to fight for every point and I'm super happy with the win," said Sabalenka who next faces British lucky loser Sonay Kartal, who beat Polina Kudermetova 7-5, 6-3.

Keys's struggles were obvious, but the American who shocked Sabalenka in the Melbourne final gutted out a 6-2, 6-7 (8/10), 6-4 victory over Elise Mertens.

Unable to convert two match points as she served at 5-3 in the second set, Keys blew two more in the tiebreaker before finally polishing off the 28th seed from Belgium in two hours and 48 minutes.

"It's just about surviving," said Keys, who admitted she was finding it tricky to manage her own expectations in her first tournament since capturing her maiden major.

"Today, obviously, I don't think I played my best level, and I think that was more frustrating just because I'm starting to expect a little bit more of myself," she said.

Gauff cleaned up her service game to pull off a 7-6 (7/1), 6-2 victory over Greece's Maria Sakkari -- who beat Gauff in the semi-finals last year on the way to a second Indian Wells final in three years.

After producing 21 double faults in a three-set victory over Moyuka Uchijima, Gauff had just nine -- six of them in a shaky final game.

"Resilience I guess," Gauff said of what she'll take from the win. "Overall it was much better than the previous match."

bb/rcw
Major US trading partners announced countermeasures Wednesday after Donald Trump's blanket tariffs on steel and aluminum imports took effect, prompting the president to vow a further response.

The steep 25-percent levies contained no exemptions despite countries' efforts to avert them, marking an expansion from Trump's recent duties on Canada, Mexico and China since returning to the White House.

The European Union swiftly unveiled counter tariffs hitting some $28 billion of US goods in stages from April, while Canada announced additional levies on $20.7 billion of American products from Thursday.

China vowed "all necessary measures" in response, as Washington edged toward an all-out trade war with allies and competitors alike.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen maintained that the retaliation, affecting products ranging from bourbon to motorbikes, is "strong but proportionate."

Trump told reporters Wednesday that Washington would "of course" respond to the countermeasures.

He claimed his country would "win that financial battle" with the EU.

- 'Significant costs' -

Canada, which is heavily exposed to the US steel and aluminum levies, said its own tariffs will hit steel products, aluminum, and goods ranging from computers to sports equipment.

Incoming prime minister Mark Carney later added that he was ready to negotiate with Trump on a renewed trade accord.

His country supplied about half of US aluminum imports and 20 percent of its steel imports, according to a recent note by EY chief economist Gregory Daco.

Besides Canada, Brazil and Mexico are also key US suppliers of steel, while the United Arab Emirates and South Korea are among providers of aluminum.

The Alliance for American Manufacturing said it supported the tariffs and their inclusion of steel derivatives: "This addition will ensure that importers can't game the system."

But the American Automotive Policy Council (AAPC) representing the "Big Three" automakers -- Ford, General Motors and Stellantis -- said it was reviewing the levies.

The group's president Matt Blunt warned that tariffs, including their extension to auto parts with steel and aluminum, "will add significant costs for automakers, suppliers and consumers"

- 'Enough war' -

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer criticized the EU's promises of retaliation, calling the bloc's economic policies "out of step with reality."

"The EU's punitive action completely disregards the national security imperatives of the United States - and indeed international security," Greer said.

His remark came after EU Council chief Antonio Costa called on Washington to de-escalate the situation and enter dialogue.

"I think we have enough war in the world, we need to stop the wars we have and not create a trade war," Costa said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, head of Europe's largest and heavily export-oriented economy, condemned Washington's moves as "wrong" and warned of increased inflation.

Beijing's foreign ministry said "there are no winners in trade wars."

China is the world's leading steel manufacturer, although not a major exporter of the product to the United States.

Trump's steel and aluminum tariffs will likely balloon costs of producing goods from home appliances to automobiles and cans used for drinks, threatening to raise consumer prices down the road, experts say.

- 'Massive uncertainty' -

Uncertainty over Trump's trade plans and worries that they could trigger a recession have roiled financial markets. But US stocks regained some ground Wednesday even as some Asia markets retreated.

The threat of protectionism, said Cato Institute research fellow Clark Packard, has allowed US steel and aluminum firms to raise prices: "It's creating massive amounts of uncertainty."

Trump also targeted both metals in his first presidency.

The president has promised further "reciprocal tariffs" from April 2 to tackle what he considers unfair behavior.

The lack of exemptions Wednesday came despite efforts to push for exclusions.

Tokyo expressed regret it had not succeeded while Canberra called the tariffs unjustified.

Canberra and London stopped short of retaliation. The Mexican government said it would not immediately strike back and Brazil said it would not react.

burs-bys/des
We are now poised on the calendar between the U.S. Department of Agriculture Outlook Forum of Feb. 27-28, 2025, and the USDA Planting Intentions Report of March 31. Historically, the Planting Intentions Report defines much of the early spring trading, as the traders accept the planting estimates to be the best information on the direction of the crop production until we get early spring estimates based upon spring weather.

Normally, we see no big moves in the market based on fundamental information (supply and demand numbers) until the Planting Intentions Report.

This year, however, we had a shock to the market in the form of an early planting estimate from the USDA Outlook Forum. This put out the planted corn acreage estimate to be 94 million acres, 3.4 million acres above the previous crop of 2023-2024. The result was a crash of 77 1/2 cents from the high of $5.04 1/2 May futures on Feb. 19, before the forum, to the low of $4 26 1/2 on March 4. This has to be termed as more than a correction and more of a crash because it continued for several days. Usually, a correction from a government news item is made in a day or two.

Of course, sometimes the cure for cheap prices is cheap prices. We have now recovered 19 1/4 cents from that low March 4, as the market is trying to adjust to the shock of the new corn plantings estimate. I said last week that this break was bad enough to get farmers re-thinking their planting decisions. They certainly have enough time, and 3.4 million acres is a huge increase.

Ratio

The thinking for the increase is mostly based upon the corn/bean ratio. The ratio between the price of corn and the price of soybeans is based upon the markets best estimate of what prices will be, just as the futures prices are estimates of the future prices.

The ratio is an indication of the relative benefits of choosing corn or soybeans to plant. With $5 corn and $10 soybeans, farmers would plant more corn if it fits their plans. They must also consider work load, storage, production costs and local production realities.

For example, if a given farm in a given area such as Southern Illinois historically produces better corn yields than soybean yields, they have a local bias. If farmers in the Snow Belt have more risk with harvesting soybeans, they will have a bias towards beans.

The result is that the ag economists depend upon the raw facts of the corn/bean ratio more than the farmers do. And, this is a moving target. In the last week, both corn and soybean prices have declined badly. The May soybeans declined an awful 93 1/2 cents between Feb. 5 and March 4. We have recovered just 19 cents of that so far.

Eventually, the reality of the current soybean planting estimate of 84 million acres this year, down from 81.1 million, is that the soybean prices may improve relative to corn prices. So, the early planting estimates may end up changing the thinking of the farmers so that they plant less corn than currently thought.

There are several factors at play right now. First, the aforementioned idea that the soybeans will gain on the corn since the soybean acres are significantly less. Second, we have the size of the South American crop.

The Brazilians have long been expected to have a large increase in production this year. Even though the weather was against them early in their growing season, they are now harvesting the crop, and the latest estimates are for them to still have an increase of 1.8 billion bushels over last year. This is a negative factor for our prices and may limit the gain of soybean prices against the corn.

Politics

The biggest factor may be the current political situation in this country. Our president is using tariffs as the largest part of his economic program. He is using tariffs for foreign policy and is also determined to have our tariffs be equal to those for the same products that a given country levies on us. This has introduced a large measure of uncertainty into our economy, especially our farm economy.

As this is being written March 11, the U.S. is set to enact a 15% tariff on corn exported to China, and a 10% tariff on soybeans. The tariffs with Canada and Mexico have been deferred to start in April. It remains to be seen what the impact of these tariffs are, but in the short run, the market assumes the worst. This comes on top of the fact that China has already been trying to shift to more imports from South America. In the last crop year, they imported 6.6% less soybeans from us than in the previous year.

Twenty-five years ago, all the national grain meetings I went to held out the hope that China would start to import soybeans and that the effect on our prices would be magical. That, in fact, happened.

Then, under the first Trump administration, we negotiated over many months the so-called Phase One 5-year agreement with China to import specified dollar amounts of grain.

The surprise that came from the agreement was that the Chinese decided to import significant cargoes of corn, which was unusual for them. The result was higher prices for corn and beans here. A couple of years passed, and the Biden administration did not enforce the Phase One Agreement, and the Chinese began to switch to South American origins.

This makes sense because much of the year, if Brazil has normal production, they are cheaper. So, we wait to see how much Chinese business we have, and how we do against the Brazilian soybeans in the export business.

Remember, Brazil has not only passed us for volume of exported soybeans but also in total soybean production. We used to be overconfident about our influence in the export business, but now we are not the biggest player.

Wheat

A note on wheat, which is already planted. For some reason, I am seeing a Pro Farmer estimate of a 797 million-bushel carryout for the end of this year, a three-million increase.

Since the wheat is already planted, this has to come, if it ends up correct, from a change in domestic use or a reflection of abandonment from winter kill.

Wheat has had a price break similar to corn and soybeans. We were at $6.50 3/4 on May Chicago wheat futures on Oct. 3. Currently, we are at $5.58. We did gain over 11 cents March 10.

We will know more March 11, with the release of the March WASDE from USDA.
SALEM, Ohio  Paul Harvey lived a full life, wearing many hats in his 80 years in Coolspring, Pennsylvania, where he spent most of his life in the house he grew up in.

He was a boy practicing his trumpet on his front porch  much to his neighbors dismay. He was a college kid selling Comptons Encyclopedias door to door. He was an avid collector of early gas engines in western Pennsylvania. He was a doctor at DuBois and Brookville hospitals and Allegheny Health Center for 50 years  and a doctor who would accept same-day house calls from the residents of Coolspring.

He was the owner of Coolspring General Store because he wanted to preserve it for as long as possible. He was a co-founder and permanent board member of Coolspring Power Museum. He was a member of Coolspring Presbyterian Church, where he was an elder and a Sunday school teacher. He was a son, husband, father, grandfather and friend.

He was one of us. He was special, said Lorraine Hilliard, a Coolspring resident, former general store employee and longtime friend of Harvey.

Harvey was easily recognized around Coolspring, driving his green John Deere Gator and smoking his pipe. So naturally, he was buried with his pipe and a pouch of tobacco tucked into the pocket of his red plaid flannel shirt, following his death Feb. 19 at Penn Highlands DuBois.

Harvey was also well-known among antique engine collectors all over North America, and its no surprise. He was known for dragging them out of the woods on old trucks and trailers, Harveys close friend Tom Rapp said.

Harvey was always searching for his next great find  a passion that started when he was a sophomore in high school and led to the inception of Coolspring Power Museum.

Getting started

College was the only time Harvey lived outside of Coolspring. After commuting to Clarion State College for a year and deciding to study medicine, Harvey moved away to attend St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Then, after graduating in 1965, he attended the West Virginia University School of Medicine.

While he inched closer to his medical degree, he opened a new world, exploring a large oil field on the eastern border of Morgantown, West Virginia. With any time off, Harvey took his International Harvester C series pickup truck and explored.

Harvey had been collecting small engines with his father, a mechanic, for nearly 10 years when he met John Wilcox, the other co-founder of CPM, at the Rough and Tumble steam and gas engine show during the summer of 1967, in Kinzers, Pennsylvania.

Harvey struck a deal to buy a small Model 4 Klein engine from Wilcox to add to his collection before the 12-by-20-foot engine house he was building with his father was finished. The day Wilcox dropped off Harveys purchase, they decided to explore a nearby oil field and found a vertical Klein that Harvey purchased for $15 and later displayed in the engine house, which is today called the Founders Engine House.

As his collection grew, Harvey was just getting started in his career. After completing an internship at Washington Hospital in Washington, Pennsylvania, and passing his board exams, he set up a medical practice in Brookville, Pennsylvania in July 1970. However, he only stayed in private practice for four years before he became an employee of Brookville Hospital and directed their emergency department for the next 36 years.

He really did have a big heart, and he really cared about his patients more than the average doctor. It was really amazing. He started out having a private practice, and that failed miserably because he was in a fairly poor area up there and his patients wouldnt pay him. He would never go after them for the money, ever. (He) never even consider it, said Clark Colby, Harveys longtime friend.

Even after Harvey started working at the hospital, he never turned away a resident of Coolspring who showed up at his house needing help.

Sharing his wealth

Harveys generosity toward his neighbors didnt stop at his medical practice. He purchased Coolspring General Store two different times from 1977 to about 2009 to preserve its history and maintain a meeting place for the community. In between, he sold it to Hilliard, who owned it from about 1980 to 1993 and worked there as an employee for the duration of Harveys ownership both times.

Harvey never made money owning the store. Sometimes he lost money  his idea to sell penny candy at two pieces for a penny wasnt lucrative, and he couldnt have been making out on the fabled 9-ounce ham and cheese sandwiches he sold at the store. Owning the store, like so many other endeavors, wasnt about making money for Harvey.

He bought the store to preserve the oldness of it, Hilliard said.

When Harvey owned the store, he fixed it up the way it had been when he was growing up. He oiled the wood floor annually. He repaired the big pot-belly stove that heated it, having a new bowl cast for the bottom.

Walking through the front door, customers were welcomed by the large pot-bellied stove directly ahead. On either side of the stove, sat wooden benches where customers would sit and share town news. To the right, the penny candy counter featured old glass countertops and glass jars filled with candies. To the left, the post office rented space.

Coolspring is a very small town, and so it was a local gathering place for people, Hilliard said.

And when the store wasnt doing well, he paid his employees out of his own pocket.

He was the best of doctors that ever there could be. He was the best of friends that ever could be, Hilliard said.

Building a private collection

During his private practice years, Harvey and Wilcox expanded the engine house to 24 by 20 feet in 1971 and, finally, 24 by 56 feet in 1973 to house their rapidly growing collection. They also added structures as pipeline companies downsized and modernized, selling gas engines for junk price at $18 a ton. In 1971, the Big Barn  or what is known as the Power Technology Building today  was constructed. Two years later, the Power House, which would later be renamed the John P. Wilcox Power House, was built. The Machine Works was constructed in 1974, and in 1975, Harvey and Wilcox acquired McKee Station, a National Transit Pipeline Station located south of Clintonville, Pennsylvania. They moved the entire building, stored it through the winter and re-erected it the following year.

He was well enough known by the bookkeeper at National Transit that hed call up this guy and give him a serial number off this engine that was abandoned in place. And the guyd say, OK get it out, and when you get it out, give me another phone call and send me a check for $50, and Ill take it off the books, Colby said.

Many of the engines Harvey and Wilcox salvaged and relocated to Coolspring had escaped scrap drives through two world wars and sat abandoned, ripe for the picking. Their collection grew quickly, and other collectors came from miles around to see it.

It became one of the better places to go to see privately-run engines, said Coolspring Power Museum President Mike Murphy. And then, as this grew and grew, they decided, OK, we need to make this something more official. This collection is really unique in the world, and it really has some spectacular items in it.

As their collection grew too unwieldy for two people to maintain, Harvey and Wilcox decided to form a museum in 1985, with the help of friends who attended their engine runs to ensure the future of their collection. When the museum was formed, Harvey owned over half the engines in the collection.

Today, CPM features over 275 engines  many of which are permanently mounted and operational  housed in 35 buildings and outdoor displays. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers designated the museum as a Mechanical Engineering Heritage Collection in 2001 and presented it with a plaque that states, This is the largest collection of historically significant stationary internal combustion engines in the United States.

He put all of his money into that collection and the museum. He was willing to overpay a little bit for engines that he thought were historically significant, and it turned out to be the exactly right thing to do, Colby said.

One of a kind

Harvey was primarily responsible for bringing dozens of large displays into preservation at CPM, including McKee Station, Windy City Air Plant and its 300-horsepower Miller engine. However, the crown jewel among his acquisitions is a 175-horsepower Otto engine with 10-foot flywheels that once powered the Water Works in nearby Brookville, Pennsylvania.

Wilcox originally purchased the 25-ton engine and 20-ton Deane pump for $1. Then, he spent most of 1969 dismantling them and hauling the parts  except for the engines main frame, which required special trucking  to his home near Columbus, Ohio. However, he never got it re-erected, and when his health started failing 35 years later, he sold it to Harvey who moved it to CPM.

The Otto engine was one of only five built and possibly the only one left in existence. Its one of the largest single-cylinder gas engines in the world. It is currently reassembled, in running condition and on display in CPMs Power Technology Building, sitting on a 20-by-10-foot foundation, roughly 9 miles from where it worked its entire life.

Preserving history

While Harveys collection is the foundation CPM has built off of for the last 40 years, its far from his only contribution to the displays there.

Harvey took a special interest in the Pennsylvania oil field and obtained a lot of engines that were built locally. He spent considerable time researching their history in Butler, Erie, Franklin, Pittsburgh and Oil City to make display plaques for each one for the museum, as well as to write articles about their history for Gas Engine Magazine; CPMs monthly online publication, The Flywheel; Bores & Strokes, another CPM publication, and several local newspapers.

He spent days tracking down information on these engines, working with historical societies and combing through microfilm of small-town newspapers.

In some cases, he and Wilcox were even fortunate enough to hear the history of the acquisitions firsthand.

John and Paul were early enough into the collecting days that a lot of these very old timers that were still working in the late 50s, early 60s, they were able to regale John and Paul with some of the actual stories of using this equipment and dealing with this equipment, Murphy said.

Lifelong treasure hunt

For the most part, Harvey was driven by his passion for preserving the history of Coolspring and the rich engineering feats in oil and natural gas fields, hotels, trolley stations, utilities and farms across western Pennsylvania. But he also enjoyed trips across the United States and Europe in search of unique engines.

I cant tell you how many tens of thousands of miles we put on (vehicles) driving across this country. I mean, Ive been to 48 of the 50 states with him, Rapp said.

Rapp and Harvey trekked across the country and beyond for over 30 years, chasing antique internal combustion engines and steam engines. One of their last acquisitions was the Graz Diesel  the oldest operational Austrian-built air blast diesel in the world. The engine was offered to CPM following a trip to the city of Hof in Bavaria, Germany, in 2019, to learn how to operate CPMs Augsburg air-blast diesel engine from an expert. Upon completion, the Augsburg will be the oldest operating diesel engine in existence. Both engines are being reassembled in the museums new Diesel Centrale CPM building.

He was still very much involved up until the end, Rapp said.

One of Rapps favorite trips with Harvey was to Stirling, Scotland where Harvey tracked his lineage to a cemetery near Stirling Castle. They also visited Yellowstone National Park five times together. Rapp recalls the trips being both enjoyable and educational, noting Harveys uncanny ability to always find something out there that was weird and unusual, Rapp said.

He was like my second father when my dad passed. And, you know, if you had a question, he was the guy you went to, Rapp said.

Their last trip together was to Paradise, Pennsylvania, to take pictures for the last column Harvey submitted to Farm and Dairy, which he fittingly signed off, From Paradise, Paul.

Harvey led an interesting life with a unique interest he followed near and far. In some ways, he lived his life in a time capsule, surrounded by the belongings of generations of his family in his childhood home and surrounded by generations of antique internal combustion engines at CPM. His friends joked about what patients may have thought when he went to work at the hospital on Mondays with grease on his hands. But people come from all over the world to experience the collection he helped put together on what used to be his familys farm.

He would have never fit into big city life, but he fit right at Coolspring, Colby said.



Funeral services for Harvey were held Feb. 27 and officiated by the Rev. Robert Hrisak at Shumaker Funeral Home, Inc. in Punxsutawney. Harvey was laid to rest at Ohl Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made in Pauls memory to the Coolspring Power Museum, 179 Coolspring Road, Coolspring, Pennsylvania 15730.
An additional 1m has been announced to tackle water quality issues in the River Wye, including research to look at the impacts of changing farming practices.

The Welsh and UK governments have today (11 March) unveiled a cross-border research programme, and local farmers will play a key role in it.

Cardiff and London will investigate the sources of the pollution and pressures affecting the river, and develop and test new ways to improve water quality.

Researchers will also examine whats driving wildlife decline and water flow, as well as the impacts of changing farming practices and land management.

The programme will work closely with organisations including the Wye Catchment Partnership, the Nutrient Management Board, and farming groups like Herefordshire Rural Hub and Farm Cymru.

Announcing it, Water Minister Emma Hardy said: For too long, the River Wye has suffered from extreme pollution, leading to devastating effects on wildlife and impacting all those who live along its banks.

That is why were resetting relationships on both sides of the border to share our knowledge and make sure this research translates into real action.

But we must go further, and vital research like this gets us one step closer to cleaning up rivers like the Wye for good."

The research will support wider government planning on water quality, nature recovery and farming regulation by identifying interventions that could be implemented at a landscape scale.

It builds on existing collaboration between the UK and Welsh governments, including an ongoing 20m project addressing soil phosphorus levels.

Deputy First Minister of Wales Huw Irranca-Davies said the new research programme was an important step to protect the River Wye.

He added: This research funding will support both nature recovery and sustainable farming practices to improve the local environment.

By bringing together expertise from both sides of the border and working closely with local groups, we can better understand the challenges facing the river and find the solutions that will make a difference.
British consumers could see lab-made meat and dairy on sale within two years, as the Food Standards Agency (FSA) is seeking to speed up the approval process.

A 'pioneering' regulatory programme has launched for cell-cultivated products (CCPs) - meat, dairy and sugar grown from cells in laboratories.

The FSA said it wanted to ensure these were safe for consumers before theyre sold, whilst supporting innovation in the sector.

As part of this, it has launched a two-year programme, alongside a team of scientists and regulatory experts, exploring the safety of CCPs for public consumption.

Their aim is to gather scientific evidence about CCPs and how they are made, to inform how the FSA would regulate these products.

In 2020, Singapore became the first country to authorise the sale of cell-cultivated meat for human consumption.

Since then, Italy and the US states of Alabama and Florida have instituted bans on CCPs in defence of traditional livestock farming.

But the UK's FSA said that lab-grown meat, dairy and sugar would deliver to consumers a 'wider choice of new food'.

"Safe innovation is at the heart of this programme," explained Professor Robin May, chief scientific advisor at the FSA.

"By prioritising consumer safety and making sure new foods, like CCPs are safe, we can support growth in innovative sectors."

To create cultured or lab-grown meat, a biopsy is taken from an animal such as a pig or cow and then stem cells from that sample are placed in a bioreactor in a laboratory, where they are fed a solution of glucose, amino acids, vitamins and minerals.

This blend of cells and nutrients in specific conditions allows the cells to develop into mature muscle cells that forms cultured meat.

As part of the FSA's two-year programme, eight CCP companies have been selected to participate.

These include Hoxton Farms (UK), BlueNalu (US), Mosa Meat (The Netherlands), Gourmey (France), Roslin Technologies (UK), Uncommon Bio (UK), Vital Meat (France) and Vow (Australia).
The much-anticipated Femina GameChangers East 2025 turned out to be a dazzling evening! Held on March 10, 2025 at the prestigious JW Marriott Hotel, 4A, J.B.S. Haldane Avenue, Kolkata, the night was dedicated to outstanding individuals who have gone above and beyond in their respective fields, setting new benchmarks of success. From entrepreneurs and artists to innovators and industry leaders, we celebrate these visionaries and look to them for inspiration.





Check out the winners!
Vietnamese deputy minister of trade and industry Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan recently said that his country has not been and neither is expected to be significantly hit by new US trade policies as its exports are not in direct competition with US firms in their domestic market.

Rather Vietnams exports allow US consumers to access more affordable goods, he told a recent press conference.

His ministry has worked with other ministries and sectors to compile a report, and a meeting will be organised in this month to discuss specific responses, he was cited as saying by domestic media reports.

Vietnam has not been and neither is expected to be significantly hit by new US trade policies as its exports are not in direct competition with US firms inside US, deputy minister of trade and industry Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan has said. Rather Vietnam's exports allow US consumers to access more affordable goods, he said. He is scheduled to hold a meeting with the US trade representative on March 13.

Through diplomatic channels, Vietnam has conveyed a message to the United States on its willingness to maintain and develop harmonious, sustainable and mutually-beneficial trade and economic relations with the latter, stressing that it does not have any policy that can adversely affect US workers or national security.

The minister is scheduled to hold a meeting with the US trade representative on March 13.

The two countries have a policy dialogue mechanism under the US-Vietnam Trade and Investment Framework Agreement.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Shanaya Kapoor is all set to mark her debut in Bollywood with the film Tu Yaa Main with Adarsh Gourav. The teaser of the film was released today and it gave a glimpse of a story that oscillates between romance and thrills. Soon after the announcement was made, Shanaya's friends and industry colleagues took to social media to praise the actress and congratulate her.

Shanaya's rumoured boyfriend Karan Kothari, too, showered praises on her and penned a long appreciation note. He re-shared the teaser of Tu Yaa Main and wrote, "Tell the little girl whos been dreaming for years that reality is just getting started (heart shaped emoji) @shanayakapoor02 see you later alligator." He then put up a short clip of Shanaya that shows her flexing her bicep. Along with it, he wrote, "Oh yeah.its time."





Take a look:





Meanwhile, Shanaya's close friends Aryan Khan, Suhana Khan and Ananya Panday, too, shared the teaser and expressed their excitement. It was earlier reported that Shanaya is dating her college sweetheart Karan Kothari, who is a Mumbai-based businessman. As per a source quoted by a leading website, "Shanaya has not posted anything about her beau, and its quite obvious that she wouldnt talk about him. However, he has been her plus-one to many Bollywood parties and she has even introduced him as her partner to her colleagues."

About Shanaya and Adarsh's film Tu Yaa Main



Tu Yaa Main is produced by Aanand L Rai's Colour Yellow, which is the banner behind films such as Tumbbad and Haseen Dillruba. It is directed by Bejoy Nambiar and written by Abhishek Bandekar. The film marks Rai's first collaboration with Nambiar. Tu Yaa Main will be released next year on Valentine's Day.

Ananya wrote, "Toooo many favourites in this one. Looks sooo sooo good". While Suhana wrote, "Never been this excited." Shanaya's cousins Khushi Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor also cheered for her.See Also: Is Shanaya Kapoor holidaying with rumoured boyfriend Karan Kothari?
Shah Rukh Khan's bungalow Mannat is set for renovations in May. Many repots previously suggested that the actor and his family were moving out of the place for renovations. He has rented two luxury duplex apartments in Pali Hill, Khar West, for a three-year period. However, the project is currently facing a setback as an activist has raised concerns about violations in the renovation plan. They have asked the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to step in and pause the work.



According to reports, activist Santosh Daundkar has approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT) as Shah Rukh Khan and the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) did not obtain the needed Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance for the renovations at Mannat. Despite Khan and family owning the place, any renovations in the bungalow require prior permissions as it is a Grade III heritage structure.



Many reports have stated that the renovations include the family adding two more floors to the six-storey building. Daundkar has been asked to submit evidence of his claims. Judicial Member Dinesh Kumar Singh and Expert Member Vijay Kulkarni said that any action would be taken if proper proof is submitted. The NGT is scheduled to hear the case on April 23, 2025 .



The building is a landmark at the Bandra Bandstand area in Mumbai as it attracts several tourists and crowds who gather around to catch a glimpse of Shah Rukh and his family. It has become a tourist site, who take photos with the mansion's nameplate or wait in the area to wave at Khan.





On the professional front, Shah Rukh Khan is preparing to film his movie King. It will also star Suhana Khan, Abhay Verma and Abhishek Bachchan in key roles.
When and where to watch Harvey Specter on Suits LA

Gabriel Macht will reprise his role as Harvey in Suits LAs fourth episode titled Batman Returns. A teaser of the episode features Harvey joining Stephen Amells Ted Black at a bar. He orders a couple of whiskeys before they get into an intense discussion about competition. The scene is likely part of a flashback sequence. Episode 4 of Suits LA will release on March 16 on JioHotstar.

Check out the exciting teaser here:

The makers also dropped a first look image. It sees Harvey and Ted share a drink.





Suits LA Episode 4 plot





Suits premiered back in June 2011. The New York-set legal drama ran for 9 successful seasons with 134 episodes. Along with Gabriel Macht, the show featured Patrick J. Adams, Rick Hoffman, Meghan Markle, Sarah Rafferty, Gina Torres and more. The spin-off released amidst much anticipation and has received rave reviews from fans. It remains to be seen how the upcoming episodes are received.



See Also:



In episode 4, Ted Black and Lex Scott Davis Erica go up against Rachelle Gouldings Samantha to save Lesters movie. But the legal battle could hurt his murder trial. Bryan Greenbergs Rick gets Josh McDermitts Stuarts help when an actor gets arrested. Sensing the dangers associated with challenging a mob boss, Ted seeks help from an old friend.Suits premiered back in June 2011. The New York-set legal drama ran for 9 successful seasons with 134 episodes. Along with Gabriel Macht, the show featured Patrick J. Adams, Rick Hoffman, Meghan Markle, Sarah Rafferty, Gina Torres and more. The spin-off released amidst much anticipation and has received rave reviews from fans. It remains to be seen how the upcoming episodes are received.See Also: Suits LA : When & Where To Watch The Spin-Off In India

Actor Gabriel Macht is all set to return as the iconic lawyer Harvey Specter in the ongoing legal drama Suits LA. The spin-off series created by Aaron Korsh features Stephen Amell, Lex Scott Davis, Josh McDermitt and more in key roles. The makers have now dropped a first look photo and a teaser to give fans a peek of what to expect.
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!
TOKYO, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Eviden , the Atos Group business leading in digital, cloud, big data and security today announces the launch of Evidian Orbion, its next-generation Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS) solution. Evidian Orbion integrates Identity Governance and Administration (IGA), Access Management (AM), and Privileged Access Management (PAM) into a single as-a-Service solution designed for hybrid environments. Evidian Orbion offers organizations a flexible, scalable way to manage identities and access rights, with a focus on efficiency and security.

Securing the extended enterprise

For several years, companies had structured themselves around an internal security perimeter, protected by firewalls and VPNs. Today, employees and third-party partners need to access business applications, that may run outside of companies' internal perimeter, from a variety of locations outside the company's internal network. This identity-first security paradigm introduces a new level of complexity for identity and access management. Evidian Orbion focuses on reducing IAM deployment complexity and strengthens deployments with capacities like self-enrolment and integration with Identity Proofing tools. Evidian Orbion is built to scale for mid-market and large organizations.

Meeting enhanced regulatory and sovereignty requirements

What's more, the regulatory landscape like the European NIS 2 Directive, for example, extends security requirements, requiring companies to further formalize their risk analysis policies, speed up the processing and disclosure of vulnerabilities, improve the handling of security incidents, define access control policies, and deploy strong authentication. Evidian Orbion offers a secure and compliant IAM foundation, for governing access controls and implementing multi-factor authentication. The solution provides advanced capabilities like identity proofing, decentralized identities (SSI), and a highly secure infrastructure designed with DevSecOps.

David Leporini, Director of IAM Cybersecurity Products & General Manager of Evidian, Eviden, Atos Group, said: "Evidian Orbion simplifies IAM management by offering a cloud-native solution that reduces complexity andoverhead for enterprises. In addition, the solution also provides essential IAM functionalities such as identity governance and access management, all in a scalableand flexible SaaS model. With Orbion, enterprises can manage identities across applications securely, ensuring compliance while seamlessly scaling to meetevolving business needs."

Martin Kuppinger, Principal Analyst & Co-founder, KuppingerCole Research said: "Evidian Orbion is a powerful solution in the Identity Fabricsmarket segment. With its deployment model, it is targeted at mid-market and large organizations, providing them the flexibility they need. Also, with Evidian being a European vendor and IDaaS deployment from EU data centers, the solution is well positioned for serving the needs of EU-based organizations that mandate or prefer sovereign solutions with EU data residency, such as governmental agencies andcritical infrastructure companies."

For more information about Evidian Orbion, please visit: https://www.evidian.com/products/orbion-identity-and-access-management-as-a- service-iam/

About Eviden1

Eviden is a next-gen technology leader in data-driven, trusted and sustainable digital transformation with a strong portfolio of patented technologies. With worldwide leading positions in advanced computing, security, AI, cloud and digital platforms, it provides deep expertise for all industries in more than 47 countries. Bringing together 41,000 world-class talents, Eviden expands the possibilities of data and technology across the digital continuum, now and for generations to come. Eviden is an Atos Group company with an annual revenue of c.  5 billion.

About Atos

Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with c. 82,000 employees and annual revenue of c.  10 billion. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high-performance computing, the Group provides tailored end-to-end solutions for all industries in 69 countries. A pioneer in decarbonization services and products, Atos is committed to a secure and decarbonized digital for its clients. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea) and listed on Euronext Paris.

The purpose of Atos is to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space.

1 Eviden business is operated through the following brands: AppCentrica, ATHEA, Cloudamize, Cloudreach, Cryptovision, DataSentics, Edifixio, Engage ESM, Evidian, Forensik, IDEAL GRP, In Fidem, Ipsotek, Maven Wave, Profit4SF, SEC Consult, Visual BI, X-Perion. Eviden is a registered trademark.  Eviden SAS, 2025.

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CGI brings together industry leaders to discuss the evolution of Global Capability Centers (GCCs) into hubs of innovation and growth in an AI-driven landscape.

BANGALORE, India, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CGI (TSX: GIB.A) (NYSE: GIB), one of the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world, hosted CGI Elevate 2025, a premier event that brought together industry leaders, technology experts and alliances to discuss the future of GCCs, AI driven innovation and the evolving role of strategic partnerships in driving progress in the global business landscape.

With a theme centered on partnering for progress, CGI Elevate 2025 highlighted how organizations can harness cutting-edge technology to position their GCCs as hubs of excellence. The event served as a platform to exchange insights, share best practices, and envision a future where AI propels global capacity centers (GCCs) to drive greater value and global impact.

Rakesh Aerath, President, CGI Asia Pacific Global Delivery Centers of Excellence, emphasized the evolving strategic role of GCCs: "The narrative around GCCs is shifting, from being cost and efficiency centers to becoming intelligence-driven nerve centers that power enterprise agility, innovation, and transformation at scale. Through this event, we advanced these discussions to provide actionable solutions and insights into how CGI can help GCCs thrive in an AI-first world."

As a sponsor of CGI Elevate 2025, Sunil Gopinath, CEO Rakuten India, spoke about GCCs as strategic partners in business growth, highlighting the transformative role of GCCs in leading AI driven solutions, automation and emerging tech. He added, "CGI Elevate 2025 was a powerful platform that brought together industry pioneers to exchange ideas, challenge the status quo, and explore how AI and automation are reshaping the future of GCCs. The depth of discussions and the actionable insights will help organizations drive innovation, agility, and long-term business impact."

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.

cgi.com/newsroom

For more information

Neha Kothari

Director, Marketing and Communications, Asia Pacific Global Delivery Centers of Excellence

neha.kothari@cgi.com



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Shenzhen, China--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2025) - Shenzhen Jewellok Technology Co., Ltd, a leading manufacturer of ultra high purity (UHP) gas pressure regulators and control valves, announces its latest advancements in high-performance gas delivery solutions. With a focus on precision engineering and reliability, Jewellok's product lineup includes state-of-the-art High Purity Gas System and Ultra High Purity Regulators tailored for industries requiring stringent gas control.

Jewellok Expands Ultra High Purity Gas Solutions with Advanced Pressure Regulators and Control Valves

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Enhancing Industrial Gas Control with Reliable, High-Performance Purity Solutions

Jewellok's solutions cater to industries such as semiconductor manufacturing, biotechnology, and specialty gas handling, where purity and performance are critical. The company's Ultra High Purity Gas Regulator ensures stable and precise gas flow, making it a trusted choice for applications that demand consistency and contamination-free operation. These products are designed to meet the highest standards for gas control, ensuring safety and efficiency in demanding industrial environments.

Jewellok has continuously invested in research and development to refine its gas delivery systems. Its high purity gas regulators and control valves are built with cutting-edge materials and advanced technology to ensure minimal leakage, high stability, and extended durability. By offering a comprehensive selection of pressure regulators, including single-stage and two-stage models, the company provides solutions for various operational needs, from laboratory settings to large-scale industrial applications.

"Our commitment to innovation drives us to enhance ultra high purity gas control systems," said James Yuan, representative of Shenzhen Jewellok Technology Co., Ltd. "By offering advanced regulators and valves with compact construction and high flow capacity, we help industries achieve optimal performance and safety."

Jewellok's products are widely used in high-tech industries, including pharmaceuticals, aerospace, and chemical processing, where precision gas control is essential. The company also provides customized solutions to meet specific operational requirements, ensuring flexibility and adaptability for clients worldwide.

With a dedication to quality and customer satisfaction, Jewellok continues to refine its product offerings to meet the evolving needs of industries relying on ultra high purity gas and chemical delivery systems. The company's manufacturing expertise ensures reliability, durability, and compliance with the highest industry standards.

About Shenzhen Jewellok Technology Co., Ltd

Jewellok is a China-based manufacturer specializing in ultra high purity gas and chemical delivery systems, including single-stage and two-stage pressure regulators, diaphragm valves, and specialty gas regulators. The company serves industries requiring high-precision gas control, offering solutions designed for specialty, flammable, and industrial gas flows. Jewellok provides high-performance ultra high purity regulators and control valves for various critical applications, ensuring precision, safety, and reliability in gas flow management. With a commitment to innovation and strict quality control, the company continues to support industries where gas purity is essential.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244082

SOURCE: Plentisoft
Partners Group / Key word(s): Annual Results

Partners Group's profit increases 12% to CHF 1.13 billion supported by stronger performance fees in H2; proposed dividend up 8% to CHF 42.00 per share



11-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.





Baar-Zug, Switzerland; 11 March 2025 | Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 Listing Rules (LR) Revenues increased by 10% to CHF 2'136 million

Management fees amounted to CHF 1'625 million, up 3%, adversely impacted by FX effects

Performance fees up 38% to CHF 511 million (24% of total revenues); improved exit activity drove H2 results; forward guidance on performance fees confirmed

EBITDA up 10% to CHF 1'357 million; EBITDA margin stable at 63.6%

Profit up 12% to CHF 1'128 million; proposed dividend up 8% to CHF 42.00 per share

Reconfirmed guidance of expected total new client assets of USD 26 to 31 billion in 2025 Summary of key financials 2024 (in CHF million) 2024 2023 Revenues[1] 2'136 1'945 10% Management fees[2] 1'625 1'575 3% Performance fees 511 369 38% Total operating costs[3] -778 -711 9% EBITDA[4] 1'357 1'234 10% EBITDA margin 63.6% 63.4% EBIT[4] 1'309 1'193 10% EBIT margin 61.3% 61.3% Net finance income and expenses 61 16 Income taxes -242 -205 Profit 1'128 1'003 12% Dividend per share 42.00[5] 39.00 8%

David Layton, Partner and Chief Executive Officer, says: "We experienced significant progress in our exit pipeline in the second half of 2024, driven by the sale of direct assets. This lifted full-year realizations by 53% year-on-year to USD 18 billion. We attribute this achievement to our transformational investing approach, which proved effective even in challenging market conditions. On the fundraising side, we have placed significant focus on growing our client base in North America and on the expansion of our private wealth business. North America contributed a record 33% to fundraising in 2024, half of which was attributable to private wealth investors. It's encouraging to see these strategic initiatives bearing fruit and contributing to our strong financial performance in 2024." 2024 financials Total revenues increased by 10% to CHF 2'136 million (2023: CHF 1'945 million) at a revenue margin[6] of 1.64% (2023: 1.56%). Management fees increased by 3% to CHF 1'625 million (2023: CHF 1'575 million) and developed in line with average assets under management [7] (AuM) in CHF. Foreign exchange effects, in particular the strengthening of the CHF against the USD and the EUR, negatively impacted management fee growth by 2%.

increased by 3% to CHF 1'625 million (2023: CHF 1'575 million) and developed in line with average assets under management (AuM) in CHF. Foreign exchange effects, in particular the strengthening of the CHF against the USD and the EUR, negatively impacted management fee growth by 2%. Performance fees increased by 38% to CHF 511 million (2023: CHF 369 million), representing 24% of total revenues (2023: 19%). The marked increase primarily resulted from successful exits and strong performance across portfolios in H2, which accounted for 68% of the total. Joris Groflin, Partner and Chief Financial Officer, adds: "As exit markets recovered in H2, we signed several significant exits across our direct private equity and infrastructure portfolios, which drove a strong increase in performance fees. As we look ahead, we have a USD 19 billion pipeline of direct assets[8] that are expected to be realized in the next 2-3 years. This gives us confidence in our ability to generate performance fees accounting for 25-40% of revenues from 2026 onwards." Total operating costs[9] increased at a slower rate than revenues, by 9% to CHF 778 million (2023: CHF 711 million), mainly driven by higher variable performance fee-related personnel expenses. Total personnel expenses (85% of total operating costs) increased by 9% to CHF 658 million (2023: CHF 603 million), in line with revenues. Management fee-funded personnel expenses remained largely flat at CHF 472 million (2023: CHF 470 million), while the average number of FTEs decreased by 5%. Performance fee-related personnel expenses increased by 40% to CHF 186 million (2023: CHF 133 million), in-line with performance fees.

(85% of total operating costs) increased by 9% to CHF 658 million (2023: CHF 603 million), in line with revenues. Management fee-funded personnel expenses remained largely flat at CHF 472 million (2023: CHF 470 million), while the average number of FTEs decreased by 5%. Performance fee-related personnel expenses increased by 40% to CHF 186 million (2023: CHF 133 million), in-line with performance fees. Other operating expenses increased by 11% to CHF 120 million (2023: CHF 108 million). EBITDA increased by 10% to CHF 1'357 million (2023: CHF 1'234 million) at an EBITDA margin of 63.6% (2023: 63.4%). Depreciation & amortization increased 18% to CHF 49 million (2023: CHF 41 million). Consequently, EBIT increased by 10% to CHF 1'309 million (2023: CHF 1'193 million) at an EBIT margin of 61.3% (2023: 61.3%), in line with total revenues. Net finance income and expenses amounted to CHF 61 million (2023: CHF 16 million). The firm's transformational investing approach translated into positive underlying asset and portfolio performance, resulting in a contribution of CHF 112 million (2023: CHF 67 million) from Partners Group's investments alongside its clients. At the same time, negative foreign exchange effects, hedging, and interest expenses resulted in a negative contribution of CHF -51 million (2023: CHF -51 million). Income taxes totaled CHF 242 million (2023: CHF 205 million) at a tax rate of 18% (2023: 17%). In summary, the firm's profit increased to CHF 1'128 million (2023: CHF 1'003 million). Partners Group's Board of Directors proposes a dividend of CHF 42.00 per share (previous year: CHF 39.00 per share) based on the solid development of the business and its confidence in the sustainability of the firm's growth. The proposal represents an increase of 8% year-on-year. Outlook For the full year 2025, Partners Group expects total new client assets of between USD 26 to 31 billion. This includes a guidance of USD 22 to 27 billion in expected gross client demand from existing Partners Group business activities and USD 4 billion of platform growth from the acquisition of Empira Group, which closed in early 2025. The firm bases its guidance on the large and visible pipeline of fundraising opportunities across all of the firm's private markets asset classes. Full-year estimates for tail-down effects from more mature closed-ended investment programs are USD -9 to -10 billion. With regard to financials, Partners Group reconfirms its expectation for performance fees to account for 20-30% of total revenues in 2025 and 25-40% from 2026 onwards. The firm bases its forward-looking expectation on the increasing proportion of the firm's maturing portfolio that consists of direct investments, which command a higher performance fee. Beginning in 2025, Partners Group will change its profitability measure from EBIT margin to EBITDA margin in the firm's external communication. Over the last three years, Partners Group's EBITDA margin has been stable at around 63%. The firm's approach to cost management remains unchanged and it will continue to apply an operating margin of approximately 60% for newly generated management fees (assuming stable foreign exchange rates) and performance fees. The decision to modify Partners Group's profitability measure was primarily driven by its increased engagement in M&A activities in a consolidating industry.[10] EBITDA has emerged as the European standard, with the majority of private market managers now referring to it as a key profitability measure. Conference call today & publication of 2024 Annual Report Partners Group's senior management will hold a conference call today at 9:00am CET. To register for the call, please click here or use the contact details at the end of this press release. The Annual Report as of 31 December 2024 is available for download at www.partnersgroup.com/financialreports . Upcoming key dates 12 March 2025 Capital Markets Day 23 April 2025 Publication of 2024 Sustainability Report 21 May 2025 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders 23 May 2025 Ex-dividend date 27 May 2025 Dividend payment date 15 July 2025 Announcement of AuM as of 30 June 2025 2 September 2025 Announcement of H1 Financial Results and Report as of 30 June 2025

[1]Revenues include management fees, net, and performance fees, net. [2] Management fees and other revenues, net, and other operating income. [3] For full-year 2024 onwards total operating costs exclude depreciation & amortization. [4] EBITDA and EBIT are an Alternative Performance Metrics (APM). APM are described in the firm's 2024 Annual Report on pages 35-37, available for download at www.partnersgroup.com/financialreports . [5]Dividend proposal relates to dividend to be paid for the financial year 2024, subject to the approval of the Annual General Meeting of shareholders. [6]Revenue margin is an APM, see 2024 Annual Report on pages 35-37. [7]Assets under Management is an APM, see 2024 Annual Report on pages 35-37. [8] Based on Net Asset Value for direct private equity and direct infrastructure investments as of 31 December 2024. [9] Total operating costs exclude depreciation & amortization. [10] Acquisitions could lead to significant amortization charges for newly recognized intangible assets. This would distort the firm's EBIT and EBIT margin, which may no longer accurately reflect the true operational strength and profitability of the business. The same holds true for depreciation driven by significant upfront office investments over the last five years. Both items have no impact on the operating cash flows. About Partners Group

Partners Group is one of the largest firms in the global private markets industry, with around 1'800 professionals and over USD 150 billion in overall assets under management. The firm has investment programs and custom mandates spanning private equity, private credit, infrastructure, real estate, and royalties. With its heritage in Switzerland and its primary presence in the Americas in Colorado, Partners Group is built differently from the rest of the industry. The firm leverages its differentiated culture and its operationally oriented approach to identify attractive investment themes and to transform businesses and assets into market leaders. For more information, please visit https://www.partnersgroup.com/ or follow us on LinkedIn . Shareholder relations contact

Philip Sauer

Phone: +41 41 784 66 60

Email: philip.sauer@partnersgroup.com Media relations contact

Jenny Blinch

Phone: +44 207 575 2571

Email: jenny.blinch@partnersgroup.com

End of Inside Information
Turin, Italy / Istanbul, Turkiye, 11th March 2025.

Ford Trucks, the heavy commercial brand of Ford Otosan, and IVECO, the brand of Iveco Group N.V. (EXM: IVG) that designs, manufactures and markets light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles, today announce the signing of a binding Joint Development Agreement (JDA) for the design and engineering of a new cabin for heavy-duty trucks.

This agreement follows the exclusive, non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) announced by the two companies on 14th March 2024, transforming it into an operational project. The JDA is a contractual framework for the co-development of a new heavy-duty truck cabin, as well as common sourcing where applicable. Both companies will manufacture and assemble the cabin in their own facilities, customising specific styling design concepts and selling the products under their respective brands, Ford Trucks and IVECO.

The new cabin will enhance the competitiveness of both brands, offering a solution in compliance with the forthcoming EU Direct Vision Standard with improved aerodynamics for reduced carbon emissions. The focus will be on cabin comfort, safety, aerodynamics and modularity, whilst prioritising cost-efficiency and full compatibility with all powertrains. The first cabins are expected to be ready for production by 2028. Through this agreement and as a result of their joint effort, the two companies will attain a new top-line modular cabin family with state-of-the-art technology, far superior to the cabins previously planned, while fostering significant savings in investments. The estimated total expenditure to be spent by the parties together under the JDA is euro 343 million.

Present at the signing ceremony were Guven Ozyurt, General Manager of Ford Otosan; Emrah Duman, Vice President of Ford Trucks; Olof Persson, CEO, Iveco Group; and Luca Sra, President, Truck Business Unit, Iveco Group.

Emrah Duman, Vice President of Ford Trucks, highlighted Ford Trucks' dedication to engineering innovation and delivering high-quality solutions for the heavy commercial vehicle industry: "At Ford Trucks, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of engineering excellence. This Joint Development Agreement is a testament to our capability to design and develop cutting-edge solutions that not only meet but exceed the industry's evolving standards. By joining forces with IVECO, we are enhancing our ability to deliver innovative, high-performance cabins that will set new benchmarks in safety, aerodynamics, and driver comfort, all while ensuring cost efficiency and regulatory compliance."

Luca Sra, President, Truck Business Unit, Iveco Group, stated: "We are thrilled to take our partnership with Ford Trucks to the next level through this Agreement. By sharing engineering expertise and combining our strengths, we will create a product that sets new standards in safety, efficiency, quality and driver comfort. This agreement is a strategic move that will allow both IVECO and Ford Trucks to remain at the forefront of the market, well-prepared to comply with new regulations and deliver exceptional quality and value to our customers."

Ford Trucks is Ford's only heavy commercial brand, producing a range of vehicles including tractors, construction trucks, and distribution trucks weighing over 16 tons. The F-MAX and F-LINE series are seen as trusted business partners of customers all over the world. Ford commercial vehicles' proven track record of quality, durability, and efficiency underpins Ford Trucks' international product strategy, delivering the best total cost of ownership promise. Combining expertise in market-specific product development with over sixty years' design and manufacturing experience, Ford Trucks design key components for its vehicles, including all-new engines. Operating across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Eurasia, Ford Trucks continues to grow its international network on three continents. Hundreds of thousands of trucks around the world set out each day with the confidence that Ford provides. For more information about Ford Trucks and its products worldwide, visit www.fordtrucksglobal.com.

Ford Otosanwas founded in 1959, Ford Otosan

Media Contacts:

Effect Burson

Mahmut Ozyon / mahmut.ozyon@effect.bcw-global.com / +90 533 471 14 53

Bestenigar Kara / bestenigar.kara@effect.bcw-global.com / +90 544 229 79 85

IVECO is a brand of Iveco Group N.V. (EXM: IVG). IVECO designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles, off-road trucks and vehicles suitable for any body type. It constantly innovates and extends its product portfolio to provide every customer with the vehicle that matches their mission precisely. IVECO's full-line offer is designed around the Driver's needs to ensure an excellent experience with a focus on safety and comfort. A wide range of advanced digital, connectivity-enabled services developed to help fleet owners run their fleet efficiently enhance IVECO's complete transport solution. IVECO pursues its decarbonisation strategy through a multi-energy approach that includes the further development of bio-methane, battery electric and fuel cell technologies. IVECO manages production sites in 7 countries throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania and Latin America. 3,500 sales and service outlets in over 160 countries guarantee technical support wherever an IVECO vehicle is at work. IVECO drives the road of change by powering the transformation of the transport industry, propelled by the ambition to be the most reliable partner and full-line player for its customers.

For further information, please contact:

IVECO Press Office - EMEA Region

ivecopressoffice@ivecogroup.com (mailto:ivecopressoffice@ivecogroup.com)

IVECO Press Room HomePage (https://www.iveco.com/global/Press/) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/iveco/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/iveco/)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IVECO/ (https://www.facebook.com/IVECO/)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ivecoitaly (https://www.youtube.com/user/ivecoitaly)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iveco/ (https://www.instagram.com/iveco/)







Iveco Group N.V.

Media Contacts:

Francesco Polsinelli, Tel: +39 335 1776091

Fabio Lepore, Tel: +39 335 7469007

E-mail: mediarelations@ivecogroup.com (mailto:mediarelations@ivecogroup.com)





Investor Relations:

Federico Donati, Tel: +39 011 0073539

E-mail: investor.relations@ivecogroup.com (mailto:investor.relations@ivecogroup.com)







Attachment
Topic: Last week, Multitude announced to have successfully placed a  25m Tier 2 bond via its subsidiary Multitude bank. Multitude has also further increased its stake in Lea Bank to 20.9% (initial stake was 9.9%). In detail:

Tier 2 bond placement to strengthen capital base and to fulfil Tier 2 capital requirements. The conditions (pricing of 99% of the aggregate principal amount and a coupon of 3 months EURIBOR plus 11.00% p.a.) are not exactly favorable, as it is the first bond with that size placed via Multitude bank but should improve with future potential bond placements through Multitude bank. Importantly, the proceeds strengthen the capital base of the bank and give the Group more flexibility when it comes to growth and seizing attractive opportunities.

Higher stake in Lea Bank makes future cooperations more likely. After the approval from the Swedish Financial Authority, Multitude Bank increased its stake in Lea Bank to 20.9%, by executing another five share purchase agreements. With that Multitude Bank strengthens its strategic foothold in the Nordic consumer finance market and execute on its long-term growth strategy through organic expansion, partnerships, and acquisitions. Further, it increases synergy potentials, such as 1) referrals/product cooperations, (2) joint development projects and (3) cross-selling between both banks. Still, for now the acquisition is only a financial investment that is expected to be partially consolidated. Importantly potential revenues from Lea bank (via dividends/consolidation) are not reflected in the guidance.

Looking at current trading (not considering direct positive effects from Lea Bank), we see Multitude fully on track to achieve its guidance: We expect moderate yoy growth on both top and bottom line (eNuW for Q1'25:  71m sales and  5.2m net income). That said, the Group's net income (including contributions from Lea Bank) should come in clearly above the guidance for FY25 of  23m. Tailwinds are seen to come from lowering interest expenses for customer deposits that should have peaked in Q3'24.

Given that the company is still trading at 4.8x PE'25, despite the strong growth, the resilience and the positive outlook, we reiterate BUYwith an unchanged PT of  12, based on our residual income model. Multitude remains a NuWays Alpha pick.

ISIN: CH1398992755
The International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety (ICCS) has announced officers for the 2025 board of directors.

"I'm thrilled to work alongside these exceptional officers whose leadership is vital to advancing ICCS's vision and expanding our impact. Their dedication to promoting the global transition to animal-free safety testing in cosmetics is inspiring, and I look forward to collaborating with them to achieve our shared goals," said Erin Hill, ICCS CEO.

Stephane Dhalluin, Ph.D., Global Head, Human Environmental Safety Evaluation, L'Oreal, has been elected as chairman of the board.

"I am deeply excited and honored to be elected Chair of the Board of Directors for the International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety (ICCS). This is a crucial time to advance cosmetics' animal-free safety assessments globally, and I am eager to collaborate with the exceptionally talented and passionate ICCS scientists, experts, members and stakeholders. Together, we'll accelerate the adoption of innovative, animal-free approaches, ensuring both human health and environmental safety of cosmetics with rigorous scientific standards. I'm confident that our combined expertise and dedication will significantly impact the future of cosmetics safety and sustainability."

The additional officers joining Dhalluin are:

Vice Chair, John Chave, Director General, Cosmetics Europe

Secretary, Jon Lalko, Ph.D., Executive Fellow Product Safety and Toxicology, Estee Lauder Companies

Treasurer, Michael Southall, Ph.D., Senior Director, Head of Global Toxicology and Clinical Safety, Medical Clinical Safety Sciences, Kenvue

ICCS also announced today its 2025 Science Advisory Committee (SAC), which is composed of leading global experts from human health and environmental safety backgrounds who work in regulatory agencies, research institutions, and validation centers.

"This esteemed group of scientists advises us on our science strategy," said Erin Hill, ICCS CEO. "We have a robust portfolio of science projects aligned with the overall strategic goal of developing new approach methodologies (NAMs) and next generation risk assessment (NGRA) frameworks for cosmetics and ingredient safety assessments that will be protective of human and environmental health. We have received very valuable feedback from these scientists."

The SAC peer reviews the science portfolio and provides guidance on the objectives and strategic direction of the organization.

ICCS works with all stakeholders, including industry safety assessors, regulators, and policymakers around the world to share the collective experience of applying NAMs and NGRA frameworks to ensure cosmetic safety.

The members of the Science Advisory Committee come from North and South America, Europe and Asia:

Takao Ashikaga, Ph.D.

Section Chief, Division of Risk Assessment

National Institute of Health Sciences Japanese Center for Validation of Alternative Methods

Tara Barton-Maclaren, Ph.D.

Research Manager

Health Canada

Scott E. Belanger, Ph.D.

Independent Senior Executive

Environmental and Sustainability Management of Chemicals

Natalie Burden, Ph.D.

Head of NAMs Strategy

NC3Rs

Michelle Embry, Ph.D.

Deputy Director of Environmental Sciences

The Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI)

Katie Paul Friedman, Ph.D.

Supervisory Computational Toxicologist, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Alison Harrill, Ph.D.

Associate Director for Toxicology, Office of Research and Development

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Nicole C. Kleinstreuer, Ph.D.

Director, NICEATM

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Prashiela Manga, Ph.D.

Deputy Director, Office of Cosmetics and Colors

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Charlie Menzie, Ph.D.

Environmental Scientist

Independent

Octavio Presgrave, Ph.D.

Coordinator

Brazilian Center for Validation of Alternative Methods

Kristin Schirmer, Ph.D.

Head of Department of Environmental Toxicology

Eawag Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology

Tomasz Sobanski, Ph.D.

Team Leader at Computational Assessment and Alternative Methods Unit

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)

Marize Campos Valadares, Ph.D.

Full Professor of Toxicology

Universidade Federal de Goias/ ANVISA

Maurice Whelan, Ph.D.

Head of Systems Toxicology Unit and ECVAM

European Commission, Joint Research Centre

Carole Yauk, Ph.D.

Professor

University of Ottawa

ICCS was formed in early 2023 with the mission to advance the adoption of animal-free assessments of cosmetics, and their ingredients, for human and environmental safety. The organization is comprised of 42 international members from market leaders in the cosmetic product and ingredient manufacturers sector, notable trade and research associations, and influential animal protection organizations.

About ICCS

The International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety (ICCS) is a global initiative focused on advancing the adoption of animal-free safety assessment approaches for cosmetics, personal care products and their ingredients. ICCS is comprised of 42 international members including cosmetic product manufacturers and their suppliers, industry associations, and animal protection organizations all working together to drive greater global awareness to accelerate widespread use of animal-free assessments through research, education, and regulatory engagement. For more details on ICCS and its members, visit www.iccs-cosmetics.org.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250228199809/en/

Contacts:

Kelly Semrau ksemrau@iccs-cosmetics.org
-Telecommunications company Telefonica Germany renews Oracle support contract with Spinnaker for the next 3 years after initial 2-year contract period-

-Telefonica Germany also announces it has moved its Broadcom-VMware support function to Spinnaker-

Spinnaker Support (Spinnaker), trusted by companies worldwide to support their essential Oracle, SAP and VMware software, today announces the renewal of its Oracle support contract with Telefonica Germany after the success of its initial 2-year contract period. In addition, Spinnaker also announces it will be providing third-party software support for Telefonica Germany's VMware estate for the next 3 years.

Telefonica Germany is one of the leading integrated telecommunications providers in Germany, with 45.1 million mobile telephone lines and 2.4 million broadband lines. It offers mobile and fixed network services for private and business customers as well as innovative digital solutions based on its infrastructure and the analysis of mobile data. An increasing number of people in Germany are choosing Telefonica Germany for its network quality, excellent service, and value for money.

Two years ago, Telefonica Germany made the decision to move its entire Oracle estate to Spinnaker for third-party support with the goal of accelerating the organisation's digital transformation. For the last two years, Spinnaker has delivered significant in-year savings for the telecom giant, which has been reassigned to digital transformation projects. Spinnaker is supporting Telefonica Germany's predominantly legacy Oracle software environment, allowing the company to focus on digital transformation instead of upgrading legacy technology to remain compliant.

After the success of its ongoing delivery of Oracle support and the decision made by Broadcom-VMware to introduce a subscription licensing model, Spinnaker is now providing support for Telefonica Germany's entire SDDC VMware environment. With the change in licensing model came a significant increase in fees to remain with VMware, resulting in Telefonica Germany deciding to review its options and ultimately broaden Spinnaker's focussed support.

Holger Berndt, Professional Lead Software Asset Management, Telefonica Germany GmbH Co. OHG discussed the ongoing partnership with Spinnaker: "We have been delighted with the unparalleled service Spinnaker has delivered for the last two years, supporting us with our digital transformation. We are excited to continue our collaboration for the next three years."

Berndt continued: "We'll have the added bonus of receiving the excellent level of support we require while remaining compliant, giving us valuable time to consider our virtualisation strategy."

Matt Stava, CEO, Spinnaker Support said: "Spinnaker prides itself on its attention to service. Telefonica Germany not only renewing its Oracle support contract but extending our relationship to include VMware support is testament to the excellence of our delivery and team. We look forward to working closely with Telefonica Germany for the next three years and beyond."

For more information about Spinnaker, visit www.spinnakersupport.com.

About Spinnaker Support

Spinnaker Support delivers global, independent third-party software support for Oracle, SAP, and VMware, along with managed services and cloud solutions for Oracle and SAP. Trusted by companies worldwide, including those in highly regulated industries, Spinnaker empowers organizations to take control of their IT strategy. By breaking free from vendor-imposed roadmaps, aligning software management with business objectives, reducing costs, and maximizing ROI, Spinnaker provides customers with the power of choice. With a strategic approach to security, performance, resource allocation, and managed services, Spinnaker Support ensures long-term IT efficiency and success.

About Telefonica

O2 Telefonica is a leading full-service provider of telecommunications services for private and business customers. The portfolio of the core brand O2 and various secondary and partner brands includes traditional telephony and internet connections as well as innovative digital services in the area of the Internet of Things and data analysis. In mobile communications, O2 Telefonica manages more than 45 million mobile lines (incl. M2M as at 31.12.2024). No network operator connects more people in this country. The company's high-performance and award-winning mobile network reaches more than 99 percent of the population. In the fixed network, O2 Telefonica offers its customers leading technological diversity and geographical availability in Germany. In the 2024 financial year, the company generated revenue of 8.5 billion euros with around 7,500 employees. The company is majority-owned by the Spanish telecommunications group Telefonica S.A., based in Madrid, one of the largest telecommunications groups in the world.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250311139054/en/

Contacts:

Media contact

Dan Walsh

dan@mustardpr.com

+44 (0) 7828 816 971
New offerings give legal teams greater confidence, efficiencies in dispute resolution using Everlaw's advanced legal tech

Everlaw, the cloud-native investigation and litigation platform, announced new investments at the British Legal Technology Forum today to expand its customers' capabilities internationally:

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250311140604/en/

Everlaw Translations is a new AI-powered feature designed to accelerate the initial translation of large document sets by generating translated text files stored alongside the originals. (Graphic: Everlaw)

Expanded AI capabilities in the UK and EU with the launch of Everlaw AI Assistant , offering in-region data processing to meet European security and compliance needs;

, offering in-region data processing to meet European security and compliance needs; Award of G-Cloud status by the UK government, enabling public sector organizations in the UK to access Everlaw's secure, cloud-based ediscovery platform;

by the UK government, enabling public sector organizations in the UK to access Everlaw's secure, cloud-based ediscovery platform; AI-powered Everlaw Translations that allow legal teams globally to efficiently translate large volumes of foreign-language documents for complex international matters; and

that allow legal teams globally to efficiently translate large volumes of foreign-language documents for complex international matters; and Expanded storage offerings with the launch of Everlaw Staging Drive globally.

GenAI-powered EverlawAI Assistant in the UK and EU; G-Cloud in the UK

Everlaw opened its London office in 2018 to support British and European corporations, law firms and their high-profile legal matters, such as the British Post Office Case.

To further address the preferences of UK and European organizations for in-region data processing and residency today, Everlaw is providing customers with greater control over their data. UK- and EU-based customers can now leverage EverlawAI Assistant while ensuring their data remains within regional boundaries. This enhancement is designed to meet the data security and sovereignty requirements of many European customers, offering an added layer of compliance and trust. As with our US implementation, there is zero data retention, and the data is never used to train our AI service providers' models.

Everlaw launched its suite of GenAI-powered features, EverlawAI Assistant, in fall 2024 based on its generative AI principles and the input of nearly 3,000 users whose real-world use shaped and improved the product.

"Enterprise-grade security and control are at the core of our GenAI features," said AJ Shankar, founder and CEO of Everlaw. "By enabling in-region AI processing, we're giving our UK and European customers greater confidence in adopting AI while ensuring their data remains protected within local boundaries."

Everlaw has been awarded G-Cloud status by the UK government. This enables Everlaw to sell its software for inquiries, investigations, litigation, arbitration, tribunals, DSAR/SAR and other regulatory matters to the UK government through the G-Cloud framework.

AI-Based Translations for Greater Efficiency in International Matters

Everlaw Translations is a new AI-powered feature designed to accelerate the initial translation of large document sets by generating translated text files stored alongside the originals. Legal professionals handling complex international litigation and investigations often struggle to manage foreign-language documents. Everlaw Translations allows legal teams to efficiently translate documents in bulk and leverage Everlaw's advanced analytics and review tools to gain a clear understanding of foreign-language content. Teams can then identify key documents to share with human translators for more refined and nuanced translations, streamlining the overall review process.

Everlaw Translation offers key benefits including streamlined multilingual document reviews with bulk processing that reduces costs while maintaining enterprise-grade security with Everlaw. In addition, our translation service providers do not use our customers' data to develop or improve their services or models.

Everlaw Translation offers significant cost savings to competing document-based offerings. Translated text automatically integrates with Everlaw's rich analytics and other AI features, providing an efficient end-to-end solution for legal teams handling foreign language documents.

Everlaw Staging Drive: Secure, Centralized Data Storage Globally

Everlaw Staging Drive provides highly secure pre-processing storage where customers can organize files before uploading for early case assessment or review. Administrator-managed and project-independent, it addresses organizational needs for boutique law firms to Am Law 200 firms, corporations, and government agencies. This new offering enhances Everlaw's end-to-end capabilities, helping teams efficiently manage terabytes of discoverable data. Staging Drive consolidates and simplifies data management by organizing everything in a centralized environment.

Specifically, Everlaw Staging Drive helps legal teams gather, store, and organize documents before entering the formal discovery phase in litigation or investigations. This gives teams a head start for when they need to prepare for responses. Users can create folders to organize container files, rename files, assign custodians on the fly, add descriptions to documents, and sort uploaded files and folders by a variety of fields. As cases move forward, files can be easily selected from Staging Drive for early case assessment or review within Everlaw. Staging Drive helps users keep their data secure through Everlaw's stringent security protocols.

About the EverlawAI Portfolio

Everlaw Translations expands the EverlawAI product line which includes EverlawAI Assistant's Review Assistant, Coding Suggestions, and Writing Assistant, Everlaw's award-winning Clustering, which uncovers hidden patterns even in the largest corpus of documents, and Predictive Coding to quickly identify relevant documents with AI. Learn more here.

About Everlaw

Everlaw helps legal teams navigate the increasingly complex ediscovery landscape to chart a straighter path to the truth. Trusted by Fortune 100 corporate counsel, FTSE 100 corporations, and 100% of Silver Circle firms, Everlaw's combination of intuitive experience, advanced technology, and partnership with customers empowers organisations to tackle the most pressing technological challenges-and transform their approach to discovery and litigation in the process. Founded in 2010 and based in Oakland, Calif., with offices in London, Washington, D.C., and New York City, Everlaw is funded by top-tier investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, CapitalG, HIG Growth Partners, K9 Ventures, Menlo Ventures, and TPG Growth. Follow us on LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250311140604/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

Colleen Haikes

press@everlaw.com


Original-Research: Multitude SE - from NuWays AG



11.03.2025 / 09:01 CET/CEST

Dissemination of a Research, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this research. The result of this research does not constitute investment advice or an invitation to conclude certain stock exchange transactions.

Classification of NuWays AG to Multitude SE



Company Name: Multitude SE

ISIN: CH1398992755



Reason for the research: Update

Recommendation: Buy

from: 11.03.2025

Target price: EUR 12.00

Target price on sight of: 12 months

Last rating change:

Analyst: Frederik Jarchow



Bond successfully placed // Stake in Lea Bank increased; chg

Topic: Last week, Multitude announced to have successfully placed a EUR 25m Tier 2 bond via its subsidiary Multitude bank. Multitude has also further increased its stake in Lea Bank to 20.9% (initial stake was 9.9%). In detail:



Tier 2 bond placement to strengthen capital base and to fulfil Tier 2 capital requirements. The conditions (pricing of 99% of the aggregate principal amount and a coupon of 3 months EURIBOR plus 11.00% p.a.) are not exactly favorable, as it is the first bond with that size placed via Multitude bank but should improve with future potential bond placements through Multitude bank. Importantly, the proceeds strengthen the capital base of the bank and give the Group more flexibility when it comes to growth and seizing attractive opportunities.



Higher stake in Lea Bank makes future cooperations more likely. After the approval from the Swedish Financial Authority, Multitude Bank increased its stake in Lea Bank to 20.9%, by executing another five share purchase agreements. With that Multitude Bank strengthens its strategic foothold in the Nordic consumer finance market and execute on its long-term growth strategy through organic expansion, partnerships, and acquisitions. Further, it increases synergy potentials, such as 1) referrals/product cooperations, (2) joint development projects and (3) cross-selling between both banks. Still, for now the acquisition is only a financial investment that is expected to be partially consolidated. Importantly potential revenues from Lea bank (via dividends/consolidation) are not reflected in the guidance.

Looking at current trading (not considering direct positive effects from Lea Bank), we see Multitude fully on track to achieve its guidance: We expect moderate yoy growth on both top and bottom line (eNuW for Q1Z25: EUR 71m sales and EUR 5.2m net income). That said, the Group's net income (including contributions from Lea Bank) should come in clearly above the guidance for FY25 of EUR 23m. Tailwinds are seen to come from lowering interest expenses for customer deposits that should have peaked in Q3Z24.

Given that the company is still trading at 4.8x PEZ25, despite the strong growth, the resilience and the positive outlook, we reiterate BUY with an unchanged PT of EUR 12, based on our residual income model. Multitude remains a NuWays Alpha pick.



You can download the research here: http://www.more-ir.de/d/31944.pdf For additional information visit our website:

https://www.nuways-ag.com/research-feed



Contact for questions:

NuWays AG - Equity Research

Web: www.nuways-ag.com

Email: research@nuways-ag.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nuwaysag

Adresse: Mittelweg 16-17, 20148 Hamburg, Germany

++++++++++

Diese Meldung ist keine Anlageberatung oder Aufforderung zum Abschluss bestimmter Borsengeschafte.

Offenlegung moglicher Interessenskonflikte nach  85 WpHG beim oben analysierten Unternehmen befinden sich in der vollstandigen Analyse. ++++++++++



The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com



2098452 11.03.2025 CET/CEST






G4520G6 and TN85-B8261 Servers Deliver Unparalleled Performance for AI, ML, and HPC Workloads.

SINGAPORE, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MiTAC Computing Technology Corp., a subsidiary of MiTAC Holdings Corp. (TSE:3706) and a global leader in server design and manufacturing, will showcase its latest AI and HPC innovations at Supercomputing Asia 2025, taking place from March 11 at Booth B10. The event highlights MiTAC's commitment to delivering cutting-edge technology with the introduction of the G4520G6 AI server and the TN85-B8261 HPC server-both engineered to meet the growing demands of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and high-performance computing (HPC) applications.

G4520G6 AI Server: Performance, Scalability, and Efficiency Redefined

The G4520G6 AI server redefines computing performance with an advanced architecture tailored for intensive workloads. Key features include:

Exceptional Compute Power - Supports dual Intel Xeon 6 Processors with TDP up to 350W, delivering high-performance multi-core processing for AI-driven applications.

- Supports dual Intel Xeon 6 Processors with TDP up to 350W, delivering high-performance multi-core processing for AI-driven applications. Enhanced Memory Performance - Equipped with 32 DDR5 DIMM slots (16 per CPU) and 8 memory channels, supporting up to 8,192GB DDR5 RDIMM/3DS RDIMM at 6400 MT/s for superior memory bandwidth.

- Equipped with 32 DDR5 DIMM slots (16 per CPU) and 8 memory channels, supporting up to 8,192GB DDR5 RDIMM/3DS RDIMM at 6400 MT/s for superior memory bandwidth. Unmatched GPU Support - Supports up to eight full-height, dual-slot NVIDIA H200 NVL , NVIDIA H100 NVL , or NVIDIA L40S for scale-out AI training, ML, and rendering applications. Featuring the NVIDIA H200 GPU with 141GB of HBM3e memory and nearly 27 petaflops of FP8 deep learning compute, it accelerates AI and HPC workloads with exceptional speed and efficiency.

- Supports up to eight full-height, dual-slot , , or for scale-out AI training, ML, and rendering applications. Featuring the with 141GB of HBM3e memory and nearly 27 petaflops of FP8 deep learning compute, it accelerates AI and HPC workloads with exceptional speed and efficiency. Superior Connectivity - Equipped with three standard PCIe 5.0 x 16 expansion slots and three OCP v3.0 mezzanine slots, the MiTAC G4520G6 platform enables high-performance network connectivity, such as NVIDIA ConnectX NICs, BlueField-3 SuperNICs and DPUs, for clustered computing.

- Equipped with three standard PCIe 5.0 x 16 expansion slots and three OCP v3.0 mezzanine slots, the MiTAC G4520G6 platform enables high-performance network connectivity, such as NVIDIA ConnectX NICs, BlueField-3 SuperNICs and DPUs, for clustered computing. Advanced Cooling & Power Efficiency - Engineered for superior thermal management, it includes eight hot-swap system fans and four external hot-swap fan modules. Four hot-swap CRPS power supplies provide (3+1) redundancy, delivering up to 9,600W with 80+ Titanium efficiency.

TN85-B8261: Versatile 2U Server for HPC and AI Workloads

The TN85-B8261 is a versatile 2U server designed to deliver exceptional performance for high-performance computing and AI applications. Key highlights include:

Powerful Dual-Socket Performance - Supports AMD EPYC 9005 / 9004 processors, delivering exceptional computing power for AI and HPC workloads.

- Supports AMD EPYC 9005 / 9004 processors, delivering exceptional computing power for AI and HPC workloads. Scalable Memory Architecture - Features (12+12) DDR5 DIMM slots, supporting up to 6,144GB DDR5-6000 RDIMM/LRDIMM for high-speed data processing.

- Features (12+12) DDR5 DIMM slots, supporting up to 6,144GB DDR5-6000 RDIMM/LRDIMM for high-speed data processing. Flexible Expansion Capabilities - Supports up to four full-height, dual-slot enterprise H100 NVL and L40S GPUs for scalable AI training, machine learning, and rendering applications. Additionally, two half-height, half-length PCIe 5.0 x16 slots enable high-performance cluster networking deployment.

- Supports up to four full-height, dual-slot enterprise H100 NVL and L40S GPUs for scalable AI training, machine learning, and rendering applications. Additionally, two half-height, half-length PCIe 5.0 x16 slots enable high-performance cluster networking deployment. Optimized Connectivity & Management - Dual 10GBase-T LAN ports for high-bandwidth networking and an AST2600 BMC with IPMI 2.0 & Redfish support for remote server management.

- Dual 10GBase-T LAN ports for high-bandwidth networking and an AST2600 BMC with IPMI 2.0 & Redfish support for remote server management. Reliable Power Efficiency - (1+1) redundant 2,700W hot-swap CRPS power supplies with 80+ Titanium efficiency, delivering sustainable energy and operational reliability.

Driving Innovation in AI and HPC

MiTAC Computing is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of AI and HPC technology. The G4520G6 and TN85-B8261 servers are designed to empower enterprises and research institutions with exceptional compute power, scalability, and energy efficiency, ensuring optimal performance for next-generation workloads.

Visit MiTAC Computing at Supercomputing Asia 2025

MiTAC Computing invites attendees to experience the power of the G4520G6 AI Server and TN85-B8261 HPC Server firsthand at Supercomputing Asia 2025. Visit our booth B10 to explore how our latest innovations can accelerate AI and HPC applications.

For more information, please visit the links below:

G4520G6 product page: https://www.mitaccomputing.com/en/spec/Barebones/G4520G6_G4520G6U2BC-Nsp

TN85-B8261: https://www.mitaccomputing.com/en/spec/Barebones/TN85B8261_B8261T85E8HR-2T-N

About MiTAC Computing Technology Corporation

MiTAC Computing Technology Corp., a subsidiary of MiTAC Holdings, delivers comprehensive, energy-efficient server solutions backed by industry expertise dating back to the 1990s. Specializing in AI, HPC, cloud, and edge computing, MiTAC Computing employs rigorous methods to ensure uncompromising quality not just at the barebone level but, more importantly, at the system and rack levels-where true performance and integration matter most. This commitment to quality at every level sets MiTAC Computing apart from others in the industry. The company provides tailored platforms for hyperscale data centers, HPC, and AI applications, guaranteeing optimal performance and scalability.

With a global presence and end-to-end capabilities-from R&D and manufacturing to global support-MiTAC Computing offers flexible, high-quality solutions designed to meet unique business needs. Leveraging the latest advancements in AI and liquid cooling, along with the recent integration of Intel DSG and TYAN server products, MiTAC Computing stands out for its innovation, efficiency, and reliability, empowering businesses to tackle future challenges.

MiTAC Computing Technology Corporation website: https://www.mitaccomputing.com/

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2637764/Join_MiTAC_Computing_SCA25_Empower_Future_AI_HPC.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/mitac-computing-showcases-cutting-edge-ai-and-hpc-servers-at-supercomputing-asia-2025-302397050.html
Zeus North America Mining Corp. (CSE:ZEUS)(OTCQB:ZUUZF)(FRANKFURT:O92) (the "Company" or "Zeus") announces the Company has commenced drilling and exploration planning for the 2025 exploration and development season at the Cuddy Mountain project in Idaho, less than 3 km to the north of the Hercules Metals high grade copper-gold-silver porphyry discovery announced in October 2023.

Highlights of the 2024 Exploration Program at Cuddy Mountain:

Staked 19 additional BLM Lode Claims to cover areas underlain by the Seven Devils Volcanics, which host the neighboring Leviathan Porphyry Copper mineralization.

Completed a property wide 3D-DCIP Induced Polarization ("IP") and Resistivity Survey using Dias Geophysical Ltd.

Conducted a property wide Ground Magnetic Survey totalling 105-line km of high- resolution magnetic data.

Collected 799 soil samples and 339 rock grab samples.

Completed a property wide mapping campaign. The mapped stratigraphy within the Cuddy Mountain Property demonstrates that the same stratigraphic section exists with the Property as that shown-on Hercules drill sections which intersected porphyry mineralization.

The Cuddy Mountain Property is adjacent to Hercules Metals Corp. ("Hercules") recently discovered Leviathan Copper Porphyry ($167M MC).* The discovery resulted in Major Mining Company Barrick injecting $23M in equity in to Hercules and staking a substantial land position in the district along with Major Mining Company Rio Tinto. The Cuddy Mountain Property consists of 101 lode mining claims respectively and cover a cumulative area of approximately 2020 acres.

On February 20th, 2025 Hercules summarized recent drilling at their Leviathan Copper Property. The Highlights of which were as follows:

HER-24-21 intersects 171m of 0.64% CuEq in volcanic host rock, within a broader intercept of 354m of 0.47% CuEq ending in a late porphyry.

Highest grades occur in volcanic host rocks.

New mapping and sampling demonstrate the host rocks transition to iron-rich volcanics and limestone in the Eastern Block and Southern Flats zones, conducive to significantly higher-grades.

See Hercules' Press Release Here Dated February 20th, 2025.

Furthermore, on March 4, 2025, Hercules showed their chargeability anomaly open to the northeast towards the Zeus Cuddy Mountain Property.

See Hercules' Press Release Here Dated March 4th, 2025.

Dean Besserer, President and CEO, stated, "Our 2024 exploration program data compilation is nearly complete, and we are excited to release our results and advance towards drilling in this highly prospective region. Hercules is planning an aggressive 2025 drill season and the team at Zeus looks forward to following suit in the near future."

About the Cuddy Mountain Copper Property (Idaho, USA)

The Cuddy Mountain Property is adjacent to Hercules Metals Corp recently discovered Leviathan Copper Porphyry ($167M MC).* The discovery resulted in Barrick injecting $23M in equity. The Cuddy Mountain Property consists of 101 lode mining claims respectively and cover a cumulative area of approximately 2020 acres.

The Property is in Washington County, Idaho just 2.5 hours Northwest of Boise and readily accessible by road.

Historical Drilling at Cuddy Mountain consisted of 7 shallow drill holes in 1977 intersecting anomalous lead and silver. Drill hole Mun 8 contained 90 feet of 2.02 oz/t Ag (Taylor, 1977). Further historical exploration on Zeus's Cuddy Mountain Project occurred at the Edna May Mine: Mineralized vein with chip samples containing 750 ppm ppm Pb, 7.7% Zn and 252 grams per tonne Silver over 4 feet. Underground drilling in 1979 intersected 1.38 oz/t Ag over 7 feet in a breccia zone (Burmeister, 1980). Additional exploration (By Taylor, 1977) at the Rockslide area encountered Malachite-stained outcrops with a grab sample containing 760 ppm Pb, 0.67 % Zn and 36 grams per tonne Silver (Taylor, 1977).

*Adjacent Property (www.herculessilver.com)

*All information is derived solely from management of Zeus Mining and otherwise publicly available third-party information which are believed to be reliable, but which have not been independently verified by the Company and as a result are not guaranteed as to accuracy and completeness. Zeus's management cautions that past results or discoveries on properties in proximity to Zeus may not necessarily be indicative of the presence of mineralization on the Company's properties.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dean Besserer, P.Geo., the President & CEO for the company and Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101.

On behalf of the board of directors.

"Dean Besserer"

President and CEO

For more information, please contact the Company at info@zeusminingcorp.com

FOR INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT:

Kin Communications Inc. Ph: 604-684-6730

ZEUS@kincommunications.com

About Zeus North America Mining Corp.

The Company is in the business of mineral exploration. The Company is focused on its exploration properties in the state of Idaho known as the: Cuddy Mountain; Selway; and Great Western properties, respectively. The Idaho properties consist of 101 (Cuddy Mountain), 57 (Selway) and 38 (Great Western) lode mining claims respectively and cover a cumulative area of approximately 4,200 acres. The Company's flagship Cuddy Mountain Property is adjacent to Hercules Metal Corp's Leviathan Copper Porphyry discovery.

Forward Looking Statements

When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of their respective officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the parties can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements and information in this news release include, amongst others, the Company's exploration plans. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. There are risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements or implied by such forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: currency fluctuations; limited business history of the parties; disruptions or changes in the credit or security markets; results of operation activities and development of projects; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; and general development, market and industry conditions.

The Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of its securities or its financial or operating results (as applicable). The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. The Company does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

SOURCE: Zeus North America Mining Corp.
Increase in investment by governments & space agencies, new product launches in the satellite manufacturing market and launch systems and increase in number of satellite launches drive the global satellite bus market.

WILMINGTON, Del., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Satellite Bus Market by Subsystem (Structures and Mechanisms, Thermal Control, Electric Power System, Attitude Control System, Propulsion, Telemetry Tracking Command, and Flight Software), Application (Earth Observation and Meteorology, Communication, Scientific Research and Exploration, Surveillance and Security, Mapping, and Navigation), and Satellite Size (Small, Medium, and Large): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2033". According to the report, the global satellite bus market size was valued at $14.1 billion in 2023, and is projected to reach $23.4 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 5.4% from 2024 to 2033.

Download Sample Pages of Research Overview: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/A07764

Prime determinants of growth

The global satellite bus market has experienced significant growth and transformation, driven by increase in investment by governments & space agencies, new product launches in the satellite manufacturing market and launch systems, and increase in number of satellite launches. Also, incorporation of new technologies, and advancements in satellite mission technologies are anticipated to provide lucrative market growth opportunities during the forecast period.

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2024-2033 Base Year 2023 Market Size in 2023 $14.1 Billion Market Size in 2033 $23.4 Billion CAGR 5.4 % No. of Pages in Report 280 Segments Covered Subsystem, Application, Satellite Size, and Region. Drivers Increase in investment by governments & space agencies

New product launches in the satellite manufacturing market and launch systems

Increase in number of satellite launches Opportunities Incorporation of new technologies

Advancements in satellite mission technologies Restraints lack of clarity in government policies

Stringent government regulations for implementation and use of satellite

Buy This Research Report (280 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures): https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout-final/e57110a8ec8d43f34cfac6a85fc13f86

The structures and mechanisms segment to maintain its leadership throughout the forecast period.

By subsystem, the structures and mechanisms segment held the highest market share in 2023, owning to increase in demand for strong structure for use in rugged environment. Numerous types of designs such as monocoque as well as modular frame designs have been introduced by different manufacturers. Introduction of such system maximizes internal volume, and provides more thermal mass, which allows for more mounting points to the structure of the satellite bus.

The communication segment tomaintain its leadership throughout the forecast period.

By application, the communication segment held the highest market share in 2023, owning to its vital role in global communication systems. In addition, communication satellites are used for wireless, radio, internet, television, mobile communication, and military applications, which also drives the growth of the segment in the global market.

The small satellite segment to maintain its dominance during the forecast period.

By satellite size, the small satellite segment dominated the global market share in 2023, owning to small satellites are popular and they are cheaper to build and launch as compared to larger ones. In some cases, like scientific research and radio communication, using many small satellites is more effective than relying on a few big ones. They are increasingly used for a variety of missions, including scientific research, remote sensing, and communication services. The use of small satellites is widely growing around the world especially for smaller countries and companies to participate in space activities and support their sustainable development goals.

North America is expected to dominate the market in 2033.

By region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2023, owing to presence of companies such as Lockheed Martin Corporation, The Boeing Company, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Sierra Nevada Corporation, and Ball Corporation creates ample opportunities for the growth of the market in North America. In addition, the North America satellite bus market is gaining traction due to numerous developments carried out by key companies operating in the satellite and related components manufacturing industry. Companies involved in the production and manufacturing of essential components have carried out numerous developments, which has supplemented the growth of the market in North America.

Enquiry Before Buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/A07764

Leading Market Players: -

Airbus S.A.S

Ball Corporation

Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI)

ISRO

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Sierra Nevada Corporation

Thales Group

The Boeing Corporation

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global satellite bus market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

Explore AMR's Extensive ongoing Coverage on Consumer and Goods Domain:

Satellite Market Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/satellite-market

LEO and GEO Satellite Market Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/leo-and-geo-satellite-market-A09227

Satellite Manufacturing Market Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/satellite-manufacturing-market-A13678

Space Launch Services Market Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/space-launch-services-market

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https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/aircraft-cabin-interior-market

Aerospace Parts Manufacturing Market Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/aerospace-parts-manufacturing-market-A09709

Aircraft Electric Motor Market Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/aircraft-electric-motor-market-A84407

Aviation Asset Management Market Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2033

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/aviation-asset-management-market-A13891

Satellite Image Data Services Market Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/satellite-image-data-services-market-A09064

Satellite-Based Earth Observation Market Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032

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Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) Market Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/satellite-based-augmentation-systems-sbas-market-A10209

About us:

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Wilmington, Delaware. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

Contact us:

David Correa

1209 Orange Street,

Corporation Trust Center,

Wilmington, New Castle,

Delaware 19801 USA.

Int'l: +1-503-894-6022

Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/satellite-bus-market-to-reach-23-4-billion-globally-by-2033-at-5-4-cagr-allied-market-research-302398122.html
- Leading nephrologists Dr. An De Vriese and Dr. Monnie Wasse join as Company continues clinical advancement

EINDHOVEN, Netherlands, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Xeltis, a leading developer of transformative implants that enable the natural creation of living and long-lasting vessels, today announces the appointment of clinical nephrology experts An De Vriese, MD, PhD and Haimanot (Monnie) Wasse, MD, MPH to its Medical Advisory Board (MAB).

An De Vriese is currently Head of the Division of Nephrology and Infectious Disease in AZ Sint-Jan Brugge and Guest Professor at Ghent University, while Monnie Wasse serves as the Interim Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine, and the Chief of Nephrology and Director of Interventional Nephrology at the Rush University Medical Center. Both add considerable clinical nephrology expertise to the Company's esteemed and decorated MAB and will work alongside current members to offer strategic and clinical guidance as Xeltis advances aXess towards commercialization.

Eliane Schutte, Chief Executive Officer of Xeltis said: "We are pleased that both An and Monnie have chosen to join our Medical Advisory Board, bolstering our already stellar team of advisors. The appointments represent significant validation of the unique and promising nature of our technology from leading experts in the field. Their experience across nephrology and vascular access will be invaluable as we continue to progress aXess through its pivotal trials in the EU and US, with primary readouts for our EU pivotal trial expected in mid-2025."

An De Vriese, MD, PhD, newly appointed member of the Xeltis Medical Advisory Board, commented: "It is an honor to join Xeltis' MAB at such a pivotal time in the Company's development. I am truly excited by Xeltis' innovative technology which, through its avoidance of the frequent reinterventions and infections associated with current treatment options, has the potential to transform patient outcomes for those with end-stage renal disease."

Monnie Wasse, MD, MPH, newly appointed member of the Xeltis Medical Advisory Board, added: "I am familiar with the important work of Xeltis, having kept a keen eye on the continual clinical progress of its technology. aXess has an immensely promising medical profile, and I am proud to now be in a position to offer my expertise in interventional nephrology and vascular access to further the clinical development of this innovative technology."

aXess is a restorative vascular access conduit which enables the creation of new, long-term living vessels for hemodialysis vascular access. It combines the safety and patency of a fistula with the speed to treatment of an AV graft while avoiding the frequent reinterventions and complications, such as infections, associated with current treatment options. Currently, Xeltis is advancing pivotal trials in both the EU and the US for aXess; enrolment was recently completed in the EU while ten patients have now been implanted in the US, marking significant clinical milestones in both regions.

About Xeltis

Xeltis is a medtech company developing transformative implants that enable the natural creation of living and long-lasting vessels. Xeltis seeks to address the limitations of currently available options for the millions of people requiring hemodialysis access grafts or cardiovascular replacements every year. The Company's proprietary endogenous tissue restoration (ETR) platform utilizes an advanced polymer implant which regenerates the patient's own tissue before gradually being absorbed and leaving new, living, and long-lasting vessels in place. Xeltis' most advanced product currently under clinical development is aXessTM, an implantable blood vessel for hemodialysis vascular access. Xeltis' groundbreaking technology has high potential to be applied to other major vascular and cardiovascular diseases.

Xeltis is based in The Netherlands and the USA. Its investors include DaVita Venture Group, EQT Life Sciences, Kurma Partners, VI Partners, Ysios Capital, Grand Pharma Group, the European Innovation Council and Invest-NL, in addition to other public and private investors.

Visit the Xeltis website for more details: https://xeltis.com/

About An De Vriese

An De Vriese, MD, PhD, is an esteemed researcher focusing her career on clinical nephrology. An received her degree in Medicine maxima cum laude from the Ghent University in 1992. She also studied at the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, RSA and performed research at the Institut fur Anatomie und Zullbiologie, Ruprecht-Karls-Universitat, Heidelberg, and at the Institut de Recherches Servier, Paris. She was Research Assistant of the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research and obtained a Ph.D. in Medical Science in 2001. Currently, she is Head of the Division of Nephrology and Infectious Disease in AZ Sint-Jan Brugge and Guest Professor at Ghent University. An is also the author of over 180 publications in peer-reviewed medical journals.

About Monnie Wasse

Monnie Wasse, MD, MPH, is an Interventional Nephrologist and Professor of Medicine at the Rush University Medical Center. She serves as the Interim Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine, is the Chief of Nephrology and Director of Interventional Nephrology, focused on the planning and maintenance of dialysis vascular access for patients with kidney diseases. An internationally renowned physician and scientist, Monnie formerly directed the Interventional Nephrology Program at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. She has combined her clinical work in interventional nephrology with clinical and translational research in the field of hemodialysis vascular access and is one of the few U.S. interventional nephrologists whose research has been supported by National Institutes of Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Monnie served as the first female president of the American Society of Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology in 2018-2020, participated as a national and site principal investigator for several dialysis access devise trials, and has led numerous local and international scientific and educational programs in the field of dialysis vascular access. She is an active member of the American Society of Nephrology and Vascular Access Society of the Americas.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/xeltis-expands-medical-advisory-board-with-world-leading-experts-in-clinical-nephrology-302397453.html
BADEN, Switzerland, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Linxon, a joint venture formed by AtkinsRealis and Hitachi Energy, is pleased to announce that as of December 2024, it has achieved $1 billion in new orders for the calendar year 2024.

Following a strong performance in 2023, this significant achievement underscores Linxon's progress over the past years, the trust established with its clients, and the robust growth within the power transmission sector.

The secured contracts have been distributed across all three regions: the Americas, Asia Pacific/Middle East & Africa, and Europe, with each region making a substantial contribution.

While the majority of Linxon's operations are focused on Transmission System Operators (TSOs), there has also been notable success for Energy Storage Systems (ESS) within the Americas, including entry into Puerto Rico with an initial batch of nine projects to integrate renewables.

Additionally, the company has significantly expanded its market presence in the Middle East with a major award in Abu Dhabi. In Europe, significant progress has been made to increase the pipeline of projects from TSOs across Linxon's core markets, with new awards expected in the first half of 2025.

"We are ideally positioned for the market super cycle and are fully dedicated to maintaining this growth trajectory, increasing the services to our customers, providing opportunities to our staff, and achieving strong financial results for our shareholders," stated Stefan Reisacher, CEO of Linxon.

"With our recent consolidation into three robust hubs, we have seen continuous improvement in our execution capabilities. Effective project execution - delivered on time, with quality, and within budget - is fundamental to our business success," he concluded.

For more information, please contact:

Kristina Holmstrom Matses

Head of Communications

media.enquiries@linxon.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/linxon/r/linxon-secures--1-billion-in-new-contracts-for-turnkey-projects-in-2024,c4117003

The following files are available for download:

https://news.cision.com/linxon/i/stefan-reisacher-1,c3385450 Stefan Reisacher 1

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Company Announcement 3/2025

Copenhagen, 11 March 2025

NOTICE CONVENING THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SCANDINAVIAN TOBACCO GROUP A/S

In accordance with Article 7 of the Articles of Association, notice is hereby given of the annual general meeting of Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S (the "Company") to be held on

Wednesday 9 April 2025 at 4.30 pm. (CEST)

at IDA Conference, Kalvebod Brygge 31-33, DK-1780 Copenhagen V

Follow the general meeting via webcast

Instead of attending in person, our shareholders have the opportunity to follow the general meeting via live webcast transmission on the Investor Portal). The general meeting and the webcast will commence on 9 April 2025 at 4.30 pm. (CEST). Please note that it is not possible to participate actively in the general meeting, i.e. ask questions or vote, if you follow the general meeting via webcast.

Agenda

In accordance with Article 8.2 of the Articles of Association, the agenda of the meeting is as follows:

1.Report of the Board of Directors on the Company's activities during the past financial year



2.Adoption of the audited annual report



The audited annual report is available on www.st-group.com.



3.Appropriation of profit as recorded in the adopted annual report



The Board of Directors proposes to the general meeting that the Company pays for the financial year 2024 a dividend of DKK 8.50 per share of DKK 1.



4.Presentation of the Company's remuneration report for an advisory vote

The remuneration report is available on www.st-group.com.

5.Adoption of the remuneration of the Board of Directors and Board committees

The Board of Directors proposes that the remuneration of the Board of Directors for the financial year 2025 be as follows (unchanged from 2024):

Ordinary members of the Board of Directors shall be paid a base annual fee of DKK 440,000

The chairman of the Board of Directors shall receive three times the base annual fee

The vice-chairman of the Board of Directors shall receive two times the base annual fee

The chair of the Audit Committee shall receive a fee corresponding to 75 percent of the base annual fee

Other members of the Audit Committee shall receive a fee corresponding to 37.5 percent of the base annual fee

The chair of each of the Remuneration Committee and Nomination Committee shall receive a fee corresponding to 50 percent of the base annual fee

Other members of the Remuneration Committee and Nomination Committee, respectively, shall receive a fee corresponding to 25 percent of the base annual fee



The fees for the chair and members of the committees are in addition to their fee as chairman, vice-chairman or member of the Board of Directors. In addition to the above, the Company may, in accordance with the Company's Remuneration Policy, also pay social contributions and similar fees that may be charged by foreign authorities in relation to the fees paid to members of the Board of Directors. Further, the Company may pay travel expenses and other expenses related to the work as a member of the Board of Directors.

6.Any proposals by the Board of Directors and/or shareholders







The Board of Directors has not received any proposals from the shareholders.

6A. Reduction of the Company's share capital

The Board of Directors proposes that the Company's share capital is reduced.

On 10 November 2023, the Company announced a share buy-back programme with the purpose to adjust the Company's capital structure and meet obligations relating to the group's share-based incentive programme. The share buy-back programme ended on 22 November 2024.

Some of the treasury shares acquired are proposed to be cancelled resulting in the share capital being reduced by treasury shares of a nominal value of DKK 6,000,000 allocated to nominally DKK 6,000,000 own shares with a nominal value of DKK 1 each. After the reduction, the nominal value of the Company's share capital will be DKK 80,000,000.

Pursuant to section 188 of the Danish Companies Act, notice is hereby given that the purpose of the capital reduction is to cancel part of the Company's portfolio of treasury shares. According to the practice of the Danish Business Authority, this is comparable to a capital reduction for distribution to shareholders, see section 188(1)(2) of the Danish Companies Act.The Company has repurchased the treasury shares that are proposed to be cancelled for the total sum of DKK 751,354,758. This means that in addition to the nominal capital reduction amount of DKK 6,000,000, a total of DKK 745,354,758 has been paid out to the Company's shareholders.

Prior to the implementation of the capital reduction, the Company's creditors will be requested to file within a period of 4 weeks any claims they may have against the Company. The request will be published via the Danish Business Authority's IT system. The capital reduction will be implemented after expiry of the said 4-week deadline, unless the capital reduction cannot be implemented at such time under the provisions of the Danish Companies Act.

Adoption of the proposal implies the following amendment of Article 3.1 of the Articles of Association taking effect upon completion of the capital reduction:

"3.1The company's share capital is nominally DKK 80,000,000, divided into shares of DKK 1 or any multiple thereof."

6B. Extension of authorisations to the Board of Directors to increase the Company's share capital without pre-emptive subscription rights for the existing shareholders

The Board of Directors proposes that the existing authorisations to increase the Company's share capital without pre-emptive rights for existing shareholders set out in Articles 5.1-5.2 of the Company's Articles of Association, which expire 26 March 2025, be extended for a period of 5 years from the date of the annual general meeting, i.e. until 9 April 2030.

The revised wording of the proposed authorisations in Articles 5.1-5.2 shall be as follows:

"5.1In the period until 9 April 2030, the board of directors is authorised on one or more occasions to increase the share capital by cash contribution; contribution in kind; and/or conversion of debt by issuance of new shares up to an aggregate of 10 % of the share capital. The subscription is to be made at market price.

The new shares shall be negotiable instruments and shall be issued in the names of the holders and recorded in the names of the holders in the company's register of shareholders. The negotiability of the new shares shall not be subject to restrictions. The pre-emption rights of the existing shareholders shall not apply to subscription of the new shares issued pursuant to the authorisation. The new shares shall carry the same rights as the company's existing shares.

5.2In the period until 9 April 2030, the board of directors is authorised on one or more occasions to increase the share capital by cash contribution by issuance of new shares of no more than nominally DKK 1,000,000 in connection with subscription of shares by the company's or its subsidiaries' officers or employees at a subscription price below market price.

The new shares shall be negotiable instruments and shall be issued in the names of the holders and recorded in the names of the holders in the company's register of shareholders. The negotiability of the new shares shall not be subject to restrictions. The pre-emption rights of the existing shareholders shall not apply to subscription of the new shares issued pursuant to the authorisation. The new shares shall carry the same rights as the company's existing shares."

6C. Extension of authorisation to the Board of Directors for the Company to acquire own shares

The Board of Directors proposes that the existing authorisation for the Company to acquire own shares set out in Article 6.1 of the Company's Articles of Association, which expires 26 March 2025, be extended for a period of 5 years from the date of the annual general meeting, i.e. until 9 April 2030. Except for the period, there are no other changes to the article.

The revised wording of the proposed authorisation in Article 6.1 shall be as follows:

"6.1In the period until 9 April 2030 the board of directors is authorised to allow the company to acquire its own shares up to an aggregate of 10 % of the share capital at a price deviating by no more than 10 % from the listed price at the time of the acquisition."

6D. Deletion of age limit for candidates for the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors proposes that the age limit for directors set out in Article 11.1 of the Articles of Association be deleted. The Board of Directors finds that age should not in itself disqualify an otherwise qualified person from serving on the Board of Directors and notes that the Danish Recommendation on good governance (in Danish: Anbefalinger for god selskabsledelse) do not contain any recommendation with regard to the age of the directors. As a result, the Board of Directors proposes that Article 11.1 of the Company's Articles of Association be amended by deleting the wording: "Any persons that as of the date of the general meeting is 70 years or more cannot be elected to the board of directors.".

The revised wording of Article 11.1 shall be as follows:

"11.1The Company is managed by a board of directors consisting of 6 to 10 directors elected by the general meeting to hold office until the next annual general meeting."

7.Election of members to the Board of Directors





Pursuant to Article 11.1 of the Articles of Association, all members of the Board of Directors elected by the general meeting are elected for one year at a time.







Henrik Amsinck has decided not to stand for re-election. The Board of Directors proposes re-election of the following Board members: Henrik Brandt (Chairman), Jorg Biebernick, Dianne Blixt, Marlene Forsell and Anders Obel.The Board of Directors further proposes election of Ricardo Oberlander.



Information about the candidates is enclosed and is also available at the Company's website).





8.Election of auditor(s)





Pursuant to Article 16.1 of the Articles of Association, the auditor elected by the general meeting is up for election annually.





The Board of Directors proposes, in accordance with the Audit Committee's recommendation, to re-elect PricewaterhouseCoopers Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab. The Audit Committee has not been influenced by any third party and no clause of a contract entered into with a third party has been imposed upon it, which restricts the general meeting's choice of certain auditors or audit firms.

The Board of Directors further proposes to elect PricewaterhouseCoopers Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab to provide a statement of assurance on the contents of the sustainability reporting in the management's statement in the annual reportfor the financial year 2025.





VOTING REQUIREMENTS

Adoption of the proposals in items 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D on the agenda requires adoption by at least 2/3 of both the votes cast and the share capital represented at the general meeting. The other proposals on the agenda may be adopted by a simple majority of votes, see Article 10.2 of the Articles of Association.



registration, admission and PROXY

Registration date

In accordance with Article 9.4 of the Articles of Association, a shareholder's right to participate in the general meeting and the number of votes, which the shareholder is entitled to cast, is determined in accordance with the number of shares held by such shareholder on 2 April 2025 at 11.59 pm., no later than 4 April 2025 11.59 pm., and submitting it to Computershare A/S, Lottenborgvej 26D, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, email gf@computershare.dk, so that it is received by Computershare A/S no later than 4 April 2025 11.59 pm., when you request the admission card.



Shareholders who have ordered admission cards for the general meeting have the following options:

print the admission card and bring it to the general meeting, or

bring the admission card on a smartphone or tablet, or

collect the admission card at the general meeting upon presentation of proper ID.







Proxy and postal votes

You may appoint a proxy to cast the votes carried by your shares. The proxy must be received by Computershare A/S no later than 4 April 2025 at 11.59 pm., or by printing the proxy form at the Company's website, www.st-group.com, and submitting it, duly signed and dated, to Computershare A/S, Lottenborgvej 26D, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, email gf@computershare.dk.

Shareholders may also vote by post. Vote by post must be received by Computershare A/S no later than 8 April 2025 at 11.59 pm.. Alternatively, shareholders can submit the printed, signed and dated postal vote form found at the website to Computershare A/S, Lottenborgvej 26D, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, email gf@computershare.dk. Once a vote by post has been received, the vote cannot be revoked by the shareholder.

Language

In accordance with Article 9.7 of the Articles of Association the general meeting will be conducted in English. Shareholders present at the meeting may choose to speak in Danish or English.



share capital and voting rights

The Company's share capital is nominally DKK 86,000,000, divided into 86,000,000 shares of DKK 1 each. Article 9.1 of the Articles of Association stipulates that each share of nominally DKK 1 shall carry one vote at the general meeting.

agenda etc.

The complete, unabridged text of the documents to be submitted to the general meeting, including the total number of shares and voting rights as at the date of the notice, the agenda with the full text of all proposals to be submitted to the general meeting, the forms to be used for voting by proxy and by post, as well as the audited annual report.



RIGHT TO INQUIRE

According to Article 9.6 of the Articles of Association, the shareholders have the right to ask questions in writing to the Company's management about matters of significance to the assessment of the annual report and the general position of the Company or the assessment of any matter to be resolved at the general meeting. Shareholders may also ask questions to the management of the Company at the general meeting.

PERSONAL DATA

In connection with the general meeting, the Company collects, processes and retains certain personal data. In this respect reference is made to the Company's Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy, which are available on the Company's website).

Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S

The Board of Directors



For further information, please contact:

Torben Sand, Head of Investor Relations and Communication

phone: +45 5084 7222 or torben.sand@st-group.com



CANDIDATES FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Henrik Brandt (Chairman)

Independent

Born in 1955

Nationality: Danish

Joined the board in 2017 and was elected Vice-Chairman. Was elected Chairman in 2022.

Chairman of the Nomination and Remuneration Committees.

Educational background:

MBA from Stanford University

Master of Science in Economy, Copenhagen Business School

Competencies:

Extensive executive and non-executive experience in leading international, publicly listed and private equity businesses

Sales and marketing of fast-moving consumer goods

Strategic business development





Selected former positions:

President and CEO Royal Unibrew A/S 2008-2017

President and CEO of Unomedical A/S 2003-2008

President and CEO of Sophus Berendsen A/S (now Berendsen A/S) 1999-2002

CEO of House of Prince A/S (1990-1999) and Group Executive of Skandinavisk Tobakskompagni A/S 1992-1999

President and CEO of Fritz Hansen A/S 1989-1992

President and CEO of Kevi A/S 1987-1989

Directorships and other offices:

Chairman of the board of Toms Gruppen A/S, Intervare A/S (and its subsidiary nemlig.com A/S) and Gerda & Victor B. Strand Holding A/S

Member of the board of Gerda & Victor B. Strands Fond/Toms Gruppens Fond and Ferd Holding AS

Jorg Biebernick

Independent

Born in 1968

Nationality: German

Joined the board in 2024.

Member of the Audit Committee.

Educational background:

Advanced Management Program, Columbia Business School

Diplom Kaufmann, Koblenz School of Corporate Management

Competencies:

Extensive executive experience in leading international and publicly listed businesses

Sales and marketing of fast-moving consumer goods

Strategic business development





Selected former positions:

Various positions within Imperial Brands plc 2017-2022, including President Europe (2020-2022), Interim CEO (2020), Chairman of the Board of Reemtsma Sigarettenfabriken GmbH (2021-2022)

President Latin America, Kimberley-Clark Corporation 2014-2017

Vice President Consumer Goods Category, SCA 2012-2013

Division Vice President & General Manager EMEA, Georgia Pacific LLC 2007-2012

Various positions in marketing and innovation, Procter & Gamble 1992-2006





Directorships and other offices:

CEO of Paulaner Brauerei Gruppe GmbH & Co. KGaA





Dianne Blixt

Independent

Born in 1959

Nationality: American

Joined the board in 2016.

Member of the Audit, Nomination and Remuneration Committees.

Educational background:

Master's degree in Business Administration and Finance, University of North Carolina at Greensboro





Competencies:

Significant experience in business analysis and strategy

Financial management and reporting expertise

Considerable insight into the US tobacco industry





Selected former positions:

Member of the board of directors of Lorillard, Inc. 2011-2015

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Reynolds American, Inc., 2004-2007

Various positions in Reynolds American and its subsidiaries 1988-2003

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings, Inc. 2003-2004

Directorships and other offices:

Member of the board of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. (Chairperson of the Compensation Committee, Member of the Audit and Risk Committee, and Member of the Executive Committee), Triad Business Bank (Member of the Operating Risk Committee and Member of the Audit Committee), Winston-Salem Police Foundation (Treasurer), and Reynolda House Museum of American Art.







Marlene Forsell

Independent

Born in 1976

Nationality: Swedish

Joined the board in 2019.

Chairman of the Audit Committee.

Educational background:

Master of Science in Business Administration and Economics, Stockholm School of Economics





Competencies:

Extensive experience with and insight into financial matters

Enterprise performance management

Reporting processes in listed companies

Considerable insight into the tobacco industry

Selected former positions:

Senior Vice President and CFO of Swedish Match AB 2013-2018

Member of the board of Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S 2014-2017

Various positions in the Swedish Match group, including Vice President Group Reporting and Vice President Business Control 2004-2013

Analyst Ernst & Young 2001-2004

Directorships and other offices:

Member of the board of Kambi Group plc (Chairman of the Audit Committee), Lime Technologies AB, not up for re-election (Chairman of the Audit Committee), Nobia AB (Chairman of the Audit Committee), Norican Global A/S (Chairman of the Audit Committee), AddSecure AB (Chairman of the Audit Committee), and Viedoc Technologies AB





Anders Obel

Independent

Born in 1960

Nationality: Danish

Joined the board in 2018.

Member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committees.

Educational background:

Bachelor of Science in Economics and Business Administration, Copenhagen Business School





Competencies:

Extensive experience in management of industrial and investment companies

Strategic business development

Economic and financial expertise





Selected former positions:

Member of the board of directors of Forenet Kredit f.m.b.a., Nykredit Holding A/S and Nykredit Realkredit 2009-2017

Member of the board of directors of Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S 2010-2016

Vice President at Gemini Consulting/Cap Gemini 1996-2002

Various positions, including Manager, at Hambros Bank Plc., 1985-1996

Directorships and other offices:

Chairman of the board of C.W. Obel Bolig A/S, C.W. Obel Ejendomme A/S, Obel-LFI Ejendomme A/S, Semco Maritime A/S, Semco Maritime Holding A/S, Goodvalley A/S and Haxholm v/Anders Christen Obel

Vice Chairman of the board of Fritz Hansen A/S and Skandinavisk Holding A/S

Member of the board of Woodmancott Fonden, STG's Gavefond, C.W. Obels Fond, Danmark-Amerika Fondet (Danmarks amerikanske selskab), Fonden Det Obelske Jubilumskollegium, Mullerupgaard- og Gl. Estrupfonden, Hvdingsgaard Fonden, Skjrringefonden, Aktieselskabet Dampskibsselskabet Orient's Fond, Rexholm A/S, A/S Motortramp, Skovselskabet af 13. December 2017 A/S and Ejendomsselskabet Amaliegade 49 A/S

CEO of C.W. Obel A/S and Anders Christen Obel ApS

Ricardo Cesar De Almeida Oberlander

Independent

Born in 1963

Nationality: Brazilian / Portuguese

New candidate for the board.

Educational background:

Master's degree in Business Administration and Finance, Ibmec, Brazil





Competencies:

Considerable experience with international marketing and sales of FMCG

Strategic business development, technology and innovation

Deep insight into the tobacco industry

Significant executive and non-executive leadership experience in publicly listed companies

Selected former positions:

President and CEO of Reynolds American Inc. 2018-2020

Non-Executive member of the Board of Directors of Reynolds American Inc. 2014-2017

Director with responsibility for the Americas Region and member of the Management Board of British American Tobacco plc (BAT) 2013-2017

President and General Management, BAT France, 2010-2012

Various positions within marketing and sales in BAT and companies within the BAT group of companies in Europe, Asia and South America 2002-2010 and 1989-2000

Business Unit Director, Corporate Segment, Telemar (succeed by Oi - telecom), 2000-2002

Directorships and other offices:

Member of the Advisory Board of Coast Capital LLC

Member of Board of Trustees of Fundacao Getulio Vargas

Member of the Advisory Board of Jahani & Associates

Chairman of the European Advisory Board of CMO Council

Attachment
Partnership empowers tradespeople to grow their businesses with highly relevant ads

LONDON, March 11, 2025, the leading retail and commerce media technology for enterprises, announced today a new partnership with Checkatrade , the UK's leading platform for home improvement, to enhance its advertising programme. This strategic partnership equips tradespeople with powerful, data-driven ad solutions to grow their businesses by maximising their visibility among the most relevant homeowners.

With a network of more than 50,000 vetted trade businesses, Checkatrade facilitates over three million jobs and 7 billion of business for UK SMEs annually. Koddi's commerce media technologies offer enhanced advertising capabilities to help tradespeople attract more potential clients with greater precision and optimise their spend. New enhancements also include personalised pricing strategies, enabling trade category-specific floor and ceiling prices that adapt to industry dynamics. Additionally, Koddi's quality score-based ad placements ensure tradespeople reach the most relevant homeowners, maximising their visibility and ad effectiveness.

"Koddi checked all the boxes when we decided to expand our advertising offerings," said Gabriella Overeem-Yee, Managing Director of Innovation at Checkatrade. "Beyond the value it could bring to the tradespeople on our platform, our decision to partner with Koddi came down to a few key factors: product strength and team expertise. Koddi's programme management approach and high-calibre team provided confidence in ongoing support, particularly during the early stages of adoption, and they have a proven track record for building high-performance advertising offerings."

Through this partnership, Checkatrade's tradespeople will also gain access to key performance insights, including metrics such as share of voice, time live and performance by job category and location. These data-driven tools empower tradespeople to monitor and optimise their campaigns in real time, ensuring they can adjust their strategies for maximum impact and efficiency.

"The sheer volume of traffic on Checkatrade makes ad relevance essential to cut through the noise and stand out," said Paul Dahill, managing director of EMEA sales at Koddi. "We focused on enhancing targeting, optimisation and relevance to help tradespeople connect with more potential customers, gain deeper insights into their advertising performance and ultimately win more projects."

Koddi powers many of the top ten commerce media networks. Its technologies empower retailers, marketplaces, online travel agencies and more to take part in the commerce media opportunity projected to represent over $1.3 trillion USD of enterprise value by 2026. To learn more about Koddi's offerings, please visit koddi.com .

About Koddi:

Koddi is the leading retail and commerce media technology for enterprises. Leveraging AI and first-party data, Koddi builds retail and commerce media networks for the biggest companies in the world, including Booking.com, Grubhub, Neighborly, Fanatics and Cars.com. With more than a decade of experience and powering billions of media spend, the company is leading the fast-growing rise of commerce and retail media. Koddi supplies technologies that empower retailers, marketplaces, online travel agencies and more to realise the $100 billion commerce media opportunity. For more information, please visit koddi.com .

About Checkatrade:

Checkatrade, the UK's leading platform for home improvement, has connected consumers with trusted tradespeople for over 25 years. With a network of more than 50,000 vetted trade businesses, Checkatrade facilitates over three million jobs and 7 billion of business for UK SMEs annually. For consumers, Checkatrade simplifies the task of finding reliable tradespeople for any job, big or small, with peace of mind through verified reviews and a 12-month workmanship guarantee that pays out up to 1,000 in the rare event that a job doesn't go to plan*. For tradespeople, Checkatrade provides them with a steady stream of job opportunities and business support services to help them grow, so long as they pass up to 12 checks, agree to uphold the Checkatrade Standard, and achieve consistently positive feedback. Checkatrade has an ambitious scale-up plan backed by its investors Brookfield Asset Management. Now evolving from its traditional background as a directory into a technology-driven marketplace, Checkatrade is developing a more seamless experience for consumers and tradespeople, building upon its long-standing commitment to high-quality trades. Checkatrade is headquartered in King's Cross, London, while its popular service continues to grow across the rest of the country. The Checkatrade apps for consumers and tradespeople are available on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

Media Contact:

SamsonPR

koddi@samsonpr.com
Aritz Reyes has joined Seedtag as Global Senior Vice President of Operations, overseeing the company's operations globally across 16 markets.

MADRID, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Seedtag, the global leader in contextual advertising, has appointed Aritz Reyes as Global SVP of Operations. In this role, Aritz will oversee the company's operational transformation to support its rapid growth and further enhance its international footprint across 16 markets. Based in Madrid, his primary focus will be optimizing operations to ensure Seedtag's global scalability and the long-term success of its business model.

With over 18 years of experience in digital advertising, Aritz has held various executive positions on both the demand and supply sides at major multinational companies. His past leadership roles include Managing Director at Xaxis (GroupM), Head of Operations at Havas, and Managing Director at Kinesso (IPG). He specializes in platform-based digital buying and has extensive expertise in programmatic advertising, having contributed to its growth from its early development. His technical, operational, and business acumen will be crucial in ensuring high-quality execution to meet advertisers' business objectives.

"It is an honor to join Seedtag, a Spanish company with a strong global presence. I'm excited to bring my experience to optimize our operations and continue delivering value across all our markets," said Aritz Reyes.

Jorge Poyatos, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Seedtag, added: "Aritz's arrival will accelerate the strategic use of technology to drive efficiencies and streamline processes. The operations team will play a key role in supporting the growth we anticipate in the coming years, ensuring that customer satisfaction remains Seedtag's top strategic priority."

About Seedtag

Seedtag, the global contextual advertising company, specializes in privacy-first advertising throughout the open web and CTV, powered by its contextual AI, Liz. Seedtag enables brands and agencies to discover the most relevant audience interests using a sophisticated contextual graph fueled by contextual data from +10,000 premium publishers. This capability ensures advertisers reach their audience at the right moment, with the right message. Utilizing the power of context to achieve advertisers' aims across the customer journey, Seedtag creates innovative advertising solutions for everyone.

Founded in 2014, Seedtag has its headquarters in New York City and Madrid, with a global team of +600 people and offices in EMEA, LATAM, North America, and APAC.

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Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2276718/Seedtag_logo.jpg

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Istanbul, Turkey--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2025) - 360Sosyal has announced the release of its 2024 Mobile Application Report, a detailed research publication that examines the current state and future direction of mobile applications worldwide. This annual report serves as a critical resource for businesses, investors, and technology professionals looking to stay ahead in the competitive digital marketplace.

360Sosyal Releases 2024 Mobile Application Report Highlighting Industry Growth and Emerging Trends

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/243238_6aadca9ea4d7b91e_002full.jpg

The report provides an in-depth analysis of emerging trends, user behavior shifts, and market dynamics, helping stakeholders make informed decisions. With a growing reliance on mobile technology, the findings offer valuable perspectives on app development, mobile commerce, and digital security strategies.

Accessing the Report

The 2024 Mobile Application Report is now available for free download on the 360Sosyal website. Interested professionals, industry leaders, and businesses can access the full report by visiting:

Download the report here: https://360sosyal.com/pages/2024-mobil-uygulama-raporu

The Importance of This Report

360Sosyal's annual report is widely recognized as an authoritative industry resource, helping professionals understand market shifts, regulatory updates, and emerging opportunities in the mobile sector. By providing comprehensive insights, the publication enables businesses to adapt their strategies and make data-driven decisions.

"As mobile technology continues to evolve, it is essential for businesses to stay informed about industry trends and digital advancements," said Ozgur Eyup Cigdem, spokesperson for 360Sosyal. "Our 2024 report provides a structured and data-backed perspective on the mobile economy, offering practical insights for companies navigating this rapidly changing environment."

Report Release Details

Release Date: March 1, 2025

March 1, 2025 Available to: Businesses, investors, developers, and industry analysts

Businesses, investors, developers, and industry analysts Access Link: https://360sosyal.com/pages/2024-mobil-uygulama-raporu

About 360Sosyal

360Sosyal is a leading digital insights provider, offering market research, industry analysis, and technology trend reports. The company's annual Mobile Application Report is a trusted resource for business professionals, investors, and decision-makers, delivering high-quality research on digital innovation and mobile growth.

For more information, visit: https://360sosyal.com/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/243238

SOURCE: Plentisoft
Financing led by existing investors Fountain Healthcare Partners and Panakes Partners;

Neuromod will use funds to accelerate commercialisation in the USA and Europe.

DUBLIN, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Neuromod Devices Ltd. (Neuromod), an Irish medical device company specialising in tinnitus, has successfully closed a 10 million equity financing to expand the availability of its tinnitus treatment device, Lenire.

Oversubscribed Financing to Drive Commercialisation

Neuromod has raised 10 million of equity in an expansion of its Series B fundraisings. The financing was oversubscribed and was led by existing investors Fountain Healthcare Partners and Panakes Partners, backing Neuromod's mission to advance tinnitus care for patients globally.

Neuromod has been making Lenire available through audiology and ENT practices throughout the USA and Europe. Proceeds from the financing will be used to meet demand for Lenire through sustainable commercial expansion in the USA and Europe and expand on existing opportunities in the US Department of Veteran Affairs (USVA).

Following FDA approval in March 2023, more than 100 clinics throughout the USA now treat tinnitus patients with Lenire. Availability of Lenire has also expanded in Europe with clinics in 14 countries now using the device. In the last 6 months, the number of clinics in the UK trained to use Lenire has doubled, and it is available to patients in Sweden for the first time.

In June 2024, Neuromod was awarded a Federal Supply Schedule 65 II Medical Equipment and Supply Contract from the US Government, making Lenire a treatment option for the 2.9 million US Veterans living with tinnitusv through the USVA. 35 USVA facilities have been trained to provide treatment with Lenire with more scheduled for training in 2025.

Real-World Evidence - Substantial Momentum

Positive results for tinnitus patients treated with Lenire in real-world settings at independent USA-based clinics have been compiled with a base of over 1,500 patients that continues to grow. In what will be the first of a series of planned real-world evidence publications, results from Alaska Hearing & Tinnitus Center showed that 91.5% of 220 patients reported clinically significant improvement in their tinnitusvi. This data is consistent with, and in many instances outperforms, data from Lenire's large-scale clinical trials.

These results followed the publication of Lenire's pivotal controlled clinical trial results, which led to US FDA approval and featured as the cover-story in peer-reviewed journal, Nature Communicationsiv. This article is in the 99th percentile of more than 250,000 tracked Nature articles.

Comments

Commenting on the news, Dr. Ross O'Neill PhD, Founder & CEO of Neuromod, said, "We are delighted to announce an oversubscribed financing at a pivotal time when we are driving forward with our mission of making Neuromod the category creator for tinnitus globally."

"Tinnitus is the largest unmet need in hearing healthcare globally and is the number one service-connected disability among US veterans and military personnel. I am proud of the progress Neuromod is making to deliver our market-surpassing treatment to as many tinnitus patients as possible while enabling care providers' expertise to be commercially rewarded. I am also grateful for the continued support of our investors who share our vision of advancing tinnitus care globally," Dr. O'Neill continued.

Dr. Manus Rogan, Chairman of Neuromod and Managing Partner of Fountain Healthcare Partners, commented, "Recent results from tinnitus patients using Lenire in the real-world show that it represents a new standard of care for tinnitus. The successful closing of this financing ensures more patients will get access to this standard of care as quickly as possible."

Alessio Beverina, Managing Partner of Panakes Partners, said, "Panakes is pleased with the progress of Neuromod since our investment, with significant clinical trial, FDA approval, real-world evidence, and commercial success in both Europe and the USA; and it is proud to continue supporting Neuromod's work to bring a new standard of care to a historically underserved patient population."

Emily E. McMahan, Owner of Alaska Hearing and Tinnitus Center and author of the clinic's Real World Evidence Paper, said, "Impressive clinical trial results for Lenire led me to early adoption of the landmark tinnitus treatment technology."

"In my clinic, and my colleagues' clinics, we are seeing results that are superior to clinical trial results," Dr. McMahan continued.

About Neuromod Devices Ltd

Founded in 2010, Neuromod Devices Ltd. is a medical technology company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Neuromod specialises in the design, development, and commercialisation of neuromodulation technologies to address the clinical needs of underserved patient populations who live with chronic and debilitating conditions. The lead application of Neuromod's technology is in the field of tinnitus, where Neuromod has completed extensive clinical trials to confirm the efficacy of its non-invasive neuromodulation platform in this common disorder. For more information visit www.neuromoddevices.com.

About Tinnitus

Tinnitus, commonly known as 'ringing in the ears', is a complex neurological condition that causes a perception of sound when there is no external source. Tinnitus affects an estimated 15% of the global adult populationi.

The management of tinnitus poses significant burden on healthcare systems. A 2021 study estimated the socioeconomic costs of tinnitus in Germany at 21.9 billion per annumvii. In the USA it's estimated the Veterans Benefits Administration paid out approximately $5.8 billion through its Veterans Compensation benefits program for tinnitus in 2023v. The American Tinnitus Association, the leading advocacy body in the USA for people living with the condition, has recently revised its estimate that 50 million Americans live with tinnitus upward to 70 millionviii.

About Lenire

Lenire is the first non-invasive bimodal neuromodulation tinnitus treatment device shown to soothe and relieve tinnitus in a large-scale clinical trial. Lenire works by delivering mild electrical pulses to the tongue, through an intra-oral component called the 'Tonguetip', combined with auditory stimulation through headphones. This combination drives changes in the brain to treat tinnitus. To date, the device has been used in large-scale clinical trials with over 700 patientsii,iii,iv.

Lenire has CE-mark certification for the treatment of tinnitus under the supervision of an appropriately qualified healthcare professional in Europe and has received a De Novo grant of approval by the US FDA. Further details about Lenire including a list of providers can be found at www.lenire.com.

Connect with Neuromod Devices Ltd

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/neuromod

X: x.com/NeuromodDevices

Facebook: facebook.com/neuromoddevices/

Website: www.neuromoddevices.com

References & Notes

(i) Baguely et al., Tinnitus, The Lancet (2013), sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673613601427

(ii) Conlon et al., Sci. Transl. Med. 12, eabb2830 (2020)

(iii) Conlon et al., Different bimodal neuromodulation settings reduce tinnitus symptoms in a large randomized trial, Sci Rep, doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-13875-x (2022)

(iv) Boedts M, B. A., Khoo G, et al. Combining sound with tongue stimulation for the treatment of tinnitus: a controlled pivotal trial. Nature communications (2024)

(v) US VA Benefits Report Fiscal Year 2023: https://www.benefits.va.gov/REPORTS/abr/

(vi) McMahan, E.E. and Lim, H.H., 2024. Effectiveness of bimodal neuromodulation for tinnitus treatment in a real-world clinical setting in United States: A retrospective chart review. medRxiv., pp.2024-08; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.08.22.24312175 [preprint]

(vii) Tziridis K, Friedrich J, Brueggemann P, Mazurek B, Schulze H. Estimation of Tinnitus-Related Socioeconomic Costs in Germany. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Aug 22;19(16):10455. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191610455. PMID: 36012089; PMCID: PMC9407899

(viii) https://www.linkedin.com/posts/patrickalynch_tinnitus-activity-7270503831304654848-VbWN/

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WyoTech and its successful graduates are bulldozing old perceptions with world-class awards, recognitions, and sought-after career opportunities. The new model of education in America is here, and WyoTech is leading the way in partnership with their alumni and booming job market for tradespeople.

Students are flocking to WyoTech, America's Destination Trade School, in Laramie, Wyoming, and for good reason. Experiencing record-breaking growth, noteworthy graduation rates, and employment opportunities most traditional college graduates dream of, WyoTech and its trade education is the hottest commodity for post-high school options on the market today. With focused full-time training for 8 hours a day, five days a week, students can be career-ready in 9 months or less, significantly reducing the time in school and the money required to be trained. These trained tradespeople enter the workforce several years before their peers, giving them a chance to build wealth before their two- and four-year peers.

WyoTech Alumni Nicolas Martinson Accepts Top Ferrari Technician Award

WyoTech Alumni Nicolas Martinson Accepts Top Ferrari Technician Award

WyoTech and its successful graduates are bulldozing old perceptions with world-class awards, recognitions, and sought-after career opportunities. The new model of education in America is here, and WyoTech is leading the way in partnership with their alumni and booming job market for tradespeople.

2019's World's Top Ferrari Technician, Blue Origin Manufacturing Engine Supervisor, Creator of AutoTechNick on YouTube, and blue-collar advocate, Nicolas Martinson, is a standout example of the tremendous opportunities and prosperity blue-collar trades can offer. From small town rural Oregon, Martinson was referred to WyoTech from a custom shop. The owner said that if he wanted to train in the auto industry, WyoTech was his best option. Martinson picked up and left home to Laramie, Wyoming where his story in the trades began.

After graduating from WyoTech with training in Street Rod, Chassis Fabrication, Automotive, and Business, Martinson spent ten years with BMW, followed by a successful career with Ferrari where he earned the title of World's Top Ferrari Technician in a prestigious competition in Italy. He currently serves as a Manufacturing Engine Supervisor at Blue Origin.

Martinson reflects on the intentional journey to Italy and points to a special custom suit with the phrase "blue collar" embroidered thoughtfully throughout. "I wanted to punch down on the joking and stick it to society for the perception of blue-collar," says Nick Martinson. "I am blue collar, on an extravagant trip to Italy for a prestigious competition as a tradesman."

Martinson gives credit to the rigor and fundamental training offered at WyoTech, not only for its hands-on curriculum, but also for the business program that set the stage for him to be a skilled technician, and now, as a supervisor at Jeff Bezos' rocket company, Blue Origin.

Kyle Morris, WyoTech's President says "Martinson's tenacity, deep commitment to his work, and serious approach are big drivers of his amazing successes to this point. The way Nick has leveraged his training and time at WyoTech to forge a path of true prosperity, success, and prestige is exactly what we want every graduate at WyoTech to achieve. WyoTech has been around for nearly 60 years putting out TV personalities and best-in-class tradespeople. Adding a top Ferrari Technician and Rocket Engine Manufacturing Supervisor to our list of exceptional alumni is why we do what we do here in Laramie. Our vision is to offer the best training, the best experience, and the best outcomes for our students. Nick Martinson exemplifies the best outcome. We are so incredibly proud!"About WyoTech

Related Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCcKQRgdQS8





SOURCE: WyoTech
New AI Assistant will transform compliance through unprecedented efficiency and risk mitigation

Smarsh, the global leader in communications data and intelligence, today announced the launch of the Smarsh AI Assistant for Professional Archive. Smarsh works in partnership with the world's largest global banks, enabling training of their data for industry-leading AI for compliance. This capability is now allowing Smarsh to bring a next-generation AI Assistant to small and mid-sized firms.

Unlike any other offering in the market, the Smarsh AI Assistant empowers customers to navigate complex regulatory environments with unprecedented speed and accuracy. Smarsh AI Assistant democratizes high-performance AI for compliance to level the playing field for RIAs, broker-dealers, private equity firms, insurers, hedge funds, and government agencies.

Harnessing over a decade of strategic AI innovation-including key partnerships with OpenAI and AWS-Smarsh AI Assistant delivers a quantum leap in compliance efficiency. Building upon the success of the Intelligent Agent for the Enterprise Platformthis leading-edge technology acts as a compliance assistant to eliminate hours of manual review. Offering regulatory-grade AI, this solution provides an intuitive, scalable, and cost-effective solution for firms of all sizes to help them stay competitive like never before.

"Smarsh AI Assistant is a game changer," said Sheldon Cummings, President, Corporate Business at Smarsh. "We're democratizing AI for compliance, equipping every Professional Archive customer-regardless of size or budget-with an elite compliance assistant. We're proud to enable our customers to work smarter, reduce risk, and protect their bottom line."

Revolutionizing Compliance with AI-Powered Precision

Smarsh AI Assistant acts as an always-on compliance review partner, intelligently flagging potential risks while dramatically reducing false positives and manual reviews. Key features include:

Lightning-Fast Review: Reduce compliance review time from 12+ hours to minutes. The Smarsh AI Assistant leverages the Scenario Catalog from Enterprise Conduct, providing instant risk-scoring assessments for rapid decision-making.

Reduce compliance review time from 12+ hours to minutes. The Smarsh AI Assistant leverages the Scenario Catalog from Enterprise Conduct, providing instant risk-scoring assessments for rapid decision-making. Elevated User Experience: Intuitive and frictionless UX design that seamlessly blends into Smarsh Professional Archive. This empowers users to navigate effortlessly, maximizing productivity with minimal training.

Intuitive and frictionless UX design that seamlessly blends into Smarsh Professional Archive. This empowers users to navigate effortlessly, maximizing productivity with minimal training. Advanced Message Intelligence: Seamlessly translate archived message files across multiple languages, ensuring comprehensive compliance oversight across diverse communication channels.

Seamlessly translate archived message files across multiple languages, ensuring comprehensive compliance oversight across diverse communication channels. Effortless Compliance, Maximum Oversight: Stay ahead of evolving regulations with automated, accurate monitoring-freeing compliance teams to focus on strategic, high-value initiatives.

Powering Real-Time Compliance: Through the Perspective of a Customer

"The strong demand from our customers-60% of whom ranked this product as the one they are most excited about in a recent user training-demonstrates the urgency for a solution that simplifies compliance without sacrificing power," said Maya Keekattil, VP and Head of Product, Corporate Business Unit at Smarsh. "We're not just offering an affordable option; we're bringing the most advanced AI technology to small and mid-sized firms, enabling them to compete at the same level as the industry's largest players. I'm excited to be leading this transformation, helping firms save time, reduce risk, and embrace a smarter, more efficient approach to compliance."

Availability Accessibility

Smarsh AI Assistant will be available to select Professional Archive customers starting in March 2025, with a broader rollout in late 2025. The AI Assistant will be offered as a cost-efficient add-on for Professional Archive customers, ensuring organizations of all sizes can leverage cutting-edge AI compliance technology without compromising on performance, effectiveness, or security.

Experience the Smarsh AI Assistant at the FINRA Annual Conference in Washington D.C. from May 13-15. Visit us in the Treasury Room on M4 or Pod #201 on M2. Sign up for more details and to receive general availability updates here.

About Smarsh

Smarsh enables companies to transform oversight into foresight by surfacing business-critical signals in all of their digital communications. Regulated organizations of all sizes rely upon the Smarsh portfolio of cloud-native digital communications capture, retention, and oversight solutions to help them identify regulatory and reputational risks within their communications data before those risks become losses, fines, or headlines.

Smarsh serves a global client base spanning the top banks in North America, Europe, and Asia, along with leading brokerage firms, insurers, registered investment advisors and U.S. federal, state and local government agencies. To discover more about the future of communications capture, archiving and oversight, visit www.smarsh.com or follow Smarsh on LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250311549146/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact

Sarah Tatone, VP Communications Brand, Smarsh

sarah.tatone@smarsh.com

971-409-2061
DZ Bank AG - Pre-Stabilisation Notice

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, March 11

DZ BANK AG Frankfurt am Main - Pre Stabilisation

RNS Number: residue number system

Frankfurt am Main, 11. Marz 2025

Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful.

Pre-Stabilisation Notice

European Union (EU)

DZ BANK AG (contact: Ralph Ockert; telephone: +49 69 7447 7051) hereby announces, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilising Managers named below may stabilise the offer of the following securities in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU Regulation 596/2014).

The security to be stabilised: Issuer: European Union (EU) Guarantor (if any): none Aggregate nominal amount: 9 bn Description: Tbd %, due 12. Dezember 2035 Offer price: Tbd Other offer terms: Fixed, Annual, Act/Act, ISIN EU000A4D8KD2 Stabilisation: DZ BANK Stabilisation Coordinator:

Stabilising Managers:

DZ BANK

BofA Securities

Credit Agricole CIB

Goldman Sachs SE

Santander Stabilisation period expected to start on: 11 March 2025 Stabilisation period expected to end on: no later than 30 days after the proposed issue date of the securities Existence, maximum size and conditions of use of over-allotment facility. The Stabilising Managers may over-allot the securities to the extent permitted in accordance with applicable law. Stabilisation trading venue: Luxembourg Stock Exchange

In connection with the offer of the above securities, the Stabilisation Manager(s) may over-allot the securities or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the securities at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, there is no assurance that the Stabilisation Manager(s) will take any stabilisation action and any stabilisation action, if begun, may be ended at any time. Any stabilisation action or over-allotment shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules.

This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction.

In addition, if and to the extent that this announcement is communicated in, or the offer of the securities to which it relates is made in, any EEA Member State that has implemented Directive 2003/71/EC, as amended (together with any applicable implementing measures in any Member State, the "Prospectus Directive") before the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Directive (or which has been approved by a competent authority in another Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Directive), this announcement and the offer are only addressed to and directed at persons in that Member State who are qualified investors within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive (or who are other persons to whom the offer may lawfully be addressed) and must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in that Member State.
Issy-les-Moulineaux, March 11th, 2025

Sodexo is proud to announce its recognition as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the second consecutive year. Issued by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business, this annual recognition honors Sodexo's continuous commitment to business integrity through best-in-class policies and practices.

In 2025, a total of 136 honorees were recognized spanning 19 countries and 44 industries. Sodexo is the only honoree in the Food service industry.

The evaluation criteria to be distinguished as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies encompass five categories:

Ethics Program

Culture of Ethics

Environmental & Social Impact

Governance

Third Party Management

This consecutive-year distinction highlights how the Group's strong ethical principles, deeply rooted in its core values, translates into solid ethical behaviors across its operations.

Sophie Bellon, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Sodexo, said: "We are truly honored by this second recognition of Sodexo as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere.Our strong company values and unwavering commitment to promoting ethical principles and responsible business conduct are key differentiators for our clients and a unique feature of Sodexo since its creation. They form the basis of the trust we build with all our stakeholders and are essential to our ambition to become the leader in sustainable food and valued experiences."

"Congratulations to Sodexo for achieving recognition as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies. Behind this honor is a true dedication and a commitment to advancing business integrity. This approach is good for business - employees and other stakeholders value companies that prioritize the kinds of practices we measure with our process" said Erica Salmon Byrne, Ethisphere's Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Chair.

Ethics & Performance: The Ethics Premium

The listed 2025 World's Most Ethical Companies Honorees outperformed a comparable index of global companies by 7.8 percentage points from January 2020 to January 2025.

Methodology & Scoring

The World's Most Ethical Companies assessment is grounded in Ethisphere's proprietary Ethics Quotient, which requires companies to provide 240+ different proof points on practices that support robust ethics program; governance; a culture of ethics; environmental and social impact; and initiatives that support a strong value chain. That data undergoes further qualitative analysis by our panel of experts who spend thousands of hours vetting and evaluating each year's group of applicants. This process serves as an operating framework to capture and codify best-in-class ethics and practices from organizations across industries and from around the world.

About Ethisphere

Ethisphere is the global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices that strengthen corporate brands, build trust in the marketplace, and deliver business success. Companies turn ethics, and culture into a business advantage by leveraging Ethisphere's data-driven program and culture assessments featuring the latest guidance and the practices of hundreds of global organizations across the 8 pillars of an ethical culture, and 240+ ethics, social, and governance data points delivered through a proprietary software platform. Ethisphere also honors superior integrity programs through World's Most Ethical Companies recognition, brings together a community of industry experts with the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance (BELA), and advances ethical business practices through the Global Ethics Summit, Ethisphere Magazine and the Ethicast podcast.

For more information, visit https://ethisphere.com.

About Sodexo

Founded in Marseille in 1966 by Pierre Bellon, Sodexo is the global leader in sustainable food and valued experiences at every moment in life: learn, work, heal and play. The Group stands out for its independence, its founding family shareholding and its responsible business model. Thanks to its two activities of Food and Facilities Management Services, Sodexo meets all the challenges of everyday life with a dual goal: to improve the quality of life of our employees and those we serve, and contribute to the economic, social and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. For Sodexo, growth and social commitment go hand in hand. Our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone to build a better life for all.

Sodexo is included in the CAC Next 20, Bloomberg France 40, CAC 40 ESG, CAC SBT 1.5, FTSE 4 Good and DJSI.

Key Figures

23.8 billion euros Fiscal 2024

consolidated revenues

consolidated revenues 423,000 employees (as at August 31, 2024)

#1 France-based private employer worldwide 45 countries

80 million consumers served daily

11.7 billion euros in market capitalization

(as at January 6, 2025)

Contacts

Group Media Analysts and Investors Domitille Lecasble

Tel: + 33 6 28 74 66 79

domitille.lecasble@sodexo.com Juliette Klein

Tel: +33 1 57 75 80 27

juliette.klein@sodexo.com

Attachment
Only 26% of customers are satisfied with their cards experience

Nearly one-in-two prospective customers abandon onboarding due to a poor experience

86% of executives plan to prioritize omnichannel experiences over the next 12 months to improve customer experience and build loyalty



The Capgemini Research Institute's World Retail Banking Report 2025, published today, reveals a critical shortcoming in how retail banks appeal to the demands of digital-native, urban clients between the ages of 18-45. According to the report, while 73% of these credit card customers are motivated primarily by access to exclusive experiences, rewards and cashback offers, three-quarters (74%) are currently indifferent or outright dissatisfied with their card experience.

Cardholders seek personalized experiences, but banks struggle to differentiate

The banking landscape is undergoing significant disruption driven by the rise of contactless and remote payment options. Seamless and instant account-to-account (A2A) payments are at the forefront of this shift, with payment executives suggesting they could offset 15-25% of future card transaction volume growth1

Today, cards are a full-fledged financial companion and often the only physical piece of the bank that consumers carry. In the report, most industry executives (88%) across the globe rank an expanding reward ecosystem as the most effective way of boosting customer engagement and essential for delighting customers.

However, the research shows that not all rewards programs are translating into satisfied and loyal customers. Only 26% of cardholders are currently satisfied with their cards, 50% are indifferent, and 24% are outright dissatisfied. These results indicate that customer loyalty to their bank is likely to be low, and 74% of card customers are therefore a flight risk, with retail banks struggling to differentiate, despite access to extensive and robust data sources.

Banks' marketing teams cite intense competition from new-age banks and other card providers (83%), ineffective messaging and value propositions (72%), insufficient customer insights (66%) and a complicated application process (34%) as their biggest challenges.

"At a time where convenience and personalization dictate customer expectations, our research highlights the fragile state of cardholder satisfaction. Appealing to experience-driven urban consumers requires a culture reset that prioritizes customer centricity at every stage of the card journey from awareness to onboarding to rewards," said Gareth Wilson, Global Banking Industry Leader at Capgemini. "Contact centers represent the front line of engagement, shaping brand perceptions, yet they remain the industry's Achilles' heel. Banks have an opportunity to transform contact centers into intelligent engagement-focused hubs that "wow" customers.

Cumbersome processes lead to friction across the onboarding journey

Banks are missing out on a significant portion of potential customers, and revenue, simply because the onboarding process fails to meet expectations. Globally, nearly half (47%) of prospective customers, who have selected their card of choice, abandon the application process midway through due to a poor experience.

Meanwhile, only 3% of banks' marketing teams consider the customer onboarding process to be seamless. In the Americas, this figure is 6%, while in APAC it is 2%, and in Europe it is 1%. Some of the most considerable challenges they face include:

75% of customers often submit incomplete documentation, causing significant delays

75% face delays in verifying customer identity

61% are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of applications they receive due to the lack of automation

Currently, less than a third (29%) of the data collection process during onboarding is fully automated using AI or generative AI (gen AI) technology. The potential for AI/gen AI to alleviate these challenges is enormous with 41% of executives planning to prioritize digital onboarding and application processes.

Intelligent contact centers can set the foundation for loyalty

In the realm of customer service, contact centers are critical to shaping a brand's perception. However, the report finds only 24% of customers enjoy a satisfactory experience during interactions. Many urban, digital-first, card seekers cite long wait times, inconsistent communication and a disconnect between digital channels and branch representatives as the source of their frustration.

Delivering a superior customer experience across all touchpoints and channels is essential for retail banks to serve the customer efficiently. This is substantiated by a majority (86 percent) of banking executives indicating plans to prioritize omnichannel experiences to boost client engagement over the next 12 months.

By modernizing digital contact centers, banks can redefine their impact and handle high volumes of customer interactions, the report concludes, through:

Proactive outreach: 43% of customers contact agents to report lost or stolen cards, presenting an opportunity to use customer data to anticipate needs and deliver timely, relevant outreach.

Real-time resolutions: 48% of customers seek help with card activation. Banks must be equipped with AI-driven self-service options to enable seamless updates and faster issue resolution across all channels.

Sentiment-driven support: 65% of customers engage agents to dispute transactions. AI-powered sentiment analysis can interpret tone and intent to address dissatisfaction proactively and offer empathetic, tailored resolutions.

To read the full report: Attract, engage, and delight: Spin the customer centricity flywheel.

Report Methodology

For this report, the Capgemini Research Institute surveyed 200 senior retail banking executives, 700 marketing team members from banks and 8,000 urban digital-native customers aged 18-45. These primary research sources cover insights from 11 markets: Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, the UK, and the United States.

About Capgemini

Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner, helping organizations to accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world, while creating tangible impact for enterprises and society. It is a responsible and diverse group of 340,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong over 55-year heritage, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to unlock the value of technology to address the entire breadth of their business needs. It delivers end-to-end services and solutions leveraging strengths from strategy and design to engineering, all fueled by its market leading capabilities in AI, generative AI, cloud and data, combined with its deep industry expertise and partner ecosystem. The Group reported 2024 global revenues of 22.1 billion.

Get The Future You Want www.capgemini.com

About the Capgemini Research Institute

The Capgemini Research Institute is Capgemini's in-house think-tank on all things digital. The Institute publishes research on the impact of digital technologies on large traditional businesses. The team draws on the worldwide network of Capgemini experts and works closely with academic and technology partners. The Institute has dedicated research centers in India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. It was ranked #1 in the world for the quality of its research by independent analysts for six consecutive times an industry first.

Visit us at www.capgemini.com/researchinstitute

1 World Payments Report 2025, Capgemini

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250311242570/en/

Contacts:

Press contact:

Fahd Pasha

Tel.: 1 647 860 3777

E-mail: Fahd.Pasha@capgemini.com
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Company announcement No. 577, 2025

The Board of Directors of H+H International A/S hereby invites the company's shareholders to attend the annual general meeting of H+H International A/S on Tuesday 8 April 2025 at 11.00 am CEST at Copenhagen Marriott Hotel, Kalvebod Brygge 5, 1560 Copenhagen V, Denmark.

Please find attached the notice to convene the Annual General Meeting, including the agenda and complete proposals.

Further information is available at H+H's website: https://www.hplush.com/en/investor-relations/shareholders

For further information please contact:

Niclas Bo Kristensen

Head of Investor Relations & Treasury

+45 24 48 03 67

Nbk@hplush.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/h-h-international-a-s/r/notice-of-annual-general-meeting-of-h-h-international-a-s,c4117213

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/21438/4117213/3312839.pdf 577 - Notice of 2025 AGM https://mb.cision.com/Public/21438/4117213/acda5e5c4108e49f.pdf 577 - Notice of 2025 AGM - Announcement

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/notice-of-annual-general-meeting-of-hh-international-as-302398202.html
Dieppe, New Brunswick--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2025) - Colibri Resource Corporation (TSXV: CBI) ("Colibri" or the "Company") is pleased to share the assay results from the first two holes drilled in its recent 10 hole diamond drilling program (1,167.5 metres) at the El Pilar Gold & Silver Project in Sonora Mexico. Colibri holds 49% interest of the El Pilar along side its partner Tocvan Ventures, which holds a 51% ownership in this advanced stage exploration project. Tocvan is the operator of the El Pilar.

"We are very pleased with the results from these first two drill holes. The near surface nature of this additional higher-grade mineralization only strengthens our belief that the El Pilar could become a profitable near-term gold and silver production asset for Colibri. The work programs planned for Pilar this year, which includes an up to 50,000 tonne bulk sample/test mine and a maiden resource estimate, should further demonstrate this theory. We look forward to releasing the results from the additional 8 holes of this program in due course as data is received from the operator." commented, Colibri President & CEO Ian McGavney.





Figure 1: Planview of Main Zone Area - today's results highlighted in red. Intervals reported are drilled lengths, the Company will update on estimated true thickness once all new drill data has been processed.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4269/244087_6a252dcde4829ad0_001full.jpg





Photo 1: High-grade core from hole JES-25-104 (1.6m of 60.6 g/t Au + 13 g/t Ag - from 87.8m). Local faulting and associated intense hematite and silica alteration have replaced the original andesite. This style of mineralization has been recorded across the Main Zone at surface and in drill core.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4269/244087_6a252dcde4829ad0_002full.jpg

Tocvan - News Release - March 11 th , 2025

Highlights:

Highest Gold Grade Result Since Prospect Discovery in 1996 10.3 g/t Au Over 9.7m, including 1.6m of 60.6 g/t Au (Hole JES-25-104) Only surpassed by Historic Drill Hole S-10, 16.5 meters of 53 g/t Au (1996 Discovery) * Anomalous Mineralization from 14.1 to 97.6 meters averaging 1.3 g/t Au Next to Trench Opened in 2023 for Bulk Sample Material Surface Channels Averaged, 1.9 g/t Au and 9 g/t Ag over 14m (TR-2023-03)

Northwestern Hole JES-25-103, returns 3.7 meters of 0.4 g/t Au, 39 g/t Ag and 2.6% Cu Anomalous Mineralization from 19.7 to 54.4 meters averaging 0.1 g/t Au, 8 g/t Ag and 0.54% Cu



Tocvan Ventures Corp. (CSE: TOC) (OTCQB: TCVNF) (WKN: TV3/A2PE64) (the "Company"), is pleased to announce results from the first two core holes recently drilled at the Gran Pilar Gold Silver Project in mine-friendly Sonora, Mexico. Ten core drillholes totalling 1,167.5 meters were completed earlier this year within the majority owned (51%) Main Zone held in partnership with Colibri Resource Corp. Results are highlighted by 10.3 g/t Au over 9.7m, including 60.6 g/t Au over 1.6 meters starting at 87.8 meters vertical depth (JES-25-104). The high-grade mineralization correlates with at surface mineralization and lies within a broader anomalous zone drilled that averages 1.3 g/t Au over 83.5 meters from 14.1 meters below surface. In 2023, a trench exposed material adjacent to the drill hole that averaged 1.9 g/t Au and 9 g/t Ag over 14m. Material from the trench was used in the 2023 Bulk Sample completed by Tocvan. JES-25-104 is also on the same section as RC hole, JES-20-36 (24.4m of 2.5 g/t Au and 73 g/t Ag, including 1.5 m of 33.4 g/t Au and 1,090 g/t Ag) and later core hole JES-22-58 (21.7m of 0.9 g/t Au, including 4.0m of 4.2 g/t Au). The highest-grade mineralization intersected is related to a fault structure known to host high grade gold and silver. The result is the highest gold value recorded since initial discovery drilling was completed in 1996 by Lundin controlled company, Santa Catalina Mining Corp., where historic hole S-10 returned 53 g/t Au over 16.5 meters (*as reported July 30, 1996 by Santa Catalina Ming Corp.). Further to the northwest, 145 meters, core hole JES-25-103, returned anomalous gold, silver and copper averaging 0.1 g/t Au, 8 g/t Ag and 0.54% Cu over 34.7 meters starting from 19.7 meters downhole. A higher grade zone averages 3.7 meters of 0.4 g/t Au, 39 g/t Ag and 2.6% Cu. Elevated copper values are consistent with results recorded in the North Hill area and seen in trench exposures that may be related to granitoid intrusive rocks first recorded in recent RC drilling further north.

"These near-surface high-grade results showcase the rapid development potential of Pilar." commented, CEO Brodie Sutherland. "Core drilling has again yielded some of the best results ever from the property. Results are in line with our initial observations of key styles of significant mineralization. The very high-grade interval in JES-25-104 coincides with a fault and adjacent intense, texture destructive hematite and silica alteration. Understanding these high-grade structures is essential for upgrading resource potential and identifying areas of focus for initial mining. Further to the north, hole JES-25-103 has yielded some of the best results to date on the northwestern edge of the Main Zone where surface mapping has outlined key controlling structures with elevated copper and silver. We look forward to sharing the remaining drill results as they become available."

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (%) JES-25-103 19.70 29.30 9.60 0.15 11.64 0.90 and 50.70 54.40 3.70 0.40 38.80 2.56 within 19.70 54.40 34.70 0.09 7.73 0.54 JES-25-104 87.83 97.55 9.72 10.31 4.85 NSV Including 87.83 89.45 1.62 60.6 13.30 NSV and 23.25 54.00 30.75 0.14 1.21 NSV within 14.10 97.55 83.45 1.27 1.24 NSV

Table 1: Summary of Drill Results in this release

Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation (m) Depth (m) Azimuth Dip JES-25-103 617328 3144754 388.55 80.50 055 -70 JES-25-104 617414 3144638 399.75 103.60 - -90

Table 2. Summary of drill collar locations and orientations. Coordinates are in UTM NAD 27, Zone 12N

Pilar Drill Highlights:

2024 RC Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 42.7m @ 1.0 g/t Au, including 3.1m @ 10.9 g/t Au 56.4m @ 1.0 g/t Au, including 3.1m @ 14.7 g/t Au 16.8m @ 0.8 g/t Au and 19 g/t Ag

2022 Phase III Diamond Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 116.9m @ 1.2 g/t Au, including 10.2m @ 12 g/t Au and 23 g/t Ag 108.9m @ 0.8 g/t Au, including 9.4m @ 7.6 g/t Au and 5 g/t Ag 63.4m @ 0.6 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag, including 29.9m @ 0.9 g/t Au and 18 g/t Ag

2021 Phase II RC Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 39.7m @ 1.0 g/t Au, including 1.5m @ 14.6 g/t Au 47.7m @ 0.7 g/t Au including 3m @ 5.6 g/t Au and 22 g/t Ag 29m @ 0.7 g/t Au 35.1m @ 0.7 g/t Au

2020 Phase I RC Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 94.6m @ 1.6 g/t Au, including 9.2m @ 10.8 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag; 41.2m @ 1.1 g/t Au, including 3.1m @ 6.0 g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag ; 24.4m @ 2.5 g/t Au and 73 g/t Ag, including 1.5m @ 33.4 g/t Au and 1,090 g/t Ag

15,000m of Historic Core & RC drilling. Highlights include: 61.0m @ 0.8 g/t Au 21.0m @ 38.3 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag 13.0m @ 9.6 g/t Au 9.0m @ 10.2 g/t Au and 46 g/t Ag



Pilar Bulk Sample Summary:

62% Recovery of Gold Achieved Over 46-day Leaching Period

Head Grade Calculated at 1.9 g/t Au and 7 g/t Ag; Extracted Grade Calculated at 1.2 g/t Au and 3 g/t Ag

Bulk Sample Only Included Coarse Fraction of Material (+3/4" to +1/8")

Fine Fraction (-1/8") Indicates Rapid Recovery with Agitated Leach Agitated Bottle Roll Test Returned Rapid and High Recovery Results: 80% Recovery of Gold and 94% Recovery of Silver after Rapid 24-hour Retention Time



Additional Metallurgical Studies:

Gravity Recovery with Agitated Leach Results of Five Composite Samples Returned 95 to 99% Recovery of Gold 73 to 97% Recovery of Silver Includes the Recovery of 99% Au and 73% Ag from Drill Core Composite at 120-meter depth.



Based on management's strong belief in the project's potential, the Company is outlining a permitting and operations strategy for a pilot facility at Pilar. The facility would underpin a robust test mine scenario with aims to process up to 50,000 tonnes of material. Timelines and budget are being prepared with the aim of moving forward with the development early in 2025. With gold prices hitting all-time highs, the Company believes the onsite test mine will provide key economic parameters and showcase the mineral potential of the area. In 2023, the Company completed an offsite bulk sample that produced important data showcasing the potential to recover both gold and silver through a variety of methods including heap leach, gravity and agitated leach (see August 22, 2023, news release for more details).

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

Rock and Drill samples were shipped for sample preparation to ALS Limited in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico and for analysis at the ALS laboratory in North Vancouver. The ALS Hermosillo and North Vancouver facilities are ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 certified. Gold was analyzed using 50-gram nominal weight fire assay with atomic absorption spectroscopy finish. Over limits for gold (>10 g/t), were analyzed using fire assay with a gravimetric finish. Silver and other elements were analyzed using a four-acid digestion with an ICP finish. Over limit analyses for silver (>100 g/t) were re-assayed using an ore-grade four-acid digestion with ICP-AES finish. Control samples comprising certified reference samples and blank samples were systematically inserted into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company's robust quality assurance / quality control protocol.

Brodie A. Sutherland, CEO for Tocvan Ventures Corp. and a qualified person ("QP") as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this release.

ABOUT COLIBRI RESOURCE CORPORATION:

Colibri is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company listed on the TSX-V (CBI) and is focused on acquiring, exploring, and developing prospective gold & silver properties in Mexico. The Company holds four high potential precious metal projects: 1) 49% Ownership of the Pilar Gold & Silver Project which is believed to hold the potential to be a near term producing mine, 2) 100% of EP Gold Project in the significant Caborca Gold Belt which has delivered highly encouraging exploration results and is surround by Mexico's second largest major producer of gold on four sides, and 3) two highly prospective interests in the Sierra Madre (Diamante Gold & Silver Project and Jackie Gold & Silver Project.

For more information about all Company projects please visit: www.colibriresource.com.

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 news release.

No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements". These statements are based on information currently available to the Company and the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward- looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results relating to, among other things, results of exploration, project development, reclamation and capital costs of the Company's mineral properties, and the Company's financial condition and prospects, could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as: changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets; changes in demand and prices for minerals; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with the activities of the Company; and other matters discussed in this news release. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by the Company or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244087

SOURCE: Colibri Resource Corporation
$220M re-financing secured, including balance sheet restructure and upsized $90M public offering, funding operations through 2025

An industry leader in capital efficiency as Vertical advances towards certification and commercialisation

Vertical preparing for full-scale piloted wingborne flight following completion of piloted thrustborne testing

Third full-scale VX4 prototype assembly underway at partner GKN Aerospace's Global Technology Centre

FY24 earnings call today at 08:30 ET (12:30 GMT)

Vertical Aerospace (Vertical) [NYSE: EVTL], a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering electric aviation, today, released its 2024 Annual Report, including its FY24 full year financial results, as it continues to make strong progress on its Flightpath 2030 strategy. Vertical's Annual Report is accessible on the Company's investor relations website and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250311778669/en/

Vertical's full-scale VX4 prototype completes piloted Thurstborne manoeuvres at its Flight Test Centre. (Photo: Business Wire)

Vertical will host a webcast at 08:30 ET (12:30 GMT) today to discuss the 2024 Annual Report. The call will be hosted by Stuart Simpson, Vertical's CEO and he will be joined by Simon Davies, Vertical's Chief Test Pilot.

To access the webcast, visit Vertical's Investor Relations website.

Commenting ahead of the earnings call, Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, said:

"2024 was a year of major progress for Vertical, launching our Flightpath 2030 strategy, advancing piloted flight testing, and strengthening our financial position. With our latest prototype surpassing performance expectations and key regulatory milestones bringing us closer to certification, we are reinforcing our position as Europe's leading eVTOL company."

"We will deliver the safest and most versatile aircraft in this space. At the core to achieving this is our collaboration with world-class aerospace partners and flying a full-scale prototype with a pilot on board. The momentum is building, and we're all hugely excited for the year ahead."

The Annual Report outlines Vertical's progress in 2024 and recent updates, including:

Business Strategy Funding:

Flightpath 2030 launched a clear strategy for achieving certification, production, and financial milestones to secure market leadership by 2030.

Balance sheet restructured $130M of debt converted to equity through an investment agreement with Mudrick Capital, with a fixed conversion rate for the remainder.

$90 million upsized raise complete including over $60 million from new investors and $25 million from Mudrick Capital.

Leadership strengthened Domhnal Slattery re-appointed as Chair and Eamonn Brennan, former Director General of Eurocontrol, appointed Board Adviser to enhance regulatory expertise.

Full-scale prototype development:

Second, full-scale prototype complete, with assembly of the third and final prototype now underway at GKN Aerospace's Global Technology Centre.

Two full-scale piloted assets enables more flight tests and learnings which will shape the certification aircraft, the next aircraft Vertical builds.

Piloted flight testing:

Second full-scale VX4 prototype began flight tests in July 2024, completing piloted thrustborne testing in February 2025, making it only the second company in the world to achieve this with a full-scale vectored thrust eVTOL Over 30 piloted test flights completed, capturing 5 million data points across 35,000 parameters to validate engineering models and system performance. Successful hover and low-speed manoeuvres executed, including roll, yaw, and spot-turns, with the aircraft exceeding expectations for reliability, stability, and performance.

Vertical is preparing for piloted wingborne flight, which it believes will be a world first for this type of electric aircraft.

Certification

In July 2024, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) expanded the scope of Vertical's Design Organisation Approval (DOA), a pre-requisite for European Type Certification, and agreed certification co-operation with European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Next phase: wingborne flight, with CAA approval required to extend the Permit to Fly. This transition marks a key step toward certification and commercial viability as it will involve transitioning from a tightly controlled test environment to more dynamic, scalable operations. Once the aircraft has completed wingborne flight, the aircraft will have, in effect, completed a mini-certification process with this prototype.

Cash and outlook

Maintained industry leading capital efficiency with FY 2024 net cash used in operating activities of 46 million ($58 million) including a 28 million ($34 million) cash settlement received from Rolls-Royce.

As of 31 December 2024 cash and cash equivalents totalled 23 million ($28 million). Following receipt of gross proceeds from the public offering of 74 million ($90 million), the business is funded through FY 2025, with cash and cash equivalents totalling 77 million ($99 million) as of the date of this report.

Net cash outflows from operating activities for FY 2025 are currently expected to be between approximately 90 million and 100 million ($110 million to $125 million).

Vertical will provide a hard copy of the Annual Report containing its audited consolidated financial statements, free of charge, to its shareholders upon request. Requests should be directed in writing by email to investors@vertical-aerospace.com, or by post to Vertical Aerospace Ltd., Unit 1 Camwal Court, Chapel Street, Bristol BS2 0UW, United Kingdom.

Joining the FY24 Webcast

To access the webcast, visit Vertical's Investor Relations website: https://investor.vertical-aerospace.com/events-and-presentations/events/.

If unable to attend the webcast, to listen by phone, please dial +1 646 307-1963 or +1 0800 715 9871; Conference ID 8922591.

A replay of the webcast will be available on the company website following the event.

About Vertical Aerospace

Vertical Aerospace is a global aerospace and technology company pioneering electric aviation. Vertical is creating a safer, cleaner and quieter way to travel. Vertical's VX4 is a piloted, four passenger, Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with zero operating emissions. Vertical combines partnering with leading aerospace companies, including GKN Aerospace, Honeywell and Leonardo, with developing its own proprietary battery and propeller technology to develop the world's most advanced and safest eVTOL.

Vertical has c.1,500 pre-orders of the VX4, with customers across four continents, including American Airlines, Japan Airlines, GOL and Bristow. Certain customer obligations are expected to be fulfilled via third-party agreements. Headquartered in Bristol, the epicentre of the UK's aerospace industry, Vertical's experienced leadership team comes from top tier automotive and aerospace companies such as Rolls-Royce, Airbus, GM and Leonardo. Together they have previously certified and supported over 30 different civil and military aircraft and propulsion systems.

Vertical Media Kit

Available here

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that relate to our current expectations and views of future events. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements as contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Any express or implied statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, the design and manufacture of the VX4, the features and capabilities of the VX4, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, including the building and testing of our prototype aircrafts on timelines projected, completion of the piloted test programme phases, selection of suppliers, certification and the commercialization of the VX4 and our ability to achieve regulatory certification of our aircraft product on any particular timeline or at all, our ability and plans to raise additional capital to fund our operations, the differential strategy compared to our peer group, expectations surrounding pre-orders and commitments, our future results of operations and financial position and expected financial performance and operational performance, liquidity, growth and profitability strategies, the transition towards a net-zero emissions economy, as well as statements that include the words "expect," "intend," "plan," "believe," "project," "forecast," "estimate," "may," "should," "anticipate," "will," "aim," "potential," "continue," "are likely to" and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature. Forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including, without limitation: our limited operating history without manufactured non-prototype aircraft or completed eVTOL aircraft customer order; our potential inability to raise additional funds when we need or want them, or at all, to fund our operations; our limited cash and cash equivalents and recurring losses from our operations raise significant doubt (or raise substantial doubt as contemplated by PCAOB standards) regarding our ability to continue as a going concern; our potential inability to produce or launch aircraft in the volumes or timelines projected; the potential inability to obtain the necessary certifications for production and operation within any projected timeline, or at all; the inability for our aircraft to perform at the level we expect and may have potential defects; our dependence on partners and suppliers for the components in our aircraft and for operational needs; our history of losses and the expectation to incur significant expenses and continuing losses for the foreseeable future; the market for eVTOL aircraft being in a relatively early stage; any accidents or incidents involving eVTOL aircraft could harm our business; all of the pre-orders received are conditional and may be terminated at any time and any predelivery payments may be fully refundable upon certain specified dates; any potential failure to effectively manage our growth; our inability to recruit and retain senior management and other highly skilled personnel; we have previously identified material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting which if we fail to properly remediate, could adversely affect our results of operations, investor confidence in us and the market price of our ordinary shares; and the other important factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 11, 2025, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. We disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than to the extent required by applicable law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250311778669/en/

Contacts:

Media

Justin Bates, Head of Communications

+44 7878 357 463

justin.bates@vertical-aerospace.com

Investor Relations

Samuel Emden, Head of Investor Affairs

samuel.emden@vertical-aerospace.com

+44 7816 459 904
NanoViricides, Inc. (the "Company")(NYSE American:NNVC), a clinical-stage global leader developing revolutionary broad-spectrum antiviral drugs that the viruses cannot escape, declared today that its business is not affected by the tariff policies of the US government or corresponding retaliatory policies of other governments, nor is it affected by the spending cuts being implemented by the current White House administration.

Therefore, the Company believes that smart financial strategists would view the longer term strong prospects of the Company (explained below) as supporting the case of NNVC as an effective hedge against the current general stock market turmoil.

Additionally, the Company reports that it does not develop vaccines. On the contrary, the Company is developing antiviral treatments, that are for helping patients infected by viruses.

"We believe that the policies of the current Secretary of HHS, Mr. Robert F. Kennedy, would lead to focusing more strongly on development of broad-spectrum antiviral treatments such as our clinical-stage as well as earlier-stage antiviral pipeline drug products rather than the previous vaccine-focused strategy," said Anil R. Diwan, PhD, President and Executive Chairman of the Company.

The Company has recently suggested that its revolutionary broad-spectrum antiviral drug NV-387 could have strong potential for the treatment of measles.

NV-387 was found to cure a lethal RSV infection in an animal model. Both Measles virus and RSV belong to the same family of viruses called paramyxoviruses. This family of viruses use heparan sulfated proteoglycans as their first stop, congregating next to cells, before gaining entry into cells.

There is no treatment available for measles; the lack of treatment is fueling the spread of this highly contagious disease.

Only a treatment for measles can effectively limit transmission of the virus and spread of the contagion, the Company believes.

It is illogical and unscientific to believe that vaccination, which is being widely promoted, would have any immediate effect for controlling the current outbreak. This is because the vaccinated person will only become protected several weeks after receiving the vaccine dose. Additionally, immune-compromised subjects cannot be vaccinated.

Although measles is spreading primarily in unvaccinated children, a small proportion of vaccinated persons is also being infected, and could suggest a drift in the virus towards partial vaccine escape. The rapid spread of measles in West Texas is bleeding into nearby areas due to travel. Several other states have reported independently initiated measles cases as well. So far there were two deaths with measles.

NV-387 mimics host-side signature required by viruses that does not change even as the viruses keep changing. In particular, NV-387 mimics heparan-sulfate-like structures to which over 90% of human pathogenic viruses are known to bind. NV-387 is a polymeric nanomachine that "looks like" a cell to the virus, and the virus ends up being engulfed by the shape-shifting NV-387 polymeric micelles, and thereby the virus is blocked from infecting cells in the first place.

The Company is currently working on a clinical trial application for enabling a Phase II human clinical trial to assess effectiveness of NV-387 for the treatment of MPox infection in the Central African region. An MPox epidemic has been raging in this region since June, 2024.

NV-387 could readily be approved for the treatment of MPox if successful in the Phase II clinical trial. There is no treatment for MPox at present.

NV-387 was found to be highly effective against Influenza A lethal infection in an animal model, significantly surpassing the effectiveness of known approved drugs including Tamiflu and Xofluza. These data indicate that NV-387 should be readily approvable for influenza virus infections. NV-387 is expected to be effective against bird flu viruses H5N1, H5Nx etc. as well.

NV-387 was found to be highly effective in lethal virus infection animal models for COVID. As of today's 5-year anniversary of WHO declaration of the global COVID-19 pandemic, COVID has continued in the global population as endemic infections that produce sporadic waves. The only drug available remains Paxlovid that was found to have no benefits compared to placebo in otherwise healthy adults that became sick with SARS-CoV-2 infection in clinical trials.

"We believe NV-387 has a bright future," said Dr. Diwan, adding, "And we are strategizing to bring this future closer to reality every day."

The Company has also developed a herpesvirus family antiviral, NV-HHV-1, that has indications against HSV-1, HSV-2, as well as VZV (shingles). NV-HHV-1 has gone through IND-enabling studies as a skin cream formulation for topical treatment of shingles rash, HSV-1 cold sores, and HSV-2 ulcers. The Company is developing a systemic drug based on NV-HHV-1 for oral treatment of herpesvirus infections as well. NV-HHV-1 awaits behind NV-387 in the pipeline for clinical development.

Additionally, the Company has also developed a drug against HIV/AIDS, namely NV-HIV-1. The Company believes NV-HHV-1 in combination with some of the existing drugs could lead to achieving cures of HIV infection.

"With all of these developments in progress, we are not exposed to current macroeconomic factors such as wars, tariffs, export taxes, or spending cuts," said Dr. Diwan, explaining, "In fact, we believe that smart financial strategists would be recommending NNVC with its strong long term potential to act as a hedge against the current turmoil in the stock markets."

"Therefore, we believe that the recent decline in the Company's stock price concomitant with the general market sell-off is misguided and smart investors are expected to avail this dip opportunity," said Dr. Diwan.

ABOUT NANOVIRICIDES

NanoViricides, Inc. (the "Company") (www.nanoviricides.com) is a publicly traded (NYSE American, stock symbol NNVC) clinical stage company that is creating special purpose nanomaterials for antiviral therapy. The Company's novel nanoviricide class of drug candidates and the nanoviricide technology are based on intellectual property, technology and proprietary know-how of TheraCour Pharma, Inc. The Company has a Memorandum of Understanding with TheraCour for the development of drugs based on these technologies for all antiviral infections. The MoU does not include cancer and similar diseases that may have viral origin but require different kinds of treatments.

The Company has obtained broad, exclusive, sub-licensable, field licenses to drugs developed in several licensed fields from TheraCour Pharma, Inc. The Company's business model is based on licensing technology from TheraCour Pharma Inc. for specific application verticals of specific viruses, as established at its foundation in 2005.

Our lead drug candidate is NV-387, a broad-spectrum antiviral drug that we plan to develop as a treatment of RSV, COVID, Long COVID, Influenza, and other respiratory viral infections, as well as MPOX/Smallpox infections. Our other advanced drug candidate is NV-HHV-1 for the treatment of Shingles. The Company cannot project an exact date for filing an IND for any of its drugs because of dependence on a number of external collaborators and consultants. The Company is currently focused on advancing NV-387 into Phase II human clinical trials.

The Company is also developing drugs against a number of viral diseases including oral and genital Herpes, viral diseases of the eye including EKC and herpes keratitis, H1N1 swine flu, H5N1 bird flu, seasonal Influenza, HIV, Hepatitis C, Rabies, Dengue fever, and Ebola virus, among others. NanoViricides' platform technology and programs are based on the TheraCour nanomedicine technology of TheraCour, which TheraCour licenses from AllExcel. NanoViricides holds a worldwide exclusive perpetual license to this technology for several drugs with specific targeting mechanisms in perpetuity for the treatment of the following human viral diseases: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV/AIDS), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), Rabies, Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2), Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV), Influenza and Asian Bird Flu Virus, Dengue viruses, Japanese Encephalitis virus, West Nile Virus, Ebola/Marburg viruses, and certain Coronaviruses. The Company intends to obtain a license for RSV, Poxviruses, and/or Enteroviruses if the initial research is successful. As is customary, the Company must state the risk factor that the path to typical drug development of any pharmaceutical product is extremely lengthy and requires substantial capital. As with any drug development efforts by any company, there can be no assurance at this time that any of the Company's pharmaceutical candidates would show sufficient effectiveness and safety for human clinical development. Further, there can be no assurance at this time that successful results against coronavirus in our lab will lead to successful clinical trials or a successful pharmaceutical product.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the Company's current expectation regarding future events. Actual events could differ materially and substantially from those projected herein and depend on a number of factors. Certain statements in this release, and other written or oral statements made by NanoViricides, Inc. 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. 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 the Company's control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The Company assumes 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. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the company's expectations include, but are not limited to, those factors that are disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in documents filed by the company from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory authorities. Although it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors, they may include the following: demonstration and proof of principle in preclinical trials that a nanoviricide is safe and effective; successful development of our product candidates; our ability to seek and obtain regulatory approvals, including with respect to the indications we are seeking; the successful commercialization of our product candidates; and market acceptance of our products.

The phrases "safety", "effectiveness" and equivalent phrases as used in this press release refer to research findings including clinical trials as the customary research usage and do not indicate evaluation of safety or effectiveness by the US FDA.

FDA refers to US Food and Drug Administration. IND application refers to "Investigational New Drug" application. cGMP refers to current Good Manufacturing Practices. CMC refers to "Chemistry, Manufacture, and Controls". CHMP refers to the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, which is the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) committee responsible for human medicines. API stands for "Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient". WHO is the World Health Organization. R&D refers to Research and Development.

Contact:

NanoViricides, Inc.

info@nanoviricides.com

Public Relations Contact:

ir@nanoviricides.com

SOURCE: NanoViricides, Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2025) - Hayasa Metals Inc. (TSXV: HAY) (OTCQB: HAYAF) ("Hayasa" or the "Company") has received the remaining geochemical results for drill holes UDD-04, 05, 07, 08 and 09, from the Oxide Basin, Black River and Brick House prospects.

Similar to the previously announced results from holes UDD-01, 02, 03 and 06, these final five holes contain low-level gold mineralization throughout, particularly hole UDD-04 at Oxide Basin, which also returned the highest average copper geochemistry of any of the holes to date. Holes UDD-04, 05, 08 and 09 returned only one sample below the detection limit for gold between them. Hole UDD-08 drilled at the Brick House prospect returned 11m of 0.28% Zn, including two samples over 0.5% Zn. These results demonstrate that we are in a large mineralized system that has a strike extent of approximately 15 kms.

Management believes that Urasar is a structurally complex mineral system with several separate centers of mineralization. The 2025 drill campaign at Urasar is fully funded by the sale of a US$1,000,000 NSR royalty to Franco-Nevada Corporation and EMX Royalty Corporation (see news release dated January 22, 2025).

The Company's 2025 plan is to explore and drill areas to the north of the 2024 drill program based on reinterpreted IP data, the magnetic survey, and the 2024 drill program assays. There are several historic Soviet drill roads that will be rehabilitated as our focus moves to higher elevation. Dennis Moore, President and Qualified Person of Hayasa discusses the approach that will be taken to drill location targeting for the Urasar 2025 drill program, below.

Figure 1a: Area of interest north of 2024 drill campaign: IP lines 1 and 2 showing color-scaled chargeability.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3169/244071_8f5819f7441f3b63_002full.jpg

1b: 2024 Drill hole locations with IP lines overlain on ground mag

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3169/244071_8f5819f7441f3b63_003full.jpg

Figure 2: Planned roadwork (blue) for 2025 with historic drill tracks (yellow)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3169/244071_8f5819f7441f3b63_004full.jpg

Selected statistics of the entire 2024 drill program are summarized in the following table:





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3169/244071_8f5819f7441f3b63_005full.jpg

Dennis Moore, President and Qualified Person of Hayasa, commented "While these results demonstrate that we are in a large fertile system, they are obviously not what the company expected given the anomalous surface geochemistry and intense alteration observed at surface. However, we are unwavering in our belief that Urasar hosts one or more economic ore bodies and our 2025 campaign, funded by the sale of a US$1,000,000 NSR royalty to Franco-Nevada and EMX has a much higher probability of success given what we have learned from recent exploration efforts.

What we see to date, both in the data and on the ground, indicate the focus of mineralization is further north and upslope of the recent campaign. As discussed in a previous news release (dated February 19, 2025), historic drilling by a Russian company was conducted several hundred meters north of the recent drill sites on the western end of the license, and south of Black River on the eastern end of the license. There are numerous historical drill tracks in these zones as shown in Figure 2. In addition, the drill results from hole UDD-04 at Oxide Basin support more detailed investigation in that area particularly as the upper portions of the prospect display characteristics of a leached cap. The corrected IP sections shown in Figure 3 also support this interpretation."

IP Survey

A trial IP survey comprising two lines over the western part of the license (Yellow River zone), and one line over the eastern part of the license (Black River zone) carried out by Terratec Geophysical Services GmbH & Co. was executed just prior to the drill campaign. The results of the survey were not available until after the drill program had been completed.

The IP chargeability sections for lines 1 and 2 shown in Figure 3 indicate anomalous chargeability at approximately 300m north of our 2024 locations at Copper Creek and Golden Vein.

Figure 3. Chargeability Sections for IP lines 1 and 2

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3169/244071_8f5819f7441f3b63_006full.jpg

Joel Sutherland, CEO of Hayasa, commented: "The targeting parameters for the 2024 drill campaign were based on soil geochemistry, the existence of historic Soviet exploration adits, the existing road network, and the ground magnetic survey. Following our recent drilling campaign and re-interpretation of geophysical surveys, we now believe the focus of mineralization is likely to occur at higher elevations to the north. Our 2025 planned 2,000 meter campaign at Urasar will kick off in June 2025.

"The maiden drill program at Urasar provides extremely valuable information for location targeting in the 2025 drilling campaign. It is a rare event to intersect economic mineralization in the first drill campaign. The map in Figure 3 shows one of the main areas of interest for our 2025 program. Our objective is to have roadwork completed in early June and to communicate further details regarding the program shortly thereafter."

Laboratory details and QA/QC

The diamond core was cut and samples prepared under Hayasa's supervision in Armenia with the splits sent to the ALS laboratory in Romania. The prepped samples were analyzed by 30g fire assay for gold (method Au-AA23) and 34 associated elements using multi-element ICP (Induced Coupled Plasma, method ME-ICP61). This batch from the final five holes represents 361 mostly two-meter sample intervals. In addition, a known standard, blank or duplicate was inserted every ten samples for QA/QC purposes.

Qualified Person

The content of this news release was reviewed by Dennis Moore, Hayasa's President and Chairman, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Joel Sutherland

CEO

Hayasa Metals Inc.

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.

Forward-looking statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. 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 including, without limitation, statements regarding future exploration programs. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations including the risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements only as expressly required by Canadian securities law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244071

SOURCE: Hayasa Metals Inc.
Expanding financial access for unbanked and underbanked populations is expected to provide a lucrative opportunity for the growth of the market during the forecast period.

WILMINGTON, Del., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "IT Services Market by Approach (Reactive IT Services, Proactive IT Services), Enterprise Size (Large Enterprise, Small and Medium-sized Enterprise), Industry Vertical (BFSI, Government, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Media and Communications, Retail, IT and Telecom, Others), by Type (Design and Implementation, Operations and Maintenance), Application (Systems and Network Management, Data Management, Application Management, Security and Compliance Management, Others), and Deployment (On-Premise, Cloud): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2033". According to the report, the IT services market was valued at $2600.8 billion in 2023, and is estimated to reach $6459.8 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 9.4% from 2024 to 2033.

The IT services market is expected to witness notable growth owing to the rise in the expansion of managed and outsourced IT services, and increase in demand for industry-specific IT solutions. On the contrary, the complexity of legacy system integration and high implementation & maintenance costs limit the growth of the IT services market.

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Report Coverage & Details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2024-2033 Base Year 2023 Market Size in 2023 $2,600.8 Billion Market Size in 2033 $6,459.8 Billion CAGR 9.40 % Segments Covered Approach, Enterprise Size, Industry Vertical, Type, Application, Deployment, and Region. Drivers Rise in the expansion of managed and outsourced IT services.

Increase in the demand for industry-specific IT solutions. Opportunities Expanding financial access for unbanked and underbanked populations. Restraints The complexity of legacy system integration.

High implementation & maintenance costs.

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The reactive IT services segment accounted for the largest share in 2023.

By approach, the reactive IT service segment accounted for the largest share in 2023, contributing for more than half of the market revenue, owing to increase in dependence on technology and the need for uninterrupted business operations are driving the demand for reactive IT services, contributing to the growth of the IT services industry.

The large enterprise segment accounted for the largest share in 2023

By enterprise size, the large enterprise segment accounted for the largest share in 2023, contributing for more than two-thirds of the market revenue. owing to their extensive scale of operations and substantial financial resources. As IT infrastructure becomes more complex, there is a need for specialized expertise and resources to ensure effective management, with large enterprises being well-equipped to cater to these demands.

The IT & telecom segment accounted for the largest share in 2023

By industry vertical, the IT & telecom segment accounted for the largest share in 2023, contributing for more than one-fifths of the market revenue. The sector is witnessing steady growth on account of the increasing adoption of cloud computing and other advanced digital technologies by telecom operators to modernize their infrastructure and provide value-added services to their customers.

The design and implementation segment accounted for the largest share in 2023

By type, the design and implementation segment accounted for the largest share in 2023, contributing for less than three-fifths of the market revenue, owing to the emergence and adoption of a range of technological advancements, growing demand for user-focused solutions, and an urgent need for rapid deployment of IT infrastructure.

The system and network management segment accounted for the largest share in 2023

By application, the system and network management segment accounted for the largest share in 2023, contributing for less than one-third of the market revenue, owing to the increase in the complexity of enterprise IT environments and the need for seamless connectivity. The rapid expansion of cloud computing, hybrid IT infrastructures, and remote work adoption has led businesses to invest in advanced network monitoring and management solutions.

The on-premises segment accounted for the largest share in 2023

By deployment, the on-premises segment accounted for the largest share in 2023, contributing for less than three-fifths of the market revenue, as companies in highly regulated sectors consider on-premises solutions to be highly secure, as data is not stored on remote servers, which could be susceptible to cyberattacks. Furthermore, they are in full control over data security instead of being reliant on the protocols of third-party organizations, preventing any non-compliance issues.

North America region to maintain its dominance by 2033

By region, the North America segment held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2023, contributing for less than one-third of the market revenue. The high pace of technological advancements, implementation of digital transformation initiatives, and a growing reliance on technology across industries have driven regional expansion.

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Leading Market Players: -

Accenture

TATA Consultancy Services Limited.

IBM

Infosys Limited.

HCL Technologies Limited.

Cognizant

Capgemini, Inc.

Fujitsu

NTT DATA Group Corporation

Wipro

DXC Technology Company

Tech Mahindra Limited

LTIMindtree Limited

SAP SE

Oracle

Atos SE

CGI Inc.

Virtusa Corp

Unisys

EPAM Systems, Inc.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our analyst at:

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/connect-to-analyst/A111407

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the IT services market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different countries. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

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FDA 510(k) clearance of Caristo's CaRi-Plaque technology advances AI innovator's U.S. commercialization, as it looks to roll out to hospitals, health systems and longevity clinics

The CaRi-Plaque technology delivers AI-driven precision in coronary plaque detection, helping cardiologists and radiologists analyze type, volume, and severity of plaque

Clinics using CaRi-Plaque can seamlessly adopt Caristo's CaRi-Heart when cleared by FDA, enabling the analysis of both plaque and coronary inflammation-providing an unprecedented, full-spectrum view of heart disease before symptoms arise

STAMFORD, Conn., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Caristo Diagnostics , on a mission to transform the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease, today announced it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance of its CaRi-Plaque technology, an AI-assisted image analysis application to aid the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Coronary inflammation causes plaque buildup in the arteries, which is a silent killer , driving millions of heart attacks and strokes in the U.S . Over time, fatty plaque deposits damage the coronary artery wall, often without symptoms - until disaster strikes. Statins and blood pressure medications slow this progression, but many heart attacks happen in arteries that were previously not narrowed. That's because inflammation can destabilize plaques, making them rupture without warning, which then leads to blockage of the artery. To truly prevent heart disease, cardiologists, radiologists, and preventive care specialists must detect and then tackle both the plaque buildup and the hidden inflammation that makes it deadly.

The CaRi-Plaque technology supports non-invasive analysis of coronary anatomy and pathology from routine coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) scans to determine the presence, extent and severity of coronary plaques and luminal stenosis (narrowing of arteries). CaRi-Plaque builds on Caristo's breakthrough core CaRi-Heart technology, which a landmark Lancet 2024 study proved can reveal hidden, high-risk markers of CAD progression - predicting heart attacks up to a decade before they strike .

"For decades, heart disease has been treated reactively, waiting for symptoms to appear before taking action. But with AI, we can change that. With FDA clearance for CaRi-Plaque, hospitals and clinics can now move beyond traditional diagnostics and into truly proactive, personalized heart attack prevention," said Frank Cheng, CEO, Caristo Diagnostics. "By identifying both plaque buildup and hidden inflammation, we're giving physicians the tools to catch high-risk patients earlier, tailor treatments more precisely, and ultimately, save more lives. This is a major step toward redefining the standard of cardiac care."

"We stand on the brink of revolution in the prevention and treatment of coronary disease, thanks to Caristo's ability to analyze plaque and inflammation on coronary CT scans," said Stephen A. Bloom MD, MSCCT, FASNC, FACC, cardiologist and Director of Advance Imaging at Midwest Heart & Vascular Specialists in Kansas City, the HCA Midwest Division. "This advancement enables us to diagnose early stages of coronary disease, even before a coronary CT calcium score becomes positive, allowing for earlier intervention and treatment. We look forward to expanding our research and collaboration with Caristo to clinical adoption in the future."

Ordering a CaRi-Plaque analysis from Caristo is seamless for healthcare professionals. CT scan data can be sent to the cloud with a simple mouse click. Caristo first de-identifies the data before processing the images through its CaRi-Plaque software for preliminary plaque analysis. Trained Caristo Operators then review the results, generate the CaRi-Plaque Report, and deliver it to the originating healthcare professional in either DICOM-conformant or PDF format.

"We now have the opportunity to prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths yearly from heart attack and stroke by using the knowledge gained from cardiac CT angiography combined with advanced AI technologies like the Caristo plaque program and the multiple treatment pathways now available," said Dr. John Simon, Founder and CEO of SimonMed Imaging, the largest independent radiology practice in the United States. "We look forward to our collaboration with Caristo to push diagnoses forward to potentially even earlier detection with coronary inflammation detection from Caristo's unique FAI-Score technology."

CaRi-Plaque's precision and accuracy have been comprehensively validated against expert clinical consensus. The validation study determined the degree of consistency between plaque characteristics reported by CaRi-Plaque and qualified independent medical expert readers using a multi-center, international patient population. CaRi-Plaque is covered by the AMA's new Category I CPT code, 75XX6, which takes effect in January 2026. Until then, CaRi-Plaque users are covered by the Category III CPT codes (0623T - 0626T).

In the U.S., CaRi-Heart is currently available for research only.

About Caristo Diagnostics

Caristo Diagnostics is a global leader in AI-powered heart disease detection. A spinout from the University of Oxford, Caristo's award-winning technology is transforming cardiovascular care by identifying hidden heart attack risks before symptoms appear. Backed by leading hospitals and scientists, Caristo is on a mission to save lives through early detection and personalized prevention. For more information, visit caristo.com . Find Caristo online on LinkedIn , YouTube, and X .

Media Contact

info@caristo.com

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New offering will support even more FM clients in their transition to renewable energy

LUXEMBOURG, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Commercial property insurer FM today announced its insurance policy for renewable energy operation is now available to clients in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), bringing decades of power generation research and engineering expertise to this growing market.

FM's new offering will help EMEA clients in their transition to alternative energy through research and innovation as well as support the overall advancement of the renewable energy industry. The growth of the renewable energy sector is expected to accelerate in response to climate emission reduction targets, even as the industry faces challenges associated with new technologies and increased vulnerability to loss events, particularly climate-related hazards. The launch of FM's renewable energy operational policy in EMEA will help FM's clients navigate this rapidly evolving risk landscape.

"We are thrilled to expand our renewable energy services and solutions to more FM clients around the world," said Doug Patterson, senior vice president, Forest Products and FM Renewable Energy at FM. "With FM's research capabilities and engineering-based approach to risk mitigation and protecting our clients' purpose, we are in a unique position to help our clients in their energy transition and take a leading role in supporting the renewable energy industry as it evolves."

Last year FM announced the formation of FM Renewable Energy, which focuses on research, standards development and loss-prevention engineering around utility-scale ground mounted solar, onshore wind power and battery energy storage systems (BESS). For 70 years, FM has served power generators in a variety of energy sectors, including hydropower, biomass and waste-to-energy. FM Renewable Energy helps leaders design, build and operate resilient and reliable energy projects - and protect them over the long term.

Renewable energy projects face a wide range of risks, from windstorms and hail to lightning and equipment breakdown. FM offers a suite of products and services to help protect renewable energy operations, including climate change impact reports, business risk consulting services and research-based data sheets.

About FM

Established nearly two centuries ago, FM is a leading mutual insurance company whose capital, scientific research capability and engineering expertise are solely dedicated to property risk management and the resilience of its policyholder-owners. These owners, who share the belief that the majority of property loss is preventable, represent many of the world's largest organizations, including one of every four Fortune 500 companies. They work with FM to better understand the hazards that can impact their business continuity to make cost-effective risk management decisions, combining property loss prevention with insurance protection.

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SYDNEY, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading online FX and CFD broker Axi, has announced a thrilling sequel to last month's incredible news-a second trader, Daniel Gutierrez Vinas, has reached the Pro M milestone in its innovative capital allocation program, Axi Select. This achievement makes Daniel the second $1million funded trader under the program in less than a month, marking another significant success to the broker's commitment to provide its talented traders with a real opportunity to forge professional trading careers.

According to Greg Rubin, Head of Axi Select, "We're incredibly excited to announce our second $1M funded trader. Coming from the banking sector, Daniel made the personal decision to transition to trading full-time. Throughout his journey with Axi Select, the trader demonstrated exceptional skills and dedication and we're beyond proud that he trusted Axi Select with his bold decision. Echoing my words from last month, reaching the top milestone of Axi Select extends far beyond receiving $1million in funding. It also underscores the power of an all-inclusive, trader-centric program designed to unlock traders' full potential."

The Axi Select program, launched in late 2023, announced last month its first-ever Pro M trader, Francisco Quesada Godines, along with a growing number of Axi Select traders reaching significant program milestones and accessing funding amounts of $100k, $200k, and $500k. The program offers talented traders a pathway to access capital funding up to $1,000,000 USD and earn up to 90% of their profits, as well as the advantage to join the program with zero registration or monthly fees*. Moreover, Axi Select traders benefit from a Standard or a Pro live account, unrestrictive trading conditions, and a suite of tools to nurture traders' success and growth.

*Standard trading fees apply.

The Axi Select program is only available to clients of AxiTrader Limited. CFDs carry a high risk of investment loss. In our dealings with you, we will act as a principal counterparty to all of your positions. This content is not available to AU, NZ, EU and UK residents. For more information, refer to our Terms of Service. Any advice is general in nature and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation and needs. Consider the appropriateness of the advice having regard to your own personal circumstances.

For more information contact: mediaenquiries@axi.com
NEW YORK, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brookfield Asset Management ("Brookfield"), a leading global alternative asset manager headquartered in New York with over $1 trillion of assets under management, announced today the closing of its inaugural Brookfield Infrastructure Structured Solutions Fund ("BISS" or "the Fund"), a middle-market infrastructure fund, achieving its fundraising target with approximately $1 billion of capital commitments.

BISS is focused on deploying Brookfield's capabilities as an owner and operator of global infrastructure assets to partner with sponsors, developers, and corporates in the mid-market. The strategy seeks to invest both structured and common equity.

BISS's strategy targets sectors in which Brookfield has established operations and significant asset expertise, drawing on the platform's direct investment capabilities to source transactions and access differentiated opportunities. Initial investments in the Fund include:

Strategic Venue Partners, a leading in-building wireless infrastructure platform

Origis Energy, a U.S. renewable energy developer

Brookfield affiliated entities contributed $150 million of the committed capital in BISS, underscoring the firm's longstanding alignment of interests with those of its investors. With a material portion of the Fund already committed and a strong pipeline of opportunities, Brookfield expects to significantly grow the Infrastructure Structured Solutions strategy over the coming years.

Ian Simes, Managing Partner and Co-Head of Brookfield's infrastructure debt and structured solutions businesses, said: "We are delighted with the support from our clients for this first-time fundraise, which demonstrates the appetite from investors to access this market opportunity. It marks a further expansion of the Brookfield Infrastructure platform into the middle market, providing capital solutions to a wider range of infrastructure investors, including other sponsors."

Hadley Peer Marshall, Managing Partner and Co-Head of Brookfield's infrastructure debt and structured solutions businesses, added: "Demand for infrastructure investment continues to grow, driven by the key trends of decarbonization, digitalization and deglobalization. The Brookfield Infrastructure Structured Solutions Fund blends the attributes of infrastructure debt and infrastructure equity, both of which are areas where Brookfield manages the world's largest funds. We look forward to growing this new strategy to a similar scale over time."

About Brookfield Asset Management

Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE: BAM, TSX: BAM) is a leading global alternative asset manager, headquartered in New York, with over $1 trillion of assets under management across renewable power and transition, infrastructure, private equity, real estate, and credit. We invest client capital for the long-term with a focus on real assets and essential service businesses that form the backbone of the global economy. We offer a range of alternative investment products to investors around the world - including public and private pension plans, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, insurance companies and private wealth investors. We draw on Brookfield's heritage as an owner and operator to invest for value and generate strong returns for our clients, across economic cycles.

For more information, please visit our website at www.bam.brookfield.com or contact:

Media:

John Hamlin

Tel: +44 204 557 4334

Email: john.hamlin@brookfield.com Investor Relations:

Jason Fooks

Tel: (212) 417-2442

Email: jason.fooks@brookfield.com



Notice to Readers

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian provincial securities laws and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and in any applicable Canadian securities regulations (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future results, events or conditions, and include, but are not limited to, statements which reflect management's current estimates, beliefs and assumptions and which are in turn based on our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. The estimates, beliefs and assumptions of Brookfield are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and other uncertainties and contingencies regarding future events and as such, are subject to change. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "foresee", "could", "estimate", "goal", "intend", "plan", "seek", "strive", "will", "may" and "should" and similar expressions. In particular, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release include statements referring to the future growth of Brookfield's Infrastructure Structured Solutions Fund.

Although Brookfield believes that such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable estimates, beliefs and assumptions, certain factors, risks and uncertainties, which are described from time to time in our documents filed with the securities regulators in the United States and Canada, not presently known to Brookfield or that Brookfield currently believes are not material, could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by forward-looking statements.

Readers are urged to consider these risks, as well as other uncertainties, factors and assumptions carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are based only on information available to us as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, Brookfield undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Recognized for demonstrating strong culture of ethics, integrity, ethical governance, and responsible business practices

BENGALURU, India, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NSE: INFY) (BSE: INFY) (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced that it has received The 2025 World's Most Ethical Companies recognition by Ethisphere , a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices. Infosys received the honor, for the fifth consecutive year, for demonstrating strong culture of ethics, integrity, ethical governance, and responsible business practices.

Infosys has been recognized among 136 honorees spanning across 19 countries and 44 industries, and one of only three companies in India to receive this recognition. These companies were evaluated based on the Ethisphere Ethics Quotient, a questionnaire covering 240 different proof points on the culture of ethics; environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices; ethics and compliance program; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and initiatives that support a strong value chain.

"Congratulations to Infosys for achieving recognition as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies. Behind this honor is a true dedication and a commitment to advancing business integrity. This approach is good for business - employees and other stakeholders value companies that prioritize the kinds of practices we measure with our process," saidErica Salmon Byrne, Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Chair, Ethisphere.

Salil Parekh, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Infosys, said, "Infosys is deeply honoured to be recognized as one of the 2025 World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere. This prestigious accolade, awarded to us for the fifth consecutive year, is a testament to the unwavering values of ethics, integrity, and responsible business practices that we uphold. It reflects our steadfast commitment to ethical governance and our dedication to being a global leader in ethical standards. We remain committed to setting the benchmark for excellence in ethics, integrity, striving to be the best in our industry."

The complete list of the 2025 World's Most Ethical Companies can be found here:

https://worldsmostethicalcompanies.com/honorees

Methodology & Scoring

The World's Most Ethical Companies assessment is grounded in Ethisphere's proprietary Ethics Quotient, an extensive questionnaire that requires companies to provide over 240 different proof points on their culture of ethics; environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices; ethics and compliance program; diversity, equity, & inclusion; and initiatives that support a strong value chain. That data undergoes further qualitative analysis by our panel of experts who spend thousands of hours vetting and evaluating each year's group of applicants. This process serves as an operating framework to capture and codify truly best-in-class ethics and compliance practices from organizations across industries and from around the world.

About Infosys

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 300,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses and communities. We enable clients in more than 56 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by cloud and AI. We enable them with an AI-first core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace.

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, or our future financial or operating performance, are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding the execution of our business strategy, increased competition for talent, our ability to attract and retain personnel, increase in wages, investments to reskill our employees, our ability to effectively implement a hybrid work model, economic uncertainties and geo-political situations, technological disruptions and innovations such as Generative AI, the complex and evolving regulatory landscape including immigration regulation changes, our ESG vision, our capital allocation policy and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, liquidity, capital resources, our corporate actions including acquisitions, and cybersecurity matters. Important factors that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements are discussed in more detail in our US Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law.

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Aton Resources Inc. (AAN:TSX-V) ("Aton" or the "Company") updates investors on the results of its ongoing diamond drilling programme at the Abu Marawat deposit, located within the retained exploration areas of the Company's Abu Marawat Concession ("Abu Marawat" or the "Concession") in the Eastern Desert of Egypt.

Highlights:

To date 66 diamond drill holes have been drilled at Abu Marawat, for a total of 5,468m. All holes have been drilled horizontally or at shallow angles to test previously undrilled near-surface mineralisation in an area of steep and mountainous terrain that is hard to access for conventional drilling rigs;

Results for a further 31 holes, AMD-115 to AMD-145, are now available, with significant high grade polymetallic mineralised intersections including:

3.62 g/t Au, 47.2 g/t Ag, 4.15 g/t AuEq, 0.32% Cu and 0.63% Zn over a 27.60m interval on the CVZ, from 34.40m downhole depth (hole AMD-142);

4.53 g/t Au, 68.5 g/t Ag, 5.29 g/t AuEq, 0.42% Cu and 1.65% Zn over a 16.85m interval , on the CVZ, from 32.15m downhole depth (hole AMD-131);

6.64 g/t Au, 135 g/t Ag, 8.15 g/t AuEq, 0.45% Cu, 0.39% Pb and 4.85% Zn over a 3.75m interval on the Fin Vein, from 55.85m downhole depth (hole AMD-117);

3.70 g/t Au, 113 g/t Ag, 4.95 g/t AuEq, 0.30% Cu and 2.47% Zn over a 5.90m interval, on the Fin Vein, from 83.60m downhole depth (hole AMD-118).

"I am happy to be able to update investors on the ongoing diamond drilling at Abu Marawat, as well as the commencement of field programmes on the Hamama West PFS over the last few months" said Tonno Vahk, CEO. "The drilling has been proceeding steadily at Abu Marawat where we are looking to bring the resource up to indicated category, and we are very pleased as it continues to deliver more encouraging high grade gold-silver intersections from the Fin Vein, as well as significant near surface widths of polymetallic mineralisation from the CVZ, at very respectable gold equivalent grades of greater than 4-5 g/t. At the same time we are moving forwards with fieldwork on the Hamama West PFS, commenced in 2024. We have completed a short programme of infrastructure sterilisation and resource delineation RC drilling, as we switch the focus of the PFS to a modular CIL processing route, instead of the originally planned heap leaching. We are also particularly encouraged by the positive results from follow-up groundwater exploration drilling at Hamama. And with the commencement of another phase of RC drilling at Semna in February, the team continue to be very busy on the ground as Aton pushes ahead towards the development of the next gold mines in Egypt."

Abu Marawat gold-silver-copper-zinc deposit

The Abu Marawat gold-silver-copper-zinc deposit is located approximately 35km northeast of the Hamama West deposit and 10km north-northeast of the Semna gold mine project, and is accessed via a well maintained desert track from the Qena-Safaga highway, approximately 25km to the north (Figure 1). On March 1, 2012 Aton Resources, when formerly named Alexander Nubia International Inc, announced a maiden NI 43-101 compliant Inferred Mineral Resource at Abu Marawat, prepared by Roscoe Postle Associates Inc., in compliance with the requirements set out in Canada's National Instrument 43-101. The resource was subsequently restated in an updated Technical Report without amendment (see news release dated January 24, 2017), and which is available online at Aton's website at https://atonresources.com/investors/reports-and-presentations. This Inferred Mineral Resource was based on 98 diamond drill holes totalling 19,573 metres. 19 of these holes were drilled by a former property owner, Minex Minerals Egypt, a wholly owned subsidiary of Greenwich Resources Plc during the late 1980's, and the remainder were drilled by Aton in 2011. The Inferred Mineral Resource comprises 2.9 million tonnes at an average grade of 1.75 g/t Au, 29.3 g/t Ag, 0.77% Cu and 1.15% Zn, containing 162 thousand ounces of gold, 2.7 million ounces of silver, 49 million lbs of copper, and 73 million lbs of zinc, and was based on net smelter return ("NSR") cut-off grades.

Figure 1: Geology plan of the Abu Marawat Concession, showing the location of the Abu Marawat deposit

The polymetallic mineralisation at Abu Marawat is interpreted as being mesothermal in origin, and occurs in a series of discrete and roughly parallel N-S to NNW-SSE trending veins and structures, of which the Fin Vein and the Central Vein zone ("CVZ") are the most significant, hosted within a sequence of intensely hydrothermally altered, felsic metavolcanic rocks (Figure 2). The Fin Vein and the CVZ are about 50-100m apart and have been traced for at least 800m in surface outcrop and drill holes. Aton's previous drilling has demonstrated that these structures extend to at least 200m in depth.

The mineralisation at Abu Marawat comprises a series of steep to near vertical finely brecciated quartz-carbonate-sulphide "veins". At surface the Fin Vein and CVZ are expressed by quartz-rich gossans, and all the larger structures display development of quartz-sericite-hematitecarbonate wallrock alteration in outcrop. Several of the veins, notably the CVZ, were mined at surface in ancient times, apparently primarily for copper. The main ore minerals present are sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena, electrum, gold, and a number of gold and silver tellurides such as petzite and hessite. The gangue minerals comprise quartz, limonite, ankerite, pyrite, magnetite and hematite. Close to the surface the carbonate minerals have been leached, and the sulphides are largely replaced by hemimorphite, willemite, chrysocolla, malachite, limonite and hematite. In the oxidised material, the gold occurs as minute free grains in limonite or malachite. In the fresh sulphide mineralisation gold is associated with tellurides, chalcopyrite and sphalerite.

To its north, the Abu Marawat deposit is truncated by a large WNW-ESE trending fault postulated to run beneath wadi sediments. To the east a prominent ridge composed of altered ultramafic rocks (listwaenites) is thought to represent a significant geological terrane boundary (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Geology plan of the Abu Marawat area, showing the location of pre-2024 Aton drill holes

The bulk of the Inferred Mineral Resource at the Abu Marawat deposit encompasses parts of the CVZ and the Fin Vein, but there are also multiple, subparallel veins to the east and to the west of these structures, such as the J Vein, the JVZ structure, the V Ridge Vein and the Valley Vein zone that are largely undrilled to date. The mineralised system at Abu Marawat currently remains open both laterally and at depth.

Abu Marawat diamond drilling programme

The current diamond drill programme started at the beginning of June 2024, and represents the first significant new fieldwork that Aton has carried out at Abu Marawat since 2011. To date 66 diamond drill holes (holes AMD-101 to AMD-166) have been completed, for a total of 5,468m. All the holes have been drilled horizontally or at shallow angles to test previously undrilled near-surface mineralisation at the Abu Marawat deposit in an area of steep and mountainous terrain.

Assay results are now available for a further 31 holes, AMD-115 to AMD-145, and the collar details of these holes are provided in Table 1. The holes variously tested the Fin Vein, the JVZ structure, the CVZ and the Valley Vein zone ("VVZ") in the southern and central eastern areas of the Abu Marawat deposit (Figure 2).

Hole ID Collar co-ordinates 1,2 EOH depth (m) Dip Grid azimuth Target X Y Z AMD-115 563860 2932840 672 100.7 -0.3 263.3 Fin Vein, JVZ structure AMD-116 563860 2932840 672 150.4 -31.3 263.6 Fin Vein, JVZ structure AMD-117 563890 2932810 667 64.6 0.3 269.6 Fin Vein AMD-118 563890 2932810 667 106.9 -31.0 271.0 Fin Vein AMD-119 563888 2932774 657 73.4 -0.3 288.9 Fin Vein AMD-120 563888 2932774 657 86.8 -37.2 289.3 Fin Vein AMD-121 563879 2932736 653 98.4 -0.1 267.7 Fin Vein, JVZ structure AMD-122 563879 2932736 653 126.7 -37.6 273.0 Fin Vein, JVZ structure AMD-123 563869 2932703 650 89.8 -5.7 280.5 Fin Vein AMD-124 563869 2932703 650 57.1 -37.4 282.8 Fin Vein AMD-125 563902 2932920 667 126.3 -0.6 280.2 Fin Vein AMD-126 563902 2932920 667 140.8 -25.1 288.7 Fin Vein AMD-127 563888 2932773 657 47.5 -0.5 259.9 Fin Vein AMD-128 563888 2932773 657 81.0 -37.5 262.4 Fin Vein AMD-129 563948 2932985 658 67.3 -0.4 238.9 CVZ AMD-130 563948 2932985 658 56.1 -37.5 239.0 CVZ AMD-131 563934 2933012 655 67.6 -3.4 256.9 CVZ AMD-132 563934 2933012 655 72.7 -32.2 259.3 CVZ AMD-133 563997 2932978 655 101.4 -11.0 98.5 VVZ AMD-134 563991 2932950 655 101.5 -0.2 254.6 CVZ AMD-135 563991 2932950 655 91.3 -30.5 255.7 CVZ AMD-136 563993 2932948 655 69.0 -9.8 238.6 CVZ AMD-137 563993 2932948 655 73.4 -26.9 239.8 CVZ AMD-138 564004 2932951 655 66.0 -35.8 95.2 VVZ AMD-139 564010 2932897 644 36.2 -36.3 89.7 VVZ AMD-140 564006 2932854 640 48.1 -36.5 90.6 VVZ AMD-141 564003 2932805 637 68.1 -10.7 68.8 VVZ AMD-142 563931 2933016 655 69.0 -0.5 281.3 CVZ AMD-143 563931 2933016 655 69.6 -30.3 281.9 CVZ AMD-144 563934 2933012 655 59.8 -0.3 231.0 CVZ AMD-145 563934 2933012 655 67.5 -25.9 228.1 CVZ Notes: All co-ordinates are UTM (WGS84) Zone 36R Collars have all been surveyed using handheld GPS All drill holes were downhole surveyed using a magnetic survey tool

Table 1: Abu Marawat diamond drill hole collar details, holes AMD-115 to AMD-145

Figure 3: Geology and drill hole collar plan of holes targeting the Fin Vein and the JVZ structure, AMD-115 to AMD-128

Holes AMD-115 to AMD-128 were drilled on westerly azimuths to test the Fin Vein from the east (Figure 3), with 4 of these holes being extended further west to additionally test the JVZ structure (holes AMD-115, AMD-116, AMD-121 and AMD-122),

Holes AMD-129 to AMD-132, AMD-134 to AMD-137, and AMD-142 to AMD-145 were also drilled on westerly azimuths from the eastern flank of the main Abu Marawat hill, to test the near surface extent of the southern NNW-SSE striking extent of the CVZ (Figure 4).

Holes AMD-133 and AMD-138 to AMD-141 were drilled on easterly azimuths to test the VVZ (Figure 4), which has been mapped at surface as quite a wide copper-bearing gossan over a strike length of about 300m (Figure 2).

Figure 4: Geology and drill hole collar plan of holes targeting the southern extent of the CVZ and the VVZ, AMD-129 to AMD-145

Hole ID Intersection (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) AuEq (g/t) 1 Cu (%) Pb (%) Zn (%) Comments From To Interval AMD-117 55.85 59.60 3.75 6.64 135 8.15 0.45 0.39 4.85 Fin Vein AMD-118 83.60 89.50 5.90 3.70 113 4.95 0.30 0.10 2.47 Fin Vein AMD-131 32.15 49.00 16.85 4.53 68.5 5.29 0.42 0.03 1.65 CVZ zone (includes 1.8m NSR) AMD-135 49.90 53.70 3.80 6.22 46.9 6.74 0.85 0.28 1.99 CVZ zone AMD-138 0.00 5.80 5.80 2.07 6.8 2.14 0.07 0.03 0.01 Valley Vein zone AMD-142 34.40 62.00 27.60 3.62 47.2 4.15 0.32 0.04 0.63 CVZ zone Notes: Gold equivalent calculated using Au and Ag only, with a Au:Ag ratio of 90 NSR = no sample recovery (possibly due to ancient mining voids?)

Table 2: Selected intersections from the Abu Marawat diamond drilling programme, AMD-115 to AMD-145

Discussion of results

All intersection details from the currently reporting holes AMD-115 to AMD-145 are provided in Appendix A, with selected intersections shown in Table 2, above.

The programme continued to return significant polymetallic mineralised intersections from the Fin Vein, carrying notably high grades of silver, including 6.64 g/t Au, 135 g/t Ag, 8.15 g/t gold equivalent ("AuEq", calculated using Au and Ag only, with a Au:Ag ratio of 90), 0.45% Cu, 0.39% Pb and 4.85% Zn over a 3.75m interval, from 55.85m downhole depth, from hole AMD-117; 3.70 g/t Au, 113 g/t Ag, 4.95 g/t AuEq, 0.30% Cu, 0.10% Pb and 2.47% Zn over a 5.90m interval, from 83.60m downhole depth (hole AMD-118); and 3.34 g/t Au, 182 g/t Ag, 5.37 g/t AuEq, 0.39% Cu, 0.23% Pb and 5.54% Zn over a 4.00m interval, from 75.50m downhole depth (hole AMD-120). Please refer to the news release dated November 7, 2024 for further details about the Fin Vein.

The 4 holes that were extended to test the JVZ structure all intersected moderate widths of mineralisation, but this was again typically somewhat sporadic and low grade. The JVZ structure returned mineralised intersections including 1.18 g/t Au, 58.7 g/t Ag, and 1.83 g/t AuEq over a 3.50m interval, from 84.60m downhole depth (hole AMD-122), and 0.88 g/t Au, 18.9 g/t Ag, and 1.09 g/t AuEq over a 6.50m interval, from 73.30m downhole depth (hole AMD-116). Please again refer to the news release dated November 7, 2024 for further details about the JVZ structure.

The CVZ is manifested by similar mineralisation to that seen in the Fin Vein, consisting of brecciated quartz-carbonate-sulphide "veins", with abundant iron oxides and oxide copper and zinc species, where drilled in the near-surface oxide zone. Copper seems to be relatively elevated compared to zinc in the CVZ mineralisation, and silver grades while still high, are generally lower than in the Fin Vein. The CVZ appears to consist of 2 reasonably well defined but discontinuous "boundary" structures, approximately 20-25m apart, which display variable degrees of lower grade "stockwork" style mineralisation between them. The highest grades, often associated with ancient mining workings, typically occur on the margins of either one, or both, of the 2 "boundary" structures. At the southern end of the CVZ the recent drilling suggests that the mineralised zone is reasonably persistent between the 2 "boundary" structures over an overall width of 25-30m, although the grades within this zone do appear to be highly variable over quite short lateral and vertical distances. As per the Company's previous interpretation the grades appear to be diminishing southwards, with the mineralisation pinching out south of the area tested by the holes currently being reported.

This first series of holes testing the CVZ returned several high grade mineralised intersections, sometimes over quite significant widths including 3.62 g/t Au, 47.2 g/t Ag, 4.15 g/t AuEq, 0.32% Cu and 0.63% Zn over a 27.60m interval, from 34.40m downhole depth (hole AMD-142); 4.53 g/t Au, 68.5 g/t Ag, 5.29 g/t AuEq, 0.42% Cu and 1.65% Zn over a 16.85m interval, from 32.15m downhole depth (hole AMD-131), 6.22 g/t Au, 46.9 g/t Ag, 6.74 g/t AuEq, 0.85% Cu and 1.99% Zn over a 3.80m interval, from 49.90m downhole depth (hole AMD-135) and 0.71 g/t Au, 15.2 g/t Ag, 0.88 g/t AuEq, 0.16% Cu and 1.10% Zn over a 34.70m interval, from 24.00m downhole depth (hole AMD-129).

5 holes were also drilled on the VVZ, AMD-133 and AMD-138 to AMD-141, which has been mapped over a 300m strike length as a quite wide, but rather discontinuous copper-bearing gossanous zone, located to the east of the southern end of the CVZ (Figure 2). Surface sampling has returned sporadic low grade gold and silver, as well as copper grades from the VVZ. The 5 holes failed to interest any significant mineralisation associated with the VVZ, although hole AMD-138 intersected 2.07 g/t Au and 6.8 g/t Ag (2.14 g/t AuEq) over a 5.80m interval, from surface, associated with a subsidiary NNE-SSW striking mineralised structure, located approximately 25m to the west of the main VVZ (Figure 4).

Activity Update

The Company has recently switched the focus of its Hamama West Pre-Feasibility Study (see news release dated November 8, 2024), being conducted by Wardell Armstrong International ("WAI") to a modular CIL processing route, which will allow for the later processing of material from the high grade Semna deposit, as well as the Rodruin and Abu Marawat deposits. The Company is undertaking ongoing discussions with its JV partners at the Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority ("EMRA"), and the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, with regards to the proposed changes to the originally envisaged heap leach processing route, as outlined in Aton's 2023 submission to EMRA (see news release dated August 24, 2023).

Work on the Hamama PFS is well underway, with the Company having completed a short programme of reverse circulation percussion ("RC") drilling at Hamama West, including infrastructure sterilisation drilling for the proposed sites of the modular CIL plant and dry stack tailings facility, as well as additional resource delineation drilling at the Crocs Nose zone and Hamama Central. The results of this programme will be reported separately in due course.

The Company has carried out further RC drilling to follow up on its successful 2023 groundwater exploration drilling programme (see news release dated October 11, 2023), with positive results. The new RC drilling, conducted in January 2025, has confirmed that the Nubian Sandstone aquifer in the vicinity of the borehole HAW-01 (see news release dated October 11, 2023) has sufficient properties to yield adequate water for the Hamama West mine project (WAI internal technical note, 17/2/2025). The next step will be the construction of a 300mm diameter pump test well, with the initial drilling and construction of a c. 300-350m deep monitoring well planned to commence in April 2025.

Environmental monitoring programmes for the Hamama West Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, also being undertaken by WAI, have commenced at Hamama West.

In February 2025, the Company also commenced the phase 3 RC drilling programme at the Semna deposit to follow up on the 2023 phase 1 RC and 2024 phase 2 diamond drilling programmes, which have confirmed the presence of high grade gold mineralisation at Semna. This initially planned c. 5,000m RC programme will continue to run concurrently with the diamond drilling at Abu Marawat.

Sampling and analytical procedures

The Abu Marawat diamond drill holes were drilled at a combination of either HQ3 size (61.1mm diameter) and/or PQ3 size (83mm diameter). Core was loaded into metal core boxes by the drill crew under supervision of Aton geologists. The core was metre marked onsite at the Abu Marawat camp, with basic geotechnical measurements (total core recovery, solid core recovery, and rock quality designation) undertaken by Aton geologists, as well as specific gravity measurements. It was also photographed in both wet and dry states at Abu Marawat. The core was then carefully packed and transported to the Rodruin exploration camp, where it was geologically logged by senior Aton geologists, and marked up for cutting and sampling at the Rodruin core farm. Samples were typically selected over nominal 1m intervals, but as determined by the logged lithologies. The core was half-cut by Aton staff at the onsite Rodruin sample preparation facility. After the core had been cut, the relevant cut intervals were then photographed again.

The split half-core samples were collected and bagged up in cloth bags, weighed and crushed to -4mm onsite, and split to a nominal c. 500-1,000g sample size. The coarse crushed reject samples are retained onsite at the Rodruin sample preparation facility.

QAQC samples were inserted into the sample runs at a rate of approximately 1 certified reference material (or "standard" sample) every 30 samples, 1 blank sample every 15 samples, and 1 duplicate split sample every 15 samples.

The dried, crushed and split samples were shipped to ALS Minerals sample preparation laboratory at Marsa Alam, Egypt, where they were pulverised to a size fraction of better than 85% passing 75 microns. From this pulverised material a further sub-sample was split off with a nominal c. 100g size, which was shipped on to ALS Minerals at Rosia Montana, Romania for geochemical analysis. The reject pulp material was returned to the sample preparation facility at Rodruin, where it is also retained onsite

The samples were analysed for gold by fire assay (30g charge) with an atomic absorption spectroscopy ("AAS") finish (analytical code Au-AA23). Any high grade gold samples (>10 g/t Au) were re-analysed using analytical code Au-GRA21 (also fire assay, with a gravimetric finish).

Samples were also analysed for silver, copper, lead and zinc using an aqua regia digest followed by an AAS finish (analytical code AA45). Any high grade silver and base metal samples (Ag >100 g/t, and Cu, Pb or Zn >10,000ppm or >1%) were re-analysed using the ore grade technique AA46 (also an aqua regia digest followed by an AAS finish).

About Aton Resources Inc.

Aton Resources Inc. (AAN: TSX-V) is focused on its 100% owned Abu Marawat Concession ("Abu Marawat"), located in Egypt's Arabian-Nubian Shield, approximately 200 km north of AngloGold Ashanti's world-class Sukari gold mine. Aton has identified numerous gold and base metal exploration targets at Abu Marawat, including the Hamama deposit in the west, the Abu Marawat deposit in the northeast, and the Rodruin deposit in the south of the Concession. Two historic British gold mines are also located on the Concession at Semna and Sir Bakis. Aton has identified several distinct geological trends within Abu Marawat, which display potential for the development of a variety of styles of precious and base metal mineralisation. The Abu Marawat exploitation lease is 57.66 km2 in size, covering the Hamama West and Rodruin mineral deposits, and was established In January 2024 and is valid for an initial period of 20 years. The Concession also includes an additional 255.0 km2 of exploration areas at Abu Marawat, retained for a further period of 4 years from January 2024. Abu Marawat is located in an area of excellent infrastructure; a four-lane highway, a 220kV power line, and a water pipeline are in close proximity, as are the international airports at Hurghada and Luxor.

Qualified person

The technical information contained in this News Release was prepared by Javier Orduna BSc (hons), MSc, MCSM, DIC, MAIG, SEG(M), Chief Geologist of Aton Resources Inc. Mr. Orduna is a qualified person (QP) under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

For further information regarding Aton Resources Inc., please visit us at www.atonresources.com or contact:

TONNO VAHK

Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +1 604 318 0390

Email: info@atonresources.com

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements contained in this release are forward-looking statements. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions; by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results in each case could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

Neither 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.

Appendix A - Abu Marawat significant intersections, holes AMD-115 to AMD-145

Hole ID Intersection (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) AuEq (g/t) 2 Cu (ppm) Pb (ppm) Zn (ppm) Comments From To Interval AMD-115 39.80 40.30 0.50 1.16 14.7 1.32 0.11 0.02 0.73 Fin Vein not present? and 88.00 93.80 5.80 0.75 4.9 0.80 0.08 0.01 0.24 JVZ structure AMD-116 37.40 40.70 3.30 2.29 173 4.22 0.20 0.11 3.61 Fin Vein and 73.30 79.80 6.50 0.88 18.9 1.09 0.07 0.01 0.50 JVZ structure AMD-117 55.85 59.60 3.75 6.64 135 8.15 0.45 0.39 4.85 Fin Vein AMD-118 83.60 89.50 5.90 3.70 113 4.95 0.30 0.10 2.47 Fin Vein AMD-119 53.10 57.10 4.00 1.46 65.6 2.19 0.40 0.24 5.08 Fin Vein AMD-120 75.50 79.50 4.00 3.34 182 5.37 0.39 0.23 5.54 Fin Vein AMD-121 25.50 30.20 4.70 1.89 49.9 2.45 0.49 0.26 4.03 Fin Vein and 80.00 82.20 2.20 1.36 6.5 1.43 0.14 0.12 4.34 JVZ structure AMD-122 24.70 28.50 3.80 1.30 36.0 1.70 0.23 0.07 0.92 Fin Vein and 46.15 51.00 4.85 0.70 19.2 0.91 0.15 0.14 1.04 and 84.60 88.10 3.50 1.18 58.7 1.83 0.02 0.02 0.24 JVZ Structure and 112.10 118.50 6.40 0.52 6.2 0.59 0.11 0.03 0.72 AMD-123 8.90 11.50 2.60 0.97 27.2 1.27 0.10 0.08 1.71 and 25.60 28.60 3.00 0.50 38.2 0.93 0.30 0.79 5.74 Fin Vein AMD-124 36.10 44.20 8.10 1.50 43.0 1.98 0.24 0.26 5.34 Fin Vein AMD-125 107.60 108.15 0.55 1.54 18.7 1.74 0.14 0.06 4.78 Fin Vein not present? AMD-126 124.65 127.65 3.00 1.49 32.3 1.84 0.55 0.05 1.53 Fin Vein? AMD-127 - - - - - - - - - NSA > 0.41 g/t Au AMD-128 50.20 51.80 1.60 1.24 43.4 1.72 0.32 0.23 1.47 Fin Vein? and 58.30 60.60 2.30 0.68 17.5 0.88 0.15 0.03 1.13 AMD-129 24.00 58.70 34.70 0.71 15.2 0.88 0.16 0.01 1.10 CVZ incl. 26.10 31.05 4.95 2.88 58.5 3.53 0.64 0.05 2.46 and incl. 37.40 40.20 2.80 1.82 34.0 2.20 0.22 0.02 0.84 and incl. 57.90 58.70 0.80 3.30 27.9 3.61 0.19 0.02 0.42 AMD-130 23.22 26.75 3.53 1.90 36.7 2.31 0.46 0.08 2.59 CVZ AMD-131 32.15 49.00 16.85 4.53 68.5 5.29 0.42 0.03 1.65 CVZ (includes 1.8m NSR) incl. 40.33 49.00 8.67 8.07 99.0 9.17 0.62 0.05 1.81 CVZ (includes 1.8m NSR) AMD-132 20.00 27.45 7.45 0.53 14.7 0.69 0.53 0.01 1.04 CVZ and 39.25 55.80 16.55 0.33 15.7 0.50 0.38 0.01 0.37 CVZ (includes 5.05m NSR) AMD-133 21.60 22.30 0.70 0.91 3.4 0.94 0.06 0.00 0.03 VVZ AMD-134 43.05 45.55 2.50 6.07 22.6 6.32 0.23 0.05 1.82 CVZ and 97.20 98.00 0.80 0.82 9.7 0.92 0.04 0.05 0.28 CVZ AMD-135 49.90 53.70 3.80 6.22 46.9 6.74 0.85 0.28 1.99 CVZ AMD-136 57.00 57.70 0.70 1.03 43.2 1.51 0.10 0.06 0.46 CVZ AMD-137 56.10 60.50 4.40 2.10 32.5 2.46 0.28 0.12 1.89 CVZ AMD-138 0.00 5.80 5.80 2.07 6.8 2.14 0.07 0.03 0.01 VVZ incl. 0.00 2.80 2.80 3.93 12.8 4.08 0.07 0.04 0.01 Hole ID Intersection (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) AuEq (g/t) 2 Cu (ppm) Pb (ppm) Zn (ppm) Comments From To Interval AMD-139 - - - - - - - - - VVZ, NSA > 0.10 g/t Au AMD-140 - - - - - - - - - VVZ, NSA > 0.17 g/t Au AMD-141 20.15 22.60 2.45 0.47 2.9 0.50 0.00 0.03 0.01 VVZ AMD-142 34.40 62.00 27.60 3.62 47.2 4.15 0.32 0.04 0.63 CVZ incl. 41.70 62.00 20.30 4.75 50.0 5.30 0.39 0.05 0.71 AMD-143 28.70 33.80 5.10 0.70 15.0 0.86 0.12 0.01 0.87 CVZ and 55.50 64.00 8.50 1.19 29.5 1.52 0.49 0.01 0.46 AMD-144 18.10 20.60 2.50 0.84 24.2 1.10 0.16 0.01 0.95 CVZ and 35.40 41.80 6.40 1.56 37.1 1.97 0.73 0.02 0.34 AMD-145 18.90 30.10 11.20 0.54 20.3 0.76 0.26 0.03 1.39 CVZ and 39.90 43.40 3.50 0.71 23.9 0.97 0.18 0.00 0.32 Notes: Mineralised intervals were typically calculated using a nominal cut-off of 0.5 g/t gold equivalent (AuEq), other lower grade intervals were defined subjectively Gold equivalent calculated using Au and Ag only, with an Au:Ag ratio of 90 NSR = no sample recovery (possibly due to ancient mining voids?)

SOURCE: Aton Resources, Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2025) - Lion Rock Resources Inc. (TSXV: ROAR) (FSE: KGB1) (the "Company" or "Lion Rock") is pleased to announce, that further to its news release of October 9, 2024, the TSX Venture Exchange has approved and the Company has closed the option agreement dated October 7, 2024 (the "Option Agreement") between the Company, as optionee, and Tinton Partners and The Tinton Land, LLC, as optionors (together, the "Optionor"), pursuant to which the Optionor has granted to the Company the exclusive right and option to acquire an undivided 100% interest in the Volney property (the "Volney Project").

The terms of the Option Agreement are set out in the Company's news release dated October 9, 2024. Pursuant to its obligations under the Option Agreement, the Company has issued 7,001,000 common shares of the Company (the "Initial Consideration Shares") to Tinton Partners. The Initial Consideration Shares are subject to a four month hold period expiring on July 11, 2025.

On March 11, 2025, the Company filed a technical report regarding the Volney Project which can be found under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

The Volney Project is comprised of 38 private land claims totaling 142 ha in the Black Hills. The property is located 20 km south of Spearfish, South Dakota and approximately 15 km west of Leads. Pegmatites are within a Neoarchean greenstone belt, featuring the Giant Volney pegmatite, historically mined for tin. The property is accessible by road and strategically located with proximity to infrastructure and major mining jurisdiction.

The Company also announces that a total of 5,700,000 incentive stock options have been granted to directors, officers, consultants and employees of the Company pursuant to the Company's stock option plan. The options are exercisable for a period of three years at a price of $0.20 per share and shall vest immediately.

About Lion Rock Resources Inc.

Lion Rock has an option to acquire the Volney Gold/Lithium Project, comprised of private land claims located 20 km south of Spearfish, South Dakota. The property features the Giant Volney pegmatite, historically mined for high grade lithium and tin, as well as gold from the adjacent shear zone. The property is accessible by road and strategically located with proximity to infrastructure and major mining jurisdiction. The Company also holds properties prospective for gold, copper and lithium in Ontario and Quebec.

On Behalf of the Board

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", "potential", "indicative" and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of risks and uncertainties inherent in the exploration and development of mineral properties, fluctuations in commodity prices, counterparty risk, market conditions, regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, changes to the Company's strategic growth plans, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244051

SOURCE: Lion Rock Resources Inc.
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2025) - Eguana Technologies Inc. (TSXV: EGT) ("Eguana" or the "Company"), a leading provider of high-performance energy storage systems, is pleased to announce it has completed integration of its Eguana Evolve platform with EnergyHub's Edge Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS).

The EnergyHub partnership will add another best-in-class DERMS provider that is fully integrated with the Evolve platform, opening up additional virtual power plant (VPP) opportunities across North America. The partnership will enable Eguana energy storage systems to participate in utility flexibility programs operated by EnergyHub, helping deliver a more reliable, affordable power system for electricity consumers.

"The team is very happy to complete this integration with EnergyHub opening access to additional utility and energy markets programs," commented Eguana CEO Justin Holland. "We currently have direct utility procurement and demonstration programs going on in a number of North American markets, this partnership will provide additional opportunity for consumers to acquire a backup power system at an affordable price point, that also helps improve grid reliability and reduce costs for all utility customers."

Eguana will first focus on supporting Connecticut's Energy Storage Solutions program, which offers a generous up-front incentive along with an annual performance incentive, both with stringent dispatch requirements.

The Evolve platform has been developed to deliver the full suite of VPP capabilities for utility and consumer stakeholders as utilities continue adopting advanced battery storage assets to improve power grid infrastructure. The EnergyHub partnership marks the fifth DERMS integration for Eguana providing blanket access for utility driven VPP programs across North America.

About Eguana Technologies Inc.

Eguana's vision is to build the grid of the future by delivering flexible, modular, and cost-effective alternatives to traditional grid upgrades. Our technology provides value to all key stakeholders - from the consumer, to the electricity retailer, the distribution utility, and the system operator.

Since 1998, Eguana Technologies has connected utilities with consumers through its high-performance commercial and residential energy storage solutions. The Eguana product suite has been designed from the ground up with both the end user and the utility in mind to transition the power grid seamlessly.

Manufactured in local facilities across the globe to ensure compliance and quality, Eguana's standardized platform allows the flexibility to ensure each product solution is optimized for use in major grid modernization markets.

To learn more, visit www.EguanaTech.com or follow us on LinkedIn or @EguanaTech on X

Company Inquiries

Forward Looking Statements

The reader is advised that all information herein, other than statements of historical fact, may constitute forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, "forward- looking statements") within the meaning assigned by National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations and other relevant securities legislation. In particular, forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding the date or speed for the deployment of solutions with utilities and its anticipated effects, the various benefits associated with the VPP aggregated storage systems, fleet management and feeder load balancing, the effects of the Company's integrated cloud platform, successful integration with DERMS and benefits to consumers and utilities, the success of marketing efforts, the anticipated benefits of the contract with the utility partner and that the Company will be able to fulfil its obligations under the contract, that the Company's grid transition partners will recognize the benefit of Eguana's hardware and software development in North America, the success of product demonstrations, cash flow constraints, and product solutions, strategy and development.

Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involves a number of risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or future events or developments, to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, but are not limited to, risks associated with: failure by the Company to improve cash flow which would have a material adverse impact on the viability of the business to continue operating; timely collection of accounts receivable; ability to raise capital in debt or equity, as needed, on appropriate terms; effective implementation and deployment of Eguana's products and solutions and building additional partnerships and developing existing partnerships; general economic, market and business conditions; competitive factors; achieving strategic objectives; inability to or delays in sourcing materials; production delays or certification delays: the Company's ability to roll out additional utility pilot programs and demonstrations or deployment; the operational effectiveness and efficiency of the products when in use by utilities; a slower adoption of energy storage technologies and other factors set out in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's management's discussion and analysis for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and Company's management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2023, which may be found on its website or at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only as of the date hereof. The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244065

SOURCE: Eguana Technologies Inc.
Near-surface discoveries include 17.4 ounces per ton AgEq over 3.04 metres at the Wyoming Target

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2025) - Silver Dollar Resources Inc. (CSE: SLV) (OTCQX: SLVDF) (FSE: 4YW) ("Silver Dollar" or the "Company") is pleased to announce assay results from multiple near surface discoveries at the Ranger-Page Project, located on the west side of the prolific Coeur d'Alene Mining District in northern Idaho.

Mineralized intersections at the Wyoming Target indicate exploration remains open along strike and down dip, with mineralized continuity established up to 165 metres east of the Blackhawk Mine.

Multiple intersections at Crown Point Target extend mineralization west of historic workings by 100 metres.

The Ranger-Page project is ideally situated within two miles of the Bunker Hill Ag-Pb-Zn Mine, where the restart of full nameplate production is expected in the first half of 2026.

Figure 1: Plan Map of Ranger-Page Project Showing Exploration Target Areas (Sections Lines) and Drillhole Traces (Black).

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://silverdollarresources.com/images/Ranger-Page/RP-Phase-1_Exploration-Targets.jpg

Wyoming Target

Exploration drilling at Wyoming focused on testing ground induced polarization (IP) anomalies identified adjacent to the historic mine workings, extending mineralization below the historic Wyoming underground workings, and investigating the gap between the Wyoming Target and the Blackhawk Mine. All four drill holes discovered silver (Ag), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) mineralization, demonstrating continuity along strike of 103 metres and a depth extension of 75 metres below ground surface. Hole RP-2025-005 (Figure 2) intercepted 3.04 metres of 17.4 ounces per ton (opt) AgEq, demonstrating the exploration upside for this target in future drilling campaigns and the potential to relate Wyoming mineralization to the on-strike projection of the Blackhawk Mine.

Figure 2: RP-2025-005 Wyoming Intersection.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://silverdollarresources.com/images/Ranger-Page/RP-2025-005_Wyoming-Intersection.jpg

Figure 3: Section A-A' looking N33E showing the location of RP-2025-004-007.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://silverdollarresources.com/images/Ranger-Page/RP-Phase-1_Section-A-A.jpg

Crown Point Target

Exploration drilling at Crown Point has extended near surface mineralization roughly 100 metres west of the historic mine workings (Figure 4). Two separate mineralized zones have been identified thus far, with the best intersection from hole RP-2025-002 returning 1.1 metres of 6.2 opt AgEq, including 0.21 metres of 18.7 opt AgEq (Figure 5). This target remains open for exploration along strike to the west, and down dip below the Ranger-Tunnel crosscut (Elev. 805m).

Figure 4: Section B-B' looking N21E showing the location of Upper Crown Point exploration drill holes.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://silverdollarresources.com/images/Ranger-Page/RP-Phase-1_Section-B_B.jpg

Figure 5: Mineralization discovered near surface, and 100m west of the historic Crown Point Mine.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://silverdollarresources.com/images/Ranger-Page/RP-2025-002_Upper-Crown-Point.jpg

"We are encouraged by the fact that our initial results at Wyoming and Crown Point are comparable to those from other projects on the west side of the Coeur d'Alene Mining District," said Dale Moore, Silver Dollar's Technical Advisor, and owner of Tamarack Geological Services. "We are also interested in the low CapEx potential to define near-surface resources within two miles of the Bunker Hill Mine."

Table of Composited Assay Results

Hole ID From

(m) To

(m) Core Length

(m) AgEq

(opt) Silver

(g/t) Lead

(%) Zinc

(%) RP-2025-007 112.23 112.78 0.55 11.0 69.7 9.0 4.4 RP-2025-006 67.82 68.28 0.46 17.2 168.0 15.2 3.8 RP-2025-005 74.68 77.72 3.04 17.4 162.4 15.5 4.1 Including 77.42 77.72 0.30 32.4 168.0 19.4 19.7 RP-2025-005 90.22 90.53 0.31 13.7 92.2 11.9 4.9 RP-2025-004 61.87 62.51 0.64 11.1 110.0 12.1 0.8 RP-2025-003 98.3 98.76 0.46 3.8 98.9 1.3 0.0 RP-2025-003 104.42 105.16 0.74 3.1 82.6 0.9 0.0 RP-2025-002 62.67 63.79 1.12 6.2 70.9 3.2 2.7 Including 63.58 63.79 0.21 18.7 156.0 9.9 10.1 RP-2025-002 76.57 79 2.43 4.0 71.9 1.6 1.1 RP-2025-001 76.93 77.82 0.89 3.2 42.2 2.6 0.4 RP-2024-003 NSV RP-2024-002 NSV

Table 1: Composited assay results from Wyoming and Crown Point. *Intervals are core length. Estimated true widths vary depending on intersection angles. Modeling and ongoing interpretation of results are needed before true widths can be calculated. NSV = No Significant Values. The AgEq calculation assumes metal prices of US$32 Ag, US$0.90 Pb, and US$1.25 Zn; and metallurgical recoveries of 96% Ag, 95% Pb and 93% Zn.

Drill Hole Collar Coordinates

Hole ID Easting (UTMZ11) Northing (UTMZ11) Elevation (m) Azimuth Dip Length (m) RP-2025-007 561313 5263895 875 337.8 -53.3 172 RP-2025-006 561313 5263895 875 20.2 -66.5 146 RP-2025-005 561313 5263895 875 19 -50.1 152 RP-2025-004 561313 5263895 875 91.3 -46.4 215 RP-2025-003 561690 5264250 917 48.6 -48.6 122 RP-2025-002 561690 5264250 917 348.7 -74 121 RP-2025-001 561690 5264250 917 353 -55.4 122 RP-2024-003 561806 5263902 874 320.2 -44.8 421 RP-2024-002 561806 5263902 874 21.9 -73.6 382

Table 2: Table of drill hole collar coordinates and layouts.

QAQC

Quality assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) procedures are overseen by the Qualified Person. Silver Dollar QA/QC protocols are maintained through the insertion of certified reference materials (CRM), blanks and duplicates within the sample stream. Drill core is cut in-half with a diamond saw, with one half placed in sample bags and the other half retained on-site. The chain of custody is maintained from the drill to the submittal into the laboratory preparation facility.

Analytical testing was performed by SVL Analytical in Kellogg, Idaho. The entirety of each sample was crushed to <3/8" before a 200-gram split was pulverized to minus 200 mesh. Multi-element analyses were quantified by Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) after an aqua regia closed-vessel microwave digestion. Higher grade silver samples were selected for fire assay with gravimetric finish.

Silver Equivalent Calculation

The metallurgical recoveries used in the AgEq grades were determined by Silver Dollar's Qualified Person (QP), Dale Moore. Dale has extensive knowledge of similar deposit types, having 14 years of experience working in the Coeur d'Alene Mining District, and Dale and his team at Tamarack Geological Services have worked on every major mining project in the District.

Qualified Person

Dale Moore, P.Geo., an independent QP as defined in National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release on behalf of the Company.

Figure 6: Ranger-Page claim groups, underground mine workings, and new target areas.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://silverdollarresources.com/images/Ranger-Page/Ranger-Page_Claims-Targets.jpg

About the Ranger-Page Project

The Ranger-Page Project is located in a world-class silver district. The land package covers six historic mines and is ideally situated near Interstate 90 with year-round access to power, water, local infrastructure and a workforce in the Silver Valley skilled in exploration and mining. The primary target areas are up and down plunge from historic underground mining, along strike where ground IP surveys have identified anomalies, and where surface trenching identified near surface mineralization. Additional exploration targets have also been identified away from historic mine infrastructure, using soil geochemical data, mapping, and ground IP survey data.

About Silver Dollar Resources Inc.

Silver Dollar is a dynamic mineral exploration company focused on two of North America's premier mining regions: Idaho's prolific Silver Valley and the Durango-Zacatecas silver-gold belt. Our portfolio includes the advanced-stage Ranger-Page and La Joya projects, along with the early-stage Nora project. The Company's financial backers include renowned mining investor Eric Sprott, our largest shareholder. Silver Dollar's management team is committed to an aggressive growth strategy and is actively reviewing potential acquisitions with a focus on drill-ready projects in mining-friendly jurisdictions.

For additional information, you can download our latest presentation here and follow us on X here.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Signed "Michael Romanik"

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release may contain "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this news release 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.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (operated by CNSX Markets Inc.) has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244079

SOURCE: Silver Dollar Resources Inc.
Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2025) - Peruvian Metals Corp (TSXV: PER) (OTCQB: DUVNF) ("Peruvian Metals" or the "Company") comments on certain market activity during 2024, two-month production results for January and February 2025 at its 80-per-cent-owned Aguila Norte processing plant (the "Aguila Norte Plant") located in Northern Peru, as well as its business focus going forward.

During the first quarter of 2025, the Company attended two Canadian investment conferences and exhibited at the world's largest mining conference, the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada ("PDAC") in the first week of March. During PDAC, management of Peruvian Metals received several inquiries regarding the share price of the Company. Management feels that it is important that shareholders understand that, according to Tartisan Nickel Corp.'s ("Tartisan") publicly filed interim financial report filed March 3rd, 2025 (the "Report"), Tartisan sold 26,620,500 shares of the Peruvian Metals common shares held by it during the 9-month period ending December 31st, 2024. The Report further notes that as of March 31st, 2024, Tartisan Nickel held 26.69% of the outstanding common shares of Peruvian Metals while as at December 31, 2024, Tartisan held only 2.81% of the outstanding common shares. Tartisan noted in the Report that ".[Tartisan] continuously sells the [Peruvian Metals] shares to meet cash flow requirements". The Company believes that the sale of these Peruvian Metals common shares by Tartisan over the nine-month period ended December 31, 2024 had an adverse effect on the Peruvian Metals share price.

Peruvian Metals notes that the Company is financially strong with good cash flow. Please see the Company's publicly filed documents on www.SEDARPLUS.ca for further information. The Company intends to move into the Peruvian gold space by focusing on its 100% owned Au-Ag-Cu Palta Dorada Project located in Northern Peru. The Palta Dorada property is located in northern Peru with good access to the Aguila Norte Plant and contains high-grade gold both in oxide and sulphide material. The Company re-established access roads to the underground workings in late 2024 and early 2025. Peruvian Metals is currently reviewing other gold opportunities in the area for additional mineral feed for the Aguila Norte Plant as well as a possible location for a future carbon-in-pulp (CIP) plant. There can be no assurances that the Palta Dorada property contains economically extractable mineralization or that a CIP plant can or will be built by Peruvian Metals. Please see "Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" below.

The Company is also pleased to note that in the first 2 months of 2025 the Plant processed 6,108 tonnes of wholly owned and third-party mineral which exceeds the 4,508 tonnes processed in 2024 and 4,441 tonnes processed in 2023 and represents an increase of 35.49% compared to 2024.

Qualified Person

Jeffrey Reeder, P. Geo., is the Qualified Person, as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, who has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this press release.

About Peruvian Metals Corp.

Peruvian Metals Corp. is a Canadian exploration and mineral processing company. Our business model is to provide clients with toll milling services and produce high-grade marketable concentrates from mineral purchases. The Aguila Norte processing plant has an environmental permit ("IGAC") from the Peruvian government which provides the Company with the ability to expand operations past the current 100 tonnes per day level. The Company continues to acquire and develop precious and base metal properties in Peru.

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.

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. We use words such as "intends", "might", "will", "should", "anticipate", "plan", "expect", "believe", "estimate", "forecast" and similar terminology to identify forward looking statements and forward-looking information. Examples of forward-looking statements include the Company's plans to move into the Peruvian gold space, to acquire additional mineral properties or to build a CIP plant. Such statements and information are based on assumptions, estimates, opinions, and analysis made by management in light of its experience, current conditions and its expectations of future developments as well as other factors which it believes to be reasonable and relevant. Forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements and information and accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on such statements and information. Risks and uncertainties are more fully described in our annual and quarterly Management's Discussion and Analysis and in other filings made by us with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and available under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca.While the Company believes that the expectations expressed by such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information and the assumptions, estimates, opinions, and analysis underlying such expectations are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be correct. In evaluating forward-looking statements and information, readers should carefully consider the various factors which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements and forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244085

SOURCE: Peruvian Metals Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2025) - Geologica Resource Corp. (CSE: GRCM) (FSE: 862) ("Geologica" or the "Company") is pleased to announce results from its 2024 soil sampling program identifying anomalous gold and pathfinder values at the Lincoln Creek Property in northwestern British Columbia. The property lies within the Atlin Gold Camp, northeast of Surprise Lake.

[Figure 1: map showing a north-northeast trending gold-pathfinder anomaly defined by Au, Ag, As, and Bi values. The anomaly directly overlies the predicted 2019 SGH gold target.]

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10667/244058_f89ab0ef14223a5b_001full.jpg

In 2016, lode gold mineralization was discovered in bedrock beneath placer workings at nearby Otter Creek (Mihalynuk et al., 2017) southwest of Lincoln. Several years after these workings were backfilled, a Spatiotemporal Geochemical Hydrocarbon ("SGH") soil survey was conducted over the area. The survey successfully identified the known gold occurrences beneath the cover, validating SGH as an exploration tool in the district.

At Lincoln Creek, a single SGH survey line completed in 2019 identified a potential gold target spanning 750 meters in length. The target area is located east and uphill of Lincoln Creek. ActLabs rated its gold signature at 4.0 out of 6.0, comparable to values obtained over known gold mineralization at Otter Creek.

In September 2024, the Company conducted a soil sampling survey across the SGH anomaly. Given that historical placer drilling shows till depths exceed 30 meters in this area (Kierans, 1985), samples were analyzed at ALS Laboratories using their super-trace gold package (AuME-ST43) to detect subtle geochemical signatures through the deep overburden.

Results from the sampling program show a north-northeast trending (020) gold-pathfinder anomaly overlying the SGH anomaly. Gold values along this trend range from 0.3 to 296 ppb Au. The gold value of 296 ppb in soils is unexpectedly high and requires further investigation. The anomalous zone also shows consistently elevated levels of silver, arsenic, bismuth, mercury, and thallium. The anomaly remains open along trend to both the southwest and northeast.

Doug Unwin CEO stated, "the team is very enthusiastic about these results as they came in better than expected confirming the previous SGH results, demonstrating the 750 metre gold target is open to the northeast and southwest."

Additional sampling is planned to verify these encouraging results, including both infill sampling and extension of coverage along the open trends.

Geologica's board of directors has approved the issuance of 1,500,000 options to directors and 125,000 options to consultants. Each option may be exercised for $0.05 to purchase a common share of the Company. The options expire 5 years from the date of issue. The options are subject to the Company's stock option plan and will have a legend restricting the sale of shares issued on exercise of the Options of four months and a day.

About Geologica Resource Corp.

Geologica Resource Corp. is focused on exploration of copper and critical minerals. Geologica's Topley Copper Project is enhanced with Antimony and located in the Babine Porhyry Belt of central British Columbia with excellent infrastructure. BPB is a very active area with major miners investing in junior explorers. The Company recently acquired the Titan polymetallic property enhanced with Silver (Ag) Antimony (Sb) and Tellurium (Te) as well as the Lincoln copper/gold property in the Atlin camp. Atlin is area with many operating and past producing precious and base metal mines.

The accuracy of the technical content of this overview had been reviewed by David Mark P.Geo. David is a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101, and a member of the Company's board of directors. He approves the technical content of this press release.

Further information on Geologica Resource Corp. can be found on the Company's website https://geologicaresource.com/ and on SEDAR at https://www.sedarplus.ca.

References:

Mihalynuk, M.G., Zagorevski, A., Devine, F.A.M., and Humphrey, E., 2017. A new lode gold discovery at Otter Creek: Another source for the Atlin placers. In: Geological Fieldwork 2016, British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines, British Columbia Geological Survey Paper 2017-1, pp. 179-193.

Kierans, M.D., 1985. Becker Hammer Drilling Geological Project on the John Vroom Gold Placer Lease Group, middle Lincoln Creek. Assessment Report #14688.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information is characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "ensuring", "believe", "anticipate", "will", "would" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information pertaining to the Company's plans and objectives with respect to the Topley Project. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, changes in the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, environmental risks, limitations on insurance coverage, failure to obtain all necessary regulatory approvals, risks and uncertainties inherent in the exploration and development of mineral properties, and other risk factors set forth in the long-form prospectus of the Company dated July 22, 2022 under the heading "Risk Factors", a copy of which is available on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-looking information in this news release is based on the opinions and assumptions of management considered reasonable as of the date hereof, including, but not limited to, the assumption that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244058

SOURCE: Geologica Resource Corp.
OS Therapies, Inc. (NYSE-A: OSTX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing immunotherapies and targeted drug conjugates for cancer treatment, today announced that it has scheduled a Scientific Advice Meeting (SAM) in the third quarter of 2025 to discuss the Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway (ILAP) with the United Kingdom's (UK) Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for OST-HER2, its immunotherapy candidate for the prevention of recurrence of metastases in osteosarcoma. The Company released positive Phase 2b data in January 2025 that demonstrates statistically significant results in the primary endpoint of the study, 12-month event free survival (EFS). The meeting with MHRA has been scheduled to position the Company to bring OST-HER2 to market in the UK in 2025.

"Today's announcement marks the beginning of the regulatory process required to bring our OST-HER2 immunotherapy to market globally," stated OS Therapies' CEO Paul Romness. "As we prepare for regulatory interactions in the UK, US, Europe and other regulatory bodies worldwide, we are now focused on aligning our regulatory strategy to getting our product to patients as quickly as possible."

The UK is a reference country for multiple national drug approval agencies worldwide, meaning that if the Company receives approval in the UK then it becomes eligible to receive approval in other certain countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden. OST-HER2 has received Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations from the European Medicines Agency.

About OS Therapies

OS Therapies is a clinical stage oncology company focused on the identification, development, and commercialization of treatments for Osteosarcoma (OS) and other solid tumors. OST-HER2, the Company's lead asset, is an immunotherapy leveraging the immune-stimulatory effects of Listeria bacteria to initiate a strong immune response targeting the HER2 protein. OST-HER2 has received Rare Pediatric Disease Designation (RPDD) from the US Food Drug Administration and Fast-Track and Orphan Drug designations from the US FDA and European Medicines Agency. The Company announced that its Phase 2b clinical trial of OST-HER2 in recurrent, fully resected, lung metastatic osteosarcoma achieved the primary endpoint of the study of 12-month event free survival (EFS). The Company anticipates submitting a Biologics Licensing Application (BLA) to the US FDA for OST-HER2 in osteosarcoma in 2025 and, if approved, would become eligible to receive a Priority Review Voucher that it could then sell. OST-HER2 has completed a Phase 1 clinical study primarily in breast cancer patients, in addition to showing preclinical efficacy data in various models of breast cancer. OST-HER2 has been conditionally approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the treatment of canines with osteosarcoma.

In addition, OS Therapies is advancing its next-generation Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) and Drug Conjugates (DC), known as tunable ADC (tADC), which features tunable, tailored antibody-linker-payload candidates. This platform leverages the Company's proprietary silicone linker technology, enabling the delivery of multiple payloads per linker. For more information, please visit www.ostherapies.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements and terms such as "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "may," "will," "should" or other comparable terms involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of OS Therapies and members of its management, as well as the assumptions on which such statements are based. OS Therapies cautions readers that forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations and assumptions as of the date of this news release and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to the approval of OST-HER2 by the US FDA and grant of a priority review voucher and other risks and uncertainties described in "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the Company's registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on November 12, 2024, as amended on November 27, 2024, and other subsequent documents we file with the SEC, including but not limited to our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by the federal securities laws, OS Therapies specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250311038969/en/

Contacts:

OS Therapies Contact Information:

Jack Doll

571.243.9455

Irpr@ostherapies.com

https://x.com/OSTherapies

https://www.instagram.com/ostherapies/

https://www.facebook.com/OSTherapies/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/os-therapies/
BARCELONA, Spain , March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- At MWC Barcelona 2025, the Barcelona City Council and Huawei Spain announced, within the framework of the Mobile World Congress (MWC), a collaboration agreement for the development of innovation and training activities in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). The alliance will promote the construction of Barcelona smart city project, especially in key areas such as the City Command Center, Smart Buildings, Connectivity, Green Energy, and ICT Talent Development.

This alliance reinforces the commitment of both entities to the digitization of society and lays the foundations to promote joint smart city project in key areas such as the City Command Center, Smart Buildings, Connectivity, Green Energy, and ICT Talent Development.

In terms of ICT Talent Development, the initiatives will have the support of the Huawei Spain Academy, the first training institution of this type in Europe recently created to enhance talent and digital skills in Spain and will be developed within the framework of the IT Academy, the advanced technological training center of Barcelona Activa, which has experience in training students in programming and big data.

The signing and presentation of the agreement ceremony was attended by prominent personalities from both entities.

Representing the Barcelona City Council were the mayor of the city, Jaume Collboni; the deputy mayor for Economy, Finance, Economic Promotion and Tourism, Jordi Valls; the municipal manager, Laia Claverol; the manager of the Economy and Economic Promotion Area, Antoni Fernandez; the manager of Economic Promotion, Miquel Rodriguez; and the director of the Municipal Institute of Information Technology, Emili Rubio.

Huawei was represented by Leo Chen, Corporate Senior Vice President & President of Enterprise Sales of Huawei and Andres Yin, CEO of Huawei Iberia.

During the event, the mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, stated: "This collaboration, which reinforces Barcelona's position as a technological capital, is an important step to promote digital inclusion and guarantee equitable access to technology. Joining efforts, we prioritize the development of digital skills through initiatives such as the IT Academy of Barcelona Activa."

For his part, Leo Chen, Corporate Senior Vice President, President of Enterprise Sales of Huawei, said: "This agreement reflects our strong commitment to innovation and the digital transformation of cities. Barcelona is a global benchmark in technology and sustainability, and at Huawei we are proud to collaborate in initiatives that will contribute to the development of a more efficient, sustainable and inclusive digital ecosystem."

A Strategic Alliance for Innovation and Sustainability between Barcelona and Huawei

With this alliance, Barcelona City Council and Huawei consolidate their cooperation in the development of innovative solutions that enhance digitalization and sustainability, contributing to Barcelona being a benchmark in the use of technology for the benefit of society. In the future, Huawei will continue to leverage its full-stack technological strengths in ICT infrastructure, cloud computing, and AI, as well as its extensive experience in global smart city development, to empower Barcelona's digital transformation. By enhancing the city's digital foundation, Huawei aims to establish Barcelona as a leading smart city benchmark in Europe, providing a replicable innovation model for global cities seeking comprehensive intelligent upgrades across all scenarios.

This collaboration underscores Huawei's commitment to driving urban innovation and delivering cutting-edge solutions that enable cities worldwide to achieve smarter, more sustainable development.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2638923/image.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/huawei-and-barcelona-city-council-sign-strategic-mou-to-advance-smart-city-initiatives-during-mwc-302398281.html
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.



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ExaGrid, the industry's only Tiered Backup Storage solution with Retention Time-Lock that includes a non-network-facing tier (creating a tiered air gap), delayed deletes and immutability for ransomware recovery, today announced that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Andy Walsky, ExaGrid's Vice President of EMEA APAC Sales, to the highly-anticipated 2025 CRN Channel Leaders list for EMEA.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250311998757/en/

(Graphic: Business Wire)

"I am honoured to be named to this list, and grateful to CRN UK for its coverage of the EMEA region," said Andy Walsky. "Working with channel partners is the key to success for any company and must be treated with the highest priority. My channel philosophy is to treat the channel as you would want to be treated yourself, always be fair and keep your word. Developing trust with channel partners is critical-it takes time to build, but it can be quickly ruined. I have deep respect for the work our channel partners do every day and they should be rewarded accordingly."

ExaGrid works with resellers and distributors worldwide. The ExaGrid programs are designed to be easy for partners, with support from the ExaGrid sales team and without milestone commitments. ExaGrid is known for having a Tiered Backup Storage system that "just works," is not oversold or undersized, and provides its customers with the best customer support industry from an assigned level 2 technical support engineer, ensuring that partners' customers are well taken care of. ExaGrid provides its reseller partners with a registration program to protect accounts and margins, and SPIF incentives.

The CRN Channel Leaders list recognises IT vendor and distribution executives who lead channel strategies for their organisations and drive innovations across channel initiatives in EMEA. The annual list honours channel leaders who are dedicated to building and evolving strategies that drive success for their channel partners and customers.

"The leaders we honour this year reimagine what's possible in the channel and consistently deliver best-in-class programs that drive results for solution providers across EMEA," said Victoria Pavlova, Editor, CRN UK, at The Channel Company. "Their ability to forge meaningful partnerships and craft dynamic strategies is transformative for providers and the channel. It's a privilege to recognise their groundbreaking contributions and celebrate their role in shaping the future of the channel."

CRN's 2025 Channel Leaders list is available on the CRN UK website: https://www.channelweb.co.uk/series/channel-leaders-emea-2025

About ExaGrid

ExaGrid provides Tiered Backup Storage with a unique disk-cache Landing Zone, long-term retention repository, scale-out architecture, and comprehensive security features. ExaGrid's Landing Zone provides for the fastest backups, restores, and instant VM recoveries. The Repository Tier offers the lowest cost for long-term retention. ExaGrid's scale-out architecture includes full appliances and ensures a fixed-length backup window as data grows, eliminating expensive forklift upgrades and planned product obsolescence. ExaGrid offers the only two-tiered backup storage approach with a non-network-facing tier (tiered air gap), delayed deletes, and immutable objects to recover from ransomware attacks.

ExaGrid has physical sales and pre-sales systems engineers in the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Benelux, Brazil, Canada, Chile, CIS, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nordics, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and other regions.

Visit us at exagrid.com or connect with us on LinkedIn. See what our customers have to say about their own ExaGrid experiences and learn why they now spend significantly less time on backup storage in our customer success stories. ExaGrid is proud of our +81 NPS score!

ExaGrid is a registered trademark of ExaGrid Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

About The Channel Company

The Channel Company (TCC) is the global leader in channel growth for the world's top technology brands. We accelerate success across strategic channels for tech vendors, solution providers, and end users with premier media brands, integrated marketing and event services, strategic consulting, and exclusive market and audience insights. TCC is a portfolio company of investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital, a New York City-based private equity firm. For more information, visit thechannelco.com.

Follow The Channel Company: LinkedIn, X, and Facebook.

 2025 The Channel Company, Inc. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, Inc. All rights reserved.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250311998757/en/

Contacts:

The Channel Company:

Kristin DaSilva

The Channel Company

kdasilva@thechannelcompany.com

ExaGrid:

Mary Domenichelli

ExaGrid

mdomenichelli@exagrid.com
Sibannac, Inc. (OTC PINK:SNNC), a Nevada corporation (the "company"), is strategically expanding into the high-growth wellness tourism sector with its Starwalker Journeys-a series of luxury, transformational retreats combining consciousness exploration, psychedelic wellness, and curated travel experiences. Partnering with William Henry , investigative mythologist and Ancient Aliens host, Sibannac is poised to lead the next wave of high-end wellness retreats.

The Explosive Growth of Wellness & Psychedelic Tourism

According to the Global Wellness Institute , wellness tourism is expected to grow from $651 billion in 2022 to $1.4 trillion by 2027-nearly twice the rate of conventional tourism. With travelers seeking deeply immersive health and healing experiences, brands like Sibannac are perfectly positioned to capitalize on this trend.

At the same time, psychedelic retreats are rapidly emerging as a dominant force in the wellness industry. A recent Vogue article reveals that luxury plant-medicine retreats are attracting an elite clientele-including CEOs, high-net-worth individuals, and wellness seekers-who are willing to invest thousands for guided, legal psychedelic experiences.

Industry Insight: The average cost of a high-end psychedelic retreat ranges from $5,000 to $15,000 per guest, making it one of the most profitable wellness tourism segments. (Vogue)

Market Expansion: The global psychedelic market is projected to grow from $3.8 billion in 2023 to $10.7 billion by 2027, driven by shifting regulations and rising demand. (Global Wellness Institute)

Legalization & Accessibility: Countries like Costa Rica, Portugal, Peru, Mexico and Jamaica already allow use of some psychedelics like Ayahuasca and Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms) and have decriminalized others for personal use. In the U.S., Oregon has legalized Psilocybin through licensed centers, where over 8,000 people have already legally consumed psychedelic mushrooms in a controlled setting with great success. Colorado has passed similar legislation where Psilocybin centers will begin to provide mushroom journeys in 2025. Arizona has passed legislation to continue to study mushroom therapy and has approved MDMA, contingent upon FDA rescheduling.

"We are witnessing a complete shift in how people approach health, healing, and consciousness," said David Mersky, CEO of Sibannac . "Starwalker Journeys isn't just about travel-it's about transformation. We're providing a structured, high-end experience for seekers who want safe, expert-guided psychedelic wellness retreats in the most breathtaking destinations."

Starwalker Journeys: Luxury Psychedelic Retreats Designed for Growth

Building on William Henry's extensive background in sacred travel, Starwalker Journeys is launching a strategic expansion of its curated retreats, focusing on high-revenue, immersive experiences in:

Sedona, Arizona - A vortex of energy and spiritual transformation.

Bozeman, Montana - Gateway to pristine nature and expansive consciousness work.

Oregon - One of the first U.S. states to legalize therapeutic psilocybin experiences.

Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru & Portugal (Planned Expansions) - International locations known for legal plant medicine retreats.

What Sets Starwalker Journeys Apart?

Legally Sanctioned Psychedelic Retreats - Offering regulated, expert-led plant-medicine experiences.

Luxury Travel & Sacred Site Exploration - Exclusive, guided access to energetically powerful locations.

Post-Experience Integration - Ensuring guests maximize personal growth after their journeys.

Elite Membership Tiers - VIP clients receive priority access, premium content, and private consultations.

A New Era in Consciousness & Wellness,

Luxury Psychedelic Wellness Retreats Offer High-Growth Revenue Stream Amid Rising Demand

Unlike traditional tourism, psychedelic wellness retreats offer a highly profitable model with low guest capacity but high per-person spending.

A source article in Vogue from 2024, highlighted the high cost and exclusivity of psychedelic wellness retreats, making these retreats a premium, high-margin business model.

Luxury psychedelic retreats typically range from a few thousand dollars to premium cost, average spending is $5,000 to $15,000+, per guest.

Many retreats cater to high-net-worth individuals, CEOs, and wellness seekers willing to pay a premium for personalized, expert-guided plant medicine experiences.

The global demand for psychedelic tourism is accelerating, with elite travelers seeking out scientifically backed, legally sanctioned retreats.

Countries like Costa Rica, Mexico, Portugal, and Peru-where plant medicine retreats are legal-are becoming psychedelic tourism hotspots.

Join the Movement

Starwalker Cafe is now open for membership. Gain access to exclusive content, book upcoming retreats, and become part of a rapidly growing community of explorers.

Visit Starwalker Cafe now: Starwalker Cafe

Watch our launch video:

Stay tuned for more announcements as we expand our offerings and locations.

About William Henry

William Henry is a visionary author, investigative mythologist, art historian, and TV presenter, renowned for uncovering the hidden threads connecting ancient wisdom, spiritual transformation, and the modern quest for higher consciousness. As a Consulting Producer and the spiritual voice of Ancient Aliens for 16 seasons, he has guided millions through the mysteries of otherworldly encounters, lost civilizations, and ascension sciences. Beyond television, Henry is a leading figure in consciousness exploration, hosting the Gaia TV series Ascension Keepers, The Awakened Soul: The Lost Science of Ascension, and Arcanum. His expertise has made him a sought-after speaker at global conferences, where he delves into the intersection of history, symbolism, and the future of human evolution. For decades, Henry has led transformational journeys to the world's most sacred sites, including Egypt, France, England, and Spain, helping seekers unlock ancient gateways to enlightenment. Now, he brings this wisdom to Starwalker Cafe, a groundbreaking multimedia and wellness platform created in partnership with Sibannac. Through exclusive content, immersive experiences, and plant-based journeys, Henry is pioneering a new era of spiritual discovery, conscious expansion, and integrative wellness.

About MediaWorks 360

As Starwalker Cafe's and Sibannac's platform operator, MediaWorks 360 will bring its innovative approach to membership management and digital brand expansion, helping to create a thriving community around consciousness exploration, wellness tourism, and lifestyle transformation.

Learn more at: www.mediaworks-360.com

About Sibannac

Sibannac, Inc. (OTC Pink:SNNC) is a Nevada corporation founded in 1999 and located in Scottsdale, Arizona. Sibannac is a forward-thinking lifestyle and wellness company which currently specializes in creating and selling premium next generation wellness products in the consumer packaging goods industry. In addition to mainstream supplements, the Company is focusing on Amanita mushrooms, Kratom and Hemp-derived cannabis products for wholesale and retail sales and distribution.

Sibannac is actively forging new partnerships within the wellness community, advancing experiential, educational, and tourism outreach initiatives that redefine the landscape of alternative health. The Company has officially launched the Starwalker Cafe, with TV celebrity, William Henry, of the hit show, Ancient Aliens. The platform is a premium content provider of podcasts, interviews and educational lectures focused on consciousness exploration.

About David Mersky

Sibannac's CEO, David Mersky, has launched his social media channel, The Meru Sky , in which he discusses his personal journey with psychedelics and his mission to bring expanded consciousness to the world.

For additional information and product updates, follow us and sign up for updates at:

www.snncinc.com

x.com/sibannacinc

Media Contact: media@snncinc.com

Follow us on X: @SibannacInc

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.

This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements appear in a number of places in this release and include all statements that are not statements of historical fact regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of Sibannac, Inc. (the "Company"), its directors or its officers with respect to, among other things: (i) financing plans; (ii) trends affecting its financial condition or results of operations; (iii) growth strategy and operating strategy. The words "may," "would," "will," "expect," "estimate," "can," "believe," "potential" and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control, and actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. 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 the Company's control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The Company assumes 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. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the company's expectations include, but are not limited to, those factors that are disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in documents filed by the company from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory authorities.

SOURCE: Sibannac, Inc.
The "Estonia Construction Market Size, Trends, and Forecasts by Sector Commercial, Industrial, Infrastructure, Energy and Utilities, Institutional and Residential Market Analysis to 2029 (H1 2025)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Estonian construction industry to grow by 4.4% in real terms in 2025, owing to an improvement in dwelling permits issued, coupled with investments in the infrastructure, and energy sectors.

According to Statistics Estonia, the total number of dwelling permits issued in the country grew by 1.6% year-on-year (YoY), in the first nine months of 2024, preceded by an annual decline 17% in 2023. The government approved its 2025 Budget in September 2024; it includes an expenditure of EUR18.2 billion ($19.4 billion) in 2025 which is an increase of 2.8% compared to the 2024 Budget.

The Budget includes EUR268.4 million ($285.4 million) for the construction of Rail Baltic, EUR165 million ($175.5 million) for the development of the eastern border, EUR160 million ($170.2 million) to support the construction of large-scale investments in the manufacturing sector, EUR74 million ($78.7 million) for the construction of electricity networks and EUR50 million ($53.2 million) for the development of energy-efficient buildings.

Also, in November 2024, the Tallinn City Government announced its 2025 Budget totaling EUR1.3 billion ($1.4 billion), 5.7% higher than the 2024 Budget. The Budget prioritizes education, with an allocation of EUR418 million ($444.5 million) followed by an allocation of EUR191.2 million ($203.3 million) for the infrastructure sector and EUR149.5 million ($159 million) for the healthcare sector. In another positive development, in September 2024, the Estonian Centre for Defense Investments (ECDI) announced plans to invest EUR500 million ($531.7 million), over the next four years, to develop the defense infrastructure in the country. These projects will include the construction of barracks, storage buildings, warehouses, roads, ports, and other defense-related infrastructure by 2028.

Over the remainder of the forecast period, the construction industry in Estonia is expected to record an annual average growth rate of 4.8% between 2025 and 2028, supported by investments in renewable energy, green hydrogen, and transport infrastructure projects. In October 2024, Rail Baltic Estonia announced multiple projects to support the construction of the main line of the Rail Baltica project, with a total value of EUR726 million ($772.1 million). These projects include the construction of a railway line structure between Ulemiste to Parnu, including sections between Tootsi and Parnu, at a cost of EUR394 million ($419 million).

Another project includes design and construction work on the Parnu to Ikla section valued at EUR332 million ($353.1 million). These projects are anticipated to be awarded by the first half of 2025 and start their construction in 2026 and be completed by 2030. Previously, in August 2024, construction work started on a rail tunnel project the FinEst Link between Estonia and Finland. This EUR15 billion ($16 billion) project includes the construction of a twin railway tunnel spanning 100km between Helsinki to Tallinn, by 2035.

Scope

Historical (2020-2024) and forecast (2025-2029) valuations of the construction industry in Estonia, featuring details of key growth drivers.

Segmentation by sector (commercial, industrial, infrastructure, energy and utilities, institutional and residential) and by sub-sector

Analysis of the mega-project pipeline, including breakdowns by development stage across all sectors, and projected spending on projects in the existing pipeline.

Listings of major projects, in addition to details of leading contractors and consultants

Reasons to Buy

Identify and evaluate market opportunities using our standardized valuation and forecasting methodologies

Assess market growth potential at a micro-level with over 600 time-series data forecasts

Understand the latest industry and market trends

Formulate and validate business strategies using the analyst's critical and actionable insight

Assess business risks, including cost, regulatory and competitive pressures

Evaluate competitive risk and success factors

Key Topics Covered:

1. Executive Summary

2. Construction Industry: At-a-Glance

3. Latest news and developments

4. Project analytics

5. Construction Market Data

6. Risk Profile

7. Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1n8vy0

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.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250311527376/en/

Contacts:

ResearchAndMarkets.com

Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



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LONDON, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Concirrus, a leading provider of AI-driven insurance risk analytics, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with OceanMind, a globally recognized expert in maritime compliance and emissions data. This collaboration marks the first step in Concirrus' long-term ESG roadmap, beginning with enhanced emissions tracking to support insurers and P&I clubs in meeting global decarbonisation targets.

The release of the ESG module reinforces Concirrus' commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 13 (Climate Action), as the company advances broader sustainability objectives.

With increasing regulatory focus on maritime emissions and sustainability, the insurance sector is under growing pressure to support greener shipping practices. Through this partnership, Concirrus leverages OceanMind's decade-long expertise in marine enforcement and emissions monitoring to provide actionable insights for insurers, underwriters, and P&I Clubs.

"Our collaboration with OceanMind marks a significant milestone in our ESG journey," said James Whitlam, Product Director at Concirrus. "By integrating OceanMind's robust emissions data into our ESG module, we enable insurers to assess fleet sustainability with greater accuracy, align with evolving industry regulations, and generate comprehensive disclosure reports."

OceanMind's data solutions provide robust emissions modeling for the global shipping fleet, delivering key insights into compliance with Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) ratings and Poseidon Principles alignment.

The partnership ensures that insurers using Concirrus' ESG module can track portfolio performance against industry benchmarks and make informed underwriting decisions based on sustainability metrics. Aligned with the Poseidon Principles, a global framework for assessing and disclosing the climate impact of ship financing and underwriting, this ensures that insurers meet their sustainability commitments.

"Concirrus is at the forefront of data-driven transformation in maritime insurance, and we are thrilled to partner with them to enhance ESG capabilities in the sector," said Nick Wise, Founder and CEO at OceanMind. "For many shipping and maritime companies, emissions data and actionable compliance intelligence is now much more than a 'nice-to-have'; these insights have become increasingly material as new regulations come into play and ESG targets are set."

By combining Concirrus' AI-driven risk analytics with OceanMind's industry-leading emissions data, this partnership provides insurers with a comprehensive solution that not only meets compliance standards but also drives positive environmental impact within the maritime sector. Beyond regulatory compliance, this collaboration fosters meaningful change, empowering insurers to actively drive sustainability in the maritime industry.

About Concirrus

Concirrus revolutionizes underwriting in specialty and commercial insurance with AI-driven solutions that turn hours-long processes into decisions made in seconds. Founded in 2012, it serves sectors like aviation, transportation, marine, surety, construction, political violence, and terrorism. Trusted by leading insurers, its AI analytics streamline operations, optimize risk assessment, and empower smarter, faster decisions in a rapidly evolving industry. To learn more, visit: https://concirrus.ai

About Oceanmind

OceanMind is a tech-enabled global changemaker, using AI and data solutions to create a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future for all. They power effective regulation to prevent damaging and inequitable activities and incentivize responsible business practices in maritime supply chains such that regeneration is the least cost, highest value approach. OceanMind provides analysis and intelligence paired with support, capacity building, and training to power effective enforcement of marine regulations for governments and regulating bodies globally, including fisheries authorities, border control, coast guard, and naval forces. To learn more, visit www.oceanmind.global .

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Cummins

Cummins Inc. announced the acquisition of assets of First Mode, a leader in retrofit hybrid solutions for mining and rail operations. The acquisition includes hybrid mining and rail product lines, and the full IP portfolio which includes hydrogen and battery powertrain solutions. This technology represents the first commercially available retrofit hybrid system for mining equipment, significantly reducing total cost of ownership (TCO) while advancing decarbonization in operations.

In addition, Cummins is acquiring First Mode's commercial portfolio, manufacturing and technical teams in Australia, the United States and Chile. First Mode will continue to serve customers through the transition and is dedicated to meeting customers' needs by shipping product in Q1.

This acquisition reinforces Cummins' commitment to providing innovative and effective decarbonization solutions and will allow the company to elevate our product portfolio while meeting the needs of our customers on their transition to a lower-carbon future. First Mode will operate within the Power Systems industrial segment.

"This acquisition is an important step forward in our goal to lead our Power Systems customers through the energy transition," said Jenny Bush, President of Power Systems at Cummins. "With First Mode's hybrid retrofit technology, we are accelerating our ability to provide decarbonization solutions that meet miners' need to drive down operating costs today."

A broader commitment to carbon reduction

Cummins is at the forefront of developing multiple technology pathways to help the mining industry transition to a sustainable future. Through product hybridization and clean fuels such as ethanol and methanol, Cummins is developing bridge technologies that enable miners to maximize the life of existing fleets while reducing carbon emissions.

"Cummins' dedication to partnering with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and miners ensures that these technologies are developed and tested in real-world environments," Bush added. "With hybrid retrofit kits, modular component upgrades and scalable solutions, we are bringing miners the flexibility and confidence they need to decarbonize operations while adapting to evolving technologies and infrastructure."

With its vast global service network, Cummins is prepared to support newly developed bridge technologies, ensuring seamless integration and ongoing support for mining and rail applications.

Media Contact

Melinda Koski

External Communications Director

317.476.3293

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cummins Inc on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Cummins Inc

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cummins-inc

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Cummins Inc
Bountiful, Utah--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2025) - OneMeta Inc. (OTCQB: ONEI) (www.onemeta.ai), the leader in AI-driven multilingual communication solutions, is pleased to partner with the J. Reuben Clark Law Society (jrcls.org) for their Annual Conference in Mexico City. During the event, OneMeta will provide real-time interpretation using VerbumOnSite, enabling attendees to engage fully in sessions offered in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

This partnership stands as a testament to OneMeta's mission of fostering language inclusivity and facilitating seamless communication for all participants, regardless of language barriers. VerbumOnSite will play a key role in ensuring that conference attendants can follow discussions and participate actively in the language of their choice.

"We are honored to support such an important event by enabling multilingual participation in landmark sessions," said Saul Leal, CEO of OneMeta Inc. "Our technology is designed to deliver not just accuracy but also the highest levels of privacy and security in interpretation-values that align seamlessly with the professional commitments upheld by the J. Reuben Clark Law Society."

"The J. Reuben Clark Law Society is a global organization dedicated to defending religious freedom, providing pro bono legal service and humanitarian service, and upholding the rule of law," said Amy G. Larsen, Associate Director of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society. "Partnering with OneMeta will allow our conference participants who speak various languages to feel fully included in the event and improve our ability to share the Law Society's vision for promoting virtue and the rule of law."

About J. Reuben Clark Law Society

The J. Reuben Clark Law Society affirms the strength of personal religious conviction within the practice of law. Through public service and professional excellence, the Society strives to promote fairness and virtue, founded upon the rule of law.

About OneMeta Inc.

OneMeta Inc. is a Multilingual Enablement company focused on overcoming the communication challenges of a world with many languages. Its proprietary, end-to-end natural language processing architecture was developed using artificial intelligence tools and allows the spoken and written word to be synthesized, translated, and transcribed in less than one second. OneMeta's products support near-real-time web-based and mobile phone-based conversations, discussions, meetings, and online chats in over 140 languages and dialects. OneMeta's technology fully complies with SOC2, HIPAA, and GDPR standards, ensuring the highest levels of security and privacy for all communications.

OneMeta Inc.: We create a more understanding world.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244019

SOURCE: OneMeta Inc.
AMSTERDAM, March 11, 2025, an international group with over 25 million customers operating across 11 countries with 12,000 employees, have been included in the list of Azerbaijan's top 100 taxpayers for 2024, as published by the State Tax Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

In 2024, NEQSOL Holding companies contributed a total of AZN 171.1 million (USD ~ 60 million) in tax payments to the Azerbaijani state budget, solidifying the holding's position as one of the largest taxpayers in the country.

"Along with substantial tax contributions, NEQSOL Holding actively supports Azerbaijan's economic development through sustainable business strategies, long-term investments, job creation, and social initiatives aimed at community well-being. These achievements reaffirm the holding's commitment to transparency, economic growth, and corporate social responsibility," said Yusif Jabbarov, CEO of NEQSOL Holding.

Among the leading taxpayers within the Holding's portfolio are Norm, Bakcell, Azerconnect Group, Nobel Energy Group (including Global Energy Solutions) and other companies.

About NEQSOL Holding

NEQSOL Holding is an international group of companies operating across 11 countries in telecommunications, energy, construction, and hi-tech industries. The holding places significant emphasis on expanding its presence in Azerbaijan and, as it continues to grow, remains dedicated to contributing to the country's economic and social development. For more information please see: NEQSOL Holding

Media contact:Neqsol@tiltonconsultancy.com
BOSTON, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Business Intelligence Group has named oneZero Financial Systems (oneZero) a 2025 Best Place to Work . This prestigious award acknowledges our unwavering commitment to creating an exceptional work environment that fosters employee engagement, growth and outstanding performance. This is the fourth consecutive year that oneZero has earned this recognition.

"Winning a Best Place to Work award once again is a testament to our incredible global team and the culture we've built together," said Andrew Ralich, CEO and Co-Founder at oneZero. "As we continue to grow, my Co-Founder Jesse Johnson and I remain committed to fostering an environment where all 200 of our team members across our global offices feel connected and valued. By investing in our people, we fuel the innovation and performance that drive oneZero's success."

Russ Fordyce, CEO of Business Intelligence Group, commended oneZero's commitment to employee well-being and excellence.

"Congratulations to oneZero Financial Systems for your outstanding commitment to fostering a workplace culture that empowers and inspires your team," he said. "This achievement reflects your dedication to creating an environment where employees thrive and innovation flourishes. We applaud your leadership in setting a high standard for workplace excellence and employee engagement."

About oneZero

oneZero Financial Systems has been a leading innovator in multi-asset class enterprise trading technology since 2009. Its powerful software encompasses the Hub, EcoSystem and Data Source - three components that together provide a complete solution for execution, distribution and analytics. Through reliable connectivity, technology, infrastructure and market access, oneZero empowers financial institutions and brokers to compete effectively in the global financial markets through a globally compliant, liquidity-neutral solution. oneZero is certified to the standards of ISO 27001 information security management systems, and has development and operations centers in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and North America.

About Business Intelligence Group

The Business Intelligence Group was founded with the mission of recognizing true talent and superior performance in the business world. Unlike other industry and business award programs , business executives-those with experience and knowledge-judge the programs. The organization's proprietary and unique scoring system selectively measures performance across multiple business domains and then rewards those companies whose achievements stand above those of their peers.

Contacts:

Talia Geberovich

Head of Marketing and Communications

tgeberovich@onezero.com

Eliana Starbird

Business Intelligence Group

+1 (909) 529-2737

eliana@bintelligence.com

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DAVIS, Calif., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- openRxiv has officially launched as an independent nonprofit to oversee bioRxiv and medRxiv, the world's leading preprint servers for life and health sciences. openRxiv ensures that researchers worldwide can continue to share discoveries rapidly and openly. With a researcher-led governance model, openRxiv strengthens the foundation of preprint sharing, empowering scientists to communicate findings at the speed of discovery.

"We want openRxiv to be a home for all scientists-whether they're early-career researchers, established scholars, or from institutions large and small worldwide," said Dr. John Inglis, Chair of the openRxiv Scientific and Medical Advisory Board and Co-Founder at bioRxiv and medRxiv. "By keeping preprint sharing independent, open, and researcher-led, we can foster even greater collaboration and innovation across the sciences."

Sustaining and Expanding the Role of Preprints in Science

Since their launches in 2013 and 2019, respectively, preprint servers bioRxiv and medRxiv have transformed how scientific findings are communicated. They have hosted more than 325,000 reports of new discoveries, enabling scientists worldwide to collaborate, iterate, and build upon each other's work at an unprecedented pace. These platforms play a critical role during global challenges in health and research, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, where rapid scientific dissemination is key. Researchers around the world continue to use them across all fields of the life sciences: each month, over 11 million readers explore manuscripts that have been submitted by tens of thousands of scientists from more than 140 countries. Preprints provide real-time access to emerging research, accelerating collaborations and informing public health responses.

The formation and success of bioRxiv and medRxiv have been made possible through the foundational support and collaboration of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, BMJ Group and Yale School of Medicine. Their leadership in the establishment and operation of these preprint servers has played a crucial role in accelerating scientific communication and ensuring researchers have a platform to share and access new findings without delay.

Establishing openRxiv aims to accelerate the value of these preprint servers, making it easier for these resources to grow and adapt. Created as services of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in partnership with other institutions, bioRxiv and medRxiv now move under openRxiv's researcher-driven governance, ensuring that preprint sharing remains independent, sustainable, and responsive to researchers' evolving needs.

Why an Independent Nonprofit?

The creation of openRxiv as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit addresses several key priorities:

Long-Term Sustainability - openRxiv dedicates all resources to maintaining and improving preprint sharing, without competing institutional goals or financial pressures typical of commercial management.

openRxiv dedicates all resources to maintaining and improving preprint sharing, without competing institutional goals or financial pressures typical of commercial management. Flexibility for the Future - As an independent organization, openRxiv can refine processes and respond directly to the scientific community's needs, ensuring preprint servers remain relevant, useful, and globally accessible.

As an independent organization, openRxiv can refine processes and respond directly to the scientific community's needs, ensuring preprint servers remain relevant, useful, and globally accessible. Broad Community Oversight - A governance group composed of researchers, funders, and technical experts ensures that organizational decisions reflect the priorities of the scientific community as a whole rather than a single institution or organization.

Funding & Commitment to Transparency

openRxiv is purposefully designed to diversify funding sources to safeguard its independence, ensuring long-term financial stability through partnerships with multiple funders, research institutions, and other stakeholders.

The organization is launching with initial philanthropic support from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) and other organizations. The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) has provided critical early support for openRxiv, reinforcing its mission to keep preprint sharing open, independent, and researcher-led.

"Open science is essential to accelerating discoveries and advancing the study of human health and disease," said Stephen Quake, Head of Science at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. "With the launch of openRxiv, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is helping ensure that scientists worldwide have the infrastructure needed to share and build upon groundbreaking research freely and openly. CZI has been a longtime supporter of preprint servers, and I am excited for this next phase of progress in scientific communication."

Additionally, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, BMJ Group, and Yale School of Medicine remain key supporters of openRxiv, providing invaluable expertise and guidance to help sustain and grow the preprint ecosystem.

"openRxiv is the natural evolution and progression of free and open access to scientific information," shared Bruce Stillman, President and CEO of CSHL. "bioRxiv and medRxiv have revolutionized the field of science and scientific publishing. The establishment of openRxiv will allow for continued innovation in how the latest scientific results are communicated."

"BMJ Group is a proud partner of openRxiv and supports its success. We recognize the crucial role of preprints and believe that openRxiv's independence from competing interests safeguards these platforms for researchers," said Theodora Bloom PhD, Director of Editorial Operations, BMJ Group. "Researcher-led governance enhances trust and reliability, benefiting both science and the public."

A New Chapter for bioRxiv and medRxiv

openRxiv marks a new chapter in open science by transitioning bioRxiv and medRxiv into an independent nonprofit-keeping rapid, community-focused research sharing at the forefront. A diverse board of scientists and stakeholders guides openRxiv free from single-institution constraints, championing transparent governance and a global vision. By empowering more researchers to share findings early, openRxiv aims to drive faster breakthroughs in life science and health research.

"Preprints have proven indispensable for accelerating discovery, particularly in urgent scientific and public health contexts," said Dr. Richard Sever, Chief Science and Strategy Officer at openRxiv and Co-Founder of bioRxiv and medRxiv. "By establishing openRxiv as an independent nonprofit, we are securing the future of bioRxiv and medRxiv as trusted, researcher-led platforms that will continue to serve the global scientific community."

Interim Chief Operating Officer Tracy Teal shared, "The establishment of openRxiv as an independent non-profit is an exciting moment for open communication in the life sciences, creating more pathways and opportunities for growth and innovation in how we share and connect around research articles."

openRxiv is seeking its first Chief Executive Officer. For more information or to apply, please see the blog .

For more information, visit openrxiv.org or follow us on BlueSky , and LinkedIn for updates.

About openRxiv

openRxiv is an independent, nonprofit organization (501(c)(3)) established to steward bioRxiv and medRxiv, the premier preprint servers for life science and health research. Committed to rapid, open scientific sharing, openRxiv ensures that researchers worldwide can disseminate their findings quickly and transparently, advancing communication at the speed of science. For more information, please visit openrxiv.org .

About the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative was founded in 2015 to help solve some of society's toughest challenges-from eradicating disease and improving education, to addressing the needs of our communities. Through collaboration, providing resources and building technology, our mission is to help build a better future for everyone. For more information, please visit chanzuckerberg.com or email Patricia Flores at pflores@chanzuckerberg.com with any questions.

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Founded in 1890, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit, powers transformational discoveries in cancer, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, plant biology and quantitative biology. For more than a century, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has been a powerful and productive environment for developing, connecting and sharing world-changing ideas. Employing 1,000 people, including 600 scientists, students and technicians, CSHL nurtures the constant flow of ideas through a campus and culture designed to cultivate curiosity, discovery and innovation to make lives better. For more information, visit www.cshl.edu .

BMJ Group

BMJ Group is a global healthcare knowledge provider with a vision for a healthier world. We share knowledge and expertise to improve healthcare outcomes for all. Explore our products and resources, and how we are making a difference at bmjgroup.com

Media Contact

Tracy Teal, Interim COO

teal@openrxiv.org

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As part of this newly established strategic collaboration, Evidenwill distribute Supermicro's AI SuperCluster with NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 solutions across Europe, India, Middle East and South America.

Paris, France - March 11, 2025 -Eviden, the Atos Groupbusiness leading in digital, cloud, big data and security today announces a strategic collaboration with Supermicro to distribute Supermicro's AI SuperCluster with NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 solutions, across Europe, India, Middle-East and South America. This collaboration underscores both companies' commitment to advance enterprise AI capabilities and deliver innovative solutions to meet the growing demand for trillion parameter AI models training and inference.

NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 combines 36 NVIDIAGrace CPUsand 72 NVIDIABlackwell GPUsconnected via NVIDIA NVLink() in a single, powerful, and efficient rack-scale system. This strategic product is purpose-built to accelerate the development and deployment of the next generation of LLMs, empowering organizations to stay at the forefront of innovation

Supermicro will leverage Eviden's established leadership position and extensive customer network across Europe, India, Middle East and South America, as well as the Group's expertise in deploying and managing large-scale AI systems, ensuring exceptional customer satisfaction.

Building on its unique end-to-end HPC and AI portfolio, Eviden will offer customers in Europe, India, Middle East and South America the use of the NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 as part of a larger Eviden infrastructure offering, ensuring first rate service and support.

Emmanuel Le Roux, EVP Global Head of Eviden, Atos Group, said: "We are excited to partner with Supermicro to bring Supermicro's AI SuperCluster with the NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 to new markets. This collaboration will create a new paradigm of energy efficiency for the rapidly heightened energy demand of AI infrastructure. It aligns with our commitment to delivering the most advanced AI solutions in Europe, India, Middle East and South America, with the best time to market possible, and reinforces our position as a leader in the HPC & AI computing industry."

Charles Liang, President and CEO at Supermicro, added:"Collaborating with Eviden enables us to greatly expand our presence in Europe and tap into Eviden's extensive market knowledge. Supermicro's AI SuperCluster with NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 is quickly gaining market traction and together with Eviden, we are poised to deliver unparalleled AI systems and service to businesses across Europe, India, Middle East and South America."

This collaboration is part of a broader strategy for both Eviden and Supermicro to expand their presence in the Enterprise AI market. By combining their strengths, the two companies aim to provide innovative solutions that drive digital transformation and enhance business outcomes.

***

About Eviden1

Evidenis a next-gen technology leader in data-driven, trusted and sustainable digital transformation with a strong portfolio of patented technologies. With worldwide leading positions in advanced computing, security, AI, cloud and digital platforms, it provides deep expertise for all industries in more than 47 countries. Bringing together 41,000 world-class talents, Eviden expands the possibilities of data and technology across the digital continuum, now and for generations to come. Eviden is an Atos Group company with an annual revenue of c.  5 billion.

About Atos

Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with c. 78,000 employees and annual revenue of c.  10 billion. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high-performance computing, the Group provides tailored end-to-end solutions for all industries in 68 countries. A pioneer in decarbonization services and products, Atos is committed to a secure and decarbonized digital for its clients. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea) and listed on Euronext Paris.

The purpose of Atosis to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space.

Press contact

Constance Arnoux - constance.arnoux@atos.net- +33 (0)6 44 12 16 35







1 Eviden business is operated through the following brands: AppCentrica, ATHEA, Cloudamize, Cloudreach, Cryptovision, DataSentics, Edifixio, Engage ESM, Evidian, Forensik, IDEAL GRP, In Fidem, Ipsotek, Maven Wave, Profit4SF, SEC Consult, Visual BI, X-Perion.

Eviden is a registered trademark.  Eviden SAS, 2025.

Attachment
RICHMOND, British Columbia, March 11, 2025-a significant achievement in the operation of this world-first machine. LM26 is now forming plasmas daily as General Fusion's team optimizes performance in preparation for its next step-compressing plasmas with a lithium liner to create fusion and heating from compression. LM26 is tracking toward game-changing technical milestones that will advance the company's ultimate mission: generating zero-carbon fusion energy for the grid in the next decade.

The culmination of over 20 years of technological advancement, LM26 is designed to achieve a series of results that demonstrate MTF: 10 million degrees Celsius (1 keV), 100 million degrees Celsius (10 keV), and scientific breakeven equivalent (100% Lawson) in a commercially relevant way. Designed, assembled, and operational within 16 months of project launch, LM26 is a testament to the company's ability to move quickly and achieve meaningful milestones.

"We've built 24 plasma injectors, created over 200,000 plasmas, and generated fusion neutrons from plasma compressions - de-risking LM26 and preparing us for this new chapter at General Fusion," said Dr. Michel Laberge, Founder and Chief Science Officer, General Fusion. "We're ready to make some fusion happen in LM26!"

"We are doing what we do best - nimbly advancing our transformative technology and getting real results that matter," said Greg Twinney, CEO, General Fusion. "Unlike other approaches, MTF is designed from the ground up to produce practical power. As a result, our path to delivering clean fusion energy to homes and businesses following LM26 is more straightforward and streamlined than other technologies."

This milestone is made possible by longstanding support from the Canadian government, including CA$69 million from the Strategic Innovation Fund since 2019, which assisted the company in attracting private capital, contributing to the CA$440 million total funds raised to date. As a result, General Fusion has injected significant value into the Canadian economy and its burgeoning fusion energy ecosystem. In fact, since 2019, General Fusion has returned $3 to the Canadian economy through global private investment for every public dollar invested. The company has also returned approximately CA$141 million dollars to the local B.C. economy since 2019.

"General Fusion is a homegrown success story showing the value of Canadian innovation," said the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. "We are proud to champion their progress as they advance their incredible clean fusion energy technology."

"General Fusion's work is reinforcing Canada's status as a powerful innovator in nuclear science and technology," said the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources Canada. "Through a combination of federal investment, industry collaboration, and academic research, our nuclear industry is poised to seize the global economic opportunities before us - while growing jobs in Canada and protecting our energy economy. I am pleased to see General Fusion make significant progress in their work to foster energy innovation, increase productivity, and ensure continued British Columbian and Canadian leadership in the economy of the future."

Quick Facts:

Fusion energy is the ultimate clean energy solution - it is the energy source that powers the sun and stars. Fusion is the process by which two light nuclei merge to form a heavier one, producing a massive amount of energy.

General Fusion's Magnetized Target Fusion (https://youtu.be/HC1q4sFnfxE?si=JP0y9pSnHdOZ2DjO) (MTF) technology is designed to scale for cost-efficient power plants. It uses mechanical compression to create fusion conditions in short pulses, eliminating the need for expensive lasers or superconducting magnets. An MTF power plant is designed to produce its own fuel and inherently includes a method to extract the energy and put it to work.

When commercialized, a single General Fusion power plant will be designed to provide zero-carbon power to approximately 150,000 Canadian homes, with the ability to be placed close to energy demand, minimizing the need for long transmission lines or pipelines and cost competitive with other energy sources.

The company's approach is ideal for repowering existing power generation sites and industrial steam heat use. In its current design, a General Fusion power plant will produce about 300 MWe from two 150 MWe machines running in tandem.

About General Fusion

General Fusion is pursuing a fast and practical approach to commercial fusion energy and is headquartered in Richmond, Canada. The company was established in 2002 and is funded by a global syndicate of leading energy venture capital firms, industry leaders, and technology pioneers. Learn more at www.generalfusion.com .

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A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b2b2bdb5-f4e8-4efd-bcca-308ac5087bfe

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c1b5be61-8e14-4864-bcba-182b868b9c2b
Canada's Brigadoon Village - a summer camp for children living with health and life challenges - gains critical networking support from Cisco volunteers and partners.

By Kevin Delaney

Summer camp is an annual rite for many children - and an opportunity to build social connections and a love of nature.

But for kids with serious health and life challenges, it's not as simple as just driving them off to the country and picking them up a few weeks later.

That's where Brigadoon Village is breaking new ground. Located near Aylesford Lake, Nova Scotia, it's the first facility of its kind in Atlantic Canada and one of the largest pediatric camps in the country. Since 2011, it has hosted thousands of children aged 7-18 who are living with chronic health conditions like Crohn's Disease, cancer, and heart issues. Others face life challenges like the death of a close family member.

The camp offers specialized services and support to ensure a great learning and growth experience.

"We bring kids and youth going through similar challenges together," said Malcolm Elliot, Brigadoon Village's camp director, "so they can have fun, meet others going through the same experiences who understand them on a deep level, and build community and support systems."

Today, around 700 children pass through each summer. And as one happy parent shared, "I can't imagine my child's life without the experience of camp."

But as Brigadoon Village CEO Krista Ballem stressed, creating that great experience demands solid, secure network connections.

"This is a beautiful but somewhat remote location," she said. "Our kids, parents, staff and health professionals need to know they are connected -- and that our organization will run smoothly and efficiently."

Cisco volunteers step in

That's where two enterprising and compassionate Cisco employees - Todd Greenlaw and Andrew McCracken - have made a real difference, by contributing their time, expertise, and Cisco Meraki networking technology.

The two stepped in during the pandemic, when the camp secured funding for a long-overdue physical renovation. But beyond its structures, the network was sorely out of date.

"Their connectivity was really spotty," explained Greenlaw, who is a Cisco engineer based in Halifax. "They had tried dial-up and point-to-point wireless, which didn't work very well. And they even tried satellite for a while. But they're in a very remote area, and consistent connectivity was a real problem."

The Cisco volunteers worked with a local service provider to expand fiber connections, and once that was in place, a full digital transformation was possible.

"They're in a very remote area, with lots of trees and farmland" added McCracken, a Cisco technical solutions architect also based in Halifax. "It's not heavily populated. But once they got fiber connectivity in, we had the opportunity to build out a very robust networking system."

Keeping campers and staff connected and secure

It would be nice to live in a world where hackers don't pick targets like pediatric camps. But given the medical records and private financial data being shared at Brigadoon, the Cisco Meraki security features were critical.

IMP Solutions, a Canadian technical services firm and longtime Gold partner of Cisco, worked with the local team and helped fund the overall IT investment and services. And as IMP vice president of advanced solutions Dave Power explained, security - both cyber and physical - was a prime concern.

"We wanted the camp to get the latest and greatest technology and really address access and security," Power said. "We were concerned with the physical security of the campers themselves. At the same time, Atlantic Canada has been hit hard with breaches. There is medical data being shared at Brigadoon, and cybersecurity around this data was paramount."

The answer to the connectivity and security challenges was the full Cisco Meraki stack.

This included wireless access points deployed throughout the campus, ethernet switches to power the access points and backhaul the traffic to a central location, and Meraki security appliances for perimeter security.

"Cisco Meraki is an industry leader," said Power "So the same technologies that sit in some Fortune 500 companies today are also sitting in that camp."

"We know how drastically important security is," Elliot added. "So, it's nice to feel confident that only people who need access to information will get it."

To make it all happen, McCracken and Greenlaw needed more than just technology. They needed time. Cisco's Time to Give program, which offers employees paid time off to pursue volunteer activities that help communities, provided freedom.

"We used our Time to Give hours," said McCracken. "Growing up in Nova Scotia and spending time in the area around the camps - being parents - Todd and I felt a connection right away. So, we wanted to get involved and help out."

Today, the Brigadoon network is modern, flexible, and having a big impact.

"We were happy to put in the work where it could make such a difference," McCracken said. "We went from almost nothing to a level of connectivity that you'd find in a small city."

Elliot attests that processes at the camp that have been slow and paper based are now streamlined and efficient - everything from onboarding campers to accessing educational (or fun!) content for camp sessions. Not to mention, by making the staff's work as seamless and easy as possible, it frees them to spend more time doing what they do best: supporting the campers.

"I'd just like to say how grateful Brigadoon is for Cisco," he said, "in helping us with our current technology and our connectivity. It's a big part of getting to where we are today."

Ballem agreed.

"We're excited about the future," she concluded. "This technology and support will allow us to collaborate in new ways and keep helping kids have a great camp experience."

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SOURCE: Cisco Systems Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2025) - Bear Creek Mining Corporation (TSXV: BCM) (OTCQX: BCEKF) (BVL: BCM) ("Bear Creek" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to the Company's news release dated March 4, 2025, the bought deal private placement of 64,445,000 common shares of the Company (each, a "Share" and collectively, the "Shares"), at a price of C$0.225 per Share (the "Offering Price") for aggregate gross proceeds of C$14,500,125, has closed (the "Offering").

The Offering was underwritten by BMO Capital Markets, as sole bookrunner, and Canaccord Genuity Corp. (collectively, the "Underwriters"). The Company paid the Underwriters a cash commission of $522,004.50, which is equal to 6.0% of the gross proceeds received by the Company from the issuance and sale of 38,667,000 Shares. No other bonus, finder's fee or commission is payable by the Company in connection with the Offering.

The Shares issued under the Offering are subject to certain resale restrictions including a hold period of four months and a day from the closing date of the Offering.

Each of Sandstorm Gold Ltd. ("Sandstorm") and Equinox Gold Corp. ("Equinox") participated in the Offering. Each of Sandstorm and Equinox purchased 32,222,500 Shares on a gross basis pursuant to the Offering, or 12,889,000 Shares on a net basis after giving effect to Equinox and Sandstorm concurrently disposing of 19,333,500 Shares to an arm's length third-party at the Offering Price immediately prior to the closing of the Offering (the "Concurrent Sale"). The Company did not receive any proceeds from the Concurrent Sale. Prior to the Concurrent Sale and the Offering, Sandstorm and Equinox held 45,492,399 and 25,397,160 Shares, respectively, which represented approximately 19.97% and 11.15%, respectively, of the total issued and outstanding Shares on a non-diluted basis. Following the Concurrent Sale and the Offering, Sandstorm and Equinox hold 58,381,399 and 38,286,160 Shares, respectively, which represent approximately 19.98% and 13.10%, respectively, of the total issued and outstanding Shares on a non-diluted basis. The Offering did not result in the creation of a new "Control Person" (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange). The Concurrent Sale was a condition precedent to the closing of the Offering.

Each of Equinox and Sandstorm are a "related party" of the Company and the Offering will constitute a "related party transaction" (as each term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101")). The Company relies on the specified markets exemption from the formal valuation requirement set forth in subsection 5.5(b) of MI 61-101 and the financial hardship exemption from the minority shareholder approval requirements set out in subsection 5.7(1)(c) of MI 61-101.

The Company intends to use net proceeds of the Offering to support exploration and resource drilling at the Company's Mercedes mine in Mexico ("Mercedes"), to build a ventilation raise bore and secondary escape way at the Marianas deposit at Mercedes to ensure safe production and for general working capital purposes, the latter of which will include reducing Mercedes' trade payables over the next quarter.

Further to the Company's news release dated March 4, 2025, the Company also announces that (i) the amending agreements with each of Sandstorm and Equinox to temporarily defer the payment of interest under certain outstanding debt arrangements; and (ii) the extension of up to US$6.5 million in additional credit to the Company from Sandstorm under an amended and restated secured promissory note (collectively, the "Debt Amendments"), each remain subject to approval and acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company will issue a separate press release upon closing of the Debt Amendments.

The securities that have been offered and sold in the Offering 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 U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or exemptions from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the U.S., nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. "United States" and "U.S. person" are as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Eric Caba

President and Chief Executive Officer

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Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Information and statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information can often be identified by forward-looking words such as "intend" and "will" or the negative of these terms or similar words suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Examples of forward-looking information in this news release include, without limitation: the proposed use of proceeds of the Offering; receipt of approval and acceptance from TSX Venture Exchange regarding the Debt Amendments; and issuance of a press release on closing of the Debt Amendments. These forward-looking statements are provided as of the date of this news release, and reflect predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events based on the Company's beliefs at the time the statements were made, as well as various assumptions made by and information currently available to them.

In making the forward-looking statements included in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to assumptions related to the Company's operating results, business objectives, goals and capabilities. Although management considers the assumptions underlying its forward-looking statement to be reasonable based on information available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.

By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and the risk exists that estimates, forecasts, projections, and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions on which they are based do not reflect future experience. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the expectations expressed in them. These risk factors may be generally stated as the risk that the assumptions expressed above do not occur, but may include additional risks as described in the Company's latest Annual Information Form, and other disclosure documents filed by the Company on SEDAR+. The foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. Investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on behalf of the Company, except as required by law.

In its last reported financial results as of September 30, 2024, the Company had a working capital (current assets minus current liabilities) deficiency of US$93.2 million. The Company's interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended September 30, 2024 were prepared following accounting principles applicable to a going concern, which assumes the Company will be able to continue operations for at least twelve months from September 30, 2024 and will be able to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the ordinary course of operations. As of September 30, 2024, the Company does not have sufficient funds to cover its working capital deficiency and fund ongoing obligations and therefore its ability to continue as a "going concern" is at risk.

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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244080

SOURCE: Bear Creek Mining Corporation
Farmers around the world will have comprehensive access to near-daily satellite imagery of their fields thanks to a new partnership signed between Syngenta, a leading global agriculture technology company, and Planet Labs PBC (NYSE: PL), an important provider of global, daily satellite imagery and geospatial solutions.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250311119905/en/

New level of precision agriculture thanks to renewed partnership between Syngenta and Planet (Photo: Business Wire)

The multi-year expansion of their strategic partnership enables farmers to remotely monitor crop health, detect pest infestations, and identify disease outbreaks. The high-resolution, commercially available satellite imagery is delivered to farmers globally as part of Syngenta's Cropwise digital agriculture platform.

Satellite imagery today plays an essential role in precision agriculture, allowing farmers to monitor plant growth across large areas, identify signs of stress earlier and manage their crops to deliver better yields and outcomes.

The collaboration will expand the current integration of Planet's advanced satellite imagery into Syngenta's Cropwise platform, giving farmers a further powerful tool in their precision agriculture arsenal.

As a result of this agreement, Syngenta Cropwise users can benefit from 3-meter resolution, daily capture satellite imagery of their farms from Planet's Dove satellite constellation, providing frequent visibility and next level agronomic insights even in cloudy areas.

"This partnership will add a new dimension to Syngenta's digital offering for customers", said Jeremy Groeteke, Global Head of IT Digital Strategy at Syngenta. "We will build on top of its already popular remote sensing product set providing key solutions like Variability Index, Productivity Zones, NemaDigital, and Anomaly Detection".

"Syngenta is a pioneer in agricultural innovation, providing security and assurance to farmers around the world," said Planet President and CFO Ashley Johnson. "We are excited about this multi-year collaboration and expansion. With our unique satellite data capabilities and Syngenta's ag-tech expertise, we're looking forward to enabling new applications for agronomists across the industry."

Syngenta will gain expanded access to Planet's high-resolution tasking data, their PlanetScope near-daily satellite data and the Planet Insights Platform to build new applications for broad area management and enable novel research and development initiatives in precision agriculture.

"The challenges that farmers face today are complex, from pest infestations to drought," said Feroz Sheikh, Chief Information and Digital Officer of Syngenta. "We are building sophisticated AI and machine-learning algorithms to help farmers deal with this complexity. At the same time, we are committed to protecting farmers' data rights, ensuring they maintain control over their information. By expanding this collaboration with Planet we will be able to offer the most up to date, high-frequency satellite data to help farmers make better data driven decisions".

This partnership between Syngenta and Planet represents a significant step forward in digitally driven precision agriculture, offering farmers powerful tools to improve crop yields, increase efficiency, and promote sustainable farming practices worldwide.

About Syngenta

Syngenta is a global leader in agricultural innovation with a presence in more than 100 countries. Syngenta is focused on developing technologies and farming practices that empower farmers, so they can make the transformation required to feed the world's population while preserving our planet. Its bold scientific discoveries deliver better benefits for farmers and society on a bigger scale than ever before. Guided by its Sustainability Priorities, Syngenta is developing new technologies and solutions that support farmers to grow healthier plants in healthier soil with a higher yield. Syngenta Crop Protection is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland; Syngenta Seeds is headquartered in the United States. Read our stories and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram X.

About Planet

Planet is a leading provider of global, daily satellite imagery and geospatial solutions. Planet is driven by a mission to image the world every day, and make change visible, accessible and actionable. Founded in 2010 by three NASA scientists, Planet designs, builds, and operates the largest Earth observation fleet of imaging satellites. Planet provides mission-critical data, advanced insights, and software solutions to over 1,000 customers, comprising the world's leading agriculture, forestry, intelligence, education and finance companies and government agencies, enabling users to simply and effectively derive unique value from satellite imagery. Planet is a public benefit corporation listed on the New York Stock Exchange as PL. To learn more visit www.planet.com and follow us on X (formerly Twitter) or tune in to HBO's 'Wild Wild Space'.

Data protection is important to us. You are receiving this publication on the legal basis of Article 6 para 1 lit. f GDPR ("legitimate interest"). However, if you do not wish to receive further information about Syngenta, just send us a brief informal message and we will no longer process your details for this purpose. You can also find further details in our privacy statement.

Syngenta's Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This document may contain forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as 'expect', 'would', 'will', 'potential', 'plans', 'prospects', 'estimated', 'aiming', 'on track' and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. For Syngenta, such risks and uncertainties include risks relating to legal proceedings, regulatory approvals, new product development, increasing competition, customer credit risk, general economic and market conditions, compliance and remediation, intellectual property rights, implementation of organizational changes, impairment of intangible assets, consumer perceptions of genetically modified crops and organisms or crop protection chemicals, climatic variations, fluctuations in exchange rates and/or commodity prices, single source supply arrangements, political uncertainty, natural disasters, and breaches of data security or other disruptions of information technology. Syngenta assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors.

2025 Syngenta. Rosentalstrasse 67, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.

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LARVIK, Norway, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Followinganextensivesix-monthRFPprocess,ABAXGroupAS announced today that its insurance division, "Fair" has selected OCTO Telematics, a leading global provider of AI and risk scoring solutions, to support its rapidly growing portfolio of Usage-Based Insurance (UBI) customers.

This strategic partnership enhances its insurance product with improved AI-powered analytics, enabling more precise risk assessments, optimized pricing, and an improved customer experience.

"AIandUBIarereshapingtheinsuranceindustry,andourswitchtoOctoensureswedeliveramorereliable, high-quality solution.Thisupgrade strengthensourcommitmentto providing trusted,data-driven services for our customers," said Emma Dyga, CEO of ABAX Group.

During the tender process, ABAX thoroughly vetted multiple suppliers and measured results against actual claims. With Octo, ABAX gets a reliable, long-term solution with accurate results and a strong correlation to actual claims. "By integrating a more advanced and better-suited AI-driven risk scoring solutionfromOcto, wearedeliveringimprovedaccuracy, efficiency,andvalueto Fairandpolicyholders alike," adds Jrgen Johansson Skalleberg, CEO of Fair.

"ABAX's commitment to innovation and data-driven insights aligns perfectly with Octo's AI based capabilitiestoenableafullydigital smart mobility ecosystem, enhancingdrivers' safetyandqualityoflife. Together, wearebuilding a transparent, innovative, and fair insurance ecosystem. This agreement is fully inlinewithOcto'sAIstrategy,completelydeviceagnosticandisnow extendingourinternationalfootprint to the Nordics," said Corrado Sciolla, Octo Group CEO.

With this shift ABAX and Fair continues to lead the way in bringing new technology to the telematics and insurance industries, empowering insurers with smarter data and providing customers with personalised, fair, and adaptive insurance solutions.

AboutABAX

ABAX is a leading European telematics IoT platform offering connected mobility solutions for vehicle tracking, tool tracking, and equipment control. Our mission is to provide mobility data insights that help customers optimize field operations, comply with regulations, and achieve significant savings. With over 500,000 tracked assets and 40,000 customers, ABAX delivers reliable and powerful solutions for businesses relying on field workforces, logistics, and heavy equipment. Our advanced platform transforms customer needs into actionable insights and automated reporting, driving efficiency and operational excellence.

About OCTO

For over 20 years, we have been developing integrated solutions that allow us to support our clients in seizing opportunities driven by smart mobility and digital transformation. With an innovative approach based on Artificial Intelligence, we have developed advanced algorithms for crash detection, driver behavior analysis, claims management, and consumption optimization. These solutions enable us to meet the needs of key markets such as insurance and mobility, with a strong focus on modularity and customization.

Our scalable and modular data analytics platform delivers solutions for the Insurtech and mobility markets, helping our partner companies transform the way they manage and grow their business.

Moreover, our clear ESG strategy guides our market proposition, fostering the development of solutions increasingly geared towards energy transition and data-driven urban planning.

OCTO currently serves over 6 million connected users and holds the world's largest telematics database, featuring 610 billion kilometers of driving data and over 525,000 certified claims.

octotelematics.com

Formoreinformationpleasecontact:

Sofia Toll, CMO, ABAX

Email: sofia.toll@abax.com

Phone: +46 70 726 04 59

Adriana Zambon, Media Contact, OCTO Telematics

Email:

Phone: +39 339.3995640

ThisinformationisinsideinformationpursuanttotheEUMarketAbuseRegulation("MAR")andissubject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to MAR article 17 and Section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. This information was published by Sofia Toll, CMO of ABAX at 08:00 CET on the 19thof February.
Xcyte Digital Corp.(TSXV:XCYT) ("Xcyte" or the "Company") is announcing that further to its February 19, 2025, news release ("Status Update"), it is requesting permission from the Ontario Securities Commission ("ASC") to extend its new deadline to file the Company's Annual Filings (as defined herein) for the year ended September 30th, 2024, with the expectation that the auditor will have the Annual Filings complete shortly. We will also file first quarter statements at the same time.

If the extension is granted, a management cease trade order ("MCTO") will remain in effect until the Annual Filings and First Quarter are expected to be completed on or before March 31, 2025.

As previously announced on February 19, 2025 and February 5, 2025, the Company had been granted the MCTO due to an anticipated delay in filing its audited annual financial statements and related management's discussion and analysis, and certifications for the financial year ended September 30, 2024 (the "Annual Filings"), which were due to be filed on January 28, 2025. The delay in filing the Annual Filings is because: (i) this is the first audit the Company has been required to complete since completion of its Qualifying Transaction in November 2023; (ii) MNP was appointed as the auditor of the Company concurrently with the completion of the Qualifying Transaction and, as such, this is the first audit of the Company conducted by MNP; (iii) the Company completed additional acquisitions during its fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, adding complexity to the audit; and (iv) Michael Ertle has only recently been appointed as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company.

The Company is working diligently and expeditiously with MNP in order to complete the Annual Filings as soon as practicable, and currently anticipates that it will be a position to remedy any filing default and return to compliance by completing the Annual Filings and First Quarter on or before March 31, 2025.

The MCTO restricts the Company's CEO, CFO, board and management from all trading in securities of the Company until two full business days following the receipt by the Commission of the Annual Filings, or further order of the OSC. The MCTO does not affect the ability of other shareholders of the Company to trade in securities of the Company. Until the Company files the Annual Filings, it will comply with the alternative information guidelines set out in National Policy 12-203 - Management Cease Trade Orders.

About Xcyte Digital Corp.

Xcyte Digital Corp. (TSXV:XCYT). is a trusted global events technology partner, specializing in next generation event technology for physical, hybrid, virtual, immersive and phone-based events. Combining proprietary technology with a robust partner ecosystem, Xcyte offers both do-it-yourself and managed services, ensuring secure and scalable solutions worldwide. Thousands of clients, from innovative startups to major corporations, rely on Xcyte's cost-effective, multi-platform subscription model to meet their event needs. Xcyte Digital is headquartered in Canada and the USA, with operations across the globe. Visit us at xcytedigital.com.

For more information contact:

Xcyte Digital Corp.

Randy Selman, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Phone: (647) 777 7501

Email: investment@xcytedigital.com

Investor Relations

Nikhil Thadani, Sophic Capital

Email: nik@sophiccapital.com

Phone: (647) 777 7501

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

Certain information contained in this release constitute forward-looking statements or information under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "will", "expects", "anticipates" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. In particular, ?forward-looking ?statements in this release include statements regarding the anticipated timing for the filing of the Annual Filings. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including that the Annual Filings may not be completed in the time anticipated. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, 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. The Company cautions readers of this news release not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this release as many factors could cause actual results or conditions to differ materially from current expectations. Additional information on these and other risk factors that could affect the Company's operations are outlined in the Company's continuous disclosure documents that can be found on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under Xcyte's issuer profile. Xcyte does not intend and disclaims any obligation, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE: Xcyte Digital
Known for Empowering Customers, CONQUERing Earns Recognition for Empowering Its Team

The Business Intelligence Group has named CONQUERing a 2025 Best Place to Work, recognizing the company's commitment to creating a workplace where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired to make a difference.

CONQUERing Team - 2025 Best Places to Work Winner



"This award is a testament to the incredible team we've built at CONQUERing," said Tammy Nelson, Founder & CEO of CONQUERing. "We've always believed a workplace should be more than just a job-it should be a space where people feel empowered to grow, take bold steps, and make an impact. We're proud to cultivate an environment where our employees thrive while creating meaningful jewelry that brings joy to our customers."

Just as CONQUERing empowers customers through its jewelry, it fosters a culture where employees are encouraged to take initiative, think creatively, and contribute in meaningful ways. The company's flexible work arrangements allow team members to pursue their passions-whether performing on tour, continuing their education, or relocating for new opportunities-without sacrificing their careers with the company.

Employees are also empowered to go above and beyond for customers. Whether fulfilling special requests, writing personal notes of encouragement, or surprising customers with a thoughtful gift, the team has the freedom to create memorable experiences that reflect CONQUERing's values. This culture of trust and initiative ensures every customer interaction is infused with authenticity and care.

"At CONQUERing, we believe we can't truly uplift our customers without first supporting our team," said Nelson. "By fostering a workplace where creativity, adaptability, and genuine care for others thrive, we ensure our employees feel supported-both personally and professionally. When our team feels valued and inspired, that passion extends to every customer interaction, making CONQUERing not just a great place to work, but a company that truly cares."

About CONQUERing

Founded in 2020, CONQUERing is a globally recognized, woman-owned jewelry brand known for its interchangeable, fidget-friendly designs that empower its customers. With more than 150,000 customers worldwide, CONQUERing has built a passionate community of individuals who use its jewelry as both a functional tool and a form of self-expression. The company's commitment to innovation, inclusion, and customer connection has fueled its rapid growth, earning it multiple accolades-including recognition from Fast Company's Innovation by Design Awards, special honors at Milan Jewelry Week and a spot on Inc. Magazine's lists of the fastest-growing companies for the past three years. At CONQUERing, the team isn't just designing jewelry-they're creating meaningful connections, celebrating individuality, and inspiring people to conquer each day.

About Business Intelligence Group

The Business Intelligence Group was founded to recognize true talent and superior performance in the business world. Unlike other industry awards, business executives-those with real-world experience-judge the programs. The organization's proprietary scoring system evaluates performance across multiple business domains, rewarding companies whose achievements stand above their peers.

Contact Information

Hallie Montague

Marketing Director

hallie@myconquering.com





SOURCE: CONQUERing
NEW YORK, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- J.F. Lehman & Company ("JFLCO"), a leading private equity firm specializing in the aerospace, defense, government, maritime, environmental and infrastructure sectors, is pleased to announce that an investment affiliate has acquired a majority shareholding of W.S.S. Holding A/S and its subsidiaries ("Wrist" or the "Company").

JFLCO will partner with Wrist's current sponsor, Altor Equity Partners, and the Company's management team, who will both remain significant shareholders as Wrist embarks on its next phase of growth.

Headquartered in Aalborg, Denmark, Wrist is a global leader in marine supply, logistics and budget management services for the maritime industry. The Company excels in sourcing, storing, consolidating and delivering provisions, stores and spare parts to vessels worldwide through its extensive global supply network. With roots dating back to 1953, Wrist employs 2,275 people and operates across more than 35 locations serving more than 750 ports globally.

"Wrist has built a world-class reputation for simplifying the maritime supply chain through its integrated, end-to-end service offerings and efforts to lead the digitization of this sector," said Alex Harman, Partner at JFLCO and a new Director of Wrist. "We are thrilled to partner with the Wrist team as well as Altor and welcome the Company to the J.F. Lehman & Company portfolio."

Will Hanenberg, Managing Director at JFLCO and the new Chairman of Wrist, added: "Wrist is an outstanding fit with our investment strategy. Its strong positioning with blue-chip customers, differentiated logistics capabilities and innovative digital solutions are transforming the maritime supply chain. We are eager to support the Company's growth ambitions and long-term success."

Jens Holger Nielsen, Group CEO of Wrist, commented: "J.F. Lehman & Company brings valuable expertise and resources to help accelerate Wrist's growth journey. We look forward to leveraging their experience and support as we continue our legacy of delivering exceptional, innovative services to customers around the world."

To support the transaction, a Nordic bond offering was coordinated by ABG Sundal Collier, who served as Sole Global Coordinator alongside Danske Bank as Joint Bookrunner, and a revolving credit facility was provided by Danske Bank.

ABG Sundal Collier also acted as financial advisor to JFLCO. Legal counsel for JFLCO was provided by Jones Day and Gorrissen Federspiel, with Thommessen advising on the bond offering and Gorrissen Federspiel advising on the revolving credit facility. Bank of America served as financial advisor to Wrist, with legal counsel provided by Kromann Reumert for the Company and its majority equity holders.

About J.F. Lehman & Company, Inc.

Founded in 1992, J.F. Lehman & Company focuses exclusively on investing in the aerospace, defense, maritime, government and environmental industries. The firm has offices in New York and Washington, D.C.

http://www.jflpartners.com

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The Community Outreach Center (COC), in collaboration with KeyBank, recently hosted a free identity theft workshop as a service to the community, aimed at empowering individuals with essential knowledge to protect against identity theft.

Held February 18, at the Community Outreach Center (FedEx Room) in Monsey, N.Y., the workshop welcomed participants who were eager to learn how to safeguard their personal and financial information.

The event provided attendees with valuable insights on how identity theft happens, the warning signs to watch for and simple steps to secure personal information both online and offline. Participants also discovered effective ways to monitor their credit reports and bank statements and received practical guidance on what to do if they ever become victims of identity theft.

"We are proud to have offered this workshop free of charge as part of our commitment to supporting and educating our community," said Rabbi Hersh Horowitz, executive director, Community Outreach Center. "The workshop was a great success, and the feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive. We are already looking to replicate this workshop during evening hours so individuals who work during the day will have the opportunity to attend as well."

The workshop is part of the Money, Me & Key program, which is designed to provide clients and members of the communities KeyBank serves with the tools and knowledge to help them make the financial moves best in line with their situation and their goals.

"At KeyBank, we believe financial empowerment is key to building stronger communities. Our workshops cover a wide range of topics, from banking basics and how to improve your credit score to buying a car, preventing identity theft and considering home ownership. We're thankful to have such a great community partner in Community Outreach Center," said Gary Wawrzycki, branch manager, Pearl River, KeyBank.

About KeyBank

In 2025, KeyCorp celebrates its bicentennial, marking 200 years of service to clients and communities from Maine to Alaska. To learn more, visit KeyBank Heritage Center. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $187 billion at December 31, 2024. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit?https://www.key.com/. KeyBank Member FDIC.

About Community Outreach Center

Community Outreach Center is Rockland County's (N.Y.) comprehensive resource of guidance, advocacy, hands-on assistance and referrals for a broad range of needs including: social services; affordable and subsidized housing; employment services; senior services; passports, social security cards & documentation; government programs and benefits; and municipal and local government matters. For more information, visit https://coconline.org/.

Photo: KeyBank's Gary Wawrzycki shares tips for preventing identity theft and fraud to an audience at Community Outreach Center in Monsey, N.Y.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from KeyBank on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: KeyBank

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/keybank

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: KeyBank
What CPPCC National Committee members say

China Daily) 14:00, March 11, 2025

Lian Yuming, chief expert of the Three-River-Source National Park Administration

The overall improvement in the diversity, stability and sustainability of the ecosystem in the "Water Tower of China" on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has led to an annual increase of over 6 percent in the oxygen levels of water resources at the Three-River-Source National Park. The Tibetan antelope population has grown from over 20,000 at the beginning of conservation efforts to more than 70,000. Sightings of snow leopards and leopard cats have become more frequent across the three-river-source region  the source of the Yangtze River, the Yellow River, and the Lancang River.

Chen Qingli, head of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League Zhejiang Provincial Committee

With the deepening of equal treatment policies and exploration of new paths for cross-Strait integration, more opportunities are opening up for Taiwan compatriots to pursue their dreams on the Chinese mainland. The momentum for development will only grow stronger. We hope more Taiwan compatriots will seize this valuable opportunity, take part in and experience the vast possibilities of Chinese modernization.

Irons Sze Wing-wai, head of the Federation of Hong Kong Beijing Organizations

The "one country, two systems" principle, implemented after Hong Kong's return to the motherland in 1997, grants institutional support for Hong Kong to consolidate traditional strengths while further integrating into the nation's overall development. As of last year, over 1,400 mainland enterprises have been listed in Hong Kong's stock market, accounting for over 80 percent of the total market value, which shows the Hong Kong financial market's appeal to mainland businesses.

Ho Ion-sang, deputy head of the General Union of Neighbor Association of Macao

The progress of the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Guangdong province, provides not only diversified industrial opportunities for the special administrative region, but also various facilities designed to improve the lives and employment opportunities of Macao residents. The Macao New Neighbourhood project, a complex in Hengqin that has integrated residential, commercial and public service functions following Macao standards, has been warmly welcomed by Macao residents who work or live in the mainland.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES.

Highlander Silver Corp. (CSE:HSLV)("Highlander Silver" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced bought deal private placement, pursuant to which the Company sold 23,000,000 common shares of the Company (the "Shares") at a price of $1.40 per Share for aggregate gross proceeds of $32,200,000, which includes the full exercise of the underwriters' option (the "Offering"). The Offering was conducted by a syndicate of underwriters led by Ventum Financial Corp. (the "Lead Underwriter"), as lead underwriter and sole bookrunner, and including BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., Haywood Securities Inc., National Bank Financial Inc., Canaccord Genuity Corp., Stifel Nicolaus Canada Inc. and TD Securities Inc. (collectively, the "Underwriters").

Daniel Earle, President and CEO, commented, "We are deeply grateful to close our oversubscribed, upsized offering, with the continued support and investment of the Lundin family. I was delighted to be able to participate in the offering alongside my colleagues and all members of the Board, led by Richard Warke and Jerrold Annett. The strength of this financing supports expanding our community hiring and development plans as we prepare to ramp-up exploration activities at San Luis after the rainy season ends in Central Peru."

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to fund the advancement of exploration activities at the Company's San Luis gold-silver project in Peru, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes. The Shares are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day under applicable Canadian securities laws and the Company has entered into a customary lock-up pursuant to which it has agreed not to issue common shares for 120 days without the consent of the Lead Underwriter, subject to limited ordinary-course exceptions. In connection with the Offering, the Underwriters received a cash fee in an amount representing 6.0% of the gross proceeds of the Offering.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the 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 unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

All currency references herein are to Canadian dollar unless otherwise stated.

About Highlander Silver

Highlander Silver is advancing a portfolio of silver exploration and development assets in the Americas, including the bonanza grade San Luis gold-silver project that is located adjacent to the Pierina mine in Central Peru. Highlander Silver is backed by the Augusta Group, which boasts an exceptional track record of value creation totaling over $4.5B in exit transactions, and supported by strategic shareholders, the Lundin family and Eric Sprott. The Company is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") under the ticker symbol HSLV. Additional information about Highlander Silver and its mineral projects can be viewed on the Company's SEDAR+ profile at (www.sedarplus.ca) and its website at www.highlandersilver.com.

Neither the CSE nor the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

For further information, please contact:

Arun Lamba, Vice President Corporate Development

Email: alamba@highlandersilver.com

Cautionary Notes and Forward-looking Statements
International logistics leader reports 10% net revenue gain year over year and in North America, strategic expansion drives revenue growth by 47%

Lauterach, Austria--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2025) - The international transport and logistics company Gebruder Weiss closed the 2024 fiscal year with net revenues of 2.71 billion euros/2.92 billion dollars, representing a ten-percent gain over the previous year (2023: 2.46 billion euros/2.65 billion dollars). "We're firmly on track: despite geopolitical and economic tensions, we gained market share and grew, countering the overriding trend. By investing in our network, automation and digital innovation, we succeeded in expanding our range of services and developing the transport solutions our customers need - with the explicit aim of guaranteeing supply chain stability," says Wolfram Senger-Weiss, CEO of Gebruder Weiss.

In the Air & Sea sector, the group reported the highest increase in revenue with 939 million euros/1.01 billion dollars, a gain of 21 percent (2023: 776 million euros/837 million dollars). This growth was powered by various factors, including the expansion of the networks in the United States and Germany, alongside high transport volumes in transpacific trade. Rising sea freight rates for exports from China to Europe provided an additional boost. Attacks in the Red Sea forced container ships to take the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) instead of through the Suez Canal.

Revenues in the Land Transport and Logistics segment rose by five percent to 1.52 billion euros/1.63 million dollars (2023: 1.45 billion euros/1.56 billion dollars). This figure includes sales generated by the Home Delivery service. Cargoes such as refrigerators and furniture are transported to end customers in Austria and several eastern European countries, implementing a two-man handling service.

DPD Austria, which is partly owned by the Gebruder Weiss parcel service, processed more than 63.2 million parcels last year. This translates into an increase of one million parcels compared to 2023. The main growth drivers were exports and private consumers.

The company's equity ratio remained steady at 60 percent, positioning Gebruder Weiss as a crisis-resistant service provider and a dependable employer. The workforce across the group's 180 locations worldwide rose slightly to 8,700 (2023: 8,600).

Despite the economically challenging environment, the logistics provider adhered to its investment strategy. During the 2024 fiscal year, a total of 124 million euros/129 million dollars were devoted to expansion and modernization measures, environmentally friendly power generation, and e-mobility.

Investments in logistics locations, automation, and digitalization

Gebruder Weiss commenced construction of a modern logistics and IT center featuring a fully automated high-bay warehouse in the immediate vicinity of its corporate headquarters and the Wolfurt freight terminal (Vorarlberg/Austria). A new logistics facility was opened in the southern German town of Straubing, providing Bavaria's industrial and commercial players with efficient transport links to national and global markets. Gebruder Weiss also expanded its locations in Maria Saal (Austria), Aldingen (Germany), Bratislava (Slovakia) and Tbilisi (Georgia). In Budapest (Hungary), an Autostore warehouse was built as part of the site expansion program; here, inbound cargo handling, material flows, and order picking are largely automated.

In North America, revenues grew by 47%, driven in part by strategic expansion across the U.S. Southwest and Intermountain West. The U.S. business acquired air-and-sea freight forwarder Cargo-Link in Salt Lake City, Utah, and opened new branch office locations in Denver, Colorado, and Phoenix, Arizona. These new additions enhanced regional LTL, FTL, and LCL service capabilities and brought the number of company-owned locations in North America to 17. To combat the rise of freight fraud and double brokering, the U.S. team developed a partnership with Highway, a leading carrier identity company. The logistics leader also partnered with Turvo, utilizing its Collaborative Transportation Management System software for greater transparency and efficiency.

Gebruder Weiss has also charted further progress with its digital service palette: The number of customer-based users registering for the myGW portal has risen to 25,000 since its launch in 2020. The platform provides real-time information on all goods flows and gives customers full transparency on the progress of their orders. In 2024, the application's functions were progressively fine-tuned to better meet customers' needs.

Expanding renewable energy and e-mobility

The company took important steps towards decarbonization and climate-friendly power generation. Additional photovoltaic (PV) systems were installed in Hungary and Slovakia. Gebruder Weiss now operates 34 PV systems, which generated some 13,000 megawatt hours of electricity during the last fiscal year. This equals roughly half of the power requirements of all Gebruder Weiss locations worldwide. The increased use of solar energy has led to overall savings of 2,738 metric tons of CO2.

To further reduce CO2 emissions on a sustainable basis, Gebruder Weiss is also reorganizing its own fleet and progressively deploying vehicles with electric drives. In Austria, Hungary, Croatia, and Romania, the logistics company is already utilizing e-transporters to deliver goods ordered online to private households. In Germany, two electric trucks were introduced in 2024, and a further 13 will follow in Austria this year. As an initial step, the logistics provider has already converted a large part of its truck fleet in Austria to hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO), which can potentially reduce CO2 emissions by some 90 percent (compared to diesel fuel).

Wolfram Senger-Weiss explains: "Along with the issues of sustainability, infrastructure, and digitalization, the logistics industry faces numerous other hurdles this year. The persistently weak economy in Europe, new tariffs, and the crisis in the automotive industry are intensifying the competition for many companies. Gebruder Weiss will continue to meet these challenges with a solution- and technology-oriented approach while aligning its general business strategy to the needs of its customers."





The logistics company Gebruder Weiss generated net revenues of 2.71 billion euros in fiscal 2024. (Source: Gebruder Weiss / Schlaghuber)

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In Air & Sea, Gebruder Weiss generated revenues of 939 million euros (2023: 776 million euros) (Source: Gebruder Weiss / Schlaghuber)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Wolfram Senger-Weiss, Gebruder Weiss CEO (Source: Gebruder Weiss / Ohligschlager)

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New electric trucks from Gebruder Weiss for deliveries in Memmingen and Straubing, southern Germany (Source: Gebruder Weiss / Popp)

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About Gebruder Weiss

With its head office in Lauterach (Austria), Gebruder Weiss Holding AG is a global full-service logistics provider with around 8,700 employees and 180 company-owned locations. The business presence in North America includes headquarters in Chicago and offices in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Denver, El Paso, Houston, Laredo, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. The company generated revenues of 2.71 billion euros in 2024. Its portfolio of services includes transport and logistics solutions, digital services, and supply chain management. The combination of digital and real-world expertise enables the Group to respond to customer needs in a swift and flexible way. The family-run organization - with a history going back more than half a millennium - has implemented a wide variety of environmental, economic, and social initiatives. Today, it is also considered a pioneer in sustainable business practices. www.gw-world.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244097

SOURCE: Gebruder Weiss
STOCKHOLM, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- OKR-software Viva Goals, will be shut down on December 31, 2025. Companies using this platform now face the need to find a new solution for managing their OKRs (Objectives & Key Results). To ensure a smooth transition, Noxit offers a comprehensive migration service, so businesses can continue focusing on their goals without interruptions.

Migrate from Viva Goals to Noxit - fast and smooth

Noxit has developed a service for companies looking to migrate from Viva Goals. We manage the entire process, including data migration, onboarding, and employee training. In as little as five business days, companies can start using Noxit's dynamic and user-friendly goal-setting platform.

"Switching systems can feel tricky, but we make it simple. Our team of specialists handles the entire transition, so you can keep working toward your goals," says Sophie Hedestad, CEO of Noxit.

Why companies choose to migrate to Noxit

While Viva Goals will soon disappear, Noxit offers a modern and effective solution for goal-setting. Companies using Noxit experience:

Better communication and coordination of OKRs

Simpler and more inspiring user interface

Higher goal achievement and better results

The market demands modern goal-setting solutions

The OKR market was worth $4 billion in 2013 and continues to grow as companies realize the importance of dynamic goal management. Traditional tools like PowerPoint and Excel are no longer suitable for modern OKR processes. That's why companies are seeking solutions like Noxit, which offers a flexible and user-friendly platform to achieve their goals. Companies looking to ensure a smooth transition from Viva Goals can now book a free demo with Noxit.

About Noxit

Noxit was founded in 2023 with the vision of changing how organizations set and roll out various goals to teams and employees with its Performance platform. Noxit is a leading SaaS solution for strategy execution, OKRs (Objectives & Key Results), and Must Win Battles. Designed to optimize strategy execution and ensure that strategies are turned into actions. With customers worldwide, Noxit helps companies structure, follow up, and accelerate their growth.

Visit us at www.noxit.io

For more information, please contact:

Jullia Pizarro

Email: jullia.pizarro@noxit.io

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2025) - ESGold Corp. (CSE: ESAU) (OTCQB: SEKZF) (FSE: Z7D) ("ESGold" or the "Company") is pleased to present historical analytical results from the 2009 diamond-drilling program at its Montauban property (the "Property") in Quebec. The results reveal the presence of noteworthy near-surface gold, silver, and base-metal mineralization and reinforce the geological rationale for the Company's recent Ambient Noise Tomography (ANT) geophysical survey.

The 2009 drill program was conducted by Excel Gold Mining Inc. ("Excel") over the North and South zones of the Montauban deposit, and confirmed high-grade gold (Au), silver (Ag), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and lead (Pb) mineralization, primarily within 25 metres of surface, with limited deeper exploration beyond 50 metres. Given the demonstrated mineralized system and the potential for significant expansion at depth, ESGold's ongoing ANT survey aims to define the scale and continuity of these known mineralized zones and identify high-priority drill targets down dip and along strike.

Highlights of the 2009 Drill Program

The 2009 drilling campaign comprised 52 drill holes totaling 1,505 metres and primarily tested the near-surface extensions of the North and South zones, which underlie the Property. The drilling intersected multiple high-grade intervals, particularly in gold and silver, with strong zinc, lead, and copper values, confirming the polymetallic nature of the deposit and its correlation to volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits.

Key Highlights:

Shallow Drilling to Date: Historical drilling at Montauban primarily tested to depths of 50 metres, with limited exploration beyond 200 metres, leaving the deposit's projected extent largely untested.

Unlocking Depth Potential: ESGold's ongoing ANT survey will provide high-resolution imaging of mineralized structures to at least 400 metres depth, with the potential to extend deeper based on initial results.

Targeting a Larger System: As VMS deposits commonly occur in clusters, the ANT survey is designed to test for additional mineralization on the Property. The ANT survey will systematically explore the Property's full geological footprint for the first time.

Proven Near-Surface Mineralization: Historical diamond-drilling intersected high-grade gold, silver, and base-metals close to surface, supporting the potential for continuity of mineralization.

Refining the Geological Model: Advanced geophysical imaging will help define high-priority drill targets and expand the Company's understanding of the known deposit's full potential along strike and at depth.

The historical analytical results provide compelling evidence of mineralized continuity at shallow depths, with highlights as follows:

Notable Drill Intercepts from the 2009 Program:





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https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4999/244098_3ffe8124a470fbb3_004full.jpg

(Note: Full drill results are available in Berube (2010*). These drill results are historical in nature, reported by Excel Gold Mining Inc., a previous operator, and have not been independently verified by ESGold. Investors are cautioned that these results should not be relied upon for current resource estimation purposes. The true widths of mineralized intercepts remain unknown.)

* Berube, J.-P., 2010. Rapport de travaux, Sondages au Diamant sur la Propriete Montauban. Rapport prepare pour Excel Gold Mining Inc. par MRB & Associates. Internal Report. 20 pages.

Key Observations:

Significant mineralization near surface, with high gold and silver grades within 25 metres of surface, confirming robust polymetallic mineralization.

Multiple mineralized horizons identified along strike, with evidence suggesting continuity at depth.

Limited drilling beyond 50 metres depth, indicating the potential for projected deeper extension of the mineralized system.

Zinc and lead enrichment, consistent with the geological signature of volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits, with potential for a larger, untapped polymetallic system.

Linking Historical Results to ESGold's Ongoing ANT Survey

ESGold is currently conducting the first-ever systematic deep imaging survey at the Property using ANT technology, with the goal of defining the full scale of the mineralized system and identifying additional drill targets at depth.

The North and South zones, where Excel's 2009 drilling was concentrated, are primary targets for expansion, based on historical high-grade intercepts.

ANT survey is targeting mineralized structures to 400 metre depth initially, with the potential for deeper surveys based on preliminary results.

Given that VMS deposits typically occur in clusters, Montauban remains highly prospective for additional blind discoveries beyond the known mineralized zones.

"The 2009 drill program confirmed the presence of high-grade gold, silver, and base metal mineralization so close to surface, this left unanswered questions regarding the potential for a much larger system at depth," stated Brad Kitchen, President of ESGold. "With modern geophysical imaging now underway, the ongoing ANT survey will allow us to refine our geological model, identify high-priority drill targets, and fully define the extent of mineralization at Montauban both along strike and at depth, setting the stage for a significant discovery."

Andre Gauthier, President of Caur Technologies (provider of the ANT Survey), commented:

"The ANT survey is a transformative tool for exploration, allowing us to visualize subsurface mineralized structures in three dimensions with an unparalleled level of accuracy. Our goal is to integrate historical data with new geophysical insights to better understand the true potential of the Montauban deposit."

Geophysical surveys are not definitive, and the results are still at an early stage of interpretation, with no guarantee of a mineral discovery.

Next Steps & Exploration Strategy

The ANT survey is currently underway and is expected to conclude within 4-6 weeks, providing crucial geophysical data to enhance the understanding of Montauban's subsurface mineralization. Once completed, results will be processed and integrated with historical drilling data to define new high-priority drill targets. Pending financing, ESGold intends to utilize future cash flow from production of the tailings to systematically explore and expand the Montauban resource. This survey serves as a stepping stone for a larger, more expansive drill program, designed to build upon historical intercepts of potential mineralized zones identified through ANT, ultimately working toward defining the full scale of the Montauban deposit.

Cautionary Statement on Historical Data

The drill results presented in this release are historical in nature and were completed by a previous operator. ESGold has not independently verified this data and does not consider it current under NI 43-101 reporting standards. These results are provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for resource estimation or investment decisions.

Qualified Person Statement

The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by John Langton, an independent Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). The historical drill results are sourced from the 2009 Montauban Drill Program Report and are considered relevant, though ESGold has not yet conducted independent verification of the drill-core data.

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 pilot processing plant, media interviews, and opinion-editorial pieces.

Stay connected by following us on X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and joining our Telegram channel.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244098

SOURCE: ESGold Corp.
Vector Media, a leader in the out-of-home (OOH) media and experiential marketing space, is pleased to announce the appointment of Bennett Fogel as President of Sales & Marketing, effective immediately. Fogel brings over two decades of experience in media and advertising, having held senior leadership positions at companies such as Disney, Univision Communications Inc., National CineMedia (NCM), Octopus Interactive, and T-Mobile Advertising Sales.

Bennett Fogel, President of Sales and Marketing



Fogel brings deep expertise in driving organic, sales-led growth. At Univision, Fogel played a pivotal role in repositioning the company as a leading network, securing partnerships with Fortune 500 brands and driving revenue growth from $250 million to over $1 billion. As CRO at NCM, he implemented strategies that repositioned the cinema advertising network and led to record revenues exceeding $450 million. Bennett was most recently the Chief Commercial Officer at Octopus Interactive where he led the firm's commercial strategy and helped to facilitate a successful exit to T-Mobile. At T-Mobile, he then led Strategic Sales for their suite of digital, out-of-home, and promotional add products.

"We are thrilled to welcome Bennett to the Vector Media family," said Chad Silver, CEO of Vector Media. "His extensive experience and proven track record in driving revenue growth and strategic development make him the ideal leader to spearhead our sales and marketing efforts. We are confident that Bennett's vision and expertise will propel Vector to new heights."

Fogel expressed his enthusiasm about joining Vector Media, stating, "I am extremely excited to join a company with such a strong foundation and innovative spirit. Vector offers a unique platform that is well positioned to add high impact media and experiential marketing for brands looking to stand out in this complex and fragmented marketplace. I look forward to working with the talented team at Vector to push the boundaries of what's possible in OOH media and deliver exceptional value to our clients."

This appointment aligns with Vector Media's commitment to innovation and excellence in the media industry. With a presence in over 55 U.S. markets and more than 30,000 advertising faces, Vector continues to connect brands to consumers through its versatile outdoor media platform.

About Vector Media

Founded in 1998, Vector Media is one of the nation's largest private outdoor media companies, specializing in large and small format public and private media opportunities, as well as the creation of interactive brand experiences. The company's current inventory spans over 55 U.S. markets, including each of the top 10 U.S. DMAs and 28 of the top 50 U.S. DMAs, and includes over 30,000 advertising faces, comprised of municipal transit, transit shelters, billboards, wallscapes, airport shuttles, and the only coast-to-coast double-decker advertising network in North America. Vector's rapidly growing experiential division integrates the company's out-of-home assets and other capabilities through the creation of dynamic brand experiences.

Media Contact:

Sara Robinson

Senior Director of Marketing & Events, Vector Media

sara@vectormedia.com

212-557-9405





SOURCE: Vector Media
Enviro Tech Secures EPA Registration for PeraGuard AH to Combat Avian Influenza*

Patented Granular Formulation Expands Your Zone of Protection

Enviro Tech, an Arxada company, has achieved an important milestone that can help alleviate the impact of Avian Influenza. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted a label amendment for PeraGuard AH (EPA Reg. No. 63838-32), permitting label claims on surfaces against Avian Influenza and other animal viruses. This breakthrough positions PeraGuard AH as a vital tool in the fight against Avian influenza, a disease that has devastated poultry operations nationwide.

PeraGuard AH Foot Pan Sanitizer

Entryway Zone of Protection

The Devastating Cost of Avian Influenza

Since 2022, the USDA reports more than 150 million chickens and turkeys have been lost to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the United States. The loss of laying hens has contributed to an increase in egg prices of 52% since last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, underscoring the urgent need for new, more effective sanitation solutions. PeraGuard AH rises to this challenge with its newly expanded label, which includes claims for entryway boot sanitization, general disinfection, and virucidal efficacy against Avian Influenza and other pathogens. This patented dry peracetic acid (PAA) formulation strengthens environmental biosecurity in high-risk areas such as entryways, foot pans, and high-traffic zones.

"PeraGuard AH is not just another solution - it empowers producers to take further steps toward advancing their biosecurity sanitation goals," said Dr. Scott McKenzie, head of tech services, Animal Health North America for Arxada. "PeraGuard AH's ability to combat Avian Influenza directly on surfaces addresses one of the most pressing challenges facing livestock producers today. Establishing a 'zone of protection' at the entryways helps reduce the risk of cross-contamination and supports the biosecurity of entire operations."

How PeraGuard AH Works

PeraGuard AH is engineered with patented controlled-release chemistry that activates upon contact with water. Its concentrated, odorless, and dustless granules cling to boots and shoes, spreading protection throughout barns and facilities. This innovative formulation provides effective disinfection against:

Viruses: Avian Influenza A (H3N2), Infectious Laryngotracheitis Virus, Swine Influenza A (H1N1)

Bacteria: Salmonella, Staphylococcus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa

To learn more about how PeraGuard AH works - download our infographic

A Critical Line of Defense

The amended EPA registration of PeraGuard AH for efficacy against Avian Influenza comes at a crucial time as concerns grow about cross-species transmission from poultry to cattle and other livestock.

PeraGuard AH has already demonstrated its effectiveness in food manufacturing and processing facilities. Its extension into livestock operations advances biosecurity practices across industries.

"The poultry industry has suffered costly losses due to HPAI (High Pathogenic Avian Infection), and new, proven solutions for addressing this challenge are welcome," McKenzie said. "PeraGuard AH is genuinely a game-changer in its effectiveness and versatility. With these new label claims, we are eager to show producers what this innovative new product can do to mitigate Avian Influenza on every part of the farm."

With producers nationwide fighting to protect their flocks from Avian Influenza's devastating reach, PeraGuard AH delivers a new solution through proven scientific excellence.

Availability

PeraGuard AH is available through animal health distributors nationwide. To learn more about this groundbreaking formulation or locate a distributor near you, visit Enviro Tech's website or contact your local sales representative.

About Enviro Tech

Enviro Tech - an Arxada company - is a leading manufacturer and supplier of innovative peroxyacetic acid formulations, delivering wide-ranging solutions that optimize operational efficiencies for keeping food and water safe and environments clean. Enviro Tech provides a complete line of EPA- and FDA-authorized products for a variety of industries, including industrial water treatment, meat and poultry processing, food & beverage, agriculture, animal health, oil & gas, wastewater treatment, and more. Enviro Tech holds 41 EPA registrations, 15 FDA Food Contact Notifications, and 14 U.S. patents.

About Arxada

Arxada is a global science-based specialty ingredients business creating innovative chemistry and solutions. With customers in more than 100 countries, it achieved sales of CHF 2.0 billion in 2023. The company aims to solve the world's toughest preservation challenges by enhancing sustainability with cleaner, greener solutions. Arxada focuses on multiple end-markets, primarily in: Human Health & Nutrition, Home & Personal Care, Paints & Coatings and Wood Protection, providing a broad portfolio of differentiated products and solutions, supported by its science and innovation capabilities, in-depth regulatory know-how and track record in manufacturing and process development. Headquartered in Basel (Switzerland), the company's 3,400 employees contribute to the success of its customers, spanning 24 production sites and 14 R&D centers.

To learn more about Arxada, please visit: arxada.com and Arxada on LinkedIn

*PeraGuard AH is approved for disinfection on hard, non-porous, non-food contact surfaces. See product label for full usage instructions.

Use biocides safely. Review and follow all product label and safety instructions. All product information corresponds to Arxada's knowledge on the subject at the date of publication, but Arxada makes no warranty as to its accuracy or completeness and Arxada assumes no obligation to update it. Product information is intended for use by recipients experienced and knowledgeable in the field, who are capable of and responsible for independently determining the suitability of ingredients for intended uses and to ensure their compliance with applicable law. All trademarks belong to Arxada or its affiliates.  2025 Arxada.

Media Contacts:

Jane Smith

jane.smith@arxada.com

Tel: +1 612-209-9162

David Hlavac

david@belletristcommunications.com

612-427-4430



SOURCE: Enviro Tech, an Arxada Company???
EQS-News: North Peak Resources Ltd. / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

North Peak Engages ICP Securities for Automated Market Making Services



11.03.2025 / 15:12 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2025) - North Peak Resources Ltd. (TSXV: NPR) (the "Company" or "North Peak") is pleased to announce that it has engaged the services of ICP Securities Inc. ("ICP") to provide automated market making services, including use of its proprietary algorithm, ICP Premium, in compliance with the policies and guidelines of the TSX Venture Exchange and other applicable securities legislation. Pursuant to the market-making agreement entered into between the Company and ICP (the "Agreement"), ICP will receive a fee of C$7,500 (plus applicable taxes) per month, payable monthly in advance (the "Service Fee"). The Agreement is for an initial term of four (4) months (the "Initial Term") and shall be automatically renewed for subsequent one (1) month terms (each subsequent one-month term, an "Additional Term") unless either the Company or ICP provides at least thirty (30) days written notice of termination to the other prior to the end of an Additional Term. ICP does not have any interest, directly or indirectly, in the Company or its securities or any right or intent to acquire such an interest at this time, however ICP and its clients may acquire an interest in the securities of the Company in the future. There are no performance factors contained under the terms of the Agreement and no equity incentive compensation or other compensation, other than the Service Fee, is being granted by the Company to ICP in connection with the Agreement. ICP is an arm's length party to the Company. ICP's market making activity services provided to the Company pursuant to the terms of the Agreement will be primarily to correct temporary imbalances in the supply and demand of the Company's common shares. ICP will be responsible for the costs it incurs in buying and selling the Company's common shares, and no third party will be providing funds or securities for the market making activities provided by ICP. ICP Securities Inc. ICP Securities Inc. is a Toronto based Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization dealer-member that specializes in automated market making and liquidity provision, as well as having a proprietary market making algorithm, ICP Premium, that enhances liquidity and quote health. Established in 2023, with a focus on market structure, execution, and trading, ICP has leveraged its own proprietary technology to deliver high quality liquidity provision and execution services to a broad array of public issuers and institutional investors. Clarification Regarding Recent Grant of Options On March 10, 2025, the Company granted 300,000 options to acquire common shares to the CEO of the Company. For clarification, those options expire five years from the date of grant. About North Peak The Company is a Canadian based gold exploration and development company that is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "NPR". The Company is focused on acquiring historic sites, with low cost producing gold and other metals properties, with near term production potential and 8+ year mine life in the northern hemisphere. The Company has acquired an initial 80% interest in the Prospect Mountain Mine complex in Eureka, Nevada (see the Company's May 4, May 23 and August 25, 2023, press releases) (the "Property"). The Company can give no assurances at this time that its properties and interests will fulfil the Company's business development goals described herein. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. For further information, please contact: Rupert Williams, CEO

Phone: +1-647-424-2305

Email: info@northpeakresources.com

Website: www.northpeakresources.com Chelsea Hayes, Director

Phone: +1-647-424-2305

Email: info@northpeakresources.com CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Property and the Company that may be described herein. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the state of the economy in general and capital markets in particular, accuracy of assay results, geological interpretations from drilling results, timing and amount of capital expenditures; performance of available laboratory and other related services, future operating costs, and the historical basis for current estimates of potential quantities and grades of target zones, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the quarter ended September 30, 2024, available at www.sedarplus.ca , many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244099 Click on, or paste the following link into your web browser,to view the associated documents http://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244099

News Source: North Peak Resources Ltd.





11.03.2025 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


Winter Park, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2025) - ADIA Nutrition Inc. (OTC Pink: ADIA), a leader in healthcare innovation and regenerative medicine, is proud to announce the expansion of its workforce with two strategic hires designed to enhance operations and elevate standards in stem cell therapy. These additions reflect ADIA Nutrition's dedication to scaling its Adia Med division with efficiency and innovation as it grows nationwide.

ADIA Nutrition has welcomed a skilled intake nurse to manage patient-facing responsibilities at the Adia Med Winter Park Clinic. At this location, she will handle traditional intake duties meanwhile assisting doctors with patient assessments, medical history reviews, and treatment plan coordination, ensuring a seamless experience for clients seeking regenerative therapies. Beyond Winter Park, she will work directly with doctors to create compliance standards and write best practices for stem cell treatments across all Adia Med locations, relieving them of some administrative workload. This support allows physicians to focus on developing the best procedures for patients and continuously improving the effectiveness of regenerative medicine, ensuring consistent quality and regulatory alignment as the company expands.

Additionally, ADIA Nutrition has promoted Larry Powalisz's intern of three years into a role as the CEO's aide. This trusted team member will take on many individual projects previously managed by Powalisz, including handling marketing efforts and social media strategy, significantly reducing the CEO's day-to-day responsibilities. This shift relieves Powalisz from dealing with specific project details, enabling him to concentrate on the bigger picture-maximizing the reach and success of ADIA Nutrition as it expands its influence in the healthcare sector.

"These hires are a massive boost for ADIA Nutrition," said Larry Powalisz, CEO of ADIA Nutrition. "Our new intake nurse will deliver top-tier care at Winter Park while partnering with our doctors to set compliance and stem cell standards, freeing them to innovate for our patients. Meanwhile, my aide taking on projects, marketing, and social media lets me focus on driving our broader vision and expanding our brand. Together, they're powering our growth and pushing regenerative medicine forward."

These hires come on the heels of ADIA Nutrition's recent successes, including the profitable launch of the Adia Med Winter Park Clinic and plans for nationwide expansion. The intake nurse's collaboration with doctors on compliance and standards will ensure scalable, high-quality care, while the CEO's aide enhances operational agility and visibility, solidifying ADIA Nutrition's leadership in delivering cutting-edge, accessible regenerative therapies.

About ADIA Nutrition Inc.:

ADIA Nutrition Inc. is a publicly traded company (OTC Pink: ADIA) dedicated to revolutionizing healthcare and supplementation. With a focus on innovation and quality, it operates two key divisions: a supplement division offering premium, organic supplements, and a medical division establishing clinics specializing in leading-edge stem cell therapies, including Umbilical Cord Stem Cells (UCB-SC) and Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (aHSCT) treatments. Through these efforts, ADIA Nutrition empowers individuals to live their best lives by addressing nutritional needs and groundbreaking medical treatments.

Website: www.adianutrition.com

Website: www.adiamed.com

Website: www.adialabs.com

Website: www.biolete.com

Website: www.cementfactory.co

Twitter (X): @ADIA_Nutrition

Safe Harbor:

This Press Release contains 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. These statements reflect management's current plans and expectations but are subject to uncertainties and risks that could impact the company's plans, operations, and financial outcomes. A detailed list of risks and factors is available in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and OTC Markets, Inc. OTC Disclosure and News Service. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements based on new information, future events, or otherwise.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/243438

SOURCE: Adia Nutrition Inc.
With a 24% increase in booked meetings from the previous year, attendees and exhibitors are encouraged to begin planning in advance to secure meetings with the most valuable contacts to their business.

Licensing Expo, the world's leading tradeshow dedicated to licensing, IP extension and brand collaborations, sponsored by Licensing International, today opens its Event Planner for the upcoming annual event, taking place May 20-22 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Sponsored by Hangry Petz, The Event Planner is a critical part of the Licensing Expo experience, facilitating connections ahead of the event and serving as the essential tool to help visitors and exhibitors maximize time and productivity at the show. The enhanced digital platform boasts new features for discovery, making it easier than ever before for customers to search for specific brands and intellectual property (IP) to find companies and individuals to book meetings, creating the most return for the on-site experience.

In the platform, visitors and exhibitors gain immediate access to the exhibitor directory and can start booking meetings before schedules fill up. Over 5,000 brands will be represented, including Amazon, Warner Bros. Discovery, Bandai Namco, BBC Studios, CAA, Crayola, Crunchyroll, Hasbro, Jazwares, LEGO, Minecraft, Moonbug, NASCAR, Paramount, Pokemon, Riot Games, Sanrio, SEGA and Sony Pictures, with additional exhibitors confirming each week. Visitor companies registered to date include Walmart, Hot Topic, Abercrombie & Fitch, Lids, Pacsun, Urban Outfitters, Build-a-Bear, Gap Inc. and thousands more.

Participants may also purchase Opening Night Party tickets directly through the platform and add seminars and keynotes directly to personal calendars, making it the ultimate planning tool for a valuable visit to the world's largest licensing event.

"The Event Planner is a critical tool in how Licensing Expo facilitates connections and drives value for our attendees and exhibitors," shares Ella Haynes, Event Director of the Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets. "With smarter matchmaking, immersive digital brand experiences and real-time analytics, we are revolutionizing the way the licensing industry networks and does business. Our goal is to make every interaction at Licensing Expo more meaningful, productive and impactful. These enhancements ensure that Licensing Expo remains the premier destination for licensing professionals worldwide with strategic planning resources available for all."

At Licensing Expo 2024 the platform facilitated over 8,500 meetings, marking a 24% increase from the previous year. The surge in activity provided participants with increased opportunities to explore powerful new connections within the essential licensing sector, discover new IPs prior to the show, and prepare for meetings with licensing executives and brand owners.

"Effective advanced planning for Licensing Expo is crucial for a successful show. With participants literally traveling across the globe to meet with the hundreds of coveted brands exhibiting and attending the show, you cannot underestimate the value of securing meetings in advance," shares the Hangry Petz team. "The Event Planner Platform powered by Hangry Petz brings exceptional value and convenience to all attendees and exhibitors. It serves as the essential channel to make new connections and schedule meetings that will lead to closed deals during and after the show."

This crucial tool allows attendees to explore products and IPs in even more detail prior to scheduling meetings, enhancing networking efficiency by enabling more targeted interactions.

Visitors are strongly encouraged to register early to leverage the platform in advance of the show and benefit from the app's weekly updates. To gain access to the Event Planner, you must be registered for Licensing Expo. Visit www.licensingexpo.com to sign up to attend and receive access to the most up to date contact list.

About Licensing Expo

Launched in 1980, Licensing Expo is the world's largest and most influential annual tradeshow dedicated to licensing and brand extension. Every year, more than 5,000 brands and 16,000 retailers, licensees, manufacturers, distributors, and licensing agents attend Licensing Expo from more than 70 countries. Licensing Expo is a part of the Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets, the licensing industry's leading tradeshow organizer and media partner. Its mission is to provide licensing opportunities around the world by bringing brands and products together.?Connect with Licensing Expo and join the conversation on LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram.

About Global Licensing Group

The Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets, a subsidiary of Informa plc (LON:INF), is the licensing industry's leading tradeshow organizer and media partner. Its mission is to provide licensing opportunities around the world by bringing brands and products together. The following events and information products are produced for the licensing industry by the Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets: Licensing Expo, Brand Licensing Europe, Licensing Expo Shanghai and License Global. Global Licensing Group events are sponsored by Licensing International.

Media Contact

Informa Markets Licensing PR

LicensingPR@informa.com

SOURCE: INFORMA MARKETS - GLOBAL LICENSING GROUP
San Francisco, California--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2025) - As the popularity of online dating continues to increase, so do the risks. With millions of women navigating dating apps daily, safety should be a non-negotiable priority-yet traditional platforms continue to leave users vulnerable to major safety risks. Tea is addressing these problems head-on.

Tea is not a dating app. It's a dating safety platform built exclusively to protect and empower women, equipping them with cutting-edge tools to vet potential dates, verify identities, and make informed choices before ever meeting "their match" in person. Or, on the contrary, do a background check on the guy they just met at the bar in real-time.

Founder Sean Cook launched Tea after witnessing his mother get catfished online by scammers and criminals alike, exposing the glaring safety gaps in modern dating platforms. Determined to disrupt an industry prioritizing swipes over security, Cook created Tea-a dating safety app for women powered by AI-driven safety technology and real-time identity verification tools.

A 2019 ProPublica report conducted with Columbia Journalism Investigations, revealed that over a third of the 1,200 women surveyed had been sexually assaulted by someone they met on a dating app. In 2023, Time Magazine referenced this report, noting that while some platforms require background checks, experts caution that the widespread underreporting of sexual assaults means these measures alone cannot guarantee safety. Tea is tackling this issue head-on, redefining dating safety by giving women control and a powerful community to lean on.

"With millions of women facing online dating risks daily, I knew there had to be a better way," said Sean Cook, Founder of Tea. "Tea was built to provide women with an easy way to instantly vet potential dates without fear. Dating should be exciting, not dangerous-and we're here to revolutionize online dating safety for women."

How Tea is Revolutionizing Dating Safety

Unlike dating apps, the purpose of Tea is to verify the identity of people on match-making apps.

Tea is transforming the way women navigate modern dating, offering a simple yet powerful way to prioritize safety before meeting someone new. Users appreciate the ability to discreetly inquire about past experiences so they can gain peace of mind and make more informed decisions. With its user-friendly design and commitment to transparency, Tea is empowering women to look out for one another like never before.

Real-Time Background Checks & Safety Tools

Reverse Image Search - Catch catfish and fake profiles by dropping a screenshot of your "match" into our Catfish Finder AI.

Phone Number Lookup - Verify if someone has a hidden marriage or concerning history with just their phone number.

their phone number. Background Checks - Access public records, sex offender maps, and criminal history to assess if your date is safe to meet up with IRL.

The Largest Women's Dating Support Network: Built On AI-Driven Safety & Trust

The Tea Party "Group Chat" - A safe, anonymous space where women can share dating experiences, ask for advice, leave honest feedback on past partners, and connect with women nationwide to empower each other with real, unfiltered dating insights-because no woman should have to navigate dating alone.

Tea's advanced identity verification process ensures that only women gain access, preventing lurking exes, bad actors, and fake profiles from infiltrating the safe, private community.

Tea's SafeSip AI Moderation technology automatically detects and removes potentially harmful content to ensure a safe space for users.

A Growing Movement, Not Just an App

Since launching in 2023, Tea has skyrocketed to over 500,000 users, ranked #4 in the App Store, received over 16,000 5-star ratings, and generated $1.6 million in ARR. You can read hundreds of powerful reviews women have left on the app HERE. But its mission goes beyond numbers-Tea is actively making a difference by donating 10% of its profits to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, extending its impact beyond technology.

"Tea isn't just an app; it's a movement. With the power of real-time safety tools and a community of women supporting each other, we're giving women the confidence and security they deserve," said Daniella Szetela, Tea's Chief Marketing Officer and the viral influencer behind @Daniella.Your.BFF, her social media community with over 500,000 women across her social platforms.

With its commitment to safety and innovation, Tea is setting a new standard for dating safety. By prioritizing women's security and leveraging cutting-edge technology, Tea is proving that dating safety isn't optional-it's essential.

Tea is available now on iOS and Android. To learn more, visit https://www.teaforwomen.com/.

###

About Tea

Tea is a first-of-its-kind dating safety platform that equips women with real-time dating safety tools to help women make informed decisions before meeting up with their online matches. Created by Sean Cook after witnessing his mom get catfished in the online dating world, Tea provides AI-driven background checks, catfish detector technology, real-time identification verification, and more -ensuring a safer dating experience. With over 500,000 users and counting, Tea is leading the movement to empower women to take control of their dating safety.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244023

SOURCE: R Public Relations
The "Netherlands 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 gift card market in Netherlands is expected to grow by 6.9% on annual basis to reach US$2.84 billion in 2025. The gift card market in the country experienced robust growth during 2020-2024, achieving a CAGR of 7.6%. This upward trajectory is expected to continue, with the market forecast to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% during 2025-2029. By the end of 2029, the gift card sector is projected to expand from its 2024 value of USD 2.65 billion to approximately USD 3.60 billion.

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.

The Netherlands' gift card market is poised for sustained growth, supported by increasing consumer adoption and evolving retail strategies. The transition towards digital gift cards and their integration into e-commerce platforms reflects broader shifts in payment preferences and shopping behavior. As businesses continue to leverage gift cards for customer engagement and corporate incentives, the market will see further expansion, offering new opportunities for innovation and diversification.

In the coming years, the growth trajectory of the gift card sector will be shaped by advancements in digital payment systems and the continued expansion of online retail. Companies that invest in enhancing digital gift card solutions and align their offerings with evolving consumer expectations will gain a competitive edge. With digitalization at the forefront, businesses prioritizing convenience, flexibility, and seamless integration will be well-positioned to capitalize on the market's expansion.

Competitive Landscape of the Netherlands Gift Card Market

The Netherlands' gift card market is poised for continued expansion, driven by strong consumer demand, increased digitalization, and integration with e-commerce platforms. Established retailers such as Albert Heijn and Jumbo remain key players, while international firms like Blackhawk Network have entered the market through strategic acquisitions. The sector is also shaped by evolving regulations that ensure consumer protection and compliance with financial laws, reinforcing trust in gift card transactions.

Over the next few years, competition in the market is expected to intensify as domestic and international companies focus on innovation and personalization of gift card offerings. Strategic partnerships and acquisitions will likely be crucial in expanding market reach and diversifying product portfolios. Businesses that invest in enhancing digital solutions, adapting to regulatory changes, and aligning with consumer preferences will be well-positioned to capitalize on growth opportunities in the Netherlands' dynamic gift card industry.

Key Players and Market Share

The Dutch gift card market features prominent retailers such as Albert Heijn, Jumbo, Lidl Plus, Aldi, Action, Dirk, Coolblue, and Kruidvat, all offering gift card programs to enhance customer engagement and loyalty.

In addition to these established players, international companies like Blackhawk Network have entered the Dutch market through acquisitions, such as the purchase of DIDIX Gifting Promotions, a Netherlands-based firm specializing in leisure-themed gifts and promotions.

Consistent Market Expansion

Both the retail and corporate sectors are playing a significant role in sustaining this growth. Consumer preference for gift cards as a practical gifting solution and businesses leveraging them for promotions and employee incentives are key contributors to this upward trajectory.

Gift cards are expected to become a more integral part of both consumer spending habits and corporate reward programs. This steady expansion will likely encourage further diversification and innovation in gift card offerings, allowing businesses to explore new use cases and distribution models.

Shift Toward Digital Gift Cards

Consumers in the Netherlands are increasingly opting for digital gift cards over traditional physical ones. This shift is aligned with the broader digitalization trend in payment solutions worldwide.

The widespread use of smartphones and enhanced internet accessibility have made digital gift cards more convenient. Consumers appreciate the immediacy of digital delivery and the ease of redeeming these cards online or in stores.

The adoption of digital gift cards is expected to grow further, resulting in a decline in demand for physical alternatives. Retailers and service providers may continue investing in digital gift card platforms, optimizing user experiences, and introducing new functionalities to meet evolving consumer expectations.

Integration of Gift Cards with E-Commerce Platforms

E-commerce platforms in the Netherlands increasingly embed gift card solutions into their payment and promotional offerings. This integration allows consumers to conveniently purchase and redeem gift cards as part of their online shopping experience.

The rapid growth of e-commerce and changing consumer shopping behaviors are prompting retailers to diversify their payment options. Gift cards offer flexibility and contribute to customer retention by incentivizing repeat purchases.

As e-commerce expands, integrating gift cards into online retail platforms will likely become more widespread. This shift will enhance the appeal of gift cards, drive higher sales volumes, and improve consumer engagement in digital marketplaces.

Anticipated Market Evolution (Next 2-4 Years)

Over the next 2-4 years, the Dutch gift card market is expected to become more dynamic, with established players and new entrants innovating to capture market share. The continuous growth of e-commerce and digital payments will likely drive further advancements in platform features and user experiences.

Companies may focus on personalized and versatile gift card solutions to meet evolving consumer preferences. Additionally, strategic partnerships and potential mergers could reshape the market, enhancing competitiveness and expanding market reach.

Regulatory Changes

In the Netherlands, gift cards are subject to specific regulations to ensure consumer protection. Notably, gift cards must have a minimum validity of five years; if no expiration date is specified, the card is considered valid indefinitely.

Additionally, under the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act, the user must be identified and verified if a gift card's total monetary value exceeds 150 or an online gift card payment exceeds 50. This regulation aligns with European directives implemented into Dutch law.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 325 Forecast Period 2025 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $2.84 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $3.6 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.1% Regions Covered Netherlands

Companies Featured

Albert Heijn

Jumbo

Lidl

Plus

Aldi

Action

HEMA

Cool Blue

Blokker

Media Markt

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/eh6v2s

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.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250311264077/en/

Contacts:

ResearchAndMarkets.com

Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



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Incentives on New Energy Efficient Water Heater Installation or Replacement

Hunt's Services, a well-known provider of water heater repair and replacement services in the Puget Sound region, is excited to announce a new offer: customers who schedule their same-day water heater installation or replacement will receive $100 off their service.

Hot Water Heaters Traditional Tankless



As home systems age, homeowners can face unexpected hot water outages. Hunt's Services aims to ease this burden by providing immediate assistance and expert service while helping customers save on these incredibly important home repairs.

"We understand how inconvenient a broken water heater can be, especially since families rely on hot water for their daily routines," said Faruk Oyebanjo, Marketing Director at Hunt's Services. "Our goal is to provide fast, reliable service and offer meaningful savings to our customers."

Hunt's Services has built a reputation for exceptional service, skilled technicians, and upfront pricing. The company's licensed professionals can handle water heater installations and replacements with speed and precision, so there's minimal disruption to homeowners. They carry top brands like AO Smith, Bradford White, Navien, Rinnai, and Rheem, too, so customers can expect their new water heaters to last for years.

The company also believes in energy efficiency and sustainability through offering a line of high-efficiency water heaters that can help homeowners reduce their utility bill in the long term. Homeowners can choose from traditional tank-style models or tankless water heaters, both of which provide reliable hot water solutions based on their specific requirements. Hunt's Services wants to help customers make the proper choice so that they get the right system for their home and pocket.

This $100 off same-day installation or replacement offer applies to all residential customers who call before noon on the day they request service. The promotion shows Hunt's commitment to prompt and affordable service when customers need it most.

HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and sewer specialty business Hunt's Services is well-known for its speedy response, high-quality work, and customer-driven service. Dedicated to superior customer satisfaction, Hunt's Services features open pricing, professional expertise, and quick service. It continually invests in employee training and the latest industry technology to ensure its dedication to excellence.

For more information, please visit www.huntsservices.com.For more information or to schedule service, customers are encouraged to contact Hunt's Services directly at 253-533-7500 or visit www.huntsservices.com.

About Hunt's Services

Hunt's Services is a licensed and insured full-service home services company based in Tacoma that also serves Seattle, along with other parts of Pierce, King, and Thurston counties. As an expert in plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and sewer services, Hunt's Services has built a reputation for fast response, quality craftsmanship, and customer priority. The company strives to offer quality home repair and installation services, with the aim of providing comfort and safety for every client.

Dedicated to excellence in customer satisfaction, Hunt's Services prides itself on upfront pricing, professional expertise, and timely service. The company continually invests in training its technicians and purchasing the newest technology in the field to uphold its commitment to excellence.

Contact Information

Faruk Oyebanjo

Marketing Manager

faruk@huntsservices.com

253-533-7500





SOURCE: Hunt's Services
Mondi Plc - Mondi launches EUR600 million Eurobond

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, March 11

Mondi plc

(Incorporated in England and Wales)

(Registered number: 6209386)

LEI: 213800LOZA69QFDC9N34

LSE share code: MNDI ISIN: GB00BMWC6P49

JSE share code: MNP

11 March 2025

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS (AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933) OR IN OR INTO ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW

Mondi launches 600 million Eurobond

Mondi has successfully launched a 600 million, 8-year Eurobond. Proceeds of the issue, which is due to close on 18 March 2025, will be used for general corporate purposes.

The Eurobond matures in May 2033, has a coupon of 3.75%, and an application will be made for it to be admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange's regulated market. The joint book-runners for the issue were BNP Paribas, Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, SEB and UniCredit.



The Eurobond will be issued under Mondi's Euro Medium Term Note (EMTN) programme, which is rated Baa1 by Moody's and A- by Standard and Poor's.



Mike Powell, CFO, Mondi Group, said "We are pleased to have successfully launched a 600 million Eurobond today, which was supported by a wide range of European investors. This bond will extend our debt maturity profile and further strengthen the Group's liquidity position."

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS (AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE "SECURITIES ACT")). THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL SECURITIES OR THE SOLICITATION OF ANY OFFER TO BUY SECURITIES, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY OFFER OF SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

This communication is directed only at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom, (ii) persons in the United Kingdom who have professional experience in matters related to investments and who are investment professionals within the meaning of Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended) of the United Kingdom (the "Financial Promotion Order"); (iii) persons who fall within Articles 49(2)(a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.") of the Financial Promotion Order; and (iv) any other persons to whom this communication may otherwise lawfully be directed (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). This communication must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in the United Kingdom. Any investment or investment activity to which this communication relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons. This communication must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons.

Enquiries

Fiona Lawrence +44 742 587 8683

Group Head of Investor Relations

Richard Smith +44 7764 359140

Group Treasurer

Editor's notes

Mondi is a global leader in packaging and paper, contributing to a better world by producing products that are sustainable by design. We employ 22,000 people in more than 30 countries and operate an integrated business with expertise spanning the entire value chain, enabling us to offer our customers a broad range of innovative solutions for consumer and industrial end-use applications. Sustainability is at the centre of our strategy, with our ambitious commitments to 2030 focused on circular driven solutions, created by empowered people, taking action on climate.

In 2024, Mondi had revenues of 7.4 billion and underlying EBITDA of 1.0 billion. Mondi is listed on the London Stock Exchange in the ESCC category (MNDI), where the Group is a FTSE100 constituent. It also has a secondary listing on the JSE Limited (MNP).

Sponsor in South Africa: Merrill Lynch South Africa Proprietary Limited t/a BofA Securities.
The "HealthX Intelligence 2025" conference has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The HealthX Intelligence 2025 conference is the premier event for healthcare professionals looking to stay at the cutting edge of technology. This two-day event features keynote speakers from top technology companies, hospitals healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies, investors, government agencies, and tech start-ups and the event will provide attendees with an immersive experience that explores how artificial intelligence, automation, machine learning and data analytics can be used to revolutionize healthcare delivery and patient care.

From emerging technologies to successful implementations, this unique conference provides valuable insights into current trends in healthcare innovation. Participants will have the opportunity to explore various case studies, present their research findings, interact with experts in the field, and develop new collaborations.

Additionally, they can learn about emerging technologies that could potentially revolutionize healthcare delivery systems in the years ahead. With HealthX Intelligence 2025, you'll have the knowledge and tools to ensure that your organization is well-prepared for what lies ahead in the world of healthcare. Join us to experience the possibilities for Healthcare Innovation in 2025 and beyond.

KEY DISCUSSIONS WE'LL BE EXPLORING

Digital Health Adoption Implementation Strategies

Artificial intelligence (AI) in health systems

Machine learning and deep learning applications

Health Data analytics and predictive modelling

Utilizing Big Data for More Effective Population Health Management

Cloud Technologies

Automation and robotics in healthcare delivery

Intelligent medical devices and wearable technology

Electronic health records (EHR) and healthcare information systems

Telemedicine and remote patient monitoring

Clinical decision support systems

Natural language processing (NLP) and voice recognition in healthcare

Health data privacy and security in the age of automation

Patient engagement and personalized medicine

Healthcare process optimization and workflow automation

Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) and connected healthcare

Blockchain applications in healthcare

Integrated Care Platforms

Ethical and regulatory considerations in healthcare automation

Digital Leadership

Impact of Technology in Home Healthcare

Who Should Attend:

Healthcare Professionals

Technology Experts

Healthcare Providers

Investors Government Agencies

Tech Startups

Researchers in Artificial Intelligence and Automation

Data Analysts Analytics Specialists

Clinical Managers Administrators

Wearable Technology Developers

IT Professionals Working With Big Data

Robotics Engineers

Medical Device Manufacturers

Entrepreneurs Pursuing Innovative Solutions in the Healthcare Industry

For more information about this conference visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/7d9493

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.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250311667377/en/

Contacts:

ResearchAndMarkets.com

Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470

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For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900
NORWICH, England, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- RefrigiWear, the leading manufacturer of insulated industrial workwear, accessories, and personal protective equipment, today announced the acquisition of the Fortdress Group, based in Wilnsdorf, Germany, making it part of the RefrigiWear Family, alongside FlexiTog, Goldfreeze and Tessuto. The acquisition of the Fortdress Group, which is one of Europe's largest suppliers for insulated workwear, expands RefrigiWear's European footprint and underscores the company's commitment to protecting European personnel working in refrigerated environments.

The Fortdress Group, which also includes the Cold Tex brand from the Netherlands that they purchased in 2024, has a long reputation of delivering high-quality, innovative products that protect workers in extreme conditions. This includes environments, sometimes well-below freezing, in the cold chain that are necessary to protect and deliver temperature-sensitive products, including food, to consumers safely.

"It is RefrigiWear's mission to provide first-class, warm safety apparel that protects hard-working men and women as they produce, store and deliver food to consumers around the world," states Ryan Silberman, CEO of RefrigiWear. "Their work is critical, and we are proud to now be the largest provider in the world for this space, with the largest product offering dedicated to keeping people warm, safe, and productive as they do their important jobs."

The Fortdress Group acquisition follows the purchases of FlexiTog (UK, 2024), Tessuto (Netherlands, 2024) and Goldfreeze (UK, 2025) made by the company in Europe. The products from all the company's brands, both in Europe as well as in North America, are used widely in food production and distribution facilities that operate in cold temperatures. They are also used in outdoor work environments where wet weather and cold temperatures are major challenges to safety and productivity.

"Ensuring we can deliver quality products and excellent services is a part of our DNA," continues Silberman. "As a large, well-established and trusted brand, Fortdress will help us reinforce that dedication to customers worldwide."

About RefrigiWear, LLC

Founded in 1954 by Myron Breakstone, RefrigiWear makes the toughest workwear for the toughest workers and for the coldest conditions. With a long history rooted in real-world experience, RefrigiWear understands the challenges of working in extreme cold, helping the company deliver high-quality insulated workwear that stands up to the coldest, dirtiest, harshest conditions imaginable. All RefrigiWear brands focus on providing the highest-quality workwear and best overall value. RefrigiWear is based in Dahlonega, GA. Learn more at pro.refrigiwear.com.

Contact:

sales@flexitog.com

FlexiTog UK Ltd, The Granary Business Park, School Road, Neatishead, NR12 8BU, UK, (+44) 1692 400 300

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Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2025) - Digital Silk, an award-winning agency focused on creating brand strategies, custom websites, and digital marketing campaigns, is shedding light on the potentially transformative role of AI-powered chatbots in reshaping e-commerce experiences for Miami-based businesses.





* AI chatbots aim to reshape the future of e-commerce

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10732/244112_digitalsilkaiimage.jpg

As online shopping continues to dominate consumer behavior, AI chatbots have emerged as a potential game-changer in customer engagement, support, and sales conversions. According to Statista, the U.S. e-commerce market is projected to surpass $1.1 trillion in revenue by 2025, reflecting a surge in digital-first consumer habits. AI chatbots aim to be at the forefront of this shift, offering seamless automation, personalized recommendations, and real-time customer assistance-factors with the goal of potentially boosting user satisfaction and revenue.

The AI Chatbot Advantage in Miami's E-Commerce Scene

With Miami becoming a hotspot for tech and e-commerce innovation, businesses are increasingly integrating AI-driven solutions to aim to enhance digital storefronts. Chatbots equipped with natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning algorithms are not just handling customer inquiries but also aim to drive personalized shopping experiences, automate order tracking, and reduce cart abandonment rates.

"AI chatbots are no longer just an add-on; they aim to be an essential component of a successful e-commerce strategy. With real-time data processing and personalized responses, they create a seamless and engaging customer journey, with the goal of ultimately boosting sales and customer retention," says Ana Margarida Meira, Partner and Vice President of Client Relations at Digital Silk.

Key potential benefits of AI-powered chatbots for Miami's e-commerce brands include:

24/7 Customer Support - AI chatbots provide instant assistance, reducing response times and aiming to increase customer satisfaction.

- AI chatbots provide instant assistance, reducing response times and aiming to increase customer satisfaction. Personalized Shopping Recommendations - Leveraging customer data, chatbots suggest tailored products, potentially boosting conversion rates.

- Leveraging customer data, chatbots suggest tailored products, potentially boosting conversion rates. Streamlined Checkout Processes - AI bots aim to help reduce friction in the checkout process, potentially lowering cart abandonment.

- AI bots aim to help reduce friction in the checkout process, potentially lowering cart abandonment. Cost-Effective Operations - Automating support functions aims to allow businesses to scale without increasing overhead costs.

Digital Silk's Expertise in AI-Integrated Web Design

Digital Silk has worked with numerous brands to develop high-performing e-commerce websites that integrate AI technologies. By designing intelligent chatbot functionalities and optimizing user experience, the agency aims to have brands leverage AI to potentially increase engagement and drive sales.

As Miami's digital landscape continues to evolve, businesses embracing AI-powered chatbots are potentially positioning themselves ahead in an increasingly competitive market.

About Digital Silk

Digital Silk is a Miami full-service web design agency specializing in AI-driven e-commerce solutions. With a team of seasoned experts, Digital Silk delivers industry-leading digital experiences through strategic branding, cutting-edge web design, and data-driven digital marketing aiming to drive conversions and customer engagement.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244112

SOURCE: Digital Silk
LONDON, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hexaware Technologies, a global leader in IT, AI, and digital solutions, announces the inauguration of its global business headquarters in Jersey City today. The ceremony features New Jersey's Lieutenant Governor, Tahesha Way, along with Taylor Bodman, Partner at Brown Brothers Harriman (BBH), and R. Srikrishna, CEO of Hexaware Technologies. Esteemed clients, partners, and industry leaders will attend the launch.

The inauguration of the new global business headquarters, located at 185 Hudson Street (24th Floor), Jersey City, NJ, marks a significant step in Hexaware's U.S. growth strategy. It reinforces the company's commitment to expanding its North American presence and driving digital transformation across industries.

R. Srikrishna, CEO of Hexaware Technologies, highlighted the significance of this expansion: "The headquarters represent Hexaware's next phase of growth and affirms our commitment to being closer to our clients, driving deeper collaboration, and delivering transformative solutions at scale. Jersey City provides the perfect environment for innovation, talent, and business growth, and we are excited about the opportunities this move brings."

Governor Phil Murphy emphasized New Jersey's role as a thriving technology hub: "Hexaware's decision to establish its global business headquarters in Jersey City is a testament to New Jersey's growing reputation as a hub for global innovation and technology. We are proud to welcome a company that is driving digital transformation on a global scale while creating opportunities within our state's thriving tech ecosystem."

Lt. Governor Tahesha Way expressed her enthusiasm in welcoming the global technology leader to New Jersey: "We are thrilled that Hexaware has recognized New Jersey as the ideal location for its global business headquarters. A world leader in IT, AI, and digital solutions, Hexaware has a proven record of providing premier global technology and business process services. As we continue to reclaim our legacy as the original Silicon Valley, we are honored to serve as Hexaware's headquarters for innovation and technology."

The global business headquarters will serve as a hub for AI-led automation, cloud transformation, and customer-centric digital solutions, supporting enterprises in optimizing operations and accelerating innovation.

Taylor Bodman, Partner at Brown Brothers Harriman (BBH), Hexaware's client for 20 years and neighbor in 185 Hudson Street, also welcomed the company's move: "We are delighted to welcome Hexaware to 185 Hudson Street. Their leadership in digital transformation and AI solutions aligns well with Jersey City's reputation as a center for financial and technological excellence. We look forward to having Hexaware next door as we continue our collaboration which has stood the test of time over the past two decades."

With a presence in over 34 countries, Hexaware continues to deliver innovative digital solutions for enterprises worldwide.

The inauguration event includes an exclusive luncheon with Global 2000 clients and industry executives, offering attendees a first look at Hexaware's vision for the future of technology and business transformation.

For more information about Hexaware and its services, visit www.hexaware.com.

About Hexaware Technologies

Hexaware is a global technology and business process services company. Every day, Hexawarians wake up with a singular purpose: to create smiles through great people and technology. With this purpose gaining momentum, we are well on our way to realizing our vision of being the most loved digital transformation partner in the world. We also seek to protect the planet and build a better tomorrow for our customers, employees, partners, investors, and the communities in which we operate. With offices across the world, we empower enterprises to realize digital transformation at scale and speed by partnering with them to build, transform, run, and optimize their technology and business processes.

For more information, please visit https://hexaware.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2639280/Hexaware_Technologies_Ltd_1.jpg

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Co-Founder and CEO of Huntington Learning Center Honored for Pioneering Educational Excellence, Expanding Access to Learning, and Championing Women in Leadership

Huntington Learning Center is proud to announce that its Co-Founder, CEO, and Board Member, Eileen Huntington, has been named to Inc.'s 2025 Female Founders 500 , a prestigious honor celebrating the most inspiring and innovative women entrepreneurs of the year. This recognition highlights Eileen's outstanding leadership, commitment to student success, and transformative impact in the education industry.

Since co-founding Huntington Learning Center in 1977, Eileen has revolutionized the tutoring and test preparation space, helping over a million students nationwide achieve academic success. Under her leadership, Huntington Learning Center has become the nation's leading provider of K-12 tutoring and test prep services, with close to 300 locations across 41 states.

In the past year alone, Eileen has spearheaded groundbreaking initiatives that expanded educational access and innovation. Huntington Learning Center's Public-Private Partnerships division grew to 23 states, providing critical academic support to underserved communities, including immigrant students and those in foster or juvenile care. The company also launched AI-powered adaptive curricula and virtual classroom tools, further personalizing student learning experiences.

Eileen's leadership extends beyond business growth; she has been a driving force for women in entrepreneurship and leadership. Today, 68% of Huntington Learning Centers are led by women, a testament to her dedication to fostering female leadership in business. She also works alongside her daughter, Anne Huntington Sharma, to inspire future generations of female leaders.

"I am incredibly honored to be recognized by Inc. as a Female Founder," said Eileen Huntington. "This award is not just a reflection of my journey but a testament to the hard work of our entire Huntington Learning Center team. Our mission has always been to give every student the best education possible, and this recognition motivates me even more to continue driving impact and innovation in education."

The Inc. Female Founders list celebrates trailblazing women entrepreneurs who have demonstrated resilience, innovation, and leadership over the past year. This year's honorees were selected based on business growth, social impact, and industry influence. Past recipients include notable figures such as Billie Jean King, Sallie Krawcheck, and Serena Williams.

As Huntington Learning Center continues to evolve, Eileen remains committed to expanding educational access, fostering leadership opportunities for women, and ensuring students nationwide have the resources they need to succeed.

In addition to this incredible honor, Huntington Learning Center has also been recognized as a Top Franchise for Women in 2025 by Franchise Business Review. This distinction underscores the company's commitment to empowering female entrepreneurs, with 68% of Huntington Learning Centers owned and operated by women. The ranking is based on direct feedback from female franchisees, evaluating key areas such as owner satisfaction, company culture, leadership, and support. This recognition highlights Huntington's ongoing dedication to fostering opportunities for women in business and education.

For more information about Huntington Learning Center, visit the website here .

About Huntington Learning Center

Huntington Learning Center is the nation's leading tutoring and test prep provider. We offer customized programs in person, online, and hybrid options. Our certified teachers provide individualized instruction in phonics, reading, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. We prep for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington's programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Huntington is accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.HuntingtonHelps.com

Contact Information

Huntington Learning Center

hlc@mbpconsultants.com





SOURCE: Huntington Learning Center
Lake Forest, California--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2025) - Still Water Wellness Group, a leading mental health and substance abuse treatment center located in Orange County, California, is proud to announce the launch of its new alcohol and drug addiction treatment programs at its renowned Orange County Rehab facility. This initiative is set to enhance the recovery journey for individuals battling addiction, offering a comprehensive suite of services tailored to meet diverse patient needs.





Still Water Wellness Orange County Rehab Facility

The new programs at their Orange County Rehab are designed to provide a continuum of care that supports patients at every stage of their recovery journey. From medical detoxification to intensive outpatient programs (IOP) and partial hospitalization programs (PHP), Still Water Wellness Group ensures that each patient receives personalized care in a supportive environment. The facility also offers a sober living program to aid patients in transitioning back into everyday life after completing rehab.

"Our mission is to provide a safe and nurturing environment where individuals can begin their journey to recovery," said Clint Kreider, Clinical Director of Still Water Wellness Group. "With the introduction of these new programs at our Orange County Rehab, we are committed to offering the highest quality of care to those in need."

Located in the heart of Orange County, the rehab facility is equipped with state-of-the-art amenities and staffed by a team of experienced professionals dedicated to helping patients achieve lasting recovery. The center's holistic approach to treatment addresses not only the physical aspects of addiction but also the psychological and emotional components, ensuring a well-rounded recovery process.

Still Water Wellness Group's new treatment offerings are a testament to its commitment to innovation and excellence in the field of addiction recovery. By expanding its services, the organization aims to reach more individuals in need of support and provide them with the tools necessary for a successful recovery.

For more information about the new programs at Orange County Rehab and how they can benefit those struggling with addiction, interested parties are encouraged to reach out to Still Water Wellness Group directly.

About Still Water Wellness Group

The Still Water Wellness Group is a mental health and substance abuse treatment center that's located in Orange County, California. Our Medical detox is for patients just getting started with their recovery from an addictive substance. Our intensive outpatient program (IOP) involves spending your nights at home but your days at our treatment center. Our partial hospitalization program (PHP) is the perfect fit for the patients who aren't interested in living at our treatment facility full-time. Our sober living program is designed to support the needs of patients who have completed rehab and are ready to begin transitioning back into the real world. Your Recovery for alcohol and drug addiction starts here at our addiction treatment facility.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244136

SOURCE: Still Water Wellness Group
BH Macro Limited - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, March 11

BH Macro Limited (the "Company")

(a closed-ended collective investment scheme established as a company with limited liability under the laws of Guernsey with registered number 46235)

Transaction in Own Shares

11 March 2025

BH Macro Limited (the Company) announces today it has purchased the following number of its ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange from J.P. Morgan Securities plc:

Ordinary Shares: - Share Class Sterling Date of purchase: 11 March 2025 Number of ordinary shares purchased: 178,280 Lowest price per share (pence) 380.00 Highest price per share (pence) 383.50 Trading venue London Aggregate volume per date per trading venue: 178,280 Weighted average price per day per trading venue (pence): 381.8328

The Company intends to hold the purchased shares in treasury.

Following the above share transactions of the relevant US Dollar and Sterling Shares, the total number of shares in issue in each share class of the Company will be as follows:

Ordinary Shares in issue (excluding Treasury) Ordinary Shares held in Treasury 339,389,457 Sterling Shares 36,351,254 Sterling Shares 27,132,086 Dollar Shares Nil Dollar Shares

From 11 March 2025, the total number of voting rights in the Company (rounded up to the whole number) is 519,878,556.

Enquiries:

Company website: www.bhmacro.com

William Simmonds

JPMorgan Cazenove

Tel: 020 7588 2828

The Company Secretary

Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited

Tel: 01481 745001
Regulatory News:

emeis (Paris:EMEIS) and the real estate asset manager NLV have signed a partnership, to support the expansion of emeis Group in the Netherlands, and marking NLV's first investment in healthcare real estate. This agreement represents a significant milestone for both partners in Netherlands aiming to develop 25 new residential care facilities over the next four years.

For emeis Group, this partnership enables to continue the expansion of its well performing activities in the Netherlands, whilst real estate development capex will be supported by its partner NLV.

For NLV, the partnership with emeis (through Dagelijks Leven, a fully owned emeis subsidiary specializing in small-scale residential care complexes for people with dementia), marks the start of a broader strategic expansion into healthcare real estate within NLV's portfolio.

Sale-lease-back agreement for 25 projects in the 4 coming years

The investment involves a sale-lease-back agreement whereby NLV will purchase the new construction pipeline from the Dutch subsidiary of the emeis Group, that will then lease back the assets, as operator, on a long-term basis. The initial agreement includes 25 new construction complexes expected to be completed in the 4 coming years, with the possibility of further expansion in the future, using the "forward sale" scheme. This operation will enable the emeis Group to expand its activities in the Netherlands, in a market segment expected to meet very strong demand in the coming years.

Long-term strategy and social impact

The emeis residential care complexes operating under the name Dagelijks Leven provide high-quality care for people with dementia. The homes are offered at social rent level, making them accessible, for people relying solely on a state pension (AOW). This investment fits perfectly with NLV's mission to contribute to socially responsible real estate projects that provide both financial and social returns.

The entry into healthcare real estate is part of NLV's broader strategy to diversify its investments in sectors that contribute to societal needs, such as affordable and accessible healthcare. By working with a reliable and experienced party like Dagelijks Leven, NLV assures its clients of stable, long-term investments with a strong social impact.

About emeis

With nearly 78,000 experts and professionals in healthcare, care, and supporting the most vulnerable among us, emeis operates in around twenty countries with five core activities: psychiatric clinics, medical care and rehabilitation clinics, nursing homes, home care services, and assisted-living facilities.

Every year, emeis welcomes around 283,000 residents, patients, and other beneficiaries. emeis is committed and taking action to rise to a major challenge facing our society, i.e, the increase in the number of people placed in a vulnerable position as a result of accidents, old age, or cases of mental illness.

emeis is 50.2% owned by Caisse des Depots, CNP Assurances, MAIF, and MACSF Epargne Retraite. It is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (ISIN: FR001400NLM4) and is a member of the SBF 120 and CAC Mid 60 indices.

Website: www.emeis.com

About NLV

NLV is a real estate asset manager specializing in direct Dutch real estate for Dutch pension funds. With a sharp focus on customization, sustainability and innovation, NLV manages portfolios that deliver not only financial, but also social returns.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250311054576/en/

Contacts:

emeis

Press



Isabelle HERRIER NAUFLE

Medias e-reputation Director

+33 7 70 29 53 74

isabelle.herrier@emeis.com



IMAGE 7

Charlotte LE BARBIER // Laurence HEILBRONN

+33 6 78 37 27 60 // +336 89 87 61 37

clebarbier@image7.fr //

lheilbronn@image7.fr

Investor Relations



Samuel HENRY DIESBACH

Investor Relations Director

samuel.henry-diesbach@emeis.com



Toll-free number for shareholders (from France Only)

0 805 480 480



NEWCAP

Dusan ORESANSKY

+33 1 44 71 94 94

emeis@newcap.eu

NLV

Press



NLV communication team

communicatie@nlv.nl
Positive EMA Pediatric Committee opinion has cleared the investigation clinical plan to evaluate the safety and efficacy of MaaT013 in patients from 6 years old to less than 18 years old with aGvHD

Key regulatory milestone showing alignment with EMA expectations for pediatric investigation confirming MaaT013 is on track towards a marketing authorization submission to the EMA in June 2025

MaaT013 has the potential to be the first microbiome-driven therapy approved in Europe

Regulatory News:

MaaT Pharma (EURONEXT: MAAT the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company and a leader in the development of Microbiome Ecosystem TherapiesTM (MET) dedicated to enhancing survival for patients with cancer through immune modulation, announced today that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Pediatric Committee (PDCO) has approved the Pediatric Investigation Plan (PIP) for MaaT013 for the treatment of acute Graft-versus-Host Disease (aGvHD).

"We are very pleased with the productive dialogue with the EMA Pediatric Committee and the positive PIP opinion. This approval marks a major regulatory milestone towards the submission of our Marketing Authorization dossier with the EMA," said Gianfranco Pittari, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer at MaaT Pharma. "Through our Early Access Program, we have already successfully and safely treated two pediatric patients with aGvHD. We are committed to bringing MaaT013 to pediatric patients suffering from aGvHD, who currently have limited options."

The EMA PDCO approved the clinical program to evaluate the safety and efficacy of MaaT013 in patients from 6 years old to less than 18 years old, with the initiation, in 2026, of a single-arm trial in third-line treatment for 18 patients with aGvHD and in line with the Company's cash projections.

Based on this positive opinion, MaaT013 would be eligible for up to an additional two years of marketing exclusivity in Europe, on top of the ten-year European market exclusivity as an orphan drug if the Marketing Authorization is granted by the EMA. This also confirms the Company's ability to reach the full patient population.

"With this approval of our Pediatric Investigation Plan, we are now on track to submit our Marketing Authorization dossier in June this year. If approved, the Company could be positioned to generate revenues as soon as late 2026 with MaaT013 in third-line treatment in aGvHD," stated Herve Affagard co-founder and CEO of MaaT Pharma, "Additionally, the Company will continue to provide the product through its Early Access Program for all patients in need."

About the Pediatric Committee (PDCO)

The Pediatric Committee (PDCO) is the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) scientific committee responsible for activities on medicines for children and to support the development of such medicines in the European Union by providing scientific expertise and defining pediatric needs. The PDCO issues an opinion on PIP as part of the regulatory process and the EMA adopts a final decision based on the PDCO's opinion.

About the Pediatric Investigation Plan (PIP)

A pediatric investigation plan (PIP) is a development plan aimed at ensuring that the necessary data are obtained through studies in children, to support the authorization of a medicine for children. As part of the regulatory process for the registration of new medicines in Europe, the EMA requires pharmaceutical companies to provide a PIP detailing their strategy for investigation of the new medicinal product in the pediatric population. An approved PIP is a prerequisite for filing a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA).

About acute Graft-versus-Host Disease

Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease occurs in patients within 100 days of undergoing a stem cell or bone marrow transplant, where the transplanted cells initiate an immune response and attack the transplant recipient's organs, causing inflammation of the skin, liver and/or gastro-intestinal tract and leading to significant morbidity and mortality. GI involvement is associated with severe complications such as profound diarrhea, abdominal pain, intestinal bleeding, and death. These complications are often life-threatening, with increased mortality risk, due to the challenges of managing severe GI inflammation and the associated risks of infection, malnutrition, and organ failure. The standard first line therapy for treating aGvHD is the use of systemic steroids. If patients do not respond to steroids, they are considered Steroid Resistant (SR) and other agents can be administered. Currently, the second-line treatment for steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (SR aGvHD) is ruxolitinib. Recently, remestemcel-L-rknd was approved in December 2024 in the US specifically for use in the paediatric population as a second-line treatment.

About MaaT013

MaaT Pharma's Microbiome Ecosystem TherapiesTM (MET) are designed to leverage a full microbiome ecosystem to restore balance and maximize clinical benefits for patients with severe, treatment-induced dysbiosis in acute diseases. MaaT013 is a full-ecosystem, off-the-shelf, standardized, pooled-donor, enema Microbiome Ecosystem TherapyTM for acute, hospital use. It is characterized by a consistently high diversity and richness of microbial species and the presence of ButycoreTM (a group of bacterial species known to produce anti-inflammatory metabolites). MaaT013 aims to restore the symbiotic relationship between the patient's functional gut microbiome and their immune system to correct the responsiveness and tolerance of immune functions and thus reduce steroid-resistant, gastrointestinal (GI)-aGvHD. MaaT013 has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

About MaaT Pharma

MaaT Pharma is a leading, late-stage clinical company focused on developing innovative gut microbiome-driven therapies to modulate the immune system and enhance cancer patient survival. Supported by a talented team committed to making a difference for patients worldwide, the Company was founded in 2014 and is based in Lyon, France. As a pioneer, MaaT Pharma is leading the way in bringing the first microbiome-driven immunomodulator in oncology. Using its proprietary pooling and co-cultivation technologies, MaaT Pharma develops high diversity, standardized drug candidates, aiming at extending life of cancer patients. MaaT Pharma has been listed on Euronext Paris (ticker: MAAT) since 2021.

Forward-looking Statements

All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release about future events are subject to (i) change without notice and (ii) factors beyond the Company's control. These statements may include, without limitation, any statements preceded by, followed by, or including words such as "target," "believe," "expect," "aim", "intend," "may," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "project," "will," "can have," "likely," "should," "would," "could" and other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control that could cause the Company's actual results or performance to be materially different from the expected results or performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250311353696/en/

Contacts:

MaaT Pharma Investor Relations

Guilhaume DEBROAS, Ph.D.

Head of Investor Relations

+33 6 16 48 92 50

invest@maat-pharma.com

Rx Communications Group U.S. Investor Relations

Michael Miller

Managing Director

+1-917-633-6086

mmiller@rxir.com

MaaT Pharma Media Relations

Pauline RICHAUD

Senior PR Corporate Communications Manager

+33 6 14 06 45 92

media@maat-pharma.com

Catalytic Agency U.S. Media Relations

Heather Shea

Media relations for MaaT Pharma

+1 617-286-2013

heather.shea@catalyticagency.com
Regulatory News:

Bridger, member of Llama Group's group (Paris: ALLAM) (Brussels: ALLAM), a leading copyright management company, has signed a strategic agreement with Audiam to enhance the collection of royalties for its members. Powered by SESAC Music Group's Music Services Division, Audiam leverages market expertise, advanced technology, and modern business processes to identify metadata for sound recordings of musical compositions accurately.

Through this partnership, Bridger will significantly expand its collection of reproduction royalties, covering the United States, Canada, and most of South America. Additionally, the collaboration will enable the collection of royalties from various "sync use" cases, including fitness apps like Peloton and Apple Fitness, karaoke platforms; social media giants such as YouTube, TikTok, and Meta, as well as guitar tablature services like Ultimate Guitar.

"Bridger's mission is to eliminate the administrative burden for music rights holders while helping them maximize their revenue. Our goal is to provide the most effective and transparent platform possible, and we are thrilled to partner with Audiam to strengthen our collection efforts and recover missing revenue for our members," said Alexandre Saboundjian, CEO of Bridger.

"As an IME, Bridger offers a new approach to collection for authors, composers, and publishers. Audiam is excited to collaborate with such an innovative and artist-friendly platform and maximize revenue collection as representatives of their works for all of the Americas, stated John Raso, CEO of Audiam.

Next Meeting

March 12, 2025 General Meeting for the approval of amended 2023 Annual Accounts

About Bridger - www.bridgermusic.io

Bridger, member of Llama Group's group, is committed to supporting songwriters and composers with innovative royalty collection solutions. Designed as an intuitive and easy-to-use copyright management platform, Bridger enables songwriters to register their musical works within minutes and unlock additional revenue streams beyond their digital distributor.

About Audiam - https://www.audiam.com

Audiam, acquired by SESAC Music Group in 2021, leverages big data and innovative technology to locate metadata for the sound recordings of compositions. With proprietary technology and an expert music royalty administration team, they collect the difficult-to-find digital royalties for the world's top music publishers and record labels. A division of Music Services, other solutions include The Harry Fox Agency, Mint Digital Services, AudioSalad, HAAWK, Rumblefish, and SESAC Digital Licensing. With offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Nashville, and London, Music Services is dedicated to supporting the evolving needs of the global music industry.

About Llama Group

Llama Group is a pioneer and leader in the digital music industry. With extensive expertise across various sectors, the group owns the iconic Winamp platform, the Bridger copyright management company, and the Jamendo music licensing company. Llama Group's ambition is to build the future of the music industry through sustained investment in a range of innovative solutions and in the talent and skills of people who love music. The group stands by its brand values: empowerment, access, simplicity, and fairness. Winamp's vision is a world where a cutting-edge music platform connects artists and their fans like never before. Bridger's mission is to support songwriters and composers by providing a simple and innovative solution for collecting royalties. Jamendo enables independent artists to generate additional income through commercial licenses. Finally, Hotmix offers a bouquet of more than sixty thematic and free digital radio stations.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250311952646/en/

Contacts:

Investors Relations

Olivier Van Gulck

investors@llama-group.com
Google has become more hyperlocal than ever before, revolutionizing the way businesses and consumers interact with search results. Through advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and geotargeting, Google now delivers results that are more relevant to a user's exact location, creating a more personalized search experience.

Google Local Search



The Evolution of Google

Google's search algorithms have evolved significantly over the years. Initially, search results were largely based on keywords and general location settings. With the rise of mobile devices and GPS-enabled technology, Google can now pinpoint a user's precise location and deliver highly localized results.

The introduction of Google's Vicinity Update in 2021 marked a major shift. This update prioritized businesses closer to a searcher's physical location, limiting the dominance of larger brands that previously ranked high even if they were farther away.

Google's Hyperlocal Features in Action

Google has implemented several tools and features that make hyperlocal search more powerful than ever:

Google Business Profile (GBP) Optimization

Businesses that optimize their Google Business Profile with precise location details, service areas, and local keywords see better rankings in local searches. Google also considers factors like proximity, relevance, and prominence when ranking local businesses.

Google Maps & Local Pack Results

Google Maps has become a dominant force in hyperlocal search. The Local Pack, which appears at the top of search results, prioritizes businesses closest to the searcher, offering quick access to reviews, directions, and contact details.

Neighborhood-Specific Results

Google's algorithms now deliver results not just for cities but also for specific neighborhoods. For example, a search for "coffee shops near me" will display results within a small radius, rather than showing results for the entire city.

Localized Search Ads & Google Ads Geo-Targeting

Google Ads allows businesses to target consumers at the zip code or even street level. With geo-targeting, businesses can customize ad campaigns ensuring they reach the right audience.

Voice Search & Hyperlocal Queries

As more users rely on voice search through Google Assistant, hyperlocal searches have surged. Queries like "best pizza place near me" or "hardware store open now" trigger highly localized results based on the user's real-time location.

AI-Powered Search Personalization

Google's AI-powered systems, such as the Search Generative Experience (SGE), refine search results by factoring in search history, location, and behavioral patterns. This ensures that two users searching for the same term in different locations see entirely different, hyperlocal results.

What This Means for Businesses

For businesses, Google's hyperlocal focus presents both challenges and opportunities. Companies must adapt their local SEO strategies to remain competitive. Key steps include:

Ensuring Google Business Profile accuracy - Keeping location details, business hours, and contact information up to date.

Encouraging customer reviews - Google prioritizes businesses with high ratings and frequent engagement.

Optimizing for "near me" searches - Including hyperlocal keywords in website content and GBP descriptions.

Creating localized content - Publishing blogs or landing pages targeting specific neighborhoods or regions.

Leveraging Google Ads with geo-targeting - Running ads aimed at users within a hyperlocal radius.

Contact Information

Mile Mark

reports@milemarkmedia.com





SOURCE: MileMark
Getting Ready for Drilling!

Taranis Resources Inc. ("Taranis" or the "Company") (TSX.V:TRO)(OTCQB:TNREF) is providing the third in a series of News Releases that detail exploration for a deep, underlying mineralized intrusive body at Thor. Taranis completed comprehensive geochemical studies of drill core using Gresens method. This method quantifies metasomatism (hydrothermal alteration) and the changes to the rock using immobile elements, typically rare earth elements. Intrusive bodies invoke widespread chemical changes in the host rocks that extend hundreds of meters around the intrusive body. As such, geochemical alteration studies are important guides to targeting a potentially mineralized intrusive body not exposed at surface. This News Release accompanies a schematic cross-section through the area that shows the alteration features in conjunction to the Z-900/1300 and I-1 geophysical targets.

Barren Host Rocks at Thor (Non-Altered)

Most of the host rocks at Thor are barren of mineralization, and consist of metagreywackes and metavolcaniclastics of regional greenschist metamorphic grade. These rocks were analyzed to establish baseline geochemistry for the rocks distal to the mineralized area at Thor. They contain on average: 70.7% SiO2, 1.8% Na2O, 1.3% CaO, 2.5% K2O, 0.07% P2O5, 1.5% MgO and no graphite.

Altered Host Rocks

Weak to Distal Alteration of Host Rocks (Sericitization) - Some of the effects of alteration in metasediments and metavolcaniclastics are the introduction of small amounts of cesium, tin, niobium and tantalum. P2O5 is also introduced into the rock where it is weakly altered. Na2O and CaO is depleted relative to the unaltered rocks, and this is indicative that these rocks have sericitic alteration. The weakly sericitized rocks contain small amounts of graphite (<0.5%).

Intense Alteration of Host Rocks (Intense Sericitization) - Host rocks more proximal to the I-1 and Z-900/1300 Target are intensely altered and start to exhibit widespread introduction of low-levels of zinc and lead, P2O5 and niobium. Highly-altered rocks show depletion of Na2O and CaO. Many of the other trace metals such as arsenic, nickel, copper, barium and tungsten are depleted. These rocks contain <0.5% carbon as graphite.

Bomb Unit (Carbonatization, Sericitization) - This unit was evaluated with a deep drill hole (Thor-242) as it forms a major geophysical feature at Thor, and occurs at a depth of 500m below the surface. The Bomb Unit is suspected to be an alteration halo around a deep-seated intrusive (I-1). These rocks are intensely altered and contain pyritic clasts. Its most distinctive feature is the amount of graphitic carbon (average of 4.43%) which explains the conductive nature of the unit. It is depleted in SiO2, MgO, Na2O, CaO, K2O and barium, but also contains anomalous lead, zinc, copper, cobalt, nickel and antimony suggesting connection to the I-1 Intrusive.

Intrusive and Contact-Related Rocks

I-2 "Dyke" Intrusive Rocks (Chloritization & Albitization) - These rocks included a series of units that are related to two linear magnetic highs that trend NNW across the property. The presence of magnetite makes this unit easily identifiable on magnetic surveys. This intrusive unit is zoned from intrusive breccia in the center, to albite-grossular-andradite, and finally into massive chlorite along the edges of the dyke. The core of the dyke is enriched in strontium, vanadium, chromium, niobium, zinc, nickel, cobalt and copper. I-2 is also enriched in P2O5, MgO, Na2O and Fe2O3, all diagnostic of the mafic composition of the unit. I-2 does not contain any gold or arsenic (or metals contained in the Thor epithermal deposit), and it is very depleted in barium.

I-1 Intrusive Related Rocks (Carbonatization & Albitization) - The I-1 intrusive-related rocks are found below and east of the I-2 Intrusive in the bottom of drill holes Thor-246, 247 and 248. I-1 is anomalous in the same metals found in I-2, but is also enriched in carbonate (CaCO3), P2O5, CaO, MgO, Fe2O3 and Na2O. Most important, it has highly anomalous boron, gold, zinc, arsenic and tungsten.

Widescale Strontium and Barium Zonation

The alteration study of the deep drilling has shown that strontium occurs in elevated concentration around, and within the I-1 and I-2 intrusive rocks. Strontium has the most persistent and widescale alteration pattern found in the mass balance modeling. Strontium becomes more enriched with depth (getting closer to the concealed I-1 intrusive body) and an analogous situation is documented at the Lornex Copper Mine in British Columbia. Conversely, barium is very depleted within and around the I-1 and I-2 intrusive features, and this is consistent with what has been seen in other porphyry deposits in British Columbia (Valley Copper).

Comment

John Gardiner, President and CEO of Taranis comments "Thor is a different animal than other intrusive-hosted ore deposits in British Columbia because it is not hosted within volcanic rocks. The intrusive part is totally concealed, and the alteration system has restricted spatial extent due to the presence of non-porous metasedimentary/metavolcaniclastic rocks encasing the intrusive target. The rocks encountered in the 2024 drilling at Thor exposed four types of alteration including sericitization, chloritization, carbonatization and albitization. A fifth type of alteration (silicification accompanying sericitization) is widespread throughout the epithermal deposit. The presence of a circular resistive body (I-1) under the epithermal deposit that is interpreted to be an intrusive is consistent with the geochemical alteration patterns. Since I-2 has intruded and disrupted the epithermal deposit at Thor, it indicates I-1 was the important event that formed the epithermal deposit at Thor. The presence of garnet, albite, amphiboles and pyroxenes are indicative the host rocks have been exposed to contact-metamorphic alteration. Looking forward, we have some particularly good geochemical data that can be used in conjunction with the geophysical survey program plan for the summer of 2025. Most importantly, we have removed the land constraints around the eastern side of the Thor project area which will enable us to put this data to work to find the source of the Thor mineralization".

About Taranis and Thor

Taranis Resources is a Canadian mineral exploration company. The Thor Project is in southeast British Columbia. Taranis has completed upwards of 250 drill holes, linking all previously known mines into a single, near-surface epithermal deposit that has been recently updated into an NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate (see Taranis News Release dated April 11, 2024). In the summer of 2024, Taranis initiated deep drilling aimed at finding the source of the 2 km long epithermal deposit.

Quality Control and Laboratory Methods

All samples for the Thor project were securely delivered to Actlabs in Kamloops, British Columbia. Analytical work was completed both at the Kamloops and Ancaster, Ontario locations. Actlabs is ISO 17025 accredited. Taranis completed two types of geochemical analysis on the drill core.

The first of these was for major oxide geochemistry and quantitative graphite and carbonate determinations. This sampling was completed systematically on drill holes to determine alteration of rock units. Major oxides and trace elements were determined by lithium metaborate/tetraborate fusion and analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma ("ICP"), Optical Emission Spectrometry ("OES") and Mass Spectrometry ("MS"). Graphite and Carbonate determinations were made using Infrared ("IR") Spectrometry.

Secondly, visibly (or potentially mineralized sections of core) were systematically sampled after sawing the core in half onsite. Samples were analyzed for 42 elements by 4-Acid Digestion / Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry ("ICP-MS") and for gold by 30g Fire Assay / Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry ("AAS"). Where overlimit values were encountered in the analysis of these samples, ore-grade' determinations were made using subsequent ICP analysis and gravimetric methods. As a Quality Control ("QC") measure, Taranis also submitted analytical standards into the sample stream every tenth sample in addition to the laboratory's own quality control methods.

Qualified Person

Exploration activities at Thor were overseen by John Gardiner (P. Geo.), who is a Qualified Person under the meaning of Canadian National Instrument 43-101. John Gardiner is the principal of John J. Gardiner & Associates, LLC which operates in British Columbia under Firm Permit Number 1002256. Mr. Gardiner has reviewed and approved the comments contained within this News Release.

Taranis currently has 100,348,854 shares issued and outstanding (113,827,227 shares on a fully-diluted basis).

TARANIS RESOURCES INC.

Per: John J. Gardiner (P. Geo.) President and CEO

For further information contact:

John J. Gardiner

681 Conifer Lane

Estes Park, Colorado 80517

Phone: (303) 716-5922

Cell: (720) 209-3049

johnjgardiner@earthlink.net

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 NEWS RELEASE.

This News Release may contain forward looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results that may prove to be inaccurate as a result of factors beyond its control, and actual results may differ materially from expected results.

SOURCE: Taranis Resources, Inc.
KALMAR CORPORATION, TRADE PRESS RELEASE, 11 MARCH 2025 AT 20:00 (EET)

Kalmar starts the sale of its third generation electric terminal tractor in North America

Kalmar announces today the official start of sales of the Kalmar Ottawa Electric Terminal Tractor(OT2 EV) at the Technology & Maintenance Council's 2025 Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

The OT2 EV represents Kalmar Ottawa's third-generation electric terminal tractor and is fully designed and built in-house at the company's Ottawa, Kansas facility. There are four different models available - two specifically designed for container ports and terminals and two for distribution applications including an on-road version available for North America.

The OT2 EV underwent extensive testing, including 240 hours of climate-controlled performance testing from -22F to 122F. Extreme climate charging performance testing was performed over six months to validate real-world reliability and operational efficiency regardless of temperature or environment. Charging solutions up to 150kW with CCS1 connectors enables fast charging in under an hour and allows for opportunity charging as needed.

Kalmar's strong North American dealer network is trained and certified to support the OT2 EV. Dealers underwent specialised training for sales and service staff at Kalmar's Ottawa facility, preparing them to deliver industry-leading support from day one.

Thor Brenden, President, Terminal Tractors, Kalmar: "We have been making every move count in the terminal tractor business for over 65 years. We believe that invention and sustainable innovation go hand-in-hand. Our engineers have evaluated every aspect of how to make the T2 the most efficient machine possible, and that solution was to electrify the current market-leading T2 terminal tractor."

Further information for the press:

Thor Brenden, President, Terminal Tractors, Kalmar, tel. +46 735 896 588, thor.brenden@kalmarglobal.com

Maija Eklof,Vice President, Marketing & Communications, Dealer Management and Customer Insight tel.+358 40 080 9401, maija.eklof@kalmarglobal.com

Kalmar







Attachments
New role : Mercedes-Benz Board of Management creates new North America CEO role to get closer to U.S. customers and the U.S. market

: Mercedes-Benz Board of Management creates new North America CEO role to get closer to U.S. customers and the U.S. market Strategic Importance: Role to steer strategic direction of Mercedes-Benz in North America

The Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG (ticker symbol: MBG) is creating a new position of Chief Executive Officer North America to further intensify its engagement with U.S. customers and the economy and to elevate the importance of the United States in its global business plans.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250311333716/en/

Jason Hoff, CEO for Mercedes-Benz North America effective May 1st (Photo: Business Wire)

Jason Hoff, currently Head of Quality for Mercedes-Benz Cars Vans will be appointed to the newly created role of CEO Mercedes-Benz North America, effective May 1st, 2025. Jason reports directly into the Mercedes-Benz Group AG Board of Management. The North America CEO will be responsible for the overall strategic direction of Mercedes-Benz in the United States.

"The United States has been our successful home for over a century. To unlock our full potential, we are now creating the position North America CEO. This new position will ensure continued growth and increased synergies in the U.S. by bundling our activities and subsidiaries under one roof. We are poised to continue investing in the strong US economy in the coming years and continue to delight Mercedes-Benz customers and fans alike."

Ola Kaellenius, Chief Executive Officer of Mercedes-Benz Group AG

Mercedes-Benz is bundling its research and development, sales and marketing activities in the U.S. under one roof to underline the importance of the U.S. customer and market, where Mercedes-Benz has been successfully constructing and selling SUVs, passenger cars and vans using the best American and German parts and technologies. Total car and van sales reached 324,500 vehicles in 2024, making it second largest market for Mercedes-Benz.

Jason began his Mercedes-Benz career in 1993 in Stuttgart and shortly thereafter joined the Mercedes-Benz U.S. International (MBUSI) team for the launch of the new M-Class and operations in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. In the U.S., Jason, a native of Oregon, oversaw production of SUVs in Alabama as the plant was continually expanded. He held various senior and executive leadership positions in Quality, Production and Logistics before returning to Germany in 2010 to lead the Interior Purchasing group. In 2013, Jason took on the role of CEO for MBUSI in Tuscaloosa and was responsible for increasing the output of the plant and various key model launches.

For the past five years, Jason has been the Global Head of Quality for Mercedes-Benz Cars and Vans and has played a key role in driving improvements in the area of product and customer satisfaction.

"As an American, I've had multiple opportunities to be in key roles in North America and Germany. I've been particularly proud to be part of our Alabama's plant's expansion into a global hub for manufacturing desirable Mercedes-Benz SUVs, which customers the world over are queueing up to buy. I know what our amazing U.S. team is capable of and am excited to take our performance to the next level."

Jason Hoff, CEO Mercedes-Benz North America

About Mercedes-Benz in the United States

Mercedes-Benz, with its strong heritage dating back to 1888 in Long Island City, NY, stands as the legacy car brand with the longest representation in the United States. As a major local investor, Mercedes-Benz has committed over USD 10 billion to production, infrastructure, R&D, design, and the dealer network, including USD 7+ billion in our Tuscaloosa, AL, manufacturing site and USD 560+ million in our Charleston, SC, plant. We proudly support more than 163,000 jobs across the country, including 11,100 direct jobs (of which around 8,000 are in manufacturing) and 28,000 dealership employees. Our nationwide presence spans 384 dealer partners and 24 corporate locations in 13 states.

From a manufacturing standpoint, more than 4.5 million vehicles have left the Tuscaloosa plant over the past 28 years, with roughly sixty percent of annual production exported, making Mercedes-Benz US International (MBUSI) one of the largest exporters of automobiles from the U.S. The USA is also the second largest global market for Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans. Since 2006, Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC (MBV Charleston) has assembled more than 400,000 vans for delivery across North America.

We are working with around 400 suppliers in the United States and are sourcing our local demand for steel and aluminum almost exclusively in the United States.

The Tuscaloosa operation is the global manufacturing hub for our SUVs (Mercedes-Benz GLE, Mercedes-Benz GLS, the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, and the EQS SUV Maybach). Additionally, Mercedes-Benz is making EV infrastructure investments of approximately USD 1.2 billion to expand a high-speed charging network in North America over the next 6-7 years.

In 2024, we sold 324,500 passenger cars and 49,600 vans in the U.S., making the United States the second largest global market for Mercedes-Benz cars and vans.

As a pioneer and relentless innovator, we have filed nearly 100 technology patents in the U.S. and introduced DRIVE PILOT, the first SAE-Level 3 system for conditionally automated driving approved for Nevada and California. Mercedes-Benz is committed to being a good corporate citizen, actively supporting communities with nearly 40,000 hours of company-supported volunteer work in 2024 alone.

Further information about Mercedes-Benz Group is available at:

Mercedes-Benz in North America Mercedes-Benz Group Company Mercedes-Benz in North America

media.mercedes-benz.com and group.mercedes-benz.com

Forward-looking statements

This document contains forward-looking statements that reflect our current views about future events. The words "anticipate", "assume", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "can", "could", "plan", "project", "should" and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to many risks and uncertainties, including an adverse development of global economic conditions, in particular a negative change in market conditions in our most important markets; a deterioration of our refinancing possibilities on the credit and financial markets; events of force majeure including natural disasters, pandemics, acts of terrorism, political unrest, armed conflicts, industrial accidents and their effects on our sales, purchasing, production or financial services activities; changes in currency exchange rates, customs and foreign trade provisions; changes in laws, regulations and government policies (or changes in their interpretation), particularly those relating to vehicle emissions, fuel economy and safety or to the communication regarding sustainability topics (environmental, social or governance topics); price increases for fuel, raw materials or energy; disruption of production due to shortages of materials or energy, labour strikes or supplier insolvencies; a shift in consumer preferences towards smaller, lower-margin vehicles; a limited demand for all-electric vehicles; a possible lack of acceptance of our products or services which limits our ability to achieve prices and adequately utilize our production capacities; a decline in resale prices of used vehicles; the effective implementation of cost-reduction and efficiency-optimization measures; the business outlook for companies in which we hold a significant equity interest; the successful implementation of strategic cooperations and joint ventures; the resolution of pending governmental investigations or of investigations requested by governments and the outcome of pending or threatened future legal proceedings; and other risks and uncertainties, some of which are described under the heading "Risk and Opportunity Report" in the current Annual Report or in the current Interim Report. If any of these risks and uncertainties materialises or if the assumptions underlying any of our forward- looking statements prove to be incorrect, the actual results may be materially different from those we express or imply by such statements. We do not intend or assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements since they are based solely on the circumstances at the date of publication.

Mercedes-Benz Group at a glance

Mercedes-Benz Group AG is one of the world's most successful automotive companies. With Mercedes-Benz AG, the Group is one of the leading global suppliers of high-end passenger cars and premium vans. Mercedes-Benz Mobility AG specialises in financial and mobility services. The products range from financing, leasing, vehicle subscription, rental and fleet management to insurance, innovative mobility services, digital payment solutions as well as products and services around charging. The company founders, Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz, made history by inventing the automobile in 1886. As a pioneer of automotive engineering, Mercedes-Benz sees shaping the future of mobility in a safe and sustainable way as both a motivation and obligation. The company's focus therefore remains on innovative and green technologies as well as on safe and superior vehicles that both captivate and inspire.

Mercedes-Benz continues to invest systematically in the development of efficient powertrains and sets the course for an all-electric future. Mercedes-Benz is consistently implementing its strategy to transform itself toward a fully electric and software-driven future. The company's efforts are also focused on the intelligent connectivity of its vehicles, autonomous driving and new mobility concepts as Mercedes-Benz regards it as its aspiration and obligation to live up to its responsibility to society and the environment. Mercedes-Benz sells its vehicles and services in nearly every country of the world and has production facilities in Europe, North and Latin America, Asia and Africa. In addition to Mercedes-Benz, the world's most valuable luxury automotive brand (source: Interbrand study, 10. Oct. 2024), Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach as well as the brands of Mercedes-Benz Mobility: Mercedes-Benz Bank, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services and Athlon. The company is listed on the Frankfurt and Stuttgart stock exchanges (ticker symbol MBG). In 2024, the Group had a workforce of around 175,000 and sold around 2.4 million vehicles. Group revenues amounted to 145.8 billion and Group EBIT to 13.7 billion.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250311333716/en/

Contacts:

Andrea Berg, Mercedes-Benz North America +1 917 667 2391 andrea.a.berg@mercedes-benz.com

Edward Taylor, +49 176 3094 1776, edward.taylor@mercedes-benz.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2025) - Rain City Resources Inc. (CSE: RAIN) (the "Company" or "Rain") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release of February 24, 2025 wherein the Company announced plans to raise up to $500,000 by way of issuance of 6,666,667 common shares, it has closed the first tranche of its non-brokered private placement and has raised gross proceeds of $305,700 through the issuance of 4,076,000 common shares at a price of $0.075 per share. All shares issued are subject to a four-month hold period expiring July 12, 2025.

Proceeds from this financing will be used to mobilize and fund the operational expenses at the pilot plant located in Pennsylvania (the "Pilot"), as originally announced on February 12, 2025, as well as general working capital purposes. Additionally, proceeds will be allocated to third-party analysis of results and reporting to be commissioned by the Company stemming from the Pilot along with advancing Rain's ongoing project discussions in Chile and Argentina.

The Company paid cash of $21,399 or 7% as a finder's fee with respect to proceeds raised. No insiders participated in this first tranche of the private placement.

Benjamin Hill, Rain's CEO, stated, "The closing of the first tranche of this financing is another exciting step in the advancement of our groundbreaking Direct Lithium Extract technology, ACCELi. We anticipate that this test program, processing brine from the Marcellus Shale Formation at the Kendra II Springville brine transfer site in Pennsylvania (the "Pilot"), will build on the results of the highly successful bench tests previously conducted by Avonlea Lithium Corporation in Calgary, AB. The Pilot represents a pre-commercial trial of the ACCELi lithium extraction technology."

The securities referred to in this news release 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, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, unless an exemption from such registration is available. This news release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities for sale, nor a solicitation for offers to buy any securities. Any public offering of securities in the United States must be made by means of a prospectus containing detailed information about the company and management, as well as financial statements. "United States" and "U.S. person" have the respective meanings assigned in Regulation S under the U.S Securities Act.

About Us

Rain City is an integrated lithium technology and project development company committed to solving the environmental, social, and economic issues associated with extracting lithium from brine.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release may include certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. 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 statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. There can be no assurance that proposed operations will be successful or that the anticipated financial, economic or strategic benefits will be realized.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244210

SOURCE: Rain City Resources Inc.
BANGALORE, India, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Electric Valve Actuators Market is Segmented by Type (Linear Electric Actuator, Multi-turn Electric Actuator, Quarter-turn Electric Actuator), by Application (Oil & Gas, General Industries, Power, Water)

The Global Market for Electric Valve Actuators was valued at USD 2508 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 3127 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 3.3% during the forecast period.

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Major Factors Driving the Growth of Electric Valve Actuators Market:

The electric valve actuators market continues to evolve as industries across multiple sectors embrace increased automation and sustainability. Rising investments in oil and gas, water treatment, power generation, and manufacturing contribute to consistent market growth. Companies seek to balance efficiency, precision, and environmental responsibility, making electric actuators an attractive solution for modern operations.

Competitive pressures among manufacturers drive further innovation, leading to actuators equipped with advanced monitoring features and improved materials. Worldwide policies aimed at lowering carbon footprints reinforce the shift toward all-electric solutions that reduce emissions and operational costs. As diverse end-user requirements intensify, manufacturers are poised to offer tailored products that address individual needs, ensuring steady expansion and a promising future for electric valve actuators.

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TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE ELECTRIC VALVE ACTUATORS MARKET:

Linear electric actuators are gaining prominence as they offer precise control and smooth operation for a wide range of industrial applications. Their ability to provide consistent force and accurate positioning makes them an ideal choice for processes that demand reliable and repeatable motion. These actuators eliminate the need for hydraulic fluids, reducing maintenance complexities and environmental concerns. Additionally, the incorporation of smart features, such as remote monitoring and automated diagnostics, enhances overall system efficiency. As manufacturers strive to optimize production, linear electric actuators have become a favored option for modernizing valve control. Their compact design, combined with lower energy consumption, further drives growth by catering to evolving industry requirements while ensuring cost savings and improved performance. Operators benefit from integration.

Quarter-turn electric actuators have become vital in various sectors due to their capability to quickly and accurately rotate valves from open to closed positions. Their compact structure suits tight installation spaces, which is especially beneficial for retrofitting older systems. By delivering swift torque response, these actuators minimize downtime and maintain consistent flow control. Moreover, advanced features, including position feedback and remote diagnostics, optimize operational safety and reduce manual intervention. The growing focus on energy efficiency motivates industries to replace inefficient pneumatic or hydraulic setups with quarter-turn electric designs. This transition not only significantly enhances precision but also lowers operational costs through reduced energy consumption. As a result, quarter-turn actuators are fueling a robust expansion in the electric valve actuators market.

The oil and gas industry relies heavily on reliable flow control solutions, making it a key driver for electric valve actuators. As exploration and production activities expand into harsher environments, operators seek actuators that can withstand extreme temperatures, pressures, and corrosive conditions. Electric models provide precise valve modulation, which is essential for optimizing resource extraction and preventing costly leaks. Their inherent automation capabilities also reduce the need for human intervention and improve reliability in remote or hazardous locations. Furthermore, regulatory requirements for environmental compliance push companies to adopt cleaner, more efficient systems. Electric actuators align with these standards by eliminating emissions associated with pneumatic or hydraulic equipment. Consequently, oil and gas firms fuel rising demand for robust electric valve actuators.

Increasing adoption of automated processes is a primary factor propelling the electric valve actuators market. Companies are increasingly leveraging advanced control systems to optimize workflow, improve throughput, and minimize human errors. With electric actuators, it becomes easier to integrate valves into automated frameworks that handle real-time data and execute precise commands. This not only dramatically reduces operational downtime but also significantly enhances overall safety by limiting manual intervention in potentially hazardous areas. As industries strive to meet tighter schedules and maintain consistent product quality, electric actuators offer a scalable and efficient solution. Their seamless compatibility with digital control networks and programmable logic controllers further promotes widespread usage, making automation a critical driving force behind the expanding electric valve actuators market.

Heightened environmental regulations play a vital role in bolstering demand for electric valve actuators. Industries face mounting pressure to minimize emissions, wastewater discharges, and other pollutants. Unlike pneumatic or hydraulic systems, electric actuators eliminate the risk of fluid leaks that can harm the surrounding ecosystem. Moreover, electric configurations consume less energy overall, aligning with global initiatives to reduce carbon footprints. Regulatory bodies worldwide are imposing stricter guidelines, compelling companies to invest in reliable solutions that safeguard both production efficiency and ecological integrity. By choosing electric valve actuators, organizations can demonstrate compliance and secure their operational licenses. This regulatory push thus elevates the market's growth trajectory, as businesses seek eco-friendly actuator alternatives across diverse sectors to ensure sustainability.

Industries worldwide prioritize worker protection and risk mitigation, and electric valve actuators address these concerns by minimizing dangerous manual interventions. By offering remote monitoring and control features, these actuators reduce the frequency of on-site operations in high-pressure or high-temperature zones. Additionally, built-in fail-safe mechanisms and precise torque regulation help prevent catastrophic failures and leaks. Operators benefit from real-time diagnostics that enable quick issue detection, decreasing potential hazards and downtime. From chemical plants to nuclear facilities, electric actuators provide a reliable and predictable method for regulating process variables. Their ability to integrate seamlessly with safety instrumented systems further elevates overall operational integrity, ensuring that safety and compliance remain key drivers in the growing demand for electric valve actuators.

Lower maintenance requirements significantly contribute to the rising appeal of electric valve actuators. Traditional setups often involve pneumatic or hydraulic systems, which can leak fluids and require frequent inspections. In contrast, electric models operate with fewer moving parts, decreasing wear and tear while simplifying service routines. This reduction in complexity translates into fewer unplanned shutdowns and less labor spent on repairs. Moreover, electric actuators can be fitted with self-diagnostic tools that monitor performance and flag issues early, helping to significantly extend component lifespans. By lowering overall maintenance expenditures, companies can reallocate funds toward process optimization and other strategic initiatives. Consequently, this cost-efficient aspect acts as a strong catalyst for adopting electric valve actuators across multiple industrial domains.

Modern industries rely on interconnected systems and data-driven decision-making, driving the need for electric valve actuators that seamlessly integrate with digital platforms. These actuators often come equipped with communication protocols enabling real-time data exchange with control rooms, enterprise resource planning software, and cloud-based analytics. By providing continuous feedback on valve positions and performance, they support predictive maintenance and facilitate immediate adjustments to changing process conditions. The result is enhanced responsiveness and improved overall process efficiency. Furthermore, this connectivity allows for centralized oversight of large-scale operations, reducing the complexity of monitoring multiple sites or production lines. In a landscape where digitalization is paramount, electric valve actuators stand out as critical enablers of smarter, more responsive industrial ecosystems.

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ELECTRIC VALVE ACTUATORS MARKET SHARE:

Global core electric valve actuators manufacturers include Rotork, Auma etc.The top 5 companies hold a share about 60%. North America is the largest market, with a share about 24%, followed by Asia Pacific and Europe with the share both about 23%. In terms of product, multi-turn electric actuator is the largest segment, with a share over 55%. And in terms of application, the largest application is oil & gas, followed by general industries.

Key Companies:

Emerson

Rotork

Auma

Flowserve

SCHIEBEL

ABB Ltd

Raga

Tefulong

Koei Industry

Tomoe

BERNARD

Chuanyi Automation

CDF

SAIC

Nihon KOSO

Hengchun

PS Automation

Aotuo Ke

Soupaishi Automation Technology

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DISCOVER MORE INSIGHTS: EXPLORE SIMILAR REPORTS!

- Electromechanical Valve Actuator Market

- Valve Actuator Market revenue was USD 15780 Million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 21410 Million by 2029 with a CAGR of 4.4% during the forecast period (2023-2029).

- Quarter-Turn Electric Valve Actuators market was valued at USD 804 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 1118 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 3.1% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Electric Linear Valve Actuators Market

- Electric Actuator Market revenue was USD 2549 Million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 3297.1 Million by 2029 with a CAGR of 3.7% during the forecast period (2023-2029).

- Water Valve Motor Actuator Market

- Actuated Valves Market

- Actuator Electric Cylinders Market

- Double-Acting Hydraulic Valve Actuator Market

- EPB Actuators Market was estimated to be worth USD 273.9 Million in 2023 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 404.6 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Control Type Electrohydraulic Actuator Market

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The billion-dollar mobile app industry faces unprecedented challenges such as cybersecurity threats, fragmented technologies, interoperability issues, and rapid changes driven by artificial intelligence. To tackle these pressing industry issues, KOBIL Ventures, supported by the Swiss family office KOBIL Capital with over $600 million under management, has announced the launch of its new Venture Studio.

KOBIL Ventures' Studio provides entrepreneurs with comprehensive resources, including essential seed funding, hands-on mentorship, and exclusive access to KOBIL's proven SuperApp Platform. This advanced infrastructure enables founders to rapidly develop mobile applications that seamlessly integrate multiple fragmented services into one secure and user-friendly platform.

KOBIL SuperApp technology was created by the KOBIL Group, a global leader in digital identity and mobile security solutions. Gartner highlighted it as one of the few market-ready SuperApp platforms. This technology currently powers major ecosystems such as Istanbul Senin, an innovative city services app serving over five million registered users in Turkey.

"By investing over $100 million into our SuperApp infrastructure, we have built a platform that significantly accelerates the development of next-generation mobile apps," said Ismet Koyun, founder and CEO of the KOBIL Group. "Through the Venture Studio, entrepreneurs can bypass traditional technical barriers, allowing them to focus fully on creating solutions that resonate deeply with their customers."

KOBIL Ventures Venture Studio Offerings Include:

Funding Support: Early-stage seed capital and introductions to Silicon Valley and European venture networks.

Advanced Technology: Full access to KOBIL's secure and compliant SuperApp modules, including secure payments, contract management, communications, and digital identity.

Expert Mentorship: Dedicated support from seasoned industry experts and strategic advisors.

Market Entry Advantage: Immediate access to established digital ecosystems and partnerships, ensuring rapid scalability.

Benefits to Founders:

Entrepreneurs participating in KOBIL Ventures' Studio gain the capability to deliver market-ready solutions in weeks rather than months, significantly improving their chances of success and scalability by eliminating traditional hurdles such as lengthy technology development and complex fundraising processes.

Interested entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply directly via the website: www.kobilventures.com

About KOBIL Ventures

Headquartered in Silicon Valley, KOBIL Ventures is a Venture Studio created by KOBIL Capital, a Swiss family office managing assets exceeding $600 million. The studio provides critical resources, mentoring, and technology to accelerate startups and foster innovative mobile solutions.

More information is available at: www.kobilventures.com

About the KOBIL Group

Founded by Ismet Koyun in 1986, the KOBIL Group leads the development of cutting-edge digital identity and mobile security technologies. Trusted by global corporations including Microsoft, VISA, Mastercard, Dropbox, Airbus, and Siemens, KOBIL employs over 500 professionals worldwide, with offices in Germany, the United States, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

Learn more at: www.kobil.com

Press Contact:

Anirudh Ganesh

Anirudh.Ganesh@kobil.com

SOURCE: KOBIL
NEW YORK, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The United Nations Global Compact, in partnership with UN Women and the Champions of Change Coalition, today concluded a high-level Business Leadership Dialogue, convened on the margins of the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69). The gathering united over 50 business leaders, policy experts and change-makers to accelerate private-sector commitments toward women's economic empowerment by 2030.

The event marked three significant anniversaries for global gender equality efforts:

30 years since the establishment of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action

25 years since the founding of the UN Global Compact

15 years since the creation of the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs)

Despite decades of progress, on average, women are paid about 20 per cent less than men, according to the International Labour Organization leading to significant lifetime income inequality. At the current rate it will take 134 years to close the global gender gap . Yet companies with diverse leadership teams are 25% more likely to outperform their peers .

During the dialogue, participants examined how businesses can apply a gender lens across the value chain by creating gender-responsive supply chains and directing capital to women-owned businesses, engage male allies and advocate for policy enablers to bridge persistent gender gaps worldwide. Conversations focused on:

Invest in Women Initiative : The UN Global Compact spotlighted its Invest in Women initiative designed to increase capital flows to women-owned businesses and champion gender-inclusive investments, urging companies to align their investment and procurement strategies with gender equality objectives. Business leaders also shared successful case studies on how they have embedded a gender lens into supply chain operations, emphasizing that doing so unlocks diverse markets, fosters innovation, and reinforces stakeholder trust.

: The UN Global Compact spotlighted its Invest in Women initiative designed to increase capital flows to women-owned businesses and champion gender-inclusive investments, urging companies to align their investment and procurement strategies with gender equality objectives. Business leaders also shared successful case studies on how they have embedded a gender lens into supply chain operations, emphasizing that doing so unlocks diverse markets, fosters innovation, and reinforces stakeholder trust. Male Allyship : In a fireside chat featuring the Champions of Change Coalition and Equimundo, speakers highlighted effective approaches for mobilizing men in leadership positions to champion gender equality and women's economic inclusion, with a focus on culturally attuned, scalable programs. The UN Global Compact also launched its new knowledge tool - "Mainstreaming Male Allyship: an Action Guide for Business," developed in partnership with Equimundo.

: In a fireside chat featuring the Champions of Change Coalition and Equimundo, speakers highlighted effective approaches for mobilizing men in leadership positions to champion gender equality and women's economic inclusion, with a focus on culturally attuned, scalable programs. The UN Global Compact also launched its new knowledge tool - "Mainstreaming Male Allyship: an Action Guide for Business," developed in partnership with Equimundo. Africa Business Leaders Coalition (ABLC) : This dialogue dove into the extensive implementation that ABLC members have driven on the Gender Statement. It also explored the progress that ABLC member companies are advancing across sectors and geographies on the continentsince launching a historic Gender Statement in Kigali, Rwanda in May 2024, demonstrating how regional coalitions can drive global transformation.

: This dialogue dove into the extensive implementation that ABLC members have driven on the Gender Statement. It also explored the progress that ABLC member companies are advancing across sectors and geographies on the continentsince launching a historic Gender Statement in Kigali, Rwanda in May 2024, demonstrating how regional coalitions can drive global transformation. Forward Faster initiative & the WEPs: Businesses were called on to commit to the Forward Faster initiative-targeting equal representation, participation, and leadership of women at all levels by 2030-and to sign on to the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs), which provide a comprehensive framework for embedding gender equality across the workplace, marketplace, and community.

"Accelerating women's full participation is not just a moral imperative, it's an economic one," said Melissa Powell, Deputy Executive Director of the UN Global Compact. "As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and 25 years of the UN Global Compact, we have never been closer to a true tipping point. By investing in women-led enterprises, championing male allyship, and building equitable supply chains, businesses can lead the charge on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030."

Following the dialogue, attendees participated in roundtable discussions and committed to sharing key insights across their networks. Companies are encouraged to join or deepen their engagement with the Forward Faster initiative and the WEPs, setting measurable targets to close leadership and pay gaps, and to implement policies that champion inclusivity at every level.

About the UN Global Compact

The ambition of the UN Global Compact is to accelerate and scale the global collective impact of business by upholding the Ten Principles and delivering the SDGs through accountable companies and ecosystems that enable change. With more than 20,000 participating companies, 5 Regional Hubs, 63 Country Networks covering 80 countries and 13 Country Managers establishing Networks in 18 other countries, the UN Global Compact is the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative - one Global Compact uniting business for a better world.

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CNH brands, Case IH and New Holland, are showcasing their lines of sustainable, technological solutions at the 25th edition of Expodireto Cotrijal.

The event - held this week (March 10 - March 14) in Nao-Me-Toque, Brazil - includes Case IH's Axial-Flow Series 160 Automation harvester and the Farmall Max tractor. New Holland, together with its dealer network, are also presenting the T6.140 Electro Command tractor with an electronic engine.

Case IH - 160 Series

The major launch presented by Case IH for the first time at Expodireto Cotrijal is the Axial-Flow Series 160 Automation, a new series of medium-sized grain harvesters, which make up classes 5 to 7. The 160 Series has 60% of its machinery renewed, with emphasis on the Automation System and factory connectivity.

"We know the difficulties that the producer in Rio Grande do Sul has faced, but the fair is an opportunity for us to demonstrate how the technology of our machines helps producers to reduce costs at all stages of the production cycle." Explains Denny Perez, Commercial Director of Case IH Brazil.

New Holland - T6.140 Electro CommandTM

One of the main products that New Holland will exhibit during Expodireto is the T6.140 Electro Command, which has, in addition to the electronic engine, a new transmission and a cabin that allows comfort and space for the operator. Produced in Brazil, it was developed with the help of the brand's customers, through research and field tests where the farmer's opinions were used to define the best configurations that met their needs.

"Regardless of the size of the agricultural operation, New Holland has innovative solutions that are ideal for small, medium or large producersthat enable farmers to improve their productivity and reduce operating costs", says Eduardo Kerbauy, New Holland's vice president for Latin America.

Click here to read more about Case IH at Expodireto.

Click here to read more about New Holland at Expodireto.

With state-of-the-art technology, the brand presents the new line of Axial-Flow Series 160 Automation harvesters and the Farmall Max tractor

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CNH on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: CNH

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cnh

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: CNH
The following abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds (NYSE:ACP, AGD, AOD, ASGI, AWP, THQ, THW and NYSE American:FAX, FCO, VFL), announced today that the closed end funds in the chart directly below will pay the distributions indicated on a per share basis on March 31, 2025 to all shareholders of record as of March 25, 2025 (ex-dividend date March 25, 2025).

Ticker Exchange Fund Amount ACP NYSE abrdn Income Credit Strategies Fund $ 0.0775 AGD NYSE abrdn Global Dynamic Dividend Fund $ 0.1100 AOD NYSE abrdn Total Dynamic Dividend Fund $ 0.1000 ASGI NYSE abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund $ 0.1900 AWP NYSE abrdn Global Premier Properties Fund $ 0.0400 FAX NYSE American abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc. $ 0.1650 FCO NYSE American abrdn Global Income Fund, Inc. $ 0.0700 THQ NYSE abrdn Healthcare Opportunities Fund $ 0.1800 THW NYSE abrdn World Healthcare Fund $ 0.1167 VFL NYSE American abrdn National Municipal Income Fund $ 0.0500

FCO's shares are currently trading at a premium to net asset value. The Board of Directors believes that the premium at which the Fund shares trade relative to net asset value is not likely to be sustainable. Shareholders participating in the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan should note that at the current market price, the reinvestment of distributions occurs at a premium to net asset value.

At the end of each calendar year, a Form 1099-DIV will be sent to shareholders, which will state the amount and composition of each fund's distributions and provide information with respect to their appropriate tax treatment for the prior calendar year.

Each Fund's distribution policy is subject to modification by the respective Board of Directors/Trustees at any time, and there can be no guarantee that the policy will continue. You should not draw any conclusions about any of these Funds' investment performance from the amount of the distributions.

MANAGED DISTRIBUTION POLICY FUNDS

ANNOUNCE DISTRIBUTION PAYMENT DETAILS

abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund ("ASGI")

abrdn Healthcare Opportunities Fund ("THQ")

The above-noted abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds (the "Funds" or individually the "Fund"), today announced that the Funds will pay the distributions noted in the chart above on March 31, 2025 to all shareholders of record as of March 25, 2025 (ex-dividend date March 25, 2025).

Each Fund has adopted a distribution policy to provide investors with a stable distribution out of current income, supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital in reliance on an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Under applicable U.S. tax rules, the amount and character of distributable income for each Fund's fiscal year can be finally determined only as of the end of the Fund's fiscal year. However, under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") and related rules, the Funds may be required to indicate to shareholders the estimated source of certain distributions to shareholders.

The following tables set forth the estimated amounts of the sources of the distributions for purposes of Section 19 of the 1940 Act and the rules adopted thereunder. The tables have been computed based on generally accepted accounting principles. The tables include estimated amounts and percentages for the current distributions to be paid as well as for the cumulative distributions paid relating to fiscal year to date, from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short-term capital gains; net realized long-term capital gains; and return of capital. The estimated compositions of the distributions may vary because the estimated composition may be impacted by future income, expenses and realized gains and losses on securities and currencies.

The Funds' estimated sources of the current distributions to be paid and for its current fiscal year to date are as follows:

Estimated Amounts of Current Distribution per Share Fund Distribution Amount Net Investment Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains* Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital ASGI $0.1900 $0.0133 7% - - $0.1140 60% $0.0627 33% THQ $0.1800 - - $0.0360 20% - - $0.1440 80%

Estimated Amounts of Fiscal Year to Date Cumulative Distributions per Share Fund Fiscal Year** to Date Distribution Amount Net Investment Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains* Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital ASGI $1.2000 $0.0840 7% - - $0.7200 60% $0.3960 33% THQ $1.0800 - - $0.2160 20% - - $0.8640 80%

* includes currency gains

** ASGI, and THQ have a 9/30 fiscal year end.

Where the estimated amounts above show a portion of the distribution to be a "Return of Capital," it means that Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur for example, when some or all the money that you invested in a Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."

As of March 4, 2025, after giving effect to this payment ASGI estimates it has a net deficit of $21,709,000. A net deficit results when the Fund has net unrealized losses that are in excess of any net realized gains that have not yet been distributed.

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The final determination of the source of all distributions for the current year will only be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. After the end of each calendar year, a Form 1099-DIV will be sent to shareholders for the prior calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The following table provides the Funds' total return performance based on net asset value (NAV) over various time periods compared to the Funds' annualized and cumulative distribution rates.

Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information Fund Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5 Year Period Ending 02/28/2025 Current Fiscal Period's Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV Cumulative Total Return on NAV Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV ASGI3 8.10%3 11.89% -2.55% 5.07% THQ 10.04% 10.27% -3.71% 4.28%

1 Return data is net of all fund expenses and fees and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan.

2 Based on the Fund's NAV as of February 28, 2025.

3 The Fund launched within the past 5 years; the performance and distribution rate information presented reflects data from inception (July 29, 2020) through February 28, 2025.

Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about a Fund's investment performance from the amount of the Fund's current distributions or from the terms of the distribution policy (the "Distribution Policy").

While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market.

Pursuant to an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Funds may distribute any long-term capital gains more frequently than the limits provided in Section 19(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder. Therefore, distributions paid by the Funds during the year may include net income, short-term capital gains, long-term capital gains and/or a return of capital. Net income dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, while generally taxable at ordinary income rates, may be eligible, to the extent of qualified dividend income earned by the Funds, to be taxed at a lower rate not to exceed the maximum rate applicable to your long-term capital gains. Distributions made in any calendar year in excess of investment company taxable income and net capital gain are treated as taxable ordinary dividends to the extent of undistributed earnings and profits, and then as a return of capital that reduces the adjusted basis in the shares held. To the extent return of capital distributions exceed the adjusted basis in the shares held, capital gain is recognized with a holding period based on the period the shares have been held at the date such amount is received.

The payment of distributions in accordance with the Distribution Policy may result in a decrease in the Fund's net assets. A decrease in the Fund's net assets may cause an increase in the Fund's annual operating expense ratio and a decrease in the Fund's market price per share to the extent the market price correlates closely to the Fund's net asset value per share. The Distribution Policy may also negatively affect the Fund's investment activities to the extent that the Fund is required to hold larger cash positions than it typically would hold or to the extent that the Fund must liquidate securities that it would not have sold, for the purpose of paying the distribution. Each Fund's Board has the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Distribution Policy at any time.

The amendment, suspension or termination of the Distribution Policy may affect the Fund's market price per share. Investors should consult their tax advisor regarding federal, state, and local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances.

Circular 230 disclosure : To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the U.S. Treasury, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

In the United States, abrdn is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: abrdn Inc., abrdn Investments Limited, and abrdn Asia Limited.

Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. A Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

https://www.abrdn.com/en-us/cefinvestorcenter

###

For More Information Contact:

abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds

Investor Relations

1-800-522-5465

Investor.Relations@abrdn.com

SOURCE: abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds
abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund, Inc. (NYSE American:AEF), (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund, announced today details of the first distribution under the increased 10% rate. The Fund will pay the $0.15 distribution indicated on a per share basis on March 31, 2025, to all shareholders of record as of March 25, 2025 (ex-dividend date March 25, 2025).

As announced in December 2024, as part of the strategic changes, the Board approved an increase to its annualized distribution rate from 6.5% to 10%. The quarterly distributions will continue to be based on the average daily net asset value ("NAV") for the previous three months as of the month-end prior to declaration. The Fund intends to maintain the increased distribution rate for at least the next 12 months, unless there is a significant and unforeseen change in market conditions. This policy will be subject to regular review by the Board. The policy is expected to provide a steady and sustainable quarterly cash distribution to Fund shareholders that may help reduce any discount to NAV at which the Fund's shares trade. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve these results.

At the end of each calendar year, a Form 1099-DIV will be sent to shareholders, which will state the amount and composition of the Fund's distributions and provide information with respect to their appropriate tax treatment for the prior calendar year. The Fund's distribution policy is subject to modification by the respective Board of Directors at any time, and there can be no guarantee that the policy will continue. You should not draw any conclusions about any of these Funds' investment performance from the amount of the distributions.

Circular 230 disclosure : To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the U.S. Treasury, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

In the United States, abrdn is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: abrdn Inc., abrdn Investments Limited, and abrdn Asia Limited.

Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. A Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results

www.abrdnaef.com

###

For More Information Contact:

abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds

Investor Relations

1-800-522-5465

Investor.Relations@abrdn.com

SOURCE: abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund, Inc.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2025) - Lode Gold Resources Inc. (TSXV: LOD) (OTCQB: LODFF) ("Lode Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the proposed plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") for the tax-efficient spin out of Gold Orogen was approved at the Company's annual general and special meeting of shareholders (the "Meeting") held on March 10, 2025.

The resolution approving the Arrangement (the "Arrangement Resolution") was required to be passed by: (i) the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (66 2/3%) of the votes cast by shareholders of the Company present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting; and (ii) the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (66 2/3%) of the votes cast by Company shareholders, optionholders and warrantholders, voting as a single class, present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting.

The hearing of application for the final order in respect of the Arrangement is scheduled for March 14, 2025. Closing of the Arrangement remains subject to, among other things, receipt of approval from the TSX Venture Exchange, the Canadian Securities Exchange and Great Republic Mining ("GRM") shareholder approval.

Upon closing of the Arrangement, Lode Gold shareholders will receive one new Lode Gold share and 0.5739 of a common share of the resulting issuer ("Gold Orogen") for each Lode Gold share held prior to the completion of the Arrangement. Upon completion of the spin-off, the companies will be structured as follows:

Gold Orogen (Spin Co. - Yukon and New Brunswick)

Gold Orogen is an exploration pure play with two choice assets. Both assets are located in highly prospective areas and each can potentially be a company maker and a standalone asset.

Asset 1- Yukon:

27 km strike, 99.5 km 2 in Yukon on the prolific Tombstone Belt (Snowline and Sitka)

in Yukon on the prolific Tombstone Belt (Snowline and Sitka) A total of four Reduced Intrusive Targets (RIRGS similar to Snowline)

Confirmed on WIN:

Signature host rocks, hornfels and reduced intrusives

Asset 2 - New Brunswick:

One of the largest land packages in the province at 445 km 2

Similar geological setting to New Found Gold, Galway, Calibre Mining-Equinox Gold and Puma-Kinross

Confirmed gold endowment - mineralized rhyolites (same geology as Puma-Kinross)

Lode Gold (Parent- California): Underground Mine Potential (previously mined at 10.7 g/t Au)

The Fremont Gold project is located on the Mother Lode Belt on patented private land in Mariposa County, California, USA. Lode Gold is the first owner since the mining suspension in 1942 to evaluate the project as an underground mining opportunity.

Fremont: 4 km strike on the Mother Lode Belt

Private patented land: 3,351 acres, 100% owned in Mariposa County (need county approval; five supervisors oversee county*) * County: 17,000 and Town: 2,000 people

California: 700 permitted mines; 14 gold mines

2025 MRE 1.3 Moz of gold at 4.4 g/t Au (previously mined in the 1930s at 10.7 g/t)

2025 drilling campaign: Target +400,000 more ounces of gold

Typical Orogenic Deposit with Structural Controls

Three Step-Out Holes hit structure and were mineralized (up to 1300 m)

Two nearby mines were up to 1,800 m deep at 13 g/t

Brownfield project with 23 km of underground workings and over 43,000 m drilled (cores preserved)

Only 8% of the 2025 MRE exploited; mostly in the first 250 m; much has been left unmined

2023 MRE: 1 Moz (M&I) + 2 Moz (Inf)

2023 PEA: Underground mining cost of 63.6 $/t

2023 PEA at USD $2,000/oz Au: After-tax NPV (5%) USD $370M, 31% IRR, 11 years LOM

Close to road, rail, power and water

Mine suspended in 1942 for the war effort

Other Matters

Shareholders voted in favour of all other matters of business before the Meeting, including the continuation of the Company into British Columbia. Each of the matters are set out in detail in the Management Information Circular of the Company dated December 27, 2024 available on the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

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 (WWII) 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 Fremont. 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 creating the towns, 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. An NI 43-101 MRE has been reported on March 5, 2025. A complete technical report will be filed 45 days later on SEDAR+.

Previously, in March 2023, the company completed an NI 43 101 Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for the Fremont Gold project. 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 Fremont 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)

ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY

Wendy T. Chan, CEO & Director

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 closing of the Arrangement including the hearing of the Final Order, 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 ability of the Company and GRM to obtain all required approvals for completion of the Arrangement; 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 the inability of the Company and GRM to obtain all required approvals for closing of the Arrangement, 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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244224

SOURCE: Lode Gold Resources Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2025) - Infinitum Copper Corp. (TSXV: INFI) (OTCQB: INUMF) ("Infinitum Copper" or the "Company") announces the appointment of Alex Gostevskikh as Chief Executive Officer and as a director of the Company replacing Matt Hudson.

The Company sincerely thanks Mr. Hudson for his contributions and wishes him the greatest success in his further endeavors.

Alex Gostevskikh MSc MBA, is a geologist with over 30 years of experience in international mining and exploration for such commodities as gold, uranium, and base metals. He has extensive corporate experience through his involvement with a number of listed companies on the TSX and AIM markets. Mr. Gostevskikh currently serves as CEO and director of Sendero Resources Corp. (TSXV: SEND) and Karus Mining Inc. Until recently, he was engaged as Managing Director with a major PGM deposit and gold and base metal projects, he was Managing Director of Uranium Resources PLC (LON: URA), Director of Mediterranean Resources Ltd (TSX: MNR) a Regional Exploration Manager for Centerra Gold Inc (TSX: CGI), and has held other positions including Exploration Manager for Gulf International Minerals, Senior Geologist for Kinross Gold/Amax Gold, as well as consulting engagements with a number of major and junior mineral exploration companies.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of

INFINITUM COPPER 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.

About Infinitum Copper

Backed by a strong team of industry veterans, Infinitum Copper is advancing La Adelita project, where the Company has an 80% interest. The high-grade copper-silver-gold La Adelita Project is located in Sonora and Sinaloa states in Mexico. La Adelita is a Carbonate Replacement Deposit located in a mineralized district with a rich history.

Infinitum Copper has an option to earn 25% interest in the Hot Breccia project in the heart of the Arizona Copper Belt about 90km north of Tucson, AZ. The Hot Breccia project is prospective for porphyry copper and copper skarn mineralization.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Forward-looking information is based on, among other things, opinions, assumptions, estimates and analyses that, while considered reasonable by the Company at the date the forward-looking information is provided, are inherently subject to significant risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors that may cause actual results and events to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. The risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information may include, but are not limited to, risks generally associated with the Company's business, as described in the Company's Filing Statement dated February 11, 2022. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While the Company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244187

SOURCE: Infinitum Copper Corp.
BREYANZI has significant market potential due to its innovative approach as a CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. The growing prevalence of hematologic malignancies and increasing adoption of CAR-T therapies, along with BREYANZI's promising efficacy and safety profile, position it for strong demand.

LAS VEGAS, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's ' BREYANZI Market Size, Forecast, and Market Insight Report ' highlights the details around BREYANZI, a CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapy with a 4-1BB co-stimulatory domain, which enhances the expansion and persistence of the CAR T cells. The report provides product descriptions, patent details, and competitor products (marketed and emerging therapies) of BREYANZI. The report also highlights the historical and forecasted sales from 2020 to 2034 segmented into 7MM [the United States, the EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan].

Bristol Myers Squibb's BREYANZI (lisocabtagene maraleucel) Overview

BREYANZI is a CD19-targeting CAR T cell therapy that incorporates a 4-1BB costimulatory domain, which supports the expansion and longevity of CAR T cells. It is developed using a patient's own T cells, which are collected, genetically modified, and then infused as a one-time treatment.

In the U.S., BREYANZI is approved for treating relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) after at least one prior therapy, as well as relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma after two or more prior therapies. Additionally, it is approved for adults with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma who have undergone at least two prior systemic therapies and for relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma in patients previously treated with at least two systemic therapies, including a Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor.

Internationally, BREYANZI is authorized in Japan and Europe for second-line treatment of relapsed or refractory LBCL. It is also approved in Japan, Europe, Switzerland, and Canada for LBCL that has relapsed or remains refractory after two or more systemic therapies. In Japan, it is further approved for high-risk follicular lymphoma patients who have relapsed or are refractory after one prior systemic therapy, as well as for those who have undergone two or more lines of treatment.

In 2024, BREYANZI generated sales of USD 747 million, spanning DLBCL, follicular lymphoma, CLL/SLL, and MCL. Currently, BMS is evaluating BREYANZI in phase II trials for Relapsed/Refractory Marginal Zone Lymphoma.

Drug Name BREYANZI (lisocabtagene maraleucel) Molecule type Autologous CAR T-cell therapy Developer Bristol Myers Squibb Approved Indications Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, B-Cell Lymphoma, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Follicular Lymphoma, Mantle Cell Lymphoma Mechanism of action Targets CD19 Route of administration IV infusion

Learn more about BREYANZI projected market size in different approved indications @ BREYANZI Market Potential

B-cell lymphoma is a group of hematologic malignancies originating from B lymphocytes, which play a crucial role in the immune system. It encompasses various subtypes, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma, and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), each with distinct clinical behaviors and prognoses. While some subtypes, like follicular lymphoma, are indolent and progress slowly, others, such as DLBCL, are aggressive and require immediate treatment.

The global incidence of B-cell lymphoma has been rising, with risk factors including genetic predisposition, infections (e.g., Epstein-Barr virus), and immunosuppression. Patients often present with symptoms like painless lymphadenopathy, night sweats, fever, and weight loss, which can significantly impact their quality of life.

The treatment landscape for B-cell lymphoma has evolved significantly, improving survival rates but still presenting substantial challenges. Standard frontline therapies include chemoimmunotherapy regimens such as R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) for aggressive forms like DLBCL. Indolent subtypes may be managed with watchful waiting or targeted therapies like Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies.

Despite these advances, relapse and refractory disease remain major concerns, necessitating newer strategies such as CAR-T cell therapy, bispecific antibodies, and ADCs. However, access to these innovative treatments varies globally, contributing to disparities in patient outcomes. The economic burden of B-cell lymphoma is also considerable, with high treatment costs, prolonged hospital stays, and long-term supportive care needs, underscoring the need for more effective and accessible therapies.

DelveInsight has expertise in the oncology market with an experienced team handling the oncology domain proficiently. DelveInsight has released a series of epidemiology-based market reports on Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma, Follicular Lymphoma, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Mantle Cell Lymphoma, and Marginal Zone Lymphoma, among others. These reports include a comprehensive understanding of current treatment practices, emerging drugs, market share of individual therapies, and current and forecasted market size from 2020 to 2034, segmented into 7MM [the United States, the EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan].

Gain deeper insights into these indications with a customized report tailored to your needs. Connect with us today -our experts are ready to assist you!

Emerging Competitors of BREYANZI

The DLBCL pipeline is very robust with key companies such as Roche (Genentech)/Biogen (LUNSUMIO (mosunetuzumab)), Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR-255 + CD19 CAR-T cell therapy), Merck (Zilovertamab vedotin), Allogene Therapeutics (Cemacabtagene ansegedleucel), Miltenyi Biomedicine (Zamtocabtagene autoleucel (MB-CART2019.1)), AstraZeneca (AZD0486, CALQUENCE (acalabrutinib)), BioVaxys/ImmunoVaccine Technologies (Maveropepimut-S), Cellectar Biosciences (Iopofosine I 131 (CLR 131)), Galapagos (GLPG5101), Novartis (Rapcabtagene Autoleucel (YTB323)), Lyell/ImmPACT Bio (IMPT-314), Pfizer (Maplirpacept (PF-07901801)), Kartos Therapeutics (Navtemadlin (KRT-232)), 2seventy bio/Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (bbT369), BeiGene (BGB-16673), Ranok Therapeutics (RNK05047), Constellation Pharmaceuticals (Tulmimetostat (CPI-0209)), Genmab (GEN3014), IDP Discovery Pharma S.L. (IDP-121), Immunitas Therapeutics (IMT-009), Monte Rosa Therapeutics (MRT-2359), SymBio Pharmaceuticals (Brincidofovir (SyB V-1901)), AVM Biotechnology (AVM0703), Autolus Therapeutics (Obecabtagene Autoleucel (Obe-cel), AUTO3), Kymera Therapeutics (KT-413), Otsuka Pharmaceutical (OPB-111077), Caribou Biosciences (CB-010), Adicet Bio (ADI-001), Gilead Sciences (KITE-197, KITE-363, KITE-753, KITE-197) Xynomic Pharmaceuticals (Abexinostat), Amgen (KYPROLIS (Carfilzomib)), and others involved in developing drugs.

The key market players of developing therapies for follicular lymphoma include, Merck Sharp and Dohme (Zilovertamab Vedotin), AstraZeneca (CALQUENCE (Acalabrutinib, AZD0486)), CRISPR Therapeutics (CTX112), BeiGene (BGB-16673), Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR-255), NovalGen (NVG-111), Carna Biosciences (AS-1763 (docirbrutinib)), Allogene Therapeutics (Cemacabtagene Ansegedleucel (ALLO-501)), Xynomic Pharmaceuticals (Abexinostat), Incyte Corporation (MONJUVI (tafasitamab)), and others.

In the chronic lymphocytic leukemia space, the key emerging BREYANZI competitors include nemtabrutinib (Merck), lisaftoclax (Ascentage Pharma), sonrotoclax (BeiGene), JNJ-64264681/JNJ-4681 (Johnson & Johnson), and others.

To know more about the number of competing drugs in development, visit @ BREYANZI Market Positioning Compared to Other Drugs

Key Milestones of BREYANZI

In February 2025, Bristol Myers Squibb reported that the Phase 2 TRANSCEND FL trial assessing BREYANZI in adults with relapsed or refractory indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma achieved its primary endpoint in the marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) cohort. The findings revealed that Breyanzi delivered a statistically significant and clinically meaningful overall response rate (ORR) in these patients.

reported that the Phase 2 TRANSCEND FL trial assessing BREYANZI in adults with relapsed or refractory indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma achieved its primary endpoint in the marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) cohort. The findings revealed that Breyanzi delivered a statistically significant and clinically meaningful overall response rate (ORR) in these patients. In January 2025, Bristol Myers Squibb announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) had recommended approving BREYANZI for adult patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma who have undergone at least two previous systemic therapies. The recommendation will now be reviewed by the European Commission (EC), which has the authority to approve medicines for use across the European Union (EU).

announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) had recommended approving BREYANZI for adult patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma who have undergone at least two previous systemic therapies. The recommendation will now be reviewed by the European Commission (EC), which has the authority to approve medicines for use across the European Union (EU). In November 2024, Bristol Myers Squibb presented long-term analyses reinforcing the durable efficacy and well-established safety profile of BREYANZI in LBCL and new ctDNA data from the Phase III TRANSFORM study supporting the superiority of BREYANZI to achieve deeper responses over the former standard of care in second-line LBCL at ASH 2024.

presented long-term analyses reinforcing the durable efficacy and well-established safety profile of BREYANZI in LBCL and new ctDNA data from the Phase III TRANSFORM study supporting the superiority of BREYANZI to achieve deeper responses over the former standard of care in second-line LBCL at ASH 2024. In May 2024, Bristol Myers Squibb announced that the FDA has approved BREYANZI for adult patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who have undergone at least two previous systemic treatments, including a Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor.

announced that the FDA has approved BREYANZI for adult patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who have undergone at least two previous systemic treatments, including a Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor. In May 2024, Bristol Myers Squibb announced that the FDA had granted accelerated approval for BREYANZI to treat adult patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma who have undergone at least two previous systemic therapies.

announced that the FDA had granted accelerated approval for BREYANZI to treat adult patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma who have undergone at least two previous systemic therapies. In March 2024, Bristol Myers Squibb announced that the FDA had granted accelerated approval for BREYANZI for adults with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) who have undergone at least two prior treatments, including a Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor and a B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) inhibitor.

announced that the FDA had granted accelerated approval for BREYANZI for adults with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) who have undergone at least two prior treatments, including a Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor and a B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) inhibitor. In May 2023, Bristol Myers Squibb announced that the EC had granted approval for BREYANZI for the treatment of adult patients with DLBCL, HGBCL, PMBCL, and follicular lymphoma Grade 3B who relapsed within 12 months from completion of, or are refractory to, first-line chemoimmunotherapy.

announced that the EC had granted approval for BREYANZI for the treatment of adult patients with DLBCL, HGBCL, PMBCL, and follicular lymphoma Grade 3B who relapsed within 12 months from completion of, or are refractory to, first-line chemoimmunotherapy. In June 2022, Bristol Myers Squibb announced that the FDA had approved BREYANZI (lisocabtagene maraleucel) for the treatment of adult patients with LBCL, including DLBCL not otherwise specified (including DLBCL arising from indolent lymphoma), HGBCL, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, and follicular lymphoma Grade 3B for the patients who have: refractory disease to first-line chemoimmunotherapy or relapse within 12 months of first-line chemoimmunotherapy; or refractory disease to first-line chemoimmunotherapy or relapse after first-line chemoimmunotherapy and are not eligible for HSCT due to comorbidities or age.

announced that the FDA had approved BREYANZI (lisocabtagene maraleucel) for the treatment of adult patients with LBCL, including DLBCL not otherwise specified (including DLBCL arising from indolent lymphoma), HGBCL, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, and follicular lymphoma Grade 3B for the patients who have: refractory disease to first-line chemoimmunotherapy or relapse within 12 months of first-line chemoimmunotherapy; or refractory disease to first-line chemoimmunotherapy or relapse after first-line chemoimmunotherapy and are not eligible for HSCT due to comorbidities or age. In June 2022, Bristol Myers Squibb announced that the EMA had validated its Type II variation application for an extension of the indication for BREYANZI. The extension is to treat adult patients with DLBCL, HGBCL, PMBCL, and follicular lymphoma Grade 3B who are refractory or have relapsed within 12 months of initial therapy and are candidates for HSCT.

announced that the EMA had validated its Type II variation application for an extension of the indication for BREYANZI. The extension is to treat adult patients with DLBCL, HGBCL, PMBCL, and follicular lymphoma Grade 3B who are refractory or have relapsed within 12 months of initial therapy and are candidates for HSCT. In April 2022, Bristol Myers Squibb announced that the EC had granted marketing authorization for BREYANZI (for the treatment of adult patients with R/R DLBCL, PMBCL, and follicular lymphoma Grade 3B after two or more lines of systemic therapy. The Marketing Authorization approves BREYANZI for use in all EU member states.

announced that the EC had granted marketing authorization for BREYANZI (for the treatment of adult patients with R/R DLBCL, PMBCL, and follicular lymphoma Grade 3B after two or more lines of systemic therapy. The Marketing Authorization approves BREYANZI for use in all EU member states. In March 2022, Bristol Myers Squibb announced that the MHLW had accepted the supplemental New Drug Application for BREYANZI for the second-line treatment of patients with R/R LBCL. BREYANZI is not approved in any region for the second-line treatment of LBCL (Bristol Myers Squibb, 2022b). This is the first CAR T-cell therapy application filed for the second-line treatment of R/R LBCL in Japan.

announced that the MHLW had accepted the supplemental New Drug Application for BREYANZI for the second-line treatment of patients with R/R LBCL. BREYANZI is not approved in any region for the second-line treatment of LBCL (Bristol Myers Squibb, 2022b). This is the first CAR T-cell therapy application filed for the second-line treatment of R/R LBCL in Japan. In March 2021, Bristol Myers Squibb announced that Japan's MHLW approved BREYANZI for the treatment of patients with R/R LBCL and R/R follicular lymphoma.

announced that Japan's MHLW approved BREYANZI for the treatment of patients with R/R LBCL and R/R follicular lymphoma. In February 2021, Bristol Myers Squibb announced that the FDA had approved BREYANZI (lisocabtagene maraleucel; liso-cel) for the treatment of adult patients with R/R LBCL after two or more lines of systemic therapy, including DLBCL not otherwise specified (including DLBCL arising from indolent lymphoma), high-grade B-cell lymphoma, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, and follicular lymphoma Grade 3B.

announced that the FDA had approved BREYANZI (lisocabtagene maraleucel; liso-cel) for the treatment of adult patients with R/R LBCL after two or more lines of systemic therapy, including DLBCL not otherwise specified (including DLBCL arising from indolent lymphoma), high-grade B-cell lymphoma, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, and follicular lymphoma Grade 3B. In November 2019, Bristol Myers Squibb completed the acquisition of US-based biotechnology company Celgene in a cash-cum-stock deal worth around USD 74 billion. With the closing of the acquisition, Celgene became a wholly owned subsidiary of Bristol Myers Squibb. Under the deal, Celgene shareholders secured a 1.00 share of BMS common stock and USD 50 in cash without interest. As per the terms of this agreement, Celgene also gained full global rights to JCAR017. At the time of the agreement, Celgene was expecting the addition of JCAR017 and other cellular immunotherapy products in Juno's pipeline to accelerate revenue diversification with meaningful growth drivers from 2020 and beyond.

completed the acquisition of US-based biotechnology company Celgene in a cash-cum-stock deal worth around USD 74 billion. With the closing of the acquisition, Celgene became a wholly owned subsidiary of Bristol Myers Squibb. Under the deal, Celgene shareholders secured a 1.00 share of BMS common stock and USD 50 in cash without interest. As per the terms of this agreement, Celgene also gained full global rights to JCAR017. At the time of the agreement, Celgene was expecting the addition of JCAR017 and other cellular immunotherapy products in Juno's pipeline to accelerate revenue diversification with meaningful growth drivers from 2020 and beyond. In October 2017, lisocabtagene maraleucel was granted Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation by the FDA for DLBCL.

was granted Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation by the FDA for DLBCL. In April 2016, lisocabtagene maraleucel was granted ODD in the US and the EU (July 2017) for treating DLBCL.

Discover how BREYANZI is shaping the B-cell lymphoma treatment landscape @ BREYANZI Indications

BREYANZI Market Dynamics

BREYANZI (lisocabtagene maraleucel), a CD19-directed CAR-T cell therapy developed by Bristol Myers Squibb, is a key player in the evolving market for cell-based immunotherapies. Approved for relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) and other hematologic malignancies, BREYANZI competes in a growing but increasingly competitive segment alongside other CAR-T therapies like YESCARTA (Gilead/Kite) and KYMRIAH (Novartis).

The therapy has gained traction due to its differentiated manufacturing process, which ensures a high level of consistency in CAR-T cell composition, potentially leading to improved efficacy and safety profiles. Additionally, its outpatient administration option gives it an edge over some competitors, enhancing its market appeal.

The CAR-T therapy market is characterized by high treatment costs, complex logistics, and a constrained manufacturing capacity, which has historically limited patient access. However, BREYANZI has leveraged Bristol Myers Squibb's strong commercialization infrastructure to expand availability, with efforts focused on improving manufacturing turnaround times and increasing treatment centers.

Reimbursement remains a key challenge as payers closely evaluate the cost-benefit balance of these high-priced therapies. Yet, ongoing clinical trials exploring label expansion into earlier lines of therapy and additional indications, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), could strengthen BREYANZI's market position and drive long-term growth.

Competitive pressures are also intensifying with the emergence of next-generation CAR-T therapies and alternative modalities such as bispecific antibodies and allogeneic CAR-T cells, which promise lower costs and reduced manufacturing complexity. To sustain its market share, Bristol Myers Squibb is investing in real-world evidence studies and combination strategies to demonstrate superior efficacy and durability of response. Partnerships and collaborations with healthcare institutions are also crucial in expanding patient access and optimizing treatment pathways.

Overall, the market dynamics of BREYANZI are shaped by a mix of strong clinical differentiation, evolving regulatory and reimbursement landscapes, and intensifying competition from both autologous and emerging off-the-shelf therapies. Future success will depend on how effectively Bristol Myers Squibb navigates these challenges while capitalizing on opportunities for market expansion and innovation.

Dive deeper to get more insight into BREYANZI's strengths & weaknesses relative to competitors @ BREYANZI Market Drug Report

Table of Contents

1 Report Introduction 2 BREYANZI: Bristol Myers Squibb 2.1 Product Overview 2.2 Other Development Activities 2.3 Clinical Development 2.4 Clinical Trials Information 2.5 Safety and Efficacy 2.6 Product Profile 2.7 Market Assessment 2.7.1 The 7MM Analysis 2.7.1.1 Cost Assumptions and Rebate 2.7.1.2 Pricing Trends 2.7.1.3 Analogue Assessment 2.7.1.4 Launch Year and Therapy Uptake 2.7.2 The United States Market Analysis 2.7.3 EU4 and the United Kingdom Market Analysis 2.7.3.1 Germany 2.7.3.2 France 2.7.3.3 Italy 2.7.3.4 Spain 2.7.3.5 UK 2.7.4 Japan Market Analysis 2.8 Market Drivers 2.9 Market Barriers 2.10 SWOT Analysis 3 Key Cross of Marketed Competitors of BREYANZI 4 Key Cross of Emerging Competitors of BREYANZI

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Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd . ("Southern Cross Gold" or the "Company") (TSXV:SXGC)(ASX:SX2)(OTC PINK:MWSNF)(Frankfurt:MV3.F) is pleased to announce it has commenced the permitting process for an underground exploration tunnel at its 100%-owned Sunday Creek project near Clonbinane, Victoria. It is anticipated the Company will submit a formal application to the Victorian Resources regulator in Q3 2025.

Key Highlights:

The permitting process commencement represents a significant milestone as the Company continues to advance the Sunday Creek Project

The proposed exploration tunnel is planned to be approximately 150 meters deep and 600 meters long, enabling underground drilling in 2026

Underground drilling will allow the Company to introduce more drill rigs that operate day and night without increasing impacts to the community

The site will be located on SXGC-owned land accessed via a private road

Environmental surveys are currently underway to ensure minimal impacts on the local environment and community

Drop-in information sessions scheduled across Mitchell Shire for community engagement

Michael Hudson, President & CEO of Southern Cross Gold Consolidated, commented "The commencement of permitting for an exploration tunnel (or decline) represents a significant step forward for Southern Cross Gold that will enhance our exploration capabilities while reducing impacts on the local community. Underground drilling will allow us to operate more drill rigs and help us understand the Sunday Creek deposit more efficiently than our surface drilling program alone. We are committed to working with the local community throughout this process and look forward to sharing more details about this project in the coming months."

The planned tunnel will enable drilling to occur from underground, reducing noise and light emissions associated with surface drilling. The infrastructure has been designed to minimize visual impact, with buildings and structures positioned behind hills and natural vegetation to shield them from view.

Once permitted, construction is expected to begin in 2026 and will take approximately 6-12 months to complete. Infrastructure including sheds, workshops, offices and dams will be constructed during daylight hours. Once completed, underground drilling will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The permit is for exploration purposes only and does not permit mining. Any future mining activity would require a separate approval process with community participation.

The Company will host a series of community drop-in sessions throughout March and April across the Mitchell Shire:

Clonbinane: March 20 & 26 (2pm-6pm)

Wandong: March 22 & 29 (9am-1pm)

Kilmore: March 24 (2pm-6pm) & April 1 (11am-2pm)

Broadford: April 9 (2pm-6pm)

Seymour Alternative Farming Expo: April 4-7

Full details including venues can be found on our website www.southerncrossgoldcommunity.com.au .

About Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd.

Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd. (TSXV:SXGC)(ASX:SX2) controls the Sunday Creek Gold-Antimony Project located 60 kilometres north of Melbourne, Australia. Sunday Creek has emerged as one of the Western world's most significant gold and antimony discoveries, with exceptional drilling results including 60 intersections exceeding 100 g/t AuEq x m from just 73.3 km of drilling. The mineralization follows a "Golden Ladder" structure over 12 km of strike length, with confirmed continuity from surface to 1,100 m depth.

Sunday Creek's strategic value is enhanced by its dual-metal profile, with antimony contributing 20% of the in-situ value alongside gold. This has gained increased significance following China's export restrictions on antimony, a critical metal for defense and semiconductor applications. Southern Cross' inclusion in the US Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) and Australia's AUKUS-related legislative changes position it as a potential key Western antimony supplier. Importantly, Sunday Creek can be developed primarily based on gold economics, which reduces antimony-related risks while maintaining strategic supply potential.

Technical fundamentals further strengthen the investment case, with preliminary metallurgical work showing non-refractory mineralization suitable for conventional processing and gold recoveries of 93-98% through gravity and flotation.

With A$18M in cash, over 1,000 Ha of strategic freehold land ownership, and a 60 km drill program planned through Q3 2025, SXGC is well-positioned to advance this globally significant gold-antimony discovery in a tier-one jurisdiction.

- Ends -

This announcement has been approved for release by the Board of Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd.

For further information, please contact:

Mariana Bermudez - Corporate Secretary (Canada)

mbermudez@chasemgt.com or +1 604 685 9316

Executive Office: 1305 - 1090 West Georgia Street Vancouver, BC, V6E 3V7, Canada

Nicholas Mead - Corporate Development

info@southerncrossgold.com or +61 415 153 122

Justin Mouchacca - Company Secretary (Australia)

jm@southerncrossgold.com.au or +61 3 8630 3321

Subsidiary Office: Level 21, 459 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia

Forward-Looking Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions and accordingly, actual results and future events could differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. You are hence cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements including without limitation applicable court, regulatory authorities and applicable stock exchanges. Forward-looking statements include words or expressions such as "proposed", "will", "subject to", "near future", "in the event", "would", "expect", "prepared to" and other similar words or expressions. Factors that could cause future results or events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include general business, economic, competitive, political, social uncertainties; the state of capital markets, unforeseen events, developments, or factors causing any of the expectations, assumptions, and other factors ultimately being inaccurate or irrelevant; and other risks described in SXGC's documents filed with Canadian or Australian securities regulatory authorities (under code SX2). You can find further information with respect to these and other risks in filings made by SXGC with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada or Australia (under code SX2), as applicable, and available for SXGC in Canada at www.sedarplus.ca or in Australia at www.asx.com.au under code SX2. Documents are also available at www.southerncrossgold.com We disclaim any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) or the Australian Securities Exchange accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd.
Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2025) - Emperor Metals Inc. ("Emperor") (CSE: AUOZ) (OTCQB: EMAUF) (FSE: 9NH) is pleased to announce that, further to its news releases dated January 7 and 9, 2025, Emperor has completed its acquisition of the undersurface rights and interests in the Lac Pelletier Property, Quebec (the "Acquisition") from Maritime Resources Corp. ("Maritime"). The Lac Pelletier Property comprises 25 mining claims and a mining lease covering a total area of at least 558 hectares and is located approximately 4 km southwest of the city of Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. The Lac Pelletier Property is located adjacent to and contiguous with Agnico Eagle's advanced exploration project known as their Wasamac Gold Deposit (Measured and Indicated: 2.2 Moz @ 2.43 g/t Au and Inferred: 0.8 Moz Au @ 2.66 g/t Au). These properties share the Wasamac Shear Zone that Agnico Eagle views as good potential to host additional discoveries (Agnico Eagles 2024 Annual Report, Feb 26th, 2025). Emperor cautions readers that these resources do not apply to the Lac Pelletier property, and that there is no guarantee that the Lac Pelletier property will have the same or similar resources as the Wasamac Gold Deposit.

Several key factors make this an attractive acquisition:

The historical mineral resource is contained in several zones of mineralization.

105,000 meters of drilling has been completed (both above ground and underground).

Over 3.3 km of underground development is in place, including portal, and vent raise with only limited bulk sample mining.

Two (2) bulk samples (2009-2010) with an average recovery of 96.3% (2,950 oz Au recovered @ 4.35 g/t Au).

Potential for both robust thickness and high-grade resource expansion with diamond drill hole intercepts of 22.4 m of 7.6 g/t Au and 6.2 m of 24.8 g/t Au.

Very close to infrastructure in area; within the Rouyn municipal limits.

Potential pre-production scenario for Emperor Metals.

Estimated +$70 Million dollars in prior expenditures on infrastructure and drilling on site (today's terms).

Significant potential to expand gold resources.

The Lac Pelletier Property is subject to a one percent (1.0%) net smelter returns royalty reserved to Metalla Royalty & Streaming Ltd. pursuant to an underlying royalty agreement.

For further details regarding the Lac Pelletier Property, please refer to Emperor's press releases of January 7 and 9, 2025, which are available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) as well as Emperor's website (www.emperormetals.com).

Pursuant to the Property Purchase Agreement, Emperor has issued to Maritime a total of 12,500,000 common shares in the capital of Emperor. All securities issued are subject to a hold period expiring on July 12, 2025. No finder's fee was paid in connection with the Acquisition.

QP Disclosure

The technical content in this news release has been reviewed and approved by John Florek, M.Sc., P.Geol., a Qualified Person pursuant to CIM guidelines. Mr. John Florek is in good standing with the Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (Member ID:1228) and an employee and officer of Emperor.

About Emperor Metals Inc.

Emperor Metals Inc. is a high-grade gold exploration and development junior mining company focused on Quebec's Southern Abitibi Greenstone Belt, and leveraging AI-driven exploration techniques. Emperor is dedicated to unlocking the substantial resource potential of the Duquesne West Gold Project and the Lac Pelletier Project (currently under purchase agreement) both situated in this Tier 1 mining district.

Emperor is led by a dynamic group of resource sector professionals who have a strong record of success in evaluating and advancing mining projects from exploration through to production, attracting capital and overcoming adversity to deliver exceptional shareholder value. For more information, please refer to SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca), under Emperor's profile.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

s/ "John Florek"

John Florek, M.Sc., P.Geol

President, CEO and Director

Emperor Metals Inc.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not approved nor disapproved the content of this press release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made and information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. These statements and information are based on facts currently available to Emperor and there is no assurance that the actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements and information may be identified by such terms as "anticipates," "believes," "targets," "estimates," "plans," "expects," "may," "will," "could" or "would."

Forward-looking statements and information contained herein are based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, metal prices, taxation, the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, capital and operating costs, the availability of financing, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes and other matters. While Emperor considers its assumptions to be reasonable as of the date hereof, forward-looking statements and information are not guarantees of future performance and readers should not place undue importance on such statements as actual events and results may differ materially from those described herein. Emperor does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or information except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244240

SOURCE: Emperor Metals Inc.
Vietnam Airlines expands India network with new Bengaluru and Hyderabad flights, enhancing connectivity and catering to growing travel demand read more

New Delhi: Vietnam Airlines will launch direct flights from Bengaluru and Hyderabad to Hanoi starting May 2025, expanding its India network. The airline will operate four weekly flights from Bengaluru and three from Hyderabad using Airbus A321 aircraft.

With this expansion, Vietnam Airlines will serve four Indian cities, including Delhi and Mumbai. The new routes offer seamless connectivity to Japan, Korea, China, Australia and Asean nations.

Nguyen Trung Hieu, Country Manager India, Vietnam Airlines, expressed his excitement about the expansion, stating, India is an extremely important market for Vietnam Airlines and South India has witnessed a surge in demand for travel to Vietnam. We are excited to cater to this growing segment with the launch of direct flights from Bengaluru and Hyderabad. We are reinforcing our commitment to providing world-class service and seamless connectivity for passengers from all parts of India."

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This expansion boosts India-Vietnam air connectivity, meeting growing travel demand and strengthening Vietnam Airlines regional presence.

Abhishek Goyal, Executive Director, Aeroprime Group (India GSA, Vietnam Airlines), said, The expansion into Bengaluru and Hyderabad is a game-changer for Vietnam Airlines in India. These new routes will make travel more convenient for business and leisure travellers alike while offering an enhanced flying experience onboard with world-famous Vietnamese hospitality.

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Hrithik Roshans mom Pinkie Roshan has agreed to social media users calling Nadaaniyan mindless through her comment on Instagram read more

Saif Ali Khans son Ibrahim Ali Khan and Sridevis daughter Khushi Kapoors Nadaaniyan, which premiered on Netflix last Friday opened to poor reviews unanimously. Apart from the story, the netizens also slammed the star kids performances in the rom-com.

Now, Hrithik Roshans mom Pinkie Roshan has agreed to social media users calling Nadaaniyan mindless through her comment on Instagram. It all started when Freddy Birdy shared his review, which read, Two things immediately disqualify me from writing a review for Nadaaniyan. One, I am not in my twenties. And two, I have a brain. Having got that little detail out of the way, I liked the fact that we are slowly steering back to the mindless romantic comedy, full emphasis on being mindless.

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Nadaaniyan starts like it were Student of the Year Part Three. Then, its graphics meander into Crazy Rich Asians territory. The rich people are called Singhania, Jaisingh and Oberoi. The poor people have surnames like Mehta, Wagle and Birdy. Rich people might have money, but they never have happiness. Poor people have a Noida address, but they also have the beautiful Dia Mirza as their mom and are blissfully content. Rich people wear floor to ceiling black suits like Suniel Shetty and want male heirs. Poor people are doctors, and they live in Noida. Show me a poor doctor today, and I will watch Nadaaniyan thrice if further read.

He concluded the review by saying, The beautiful part of Nadaaniyan is that it stays completely away from anything remotely original I liked Ibrahim Ali Khan because you get two actors in one: the visuals of Saif Ali Khan and the voice of Sanjay DuttFinally, I applaud Netflix. Why do stunning work like Sacred Games, Jamtara, Darlings and Delhi Crime when you can give the viewer stuff like Nadaaniyan Watch it at your own risk.

Hrithiks mom commented on the review and wrote, Totally go with this hilarious review tho I loved ibrahim ali khan.
Mumbai-Based activist accuses Shah Rukh Khan of violation of rules leading to National Green Tribunal (NGT) intervention, putting the future of the renovation in deep trouble. read more

An activist has alleged violations in the renovation plan, urging the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to step in and pause the work. As Gauri Khan was in talks with the authorities about adding two floors to their six-storey bungalow, intervention of National Green Tribunal (NGT) can put a stop to this.

Social activist Santosh Daundkar has accused Shah Rukh Khan and the Maharashtra authority over clearances for renovations in Mannat, Bar & Bench reported on Monday.

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As per reports published in MINT, Mannat which is a Grade III heritage structure; any structural change can only occur after securing proper permissions. The activist also claimed that the actor committed fraud by merging twelve 1-BHK flats meant for mass housing into one home for a single family.

What we knew so far about the renovation?

Firstpost had earlier reported that the Maharashtra Government would be refunding Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan Rs 9 crore that he had paid in excess to convert the lease of his sea-facing bungalow `Mannat.

Resident suburban collector Satish Bagal had mentioned that in 2019, Shah Rukh Khan and his wife Gauri Khan converted the lease of the heritage property in Bandra to class 1 complete ownership, and paid the government some premium for it.

After discovering a tabulation error on the basis of which the premium was calculated, the Khans filed an application before the revenue authority for refund which was sanctioned earlier this week, he said.
A Delhi-bound Air India flight caught the attention worldwide after it was forced to return to Chicago on March 5 owing to the majority of its toilets going out of order mid-air. The airline found polythene bags, rags, and clothes were flushed down and stuck in the plumbing. However, this is not an isolated incident read more

An Air India flight bound for Delhi from the United States was forced to return to Chicago on March 5 after several of its toilets broke down mid-air. After the news grabbed worldwide headlines, the airline has revealed what caused blockage in the majority of the lavatories on the AI126 flight.

It is not the first time a flight had to turn back due to unserviceable lavatories. Air India has faced the issue of toilet abuse before, along with other airlines. This time, the Tata-owned carrier has urged passengers to use lavatories only for the purposes that they are meant for.

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Lets take a closer look.

Why Air India Chicago-Delhi flight had to turn back

An Air India plane from Chicago to Delhi with some 300 passengers on board had to head back to Chicago OHare International Airport last week due to clogged toilets. An hour and forty-five minutes into the flight, the crew reported that the majority of the lavatories in the Business and Economy sections were out of order.

The airline said in a statement Monday (March 10) that eight of the 12 toilets on the Boeing 777-300ER plane became unserviceable when it was making its way over Greenland on March 5.

A spokesperson for Air India confirmed that the flight from Chicago to Delhi had to return due to a technical snag.

Will the person who felt compelled to flush their clothes down the toilet and the other people who dont trash their tissues on AI126 please stand up and pay Air India for the diversion please? https://t.co/2g3HCeIHhX pic.twitter.com/SdUdVAyYST  Ajay Awtaney (@LiveFromALounge) March 10, 2025

We would like to confirm that as part of our investigation into the incident, our teams found polythene bags, rags, and clothes that had been flushed down and stuck in the plumbing. This led the lavatories to become unserviceable, the airline said.

By this time, the aircraft was overflying the Atlantic, leaving points in Europe as potential cities to divert to. However, due to restrictions on night operations at most of the European airports, it was decided to divert back to Chicago. The decision to divert was taken entirely in the interest of passenger comfort and safety, Air India added in its statement.

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The airline said it helped passengers with hotel accommodations and alternative flight arrangements so they could continue their travel to Delhi.

While not found on AI126 of 5 March 2025, our teams have previously also found objects such as blankets, innerwear, and diapers, among other waste, having been flushed down the toilets on other flights. We take this opportunity to urge passengers to use lavatories only for the purposes that they are meant for, Air India said.

Past instances

Last month, an Air France flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Brazil after a passenger reportedly clogged the toilet.

Last year, pilots for a United Airlines plane from Frankfurt to San Francisco were forced to turn back to Germany due to a flooded toilet.

In 2023, an Austrian Airlines plane carrying some 300 people from Vienna to New York had to return after five of eight toilets broke down.

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Air India faced a similar situation in 2017 when toilet troubles affected its Delhi-Chicago flight. A Boeing 777 took off for a 16-hour non-stop journey to the US from the Indian capital with four lavatories out of order. When the plane with 340 people on board was just a couple of hours away from its destination, the remaining eight toilets also got clogged.

A senior Air India official had blamed passengers flushing stuff like plastic bottles and sanitary napkins into the toilets for the blockage.

In 2016, Air Indias Newark-Mumbai flight had to make an unscheduled landing at Istanbul after all toilets on the plane stopped flushing.

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Toilet abuse

Flyers stuffing the aircrafts toilets with trash indicate a need for a much-needed toilet training. Such actions cause a stink for the airlines whose earnings take a hit.

If a passenger throws any object into the toilet, like a plastic bottle, soiled diapers, a bunch of tissue papers, it could damage its vacuum flush system. Then the object has to be located, it has to be removed and the flush system repaired. The next flight is delayed, the losses are multifold, an airline source told Times of India (TOI) in 2017.

Aircraft such as the Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 use advanced technology like a vacuum flush.

A senior Air India cabin crew member told TOI, The older aircraft used the blue liquid chemical toilet flush system. When there was a blockage, we would pour hot water and then flush after some time and it would often clear the blockage."

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Once toilets on planes that have vacuum flush get blocked, airlines cannot do much. Such toilet abuse renders the lavatories unusable, not only troubling the passengers on board but also costing the carriers.

With inputs from agencies
After witnessing a post-pandemic rise in Indian students going abroad for studies, there was an approximate 15 per cent decline, with figures falling from 892,989 in 2023 to 759,064 in 2024. The country-wise breakdown suggests that Indian students going to Canada, the US, the UK and Australia witnessed a sharp decline of 27 per cent. Heres wh read more

People walk through Columbia University campus on the first day of the new semester in New York City, US, September 3, 2024. Reuters/Representational Image

The number of Indians studying abroad is declining.

This decrease is particularly witnessed in Canada, the US, the UK and Australia, according to the Union Education Ministry.

According to the data shared by the Bureau of Immigration on Indians who cited Study/Education as their purpose of travel abroad, Indian students going to these three countries alone recorded a 27 per cent decline in 2024.

This is likely due to stricter visa restrictions, higher financial requirements, an increase in visa rejections, and diplomatic tensions.

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What did the Ministry say?

According to the data, there was a post-pandemic rise in the number of Indian students going abroad to study.

A total of 7,50,365 Indians were studying abroad in 2022, and in 2023, the number increased to 892,989. However, 2024 witnessed a 15 per cent decline, with 7,59,064 Indians studying abroad.

The data, broken down by country, showed a startling 41 per cent drop in the number of students opting to study in Canada, from 2,33,532 in 2023 to 1,37,608 in 2024.

At the same time, student migration to the US fell 13 per cent from 234,473 to 204,058 while it fell 27 per cent to 98,890 in the UK.

The total numbers for these three nations fell sharply from 604,926 in 2023 to 440,556 in 2024, a 27 per cent decrease in a single year.

The number of students in Australia decreased by 12 per cent between 2023 and 2024, from 78,093 to 68,572.

However, with 2,301 fewer students, China has experienced the biggest drop. The number of Indians studying in China also fluctuated significantly post COVID-19, ranging from 1,967 in 2022 to 7,279 in 2023 and then down to 4,978 in 2024.

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There was also a small drop in the Philippines, where there were 8,101 students in 2024 compared to 11,261 in 2022.

Also read: Over 1 lakh dependent Indians in the US are fearing self-deportation. Heres why

Whats behind the decline?

Tighter immigration rules, visa denials, and study visa regulations in some of the most popular countriessuch as Canada, the UK, the US, and even Australiaare probably responsible for this.

The diplomatic tensions between Delhi and Ottawa act as a backdrop for the decline.

A major diplomatic crisis arose in September 2023 when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of orchestrating a plot to kill Sikh extremist activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen.

Canada recalled 41 Indian diplomats in October of that year after the Indian government declared it would remove their diplomatic immunity and their families security precautions.

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Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada, a government agency that deals with international students, strengthened its regulations at the same time by giving it the power to revoke employment and study permits under some circumstances.

In October 2024, amid charges and rebuttals surrounding Nijjars murder, relations further soured as both countries expelled each others diplomats.

Many Indian students reconsidered studying in the US last year due to uncertainty around the Trump administrations plans, which was probably the cause for the fall in Indian students preferring the US.

In the case of the UK, the numbers dropped possibly due to stricter visa regulations and post-study work policies.

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The UK government said last year that, with the exception of postgraduate research courses and courses with government-funded scholarships, international students enrolled in courses beginning in January 2024 will no longer be permitted to bring family members.

The decline of Indian students studying in Australia can be attributed in large part to recent changes to policies, such as increased visa costs, more stringent rules, and concerns over housing affordability.

Also read: Why the Greece golden visa is one of the worlds most popular

Which are the preferred countries?

While traditional destinations saw steep falls, several other countries, like Germany, Russia, Uzbekistan and Bangladesh, registered significant increases in Indian students.

Germany saw a rise in student numbers, with 34,702 students in 2024 compared to 23,296 in 2023 and 20,684 in 2022.

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Uzbekistan and Bangladesh saw rises of 9,915 and 8,864, respectively.

Over the previous three years, the number of Indian students travelling to Russia has significantly increased, according to the data. The number of students climbed from 19,784 in 2022 to 23,503 in 2023 and then to 31,444 in 2024.

The number of Indian students studying in France has also increased, rising from 6,406 in 2022 to 7,484 in 2023 and 8,536 in 2024 and beyond.

Malaysia, Singapore, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, and Ireland are among the other countries on the list that are favoured.

The number of students in New Zealand increased significantly as well, from 1,605 in 2022 to 7,297 in 2024.

With inputs from agencies
Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark. As it goes to the polls today (March 11), it has been at the centre of the debate over global trade and security due to rising global tensions, global warming and the changing global economy. There are several factors, such as strategic importance, natural resources, Arctic competition, Chinas interest and more, driving the USs interest in the island. read more

Greenland will vote on Tuesday in a general election, just a week after US President Donald Trumps remarks about seizing the worlds largest island.

In 2019, when he first proposed purchasing Greenland, many assumed it was a joke. But it wasnt.

For Trump, acquiring Greenland is part of his broader America First policy, which emphasises securing strategic resources and maintaining a strong global position.

Greenland is at the centre of the discussion about global trade and security due to rising international tensions, global warming, and the shifting global economy. Trump wants to ensure that the United States maintains control over this mineral-rich nation that protects the Arctic and North Atlantic approaches to North America.

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A self-governing territory of Denmark

Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark, a long-time United States ally that has Trumps proposals. Also, Greenlands right to independence at its own discretion has been acknowledged by Denmark.

The islands prime minister called for an early legislative election on Tuesday (March 11) amid demands that Greenlanders take charge of their fate and concerns about foreign meddling.

The majority of the 56,000 Inuit people who live on the worlds largest island80 per cent of which is located above the Arctic Circlehave up until now been mostly ignored by the outside world.

They insist that they want to be neither American nor Danish  just Greenlandic.

Icebergs are seen at the Disko Bay close to Ilulissat, Greenland, on September 14, 2021. Reuters/File Photo

Other countries interested in Greenland

The Arctic ice is melting due to climate change, which could open up a northwest passage for trade and rekindle competition with China, Russia, and other nations for access to the regions rich resources.

Let us be clear: we are soon entering the Arctic Century, and its most defining feature will be Greenlands meteoric rise, sustained prominence and ubiquitous influence, said Dwayne Menezes, managing director of the Polar Research and Policy Initiative.

Greenland  located on the crossroads between North America, Europe and Asia, and with enormous resource potential  will only become more strategically important, with all powers great and small seeking to pay court to it. One is quite keen to go a step further and buy it.

Greenlands Prime Minister Mute Bourup Egede. File Image/Reuters

Factors driving US interest in Greenland

Arctic competition: The Arctic was primarily a region of global cooperation after the Cold War. However, competition in the region is now again being driven by factors including climate change, the fight for limited resources, and rising geopolitical tensions after Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Strategic importance: Greenland lies off the northeastern coast of Canada, with over two-thirds of its territory lying within the Arctic Circle. Because of this, it has been essential to North American defence since World War II, when the US occupied Greenland to prevent Nazi Germany from gaining control of it and to safeguard vital North Atlantic commercial routes.

Since the war, the US has maintained outposts in Greenland, and the Pituffik Space Base, previously Thule Air Force Base, supports NATO and US space surveillance, missile defence, and missile warning missions. In the North Atlantic, Greenland also protects a portion of the GIUK (Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom) Gap, where NATO keeps an eye on Russian naval operations.

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Natural resources: Greenland is home to substantial reserves of so-called rare earth minerals, which are essential for the production of everything from cellphones and computers to the batteries, solar, and wind technologies that will drive the shift away from fossil fuels. Potential offshore oil and gas resources have also been found by the US Geological Survey.

A glacier in the Scoresby Sund in Greenland. Greenland plays an outsized role in the daily weather experienced by billions of people. File image/AP

Although they have rigorous regulations in place to safeguard the environment, Greenlanders are eager to utilise the resources. The regions tough climate raises doubts about whether it would be feasible to extract Greenlands mineral richness.

Climate change: Greenlands mineral richness is coming to light by the disappearing ice cap, and the once-mythical Northwest Passage through the Arctic is becoming accessible due to melting sea ice.

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With its advantageous location along two possible routes via the Arctic, Greenland would be able to avoid the Suez and Panama canal bottlenecks and shorten shipping durations between the North Atlantic and Pacific. The routes are drawing attention even though they probably wont be profitable for many years.

Chinese interest: China proclaimed itself a near-Arctic state in 2018 in an attempt to increase its influence in the region. China has also announced plans to build a Polar Silk Road as part of its global Belt and Road Initiative, which has created economic links with countries around the world.

Then-US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo rejected Chinas move, saying: Do we want the Arctic Ocean to transform into a new South China Sea, fraught with militarization and competing territorial claims? A Chinese-backed rare earth mining project in Greenland stalled after the local government banned uranium mining in 2021.

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Independence: The legislation that extended self-government to Greenland in 2009 also recognized the countrys right to independence under international law. Opinion polls show a majority of Greenlanders favor independence, though they differ on exactly when that should occur. The potential for independence raises questions about outside interference in Greenland that could threaten U.S. interests in the country.

With inputs from The Associated Press
Rodrigo Duterte, the former president of the Philippines, was taken into custody by Interpol at the Manila International Airport on Tuesday after attending a political rally in Hong Kong. The 79-year-old has been accused of committing crimes against humanity in an anti-drug crackdown which left thousands dead read more

Rodrigo Dutertes arrest comes on the orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Reuters

Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested.

The former Philippine president, 79, was taken into custody by Interpol at the Manila International Airport on Tuesday after attending a political rally in Hong Kong.

Dutertes arrest comes on the orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has been investigating his anti-drug crackdown which left thousands dead and critics complaining about human rights violations.

The ICC has accused Duterte, who served as president of the Philippines till 2022, of committing crimes against humanity.

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But what do we know about Dutertes drug war?

Lets take a closer look:

Dutertes vow

Before he ran for president, Duterte was a former prosecutor, congressman and two decades-long mayor of the southern Philippine city of Davao.

Under his police-enforced crackdown in Davao at the start of the millennium, an estimated 1,000 mostly poor suspects were gunned down extrajudicially.

One police officer involved in the Davao killings who later defected from Duterte told The Associated Press that up to 10,000 suspects were killed by his and other police and civilian hit squads under Duterte.

The toll in the crackdown was alarmingly high for years, gaining Duterte nicknames like the Punisher and Duterte Harry, after the Western movie police character with little regard for the law.

As per BBC, Duterte in 2016 ascended to the presidency of the Philippines in a landslide on his promise to clean the country of the scourge of crime.

All of you who are into drugs, you sons of bitches, I will really kill you, Duterte told a huge crowd in a 2016 campaign stop in Manila. I have no patience, I have no middle ground. Either you kill me or I will kill you idiots.

The killings begin

As per DW, Duterte began a massive drug war named Oplan Tokhang" (Operation Knock and Plead) immediately after taking office.

The grim results of the operations conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP) began to show immediately  as did reports about police misconduct.

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In April 2017, two senior PNP officers claimed that the police received cash payments for executing drug suspects, planted evidence at crime scenes and carried out most of the killings they have long blamed on vigilantes.

It is the Philippine National Police doing it, said the retired intelligence officer. This killing machine must be buried six feet under the ground.

The report claims that police are paid to kill not just drug suspects, but also for 10,000 pesos ($200) a head - rapists, pickpockets, swindlers, gang members, alcoholics and other troublemakers.

A commander interviewed by Reuters said the so-called buy-busts are actually well-planned executions.

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The commander said targets were chosen from lists of suspects drawn up by police and local officials, who later coordinate to unplug security cameras in the neighbourhood where a killing is planned.

According to the report, street lamps are also switched off.

There is no such thing as a legitimate buy-bust, the commander said. The dealers know the cops and wont sell to them.

Instead, he said, a team of police operatives will execute the target, who is almost always unarmed, then plant guns and drugs at the crime scene to justify the use of deadly force.

Rodrigo Duterte began a massive drug war named Oplan Tokhang" (Operation Knock and Plead) immediately after taking office. Reuters

We have to plant evidence for the legality of the operation, the commander said. We are ordered to do these operations, so we have to protect ourselves.

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The commander said officers put the gun in the dead suspects hand and pull the trigger with the victims finger so forensic testing will show that the suspect fired a gun.

In June 2017, an investigation by Reuters revealed that police have shot hundreds of people during anti-drug operations, then taken them to hospitals where they are declared dead on arrival.

Though the police claimed they were trying to save lives, bereaved relatives and other witnesses said they are sending corpses to hospitals to disrupt crime scenes and cover up extrajudicial killings.

A witness to the killings in Barangay 19 said the three men were executed and not, as the police claim, shot in self-defence.

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Police say they only use deadly force in self-defence, but a series of investigations by Reuters showed they were summarily executing people.

July 1, Duterte assumed office. July 2, it started. We would collect five to seven bodies starting around 2 pm all the way until early morning. That wasnt every day, but now, there are maybe three dead a week, Orly Fernandez, operations manager of Eusebio Funeral Homes in Malabon, around 13 kilometers from Manila, told DW in 2018_._

As per The Telegraph, the Philippine government has claimed that around 6,000 people died during the anti-drug war during Dutertes presidency.

However, human rights groups say that number could be as high as 20,000.

The truth, ultimately is, that no one really knows how many people have been killed.

The newspaper quoted the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) in their first report in 2017 as saying, Ever-changing disaggregation figures, by status, death, or incidents, have also paved the way to another level of confusion in clustering and comparing the numbers. The same applies for the timeframe. The statistics are usually not based on an annual timeframe which makes it hard to compare data and to identify trends.

In 2018, then PCIJ executive director Mangahas called the toll numbers as an alphabet soup that is not understandable anymore.

ICC investigation

The ICC has launched an investigation into drug killings under Duterte from November 1, 2011, when he was still mayor of Davao, to March 16, 2019, as possible crimes against humanity.

Duterte withdrew the Philippines in 2019 from the Rome Statute in a move human rights activists say was aimed at escaping accountability over the killings.

The Duterte administration moved to suspend the global courts investigation in late 2021 by arguing that Philippine authorities were already looking into the same allegations, arguing the ICC  a court of last resort  didnt have jurisdiction.

Appeals judges at the ICC ruled in July 2023 the investigation could resume and rejected the Duterte administrations objections. Based in The Hague, the Netherlands, the ICC can step in when countries are unwilling or unable to prosecute suspects in the most heinous international crimes, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The International Criminal Court (ICC). AFP

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who succeeded Duterte in 2022 and became entangled in a bitter political dispute with the former president, has decided not to rejoin the global court.

But the Marcos administration has vowed to cooperate with the ICC on such matters.

Duterte defiant

Duterte has denied condoning extrajudicial killings of drug suspects, although he has openly threatened suspects with death and has ordered police to shoot suspects who dangerously resist arrest.

As per BBC, Duterte in 2024 testified before the Philippines Senate that he employed a  death squad while he was mayor of Davao.

Duterte claimed his squad comprised gangsters and he would tell them kill this person, because if you do not, I will kill you now.

Do not question my policies because I offer no apologies, no excuses. I did what I had to do, and whether or not you believe it I did it for my country, Duterte said. I hate drugs, make no mistake about it.

I can make the confession now if you want. I had a death squad of seven, but they were not police, they were gangsters.

In Davao I used to do it personally. Just to show to the guys [police] that if I can do it why cant you. And Id go around in Davao with a motorcycle, with a big bike, and I would just patrol the streets looking for trouble also. I was really looking for a confrontation so that I could kill, Duterte told a group of businessmen in 2017, as per The Telegraph.

Duterte continues to be defiant.

Why did I do it? For myself? For my family? For you and your children, and for our nation, Duterte said at the Hong Kong rally, as per The Telegraph.

If this is truly my fate in life, its okay, I will accept it. They can arrest me, imprison me. What is my sin? I did everything in my time for peace and a peaceful life for the Filipino people, he added.

He previously claimed that the ICC does not scare me one bit.

Im asking the ICC to hurry up and come here and start the investigation tomorrow this issue has been hanging for many years and I may already die, he said.

If Im found guilty, I can go to prison and rot there for all time.

Duterte might soon find himself regretting his words.

With inputs from agencies
A catastrophic collision between a US military-chartered oil tanker and a cargo ship carrying sodium cyanide in the North Sea has triggered massive fires, toxic spills, and fears of an environmental disaster. The collision, which occurred off the coast of England, has already led to a major rescue operation and concerns about marine life destruction. Investigations are ongoing read more

Fire and rescue service crews respond to a collision between oil tanker and a cargo ship off the northeastern coast of England in this picture obtained by Reuters on March 10, 2025. File Image/Reuters

A catastrophic collision unfolded in the North Sea on Monday morning when a US military-chartered oil tanker, Stena Immaculate, was struck by a Portuguese-flagged cargo ship, Solong, approximately 10 miles (16 km) off the northeast coast of England.

The impact of the collision resulted in a massive fire, multiple explosions, and a large-scale rescue operation involving helicopters, lifeboats, and fixed-wing aircraft.

The collision has also triggered severe environmental concerns as the cargo vessel was carrying large quantities of sodium cyanide  a highly toxic chemical  and the tanker held thousands of barrels of jet fuel.

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The collision occurred at around 10:00 am local time (6:00 am ET), according to real-time tracking data from VesselFinder. The Solong, en route from Grangemouth, Scotland, to Rotterdam, Netherlands, collided at high speed with the Stena Immaculate, which was anchored in the North Sea.

The resulting impact ruptured the tankers cargo, causing jet fuel and marine diesel to spill into the sea while igniting an intense fire on both vessels.

The incident has led to grave concerns over a potential environmental disaster, as marine conservationists and emergency response teams scramble to contain the spill and prevent the spread of hazardous chemicals.

Additionally, one crew member from Solong remains missing, despite an extensive search and rescue operation.

Timeline of events leading to the North Sea collision

According to VesselFinder, Stena Immaculate was anchored off the coast of Immingham, England, awaiting clearance for refuelling at Killingholme when Solong approached from the north at a speed of 16 knots.

The tanker, carrying thousands of tons of Jet-A1 military-grade fuel and marine diesel, was stationary with a drift speed of just 0.1 knots.

At approximately 10:00 am local time, Solong rammed directly into Stena Immaculate, causing a large rupture in the tankers cargo tank. Within moments, the fuel began leaking into the sea, and the collision triggered a series of explosions on board the tanker, setting both ships ablaze.

Crowley, the US logistics firm that manages Stena Immaculate, confirmed in a statement that there were multiple explosions on board after the initial impact, adding that a ruptured cargo tank containing Jet-A1 fuel was primarily responsible for the fires rapid escalation.

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Emergency response teams were immediately deployed, with the British coast guard coordinating a rescue operation. Helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, and several lifeboats rushed to the scene to evacuate the crew members.

Thick black smoke was seen billowing over the North Sea as firefighting boats struggled to contain the blaze.

This image provided by Bartek Smiaek shows smoke billowing from a vessel after a cargo ship hit a tanker carrying jet fuel off eastern England on Monday, March 10, 2025 setting both ablaze and sending fuel pouring into the North Sea. File Image/AP

Out of Solongs 14 crew members, 13 were rescued, while one crew member remained missing as of late Monday. Meanwhile, all 36 crew members of Stena Immaculate were successfully evacuated, though several required medical attention upon reaching the shore.

The British coast guard officially declared the rescue operation for the missing crew member of Solong closed by Monday evening, with no trace of the individual found.

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Crowley also confirmed that Stena Immaculate suffered severe structural damage and was rendered inoperable, while Solong sustained heavy hull damage.

Why the environmental impact could be devastating

The collision has triggered grave concerns about environmental damage, given the highly hazardous cargo aboard both ships. According to maritime intelligence firm Lloyds List, Solong was carrying 15 containers of sodium cyanide, a highly toxic chemical commonly used in gold mining, alongside an undisclosed quantity of alcohol.

In the event of contact with water, sodium cyanide can rapidly convert into hydrogen cyanide gas, which is lethal to both humans and marine life.

Additionally, Stena Immaculate was loaded with Jet-A1 fuel  a highly flammable aviation-grade fuel primarily used for military aircraft  and marine diesel.

According to Crowley, the tanker was under a long-term charter with the US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to supply fuel to US military bases in the Mediterranean. The vessel had departed from Agioi Theodoroi, Greece, and was scheduled to dock at Killingholme, England, for fuel resupply.

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The collision resulted in a major spill of jet fuel into the North Sea. Marine ecotoxicologists have warned that the leaked fuel could pose severe threats to the marine ecosystem in the Humber estuary, especially since the area is home to protected seabird colonies, porpoises, Atlantic grey seals, and critical fish stocks.

Whilst the images look worrying, from the perspective of the impact to the aquatic environment its less of a concern than if this had been crude oil because most of the jet fuel will evaporate very quickly, Dr. Mark Sephton, Professor of Organic Geochemistry at Imperial College London, explained.

However, the more alarming threat is the potential release of sodium cyanide from Solong. According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), sodium cyanide, when exposed to seawater, can transform into hydrogen cyanide gas, which is extremely lethal to marine life and humans.

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Greenpeace UK issued a statement expressing serious concerns that the sodium cyanide could already be seeping into the water.

As more information emerges about what the ships were carrying, we are extremely concerned about the multiple toxic hazards these chemicals could pose to marine life. The jet fuel that entered the water close to a breeding ground for harbour porpoises is toxic to fish and other sea creatures, Dr. Paul Johnston, Senior Scientist at Greenpeace Research Laboratories, told CNN.

Environmentalists have also expressed deep concern because of the proximity of the collision site to critical marine ecosystems.

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust confirmed that the Humber estuary is home to thousands of seabirds, including puffins, razorbills, and kittiwakes, alongside harbour porpoises and grey seals.

East Yorkshires coast is home to protected and significant colonies of seabirds including puffins, razorbills, gannets and kittiwakes, Sky News quoted Martin Slater, director of operations at the Trust.

Many birds are gathering offshore on the sea ahead of the nesting season. There are significant numbers of Atlantic grey seals in the area, many rearing this years young, as well as porpoises and other cetaceans around Spurn.

If pollution spillage enters the Humber, this could potentially be devastating for the wildlife of the estuary, including important fish stocks and tens of thousands of overwintering and migrating birds who use the mud flats.

Additionally, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) warned that a large oil spill near Englands largest gannet colony could result in widespread seabird fatalities. Authorities have already begun deploying counter-pollution response teams to contain the damage.

What we know about the cause of the North Sea collison

The cause of the collision remains unclear, raising serious questions about maritime navigation and safety protocols. Real-time tracking data showed that Stena Immaculate was stationary, while Solong was moving at a high speed of 16 knots when the collision occurred.

Experts and port authorities are questioning how the cargo ship failed to detect a stationary vessel in its path despite advanced radar and navigational technology.

Martyn Boyers, Chief Executive of the Port of Grimsby East, expressed disbelief, telling CNN, It seems a mystery, really, because all the vessels now have very highly sophisticated technical equipment to plot courses and to look at any obstacles or anything theyve got to avoid.

Its difficult to actually suggest what went on, other than the fact it should never have happened, he added.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) and the Marine and Coastguard Agency (MCA) have launched a joint investigation to determine the cause of the collision. Maritime security experts have ruled out malicious activity or sabotage, suggesting that it could be a case of severe navigational error or mechanical failure.

How did that vessel continue plowing into the berth vessel? There must have been some warning signs. They must have been able to detect it on the radar, Boyers told CNN.

As investigations continue, both Stena Immaculate and Solong remain at the collision site. The fire aboard Stena Immaculate was still burning as of late Monday, while salvage teams were working to stabilise both vessels.

The British government, along with the US Department of Defense, has pledged immediate cleanup operations to minimise the environmental impact. The collisions cause remains under investigation, and the missing crew member from Solong has yet to be located.

With inputs from agencies
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has massive renovation plans for his iconic Mumbai house, Mannat, which he purchased in 2001. However, this has hit a roadblock after an activist, Santosh Daundkar, approached the National Green Tribunal, alleging several violations and asked for a pause read more

Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan plans to renovate Mannat. The work is expected to last for two years. File image/PTI

When you think of Mumbai and architecture, a few structures come to mind: theres the Gateway of India, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Rajabai Clock Tower. However, this list isnt complete without the mention of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khans iconic bungalow, Mannat, which stands tall in Bandra, the suburbs of the city.

Thousands of Shah Rukh Khan fans from India and across the world throng the bungalow each day to catch a glimpse of the star, who often graces the crowds from his balcony, especially on occasions such as his birthday and on festivals like Eid.

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However, now Mannat and the superstar have attracted the wrong type of attention. The bungalow has now come under the National Green Tribunals (NGT) scanner after an activist has claimed that there are violations in the renovation plan.

Whats going on? We explain.

Mannat under NGT scanner

Earlier this week, reports had come in that Shah Rukh and his family would be moving out of their iconic home as it had to undergo renovations. According to a report, at the behest of his wife, Gauri Khan, additional floors are being added to the annexe, which will expand the propertys total built-up area by at least 616.02 square metres.

However, this plan has hit a roadblock after an activist alleged violations in the renovation plan, urging the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to step in and pause the work. A Bar and Bench report said that activist Santosh Daundkar approached the NGT, accusing the star and the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) of violations in securing the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance necessary for renovations at Mannat.

Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan acknowledges the greetings of his fans who had gathered outside his residence, Mannat, in Mumbai. The actor has grand plans to renovate the bungalow, but it has hit a roadblock. File image/PTI

The superstars bungalow has been adjudged as a Grade III heritage structure in Mumbai and hence, needs permission from authorities to make any structural changes.

In his appeal, Daundkar has raised several concerns about violations, claiming that Khans actions are part of a history of CRZ violations. Elaborating on this, he filed in his papers that the actor had demolished two heritage structures without obtaining the required environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

He further alleged that the actor constructed a Ground plus six-storied building without mandatory permission from the MCZMA.

A Bar and Bench report also stated that Daundkar has raised concerns about the construction of a basement at Mannat, which is six metres below ground level. He contends that this involved the illegal extraction of substantial minor minerals and groundwater, both of which are prohibited activities under CRZ regulations.

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In his appeal, he also pointed out that Khan had allegedly committed fraud by constructing 12 number of one-bedroom-hall-kitchen flats for mass housing and later combined them into a luxury single-family residence. This, he argues, is a violation of provisions of the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976.

NGT steps in

Reacting to Daundkars allegations, the NGT has now asked the activist to provide evidence on the same within the next four weeks, with a hearing scheduled for April 23.

The NGT in its order noted, If any violation of the above procedure has been committed by the Project Proponent or the MCZMA, the same may be submitted by the appellant specifically along with the evidence in support of that, within four weeks, failing which we would be left with no option but to dismiss the present appeal for non-compliance of the order of this Tribunal, at the stage of admission itself, a coram of Judicial Member Dinesh Kumar Singh and Expert Member Vijay Kulkarni said, as per the Bar and Bench.

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What this means is that Daundkar has a months time to prove his allegations or the case will be thrown out and Shah Rukh Khan would be permitted to go ahead with the renovations he wishes to carry out.

History of Mannat

Shah Rukh Khan purchased the iconic bungalow situated in Bandra in 2001 for reportedly Rs 13.01 crore. As of December 2024, Mannats estimated value was around Rs 200 crore.

It is said that the actor fell in love with the house while shooting for the song Bas itna sa khwab hain in his movie Yes Boss in 1997. This prompted him to purchase it in 2001. In her coffee table book, My Life in Design, Gauri Khan pens the story of how they bought the house and the initial struggles they had about it. Shah Rukh has also mentioned the financial struggle they faced when they bought the bungalow and tried to furnish it.

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Shah Rukh Khan bought the bungalow, situated in Mumbais Bandra area in 2001 for reportedly Rs 13.01 crore. File image/News18

However, theres a storied history behind this structure that dates back as far as the late 1800s. As per Bharat Gothoskar, city chronicler and founder of Khaki Heritage Foundation and Mumbai-based history enthusiast Debasish Chakraverty, the bungalow was originally built by Raja Bijai Sen, the Raja of Mandi (former princely state in present-day Himachal Pradesh), for one of his ranis (queens).

Chakraverty notes that following the demise of Raja Bijai Sens in December 1902, the bungalow was sold by the princely state to Perin Maneckji Batliwala of Girgaum in 1915. Perin Maneckji Batliwala named his newly acquired mansion Villa Vienna because of his fondness for Viennese music, Chakraverty told Indian Express, adding that old-timers still prefer to call the building Villa Vienna.

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The story goes further that Batliwala sold the bungalow to his sister Khurshedbai Sanjana and her husband. Since Khurshedbai Sanjana had no children of her own, she willed the property to her sister Goolbanu. It was then inherited by the latters son, Nariman Dubash.

However, this isnt the only tale. The Gandhy family, who lived in a building adjacent to Mannat, have an alternate history to share. They note that Villa Vienna was built by Kekoo Gandhys maternal grandfather, Maneckji Bottlewala  not Batliwala.

Maneckji Bottlewala travelled to Europe in the 1920s and fell in love with Vienna. The neoclassical architectural revival in the late 18th and 19th centuries captured his imagination. Upon his return to Bombay, he purchased a plot of land next to the newly built Kekee Manzil, where his eldest daughter, Roshan (Kekoos mother), lived after her marriage. On this plot, he recreated his version of classical splendour, characterised by grandeur of scale, simplicity of geometric forms, and Doric columns on the facade, and named it Villa Vienna, Adil Gandhy, son of gallerist, collector, and art connoisseur Kekoo Gandhy, known for pioneering the promotion of Indian modern art, told Indian Express.

However, by the 1930s he was forced to sell the house to his sister and it passed down to her nephews  Nani and Maneck Dubash.

Eventually, the bungalow was sold to diamond merchant Bharat Shah. Shah Rukh Khan later purchased the property from him.

With inputs from agencies
Darren Beattie, the acting undersecretary of state for public diplomacy, is facing backlash after a CNN investigation revealed he posted a series of now-deleted tweets mocking US Secretary of State Marco Rubios intelligence and promoting unfounded rumours about his sexuality read more

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with the media on his military airplane as he flies to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, March 10, 2025. File Image/Reuters

A high-ranking official at the US State Department has come under scrutiny for making disparaging comments about Secretary of State Marco Rubio, including spreading unsubstantiated rumours about his sexuality.

Darren Beattie, the acting undersecretary of state for public diplomacy, was found to have posted a series of offensive social media comments targeting Rubio. The posts, which have since been deleted, resurfaced this week after an investigation by CNN, drawing widespread backlash.

Beattie, who previously served as a speechwriter during the Trump administration, was fired in 2018 after it was revealed that he attended a conference featuring White nationalists.

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Following his dismissal, he launched the far-right media outlet, Revolver News, which later became known for amplifying conspiracy theories related to the January 6 Capitol riots.

However, Beattie was reappointed to a key position within the State Department after Donald Trump returned to office in 2025.

His appointment has reignited controversy, particularly after CNN unearthed several now-deleted tweets in which Beattie ridiculed Rubio, mocked his intelligence, and promoted baseless rumours about his sexuality.

Deleted tweets referenced Rubios sexuality and foam parties

Among the most controversial tweets was one posted on January 7, 2021, a day after the Capitol riots. Beattie referenced an old, unsubstantiated rumour about Rubios sexuality that originated from a curfew violation at Wainwright Park during Rubios teenage years.

In the tweet, Beattie wrote: Forget Wainwright park, forget the foam, forget the war promotion and the neocon sugar daddies, forget the low IQ, forget the 2016 primary, Rubio is TOUGH ON CHINA (and good for the military industrial complex). So be a good DOG and vote for him!!!

The reference to foam was interpreted as a nod to a baseless claim from Rubios political past, which alleged that he attended foam parties at gay nightclubs. Another tweet by Beattie stated: What happens in the Cabana stays in the Cabana #Rubio, seemingly continuing to perpetuate the rumour.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio kisses Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) as he arrives for President Donald Trumps address to a joint session of Congress at the US Capitol on March 04, 2025 in Washington, DC, US. File Image/Reuters

Does Marco Rubio have a future in politics? Beattie reportedly asked in another deleted tweet.

Beattie deleted three other tweets from July 23, 2020, that called efforts to rebrand Rubio a nationalist a scam, nonsense and fake.

The idea behind the Hawley/Rubio scam is this. They are smart enough to know the rebranded neoconservatism of Nikki Haley and Crenshaw has no legs. Also smart enough to know free-market libertarianism has no legs, Beattie had written, reported CNN.

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These comments have resurfaced at a critical time when Rubio has transitioned from a sharp critic of Trump to a prominent ally, now serving as Secretary of State in Trumps second term.

What Beatties controversial history tells us

Beatties controversial social media activity is not limited to his comments about Rubio. In the past, his far-right media platform, R_evolver News_, has promoted multiple conspiracy theories, including false claims that the January 6 Capitol riots were orchestrated by government agencies.

Revolver News also suggested that the Black Hawk helicopter collision with an American Airlines jet over the Potomac River was planned and that former US President Barack Obama manipulated high-profile court cases.

Beattie was previously dismissed from the Trump White House in 2018 after it was revealed that he had attended a conference featuring White nationalists.

Darren Beatties official headshot at the US State Department

Despite his past controversies, Beattie was brought back in 2025 by Trump to serve as acting undersecretary for public diplomacy. However, his continued association with extremist views and incendiary remarks has fuelled widespread outrage, especially from Democrats.

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Adding to the backlash, CNN uncovered that on the day the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, Revolver News posted: BREAKING: Its now legal to shoot women having abortions in New York City with your Supreme Court-issued concealed handgun.

How Rubio has responded

Despite the growing controversy, Rubio has largely remained silent on the matter. When approached for comment about Beatties offensive remarks, Rubio stated that his focus was on combating online censorship as part of his State Department role.

He also clarified that Beatties position was temporary, as acting officials cannot serve beyond 300 days without Senate confirmation.

However, Beatties controversial past and inflammatory comments have made Senate confirmation unlikely. Several Democratic leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have called for Beatties immediate removal, citing his long history of promoting far-right extremism, misogyny, and conspiracy theories.

In response to the uproar, Beattie responded to CNN saying that Rubio was 100 percent America First and its a tremendous honour to work for him in advancing President Trumps world historical agenda.

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Rubio, who has been married to his wife Jeanette Dousdebes since 1998 and has four children, has never directly addressed the persistent rumours about his sexuality.

However, political analysts believe that the resurfacing of Beatties old tweets could further polarise Rubios already complex standing within the Republican Party.

Can this impact Rubios political future?

The renewed attention on Rubios sexuality and the growing criticism of his association with far-right figures like Beattie have sparked speculation about his future in politics.

Some political commentators believe that Rubios rapid shift from a Trump critic to one of his most loyal allies has made him vulnerable to attacks from both the far-right and liberal critics.

Moreover, Beatties continued presence in the State Department, despite his widely condemned remarks, could place additional pressure on Rubio.

With his temporary appointment set to expire in early 2026, it remains unclear whether Rubio will push for Beatties full-time confirmation or allow him to quietly exit the administration.

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With inputs from agencies
On Monday (March 10), the Elon Musk-owned social media platform X faced three outages, disrupting access for thousands of users worldwide. Shortly after the disruptions, the tech billionaire blamed IP addresses in Ukraine for the cyber attack. However, a pro-Palestinian hacking group Dark Storm Team has taken responsibility read more

Elon Musk-owned X experienced multiple outages on Monday, with the tech billionaire claiming it was a cyberattack and pointing fingers at Ukraine. File image/Reuters

Not one, not two but three  Elon Musk-owned X, the social media platform, suffered a series of outages on Monday (March 10), disrupting access for thousands of users across the world.

According to Downdetector, an online tracker of service outages, the first disruption started around 3:30 pm IST, a second spike occurred at 7:00 pm IST and a third one at 8:44 pm, leaving people unable to access the app or website across different regions.

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Amid the disruptions, Elon Musk, the owner of the platform, said, There was (still is) a massive cyberattack against X. We get attacked every day, but this was done with a lot of resources. Either a large, coordinated group and/or a country is involved.

Later, the X owner said to _Fox Business Network_s Larry Kudlow that the attackers had IP addresses originating in the Ukraine area without providing further details or evidence of it.

However, shortly after Musks statement, a hacker group known as Dark Storm Team claimed responsibility for the attack. Heres what we found out about them and the outages at X.

X goes down for users

On Monday, thousands of X users began complaining when they were unable to log in to the social media platform. This occurred twice over during the day, causing huge disruptions across the world.

The outages affected users in major countries, including the United States, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. Over 40,000 users globally registered complaints of service interruptions.

At the end of the X outages, Downdetector reported that 56 per cent of users faced problems with the app itself, while 33 per cent encountered issues on the website. Another 11 per cent reported trouble with server connections.

Elon Musk claimed a massive cyber attack caused login issues for X users. File image/AP

As X users complained and grumbled about the disruptions, an anonymous source informed Reuters that X had been hit by multiple waves of DDoS attacks. A Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack is a cyberattack in which multiple compromised systems flood a target, such as a website or server, with excessive traffic, overwhelming its resources and making it inaccessible to legitimate users.

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Musk points fingers at Ukraine

Elon Musk, the owner of X, also confirmed that the platform was facing trouble. He believed a large, coordinated group and/or a country is involved. Soon after the platform was up and running, he began responding to other users who speculated about the disruptions.

For instance, when one user posted, They want to silence you and this platform, Musk responded: Yes.

He even later told Fox News during an interview, There was a massive cyberattack to try and bring down the X system with IP addresses originating in the Ukraine area.

However, other cyber experts said it was too early to tell if an attack caused the issues. One of the things that should always be taken with a grain of salt is any statements made in the short period of time, immediately after, or even in this case during an attack, said Eric Noonan, CEO of cybersecurity provider CyberSheath, to CNN.

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Nicholas Reese, an adjunct instructor at New York Universitys Center for Global Affairs and an expert in cyber operations, also doubted if the attack was a result of state actors. There are essentially two types of cyberattacks  some are meant to be highly visible, while others are designed to be stealthy, he explained. The most valuable attacks tend to be the quiet ones. This incident was clearly meant to be noticed, which almost certainly rules out state actors. The benefit they would gain from such an attack is minimal.

While Musk blamed Ukraine, a pro-Palestinian hacking group known as Dark Storm Team claimed responsibility for the outages on X. Representational image/Pixabay

Dark Storm Team claims responsibility

While Musk began pointing fingers at Ukraine, a hacking group known as Dark Storm Team claimed responsibility for the outages on X. The pro-Palestinian group on Telegram claimed responsibility for taking Twitter offline. The group shared a screenshot of a real-time connectivity status page that displayed failed connection attempts from various locations around the globe.

Founded in 2023, the group is known for its sophisticated cyber warfare attacks and successful attacks on high-security systems. It is also believed to have a pro-Palestinian focus. In fact, last month, the group vowed in a post to unleash a wave of cyberattacks on the government websites of Nato countries, Israel and nations that support Israel.

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In the past too, Dark Storm has successfully attacked critical infrastructure, including Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Haifa Port in Israel, and the UAEs Ministry of Defence.

But how did they allegedly attack X? According to a report in Crypto Times, the hackers used a multi-layered DDoS attack to overwhelm X servers. However, this wasnt a simple flood of traffic. The hackers used a botnet of hijacked devices, including compromised personal computers and IoT devices like smart cameras and routers.

Internet sleuth SypoSecure even told Decrypt later, Its one of the bigger attacks Ive seen from the group lately. The website should have better security to prevent an attack like that from happening.

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It isnt clear why the group targeted X, but cybersecurity experts believe it could be linked to global political tensions. Some believe it was retaliation against US pro-Israel stance while others note that it was primarily a way to send a powerful message.

Whatever the case, its clear that they wanted attention, and they got it.

Xs loss, Blueskys gain

And as X encounters outages on Monday, Google searches for Bluesky soared. Google Trends revealed that searches for the new social media app, which was designed to replace the Musk-owned platform, more than doubled since the same time on Sunday.

BlueSky became an independent company in 2021 and opened its doors to the public in February 2024. As of January 2025, there were over 30 million users on the app, a number thats continuing to grow as X users turn away from the platform.

With inputs from agencies
While Sipri highlights Chinas rise in defence manufacturing, it remains conspicuously silent on Beijings rampant reverse engineering of foreign military technology, whereas Indias Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, though slower, upholds ethical self-reliance in defence production. read more

Although there is a tense calm along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China, with both militaries facing off and heavily armed, one common trend for the rivals is a shift towards reducing arms imports and focussing more on domestic defence production. India and China, the two biggest powers in Asia, have historically been among the worlds top buyers of weapons. However, in recent years, their strategies for military procurement and self-reliance have taken different paths.

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According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri), India remains the worlds second-largest arms importer, while China has significantly cut down its dependence on foreign weapons.

Indias defence imports

India has traditionally depended on foreign weapons for its defence needs, but recent trends show a change in how it sources its arms. According to data from the Sipri for 202024, Indias overall arms imports dropped by 11 per cent compared to the previous five-year period (201519). However, this shift does not indicate reduced dependence on foreign weapons but rather a diversification of suppliers.

Russia was once Indias main arms provider, supplying 72 per cent of its weapons between 2010 and 2014. By 202024, this share had fallen to 36 per cent, as India actively worked to reduce its dependence on Moscow. During this period, France became a major supplier, with 29 per cent share in Indias arms imports. This rise is largely due to Indias purchase of Rafale fighter jets and Scorpene-class submarines strengthening its air and naval forces. This shift in suppliers is partly influenced by Indias growing strategic ties with Western countries amid Chinas growing assertiveness along the borders and in the Indo-Pacific region.

Chinas reverse engineering and ethics

Over the past decade, China has significantly reduced its arms imports with Sipri data showing a 64 per cent decline. This shift highlights Beijings push for self-reliance in defence backed by extensive investments in domestic research and development. One key factor in Chinas progress has been its acquisition and adaptation of foreign military technology, particularly from Russia. For example, China obtained the Su-27 fighter jet and used it as the foundation for developing its own version, the J-11, strengthening its domestic defence industry.

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However, this approach has sparked controversy with concerns over Chinas use of unauthorised reverse engineering.

Copying Russian fighter jets: The J-11, J-15 and J-16

Brent M Eastwood, 1945s Defence and National Security Editor, explains in his piece J-11 Fighter: How China Copied Russias Su-27 (And Made it Better?) that the J-11s origins trace back to a 1995 agreement allowing China to manufacture 200 units using Russian kits. However, after the licensing agreement ended, China allegedly continued production without Russian authorisation leading to tensions with Moscow. Russia had intended to remain the supplier of engines and avionics, but China moved ahead with its own versions instead.

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A similar pattern emerged with the J-15 Flying Shark, which was based on the Su-33, Russias navalised variant of the Su-27. According to Sebastien Roblin in The National Interest in July 2016, after Russia refused to sell two Su-33 jets to China for $100 million in 2006, Beijing instead acquired a prototype from Ukraine in 2001. By 2009, China had successfully developed the J-15, which later performed its first carrier landing on the Liaoning in 2012.

Another Chinese jet, the J-16 Red Eagle, is a modified version of the two-seat Su-30MKK, tailored to handle Chinese weapons. China had originally procured 73 Su-30MKKs from Russia between 2000 and 2003, followed by 24 Su-30MKK2s in 2004, which were optimised for anti-ship warfare. The J-16, however, is an indigenous upgrade incorporating Chinese-made avionics and weapons systems.

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Chinas most advanced stealth fighters, the J-20 Mighty Dragon and the upcoming Shenyang FC-31, have also faced accusations of incorporating stolen design elements. Alex Hollings, in The National Interest in June 2024 reported that these aircraft likely include technology derived from US and Russian programs. In 2016, a Chinese national, Su Bin, was convicted of conspiring to steal sensitive military information, including designs for the F-22 and F-35, for Chinas military. Russian concerns about technological duplication stem from similarities between the J-20 and the defunct MiG 1.44 programme.

Despite the controversy, the J-20 showcases Chinas rapid military advancements, though its combat effectiveness against American stealth fighters remains uncertain.

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Expanding domestic production and global influence

Beyond modifying foreign technology, China has heavily invested in its own military production, significantly reducing reliance on foreign suppliers. Today, it is not only self-sufficient but also the worlds fourth-largest arms exporter, trailing only the United States, Russia and France. Chinese defence firms have successfully developed and sold a variety of military hardware including the JF-17 fighter jet and advanced drones, primarily to Pakistan. This has allowed Beijing to lessen its dependence on Russian technology while expanding its geopolitical influence through arms exports.

Atmanirbhar Bharat push for India

India has realised the risks of depending too much on foreign arms suppliers and has started working towards self-reliance through its Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The government has taken important steps to boost domestic defence production such as raising the limit for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the defence sector and introducing the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, which gives priority to locally made equipment.

However, India still faces many challenges in becoming fully self-sufficient. While it has made progress in building its own fighter jets like the HAL Tejas, as well as missile systems and warships, it still depends on foreign technology for crucial parts like jet engines, advanced avionics and submarines. In contrast, China has managed to overcome these gaps by investing heavily in research and development (R&D) and acquiring key technologies. As a result, India still imports nearly half of its military equipment.

Indias arms procurement amid border tensions

Indias approach to arms procurement has been heavily influenced by ongoing border tensions with China, especially after the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) has been rapidly building infrastructure along the LAC prompting India to accelerate its acquisition of advanced weapon systems. However, the urgency of these procurements highlights Indias continued reliance on foreign suppliers as domestic alternatives are often unavailable in sufficient numbers or lack technological sophistication.

Chinas military expansion in the region has further pushed India to strengthen its defence ties with the United States and France. The purchase of Rafale fighter jets from France and the increasing acquisition of American surveillance drones and aircraft reflect Indias efforts to counter Chinas growing military presence. While these partnerships indicate a shift in Indias geopolitical strategy, they also raise concerns about long-term dependency on foreign defence manufacturersa challenge that China has largely overcome by boosting, though through what experts call engineering theft, its indigenous defence industry.

Chinas self-reliance has also turned it into a global arms exporter. Beijings ability to supply affordable and relatively advanced military equipment has allowed it to expand its influence, particularly in South Asia and Africa. Pakistan, Chinas closest military ally, now sources 81 per cent of its arms imports from China, further strengthening the strategic China-Pakistan axis. This growing military cooperation between Beijing and Islamabad poses a direct challenge to India reinforcing the need for New Delhi to expedite its domestic defence production capabilities.

India has also made progress in exporting defence equipment, though modest compared to other big players. While the Indian defence sector has seen increased exports in recent years, particularly with indigenous missile systems and aircraft, it still lags behind China in terms of global reach and volume. One of the key obstacles remains the relatively high cost and limited production capacity of Indian defence manufacturers compared to their Chinese counterparts.

Indias path to true self-reliance

Indias ongoing efforts to reduce its dependence on foreign arms suppliers represent a crucial step toward strategic autonomy. The diversification of its defence imports and the push for indigenous manufacturing under Atmanirbhar Bharat signal a long-term commitment to self-reliance. However, challenges remain, particularly in closing technological gaps in critical areas such as fighter jet engines.

While India has not adopted the China route of stealing blueprints, true self-reliance can only be achieved through a sustained commitment to domestic innovation. As regional security dynamics continue to evolve, Indias ability to develop and manufacture its own advanced weapon systems will be crucial in maintaining strategic parity with China.
As US President Donald Trump is pursuing a tariff war, India and the United States are negotiating a mutually beneficial trade agreement, according to the Narendra Modi government read more

The Narendra Modi government has told the parliament that India and United States are negotiating a trade agreement.

The development comes as India, along with other countries, is in a race to cut a deal with US President Donald Trump to minimise the fallout from the tariff war that he is about to unleash on the world. While he has so far announced tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, and sector-specific tariffs, reciprocal tariffs are set to be announced after April 2 in which India may be particularly targeted.

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Trump has regularly slammed India an abuser of trade and has flagged high tariffs and trade imbalance  India has a trade surplus with the United States.

In a written response to a question, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday that India and the United States are negotiating a mutually beneficial, multi-sector bilateral trade agreement.

At the same time, Prasada hinted that other ways are also being adopted to minimise the fallout from Trumps tariffs.

Indian exporters are working towards diversifying trade basket and export destinations, said Prasad

ALSO READ: As Trump pauses tariffs on Canada & Mexico, heres complete tariffs timeline

Previously, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said that the trade agreement was discussed during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the United States last month.

On the broader aspect of India-US trade relationship, Prasada said, Under the ambitious Mission 500, both countries aim to more than double US-India trade to $500 billion by 2030 to be achieved by deepening the trade relationship across multiple sectors. Both countries plan to negotiate a mutually beneficial, multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement. Both countries would focus on increasing market access, reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers, and enhancing supply chain integration.

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In addition to sector-specific and country-specific, Trump on Feb. 13 announced reciprocal tariffs on all countries, which mean that the United States will impose the same tariff on a countrys products that the other country imposes on US products.

Under Trumps executive order, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick will study all countries tariffs by April 1 and submit a report to the White House and then Trump can theoretically start imposing tariffs on April 2, according to Yahoo Finance.

ALSO READ: Trump eyes $1 trillion from reciprocal tariffs, risks sowing uncertainty & widening trade conflict

However, tariffs are not expected immediately on April 2 as countries are bound to negotiate deals with the United States to minimise the fallout from tariffs.

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In case of India, CNBC TV18 has quoted sources as saying that the Trump administration has sought zero tariffs on almost all products except agricultural products traded between India and the United States. Sources further said that there are unlikely to be any relaxation to India in case of reciprocal tariffs.
The new Immigration and Foreigners Bill is set to replace the four laws: the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920; the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939; the Foreigners Act, 1946; and the Immigration (Carriers Liability) Act, 2000. read more

View of the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Winter session of Parliament, in New Delhi, December 16, 2024. PTI

The Narendra Modi government on Tuesday introduced the Immigration and Foreigners Bill to streamline and update laws related to foreign travel.

The bill seeks to replace the following four laws: the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920; the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939; the Foreigners Act, 1946; and the Immigration (Carriers Liability) Act, 2000.

While introducing the bill, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said the provisions of the proposed law are important for national security.

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Since India is growing economically, government is committed and providing facilities to ensure more tourists come here. But it is also the governments responsibility to prioritise the security of the country, said Rai, according to Hindustan Times.

The new law puts the onus on institutions, such as hospitals or educational institutions, housing foreigners of informing the officials, as per HT.

While the provision exists currently, it is in the form of an executive order and now it is being codified under law, as per the newspaper.

The bill further obligates carriers, such as airlines and ships, to remove passengers denied entry by an immigration officers and provide passengers and crew data to the authorities in advance, according to the newspaper.

As Rai introduced the bill, the Opposition rose to criticise it with Congress MP Manish Tewari and Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sougata Roy taking the lead. While Tewari criticised the bill for not providing appeal mechanism against decision of immigration officers and said such a bill violated the fundamental cannon of justice and jurisprudence, Roy said the provisions infringed upon fundamental rights, according to The Tribune.

Tewari demanded that the bill be sent to a parliamentary select committee for scrutiny.

As for the penalties, the bill charges the use or distribution of forged or fraudulently obtained passports or other travel documents with two years imprisonment, which may be extended to seven years, and overstaying beyond the visa period with three years imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 3 lakh.

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Donald Trumps break with Europe, while disrupting the 80-year-old transatlantic alliance, will also weaken the US-led world order as other powers in Eurasia, China and India rise read more

Donald Trump has begun the process of delinking the US from Europe using the pretext of reciprocal global trade tariffs and the Russia-Ukraine war. Reuters File

United States President Donald Trump is upending a global order underwritten by the West since the end of the Second World War in 1945. The order governed global institutions ranging from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The US-led West controlled the levers of the worlds military, economic and financial power.

The balance of power began shifting from west to east in the first decades of the 21st century. The rise of China and India was a clear sign of the global centre of gravity moving towards Asia. Europe was in secular decline, its economic sclerosis masked by US military and financial guarantees. Those guarantees have expired.

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Trumps attempt to rehabilitate Russia in its war with Ukraine and support Israels territorial expansion in the Middle East are part of his worldview. Can this worldview survive the end of Trumps presidency in 2029? The Democratic Party has vowed to reverse some of Trumps radical military and trade policies if they regain control of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

But the fundamental shift in the balance of global power appears irreversible. A 300-year-long era of Western domination could be ending.

Is the break between the US and Europe over Ukraine also irreversible? Given Trumps unpredictability, probably not. Future Democratic presidents will attempt to repair the damage done to the transatlantic alliance forged after the Second World War. But rapid demographic and ethnic changes will, within a generation, transform the US into a White-minority country for the first time since European colonists arrived in North America over 400 years ago.

Trump began the process of delinking the US from Europe using the pretext of reciprocal global trade tariffs and the Russia-Ukraine war. But America First and Make America Great Again (MAGA) are both dipped in a racist, White supremacist ideology.

Elon Musks DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) seeks to banish DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) from America. DEI is essentially affirmative action to help African-Americans and other American citizens of colour who have faced historical discrimination and prejudice.

Trump himself is not a dyed-in-the-wool racist. He is a dealmaker. As he said last week: My whole life is about deals.

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Trumps MAGA supporters, however, are not dealmakers. Many are embittered, poorly educated racists. They dread a future when the number of White Americans in the US population falls below 50 per cent. That is estimated to take place as early as the mid-2040s. It is this fear that Trump has tapped into among his MAGA base. Illegal immigration from Central America and Asia, MAGA supporters know, will hasten Americas demographic shift into a White-minority country.

Trumps MAGA policies on DEI, immigration, trade protectionism and isolation from Europe could ironically end up unmaking America. As Faisal Devji, professor of Indian history at Oxford University, noted in an insightful op-ed in a leading daily on March 1, 2025: It is only now dawning on European politicians that the most serious threat the West faces as a geopolitical actor is neither Russias army nor Chinas economy. Even Muslims and migrants, long the favourite internal enemies of Europes populists, pale in insignificance before the external threat posed by US policy on Russia and Ukraine, Canada and Mexico, and on Europes military and economic status."

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While it is tempting to attribute this challenge solely to the Donald Trump administration, it has been in the making for much longer under Democrat-led administrations than under Republican ones. Commentators are fond of following Trump by taking William McKinley as his model for a new American empire. But a more realistic assumption might be James Monroe and his vision of Americas power. Trumps efforts to subordinate Canada, Mexico, Panama and Greenland to US power look like the making of a new Monroe Doctrine for a Western Hemisphere that, as in the original, abandons Europe to a world in which it no longer has any special claim to American assistance."

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While the Monroe Doctrine had signalled Americas rise, its reprise, however, is a manifestation of its decline. For a world in which India, Russia and China might get more favourable treatment than Britain, France or Germany is one in which US hegemony has collapsed and with it the idea of the West. If they cannot become its rivals, Europeans will now have to pay for the privilege of serving as Americas vassals. Globalisation has led to the emergence of new economic and military powers in the world outside the West, and these cannot be dragooned into serving as Americas allies as Europe once had.

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Weakening the West

Trumps break with Europe therefore, while disrupting the 80-year-old transatlantic alliance, will also weaken the US-led world order as other powers in Eurasia, China and India rise.

That is precisely the opposite outcome of Trumps America First policy. Trade tariffs will harm US consumers as local prices rise. The military alliance between Europe and the US could splinter as NATO flounders, leading to a global power vacuum.

Whenever a vacuum forms, as history has shown, other powers fill it. Trump knows that a US-Russia detente could split the West. Yet, with the dealmakers instinct to get the best possible bargain, he is willing to gamble away the very outcome he seeks.

None of this will matter to Trump when his second and final term ends in 2029. By then, however, the die would have been cast. Trumps imperial impulse could ironically hasten the end of the Pax Americana he is attempting to rebuild.

The writer is an editor, author and publisher. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
The recent case of the repatriation of Uyghurs from Thailand to China is the finest example of how humanity fails at the altar of the vested economic interest of a country read more

Chinese authorities, in their reaction to the repatriation of Uyghurs, are brazen enough to state that these returnees would be treated as per the law of the Peoples Republic of China. Image: Ozan Kose/AFP

The world woke up on 27 February to the disturbing news of the repatriation of over 40 Uyghurs from Thailand to China. These Uyghurs were detained at the immigration bureau centre in Soi Suan Phlu, Yannawa district (Bangkok) for years. A China Southern Airlines plane carrying all the repatriates reached Kashgar city in South Xinjiang last afternoon. The fervent appeal by Uyghurs across the globe, civil society organisations, human rights activists, scholars, and sympathisers not to hand over the hapless and helpless Uyghur repatriates fell on deaf ears.

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The international community is deeply concerned about the safety and security of these Uyghurs, who are handed over to China. The concerns seem to be valid, as in the past, many such repatriates, who were handed over to China, be they Uyghurs, Tibetans, or the so-called anti-Chinese elements, had risked their lives. Nobody even knows where these repatriates are or what happened to them. Further, the Chinese government has been notorious for imprisoning more than a million Uyghurs in camps under the pretext of re-educating them. The US, UK, Germany, and the EU have condemned Thai action in the strongest possible terms.

The UN Human Rights Council Chief, Volker Turk, lamented that the deportation of Uyghurs by Thai authorities violates the principle of non-refoulement for which there is a complete prohibition in cases where there is a real risk of torture, ill-treatment, or other irreparable harm upon their return. Amnesty International dubbed this process of forcibly returning the Uyghurs to China as unimaginably cruel. Another organisation, Justice for All, which had launched a Save Uyghur Campaign, admonished the Thai government for sacrificing the Uyghurs at the hands of their oppressor (China), where they face the risk of imprisonment, torture, and death.

However, Chinese authorities, in their reaction to the repatriation of Uyghurs, are brazen enough to state that these returnees would be treated as per the law of the Peoples Republic of China. For example, the Chinese government mouthpiece The Global Times, while reiterating the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokespersons statements, dubbed the entire process of repatriation of Uyghurs being carried out in accordance with the laws of both China and Thailand, as well as international law and international practices. Earlier, as reported in another Chinese propaganda tool, Xinhua, a senior official of Chinas Ministry of Public Security stated that 40 Chinese nationals involved in illegal immigration were repatriated from Thailand in a coordinated effort to combat cross-border crime and safeguard the legitimate rights of Chinese citizens. This springs a surprise as the official did not take the name of Uyghurs but instead described the repatriates as Chinese nationals.

It is essential to note that the repatriation process by the Thai authorities formally started in the second week of last month (January 2025) when the Uyghur captives were forced to sign the voluntary deportation documents. This Thai action prompted the detainees to go on a hunger strike for weeks. This was reported widely in local and international media and posted by many Uyghurs on social media, inviting widespread concern among the global community. In their efforts to stop Uyghurs repatriation to China, human rights groups filed petition after petition to the judicial authorities in Thailand. Thai judicial officers met a couple of times between the 6th and 17th of February to decide on these petitions, but to no avail.

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According to an Istanbul-based Uyghur diaspora organisation, over a dozen years ago, in 2013, and later on in 2014, when Chinese excesses against Uyghurs in Xinjiang continued unabated, particularly after President Xi Jinpings most trusted lieutenant, Chen Quanguo, became the General Secretary of the Xinjiang branch of the Chinese Communist Party, nearly 350 Uyghurs fled to Thailand. They were caught by Thai security personnel for entering the country illegally and were sent to custody in different prisons in the country.

Thailand has an altogether different take on the whole gamut of issues involved in the process of repatriation of Uyghurs. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra dispelled the Western criticism of having a huge trade deal with China in exchange for Uyghurs. She stated that these Uyghurs entered Thailand illegally, for which they were incarcerated for over a decade after being found as culprits.

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Surprisingly, Shinawatra added that no third country came forward to accept these Uyghur detainees, whereas the Chinese authorities provided sufficient shreds of evidence confirming them as their citizens. However, Prime Minister Shinawatras assertions are a blatant lie, as in July 2015, with the help and untiring efforts of the Turkey-based diaspora groups, nearly half of these Uyghurs, mostly women and children, were exonerated and shifted from Thailand to Turkey.

This is not the first time the Uyghurs have been deported to China from any foreign country. The same Thai authorities, in 2015, had repatriated a few Uyghurs, who were released from Guantanamo Bay prison after being captured in Afghanistan. This was possible after China offered nearly five billion dollars of investment in Thailand. Nearly 109 Uyghurs were deported to China in the same year (2015), and their fates are not known. Five repatriates died between 2015 and 2023, and over 30 Uyghurs tried to escape, but some of them were recaptured.

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This present case of repatriation of Uyghurs is the finest example of how humanity fails at the altar of the vested economic interest of a country like Thailand. The entire world community has remained a mute witness to the plights of the Uyghurs. It is understood well that Thailand does not want to curry the disfavour of an economic giant like China for the Uyghurs. The reason is loud and clear.

It is essential to note that China is Thailands largest trade partner among ASEAN member nations. Thailand is Chinas third-largest trading partner, with their bilateral trade touching a whopping $125 billion. China was Thailands largest investor in 2023, with more than a thousand Chinese companies investing there in all crucial sectors of the economy. In addition, China is the primary market for Thai agricultural products. China is the destination for over 40 per cent of Thai agricultural products. Hence, the cause of Uyghurs appears defeated in Thailand.

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Mahesh Ranjan Debata teaches at the Center for Inner Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
While the end state of the Russia-Ukraine war is unpredictable, it is bound to hugely shape the contours of the 21st century due to the tectonic shift it has caused in the balance of power equations read more

It was on February 24, 2022, that President Vladimir Putin launched special military operations to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine, shattering the myth of European inviolable borders. The full-scale Russian invasion was a blitzkrieg, as within days its troops gained control of a large swath of Ukrainian territory, advancing up to the suburbs of Kyiv and capturing important cities of Kherson and Mariupol. Ukraines crushing defeat at the hands of the Russian army appeared imminent.

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One of the defining characteristics of war is unpredictability. The Russian offensive met with unexpectedly stiff resistance from the Ukrainian forces, with the US and Europe providing unstinted support. Having failed to take Kyiv, coupled with logistics constraints, after six months, the Russians withdrew eastwards. Immediately, in September, the Ukrainians went on the counteroffensive, making significant gains in the Kharkiv region and recapturing Kherson. Through 2023, the two sides were largely engaged in attrition warfare.

The third year of war witnessed the expansion of conflict both geographically and politically. In August 2024, Ukraine pulled off a high-stakes invasion into Russias Kursk Oblast region, making significant gains. The US and Europe accelerated military assistance to Ukraine, including authorisation of long-range American weapons. North Korea sent 10,000 troops in support of its ally Russia.

Lacking the ability to execute large-scale combined arms manoeuvres, the two sides are currently engaged in tactical operations along the frontline, with Russians making steady gains while Ukrainians are facing acute shortages. As of now, Russia controls roughly 20 per cent of Ukrainian territory, besides laying claims to a chunk of land in four regions, namely Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, with around 3.5 million Ukrainians living in the Russian-occupied areas. Ukraine occupies approximately 500 square km in Kursk.

Both sides have taken heavy casualties. In the absence of exact figures, it is estimated that Russia has suffered between 150,000 and 200,000 casualties (killed/wounded), while its Defence Ministry confirmed 5,937 killed so far. The Ukrainian casualties, going by the official announcement, stand at 45,100 killed and 390,000 wounded, besides over 8 million of its citizens displaced. Around 1100 North Korean soldiers have also been killed during fighting in Kursk. The losses in terms of weapons and equipment have also been very high for the two sides.

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With President Trump returning to the office, the global geopolitical arena is witnessing intense churning. His 90-minute conversation with President Putin on February 12 sent a clear message to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Ukraine will have to fend for itself. Trump went on to blame Ukraine for starting the war. In the recent talks between the US Secretary of State and Russian Foreign Minister at Riyadh to end the war, Kyiv was not part of the process.

February 24, 2025 was a dramatic day at the UN when, during the General Assembly Resolution on the Ukraine conflict, the US voted against its allies and sided with Russia. It marked a seismic shift in the balance of power dynamics. Trumps negotiating strategy involves offering concessions to Putin before engaging in serious negotiations. In his public statements, Trump declared that Ukraine will not join NATO and the restoration of pre-2022 borders is not feasible, implying that Russia will be able to keep the territory it seized during the recent aggression.

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Trump is not just reshaping American policy towards Ukraine and Russia but upturning the global economic order as he is expected to strike deals with the so-called rivalsMoscow and Beijingin the coming future. In case the US pulls out of Europe, leaving the defence of the continent to the Europeans, it will be able to focus on the Western Pacific to keep China in check. India has maintained a neutral stance by critiquing sanctions and advocating dialogue to resolve the conflict. In the ongoing reconfiguration of the international order, Delhi will have to navigate carefully and play its cards astutely to maintain stable relations with Washington, Moscow, the EU, the Gulf, and ASEAN.

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The much-awaited meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy at the White House on February 28 was expected to be a game changer as they were all set to sign the critical minerals deal and lay the groundwork to end the war. On the contrary, it turned out to be a blow-up with Trump publicly humiliating Zelenskyy in front of the global media. Trumps parting words to Zelenskyy were, Come back when you are ready for peace. The showdown at the Oval Office has certainly contracted the space for manoeuvring amongst key players at the top table.

With the emerging global alignments, the eighty-year-old Euro-Atlantic alliance has come under unprecedented stress in view of the complete reversal of US foreign policy under Trump. In fact, the very existence of the trans-Atlantic partnership is under scrutiny. The European leaders met in London for a hastily convened summit on March 2 to bolster support for Ukraine and also build bridges between Kyiv and Washington. They have put forward their own peace plans for Ukraine that would keep the EU in the midst of future peace talks.

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The fourth year of the Russian-Ukraine war is set to be a pivotal one, given the defining global reset that is underway, shaking the very foundation of European security. Immediately on assuming the office, Trump, in a bid to end the Ukraine conflict, has adopted unorthodox ways, without paying heed to the existing alliances. He has even gone on to pause military aid to Ukraine, which to date amounts to around $69 billion. The war now is expected to drag on as Putin will take full advantage of the current situation to make maximum gains to claim decisive victory. Although European nations have rallied behind Ukraine, without Washingtons military assistance, Kyiv will not be able to hold out.

In the current circumstances, an early ceasefire agreement to end fighting in Ukraine is highly unlikely. While the end state of the Russia-Ukraine war is unpredictable, it is bound to hugely shape the contours of the 21st century due to the tectonic shift it has caused in the balance of power equations and the traumatic impact on the socio-economic fabric of the society.

The writer is a war veteran, currently Professor of Strategic and International Relations. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Nigerias government has started vetting potential candidates to lead its more than 100 diplomatic missions, with appointments expected very soon, 18 months after President Bola Tinubu recalled all ambassadors, sources familiar with the matter said read more

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu looks on after his swearing-in ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria, on May 29, 2023. Reuters File

Nigerias government has started vetting potential candidates to lead its more than 100 diplomatic missions, with appointments expected very soon, 18 months after President Bola Tinubu recalled all ambassadors, sources familiar with the matter said.

Nigeria, Africas most populous country and a key Western ally in the fight against Islamist insurgents in West Africa, has operated without ambassadors since September 2023.

The minister of foreign affairs has previously blamed a lack of funds for the delay in naming new diplomats.

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A government source told Reuters that the issue is being resolved and that means the appointment will be announced very soon.

Nigerias security services were conducting background checks on possible appointees and had started sharing their findings with the relevant agencies within the presidency and legislature, an intelligence official told Reuters.

A spokesperson from the presidency referred questions to the foreign affairs ministry, which declined to comment. The sources declined to be named as they are not authorised to speak on the matter.

Since coming to power in May 2023, Tinubu has prioritised fixing Nigerias struggling economy, with foreign policy taking a back seat, said a former ambassador who served in Africa and the United States.

The government has this year budgeted 302.4 billion naira ($198.30 million) to run its foreign missions.

The former Nigerian ambassador said he was informed by government officials that the issue of the absence of ambassadors in their countries had come up in discussions between Tinubu and some foreign leaders.

Assurance had been given that they will soon be appointed, said the former ambassador, who declined to be named.
An internal probe by Evraz North America found that employees at a Russian-owned steel plant in Oregon sometimes bypassed a key test meant to ensure that armor for one of the Armys most commonly used vehicles could withstand enemy fire, according to a report read more

The US Armys Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), the second-generation successor to the renowned Humvee, has been used by the American military and several allied countries since the last Iraq war to safeguard troops against bullets, mines, and improvised explosive devices.

However, an internal report by Evraz North America Inc., a Russian-owned steel plant operator in the US, has revealed serious concerns regarding the vehicles production.

According to a Bloomberg report, citing senior officials at the company, employees at Evraz allegedly falsified quality control test results for some armored plating used in the JLTV.

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These revelations raise questions about the integrity of the manufacturing process for a vehicle that is critical to troop safety.

The incidents took place at an Evraz facility in Oregon between 2017 and 2019, as revealed by Evrazs investigation and company officials.

Employees at the Portland plant reportedly bypassed mandatory hardness tests and entered false results for approximately 12,800 armor plates of various types. These plates were marked as tested and approved, yet some later exhibited signs of cracking, reported Bloomberg.

Oshkosh Defense LLC, a major customer for the armor plates, manufactures a range of military vehicles, including the JLTV, marketed as a go-anywhere, do-anything light tactical vehicle.

Primarily used by the US military, the JLTV has also been supplied to allies such as Ukraine, Israel, Brazil, and Lithuania, with over 22,000 units produced to date, each expected to last around two decades.

According to the Bloomberg report, it remains unclear how many of the untested plates were used on JLTVs or other vehicles. Following the internal report, the FBI has visited multiple Evraz facilities over the past year, with authorities issuing a subpoena for Evraz to preserve information related to the production line events, added the report.

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The company, in a written response to Bloomberg questions, said the internal report examines quality control protocols and underscores EVRAZ North Americas commitment to continual process enhancements to produce high-quality, reliable plate, adding that the company follows strict compliance with all industry standards.

Evraz said that its plates passed independent testing by a government-approved facility and reported no client complaints. The military tests armored plating samples to ensure they protect against projectiles. However, Evraz initiated an internal investigation in late 2019 after allegations of non-compliance with quality control procedures.

A December 10, 2019 report revealed that starting in November 2017, production staff failed to consistently use a hardness testing machine, often entering false results manually, reported Bloomberg.

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Regular testing is crucial to ensure the armor can withstand ballistic impacts while being shaped into vehicle panels.

Evrazs internal report states that requirement clearly: Armor plate does require 100% hardness testing.

In a supplement to their main report, Evrazs inspectors detailed interviews with four employees who said they falsified hardness ratings, with some stating that there wasnt sufficient time to complete the required test for every plate because of pressure to keep the production line moving.

Instead of testing every plate, employees would input hardness ratings for some plates based on the results of others that had passed through the production line around the same time.

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The practice of manually recording false data was widespread, according to the Bloomberg report, citing Evraz report marked confidential.

Thats how I was trained, Bloomberg quoted one employee as saying.

Nearly all production line supervisors denied knowledge of faked tests. Nevertheless, the report concluded it was highly likely that all the relevant managers were aware of the practice.

One manager, who said he knew about false data sometimes being entered, responded to company investigators by saying that when youre thrown in the fire, you gotta do what you gotta do to keep the line rolling, reported Bloomberg.

Although the December 10 report does not specifically mention the JLTV, one Evraz official identified the untested plates as part of the JLTV programme and the Medium Tactical Vehicles made by Oshkosh.

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After management was informed of potential issues on the production line, Evraz suspended deliveries of armored plating for the JLTV programme.

According to the Bloomberg report, two Evraz officials expressed concern that military vehicles may have been fitted with potentially compromised armored plating. The report has not confirmed whether any of these questionable plates were installed on vehicles or deployed.

Oshkosh Defence did not respond to inquiries regarding its awareness of Evrazs internal investigation, the installation of suspect plating, or any recalls or retrofits, added the report.

The Army, which oversees the JLTV programme, referred questions to the FBI, which does not comment on ongoing investigations.

These developments follow Oshkoshs $6.75 billion contract in 2015 to build 17,000 vehicles, part of a larger $30 billion programme. The falsified tests are now under investigation by US authorities, with Evraz stating it is fully cooperating.

The Defence Contract Management Agency confirmed that the armored plating case is under litigation.

Evraz North America, a subsidiary of Russian-owned Evraz Plc, operates steel plants in Oregon and Colorado. The largest shareholder of Evraz Plc is Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, a close associate of President Vladimir Putin.

Evrazs internal investigation revealed widespread data falsification, and correspondence indicates Oshkosh had previously identified issues with the plating.

On December 20, 2019, Evraz informed Oshkosh of sporadic cracking in some plates and agreed to replace any unformed armor, assuring Oshkosh it would not need to expend further resources. Evraz claimed that plates already in use were suitable for service and warned staff to adhere to testing protocols to avoid dismissal.

Despite these issues, the JLTV programme has faced budget cuts and, in 2023, the Army awarded a new contract to AM General for 20,000 JLTVs, valued at up to $7.3 billion.

Evraz North America continues operations despite sanctions following Russias invasion of Ukraine, with plans to sell its North American operations still pending. There is no evidence linking Evrazs Russian ownership to any intent to compromise US national security; the issues appear to stem from poor compliance with factory procedures.

With inputs from agencies
Beledweyne, located about 335 kilometers (208 miles) north of Mogadishu, is the capital of the Hiran region and a strategic location in Somalias fight against al-Shabab, an al-Qaida-linked group that remains a major threat despite ongoing military operations by Somali forces and African Union peacekeepers. read more

A car bomb exploded on Monday at a hotel in Beledweyne, a central Somali city, killing at least six people, including two prominent traditional elders, according to witnesses. The attack targeted the Cairo Hotel, which hosts traditional elders and military officers coordinating the governments offensive against the terrorist group al-Shabab.

The explosion was followed by intense gunfire as attackers stormed the hotel, engaging security forces. Muhsin Abdullahi, a resident, confirmed to The Associated Press that six people, including two well-known elders, were killed, with several others hospitalised for injuries.

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Six people, including two well-known traditional elders, were killed in the attack, said Muhsin Abdullahi, a resident who spoke to The Associated Press by phone. He added that several wounded were hospitalized.

Social media footage showed thick black smoke rising from the hotel and significant damage to the building. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but al-Shabab, which controls parts of rural Somalia, frequently carries out bombings and assaults targeting government officials and military personnel.
Johannes Maximilian Kaiser Barents-von Hohenhagen, who calls himself a reactionary, is now in the spotlight after a recent poll showed him tied for the lead in the presidential election read more

Members of electoral tables count votes at a polling station during the local elections in Santiago on October 27, 2024. AFP file

The Chile presidential race has a new contestant in the form of a YouTuber. Johannes Maximilian Kaiser Barents-von Hohenhagen, a Libertarian lawmaker with a huge fan following, is finding his way into politics and might just become a contender in the upcoming elections.

Kaiser, who calls himself a reactionary, is now in the spotlight after a recent poll showed him tied for the lead in the presidential election. Like other right-wing populists in Latin America, he is gaining support by addressing public concerns about crime, immigration, and politics. However, his journey has some uniquely Chilean elements.

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I worked as a labourer, as a waiter, as a bond salesman, Ive done a thousand different things, he told Americas Quarterly.

The upcoming elections are set against a backdrop of political shifts and challenges. President Gabriel Borics administration has faced economic headwinds and public security concerns, leading to a cabinet reshuffle that incorporated figures from previous administrations. Despite these hurdles, Boric maintains an approval rating of approximately 30 per cent.

Fame to remember

Kaisers claim to fame came after the 2019 Chilean street protests that made an impact on future politics in the country.

The YouTuber was one of the very few politicians who took a stand against the lefts support of illegal migration and other policies that shook the Latin American country. Kaiser began making videos criticising Chiles political establishment.

Kaiser went from being a popular YouTuber to winning a legislative seat in 2021. Last year, he started a political party with a name similar to his channel. Now, hes setting his sights on the presidency.

Is Chile embracing the right?

Recent political events in Chile indicate a notable shift towards right-wing ideologies. In May 2023, right-wing parties secured a significant majority in the Constitutional Council elections, marking a departure from the previous left-leaning composition. This outcome reflected public dissatisfaction with President Gabriel Borics administration.

This points to the regions populist shift to the right  in sync with the rise of Argentinas Javier Milei and El Salvadors Nayib Bukele.
China has wrapped up its biggest political event of the year, the Two Sessions, where leaders set economic goals and discussed key policies. The government has targeted around 5 per cent growth and promised to boost domestic demand. However, rising tensions with the U.S., including new tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, have added uncertainty to Chinas economic future read more

China concluded its biggest political event of the year on Tuesday, but one key question remains: How much will it do to boost economic growth in 2025?

China has wrapped up its most significant political gathering of the year, the Two Sessions, setting ambitious economic targets amid growing global challenges.

With an economic growth goal of around 5 per cent, the leadership has pledged to boost domestic demand and strengthen key industries. However, as tensions with the United States escalate, particularly due to new tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, uncertainty looms over Chinas economic trajectory.

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Throughout the week-long meeting of the nearly 3,000-member National Peoples Congress, leaders emphasised the need to boost investment and consumer spending.

However, how much of this will turn into real action remains to be seen, as the ruling Communist Party balances its priorities. The ongoing trade war with the United States has added uncertainty to Chinas economic outlook.

The meeting concluded on Tuesday without Zhao Leji, the top political leader and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress. He was expected to host the closing ceremony but was absent due to a respiratory infection, according to Vice Chairman Li Hongzhong.

Li chaired the closing session in Zhaos absence.

Chinas parliament, known for approving government decisions without much opposition, passed the work report with 2,882 votes in favour, one against, and one abstention. It also gave near-unanimous approval to the budget, the Supreme Court report, and changes to a law on congress deputies.

Chinas economic future is uncertain. As the worlds second-largest economy and a key market for global companies like Apple and Volkswagen, it faces serious challenges. A prolonged property crisis has weakened consumer and business confidence, while a tariff war started by US President Donald Trump is making things even harder.
Despite Trumps reversal, sporadic releases continued in the following weeks, according to multiple human rights groups. However, Cuban authorities have not yet disclosed a full list of released prisoners read more

Marlon Brando Diaz (C), imprisoned for his participation in the July 2021 anti-government protests, greets his relatives after being released from prison at the Guinera neighbourhood in Havana on January 16, 2025. Source: AFP.

Cuba has granted early release to 553 prisoners, completing a deal brokered in the final days of Joe Bidens presidency, which his successor Donald Trump later abandoned, a Supreme Court official said Monday (March 10).

The process was successfully completed, said Maricela Soza Ravelo, vice president of the court, on state television. She noted that 378 applications were filed in January and 175 in February.

The agreement, reached on January 14, saw Biden remove Cuba from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism in exchange for the communist governments pledge to free 553 detainees.

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Remnants of a short-lived deal

However, the deal was short-lived. After Biden left office, Trump was sworn in on January 20 and quickly overturned the Vatican-mediated agreement, halting further releases after 192 prisoners had been freed.

Many of those released were detained in a government crackdown on rare mass protests in July 2021, which saw thousands of Cubans take to the streets over economic hardship and political repression.

Despite Trumps reversal, sporadic releases continued in the following weeks, according to multiple human rights groups. However, Cuban authorities have not yet disclosed a full list of released prisoners. A timeline for further releases is also yet to be announced.

Hundreds of prisoners remain in Cuba

The Todos platform, which compiles information from non-governmental organisations, has counted 212 confirmed releases, including opposition figures Jose Daniel Ferrer and Felix Navarro. Dissident artists Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara and Maykel Osorbo, serving sentences of five and seven years respectively, remain imprisoned.

According to official figures, around 500 demonstrators arrested over the July 2021 protests have been sentenced, some to up to 25 years in prison. Some have been released after completing their sentences.

Human rights organisations and the US Embassy in Havana estimate that there are still around 1,000 political prisoners on the Caribbean island.

With inputs from AFP
The 79-year-old ex-leader faces a charge of the crime against humanity of murder, the ICC said, citing the deaths of tens of thousands of mostly poor men killed by police and vigilantes without proof they were involved in drugs read more

Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte delivers a speech during the proclamation rally for his political party PDP-Laban's senatorial candidates ahead of the midterm elections, at Club Filipino in San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines, February 13, 2025. Reuters

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested Tuesday (March 11) in Manila on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for crimes against humanity related to his bloody war on drugs, authorities said.

The 79-year-old ex-leader faces a charge of the crime against humanity of murder, the ICC said, citing the deaths of tens of thousands of mostly poor men killed by police and vigilantes without proof they were involved in drugs.

The presidential palace confirmed the arrest, stating that Interpol Manila received the official copy of the warrant early Tuesday morning.

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As of now, he is under the custody of authorities, the statement said, adding that Duterte and his group are in good health and are being checked by government doctors.

Duterte was detained at Manilas international airport upon returning from a brief trip to Hong Kong, where he had addressed thousands of overseas Filipino workers on Sunday.

Speaking at the event, he dismissed the ICCs probe, referring to investigators as sons of whores but said he would  accept it if an arrest was inevitable.

ICC probe amid Philippine government standoff

Duterte ordered the Philippines to withdraw from the ICC in 2019, but the tribunal maintained it retained jurisdiction over killings that took place before the withdrawal including deaths in Davao City, where Duterte served as mayor before becoming president in 2016.

The ICC formally launched an inquiry in September 2021, but paused it two months later after Manila said it was reviewing hundreds of drug war cases. The court resumed its investigation in July 2023 after a five-judge panel rejected the Philippines objection to its jurisdiction.

Since then, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.s administration has repeatedly said it would not cooperate with the ICC probe. However, Undersecretary of the Presidential Communications Office Claire Castro said Sunday that if Interpol requested assistance, the government is obliged to follow.

Dutertes drug war legacy

Duterte remains a powerful political figure in the Philippines and is running to reclaim the mayoral seat in Davao City in the May midterm elections.

His anti-drug crackdown, which began in 2016, was marked by thousands of extrajudicial killings, drawing international condemnation. While rights groups say tens of thousands were killed, official figures acknowledge at least 6,000 deaths in police operations.

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Despite the ICC probe, Duterte remains popular among many Filipinos who saw his hardline tactics as a quick fix to crime.

At an October 2023 Senate hearing, Duterte refused to apologise for his actions.

I did what I had to do, and whether or not you believe it, I did it for my country, he said.

With inputs from agencies
The election for the 31-seat Inatsisartut, Greenlands parliament, has largely centred on domestic issues such as healthcare, education, and economic development, but the question of future ties with Denmark remains a defining issue read more

Greenlanders are heading to polls in less than three hours. Tuesdays (March 11) vote is crucial since it could help determine a timeline for independence from Denmark, a goal supported by most of the population.

The election for the 31-seat Inatsisartut, Greenlands parliament, has largely centred on domestic issues such as healthcare, education, and economic development, but the question of future ties with Denmark remains a defining issue.

The Danish self-governing territory, home to 57,000 people, still relies on Denmark for foreign policy, defence, and monetary affairs.

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Trumps renewed interest in Greenland sparks debate

The election comes amid renewed interest from US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly expressed a desire to acquire Greenland. In his address to Congress last Tuesday, Trump painted a vision of prosperity and security under US governance, referring to Greenlanders as an incredible people.

His remarks sparked astonishment, rejection, and a small degree of enthusiasm among locals. A recent poll found that 85 per cent of Greenlanders oppose becoming part of the US, with nearly half seeing Trumps interest as a threat.

Greenlands strategic Arctic location and vast mineral resources make it geopolitically valuable. It sits along the shortest route from Europe to North America, a crucial corridor for the US ballistic missile warning system.

Greenlands push for greater autonomy

Almost 90 per cent of Greenlands population is Inuit, and many feel they are still treated as second-class citizens by Denmark, despite having gained self-rule in 2009. All major political parties support eventual independence, but they differ on the pace of separation from Copenhagen.

Greenlands Prime Minister Mute B. Egede criticised Trumps remarks, saying the US president had not treated Greenlanders with respect since expressing interest in acquiring the island.

We need to draw a line in the sand and put more effort into building relations with countries that respect the future we want, Egede said in remarks aired Monday (March 10).

Political analysts say Trumps comments have intensified political divisions, reinforcing each sides position in the independence debate. However, they are not expected to significantly alter the elections outcome.

With inputs from agencies
The scenes of elation following Monday nights declaration came in sharp contrast to the grim scenes in coastal communities wracked by days of clashes that broke out last week between government forces and armed groups affiliated with deposed President Bashar Assad. read more

Residents celebrate following the signing of a breakthrough deal between Syria's interim government and the SDF, the Kurdish-led authority that controls the country's northeast, in Qamishli, northeastern Syria, late Monday, March 10, 2025. Image- AP

Celebrations erupted in Syrias Qamishli following the announcement of a landmark agreement between the central government in Damascus and local Kurdish-led authorities. Revelers filled the streets, dancing and chanting, One, one, onethe Syrian people are one, as cars honked in jubilation.

The joyous scenes on Monday night stood in stark contrast to the turmoil in coastal communities, where days of clashes between government forces and armed groups loyal to ousted President Bashar al-Assad had left devastation. Monitoring groups reported that hundreds of civilians were killed in revenge attacks, primarily targeting members of the Alawite religious minority, to which Assad belongs.

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Amid the violence, some families sought refuge at a Russian air base in Latakia province, while thousands fled to neighboring Lebanon, often using irregular border crossings in the north. The U.N. refugee agency said that at least 7,616 people had reached northern Lebanon, where humanitarian organizations were distributing food and blankets.

Lebanon currently hosts over 755,000 registered Syrian refugees, with hundreds of thousands more believed to be unregistered. Since Assads fall, the trend of refugees returning to Syria has gained momentum, with the U.N. reporting that nearly 260,000 Syrian refugees have returned home since November, about half of whom came from Lebanon.

But the outbreak of violence last week has threatened to reverse that flow.

While a tense calm prevailed over most of the Syrian coast Tuesday, families were still wading across a river marking the border between Syria and northern Lebanons Akkar province, some carrying children on their backs.

Radwan Alo fled his home in the countryside outside Qardaha, the hometown of the Assad family, and crossed the river into Lebanon. Alo said his twin uncles were killed by armed men, who he believes aimed at a complete extermination of the Alawite sect. He has been unable to reach his wife and children who stayed behind to find out if they are safe.

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The U.N. Human Rights Office has documented the killing of 111 civilians so far, saying in a statement Tuesday, the process of verification is ongoing, and the actual number of people killed is believed to be significantly higher. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, has reported nearly 1,000 civilians killed. The Associated Press has not been able to independently verify the figure.

Syrian authorities have formed a committee tasked with investigating the attacks on civilians and in recent days announced a series of arrests of people who allegedly took part in the massacres.

At a press conference Tuesday, Yasser Al-Farhan, spokesman for the committee, promised that no one is above the law and said that the panel will present its findings to the presidents office and the judiciary. He said the committee will set up a witness protection program for those who come forward to report crimes.

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Meanwhile, Kurds in northeast Syria were hopeful that the agreement announced Monday, which includes a ceasefire and the merging of the U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces into the Syrian army, would end years of fighting between Kurdish forces and Turkish-backed groups in northern Syria and allow displaced people to return home.

While the details of its implementation remain to be worked out, the deal signaled a step toward stabilizing Syria and consolidating control of the country under a single central authority in Damascus.

Malak Ibrahim, a Kurdish man who was displaced to Qamishli from the town of Afrin eight years earlier when Turkish-backed forces seized control of his area, said he is now hopeful that the injustice will end, so we all can go back to our homes. The agreement inked Monday promises to protect the rights of the Kurds.

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Arab residents of the area also said they hope the deal will bring an end to years of conflict.

We want to end the bloodshed, said Majdal Hamza, an Arab from Qamishli countryside: We are all brothers in one country.

With inputs from agencies
Shipments of Russian oil to Hungary were halted on Tuesday after Ukraine launched major drone strikes against Moscow, prompting Hungary to urge Ukraine not to target the energy infrastructure supplying Hungary, according to a report read more

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary Peter Szijjarto addresses the "Summit of the Future" in the General Assembly hall at United Nations headquarters in New York City, US, on September 23, 2024. Reuters File

Shipments of Russian oil to Hungary were halted on Tuesday after Ukraine launched major drone strikes against Moscow, prompting Hungary to urge Ukraine not to target the energy infrastructure supplying Hungary, according to a report.

This comes just months after Budapest reached a favourable agreement with Kyiv, permitting it to continue purchasing fuel supplies despite the ongoing invasion.

According to a Politico report, in a video statement shared online, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced that oil deliveries via the Druzhba oil pipeline to Hungary had to be temporarily suspended in the wake of the drone attacks.

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I have just spoken to Russias deputy energy minister, who said that a drone hit at a measuring station has made deliveries impossible for the time being, but that repair work is underway and, unless something extraordinary happens, oil deliveries to Hungary could resume in the late afternoon or early evening, Politico quoted Szijjarto as saying.

Szijjarto urged Ukraine not to target the energy infrastructure supplying Hungary as Kyiv seeks to undermine Russias military efforts.

On Tuesday, Ukraines armed forces reported that they had hit several strategic facilities of the Russian Federation that are involved in supporting armed aggression against Ukraine.

Budapest has leveraged a temporary exemption from the European Unions ban on Russian oil to significantly increase its crude purchases via the overland pipeline network, reaping substantial profits from discounted oil.

In September, Ukraine agreed to allow Hungary to continue buying Russian oil, despite its own sanctions on a key supplier. Under this deal, the fuel is deemed Hungarian as soon as it enters Ukrainian territory, enabling its transit.

Hungary has consistently threatened to veto EU efforts to reduce reliance on Russian energy.

Last week, Prime Minister Viktor Orban blocked a unanimous statement by European leaders supporting Ukraine and imposing tougher sanctions on Moscow.

With inputs from agencies
Monica Rezman. After Dark. 2023. (this is what its like to live in the tropics)

Canvas, acrylic, thread.

With permission of the artist after a studio visit in Merida, Mexico (thank you Victoria Sharp!).

More here and here.

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Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has reinstated his policy of exerting maximum pressure against Iran, reimposing sweeping sanctions aimed at crushing its oil industry in particular. read more

Iran would not negotiate with the US while being threatened, said President Masoud Pezeshkian, while telling President Donald Trump to do whatever the hell you want, Iranian state media reported on Tuesday.

It is unacceptable for us that they (the U.S.) give orders and make threats. I wont even negotiate with you. Do whatever the hell you want, state media quoted Pezeshkian as saying.

Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Saturday that Tehran would not be bullied into negotiations, a day after Trump said he had sent a letter urging Iran to engage in talks on a new nuclear deal.

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While expressing openness to a deal with Tehran, Trump has reinstated the maximum pressure campaign he applied in his first term as president to isolate Iran from the global economy and drive its oil exports down towards zero.

Irans mission to the United Nations had indicated Sunday that Tehran might be open to talks aimed at addressing US concerns about the potential militarisation of its nuclear programme  though not to ending the program completely.

The US State Department said Sunday the decision not to renew Iraqs sanctions waiver was made to ensure we do not allow Iran any degree of economic or financial relief.

Iran supplies a third of Iraqs gas and electricity, providing Tehran with substantial income.

With inputs from agencies
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara launched an investigation last month into the connection between officials working in the Prime Ministers Office and officials connected to the state of Qatar. read more

In the photo, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seen holding the meeting of Security Cabinet. (Photo: Israel's Prime Minister's Office)

An Israeli court on Tuesday issued a gag order on police investigating alleged links between Qatar and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus aides.

The gag order, effective for 30 days, prohibits the Lahav 433 major crimes unit from publishing any details about the case including information on interrogation of suspects and their findings.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara launched an investigation last month into the connection between officials working in the Prime Ministers Office and officials connected to the state of Qatar.

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Whats the case?

In February 2025, Israeli media reported allegations that senior aides to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had received substantial payments from entities linked to Qatar.

Eli Feldstein, a member of Netanyahus media team, was accused of providing public relations services to Qatari interests while serving in the Prime Ministers Office.

According to reports, Feldstein was paid by an international private company to oversee a public relations campaign aimed at enhancing Qatars image in Israel. His work primarily involved hostage negotiations, during which he allegedly arranged interviews between journalists and Qatari officials, conveyed official statements on Qatars behalf, and promoted narratives about its regional influence.

After opening a probe into the investigation, Miara ordered Israels Shin Bet and the police to examine the connections between officials in the Prime Ministers Office and Qatari-linked entities.

Witch hunt

Meanwhile, Netanyahu has rejected the allegations, calling it a witch hunt aimed at targeting him and his associates.

As the fabricated cases against Prime Minister Netanyahu collapse in court, new and baseless cases are being fabricated against his associates for personal and political reasons. We see right through it, Likud said after the attorney general opened the investigation.
Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam on Tuesday announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be conferred with the nations highest honour, The Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean read more

Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam on Tuesday announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will receive the countrys highest honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean.

PM Modi is the first Indian to receive this prestigious award, which acknowledges his efforts in strengthening the relationship between India and Mauritius.

This recognition is the 21st international award conferred upon PM Modi by a foreign nation.

Ramgoolam said PM Modi is the fifth foreign national to receive this distinguished recognition.

Earlier on Tuesday, PM Modi announced the issuance of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards to Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam and his spouse, Veena Ramgoolam. This decision underscores Indias commitment to its diaspora and its bilateral relations with Mauritius.

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The OCI cards were presented at the start of a community event attended by over 3,500 people, including members of the Mauritian cabinet.

It is a pleasant surprise for me and my wife, Ramgoolam was quoted as saying.

With inputs from agencies
Mauritius and the United Kingdom have resumed negotiations over the long-disputed Chagos Archipelago, with Mauritius new government advocating for a revised deal to reclaim sovereignty over the territory. read more

An undated file photo shows Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos archipelago and site of a major United States military base in the middle of the Indian Ocean leased from UK in 1966. File Image/Reuters

Mauritius and the United Kingdom are in talks over the long-disputed Chagos Archipelago, with Mauritius new government pushing for a deal to regain sovereignty over the territory.

Mauritius Foreign Minister, Dhananjay Ramful, told PTI Videos that the government aims for a final agreement that benefits all parties, including India and the US.

Its in the interest of both countries, be it India, Mauritius and also the UK and the US, for us to reach a deal on Chagos once for all. Bring stability, bring visibility, bring certainty with regards to the base, which is being operational at Diego Garcia, Ramful said.

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The deal in question is initially being negotiated just before Mauritius general elections in November 2024. However, with a new government now in power, Ramful noted that the administration is keen to reassess the terms.

We have the struggle to restore our sovereignty over Chagos is long virtue, Ramful said, reflecting on the historical context of the dispute. Its good that the UK has decided to come to the table and reach a deal with Mauritius.

Unfortunately, the deal was being negotiated just before the elections. Now we have a new government since November and we said that we want to have a fresh look at the deal. And this is what is going on currently, he explained.

Ramful underlined that the negotiations involves ensuring stability and security in the Indian Ocean region, particularly concerning the continued operation of the Diego Garcia military base.

The Chagos Archipelago, a group of islands in the Indian Ocean, has been a point of contention since the UK retained control of it following Mauritius independence in 1968. The UK later leased the largest island, Diego Garcia, to the United States, which established a strategic military base there.

Last month, US President Donald Trump expressed his support for a deal between Mauritius and the UK regarding the future of a US-UK base in the Chagos Archipelago, a chain of seven atolls made up of over 60 islands in the Indian Ocean.

India plays crucial role in the Chagos deal between the UK and Mauritius, according to Ramful.

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India has always, during that struggle, been side by side with Mauritius, giving all the assistance possible for Mauritius to reach a deal and for us to recuperate our sovereignty over Chagos and we are very thankful to India, he said.

The minister pointed to the deep ties between the two nations.

We have to bear in mind that our interestwe both India and Mauritiusshare common interest when it comes to security in the Indian Ocean, he said.

The Chagos dispute dates back to the 1960s when the UK separated the archipelago from Mauritius to create the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT).

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold bilateral talks with his Mauritian counterpart Navin Ramgoolam on March 12 in Port Louis, it is expected that Chagos issue will come up during the discussions.

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Ahead of Prime Minister Modis visit, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had earlier on Saturday said the Chagos issue will be resolved between the concerned parties.

I would imagine that during the visit there will be an opportunity perhaps for the Mauritius side to update us on any issues that might still be outstanding if there are any issues by that time. But for the rest, we continue to support Mauritius in its efforts to reach a mutually satisfactory and mutually beneficial deal with its interlocutors on this particular issue, he said.

Besides the Chagos issue, the Mauritius Foreign minister emphasized the shared priority of securing the Indian Ocean, a vital artery for global trade.

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The Indian Ocean is a very important trade route and, therefore, security is our most important for our economic survival, he said.

Addressing concerns about foreign influence, Ramful clarified Mauritius stance on China.

There is no Chinese naval base in and around Mauritius, he asserted. China is more concerned with economic and trade rather than military or other issues. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is set to be signed between the two nations on Wednesday, focusing on the sharing of information related to maritime security.

We are thinking of initiatives with regards to joint surveillance, exercises between the two countries in the region, he revealed.

Ramful stressed the need for political commitment from both sides to translate these plans into action.

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There must be the political commitment from both partners, from both countries, to come to a mutual understanding and to work on projects so that we can increase security in the region," he said.

With inputs from PTI
A Pakistani father killed himself after a tribal council ordered that his 12-year-old daughter be forcibly married to settle a dispute, police said Tuesday read more

Pakistan's national flag at the Mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi, Pakistan on August 14, 2022. Reuters File

A Pakistani father killed himself after a tribal council ordered that his 12-year-old daughter be forcibly married to settle a dispute, police said Tuesday.

The incident emerged after an audio recording of the father, Adil, who goes by one name, was posted on social media this week, in which he says he was coerced into the agreement by a jirga - or a council of elders.

Adil took his own life by consuming poison to save his 12-year-old daughter from being given away, said local police official Khalid Javed Khan.

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He made it clear that he did not accept the jirgas verdict and would rather die.

Police have arrested three men from the jirga, held in remote Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, close to the militant-hit regions bordering Afghanistan.

A second police official in the district, Sahibzada Sajjad, confirmed the details.

The jirga was called after a young woman said she was sexually harassed by Adils nephew while attending a wedding.

The nephew was fined 600,000 rupees ($2,144), which he paid, but Adil was also held responsible because the incident occurred at his home.

A local tribal jirga ruled that his daughter must be handed over as compensation, police official Khan added.

She would be forcibly married to the brother of the girl who had been harassed.

He added that Adils six daughters are now safe.

Traditional jirgas, or village councils of elder men, that settle local disputes are commonplace across rural Pakistan and operate legally alongside the modern court system.

The law however bans the use of women and girls in settlements, but it remains routine.

The harshest punishments claim to be on the grounds of preserving a familys honour, and can include sexual assault and forced marriage.

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Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte boarded a jet on Tuesday, his daughter and local media said, hours after he was arrested at the request of the International Criminal Court over killings in his war on drugs read more

Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte boarded a jet on Tuesday, his daughter and local media said, hours after he was arrested at the request of the International Criminal Court over killings in his war on drugs.

Veronica Duterte, the ex-leaders youngest daughter, said on Instagram he had boarded the plane but the family had not been informed of its destination, accompanying the post with a picture of a small bus on an airfield.

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They took dad from us, put him on a plane and wouldnt say where to. People, wake up, she posted.

ABS-CBN News posted a video on X of Duterte boarding a jet in a Manila airfield and the Philippine Star newspaper said on X it had received confirmation from a senior police official that the flight was bound for the Hague, where the ICC is based.

Police did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for confirmation.

Duterte, the maverick former mayor who led the Philippines from 2016 to 2022, was arrested at a Manila airport on arrival from Hong Kong early on Tuesday, in a major step in the ICCs investigation into thousands of killings in an anti-drugs crackdown that defined his presidency.

The war on drugs was Dutertes signature campaign platform that swept the mercurial, crime-busting former prosecutor to power and he soon delivered on promises he made during vitriolic speeches to kill thousands of drug pushers and users.

If transferred to The Hague, he could become Asias first former head of state to go on trial at the ICC.

Duterte has long insisted he instructed police to kill only in self-defence and has defended the crackdown, repeatedly telling his supporters he was ready to rot in jail if it meant ridding the Philippines of drugs.

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His arrest follows years of him rebuking and taunting the ICC since he unilaterally withdrew the Philippines from the courts founding treaty in 2019 as it started looking into allegations of systematic murders of drug dealers on his watch.

The ICC, a court of last resort, is probing alleged crimes against humanity and says it has jurisdiction to investigate alleged crimes that took place while a country was a member.

Duterte and his family and allies on Tuesday said the arrest was unlawful and the court has no jurisdiction.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Mauritius on a two-day state visit in which he will participate in the countrys national day celebrations as the chief guest read more

Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoola leads the welcome of PM Narendra Modi upon his arrival in Mauritius for a two-day state visit on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Photo: X/Narendra Modi)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Mauritius on Tuesday morning to a grand welcome led by Mauritian PM Navin Ramgoolam.

Ramgoolam was joined by Deputy PM Paul Raymond Berenger, Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful, National Assembly Speaker Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra, Leader of the Opposition Pierre Lesjongard, and Chief Justice Rehana Mungly-Gulbul, among others, in welcoming Modi with a garland at around 6 am local time.

Modi is in Mauritius on a two-day state visit in which he will participate in the countrys national day celebrations as the chief guest and meet the nations top leaders.

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Overall, around 200 people joined Ramgoolam in welcoming Modi that including memberse of parliament, politicians from across the aisle, diplomats, and religious leaders in the country.

In a post on X, Modi said he was grateful for the special gesture of the welcome at the airport. He said that he will meet President Dharam Gokhool and hold deliberations with Ramgoolam later in the day and also addressing a community programme in the evening.

Earlier, Modi had called Mauritius a key Indian Ocean partner and said the visit will further strengthen the foundations of our friendship.

During the visit, Modi will inaugurate over 20 India-funded projects in Mauritius, ranging from capacity-building to community-linked infrastructure, and announce new major infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening democracy, according to CNN-News 18.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a two-day state visit to Mauritius, underscoring Indias deep-rooted ties with the Southeast African island nation. He will also take part in countrys national day celebrations. read more

PM Modi emplanes for Mauritius for National Day celebrations, to inaugurate over 20 India-funded projects. Image/X/ @MEAIndia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a two-day state visit to Mauritius on March 11 and 12 at the invitation of Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, primarily to take part in the national day celebrations of Mauritius.

On Monday, Modi emphasised that the visit would open a new and bright chapter in the ties between the two nations.

Modi left for the island nation shortly after midnight.

In his departure statement, the prime minister said he was looking forward to engaging with the leadership of Mauritius to elevate our partnership in all its facets and strengthen our enduring friendship for the progress and prosperity of our peoples.

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A contingent of the Indian armed forces will participate in the celebrations, along with a warship of the Indian Navy and the Akash Ganga skydiving team of the Indian Air Force.

Mauritius is a close maritime neighbour, a key partner in the Indian Ocean, and a gateway to the African continent. We are connected by history, geography, and culture, Modi said.

Emphasising deep mutual trust, Modi said, A shared belief in the values of democracy and the celebration of both nations diversity are our strengths.

The prime minister noted that the close and historical people-to-people connection between the two sides is a source of shared pride.

I am confident that this visit will build on the foundations of the past and open a new and bright chapter in the India-Mauritius relationship, he said.

Significant strides made in past 10 years

The prime minister highlighted that significant strides have been made over the past 10 years between the two sides through people-centric initiatives.

I look forward to the opportunity to engage with the Mauritius leadership to elevate our partnership in all its facets and strengthen our enduring friendship for the progress and prosperity of our peoples, as well as for security and development in the Indian Ocean region, as part of our vision SAGAR, Modi said.

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SAGAR stands for Security and Growth for All in the Region.

The national day celebrations of Mauritius will be held on March 12, with Modi set to participate as the guest of honour.

PM Modi to inaugurate over 20 India-funded projects in Mauritius

PM Modi will inaugurate over 20 India-funded projects, ranging from capacity building to community-linked infrastructure, during his two-day state visit, news agency PTI reported citing officials.

Modi and Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam will jointly inaugurate the Civil Services College building, which was built at a cost of around USD 4.75 million. The project was initiated through an MoU signed in 2017.

Strong ties, close people-to-people connections

India and Mauritius share strong ties in maritime security, development, and capacity-building, along with close people-to-people connections.

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India has supported several development projects in Mauritius, reflecting their deep cooperation.

India is one of Mauritius largest trading partners, while Mauritius was the second-largest source of FDI into India in 2023-24, after Singapore.

In February 2021, both countries signed the CECPA, Indias first trade agreement with an African nation, following nearly 15 years of negotiations.
Poland announced a new military training scheme designed to ensure that every adult man in Poland is trained in case of war and the nation has a military reserve force able to counter potential threats read more

Polish soldiers climb Mount Kasprowy Wierch (1987m) in the Tatra National Park near Zakopane on February 19, 2025. AFP file

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Tuesday announced plans to train 100,000 adults for military per year starting from 2027 as the country tries to expand its army.

Poland has been gearing up for the future as the US grows closer to Russia and leaves its ally Ukraine in the dark. It also comes at a time when US President Donald Trump has been pushing Europe to take more responsibility for their own defence.

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Last week, Poland announced a new military training scheme designed to ensure that every adult man in Poland is trained in case of war and the nation has a military reserve force able to counter potential threats.

In 2027, we will be able to train 100,000 volunteers per year, Tusk told reporters on Tuesday, adding that he wanted the drills to be as widely available as possible.

Under the current program, Poland provides basic military training to 35,000 adults per year as part of voluntary military service.

Anyone who is interested and is between 18 and 60 will receive detailed information on how to complete the training course, Tusk said.

The scheme  open to both men and women  will be voluntary but the authorities plan a system of motivations and incentives, Tusk said.

For example, providing those interested with the opportunity to complete a professional driving licence course, including for heavy goods vehicles, he explained.

This will be useful in the event of war, he added.

Meanwhile, the interior ministry has announced that it will soon start distributing brochures to Poles this year to make them aware of how to survive possible crises, such as various hazardous situations.

These included tips on how to cope with prolonged power outages, it said.

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With inputs from AFP
Humberside Police said the 59-year-old was detained on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision. The man, who was not named by police, has not been charged. read more

Smoke billows from the MV Solong cargo ship in the North Sea, off the Yorkshire coast in England, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Image- AP

British police arrested a 59-year-old man on Tuesday on suspicion of manslaughter as authorities investigated the cause of a collision between a cargo ship and a U.S. military jet fuel tanker off eastern England, which left both vessels engulfed in flames. One sailor is presumed dead following the incident, which also raised concerns about potential environmental damage.

Humberside Police stated that the man was detained on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision. The man, whose name was not released, has not been formally charged.

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The government confirmed that the cause of the crash is under investigation but noted there is no evidence of foul play.

The collision occurred on Monday when the Portugal-registered container ship Solong struck the U.S.-flagged tanker MV Stena Immaculate, causing jet fuel to spill into the North Sea. The impact triggered explosions and fires that burned for over 24 hours.

Helicopter footage on Tuesday morning showed the fire on the tanker was largely extinguished, with a large gash visible on its port side. Authorities are monitoring the situation for potential harm to birds and marine life.

The U.K. coast guard agency said Tuesday that the Solong was still alight. It said the cargo ship, whose front end was crushed and blackened, was drifting south, away from the tanker, and a 1 kilometer (around a  mile) exclusion zone had been put in place around both ships.

No sign of pollution from vessels is observed at this time," Transport minister Mike Kane told lawmakers in the House of Commons. But he cautioned that it was a fast-changing situation, and said the cargo ship is likely to sink.

The government said air quality readings were normal and the risk to public health onshore was very low.

The collision triggered a major rescue operation by lifeboats, coast guard aircraft and commercial vessels in the foggy North Sea.

All but one of the 37 crew members from the two vessels were brought safely ashore in the port of Grimsby, about 150 miles (240 kilometers) north of London, with no major injuries. One crew member was missing, and the coast guards called off the search late Monday.

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Our working assumption is that, very sadly, the sailor is deceased." Kane said.

The U.K. Marine Accident Investigation Branch has begun gathering evidence of what caused the Solong, bound from Grangemouth, Scotland, to Rotterdam, Netherlands, to hit the stationary tanker, which was anchored about 10 miles (16 kilometers) off the English coast.

The investigation will be led by the U.S. and Portugal, the countries where the vessels are flagged.

The 183-meter (596-foot) Stena Immaculate was operating as part of the U.S. governments Tanker Security Program, a group of commercial vessels that can be contracted to carry fuel for the military when needed. Its operator, U.S.-based maritime management firm Crowley, said that it was carrying 220,000 barrels of Jet-A1 fuel in 16 tanks, at least one of which was ruptured.

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The company said that it was unclear how much fuel had leaked into the sea.

The owner of the Solong, shipping company Ernst Russ, said that contrary to earlier reports, the vessel wasnt carrying containers of sodium cyanide, which can produce harmful gas when combined with water. It said that four empty containers had previously contained the chemical.

Our team is actively engaged with all local authorities, and we will work with cleanup teams to ensure every effort is made to mitigate further impacts on the marine environment, the company said in a statement.

Greenpeace U.K. said that it was too early to assess the extent of any environmental damage from the collision, which took place near busy fishing grounds and major seabird colonies.

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Environmentalists said that oil and chemicals posed a risk to sea life, including whales and dolphins and to birds, including puffins, gannets and guillemots that live on coastal cliffs.

Tom Webb, senior lecturer in marine ecology and conservation at the University of Sheffield, said that wildlife along that stretch of coast is of immense biological, cultural and economic importance.

Alex Lukyanov, who models oil spills at the University of Reading, said that the environmental impact would depend on multiple factors, including the size of the spill, weather conditions, sea currents, water waves, wind patterns and the type of oil involved.

This particular incident is troubling because it appears to involve persistent oil, which breaks up slowly in water, he said. The environmental toll could be severe.

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With inputs from AP.
During the civil war that began in 2011, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) seized the opportunity presented by the withdrawal of government forces to establish de facto autonomy in the north and northeast regions of Syria read more

Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) shaking the hand of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander-in-chief Mazloum Abdi after the signing of an agreement, to integrate the institutions of the semi-autonomous Kurdish administration in the northeast into the national government. AFP

Syria has come to an agreement with the head of the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to merge the institutions of the autonomous Kurdish administration in the northeastern part of the country into the national government.

The Syrian presidency on Monday (March 10) published a statement signed by both parties laying out the agreement on the integration of all the civilian and military institutions of the northeast of Syria within the administration of the Syrian state, including border posts, the airport, and the oil and gas fields.

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The deal is expected to be implemented by the end of 2025.

State media released a photo of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa shaking hands with SDF leader Mazloum Abdi after signing the agreement.

Al-Sharaa came to power in December 2024 after ousting long-time leader Bashar al-Assad after more than 13 years of civil war.

His new authorities in Damascus has been looking to dissolve armed groups like the SDF and establish government control over the entire country.

Oppression of Kurds in Syria

For decades under the rule of the Assad family, the Kurds faced marginalisation and repression. They were denied the right to speak their language, celebrate their holidays, and, in many cases, even to have Syrian nationality.

During the civil war that began in 2011, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) seized the opportunity presented by the withdrawal of government forces to establish de facto autonomy in the north and northeast regions of Syria.

The Turkey angle

The deal comes almost two weeks after a call by Turkeys jailed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) founder Abdullah Ocalan for the militant group to disarm and disband. PKK has waged a decades-long insurgency against Ankara.

While the SDF maintains it is independent from the Kurdistan Workers Party, it is dominated by the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG), which Turkey sees as an offshoot of the PKK.

The Turkish government, which is close to Syrias new authorities, has designated the PKK a terrorist organisation, as have the United States and the European Union.

With inputs from agencies
In his new book, the Dalai Lama has said that his successor will be born in a free country outside of Chinese control read more

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama greets devotees as he arrives at the Tsuglakhang temple in Dharmsala, India, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017. (Photo: AP)

The Dalai Lama has said that his successor will be born in the free world outside of Chinese-controlled territories.

In his new book Voice for the Voiceless, which was accessed by Reuters, the Tibetan leader has for the first time formally said that his successor would be born in the free world which he describes as outside of China. So far, he had said that the successor could be born in India where he lives in exile.

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Since the purpose of a reincarnation is to carry on the work of the predecessor, the new Dalai Lama will be born in the free world so that the traditional mission of the Dalai Lama that is, to be the voice for universal compassion, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, and the symbol of Tibet embodying the aspirations of the Tibetan people will continue, writes the Dalai Lama in the book.

The Dalai Lamas declaration has set the stage for a confrontation between the Tibetans and Chinese regime as China has long maintained that it has the sole right to appoint the Dalai Lama. China considers the Dalai Lama a separatist and is certain to declare the successor anointed by his followers in exile as a separatist as well.

The Dalai Lama is the temporal and spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhiists. It is a centuries-old tradition and every office-holder is considered to be the reincarnation of the previous one. The current Dalai Lama, whose birth name is Lhamo Thondup, is the 14th Dalai Lama. He has lived in exile in India since 1960.

In 1950-51, the Communist Party of China (CPC) invaded Tibet and has occupied the region since then. As it imposed Han Chinese culture and suppressed the Tibetans cultural and linguistic rights, people rose in revolt against the occupation in March 1959. As the CPC crushed the uprising with brute force, the Dalai Lama fled along with a contingent of followers and arrived in India weeks later. His followers have since run a government-in-exilein Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh.

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ALSO READ: China signals its setting stage for Dalai Lamas succession as Tibetan spiritual head nears 90

In the book, published by Harper Collins, the Dalai Lama writes that Tibet remains in the grip of repressive Communist Chinese rule and that the campaign for the freedom of the Tibetan people will continue no matter what, even after his death, according to Reuters.

The Dalai Lama, who has said he will release details about his succession around his 90th birthday in July, writes that his homeland

The Dalai Lama further said that the Government-in-Exile of Tibet would should continue working for the Tibetan cause after his death.

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The right of the Tibetan people to be the custodians of their own homeland cannot be indefinitely denied, nor can their aspiration for freedom be crushed forever through oppression. One clear lesson we know from history is this: if you keep people permanently unhappy, you cannot have a stable society, writes the Dalai Lama.

Even as he has expressed the desire to return to his homeland once, he has said that the hope of return is now increasingly unlikely given his advanced age.

In December, the Dalai Lama said that he would give details about the succession around his 90th birthday in July 2025.

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Previously, the Dalai Lama has said that the line could end with him. He has also said that he would leave a will at the time of the death.

In 2019, the Dalai Lama told Firstposts Madhur Sharma at his home in Dharamshala that the succession would decided by him and free Tibetans living outside of Chinese control and not by the Chinese regime.

The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, the future of the Dalai Lama, is ultimately in my own hands. At the time of my death, I will write some will. So my rebirth, I think, will somewhere [be in the] Buddhist community. As early as 1969, I made clear even [that whether] the institution of Dalai Lama should continue or not [is] up to Tibetan people. Reincarnation is not important. Its important that Buddhas teachings remain, said the Dalai Lama at the time.

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Trump says the increase of the tariffs set to take effect on Wednesday is a response to the price increases that the provincial government of Ontario put on electricity sold to the United States. read more

In a dramatic escalation of the trade war between the US and Canada, President Donald Trump announced that he will double his planned tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50% for Canada.

This is in addition to tariffs of 25 percent on steel and aluminum imports from around the world, including exporters in Brazil, Mexico and United Arab Emirates.

Based on Ontario, Canada, placing a 25% Tariff on Electricity coming into the United States, I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to ad [sic] an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, Trump wrote on Truth Social.

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The country facing the most aggressive action is Canada, historically one of the United States closest allies and top trading partners, but now locked in an extraordinarily bitter war of words with the Republican, as well as constant threats over its sovereignty.

Canadas incoming prime minister Mark Carney struck a defiant note Sunday, vowing to stand up for the Canadian way of life and saying Canadians are always ready for a fight if needed.

Canada supplies half of US aluminum imports and 20 percent of US steel imports, noted industry consultant EY-Parthenon.

Trump said his new supercharged tariffs were in response to Canadian province Ontarios imposition of a 25-percent tax on electricity exports to the United States.

Trump said he would also be announcing an electricity national emergency in the area hit by the price increases.

But he also ramped up his threats, warning that if what he called egregious Canadian tariffs are not dropped he will also impose car import tariffs starting April 2 which will, essentially, permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada.

In the same lengthy social media post, Trump said the only thing which makes sense is for Canada to join the United States as a 51st state.

This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear. Canadians taxes will be very substantially reduced, they will be more secure, militarily and otherwise, than ever before, there would no longer be a Northern Border problem, Trump said.

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with inputs from agencies
With every action in recent weeks, US President Donald Trump has strengthened the hand of Russia, the aggressor, and weakened Ukraine, the defender, making it clear whose side he is on read more

US President Donald Trump shouts at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during their interaction with the press at the White House in Washington, DC, on February 28, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)

Ahead of talks with Ukrainian negotiators, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that there is no military solution to the conflict. What he did not say was that the situation on the battlefield will determine the solution thats reached in talks and President Donald Trump has strengthened the hand of Russia, the aggressor, and weakened Ukraine, the aggressed, with every decision he has taken since assuming office in January.

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Months of gains appear to be getting lost in the battlefield as the US delegation led by Rubio prepares to meet Ukrainian negotiators in Saudi Arabias Jeddah to read them the riot act  against the backdrop of the on-camera spat in the Oval Office last month when hosts Trump and his deputy JD Vance looked to pin Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy down on the diplomatic mat, and the guest fought back with a similar zeal. A good TV, as Trump said, but bad diplomacy as the world realised.

The Trump administrations message to Ukraine is simple: cede territory, dont call Russian leader Vladimir Putin names, replace Zelenskyy with a new president who listens to Putin as Aleksandr Lukashenko of Belarus apparently does, and abandon the notion of staying independent of Russias influence.

ALSO READ: 3 years of Ukraine war: Zelenskyy stands cornered and betrayed as Trump mainstreams Putin

In talks in Jeddah, Rubios mandate is to judge whether Ukraine is willing to cede territory to negotiate the end of the war. To be sure, for months, Ukraine has indicated it is willing to cede territory if the US offers security guarantees safeguarding the nation against future invasions, but the Trump administration has been non-committal.

This is the nub of the matter. While the Trump administration wants Ukraine to make all possible concessions under the sun, the country is not being assured anything in return. Moreover, even as Trump and his allies berated Ukraine, a nation defending itself, on a daily basis, there is no pressure on Russia. Instead, Trump and his officials repeat Russian talking points daily  to the extent they have rewritten history to paint Ukraine as the aggressor and said Putin wants peace and its Zelenskyy who is prolonging the war.

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Ukraine fights 2-front war with Russia & US

Just before Ukrainian negotiators left for Saudi Arabia, Russia launched a counteroffensive in Kursk where large swathes of the province had been captured by Ukraine and, after claiming victories in the province, announced a separate thrust in Ukraines Sumy region.

This came as a tactical move by Russia just before Trumps team was scheduled for holding talks with Zelenskyys officials as the Ukrainian leader has often defended his move to invade Kursk by saying that it would be Kyivs bargaining chip when Moscow comes to the negotiation table.

Until a month back, even as headlines had been grim for months, Ukraine was not losing the war  it was not winning either to be fair. Even as Trump falsely claimed that millions had been killed in Ukraine and entire cities had been flattened, the fact was that Ukraine remained in control of 80 per cent of the country and Russian progress had slowed.

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Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskiy sings the national anthem during his visit in Kherson, Ukraine, November 14, 2022. (Photo: Reuters)

In a factsheet last month, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted that Russian forces advanced at an average rate of 27.94 square kilometres a day in November 2024, 18.1 sq km a day in December, and 16.1 sq km a day in January 2025, and Russia is making small territorial gains at massive losses.

Until a month back, Russia was gradually losing steam in the assault on the strategic city of Pokrovsk and the situation was the same on frontlines in Zaporizhzhya, Kharkiv, Kupyansk, and elsewhere. But thats not the case now as the stalemate has now turned into an advantageous position for Ukraine  thanks to Trump.

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ALSO READ: Trump wants Ukraine deal to be based on Istanbul Protocols, heres why that will be Russian victory

In what may seem as somewhat coordinated moves between Washington DC and Moscow to force Ukraine into accepting Russias terms, the suspension of US military aid and intelligence-sharing was accompanied by a renewed Russian push in Kursk and elsewhere in eastern Ukraine. The result has been to Putins liking  Zelenskyy has indicated Ukraine would agree to an aerial and naval ceasefire.

In recent weeks, Trump has gone from being critical of support to Ukraine to being almost an outright ally of Russia. With Trump repeatedly expressing intent to work with Putin on a geopolitical level, a picture emerges showing the two strongmen politicians working together to batter Ukraine and corner Zelenskyy into accepting Russias terms. It may appear without going much into geostrategic nuances that their plan, if any, is to reclaim as much Russian territory from Ukraine as possible and maximise gains inside Ukraine to negotiate with Ukraine with utmost strength.

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The idea behind Ukraines incursion in Kursk and neighbouring Bryansk province was to occupy large swathes of territories that could eventually be used as bargaining chips in negotiations to swap territories to minimise the loss of Ukrainian land. Now, the moves by Trump and Putin have minimised this advantage that Ukraine had secured.

While the partial ceasefire in the air and waters would bring relief to Ukraine from constant Russian barrages, it would also free Russia from long-range Ukrainian strikes on oil and weapons facilities that had put severe pressure on Russian war-waging capabilities.

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin hold a bilateral meeting at the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan June 28, 2019. (Photo: Reuters)

A ceasefire, whether partial or complete, that does not include enforceable security guarantees is just going to give Russia time to replenish its ranks and rearm its military to return to the battlefield later, says Kseniya Kirillova, a Russia analyst at Washington DC-based think tank Jamestown Foundation.

Last month, Zelenskyy was making the same point in White House when Trump and Vance berated him. He was telling them that ceasefires have been reached before as well but nothing came out of them, which means what Ukraine needs are security guarantees so that the peace deal in the making does not become a toothless deal like the Budapest deal of 1994 or Minsk 1 and 2 agreements.

Kirillova tells Firstpost, Russia needs a break. The gains have come at a huge cost so it needs a break even as it portrays strength. But, if there are no security guarantees in a ceasefire, then Russia will return later to either wage another war to control the rest of Ukraine or attack another country, such as Poland, or turn to the Baltics, just like Russia returned to wage a war in 2022 after invading Ukraine first in 2014 and annexing Crimea.

Trump pushes for piece deal & Russias victory

Trump has long maintained that it does not appear that Zelenskyy wants peace. Instead, he believes that Putin, who rejects Ukraines right to exist and launched the war in 2022, wants peace. But then that fits the revisionist world view that he shares with Putin.

For Trump, Ukraine started the war, his predecessor Joe Biden and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) provoked Russia, Zelenskyy is a dictator (a comment that he later sought to dissociate himself from), and he and Putin are victims of a grand conspiracy by purported Western elite and this shared artificial victimhood has forged a partnership that has upended the world order that had been there since the World War II.

ALSO READ: From Russian invasion to Zelenskyys election, Trump rewrites Ukraine wars history with lies

Throughout his intervention in the war, Trump has not condemned Russia or threatened Putin  the one odd post on Truth Social about more sanctions barely counts. Instead, he has repeatedly praised Putin, hailed the relationship with him, sympathised with him, repeated Kremlins talking points, and become Putins principal negotiator.

Trump is saying and doing everything that Putin has said and wanted with the war. Just like Putin justifies the war as a rightful result of Western provocation, Trump blames Biden and Nato for such provocations. Just like Putin says Ukraine should stay out of Nato and should not have security guarantees, Trump says the same. Just like Putin wants Zelenskyy gone, Trump wants him gone as well  he has essentially started a regime change operation against him with outreach to his domestic rivals and his public humiliation.

The kind of peace deal or piece deal as it essentially serves a piece of Ukraine to Russia whereas Putin commits to nothing that Trump is pursuing has severe consequences for the West. Jamie Metzl, a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council who previously served in the White House National Security Council, says that Europe and Russia are going to be in a race once a ceasefire is reached.

Europe is great with words and meetings, but not with hard power. Its going to be a race between Russias rearmament and Europes rearmament and political will. Its going to be very difficult for Europe. As European nations economies contract, defence spending would come at the cost of welfare programmes, which will lead to internal problems, says Metzl.

ALSO READ: Ukraine and beyond: 25 years on, Putin is still fighting Cold War  and hes finally winning

Whats at stake is the future of the Western world. As Trump has aligned with Putin, Russia is on the verge of turning Nato meaningless.

If Putin gets anything resembling a victory in Ukraine, what he is going to do next is to needle a Nato member, such as Lithuania, and even if Russia goes just 50 feet inside Lithuania, the country is understandably going to invoke Article 5. If Nato fails to mobilise in Lithuanias support, then the collective defence principle of Nato would be dead and Putin would have defeated Nato with just a minor incursion with perhaps a small contingent of little green men that he used in Crimea, says Metzl.

Kirillova, the Russia analyst at Jamestown Foundation, says Russia is in a position to declare victory. She highlights that Russias idea of victory has been flexible.

After realising Russia could not win Ukraine entirely, Putin declared control of eastern Ukraine as the wars objective.

Putin has achieved much of what he wanted to. Russia controls large parts of eastern Ukraine and the occupied area is now part of the Russian sphere of influence, Putin has reshaped European borders and upturned the world order, and is talking to the US president as an equal. Importantly, he has rallied the nation around himself. After all, the foreign policy is a reflection of his domestic policy, says Kirillova.

Putin has an ally in Trump in the sense the Potus also aims to reset the world order. His policies in the areas of trade, diplomacy, economy and multilateralism offer enough evidence for that. With the US and Ukrainian officials gathering in Saudi Arabia to discuss a way or ways to end the three-year war in Europe, the outcome may impact geopolitics with wide-ranging implications.
The US agreed on Tuesday to resume military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine immediately after talks in Saudi Arabia in which Kyiv voiced readiness to accept a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in its conflict with Russia, the countries said in a joint statement read more

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Ukrainian Head of Presidential Office Andriy Yermak hold a meeting in the presence of Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad Al-Aiban, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday. Reuters

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday said that Kyiv has accepted a US proposal seeking a complete ceasefire for 30 days in the Black Sea and along the entire front line.

According to The Guardian report, citing a statement released following a meeting between senior officials from the US and Ukraine in Jeddah, Zelenskyy said, The American side understands our arguments, accepts our proposals. I want to thank President Trump for the constructiveness of our teams conversation.

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Zelenskyy highlighted that the Ukrainian delegations proposal addressed three key points: ensuring silence in the sky and at sea, along with real measures to establish trust, which includes the release of prisoners.

The Ukrainian president claimed that the US proposed to establish a complete ceasefire for 30 days in the Black Sea and along the entire front line.

Ukraine accepts this proposal. We consider it positive, and we are ready to take such a step, he said in the statement.

Meanwhile, the US agreed to resume military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine immediately after talks in Saudi Arabia in which Kyiv voiced readiness to accept the US proposal, the countries said in a joint statement.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would now take the offer to the Russians, and that the ball is now in Moscows court.

The President wanted this war to end yesterday So our hope is that the Russians will answer yes as quickly as possible, so we can get to the second phase of this, which is real negotiations, Reuters quoted Rubio as saying to reporters, referring to US President Donald Trump, after the statement was issued.

Zelenskyy, who was in Saudi Arabia but did not participate in the talks, said the ceasefire was a positive proposal, that covers the frontline in the conflict, not just fighting by air and sea.

The two sides also said Washington and Kyiv agreed to conclude as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraines critical mineral resources, a deal that has been in the works for weeks and was thrown into limbo by an acrimonious White House meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy last week.

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Zelenskyy said the two countries would work to finalise the minerals agreement, reported Reuters.

A top aide to Zelenskyy said options for security guarantees to Ukraine were discussed with US officials. However, the aide did not detail the options.

With inputs from agencies
The decision comes at a time when vaccine acceptance in the US remains a critical public health issue. More than 200 cases of measles have been reported in 12 states, with two deaths from the disease, as vaccination rates among school-aged children continue to decline read more

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), United States governments primary agency responsible for biomedical and public health research, is set to cancel or scale back dozens of grants for research into vaccine hesitancy and efforts to improve vaccine uptake.

The Washington Post, citing an internal email sent on Monday (March 10), reported that NIH received a new list of awards to be terminated immediately.

The email, sent by Michelle Bulls, director of the Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration, ordered NIH officials to notify affected researchers by close of business Monday. For studies partially focused on vaccine hesitancy, researchers were given the option to redirect funding to other aspects of their work.

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The termination notice instructed officials to use specific language, stating that NIH no longer prioritizes research on vaccine reluctance or strategies to improve vaccine acceptance.

Cuts raise concerns amid measles resurgence

The decision comes at a time when vaccine acceptance in the US remains a critical public health issue.

More than 200 cases of measles have been reported in 12 states, with two deaths from the disease, as vaccination rates among school-aged children continue to decline.

There is an urgent need to enhance vaccine acceptance behaviour, especially due to the potential resurgence of measles and Covid-19 still looming, said Manoj Sharma, a professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, whose CDC-funded research on vaccine hesitancy ended last year.

Michael Bronstein, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences at the University of Minnesota, said his NIH-funded research has not been affected yet but expressed concern over the broader implications.

From a public health perspective, preventing people from dying should be a government goal, Bronstein said. Vaccine hesitancy is one barrier to that.

Uncertainty over RFK Jr.s role

The cuts come under the leadership of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the new secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees NIH. Kennedy has long promoted misinformation about vaccines, including the debunked claim that they cause autism, a position widely condemned by the scientific community.

While it remains unclear whether Kennedy directly influenced the decision, his appointment has unsettled the medical research community. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was asked by the Trump administration to launch a new study into a possible vaccine-autism link, despite repeated scientific findings that no such connection exists.
US President Donald Trump is set to reverse his decision to halt military aid and intelligence support for Ukraine after a final appeal from UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, according to a report. read more

US ends suspension of military, intel support to Ukraine ahead of talks in Saudi Arabia: Reports. Reuters

US President Donald Trump is set to reverse his earlier decision to halt military aid and intelligence support for Ukraine after a final appeal from UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, The Hill reported.

After a public spat between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, the US paused military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

According to a Mirror UK report, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Donald Trump for about 20 minutes before planned peace talks in Saudi Arabia. He urged Trump to restart intelligence-sharing and military aid for Ukraine.

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Meanwhile, UK officials have been working behind the scenes to help Ukraine meet US conditions for resuming support. A Downing Street spokesperson said the prime minister was hoping for a positive outcome from the talks.

The Prime Minister said he hoped there would be a positive outcome to the talks that would enable US aid and intelligence to be restarted, the spokesperson said.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed cautious optimism ahead of the upcoming peace talks in Saudi Arabia. I think the notion of the pause in aid, broadly, is something I hope we can resolve. Obviously, what happens [today] will be key to that, Rubio said.

This is a developing story.
Her visit to India comes at a time of deepening defence and intelligence collaboration between Washington and New Delhi. Further details on her engagements in India have not yet been disclosed read more

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is set to visit India as part of a multi-nation tour of the Indo-Pacific.

Gabbard announced her travel plans in a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday (March 11), stating that she would visit Japan, Thailand, and India, with a brief stop in France before returning to Washington, DC.

She spoke of the importance of building strong relationships, understanding, and open lines of communication to advance President Trumps goals of peace, freedom, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

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Her first stop during the tour is Honolulu, Hawaii, where Gabbard is meeting with US intelligence community partners, leaders at US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), and American troops engaged in training exercises.

Gabbard, a former congresswoman and an Army veteran, has long-standing ties to the Indo-Pacific, having spent part of her childhood in the region.

Why this visit matters

Gabbards visit to India comes at a time of deepening defence and intelligence collaboration between Washington and New Delhi. Further details on her engagements in India have not yet been disclosed.

Notably, this is set to be the first visit by a top White House official to India under Trump 2.0 administration.

Her visit to India follows Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the US in February. During his visit, PM Modi met with Tulsi Gabbard and called her a strong votary of the India-US friendship.

That Gabbard is of Indian origin is a common misunderstanding, given her name and religion of choice Hinduism. However, the US DNI was born American Samoa, a territory of the US, and was raised in Hawaii and the Philippines.

Her mother Carol Porter Gabbard was raised in a multicultural household and became interested in Hinduism. Tulsi is also known to follow Hinduism because of this influence.

With inputs from ANI
Steve Witkoff, Trumps Middle East envoy, will travel to Russia this week to meet President Vladimir Putin. Witkoff has played a role in mitigating tensions to end the Russia-Ukraine war read more

Russia has said that its ties with the US are now quite intensive after President Donald Trumps special envoy, Steve Witkoff, announced plans to visit Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Witkoff, who is officially Trumps Middle East envoy, has played a role in mitigating tensions to end the Russia-Ukraine war. Sources told Bloomberg that the official will visit Moscow this week.

Trump has expressed a desire to meet Putin and, since taking office in January, has pursued an effort to reverse the icy relations with Russia of the previous Biden administration.

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This will be Witkoffs second meeting with the Russian president after he visited Moscow last month and brought back American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, who had been sentenced to 14 years in a Russian prison after being detained for holding medically prescribed marijuana.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is leading a delegation to Saudi Arabia for talks on Tuesday with Ukrainian officials about the war. U.S. officials planned to use the meeting in part to determine whether Ukraine is willing to make material concessions to Russia to end the war.

On the war front, Russias army said Tuesday it had retaken 12 settlements from Ukraine in the western Kursk region, where Moscow has launched a rapid counteroffensive to take back land seized by Kyiv last year.

The units of the North group of troops during the offensive liberated 12 settlements  and more than 100 square kilometres of the Kursk region territory, Russias defence ministry said in a statement.

On the other hand, the Kremlin has condemned Ukraine for launching drone attacks on residential buildings, hours after a massive attack on the Moscow suburbs.

The Kyiv regime is hitting social facilities and residential buildings, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state media, also hailing Russias air defences as having worked very well to repel the attack, in which two people were killed.

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With inputs from agencies
After the US-Ukraine relationship plunged to a new low last month, US and Ukrainian officials are holding talks today in Saudi Arabia read more

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz hold talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff Andriy Yermak, and Ukrainian Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov in the presence of Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad Al-Aiban, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, March 11, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)

US and Ukrainian officials have started their talks in Saudi Arabias Jeddah.

A US delegation led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio is holding talks on Tuesday with a Ukrainian delegation led by Andriy Yermak, the chief of staff of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The Ukrainian delegation is expected to present a proposal for a partial ceasefire stopping aerial and maritime fighting. The two sides are also expected to discuss the suspended US military aid and intelligence-sharing.

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The US-Ukraine talks come after the bilateral relations plunged to a new low last month when US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance cornered Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and berated him for stressing the importance of security guarantees and critcising Russian leader Vladmimir Putin for invading Ukraine.

After humiliating and kicking out Zelenskyy from the White House, Trump punished Ukraine with the suspension of military aid and intelligence-sharing. The US crackdown on Ukraine has coincided with renewed Russian assaults in Kursk province and Ukraines Sumy region.

While Trump had always been critical of the support to Ukraine, he has turned completely hostile in recent weeks and has falsely accused Ukraine of starting the war, called Zelenskyy a dictator, and said Zelenskyy does not war. Instead, he has said that Putin wants peace. Trumps realignment of the United States has rattled Ukraine and rest of the Europe for whom Russian aggression has become the gravest security crisis since the World War II.

In Jeddah, Zelenskyy said earlier that he was hopeful for the revival of pragmatic ties with the United States.

We hope for practical outcomes. Ukraines position in these talks will be fully constructive, said Zelenskyy on X.

On the other hand, Rubio has declared that Ukraine will need to cede territory to Russia for a peace deal. While he has set the requirement for Ukraine, he did not say anything about Russia except for a passing remark without even naming the country.

This is part of the US alignment with Russia where the Trump administration is exercising all available all available pressure on Ukraine, the defender, ranging from the suspension of aid and intelligence-sharing to calling for Zelenskyys ouster as the President of Ukraine, but has demanded nothing from Russia, the aggressor.

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We have to understand the Ukrainian position and just have a general idea of what concessions theyd be willing to make, because youre not going to get a ceasefire and an end to this war unless both sides make concessionsThe Russians cant conquer all of Ukraine, and obviously itll be very difficult for Ukraine in any reasonable time period to sort of force the Russians back all the way to where they were in 2014, said Rubio.
Foot-and-mouth disease in Hungary, some countries banned imports from Hungary

An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has been reported in Hungary, which has led to emergency measures in a number of countries. The authorities of the UK, Russia and Ukraine have already announced restrictions on imports of animals and animal products from Hungary to prevent the spread of the dangerous virus.

Today, Ukraine has imposed a ban on the import of animals susceptible to the foot-and-mouth disease virus, as well as raw materials and animal products from such animals. The State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection (SSUFSCP) explained that the measures were taken to avoid the introduction of the virus into the country. According to the agency, the source of infection can be not only infected animals, but also those in the incubation period. In addition, the virus is transmitted through products obtained from infected animals.

The competent authorities in each country continue to monitor the epizootic situation and are ready to introduce additional measures if necessary.

Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease that affects farm animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. It is characterized by the appearance of ulcers and blisters in the mouth, hooves and udders of animals, accompanied by fever and a sharp decline in productivity.

The disease is spread by airborne droplets, through feed, water, clothing and equipment, and can also be transmitted through animal products. Although foot-and-mouth disease is rarely transmitted to humans, it causes significant damage to agriculture, leading to massive livestock losses, strict quarantine measures, and serious economic losses. Due to the high contagiousness of the disease, international veterinary services closely monitor outbreaks and take strict measures to prevent its spread.
'Fengdeng' a friendly, intelligent tool for farmers

14:05, March 11, 2025 By Yang Ran, Chen Bowen ( China Daily

If you're new to agriculture and have a piece of land you'd like to cultivate, the Seed Large Language Model "Fengdeng", released in April last year, could be a valuable resource.

Fengdeng acts as a personal farming adviser, recommending crop varieties best suited to your land and guiding you on planting techniques based on your land's characteristics. It can also suggest treatments and necessary nutrients if crops encounter health issues.

Developed through a collaboration between the Yazhouwan National Laboratory in Hainan province, China Agricultural University in Beijing, and the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Fengdeng is China's first large language model for seed design, also known as SeedLLM.

Chen Fan, a deputy to the National People's Congress and deputy director of the Yazhouwan National Laboratory, emphasized Fengdeng's capability in integrating biotechnology, big data, and artificial intelligence to support agricultural work and research.

"Digitalization and intelligence are undoubtedly the future directions for building the 'Nanfan Silicon Valley'," Chen said. "We must use high technology to serve and transform both production and research of agriculture."

"Nanfan" refers to a unique breeding process that leverages Hainan's warm winters as a natural breeding accelerator. According to the Construction Plan for Building the National Nanfan Silicon Valley 2023-2030, released in January last year by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Nanfan Breeding Base in Hainan is set to evolve into the "Silicon Valley" of China's seed industry by 2030, serving as a comprehensive hub for agricultural research, industry and technology exchange.

Fengdeng is just the first step in creating an intelligent breeding model, Chen said.

"In the future, we will incorporate vast data sets, including genotype, phenotype, and environmental data, into the model to create a 'navigation system' that helps scientists breed optimal crop varieties more quickly," the NPC deputy said.

"Traditionally, developing a specific, high-yield crop variety for a particular location could take decades due to insufficient information," he said. "With an intelligent breeding model, this timeline can be cut to a few years."

He likened it to using a navigation system instead of a paper map, allowing for instant route optimization and real-time adjustments.

On Feb 23, China unveiled its No 1 Central Document for the year, emphasizing the role of the Nanfan Silicon Valley in developing breakthrough crop varieties and promoting the industrialization of biological breeding.

"China faces a significant soybean supply gap, with imports reaching 105 million (metric) tons last year. So, the research on soybean variety with high yield is an important part of our work," Chen said.

Last year, the Yazhouwan National Laboratory research team successfully developed a new salt-tolerant soybean variety with an average yield of over 4.5 tons per hectare, surpassing both China's current average of 2.25 tons and the US's 3.37 tons.

"This new variety is a small step toward greater self-reliance in soybean consumption. Going forward, our breeding efforts will focus on increasing average yields and enhancing specific traits such as high protein content and salt tolerance of crop varieties," Chen said.

"In the field of breeding industrialization, we are promoting the integration of innovation chains, industrial chains, and capital chains to quickly transform industry needs into innovation tasks," he noted.

In December, the Yazhou Bay Biological Breeding Industry Alliance was established, with member organizations including the China National Seed Group and the Yazhouwan National Laboratory. The alliance aims to foster innovation in gene editing and accelerate the application of biotechnology in agriculture.

As China advances intelligent and industrialized breeding, it is also sharing its expertise globally. In November, the China-LAC Sustainable Food Innovation Center was established in Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City, marking a significant step in global agricultural cooperation.

"China is now at the forefront of global biotechnology research," Chen said. "We hope to engage in mutually beneficial collaboration with other countries, extending the benefits of our research beyond our borders."

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
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.
Pomona Elementary School students raised more than three times as much as their $4,000 goal during their read-a-thon 2021. In this March 2021 file photo, the top readers in Pomona Elementary School's read-a-thon, Payton Mitchell, right, and Landry Madison, center, pour slime over Pomonas principal, Bil Pfaffendorf, after Pomona students raised more than $12,000. Pfaffendorf has been awarded a $3,000 professional learning grant from the D51 Foundation, with $1,500 coming from a donation by American Legion Post 2006 Commander KJ Kline.
The University of Glasgow welcomed representatives from Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) and representations from the higher education sector across Scotland, alongside Graeme Dey, Scottish Government Minister for Higher and Further Education, on Monday 10 March, to reinforce the importance of health research partnerships between Scotland and Malawi. Representatives from the Scotland-Malawi Partnership, Scotlands International Development Alliance (SIDA) and others working in this space were also present.

The visit, which also included Her Excellency Ambassador Justice Agnes Patemba, Deputy High Commissioner of Malawi to the United Kingdom, was hosted by Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, Professor Rachel Sandison and Professor Iain McInnes.

The event, which celebrated 20 years of partnership between Scotland and Malawi, brought Scottish and Malawian academic partners together to consider how to expand and deepen our existing connections even further, and what this means for future partnerships among Scottish Higher Education, Scottish Government and Malawi.

The University of Glasgow proudly partners with Kamuzu University of Health Sciences across a number of research areas, sharing knowledge on malaria, cardiovascular disease, vaccines, dental health and more.

The delegation met with University of Glasgow researchers who currently work in Malawi including Professor Katie Hampson, who discussed her work on rabies; Professor Antonia Ho, who spoke about her cross-continent virus research; and Dr Christopher Moxon, who works on malaria research in Malawi. The delegation then travelled to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, to visit the Universitys Teaching and Learning Centre.

The University of Glasgow and Kamuzu University of Health Sciences collaborate on a range of endeavours, most notably the Blantyre-Blantyre Project, an equitable partnership to tackle critical global issues around healthcare, medicine and inequalities. Alongside a cutting-edge research facility established largely through Scottish Government support, the BlantyreBlantyre project has produced a joint healthcare programme to compare the cause of poor health and low life expectancy in Blantyre, Malawi and in the West of Scotland.

The Blantyre-Blantyre research facility in Malawi, which is currently supported by a five-year 1m grant from the Scottish International Development fund, houses state-of-the-art research and diagnostic equipment. The centre hosts researchers and postgraduate students from the global south and the global north, working together on joint research and grant applications, while laboratories provide diagnostic clinical services to local medical schemes.

The Blantyre-Blantyre equitable partnership model is now internationally acclaimed and has helped to shape the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities overall approach to equitable partnerships.

The two universities also collaborate on the MalDent Project, aimed at improving dental health across Malawi. The project has already successfully established, a Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree in Malawi, which the first cohort of students have recently graduated and commenced a one year internship. Construction of a new clinical dental teaching facility on the Blantyre campus of Kamuzu University of Health Sciences is nearing completion.

Additionally, Malawis first National Child Oral Health Survey was undertaken in October 2023 and identified a significant burden of untreated dental caries. Now, research work is underway to identify preventive interventions that would be appropriate for testing in Malawian schools drawing on experience within Scotland.

Professor Iain McInnes said: I was delighted to welcome colleagues from Kamuzu University of Health Sciences to Glasgow to further discuss the vital partnership between our two institutions. The College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences is incredibly proud that our own researchers work in equal partnership with researchers in Malawi to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing global human health, and I am certain our collaboration will continue to go from strength to strength.

Professor Macpherson Mallewa said: We are happy to visit the University of Glasgow. The partnership between Kamuzu University of Health Sciences and the University of Glasgow has been a driving force in advancing health sciences and education through collaborative (research) projects, capacity building, and knowledge exchange. This collaboration has strengthened our institutions and contributed to meaningful improvements in healthcare in our respective countries. We remain committed to deepening our engagement and expanding our shared impact for the future."

Higher Education Minister Graeme Dey said: Scotlands continued international research and development partnerships drive lasting change in health, education and research which has an immense impact on communities both locally and globally. I am grateful to our universities for their unwavering support and dedication to these partnerships.

One of our key partners since the establishment of the Scottish Governments International Development Programme 20 years ago has been the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences in Malawi. This collaboration has helped drive profound transformations, from pioneering Malawis first dental school to facilitating cutting-edge research.

We are determined to build on the good work with KUHeS in pushing forward innovations for Malawi and beyond.

Enquiries: ali.howard@glasgow.ac.uk or elizabeth.mcmeekin@glasgow.ac.uk
Russia expels British diplomats on espionage charges

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 10, 2025

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation has declared that it has decided to revoke the accreditation of two British diplomats and order them to leave the country within two weeks, as reported by the Russian government broadcaster Russia Today (RT) on Monday.

According to The Agence France Presse (AFP), the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) said that the two diplomats are suspected of engaging in espionage activities.

The FSB confirmed the expulsion of the British embassy's second secretary and the husband of the first secretary based on spying charges.

"Counterintelligence work had revealed an undeclared British intelligence presence under the cover of the national embassy," the Russian security service said.

The FSB said on its Telegram account that the Russian foreign ministry summoned an embassy envoy for discussions on this matter.

The security service also said that the two individuals "deliberately provided false information when obtaining a permit to enter our country, thus violating Russian legislation."

According to Russian news agency TASS, the FSB identified "signs of intelligence and sabotage work" by the two individuals who "threatened Russia's national security."

Ties between Britain and Russia have become increasingly strained since London accused Moscow of being behind the death of Alexander Litvinenko in the British capital in 2006. Other issues, such as the expulsion of dozens of Russian diplomats from London and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, have further exacerbated diplomatic tensions between British and Russian officials.

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Russia expels two British diplomats for spying

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 March 2025 2:23 PM

Russia has expelled two British diplomats on suspicion of carrying out espionage activities, the country's domestic security service said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation ordered the two men connected to the British embassy to leave the country within two weeks.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said they were involved in "intelligence and subversive activities."

"Counterintelligence work had revealed an undeclared British intelligence presence under the cover of the national embassy," FSB said.

It said on its Telegram account that the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned an embassy envoy for discussions on this matter.

The security service also said the two "deliberately provided false information when obtaining a permit to enter our country, thus violating Russian legislation."

Meanwhile, Tass state news agency identified the two British nationals as a second secretary of the British embassy and the spouse of another British diplomat.

It said the FSB found "signs of intelligence and sabotage work" by the two individuals who "threatened Russia's national security."

London, in response to Moscow's move, accused the Russians of making "malicious and baseless" claims against British diplomats.

"This is not the first time that Russia has made malicious and baseless accusations against our staff," claimed a spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office.

Diplomatic relations between London and Moscow have become increasingly strained since Number 10 accused the Kremlin of being behind the death of Alexander Litvinenko in the British capital in 2006.

Also, the expulsion of dozens of Russian diplomats from London and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine have further exacerbated diplomatic relations between the British and Russian capitals.

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Prime Minister Tusk: Europe Will Win This Arms Race

Republic of Poland - The Chancellery of the Prime Minister

06.03.2025

The rapid armament of Europe and continued support for Ukraine were the two most important topics of the extraordinary European Council meeting attended by Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Thursday. The leaders gathered in Brussels unanimously adopted conclusions on defense, thus giving the green light to the "ReArm Europe" plan. Presented by the President of the European Commission, the plan includes, among other things, a 150 billion loan package for defense purposes. The 26 member states also expressed unwavering support for the European Union's backing of Ukraine.

Russia Will Lose the Arms Race It Started

Even before the official start of the special European Council meeting, which focused on European defense and the situation in Ukraine, Prime Minister Donald Tusk predicted a breakthrough in Europe's approach to security.

"We are at a moment when everything can change regarding Europe's determination on armament, the defense industry, and readiness to take on the challenge that Russia has posed to the whole world," said the Polish Prime Minister in Brussels.

Europe has moved from words to action. The first sign of the EU's decisive steps was the five-point "ReArm Europe" plan presented this week by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Thursday's extraordinary European Council meeting concluded with the adoption of defense-related conclusions aimed at strengthening the bloc.

"There is no doubt that the war in Ukraine, the new approach of the U.S. administration toward Europe, and, above all, the arms race started by Russia present new challenges for us. Europe must win this arms race. [...] I am convinced that Russia will lose this race, just as the Soviet Union lost it 40 years ago," said Prime Minister Donald Tusk, referencing historical events.

The European Council emphasized the need for a significant increase in defense spending. One of the key actions in this regard will be the implementation of the "ReArm Europe" plan, which will allow member states to access loans secured by the EU budget, totaling up to 150 billion. The European Union also plans to invest more in the defense industry, enabling Europe to gradually reduce its reliance on external suppliers.

Poland has long treated security as a priority, setting the direction for Europe's actions. This is reflected in initiatives such as Poland's EU Council Presidency slogan, "Security, Europe!", its record-high defense spending compared to other NATO countries, and Prime Minister Donald Tusk's international proposals, such as strengthening control in the Baltic Sea.

"We have lost a lot of time as Europe. But today, everything has truly changed. I am speaking about both the Commission's proposal and the determination of all my interlocutors. [...] As Europe, we will arm ourselves faster, smarter, and more efficiently than Russia," declared the Prime Minister.

A strong European Union means security for its citizens and better security guarantees for Ukraine. By increasing its military capabilities, Europe is also working to strengthen transatlantic relationscredible partnerships require taking greater responsibility for one's own security.

Security of the Eastern Border is the Security of All Europe

The European Council stated in its conclusions that protecting the EU's land, air, and maritime borders contributes to the security of all Europe. This is especially important for the eastern border, which is constantly exposed to threats from Russia and Belarus.

"The East Shield and the defense of the European Union's eastern border have become a priority that is no longer questioned by anyone. And this also means funding and infrastructure support," the Prime Minister announced before the summit.

In the near future, Poland will also push for an increased presence of European and NATO forces at its eastern border.

"Today, we talk a lot about security guarantees for Ukraine, but to truly provide someone with a security guarantee, we must first ensure our own safety. Therefore, the first thing we should do in Europe is to fully secure European bordersespecially with Russia and Belarusthe sea, particularly the Baltic, airspace, and cyberspace," the Prime Minister emphasized.

At the summit, the EU also reiterated its support for Ukraine. The 26 member states firmly acknowledged that the security of Ukraine, Europe, and the world are inseparably linked. Thus, Europe supports Ukraine's right to defend itself against Russian aggression and, in line with Poland's long-standing calls, emphasizes that decisions regarding Ukraine must be made with Kyiv's involvement.

During his time in Brussels, Prime Minister Donald Tusk also held meetings with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, acting Romanian President Ilie Bolojan, and Bulgarian Prime Minister Dimitar Zhelyazkov.

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New dimensions of cooperation between Slovak and Czech MODs

Ministry of Defence of The Slovak Republic

06.03.2025

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Robert Kalinak hosted Ms Jana Cernochova on her visit to Slovakia as the Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic. As part of the bilateral meeting in Bratislava, they signed the Joint Declaration of Cooperation on Procurement of Military Equipment, Materiel and Services between the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic.

Two of the many substantive areas of SVK-CZE defence cooperation concern the Czech Army's contribution to the NATO Multinational Brigade Slovakia (MNB-SVK) and the Czech Air Force's commitment to Air Policing (AP) arrangements in SVK airspace. For this, Mr Robert Kalinak gave his personal thanks to Ms Jana Cernochova. He also noted his appreciation of the Czech side's decision to extend this assistance well until the end of 2025, and promised that we are ready to take the same action at any time in the future if the Czech Republic asks us to do so.

In light of security challenges in the region and in Europe, the two ministers recognise the need to take forward the modernisation of the Armed Forces. The joint procurement by the CZE and SVK MODs of TATRA-815 trucks - which Slovakia agreed to pursue with Czechia in December 2024 - serves as a model example for regional defence industrial engagement. By signing the Joint Declaration of Cooperation today, the Slovak and Czech Republics have taken another significant stride towards closer ties.

Speaking at a joint press conference with visiting Czech Defence Minister Jana Cernochova after their talks, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Robert Kalinak stated: "This is of great importance for the growth of the defence industry in both countries. We are pleased with Czechia's great interest in manufacturing munitions of all calibres here in Slovakia, because currently we are among the largest munitions producers in Europe. After Poland, we have managed to reach yet another agreement that will lift up the defence industry, thereby raising the standard of living for people in Slovakia and driving an increase in GDP."

Both Alliance partners have agreed to hold further meetings in Slovakia and in Czechia to ensure progress on key projects.

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Prime Minister in Parliament: Hope Cannot Replace Strategy

Republic of Poland - The Chancellery of the Prime Minister

07.03.2025

New European financing opportunities for defense, the protection of the eastern border, Europe's role in decisions regarding the war in Ukraine, and military training - these were some of the international and domestic initiatives presented by Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Parliament on Friday, aimed at strengthening the defense potential of both Europe and Poland. The head of government emphasized the need to reinforce transatlantic relations and urged politicians to refrain from actions that could disrupt the bipartisan consensus on national security.

Poland's National Security Consensus

Following a series of international meetings with Western leaders in Paris, London, and at the special European Council summit in Brussels, Prime Minister Donald Tusk briefed Parliament on the current international situation and Poland's security. He highlighted that, despite challenging geopolitical realities, Poland's strength lies in its unity on security matters across party lines.

"One thing is certainwhen it comes to fundamental issues of the Republic's security, there has been a consensus in Poland for decades. [...] The key elements of this consensus have been two dimensions of our security: the transatlantic alliance and an unshakable partnership with the United States, as well as a strong position in a united Europe," the Prime Minister said in his address to Members of Parliament.

Despite some voices attempting to align with Russian narratives regarding the war in Ukraine, Poland's security consensus remains steadfast.

"In the Western world, and certainly in Poland, such views remain on the political fringesignificant and potentially dangerous given the international context, but still a fringe nonetheless," Tusk emphasized.

Maintaining Poland's security requires balancing strong NATO ties with a strong position in the EU. Poland will continue striving to maintain close transatlantic relations despite geopolitical turbulence.

"Every country, especially a superpower like the United States, has the right and duty to shape its foreign policy and strategies. But every country, including Poland, also has the right and duty to carefully and precisely assess what serves our security and what may create risks. [...] Poland has not changed its view on the absolutely fundamental need to maintain the closest possible ties with the United States and NATO," declared Prime Minister Tusk.

At the same time, Poland's stance on Ukraine remains unchanged - its independence directly impacts Poland's security.

"We all hope for full U.S. engagement in security guarantees for Ukraine. Let's be clearwhen we talk about Ukraine, we are also talking about our own security. But I want to state unequivocally: hope is not enough. Hope alone cannot replace strategy," the Prime Minister warned.

"Supporting Ukraine while keeping Russia as far away as possible, strengthening Europe, and maintaining strong relations with the U.S.this is our strategy and should be the guiding principle for all of Europe."

Supporting Ukraine is in Poland's Security Interest

The second pillar of Poland's national security consensus has been unequivocal support for Ukraine following Russia's aggression. If Ukraine remains a sovereign, independent, and pro-Western state, it will strengthen the security of Poland and Europe. However, if Ukraine loses the war and is forced into a truce that allows Russia to gain control over it, Poland will face a significantly more challenging geopolitical reality.

"Supporting Ukraine must remain part of Poland's national consensus. For three years, we have hosted large groups of Ukrainian refugees and migrants. [...] It is the responsibility of the entire political class to understand the frustration and sometimes anger, while also remembering the reasons for this migration and our strategic interest," the Prime Minister urged.

Ukraine's situation affects the security of all of Europe. That is why the European Council's extraordinary meeting once again reaffirmed unwavering support for Kyiv. Europe must be engaged in the peace process to ensure the stability and durability of any potential ceasefire. Poland's role in this will be crucial, particularly in securing the EU and NATO's eastern border.

"Everyone understands thisin Kyiv, Brussels, European capitals, and the United Statesthat Poland's primary task is to secure its eastern border, which is also NATO's and the EU's eastern flank," Tusk stressed.

Poland's contribution to supporting Ukraine, combined with its exemplary approach to NATO security spending, places it in a unique position. The government will safeguard this reputationof Poland as a courageous, responsible, and solidarity-driven country.

New Financial Instruments for Defense

Intelligence reports indicate that Russia is preparing to expand its mobilization capacity, necessitating a swift European response, including efforts to enhance defense capabilities. Recent decisions show that Europe increasingly understands this urgency. The conclusions from the European Council's meeting pave the way for member states to strengthen their defense capabilities both nationally and collectively. One of the most significant measures will be the introduction of EU budget-backed loans of up to 150 billion for defense.

"European funds will be allocated to strengthening defense capabilitiesin air defense, artillery systems, ammunition, missiles, drones, military mobility, electronic warfare, artificial intelligence in military applications, and cyber weapons. These funds will be available under highly favorable conditions for all interested member states, including the Polish defense industry," the Prime Minister explained.

Thanks in part to Poland's proposals, EU defense spending will not be counted toward national budget deficits. The Polish government will wisely utilize this greater flexibility in EU funding. Poland was the first to initiate the reallocation of PLN 30 billion from the National Recovery Plan to defense and armament.

"We will not hesitate. We will make decisions to shift funds from projects that are not deemed crucial by the government or local authorities. These funds will be used to enhance our defense capabilities," Tusk announced.

European leaders also discussed deregulation in the defense sector, which would accelerate industrial investments, including private-sector engagement.

"This is about easing regulations on public procurement and cutting bureaucracyprocesses that currently delay the construction of ammunition factories by years," the Prime Minister pointed out.

Tusk also proposed the establishment of a European Defense Bank, modeled after the European Investment Bank, to finance defense projects.

Assertive Steps to Enhance National Defense

Poland will maintain high defense spending in the coming years. The global situation demands swift decisions in multiple areas. Plans are underway to introduce training programs for civilians who are not enlisted in the militarynot as a return to compulsory military service, but as preparation for citizens to assist in national defense.

"We are already talking about the need for a 500,000-strong army in Poland, including reservists. [...] Intensive training programs should prepare civilians to become fully capable soldiers in the event of conflict," the Prime Minister announced.

The government will explore all available options to enhance defense capabilitiesincluding reconsidering Poland's participation in the Ottawa Convention, which bans anti-personnel landmines. The Prime Minister requested a formal assessment from the Minister of National Defense on this matter.

"We are aware of the arguments that led the world to restrict the use of this horrific weapon. But today, we must utilize every available measure to strengthen our defense," he declared.

A serious competition for security is ahead, and Poland must leverage the most advanced technologies, including nuclear and unconventional weapons. This approach will help Poland avoid historical mistakes.

"Some people like the idea of Poland as a frontier outpost. I do not want Poland to ever be a frontier outpost again. Fortifications should be beyond our borders. We must be inside, as a bastion, as the stronghold of the European fortress that we are now beginning to buildwith great effort, but we have started," Tusk emphasized.

Poland faces challenges that demand unity and determination, but history has shown its ability to emerge stronger. National security and a stable position in Europe can be achieved through collective effort. By acting decisively and staying true to the values that have shaped the nation for centuries, Poland will remain not only secure but also invincible.

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Remarks by Commissioner Dombrovskis at the Eurogroup press conference

European Commission

Speech

Mar 9, 2025

Brussels

Thank you. Good evening, everyone.

We started today with an exchange on the economic outlook.

Since our last meeting, the international context has become even more challenging, as we are witnessing dramatic shifts in the geopolitical landscape.

Russia's brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues to cause uncertainty and pose a serious challenge to the economy and to Europe's security.

On top of this, it now appears as though we can no longer rely on long-standing strategic partners, including for our security.

This high uncertainty is already having a significant drag on economic activity, in particular investment.

In spite of this challenging context, recent data releases confirm that the EU economy is showing considerable resilience, with economic sentiment improving and the labour market holding up well.

In a context of elevated geopolitical risks, quick and unified policy action is key.

We need to take more responsibility for our security and defence, while improving our competitiveness and economic fundamentals.

Our security and our prosperity are interdependent. And, in fact, the two objectives are mutually reenforcing.

The proposed ReArm Europe Plan has the potential to mobilise 800 billion, providing a significant fiscal impulse that may have a positive impact on the growth and jobs outlook.

Our collective policies will have a crucial impact on the EU's growth path and resilience in the years ahead.

Fiscal policy, which was the second item on today's agenda, continues to be an important lever.

Today, I provided ministers with an updated state-of-play on the implementation of the new economic governance framework.

Overall, we are making good progress.

We have now endorsed 22 medium-term fiscal-structural plans of Member States.

Since our last meeting, Bulgaria has submitted their plan.

The Commission will present its assessment in due course.

We expect the remaining four plans - Belgium, Austria, Lithuania and Germany - to be submitted in the coming weeks and months.

As just discussed, the geopolitical landscape has evolved very significantly in recent weeks, requiring a fast and sharp increase in defence spending in Europe.

That is why the Commission is proposing the activation of the National Escape Clause.

The fiscal leeway will be conditioned and controlled so that it does not endanger fiscal sustainability over the medium term.

In fact, we will ensure that the fiscal framework continues to operate in a predictable and transparent manner.

Member States will be able to implement their just-adopted medium-term plans as foreseen.

But, at the same time, the flexibility will provide significant leeway for additional defence expenditure.

We will discuss this issue over the ECOFIN dinner this evening and also in the ECOFIN Council tomorrow.

The Commission will formalise its proposals shortly.

At the same time, we must still maintain focus on the implementation of the fiscal, reform and investment measures contained in Member States' plans.

I also provided the meeting with a debrief from last month's G7 meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors.

At this challenging time, the EU remains committed to the rules-based international order and engaging with its international partners through multilateral fora, including the G20 and G7.

We discussed the provision of financial assistance to help Ukraine continue its war of survival in the face of Russian aggression.

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale Russian invasion, the EU has provided 135 billion in assistance to Ukraine, covering financial, military, and humanitarian assistance.

This figure includes 73.3 billion in the form of grants.

The EU has also provided approximately 41.3 billion in loans through its Macro-Financial Assistance and Ukraine Facility instruments.

However, these loans are offered on exceptionally concessional terms, with maturities of up to 45 years, extended grace periods of 10 years, and almost no interest payments.

This makes, very clearly, the EU the largest donor to Ukraine when compared with any other international partners.

On trade, I made clear that growing trade tensions will have a profoundly negative impact on the global economy.

I expressed our regret over the announcements of the United States of potential tariffs on the EU.

The EU is ready to react in a firm and proportionate manner, if necessary.

We also discussed the preparations of the March Euro Area Summit where the focus will be on deepening and developing our capital markets.

As you can see from the Competitiveness Compass, access to finance is key to Europe's competitiveness agenda.

The EU needs to speed up its progress towards deep EU capital markets development, and the renewed political impetus should give us the strength to advance decisively.

The Commission will come forward with its Communication on Savings and Investment Union next week, and we hope it will be welcomed with a strong political will and commitment also in the Council.

Thank you.

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EXPLAINED: Top leader To Lam plans to redraw Vietnam's provincial lines

Redistricting could help Lam put more allies in positions of power ahead of a key Communist Party meeting.

By RFA Vietnamese 2025.03.09 -- Since becoming Vietnam's top leader last August, Communist Party General Secretary To Lam has tightened his grip on the party-state - placing loyalists in key posts to advance his big government shake-up plan.

In the latest sign of how far Lam wants to take an overhaul he says will make the economy more competitive, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, was photographed at a party function early this month holding a vastly redrawn new map of Vietnam, which was later leaked on Facebook.

The proposed new map of Vietnam, a country the size of Finland or New Mexico with a population of 100 million people, has 32 provinces and province-level big cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City instead of the current 63.

There is no official confirmation of the remapping plan.

This drastic rejig of provinces and districts is part of Lam's central government re-organization - the elimination of five of 21 state ministries, and the shuttering of state and party offices and institutions.

What would revamping Vietnam's provinces do for Lam politically?

Even before Lam secured the top job last August, all eyes in Vietnamese politics were on the next National Party Congress, in January 2026, when the ruling party's Central Committee selects the general secretary and the Politburo, a key power center of the one-party state.

Lam - who took over after the death of his predecessor, Nguyen Phu Trong - is keen to win a full term at the 14th Party Congress, but his re-election as general secretary is not pre-ordained and his government overhaul plan could face opposition over mass layoffs.

A dramatic reduction in the number of provinces in Vietnam implies similar cuts in the number of representatives sent by localities and government bodies to the next party congress - seen by critics as a recipe for a further concentration of power in Lam's hands.

In one-party Vietnam, direct elections are held for local People's Councils and the National Assembly -- but all candidates are pre-approved by the ruling party.

Since Vietnam has previously only added delegates to the party congress, talk of reducing them from the current 1,500 has raised concerns that Lam can cull critics and ensure that only supporters are represented in Hanoi next January.

To bolster his high-level support, Lam has filled the ranks of the 18-member Politburo with allies from his long career as a top police official and from his native Hung Yen province, an hour south of the capital Hanoi.

What high-level political questions arise from Lam's big government reshuffle?

Hanoi political observers are debating how the downsizing of regional and local governments will affect the allocation of posts on the Central Committee.

Any consolidation of provinces and top-tier cities could reduce provincial representation or lead to a shrinkage of the Central Committee.

Below the provincial level, Vietnam has about 700 district administrative units and more than 10,000 at the communal level. Many could be affected by the downsizing.

Reducing regional representation would reverse a trend since Vietnam introduced Doi Moi economic reforms in 1986 that saw provincial leaders make up about one-third of central committee members.

It is not yet clear if the January party confab will retain the configuration of 180 official members and 20 alternates established five years earlier at at the 13th Party Congress.

Translated by Anna Vu. Edited by Mike Firn and Paul Eckert.

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.

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US, Polish Partners Strengthen Interoperability, Modernization

By 2nd Lt. Trenton Fouche, Joint Force Headquarters - Illinois National Guard Public Affairs March 10, 2025

WARSAW, Poland - About 75 U.S. and Polish Armed Forces personnel strengthened NATO interoperability and defense modernization during a military-to-military workshop Feb. 24-25.

Brig. Gen. Michael Eastridge, deputy assistant adjutant general, Illinois Army National Guard, said the event identified cost-effective training initiatives, "strengthening NATO's defense and enhancing deterrence against aggression."

The two-day event, hosted by European Command, J5, Office of Defense Cooperation in Poland and the Illinois National Guard State Partnership Program, focused on synchronizing engagements that enhance Poland's capabilities and reinforce the longstanding military partnership.

The Illinois National Guard and Poland have been partners in the Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program since its inception in 1993.

Key discussions centered around increasing procedural and technical interoperability, supporting Poland's modernization efforts  including key initiatives like the Apache, Abrams, High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, Patriot and F-35 programs, and bolstering deterrence strategies such as Operation Eastern Shield.

Participants engaged in an "M2M engagement carousel," where stakeholders reviewed and confirmed upcoming engagements, ensuring alignment between U.S. and Polish objectives. The workshop concluded with a roadmap for fiscal year 2026 military-to-military concept and funding requests to be submitted by March 31.

Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Cistaro, one of the Soldiers involved in the training, was awarded the Order of Saint Maurice Centurion.

A nominee for the Order of Saint Maurice must serve the infantry community with distinction and demonstrate a significant contribution in support of the infantry branch, representing the highest of standards of integrity, moral character, professional competence and dedication to duty.

Eastridge presented the award to Cistaro for his 30-year contribution to the infantry.

"I have had the honor of knowing Cistaro for 20 years," he said. "It is a privilege to present him with the OSM. His impact on the infantry community has been profound, and this award is truly well deserved."



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Common Security and Defence Policy: New Headquarters for the EU's civilian missions

European External Action Service (EEAS)

10.03.2025

EEAS Press Team

The European External Action Service (EEAS) has unveiled the new Civilian Operations Headquarters for all EU civilian crisis management missions deployed under the umbrella of the Common Security and Defence Policy.

Following a decision by the High Representative Kaja Kallas, the new Civilian Operations Headquarters (CivOpsHQ) aims to enhance the impact of the 13 EU civilian security and rule of law missions currently deployed on three continents.

Under the command of the Civilian Operation Commander, the new CivOpsHQ will provide a more unified and robust command and control capability for all civilian CSDP missions to meet the demands of a deteriorating global security environment. It will offer enhanced guidance, expertise, and technical support to missions across the broad range of civilian mission activities, including recruitment and duty of care. The CivOpsHQ will establish common standards and systems for all civilian missions to ensure consistency and coherence of action.

The Headquarters, based in Brussels, will be staffed with some 120 experts, coming from the Member States and the EU institutions.

Background

EU Civilian crisis management missions are an EU foreign policy projection tool, providing the EU with a unique operational capability in the EU neighbourhood and beyond. Each mission has a discrete mandate aimed at promoting stability and security and building resilience in fragile environments. These missions are deployed at the invitation of the Host State or under a UN mandate. The Member States of the European Union agree on the mandate of each CSDP mission. The mandates are reviewed on a regular basis by the Member States to ensure that they continue to meet EU foreign policy objectives and the needs of the Host State.

12 civilian missions and one civilian/military mission are currently deployed on three continents.

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Government instructs Sida to stop all direct governmental agency cooperation with Georgia

Government Offices of Sweden

Press release from Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Published 10 March 2025

The Government has instructed Sida to stop all direct governmental agency cooperation with Georgia. This comes in response to the serious deterioration of the democratic situation in the country.

The decision aims to send a clear signal to the Georgian Dream political party that the suppression of peaceful demonstrations, opposition politicians, civil rights activists and independent media representatives in Georgia is unacceptable. Swedish development assistance will instead be focused more on strengthening civil society in Georgia.

"The Swedish Government has made it clear to Georgian Dream how seriously we regard the restrictions of democratic rights and freedoms in the country. Georgian Dream have introduced legislation inspired by Russia's agent laws and accused the West of wanting to drag Georgia into Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

Developments following the parliamentary election in October have led to a further deterioration. The Government does not see any possibility of continuing to pursue the kind of reform cooperation that Sweden and Georgia have carried out so successfully for nearly two decades. This must be seen as a clear signal.

With this decision, the Government is also looking into the possibility of further increasing Swedish support to Georgian civil society to help with its democratic development," says Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa.

On 24 October 2024, the Government instructed Sida to pause the remainder of its direct government agency cooperation with Georgia as a consequence of developments in the country. The Government decision today entails a formal termination of this kind of cooperation.

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Palestinian Authority condemns the occupation regime's power cut in Gaza

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 10, 2025

The Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the Israeli regime's power cut in the Gaza Strip, calling it an action aimed at deepening the genocidal war, displacing the region's residents, and causing a humanitarian disaster in all areas of their lives.

According to Arab media, the Palestinian Authority's Foreign Ministry issued a statement emphasizing that this action by the occupying regime is being taken while the regime insists on cutting off humanitarian aid to more than two million children in the strip and implementing all kinds of ethnic cleansing methods there.

In this statement, the Palestinian Authority Foreign Ministry also condemned the continued crimes of the occupying forces in the northern West Bank, especially in the cities and camps of Tulkarem and Jenin governorates, and the displacement of Palestinians, the targeted destruction of their lands and properties, and their annexation to the occupied territories.

Last week, the Zionist media revealed that the Israeli regime was seeking to cut off electricity to the Gaza Strip.

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Kabul stresses strengthening ties with Tehran

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 10, 2025

Kabul, IRNA -- The spokesperson of the Afghan caretaker government Zabihullah Mujahid has stressed reinforcing brotherly relations with Tehran.

Mujahid underlined the cultural and religious commonalities between Iran and Afghanistan, Afghan media Tolo News reported.

Kabul attaches importance to development of bilateral relations with Tehran, he added.

Earlier on February 9, Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Afghanistan's Mazar-e-Sharif, Alireza Ahmadi, said that according to the order of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the policy of maximum interaction with the Afghan nation is on the agenda.

Ayatollah Khamenei believes that the problems of the region should be solved by the countries of the region, he added.

The Islamic Republic of Iran supports any action that helps to ensure peace and stability in the region, Ahmadi noted.

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Hamas condemns Israeli regime for cutting power to Gaza

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 10, 2025

The Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, has denounced the Israeli regime's decision to cut power to the Gaza Strip, describing the move as a genocidal act and futile pressure against the Palestinian nation.

According to Palestine's Shehab news agency, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said that the power cut is part of the regime's genocidal war against the residents of Gaza, noting that the Zionist occupiers have been cutting electricity since October 2023.

The spokesperson called for the implementation of decisions made by Arab states regarding the halt of the siege and hunger in Gaza.

Izzat al-Rishq, a member of Hamas's Politburo, said that the Israeli decision to cut power - following restrictions on the delivery of food, medicine, and water to Gaza - is a futile attempt to pressure the Palestinian nation and the resistance through failed blackmailing tactics.

The power cut, closure of crossings, halt of the entry of humanitarian aid and fuel into Gaza, and the imposition of hunger constitute collective punishment and war crimes, which violate international humanitarian laws, he said.

Al-Rishq went on to say that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu aims to undermine the Gaza ceasefire and intends to advance his agenda at the expense of the lives of Israeli prisoners.

The Hamas official also said that the resistance and the Palestinian people will not succumb to these pressures and will continue to resist until the liberation of Palestine and the triumph of the Palestinian nation.

A three-phase ceasefire came into effect on January 19, with each phase lasting 42 days. During these phases, Hamas and the Israeli regime were expected to negotiate indirectly on the implementation of the next phases. However, Netanyahu obstructed the initiation of the second phase, which was scheduled for February 3. As a result, the first phase concluded on March 1 without any agreement to enter the second phase.

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Foreign Minister Budrys: Germany's leadership is important to Europe

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2025-03-10

On 7 March in Munich, the Head of Lithuanian Diplomacy met with Florian Herrmann, head of the Bavarian State Chancellery and Bavarian Minister of State for Federal and European Affairs and the Media. The meeting focused on bilateral economic cooperation with the Free State of Bavaria, bilateral security and defense relations between Lithuania and Germany, and support for Ukraine.

Budrys emphasized that Lithuania's decision to allocate 5-6% of GDP annually to defense between the years of 2026 and 2030 opened up additional opportunities for the Bavarian defense industry and other business sectors to invest in Lithuania. According to Budrys, there is also untapped potential for carrying out joint projects in the field of technology and strengthening cooperation in the fields of life sciences, biotechnology and laser industry, engineering, and automotive and electronics industry.

"Lithuania and Bavaria will be united by another factor: the 122nd Mechanised Infantry Battalion from Bavaria will arrive in Lithuania. I believe we can expand security cooperation to other areas, such as the economy, education, and culture," said the Foreign Minister.

The Foreign Minister underlined that, as Ukraine faces war, European unity and German leadership are more important than ever. Budrys noted that it was necessary to continue supporting Ukraine, strengthening the EU's defense capabilities, and defense industry, seeking Russia's accountability, and tightening sanctions against Russia.

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Central African Republic: UN expert acknowledges efforts to respect human rights, highlights over-reliance on external aid, urges economic and governance reforms

Press releases

Special Procedures

10 March 2025

GENEVA -- A UN expert recognised ongoing commitment to enhance the respect of human rights in the Central African Republic (CAR) while cautioning against over-reliance on international development assistance, saying it could hinder progress on human rights, transitional justice, long-term stability and development ahead of crucial elections later this year.

"There is an urgent need to develop national capacity for domestic revenue generation and to prioritise local governance reforms to tackle corruption, taxation, and the management of the mining and fuel sectors," said Yao Agbetse, the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic, in a statement at the end of a 10-day visit to the country.

Agbetse noted the commitment of authorities to organise local elections before the end of the year. In this regard, he called on all partners to continue to support the Government and people of the CAR. "We need to start thinking now about the reforms needed to transfer resources to local authorities," he said.

"The upcoming local elections will be crucial for the future of the country," the expert said. "The meaningful participation of communities, including women and youth, in the management of local affairs and the strengthening of democracy at the local level will be essential."

Agbetse stressed the importance of local governance as a tool for restoring and consolidating state authority and accelerating the development agenda. "The National Development Plan (2024-2028) is key to sustainable peace and stability," he said. He called on all technical and financial partners to support the priority programmes and projects selected for the implementation of the National Plan for the benefit of the Central African people, in particular women and young people.

The expert welcomed the law on the protection of human rights defenders adopted in December 2024 and called for its promulgation into law.

Agbetse called for continued support for the National Commission on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and urged authorities to finalise the process of appointing new commissioners to the Truth, Justice, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (CVJRR). "The Government should put in place a strategy for political and financial support to the reconstituted CVJRR," he said, encouraging partners to support the Commission, including in the establishment of the Reparations Fund for Victims.

The expert who visited Haut Mbomou Prefecture during his mission noted that, despite significant progress in terms of security, there were still hotspots of tension, such as in Haut-Mbomou, where actions related to Azande Ani Kpi Gbe (AAKG) and Wagner Ti Azande (WTA) could have an impact on long-term security, respect for human rights, protection of civilians and social cohesion. On 22 January 2025, the killing of 12 herders in an attack on their camp 10 km from Mboki was allegedly attributed to the WTA/AAKG. He also expressed concerns over other incidents implicating armed groups in human rights abuses in the Lim Pende Prefecture.

Agbetse urged authorities to scale up the deployment of well-resourced and equipped Central African Armed Forces (FACA) in areas of tension and on the borders with Chad, Sudan, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is essential to protect the territorial integrity of the CAR and to address other security-related challenges such as transhumance-related violence.

The Independent Expert warned of security concerns in neighbouring countries and their impact on the CAR, in particular the influx of Chadian asylum seekers in the north, the continued arrival of more than 33,629 Sudanese asylum seekers in the Vakaga region in the northeast, and the management of South Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers in the south in the Haut-Mbomou region.

"New and effective strategies are needed for the voluntary, safe and sustainable return of Central African refugees and IDPs to their country and region of origin, with a focus on long-term support and empowerment, such as Government approach as part of the national sustainable solutions strategy," he said.

Mr. Yao Agbetse is the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic. Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts and Working Groups are independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Together, these experts are referred to as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. While the UN Human Rights Office acts as the secretariat for Special Procedures, the experts serve in their individual capacity and are independent from any government or organization, including OHCHR and the UN. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the UN or OHCHR. Country-specific observations and recommendations by the UN human rights mecahnisms, including the special procedures, the treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review, can be found on the Universal Human Rights Index https://uhri.ohchr.org/en/

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DFA to China exec: PH independent, actions driven by nat'l interest

Philippine News Agency

By Ma. Teresa Montemayor

March 10, 2025, 2:18 pm

MANILA -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday dismissed Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's remarks that incidents in the South China Sea (SCS) are "staged under the direction of other countries."

China should recognize that the Philippines is an independent and sovereign state whose actions and decisions are driven entirely by national interest and the interests and well-being of the Filipino people, the DFA said in a statement.

China previously compared the SCS dispute with the Philippines to a "shadow play" and warned that "those acting as others' chess pieces are bound to be discarded."

Wang said there is a screenplay written by external forces for every move of the Philippines on the sea, adding that the show is livestreamed by Western media and the plot is invariably to smear China.

"No creative analogy or play of words will mask the real issue, which is China's refusal to abide by international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and the 2016 Arbitral Award, and the adverse effects of China's disregard for the rules-based international order on Filipino communities genuinely affected by China's illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive behavior at sea," the DFA said.

The agency called on countries to be circumspect and to avoid actions and words that only contribute to tensions in the region. (PNA)

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PNP duty-bound to cooperate with Interpol if asked for assistance

Philippine News Agency

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan

March 10, 2025, 6:13 pm

MANILA -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said it is prepared if the International Criminal Court (ICC) seeks the International Criminal Police Organization's (Interpol) assistance to implement the alleged arrest warrant against former President Rodrigo Duterte.

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said the PNP, as a member of Interpol, is duty-bound to cooperate with the international police body.

Fajardo, however, said there is no verifiable information whether the ICC had already issued an arrest warrant for Duterte.

"Dadaan tayo sa proseso. Kung meron pong hihingin po na tulong 'yong ating (We will go through the process. If there is any request for assistance from our) Interpol, the PNP has a legal obligation to reciprocate 'yong courtesy na ibinibigay po sa atin ng Interpol (the courtesy that Interpol gives us)," she said in a press conference at Camp Crame.

She also said the PNP has not received any arrest warrant issued by local courts for the former leader.

Fajardo clarified that the deployment of the 7,000 personnel is part of a simulation exercise for election security preparations in different regions, and not for Duterte's arrest.

"Probably, they just misinterpreted some of the movements in other regions na meron pong mga (that have) ongoing simulation exercise relating po sa ating (in our) preparation for the national and local elections," she added.

The ICC is currently gathering evidence in its investigation into alleged crimes against humanity associated with Duterte's bloody campaign against illegal drugs.

Government data showed that over 6,200 drug suspects died in the war on drugs from June 2016 to November 2021 under Duterte's administration. (PNA)

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DOJ says no arrest warrant notice for Duterte from ICC

Philippine News Agency

By Benjamin Pulta

March 10, 2025, 5:27 pm

MANILA -- The Department of Justice (DOJ) has not received any warrant of arrest for former president Rodrigo R. Duterte from the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is investigating the previous administration's war on drugs, an official said Monday.

Malacanang earlier said the government is "prepared for any eventuality" amid reports on the ICC's issuance of the warrant.

"I can only really verify those documents that come into the DOJ and as of today, wala pa po tayong nare-receive na (we have not received) any warrant issued by the ICC," DOJ Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano told reporters in a chance interview.

"Kaya ang sinasabi lang ho natin that the government is ready kung sakaling magkaroon po ng warrant of arrest galing sa ICC (What we're saying is that the government is ready if ever a warrant of arrest is issued by the ICC)," he added.

Clavano said it is likely that the normal process for such issuance would not be observed as the country has already withdrawn as a signatory to the Rome Statute, which established the ICC.

He said the proper process if the country is still a signatory would be for the ICC to inform either the Office of the President, Department of Foreign Affairs or the DOJ.

"So dahil po hindi na tayo miyembro ay puwede naman sila dumiretso sa law enforcement agency, puwede rin silang dumiretso sa third-party country na miyembro pa rin ng ICC (So since we are no longer a member of the ICC, they can go straight to a law enforcement agency or a third-party country that is still an ICC member)," Clavano explained.

The ICC is investigating Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity in connection with the killings linked to his administration's war on drugs. (PNA)

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UN condemns Israel for cutting off Gaza's electricity, warns of consequences

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 March 2025 6:29 PM

Israel's decision to cut off electricity to the besieged Gaza Strip will deprive the Palestinian territory of "clean water," says the UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories.

Francesca Albanese said on Monday that the Israeli decision means "no functioning desalination stations, ergo: no clean water."

Rights groups say Israel has already disrupted water accessibility in Gaza to a considerable extent, including by blocking pipelines to the territory and destroying solar panels used to keep water pumps and desalination and waste treatment plants running during power outages.

Albanese also condemned the international community for inaction in that regard.

Countries that are yet to impose sanctions or an arms embargo on Israel are "aiding and assisting Israel in the commission of one of the most preventable genocides of our history," she said.

Also on Monday, the Palestinian Authority condemned Israel's decision as "an escalation in the genocide."

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it "strongly condemns the Israeli Ministry of Energy's decision to cut electricity to the Gaza Strip, considering it an escalation in the genocide, displacement and humanitarian disaster in Gaza."

On Sunday, Israeli media said the regime's energy and infrastructure minister Eli Cohen ordered the Israel Electric Company to stop transmitting electricity to Gaza "immediately."

Power has already been cut off since the start of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem has told Anadolu, "Israel has practically cut off electricity to the Gaza Strip since the war began."

"This is just another part of the occupation state's starvation policy, in clear disregard of all international laws and norms."

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.

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Israel to endorse construction of 1,030 illegal settler units in occupied al-Quds

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 March 2025 5:16 PM

Israeli authorities intend to approve construction of 1,030 new illegal settler units in two Palestinian neighborhoods on the southeastern outskirts of East al-Quds, irrespective of international outcry against the Tel Aviv regime's land expropriation and settlement expansion policies in the occupied territories.

According to Hebrew-language media outlets, 380 housing units are expected to be constructed in the Nof Zion settlement near Jabal al-Mukaber, in addition to a school, two synagogues, and commercial centers

Another 650 housing units, commercial buildings, an elementary school, a synagogue, a community center, and a kindergarten will also be built near the Sur Baher neighborhood, between the Ramat Rachel kibbutz and Har Homa settlement.

Israeli settlements are choking the occupied city of al-Quds and besieging its Arab neighborhoods, placing them at risk of Judaization and displacement.

This comes as part of the occupying Tel Aviv regime's plan to establish what is called "Greater Jerusalem" by "legitimizing" the annexation of the settlements sitting on its Palestinian-owned lands.

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.

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Hamas rejects Israeli threats, asserts negotiations only way to save captives' lives

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 March 2025 3:40 PM

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says Israel's threats to restart war on the Gaza Strip are futile, saying the ceasefire talks are the only way for Israel to save the lives of its captives.

In a statement on Monday, Hamas said Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu "is obstructing the implementation of the agreement for purely personal and partisan reasons, and the last thing he cares about is the release of the captives and the feelings of their families."

Hamas reiterated its full commitment to the implementation of the agreement, expressing its readiness for the immediate start of the ceasefire's second-phase talks.

Meanwhile, the movement said the Israeli regime "continues to violate the agreement and refuses to start its second phase", adding this "procrastination" will "increase its isolation and expose the falsity of its narrative to the world."

Hamas pointed out that the truce deal was brokered by international mediators and witnessed by the world, which requires obligating the regime to implement the agreement as the only way to recover the captives.

Earlier in the day, Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif al-Qanou said the group showed flexibility in recent talks with Egyptian and Qatar mediators as well as US President Donald Trump's envoy in Doha, and is awaiting the outcome of their negotiations with Israel.

"We have dealt flexibly with the efforts of the mediators and Trump's envoy, and we await the results of the expected negotiations and obligating the occupation to abide by the agreement and move to the second stage," Qanou said.

He added that the Doha talks are "based on ending the war, [Israel's] withdrawal, and the reconstruction" of the Gaza Strip.

Referring to Israel's tightening of the siege on Gaza, closure of the crossings and stoppage of humanitarian aid deliveries to Palestinians, Qanou said the measures are aimed at forcing the Palestinians to leave, but he said "this is just a confused dream."

The spokesman added that Israel's talk about plans to resume the war and its decision to cut off electricity, in place since October 7, 2023, are "options that have failed, and pose a threat to its captives, whom it will not secure their release, except through negotiations."

Israel launched the campaign of genocide in Gaza on October 7, 2023. It has killed more than 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 refraining from stepping into talks for the second stage of the agreement.

Hamas has insisted on proceeding to negotiations on a permanent ceasefire before agreeing to any further releases of Israeli captives.

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'Largest displacement since 1967': UN says 40,000 Palestinians uprooted by Israel's West Bank raids

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 March 2025 7:18 AM

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees says Israeli raids across the West Bank have triggered the "largest population displacement" since the 1967 war that led to the occupation of the Palestinian territory.

In a report released on Sunday, the UNRWA estimated that the Israeli attacks over the past few weeks have displaced at least 40,000 people, the vast majority of them from refugee camps in the occupied West Bank.

The large-scale assault is by far the single longest Israeli aggression in the West Bank since the second Palestinian Intifada in the early 2000s, "causing the largest population displacement since the 1967 war," it added.

UNRWA also warned that Israeli statements have suggested the regime's military will continue the assault for the foreseeable future and prevent Palestinians from returning to the West Bank refugee camps.

"Coercive conditions, threats of demolition, and evacuation orders drove further displacement from these already near-empty camps," the agency said. "The Israeli Forces continued to deploy militarized tactics and advanced weaponry, including the use of tanks."

Also on Sunday, Israeli forces shot and critically injured a Palestinian near the southern West Bank town of Tarqumiyah.

In a statement on its Telegram channel, the Palestinian Health Ministry said that the victim sustained injuries to the abdomen and was transferred to the al-Ahli hospital in the city of al-Khalil.

The Israeli military launched its offensive against the occupied West Bank on January 21, claiming that it was targeting resistance fighters of the Jenin Battalion.

Israel has ramped up West Bank violence since October 7, 2023, when it launched its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip. Since then, the occupation forces have killed at least 930 Palestinians and injured nearly 7,000 others in the occupied West Bank.

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Hamas official: Israel continues its policy of collective punishment against Palestinian people

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 March 2025 3:19 AM

A Hamas official has said that the Israeli regime's decision to cut off electricity to Gaza is a continuation of its policy of collective punishment against the Palestinian people in the strip.

Izzat al-Rishq, member of the political bureau of the Islamic resistance movement Hamas, said on Sunday that the "policy began on the first day of its aggression against Gaza on October 7, 2023, when it completely cut off electricity, having already deprived the population of food, medicine, and water in a desperate attempt to pressure our people and resistance through unacceptable and cheap blackmail."

"The occupation's insistence on cutting electricity, closing crossings, halting aid, relief, and fuel, and starving our people is a blatant continuation of collective punishment and constitutes a full-fledged war crime," he stated.

Al-Rishq said that Israel's "actions represent a flagrant violation of signed agreements and a breach of all human laws and norms, reaffirming that the occupation does not respect its commitments."

He added that Israeli prime minister Benjamin "Netanyahu seeks to obstruct the agreement witnessed by the world, attempting to impose a new roadmap that serves his personal interests at the expense of the lives of the occupation's captives, without regard for the demands of their families."

"We warn the occupation against continuing these crimes and affirm that the Palestinian people and their resistance will not succumb to this pressure. They will persist in their steadfastness until freedom and victory are achieved," he noted.

"The only way forward is to adhere to the implementation of the agreement's terms and to proceed with the second phase of negotiations. Any attempt at stalling is a waste of time and a manipulation of the fate of the captives," he said.

The Israeli regime has killed at least 8 Palestinians in the territory in the past three days.

Israel has refused to halt deadly strikes on Gaza since its truce with Hamas resistance movement took effect on January 19.

The incessant attacks have raised the total fatalities in the regime's genocide since October 2023 to over 48,450.

The true death toll is likely much higher, with at least 10,000 Palestinians estimated to have been killed and buried under rubble.

The humanitarian situation is also deteriorating eight days after Israel blocked aid deliveries into the Strip again. As a result, at least six bakeries have closed in Khan Yunis and officials are warning that all bakeries may close in two weeks due to lack of fuel.

For the two million people trapped in the Palestinian territory, the blockade is a matter of life and death. The global call for aid delivery to Gazans is also growing louder.

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With Calin Georgescu's Electoral Disqualification, Romania Could Be In For A Rocky Ride

By Luke Allnutt March 10, 2025

To some, Calin Georgescu is a dangerous populist; to others, he is a fearless champion of the anti-establishment cause. His disqualification from the May 4 presidential election by Romania's electoral commission has only deepened this divide, fueling discontent and uncertainty about the country's political future.

The crisis has been brewing for a while and Georgescu isn't the first far-right candidate who has been prevented from running in a Romanian election. In October 2024, the court banned Diana Iovanovici Sosoaca, a pro-Russian, anti-EU, far-right candidate, from running in the presidential election, saying that her public statements and conduct "systematically" violated the country's constitutional foundation -- and the country's membership in Euro-Atlantic structures.

That decision was contentious -- even criticized by some who found Iovanovici Sosoaca's views abhorrent -- and also a harbinger of what was to come. After Georgescu surprise victory in the first round of the presidential election in November last year, the constitutional court cancelled the runoff, thrusting the country into further crisis.

The court justified this ruling by pointing to claims of Russian meddling in the election process. According to Romanian intelligence reports, foreign actors had manipulated social-media platforms, especially TikTok, to benefit Georgescu, who is critical of NATO and opposes Romanian support for Ukraine against Russia's invasion. Intelligence reports indicated that the campaign was likely orchestrated by Russia, though Moscow denied any involvement.

The court's decision to annul Georgescu's candidacy was deeply controversial. According to a survey by FlashData, 46 percent of Romanians believed that the annulment was "an unjustified action" and 41 percent said that it was "a necessary action to ensure the fairness of the electoral process."

What Happens If Georgescu Doesn't Run?

Georgescu has appealed the decision and Romania's Constitutional Court will meet on March 11 to discuss his appeal. Given that the commission's ruling was based on the court's prior annulment of the second round of the presidential election, it is almost certain that the disqualification will stand.

One possibility is that Georgescu's supporters could rally behind another candidate, such as George Simion, the leader of the nationalist Alliance for the Union Of Romanians (AUR) party. While Simion has publicly stated he does not intend to run in the election, some analysts have suggested that he could be persuaded.

Alternatively, Georgescu himself could endorse a replacement candidate from within nationalist circles. Nationalist parties collectively secured around 25-30 percent of the vote in Romania's December 2024 parliamentary elections, reflecting growing public frustration with mainstream political forces.

Romania's Leadership Vacuum

While the crisis has assumed an international dimension -- even getting a mention from US Vice President JD Vance earlier this year -- it is still fundamentally local, reflecting what many in Romania view as lack of political leadership.

Elena Tanase, the director of RFE/RL's Romanian Service, points out that former President Klaus Iohannis has not held a press conference exclusively for Romanian journalists in recent years nor delivered a State of the Nation address.

The current government is plagued by scandal. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu faces allegations of involvement in real-estate corruption case, while former National Liberal Party leader Nicolae Ciuca has been accused of plagiarism in his PhD and financial mismanagement.

Moreover, Tanase says that Romania lacks a strong, pro-European, liberal-conservative party that could effectively represent its traditional, working classes. That has allowed nationalist movements to capitalize on voter discontent.

While Georgescu's shock first-round win was helped along by a savvy -- and, potentially, illegal -- TikTok campaign, he was tapping into a deep malaise among many Romanians, who are sick of widespread corruption and a crumbling health-care system. (There is a common saying in Romania that you enter a hospital with one illness and leave with 10.) Romania's have-nots perceive their society as fundamentally corrupt, controlled by elites more interested in personal gain than public service.

Could Protests Escalate?

Tensions are high in Bucharest after protests following the election commission's verdict on March 9 left 13 security personnel injured. And there are fears the unrest could escalate. Georgescu, in a social media post on March 10, called for his supporters to remain peaceful as he fights to overturn the election board's decision. "We must not give rise to violence or other actions like those seen last night," he said.

How AUR leader Simion and the nationalist parties respond will be crucial. At a press conference on March 10, Simion said that his party, together with Georgescu, has a plan but would not disclose details. Echoing Georgescu's remarks, he also called the current political system a "dictatorship" and affirmed that the nationalist parties would stand by Georgescu "until the end."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/calin-georgescu-romanian- disqualified/33343037.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.

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Bucharest On Edge As Romanian Far-Right Candidate Georgescu Appeals Election Ban

By RFE/RL's Romanian Service March 10, 2025

BUCHAREST -- Several hundred supporters of Romanian far-right politician Calin Georgescu gathered peacefully outside the Constitutional Court in Bucharest late on March 10 ahead of a consequential ruling that will determine whether the former engineer can run in May's presidential election.

The night of calm contrasted with the mayhem that unfolded on the evening of March 9 following the Central Election Board's (CEB) ruling rejecting Georgescu's inclusion in a presidential election rerun. More than a dozen police officers were injured during the scuffle with protesters.

Georgescu promptly filed an appeal on the morning of March 10 with the Constitutional Court expected to make a decision on the following day.

The protesters waved the tri-color Romanian flag as they chanted "freedom" and called for the arrest of Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who has backed the Constitutional Court during the unprecedented election upheaval.

Georgescu has urged his supporters to remain peaceful as he continues his fight to participate in the rerun election.

"We are going together to the end for the same values, peace, democracy, freedom," Georgescu said.

The CEB ruling disqualified his application based on a Constitutional Court ruling that halted the original election in November following his first-round win.

"We must not give rise to violence or other forms of this kind compared to what happened yesterday evening," Georgescu said, referring to the violence that saw cars burned, store windows smashed, and cobblestones thrown at police, who responded with volleys of tear gas and by detaining protesters.

"The right to free expression is a fundamental right of every citizen, but it must be exercised within the limits of the law and with respect for public order and safety," Major Ana Burchi, a spokeswoman for the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Gendarmerie, told reporters.

Georgescu, who is critical of NATO and opposes Romanian support for Ukraine against Russia's invasion, filed his candidacy for the rerun, to be held on May 4, on March 7.

The CEB had 48 hours to accept or reject the application. Late on March 9, it said Georgescu's candidacy "does not meet the conditions provided by law, as established by the Constitutional Court in December 2024," a reference to the ruling canceling the presidential election.

"Consequently, at the resumption of the electoral process, the members of the BEC consider that it is inadmissible to consider that the same person meets the conditions to accede to the presidency of Romania," it said.

Georgescu and his supporters have claimed Romanian authorities are trying to block his candidacy in the rerun. He reacted angrily to the rejection, calling it "a direct blow to the heart of democracy."

"I have one message left! If democracy in Romania falls, the entire democratic world will fall! This is just the beginning. It's that simple!...Europe is now a dictatorship, Romania is under tyranny!" he added in a social media post.

The first round of the presidential election was canceled by the Constitutional Court on December 6 after Romanian intelligence reports said foreign actors had manipulated social media platforms, especially TikTok, to benefit Georgescu, a far-right, pro-Russian candidate.

The annulment of the vote has exacerbated deep divisions in Romanian politics and sparked international concern over the course of democracy in the European Union and NATO member.

Last month, US Vice-President JD Vance delivered a thinly veiled criticism of the country's moves against Georgescu, telling delegates at the Munich Security Conference that "if your democracy can be destroyed with a few hundred thousand dollars of digital advertising from a foreign country then it wasn't very strong to begin with."

The 62-year-old Georgescu was a little-known figure in Romania until he unexpectedly won the first round of the presidential election on November 24 with about 22 percent of the vote.

He was to face pro-European centrist candidate Elena Lasconi, 52, in a runoff, which had been seen as a referendum on the future course of Romania.

Ciolacu, who supported the Constitutional Court's decision to annul the election, said the authorities have the right to present the public with extremely solid evidence in the investigation, "which involves a potential candidate in the May elections."

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on February 10 that he was resigning from his post amid an effort by the opposition to have him impeached after he stayed in power following the Constitutional Court's election annulment.

Just days before the vote, Georgescu launched a TikTok campaign calling for an end to aid for Ukraine, apparently striking a chord with voters. He has also sounded a skeptical note on Romania's NATO membership.

His anti-Western messaging is routinely amplified on Russian, state-run media and Kremlin-friendly social media.

His other stances included supporting Romanian farmers, reducing dependency on imports, and ramping up energy and food production.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/romania-violence-rejection- georgescu-candidacy-vance-trump/33342520.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.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio's Remarks to the Press

US Department of State

Remarks to the Press

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

En Route to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

March 10, 2025

QUESTION: On the record or on background?

QUESTION: Are we off the record, on -

SECRETARY RUBIO: No, we're on the record. Your employers are paying for this trip. They deserve something, right?

QUESTION: Yeah, thank you.

SECRETARY RUBIO: I feel optimistic about it. I mean, we wouldn't coming if we weren't.

QUESTION: Are you -

SECRETARY RUBIO: Hold on, hold on, let me give these guys - I kind of surprised everybody.

QUESTION: You're optimistic about it. Yeah. And have the -

SECRETARY RUBIO: Are those guys with you too? They're going to get fired for not getting this?

QUESTION: Have the Ukrainians shared their ideas in advance of the meeting? Have they shared their ideas (inaudible)?

SECRETARY RUBIO: We have a general sense of - but I mean, I hope it'll go well. I mean, the important point in this meeting is to establish clearly their intentions, their desire, as they've said publicly now numerous times, to reach a point where peace is possible. And then we'll have to determine how far they are from the Russian position, which we don't know yet either. And then once you understand where both sides truly are, it gives you a sense of how big the divide is and how hard it's going to be. So I'm hoping it'll be a positive interaction along those lines.

And the most important thing that we have to leave here with is a strong sense that Ukraine is prepared to do difficult things, like the Russians are going to have to do difficult things, to end this conflict or at least pause it in some way, shape, or form.

QUESTION: What do you need to hear to know that they are committed to that? What are some of those difficult things?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I don't have any predetermined words I need them to say, but I think primarily it's just a sense of where they are and where their understanding is, that there's - I think both sides need to come to an understanding that there is no military solution to this situation. The Russians can't conquer all of Ukraine, and obviously it'll be very difficult for Ukraine in any reasonable time period to sort of force the Russians back all the way to where they were in 2014. So the only solution to this war is diplomacy and getting them to a table where that's possible. I think the French and the British have been very supportive along the way over the last week as well and very helpful, so we're hopeful we'll have good meetings tomorrow.

QUESTION: Is the focus -

QUESTION: Are you expecting to actually get anything signed by the end of tomorrow - for example, the minerals deal or -

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, we're not coming - I mean, the minerals deal is on the table. That's continuing to be worked on. It's not part of this conversation per se, and it's not something that - tomorrow can be successful without it. It's certainly a deal the President wants to see done, and - but it doesn't necessarily have to happen tomorrow. There are still more details to work out.

And at this point, we're probably - rather than a memorandum of understanding just wanting to sign a specific agreement, and that would take a little bit more time. But I wouldn't prejudge tomorrow by whether or not we have a minerals deal. It's not that - it's an important topic, but it's not the main topic on the agenda.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) going to have to go back to Russians at some point on this trip after you meet with the Ukrainians -

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah?

QUESTION: Go back to the Russians, like, while you're there?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, not while we're there. I mean, obviously there will be some - at some point in an effort to engage with them. And we've engaged with them on the diplomatic front, just our embassies and the status of our respective missions. But at some point soon, obviously, we'll have to go back and establish a process by which we can determine what the Russian positions are in this regard and see how far apart we are. But we haven't done that yet.

QUESTION: The Russians have given a sense of what their position is. They've ruled out explicitly European peacekeepers in Ukrainian territory. Lavrov has done that on the record. Yet President Trump has welcomed the idea of European peacekeepers. Isn't that a big obstacle on the Russian side?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, ultimately, like I said, when - in real diplomacy there is what is being said publicly and then what we have to have conversations about. And I'm not claiming that that's not the Russian position; we don't know. That will be the next step in this process.

We have to understand the Ukrainian position and just have a general idea of what concessions they'd be willing to make, because you're not going to get a ceasefire and an end to this war unless both sides make concessions. That's just obvious. We'll need to see without - maybe we won't go into great details. We're not going to be sitting in a room drawing lines on a map, but just get a general sense of what concessions are in the realm of the possible for them and what they would need in return, and then find out what the Russian position is in that regard. And that'll give us a pretty good assessment of how far apart we truly are.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, will you consider -

QUESTION: (Inaudible.)

QUESTION: Sorry.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Go.

QUESTION: Will you -

SECRETARY RUBIO: I'll get you. I'm not going - I can't go anywhere. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: Will you consider resharing intelligence information with the Ukrainians if this meeting goes well?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, the Ukrainians are already receiving all defensive intelligence information as we speak. I think all the notion of the pause in aid broadly is something I hope we can resolve. Obviously, I think what happens tomorrow will be key to that.

QUESTION: What are you -

QUESTION: Does the United States want to see China playing a role in the post-war peacekeeping or reconstruction?

SECRETARY RUBIO: That topic has not been raised by anybody. But we'd like anyone - I would hope that every country in the world, especially powerful countries like China, would have - would do anything they can to further the cause of peace here. I think it's in everyone's interest that this war end. But obviously, they have not been a part of these conversations, and that topic has not been raised by anybody.

QUESTION: The Ukrainians have publicly proposed a ceasefire of attacks on energy infrastructure. I believe that's an idea that was discussed with the Russians last time on the American side. Is that a promising foundation for moving forward?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, it's - I'm not saying that alone is enough, but it's the kind of concession you would need to see in order to end this conflict. I mean, ideally you could just reach a truce and end the whole conflict, but it probably could begin with some cessation of hostilities of some form or fashion.

QUESTION: Is that enough to get the intelligence restored and the supply of arms restored - a ceasefire in the Ukrainian side (inaudible)?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well - yeah, we'll see. We'll see how the rest of the talks go tomorrow as well. But as I said, I think if we emerge there with a good meeting that we feel good about and can report back to the President, then I think decisions will be made in regards to the pause, the current pause.

QUESTION: Do you have any expectations -

QUESTION: What (inaudible) -

QUESTION: Sorry.

QUESTION: Go ahead.

QUESTION: Do you have any expectations that you'll speak with Zelenskyy while you're here?

SECRETARY RUBIO: I don't know. I mean, he's not - he's not part of the - I mean, he's here meeting with the crown prince, but I don't think he'll be part of our meetings. Our meetings are with the delegation they've sent - their national security advisor, their defense minister, and their foreign minister - is my understanding.

QUESTION: Could you speak even informally, though, outside of -

SECRETARY RUBIO: Potentially. As I said, his engagements will probably be with the President directly, but it's possible. But that's not part of our - the engagement tomorrow. He's picked his team and that's who's coming.

QUESTION: Why does -

QUESTION: President Trump suggested there could be more sanctions on Russia. And what's your thinking about that?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, ultimately, listen, I mean, we understand that for this conflict to end, both sides have to end it. And I think his point is that it should be clear to everyone that the United States has tools available to also impose costs on the Russian side of this equation, but we hope it doesn't come to that. What we're hoping is that both sides realize that this is not a conflict that can end by military means; it can only end by diplomatic means. And the President's goal is to bring them both to the table to get this resolved. But it's a reminder that we understand that the United States has tools at its disposal if in fact this falls apart, and - but we're hoping it doesn't. We really do. We hope it doesn't reach that point.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) we heard some of the Europeans over the weekend, for example, suggest that the withdrawal of - suspension of military assistance and intelligence is appeasement of an aggressor and therefore you're seeing these increased attacks on the Ukrainians. What do you say to that?

SECRETARY RUBIO: We're trying to end the conflict. We're trying to end the war. We're trying to get both parties to the table. The President is going to use whatever tools he has at his disposal to try to get both sides to that table so this war will end. And frankly, he's the only leader in the world right now that has any chance at all. No one's telling you this is going to be easy. No one's saying that this is guaranteed to work. But the only one who has any chance of making it work is President Trump. And so we're - he's going to - we're going to continue to do what - to pursue his objectives. And others can opine as they wish, but none of them have the opportunity to help bring this about, and we do. And the President's going to take that opportunity to see where it leads, because at the end what he wants is an end to a war, which is something everyone should be in agreement with.

QUESTION: You said defensive intelligence is being provided. What does that mean? Warning of Russian missile attacks?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, they have the ability to defend themselves. But I don't want to get too deep into the intelligence piece other than to say that my hope is we're going to have a really good meeting tomorrow and we'll be in a different place very soon.

QUESTION: You're meeting with the Saudi crown prince. Will you also discuss the possibility for President Trump to visit Saudi? The President said he wants to visit Saudi -

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I think that is a - that's a standing invitation both ways. I don't know what the timing of that's going to be. But obviously, we're grateful to the Saudis for continuing to host and being a forum for these sorts of conversations. They've proven to be a very valuable interlocutor in that regard. And they have relationships with both parties in this crisis, so they're a logical choice and they're great hosts, and so we're grateful to them. And obviously, they talk to the Russians, they talk to the Ukrainians, so we're interested to hear their perspectives on this before our meeting.

QUESTION: Is a summit meeting between President Trump and President Putin contingent on some sort of Russian flexibility on this issue?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, right now there's no meeting planned. I think both sides have expressed a willingness at some point to meet, but there's no meeting planned at this moment. And I'm not - so therefore there's - nor that there's any contingency. I think any - for a meeting to be successful, obviously you want that meeting to be about something, something positive. So - but I can't predetermine what the President's schedule is going to be or what - the President's willing to meet, as he's shown in the past, with anyone. He doesn't feel that meetings are concessions, and that only by talking and meeting can you make progress on issues irrespective of what disagreements you might have. But there's no meeting scheduled, planned - scheduled or planned at this moment. Obviously that could change, but that's not the case right now.

QUESTION: On the relationship with Poland after your conversation -

SECRETARY RUBIO: No, Poland's a great NATO Ally, and they do - they're a great example for the rest of Europe. I was simply responding to a post by the foreign minister which is just inaccurate. There's never been any threat of Starlink being cut off. The only thing Elon Musk has pointed out is that without Starlink Ukraine would have been in a lot of trouble, which is 100 percent accurate and it remains accurate.

QUESTION: So walk us toward the bigger picture. For example, after this meeting, will you have a meeting with the Russians, or is an ad hoc, it depends on the success that you are making?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, at some point that'll have to happen, right? I mean, without - we'll have to engage with the Russians to understand what their positions are, and only then can we assess how far we are from an end to this conflict, to this war. That's the only way we can assess it. We have to understand what is the Ukrainians' real position, how far can they go; where are the Russians, how far can they go. And then we have to see how far apart that is. And that might be really - that might be, I'm hoping, easier than we think, but it may be harder than anyone imagines.

QUESTION: So there's no time frame for it? So for example, the President will say by this month we have to have a ceasefire?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I wouldn't set any artificial timeframe because these things - some of that will really depend on the willingness of the parties to move and other events that are going on. But I - the answer is I don't know what the time frame is and we won't know until we've engaged both sides in an honest conversation about what concessions, if any, they are willing to make. And if we find ourselves really far apart, then that'll be unfortunate. If we find ourselves closer than we imagine, that'll be welcome good news, and we need a lot of good news right now. But we'll see. I mean, it's - just to be transparent with you, we don't know how far apart they truly are. That's why we're coming to talk to them today, and then there'll be a follow-up with the Russians at some point as well.

QUESTION: Do you believe the Ukrainians regret the communication breakdown that happened in Washington recently?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, it wasn't the way it was supposed to go. I mean, we had these conversations with them coming in. We explained to them our position. We really wanted to get negotiations. We felt - I felt - I was actually shocked as it was happening because it went the total opposite of everything we had talked about ahead of time. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It was like this can't be real, but it was.

But we have to move on. Despite all of that, the fundamentals remain the same. There is a bloody, costly war in the middle of Europe. It's a dangerous war and it needs to come to an end. And we need to do whatever we can to make it end, and that's why we're on our way to Saudi Arabia to meet with them.

QUESTION: Have the Ukrainians put out any pragmatic or tangible proposals on the table?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, that's why we're coming to meet with them. And if they did, we probably wouldn't be sharing those publicly because we don't - why would you do that in a negotiation? A lot of - you guys are veterans of all this. If you're really working on something, a lot of it has to happen in diplomatic rooms, not in front of cameras. It's the only way you make deals like this happen. And they're hard, and they take time and a lot of work and a lot of frustration along the way.

But in the end, we're trying to end a war, a very bloody war, a war that has a long history behind it as well. So it - that - go back a decade. So we - we're not in any way claiming this is going to be easy, but we are claiming it's necessary, and we're going to do everything we can to end this conflict. And today, hopefully, is a good first step in that direction. Well, tomorrow, I guess.

QUESTION: Do you think Ukraine should consider land concessions beyond what was lost in 2014?

SECRETARY RUBIO: I'm not going to pre-negotiate anything. I mean, right now we're really in listening mode. We may have suggestions if they ask, but we really want to sort of ascertain where they stand on this and what they're willing to do in order to achieve peace. It may be incompatible with what the Russians are willing to do. That's what we need to find out. But we're not going to find out on X, we're not going to find out on media press conferences. We have to find out in rooms that are closed that you guys can't be in, but you'll know the end of it.

QUESTION: Do you expect that they'll raise the resumption of military assistance, and what are you prepared to do on that?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Sure, I imagine that they'll raise that, and I'm sure that'll be addressed. And hopefully, we'll have a good meeting and we'll have good news to announce on that front.

QUESTION: Any reason why -

SECRETARY RUBIO: I can assure you this: We will not be providing military aid to the Russians, so -

QUESTION: Any reason why -

QUESTION: Are you prepared to resume for Ukraine, though?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Of what?

QUESTION: Are you prepared to resume military assistance for Ukraine, though?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, I mean, all of that came about because we felt that they were not committed to any sort of peace process or not interested in negotiations. If that changes, then obviously our posture can change. But I am not going to prematurely announce anything. Hopefully, we have a really good meeting tomorrow.

QUESTION: Any reason why Mr. Witkoff is not in this meeting?

SECRETARY RUBIO: What?

QUESTION: Any reason why Mr. Witkoff is not attending?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, he's got - he's in - he's headed to Qatar to deal with the - that situation. But I was with him yesterday, and I talk to him a lot. Even though he doesn't live far from me in Miami, but we're on the phone a lot. He's headed to Qatar, I believe today, and we're probably all going to reconvene again in Florida on Saturday or maybe Friday night. It depends on his travel schedule. He's a busy man these days, too, so - he's a great guy if you guys haven't met him. Fantastic person.

QUESTION: Could I just ask on Gaza? I mean, the Israelis have cut off all aid now and electricity yesterday, I think. What's your response to that?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, again, they feel like Hamas is not serious about negotiations. They are still holding hostages and bodies in terrible conditions. They are insisting on these dramatically lopsided trades of hundreds of people for one or two. The President's expressed his frustration about it as well. So the Israelis are going to do what they believe is in their interests to sort of force Hamas to make decisions. As I said, Mr. Witkoff is heading to Qatar, and hopefully that'll bear fruit and all of these hostages will be released. They should all be released. They should all be released.

QUESTION: Do you anticipate any more direct contact, direct communications with Hamas?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, that was a one-off situation in which our special envoy for hostages, whose job it is to get people released, had an opportunity to talk directly to someone who has control over these people and was given permission and encouraged to do so. He did so; as of now, it hasn't borne fruit. But it was - doesn't mean he was wrong to try. But our primary vehicle for negotiations on this front will continue to be Mr. Witkoff and the work he's doing through Qatar.

QUESTION: Do you expect those conversations with Hamas on a one-on-one basis to potentially continue, or was that one-off, no more -

SECRETARY RUBIO: As of now that was just the one - when you're in the world of getting hostages released, you end up running into all kinds of people around the world. Mr. Boehler, who's fantastic at what he does and has already had tremendous success in getting people released around the world - including some that have been underreported like in Belarus, where they were unilaterally released without any sort of concessions - had an opportunity to meet somewhere with someone linked to Hamas, and it was an opportunity he pursued to see if something could come of it. As of now, nothing's come of it. So - but our primary focus is on the process happening in Qatar that Mr. Witkoff will be attending.

QUESTION: Can I please ask, Bosnia and BiH - will the U.S. consider any punitive action against Dodik for what he did?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, like I said, we don't want to see partition there. We don't want to see that. The last thing the world needs is another crisis, and we've spoken out about that already. As far as what we maybe do next, we're reviewing those options. But it's been abundantly clear that whatever differences may exist internally there, this cannot lead to a country breaking apart, and it cannot lead to another conflict. And we're certainly reviewing all of our options, and I believe there's a UN consultation on it today as well. So we'll see how that plays out. But we're hoping we can do anything we can to avoid another conflict in Europe from emerging.

QUESTION: Did you get - have you had a response yet from the Iranians? The President's letter that he announced.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Only what you saw the ayatollah say publicly. So -

QUESTION: What do you make of that?

SECRETARY RUBIO: I think it's, again, par for the course in terms of how they've responded in the past. Obviously, with matters such as this, one thing is what people say publicly; another is what they might be willing to do privately. We obviously don't have a diplomatic presence inside of Iran, and so it - as of now, the President's been abundantly clear that Iran's not going to have a nuclear weapon. He's offered them an opportunity to seek an offramp to avoid escalation of this matter. We'll see if they take him up on it. The President prefers peace over war and prefers peace over conflict every time, and he has shown that in his first term and he's showing it now. But they're not going to have a nuclear weapon.

QUESTION: Have you spoken to the Europeans about what sanctions relief for Russia might look like, since that really needs to be -

SECRETARY RUBIO: We've not gotten to that stage. And obviously, the Europeans have their own set of sanctions, and we can't - they'll have to make the decision about what they're willing to do. It's my point from the very beginning, is that ultimately any final settlement of this war will have to involve Europeans because of their sanctions that they've imposed, and we have been in very close contact, in fact today here on this plane, with both the UK and France with regard to our meetings tomorrow and potential follow-up meetings after the G7 gathering in Canada. And they've been - they've been very helpful, and frankly, we've worked very closely with them on the prelude to this meeting and hopefully in the days to come after.

QUESTION: Beyond territory, do the Ukrainians need to accept a cap or some sort of limit on their capabilities and forswear joining NATO for there to be a settlement?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Again, guys, I'm not going to, like, pre-negotiate the conditions. We're more in listening mode than talking mode in this visit. We'll (inaudible) our suggestions and our encouragement. But what we want to know is: Are they interested in entering some sort of peace conversation and sort of general outlines of the kinds of things they could consider, recognizing that it's been a costly and bloody war for the Ukrainians? They've suffered greatly and their people have suffered greatly, and it's hard in the aftermath of something like that to even talk about concessions. But that's the only way this is going to end to prevent more suffering.

But I'm not going to set any conditions on what they have to or need to do. I think we want to listen to see how far they're willing to go and compare that to what the Russians want and then see how far apart we truly are.

QUESTION: Did your conversations in Riyadh persuade you that the Russians are interested in achieving a peace and making concessions? Or did you not get that far?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, our - no, our conversations in Riyadh, in addition to talking about the untenable situation with our embassy in Moscow and their argument that they have a tough time in America, was really sort of to gauge whether they were interested in having talks or not. It was talks about talks, in essence. Are you interested or not in pursuing any peace negotiation? And if so, who do we follow up with? That was the extent of that conversation as I -

QUESTION: And are you convinced they're interested?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I'll be convinced when they do it. But at least they're talking about it. We hadn't talked to them in a long time, so - at least three years. No one's been talking to them for the last couple of years, so I'm convinced they want to talk again and they want to talk more. Whether it leads to something, I don't know. That'll be up what they're willing to do and actually whatever actions they take. So I think that, like everyone, we really don't know how far apart we are or how realistic this is until we test it. But we're going to test it on both sides and then report to the world about where we stand and what progress we make. And hopefully the good - the news will be good.

QUESTION: Maybe just looking for - looking forward to the G7, how is the work on the communique going? And are there sticking points over Ukraine language?

SECRETARY RUBIO: There's always some sticking points. Ultimately, we can't sign onto any communique that's not consistent with our position to bring both sides to the table. Obviously, there are some European countries that will want and other countries that may be willing to go further in what they're willing to say, again, not because we're taking anyone's side, but because we feel like antagonistic language sometimes makes it harder to bring parties to a table, especially since we're the only ones right now that seem to be in a position to make talks like that possible. So we're working through it with them. I don't know if we've reached resolution. But I'm certain we'll be able to put out a document that's meaningful and unifying without undermining our ability to bring both sides to the table.

QUESTION: Can you share what language you don't want to see on Ukraine (inaudible)?

SECRETARY RUBIO: No. Why would I share that? But you have to ask, and I get it. Thank you.

QUESTION: How is it working with the Canadians right now through all these different issues with the U.S. and Canada?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, look, there's all those other issues. There's things with - first of all, we still - we do NORAD together, we do - we're NATO members together. We have a lot of common interests. And so despite the frictions that most certainly exist on the trade front and so forth, there are other things we'll continue to work on together. And our obligation is to try, to the extent possible, to not allow the things we work on together to be impacted negatively by the things we disagree on right now. So that's what we'll continue to do. I imagine being in Canada, the issues about trade are going to be topical, but there'll be a lot of other things talked about.

QUESTION: Did you - does - does the U.S. dispute the border treaties with Canada?

SECRETARY RUBIO: The what now?

QUESTION: The border, the -

SECRETARY RUBIO: (Laughter.) The border treaty?

QUESTION: Yeah.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Let - we're going to have good, productive conversations with them about all the things we work together on. And -

QUESTION: I mean, is that being raised? Because it's reported the President raised that.

SECRETARY RUBIO: I - yeah, I'm sure. I don't know if the President raised it or not. I - it's not on the agenda for the G7, I can tell you that.

MODERATOR: (Inaudible) last question -

QUESTION: There's a lot of worry in Taiwan about U.S. talk with Russia and U.S. talk on the Ukraine issue. Does the U.S. have a message to its allies in Asia Pacific and especially Taiwan?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I don't think an endless, ongoing conflict in Europe or in Ukraine is good for the Indo-Pacific region. It diverts a lot of the world's attention, time, and resources away from areas where we continue to see growing threats, where - so every dollar we spend, every moment we spend paying attention to a very dangerous war in Europe is time that's not being spent on the Indo-Pacific. So obviously as a great power, the United States has to have the ability to focus on both. But we have limit - everyone has limitations on their resources and we all have limitations on our time. So I would argue that in so many - in many ways, we could be spending even more time focused on the Indo-Pacific if somehow we could bring peace to the European continent.

All right.

QUESTION: Thank you, sir.

SECRETARY RUBIO: I wanted to give you stuff so when we land you can at least say, hey, it was worth the trip.

QUESTION: Thank you. Appreciate it.

QUESTION: Will you - will you brief us after the meeting?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, I think. Yeah, of course we will. After the meeting tomorrow you mean?

QUESTION: Yes.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

QUESTION: Yeah, yeah.

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Secretary Rubio's Call with Beninese Foreign Minister Bakari

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

March 10, 2025

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Beninese Foreign Minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari today. The Secretary underscored the importance of the U.S.-Benin relationship and expressed appreciation for Benin's cooperation on regional security. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister also discussed shared priorities, including strengthening democratic governance and promoting stability in West Africa.





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The UK unequivocally condemns the Taliban's ban on girls' education in Afghanistan: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan.

10 March 2025

Let me begin by commending UNAMA for their invaluable work supporting the people of Afghanistan.

This is remains vital whilst Afghans - especially women and girls - continue to suffer under a series of oppressive restrictions.

At the time, members of the Taliban claimed that the March 2022 ban on secondary education for girls was temporary.

Almost three years on, girls in Afghanistan continue to be denied their right to education.

On the opening day of the Commission on the Status of Women, the United Kingdom joins others in unequivocally condemning this ban and all others which restrict Afghan women and girls' rights and fundamental freedoms.

We strongly urge their immediate reversal, and we support greater accountability efforts, including the referral of Afghanistan to the International Court of Justice for violations of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

President, the Taliban face a choice - if they want to be integrated into the international community then they must adhere to their international obligations including on human rights, political inclusion, and counter terrorism.

This is clearly laid out in the Special Coordinator's Independent Assessment and Security Council resolution 2721 (2023).

The UK, with other members of the international community, has engaged constructively with the UN-led process, including through the Doha meetings and working groups on counternarcotics and the private sector.

But continued engagement is not guaranteed without reciprocity and commitment from the Taliban in return.

We welcome the continued efforts of UNAMA and the UN's good offices towards this end and encourage further dialogue between all relevant Afghan political actors and stakeholders, in line with relevant Security Council resolutions and in support of the people of Afghanistan, especially its women and girls.

Thank you.

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Afghanistan: Top UN envoy calls for 'a moment of realism', as Taliban's isolation grows

By Vibhu Mishra

10 March 2025 - The top UN envoy for Afghanistan on Monday underscored the need for realistic engagement with the country as humanitarian and human rights crises deepen amid growing international isolation.

Briefing ambassadors in the Security Council, Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, warned that political engagement with the Taliban has yielded little progress, while frustration among international stakeholders is growing.

"The space for engagement is narrowing," she said, adding that some governments now question whether dialogue with the Taliban may be strengthening hardliners.

At the same time, budgetary constraints, shifting global priorities and growing introspection on the part of some nations risk leaving Afghanistan "poorer, more vulnerable and more isolated," she warned.

"This is an avoidable outcome, but only if all stakeholders recognize the risk and seek actively to avoid it, particularly the de facto authorities," she said.

"The most helpful development would be a clear signal from the de facto authorities that they are committed to the reintegration of Afghanistan with the international community with all that it implies. This is a moment for realism."

Humanitarian crisis and funding cuts

Ms. Otunbayeva outlined the dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, where more than 23 million people - over half the population - require international aid and protection.

However, severe funding shortfalls have already forced the closure of more than 200 health facilities, impacting nearly two million people, as well as resulted in significant reductions to essential malnutrition services.

Afghanistan's economy grew by 2.7 percent in 2024, driven largely by regional investments in infrastructure. However, this modest growth cannot offset the sharp decline in foreign aid or the country's continued isolation from the international system.

"Lives and livelihoods will be lost and development gains further eroded ... Here we return to the question of Afghanistan's international obligations," she warned.

On the security front, attacks by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan (ISIL-K) continue, including deadly suicide bombings, while the presence of armed groups such as Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) remains a regional concern.

Taliban's selective approach

The Taliban's approach to international obligations remains an obstacle to Afghanistan's reintegration into the global community, she said.

The de facto authorities have engaged in some technical discussions, including counter-narcotics and private sector development. However, broader issues - especially human rights - remain largely unaddressed.

"They have so far treated the Afghan State's international obligations selectively, rejecting some on the basis they allegedly impinge on the country's sovereignty or violate their traditions," she said.

She warned that these international obligations affect not only the possibility of progress along the political pathway but, crucially, "the well-being of Afghanistan's entire population."

Worsening restrictions on women and girls

Particularly worrying is the situation of women and girls in the country, as the Taliban's severe restrictions on their rights and freedom persist.

Ms. Otunbayeva warned the recent closure of medical institutes to female students - one of the last remaining avenues for women to receive professional education - will .further worsen maternal and infant mortality in the country.

She also cautioned the Taliban's enforcement of its Law on the Prevention of Vice and Promotion of Virtue "remains a major impediment" to Afghanistan's reintegration into the international community.

Call for realistic engagement

Ms. Otunbayeva emphasised that mechanisms for engagement still exist.

Working groups on counter-narcotics and the private sector have provided a framework for confidence-building. In addition, the UN's proposed Comprehensive Approach for the first time identifies a framework to address the difficult issues blocking Afghanistan's reintegration into the international community.

However, progress depends on political will - on all sides, she said.



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Urgent appeal as major donors reduce life-saving funding amid Sudan crisis - Statement by the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

(Port Sudan, 10 March 2025) Sudden funding cuts by top government donors are a catastrophic blow to humanitarian assistance in Sudan, a country in the grip of one of the deadliest humanitarian crises of our times.

Key donors recently announced sweeping funding reductions and suspensions, cutting off significant support to humanitarian organizations working to reach about 21 million people in desperate need in Sudan this year.

The reductions come at a time when the needs in Sudan have never been greater, with more than half of the population hungry and famine spreading.

For decades, humanitarian donors have been a lifeline for Sudan. Last year alone, they contributed $1.8 billion through the Sudan humanitarian response plan, funding essential assistance for at least 15.6 million people.

This year, the needs are even greater - $4.2 billion is required to provide humanitarian aid in Sudan, yet only 6.3 per cent of the funding has been received.

The abrupt funding cuts and suspensions will end life-saving humanitarian assistance for millions of women, children and other vulnerable groups across the country. Without urgent funding, famine is likely to spread in the coming months.

This is a time when every lifeline must flow to save lives. I call on all our major donors to reconsider their decisions to reduce funding for life-saving humanitarian assistance in Sudan.

I also urge other governments, donors, foundations, charities, faith-based networks, the private sector and individuals to urgently step up to help fill the gaps left by these devastating reductions.

***

For more information, please contact: Dan Teng'o, dan.tengo@un.org; +249 91 253 2791

10 March 2025

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Press remarks by UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini (10 March 2025)

UNRWA

10 Mar 2025

GENEVA, checked against delivery

It has been almost 10 days since the State of Israel banned the entry of humanitarian aid and commercial supplies into the Gaza Strip.

Somehow a situation similar to the one which prevailed in October 2023. This decision threatens the lives and survival of civilians in Gaza, who have had only a brief respite from 16 months of brutal war.

The ceasefire agreement has shown that whenever there is a political will, humanitarian assistance can be unhindered and un-interrupted. Between the beginning of the cease fire and 2 March, humanitarian assistance has increased 10 folds.

It is critical that humanitarian aid is allowed into Gaza again, to maintain the progress made during the first phase of the ceasefire and meet people's basic needs.

I echo the call of the Secretary General for the immediate, unconditional, and dignified release of all hostages, the dignified release of Palestinian detainees as previously agreed, and for the ceasefire to hold.

It is important also to shed light on the situation in the West Bank. In the West Bank the operation by the Israeli Security Forces, which started six weeks ago, is severely impacting Palestinians, especially in the north. Palestinian armed groups are also increasingly active in the area.

Several refugee camps have been nearly emptied, displacing around 40,000 Palestine Refugees.

This is the largest displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank since 1967.

The large-scale demolition of buildings, including residential areas is alarming. People have nowhere to return to.

UNRWA continues to track displaced people and provide humanitarian aid, including food, healthcare and basic items.

In Syria, we have witnessed over the last few days terrible violence. One of our staff was also tragically caught up in the crossfire. We continue, in the country, to provide healthcare and education, which for many Palestine Refugees are absolutely essential to their survival.

In Lebanon, socioeconomic crises have increased the reliance of Palestine Refugees on UNRWA services. We just did a survey, and we have seen that the UNRWA cash assistance to Palestine Refugees has become one of the main sources of income for 70 percent of Palestine Refugees in the country.

Now, about the Knesset laws. The Knesset legislation I briefed the Member States on is not just about UNRWA. This is about any individual or organisation calling for adherence to international humanitarian law or promoting the rights of Palestinians.

While a number of International NGOs have already been silenced, there is now a larger, concerted effort in Israel to undermine, or restrict through legislative measures, the operations of international organisations and NGOs.

The Agency has faced serious operational challenges since the Israeli parliament's anti-UNRWA legislation came into force at the end of January.

In occupied East Jerusalem, the Agency is facing increased pressure from the municipality to vacate premises and end service provision.

International staff have been effectively expelled from the occupied West Bank due to the lack of valid visas.

While some international staff remain in Gaza, Israel refuses to facilitate their entry or exit via Kerem Shalom.

Despite these challenges, UNRWA will stay and deliver its General Assembly mandate until it is no longer possible to do so in a principled manner.

For example:

Since the ceasefire began in Gaza, UNRWA has provided food to 2 million people, opened nearly 40 new emergency shelters, and provided over 60,000 people with tents.

UNRWA health teams supported the polio vaccination campaign last month reaching nearly 200,000 children below the age of 10.

Through temporary learning spaces and remote learning, UNRWA is reaching children with education. As an anecdote we have opened registration for distance learning for the children in Gaza at the beginning of January. Three weeks later we had more than 250,000 children having registered. Today, 70 per cent of them are having distance learning through the digital platform.

In the West Bank, nearly 50,000 children go to the Agency's schools and hundreds of thousands of people rely on our health services.

I must highlight again the disinformation campaign portraying the Agency as a terrorist organisation, and our staff as terrorists or terrorist sympathizers.

I do believe that, talking to an audience of journalists, checking facts and reporting through firsthand, official sources is the foundation of independent reporting and key to countering this vicious campaign.

This is especially critical given the prolonged ban on independent, international media in Gaza. There has been no independent international media in Gaza since October 2023.

I continue to urge you - the international media - to do more to get into Gaza to cover untold stories and verify information. I asked the same to Member States: to help journalists to get access into Gaza.

On funding, UNRWA's financial situation - you would be surprised should I tell you that everything is under control - is critical and precarious. Cashflow is managed monthly, and we urgently require additional financial support if the Agency is to survive.

To conclude, this is a time of tremendous geopolitical uncertainty.

For UNRWA, the status quo is no longer an option. We have a choice to make.

We can allow the Agency to implode due to the fierce disinformation campaign; the Knesset legislation; and the suspension of funding by key donors.

Collapse would create a dangerous vacuum in the occupied Palestinian territory and send shockwaves through Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

in the occupied Palestinian territory and send through Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. An environment in which children are deprived of education, and people lack access to basic services, is fertile ground for exploitation and extremism .

. This is a threat to peace and stability in the region and beyond.

Alternatively, UNRWA can be supported to progressively conclude its mandate within the framework of a political process like that championed by Saudi Arabia, the European Union, and the League of Arab States through the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.

The Agency, would this be the case, would then gradually transition its public-like services to empowered and prepared Palestinian institutions.

This would preserve the rights of Palestine Refugees and their access to basic services.

I have also repeatedly stressed that dismantling the Agency abruptly will only deepen the suffering of Palestine Refugees, but it will not cancel their refugee status. The rights of Palestine Refugees exist independently of the Agency.

If UNRWA ceases to protect and assist Palestine Refugees, their rights will not only remain, but there will be much greater emphasis on the right to return or to be resettled, for which UNRWA has no mandate.

So, to conclude, the main ask to Member States has been: sustain UNRWA until the political direction of travel is clear. That is, until the international community considers the political pathway proposed by Arab States through the recovery and reconstruction plan outlined in the Cairo Declaration, and the proposal of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.

Thank you.

Background Information:

UNRWA is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. The United Nations General Assembly established UNRWA in 1949 with a mandate to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to registered Palestine refugees in the Agency's area of operations pending a just and lasting solution to their plight.

UNRWA operates in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, The Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

Tens of thousands of Palestine refugees who lost their homes and livelihoods due to the 1948 conflict continue to be displaced and in need of support, nearly 75 years on.

UNRWA helps Palestine Refugees achieve their full potential in human development through quality services it provides in education, health care, relief and social services, protection, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance, and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions.

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Air Force, Space Force discuss requirements to win future fights

Published March 10, 2025

Secretary of the Air Force

AURORA, Colo. (AFNS) -- Air Force and Space Force senior leaders took to the stage at the recent Air and Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium March 3-5, outlining their vision for the future of warfare and emphasizing the need for rapid modernization and adaptation in the face of evolving global threats.

Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman opened the conference, emphasizing space is no longer a peaceful domain.



As U.S. adversaries rapidly expand their space capabilities, Saltzman stressed the urgent need for his service to fully embrace its fundamental responsibility to establish Space Superiority.



"Fighting against a near-peer threat that has unfettered access to space while we do not is a recipe for death and destruction," Saltzman warned.



He outlined key focus areas and efforts designed to deliver the Space Force's transformation into a warfighting service, including:



 Space Control: Acknowledging it's the service's newest core function, encompassing offensive and defensive capabilities to ensure U.S. freedom of action in space.



 Integrated Mission Deltas: Streamlining operations, development, and sustainment to enhance combat effects delivery.



 Officer Training Course: Equipping new officers with a foundational understanding of all elements of spacepower.



 Space Futures Command: A proposed organization that will drive innovation and determine requirements to shape the Space Force of the future.



Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin echoed the need for urgency, advocating for "more Air Force" in an increasingly volatile world.



"America needs more Air Force. More Air Force doesn't mean more of the same. It means more Airmen are focused on the threat. It means a more agile force design that allows you to leverage industry. It means more Airmen ... more defense of the homeland. Finally, it means more options for the president," Allvin said.



He further explained that "more Air Force" allows the service "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.



Senior enlisted leaders from both services stressed the critical role of enlisted personnel in shaping the future force.



Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force John Bentivegna called for a culture of innovation and adaptability.



"What we did yesterday is not going to succeed today," Bentivegna said. "We need innovative Guardians thinking outside the box, questioning assumptions, and evolving our service at the tactical level."



Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David Flosi emphasized the importance of the warrior ethos, discipline, standards and accountability.



"We are wingmen, we're leaders, we're warriors, we're in the profession of arms. We must focus on our main thing-the lethality and readiness of our force-to preserve options for our nation."

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Reserve Logisticians Exercise Wartime Operational Skills on Korean Peninsula

US Navy

10 March 2025

From Lt. j.g. Jae Yi and Lt. Cmdr. Hien Vu

CHINHAE, South Korea -- Navy Reserve logisticians assigned to Commander, Naval Forces Korea (CNFK) sharpen and perfect their skills during the semiannual joint and combined exercises every year that focus on multi-domain operations leveraging land, sea, air, cyber, and space assets with emphasis on counter nuclear operations and non-kinetic effects on the Korean Peninsula.

Freedom Shield, taking place in the spring, sets up an operating environment to reflect the Korea Theater of Operations, while the summertime Ulchi Freedom Shield reflects a range of realistic threats and lessons learned from recent conflicts.

Assuming a pivotal role in these two exercises, Navy Reserve logisticians provide immediate and critical wartime operational logistics support to the CNFK Logistics Readiness Center (LRC) if and when a conflict engulfs Korea.

"As the operational level of war continues to increase in importance, CNFK Reservists who man and run the LRC learn, practice, and gain essential logistics skillsets that make them invaluable and indispensable in an armed conflict," said Cmdr. Karim Shabazz, LRC director during UFS 2024. "They are intimately involved in planning and operating the LRC in coordination with the joint forces and partner nations."

Members qualify for their duties by completing the LRC job qualification requirements before taking their assignments to familiarize with the center operations and learn of their respective roles. The gap between learning and executing adds a sense of urgency and realism. "Once we reported to the LRC, we had to ramp up fast," said Cmdr. Peter Boll, the Defense Logistics Agency liaison officer during an exercise last year. "It spoke volume to our Reserve logisticians' preparedness and ability to do their jobs. They practiced the skills needed to accomplish their assignments and continued to develop their experience and expertise."

"Our team encountered constant simulated injects that required deliberate actions to best mitigate any crisis," said Lt. Cmdr. Linda Rodriguez, 2024 Ulchi Freedom Shield LRC chief. "We learned to collaborate and synchronize with our Republic of Korea (ROK) counterparts."

The combined exercises enable the valuable exchange of knowledge between the combined team, said Lt. Cmdr. Todd McAlister, an LRC member. "I learned a lot from working with a Korean Service Corps liaison officer whose wealth of knowledge about the ROK's Wartime Host Nation Support program helped expedite the acquisition of local materiel and services during the reception, staging, onward movement, and integration evolution."

The LRC team's operations throughout the exercises matter the most when members alert the commander of U.S Naval Forces Korea of all logistical effort and function. "Our junior enlisted members, even our 3rd class petty officers, prepared and updated the commander daily and sometimes hourly so that the commander could make the best informed decision in any particular wartime scenario," said Chief Logistician Shannon Harden, an LRC member. "This rare opportunity to show up and showcase what we as reservists bring to the fight rivals none. If you are a reservist ready to make a positive, lasting impact, CNFK is the command to roger up."

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USS Mount Whitney Arrives in Souda Bay for Scheduled Port Visit

US Navy

10 March 2025

From U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs

SOUDA BAY, Greece -- The Blue Ridge-class command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) arrived in Souda Bay, Greece, for a scheduled port visit on March 10, 2025, reinforcing the strong and enduring partnership between the United States and Greece.

During the visit to Souda Bay, Mount Whitney's crew will have the opportunity to participate in volunteer events, engage with the local community, and experience Greek culture. The visit underscores the U.S. Navy's commitment to regional stability and strengthens relationships with allies and partners in the Mediterranean.

"Team 20 is thrilled to be back in Greece, a vital partner for our ship and a cornerstone of our regional presence," said Capt. Colin Price, commanding officer of USS Mount Whitney. "Working together with our Greek allies is essential for maintaining a strong and ready force, committed to maritime security in the region."

While in Souda Bay, Sailors and Military Sealift Command civil service mariners aboard Mount Whitney will have the chance to participate in community relations events, further strengthening the bonds between the U.S. Navy and Greek community.

Mount Whitney is conducting operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations, where the ship's crew and embarked staff will work alongside allies and partners in support of maritime operations, which encompass naval diplomacy and national efforts to build comprehensive maritime power. As the U.S. 6th Fleet flagship, Mount Whitney plays a vital role in supporting naval operations and fostering partnerships.

Mount Whitney, forward deployed to Gaeta, Italy, operates with a combined crew of U.S. Sailors and Military Sealift Command civil service mariners in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa.

Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners to advance U.S. national interests, security and stability in Europe and Africa.

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Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group Departs Busan, Republic of Korea

US Navy

10 March 2025

From Courtesy Story

BUSAN, South Korea -- The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group departed Busan, Republic of Korea, March 7, after conducting a scheduled five-day port visit.

Since its establishment in 1953, the United States-Republic of Korea (ROK) Alliance has evolved into a strategic partnership, which serves as a linchpin for security and stability in the Indo-Pacific. The U.S.-ROK Alliance is one of three bilateral mutual defense alliances the United States is a part of in the Indo-Pacific region.

"We are incredibly grateful to the Republic of Korea for being great hosts to the Carrier Strike Group ONE team," said Rear Adm. Michael Wosje, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1. "Our presence is a tangible reminder of the ironclad commitment to the U.S.-ROK alliance that has contributed to peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and the Korean Peninsula for over seven decades."

The U.S. and ROK are maritime nations with a shared future and a shared vision for a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. The U.S. Navy remains engaged with regional partners like the ROK Navy by developing mutual capabilities to address shared maritime security priorities and concerns.

During their stay in Busan, the nearly 7,500 Sailors from CSG-1 participated in cultural exchanges, community relations events and Morale, Welfare and Recreation sponsored tours to enhance cultural understanding and cooperation between the two countries. Carl Vinson Sailors participated in community relations events to include mentoring children at the Jinhae Hope Home Orphanage, volunteering at the Hongbeopsa Buddhist temple, and working with members of the Kojedo Aikwangwon Home & School for Developmentally Disabled.

Carl Vinson hosted in-port ship tours to military officials from the ROK Air Force, ROK Marine Corps and ROK Navy, to include VADM Hwang, commander, ROK Fleet, as well as America Korea United Society, local community leaders, and Commander U.S. Naval Forces Korea staff and families.

"The Carl Vinson crew was honored to be welcomed with such great hospitality and kindness from the people of Busan," said Capt. Matthew Thomas, commanding officer, USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). "Our Sailors had the opportunity to relax, recharge, and also ready themselves for our continued operations in the Western Pacific. We value the U.S.-Republic of Korea friendship and look forward to future opportunities to strengthen this alliance."

The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group consists of Vinson, embarked staffs of CSG-1 and Destroyer Squadron one, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) Two, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110).

CVW-2 is composed of nine squadrons flying the F-35C Lightning II, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growler, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, CMV-22 Osprey and MH-60R/S Seahawks.

The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

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Exclusive: Top US Marine says 'crisis' with amphibious ships causing coverage gaps

By Carla Babb March 10, 2025

A shortage of amphibious warfare ships for commanders across the globe has reached a breaking point, with defense officials warning VOA the crisis has triggered a monthslong drought in critical firepower from sea-based Marines.

"I have the Marines, and I have the squadrons, and I have the battalions and the batteries ... I just don't have the amphibs," Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith told VOA in an exclusive interview.

While the amphibious warfare ships, known as amphibs, make up just 10% of the fleet, they are the go-to alternative to aircraft carriers when commanders need something more precise or expedient. They also are the only ships made for the Marine Corps' rapid reaction forces, known as Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs), to get equipment and troops from sea to shore during an assault.

"Amphibs are vital to us. They are an existential part of who we are as Marines," Smith said.

Military's Swiss Army Knife

Once deployed, these units of about 2,000 Marines and sailors are the military's Swiss Army Knife, providing everything from strike power with F-35 fighter jets, to support in non-combatant evacuation operations and disaster relief, like when the 15th MEU rushed humanitarian aid to the Philippines after deadly floods and landslides last October.

It takes three amphibs - one big-deck amphib and two smaller ones - to make an Amphibious Ready Group that transports the Marines, a unit often referred to as an ARG/MEU.

Smith says the military needs three of these 3-ship units deployed abroad at all times -one from the East Coast, one from the West Coast, and one from Japan - a plan known as 3.0.

"The INDOPACOM Commander, the EUCOM Commander, the AFRICOM commander have all called for an ARG/MEU, so 3.0 is the requirement."

However, Smith tells VOA he cannot achieve this requirement with the number of amphibs that are ready today.

'Running ships to ground'

While the U.S. military was busy fighting two wars in the Middle East, its amphib fleet, plagued with maintenance deferments and delays, fell into disrepair, said Shelby Oakley with the Government Accountability Office. Oakley authored a GAO report in December that showed half of the 32 amphibs in the fleet are in poor material condition.

"You're running these ships to ground, not taking care of them," she told VOA. "This is kind of equivalent to just driving your car and never changing the oil and expecting it to last 15 years. ... Key systems aren't functioning the way they are supposed to," Oakley said.

In 2022, Congress mandated the Navy keep a minimum of 31 amphibs in its fleet after the service had tried to divest six of these poorly maintained ships in their fiscal year 2023 budget plan. The Marine Corps had said a minimum of 31 amphibs would be enough to complete their missions, so long as the fleet's readiness rate remained at 80% or higher.

"Your readiness rate is down in the 50-percentile range, and it needs to be 80%, then I would say that's a crisis," Smith told VOA.

One of the amphibs - USS Tortuga - hasn't sailed in more than a decade. And there are 15 more that the Government Accountability Office says are not on track to make it to the end of their 40-year service lives.

"We're trying to keep an aging force ready and focused on what it needs to do," Admiral Jim Kilby, the acting chief of naval operations, told VOA in an exclusive interview last month.

According to Kilby, the problem extends beyond amphibious ships.

"We're running the whole Navy hard. So, when I started in the Navy, we had almost 600 ships. Now, we've got half that, but we are still doing the same mission," Kilby said.

Coverage gaps

Kilby says the Navy is trying to tackle the issues dragging down its fleet the same way it fixed issues grounding its fighter jets a few years ago, closely monitoring its processes to adjust long-held practices that are slowing down change.

"The surface committee has doubled the number of ships that completed maintenance on time. It's not where I want to be. I want to get better, so it is not acceptable to have 50%," he said.

Kilby did not have a set date, though, for when the Navy planned to increase the readiness of the amphib fleet from 50% to 80%, an urgent need for the commandant who says the "gaps in coverage" already have begun.

"There was a non-combatant evacuation operation required to get American citizens out of Sudan when violence was erupting. And because there was no ARG/MEU presence, the AFRICOM commander was forced to use commercial airlines," Smith said.

Even when ARG/MEU units have deployed, they've frequently deployed incomplete. The USS America Amphibious Ready Group deployed with two ships instead of three last year because there wasn't another amphib available.

And the USS Boxer Amphibious Ready Group had so many maintenance delays that the Navy had to stagger each ship's deployment last year, all months later than planned.

What was supposed to be a nine-month deployment resulted in just two months with all three ships together.

"When the Boxer wasn't there, they couldn't do F-35 operations, they couldn't support an international partner as they had planned," Oakley told VOA.

'Not a Navy requirement'

The 31st MEU just completed their last patrol aboard the USS America Amphibious Ready Group earlier this month. The next ARG/MEU to deploy from the East Coast or Japan is still months away, according to officials who spoke to VOA on condition of anonymity to discuss future planning. Officials say one likely won't deploy from the West Coast until 2026.

One Navy official told VOA the service only budgets to deploy one ARG/MEU at a time for only 10 months in the year. Asked about the discrepancy between the Marine's needs and the Navy's amphib availability, Kilby told VOA the Marine Corps' 3.0 requirement "is not a Navy requirement."

"I do not have a plan to get 3.0. I have a plan to maintain 31 ships per law in our shipbuilding plan," Kilby said.

As the Government Accountability Office points out in its report, that plan banks on the Navy keeping six of the amphibs in the fleet for several years beyond their expected 40-year service life, including some of those currently in poor condition.

"There's huge questions about whether or not they will even make it to their service, expected service life," Oakley said.

Amphibious warfare ships have generally not met the Navy's planned maintenance schedules dating back to 2010, according to Marine Corps documentation. Specifically, from 2010-2021, the Navy extended more than 70% of amphibious warfare ship maintenance beyond its original planned end date.

"This cumulatively resulted in 28.5 years of lost training and deployment time for those ships and their associated Marines," according to the December Government Accountability Office report.

A decade to fix

The acting chief of naval operations said the Navy is currently planning the maintenance availabilities needed to do the work necessary to get the amphibs to a life cycle health assessment above poor. Maintenance for seven of the amphibs that were not funded in previous budgets are being funded in the budget being considered by Congress today, Kilby told VOA.

"We're committed to 31 amphibious ships ... and when we get a new ship, we'll replace an old ship, because that old ship is more expensive and harder to maintain," he said.

The Government Accountability Office says that even if the planning improves, the Navy and Marine Corps may still need to revisit the overall number of ships required for its missions.

"That's the math, and that's the data that we need them to do to be able to understand how many more of these things do we need to buy, how many more do we need to get online quicker to be able to continue to meet this number," Oakley said.

Gen. Smith said the problem will take at least a decade to fix, which could compound should the United States find itself in a future conflict with China.

"The whole point of having the ARG/MEU out is to prevent conflict," he said.

Kilby says the Navy wants the problem solved by 2027  year Chinese leader Xi Jinping has ordered the military to be prepared to take democratically ruled Taiwan by force.

"We have the Navy we have. That's the Navy we're going to have largely in 2027, and we just need to operate it more efficiently and effectively," he said.

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British plan to cede Chagos Islands sovereignty prompts concerns over China threat

By Henry Ridgwell March 10, 2025

Britain is seeking to finalize a deal on handing sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after U.S. President Donald Trump said last month that he was "inclined" to support the deal. However, critics say the agreement could threaten the security of a joint U.S.-U.K. military base on the islands amid fears of China's close ties with Mauritius.

Many of the original inhabitants of the islands who were forcibly expelled to make way for the base on Diego Garcia in the 1960s and 1970s are also critical of the agreement and say their voices have been ignored.

British colony

The Chagos Islands, officially known as the "British Indian Ocean Territory," are one of the last vestiges of the British Empire. They comprise more than 60 islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the largest of which is Diego Garcia. Britain officially took ownership of the archipelago from France after the defeat of French leader and Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in 1815.

The islands were administered from Mauritius, which argues it was illegally forced to give up the Chagos Islands in return for its own independence from Britain in 1968.

In an advisory opinion in 2019, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague ruled "... the process of decolonization of Mauritius was not lawfully completed when that country acceded to independence." The judges added that Britain is under an obligation "to bring to an end its administration of the Chagos Archipelago as rapidly as possible."

Sovereignty negotiations

Negotiations between Britain and Mauritius on ceding sovereignty have been going on for several years. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a former human rights lawyer, has sought to finalize the agreement since winning power in July last year.

Speaking to British lawmakers last month, Starmer said a deal was vital to secure the future of the U.S. military base.

"This is a military base that is vital for our national security. A number of years ago, the legal certainty of that base was thrown into doubt. ... Without legal certainty, the base cannot operate in practical terms as it should. That is bad for our national security and it's a gift to our adversaries," Starmer said on Feb. 5.

British mediareport that Britain will cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands and pay Mauritius around $116 million a year for 99 years to lease back Diego Garcia and allow the military base to remain, with an option to extend the lease for another 40 years. However, neither Britain nor Mauritius have confirmed any details, and the agreement is yet to be finalized.

Trump approval

During a visit by Starmer to the White House last month, Trump said that he was "inclined" to approve the deal.

"I have a feeling it's going to work out very well. They're talking about a very long-term, powerful lease, a very strong lease, about 140 years actually. That's a long time, and I think we'll be inclined to go along with your country," Trump told Starmer during the visit on Feb. 27.

The proposed deal also has the backing of India, which has close political and security ties to Mauritius.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to travel to Mauritius on Tuesday as chief guest on the country's national day, the anniversary of its independence from Britain. Modi is expected to discuss upgrading India's defense ties with the island nation.

China concerns

Politicians in Britain and the United States, however, have expressed concerns over potential security implications of handing sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius amid a growing threat from China in the region.

Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary for Britain's Conservative opposition party, described the proposed plan as "a strategic disaster for Britain" that represented "an appalling betrayal of the British people."

Members of Britain's Shadow Cabinet are responsible for scrutinizing the policies and actions of the government but have no executive power.

U.S. Senator James Risch, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in October that the proposed deal "gives in to Chinese lawfare and yields to pressure from unaccountable international institutions like the International Court of Justice at the expense of U.S. and U.K. strategic and military interests."

"The U.S. and our allies must take a long-term approach when it comes to making decisions that affect our strategic competition with China, or we will all lose," Risch told Politico.

China's burgeoning economic relationship with Mauritius makes the African island nation vulnerable to influence from Beijing, noted Evan Fowler of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China.

"Given the complexity of the situation there, actually having a deal that secures the base is good. However, having a deal doesn't mean just accepting any deal. China has significant investments. Mauritius owes China quite a lot. China has quite a clear record of using debt ... to seek political advantage.

"That area is strategically important to us because it's a way for us to project power," Fowler told VOA. "And the Chinese understand this, too. The Chinese have already been active militarily around the Chagos Islands."

Chagossians 'voiceless'

After their expulsion, many Chagossians settled in Mauritius. Thousands also came to Britain, with many choosing to settle in the town of Crawley, south of London.

Frankie Bontemps and Maxwell Evenor are second-generation Chagossians whose parents were forced out of their homeland in the 1960s. They are part of the group "Chagossian Voices," which seeks to assert the rights of the exiled population.

"Once again we are ignored," Bontemps told VOA. "People are discussing the future of our homeland without us. We feel like history is repeating itself. We feel voiceless, powerless, because we are being abused again  I would say by Mauritius, by the U.K., along with the U.S."

Many Chagossians argue Mauritius has never had a rightful claim to their homeland  and object to Britain's proposed deal to cede sovereignty.

"We now find ourselves  our very own identity, our very own self  being given to someone else by a made-up policy without asking us," Evenor told VOA, adding that there could be no historical link between the Chagos Islands and Mauritius "because it's 2,000 kilometers away."

"We are still colonized. We are the last colony of Africa," Evenor said.

Diego Garcia

The exiled Chagossians have been told that under the terms of the deal with Mauritius, they would be able to return to outer islands in the Chagos archipelago  but not to Diego Garcia, which would remain off-limits.

However, infrastructure on the outer islands is almost non-existent, according to Bontemps, who said that most Chagossians would accept living next to the military base on Diego Garcia.

"I think most of us, we don't have anything against that base. We know the geopolitical importance. We know about the China threat, or whoever," Bontemps told VOA. "We want to live on our ancestors' land. As well, the base will be a source of work for us."

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Trump vows crackdown on pro-Palestinian protesters

By Ken Bredemeier March 10, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump vowed a new crackdown Monday on pro-Palestinian protesters on American college campuses, saying the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a demonstration leader at Columbia University in New York, is "the first arrest of many to come."

"We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, and the Trump Administration will not tolerate it," the U.S. leader said on his Truth Social platform.

Khalil was arrested by U.S. immigration officials over the weekend. He was one of the most prominent figures during the protest movement that erupted at Columbia and some other campuses a year ago in opposition to Israel's war in Gaza against the U.S.-designated terror group Hamas.

But for the most part, the protests died down and did not resume when the new school year opened last fall.

The Department of Homeland Security said Khalil's arrest was taken "in support of President Trump's executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism, and in coordination with the Department of State."

U.S. District Court Judge Jesse Furman on Monday ordered Khalil not be deported for now and set a court hearing in the case for Wednesday.

Khalil, listed as a Syrian on his detention papers, earned a master's degree from Columbia's school of international affairs last semester. He held a permanent U.S. residency green card at the time of his arrest, according to the Student Workers of Columbia union, and is married to an American citizen who is eight months pregnant.

He has not been charged with any criminal offenses.

Trump wrote in a social media posting, "If you support terrorism, including the slaughtering of innocent men, women, and children, your presence is contrary to our national and foreign policy interests, and you are not welcome here. We expect every one of America's Colleges and Universities to comply."

The pro-Palestinian protests a year ago disrupted classes at some U.S. campuses following Hamas' October 7, 2023, terror attack on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and led to the capture of about 250 hostages, with about two dozen of them still being held in Gaza by the terror group or its affiliates.

Israel's counteroffensive in Gaza has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to Gaza health officials. The Israeli military said the death toll includes 17,000 Hamas terrorists.

The campus demonstrations ignited accusations of anti-Semitism. The protests  some of which turned violent with the demonstrators occupying campus buildings and disrupting classes  pitted students protesting Israel's conduct against pro-Israel campaigners, many of whom were Jewish.

Khalil's lawyer said the agents who arrested him Saturday at his university-owned home near Columbia said they were revoking his green card. He is being held in an immigration detention center in the Southern state of Louisiana.

Khalil's lawyers also urged Judge Furman to order Khalil's return to New York.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a national Muslim civil rights advocacy group, said Monday it is working with Khalil's lawyer and called for his immediate release.

Khalil "is a lawful permanent resident of our nation who has not been charged with or convicted of a single crime," the Washington-based group said in a statement. "The Department of Homeland Security's lawless decision to arrest him solely because of his peaceful anti-genocide activism represents a blatant attack on the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech, immigration laws, and the very humanity of Palestinians."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a message posted Sunday on X that the administration will be "revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported." Khalil's arrest is the first publicly known deportation effort linked to the Palestinian protests since the Trump administration took office in January.

At the time of the protests a year ago, Khalil and other student leaders of the Columbia University Apartheid Divest student group rejected claims of antisemitism, saying they were part of a broader anti-war movement that included Jewish students and other groups.

But the divestment group has also expressed support for leaders of both Hamas and Hezbollah, another Islamist organization chiefly in Lebanon that the U.S. has also designated as a terrorist group.

It is unclear when Khalil will have a hearing in an immigration court, which is typically the first step in the deportation process.

Khalil was one of the most visible activists in last year's protests at Columbia, serving as a negotiator for students who erected a tent encampment on campus. Pro-Israel activists in recent weeks have called on the Trump administration to begin deportation proceedings against him.

Columbia University declined to comment on Khalil's arrest over the weekend and also did not respond Monday to a request for comment from The Associated Press.

A new Columbia office that has already brought disciplinary charges against dozens of students for their pro-Palestinian protests has also opened an investigation of Khalil.

The Trump administration last week revoked $400 million in federal funding from Columbia because of what it claimed was the Ivy League school's failure to reign in antisemitism on campus.

Some material in this report came from Agence France-Presse and The Associated Press.

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ICC warrant served: Palace says Duterte now under police custody

Philippine News Agency

By Darryl John Esguerra

March 11, 2025, 11:35 am

MANILA -- Former President Rodrigo Duterte is now under police custody after arriving in Manila on Tuesday, following an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said the arrest warrant was received by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) Manila from the ICC early Tuesday.

Duterte arrived in the Philippines via Cathay Pacific flight CX 907 from Hong Kong at 9:20 a.m.

Upon arrival, the Prosecutor General presented the official ICC notification confirming the arrest warrant for Duterte, according to the PCO.

Duterte is facing crimes against humanity before the ICC for his bloody war on drugs.

The PCO assured the public that the 79-year-old Duterte is in good health and was immediately examined by government doctors upon his arrival.

"Ang dating Pangulo at ang kanyang grupo ay nasa mabuting kalusugan at sinuri ng mga doctor ng gobyerno. Sinigurado na siya ay nasa maayos na kalagayan (The former president and his team are in good health and are being examined by a government doctor. His good health was ensured)," the PCO said.

The Philippine National Police officers who enforced the warrant were also equipped with body cameras to ensure transparency throughout the operation, the PCO said.

The government earlier said it would not cooperate with the ICC investigation against Duterte. However, it noted that the country will be obliged to act in its obligations to the Interpol. (PNA)

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Russo-Ukraine War - 10 March 2025 - Day 1111

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 Russian forces are applying increased pressure on Ukrainian forces in the Kursk salient, Russia, from the west, north and east. Ukrainian forces likely maintain control of approximately 300 sq km of territory in Kursk. Russian forces continue to conduct fewer offensive operations elsewhere on the frontline compared to late 2024 and early 2025

In the vicinity of Pokrovsk, Russia's primary operational focus, Ukrainian forces have launched a number of counterattacks near Pischane, Udachne, Sehvchenko, and south of Kutyre, which lies on the logistical highway, the T-05-06.

Opportunities for Ukrainian counteroffensives have been improved by the reduced number of ground offensives being carried out by Russia. Russian logistics supply lines on the Pokrovsk axis have also been degraded by Ukrainian First Person View Uncrewed Aerial System attacks.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that The Defense Forces are directing efforts to disrupt the execution of Russian invaders' offensive plans and exhaust their combat potential.

Since the beginning of the day, there have been 126 combat clashes, theRussian enemy launched 82 air strikes, dropping 119 CABs, carried out 1068 kamikaze drone strikes and 4597 shelling positions of Ukrainian troops.

In the Kharkiv direction, Ukrainian troops repelled two Russian attacks in the area of vovcans ka. The aggressor caused an aviation strike in the area of small wolf.

Russian forces carried out eight attacks on Ukrainian fortifications in the Kupyans komu direction, near Lozova, Petropavlivka, Stepova Novoselivka and Boguslavka. Ukrainian defenders have successfully repelled seven attacks, ongoing one battle.

In the Lyman direction, Russian troops 21 times a day stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the areas of settlements Nove, Grekivka, Novomikhailivka, Kolodyazi, Green Valley, Zarichne, Yampolivka, Novolybivka and Torske, currently five fighting are being sharpened.

On the Sivers komu direction Ukrainian warriors today fought off 12 Russian attacks. Units of the Russian occupiers are trying to go forward in the areas of Bilogorivka, Fedorivka and Verkhnyokamiansky, one fight continues.

In the Kramators komu direction, the Defense Forces are holding back two Russian attacks in the direction of the White Mountain and the Time Yar.

In the Toretsky direction, the Russian occupiers today stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders 17 times in the areas of settlements of Dachne, Kurdyumivka, Crimea, Druzhba, Toretsk and Cherbinivka. In one location, the combat is still ongoing.

In the Pokrovsky direction throughout the day, Russian forces made 21 assault positions of Ukrainian defenders. The largest activity of the Russian occupiers is in the areas of the settlements Valentinivka, Elizabethtivka, Beam, Lisivka, Pokrovsk, Udacne, Kotlyarivka, Oleksiyivka and Andriyivka. Russian forces caused air strikes in the areas of the settlements of leontovichi and zvirove.

According to preliminary calculations, today in this direction, Ukrainian soldiers eliminated 192 and wounded 160 Russian occupiers, destroyed five combat armored vehicles, four cars, 11 motorcycles, 12 BPLAs, four cannons, one BM-27 "Hurricane"; in addition, significantly damaged two motorcycles of the Russian invaders.

In the Novopavliv direction, Russian forces 17 times tried to break through near the settlements of Konstantinopil, Rozliv, Skudne, Burlatske and in the direction of Merry. One battle is still going on.

In the gulyajpils komu direction, in the areas of novosilka and privilny, seven fights have been completed for now. At the same time, KABAMA airstrikes and unmanned missiles were affected by the settlements of Voskresrenko, Novogeorgiyivka, Shevchenko, Novodarivka, Gulyaipole and Zaliznychne.

In the Orihiv direction, the Russian occupiers six times went ahead near Novodanilivka, Pyatihatok, Scherbakov and in the direction of Stepovoye, one fight is still ongoing. The blows of narama were hit by mala tokmacka.

In the pridniprovs komu direction Russian forces spent one unsuccessful attack of the positions of Ukrainian defenders. Lviv suffered from the NARAMA airstrike.

In the Kurs komu direction Ukrainian defenders repelled 10 attacks of Russian zagarbnikiv. In addition, Russian forces made 25 air strikes, applied 39 KAB, and carried out 229 artillery shelling.

In other directions, there have been no significant changes in the environment.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kharkov direction, the Sever Group of Forces defeated formations of three motorised infantry brigades of the AFU and one territorial defence brigade near Volchansk and Kazachya Lopan (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses were more than 30 troops and three motor vehicles.

The Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. The Group inflicted damage on manpower and military hardware of four mechanised brigades of the AFU close to Kondrashovka, Zagoruykovka, Monachinovka, Gorokhovatka, and Podvysokoye(Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 210 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, five motor vehicles, two Western-made field artillery guns, one electronic warfare station, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 U.S. counter-battery warfare station.

The Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. The Group hit formations of two mechanised brigades of the AFU, one territorial defence brigade, and two National Guard brigades close to Grigorovka, Konstantinovka, Shcherbinovka, Dronovka, and Druzhkovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU sustained losses of up to 270 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, six field artillery guns, and three field ammunition depots.

The Tsentr Group of Forces continued advancing to the depth of enemy defences. The Group's units hit two mechanised brigades, one assault brigade, two jaeger brigades of the AFU, one marine brigade, and one National Guard brigade near Uspenovka, Novopavlovka, Udachnoye, Petrovskoye, Alekseyevka, and Krasnoarmeysk (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost up to 490 troops, one tank, one armoured fighting vehicle, one Grad MLRS combat vehicle, six motor vehicles, and four artillery guns.

The Vostok Group's units inflicted fire damage on units of two mechanised brigades, one jaeger brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and one marine brigade close to Fedorovka, Bogatyr, Veseloye, and Razliv (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses amounted to more than 120 troops, one tank, and three motor vehicles.

The Dnepr Group's units inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of one mechanised brigade and one mountain assault brigade of the AFU close to Pyatikhatki, Pavlovka (Zaporozhye region), and Novonikolayevka (Kherson region).

Up to 65 troops, five motor vehicles, and one field artillery gun of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were neutralised.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, strike drones, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have hit military airfield infrastructure facilities, as well as clusters of AFU manpower and hardware and foreign mercenaries in 152 areas.

Russia's air defence systems shot down one MiG-29 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force, as well as five JDAM guided aerial bombs, seven HIMARS MLRS projectiles manufactured by the USA, and 50 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 657 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 45,927 unmanned aerial vehicles, 600 anti-aircraft missile systems, 22,097 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,526 MLRS combat vehicles, 22,403 field artillery guns and mortars, and 32,658 units of support military vehicles of the enemy 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.

During offensive actions, the Sever Group of Forces liberated the settlements of Kositsa, Malaya Loknya, and Cherkasskoye Porechnoye.

The Group inflicted strikes on units of one heavy mechanised brigade, five mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade, one assault brigade, two airborne assault brigades, two territorial defence brigades, and two assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Goncharovka, Guyevo, Zaoleshenka, Kazachya Loknya, Pervy Knyazhy, Kositsa, Kurilovka, Loknya, Malaya Loknya, Oleshnya, Pushkarnoye, Sudzha, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye, Cherkasskaya Konopelka, and Yuzhny. Three counter-attacks were repelled.

Operational-tactical, army aviation and artillery fire hit enemy manpower and hardware close to Bondarevka, Dmitryukov, Zamostye, Kazachya Loknya, Kositsa, Kurilovka, Makhnovka, Martynovka, Melovoy, Mirny, Mikhailovka, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye, Yuzhny, as well as Basovka, Belovody, Vodolagi, Zhuravka, Yunakovka, and Yablonovka in Sumy region.

Over the past day, the AFU losses amounted to more than 340 troops, two tanks, seven infantry fighting vehicles, including one U.S.-made Bradley armoured fighting vehicle, five armoured personnel carriers, ten armoured fighting vehicles, 13 motor vehicles, three self-propelled artillery systems, eight field artillery guns, one AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery warfare station, an engineering vehicle, as well as six UAV command posts, and an ammunition depot. Two AFU servicemen surrendered.

Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk direction, the AFU losses amounted to more than 66,270 troops, 389 tanks, 307 infantry fighting vehicles, 269 armoured personnel carriers, 2,173 armoured fighting vehicles, 2,383 motor vehicles, 539 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, 120 EW stations, 16 counter-battery warfare radars, ten air defence radars, 55 units of engineering and other materiel, including 23 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.





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DHS Launches CBP Home App with Self-Deport Reporting Feature

Release Date: March 10, 2025

WASHINGTON -- Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is launching the CBP Home app with a self-deportation reporting feature for aliens illegally in the country. Aliens should use the CBP Home mobile phone application to submit their intent to depart as indicated below.

Self-deportation is the safest option for illegal aliens, while preserving law enforcement resources. Not only is it safer, but it also saves U.S. taxpayer dollars and valuable Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) resources to focus on dangerous criminal aliens.

This self-deportation functionality is part of a larger $200 million domestic and international ad campaign encouraging illegal aliens to "Stay Out and Leave Now."

All CBP One applications will automatically update to the CBP Home app. The new app is also available free across mobile application stores.

A Statement from Secretary Kristi Noem:

"The Biden Administration exploited the CBP One app to allow more than 1 million aliens to illegally enter the United States. With the launching of the CBP Home app, we are restoring integrity to our immigration system.

"The CBP Home app gives aliens the option to leave now and self-deport, so they may still have the opportunity to return legally in the future and live the American dream. If they don't, we will find them, we will deport them, and they will never return."

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Australia - Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System-Alternate Warhead Rounds

Media/Public Contact: pm-cpa@state.gov

Transmittal No: 25-09

WASHINGTON, March 10, 2025 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System-Alternate Warhead Rounds and related equipment for an estimated cost of $91.2 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

The Government of Australia has requested to buy fifty-four (54) Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System-Alternate Warhead (GMLRS-AW) rounds. The following non-MDE items will also be included: telemetry kits; engineering services; technical assistance; and other related logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $91.2 million.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States. Australia is one of our most important allies in the Western Pacific. The strategic location of this political and economic power contributes significantly to ensuring peace and economic stability in the Western Pacific. It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist our ally in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability.

The proposed sale will enhance Australia's capability to meet current and future threats by increasing its capability to deter adversaries. The proposed sale will support its goal of improving national and territorial defense, interoperability with U.S. forces, and working to uplift industry as a new source of supply. Australia will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment and services into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractors will be Lockheed Martin, located in Grand Prairie, TX; and Lockheed Martin, Australia. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Australia.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

The description and dollar value are for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded.

All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political Military-Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov.

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China's countermeasures against Canada's 'discriminatory' measures 'fully necessary, justified': FM

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Mar 10, 2025 05:20 PM

China's Foreign Ministry (FM) said on Monday that China's countermeasures against Canada's discriminatory restrictive measures on some Chinese imports are "fully necessary, justified, reasonable and lawful," urging Ottawa to take concrete steps to correct its "wrongdoings."

Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the FM, made the remarks during a regular press briefing on Monday when asked about the status of the China-Canada relationship after China imposed tariffs on some Canadian agricultural goods on Saturday.

"In disregard of China's repeated persuasion, Canada has insisted on taking discriminatory restrictive measures on some Chinese imports. This seriously violates WTO rules, disrupts normal trade order, and gravely harms China's lawful rights and interests," Mao said, "the countermeasures China has taken are fully necessary, justified, reasonable and lawful."

On Saturday, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said that an investigation into Canada's unilateral restrictive measures against certain Chinese products, including electric vehicles (EVs), found that relevant Canadian measures constitute discriminatory restrictions, affecting the normal trade order and harming the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises. A MOFCOM spokesperson said that China has decided to impose tariffs on certain Canadian products.



Subsequently, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council announced a 100 percent tariff rate on rapeseed oil, oilcake and peas from Canada and a 25 percent tariff on aquatic products and pork from Canada.

Canada announced in August 2024 a 100-percent surtax on all Chinese-made EVs, and a 25-percent surtax on imports of steel and aluminum products from China, prompting Chinese authorities to initiate an anti-discrimination probe in September, according to Xinhua. Canada's move followed US and EU tariff hikes against Chinese EVs last year.

The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) also expressed resolute support for the MOFCOM's decision, stating that the ruling complies with WTO rules and is a legitimate step to safeguard industry development.

The CAAM also voiced strong opposition to Canada's unilateral tariff hikes in an online statement, criticizing it for breaching WTO rules and "blindly following other nations' lead." Such actions "undermine the security and stability of the global automotive supply chain, hinder normal cooperation between the Chinese and Canadian auto industries, and significantly harm the interests of Canadian consumers," per the statement.

China's EV industry thrives on its inherent strengths and open competition, earning widespread popularity among global consumers, including Canadians, while significantly contributing to climate change solutions and the green transition, the CAAM emphasized.

Despite facing external suppression, China's EV industry continues to show robust growth momentum. According to latest data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), domestic retail sales of new-energy passenger vehicles reached 686,000 units in February, up 79.7 percent year-on-year.

The CPCA predicts that China's passenger vehicle market will continue to experience strong growth in March, with new-energy vehicles (NEVs) serving as the primary driving force, while the traditional fuel vehicle market is expected to continue its decline.

Notably, NEV exports reached 118,000 units last month, a year-on-year rise of 27.8 percent. "With scaling advantages and expanding markets, more Chinese-made NEV brands are gaining traction overseas," the CPCA said in a post on its official WeChat account on Monday.

"Despite recent disruptions from certain countries, exports of domestically developed plug-in hybrids to developing markets are growing rapidly, with a bright outlook ahead," the CPCA said.

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'Two sessions' showcase China's confidence, vitality

Global Times

Open discussions tackle media inquiries head-on

By Hu Yuwei and Zhang Han Published: Mar 10, 2025 10:32 PM

The third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, wrapped up on Monday. The third session of the 14th National People's Congress will conclude on Tuesday.

During the "two sessions," open meetings have allowed journalists to observe and report on discussions during delegate meetings. They also featured post-meeting press conferences where NPC deputies address media inquiries, embodying the transparency of China's legislative process.

According to Xinhua, some meetings attracted over 260 reporters from more than 100 media outlets, with the total number of journalists attending open sessions surpassing 3,000.

Some sessions extended their schedules to accommodate additional interviews, creating a lively and engaging atmosphere.

At the five open sessions attended by Global Times reporters, media areas were packed well before the meetings began, with journalists setting up equipment hours in advance. Some delegations even added extra seats and arranged follow-up interviews to meet the high demand.

Amid US-China tensions and global economic uncertainties, a Bloomberg reporter asked about Shanghai's challenges and opportunities in building its "Five Centers." In response, Gong Zheng, NPC deputy and mayor of Shanghai, highlighted the city's record-breaking 50 millionth container handled at Yangshan Port in December 2024, marking 15 consecutive years as the world's top container port. This achievement, he explained, demonstrates why Shanghai sees "more opportunities than challenges," with the confidence, momentum, and advantages to advance its "Five Centers" initiative.

When asked by an overseas journalist about the driving force behind Shanghai's years-long efforts to improve its business environment, the Shanghai NPC deputies responded with facts and data, emphasizing that "the impressive results themselves are the motivation for Shanghai to continuously refine its business climate."

"Transparent," "substantive," and "confident" were recurring impressions among journalists that the Global Times spoke to. One foreign correspondent noted that these sessions provided a deeper understanding of China's whole-process people's democracy.

Milko Zivkovic, who works for North Macedonia based daily newspaper Nova Makedonija, came to China for the first time to cover the "two sessions." He was impressed by the process of organizing conferences of such a scale, with everything conducted in an orderly way. People's openness and the smooth sharing of information also went beyond his expectations. "The process has deepened my understanding of China's democracy."

At the Hunan delegation meeting, the media seating was placed at the center of the venue, surrounded by three tiers of delegates - a symbolic arrangement that underscored the province's openness.

Shen Xiaoming, Party chief of Hunan, extended an invitation to global talent to join the provincial capital Changsha's efforts to become a "global R&D hub," fostering an atmosphere of confidence and sincerity.

Along the pathway to the Sichuan delegation's open meeting, panda plush toys, figurines and posters of animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 - Sichuan's cultural icons - drew the attention of global journalists, naturally steering conversations toward these highlights.

An Argentine journalist, who had recently watched Ne Zha 2, inquired about its release in South America. Chen Guanghao, director of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, gave assurances that the film's producers are actively working to bring it to Argentine theaters, inviting the journalist to share the film's cultural charm with friends and family.

By engaging with media, Chinese delegates have demonstrated their readiness to showcase the nation's achievements, challenges and future aspirations, offering the world a clearer understanding of China's democratic practices.

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CPPCC National Committee concludes annual session

Global Times

Political advisors express confidence in achieving economic growth goals for 2025

By GT staff reporters Published: Mar 10, 2025 11:31 PM

China's top political advisory body on Monday concluded its annual session, calling on political advisors to make new and greater contribution to advancing Chinese modernization.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders attended the meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Wang Huning, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, delivered a speech at the meeting.

Wang said the session has demonstrated the political strengths of the CPPCC and the vitality of whole-process people's democracy in China. Political advisors have expressed their commitment to further firming up their resolve and confidence in achieving greater success in socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, Wang added.

Monday's meeting approved four documents: a resolution on the work report of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee, a resolution on the report on how the proposals from political advisors have been handled since the previous annual session, a report on the examination of new proposals, and a political resolution on the third session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The annual "two sessions" are closely watched by those who wish to understand the trajectory and focus of the world's second-largest economy.

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, will be held on Tuesday.

The 14th CPPCC National Committee session includes plenary meetings and group consultations, during which national political advisors engaged in effective and pragmatic discussions on a range of key topics, including strategies for fostering the modernization drive, bolstering consumption, enhancing employment opportunities, as well as proposing ways to seize new development opportunities.

Converging confidence

Lan Dingguo, a member of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC and deputy director-general of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Central China's Hunan Province, told reporters as he walked out of the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting that he is deeply proud of what the country has achieved in the past year, and through the deliberations and discussions during the "two sessions", he has full confidence in the overall deployment of work in 2025.

"As a member from the agricultural sector, I will continue to work toward the mission of safeguarding grain security and further promoting the comprehensive revitalization of the rural areas and ensuring that no large-scale lapsing or relapsing into poverty occurs in our province," Lan said.

Liu Qingquan, a national political advisor and president of Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, told the Global Times on Monday that after listening to the Premier's Government Work Report and after several days of deliberating on various work reports and proposals, he felt both "excited and thrilled."

"Across-the-board progress has been achieved in the past year, from the economy to social progress and from people's livelihoods to future development, and rosy prospects are laid in front of us," Liu said.

Zhang Jianping, deputy director of the academic committee at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times on Monday that a significant rise in the number of entrepreneurs attending the group interviews on the sidelines of the "two sessions" was one of this year's highlights.

"Through the lively interactions between national lawmakers and national political advisors - many are ministers, leading entrepreneurs, people with particular achievements - with reporters from across the country, many of the issues that are of greatest concern to the people are discussed, deliberated and decoded," Zhang said.

Institutional advantage

China's GDP grew by 5 percent year on year in 2024, ranking among the world's fastest-growing major economies and continuing to contribute about 30 percent to global economic growth, according to the Government Work Report.

This achievement has been hard won, according to national political advisors.

Pu Chun, national political advisor and a former top official with the State Administration for Market Regulation, told the Global Times on the sidelines of the "two sessions" that the 2024 economic achievement has been hard won amid external uncertainties and protectionist headwinds.

China's strengths in realizing its socio-economic targets were also noticed by foreign envoys, who were present at the opening and closing meetings.

Peru's Ambassador to China Marco Vinicio Balarezo Lizarzaburu told the Global Times that one of the major advantages supporting China's economic development is its well-developed infrastructure network. "Sometimes I mentioned this to Peruvian journalists, but they don't fully get it [how important it is]," he said.

The ambassador explained that with strong technical, engineering and design capabilities, China is able to build the world's most advanced and complex tunnels, bridges and highways in very short times. This is one of the key reasons for the country's economic take-off, he said.

In a world filled with uncertainties, this year's "two sessions" have sent an unequivocal message: China is committed to expanding high-standard opening up and continues to share development opportunities with the world, while reform and opening up has become a recurring theme, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Andrey Tehov, the Bulgarian Ambassador to China, told the Global Times on Monday that what impressed him the most during the "two sessions" is "the constructiveness and enthusiasm of the people in deliberating the Government Work Report."

The envoy noted that thanks to China's policy of opening up wider to the world, more Bulgarians reached China after its expansion of visa-free policy to countries including Bulgaria in November 2024.

"I expect more direct flights between the two countries and I hope that the cultural and people-to-people exchanges will be further enhanced through more air links," the ambassador said.

Broad spectrum

In addition to China's Government Work Report featuring new entries such as "embodied AI" and "6G," a number of buzzwords such as "AI Plus" has grabbed public attention during the "two sessions", as people ponder on the impact of cutting-edge technologies and their influence on the country's future development, according to Xinhua.

The public's growing focus on AI and new quality productive forces reflects broader recognition of China's technological advancements, analysts said.

In addition to economic topics, political advisors also discussed a wide range of issues, including employment, marine economy, market opening, cultural heritage and environmental issues.

To support modernization, reform and high-quality development while ensuring social harmony, the CPPCC National Committee carried out 42 research projects on major issues, held 85 consultations and deliberations, and processed over 5,000 proposals over the past year, according to a CPPCC spokesperson on March 3.

Wang Xiaoqing contributed to this story

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'Two sessions' inspire global confidence in China's economic prospects

Global Times

'In the past 40-plus years, China did everything right,' says foreign observer

By GT staff reporters Published: Mar 10, 2025 11:23 PM

Multiple international observers have expressed confidence in prospects of Chinese economy during this year's "two sessions," and they noted that the world's second-largest economy's high-quality development through innovation will inject fresh impetus into world economic growth amid mounting global uncertainties.

The "two sessions" are the annual meetings of China's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), and the top political advisory body, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

China is targeting an economic growth rate of around 5 percent in 2025, according to the Government Work Report submitted to the NPC for deliberation during the "two sessions." The report also outlines an array of other key development goals for this year, including a surveyed urban unemployment rate of around 5.5 percent, over 12 million new urban jobs, and a roughly 2 percent increase in the consumer price index.

"Achieving this year's targets will not be easy, and we must make arduous efforts to meet them," the Government Work Report stressed.

"These figures send a more positive and clear policy signal, boosting confidence among consumers, entrepreneurs, foreign enterprises, investors, and the whole market. The government is expected to release forceful measures in both reform and opening-up as well as economic development to sustain economic growth," Ji Mo, chief China economist of Singapore-based DBS Bank, told the Global Times on Monday.

Sena Yao Voncujovi, an Africa-China policy analyst at Development Reimagined, an independent International Development consultancy, said China's GDP growth target of around 5 percent comes at a critical moment, with the country's stable development serving as a key anchor for global economic stability.

"China renewed its commitments and focus on tech, artificial intelligence (AI) and big data, as well as green development. This is very positive for not only China but overall global development," Voncujovi told the Global Times on Monday.

Bright prospects

Despite the adverse impacts brought about by the external environment and the continued challenges facing the economy, foreign experts expressed confidence that China can achieve this year's economic development goals given supporting conditions and fundamental trends.

Radhika Desai, professor of the Department of Political Studies of University of Manitoba in Canada, told the Global Times that as the world's largest developing country, China focuses on both the pace and quality of growth, making sure that it actually enhances not only the standard of living but also quality of life, gaining strong economic growth momentum.

"China has, and will continue, to pursue technological advancement in a whole range of fields," she said. Desai made reference to Chinese AI company DeepSeek, noting that "It's a massive achievement for a Chinese startup to create a large language model that could outperform its Western counterparts. It is a model of technological development that benefits all of humankind and is itself enriched by doing so."

China demonstrates a policy blueprint for developing nations to boost economy through domestic spending apart from exports while expanding their financial programs. China's established policy framework delivers useful guidance about handling relationships between domestic growth and financial security alongside technological advancement, said Muhammad Zamir Assadi, editor of China Desk at Internews Pakistan.

The 2025 "two sessions" in China present substantial prospects for developing countries to join their economic power and technological breakthroughs.

China's GDP grew by 5 percent year-on-year in 2024, ranking among the world's fastest-growing major economies and continuing to contribute about 30 percent to global economic growth, official data showed.

"In the past 40-plus years, China did everything right," Scott Rozelle, co-director of Stanford Center on China's Economy and Institutions, told the Global Times, speaking highly of China's achievements in marketization and new technologies.

"The Chinese market is very competitive and made things very efficient. There's only one way to grow. That's by productivity, growth, new technologies," Rozelle said.

China has achieved rapid development through reform and opening up since 1978. Today, the country continues to push forward comprehensive reform with firm determination and stepped-up efforts to boost its high-quality development and share opportunities with the rest of the world.

This year, the "two sessions" also underscored China's firm commitment to expanding high-standard opening-up and stabilizing foreign trade and foreign investment.

"Regardless of changes in the external environment, we should remain steadfast in our commitment to opening up," said the Government Work Report. "We should steadily expand institutional opening up and take the initiative to open wider and advance unilateral opening up in a well-ordered way, to promote reform and development through greater openness."

"China's emphasis on sharing the fruits of its innovation with the world, and the Global South in particular, is very important. For example, in the tech and AI fields, where the development of technologies has been very expensive, China's support and ability to leverage its innovation and provide them at affordable rates to developing countries such as African countries, is something that, from a Global South perspective, is very positive and welcome," Voncujovi said.

Denis Depoux, global managing director at Germany's strategy consulting firm Roland Berger, said that China is and will remain an important market for many multinational companies.

Looking ahead to 2025, Depoux called the concept of new quality productive forces a key driver of China's economic growth. "This reflects China's determination to modernize its industries and shift toward value-added economic leadership," he told the Global Times.

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China ramps up surveillance of residents through video cameras

A report to the National People's Congress said nearly 30,000 cameras have been installed in the city of Chongqing.

By Qian Lang for RFA Mandarin 2025.03.10 -- Authorities in a single district of the southwestern megacity of Chongqing have installed 27,900 surveillance cameras and 245 sensors as part of a comprehensive "grid" surveillance plan to keep tabs on residents, officials from the district said Monday.

The move offers a rare glimpse into the running of China's "grid" system -- the close-up monitoring of every aspect of its citizens' lives to mediate disputes, influence public opinion and minimize protests and dissent.

"We in Beibei district have fully pressed the fast-forward button to promote the construction of ... a digital Chongqing [and] deepened networked governance ... to build a smart grassroots governance system," Lin Xuyang, delegate to the National People's Congress and secretary of Chongqing's Beibei District Committee, told delegates in Beijing on March 10.

The annual gathering of delegates from across the country ends Tuesday.

"There is certainly no single way to govern, but precision is definitely one of them," Lin said, likening the local grid monitoring and surveillance systems to "fine needlework."

"The key to governance lies in people," he said, adding that interconnected grids have now been extended from district to residential compound level, employing a "grid leader," full- and part-time grid members to coordinate "more than 10,000 party member volunteers" and other volunteers.

Monitors report on residents' activities

In July 2021, China empowered local officials at township, village and neighborhood level to enforce the law, as well as operating a vastly extended "grid management" system of social control in rural and urban areas alike.

According to directives sent out in 2018, the grid system carves up neighborhoods into a grid pattern with 15-20 households per square. Each grid has a monitor who reports back on residents' affairs to local committees.

China's "red armband" brigade of state-sanctioned busybodies have been dubbed the biggest intelligence network on the planet by social media users, and have supplied information that has also led police to crack major organized crime, according to state media.

Neighborhood committees in China have long been tasked with monitoring the activities of ordinary people in urban areas, while its grid management system turbo-charges the capacity of officials even in rural areas to monitor what local people are doing, saying and thinking.

These local forms of surveillance and social control are known in Chinese political jargon as the "Fengqiao Experience."

They have also been used to target potential trouble before it emerges, with officials told to use big data to pinpoint people with marital difficulties or other grievances in the wake of the Zhuhai car killings.

A former employee of a residential compound in Chongqing who gave only the surname Yang for fear of reprisals said the cameras are mostly used to monitor the activities of local residents.

"This kind of surveillance has existed for a long time -- its official name is SkyNet," Yang said. "In rural areas, it's known as Project Xueliang."

"Its purpose is to monitor what's going on in every corner of a district," Yang said. "People's every move takes place under their watchful gaze."

Aim of reducing costs

A resident of the central province of Henan who gave only the nickname Lao Wan said local governments are struggling to afford the staffing costs of the "grid" surveillance system, so are installing automated, digital equipment to monitor people instead.

"There are two main reasons for [these cameras]," Lao Wan said. "One is they can't afford to pay their grid workers, and on the other, they want to reduce administrative costs."

"That's why they have mobilized civilians and volunteers to do this work, such as older men and women who have nothing else to do," he said. "They seem to be just being friendly towards their neighbors, but in fact, they're monitoring your every word and deed."

The revelations about Beibei district come after the ruling Communist Party's official newspaper, the People's Daily, reported that authorities in the southeastern port city of Xiamen have set up "neighborhood supervision" stations in 11 streets and 144 residential communities in Tong'an district, in a bid to improve "grassroots governance."

Legal affairs commentator Lu Chenyuan said local governments are struggling to pay wages, so are coordinating older people as volunteers to implement the government's "stability maintenance" system.

"It's a way to reduce administrative expenditures and maintain stability amid a sharp fall in tax revenues," Lu said.

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.

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North Korea test fires missiles as US, South Korea begin exercise

Washington and Seoul started annual military drills on Monday to counter North Korean threats.

By Taejun Kang for RFA

2025.03.10

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- North Korea test launched several ballistic missiles off its west coast on Monday as the U.S. and its ally, South Korea, began a major military exercise, said the South's military.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, or JCS, said the missile firings, North Korea's fifth this year, were detected from the North's Hwanghae province but gave no further details such as how far they flew.

"Our military has strengthened surveillance and vigilance while maintaining full readiness in close coordination with the U.S," said the JCS.

The launch came a few hours after the U.S. and South Korea launched an annual joining military exercise, called Freedom Shield, which North Korea denounced as a "dangerous provocative act."

As part of this year's exercise, the allies will stage 16 large-scale on-field drills, up from 10 last year, to strengthen their combined defense posture against North Korean threats and other challenges, including the regime's growing military cooperation with Russia.

North Korea's foreign ministry said the allies were "persistently staging the large-scale joint military exercises" despite North Korea's repeated warnings, adding the "random exercise of strength will result in aggravated security crisis."

"This is a dangerous provocative act of leading the acute situation on the Korean peninsula, which may spark off a physical conflict between the two sides by means of an accidental single shot, to the extreme point," the ministry said in a statement said, as reported by the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA

North Korea invariably responds with outrage to joint U.S. South Korean military exercises, condemning them as rehearsals for war, despite the allies' insistence that they are purely defensive.

The North warned the allies would pay a "horrible price" for their joint exercise, a day after the drills were announced.

This year's drills will not include any live-fire exercises after two South Korean jets last week accidentally dropped bombs on a South Korean civilian area, injuring 29 people.

Separately, North Korea's state-run broadcaster reported on Saturday on the accidental bombing, saying it caused a "great uproar" in the South.

"An accident occurred in which puppet air force fighter jets, frenzied over invasion war exercises against our republic, dropped bombs on a civilian village and its surroundings in broad daylight, causing a great uproar in puppet South Korea," said Korean Central Television.

Two KF-16 fighter jets "abnormally" dropped eight MK-82 bombs outside a training range in the South Korean city of Pocheon, some 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Seoul, during live-fire drills on Thursday. Fifteen of those injured were civilians.

On Monday, the top South Korean Air Force commander issued a public apology calling it an accident that "should never have happened."

"The Air Force, which should protect the lives and property of the people, inflicted harm to the people," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Lee Young-su said in a press briefing. "It was an accident that should never have happened, and one that should not recur."

In an interim probe, the Air Force reaffirmed pilot error as the cause of the bombing, saying the pilot of the first aircraft missed at least three opportunities to prevent the accident after wrongly entering the target coordinates. The South Korean and U.S. militaries have halted all live fire exercises in South Korea until the investigation has finished and safety measures drawn up

Edited by Mike Firn.

Copyright 1998-2016, 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.

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Chinese journalists return to North Korea after 5 years: South Korean ministry

The return of foreign media could suggest an opening up but comes days after foreign tourist arrivals were halted.

By Taejun Kang for RFA

2025.03.10

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Journalists from China's state-run media outlets, CCTV and the People's Daily, have returned to North Korea five years after their withdrawal due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said South Korea's unification ministry.

North Korea has selectively opened its doors to foreign media, allowing a limited number of outlets to establish bureaus in its capital, Pyongyang.

Chinese, Russian, Japanese and a few Western agencies, such as AP and AFP, have been granted access under strict government oversight. During the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign journalists were asked to leave North Korea as part of its strict border control measures.

Chinese journalists entered North Korea on Feb. 27, said the South's Ministry of Unification, which oversees inter-Korean relations, adding that journalists from AP and AFP had not returned to North Korea yet.

It is not clear whether Russian journalists had also returned to the North.

Separately, the Japan-based pro-Pyongyang newspaper Choson Sinbo also announced that its North Korean bureau had reopened.

"Our Pyongyang bureau has resumed operations after five years, ending the unfortunate period of temporary suspension caused by an unexpected malignant epidemic," the paper announced on Friday.

The news comes as North Korea sends mixed signals about reopening its borders to foreigners.

Last week, North Korea closed its only gateway for foreign tourists. Weeks earlier it allowed visitors back in, which had suggested it was opening up for the first time since a COVID-19 ban on arrivals in 2020.

Some South Korean media outlets speculated that the decision to stop tourists coming in was driven by concerns over the uncontrolled spread of information.

Before last month, only Russians had been allowed into North Korea for limited group tours since September 2023.

The establishment of foreign media bureaus and the residency status of journalists are overseen by the North's Korean Central News Agency and the Korean Central Broadcasting Committee.

These two agencies submit residency approval applications to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after obtaining approval from the Propaganda and Agitation Department of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.

Foreign media operating in North Korea often face criticism from the outside world over their lack of independent reporting due to the severe restrictions imposed by the regime.

Journalists are constantly monitored, their movements are heavily controlled, and they are often assigned government minders, limiting their ability to report freely.

Critics argue that foreign media bureaus in Pyongyang risk amplifying state propaganda rather than providing objective news, as they are pressured to align with the regime's narratives.

South Korean public broadcaster, KBS, for example, expressed in 2021 interest in establishing a bureau in Pyongyang to enhance inter-Korean media cooperation and provide direct coverage from the North.

However, such initiatives faced public criticism in South Korea due to concerns about journalistic independence and potential compromises in reporting.

At that time, the then-opposition People's Power Party also raised a concern that the operation of a bureau in Pyongyang might be used as a channel to funnel foreign funds to the North Korean government, accusing the government of "giving away" South Korean taxpayers money.

Edited by Mike Firn.

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The FCDO has released a statement following ballistic missile launches by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 10 March.

10 March 2025

An FCDO spokesperson said:

DPRK's ballistic missile launches on 10 March are another breach of multiple UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). Unlawful ballistic missile launches continue to destabilise the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula.

The UK strongly urges the DPRK to stop such provocations and return to dialogue.
Visit of External Affairs Minister to the United Kingdom (March 4-9, 2025)

India - Ministry of External Affairs

March 10, 2025

At the invitation of the UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar paid an official visit to the United Kingdom from March 4-9, 2025 (during this period, he also visited Ireland on March 6-7, 2025). EAM called on the Prime Minister of the UK, Sir Keir Starmer and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner. He held comprehensive talks with his counterpart Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and met with Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. During the visit, EAM also engaged with key stakeholders across government, businesses, academia, and the Indian diaspora.

2. In his meeting with Prime Minister Starmer, EAM conveyed the warm greetings of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Both leaders noted the positive momentum in India-UK relations, particularly with the resumption of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. They also recognised the strengthening of technology cooperation and deepening of people-to-people ties, and discussed key global issues, including the Ukraine conflict.

3. EAM was welcomed at Chevening House by Foreign Secretary Lammy. EAM and Foreign Secretary held extensive discussions covering the full spectrum of India-UK relations, including strategic coordination, political cooperation, trade negotiations, education, technology, mobility, and people-to-people exchanges. They reviewed progress on the new Roadmap 2.0 being discussed by the two sides that will impart fresh energy and new momentum to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They also exchanged views on regional and global developments, including the Ukraine conflict, West Asia, Bangladesh, and the Commonwealth. Both leaders interacted with Chevening Scholars from India, recognizing the crucial role that education and youth play, in fostering stronger bilateral ties.

4. EAM's meeting with Secretary of State for Business and Trade focussed the progress of India-UK FTA negotiations. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing trade and investment opportunities, emphasizing the need to reduce trade barriers and expand market access. In his meeting with Home Secretary, EAM discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation on talent mobility, people-to-people exchanges, and joint efforts to combat trafficking and extremism. EAM brought up the safety and security of our Missions/Posts and diplomats and reiterated the need to expeditiously bring to justice, the perpetrators of attacks on the premises of HCI London. He also emphasized the need to address the growing concerns over the increasing anti-India activities of PKE elements.

5. EAM participated in a conversation at Chatham House with its Director and Chief Executive Bronwen Maddox, where he spoke on shifting geopolitics, geoeconomics, India-UK relations, and India's perspective on global affairs.

6. EAM inaugurated the Consulate General of India in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in the presence of several distinguished local dignitaries, including the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly Edwin Poots; Minister Fleur Anderson; Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray; and India's Honorary Consul, Lord Diljit Rana. The opening of the Consulate marks a significant step in strengthening India's presence in Northern Ireland, facilitating enhanced trade, business, technology, and educational linkages.

7. EAM also met with Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Emma Little-Pengelly and Junior Minister Aisling Reilly at Stormont Castle. They explored opportunities for deeper collaboration in key areas such as skills development, cybersecurity, technology, creative industries, and manufacturing.

8. EAM visited Queen's University in Belfast, where he underscored the importance of their upcoming campus in GIFT City, Gujarat, as a testament to the growing India-UK partnership in the higher education sector. He also interacted with Indian students currently studying at Queen's University, discussing their experiences and aspirations.

9. EAM inaugurated the Consulate General of India in Manchester, the fourth Indian Consulate in the UK, fulfilling a long-standing demand of the Indian diaspora and strengthening India's diplomatic outreach in Northern England. The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, FCDO Minister for Indo-Pacific Catherine West, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester Paul Dennett and MP of Stockport Navendu Mishra. There was great enthusiasm that the new Consulate will help enhance trade, cultural exchanges, people to people ties, including in the realm of sports. During his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister, EAM acknowledged her support in the establishment of the Consulate in Manchester. EAM also interacted with members of the Indian community and business leaders at Old Trafford.

10. The visit reaffirmed the strong ties between India and the United Kingdom, injecting fresh momentum into the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. It reinforced both nations' commitment to strengthening political, economic, and people-to-people collaboration in an evolving global landscape.

London

March 09, 2025

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CDS Gen Anil Chauhan highlights the need for developing holistic Counter-UAS System for the Armed Forces

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 10 MAR 2025 7:14PM by PIB Delhi

The Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS) successfully hosted a high-level seminar on "UAS Warfare with Special Focus on Counter-UAS" today in New Delhi. General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the transformative impact of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in modern warfare.

Gen Chauhan highlighted the key trends -celerity, robotics advancements, and AI-driven intelligence - that are exploited by UAS, making them highly disruptive. Referencing present day conflicts, he underscored how drones are reshaping warfare economics with low-cost, high-impact solutions. CDS postulated the imperative to establish a common vocabulary and grammar on UAS / Drones / Uncrewed Systems by the Indian Armed Forces. Stressing doctrinal clarity in UAS classification, he outlined four generations of UAS and the need for developing holistic Counter-UAS systems. He also called for synergy between users, designers, and manufacturers, ensuring India's self-reliant defence future.

Key Achievements:

 Showcasing India's Advancements in UAS and Counter-UAS Technologies: The seminar underscored India's progress in drone warfare, with a focus on indigenous development and self-reliance under the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative.

 Strategic Dialogue on Drone Warfare: Experts provided in-depth analysis on India's drone requirements, AI integration in drone warfare, and key lessons from ongoing global conflicts.

 Strengthening Border Security: Discussions focused on the increasing manifestation of drone threats along India's northern and western borders, as well as in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), highlighting the need for advanced detection and neutralization systems.

 Enhanced Collaboration Between Military and Industry: Leading defence industry representatives, including JSW UAV ltd, Mahindra Defence, Adani Defence Systems, Kepler Aerospace, and Shyam VNL Pvt Ltd, presented cutting-edge solutions for counter-UAS warfare.

 Policy Recommendations for a National Counter-UAS Strategy: The seminar facilitated high-level discussions on a "Whole-of-Nation" approach to countering drone threats, including legal frameworks, electronic warfare advancements, and multi-domain unmanned systems.

Prominent military and strategic leaders, including Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani, Vice Chief of Army Staff, Air Marshal SP Dharkar, Vice Chief of Air Staff, Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff and Lt Gen Vipul Shinghal, Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff chaired various discussions, further enriching the dialogue on future counter-drone strategies.

The seminar brought together distinguished experts from the Indian Armed Forces, strategic policymakers, industry leaders, and domain specialists to deliberate on the latest advancements in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and evolving counter-UAS strategies. It reinforced the importance of integrating indigenous technologies with strategic policy frameworks to strengthen national security. It included all the stake holders such as BSF, ITBP, Coast Guard and Police. The accompanying exhibition showcased groundbreaking advancements in drone and counter-drone technologies, further solidifying India's role as a leader in modern warfare capabilities.

****

SR/Anand

(Release ID: 2109980)

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Navy chief: Trump's remarks on U.S.'s power illusionary

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 10, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani has emphasized that U.S. President Donald Trump's comments on U.S.'s power stem from an "illusion."

In reaction to Trump's comments suggesting that the United States is not concerned about the joint naval exercises involving Iran, China, and Russiaasserting that the U.S. is stronger than all of these countriesRear Admiral Irani said on Monday that Trump's remarks stem from an "illusion."

He said that the participation of three countries in the military exercise, titled "Security Belt 2025," is focused on fostering security, contrasting it with the presence of countries like the United States, which consistently contributed to global instability.

Rear Admiral Irani emphasized that the number of maritime actors on the global stage has grown, and member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS possess the capability to play a positive role in the maritime economy.

Additionally, he noted that other regional countries have also made strides in maritime activities through their efforts and will join these exercises in the future.

The 7th combined Maritime Security Belt 2025 exercise is set to take place in the northern Indian Ocean, featuring naval forces from Iran, Russia, and China, along with observers from various regional nations. The exercise is designed to enhance security, promote sustainable maritime interactions, and strengthen naval cooperation among the three participating countries.

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Russian diplomat says JCPOA has no alternatives

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 10, 2025

Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, has emphasized that there is no alternative to the JCPOA, urging for genuine diplomacy rather than "microphone diplomacy."

In an interview with the Russian daily newspaper Izvestia on Monday, Ulyanov discussed the current status of the JCPOA and the recent developments related to it.

He said that intensive negotiations took place in Vienna from 2021 to 2022 to revive the JCPOA and reached a critical final stage. However, the Western parties abruptly halted the negotiations.

Ulyanov emphasized that if the deal had been implemented, Iran's nuclear program would have reverted to the original parameters outlined in the JCPOA, and sanctions would have been lifted, but this outcome did not materialize.

The Russian diplomat noted that after three years, the situation has evolved, and the JCPOA is currently in a state of semi-suspension, adding that the expiration date of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 is set for October 2025 and emphasized that there is no alternative to the JCPOA.

According to him, discussions about a revised agreement are likely, but the JCPOA will serve as the foundation for any new negotiations.

Regarding the reports from the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about Iran's nuclear activities, he said that while these reports present a concerning situation, there is no need for excessive worry.

Ulyanov emphasized that Iran is adequately fulfilling its safeguards agreement with the IAEA and has undergone a significant number of inspections.

He also pointed out that both Iran and the IAEA are eager to continue their dialogue and enhance cooperation.

However, challenges, including the stances of Western parties and anti-Iran resolutions, have hindered this process.

He addressed the recent increase in Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 percent, viewing it as a response to the anti-Iran resolution by the IAEA Board of Governors.

He pointed out that the core issue is the inability of the main parties to communicate effectively and urged a shift from "microphone diplomacy" to genuine diplomacy.

Ulyanov cautioned that the current ambiguous state of the JCPOA poses a risk of escalating uncontrollable tensions, emphasizing that the best solution would be to bring the key players back to the negotiating table. Additionally, he insisted that the new U.S. administration must clarify its positions and demonstrate its willingness to engage in negotiations.

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Tehran reiterates: No letter received from U.S. president

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 10, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Tehran has once again said that it has not received a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump, days after he claimed to have sent such a letter to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqayi said during a press conference on Monday that Iran has not received any letter from the US president.

In an interview on Friday, Trump claimed that he had sent a letter to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and proposed to negotiate with Iran on a new deal. Iran says it has not received any such letter, reiterating its position of not negotiating with Washington under pressure.

"Some foreign governments and domineering figures insist on negotiations, while their goal is not to resolve issues but to exert control and impose their own agendas," Ayatollah Khamenei said on Saturday, dismissing the idea of negotiation with the U.S.

Baqayi also said during his presser that the most significant event in the past week was the extraordinary meeting of the foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah, which was held at the proposal of the Islamic Republic of Iran to address developments in the occupied Palestinian territories.

He said the meeting specifically aimed to make a decision regarding the plot to forcibly displace the people of Gaza to neighboring countries.

"On the sidelines of the meeting, the foreign minister also held good discussions with his counterparts from several Islamic countries," he added.

'We are witnessing widespread violations of international humanitarian law'

In response to a question about the adoption of a resolution by the United Nations General Assembly and Switzerland's responsibility regarding international documents, Baqayi said the resolution, adopted in September 2014, called on Switzerland, as the custodian and initiator of international humanitarian law instruments, particularly the four Geneva Conventions of 1949, to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure during armed conflicts.

He explained that the resolution called for holding a meeting to approve the provisions of international humanitarian law in the occupied Palestinian territories and Gaza.

"We were very saddened and surprised that Switzerland ultimately decided not to hold this conference, and this issue was one of the matters discussed in the recent [OIC] meeting," he said.

"The foreign ministers of the OIC also expressed regret over the cancellation of this conference. We do not pass judgment, but the reality is that over the past two years, there have been widespread violations of international humanitarian law, yet no response has been observed from those who consider themselves the custodians of this matter."

Recent events in Syria 'a crucial test' for the new rulers: Baqayi

Addressing the situation in Syria, Baqayi expressed deep concerns about distressing and tragic incidents as well as reports of insecurity, violence, and hostage-taking in various parts of the Arab country.

"Any act of violence, killing, and attacks on military personnel is condemned and cannot be justified in any way. The targeting of segments of the Alawite, Christian, Druze, and other minorities has truly wounded human emotions and conscience both in the region and internationally," he said.

He described the tragic events as a very serious and real test for Syria's rulers to fulfill their responsibilities in safeguarding the lives and property of all Syrians, adding that this responsibility also extends to all parties that consider themselves influential in Syria's developments.

"We have conveyed our concerns through appropriate channels to the countries that have a presence and influence in Syria, and we sincerely hope that the killings and violence against different segments of the Syrian people will come to an end," the spokesman said.

Israel's brutalities against Palestinians

Referring to the Israeli regime's ongoing genocidal atrocities against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip that have claimed the lives of at least 48,450 people, mostly women and children, Baqayi pointed to the Islamic Republic's call on various countries to impose sanctions on the regime as a means of punishing it for the atrocities.

"The demand for an end to any form of support for this regime has been put forward. If we acknowledge that genocide has occurred in Gaza, including the cutting off of water and electricity, which is beyond doubt, then, under the Genocide Convention, countries have obligations to use all means available to stop the genocide," Baqayi said.

The spokesperson said that the first step towards enacting the sanctions was to halt the supply of weapons to the regime.

"This is a demand of Islamic countries and was explicitly stated in the Jeddah summit resolution," Baqayi said while referring to the resolution that was passed at the end of an Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in the Saudi city of Jeddah earlier this month.

"Countries must cease all trade relations with the regime. This is not limited to Islamic countries. Just two weeks ago, the African Union also addressed this issue in its resolutions," the spoesperson said.

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Russia plans to cooperate with U.S. on Iran's nuclear file amid improving ties

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 10, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Russia has expressed a desire to collaborate with the United States to address West Asia issues, including the commotion surrounding Iran's nuclear program, given that its ties with Washington are improving.

Haaretz on Sunday quoted Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova as saying that a similar approach to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), might be useful in order to stabilize the situation with regard to Iran.

She also said that Russia "does not rule out the possibility" that Iran will agree to once again restrict its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of U.S.-led sanctions.

Asked whether Russia would use its influence to slow or halt Iran's nuclear program, Zakharova reminded the Israeli daily that Iran has no intention of developing nuclear weapons and is only interested in nuclear power for civilian purposes.

"We are prepared for the closest cooperation with Tehran and with the other involved parties for the sake of reducing tension and finding sustainable solutions that will enable an effective and long-term accord," she added.

Back in 2018, then-U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew Washington from the JCPOA and implemented a "maximum pressure" policy against the Islamic Republic.

Iran waited an entire year after the U.S. withdrawal as the three European powers promised to offset the impact of U.S. sanctions. However, as those efforts failed, it ultimately began to reduce its nuclear obligations in a remedial move envisioned within the JCPOA.

After returning to office in January, Trump restored his "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran, which aims to bring Tehran's oil revenues to zero.

In an interview on Friday, the U.S. president claimed that he had sent a letter to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and proposed to negotiate with Iran on a new deal. Iran denied receiving the letter, reiterating its position of not negotiating with Washington under pressure.

"Some foreign governments and domineering figures insist on negotiations, while their goal is not to resolve issues but to exert control and impose their own agendas," Ayatollah Khamenei said on Saturday, dismissing the idea of negotiation with the U.S.

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'New maritime powers' present in high seas, Iran Navy chief says in reaction to Trump

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 March 2025 6:54 PM

Amid military drills jointly held by the Iranian, Chinese and Russian navies in the northern part of the Indian Ocean, Iran Navy chief says the number of maritime powers enjoying naval capabilities and power is growing.

These countries, Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said on Monday, can have a presence at high seas relying on their knowledge and industry.

Irani made the remark in reaction to US President Donald Trump's claim that he is "not at all" worried about the joint naval exercises involving Iran, China, and Russia in Iran's territorial waters.

"We are witnessing many illusions in the world that some people maintain," the Iranian Navy commander said.

He said the three countries' participation in the large-scale Security Belt-2025 joint naval exercise is different in that their presence boosts security.

"Those who speak against and are deluded have never brought security and peace to any part of the world and have always caused significant insecurity and posed a threat to humanity," the Iranian commander stated.

Irani said the members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS group of emerging countries have the capability to play a positive role in the maritime economy in the best manner.

Earlier on Monday, flotillas of Russian and Chinese military vessels arrived in Iran's southeastern Chabahar Port to take part in the exercise.

In response to a reporter's question about the annual joint drills and if Trump was concerned, the US president said, "No, not at all. Not at all.. Because we're stronger than all of them. We have more power than all of them. I rebuilt the military."

The Iranian Navy commander further explained that 12 countries are participating in the drills with the main focus on improving shipping security and combating maritime terrorism, especially piracy.

Irani said more than 50 percent of the global economy is currently centered in the northern Indian Ocean region.

The main countries participating in the joint exercise have independently secured their ships since the onset of maritime terrorism in the region, he added.

The Iranian commander said his force has directly escorted 6,000 merchant ships and oil tankers and provided support to more than 20 countries that requested help and were in an emergency situation.

The Security Belt-2025 will be the fifth China-Iran-Russia joint naval exercise since 2019.

The drills, with an aim to "enhance military trust and strengthen practical cooperation," will include simulated strikes on maritime targets, visit-board-search-seizure operations and search and rescue drills, the Chinese Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The Iranian naval forces and their Chinese and Russian counterparts have held several military drills in recent years to enhance the security and stability of international maritime trade.

They have also been involved in joint efforts aimed at countering piracy and maritime terrorism, exchanging information in naval rescue and relief operations as well as sharing operational and tactical experience.

Experts have long perceived the drills as a reflection of the increasingly robust partnership among the three powers, as they strive to counterbalance US dominance and challenge the Western-led global order.

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Russian, Chinese naval vessels enter Iranian waters for major joint military drills

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 March 2025 9:39 AM

Flotillas of Russian and Chinese military vessels have arrived in Iran's territorial waters in the northern part of the Indian Ocean to participate in the large-scale Security Belt-2025 joint naval exercise, which will feature various divisions from the three powerhouses.

Russian Rezkiy and Geroy Rossiyskoy Federatsii Aldar Tsydenzhapov corvettes as well as Pechenga fleet oiler of the Pacific Fleet, alongside Chinese Baotou destroyer and Gaoyouhu replenishment ship docked at Iran's southeastern Chabahar Port on Monday.

They were received by commanders and officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy upon arrival.

Representatives of several other countries, like Azerbaijan, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates, also landed at Iran's only oceanic port city to take part in the military drills as observers.

The main stage of the Security Belt-2025 naval military drills will kick off on Tuesday.

Jamaran and Alvand frigates, Bayandor corvette, Neyzeh fast attack craft in addition to Ganaveh, Nayband and Bahregan auxiliary ships of the Iran Navy will take part in the exercise.

The IRGC Navy's Shahid Sayyad Shirazi missile corvette, Shahid Rouhi fast attack craft, and Shahid Mahmoudi offshore supply vessel will also be in attendance.

'Security Belt-2025 drills to boost security in northern Indian Ocean'

Iranian Navy's deputy head of operations, Rear Admiral Mostafa Tajeddini, says the main goal of Security Belt-2025 drills is to enhance maritime security in the northern tip of the Indian Ocean, and increase tripartite maritime interactions among Iran, Russia and China in order to elevate the level of cooperation, skills training, and transfer of experience.

He noted that the joint maritime drills will start on Tuesday, and will feature various scenarios like a mock rescue operation, VBSS (visit, board, search, and seizure), a fire drill, a heliborne operation and many other exercises.

Tajeddini noted that a naval parade will be staged following the mock rescue operation.

The high-ranking Iranian naval commander said that a debriefing session and a detailed analysis of the joint naval exercise will be held at the conclusion of the drills.

The Security Belt-2025 will be the fifth China-Iran-Russia joint naval exercise since 2019.

The drills, with an aim to "enhance military trust and strengthen practical cooperation," will include simulated strikes on maritime targets, visit-board-search-seizure operations and search and rescue drills, the Chinese Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The Iranian naval forces and their Chinese and Russian counterparts have held several military drills in recent years to enhance the security and stability of international maritime trade.

They have also been involved in joint efforts aimed at countering piracy and maritime terrorism, exchanging information in naval rescue and relief operations as well as sharing operational and tactical experience.

Experts have long perceived the drills as a reflection of the increasingly robust partnership among the three powers, as they strive to counterbalance US dominance and challenge the Western-led global order.

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Iran will never engage in negotiations under pressure, intimidation: Araghchi

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 March 2025 5:49 AM

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has categorically dismissed the possibility of engaging in negotiations under pressure and intimidation.

"We will NOT negotiate under pressure and intimidation. We will NOT even consider it, no matter what the subject may be," Araghchi said in a post on his X account on Monday.

"Negotiation is different from bullying and issuing diktats," he added.

He reaffirmed the everlasting peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear energy program, emphasizing that there is fundamentally no such thing as its "potential militarization."

In an interview with Fox News recorded on March 6, US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran can be handled either militarily or by making a deal on Tehran's nuclear program.

On Saturday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said that the insistence of some bullying powers on holding talks with Iran does not aim to solve issues, emphasizing that Iran would never accept the expectations of bullying states.

In his post, Araghchi said consultations between Iran and the European troika - France, Germany and Britain - and separately with Russia and China are underway "on equal footing and mutual respect."

"The aim is to explore ways to build more confidence and more transparency on our nuclear energy program in return for the lifting of unlawful sanctions," the top Iranian diplomat explained.

He noted that the US enjoyed Iran's respect in the past whenever it was respectful in its discourse, but it was confronted whenever it adopted a threatening posture.

"Every action compels a reaction," Araghchi stated.

Iran and three European countries have been holding talks on and off since 2021, three years after the United States left the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and reinstated harsh sanctions against Iran.

The trio failed to live up to their promise of bringing Washington back to the deal.

Tehran started to scale down its commitments under the JCPOA in a series of pre-announced and clear steps after witnessing the other parties' failure to secure its interests under the agreement.

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Iran Will Not Negotiate Under US 'Intimidation' As Trump Intensifies Pressure

By RFE/RL March 10, 2025

Iran said it will not enter negotiations with the United States over its disputed nuclear program under what it said is "pressure and intimidation" from Washington.

The stance comes as US President Donald Trump increases pressure on Tehran by ending a sanctions waiver that had allowed Iraq to buy electricity from its neighbor.

"We will NOT negotiate under pressure and intimidation. We will NOT even consider it, no matter what the subject may be," Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on X on March 10.

Araqchi's comments came a day after Iran's mission to the United Nations struck a more conciliatory tone, saying Tehran could be open to talks aimed at addressing concerns about the potential militarization of its nuclear program.

"If the objective of negotiations is to address concerns vis-a-vis any potential militarization of Iran's nuclear program, such discussions may be subject to consideration," said a March 9 statement from the mission.

But Araqchi appeared to close the door on such talks, saying Tehran's nuclear program is peaceful and there was "no such thing as its 'potential militarization.'"

During his first term in office, Trump withdrew the United States from a 2015 nuclear accord between Iran and world powers and reimposed sanctions that had been lifted under its terms. Trump said the terms of that deal were not strong enough to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Since returning to office in January, Trump has reinstated his "maximum pressure" campaign that was the cornerstone of his Iran policy in his first term, with the aim of slashing Tehran's oil exports to "zero." Experts say the United States is unlikely to be able to stop Iran's oil sales entirely, but will be able to substantially reduce it.

The US State Department said on March 9 that the decision not to renew Iraq's sanctions waiver was made to "ensure we do not allow Iran any degree of economic or financial relief."

Iran supplies one-third of Iraq's gas and electricity, providing Tehran with significant revenue.

The White House on March 9 warned Tehran that it will deal with its nuclear program either through military means or by reaching a deal, remarks that came hours after Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected a US proposal for negotiations between the two bitter rivals.

"We hope the Iran Regime puts its people and best interests ahead of terror," White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said in a statement on March 9.

In an interview with Fox Business recorded on March 6, Trump said, "There are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily, or you make a deal" to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Khamenei, speaking on March 8 to a group of Iranian officials, said the US offer of talks "are not aimed at solving problems" but to "impose" their demands on Tehran.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-trump- nuclear-khamenei/33342487.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.

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Japan - Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectiles Capability Support

Media/Public Contact: pm-cpa@state.gov

Transmittal No: 24-128

WASHINGTON, March 10, 2025 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Japan of Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectiles Capability Support and related equipment for an estimated cost of $200 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

The Government of Japan has requested to buy equipment and services in support of its indigenous Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectiles (HVGP) capability, including test preparation, test, and transportation support; coordination meetings in the United States and Japan; etc. The estimated total cost is $200 million.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific region.

The proposed sale will improve Japan's capability to meet current and future threats by providing defense for remote islands. Japan will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment and services into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

Equipment and services will be provided by the U.S. Government. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Japan.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

The description and dollar value are for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded.

All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov.

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Myanmar junta troops massacre 11 villagers, most too old to flee, residents say

The violence inflicted for years in minority areas comes to the central heartland.

By RFA Burmese 2025.03.10 -- Myanmar soldiers on a sweep through a central village known for its support of anti-junta forces killed 11 civilians, most of them too old to flee, residents of the area who saw the bodies told Radio Free Asia on Monday.

The Myanmar military has had an appalling human rights record for decades in its wars against ethnic minority guerrillas in remote frontier regions, independent investigators have said.

But violence over the past couple of years has been particularly brutal in central areas dominated by members of the majority Barmar community who, since a popular government was overthrown in a coup in 2021, have for the first time risen up in opposition to military rule.

All of those killed in Magway region's Myay Sun Taw village were elderly apart from two, residents said.

"My father was left behind and didn't escape the village. He's elderly, so he's attached to his home and didn't run away. We were urging and calling for him but he didn't follow us," said the son of one of the victims.

"As far as I know, he was shot in the head. I feel devastated. This is my village, my people and my parents," said the son, who declined to be identified for safety reasons.

Soldiers from the 101st Infantry Division Headquarters and three other battalions were involved in the sweep through the region that began on March 2, villagers said.

There was no battle to explain the soldiers' actions as they raided the village, though the area is known to support pro-democracy fighters in paramilitary groups called People's Defense Forces that have sprung up across the country since the coup, especially in the central Magway and Sagaing regions, residents said.

"They were all just civilians," said one witness of the aftermath of the raid.

RFA called the junta's spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, to ask about the incident but he did not respond by the time of publication.

Residents identified the victims as a man in his 70s named Han Tin, a man in his 60s named Htay Myint, 88-year-old woman Than Ma Ni, 60-year old woman Than Pyae, 86-year-old woman Hla Ngwe, 67-year old man Kyi Htay, 69-year old man Aung Myaing, 35-year old man Thant Zin, 40-year-old man Aung Lin Naing, 70-year-old man Nyunt Wai, and 50-year-old man San Win.

Their bodies were discovered as villagers returned to the area on March 5 and 7, said a resident of Myay Sun Taw, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns.

Soldiers also burned down nearby Thar Gaung and Za Yat Ni villages, destroying about 600 homes and forcing some 10,000 people to flee.

Nway Oo, an official with the anti-junta Civil Defense and Security Organization of Myaung township, where the villages are located, told RFA that the military remains in Thar Gaung after suffering "heavy losses" when troops attempted to move into the town center.

"Now they are waiting for reinforcements," he said, adding that "at least seven or eight soldiers were killed before the column retreated.

A representative of the anti-junta Yesagyo Township Information Committee, who also declined to be identified in fear of reprisals, noted that the military has "launched a lot of offensives in this region.

"Most villages are carrying out actions with armed groups to protect themselves," he said. "The people killed in Myay Sun Taw were elderly and innocent. The military is malicious and extremely cruel."

Translated by Kiana Duncan. Edited by RFA Staff.

This story has been updated to include additional comments from residents and area paramilitary groups.

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.

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Observers dismiss latest junta plan for Myanmar elections

The military can only enforce a vote in less than half of townships and is mistrusted by the public, they say.

By RFA Burmese 2025.03.10 -- Observers on Monday dismissed plans announced by Myanmar's junta to hold elections in the war-torn country by January, saying the military won't be able to hold the vote in territory it doesn't control  about half the country  and that the public will view the results as a sham.

On March 7, while on a visit to Russia and Belarus, junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing announced that the elections are "slated for December 2025, with the possibility of ... January 2026," according to a report by the official Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper.

On Sunday, a day after Min Aung Hlaing returned to Myanmar from his March 3-9 trip, junta spokesperson Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Htun confirmed the timing of the ballot in a briefing to military-controlled media outlets.

The generals who seized power in a February 2021 coup d'etat hope that elections will end widespread opposition to their grip on power politics.

But opponents say any vote under the military while the most popular politicians are locked up and their parties are banned will be illegitimate.

Additionally, the junta is in control of only about half the country after significant losses to pro-democracy and ethnic minority insurgents fighting to end military rule, and observers on Monday questioned how the results of such a limited vote could be seen as legitimate.

Sai Leik, the general secretary of the ethnic Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, which has not yet filed its party registration, told RFA Burmese it is "uncertain whether the election will take place at all."

Even if it happens, it will likely be limited to cities such as Yangon, Naypyidaw, and Mandalay, he said. "This will create significant tensions between areas where the election is held and those where it is not."

Sai Leik said that a limited election that fails to reflect the will of the people "will only worsen the conflict between opposing sides."

He noted that the junta has repeatedly vowed to hold an election since August 2022, but has been unable to implement one.

Less than half of townships under junta control

Voting is expected to be held in fewer than half of Myanmar's 330 townships in the first phase of a staggered vote, a political party official said late last year after discussion with election organizers.

In Myanmar's last election in 2020, voting was held in 315 out of the 330 townships.

Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, or NLD, party swept the vote, as it did in a 2015 election, but the army complained of cheating and overthrew her government. The junta jailed her in the aftermath of its coup and has since sentenced her to 27 years in prison.

Political commentator Than Soe Naing said that the people of Myanmar won't trust a junta-run election.

"Even if the junta attempts it, it will never happen," he said.

Than Soe Naing said that past attempts by the junta had been stymied by its lack of territorial control, the ongoing conflict across Myanmar, the lack of security for representatives and campaigns, and the restrictions of the junta-backed election commission.

Rather than taking those concerns into account, Hla Thein, a spokesperson for the pro-junta Union Solidarity and Development Party told RFA that Min Aung Hlaing likely chose the end of the year for elections so that political parties and the election commission "will have more time to prepare."

Independent observers?

Meanwhile, Min Aung Hlaing said on Sunday that Russia and Belarus had committed to sending officials to observe the elections in Myanmar.

But a vote monitored by those two countries cannot be considered "free and fair," an election observer who requested anonymity for security reasons said.

"Russia and Belarus are not really countries with a good reputation for democratic, free and fair elections," the observer said. "And since they have stood with and supported the junta in various ways, their observers won't be fair. They are meant only for political support."

So far, more than 50 parties have registered with and been approved by Myanmar's election commission. Nearly all of them are military-aligned, while the country's most popular party  the NLD  was banned in the aftermath of the coup and cannot be added to the ballot.

Tun Myint, an NLD Central Working Committee member, warned that the junta's elections would be nothing more than a "sham."

"No one ... who wants justice will accept the junta's elections," he said.

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.

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Secretary Rubio's Meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman Al Saud

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

March 10, 2025

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz met this evening with Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman Al Saud in Jeddah. The Secretary thanked the Crown Prince for once again hosting the United States in talks to help resolve the Ukraine war and secure a lasting peace. The leaders discussed Yemen and threats to navigation from Houthi terrorists that threaten global commerce, American interests, and Saudi citizens and infrastructure. The Secretary talked about Syria, and ways to promote a stable government, free of terrorism. They discussed reconstruction in Gaza; the Secretary thanked the Crown Prince for hosting Arab countries and reiterated the United States firm commitment that any solution to the situation in Gaza must not include any role for Hamas.

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READOUT: Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent's Meeting with Saudi Arabian Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan

U.S. Department of the Treasury

March 10, 2025

WASHINGTON -- Today, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent spoke with Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed bin Abdullah al-Jadaan. The Secretary underscored the Administration's restoration of the maximum pressure campaign to keep Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, deter its ballistic missile capabilities, and eliminate the threat posed by Iranian proxies. Secretary Bessent also noted the importance of joint collaboration in addressing challenges and new opportunities in the Middle East and globally.

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Germany Federal Foreign Office

09.03.2025 - Press release

A Federal Foreign Office spokesperson issued the following statement today:

We condemn the outbreak of violence in the Syrian regions of Tartus, Latakia and Homs. Reports of the killing of civilians and prisoners are shocking. The transitional government has a responsibility to prevent further attacks, to investigate the incidents and to hold those responsible to account. We urgently call upon all sides to put an end to the violence.

That is the only way for peace to be established in society following the decades-long Assad reign of terror and for an inclusive political process to be embarked upon, which is so crucial for lasting peace in Syria and the stabilisation of the country. The future of the country must lie in the hands of all Syrians, regardless of their ethnic background, religion or gender, without any foreign destabilisation attempts.
Nearly 1,000 civilians massacred in Syria by HTS-led forces: Monitor

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 March 2025 2:52 PM

A so-called Syrian war monitor says militants aligned with Syria's ruling HTS administration have killed nearly 1,000 civilians in a series of "massacres" committed in recent days in the western coastal region of the Arab nation.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said on Monday that "the total number of civilian martyrs who were liquidated amounted to 973, including women and children."

The Observatory added that the "killings, field executions and ethnic cleansing operations" were ongoing in the wake of bloody clashes between HTS-led militants and armed opposition groups loyal to former President Bashar al-Assad.

Its previous toll of 830 had specified the "executions" targeted the Alawite community, which accounts for 12% of Syria's population, in the Mediterranean coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus.

According to the Britain-based monitoring group, militant groups supporting the new HTS administration lost 231 members during the clashes, which began on March 6.

Over 250 pro-Assad fighters have also been killed in the process. Authorities have not provided a casualty count.

In several areas, Alawites have faced retribution killings, looting, and arson.

Witnesses have described horrific scenes where militants have stormed homes, executed Alawites in the streets, and set properties on fire. Thousands have fled into the mountains, fearing further attacks.

In the coastal city of Baniyas, located 55 kilometers (34 miles) south of Latakia, bodies were strewn on the streets as residents were too afraid to retrieve them.

Ali Sheha, a 57-year-old resident, told AFP news agency that at least 20 of his neighbors had been killed, some inside their shops and homes.

"Gunmen were firing at houses, looting shops, and checking IDs to execute Alawites," he said.

SOHR chief Rami Abdurrahman called the revenge killings "one of the biggest massacres" of the conflict.

Fighting between HTS militants and loyalists of the former government erupted on March 6, after earlier tensions escalated into reported mass killings.

The bloodshed began when militants attempted to detain an individual in Beit Ana village of the Jableh district in Latakia Governorate, but were ambushed by armed Assad supporters.

In response, the HTS administration launched crackdowns in Alawite strongholds in the western coastal region.

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Iran condemns deadly violence in Syria against minority groups, urges end to massacre

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 March 2025 9:36 AM

Iran's Foreign Ministry conveys Tehran's strong condemnation of the massacres against civilians in Syria, denouncing the bloodletting as well as any other hostile and ill-intentioned action targeting minority groups in the Arab country.

"In recent days, unfortunate incidents have taken place in certain areas of Syria. We are deeply concerned about reports of insecurity and violence," spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said during a press conference on Monday.

"We strongly condemn such actions, and any mass killing or action against civilians is unacceptable and unjustifiable," he added.

The remarks came amid reports of ongoing violence in northwestern Syria, where entire families have reportedly been killed in escalating clashes.

The death toll from the violence in northwestern Syria has risen to over 1,000 people in just two days, including 745 civilians, who were killed mostly execution-style, 125 militants belonging to the country's Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)-led regime, and nearly 150 members of opposition groups, the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitor said on Sunday.

Clashes erupted in the country's northwestern coastal region on Thursday, which is predominantly inhabited by the Alawite minority sect.

Baghaei noted that "the fact that certain Alawite communities have been targeted has wounded consciences [around the world]."

He called the unwelcome development "a real test" for the HTS-led regime to fulfill its responsibilities "in safeguarding the lives of Syrians."

"We have conveyed our concerns through appropriate channels to countries that hold influence. Such incidents only complicate Syria's political situation further," the official concluded regarding the ongoing developments in the Arab country.

Sanctions on Israel

Elsewhere in his remarks, the spokesman addressed the Israeli regime's ongoing genocidal atrocities against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip that have claimed the lives of at least 48,450 people, mostly women and children.

He pointed to the Islamic Republic's call on various countries to impose sanctions on the regime as a means of punishing it for the atrocities.

"The demand for an end to any form of support for this regime has been put forward. If we acknowledge that genocide has occurred in Gaza, including the cutting off of water and electricity, which is beyond doubt, then, under the Genocide Convention, countries have obligations to use all means available to stop the genocide."

According to the official, the first step towards enacting the sanctions was to halt the supply of weapons to the regime.

"This is a demand of Islamic countries and was explicitly stated in the Jeddah summit resolution," he noted, referring to the resolution that was passed at the end of an Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in the Saudi city of Jeddah earlier this month.

"Countries must cease all trade relations with the regime. This is not limited to Islamic countries. Just two weeks ago, the African Union also addressed this issue in its resolutions," Baghaei said.

Negotiations under coercion meaningless

The spokesman also addressed the issue of potential negotiations with the United States.

"Negotiations under conditions or approaches based on coercion, bullying, and pressure are fundamentally meaningless, and the Islamic Republic of Iran has stated its position on this matter very clearly," he asserted.

The official was pointing to the US's way of retaining and ramping up its so-called policy of "maximum pressure" against Iran, including illegal and unilateral sanctions, and its refusal to return to its 2015 nuclear deal between the Islamic Republic and world powers that was aimed at lifting the bans, at the same time as alleging a desire to engage in talks with Tehran.

He then made mention of a "letter" that US President Donald Trump has claimed has written to Iranian officials.

"A day after this claim, a senior official close to the White House stated that the letter was written but not sent. Two nights ago, [Foreign Minister Abbas] Araghchi also said that we have not received such a letter," Baghaei said.

"From the very beginning, some analysts described the claim as a kind of media-psychological game, while others said it was a sign of confusion within the US administration and its bureaucratic system," he, meanwhile, noted.

The official clarified, however, that "no, no letter has been received."

The Islamic Republic, though, has never closed the door to negotiations in the true and correct sense of the word, he remarked, saying the country had continued its discussions with European countries over the recent months.

The spokesman reemphasized that Tehran did not accept negotiations based on intimidation and threats, and did not even consider such interactions to be negotiations in principle.

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Houthi calls Takfiris in Syria tools of foreign powers amid 'genocide', warns of consequences

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 March 2025 8:08 AM

The leader of Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement strongly condemns the recent deadly violence in the western coastal region of Syria as an object lesson for Arab and Muslim nations as well as a looming threat to the perpetrators of such crimes and their patrons.

Abdul-Malik al-Houthi made the remarks in a televised speech broadcast from the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, late on Sunday, on the ninth night of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

He warned that the consequences of the atrocities will be severe for the Takfiris themselves as well as their sponsors who think they are secure under the protection of the United States and certain European countries.

The Ansarullah chief described the criminal acts being committed by Takfiri groups in Syria as "fairly horrifying," stressing they must be denounced by anyone. He urged all those who still have a conscience to strive to stop such crimes.

Houthi emphasized that Takfiri militants are perpetrating genocidal crimes against defenseless Syrian civilians, stating the acts of violence recorded in videos and circulated on social media platforms expose their savagery and criminality.

"Takfiris in Syria are serving the interests of Israeli and American enemies by tearing apart Syria's social fabric. This comes as Americans and Zionists are seeking to portray themselves as the advocates and saviors of Syrian people," he said.

The Ansarullah leader pointed out that Israel has declared its protection for the Druze community in Syria's southern province of Sweida, stating that Takfiri groups do not dare to harm them and treat them with respect.

"Americans present themselves as protectors of Kurds in the areas where they are present [in northern Syria], arming and recruiting them. However, the rest of the Syrian society is targeted because they are neither under US protection like Kurds nor under Israeli patronage like members of the Druze minority," Houthi said.

He stated that Syrians are simply getting killed in cold blood, without any objection or criticism from the Arab and Muslim world.

Houthi also described the brutality and criminality of Takfiri groups in Syria as "an American-Zionist scheme," asserting they are their creation, nurtured and prepared for such a role.

The Ansarullah leader stated that Takfiris serve the Zionist objective of tarnishing the image of Islam.

"Had the militants been genuine warriors and engaged in true jihad (fight for God), they would have confronted the Israeli enemy. They are not pious; but rather criminals who adhere to falsehood," Houthi concluded.

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Armenian Minority Living In Fear After Violence Rocks Syria

By RFE/RL's Armenian Service March 10, 2025

Syrian authorities have ended a military operation against loyalists of former President Bashar Al-Assad in the western province of Latakia.

Days of fighting killed more than 1,500 people, including some 1,000 civilian members of Assad's Alawite minority. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group that documents the fighting, said security forces or allied militants carried out most of the killings.

The violence has sent shockwaves across Syria, where minorities were hoping for a new beginning after the Sunni Islamist rebels who toppled Assad promised to protect ethnic and religious minorities to preserve and reconcile the country's diverse society.

Killings Of Armenian Men

The reported killing of two Armenian men in the clashes in the northwestern city of Latakia has terrified members of the tiny Christian minority. Before the outbreak of the civil war in 2011, there were estimated to be more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians in Syria.

The Armenian government now believes that 30,000 Armenians remain in the country after more than 60,000 moved to Armenia and elsewhere.

"Everyone is afraid to speak," Hakob Altunyan, an ethnic Armenian from Latakia who now lives in Yerevan, told RFE/RL's Armenian Service. "They are afraid to go outside and speak on the phone."

Altunyan has been frantically calling friends and family in Latakia after the clashes in the region made global news.

"They launched an attack, entered the villages with tanks, and are shooting," a man Altunyan identified as his friend said in an audio message sent from Latakia.

"We've heard that they've burned down houses, and we don't know who is alive and who is dead," the man said in an audio message Altunyan shared with RFE/RL.

Since the outbreak of violence last week, Dalida Kahejyan, an exiled Syrian Armenian in Yerevan, has been regularly checking in on her daughter in Kessab, a mountainous town in Latakia near the Turkish border.

Schools And Churches Closed

"They have no electricity. Schools and churches there are closed," she told RFE/RL about the region predominantly populated by ethnic Armenians.

"They think about leaving," Kahejyan said of Kessab's residents. "But at present, their passports are not valid."

Some members of the Armenian community in Syria also have Armenian passports, which is part of Yerevan's effort to provide some security to the diaspora.

In an interview with Reuters on March 10, Ahmed Sharaa, Syria's interim president, said the mass killings of Alawites threatened his effort to unite Syrians. He reiterated his resolve to punish those responsible for the massacre, even if they were his allies.

Abubakar Siddique wrote this story based on RFE/RL's Armenian Service reporting.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/armenian- minority-syria/33343086.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.

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Syria: Children among the dead amid reports of mass killings and looting

By Vibhu Mishra

10 March 2025 - Children are feared to be among more than 1,000 people reportedly killed in fierce fighting over the weekend in Syria's coastal northwest, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has said.

According to Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF's Regional Director for the Middle East, a six-month-old baby was among at least 13 children reported to have been killed.

Clashes erupted on Friday between Syrian Caretaker Authority forces and soldiers loyal to the former Assad regime.

According to widely reported eyewitness accounts much of the killing occurred in Alawite neighbourhoods in the coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus, the traditional stronghold of support for the former regime. The Assad family belongs to the sect which is an offshoot of Shia Islam constituting around ten per cent of Syria's population.

Authorities announced on Monday that the operation had ended, amid reports of civilian casualties, looting, mass displacement and infrastructure damage, including to power lines and at least six hospitals and several ambulances.

"The escalation reportedly caused additional civilian casualties and injuries, the displacement of thousands of families, and damage to critical infrastructure," Mr. Beigbeder said in a statement late on Sunday.

He called on all parties to prioritise reconciliation and commit to a peaceful political transition, ensuring that Syria's children can survive, thrive, and reach their full potential.

"The children of Syria have suffered enough. They have the right to live in peace and hope for a better future," he stressed.

Protect civilians: UN chief

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over the violent escalation, especially the reports of widespread summary killings which includes "entire families", his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.

"The Secretary-General calls on all parties to protect civilians and stop inflammatory rhetoric and actions, as Syria contends with the legacy of 14 years of conflict and over five decades of authoritarian rule," Mr. Dujarric told reporters at the regular news briefing in New York.

The UN chief took note of the announcement by caretaker authorities of an investigative committee and a committee for the preservation of civil peace, stressing the urgency of inclusive and transparent transitional justice and lasting reconciliation measures.

His Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, briefed the Security Council in closed consultations on the situation and reaffirmed the UN's readiness to support an inclusive, Syrian-owned, and Syrian-led political transition, in line with Council resolution 2254 (2015).

Meaningfully address grievances

Mr. Guterres also warned of escalating tensions between different communities in Syria, calling for full accountability.

"In a context of widespread disinformation and heightened tensions, the Secretary-General also highlights the need to ensure and protect the space for independent media and human rights organizations to carry out their work of monitoring and verification and to shed light in a transparent manner on the reports and allegations," Mr. Dujarric said.

Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also voiced deep concern over the latest violence.

"These events, as well as the continuous spike in hate speech both online and offline, illustrate once again the urgent need for a comprehensive transitional justice process that is nationally owned, inclusive, and centred on truth, justice and accountability," he said in a statement on Sunday.

UN response efforts

UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said that UN aid teams are working urgently to reach civilians affected by the recent fighting.

In an post on social media, he warned that the clashes have left even more Syrians displaced, without access to basic aid and in danger.

Mr. Dujarric highlighted the devastating impact of the violence on civilians.

"As of yesterday, hundreds of people, including women and children, and medical personnel had been reportedly killed, thousands have ben reportedly been displaced, and many have fled into Lebanon seeking safety," he said.

He also reported extensive damage to critical infrastructure, as well as a blockade on the main highway, limiting humanitarian access.

According to UN estimates, 16.5 million people across Syria require humanitarian assistance.

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Statement by UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Adam Abdelmoula, on the recent hostilities in Syria, 10 March 2025

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Damascus 10 March 2025 -- Contrary to reports circulating in the social media and in some international media outlets, the United Nations has not deployed any fact-finding or investigative mission to the Syrian coastal area. Such missions can only be mandated by the UN Human Rights Council or the UN Security Council.

The UN's efforts on the ground remain focused on providing life-saving humanitarian assistance to those in need, while ensuring the safety and security of UN personnel, humanitarian partners and their dependents. The United Nations operates in strict adherence to humanitarian principles, maintaining neutrality, impartiality, and independence in all its actions.

The UN remains committed to addressing humanitarian needs with transparency and accuracy, and it urges all actors to rely on verified information when reporting on its activities. That said, I strongly condemn the violence that has so far claimed the lives of many civilians and call on all parties to show restraint and refrain from targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure.

For more information:

Ghalia Seifo, Public Information Officer, OCHA Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa, Mobile: +962 79 897 4125 | E-mail: seifo@un.org

Sevim Turkmani, Public Information Officer, OCHA Syria, E-mail: sevim.turkmani@un.org

10 March 2025

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Innovation drives central China's stroller industry to global markets

Xinhua) 15:06, March 11, 2025

WUHAN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- At a workshop in central China's Hubei Province, workers meticulously assemble stroller frames and components before packing them into boxes labeled in English, Japanese, and other languages, preparing them for shipment to international markets.

"With a daily shipment of over 2,000 units, our orders are fully booked until the second half of the year," said Deng Fangbo, deputy general manager of Hubei Ruizhi Children Appliances Co., Ltd., based in Hanchuan City.

The company secured numerous overseas clients at last year's China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, the longest-running comprehensive international trade event in China and a key barometer of the country's foreign trade.

"If we finalize the new orders currently in negotiation, we'll be busy for the entire year," Deng added.

Stroller manufacturing is a pillar of Hanchuan's foreign trade. The city is home to 43 stroller enterprises, producing 9.3 million units annually, with exports reaching 43 countries and regions.

In 2024, the industry's total output value exceeded 3.1 billion yuan (about 432.16 million U.S. dollars), marking a 10 percent year-on-year increase.

However, Hanchuan's rise as a global stroller hub was not without challenges.

Before 2000, the city's stroller industry primarily focused on domestic sales. When companies attempted to expand to overseas markets, outdated production techniques and technologies, and a lack of product differentiation posed significant obstacles.

"Some companies managed to secure overseas orders, only to have their products returned as they failed to meet customer expectations," recalled Zhong Shoucheng, secretary-general of the Hanchuan Stroller Association.

While the global market offered immense potential, it also demanded higher standards and continuous self-improvement from local manufacturers.

To overcome these challenges, manufacturers focused on innovation, supported by local government initiatives and corporate investment, resulting in a lasting transformation of the industry.

Companies embraced technological upgrades, increased research and development (R&D) spending, introduced advanced production equipment, and established product testing laboratories to enhance quality control.

The city also adopted European and American standards for stroller evaluation, assisted companies in registering international trademarks, and guided them in improving product quality to align with global market demands.

Like many companies, Hubei Ruizhi Children Appliances Co., Ltd. upgraded its production facilities and introduced intelligent manufacturing systems to enhance efficiency and quality.

Hubei Yangtian Plastic Products Co., Ltd. tailored its products to different regional preferences. "Russian customers prefer strollers with larger wheels and better insulation for snowy conditions, while Middle Eastern buyers favor gold and dark green designs. In Australia, brake pedals must meet the strict local safety standards," explained Pan Fan, the company's sales manager.

Meanwhile, Hubei Douhaha Technology Co., Ltd. has ventured into an emerging niche market -- pet strollers.

"The pet industry is booming, especially in developed countries where pet-related spending is on the rise," said Sun Bo, head of the company's factory. The company has leveraged its expertise in stroller manufacturing to innovate pet strollers, which have gained popularity in Japan, the Republic of Korea, and European countries.

The industry's rapid expansion has prompted several Hanchuan stroller manufacturers to build new factories and increase production capacity.

"The potential in overseas markets remains vast," said Zhong. With the rise of cross-border e-commerce and the growing reputation of Hanchuan-made strollers, local companies are now focused on strengthening industrial clusters, optimizing supply chains, and developing international marketing strategies to expand their global footprint further, he noted.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
UN chief alarmed at sudden spike in violence on Syrian coast

By Margaret Besheer March 10, 2025

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed alarm Monday at the sudden escalation of violence in Syria's coastal region, where security forces have clashed since Thursday with fighters loyal to former President Bashar al-Assad, killing hundreds of civilians.

"The bloodshed in Syria must stop immediately, he said, and perpetrators of violations must be held to account," Guterres' spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, told reporters. "The concerns of Syria's communities must be addressed in a meaningful manner."

Dujarric said the U.N. chief was alarmed by the scope of the violence that included "widespread summary killings, including of entire families, and the loss of one of our colleagues from UNRWA."

The staffer from the agency that assists Palestine refugees was caught in the crossfire last week on his way home from work during clashes between the cities of Homs and Latakia, UNRWA's commissioner-general said.

The fighters are members of the country's Alawite minority, the same religious group the Assad family belongs to. The Syrian authorities said their forces in the sect's coastal region near the port city of Latakia came under a calculated attack from Assad loyalists in an attempted insurrection that has now been put down. Scores of fighters on both sides were also reportedly killed in what was some of the worst fighting since the interim authorities seized power in mid-December.

The head of the caretaker government, Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former member of al-Qaida, announced Sunday there would be an independent investigation into all atrocities carried out against civilians and the security forces.

Earlier Monday, the U.N. Security Council met in a two-hour closed session requested jointly by the United States and Russia.

Diplomats said U.N. Syria envoy Geir Pedersen told them in a video briefing that tensions have been brewing for several weeks between Assad loyalists and the current authorities, erupting in sporadic clashes. But the recent violence, he said, appeared preplanned and coordinated, with fighters reportedly targeting military installations and public facilities such as hospitals.

Pedersen warned council members that the situation was dangerous and that violence could spread. He urged international support for a real political transition to prevent Syria from collapsing again.

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told reporters after the meeting that the 15-nation council is discussing issuing a presidential statement on the situation. Council statements require consensus, and Nebenzia said everyone "was pretty unanimous" on the gravity of the situation.

U.N. humanitarian officials said thousands of Syrians have reportedly been displaced in coastal areas, and thousands have crossed into neighboring Lebanon. Six hospitals and several ambulances have been affected in the fighting, and many hospitals in the coastal area are in urgent need of medical supplies.

Syria has been mired in civil war for the past 14 years, after the Assad regime brutally put down peaceful protests during the Arab Spring. Last month, the U.N. Development Program said recovery could take at least a decade and estimated the war had cost the Syrian economy $800 billion in losses since 2011.

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Military proposes punishing personnel who swear allegiance to China

ROC Central News Agency

03/10/2025 05:40 PM

Taipei, March 10 (CNA) Active duty military personnel in Taiwan could face up to seven years in prison for pledging allegiance to China, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Monday.

Under the MND's proposal, Article 24 of the Criminal Code of the Armed Forces would be amended to codify punishments for active duty military personnel who "express their allegiance to the enemy through words, actions, writings, pictures, and digital records."

In a news release, the MND said the proposed amendment is meant to curb the rampant increase in Taiwanese military personnel engaging in espionage activities on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

According to the MND, the CCP regularly uses coercion and promises of high monetary rewards to induce active-duty Taiwanese soldiers into swearing allegiance to the CCP by signing written documents, making videos and committing other acts.

This has seriously damaged Taiwan's national security, the MND said.

The MND called on military personnel to be loyal to their country and fulfill their duties in accordance with the Constitution and related laws.

Only a small number of Taiwanese soldiers have been found committing treason, and these individuals are facing legal consequences accordingly, the MND added.

Currently, Article 24 stipulates military personnel who surrender to an enemy will face the death penalty or a prison sentence between 10 years and life.

The article also states that a serviceperson found in dereliction of duty who surrenders to an enemy will face a maximum of seven years in prison.

The proposed amendments will have to clear the Cabinet and legislative floor before taking effect.

(By Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/ASG

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FM spokesperson responds to views holding Chinese mainland's policy toward Taiwan region becoming tougher

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Mar 10, 2025 04:55 PM

In response to a question that following Foreign Minister Wang Yi's remarks at the Two Sessions press conference that "the only reference to the Taiwan region in the UN is 'Taiwan, Province of China,'" some views hold that it shows the Chinese mainland's policy toward the Taiwan region is becoming tougher, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday that the UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, adopted in 1971, clearly stated that there is only one China in the world, Taiwan is not a country, and Taiwan is part of China. It affirmed that there is only one seat of China in the UN, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government that represents China.

Mao added that to uphold this resolution, the UN and its specialized agencies refer to the Taiwan region as "Taiwan, Province of China." The official legal opinions of the UN Office of Legal Affairs clearly state that "the United Nations considers 'Taiwan' as a province of China with no separate status," and this has been the consistent position of the UN, with records available for reference, she said.

Mao said that China's stance on the Taiwan question has been consistent and clear, and China always upholds the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus. It is willing to make the utmost effort with utmost sincerity to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification.

At the same time, China will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, resolutely opposing "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and external interference, Mao added.

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Taiwan considers prison for China sympathizers in military

Disloyal personnel could be jailed for up to 7 years.

By RFA Staff 2025.03.10 -- Taiwan's defense ministry is proposing a law that could bring a lengthy prison term for anyone deemed disloyal to its military, it said on Monday, adding the Chinese Communist Party tried to lure officers while its spying was becoming "rampant."

"Any active military personnel who express loyalty to the enemy through words, actions, texts, pictures, electromagnetic records, scientific and technological methods, etc., which is sufficient to cause military disadvantages, will be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than 1 year and not more than 7 years," the ministry said.

In recent years, the Taiwanese military, in cooperation with national security units, has cracked many espionage cases, it said in a statement.

"The Chinese Communist Party's intelligence gathering and espionage activities are becoming increasingly rampant," it said.

The Chinese side "uses money, investment, gambling and other methods to lure and recruit active-duty military personnel to sign written documents, shoot videos and other methods to swear allegiance to the enemy, which has seriously damaged national security," the ministry said.

A small number of officers and soldiers had "committed treason and crimes" and should be strictly punished, it said.

The ministry was working on a draft amendment to Article 24 of the Criminal Law of the Army, Navy and Air Force that would help "strengthen countermeasures against the Chinese Communist Party's infiltration and sabotage activities against the national military."

The amendment will be submitted to the island's government for review after completing the notice and legal procedures.

The National Security Bureau said in a recent report that the number of Taiwanese citizens charged with attempted espionage for China rose "significantly" to 64 last year from 10 in 2022 and 48 in 2022.

Seven retired military officials were prosecuted last year for activities such as giving China the coordinates and details of military bases and the de facto U.S. embassy in Taipei.

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.

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2025/03/10

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

Date

6 a.m. Mar. 9 (Sun.) to 6 a.m. Mar. 10 (Mon.) (UTC+8)

PLA activities

11 sorties of PLA aircraft and 9 PLAN ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 9 out of 11 sorties entered Taiwan's northern, southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

1140310_PLA activities1

1140310_PLA activities2

1140310_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan

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"Taiwan as province of China" is U.N.'s consistent position: Chinese spokesperson

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 08:12, March 11, 2025

BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- It has been clearly stated in official legal opinions of the Office of Legal Affairs of the U.N. Secretariat that "the United Nations considers 'Taiwan' as a province of China with no separate status," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stressed on Monday.

When responding to a question about Taiwan at a press conference on March 7, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that the only reference to the Taiwan region in the U.N. is "Taiwan, Province of China."

"This is the U.N.'s consistent position, which is well documented," Mao said at a daily briefing in response to a query about whether Wang's statement shows the Chinese mainland's tougher policy on Taiwan.

Resolution 2758 adopted in 1971 by the U.N. General Assembly made it clear that there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is not a country, and Taiwan is part of China, the spokesperson said.

She said it also made clear that there is only one seat of China in the United Nations, and the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal representative in the U.N.

"This resolution is observed by the U.N. and its specialized agencies as evidenced by their reference to Taiwan as 'Taiwan, Province of China,'" she said.

Mao stressed that on the Taiwan question, China's position is consistent and clear.

"We stay committed to the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus. We stand ready to work with the greatest sincerity and exert utmost efforts to achieve peaceful reunification. Meanwhile, China will take all necessary measures to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and firmly oppose 'Taiwan independence' separatism and external interference," she said.

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"As Turks, Arabs, Kurds, Sunnis and Alawites, we are friends and guardians of each other"

Presidency of The Republic of Turkey

10.03.2025

Delivering remarks following the Presidential Cabinet Meeting, President Erdogan said: "We have lived together and shared the same destiny in this geography for thousands of years. We will inshallah continue to live here side by side forever. As Turks, Arabs, Kurds, Sunnis and Alawites, we are friends and guardians of each other, and share the same destiny."

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a press conference following the Presidential Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Complex.

"WE ONCE AGAIN EXTEND OUR MESSAGES OF SOLIDARITY AND AFFECTION TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN SYRIA AND GAZA"

President Erdogan said: "In our neighbor Syria, our brothers and sisters are welcoming the holy month of Ramadan without the fear of bombs dropping on top of them for the first time following 14 years of oppression. Likewise, our Gazan brothers and sisters, who met the last Ramadan under Israel's atrocious attacks, are able to breathe a sigh of relief after 471 days in a fragile atmosphere enabled by the ceasefire. We once again extend our messages of solidarity and affection to our brothers and sisters in Syria and Gaza. I wholeheartedly wish for this Ramadan to lead to peace and tranquility in our country as well as in our region and beyond."

"WE CONDEMN ALL ACTS OF TERROR AND INTIMIDATION TARGETING SYRIA'S UNITY AND SOCIAL PEACE"

Drawing attention to the latest incidents in Syria, President Erdogan stated: "We are witnessing that the incidents have largely been brought under control through the effective intervention of the Syrian government forces but that the situation on the ground remains sensitive. Let me openly express that As Turkiye, we condemn in the strongest terms possible all attacks and all acts of terror and intimidation that target Syria's unity, solidarity and social peace. In the meantime, we are taking necessary measures to prevent any development against our country. Also, we are offering our advises to the Syrian authorities to ease the tension in the country as soon as possible. We welcome President Al-Sharaa's moderate, conciliatory and determined messages suggesting that those violating laws will be punished."

Stressing that Mr. Al-Sharaa has been following an inclusive and embracing policy without falling into the trap of revanchism since December 8, President Erdogan noted: "Maintaining this policy will disrupt the plots against Syria. We sincerely hope that Syria can achieve the environment of lasting peace and tranquility it has been missing for decades as soon as possible. I believe that all the Syrian people, including Arabs, Turkmens, Kurds, Druze and Nusayris, will act wisely and not allow those seeking to engulf the country in disintegration and instability."

"UNITY AND SOLIDARITY IS THE KEY TO PEACE IN OUR REGION"

"We have lived together and shared the same destiny in this geography for thousands of years. We will inshallah continue to live here side by side forever. As Turks, Arabs, Kurds, Sunnis and Alawites, we are friends and guardians of each other, and share the same destiny. So long as we keep division away from our gates, those feeding on Muslims' blood and tears can achieve nothing. Yet, no one can rescue us if we fall out with one another. Unity and solidarity is the key to peace in our region," President Erdogan stressed.

Noting that Turkiye has successfully passed the test of brotherhood both in Syria and Gaza, President Erdogan stated: "In the new period, we will continue to provide our neighbor Syria with every kind of support in our power for the country's recovery and for it to achieve peace with all its ethnic and sectarian groups. Just as we have not allowed any surgical operation on our country's lands, we will not allow any scheme regarding the lands of Syria, either."

"THERE CAN BE NO LASTING PEACE WITHOUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF RUSSIA AND UKRAINE"

Touching upon the recent developments in the Russia-Ukraine war, President Erdogan said: "The latest debates within the context of Ukraine seem to raise concerns among EU member states. To be honest, the EU is trying to handle one of the greatest security challenges in the recent period. The importance of the balanced, coherent and principled stance Turkiye has displayed from the very beginning of the war is being better understood today. We emphasize at every opportunity that there can be no lasting peace without the involvement of Russia and Ukraine."

"WE WANT TO STRENGTHEN OUR RELATIONS WITH THE EU WITH AN APPROACH FOCUSED ON FULL MEMBERSHIP"

President Erdogan added: "We want to strengthen our relations with the EU on the basis of common interests and mutual respect and with an approach focused on full membership. We would like to remind them once more that Turkiye is the last exit before the bridge. We expect our European friends to understand Turkiye's role in the world that is being restructured and determine their strategies accordingly. I believe that once a unity of understanding is established, the relations between Turkiye and Europe will rapidly flourish in all areas."

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PM call with President Trump of the United States: 10 March 2025

The Prime Minister spoke to President Trump ahead of the US Ukraine dialogue in Saudi Arabia.

10 March 2025

The Prime Minister spoke to President Trump ahead of the US Ukraine dialogue in Saudi Arabia.

The Prime Minister said that UK officials had been speaking to Ukraine officials over the weekend and they remain committed to a lasting peace.

The Prime Minister said he hoped there would be a positive outcome to the talks that would enable US aid and intelligence sharing to be restarted.

The two leaders also spoke about the economic deal they had discussed at the White House and the Prime Minister welcomed the detailed conversations that had already happened to move this forward. Both leaders agreed to stay in touch.

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Finland grants EUR 16 million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland

Press releases, 10.3.2025

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has made decisions on humanitarian assistance, prioritising Ukraine, major refugee crises in Africa and the humanitarian situation in the Middle East. Funding is also granted for supporting school meals and promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities. The amount of humanitarian assistance now granted totals EUR 36.5 million, of which EUR 16 million is allocated to Ukraine.

The humanitarian situation in Ukraine remains dire over three years on from the Russian invasion. The situation has deteriorated especially in the front line. Finland is providing a total of EUR 16 million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine from the budget item 'Support for Ukraine'. The aid will be channelled through UN humanitarian agencies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

"Finland has supported Ukraine's humanitarian needs since the first day of Russia's war of aggression and will continue to do so also in the future. The need for humanitarian aid in Ukraine is enormous, and our assistance is important," says Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio.

Finland is also granting assistance to address major refugee crises in Africa and the humanitarian situation in the Middle East. Finland provides EUR 2 million in support for the World Food Programme's (WFP) operation in Sudan, EUR 2.5 million for the WFP's operation in Gaza and EUR 2 million for the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR's regional operation in Syria, among other operations. Support is also granted to Ethiopia, to the Horn of Africa and to the Great Lakes and the Sahel regions. In Asia, Finland supports Afghanistan and Myanmar through the International Red Cross Movement.

Finland also provides EUR 2 million in funding for the WFP's and UNHCR's work on disability inclusion. The aid is targeted at persons with disabilities, who are often in the most vulnerable position. In addition, EUR 2 million is granted for developing the WFP's school meals activities and supporting school meals, especially in Africa.

In addition to these decisions, Finland grants core funding to multilateral humanitarian organisations. Moreover, preparations are under way for humanitarian assistance that will be channelled through Finnish civil society organisations. The rest of the budgeted humanitarian funding will be granted later in the year.

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US, Ukraine to talk in Saudi Arabia as Russia makes advances in Kursk region

Global Times

By Zhao Yusha Published: Mar 10, 2025 09:57 PM

Delegations from the US and Ukraine are set to sit down at the negotiation table in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, after a public spat between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House last month, which was followed by the US pausing military aid to Ukraine and stopped sharing intelligence.

Negotiations are being employed by Washington to gauge Kiev's willingness to make concessions aimed at resolving the conflict. Meanwhile, for Ukraine, this represents an opportunity to persuade the US to resume aid, according to media reports.

The negotiations between the US and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia will take place against the backdrop of Russia's advances in the Kursk region. Chinese experts suggest that US' ability to navigate peace talks is increasingly affected by the imbalance on the battlefield between Russia and Ukraine.

The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz are due to arrive in Saudi Arabia for Tuesday's talks, and the Ukrainian team will be represented by Zelensky's head of office Andriy Yermak, the country's national security adviser as well as foreign and defense ministers, the BBC reported.

The US delegation will also be watching for signs that the Ukrainians are serious about improving ties with the Trump administration after a meeting between Trump and Zelensky devolved into an argument last month, Reuters quoted an US official as saying.

Officials briefed on preparations for the negotiations in Saudi Arabia said Kiev was set to propose a partial ceasefire with Russia for long-range drone and missile strikes and combat operations in the Black Sea, in the hope that the talks would lead Washington to reverse its decision to freeze intelligence sharing and weaponry supplies, per the Financial Times.

Hanging over Jeddah is the fate of a minerals deal between the US and Ukraine, which Kiev wants to include a US security guarantee in exchange for access to certain mineral resources in Ukraine. Trump said on Sunday he thought Ukraine would sign it, reported Reuters.

"They will sign the minerals deal but I want them to want peace... They haven't shown it to the extent they should," said Trump.

Days after their shouting match in the White House, Zelensky described the meeting as a "regrettable" gathering and also wrote that he is ready to sign the minerals deal, arguing it would be a "step toward greater security and solid security guarantees."

The US continues to share some intelligence with Ukraine to assist with defense operations, but not for attacks on Russian troops, CNN reported on Friday, citing two anonymous defense officials.

The negotiation is likely to involve concessions from both sides, with Ukraine potentially agreeing to a minerals deal and the US resuming certain security guarantees on a pro forma basis, Cui Heng, a scholar at the Shanghai-based China National Institute for SCO International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation, told the Global Times.

Russian forces have regained control of three settlements in the Kursk region, its Defense Ministry said Sunday, after the US freeze on military and intelligence aid on Ukraine, according to Xinhua News Agency.

In what the BBC described as "a sharp change in tone," Trump has said on Friday he is "strongly considering large-scale sanctions" and tariffs on Russia until a ceasefire and peace deal with Ukraine is reached. Trump said he was contemplating the move because "Russia is absolutely 'pounding' Ukraine on the battlefield right now."

Trump is using carrot-and-stick approach to both Russia and Ukraine, said Cui.

As Russia's advances on the battlefield have increased the stakes at the negotiation table, they have also created an imbalance of power, as this disrupts US' plan for ceasefire talks, Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times.

"In this regard, the room for the US to maneuver in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine is further limited with unclear prospect," Li added.

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Baiba Braze in London: the United Kingdom is one of Latvia's closest allies in security and support for Ukraine

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

10.03.2025

"The United Kingdom is one of Latvia's most important allies in the areas of security and defence, and we are close allies both in NATO and in relations with the EU, regionally and bilaterally alike. I would like to thank the United Kingdom for its strong stance against Russia's war of aggression on Ukraine and for its comprehensive support to Ukraine. Ukraine is Europe, and Ukraine defends the security interests of Europe as a whole. Together with our NATO allies, we have recognized Russia as a threat to the overall Euro-Atlantic security. A weakened Russia will be the best security guarantee for all of Europe; therefore, an even greater economic pressure must be exerted on Russia, including by strengthening sanctions," emphasized the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braze, as she met with members of the United Kingdom's government and Parliament during her working visit.

The officials were of the same mind concerning the current situation in Ukraine - Europe must continue all kinds of support for Ukraine to strengthen its position on the battlefield and in the upcoming peace talks. The officials also discussed the regular hybrid threats and other unconventional attacks on the part of Russia - cyber-attacks, information manipulation, instrumentalisation of migration, attempts to influence internal electoral processes, sabotage, and recent incidents of cable damage in the Baltic Sea.

In relation to European security challenges, the officials were unanimous on the need to increase defence funding, which can simultaneously contribute to the economies of European countries.

Baiba Braze noted that in 2025, Latvia's defence expenditure has reached the highest figure in its history - over 1.5 billion euros or 3.45% of GDP. At least 4% of GDP has been envisaged for defence purposes in the following years, and 5% of GDP afterwards.

"In the current geopolitical reality, we can no longer speak about a strong and globally competitive Europe without a new approach to security and defence financing. NATO is strong, but the allies must increase their defence spending: Europe must take the lead and assume greater responsibility for its security. Europe must be able to finance real defence capabilities, and the military industry - to produce them," Foreign Minister Baiba Braze emphasised.

She thanked the United Kingdom for its leadership in the international Drone Coalition: its total support for Ukraine's drone capabilities in 2024 reached EUR 1.8 billion. Latvia allocated EUR 20 million for the needs of the Drone Coalition last year and will do the same this year. In 2024, Latvia supplied around 5,000 drones to Ukraine.

The Foreign Minister participated in a discussion on security in Europe held at one of the world's leading global policy think-tanks, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House. Baiba Braze underlined the importance of the NATO Alliance and the transatlantic link and the need to continue broad-based support for Ukraine, while simultaneously undermining Russia, whose economy is in a bad shape due to sanctions and international isolation.

The officials exchanged views on the European Union - the United Kingdom summit on resetting relationship scheduled for 19 May. Latvia stands for ambitious cooperation in (1) foreign affairs and security, (2) safety of citizens, and (3) trade and economic growth, including cooperation in the field of energy. The United Kingdom is one of Latvia's most important partners in bilateral trade; condequently, Latvia will benefit from deepening economic cooperation between the United Kingdom and the EU. We are particularly interested in mobilising the trade and investment potential in the sectors of high-tech, defence, and the green and smart technology.

Deepening of cooperation between Parliaments of the two countries, especially the potential for cooperation in the security industry and defence, was discussed with representatives of the United Kingdom Parliament.

As part of her visit, the minister met with the Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, Caroline Nokes, members of the UK Parliament Defence Committee, and the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds. The member of the UK government reiterated apologies and affirmed that the leaders of the Baltic states will not be further excluded from talks on support for Ukraine and security in Europe on further occasions.

The Minister engaged in a discussion with the Latvian community on current developments in Latvia and Europe and on global issues. She encouraged the diaspora organisations and media to be active in the fight against disinformation and in awareness raising among the public, thereby strengthening societal resilience.

Baiba Braze also met with the Dean of London Business School, Sergei Guriev, as well as giving interviews to international media - The Times, BBC Radio 4, and others.

From 5 to 7 March 2025, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braze, was in the UK, London, for a working visit.

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Gitanas Nauseda and the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine discussed Ukraine's EU membership

President of the Republic of Lithuania

March 10, 2025

On Monday, President Gitanas Nauseda met with Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, who arrived in Lithuania. Their discussions focused on key issues, including regional security, Ukraine's EU membership, and support for Ukraine.

Gitanas Nauseda thanked Ruslan Stefanchuk for visiting Lithuania on 11 March, the day of the restoration of Lithuania's independence. "This day is of immense significance to us, symbolizing the restoration of Lithuania's freedom and sovereignty. Today, we stand in full support of the unwavering will, determination, and sacrifice of Ukrainians in their fight for freedom," President Gitanas Nauseda underlined.

The Lithuanian leader informed the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada that at last week's special European Council meeting on Ukraine and EU defense, he urged European leaders to provide Ukraine with real and firm security guarantees, rather than seek a quick ceasefire.

Gitanas Nauseda stressed that the most effective guarantee of Ukraine's security is its NATO and the European Union membership. The President reiterated the goal of accelerating Ukraine's integration into the EU and the proposal to set 1 January 2030 as the target date for membership. He stressed that to achieve this, the Verkhovna Rada will have to undertake significant homeworkby preliminary estimates, at least 500 legal acts need to be adopted to meet EU membership criteria, with most of them to be passed by the end of 2027.

On possible peace talks, the President stressed that any agreement based on Russia's demands for Ukraine to adopt neutrality, to limit its armed forces, or to restrict its cooperation with the West would be detrimental to both Ukraine and Europe as a whole. Gitanas Nauseda reiterated that there can be no discussions about Ukraine without Ukraine, and no discussions about Europe without Europe.

The President also reaffirmed Lithuania's steadfast and consistent position on supporting Ukraine, emphasizing the need for long-term military commitments and greater economic pressure on Russia. "We need to impose new sanctions on Russia and redirect its frozen assets toward Ukraine's reconstruction. Russia must pay for its actions," the Head of State said.



The President's Communication Group

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Musk, Rubio clash with Polish minister over Starlink use in Ukraine

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 14:07, March 10, 2025

WASHINGTON, March 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. tech billionaire Elon Musk and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday had an online clash with Poland's foreign minister over Starlink use in Ukraine.

Musk, chief executive officer of the aerospace company SpaceX, wrote on social platform X that "my Starlink system is the backbone of the Ukrainian army," and "Their entire front line would collapse if I turned it off."

In response, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski wrote on X that Starlinks for Ukraine are paid for by the Polish Digitization Ministry at the cost of about 50 million U.S. dollars per year.

"The ethics of threatening the victim of aggression apart, if SpaceX proves to be an unreliable provider we will be forced to look for other suppliers," he said.

Rubio accused the Polish minister of "just making things up."

"No one has made any threats about cutting Ukraine off from Starlink. And say thank you because without Starlink Ukraine would have lost this war long ago and Russians would be on the border with Poland right now," he added.

Musk then explained: "I am simply stating that, without Starlink, the Ukrainian lines would collapse, as the Russians can jam all other communications! We would never do such a thing or use it as a bargaining chip."

Starlink has been widely used by Ukrainian forces during its conflict with Russia. U.S. negotiators have reportedly threatened to cut off Ukraine's access to Starlink if an agreement on the country's critical minerals and other resources cannot be reached.

The Trump administration had announced a suspension of weapon deliveries to Ukraine and halted intelligence sharing after a heated Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky more than a week ago.

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US-Ukraine Talks In Saudi Arabia: 4 Things To Watch Ahead Of Crucial Peace Negotiations

By Reid Standish March 10, 2025

During their fiery blow up at the Oval Office, US President Donald Trump told his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, that "you don't have the cards right now."

Trump's comment last month referred to Kyiv's perceived weak hand in the face of battlefield gains by Russia and a White House eager to bring the three-year war to an end.

Now, as Zelenskyy arrives in Saudi Arabia -- where a Ukrainian negotiating team will then engage in high-stakes talks with US officials on March 11 about a potential peace deal -- Kyiv's cards will be on full display.

"Ukraine has the weakest hand at the table," said Michael Froman, president of the Council on Foreign Relations. "As Trump and his emissaries have made clear, Washington is not inclined to indefinitely support Kyiv."

Since that White House argument in late February, Washington has upped the pressure on Ukraine, pausing military aid and suspending intelligence sharing. A crucial US-Ukraine minerals deal also remains unsigned.

Trump has expressed optimism about the talks, telling reporters that "we're going to make a lot of progress, I believe, this week." Zelenskyy said before traveling to Saudi Arabia that he will "continue to work for the sake of peace."

"Now comes time for a new round of betting," said Froman. "What is Ukraine's bottom line, both with the United States and with Russia? What American chips is Trump willing to wager to strike not just any deal, but a deal that creates a just and durable peace?"

Who Will Be At US-Ukraine Talks?

The one-day talks in Saudi Arabia will be the first meetings between Ukrainian and US officials since Zelenskyy's tense White House visit.

They also come nearly a month after US and Russian officials held talks in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, about ending the war in Ukraine -- without the presence of Kyiv.

The Ukrainian president will travel to Saudi Arabia and meet with Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman on March 10.

The Ukrainian negotiating team will stay in the country to meet with their American counterparts the next day. Kyiv's delegation will include Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

The US-Ukraine talks will take place in the Saudi city of Jeddah. The American negotiating team will be led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and include US national-security adviser Mike Waltz.

Trump's envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, who attended the Riyadh talks, was slated to attend. But reports now indicate that he may travel to Qatar for talks over the fragile Israeli-Hamas cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.

What Does The US Want From Ukraine At The Talks?

Trump has said Ukraine is running out of manpower and resources, and that it needs to quickly come to the negotiating table with Russia.

A central focus of the talks in Jeddah will be US and Ukrainian officials gauging what kind of peace process is possible.

Witkoff said last week that he hoped to discuss a "framework" for a potential cease-fire and peace deal during the talks.

US officials will also be looking to see where Kyiv is willing to compromise. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Kyiv has called for the return of all its territory and the complete withdrawal of Russian forces.

Comments by Trump and other US officials indicate that this position is not seen as realistic in the White House.

Sequencing for the peace process to achieve a deal could also be on the table, including issues such as an early cease-fire to establish trust, prisoner exchanges, and potentially, at some point, elections in Ukraine.

Ahead of the talks, Serhiy Leshchenko, an adviser to the head of the Ukrainian President's Office, said at a press conference that Kyiv is prepared to accept a cease-fire for air attacks and at sea, but not yet for fighting on the battlefield.

"You want a truce  we are ready," he said. "However, not on land, where [Russian President Vladimir] Putin will be able to take a truce for several months: treat the wounded, recruit infantry in North Korea , and then resume this war."

In exchange for concessions from Ukraine, the Trump administration could look to restore the flow of military aid and intelligence-sharing.

Trump said on March 9 that the United States had "just about" ended its suspension of sharing intelligence with Ukraine, indicating that it could resume with a positive result in Saudi Arabia.

Does Ukraine Have Any Bargaining Power?

Zelenskyy has been under strong US pressure to make concessions ahead of any peace talks and has been pushing for firm security guarantees for Kyiv, which he so far has not received.

US special envoy Keith Kellogg described the mounting pressure brought by the cutoff of military supplies and halt in intelligence cooperation as "hitting a mule with a 2x4 across the nose."

Also hanging over the meeting in Jeddah is the fate of the minerals deal between the United States and Ukraine. Kyiv wanted to include a clear US security guarantee in exchange for access to certain mineral resources in Ukraine, a demand rejected by Washington.

That agreement was put on ice during Zelenskyy's Washington visit, but both sides have expressed a renewed willingness to sign the deal. Ahead of the upcoming talks, Trump said he thought Ukraine would sign it.

During his recent interview, Kellogg indicated that this may be Kyiv's best option.

"If the United States has direct economic interest in Ukraine, then the United States has a direct and vested interest to protect its economic interests as well - which serves, in fact, as a de facto ... security guarantee for Ukraine," he said.

What About Russia?

Russia will not be at the table in Saudi Arabia this time, but what Moscow is willing to concede -- if anything -- is a question also hanging over the US-Ukraine meetings.

Zelenskyy has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want peace, and stressed that the Russian leader has violated previous cease-fire deals.

Ukraine's European allies have argued that Kyiv can only strike a deal with Russia from a position of strength and that Ukraine should not be rushed to the negotiating table.

Despite those considerations, Ukraine is under pressure to compromise and any corresponding moves by the United States to push Moscow to make concessions has not been made public.

Thomas Graham, a former Russia director for the National Security Council under President George W. Bush who maintains contact with officials in Moscow, says that "the Kremlin has not budged from its maximal demands for ending the conflict."

Moscow continues to push for keeping Ukraine out of NATO, recognition of the Ukrainian territory it occupies, Ukraine's demilitarization, and lifting Western sanctions against Russia's economy.

"The Kremlin welcomes more sequential steps that erode Ukraine's position, such as the US decision to suspend arms shipments to Ukraine, which a Kremlin spokesperson called 'the best contribution to the cause of peace,'" said Graham.

RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service contributed reporting to this story.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-ukraine-saudi-talks- trump-zelenskyy-peace-deal/33342486.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.

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Are The Ukrainian Army's Days In Russia's Kursk Region Numbered?

By Ivan Gutterman and Wojtek Grojec March 10, 2025

Thousands of Ukrainian soldiers seized roughly 1,300 square kilometers of Russia's western Kursk region in August.

Kyiv later characterized the move as an attempt to gain a bargaining chip for future negotiations and draw Russian troops away from the front line in eastern Ukraine.

But seven months on, Ukraine is rapidly losing ground there to Russian forces backed by allied North Korean troops.

"There is a feeling that the Ukrainian armed forces are generally ready to leave the Kursk region," Yan Matveyev, an independent military analyst, told RFE/RL.

Ukraine's hold on territory in Kursk is more tenuous than at any other point since August, experts said.

Kyiv still controls most of Sudzha, the local district capital, and other settlements. But reports suggest that Russian forces have broken through the defensive lines north of the town in recent days.

According to reports, Russian soldiers crept through a disused underground gas pipeline to covertly penetrate Ukrainian positions in Sudzha.

Russia has also advanced in multiple areas in Ukraine along the border in recent days.

Reports say Russian troops have captured the Ukrainian village of Novenke and cut off Sudzha from the Ukrainian-controlled Russian village of Guyevo.

These advances have put Russian forces within five kilometers of Ukraine's N07 highway, the main road used for logistics, allowing them to severely complicate the movement of Ukrainian troops and hardware.

"The enemy is trying to cut the main supply routes... the current weather hinders the creation of secondary supply routes -- it's muddy and cars get stuck in all the mud," Anton Serbin, commander of the Ukrainian 104th Territorial Defense brigade's drone group, told RFE/RL.

Matveyev, the military analyst, said Ukrainian forces "have problems with logistics after they lost control of some routes and roads connecting them with supplies, and they have been under intensified drone attacks in recent weeks."

Losing Kursk would be a blow to Ukraine ahead of possible peace talks pushed by US President Donald Trump.

Zelenskyy has said the territories in Kursk controlled by Kyiv could be swapped for Ukrainian territory held by Moscow.

Experts have previously suggested that Russian-occupied land in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, the only part of Ukraine where Russia holds territory without claiming it as Russian, could be regained in such a swap.

Are Russian Offensives Elsewhere On Hold?

While Russia makes gains near Sudzha, its offensive in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region has mostly stalled.

Ukrainian forces have reportedly retaken several small pockets of territory near the key logistical hub of Pokrovsk, where Russia faces major logistical issues due to Ukraine's use of drones, experts said.

A Russian victory over Ukraine in Kursk could free up significant forces to renew the Russian push in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhya regions.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kursk-russia-war- frontline-losses/33342928.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.

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Russia Steps Up Attacks, Battlefield Gains As Trump Questions Ukraine's Survival

By RFE/RL March 10, 2025 Updated

Russian forces have carried out more than 2,100 aerial strikes on Ukraine over the past week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on March 9, as Russia has stepped up attacks on its neighbor and reported battlefield gains ahead of Kyiv's high-stakes talks with US representatives in Saudi Arabia.

It comes as US President Donald Trump questioned the long-term viability of Ukraine itself. When asked in a Fox Business TV interview whether he was worried that decreased US support for Ukraine could endanger that country's survival, he responded: "Well, it may not survive anyway."

"But, you know, we have some weaknesses with Russia -- you know, it takes two," Trump added.

Zelenskyy said in a social media post that Russian forces this week deployed 1,200 guided aerial bombs, nearly 870 attack drones, and more than 80 missiles of various types.

The Russian Defense Ministry, meanwhile, announced the recapture of several villages and towns on March 9 in its Kursk region -- as well as new settlements in eastern Ukraine -- with unconfirmed reports that thousands of Ukrainian troops risk being encircled by Russian forces.

It comes a day after Russian air strikes killed at least 50 people in the eastern Donetsk region, according to local officials, with at least 11 deaths reported in the city of Dobropillya.

"Such strikes show that Russia's goals are unchanged," Zelenskyy wrote on social media late on March 8. "Therefore, it is very important to continue to do everything to protect life, strengthen our air defense, and increase sanctions against Russia."

The series of strikes and battlefield pressure represent another setback for Kyiv ahead of crucial talks with the United States next week in Saudi Arabia, where Ukrainian officials will meet with their US counterparts for negotiations around how to end the three-year war.

The Institute For The Study of War, a Washington-based think tank that tracks battlefield developments, said Russian forces have "intensified their multidirectional campaign to eliminate the remaining Ukrainian salient in Kursk" in the last two days.

According to DeepState, an open-source military tracker linked to the Ukrainian Army, the Russian moves followed a "breach" in Ukrainian defense lines near the town of Sudzha, which remains under Kyiv's control but is facing growing pressure from Russian units.

Pro-Russian war bloggers who closely track frontline developments in the war also reported that Russian special forces walked inside a gas pipeline to strike Ukrainian units from the rear in Kursk late on March 8 to gain a foothold outside of Sudzha.

According to the reports, the pipeline was used to surprise Ukrainian units and cut off their supply lines as the Kremlin pours more manpower into kicking Kyiv out of Russian territory.

RFE/RL was not able to independently verify the accounts, but Ukrainian officials confirmed that Russian "sabotage and assault groups" used the pipeline to get access to Sudzha.

"At present, Russian special forces are being detected, blocked, and destroyed. The enemy's losses in Sudzha are very high," Ukraine's General Staff said in a Telegram post on March 8.

Ukraine aimed to hit back by launching a drone overnight at an industrial facility in the Russian region of Chuvashia, some 1,300 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The strike is one of the deepest yet into Russian territory by a Ukrainian drone, and it hit its target but caused no casualties, according to Russian authorities.

Ousting Ukrainian forces from Kursk with the talks in Saudi Arabia approaching looks to be part of Moscow's strategy. In August 2024, thousands of Ukrainian soldiers seized roughly 1,300 square kilometers of Russia's western Kursk region, a move which Kyiv later characterized as an attempt to gain a bargaining chip for future negotiations and draw Russian troops away from the front line in eastern Ukraine.

Russian forces have managed to claw back large chunks of territory in Kursk, but Ukraine has retained a foothold that now risks being shrunk down further leading into the key talks.

Ukraine 'Fully Committed' To US Talks

With his attention fixed on the upcoming talks, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is "fully committed" to having a constructive dialogue with US representatives in Saudi Arabia next week over a potential peace settlement.

"Ukraine has been seeking peace from the very first second of this war. Realistic proposals are on the table. The key is to move quickly and effectively," he posted on X.

The Ukrainian president said he will travel to Saudi Arabia and meet with Saudi Prince Muhammad bin Salman on March 10. Afterward, a delegation of Ukrainian diplomatic and military representatives will stay for a March 11 meeting with a US negotiating team.

"On our side, we are fully committed to constructive dialogue, and we hope to discuss and agree on the necessary decisions and steps," Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy will not be part of the US-Ukraine talks, which will instead be done by a delegation including Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

They will meet with a US delegation that will reportedly include Trump's envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and national-security adviser Mike Waltz. Rubio departed for Saudi Arabia late on March 9, the State Department said.

In remarks late on March 9, Trump told reporters he expects results from the Saudi talks.

"We're going to make a lot of progress, I believe, this week," Trump said.

The upcoming talks in Saudi Arabia are the culmination of weeks of tough diplomacy and negotiations spearheaded by Washington since it met with a Russian delegation in Riyadh in February.

US-Ukraine ties have since frayed, with tensions culminating in an Oval Office argument in late February between Zelenskyy, Trump, and US Vice President JD Vance that saw the Ukrainian president leave the White House without signing a crucial minerals deal with Washington.

Since then, the Trump administration has paused military shipments and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. The full extent of the intelligence cutoff is unclear, but it has sparked fears that it could lead to Ukrainian setbacks on the front lines as Russia looks to press for the advantage.

In his March 9 remarks to reporters, Trump said he believed Ukraine would eventually sign a minerals deal with the United States. But -- amid reports he would want even more actions out of Kyiv -- Trump added that "I want them to want peace. They haven't shown it to the extent they should."

European countries like Britain and France have stepped up to provide more intelligence sharing with Ukraine but are reportedly still not able to replace the full scope of US capabilities.

Waltz suggested on March 5 that Trump may lift the pause on military aid once peace negotiations are arranged and confidence-building measures take place.

When asked on March 9 whether he would end the suspension of intelligence-sharing with Kyiv, Trump said, without elaborating, that "we just about have. We just about have."

In the days leading up to the talks, Trump offered criticism of Moscow's increased attacks on Ukraine in the lead up to talks and mentioned potential sanctions against the Kremlin.

But he also said Russian President Vladimir Putin was "doing what anybody would do" and he told reporters in the Oval Office on March 7 that he finds it "easier" to work with Russia than Ukraine and that Putin "wants to end the war."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-trump- saudi-arabia-talks-kursk-battlefield-war/33341436.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.

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Zelenskyy Arrives In Saudi Arabia Ahead Of High-Stakes US-Ukraine Talks

By RFE/RL March 10, 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Saudi Arabia on March 10 where he is scheduled to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, the de facto ruler of the kingdom.

Zelenskyy's trip comes a day before crunch talks between Ukrainian and US delegations in the Saudi city of Jeddah aimed at ending Russia's three-year war on Ukraine.

The US, Ukraine's main military supporter, is pushing for a quick conclusion to the conflict by engaging in direct talks with Moscow while halting military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv.

The US-Ukrainian talks on March 11 will be the first formal meeting since an Oval Office argument between Zelenskyy, US President Trump, and US Vice President JD Vance on February 28 that saw the Ukrainian president publicly berated and asked to leave the White House.

Zelenskyy said he will not be part of the US-Ukraine talks in Jeddah. Kyiv's delegation will include Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, Zelenskyy's chief of staff Andriy Yermak, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

They will meet with a US delegation that is expected to include Trump's envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and national-security adviser Mike Waltz. Rubio departed for Saudi Arabia late on March 9.

"On our side, we are fully committed to constructive dialogue, and we hope to discuss and agree on the necessary decisions and steps," Zelenskyy said in a March 9 post on X. "Realistic proposals are on the table. The key is to move quickly and effectively."

Kyiv is likely to propose a peace plan outlined by Zelenskyy that includes an air and sea truce as the first step.

Witkoff said in an interview with Fox News before leaving the United States that he had high hopes going into the talks, which would touch on territorial claims and security protocols.

"I think that we're going over there with an expectation that we're going to make substantial progress," he said, adding that he's "really hopeful."

"All the signs are very, very positive."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a key mediator between Washington and Kyiv, said he spoke with Trump on March 10 about the upcoming talks in Jeddah. Starmer said he hoped the outcome would persuade Trump to restart intelligence sharing and weapons shipments to Ukraine.

The White House last week announced it was halting weapons shipments and intelligence sharing, claiming Ukraine wasn't committed to peace.

During the blow up at the White House, Trump accused Zelenskyy of acting like a "tough guy" because he had the backing of the US.

Witkoff told Fox News that the US had not cut off defensive intelligence sharing while Trump said late on March 9 that the US "just about" restored intelligence sharing.

Zelenskyy is under intense pressure from Washington to quickly agree a cease-fire with Russia, despite no pledge of a US security guarantee. But so far, Moscow has not shown interest in a cessation of hostilities.

Russia has stepped up attacks on its neighbor and reported battlefield gains in recent days.

On March 9, Trump suggested that Ukraine may not be able to withstand the war against Russia even with US support.

In an interview with Fox News, Trump defended his decision to reduce support to Ukraine, saying: "Well, it may not survive anyway."

Trump also repeated his claim that Zelenskyy was not "grateful" for US support but did describe the Ukrainian president as "smart" and "tough."

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the recapture of several villages and towns on March 9 in its Kursk region -- -- as well as new settlements in eastern Ukraine -- with unconfirmed reports that thousands of Ukrainian troops risks being encircled by Russian forces.

Russia has been making territorial gains in eastern Ukraine since early 2024. However, military analysts say that Russia -- which now occupies about 20 percent of Ukraine -- can not continue the scale of its current offensive much longer due to significant losses of troops and equipment.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-zelenskyy-saudi- jeddah-trump/33342270.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.

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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's interview with the New Regions of Russia magazine, March 10, 2025

10 March 2025 12:00

375-10-03-2025



Question: Which general international and foreign political conclusions - both positive and negative - can Russia draw after three years of the special military operation? Did we get the very "experience, the son of difficult errors," in the words of the classic?

Sergey Lavrov: The last three years became the "moment of truth" of a kind. Following the launch of the special military operation to protect the people of Donbass and Novorossiya, the collective West showed what it is worth. Both the infamous rule of law and basic rules of decency were cast aside. The so-called European values, such as inviolability of property, presumption of innocence, freedom of speech and movement, access to information and so forth vanished into thin air. Those who got used to teach everyone how to live, declared themselves democrats and advocates of human rights supported the Neo-Nazi regime in Kiev without blinking an eye.

The whole world saw that ultraliberal ruling elites of the West are driven by hegemonistic instincts. The predatory, colonial habits of the former parent states from among the current EU and British countries, or their innate vices - arrogance, a tendency to deceive and dishonesty in doing business - have not gone away. A new global divide was formed de-facto with the western minority on one side, and the World majority on the other. These are all countries, as well as people of goodwill in the West, who stand for the establishment of a multipolar world supported by a balance of interests.

I believe the main lesson is as follows: we must rely on ourselves in main issues of the functioning of the country and our trusted friends who stayed with us in difficult times.

As far as co-existence with western neighbours is concerned, everything will depend on their behaviour and readiness to admit and correct errors made, including renouncing the maniac aspiration to inflict a strategic defeat on our country.

Question: Do you support the opinion that US President Donald Trump must take an active participation in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and become a sort of a peacemaker?

Sergey Lavrov: I would not like to run too far ahead. As President of Russia Vladimir Putin said a number of times, we are always ready for talks. Yet, our national interests must be guaranteed. The root cause of the conflict in Ukraine must be eradicated - the President highlighted this aspect of the utmost importance in his telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump on February 12. I would like to remind you that, first and foremost, we speak about eradication of threats to security of Russia from the Ukrainian and the western direction, which emerged following the NATO expansion to the east and the necessity to cease the practice, which the Kiev regime adopted, to exterminate everything which is somewhat connected to Russia and the Russian world: the Russian language, culture, canonical Orthodoxy, and Russian-speaking media.

It is too early to make far-reaching conclusions from what we have just heard from Donald Trump's administration, but it is encouraging. The master of the White House admitted himself that the NATO expansion and attempts to get Ukraine involved in it became one of the root causes of the conflict. Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks about the multipolarity of the modern world and the need to respect the interests of all states, both large and small. For the first time in three years, US diplomats voted jointly with Russia and our associates in the UN against the odious resolution of the General Assembly promoted by Kiev and its patrons from the European Union.

These are all steps in the right direction. We value them, but let me reiterate myself: it is too early to make any thoughtful conclusions based on this. We have not even started the work to overcome the accumulated problems and contradictions in our relations with the Americans.

Question: This year, Russia will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. Do you, as a politician, a diplomat and a state figure, believe that patriotic feelings are well-established in the country, especially among the young generation? Are we doing everything right to fully preserve the state's historical memory of the past and the present?

Is Russia's voice today loud enough on the international stage amid the ongoing information confrontation with the collective West and attempts to rewrite our history?

Sergey Lavrov: Of course, the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War is the pinnacle event of the year. The Foreign Ministry, as well as other government agencies, is preparing to celebrate it in the most fitting manner, paying tribute to the memory of the heroic deeds of our predecessors. The Victory Organising Committee, established to prepare and hold festive events and headed by President of Russia Vladimir Putin, is planning the main ones together with all the 89 regions. The plan already has 170 points and is constantly updated.

In addition to Moscow, St Petersburg and other cities, celebration will centre in the Stalingrad Battle Museum Reserve in Volgograd, Prokhorovskoye Pole Museum Reserve in the Belgorod Region, the Arsenyev Museum Reserve of the History of the Far East in Vladivostok, the Malakhov Kurgan memorial complex in Sevastopol and the Malaya Zemlya memorial in Novorossiysk, as well as the Museum of the World Ocean in Kaliningrad.

It is difficult to answer whether enough attention is paid to the patriotic education of young people. Such a sensitive sphere always has something that can be improved. In a certain sense, it was easier for the post-war generations, to which I belong, too: we had the example of still living front-line soldiers who took part in the Great Patriotic War.

For today's youth, the heroism of the fighters and commanders of the special military operation should serve as such an example. Hundreds of them served and returned home and now work in schools and with teenage groups. Special military operation soldiers' involvement in the patriotic education of youth is in high demand. The state is interested in this, and it is no coincidence that the current year of 2025 has been declared the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland in Russia.

As for foreign policy, let me note that despite the information war launched by the collective West, Russia's voice is heard clearly on the international stage. The world understands that falsifying history and undermining spiritual and moral values will result in deteriorating statehood and the loss of sovereignty. Ukraine is a tragic example of this.

We are supported by those who oppose the revival of Nazism in any shape or form. The overwhelming majority of UN member states vote for Russia's resolution on combating the glorification of this misanthropic ideology during the General Assembly every year.

The 80th anniversary of the Great Victory is especially important for relations with Russia's neighbouring countries, because our grandfathers and great-grandfathers fought the Nazi invaders and collaborators from most European countries shoulder to shoulder. This is why the appeal of the CIS Heads of State to the CIS peoples and the international community on the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 was adopted on October 8, 2024 in Moscow. The year of 2025 in the CIS was declared the Year of the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War - Year of Peace and Unity in the Fight against Nazism. The CIS governing bodies have also decided to establish a CIS jubilee medal, The 80 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.



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Ukraine and Turkiye Expand Cooperation Between Regions

President of Ukraine

10 March 2025 - 15:47

Deputy Head of the Office of the President Viktor Mykyta held a meeting with Ambassador of the Republic of Turkiye to Ukraine Mustafa Levent Bilgen.

The key topics of discussion included bilateral cooperation, joint economic development projects, as well as energy and infrastructure initiatives.

Currently, more than 1,000 Turkish companies operate in various regions of Ukraine. Regional Military Administrations, local communities, and the business sector actively cooperate with them. The Ambassador of Turkiye noted that Turkish partners feel this strong support every day.

Viktor Mykyta and Mustafa Levent Bilgen agreed to expand cooperation, particularly interaction between cities and regions of Turkiye and Ukraine.

Additionally, a roadmap for this collaboration was presented during the meeting.

The Deputy Head of the Office of the President expressed gratitude to Turkiye for its unwavering support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for its mediation efforts amid Russia's full-scale aggression.

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Rubio in Saudi Arabia for US-Ukraine talks, hopes to resolve Ukraine aid pause

By Nike Ching March 10, 2025

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday the United States hopes to resolve the pause in aid to Ukraine during talks Tuesday with Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Rubio said the U.S. is in a listening mode and aims to understand what concessions Ukraine might be willing to make.

"The Ukrainians are already receiving all defensive intelligence information as we speak. I think all the notion of the pause in aid broadly is something I hope we can resolve. Obviously, I think what happens tomorrow will be key to that," Rubio told reporters aboard a military plane before landing in Jeddah.

"We're not going to be sitting in a room drawing lines on a map but just get a general sense of what concessions are in the realm of the possible for them [Ukrainians]," Rubio said, adding that there is no military solution to the war, and that both Russia and Ukraine need to "do difficult things."

Later on Monday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, commonly Known by his abbreviation MBS, met with Rubio in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah.

MBS held a separate meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Riyadh earlier in the day.

On Tuesday, Rubio will join U.S. national security adviser Mike Waltz for the Jeddah talks with Ukrainian officials as President Donald Trump pushes to broker a swift end to the war.

The Ukrainian delegation includes Zelenskyy's chief of staff Andriy Yermak; Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha; Defense Minister Rustem Umerov; and military commander Pavlo Palisa.

"Strong positions on the front line and strong diplomacy must work together to achieve a just and lasting peace," Zelenskyy wrote in a social media posting late Monday.

Mineral deal?

Trump has voiced interest in making continued military aid conditional on access to Ukraine's raw materials.

More than four dozen minerals, including several types of rare earths, nickel and lithium, are considered critical to the U.S. economy and national defense. Ukraine has large deposits of uranium, lithium and titanium.

But Rubio clarified that securing a deal on Ukraine's mineral resources was not the primary focus of Tuesday's talks.

"There's still more details to work out, and at this point, we're probably  rather than a memorandum of understanding  just wanting to sign a specific agreement. And that would take a little bit more time," he told reporters.

"I wouldn't prejudge tomorrow by whether or not we have a minerals deal. ... It's an important topic, but it's not the main topic on the agenda," Rubio added.

Rubio also credited Britain and France for playing a constructive role in talks with Ukraine.

He told VOA that there have been no discussions about China playing a role in postwar peacekeeping and reconstruction in Ukraine.

This marks Rubio's second visit to Saudi Arabia since taking office. He and other senior U.S. officials held talks with Russian officials in Riyadh on Feb. 18. He is scheduled to travel to Canada on Wednesday for meetings with G7 foreign ministers.

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Beijing, China, March 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "two sessions" are not only a major political event in China but also a key window for the world to observe the country's democratic politics and development trajectory. This year, as in years past, the event has captured considerable global attention, highlighting China's ongoing development and its implications for the world stage. In the "Unraveling the allure of China" series, the Global Times (GT) invites experts and scholars from around the world to delve into the multifaceted allure of China and explore how the lessons drawn from its unique experiences can provide valuable insights for other nations.

On Friday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attended a press conference on China's foreign policy and external relations on the sidelines of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress.

In the fifth piece of the series, Global Times reporter Wang Wenwen talked to Yury Tavrovsky (Tavrovsky), head of "Russian Dream-Chinese Dream" analytic center of the Izborsk Club, to discuss China's diplomatic confidence, as well as its approaches and commitment to supporting the development of other countries.

GT: In Foreign Minister Wang Yi's press conference, there were some frequently mentioned terms such as cooperation, stability, opening-up and equality. Summarizing China's diplomatic practices, what do you think are the features of China's diplomacy, and how do they reflect China's diplomatic confidence?

Tavrovsky: The success of Chinese diplomacy in the new era can be described as the "Chinese foreign policy miracle." Just four months after the 18th National Congress of the CPC, President Xi Jinping introduced the vision of a global community of shared future when addressing the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. This signals China's commitment to contributing to global order.

A few months later, another original concept of Xi appeared. During a meeting with then US president Barack Obama, he outlined the vision of a new model of great power relations. In subsequent years, major concepts were put forward, producing a coherent theoretical basis for the new Chinese foreign policy. On this basis, China was able to establish effective mechanisms of practical diplomacy.

China has been consistent in how it implements global and regional policies and confident in its strength. These are the defining features of China's diplomacy. I believe that this is the strongest side of China's foreign policy and the key to advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

GT: How does China's diplomatic confidence contribute to its active participation in global governance?

Tavrovsky: China plays the role of a stabilizer of international relations not only due to its economic and military power. Some great powers use their potential precisely to create global chaos. It is very important that the creators of foreign policy in different capitals of the world always know where China stands and what actions it will take, which are evident in the stability and consistency of its global and regional course.

Beijing's word is always followed by action. Beijing speaks of its commitment to a world order with the UN at its center and is actively involved in the funding and operations of this key organization, including the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly. Reputable Chinese diplomats have rightfully held leadership positions in important global structures.

Concerned about the stability of the existing world order, China is taking an active role in the formation of new regional and global organizations. The creation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS demonstrates China's confidence in its current capabilities as well as its future prospects. The phenomenal success of these innovative structures can be largely attributed to Chinese contributions - financial, economic, and conceptual.

Having created a highly effective model of economic and social development called "socialism with Chinese characteristics of a new era," China showcases to the world the possibility of a fundamentally new socio-economic structure. By transmitting "Chinese wisdom" to all corners of the planet, Chinese diplomacy delivers a tangible contribution to world governance. The attractiveness of the Chinese model is growing with the increasing success of China.

GT: What do you think of the balance China strikes in pursuing its own development while shouldering global responsibilities?

Tavrovsky: China cannot take its rightful place in the world without strengthening its domestic capabilities. Meanwhile, the achievements of 1.4 billion Chinese in their cities and villages cannot be properly explained to and fully appreciated by the international community without an active foreign policy. The Chinese leadership's systemic management and preparation of long-term development projects over the years has ensured the synergy of foreign policy and domestic Chinese political, economic and defense strategies.

To enter a "new orbit" in world politics, the basic concept of a global community of shared future is being advanced, as well as the Belt and Road Initiative, and the global development, global security and global civilization initiatives. At the same time, a holistic set of basic strategies for internal development was formulated and is being consistently implemented. In specific conditions, these concepts were either adjusted or gave rise to new strategies. For instance, the BRI has given credibility to the concept of a global community of shared future. By advocating a win-win philosophy, through vehicles like its various initiatives and concepts, China is not only serious about its own development, but also committed to supporting the economic development of other countries. It also actively participates in global governance, achieving both national interests and shouldering global responsibilities as a major power.

GT: How does China's diplomacy reflect its support for developing countries? At Foreign Minister Wang's press conference, the term "Global South" was a key highlight. What does China's support mean to the Global South?

Tavrovsky: Beijing is taking on an important role as an organizer of regional and global structures in the Global South. This role is not limited to the SCO and BRICS, as large-scale summits of African, Central Asian and Latin American countries are being organized and financed. Despite its relatively short presence in these regions, China's diplomacy is able to play a peacekeeping role in overcoming problems between different states. A noteworthy example is its success in reconciling Iran and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, Beijing is making efforts to apply its accumulated experience of mediation in resolving the Ukraine crisis. It is also asserting its authority as an honest broker in complex relations between many countries of the Global South and in solving global problems.

Chinese diplomacy, with various departments involved, is like an orchestra, and the orchestra's melodies are growing increasingly resonant and influential.

This article first appeared in the Global Times:

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1329728.shtml

Company: Global Times

Contact Person: Anna Li

Email: editor@globaltimes.com.cn

Website: https://globaltimes.cn

City: Beijing



Disclaimer:

This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies (including product offerings, regulatory plans and business plans) and may change without notice. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.
Salt Lake City, UT, Rochester, NY, London, Montreal, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inoria  a CallTower company, a Premium Genesys Partner and leading provider of customer experience (CX) solutions, is proud to announce that it has been recognized as a High Growth Partner at Genesys Inspire 2025, held in Nashville. Inoria was also a proud sponsor of this premier event, which brought together industry leaders, innovators, and organizations focused on transforming the customer experience.

This prestigious award acknowledges Inorias exceptional growth, innovation, and commitment to delivering transformative CX solutions powered by Genesys. The recognition builds upon last years success, where Inoria was honored as the Partner of the Year  North America, reaffirming its position as a key player in the customer experience landscape.

Inorias mission has always been to drive meaningful customer interactions through cutting-edge technology and strategic partnerships, said Joe Bigio, SVP CCAAS, CX & CAI Solutions at CallTower. Being recognized in the High Growth category is a testament to our teams dedication, our clients trust, and the strength of our collaboration with Genesys.

As a Premium Genesys Partner, Inoria continues to help organizations elevate their CX strategies through AI-driven automation, analytics, and cloud-based contact center solutions. This latest award highlights the companys ability to adapt and innovate in an evolving market, ensuring seamless and personalized customer experiences at scale.

The Inoria team extends its heartfelt gratitude to its clients, partners, and employees for their continued support in achieving this milestone.

For more details on Inorias partnership with Genesys and its award-winning solutions, visit https://www.inoria.com/partners/genesys/.

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About Inoria

Inoria is the North American partner of choice, actively orchestrating the evolution of contact center operations. Inoria powers millions of customer interactions, passionately supporting organizations as they navigate their digital transformation journey through customized optimization, implementation, and integration services. Leveraging Conversational AI (CAI) and advanced analytics, Inoria provides deep insights and strategic recommendations that drive performance. Agile, personable, and humancentric, Inoria builds authentic relationships and champions success through inspired guidance, collaboration, and innovative solutions.

Inorias value-added partner solutions support the diverse and evolutive needs of the contact center. Partners in CCaaS, workforce management, CAI and analytics include Genesys, Talkdesk, Alvaria, Kore.ai, Parloa, Coveo and Emite. Together, they work collaboratively to deliver enhanced interactions.

More than contact center expert consulting, Inoria is about enriching the customer experience, positioning them as a turnkey partner for all your contact center needs. For more information about Inoria, visit www.inoria.com.

/////

About CallTower

CallTower is leading the future of global communications where UCaaS and CCaaS innovations meets the vast expanse of connectivity with numbering coverage in over 80 countries with additional countries with a managed telephony solution offering. CallTower is revolutionizing communications through integration of cutting-edge technologies. CallTower delivers seamless MS Teams, Zoom, and Webex voice solutions (UCaaS) with one-click failover offerings are provided via CallTower Connect, a CallTower proprietary delivery and managed service tool. CallTower provides a comprehensive contact center, customer experience solutions (CCaaS/CX) of Genesys, Five9, Intermedia, along with conversational artificial intelligence (CAI) of Kore.ai and Parloa offerings. Products are provided with robust professional and global managed service offering that allows customers to deploy and manage best-of-breed communications solutions that meet their current and expanding future global needs.

Since its establishment in 2002, CallTower has evolved into a global cloud-based, enterprise-class cloud communications solutions provider, catering to the needs of enterprise businesses. CallTower offers and supports industry-leading solutions such as Operator Connect for Microsoft Teams, MS Teams Direct Routing, GCC High Teams Direct Routing, Microsoft 365, Cisco Webex Calling / UCM, Cisco CCP, Zoom Phone, Zoom (BYOB), Genesys, Five9, Intermedia.

For more information about Inoria, visit calltower.com.




CASTRIES, Saint Lucia, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

PrimeXBT , a regulated global multi-asset broker, is bridging the gap between crypto and traditional markets by introducing MetaTrader 5 (MT5) to its already powerful suite of trading platforms. This integration makes PrimeXBT the only broker combining Crypto Futures, its CFD trading, and the advanced MT5 platform into one seamless trading solution.

With this all-in-one approach, PrimeXBT empowers traders with the freedom to choose the best strategy that suits their needs, reinforcing its commitment to putting traders first.

The popular MT5 platform equips traders with professional-grade tools, such as advanced charting, algorithmic trading, and Expert Advisors (EAs), allowing them to refine their strategies, automate trading, and optimize market analysis.

equips traders with professional-grade tools, such as advanced charting, algorithmic trading, and Expert Advisors (EAs), allowing them to refine their strategies, automate trading, and optimize market analysis. Crypto Futures trading uses a central limit order book (CLOB) for deep liquidity and fast execution, enabling traders to react to rapid price movements with minimal slippage. This ensures faster, more accurate trades, making it especially advantageous for scalpers.

trading uses a central limit order book (CLOB) for deep liquidity and fast execution, enabling traders to react to rapid price movements with minimal slippage. This ensures faster, more accurate trades, making it especially advantageous for scalpers. PrimeXBTs CFD trading offers a powerful yet intuitive experience, allowing traders of all levels to easily trade across multiple asset classes all from a single account. This enables traders to diversify their strategies without the need to switch between different platforms.



As a trader-first broker, we continuously push the boundaries to provide some of the best trading solutions in the industry. With Crypto Futures, our CFDs platform, and MT5 all in one intuitive interface, we deliver a next-generation trading ecosystem that gives traders greater control, flexibility, and access to new opportunities, said a PrimeXBT spokesperson.

PrimeXBT also provides exceptional flexibility for deposits and withdrawals. Traders can fund their accounts with both crypto and fiat using a wide range of local payment methods. Additionally, they can easily exchange digital currencies for major coins like BTC, ETH, USDT, and altcoins like LINK, SHIB, and UNI, giving them greater control over their trading capital.

As demand for multi-asset trading grows, PrimeXBT leads the way by driving innovation with cutting-edge technology, institutional-grade liquidity, and a diverse range of assets in a complete all-in-one trading solution. With a strong focus on traders, it continues to set new standards for performance, reliability, and the trading experience.

The following product update is already available to clients from a number of Asian and Latin American countries and will be rolled out to additional countries soon.

To learn more users can visit PrimeXBT

Disclaimer: The content provided here is for informational purposes only and is not intended as personal investment advice and does not constitute a solicitation or invitation to engage in any financial transactions, investments, or related activities. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. The financial products offered by the Company are complex and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. These products may not be suitable for all investors. Before engaging, you should consider whether you understand how these leveraged products work and whether you can afford the high risk of losing your money. The Company does not accept clients from the Restricted Jurisdictions as indicated on its website. Some products and services, including MT5, may not be available in your jurisdiction. The applicable legal entity and its respective products and services depend on the clients country of residence and the entity with which the client has established a contractual relationship during registration.

Contact

PrimeXBT

pr@primexbt.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c84664ba-ead8-4cdc-8f37-84b98a9af8cc
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 11th Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival 2025, themed "Ao Dai  Rising Viet Nam, concluded successfully after running from March 1 to March 9, 2025. Organised by the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee, led by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism and the Ho Chi Minh City Women's Union, in collaboration with various departments, districts, and Thu Duc City, the festival was a vibrant celebration of Vietnams rich heritage and the timeless elegance of the Ao Dai.

Highlighting Vietnams cultural pride, the festival attracted more than 30 Ao Dai ambassadors, featuring esteemed public figures and renowned celebrities. Additionally, 53 distinguished designers presented exclusive collections, showcasing Ao Dais evolution and affirming Vietnams cultural identity on the international stage.

Mr. Le Truong Hien Hoa, Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, remarked: "The Ao Dai Festival has firmly established itself as a signature event and a distinctive tourism offering for Ho Chi Minh City, greatly contributing to the city's broader tourism development objectives and international cultural visibility." Key highlights of the festival included the Grand Opening Ceremony, the Ao Dai Art Show, the Charming Ao Dai of Ho Chi Minh City contest, the Ao Dai painting contest, the 2025 Online Ao Dai Beautiful Photo Contest, The Ao Dai Folk Dance Ensemble, and the Ao Dai gifting program for Women's Union members and female workers.





The 11th Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival 2025

The Grand Opening Ceremony of the Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival 2025, held on March 7th, 2025, was honored by the presence of the Consul General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City and Mrs. Miyu Minty, a prominent Japanese KOL and Ambassador of the Ao Dai Festival. Their participation underscores the growing cultural and tourism cooperation between Vietnam and Japan.

Further strengthening this partnership, Ho Chi Minh City will host the 1st Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) - Japan Festival in Tokyo in November 2025. This festival aims to introduce Vietnam's unique specialities, authentic cuisine, and tourist attractions, and foster deeper cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Media Contact:

Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Center

Tel: +84 28 38.277.371

Email: info@visithcmc.vn

Website: www.visithcmc.vn

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/66832dd4-fdcb-45a5-be3d-5f79a2f779ac
Dublin, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Canada Watch Market Size and Share Analysis - Growth Trends and Forecast Report 2025-2033" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Canadian watch market was worth 1.95 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow steadily, reaching a value of US$ 2.94 billion by 2033

The growth is driven by increasing demand for fashion, smart, and luxury watches, as well as growth in wearable technology. With changing consumer preferences and ongoing innovation, the market is likely to grow with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.66% between 2025 and 2033.









Watches have been popular in Canada among various age groups. Luxury watch manufacturers such as Rolex have fans among collectors and professionals, whereas companies such as Fossil and Citizen have followers among fashion-sensitive individuals. Apple and Samsung smartwatches control the wearable technology market, providing health monitoring and connectivity.

Canadians like watches for their strength, accuracy, and glamour, making them a necessary item for both informal and formal wear. The growth of e-commerce has also helped to fuel the expanding watch market, giving consumers readily available access to a broad range of timepieces, further enhancing their sustained popularity in Canada.



Growth Drivers in the Canada Watch Market

Increasing Demand for Smart and Connected Watches



The widespread use of smartwatches, spurred by advances in technology, is one of the main growth drivers in the Canadian watch market. Customers are seeking watches with fitness tracking, heart rate monitoring, and connectivity. Companies such as Apple, Samsung, and Garmin are at the forefront, driving smartwatches to become a must-have accessory for health-conscious and technology-driven consumers.

As Canada places more focus on health and digital connectivity, demand for smartwatches is increasing. Feb 2025, OnePlus Watch 3 was officially out now in Canada priced at $449, its release alongside being done globally within the US and European markets. It comes equipped with a lasting battery life, stronger fitness features tracking, as well as with the inclusion of an actual rotating crown.



Increasing Demand for Luxury and Premium Watches Segments



Premium watch brands like Rolex, Omega, and TAG Heuer are facing growing demand in Canada, specifically among high-income consumers. Rising disposable income, fashion for premium clothing, and a desire for high-end accessories drive the luxury watch segment to grow. People consider luxury watches both a symbol of status and an investment opportunity, which spurs their demand. The growing popularity of pre-owned luxury watch platforms is also bolstering this segment.



Expansion of Online and E-commerce Retail



E-commerce has revolutionized the watch market in Canada, enabling consumers to browse a wide range of watches from international and domestic brands. Online shopping convenience, competitive prices, and access to limited collections have driven online watch sales. Direct-to-consumer brands and major retailers are utilizing digital marketing tactics and online promotions to reach technology-savvy consumers, driving market growth.



Challenges in the Canada Watch Market

Competition from Wearables and Smart Devices



Smartphones and fitness bands create a challenge for legacy watchmakers. Most customers use smartwatches or fitness bands instead of the traditional analog or digital watch. This trend has pushed mainstream watch brands to adapt and add smart functionality, but legacy brands struggling to adapt to changing consumer demands continue to pose a challenge.



Counterfeit and Grey Market Problems



The Canadian watch market is plagued by counterfeits and unauthorized resellers. Mid-range and luxury brands lose revenue with counterfeit watches in the market. The existence of grey-market vendors, selling watches at discounted prices without brand warranties, impacts the reputation and pricing of authorized retailers. Authenticity and brand reputation are still key concerns.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 200 Forecast Period 2024 - 2033 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $1.95 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2033 $2.94 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 4.6% Regions Covered Canada

Company Analysis: Overviews, Key Person, Recent Developments, Revenue

Fossil Group Inc.

Titan Company Limited

LVMH Group

Apple Inc.

Compagnie Financiere Richemont S.A

The Swatch Group Ltd

Citizen Watch Co. Ltd.

Seiko Group Corporation

Type

Quartz Watches

Electronic Watches

Mechanical Watches

Gender

Men

Women

Unisex

Price Range

Luxury

Non-Luxury

Distribution Channel

Hyper Market/Super Market

Convenience Stores

Online

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/vl5d5r

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 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Vietnam Gift Card and Incentive Card Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics Databook - Q1 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The gift card market in Vietnam is expected to grow by 15.1% on annual basis to reach US$877.1 million in 2025. Vietnam's gift card market experienced robust growth during 2020-2024, achieving a CAGR of 17.8%. This upward trajectory is expected to continue, with the market forecast to grow at a CAGR of 13.2% during 2025-2029. By the end of 2029, the gift card sector is projected to expand from its 2024 value of USD 762.3 million to approximately USD 1.43 billion.



This report provides a detailed data-centric analysis of the gift card sector in Vietnam, 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



Vietnam's gift card market is transforming, driven by the shift toward digital solutions, deeper integration into e-commerce platforms, and increasing corporate adoption. The expansion of digital payment systems and cashless initiatives by the government are accelerating this trend, making gift cards more accessible and convenient for consumers. As businesses recognize the benefits of gift cards in consumer transactions and employee engagement, the demand for flexible and personalized gifting solutions is expected to rise. Over the next two to four years, Vietnam's gift card industry is projected to grow substantially, fueled by digital commerce advancements and strategic business investments. Integrating gift cards into online retail and corporate reward programs will likely contribute to market expansion and higher consumer adoption rates. Companies that capitalize on these evolving trends by offering innovative and seamless gift card solutions will be well-positioned to gain a competitive edge in Vietnam's growing digital economy.



Growing Popularity of Digital Gift Cards

Vietnam is transitioning significantly from physical to digital gift cards, with more businesses introducing electronic voucher options. Companies such as Got It, a major player in the industry, have expanded their offerings from traditional store vouchers to digital solutions that integrate with brand websites and mobile applications.

The increasing adoption of digital payment methods and government initiatives promoting cashless transactions are key factors driving this shift. As consumers become more accustomed to online transactions, businesses are responding by providing digital gift cards to enhance convenience and accessibility.

The demand for digital gift cards is expected to rise further, leading to widespread adoption across various industries. Companies investing in digital gift card solutions will likely benefit from increased customer engagement, fostering long-term loyalty and contributing to the market's sustained expansion.

Integration of Gift Cards into E-Commerce Platforms

Vietnamese e-commerce retailers are increasingly embedding gift card solutions into their platforms, making purchasing and redeeming them easier for consumers. This trend reflects the broader shift toward digital shopping experiences emphasizing flexibility and convenience.

The rapid growth of e-commerce, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has pushed retailers to diversify their payment and promotional offerings. Gift cards integrated into online platforms provide shoppers additional payment flexibility while encouraging repeat purchases.

As Vietnam's e-commerce market continues expanding, integrating gift cards is expected to become a standard practice among major retailers. This development will likely increase the volume of gift card transactions and contribute to the overall growth of the digital economy.

Increased Corporate Use of Gift Cards for Employee Rewards

Vietnamese businesses are adopting gift cards as part of their employee reward and incentive programs. This trend is driven by gift cards' flexibility and convenience, allowing companies to cater to diverse employee preferences.

Corporations recognize the effectiveness of gift cards in motivating employees and improving workplace satisfaction. Their ability to offer customized reward options makes them popular for corporate incentive programs.

The adoption of gift cards in corporate reward systems is expected to expand, driving greater demand in Vietnam's gift card market. Companies that leverage gift card-based incentives may see higher employee engagement and retention levels, reinforcing their appeal as a practical reward mechanism.

Competitive Landscape of the Vietnam Gift Card Market



Vietnam's gift card market is on a steady growth trajectory, driven by increasing digital adoption, integration with e-commerce platforms, and rising demand from corporate incentive programs. Leading domestic players like Got It are expanding their digital offerings, while international companies such as Sodexo and Edenred continue to contribute to the competitive landscape. The market is expected to see further innovation and investment as businesses adapt to evolving consumer preferences and the broader digital economy.

Vietnam's gift card sector will likely experience greater consolidation, with strategic partnerships and mergers enhancing market competitiveness. The growing emphasis on digital payment solutions and cashless transactions will further accelerate the adoption of gift cards. Businesses focusing on digital transformation, regulatory compliance, and personalized gifting solutions will be well-positioned to capitalize on emerging opportunities in this expanding market.



Current Market Dynamics

Vietnam's gift card market is driven by the increasing adoption of digital gift cards, integration with e-commerce platforms, and the rising use of gift cards in corporate incentive programs. The shift towards digital solutions reflects broader trends in consumer behavior and payment preferences.

Key Players and Market Share

The market also sees participation from international players such as Sodexo and Edenred, which offer corporate incentive solutions, including gift cards. These companies contribute to the competitive landscape by providing diverse options for consumers and businesses.

Recent Launches and Partnerships

While the available sources do not detail specific recent mergers and acquisitions in Vietnam's gift card market, the global trend indicates a move towards consolidation to leverage synergies in the gift card sector. This includes strategic collaborations between retailers and fintech companies to offer more versatile and personalized gift card options.

In Vietnam, companies like Got It expand their offerings through partnerships with brand partners, integrating digital solutions into websites and apps to enhance the consumer experience.

Anticipated Market Evolution (Next 2-4 Years)

Over the next 2-4 years, Vietnam's gift card market is expected to become more dynamic, with established players and new entrants innovating to capture market share. The continuous growth of e-commerce and digital payments will likely drive further advancements in platform features and user experiences.

Companies may focus on personalized and versatile gift card solutions to meet evolving consumer preferences. Additionally, strategic partnerships and potential mergers could reshape the market, enhancing competitiveness and expanding market reach.

Regulatory Changes

The Vietnamese government has been promoting cashless transactions, which supports the growth of digital payment solutions, including gift cards. However, the available sources do not detail specific regulatory changes affecting the gift card industry in the past year.

Businesses operating in this sector should stay informed about regulations related to digital payments and consumer protection to ensure compliance and maintain consumer trust.

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 325 Forecast Period 2025 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $0.88 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $1.43 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 13.2% Regions Covered Vietnam

Report Scope



This report provides in-depth, data-centric analysis of gift card industry in Vietnam through 100+ tables and 280+ charts. Below is a summary of key market segments.

Vietnam Total Spend on Gifts

Vietnam Gift Card Market Size by KPIs across Consumer Segments

Vietnam Gift Card Market Size by Consumer Segment

Vietnam Digital Gift Card Market Size

Vietnam Gift Card Market Size by Retail Consumer

Vietnam Gift Card Spend by Consumer Behavior and Demographics

Vietnam Gift Card Market Size by Corporate Consumer

Vietnam Gift Spend by Product Categories (Split by Retail and Corporate Consumers)

Vietnam Gift Card Spend by Retail Sector (Split by Retail and Corporate Consumers)

Vietnam Gift Card Spend by Distribution Channel (Split by Retail and Corporate Consumers)

Vietnam Gift Card Purchase by Payment Method

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/kzx36v

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
The high grade intersection above from hole DSB-75 includes 962.23 g Ag/t over 9.75m within a wider zone of 34.50m grading 440.09 g Ag/t which is the highest grade Ag intersection obtained thus far in drilling at Iska Iska.

which is the highest grade Ag intersection obtained thus far in drilling at Iska Iska. Hole DSB-75 was collared 200m northwest of previously reported hole DSB-68 which intersected 122.03m grading 126.10g Ag/t within a wider 289.13m section grading 66.90 g Ag/t indicating this high grade silver mineralization is likely quite extensive.

within a wider section grading indicating this high grade silver mineralization is likely quite extensive. As definition drilling has expanded to cover more areas within the Santa Barbara area, the frequency of high grade silver values greater than 50 g Ag/t that have been encountered has increased significantly confirming the importance of tighter spaced infill drilling to obtain a more accurate estimate of grade.

confirming the importance of tighter spaced infill drilling to obtain a more accurate estimate of grade. Infill drilling is consistently demonstrating that areas of formerly barren or low grade mineralization actually bear grades that are higher and widths that are significantly longer than those in the current mineral resource model.

TORONTO, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eloro Resources Ltd. (TSX: ELO; OTCQX: ELRRF; FSE: P2QM) (Eloro, or the Company) is pleased to announce further assay results from its definition diamond drilling program in the potential Santa Barbara starter pit area in the Iska Iska silver-tin polymetallic project in the Potosi Department of southwestern Bolivia. To date 5,799.4m of diamond drilling have been completed in eleven (11) holes in this phase of definition drilling. PQ core size has been used in the majority of holes in this program to obtain larger, more representative core samples.

Hole DSB-75 intersected the highest grade and longest silver intersection yet obtained in the definition drill program in the potential starter pit area at Santa Barbara, returning 135m grading 151.47g Ag/t from 174.00 m to 309.00m within a wider 309m section grading 90.92 g Ag/t from 174.00m to 483.00m.

The high grade intersection in hole DSB-75 includes 962.23 g Ag/t over 9.75m within a wider zone of 34.50m grading 440.09 g Ag/t which is the highest grade Ag intersection obtained thus far from drilling at Iska Iska. Channel sampling along the Santa Barbara adit (see Eloro press release of April 13, 2021) returned 165 g Ag/t over 166m length including 446g Ag/t over 56.19m. This high-grade interval at the Santa Barbara adit includes two exceptional sections with 1,024 g Ag/t over 8.11m and 870 g Ag/t over 12.3m suggesting that there is potential for more widespread high grade silver at Iska Iska.

Hole DSB-75 is the sixth definition drill hole completed in the current program into the Ag-Zn-Pb polymetallic domain in the potential Santa Barbara starter pit area and was collared 200m northwest of previously reported hole DSB-68 (see Eloro press release of November 26, 2024), which intersected a high grade silver zone of 122.03m grading 126.10g Ag/t within a wider 289.13m section grading 66.90 g Ag/t.

Figure 1 is a 3D drawing showing the distribution of high grade Ag in the Santa Barbara potential starter pit area. Values in drill holes from 50 g Ag/t to 100g Ag/t are shown in red and values greater than 100 g Ag/t are in purple. The chargeability plan at 3900m elevation shows the major epithermal Ag-Zn-Pb high chargeability domain to the south-southeast and the low chargeability Tertiary Intrusive Breccia (TIB) Sn-Ag domain to the northwest (see Eloro press release of January 23, 2025 for further discussion of these important targets). As definition drilling has expanded to cover more areas in the Santa Barbara area, the density of high grade silver values greater than 50 g Ag/t has increased significantly, demonstrating the importance of tighter spaced drilling to obtain a more accurate estimate of grade.

Further evidence supporting this conclusion are the results of the bulk metallurgical tests on a 6.3 tonne PQ drill core bulk sample representative of the higher grade Polymetallic (Ag-Zn-Pb) Domain. The calculated head grade in the bulk sample was significantly higher at 91 g Ag/t compared to the weighted average grade of the original twinned hole at 31 g Ag/t, strongly suggesting that average silver grade is likely significantly underreported in the original twinned holes (see Eloro press release January 23, 2024).

It is imperative that the company move forward quickly with more infill and step out diamond drilling initiatives in these newly defined high grade metal zones both in the tin domain and the silver polymetallic domain. These results should add greatly to the potential economic value in the next phase PEA study. said Tom Larsen, CEO of Eloro Resources.

Dr. Osvaldo Arce, P. Geo., Eloro Executive VP Latin American Operations said: Hole DSB-75 intersected significant Ag grades including a new blind high-grade mineralized structure (962.23 g/t silver over 9.75 metres) that defines a broad and enriched zone of silver mineralization at Santa Barbara, together with high-grade tin and polymetallic mineralization, suggesting the potential of discovering larger mineralized volumes together with more blind enriched structures. The definition drilling campaign continues delivering consistent high-grade silver-tin-polymetallic mineralization, confirming the continuity of high-grade silver and tin that extend beyond the limits of our current mineral resource. As we infill drill, we are consistently converting formerly barren or low grade mineralization to larger silver-tin-polymetallic defined mineralized zones, whose grades are higher and intercept widths are significantly longer than those in the current mineral resource.

Dr. Osvaldo Arce continued: Iska Iska defines both a large epithermal silver system together with a newly discovered porphyry tin system which has all the hallmarks of a large group of hydrothermal mineral deposits known as Bolivian polymetallic deposits (BPD), which have traditionally supplied most of Bolivia's mineral wealth. These BPD are large, intrusive-volcanic related, sulphide-dominated, polymetallic vein systems formed at depths of between 0.5km and 2km. The BPD-type deposits include the world's largest historic hard rock silver mine at Cerro Rico de Potosi and the worlds largest tin mine at Llallagua (Siglo XX- Catavi). We believe that there is a tremendous opportunity to develop a major porphyry-epithermal transition deposit at Iska Iska that can join this world class group.

Figure 1: 3D Drawing showing distribution of high grade Ag in the Santa Barbara potential starter pit area. The plan at 3900m level shows the Epithermal (Ag-Zn-Pb) Domain marked by High Chargeability and the Tertiary Intrusion Breccia Domain (TIB Sn-Ag) marked by Low Chargeability.

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d9b41951-7b2f-45fc-942f-216dc78b6106





Table 1 below lists significant results from Hole DSB-75 and Figure 2 shows locations of all the definition drill holes completed to date. Silver equivalent values (g Ag eq/t) have been calculated using 3-year average metal prices and preliminary metallurgical recoveries (see note below Table 1 for more information). Table 2 lists the coordinates of the drill holes completed.

Table 1: Definition Diamond Drill Results as of March 11, 2025, Santa Barbara, Iska, Iska

SANTA BARBARA DEFINITION DIAMOND DRILL RESULTS  AG-ZN-PB POLYMETALLIC DOMAIN Hole No.

From (m)

To (m)

Length (m)

Ag Zn Pb Sn Ag eq g/t % % % g/t DSB-75 0.00 9.00 9.00 30.33 0.00 0.08 0.08 43.99 58.50 153.00 94.50 30.96 0.05 0.07 0.10 50.68 Incl. 114.00 124.50 10.50 115.07 0.01 0.13 0.27 157.80 174.00 483.00 309.00 90.92 0.15 0.10 0.03 92.79 Incl. 174.00 309.00 135.00 151.47 0.14 0.12 0.04 147.80 Incl. 2 274.50 309.00 34.50 440.09 0.22 0.21 0.08 415.26 Incl. 3 276.00 285.75 9.75 962.23 0.30 0.28 0.11 884.96 534.00 537.00 3.00 5.50 1.12 0.07 0.04 51.21 579.00 582.00 3.00 13.00 1.11 0.05 0.03 56.26



Note: True width is approximately 80% of core length. Silver equivalent (Ag eq) grades are calculated using 3-year average metal prices of Ag = US$24.14/oz, Zn = US$1.36/lb , Pb = 0.98/lb and Sn = US$13.74/lb, and preliminary metallurgical recoveries of Ag = 88%, Zn = 87%, Pb= 80% and Sn = 50%. In selecting intervals, a cutoff grade of 30 g Ag eq/t has been used. Lower grade material may be included in intersections where geological continuity is warranted.

Figure 2: Location Map of Definition Diamond Drill Holes, Santa Barbara zone, Iska Iska. The yellow circle highlights the location hole DSB-75 referred to in this release.

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/192d4d18-f2a6-4895-aab9-c0c13f24499d





Table 2: Summary of Diamond Drill Hole Coordinates for Drill Holes Reported, Completed and in Progress at Iska Iska as of March 11, 2025

SUMMARY DIAMOND DRILLING ISKA ISKA Hole No. Type CollarEasting CollarNorthing Elev Azimuth Angle HoleLength (m) Santa Barbara Surface Definition Drill Holes Reported and In Progress DSB-68 S 205390 7656251 4220.0 225 -50 402.9 DSB-69 S 205262 7656133 4291.8 225 -85 502.0 DSB-70 S 205460 7656319 4191.0 225 -50 467.3 DSB-71 S 205203 7656016 4282.0 225 -85 533.7 DSB-72 S 205088 7656107 4341.0 225 -85 653.4 DSB-73 S 205291 7656269 4273.0 225 -85 479.6 DSB-74 S 205205 7656072 4305.6 225 -75 470.5 DSB-75 S 205310 7656329 4257.0 225 -85 605.4 DSB-76 S 205022 7656003 4342.0 225 -85 521.6 DSB-77 S 205035 7656126 4357 225 -85 653.6 Subtotal 5,290.0 Southeast Extension Exploration Drilling DSE-01 S 206198.0 7655779.0 4000.0 225 -65 509.4 Subtotal 509.4 TOTAL 5,799.4

S = Surface; collar coordinates in metres; azimuth and dip in degrees. Total drilling since start of the definition drilling program on October 4, 2024 is 5,799.0m in 11 holes. Since the start of the drilling at Iska Iska on September 20, 2020, a total of 108,997.9m in 162 drill holes (32 underground holes and 130 surface holes) have been completed.







Qualified Person (QP)

Dr. Bill Pearson, P.Geo., Eloros Executive Vice President, Exploration, and a Qualified Person (QP) as defined by National Instrument (NI) 43-101 has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release. Dr. Pearson who has more than 50 years of worldwide mining exploration, development and production experience, including extensive work in South America, manages the overall technical program, working closely with Dr. Osvaldo Arce, P.Geo. Executive Vice President, Latin America for Eloro and General Manager of Eloros Bolivian subsidiary, Minera Tupiza S.R.L., and a QP in the context of NI 43-101, who has supervised all field work carried out at Iska Iska.

Eloro utilized both ALS and AHK for drill core analyses, both of whom are major international accredited laboratories. Drill samples sent to ALS were prepared in both ALS Bolivia Ltdas preparation facility in Oruro, Bolivia and the preparation facility operated by AHK in Tupiza with pulps sent to the main ALS Global laboratory in Lima for analysis. Eloro employs an industry standard QA/QC program with standards, blanks and duplicates inserted into each batch of samples analyzed with selected check samples sent to a separate accredited laboratory.

Drill core samples sent to AHK Laboratories were prepared in a preparation facility installed and managed by AHK in Tupiza with pulps sent to the AHK laboratory in Lima, Peru. Check samples between ALS and AHK are regularly done as a QA/QC check. AHK is following the same analytical protocols used as with ALS and with the same QA/QC protocols.

About Iska Iska

The Iska Iska silver-tin polymetallic project is a road accessible, royalty-free property, wholly controlled by the Title Holder, Empresa Minera Villegas S.R.L. and is located 48 km north of Tupiza city, in the Sud Chichas Province of the Department of Potosi in southern Bolivia. Eloro has an option to earn a 100% interest in Iska Iska.

Iska Iska is a major silver-tin polymetallic porphyry-epithermal complex associated with a Miocene possibly collapsed/resurgent caldera, emplaced on Ordovician age rocks with major breccia pipes, dacitic domes and hydrothermal breccias. The caldera is 1.6km by 1.8km in dimension with a vertical extent of at least 1km. Mineralization age is similar to Cerro Rico de Potosi and other major deposits such as San Vicente, Chorolque, Tasna and Tatasi, all located along the same overall geological trend.

Eloro began underground diamond drilling from the Huayra Kasa underground workings at Iska Iska on September 13, 2020. On November 18, 2020, Eloro announced the discovery of a significant breccia pipe with extensive silver polymetallic mineralization just east of the Huayra Kasa underground workings and a high-grade gold-bismuth zone in the underground workings. On November 24, 2020, Eloro announced the discovery of the Santa Barbara Breccia Pipe (SBBP) approximately 150m southwest of the Huayra Kasa underground workings.

Subsequently, on January 26, 2021, Eloro announced significant results from the first drilling at the SBBP including the discovery hole from 0.0m to 257.5m. Subsequent drilling has confirmed the presence of significant values of Ag-Sn polymetallic mineralization in the SBBP and the adjacent Central Breccia Pipe (CBP). A substantive mineralized envelope which is open along strike and down-dip extends around both major breccia pipes. Continuous channel sampling along the walls of the Santa Barbara Adit located to the east of SBBP returned average grades of 164.96 g Ag/t, 0.46%Sn, 3.46% Pb and 0.14% Cu over 166m including 446 g Ag/t, 9.03% Pb and 1.16% Sn over 56.19m. The west end of the adit intersects the end of the SBBP.

Since the initial discovery hole DHK-15 which returned 29.53g Ag/t, 0.078g Au/t, 1.45%Zn, 0.59%Pb, 0.080%Cu and 0.056%Sn over 257.5m, Eloro has released a number of significant drill results in the SBBP and the surrounding mineralized envelope which, along with geophysical data, has defined an extensive target zone. On October 17, 2023, Eloro filed the NI 43-101 Technical Report outlining the initial inferred MRE for Iska Iska, prepared by independent consultants Micon International Limited. The MRE was reported in two domains, the Polymetallic (Ag-Zn-Pb) Domain which is primarily in the east and south of the Santa Barbara deposit and the Tin (Sn-Ag-Pb) Domain which is primarily in the west and north.

The Polymetallic Domain is estimated to contain 560Mt at 13.8 g Ag/t, 0.73% Zn & 0.28% Pb at an NSR cutoff of US$9.20 for potential open pit and an NSR cutoff of US$34.40 for potential underground. The majority of the mineral resource is contained in the constraining pit which has a stripping ratio of 1:1. The Polymetallic Domain contains a higher-grade mineral resource at a NSR cutoff of $US25/t of 132 million tonnes at 1.11% Zn, 0.50% Pb and 24.3 g Ag/t which has a net NSR value of US$34.40/t which is 3.75 the estimated operating cost of US$9.20/t. The Tin Domain which is adjacent to the Polymetallic Domain and does not overlap, is estimated to contain a mineral resource of 110Mt at 0.12% Sn, 14.2 g Ag/t and 0.14% Pb but is very under drilled.

Results of the definition drill program which totalled 5,267.7m in 11 holes were reported on December 18, 2023 and January 11, 2024, respectively. Significant results included 279.22 g Ag/t, 0.47% Pb and 0.43% Sn (339.82g Ag eq/t) over 62.84m and 33.83 g Ag/t, 1.53% Zn, 0.93% Pb and 0.14% Sn (130.88g Ag eq/t) over 178.99m including 120.37 g Ag/t, 2.13% Zn, 1.57% Pb and 0.19% Sn in hole DSB-61; 57.62g Ag/t, 1.26% Zn, 0.94% Pb and 0.12% Sn (139.94g Ag eq/t) over 136.11m in hole DSB-66 and 118.86g Ag/t, 0.35% Zn, 0.35% Pb and 0.15% Sn (152.29g Ag eq/t) over 81.28m in hole DSB-65. This latter intersection in hole DSB-65 included a very high-grade sample of 5,080g Ag/t, 0.12 g Au/t, 0.26% Zn, 1.34% Pb, 1.53% Cu and 1.27% Sn (4,746.46g Ag eq/t) over 1.46m.

Metallurgical tests reported on January 23, 2024 from a 6.3 tonne PQ drill core bulk sample representative of the higher grade Polymetallic (Ag-Zn-Pb) Domain returned a significantly higher average silver value of 91 g Ag/t compared to the weighted average grade of the original twinned holes at 31 g Ag/t strongly suggesting that the average silver grade is likely significantly underreported in the original twinned holes due to the much smaller sample size.

On January 29, 2024, the Company reported that the new chargeability high outlined southeast of the MRE open pit by the expanded induced polarization (IP) survey indicates that the major mineralized structural corridor that is up to 800m wide extends a further 600m along strike to the southeast for an overall strike length of at least 2km. This new area has not been drilled.

The Company reported on July 30, 2024, that updated modelling of the potential starter pit area at Santa Barbara zone highlights the importance of completing additional drilling to better define the grade and extent of the mineral resource in this area. Areas with higher-grade resource typically have much better drilling density but holes outside the core potential pit area are too widely spaced to give an accurate estimate of grade.

On September 4, 2024, the Company announced the restart of definition drilling in the potential starter pit area at Santa Barbara. Previous drilling has shown that areas with high-grade mineralization typically have much better drilling density, whereas holes outside the core area are too widely spaced to give an accurate grade estimate. This increased drilling density is particularly important for defining the extent of the high-grade Ag-bearing and Sn-bearing structures, and for categorizing the mineral resources from inferred to indicated, which have a major influence on overall grade and resources that will contribute to the preliminary economic assessment (PEA).

An initial program of 5,700m of diamond drilling in 13 holes in the Santa Barbara starter pit area is now in progress to better define the vertical and lateral extent of high-grade Ag mineralization; fill-in gaps that are presently categorized as low-grade or waste in the resource model but are very likely mineralized; expand the higher-grade Sn mineralization to the west; and complete an additional 1,400m in two large size PQ holes for further metallurgical testing.

Results from the first definition drill hole DSB-68 were released on November 26, 2024. This hole intersected 66.90g Ag/t, 0.63% Zn, 0.42% Pb and 0.11% Sn (111.14g Ag eq/t) over 289.13m including higher grade intervals of:

126.10g Ag/t, 0.55% Zn, 0.60% Pb and 0.09% Sn (160.72g Ag eq/t) over 122.03m,

47.61g Ag/t, 0.22% Zn, 0.40% Pb and 0.45% Sn (146.06g Ag eq/t) over 16.51m, and

25.52g Ag/t, 2.19% Zn, 0.65% Pb and 0.10% Sn (129.60g Ag eq/t) over 7.46m



Further drill results were released on January 6, 2025:

Hole DSB-69 intersected 127.49g Ag/t, 0.50% Zn, 0.16% Pb and 0.31% Sn (193.00g Ag eq/t) over 41.25m within a broader interval of 49.71g Ag/t, 0.78% Zn, 0.32% Pb and 0.15% Sn (106.97g Ag eq/t) over 142.50m.

within a broader interval of Hole DSB-70 intersected, 45.71g Ag/t, 3.11% Zn, 1.91% Pb and 0.23% Sn (232.35g Ag eq/t) over 81.00m within a broader interval of 30.08g Ag/t, 1.63% Zn 0.98% Pb and 0.13% Sn (127.89g Ag eq/t) over 255.75m

within a broader interval of Hole DSB-71 intersected 53.17 Ag/t, 0.72% Zn, 0.40% Pb and 0.19% Sn (116.62 g Ag eq/t) over 45.00m within a broader interval of 29.26 Ag/t, 0.58% Zn, 0.22% Pb and 0.11% Sn (71.46g Ag eq/t) over 127.50m.



On January 23, 2025, the Company reported discovery hole DSB-72 that opens up a major tin zone intersecting 33m grading 1.39% Sn within 87m grading 0.74% Sn. Tin mineralization is hosted in an extensive intrusion breccia unit (TIB) that is approximately 750m long by 450m wide and extends to a depth of at least 700m. Previous wide space reconnaissance drilling has intersected a number of significant Sn intersections in this breccia unit which is very under-drilled

High grade tin mineralization in Hole DSB-72 reported here occurs as visible coarse-grained high temperature cassiterite which is likely to be amenable to gravity separation. Core from this hole will be used for additional metallurgical testing. Geophysically, the intrusion breccia has low chargeability which contrasts considerably with the adjacent later epithermal Ag-Zn-Pb mineralization which is marked by a strong chargeability anomaly. The intrusive breccia is very likely an offshoot or apophysis from a large tin porphyry at depth. The likely top of this tin porphyry is marked by a highly conductive zone that is interpreted as a pyrite-pyrrhotite halo around this porphyry. Similar pyritic halos have been reported from other major tin deposits in the Bolivian Tin Belt.

With this discovery of a presumed shallow level apophysis of a tin porphyry at depth, Eloro is in a unique position of having two discernable different deposit styles juxtaposed against one another; a very large silver-zinc-lead dominant system next to a high-grade tin system. While these two systems are likely genetically related, this means that the Company may potentially have two world class deposits on the same property.

About Eloro Resources Ltd.

Eloro is an exploration and mine development company with a portfolio of gold and base-metal properties in Bolivia, Peru and Quebec. Eloro has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the highly prospective Iska Iska Property, which can be classified as a polymetallic epithermal-porphyry complex, a significant mineral deposit type in the Potosi Department, in southern Bolivia. A recent NI 43-101 Technical Report on Iska Iska, which was completed by Micon International Limited, is available on Eloros website and under its filings on SEDAR. Iska Iska is a road-accessible, royalty-free property. Eloro also owns an 82% interest in the La Victoria Gold/Silver Project, located in the North-Central Mineral Belt of Peru some 50 km south of the Lagunas Norte Gold Mine and the La Arena Gold Mine.

For further information please contact either Thomas G. Larsen, Chairman and CEO or Jorge Estepa, Vice-President at (416) 868-9168.

Information in this news release may contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information express, as at the date of this news release, the Companys plans, estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations, or beliefs as to future events or results and are believed to be reasonable based on information currently available to the Company. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Neither the TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Dublin, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Herpes Simplex Virus Infections - Global Strategic Business Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global market for Herpes Simplex Virus Infections was valued at US$5.2 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach US$6.6 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 3.9% from 2024 to 2030. This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of market trends, drivers, and forecasts, helping you make informed business decisions.



The growth in the HSV infections treatment market is driven by several factors. Technological advancements in antiviral drug formulations are enhancing the effectiveness and convenience of treatments, making them more accessible to a broader patient population. The rising prevalence of HSV infections worldwide, coupled with increasing awareness and diagnosis rates, is expanding the demand for effective management solutions. Consumer behavior trends towards proactive health management and the demand for convenient, over-the-counter treatment options are also contributing to market growth.

Furthermore, ongoing research and development activities aimed at discovering new therapeutic agents and potential vaccines are expected to generate significant growth opportunities. The support from governmental and non-governmental organizations in terms of funding and awareness campaigns is further propelling market expansion. Collectively, these factors are driving robust growth in the HSV infections treatment market, addressing the needs of an increasing number of affected individuals globally.



Several trends and developments are influencing the management and treatment of HSV infections. One major trend is the increasing use of antiviral medications such as acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir, which can help reduce the severity and frequency of outbreaks. These medications can be taken during outbreaks to accelerate healing and lessen symptoms or as suppressive therapy to prevent recurrent episodes.

Another notable development is the research into HSV vaccines, which aim to provide long-term protection against the virus and reduce transmission rates. Additionally, advancements in diagnostic technologies are improving the accuracy and speed of HSV detection, enabling timely and appropriate treatment. Public health initiatives are also playing a crucial role in raising awareness about HSV, promoting safe practices to prevent transmission, and reducing the stigma associated with the infection.



Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) infections are caused by two types of herpes simplex viruses: HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 typically causes oral herpes, which presents as cold sores or fever blisters around the mouth, while HSV-2 primarily causes genital herpes, characterized by sores in the genital or rectal area. Both types of HSV are highly contagious and can be transmitted through direct contact with an infected person's skin, saliva, or genital secretions.

After the initial infection, HSV can remain dormant in the body's nerve cells and reactivate later, leading to recurrent outbreaks. These reactivations can be triggered by various factors such as stress, illness, or weakened immune function. While HSV infections are generally not life-threatening, they can cause significant discomfort and emotional distress due to their recurrent nature and the stigma associated with them.



Report Features:

Comprehensive Market Data: Independent analysis of annual sales and market forecasts in US$ Million from 2024 to 2030.

In-Depth Regional Analysis: Detailed insights into key markets, including the U.S., China, Japan, Canada, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa.

Company Profiles: Coverage of players such as Admedus Limited, Agenus Inc., Aicuris Anti-infective Cures Gmbh, Asahi Kasei Corporation, Chimerix Inc. and more.

Gain insights into the U.S. market, valued at $1.4 Billion in 2024, and China, forecasted to grow at an impressive 6.6% CAGR to reach $1.4 Billion by 2030. Discover growth trends in other key regions, including Japan, Canada, Germany, and the Asia-Pacific.

Gain insights into the U.S. market, valued at $1.4 Billion in 2024, and China, forecasted to grow at an impressive 6.6% CAGR to reach $1.4 Billion by 2030. Discover growth trends in other key regions, including Japan, Canada, Germany, and the Asia-Pacific. Complimentary Updates: Receive free report updates for one year to keep you informed of the latest market developments.

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 269 Forecast Period 2024 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $5.2 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $6.6 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 3.9% Regions Covered Global





Key Topics Covered:



MARKET OVERVIEW

Influencer Market Insights

Global Economic Update

Herpes Simplex Virus Infections - Global Key Competitors Percentage Market Share in 2024 (E)

Competitive Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial for Players Worldwide in 2024 (E)

MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS

Increasing Use of Antiviral Medications Propels Growth in HSV Treatment Market

Advancements in Diagnostic Technologies Strengthen Business Case for Early Detection

Research into HSV Vaccines Expands Addressable Market Opportunity

Public Health Initiatives and Awareness Campaigns Drive Adoption of Preventive Measures

Rising Prevalence of HSV Infections Spurs Demand for Effective Management Solutions

Advancements in Antiviral Drug Formulations Generate Demand for Improved Treatments

Increasing Over-the-Counter Treatment Options Expand Market Reach

Innovations in Suppressive Therapy Techniques Sustain Growth in HSV Treatment Market

Development of Long-Term Protective Vaccines Bodes Well for the Market

Advances in Genetic and Molecular Research Expand Opportunities for Novel HSV Treatments

Increasing Incidence of Stress and Immunocompromised Conditions Spurs Demand for HSV Management

Personalized Medicine and Tailored Therapies Drive Adoption of Customized HSV Treatment Plans

Digital Health Solutions and Telemedicine Enhance Access to HSV Treatments

FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS

Admedus Limited

Agenus Inc.

Aicuris Anti-infective Cures Gmbh

Asahi Kasei Corporation

Chimerix Inc.

Clinigen Group Plc

Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

F. Hoffmann-la Roche Ltd.

Glaxosmithkline Plc

Maruho Co. Ltd.

Merck

Mylan

Novartis

Sanofi Pasteur

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/5mnnje

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
LIJA, Malta, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The XRP ecosystem is witnessing a surge in investor activity as BlocScale, the first IDO launchpad built on the XRP Ledger, achieves a major milestone, surpassing 15% of its $BLOC Token sales allocation. This rapid progress highlights growing interest in BlocScale as the go-to platform, positioning itself as the gateway for new projects launching on XRP.





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Final Thoughts: Is $BLOC XRPs Next Big Thing?

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Disclaimer: This content is provided by BlocScale. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. 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 financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector--including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining--complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5dc09199-adc2-49e8-ab40-80159b6a2ed1
Dublin, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Coffee Beans Market Size and Share Analysis - Growth Trends and Forecast Report 2025-2033" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Coffee Bean market is expected to grow from US$ 34.89 billion in 2024 to US$ 61.60 billion by 2033, at a CAGR of 6.52% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2033. This growth is driven by increasing global coffee consumption, rising demand for specialty coffee, and growing coffee culture worldwide.





Factors Driving Growth in the Market for Coffee Beans

Rising Global Coffee Consumption



The primary driving force in the coffee bean market is the growing global demand for coffee due to lifestyle changes and growing coffee cultures. Coffee is becoming an essential part of daily habits, especially in emerging markets such as Asia and Africa. Due to the increasing need for specialty and premium coffee consumption, there is strong interest in the various types of coffee beans and forms of brewing. This growing consumer base and the emergence of coffee shops and convenience-oriented coffee products drive the growth of the market, creating a greater demand for high-quality coffee beans worldwide. In the United States, annual consumption per capita is about 4.7 kilograms or 10.3 lbs., making the U.S. only the 67th biggest consumer of coffee worldwide on a per-person basis. The average American consumes around three cups of coffee per day. In Luxembourg, every individual drinks an average of 5.31 cups per day, which sums up to 118,227 cups in a lifetime. Finland takes the second spot with 3.77 cups consumed per day and amounts to 83,939 cups over a lifetime.



Increasing Demand for Specialty Coffee



Specialty coffee, defined by unusual flavor profiles and single-origin beans, is driving growth in the coffee bean market. Premium, artisanal coffee experiences are increasingly preferred over the traditional mass-market blends. This is driven by third-wave coffee culture, increasing respect for sustainable farming practices and traceability in coffee production. Specialty coffee roasters and cafes drive demand for high-quality beans, influencing market dynamics and pushing the industry toward higher-value products and more personalized offerings.



Advances in Coffee Bean Processing and Sustainability



Innovations in coffee bean processing methods, along with an increasing concern for sustainability, are factors driving the market. Innovations such as wet and dry processing methods improve flavor quality and consistency, thereby opening up the appeal of coffee to a wider world. At the same time, the increase in environmentally friendly production with a focus on fair trade, organic farming, and eco-friendly practices is attracting environmentally conscious consumers. All of these improvements enhance the quality and accessibility of coffee beans and fuel the expansion of a socially responsible and sustainable coffee industry. April 2024 Luckin Coffee Launches Its New Roasting Plant in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province. This roasting plant is the largest in China, with a capacity to roast 30,000 tons annually and invested at $120 million.



Problems in the Coffee Bean Industry

Climate Change and Climate Variability



The impact of climate change in this industry is one of the significant challenges. Since the plants are sensitive to temperatures, rainfall, and humidity, they are easily damaged during extreme weather conditions, which include droughts and frosts and erratic rain patterns. These climatic changes can affect bean crop yields and quality in the areas, especially those of Central and South America, which are major coffee producers. Uncertainty due to the weather patterns threatens global coffee supply, increases the prices, and affects consistency in production, thus a threat to farmers and the market.



Price Volatility and Market Fluctuations



The prices are unstable and fluctuating, which is mainly due to the unstable nature of supply and demand, exchange rates, and economic conditions in the global arena. The other factors affecting market prices are fluctuations in labor and transportation costs and production inputs. This instability in price works against farmers' predictability of income and does not give such opportunities to achieve stable livelihoods when coffee farming forms their primary source of income. These price fluctuations can lead to supply chain disruptions, ultimately affecting coffee beans' global availability and pricing.



European Union Coffee Beans Consumption Market



The European Union coffee bean consumption market is significant, driven by a strong coffee culture and increasing demand for premium and specialty coffee. Countries like Italy, Germany, and France are major consumers, with espresso-based drinks and single-origin coffees gaining popularity. Expansion by Coffee shops, convenience- oriented, and the consumption of other coffee products favorably boost the market, but, there's more, increasing acceptance for sustainable sources with right ethical considerations makes its taste, even the EU evolved with coffee tastes which led to changes in consumption styles across the region. During the year 2022, the total volume consumed throughout the European region remained at 3,323,280 tons, per annum average usage remains approximately 4.67 kilos of the bean on a European per-capita basis.



Global Arabica Production Market



The global Arabica coffee production market is considered one of the sizeable segments of the coffee industry, considering the fact that Arabica beans make up around 60-70% of the world's coffee production. Arabica coffee has smoother and more mild flavor compared to Robusta. It is therefore premium, well sought after by coffee lovers. Major producers of Arabica coffee include Brazil, Colombia, and Honduras, with Brazil being the world's largest Arabica producer. Factors that affect Arabica production: climate change, diseases, and a volatile market for prices. Also, sustainability practices and organic and fair trade are more popular, thereby affecting its production trends with consumers insisting on better-quality and environmentally friendly beans.



Vietnam Robusta Production Market



The Vietnam Robusta coffee production market is one of the big players in the global world of coffee. Vietnam is the country that produced the most quantity of Robusta coffee beans, as much as 40 percent of the whole world production. Robusta beans are far more flavorful and bitter-tasting. They contain high caffeine that Arabica lacks. Additionally, the climate of the country and the regions for larger coffee-growing contribute to leading in the nation in robusta production in the regions of Central Highlands. More recently, several issues which affect yields include unsteadfast market prices and aging plants as well as changing the climate. Despite this, Vietnam's Robusta coffee remains a significant export commodity, driven by demand from instant coffee manufacturers and emerging coffee markets worldwide. Sustainable farming practices and improvements in coffee quality are gaining momentum, aiming to meet the growing global demand for high-quality Robusta beans.



United States Bean Import Market



The United States is an important part of the global coffee trade because the U.S. is among the largest coffee importers globally. The majority of the beans imported into the U.S. are Arabica beans, while some beans come from Brazil, Colombia, and Honduras. Besides, there is a constant demand for Robusta beans that is used for instant coffee and specific blends. The increasing demand for specialty and sustainably sourced beans is driving imports. It will continue to do so because there is a growing trend of consumers looking for high-quality, ethically sourced coffee. Changing consumer preferences, including the shift towards organic and fair-trade certified beans, also impact the market. Besides, the U.S. coffee import market is impacted by factors like price volatility, currency fluctuations, and supply chain disruptions, that are mainly climate-related in producing countries. Despite these challenges, the rise of coffee culture in the U.S. continues to fuel strong demand for premium everyday coffee products.



India Coffee Beans Roast & Ground Export Market



The market for roast and ground Indian coffee beans exports has developed rapidly as the country takes a growing position in global coffee markets. India, famous for its Arabica and Robusta beans, is a major roasted and ground coffee exporter, especially to markets such as the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. Indian coffee is valued for its distinctive flavor profiles, which often include mild, smooth notes with a hint of spice. The growing demand for ready-to-brew coffee and increasing international interest in Indian coffee blends add to market expansion. As per trends related to global market conditions regarding premium and high-end sourcing, Indian coffee is tending toward specialty and organic products. Problems of vagrance in the fluctuating pricing of coffee and competing presence from other leading exportable countries are persisting despite all these problems. India's exports keep moving with surging growth owing to culture and expanding preferences about consumption convenience and quality for such beverages.

Company Analysis: Overview, Recent Developments, Revenue Analysis

Starbucks

Nescafe

The Kraft Heinz Company

Lunchin Coffee

J M Smucker

Coca Cola

Dutch Bros

Keurig Dr Pepper

JDE PEET'S N.V.

Key Attributes

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 300 Forecast Period 2024-2033 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $34.89 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2033 $61.6 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.5% Regions Covered Global

Key Topics Covered



1. Introduction



2. Research Methodology



3. Executive Summary



4. Market Dynamics

4.1 Growth Drivers

4.2 Challenges



5. Global Coffee Bean Market



6. Global Coffee Bean Volume

6.1 By Production

6.1.1 Arabica Production

6.1.2 Robusta Production

6.2 By Consumption

6.3 By Export

6.3.1 Bean Export

6.3.2 Soluble Export

6.3.3 Roast & Ground Export

6.4 By Import

6.4.1 Bean Import

6.4.2 Soluble Import

6.4.3 Roast & Ground Import



7. Global Coffee Bean - Market Share Analysis

7.1 Market Share by Consuming Countries



8. Global Coffee Bean - Volume Share Analysis

8.1 By Consuming Countries

8.2 By Producing Countries

8.2.1 Arabica Production by Country

8.2.2 Robusta Production by Country

8.3 By Importing Countries

8.3.1 Bean Imports by Country

8.3.2 Roast and Ground Imports by Country

8.3.3 Soluble Imports by Country

8.4 By Exporting Countries

8.4.1 Bean Exports by country

8.4.2 Roast and Ground Exports by Country

8.4.3 Soluble Exports by Country



9. Consuming Countries - Market & Volume Analysis

9.1 European Union

9.2 United States

9.3 Brazil

9.4 Philippines

9.5 Japan

9.6 Canada

9.7 China

9.8 Indonesia

9.9 Russia

9.10 United Kingdom

9.11 Others



10. Coffee Bean Producing Countries - Volume Analysis

10.1 Arabica Production

10.2 Robusta Production



11. Coffee Bean Exporting Countries - Volume Analysis

11.1 Bean Export

11.2 Soluble Export

11.3 Roast & Ground Export



12. Coffee Bean Importing Countries - Volume Analysis

12.1 Bean Import

12.2 Soluble Import

12.3 Roast & Ground Imports



13. Porter's Five Analysis

13.1 Bargaining power of Buyer

13.2 Bargaining Power of Suppliers

13.3 Degree of competition

13.4 Threat of new entrants

13.5 Threat of substitute



14. SWOT Analysis

14.1 Strengths

14.2 Weakness

14.3 Opportunity

14.4 Threats



15. Key Player Analysis



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/pry8vg

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.

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Dublin, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Energy and Utilities Analytics Market Report 2025" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The energy and utilities analytics market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $3.3 billion in 2024 to $3.84 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growing complexity in energy systems, rise in renewable energy adoption, smart grid development, demand response management, efficiency and optimization.

This report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography. North America was the largest region in the energy and utilities analytics market share in 2024.







The energy and utilities analytics market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $7.16 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to energy efficiency focus, cybersecurity readiness, enhanced customer engagement, predictive maintenance emphasis, demand response optimization. Major trends in the forecast period include AI and machine learning integration, renewable energy integration, grid modernization initiatives, data-driven decision making, and demand response management.



The increasing installation of smart meters is anticipated to drive growth in the energy and utilities analytics market. For example, in October 2023, the Energy Information Administration, a US government agency, reported that in 2022, U.S. electric utilities installed approximately 119 million advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) systems, accounting for around 72% of all electric meters. Residential customers represented about 88% of AMI installations, with AMI meters comprising 73% of the total residential electric meters. Hence, the increasing adoption of smart meters is driving the growth of the energy and utilities analytics market.



The rising emphasis on renewable energy is expected to contribute to the growth of the energy and utilities analytics market in the coming years. For instance, in March 2023, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), a UAE-based intergovernmental organization promoting collaboration and the long-term use of renewable energy, reported a 10% increase in global renewable energy capacity in 2022, marking a 0.4% rise from the previous year's 9.6% growth. Consequently, the increasing focus on renewable energy is propelling the energy and utilities analytics market.



Technological advancements are a significant trend gaining traction in the energy and utilities analytics market. For instance, in June 2023, Microsoft Corporation, a US-based IT firm, launched the Microsoft Azure Energy Platform. This comprehensive solution integrates AI, IoT, and advanced analytics to improve the efficiency and reliability of energy systems. The platform aids energy companies in modernizing their data management and analytics capabilities on the cloud-based OSDU Data Platform. Microsoft has pledged to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2025 and aims for water positivity by 2030, aligning its cloud services with sustainability objectives in the energy sector. Overall, Microsoft Azure offers comprehensive solutions that empower energy companies to boost efficiency, lower costs, and foster innovation through advanced analytics and IoT technologies.



Major companies in the energy and utilities analytics market are pursuing strategic partnerships to facilitate revolutionary SAP business transformations within the industry. For instance, in October 2023, the International Business Machines Corporation, a US-based technology company, announced an expansion of its partnership with KPMG LLP to assist clients in deploying SAP S/4HANA in the energy and utility sectors, enabling business transformations. KPMG and IBM Consulting combine complementary skills in areas such as SAP technology deployment, cross-industry operations, governance, risk management, finance, tax issues, and operational challenges. The combined expertise and capabilities of these organizations may enhance client outcomes and facilitate effective business resource planning transformations throughout the energy and utility sectors. KPMG LLP is a US-based independent professional services firm that provides audit, tax, and consulting services.

Report Scope

Markets Covered:



1) by Type: Software; Services

2) by Deployment Mode: Cloud; on-Premises

3) by Application: Load Forecasting; Meter Operation; Distribution Planning; Demand Response; Other Applications



Subsegments:



1) by Software: Asset Management Software; Demand Forecasting Software; Energy Management Software; Data Visualization and Reporting Tools

2) by Services: Consulting Services; Implementation Services; Support and Maintenance Services; Training Services



Key Companies Profiled: Eaton Corporation; Salesforce Inc.; International Business Machines Corporation (IBM); SAP SE; Intel Corporation



Regions: Asia-Pacific; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa

Countries: Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; Spain



Time Series: Five years historic and ten years forecast.



Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita.



Data Segmentation: Country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments.



Key Attributes

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 200 Forecast Period 2025-2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $3.84 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $7.16 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 16.9% Regions Covered Global

Some of the major companies featured in this Energy and Utilities Analytics market report include:

Eaton Corporation

Salesforce Inc.

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)

SAP SE

Intel Corporation

General Electric

Schneider Electric

Siemens AG

Cisco Systems Inc.

Google LLC

Oracle Corporation

SAS Institute

Yellowfin

OpenText

Teradata Corporation

Infor

Atos World Line India Pvt. Ltd.

TIBCO Software

Honeywell International Inc.

Capgemini SE

ABB Limited

Hitachi Ltd.

Siemens Energy AG

Wipro Limited

Infosys Limited

Accenture plc

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/n5fwdj

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.

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blockchain is no longer just about cryptocurrenciesits transforming industries worldwide. With its power to manage assets securely through smart contracts and decentralized finance (DeFi), blockchain is bridging the gap between traditional finance and the digital economy.

One of the most exciting innovations in this space is Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization, which makes it easier than ever to invest in physical assets using blockchain. Leading this transformation is FBD Tokena next-generation RWA token designed to bring greater accessibility, liquidity, and transparency to real-world asset investments.

How FBD Opens the Door to Real-World Asset Ownership

The Fiboard Token (FBD) is built on blockchain technology, bridging tangible, high-value construction materials with the digital crypto ecosystem. By tokenizing premium building materials produced by Fibo Gulf, FBD enables holders to own a digital stake in construction assets, effectively becoming partners in major development projects.

Why Invest in FBD?

1. Unmatched Transparency & Security

With blockchain technology, every FBD transaction is fully traceable, providing a clear, immutable record of asset ownership. The decentralized nature of blockchain ensures tamper-proof transactions, offering unparalleled security for investors.

2. Highly Liquid & Easily Tradable

Fiboards in-demand construction materials are now digitally tokenized, allowing for frictionless buying, selling, and trading of these assets in global markets. Investors who previously had limited access to such opportunities can now participate seamlessly.

3. Borderless Investment in High-Value Assets

By tokenizing real-world assets, FBD eliminates geographic barriers, making it possible for investors worldwide to own a stake in valuable, income-generating propertieswithout the need for traditional ownership structures.

4. Lower Transaction Costs

By removing middlemen from the asset trading process, FBD significantly reduces transaction fees associated with property ownership, asset transfers, and financial transactions.

Practical Use Cases of FBD

 Real Estate Investment

Instead of purchasing an entire property, investors can own fractional shares of premium construction projects through FBD tokensallowing them to benefit from the booming real estate sector with lower entry costs.

 Supply Chain & Project Management

Since FBD is built on Binance Smart Chain, it can be used in smart contract-driven supply chain solutions. Businesses can streamline payments, manage transactions transparently, and ensure an integrated financial ecosystem for construction projects.

 Construction Industry Investment

FBD enables investors to diversify their portfolio by participating in multiple large-scale construction projects, ensuring greater returns and exposure to a stable asset class.

 DeFi Collateralization (Future Expansion)

As FBD continues to evolve, it will soon be integrated into DeFi platforms, allowing holders to use their tokens as collateral for digital loansunlocking new financial opportunities.

Final Thoughts

FBD Token represents the perfect fusion of blockchain technology and real-world assets, paving the way for a new era of investment, asset management, and financial innovation. By offering transparency, liquidity, and global accessibility, FBD is revolutionizing how individuals and businesses interact with real-world investments.

The future of finance is digital, asset-backed, and decentralizedand FBD is at the forefront of this movement.

About Fiboard

Fiboard is a pioneering project that introduces FBD as an RWA token, representing the ownership of Fibo Gulfs high-performance building materials. With a strong presence in the MENA region, Fiboard is redefining modern construction by producing innovative, sustainable panels tailored to cutting-edge architectural needs.

Now, these premium products are accessible via blockchain technology, seamlessly integrated with Binance Smart Chain and tradable as FBD tokens.

Connect With Us

Kambiz Yousefi,

Fibo Gulf

Dubai, UAE

token@fiboard.org

www.fiboard.org

Disclaimer: This press release is provided by Fiboard Token (FBD). The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. 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 financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector--including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining--complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release.

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Dublin, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "PepsiCo Inc in Snacks (World)" company profile has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

PepsiCo remains a dominant force in the global snacks market, particularly in savoury snacks, fueled by innovation and strategic acquisitions like Siete Foods. The company is expanding into health-conscious, permissible snacking to align with rising consumer health trends and evolving regulations.

This new market analysis report provides insights into PepsiCos brand portfolio, regional performance, competitive strategy, and five-year growth forecasts. Key trends, challenges, and future projections are covered in this comprehensive industry analysis. Discover PepsiCos snack market dominance and upcoming growth strategies.

Product coverage: Confectionery, Ice Cream, Savoury Snacks, Sweet Biscuits, Snack Bars and Fruit Snacks.



Data coverage: market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and distribution data.



Why buy this report?

Get a detailed picture of the Snacks market;

Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change;

Understand the competitive environment, the market's major players and leading brands;

Use five-year forecasts to assess how the market is predicted to develop.

Key Topics Covered:

Headlines

Industry Overview

Production Scorecard

Cost Structure

Firmographics

Market Overview

Consumption Scorecard

Attractiveness Index

Economic Context and Labour Market

For more information about this company profile visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/rxh224

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.
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $50,000 In e.l.f. Beauty To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

If you suffered losses exceeding $50,000 in e.l.f. Beauty between November 1, 2023 and November 19, 2024 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

[You may also click here for additional information]





NEW YORK, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (e.l.f. Beauty or the Company) (NYSE: ELF) and reminds investors of the May 5, 2025 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) contrary to its representations to investors, the Company was experiencing rising inventory levels as a consequence of flagging sales; (2) Elf falsely attributed the rising inventory levels to, among other things, changes in its sourcing practices; (3) to maintain investor confidence, Elf reported inflated revenue, profits, and inventory over several quarters; (4) accordingly. the Companys business and/or financial prospects were overstated; (5) all of the foregoing, once revealed, would likely have a material negative impact on the Company; and (6) as a result, the Companys public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant time

On November 20, 2024, Muddy Waters Research (Muddy Waters) published a report entitled e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. A Revenue and Inventory Mystery (the Muddy Waters Report), 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 causeinsufficient sales.



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 fiscal 2025 net sales growth to be 27%-28%, down from the previous guidance of 28-30%, and also revised its adjusted EBITDA guidance to $289-293 million, down from $304-308 million, resulting in part from the updated sales outlook and a $7 million foreign currency loss. Further, the Company stated that it anticipated net sales growth was lowered to -1% to +2%, with management explaining that this reflected prudence amid softer consumption trends, challenging category conditions, and slower-than-expected new product performance

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding e.l.f. Beautys conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the e.l.f. Beauty class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/ELF or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

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NEW YORK, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JuicyChat.AI, a pioneer in AI communication technology, has launched its NSFW AI Chatbot, a platform designed to enable tailored, private dialogues through customizable AI personas. The tool emphasizes user privacy and adaptive interactions, leveraging advanced neural networks to deliver dynamic exchanges without compromising anonymity.

What is the NSFW AI Chatbot ?

The NSFW AI chatbot allows users to craft bespoke AI personas with unique communication styles, tones, and contextual awareness. Key features include:

Persona Customization: Define traits, backgrounds, and interaction preferences for NSFW AI characters.

Multilingual Support: Operates fluently in 15+ languages, including regional dialects.

Real-Time Adaptation: Responses evolve based on user input, maintaining coherent, engaging conversations.

Technology Behind the Platform

JuicyChat.AIs NSFW AI chatbot is powered by a proprietary neural network integrating:

Natural Language Processing (NLP): Generates contextually relevant, human-like dialogue.

Dynamic Memory Algorithms: Retains conversation history for continuity.

Scalable Infrastructure: Cloud-based systems ensure seamless performance during high demand.

Privacy and Security Protocols

The platform prioritizes discretion with:

End-to-End Encryption: All interactions are secured against external access.

Anonymous Usage: No personal data.

Auto-Delete Function: Chats expire after 24 hours unless manually archived.

User Experience and Accessibility

The intuitive interface includes:

Quickstart Templates: Pre-built scenarios for instant engagement.

Real-Time Feedback: Users rate responses to refine AI behavior.

Cross-Device Compatibility: Accessible via web and mobile browsers.

Future Developments

Planned updates include voice-enabled interactions and collaborative multi-user scenarios, enhancing realism and versatility.

About JuicyChat.AI

JuicyChat.AI specializes in privacy-focused AI tools that redefine digital communication, emphasizing innovation and technology practices.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6d242235-be9d-4f73-99e5-8f6011888782




IRVINE, Calif., March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allied Universal today announced that Taylor Carr has joined its Technology Services business unit as senior vice president of operations. In this role, Carr will oversee operations and drive growth across all revenue segments of the business.

Carr has more than 25 years of experience in the technology and security industries. Most recently he served as president for Vision Technologies, a national systems integrator specializing in security, audio-visual, wireless, networking, and structured cabling solutions. In his professional past, he held leadership and management positions at a wide range of national and global technology companies.

"We are pleased to welcome Taylor to Allied Universals Technology Services business unit," said Carey Boethel, president Allied Universal Technology Services. "With his extensive experience in technology and security, he brings a strong track record of leadership and operational excellence. His expertise will be instrumental in driving growth, enhancing service delivery and advancing our commitment to providing innovative security solutions to our clients."

Carr earned a bachelors degree in criminology and criminal justice from the University of Maryland and is a member of SIA (Security Industry Association) and ASIS International.

About Allied Universal

The worlds leading security and facility services provider and trusted partner to more than 400 of the FORTUNE 500, Allied Universal delivers unparalleled customer relationships, innovative solutions, cutting-edge smart technologies and tailored services that enable clients to focus on their core businesses. With operations in over 100 countries, Allied Universal is the third-largest private employer in North America and seventh in the world. Annual revenue is more than $21 billion. There is no greater purpose and responsibility than serving and safeguarding customers, communities and people. For more information, visit aus.com .

Media Contact:

Kari Garcia

Director of Communications  North America

Phone: 949-826-3560

Email: Kari.Garcia@aus.com

Newsroom: ausnewsroom@aus.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8fc9a1cf-28f4-46f2-a494-19b1bf490936




Dublin, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Newmont Corporation (NEM:NYS): Financial Analysis, Benchmarks Against Industry Averages & Top Competitors, KPIs, EBITDA, Income Statement, Market Size & Growth Forecasts" company profile from Plunkett Research Ltd has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



This unique new report provides deep financial benchmarks for Newmont Corporation (NEM:NYS) compared to its top competitors and compared to the average for all companies within its primary industry. This benchmarking study for Newmont Corporation (NEM:NYS) includes growth forecast for its primary industry for the current year and the next 7 years.



The purpose of this report is to provide vital corporate-specific benchmarks, comparing the Subject Company to its top competitors (on a company-by-company basis) and to the averages within its primary industry for all key metrics. This is a unique report containing high-value data. The report begins with a superb overview of the primary industry of the Subject Company, including historical industry revenues, revenue forecasts and CAGR. Then the report moves into industry averages and metrics, then into data specific to the Subject Company, with comparative data for the Subject Company's top competitors. This report will save countless hours of research and analytical work for the end user.



Core Benefits:

Comprehensive benchmarks for the Subject Company:

Benchmarked against the leading firms in its primary industry

Benchmarked against the average for publicly-held companies (U.S.) in its industry.

This includes financial results, ratios, operating/financial statements and metrics in one package, including both the latest year and 6 most-recent historical years.

A snapshot overview of the company's primary industry, including current and historic revenues and employment, along with a long term forecast for industry growth, with CAGR (compound annual growth rate), employee population and much more.

Detailed rankings of the Subject Company against top companies within the industry (U.S.-based firms) for key items including:

Approximate market capitalization

Employees

Revenues

Net income

3-Year revenue growth (%)

3-Year income growth (%)

Return on assets (%)

Return on equity (%)

Return on invested capital (%)

Leading competitors' profiles.

Report Details

Approximately 103 pages in length.

Approximately 28 Charts.

The region is the USA.

Key Topics Covered:



I. Introduction



A. Core Benefits to Customer:

Comprehensive financial performance benchmarking, including, in one package, the Subject Company's

Financial results

Financial history

Ratios

Vital metrics

Industry-specific comparative financial analysis and benchmarking of the Subject Company to:

Deep financials of each of the leading firms in the Subject Company's primary industry

Detailed, multi-year financial averages for all companies within the industry

Rankings of the Subject Company against the top ten companies within the industry

Profiles of the Subject Company and of its industry's leading firms

II. Industry Analysis Summary of the Subject Company's Primary Industry

Industry revenues, employee count and growth rate

Top U.S. companies, by revenues (table)

Industry revenues, current and historical (chart)

Industry employee population, current and historical (chart)

Industry revenue yearly history and forecast with yearly CAGR

III. Industry Revenues, Historical and Projected

Historical revenues and annual growth rates

Projected revenues & annual growth rates

IV. Comparative Financial Benchmarks for the Subject Company by Industry Averages in a 6-year Time Series of Detailed Financials



A. Detailed table of companies used in computing these averages

B. Income statement averages

All income statement items, including cost of sales, SGA, R&D, salaries and wages, and EBITDA, with ratios

Chart showing average company's key expenses as a percent of revenues

C. Balance sheet averages

All items, including property plant and equipment; accumulated depreciation; goodwill; and long term debt, including ratios

D. Cash flow averages

All cash flow items

V. Competitive Summary of Top Companies Within the Industry, Profiles & Ranks

Profiles, financial reports, ranks & executive lists for up to 10 top U.S.-based corporations

A. Top companies within the industry ranked for key performance items

Approximate market capitalization

Employees

Revenues

Net income

3-Year revenue growth (%)

3-Year income growth (%)

Return on assets (%)

Return on equity (%)

Return on invested capital (%)

B. Benchmarking of the Subject Company and its industry's leading firms to each other and to their industry's averages for all financial analysis metrics

Income statements, balance sheets and cash flow statements for the Subject Company and for each of the top companies compared to each other and to the overall industry average

C. Corporate profiles, comparative analysis of the Subject Company and of the top companies within its industry, including executive listings and financial results

Contact information, executive lists

Business descriptions

Key financial data for 6 years

Brands and divisions

Top salaries

Corporate culture

Charts comparing revenues vs. net income

VI. Data Description, Limited Warranty, Copyrights and Sources



For more information about this company profile visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/7b6xet

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VANCOUVER, CANADA, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novarc Technologies Inc. (Novarc), a full-stack AI robotics company specializing in the design and manufacturing of automated welding solutions, announced today the company has raised $50 million in a Series B funding round led by Export Development Canada (EDC), Canadas export credit agency, with participation from private investment firm Graham Partners, Seaspan (one of Canadas leading shipbuilders), and BC-based strategic investment fund, InBC Investment Corp (InBC).

Novarcs AI-powered intelligent adaptive welding system NovAI enables robots to see and adapt like an expert welder. By using machine vision, deep neural nets for perception and real-time adjustments, NovAI eliminates the need for prescanning and robotic reprogramming, ensuring consistent, high-quality welds in any condition. NovAI Autonomy will be commercially available in Summer 2025.

The funding announced today will propel the companys R&D efforts and development of AI driven solutions such as NovAI which promise to increase industrial productivity - and set new standards in quality and efficiency - as Novarc brings vision and real time adaptation to robotic and mechanized welders to maximize productivity and shape the next era of manufacturing.

We are thrilled to announce that Novarc has secured significant additional funding, with the majority coming from our existing investors. This continued support is a testament to the confidence our investors have in our mission to revolutionize the welding industry through advanced automation solutions, says Soroush Karimzadeh, CEO of Novarc Technologies.

"At EDC, we believe Novarc's technology will be a catalyst for significant advancements in the industrial manufacturing sector, addressing the critical need for automation," says Guillermo Freire, Senior Vice-President, Mid-Market Group, EDC. "We are excited to support Novarc alongside our investment partners as they explore opportunities to expand their international market presence beyond North America, driving their future growth through trade diversification."

Dennis Dunegan, Managing Principal at Graham Partners, added Graham is thrilled to continue to support Novarc in this exciting next phase of growth. We remain highly impressed by both the exceptional team and innovative technology that are driving advancements in the welding industry with AI and robotics.

Seaspan is a strategic partner of Novarcs and has been an investor since 2017. This investment is part of Seaspans value proposition commitment under Canadas National Shipbuilding Strategy. Seaspan has been an early adopter of the companys welding automation technology, first with their installation of Novarcs Spool Welding Robot (SWR) at their Vancouver Drydock and most recently at Victoria Shipyards. These installations are testament to their innovation in shipbuilding, repair and overhaul services and their leadership in the marine transportation industry which has been continued by this latest round of funding.

Since bringing in our first Novarc SWR at Victoria Shipyards, we have seen significant productivity and quality improvements in our pipe shop. The robotic welding technology has been embraced by our workforce and they are excited to work with cutting edge tools. Through our continuing partnership with the Novarc team, we have further developed our welding procedures and look forward to being a part of advancing innovation in this space, says Tony Winter, Vice President & General Manager at Victoria Shipyards.

Novarc is a leader in its field and its automation technology is transforming the global welding industry, says Scott Wong, Interim CIO of InBC. InBCs investment in Novarc is supporting robotics and AI innovation developed here in our province. We are proud to work with the Novarc team, whose cutting-edge technology is advancing industrial manufacturing in B.C., as well as in other markets, supporting our future economic growth.

InBC is a strategic investment fund established by the Province of British Columbia (B.C.) to invest in growing, innovative B.C. companies, supporting key growth sectors, creating and retaining jobs, and driving economic growth for communities across B.C.

This new capital from this oversubscribed round will enable us to accelerate our product development, expand our market presence, and continue delivering innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. We remain committed to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in robotic welding, and this investment brings us one step closer to achieving our goals," said Karimzadeh.

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About Novarc Technologies Inc:

As a proven pioneer in the field of welding automation, Novarc Technologies is a full-stack AI robotics company specializing in the design and manufacturing of automated welding solutions for challenging welding applications. Novarcs Spool Welding Robot (SWR) is recognized by customers globally for its impact in the fabrication industry. For more information, visit www.novarc.ai.

About EDC:

Export Development Canada (EDC) is a financial Crown corporation dedicated to helping Canadian businesses make an impact at home and abroad. EDC has the financial products and knowledge Canadian companies need to confidently enter new markets, reduce financial risk and grow their business as they go from local to global. Together, EDC and Canadian companies are building a more prosperous, stronger and sustainable economy for all Canadians. For more information and to learn how we can help your company, call us at 1-800-229-0575 or visit www.edc.ca.

About Graham Partners:

Graham Partners is a private investment firm focused on investing in technology-driven companies that are spurring innovation in advanced manufacturing, resulting in product substitutions, raw materials conversions, and disruptions to traditional end markets. Graham Partners can offer control or minority capital solutions and typically targets companies with EBITDA up to $50 million. Since the firm's founding in 1988 by Steven Graham, Graham Partners has closed over 160 acquisitions, joint ventures, financings, and divestitures. The committed capital raised since inception through the Graham Partners funds together with Graham-led co-investments totals approximately $6.4 billion as of September 30, 2024, pro forma for subsequent events, which differs from Grahams Regulatory Assets Under Management of approximately $4.0 billion as of September 30, 2024. Investors include high-net-worth individuals, college and university endowments, foundations, pension plans, insurance companies, funds-of-funds, and other institutional investors. Based in suburban Philadelphia, the firm has access to extensive operating resources and industrial expertise and is a member of The Graham Group, an alliance of independent operating businesses, investment firms and philanthropic entities, which all share in the common legacy of entrepreneur Donald Graham. For more information, visit https://www.grahampartners.net/

About InBC Investment Corp.

InBC Investment Corp. (InBC) is a strategic investment fund established by the Province of British Columbia (B.C.) to invest in growing, innovative companies and venture funds to benefit the people of B.C. It is investing to generate financial returns alongside measurable economic, social and environmental impacts for the province. To learn more: www.inbcinvestment.ca

About Seaspan Shipyards

Seaspan, a division of Seaspan ULC, is a leader in Canadas ship design, engineering, building and ship repair industry. With modern facilities and a dedicated workforce of approximately 3,900 in North Vancouver and Victoria, the company has proven itself to be a trusted and strategic partner on a range of complex projects for both government and the private sector. For more information, visit https://www.seaspan.com/seaspan-shipyards/

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WASHINGTON, D.C., March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) and Competitive Markets Action (CMA) have launched a $100,000 ad campaign to fight the imminent reintroduction of the Ending Agriculture Trade Suppression (EATS) Act. Previously led by Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) and Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS), this legislation threatens states' rights and family farms by eliminating state agricultural laws. The campaign highlights the growing concerns about foreign ownership of U.S. farmland, particularly by Chinese interests.

If EATS or anything like it is added to the Farm Bill or passed by Congress, it will be devastating for dairy producers across America, said Deborah Mills, former Chair of the National Dairy Producers Organization and an OCM board member.

Enacting the Hinson/Marshall EATS Act via the Farm Bill would eliminate hundreds of state agricultural laws , paving the way for increased foreign control without necessary safeguards. Without these protections, Chinese-owned corporations like Smithfield Foods could expand nationwide, bypassing regulations that protect rural communities, family farms, and consumers. Members of Congress have indicated that this legislation will soon be reintroduced.

We must prevent any version of the EATS Act from being included in the upcoming Farm Bill and exhaust every resource available to keep this poison pill from becoming law, said Jonathan Buttram, president of the Alabama Contract Poultry Growers Association and OCM board treasurer. U.S. House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders Glenn Thompson, John Boozman, Amy Klobuchar, and Angie Craig must reject this egregious attack on state agricultural laws.

The ad campaign continued this week with OCMs ad buy in Politico Morning and Weekly Ag each day last week, along with CMAs ad takeover of The Daily Callers homepage on Monday and Tuesday. Additionally, a billboard truck will be stationed on Capitol Hill each day Congress is in session for the next three months. The ads urge Americans to call their elected officials and demand they vote against any Farm Bill that includes the dangerous EATS Act. OCM and CMA will sustain this campaign throughout 2025 until a new Farm Bill is finalized and enacted. EATS is opposed by more than 2,000 individual farms, advocacy groups, and trade associations across the U.S.

OCM is ready, willing, and able to roll up our sleeves and dig in to help prevent the EATS Act from being enacted in the upcoming Farm Bill, said Taylor Haynes, OCM President. American family farmers will not stand for this attack on states rights that could put our farms under Chinese government control.

In the 118th Congress, Reps. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), David Valadao (R-CA), Nancy Mace (R-SC), and former Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL), now the National Security Advisor, led a Republican letter opposing EATS in 2023. In 2024, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) spearheaded a similar letter , joined by members of the House Freedom Caucus.

The EATS Act is nothing but a Trojan Horse designed to put family farmers out of business and give multinational conglomerates like the Chinese-owned Smithfield an even greater advantage than they already have, said Mike Schultz, Senior Vice President at OCM and founder of the Kansas Cattlemens Association. Its a crying shame to see my Senator, Roger Marshall, leading this assault on producers and states rights.

If Congress advances the EATS provision or passes anything like it, the Chinese-controlled Smithfield, whose 2013 purchase was financed by the CCP, will own the livestock production in the United States, said Marty Irby, CMA President and OCM board secretary. Wed rather have no Farm Bill than a Farm Bill with any version of the EATS Act included.

XXX

About the Organizations:

Organization for Competitive Markets is a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Lincoln, Nebraska, dedicated to fighting for competitive markets in agriculture. Our mission is to define and advocate for fair, honest, and accessible markets that benefit farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In Telus International To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

If you purchased securities in Telus International between February 16, 2023 and August 1, 2024 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

[You may also click here for additional information]





NEW YORK, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against TELUS International (Cda) Inc. (Telus International or the Company) (NYSE: TIXT) and reminds investors of the March 31, 2025 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) the Companys AI Data Solutions offerings required the cannibalization of its higher-margin offerings; (2) that Telus Internationals declining profitability was tied to the Companys drive to develop AI capabilities; (3) that Telus Internationals shift toward AI put greater pressure on the Companys margins than previously disclosed; and (4) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants positive statements about the Companys business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

On May 9, 2024, Telus International released its first quarter 2024 financial results, revealing a $29 million decline in revenue year over year. On the same day, the Company held an earnings call during which Chief Financial Officer, Gopi Chande was asked by an analyst to clarify what margin should look like on a go-forward basis as margins were down year-over-year and . . . were below the full year guidance. In response, Gopi Chande revealed that the margins generated by the Companys AI offerings can be a bit below average.

On this news, the Companys share price fell $1.41 or 18.15%, to close at $6.36 on May 9, 2024, on unusually heavy trading volume.

Then, on August 2, 2024, before the market opened, Telus International released second quarter 2024 financial results, revealing a significant slowdown in revenue generation: a $5 million quarter-over-quarter or $15 million year-over-year revenue decrease; a $23 million or 15% quarter-over-quarter adjusted EBITDA decrease; and 14.6% quarter-over-quarter reduction in adjusted EBITDA margin, from 23.3% to 19.9%. As a result, Telus International announced it had significantly reduced its full year 2024 fiscal guidance. The Company also disclosed that Jeff Puritt, then-President and Chief Executive Officer, would retire effective September 3, 2024. In an earnings call held the same day, Puritt disclosed that the transition of the Company towards a more technology centric and specifically AI fueled business, necessitates some cannibalization of our tenured and higher margin CX work. Puritt concluded that, ultimately, the Company is going to have to take it on the chin a little bit in terms of our historical margin profile and rely upon eating our own roommate cooking internally, referring the self-cannibalization of the business, in order to create the headwind we need to enjoy the margin yield that weve historically benefited from.

On this news, the Companys share price fell $2.33 or 35.96%, to close at $4.15 on August 2, 2024, on unusually heavy trading volume. The stock continued to decline on the next trading day available, falling $0.83, or 20%, to close at $3.32 on August 5, 2024, on unusually heavy trading volume.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Telus Internationals conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the TELUS International (Cda) class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/TIXT or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/263d55b7-9072-4281-8770-859ca3d284fa
Greenville, SC, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Integrated Power Services (IPS), a leading provider of electrical, mechanical, and power management systems, will present state-of-the-art power management solutions at the Data Center World Conference, April 14-17, 2025, in Washington, D.C. at booth 613.

IPS is redefining response in this mission-critical space by delivering swift, reliable field service solutions when every second counts, said Danny Granillo, Director of Data Centers Strategic Alliance at IPS. With rapid equipment deployment and custom-engineered solutions, IPS stands ready to support essential infrastructure with the agility and precision that todays industries demand.

From switchgear, circuit breakers, transformers, variable frequency drives, uninterrupted power supply systems, and battery refreshers, to NETA-certified services, and custom equipment and solutions, IPS has everything needed to keep data centers fully operational 24/7/365. We have over 1 million sq. ft. of warehousing strategically located across North America for customers critical assets and our large, robust inventory, which includes both new and vintage equipment, explained Granillo.

Operating from more than 90 locations across the U.S. and Canada, IPS leverages deep industry expertise with the largest and most advanced team of engineers and strategic vendor partnerships. IPS ensures that customers maintain uptime and operational resilience, said Granillo. With a commitment to delivering unmatched speed and a superior customer experience, we can meet even the most stringent deadlines.

Whether its electromechanical or power management solutions, IPS serves as a trusted advisor, delivering peak performance and reliability for their customers. With immediate access to equipment, service, and solutions, we provide unparalleled responsiveness to the most demanding operational challenges, said Granillo.



Data Center World is a four-day global conference, designed to help data center and IT infrastructure professionals with their most challenging issues. Data Center World 2025 will be held April 14-17, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

About Integrated Power Services (IPS)

Integrated Power Services (IPS) is a leading provider of service, engineering, and remanufacturing for electrical, mechanical, and power management systems. With a focus on industry-specific expertise and a comprehensive range of capabilities, IPS supports critical infrastructure across a wide range of customers. Headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, IPS operates the largest network in the industry, with service and distribution centers, field offices, and strategically located warehouses across North America, the United Kingdom, and the Caribbean. Each IPS location is equipped to respond, rethink, and resolve complex challenges, offering access to an extensive global talent pool and resources for seamless, single-source solutions. To learn more, visit www.ips.us.

PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

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Wilmington, Delaware, Transparency Market Research Inc. , March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The demand for advanced portable health monitoring solutions is on the rise, driven by increasing focus on real-time diagnostics. The Global Handheld Multi-Parameter Monitoring Devices Market was valued at US$ 3.2 Billion in 2024 and is set to expand at a 4.6% CAGR through 2035.Technological advancements, growing chronic disease prevalence, and the shift toward remote patient monitoring are key growth drivers. By 2035, the market is expected to surpass US$ 5.3 Billion, revolutionizing point-of-care diagnostics worldwide.

Executive Summary

The Handheld Multi-Parameter Monitoring Devices Market Size is experiencing significant growth due to increasing demand for portable, real-time health monitoring solutions across various healthcare settings. These devices, which can measure vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, temperature, and respiratory rate, are widely used in hospitals, ambulatory care, home healthcare, and emergency medical services (EMS).

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Key Market Drivers

Rising Prevalence of Chronic Diseases  Increasing cases of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and respiratory disorders require continuous monitoring.

Increasing cases of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and respiratory disorders require continuous monitoring. Growth of Home Healthcare & Remote Patient Monitoring  Shift towards personalized and decentralized healthcare solutions.

Shift towards personalized and decentralized healthcare solutions. Advancements in Sensor & Wearable Technologies  Development of lightweight, non-invasive, and AI-integrated monitoring systems.

Development of lightweight, non-invasive, and AI-integrated monitoring systems. Increased Geriatric Population  Aging demographics demand easy-to-use, real-time health tracking solutions.

Aging demographics demand easy-to-use, real-time health tracking solutions. Telemedicine & Digital Health Integration  Expanding adoption of cloud-based and Bluetooth-enabled diagnostic tools.

Competitive Landscape & Key Players

Leading Companies in the Handheld Multi-Parameter Monitoring Devices Market

Medtronic  Pioneering wearable and wireless patient monitoring solutions.

Pioneering wearable and wireless patient monitoring solutions. Philips Healthcare  Leader in multi-parameter diagnostic monitoring devices.

Leader in multi-parameter diagnostic monitoring devices. GE Healthcare  Offers portable vital signs monitors and telehealth solutions.

Offers portable vital signs monitors and telehealth solutions. Masimo Corporation  Specializing in advanced pulse oximetry and remote monitoring.

Specializing in advanced pulse oximetry and remote monitoring. Omron Healthcare  Known for blood pressure monitors and home health solutions.

These companies are investing in sensor technology, AI-based analytics, and wireless connectivity to enhance patient monitoring experiences.

Some of the other leading key players in the global handheld multi-parameter monitoring devices market include Abbott, Medtronic, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd., GE HealthCare, NIHON KOHDEN CORPORATION, Schiller Healthcare India Pvt. Ltd., Lepu Medical Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., CONTEC MEDICAL SYSTEMS CO., LTD, Spacelabs Healthcare (OSI Systems, Inc.), aXcent medical GmbH, Yonker (Xuzhou Yongkang Electronic Science Technology Co., Ltd.), IndoSurgicals Private Limited, and Wuhan Zoncare Bio-medical Electronics Co., Ltd.

Recent Developments-

Philips Healthcare secured regulatory approvals for its cloud-connected portable monitors, aimed at remote patient monitoring in Europe and North America. Masimo Corporation partnered with hospitals to integrate handheld monitors with electronic health records (EHR) for seamless patient data management. GE Healthcare launched a lightweight, AI-driven multi-parameter device designed for use in ambulatory care and emergency medical services (EMS).

Industry Overview

The handheld multi-parameter monitoring devices market is characterized by rapid technological advancements and rising investments in healthcare infrastructure. Key players are focusing on wireless connectivity, AI-based diagnostics, and miniaturization of devices to enhance usability and efficiency.

Government initiatives supporting telemedicine, digital health integration, and wearable medical technology are also boosting market growth. Regions such as North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific are experiencing increased adoption due to favorable healthcare policies and growing awareness of preventive healthcare.

Looking for in-depth market insights? Contact us for a comprehensive report on trends, competitive analysis, and emerging opportunities in the handheld multi-parameter monitoring devices industry. Customize your report to match your business needs! https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=86491





Market Segmentation

By Product Type

Portable Handheld Monitors  Used in hospitals, clinics, and home care settings.

Used in hospitals, clinics, and home care settings. Wearable Multi-Parameter Devices  Integrated with smartwatches & fitness trackers.

Integrated with smartwatches & fitness trackers. Wireless & Bluetooth-Enabled Devices  Enables remote monitoring & telehealth applications.

By Application

Application Market Share (%) Growth Factor Hospital & Clinical Use 40% Increasing demand for portable bedside monitoring. Home Healthcare 30% Rise in self-monitoring & elderly care solutions. Emergency & Critical Care 20% Adoption in ambulances & disaster response teams. Military & Remote Healthcare 10% Need for field-ready, rugged devices.

By End-User

Hospitals & Clinics  Primary users for bedside & outpatient monitoring.

Primary users for bedside & outpatient monitoring. Home Care & Telehealth Services  Growth in aging population & chronic disease management.

Growth in aging population & chronic disease management. Ambulances & Emergency Services  Essential for on-the-go patient monitoring.

Essential for on-the-go patient monitoring. Military & Disaster Relief  Used in combat zones & remote healthcare settings.

By Region

Region Market Share (%) Key Growth Drivers North America 45% Advanced healthcare infrastructure, strong R&D investments. Europe 30% Increasing telehealth adoption, government healthcare initiatives. Asia-Pacific 15% Rising chronic diseases, growing medical device industry. Rest of the World 10% Expanding healthcare access in underserved regions.

Future Outlook & Opportunities

Emerging opportunities in the handheld multi-parameter monitoring devices market include:

Expansion of AI-Based Diagnostics  AI-driven predictive healthcare solutions.

AI-driven predictive healthcare solutions. Growth in Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)  Governments supporting telemedicine adoption.

Governments supporting telemedicine adoption. Development of Implantable Biosensors  Next-gen wearable tech for continuous tracking.

Next-gen wearable tech for continuous tracking. Increased Demand for Portable ICU Devices  Hospitals investing in compact, mobile monitoring units.

Hospitals investing in compact, mobile monitoring units. Strategic Collaborations & Digital Health Partnerships  Tech firms working with healthcare providers to develop smart monitoring ecosystems.

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Top FAQs on the Handheld Multi-Parameter Monitoring Devices Market

What is driving the growth of the handheld multi-parameter monitoring devices market? Increasing demand for portable healthcare solutions, advancements in sensor technology, and rising prevalence of chronic diseases. Which regions are expected to dominate the market? North America and Europe lead due to advanced healthcare infrastructure, while Asia-Pacific shows rapid growth potential. What are the key features of modern handheld multi-parameter monitoring devices? Wireless connectivity, AI-powered analytics, real-time monitoring, and multi-sensor integration for comprehensive diagnostics. Who are the major players in the market? Leading companies include Abbott, Medtronic, Philips, Mindray, GE HealthCare, and NIHON KOHDEN. How is technology impacting market trends? AI, IoT, and telehealth integration are enhancing device accuracy, usability, and remote patient monitoring capabilities.

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TORONTO, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ENERQUALITY, Canadas leading certifier of energy-efficient homes, is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Building Innovation Forum & Awards. These awards celebrate outstanding achievements in sustainable homebuilding, recognizing industry leaders who are pushing the boundaries of innovation, energy efficiency, and environmental responsibility.

ENERQUALITY extends its heartfelt congratulations to this years award winners and all nominees for their dedication to advancing high-performance buildings in Canada. Their commitment to sustainability, innovation, and quality sets a new standard for the industry and ensures a better future for homeowners and communities alike.

We are thrilled to celebrate the visionaries and pioneers who are shaping the future of residential construction, said Rose Benedetto, managing director of ENERQUALITY. Their leadership and dedication to building better homes drive meaningful change in the industry and contribute to a healthier planet.

ENERQUALITY also wishes to express its deepest gratitude to our partners and sponsors, whose unwavering support makes this event possible. Their commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency continues to empower the building community and drive progress in the industry.

The winners were announced at the ENERQUALITY Building Innovation Forum & Awards ceremony, an event that brought together builders, industry professionals, and sustainability advocates to discuss the future of high-performance homes in Canada.

ENERQUALITY remains committed to supporting builders in their pursuit of excellence and looks forward to continuing to drive the industry toward a more sustainable future.

Congratulations again to all of this years winners!

Innovation Gauntlet

Winner: Moen

ENERGY STAR Builder of the Year - Small/Custom

Winner: Lucchetta Homes

ENERGY STAR Builder of the Year - Mid-Volume

Winner: Doug Tarry Homes

ENERGY STAR Builder of the Year - Large Volume

Winner: Mattamy Homes

Rising Star of the Year

Winner: Camcos Living

Multi-Family New Construction Building of the Year

Winner: FRAM+Slokker - 55 Port

Licensed Professional of the Year

Winner: Phil Fung

Energy Advisor of the Year

Winner: Jack Zhou, A&J Energy Consultants

Best Green Marketing Campaign of the Year

Winner: BK Cornerstone Design Build Ltd

Green Renovation Project of the Year

Winner: Eurodale Design + Build

Net Zero Builder of the Year

Winner: Doug Tarry Homes

Young Industry Leader of the Year

Winner: Adrian DeGasperis

Innovation in Building of the Year

Winner: SEAN.

Champion of the Year

Winner: Empire Communities

Hall of Fame

Winner: Elizabeth McDonald

For more information about ENERQUALITY and the Building Innovation Awards, please visit www.enerquality.ca.
All Instruments Now Under Glass

First Light Helicopter with Standard Impact Resistant Windshield and 2-Axis Autopilot

Improved Styling Under NxG, Next Generation Trims

New Limited Edition R66 Riviera

DALLAS and TORRANCE, Calif., March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC), the world's leading manufacturer of civil helicopters, shared two design-forward R66 helicopters as part of the refreshed R66 NxGTM at Verticon in Dallas. The next generation aircraft mark a significant milestone, coinciding with the 15th anniversary of the original R66, which began production in 2010. Refreshed inside and out, the R66 NxG offers new technology and standard safety equipment, including an impact resistant windshield and a 2-axis autopilot standard. The R66 NxG also includes updated materials, and new paint schemes while remaining mission-capable, making the R66 more premium and accessible.

To simplify the ordering process, Robinson Helicopter is now offering the next generation R66 NxG in three trim levels. The base trim is the Southwood for buyers who need a capable workhorse without all the upgrades. The mid-grade trim, Palo Verde, includes optional upgraded avionics, additional premium leather interior colors and options and an all-new exterior paint design. A Limited-Edition aircraft called the Riviera also joins the lineup of the NxG family.

"Every Robinson Helicopter is designed and assembled in Torrance, California, by our dedicated team of over 1,200 employees," said David Smith, president and CEO of Robinson Helicopter Company. "To honor our hometown, we've named each new trim package after nearby neighborhoods, the Southwood; the Palo Verde; and the Riviera. This unique touch allows our employees and neighbors to share a piece of Torrance with every new R66 NxG."



THE LINE UP:

SOUTHWOOD:

The base-level NxG trim is Southwood. Southwood comes standard with Garmin G500H 700P/700P TXi avionics and a 2-axis Garmin autopilot, two interior color choices of Stone or Graphite, an impact- resistant windshield, new LED landing lights, and the safety and reliability, Robinson customers have come to rely upon, at an accessible entry price.

PALO VERDE:

The Palo Verde is equipped with Garmin G500H 700P/700P TXi or an optional 1060/700P TXi flight display, as well as Garmin GTN 750Xi GPS, Synthetic Vision, Navigation and Communications, GDL 60 Datalink and 2-axis Garmin autopilot. Sun visors and ambient overhead lighting are standard on this trim while footwell lighting is available as an option. Design features include a Sand leather interior option and a new exterior paint scheme in a variety of standard and metallic paints.

RIVIERA LIMITED EDITION:

Only available for order in the next 12 months with a limited amount to be built, the Riviera offers advanced Garmin avionics and a 3-axis autopilot. This unique aircraft also includes an exclusive Midnight + Umber interior. The headliner is made of Alcantara fabric, while the seats are offered in midnight leather, accented with laser-etched suede inserts. In a departure from previous Robinson Helicopter models, the Riviera includes a light wood flooring that is both contemporary and functional. The aircrafts exterior features a bold color-block pattern in three all-new paint colors. The very first R66 Riviera Edition is Serial Number 1500 and will be on display at Verticon.













Premium Interior, Standard Equipment:

All new materials are available on the R66 NxG. This upgraded interior moves to a more upscale appearance in three new colors, including a standard Stone on the Southwood trim and a choice of lighter Sand or darker Graphite for the mid Palo Verde trim.

Redesigned Trim Structures and Paint Schemes: Available with three new trim options for increased personalization.

Available with three new trim options for increased personalization. All-Glass Cockpit: Replaces traditional round gauges with advanced digital displays for increased situation awareness and reduced pilot workload. Engine and system instruments are provided on the Garmin TXi display, offering additional awareness of operating limits using color. Provides auto-relight, power check recording, and engine data logging.

Replaces traditional round gauges with advanced digital displays for increased situation awareness and reduced pilot workload. Engine and system instruments are provided on the Garmin TXi display, offering additional awareness of operating limits using color. Provides auto-relight, power check recording, and engine data logging. Autopilot : Industry-first light helicopter with a standard 2-axis Garmin Autopilot and enhanced safety features like limit cueing, single button level mode, hover assist, overspeed and under speed protection and an optional third axis.

: Industry-first light helicopter with a standard 2-axis Garmin Autopilot and enhanced safety features like limit cueing, single button level mode, hover assist, overspeed and under speed protection and an optional third axis. Polycarbonate Impact-Resistant Windshield: This windshield provides greater protection against bird strikes, drone strikes and other airborne debris.

This windshield provides greater protection against bird strikes, drone strikes and other airborne debris. Air Conditioning: Air conditioning is standard across all NxG trims.

Air conditioning is standard across all NxG trims. New Interior: Features premium upholstery, incorporating high-quality finishes for an elevated passenger experience.

Features premium upholstery, incorporating high-quality finishes for an elevated passenger experience. New LED Landing Lights: Longer life and improved brightness for enhanced visibility during nighttime operations. NxG landing lights also include a pulse mode for further bird strike avoidance.



ENHANCED EXTERIOR DESIGN, PAINT COLORS AND PAINT SCHEMES:

The R66 NxG introduces an updated paint palette, featuring a selection of new shades while removing Medium Gold, Metallic Orange, and Dark Blue from the paint lineup. This evolution in color options allows customers to choose a more modern array of colors and accents. Joining the metallic paints are Monarch Orange Metallic, Pacific Blue Metallic, and Sky Blue Metallic. In a departure from the previous Orange, the standard color chart now features a richer shade of Orange, called California Poppy.

The Riviera is the premium trim option providing elevated style and functionality. It showcases quality craftsmanship with an exclusive interior design, featuring suede seat inserts sourced from Alcantara and easy-to clean, fabricated wood flooring for a more upscale appearance. All seats are 100 percent leather sourced from Muirhead. Rivieras exclusive paint scheme features a color-block pattern of Monarch Orange Metallic, Pacific Blue Metallic, and Sky Blue Metallic.

Robinson Helicopter recognizes the diverse needs of its customers. While many rely on our helicopters for demanding missions like animal management, agricultural work, and public safety, we also serve many customers who appreciate elevated design, Smith explains. This latest advancement sets a new standard for our company and the industry. We are committed to providing all our customers  whether they prioritize rugged performance for demanding work, or unparalleled comfort for personal use  with both performance and safety.

For R66 NxG pricing, please visit www.robinsonheli.com.

About Robinson Helicopter Company

For more than 50 years, Robinson Helicopter Company has been at the forefront of the helicopter industry by delivering safety-enhancing technologies, including OEM-designed crash-resistant fuel cells, 4K cockpit video cameras, autopilot systems, impact-resistant windshields, and NVG-compatible cockpits. Robinson is committed to developing, manufacturing, and supporting the most reliable and efficient manned and unmanned helicopters in the industry. For additional information, visit www.robinsonheli.com .

Contacts:

Robinson Helicopter Company

Robyn E. Eagles

Robyn.eagles@robinsonheli.com

323-547-5102

Lee-Anne Aranda

lee-anne.aranda@robinsonheli.com

310-539-0508 x294

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

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CANBERRA, Australia, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII), the largest military shipbuilder in the United States and a global leader in nuclear-powered submarine construction, was awarded a contract to deliver the new Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification (AUSSQ) pilot program over the next two years to accelerate the identification and qualification of Australian suppliers and products into the United States submarine industrial base.

The contracts initial value is $9.6 million (AUD) with the option to extend based on achievement.

The pilot program will support the development of a sovereign robust, internationally integrated supply chain, accelerating Australian industrys critical contribution to the success of the AUKUS trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

This contract represents a significant milestone in building a resilient and globally integrated supply chain for nuclear-powered submarines, said Chris Kastner, president and CEO of HII. HII has a long history of working with suppliers to ensure they meet the highest standards in safety, security, and performance. We welcome Australian partners to help build out this critical nuclear shipbuilding capability and ensure the long-term success of AUKUS.

A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://hii.com/news/hii-to-strengthen-nuclear-powered-submarine-supply-chain/.

The HII led AUSSQ pilot program is part of the Australian Governments comprehensive AUKUS Submarine Industry Strategy, released by the Australian Submarine Agency on March 5, 2025. The Industry Strategy identifies the conditions to develop the sovereign industrial capability needed to deliver, operate and sustain our future conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines, while also ensuring our existing Collins-class submarines are sustained and upgraded until their eventual withdrawal from service.

The AUKUS Submarine Industry Strategy states, The [AUSSQ Pilot program] will use a B2B model, enabling HII Australia to work directly with Australian businesses to qualify both the businesses and their products, and subsequently assist them to tender for supply into the US programs.

An Australian submarine industrial base capable of building and sustaining a persistent, potent and sovereign multi-class submarine capability is vital to the defense of Australia, and this Pilot initiative with HII Australia is another important step to this being achieved, stated Richard Marles, deputy prime minister of Australia and Australia minister for Defence.

The AUSSQ pilot program will engage with Australian companies nationwide, building on the success of the recent partnership of HII Australia with both the South Australian Government and the Western Australian government, and complements the Australian governments existing Defence Industry Vendor Qualification (DIVQ) Program.

With over 60 years of experience managing complex supplier networks for U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarine programs and maintaining a strong nuclear stewardship culture for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on critical national security projects, HIIs expertise in quality assurance, safety, and technical training will support Australian industry in meeting the stringent requirements for nuclear-powered submarine construction. The company also brings a record of advancing science, technology, and environmental protection, as well as proven performance in developing and sustaining a highly skilled nuclear workforce, including by investing in education and training programs that attract, develop, and retain top talent in local communities. By leveraging this extensive experience, HII is prepared to support Australias efforts to build and sustain a robust industrial base capable of supporting these highly sophisticated vessels.

Every year HII spends approximately $1 billion with more than 2,000 suppliers in the United States, with nearly half of this amount going to small businesses.

HIIs engagement will focus on assessing and developing Australian suppliers, providing technical guidance, and implementing best practices to ensure compliance with the precise specifications required for nuclear submarine components. By leveraging HIIs deep experience in supply chain management and industrial base expansion, the program aims to establish a sustainable pipeline of qualified suppliers, reinforcing the broader AUKUS effort. This contract works in conjunction with our Global Supply Chain Programs broader Australian supplier initiatives.

The contract will be managed by HIIs Australian operations leveraging the companys local and international strengths and skills delivered, and in partnership with H&B Defence  a HII and Babcock joint venture.

For more information about HIIs role in nuclear-powered shipbuilding and supplier development, visit https://hii.com/what-we-do/sectors/hii-australia.

About HII

HII is a global, all-domain defense provider. HIIs mission is to deliver the worlds most powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation, creating the advantage for our customers to protect peace and freedom around the world.

As the nations largest military shipbuilder, and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities extending from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HIIs workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:

HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/

HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHII

HII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHII

HII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHII

Contact:

Greg McCarthy

(202) 264-7126

gregory.j.mccarthy@hii-co.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/eb59ae74-c8ea-4a9f-81b9-8b51599a4999




NEW YORK, NY, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

70% of CEOs Believe a Failed AI Strategy or AI-Induced Crisis Will Result in a Fellow CEO Being Ousted by the End of 2025

94% of CEOs Admit an AI Agent Could Provide Equal or Better Counsel on Business Decisions Than a Human Board Member

89% of CEOs Feel AI Can Develop an Equal or Better Strategic Plan Than One of Their Executive Leaders

94% Of CEOs Suspect Employees Are Using GenAI Tools Without Company Approval, Exposing a Massive Governance Failure Within Organizations









A staggering 74% of CEOs internationally admit they are at risk of losing their job within two years if they fail to deliver measurable AI-driven business gains, according to the newly released Global AI Confessions Report: CEO Edition by Dataiku, the Universal AI Platform. The study, conducted by The Harris Poll for Dataiku, surveyed over 500 CEOs in the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany. The report exposes the candid admissions and revelations of global chief executives as they face a new reality: AI strategy has become the defining factor in corporate survival.

The findings underscore an unprecedented shift in executive accountability, as 70% of CEOs predict that by the end of the year, at least one of their peers will be ousted due to a failed AI strategy or AI-induced crisis. Meanwhile, more than half of CEOs (54%) admit that a competitor has already deployed a superior AI strategy, highlighting the urgency for organizations to move beyond AI ambition into tangible execution.





AI vs. BoD and Executive Leadership: A Growing Power Struggle?

The report also signals a radical redefinition of corporate leadership, as AI increasingly challenges the role of decision-making. Key findings include:





94% of CEOs admit that an AI agent could provide equal or better counsel on business decisions than a human board member.

89% of CEOs believe AI can develop an equal or better strategic plan than one or more of their executive leaders, a cohort defined as VP to C-suite.





As AIs influence expands, its not just reshaping strategy  its challenging the very foundation of corporate leadership, forcing CEOs to reconsider who, or what, will make the most critical decisions in the future.





The AI Commodity Trap and AI Washing: CEO Blind Spots

Despite their growing reliance on AI, many CEOs remain dangerously unaware of the pitfalls of poorly executed AI strategies.





87% of CEOs fall into the AI commodity trap, expressing confidence that off-the-shelf AI agents can be just as effective as custom-built solutions for highly nuanced vertical or domain-specific business applications.

35% of AI initiatives are suspected to be "AI washing"  designed more for optics than real business impact.

94% of CEOs suspect employees are using GenAI tools  such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Midjourney  without company approval (known as shadow AI), exposing a massive governance failure within organizations.





AI Governance and Regulatory Uncertainty: Delays and Cancellations on the Rise





While AI adoption accelerates, poor governance and regulatory uncertainty are creating significant roadblocks:





Eight-in-ten CEOs expressed concern that AI deployments could inadvertently harm their employees (80%) or their customers (83%), underscoring a lack of confidence in execution and control.

(80%) or (83%), underscoring a lack of confidence in execution and control. One-in-three (37%) CEOs admit their AI projects have been delayed due to regulatory uncertainty.

32% of CEOs admit their AI projects have been canceled or abandoned due to regulatory uncertainty.





For CEOs today, every AI decision feels like a high-stakes gamble that can drive competitive dominance or lead to costly consequences, explained Florian Douetteau, co-founder and CEO of Dataiku. The only way to turn AI into an enduring advantage is to assert greater control and governance  future-proofing not just the companies these CEOs run, but their own roles as leaders in an increasingly AI-powered economy.





AI: The Defining Factor for CEO and Company Survival

With 78% of CEOs prioritizing AI strategy as a core business goal for 2025 and 83% acknowledging AIs impact on investor confidence, the message is clear  CEOs must turn AI intent into measurable impact, or risk becoming a cautionary tale in the next inevitable wave of executive turnover.

For the full Global AI Confessions Report: CEO Edition, visit https://pages.dataiku.com/global-ai-confessions-report/





Harris Poll Survey Methodology

The research for the Global AI Confessions Report: CEO Edition was conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of Dataiku from January 25  February 7, 2025. The survey was conducted among CEOs in the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany. A total of 504 online interviews were conducted (U.S. = 201, U.K. = 100, Germany = 100, France = 103). All CEOs in the study work for large companies with an annual revenue of more than $500M (Or 250M / 250M) and a company size of more than 500 employees.

About Dataiku

Dataiku is the Universal AI Platform, giving organizations control over their AI talent, processes, and technologies to unleash the creation of analytics, models, and agents. Aggressively agnostic, it integrates with all clouds, data platforms, AI services, and legacy systems to ensure full technology optionality  empowering customers to future-proof their AI initiatives. With governance by design and no-, low-, and full-code capabilities, Dataiku enables the worlds largest companies to confidently build and manage differentiated AI that drives measurable business value.

Dataiku has over 1,100 employees across 13 offices worldwide, serves over 700 enterprise customers, and is backed by investors, including Wellington Management, Battery, CapitalG, ICONIQ, and FirstMark. For more, visit the Dataiku blog, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.









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Itasca, Illinois, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Topco Associates, LLC recently held its Annual Membership Conference where the cooperative provided notable updates, including the announcement of American Foods International Inc. and Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc. as the two newest organizations to join the membership.

American Foods International Inc., headquartered in Miami, services independent retailers throughout the Caribbean, Latin America and South Florida. American Foods has joined as a full member, participating in Dairy/Commercial Bakery; Deli-Bakery-Foodservice; Frozen; Grocery; HBC & GM; Indirect Spend; Meat & Seafood and Produce & Floral. Frank Stanzione serves as the organizations President & CEO.

Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc. (AWG) is headquartered in Kansas City, KS and operates as a retailer-owned wholesaler with 1,100 member companies that distributes to more than 3,400 stores across 33 states, including a few Topco members. AWG joined Topco as a full member in Deli-Bakery-Foodservice; HBC & GM; Indirect Spend and Produce & Floral programs. AWG is led by President & CEO Dan Funk.

Were excited to partner with both organizations, and their joining of Topco shows the continued importance of independent grocers partnering together to be successful, said Topco President and CEO Randy Skoda. In addition, their active participation will strengthen the memberships total go-to-market strategy with improved sourcing opportunities and new and unique perspectives based on their business models.

The Topco cooperative now stands at 48 member-owners.

Additionally, during the Board of Directors meeting, Big Y Foods, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Michael DAmour was appointed Vice Chairman of Topcos Board of Directors. Michael is the grandson of Big Y co-founder Paul DAmour and son of Donald DAmour. He began working in the supermarkets in various roles as a teenager before beginning his full-time career at Big Y in 1996. Additionally, Michael serves on the board of FMI/The Food Industry Association.

Big Y has been a member of Topco since 1991. DAmour has been an active supporter of Topco for decades and served as a member of the Operations Team for the last 20 years.

DAmour joins Topco Chairman of the Board Steve Smith, who was appointed to his board-leading position last year. Smith operates as K-VA-T Foods Stores, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer.

Im honored to serve as the Vice Chairman of the Topco Board of Directors, assisting Steve in guiding the company as we continue to navigate an ever-evolving grocery retail landscape, DAmour said. I look forward to collaborating with the membership on key initiatives and continuing the work of our strategic vision for the cooperative.

The current Board of Directors and Operations Team can be found in the photo captions.

About Topco Associates, LLC

Topco Associates, LLC is a $19 billion, privately held, member-owned company that provides aggregation, innovation and knowledge management solutions for its leading food industry member-owners and customers, including grocery retailers, wholesalers, food service, and pharmacy companies. Topco leverages the collective volume, knowledge, and commitment of these companies to create a competitive advantage in the marketplace by reducing costs and offering winning business-building capabilities. For more information, please visit www.topco.com.

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Plantation, FL, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- T-REX Acquisition Corp. (PINK: TRXA), a growth stage, multi-tiered, vertically integrated crypto-mining business, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Megalodon Mining and Electric, LLC, a Florida Limited Liability Company, announces the completion of its asset purchase of Peak Digital Solution LLC (Peak Digital).

Peak Digital is a provider of proprietary and co-location services based in Orofino, Idaho. Its assets consist of a turnkey crypto mining operation, including an approximately 6,000 square foot facility, racks, cooling and operational systems serving a co-location tenants currently occupying one third of the total rack space. T-REX anticipates utilizing the remaining two-thirds for its own proprietary Bitcoin mining operations.

After consolidating our disparate mining operations at co-locations in Tampa, Florida and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, T-REX has set its sights on acquiring established turn-key mining and co-location operations and land development to establish new locations to our portfolio of properties. We continue to source new opportunities to satisfy our expanding need for reliable, cost effective, and scalable electricity, not only for our own crypto-mining needs, but also for our expanding list of co-location tenants, Frank Horkey, President of T-REX Acquisition Corp. said.

By acquiring Peak Digitals assets, T-REX opens a new chapter in its corporate development. We will be able to increase our gross profit margins on our proprietary Bitcoin mining operations through the reduction of our electrical cost at our new facility Horkey remarked. Further, we have opened a new income generating vertical by becoming the co-location host where before we were the customer.

About TRXA: T-REX Acquisition Corp.: is a growth stage, multi-tiered vertically integrated cryptocurrency mining business. T-REX has a wholly owned subsidiary, Raptor Mining LLC, designated for proprietary Bitcoin mining and trading for its own account. Its wholly owned subsidiary Megalodon Mining and Electric, LLC is the host of its data centers and provides co-location support and management to crypto currency miner groups.

The information contained in this publication does not constitute an offer to sell or solicit an offer to buy securities of T-Rex Acquisition Corp. (the Company). This publication contains forward-looking statements, which are not guarantees of future performance and may involve subjective judgment and analysis. As such, there are no assurances that the Company will meet its expectations with respect to its future sales volume and profit margins. The information provided herein is believed to be accurate and reliable, however the Company makes no representations or warranties, expressed or implied, as to its accuracy or completeness. The Company has no obligation to provide the recipient with additional updated information. No information in this publication should be interpreted as any indication whatsoever of the Companys future revenues, results of operations, or stock price.

Contact Information

Tim@t-rexminingsolutions.com

954 960 7100


IRVINE, Calif., March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nymox announces that it dismissed the Delaware matter pending against Ascella on March 7, 2025. A number of factors caused the company to reconsider its strategy to adequately protect its shareholders.

Nymox CEO Paul Averback said, "The dismissal at this stage is a legal step after consultation with counsel, with whom we have full confidence. We assure our shareholders that further steps are contemplated and we will report accordingly at the appropriate time."

About NYMOX

Nymox has submitted applications seeking the approval to, and continues to consider submitting additional applications seeking the approval to market the Company's first in class drug NYMOZARFEX (TM) to treat the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is one of the most common conditions affecting middle aged and elderly men throughout the world. BPH can be devastating to men who suffer from the condition. Current treatments are associated with numerous intolerable side effects including sexual problems, such as impotence and retrograde ejaculation. Medications for BPH have been associated with prostate cancer, depression, gynecomastia and other adverse effects. The majority of men stop taking the available medications due to these and other problems. Surgery is often needed for advanced BPH. Surgery is usually effective but it is not without risks, the discomforts of surgery, and BPH surgery has side effects such as permanent retrograde ejaculation for many patients.

Nymox has reported 10-year follow-up new data on all available patients from its U.S. clinical trial of NYMOZARFEX (TM) for the treatment of low grade localized prostate cancer. The available long-term data newly assessed, confirmed that all available data shows that the NYMOZARFEX (TM) treatment had important and statistically significant benefit for reducing the long-term progression of these prostate cancers.

About NYMOZARFEX (TM) (Fexapotide)

NYMOZARFEX (TM) is given in an in-office procedure that is administered in a few minutes without need of anesthesia or analgesia. The drug has been tested in clinical trials involving overall more than 1750 patients with over 1600 injections administered including over 1200 NYMOZARFEX (TM) administrations. NYMOZARFEX (TM) has led to significant long-term improvements and has shown an excellent safety profile without the side effects normally associated with existing BPH treatments.

For more information please contact info@nymox.com or 800-936-9669.

Forward Looking Statements

To the extent that statements contained in this press release are not descriptions of historical facts regarding Nymox, they are forward-looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and expectations of management made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the need for new options to treat BPH and prostate cancer, the potential of Fexapotide to treat BPH and prostate cancer and the estimated timing of further developments for Fexapotide. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause our clinical development program, future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainties inherent in the clinical drug development process, including the regulatory approval process, the timing of Nymox's regulatory filings, Nymox's substantial dependence on Fexapotide, Nymox's commercialization plans and efforts and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of Fexapotide. Nymox undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of Nymox in general, see Nymox's current and future reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023.
TORONTO, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United Steelworkers union (USW) is denouncing the latest escalation in Donald Trumps reckless trade war as the U.S. government imposes devastating 50% tariffs on U.S. imports of steel and aluminum from Canada. These measures, effective after midnight, threaten the existence of the Canadian steel industry and thousands of Canadian jobs, disrupt vital supply chains and further undermine North American manufacturing.

These tariffs are nothing less than a potential industry killer, said Marty Warren, USW National Director for Canada. Its an economic attack on workers and our economic sovereignty. Trump's protectionist charade is not about helping American workers but about using them as political pawns while jeopardizing jobs on both sides of the border. Canadian steel and aluminum workers will not be intimidated. We are ready to fight back and we will.

The new measures, which extend to downstream products containing non-U.S. steel and aluminum, come on top of previous tariffs that have already placed massive strains on Canadian industry. While the existing tariffs are temporarily paused until April 2, if they take effect as planned, these combined tariffs will amount to a staggering 75% on steel and 60% on aluminum, creating an economic chokehold that could devastate entire communities reliant on these industries.

This is a serious escalation in an unnecessary trade war with a trusted ally, and jobs and communities on both sides of the border hang in the balance, said USW International President David McCall. USW members across North America work together. We also fight together. And when it comes to beating back ill-advised trade policy that hurts us all, we will win together.

The USW is calling on the federal government to take immediate and aggressive action in response.

Our government must fight back with the same force, Warren continued. Workers are the backbone of these industries and our first priority must be ensuring they have the support they need. That means real protections  a wage subsidy and enhanced Employment Insurance. Canada must also prioritize domestic procurement and invest in the future of our steel and aluminum industries. No more half-measures. No more waiting. Workers deserve real protection and they need it now.

The USW is also demanding the federal government expand and enforce retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports, targeting key industries and politically sensitive sectors, and implement a robust Buy Canadian strategy for all public infrastructure projects, ensuring public dollars support domestic jobs. Canada must also leverage critical minerals and energy to push back against U.S. trade aggression. As both an emergency measure and a means to building long-term economic resilience, the federal government should also consider the implementation of a buffer stock and strategic reserve program.

This isnt just about steel and aluminum  this is about protecting Canadas economy, its workers and its sovereignty, Warren emphasized. We will not stand by while Trump uses our jobs as bargaining chips in his political game. Steelworkers will fight back on the shop floor, in the halls of government and in the streets if necessary.

About the United Steelworkers union:

The USW represents 225,000 members in nearly every economic sector across Canada and is the largest private-sector union in North America, with 850,000 members in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean.

Each year, thousands of workers choose to join the USW because of the unions strong track record in creating healthier, safer and more respectful workplaces and negotiating better working conditions and fairer compensation  including good wages, benefits and pensions.
Voltalia signs a power sales agreement for its 526-megawatt hybrid project in Uzbekistan

Voltalia (Euronext Paris, ISIN code: FR0011995588), an international player in renewable energy, announces the signing of a power sales agreement (PPA) for its hybrid project in Uzbekistan. The agreement was concluded with the state company JSC Uzenergosotish1 on the sidelines of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's official visit to France.

The agreement, signed under the auspices of the Uzbek Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade marks a key milestone for the Artemisya project, located in the Bukhara region. The project combines 126 megawatts of solar energy, 300 megawatts of wind power, and 100 megawatts/200 megawatt-hours of battery storage.

A continued cooperation between Voltalia and Uzbek authorities

November 2022 2 : Voltalia signed an agreement with the Uzbek government, in the presence of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), to initiate the development of this hybrid cluster.

: Voltalia signed an agreement with the Uzbek government, in the presence of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), to initiate the development of this hybrid cluster. November 20233: During a state visit, under the leadership of Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Shavat Mirziyoyev, Voltalia signed a protocol outlining the next steps for the Artemisya hybrid projects development.

The power sales agreement signed today extends for 25 years for solar and wind energy and 15 years for storage. They ensure the long-term profitability and financial viability of this ambitious cluster. Artemisya will help meet the countrys growing electricity needs, as well as peak consumption during the beginning and end of the day, thanks to its storage capacity.

Annual production of the cluster is equivalent to the electricity consumption of around 2,500,000 inhabitants in Uzbekistan while preventing the emission of 598,000 tonnes of CO per year in the country

The construction phase is set to begin in Q1 2026 for solar and storage and in Q3 2026 for wind power.

Alongside the PPA, Voltalia has also signed two new cooperation agreements:

An agreement establishing the main terms and conditions for the large 500-megawatts / 1-gigawatt-hours storage project, Turan Storage, which is part of the tripartite partnership 4 signed during the last investment forum in Tashkent with the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade

signed during the last investment forum in Tashkent with the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade An agreement outlining the terms of reference for the implementation of a 500-kilowatt agrivoltaic pilot project in the Tashkent region. This project, set to be commissioned in August 2025 will serve as the first test project following an agrivoltaic concept in Uzbekistan.

With this new milestone, Voltalia reaffirms its commitment to supporting Uzbeks ambition of reaching 8 gigawatts of renewable capacity by 2026 and 12 gigawatts by 2030.

This signing demonstrates our strong commitment to supporting Uzbekistan in its energy transition. Following the discussions initiated on this project in 2022, we are now concluding a significant power sales agreement, further strengthening our presence in the country, says Robert Klein, Chief Executive Officer of Voltalia.

Yoni Ammar, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Voltalia, says: The new contract demonstrates our ability to develop large-scale projects, integrate efficient hybrid solutions, and ensure their long-term profitability. They also reflect the confidence placed in Voltalia by the Uzbek authorities as a high-performing and leading partner in supporting the sector's development. I sincerely thank them for this trust.

Next on the agenda: 2024 Results, March 13, 2025 (before market opening)

About Voltalia (www.voltalia.com) Voltalia is an international player in renewable energies. The Group produces and sells electricity from its wind, solar, hydro, biomass and storage facilities. It has 3.3 GW of capacity in operation and under construction, and a portfolio of projects under development with a total capacity of 17.2 GW.



Voltalia is also a service provider, supporting its renewable energy customers at every stage of their projects, from design to operation and maintenance.

A pioneer in the business market, Voltalia offers a comprehensive range of services to businesses, from the supply of green electricity to energy efficiency services and the local production of its own electricity.









With more than 2,000 employees in 20 countries on 3 continents, Voltalia has the capacity to act globally on behalf of its customers.









Voltalia is listed on the Euronext regulated market in Paris (FR0011995588 - VLTSA) and is included in the Enternext Tech 40 and CAC Mid&Small indices. The company is also included, amongst others, in the MSCI ESG ratings and the Sustainalytics ratings. Voltalia

Email: invest@voltalia.com

T. +33 (0)1 81 70 37 00 Press Relations Seitosei.Actifin - Jennifer Jullia

jennifer.jullia@seitosei-actifin.com

T. +33 (0)1 56 88 11 19





1Unique buyer in Uzbekistan

2 Press release dated November 22, 2022

3 Press release dated November 3, 2023

4 Press release dated May 15, 2024

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ROCKY RIVER, Ohio, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Marlen Jewelers, a cornerstone of the Rocky River community for over a century, proudly celebrates tradition through its new partnership with HelloNation, a leading digital platform dedicated to highlighting local businesses and communities across the nation.

As featured in a recent HelloNation magazine article and video, Marlen Jewelers reflects on how traditions create enduring bonds between generations, preserve cultural heritage, and foster a deep sense of community identity. Marlen Jewelers emphasizes the emotional power of heirloom jewelry, which carries stories and values across generations, creating lasting family connections and cherished memories.

At Marlen Jewelers, our craftsmanship embodies more than fine jewelryits about preserving heritage and strengthening the bonds within our community, said owner Andrew Eilberg. Our collaboration with HelloNation helps us share these meaningful stories with a broader audience, underscoring our commitment to tradition and community.

Through HelloNations multimedia storytelling approach, Marlen Jewelers showcases the timeless role jewelry plays in family legacies, illustrating how heirlooms hold emotions and memories that connect generations.

In addition to exceptional craftsmanship, Marlen Jewelers actively supports local charities and organizations, reinforcing its dedication to the Rocky River community.

To read the full article, visit HelloNation feature link .







About HelloNation:

HelloNation is a leading national network of localized digital magazines, delivering community-focused content that educates, informs, and connects. Through its innovative 'edvertising' approach, HelloNation spotlights industry experts and businesses, reinforcing their credibility while providing valuable insights to local audiences.

Company: HelloNation

info@hellonation.com

www.hellonation.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/06d9ab87-73e4-439c-b94f-7f0904b1c8f5
TORONTO, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Flow Capital Corp. (TSXV:FW) (Flow Capital), a leading provider of flexible growth capital and alternative debt solutions, announces a third follow-on investment of US$1.675 million in MiniLuxe Holding Corp. (TSXV: MNLX) (MiniLuxe or the Company), an existing portfolio company.

Flow Capital has been a long-standing capital partner of MiniLuxe, an innovative product and premium service provider in the beauty and self-care space. With this latest investment, Flow Capitals total aggregate investment in MiniLuxe will reach US$6.175 million. The additional funding will support the Companys growth and be used for general working capital purposes.

MiniLuxe delivered excellent results in 2024, and is poised to continue growing in 2025. This latest follow-on investment is a reflection of our belief in their vision and industry leadership, said Alex Baluta, CEO of Flow Capital. We look forward to seeing MiniLuxes continued success as they expand their market presence through franchising and joint venture initiatives.

"We are pleased to continue our relationship with Flow Capital, which has been a key part of our overall capital strategy since our listing on the TSXV. This latest commitment of capital from Flow provides flexibility in its uses while extending the maturity of our existing debt to 2028. In this regard, Flow stands out with its non-amortizing loan offering and its ability to act swiftly with a long-term partnership mindset," said Tony Tjan, CEO of MiniLuxe.

Flow Capital continues to focus on helping high-growth companies achieve their milestones by providing fast access to growth capital. All growing technology companies, seeking covenant-light founder-friendly growth capital, are invited to apply for funding directly on their website at www.flowcap.com/get-funding .

About Flow Capital

Flow Capital Corp. is a publicly listed growth venture debt lender dedicated to supporting high-growth companies. Since its inception in 2018, the Company has provided financing to businesses in the U.S., the U.K., and Canada, helping them achieve accelerated growth without the dilutive impact of equity financing or the complexities of traditional bank loans. Flow Capital focuses on revenue-generating companies seeking $2 to $10 million in capital to drive their continued expansion. For more information on Flow Capital, please visit www.flowcap.com .

About MiniLuxe

MiniLuxe , a Delaware corporation based in Boston, Massachusetts. MiniLuxe is a lifestyle brand and talent empowerment platform servicing the beauty and self-care industry. Through its company-owned and partner-operated studios, Company delivers high-quality nail care and esthetic services that incorporate the brands proprietary products. For over a decade, MiniLuxe has been elevating industry standards through healthier, ultra-hygienic services, modern design, ethical labor practices, and better-for-you, cleaner products. MiniLuxes vision is to radically transform the highly fragmented and under-regulated self-care and nail care industry through its brand, standards, and technology platform that together enable better talent and client experiences.

Towards building long-term durable value for its stakeholders, MiniLuxe is expanding its reach through franchising and operating JV partners seeking ownership and impact with a brand recognized as the best nail salon franchise . Through self-care and self-expression, MiniLuxe is empowering one of the largest hourly work forces through professional development, economic mobility, and equity ownership. Since its founding, MiniLuxe has performed over 4.5 million services.

For further information, please contact:

Flow Capital Corp.

Alex Baluta

Chief Executive Officer

 alex@flowcap.com

47 Colborne Street, Suite 303,

Toronto, Ontario M5E 1P8



Miniluxe Holding Corp.

Christine Mastrangelo

Corporate Secretary and Investor Relations

 cmastrangelo@miniluxe.com

Forward-Looking Information and Statements

Certain statements herein may be forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Flow or the industry to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to vary significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect current assumptions and expectations regarding future events and operating performance and are made as of the date hereof. Flow assumes no obligation, except as required by law, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect new events or circumstances.
Toronto, March 10, 2025 - Stakeholder Gold Corp. (TSXV: SRC) ("Stakeholder" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the closing of a non-brokered private placement financing ("Private Placement"), raising gross proceeds of $1,800,000 CAD through the issuance of 1,800,000 Units at $1.00 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share ("Common Share") priced at $1.00 per Common Share, and one half of one common share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional Common Share at $1.50 for a period of two years from the closing of the Private Placement.

Each whole Warrant has an early exercise provision that allows the Company to trigger exercise of the Warrant when the 10-day average price of Common Shares traded on the TSX Venture Exchange exceeds $3.00 per share. Thirty days (30) after the trigger date, any unexercised Warrants will be deemed to be null and void. All securities issued under this Private Placement will be subject to a 'hold' period expiring four months and one day from the date of closing.

Proceeds will be used for exploration on the Company's Ballarat Exploration Project in the White Gold District located in the Yukon Territory, Canada and for developing the Company's exotic stone quartzite business in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Insiders of the Company (the "insiders") have invested in this Private Placement subscribing for in aggregate 464,000 Units, or gross proceeds of $464,000 CAD. The participation of insiders in the Private Placement constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") and the policies of the TSX. The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 on the basis that participation by insiders will not exceed 25% of the fair market value of the Company's market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report at least 21 days prior to the completion of the Private Placement because the existence of any placement or insiders' participation therein had not been determined at that time.

This Private Placement does not result in any new insiders or control persons of the Company, and closing is subject to final approval by the TSX Venture Exchange.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information. All information, other than information of historical fact, constitute "forward-looking statements" and includes any information that addresses activities, events or developments that the Corporation believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including the Corporation's strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance.

When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "believe", "hope", "may" and similar expressions, as well as "will", "shall" and other indications of future tense, are intended to identify forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is based on current expectations and applies only as of the date on which they were made. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, the ability of the Corporation to fund the exploration expenditures required under the Agreement. Other factors such as uncertainties regarding government regulations could also affect the results. Other risks may be set out in the Corporation's annual financial statements, MD&A and other publicly filed documents.

The Corporation cautions that there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required by law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking information contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/243950
Focus Graphite Inc. (TSXV:FMS) (OTCQB:FCSMF) (FSE:FKC) ("Focus" or the "Company"), announced today that on March 7, 2025 it completed?its previously disclosed non-brokered private placement (the "?Offering?") to raise gross proceeds of up to $500,000, following the closing of a second tranche.

The second tranche raised gross proceeds of $50,000 through the issuance of 500,000 units (the "?Units?") at a price of $0.10 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share (a "Common Share") in the capital of the Company and one non-transferable common share purchase warrant (a "?Warrant?") of the Company. Each whole Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share (a "Warrant Share") at an exercise price per Warrant Share of $0.20 for a period of 36 months from the date of issue.

The Common Shares, Warrants and Warrant Shares will have a hold period of four months and one day until July 8, 2025.

With closing of the first and second tranches, the Company raised an aggregate of $515,000 by issuing 5,150,000 Units in the Offering which was conditionally approved by the TSX-V. The net proceeds of this financing will be used to maintain the Company's existing operations and general working capital requirements that includes funding the new strategic direction to advance the battery technology and the development and application of advanced materials.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

About Focus Graphite Inc.

Focus Graphite Inc. is an advanced materials company developing sustainable mining and technology innovations. At the heart of our operations is the Lac Knife flake graphite deposit, known for its high purity and grade-ideal for applications in the military, defense, and green energy revolutions. Currently advancing through Canada's mine permitting process, Focus Graphite is on the verge of transforming this resource into a viable supplier of critical mineral.

Our proprietary, environmentally sustainable processing technologies ensure a green, chemical-free pathway in the market. The Company's proprietary silicon-enhanced spheroidized graphite patent technology is aimed at improving battery performance. ?We specialize in producing advanced, high-purity graphite materials tailored for diverse industries, including EV batteries, military applications, and high-tech manufacturing.

Focus Graphite's commitment extends beyond resource extraction-we are actively seeking partnerships with industry leaders, academic institutions, and government bodies to try and accelerate the commercialization of advanced materials and technologies derived from our flagship project. Located in North America we are proud to contribute and help secure sustainable critical minerals supply chain that reduces dependency on foreign controlled supply.

For more information on Focus Graphite Inc. please visit https://focusgraphite.com/

Investors Contact:

Dean Hanisch

CEO, Focus Graphite Inc.

dhanisch@focusgraphite.com

613-612-6060

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could," "intend," "expect," "believe," "will," "projected," "estimated," and similar expressions, as well as statements relating to matters that are not historical facts, are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current beliefs or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events.

In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the completion of the non-brokered private placement (the "Offering"), the terms and expected closing date of the Offering, the receipt of regulatory approvals, the intended use of proceeds, and the Company's business objectives, plans, and strategies.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks related to market conditions, regulatory approvals, changes in economic conditions, the ability to raise sufficient funds on acceptable terms or at all, operational risks associated with mineral exploration and development, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's public disclosure documents available under its profile on SEDAR+.

The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties, and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Focus Graphite, Inc.


Toronto, March 10, 2025 - EV Minerals Corp. (CSE: EVM) (FSE: RLC) (the "Company" or "EVM") announces that Rebecca Hudson, the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, has resigned effective February 28, 2025. The Company would like to thank Ms. Hudson for her valuable contributions to the Company over the years as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company and wishes her the best in her future endeavours.

In connection with Ms. Hudson's resignation, the Company is pleased to announce that Mr. Alex Pekurar has been appointed the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective immediately.

Mr. Pekurar has over 13 years of private and public company leadership experience as a Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Director, working to foster a culture of accountability and transparency. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds a master's degree in management and professional accounting from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.

About EV Minerals Corporation

EV Minerals Corporation is a Canadian exploration company focused on mineral exploration and development. The current focus is the EVM Nickel Project, host of the nickel-copper-cobalt McNickel deposit. The Project is comprised of 32 mineral claims covering approximately 1,792 hectares located in the Saguenay area, the Province of Quebec. This deposit contains a non-current historical resource of 5.585 million tonnes with grades of 0.21% Ni, 0.11% Cu and 0.03% Co (NI 43-101 non-compliant resource), which is to be re-evaluated with the consideration of using either bioleaching or acid leaching and electrowinning for nickel, cobalt, and copper recovery.

* The foregoing historical resource estimates presented above were completed in 1989, prior to the implementation of the requirements of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The Company is not treating the historic resources as current. However, given the abundance and quality of the historic drill work completed, the Company is confident that a mineral resource could be generated on the deposit through sufficient confirmation drilling.

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244066
PERTH, March 11, 2025 - Hot Chili Ltd. (ASX: HCH) (TSXV: HCH) (OTCQX: HHLKF) ("Hot Chili" or the "Company") wishes to advise that Dr Nicole Adshead-Bell, Non-Executive Chair and Mr Stephen Quin, Non-Executive Director have tendered their resignations as Directors of the Company, effective immediately.

The Board extends its sincere appreciation to both Dr Adshead-Bell and Mr Quin for their dedicated service and valuable contributions during their tenure with the Company. The Board wishes them both well in their future endeavours.

With the impending release of the Company's Pre-feasibility Studies for its Chilean Costa Fuego copper- gold project and Huasco Water project, Hot Chili is preparing its next steps toward a final phase of development.

Further board appointments aim to strengthen the Company's capability at an important inflection in the Company's growth, with the recent announcement1 of a significant porphyry copper gold discovery at La Verde adding further upside to Costa Fuego's scale.

The Company looks forward to providing further updates to the market.

This announcement was approved and authorised for release by:

Christian Easterday, Managing Director & CEO

For further information, please contact:

Christian Easterday Managing Director - Hot Chili



Tel: +61 8 9315 9009 Email: admin@hotchili.net.au Carol Marinkovich Company Secretary - Hot Chili



Tel: +61 8 9315 9009 Email: admin@hotchili.net.au Graham Farrell Investor & Public Relations Email: graham@hotchili.net.au

or visit Hot Chili's website at www.hotchili.net.au

__________________________________ 1 ASX Release dated 11 February 2025

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hot-chili-announces-board-changes-302397797.html

SOURCE Hot Chili Limited
Vancouver, March 11, 2025 - Golden Cariboo Resources Ltd. (the "Company") (CSE- GCC / OTC- GCCFF / WKN- A0RLEP) announces the closing of the second tranche of a non-brokered private placement first announced January 3, 2025. Golden Cariboo has raised $438,652.50 from the issue of 3,374,250 units at $0.13 per Unit for the second tranche. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company and one half of one common share purchase warrant. Each whole Warrant is exercisable for a period of 3 years from the closing at exercise prices as follows: $0.18 in year one, $0.22 in year two, and $0.25 in year three. The Company has received a 30 day extension to close the private placement from the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") in order to complete the placement.

The proceeds of the Offering will be used for property exploration and for general working capital. All securities to be issued are subject to a statutory four-month and one day hold period. Finder's fees of $5,356 and 214,800 finder warrants will be paid in connection with the second tranche, all in accordance with the policies of the CSE.

None of the securities sold under the Offering have been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and no such securities may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in the United States or any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Golden Cariboo Resources Ltd.

Golden Cariboo Resources Ltd. is rediscovering the Cariboo Gold Rush by proceeding with high-grade targeted drilling and trenching programs on its Quesnelle Gold Quartz Mine Project bordered by Osisko Development (NSE-ODV/TSXV-ODV). Historically, over 101 placer gold creeks on the 90 km trend from the Cariboo Hudson mine north to the Quesnelle Gold Quartz mine have recorded production and successful placer mining continues to this day.

Golden Cariboo's Quesnelle Gold Quartz Mine property is 4 km northeast of, and road accessible from, Hixon in central British Columbia. The property includes the Quesnelle Quartz gold-silver deposit, which was discovered in 1865 in conjunction with placer mining activities. Hixon Creek, which dissects the Quesnelle Gold Quartz Mine property, is a placer creek which has seen small-scale placer production since the mid 1860's.

The information on the adjacent properties is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on the Quesnelle Gold Quartz Mine Project.

GOLDEN CARIBOO RESOURCES LTD.

"J. Frank Callaghan"

J. Frank Callaghan, President & CEO

Golden Cariboo Resources Ltd. Office: 604-669-6463

Neither the "CSE" Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements:

This news release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and plans of the Company. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions and includes information regarding; the expectation that the Company will receive all necessary approvals to complete the Offering; the expectation that the Company will complete the Offering on the terms disclosed, or at all; the expectation that the proceeds will be used for property exploration and for general working capital; the Company's exploration plans with respect to its Quesnelle Gold Quartz Mine property; and that the Repricing will be effected.

Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions of management, including, without limitation, that the Company will receive all necessary approvals to complete the Offering; that the Company will complete the Offering on the terms disclosed; that the proceeds will be used for property exploration and for general working capital; that the Company will have the resources required to proceed with its exploration plans, as currently anticipated; that the Company will not run into regulatory or other barriers in carrying out its business plans; and that the Company will obtain all required corporate and regulatory approvals for the Repricing.

Additionally, forward-looking information involve a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, without limitation: that the Company will not receive the necessary approvals to complete the Offering; that the Company will not complete the Offering on the terms disclosed, or at all; that the Company will be unable to use the proceeds for property exploration and for general working capital; changes in the Company's business plans; that the Company may incur unanticipated costs; that the Company may not have the resources required to pursue its exploration plans; that the Company's operations could be adversely affected by possible future government legislation policies and controls or by changes in applicable laws and regulations; and that the Company may not obtain CSE and other required approvals to effect the Repricing. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. Neither the Company nor any of its representatives make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, sufficiency or completeness of the information in this news release. Neither the Company nor any of its representatives shall have any liability whatsoever, under contract, tort, trust or otherwise, to you or any person resulting from the use of the information in this news release by you or any of your representatives or for omissions from the information in this news release.

The forward-looking statements herein speak only as of the date they were originally made. The Company has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES


Safety car driver not done with F1 yet

Formula 1's long-serving safety car driver is not done yet.

Bernd Maylander, Belgian GP 2016

 Active Pictures

Bernd Maylander, a German former racing driver, has been the full-time occupant of the safety car's driver seat since 2000.

And now, as he returns to Melbourne for yet another time, he recalls how he felt a quarter of a century ago.

I was full of pride to be on the grid and suddenly in a driver's briefing with all the superstars like Michael Schumacher, Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard, the 53-year-old told DPA news agency.

I introduced myself quite normally - 'I'm the guy up the front who's holding you back, Maylander laughed.

He says he enjoys the role immensely, even if he admits that his favourite races are the ones without a safety car .

Fortunately, I'm not paid by the lap, otherwise I would have made a big loss last year because I didn't even have to get out there for nine Formula 1 races, Maylander continued.

Of course it's fun to drive, but when nothing happens on the track, that's the greatest satisfaction.

Maylander is married with children, but he insists he is still also devoted to Formula 1 for the time being.

Standing still has never been an option for me, he said.

So how long will he continue to lead grands prix without ever reaching the finish line first? I've already thought about this question in all sorts of different ways, Maylander answered.

I still have a contract for 2025 and 2026 and I know that I could continue after that.

(GMM)
GNCCI launches initiative to empower student entrepreneurs

Business Desk Report Business News Mar - 11 - 2025 , 11:05

An initiative meant to empower students in tertiary institutions to start and scale up their own businesses to help mitigate youth unemployment in the country has been launched.

The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) Junior Chamber is expected to offer a long-term support to assist young entrepreneurs in scaling their businesses, access markets, and secure funding.

The project an initiative of the GNCCI will address these gaps by offering structured, practical, and impactful solutions.

On the theme: "Empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs," the project was launched in Takoradi in the Western Region with support from the Takoradi Technical University (TTU).

Engine of economic growth

Launching the project in Takoradi, the Director-General of the Commission for Technical and Vocational Educational Training (TVET), Zakaria Sulemana, who represented his sector minister, said entrepreneurship was the engine of economic growth.

He said around the world, thriving economies were built on the foundation of innovation, enterprise, and youth-driven creativity and Ghana was no exception.

Our ability to compete globally, create sustainable jobs, and reduce youth unemployment depends on how well we empower young people with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities to start and scale businesses.

In Ghana, youth entrepreneurship is not just an optionit is a necessity. With over 57 per cent of our population under the age of 25, we have a youthful, energetic workforce ready to drive our economy forward. But for that to happen, we must create an enabling environment where young entrepreneurs can thrive.

He said the government has placed skills training, entrepreneurship, and industrialisation at the centre of the countrys economic agenda. Through targeted policies and programmes, we are ensuring that Ghanas young people are not just job seekers but job creators.

At the Ministry of Education, we recognise that education must go beyond academic excellenceit must equip young people with practical skills, problem-solving abilities, and an entrepreneurial mindset. That is why we have introduced curriculum reforms, technical and vocational education (TVET) expansion, and digital skills training to prepare our youth for the future of work, he said.

Mitigating youth unemployment

The President of the GNCCI, Stephan Miezah said despite various initiatives aimed at mitigating youth unemployment, a gap remains in providing comprehensive, long-term support to assist young entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs in scaling their businesses, coming up with business ideas, accessing markets, and securing funding.

He said this underscores the importance of the GNCCI Junior Chamber and CBDE Incubator leveraging on the years of experience of the chamber, its experienced members in the business world.

Through this initiative, we seek to bridge the gap between education and real-world entrepreneurship. Young people need in additions to their academic knowledge opportunities to develop practical skills, access mentorship, and receive the support they need to bring their business ideas to life.

We now live in a world where traditional career paths are no longer the only option for success. Entrepreneurship offers a way forward, not only to solve the challenges of unemployment but also to drive economic growth, innovation, and social change, he said.

He added that it was therefore essential that stakeholders create platforms such as the junior chamber initiative which will offer young people the space, guidance, and support needed to turn their ideas into thriving businesses.

Indispensable role

The Vice Chancellor of Takoradi Technical University (TTU), Prof John Eshun said the youth play an indispensable role in the socio-economic development of nations, and their potential must not be overlooked.

However, he said youth unemployment has been on the rise, partly due to traditional courses offered by many tertiary institutions, which often lack direct linkages to the world of work.

To mitigate this dependency, tertiary institutions in Ghana, including TTU, have incorporated entrepreneurship education into their curricula.

The GNCCI Junior Chamber and TTU Incubator are key milestones in this journey, providing students with practical avenues to translate their innovative ideas into commercially viable enterprises, he said.
Government to present 24-Hour Economy Policy to Parliament for approval

GraphicOnline Business News Mar - 11 - 2025 , 12:51

The Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has announced that the governments proposed 24-hour economy policy will be formally presented to Parliament for approval.

Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, March 11, during the presentation of the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, Dr Forson reiterated the Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) governments commitment to the policy, describing it as a key initiative aimed at boosting economic productivity and job creation.

The Mahama-led NDC government is committed to the pursuit of the 24-hour economy policy, he stated.

The policy seeks to encourage businesses across various sectors to operate round the clock, maximising the use of infrastructure and resources while driving economic expansion. Proponents argue that such a move will not only create employment opportunities but also enhance Ghanas global competitiveness.

Dr Forson highlighted that the policy forms part of the governments broader economic transformation agenda, which is designed to promote industrial expansion and attract investment.

He assured Parliament that measures, including incentives for businesses willing to operate beyond traditional working hours, are being put in place to ensure the smooth implementation of the initiative.

We remain committed to the pursuit of the 24-hour economy policy, he stressed. The policy is crucial for enhancing our economic resilience and ensuring sustainable growth.

With the concept becoming a focal point of political and economic discourse, the Finance Minister urged Parliament to support the initiative once it is formally presented. He noted that the success of the policy will depend on strong collaboration between the public and private sectors.

A comprehensive framework detailing the operational structure and implementation strategy of the 24-hour economy policy is expected to be submitted to Parliament in the coming weeks for further deliberation.
Next article: Finance Minister warns of massive debt obligations over the next 4 years

Government to undertake comprehensive VAT reforms in 2025 -Dr Ato Forson

Jemima Okang Addae Business News Mar - 11 - 2025 , 15:12

The Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has announced that the government will implement comprehensive Value Added Tax (VAT) reforms this year to address distortions and the cascading structure of the current VAT regime.

Presenting the 2025 Financial Budget to Parliament, he explained that Ghanas effective VAT rate is approximately 22 per cent due to the inclusion of the GETFund Levy (2.5 per cent), National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) (2.5 per cent), and COVID-19 Levy (1 per cent) on the base VAT rate of 15 per cent.

"Aside from the high VAT rate, businesses are not permitted by law to claim their input for the NHIL, GETFund Levy, and COVID-19 Levy, compounding the burden on households," he stated.

Dr Forson noted that the countrys VAT system has become inefficient, combining elements of VAT and sales tax principles with a mix of flat rates, standard rates, and levies.

To address these challenges, he revealed that the Ministry of Finance has requested technical assistance from the Fiscal Affairs Department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for VAT reforms, with an IMF mission expected to begin in April 2025.

Ahead of this, he announced the establishment of a VAT Reform Task Force to consult key stakeholders and gather input for the proposed changes.

"Ahead of the IMF Technical Assistance Mission, I will inaugurate a VAT Reform Task Force to hold broad consultation with key stakeholders for their inputs", he added.

The VAT reforms, which will be completed this year, will include, abolishing the COVID-19 Levy, reversing the decoupling of GETFund and NHIL from VAT and reversing the VAT flat rate regime.

Dr Forson emphasised that these reforms are expected to enhance efficiency, reduce the tax burden on businesses and households, and streamline the VAT structure for better compliance and revenue mobilisation.
The case for licensing export management companies to boost exports

Joseph Akyeampong Esq Business News Mar - 11 - 2025 , 07:06

Some few years ago, I was consulted by a client to help him export a consignment of charcoal to Belgium.

Though not familiar with the export procedures myself at the time, my knowledge on export requirements caused me to caution him to exercise patience while I made a full enquiry on the whole spectrum of the requirements for exporting charcoal to Europe.

He was incessant that he only had a 2 or 3 weeks time frame to fulfil the export order.

Not ready to abide by my admonition of him exercising patience while I sought to find out the full requirements to successfully fulfil the export order, I left him to his fate.

Some few months later, he came back to me in a sullen mood to inform me that he indeed made the export of charcoal to Belgium but the whole consignment was rejected and so lost money.

In Ghana, the Ghana Export Promotion Authourity (GEPA) has contributed significantly in scaling up the export of non-traditional products comprising mainly handicrafts, art and leather works, agricultural and horticultural produce, flavours and fragrances, garments, apparel among other products.

The export of commodities like gold, cocoa, coffee, timber products, cashew etc does not pose a problem as the regime for exporting such commodities has long been established with agencies like PMMC, Ghana Cocoa Board, Tree Crop Development Authourity playing a facilitating role.

Other organisations like the Federation of Association of Ghanaian Exporters, FAGE, Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association of Ghana, VEPEAG are also major players in facilitating exports of their members abroad.

In scaling up the export of locally produced goods by entrepreneurs who may not have a clue as to maximizing their potential in exporting their goods, there is the need to consider also making GEPA a regulatory agency in licencing export marketing companies to offer technical support to potential exporters.



Scaling export potential

Most importantly, with the expression of the governments intention to offer incentives to local businesses for production to be carried out round the clock in fulfilment of its manifesto promise of Ghana operating a 24-hour economy, there is bound to be the saturation of the domestic market with increased production of goods.

As the increased production cannot all be absorbed by the domestic market, there would necessarily be the imperative to find export markets for the goods which will be produced beyond the consumption limit offered by the domestic market.

Also, the anticipated surge in the production of goods which would be generated by the 24-hour economy would also require that firms must be more proactive in marketing their products aggressively in order not to have stocks stuck in their warehouses.

Obviously, in undertaking aggressive marketing of their products, reasonably resourced firms like pharmaceutical, beverage manufacturing, cosmetic and other companies which have already been exporting could easily scale up through their already established export departments.

Those companies which may not have been previously engaged in exporting but are reasonably resourced and which may want to export their products due to expanded production imposing upon them the imperative of exporting would not have a problem establishing export departments, resourcing them and employing the right calibre of personnel to man them to achieve their goal of exporting.

Difficulties

Enormous difficulties could be encountered by small manufacturers without adequate knowledge and resources in their attempts to explore the export market.

The potential exporter would have to overcome some difficulties associated with exporting like language barrier, lack of familiarity with the business and regulatory environment of the importing country, compliance with legal requirements and packaging standards, exchange rate convertibility among others.

Thankfully, with the introduction of the Pan African Payment Systems (PAAPS) which was launched recently by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to facilitate intra-African trade and which has caught on quite well with its facilitation by a number of commercial banks, payment bottlenecks due to non-convertibility of almost all African currencies is no longer a problem inhibiting intra-African trade.

For any potential exporter to successfully access the export market, it needs to be able to conduct appropriate market research, tailor its products to suit consumption tastes and adhere to regulatory standards in the importing country, plan an effective distribution network either by itself or working through partners, conduct an effective advertising campaign, pass sanitary and phyto-sanitary requirements of the importing country and also packaging and labelling its products properly to attract attention and to satisfy the requirements of local and international trade protocols and legislation among other requirements.

The role of GEPA in promoting local exports

It is remarkable that GEPA has over the years exhibited fidelity to its core mandate in facilitating the export of Ghanaian products into the international market.

In carrying out its mandate, GEPA has organised workshops on export procedures for exporters, port and customs documentation, packaging, fulfilling sanitary and phyto-sanitary requirements etc.

It has also organised road shows and exhibitions, particularly in West African countries in conjunction with trade and business associations like Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Federation of Association of Ghanaian Exporters and Ghanas diplomatic missions in those countries.

However, it is fair to say that it has been a while since these exhibitions were organised in any African country or in any other continent.

It is also noteworthy to mention that the Economic Trade and Investment Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also been organising regularly exhibitions in conjunction with foreign embassies to showcase local Ghanaian products in support of GEPA to boost exports.

The last of these exhibitions was held last year at the forecourt of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly.

In the past year also, the Ghana Exim Bank in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held an exhibition of local products after which it presented a quantity of such products to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be marketed outside Ghana through Ghanas mission abroad.

The fact is that, as a normal state entity, GEPA may be bogged down by administrative bottlenecks and inertia with the actual business of facilitating the promotion of exports in keeping to its core mandate.

It is proposed that the time has come for policy makers to consider making GEPA also a regulatory body by empowering it to licence export marketing companies with the core mandate in providing technical advisory services to exporters to access foreign markets in scaling up the export of local products.

With the licencing of export marketing companies, the services offered to exporters in enhancing their capacities to export would be greatly enhanced.

Also, the EMCs would be in close proximity to many potential exporters who are located throughout the country, unearth them and facilitate their potential.

Export Marketing

In licencing export marketing companies, it is proposed that even though the business of exporting covers several areas like freight forwarding, customs brokerage, export trading, packaging etc, it would be appropriate to facilitate the business of exporting to licence export marketing companies as one-stop businesses encompassing the whole export chain.

However, the business of providing export credit insurance and export finance could be segmented and be handled by banks and insurance companies as is presently the case.

Conclusion

It is my hope and belief that in incorporating the licencing by GEPA of EMCs as a regulatory function, situations like what I encountered with my client who wanted to export charcoal will be greatly minimised.

It will also generally scale up the export potential of the country as GEPA is deemed to be centralised and may be seen to be remote from a good number of potential exporters.

The writer is a lawyer with specialisation in international business law. Email: [email protected]


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More than 80% of USAID programmes 'officially ending'

bbc.com International News Mar - 11 - 2025 , 09:34 2 minutes read

The vast majority of the US Agency for International Development's (USAID) programmes have been terminated after a six-week purge, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced.

On X, Rubio said that the initiatives "spent tens of billions in ways that did not serve" or harmed US interests.

The remaining programmes - just 18% - will now be administered by the State Department.

Humanitarian organisations around the world have warned that the controversial move to end long-running US aid programmes is already having dire consequences around the world, potentially endangering lives.

The Trump administration has repeatedly made clear that it wants overseas spending to be closely aligned with its "America First" approach.

Shortly after Trump returned to the White House on 20 January, thousands of USAID employees were put on leave, and those working overseas recalled.

In an executive order signed on his first day, Trump also moved to freeze foreign assistance funding and ordered a review of USAID's work abroad, led by Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency, or Doge.

Thousands of development contracts also were cancelled, and thousands of employees ultimately fired.

In his X post, Rubio said that after the review, the US was "officially ending" about 5,200 of USAID's 6,200 programmes.

"In consultation with Congress, we intend for the remaining 18% of programmes we are keeping....to be administered more effectively under the State Department," Rubio added.

Additionally, Rubio thanked Doge and State Department staff "who worked very long hours to achieve this overdue and historic reform".

Democrats and various humanitarian organisations have characterised the shutdown of USAID's programmes - which were funded by Congress - as illegal, prompting several lawsuits.

USAID was tasked with a wide variety of missions around the globe, ranging from famine detection to polio vaccinations and emergency food kitchens in conflict zones.

The freezes in funding and elimination of programmes is already having an impact.

In Sudan, for example, the freeze in humanitarian assistance has led to the shuttering of over 1,100 communal kitchens set up to help those left destitute by the country's ongoing civil war.

It is estimated that almost two million people have been affected.

In Oman, dozens of Afghan women who fled the Taliban government to pursue higher education now face return after their USAID-funded scholarships were abruptly terminated.

In another example, India's first medical clinic for transgender people shut operations in three cities after US President Donald Trump stopped foreign aid to it.
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TikToker jailed in Indonesia for telling Jesus to cut his hair

bbc.com International News Mar - 11 - 2025 , 12:25 3 minutes read

An Indonesian TikToker has been sentenced to almost three years in prison after reportedly 'talking' to a picture of Jesus on her phone and telling him to get a haircut.

Ratu Thalisa, a Muslim transgender woman with more than 442,000 TikTok followers, had been on a livestream, and was responding to a comment that told her to cut her hair to look more like a man.

On Monday, a court in Medan, Sumatra found Thalisa guilty of spreading hatred under a controversial online hate-speech law, and sentenced her to two years and 10 months in jail.

The court said her comments could disrupt "public order" and "religious harmony" in society, and charged her with committing blasphemy.

The court ruling came after multiple Christian groups filed police complaints against Ms Thalisa for blasphemy.

The sentence has been condemned by human rights groups, including Amnesty International, who described it as "a shocking attack on Ratu Thalisa's freedom of expression" and called for it to be quashed.

"The Indonesian authorities should not use the country's Electronic Information and Transactions (EIT) law to punish people for comments made on social media," Amnesty International Indonesia's Executive Director Usman Hamid said in a statement.

"While Indonesia should prohibit the advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, Ratu Thalisa's speech act does not reach that threshold."

Mr Hamid called on Indonesian authorities to overturn Ms Thalisa's conviction and ensure her immediate release from custody.

He also urged them to repeal or make substantial revisions to what he described as "problematic provisions" in the EIT Law  namely, those criminalising alleged immorality, defamation and hate speech.

First introduced in 2008 and amended in 2016 to address online defamation, the EIT Law was designed to safeguard the rights of individuals in online spaces.

It has been roundly criticised, however, by rights groups, press groups and legal experts, who have long raised concerns about the law's potential threat to freedom of expression.

At least 560 people were charged with alleged violations of the EIT Law while exercising their freedom of expression between 2019 and 2024, and 421 were convicted, according to data from Amnesty International.

Those charged with offenses of defamation and hate speech have included several social media influencers.

In September 2023, a Muslim woman was sentenced to two years' prison for blaspheming Islam, after she posted a viral TikTok video where she said an Islamic phrase before eating pork.

In 2024, another TikToker was detained for blasphemy after they posted a quiz asking children what kind of animals can read the Quran, according to Amnesty International.

Indonesia is home to many religious minorities, including Buddhists, Christians and Hindus. But a vast majority of Indonesians are Muslim  and most cases of people found in violation of the EIT Law have typically related to religious minorities allegedly insulting Islam.

Ms Thalisa's case, where a Muslim woman is accused of invoking hate speech against Christianity, is less common.

Prosecutors previously demanded that she receive a sentence of more than four years, and immediately appealed Monday's verdict. Ms Thalisa was given seven days to appeal.
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2025 Budget: Government expands GETFund allocation, injects GH3.5bn into free SHS

Mohammed Ali Mar - 11 - 2025 , 14:58 2 minutes read

The government has allocated GH3.5 billion to fund the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme, with a major policy shift that removes the cap on the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to allow for more resources.

Announcing the allocation during the presentation of the 2025 Budget Statement, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson said the move was aimed at addressing funding gaps in the Free SHS policy and improving infrastructure in secondary schools.

To ensure sustainable financing for education, the government is removing the cap on GETFund, allowing more funds to flow directly into the education sector, Dr Forson stated.

Since its introduction, the Free SHS policy has faced challenges with inadequate infrastructure, overcrowding, and delays in fund disbursement. The removal of the GETFund cap is expected to free up additional resources for:

 Expanding classrooms and dormitory facilities in overcrowded schools.

 Procuring teaching and learning materials for students.

 Enhancing teacher recruitment and training to improve education quality.

Dr Forson reaffirmed the governments commitment to Free SHS, stressing that the funding adjustment would strengthen the programmes implementation.

The programme has increased access to secondary education for thousands of students, and this funding will ensure that no Ghanaian child is left behind, he told Parliament.

The GH3.5 billion allocation is also expected to address long-standing infrastructure deficits in many senior high schools across the country.

Dr Forson acknowledged concerns about overcrowding and inadequate facilities, stating that part of the allocation would go towards constructing additional school blocks and dormitories.

The government recognises the infrastructure challenges and is committed to expanding facilities in heavily populated schools, he assured lawmakers.
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2025 Budget: Government limits tax refunds to 4%, expects GH3.8bn savings

Mohammed Ali Mar - 11 - 2025 , 15:22 2 minutes read

The government has announced an overhaul of Ghanas tax refund system, introducing a new cap of four per cent of total domestic revenue to prevent abuse and streamline tax administration.

The policy, outlined in the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, is expected to save GH3.8 billion, which will be reallocated to infrastructure, healthcare, and education.

Presenting the budget to Parliament on March 11, 2025, Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson said the current tax refund process was being exploited, leading to unjustified claims and revenue losses.

The government has reviewed the tax refund mechanism and found that it is being abused, leading to excessive payouts, Dr Forson stated.

To address this, we are introducing a four percent cap on tax refunds, ensuring that funds are better managed and reinvested in priority sectors.

Ghanas tax refund system allows businesses to reclaim certain tax payments, particularly under VAT and corporate tax structures.

However, audits have revealed that some entities were inflating refund claims, leading to substantial losses in government revenue.

Dr Forson explained that the new cap aligns with global best practices and will prevent refunds from disproportionately draining public funds.

He noted that the objective is not to deny businesses their legitimate refunds but to curb fraudulent claims and promote fairness in the tax system.

To further tighten controls, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) will be tasked with conducting stricter audits before approving refunds.

A digital tax administration system will also be expanded to track applications more efficiently.

The GH3.8 billion expected to be saved through the refund cap will be redirected to critical sectors, including infrastructure development to improve roads and public transportation, healthcare investment to expand health facilities and services, and education funding to strengthen basic and secondary school systems.

Dr Forson assured Parliament that the government remains committed to fiscal discipline while ensuring tax policies support both businesses and national development.

He stressed that while businesses rely on tax refunds for cash flow and reinvestment, the government also has a responsibility to ensure public funds are managed efficiently.
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2025 Budget: Government to formalise export of Ghanaian workers

Mohammed Ali Mar - 11 - 2025 , 13:48 2 minutes read

The government has announced plans to formalise Ghanas labour export programme, providing structured employment opportunities for Ghanaians abroad while increasing foreign remittances.

Presenting the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament on March 11, 2025, Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson said the initiative aims to create legal migration pathways for skilled and semi-skilled workers under bilateral agreements with selected countries.

This programme is designed to provide regulated opportunities for Ghanaians seeking employment abroad while ensuring that the country benefits from increased remittances, Dr Forson stated.

He explained that the government is in discussions with countries in the Middle East, Europe, and North America to facilitate legal migration of Ghanaian workers into sectors such as healthcare, construction, agriculture, and domestic services.

Protecting migrant workers

To protect the rights of Ghanaian workers abroad, Dr Forson said the government will establish legal frameworks and agreements that define employment conditions, wages, and worker protections.

For too long, many Ghanaians have been forced into irregular migration in search of better opportunities, often facing exploitation and abuse. This initiative will provide a structured and safer alternative, he noted.

The finance minister stated that the government would work closely with recruitment agencies, embassies, and international labour organisations to ensure that Ghanaian workers receive fair wages, proper documentation, and protection from workplace exploitation.

Boosting remittances and economic growth

The formalisation of labour migration is expected to increase remittance inflows, which currently account for a significant share of Ghanas foreign exchange earnings.

Remittances from Ghanaians abroad support families, fund education, and drive investment in local businesses. A structured labour export programme will expand these benefits while ensuring that workers are not exploited, Dr Forson said.

He added that the government is developing financial literacy programmes to help migrant workers invest their earnings productively in Ghana.

Regulation and monitoring

The programme will be overseen by the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration. The government will also establish a monitoring system to track the welfare of Ghanaian workers abroad and address their concerns.

As part of the programme, the government will strengthen pre-departure orientation and training to ensure that workers are adequately prepared for their new roles and understand the laws of their host countries.

Next steps

Dr Forson said the government will finalise agreements with destination countries and outline clear procedures for Ghanaians interested in participating in the programme.

He urged Parliament to support the initiative, describing it as an opportunity to reduce unemployment and boost national revenue through remittances.
2025 budget lacks execution plan for 24-hour economy  Franklin Cudjoe

Mohammed Ali Mar - 11 - 2025 , 16:35 3 minutes read

The Chief Executive Officer of Imani Centre for Policy and Education, Franklin Cudjoe, has questioned the absence of a clear implementation plan for the much-touted 24-hour economy policy in the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy.

Speaking in a radio interview on Asempa FM on March 11, 2025, after Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson presented the budget to Parliament, Mr Cudjoe acknowledged that the budget was well-structured and easy to understand but raised concerns about its effectiveness in tackling Ghanas economic challenges, particularly unemployment.

The budget was straightforward, well-presented, and without unnecessary jargon. But when you examine the details, especially on job creation, the interventions seem too modest to make a real impact on unemployment, he stated.

Mr Cudjoe expressed disappointment over the lack of concrete details regarding the 24-hour economy, which was expected to be a key pillar of the Mahama administrations economic recovery plan.

The President and his government have spoken about the 24-hour economy, but there is little in the budget that explains how it will work. We were expecting clear policy guidelines, funding commitments, and incentives for businesses, but what we got instead is a promise that a document will be released later, he said.

He warned that without well-defined policies and incentives, businesses may struggle to transition to a 24-hour operational model, limiting the impact of the initiative.

Beyond the 24-hour economy, Mr Cudjoe questioned the effectiveness of the governments employment initiatives, including the Ghana Labour Export Programme, the Womens Development Bank, and the National Apprenticeship Programme.

These are not necessarily bad policies, but they are modest. They are unlikely to make a major impact on the unemployment crisis we face. If we are serious about job creation, we need bigger, well-funded interventions, he argued.

He stressed that while structured labour migration could offer temporary relief, Ghanas long-term solution must be rooted in domestic industrial expansion and a business-friendly environment.

Mr Cudjoe also commented on the governments new social policies, such as free tertiary education for persons with disabilities, free sanitary pads for schoolgirls, and an increase in the school feeding budget. While describing these as commendable, he questioned their financial sustainability.

These interventions are tangible and easy to track, but the real question is: where is the money coming from? The government says it is not raising taxes, but are we cutting enough waste to sustain these policies? he asked.

He urged the government to provide a transparent financial framework to ensure these social programmes do not collapse due to funding shortfalls.

Despite his concerns, Mr Cudjoe acknowledged that the budget avoided excessive taxation and was presented in a manner that was easy for Ghanaians to understand.

This is one of the few budgets that the average Ghanaian can listen to and make sense of. It is well-structured and clearly presented. But beyond the clarity, the substance of some policies remains a concern, he added.
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Akosombo Dam spillage victims, displaced Agavedzi residents get GH442.5 million in 2025 Budget allocation

Beatrice Laryea Mar - 11 - 2025 , 16:47 2 minutes read

In response to recent natural disasters in the country, the government has allocated GH242.5 million to support victims of the Akosombo dam spillage.

Additionally, GH200 million has been set aside to assist victims of the tidal wave disaster, which recently displaced residents of Agavedzi and surrounding communities in the Ketu South constituency.

The total support for victims of these two separate disasters amounts to GH442.5 million in the 2025 Budget allocation.

This was announced by the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, during his presentation of the 2025 Budget in Accra on Tuesday, March 11.

"Mr Speaker, we have allocated GH242.5 million to support victims of the Akosombo dam spillage; we have also allocated an amount of GH200 million to support the victims of the tidal wave disaster that recently displaced residents of Agavedzi and surrounding communities in the Ketu South constituency," he said.

The Finance Minister further revealed that GH292.4 million has been allocated to begin the distribution of free sanitary pads to female students in primary and secondary schools.

In 2023, when the Akosombo Dam was opened to release excess water, it led to the flooding of surrounding communities along the Volta River, displacing thousands of people, destroying homes, farmland, and infrastructure, and causing significant damage to local livelihoods.

The displaced residents of Agavedzi and surrounding communities refer to the individuals and families who were affected by the tidal wave disaster in the Ketu South constituency of Ghana.

The tidal waves, which hit the coastal areas, caused widespread destruction, particularly in Agavedzi and neighboring villages.

These natural disasters resulted in the displacement of many residents, as their homes, farmlands, and properties were destroyed or severely damaged by the rising waters.

The affected communities faced immense challenges, including loss of shelter, livelihood, and essential infrastructure.
Defence minister urges Commonwealth nations to work together on global threats

Mohammed Ali Mar - 11 - 2025 , 09:51 2 minutes read

Minister for Defence, Dr Omane Boamah, has called for stronger cooperation among Commonwealth nations to address global challenges such as climate change, cyber threats, violent extremism, and antimicrobial resistance.

Speaking at the 73rd Commonwealth Day flag-raising ceremony on March 10, 2025, at the Forecourt of the State House in Accra, Dr Boamah said the 56-member states, representing 2.7 billion people, must work together to ensure sustainable development.

This years celebration was held under the theme Together We Thrive. Dignitaries in attendance included the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hon Linda Akweley Ocloo, and the British High Commissioner to Ghana, H.E. Harriet Thompson, who represented King Charles III.

Also present were diplomats, traditional leaders, security personnel, and students.

Ghanas role in the Commonwealth

Ghana has a long history with the Commonwealth, having become the first African country to gain independence from colonial rule on March 6, 1957.

Under Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the country not only joined the Commonwealth but also played a central role in supporting African nations seeking independence.

Ghana has remained active in Commonwealth affairs. In 2022, President Nana Akufo-Addo participated in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Rwanda, where discussions covered climate change, trade, and youth empowerment.

It has also contributed to peacekeeping missions and has been a regular participant in the Commonwealth Games since 1958, winning medals in various sporting disciplines.

Dr Boamah said while national sovereignty remains paramount, countries must also recognise the importance of working together to tackle global security concerns.

He urged Commonwealth nations to strengthen ties and find practical solutions that promote peace and sustainable development.
Ghana faces debt repayment crisis in 2027 and 2028 after IMF restructuring - Ato Forson

Mohammed Ali Mar - 11 - 2025 , 13:31 1 minute read

Ghana faces a looming debt repayment crisis in 2027 and 2028, following the terms of the IMF-supported debt restructuring programme.

According to Dr Forson, Ghanas domestic and external debt service obligations will peak in those years, putting severe pressure on the economy.

In 2027 alone, we will need to pay GH57.6 billion, and in 2028, another GH52.5 billion will be due. This presents a major risk to Ghanas fiscal stability, he told Parliament.

The finance minister attributed the situation to decisions made under the previous administration, stating that the debt restructuring programme was structured in a way that frontloads repayments into 2027 and 2028, limiting the governments financial flexibility.

This situation is dangerous, but we are taking steps to manage it. We will engage our creditors and explore ways to handle these obligations without destabilising the economy, Dr Forson assured.

Beyond the repayment challenge, Ghanas total public debt has now reached GH726.7 billion, with GH150.3 billion in domestic debt service due over the next four years.

Dr Forson cautioned that without strict fiscal management and negotiations with creditors, the country could face a severe cash flow crisis in the coming years.

He told Parliament that the government is engaging the IMF and bilateral creditors to review repayment timelines and reduce the financial strain on the economy.
President Mahama initiates moves to bridge Sahel States-ECOWAS divide

Kester Aburam Korankye Mar - 11 - 2025 , 09:57 4 minutes read

President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that his closed-door meeting with Burkina Fasos Head of State, Captain Ibrahim Traore, has provided him with fresh insights into the concerns of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) on their strained relations with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Speaking at a press briefing in the Burkinabe capital, Ouagadougou, President Mahama pledged to relay the perspectives to ECOWAS leaders and emphasised the need to rebuild trust and foster regional unity.

This is an issue of broken trust among leadership and it will take time to repair, President Mahama said.

But we must work together to restore confidence, even if we are not part of the same regional body, he added.

The meeting also focused on security, trade and economic cooperation, and Ghanas commitment to mediating regional tensions and strengthening ties with its Sahelian neighbours.

Arrival

President Mahama arrived in Ouagadougou for the high-level bilateral meeting with Burkina Fasos transitional leader, Captain Traore, yesterday morning.

The President was welcomed at the Ouagadougou International Airport by Captain Traore, who led a ceremonial reception in his honour.

He inspected a guard of honour parade.

Accompanying him on the diplomatic mission were key officials, including Presidential Envoy to the Sahelian States, Col Larry Gbevlo-Lartey; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa; the Executive Secretary to the President, Dr Calistus Mahama; the Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations), Stan Dogbe; the Senior Presidential Advisor and Aide to the President, Joyce Bawa Mogtari, and the Deputy Spokesperson to the President, Shamima Muslim.

Closed-door discussions

Following the welcoming ceremony, the two leaders engaged in closed-door discussions, during which President Mahama was apprised of new insights into the concerns of AES  made up of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger  regarding their strained relations with ECOWAS.

President Mahama stressed the importance of collective action, stating, When your neighbours house is on fire, you must help quench it. Terrorism is like a cancer; if we do not fight it together, it will spread throughout the entire body.

Economic cooperation was another key item on the agenda, with both leaders exploring ways to enhance trade, particularly transit trade and agricultural exports.

They also discussed the possibility of establishing a direct flight between Accra and Ouagadougou, as well as energy partnerships, including electricity supply and transit corridors for petroleum products.

It can be reviewed from time to time, as necessary, especially to correct possible loss of competitiveness and economic distortions.

Background

President Mahamas visit to Ouagadougou is his second to the Sahel region since his assumption of the presidency in January this year to rebuild the friendship between Ghana and the Sahel countries.

The frosty relations between Ghana, ECOWAS and the AES stemmed from the non-negotiable demand by the regional bloc for the Sahel states to reinstate democratic governance following the military takeovers in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

The stance of ECOWAS followed by the Military Chiefs of the ECOWAS states threatening to invade the three countries, forced them to jointly release a statement in protest against that decision amid threats of reprisal attacks on ECOWAS member states.

The ensuing development led to the exit of the three countries which later formed the AES, worsening the loggerheads between the AES and the ECOWAS.

The ensuing mistrust buried decades of the policy of good neighbourliness and mutual friendship between the ECOWAS states, including Ghana.

The stance of the AES got worse when former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo while in the United States, said Burkina Fasos actions were backed by Russia, the geopolitical arch-rival of the US.

However, the return of President Mahama has rebirthed the friendship and trust between Ghana and the AES which was evident in the attendance of key government functionaries from the AES at his investiture.

President Mahama in a display of commitment, also appointed Lt Colonel Gbevlo-Lartey (retd), a well-known military and security expert, as the Special Envoy to the AES.
Prof. Kaufmann highlights role of Yamoransa Model Labs in enhancing student performance

Daily Graphic Mar - 08 - 2025 , 11:16 2 minutes read

An associate professor and Founding Head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Ghana, Professor Elsie Effah Kaufmann, has highlighted the significant impact of the Yamoransa Model Labs Programme in improving students' academic performance, particularly at the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) level.

The Yamoransa Model Labs Programme is a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) education initiative designed to bridge the digital divide and enhance learning across Africa.

The Model Labs offer solar-powered ICT centres equipped with educational content and multimedia, a space for robotics, AR/VR learning and 3D Printing.

The programme is funded by the Helping Africa Foundation (HAF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education in participating countries.

Improved BECE performance

At the Annual Impact Round-table Discussion and Robotics Competition (AIRTAD 2025) in Accra, Prof. Kaufmann emphasised the academic benefits of these tech-based learning centres.

The two-day conference, organised by IMPLEMENTERS, a non-profit project management organisation, and Helping Africa Foundation, was on the theme, The Yamoransa Model Impact Year: Scaling the Successes of Bridging Educational Gaps with Technology.



hat we are hearing is that research shows young people with access to these labs are excelling at the BECE level compared to those without, because they benefit from hands-on learning experiences, she stated.

However, she acknowledged the high cost of setting up the facilities as a key challenge and called for collaborative efforts to strengthen STEAM education across Africa.

AIRTAD is not just a celebration of speeches or discussion of innovationI employ you all to see into the great future of STEAM education in Africato create solutions that satisfy and sustain humanity.

The success of the Yamoransa Model Labs is a pathway to showcase innovation and talents on the global stage in order to attract investors and accelerate progress towards Africas development, she added.

Strategic partnerships

The President of the Helping Africa Foundation, Dr Deborah Rose, described the event as a stepping stone for expanding and scaling the impact of the Yamoransa Model Labs across sub-Saharan Africa.

The Chief Executive Officer of IMPLEMENTERS, Kafui Prebbie, noted that 13 Model Labs had already been established across Ghana, with two more under development.

He highlighted the introduction of an offline learning tool called "Asanka", designed to support teachers and students in effective learning.

He said the project had impacted over 55,000 pupils in the selected areas, with 100,000 more pupils targeted in the years ahead.

The Yamoransa Model

A key highlight of AIRTAD 2025 was the robotics competition, where students demonstrated their coding, engineering and problem-solving skills.

The event also showcased innovative projects developed within the Yamoransa Model Labs.
We need Islamic Medical School - Haruna Iddrisu appeals to Indonesia govt

Severious Kale Dery Mar - 11 - 2025 , 10:00 3 minutes read

The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has appealed to the government of the Republic of Indonesia to consider the establishment of an Islamic Medical University in Ghana.

He suggested that such an institution could be located in the northern part of the country where it would not only bridge the development gap in the country but also deepen the bilateral ties between Ghana and Indonesia.

The minister added that the establishment of such a dedicated medical school could further be discussed at appropriate levels of the two countries to realise its full implementation within the shortest time frame.

He said its realisation would also cement the Islamic ties between the Muslim community in northern Ghana and their counterparts in Indonesia, which has the highest Muslim population in the world.

Mr Iddrisu made the appeal during a courtesy call on him by the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Indonesia, Paskal A. B. Rois, in his office in Accra.

The visit was to congratulate the minister on his appointment and also brief him about the available Indonesian scholarship opportunities, some of which a number of Ghanaian students were already benefiting from.

Focus

The minister said that the 21st Century was about competencies, skills and knowledge development which basically dovetailed into science, mathematics and engineering.

He said that Ghana still had a deficit of medical doctors, particularly for rural, deprived and under-developed communities, adding that such a tertiary institution would help improve health outcomes in those areas.

Mr Iddrisu traced the long-standing bilateral relations between the two countries to the era of the first Presidents of Ghana and Indonesia, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, and Achmed Sukarno, through the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), where they established the ties between the two nations and their peoples.

Commendation

In his response, Mr Rois congratulated the minister on his appointment to lead the ministry, adding that as an experienced lawmaker and a hardworking politician, he was hopeful that Mr Iddrisu would use his rich experience, expertise and knowledge from previous portfolios to positively impact the education sector.

Mr Rois welcomed the ministers suggestion for the establishment of a medical university in northern Ghana and gave an assurance that he would relay it to the Indonesian authorities.

On the scholarship, the Honorary Consul informed the minister about the opportunities therein, adding that it was open to students from developing countries, including Ghana, for them to study in over 30 prestigious universities in Indonesia.

Mr Rois further said that more than 60 Ghanaian students were currently pursuing partial or fully funded undergraduate, master's and doctorate programmes in various universities in Indonesia.

He said so far, about six of the beneficiary students had returned to the country upon completion of their two to three-year courses of study.
2025 Budget: Female students in primary and secondary schools to get free sanitary pads

Jemima Okang Addae Mar - 11 - 2025 , 15:43 1 minute read

The Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has announced that the government has allocated Gh292.4 million to begin the distribution of free sanitary pads to female students in primary and secondary schools.

Presenting the 2025 Financial Budget to Parliament, he explained that the initiative is part of the "Free Sanitary Pads" programme, to cover financial relief for first-year students in public tertiary institutions.

"We have allocated Gh292.4 million to commence the distribution of free sanitary pads to female students in primary and secondary schools", he stated.

The distribution of free sanitary pads is a fulfilment of President John Dramani Mahamas 2024 manifesto promise to support girls in basic and senior high schools. The initiative aims to address menstrual hygiene challenges and reduce school absenteeism among female students.

Mahamas pledge came amid public calls for the removal of import duties on sanitary pads to make them more affordable.

"To reduce absenteeism, free sanitary pads will be provided to female students from Primary 5 to SHS, starting in March 2025," Mahama stated during his maiden State of the Nation Address.

This initiative is part of broader efforts to alleviate the financial burden on Ghanaians amidst current economic challenges.
Government scraps E-Levy, betting tax in 2025 budget

Mohammed Ali Mar - 11 - 2025 , 13:23 1 minute read

The Mahama administration has scrapped the Electronic Transactions Levy (E-Levy) and the 10% tax on betting, citing the need to reduce the financial burden on Ghanaians and support economic recovery.

Presenting the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament on March 11, 2025, Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson said the taxes, introduced by the previous administration, failed to generate the expected revenue and worsened the cost of living crisis.

The removal of these taxes is part of our strategy to ease the cost of living and restore confidence in the economy, Dr Forson told lawmakers.

The E-Levy, introduced in 2022, was met with widespread opposition, as many Ghanaians argued it placed an unfair burden on low-income earners and small businesses.

The betting tax also faced resistance, particularly among the youth, who viewed it as a barrier given the limited formal job opportunities available.

Beyond these tax cuts, Dr Forson announced that the government would introduce targeted tax reliefs for businesses and traders to help drive economic growth.

We are working on a tax structure that encourages production and business expansion without suffocating individuals and small enterprises, he said.

Dr Forson added that the government would prioritise improving revenue collection rather than imposing new taxes, ensuring that the state raises enough funds for development projects without increasing the tax burden on citizens.
Minority leader questions economic projections, says 2025 budget offers nothing new and brings no hope

Mohammed Ali Mar - 11 - 2025 , 15:57 3 minutes read

The Minority in Parliament has strongly criticised the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, describing it as uninspiring and failing to provide clear solutions to Ghanas economic challenges.

Reacting after Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson presented the budget to Parliament on March 11, 2025, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin dismissed the governments economic projections and questioned its strategy for economic recovery.

This afternoon, we have been presented with part two of the lamentation series. The first was Mahamanomics, and now we have Forcinomics, Afenyo-Markin said.

Under the economy, they complain about, growth was 5.7 percent, but under their so-called reset economy, growth is projected to decline.

The Minority Leader also challenged the governments import cover projections, noting that while the previous administration left four months of import cover, the 2025 budget projects a decline to three months.

Afenyo-Markin criticised the governments 24-hour economy policy, which was absent from the budget.

He argued that the Mahama administration had created false expectations, particularly among the youth, who were anticipating a clear roadmap for job creation.

The President came here and told us the 24-hour economy was ready. The Finance Minister has now presented a budget, and there is nothing in it about this policy. The Minister tells us the plan will come later, he stated.

He described the budget as an Azaar Budget, suggesting that the governments promises were merely ceremonial announcements with no concrete implementation plan.

There is no hope in this budget. There is no inspiration. The youth were promised jobs, but today, the Finance Minister says the details will come later, he added.

Unapproved road projects and calls for sanctions

Afenyo-Markin also accused the government of violating procurement laws in the road sector. He pointed to an ongoing project at Chain Homes, where a new roundabout is under construction, allegedly without a commencement certificate or Public Procurement Authority (PPA) approval.

The Finance Minister spoke about sanctions against contracts awarded without commencement certificates, yet under his own administration, a new roundabout is being constructed at Chain Roads without the necessary approvals, he stated.

If there will be sanctions, they must start with his own ministers.

He insisted that the government cannot selectively enforce procurement laws, adding that it must lead by example in ensuring compliance with the Public Financial Management (PFM) Act.

Minority demands clarity on economic recovery measures

Beyond the road sector concerns, the Minority also raised questions about the broader economic recovery strategy outlined in the budget. Afenyo-Markin argued that the governments policies lacked clear implementation plans and measurable targets.

He accused the Mahama administration of repackaging old policies without introducing new initiatives to address the rising cost of living, unemployment, and exchange rate volatility.

This budget is merely a repetition of existing social intervention programmes, he said. The government must tell Ghanaians exactly how they intend to improve the economy beyond what has already been done.
Next article: This is budget of a government that keeps promises  Majority Leader

52 students honoured at the 2024 Presidents Independence Day Awards

Graphic.com.gh Mar - 11 - 2025 , 18:03 2 minutes read

Fifty-two students from public and private schools, including those who are visually and hearing-impaired, were awarded for their outstanding performance in the 2024 Basic Education Certificate Examination.

The awards ceremony, held on Wednesday, March 5, at the Accra International Conference Centre, was attended by Ministers of State, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Heads of Departments and Agencies, as well as Traditional Leaders.

Nestle Ghana Ltd., in collaboration with the Ministry of Education reaffirmed their dedication to recognizing excellence in Ghana through the Presidents Independence Day Awards.

As part of their award package, each student received a laptop, Nestle souvenirs, and one year's supply of Nestle products, as well as a plaque and a signed certificate from the President of the Republic of Ghana.

The students also engaged in a series of exciting activities prior to the event, which included a tour of the Nestle factory in Tema, visits to Jubilee House, the Ministry of Education and the University of Ghana.

The Presidents Independence Day Award, celebrated as part of the independence celebration of Ghana leveraged the theme for this years 68th Independence Day which is Reflect, Review and Reset.

Speaking at the ceremony, Her Excellency Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, congratulated the award recipients and encouraged them to keep striving for success and excellence.

She also acknowledged the role of parents, guardians, teachers and all who have contributed to the success of the award winners.

The Managing Director of Nestle Ghana Ltd., Mr Georgios Badaro emphasized the company's commitment and unwavering dedication to fostering positive change and ensuring the prosperity of individuals and communities.

He expressed that education is a crucial foundation for development, and Nestle firmly believes in acknowledging and celebrating the achievements of students.

The Presidents Independence Day Awards, established in 1993, has consistently recognized academic excellence. The award is now a key part of Ghana's Independence Day Celebration.

Nestle Ghana Ltd. has been associated with the awards for more than three decades.
WATCH: Mahamas First Budget - Finance Minister to outline economic recovery plans today

Kweku Zurek Mar - 11 - 2025 , 08:33 2 minutes read

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, will today, March 11, 2025, present the Business Statement and Economic Policy of the government for the year ending December 31, 2025, to Parliament.

This marks the first budget under President John Dramani Mahama since assuming office on January 7, 2025.

The presentation, in line with Article 179 of the 1992 Constitution, is expected to outline the governments economic recovery strategy as Ghana navigates a period described by the administration as an economic crisis.

Economic challenges and policy direction

Ahead of todays budget reading, government officials have acknowledged the dire state of the economy. At a recent press briefing, Minister for Government Communications, Mr. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, revealed that economic figures presented to Cabinet were even worse than we had known before the elections.

In response to these challenges, the budget will reflect recommendations from the National Economic Dialogue held on March 3 and 4, 2025, where economic experts and private sector players proposed urgent interventions.

Key expectations from todays budget include:

Macroeconomic Stability: Restoring fiscal discipline and boosting investor confidence through major tax reforms to curb revenue leakages and expand the tax net.

Private Sector Growth: Implementing public sector reforms to improve productivity and attract private investment.

Infrastructure Development: Addressing Ghanas infrastructure deficit by leveraging the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) and Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) for financing.

Energy Sector Reforms: Reviewing and renegotiating Independent Power Producer (IPP) contracts to lower power costs while restructuring the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to improve efficiency.

Parliaments role and stakeholder engagement

The Deputy Majority Leader, Mr. Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, has urged all Members of Parliament (MPs) to be present for the budget presentation, emphasizing its significance in shaping Ghanas economic recovery.

Additionally, sectoral estimates from various ministries are expected to be submitted for parliamentary consideration, ensuring alignment with the governments economic vision. A post-budget workshop will also be held to provide in-depth insights into the policy measures announced.

Stakeholder expectations

Ghanas business community and policy analysts are keenly awaiting concrete steps to tackle the economic downturn. They are calling for a comprehensive strategy that ensures sustainable growth, boosts export competitiveness, enhances technology adoption, and prioritizes human development.

The government is also under pressure to streamline tax policies for the agriculture sector, address skill gaps, and improve industrial productivity.

As Dr. Forson takes the podium today, all eyes will be on how the Mahama administration plans to reset the economy, build investor confidence, and chart a path toward long-term economic stability and transformation.
Constitution Review Committee begins engagements tomorrow

Daily Graphic Politics Mar - 11 - 2025 , 07:57 2 minutes read

The Constitution Review Committee (CRC) will commence its engagement with targeted stakeholders and the public from tomorrow, Wednesday, March 12, 2025, as part of the committees ongoing review process.

The engagement would be two fold: stakeholder consultations on key constitutional matters and open-ended discussions with the general public at various zonal locations across the country.

A release signed and issued by the Secretary to the committee, Dr Rainer Akumperigya, said to facilitate the targeted consultations, the committee is inviting written contributions from a wide range of stakeholders, including experts in particular areas, relevant public institutions, professional bodies, trade unions, civil society organisations, political parties and members of the public.

It said the consultations would focus on a variety of themes, and stakeholders are encouraged to submit their views by the following deadlines: Lands and Natural Resources and Decentralisation, Local Government and Chieftaincy: Submission by March 12.

Contributions

That of the Public Services and Enterprises will be on March 15, Executive Advisory Councils (Council of State, IGP, Police Service Council, Armed Forces Service Council, National Security Council), Independent Constitutional Bodies/Offices and Directive Principles of State Policy, Social and Economic Rights, NDPC and Political Parties submission will be on March 20.

The release said the rest were Political Branches (Executive and Legislature), the judiciary and other areas (Finance, Central Bank, Public Debt Management, Discretionary Power, Dual Citizenship, Amendment Procedure), which will also be on March 20.

In addition to targeted consultations, the committee will hold public engagement sessions in various regions, starting from April 7 to May 6, 2025 in Accra, Tamale, Bolgatanga, Wa, Kumasi, Takoradi, Cape Coast, Koforidua and Ho.

These sessions will provide an opportunity for Ghanaians to contribute their views on the constitutional review process.

Recall

President John Mahama delivering his first State of the Nation Address to Parliament on February 27 announced that he recently inaugurated the Constitution Review Committee to undertake a comprehensive review of the 1992 Constitution and ensure that it reflected the hopes and aspirations of the citizenry.

He said the committee, composed of distinguished scholars, jurists and professionals, would engage Ghanaians and consult with relevant stakeholders and experts over the next six months.

President Mahama emphasised that the findings would be presented to the public for approval in a referendum, followed by submission to Parliament for enactment into law.
Minority accuses government of deception over Betting Tax and VAT removal

GraphicOnline Politics Mar - 11 - 2025 , 15:37 2 minutes read

The Minority in Parliament has criticised the governments 2025 Fiscal Policy, accusing the Mahama-led administration of misleading Ghanaians with its announcement to abolish the Valued Added Tax (VAT) on motor insurance and the betting tax.

Addressing the media in Parliament shortly after the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy was presented, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Karaga and former Finance Minister, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, claimed that the betting tax and VAT on motor insurance were never implemented under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.

He argued that the governments claim of abolishing these taxes was "deceiving the people of Ghana."

"Ladies and gentlemen, betting tax that they said they had abolished, we never collected betting tax. We never implemented the betting tax, so to come and tell Ghanaians that you have abolished something that was never implemented is to deceive the people of Ghana," he stated.

On the issue of VAT on motor insurance, the Minority accused the government of attempting to outsmart Ghanaians by introducing VAT on non-life insurance while claiming to exempt motor insurance.

"The Minister announced that they are abolishing VAT on motor insurance. Ladies and gentlemen, we were already not collecting VAT on motor insurance. VAT on motor insurance was exempted. Rather, the Minister was trying to be smart. They have reintroduced VAT on non-life insurance with the exemption of vehicle motor insurance," Dr Adam asserted.

He described the move as shocking, given that Ghanas insurance penetration rate stands at just 1.1 per cent, questioning why the government would introduce VAT on non-life insurance policies at a time when the industry is struggling to expand coverage.
The Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority will hire 40 temporary, full-time employees to handle about $500 million worth of Typhoon Mawar disaster relief funds, and GHURA Deputy Director Fernando Esteves will get an extra $23,877 a year to manage the large pot of grant money.

Commissioners on Tuesday passed resolutions authorizing the extra hires and officially designating Esteves the grant manager, with extra pay, for the $500 million in Community Development Block Grant funds GHURA has received.

Esteves will have direct oversight of the 40 new employees hired to manage the funds, who will make up a new division at the housing authority, according to GHURA Executive Director Elizabeth Napoli.

The chunk of the $500 million CBDG funds GHURA is managing can be used for infrastructure, housing, economic revitalization and mitigation for those areas most impacted and distressed after Mawar.

GHURA said it will take $25 million off the top to pay staff to administer the $500 million grant funds, which is about five times the amount of money the agency usually handles on an annual basis.

The housing authority is seeking input from the public on how GHURA should use the bulk of the funds. Town hall meetings will be held at the following dates, all from 6 to 7 p.m.:

Monday, March 17, Santa Rita Community Center

Tuesday, March 18, Mangilao Community Center

Wednesday, March 19, Dededo Senior Citizens Center

Thursday, March 20, Tamuning Community Center

Virtual session: Friday, March 21, via YouTube Live on the CDBG-DR website (www.guamcdbgdr.org)

Above-step hires

Those 40 new full-time workers can also be recruited above-step, meaning management can choose to bring new staff on at a higher starting pay level than usual, according to the resolution passed Tuesday.

The resolution approving the hirings allows employees to be recruited at up to 10 steps higher than the usual starting pay for any position, if their experience merits the extra pay.

A 10-step difference in pay on the lowest end is about an extra $7,000 on the low end of the GovGuam pay scale, and can be a difference of tens of thousands of dollars a year at the higher end, based on the 2023 General Pay Plan.

Any above-step recruitments wont need the approval of the entire board, which is typical practice in GovGuam, but will need the signature of either GHURA Board Chairman John Rivera or Board Vice Chairman Nate Sanchez, in the amended resolution passed by commissioners.

GHURA personnel services administrator Kimberly Bersamin said the above-step hiring authority is only temporary for the additional 40 employees needed to manage the CDBG funds.

With 40 extra hires expected, it would be time consuming to go before the board for approval of every above-step hire, Bersamin told the board.

Were under a six-year grant, the time is limited. The program needs to get up and running. I cant see us going before the board so frequently. The process would just not be efficient to do, she said.

Napoli added that GHURA had communicated with the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, where the government had hired 50 employees just to handle about $250 million in CDBG funds.

The other thing that they did mention to us is that there are going to be challenges with keeping staff for the entire six-year period, Napoli said.

Most people did not like the idea of temporary employment, she noted.

Employees, especially talented folks, were likely to move on to better-paying or more stable, permanent positions if GHURA wasnt able to properly compensate them, Napoli told the board.

Esteves said any new hires would get rated by human resources in the same manner as any other hire.

HR and Napoli would both review any prospective employees application, and determine whether above-step pay is warranted, Esteves said.

Were still going to be well within budget, he told the board.

Esteves said GHURA currently had to pull staff from their regular duties to manage the grant money, which was not sustainable.

Esteves pay bump

As the head of the new division running the $500 million disaster relief funds, Esteves salary will go from $96,123 to $120,000 annually, based on the resolution passed by the agency board Tuesday and staffing records.

Napoli said she had recommended the raise for Esteves after consulting with her personnel services administrator, Bersamin.

This is an enormous responsibility that he agreed to undertake, and we were the ones that said he needs to be paid, Napoli said.

The director called it a modest and reasonable initial compensation that matched the extra responsibility.

Esteves total management oversight will be increasing to 127 personnel, according to Napoli.

According to Esteves, he expects to spend about 30% of his time running the disaster relief grant money, and the rest on day-to-day GHURA activity. That will gradually decrease to about 20% as time goes on.

Napoli said the deputy director will get paid from the CDBG grant money for time spent running the grant, and from GHURAs regular grant funds when running the agencys housing programs.

I have no doubt that the deputy, you know he has the passion and the desire to do right by our people, the board chairman, Rivera, said. But weve also seen how when we shortchange our people, we end up losing.

Theres a lot at stake here, Rivera added.

Questioned by Rivera about the possibility of the raise, Esteves said he would leave the decision to the board.

Truth be told, even if, if the compensation didnt change, I will execute...and fulfill my responsibilities, Esteves replied.

The measure passed without objection.
Filipino-American residents on Guam weighed in on Tuesdays arrest of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte over an International Criminal Court case alleging he committed crimes against humanity for the killings of thousands during his bloody war on drugs carried out during his presidency.

Duterte was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila after returning from Hong Kong.

The International Crime Police Organization, or Interpol, arrested Duterte after receiving a copy of the warrant from ICC.

Michael Dndiao, a recent transplant from the Philippines, recalls the fear that gripped the country during Dutertes presidency. He was in the Philippines during Dutertes administration.

It was a really scary time because many innocent people were being accused without evidence, he told the Pacific Daily News. Because during that time, if (people) know someone who is under the influence of drugs, theres a reward on their head...So its easy for them to target innocent people.

Dndiao described an environment in which people could be falsely accused.

They can make these people say, Oh, hes using drugs, even though theyre not, Dndiao said. And then its just because they want to get the rewards.

Although Duterte has not been convicted, Dndiao believes a guilty verdict would be justified.

Theres like 30,000 killed and their families, like most of them, are innocent people, he said.

Mario Josef, a long-time Guam resident originally from the Philippines, believes Dutertes general and his police officers went through extremes.

Theres some innocent, either drug users or innocent people, who were killed in that process, Josef said. I think hes part of it and he said before he is responsible for it, and even his general Bato Dela Rosa and other police officers that did the operation.

Josef also speculated on how Duterte might handle a trial.

Well, Im not sure if hes gonna admit it. Hes at a point where he doesnt care because hes old already but I think hes ready for it, he said. He knows that his people messed up. But like he said, hes responsible for it.

According to Rappler and other Philippine news organizations, Dutertes arrest marks a significant moment in the ICCs investigation, which began eight years ago.

Despite the Philippines withdrawal from the ICC in 2019, the court has continued its investigation into Dutertes anti-drug campaign. Duterte is the first former Philippine head of state to be arrested by an international tribunal.

Current Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.s administration has maintained its commitment to cooperate with Interpol in processing the ICCs request.

Dutertes arrest places him among international leaders with active ICC arrest warrants, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin, although neither has been detained.
District Court of Guam Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood on Tuesday heard oral arguments on a flurry of final motions in the criminal trial of Michael L. Marasigan, Jose Arthur Art Chan Jr., and Christine C. Chan in an alleged illegal gambling case.

They face a litany of charges stemming from an alleged illegal gambling business, as well as conspiracy charges related to the gambling operation, including money laundering, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to operate illegal gambling business.

The trial is scheduled to start Wednesday, but there are still issues to consider, such as what the attorneys are allowed to tell and ask the jurors, as well as one defendants motion to exclude evidence offered by the government, and another defendants motion to dismiss wire fraud as part of her charges.

Tydingco-Gatewood did decide on one matter.

Despite Assistant U.S. Attorney Marivic Davids arguments to the contrary, the judge ruled that the Aloha Shriners and the Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation are not victims in this case.

The trio are a part of an original indictment that included others including Juanita Capulong, Richard Brown, Alfredo D. Leon Guerrero and Minda San Nicolas.

Leon Guerrero signed a guilty plea in October 2023, and Capulong and San Nicolas signed plea deals in November 2024. Richard Brown died in May 2024.

Their indictment said that from March 2015 through December 2021, they agreed to use a nonprofit organization, Guam Shrine Club, and its Hafa Ada Bingo operation, to shield their illegal gambling business.

The Guam Shrine Club established Hafa Adai Bingo to conduct bingo games after DRT authorized the organization to conduct charitable gambling, documents state.

The government alleges that defendants and others used the name Guam Shrine Club and its Hafa Adai Bingos nonprofit status and bingo permits, so it would appear to the public and law enforcement agencies that the fundraising activities were being conducted in compliance with Guam laws.

The defendants object was to unjustly enrich themselves and others...under the guise of charitable and civic fundraising, the indictment states.

Prosecutors also allege that Jose Chan and other Guam Shrine Club officers falsely reported the organizations total revenues on tax filings and wrote checks to co-conspirators and their business entities.

Jose Chan was Guam Shrine Clubs vice president and president at various times. Christine Chan and Marasigan were not officers of the club, but Christine Chan is Joses wife and owner of Nanan Bray and Marasigan is the owner of Ideal Ventures LLC.

According to court documents, Guam Shrine Club officers distributed bingo proceeds to co-conspirators Won Sun Min and Marasigan.

Min and Marasigan received over $2 million and $15 million of bingo proceeds, documents state.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Marivic P. David said she intends to call Min, Leon Guerrero, San Nicolas and Capulong to testify about their participation and knowledge about the defendants participation in the alleged illegal gambling operation and their laundering of illegal proceeds.
From old vehicle tires to metals, tons of debris were removed on Monday by more than 100 personnel from multiple government of Guam agencies during a large-scale cleanup to help restore the beauty and safety of Hensa Beach in Pago Bay, Yona.

The Department of Parks and Recreation led the multi-agency effort.

"I used to fish here growing up, and I know this beach is an asset to the village. Once the lieutenant governor gave his blessing, we got to work right away, DPR Park Police Superintendent Joey Terlaje said in a statement on Tuesday.

Terlaje said after DPR spoke with Yona Mayor BJ Terlaje and concerned private owners of the adjoining property, it was clear that DPR could do something impactful for Yona and all of Guam with the cleanup.

The initiative, supported by the Islandwide Beautification Task Force chaired by Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio, aimed to restore the beachs cleanliness and safety, ensuring the public can once again enjoy its scenic beauty.

"This cleanup is a testament to what we can accomplish when government agencies, private landowners, and community leaders come together for a common goal," Tenorio said in a statement. "Hensa Beach is a beautiful space that deserves to be restored, and through continued partnerships, we will ensure that it remains safe, clean, and accessible for all."

The beautification task force, Tenorio said, remains committed to supporting initiatives like this that enhance the quality of life for people and preserve the natural beauty of Guam.

"Moving forward, DPR will continue working with property owners and local leaders to ensure the cleanup efforts are sustained, keeping Hensa Beach safe and accessible for all," Tenorio added.

The cleanup resulted from a collaborative approach following a February site assessment led by the Yona mayor.

Representatives from DPR, Department of Public Works, Division of Homelessness Assistance and Poverty Prevention, private property owners, and Chalan Pago-Ordot Mayor Wayne Santos conducted a walk-through.

They determined that the area was affected by widespread litter, abandoned vehicles, white goods, and remnants of an encampment across public and private property, extending to the shoreline.

With a coordinated plan in place, DPR mobilized resources, and cleanup efforts began on March 8 and 9.

DPW removed eight abandoned vehicles and a significant amount of discarded appliances, while Department of Corrections inmates assisted in gathering and staging these materials for disposal.

The main cleanup took place on March 10, with over 100 volunteers from DPR, Department of Agriculture, DHAPP, and Guam EPA.

"Volunteers carefully sorted green waste, plastics, and other debris for proper disposal. Private property owners at Pago Bay Estates played a crucial role by providing haul-off services, portable restrooms, equipment, and tools," Adelup said. "To show their appreciation, property owners, along with the mayors of Yona and Chalan Pago-Ordot, provided food and refreshments for the hardworking volunteers."
A cultural exhibit at the Guam Congress Building showcasing the islands history and heritage officially opened Tuesday with a spread of good local grub, a sling stone exhibition, and a ceremony honoring those who work to preserve the CHamoru culture.

Those who missed the gupot, or party, can still check out the exhibit thats full of art and artifacts at the lobby of the Legislature, which will be up for the remainder of Mes CHamoru.

Theres also a traditional seafaring canoe on display in the yard of the Guam Congress Building, carved by Tony Piailug of the Pialiug Seafaring Academy.

The exhibition is a collaboration between the Legislature, the Department of CHamoru Affairs, the Guam Museum, and the Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency for Mes CHamoru.

Today, we are not just looking forward, we are looking back, honoring the legacy of those who came before us, and celebrating the culture, history and identity that make us who we are, said Sen. Shelly Calvo, chair of the legislative committee on culture, the arts, and historic preservation.

Mes CHamoru is a time to reflect on Guams roots and the traditions passed down through generations, Calvo said during the official opening of the exhibit.

But let us be clear. Our culture is not something that exists only in the past. It is alive today in our language, in our music, in our families, in our everyday life, she said.

Speaker Frank Blas Jr. shared a story of his own family, which illustrated the survival of CHamoru language and traditions.

In my history, in my family, there are three Frank Blas, the speaker said.

His father, former Lt. Gov. Frank Blas Sr., had to be taught English as his second language, he said.

Because CHamoru was what he grew up with, the speaker said.

The speaker said in his generation, kids were punished for speaking CHamoru in public.

I know what Dial Soap and Tabasco taste like, because anytime you spoke CHamoru, you were admonished, he said.

Then came Frank Blas III, who now, it is a requirement for him to speak the language, the speaker said. Im proud to admit, he speaks better CHamoru than me. But Im proud because I know that our heritage, and our culture, and our language is going to be alive.

The public can view the new exhibit at the Guam Congress Building from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Del. James Moylans office is left without its most senior staffer as Congress scrambles to avert a federal government shutdown by weeks end and the Trump White House shakeup in Washington, D.C. leaves the government of Guam uncertain about hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grant funding.

Moylan in a Tuesday morning statement confirmed the departure of his chief of staff and longtime right-hand man Bobby Shringi.

Bobby has been a dedicated Chief of Staff and a longtime friend, and I will always appreciate his hard work and commitment to serving Guam. I thank him for his service, passion, and dedication to our island and our nation. I have no doubt he will bring the same dedication and passion to his next endeavor, Moylan said in a statement.

The delegate did not go into detail about why Shringi quit the office. Nor did Shringi immediately provide a reason for resigning, when reached via WhatsApp message Tuesday.

Prior to his departure, Shringi was the highest paid employee in Moylans staff by far, drawing down a salary of about $144,99.96 a year, based on quarterly disbursement reports from the House of Representatives.

Shringi frequently coordinated policy issues for the office, took the lead on inquiries from the media and constituents, and represented Moylans office in meetings on Guam and in D.C., Pacific Daily News files show.

The now resigned chief of staff was present through Moylans first term as delegate for Guam, and subsequent reelection.

Shringi was around when Moylan got his start as a senator back in the 35th Guam Legislature, when Shringi was hired on contract by Moylan to do policy research, draft bills, and consult on economic and commercial activity, legislative contracts show.

Prior to that, Shringi ran marketing for Moylans Insurance Underwriters Inc. and was the elected chairman of the Guam Chamber of Commerce for several years.

The Pacific Daily News did inquire with Moylans office about who would fill Shringis role in Guams congressional office, and how the office would cope with the pending federal shutdown, possible grant cuts and freezes affecting the island, and other actions from the Trump administration which need Guams interests to be represented.

The office did not immediately respond in detail to the question.

As our office transitions, we remain committed to delivering meaningful results for the people of Guam. The work continues, and I look forward to further serving our community with renewed focus and determination, Moylan said in a general statement circulated to the media.

Congress has until Friday night in D.C. to avoid a partial government shutdown, the Associated Press reports.

Moylans office has been releasing statements about the flurry of changes under the new Trump White House, but did not have any plans to host a town hall to hear concerns from Guam residents as of last Thursday, according to office spokesperson Auriann Calvo. No announcement has been made as of Tuesday.

Ethics complaint rumors dismissed

The delegate did dismiss accusations of an ethics complaint regarding Shringi or his office reported by local media.

I hold all my staff to the highest ethical and professional standards. To ensure transparency, I personally visited the House Ethics Office today, which confirmed that there are no open cases against my former Chief of Staff, or any staff members, Moylan stated on Tuesday.

The office spokesperson, Calvo, later clarified that Moylan was referring to the Office of Congressional Ethics.

The PDN did reach out to Shringi in late February, when rumors began circulating he had resigned following the completion of a House Committee on Ethics investigation.

Shringi called it a whacked up rumor and said there was never any ethics investigation launched into the office.

He asserted that any complaints would be posted by the House online.

Investigations of misconduct begin with the Office of Congressional Ethics and remain confidential until the ethics committee opts to make any report public, according to the OCE and Congressional Research Service.

As of Tuesday, the OCE had not posted the referral of any investigation of Moylan or his office to the ethics committee. Nor had the House Ethics Committee made any statement about the Guam congressional office.
After peaking at upwards of 5,500 workers last year, the number of skilled foreign laborers on Guam with H-2B visas has shrunk gradually to 5,119 as of Monday, according to Guam Department of Labor spokesperson Janela Carrera.

Guam has been recording year-over-year records of H-2B workers to support the military buildup, hitting at least 5,583 in September last year, Pacific Daily News files show.

Its a level of skilled foreign labor, almost entirely from the Philippines, thats been unseen since the 1990s.

However, H-2B workers are hitting the ground at a slower rate than Guam DOL predicted back in 2022, even as some experts have predicted that as many as 12,000 may be needed to support the $2 billion in annual military construction expected in the coming years.

Carrera on Monday said the number of H-2Bs on the island at any time is fluid, and the decline since last year is still within the projection.

Its not something that would cause extreme shock, she said. If it was like 4,800, 4,500, then we would be like, Oh my god, what is going on.

H-2B workers may return to the Philippines because of project completion on the island, or the end of their visa periods, she said.

The speed at which laborers come to Guam depends on the availability of housing, the number of applications, and how quickly the Philippine government can process applications, according to Carrera.

One local construction company, VG Gozum Construction, did record a large number of H-2B workers that registered with Guam DOLs Alien Labor Processing and Certification Division over the weekend.

But the 231 workers, who cleared the labor department in about four hours, were all up for visa renewals, Carrera told the Pacific Daily News.

Guam Labor Director David DellIsola back in 2022 reported that the 2,924 H-2B worker population at the time would double practically every year to keep up with the military buildup construction.

The rise kept steady through 2023, with Guams 4,000th H-2B worker arriving in April 2023, and the 5,000th by November 2023, the PDN reported.

But the increase slowed through 2024, which peaked at about 5,583 workers, PDN files show.

Guam DOL alien labor division administrator Greg Massey in November reported that available housing has become a chokepoint for the flow of labor.

Massey said at the time that the labor department had approved as many as 9,000 H-2B visa applications, but many have not started arriving on the island yet.

An up-to-date figure of approved H-2B visa applications was not immediately available from the labor department on Monday.
As agreed upon with her board of directors, former senator and businesswoman Regine Biscoe Lee started her first day on the job as the general manager of the Guam Visitors Bureau on Tuesday, according to GVB public information officer Lisa Bordallo.

I did have a chance to meet with her. We talked, basically about you guys, the media. And theres a lot going on already, so she hit the ground running and jumping right in, said Bordallo. She processed in this morning with human resources and was getting all set up. A pretty standard first day, nothing too major.

Bordallo said the new general manager has been following the bureau closely since she applied for the job, and already has an idea of what was going on prior to her arrival at GVB.

Biscoe Lee was the top choice of a GVB board search committee that shared their results in January. More than a month later, the GVB board voted unanimously on Feb. 27 to offer the position to Biscoe Lee. She formally accepted the offer on March 3.

As part of her employment agreement, Biscoe Lee will earn an annual salary of $146,400 and is subject to a biannual performance review by the board.

Biscoe Lee was a senator in the 35th Legislature. She also served as the chair of the Democratic Party of Guam from 2017 to 2019.

She once represented Mantid Intl., a subcontractor for PKF Hospitality, which was hired by the Guam Bureau of Statistics and Plans in 2023 and produced a multi-phased report on Guams tourism industry recovery.

Guams tourism recovery has been one of the slowest in the world, industry representatives said. Fiscal-year-to-date arrivals to Guam also dropped by 10% compared to just a year ago, while arrival numbers continue to be less than half of what they used to be prior to the pandemic.
Tiyan High Schools National Honor Society and Close-Up Club donated HP red biohazard trash bags to the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority.

GMHA said this vital contribution plays a significant role in supporting the hospital's ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with infection control and prevention regulations by maintaining a clean, safe, and sanitary environment throughout the medical facility.

"We are deeply inspired by the dedication and civic spirit demonstrated by the students and staff of Tiyan High School. Their willingness to give back to the community is a true testament to their commitment to making a positive impact, and it is something we deeply appreciate," GMHA said in a release.

The hospital said the donation is instrumental in GMHA's continued efforts to protect the health and safety of patients, staff, and visitors.

"By supporting us in such an important way, the Tiyan Titans truly show the power of teamwork and forward-thinking generosity," GMHA said. "We thank the National Honor Society and Close Up Club for their thoughtfulness and for joining us in our shared mission of providing compassionate, forward-thinking, quality-driven, and safe healthcare that honors our community."
We need a realistic State of the Island Address from Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero tonight, one that tells us where the local economy stands and provides a plan of action to deal with the impacts of the Trump White Houses federal funding and workforce cuts.

Share with the public plans or steps to help lower the price of eggs, other food products, house rental, and the overall cost of living on Guam.

Will there be more efforts to combat the meth epidemic and the trash problem across the island?

The public would be interested to know how the Leon Guerrero-Tenorio administration intends to use local revenue, remaining federal American Rescue Plan funds and other federal funds to fend off a potential financial crisis spawned by executive orders and policies crafted miles away.

We also look forward to the governor sharing her plans for tourism or the alternative industries shes been touting for years, given that fiscal-year-to-date arrivals to Guam dropped 10% from last year, just when the industry is hoping for continued recovery year after year after the pandemic.

This years address will focus on the continued momentum of our economic recovery, efforts to ease the cost of living for working families, progress in housing and health care, and the challenges posed by federal uncertainty, the governors office said of what the public should expect from tonights special remarks.

We certainly look forward to the specific plans, and how GovGuam would be able to fund and execute those plans.

The governor will deliver her State of the Island address at 6 p.m.

Those who are unable to watch it in-person at the Guam Congress Building can watch it on YouTube.com/@guamlegislaturemedia and Television Broadcast on PBS Guam/KGTF Channel 12.

Some community members shared they also want to hear the governor address the ongoing military buildup and mental health services.

Will the governor also show that despite her differences with Attorney General Douglas Moylan over a host of issues  from billboards and homelessness to corruption allegations  shes willing to sit down with him and try to work together for the common good?

Theres been a lot of time, effort and resources spent trying to take each other to court rather than use those same resources to actually make a difference in the lives of the common people.

We hope the governor will not only talk about her plan of building a hospital and medical complex in Mangilao, but also her efforts to reach out to  or reach a consensus with  those who have voiced their opposition to her plan.

Lastly, who is the governor relying on when it comes to whats really going on in Washington, D.C. thats going to impact even more the prices of goods on Guam, or whether GovGuam should now plan as if Medicare, Medicaid and other social programs would be reduced?

The governors address could sound hopeful and uplifting, but we need a realistic approach to todays challenges.
Japanese trade minister fails to secure U.S. tariff exemptions: media

Xinhua) 15:19, March 11, 2025

TOKYO, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Yoji Muto has met with U.S. officials in Washington to seek exemptions from President Donald Trump's planned tariffs on steel, automobiles, and other imports, but failed to secure assurances, local media reported on Tuesday.

Following talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Muto said that the officials acknowledged Japan's importance to the American economy, but did not offer guarantees regarding tariff exemptions, Kyodo News reported.

Trump's 25-percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports are set to take effect this week, with a similar levy on imported cars expected by April 2.

Japan exports about 1.37 million cars annually to the United States, making up 28.3 percent of its total exports to the American market, according to the report.

Muto said Japan will continue to try to protect companies from being hit by the proposed tariffs. "Based on the latest discussions, we will be in close consultation on how we can make the national interests of Japan and the United States a win-win situation," Kyodo cited him as saying.

He emphasized Japan's significant investments in the United States and discussed bilateral economic ties and energy cooperation, including liquefied natural gas development in Alaska.

When asked about the stalled bid by Nippon Steel Corp. to acquire United States Steel Corp., Muto declined to disclose details but expressed confidence that the relevant private-sector parties would advance their coordination on a specific plan.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)




Haiti - Security : 25 FAdH soldiers return from specialized training in Martinique





Saturday, March 8, 2025, as part of a military partnership between Haiti and France, 25 soldiers of the Haitian Armed Forces (FAd'H) returned from Martinique, after a 2-week specialized training at the 33rd Marine Infantry Regiment (RIMa) to consolidate their skills and operational preparation. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44350-haiti-army-strengthening-of-the-fad-h-thanks-to-international-cooperation.html



Leslie Voltaire Presidential Transition Advisor, Jean-Michel Moise the Minister of Defense and the Commander-in-Chief of the FAd'H Lieutenant-General Derby Guerrier, gave a warm welcome to the soldiers.



A meeting was subsequently held at the Salon Diplomatique, bringing together Leslie Voltaire, Jean-Michel Moise, members of the High Staff of the FAdH, the French Ambassador to Haiti, Antoine Michon, and Admiral Nicolas Lambropoulos, Superior Commander of the French Armed Forces in the Antilles.



Discussions focused in particular on the fight against organized criminal gangs and drug trafficking and on Frances support for our Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defense. Minister Jean-Michel Moise expressed his sincere gratitude to France for its unwavering support for the modernization and strengthening of our Armed Forces.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44350-haiti-army-strengthening-of-the-fad-h-thanks-to-international-cooperation.html



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - FLASH : DIE denies false accusations against its Director





The Communication Unit of the Directorate of Immigration and Emigration (DIE) formally denies the recent allegations circulating on social media against the Director, Jean Antoine Simon Fenelon, stressing that they are unfounded, false and part of a disinformation campaign aimed at tarnishing the image of the institution.



"The allegations that the Director favors a private travel agency or requires passport fees to be paid in cash are completely false. The issuance of passports follows a rigorous process, based on objective and administrative criteria, without any external interference."



The Communication Unit of the DIE recalls that "the management of funds relating to passport fees and other services is subject to strict procedures, in accordance with the standards established by the public administration. No transaction may be carried out outside the internal accounting and official treasury circuits. This is to guarantee the transparency and traceability of financial transactions."



Faced with these unfounded attacks, the DIE Communication Unit invites the population not to give in to disinformation and assures that the management remains at the disposal of the competent authorities for any verification or audit aimed at establishing the truth.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - School canteen : Japan will support nearly 18,000 students daily (2025-2026)





The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and Japan will provide daily school meals based on local products to nearly 18,000 children in 80 schools in the West Department in 2025 and 2026, to provide essential nutritional support and improve their education.



Haiti is currently facing an unprecedented food crisis, with 5.4 million people, including 2.3 million children, suffering from acute hunger.



As a long-standing partner of WFP, Japan has consistently supported food assistance and emergency response activities in Haiti, providing life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable populations at risk of food insecurity.



Thanks to the generous contribution of the Japanese people, WFP will continue to develop its school meals program based on local products, which is a vital element of the social safety net in Haiti.



"Japans continued commitment to Haitis development is invaluable. Their contribution enables WFP to sustain vital school meal programmes, reaching some of the most vulnerable children in the country and offering them hope for a better future," said Wanja Kaaria, WFP Country Director in Haiti. "This partnership not only addresses immediate food needs but also supports long-term development, helping smallholder farmers produce more, improve quality and sell their products."



WFPs school meals programme is an effective strategy to combat hunger while promoting educational progress. Students who receive school meals through this programme attend school more regularly, perform better and progress to the next grade. In addition, these programmes help reduce child malnutrition, which can have serious consequences on physical, cognitive and emotional development.



In addition, Japans contribution will also fund complementary activities such as training in health and hygiene practices for school kitchen staff, to ensure that meals are prepared in optimally safe conditions. This additional training will enable cooks (mostly women) to acquire valuable skills to better care for themselves and their families, thereby reducing the risks associated with diseases. As part of the program, these cooks will also receive compensation for their valuable work, which will allow them to achieve financial independence.



"Japan is deeply concerned about food insecurity in Haiti reaching record levels while armed group violence escalates," said Nishiuchi Kazuhiko, Charge dAffaires of the Embassy of Japan in Haiti. "This contribution through WFPs school meals activities is to help make schools healthy and safe places to learn for the children, while boosting local agricultural production under these difficult circumstances."



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Surgery : A First in Haiti

On Sunday, March 9, 2025, a first in Haiti was performed in orthopedic surgery. The team from the trauma and orthopedics department of Justinien University Hospital (HUJ) successfully performed a total knee replacement on a 70-year-old patient with advanced osteoarthritis. The operation under general anesthesia lasted 3 hours.



Cuba : Names of the 7 qualified scholarship holders

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs the public that, following the note informing of a program of 7 scholarships offered by the Cuban Government for the academic year 2025-2026 https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-44176-icihaiti-notice-cuba-offers-7-scholarships-at-the-undergraduate-level-2025-2026-registrations-open.html , a competition was organized at the premises of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The 7 qualified scholarship holders are:



Midrege Zeide BLOT;

Hans Dimitri BRUTUS;

Bill Marc Herriott PARIS;

Loovens Gendoff Lenz REMILUS;

Stephane Kelly VANIER;

Darline LAMARTINIERE;

Dialine JOSEPH.



OAS : New Secretary General

On Monday, March 10, 2025, during the elections at the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS), Albert Ramdin was elected by acclamation as the new Secretary General. He succeeds Luis Almagro who is retiring after two consecutive 5-year terms.



New deanship at the FLA

On Friday, March 7, 2025, the members of the new deanship elected to the Faculty of Applied Linguistics received their investiture (4-year term), in the premises of the Rectorate of the State University of Haiti (UEH). The new deanship is composed of the professors :



- Wilhelm Michel (Dean);

- Jean Whig Noel (Vice-Dean for Academic Affairs);

- Martineau Nelson (Vice-Dean for Research).



Canada : Liberal Party, congratulations from PM Fils-Aime

"On behalf of the Haitian Government and on my own behalf, I congratulate Mr. Mark Carney on his election as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada with broad support of 85.9% of the vote. I wish him success in his future responsibilities and look forward to the prospects of enhanced cooperation between Haiti and Canada," Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime.



The CFI Website is improving

The Investment Facilitation Center (CFI) announces improvements to its website aimed at providing optimized, fast and efficient access to support services for investors in Haiti. The CIF invites you to visit its website : www.cfihaiti.com to discover this new platform and benefit from an enriched experience dedicated to investment in Haiti.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















The number of threats and violent incidents in Helsinkis city services has been increasing in recent years. The city emphasises that employee safety is a priority and is working to prevent and address these situations.

Surveys conducted among city employees, such as the Kunta10 study and Helsinkis own Fiilari survey, as well as reports submitted to the city's occupational safety system, indicate a rising trend in workplace threats and violence.

The nature of these incidents varies across different services and departments, but the overall increase is clear.

"Employee safety is of utmost importance to us. The city has zero tolerance for any form of violence or threats," said Petri Lumijarvi, Helsinkis Director of Human Resources.

"We are committed to preventing these situations and ensuring our staff are prepared to handle them. We provide training, guidelines, and post-incident support to employees who experience threats or violence at work."

Despite these measures, threatening situations continue to occur in city services.

"We urge residents to behave respectfully when visiting daycare centres, health stations, libraries, and other public services. Our employees work every day for the benefit of the citys residents. A safe and undisturbed workplace is the right of all our staff," Lumijarvi added.

Threats and violence against city employees can range from intimidating behaviour, harassment, and verbal abuse to physical violence such as pushing, hitting, and kicking. In rare and severe cases, objects or weapons have been used.

"These incidents can be very different in nature. Employees may face direct threats or physical attacks that put their safety and well-being at risk. Some cases involve online harassment and targeted threats on social media. Others may stem from the behaviour of young children in daycare or patients with memory disorders. Even the fear of violence can impact an employees well-being," said Taija Hamalainen, the city's Occupational Safety Manager.

Threats and violence should not be part of anyones job.

"Helsinki aims to be a workplace where everyone feels safe and welcome," Lumijarvi concluded.

HT
The Finnish governments anti-racism training for ministers and senior officials will last about an hour and take place after the municipal and county elections in April, according to a report by Uutissuomalainen (USU).

The training was planned by the government in collaboration with experts from the Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).

It will begin on 14 April with civil servant managers, followed by ministers at a later date, according to Katriina Nousiainen, a chief specialist at the Prime Ministers Office.

"After that, it may be further developed based on feedback," Nousiainen told USU.

The training was announced in response to racism controversies surrounding the government last summer, shortly after it took office. The situation led to the resignation of Vilhelm Junnila, the Finns Partys former Minister of Economic Affairs, following reports of his past far-right connections and social media posts referencing Nazi and Ku Klux Klan symbols.

Finance Minister Riikka Purra, leader of the Finns Party, also faced scrutiny after past racist blog posts surfaced. The controversy forced Prime Minister Petteri Orpo to issue an anti-racism statement and launch a working group on equality measures.

The government has not confirmed whether attendance at the training will be mandatory. Although Suomen Kuvalehti reported last month that ministers would be required to participate, it noted that no formal decision had been made.

As part of the broader anti-racism programme, the government has also organised public campaigns and roundtable discussions led by the prime minister. A mid-term report on the programme's effectiveness is expected in the autumn.

HT
In a joint statement released on Monday, the groups backed the findings of the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman, who last week said the ministrys political leadership favoured asylum seekers from Christian-majority countries while seeking to block those from Muslim-majority nations.

Nine Muslim organisations in Finland have called on the government to take immediate action following reports that the Interior Ministry discriminated against Muslim refugees when preparing this years quota allocations.

"We agree with the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman's view that the Ministry of the Interior's policy was not based on humanitarian needs or integration criteria, but solely on religious discrimination," the statement said.

The organisations urged Prime Minister Petteri Orpo to introduce measures to safeguard equal treatment and combat Islamophobia. They also called for Interior Minister Mari Rantanen to be held accountable in parliament.

"This is not just a matter of discriminatory guidelines  it is a conscious, politically driven attempt to change the basic principles of Finland's refugee policy in a way that violates the Non-Discrimination Act and Finland's human rights obligations," the statement added.

The opposition Green Party has already filed a motion of no confidence in Rantanen following the ombudsmans report.

The Interior Ministry said last week that it would review the report and was awaiting an assessment from the Chancellor of Justice, who oversees the legality of government actions.

Rantanen has denied that religious affiliation played any role in the quota refugee plans. Speaking in parliament on Friday, she insisted that decisions were made on the basis of security and integration factors, not religious background.

HT
Ferguson sworn in as U.S. attorney for western N.C.

Russ Ferguson was sworn in on Tuesday as United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Related Stories

Appointed by Attorney General Pamela Bondi on March 3, Ferguson took the oath of office administered by United States District Judge Frank D. Whitney.

It is the honor of a lifetime to serve as United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, Ferguson said. I am fortunate to be coming into a well-regarded office with some of the best lawyers in North Carolina. I am ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work for the people of my home state. I thank Attorney General Bondi for trusting me to lead this office, and I pledge to serve with utmost integrity and dedication.

As U.S. Attorney, Ferguson serves as the chief federal law enforcement officer in the Western District, responsible for representing the United States in all civil and criminal litigations. Ferguson leads an office of nearly 100 federal prosecutors and support personnel, serving 32 counties across Western North Carolina, including the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the largest Native American community in the eastern United States.

Ferguson brings 16 years of significant legal experience to his new role. He began his legal career as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia, where he tried 28 cases to verdict. Before his appointment as U.S. Attorney, Ferguson was a partner at the international law firm of Womble Bond Dickinson, where he led the firms complex litigation group and handled complex civil and criminal cases. Fergusons work included representing clients in high-profile and complex criminal and civil trials, as well as in international arbitrations before a number of world arbitral bodies.

He has held leadership roles with the Mecklenburg County Bar, which honored him with an award for Best Individual Attorney for his pro bono service. He has been named to Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, North Carolina Business Elite, and received the Charlotte Business Journals Forty Under Forty Award. Mr. Ferguson has also served as a speaker and panelist for local and national events and has published numerous articles on topics related to civil and criminal law.



Ferguson also serves on the Board of NourishUp, Charlottes food pantry and meals on wheels organization. He received his undergraduate degree from Duke University and earned his law degree and a masters of law from Georgetown University Law Center. After law school, he clerked for US. District Court Judge Frank D. Whitney in the Western District of North Carolina.
TWO years ago, Lorna-Rose Treen won the best joke award at the Edinburgh Fringe festival.

Her winning waft of wit was: I started dating a zookeeper but it turned out he was a cheetah.

Now she is on the bill at Henleys latest Honk! comedy night later this month, which will be held at the River & Rowing Museum for the first time instead of The Relais hotel.

The 30-year-old character comedian can recall visiting Henley once before as a child.

I remember it being really beautiful, she says. I remember the bridge and I think Ive seen the River & Rowing Museum and Ive definitely seen Greys Court.

Im really looking forward to going back as an adult.

Lorna-Rose lives in London but grew up in Redditch, a town in Worcestershire.

She studied for a masters in philosophy at Edinburgh University before moving to France to study the art of clowning under Philippe Gaulier.

This has helped her with some balletic performances as one of her characters, a femme fatale.

Im a character comedian so I play other people and I do all sorts, she says. Theres a lot of prop gags as well.

Ive done a film noir actress who is endlessly chain-smoking cigarettes and she pulls them from all sorts of places.

One of my big characters is a brownie girl guide, who is like a child psychopath. I also do a lot of parody stuff. What I tend to do is really silly and surreal, a lot of one-liners. The fun thing about doing character comedy is you can do quite cutting satire, observational comedy, puns, all coming out of this characters mouth.

Its quite freeing in a way and its nearly always very cartoony and

stupid.

Prior to her comedy career, Lorna-Rose worked as a radio producer on shows including BBC Radio 4s Womans Hour, which influenced her work.

She says: Ive got a radio show called Time of the Week, which is a parody of Womans Hour.

Sian Clifford is our host, our news anchor, and shes so funny. It goes out live on BBC Radio 4 and is also on BBC Sounds perpetually.

Lorna-Rose co-wrote the series with her partner, Jonathan Oldfield, whom she met at university.

I do a lot of writing with him, she says. The first series is out and were working on the second. Were in the writers room now.

Her heroes of comedy include Rik Mayall, Steve Coogans Alan Partridge, Victoria Wood and Caroline Aherne.

Morwenna Banks is amazing too, says Lorna-Rose. Actually, I got to do a gig by the producer of Absolutely.

They did a pilot for Radio 4 in Glasgow last year and it was all character comedians on the bill. That felt really special.

I also love Morgana Robinson, whos a huge influence. Shes

amazing. Catherine Tate as well. Growing up, we all used to quote her in the playground. She was so naughty, I remember thinking We cant say that. I loved her character Lauren.

I loved The Fast Show, all that stuff, and I also really loved Ab Fab, which was so funny.

I spent a lot of time when I was younger imitating Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French in their various sketches but particularly Eddie in Ab Fab, who I loved so much.

When I first started doing comedy Rik Mayall in The Young Ones was the person that I would spend most of my time imitating.

He had a protest sketch about dropping bombs, which was so funny. He was brilliant.

Ive been rewatching The Fast Show on iPlayer and it stands up so well because its so silly.

All those things, like The Vicar of Dibley and Blackadder, I remember watching as a kid and think these characters were timeless.

I know the characters are in a specific context but they could be anywhere or anyone and in a way thats as relatable as somebody talking about your own experience on telly.

Lorna-Rose will be joined in Henley by fellow comics Jordan Brookes, Fergus Craig, Frankie Thompson, Runi Talwar and Lorra Lidev.

Its a mixed bill and its such a cool and weird selection of people, she says. I think it will be really nice and whimsical. Im really looking forward to it. Frankie is so funny, I love her a lot. Shes my contemporary  I think she did her first show the year before me and we are quite close collaborators.

Like me, shes in this world of comedy thats quite male-dominated. Shes also a weirdo as well, so its quite nice seeking solace in her.

Im excited to meet Fergus Craig. He is a few generations above us but so funny, Im a big fan.

He is a character comedian as well. There are so few of us out there and its nice to have two of us on the bill.

Ive worked with Jordan Brookes quite a lot. Hes super-funny and really weird.

As we move into an era of ChatGPT and AI, I think its so important that live art survives, which is something Frankie Thompson is really big on.

Being in a room with other people and making them laugh, thats so magical and a really human experience.

I think that one of the nice things about this gig is that its putting comedy in another art space.

Thats just so good for variation in art and in comedy and its so cool to push all of these arts together and unify them. Its exciting and Im really looking forward to it.

 Honk! Comedy Night at the Museum is at the River & Rowing Museum in Mill Meadows on Saturday, March 22. Doors open at 7pm for an 8pm start. Tickets cost from 14.25. Fire and Hop will be preparing wood-fired, sourdough pizza (order with your ticket and choose one of four options on the night). For more information, visit linktr.ee/honkhot
TWO men have been cleaning dirty road signs in Wargrave and Charvil.

Stuart Hooper and Andy Croy say they do it in order to make a difference to their communities.

The volunteers carried out the work last month in their spare time.

So far, they have cleaned more than 20 signs in the villages, including from the Piggott School in Wargrave up to the roundabout near the A4, along Park Lane in Charvil, and the Welcome to Charvil signs.

Mr Croy, an accountant and a borough councillor, started cleaning signs in the wider area two years ago and is often helped by other volunteers.

He has cleaned information signs, school slow down signs and speed limit signs as well as dirty bus stops.

Mr Croy, 59, from Wokingham, said: If its a particularly grotty sign, weve literally gone out with a mop and some water and washed it down.

Once you start doing this, you notice more and more.

I know lots of people find dirty signs really annoying so we thought we could do this and make people feel a bit better. To me, its about making the place I live look nicer. People do care about the area they live in and are frustrated when the area isnt reflected well by the state of public furniture.

The pair use just water and a brush on a pole to clean the signs and do not use cleaning fluids.

Mr Croy said: You dont need them because the signs are generally very smooth metal or plastic. You brush the algae and dirt build-up very gently and keep adding water.

He represents Bulmershe and Whitegates for Labour on Wokingham Borough Council and hopes his good deed will encourage others.

Mr Croy: When weve cleaned the speed signs, weve realised it can make drivers more aware because they can see them better.

If you have a dirty sign, it sends a message that we dont care about the speed limit around here.

The worst sign we cleaned was the advanced warning sign by the Piggott School  that was terrible.

Its basically pollen and the algae that grows on that and I suspect theres also a bit of dust.

Mr Hooper, 37, a government consultant from Ruscombe, said he enjoyed making a visible difference.

He said: It was clearly a job that needed doing and it was something I knew I could do. Its also good to help out other parishes. Its a nice way to spend my free time and energy. The council cant necessarily afford to do everything but people want clean signage.

Its really satisfying looking at your work afterwards and seeing the difference youve made, especially when theyre really grubby.

Its nice to have a sense of community because I predominantly work from home. Its really rewarding to help out in general.

The latest session took us about two-and-a-half hours but I could have happily carried on doing that all day.

Its really satisfying looking at your work afterwards and seeing the difference that youve made.

The volunteers have also cleaned signs in Twyford and other nearby villages.

Meanwhile, a big tidy up will be held in Charvil on Sunday, March 23. Volunteers are invited to meet at the Margaret Gimblett Pavilion at 2pm where litter pickers and rubbish bags will be provided.

The event has been organised by the villages borough councillor Sam Akhtar and his partner, Tasmin Morgan.

Cllr Ahktar said: Its a great chance to help keep Charvil looking its best. Last year, the councillors and volunteers collected more than 20 bags of rubbish.

When they have finished, the helpers will be provided with a cup of tea at the pavilion.
Growth opportunities for women vital, says political adviser

16:04, March 11, 2025 By Zhao Yimeng ( Chinadaily.com.cn

Women currently have more growth opportunities in the field of science and technology than years ago and are demonstrating their value through dedication, said Xie Ziqing, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, during the two sessions.

Xie, also the vice-president of Hunan Normal University, said women are fully capable of participating in cutting-edge scientific research. "When I was in college, the proportion of women attending universities was relatively low. Today, women have more opportunities. Many of the students I mentor are outstanding young women," Xie said.

Born into a rural family in Xinshao county in Hunan province, Xie was admitted to a university through the national college entrance examination, or gaokao, in the 1980s. She graduated from the Institute of Applied Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1996, specializing in computational mathematics research.

In 2012, she made history as the first female mathematician in Hunan's academic community to receive First Prize in the Hunan Provincial Natural Science Award, leading groundbreaking research as principal investigator.

"Whether our primary role is to teach students, or to contribute insights to the integrated development of education, science and talent as a political adviser, we are increasingly demonstrating the power of women's voices. I believe that through hard work, women can fully showcase our value," Xie said.

According to data from the Global Gender Gap Report 2024 released by the World Economic Forum, China ranked first globally in the proportion of women receiving higher education.

This year, Xie has also called for strengthening adolescent health education, raising awareness about the protection of reproductive health and women's equal employment, and promoting a new cultural approach to marriage and childbearing.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
An armed adult male was shot by U.S. Secret Service personnel outside the White House on Sunday morning, the agency confirmed shortly after the incident.

At the time of the shooting, President Donald Trump was not at the White House. According to Anthony Guglielmi, Chief of Communications for the Secret Service, the agency had been alerted to a "suicidal individual" traveling to Washington, D.C., from Indiana.

Guglielmi stated that officers spotted a person matching the description near the White House and located the individual's parked car. As officers approached, the individual reportedly brandished a firearm, prompting an armed confrontation. "Shots were fired by our personnel," Guglielmi said in a statement.

The man was subsequently transported to the hospital, though his condition remains unclear. No Secret Service personnel were injured during the encounter.

The investigation into the incident will be handled by the D.C. Metropolitan Police's Internal Affairs Division Force Investigations Team, the agency responsible for investigating officer-involved shootings in the district.
Three former top executives from French video game giant Ubisoft, the maker of "Assassin's Creed" and "Far Cry", went on trial on Monday accused of psychologically and sexually harassing employees for nearly a decade.

The high-profile trial comes after years of controversy over the global gaming industry's treatment of women and minorities in both games and real life.

After staff took to social media to accuse the company of a toxic work culture and predatory behaviour by powerful managers, Ubisoft in 2020 launched a probe and announced the departure of several senior executives.

The executive shake-up at Ubisoft was hailed by some as a #Metoo moment in the male-dominated video game publishing industry, which has faced criticism in the past for the sexist and misogynistic characters and imagery often found in games.

Serge Hascoet, chief creative officer and the company's second-in-command, resigned, while Thomas Francois, vice-president of editorial and creative services, and another senior executive, Guillaume Patrux, were dismissed for serious misconduct.

All three men deny the claims.

Francois is the focus of the most damning testimonies, which have alleged systemic psychological and sexual harassment at the French giant located in the eastern Paris suburb of Montreuil.

Aged between 38 and 46 at the time of the events, Francois is alleged to have habitually watched pornographic films in the open-plan office and commented on the appearance of female employees, whom he routinely insulted.

Employees have complained of near daily public humiliation and hazing.

In addition to the accusations of sexual and psychological harassment, Francois is being prosecuted for an attempted sexual assault when he tried to forcibly kiss a young employee during a Christmas party as she was held by other colleagues.

According to an investigative report seen by AFP, Francois encouraged "his subordinates to act in the same way, using his influence and high hierarchical position within the company to this end."

Hascoet, 59, is accused of lewd behaviour and posing intrusive questions of a sexual nature, as well as racist comments and behaviour.

Following devastating jihadist assaults in Paris in 2015, he allegedly asked a Muslim employee if she agreed with the ideas of the Islamic State group.

The woman had her computer desktop background changed to images of bacon sandwiches and food placed on her desk during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.

The third defendant, former game director Patrux, 39, has been accused of psychological harassment.

Investigators have spoken to dozens of witnesses during the probe, but "many refused to file a complaint for fear of reactions from the video game community," according to the report seen by AFP.
A small plane crashed in rural Pennsylvania on Sunday afternoon, injuring all five people aboard, officials reported. The incident occurred at approximately 3:18 p.m. EDT in a parking lot of a retirement community in Manheim Township, about 85 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

According to a statement from Manheim Township, all five individuals on the plane sustained injuries of unknown severity and were transported to local hospitals for medical treatment. Fortunately, no injuries were reported on the ground, and there were no fatalities. The Brethren Village facilities, located near the crash site, avoided significant damage, although several vehicles in the parking lot were damaged.

During a press conference, officials stated that when responders arrived, the aircraft was on fire. Manheim Township Police Chief Duane Fisher confirmed that about a dozen cars were damaged in the crash, with at least five vehicles suffering "severe damage." The fire was later extinguished.

FlightAware tracking data showed that the plane had departed from Lancaster Airport, located near the crash site, with a destination of Springfield, Ohio. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.

Fisher explained that, as a precaution, authorities initially imposed a shelter-in-place order for the retirement community following the crash. However, he reassured residents, saying, "At no point did the plane or the aircraft strike any part of the structure. So, we're very confident that all safety concerns have been addressed as far as the facility here and everyone that lives here."

Fisher also expressed relief that no one on the ground was injured, stating, "I don't know if I consider it a miracle, but the fact that we have a plane crash where everybody survives and nobody on the ground is hurt is a wonderful thing."

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is investigating the incident, identified the plane as a Beechcraft Bonanza. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro confirmed that state police were assisting first responders on the scene. "All Commonwealth resources are available as the response continues," Shapiro said in a post on X.

The crash comes amid a series of high-profile aviation incidents in the United States, including a crash involving a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet in Washington, D.C., earlier this year.
Shamon Jones, the mother of R'Mani, the 5-year-old girl killed alongside her father, rapper G$ Lil Ronnie, shared her feelings about the tragedy during a live stream that has since gone viral.

In the emotionally charged broadcast, Jones expressed her unique approach to grief, quoted by AllHipHop, stating, "Yeah, y'all ain't gonna lie, I grieve a little different y'all. Y'all took my baby, but I'm not trippin' on that." She reflected on the loss of her daughter following a double homicide that occurred on March 3 at a local car wash.

Jones emphasized her pride in the way R'Mani was laid to rest, boasting about the designer attire chosen for the occasion. "She goin' out this b#### in style. Gucci everything," she said. "Baby daddy gon' be proud of everything."

The tragic incident has drawn attention not only for its heartbreaking nature but also for its potential connections to G$ Lil Ronnie's music career. Authorities are investigating possible links between his lyrics and the violence surrounding his death.

Forest Hill Police Chief David Hernandez said investigators are reviewing the rapper's online presence and music as part of their inquiry. The Texas Rangers are examining and analyzing everything that's being put out," Hernandez said.

Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the case. Adonis Robinson, 24, was taken into custody on March 6 in Livingston, Texas. Jakobie Russell, 21, surrendered to U.S. Marshals with his attorney and was booked into Tarrant County Jail on charges of capital murder. If convicted, both suspects could face the death penalty under Texas law.

The investigation remains ongoing as detectives continue to explore all angles of this tragic case.

The Fatal Attack

As per TMZ, harrowing video footage shows Smith fleeing for his life moments before he was killed.

The attack occurred around 10 a.m. at a car wash in Forest Hill, where Smith was reportedly getting his vehicle cleaned. According to police, two suspects approached and opened fire on the father-daughter duo. More than 30 bullet casings were recovered from the scene.

Smith, 30, and R'Mani had just celebrated the young girl's fifth birthday a day before the incident. Family members expressed their devastation over the loss. "He was a family man," said Smith's aunt, Stella Houston. He didn't bother anybody. Why would you target him?"

Originally published on Music Times
The Ukrainian military has begun distributing leaflets written in Korean as part of a psychological warfare campaign. The campaign is aimed at persuading North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces to surrender, a South Korean lawmaker who recently visited Kyiv said, according to the Korea Herald.

One leaflet, which Yu shared, urged: "Surrender, and live your dream in South Korea." The leaflet depicted a North Korean soldier with teary eyes, envisioning a happy family with the South Korean flag beneath it.

While Ukraine's efforts to appeal to North Korean soldiers' dreams of escaping their oppressive regime have had some success with Russian troops, the impact on North Korean forces has been less pronounced.

According to Yu, North Korean soldiers are "already thoroughly psychologically trained," which has reduced the effectiveness of the leaflets. Despite this, Ukraine has captured two North Korean soldiers as prisoners of war, both of whom expressed a willingness to defect to South Korea.

Launched in 2022 after Russia's invasion, the Ukrainian "I Want To Live" project was initially aimed at Russian soldiers who did not want to participate in the war. It is now focusing on persuading North Korean soldiers stationed in Russia to surrender, following its success in facilitating the defection of 350 Russian troops.

However, HNGN cannot independently confirm the use of the project.

Reports indicate that thousands of North Korean troops have joined Russian forces in areas like the Kursk border region. In response, a department within Ukraine's intelligence service is intensifying efforts to convince Pyongyang's soldiers to abandon the front line. Ukrainian forces are distributing leaflets in Korean, hoping to capitalize on the troops' dissatisfaction and desire for a better life.

Vitaliy Matvienko, a volunteer with the project, explained, "Not everyone wants to fight. We know very well the living conditions in North Korea. Therefore, many may see it as a chance to escape the regime and go to another country."

Estimates suggest that around 10,000 North Korean soldiers are stationed in Russia's Kursk border region, and Ukrainian authorities have confirmed that these troops have already participated in combat against Ukrainian forces.
China voices support for peaceful settlement of Ukraine crisis as U.S., Ukrainian officials set to meet

Xinhua) 16:22, March 11, 2025

BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- China supports all efforts conducive to a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis and hopes all parties can reach a just, lasting and acceptable solution, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday.

China is willing to continue to work with the international community to play a constructive role in the political settlement of the crisis, Mao said at a regular news briefing.

The Ukraine-U.S. meeting is scheduled for Tuesday in Saudi Arabia's port city of Jeddah. It follows a rare shouting match at the White House between Trump and Zelensky in late February, which led to the cancellation of a bilateral minerals agreement and the subsequent suspension of U.S. military aid to Ukraine.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Dusit International, one of Thailand's leading hotel and property development companies, has signed a hotel management agreement with PT Komodo Property Management to manage Kaliwatu Residences - Dusit Collection, an exclusive new luxury retreat in Labuan Bajo, Flores island, one of Indonesia's fastest-growing tourism destinations. This signing marks Dusit's first Dusit Collection branded hotel in Indonesia, complementing the success of its subsidiary, Elite Havensthe region's premier luxury villa rental providerwhich already manages properties in Bali and Lombok.

Located on the western tip of Flores, just 10 minutes by car from Komodo International Airport and the vibrant town of Badjothe gateway to Komodo National Park, renowned for its legendary Komodo dragons and world-class divingKaliwatu Residences - Dusit Collection promises a serene escape in a private hillside setting, surrounded by natural beauty and offering panoramic sea views.

Developed in phases, with full completion scheduled for Q2 2028, the project will feature 63 spacious, well-appointed private villas with plunge pools, 194 contemporary apartments, and a clubhouse housing a restaurant, bars, shops, a gym, a spa, and a rooftop swimming pool.

As part of Dusit's luxury Dusit Collection branddedicated to exceptional hotels and residences in iconic locationsthe new property embodies sleek, contemporary architecture inspired by European style and standards. Each villa has been meticulously designed with unique shapes and orientations to blend seamlessly with its natural surroundings, ensuring an exclusive and immersive experience for guests.

Beyond its luxurious offerings, the property will provide easy access to Labuan Bajo's rich cultural and natural attractions, including stunning pink beaches, fascinating underground caves, cascading waterfalls, breathtaking hiking trails with panoramic viewpoints, and extraordinary encounters with Komodo dragonsthe world's largest lizardswithin Komodo National Park.

Recognised for its unique wildlife and pristine marine environment, Labuan Bajo has been designated the best of Indonesia's five super priority destinationswith a target of attracting 1.5 million tourists annually. Ongoing infrastructure improvements, including recent upgrades to Komodo International Airport and new direct flights from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore (launching in March), and Perth, Australia (coming soon), are further elevating Labuan Bajo's status as a premier destination for relaxation and adventure.

Hotel website
Hyatt announces the opening of Hyatt Place Leeds and Hyatt House Leeds in the United Kingdom, marking the Hyatt brands' debut into the Leeds market. With Hyatt Place and Hyatt House under one roof, this new dual-branded development combines intuitive design, practical amenities, spacious rooms, and 24/7 convenience, offering guests a home away from home. Together with a state-of-the-art fitness center, flexible meeting spaces and stunning city views, Hyatt Place Leeds and Hyatt House Leeds are the perfect city retreat for business, leisure and extended stay travelers alike.

Located in the heart of Leeds, in the regenerated Sovereign Square, these hotels are a stone's throw from the train station and close to the city's bustling retail and restaurant scene. The square itself is a pleasant stroll away from cultural and artistic landmarks, including the Northern Ballet, West Yorkshire Playhouse and First Direct Arena.

Hyatt Place Leeds and Hyatt House Leeds together offer 305 guestrooms, all of which are thoughtfully designed to offer both work and lounge space. Catering to transient travelers, Hyatt Place Leeds features 217 spacious and soundproof guestrooms while Hyatt House Leeds features 88 apartment-style guestrooms ideal for those seeking an extended, residential experience.

Contemporary design meets Victorian heritage

Blending contemporary style with rich history, Hyatt Place Leeds and Hyatt House Leeds draw inspiration from the city's rich Victorian heritage, iconic railway arches and emblematic owl which is featured in artwork throughout. Designed by DLA Architects and Studio Two, the building incorporates curved, convex beam elements, creating a distinctive industrial architectural feature.

Hyatt Place Leeds and Hyatt House Leeds are BREEAM certified and fully electric, which underscores the hotels' dedication to creating more sustainable, high-performing buildings.

Reaching new culinary heights

A key highlight of Hyatt Place Leeds and Hyatt House Leeds is the Azotea

rooftop bar and Latin American restaurant, located on the 12th floor of the property. With breathtaking panoramic views of the Leeds skyline, Azotea offers an exciting mix of Latin American flavors, live music, and a vibrant atmosphere. The rooftop also features two outdoor terraces, providing guests with the perfect setting to unwind and take in the city views. On the ground floor, Zoom Restaurant & Bar offers an all-day dining menu featuring global and locally inspired dishes, ideal for casual dining or a relaxing drink.

"The concept for the impressive Azotea rooftop bar and restaurant was developed by our in-house food and beverage team, and they have been working alongside the hotel team to bring this exciting vision to life. Hyatt Place Leeds and Hyatt House Leeds are a fantastic addition to our vast brand portfolio of UK and European hotels and offer a different experience for both leisure and business travellers in a growing, vibrant city."

Memorable meeting spaces

Hyatt Place Leeds and Hyatt House Leeds provide versatile and functional meeting spaces designed to cater to a variety of business needs. With four meeting rooms, including the largest space of 223 square feet (20.8m), the hotels provide a flexible setting for small meetings, conferences, and training sessions. For larger events, the vibrant Azotea rooftop bar can accommodate up to 200 guests for private events with panoramic city views, combining business and leisure in a dynamic environment.

For further information or to make a reservation, please visit Hyatt Place Leeds Hyatt House Leeds

Hotel website
Stayntouch, a global leader in cloud hotel property management systems (PMS) and guest-centric technology, has partnered with Crestline Hotels & Resorts, one of the largest independent hotel management companies in the U.S. Stayntouch deployed its Best-in-Class PMS to four of Crestlines independent properties: The Nordic Lodge, Phoenix Park Hotel, Waldorf Towers South Beach and The Delphi.

Crestline Hotels & Resorts prioritizes true partnership and innovation, working closely with owners and investors to craft tailored operations strategies that deliver measurable results. With a portfolio spanning diverse property typesincluding boutique resorts and luxury urban landmarksCrestline sought a PMS technology partner that combines ease-of-use, automation and deep integration capabilities to support its independent hotels.

Crestline Hotels & Resorts independent properties now benefit from a Best-in-Class PMS with:

A User-friendly design , streamlining operations for hotel teams and reducing check-in times to under 1 minute.

, streamlining operations for hotel teams and reducing check-in times to under 1 minute. Advanced automation that reduces administrative workload and optimizes efficiency.

that reduces administrative workload and optimizes efficiency. Comprehensive group functionality to simplify room block management, rate plans, and commission management.

to simplify room block management, rate plans, and commission management. A reliable integration ecosystem providing access to over 1,200 integrations, including Sabre SynXis, Elavon Payments, SiteMinder, Toast POS, IDeaS, Revinate and more.

Finding a PMS that could truly support our independent propertieswithout adding complexitywas a top priority. We needed a platform that empowers our teams with intuitive functionality, reduces manual work, and integrates seamlessly with our existing tech stack. Stayntouch delivered exactly that, along with a level of service and responsiveness that makes all the difference. Their team has been hands-on and proactive from day one, ensuring a smooth transition and ongoing support. With Stayntouch PMS, we can run our properties more efficiently while keeping our focus where it belongson delivering an exceptional guest experience. Leah McFarland, Senior Vice President, Revenue Strategy at Crestline Hotels & Resorts

Crestline Hotels & Resorts is known for its commitment to operational excellence, and were honored to be their PMS partner. Our goal isnt just to offer best-in-class technology, but to truly be a partnerproviding personalized support, quick implementation, and a platform that simplifies hotel management while connecting them to other best-in-class solutions. We're proud to deliver a system that makes operations smoother, improves workflows, and lets Crestlines teams focus on what they do bestenhancing the guest experience. Priya Rajamani, VP of Implementation and Support at Stayntouch

About Stayntouch

Stayntouch delivers a full-featured and Best-in-Class cloud property management system (PMS) with a comprehensive library of over 1,200 best-in-class integrations. Our cloud-native PMS empowers hotels to drive revenue, reduce costs, enhance service, and captivate their guests. Stayntouchs newly expanded PMS platform, Stayntouch 2.0, further simplifies hotel operations, allowing hotels to streamline and accelerate direct bookings, process payments easily, and simplify integrations - offering an even more enhanced guest experience. Stayntouch is supported by a team of professionals with deep roots in the hospitality industry and is a trusted partner to industry-leading management companies including Sage Hospitality, HEI Hotels & Resorts, EOS Hospitality, and Stoney Creek Hotels, innovative independent brands such as Village Hotels, Pod Hotels, and First Hotels, and iconic independent properties such as the TWA Hotel and Zoku Amsterdam. For more information, visit www.stayntouch.com.

About Crestline Hotels & Resorts

Since its inception in March of 2000, Crestline Hotels & Resorts, LLC has continuously delivered the highest quality guest experiences in several of the hospitality industrys most profitable hotels, conference centers and resorts. Crestlines success lies in the partnership approach it takes with the hotel owners, investors, and employees at each of its managed hotels throughout the United States. Crestline currently manages 134 hotels with nearly 18,200 guest rooms in 29 states and the District of Columbia. The portfolio includes both upscale branded and independent hotel properties. Crestlines size, scope, and reputation for superior hotel management services, enables the company to take a unique approach which creates profitability in a hospitality-driven, guest-service focused environment. Crestlines extensive experience acquiring hotels, asset managing properties and providing operations oversight has generated extremely successful financial results in both public and private ventures.

Headquartered just outside Washington DC in Fairfax, VA, Crestline is a hospitality management company with more senior talent and a broader scope of hotel and hospitality industry professionals than any other hospitality management company of comparable size, allowing it to deliver intelligence, foresight, and insight into an ever-evolving business environment. For more information, visit www.crestlinehotels.com.

Elliott Mest

MFC PR
Abu Dhabis hotel industry posted its highest February average daily rate (ADR) and revenue per available room (RevPAR) since 2009, according to preliminary data from CoStar. CoStar is a leading provider of online real estate marketplaces, information, and analytics in the property markets.

February 2025 (year-over-year % change):

Occupancy: 86.8% (-3.5%)

ADR: AED873.51 (+40.6%)

RevPAR: AED758.37 (+35.8%)

Abu Dhabi hosted the International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) between 17-21 February, which pushed monthly highs in ADR (AED 1,680.40) and RevPAR (AED 1,552.33) on Monday, 17 February. Each metric remained above AED 1,000 throughout the event period.

The markets highest daily occupancy (93.9%) was seen during the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge on Tuesday, 25 February. Overall, Abu Dhabis occupancy was above 80% on every day of the month except 28 February (66.1%), which was impacted by the beginning of Ramadan.For more information about the company and its products and services, please visit costargroup.com.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced the renaming of its Strategic Partner award to The Corry Oakes Strategic Partner Award, honoring the legacy of OTO Developments co-founder and CEO who passed away unexpectedly in 2022. This award, as well as additional honors including two new categories, Purpose & Care and Operational Excellence, were presented at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar during Hyatts 2025 Americas Owners Conference. The theme of the conference, Business is Personal, was reflected throughout the award presentations, which celebrated the deep relationships and personal commitments that drive success across Hyatts owner, operator, and developer community.

Oakes was remembered as a strategic partner and close friend of the Hyatt family. Hyatts relationship with OTO Development has resulted in developing Hyatt Centric, Hyatt House and Hyatt Place properties across the United States. Amy Oakes, Corrys wife, was present for the award renaming announcement, led by Jim Chu, chief growth officer, Hyatt.

The impact that Corry Oakes had on Hyatt is immeasurable, and it was my honor to celebrate his legacy by announcing The Corry Oakes Strategic Partner Award. Corry was an exemplary partner for many years, and he is deeply missed, said Jim Chu, chief growth officer, Hyatt. As Hyatt continues to evolve, we are deeply appreciative of all our valued owners, operators and developers, and we extend our congratulations to this years award recipients.

The 2025 Hyatt Americas Owners Conference Awards include:

The Corry Oakes Strategic Partner Award celebrates a companys culture, philosophies, and strong, multi-brand relationship with Hyatt. These meaningful attributes exemplify Corry Oakes legacy. Parks Hospitality Holdings has played an instrumental role in expanding Hyatts portfolio in Mexico. They continue to embrace thoughtful growth, sustainability, and lead with a deep respect for local communities. Parks Hospitality Holdings highly anticipated openings include Park Hyatt Cancun, Grand Hyatt Mexico Santa Fe, Grand Hyatt Los Cabos and Hyatt Place Cancun Airport. The groups focus on thoughtful growth, sustainability and local craftsmanship continues to set Hyatt apart in the region.

Purpose & Care (NEW) celebrates a companys demonstration of Hyatts purpose, to care for people so they can be their best, and meaningful support of local communities. Host Hotels & Resorts received the inaugural Purpose & Care Award for their unwavering commitment to supporting communities in times of crisis, particularly following the August 2023 Maui wildfires. As wildfires devastated Lahaina, Host Hotels & Resorts provided immediate relief and long-term support for displaced colleagues, guests, first responders, and the broader Maui community. Their dedication to recovery and rebuilding exemplifies Hyatts purpose of care.

Operational Excellence (NEW) recognizes exemplary hotel operations and dedication to providing exceptional guest service. GHL Hotels

truly exemplifies what it means to be committed to excellence and its evident that guest experience is their passion. They view customer service not just as a necessity, but as a key profit driver that boosts their ADR. The two full-service Hyatt hotels that they operate, Hyatt Centric Guatemala City and Hyatt Centric San Salvador, were recently recognized for maintaining the highest-level core metrics status for the second half of 2024. TKo Hospitality has been a steadfast Hyatt operator for many years and their dedication to our shared vision and goals has been instrumental in their success. When visiting any of their Hyatt Place or Hyatt House hotels, guests experience TKo Hospitalitys dedication to providing value and quality service. In 2024, they exceeded core metric expectations, increased top-line revenues and market performance.

Developer of the Year recognizes developers for their design creativity, construction quality, attention to detail and excellence in hotel development. Extell Development is a two-time Developer of the Year recipient known for transformative projects including their latest achievement, Grand Hyatt Deer Valley, which opened in November 2024. This property anchors the newly developed Deer Valley East Villagethe first luxury mountain village of its kind in North America since 1981. With 436 luxury accommodations, including 55 residences, Deer Valley sets a new standard for mountain hospitality. K Inmuebles was one of the first Hyatt Inclusive Collection owners to invest in Mexico and the companys Secrets properties consistently rank in the top 10% for guest experience. Since Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres opened just over a year ago, it has become one of the top performing resorts within the entire Cancun/Riviera Maya area. The 507-room adults-only resort places an emphasis on thoughtful architecture, breathtaking views, and proximity to some of Mexicos most beautiful natural treasures. 3H Group was among the first to embrace the Hyatt Studios brand and committed to developing five properties, including the recently opened Hyatt Studios Mobile/Tillmans Corner. 3H Group also broke ground on Hyatt Studios locations in Huntsville, Al and Jacksonville, Fl, along with Caption by Hyatt Chattanooga. They also recently acquired Hyatt Place Tampa Airport / Westshore, which is set for a transformative renovation.

Best New Property acknowledges recent hotel openings. Thompson Houston (DC Partners) opened in February 2024 adjacent to Houstons Buffalo Bayou. The 172-room Thompson Houston delivers striking design, world-class dining and skyline views. With 17,000+ square feet of event space, including a rooftop terrace and 8,000-square-foot ballroom, the property has quickly become a premier destination within the city. Secrets Tides Punta Cana & Spa (Codelpa) opened in January 2024 in the Uvero Alto neighborhood as the first Hyatt hotel owned by Alvaro Pena, an industry visionary in the Caribbean. This all-suite resort offers nine restaurants along with three pools, two outdoor hot tubs and an expansive spa. With these accommodations and amenities, Secrets Tides Punta Cana is a leader within the Dominican Republics all-inclusive market. Hyatt Place Windsor (Inspiration Group of Companies) opened in October 2024 and is ideally situated in Canadas vibrant city of Windsor and located just minutes away from many local attractions. The exterior has a striking, curb presence, along with an inviting lobby, bar and lounge area featuring well-selected furniture and customized artwork. Since opening just over four months ago, the hotel has experienced impressive results. Hyatt House Raleigh Downtown/Seaboard Station (Hoffman & Associates) opened in October 2024 in Seaboard Station, an exciting, reimagined neighborhood on the north edge of Downtown Raleigh, NC. This extended-stay hotel is part of a larger, community-first development home to lively residential and retail spaces . It features a two-level public area infused with art, an H-bar that serves both guests and locals, as well as a unique rooftop restaurant/bar, called High Rail, offering incredible views from its outdoor patio. Caption by Hyatt  The Gulch (CB Ragland, HRI Hospitality, Peachtree Group) opened in December 2024 and is conveniently located in the Gulch, offering guests the very best of Downtown Nashville. The hotels design pays homage to the Gulchs rich history as a former industrial and railroad hub and provides guests with Nashville-inspired decor and Cafe Between  the hotels all-day lounge.

Best Renovation recognizes the reconfiguration and transformation of Hyatt-branded hotels. Hyatt Place Kansas City/Overland Park/Metcalf (Dream Hospitality, LLC) began a comprehensive renovation in 2023, touching all areas of the guestrooms, public space and exterior. The renovation was completed in 2024 and brings new life to the building facade while the custom interior public space and guestroom designs offer a welcoming and upgraded feel.

Best Conversion celebrates the reconfiguration of an existing property and conversion to a Hyatt-branded hotel. Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort (Xenia Hotels & Resorts ): Previously Hyatt Regency Scottsdale, the resort has been reimagined into Arizonas first Grand Hyatt hotel. Xenia Hotels & Resorts invested more than $115 million to comprehensively transform the property. The revitalized resort features 496 redesigned guest rooms, casitas, and suites, an enhanced 2.5-acre pool and cabana experience, and expanded meeting and event space capabilities totaling over 90,000 square feet. Finishing off the experience are six new bar & restaurant concepts completed in the partnership with renowned celebrity chef, Richard Blais. Hyatt Centric San Jose Escazu (Caribe Hospitality) marks the first Hyatt Centric branded hotel in Costa Rica, primely located in the vibrant Escazu neighborhood of Costa Ricas capital city. In 2022, Caribe Hospitality acquired this former Holiday Inn hotel and, following an extensive two-year renovation, it reopened as a completely reimagined Hyatt Centric property with modern decor and art that highlights the history and identity of the region. Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets (Secretos Isla Mujeres) marked the debut of the Impression by Secrets brand in this iconic Mexico destination. This hotel, which stood half-built for more than a decade, was acquired and transformed into a luxury, adults-only resort featuring stunning artwork, architecture and interior design, and provides guests with elevated dining experiences featuring local ingredients and contemporary culinary techniques. Hyatt House Colorado Springs Airport (Coughlin and Company) extended-stay hotel allows guests to explore the best of Colorado Springs along with the comforts of home. Guests visiting this hotel are conveniently located close to countless adventures in the magnificent Rocky Mountains. In 2024, the hotels customer service score was in the top 15% of all Hyatt House hotels in the Americas region.

Best Adaptive Re-Use honors outstanding Hyatt-branded hotels developed from alternative real estate uses. Hyatt Centric Santo Domingo (Grupo Martinon) debuted in October 2024 as the first Hyatt Centric brand hotel in the Caribbean. This property has undergone a significant transformation and repurposing from a bland office building to one of Santo Domingos most vibrant and stylish hotels. Hyatt Centric Santo Domingo marks Grupo Martinons first urban property in Santo Domingo. Hyatt House BWI Airport (Tathata LLC) offers convenient access to BWI Airport and downtown Baltimore, making it an ideal choice for all travelers. Originally built in the 1970s, the building previously housed the NSA and various government contractors. After its acquisition in 2017, it underwent a comprehensive renovation, culminating in August 2024. The transformation resulted in a stunning Hyatt House hotel, featuring a modern lobby and guestrooms designed with the latest contemporary interior design package.



For more information, please visit hyatt.com/development.
As the Middle East establishes itself as a global tourism powerhouse, Berlin-based content and communications agency Studio 49 is expanding its presence with a new office in Dubai.

With the UAE's hospitality sector projected to reach $7 billion by 2026, this move places Studio 49 at the heart of a rapidly growing market, enabling it to work even more closely with top hotel and tourism brands.

Meanwhile, the agency is reinforcing its European operations with a new structure and a focus on transversal communications to react to an increased need for integrated communications, which will not only better serve clients needs but also extend the agencys portfolio to a broader range of communications services.

Berlin Remains the Creative Hub

Whilst extending its presence to the Middle East, Berlin remains the heart of Studio 49s European operations. With a team of 20+ professionals, the agency continues to drive growth and innovation for hospitality brands across Europe.

To enhance service specialization, Studio 49 has introduced a refined structure with four key areas of expertise:

Content covers all aspects of content production, from photography and video to podcasts;

covers all aspects of content production, from photography and video to podcasts; Community drives engagement through social media, influencer marketing, performance marketing, and PR;

drives engagement through social media, influencer marketing, performance marketing, and PR; Growth focuses on strategy, branding and project management; and

focuses on strategy, branding and project management; and Business Intelligence transforms social listening and data analytics into actionable insights.

Unlike traditional agency setups, Studio 49s approach is not based on individual communication services such as PR, social media, or performance marketing that operate in isolation. We are tearing down silos to ensure targeted expertise across all disciplines and cohesive messaging across all platforms. Studio 49s Managing Director Fritz Dickamp .

Strengthening Ties with the Middle East

Studio 49s Dubai office will be built with local talent, ensuring deep market knowledge and cultural expertise. The hiring process has already begun, with the team set to grow gradually. The two offices will work in close synergy to provide seamless, market-specific communication strategies tailored to regional and global hospitality players.

The Middle East is rewriting the rules of global hospitality, and were here to help brands make an impact with the right messaging at the right time, said Fritz Dickamp, Managing Director of Studio 49. Hospitality in the region is booming, and after three years of working with the market from our Berlin office, we want to reaffirm our commitment to our Dubai-based clients and grow our local presence.

About Studio 49

Studio 49 is an award-winning content and communications agency dedicated to the hospitality and tourism industry and home to the podcast and edutainment platform SMACK Hospitality. The agency specializes in social media, influencer and performance marketing, content production, PR, strategy consulting, corporate communications, and analytics. Its client portfolio ranges from individual top hotels like Seezeitlodge Hotel & Spa to international brands like Accor.

Mari van den Bogaard

Senior Manager External Relations

49 (0) 176 64 80 91 12
SPARK, in partnership with EYouth and with support from Google.org, has launched the Maharat for Tourism E-Learning Hub in Egypt - a pioneering platform designed to equip 25,000 individuals across the MENA region with essential skills for the tourism industry (Maharat.SPARK.Ngo/).

The launch event, held at the Triumph Plaza Hotel in Cairo, welcomed over 100 stakeholders, including representatives from Egypts Ministry of Tourism, industry leaders, and digital learning experts. The initiative aligns with Egypts national priorities to enhance workforce competitiveness and drive tourism sector growth.

With the tourism sector rapidly evolving, Maharat for Tourism offers free, high-quality training tailored for both aspiring and experienced professionals. The platform provides interactive courses on digital skills, business management, and customer service, ensuring users stay competitive in a dynamic job market.

By bridging the skills gap and building a digitally empowered workforce, this initiative directly contributes to Egypts economic resilience and job creation in one of its most vital industries.

A Strategic Partnership with the Ministry of Tourism

Egypts Ministry of Tourism is an active supporter of the platform, recognising its role in modernising workforce training and driving long-term industry sustainability. We are proud to launch the Maharat for Tourism E-Learning Hub, which will provide thousands of individuals with the opportunity to develop essential skills for success in the tourism sector, said Dina Almasaeid, SPARKs Regional Programme Director The support from Egypts Ministry of Tourism further emphasises the industry-wide commitment to fostering talent and innovation.

Join the Movement

The Maharat for Tourism E-Learning Hub is now live and available in both English and Arabic, offering tourism professionals and job seekers the opportunity to advance their careers in the industry. To learn more and enroll in courses, visit: https://Maharat.SPARK.Ngo/

About Maharat for Tourism

The Maharat for Tourism programme is designed to lead the future of tourism by focusing on green and sustainable practices. It aims to support 25,000 job seekers and small business owners across the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Tunisia, Lebanon, and the Palestinian territories. The programme offers tailored training in AI, essential soft skills, and advanced digital tools, while also collaborating with governments to create improved regulatory frameworks for tourism.

With the support of Google.org, SPARK has also developed the Maharat for Tourism E-learning Hub, a dynamic online training platform that provides specialised curriculum tailored to different segments of the tourism industry. These include courses on government tourism strategies and policies for policymakers, as well as courses designed for small business owners on managing SMEs in the tourism sector. Additionally, there are modules on experiential tourism operations and event planning and design, aimed at job seekers looking to enter the tourism industry.

The Maharat for Tourism program is set to run until the end of 2025, featuring a series of workshops, events, and meetups across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, and other countries in the Middle East.

About Google.org

Google.org is the charitable arm of Google, a multinational technology company ] The organization has committed roughly US$100 million in investments and grants to nonprofits annually. The organization is noted for several significant grants to nonprofits using technology and data in innovative ways to support racial justice, educational opportunity, crisis response after health epidemics and natural disasters, and issues affecting the San Francisco Bay Area community where it is headquartered. It also hosts regular challenges around the world to stimulate innovative uses of technologies to address local challenges.

About SPARK

SPARK is an international non-governmental development organisation active throughout the Middle East, North and Sub-Saharan Africa, and Europe. For over 30 years, SPARK has been creating pathways for young people to rebuild their futures. SPARK provides opportunities for youth, particularly women and refugees, to study, work and grow their own businesses in fragile communities by providing higher (vocational) education scholarships, entrepreneurship development and SME support. All SPARK's programs are founded in close collaboration with local partner organisations.
ITB continues to expand: From 10 to 12 November 2026, ITB Americas will celebrate its debut as a B2B tourism trade show in Guadalajara, Mexico. Messe Berlin announced this today at a press conference at ITB Berlin and signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Mexican ambassador in Berlin and representatives of the State of Jalisco. At the same time, ITB Berlin is publishing the latest World Travel Monitor findings of IPK International on travel trends in the Americas in 2024.

From Canada to Argentina: ITB Americas is the only travel trade show that covers North, Central and South America and the Caribbean as well as all segments of the travel industry, from Adventure & Responsible Tourism to Business Travel and Travel Technology. The planned distribution of exhibitors is 80 per cent from the Americas and 20 per cent from the rest of the world, with participants ranging from startups to global market leaders.

The entire American continent is displaying a positive trend in outbound travel, as the latest data from IPK International shows. Geographically in an ideal location, economically strong and with a first-class tourism infrastructure, Mexico is the ideal place for ITB Americas. In addition, the venue for the new event  Mexico's second largest city Guadalajara in the State of Jalisco  offers excellent connectivity and the country's most state-of-the-art exhibition and convention centre. The accompanying ITB Americas Conference will feature high-profile speakers addressing the latest industry trends, while specific networking formats will focus on buying and sales. With this new event, ITB is expanding its brand family which, in addition to Berlin, is successfully represented worldwide with trade shows in Shanghai, Singapore and Mumbai.

"The launch of ITB Americas represents a continuation of our successful international strategy," says Dr. Mario Tobias, CEO of Messe Berlin. "Having previously focused on Asia, for us it is now 'ITB goes West'. Whether for hiking in the Rocky Mountains, cruises in the Caribbean, exploring the Atacama Desert in South America or the Mayan culture in Central America, the Americas are not only among the most diverse regions for travel, but also an important source market, with countries such as the USA, Canada, Mexico and Brazil," says Tobias.

V.l.n.r.: Vicente Salas Hesselbach (Managing Director, ITB Americas), Gustavo Staufert (Generaldirektor, Guadalajara Convention and Visitors Bureau), Michelle Fridman Hirsch (Generalsekretarin des Bundesstaates Jalisco), Dr. Mario Tobias (Geschaftsfuhrer der Messe Berlin), Virginia Messina (Senior Vice President fur Advocacy und Kommunikation, WTTC), Francisco Jose (Botschafter Mexikos), David Ruetz (Senior Vice President, Messe Berlin)  Photo by ITB Berlin

Mexicos s Secretary of Tourism, Josefina Rodriguez Zamora, emphasized that ITB Americas presents a key opportunity to strengthen the American market, build high-quality business connections, and showcase Mexicos rich cultural and economic potential to the global tourism industry.

As Governor of Jalisco, I am honored and delighted to welcome ITB Americas to Guadalajara. Hosting the most important tourism event in the industry in the heart of Mexican culture is a privilege. ITB Americas is a key platform for fostering connections, driving innovation, and showcasing the best of the Americas to the world. Jalisco is the soul of Mexico, the land of mariachi, tequila, and rich traditions, making it the perfect setting for this global gathering. We look forward to welcoming industry leaders and sharing Jaliscos rich heritage, dynamic tourism offerings, and warm hospitality with the global travel community, says Pablo Lemus, Governor of Jalisco.

For more information about ITB Americas, visit itb-americas.com and LinkedIn.

Travel in 2024 sets the tone for dynamic growth in 2025

The latest data from IPK International's World Travel Monitor shows that North and Latin America play an important role in international travel. The increasing demand for travel to these regions is reflected both in the number of trips abroad and the growing popularity of destinations in North America and especially Latin America. A survey of travel intentions in 2025 confirms this and points to dynamic growth in travel for 2025.

Outbound trips from North America exceeded 2019 levels, as did trips from Latin America. Destinations on the American continent also benefited from a rise in international outbound travel in 2024 and from growing traveller satisfaction. As in previous years, the World Travel Monitor shows variations in travel behaviour between North and Latin America, particularly as regards travel spending.

The Americas are displaying a positive trend in international travel. People in North and Latin America are increasingly travelling abroad. In 2024, outbound trips from North America grew noticeably. Year-on-year, the increase was around seven per cent, while compared with 2019 it was around five per cent. Outbound travel from Latin America rose quite sharply, by almost ten per cent year-on-year. The figures have now reached 2019 levels again. Overall, trips from the Americas account for about a quarter of global international travel volume.

ITB Berlin is publishing the latest World Travel Monitor findings of IPK International on travel trends in the Americas in 2024  ITB Berlin/ IPK International

North America is driving growth  Latin America is catching up

With around 120 million outbound trips in 2024 and a stable growth rate of seven per cent, the USA remains the largest source market for international travel worldwide. International travel from Canada also recorded solid growth, although the volume has not yet reached 2019 levels. Outbound travel from Mexico increased at an above-average rate of 16 per cent year-on-year.

Mexico: Among the top 10 destinations worldwide

There is also a dynamic trend unfolding regarding destinations on the American continent. Travel to Mexico increased by eight per cent year-on-year and has already significantly exceeded 2019 levels. In the destination rankings, Mexico lies directly behind Spain, the USA, Germany, France and Italy. This makes Mexico one of the worlds most popular destinations, with the image of a safe and attractive tourist destination. The main source markets for travel to Mexico in 2024 were the USA, Canada, Argentina and the UK. IPK's Destination Performance Index (DPI), which analyses the parameters of travel satisfaction, recommendation and desire to return for all international holidays worldwide as part of the World Travel Monitor, confirms high levels of satisfaction for Mexico as a travel destination, including for safety and attractiveness. With a DPI score of 59 points, Mexico ranks fifteenth worldwide, a significant improvement on the previous year.

Travel trends: focus on sun & beach destinations and city breaks

In North America and Latin America, certain holiday types are clear favourites. In both North America and Latin America, sun & beach holidays and city breaks outrank round trips and cruises. However, year-on-year trends vary. In Latin America, for example, city breaks in particular saw above-average growth in 2024, while in North America sun & beach holidays were on the rise. Round trips displayed a slightly negative year-on-year trend in both North America and Latin America.

Business and MICE travel are growing

In addition to holiday travel, business trips are increasing too. In North America in particular, they rose by 20 per cent year-on-year. The MICE travel market especially recorded high growth. MICE travel from Latin America grew at the much more moderate rate of three per cent in 2024. The trends in regular business trips also diverged: in Latin America, they rose by almost ten per cent, while North America reported a growth rate of six per cent.

More comfort: hotels remain the first choice

Travellers choice of accommodation also reveals interesting trends. Hotels are the preferred choice. Almost 60 per cent of all travellers in Latin America opt for hotels, compared to around half in North America. At the same time, there is growing demand for alternative and private accommodation. The growth in alternative paid accommodation (hostels, guesthouses, holiday apartments) in Latin America is particularly noteworthy, marking an increase of almost 20 per cent, which is significantly higher than in North America.

Rise in overnights and spending

Year-on-year, the average duration of outbound trips from the American continent rose marginally again, and at just below ten overnights slightly exceeded the global average. Travel spending per overnight also rose compared with 2023. In North America, however, the figure was still around 100 euros higher per night than in Latin America, which was due to more trips being taken within Latin America itself.

Visitors to ITB Berlin can gain additional specific insights into the industry at the ITB Berlin Convention 2025 from 4 to 6 March. This year, the travel industrys leading thinktank features 17 theme tracks as well as orientation for tourism professional on four live stages. Presentations by Expedia, DERTOUR, Google, Uber, Booking.com, Microsoft, Wyndham, TUI, Sabre, Ryanair and many others will provide inspiration and offer practical insights into the future of tourism.
Key NLRB Changes Under the New Administration: What Employers Need to Know - Image Credit Pexels

Last month, during our webinar, we predicted significant regulatory shifts under the new Presidential Administration. Now, just a little over 30 days in, we are witnessing these changes unfold  especially at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). This article will break down some key developments, what they mean for employers, and what to expect moving forward.

A Shift in Power and Deregulation at the NLRB

The President has wasted no time in advancing his regulatory agenda, focusing on reducing federal oversight and reshaping or even eliminating key agencies. Two seismic shifts have occurred at the NLRB:

Change in Prosecutorial Direction

In late January, The President officially removed former General Counsel (GC) Jennifer Abruzzo, which was unsurprising. With Abruzzos removal, her former deputy, Jessica Rutter, stepped in as Acting GC. She too was removed shortly thereafter. On February 3, the President appointed William Cowen as Acting General Counsel. A seasoned NLRB veteran, Cowen has held various roles in the NLRB including Regional Director for the Los Angeles Regional Office, Solicitor, and Board Member appointed by President George W. Bush.

As expected, within days of assuming office, Cowen issued GC Memo 25-05, Rescission of Certain General Counsel Memoranda, which rescinds several labor-friendly initiatives introduced by former GC Abruzzo. He even reached farther back to rescind more GC memoranda than predicted by many practitioners. In doing so, Cowen sent a strong message signaling an intention to narrow the scope and application of the NLRA, which is a stark contrast to Abruzzos expansive, overbroad read of the Act. He aptly noted that the Board has seen its backlog of cases grow to the point where it is no longer sustainable. Thus, he concluded the unfortunate truth is that if we attempt to accomplish everything, we risk accomplishing nothing.

Among others, Cowen rescinded the notable GC memoranda concerning the following:

Vigorous Enforcement of the Mutual Aid or Protection and Inherently Concerted Doctrines : GC Memo 21-03, which announced an initiative to broadly interpret the mutual aid or protection and inherently concerted doctrines.

GC Memo 21-03, which announced an initiative to broadly interpret the mutual aid or protection and inherently concerted doctrines. Employee Monitoring: GC Memo 23-02, which recommended that the Board find an employers practices to monitor employees violated the Act unless the employer can demonstrate that the practices are narrowly tailored to address a legitimate business need.

GC Memo 23-02, which recommended that the Board find an employers practices to monitor employees violated the Act unless the employer can demonstrate that the practices are narrowly tailored to address a legitimate business need. Expanded Remedies: GC Memos 21-06, 21-07 and 24-04 instructed Regions to seek the full panoply of remedies available to ensure that victims of unlawful conduct are made whole for losses suffered as a result of unfair labor practices including front pay in some instances.

GC Memos 21-06, 21-07 and 24-04 instructed Regions to seek the full panoply of remedies available to ensure that victims of unlawful conduct are made whole for losses suffered as a result of unfair labor practices including front pay in some instances. Section 10(j) Injunctive Relief: Memo 24-05, directed all Regional Offices to continue aggressively seek injunctive relief under Section 10(j) of the Act.

Memo 24-05, directed all Regional Offices to continue aggressively seek injunctive relief under Section 10(j) of the Act. Confidentiality and Non-Disparagement Provisions: GC Memo 23-05 provided guidance to Regions in light of McLaren Macomb, where the Board found unlawful severance agreements with broad confidentiality and non-disparagement clauses.

GC Memo 23-05 provided guidance to Regions in light of McLaren Macomb, where the Board found unlawful severance agreements with broad confidentiality and non-disparagement clauses. Non-Compete and Stay or Pay Restrictions  GC Memo 25-01 announcing intention to prosecute employers to maintain such provisions in employee agreements, workplace rules, or handbooks on the basis that they interfere with employees rights under Section 7 of the Act.

GC Memo 25-01 announcing intention to prosecute employers to maintain such provisions in employee agreements, workplace rules, or handbooks on the basis that they interfere with employees rights under Section 7 of the Act. College Athletes and Organizing in Higher Education: GC Memos 24-06 and 21-08 recommending that the Board take an expansionary approach in finding that both student-athletes and student-workers at institutions of higher education to be employees under the NLRA.

Board Composition Shake-Up

The five-member NLRB is currently in limbo, lacking a quorum after the President removed Board Member Gwynne Wilcox in an unprecedented show of Executive force. Wilcox was removed despite her Senate-confirmed term extending to 2028. Wilcox has since filed a lawsuit challenging her removal.

Legal Battle Over Wilcoxs Removal

Wilcoxs lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, argues that her dismissal violates the Act. She cites Humphreys Executor v. United States, where the Supreme Court ruled that the President cannot remove independent agency members without cause. The case, assigned to Judge Beryl Howell, has a briefing schedule set. The Presidential Administration filed a cross motion for summary judgment on Friday, February 21. It is the Administrations position that the Acts limitations on the removal of Board members are inconsistent with the vesting of Executive Power in the President, and therefore the President has the constitutional right to remove Ms. Wilcox. The Administration cited Seila Law LLC v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, where the Supreme Court found removal protections for the CFPB director were unconstitutional.

What This Means for Employers

The Administration appears to be testing the scope of Executive power and the unitary executive theory, asserting that the President has ultimate authority over agency leadershipeven in independent agencies like the NLRB.

With no quorum, the Board cannot adjudicate labor disputes, delaying decisions on pending cases. However, NLRB Regional Offices remain active, continuing to investigate and prosecute unfair labor practice cases, conduct union representation elections, and process representation petitions. Administrative Law Judges will still hear cases before appeals can be made to the Board.

What Can Employers Do Now?

Stay Compliant with Existing Board Law  Despite shifting prosecutorial priorities, current labor laws remain in effect. Monitor Legal Developments  The outcome of Wilcoxs lawsuit could redefine Board authority and Presidential executive power across the federal government. Be Prepared for a Stormy Forecast in Labor Relations Potentially increased social justice activism by employees, especially on the subjects of diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as gender identity.

Potentially increased employee reliance on social media to publicize, resist, or protest employer practices.

Potentially increased union activity in the form of unfair labor practice charges and petitions.

More strategic union tactics to pressure lawmakers at the state level directly and use social media to publicly shame employers and elected officials.

Potentially increased strikes and labor unrest, especially in the face of layoff and greater economic uncertainty.

Conclusion

The NLRB stands at a critical crossroads, with the Wilcox lawsuit poised to shape its governance for years to come. Meanwhile, the new Acting GC is swiftly rolling back prior labor-friendly policies, signaling a pro-business shift to a narrow application of federal labor law. Employers must remain vigilant, comply with existing laws, and seek legal guidance to navigate this rapidly changing landscape.

At Conn Maciel Carey, we are closely tracking these developments and will continue providing timely updates as they unfold. Be sure to check out our 2025 Labor and Employment webinar series and our Terms & Conditions podcast, where our practitioners and expert guests breakdown legal issues in a way that makes sense.

About the authors:

Letitia Silas is a Partner in Conn Maciel Carey LLPs national Labor  Employment Practice Group. Letitias practice has a special focus on advising and defending employers in traditional labor and employee relations matters, developing employee relations strategies, collective bargaining, and training and compliance. 

Before joining CMC, Letitia served as a Labor Law Attorney for the National Labor Relations Board where she tried complex labor law cases and investigated unfair labor practice charges. She continued her career at Howard University (HU) where she served as Senior Labor Counsel and Director of Labor Relations. During her tenure at HU, she developed comprehensive labor relations programs and provided strategic direction to negotiate collective bargaining agreements.

Ashley D. Mitchell is an Associate in the Chicago office of Conn Maciel Carey LLP supporting both the OSHA and Labor and Employment practice groups.

Ashley represents and advises clients in a broad range of employment issues involving the employer-employee relationship including wage and hour disputes, Title VII discrimination claims, and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). She also counsels employers on workplace policies and procedures, harassment training, and employee handbooks.

This article originally appeared on HospitalityLawyer.com.
Spring Break Spending Soars Despite Economic Challenges - Image Credit Unsplash+



Despite economic uncertainties, data from Allianz Partners USA shows that Americans are increasing their spending on Spring Break travel in 2025, with an average of $5,325 per trip, marking a nearly 14% increase from the previous year.

According to recent data from Allianz Partners USA, Americans are demonstrating resilience in their commitment to leisure travel, particularly during the Spring Break season, despite prevailing economic headwinds.

The company's latest report on Top Spring Break Destinations indicates that travelers are spending an average of $5,325 on their trips this year, a notable increase of nearly 14% from 2024. This spike in expenditure demonstrates a sustained commitment to leisure travel, even in the face of economic uncertainties and other competing financial obligations.

Most Spring Break travelers opt to stay within the United States, with 79% of bookings made for domestic destinations, while international trips account for 21%. The company's annual ranking of top destinations provides insights into where travelers are headed and how they are allocating their growing vacation budgets.

Daniel Durazo, the director of external communications at Allianz Partners USA, commented on the findings, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding travel plans given the current financial climate. "Even with rising costs, we continue to see Americans prioritizing leisure travel," said Durazo. "A travel insurance policy ensures that if covered travel cancellations, interruptions, delays, and unexpected illnesses or injuries occur, your hard-earned dollars can be repurposed for another trip."

Orlando remains the most popular domestic location for the second consecutive year. Other top domestic destinations include New York, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Seattle, Dallas, and Atlanta. Internationally, Mexico is a major draw for Spring Break travelers, with Cancun, San Jose del Cabo, and Puerto Vallarta among the top ten destinations. Additional international favorites include London, Punta Cana, Paris, Nassau, Montego Bay, Ota (Tokyo), and Oranjestad.

The data for the report was gathered by analyzing over 8.7 million itineraries of customers going through the online booking process for airfare and packages that offer Allianz Global Assistance travel insurance. This included roundtrip flights departing from U.S. airports from February 21, 2025, to April 19, 2025. A separate data set was used to gather information on trip costs.
Bennington College Offering Late-Decision Applications

BENNINGTON, Vt.  Bennington College has launched a college admissions application round for prospective students: late decision . This new admissions round responds to the evolving needs of prospective students navigating their college search.

"Each April, selective college admissions directors take calls from their college counseling colleagues on the other side of the desk. They share stories of applicants who are either not satisfied with their options or wish to rethink them for various reasons and inquire about accepting a late application," said David Buckwald, the college's vice president for enrollment management and marketing.

Bennington wants to democratize this opportunity and turn it into an application round for all prospective students who haven't previously applied this year.

"With the changing political and environmental climate, we believe there are even more students than usual who want to consider our creative, close, and inclusive community in beautiful Vermont," said President Laura Walker.

The late decision application round , designed for students who are discovering Bennington later in their senior year or gap year, opens on Monday, March 10. Students can apply via the common application or Bennington's dimensional application, with a deadline of April 8. Admissions decisions will be sent out on April 17, and accepted students will have until May 1 to reply. Like early action and regular decision, it is a non-binding admissions round.

The college will host an on-campus event, BenningtonNext, on April 28, for admitted students to visit and speak with faculty and students.

As a test-optional institution with a dimensional application , Bennington College has long been a leader in holistic admissions. Late decision is an extension of that student-driven approach.

"Not all compelling and talented students approach their college search in the same linear fashion, especially as they navigate evolving interests, developing identities, and financial realities," said Buckwald.

The college is targeting 15 seats for students admitted in late decision, including proportional need- and merit-based financial aid. Bennington aims to meet demonstrated financial need at time of admission. Waitlist activity, which typically takes place around the same timeframe, will be managed separately from late decision. The college anticipates a similar acceptance rate for this new round as for other rounds. For early action and both rounds of early decision this cycle, the acceptance rate was 37 percent.
One option for a public safety building includes the town's ambulance service. The second option would put the ambulance into a separate building on the site. PreviousNext

Lanesborough Advancing Two Public Safety Building Options

LANESBOROUGH, Mass.  The Select Board has voted to advance two public safety complex options for public review.



A $7.3 million facility could hold police and emergency medical services under one roof and, for $6.5 million, the departments could have their own buildings.



The final choice will be in the hands of residents at a town meeting.



In 2023, voters rejected a proposed $5.9 million police/EMS complex 139-214. The committee thought that it was a good proposal and asked that the cost be updated for another try.



The 7,222 square-foot combined police and EMS build would cost about $7,365,868. Alternatively, a 4,814-square-foot police station with a separate two or three-bay EMS facility would $6,509,900.



All options would be constructed at 405 South Main St., the former Skyline Country Club.

The Fire Department was eliminated from designs after the planners found that a station would cost $27 million on its own.



The EMS department is currently housed in the fire station at 180 South Main St. which is owned by the Fire Association. It has been asked to leave because of insufficient space. The Select Board discussed progressing the EMS building first at an estimated cost of $2,851,282.



Before the police/EMS facility was rejected in 2023, Lanesborough was earmarked $1 million in funding through the state bond passed by the Legislature in 2022. With voter approval, the funds can be released for the project and more money can be requested each year.



Last year, the Select Board voted to work with RCAP Solutions as a consultant in the financing application to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development program.



The USDA's Community Facilities Program can help provide funding for public safety buildings to purchase equipment but typically, the grant funds cannot be used for construction itself. This would require a USDA loan, which requires more financial work to prove that the town can repay the debt.
Pittsfield Subcommittee Supports Petricca TIF

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Some city councilors are happy to support a longtime city construction company's expansion. It will take a majority of the council support the tax exemption plan.



On Monday, the Finance subcommittee voted in favor of a 10-year tax increment financing agreement for Unistress Corp.'s $4 million expansion at 550 Cheshire Road, which is expected to create 50 new jobs.



"This is the perfect opportunity. When we give out TIFs or we give out GE economic funds, people talk about helping local business. This is a great local business that hires a lot of people, that pays good salaries so I'm 100 percent for this. This is an easy slam dunk for me," Councilor at Large Earl Persip III said.



"I don't know anybody who's against this. The only time I hear people are against it is they don't understand the TIF program and how it actually works."



Last month, the council acted as a decades-defunct financing authority to OK MassDevelopment assistance for the company. Approval from the Pittsfield Industrial Development Financing Authority, formed in the 1970s, is needed to move the process forward yet that body is far in the past.



At the time, Mayor Peter Marchetti reported that he would return with another proposal to help the company.



"Petricca doesn't have to put an expansion into Pittsfield just like years ago, Interprint did not have to put an expansion in Pittsfield. They could have chosen to move to Georgia, which was on the table for them and an opportunity," he said.



"So anytime the city can come to the table and assist a local business, especially to grow and expand, we should be there with whatever tools in our toolbox that we have."



With a TIE, Unistress would pay about $653,000 in property taxes over the next decade, starting at 100 percent forgiveness in the first year (about $24,000) and ending at 10 percent forgiveness (about $2,750) in 2035.



The company has projected a $4,150,750 capital investment expansion that includes soft costs, construction, utility and infrastructure improvements, and the purchase of two large overhead crane systems. The property's base value in fiscal year 2025 is $1,294,700, and the completed market value is $1,920,100. The $625,400 increment will see 10 percent less forgiveness each year.


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Robert Pattinson called Zendaya for help over a scene that was making him crazy.

Pattinson, 39, and Zendaya, 28, star opposite one another in the forthcoming film The Drama. Announced in August last year, the new movie follows a couple whose romance takes an unexpected turn before their wedding.

The script has thrown up some roadblocks for Pattinson, however, with The Batman star admitting to going crazy over one scene in particular.

We had a scene together that was driving me crazy, Pattinson said in an interview with the French magazine Premiere. I was desperately looking for its meaning, writing pages and pages of textual analysis.

It was his co-star who eventually helped him through it, said the actor.

I ended up calling Zendaya the night before shooting the scene, he said. I shared my doubts with her, I spoke for two hours, and after a while, very calmly, she made me understand that the line just said what it meant to say, that there was no hidden meaning.

And there I was going crazy for three days, he added.

Pattinsons admission does not come as a total surprise given the filmmakers behind the movie. Director Kristoffer Borgli is known for twisty stories, having previously made 2023s Dream Scenario in which Nicolas Cage plays a college professor whose life is turned upside down when strangers start seeing him in their dreams.

open image in gallery Robert Pattinson at the 'Mickey 17' press conference at the 2025 Berlin Film Festival ( AFP via Getty Images )

The Drama is also produced by horror genius Ari Aster, best known for Hereditary and Midsommar.

Its not uncommon for Pattinson to fixate on a film, it seems. Elsewhere in the interview, the Twilight star told the publication that he almost had a mental breakdown while shooting Lynne Ramsays Die, My Love  another marital drama, this time starring Pattinson and Jennifer Lawrence.

It was less the plot that rattled him than it was the dancing scenes.

open image in gallery Zendayas perfect nude is a deep satin lipstick (Alamy/PA)

I did this movie with Lynne Ramsay, and shes a really good dancer. And Jennifer Lawrence is a really good dancer. They just find it so easy, Pattinson said of being asked to freestyle dance for the role.

Theyre like, Just dance, its just music playing, just dance, Pattinson said. I was like, Im going to have a mental breakdown when this happens. We need to either choreograph it or cut it.

And theyre like, No, just dance, stop being all freak. It came to the day, and I was sweating so much, the insides of my trousers, with sweat, were wet.

Both The Drama and Die, My Love are expected for release sometime in 2025 with exact dates yet to be announced.
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Kanye West has faced yet another social media reprimand after Instagram removed his latest post for violating community guidelines.

On Sunday, the Heartless rapper, 47, shared a photo of a person dressed in a Ku Klux Klan outfit, wearing white robes and a pointed hood.

Outfit of the day, he wrote in the caption. Within hours, West revealed that the post had been taken down from the platform.

WOW INSTAGRAM TOOK MY POST DOWN, he wrote in a since-deleted tweet, alongside a screenshot of his empty Instagram profile, as well as a screenshot of a message from Instagram informing him that the photo had been removed.

According to Instagram, posts that are deemed credible threats of violence, hate speech and the targeting of private individuals will be removed as we do not allow attacks or abuse based on race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability or disease.

This latest controversy comes weeks after a string of antisemitic posts were shared from Wests X account. I love Hitler. Now what b****es, read one post, while another said: Im a Nazi [sic].

open image in gallery Kanye West's recent Instagram post of a person in a Ku Klux Klan outfit was removed for violating community guidelines ( Getty Images for The Recording Academy )

West later thanked Elon Musk for allowing him to vent before deactivating his X account.

I'm logging out of Twitter. I appreciate Elon for allowing me to vent, he wrote. It has been very cathartic to use the world as a sounding board. It was like an Ayahuasca trip. Love all of you who gave me your energy and attention. To we connect again. Good afternoon and good night.

open image in gallery Kanye West's expressed his frustration over Instagrams decision, writing: WOW INSTAGRAM TOOK MY POST DOWN ( Kanye West on X )

He then returned to X the following week to further thank Adam Sandler for the love after the comedian made an apparent nod to West during his SNL50: The Homecoming Concert performance.

It appears the Grammy-winning artist has once again deleted his X account, as it is no longer searchable on the platform at the time of writing.

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West has a history of making offensive and antisemitic remarks. In 2022, he was infamously dropped by several brands, including Adidas and Balenciaga, following a string of antisemitic comments he made.

He eventually issued an apology to the Jewish community for his remarks, vowing that he was committed to learning from this experience to ensure greater sensitivity and understanding in the future. However, he has only continued to spread more antisemitic rhetoric.

Last month, he tried selling T-shirts featuring swastikas on his online website. His e-commerce website was swiftly deactivated by Shopify  the back-end platform that hosts his Yeezy.com website  because the merchant did not engage in authentic commerce practices and violated our terms, according to a Shopify spokesperson.
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Bradley Walsh has said he thought he was going to prove the Egyptian pyramids were built by aliens in his new television show.

The presenter, 64, known for The Chase and Gladiators, is the face of Sky History programme Bradley Walsh: Egypts Cosmic Code. For the series, he travelled to the country to investigate this rumour that the pyramids werent built by Ancient Egyptians at all.

He told PA that he wanted to investigate whether: They were built by a race that had either died out prior to 4,500 years ago, or they were built by someone or something else.

Walsh added: Prior to arriving in Egypt, Im thinking: this is going be great, Im going to prove this is the aliens.

People say Im a conspiracy theorist. Im not. All I did was say: It could be this, and I needed to find out what is the truth.

Walsh said that being there, you then realise its very difficult to take on board that anyone else other than the Ancient Egyptians built the pyramids'.

open image in gallery Giza in Egypt ( Alamy/PA )

The great thing about the Great Pyramid is they started building the pyramids about 150 years prior to that one, he said.

My expert guides, Meredith and Arto, showed me where the beginnings of the pyramids were about 150 years prior to the Grand Pyramid.

If you went there, you see the evolution of the pyramids  ones wonky, ones drooping on one side, its all trial and error.

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Walsh also appeared to suggest that being inside the Great Pyramid made him stop believing that it could generate electricity.

He said: Being so deep inside the pyramid, I was expecting a lot of noise. Ive maintained that I think the Great Pyramid is some kind of power plant in its own right.

Walsh also said that it was mind-blowing being there, and finding out that the final ruler of Egypt, Cleopatra VII, lover of Mark Antony and Julius Caesar, died closer to the modern era than the beginning of Ancient Egypt.

He said: You can go online and get a load of speculative information from people that have never even been there, theyve got it from a book or somewhere else online, and you know how dangerous the web can be in terms of misinformation.

Well, if you are interested in the pyramids, hopefully, people will watch this and go and see it for themselves. I hope they do because it certainly broadens the mind  it also narrows it, to a certain extent, in that you can see all the real information laid out in front of you.

open image in gallery Bradley Walsh, star of The Chase' ( ITV Studios )

Walsh signed up for the show thanks to a life-long interest in the tomb structures at Giza. He was inspired by his teacher - who was the great-niece of Howard Carter, who found Tutankhamuns tomb.

The Great Pyramid of Giza was built more than 4,600 years ago to house Khufu, a king from Egypts 4th dynasty.

The Egyptian Government has previously invited people who do not believe their ancestors built the pyramids to the north-east African country to learn the story of the impressive structures.

In 2020, the then-minister of international cooperation, Rania al-Mashat told South African businessman Elon Musk that she is waiting for him to visit the pyramids after he wrote on X: Aliens built the pyramids (obviously).

Ms al-Mashat also said: I follow your work with a lot of admiration. I invite you and Space X to explore the writings about how the pyramids were built and also to check out the tombs of the pyramid builders.

Mr Musk, we are waiting for you.

Tech billionaire Mr Musk, who bought Twitter/X in 2022, later pointed to a sensible summary for how the structures were built, which explained that archaeological evidence shows that there were villages made to house workers constructing the pyramids, and went into detail about the human evidence.

Bradley Walsh: Egypts Cosmic Code airs on March 18 at 9pm on Sky History.
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Melvin Odooms dreams have come true after he had a long-anticipated meet up with his celebrity crush Carol Vorderman.

The I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! star, 44, shared a sweet selfie with former Countdown star, 64, months after he admitted that he wanted to ask the presenter on a date but had been too afraid to say hello at the Pride of Britain Awards last year.

Sharing the photo to Instagram on Sunday (9 March), Odoom captioned the post: Dreamed it then real lifed it, alongside a red love-heart emoji.

Celebrity colleagues and fans have been supporting the potential couple, with JLS star Marvin Humes writing in the comments, Nah its a mazza.. bro we need a part 2.

Strictly Come Dancing star Pete Wicks chimed in with a laughing-face emoji as a fan said: The pairing we all wanted to happen!!

Another person added: Goooo Melvin!! This just made me smile soooooo much, as another said: Yes!!! This is what I have been waiting for! This is a wedding ITV needs to broadcast!!

The long distance flirtation began when Odoom called Vorderman a 10 out of 10 while in the Im a Celeb jungle. Check your DMs girl, Ill be waiting, he said.

Vorderman quickly responded to Odooms romantic admission, and sent a message into Im a Celebrity Unpacked. She esemed chuffed about the news of the crush, when she said: Jungle man, keep doing what you are doing, youre doing a brilliant job. See you on the other side.

open image in gallery Melvin Odoom pictured with Carol Vorderman ( Instagram via @melvinodoom )

She then posted about the exchange online, writing: Well hello @melvinodoom, or shall I say Melvin Vorderman or Jungle Man which sounds very much like Vorder Man?

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Im having so much fun watching the camp mates having a joke with Melvin in the @imacelebrity jungle, she wrote.

When Odoom left the jungle, ITV filmed him checking his messages to find that Vorderman had messaged his social media manager, saying: Please give him my best. Hes done so well [heart emoji].

open image in gallery Melvin Odoom and Carol Vorderman ( Getty )

It comes after Vorderman made an empowered Instagram post on Valentines Day, wishing her followers a Happy Valentines and reminding them there are so many different kinds of love and dont settle.

When I was growing up we were told women were worthless without a husband. Women weren't even allowed their own bank accounts until 1975 when I was already a teenager age 14.

She said: Be strong in yourself and dont put the key to your happiness in someone elses pocket. If you find a lover who will respect you and you want to be with them ...marvellous. BUT you are whole without them...always remember that. Work on it. Don't settle.
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Celebrity chef Jameson Stocks candidly admitted he wasnt a fan of Meghan Markles new Netflix show With Love, Meghan, describing the episodes as painful to watch.

Filmed in Montecito, California, the show follows the Duchess of Sussex through her everyday life at home, as she cooks and hosts family members and friends.

Guests included The Office actor Mindy Kaling, her Suits cast mate Abigail Spencer, and two other celebrity chefs  Alice Waters and Roy Choi.

Stocks, the 41-year-old food connoisseur whos famously cooked for King Charles, had no interest in being part of the show, and claims he turned down the offer.

open image in gallery Celebrity chef Jameson Stocks says Meghan Markles new Netflix show With Love, Meghan is terrible and painful to watch ( Getty )

Speaking to GB News on March 8, Stocks said he refused to be the role because he was skeptical of the program before it even went into production.

I felt that even if she produced a really great program, which I was quite skeptical of anyway, that I might get a little slammed for it, for being a part of it, he told the outlet. I didnt like the idea of me showing her how to do something, and then it kind of being forced and fake.

I just felt if shes going to do something herself, she should do it herself, Stocks continued.

open image in gallery Despite the shows mixed reception, Netflix has renewed 'With Love, Meghan for a second season ( Netflix )

When asked what his opinion of the show is now after watching it, Stocks said he thought everything about it was terrible.

The musics quite slow, its quite lethargic. Its just painful to watch, he added. I think she should just go back to acting. Shes quite a good actress in real life, or obviously on screen. I think people should just stick to what they do best.

Despite any criticisms Meghans new series has received since its March 4 release, the show was officially renewed for a second season last week.

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According to People, the newest instalment has already been filmed and is set to premiere fall 2025.

Meghan took to her Instagram on March 8 to tease the upcoming season with a short-form ASMR video of her in the same kitchen seen in the first eight-episode drop.

If youre loving Season 1, just wait until you see the fun we cooked up on Season 2, her caption read. Thanks for joining the party, and an endless thanks to the amazing team and crew who helped bring it all to life!

With Love, Meghan is the fifth project to come from the $100 million deal she and Prince Harry cut with Netflix back in 2020.

The other projects have included the six-part docuseries entitled Harry & Meghan and the documentary Polo.
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Jeremy Clarkson has issued a strong response to JD Vance following the vice presidents comments about the British and French armed forces.

Vance was recently condemned for describing the UK as some random country that hasnt fought a war in 30 or 40 years amid rising tensions between Europe and the US as to how Ukraine can be supported in their conflict with Russia.

The US vice president has been accused of erasing the experiences of Britons who served in Iraq and Afghanistan after his latest tirade against Americas European allies.

Vance told Fox News: If you want to actually ensure that Vladimir Putin does not invade Ukraine again, the very best security guarantee is to give Americans economic upside in the future of Ukraine.

That is a way better security guarantee than 20,000 troops from some random country that hasnt fought a war in 30 or 40 years.

Clarkson, whose farm has recently been targeted by robbers, has waded into the debate to share his unreserved thoughts on Vances criticism of the UK and France.

open image in gallery Jeremy Clarkson in Clarksons Farm ( Prime Video )

Writing in his Sunday Times column, the former Top Gear host said: Now I dont want to stoop to his level, but Im going to. Vance is a bearded God-botherer who pretty much thinks that women whove been raped should be forced to have the resultant child.

Ive searched for the right word to describe him and I think its t**t. He also has no clue about history.

Because far more recently than 30 or 40 years ago, as Vance claimed last week, our brave young men were being blown to pieces in some godforsaken desert to support whatever madcap scheme the American president had embarked upon that week.

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And lets not forget that while they were out there, dying in agony, the UK was still paying the US back for all the weapons wed bought from them to defeat Hitler in the Second World War. In fact, the last payment for all their help was for 43m in 2006.

And while we are on the subject of the Second World War, lets not forget that what Trump is doing in Ukraine is like Franklin Roosevelt saying to Churchill: Look, Hitler has taken Poland so just let him have it.

Clarkson also found the time to aim a few jabs at Donald Trump, who he initially liked but changed his mind following his controversial showdown with Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump, center right, meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, center left, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, seated from second right, and Vice President JD Vance listen at the Oval Office at the White House, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Washington ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

He said: A lot of commentators are currently running around saying that this is exactly the sort of thing we should expect if we hand the reins of power to billionaires. Hmm. I know quite a few mega-wealthy people and mostly they are kind and normal and philanthropic.

But there are a few who are s***, and I suspect that Trump and Elon Musk and Vladimir Putin fall into this category.
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Wendy Williams has claimed she passed a medical examination with flying colors after she was taken to the hospital for a wellness check.

The former Wendy Williams Show host, 60, was removed from her assisted living facility on Monday after dropping a note from her window that read: Help! Wendy!!

During Tuesday mornings episode of Good Day New York, Williams called on-air anchor Rosanna Scotto from the Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan to give her an update on her situation.

Williams has been under financial guardianship since 2022. Last year, her care team announced she had been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.

When asked about the tests she had undergone to determine whether her cognitive functions were sufficiently intact for her to end her court-ordered guardianship, Williams declared she passed with flying colors.

open image in gallery Wendy Williams has been under financial guardianship since 2022, and was taken to the hospital yesterday after asking those outside her assisted living facility for help.

She was accompanied by a woman named Gina  a caregiver not associated with the guardianship, according to TMZ  who additionally informed Scotto that factually Wendy is not incapacitated.

Asked how long she expects to be in the hospital, Williams responded: Im waiting to see my lawyer. I saw her yesterday; shell be here today.

Continuing, Gina said that these test results will absolutely be brought to the judge to argue for Williams release from the assisted living facility.

These independent results [are] from a well-known hospital, its independent, its factual. I would be very disappointed and very concerned if the judge has an issue with those tests, Gina said.

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You know what I dont understand, Wendy, is theyre locking you up like you committed a crime, Scotto said in disbelief, with Williams concurring.

You know Im on the fifth floor; its called the memory unit. This is a floor where you dont remember anything. Like really? Williams said. As far as me being able to go outside? Im not allowed. I have to stay in this building. In order to go into the gym, which is on the third floor, I have to be permitted.

open image in gallery Williams claimed she will show the results of her recent test to a judge to try and facilitate her release from an assisted living until ( Getty Images for New York Women )

Addressing the cost of the facility, she added that it had to be approved by her guardian. My money is in the air, she said. Oh god. This is my life.

Giving further context about the restrictions placed on Williams, Scotto revealed: I cant even call you back. You dont know your phone number. Theyve given you some kind of weird kind of phone.

I have a landline phone, Williams interjected. My guardian person has been having my phone for years now. Its unbelievable. I cant search my phone.

As for what she hopes for her future, Williams said her number one priority is to get out of the guardianship.

Gina further added that she thinks the new test results will open up a lot of doors.

I did make a report myself, and I brought [Adult Protected Services] in; we brought NYPD in, she said.

The Independent has contacted Williams representative for further comment.
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Wendy Williams has been taken to hospital after dropping a note from the window of her assisted living facility which read: Help! Wendy!!

The former The Wendy Williams Show host, 60, has been under a financial guardianship since 2022. Last year, her care team announced she had been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.

PageSix reports that New York police were called to the facility shortly after 11:15 a.m. on Monday to do a wellness check.

She then walked to a waiting ambulance while being escorted by officers.

According to TMZ, Williams was then taken to Lenox Hill Hospital where she is undergoing an independent examination to attempt to determine whether her cognitive functions are sufficiently intact for her to end her guardianship.

In January, Williams called into a popular New York radio show to say: I feel like Im in prison.

( Getty Images for New York Women )

Pushing back against her dementia diagnosis, Williams asked The Breakfast Club hosts DJ Envy, Charlamagne Tha God and Jess Hilarious: Do I seem that way, god damn it?

I am not cognitively impaired, you know what Im saying? But I feel like Im in prison, she said of the care facility.

I am definitely isolated. To talk to these people who live here, that is not my cup of tea... Im in this place where the people are in their Nineties and their Eighties and their Seventies Theres something wrong with these people here on this floor.

I keep the door closed, Williams added of her daily life at the facility. I watch TV. I listen to the radio. I watch the window. I sit here, and my life goes by.

Williams was the subject of a Lifetime docuseries that aired last year, which featured numerous scenes of the ex-host unsteady, belligerent, confused, and also drunk.

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She was the one who wanted to do that, you understand what Im saying? Williams said of her guardian, Sabrina E. Morrissey, adding: What do I think about being abused? Look, this system is broken, this system that Im in. This system has falsified a lot.

Williams is best known for her eponymously titled chat show, The Wendy Williams Show, which she hosted from 2008 to 2021. She stepped away as host due to medical issues, with numerous guest hosts filling in. It was cancelled in 2022.

In a press release last year, Williamss care team wrote: Over the past few years, questions have been raised at times about Wendys ability to process information and many have speculated about Wendys condition, particularly when she began to lose words, act erratically at times, and have difficulty understanding financial transactions.

The decision to share this news was difficult and made after careful consideration, not only to advocate for understanding and compassion for Wendy, but to raise awareness about aphasia and frontotemporal dementia and support the thousands of others facing similar circumstances, the release added.

Unfortunately, many individuals diagnosed with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia face stigma and misunderstanding, particularly when they begin to exhibit behavioral changes but have not yet received a diagnosis.
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The Dalai Lamas successor will be born outside China, the spiritual leader said in his new book.

This is the first time the 89-year-old Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader has explicitly said that his reincarnation will take place in the free world to ensure the continuation of the Tibetan cause.

China has previously insisted that it will choose his successor, but the Dalai Lama rejects this, warning that any Beijing-appointed figure will not be respected.

He stated in his book Voice for the Voiceless: Over Seven Decades of Struggle with China for My Land and My People  an account of his dealings with Chinese leaders  that Tibet remained in the grip of repressive Communist Chinese rule and that the struggle for its freedom will persist no matter what, even after his death.

Since the purpose of a reincarnation is to carry on the work of the predecessor, the new Dalai Lama will be born in the free world so that the traditional mission of the Dalai Lama  that is, to be the voice for universal compassion, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, and the symbol of Tibet embodying the aspirations of the Tibetan people  will continue, the Dalai Lama wrote in his book, which was released on Tuesday in the US.

China sees Tibet as an integral part of its territory and views calls for autonomy or independence as threats to its sovereignty.

The Dalai Lama, who resigned as the political leader of the Tibetan government-in-exile in 2011 to prioritise his spiritual role, has denied seeking Tibetan independence. Instead, he advocates the Middle Way approach, which calls for greater autonomy for the predominantly Buddhist region.

In 1959, at the age of 23, the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, escaped to India with thousands of Tibetans following a failed revolt against Communist rule under Mao Zedong and set up a government in exile.

Beijing regards the Dalai Lama as a separatist despite his 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, awarded for his nonviolent advocacy of the Tibetan cause.

At a press briefing on Monday, a spokesperson for Chinas foreign ministry dismissed the Dalai Lama as a political exile who is engaged in anti-China separatist activities under the cloak of religion.

On the Tibet issue, Chinas position is consistent and clear. What the Dalai Lama says and does cannot change the objective fact of Tibets prosperity and development.

According to Tibetan beliefs, the soul of a senior Buddhist monk is reborn as a child after his death. The current Dalai Lama was enthroned when he was four and a half years old and renamed Tenzin Gyatso.

He had earlier suggested that the lineage of spiritual leaders could end with him. In his book, however, the Dalai Lama states that for over a decade, he has received numerous petitions from a diverse range of Tibetans, including senior monks and those living both within Tibet and abroad, uniformly asking me to ensure that the Dalai Lama lineage be continued.

The Dalai Lama has announced plans to share details about his succession around his 90th birthday in July.

Observers note that China seeks to control Tibetans by interfering in the selection of the Dalai Lama. In response to Chinas threat, the 14th Dalai Lama has made several statements over the years which were aimed at undermining the legitimacy of any 15th Dalai Lama appointed by Beijing.

In April 2019, US Senator Cory Gardner said during a Senate Foreign Relations Asia Subcommittee hearing that Congress would not recognise any Dalai Lama appointed by the Chinese government.

Set for release on Tuesday, the 14th Dalai Lamas book will be published in the US by William Morrow and in Britain by HarperNonFiction, with HarperCollins editions to follow in India and other countries.

Almost seventy-five years after Chinas initial invasion of Tibet, the Dalai Lama reminds the world of Tibets unresolved struggle for freedom and the hardship his people continue to face in their own homeland, Harper Collins says on its website about the book.

He offers his thoughts on the geopolitics of the region and shares how he personally was able to preserve his own humanity through the profound losses and challenges that threaten the very survival of the Tibetan people.
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Police in Hong Kong have arrested a 13-year-old girl for allegedly possessing "space oil" after a video of her smoking the banned substance on a train went viral on social media.

The city administration in February banned the recreational substance "space oil" and its key ingredient, an anaesthetic called etomidate, amid a rise in popularity of the drug among teenagers. Space oil", which has a relatively crude manufacturing process, is often inhaled through e-cigarette cartridges for an instant high.

In the purported video the girl can be seen seated on a light rail train and appearing to smoke an e-cigarette. After leaving the carriage, the girl held onto the railing on the Tin Shui Wai station platform to keep her balance.

The police said they received a report at around 7.15pm (local time) on Thursday and shortly after arrested the teenager from the Tin Shui shopping centre. She was arrested on possession of "dangerous drugs" after law enforcement authorities discovered a vape and a suspected space oil pod on her, Hong Kong Free Press reported.

The girl had reportedly bought the substance online just a day before the incident.

According to the Central Registry of Drug Abuse, "space oil" drugs were the third most commonly abused substance among people under the age of 21. About 25 per cent of cases sent to hospitals last year after suspected space oil users were minors, the report found.

The government last week said the number of drug users aged 21 and younger rose by 8 per cent in 2024.

Chief Superintendent Nelson NG Kwok-cheung of the Narcotics Bureau, in an interview with Eastweek, said the substance is mixed with various flavours and then injected into e-cigarettes to attract young individuals. Each cartridge is sold for between HK$100(9.9) and HK$800(79.6), he added.

Hong Kong police on Tuesday announced they have arrested a 16-year-old boy on suspicion of producing and trafficking the substance worth HK$200,000 (19,917) following a raid on a hotel room.

Police seized 510mm of etomidate, 2.3 litres of glycerine, and 466 e-cigarette capsules suspected to contain space oil, South China Morning Post reported.

Investigations show that the suspect allegedly mixed etomidate with glycerine to produce space oil and then injected the mixture into e-cigarette capsules, the police said.

A preliminary estimate shows that the seized etomidate and glycerine can produce over 600 e-cigarette capsules with space oil."

Police last week arrested a girl and a boy, both aged 16, along with an 18-year-old man on suspicion of outraging public decency after a video of them appearing to have sex in the car park of a public housing estate allegedly under the influence of "space oil".
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North Koreas newly unveiled nuclear-powered submarine, reportedly made with Russian technology, could pose a major security challenge to neighbour South Korea and its ally the US, experts said.

The Korean Central News Agency on Saturday released photos of what it called an under-construction nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine", ticking off a key item on a wishlist of sophisticated weaponry that leader Kim Jong Un had vowed, at a major political conference in 2021, to introduce to tackle US-led "military threats".

Inspecting the submarine, Mr Kim warned that North Korea would never tolerate maritime and underwater military activities of the hostile forces, which seriously threaten the countrys sovereignty and interests through the constant deployment of strategic assets.

Overwhelmingly powerful warships must serve as a strong nuclear deterrent against hostile forces habitual gunboat diplomacy," he was quoted as saying by state media Rodong Sinmun.

Pictures of the submarine were tactically released two days before South Korea and the US kicked off their annual Freedom Shield 2025 military drills.

The vessel was likely docked at the Chongjin Shipyard, NK News reported.

open image in gallery Photo provided on 8 March 2025 by the North Korean government shows leader Kim Jong Un, center, touring a shipyard that constructs warships at an undisclosed location ( AP )

Features of the submarine

Photos of the submarine released by Pyongyang showed only the lower hull of the vessel and 15 rail-based cradle stands. It appeared to be a 6,000-tonne or 7,000-tonne vessel, which could carry around 10 missiles, Moon Keun Sik, a South Korean submarine expert at Seoul's Hanyang University, said.

He pointed out that the use of the phrase "strategic guided missiles" meant the vessel could carry nuclear-capable weapons.

The submarine appeared at least 117m long, twice the size of Hero Kim Kun Ok, the North's first ballistic missile submarine revealed in 2023.

Pyongyang already has an estimated 70-90 diesel-powered submarines, giving it one of the world's largest fleets. However, they are mostly aging vessels capable of launching only torpedoes and mines, not missiles.

North Korea has conducted a slew of underwater-launched ballistic missile tests since 2016, all from the same 2,000-tonne submarine with a single launch tube. This particular submarine has been described by experts as a test platform rather than an operational submarine in active service.

open image in gallery North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, bottom right, visits a shipyard at an undisclosed location ( AP )

Likely use of Russian technology

The unveiling of the vessel raised questions about how North Korea, a heavily sanctioned country, could marshal technology and resources to construct nuclear-powered submarines.

Analysts said Pyongyang could have received Russian technological help to build a nuclear reactor for the submarine in return for sending conventional weapons and, allegedly, soldiers to aid Moscows war effort in Ukraine.

South Koreas spy agency previously claimed that 12,000 North Korean troops were fighting in the Russian border province of Kursk to repel a Ukrainian invasion.

Given the shape and size of the vessel, it could be a ballistic missile submarine, said Yang Uk, a defence expert at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies.

He told the Korea Times that the photos suggested the submarine had been under construction for more than two years. North Korea could have received technology from Russia in the latter half of 2023, he added.

When could the submarine be deployed?

It could take "at least four to five more years to deploy the submarine into the Pacific Ocean" as the vessel needed to go through more procedures, including testing, experts said.

But if Pyongyang indeed got Russian assistance to develop a compact nuclear reactor capable of withstanding deep-sea pressure, the vessel could be deployed faster.

North Korea could aim to deploy naval vessels in international waters beyond the 12-nautical-mile limit of its territorial sea.

What are North Korea's rivals saying?

Pyongyang has dialled up its fiery rhetoric against the US and South Korea ahead of their annual military drills, which involve responding to evolving challenges like the Norths growing partnership with Russia.

Pyongyang obtaining a greater ability to fire missiles from underwater is a worrying development because it is difficult for its rivals to detect such launches in advance.

Mr Kim, during his recent visits to shipyards, said North Korea aimed to modernise water-surface and underwater warships simultaneously. He stressed the need to make "the incomparably overwhelming warships fulfil their mission" to contain "the inveterate gunboat diplomacy of the hostile forces".

South Korea's ministry of unification said it was monitoring any signs of Russian transfer of technologies to the North. The transfer of military technology to North Korea is prohibited under UN Security Council resolutions. Russia, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, must abide by UN sanctions on North Korea, ministry spokesperson Koo Byung Sam said.

"We're aware of these claims and do not have additional information to provide at this time, US National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes said. "The US is committed to the complete denuclearisation of North Korea."
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Narendra Modi was set to support Mauritius in its dispute with Britain over the Chagos archipelago as Indias prime minister arrived in the Indian Ocean nation to a grand welcome on Tuesday.

Mr Modi was received in the strategically located maritime neighbour by prime minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam and was scheduled to meet president Dharam Gokhool.

The Indian leader was expected to attend National Day celebrations in the capital Port Louis on 12 March as the chief guest. A contingent of the Indian military and a naval ship were set to participate in the event as well.

Indias foreign ministry said the prime minister would discuss the Chagos dispute and reaffirm Delhis longstanding support for Mauritius' sovereignty over the islands.

We have continued to support Mauritius and will continue to do so, foreign secretary Vikram Misri told reporters in New Delhi. I would imagine that during the visit there will be an opportunity perhaps for the Mauritius side to update us on any issues that might still be outstanding if there are any issues by that time.

The Chagos archipelago, part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, is a group of seven atolls comprising over 60 islands. One of the atolls, Diego Garcia, is operated by the US as a forward operating base for its forces in the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific, making it a key strategic hub.

Mauritius gained independence in 1968, but the UK kept control of the Chagos islands and forcibly displaced an estimated 2,000 native people to establish the Diego Garcia base, which was leased to the US.

India sees Mauritius as a key ally in countering Chinas ever-growing influence in the Indian Ocean and enhancing regional security.

Narendra Modi receives a guard of honour in Mauritius ( X/@narendramodi )

The UK last year reached a landmark deal with Mauritius on returning sovereignty over the Chagos islands after years of negotiations. The agreement would guarantee a lease on the base for 99 years, at a reported cost of 18bn to the British taxpayer.

Last month, US president Donald Trump confirmed that he would support an agreement between Mauritius and the UK.

In the course of Mr Modis visit, India and Mauritius could sign several agreements on capacity building, bilateral trade and tackling cross-border financial crime. They were also set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to boost cooperation in maritime zone management and ocean observation and research.

This visit is a wonderful opportunity to engage with a valued friend and explore new avenues for collaboration in various sectors, Mr Modi said on X. Mauritius is a close maritime neighbour and key Indian Ocean partner. We are connected by shared values and deep-rooted cultural ties. My visit will further strengthen the foundations of our friendship and build a brighter chapter in India-Mauritius ties.

Samuel Bashfield, an expert on Indo-Pacific security at the Australia India Institute, said it was in India's interest to retain the US presence on Diego Garcia as a counterweight to China.

Diego Garcia could be a useful runway for Indian surveillance aircraft in the Indian Ocean to use periodically," Mr Bashfield explained.

India, in a bid to expand its strategic footprint in the Indian Ocean, previously helped Mauritius develop sea and air links on the remote Agalega islands.
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India is set for a major political upheaval in 2026, redrawing parliamentary constituencies to reflect changes in population.

While proponents claim this will ensure fair representation based on demographic realities, critics argue it will punish southern states that have followed national guidelines to control their populations and reward provinces  mostly in the north  that havent.

They also point out the move will be electorally advantageous to Narendra Modis ruling BJP party, which draws its core support from the Hindi-speaking heartland in the north.

By increasing the number of seats in this region, the critics say, the prime minister is looking to strengthen the ruling partys grip on power for the foreseeable future.

What is delimitation?

Delimitation is the exercise of redrawing parliamentary and state assembly constituencies to reflect changes in population.

It is conducted periodically by the Delimitation Commission, an independent body established by an act of Parliament. The goal is to ensure more populous states get more seats in the legislature.

The exercise was previously undertaken in 1951, 1961 and 1971.

In 1976, when the population was at around 550 million, the number of seats in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the parliament, was capped at 543 so as not to penalise states that had reduced their population growth rates, The Hindu reported.

The freeze was meant to encourage all states to adopt population control measures without fearing a loss of parliamentary representation.

In 2002, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, led by the BJP, extended the freeze until at least 2026.

Mr Modi is in no mood to keep the status quo.

There is now concern that his government will revert to using the most recent census figures for the exercise, giving more seats to northern states with higher population growth like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and few, if any, to southern states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Opposition to delimitation

Tamil Nadu is at the forefront of the political opposition to delimitation, fearing an unfair reduction in its political influence.

State chief minister MK Stalin convened an all-party meeting last week to discuss strategies to counter the potential impact of the exercise.

The consensus among the parties attending the meeting, which the state chapter of the BJP notably skipped, was clear: states that have successfully controlled their populations should not be penalised with reduced political representation.

I thank all the parties that attended the meeting and unanimously supported the proposal brought by the chief minister regarding the delimitation process, state finance minister Thangam Thennarasu said afterwards. Except for a few, most political parties have aligned with the state government to protect their rights.

The old Indian parliament building in New Delhi ( AFP via Getty )

How Modi and BJP stand to gain

A key reason why delimitation is controversial is its potential political impact. The BJP has struggled to gain traction in southern states, particularly Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Telangana, where regional parties and the Congress hold sway.

In contrast, the party enjoys wide support in the north, especially in Hindi-speaking states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

If parliamentary seats are allocated based on the latest population figures, the BJP stands to gain significantly from the additional representation that the Hindi heartland is set to land.

The main beneficiary states of delimitation  Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan  are already BJP strongholds. Increasing their parliamentary representation will likely give the party an even bigger share of Lok Sabha seats, making it harder for opposition alliances to challenge Mr Modis dominance in future elections.

Uttar Pradesh, for example, could see its share of Lok Sabha constituencies jump from 80 to 128 and Bihar from 40 to 70.

In contrast, Tamil Nadu with 39 seats, Karnataka with 28 and Andhra with 25 may not see significant changes, limiting the ability of opposition parties to balance out the BJPs widening numerical advantage in the north.

Impact on South India

Political analysts argue that delimitation could entrench the BJPs electoral supremacy for the next several decades. If the number of seats in northern states rises significantly, the party could win elections even with a lower overall vote share.

This could make it virtually impossible for opposition parties to unseat Mr Modis government, even if they perform well in southern India and other non-BJP strongholds.

The states that scrupulously followed population control measures are now at a disadvantage versus states that did not, A Saravanan, a spokesperson for Tamil Nadus governing DMK party, said.

The population control measures contributed to the economy of this country; we contributed to its growth; we listened to you. But now you want to penalise us.

Federal home minister Amit Shah, Mr Modis chief lieutenant, has sought to reassure critics saying not a single seat will be lost due to delimitation.

But critics point out that while southern states may not lose seats, the significant increase for northern states will effectively dilute their political power.

He has not mentioned how many seats he is going to increase in the northern states, Anbumani Ramadoss, leader of Pattali Makkal Katchi, a regional party in Tamil Nadu, said. So, our question is: why are you penalising us when we have done well in the government of Indias programmes of population stabilisation?
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Japans oldest lion, Oto, died on Monday at the age of 25, which is equivalent to a century in human years.

Born in 1999 in Hokkaidos Asahiyama Zoo, Oto had lived in the Toyohashi Zoo and Botanical Park in Aichi prefecture since 2001.

Beloved by lion enthusiasts across the country, Oto brought joy and lasting memories to countless visitors, the zoo said on its website. We would like to express our deep gratitude to her for gracing us with her presence. May she rest in peace.

Despite her advanced age, Oto remained healthy until late February, when she began eating less and sleeping more.

Lions typically live 10 years in the wild and 20 in captivity. Oto surpassed this lifespan and retained a glossy coat, according to The Japan Times, and had no chronic illnesses.

The zoo, also known by local people as Nonhoi Park, will hold a floral tribute from 11 March to 20 March for Oto.

Before Oto, the title of Japans oldest lion was held by Nile, who died at Kyoto City Zoo on 31 January 2020 at the age of 25 years and 10 months.

Born in 1994 at Adventure World in Wakayama, Nile had lived in Kyoto since 1997.

He stopped eating entirely on 27 January 2020 and became unable to stand by 29 January, zoo officials said at the time. Despite suggestions of euthanasia, zookeepers chose to care for him until his natural death.

Nile had taken the title from another male lion named Leo.

Leo lived in captivity for 24 years and six months. Though his exact birth date was unknown, he passed away in 2013 at Tokuyama Zoo in Shunan, Yamaguchi prefecture, in the westernmost part of Japans Honshu Island.

A report by Deutsche Welle in 2020 said that lions in Japan had become so common in zoos that they were cheaper than pedigree kittens, with some young lions even being given away for free.

Overbreeding and declining zoo attendance have led to a surplus of big cats as zoos prioritise cute cubs to attract visitors but struggle to manage fully grown lions due to high feeding costs and space constraints, the outlet reported.
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Former Philippines leader Rodrigo Duterte was on his way to the The Hague on Tuesday night, hours after being arrested at the request of the International Criminal Court as part of its probe into a "war on drugs" that defined his presidency.

The 79-year-old strongman and former prosecutor, who led the Philippines from 2016 to 2022, could become the first Asian former head of state to go on trial at the ICC.

His arrest marks the biggest step yet in the ICC's probe into alleged crimes against humanity during an anti-drugs crackdown that killed thousands and drew condemnation around the world.

It is alleged his administration oversaw the execution of around 4,000 people during anti-drug operations in the country. Most of those killed were poor Filipinos living in urban areas. Human rights groups have long said that the actual number of dead could be far higher.

"The plane is en route to the Hague, in the Netherlands, allowing the former president to face charges of crimes against humanity in relation to his bloody war on drugs," Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr told a press conference.

"We did not help the International Criminal Court in any way. The arrest was made in compliance with Interpol."

The war on drugs was the signature campaign platform that swept to power the mercurial crimebuster nicknamed "the punisher", who soon delivered on promises he made during vitriolic speeches that thousands of drug pushers would be killed.

His detention follows years of him rebuking and taunting the ICC in profanity-laden speeches since he unilaterally withdrew the Philippines from the court's founding treaty in 2019 as it started looking into allegations of systematic murders of drug dealers on his watch.

The ICC, a court of last resort, says it has jurisdiction to investigate alleged crimes that took place while a country was a member.

open image in gallery A supporter of Rodrigo Duterte reacts upon finding out he has been arrested at the airport in Manila ( Photos by AP )

Mr Dutertes surprise arrest sparked chaos at Ninoy Aquino airport as his aides and lawyers protested against the execution of the warrant.

Salvador Panelo, Mr Dutertes legal aide, said the Interpol arrest warrant came from a spurious source, maintaining that the ICC had no jurisdiction in the country.

The ICC has insisted it does have jurisdiction to prosecute alleged crimes which were committed in the Philippines before the country withdrew from the international court.

open image in gallery Supporters of the former president react in shock at the news ( AP )

Mr Duterte won the presidency by a wide margin in 2016 after pledging to eradicate illegal drugs and crime with an unprecedented crackdown. Polls at the time showed broad support for him and for the crackdown despite allegations of summary killings resulting from weak intelligence and cover-ups by police.

Mr Duterte has denied the allegations and said the drugs problem was a national security issue.

open image in gallery Security officers patrol the airport after the surprise arrest of the former leader ( AP )

The ICC launched an investigation against Mr Duterte in 2011 when he was still mayor of the southern city of Davao. Mr Duterte withdrew from the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, in 2019. Critics of the then president condemned the move as an attempt to evade accountability.

Mr Dutertes administration sought to halt the ICC investigation in 2021, claiming Philippine authorities were handling the matter. However, the ICC ruled in 2023 that the investigation could proceed, rejecting Mr Dutertes objections.

The Hague court intervenes when nations fail to prosecute serious crimes such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

President Marcos decided not to rejoin the global court when he succeeded Mr Duterte in 2022. His administration, however, said it would cooperate if the ICC asked Interpol to take Mr Duterte into custody under a Red Notice, a request for law enforcement agencies worldwide to find and temporarily arrest a criminal suspect.
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A court in Indonesia has sentenced a trans woman to almost three years in prison for an online comment on Jesus Christs haircut.

Ratu Thalisa, a Muslim woman with over 442,000 TikTok followers, was found guilty by a court in Medan city, Sumatra, on Monday for spreading hatred under the online hate-speech law.

Ms Thalisa, known online as Ratu Entok, was livestreaming on 2 October 2024 on TikTok, when a viewer asked her to cut her hair like a man. She responded by holding up a picture of Jesus Christ and addressing it: "You should not look like a woman. You should cut your hair so that you will look like his father".

She was arrested in October after five Christian groups filed a complaint to the police for blasphemy. Ms Thalisa was charged and indicted with blasphemy and hate speech against a particular religion.

The district court said her comments could disrupt "public order" and "religious harmony" as the judges sentenced her to two years and 10 months in prison and ordered her to pay 100,000,000 IDR (4,711) in fine for the offence.

Rights groups have condemned the sentence for an attack on Ms Thalisa's "freedom of expression" and the misuse of Indonesia's Electronic Information and Transactions (EIT) law.

While Indonesia should prohibit the advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, Ratu Thalisas speech act does not reach that threshold," Usman Hamid, executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia, said in a statement.

This sentence highlights the increasingly arbitrary and repressive application of Indonesias EIT law to violate freedom of expression," he said, urging the government to quash Ms Thalisas conviction.

Prosecutors immediately appealed Mondays verdict, which was less than their demand for a sentence for more than four years, BBC reported.

Mr Hamid urged the authorities to repeal or make revisions to "problematic provisions" in the EIT law, which was amended in 2016 to address online defamation. Critics of the law have raised concerns about the possible abuse of the law "to suppress human rights defenders and opposition figures".

At least 421 people were charged and convicted with alleged violations under the law while exercising their freedom of expression between 2019 and 2024, Amnesty International said.

Social media influencers have been targeted for blasphemy, including a Muslim woman, who was jailed for two years in September 2023 after posting a TikTok video of her saying an Islamic prayer before eating pork.
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The UNs migration agency reinstated its largest programme to provide humanitarian assistance to Rohingya refugees in Indonesia, following massive funding cuts which were a fallout of Donald Trumps suspension of the USAID programme.

The chief of the International Organization for Migration confirmed on Wednesday that there will be no planned cuts in their aid work for Rohingya refugees in the city of Pekanbaru, on the western island of Sumatra.

"Our largest programme to provide humanitarian assistance has been reinstated. I can confirm there is no current planned reduction in services," Jeff Labovitz told Reuters.

IOM said it "explored various options in response to potential funding challenges" and that they will be able to continue its humanitarian work as the necessary resources remain available.

Many Rohingya  mostly Muslim and originally from Myanmar  make up the world's largest stateless population which has been fleeing persecution in Myanmar. Thousands of men and women have escaped into Bangladesh, which hosts the largest population of Rohingya Muslims.

Each year, hundreds of people escape out of these overcrowded camps in Bangladesh risking dangerous boat journeys to Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

People rest in hammocks at a camp for Rohingya refugees in Padang Tiji, Indonesia's Aceh province ( AFP via Getty Images )

There are about 2,800 Rohingya in Indonesia, the UN says.

Last week, the UN agency IOM said it slashed its aid to the refugees in Indonesia, according to a letter dated 28 February. The cut directly affected healthcare and cash assistance to 925 Rohingya refugees sheltering in Pekanbaru "due to resource constraints".

The move was one of the latest impact of Trump administrations decision to cut most foreign assistance and dismantle the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

The cut by Washington had an impact globally on US-funded programmes and abruptly ended many lifesaving care programmes for Rohingya refugees, as the US had been the top donor to the refugee response since 2017.

In a similar development, the UNs food was on its way to slash food rations for Rohingya refugees by more than half from April in Coxs Bazar camps in Bangladesh, causing an alarm among charities.

Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, Bangladesh's chair for the agency overseeing the refugee camps, told The Independent that the World Food Program (WFP) confirmed they would cut the monthly food ration funding to the Rohingya camps in Coxs Bazar by half, which will lead to grave consequences for the community.
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In Ahmedabad, India, hundreds of roofs gleam white in a large slum, a new defence against the approaching summer heat.

The initiative, covering 400 households, is part of a global scientific trial exploring the impact of indoor heat on health and economic outcomes in developing countries, and the potential of "cool roofs" to mitigate these effects.

"Traditionally, home is where people have come to find shelter and respite against external elements," explains Aditi Bunker, an epidemiologist at the University of Heidelberg leading the Wellcome Trust-backed project.

"Now, we're in this position where people are living in precarious housing conditions, where the thing that was supposed to be protecting them is actually increasing their exposure to heat."

Climate change has intensified India's summers, with Ahmedabad experiencing temperatures exceeding 46C in recent years.

The Vanzara Vas slum in Narol, comprised of over 2,000 dwellings, mostly airless single-room homes, is one area where the project is underway.

Residents participating in the trial, like Nehal Vijaybhai Bhil, report already feeling a difference thanks to the reflective white coating applied over the last two months.

open image in gallery Ajit Thakor, a field supervisor, climbs down from a one-room house after measuring its temperature ( Reuters )

My refrigerator doesn't heat up any more and the house feels cooler. I sleep so much better and my electricity bill is down.

The project aims to understand how these extreme temperatures, exacerbated by inadequate housing, affect residents' lives and how simple interventions like cool roofs can offer relief.

Across the world, heatwaves that, prior to the industrial revolution, had a one-in-10 chance of occurring in any given year are nearly three times as likely, according to a 2022 study in the journal Environmental Research Letters.

By painting roofs with a white coating that contains highly reflective pigments such as titanium dioxide, Ms Bunker and her team are sending more of the sun's radiation back to the atmosphere and preventing it from being absorbed.

"In a lot of these low socioeconomic homes, there's nothing to stop the heat transfer coming down - there's no insulation barrier from the roof," Ms Bunker said.

open image in gallery Aditi Bunker, an epidemiologist, speaks with Manisha Barot and Roshani Barot, whose one-room house's rooftop has been coated with liquid-applied membrane ( Reuters )

Before joining Ms Bunker's experiment, Arti Chunara said she would cover her roof with plastic sheets and spread grass over them.

Some days, she and her family sat outside for most of the day, going into the house only for two to three hours when the heat was bearable.

The trial in Ahmedabad will run for one year, and scientists will collect health and indoor environment data from residents living under a cool roof - and from those who do not.

Other study sites are in Burkina Faso, Mexico and the island of Niue in the South Pacific, spanning a variety of building materials and climates.

Early results from the Burkina Faso trial, Ms Bunker said, show that cool roofs reduced indoor temperature by between 1.2 C in tin- and mud-roofed homes, and 1.7 C in tin-roofed homes over two years, which subsequently lowered residents' heart rates.
Tesla, the electric car maker, is feeling its owners involvement in big-time politics. As stock markets fell sharply in the US following concerns over the negative economic impact of Trumps tariffs, Tesla shares fell by 15.4%. This came after reports that while European motor sales were up in January, this wasnt the case for Musks brand. In the UK, Tesla was down 45 per cent and in the EU, more than 50 per cent.

But its not just tariffs, or concerns about them, that is having an effect here. Elon Musks flirting with the far right in the UK and Europe, his Nazi or non-Nazi salute, the scrapping of US overseas aid and appearing on TV brandishing a chainsaw to slash public spending have made him an intensely divisive figure.

People are now actively boycotting Tesla as a brand, with Sheryl Crow being the latest high-profile figure to get rid of her Tesla in protest at Musk. The Nashville-based musician referred to the controversial CEO and Trump adviser as President Musk and said she was donating money to National Public Radio (NPR), which she described as being under threat.

While stiff competition from the Chinese and other manufacturers is a big reason for the slump in sales, one City analyst called a principled stand by customers was undoubtedly becoming a factor too. Musk might not indicate so, but he and Tesla ought to be worried.

And this kind of protest stance by consumers is spreading.

Last months saw February 28 named Economic Blackout day. American consumers were asked to boycott all major retailers, to not make any purchases online and in-store for 24 hours. The principal aim of its organiser, The Peoples Union USA, headed by John Schwarz, was originally aimed at forcing the corporate giants to rethink their pricing, as ordinary people endure rising costs of household staples, energy, housing and utilities.

The 57-year-old dad from suburban Queens, New York, formed a group with no political affiliation directed at securing fairness, justice and real systemic change.

But as word of the protest spread via social media, went global and turned into an anti-Trump blast. Attention for the one-day consumer action focused on companies such as Ford, McDonalds, Meta, Target and Walmart that have ended their DEI programmes, falling in with Trumps banning executive order. Schwarz wishes to go wider.

For our entire lives, they have told us we have no choice ... that we have to accept these insane prices...while we struggle to just to get by, Schwarz said in a video posted on his Instagram. February 28, the 24-hour economic blackout: no Amazon, no Walmart, no fast food, no gas, not a single unnecessary dollar spent ... for one day, we are going to finally turn the tables.

He received celebrity endorsement from the likes of Stephen King and Bette Midler, who used their social media accounts to promote the push.

The initial data shows mixed reports about its impact and one day boycotts are unlikely to have any real effect. Consumer spending accounts for 70 per cent of Americas GDP and one days suspension, in reality, will probably see only a tiny fraction of shoppers only putting off their buying by a day, will not make any big difference.

Schwarz, though, is planning repeats, targeting specific firms and the movement could grow. It has also hardened thinking, making those on the left think about how to target Trump and his acolytes. There is a feeling of needing to do something in the face of an emboldened president who is seemingly just doing what he wants.

Chatter has spread across the pond about how to use consumer power to make a stand. From influencers on social media to dinner parties, people are now actively sharing ideas about everything from deleting Amazon to rethinking purchasing choices to products and services which align with their values. Just recently, on their hugely popular podcast, Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver discussed whether they could live without the convenience of the Amazon cart or Google as part of the growing protest.

open image in gallery Musks wealth has fallen by around $100bn since December last year ( Getty )

The boycotts that work best are those that have a narrowly drawn objective and specific target in mind. Probably, Schwarzs first consumer boycott event was too broadly defined  certainly, it has a student politics aspect to it. But if it develops into something sharper, as Musks opponents are doing with Tesla, then a single day of action has the potential to develop into a movement.

To stop boycotts from falling into what Maurice Schweitzer, a professor of management who researches behavioural decision making at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, terms the dustbin of outrage, sufficient numbers must care enough to act  merely being supportive will not do it.

Leading Harvard political scientist Erica Chenoweth calculates that civil disobedience requires the backing of 3.5 per cent of the population to secure meaningful political change. Her research has inspired numerous disruptive campaigns, notably Extinction Rebellion.

open image in gallery Sheryl Crow is the latest high-profile figure to get rid of her Tesla in protest at Musk ( Getty )

On its own, a boycott is likely to fail. It should be one of several tools in the protestors arsenal, along with raising awareness, contacting elected officials and raising funds. With social media, gaining publicity and spreading the word has become easier and quicker.

Boycotts are not new. An ethical embargo that worked was in 1791, when the UKs parliament refused to abolish slavery. Thousands of pamphlets were distributed, encouraging consumers not to buy sugar produced by slaves. Sales plummeted, while those of Indian sugar, not tainted by slavery (produced by free men), soared in popularity, seeing a tenfold rise in two years.

The anti-apartheid movement against white rule and violence and discrimination against black citizens in South Africa began in 1959, with South African exiles and their supporters asking people to shun products from that country in an effort that lasted 35 years.

What began as a boycott of fruit and vegetables became tighter and more sophisticated, striking at specific companies like Marks & Spencer and Barclays with close links to South Africa. It went from being a grassroots operation to gaining acceptance on the international, high-level diplomatic stage. Finally, it helped to add to the pressure on the white minority and their leaders.

That effort was also exceptional in that it stood the test of longevity. For a boycott to stick, people must remain outraged and achieving that intensity is difficult. The urgency fades, even if in the beginning that seemed unfathomable.

It feels intense and overwhelming in the moment, but it tapers. And thats true for every emotion. It works against boycotts effectiveness, says Schweitzer. If it causes too much inconvenience to those protesting, they will climb down.

So, to work, Schwarz needs to treat economic blackouts as the start and nowhere near the end, if he narrows down his targets and tightens the demands and highlights the issues, if he accompanies it with other weapons  then he could succeed. Thats plenty of ifs, but who knows? Its far too soon to tell. It depends on an ability to galvanise and to organise, and for people to accept that they can live with a certain amount of inconvenience by giving up products and services that became so popular because of the very fact that they are so convenient and do make life so easy.

Whether this gets beyond north London dinner-party chat remains to be seen, but wounding Musk through Tesla, on the other hand, may be a more surefire bet. His wealth has fallen by more than $100bn (79bn) since December, thanks to a sell-off in Tesla shares. Thats around 25 per cent of his worth. Hes still the worlds richest man, but there are others coming for his crown.
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The son of Prince Robert of Luxembourg and Princess Julie of Nassau, Prince Frederik, has died in Paris the age of 22 due to a rare genetic disorder  POLG Mitochondrial disease.

Prince Robert announced his sons death in an emotional message on the POLG Foundation website, founded by Frederik to help find treatments for POLG.

Frederik was diagnosed with POLG at age 14, the family said. Because the disease causes such a wide range of symptoms and affects many different organ systems, it can be difficult to diagnose.

Frederik passed on March 1st 2025, in Paris France, the City of Lights. One light was extinguished, but so many remain, Prince Robert wrote.

Frederik found the strength and the courage to say goodbye to each of us in turn  his brother, Alexander; his sister, Charlotte; me; his three cousins, Charly, Louis, and Donall; his brother-in-law, Mansour; and finally, his Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Mark, Prince Robert added.

He had barely been able to speak for several days, so the clarity of these words was as surprising as the weight of the moment was profound, the prince said.

He had already spoken all that was in his heart to his extraordinary mother, who had not left his side in 15 years, Prince Robert wrote, referring to his wife.

What is POLG?

PolG disease is genetic condition that depletes the bodys cells of energy.

This in turn causes progressive multiple organ dysfunction and failure.

One might compare it to having a faulty battery that never fully recharges and is in a constant state of depletion, the POLG foundation explains online.

The condition affects mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell which convert food into ATP, the primary energy our body uses to function.

Mitochondria contain their own DNA which requires a specific enzyme to replicate, found in host cells POLG and POLG2 genes. Mutations in these genes therefore impact the ability for mitochondria to replicate.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms can start from early childhood to adulthood and can be mild to severe.

The most frequent symptoms include muscle weakness, ophthalmoplegia (weakness of paralysis of the eye), epilepsy and liver failure.

It can be very difficult to diagnose because it affects a wide variety of organs and has many symptoms.

There is currently no treatment or cure for POLG.

What did Frederik say about his condition?

Frederik was born with the mitochondrial disease and diagnosed at age 14 as his symptoms were increasingly noticeable.

The late 22-year-old previously spoke out about his genetic condition. Last year, he was featured in his organizations short film, The POLG Foundation Film, which includes a scene of him watching videos from his childhood.

When youre a kid, youve got all these dreams, all these aspirations, these things you want to do. The possibilities are endless, he said in a voiceover.

Im not sure I understood all the consequences of PolG when I first got diagnosed. Its more subtle, where slowly, the world is getting smaller and smaller, he added.

"In our family, there exists life before July 26th, 2016 and life after. On that date, our then-14-year-old son, Frederik, was diagnosed, Frederiks parents said.

Adolescent onset POLG is thought to be one of the most difficult forms of mitochondrial diseases, the foundation explains on its website.

As an adolescent, when Frederik and others like him, should be riding the exciting hormonal rollercoaster of teenage life, among a myriad of other challenges, they are instead facing the possibility of losing their ability to walk, eat and see, the foundation said.

The worst thing is that they are informed that there are currently no effective treatments and no cure.
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Microplastic pollution in the body could be fueling bacteria and viruses ability to withstand the effects of antibiotics, researchers have said.

Researchers at Boston University said Tuesday that they were shocked to see that bacterias antimicrobial resistance is strengthened when exposed to the tiny plastic particles.

The plastics provide a surface that the bacteria attach to and colonize, Neila Gross, a Ph.D. candidate at the university, explained in a statement announcing the startling discovery.

The findings help to shed some light on a major issue for medical professionals. In 2019, bacterial antimicrobial resistance was directly responsible for 1.27 million deaths and it contributed to nearly 5 million deaths around the world, according to the World Health Organization. In the U.S., more than 35,000 people die each year as a result of antimicrobial-resistant infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It comes with significant economic costs, with estimates from the World Bank projecting that antimicrobial resistance could result in $1 trillion in additional healthcare costs over the course of the next 25 years.

Of course, microplastics come with their own health costs, although the full extent of their impact on the human body is not totally clear. Recent studies have shown theyre in our hearts, brains, and even our genitals. Theyve been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and could be tied to dementia. The minuscule particles are now understood to be pervasive throughout Earths environment, and humans are exposed through animal products, plastic ware, water and even air.

open image in gallery Boston University researchers have found that microplastics could be fueling antibiotic resistance. Drug-resistant bacteria is a global threat ( Getty Images/iStock )

When bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi mutate over time, they can stop responding to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread and death. The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials against those invaders are the main drivers in the development of drug-resistant organisms that cause disease.

The World Health Organization says humanity faces what it calls an antibiotics pipeline and access crisis, given inadequate research and development in the face of rising levels of resistance.

Antimicrobial resistance also disproportionately impacts low- and middle-income countries, with its drivers and consequences exacerbated by poverty and inequality.

Historically, people have associated antibiotic resistance with patient behavior, like not taking antibiotics as prescribed. But there is nothing a person has done to be forced to live in a particular environment, and the fact is they are at a higher exposure to resistant infections, noted Muhammad Zaman, a Boston University College of Engineering professor of biomedical engineering.

To reach these conclusions, the Zaman Laboratory tested how E. coli  a culprit known to contribute to foodborne illness  reacted to being in a closed environment with microplastics. When attached to any surface, bacteria create a sticky substance that serves as a shield, protecting itself and keeping it securely attached to the surface. In testing, researchers saw the microplastic they used supercharged the shield so much that antibiotics were unable to get through.

We found that the biofilms on microplastics, compared to other surfaces like glass, are much stronger and thicker, like a house with a ton of insulation, Gross said. It was staggering to see.

Gross is the lead author of the research that was published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

Researchers performed the experiment multiple times, but the results remained consistent: bacteria exposed to microplastics became resistant to multiple types of antibiotics commonly used to treat infections.

open image in gallery Researchers tested how the bacteria E. coli reacted in a closed environment with microplastics. They found staggering results after multiple tests ( Getty Images/iStock )

Were demonstrating that the presence of plastics is doing a whole lot more than just providing a surface for the bacteria to stick  they are actually leading to the development of resistant organisms, Zaman said.

The next step is to understand how these findings translate to the outside world, and to determine the mechanisms that allow bacteria to grip plastic. Although, the authors noted that its possible plastics that start to take in moisture over time absorb antibiotics before they reach the target bacteria.

Much more research needs to be done to understand microplastics, as well.

Ultimately, the WHO says theres an urgent need for additional measures to ensure equitable access to new and existing vaccines and other medicine.

There is certainly a concern that this could present a higher risk in communities that are disadvantaged, and only underscores the need for more vigilance and a deeper insight into [microplastic and bacterial] interactions, said Zaman.
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A triple killer has been given a whole-life term after murdering his ex-partner, her sister and mother, with her father, the BBC racing commentator John Hunt, telling Kyle Clifford that the screams of hell await him.

In a victim impact statement during which he was visibly emotional, Mr Hunt said Clifford was callous, cowardly and vindictive, and that his levels of misogyny were off the scale.

Clifford refused to attend his sentencing on Tuesday for the murders of his former partner Louise and her sister Hannah with a crossbow. He used a butchers knife to kill their mother, Carol.

open image in gallery Carol Hunt (left), Hannah (top right) and Louise (bottom right) were all murdered by Clifford ( Supplied )

The 26-year-old became enraged when his 25-year-old ex-girlfriend ended their relationship, and he raped and murdered her in a violent, sexual act of spite.

He gained access to the family home in Bushey on 9 July last year by deceiving her 61-year-old mother, Carol Hunt, before he stabbed her eight times and then lay in wait for Louise to enter the property.

He restrained her by tying her wrists and ankles, raped her and shot her with a crossbow, before also killing her 28-year-old sister Hannah when she returned home from work.

The screams of hell, Kyle. I can hear them faintly now. Theyre going to roll the red carpet out for you John Hunt

Sentencing Clifford to a whole-life order, the judge, Mr Justice Bennathan said: The evidence I have heard shows you to be a jealous man soaked in self-pity  a man who holds women in utter contempt.

Taking the witness stand, Mr Hunt said: Whatever sentence youre about to receive, whatever misery lies ahead for you in the next 60 years ... after your days on earth are done, on your dying day there will be no release for you, Kyle.

The screams of hell, Kyle. I can hear them faintly now.

open image in gallery Kyle Clifford refused to attend his sentencing at Cambridge Crown Court ( PA )

Theyre going to roll the red carpet out for you. The person you could have been will meet the person you are, and you will realise your miserable fate will last for eternity.

The court previously heard the murders were fuelled by the violent misogyny promoted by Andrew Tate, after it emerged that Clifford searched for the controversial social media influencers podcast less than 24 hours before the attacks.

Cambridge Crown Court was told Clifford had been seen by a friend of Louise viewing a Tate video which showed animals who had been drugged, which the killer found funny.

Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC told the court: Andrew Tate can properly be described as a poster boy for misogynists, a poster boy for those who view women as possessions to be controlled.

open image in gallery Kyle Clifford is interviewed by police after spending 10 weeks in hospital after he shot himself with a crossbow ( PA )

In that context, and in light of all the other background material, it is no coincidence, the prosecution submit, that it was Andrew Tate that the defendant turned to the night before he would go off to commit these acts of violence against women.

On the evening of 8 July, Clifford had searched online for a podcast made by Tate, while his work supervisor said he was unhappy with the way that the defendant spoke about women.

During his 18-month relationship with Louise, she had told friends that he had a nasty temper and behaved in an aggressive manner. Her family and friends had hoped the relationship would end as they had become concerned about his behaviour, with her sister Hannah viewing him as disrespectful, rude and arrogant.

Five days before the murders, Louise made a note on her phone titled When youre sad, look which set out how Clifford was racist, commented he did not like transgender people and used belittling language.

open image in gallery The packaging of the butchers knife used to kill Carol Hunt

The killer had also hidden the fact that he had relationships with other women during his time with Louise and was signed up to the dating apps Hinge and Bumble.

Before meeting Louise, Clifford had been in the army for two years. His former commander concluded that he was wholly unsuited to military employment and has no care nor concern beyond himself.

Stating that Louise had said enough is enough, Mr Hunt said: When I challenged myself about how you were able to deceive us all, I simply say that you are a psychopath who, for the duration of your time together with Louise, was able to disguise yourself as an ordinary human being.

He added that Carol had shown compassion towards Clifford in her final moments, urging him to seek relationship help and guidance just seconds before he stabbed her eight times.

Mr Hunt said the impact of the deaths would stay with him to the grave.

But on the way there, I want you to know that I stand strong before you today, as you, Kyle, are consigned to a fate far greater than death.

open image in gallery Kyle Clifford searched online for an Andrew Tate podcast less than 24 hours before the murders ( PA )

I can draw on the love and strength that I still (have) from my girls in every moment of every day.

His eldest and only surviving daughter Amy Hunt called Clifford a monster and said that what he did to my baby sister is nothing short of demonic.

She broke down and wept part of the way through her victim impact statement, as she said Cliffords monstrous, selfish actions had devastated the loved ones of Carol, Hannah and Louise.

You planned to take the lives of three women who have never done anything to hurt you and for what  you got dumped, she said.

In the days leading up to the attacks he researched how to buy a crossbow and accessed pornography, including a video of former HMP Wandsworth prison officer Linda De Sousa Abreu, who admitted having sex with a prisoner.

open image in gallery Mr Justice Bennathan called Clifford a 'jealous man soaked in self-pity' ( PA )

He had also told his brother Bradley Clifford, who is in prison serving a life sentence for murder, that he had bought a crossbow, but didnt reveal that he intended to harm anyone.

He fled the scene after the murders, which led to a 22-hour manhunt before firearms officers located him in a wooded area in Enfield. He shot himself with the loaded crossbow and is now confined to a wheelchair after paralysing himself from the chest down.

During sentencing, Mr Justice Bennathan continued: Your brutal and cowardly attack had been planned over about 11 days.

You conducted extensive research into the movements of Louises father John, into her mothers Facebook page, into buying a crossbow, a knife and an air pistol, and even into the weather on the day of the attack.

The judge added that Clifford wrote letters to his own family that were dripping with self-pity.

Addressing the victim impact statements made by John and Amy Hunt, he added: They showed a gentle heroism of which you, Kyle Clifford, can only dream.

Commenting on the sentencing of Kyle Clifford, Abigail Ampofo, Interim CEO at Refuge said: The fact that this was a targeted attack by someone known to the victims  Louises ex-partner  highlights the very real danger posed by those who use violence to exert control over their intimate partners.

This is a stark reminder that the risks of domestic violence do not end with a breakup or separation.

It is shocking to many that dangerous weapons, like crossbows, can be accessed without proper registration or licensing, and we welcome the governments continued consideration of tightening laws around such weapons.
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Undercover footage from a dairy farm providing milk to the UKs largest producer has revealed staff abusing cows, slapping new-born calves and allegedly denying the animals veterinary care.

Filmed at Lowfields Farm in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, staff members can be seen using pipes, kicks, and tail twisting on the cows, while injured animals appeared to be left to suffer without treatment.

Dead calves and an adult cow were allegedly left in the open, while the footage showed lame cows who were struggling to walk being violently forced into trucks, violating animal transport laws.

open image in gallery Footage captured a cow being beaten with a stick ( Photos by Animal Justice Project )

The findings were on a farm that is part of a co-operative group of farmers called Arla, which process and supply milk to retailers. Arla is not responsible for the farm, but it sets standards members must adhere to.

The charity Animal Justice Project is now calling on supermarkets to sever their ties with Arla, which reported 1.2bn in revenue during the first half of 2024.

Meanwhile, the findings have led to a legal complaint to trading standards, with Arla, which released a statement on behalf of the farm to The Independent, stating that staff members involved have not been working at the farm since last summer.

This investigation exposes not only the shocking cruelty inflicted on cows and calves at this farm but also the brutal, hidden reality these animals face daily in milk production, said Claire Palmer, director of Animal Justice Project.

This indicates that mistreatment was not only routine but also tolerated and ingrained within the farms operations, raising serious concerns about Arlas standards and oversight.

open image in gallery An injured cow with blood on its head pictured on the farm ( Photos by Animal Justice Project )

A report by the Social Market Foundation found that only 2.3 per cent of UK animal welfare breaches result in a prosecution, with local authority inspections plummeting due to budget cuts, which has resulted in farms being largely self regulated.

Alick Simmons, former UK government deputy chief veterinary officer and former Food Standards Agency veterinary director, said: The footage reveals deeply concerning incidents of animal mistreatment on a large-scale dairy farm. The repeated use of sticks, plastic piping, and electric goads  often applied excessively and inappropriately  demonstrates a complete disregard for animal welfare.

Several instances captured in the video appear to constitute breaches of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and warrant urgent regulatory investigation. That such abuses occurred at a farm linked to a company presenting itself as an industry leader raises serious questions about oversight and accountability.

Arla said it was handling media inquiries over the matter, and asked for the farm not to be contacted. A spokesperson said: Animal welfare is of the utmost importance and we take a zero-tolerance approach. We take any matters relating to this extremely seriously.

The actions that are shown in this footage are completely unacceptable and do not meet the high standards that we expect from our farmers.

The individuals in the video are no longer employed at the farm, however, Arla has taken the decision to suspend the farmer whilst we investigate this further.

While the investigation is still ongoing, we have already put a number of measures in place alongside independent auditors and external standards organisations.

North Yorkshire Councils corporate director of environment, Karl Battersby, said:We are carrying out an investigation about alleged serious animal mistreatment at Lowfields Farm in Northallerton. As this is a live case, we are unable to comment further at this stage. We take all allegations seriously and will not hesitate to take action.

Editors note; This article concerns Lowfields Farm in Northallerton, North Yorkshire. It should not be confused with other farms in North Yorkshire or elsewhere which are also called Lowfields.
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Patients are being put at risk of serious illness as pharmacists are unable to dispense vital medications due to drug shortages, industry leaders have warned.

At least once a day drug supply problems mean pharmacies are unable to dispense a prescription, according to a survey of 500 pharmacies by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA).

Currently if a prescription is out of stock, patients need to go back to their GP to get an alternative medication. But this can delay care and increase the risk of serious illness.

Thats because the pharmacist is not permitted to make a substitution even if they have a safe alternative in stock, this is except in very limited circumstances where a Serious Shortage Protocol has been issued by the NHS.

The NPA, which represents 6,000 independent community pharmacies, is calling on the government to grant greater flexibility for pharmacists to substitute medication or strength of a drug when it is safe to do so.

open image in gallery Under current rules if a prescription is out of stock, patients need to go back to their GP to get an alternative medication ( Getty Images )

The NPA says it is madness to send someone back to the GP and warned the current situation poses a risk to patient safety. It said it could lead to patients potentially going without vital medication, such as some types of antibiotics, presenting a serious risk to their health.

In January, Lancashire coroner Christopher Long wrote to health secretary Wes Streeting on this issue following the death of two-year-old Ava Hodgkinson.

He said how she died of overwhelming sepsis from a strep A infection after delays in receiving antibiotics due to restrictions preventing a pharmacist from amending an out-of-stock prescription.

Mr Long wrote: Ava had seen her GP who had prescribed amoxicillin with a dose of 250mg/5ml.

The pharmacy did not have this strength in stock but did have amoxicillin 125mg/5ml in stock.

(They) could not issue this as restrictions currently in place prevent a pharmacist issuing any different strength of medication without an amended prescription, even where the medication can be provided to enable the same dose to be administered (here Avas parents could have been instructed to provide 10ml enabling the same dose of antibiotics to be provided).

This led to a delay in Ava receiving antibiotics.

open image in gallery Patients are potentially going without vital medication, such as some types of antibiotics (pictured), which could be a serious risk to their health (Alamy/PA)

The NPA survey revealed 95 per cent of pharmacies at least once a day were visited by a patient that was unable to obtain their medicines elsewhere due to supply problems.

It also revealed 96 per cent of pharmacies were unable to dispense a prescription at least once a day despite having a safe alternative formulation in stock.

Nick Kaye, Chair of the National Pharmacy Association said: These are deeply concerning statistics which show that patients are potentially having to forgo vital medication due to shortages. Pharmacies are at the sharp end of medicines shortages and frequently have to turn away distressed, frustrated and sometimes angry patients.

It is particularly frustrating for pharmacists to be unable to meet a clear need when they have a perfectly safe and effective solution in their pharmacy already.

It is madness to send someone back to their GP and it risks a patient either delaying taking vital medication or forgoing it altogether, which poses a clear risk to patient safety.

Were pleased the government are taking steps to bring together manufacturers, wholesalers and pharmacies to try and tackle this issue.

However, the government must look again at allowing pharmacists - who are highly trained health care practitioners  to use their professional judgment to supply an appropriate alternative when the prescribed version is unavailable."

In January the government rejected recommendations from the cross-party Health and Care Select Committee for pharmacies to have more flexibility to substitute medication to tackle growing numbers of shortages.

Dr Leyla Hannbeck, pharmacist and CEO of Independent Pharmacies Association, is also urging the government to make the changes.

The risk of not implementing this, considering the big issues regarding medicines shortages, impacts significantly on patient care and risks delays in treatment which in some cases can increase serious illness, she told the Independent.

However, she explained the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is reluctant to implement these changes.

Their excuse is that there could be a conflict of interest, she added.

Dr Hannbeck added: They forget that pharmacy is a heavily regulated profession, and any professional mismanagement could lead to being stuck off and not being able to practice.

Pharmacists are experts on medicines and very well placed to make minor amends to prescriptions where necessary in order to ensure timely care for patients.

Thorrun Govind, a former chair of the English Pharmacy Board of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, called the reluctancy to give pharmacists this power illogical.

They should be able to supply capsules for example, rather than tablets of the same drug, she said.

It comes as DHSC has made the move to shift the focus of healthcare out of hospitals and into the community.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: We will work with the sector, making better use of the skills of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, to build a service fit for the future.

The Government is currently considering enabling pharmacists to substitute to a different dose or formulation, under specified circumstances, where such a substitution might be both urgent and safe.
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A radical reduction and reshaping exercise could see roles at NHS England decrease by around half.

The central NHS body told staff the organisation would be radically reduced to make best possible use of taxpayers money.

A transition team will be set up in NHS England by Sir Jim Mackey, who begins his role as interim chief executive at the start of April, to streamline roles with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Reports suggest that leaders want to reduce any duplication of work at the top health organisations.

It is not yet clear how many jobs could be at risk at either organisation - however thousands could be impacted.

open image in gallery The latest announcements were part of the upcoming changes to the size and function of the centre, officials added

The announcement comes just weeks after NHS England revealed plans to reduce its organisational structure by 15 per cent  the equivalent of 2,000 jobs  as part of plans to make 325 million in savings to reinvest in frontline services.

Helga Pile, head of health at Unison, said: Staff will be understandably concerned about this sudden change of direction.

The number of redundancies being sought at NHS England has trebled in just a matter of weeks.

Employees there have already been through the mill with endless rounds of reorganisation. What was already a stressful prospect has now become more like a nightmare.

Fixing a broken NHS needs a proper plan, with central bodies resourced and managed effectively so local services are supported.

Rushing through cuts brings a risk of creating a further, more complicated mess and could ultimately hold the NHS back. That would let down the very people who need it most, the patients.

open image in gallery NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said she was stepping down at the end of March

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: These changes are happening at a scale and pace not anticipated to begin with, but given the huge savings that the NHS needs to make this year it makes sense to reduce areas of duplication at a national level, and for the NHS to be led by a leaner centre.

These changes represent the biggest reshaping of the NHSs national architecture in more than a decade.

The news comes as three more NHS England leaders are to leave their posts amid a major shake-up of the top NHS England team.

Chief financial officer Julian Kelly, chief operating officer Dame Emily Lawson and chief delivery officer Steve Russell will stand down from NHS England at the end of the month.

Last month, NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said she was stepping down at the end of March.

Last week, the organisations national medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis announced he would also be departing in the summer.
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A dramatic collision in the North Sea has set ablaze an oil tanker and a cargo ship, raising fears of an environmental disaster.

On Monday, the US-flagged oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate collided with the Portuguese cargo ship MV Solong. The crash started a huge fire, which is still burning in the North Sea, about 10 miles (16km) off the coast of the busy Hull port and fishing centre.

Dozens of people were rescued, but one crew member who remained unaccounted for, is presumed dead. A 59-year-old man who, according to the ship's owners, is the captain of the Solong, was arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.

Follow our live blog for latest updates.

The Stena Immaculate was transporting Jet A-1 aviation fuel intended for military use. Initial reports suggested that the Solong was carrying 15 containers of sodium cyanide  a highly toxic substance  raising fears of a hazardous chemical spill.

However, Ernst Russ, the shipping firm that owns the vessel, has since confirmed that no sodium cyanide was on board, easing concerns over a toxic leak.

Experts warn a fuel spill could impact marine life, seabirds, and fragile ecosystems in and around the Humber Estuary.

The alarm was first raised on the Humber Estuary in East Yorkshire at 9.48am on Monday. A Portuguese-flagged cargo vessel collided with a US-flagged oil tanker, which was understood to be at anchor and carrying aviation fuel.

open image in gallery Rescue crews work on site after a cargo ship was hit by a tanker carrying jet fuel for the US military off eastern England ( AP )

A mayday call from the HM Coastguard requested help from vessels with fire-fighting equipment or which could assist with search and rescue.

The collision took place on the Humber Estuary in East Yorkshire, with the oil tanker at anchor.

open image in gallery Location of the collision between two ships in the North Sea ( PA Graphics )

Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East, said he had been told there was a massive fireball following the crash.

Its unclear what led to the collision, but Dr Seyedvahid Vakili, a maritime expert at the University of Southampton says in most cases human factors play a significant role.

This is particularly relevant for container vessels where high workloads and fatigue can be major contributing factors.

In an update late on Monday, Crowley, who manages the oil tanker, said at least one cargo tank carrying A1-jet fuel was ruptured in the collision.

A spokesperson said: At this stage, it is unclear what volume of fuel may have been released as a result of the incident. At the time it was struck, the 183m (596ft) Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel in 16 segregated cargo tanks.

Crowley is supporting the relevant authorities in the UK who are investigating the incident and will defer to them for any further questions on potential cause.

open image in gallery Smoke billowing into the air after a crash between an oil tanker and a cargo ship off the coast of East Yorkshire ( Bartek Smialek/PA Wire )

From an aquatic environment perspective, jet fuel evaporates faster and is less concerning than crude oil. But immediate acute impacts on marine organisms will still be severe, Dr Mark Hartl, marine ecotoxicologist at Heriot-Watt University, said.

Professor Tiago Alves from the Cardiff University said conditions in the North Sea might mitigate some impacts.

Environmentally, jet fuel evaporates easily and combusts quickly. Impacts may be felt mostly near the accident site, especially given today's windy conditions and dynamic wave energy which favour dispersion, prof Alves said.

However, Alastair Grant, Emeritus Professor of Ecology at the University of East Anglia, said jet fuel contains up to 25 per cent aromatic hydrocarbons, which are relatively toxic and slow to break down in the environment. This makes it approximately 50 times more toxic to aquatic life than diesel oil, and significantly more harmful than crude oil.

The situation is further complicated by concerns over heavier bunker fuels used by ships, scientists warn.

This particular incident is troubling because it appears to involve persistent oil, which breaks up slowly in water, Dr Alex Lukyanov, researcher at the University of Reading, said.

Persistent oils like marine diesel can smother habitats and wildlife, affecting their ability to regulate body temperature, potentially resulting in death.

The collision occurred close to critical marine habitats at a sensitive time for wildlife. There are several Marine protected areas near Hull such as Flamborough Hea and Holderness. These areas are protected due to their rich habitats supporting marine wildlife including fish, bivalves, crabs and birds

Around Flamborough the nesting season will soon start, Dr Daniela Schmidt, professor of earth sciences at University of Bristol, said.

While the first focus is on containing the fire, the pollution connected to the accident has the potential to spread widely depending on the currents and waves with the risk of impacting these protected areas.

Martin Slater of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust warned pollution could be "devastating" for seabirds, grey seals, and cetaceans near Spurn, as many birds gather offshore for nesting season.

Calum Duncan of the Marine Conservation Society explained that the biggest challenge now is containment. And how far the leak would spread depends on several environmental factors.

How far and fast any pollution spreads depends greatly on weather and sea conditions.

Forecasting the environmental of oil spills is extremely complex. Oil spills like the one in the North Sea are affected by multiple factors. The size of the spill, weather conditions, sea currents, water waves, wind patterns, and the type of oil involved all play crucial roles in determining environmental outcomes, Dr Alex Lukyanov from the University of Reading said.

Persistent oils like marine diesel are particularly troubling because they linger, smothering habitats and wildlife over long periods.

The fierce fires burning aboard the ships are also releasing thick clouds of toxic black smoke, raising concerns over air quality and health impacts for coastal communities. Meanwhile, any spilled cargo could mean plastics and debris washing ashore for years, harming marine wildlife far into the future.

Scientists are looking at past incidents, such as the 1993 MV Braer spill off the Shetland Isles, for insight.

Investigations are now being led by authorities from the United States and Portugal to determine the cause and extent of the environmental impact. The full environmental consequences may not be fully understood for months.
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The under-arrest captain of a cargo vessel that crashed into a US oil tanker off the East Yorkshire coast is a Russian national.

The explosive collision left a sailor presumed dead in the North Sea, with the alarm first raised on the Humber Estuary in East Yorkshire at 9.48am on Monday.

The Portuguese-flagged cargo vessel MV Solong collided with a US-flagged oil tanker, which was understood to be at anchor and carrying aviation fuel.

It has now been revealed that the container ship failed steering-related safety checks last July, and that there were 10 deficiencies highlighted during an inspection in July.

A May Day call from the HM Coastguard shortly after the collision requested help from vessels with fire-fighting equipment or which could assist with search and rescue.

open image in gallery Water is pumped on to the North Sea fire ( Getty )

Who has been arrested?

A 59-year-old Russian national has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision in the North Sea, police have said.

A spokesman for shipping company Ernst Russ, which owns Solong, said: The captain is a Russian national.

Humberside Police have begun a criminal investigation into the cause of the collision and are working in collaboration with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The captain remains in their custody.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Nicholson, said: The man arrested remains in custody at this time whilst enquiries are under way, and we continue speaking with all those involved to establish the full circumstances of the incident.

Are all sailors accounted for?

One member of the Solong crew was still missing as night fell, according to the ship's Hamburg-based owner, Ernst Russ.

He confirmed that the search is still underway, before adding: "13 of the 14 Solong crew members have been brought safely ashore. Efforts to locate the missing crew member are ongoing."

The coastguard called off their search overnight but resumed it at first light.

Transport minister Mike Kane said the Governments working assumption is a missing crew member from a cargo ship involved in a collision in the North Sea has died.

open image in gallery The under-arrest captain of a container ship which crashed into a US oil tanker in the North Sea is Russian, the vessels owner has said (Danny Lawson/PA) ( PA Wire )

Mr Kane told the House of Commons: The full crew of 23 on the Immaculate is accounted for and onshore. One sailor was treated at the scene but declined any further medical assistance.

Thirteen of the 14 sailors of the MV Solong are accounted for. Search and rescue operations for the missing sailor continued throughout yesterday but were called off yesterday evening at the point at which the chances of their survival had unfortunately significantly diminished.

Our working assumption is that, very sadly, the sailor is deceased. The coastguard has informed the company and it has been advised to inform the next of kin. Our thoughts are with the sailors loved ones at this time.

Did the MV Solong fail safety checks?

The container ship MV Solong had failed steering-related safety checks, with 10 deficiencies highlighted during an inspection last July.

Port state control (PSC) inspection documents show Irish officials deemed Solongs emergency steering position communications/compass reading was not readable.

Other issues include alarms being inadequate, survival craft not properly maintained, and fire doors not as required.

Another PSC inspection by Scottish authorities in Grangemouth in October 2024 found two deficiencies with Solong.

One of these was related to lifebuoys  designed to be thrown into the water to prevent drowning  being not properly marked.

Solong was not detained after the inspections in Dublin or Grangemouth.

Are the boats still alight and how did it happen?

The collision took place on the Humber Estuary in East Yorkshire, with the oil tanker at anchor.

open image in gallery The red circle indicates the collision site ( VesselFinder )

Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East, said he had been told there was a massive fireball following the crash.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the fire on the Stena Immaculate appears to be extinguished but the Solong continues to burn, transport minister Mike Kane said.

He told MPs: Although they became attached to each other during the collision, the Solong broke free of the Stena Immaculate late last night and began drifting southwards.

Modelling suggests that should the Solong remain afloat itll remain clear of land for the next few hours. The assessment of His Majestys Coastguard is, however, that it is unlikely the vessel will remain afloat.

Tugboats are in the vicinity to ensure that the Solong remains away from the coast and to respond as the situation develops.

I want to be clear that while there are 1,000-metre temporary exclusion zones established around both vessels, maritime traffic through the Humber Estuary is continuing.

What vessels are involved?

The cargo vessel called MV Solong was due to arrive at the port of Rotterdam, Netherlands, according to tracking website VesselFinder. The container ship was built in 2005 and currently sails under the flag of Madeira.

There were fears the Portuguese vessel was carrying sodium cyanide when it collided with tanker Stena Immaculate on Monday morning.

But on Tuesday, shipping company Ernst Russ said Solong has empty containers previously used to transport the hazardous chemical.

Ernst Russ said in a statement: We are able to confirm that there are no containers onboard ladened with sodium cyanide, as has been misreported.

There are four empty containers that have previously contained the hazardous chemical, and these containers will continue to be monitored.

It made contact with a US-flagged oil tanker, called the Stena Immaculate, which was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel in 16 segregated cargo tanks when it was struck.

At least one tank was ruptured, according to the company.

The tanker was operating as part of the US governments Tanker Security Programme, a group of commercial vessels that can be contracted to carry fuel for the military when needed. It had been anchored while waiting for a berth to become available at the Port of Killingholme, on the River Humber, Crowley said.

open image in gallery MV Solong pictured in Aarhus, Denmark ( Wikimedia/NAC )

open image in gallery The US oil tanker called MV Stena Immaculate was believed to have been carrying aviation fuel ( Stena Bulk )

How many people were on board?

Mr Boyers said a further nine casualties were brought ashore aboard a harbour pilot vessel - taking the total number of those injured so far to 32.

Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness, said he understood that only one person was in hospital.

Erik Hanell, the chief executive of ship owner Stena Bulk, confirmed that all the crew of the oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate have been accounted for and are safe.

Mr Hanell also said it was too early to speculate on the cause of the collision.

RNLI reported a number of people had abandoned both vessels. The casualties conditions remain unclear.

A coastguard call asked neighbouring vessels which could assist with a search and rescue effort to contact Humber Coastguard.

open image in gallery Black smoke billowing into the air after the crash off the coast of East Yorkshire ( PA Media )

Which chemicals have been released into the North Sea?

Crowley, who manage the oil tanker, said at least one cargo tank carrying A1-jet fuel was ruptured in the collision.

It is said the spill has had a limited impact, with the maritime company saying it remains unclear how much Jet A1 fuel was released when it was hit by the Solong, but an initial review shows it had evaporated due to exposure to fires on both vessels.

A spokesman said: At this stage, it is unclear what volume of fuel may have been released as a result of the incident. At the time it was struck, the 183-meter (596-foot) Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel in 16 segregated cargo tanks.

Crowley is supporting the relevant authorities in the UK who are investigating the incident and will defer to them for any further questions on potential cause.

Dr Alex Lukyanov, researcher on advanced mathematical models of oil spills from the University of Reading, previously said the incident was troubling because it appeared to involve persistent oil, which breaks up slowly in water, while he also suggested the environmental toll could be severe.

Transport minister Mike Kane said work is ongoing to determine what cargo the MV Solong was carrying, adding: Im aware of media reporting regarding potential hazardous materials on board but were unable to confirm at this time.

However, counter-pollution measures and assets are already in place and both vessels are being closely monitored for structural integrity.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has been deployed to the site and begun its investigation, MPs heard.

What have the coastguard and RNLI said?

An RNLI spokesperson said: Four lifeboat crews have been called to an incident off the East Yorkshire coast this morning (Monday 10 March).

At 10.20am, HM Coastguard tasked Bridlington, Cleethorpes, Mablethorpe and Skegness lifeboats to support their response to two vessels that were reported to have been in collision with each other.

There were reports that a number of people had abandoned the vessels following a collision and there were fires on both ships.

open image in gallery Coastguard said the situation remains ongoing ( Vessel Finder )

By 11.40am, Cleethorpes had been stood down while Bridlington, Mablethorpe and Skegness continued to support search and rescue efforts.

The incident is ongoing with the RNLI and HM Coastguard working together.

Matthew Atkinson, divisional commander for HM Coastguard said: 36 crew members were taken safely to shore, one person was taken to hospital.

One crew member of the Solong remains unaccounted for. After an extensive search for the missing crew member, sadly they have not been found and the search has ended.

The two vessels remain on fire and coastguard aircraft are monitoring the situation.

An assessment of any required counter pollution response is being carried out by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Who is likely to be responsible for the clean-up costs?

Under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, the UK Government is likely to meet many of the immediate clean-up and emergency response costs. The vessel owners and their insurers may also meet costs, which some environmental groups estimated at around 15million.

Counter pollution measures will begin once the fire on the Solong has been put out, transport minister Mike Kane told the Commons.
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Anchored 13 miles from the coast, the US-flagged Stena Immaculate was set for a routine stop at the Humber Estuary port in East Yorkshire.

But a massive ship came out of the blue on Monday morning and smashed into the 183-metre oil tanker, which had left Greece two weeks earlier, causing an instant fireball which was still burning 24 hours later.

The Portuguese-flagged cargo ship Solong, which was sailing to Rotterdam from Grangemouth, Scotland, collided with the tanker laden with 35 million litres of US military jet fuel.

Follow updates here

A huge 12-hour rescue operation involving lifeboats and helicopters was launched with 36 people brought to shore. One sailor is missing and presumed dead, and another was rushed to hospital.

open image in gallery Lifeboats and helicopters rushed to the collision and brought 36 people to shore after a 12-hour rescue operation ( Getty Images )

An American sailor onboard the Stena Immaculate told CBS News he only had seconds to react after hearing shouts to brace right before the devastating impact.

The decision was made to abandon ship once all the crew members had been accounted for. They left the vessel on a lifeboat, with the captain being the last person to disembark, he said.

The owner of the 140-metre Solong container ship confirmed its Russian captain had been arrested, hours after Humberside Police said it had arrested a 59-year-old man.

He was arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter following the collision between the two vessels.

The vessel owner revealed that the captain is a Russian national.

open image in gallery Fire and rescue services attempt to extinguish the blaze which instantly erupted on Monday morning ( Getty )

One crew member from the Solong is still missing and presumed dead, after a search and rescue operation that ended on Monday evening.

The oil tanker's management firm, Crowley, has since revealed it sustained a ruptured cargo tank after it was struck, causing "multiple explosions" and jet fuel to be released into the water.

Oil spill researcher Dr Alex Lukyanov, of the University of Reading, said: This particular incident is troubling because it appears to involve persistent oil, which breaks up slowly in water.

There were fears Solong was carrying sodium cyanide, but shipping company Ernst Russ, which manages the vessel, said that was not the case.

Four empty containers on board that previously contained the hazardous chemical will continue to be monitored, it added.

open image in gallery The 140-metre Solong cargo ship, top, and 183-metre Stena Immaculate oil tanker, bottom ( Wikimedia/NAC/Stena Bulk )

Downing Street said the collision and subsequent spill was extremely concerning, while the coastguard said it was assessing the likely counter-pollution response required.

The government said on Tuesday that early investigations did not indicate that the incident was caused by foul play.

Transport minister Mike Kane said Solong continues to burn and the coastguard said it is unlikely the vessel will remain afloat.

He said the working assumption is one crew member from the container ship has died, after a search and rescue operation was ended on Monday evening.

open image in gallery The red circle is where the collision happened roughly 13 miles from the coast ( VesselFinder )

Flames on board the Stena Immaculate have been put out, while Solong continues to emit smoke with occasional reports of flames as it drifts south of the collision point.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) chief executive Virginia McVea said: The Solong is being held in a safe position offshore by a tug and further support vessels remain in the ships immediate vicinity.

This mornings assessment shows the fires on board the ship have greatly reduced in their extent and intensity.

The Stena Immaculate remains at anchor, with safety tugs in position should they be required.

There are no visible flames on board and an on-board assessment may be carried out later today.

There have been no further reports of pollution to the sea from either vessel beyond what was observed during the initial incident.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: We are working closely with HM Coastguard to help support the response to the incident in the North Sea. We are grateful to all emergency personnel for their continued efforts.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander added: I am hugely grateful to HM Coastguard, the RNLI and emergency services who have responded to this incident.

They were on the scene swiftly, have helped rescue those in immediate danger and I know they will continue to work tirelessly over the coming days. My thoughts are with all those involved, especially the family of the missing crew member.

The Maritime Accident Investigation Branch has begun a preliminary assessment, and I am working closely with the MCA as they conduct an assessment of any counter-pollution response which may be required over the coming days.
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A beloved crisp flavour is set to return to shelves across the UK following sky-high demand from consumers.

Shoppers will be able to pick up Walkers Worcester Sauce crisps again as soon as next week, after the flavour was discontinued indefinitely in 2022.

The news comes after the snack giant launched a limited edition run of the flavour in its home town, Worcester. Fans of the umami sauce were able to pick up a packet from one off-licence only, as the city celebrated its iconic product.

One superfan, Katie Barnes from Kent said on the day: Todays my 28th birthday and what better way to celebrate than with the taste of my favourite crisps. Ive been waiting years for this moment, as I used to constantly go on about the Worcester Sauce flavour. I took a day off work and travelled over 150 miles to secure the goods - its the best birthday present ever!!

But those who couldnt make the journey expressed their dismay at missing out. On Instagram, user @tripleeatsfood exclaimed NATION WIDE RELEASE NEEDED RIGHT NOW!!!, while @krissie.p74 said: Bring them back everywhere. Best crisps ever.*

Walkers has now paid heed to calls, relaunching the flavour in retailers across the UK from Monday 17 March.

open image in gallery Fans queued up on 4 March to get their hands on a pack ( Edward Moss/PinPep )

Worcestershire Sauce was created by pharmacists John Wheeley Lea and William Henry Perrins, who combined vinegar, anchovies, garlic and other ingredients to create the original version of the sauce that would go on to take the world by storm. To this day, it is still produced in the Midland Road factory that the pair built, and distributed in the US, Canada and beyond.

The brands collaborations with Walkers had been a mainstay on British shelves for many years, but shoppers began noticing a gradual decline in its availability. Following intense questioning on social media, the crisp brands Twitter / X account said: Hi, we're sorry but Worcester Sauce flavour is no longer part of our range.

Dismay ensued as many expressed their disappointment at the loss of their favourite flavour. One social media user said: Errrrr what?!!! Walkers have discontinued making the Worcester Sauce flavour crisps. This is a crime!

open image in gallery The new pack to look out for in stores ( Walkers )

Even money expert Martin Lewis weighed in on the debate, taking a characteristically pragmatic approach and recommending fans instead try the Worcestershire Sauce offering from Seabrook crisps.

Other brands that sell crisps in the iconic flavour include Tayto, M&S own brand, and even Walkers own French Fries spin-off.

Sharing the news of the relaunch, a release from Walkers said: On reflection, maybe we shouldnt have just limited the sale of Walkers Worcester Sauce flavoured crisps to only one store in Worcester.

So, weve decided that your favourite Walkers Worcester Sauce flavour crisps will land on shelves at retailers all over the UK from Monday 17th March onwards.

Were working hard to make them available for everyone to enjoy the beloved flavour - which is now even more Worcestershire-y with Lea & Perrins iconic sauce.
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Justice secretary Shabana Mahmood is set for a confrontation with the Sentencing Council later this week after they wrote to her warning her against dictating to judges over new measures which she fears will create a two tier legal system.

A spokesperson for Ms Mahmood has confirmed that a meeting is set to go ahead with the Sentencing Council on Thursday where she will make clear her displeasure at new guidance which could lead to lighter sentences for some based on ethnicity and gender.

The Labour minister is in rare agreement with her right wing Tory shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick who raised the issue last week after the Sentencing Council ignored the views of ministers from the previous government to go ahead with the new guidelines.

But after expressing her own disapproval of the guidelines, the Sentencing Council, which is independent of government, angrily put down Ms Mahmoods objections this week and rejected claims it was creating a two tier system.

open image in gallery Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood (Ben Whitley/PA) ( PA Wire )

New guidance for judges to consider a criminal's ethnicity before deciding their punishment prompted Ms Mahmood to write to the independent body to make clear her "displeasure" and call for the changes to be reconsidered.

The Sentencing Council published new principles for courts to follow when imposing community and custodial sentences, including whether to suspend jail time, last Wednesday.

The updated guidance, which comes into force from April, says a pre-sentence report would usually be necessary before handing out punishment for someone of an ethnic, cultural or faith minority, alongside other groups such as young adults aged 18 to 25, women and pregnant women.

Ms Mahmood wrote: "A pre-sentence report can be instrumental in assisting courts in the determination of their sentence. But the access to one should not be determined by an offender's ethnicity, culture or religion."

In a letter to Lord Justice William Davis, chairman of the Sentencing Council for England and Wales, Ms Mahmood said she was considering whether policy decisions such as this should be made by the Sentencing Council and what role MPs should play.

But Lord Justice Davis replied that the Sentencing Council preserves the "critical" position of the independent judiciary in relation to sentencing.

He said: "I respectfully question whether the inclusion of a list of cohorts in the imposition guideline was a policy decision of any significance.

"However, whatever the import of the decision, it is related to an issue of sentencing."

He further warned: "In criminal proceedings where the offender is the subject of prosecution by the state, the state should not determine the sentence imposed on an individual offender.

open image in gallery Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick (Lucy North/PA) ( PA Wire )

"If sentencing guidelines of whatever kind were to be dictated in any way by ministers of the Crown, this principle would be breached."

The council's chief said he was taking legal advice on whether the Justice Secretary's power under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 to ask for guidelines to be revised could be applied in this circumstance, and if it could, it will be considered at the body's next meeting.

"This is not a power which ever has been used to ask the council to revise a guideline immediately after it has been published and which has been the subject of detailed consultation with the Lord Chancellor," Lord Justice Davis said.

Ms Mahmood had said "no minister" in this government approved of the guidance or was involved in the consultation.

The previous government was also consulted on the change during the consultation period between November 2023 to February 2024.

Lord Justice Davis said in response that there were 150 responses to the consultation on the new guidance, including from the then-minister for sentencing, with "no concern expressed about the term now under debate".

Of the new guidance, the chairman added there is "good evidence" of a disparity in sentence outcomes between white offenders and those of an ethnic minority for some offences.

"Why this disparity exists remains unclear," he said.

"The council's view is that providing a sentencer with as much information as possible about the offender is one means by which such disparity might be addressed.

"I do not accept the premise of your objection to the relevant part of the list of cohorts for whom a pre-sentence report will normally be considered necessary.

"I have seen it suggested that the guideline instructs sentencers to impose a more lenient sentence on those from ethnic minorities than white offenders. Plainly that suggestion is completely wrong."

But Ms Mahmood had support from the influential think tank Policy Exchange.

David Spencer, head of crime and justice at Policy Exchange said: The Sentencing Council's letter to Shabana Mahmood is remarkable.

The chair rejects call to amend the guidelines  and defends prioritising Pre-Sentence Reports for ethnic minority criminals.

The Justice Secretary cannot let this stand. There is no place for two-tier justice.
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Keir Starmer has delivered an extraordinary condemnation of the current welfare benefits system, calling it unsustainable, indefensible and unfair.

He was speaking at a private meeting of Labour MPs as the Government is poised to announce major cuts in benefits payments.

Sir Keirs comments mark one of the strongest condemnations of the welfare system ever delivered by a Labour prime minister and signals the biggest overhaul of the system since Iain Duncan Smiths reforms to create universal credit in 2010.

He warned that the bill for people of working age on long term sickness and disability benefits will hit an eye watering 70 billion by 2030.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer say they are focusing on growth (Darren Staples/PA) ( PA Wire )

His speech comes ahead of chancellor Rachel Reeves spring Budget on 26 March where she is set to announce cuts to benefits.

This is based on estimates that the current number of claimants of working age - 2.8 million - will rise to 4 million by the beginning of the next decade.

Sir Keir is gambling on hopes that a bold move early in his government will not fuel a Labour revolt over plans to slash the benefits bill as it seeks to find extra cash for the defence budget.

And the reception of his speech from Labour MPs last night appeared to suggest that he had faced down potential critics for now.

Sir Keir said: Weve found ourselves in a worst of all worlds situation  with the wrong incentives  discouraging people from working, the taxpayer funding a spiralling bill, 70bn a year by 2030.

A wasted generation. One in eight young people not in education, employment or training and the people who really need that safety net still not always getting the dignity they deserve.

Thats unsustainable, its indefensible and it is unfair, people feel that in their bones. It runs contrary to those deep British values that if you can work, you should. And if you want to work, the government should support you, not stop you.

But critics within the party claim that they are being literally locked out of the debate and prevented from engaging with the leadership.

Veteran leftwing Labour MP Diane Abbott was prevented from entering the PLP meeting on Monday night.

Posting on X, formerly Twitter, she said: I would have liked to query Keir Starmer at last night's meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party about the impact of his proposed cuts to welfare. Unfortunately I and other colleagues were told the meeting was full. Keen on dissent in other countries. Not so much here.

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said the government was engaging in cruelty for crueltys sake. Either this government has lost sight of the people it was elected to serve, hundreds of thousands of whom are at this very moment terrified that the support they rely on will be pulled out from under them  or they have decided that they no longer care, she said.

Ms Denyer added: Every single MP must search their conscience and decide if they are prepared to vote to push already vulnerable people into poverty and insecurity  and I hope that none will, when these plans come before parliament.

Meanwhile, think tanks have warned that Sir Keir and chancellor Rachel Reeves will need careful reform to make savings rather than just slashing payments.

Louise Murphy, senior economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: Britain is getting older and sicker as a nation. The consequence is a fast-rising working-age incapacity and disability benefits bill, which is on track to rise by 32 billion a year over the 2020s.

The benefit system cant fix these problems on its own, but a focus on the three areas that drive higher spending  entrances, entitlements and exits  could stem the increase and help more people into work.

Rather than focus solely on restricting eligibility for support, reforms should reduce the financial gap between basic and health-related out-of-work benefits that incentivises health-related claims. Far more can be done to boost exits too, which will require investment in the functioning of the benefit system and rebuilding trust among claimants.

While the Government is keen to score short-term welfare savings ahead of the 26th March, truly effective reforms will take time to deliver.

Downing Street on Tuesday said the broken welfare system is in need of reform ahead of the planned cuts to health and disability benefits.

With 3 million people out of work for health reasons, one in eight young people currently not in work, education or training, this is letting young people down and holding back the economy, Sir Keirs official spokesman said.

The PMs spokesman refused to put a figure on how much the government would cut the benefits bill by, but said the focus is on people being trapped out of work into a life of unemployment that are not getting the support they need.
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William Hague has called for tighter controls on childrens smartphone usage while urging ministers to stand up to tech giants.

The Oxford chancellor said the government was wrong to water down proposals by Labour MP Josh MacAlister to introduce stronger controls for teenagers on the internet, including raising the age of internet adulthood from 13 to 16, banning smartphones in schools, giving Ofcom more powers and changing the way phones are advertised to children.

Study after study has shown that the more time young people spend on social media, the more they suffer anxiety and depression, are victims of harassment, endure poor sleep, low self-esteem and poor body image.

open image in gallery Lord William Hague was elected as the next chancellor of the University of Oxford (The Office of William Hague/PA) ( PA Media )

Incredibly, a quarter of children as young as three and four years old are now in possession of a smartphone, said Mr Hague.

Writing in The Times, the former Tory leader asked: Why have they flinched on this? Why are they diluting to near insignificance a measure for which so many parents, and indeed young people themselves, have been calling?

He argued that not only are ministers slow to adjust to radical changes in technology and society, but they are also afraid of upsetting US president Donald Trump, who is closely allied with Tech billionaire Elon Musk.

Issuing a stark warning to the government, Mr Hague said that welcoming technology firms is different from letting them do anything they like.

He urged ministers to act faster and do much better than the craven weakness they displayed last week.

Mr Hagues warning comes after the new CEO of the NSPCC told The Independent about new horrors facing children online, including one account of how a scammer used AI to paste a teenage boys face onto a naked body before extorting him for cash.

In his first interview as CEO of the leading childrens charity, Chris Sherwood warned that the threat from generative AI could be worse for children than the impact of social media.

Meanwhile, Childline, the helpline run by the NSPCC, has reported seeing young people increasingly mentioning AI abuse in their counselling sessions.

Last year, the operator recorded 178 counselling sessions with mentions of AI-related phrases, new data reveals.

It comes just days after the government was accused of betraying our children and capitulating to big tech after Mr MacAlisters bill was watered down to gain government support.

The version of the Bill introduced by the MP would instruct UK chief medical officers to publish advice for parents on the use of smartphones and social media by children.

It would also compel ministers to say within a year whether they plan to raise the age at which children can consent for their data to be shared without parental permission.

open image in gallery The Safer Phones Bill will have its second reading in the Commons on Friday (PA) ( PA Wire )

Conservative former education secretary Kit Malthouse described the Protection of Children (Digital Safety and Data Protection) Bill, as a hollowed-out gesture before its consideration was adjourned.

He told MPs he lamented the gutting of what could have been a landmark Bill and the government has dithered, diluted and capitulated.

He said: We should all be furious about this. We should all be furious about the delay and the prevarication that is being injected into what could have been a huge step forward for parents and children.

I cannot then understand why the government has pressured [Josh MacAlister] to produce what is, frankly, a cosmetic plug, betraying our children and capitulating to big tech.

Im afraid this Bill is a shell of what it could have been, and as a result, is yet another missed opportunity to improve the lives of our young people.

A Department for Science, Innovation and Technology spokesperson said: We are committed to keeping young people safe online. From summer robust new laws in force through the Online Safety Act will protect children from harmful content and ensure they have age-appropriate experiences online.

These protections will act as the foundation and our priority is getting them in place quickly and effectively.

"We also know there will be more to do and have already acted, including commissioning a study to assess current research on the impact of social media and smartphones, strengthening the evidence base on their impact on children's well-being.

This will enable us to swiftly consider all options to inform our next steps in the safety of children online.
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It took eight months but Sir Keir Starmer may have finally found his voice as prime minister.

The Labour leader may be the first PM to have almost no honeymoon period following a massive election victory but to actually come out stronger for it.

The painful-to-listen-to speeches, the constant empty references to working people, and the interminable meaningless lists of first steps, missions, foundations and milestones, are becoming a fading memory as he at last focuses on what matters.

His speech to the parliamentary Labour party (PLP) last night was his third career-defining moment in a fortnight and came with an assuredness, courage and ruthlessness that had been completely missing in the early part of his government.

In turning on welfare payments in the way he has, Sir Keir has gone where no other Labour prime minister has dared to go. He has reclaimed the word labour to mean support for those in work rather than the old Tory derision that they were the party of benefits.

open image in gallery Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer spoke with Donald Trump on Monday (Ben Whitley/PA) ( PA Wire )

It is noticeable that even Tony Blair in his great reforming government was reluctant to do more than tinker with single parent benefits rather than tackle the entire welfare edifice. He asked Frank Field to think the unthinkable and, when Field did that, he lost his job along with his then boss Harriet Harman.

Sir Keir instead has looked at the problem. He has seen 2.8 million people of working age languishing on long term sickness and disability benefits. He has seen that this number will grow to 4 million by 2030 with a cost of 70 billion  almost double that of the defence budget. And he has made the cold, hard calculation that it is unsustainable, indefensible and unfair.

But he also knows the obstacles and reluctance within his own party to cut support for the poorest and most needy.

After all, they are still complaining about the reforms carried out by Tory former work and pensions secretary Sir Iain Duncan Smith which, coupled with George Osborne as chancellor, saw an attempt at reducing the welfare bill as well as trying to get people back to work.

Those reforms were effective but now the cost is significantly on the rise again.

Sir Keir has decided he needs to use his Commons majority to do the right thing rather than politically expedient thing in terms of internal Labour politics.

We also saw it when he took on another sacred cow for Labour, slashing international aid to fund increased defence.

These are the sorts of policies you might have expected from the Tories  except they were too afraid to do them.

The prime minister is helped by the fact that the vast majority of Labour MPs, particularly from the new intake, are relatively supine and hoping for career advancement. So there is little prospect of a significant rebellion.

open image in gallery Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair was nervous about cutting welfare (Danny Lawson/PA) ( PA Wire )

Nevertheless, it took him eight months to understand that he could properly exert his power in this way. And his speech to the PLP showed a clarity and honesty to his MPs, which many believed had been absent before.

His parties in Wales and Scotland, both facing very difficult election challenges next year will probably not thank him as they take on leftwing nationalist rivals in Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party. But in the past few weeks, Sir Keir has behaved like a leader unafraid of doing what needs to be done.

We saw it first in the White House where he won the respect of Donald Trump and politely but firmly stood up to the free speech slurs of Vice President JD Vance. We saw it when he hugged President Volodymyr Zelensky in Downing Street two days later after the Ukrainian leaders bust up with President Trump.

With Frances Emmanuel Macron in political trouble, Germany without an effective government, and America in the hands of the most volatile president in modern history, the west is looking for Sir Keir for leadership and currently he is not disappointing them.

Happily for him, he has found his zen just as his principal opponents, most notably Nigel Farage and Reform, are in a state of collapse and flux.

But if the prime minister we have seen in the last two weeks is what defines Sir Keirs premiership rather than the lost and directionless politician we saw in the first eight months then Labour may turn out to be a party of government rather than one which almost accidentally found itself in power because of the failures of others.
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Twelve people are dead and 45 others injured after a bus overturned on a South African highway.

The crash, in the city of Johannesburg on Tuesday, saw multiple passengers thrown from the vehicle, emergency services said.

Some of the injured are in critical condition.

William Nthladi, a spokesman for the citys Ekurhuleni Emergency Management, said emergency crews were attempting to lift the bus back upright to see if anyone else was trapped underneath it.

"On arrival we found patients lying across the road," he said.

There were two bodies still trapped in the wreckage, he added.

Scattered among the debris on the highway were passengers personal belongings, including hand bags, a lunch box, and a water bottle.

open image in gallery Emergency workers inspect the scene of the crash ( AP )

Andile Mngwevu, a local city councillor who went to the scene, described it as a disaster.

"We are lost for words. To see so many bodies lying around is quite saddening, and the city really feels for the families who would have expected to see their loved ones return home later today.

Our hearts are extremely heavy right now."

The crash happened early in the morning on a highway near Johannesburg's main OR Tambo International Airport and left the bus lying on its side.

Officials said it had been transporting people from the township of Katlehong, east of Johannesburg.

Mr Nthladi said 12 people were declared dead at the scene of the crash by paramedics.

He also said he was unable to give exact details on the extent of the injuries of those taken to hospital, who included the driver, but said they ranged from serious to critical.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash and officials have not yet been able to determine the cause.

Police are investigating and the crash is being treated as a crime scene because of the fatalities, Mr Nthladi added.
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Crews have begun work to remove the large yellow Black Lives Matter mural painted on the street one block from the White House.

The removal, expected to last around six weeks, follows D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's announcement of the change last week after pressure from Republicans in Congress. The mural will be replaced by a series of city-sponsored murals, the specifics of which are yet to be revealed.

The original painting of the "Black Lives Matter" slogan in 2020 was a bold act of defiance against then-President Donald Trump. Ordered by Mayor Bowser, a Democrat, the mural and the renaming of the intersection to Black Lives Matter Plaza followed days of protests over police brutality and the murder of George Floyd.

Now, with Trump back in the White House and Republicans holding a majority in Congress, the removal of the mural signifies the District of Columbia's vulnerable political position.

Bowser has little power to fend off encroachments on D.C.'s limited autonomy.

open image in gallery Crews begin drilling into the mural ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

She said last week on X that, The mural inspired millions of people and helped our city through a painful period, but now we cant afford to be distracted by meaningless congressional interference. The devastating impacts of the federal job cuts must be our number one concern.

As construction equipment began tearing up the pavement some gathered to witness the moment.

I needed to be here today. I cant just let this go away, said Starlette Thomas, a 45-year old Bowie, Maryland resident who attended the 2020 Floyd protests. At the plaza, Thomas discretely secured a chunk of pavement and said holding it made her both happy and sad.

To walk away with a piece of that, it means its not gone, she said. "Its more than brick and mortar.

open image in gallery ( AFP via Getty Images )

Also on the scene was Megan Bailiff, CEO of Equus Striping, the pavement marking company that originally painted the letters.

Bailiff called the dismantling of Black Lives Matter Plaza, historically obscene and said its presence was, more significant at this very moment than it ever has been in this country.

The far right celebrated the shift online, with conservative provocateur Charlie Kirk visiting the site to hail, the end of this mass race hysteria in our country.

In Trumps second term, Bowser has worked to avoid conflict and downplay any points of contention. She travelled to Mar-a-Lago in Florida to meet with Trump after the election and has publicly emphasized their points of agreement.

Trump recently revived a frequent campaign talking point about wanting a federal takeover of the nations capital, describing Washington as being riddled with crime, graffiti and homeless encampments. Bowser has refused to comment on reports that the White House is preparing an executive order targeting Washington. She publicly said that the greatest threat to the so-called Home Rule autonomy was some of the people in Congress.

Congressional Republicans have repeatedly threatened to interfere in city affairs in large and small ways. A measure currently before Congress, named the BOWSER Act, seeks to completely revoke the Home Rule Act of 1973, which grants the capital city limited autonomy.
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A Palestinian activist who helped lead student protests at Columbia University faces deportation after being arrested over the weekend by federal immigration officials.

Trump has warned that the apprehension of Mahmoud Khalil, a legal permanent resident, represents the first arrest of many as his administration cracks down on campus opposition to the war in Gaza. But a federal judge temporarily blocked the 30-year olds expulsion from the country.

Heres what you need to know:

What happened?

Khalil was detained Saturday night as he and his wife were returning to their Columbia University-owned apartment in upper Manhattan by officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The agents told the couple that Khalil was being detained because his student visa had been revoked.

When his wife provided documents proving he was a green card holder, the agents said that was also being revoked and took him away in handcuffs, according to a lawsuit Khalils attorneys filed challenging his detention.

Why is he facing deportation?

The Department of Homeland Security, confirming his arrest Saturday, accused Khalil of leading activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.

The White House, elaborating more on its position Tuesday, claimed Khalil organized protests where pro-Hamas propaganda was distributed.

This administration is not going to tolerate individuals having the privilege of studying in our country and then siding with pro-terrorist organizations that have killed Americans," said Karoline Leavitt, Trumps press secretary.

Khalils lawyers didnt immediately respond to the White Houses latest claims.

Who is Mahmoud Khalil?

Khalil was one of the most visible activists in the protests last spring at Columbia, which also happened on other college campuses around the world.

He served as a student negotiator  a role that had him speaking frequently with university officials and the press.

More recently, he was among the pro-Palestinian activists investigated by a new disciplinary body at Columbia University focused on harassment and discrimination complaints.

Khalil completed his masters degree in public administration at Columbias School of International and Public Affairs in December.

Whats his legal status?

Khalil was born and raised in Syria after his Palestinian grandparents were removed from their homeland, according to his lawsuit.

He came to the U.S. on a student visa in 2022 to pursue his graduate studies at Columbia.

Khalil and his wife, who is a U.S. citizen, then married in 2023. He became a legal permanent resident  also known as a green card holder  last year.

Can the government deport green card holders?

Short answer: yes. Green card holders can be deported, but the government has the burden to prove the person is deportable.

Grounds for deportation can range from being convicted of a range of crimes, from murder, assault and burglary to tax evasion, domestic violence and illegal firearms possession, according to Stephen Yale-Loehr, an immigration law expert and retired Cornell Law School professor.

But a legal permanent resident can also be expelled for providing material support to a terrorist group, in which case the government doesnt need a criminal conviction to bring deportation charges, he said.

Material support for immigration purposes is much broader than the criminal definition of the term, Yale-Loehr explained. For example, people have been deported for simply providing a cup of water or bowl of rice to guerrilla groups, even under duress.

Where is Khalil?

Khalil is being held at a federal immigration detention facility in a central Louisiana town roughly 170 miles (274 kilometers) northwest of New Orleans.

The Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Jena, which is a low-slung complex ringed by barbed wire fences, can hold about 1,160 detainees.

Louisiana became a hub for immigrant detention during the first Trump administration and has nine centers, most of them run by private contractors.

Critics say the isolated complexes cut prisoners off from easy access to attorneys and family.

The intent is to kind of break the morale, the spirits, of those that are held at these facilities, Yasmine Taeb, the legislative and political director for the Muslim activist group MPower Change, told reporters Tuesday.

What's next?

Khalil is expected to make an initial appearance before an immigration court but is unclear when  it could happen anywhere from 10 days to a month, experts told the AP .

Meanwhile, a federal judge in Manhattan ordered the government to not deport Khalil until the court has a chance to review the case. A hearing was tentatively scheduled for Wednesday.

Khalils lawyers contend that he has a right to due process as a legal permanent resident and that the government is engaging in blatant efforts to target and chill Khalils free speech and to discriminate against particular viewpoints, in violation of the First Amendment.

Theyve also petitioned the court to have him returned to New York, as his wife is eight months pregnant.

For everyone reading this, I urge you to see Mahmoud through my eyes as a loving husband and the future father to our baby, his wife, who has not been named, wrote in a statement provided by his lawyers. I need your help to bring Mahmoud home, so he is here beside me, holding my hand in the delivery room as we welcome our first child into this world.

___

Associated Press reporters Dave Collins in Hartford, Connecticut, and Tim Sullivan in Minneapolis contributed to this story.

___

Follow Philip Marcelo at twitter.com/philmarcelo.
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The eponymous founder of a successful chain of coffee shops denigrated and mocked Black employees, paid them thousands less than their white colleagues, and in one instance, fired an assistant manager for no reason other than the color of her skin, the companys former human resources director alleges in a new lawsuit.

Jessica Day, the onetime VP of People at Gregorys Coffee, contends she witnessed numerous racist outbursts by CEO Gregory Zamfotis, and claims she warned the 43-year-old father of three that he was going to eventually land himself in serious legal trouble. But when he ignored Days advice, her complaint says she had no choice but to resign, telling Zamfotis, point blank, in writing, that she was leaving because of the overt bias, favoritism and discrimination within the organization as a direct result of you, your conduct, your words, and your actions.

On one occasion, Zamfotis went on a tirade about a Black team member, telling Day that he was incensed [the woman] had been hired because she was missing a tooth, according to the suit, which was filed Tuesday in New York State Supreme Court and obtained by The Independent.

It says Zamfotis then stood up in the meeting and engaged in an offensive caricature of Black behavior, only cutting short his rant when Day intervened.

In an email on Tuesday, Days attorney Seth Rafkin told The Independent that he does not discuss details of cases out of respect for the judicial process. However, Rafkin said, We recognize that when an individual takes legal action against an employer it requires a great deal of grit and courage. Our client and our firm are hopeful that this case will address not only her claims but also help others dealing with similar circumstances.

Zamfotis, who dubs loyal customers  Gregulars , did not respond to a request for comment.

Fox 5

Gregorys, a New York City-based chain, has 50 locations across multiple states. The stylish Zamfotis went to law school but chose coffee instead, and has appeared in the pages of Esquire , GQ , The New York Times , and, most recently, on the CBS Evening News . The chain opened its first store in 2006, and now has shops as far afield as Texas and Minnesota.

Day, who had previously been an executive at Starbucks, began her tenure at Gregorys in June 2022, and soon observed blatant violations by Zamfotis of labor and discrimination laws, according to her lawsuit.

Among the first issues she confronted was Zamfotiss refusal to allow a Black assistant manager to return to work following what Days suit describes as a lawful leave of absence.

Zamfotis reasoning was that she was a bad employee, the complaint states. When [Day] pushed Zamfotis for actual information demonstrating poor performance, the most he could muster was that he did not think she smiled enough. Yet, an actual store manager that this employee worked under ranked her as a top employee and described her as amazing. And indeed, there was not a shred of documentation of any performance issues.

Day pushed back, telling Zamfotis that the company had a legal obligation to reinstate the manager, according to the complaint.

Begrudgingly, the most Zamfotis would allow was for the employee to be sent to a different location under the pretense of her having to be retrained, it says.

Zamfotis later became fixated on the chains only Black executive after she took medical leave for a condition that required a hospital stay, Days complaint continues. He described her as another bad employee, the complaint goes on, and says Zamfotis even wanted to ensure that the employee would not receive any compensation while she was on leave, despite the fact that she was entitled to use paid leave.

Black employees were also subject to significant pay disparities, according to Day, whose complaint points to a white, male barista whose $75,000 salary  which was authorized specially by Zamfotis  was $20,000 more than that of the baristas manager, a Black woman who held that stores top position. As before, Day informed Zamfotis that this almost certainly constituted a legal violation, but, her complaint states, he would not relent.

The white barista was later handpicked by Zamfotis to work as a trainer, denying other employees from competing for a chance at the position, which came with a pay bump, according to Days complaint.

By this point, this white male barista was being paid more than the black employee in charge of Gregorys entire coffee roasting operation and who had been with the company for more than nine years, the complaint alleges.

Zamfotis also treated women like second-class citizens, ignoring disturbing reports of workplace harassment while protecting the harassers, according to Day. Her complaint says a Gregorys district manager had been the subject of repeated sexual harassment allegations by multiple women, but took no action and stepped in to ensure no documentation about it was placed in the employees file. In another, similar case involving a different male manager, instead of reprimanding the alleged harasser, Zamfotis had him fire the employee who said she had been harassed, according to Days complaint.

By mid-December 2023, Day had seen enough, her complaint states. It says she repeatedly told Zamfotis that he was engaging in textbook examples of what is against the law, and that he was going to get the sh*t sued out [of] you. But, as before, Zamfotis didnt listen, according to the complaint.

Day decided that she could no longer work at a company where her protests were ignored, her department was being used or bypassed to effect unlawful conduct, and where discrimination and sexism permeated the environment, the complaint says.

Roughly 18 months after Day took the job at Gregorys, she resigned.

Days suit says she has suffered emotional distress, humiliation, and mental anguish, and demands lost back wages and benefits, lost future earnings and benefits, and compensatory damages to be determined by a jury, plus attorneys fees.
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Saturday brush fires in Long Island have been linked to a backyard s'mores session in Manorville, New York, according to investigators.

Officials said Monday that the fires were sparked accidentally after a group of people tried to make the sweet treats s'mores  Graham cracker sandwiches of chocolate and toasted marshmallows  in their backyard.

The group reportedly used cardboard to ignite their fire to toast the marshmallows, according to Suffolk Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina.

"The individual making s'mores was unable to get the fire lit due to the winds, but they used cardboard to initially light that fire," Catalina said at a news conference on Monday. "The person subsequently discovers that the fire does ignite in the backyard area and all goes up in fire."

Strong winds over the weekend whipped through the backyard and carried embers from the fire east toward Westhampton, where a large fire occurred, according to NBC News. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said that recently downed trees and the 35 mph winds helped to fuel the fires into significant blazes.

The Westhampton Pines Fire burned approximately 600 acres over the weekend before fire responders managed to contain the flames.

According to Catalina, the initial fire was contained by 10:30 a.m., but by then the embers had already been scattered east, where they ignited the brush fire near Westhampton.

A brush fire in Long Island, New York on Saturday reportedly began after a group of residents tried to make smores in their backyard ( AP )

"It was initially reported that there were four separate fires, or reported at one time," Catalina said.

"All of those fires are in a direct line with the strong northwest wind that was blowing that day. And it is believed that the embers from each fire traveled and continuously started more fires. So that is the operating theory right now, he added.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has ordered a burn ban for the area in the wake of the fires. She prohibited most types of outside camping, cooking and warming fires in Long Island and parts of the Hudson Valley, citing the ongoing dry conditions in the region.

Backyard fire pits, small campfires, and small cooking fires in contained units are exempt from the ban.

The burn prohibition will remain in place until an annual fire ban on outdoor fires starts on March 16, according to Hochul's office.

Only two buildings were damaged in the fire, with one being "fairly destroyed," according to fire officials. Another was significantly damaged, officials said.
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Former First Lady Michelle Obama will open up about life and her marriage to former President Barack Obama in a new podcast featuring her brother.

Launching on Wednesday, IMOshort for In My Opinionwill see Obama and her brother, Craig Robinson, discuss their life experiences, interview celebrities, and take questions from listeners. According to reports, the show will not delve too deeply into politics.

Let's be real: we are living through some really complicated and confusing times, and people are feeling more alone than ever, Obama says in a trailer for the podcast.

But I've learned that if you're feeling a certain kind of way, the reality is that others are probably feeling that way too, and when you take the time to be just a little vulnerable and open up about it, it's a whole lot easier to find the answers you're looking for.

She said weekly guests would keep us honest while also sharing their own insights about life, whether you are navigating the grey areas of marriage and raising kids, dealing with a little friend drama, or even figuring out how to put yourself out there in the dating world.

open image in gallery Former First Lady Michelle Obama did not address the unfounded rumors involving her own marriage in the trailer ( Getty Images )

In a review of the first two episodes, the New York Times said Obama and her brother discuss Robinsons divorce and her initial reluctance to support her husbands bid for the presidency.

The second interview includes a chat with actress Issa Rae about how to maintain adult friendships. Obama also discloses that she has finally started driving again after years of Secret Service restrictions.

According to Higher Ground, the Obamas production company, IMO will combine the unique experiences and candid perspectives of Obama and Robinson. Each week, they will be joined by a special guest or expert to share hilarious, practical, and insightful opinions that shaped each of their remarkable journeys.

This podcast will leave you laughing, reflecting, and feeling more prepared to tackle lifes challenges, Higher Ground said in a press release.

Slated guests include actors Seth Rogan and Keke Palmer, director Tyler Perry and Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky. The podcast will also be available in video form.

The Obamas have been dogged by persistent and unfounded divorce rumours after the First lady did not appear at either former President Jimmy Carters funeral or at President Donald Trumps inauguration.

open image in gallery Michelle Obama didnt attend Jimmy Carters funeral earlier this year ( Getty Images )

The hearsay forced Jennifer Aniston into publicly refuting rumours that she had an affair with Barack Obama, saying she had only met him once in an interview with Jimmy Kimmel late last year, adding that she knew Michelle better than the former president.

However, this past Valentine's Day the former president showed the marriage was still going strong, sharing a touching tribute to his wife of more than 30 years.

Thirty-two years together and you still take my breath away, he wrote on X, sharing a happy photograph of the couple.

Happy Valentines Day, @MichelleObama!

This marks the third podcast launched by the former First Lady. She released her first, The Michelle Obama Podcast in 2020 followed by The Light We Carry in 2023.
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The Trump administration appears to have deleted a Justice Department web page describing a study that concluded undocumented immigrants in Texas commit notably less crime than U.S. citizens, a finding that contradicts the White Houses frequent descriptions of such migrants as violent criminals.

Sometime in the last week, the DOJ removed this from its website, immigration expert David Bier of the Cato Institute wrote on X. Wonder why?

The Independent has contacted the Department of Justice for comment.

The National Institute of Justice web page, titled, Undocumented Immigrant Offending Rate Lower Than U.S.-Born Citizen Rate, described a study the institute funded in Texas, scrutinizing crime data between 2012 and 2018.

The study, preserved elsewhere in House of Representatives records, found that undocumented people were arrested at half the rate of native-born citizens for violent and drug crimes, and a quarter the rate for property crimes.

It also noted that the undocumented had the lowest offending rates overall for felony and violent felony crime in the border state.

open image in gallery Undocumented migrants committed considerably less crime than U.S. citizens, the study found, adding to the larger consensus on the topic ( Getty Images )

There is no evidence that the prevalence of undocumented immigrant crime has grown for any category, the authors wrote.

The finding supports the general research consensus that immigrants commit less crime than U.S. citizens, though attempts at studying this population are confounded by states that dont note immigration status in arrests.

The Trump administration frequently describes unauthorized migrants as violent, dangerous criminals.

open image in gallery Donald Trump campaigned on linking migrants to crime ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

A recent White House statement on Trumps planned mass deportations notes that the number of illegal immigrants removed from the country has topped 50,000 as the Trump Administration continues getting illegal immigrant killers, rapists, and drug dealers off our streets.

In fact, half of those in immigration detention since Trump took office have not been convicted of any crime, according to a New York Times data analysis. (Illegally entering the U.S. on its own is a civil offense.)

Even in places where the administration has painted its efforts as going after the worst of the worst, the reality has fallen short.

As part of court proceedings over the White Houses move to detain deported migrants at the Guantanamo Bay naval station  home to Americas high-value terrorist detainees  the administration disclosed that at one point, nearly one-third of migrant detainees were considered lower-threat and likely do not have any serious criminal records.

During the 2024 campaign, Donald Trump frequently tied the record immigration that occurred at the southern border during the Biden years to what he called Biden migrant crime, and appeared alongside angel moms whose children were killed by migrants.

In recent years, Texas has occupied a boundary-pushing role as an immigration enforcer, in partnership with the federal government. Under Governor Greg Abbott, the state has spent billions using state police and military-style border wall to fight illegal immigration.
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Canada never, ever will be part of America in any way, shape or form, said Canadas new prime minister-in-waiting, Mark Carney, after winning the race to lead the countrys Liberal party.

Carneys message was a response to repeated statements from Trump in the past few months that he wanted Canada to become part of the US, and for the border between the two to be erased.

There is historical precedent to the idea of this specific land grab. Since its founding, the United States has frequently expressed an interest in merging with its northern neighbour.

Even before the United States had been formed, article 11 of the precursor to the Constitution, the Articles of Confederation, stated that: Canada  shall be admitted into, and entitled to all the advantages of this union.

When the founding fathers signed the US constitution in 1787, Canada consisted of just Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. The vast majority of the population was Catholic and French speaking. So, the idea of being absorbed into a new nation which had come into being driven by Puritan New Englanders was not appealing.

For Canadians it was bad enough to have been overseen from London, but at least the British parliament had guaranteed their rights with the Quebec Act of 1774. That tolerant measure allowed free practice of Catholicism, protected the use of the French language and even restored French civil law.

open image in gallery Canadas new prime minister-in-waiting, Mark Carney, said the country would never, ever will be part of America in any way, shape or form

In addition, at the time Canadas fur, timber and fish trade was almost all with Britain, which had used a mix of tariffs and legislation to ensure the dominance of British ships.

Canadian traders could also take advantage of Britains Caribbean colonies importing cotton, rum and sugar in a circular trade. By the outbreak of the US revolution, Canada was well and truly sewn into Britains trading orbit, so Canadians resisted the siren song of the American revolutionaries.

But this did not stop American patriots from attempting to rally support for their cause in Canada. In May 1775 the American capture of Fort Ticonderoga, in upstate New York, spurred an invasion of Quebec. However, poor leadership, insufficient numbers and bad planning led to the defeat of the invasion in December 1775.

Another attack the following year had been rebuffed by the time the US had declared independence from Britain in July 1776. Americans would not attempt another invasion of their northern neighbour until their next war with Britain, in 1812.

The 19th century wars

The 1812 invasion of Canada was a far more serious affair. Hoping to capture Canada in order to use it as a bargaining chip in their maritime disputes with Britain, US forces launched a three-pronged attack.

It met with stiff resistance from the British and their Canadian and Native American allies. The invading US forces were comprehensively defeated. They surrendered at Detroit on the western edge of Lake Erie. But even this would not be the last invasion by Americans.

During the US civil war (1861-1865) there was talk of forceable American annexation of Canada because of British support for the Confederacy, but it remained just talk. The year after that war ended, in June 1866, a group of 1500 Irish-Americans crossed the Niagara River into Canada.

There had been a precursor to this invasion when small bands of Irish-Americans launched a dozen or so raids on what was then the province of Upper Canada (today the southern half of Ontario) in the so-called patriot war of 1837-1838. However, the 1866 raid was arguably more like the 1812 invasions, in that the objective of the raid was to take Canada and use it as a bargaining chip for Irish home rule.

open image in gallery A recent Ipsos poll found that nearly 80 percent of Canadians would never vote for Canada to become part of the US

Initially the raid went well. The Americans defeated a small force of Canadian militiamen, but they were forced to withdraw back over the border when the British mobilised far larger forces. Undeterred, days later, the Irish launched another unsuccessful raid south of Montreal.

They would attempt another two invasions in May 1870 and a final raid in Manitoba in October 1871. All met with overwhelmingly superior Canadian forces, and never represented a serious threat.

While Canada would never experience another invasion from the US it was seen as a possibility in US strategic planning in the inter-war years. In 1927 the US department of war modelled a hypothetical conflict with Britain.

War Plan Red included invading Canada and devastating Nova Scotia using poison gas, as well as cutting Britains submarine cables to Halifax. Luckily, that war never happened, and invasion plans were shelved.

Since the US recognition of the Dominion of Canada in the Anglo-American treaty of Washington (1871) there hasnt really been any serious talk of annexation until Trump renewed interest in 2024. But there have been regional Canadians groups that have advocated joining the United States.

Canadians who wanted to be American

In the 1840s, republican conservatives in Upper Canada sought to join the US as a way to improve democratic representation. The 1850s also saw American immigrants in Quebec advocate annexation to get away from French-Canadian dominance. Some British Columbians signed petitions to become Americans before it became a Canadian province in 1871.

The most notable movements of the 20th century were the Economic Union Party of Newfoundland in the 1950s and the short-lived Unionest Party in Saskatchewan in the 1980s. Both of these small parties saw advantages to some kind of union with parts of Canada and the United States, for economic reasons.

More recently, starting in the 1980s, a small political party, Parti 51, advocated that Quebec become part of the US, but failed to win much backing over the years. Its five candidates won 689 votes in Quebec in 2022. The party has now been dismantled.

An Ipsos poll of January 16 2025 found that nearly 80 percent of Canadians polled would never vote for Canada to become part of the US.

Maybe the current mood is best summed up by the Canadian New Democratic Party leader, Jagmeet Singh, who tersely told Trump: Cut the crap Donald. No Canadian wants to join you.

Kristofer Allerfeldt is an associate professor in US History at the University of Exeter. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Right-wing media pundit Ann Coulter has questioned the effort by a pro-Israel group to put together a list of international students they say have taken part in protests in support of Hamas, arguing that it may be a violation of the First Amendment.

Theres almost no one I dont want to deport, but unless theyve committed a crime, isnt this a violation of the First Amendment? Coulter wrote on X as she responded to a report from the New York Post.

The outlet reported that the names of international students in the U.S. on visas who had taken part in protests had been gathered by Betar, a pro-Israel group, with the aim of forcing them to return home with the help of the Trump administration.

Betar told The Hill that they provide information on jihadis.

We also believe naturalized citizens will also soon face consequences as our president has said, the group added.

Where Ms. Coulter is wrong is that one who supports terror is committing a crime, Betar told the outlet. The very support for Hamas is grounds for deportation. Free speech is not supporting terror. This is the first of many Mahmouds we expect will be deported.

Ross Glick, director of the U.S. chapter of Betar, told the New York Post, We have started commencing lists of Jew-hating foreign nationals on visas who support Hamas.

Ann Coulter questioned the effort by a pro-Israel group to gather the names of international students protesting the war in Gaza ( Getty Images for Politicon )

Mahmoud Khalil, a student at Columbia University, led pro-Palestinian protests and was arrested over the weekend by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, sparking outrage as hes a green card holder and permanent legal resident, according to his lawyer.

We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported, Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X.

On Tuesday morning, responding to a report that she was questioning the effort to deport Khalil, Coulter added: Manifestly, I make no mention of any specific protester whatsoever. I was responding to a Tweet about someone compiling a list of pro-Hamas foreign students.

President Donald Trump bragged about the arrest of Khalil on Truth Social on Monday, claiming that those who led protests at campuses last year against the war in Gaza were taking part in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, and the Trump Administration will not tolerate it.

We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country  never to return again, said Trump. If you support terrorism, including the slaughtering of innocent men, women, and children, your presence is contrary to our national and foreign policy interests, and you are not welcome here.
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Republican Representative Don Bacon sharply rebuked Elon Musk for insulting the Polish foreign minister and a Democratic U.S. Senator on social media for to their support of Ukraine.

Bacons comments came after Musk called Arizona Democrat Mark Kelly a traitor for visiting Ukraine and the Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski a small man for defending Ukraines use of Starlink.

Bacon, a Nebraskan who endorsed President Donald Trump in 2020 and 2024, said Musks attacks on U.S. lawmakers and allies were not appropriate and reflected poorly on the White House.

"It's not decent, its not right," Bacon told CNN. "I don't agree with Senator Kelly on some things, but we dont call each other a traitor, and I think it reflects bad on the White House.

Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska condemned Elon Musk for name-calling a Democratic senator over their support for Ukraine ( CNN / YouTube )

Musk blasted Kelly on X after the senator visited Ukraine and urged the U.S. government to continue backing Ukraine in its war with Russia. Kellys comment appeared to be an indirect response to Trump pausing U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine after a contentious meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

He represents the White House when he says that. And also going after the foreign minister of Poland, I dont thinks right either, Bacon added, referring to Musk attacking Sikorski.

Musk told Sikorski to be quiet, small man on X during a tense exchange in which Sikorski defended Poland paying millions to provide Ukraine with Starlink technology and questioned Musks ethics of threatening to turn off the life-saving communication tech for the war-torn country.

I thought, Why is a White House official  thats not even elected, and its not the president or vice president  Why is that person belittling the Polish foreign minister? Its not appropriate, its not right. We need more discipline in the White House, Bacon told CNN anchor Pamela Brown.

Bacon, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, criticized Musk and the Trump administration for turning their backs on Ukraine and treating Putin with velvet gloves.

Though the president promised to end the UkraineRussia conflict upon taking office in January, he has struggled to make progress. Trump has walked back much of the relationship that former president Joe Biden built with Zelensky, calling the Ukrainian president a dictator and publicly condemning him during an Oval Office meeting.

The Republican representative said Trump was walking away from the foreign policy legacy left by former presidents Ike Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan and urged the administration to recognize Russia as a foreign adversary and Ukraine as an ally.

Its time that this administration gets this in their brain, Bacon said.

Part of doing so, according to Bacon, is reigning in the rhetoric used by White House officials such as Musk.

His job was to do an audit of what were spending on, I think we should have more discussion for when we fire people, cut people, know what the consequences are, but it doesnt reflect well on our country when this goes on, Bacon said.
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Donald Trumps administration claims Elon Musks so-called Department of Government Efficiency is shielded from public records searches.

But a federal judge says the U.S. DOGE Service is wielding so much unprecedented authority with unusual secrecy that the agency must comply with public records requests.

DOGE wields the requisite substantial independent authority to be subject to requests under the Freedom of Information Act, according to a late-night filing from District Judge Christopher Cooper in Washington, D.C., referring to federal law that allows members of the public to seek federal records.

open image in gallery Elon Musks work with the U.S. DOGE Service is subject to public records searches, according to a ruling from a federal judge in Washington, D.C. ( AP )

Musks project to gut federal agencies and purge the workforce is not subject to FOIA, government lawyers wrote last month.

Cooper argued that the administration appears to be making a strategic decision to dodge questions about DOGEs operations and management, qualifying itself as an agency subject to federal law only when it is convenient, he wrote.

The authority exercised by [DOGE] across the federal government and the dramatic cuts it has apparently made with no congressional input appear to be unprecedented, Cooper wrote Monday.

The judges decision opens DOGE to requests for range of documents, including emails, memos, notes and other records that detail how the agency works and who runs it.

DOGE  formerly the U.S. Digital Service, which operated as a government-wide IT agency before Trump renamed it by executive order  should be insulated from public records requests until at least 2034, according to the White House.

The office was reorganized under the Executive Office of the President and was now subject to Presidential Records, DOGE official Katie Miller said last month.

The Presidential Records Act shields most documents and communication involving the president, advisers and staff from the public for until five years after leaving office.

In his ruling, Cooper pointed to Musk and Trump publicly taking credit for drastic cuts to federal spending, including Musks X post boasting about feeding the U.S. Agency for International Development into the wood chipper.

The rapid pace of [DOGEs] actions, in turn, requires the quick release of information about its structure and activities, Cooper wrote. That is especially so given the secrecy with which DOGE has operated.

Cooper also noted the Department of Justices apparent failure to provide formal assurance that the office is properly maintaining records, as well as news reports that DOGE staff is using the encrypted messaging app Signal to communicate, arguing that the mostly young employees who do not have government experience to put it charitably, may not fully appreciate their obligations to preserve federal records.

Musk has stated that DOGE  and all aspects of the government  should be fully transparent and accountable to the people, with no exceptions.

The White House continues to insist hes not the one running it, nor does he have authority to make any decisions himself. Trump, however, has repeatedly said Musk is in charge. The White House only recently named the acting administrator of DOGE after weeks of attempts from attorneys and members of the press to find out who is allegedly running the agency. The appointment of Amy Gleason to the role appeared to catch her and USDS staff by surprise.

open image in gallery Protesters gather outside a Tesla dealership in Manhattan to demonstrate against Elon Musk on March 8 ( Getty Images )

Mondays ruling follows a lawsuit from nonprofit watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which called on the judge to enforce time-sensitive records requests and to grant a court order that would require DOGE to preserve them.

Cooper stopped short of granting CREWs request to make materials public before Congress reconvened this week but agreed there was an urgent need to release them.

He called on the government to submit a report by March 20 with an estimate for the number of documents that apply to CREWs requests.

Were grateful for Judge Coopers decision. Now more than ever, Americans deserve transparency in their government, CREW executive director and chief counsel Donald Sherman said in a statement. Despite efforts and claims to the contrary, the government cannot hide the actions of the US DOGE Service. We look forward to the expedited processing of our requests and making all the DOGE documents public.
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Last week, sparks flew between President Donald Trump and the Democrats during his joint address to Congress. Rep. Al Green of Texas stood up to confront the president during Trumps speech, which led to him being censured by the House of Representatives. Other Democrats walked out of his address during a chaotic joint address that Trump chose to turn into one of his campaign rallies.

But that might have been the opening match for the main event this week: Preventing a government shutdown. It will prove the mettle of whether Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson can hold together the Republican conference and, just as important, whether Democrats will stand up to Trump or roll over lest Trump blame them for a shutdown.

Typically, Republicans hate voting for continuing resolutions because they see them as shirking the responsibilities of writing proper appropriations bills and, more importantly to them, actually cutting spending.

When Kevin McCarthy passed a continuing resolution against the objections of conservatives in his conference in 2023, a handful of them rebelled and teamed up with Democrats to remove him. Late last year, House Republicans opposed a continuing resolution after Elon Musk raged against the bill and said the government should remain closed until Trump came into office.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has essentially dared Democrats to shut down the government ( Getty Images )

In all of these instances, Republican speakers of the House typically learn that after going a few rounds with conservatives, nothing they propose will be enough for hardliners. They then slunk off to the Democrats to bail them out via a clean CR, which is to say, a continuing resolution that keeps spending at the same levels to allow for more time to negotiate the final spending bills.

Johnson wants something different this time, largely to keep the family happy. This weekend, House Republicans released a 99-page continuing resolution to keep the government open until the end of the year.

But this stopgap spending bill is not a clean CR, primarily because it either slashes major government programs. Specifically, the continuing resolution would slash spending for various tribal assistance grants for Native Americans and various Department of Energy programs. It would also zero out money for community policing and other programs that Democrats like.

So far, hes gotten Trump on his side when it comes to the continuing resolution, which would help him shore up support from his conference, lest they want to oppose the president of their party.

All Republicans should vote (Please!) YES next week, he said on Truth Social on Saturday. Great things are coming for America, and I am asking you all to give us a few months to get us through to September so we can continue to put the Countrys financial house in order.

But, unsurprisingly, Democrats have rejected the legislation, specifically calling out cuts to veterans' programs.

Equally troublesome, the legislation does nothing to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, while exposing the American people to further pain throughout this fiscal year, Jeffries said in a statement. We are voting No.

The We is a fairly powerful promise, indicating that the entire House Democratic caucus will be united against the continuing resolution. But in the end, the legislation has a good chance of passing if all Republicans fall in line -- which has become increasingly common in the Trump presidency.

The real test will be in the Senate, where the bill needs to clear 60 votes. Typically, Democrats swallow continuing resolutions, however unsavory they are, because they oppose shutdowns on principle. Shutdowns mean vital programs that they support lose funding, even for a brief period.

The government runs out of money on Friday and both chambers of Congress leave next week for a much-anticipated recess.

This will serve as a major test for both Republicans and Democrats. For Republicans, it will be a test of whether Johnson can use Trump effectively to get everyone to unite behind him as he hopes to tee up the real policy he wants to pass: the budget reconciliation that beefs up Pentagon spending, energy and border spending as well as extending the Trump tax cuts. For Democrats, the question comes whether they can band together to oppose Trumps legislation without being blamed for a government shutdown.
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Mahmoud Khalil is a lawful permanent resident of the United States. But that has not stopped Donald Trumps administration from threatening to remove him from the country, after federal law enforcement agents arrested him in New York and sent him to a detention facility in Louisiana, raising critical questions about First Amendment protections for green card holders.

Khalil, who was born in Syria, is a Palestinian graduate of Columbia University, and a green card holder married to a U.S. citizen who is eight months pregnant.

He became the face of student-led pro-Palestine demonstrations at the New York campus and is accused by the Trump administration  and the president himself  of being a Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas Student.

open image in gallery Demonstrators rally in support of Mahmoud Khalil in Manhattan on March 11 ( AP )

Trump said his arrest is the first of many. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has threatened to revoke visas  as well as green cards  for Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported.

Khalils arrest has been widely condemned by Democratic officials and civil rights groups, questioning how a legal permanent resident could be deported, without facing any criminal charges, and without any evidence from the government of the allegations against him or any other demonstrators.

Green card holders ostensibly have the most protections among lawful permanent residents short of a U.S. citizen, Cornell Law School immigration law professor Jaclyn Kelley-Widmer told PBS.

But immigration law does allow the federal government to deport noncitizens, even people who are green card holders, over certain allegations, according to New York University law professor Adam Cox.

The big open question is why the government thinks it can deport him, he told NBC News.

Immigration law in the United States does not necessarily protect against deporting green card holders, and the government does not need evidence of criminality to remove them on allegations of fraud or for providing material support for terrorist groups, among other accusations  none of which the administration has provided any evidence Khalil committed.

Material support for terrorism under immigration law is so broad that it can include cooking for a member of [a foreign terrorist organization], even at gunpoint, according to Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow with the American Immigration Council.

Attorneys for Khalil and civil rights groups argue he was targeted for protected speech in support of Palestinians, which is covered by the First Amendment.

If our society remains attached to the rule of law, and if speech in the United States remains free, then no one should accept what happened to Mahmoud, according to Ramzi Kassem, co-director of the Creating Law Enforcement Accountability & Responsibility project, which is supporting Khalils case.

The arrest, detention, and attempted deportation of a prominent Palestinian human rights activist for his constitutionally protected activity that the administration disagrees with is not only patently unlawful, it is a further dangerous step into modern-day McCarthyist repression, said Baher Azmy, legal director with the Center for Constitutional Rights, which is also supporting Khalil.

open image in gallery Khalil, pictured at Columbia University in 2024, helped organize campus-wide demonstrations against Israels war in Gaza calling for the universitys divestment and disclosure of financial stakes in Israel ( REUTERS )

Rubio also appears to have invoked broad authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act that states that an alien whose presence or activities in the United States the Secretary of State has reasonable ground to believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States is deportable.

Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that Khalils arrest is pursuant to Trumps executive orders prohibiting antisemitism, which the administration is broadly conflating with support for Palestinians while Israel, backed by the United States, leads an assault that, according to local health authorities, has killed more than 60,000 people in Gaza in the wake of Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.

Khalil led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, McLaughlin claimed.

Veteran New York civil rights lawyer Ron Kuby told NBC News that advocacy for Palestinians cannot be construed as offering material support for a terrorist organization.

Whether youre a green card holder or a citizen, youre allowed to express your view that one country is right and another is wrong in an international conflict, he said.The message is that ICE can come take you away at any moment.

Deportation proceedings for green card holders are carried out in immigration courts, not criminal ones. A judge, not the administration, will ultimately decide whether he can be removed.

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the administration from deporting Khalil while his legal challenge plays out.

In court documents, Khalil accused the government of open repression of student activism and political speech, specifically targeting students at Columbia University for criticism of Israels assault on Gaza.

The U.S. government has made clear that they will use immigration enforcement as a tool to suppress that speech, attorneys for Khalil wrote.
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Greenland is holding a general election on March 11, just a week after President Donald Trump reiterated his interest in the Arctic territory.

While Trump renewed his invitation for Greenland to join the United States during that speech, his tone was notably softer than previous pronouncements on the subject.

This election comes amid a growing movement for Greenlandic independence from Denmark, a drive that has gained significant traction in recent months.

The potential outcome of this election holds considerable weight; a victory for pro-independence parties could open the door to increased US influence in the region.

Greenlands complicated relationship with Denmark, its former colonial ruler, has been strained by recent revelations of historical mistreatment.

However, Trumps interest in purchasing the island has spurred Denmark to accelerate efforts to mend the fractured ties.

The island's future relationship with Denmark, and potentially the United States, hangs in the balance this election.

open image in gallery Trumps son Donald Trump Jr in Greenland in January ( AP )

What does Greenland want?

Opinion polls show that a majority of Greenland's inhabitants support independence, but they are divided over the timing and potential impact on living standards.

Trump's interest has shaken the status quo in Greenland and, combined with the growing Inuit pride, has led some of the island's 57,000 residents to view the election as a historic chance to free Greenland from Danish influence.

However, many Greenlanders warn against acting rashly, fearing Greenland could become worse off and expose itself to the United States if it too quickly seeks independence from Denmark.

Since 2019, politicians on the island have repeatedly said they are interested in strengthening cooperation and trade with the United States.

However, Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede, who has stepped up a push for independence, has stressed the island is not for sale and that only its people should decide their future.

Why does Trump want Greenland?

Greenland's strategic location and resources could benefit the US. It lies along the shortest route from Europe to North America, vital for the US ballistic missile warning system.

The US has expressed interest in expanding its existing military presence on the island, including placing radars there to monitor the waters between the island, Iceland and Britain, which are a gateway for Russian navy vessels and nuclear submarines.

open image in gallery Trump has invited Greenlanders to join the US ( Reuters )

The island, whose capital Nuuk is closer to New York than the Danish capital Copenhagen, boasts mineral, oil and natural gas wealth, but development has been slow.

Asked for comment, a White House official said: "Greenland has ample supply of rare earth minerals that will power the next generation of America's economy."

So far, though, Greenland's economy has remained reliant on fishing, which accounts for over 95 per cent of exports, and annual subsidies from Denmark, which cover roughly half of the public budget.

In total, Denmark spends just under $1 billion each year on Greenland, or $17,500 for each inhabitant.

What is the current US presence?

The US military maintains a permanent presence at the Pituffik air base in Greenland's northwest.

A 1951 agreement between the United States and Denmark established a US right to move around freely and construct military bases in Greenland as long as Denmark and Greenland are notified.

Historically, Denmark has accommodated the US because Copenhagen does not have the capability to defend Greenland, and because of US security guarantees to Denmark through NATO, according to Kristian Soeby Kristensen, senior researcher at Copenhagen University's Centre for Military Studies.

Greenland's mining sector has seen very limited US investment. The mining companies operating in Greenland are mostly Australian, Canadian or British.

open image in gallery Greenlanders outside a church in Nuuk ( AP )

What is Greenlands status now?

The island, a former colony of Denmark, became a formal territory of the Nordic kingdom in 1953 and is subject to the Danish constitution.

In 2009, the island was granted broad self-governing autonomy, including the right to declare independence from Denmark through a referendum.

Under the 2009 law, Greenland's parliament, Inatsisartut, can invoke a provision that would have Denmark and Greenland begin negotiations about achieving full independence.

The people of Greenland would need to endorse independence through a referendum, and an independence agreement between Denmark andGreenland would also require consent from the Danish parliament.

Could Trump buy Greenland?

According to Ulrik Pram Gad, senior researcher and expert on Greenland, the idea of buying Greenland is based on a misunderstanding of international law and the principle of self-determination, which gives people the right to choose their own political status.

Trump has declined to rule out the use of military or economic means to gain control of Greenland. Vice President JD Vance, speaking to Fox News, has dismissed the use of military force.

open image in gallery Children play on an icy surface in Nuuk ( AP )

What if Greenland becomes independent?

If Greenland became independent, it could choose to become associated with the US without becoming USterritory.

The island could form a so-called "free association" with the United States that would replace Danish subsidies with US support and protection in return for military rights, a set-up similar to the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau.

While there is a push in Greenland to be independent from Denmark, Greenlanders are not interested in a new colonial master, opinion polls show.

Greenlanders, who enjoy a Nordic-style welfare model including universal healthcare and free education, would likely want to make sure they don't become worse off economically before holding an independence referendum, according to Gad, the researcher.

What does Denmark say?

When Trump offered to buy the island in 2019, during his first presidential term, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen rejected the idea and called it "absurd".

Asked about Trump's renewed interest in January, Frederiksen said Denmark needed to cooperate closely with the US, but stressed that Greenland should determine its future.
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Allies of Vice President JD Vance claim he doesnt see Elon Musk as a threat, despite the billionaires constant presence in the White House alongside President Donald Trump.

Since taking office, Trump has given one joint press conference in the Oval Office with the billionaire, along with a joint interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity. Musk and Vance have not yet appeared together for a press conference or sit-down.

Still, associates of Vances insist that he has no issue with the attention Musk receives and the vice president is personally close to him, according to the Washington Post.

Musk and Vance have their own friendship where they exchange texts and phone calls several times a week, the Post reports, citing people with knowledge of their relationship. The vice president hosted the worlds richest man for dinner at the Naval Observatory residence in February, according to the outlet, and often posts his support for Musk on X.

open image in gallery Vice President J.D. Vance doesnt see Elon Musk as a threat despite his proximity to the president, allies said ( Getty Images )

The DOGE mogul, who has been appointed a special government employee, has played a prominent role at Trumps first Cabinet meetings and rubbed some department heads up the wrong way at the second. That is only good news for Vance, his allies told the Post, because it shields him from potential accusations that he might be vying for too much attention.

Vance and Musk reportedly remain close since they were introduced to each other 18 months ago by tech entrepreneur David Sacks. The Tesla boss was reportedly one of Vances biggest cheerleaders to be billed on the Republican ticket. Musk told Trump on multiple occasions that Vance was the smartest and best on TV among the contenders, according to the outlet.

The men frequently back one another on social media.

After Musk received backlash to widespread federal job cuts by DOGE and critics noted Musk was not elected by the American people to be in office, Vance posted in support: No one voted for Elon Musk. (They did however vote for Donald Trump who promised repeatedly to have Elon Musk root out wasteful spending in our government.)

Vance also shared Musks op-ed published in Germanys Die Welt where he declared his support for the far-right Alternative for Germany party. Vance said it was an interesting article.

open image in gallery Associates of Vances insist that he has no issue with the attention Musk receives and the vice president is personally close to him ( Getty Images )

In return, Musk often praises the vice president publicly and once called him the Best VP ever and our future President in a post on X.

The vice president is comfortable operating both in the foreground and behind the scenes of Trumps orbit, the associates told the Post. But the latter was not a tactic he employed during the explosive meeting in the Oval Office with Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Vances first cousin, Nate Vance, has told The Independent that the vice president and Trump only attacked Zelensky because they cant bully Putin.

The former U.S. Marine, who volunteered to help defend Ukraine, said the meeting was an ambush.

I was angry, lets be honest I was angry, he said. Even if you removed my connection to the vice president and you removed my connection to Ukraine, and this was just some neutral issue where a president invited a foreign leader to the White House it was a really weird thing to me.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio has threatened to deport green card holders involved in pro-Palestine protests, marking a stark escalation of President Donald Trumps crackdown on student activists.

Rubio shared an Associated Press article about Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University graduate and lead negotiator for the Gaza solidarity encampment who was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in New York on Saturday evening. He was detained by cops despite holding a green card, making him a lawful U.S. resident.

We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported, Rubio tweeted alongside a link to the article.

Critics have condemned Rubios comments  and Khalil's arrest  as a violation of the First Amendment which protects the freedom of speech and assembly. More than 832,000 people had signed an online petition calling for Khalils release by Monday morning.

On Sunday evening, the Department of Homeland Security described the arrest as being in support of President Trumps executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism, while also alleging that Khalil led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.

open image in gallery Marco Rubio - pictured in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last month - has vowed to revoke green cards and visas of Hamas supporters after Mahmoud Khalils arrest ( AP )

The DHS can initiate deportation proceedings against green card holders for a range of criminal activities  including offering support for a terrorist organization. However, the legal foundations for the detention of a permanent U.S. resident who has not been charged with a crime remain questionable.

The Secretary of States comments appeared to build on Trump's executive order in January warning anyone involved in pro-jihadist protests and all Hamas sympathizers on college campuses would be detained and deported.

The administration has claimed protestors had relinquished their rights to remain in the U.S. by supporting Hamas.

open image in gallery Student negotiator Mahmoud Khalil on the Columbia University campus in New York at a pro-Palestinian protest in 2024 ( AP )

On Friday, the Trump administration announced it would pull $400 million in funding from Columbia University, canceling grants and contracts over what four government agencies described as continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.

The university was at the epicenter of student protests against the Gaza war that swept across college campuses across virtually every U.S. state last spring.

Just days earlier, the president threatened to pull funding from schools, colleges and universities that allow illegal protests on Tuesday.

The Trump administration is said to be planning to use artificial intelligence to scrape social media in search of students perceived to support Hamas and other terrorist organizations, part of a program to catch and revoke their student visas, according to Axios.
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Arizona Senator Mark Kelly fired back at Elon Musk for branding him a traitor for visiting Ukraine to meet soldiers wounded in its war with Russia.

During an appearance on MSNBCs Rachel Maddow Show, the Democratic lawmaker and a former U.S. Navy combat pilot said Musk should go back to building rockets.

As I was getting sworn into the United States Navy, I swore an oath to our Constitution, to protect and defend the Constitution. I have lived that oath my entire life, Kelly said Monday.

And the only oath I can think of that maybe Elon has sworn is an oath to his checking account, to his pocketbook. An oath, maybe, to ruining the lives of veterans.

After elaborating that the unelected billionaire and his Department of Government Efficiency were ruining the lives of federal workers, Kelly added: Elon needs to, you know, go back to making rockets, thats what he should focus on. He shouldn't be focused on this slash-and-burn of the federal government.

open image in gallery Arizona Senator Mark Kelly addressed Elon Musk's comments on MSNBC on Sunday evening ( MSNBC )

Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill Monday, Kelly doubled down saying that Musk should go back to building rockets and claimed hes not a serious guy.

Musks comments come after he has shown strong support for President Donald Trumps controversial stance on Ukraine. The spat occurred after Kelly visited Kyiv last week, his third trip to the Ukrainian capital, where he met wounded Ukrainian servicemen, among other officials, military leaders and embassy staff.

After leaving Ukraine on Sunday, Kelly took to X to share photographs of his trip and a series of posts in a thread, writing: What I saw proved to me we can't give up on the Ukrainian people.

open image in gallery Mark Kelly took to X over the weekend to share photographs of his trip to Ukraine ( Mark Kelly/X )

He also challenged Trumps refusal to agree to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys request for U.S. security guarantees in any peace agreement with Russia to prevent further casualties.

Everyone wants this war to end, but any agreement has to protect Ukraines security and can't be a giveaway to Putin, the congressman added.

Responding to Kellys thread, Musk, one of the presidents closest advisors, stated: You are a traitor.

Traitor?, Kelly replied in a separate X post Monday. Elon, if you don't understand that defending freedom is a basic tenet of what makes America great and keeps us safe, maybe you should leave it to those of us who do.

open image in gallery Elon Musk branded a Democratic Senator Mark Kelly a 'traitor' for his Ukraine visit last week ( Getty Images )

The dispute erupted just weeks after Trump and Vice President JD Vance accused Zelensky of gambling with World War III during a contentious Oval Office meeting.

The Ukrainian president left the White House without signing a minerals deal to secure U.S. help in ending the war with Russia. Zelensky initially refused to apologize over the spat but said his relationship with the president is salvageable. He later called the gathering regrettable.

After the meeting, the Trump administration paused military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv. This past Sunday, the president said that he had just about lifted the intelligence pause and was looking at fresh tariffs on Russia.

Last week, Zelensky softened his stance and said he was ready to work under Trump's strong leadership and that it was time to make things right between the two nations.

Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff claimed that Zelensky apologized to the president in a letter.

Saudi Arabia is set to host talks between Ukraine and the U.S. on Tuesday  nearly a month after a Russian delegations first round of meetings with Trumps team.

Trump said over the weekend that he was optimistic there would be a lot of progress at the talks, but also added that he was unsure whether Ukraine would survive Russias invasion.
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Elon Musk claimed on Fox News Monday that Ukrainians were responsible for X shutting down earlier in the day.

The leader of the controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) told Larry Kudlow in an interview that a massive cyber attack linked to Ukrainian IP addresses was behind the widespread outages of his social media site.

There was a massive cyber attack to try to bring down the X system with IP addresses originating in the Ukraine area, Musk claimed.

Earlier in the day the tech billionaire had said in a post that the X shutdown was caused by a coordinated group or country, insisting it was done with a lot of resources.

Three outages hit X throughout the day, with one lasting two hours.

Hacking group Dark Storm claimed responsibility for the crashes but that hasnt been verified or confirmed by Musk.

Musk admitted to Kudlow, the director of the National Economic Council in Donald Trumps first administration before moving to Fox News, that the last few weeks with DOGE have been tough sledding.

Kudlow pointed out protests at Tesla stores, vandalism against Tesla vehicles, and arson at charging stations and dealerships.

Shots fired, literally, Musk responded.

He also noted that hes continuing to run his companies during the DOGE work with great difficulty.

But hes sticking to his DOGE mission, along with his crew of 100, soon to be 200, he told Kudlow.

Musk vowed to cut Social Security and Medicare to save the nation money even as Trump and the Republican plan to enact a $4.7 trillion tax cut.

Musk again complained about a massive amount of fraud in Social Security, this time claiming it adds up to half a trillion dollars  without providing any evidence .

Its a huge number, Kudlow responded.

Yes, said Musk.

Musk also insisted without evidence in a post on X Saturday that recent protests against him at Tesla dealerships across the nation (which ballooned Sunday) were arranged by his critics.

He blamed the Democratic fundraising group ActBlue for orchestrating and funding the Tesla protests, citing a mysterious investigation. He named ActBlue funders, including liberal philanthropist George Soros and billionaire foe Reid Hoffman.

Musk, apparently still searching for facts for his claim, added in his post: If you know anything about this, please post in replies. Thanks, Elon.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has also baselessly claimed that acrimonious town hall meetings confronting Republican representatives in Red states over DOGE job cuts have also been funded by Soros.

To avoid the negative news stories erupting from the meetings, Republicans have been instructed by the GOP to skip holding the town halls so lawmakers cant be confronted by their furious constituents.

Hoffman wrote on X of Musks accusation against him: I never funded anyone for Tesla protests.

Its clear Americans are angry with Musk, he added.

Its easier to explain away their anger, than to accept that actions have consequences, Hoffman wrote, referring to Musk.

Hoffman pointed out that ActBlue is a payment processing platform for Democratic candidates, and doesnt organize actions.

Protesters demonstrated at more than 50 Tesla dealerships across the U.S. and in Barcelona, London and Lisbon last week, according to CNN.

Eight people were arrested at a protest at a Tesla dealership in New York City on Sunday, and hundreds of demonstrators railed against Musk at a dealership in Chicago.
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President Donald Trump said he would buy a brand-new Tesla to support its embattled chief executive Elon Musk amid backlash for his influence over the federal government and the efforts of his cost-cutting task force, the Department of Government Efficiency.

Just after midnight on Tuesday, the president took a swipe at the radical left lunatics staging protests and attempting to punish Musk and his baby, Tesla.

To Republicans, Conservatives, and all great Americans, Elon Musk is putting it on the line in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB!, Trump wrote on Truth Social.

But the Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the Worlds great automakers, and Elons baby, in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for.

In a display of solidarity with the tech billionaire, Trump said he would buy one of Musks electric vehicles on Tuesday  though the specific model wasnt immediately clear.

open image in gallery Donald Trump, pictured in the Oval Office on February 11, pledged to buy a brand-new Tesla on Tuesday morning as Elong Musk faces backlash over his political influence ( AP )

They tried to do it to me at the 2024 Presidential Ballot Box, but how did that work out? In any event, Im going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American, he continued. Why should he be punished for putting his tremendous skills to work in order to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN???

Less than 15 minutes later, Musk responded on his social media platform X, tweeting: Thank you, President @realDonaldTrump!

Teslas share prices plunged by 15 percent on Monday, returning to their lowest levels since Trump defeated then-Vice President Kamala Harris in November and their worst day since 2020. It made it the worst-performing stock in the S&P 500.

The S&P 500 also had its worst day of the year, decreasing by more than three percent Monday, amid growing fears that a recession may be on the horizon, sparked by Trumps tariffs and a looming global trade war.

Tesla Takedown protests have erupted across the U.S., with showrooms being besieged and charging sites vandalized, illustrating growing unease over Musks influence over the president.

open image in gallery Tesla Takedown protests have erupted across the U.S., with showrooms being besieged and charging sites vandalized, illustrating growing unease over Musks influence over the president ( ople protest during a rally against Elon Musk outside the Treasury Department in Washington last month )

Six protestors were arrested on Saturday at a Manhattan showroom Saturday, with others heard chanting outside: We need clean air, not another billionaire!

Musk commented on a video of a Tesla Cybertruck being set alight in Seattle on Sunday, tweeting: This is crazy.

Musks shift to right-wing politics appears to have alienated some Tesla buyers  generally perceived as high-earning, environmentally-conscious liberals who have turned to electric vehicles in efforts to reduce their carbon footprint.

The DOGE lead has become the face of Trumps government-slashing efforts, which have promised to dismantle departments, enact massive federal worker layoffs and drastically cut spending.

open image in gallery Musk, photographed sporting a Department of Government Efficiency T-shirt in Washington on Sunday, has appeared to alienate some Tesla drivers with his conservative links ( Getty Images )

The Trump administration has fired or offered buyouts to more than 100,000 federal employees so far.

Secretary of State said that 83 percent of US AID contracts had been terminated following a six-week review.

Our hard-working staff who worked very long hours alongside DOGE, deserve credit for this overdue and historic reform, Rubio wrote on X Monday.

Last week, newly confirmed Education Secretary Linda McMahon confirmed she believed her mission to secure a near-impossible three-fifths supermajority, or 60 votes, needed in the Senate to abolish the agency she has been charged to lead.
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The Trump administration has vowed to continue an immigration crackdown against campus activists who it deems are antisemitic, following the controversial arrest of Columbia University protest leader Mahmoud Khalil on Sunday.

This is the first arrest of many to come, President Donald Trump warned in a post on Truth Social, accusing Khalil of being a Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas Student.

We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, and the Trump Administration will not tolerate it, Trump added.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio had a similar message Sunday.

We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported, he wrote in a statement.

The White House also posted about the arrest, telling Khalil, Shalom, Mahmoud, using the Hebrew word for goodbye.

open image in gallery Recently graduated protest leader Mahmoud Khalil claims his immigration arrest on Sunday is an attempt to silence his protected free speech about Israel-Hamas conflict ( AP )

Khalil, a legal permanent U.S. resident who was born in Palestine, graduated from Columbia in late 2024. He was arrested Sunday inside the university-owned apartment where he lives with his wife, a U.S. citizen.

A group of plainclothes Immigration and Customs Agents agents followed the couple into the building and said Khalil was under arrest because his student visa had been revoked by the State Department, his attorney said.

Columbia has a general policy of requiring immigration agents to present a warrant before entering campus buildings unless in exigent circumstances. The university declined to answer The Independent when asked about whether the agents shared their warrant before the arrest.

Khalils wife, and later his attorney, told the agents he had a green card, prompting the agents to say that had been revoked, too.

Generally only an immigration judge can revoke a green card, according to experts.

Khalil was ordered removed because Secretary Rubio invoked a rare provision that found the activists presence in the U.S. would have serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States, according to a document obtained by The Washington Post.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, told The Independent on Sunday that Khalil was arrested in support of President Trumps executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism.

Khalil led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, they added.

In January, a Trump executive order vowed to deport immigrant students who broke U.S. laws during the wave of campus protests across the U.S. last year amid the Israel-Hamas war.

open image in gallery Civil rights advocates warned that arresting green card holders for their activism was authoritarian repression ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

A White House fact sheet at the time suggested the administration would attempt to deport such immigrants on even broader, viewpoint-based grounds, going after all those who joined the protests or were Hamas sympathizers, provisions likely to face legal challenges on constitutional free speech grounds.

Following his arrest, Khalil, who served as a negotiator between students and administrators during tense encampment and building occupation protests on campus, immediately sought a habeas corpus petition challenging the legality of his detention on First Amendment and due process grounds.

Nonetheless, ICE moved the leader to a detention facility in Louisiana, hundreds of miles from his attorney and family.

A federal judge on Monday paused any removal proceedings against Khalil until at least after a hearing in New York on Wednesday.

In a court petition obtained by Courthouse News, Khalil accused the government of open repression of student activism and political speech, specifically targeting students at Columbia University for criticism of Israels assault on Gaza.

The U.S. government has made clear that they will use immigration enforcement as a tool to suppress that speech. he added.

The Center for Constitutional Rights has joined in the effort to challenge Khalils detention in Louisiana, according to court documents.

open image in gallery The Trump administration has vowed to use deportations and investigations to crack down on campus antisemitism ( EPA )

Civil liberties advocates expressed alarm over the arrest, arguing it was a sign of authoritarianism.

Arresting and threatening to deport students because of their participation in political protest is the kind of action one ordinarily associates with the worlds most repressive regimes. Its genuinely shocking that this appears to be whats going on right here, Jameel Jaffer, executive director of the Knight First Amendment Center at Columbia, wrote in a statement in Forever Wars.

Universities must recognize that these actions pose an existential threat to academic life itself. They must make clear, through action, that they will not sit on the sidelines as the Trump administration terrorizes students and faculty alike and runs roughshod over individual rights and the rule of law."

By Monday afternoon, a growing coalition including the First Amendment watchdog FIRE and a number of congressional Democrats were calling for the expulsion effort to be immediately dropped and accused the Trump administration of attempting to criminalize speech the White House disagreed with.

[T]he government has not made clear the factual or legal basis for Mr. Khalils arrest. The statements the government has released suggest its decision may be based on his constitutionally protected speech, wrote FIRE in a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and other Trump administration officials on Monday.

Donna Lieberman, CEO of the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), said on Monday that Khalils arrest reeks of McCarthyism. She added that the federal government had no authority to strip his permanent residence status over political speech.

At a press conference, faculty at Columbia also called for Khalils release and attacked his detention as unlawful.

Universities cannot exist when students are persecuted, arrested and disappeared for their political beliefs, said Nara Milanich, a professor at Columbias Barnard College.

Students told The Independent the arrest was creating a climate of fear of further ICE operations on campus.

Given the magnitude of statements made by the president and his administration, I feel I am not safe knowing theyre around campus, one international student told The Independent.

Protests in support of Khalil are expected in New York on Monday afternoon.

Over 1.5 million people sent letters in support of the protest leader after the arrest.

Prior to his detention, Khalil sent multiple messages to senior campus officials, asking for protection given the vicious, coordinated, and dehumanizing doxxing campaign he faced from individuals calling for his arrest, including Columbia faculty, Zeteo reports.

After the arrest, the Zionist organization Betar, among those Khalil mentioned in his messages to staff, appeared to take credit for the detention.

Shalom Mahmoud will be said many, many more times, the group wrote on X. He complained to Columbia about Betar. We confirm we have provided thousands of names to the @realDonaldTrump administration. Many more will go!

The group has previously used aggressive tactics, including offering rewards to give pro-Palestinian activists beepers, a seeming reference to Israels recent pager-based explosive attack on Hezbollah that killed numerous civilians alongside militants.

The Trump administration has made tackling what it deems to be antisemitism on campus a major policy priority, launching investigations of major Ivy League schools and pulling $400 million in federal funding from Columbia.

The effort to deport Khalil comes after a year of tense confrontations and debates between school administrators and student activist leaders around the country.

At many colleges and universities, including Columbia, protesters were accused of making Jewish students feel unsafe  both due to the efforts of conservatives to tar all criticism of Israel as antisemitic, as well as real instances of anti-Jewish hate that surged in frequency alongside Islamophobic hate on some campuses.

Among Democrats, the issue is another place where the party is divided.

Many Democrats spent much of 2024 condemning the protests as broadly antisemitic in nature, though progressives including Palestinian-American Rep Rashida Tlaib have argued against those characterizations of the protests without endorsing them explicitly.

Free Mahmoud Khalil. This is straight out of the fascist playbook, Tlaib wrote on X on Monday. Criminalizing dissent is an assault on our First Amendment and freedom of speech. Revoking someones green card for expressing their political opinion is illegal. Protesting genocide is not a crime.
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Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he would suspend the Canadian provinces 25% electricity surcharge on the United States on Tuesday afternoon  just hours after President Donald Trump announced additional tariffs on Canadas steel and aluminum.

Ford, the conservative leader of Ontario, said on X he chose not to impose the surcharge on electricity exports to Michigan, New York and Minnesota after having a productive conversation about the economic relationship between Canada and the U.S. with Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.

Lutnick agreed to meet with Ford and the U.S. Trade Representative in Washington, D.C., on Thursday to discuss a renewed United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the free trade agreement between the North American countries.

In response to the agreement, Ford agreed to suspend the increased tax on electricity.

Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, had initially threatened to slap the U.S. with an electricity surcharge in response to Trumps tariffs ( Getty Images )

The decision came hours after the president threatened to double the 25 percent tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum , declare a national emergency for areas affected by the electricity surcharge and increase tariffs on Canadian-made cars to essentially, permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada  all while heightening his desire to make Canada the 51st state.

"The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty-First State," Trump wrote. "This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear."

Trumps assertion was in response to Ford's threat to add a surcharge to Ontarios electricity exports to northern parts of the U.S., which share an energy grid with Canada.

Had the surcharge gone into effect, it could have increased electrical bills by $100 per month, Ford said.

They will pay a financial price for this so big that it will be read about in History Books for many years to come! Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The presidents declaration sent U.S. stock markets tumbling on Tuesday

The Ontario premier had initially announced the surcharge on Monday as a retaliatory measure against Trump, who has proposed adding a sweeping 25 percent tariff on Canadian goods and 10 percent tariff on energy but so far, delayed those from taking effect.

Ford has consistently pushed back on Trumps proposed tariffs, which are expected to hurt Canadas already sensitive economy. Ford has warned he would go as far as cut off energy to the U.S. completely.

I cant, for the life of me, figure out why this guys attacking his closest neighbors, allies and friend. A tariff on Canada is a tax on Americans, Ford said last week during a news conference.

Trump told reporters on Tuesday he would probably cancel his proposed 50 percent increase on aluminum and steel after Ford backpedaled on the electricity surcharge.

Im looking at that, but probably so  Ill let you know about it, Trump said.
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The Trump administration must pay approximately $2 billion in foreign aid funding, a federal judge said Monday in an order that blasted the administration over its possible Constitutional violation.

District Judge Amir Ali of Washington, D.C., said in a 48-page order that the administration was required to pay out contracts between the United States and its global humanitarian partners using the funds that Congress already appropriated  the second time he ordered the administration to do so.

The federal judge said the case was a departure from the firmly established constitutional partnership between the two branches of government.

Two global health groups sued the Trump administration after President Donald Trump issued a sweeping order that paused most foreign aid through the U.S. Agency for International Development and special government employee Elon Musk ordered massive workforce cuts.

open image in gallery A federal judge has re-ordered the Trump administration to pay out its contracts with foreign aid partners  the latest in the USAID legal saga ( AFP via Getty Images )

The groups said the administrations efforts to curtail foreign aid made it nearly impossible to administer life-saving medical and food programs.

Trump had argued that as the president, he has the authority to determine how federal tax dollars are spent  an argument he has made as part of a larger effort to restructure the government in his vision. But Ali said that likely violated the separation of powers laid-out in the Constitution.

Article II expressly gives Congress the power of the purse, the constitutionality of which, Ali noted, had not been questioned.

The latest order arrived less than a week after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up the Trump administrations request to reverse Alis previous order.

open image in gallery Elon Musk and Donald Trump have teamed up to make massive cuts to the federal workforce and government spending ( Getty Images )

The Supreme Court had temporarily paused Alis previous order from taking effect while it considered the case but ultimately decided that the lower courts had the authority to direct the administration to pay out the remainder of the contracts.

Ali said the administration had to process roughly 1,200 payments to the plaintiffs over the course of four days. He noted that the pause in payments likely caused irreparable harm by delaying time-sensitive anti-malaria campaigns and distribution of HIV prevention medication in parts of Africa.

Mondays ruling only applies to contracts that have already been executed between the U.S. government and foreign aid partners; it does not apply to future work or call for canceled contracts to be restored.

Ali said the Trump administrations desire to rapidly cut global assistance was separate from the challenge in this case and had to be handled appropriately.

Citing waste, fraud and abuse in USAID, Musk had suggested Trump begin drastically cutting back funding and staffing  effectively axing the entire federal agency aimed at providing humanitarian aid across the globe.

After carrying out a six-week-long review of USAIDs funding and goals, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday they would cancel approximately 82 percent of the programs that fall under the agency.
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The Department of Agriculture has slashed over $1 billion in funding aimed at helping schools and food banks purchase from local farmers, according to a nonprofit.

Multiple states were recently notified of these cuts, the nonprofit School Nutrition Association said in a statement Tuesday.

An estimated $660 million in funds through the Local Food for Schools program for 2025 will no longer be available to support childcare institutions and schools, the group added.

This program will strengthen the food system for schools and childcare institutions by helping to build a fair, competitive, and resilient local food chain, and expand local and regional markets with an emphasis on purchasing from historically underserved producers and processors, the USDA website says about the Local Food for Schools program.

The Independent has reached out to the USDA for comment.

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education confirmed it received a notice of termination from the USDA on Friday of the second round of Local Food for Schools grant funding, an award of $12.2 million, claiming that they determined this agreement no longer effectuates agency priorities and that termination of the award is appropriate, the states governor Maura Healy said in a Monday statement.

The governor suggested the cuts were made as part of a Department of Government Efficiency-led effort to reduce spending in the federal government.

Donald Trumps Department of Agriculture has reportedly notified states that it has cut $1 billion in funding aimed at helping schools and food banks ( AP )

Donald Trump and Elon Musk have declared that feeding children and supporting local farmers are no longer priorities, and its just the latest terrible cut with real impact on families across Massachusetts, said Governor Healey. There is nothing appropriate about it. Trump and Musk are continuing to withhold essential funding in violation of court orders, and our children, farmers and small businesses are bearing the brunt of it.

The Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, which provides food to food banks and organizations that reach underserved communities, was also included in the cuts, Politico reported.

The department notified states that it was unfreezing funds for existing agreements for this program but did not plan to carry out a second round of funding for fiscal year 2025, the outlet reported. An estimated $420 million of federal funds were expected to go toward the program in 2025, the USDA website shows.

A USDA spokesperson told the outlet that funding is no longer available and those agreements will be terminated following 60-day notification. The spokesperson added: These programs, created under the former Administration via Executive authority, no longer effectuate the goals of the agency. LFPA and LFPA Plus agreements that were in place prior to LFPA 25, which still have substantial financial resources remaining, will continue to be in effect for the remainder of the period of performance.

Last week, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said this program can no longer operate in the state after the USDA said it was ceasing reimbursements for any costs incurred after January 19. The same applied to the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program, which aims to build resilience in the middle of the food supply chain. Reimbursement claims submitted for costs incurred after January 19 are being returned with no explanation or timeline for reimbursements to resume, the statement read.

"Cutting funds for these programs is a slap in the face to Illinois farmers and the communities they feed," said Governor Pritzker. "The Trump Administration's refusal to release grant funds doesn't just hurt farmers in the program, it devastates our most vulnerable, food-insecure communities relying on meat, fresh produce and other nutritious donations."

Congress is also weighing cuts to school meal programs, the School Nutrition Association warned in its announcement. The nonprofit urged the public to call on Congress members to oppose these cuts.

With research showing school meals are the healthiest meals Americans eat, Congress needs to invest in underfunded school meal programs rather than cut services critical to student achievement and health, said the groups president Shannon Gleave. These proposals would cause millions of children to lose access to free school meals at a time when working families are struggling with rising food costs. Meanwhile, short-staffed school nutrition teams, striving to improve menus and expand scratch-cooking, would be saddled with time-consuming and costly paperwork created by new government inefficiencies.

Alexis Bylander, interim child nutrition programs and policy director of the D.C.-based nonprofit Food Research & Action Center, said this decision has devastating impacts.

The Trump administrations decision to cut funding for cooperative agreements that support schools and other organizations ability to purchase local foods will have a devastating impact on students, schools, farmers, and local economies, Bylander said in a statement. As food costs continue to rise and schools struggle to stretch their meal budgets, now is the time to bolster efforts that improve access to affordable and healthy local foods, not gut them.
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The White House complained Tuesday that Columbia University is refusing to help federal agents find people being sought as part of the governments effort to deport participants in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, as the administration continued to punish the school by yanking federal research dollars.

Immigration enforcement agents on Saturday arrested and detained Mahmoud Khalil, a legal U.S. resident and Palestinian activist who played a prominent part in protests at Columbia last year. He is now facing possible deportation.

President Donald Trump has vowed additional arrests. In a briefing with reporters in Washington, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said federal authorities have been using intelligence to identify other people involved in campus demonstrations critical of Israel that the administration considered to be antisemitic and pro-Hamas.

She said Columbia had been given names and was refusing to help the Department of Homeland Security to identify those individuals on campus.

"As the president said very strongly in his statement yesterday, he is not going to tolerate that, Leavitt said.

A Columbia spokesperson didn't immediately return a message seeking comment.

Last week, the Trump administration announced it was pulling $400 million in grants and contracts from Columbia, accusing the school of failing to stop antisemitism on campus. As part of those cuts, the National Institutes of Health late Monday it was cutting more than $250 million in funding, which included more than 400 grants.

X. Edward Guo, director of Columbias Bone Bioengineering Laboratory, posted a screenshot on X of an email he received notifying him that one of his NIH awards had been canceled. We understand this may be shocking news, the email reads.

The university was wracked last spring by large demonstrations by students calling for an end to Israeli military action in Gaza and a recognition of Palestinians' human rights and territorial claims. The university ultimately called in police to dismantle a protest encampment and end a student takeover of an administration building.

Khalil, 30, had been a spokesperson for the protesters. He hasn't been charged with any crimes, but Leavitt said the administration had moved to deport him under a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act that gives the secretary of state the power to deport a non-citizen if the government has reasonable ground to believe the persons presence could have serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.

As of Tuesday, Khalil was being held at an immigration detention center in Louisiana.

Civil rights groups and Khalils attorneys say the government is unconstitutionally using its immigration-control powers to stop him from speaking out. A federal judge set a hearing for Wednesday and ordered the government not to deport him in the meantime.

Trump, a Republican, has suggested that some protesters support Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and abducting 251. Israel responded with bombardment and other military offensives that have left over 48,000 Palestinians dead in Hamas-ruled Gaza. Israel says more than 17,000 were militants.

Trump heralded Khalils arrest as the first of many to come, vowing on social media to deport students the president described as engaging in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity.

Immigration agents also tried to arrest another international student at Columbia, but they werent allowed into an apartment where she was, according to a union representing the student.

Khalil, who finished his requirements for a Columbia master's degree in December, and protest leaders have said they are anti-war, not antisemitic. They note that some Jewish students and groups have joined the demonstrations. A Columbia disciplinary body recently told Khalil it was investigating whether he violated a new harassment policy by calling a school official genocidal.

Leavitt didn't detail specific wrongdoing by Khalil. But she said he had organized protests that disrupted classes, harassed Jewish students and "distributed pro-Hamas propaganda, fliers with the logo of Hamas.

Born in Syria, Khalil is a grandson of Palestinians who were forced to leave their homeland, his lawyers said in a legal filing. It didn't address his citizenship but said his relatives have been displaced anew amid Syria's civil war and are now in other countries.

Khalil is married to a U.S. citizen, who is expecting their first child.

"For everyone reading this, I urge you to see Mahmoud through my eyes as a loving husband and the future father to our baby, his wife, who has not been publicly identified, wrote in a statement provided by his lawyers. I need your help to bring Mahmoud home, so he is here beside me, holding my hand in the delivery room as we welcome our first child into this world.
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A missing surfer is feared dead after he was attacked by a shark at one of Australias most popular surfing spots, police said on Tuesday.

Steven Payne, a 37-year-old man holidaying from Melbourne was seen in distress in chest-deep water at the remote Wharton Beach in Western Australia on Monday.

Witnesses heard screams before the surfer vanished following a shark attack. His surfing board, showing evidence of bite marks, was retrieved from the water later but his body remains missing.

The family has been notified," Western Australia police commissioner Col Blanch told Perth radio station 6PR. I suspect it will be a recovery of a body if we can find it.

The search resumed on Tuesday, but police confirmed there were no hopes of finding Mr Payne alive.

Unfortunately, that search has not recovered the surfers body  I can also confirm that our search is a recovery, not a rescue, senior sergeant Chris Taylor told reporters.

Theres only so much of the bay you can keep searching over and over.

open image in gallery Steven Payne, 37, disappeared while surfing at Wharton Beach. ( Getty/iStock )

He added that drone footage shot by a witness showed a shark swimming away from a cloud of blood close to the shoreline.

The family of Mr Payne said they did not expect him to be found. The man was travelling with his girlfriend when the incident took place. The couple had planned to meet his family in Western Australia later in the week.

Police said emergency services were called to Wharton Beach at around 12.10pm local time on Monday following reports of a possible shark attack.

"There were screams, beachgoer Joscelin Boissieux said, adding that the surfers partner could only watch in horror. There were people saying like get out, everything. It was a very panicked moment," she told 9News.

She said witnesses scrambled to get out of the water as the surfboard floated metres from the shore. The water next to it was dark, with a sharks fin circling around, Ms Boissieux recalled.

open image in gallery There have been four fatal shark attacks in the area since 2017 ( Getty/iStock )

The beach was shut, with signage at the entrance warning visitors of a shark in the area, as police, Marine Rescue and State Emergency Service personnel launched a search operation.

The surfers suspected death would be the fourth in a shark attack in the area since 2017. Two of the attacks reportedly involved great white sharks.

The death of two local people in shark attacks in 2020 had rocked the coastal community.

Shark attacks are rare in Australia with 255 fatal bites recorded since 1791 in the country of 27 million, according to the Australian Shark Incident Database.
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Hundreds of passengers were evacuated from a German train after a knifeman threatened staff on the journey from Cologne to Berlin.

Germanys national railway Deutsche Bahn stopped and evacuated an ICE train in the northern town of Gifhorn at around 9.40am local time on Tuesday.

A man threatened staff with a knife and another dangerous object, a police spokesman said. A 44 year-old suspect was then arrested by police when the train stopped at Gifhorn.

The train is said to have been evacuated because of the possibility that a dangerous object still on board, German tabloid Bild reported.

Police safely escorted around 340 passengers off the train to the station and later on to Wolfsburg city about 20 kilometres to the east of Gifhorn. Federal police and two dog handlers searched the train and soon confirmed that there was no danger.

No information about potential injuries and the number of passengers affected has yet been disclosed. The suspect was already known to police.

Earlier that morning, he had allegedly insulted staff on another train in Hanover Central station after he was not allowed to take a bike on the train, Bild reported.

It comes as Olaf Scholz in late February dismissed the suggestion of privatising the countrys rail system during a snap election debate.

The chancellor said it would end as badly as in England, where nothing works anymore.

Analysis of railway data by the Financial Times found that Deutsche Bahn delivers one of the least reliable services in central Europe, even when compared to the state of the UKs rail services. Deutsche Bahn runs around 95 per cent of all long-distance trains in the country.
Ningxia promoting green energy in new energy demonstration zone

16:38, March 11, 2025 By Liu Yukun ( Chinadaily.com.cn

Ningxia, leveraging its abundant natural resources, is actively promoting the transition to green and low-carbon energy while striving to construct the country's first comprehensive new energy demonstration zone, a deputy to the National People's Congress said during the two sessions.

Chen Chunping, also executive vice-chairman of the Ningxia Hui autonomous region, outlined plans for the next three years. The region aims to add 16 million kilowatts of new energy to the grid yearly, ensuring that for every two kilowatts of electricity generated, one will be from green sources.

Chen said this year will see the completion and operation of the country's first Ningxia-Hunan province direct current grid project primarily focused on transmitting green energy, enabling a capacity to transmit 20 million kW of electricity to other regions.

Currently, Ningxia boasts 41.3 million kW of installed new energy capacity, accounting for 55 percent of the total, with a further potential of 160 million kW to be developed. Moreover, Ningxia has maintained a new energy utilization rate of over 96 percent for several consecutive years, placing it at the forefront nationally.

Chen emphasized the region's integrated approach to advancing new energy development, while driving industrial transformation, upgrading, and low-carbon development.

"Furthermore, the acceleration of specialized industrial green energy parks will facilitate the synergistic development of new energy with other sectors such as modern coal chemical industry, big data and computing power. This approach will lead to industrial decarbonization, pollution reduction, green development, and enhanced efficiency in production," he said.

Regarding ecological environmental protection, Chen highlighted the progress at the photovoltaic stations built in the Gobi desert and other desolate landscapes, where vegetation coverage has increased from under 5 percent to 25 percent, exceeding 40 percent in some areas.

"Looking ahead, Ningxia will continue to advance the construction of a national comprehensive new energy demonstration zone, accelerating the establishment of the new energy system and new type of power system.

"Meanwhile, the region will deepen the transformation of energy consumption, vigorously promoting the use of green electricity in industries such as manufacturing, transportation, construction, agriculture, rural areas, and new infrastructure," Chen said.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
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After one of the worst single day sell-offs in Tesla's history, President Donald Trump threw his support behind his advisor, billionaire Elon Musk, vowing to buy one of his cars on Tuesday.

Tesla has been pummeled this year under competition from rival electric vehicles, particularly out of China, as well as his close association with Trump and with far right causes globally.

Shares have plummeted 45% in 2025 and on Monday tumbled more than 15% to $222.15, the lowest since late October, reflecting newfound pessimism as sales crater around the globe.

In an overnight post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Musk is putting it on the line to help the country. Trump claimed in the post that Radical Left Lunatics were attempting to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the World's great automakers, and Elon's baby."

The stock climbed more than 3% before the market open on Tuesday.

Numerous auto industry analysts have attributed Tesla's recent sagging stock  and auto sales  to Musk's support of Trump and other far right candidates around the world. In recent days, Tesla showrooms in the U.S. have been besieged by protesters, its vehicles vandalized on the street. Tesla owners, perhaps in a bid to avoid being targeted, have placed bumper stickers on their cars with messages like, I bought it before Elon went nuts.

Federal prosecutors charged a woman in connection with a string of vandalism against a Colorado Tesla dealership, which included Molotov cocktails being thrown at vehicles and the words Nazi cars spray painted on the building.

Musk pumped $270 million into Trump's campaign heading into the 2024 election, appeared on stage with him and cheered Trump's victory over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in November. Tesla stock soared to $479 per share by mid-December, but have since lost 45% of their value.

Musk has become the face of the Trump administration's slash-and-burn government downsizing efforts, known as the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. The department has promised massive federal worker layoffs and aims to drastically reduce government spending.

Analysts have said Musk's shift to right-wing politics doesn't appear to sit well with potential Tesla buyers, generally perceived to be wealthy and progressive consumers.

Tesla sales are falling precipitously in California, the company's biggest U.S. market, and the company recorded its first annual global sales decline last year. Similarly, Tesla sales plunged 45% in Europe in January, according to research firm Jato Dynamics, even as overall electric vehicle sales rose. The sales numbers were particularly bad in Germany and France.

The latest auto sales figure from China show that Tesla sales there have been nearly halved from February a year ago, although the decline is largely due increased competition from domestic EV companies.

But sales in the U.S. have fallen due to competition, and a country sharply divided about Trump.

U.S. Analysts at UBS Global Research expect deliveries to fall 5% in the first quarter and full year compared to the same periods for 2024.

Our UBS Evidence Lab data shows low delivery times for the Model 3 and Model Y (generally within two weeks) in key markets which we believe is indicative of softer demand, they wrote.

In addition to backing Trump, Musk has also shown support for the far-right, pro-Russian, anti-Muslim party in German y, called the British p rime minister an evil tyrant and called Canada  a major Tesla market "not a real country.

Tesla is not the only Musk-led company to run into trouble recently. His X social media platform crashed several times on Monday, which Musk claimed was a massive" cyberattack. But like the clear-cutting he's done with federal jobs, Musk slashed the number of employees at X and technology experts warned of increased vulnerability.

Last week, a rocket launched by Musk's SpaceX exploded and broke apart over Florida, about two months after another of the company's rockets failed.
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When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Elon Musk was hailed as one of Kyivs staunchest allies. A Russian malware attack crippled satellite communications across Ukraine, and officials frantically pleaded with the SpaceX founder to help.

Three years later, Musk has warned that Ukraines entire front line would collapse without SpaceXs satellite terminals, highlighting their critical role in the countrys defence against Russia. He has also used his platform X to repeatedly attack Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky, sharing false claims and calling for elections to replace him.

Its a sharp turnaround for the tech billionaire, who has joined the recent pile-on against the wartime leader, led by Donald Trump. This week, after X was targeted by a cyber attack, Musk blamed Ukraine. He then accused a US Democrat senator who visited Kyiv in a show of support of being a traitor.

open image in gallery Elon Musk has moved from supporting Ukraine to openly criticising its leader ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Looking back to the first day of Russias invasion, Mykhailo Fedorov, deputy prime minister of Ukraine, used Twitter to urge Musk to send the country SpaceX satellite terminals. We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations and to address sane Russians to stand, he posted.

The billionaire obliged. Starlink service is now active in Ukraine, he replied. More terminals en route. On 26 February 2022, 500 Starlink terminals arrived in Ukraine.

Starlink's system is part of SpaceX's venture to provide high-speed internet to remote areas. It has been used extensively by the Ukrainian military throughout the war.

However, relations soon turned sour when the Tesla owner took it upon himself to help find an end to the war, suggesting Ukraine should cede some of its territory and hold new elections in areas annexed by Russia.

This is highly likely to be the outcome in the end  just a question of how many die before then, Musk wrote on Twitter, adding that another possible outcome would be nuclear war.

Russia has >3 times population of Ukraine, so victory for Ukraine is unlikely in total war. If you care about the people of Ukraine, seek peace, the billionaire tweeted hours later.

Ukrainian officials, including President Zelensky hit back at Musk, with Ukrainian diplomat Andriy Melnyk saying: F*** off is my very diplomatic reply to you @elonmusk.

Musk soon backed down. SpaceXs out of pocket cost to enable and support Starlink in Ukraine is ~$80M so far, he tweeted. Our support for Russia is $0. Obviously, we are pro-Ukraine.

The X owner declared: The hell with it. Even though Starlink is still losing money & other companies are getting billions of taxpayer $, well just keep funding Ukraine govt for free.

According to federal data analysed by The Independent, Musk's own companies have been promised or awarded nearly $21 billion by the US government since 2008.

The billionaire has continued to voice his criticisms of Ukraine and targeted American aid to Ukraine, questioning its accountability and purpose. His sharpest barbs have been aimed at Zelensky, scoffing at the Ukrainian presidents pleas for more support and mocking his insistence that Kyiv should not be forced into negotiations.

Previously, Musk focused the majority of his posts on the war in Ukraine more broadly, but in the past few months he has turned his attention to Ukraines president - at the same time as Trump began to publicly lambast him.

Since February alone, Musk has posted dozens of times taking shots at Zelensky, with many of these posts urging him to call an election, or accusing him of destroying his reputation.

These posts since February alone have garnered over 600 million views, according to analysis from The Independent, and his posts on Ukraine and Zelensky overall have been viewed some 883 million times.

Musk has become an important figurehead in the second Trump administration, where he heads the US Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE. He has also used this position to wade into European politics and back far-right politicians across the continent. Musk often makes these remarks to his 219 million followers on X  the social media platform he purchased for $44bn in 2022.

open image in gallery Musk has followed Donald Trumps lead in taking a more aggressive stance against Voldymyr Zelensky ( AFP/Getty )

Musk has been heavily criticised for allowing, and in some cases promoting, misinformation on the platform. An analysis published by the nonprofit Center for Countering Digital Hate found that nearly three-quarters of a sample of false or misleading posts about the 2024 US elections did not display accurate notes correcting the record.

The billionaire has himself backed the far-right, pro-Russian, anti-Muslim party in Germany and called Sir Keir Starmer an evil tyrant who runs a police state.

In his most recent comments about the conflict, the X owner posted on his social media site: Ukraine needs to hold an election. Zelensky would lose by a landslide. The post has been viewed over 50 million times, with 250,000 likes, 45,000 reposts and 35,000 comments. As with many of Musks posts, the comments often repeat his talking points without challenge and spread the misinformation further.

Ukraine is unable to hold elections under the current martial law, imposed since Russia's invasion. Ukrainian opposition leaders have dismissed the idea of holding a wartime election too. Xs fact-checking tool, community notes, has yet to correct the record over this misinformation.

On 3 March, Musk accused the embattled Ukrainian president of wanting a forever war with Russia. This is evil, he added. In a separate post, he said Zelensky had a choice to seek peace with Moscow but was opting for bloodshed. This is cruel and inhumane. His posts about Ukraine on 2-3 March have garnered over 260 million views on X.

In February, he repeated an unsubstantiated claim from Trump that Zelenskys approval rating is 4 per cent. This time, his own fact-checking tool corrected him. In response so he vowed to fix it and claimed the fact-checking system he generally celebrates was being gamed by governments and the media.

Mitali Mukherjee, acting director at the Reuters Institute, warned misinformation has become a useful tool by those in positions of power to disabuse news reportage that is critical of their actions.

Research from the institute found that 72 per cent of US online news users are concerned about distinguishing real from fake content. Platforms like X and TikTok are seen as the most challenging for finding trustworthy information.

X has seen declining user numbers in the last year. Last April, X had a reported 611 million global users, which dropped to 588 million users in September. The losses have been greatest in the US and UK.

While the idea of regulating the problem is tempting, this is neither an online only nor an X only challenge, Ms Mukherjee told The Independent. Media, and social media, are often blamed for polarization even though much of that narrative is pushed by powerful actors.

The Independent has contacted Elon Musk and X for comment.
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Donald Trumps sudden suspension of military aid and intelligence support to Ukraine has reignited fears the US could have a kill switch installed on some of its fighter jet exports, aircraft that are vital to European security.

The claim relates to the US F-35 fighter jets, purchased by 13 European countries, including the UK.

Though there is no evidence to suggest such a switch exists, Joachim Schranzhofer, head of communications at the German arms company Hensoldt, told Bild last week that it is more than just a rumour. He did not expand on what he meant by this, though he added that it would be much easier for the US to ground aircraft by blocking access to key software, which remains under American control.

Ukraine seems to be an early example of this issue. The American suspension of military aid to Ukraine does not mean Washington can switch off the F-16 fighter jets it has already sent to Kyiv; it can, however, decline to update the AN/ALQ-131 electronic jamming equipment used by the aircraft to repel Russian air defences. This would significantly reduce the strength of the F-16s.

open image in gallery A Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet flys over Kyiv ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Such a move would break European trust in American weapons manufacturers, ultimately proving problematic in the long term. Nonetheless, European countries are now asking whether the same could happen to the fighter jets they have purchased.

"If we have to fear that the USA could do with future German F-35s what they are currently doing with Ukraine, we could consider terminating the contract, influential ex-diplomat and President of the Munich Security Conference Foundation Wolfgang Ischinger told Bild.

Last week, Gen Frederik Vansina, Belgiums chief of defence, said that the F-35 is not a remote-controlled aircraft, while Switzerlands defence ministry recently stressed its F-35s could be used autonomously.

But the ministry also admitted no advanced Western fighter jets were fully independent of US secure data communication systems and GPS satellite navigation.

Overall arms imports by European members of NATO more than doubled in the five years ended in 2024, compared with the five years ended in 2019, according to think tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Almost two-thirds of those imports came from the US, an increase of around 10 per cent in the previous five years.

open image in gallery The U.S. Air Force's F-35 fifth-generation fighter aircraft ( AFP via Getty Images )

The US has not commented on whether they have the power to kill a countrys use of weapons it has sold or leased.

There is, however, precedent for countries suspending weapons purchases from the US due to such issues.

In 2021, the United Arab Emirates indefinitely suspended the purchase of 50 F-35s, part of a $23 billion (17.8bn) deal that also included drones and other advanced munitions, due to what one UAE official described as sovereign operational restrictions. They also cited technical requirements and a negative cost-benefit analysis as reasons for the suspension.

As Germany prepares to receive 35 F-35s in 2026, which cost them 8.3 billion, plus several billion more for the associated infrastructure, local MPs are questioning whether they, like the UAE - should never have made the purchase.

"We have to look closely and be careful, Ingo Gadechens, former soldier and member of the government CDU party, told Bild. If we spend so much money on a weapon system like the F-35, we must also be able to decide for ourselves how to use it."
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In the mafia-like world of the White House where loyalty tests are routine and macho threats the norm, JD Vance might have hoped for omerta from his actual family. Instead, both the vice president and the president himself find themselves described by one of JDs close relatives as useful idiots serving Vladimir Putin.

But this is not just a family member who backs the Democrats. This is his first cousin who has spent much of the last two years fighting, and killing, Russians in Ukraine for what he thought were the ideals America stands for.

In an interview with The Independent, he accuses Vance and Trump of going after Zelensky in the ongoing precarious peace talks because they realise they cant bully Putin.

Nate Vance, a former US Marine, flew to Poland, took a train to Lviv, and volunteered to help defend Ukraine less than a month after Putins full scale invasion of 2022.

open image in gallery Nate Vance, a former US marine, fights on the frontline with the Ukrainian forces ( Albert Lores/Le Figaro )

The 45-year-old started out training Ukrainians who had rushed to the defence of Kyiv, but soon found himself invited to join the Da Vinci Wolves group of volunteers that were absorbed into the Ukrainian army.

Before long he was in combat in many of Ukraines bloodiest theatres, Bakhmut, Kuppyansk, Aadivka, Vuhledar. We were bouncing around all over the place in the forefront of what he believes is a defence of democracy and of his homeland.

There were some days we went out and casualty rates were 50 per cent, says Nate Vance, speaking from the Rocky Mountains where he is resting before returning to the fight in Ukraine.

While JD, 40, was on the campaign trail where he snubbed Ukraines president Volodymr Zelensky, and even after he was elected, JD never asked me anything about the war, his cousin recalls.

Nor has the vice president been in touch after the disastrous meeting with Zelensky in the Oval Office when the world witnessed a drastic shift against Kyiv by the US.

I was angry, lets be honest I was angry. Even if you removed my connection to the vice president and you removed my connection to Ukraine, and this was just some neutral issue where a president invited a foreign leader to the White House it was a really weird thing to me.

open image in gallery Speaking to The Independent, Nate Vance said he was angered by the furious row in the White House between Trump, Vance and Zelensky ( Sam Kiley/The Independent )

The perception is that that was pre-planned and to kind of put pressure on somebody seemed like an attempt to make Zelensky look small. What it looked like was an ambush.

I think that Trump does not understand that region of the world as well as he likes to pretend he does. He almost views it as two adolescent boys roughhousing in the living room and hes going to walk in like the Dad and say Ok guys knock it off its time for dinner.

And theygoing to be like OK ad then go back to being friends again and that is nowhere near what is going to happen.

Theyre starting to look like Putins useful idiots. Im sure Putins laughing his ass off behind closed doors at all these concessions that are being made, knowing hes not going to do what the current administration wants him to do.

Any concessions you make to him will come back to bite you. They will, Nate Vance insists.

Why has JD taken such a strong anti-Zelensky view?

There was a campaign promise made to end the war quickly and when those two [Trump and Vance] are looking at who can we bully into stopping they see that Ukraine is in a position of weakness. It was a simple calculation on their part that we cant really push Putin around necessarily so well push Zelensky around, the vice presidents cousin says.

Nate Vance served as a Marine, then went onto oil and gas consulting in Texas. Growing up he spent summers with his cousin JD.

open image in gallery Ukrainian soldiers carry shells to fire at Russian positions on the front line, near the city of Bakhmut, in Ukraine's Donetsk region, in March 2024 ( AP )

Trump and JD Vance are driving forward with plans to negotiate a ceasefire quickly in Ukraine with Russia. They have made it clear that any longer term peace will not be underwritten by American military guarantees for Ukraines safety. European leaders, and Kyiv, are convinced that a ceasefire would be an opportunity for Putin to rearm and attack again.

Nate Vance is amazed that his cousin does not appear to understand that Zelensky cant take his foot off the pedal. If he does then Russia will advance - thats why he is asking for security guarantees from the US, in return for mineral concessions in Ukraine.

For the US the only leverage was its support for Ukraine, but the current administration has said they will stop all support no matter what happens - so Russia doesnt care what the US thinks.

Nate Vance spent many months fighting in reconnaissance units and then went on to join assault teams, serving in the 67th and then the 59th Ukrainian infantry brigades.

He says he learned that Russian soldiers were being driven to fight by superiors who would kill them if they did not. This was proof, he says, that the Russians could not be trusted.

He scorns JD Vance and Trumps claims that they can deliver a binding peace in talks with Putin without the threat of military power to hold back Russias ambition to reclaim the Eastern European countries lost to Moscow after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

He describes how in a battle near Chasiv Yar, close to Bakhmut which his drone team were monitoring, a Russian unit of about a dozen men attacked nearby Ukrainian forces.

open image in gallery JD Vance confronts Zelesnky in the White House ( AP )

Most of the Russians were killed or wounded but three made it back. Vance says he watched from drones sending live images to his group who were mostly Ukrainians.

So the Russians go back to their friendly positions and NCOs (Russian non-committed officers) step out of the tree line and kill those guys.

They will eat their own. If you dont think they will eat you these guys, they have no qualms in betraying their own people. So betraying a foreign government is nothing. Especially a foreign government [like the US] who has effectively removed themselves and removed all levers from the conversation.

He says that his fellow Americans who had volunteered to defend Ukraine, like him, all feel betrayed by the Trump White House. By his own family.
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Pope Francis has often spoken and written about illness, ageing, and death, and has personally instructed his doctors to provide detailed daily updates on his battle with pneumonia.

On Monday, his doctors reported that the 88-year-old pontiff was no longer in imminent danger but would remain hospitalised for treatment for several more days.

Francis's openness about his health echoes the legacy of St John Paul II, whose struggle with Parkinsons disease was publicly visible for years.

However, the Vatican did not acknowledge the condition until after his death.

In keeping with his papacy, Francis has been upfront about his health. In 2021, he gave an unprecedentedly candid interview to an Argentine doctor, who published a book detailing the pontiff's physical and mental health history.

Last week, Francis recorded an audio message from the hospital, revealing the weakness in his voice and the effort required to speak.

Here are a few of Franciss thoughts on illness and death.

open image in gallery A woman prays next to the statue of Pope John Paul II outside the Gemelli hospital where Francis is being treated ( AP )

On ageing

Pope Francis has consistently voiced concerns about society's treatment of the elderly, decrying what he sees as a "throwaway culture" that marginalises them once they are no longer deemed productive.

The pontiff has been particularly outspoken about the importance of including older people in the life of the church, a stance he emphasised during Pope Benedict XVI's 10-year retirement.

Even as he has aged, and now relies on a wheelchair and walker, Francis' views on ageing have remained consistent. In his 2010 book On Heaven and Earth, co-written with Rabbi Abraham Skorka, Francis criticised the cruelty faced by the elderly, calling out families who neglect their grandparents by sending them to nursing homes and failing to visit.

The elderly are sources of the transmission of history, the people who give us memories, they are the memory of the people, of a nation, of the family and of the culture, religion, said Francis, who at the time was the archbishop of Buenos Aires.

On death in general

In the same book, then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio recalled that his grandmother Rosa, who helped raise him, had the words of an adage framed on her bedside table that stayed with him all his life: See that God sees you, see that he is watching you, see that you will die and you dont know when.

He referred to the saying again in 2018 in a speech to priests, and that his grandmother had instructed him to recite it every day so you will remember that life has an end.

I didnt understand much at the time, but that verse, since I was three years old, has stuck with me, he told the priests. And it helped me. The thing was kind of bleak, but it helped me.

open image in gallery Pope Francis pictured during his time as cardinal of Argentina ( AFP via Getty Images )

On his own mental and physical health

Francis disclosed that he underwent weekly psychiatric sessions during Argentina's military dictatorship to manage his anxiety, as revealed in Dr Nelson Castro's 2021 book, The Health of Popes.

During an interview with Dr Castro, the pontiff spoke in detail about his past ailments, including a respiratory infection that resulted in the removal of the upper lobe of his right lung, a gangrenous gallbladder, compressed vertebrae, flat feet, and a fatty liver.

The most noteworthy revelation was Francis's disclosure that he sought psychiatric help to manage his anxiety while hiding people from the military and helping them leave Argentina.

"In those six months she helped me with respect to how to manage the fears of that time," he told Dr Castro.

"If you can imagine what it was like to transport someone hidden in the car  covered by a blanket  and pass through military controls  It created an enormous tension in me."

He added that the therapy helped him maintain equilibrium in making decisions and that he believes all priests must understand human psychology.

On his own death

open image in gallery Pope Francis during a trip to South Korea

Pope Francis has been contemplating his mortality since the early years of his papacy, suggesting as early as 2014 that his time in office would be brief.

During a trip home from South Korea in 2014, he told reporters, "I realise that this is not going to last long, two or three years, and then  off to the house of the Father."

The pontiff reportedly told Fidel Castro that while he frequently thinks about death, it holds no fear for him.

Francis has also made arrangements for his final resting place, choosing to be buried in the St. Mary Major basilica rather than the Vatican. This decision allows him to be near his beloved icon of the Madonna, the Salus Populi Romani ("Salvation of the People of Rome").

More recently, he has alluded to future events that he anticipates he will not be present for, even hinting at potential successors. In 2023, regarding the Vatican's improving relationship with Vietnam, Francis agreed that the country would be a fitting destination for a papal visit.

If I dont go, surely John XXIV will, he said chuckling, referring to a future pope who might be named for the progressive, Vatican II-era pontiff, John XXIII.
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Pope Francis's health has taken a positive turn, with doctors upgrading his prognosis and stating he is no longer in immediate danger of death following a bout of double pneumonia.

The 88-year-old pontiff has been hospitalised for nearly a month, marking the longest and most serious health scare of his 12-year papacy.

While the Pope's condition remains stable and he has shown improvement in recent days, doctors are proceeding with caution.

He will remain hospitalised for several more days to continue treatment and begin rehabilitation.

However, blood tests and his positive response to treatment have encouraged medical staff.

Francis, who suffers from chronic lung disease, continues to require supplemental oxygen during the day and uses a ventilation mask at night to aid his breathing.

He has been waking later than usual during his stay at Gemelli hospital, around 8am, compared to his typical 4:30am rising time at the Vatican.

open image in gallery Candles for Pope Francis are seen in front of the Gemelli hospital ( AP )

Doctors lifted their "guarded" prognosis late Monday, indicating they no longer believe the respiratory infection that led to his hospitalisation on February 14 poses an immediate threat.

However, given the Pope's age and overall health, doctors remain vigilant about potential complications.

"In view of the complexity of the clinical picture and the important infectious picture presented on admission, it will be necessary to continue medical drug therapy in a hospital setting for additional days," a Vatican statement said.

In a sign of his improved health, Francis followed the Vatican's weeklong spiritual retreat via videoconference on Monday in both the morning and afternoon sessions, something he was likely to continue to do through the week.

open image in gallery A nun attends a rosary prayer for Francis at Vatican Square ( AP )

The retreat, an annual gathering that kicks off the Catholic Church's solemn Lenten season leading to Easter, continues through Friday. The Vatican has said Francis would participate "in spiritual communion" with the rest of the hierarchy, from afar.

Francis could see and hear the Reverend Roberto Pasolini, preacher of the papal household, but the priests, bishops, cardinals and nuns gathered for the retreat in the Vatican auditorium could not see or hear him.

The Pope, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, had what was just a bad case of bronchitis when he was hospitalised in February. The infection progressed into a complex respiratory tract infection and double pneumonia that has sidelined Francis and raised questions about the future.

He was still keeping his eye on things, however. The Vatican said he had been informed about the floods in his native Argentina, sent a telegram of condolences and expressed his closeness to the affected population.
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Greenlanders are going to the polls for a crucial general election on Tuesday, with a push for independence a key issue after US President Donald Trump repeated his threat to take over the island.

The Inatsisartut parliament consists of 31 MPs to be chosen from six political parties  two of which are in the governing coalition, Inuit Ataqatigiit and the Simiut parties. The leader of the party that wins the most seats in parliament in the March 11 vote becomes prime minister - currently Mute Egede of the left-wing Inuit Ataqatigiit party. The results are expected to be announced between 1am and 3am GMT on Wednesday.

A January poll suggested the Inuit Ataqatigiit could gain 31 percent, 9 percent ahead of the Siumut party.

open image in gallery Donald Trump addresses a joint session of US congress, claiming he will control Greenland ( AP )

The island became a formal territory of Denmark in 1953 and is subject to the Danish constitution. In 2009, the island was granted broad self-governing autonomy, including the right to declare independence from Denmark through a referendum.

Siumut has boosted its appeal by promising an independence referendum after the election. Naleraq, the largest opposition party, has also sought to gain support with its pro-independence stance allied to a willingness to collaborate with the United States.

In 2019 then-president Trump said he wished to to gain control of the mineral-rich Arctic territory sparking a diplomat spat with Denmark with a first offer to buy Greenland.

At that time, Danish Prime Minister Mette Fredericksen rejected the idea, saying: "Greenland is not for sale. Greenland is not Danish. Greenland belongs to Greenland. I strongly hope that this is not meant seriously." Shortly after, President Trump cancelled a planned trip to Copenhagen.

Having mentioned Greenland a number of times since returning to the White House in January, Mr Trump addressed the US Congress last week and doubled down. "We need Greenland for national security. One way or the other we're gonna get it," he said, prompting applause and laughter from a number of politicians, including Vice President JD Vance.

Hours after President Trump made his latest overtures, Greenlands Prime Minister Egede posted Greenland is ours. on Facebook.

Here, The Independent looks at the leaders of the six political parties involved.

Mute Egede

open image in gallery Mute Egede is the incumbent prime minister ( Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images )

Mute Egede is the current prime minister of Greenland as leader of the Inuit Ataqatigiit party. He became the youngest leader of Greenland in 2021 when he was elected.

Egede has been critical of Trump, saying he is unpredictable and is not treating Greenlanders with respect.

It is a fateful choice we have, he told Danish broadcaster DR on Monday. The things that are happening in the world right now worry me quite a lot. That there is a world order that is faltering on many fronts, and perhaps a president in the United States who is very unpredictable in a way that makes people feel insecure.

We deserve to be treated with respect, and I dont think the American president has done that lately since he took office.

The prime minister also called for independence from Denmark in a New Years address.

It is now time to take the next step for our country, Egede said, adding that Greenland must remove the shackles of the colonial era.

The party is also prioritising welfare, a stronger economy with more jobs, better health and education and sustainable development this election, according to its website.

Erik Jensen

open image in gallery Erik Jensen, chairman of the Siumut party ( Facebook )

Pro-independence Erik Jensen is currently leading the social-democratic Siumut party, a partner in Greenlands current coalition government.

Jensen is minister for finance and tax for Greenland. Siumut plans to invoke an article in a 2009 law that granted Greenland increased autonomy, including the right to negotiate full independence.

Jensen told Danish broadcaster DR he expected the vote on independence would happen "within the next election period", but did not give any further details.

"It (an independence decision) must be on an informed basis, so that the population is not in doubt about the consequences. We have a welfare society that must function. We have some economic aspects that we also need to look at," he added.

Pele Broberg

open image in gallery Pele Broberg, Naleraq Party ( Facebook )

Pele Broberg is the current leader of Greenlands most outspoken pro-independence party, Naleraq.

Pointing to Brexit and Greenlands EU departure, Broberg said Greenland may be out of the Danish kingdom in three years".

"The people who colonised the country are not supposed to be allowed to decide whether or not they want to continue (colonising)," Broberg also told the Danish daily Berlingske.

Broberg formerly served as foreign minister but was demoted after he suggested that only ethnic Inuit people and their descendents could be eligible to vote in a future referendum. He later said his comments to Berlingske were misunderstood.

Jens Frederik Nielsen

open image in gallery Jens Frederik Nielsen, Demokraatit party ( Facebook )

Jens Frederik Nielsen leads the centre-right Demokraatit party and is known as Greenlands badminton champion.

In response to a recent bill banning foreign contributions to political parties, Mr Nielsen said Trumps comments are a threat to our political independence.

We must defend ourselves, he added. "I hope it sends a clear message to him that we are not for sale," Mr Nielsen told Sky news, referring to Donald Trumps comments.

We don't want to be Americans. No, we don't want to be Danes. We want to be Greenlanders. And we want our own independence in the future. And we want to build our own country by ourselves, not with his hope."

Nielsen signed a signed a political cooperation agreement with Denmarks Liberal Alliance in January, Danish daily Berlingske reported. Nielsen said "We are in the midst of an exciting and crucial time in the relationship between Greenland and Denmark", according to Berlingske.

Aqqalu Jerimiassen

open image in gallery Aqqalu Jerimiassen, Atassut party ( Facebook )

Aqqalu Jerimiassen heads the liberal and unionist Atassut party and was formerly minister of business and energy.

He specialised as a service economist in tourism and has been a co-owner of tourist company Ilulissat Water Safari. He has been re-elected in multiple municipal elections and was a deputy mayor for a short period.

Jerimiassen has also opposed Trumps comments about his country.

"We should maintain good relations with the US, but Greenland should not become part of the US, either now or in the future," he said, according to China Daily.

Karl Ingemann

Karl Ingemann leads a new independence party, Qulleq, which was formed in 2023 by former members of Siumut and Naleraq.

Ingemann believes Greenlands resources have been mismanaged, according to Danish news agency Ritzau.

He comes from the small town of Maniitsoq on a Western Greenlandic island.
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On the ground, Ukrainians are acutely aware of the repercussions of Donald Trumps hardline decision to cut aid and access to military intelligence in the wake of his fateful White House row with Volodymyr Zelensky.

During the last day of fighting alone, Russian commandos have reportedly spearheaded an assault using an abandoned oil pipeline to sneak behind Ukrainian forces occupying part of Russias Kursk region.

Elite airborne and marine units backed by North Korean soldiers also launched full-frontal assaults on the Ukrainians under a barrage of artillery, drones and air attacks.

open image in gallery A Russian rocket launcher firing toward a Ukrainian position in the Kursk region border area ( Russian Defence Ministry Press Service )

The latest attacks come after Vladimir Putins escalated violence was described as what anybody else would do by Mr Trump.

And leaving Ukraine in the dark has certainly given Putin a crucial advantage. Were losing, one Ukrainian fighting in Kursk wrote in a text message to The Independent.

Meanwhile, in Kyiv, small crowds gathered on Sunday to support demands for the release of prisoners of war captured by Russia.

They further marked the birthday of Ukraines most celebrated poet, Taras Shevchenko, who fought for the recognition of his mother tongue in the 19th century.

open image in gallery People protest against Donald Trump's policy on Ukraine in front of the US Embassy in Kyiv on Saturday ( AP )

Many Ukrainians are defiant at what they see as Russias latest attempt to wipe them out completely. And they reacted with scorn towards the help that Mr Trump has given Russia.

Its a betrayal. This whole war has been a betrayal, said one supporter who would only give her first name, Victoria.

open image in gallery Crowds also gathered to protest in Kyiv on Sunday ( Sam Kiley/The Independent )

She recalled the stories she heard from her grandmother of the last major Russian-led attempt to destroy a country that Putin claims does not exist.

Scared of history repeating itself, she told The Independent: My relatives, my grandmother, her family, my great-grandmother, all suffered from it; they starved in the 1930s.

My grandmother told me some terrible stories. How she had to get food in the neighbouring villages, people were eating people, from hunger. It really happened.

open image in gallery Victoria told The Independent Trumps actions were a betrayal ( Sam Kiley/The Independent )

Tetiana Chugonova said her son, Shulga Ruslan Igorovych, was captured while fighting in Mariupol during one of the biggest battles of the current war. She has had only two letters from him, and said he is now a prisoner of war in Russia.

When asked if she thinks Mr Trump could help, she replied: Not really. I think Trump is leaning towards Moscow, towards Russia.

open image in gallery Demonstrators hold placards as they stand next to a sign reading no to looting Ukraine during a protest called America, wake up on Saturday ( AFP/Getty )

British businessman and scientist Alexander Fergusson came out to join the demonstrations. His company produces FPV (First Person View) drones for the Ukrainian armed forces.

Dr Fergusson said: I am extremely frustrated [over the Trump administrations new support for Putin]. I have a lot of American friends who, I would say, are apoplectic with rage.

I am here to show my support and that come hell or high weather, I am going to stand with Ukraine.

open image in gallery Tetiana Chugonova said she thinks Trump is leaning towards Russia instead of Ukraine ( Sam Kiley/The Independent )

Meanwhile Mr Zelensky is due to travel to Saudi Arabia to meet with crown prince Mohammed bin Salman in the coming days. Ukraine will also have a team that will stay on in Riyadh as the US begins talks with Ukrainian and Russian officials.

Mr Zelensky wrote on social media platform X: Ukraine has been seeking peace from the very first second of this war. Realistic proposals are on the table. The key is to move quickly and effectively.

On our side, we are fully committed to constructive dialogue, and we hope to discuss and agree on the necessary decisions and steps.

open image in gallery Shulga Ruslan Igorovych was captured while fighting in Mariupol during one of the biggest battles of the current war ( Sam Kiley/The Independent )

But following the latest assaults, the Russians have been able to drive a wedge into the territory in Kursk that Ukraine had hoped to use in any future negotiations with the Kremlin.

And with the US now seen across Europe as firmly in Russias camp, it is feared the talks may prove to be fruitless.

There are further concerns that Mr Trumps adviser Elon Musk may try to gag Ukraines forces by cutting off the Starlink satellite system, which is the militarys main means of communication.

open image in gallery Alexander Fergusson said his American friends are apoplectic with rage over what has happened ( Sam Kiley/The Independent )

Mr Musk threatened on Sunday to shut down Starlink in Ukraine, adding the countrys entire front line would collapse if I turned it off.

Mr Musk started out as a supporter of Ukraines war effort after the Russian invasion of 2022. But since joining Mr Trumps election campaign and now his staff, the billionaire has swung firmly behind Putin.

What I am sickened by is years of slaughter in a stalemate that Ukraine will inevitably lose, he wrote.

He has not demanded that Putin observe a ceasefire and has endorsed campaigns for the US to leave Nato, which Putin sees as a major threat to his regime.

open image in gallery Many Ukrainians are defiant at what they see as Russias latest attempt to wipe them out ( Sam Kiley/The Independent )

Doesnt make sense for America to pay for the defence of Europe, Mr Musk added.

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, known for his extravagant claims of Russian military successes, claimed on Sunday that recent advances in Kursk meant Kyivs soldiers were almost surrounded.

He wrote: The lid of the smoking cauldron is almost closed. The offensive continues.

An estimated 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers may be in the Kursk salient. These include British, American, French, German and other volunteers from around the world, who have been serving in Ukraines International Legion on the front lines over the past three years.

But despite the latest reports, one veteran of the legion, who experienced ferocious battles in Luhansk and Bakhmut, had a positive view of the enduring determination of the soldiers.

Its looking bad for them, but they wont be trapped. Theyll fight their way out, he said.
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Ukraines agreement to accept a 30 day ceasefire in its war with Russia, which will now be taken as an offer to the Kremlin, is likely to be seized with glee by Vladimir Putin.

It gives his troops a breather, undermines Ukraines morale, and can be used to drive a further wedge into relations between Kyiv and Washington.

The agreement has been forced on Ukraine by the US after the Trump administration cut military aid and intelligence sharing with its former allies in Kyiv.

The intelligence taps will be turned back on as part of the deal which also says the two countries will work towards a mineral exploitation agreement.

There is no faith that the US are honest brokers in talks with Russia among the people of Ukraine or in its corridors of power. Every move made by the Trump administration since it came into office has been to enfeeble the Ukrainian war effort.

A ceasefire risks doing the same. It allows for Russia to re-arm and repair the damage done by Ukrainian long-range strikes and attacks on logistics nodes, supply routes and command and control centres.

open image in gallery US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (2nd L) and US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz (L) after meeting a Ukrainian delegation in Jeddah on March 11, 2025 ( POOL/AFP/Getty )

The Ukrainians have been losing ground in Kursk following the Russian offensive that exploited the US suspension of intelligence sharing which effectively blinded Kyiv to Russian movements.

But in the east, in the meat grinder fighting that Mike Waltz the US negotiator referred to, Russian forces have been unable to use artillery, heavy armour, and to resupply their front lines with much ammunition for several months  a result of Ukraines use of longer range missile and drones.

The Jeddah talks produced a commitment that the US would renew intelligence and security support. It was not immediately clear whether this includes the resumption of military aid.

European nations and the UK have rushed to fill the gap left by US military and intelligence support for Ukraine. But meeting Ukraines immediate battlefield needs will take time.

The Ukrainian agreement to a 30 day ceasefire will also have been demanded by European allies, who are worried that the breakdown in the relationship between Trump and Zelensky would cripple Kyivs war machine before they can step in to help keep it going.

Zelensky himself has argued against ceasefires and insisted that a full scale peace agreement, underpinned by security guarantees that would mean Putin would face military force if he broke them, was the only way for Ukraine to survive.

open image in gallery Russia Ukraine War

Russia has an appalling record of violating temporary truces dozens of times in Ukraine since the Kremlins forces first invaded in 2014.

Putin is likely to agree to a ceasefire because he has already been promised many of the concessions that he would have wanted to extract in talks about descalation, or even peace.

The US, once Ukraines ally, has ruled out Ukrainian demands Russia should return its occupied territories and has also ruled out any American, or NATO support for a security guarantee to underwrite a future formal peace deal.

Putting that guarantee together has been a desperate effort led by France and the UK to form a coalition of the willing.

open image in gallery Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets Saudi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Royal Palace in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Monday, March 10, 2025 ( Ukrainian Presidential Press Office )

Ukrainians are desperate for peace. But they believe that they cant survive as a nation unless they have an overwhelming deterrent against Russias imperial ambitions to swallow their country.

A ceasefire will not dampen that fire. But it risks Ukraine losing combat energy amid the raising of false hopes for peace which make Kyiv weaker still.

There will, inevitably, be ceasefire violations even if one is agreed. These, one can be sure, will be blamed on Ukraine by the Trump administration before the Kremlin has had time to whip out a press release saying the same.

And theres no guarantee that the US wont blind Ukraines intelligence systems again. In Kyiv theyve learned not to trust Putin. The same goes for Trump.
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Ukraines massive and widespread drone attacks against Russia on the eve of talks between the US and Ukraine employed exactly the same tactics as Moscow has used to terrorise its neighbour for three years: the swarm.

If the Kremlins figures are to be believed  they usually are not, but in this case they might be accurate  Ukraine flew 337 aircraft into Russian airspace.

The drones used are made in Ukraine, employ the latest technology, and were sent in such numbers that Russian air defences were unable to cope.

Most nights, Ukraine is hit by waves of 100-200 cheap Shahed drones  a 40kg bomb powered by a lawnmower engine  which are sent along with ballistic missiles carrying half a tonne of high explosives.

These swarms are intended to distract and overwhelm Ukraines defences, and lately have included dummy drones carrying no explosives, which are used to waste a multi-million dollar air-defence missile supplied by Europe or the US.

In a show of strength and defiance after the US cut military and intelligence support for Kyiv, Ukraine has now done the same.

open image in gallery A damaged apartment building in Ramenskoe, outside Moscow, after Ukraines drone attack ( EPA )

However, its drones are higher grade and use the latest technology to get around Russian radar, avoid its surface-to-air missiles, and fly on to targets accurately by navigating themselves.

The development of a huge unmanned air force has been driven by a Ukrainian government announcement earlier this year that it would produce 30,000 long-range drones and 3,000 ballistic missiles.

Ukraine used to be the main producer of rockets for the Soviet space programme. Its second city, Kharkiv, remains a world centre for rocket science, and its development of drone technology has been supercharged by arms investors from around the world keen to cash in on Ukraines unparalleled experience in this new kind of warfare.

Were leading the world in some of this weapons technology and we just need a bit more time to get right ahead of the Russians, said a senior officer in the new Ukrainian UAV Force.

The Ukrainian air attack against Russia hit oil refineries as well as Moscow and killed three people, Russian officials have said. Fourteen Ukrainians were killed in Russian air attacks on Saturday.

Russia was probably hit by Ukraines homegrown Palianytsia missile-drone which carries a 50kg warhead and can fly 600km at about 800kph.

open image in gallery An image posted by Moscows governor Andrei Vorobyev purporting to show a car park in southern Moscow after the Ukrainian drone attack ( Telegram )

Moscows four airports were shut down and an apartment block was hit, while refineries came under attack in Russias Oryol region.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "All (defensive) measures and actions were carried out in advance, in good time. And this allows for the protection of Moscow and the Moscow region, as well as many other regions."

Ukraine has asked for an air and naval ceasefire as part of its negotiations for peace. The US has ruled out Ukraine recovering its lost territory, as well as Nato support and indefinite military aid and intelligence sharing  all bargaining chips that could have been used by Ukraine.

The attacks on Moscow were intended to show Vladimir Putin that even with the vocal backing of the Trump administration, Ukraine is capable of hurting Russia.

Peskov said the visiting secretary general of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Feridun Sinirlioglu, had been shown the damage caused by the attack on Moscow.

"It's important that he was shown the aftermath of the attack. But more importantly, what the Kyiv regime is hitting  residential buildings," said Peskov.

Thats not a statement that will trouble Zelensky.
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Saudi Arabia is set to host talks between Ukraine and the US in the wake of an extraordinary White House meeting between Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky and JD Vance that descended into a 10-minute argument.

The talks will begin on Tuesday, nearly a month after a Russian delegation's first round of meetings with Mr Trumps team. The US president said over the weekend that he was optimistic there would be a lot of progress at the talks. In the same breath, he said he was not sure if Ukraine would survive Russias invasion.

Ukraines main goal - and indeed Europes top objective - is simply to get the US back on side. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer dispatched his national security advisor Jonathan Powell to Kyiv over the weekend to advise Ukraine on the talks.

Saudi Arabia may seem like an unusual venue for talks aimed at smoothing over relations after the blowup. But the oil-rich kingdom, under its assertive Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has been positioning itself as an ideal location for possible peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow  and even the first face-to-face talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Mr Trump.

Saudi Arabias Foreign Ministry has said that the talks will take place in Jeddah, a port city on the Red Sea

Over the weekend, Putins forces mounted a counterattack in the Russia border region of Kursk, which Ukraine has partially held since last August, threatening one of Kyivs most important negotiation cards: Russian land.

Ukraine, then, heads into these talks in a perilous position. They must do everything they can to reverse the course.

Who will attend the talks?

Mr Zelensky arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday. He had earlier delayed a trip to the kingdom after travelling to the neighbouring United Arab Emirates, which has also been considered a possible venue for peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow.

We continue working on the relevant steps with our partners who want peace, who want it just as much as we do, Mr Zelensky said Friday. There will be a lot of work here in Europe, with America in Saudi Arabia  we are preparing a meeting to accelerate peace and strengthen the foundations of security.

At the meeting at the White House 10 days ago, Mr Trump claimed Mr Zelensky was not ready to end the fighting. At one point he admonished the Ukrainian leader by angrily saying: Youre gambling with World War III, and what youre doing is very disrespectful to the country.

Mr Zelensky left without signing a deal that included granting the US access to Ukraines rare earth minerals. Kyiv hoped that the deal would ensure the continued flow of US military support that Ukraine urgently needs as it battles Russia in the war that began after Moscows full-scale invasion in February 2022.

After the spat, the Trump administration paused military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv. On Sunday, Trump said that he had just about lifted the intelligence pause and was looking at fresh tariffs on Russia. Mr Trump said he thought Ukraine would sign the minerals agreement.

Mr Zelenskys chief of staff Andriy Yermak, foreign minister Andriy Sybiha and defense minister Rustem Umerov were travelling with him to Saudi Arabia and will take part in the talks. The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, will lead the American team for the Ukrainian talks and meet with the Saudi crown prince. National security adviser Mike Waltz and Mr Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, will also be present.

Mr Sybiha has also spoken to Mr Rubio ahead of the talks, describing it as a constructive call. A two-sentence readout from the State Department said Mr Rubio underscored President Trump is determined to end the war as soon as possible and emphasized that all sides must take steps to secure a sustainable peace.

What is Ukraine planning to propose?

It is believed that Ukrainian officials will propose a partial ceasefire across air and sea with Russia  including long-range drone and missile strikes and combat operations in the Black Sea. It is an idea Mr Zelensky spoke openly about on social media last week after an overnight Russian missile and drone attack killed 14 people and injured dozens more.

Ukraine hopes this will convince the US to resume full intelligence and military support. That is their priority.

Last week, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova described any form of a partial ceasefire as absolutely unacceptable without a final settlement.

What has the US said?

Donald Trump said he was optimistic about Ukraine-US talks in Saudi Arabia ( US Network Pool )

US officials say that Mr Trump wants Mr Zelensky to be more prepared to make concessions, such as giving up territory to Russia.

He is also said to want Mr Zelensky to make some movement towards elections in Ukraine and possibly towards stepping down as his countrys leader.

But the Ukrainian government, including the opposition, is united against holding elections. Ukraine has not held elections due last year because the country is under martial law.

One opposition leader, Kira Rudik, of the Holos party, previously told The Independent that it would be impossible to hold elections because it would legitimise Russias occupation of a fifth of the country, where Ukrainians would not be able to vote.

Mr Zelensky, meanwhile, has said he would happily exchange his role for Ukrainian membership to Nato, viewed by Kyiv as the key security guarantee against future Russian attacks. Mr Trump has ruled that out.
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Ukraines minerals have become central to global geopolitics, with the US president, Donald Trump, seeking a deal with Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky to access them.

On April 30, Ukraines prime minister Denys Shmyhal said a minerals deal could be signed within the next 24 hours after the final details were worked out.

Earlier in the month, Ukrainian economy minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, took to X and shared photos of her and US treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, signing the outline of the preliminary minerals deal separately.

What are these minerals exactly and why are they so sought after?

Ukraine is often recognised for its vast agricultural lands and industrial heritage, but beneath its surface lies one of the worlds most remarkable geological formations, the Ukrainian Shield.

This massive, exposed crystalline rock formed over 2.5 billion years ago, stretches across much of Ukraine. It represents one of Earths oldest and most stable continental blocks.

The formation has undergone multiple episodes of mountain building, the formation and movement of magma and other change throughout time.

These geological processes created favourable geological conditions for forming several mineral deposits including lithium, graphite, manganese, titanium and rare earth elements.

All these are now critical for modern industries and the global green energy transition.

Ukraine has deposits containing 22 of 34 critical minerals identified by the European Union as essential for energy security. This positions Ukraine among the worlds most resource-rich nations.

International race

As the world races to decarbonise, demand for critical minerals is skyrocketing. Electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels and energy storage systems all require lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements which Ukraine has in abundance.

The price of lithium has surged from US$1,500 (1,164) per ton in the 1990s to around $20,000 per ton in recent years. Demand is expected to increase nearly 40-fold by 2040.

open image in gallery Lithium is used in electronics the world over ( Getty Images )

According to the International Energy Agency, the number of electric vehicles is projected to exceed 125 million by 2030. Similar growth is expected for other battery metals. Each electric vehicle requires significantly more lithium than conventional electronics. For example, a Tesla Model S battery requires approximately 63kg of high-purity lithium.

Ukraine has three major lithium deposits. These include Shevchenkivske in the Donetsk region as well as Polokhivske and Stankuvatske in the centrally located Kirovograd region  all within the Ukrainian Shield. Despite the significant mineral potential, many of Ukraines mineral deposits have remained largely unexplored due to the war with Russia, which has disrupted mining operations and damaged infrastructure.

The Shevchenkivske lithium deposit contains high concentrations of spodumene  the primary lithium-bearing mineral used in battery production. Its reserve is estimated as 13.8 million tonnes of lithium ores. That said, extracting it requires an estimated US$1020 million in exploration investment before mining can begin.

Meanwhile, the Polokhivske deposit at is approximately 270 thousand tonnes of lithium is considered one of the best lithium sites in Europe. Thats because of its favourable geological conditions, making extraction more economically viable.

But lithium represents just one element of Ukraines mineral resources. According to the US geological survey, Ukraine ranks globally as the third-largest producer of the mineral rutile  making up 15.7 per cent of worlds total output. It is the sixth-largest producer of iron ore (3.2 per cent of total output) and titanium (5.8 per cent), as well as the seventh-largest producer of manganese ore (3.1 per cent).

open image in gallery Wind turbines at a solar energy plant in Germany ( AP )

Ukraine also has Europes largest uranium reserves, crucial for nuclear power and weapons. It boasts significant deposits of rare earth elements, including neodymium and dysprosium, which are needed for manufacturing everything from smartphones to wind turbines and electric motors.

In addition, Ukraine is home to the worlds largest proven reserves of manganese ores. Theres approximately 2.4 billion tonnes of it concentrated primarily in the Nikopol Basin on the southern slope of the Ukrainian Shield.

The strategic significance of Ukraines minerals has gained recognition in international diplomacy. Recent bilateral negotiations between Ukraine and the US highlight the geopolitical importance of these resources.

A proposed minerals deal would involve Ukraine contributing 50 per cent of future proceeds from state-owned mineral resources, oil and gas and other extractable materials to a reconstruction investment fund for Ukraines post-war rebuilding. The fund would be jointly managed by Kyiv and Washington.

What about the USs own minerals?

The USs interest in Ukrainian minerals reflects a broader geopolitical concern over increasing demand, volatile price movements and supply chain vulnerabilities.

While the US has many of the same critical minerals as Ukraine, it has historically outsourced mining and refining due to environmental regulations, high labour costs and more attractive foreign markets.

This has led to a reliance on imports, particularly from China, which dominates critical mineral production and processing. Getting access to Ukraines minerals in exchange for military protection means the US can avoid having to buy these minerals from China.

open image in gallery A man holds a lithium stone found in a mine ( AP )

The US federal strategy in fact states it will prioritise diversification through mineral security partnerships aiming to establish a more stable and resilient supply chain.

The USs critical minerals are distributed across various geological provinces including the Appalachian Mountains, the Cordilleran Belt and the Precambrian Shield exposed in parts of the midwest.

While the US has developed substantial lithium resources, particularly in Nevadas Clayton Valley and North Carolinas Kings Mountain, much of its current lithium production comes from brine operations. This is the extraction from salt solutions, such as seawater or saline lakes, which can be more expensive than hard-rock mining.

The global shift toward green energy and electric transportation is accelerating, and minerals are at the heart of this transition. Around 80 per cent of the lithium produced globally is used for battery production. Major automakers are investing billions in electric vehicle production, driving unprecedented demand for the minerals that power this technology.

Ukraines mineral wealth positions it as a potential leader in the clean energy revolution. Once stability returns, Ukraine will have a golden opportunity to reshape the global supply chain for critical minerals. Even with a 50 per cent allocation to the US, Ukraine would still be able to fund domestic infrastructure, industry growth, jobs and economic recovery.

Munira Raji is a Research Fellow of Geology at the University of Plymouth

This article was originally published by The Conversation and is republished under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article
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There is no military solution to the war in Ukraine, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said ahead of high-level peace talks in Saudi Arabia.

A Ukrainian delegation, led by President Volodymyr Zelenskys chief of staff, will meet with Mr Rubio and other senior White House figures in Jeddah to discuss an end to the three-year war with Russia.

On the plane ride there, Mr Rubio told reporters that he would be questioning the Ukrainians on their willingness to make concessions to halt the fighting, the Guardian reported.

The most important thing that we have to leave here with is a strong sense that Ukraine is prepared to do difficult things, like the Russians are going to have to do difficult things, to end this conflict or at least pause it in some way, shape or form, he said.

I think both sides need to come to an understanding that theres no military solution to this situation.

The Russian armed forces cant conquer all of Ukraine, Mr Rubio said.

Obviously itll be very difficult for Ukraine in any reasonable time period to sort of force the Russians back all the way to where they were in 2014.

open image in gallery Mr Zelensky and Mr Trump had a heated exchange at the Oval Office in February ( AP )

Kyiv will propose a Black Sea ceasefire, a halt to long-range missile attacks, and a prisoner exchange at the talks, according to two senior Ukrainian officials.

Speaking anonymously due to lack of authorisation to publicly discuss the Tuesday meeting, the officials also revealed Ukraine's readiness to sign a deal with the US granting access to its rare earth minerals, a key priority for President Donald Trump.

This meeting is crucial for Kyiv, which is working to mend relations after Mr Zelensky's February 28 Washington visit resulted in a heated Oval Office exchange with Mr Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

The fallout from theincident led to a pause in vital US military aid and intelligence sharing, previously instrumental in supporting Ukraine's war effort, as Washington now prioritises a peace agreement.

Both Mr Rubio and Mr Zelensky arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday, but did not meet.

Mr Zelensky met with the kingdom's powerful crown prince Monday evening, with the president saying they "had a detailed discussion on the steps and conditions needed to end the war and secure a reliable and lasting peace.

"Saudi Arabia provides a crucial platform for diplomacy, and we appreciate this," Mr Zelensky said online.

open image in gallery US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives in Jeddah ( Reuters )

Mr Rubio also met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, thanking him for hosting the talks and also discussing Yemen's Houthi rebels, who are threatening to restart their attacks in the Red Sea.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Rubio acknowledged it would be hard for the Ukrainians to discuss concessions, considering their situation.

It has been a costly and bloody war for the Ukrainians. They have suffered greatly and their people have suffered greatly.

Its hard in the aftermath of something like that to even talk about concessions, but that's the only way this is going to end and prevent more suffering.

The rest of Europe remains skeptical about the talks as it has been sidelined by Washington.

The European Union last week agreed to boost the continent's defences and to free up hundreds of billions of euros for security in response to the Trump administration's shift in stance on Ukraine.
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Ukraine has accepted Donald Trumps proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia during crunch talks in Saudi Arabia in which the US agreed to lift its pause on intelligence sharing and security assistance.

After more than eight hours of talks in the coastal city of Jeddah between US and Ukrainian officials, there was fresh optimism that peace talks were back on track after last months calamitous meeting between the US president and Volodymyr Zelensky.

The Trump administration subsequently suspended intelligence sharing and military aid with Ukraine in order to pressure Mr Zelensky to enter talks to end the war with Vladimir Putins invading forces.

US secretary of state Marco Rubio said he would now take the offer to the Russians, and that the ball is now in Moscows court.

The president wanted this war to end yesterday ... So our hope is that the Russians will answer yes as quickly as possible, so we can get to the second phase of this, which is real negotiations, Mr Rubio told reporters, referring to President Trump, after the statement was issued.

Shortly after the deal was announced, Mr Trump said he would absolutely welcome Mr Zelensky back to the White House for another visit.

open image in gallery Specialists work on the facade of a damaged apartment building following a drone attack in Moscow ( AFP/Getty )

In a joint statement between the two countries, Ukraine said it expressed readiness to accept the US proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, and which is subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation.

The statement added: The United States will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine.

Mr Zelensky, who was in Saudi Arabia but did not participate in the talks, said the ceasefire was a positive proposal that covers the front line in the conflict, not just fighting by air and sea.

The talks came in the wake of Kyivs largest drone attack of the war, with at least three people killed and around 18 injured in strikes that included 343 drones launched against Russia.

open image in gallery US secretary of state Marco Rubio (right) and Ukraines foreign affairs minister Andrii Sybiha speak during the meeting in Jeddah ( AFP/Getty )

More than 90 were aimed at the capital Moscow and the surrounding region. Russia has repeatedly launched mass missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities across three years of fighting, launching 126 drones and a ballistic missile on Tuesday.

One of the proposals that Ukrainian officials brought to the talks  and has now been agreed with the US  was a truce in the air and sea that would halt such attacks; Ukrainian officials have made clear that the overnight assault was a signal to Vladimir Putin to take that seriously.

Ukrainian officials say the truce would cover the Black Sea, which would bring safer shipping, as well as long-range missile strikes that have hit civilians in Ukraine, in addition to the release of prisoners of war.

The largest drone attack in history was carried out on Moscow and the Moscow region, said Andriy Kovalenko, a Ukrainian national security council official responsible for countering disinformation. This is an additional signal to Putin that he should also be interested in a ceasefire in the air.

open image in gallery Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky ( Reuters/AFP/Getty )

US national security adviser Mike Waltz said: The Ukrainian delegation today made something very clear  that they share President Trumps vision for peace.

Mr Waltz said negotiators got into substantive details on how this war is going to permanently end, including long-term security guarantees.

Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak earlier told reporters that the most important thing was how to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

In the wake of the White House spat, the United States stopped military assistance and paused intelligence sharing with Kyiv, and Sir Keir Starmer told Mr Trump on Monday that he hoped those moves could be reversed as a result of the talks.

Putin has not publicly offered any concessions and as the Jeddah talks were underway, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov told an audience at Moscows Higher School of Economics that Russians should not get carried away by what Mr Trump is doing over Ukraine, even though his actions may sometimes look hopeful for Moscow. He called on the population to always prepare for the worst.

Dont rush to put on rose-tinted spectacles, he said. We always need to hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. And we must always be ready to defend our interests.

open image in gallery The aftermath of a Russian drone attack near Odesa, Ukraine ( AP )

In Europe, army chiefs from more than 30 countries met in Paris on Tuesday, for talks on creating an international force to deter future Russian aggression once a ceasefire is established. They include troop size, location and, crucially, military options in the event of a transgression.

The Paris meeting was the most significant culmination so far of French and British efforts to rally nations under a coalition of the willing to safeguard Ukraine by establishing a reassurance and deterrence force to dissuade Russia from invading again.

French president Emmanuel Macron said it would be held in close coordination with Nato. A French military official said the talks included nearly all 32 Nato countries  notably without the United States  as well as Commonwealth nations and Asian powers Japan and South Korea. Participants would be invited to spell out what their militaries might be able and willing to contribute, be that troops, weapons or other assistance.

Frances defence minister Sebastien Lecornu said ahead of the meeting that Ukraines own army remained the main security guarantee for the country, adding that France will refuse any demilitarisation of the Ukrainian army.

Dutch defence minister Ruben Brekelmans said that Europe is standing at a crossroads in a stark message to his colleagues. Putin has made very clear that Ukraine is not his final stop on his campaign to the imperial past, Mr Brekelmans said.

He will continue his aggressive, aggressive efforts to increase the influence and the territory of the Russian empire towards his dream to re-establish a Russkiy Mir, or a Russian world... Its a dream for Putin and its a nightmare for the rest of Europe.

Its time we let Putin wake up to the fact that his dreams do not match reality, he added.

Elsewhere, Polands prime minister Donald Tusk laid out some details around his plan for voluntary large-scale military training of Polands adult population, given Russias continuing aggression. He said the government plans to expand existing training programmes as soon as possible so that everyone who wants to take part can do so in 2026, and expand the target to be able to train 100,000 people in 2027.

Those taking part in the month-long training get a one-off salary of 6,000 Polish zoty (1,200)  with the scheme open to all adults aged between 18 and 60.

Further details of the draft law implementing these plans are expected by the end of March, he said.
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There is no chance that Volodymyr Zelensky would find himself stepping off a plane in Jeddah to gird himself for a dish of American humble pie if Donald Trump had not so comprehensively backed Russia in its war against Ukraine.

Until last week, Russia was not winning. Ukraine was not winning either. There was a stalemate in the three-year conflict which Moscow was unlikely to be able to sustain for much longer.

Ukrainian soldiers near Pokrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Kupyansk and, until recently, in Sumy province  which represent more than 75 per cent of the entire front line  all said that they saw a significant reduction in the capacity, quality, and energy of Russian forces fighting them.

Ukrainian sources said US intelligence assessments sent to Washington reflect the view that the country is not on its knees and that, if it were able to hold the line against Russia for another 18 months, they believe they can collapse the Russian army completely.

It is clear thats not the assessment of the White House where Trump has repeatedly said, indeed shouted at Zelensky, that Ukraine doesnt hold the cards.

That is because Trump has given Vladimir Putin two aces. Plucking them from the fingers of Zelensky, he first slipped the Kremlin the suspension of military aid to Ukraine. Then, when it looked like Europe would step in and fill the gap, he slapped his hand over Zelenskys eyes with a ban on intelligence sharing with Kyiv.

The result has been a sudden assault by Russia in the Kursk region  a move that looks coordinated between the Kremlin and the White House.

A Russian serviceman aims a D-30 howitzer towards Ukrainian positions in the Kursk region, in November 2024 ( Russian Defence Ministry Press Service )

The Russian successes in Kursk have relieved some of the pressure on its troops in the east who have actually begun to lose small patches of ground in fighting near Pokrovsk.

We are not losing and the Russians are not winning. Theyre slowing their tempo, sending much smaller groups on the offensive and unable to make any significant moves in the east, said a battalion commander Kalas who was fighting on the eastern front.

I dont think they still have the capacity that they once did and they definitely use a lot less artillery. Theyre terrified of our drones.

Now, there are reports that Ukraines desperation to have the military aid and intelligence support returned to it means that Kyiv may agree to a ceasefire in the air in talks this week in Jeddah.

That would result, if it held, in relief from relentless Russian drone and missile attacks. But it would also mean that Ukraines long-range sorties against Russian oil refineries, air bases and logistics nodes would be suspended.

A ceasefire that bought time for Russia, while Ukraine got no reinforcements, would be a disaster for Kyiv. And if a ceasefire broke down, it is now certain that Zelensky, or his successor, would be blamed for the breach by the Trump administration.

This would mean no support for Ukraine from America and every chance that the last major card to be used by Trump against Zelensky  the suspension of the Starlink satellite broadband network  would be played for Russia.

Were used to being betrayed  We can fight, its in our genes, we can fight to the last Ukrainian  its not what we want. We have had people who have betrayed us inside the country and outside Ukraine, said Roman, a soldier with Ukraines 3rd Brigade who was wounded fighting in Bakhmut.

This is our destiny. I believe. This is not the first time were fighting under such circumstances.
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Food prices are soaring, hospitals have ground to a halt and people are burning rubbish to cook, Palestinian civilians and medics have warned after Israel suspended the entry of goods and electricity into Gaza.

The move has led to a hike in prices of essential foods, as well as fuel, forcing many to ration their meals. The disruption of power is also affecting wastewater treatment plants and a water desalination plant that produces clean water.

Rahma Salem, 38, a mother of seven, said that foodstuffs including meat, chicken and vegetables are disappearing, and what is available  such as potatoes  have nearly quadrupled in price.

How can I feed my children? Even water has become less available after the announcement of cutting off electricity to desalination plants, she said.

With the lack of cooking gas and now no firewood, she said they have been reduced to burning rubbish, including plastic, to try to cook, which is making her family sick.

Last week, Israel was condemned by countries including the UK when it blocked the entry of supplies, including food, medicine and fuel, to the war-ravaged territory.

It said it was doing so to put pressure on the Hamas militant group to extend the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, which ended last weekend.

On Sunday, in an echo of the siege it imposed in the earliest days of the war, the Israeli authorities then announced they would also cut off electricity supplies.

open image in gallery Palestinians leave after prayers at the Imam Shafi'i Mosque in Gaza city, which has been badly damaged by Israeli strikes ( AP )

Kifah Rahman, 53, who is in the largely destroyed north of Gaza, said there is nothing to buy in the markets anymore.

Everything is unavailable in the markets after the closure, and if you can find it, the prices are very expensive to buy, including flour, meat, vegetables and fish, she said. Our children are deprived of everything.

Healthcare officials said they were concerned as hospital generators are running out of fuel and supplies of medicines are running low.

The situation is catastrophic in the literal sense. The existing generators are worn out, and the fuel is not enough. There is no potable water; the simplest necessities of life are not available, said Sohaib Al-Hams, director of the Kuwaiti Hospital.

He added that ambulances have stopped working as a result of the almost complete halt in the entry of petrol.

Israel launched an unprecedented assault on Gaza after the 7 October attacks on the south of the country by Hamas, during which the militants killed more than 1,200 people and took more than 251 hostages.

Since then, Israel's onslaught in Gaza has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, left most of its people destitute and razed much of the territory.

Israel previously cut the power supply at the start of the war, and on Sunday, Israels energy minister Eli Cohen said he had instructed the Israel Electric Corporation not to sell electricity to Gaza in what he described as an effort to put pressure on Hamas to free hostages.

This would affect a wastewater treatment plant presently supplied with power, according to the Israeli electricity company.

open image in gallery A boy looks over a newly established tent camp for displaced Palestinians in Gaza city ( AP )

The Palestinian Water Authority told Reuters that the decision would halt operations at a water desalination plant that produces 18,000 cubic metres of water per day for the population in central and southern areas of the Gaza Strip.

"The decision is catastrophic; municipalities will now be obliged to let sewage water stream into the sea, which may result in environmental and health risks that go beyond the boundaries of Gaza," said Mohammad Thabet, a spokesperson for the Gaza power distribution plant.

The decision to cut aid last week piles pressure on the population in Gaza, which numbers more than two million and is almost entirely dependent on aid, warned the United Nations Palestinian refugees agency, UNRWA.

UNRWA commissioner general Philippe Lazzarini said on Monday that it will deepen the hunger crisis in the strip.

Hamas describes the measure as "collective punishment" and says it will not be pushed into making concessions at the discussions.

open image in gallery A boy and a child drag water in plastic jerrycans through a tent camp in Gaza city ( AP )

A fragile US, Qatar and Egypt-brokered ceasefire has been in place since 19 January. So far, Hamas has exchanged 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

But the truce's initial 42-day stage has expired, and Hamas and Israel have been at loggerheads over the second and third phases, which tackle the post-war governing of Gaza and the future of Hamas itself.

Underscoring the fragility of the ceasefire, an Israeli airstrike killed one Palestinian in the Bureij camp in central Gaza, medics said. There was no immediate comment from Israel.

Arab mediators Egypt and Qatar, and the US, are currently trying to salvage the ceasefire deal and hold talks with Hamas leaders in Doha, with Israeli negotiators arriving on Monday.

In Gaza, families say they are desperate.

For example, 1kg of onions was five shekels, it became 10, 1kg of potatoes was seven shekels, it became 25 shekels now, there is now no meat or chicken, and so on for the rest of the food items, so how can I provide food for 10 members of my family? Rahma asked in desperation.

Everything is at a standstill  electricity, water, education, and all schools have been turned into shelters. My daughter, who is 10 years old, only dreams of having a chicken. Her dreams have become limited to finding chicken, while she was supposed to dream of becoming a doctor or a scientist, she added.

Kifah said: We are waiting for nothing. We are waiting for an unknown future, amid threats of a return to war and displacement.
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Syrias interim leader has struck a deal to merge the Syrian Democratic Forces, the Kurdish group that controls the nations northeast, into the army and achieve a nationwide ceasefire.

The breakthrough agreement gives the regime of Ahmed al-Sharaa control over most of Syria following days of clashes and targeted killing of civilians in the war-torn country.

The deal was signed on Monday by Mr Sharaa and Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Kurdish group, which is backed by the US.

The agreement, which provides for SDF civilian and military institutions to be integrated into the new state, came as Mr Sharaa grappled with the fallout of the massacres by his soldiers of over 1,000 people, mostly civilians from the Alawite minority, in western Syria.

The violence around the port city of Latakia, following deadly clashes in many towns and cities, reopened the wounds of the countrys 13-year civil war and marked the worst unrest since militias led by Mr Shaaras Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a rebranded Isis and al-Qaeda affiliate, toppled the Bashar al-Assad regime and sent the former president fleeing to Russia.

open image in gallery People hold Kurdistan Workers Party flag and pictures of its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan as they celebrate the signing of the deal, in Qamishli, Syria, on 11 March 2025 ( Reuters )

The deal is envisaged to be implemented by the end of the year to bring all border crossings with Iraq and Turkey, airports and oil fields in the northeast under the Shaara regimes control. The regions prisons, which hold around 9,000 suspected Isis members, are also expected to come under the control of Damascus.

The Kurds, in return, gain constitutional rights that were reportedly denied to them under Assads rule. They include the right to use and teach their language. Hundreds of thousands of Kurds displaced during the civil war will return home, and members of the community deprived of Syrian nationality will get the right of citizenship.

The agreement says that all Syrians, irrespective of their religion or ethnicity, will get to participate in the political process.

open image in gallery Aftermath of violence in the town of Jableh in Syria's coastal region on 10 March 2025 ( AP )

In a post on X, Mr Abdi said the agreement represented a real opportunity to build a new Syria. His group was working with the new regime in Damascus at such a critical period to guarantee a transitional phase that would reflect the aspirations of the Syrian people for justice and stability.

Mr Abdi reportedly wanted his forces to join the defence ministry as a bloc rather than as individuals, but his proposal was rejected.

The Shaara regime, meanwhile, announced the end of its military operation against insurgents loyal to Assad and his family.

To the remaining remnants of the defeated regime and its fleeing officers, our message is clear and explicit, the defence ministry said. If you return, we will also return, and you will find before you men who dont know how to retreat and who will not have mercy on those whose hands are stained with the blood of the innocent.

Additional reporting by agencies
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An Air India flight from Chicago to Delhi was forced to turn back after eight of the 12 toilets on the aircraft were clogged.

An investigation found that the toilets were clogged by polythene bags, rags and clothes that had been flushed down and stuck in the plumbing, Air India said in a statement on Monday.

Flight AI126 had left the Chicago OHare international airport at 4.48 pm local time on 5 March for a 14-hour journey to Delhi.

About an hour and forty-five minutes into the flight, the crew reported some of the lavatories in business and economy class to be unserviceable, it said. By this time, the aircraft was overflying the Atlantic, leaving points in Europe as potential cities to divert to. However, due to restrictions on night operations at most of the European airports, it was decided to divert back to Chicago. The decision to divert was taken entirely in the interest of passenger comfort and safety.

Finding no viable stopover options, the plane, with nearly 300 passengers on board, turned back and landed in Chicago.

open image in gallery File. Air India plane ( Getty Images )

Tracking data from Flightradar24 showed the plane was near Greenland when it reversed course, logging just under 10 hours in the air.

Passengers were provided immediate assistance, including hotel accommodation and alternative flight options to continue their journey to Delhi, Air India said.

The airline said that eight out of 12 lavatories in the aircraft became unserviceable, causing discomfort to all on board, sparking a debate on social media about the toilet etiquette of the passengers.

While many people blamed passenger behaviour, some criticised the airlines upkeep. One user wrote on X: Will the person who felt compelled to flush their clothes down the toilet and the other people who dont trash their tissues on AI126 please stand up and pay Air India for the diversion please?

My mom once flew NYC to DEL on an Air India plane that was leaking toilet water into the aisle, a Reddit user complained. So, yes this is normal.

Another commented: At this point, it is on people who fly on AI especially on international sectors. I understand it might be convenient for senior citizens and folks with kids to take a nonstop but seriously think about the convenience being offered here.

A Reddit user claiming to have been on the flight said: Apparently the crew knew about it but decided to take off. Then the captain did not announce that the flight was returning back. Some passengers noticed it on the screen flight map and raised the issue.

Another social media user criticised the airline: Tell me its AI, without telling me its AI.

open image in gallery A Reddit thread claiming Air India crew knew about clogged toilets before departure ( Reddit )

My family flew AI a month ago from ORD to DEL, and they told me only four toilets were working. So, in an entire month, they didnt bother fixing the aircraft, one Reddit user claimed. Thats a 15-hour flight and after just four to five hours, the remaining toilets were completely unusable. We had a toddler who needed to use the bathroom, and no amount of sanitiser or face masks could make up for the unsanitary conditions. After arriving in India, they ended up hospitalised for two weeks. I had a similar experience last week on my DEL-IAD flight. I took pictures and videos and will be posting them here and on X soon.

The Independent has reached out to Tata Group, which owns Air India, for comment.

The airline urged travellers to use plane lavatories properly. While not found on AI126 of 5 March 2025, our teams have previously also found objects such as blankets, innerwear, and diapers, among other waste, having been flushed down the toilets on other flights.

Issues with toilets have forced several flights to make emergency landings over the years. In 2017, an Air India flight from Delhi to Chicago saw all its working toilets go out of use mid-flight, allegedly due to passengers flushing plastic bottles and sanitary items.

A year earlier, an Air India flight from Newark to Mumbai had to land in Istanbul after all its toilets stopped functioning.

More recently, an Air France flight was diverted to Brazil and a United Airlines flight turned back to Germany due to similar plumbing failures.

In 2023, an Austrian Airlines plane returned to Vienna after most of its toilets became unusable.

Tata Group took back control of Air India after nearly 69 years in 2022. Tata had founded the airline in 1932, but it was nationalised in 1953.
JD Vances cousin has slammed the US vice president for allowing the belittling of Volodymyr Zelensky during his disastrous Oval Office meeting with Donald Trump last month.

In his first interview with a UK newspaper, Nate Vance, a former US marine currently volunteering on the frontline alongside Ukrainian forces, told The Independent of his anger at the White House ambush of President Zelensky.

There was a journalist giving the president of a nation a hard time, he told World Affairs Editor Sam Kiley, referring to Republican reporter Brian Glenn asking the Ukraine leader why he hadnt worn a suit to meet Trump. That guy needs to shut the f*** up.
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.
Since her husband became prime minister 12 months ago, Lady Vic has only been seen at a handful of events. Eleanor Mills unpicks the fevered speculation about her whereabouts and looks at a political spouse who has decided to do things differently
A four-year-old boy in Wisconsin called 911 to report his mother for eating his ice cream.

Dez'Riel Lowery told an operator his "mommy is being bad."

Officers Rachel Gardinier and Francesca Ostergaard attended the youngster's house to check in and use the call as a teaching moment for Dez'Riel to only use 911 for real emergencies.

The Village of Mount Pleasant Police Department posted a picture of the officers on Wednesday, 5 March, with Dez'Riel saying they returned to him the next day, this time with ice cream.
Volodymyr Zelensky poked fun at the chaotic meeting he had with Donald Trump and JD Vance in the White House earlier in March, making a dig about the criticism he received for the clothes he was wearing.

The Ukrainian president was mocked for his black sweater, which bore the Ukrainian trident, a departure from his usual military fatigues.

Apologies that I am not wearing a suit, Mr Zelensky told an award ceremony in Kyiv on Sunday, 9 March, before laughter rang out in the audience.
Flames light up Moscows sky after the Russian capital was hit by the largest Ukraine drone attack in years.

The Russian military said air defences overnight on Monday (10 March) shot down 337 Ukrainian drones over 10 Russian regions.

The attack came as a Ukrainian delegation was set to meet with Americas top diplomat in Saudi Arabia about ending the three-year fighting with Russia.

There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian officials on the attack.

The most drones  126  were shot down over the Kursk region across the border from Ukraine, parts of which Kyivs forces control, and 91 were shot down over the Moscow region, according to a statement by Russias Defence Ministry.
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The widow of a man who died of a fentanyl overdose after being robbed by a sex worker in a Las Vegas Strip resort has sued the owners of the hotel.

Jeffrey Jacoby, 55, was found dead in March 2023 after meeting a woman named Cheylee Kessee - who was operating as a sex worker - at a hotel bar in the Venetian and Palazzo.

After withdrawing $1,000 from a cash point and going with Kessee to his hotel room, Jacoby was found dead after his wife asked the hotel to perform a welfare check when she didnt hear from him in several hours.

Jennifer Jacoby has now filed a wrongful death lawsuit against hotel owners Venetian Casino Resort LLC, alleging that security should have alerted her husband that he was being followed by Glass - who has a history of targeting hotel guests to rob and victimize them.

open image in gallery Kashon Glass, left, and Cheylee Kessee allegedly had a history of robbing hotel guests ( Metropolitan Police Department )

The court documents say that Jacoby, a Colorado resident, was in Las Vegas for a work conference when he met Kessee at the hotel bar shortly after 1am on March 1.

The pair walked around the hotel for around 40 minutes, with Kessee keeping in contact with Kashon Glass, who the lawsuit says was acting as her pimp. After the pair withdrew the money from the cashiers cage area, they returned to Jacobys room at around 2:30am.

Surveillance footage in the hotel showed Glass watching the interaction, chief deputy district attorney Michael Schwartzer said in an indictment hearing in 2023. In the text messages, Glass asked Kessee why she was taking so long in Jacobys hotel room, Schwartzer said.

She tells Mr. Glass to chill and that shes having him smoke right now, Schwartzer said according to Las Vegas Review Journal.

Kessee left Jacobys room around eight minutes after entering, the lawsuit alleges. She was accused of leaving the room with Jacobys phone, wallet and $1,000 from the room as he died of a fentanyl overdose.

open image in gallery The killing took place at the Palazzo and Venetian ( Getty Images )

Jennifer later called the hotel to request a welfare check before Jacoby was found by a worker unresponsive, slumped on the bathroom floor, the complaint said.

Kessee was arrested by Metropolitan Police Department vice detectives in possession of fentanyl - with texts between her and Glass showing they were planning another robbery, Schwartzer said. Glass was arrested in possession of fentanyl.

Casino operators should have been able to identify Glass and Kessee because of their history of carrying out such robberies, and therefore been able to alert Jacoby before he was given the fentanyl, the lawsuit claims.

Jennifer and her three daughters are named as the plaintiffs, while Venetian Casino Resort, Venetian Las Vegas Gaming, and Pioneer OpCo, a subsidiary of Apollo Global Management, are listed as the defendants.

Glass and Kessee were charged with multiple crimes including murder charges, and were accused of giving Jacoby a lethal dose of fentanyl. They pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, robbery with use of a deadly weapon and burglary, District Court records show - pleas which they agreed to in exchange for other cases being dismissed.

Nevada Department of Corrections records show that Glass is serving a 50-year sentence at High Desert State Prison near Las Vegas and will only be eligible for parole after 20 years. Kessee is serving a 20-year sentence in Florence McClure Womens Correctional Center and will be eligible for parole after eight years.
The meeting of Nato defence chiefs in Paris will have seen major changes to its agenda, with the fast-moving pace of events of the past week. Although it was intended to flesh out proposals to create a robust peacekeeping force to be deployed to Ukraine after a ceasefire (this will still be discussed), there will be some more immediate issues that will also require attention.

The withdrawal of US intelligence sharing with Ukraine has had instant, detrimental effects, especially regarding the ability of Ukrainian artillery to target vital Russian military assets. This act doesnt just cover US Defence Department intelligence, but also satellite imagery from American commercial providers, which has made things even harder for Ukrainian forces.

But on top of this, the suspension of all US military support has made Ukraine especially exposed  and countering the effects of this will likely be a vital element of the Paris conference. Working out which country has what, and how quickly it can be sent to Ukraine, will certainly be a major ask from Ukrainian delegates.

Speed will be vital, especially for things such as surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), vital to defend Ukraine against heavy Russian missile/drone attacks. One problem is that many European armed forces use US-built SAMs, and it is likely that they will not be allowed to send them to Ukraine.

The most recent area where the US will cease support to Ukraine is for the reprogramming of radar jammers found on the F-16s, currently supplied by European air forces. As the Ukraine war has shown, both sides have been able to adapt systems on the battlefield often on a near-daily basis, and this is true for radars and radar jammers. Without the bespoke systems to adapt software, quite quickly, Ukraines F-16 jammers will lose their abilities to jam Russian SAMs, making them more vulnerable.

Despite some comments to the contrary, Europe can, in a number of areas, make up for the banned US support. France, Italy, and Germany all have military observation satellites (France launched the last of its high-resolution CSO-3 satellites less than a week ago) that could provide the necessary imagery, and there are also commercial operators whose imagery could be supplied.

European ammunition production has been increased markedly over the past two years, too, and missile companies have ramped up production rates. And there are European radar jammers that have been integrated onto the F-16, so US systems could be replaced. The story is not entirely a dark one  but the speed of delivery is the vital issue for Kyiv. The erratic dribble of weaponry to Ukraine will need to become a guaranteed flowing pipeline.

But the 30-plus defence chiefs will start to tackle the thorny issue(s) of who will provide what to any planned peacekeeping force. The background briefings have oscillated widely as to how many troops might be needed. President Zelensky has previously said that a force of at least 200,000 troops would be needed  a figure that would be very much an ask for Europe if this were to be deployed indefinitely.

Figures of a tripwire force  a more token deployment, but one which would show Russia that Europe would be willing to have skin (and blood) in any game  could be as small as 20,000. But a figure of around 100,000 troops (not just from armies, but also air forces) seems to be one that has received wide agreement among European planners.

Achievable? Yes. Although governments will have to look quite deeply at what their forces would have to plan to cut as regards other commitments.

There have been reports that countries such as Poland are in some way hostile to the peacekeeping plan, and the prime minister, Donald Tusk, had said that no Polish troops would be in the force. However, this was more likely as a result of Poland sharing a frontier with Russia, and so not wishing to weaken their home forces. Similar constraints are likely to apply to the Baltic states and Finland. However, outright opposition has, and will, come from Hungary and Slovakia.

Equally, the role that the UK will play in this force is somewhat of an open question. The first briefings said that the UK would put in 20-35,000 troops. At the time, British army planners were amazed by these figures, as they had not been asked whether they could find the troops  they couldnt.

The past weeks have seen the number that the UK might provide drop down to closer to 10-12,000  possible, but probably not on an indefinite basis. Actually, at the November 2024 Atlantic Future Forum conference held in London, there had actually been more talk of the UK providing a robust air force for Ukraine, rather than ground forces. Bearing in mind the weakened state of the British army, an emphasis on fighters might help defence planners.

Arguably, the biggest concern will be any US ban on the deployment of any US-supplied equipment into Ukraine as part of any peacekeeping force. An army such as Germanys or the Netherlands uses the US-built Patriot missiles as the backbone of its defence against enemy air power. What would it do if Washington refused to allow this to be deployed?
Onlyfans content creator The Irish Viking makes 80,000 personal tax settlement

A company controlled by developer Greg Kavanagh is on the latest list of tax defaulters published by the Revenue Commissioners.

The list shows that his Fofo Investment company based in Dublin made a 541,000 settlement on foot of a Revenue investigation case. It related to the under-declaration of corporation tax and VAT. None of the money has yet been paid to Revenue.
Landmark ruling says planners do not have to require flora and fauna impact data from developers

Court says planning authority can determine itself whether a species is likely to be significantly impacted

Local residents' association said O'Flynn development in Ballincollig Co Cork would impact diverse range of bat species

John Mulligan Tue 11 Mar 2025 at 03:30

The European Court of Justice has ruled that planning authorities, including An Bord Pleanala, dont necessarily have to demand additional information or an environmental impact assessment from a developer even if a third party has provided evidence that a project could have significant effects on the environment.
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
Dublin-based social media watchdog receives 1,500 complaints about harassment, nudity and hate speech

Figures released by Appeals Centre Europe reveal that Facebook was the subject of the majority of complaints about social media networks in the EU

The watchdog may expand to other platforms. Stock image: Getty

Adrian Weckler Tue 11 Mar 2025 at 03:30

The pan-European watchdog set up to receive complaints about Facebook, TikTok and YouTube has received 1,500 complaints in its first three months, with 70 coming from Ireland.
TikTok to push meditation content on teens phones at night to get them off app

The new feature will see under-16s screens taken over at night with soothing music and breathing exercises to persuade them to wind down and switch off

Adrian Weckler Tue 11 Mar 2025 at 09:00

TikTok says it wants teens to meditate as a way of combating their screen addiction.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - MARCH 04: Gal Gadot attends the 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 4, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

Gal Gadot has spoken for the first time about the frightening health scare she faced while pregnant with her fourth child.

The 39-year-old actress revealed she suffered a rare blood clot in her brain, known as cerebral venous thrombosis, which accounts for only 3% of strokes worldwide.

While expecting her daughter Ori with husband Jaron Varsano last February, Gadot experienced severe headaches.

After further medical evaluation, doctors diagnosed the life-threatening condition.

In December, the Wonder Woman star briefly shared her ordeal on Instagram, but she delved deeper into the experience during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday.

Promoting her upcoming Snow White film, set for release on March 21, Gadot credited her mother for urging her to seek medical attentionadvice that ultimately saved her life.

Gal Gadot had emergency surgery (Kirsty OConnor/PA

Gadot shared: I had a huge scare. All of the sudden, I realised what it means to be scared to death.

She added that she was speaking about her terrifying health scare in hopes of encouraging others to listen to their bodies and seek medical attention when needed.

The Hollywood star went on to detail just how serious the condition was, explaining, "I had a brain clot, and it was a huge one. Like three. I had three. When I do something, I do it all the way.

The ordeal began when Gadot experienced persistent, intense headaches that lasted for three weeks.

Despite consulting multiple doctors and neurologists, she struggled to get answers.

I had major headaches for three weeks and had seen doctors and different neurologists. You've got to advocate for your health, she emphasised.

Gadot urged others to pay attention to their bodies, stating, Our bodies are always communicating with us. We just need to listen and get checked.

If anything, you're going to check, you're going to overcheck yourself, but it's better to overcheck than to not check.

Initially, doctors dismissed her symptoms as migraines related to hormonal changes from pregnancy.

But as the pain persisted, her mother stepped in with a firm warning.

Then, three weeks later, like after having those crazy headaches, my mom is like, 'You need to check it now. Like, just go and get an MRI,' Gadot recalled.

That decision ultimately led to the diagnosis that saved her life.

After getting an MRI, she shared: They found out this horrible thing and we were rushed to the hospital, and they got the baby out immediately.

I went through a a thrombectomy. I had the most amazing team. They cared for me in Cedars-Sinai.

They saved my life. Mara and Dr. Song, and Michael Alexander. Thank you so much for saving my life.

The actress is also mother to daughters Alma, 13, Maya, eight, and 3-year-old Daniella.
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 minutes applause was held in honour of the Cork jockey Michael OSullivan before the first race today

Michael OSullivans family said it means the world to them as the first Cheltenham race today was named after the late jockey.

OSullivan, a young jockey tipped as a rising star in the sport, died in the early hours of February 16, just five days shy of his 25th birthday.

A minutes applause was held for the family in honour of the Cork jockey before the first race today, while the infamous Cheltenham roar rose up in his memory.

Speaking at Cheltenham Festival before the opening race his family told how much they appreciated the gesture.

"As a family, we are extremely grateful for the opportunity to celebrate Michael's remarkable legacy in the world of horse racing, they said.

Read more UK artist creates touching tribute to late Cork jockey Michael O'Sullivan

They said they were so proud of Michaels extraordinary talent, all of his achievements and the exemplary manner he carried himself throughout his short life.

They thanked the community for naming the Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle in his memory, describing it as a fitting tribute to his dedication, skill and passion for the sport he so dearly loved.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 11th March 2025

It means the world to us to witness Michael being recognised today and again etched into the history books of Cheltenham, a place where he created unforgettable memories, their statement added.

OSullivan was riding Wee Charlie in Thurles on February when they fell at the last in a two-mile handicap chase,. The young jockey suffered catastrophic head injuries.

He was airlifted from Thurles to Cork University Hospital and fought valiantly for 10 days, but his injuries proved too severe.

Michael OSullivan died on Sunday, February 16, aged 24, surrounded by his parents William and Bernie, brother Alan and partner Charlotte.

The late Michael O'Sullivan

He was born on February 21, 2000, the first of two boys to Bernie and William. While his parents ran a dairy farm in the townland of Currabower, in Lombardstown, Co Cork, they grew up surrounded by horses.

He become a multiple Grade One and Cheltenham Festival winner. OSullivan previously won twice at Cheltenham, first with Marine Nationale in 2023 in the Supreme Novices Hurdle and also with Jazzy Matty in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle last year.

Irish jockey Paul Townend won the opening race aboard Kopek Des Bordes and paid tribute to Michael after his victory by pointing to a Cork armband, which was also worn by all the other riders.

His family added: The outpouring of tributes over the last few weeks is a testament to the profound impact he had on so many lives.

"We extend our sincere gratitude to Cheltenham Racecourse, the Jockey Club and Sky Bet for giving us the opportunity to celebrate Michaels life and to reflect on his remarkable career.

Michael will be forever in our hearts and minds.

This article was amended at 15.1 on March 11, 2025, to correct the spelling of Paul Townend.
The National Concert Hall is set to spend an estimated 2.6m on a new world-class pipe organ for the redeveloped main auditorium in the revamped NCH building.

The instrument is described as a work of art in new NCH tender documents. The NCH is seeking parties to design, construct, install and maintain the new pipe organ to replace the 1991 Jones Organ in situ.

The tender states that the NCH board appreciates that commissioning a programme of work for the organ is unlike other fabric projects.

The tender states that it is akin to commissioning a work of art and we hope to establish a positive partnership, and long-term relationship, with whichever firms wins the contract.

The new instrument is part of a multi-million euro redevelopment of the NCH in Dublin that will double the economic contribution of the home of Irish music.

Last October, the Office of Public Works (OPW) obtained planning permission from Dublin City Council for the redevelopment, describing it a once in a multi-generational opportunity to provide a vital, world-class, cultural destination for music lovers, artists and visitors to Ireland.

Asked about the estimated 2.6m cost contained in tender documents, a spokeswoman for the NCH said today: "The build, transport, fitting and fine-tuning makes this an exceptionally complex process. The estimated cost is based on the specification we have sent out, has been benchmarked against international cost comparisons and reflects the complexity and specialist nature of this unique instrument.

The installation of a new organ in the revitalised main auditorium of the NCH will be a centrepiece of this project and a milestone moment for music in Ireland.

The newly installed organ will enable the delivery of world-class organ recitals by renowned Irish and international organists, it will have extensive use as a key instrument in performance with the National Symphony Orchestra and other visiting orchestras. The organ will also be enjoyed by the very many choirs who sing at the National Concert Hall as an accompaniment in their various concerts.

A concert organ is a very large specialist instrument, which is carefully designed and customised to the venue. It is built offsite by a specialist organ builder. The time period for build is a minimum of three years."

She said: We have retained the services of one of the world's leading organ consultants, Dr William McVicker, who has advised on the technical specification as well as the appropriate budget for an instrument of this calibre.

The indicative figure of 2.6 million includes for regular site visits for tuning and maintenance over a 10-year period."

In a nine page Organ Report lodged with as part of the OPW planning application, Dr McVicker said: If public money is to be spent on the project, a world-class organ should be expected.

Such an instrument will need to be carefully designed to serve not only the organ repertoire, but to take place in the orchestral repertoire, adding subtlety and gravitas to musical textures when required, as well as drama when required to shine as a soloist in concertos and symphony music.

The tender documentation states that the space allocated to the proposed new organ in the main auditorium is significantly greater than that occupied by the present organ. The most recent 2023 accounts for the NCH provide a 735,460 book value on the current pipe organ.

Closing date for tenders is May 30 and the NCH intends to sign a contract with the successful tenderer in September. The NCH intends to remove the existing pipe organ in October 2026 and install the newly constructed pipe organ between November 2029 and April 2030.
The Irish Government should start its own public inquiry into the Omagh bombing, according to a motion passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Dublin has said it will fully co-operate with the UK inquiry into the bombing, which is operating out of Omagh, but the Government in the Republic of Ireland has stopped short of committing to a separate public inquiry.

Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan said the Irish Government expects to agree on a memorandum of understanding with the UK Omagh Bombing Inquiry in the coming weeks.

The existing probe is examining whether the atrocity carried out by the Real IRA in the Co Tyrone town in August 1998 could have been prevented.

The bomb killed 29 people, including a woman who was pregnant with twins, in the worst single atrocity in the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Irish Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan (Brian Lawless/PA)

All those who were killed were remembered during commemorative hearings at the inquiry earlier this year, and evidence was also heard from those injured and emergency workers who responded.

The motion passed by the Assembly on Tuesday laments the lack of any tangible effort by the Irish Government to conduct their own inquiry into the Omagh bombing atrocity or deal with the wider aftermath of the Troubles.

The motion was brought by UUP MLAs Doug Beattie, Dr Steve Aiken, Robbie Butler and John Stewart.

Mr Beattie told the Assembly that the vehicle that delivered the bomb was stolen in the Republic of Ireland, adding that the explosives were also sourced and assembled in the Republic.

Yet the Dublin Government does not feel the need to hold a public inquiry in parallel to the UK inquiry or even a commission of investigation.

They clearly do not take their commitment to victims seriously, and many victims do not trust their hollow words. They do not trust some weak memorandum of understanding in regards to information sharing, and they have good reason not to trust them.

Mr Beattie said that commitments on implementing new legislation will be pointless if it does not include powers to compel witnesses from the Republic of Ireland, including gardai and military intelligence, to address the Omagh bomb inquiry.

Mr Butler told the Assembly that the intent of the motion was to seek truth and justice for innocent victims of terrorism.

He said the legacy of pain from the Troubles spreads beyond Northern Ireland and added that that means the Government of the Republic of Ireland need to act.

Robbie Butler MLA (Liam McBurney/PA)

However, Mr Butler said active engagement is not enough. He told the Assembly: We need to tie this down and it needs to be codified and it needs to be done in agreement between the UK Government and the Irish government.

Mr Butler said there also needs to be a parallel or standalone inquiry in the Republic of Ireland, adding: Warm words will not cut it.

He told the Assembly: If a Government knows and is holding on to information that would give relief and release to these people, shame on them.

He added: In 2025, theres absolutely no reason why the Government in the Republic of Ireland shouldnt do what our Government in the UK do, and that is to fess up and provide the absolute truth for victims of terrorism. 

The UUP motion also called on the UK Government to initiate an inquiry into the role of the Irish state during the Troubles, but this wording was replaced by a DUP amendment.

Joanne Bunting (Liam McBurney/PA)

The DUP amendment states that the Assembly believes the memorandum of understanding between the Omagh Bombing Inquiry and the Irish Government will be entirely deficient in providing answers for the victims and their families.

It also calls on the Irish Government to initiate a public inquiry into the Omagh bomb, with powers to compel any person in the Republic of Ireland to provide evidence, information, and material pertinent to a full and unfettered investigation on behalf of victims and survivors.

That amendment was brought by DUP MLAs Joanne Bunting, Maurice Bradley, and Stephen Dunne.

Ms Bunting said it was imperative that the Republic of Ireland Government instigates its own inquiry.

The DUP amendment called on Northern Ireland Justice Minister Naomi Long to demonstrate her commitment to challenging the Irish Governments failure to investigate the role of the Irish state during the Troubles.

Justice Minister Naomi Long (Niall Carson/PA)

Ms Long told the Assembly that her Department has no role in the conduct of the inquiry and that it would be for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to formally engage with the Irish Government in relation to the inquiry.

She added: Whilst there has been considerable discussion about the compellability of testimony and evidence from the Irish state, I would hope that the Irish government will live up to their commitment to fully co-operate with this inquiry, and that such compulsion should not be required.

It is a moral obligation that falls on all of us when we are aware of information that could bring someone else truth and justice, that we disclose that information and co-operate in every way that we could.

Ms Long also said the Northern Ireland Department of Justice cannot intrude on the decision of the Republic of Ireland to hold its own inquiry or compel it to co-operate with the existing inquiry.

She also said she shared some concerns with Mr OCallaghan that an entirely separate inquiry could result in putting people through another traumatic process.

She said it would be sensible to examine whether a mechanism can exist by which people can be assured they can get full truth from the existing inquiry.
EU 'penny has dropped' on need to cut regulation - Martin



The "penny has dropped" over the need for a reduction in EU regulations, the Taoiseach said.



Micheal Martin said the "winds of change" were blowing towards innovation and "reduction of regulation".



"There's a move within the European Union now to simplify regulation. I think the penny has dropped. The message has got home."



He made the comments as he attended an event at the US Chamber of Commerce on the penultimate day of his week of engagements in the US.



Mr Martin, who told the event that France was his favourite European country, added: "[French President] Emmanuel Macron held a very good AI action summit in Paris about a month ago and [US] vice president JD Vance was there, he gave a very strong message.



"A hard message, but he gave it very clear that the US were going to go 'innovation, innovation, innovation'.



"Emmanuel Macron and [European Commission President Ursula] von der Leyen was saying Europe has to become more innovation-focused."



Mr Martin said Ireland was committed to working with the D9+ group of countries (Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Slovenia and the Czech Republic) to advocate for the simplification of regulations in the EU.



"It's not been satisfactory. We in Ireland understand that, because a lot of the companies are located in Ireland."



He said there was "growing recognition" across Europe for the need for a reduction in regulations, but added: "That has to be matched by action and real concrete development."



Mr Martin said it is inarguable that European defence spending will increase.



He said it is "very clear" that Ireland will "have to play its role" in European security, while taking its traditional military neutrality into account.



"I can predict that the next multi-financial framework, which is the European Union budget, which will come for the Irish presidency, will involve a significant increase in European Union spending on defence capability, which will be focused on increasing opportunities and capacities from member states to increase their expenditure."



The Taoiseach added that Ireland will become a net contributor to defence capability across Europe through a collective debt instrument.



He added: "But Ireland in itself will have to increase, and we are doubling our defence - coming from a very low base - defence expenditure.



"But again, we have to do it in a targeted way. Cyber security, sub-sea cables, maritime security - those are probably the most immediate vulnerabilities."



Mr Martin heard that the US Chamber is "committed" to the trade relationship with Ireland.



Its chief executive and president Suzanne Clark told the Taoiseach: "We're such firm believers in the indivisible connection between our countries."

Mr Martin said the relationship between Ireland and the US is an "enduring partnership".



He added: "We do genuinely see this as a two-way street. Ireland is a small, open economy, we depend on trade. We would argue that free trade has lifted prosperity in the world, the era of free trade greater than any other era."



Mr Martin was asked what more the US could do to bring more Irish investment.



In general, he said the feedback about the US was "very positive" but the issue of visas between the two countries can be particularly "problematic".

However, he revealed he found "ways around it" during his time as minister for enterprise.



Mr Martin said: "Flexibility around inward movement of people into the United States is problematic, it is a very restrictive environment in terms of a mobility of visas that are granted from one company to another."



He said flexibility would benefit the US as it would allow qualified people to work for its companies.



He added: "We should be imaginative and we've tried this on a number of occasions that we'd be creating a legal channel between America and Ireland, that Americans can come to Ireland through us offering visas to Americans to reside and work in Ireland.



"And when I was in Enterprise a long time ago, it used to always pain me, but I did find ways around it.



"When Americans fell in love in Ireland, we had to find... they developed specialties in certain areas of work and got work permits, and they were happily married ever after.



"But, I mean, you know, there was too much to navigate in all of that."

Mr Martin said President Donald Trump was "very well disposed" to such a mechanism.



David Young
It is understood the taskforce will consider the learnings from so-called Exercise Cathal, which war-gamed a scenario in which Irelands gas pipelines were damaged

Tanaiste Simon Harris will today chair a meeting of the Governments Taskforce on Emergency Planning, which will discuss Irelands ability to deal with a potential attack on our energy supply.

It is understood the taskforce will consider the learnings from so-called Exercise Cathal, which war-gamed a scenario in which Irelands gas pipelines were damaged.

The meeting will be told that there are a number of large gas users in the State that would be particularly at risk from an attack on our gas supply.

The meeting comes a week after Environment Minister Darragh OBrien secured Cabinet approval to proceed with plans to establish a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal despite warnings from enironmentalists and climate scientists.

The unit will be offshore and is expected to cost 300 million. The plans received approval in order for Ireland to have an emergency reserve should the countrys gas supply be interrupted.

While the move saw Opposition parties criticise the decision, Taoiseach Micheal Martin told the Dail it would be irresponsible for Ireland not to plan for such an eventuality.

We have a responsibility that if anything were to happen to interrupt our current gas supplies, we would need a back-up. It would be irresponsible not to do that, the Taoiseach said.

Exercise Cathal took place late last year and found that if Irelands gas supply was targeted, some 250 industries would be immediately affected, including the pharmaceutical industry.

The floating terminal is expected to contain enough LNG at any one time, so that 200,000 homes can be heated for six months, or 600,000 homes for two months in an emergency situation.

However, experts and campaigners have said the LNG will end up fuelling homes throughout the year, as the gas cannot be held indefinitely. Instead, the terminal could require up to six annual refills.

Energy security was also a major topic of discussion during the first annual UK Ireland Summit, which took place in Liverpool last week.

As part of the joint statement after the summit, the two governments committed to working together to harness their potential by deepening co-operation on offshore energy to help ensure our collective energy security as part of the green transition to net zero.

During the meeting of the taskforce today, Tanaiste is also expected to seek an update on Irelands readiness for dealing with extreme weather events in light of the recent Storm Eowyn.

He will also be briefed on Irelands ability to deal with threats in the area of cyber security.
Leader coy on how he will approach traditional meeting

Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said the Irish Government will not be able to bridge the funding gap at Irish aid agency Concern following USAid cuts.

The agency is to lay off staff members at offices across the world following the new US administrations developmental aid policy.

Asked about the issue at the start of his diplomatic trip to the US for St Patricks Day, Mr Martin said he was not aware of job losses at other Irish aid agencies.

He added that Concern had an extensive presence in the US and that its branches and partners had won USAid contracts.

We wont be able to make up that shortfall, he said, speaking in Austin, Texas. Thats obviously an unfolding situation in the US, and is very much a factor of US politics and how US government is approaching these issues.

Mr Martin said that the issue had been discussed at European Union level.

There may be, in the fullness of time, initiatives taken by the European Union, but again, it doesnt have the resources either to fulfil or replace the substantial nature of that  and Ireland certainly wouldnt have that either, he said.

Theres a lot to play for here yet and theres some distance to go in terms of some of those programmes.

I havent met Concern yet about it, and I know that Irish Aid will be in discussions with Concern.

We will continue to do what we do, well see how things unfold.

He added: Separate to us altogether, they would have had branches here in the US and affiliates here in the US, who had won contracts from USAid.

Mr Martin has insisted his priority in this weeks meeting with Donald Trump at the White House is to copper-fasten Irelands economic relationship with the US.

Amid concerns that Mr Trumps protectionist approach to tariffs and tax could pose a significant risk to an Irish economy that is in large part sustained by long-standing investment by US multinationals, Mr Martin stressed he will be emphasising the two-way nature of the transatlantic relationship.

Mr Martin will hold talks with Mr Trump in the Oval Office tomorrow, but he began his traditional St Patricks programme of engagements in the US with a visit to Austin, Texas  a state he said had witnessed a new wave of Irish investment with 120 Irish companies creating about 4,000 jobs.

The Fianna Fail leader said he wanted to use the trip to highlight the enduring nature of the US-Irish economic relationship.

Mr Martin declined to be drawn on questions about how he intended to handle the meeting with Mr Trump in Washington DC, insisting he was taking his visit day by day and that his focus yesterday was on engagements in Austin, including a meeting with Republican state governor Greg Abbott.

I represent the country, the people of Ireland, and I am very, very conscious that in a very challenging world, thousands and thousands of jobs depend on the economic relationship between the United States and Ireland, he said.

And my overriding objective is to copper-fasten that for the time ahead.

Pressed on his strategy for the meeting with Mr Trump, Mr Martin said: Our strategy really is to  notwithstanding all the commentary  bring home the idea that [the US has] an enduring, robust presence in Ireland and the relationship is a very strong one that we want to see grow into the future.

Im looking forward to the meeting in the White House.

Mr Martin later attended the South by Southwest Conference and met representatives of multinational tech companies Dell and Tricentis.

During a visit to the headquarters of Tricentis, the US company announced plans for 50 new jobs at its Irish base.

Tricentis, which offers artificial intelligence-led automated software testing tools, revealed plans to increase investment in Ireland and move into a new office space in Cork to accommodate the expanded workforce, with 50 new jobs to be to be created in the coming years.

The Cork operation is one of Tricentiss 26 offices around the world and is focused on consolidating international finance and building various functions such as payroll, legal and data analytics.

The new jobs will expand further across several key areas such as sales, engineering, finance and customer growth.

Mr Martin said: This investment highlights Irelands appeal as a hub for innovation and technology, supported by the strategic efforts of IDA Ireland."

Mr Martin and Mr Trump are expected to discuss a range of issues tomorrow, including the war in Ukraine and the situations in the Middle East and the North.

Mr Martin will later present Mr Trump with the traditional shamrock bowl in the White House.

A host of Irish government ministers will also travel to the US, including Tanaiste Simon Harris, who will visit Philadelphia and New York, at a time described as a key juncture in European-US relations.

The Norths First Minister Michelle ONeill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly will lead an NI Chamber business delegation to North Carolina on Monday.

Ms Little-Pengelly will later travel alone to Washington DC for engagements.

Ms ONeill and Sinn Fein party colleagues are not travelling to Washington as part of a principled stance against the threat of mass expulsion of the Palestinian people from Gaza.
Up to 40,000 health and social care workers are set for a 9.25pc pay rise after a 140m deal was brokered at talks last night.

Discussions between union and government officials to avert strikes by the workers, who provide services to the elderly, people with disabilities and the homeless, have ended at the Workplace Relations Commission.

Unions will now ballot their members on the proposals.

They include a 9.25pc pay rise paid in instalments over two years and an automatic link to all future public sector pay agreements to match wage increases.

The Government said in a statement that the pay rise equals the current public sector pay deal.

It said it had delivered on a Programme for Government commitment with an additional investment of approximately 140m a year.

An initial pay rise will be backdated to October last year and the increases are phased over two years to the end of 2026. They include:

2.25pc on October 1, 2024 (backdated)

1pc on April 1, 2025

2pc on Nov 1, 2025

2pc on April 1, 2026

2pc on Oct 1, 2026.

The staff work in so-called section 39, section 56, section 20 and section 40 voluntary and community organisations, which receive state funding.

They are not directly employed by the HSE but wanted their wages to be directly linked to public servants pay.

In a message to members following the talks, Siptu said a set of proposals are on the table to progress the section 39 pay dispute.

Not all issues are resolved, but this is a step forward in securing fair pay and recognition of section 39 workers, it said.

The message said a consultation process with members will now take place, once the proposals issue for their consideration.

The Government welcomed the unprecedented agreement to fund health and social care and homeless sector employers for the 9.25pc pay rise.

It said in a statement that the deal recognises that staff in these sectors should be fairly paid and appropriately recognised for the vital work they do.

Taken with an October 2023 agreement of an 8pc increase, it said this amounts to a 17.25pc pay funding increase over a three-and-a-half year period.

I am delighted with the historic outcome which tackles pay issues and protects essential services, said Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Norma Foley.

I appreciate the goodwill of everyone who sat around the table to reach this agreement for the dedicated workers who provide invaluable supports and services. For those services funded by my department, the agreement includes circa 71m for disability and circa 20m for child and family welfare support in a full year through the schemes operated by the HSE and Tusla respectively.

Housing and Local Government Minister James Browne said from now on, workers in these funded organisations will automatically benefit from pay adjustments agreed in future public sector pay agreements.

He said this guarantee demonstrates the Governments serious commitment to protecting employment in the sector.

We recognise the staffing challenges facing service providers across the community sector and this unprecedented move will assist them to address the impact of staff recruitment and retention on the viability of these essential services, he said.

Junior disability minister Hildegarde Naughton said: I believe that todays agreement represents a significant and meaningful outcome for workers, with improved pay terms now and targeted measures to further address low pay into the future.

I want to acknowledge the constructive engagement of all parties and to thank the WRC for its support and assistance in reaching this agreement.

A joint monitoring group will be set up by the funding agencies, employer representatives and union representatives. The Government said it will enable measures targeted at low pay in the sector in future agreements.

Last month, the workers who provide services for the elderly and people with disabilities voted overwhelmingly for industrial action.

Among the organisations included in the ballots were Ability West, Aiseiri, Bray Home Care Service, CareGivers Ireland, Caredoc, Cheshire Ireland, CoAction Cork, Cobh Community Hospital, the Disability Federation of Ireland, Kerry Parents and Friends Association, and Northside Home Care Services.

Workers were also balloted at Praxis Care Cork, Rehab Group, St Josephs Foundation, St Lukes Home Cork, Southdoc, St Cronans Association, St Josephs Day Care Centre, Social Action Group Rathmore, Trinity Community Care, Western Care Association and Waterford Intellectual Disability Association.

The dispute came to prominence during the general election campaign when disability care worker Charlotte Fallon approached then taoiseach Simon Harris on the campaign trail and claimed care workers' low pay had been ignored.

Mr Harris later apologised for walking away from her.

**This article was amended on March 12 to correct 9.5pc to 9.25pc.
Gerry O'Brien from Laytown on his way to Gran Canaria. Photo: Frank McGrath

Pat O'Gorman with Eddie Ryan, Tom Barry and Michael Gleeson at Dublin Airport before they departed for Cheltenham. Photo: Frank McGrath

While thousands of Irish punters will be placing bets from Prestbury Park in Cheltenham today, hundreds more will be trying their luck from sunny Spain.

Dublin Airport was full of racegoers boarding flights to Birmingham, Bristol and Manchester yesterday, in time for the national hunt racing pilgrimage.

However, dozens of groups, boasting seasoned veterans of the festival, jetted off to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands, to do the same, but to watch the action while in the sun.

We are heading to Los Cristianos, Tenerife. We are getting it for 325 in total, Colm Kinsella, who is heading with a group of friends, all from Bray, Co Wicklow, said.

Mr Kinsella last travelled to Cheltenham in 2019 and while they wont be among the 400,000 at the races, his group will keep a keen eye on the races.

Pat O'Gorman with Eddie Ryan, Tom Barry and Michael Gleeson at Dublin Airport before they departed for Cheltenham. Photo: Frank McGrath

Today's News in 90 seconds - 11th March 2025

They are hedging their bets on Willie Mullinss thoroughbred Galopin Des Champs, who is going for a third consecutive Gold Cup, as well as Constitution Hill, the eight-year-old bidding to hold on to the Champion Hurdle crown.

Also heading over to the Canary Islands was a big group of punters, who all drink together in Gilnas Cottage Inn in Laytown, Co Meath. They were led by Gerry OBrien, who has dubbed himself the Lord Mayor of Puerto Rico.

There are 18 of us, and we are going to have a great time and please God, back a few winners. We went last year to the sun for Cheltenham and we plan on doing it again for the next couple of years, Mr OBrien said.

This year, accommodation prices in the historic spa town of Cheltenham, which has hosted the races since 1831, are 200pc higher than normal.

A five-night Cheltenham stay on Booking.com, when booked last week for the this weeks festival, cost on average 3,909, with a pint of Guinness at the races set to cost 7.80 (9.20).

And while those jetting off to the sun will certainly save on spending, the saying nothing beats being there rings true for one Thurles quartet.

Punters Pat OGorman, Eddie Ryan, Tom Barry and Michael Gleeson have been travelling to Cheltenham every year for the last two decades, without fail.

They hope to back big winners across Champion Day today, Style Wednesday tomorrow, St Patricks Thursday and Gold Cup Day on Friday.

However, for them, the opening Cheltenham roar, signalling the start of festivities, is second to none, but this year it will be more emotional than usual.

The first of 28 races has been named the Michael OSullivan Supreme Novices Hurdle, in honour of the Irish jockey who died last month from a fall.

Would you believe it, some of us were at the race meeting where he was injured. It was a very sad day for racing, Mr Barry said.

Mr Ryan attended the young jockeys funeral. OSullivan died in February as a result of injuries in the two-mile Racing Again February 20th Handicap Chase.

A rising star in the sport, OSullivan previously won twice at Cheltenham, first with Marine Nationale in 2023 in the Supreme Novices Hurdle and also with Jazzy Matty in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle last year.

There will be a minutes applause for him at the start, rather than a minutes silence, which is a nice tribute. There will be some cheer, Mr Barry said.
Gardai investigating an incident on a Dublin Bus in which a man was threatened with a screw driver have arrested a young man.

The youth is due to appear before a sitting of Dublin Children's Court this morning to be charged.

Gardai referred to the fact that a video of the incident that took place on January 17 was in wide circulation online and through direct messaging apps at the time.

Both Dublin Bus and gardai had earlier confirmed they were investigating the incident that was recorded and had since gone viral online.

It showed a teenager threatening a Ukrainian passenger with a long screwdriver in his hand while subjecting the man to a series of homophobic and racist slurs.

A garda spokesperson said they were aware of a video of an incident that occurred on a Dublin Bus service, and which is in wide circulation online and through direct messaging apps.

An Garda Siochana is investigating all of the circumstances surrounding the incident, the spokesperson added.

Dublin Bus also said they aware of footage showing an incident in which a passenger was threatened.

We are conducting an internal investigation, and can confirm that we are providing assistance to An Garda Siochana in relation to this incident, a spokesperson said.
With a new team  and brand new name  the good times have finally returned to an iconic premises on Dublins Grand Canal in Portobello, says our critic

The swans were still swanning, walkers still walking, the chattering classes were chatting, glasses were glistening, the sun was shining, God was in his heaven. In many senses, after 45 years, Locks still felt like Locks, but with a fresh new face, reborn as Lena.

The legendary Locks by the Grand Canal at Portobello was originally opened in 1980 by Richard Douglas and his Danish wife Claire. His father, a consultant in the Meath Hospital, warned them that hed never be seen lunching in Portobello. However, it was becoming a hip area and the stylish couple soon had the great and the good of Dublin society  bankers, lawyers, theatricals and writers, plus a plethora of pseuds  clamouring for tables. It remained so for over 25 years but life sadly took its toll with the Douglases separating and Locks being sold. Over the next few years, even with some very good chefs in situ, including one gaining a Michelin star, it floundered. The ambience just wasnt the same. It had lost that certain cachet imbued by the Douglases.
Tourism Ireland research comes as St Patrick's Festival to attract over 100,000 visitors

A third (33pc) of visitors choose Ireland for its scenery, with others citing its culture (11pc), sightseeing (9pc) and history (7pc), according to new research by Tourism Ireland.

The research, conducted with RED C, polled over 8,000 holidaymakers in markets including the US, Great Britain, Germany, France, Spain and Australia.

It found seven out of 10 were interested in visiting Ireland some time, with three out of ten "actively planning such a trip.

There are also barriers" to travel, however, including competition from other destinations (16pc), weather (13pc), cost (6pc) and access (5pc).

"Visitors tell us potential barriers to choosing Ireland include weather, value for money and ease of access, said Alice Mansergh, chief executive of the all-island marketing organisation.

While we cant control the weather, reviewing the passenger cap at Dublin airport will be vital for access, and steps to ease upward pressure on costs in the industry are also most welcome.

Outside of sun holidays, Ireland's main competitor destinations include Scotland, Iceland, Norway and England, according to the research.

"Value for money is on holidaymakers minds," it says.

While half of overseas holidaymakers surveyed thought Ireland would represent good value for money (in line with Scotland and ahead of Nordic markets), perceptions were more challenging in Great Britain and Germany.

One in three holidaymakers said they would seek to reduce costs by shortening a stay.

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The research follows recent CSO figures that showed overseas visitor numbers to Ireland declined by 25pc in January 2025 compared with the same month in 2024.

Visitor spend declined almost 28pc in the same period.

"We see a softer start this year," Tourism Ireland said. Influencing factors include cost for consumers, as well as air access, in an uncertain macroeconomic environment.

The good news is that once we bring holidaymakers to Ireland, two thirds of them then help spread the word, through recommendations, stories and photography shared with family and friends, with Ireland ranked by visitors as more Instagramable than the average destination, Mansergh said.

This week also sees Tourism Ireland launch its global St Patrick's Day promotions, with the event expected to attract over 100,000 visitors.

The marketing campaign includes a new video (above) featuring a cover of The Corrs Breathless by Irish band Lemoncello, alongside its Global Greening and wider programme of social media, press trips and TV themed on the Fill your heart with Ireland concept.
Holidaymakers headed for Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca this summer face increased tourist taxes and a levy on hire cars as the government moves to control tourism.

The Balearic Islands government proposed new tourism containment measures to regulate rental accommodation last Friday, March 7.

Under the plans, Sustainable Tourism Tax (ITS) is set to rise from 4 to a maximum of 6 per person, per night in high season.

The levy will apply at four different rates between March and December, with January and February exempt from the charge.

An increase from 66pc to 200pc will depend on the category of the property during June, July and August.

The lowest accommodation rate increases from 1 to 2.50 per night in the summer months.

This increase could mean that couples planning a fortnight getaway to Mallorca, Ibiza, or Menorca during the peak months will need to budget an extra 70, bringing the total to 84.

Cruise ship passengers docking in the Balearics will pay 6 per night  triple the previous price of just 2.

Tourists may also have to pay more for hire cars, with a new fee being considered based on emissions and the time spent on the islands ranging from 30 to 80.

The government has also proposed the banning of new tourist accommodations in residential apartment buildings.

Booking sites will be required to log the registration number of rental accommodations before promoting them to tourists, with fines for advertising unlicensed properties on holiday rental platforms rising to 500,000.

The Balearic government will now negotiate the proposals for approval in parliament.

It said that the set of measures is aimed at managing and ensuring the sustainability of tourism in the Autonomous Community.

The proposals come following a wave of overtourism protests across Spain last summer.

In October, a Mallorcan political party announced plans to degrow tourism on the Balearic Islands with a 40pc cut on tourist accommodation.

Mes per Majorca proposed strict new measures to the Balearic government to significantly reduce tourist numbers on the popular set of Spanish islands.

In a regressive policy, the proposal to parliament outlined a 40pc reduction in tourist housing alongside an annual cap on the number of holidaymakers permitted to visit the islands.

The group said that the weight of tourism on the economy is excessive and insisted that tourist numbers have exceeded capacity.
Ksenia Samotiy: The big challenge for anyone in their 20s today is adapting to whatever interesting times come next

I used to think the challenge of this decade would be figuring out who I am. Now it's figuring out how to exist in a world that refuses to stand still

Being in your 20s these days requires a lot of work. Photo: Getty

Ksenia Samotiy Tue 11 Mar 2025 at 03:30

May you [be cursed to] live in interesting times goes a Chinese proverb that is in fact neither Chinese nor a proverb.
Mark Carney with his wife Diana Fox after winning the race to become leader of Canadas ruling Liberal Party in Ottawa. Photo: Blair Gable/Reuters

When Irish leaders meet the new Canadian prime minister Mark Carney, they should avoid mentioning the wars between our two countries.

No need to dwell on the US-based Fenian faction who ran the most quixotic ever Irish revolutionary escapade via an invasion of Canada in May 1866. Their doomed plan was to seize the British province and ransom it in return for Irish independence, and there followed four more such raids by these soldiers of folly before they mercifully faded away in 1871.

There are many more positive topics of common interest highlighting the long links between Canada and Ireland which persist to this very day. And the appointment of Mr Carney, a man who recognises his strong Irish heritage, is among the more encouraging global developments in these dark Trumpian days.

Mr Carneys election as leader of the governing Canadian Liberal Party brings him huge challenges on a tough road ahead. There is the little detail of a general election, likely just weeks away, and the persistent looming shadow of US president Donald Trumps trade tariffs, not to mention his risible noises about perhaps annexing the country as the 51st US state.

But Mr Carneys arrival bodes well for Europe, and by extension Ireland, in a very unreliable world as president Trump determinedly rips up eight decades of a rules-based world order. The new Canadian prime minister campaigned for the job with strong opposition to Mr Trumps moves, and curiously, the president proved an inadvertent ally as the nation rallied to Mr Carney and his party.

Mark Carney with his wife Diana Fox after winning the race to become leader of Canadas ruling Liberal Party in Ottawa. Photo: Blair Gable/Reuters

Today's News in 90 Seconds - March 12th

A Canadian federal election must be held by October 20 next at the very latest. In January this year, the opposition Conservative Party was deemed certain to win given the woes of previous Liberal leader and prime minister, Justin Trudeau, amid a cost-of-living crisis and other problems.

But now the opinion polls suggest Mr Carney and his colleagues have at least a fighting chance. He has burnished his credentials as a successful Canadian central bank governor through the crisis years after the global economic collapse from 2008, and later in the same post in the UK through the Brexit years.

His antipathy towards Brexit as an action of economic self-harm is well known and enhances his knowledge of the EUs  and specifically Irelands  links to Canada. The Irish link comes from growing up in a strong Irish-Canadian environment where three of his four grandparents immigrated from Mayo in the 1920s.

Mr Carney understandably plans to revoke his dual citizenship of both Ireland and the UK to emphasise his commitment to Canada. But hoped-for success for Mr Carney will be viewed positively by Irish leaders keen to enhance cordial relations with Canada as soon as possible. It should also give priority to overcoming obstacles to ratification of an extant EU-Canada trade deal which becomes a priority as Mr Trump continues to throw shapes on erecting global trade barriers.
The world stands at a dangerous crossroads with the rise of authoritarianism and extremism under the Trump regime, threatening the very foundations of democracy and global stability.

In under three months US president Donald Trump has taken actions that are devastating to humanity, resulting in a roll-back on human rights, womens rights, poverty eradication, climate action and protection of civilians in conflict zones.

His deplorable suspension of overseas aid disproportionately affects the worlds most vulnerable populations, undermining decades of progress in areas such as health, education and access to food.

The withdrawal from the Paris Agreement is a huge blow to global efforts to combat climate change.

His proposals to move the entire population of Gaza are illegal, immoral and dangerous. And the Trump administrations actions to ban gender-affirming care and to put severe restrictions on reproductive rights is reprehensible.

This week the Taoiseach, Tanaiste and several Irish cabinet ministers travel to the US for St Patricks Day. The visits must be used to make clear that the Irish people are not supportive of the dangerous and concerning shifts in US policy.

The moment we are now living in demands courage. We have a voice, and that voice needs to be heard.

Karol Balfe, CEO ActionAid Ireland, Dublin 1

Why rocking the boat in the White House would be an act of national sabotage

Those who recommend that Micheal Martin should raise Gaza with Donald Trump and tell him a few home truths during his White House visit should seriously consider the ramifications.

For a couple of centuries, the US has taken in millions of Irish migrants  mostly with little complaint from America.

For a couple of decades, Ireland has taken in billions of American corporate income  mostly with little complaint from Ireland.

To maintain this relationship, all Ireland has to do, once a year, is get the Taoiseach to hand over a bowl of weeds as tribute to the US president.

This is a great deal for Ireland. Why would anyone recommend that the Taoiseach go to the White House and sabotage his own country?

Jason FitzHarris, Swords, Co Dublin

Martin speaks out of both sides of his mouth while dismantling triple lock

Micheal Martin wants to remove the United Nations element of the triple lock on Irelands involvement in overseas military operations because he no longer has faith in the UN.

This is hard to stomach, considering that only a few years ago he was part of the enormous and successful effort to gain a place for Ireland on the UN Security Council. This is the same Mr Martin who, only a few years back, declared that the triple lock was the core of Irish neutrality.

Without providing any evidence, he repeatedly talks of the threat of Russia and the real fear in Europe about the Russian agenda.

He believes he can get away with all this because he talks of the Irish people as being a blissfully unaware population.

We deserve more respect. We, the blissfully unaware, should be asked one question  do you believe in a future based on war, or one based on peace?

Brian Smyth, Ratoath, Co Meath

Im not sure scrapping our neutrality on eve of World War III is a brilliant idea

No one doubts Micheal Martins strategic genius, but scrapping neutrality on the eve of World War III may not be his best idea.

Instead, lets have a whip-round to buy our dear leader a second-hand Sherman Tank he can drive around the Phoenix Park on weekends. It achieves as much, costs less and no one gets hurt, bar the odd deer.

Aidan Harte, Naas, Co Kildare

Taoiseach should focus on apologising to the Native Americans for land theft

Irish commentators are hoping that Micheal Martin emerges from his meeting with Donald Trump with Irelands reputation and dignity intact.

Somehow I think the rightful owners and original inhabitants of the US, now existing on reservations with their land appropriated and culture almost destroyed, might prefer an apology, at least, from the representatives of the immigrant invasion.

Eugene Tannam, Dublin 24

Sometimes a gas story can underline the need for good manners in society

Enda Cullens letter on basic good manners (We may need awareness drive to help encourage basic good manners, Irish Independent, Letters, March 10) reminds me of the man who took issue with a fellow male diner, who belched loudly, castigating him thus: How dare you belch in front of my wife.

I most humbly apologise, I didnt realise it was her turn, replied the offender.

Tom Gilsenan, Dublin 9

Allowing for there to be freer speech surely leads to more balanced debate?

Adrian Wecklers article (TikToks Irish workers may be casualties of US ban and Trumps hatred of content moderation, Irish Independent, March 7) raises interesting questions.

However, he doesnt, or cannot, explain the difference between moderation and censorship, except to imply that the Trump/Musk administration regards content moderation as censorship.

He goes on to refer to more extreme speech from the Musk/Trump end of the political system such as transgender rights. Who decides what is extreme? In a free society, I thought it should be accepted that all important issues should be debated in a fair and balanced manner.

I do not see evidence that this is happening and it seems that it will not happen if content moderation equates to closing down legitimate debate.

Mary Stewart, Ardeskin, Donegal

Do nurses have the bottle for industrial action in our maternity services?

Anne-Marie Walshs article (Irish Independent, March 10) tells us that nurses and midwives might be taking industrial action.

The question that must be asked is: If this happens, who will be left holding the baby?

Noel Kelly

Doonbeg, Co Clare
18 community centres across Cork North West have been allocated additional funding under the latest round of the Community Centre Investment Fund.

Overall 48 community centres in Cork County received 3.3 million in funding to carry out building renovations and enhance amenities.

Funding allocations

Beneficiaries across Cork North West include:

Arus Eamonn MacSuibhne 29,910

Ballydesmond Community Centre 51,663

Buttevant GAA 99,495

Churchtown Community Hall 95,626

Cloughduv Hurling Club 30,000

Coiste Forbartha Beal Atha an Ghaorthaidh CLG 100,000

Comhaltas Freemount 27,000

Donoughmore Community Centre 90,741

Dromanallig Community Hall 100,000

Dromina Community Council CLG 14,938

Dromtarriffe Parish Community Hall 86,112

Diarmuid O'Mathuna GAA Club 38,718

Freemount Comhaltas Centre 27,000

Freemount Community Development Association 100,000

Other beneficiaries in Cork County include:

Friends of Firmount CLG 98,990

Knockraha Community Centre 87,961

Macroom Family Resource Centre 100,000

Mullach na Reidh Cuideachta Faoi Theorainn Rathaiochta 12,196

Newtownshandrum Community Organisation CLG 36,841

Ionad Aise Community Centre 12,196

Inniscarra Community Centre CLG 40,000

Tullylease Community Development CLG 43,888

Local representatives welcome investment

Fine Gael TD for Cork North West John Paul OShea said the funding will result in community facilities being more sustainable and accessible. I am absolutely delighted to see such funding for community centres in Cork. These centres play an essential role in bringing our communities together.

Deputy OShea continued: Our community centres in Cork have always been a central point in every town and village for people to come together. Communities across Cork will now be empowered to make the changes they need to their community centres to ensure they are up to a high standard.

This funding will be used for a range of measures such as roof and insulation enhancements, kitchen and toilet upgrades, while others will ensure their buildings are more accessible and energy efficient. This funding is aimed at the heart of our communities in Cork, he added.

Fine Gael Senator Eileen Lynch said the funding will result in community facilities being more sustainable and accessible, so that they can be enjoyed by all. I want to thank the volunteers who work so hard to facilitate activities in our community centres. Community centres play an essential role in bringing our communities together.

Senator Lynch continued: I am particularly delighted to see funding of 90,741 and 100,000 for Donoughmore Community Centre and Macroom Family Resource Centre. I know the community have worked so hard to run and maintain the centre. The funding will go a long way in helping the upkeep of the facility. I look forward to seeing the completed works.

Fianna Fail TD for Cork North West Aindrias Moynihan hailed the funding as good news for local communities. It is very important that we have these halls and the space in our communities. Community centres and the voluntary committees who run them are the lifeblood of our communities. They play host to some of our most important occasions, in good times and in bad.

In recent weeks we have seen the importance of these centres for their local communities as many of them became emergency hubs in the aftermath of Storm Eowyn. These funds will empower these communities to continue to provide that much needed communal space, added Deputy Moynihan.
TINTEAN, a national grassroots Gaeltacht specific housing campaign was launched in October last year to combine individuals, community groups and local campaigners efforts to shine a light on the ongoing Gaeltacht housing crisis.

A Gaeltacht housing campaign group held a nationwide protest on Monday in response to a lack of housing available in Irish-speaking regions.

TINTEAN, a national grassroots Gaeltacht specific housing campaign was launched in October last year to combine individuals, community groups and local campaigners efforts to shine a light on the ongoing Gaeltacht housing crisis.

Gaeltacht communities gathered at Udaras na Gaeltachta in Gaeltacht Mhuscrai, Corcaigh, Roinn na Gaeltachta in Gaoth Dobhair, Dun na nGall, at Comhairle Contae na Gaillimhe, to protest against the continued depopulation and displacement of the Gaeltacht as a result of the housing crisis.

Language Planning Officer in Gaeltacht Mhuscrai, Eibhlin Ni Lionaird, said the lack of accommodation in the area is detrimental for the language.

For instance, my children are returning from abroad in May with their partners, and theres no houses to rent here locally and there are no houses to buy here locally.

Realistically speaking, if the government are saying there are Gaeltacht areas, we need people who can speak Irish to maintain a Gaeltacht area.

Without people who can speak Irish, we wont have the next generation of Irish speakers in a Gaeltacht area, Ms Ni Lionaird said.

The demonstrations took place at institutions which play a key role in housing in the Gaeltacht, to remind the relevant authorities of their own responsibilities in the context of this crisis:

Gaeltacht planning guidelines promised in 2021 that have yet to be put before the public in March 2025; the shocking disparity between the number of short-term lets in the Gaeltacht and properties available to rent long-term; and the extreme lack of social and affordable homes in Gaeltacht areas.

Among the demands being made by the TINTEAN campaign are:

That the statutory power and the necessary resources, both current and capital, be given to Udaras na Gaeltachta to establish a Housing Section, to enable it to purchase land, obtain planning permission, and provide necessary services in order to develop housing for Irish speakers in Gaeltacht areas.

That funding be made available annually to the Department of the Gaeltacht to operate the Gaeltacht housing grants scheme again pursuant to the Housing (Gaeltacht) (Amendment) Act, 2001, to provide support for Irish speakers who would like to build or renovate a house in the Gaeltacht.

That strong Gaeltacht planning guidelines be published and implemented in relation to the statutory duty of the county councils regarding the preservation of Irish as a community language in the Gaeltacht.

That a Gaeltacht Population and Housing Strategy be drawn up for each Gaeltacht Language Planning Area with clear, measurable targets set out to ensure the sustainable growth of the Gaeltacht communities, and to ensure an appropriate supply of housing to support that growth.

Ms Ni Lionaird said the above requests have been sent to the government already, and the protesters plan to continue their showing in front of Government Buildings on March 26.
Cork residents share varied perspectives on Taoiseach Micheal Martin's White House visit, with some concerned about potential confrontation following Trump's treatment of Ukrainian President

It's high stakes for Ireland as Taoiseach Micheal Martin meets US President Donald Trump in the Whitehouse on Wednesday.

The people of Taoiseach Micheal Martins constituency in Cork South-Central have been having their say on whether the Taoiseach should be visiting the White House tomorrow.

The Taoiseach is due to meet President Donald Trump at the annual Shamrock Ceremony tomorrow afternoon Irish time, but there has been a debate about whether the head of the government should have accepted the invitation, in the climate of threatened tariffs on EU countries, as well as extraordinary scenes a few weeks ago, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was publicly dressed down by the President, and Vice JD Vance in front of the press at the Oval Office.

The Irish Independent asked voters in the Cork City suburb of Douglas about their thoughts, heading into the impending meeting between the two nations, with divided opinions over the trip.

Sam Milner on representing Ireland internationally

Sam Milner says 'I don't like Micheal Martin, but I don't envy him'

Sam Milner holds a degree in Government and Politics, and is currently completing his Masters in Diplomacy and Public Policy. He feels that Martin is right to make the trip to the White House.

Yes, I think he should. We have a special position on the international stage where we get celebrated one day a year. I dont support Micheal Martin, never voted for him, dont like the guy, dont trust him, but it would be the worst possible decision not to go.

I think he needs to go, and he needs to be firm. He cant let what happened to Zelensky happen to him, where he just gets rolled over, especially considering the trade and investment that America has with us.

While I support his decision to go, I dont want him to roll over and let Trump steamroll him, but you have to think about the implications of it.

I want him to bring up Gaza because Im very interested in that, and I cant stand to see whats happening, but at the same time, Ireland already has accusations of being an anti-semitic country  which I dont think it is  but it just might cause more friction than its worth.

I dont envy him. As much as I dont like him, I wouldnt want to be in his position.

I think hell have to tiptoe around Trump and needs to take a less is more approach.

Martin's support for maintaining US-Ireland tradition

Im a bit of a fan of Trump myself, the last crowd were useless, said 60-year-old Martin, who also believes that the Taoiseach is making the right decision in accepting the invitation. I think its good for Ireland as well, America and Ireland have always gotten on well together, havent they?

Martin also doesnt believe that his namesake will be subject to the same treatment as the Ukranian President.

I wouldnt think so, sure theyre two different stories altogether, arent they? Were not at war with anybody, not that I know of! I think he (Trump) laid into him (Zelensky) a bit too much, but this war has been going on for too long. And its costing this country a fortune too.

The 60-year-old says he hopes the subject of Ukraine will come up at the discussion, and had a novel suggestion to ensure the visit passes smoothly.

I hope it does. I know Ireland is a dear country, but the war is making it worse, if you saw my electricity bill youd see it! Id bring a few a cans of Guinness with me and sit down with them, get the two of them drunk!

Karen's opposition to the White House visit

However, not everybody believes that the Taoiseach should be making the trip.

I dont think he should go, said Karen, walking through the park in Douglas because Trump will read him the riot act like he did Zelensky.

How we could react could go either way. I think hed be better not going to show a message.

Former Defence Forces member Patrick on diplomatic relations

Patrick is a former member of the Defence Forces. I suppose hes representing the Irish people, so a lot of people look at it and think if he didnt go itd be worse. Hes going over making a point in Washington of employing 160,000 of their people.

An awful lot of people turned against him after the way he treated the Ukraine President, but I dont think the same will happen. I think Zelensky was set up, it was going to happen beforehand the way he was asked about his dress code, even though everyone knows the man never wears a suit and tie.

Even the lads in pub would be saying should he go, or shouldnt he go, but Im ex-Army and we always send a crowd over, because the Boston police send their own crowd over, so theres links going on for years. Theres millions of Irish people living in America as well.

Even if he brings up Gaza, thats a done deal. Trump is his own man, I dont think a small little country like ours, with a population of five millionhe wont pay any heed.

Obviously everyone is afraid of their lives over this 25%, call it tariffs or VAT or whatever you like. I think he will bring it up though, you can see the way the stock (market) has changed between yesterday and today, there could be a change in that as well!

Marie's belief in the Taoiseach's political experience

Marie says she has no fear that the same scenes will play out at the Oval Office for the latest state visit to the United States as did when the Ukrainian President visited.

Hes the head of the Irish people, so I absolutely do think he should be visiting the President of the United States, whatever kind of person we think Trump is.

I think Micheal would be well able for him to be honest, I wouldnt have any fear for him to lose his cool, the only person that seems to get him to do that is Mary Lou!

No I think hell be fine, hes a long standing politician with lots of experience. Cupla focail, maybe say that Trumps ag insint breag aris and hell be fine!
Its as the Michael OSullivan Supreme Novices Hurdle kicks-off the Cheltenham Festival today

Darren Birdy Bird, uploaded the artwork onto his Instagram page following the death of the young jockey last month.

The Lombardstown native was killed, after his mount, Wee Charlie, took a fall at the final fence during a two-mile handicap chase in Thurles on February 6 of this year. The 24-year-old was seen as one of the upcoming stars of the jockey world, having won champion jockey in the point-to-point world in 2019, aged just 21.

OSullivan was taken to Cork University Hospital where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries on February 16, just five days before his 25th birthday. He was laid to rest at St Johns Cemetery in Glantane.

A few days later, Bird sketched a glowing tribute to the young jockey, in a touching painting of the yellow and blue draped OSullivan, celebrating one of his many wins.

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The artwork was really just my way of paying my personal respects to Michael & his family & friends the artist, who is a major horse racing fan himself, explained.

I didnt know him well, wed only exchanged brief hellos a couple of times when Id visited Fairyhouse.

But those brief encounters plus witnessing his victories at Fairyhouse and Cheltenham on Marine Nationale gave me enough to know this young man had something special.

I've followed racing most of my life but from a distance. I wasn't brought up around horses or racing but there's something about the relationship between these special animals and humans who work with them everyday that inspires me to get creative.

But that's plenty enough about me. Ultimately the picture was for Michael and his loved ones, I'm glad the reaction to the image has embraced the sentiment I intended.

To respect, embrace and remember the bravery, skill and talent of someone at such a young age.

Today marks the beginning of the Cheltenham festival, with the opening race on todays card bearing OSullivans name. It was announced last month by the Jockey Club and Sky Bet that the opening race of the Cheltenham Festival 2025 would be renamed to honour OSullivan. The Supreme Novices Hurdle will kick off the four-day meeting on Tuesday March 11 and will be named The Michael OSullivan Supreme Novices Hurdle.

As a family, we have always admired Michaels achievements both on and off the track, a statement from the OSullivan family read after the announcement, and it means so much to us to see his talent recognised in this way. The outpouring of tributes over the past week has been a testament to the impact he had on so many lives.

We would like to sincerely thank The Jockey Club and Sky Bet for giving us this opportunity to honour Michaels memory and celebrate his remarkable career.

The Grade-1 Michael OSullivan Supreme Novices Hurdle goes to post at 1.20pm, with a prize pot of 150,000.
Galway City Council has announced they will meet with Forsa after members staged a protest yesterday, but the local authority also claimed that the trade union previously withdrew from the engagement process.

Yesterday, Monday March 10, members of staff at Galway City Council protested in front of City Hall against the decision to move the council headquarters from its site on College Road to Crown Square in Mervue.

In a statement, Galway City Council acknowledged that the relocation of the corporate headquarters from City Hall to Crown Square will have an impact on staff and customers.

The local authority has then revealed that for this reason it had established a High-Level Information and Consultation Group with relevant trade unions in which ongoing updates were provided and any issues or concerns regarding the move to Crown Square could be raised and addressed.

However, Galway City Council claimed that Forsa, while initially engaged, did not respond to requests for feedback from its members and subsequently withdrew from the engagement process. Other Trade Unions have continued to engage with Galway City Council.

Following the protest on March 10, Galway City Council invited representatives of the Forsa union to rejoin the High-Level Information and Consultation Group to discuss the findings of their members survey on the move to Crown Square and concerns raised within. The council added that a meeting of this group can be convened as soon as possible.

Also, the local authority added it has commenced an extensive internal and external communication strategy. Over the coming year, Galway City Council will host site familiarisation visits for Council staff and Elected Members and will also initiate expansive information campaigns in the local media and on social media regarding the move, travel options to Crown Square, and services to be provided at the new facility.

The local authority explained the existing City Hall headquarters facility  which was built in the 1980s with an extension in the early 2000s  has insufficient capacity to deliver effective service delivery and to cater for existing or future staffing levels in Galway City Council.

In 2021, Galway City Council initiated a project to assess the viability of its current accommodation needs against the short, medium and the long-term office requirements.

In early 2022, Galway City Council received an option to purchase a building at Crown Square, Monivea Road, situated approximately 1.5km from the city centre. Other options considered at the time included the refurbishment of City Hall and the rental of additional office space, the refurbishment and extension of City Hall, the rental of a new building elsewhere in the city, and the development of a new building on a greenfield site.

The preferred option and a proposal to secure a 45.5m loan from the Housing Finance Agency (HFA) to fund the purchase of the building, car park and relevant taxes was considered and approved by Elected Members at a meeting of Galway City Council in July 2022.

Galway City Council will relocate in autumn 2026.

The new Corporate Headquarters facility will bring together staff currently located in four sites across the city and will provide an energy efficient civic building with comfortable, accessible, flexible public spaces, including private / group meeting rooms; a larger Council Chamber with appropriate AV facilities; public counters; staff canteen/ welfare areas; facilities for Elected Members; EV car charging public parking/cycle parking; and ease of access by public transport and on foot.

The move to Crown Square will enable Galway City Council to meet its Climate Action obligations and address regulatory challenges experienced in our current office space at College Road.
Galway native Maureen Folan, whose family homes pictures went viral after being destroyed by Storm Eowyn, shared her frustration as she said little has been done six weeks since the storm.

Ms Folan, who is 74, made the headlines in January when the images of her family home, which has been in her family for generations and where she had lived for 42 years, was destroyed during Storm Eowyn.

The roof was completely blown off, her belongings were scattered across fields, and the house suffered severe structural damage.

As the photos of her home were shared online, the generosity of her neighbours and the people of Ireland helped raising over 107,000 for her to rebuild.

However, speaking with Oliver Callan on RTE Radio 1, Ms Folan said that, six weeks since the storm hit, she is afraid she will soon be homeless.

In the days after I stayed with my brother and his wife, for about three weeks.

Maureen Folan

[Then] I got the loan of a log cabin from a good friend of mine, but I cant stay too long because thats needed for rental. And I just have to find somewhere, because the county council have nothing. I will be homeless.

She explained she feels neglected and left on the side as the system has been proven to be so slow that she is still waiting for an assessor to visit the house.

The house is the very same way, its six weeks on. I have to get two quotations from registered buildings, and pictures of the house.

Its the assessor really whos holding everything back. The humanitarian [Assistance Scheme] said, we will send you an assessor immediately. Well, thats six weeks on and nobody has turned up. I just feel like Im being neglected and left on the side. I thought my place would be a priority - Im homeless.

Maureen's home in Carna after Storm Eowyn

Today's News in 90 seconds - 11th March 2025

Until such time as I get an assessor, until the assessor sees whats happening and sees the place and the disaster nothing is going to move. And were six weeks waiting on him.

Ms Folan added: I have friends willing to help but they cant touch anything. Nobody can touch anything. If the government could just send out an assessor, thats all we need. I have lots that would help out, but nobody can touch anything until they come and see it.
Rathmore Mothers & Others Group, who hope to travel to New York in the near future, pictured at the Rathmore St. Patricks Parade

Aengus O Leary took on the role of St. Patrick at the Rathmore Parade on Sunday

Some of the members of Rathmore Panto Group took part in the St. Patricks Parade

Children, parents and staff from Hollymount National School wearing the green at the Rathmore St. Patricks Parade

The Rathmore Credit Union group all ready to set off on the St. Patricks Parade on Sunday

James Kissane of the Civil Defence Auxiliary Fire Service was driving a 1957 Bedford Fire Truck at the Rathmore St. Patricks Parade

Kerry Ladies Football star Danielle O Leary was Grand Marshall at the St. Patricks Parade in her native Rathmore last Sunday.

St Patricks day may be a week away yet for most people, but one corner of Kerry have already celebrated the national holiday with their St Patrick's day parade at the weekend.

Rathmore has for many years had the honour of hosting the first of Kerry's St Patrick's day parades and this year was no exception as the town pulled out all the stops for a wonderful parade on Sunday last.

This year their parade, however, took place a full 8 days earlier than the rest of the country, to allow them rest and recover and join the festivities of other parades around the county.

Traditionally it would have been the weekend prior to the big day but this year the local community decided to go even earlier and it turned out to be a wise decision as the sun shone down for the event.

The weather made the event, it was just a great day,  said Chairperson of Rathmore Community Council Antoinette OLeary.

"We had a huge crowd, the biggest in a long time, she continued.

Colourful floats made their way through the village on Sunday afternoon as crowds lined the street enjoying the first hint of summer.

Local schools and community groups pulled out all the stops to get into the spirit of the national holiday and ensured a great day out for all.

"It is the people in a community that make a community and everyone rallied around to make it a success, said Antoinette.
A glimpse of some of the stylish furnishings inside Longford's Gooseberry Cafe which opens its doors tomorrow (Tuesday).

The outside of Longford's new Gooseberry Cafe on Longford town's Dublin Street.

North Longford native Gus Mac Entire is looking forward to satisfying a long-held desire to branch into the local hospitality industry after spending three decades as a senior figure with an international pharmaceutical company.

A former high-flying executive of a major international pharmaceutical company has spoken of his immeasurable pride at satisfying a long held dream to venture into Irelands hospitality sector by opening a new and stylish cafe in Longford town.

Gus Mac Entire and his wife Natalie opened the doors to their elegantly designed Gooseberry Cafe this morning (Tuesday).

The premises, which was formally home to the towns long-established Red Rose Cafe on Dublin Street for the past three decades, has undergone a large-scale revamp, that looks set to provide a major boost to its local economy and cuisine offering in equal measure.

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North Longford native Gus Mac Entire is looking forward to satisfying a long-held desire to branch into the local hospitality industry after spending three decades as a senior figure with an international pharmaceutical company.

The fruits of those exploits came just over a year ago when the Legga native opted to satisfy a deep-seated ambition to venture into a sector which has laboured under the spectre of rising costs and concerns linked to the return of the States 13.5pc hospitality VAT rate.

I worked with an international pharmaceutical company and I was with them for over 30 years as a director of research and development, Gus told the Irish Independent.

I was travelling a lot with work and seen a lot of nice food as well as restaurants and I just felt that it would be good to bring something like this to Longford.

And, as we edged on in life and when Covid came I just looked at things and felt now was the time to do something different.

The attractive exterior of Longford town's newly opened Gooseberry Cafe.

Thanks to plenty of late evenings and, indeed, weekends spent readying their eagerly awaited final creation, Gus and Natalie also enlisted the expertise of acclaimed interior designer Lisa Crowe.

The Naas based decor specialist enjoys strong links to Drumlish herself, roots and a sense of association with Longfords wider consumer base that Gus believes will strike a real chord with diners over the days and weeks ahead.

Its inside furnishings, enriched with a discernible relaxed feel, evidenced by a host of modern lighting alongside a soothing mix of colours and comfortable seating would certainly appear to back up that well-honed belief.

A glimpse of some of the stylish furnishings inside Longford's Gooseberry Cafe which opens its doors tomorrow (Tuesday).

Its extensive menu offering a series of mouth-watering breakfast, lunch and daily specials allied to its in-house bakery are further draws which Gus, Natalie and the Gooseberry Cafe team are throwing their weight behind.

Without going into the exact specifics behind that investment, the father of four preferred to describe that financial commitment as one that was both considerable but necessary in adding the Gooseberry name to Longfords restaurant marketplace.

Gus Mac Entire behind the counter of Longford's new, ultra modern Gooseberry Cafe.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 11th March 2025

Its name, he revealed, came courtesy of the brainstorming efforts of his two daughters and while the new cafe will have two chefs and a total of six new jobs being added to the local jobs sector, Gus has taken on his new-found venture with gusto by undertaking cuisine classes with Multyfarnham Cookery School.

We didnt spare on the whole layout and design, he added. There is nice lighting and seating throughout and what we will bring is a new experience to Longford in terms of dining by providing people with a pleasant place to come, relax and enjoy some nice food.

Gooseberry Cafe opens this morning and will be open Tuesday to Saturday from 8am to 4pm.
Photographed at an AV room briefing meeting in Leinster House, calling for urgent funding for community neurorehabilitation teams, were Mags Rogers, CEO of NAI and Eamon McPartlin, patient advocate and board member at the NAI.

Six years on from the government commitment to deliver nine fully funded community neurological rehabilitation teams across the country, the rollout has been beset by delays, with most areas of the country including Sligo still without any access to a team.

Thats according to the Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI), the national umbrella body for 40 neurological organisations, who recently met with TDs and Senators at Leinster House, to call for their renewed commitment in delivering on the targets outlined in the 2019 Neurorehabilitation Strategy.

As National Brain Awareness Week marks its 20th year (March 10th  16th), the NAI underscores the urgent need for dedicated community neurorehabilitation teams to address this critical issue.

There is now a significant regional inequity for patients in Sligo who are unable to access the existing understaffed community neurorehabilitation team in the North West because of a lack of funding.

The community neurorehabilitation team serving Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan is only funded to fill a quarter of the necessary staffing positions it requires, resulting in a lack of services for people in the North West outside of Donegal.

The National Neurorehabilitation Strategy published in 2019 committed to delivering specialist community teams and long-term neurorehabilitation services across the country, as well as addressing the shortfall of 171 specialist inpatient neurorehabilitation beds.

Magdalen Rogers, CEO of the Neurological Alliance of Ireland said: Neurorehabilitation is a vital service to enable people in Sligo with neurological conditions to live their day to day lives. Were calling on the Government to announce a commitment to funding four community neurorehabilitation teams in this years Budget.

"We want to see this commitment during their first 100 days in office, to send a clear signal they intend to deliver on the pledges within the Programme for Government to complete the national rollout of community neurorehabilitation teams and to developing more specialist inpatient rehabilitation beds and implement community based multidisciplinary rehabilitation services in each HSE Regional Health Authority Area.

NAI is calling for funding in the upcoming Budget for full community neurorehabilitation teams for the North West, North Dublin, South East and Midlands, promised since 2019.

Patient advocate and NAI board member, Eamon McPartlin from Leitrim, explained the importance of access to neurorehabilitation teams to Oireachtas members.

I was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) in 2021, although symptoms actually began to appear a lot earlier in my thirties. Even before I received my diagnosis, the condition led to me having to give up my work as an engineer and ultimately to my marriage ending and I know that from speaking to others, the consequences of living with a neurological condition can be even more difficult to deal with than the condition itself.

Accessing multidisciplinary treatment including physiotherapy, psychology and occupational therapy through community neurorehabilitation teams, without having to travel huge distances is vital. It allows people living with a neurological condition to receive treatment locally without they or their family having to take significant time off work or spend lots of money on travelling and accommodation.

"For some depending on where they live in the country the community neurorehabilitation team may be their only option to access the services they urgently need to support them in living a better quality of life.
Post-primary teachers across Sligo and surrounding areas are invited to a free, interactive workshop designed to empower educators with the knowledge and skills to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their classrooms.

Organised by ADAPT, the Research Ireland Centre for AI-Driven Digital Content Technology, and Dublin City University (DCU), with support from Google, the AI Literacy in the Classroom initiative is equipping teachers with the knowledge and tools to teach AI concepts effectively while fostering safe, ethical, and informed AI use among students.

This will be the fourth half-day in-person workshop delivered across Ireland and it is scheduled for March 22nd from 9.30am to 2pm at the Sligo Education Support Centre, ATU campus, Ballinode.

The event will feature AI and education experts Louise McCormack (NUIG), Dr Michal Wieczorek (DCU), and Dr Keith Quille (TU Dublin), who will explore AI fundamentals, ethical considerations, and strategies for responsible AI integration in classrooms.

Key topics will include understanding AI principles and dispelling common myths, exploring the ethical and societal implications of AI in education, examining practical classroom strategies for integrating AI tools responsibly, and discussing how to craft and implement AI policies in schools.
Putting the correct infrastructure in place to be able to build 50,000 homes was one of Deputy Byrnes key points during the debate. Speaking at Leinster House, Deputy Byrne began by mentioning water infrastructure and Uisce Eireanns need to be apart of the solution to implement an improved system.

Deputy Byrne stated that the Government should be incentivising people to live in the villages they grew up in, however, at this rate, water infrastructure in most villages across Ireland is insufficient for building additional homes.

He highlighted the communities in Camolin and Ferns in north Wexford as well as Aughrim in south Wicklow, which have been waiting for a water system upgrade for up to 20 years.

Similarly, he outlined that improved road infrastructure is key to allow the construction of further housing. In Gorey, it is absolutely vital that a road and a bridge be built at the St. Walerans site to unlock 73 acres of land in order that social, affordable and private housing can be built, said Deputy Byrne.

Deputy Byrne complimented the first home scheme but added that the scheme has several anomalies. The price ceiling in Wicklow is 475,000, whereas in Wexford it is 350,000, and that figure was not increased in December, which we all hoped would be the case. Gorey, with which the Minister of State will be very familiar, is one of the fastest growing communities in the country and it is very difficult to get a three-bedroom house there for 350,000, said Deputy Byrne. To tackle this disparity, Deputy Byrne suggested that it will be based on local electoral areas rather than local authority areas. He said it is critical that there is co-ordination between the Departments of Health, Education and Transport to ensure the necessary facilities are put in place to meet the housing demand and ensure there are enough doctors, dentists and school places in the communities where new homes are being built.
At the next meeting of New Ross Historical Society, which will be held on Thursday, March 13, Wexford Historian, Brian O Cleirigh will trace the life and times of two Wexford patriots who helped to shape of the Ireland we enjoy today.

Both Larry and Mick DeLacy who hailed from Oulart spent some of their time working in New Ross. Larry was in New Ross as a rookie reporter for the Enniscorthy Echo (1907-1910), and Mick taught in Good Counsel College (1908-1912).

Mick was a pioneer of Technical and indeed Vocational Education, he had taught for the Augustinians in Bathurst New South Wales. He was at the centre of a three-year-struggle as principal of the Limerick Technical Schools, as he was Brigadier of the Mid-Limerick Brigade I.R.A., against the Dublin Castle administration and in alliance with Limerick City Council, which ended with Dail Eireann taking over the schools altogether in the first-ever acquisition of a major institution from the British.

Meanwhile, Larry had to flee Ireland in 1915 to avoid a very serious trial under DORA (The Defence of the Realm Act) likely to end in a death sentence for possession of arms. Larry, at this time, was 30 years old and the top man in the IRB in Co Wexford. His then-fiance, Mary Hayes, from Enniscorthy, an aunt of the famous 1950s hurler, Padge Kehoe, followed a few weeks later and they married in New York that summer. Larry was by then working for The Irish American newspaper owned by John Devoy, to whom he was recommended by Tom Clarke.

Michael D. DeLacy

The meeting on March 13 begins at 8 p.m. at the Dunbrody Expo Visitors Centre on New Ross Quay and its certain to give further insight into both mens lives and Irish culture at an impressionable time in Irish history.
The renowned culinary master had recently been nominated for Best Chef and Outstanding Achievement at the 2025 Irish Restaurant Awards

It was considered a sad loss to the culinary world when news broke on Monday of the passing of legendary chef Nicky Cullen at the age of 70.

Between his years at his own Silver Fox restaurant and most recently Mary Barrys in Kilmore, Nicky would have cooked for numerous high-profile diners over the years, however, cooking for friends and neighbours and seeing them leave happy meant just as much to him, such was his unassuming nature.

His work family at Mary Barrys confirmed the news of Nickys passing with a statement online.

"Today is a sad day for us all at Mary Barrys, it said. Our Head Chef, the heart and soul of Mary Barrys, our dear Nicky Cullen has passed away.

"Nicky was instrumental in making Mary Barrys what it is today, his passion was infectious and his creativity was second to none. We will all miss you so much. Nicky we are all heartbroken, we will always remember you, your kindness, the chats, your encouraging words. Our thoughts are with Nickys family at this sad time. RIP Nicky, Top Chef, Top Man, Legend.

Less than a week ago, Nicky had shared a post online celebrating Mary Barrys being nominated for a whole host of Irish Restaurant Awards 2025, including he himself being shortlisted for Best Chef and an Outstanding Achievement Award.

Cathaoirleach of the Rosslare Municipal District and a friend of Nickys, Cllr Jim Codd, said that south Wexford had lost one of its greatest ambassadors.

"Nicky was an absolute artist when it came to cooking, he said. I remember going into The Silver Fox one night and being seated at a table next to none other than Charlie Haughey. People came from all over the country to sample Nickys food.

"Despite that, he was a humble man. Although he was spoken about in the highest circles as a chef par excellence, he was the most friendly and unassuming man you could meet. Whether you were the wealthiest of businessman coming in on a yacht to the harbour, or an ordinary Joe Soap like myself, Nicky treated everyone with the height of respect.

"I think I speak for the whole area when I say, well never see his likes again.

Having cut his teeth serving in the galley of the mail boats at sea, Nicky rose to become an award-winning and lauded chef, steeped in his native south Wexford.

"His abilities in the kitchen were rooted in the produce of the local district, Cllr Codd said. He relied on ingredients that were closest to him, ingredients that were being landed on the quay wall by trawlers and pot boats.

"Nicky embodied all that was great about the local seafaring community. He started out on the mail boats and, although I believe he never had much in the way of formal training, he rose to become one of the greatest chefs in the country.

"He truly was a great man of his area and he had a tremendous impact on it. On behalf of all in the Rosslare Municipal District, Id extend my deepest sympathies to Nickys family, friends and colleagues.

Celebrity Chef Derry Clarke was among those to pay tribute to Nicky describing him as one of our finest chefs.

"A modest gentleman and a great mentor, he will be a huge loss to our industry, he said.

Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy and Labour TD George Lawlor also joined in the tributes to the late chef, along with a whole host of colleagues who shared a kitchen with Nicky over the years and with whom he was generous with his time and expertise.

Nickys funeral details had yet to be published at the time of publication.
The new committee dedicated to addressing Brays growing traffic and transport challenges hit the road in earnest as councillors at the March meeting of Bray Municipal District discussed the terms of reference, and looked forward to embracing what Cathaoirleach Dermot OBrien called a challenge and an opportunity.

The genesis of the committee goes back to last October, when a packed chamber heard from members of the Alliance of Bray Residents Association, who laid bare a raft of concerns including, but not limited to, the growing problem of congestion choking the town.

The Alliance's Clare OConnor, in the presentation, mapped out just how bad things are, with issues not just caused by congestion in Bray but by traffic coming off the N11 using routes the likes of Southern Cross, or even the Main Street, to get to Greystones, which is too growing in population as rapidly as Bray.

But it was the grim vision of a future where the town grinds to a standstill if nothing is done that spurred the councillors into taking action, and in January, Cllr OBrien officially announced the formation of the Bray Municipal District Traffic and Transport Sub Committee.

Theres no doubt that traffic and transport issues are deeply impacting our town, and every projection shows the situation will worsen if we dont act now, he said at the launch, and acknowledged the input from the concerned members of the community.

The aim of the committee is to provide a structured platform to comprehensively examine traffic, transport and mobility challenges in Bray and to develop sustainable and innovative solutions for the future.

The members will include four Bray councillors, as well as the Bray Municipal District engineer and district administrator, a member of the Active Travel Section, a representative of Wicklow County Council Roads Section, and reps from An Garda Siochana, Iarnrod Eireann and Dublin Bus.

Representatives from community groups will be invited to attend meetings and to give presentations as appropriate.

However, members of the public or the media will not be allowed to attend, which is normal for these sub-committees, where progress is generally reported on at subsequent municipal district monthly meetings.

The limitations of the committee were however spelled out by the District Manager, Lorraine Gallagher, when she said that we need to manage the expectations of the outside world of this committee, and explained that it doesn't have a statutory function, but nonetheless believes it is a good forum to explore the issues.

She also pointed out that, that as the district manager, she was unable to guarantee the resources of external agencies, or the resources of the councils internal Roads Department and reminded councillors that there already exists Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) for roads and infrastructure, and said we should keep the connectivity there in some way in terms of committees feeding into each other.

Councillor Aoife Flynn Kennedy raised some challenges stemming from the demands of members of the community to get involved, and allowing some and excluding others is a difficult balance. But she was reassured that consideration was given to this and that there would be an opportunity for communities to get involved as part of it.

An item that was not included in the terms of reference was climate change, and Councillor Erika Doyle pointed out that any conversation about travel and transport in general should acknowledge climate change and sustainability around transport options.

Councillor Joe Behan did query the exclusion of the media, and asked if community groups or members attend would that be in a public or private session.

Cllr OBrien responded by saying it was a challenge to ensure the contributions of the public and of the stakeholder groups across the board are heard. In terms of the public or private attendance, he said it something worthy of a conversation within the committee.

Cllr Behan clarified his position that there is an argument that submissions made by members of the community to the committee, should be available to the public afterwards and this should be a consideration.
Its not something I want to court: Barry Ward on fame, dating rumours and his new ITV crime drama

Dublin actor Barry Ward on his new role in ITVs Protection, starring in the adaptation of award-winning Irish novel Trespasses, working with Sharon Horgan and how he deals with interest in his private life

Barry Ward as DS Paul Brandice in 'Protection'. Photo: ITV

Tanya Sweeney Tue 11 Mar 2025 at 03:30

Not many actors can say that being the school messer landed them a role working with an esteemed screen director like Michael Winterbottom. But thats exactly what happened to Blanchardstown native Barry Ward, who landed his first role at just 13 almost entirely by chance.
Ukraines top general said yesterday that his troops fighting in Russias Kursk region were not at risk of encirclement, despite a recent counteroffensive by Russian forces that has included North Korean troops.

Oleksandr Syrskyi, who said he was visiting the forces fighting in Kursk without specifying whether he had crossed into Russia, made the remark in a statement on social media in which he also said the situation was under control.
LATEST | Zelensky open to US plan for 30-day ceasefire with Russia as Trump to resume intelligence-sharing and military aid

US-Ukraine talks to begin in Saudi Arabia amid tensions between Washington and Europe

Matthew Lee Tue 11 Mar 2025 at 19:11







The Trump administration lifted its suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing for Ukraine, and Kyiv signalled that it was open to a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Russia, pending Moscows agreement, American and Ukrainian officials said on Tuesday following talks in Saudi Arabia.
Former central banker Mark Carney, fresh from a landslide victory to become the leader of Canadas ruling Liberal Party and the countrys next prime minister, met Justin Trudeau yesterday and said the formal handover of power would be quick.

Liberal members on Sunday bet on Mr Carney as the man best placed to take on US president Donald Trump, who has threatened annexation as well as launching a trade war and punishing tariffs on the long-time ally.
Quick Commerce Leads Indias US$13.7 Billion Venture Capital Resurgence in 2024

Indias venture capital landscape experienced a strong resurgence in 2024, signaling renewed investor confidence and a revitalized startup ecosystem. Venture funding surged to US$13.7 billionmarking a 1.4-times jump from 2023driven by robust economic indicators, regulatory reforms, and a thriving technology sector. As global investors continue to prioritize India as a key growth market, this sets the stage for stronger deal activity in 2025.

Indias venture capital (VC) landscape witnessed a major resurgence in 2024, with total investments rising to US$13.7 billionrepresenting 1.4 times increase from the US$9.6 billion raised in 2023, according to the Venture Capital Report 2025, published by Bain & Company, a global management consulting firm, and the Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association (IVCA). This growth signals a renewed wave of investor confidence, spurred by positive domestic economic indicators, progressive regulatory reforms, and a more vibrant public market.

Although the early months of 2025 began on a relatively slower note, experts at the consultancy firm emphasized that overall investor sentiment remains strong, with expectations of a robust deal-making year ahead. India continues to be seen as a high-priority investment destination by global investors seeking opportunities in fast-growth markets.

Technology-led growth and sectoral shifts for investors

Indias technology ecosystem continues to thrive, with technology-driven segments such as consumer technology, software and SaaS, and fintech emerging as the primary focus areas for investors. These segments accounted for more than 60 percent of the total VC funding in 2024. The report notes that among these, consumer technology stood out, with funding increasing 2.3 times to US$5.4 billion. This surge was largely attributed to major deals in sub-sectors like business-to-consumer (B2C) commerce, travel technology, ed-tech, and gaming.

A noticeable shift in Indias investment environment reflects a greater emphasis on business sustainability, profitability, innovation, and regulatory compliance. Through the report analysis, Bain & Company believes Indias latest policy reforms have also supported the funding resurgence, as investors prefer ventures with strong unit economics and resilience against global macroeconomic fluctuations.

Quick commerce defining VC trend in India

A notable development in Indias VC trends in 2024 was the rise of quick commerce within the B2C commerce segment. Rapid consumer adoption, improved business strategies, and clearer profitability pathways have positioned quick commerce as an increasingly attractive investment model. The Bain report notes the top 10 funded companies made up nearly one-fourth of total VC investments, with nine of them operating in consumer markets, underscoring the sectors continued dominance.

Industry leaders project aggressive expansion in quick commerce, with dark store networks expected to grow to 5,500 by the end of 2025. Moreover, the expansion of non-grocery categories is adding further momentum to this segments growth.

READ: Quick Commerce Market in India and Key Players

Dark stores are specialized retail facilities dedicated to fulfilling online orders for quick commerce. Unlike traditional stores, they are closed to walk-in customers and are optimized for fast order picking and dispatching. In 2023, the demand for such spaces in India climbed to 24 million square feet. A joint report by JLL and Miebach Consulting projects this demand to rise at a 12 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR), reaching 37.6 million square feet by 2027.

Leading VC capital deals in 2024

Among the most prominent companies that attracted sizable VC funding in 2024 were Zepto, Meesho, Rebel Foods, Rapido, PharmEasy, Physics Wallah, Lenskart, Purplle, Mintifi, and Oyo. Quick-commerce company Zepto emerged as the top recipient with US$1.4 billion in funding and a valuation of US$5 billion.

Indias Top 10 VC-Funded Companies in 2024 Company Lead investors Sector Deal value (US$) Valuation (US$) Zepto Glade Brook Capital, Nexus Venture Partners, StepStone Group, Lightspeed B2C commerce 1.4 billion 5 billion Meesho Prosus Ventures, Tiger Global, Peak XV Partners, Elevation Capital B2C commerce 275 million 3.9 billion Rebel Foods Temasek, Evolvence, KKR Foodtech 270 million*  Rapido WestBridge Capital, Nexus Venture Partners, Prosus N.V. Traveltech 260 million* 1.1 billion PharmEasy MEMG Family Office, Prosus Ventures, Temasek, 360 One Portfolios Healthtech 216 million 710 million Physics Wallah Lightspeed, Hornbill Capital Advisers, GSV, WestBridge Capital Edtech 210 million 2.8 billion Lenskart Fidelity, Temasek B2C commerce 200 million 5.6 billion Purplle ADIA, Premji Invest, Sharrp Ventures, Blume Venture B2C commerce 180 million* 1.25 billion Mintifi Premji Invest, Ontario Teachers Pension Plan, Prosus N.V. Fintech 180 million 850 million Oyo InCred Wealth, Patient Capital, J&A Partners Traveltech 175 million 2.4 billion

Source: Bain & Company; PitchBook; Venture Intelligence; AVCJ; VCCEdge

*Total funding over different rounds in 2024.

Trends in deal values and funding stages

The average deal value remained largely stable across stages. Seed-stage deals grew from 628 in 2023 to 756 in 2024, with average funding rising from US$1.3 million to US$1.6 million.

Deal activity in the country rose across various investment sizes and stages in 2024, with the average deal size remaining consistent. Smaller and mid-sized deals (under US$50 million) grew by approximately 1.4 times, while larger deals (over US$50 million) nearly doubled, returning to pre-COVID levels. The number of megadeals (above US$100 million) also climbed by 1.6 times, indicating a renewed willingness to support robust, high-performing companies that endured the funding slowdown of previous years.

Average VC Deal Value in India Funding series 2023 2024 Seed Number of deals 628 756 Value US$1.3 million US$1.6 million Series A Number of deals 147 286 Value US$11 million US$5.9 million Series B Number of deals 48 110 Value US$24 million US$22.7 million Series C Number of deals 23 47 Value US$28 million US$29.7 million Series D+ Number of deals 33 71 Value US$163 million US$97.1 million

Source: Bain & Company; PitchBook

Emerging investment priorities in India

Investment activity in 2024 continued to be dominated by consumer technology, software and SaaS, and fintech, which together accounted for approximately 62 percent of total funding. However, the share of consumer tech rose sharplyfrom around 25 percent in 2023 to nearly 40 percentwhile fintechs share declined from 20 percent to about 10 percent.

Consumer technology experienced a funding boom, growing to US$5.4 billion with a 2.3 times year-on-year increase. This was largely due to the rise in large-ticket investments, with megadeals in the sector growing from four in 2023 to sixteen in 2024.

Software and SaaS saw steady growth, reaching US$1.7 billion in 2024an increase of 1.2 times. The segment benefited from rising enterprise demand, global go-to-market strategies, and the emergence of mature, scalable assets.

Traditional sectors such as the BFSI (banking, financial services, and insurance) grew 3.5 times to US$1.1 billion, supported by investments in non-banking financial services and green finance initiatives. The consumer and retail sector also surged to approximately US$900 million2.2 times the 2023 figuredriven by rising consumer spending and scalable, asset-light models in food, beverages, and fashion.

Transformation in the startup ecosystem and outlook beyond 2025

Indias startup ecosystem is undergoing substantial transformation, driven by shifting investment priorities, evolving business models, and supportive regulatory changes. VC firms are now increasingly focusing on Indias conventional sectors like BFSI and consumer/retail, surpassing deal volumes in the formerly dominant consumer tech and SaaS segments.

Regulatory reforms have played a pivotal role in enhancing Indias investment climate. The removal of the angel tax, reduction in long-term capital gains (LTCG) tax, and streamlined regulations under the Foreign Venture Capital Investor (FVCI) and Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) frameworks have collectively bolstered investor confidence and facilitated smoother capital inflows.

There has also been a growing trend of re-domiciling startups back to India. Companies like Pine Labs, Razorpay, Meesho, and Zepto are shifting their headquarters to India, driven by a robust IPO market and investor-friendly policies such as the removal of NCLT approval requirements for re-domiciling.

Indias regulatory landscape impact on startup ecosystem

The regulatory environment in 2024 proved largely favorable for startups and investors alike. The removal of the angel tax considerably eased compliance for early-stage startups, boosting domestic investor participation. The reduction in LTCG tax on unlisted equity enhanced post-tax returns for limited partners, making venture investments more attractive.

In September 2024, the re-domiciling process for startups was significantly streamlined with the removal of approval requirements from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), a quasi-judicial body in India. The introduction of the Companies (Compromises, Arrangements and Amalgamations) Amendment Rules, 2024 (also known as the Merger Rules, 2024), further accelerated this processreducing the timeline from 1218 months to just 34 months. Additionally, the Foreign Venture Capital Investor (FVCI) registration process was simplified, as the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) delegated the responsibility to Designated Depository Participants, thereby facilitating smoother foreign capital inflows.

Recent amendments to the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) have streamlined cross-border investment processes, easing procedures such as foreign currency account setups and Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) regulations. On August 16, 2024, Indias Union Ministry of Finance introduced the fourth amendment to the Foreign Exchange Management (Non-Debt Instruments) Rules, 2019, aiming to boost foreign investmentparticularly in the startup ecosystem. As part of this reform, the startup eligibility period was extended from five to ten years, further incentivizing international participation and enhancing investor confidence.

However, regulatory tightening in specific areas also emerged. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced stricter compliance norms for payment aggregators, mandating merchant verification and advanced due diligence measures.

Conclusion

Despite these regulatory challenges, Indias venture capital and startup ecosystem remains dynamic and promising, with structural shifts setting the stage for long-term sustainable growth.

Looking ahead, Indias startup landscape appears well-positioned for sustained momentum in 2025 and beyond. Core sectors such as consumer-focused businesses, software and SaaS, and artificial intelligence will remain key areas of interest, while emerging domains like semiconductors, deep tech, and energy transition are gaining attention. Indias central government-led initiatives in space-tech and sector-specific fund allocations are expected to further catalyze growth.
Roadies XX: In the latest episode of Roadies XX, Neha Dhupia strongly opposed Prince Narula for making an age-related comment on senior contestant Ashu Ji. She stated that judging someone by age is incorrect and unfair. The argument started when Prince accused Ashu Ji of not playing for the gang.

Roadies XX: Elvish Yadav joins the heated debate

The situation escalated further when popular contestant Elvish Yadav joined the discussion. He sarcastically remarked, "According to them, Ashu Ji has reached retirement age!" His comment fuelled the ongoing debate, making the argument more intense. Elvish later declared himself the biggest feminist in the competition, adding another layer to the controversy.

Roadies XX: Rannvijays secret move in the game

While the contestants were engaged in heated discussions, host Rannvijay Singha introduced an unexpected twist. He selected four contestants, giving them a choice between Kaata ya Baata, a game that decided who would win the Roadiums. Also, gang leaders were asked to predict their team members choices, with the chance to win or lose 2000 Roadiums based on their accuracy.

Roadies XX: Prince Narula faces backlash over his comments

Neha Dhupia did not hold back while addressing Prince Narulas remarks. She said that making comments about someone's age is unfair and can make them feel excluded. She added that if Ashu Ji felt left out, it was the responsibility of the gang to include her, rather than criticise her.

After the intense exchange, the contestants refocused on their next challenge. Despite the argument, the show continued with thrilling tasks, dramatic twists, and strategic gameplay. Roadies XX remains as exciting as ever, with fans eagerly watching the rivalries between the contestants and gang leaders.

Fans can watch Roadies XX every Saturday and Sunday at 7 PM on MTV. The show is also available for streaming on JioCinema and Hotstar.
Solo Leveling season 2 episode 11 OTT release date: Solo Leveling is one of the most loved anime of recent times. The anime has had 10 viral episodes and now it's time for the 11th one. The anime is heading towards the end of the second season but there are a lot of twists and turns left. So before the episode drops, heres a look and everything to know about Solo Leveling season 2 episode 11.

Solo Leveling season 2 episode 11 OTT release date

In India, Solo Leveling season 2 episode 11 will be released on Crunchyroll at 8:30 PM on 15th March 2025.

Global release dates:

Pacific Time: Saturday, March 15, 2025  07:00 AM

Eastern Time: Saturday, March 15, 2025  10:00 AM

Greenwich Mean Time: Saturday, March 15, 2025  03:00 PM

Central European Time: Saturday, March 15, 2025  04:00 PM

Indian Standard Time: Saturday, March 15, 2025  08:30 PM

Philippine Time: Saturday, March 15, 2025  11:00 PM

Japanese Standard Time: Sunday, March 16, 2025  12:00 AM

Australian Central Time: Sunday, March 16, 2025  01:30 AM

What to expect from Solo Leveling season 2 episode 11

As per Sportskeeda, It's Going to Get Even More Intense is the title of episode 11 of Solo Leveling season 2. The Ant King may be formally introduced in the upcoming episode, as was suggested in the last installment's climax. Furthermore, Sung Jinwoo may also be in despair in Solo Leveling season 2 episode 11 after deciding it was a poor decision to tag out of the 4th Jeju Island Raid.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
In a shocking turn of events, television actress Aditi Sharma and her husband, Abhineet Kaushik, are heading for a divorce merely four months after their secret wedding. The couple, who had been in a live-in relationship for years, tied the knot on November 12, 2024, in an intimate ceremony at their Goregaon residence, keeping the marriage under wraps due to Aditi's career concerns.

Abhineet revealed that he was initially reluctant to marry, but after Aditi's persistent persuasion over a year and a half, he agreed to the secret wedding. He managed her professional commitments, social media collaborations, and public appearances, often posing as her manager to support her career.

Real reason behind Aditi Sharmas divorce

The relationship took a dramatic turn when Abhineet accused Aditi of having an affair with her Apollena co-star, Samarthya Gupta. In an interview with India Forums, he, along with his lawyer Rakesh Shetty, alleged that Kaushik caught Aditi and Gupta together, leading to intense confrontations and legal complications. Aditi reportedly dismissed their marriage as a mock trial.

The situation worsened with allegations of a 25 lakh settlement demand from Aditi's family for the divorce. A heated altercation ensued, involving physical confrontations and police intervention. Shetty said, They insisted on a divorce, and during a lawyer-arranged meeting, Aditis side demanded 25 lakh. Things took a violent turn when her father slapped Abhineet, and Aditi got hurt in the scuffle.

Both parties have filed non-cognizable complaints, and the couple has since vacated their shared 5 BHK residence. As of now, Aditi Sharma, who has been a part of shows like Kaleerein, Yehh Jadu Hai Jinn Ka!, Rabb Se Hai Dua, Khatron Ke Khiladi 14 and Apollena - Sapno Ki Unchi Udaan, has remained silent on the matter.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
In a shocking turn of events, Tamil star Thalapathy Vijay hosted an Iftar in Chennai on Friday and according to a source, the Tamil Nadu Sunnat Jamath has now complained to the Chennai Police Commissioner's office about the actor for "insulting Muslims" at the event. According to the report, Syed Kous, the treasurer of Tamil Nadu Sunnat Jamath, met with the media to talk about the group's complaint against Vijay.

As per News18 he reportedly said, Muslims were insulted at the Iftar program organised by Vijay. We believe the participation of drunkards and rowdies who had nothing to do with fasting or Iftar has insulted Muslims.

Heres why Vijay is reportedly facing legal trouble over alleged insult to Muslims

Syed further criticised Vijay for failing to "express regret" for the Iftar's outcome, saying that the event was planned in a "hurtful manner." He said that Vijay's "foreign guards" mistreated individuals, "treating them like cows," and that improper arrangements had been made. "To make sure this doesn't happen again, Vijay should face legal action. For publicity, we didn't submit a complaint," he continued.





The Iftar party

Notably, actor-turned-politician Thalapathy Vijay participated in the celebrations of Ramadan on Friday. He is expected to enter politics shortly after his last movie, Jana Nayagan. The Iftar was arranged by Vijay and took place in the Royapettah YMCA grounds on Friday. Social media was flooded with images and videos of the event too.

More about Jana Nayagan

H. Vinoth is the director and KVN Productions is the producer of the upcoming Tamil-language Indian movie Jana Nayagan. In addition to Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, Narain, Priyamani, Mamitha Baiju, Monisha Blessy, and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, the film's main actors include Vijay, Pooja Hegde, and Bobby Deol. It's supposed to be Vijay's last movie before entering politics. Sathyan Sooryan handled the film's cinematography, Pradeep E. Ragav edited it, and Anirudh Ravichander composed the soundtrack.

Vijay has not yet addressed the legal complaint or the charges. Fans are anxious to see how the actor will tackle the problem.

What are your thoughts on the complaint?
Air India has once again found itself in controversy, this time over two back-to-back incidents that have left passengers frustrated and questioning the airlines service standards.

On March 6, a Chicago-to-Delhi Air India flight had to turn back after eight out of twelve toilets became clogged mid-air. According to Air India, their investigation found that passengers had flushed polythene bags, rags, and clothes, which blocked the plumbing system. The airline explained that since most European airports restrict night operations, the only option was to return to Chicago, causing major inconvenience to passengers. Videos from the flight circulated widely on social media, showing the discomfort onboard.

Just a day before, an 82-year-old woman, the widow of a Lieutenant General, suffered a brain stroke after falling at Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport. Her family alleged that despite pre-booking a wheelchair, they waited for nearly an hour without assistance. The woman eventually had to walk across parking lanes and into the terminal, where she collapsed near an Air India counter, sustaining head injuries. Her granddaughter took to X (formerly Twitter), stating, "Air India, you treated my grandmother so poorly, and with such little regard. You should be ashamed." The airline, however, denied the delay, claiming that due to high demand, the wheelchair was unavailable within the 15-minute wait time and that staff assisted her throughout.

These two incidents are just the latest in a string of complaints against Air India. From politicians to actors to everyday travelers, dissatisfaction with the airline has been a recurring theme.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan criticizes Air India over broken seat

In February this year, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan expressed his disappointment after finding his seat on an Air India flight from Bhopal to Delhi broken and sunken. He stated that sitting was extremely uncomfortable and that when he asked the crew, he was told the management was already aware of the seats poor condition.

Chouhan added that he had assumed Air Indias service would improve after the Tata takeover but was left disappointed. In response, Air India apologized and assured that they were investigating the matter to prevent similar issues in the future.

British TV Star Narinder Kaur assaulted mid-flight

AIR RAGE is real and I

had a terrible experience with a woman literally punching and kicking my seat forward as it was reclined (I was sleeping) whilst she was trying to eat behind me. She literally flung me forward and I didn't have my belt on. She proceeded to verbally abuse pic.twitter.com/GEFrufrzKb  Narinder Kaur (@narindertweets) October 24, 2024

On October 24, 2024, British television personality Narinder Kaur was assaulted by a fellow passenger for reclining her seat on an Air India flight. She later wrote on X, AIR RAGE is real, and I had a terrible experience with a woman literally punching and kicking my seat forward as it was reclined.

She claimed the woman forcibly pushed her forward, verbally abused her, and was not intoxicated at the time. Kaur also criticized Air Indias handling of the situation, saying the airline staff failed to inform her about options to press charges against the passenger.

Actress Urvashi Dholakia receives damaged luggage

In January 2025, television actress Urvashi Dholakia took to social media after receiving her luggage in a severely damaged condition on an Air India flight from London to Mumbai. She shared a video of her broken suitcases, stating, Terrible mishandling by Air India. Never travelling on Air India again.

She also mentioned that she had paid extra for baggage fees and demanded a full refund. The airline did not provide an immediate response to her complaint.

Cockroach found in the meal served on flight

Found a cockroach in the omelette served to me on the @airindia flight from Delhi to New York. My 2 year old finished more than half of it with me when we found this. Suffered from food poisoning as a result. @DGCAIndia @RamMNK pic.twitter.com/1Eyc3wt3Xw  Suyesha Savant (@suyeshasavant) September 28, 2024

In September 2024, a passenger on an Air India flight from Delhi to New York claimed to have found a cockroach in her omelette. She posted on X, Found a cockroach in the omelette served to me on the @airindia flight. My 2-year-old finished more than half of it with me when we found this. She later added that she suffered from food poisoning.

Air India responded by asking for her booking details and assured that an investigation was underway. However, the incident is proof of the serious concerns about hygiene standards on board practised by the airline.

Infants seat given away, leaving parents struggling

In February 2025, a passenger traveling with his six-month-old infant expressed frustration after Air India reassigned his pre-booked bassinet seat to another passenger at the check-in counter.

He wrote on X, Just want to thank you for the worst flight experience ever! My daughter only slept for 5 hours in the last 24 hours as she had medical issues and needed rest which was denied.

He also mentioned that his wife, who has a spinal condition, suffered discomfort throughout the journey. The passenger criticized the airline for taking away a bassinet seat meant for an infant and giving it to two adult travelers instead.

Air India responded by stating that bassinet seats are subject to availability and depend on the type of aircraft. They also assured that they would share the feedback to improve their services.
If you're looking for the perfect launchpad to scale your fintech business, Dubai might just be your next big move. Whether you're an industry giant or an ambitious startup, the emirate rapidly expands its tech frontier with a clear vision for the future. With its progressive regulatory framework, booming digital payments ecosystem, and a strong push for AI and blockchain-driven financial services, the emirate is rapidly transforming into a fintech powerhouse and Indian businesses are perfectly positioned to seize the opportunity.

Lets dive into how Dubais strategic initiatives and open-door policies are not just fueling fintech expansion but also shaping the future of finance across the region and beyond.

Regulatory evolution: Dubai strengthening the fintech landscape

A strong regulatory framework is the backbone of any thriving fintech ecosystem, and Dubai is taking proactive steps to ensure that. The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), along with regulatory bodies like the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), is rolling out policies that make it easier for fintech startups to operate while maintaining high standards of compliance and consumer protection.

One of the most significant developments is the Open Finance Regulation, issued by the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) in April 2024, which mandates that financial institutions grant controlled access to consumer data and transaction initiation capabilities that pave the way for enhanced financial services, improved transparency, and seamless digital transactions. Also, regulatory sandboxes provide fintech innovators with a testing ground to refine their products in a controlled environment before full-scale deployment. (Source: CBUAE Rulebook)

When asked about the impact of regulatory changes on investment strategies in fintech startups, Sonia Gokhale, Co-Founder and General Partner at VentureSouq, highlighted

Proactive engagement with evolving regulationssuch as compliance with emerging frameworks and leveraging regulatory sandboxesallows us to identify and invest in startups with robust compliance strategies. This minimises potential legal risks and positions portfolio companies for long-term success. Our approach involves continuous monitoring of the regulatory landscape to adjust our due diligence criteria. Startups that demonstrate early and clear strategies for aligning with regulatory requirements are viewed more favourably."

Victor Sunyer, Partner at Nuwa Capital, stated Dubai is pushing for progressive regulatory frameworks, such as open banking, digital assets regulation, and AI governance, which place it on par with leading fintech hubs like Singapore and London while providing greater clarity for startups and investors.

Abhishek Tripathi, Senior Product Director at Careem highlighted, The UAE Central Banks progressive regulations have also fostered a fintech-friendly ecosystem, enabling businesses to start and scale with ease. By tapping into this supportive ecosystem, Indian companies can introduce localised digital payment solutions, integrate with Dubai-based platforms, and form strategic partnerships to meet the regions increasing appetite for fintech innovation

For Indian startups eyeing international expansion, Dubais fintech-friendly regulations remove many traditional roadblocks, offering a smooth entry into a well-structured, innovation-driven financial ecosystem. With licensing support, compliance guidelines, and access to a growing fintech hub, Dubai is positioning itself as the perfect launchpad for businesses ready to scale globally.

AI and Blockchain: Powering the future of digital payments

The future of digital payments in Dubai is being shaped by two game-changing technologiesArtificial Intelligence (AI) and Blockchain. Together, they are driving a seamless, secure, and highly efficient financial ecosystem that is setting new global standards.

AI is revolutionising digital payments by enhancing fraud detection, transaction security, and customer experiences. Machine learning enables financial institutions in Dubai to analyse vast transaction data in real-time, detecting and preventing fraud proactively. AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are also streamlining payment interactions for faster, more intuitive transactions.

Gokhale noted, We are particularly focused on startups building vertical AI agents related to financial services. AI-driven analytics and automation can provide significant enhancements in fraud detection, customer engagement, personalised financial services, and compliance. Startups that effectively harness AI to drive efficiency and scale are of interest, though its adoption must be justified within a broader business model.

Blockchain, on the other hand, is reshaping digital payments with decentralised, transparent, and tamper-proof transactions. By cutting intermediaries, it lowers costs and speeds up cross-border transfers. Dubais push for a blockchain-driven economy, through initiatives like the Dubai Blockchain Strategy, is enhancing security and efficiency in financial transactions.

When AI and blockchain work together, they create a frictionless payment landscape. AI enhances blockchain networks by optimising data verification, predicting transaction trends, and automating compliance processes. Meanwhile, blockchain provides AI with reliable, decentralised data sources, ensuring the integrity and security of financial operations.

Fintech

Cross-border collaboration and open banking- driving financial accessibility

Dubai is enhancing financial accessibility through cross-border collaboration and open banking. The UAE Central Banks Project Aperta aims to build a trusted open finance network, simplifying SME access to trade finance while reducing costs and transaction times. Here Gokhale added, With cross-border payment flows expected to reach $250 trillion globally by 2027, we're seeing tremendous opportunity in: Regional payment corridors optimisation, Trade finance digitisation, and SME-focused cross-border solutions that address the $350B+ annual trade volume between GCC countries.

Tripathi stated Since launching less than two years ago, Careem Pays remittance service has become one of the fastest-growing on the Careem Everything App. Customers can easily send money abroad using their existing payment details within a trusted app they already use for ride-hailing, food, grocery delivery, and more. Today, we enable transfers from the UAE to 25+ countries, with India as our largest and fastest-growing corridor, reflecting strong demand from the Indian community in Dubai.

Here, Sunyer mentioned, Indian investors are increasingly eyeing Dubais fintech ecosystem, with strong opportunities in key sectors. First, consumer lending for the bottom of the pyramid, where Indian companies have scaled successfully using efficient technology. Second, B2B fintech and enterprise solutions, where Indias expertise in AI-driven risk analytics, compliance automation, and API-based financial services is in high demand, especially among banks and large enterprises in Dubai.

The Open Finance Regulation (April 2024) mandates secure, consent-based access to consumer data, starting with banks under the FIT Programme. This initiative boosts innovation, enhances customer experience, and strengthens compliance. Together, these efforts drive financial inclusivity, streamline cross-border operations, and solidify Dubais status as a global fintech hub.

The rise of BNPL and Embedded Finance in everyday transactions

Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) and embedded finance are transforming transactions in Dubai, offering flexible payment solutions beyond B2C into B2B commerce.

Gokhale noted, BNPL integration into e-commerce, Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) for non-banks, and embedded insurance and lending in SaaS solutions are key drivers. Sunyer added, BNPL has become a massive market with players like Tabby and Tamara. The limited accessibility of credit cards for the mass market and the high prevalence of cash on delivery in the e-commerce market have made BNPL the perfect solution to tackle these two issues, taking the market by surprise as it also enjoys one of the best unit economics in the world. This market is also providing opportunities for other fintechs to thrive on the back of this, stemming from regulatory tech, credit scoring, credit collection and securitisation of loans which are growing and evolving on the back of the BNP boom.

With strong growth potential, BNPL is reshaping global trade by embedding financial services directly into business operations.

The future of fintech is in Dubai  Heres why!

Dubai is attracting global startups with its business-friendly ecosystem, advanced digital infrastructure, and progressive regulations. As Dubai accelerates digital transformation, fintech investments are driving the next wave of innovation.

A key advantage for fintech startups is Dubais regulatory landscape. Initiatives like the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) offer regulatory sandboxes, allowing startups to test solutions in a controlled environment. Gokhale noted, Government-led initiatives and digital infrastructure investments are accelerating fintech adoption, creating fertile ground for both consumer and B2B fintechs. Progressive regulatory reforms reduce uncertainty and set best practices for emerging technologies.

Here Tripathi mentioned, The India-UAE fintech corridor offers Indian startups a fast-track entry into a high-growth digital ecosystem. With Dubais push towards a cashless economy and its fintech-friendly regulations, Indian companies specialising in digital payments and remittances can scale rapidly. A key opportunity within this corridor is facilitating seamless cross-border transactions, particularly in the remittance space. Our remittance product enables individuals in the UAE to send money directly to businesses in India.

When asked about Indian startup opportunities in Dubai, Sunyer responded,  Organisations like the DIFC have introduced frameworks that support digital banking, open finance, and crypto assets, providing regulatory clarity that attracts global fintech startups and institutional investors. DIFCs Innovation Hub allow startups to test fintech solutions in a controlled environment under regulatory supervision, reducing risk while accelerating product-market fit. This, combined with Dubais zero corporate tax, 100% foreign ownership, and streamlined business setup processes, creates a cost-efficient and business-friendly environment for fintech founders.

Dubai's zero-income tax policy for businesses, access to venture capital, and government-backed initiatives like Fintech Hive and NextGenFDI make it a global fintech hub. Its strategic location also enables seamless expansion into high-growth markets across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.

With growing investments in open banking, embedded finance, blockchain, and AI-driven financial solutions, Dubai continues to build up its reputation as a thriving fintech destination. As investor interest surges and regulatory frameworks evolve, Dubai is well on its way to becoming one of the most attractive markets for fintech startups globally.
A high-profile fashion show in the picturesque background of Gulmarg, featuring the bold and edgy designs of Shivan & Narresh, has exploded into a full-blown controversy. What was meant to be a celebration of their 15-year journey in luxury fashion has turned into a political and religious storm, with accusations of obscenity, disrespect to Kashmiri culture, and insensitivity during Ramadan.

Know about the event that set Kashmir ablaze

On March 7, 2025, designer duo Shivan Bhatiya and Narresh Kukreja hosted a swanky fashion show at a luxury ski resort in Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir. The event showcased high-fashion skiwear, apres-ski dresses, and winter layers, set against the breathtaking snowy backdrop of the Himalayas.

Gulmarg's snowy slopes recently hosted a stunning fashion show, showcasing Kashmir's peaceful revival. But Islamist radicals & local politicians are up in arms, deeming it a 'national security threat'! Talk about misplaced priorities! Frustrated folks! #Kashmir #FashionForPeace pic.twitter.com/b9haijcaYM  Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) March 9, 2025

But what should have been a glamorous affair quickly turned into a nightmare for the designers. Videos and pictures from the show went viral, and people were furious. The biggest issue? The timing - Ramadan, the holiest month for Muslims. And the content - bold, body-hugging outfits in a region deeply rooted in traditional and religious values.

Clerics and politicians lash out in no time

Kashmirs chief cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, led the outrage, condemning the event as outrageous and completely unacceptable. He slammed the show for going against the spiritual and cultural essence of Kashmir, questioning how such a thing could be allowed in a land of saints and Sufis.

J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah wasnt happy either. Calling the visuals from the show insensitive and tone-deaf, he demanded an official report within 24 hours and assured the public that action would be taken if any rules were broken.

The Gulmarg fashion show was not organized by the government. No government money or infrastructure was used. No permissions were sought either. This has hurt the sentiments of the people. Those who organized it clearly did not think this through - CM Omar Abdullah Sahib. pic.twitter.com/xbQYIS6OUv  Sarah Hayat Shah (@SaraHayatShah) March 10, 2025

Social activist Raja Muzaffar Bhat was even more direct: Who allowed this Nude Fashion Show at Gulmarg in Holy Ramzan? Semi Nude Men & Women Walking on Snow. Will Tourism Deptt, CEO GDA throw some light? Why are you hell-bent on demolishing our Moral, Ethical, Cultural & Religious values?

Did Omar Abdullah know all along?

As the controversy gained traction, political rivals jumped into the chaos. BJP leader Sunil Sharma accused CM Omar Abdullah of playing innocent, alleging that the venue belonged to his relatives and questioning how he could claim he had no idea what was happening in his own backyard.

"Omar Abdullah lies both inside the Assembly House and outside as well. How is it possible? Such a big function was happening in your relatives' hotel, and you had no idea? I feel you only must have organized this programme, Sunil said.

The outrageous fashion show in Gulmarg during the holy month of Ramzan is a direct insult to our faith and a shameless attack on our cultural identity.



Had it been former Minister and Ex-MLA Gulmarg @GHMir_ the helm, things would have been different and public sentiments pic.twitter.com/9xo2dJaBLL  Tariq Leo (@TARIQLEO_) March 9, 2025

Even former J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti slammed the event, calling it a disgrace to Kashmiri values. She warned that allowing such events to continue would destroy the moral and cultural fabric of Kashmir.

Designer-duo issues an apology

With mounting pressure, Shivan & Narresh finally broke their silence. In a carefully worded statement, they apologized for any unintentional hurt caused and insisted that their only goal was to celebrate creativity and the ski lifestyle.

The wrote, We deeply regret any hurt caused by our recent presentation in Gulmarg during the holy month of Ramadan. Respect for all cultures and traditions is at our heart, and we acknowledge the concerns raised. We sincerely apologise for any unintended discomfort and appreciate the feedback from our community.

Respect for all cultures and traditions is at our heart, and we acknowledge the concerns raised. We sincerely apologize for any unintended discomfort and appreciate the feedback from our community.



We remain committed to being more mindful and respectful. (2/2)  SHIVAN & NARRESH (@shivan_narresh) March 9, 2025

But for many, the damage was already done. The apology wasnt enough to calm the storm. Omar Abdullah, under immense political and public pressure, has ordered an official probe. While he maintained that the event was private and had no government involvement, he assured strict action if any rules were violated.

Who are Shivan and Narresh?

For those unfamiliar, Shivan & Narresh are among Indias top luxury fashion designers. They made waves with Indias first-ever luxury swimwear brand and have dressed celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Priyanka Chopra, and Sonam Kapoor. They specialize in bold, statement-making resort wear, but this time, their fearless fashion landed them in hot water.

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Meet Indias billionaire heiresses leading top companies: In addition to inheriting wealth, India's millionaire heiresses are demonstrating their leadership in the business sector. These strong women are leaving their impact on their family enterprises and beyond, from technology to retail.

Among the prominent figures redefining success are Isha Ambani, the head of Reliance Retail and Jio, and Roshni Nadar, the CEO of HCL. Their voyage demonstrates creativity, tenacity, and intelligence. They inspire a new generation of female entrepreneurs as they take over multibillion-dollar companies.

Curious about the other names on the list? Here are Indian billionaire daughters whose leadership and vision influence business direction. Read on to learn about their achievements!

List of Indian heiresses who are leading billion-dollar company

They have inherited and expanded their family enterprises into multibillion-dollar corporations, from the Tatas to the Ambanis. However, the women working behind the scenes are sometimes ignored, even if the men in these families frequently get well-deserved fame. These Indian women are carrying on the business traditions of their families.

1. Roshni Nadar

Credit: BCCI

The first female CEO of a publicly traded IT company in India is Roshni Nadar Malhotra. As its chairperson, she has led HCL Technologies to new heights by emphasizing digital innovation and international expansion. Through the Shiv Nadar Foundation, Roshni, a Stanford alumnus, is also heavily involved in philanthropy.

Roshni Nadar Malhotra, the daughter of HCL founder Shiv Nadar, is one of the most influential businesswomen in India. After receiving 47% of her fathers stake in HCL Corporation and Vama Delhi, she has become Indias richest woman and the third-richest person overall.

This transfer was part of a structured succession plan within the Nadar family to ensure the stability and leadership of HCL.

2. Isha Ambani

Credit: Vogue

Isha Ambani Piramal, the daughter of Mukesh Ambani, is a powerful figure in India's telecom and retail industries. She was instrumental in the growth of Reliance Jio and the transformation of the digital economy in India. As a director, she leads Reliance Retail's premium retail and e-commerce initiatives.

3. Nisaba Godrej

Credit: Forbes

As the Executive Chairperson of Godrej Consumer Products, Nisaba Godrej has spearheaded the company's innovation and sustainability initiatives. She is credited with revamping the 125-year-old company.

4. Jayanti Chauhan

Credit: Instagram

Jayanti Chauhan, the daughter of Ramesh Chauhan, has been instrumental in developing Bisleri, India's top bottled water brand. She keeps growing the company's market share.

5. Ashni Biyani

Credit: Forbes

Future Consumer Ltd. was founded by Ashni Biyani, daughter of retail tycoon Kishore Biyani. Prior to the company's reorganization, she was influential in changing the retail scene in India.

6. Vanisha Mittal

Credit: Arcelor Mittal

Vanisha Mittal, the daughter of steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, has played a significant role in the strategic expansion of ArcelorMittal, the biggest steel producer in the world.

7. Tanya Dubash

Credit: Exchange for Media

As the Executive Director and Chief Brand Officer of Godrej Industries, Tanya Dubash is another important figure from the Godrej family. She has improved the company's worldwide visibility and brand identification.

8. Radhika Piramal

Credit: Forbes

The Executive Vice-Chairperson of VIP Industries, the top luggage brand in India, is Radhika Piramal. VIP has grown both domestically in India and abroad under her direction.

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Kim Soo Hyun's recent controversy has sent shockwaves through the Hallyu industry. The actor has been accused of 'grooming' Kim Sae Ron after a family member of the late actress shared with the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute that the actor had been in a relationship with her for six years, starting when she was only 15. While the controversy has sparked intense backlash from netizens, it has also come to notice the channel has a history of making unfounded allegations against several high-profile artists, including BTS.

YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute once linked BTS to a drug case

Garosero Research Institute has gained a reputation for its controversial 'exclusive coverage' targeting top artists. Prior to the Kim Soo Hyun controversy, the channel accused BTS members of being involved in a drug case.

Credit: X

In 2023, the YouTube channel released a video alleging that two members of the K-pop group were regular visitors of a hostess bar supposedly linked to drug cases involving BIGBANGs G-Dragon and Parasite actor Lee Sun Kyun.

In response, BTS's agency, HYBE, firmly denied any connection between the BTS members and the alleged establishment. An excerpt of statement from HYBE read, BTS is completely unconnected to the relevant rumour, and [the rumor] is not true to the slightest. We will take strong action against the indiscriminate circulation of rumors."

Garosero Research Institute drags BTS into Kim Soo Hyun controversy

On March 10, the Garosero Research Institute once again brought BTS into the ongoing controversy surrounding Kim Soo Hyun and the late actress Kim Sae Ron. After the channel made shocking allegations against Kim Soo Hyun, his agency, GOLD MEDALIST, threatened legal action. However, the YouTube channel downplayed the threat, suggesting that even BTS had made legal threats in the past, implying that those threats had no real consequence.

As quoted by Kbizoom, Garosero said, Does Kim Soo Hyun not know who Kim Se-ui is? Legal action? BTS also said they would take legal action in the past. How did that turn out? They all ended up enlisting in the military. And now, just a Hallyu star whos popular in China, Kim Soo-hyun? Our Garo Sero didnt get information from just anywherewe broadcasted based on materials and interviews directly received from actress Kim Sae-rons bereaved family. Go ahead and try legal threats against them, too.

Furthermore, the agency said it will instead file a complaint against My Love from the Star actor. "Tomorrow (March 11), a complaint regarding a minor-related sexual issue will be filed. Dating a middle school second-year student? Surely, they didnt have a sexual relationship with a minor, right? From what I heard, someone seems to be filing a complaint tomorrow," the channel added.

What did the YouTube channel claim about Kim Soo Hyun?

On Tuesday, the YouTube channel uploaded a video titled Kim Soo Hyun Led to Kim Sae Rons Death, making serious accusations against the actor, particularly regarding his relationship with Kim Sae Ron. The actress was listed under Kim Soo Hyun's agency from 2019 to 2024.

Credit: X

The video claimed that Kim Soo Hyun had been in a romantic relationship with Kim Sae Ron since she was a minor, lasting for six years. It further alleged that his agency, GOLD MEDALIST, mismanaged the aftermath of her DUI accident and later sent a legal notice demanding the return of 700 million KRW (approximately 482,000 USD).

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.




Know about TV Actress Aditi Sharma: Famous for her parts in popular TV series like Rabb Se Hai Dua and Yeh Jaadu Hai Jinn Ka!, Aditi Sharma is an Indian actor. Thanks to her endearing on-screen persona and powerful performances, she has developed a devoted fan base.

Due to her rumoured divorce, Aditi has been in the news lately, and her followers are curious. The media has been spreading rumours about her split even though she has always kept her personal life private. Aditi keeps concentrating on her career while admirers look for answers.

Interested in knowing more about her background, notable moments from her job, and the most recent information about her personal life? To learn everything there is to know about Aditi Sharma, keep reading!

Who is Aditi Sharma?

Credit: Instagram

Aditi Sharma is an Indian model and actress who primarily works in Hindi television. She was born on September 4, 1996. Her most well-known roles include those of Meera Dhingra Kapoor in Kaleerein, Roshni Choudhary Khan in Yehh Jadu Hai Jinn Ka!, Dua Siddiqui Akhtar in Rabb Se Hai Dua, and Apollena in Apollena - Sapno Ki Unchi Udaan. She made her acting debut in 2018. She took part in the Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 14 reality show in 2024.

Aditi Sharma's education qualification

Aditi Sharma was born in New Delhi, India. She graduated from Delhi's Punjabi Bagh's Hansraj Model School with a secondary degree. She walked for Amazon Fashion Week India to launch her modelling career.

She later appeared in several TV ads for other companies, including Amazon, White Ponds Beauty BB+, Titan Raga, and others.

Aditi Sharma's career

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In 2017, Aditi Sharma made her acting debut with Guru Randhawa in the music video Taare. She later appeared in the Haryanvi music video Tu Raja ki Raj Dulari and two more Punjabi music videos, Naan and Bekadra. She debuted opposite Arjit Taneja in Zed TV's Kaleerein in February 2018 as Meera Dhingra Kapoor.

On November 16, 2018, the program came to an end. She made a brief cameo as Shivli Singh in Colors TV's Naagin 3 in 2019. She played Roshni Choudhary Khan in Star Plus's fantasy love drama series Yehh Jadu Hai Jinn Ka! in October 2019, opposite Vikram Singh Chauhan.

November 2020 marked the end of the show's one-year run. She debuted digitally in 2021 in Alt Balaji's Crash, featuring Rohan Mehra, Anushka Sen, and Zain Imam. She later appeared in two more music videos: Aadat Ve, opposite Ninja, and Playboy, with R Nait. She portrayed Dua Siddiqui Akhtar in Zed TV's Rabb Se Hai Dua from November 2022 until February 2024.

According to Sharma, she was first offered the twin roles of Dua and her daughter because of the generation leap, but she chose to decline because of her busy schedule. In February 2024, Raymon Singh took over her part as the older version.

She competed in Khatron Ke Khiladi 14 in July 2024 and placed eleventh on August 18. She has been playing Apollena Shukla on Colors TV's Apollena - Sapno Ki Unchi Udann since December 2024.

Aditi Sharma's secret marriage and now divorce

Credit: Instagram

After Aditi Sharma's husband accused her of adultery with one of her co-stars, it made headlines. Abhineet Kaushik, Aditi's spouse, and his lawyer disclosed that the couple was secretly married at their Goregaon home in November last year.

Aditi insisted on keeping their marriage a secret, according to Abhineet. Abhineet and his attorney, Rakesh Shetty, told India Forums that Aditi had been forcing him to marry for the previous year and a half, even though he was reluctant. But after much convincing, he consented. Because marriage is stigmatized in the film world, Aditi insists on keeping their union a secret.

Rakesh gave the magazine pictures from their wedding as well. He also disclosed that before their November 12, 2024, wedding, the pair had lived together in their rented five-bedroom residence for years. Their marriage worsened when Abhineet allegedly discovered Aditi lovingly involved with her co-star Samarthya Gupta from Apollena. "She had just begun filming for the show," Shetty asserted.

Credit: Instagram

It was even known to Karishma, the producer. An unpleasant altercation resulted from Abhineet catching Aditi and Samarthya together. Abhineet also claimed that Aditi rejected the legality of their marriage when he confronted her, referring to it as a "mock trial." The police became engaged as emotions increased, and numerous complaints were made. Additionally, according to Abhineet, Aditi's family sought a settlement of 25 lakh.

"They insisted on a divorce, and Aditi's side demanded 25 lakh during a lawyer-arranged meeting," Shetty continued. When her father struck Abhineet, the situation descended into violence, and Aditi was injured during the altercation.

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Know about Samantha Ruth Prabhu's rumored boyfriend Raj Nidimoru: Raj Nidimoru is on the top news for being linked with Samantha Ruth Prabhu as her rumored boyfriend. But just who is he?

Filmmaker and author Raj Nidimoru is part of the well-known team Raj & DK, which has produced successful films like Farzi, Stree, and The Family Man. His inventive storytelling has made ripples in Bollywood, but his purported relationship with Samantha has put him in the public eye for a whole new cause.

Fans want to know if these rumors are based on fact or only conjecture. Is there a developing relationship between them? Check out Raj Nidimoru and his relationship with Samantha in more detail!

Who is Raj Nidimoru?

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Indian director, screenwriter, and producer Raj Nidimoru is well recognized for being one half of the creative team Raj & DK, which also includes Krishna D.K. Together, they have produced a number of popular movies and television shows, such as Farzi, Go Goa Gone, Stree, and The Family Man.

Raj, originally from Andhra Pradesh, has made a name for himself in Bollywood because of his distinctive storytelling and plots that combine several genres. He is a sought-after filmmaker because his work frequently blends humor, tension, and realism.

Fans have been curious about him lately because of claims that he is related to actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu.

Raj Nidimoru's education qualification

Krishna D.K. and Raj Nidimoru were born into Telugu families in Tirupati and Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, respectively. They met at SVU College of Engineering, where they received their degrees. Following graduation, they moved to the US to work as software engineers.

Raj Nidimoru's career

Credit: WME

The well-known Indian filmmaking team Raj & DK comprises Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K. They both came from Andhra Pradesh, Krishna D.K. from Chittoor and Raj from Tirupati, and they met at Sri Venkateswara University while studying engineering.

Once their studies were over, they relocated to the US to work as software engineers before switching to filmmaking. The English-language film "Flavors" (2003), which examined the experiences of Indian immigrants, marked the beginning of their directing career. "99" (2009), a crime-comedy set in Delhi and Mumbai, was their first Hindi film and was well-reviewed for its creative narrative.

Their name in the profession was further cemented in 2011 when they directed "Shor in the City," acclaimed for its dark humour and captivating story. With "Go Goa Gone" (2013), India's first zombie comedy, which has now developed a cult following, they kept innovating.

"The Family Man" (2019present), a Hindi-language thriller series that combines espionage with social commentary, is the result of their entry into streaming platforms. Following the show's success, the crime drama series "Farzi" (2023present) and the dark comedy "Guns & Gulaabs" (2023) about four men caught up in romance and crime were produced. To assist independent films, they established D2R Indie, a division of their production company, in 2021.

The Telugu film "Cinema Bandi" (2021) was the first project under this umbrella, and it was well-received by both viewers and critics. Additionally, Raj & DK have agreed to work on the Indian portion of the Russo Brothers' worldwide series "Citadel," which is anticipated to start production in 2022. They have also signed a multi-year agreement with Netflix, indicating their ongoing presence and impact in the changing Indian film industry.

Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K. have received praise for their distinct storytelling techniques throughout their careers, merging several genres and bringing new, eccentric humour to Indian cinema.

Samantha Ruth And Raj Nidimoru's Dating Rumours

Samantha Ruth Prabhu posted multiple images from the World Pickleball League match on her Instagram account (February 1), sparking rumours that she and Raj Nidimoru were dating. For those who don't know, Samantha owns the Chennai Super Champs pickleball team. Samantha may be seen clutching Raj Nidimoru's hands in a single click, which feeds the rumours that they are dating.

After being seen together on a recent excursion with pals, the actress was again connected to filmmaker Raj Nidimoru. Rumours about their purported connection were rekindled when a photo from the event went viral on social media. Raj wore shorts and a T-shirt for a more laid-back style, while Samantha looked stunning in a chic green dress.

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Salary & Perks Of Indian Judges: The Indian government has appointed Justice Joymalya Bagchi as a judge of the Supreme Court, following a recommendation by the Supreme Court Collegium. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal announced this significant development on social media.

With this appointment, Justice Joymalya Bagchi is set to become the Chief Justice of India (CJI) in May 2031. However, his tenure as CJI will be brief, lasting just over four months before his retirement on October 2, 2031. His elevation fills one of the two vacant positions in the Supreme Court, which has a sanctioned strength of 34 judges.

Career Journey of Justice Joymalya Bagchi

Justice Bagchi began his judicial career as a judge in the Calcutta High Court in June 2011. In January 2021, he was transferred to the Andhra Pradesh High Court before being repatriated to the Calcutta High Court in November 2021. Over his 13-year tenure, he has handled a wide range of legal matters, gaining expertise across various fields of law.

Salaries and Perks of Judges in India

According to the official website of the Department of Justice, The salary and benefits of Supreme Court and High Court judges are regulated under the Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1958, and the High Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1954. Any revisions to their salaries and perks require amendments to these acts.

The last revision in the salaries of Supreme Court and High Court judges took effect from January 1, 2006, following the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission. Later, the 7th Pay Commission recommended further revisions, which were approved by the Union Cabinet in November 2017.

Salary and Perks of the Chief Justice of India (CJI)

Monthly Salary: Rs 2,80,000

Rs 2,80,000 Sumptuary Allowance: Rs 45,000 per month

Rs 45,000 per month Furnishing Allowance: Rs 10 lakh

Rs 10 lakh Official Residence: Rent-free Type VII bungalow with security staff

Rent-free Type VII bungalow with security staff Vehicle & Fuel: Official car with a driver and 200 litres of fuel per month

Official car with a driver and 200 litres of fuel per month Personal Security: Assigned a Personal Security Officer (PSO)

Assigned a Personal Security Officer (PSO) Travel Allowance: Reimbursed when travelling for official duties

Retirement Benefits:

Pension: Rs 1,40,000 per month plus Dearness Allowance (DA)

Rs 1,40,000 per month plus Dearness Allowance (DA) Gratuity: Rs 20 lakh

Rs 20 lakh Medical Benefits: Class 1 Central Civil Services medical facilities for life

The CJI receives a higher salary than the Prime Minister of India, whose total monthly earnings are around Rs 2 lakh. Only the President and Vice President of India have higher salaries than the CJI.

Salary and Perks of Supreme Court Judges

Monthly Salary: Rs 2,50,000

Rs 2,50,000 Sumptuary Allowance: Rs 34,000 per month

Rs 34,000 per month Furnishing Allowance: Rs 8 lakh

Rs 8 lakh Official Residence: Rent-free bungalow

Rent-free bungalow Vehicle & Driver: Official car with a driver

Retirement Benefits:

Pension: Rs 1,25,000 per month plus DA

Rs 1,25,000 per month plus DA Gratuity: Rs 20 lakh

Rs 20 lakh Medical Benefits: Lifetime coverage under government medical schemes

Salary and Perks of High Court Judges

Chief Justice of a High Court

Monthly Salary: Rs 2,50,000

Rs 2,50,000 Sumptuary Allowance: Rs 34,000 per month

Rs 34,000 per month Furnishing Allowance: Rs 8 lakh

Retirement Benefits:

Pension: Rs 1,25,000 per month plus DA

Rs 1,25,000 per month plus DA Gratuity: Rs 20 lakh

Rs 20 lakh Medical Benefits: Government-provided healthcare services

Other High Court Judges

Monthly Salary: Rs 2,25,000

Rs 2,25,000 Sumptuary Allowance: Rs 27,000 per month

Rs 27,000 per month Furnishing Allowance: Rs 6 lakh

Retirement Benefits:

Pension: Rs 1,12,500 per month plus DA

Rs 1,12,500 per month plus DA Gratuity: Rs 20 lakh

Rs 20 lakh Medical Benefits: Lifetime healthcare coverage

Who Pays the Salaries of Judges?

The Ministry of Law and Justice manages the salaries, pensions, and allowances of Supreme Court judges, which are paid by the Central Government. However, the salaries of High Court judges are covered by their respective state governments, while their pensions are paid by the Central Government.

The appointment of Justice Joymalya Bagchi to the Supreme Court is a crucial development in Indias judicial system. As he prepares to take over as CJI in 2031, he will play a significant role in shaping the countrys legal landscape. Meanwhile, the salary and perks of Supreme Court and High Court judges reflect their esteemed position in the judicial hierarchy, ensuring they have the necessary resources and security to carry out their duties effectively.

For more updates on judicial appointments, salaries, and perks of Supreme Court judges, stay tuned!

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Know about Gyanendra Shah: The final monarch of Nepal, Gyanendra Shah, reigned from 2001 until 2008. Following the terrible royal slaughter that destroyed the majority of the royal family, he was crowned king. Political unrest characterized his rule, particularly his contentious choice to assume direct government control in 2005.

However, in 2008, the monarchy ended, and Nepal became a republic due to widespread protests and a democratic movement. Even after losing his crown, Gyanendra is still a prominent figure in Nepalese politics and history.

His legacy and position are still up for dispute. Are you curious about his life, rules, and influence? Continue reading to learn about the final king of Nepal and his rise to prominence and fall from grace.

Who is Gyanendra Shah?

Credit: PTI

The last monarch of Nepal, Gyanendra Shah, reigned from 2001 until 2008. He was born on July 7, 1947, and briefly ascended to the kingdom as a child in 1950 until his grandfather, King Tribhuvan, was reinstated.

Following the devastating royal massacre in Nepal in 2001, which claimed the lives of King Birendra and the majority of the royal family, he regained the throne. Political turmoil plagued Gyanendra's administration, and in 2005, he took direct control of the government, sparking widespread demonstrations.

Nepal became a republic after abolishing the monarchy in 2008; despite living as a private citizen ever since Gyanendra continues to play an important role in Nepali politics and history.

Gyanendra Shah's family

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Gyanendra Shah, the second son of King Mahendra and Queen Indra Rajya Lakshmi Devi, was born into Nepal's royal dynasty. He is King Birendra's younger brother, who tragically died in the royal massacre in Nepal in 2001.

In 1970 Gyanendra married Queen Komal Rajya Lakshmi Devi. They are parents to two kids:

The son of the former crown prince, Paras Shah, is well-known for his contentious public persona.

Kumar Bahadur Singh is married to Prerana Shah, his daughter.

Extended Family:

Grandfather: Tribhuvan King

Brother: the predecessor, King Birendra

Sisters: Princesses Shobha, Sharada, and Shanti

Gyanendra and his family continue to significantly impact Nepal's sociopolitical environment even after the monarchy was abolished in 2008.

Gyanendra Shah's education qualifications

Gyanendra Shah attended the renowned St. Joseph's School in Darjeeling, India, just like other royal family members. After that, he graduated from Nepal's Tribhuvan University with a higher degree.

Gyanendra was renowned from a young age for his taciturn manner and command of administrative procedures. He was reportedly a quiet, truthful student.

Gyanendra Shah's reign and controversies

Credit: Nepal New

Following the devastating Nepalese royal massacre, which claimed the lives of King Birendra and the majority of the royal family, Gyanendra Shah was crowned King of Nepal on June 4, 2001. Political instability, a growing Maoist insurgency, and disputes characterized his rule (20012008).

Government Dissolution (2002 & 2005): Gyanendra dissolved the elected government in 2002 because it was ineffective. He seized all authority in 2005, saying it was required to bring peace. Many people denounced this action as being authoritarian.

Gyanendra dissolved the elected government in 2002 because it was ineffective. He seized all authority in 2005, saying it was required to bring peace. Many people denounced this action as being authoritarian. Maoist Conflict: The Maoist insurgency, already a significant problem before his accession, intensified during his leadership. Opposition was exacerbated by his incapacity to control the situation.

The Maoist insurgency, already a significant problem before his accession, intensified during his leadership. Opposition was exacerbated by his incapacity to control the situation. Large-scale nationwide demonstrations (Jana Andolan II) 2006 compelled Gyanendra to reinstate Parliament and return power to democratic forces.

2008 saw the official end of Nepal's 240-year monarchy as the Constituent Assembly proclaimed the nation a republic. Gyanendra quietly resigned and departed the royal palace.

Gyanendra Shah's net worth

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As per the reports by Nepali Sansar, he currently has sizable shares in Annapurna Hotels, a 39% stake in Surya Nepal Tobacco, a 54% stake in Himalayan Goodricke, and a 40% stake in Soaltee Hotel.

Large tea estates in Itahari, Himal International Power Corporation, Jyoti spinning mill in Birgunj, Laxmi Rosin Turpentine Pvt Ltd, Narayanghat brewery, Sirpadi Trading Pvt Ltd, Bhotekoshi power company, Gorkha Lawrie Pvt Ltd, and Amaravati Pvt Ltd are among the businesses in which the former monarch has invested.

King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev is one of the wealthiest individuals in Nepal, with an estimated total net worth of USD 58 million.

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At least four people died, and nine others suffered various injuries in an accident along the Alapako area of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Sunday night.

Omolola Odutola, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed this in a statement issued on Monday.

Odutola stated that a bad section of the road caused a tyre puncture on a Toyota Hiace bus, leading to the vehicle somersaulting. She added that the impact of the crash claimed four lives, including the driver and some passengers, while nine others sustained injuries.

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She stated, The Ogun State Police Command regrets to report a fatal lone motor accident that occurred on March 9, 2025, at about 8:35 PM at Alapako area, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area.

According to an eyewitness account, which did not reveal if the driver was on moderate speed or otherwise, but only accounted that the accident involved a Toyota Hiace bus (Reg. No. FKJ 570 YE) travelling from Ibadan inward Lagos all of a sudden the left rear tyre got punctured by a bad portion of the road, while in motion, causing the driver to lose control, and the vehicle somersaulted, and landed off the road.

As a result of the impact, four persons, including the driver, were observed lifeless on the spot, while nine other passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries. The bus was severely damaged due to the crash.

Odutola further stated that the injured victims were taken to Victory Hospital in Ogere, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the FOS morgue in Ipara.

She advised motorists to maintain their vehicles properly and follow safety guidelines while driving on the highway.

Police presence was visible assisting in traffic control, easing human congestion and spectators, as well as conducting video capturing and documentation.

The injured victims were immediately evacuated to Victory Hospital, Ogere, for medical treatment. Sadly, the remains of the deceased were deposited at FOS Mortuary, Ipara, for autopsy, while the vehicle wreck has been removed to the station for Vehicle Inspection Office assessment and further investigation.

The Ogun State Police Command urges motorists to always ensure proper vehicle maintenance and adhere to traffic safety regulations to prevent road mishaps, the PPRO stated.
2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Adewole Adebayo has admitted that former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai has many weaknesses to correct.

Mr. Adebayo described Mallam El-Rufai, who just defected from ruling All Progressive Congress to SDP as an asset with a proven track record of exemplary public service.

Speaking during an interview with Channels Television on Tuesday, the SDPs chieftain noted that the former minister of of the Federal Capital Territory is not perfect just like other Nigerian politicians.

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He said: The issue is that I see him as an asset, as a hard-working person and he has a verifiable and measurable track record of public performance.

READ MORE: Defection Is Good But Joining Losers To Unseat Tinubu Wont Help You  Daniel Bwala Tells El-Rufai

What I believe is that he has his weaknesses which he needs to work on but I am not his mentor or therapist.

What I know is that Nigerians have a birds eye view of El-Rufai, they will consider some of the comments that hes made and some other aspects. Overall, Nigerians will say: Here is a very good public servant.

Nigeria is diverse and you will find patriots on all sides. It doesnt mean that if you narrow the discussion to particular areas, I will agree with Nasir El-Rufai on many of them but I agree with the fact that he is a hard-working person and a highly intelligent person.

Recall that INFORMATION NIGERIA on Monday, reported that the former APC member, announced his resignation, citing many reasons behind his action, such as leadership crisis and lack of partys vision.
Shehu Sani, a former senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, has welcomed Nasir El-Rufais defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Sani described El-Rufais exit as good riddance, indicating a positive reception to the development. El-Rufais decision to leave the APC was reportedly driven by his desire for a more suitable platform for his future political aspirations.

In an interview on Channels TV, on Monday: El-Rufais departure was necessary, as his leadership had weakened the APCs influence in Kaduna State over the years.

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For those of us from Kaduna state, it is a good riddance, because he stands as a liability to the party in the state and I can back this with facts. In 2015, APC had two senators; by 2023, all the senatorial zones were taken over by PDP. And out of the 14 House of Representatives seats in Kaduna state, under Nasiru, almost 9 of the seats were won by the PDP, 2 by LP, and then 3 by APC. With him as the governor, the APC also lost the presidential election in the state.

You can see that by the time he left, the party was an unpopular platform in the state, so his exit is an opportunity for the governor and party leaders of the state to embrace the people of the state and reconfigure and reset the party towards the next election.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State has shrugged off the departure of its former governor, Nasir El-Rufai, from the party.

El-Rufai, a founding member of the APC, announced on Monday that he has joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) ahead of the 2027 general elections, citing internal crises and leadership concerns within the APC. Despite his high-profile exit, the APCs Kaduna chapter remains unperturbed.

Reacting to the development on Monday, the Secretary of Kaduna APC, Yahaya Baba-Pate, affirmed that the party remains focused on its goals, particularly securing victory for President Bola Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani in 2027.

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He said: We are unperturbed by former Governor Nasir El-Rufais defection to another party. Our main focus in Kaduna is on how to deliver the state to both President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani in 2027.

The APC in Kaduna State is growing by the day, as evidenced by the calibre of politicians joining the party regularly.

We are not disturbed and will not lose sleep over El-Rufais decision. The party in the state is expanding more than ever before.
County in SW China's Guizhou leverages intangible cultural heritages to boost tourism

People's Daily Online) 14:09, March 11, 2025

In recent years, Zhenyuan county in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, has focused on the inheritance and innovation of intangible cultural heritages (ICHs) and rolled out ICH experience activities, traditional performances and unique tourism products, offering a cultural feast to visitors.

Photo shows a parade themed on the legend of the dragon god who married off his sister to a mortal at Zhenyuan ancient town in Zhenyuan county, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province.

Zhenyuan ancient town, a famous scenic area known for its time-honored history and profound cultural heritage in the county, boasts an impressive portfolio of ICH resources. Traditional techniques like tie-dyeing, embroidery, and silver ornament craftsmanship have been passed down through generations, becoming an inseparable part of the ancient town's cultural identity.

However, these ancient skills once faced the risk of fading into obscurity. So far, the ancient town has integrated ICHs with tourism, ensuring that traditional culture thrives.

In the ancient town's ICH experience zone, visitors can get their hands dirty with tie-dyeing techniques under the guidance of ICH inheritors.

Beyond tie-dyeing, visitors can try embroidery, silver ornament craftsmanship, and other ICHs. The experience zone has invited ICH inheritors to provide on-site instruction and prepared abundant materials to ensure more tourists can create their own ICH works.

"It's not just about protection  it's about bringing ICHs into modern life so that more people can appreciate and enjoy them," said Ye Shunfei, head of Zhenyuan county's intangible cultural heritage center.

Through ICH experience activities, visitors not only savor the magnetic charm of traditional culture but also serve as ambassadors who spread the legacy far and wide.

Photo shows cultural and creative products at Zhenyuan ancient town in Zhenyuan county, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province.

Legend has it that the dragon god married off his sister to a mortal and brought favorable weather and bountiful harvests. The legend reflects Zhenyuan people's aspirations for a better life, becoming an important part of local folk culture.

To protect and pass down this folk cultural tradition, Zhenyuan county has organized locals to hold a parade themed on the legend of the dragon god who married off his sister as a highlight of tourism activities in the spring. As the procession moved slowly through ancient streets, tourists whipped out their phones to capture the moment.

"This parade is amazing. I find myself transported back in time," said a photography enthusiast surnamed Chen from south China's Guangdong Province. He explained that the performance not only taught him about Zhenyuan's folk culture but deepened his emotional connection to the ancient county.

Photo shows a parade themed on the legend of the dragon god who married off his sister to a mortal at Zhenyuan ancient town in Zhenyuan county, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province.

Liu Ying, deputy director of the culture, sports, radio, television and tourism bureau of Zhenyuan county, said folk parades represent a crucial form of integrating culture and tourism. Liu added that the parades not only allow tourists to feel the charm of traditional culture, but also enhance the ancient town's cultural influence, attracting more visitors.

At the fair for cultural and creative products in the ancient town, ICH-inspired cultural and creative products have become hot commodities for tourists. Products like batik clothing, embroidered handbags, and silver crafts maintain their traditional cultural essence while incorporating modern aesthetic elements, becoming must-have items for visitors.

"Integrating ICHs with modern design concepts to develop more products with local characteristics, cultural connotations, and market value that satisfy tourists' diverse and personalized consumer demands can facilitate the spread of ICHs and inject new vitality into our county's tourism development," said Yang Li from the Zhenyuan branch of the China Post.

Photo shows a parade themed on the legend of the dragon god who married off his sister to a mortal at Zhenyuan ancient town in Zhenyuan county, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province.

Yang added that more efforts will be made to build a brand of ICH-inspired cultural and creative products with Zhenyuan characteristics.

"We will continue to deeply dig into connotations of ICHs, introduce new models of integrating culture and tourism, and create a distinctive ICH-inspired tourism brand to make Zhenyuan ancient town a key destination for experiencing traditional Chinese culture for domestic and international tourists alike," Liu said.

Photo shows cultural and creative products at Zhenyuan ancient town in Zhenyuan county, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province.

Photos by Che Fenglu, Liu Shijing

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
The Imo Police Command has arrested eight individuals suspected of armed robbery in the state.

According to a statement from Imo police spokesperson Henry Okoye, the suspects were captured on Monday at various sites in Avu, Irete, Okuku, Ihiagwa, and Obinze in Owerri west LGA.

The suspects are currently undergoing intensive investigation to determine their level of involvement and to aid in apprehending other accomplices, the statement reads.

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This underscores the commands commitment to dismantling criminal syndicates and ensuring public safety.

READ MORE: Lagos Police Arrest Couple For Abducting, Extorting Online Vendor

Okoye also mentioned that the operatives confiscated several weapons, such as two automatic pump-action guns, 17 live cartridges, nine walkie-talkies, three cutlasses, seven mobile phones, laptops, a power bike, and other items linked to criminal activity.

He revealed that Aboki Danjuma, the states commissioner of police, has established a special tactical unit tasked with identifying and eliminating criminals hiding in forests and other locations across Imo.

Danjuma called on citizens to assist the police by sharing reliable information about any suspicious activities.

To further strengthen security operations, the Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, has established a special tactical unit tasked with identifying and flushing out criminals hiding in forests and other hideouts across the state, Okoye said.

This specialised unit, equipped for intelligence-driven operations, will work closely with security agencies and local vigilantes to sustain the fight against crime and criminality.

Reports can be made at the nearest police station or through the following emergency hotlines 0803 477 3600, 0814 802 4755. Together, we will build a safer and more secure Imo state.
There was tension for motorists and pedestrians along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway following a petrol tanker explosion that occurred at the Otedola bridge.

It was gathered that the unfortunate incident happened around 7 pm on Tuesday.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that some videos making wave on social media showed thick flames emanating from the explosion.

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READ MORE: Many Feared Dead In Early Morning Otedola Bridge Accident

Confirming the outbreak via its X page on Tuesday, Spokesperson for Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye disclosed that its operatives are currently at the scene, caused by tanker explosion.

The post reads: The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service is currently attending to a Fire resulting from a tanker accident outward Otedola bridge, Omole, Lagos at about 20:00 hours.

The 30 tonnes DAF Gas Truck with an unknown registration number is on it way navigating the Lagos-Ibadan expressway before an accident resulting in an ensuing explosion accompany with Fire balls in front of a Reedem Church.

The resultant Fire quickly spread to the church and adjoining bungalow building as well as four different brands of vehicles as it being mitigate from causing further damage.

While Firefighting operations is ongoing, there has been no record of casualty with further update to follows.
An electronic shop owned by one Mohammed Abba Malam, has been destroyed, following a fire incident which occurred in a Market, located in Maiduguri, Borno State.

It was gathered that the inferno started around 7 pm on Monday and burnt some home appliances worth millions of naira.

In a statement by Spokesman of Borno State Police Command, Nahum Daso, disclosed that following a distress call, security agents were dispatched to the area and placed them on alert to avoid stealing of properties during the fire outbreak.

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READ MORE: Fire Outbreak Kills Family Of Five In Borno

The statement reads: The shop belongs to one Mohammed Abba Malam, the Chairman of the Electronics Sellers Association in Monday market.

In the evening yesterday, the Deputy Superintendent of Police of Dandal, Yakubu Muhammad, received a call from the management of the Monday market in Babanlaye that there was a fire incident.

Luckily enough, the police were the first respondent. They condoned the area to deter the stealing of properties and other items and called the fire service. Together, they were able to put down the fire.
Oil marketers under the aegis of Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria have appealed to President Bola Tinubus led government to address fluctuation of oil prices in the sector.

In a statement by PETROANs Spokesman on Monday, begged Federal Government to make a regulation that will stop price of petroleum from being changed within six months.

The association also added that importations should be encouraged to put an end to monopoly in the business.

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The statement partly reads: The association stressed that the sudden downward review of prices has resulted in massive losses, with those affected counting their losses in billions of naira.

This situation poses a significant fear for further investment in the sector, as investors are wary of unpredictable market conditions.

Moreover, the threat of price fluctuations is affecting the business boom of the sector, which will definitely lead to retrenchment.

This will have far-reaching consequences, including job losses and economic instability.

To address these challenges, PETROAN proposed that regulatory authorities establish mechanisms to encourage price stability for at least six months.

This approach will help reduce the uncertainty and risk associated with investments in the sector, ultimately promoting economic development and protecting the interests of consumers and Nigerians.

To address these challenges, PETROAN proposed that regulatory authorities establish mechanisms to encourage price stability for at least six months.

This approach will help reduce the uncertainty and risk associated with investments in the sector, ultimately promoting economic development and protecting the interests of consumers and Nigerians.
Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal submitted by Peoples Democratic Party s governorship candidate, Agboola Ajayi, in the November 16th, 2024 governorship election in Ondo State.

Recall that Mr. Ajayi is seeking to annul the victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the ruling All Progressive Congress as the winner of the poll.

The five-member panel of Justices of the apex court on Tuesday, in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, held that Ajayi, who is not a member of the APC cannot challenge the outcome of the primary election.

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Justice Mohammed noted that the PDPs candidate lacked the requisite locus standi to institute and prosecute the case, not being a member of the APC that organized the primary election that produced Governor Aiyedatiwa and his Deputy.

READ MORE: Aiyedatiwa Sworn In As 7th Ondo Governor

The panel agreed with the defendants in the appeal that Ajayis case was statute barred as it was not filed within fourteen days of the cause of action being the date of submission of the names of the Governor and his Deputy to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The Defendants challenged the competence of the case of Ajayi who alleged forgery, impersonation and false identity against the Deputy Governor in his suit which he commenced by originating Summons, without producing the names and particulars of the person allegedly impersonated.

Ajayi filed the case at the Federal High Court, Abuja on 7th June 2024, challenging the nomination of the Governor Aiyedatiwa on the technical ground of alleged disqualification of his Deputy.

The apex court, in its judgement on Tuesday, affirmed the concurrent judgments of the lower court, dismissed the appeal brought before it by Ajayi and also ordered him to pay a fine of N2 million to each of the four respondents in the appeal.
The Market Street ramp onto I-95 South will close temporarily for planned sewer improvements between March 24 and April 6. Read more

The Market Street ramp onto I-95 South will soon close temporarily for planned sewer improvements.

The closure will take place from March 24 through April 6, according to an announcement from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation this week.

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PennDot advises drivers to use the southbound Columbus Boulevard and the Morris Street ramp to get onto I-95 South during the closure. Motorists may also experience delays in the area of the closure and are advised by PennDot to account for extra travel time.

The work scheduled to take place on the sewer system is needed to relieve a partial blockage, Brian Rademaekers, a spokesperson for the Philadelphia Water Department, said in an email Tuesday. Rademaekers noted that the emergency work requires excavation at the site. The department is not aware of any impact to customers.

Ongoing work nearby

Near the ramp closure, several projects have been proposed and construction is underway.

Work on the Park at Penns Landing began in September 2023 and is expected to take four to six years to build out, then-Mayor Jim Kenney said at the time. The project includes building a cap over a section of I-95 between Chestnut and Walnut Streets to reconnect the area with the waterfront.

A $16 million project to overhaul Market Street between Second and Sixth Streets began in December. Plans include reducing vehicle traffic to one lane in each direction and easing access for bicyclists and pedestrians. The aim is for the project to be complete by 2026, when Philadelphia will be marking the countrys 250th anniversary.

Last year, a plan to move the statue of Chief Tamanend from the intersection of Front and Market Streets, near the entrance of I-95 South, to a new plaza was stalled after a federally designated tribe objected to it. As of December, talks were still ongoing about the move, which is part of the proposed plans for the Market Street renovation.
A 42-year-old man with a history of addiction died inside a Philadelphia jail over the weekend just days after he was arrested in Kensington, officials said.

Andrew Drury was picked up on a bench warrant by Philadelphia police near Kensington and Lehigh Avenues on Thursday night and was found collapsed inside the intake room at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility on Sunday afternoon, according to police and prison officials. Officers who found Drury administered two doses of Narcan, among other lifesaving measures, but he did not regain consciousness, officials said.

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Drury, whose cause of death remains under investigation, was addicted to opioids and had been hospitalized multiple times for withdrawal-related complications when he was jailed in the fall on similar warrant issues, according to a source familiar with his care who was not authorized to speak publicly.

Philadelphia police arrested Drury in Kensington around 10:30 p.m. Thursday on outstanding bench warrants related to a drug case in Maryland and a 2022 violation of a protection-from-abuse order filed in Philadelphia.

Sgt. Eric Gripp, a spokesperson for Philadelphia police, said Drury was evaluated and received off-site medical treatment before he was transferred to the jail on State Road around 2:15 a.m. Saturday.

Drury had been in an intake room at the facility for nearly 36 hours, waiting to be assigned to a cell block, when a jail guard found him unresponsive around 1:45 p.m. Sunday, according to John Mitchell, a spokesperson for the Philadelphia prisons. He was pronounced dead at 2 p.m., Mitchell said.

The cause of Drurys death was under investigation, he said, but no foul play was suspected. Gripp declined to say where and under what circumstances Drury was treated medically while in police custody, citing an ongoing investigation. It is not clear whether Drury was medically evaluated once he arrived at the jail.

Drury is the first person to die in the custody of the Philadelphia Department of Prisons this year, and his death comes as the city ramps up drug enforcement in Kensington and arrests more people in addiction. Advocates have warned city and law enforcement officials that the withdrawal effects for people who use opioids can be life-threatening, and that the understaffed jails might struggle to respond to peoples health needs in those circumstances.

 READ MORE: Drug deaths and overdoses plague Philly jails, raising concerns about plans to step up Kensington arrests

His death follows that of Amanda Cahill, 31, who died inside a cell at the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center in September, days after she was arrested in Kensington on charges related to drugs and open warrants. The Philadelphia Medical Examiners Office said Tuesday that an autopsy showed Cahill died from drug intoxication.

At least 29 people in addiction have died in Philadelphia jail or police custody since 2018 for reasons that appear connected to drug intoxication or withdrawal, according to medical examiner records reviewed by The Inquirer.

Drurys legal troubles go back to at least July 2021, when he was arrested for possession with intent to distribute drugs in Maryland, according to court records. Then, in July 2022, he was arrested in Philadelphia for violating a protection-from-abuse order that his mother had filed against him. He was later released on bail.

After Drury failed to appear in court in Maryland and Philadelphia, warrants were issued for his arrest. He was picked up by police on Oct. 1, 2024, in connection with those pending cases.

While in custody, Drury was hospitalized at least twice, including for more than a week, after experiencing health issues related to withdrawal, said the person familiar with his care, who had reviewed the records related to Drurys earlier cases.

He was released from jail in November after authorities in Maryland declined to extradite him, the source said. Because he did not return to Maryland to resolve his case, there was still an outstanding warrant for his arrest. And when Drury did not appear for a December hearing in his Philadelphia case, a second warrant was issued.

The warrants landed him back in police custody on Thursday.

Two of Drurys relatives, who asked not to be identified for privacy reasons, said they did not know he was struggling with addiction. They described him as a warm and generous person, a good listener, and a helping hand.

I feel that something is not right, one relative said. I dont know, and I wont know, I guess, until I can get the coroners report. Im in the dark right now.

Andrew Pappas, pretrial managing director of the Defender Association of Philadelphia, said Drurys death underscores the dangerous conditions inside Philadelphias jails, which face an ongoing staffing shortage.

We continue to see the effects of that with yet another death in custody, he said.
Police investigate a white Volkswagen SUV with bullet holes on North 33rd Street near Diamond Street on Sept. 29, 2021. Read more

Three members of a Philadelphia street gang have been sentenced to decades in prison for committing several murders in 2021, including the fatal shooting of a woman they mistakenly targeted, District Attorney Larry Krasner said Monday.

Dontae Sutton, 21; Jamir Brunson-Gans, 22; and Elijah Soto, 20  members of Big Naddy Gang, or BNG  were convicted and sentenced last month, Krasner said.

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In September 2021, Chaundrah Jones, 24, a mother of two from Clifton Heights, Delaware County, was killed and two other women were wounded in an ambush shooting on 33rd Street near Diamond Street in the citys Strawberry Mansion section.

The women had just left a birthday celebration at the 7th Star Lounge at 27th and Sergeant Streets in North Philadelphia, Krasner said.

At the time, police said one of the shooters was armed with an AK-47 rifle and another with a 9mm handgun when they fired 49 rounds.

Sutton, Brunson-Gans, and Soto realized the next day that they had targeted the wrong people, Krasner said.

The men, investigators later determined, had been hired for $10,000 by Jahlil Williams, the leader of another street group known as Omerta, to conduct the attack, Krasner said.

Williams was subsequently indicted federally for racketeering, homicide, and related offenses.

Sutton, Brunson-Gans, and Soto also killed Jordan Murray on the 2200 block of Huntingdon Street that same month. Murray was shot nine times over what investigators determined was a dispute on Instagram, Krasner said. Also that month, Sutton and Soto killed Jerrick Jenkins on the 2900 block of York Street.

Sutton pleaded guilty to three counts of third-degree murder and related offenses and was sentenced to 40 to 80 years in state prison.

Soto pleaded guilty to three counts of third-degree murder and related offenses and was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison.

Brunson-Gans pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree murder and was sentenced to 35 to 70 years in prison.

These young men have been held accountable for taking the life of a completely innocent woman and mother of two and for terrorizing a community with their wanton disregard for public safety, Krasner said in a statement.

Krasner thanked Assistant District Attorney Joe Lanuti of the DAs Gun Violence Task Force for prosecuting the case, Detective Timothy Hartman, who is assigned to the task force from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Paul Haggerty, a task force analyst, for poring over mountains of digital evidence, as well as the Philadelphia Police Department, the ATF, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Two young teens were wounded in separate double shootings Monday night in Philadelphia, police said.

Shortly after 7 p.m., police responded to Temple University Hospital for two shooting victims who arrived by private vehicle.

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Police determined that the shooting occurred on the 800 block of West Pike Street in the Hunting Park section of North Philadelphia. A 14-year-old boy was shot twice in the right arm and a 37-year-old man was shot in the left leg, police said. Both victims were listed in stable condition.

Shortly before 7:10 p.m., police responded to a report of a person with a gun on the 1100 block of North 42nd Street in the Belmont section of West Philadelphia. Police transported a 15-year-old boy, who was shot in the left arm, to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. He was listed in stable condition.

A 20-year-old woman, who was grazed in the chest by a bullet, was taken by private vehicle to Lankenau Medical Center, where she was listed in stable condition, police said.

No arrests were reported in either case.
Madison Claus (center) former UArts Administrative Assistant and Arts Staff Union Organizing Committee member, leaves the lectern after speaking during a press conference outside Hamilton Hall on the former University of the Arts Campus in September. State. Rep. Ben Waxman and State Sen. Nikil Saval, who have proposed laws to prevent another collapse like UArts, hosted the event. Read more

A leading bid has come in for the final of nine University of the Arts buildings being sold through the bankruptcy process, following the schools closure last June.

DSA 401 Lifetime LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, has bid $6.7 million for Gershman Hall, a theater and educational building. The company is connected to Lubert-Adler LP, an institutional real estate investment manager based in Philadelphia. Dean Adler, executive chairman, did not return requests for comment on plans for the building.

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Competing bids must be submitted by March 24, according to documents filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware.

 READ MORE: UArts Hamilton Hall will go to the Philly company that repurposed the Bok Building

If the Gershman bid holds, all nine properties will have been sold, bringing in more than $74 million.

Sales agreements have been finalized for the other eight buildings. Hamilton Hall, UArts iconic building on South Broad Street, was sold last month to Lindsey Scannapiecos Philadelphia company Scout, which intends to preserve it for artist workspaces and use the attached Furness building for subsidized apartments for artists. The sale price was $12.25 million, the second-highest amount of the bids for any of the buildings.

The Art Alliance, which includes a small performance hall, exhibition galleries, and some outdoor space, was purchased by Curtis Institute of Music for $7.6 million. Terra Hall, which had been UArts main academic building, went to Temple University for $18 million  the highest sale price  and the Arts Bank building, which included a 238-seat dance and performance hall, was sold to Quadro Bay LLC for $2.71 million. Quadro Bay intends to use the building for residential and possibly commercial purposes.

 READ MORE: Judge approves sale of UArts Terra Hall to Temple University for $18 million

Dwight City Group, a commercial real estate investment and asset management company based in New York, with offices in Upper Darby, acquired Anderson Hall, the second-largest of the UArts buildings for sale, for $8.5 million, while 311 Juniper Property Owner, a limited liability company, purchased Juniper Hall, formerly a student residence hall, for $11.6 million. And 1228 Spruce LLC, also a limited liability company, bought Spruce Hall, another former student residence hall, for $7 million.

UArts abruptly closed last June, leaving students and staff scrambling, and the school filed for bankruptcy in September.

The proceeds from the building sales will be used to pay the schools debt.

Staff writer Harold Brubaker contributed to this article.
Steven Spielberg has officially begun filming his latest project in South Jersey. The legendary director, known for Jaws, E.T., and Jurassic Park, has been spotted shooting scenes in multiple locations, including Tuckahoe, Woodbine, Buena Vista, and Upper Township.

As The Inquirer previously reported, the film  using code name Non-View  is an original Spielberg story with the screenplay penned by longtime collaborator David Koepp (Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds). Universal Pictures has described it as a new original event film, and it is rumored to revolve around UFOs.

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Recent filming has taken place near railroad tracks in Tuckahoe, with state troopers shutting down roads near production sites, according to NJ.com. Spielberg was also seen on set directing a scene involving stunt doubles, Fox 29 reported, while locals have noticed production crews setting up with a large blue screen, suggesting special effects work.

The film features a star-studded cast, including Emily Blunt (Oppenheimer), Wyatt Russell (Thunderbolts), Oscar winner Colin Firth, Josh OConnor (Challengers), Eve Hewson (Flora and Son), and Philadelphia native Colman Domingo (Sing Sing).

Filming has been underway in New Jersey since January, with 6abc reporting that Spielbergs team has been working across several small towns. Woodbine Mayor William Pikolycky told the station, They tell me the movie is primarily about UFOs and some railroad scenes and car chases.

The production has brought an economic boost to the area, with more than 150 crew members in town, with some regularly visiting local businesses. The New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission confirmed to 6abc that major film productions are increasingly choosing the state for its diverse locations and financial incentives.

Now, filming is expanding beyond South Jersey. The production is seeking local residents with cars to work as background actors in a major scene filming in Middlesex County on March 27.

Extras will be paid $216 for eight hours of work if they are Screen Actors Guild (SAG) members and $181.50 for 10 hours if they are non-SAG. People whose vehicles are used in the scene will receive an additional $37.50, according to a casting call from Grant Wilfley Casting posted on Facebook.

Anyone interested in participating can apply by emailing nonview@gwcnyc.com with the subject line 3/27/25 CARS. Applicants should include:

Name and preferred pronouns Phone number SAG membership status Confirmation that they are 18+ with a valid drivers license Availability on March 27 Car details (year, color, make, and model) Recent photos of themselves and their vehicle

Meanwhile, Non-View is expected to film in Cape May from March 10 to 14, with a separate casting call for train station extras. With last years A Complete Unknown filming at Cape May followed by Spielbergs latest film slated for release in summer 2026, New Jersey continues to be a major hub for Hollywood filmmaking.
Springfield Hospital is one of the two Crozer Health hospitals that Prospect Medical Holding has closed for inpatient care since 2022. Crozer's remaining hospitals, Crozer-Chester Medical Center and Taylor Hospital, are expected to remain open until around March 28 with funding from the Foundation for Delaware County. Read more

The Foundation for Delaware County has agreed to provide enough money to keep Crozer-Chester Medical Center and Taylor Hospital open through roughly March 28, a bankruptcy attorney for hospital owner Prospect Medical Holdings said during a court hearing Tuesday.

The attorney did not say how much money the foundation, an independent nonprofit, would provide. The money will be used to pay Crozers 3,200 employees, but also pay Prospect for services it provides to Crozer and other expenses. The agreement had not been finalized at the time of the 9:30 a.m. hearing in Dallas.

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Last month, Pennsylvania and Delaware County agreed to send Crozer $20 million to keep the countys largest health system open for four weeks, a period that ends Friday. Prospect said soon after filing for bankruptcy Jan. 11 that it no longer wanted to pay to keep its Crozer hospitals and doctors offices open.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Stacey Jernigan had urged the foundation, the Pennsylvania attorney general, and others to find a short-term funding deal, which emerged out of a six-hour meeting Sunday in Harrisburg. At Tuesdays court hearing, she also wanted to know if progress had been made in finding a new operator.

Jernigan did not ask about stumbling blocks to a deal for Crozer, which Prospect has been trying to sell since the fall of 2021.

Lawyers for the attorney general and the foundation offered no details, but said talks continue.

Were certainly continuing to work with the foundation, but also other parties in the area, local and state parties, and other providers to come to a long-term solution, said Melissa Van Eck, a lawyer with the Pennsylvania attorney generals office.

We would have not been part of a short-term solution if there were no prospect of a long-term solution, Scott Cousins, a lawyer for the foundation and a partner in the Wilmington office of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP, told the judge.

The judge asked for an update next Wednesday.

The foundation was created to support community health needs as part of the health systems 2016 acquisition by Prospect Medical Holdings, a for-profit based in California.

For more than a year, Pennsylvania officials have been exploring options to save Crozer Health, which serves a low-income area of Delaware County without easy access to other health-care options. Crozer operates a trauma center, as well as a burn unit, and provides maternity services and behavioral health care.

In eight years of ownership, Prospect has shut down other Crozer hospitals, reduced medical services, and laid off employees. Crozers remaining hospitals are saddled with significant liabilities, which has helped to deter other local health systems from getting involved in a state proposal to create a new independent nonprofit to run it.
Pottstown Hospital was part of a multihospital purchase by Tower Health in 2017. When it was a for-profit facility, the hospitals property taxes brought more than $900,000 a year to the local school district, school officials said. Read more

A Philadelphia jury awarded $3.5 million to the family of a 79-year-old woman with dementia who was allegedly raped at a Tower Health hospital.

Rita Quigleys family filed a lawsuit in 2021 over an alleged sexual assault that they contend took place in Pottstown Hospital during the time COVID-19 visitation restrictions were in effect.

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Quigley was a Berks County resident with advanced dementia. In October 2020, she was hospitalized at Pottstown Hospital following a fall, according to the complaint. After a four-day stay at the hospital, Quigley got a clean bill of health and was transferred to a rehab facility by TowerDIRECT, Towers ambulance service.

Rehab facility staff noticed significant bruising and injuries on and around Quigleys genitals, and transferred her to Phoenixville Hospital, also part of Tower, for a rape kit examination. The findings at the Phoenixville emergency department were consistent with sexual assault, the complaint said.

Montgomery County law enforcement opened an investigation but never identified a perpetrator.

Before the incident, Quigley was cheery and bubbly, the complaint said. But after the alleged assault, she stopped eating and basically shut down. In January 2021, she died.

 READ MORE: A patient at Jefferson Moss-Magee Rehab was inappropriately touched. The hospital didnt report it.

Quigleys family filed a lawsuit in Common Pleas Court in Philadelphia against Tower Health, Pottstown Hospital, and TowerDIRECT in July 2021. The complaint says that because of visitation restrictions related to COVID-19, Quigley was especially vulnerable, and it alleges that an employee of Pottstown Hospital violently and viciously raped Rita.

Rita presented as, sadly, the perfect victim, someone whose illness prevented her from ever being able to report a criminal act committed against her, the complaint said.

Tower Health declined to comment.

The defendants argued that there is no evidence that a sexual assault took place. Quigleys children visited her daily and no one reported concerns, TowerDIRECT said in a court filing. And nurses documented a maroon/purple bruise below the patients waist, which was consistent for someone who had a history of falls.

After a nearly monthlong trial, a jury found Feb. 24 that Quigley was intentionally harmed while under the care of Pottstown Hospital and TowerDIRECT, and that the hospital and ambulance service were negligent. The jurors awarded Quigleys family $3.5 million. Pottstown Hospital is on the hook for 80% of the verdict and TowerDIRECT for 20%.

Nathan Schadler, an attorney at Conway Schadler who represented the Quigley family and who was a prosecutor for a decade, said the photos of the injuries were difficult to look at, even for him. But in addition to the evidence of the assault presented to the jury, Quigleys son also testified about the impact the assault had on the family.

He said to the jury at one point that  he will always feel that he failed his mother, Schadler said. Its the moment Rita became a human being and that family became human beings for that courtroom.

Pottstown and TowerDIRECT filed posttrial relief motions, the first step in the appeal process, asking that a judge find the verdict excessive and order a new trial.
Celal and Emine Emanet in a recent family photo inside their Jersey Kebab restaurant in Haddon Township. Read more

ELIZABETH, N.J.  An immigration judge ruled on Tuesday that the Turkish wife and mother arrested by ICE at her familys Jersey Kebab restaurant can be released from custody on $7,500 bond.

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Emine Emanet, 47, has been jailed since she and her husband were arrested Feb. 25, when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrived at their Haddon Township eatery, open since 2020. Her husband, Celal Emanet, 51, was fitted with an electronic ankle monitor and released.

The bond hearing took place in a small courtroom at the detention center in Elizabeth, where Emine Emanet is being held. Judge Adrian Armstrong set bond at $7,500, which her family can post to free her while deportation proceedings go forward.

The family was working to post that money late Tuesday afternoon and she was expected to be released sometime Wednesday.

The government argued that she should be kept in jail because she posed a flight risk. The family attorney, Joseph Best, argued she was no flight risk at all and, in fact, had strong reasons to stay, with her extended family around her in Cherry Hill and her ownership in the family restaurant.

ICE officials in New Jersey said they would have no immediate comment on the judges decision.

A large contingent of family members and friends waited into the afternoon for the hearing to start. In the end it lasted only 15 minutes.

Thank God! Celal Emanet told The Inquirer as he left the court after the ruling. My heart is full.

He said he was grateful to all the friends and supporters who have helped the family, contributing not just money but letters, good wishes, and caring sentiments.

We need blessings, he said. Blessings are more important than money.

During the hearing, Emine Emanet sat alone at one table before the judge, the government lawyer at another to her left, her attorney speaking by video feed to her right. She said nothing during the proceedings. When the judge ruled, she stood and flashed a smile to the people who filled the courtroom.

Friends and supporters of the family have raised more than $324,000 to help the couple and their children, saying they are upset over the arrest of good and caring neighbors. Nearly 8,000 people have donated.

The couples eldest son, Muhammed Emanet, awaited the hearing with hope and expectation, chatting in a courtroom hallway with friends who had traveled from Philadelphia and South Jersey in support.

Im very relieved, he said, walking out of the detention center. It kind of felt like this two weeks were a nightmare that turned into a dream. Hopefully its going to have a fairy tale ending at the end of it.

Muhammed Emanet said the family has worked hard to try to make its way in the United States, working delivering bread and then running a restaurant that built a strong local following.

Emine Emanet was the heart of that restaurant, her son said. Any circumstances that we are faced with throughout life, we always try to make the best of it, he said. And because of that, you know, God has granted us back these blessings, sending us support through our people, our community.

It is not clear why Emine Emanet was jailed and her husband released, given their similar circumstances. The couple came legally to the United States in 2008 but fell out of status when their visas expired.

Celal Emanet said Tuesday afternoon he has been terribly worried about his wife. He said he did not understand why ICE officials kept her and not him.

He entered the country on an R-1 visa that can be granted to ministers or religious leaders, and she was what is known as the derivative, able to apply for a visa based on the principals application.

Every night I had very deep feelings, so nervous, sometimes a little bit afraid, he said of his wifes confinement and his concern for their four children. If something happened to me or my wife, whos going to take care of the kids?

ICE says that it exercises its discretion in making custody decisions, and that those decisions are made on a case-by-case basis after considering the totality of circumstances  primarily the potential risk of flight, threat to national security, and risk to public safety.

News media were at first denied admission to the federal immigration court by CoreCivic, which manages the detention center where Emine Emanet is being held by ICE. Court officials themselves argued, though, that the courts are open to the public. After consulting with ICE, CoreCivic allowed reporters into the hearing, saying that as public visitors they could not bring pens or paper inside.

The courtroom seats 23 people, and nearly every seat was taken.

When asked about the couples arrest, ICE released a statement last week saying its enforcement decisions focus on the greatest threats to homeland security.

The Executive Office for Immigration Review, which administers federal immigration laws, says that in deciding whether bond should be allowed, judges are to consider whether the immigrants release would pose a danger to people or property, if the person is likely to flee, and whether the person constitutes a risk to national security.

The Emanets attorney, Best of Best Law Associates LLC, earlier called Emine Emanets detention both unnecessary and an expensive use of limited enforcement resources.

She has no criminal history, is not a flight risk, and is not a risk to public safety or nationality security, he said.

The afternoon bond hearing was separate from the governments effort to deport the couple to their native Turkey.

Bond hearings are generally shorter and less formal than deportation proceedings. Witnesses may be placed under oath and give testimony at the judges discretion. Usually, judges render their decision verbally.

A grant of bond does not necessarily result in immediate release.

The bond verification process, including review of payment, typically takes a couple of hours, according to ICE. Migrants are usually freed by the end of the day after the bond is approved, though processing times can vary.

The Emanets stayed in the United States after their visas expired, meaning they have no legal status to be in the country. They say they have unsuccessfully pursued legal permanent residency, also known as a green card, and for the last nine years have awaited a government decision on their most recent application.
A supporter holds a sign at a rally in support of Haitian immigrants outside of the National Constitution Center in September. Research confirms immigrants are key to the states continued economic growth as Pennsylvanias U.S.-born population declines, writes Jasmine Rivera. Read more

The next few years are going to challenge our representatives in Washington to balance partisan politics against human rights and the interests of the people they serve.

Pennsylvanias members of Congress have already been put to the test, and elected leaders like Sen. John Fetterman and Reps. Brendan Boyle, Brian Fitzpatrick, Chris Deluzio, Ryan MacKenzie, and Chrissy Houlahan, to name a few, will face a test in the coming weeks. Already, only two months into the year, these elected officials have voted in favor of anti-immigrant legislation that will have consequences for everyone in the commonwealth.

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Congress will soon vote on the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act (HR 32) to deny federal funding to so-called sanctuary jurisdictions that have policies that lawfully protect the rights of immigrants. The bills vague definition of sanctuary, however, would open the door for political operatives to abuse the power of the federal government to arbitrarily deny all federal funding to any Pennsylvania community that lawfully protects the rights of immigrants.

This is the moment for our federal elected officials to put the public interest ahead of political self-interest.

Make no mistake, this administration is actively pursuing its mass deportation agenda, and it is also using the immigrant community as the scapegoat to push a decades-old agenda to obliterate social safety nets and human services crucial to all communities  like the current attack on Medicaid. It is simultaneously giving tax breaks and subsidies to billionaires and corporations.

The proposed legislation puts millions of lives and livelihoods at risk to score political points. Its goal is not only to terrorize immigrant communities but to justify budget cuts to vital programs and services we all deserve and pay for. These are programs and services this current administration is planning to end, regardless of whether local governments resume cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The bill is out of step with Pennsylvania priorities. Research confirms immigrants are key to the states continued economic growth as the U.S.-born population declines. Pennsylvania has been experiencing a worker shortage for years; for every 100 jobs, there are only 60 people looking for work. These worker shortages, across industries and across the state, impact everyone negatively, regardless of immigration status.

 READ MORE: Immigrants are targets in Trump 2.0. That impacts Philly Restaurant Week, too. | Opinion

As workers, taxpayers, consumers, and entrepreneurs, immigrants make our state stronger and grow our communities. The data are clear: For this state to have any kind of future, we need to welcome new people into our communities, not terrorize and separate families.

Whats at stake? Pennsylvania received $57.1 billion in federal funding in 2023. That funding provided health care, highways, rail and buses, schools, childcare, and housing, and helped to meet other basic needs facing every Pennsylvania family. Federal funding also supports other local and state priorities, from safe drinking water to law enforcement  even disaster response. Because HR 32s language is extremely broad in scope as drafted, some or all of those funds could vanish overnight. As a result, we will all be harmed should this bill pass  U.S. citizens and lawfully present immigrants included.

Congressional Republicans rigged the House rules to exempt the bill from committee debate, amendments, and other protections afforded by the legislative process. As a result, the vote could come in the middle of the night with little warning and even less debate. Given the proposals content, that may be by design.

This is the moment for our federal elected officials to put the public interest ahead of political self-interest, to demonstrate leadership rooted in values and justice. It is also the moment for all of our elected leaders, from the local to the federal, to be bold and loud in their support of the immigrant community.

These are our friends, neighbors, and coworkers. These are our family members. This administration wants us to be scared, wants us to be divided  that is its strategy. But it cant come for all of us if we stand together.

Jasmine Rivera is the executive director of the Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition.
Pennsylvania State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams leads a group of politicians to visit J. Larry Jameson, interim president of the University of Pennsylvania, at College Hall, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, calling on him to address the cancellation of DEI. He is speaking with Councilmember Jamie Gauthier and at right is State Sen. Art Haywood. Read more

Many Philadelphians share pride in our ecumenical principles of uplifting all humanity, traits often attributed to this regions Quaker roots. Few are more emblematic or powerful representations of enacting this in civil society than the University of Pennsylvania  our lauded academic, scientific, and economic driver.

That is what deepened the disbelief, frustration, and grief I experienced  along with a cadre of legislative colleagues  following a recent 90-minute meeting with Penns leadership about its decision to erase references to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from public-facing materials. I remain stunned by this august institution voluntarily choosing to disavow our core community values. This decision affirms convenience over courage amid encroaching radical hostility toward anyone not straight, able-bodied, white, and male. To do so is un-Philadelphian.

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The real challenge to DEI is not from those who actively seek to dismantle these programs, but from those who fail to take meaningful action when it counts.

Evasive excuses centered on funding consequences, legalities, or, even more insultingly, feeling personally threatened in this era are callous at best, noxious at worst. When unity in our conviction of a pluralistic society is needed most, we cannot wait, as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. warned more than 60 years ago. In the end, King wrote, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.

That silence today echoes broadly, from Penns halls to those of the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C.  a void that would usher in catastrophic blows to civil rights gains for people of color, women, people of diverse abilities, and religious adherents of all stripes.

By nearly every socioeconomic measure, those accused of cheating America via DEI initiatives are not supplanting their neighbors. Only 7.5% of Penns students are African American and 10% are Latino, which is much lower than the 13.7% and 19.5%, respectively, in the U.S. Census for these groups. They dont make up a large portion compared with white or Asian students.

Pew Research Center studies confirm racial household wealth gaps persist, and even increased between 2019 and 2021. According to the Federal Reserve, on average, Black families have just 23 cents for every $1 of white family wealth; for Latinos, its 19 cents. And lets not mention the historical and continued undercompensation for U.S. women across the board. These and other data points highlight the absurdity of any taking over claims fueling our current political fever.

The real challenge to DEI is not from those who actively seek to dismantle these programs, but from those who fail to take meaningful action when it counts.

Yet, the learned and experienced keep cowering. Penn told our group it would not compromise how it treats students or employees, but actually stating the words diversity, equity, and inclusion is risky. This is an opening drift toward the sort of betrayal and accommodation that facilitated the atrocities of World War II, now seen as erroneous and repugnant.

Penn is far from alone in this morally tenuous moment, as the list, sadly, teems with so-called allies turned deaf and dumb witnesses to the poison infecting our public discourse.

Congressional representatives, quick to grab headlines with partisan points, have been noticeably absent on these important issues. When the horrors of Hamas and antisemitic attacks surfaced, there was widespread expectation to strongly condemn the perpetrators. At the same time, criticism was directed at any response deemed insufficiently forceful. Any attempt to offer an explanation that referenced complexities or multiple perspectives sparked understandable anger, given the immediate threats faced by Penn students, their families, and friends.

It is striking, though, that such passion seems absent during this assault on the livelihood of students and neighbors who are Black, brown, and LGBTQ.

Our birthright is to help perfect a nation flawed by periodic ugly exhortations, to labor so that all in America can have an equal shot to pursue happiness and prosperity.

I grew up under that belief, committing myself to helping open doors for people of all abilities, colors, religions, and identities. I took pride in being part of a coalition intent on fulfilling and sustaining the promise of our Constitution, but this silence of friends has shaken me. As a God-fearing man, I pray my faith in them and my country will be restored because so far, actions to that effect remain unseen.

State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams serves Pennsylvanias 8th Senatorial District, representing Philadelphia and Delaware Counties.
Philadelphia Fire Deputy Commissioner for logistics Carl Randolph (left) describes the scene that night as Gov. Josh Shapiro visits the firefighters at Engine 71 who responded to the air ambulance plane crash along Cottman Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia. Read more

Gov. Josh Shapiro on Monday visited a Northeast Philadelphia fire station whose members rallied as part of the all-hands-on-deck emergency response to a deadly Jan. 31 plane crash that left a deep trail of grief and trauma in its wake.

A medical transport Learjet 55 plunged from the sky moments after it had taken off from Northeast Philadelphia airport shortly after 6 that evening, and slammed into Cottman Avenue, next to the Roosevelt Mall.

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Engine 71, at Cottman and Loretto Avenues, sits about a half-mile from the crash site; the stations firefighters were among the first emergency workers to reach the scene.

I was here that night and I saw the devastation, and I think unless you were here you dont appreciate the amount of jet fuel that was scattered across the area, the amount of debris from the airplane, just the sheer devastation, Shapiro said while visiting the station.

And you guys literally saved lives that night by running toward danger, and I just so appreciate you.

 READ MORE: How the plane crash in Northeast Philadephia unfolded

The planes six occupants  including an 11-year-old girl, Valentina Guzman Murillo, who had spent four months undergoing treatment for a spinal condition at Shriners Childrens Philadelphia  were killed. (Valentina and her mother, Lizeth Murillo Osuna, were being flown back to their home in Mexico.)

Some pieces of the plane had smashed into homes, which sat burning.

Flames also engulfed a car that was driven by Steven Dreuitt Jr., killing the 37-year-old Mount Airy father, and critically injuring Dreuitts fiancee, Dominique Goods-Burke. Dreuitts 9-year-old son, Ramesses Raziel Dreuitt Vazquez, escaped from the car, but suffered burns to more than 90% of his body, and is being treated at a Boston hospital that specializes in caring for pediatric burn victims.

At least 22 other bystanders were also injured, including 10-year-old Andre Tre Howard III, who used his body to protect his younger sister from a piece of debris that ricocheted through their fathers car. Howard suffered a severe head injury, and later underwent surgery at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia.

At Engine 71 on Monday, Shapiro recalled being struck by the sight of Northeast Philly neighbors helping one another the night of the crash.

He shook hands with some firefighters, and joked with others.

Police officers, firefighters, and paramedics are too often taken for granted, he said, and I want them to know that theyre appreciated.

Carl Randolph, a fire deputy commissioner for logistics, managed how the department responded to the crash. In years past, Randolph assisted other agencies grappling with public disasters, including a 2021 condominium building collapse in Florida that left 98 people dead.

This plane crash stands out more than anything else Ive ever responded to, because of the sheer devastation in a very urban setting, he said Monday.

I think we are blessed that it wasnt more devastating.

Randolph, who is also a member of the Pennsylvania Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue team, met with Shapiro in 2023, following another public tragedy: an explosion at West Readings R.M. Palmer chocolate factory, where seven people were killed.

State Rep. Anthony Bellmon, whose district includes the fire station, said constituents have been coming to his office to connect with mental health resources following the crash.

Because the plane crash happened so soon after the plane crash in Washington, D.C., people have a fear of flying, and for it to happen right at home, it really struck a nerve with a lot of our constituents, Bellmon said, referring to a Jan. 29 collision between an airplane and a Black Hawk helicopter, which killed 67 people.

The cause of the Northeast Philly crash remains a mystery.

A preliminary investigative report, released last Thursday by the National Transportation Safety Board, revealed that the Learjets cockpit voice recorder had likely not recorded audio for several years.

Authorities dont yet know critical information about the status of the planes engines, or other flight components, such as the stabilizers, which help the aircraft fly straight.
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker wants Philly's "eds and meds" to do more to help the city, sources said. Read more

Mayor Cherelle L. Parker last month convened representatives from Philadelphias major educational and medical institutions with a simple message: The city needs your help.

The Feb. 20 meeting included lobbyists or other representatives for Drexel University, Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, Temple University and its health system, the University of Pennsylvania and its health system, and Thomas Jefferson University and its health system, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the meeting who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private gathering.

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Despite being some of the largest employers in the city and most having budgets or endowments in excess of $1 billion, Phillys eds and meds institutions, as they are often called, are exempt under state law from paying many local taxes because they are nonprofits, and activists have long called for them to do more to help the city.

 READ MORE: Jefferson Health CEO says the system is exploring moving headquarters out of Philadelphia

But if the meeting was meant to persuade the nonprofit leaders to invest more in Philly, it might not have had the desired effect. Two weeks later, the CEO of Jefferson Health publicly floated the possibility of the rapidly growing health system moving its headquarters out of the city.

Neither Parkers office nor any of the educational and medical institutions responded to requests for comment.

The Philadelphia nonprofits are largely exempt from paying the real estate tax, which helps fund the city budget and the school district. As of 2021, the assessed value of tax-exempt property owned by educational institutions was $7.2 billion, and medical and health facilities owned an additional $2.3 billion, according to a study by the Pew Charitable Trusts, a nonprofit that researches public policy issues.

For years, progressive activists have called for the citys large nonprofits to contribute their fair share to city and school district coffers by making payments in lieu of taxes, or PILOTs. Penn in 2020 pledged to donate $100 million over 10 years to help the school district with lead and asbestos abatement in school buildings, but that remains well below what critics of the school say it ought to pay in a PILOT agreement.

During the February meeting, Parker did not ask for PILOTs, the people with knowledge of the meeting said. Instead, the mayor left open-ended how the institutions could help the city.

The city presented the request in the context of a municipal budget with holes to fill, the sources said, pointing to the loss of wage tax revenue from suburbanites who used to commute into the city but now work remotely; the loss of the potential for the city to benefit from the $50 million in community benefits associated with the 76ers abandoned plan to build an arena in Center City; and the potential loss of revenue as Parker and City Council, at the encouragement of the business community, contemplate big cuts to the city business tax during this springs budget negotiations.

Parker made it clear she expected the institutions to step up to the plate to help the city budget, which is currently $6.8 billion.

The mayor will unveil her proposal for the next city budget Thursday, kicking off months of negotiations with Council over the citys taxing and spending plans for the fiscal year that begins July 1. She is expected to explain how she plans to pay for her major housing initiative, continue her efforts to clean up the drug market in Kensington, and potentially pitch changes to the tax code.

 READ MORE: No tax on businesses? The Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission is calling for a major change

Parker is also expected to address the citys efforts to revitalize the beleaguered East Market Street corridor, which has become a major issue in her tenure due to the 76ers scrapped proposal and the impending closure of the Macys store in the historic Wanamaker Building.

Jefferson Health CEO Joseph Cacchiones comments last week to the Philadelphia Business Journal about potentially moving the health systems headquarters, currently at 11th and Market Streets, have not made that task any easier.

One of the things we have to think about, as much as I hate to say it, is does it make sense for our headquarters to be [in Center City], Cacchione said, noting that Jeffersons sprawling network now stretches from the Lehigh Valley to South Jersey.

He mentioned the city wage tax, which is paid by workers and is one of the local taxes that nonprofits and their employees are not exempt from.

Ive had conversations with [the mayor] about this, and she is quite concerned about it, Cacchione said. Jefferson is probably the largest employer in Center City right now. We have probably $96 million of wage tax that are paid to the city.

Staff writer Susan Snyder contributed to this article.
A visitor pops up into a dome in a diorama in the Dinosaur Coast Gallery at the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University during a media preview March 5, 2025, before the museum officially opens March 29. The dome is entered through a child-sized tunnel, part of the interactive environment depicting the authentic lives of East Coast dinosaurs from 66 million years ago. Read more

The Philadelphia region is entering a new era of dinosaur discovery, reaffirming South Jersey as one of the worlds most significant sites for paleontology.

The Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University opens March 29, showcasing more than a century of internationally recognized dinosaur fossils and history  right in Philadelphias backyard.

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A glimpse into the past

Some 66 million years ago, before the fifth mass extinction wiped out three-quarters of Earths species, South Jersey was submerged under a shallow sea teeming with marine and terrestrial life. When the city-sized asteroid Chicxulub struck off the coast of what is now Mexico, it set off a chain reaction that led to the extinction of all non-avian dinosaurs. Their remains settled beneath the ocean floor, preserved for millennia.

Today, that prehistoric seabed forms the foundation of South Jersey. In some areas, fossils lie just 65 feet below the surface, waiting to be uncovered.

Bringing the museum to life

The nearly 45,000-square-foot facility, designed by Ennead Architects and KSS Architects, is nestled behind quintessential New Jersey strip malls. A winding road leads visitors to the museum, which prioritizes sustainability through the use of materials like Accoya-modified pine wood and reduced-cement concrete. More than 70 geothermal wells beneath the parking lot provide most of the museums heating and cooling.

The museum was brought to life through the efforts of Ken Lacovara, an award-winning paleontologist credited with discovering one of the worlds largest terrestrial dinosaurs, the Dreadnoughtus. His partnerships with Rowan University, where he teaches, and a $25 million donation from Ric and Jean Edelman made the project possible.

What to expect

The Edelman Fossil Park & Museum is an interactive learning center curated by Lacovara and experiential designers at G&A to transport visitors back in time to when dinosaurs ruled the Earth. Exhibits explore how these creatures coexisted with other wildlife, why they disappeared, and what lessons their extinction holds for todays climate challenges.

Beyond fossils, the museum offers immersive experiences, including free-roaming virtual reality adventures and a fossil quarry where visitors can dig for their own discoveries. Plans are in the works to introduce Night at the Museum sleepovers.

Exhibits

On the museums first floor, three exhibits immerse visitors in jungle, coastal, and forest-like terrains with life-size recreations of dinosaurs that inhabited this region millions of years ago. World-renowned paleoartist Gary Staab created all the replicas seen in the museum.

Dinosaur Coast: Walk through what the East Coast wouldve looked like 66 million years ago, including depictions of local dinosaurs experiencing the highs and lows of everyday life. Monstrous Seas: An underwater exhibit, complete with ocean floor lighting and sounds, houses the museums largest dinosaur recreation of the 55-foot Mosasaur and other aquatic dinosaurs from the region. Hall of Extinction & Hope: A sobering yet inspiring look at the fifth mass extinction and humanitys role in preventing a sixth. The exhibit concludes with an interactive kiosk offering ways to take action. Discovery Forest: A nature-themed lounge and library area to watch educational videos, discover fossils, and learn about Earths history. Collections & Conservation: A research space where Rowan University paleontologists and students study and store fossils. Critter Cove: Live touch-tank exhibits featuring distant relatives of Cretaceous-era creatures.

Immersive add-on experiences

Expedition Voyager: (15 minutes) A virtual reality experience where guests join an expedition crew, encountering dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures while collecting scientific samples. Fossil Quarry Dig: (90 minutes) The main attraction, where guests can dig into the soft earth of the marl quarry to find fossils from the Cretaceous period and take home discoveries.

Cafe & Gift shop

Quarry Grounds Cafe: Named after the museums own line of coffee, Quarry Grounds, this corner cafe sells coffee and espresso drinks, pastries, and small bites sourced from local New Jersey vendors. Darwin & Co. Store: A nod to English scientist Charles Darwin, the museums gift shop sells an assortment of books, puzzles, games, plush toys, jewelry, science kits, clothing, and more. An online version of the store will be available soon at darwinandco.org.

General admission includes access to all exhibits. Add-on experiences (the Expedition Voyage and Fossil Quarry Dig) are $25 each.

Admission prices:

Explorer (13+): $29 Junior Explorer (3-12): $24 Toddler (0-2): Free

Admission prices with add-on experiences

Explorer (13+): $79 for both; $54 with one Junior Explorer (3-12): $74 for both; $49 with one Toddler (0-2): Free

Annual memberships provide free unlimited access to the museum and 50% off the Fossil Quarry Dig experience, among other benefits.
I think its equally important to recognise and have compassion for the fact that we also face similar challenges, such as financial or personal pressures and working towards building a rewarding career. We all desire to feel valued at work. My view is that we need to keep listening and learning, Rogers-Brown said.
At the time of the collision, the Stena Immaculate was on short-term charter to the US Navys Military Sealift Command, transporting fuel on behalf of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Energy. Since May 2023, it has been part of the US strategic tanker program, a fleet of ten US-flagged and US-crewed vessels kept ready for military fuel transportation.
We are excited to welcome Jason to DUAL North America as we continue to expand our specialty offerings, said Jon Knouse, chief property officer at DUAL North America. His leadership and expertise reinforce our long-term commitment to the equine market, and we look forward to building upon our strong foundation to provide tailored solutions for our partners.
In a report from AM Best, Rodriguez said the primary challenge will be advancing the bill through the Senate in time for it to reach the governors desk. He noted that this is the first time legislation addressing health insurance coverage for medical marijuana has been introduced in New Mexico, and its movement through committee represents an initial step.
Hodges, also joining from Marsh McLennan, will serve as head of surety for North America, overseeing Aons contract and commercial surety operations. He had spent 3 years at Marsh, and has over 30 years of experience in the industry, including 26 years at Zurich, he brings expertise in surety underwriting and risk management. He will be based in the Washington, D.C. area.
On June 21, 2019, there was a massive explosion and fire at the PES refinery in South Philadelphia, Penn., run by PERSM, resulting in the closure of the facility and the bankruptcy of its owner, Philadelphia Energy Solutions. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) determined that the incident was caused by a ruptured, corroded pipe elbow in the hydrofluoric acid alkylation unit. The pipe had been made by Babcock & Wilcox in the 1970s.
Just two weeks ago the Empire State made a cool $20 million fining insurers for failing to submit paperwork on time. And now New York State Attorney General Letitia James has filed a lawsuit against National General and its parent company, Allstate Insurance, alleging that the companies failed to protect sensitive consumer data, leading to two major cyberattacks in 2020 and 2021. The lawsuit, announced on Monday for events that happened many years ago, claims that more than 165,000 New Yorkers had their personal information exposed due to security lapses.
As You Sow, however, argues that the company has not explained how it plans to retain enough homeowners policies to maintain profitability amid these adjustments, particularly as more policies shift to state-backed insurers of last resort.
Zelenc will be based in CRCs Chicago office while leading the companys expansion into Kansas City. In his new role, he will oversee a team specializing in management and professional lines of coverage, including healthcare services, private company management liability, and cyber liability.
Despite capacity being strong, the aviation insurance market may face potential challenges due to changing market dynamics this year, according to a report from WTW last month. The airline insurance market has seen a surplus of supply in recent years but uncertainties in the aviation insurance and reinsurance sectors are becoming more pronounced, the report said.
Workers compensation insurers and California employers alike have faced new responsibilities for employee safety from July 1, 2024, when legislation aimed at reducing workplace violence took effect. Now that the law has been in effect for six months, perhaps it is a good time to review its essential aspects.

The Workplace Violence Prevention Bill (SB 553) marks the first time a state has attempted to address the pressing issue of attacks on employees across general industry. It has been several years in the making and, after a COVID-related delay, gained new impetus following the fatal 2021 shooting by a co-worker of nine staff working at a San Jose railyard. (See related article: Preventing Workplace Violence Is Not a One-Size-Fits-All Exercise: Risk Management Experts).

The rules are far-reaching and center on the creation and implementation of written Workplace Violence Prevention Plans (WVPPs). They apply to all companies in the state with only a few exemptions. Healthcare is one of these since stringent requirements for that sector already apply.

At first sight, the legislation may look daunting. It defines workplace violence broadly, to include any act of violence or threat of violence that occurs in a place of employment. It also hands workers comp insurers responsibility for auditing the WVPPs or enlisting a certified professional to do so. Some commentary has focused on potential liability issues for carriers associated with this oversight role. However, the legislation provides a good opportunity for the insurance industry to demonstrate the value of its services.

Despite the July 1 effective date, many companies are still working to completely fulfill their obligations under the law. The biggest implication for insurers are the resources and training that have been needed to be put in place to help clients comply.

To do so, employers have been establishing, implementing, and maintaining effective written WVPPs including:

Allocation of responsibility for implementing the plan.

Employee involvement.

Communication and training.

Identification and correction of hazards.

Incident response.

Procedures for reporting and investigating incidents.

Plan reviews.

In addition, employers must keep records of workplace violence hazard assessment, incident logs, and investigations for a minimum of five years, and training records for at least a year.

SB 533 isnt Californias final response to the workplace violence issue. It is intended as an interim framework while the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health devises new standards and regulations. It must do so by Dec. 31, 2025, for adoption no later than Dec. 31, 2026.

It is up to insurers to help clients keep abreast of any changes to last years requirements as the new regulations are enacted.

When pondering the impact on insurers costs and on rates, it is important to keep sight of the fact that the legislation is designed to reduce the likelihood of injury or death in the workplace, rather than to make things harder for companies and their workers comp carriers.

Current data isnt available, but in 2022, the Department of Justice reported a worrying increase in fatal and non-fatal workplace violence in the five years to 2019. In total, 17,865 people were killed at work from 1992 to 2019 across the country.

A total of 454 homicides took place in 2019, which marked a 58% decrease from a peak of 1,080 homicides recorded in 1994. From 2014 to 2019, workplace homicides increased by 11%, according to the DOJs Bureau of Justice Statistics.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2022 published data recording 392 workplace homicides in 2020 and another 37,060 non-fatal injuries from workplace violence.

Sales and related occupational groups accounted for almost a quarter of all workplace homicides. The second most affected sector was transportation and material moving.

The California bill is expected to be emulated by other states, many of which are already contemplating legislation to combat workplace violence, according to legal intelligence company LexisNexis. The Californian requirements and any other legislation they inspire are likely to encourage critical thinking when it comes to addressing workplace violence.

In terms of the industrys new oversight role, many workers comp carriers are rising to the occasion. Audits are already part of normal business practices, and insurers are required to conduct or verify safety consultations or carry out claims analyses in states including New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Arkansas.

Some of these are much more resource-hungry than the pending California rules. In New York, for example, Code Rule 59 stipulates safety and loss prevention consultations and evaluations for workplaces with payrolls of over $800,000 and an experience modification rate of more than 1.2. (EMRs are used to quantify risk for the purpose of workers comp insurance, with the average being 1.0.) Employers that do not follow the law have to pay a 5% surcharge on the manual portion of their workers comp premium, with that surcharge rising another 5% for each year of non-compliance.

As for fears that this could spark a wave of lawsuits against insurers if insureds WVPPs prove ineffective, or encourage claims on general liability policies, its unwise to make blanket predictions. The industry similarly spent a lot of time hypothesizing about possible liability exposures during COVID, but the reality is these situations are complex and nuanced, with their own unique circumstances.

Fortunately, there havent been significant additional costs from the resources insurers have deployed to help clients meet their new obligations and to execute our own oversight responsibilities.

This legislation should help businesses identify their unique exposures and put specific controls in place as protection for these exposures.

Insurers are expert at adapting to evolving risk and changing regulatory requirements, and will continue to do so.

In terms of workers comp rates and carrier appetite for the line of business, there is the theoretical possibility that this legislation significantly reduces workplace violence. If that does, in fact, happen, it could influence lines of business that tend to have higher workplace violence claims, such as school systems.

Time will tell how effective requiring businesses to have a written WVPP that includes employee involvement and job hazard analysis will be.

However, the new law represents a real chance for carriers to burnish their credentials as risk advisory partners rather than merely recipients of premiums and payers of claims.

We all want to end workplace violence, and those insurers that can offer appropriate resources and assist with compliance have a great opportunity to make their mark.

Topics California Commercial Lines Business Insurance
A single-engine airplane carrying five people crashed and burst into flames Sunday in the parking lot of a retirement community near a small airport in suburban Pennsylvania, and everyone on board survived, officials and witnesses said.

The fiery crash happened around 3 p.m. just south of Lancaster Airport in Manheim Township, police chief Duane Fisher told reporters at an evening briefing. All five victims were taken to hospitals in unknown condition. Nobody on the ground was hurt, the chief said.

Brian Pipkin was driving nearby when he noticed the small plane climbing before it suddenly veered to the left.

And then it went down nose first, he told The Associated Press. There was an immediate fireball.

Pipkin called 911 and then drove to the crash site, where he recorded video of black smoke billowing from the planes mangled wreckage and multiple cars engulfed in flames in a parking lot at Brethren Village. He said the plane narrowly missed hitting a three-story building at the sprawling retirement community about 75 miles (120 kilometers) west of Philadelphia.

A fire truck from the airport arrived within minutes, and more first responders followed quickly.

It was so smoky and it was so hot, Pipkin said. They were really struggling to get the fire out.

A dozen parked cars were damaged and Brethren Village residents were briefly asked to shelter in place as a precaution, Fisher said.

I dont know if Id consider it a miracle, but the fact that we have a plane crash where everybody survives and nobody on the ground is hurt is a wonderful thing, the police chief added.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed there were five people aboard the Beechcraft Bonanza. Its planned flight and destination were not released soon after the crash.

The conditions of the five also were not immediately known and authorities didnt elaborate on how they survived the crash.

Air traffic control audio captured the pilot reporting that the aircraft has an open door, we need to return for a landing. An air traffic controller is heard clearing the plane to land, before saying, Pull up! Moments later, someone can be heard saying the aircraft was down just behind the terminal in the parking lot street area.

The FAA said it will investigate.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said state police were assisting local authorities. All Commonwealth resources are available as the response continues, and more information will be provided as it becomes available, Shapiro said on social media.

The crash comes about a month after seven people were killed when an air ambulance burst into flames after crashing onto a busy Philadelphia street.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A US oil tanker that was struck by a container ship in the North Sea on Monday was smoldering with a gaping hole in its side, footage broadcast by BBC News showed.

Focus is now shifting to the environmental impact of the blaze. While the incident is one of the most significant marine disasters in the UK for years, the countrys Health Security Agency said there is currently a very low risk to the public on shore.

An international oil-pollution compensation fund said the jet fuel being spilled from the Stena Immaculate, which was supplying fuel for the US navy, is categorized as non-persistent oil. That means it is more prone to evaporating when spilled and could indicate a less-severe environmental impact than would be the case for a cargo of heavy crude or ship fuel.

One crew member aboard the container ship, the Solong, is missing and the local coast guard called off a search for them on Monday night.

Whilst the images look worrying, from the perspective of the impact to the aquatic environment, its less of a concern than if this had been crude oil because most of the jet fuel will evaporate very quickly, said Mark Hartl, a Marine Ecotoxicologist from the Centre for Marine Biodiversity & Biotechnology at Heriot-Watt University. Also, the fact that it happened out at sea and not closer to land or within an estuary setting is fortuitous and will minimize the environmental impact.

The Stena Immaculate, which was supplying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel for the US Navy, leaked an unknown quantity of its cargo as a result of the crash, its manager Crowley said on Monday. IOPC Funds, which pays out in the event of leaks, said it wouldnt do so for a jet fuel spillage.

Footage on the BBC website on Tuesday showed a big hole in at least one of its tanks, although it didnt appear there was immediate danger of the vessel sinking. Crowley said the tanker has 16 segregated tanks, something that might help to restrict the size of the spill.

Cargo Risk

The Solong was transporting fifteen containers of sodium cyanide, according to Lloyds List Intelligence. It can release gas when spilled into water, causing adverse health effects, according to the UKs Health Security Agency.

I would like to thank the rescue services for the operation following the incident involving an oil tanker and a cargo ship in the North Sea. Sadly one seafarer is still missing. The investigation report will be submitted to IMO in due course. pic.twitter.com/uLOQtOzFLv

 Arsenio Dominguez (@IMOSecGen) March 11, 2025

The Solongs owner didnt immediately respond to questions about what was inside the containers that the vessel was transporting.

A local politician also told the BBC that the cargo on board the Solong still wasnt clear. The first assumption is that the incident was caused by human error on the part of whoever was at the helm of the container ship, she added.

The area close to the incident plays home to a host of ecologically important sites, including a 50 kilometer glacial tunnel known as the Silver Pit, known for its abundant marine life as well as significant bird habitats.

If pollution spillage enters the Humber, this could potentially be devasting for the wildlife of the estuary, including important fish stocks and tens of thousands of overwintering and migrating birds who use the mud flats, said Martin Slater, director of operations at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. Many birds are gathering offshore on the sea ahead of the nesting season and we still have wintering waders  plus migrant birds stopping here.

Associated British Ports said that shipping movements into the Humber estuary, which includes Immingham, Grimsby and Hull, resumed Monday evening after a halt earlier in the day. There are still some restrictions in the area, a spokesperson added.

Photograph: Emergency services attend the scene following a vessel collision off the UKs east coast, on March 10, 2025. Photo credit: Lee Whitaker/Getty Images

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Energy Oil Gas
Zolve raised $251 million in its latest equity and debt financing round, the neo bank said on Tuesday, led by Indian private equity firm Creaegis, an existing investor, with participation from names like HSBC and SBI Investment.

The latest funding, by far the largest in the Houston, Texas-based companys history, has given it a valuation of around $800 million, a source close to the deal told Reuters.

The funding for cross-border company Zolve comes at a time when venture funding in the United States has remained subpar, while activity in India has seen a significant bump.

Creaegis, a company headquartered in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru, also led Zolves previous financing in 2024.

Zolve seeks to end credit woes for new entrants to the U.S. who are considered high-risk borrowers, by helping them access financial services from their first day in the country.

When talented people move countries, their financial history is erased overnight. Were changing that by giving global citizens access to credit and banking from day one, said Zolves founder and CEO Raghu Gangappa.

The funding round will help the company scale its business, Zolve said.

The neo bank, which was launched in 2021 and has over 750,000 customers, plans to expand into Canada, the UK and Australia, and incorporate sectors like auto, personal and education loans into its business portfolio.

The funding round also featured some other existing investors like Accel, Lightspeed Venture Partners and Sparta Group.

(Reporting by Pritam Biswas in Bengaluru; editing by Vijay Kishore)
Four Wisconsin voters whose ballots were not counted in the November presidential election initiated a class-action lawsuit Thursday seeking $175,000 in damages each.

The voters were among 193 in Madison whose ballots were misplaced by the city clerk and not discovered until weeks after the election. Not counting the ballots didnt affect the result of any races.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission investigated but did not determine whether Madison Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl failed to comply with state law or abused her discretion.

She didnt notify the elections commission of the problem until December, almost a month and a half after the election and after the results were certified on Nov. 29.

The goal is to reinforce and strengthen the right to vote in Wisconsin, said attorney Jeff Mandell, who is general counsel of Law Forward, which filed claims against the city of Madison and Dane County on Thursday.

When peoples votes are not counted, when the right to vote is violated, our democracy is diminished, Mandell said during a news conference announcing the action.

The four affected voters are seeking $175,000 each from the city of Madison and Dane County. That is above the $50,000 maximum that can be sought in class-action lawsuits against municipalities.

The lawsuit will argue that the cap is unconstitutional, the notice of claim said.

The number of affected voters who could join the lawsuit might grow, Mandell said. All of the voters whose ballots were not counted are named in the notice made public Thursday.

Madison takes election integrity seriously, the citys spokesperson, Dylan Brogan, said in reaction. He noted that the clerks office apologized for the error both publicly and to each affected voter.

The clerks office has also taken steps to ensure the such a mistake wont happen again and looked forward to additional guidance from the state elections commission, Brogan said. He declined to comment specifically on the lawsuit.

The state elections commission is scheduled to discuss its investigation into the uncounted ballots on Friday.

According to a summary of its findings, the clerk didnt explain what exactly happened at the polling places, how the uncounted ballots went unnoticed all day on Election Day or how they were misplaced.

She also hasnt said whether she spoke to the chief inspectors in the affected wards to find out what happened, making it difficult to develop guidelines to help elections clerks throughout the state avoid similar issues, investigators said.
President Donald Trumps company sued Capital One Financial Corp., accusing it of illegally de-banking him for political reasons by abruptly canceling hundreds of accounts for his sprawling real estate business after his first term ended in 2021.

The Trump Organization had been doing business with Capital One for decades and was holding millions of dollars with the bank when Capital One said on March 8 of that year it was cutting ties in three months, according to the lawsuit.

The termination of the accounts without warning or provocation led to considerable financial harm and losses, interrupting the businesss access to banking services, according to the suit. It was filed Friday in Florida state court and seeks unspecified damages.

A Capital One spokesperson said the bank has not and does not close customer accounts for political reasons.

The president and his supporters have long claimed that major banks unfairly discriminate against conservative customers. Trump even raised the point in remarks to Wall Street executives during the recent Davos summit. In a post on the X social media platform Friday, his son Eric Trump warned of more to come.

This lawsuit, and those that follow, are necessary steps to protect the integrity of American business practices, he wrote. We will not stand by while big banks misuse their power to stifle businesses and harm innocent Americans.

Today, the Trump Organization filed a lawsuit in Miami-Dade County against @CapitalOne to hold the bank accountable for their egregious conduct in unjustifiably terminating over 300 of the companys bank accounts without cause, in 2021.

The decision by Capital One to debank

 Eric Trump (@EricTrump) March 7, 2025

Capital Ones unilateral decision came about as a result of political and social motivations and Capital Ones unsubstantiated, woke beliefs that it needed to distance itself from President Trump and his conservative political views, the suit says. The 78-year-old billionaire, who returned to the White House after winning the 2024 contest, isnt a plaintiff in the suit.

The banks alleged cutoff of Trump came two months after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot by Trump supporters at the US Capitol, though it isnt mentioned in the complaint. At the time, Trumps company was also being investigated for fraud by New Yorks attorney general, who went on to sue the business. Trump, who lost and was ordered to pay $454 million in penalties, has appealed.

Trumps company is seeking a court order holding that Capital One canceled the accounts in violation of state consumer protection and consumer fraud laws.

The case is The Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust v. Capital One N.A., 11th Judicial Circuit, Miami-Dade County, Florida.

Photo: A Capital One bank branch in New York, US, on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. Photographer: Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits
The U.S. agency that enforces the labor rights of private-sector workers is abandoning its defense of a law barring the president from removing appointees at will, as President Donald Trump seeks to oust a Democratic member.

The National Labor Relations Board since last week has notified courts in at least six cases, including one involving the SpaceX company of Trump ally Elon Musk, that it was taking the position that protections from removal for board members and administrative judges violate the U.S. Constitution.

Several federal judges have upheld those protections in a series of lawsuits filed against the board since 2023. Last week a judge in Washington, D.C., said Trump could not fire Democratic NLRB member Gwynne Wilcox. The administration appealed that ruling.

The labor board is one of several federal agencies designed to be independent from the White House but which the Trump administration has said should be under the presidents direct control. The law creating the board says its five members appointed by the president can only be removed for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office.

Until last week, the board had defended that law as necessary to maintain the independence of members, who decide cases accusing businesses of violating workers rights to organize, join unions, and engage in collective bargaining over working conditions.

The labor board in the new court filings cited a February letter from acting U.S. Solicitor General Sarah Harris asserting that protections from removal for members of the NLRB and two other agencies with similar structures were invalid.

An NLRB spokesman declined to comment.

Patrick Semmens of the National Right to Work Foundation, which says its mission is to eliminate coercive union power and which represents several workers who have filed lawsuits against the NLRB, said the agencys structure has allowed it to dictate labor policy while evading accountability. The workers represented by the group, including some Starbucks baristas, have filed complaints against their unions or are seeking to dissolve them.

We are pleased that as a result of the Presidents removal of Wilcox, this issue appears fast-tracked for an overdue review by the Supreme Court, Semmens said in a statement.

The boards decision not to defend the removal protections could have an impact on how courts analyze the legal issues. But the Supreme Court, which will have the final say, would likely appoint a lawyer to make the arguments that the agency has now abandoned, according to Lauren McFerran, who was chair of the NLRB during the Biden administration.

She said a ruling invalidating the removal protections would fundamentally change the way the board operates.

It really taints the neutrality of the process if youre worried about [finding] a violation against a donor to the president or something like that, said McFerran. Her term on the board expired in December and the U.S. Senate rejected her nomination for a new term.

Trump fired Wilcox in January, when the board had two vacancies, leaving it without a quorum of three members to decide even routine cases until she sued and the judge reinstated her last week.

In the SpaceX case, a federal judge in Texas, where the rocket company is based, last year agreed with SpaceX that removal protections for board members and administrative judges are unlawful. The judge blocked the NLRB from pursuing an administrative case claiming that SpaceX forced employees to sign illegal severance agreements, which the company has denied.

Musk, the founder and CEO of SpaceX, is a top adviser to Trump and is spearheading an aggressive campaign to shrink the federal workforce and slash government spending.

(Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York; Editing by Paul Simao and Leslie Adler)

Topics USA Politics
Hellman & Friedman is looking to raise at least $1 billion in equity from investors for Hub International Ltd., in a potential deal valuing the insurance brokerage at $30 billion, according to people familiar with the matter.

The private equity firm is working with Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. on the so-called liquid private placement, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential information. The firm could end up raising more than $1 billion from a range of investors including long-only institutions and limited partners in private equity funds, they said.

Such transactions, sometimes referred to as private initial public offerings, have been gaining traction as buyout firms look to hold onto their best-performing assets for longer, while also allowing their limited partners to cash out.

Private equity firms are turning to more innovative solutions to generate liquidity for investors as the overall dealmaking environment remains challenging. These deals help buyout firms keep control of their portfolio companies while also broadening the shareholder base and providing regular liquidity windows.

Hubs valuation has grown significantly since H&F acquired the business in 2013 at $4.4 billion valuation. In 2023, Hub raised $4.2 billion in its first liquid private placement led by Los Angeles-based Leonard Green & Partners, the people said. That fundraising took the insurance brokers valuation to $23 billion.

H&F plans to give investors in this latest placement an opportunity to sell after 12 to 18 months, according to the people. Deliberations are ongoing and details of the potential deal could still change, the people said.

Read More: Private Equitys $3 Trillion Burden Sparks Hunt for Exit Options

Hub was formed in 1998 when a number of Canadian brokerages merged. The company has since made multiple acquisitions and expanded operations into the US. Chicago, Illinois-based Hub now has more than 19,000 employees across North America and is ranked as the worlds fifth largest insurance broker, according to its website.

H&F is also mulling exit options for another long-held investment as its interviewing banks for a listing of Verisure, Bloomberg News reported last week. A deal could value the security group at 25 billion to 28 billion, the people said.

Representatives for H&F, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley declined to comment.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
The Justice Department on Friday celebrated its decision to drop a federal lawsuit against a Louisiana petrochemical plant accused of worsening cancer risks for residents in a majority-Black community, saying the dismissal showed that officials are delivering on President (Donald) Trumps promise to dismantle radical DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) programs and restore integrity to federal enforcement efforts.

The dismissal Wednesday of the two-year-old case underscored the Trump administrations commitment to eliminate ideological overreach and restore impartial enforcement of federal laws, Justice said in a statement.

At the same time, the Environmental Protection Agency withdrew its formal referral of the case to the Justice Department. The agency said the action aligns with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldins pledge to end the use of environmental justice as an enforcement tool that Zeldin was too often used to advance liberal ideological priorities.

Dismissal of the case unraveled one of former President Joe Bidens highest-profile targets for an environmental justice effort aimed at improving conditions in places disproportionately harmed by decades of industrial pollution. Bidens EPA sued the Denka Performance Elastomer plant in early 2023, alleging it posed an unacceptable cancer risk and demanding cuts in toxic emissions of cancer-causing chloroprene.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Louisiana and was formally withdrawn Wednesday.

The action is one of a series the Trump administration has taken as it moves quickly to reverse the environmental justice focus of Bidens administration, placing roughly 170 environmental justice-focused staffers on administrative leave. Dropping the Denka case relieves pressure on a company that has spent years fighting federal lawsuits and investigations over its impact on public health.

Denka, based in Japan, bought the former DuPont plant in LaPlace, Louisiana, a decade ago. Its located near an elementary school in a community about 30 miles outside New Orleans.

The site produces neoprene, a synthetic rubber that is found in products such as wetsuits and laptop sleeves. The Justice Department sued the company in early 2023, accusing it of emitting unacceptable levels of chloroprene, a chemical that may be especially harmful to children. A judge had scheduled a bench trial for April.

Dismissal of the case reflects the Justice Departments renewed commitment to enforce environmental laws as Congress intended  consistently, fairly and without regard to race, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson, who oversees the departments Environment and Natural Resources Division.

Zeldin, a former Republican congressman who took over the EPA in late January, said the dismissal was a step toward ensuring that environmental enforcement is consistent with the law. While EPAs core mission includes securing clean air for all Americans, we can fulfill that mission within well-established legal frameworks, without stretching the bounds of the law or improperly implementing so-called environmental justice.'

Denka said the dismissal was long-overdue and ends litigation that it said lacked scientific and legal merit. The lawsuit was a draining attack on our business, the company said.

The focus should be on the real-world data that shows no adverse health effects, even at substantially higher emission levels, the company said in a statement.

The governments lawsuit said air monitoring showed that long-term concentrations near the Denka plant are as high as 15 times the amount recommended for long-term exposure to chloroprene.

The EPA under Biden issued a related rule aimed at reducing industrial pollution that gave Denka a fast deadline to lower its emissions. The company said it was being singled out and other manufacturers were given far more time to comply. The company also said the plant has significantly reduced its emissions in recent years, since the sale was completed in 2015. The company won an extension of its deadline.

The Denka plant is located in an industrial stretch of Louisiana from New Orleans to Baton Rouge that is officially called the Mississippi River Chemical Corridor. Its known informally as Cancer Alley for the high incidence of cancer among residents who live near the industrial corridor, which has about 200 fossil fuel and petrochemical operations. The area accounts for about 25% of the petrochemical production in the United States.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Louisiana
A federal appeals court decision handed down last week is a victory for a Liberty Mutual surplus carrier, but it highlights what one attorney said is a widespread problem in the construction industry: an alleged bait and switch by insurers on contractor-controlled insurance programs.

Its very prevalent and its a real problem, said Patrick Wielinski, a Dallas attorney who wrote an amicus brief in the case on behalf of Associated General Contractors of America, the National Association of Home Builders and Florida Home Builders.

In recent years, a number of insurance carriers have begun offering contractor-controlled liability insurance programs, or CCIPs or wrap-ups that are pitched to contractors as improved coverage, Wielinski said. Those policies remove a number of narrow exclusions that had previously been part of contractors general liability policies  but include a much broader exclusion that bars coverage for defects or property damage until the construction project is completed  something many contractors and their insurance brokers may not be expecting, he noted.

Libertys careless underwriting and misapplication of its course of construction endorsement threatens the entire construction industry, Wielinski claimed in the amicus brief.

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Liberty Surplus Insurance vs. Kaufman Lynn Construction, published March 5, found that Kaufman Lynn has grounds to ask that the insurance policy be reformed. The final policy differed significantly from the insurance application, which stressed that the construction was to be done in phases, the contractor had argued. The underwriting description also was garbled and misstated the work involved, Wielinski said.

But even with a reformation of the policy, Kaufman may see little relief. The 11th Circuit also upheld the lower federal court and found that the course of construction exclusion (COCE) in the policy effectively blocked coverage until the sprawling construction project is fully completed.

It would have been better, of course, for Liberty to draft the COCE to expressly state that there is no coverage unless and until the entire project is completed, the three-judge appeals court panel wrote. But Libertys failure to adhere to the standards of impeccable draftsmanship here does not result in ambiguity.

The case began five years ago, and, like many an insurance claim, stemmed from damage brought by a storm in Florida. Kaufman Lynn, a large commercial builder, had been hired to build a massive new campus in Deerfield Beach for JM Family Enterprises, one of the largest Toyota dealerships and financing operations in Florida. The work was to include new offices, a training and conference center, a dining hall, energy plant, parking garage and more. Demolition of existing buildings was also to be done.

Part of the work was completed in 2020 and Kaufman received certificates of occupancy for the office buildings, dining hall, energy plant and parking garage. JM Family moved in and began using the completed buildings, the court explained.

On Nov. 8, 2020, Tropical Storm Eta hit south Florida, causing water to leak into the buildings and triggering $3.3 million in damage.

Related: Contractor-Controlled Policies vs. Owner-Controlled. Whats Best?

For months before the storm hit, Kaufman had cited numerous problems with the work of the subcontractor that had installed the window wall system, where the water intrusion in storm Eta had originated, court documents show. The glass installer in December 2020 reportedly abandoned the project and Kaufman filed suit against the firm and other subcontractors.

In the meantime, Liberty Surplus denied Kaufmans CCIP insurance claim, citing the course of construction exclusion. The federal district court in southern Florida agreed with Libertys attorneys and found that the insurer did not owe coverage, thanks to the exclusion that barred coverage until completion of the project.

The appeals court judges noted that while the policy did not define the words project and completion, the plain meaning of the words makes it clear.

Regardless of whether we view the term project as the policy currently describes it or as the two distinct phases set out by Kaufman in its application, the COCEs meaning is the same, 11th Circuit Judge Adalberto Jordan wrote in the opinion. Even if the first phase was finished at the time of the water damage, is undisputed that the entire project had not yet been completed.

The lead plaintiffs attorney could not be reached comment. But Wielinsky and his amicus brief argued that, for years, many contractors have done work in phases and have relied on CCIP policies to recognize that, as described in the insurance application. With the conclusion exclusion, contractors can be left with yawning gaps in coverage because a standard builders risk policy does not usually cover faulty workmanship and other perils that a general liability policy would.

Attorneys for the insurance company in the case said the insurer declined to comment on the court ruling or the broader questions of exclusions. But in their brief to the court, Libertys lawyers noted that even if the Kaufman policy had clearly referenced a phased project, the contractor did not follow the script.

In reality  work on the two phases took place concurrently or out of order, Liberty argued.

Some work was moved to phase 1 and other jobs to phase 2; some aspects of the project were canceled altogether, and new work was added. The leaky windows and cladding system had not been finished by the subcontractor, proving that the project was not yet complete.

And, perhaps most importantly, Kaufman failed to read the policy when it was issued and did not object to it at the time, Liberty lawyers noted.

Kaufman had a team of professional brokers and advisors to assist in the underwriting process, including an in-house legal department, an in-house risk-management department, a surplus lines broker, and a wholesale broker, the Liberty brief reads.

Further, Kaufman should have known that a surplus lines policy, by law, is generally less favorable than those offered by admitted carriers, Liberty said. And Kaufmans policy provisions were tailored to the contractor and will not have a far-reaching, adverse impact on the construction industry.

Wielinski, who specializes in construction law, has penned a book about insurance for defective construction, published by IRMI, the International Risk Management Institute. In a presentation in January, he noted that case law on exclusions continues to evolve. Courts in most states are somewhat divided but have begun to recognize that exclusions are not always as encompassing as insurers may like to believe.

Moving forward, these cases signal a significant shift in builders risk and CGL insurance jurisprudence, suggesting that insurers will need to draft more precise policy language and carefully consider the scope of their exclusions, he wrote. The trend indicates a growing judicial willingness to provide coverage for unintended and unexpected property damage, even when such damage occurs within the insureds scope of work.

Wielinski agreed that a big takeaway from the Kaufman case is that contractors, like other insureds, should always be sure to read the policy before signing on the dotted line.

The appellate courts opinion gave some advice to others seeking reformation of an insurance policy. Florida law creates a five-year statute of limitations. So, an insured in Florida may need to bring a reformation claim soon after the issuance of the policy containing the mistake or risk forever losing the ability to fix the error, the judges noted.

Topics Contractors
Judges for the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals raised questions this week about the high courts qualified-immunity doctrine, which critics say has long protected bad law enforcement officers.

The 5th Circuit panel of judges ruled that qualified immunity wont protect a Jackson police detective in a case where she wrongfully arrested an innocent man.

We readily acknowledge the legal, social, and practical defects of the judicially contrived qualified immunity doctrine, Judge Don R. Willett wrote in a 2-1 decision, but we are powerless to scrap it  (as) middle-management circuit judges.

On Feb. 13, 2020, someone shot Nicholas Robertson, who knocked on the door of Avery Forbes home in Jackson and died there.

Two months later, police arrested Samuel Jennings on an unrelated charge. He told police that Desmond Green told him that he had killed Robertson.

The accusation stunned Green, who told police he didnt know Robertson, much less take part in his murder.

Despite that, Detective Jacquelyn Thomas and Hinds County prosecutors encouraged the grand jury to indict Green, who was jailed without bond, with armed robbery being the underlying felony that elevated it to capital murder. He spent nearly two years behind bars for a crime he did not commit.

Two years later, Jennings recanted, and Green was finally freed from jail after 22 months. In his lawsuit, he alleges that Thomas used the statement of a jailhouse informant high on drugs, manipulated a photo lineup and withheld evidence from a grand jury that would have shown he was innocent.

There was no evidence showing I was involved, so why was I arrested? Green told Mississippi Today. My life was on the line the whole time, and I was never allowed to speak to the judge until two years later. I lost time that Ill never get back.

Thomas asked for the lawsuit to be dismissed on the basis of qualified immunity, a legal doctrine created in 1967 by the U.S. Supreme Court, which determined that Jackson police officers who arrested ministers who entered a whites-only waiting room were immune from litigation because the officers were acting in good faith.

U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves declined to dismiss the lawsuit.

That doctrine means persons wronged by government agents cannot sue those agents unless the Supreme Court previously found substantially the same acts to be unconstitutional, Reeves wrote. A cynic might say that with qualified immunity, government agents are at liberty to violate your constitutional rights as long as they do so in a novel way.

He called for juries, not judges, to rule on whether officers were guilty of bad acts. Congresss intent to protect citizens from government abuse cannot be overridden by judges who think they know better, he wrote. As a doctrine that defies this basic principle, qualified immunity is an unconstitutional error. It is past time for the judiciary to correct this mistake.

Thomas appealed Reeves ruling to the 5th Circuit, saying she was immunized against reasonable mistakes.

In his statement to Thomas, Jennings said Green confessed that he killed Robertson and moved his body, but evidence showed a much different set of facts: Robertson was shot at one location and, still conscious, arrived at a different location where he was later found dead, wrote Willett, who was appointed by President Trump.

In addition, Robertson was with another man besides Green shortly before the shooting, Willett wrote.

Accepting Greens allegations as true, he wrote, Detective Thomas had information which would have undercut any reasonable belief that Green murdered Robertson.

In March 2022, Samuel Jennings recanted his statement to Thomas, saying he was just high and trying to get out of jail. Jennings said he initially pointed to the first photo in a photo lineup, only to have the detective steer him instead to the fifth photo, which was Green.

This method of identification, if true, is the very type of unlawful and suggestive identification for which we have previously denied qualified immunity, Willett wrote.

A month later, prosecutors remanded Greens capital murder charges to the files, and he was released from jail.

A year later, Green sued Thomas and the city for malicious arrest and prosecution without probable cause. Green alleged that the detective withheld evidence from the grand jury that would have shown his innocence.

Thomas insists that she deserves qualified immunity because a grand jury indicted Green. The 5th Circuit judges disagreed.

Greens pleadings are sufficient to suggest Detective Thomas materially tainted the grand jury proceedings, Willett wrote.

They concluded that Thomas wasnt entitled to qualified immunity on Greens Fourth Amendment false arrest and 14th Amendment due process claims, but they did grant her qualified immunity with regard to the claim of malicious prosecution.

Qualified immunity does not protect government officials who knowingly violate the law,' Willett wrote. Based on the allegations in the complaint, Detective Thomas falls into that camp.

Tupelo attorney Jim D. Waide III, who is representing Green, called it encouraging that the 5th Circuit would largely follow the very thorough opinion that Judge Reeves wrote. There are obviously judges on the 5th Circuit that disagree with qualified immunity as much as Judge Reeves does.

Sheridan A. Carr, special assistant to the Jackson city attorney, said the 5th Circuit did reaffirm the federal commitment to qualified immunity.

While we respect the courts ruling, we believe the evidence will ultimately support Detective Thomas and the City, and we expect a favorable outcome as the legal process continues, Carr responded by email. This ruling was made at the motion to dismiss stage, where the court was required to accept the plaintiffs allegations as true without considering any evidence or the full context of the case. We remain confident that a more complete and accurate picture will emerge after the facts have been fully developed through discovery.

___

This story was originally published by Mississippi Today and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Law Enforcement Mississippi
Chicago-based Hub International, an insurance broker and financial services firm with offices across North America, has acquired another agency in the Southeast.

Hub announced that it has acquired the assets of C&L Marine Insurance, based in Boca Raton, Florida. President Scott Costolo and his team will join Hub Florida, and will be known as C&L Marine, a Hub International company, Hub said in a news release.

Its the latest acquisition for Hub, which has grown to more than 19,000 employees across the continent. Chris Gardner is CEO of Hub Florida.

C&Ls website shows it has more than 30 years of experience, working with major insurance carriers. The firm has focused on boat builders, dealers, marinas, marine contractors, yachts, and more.

Its the second expansion in a month of a boat insurance firm into the sometimes-stormy Florida waters.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Florida
Ashley Powers joined Alliant Insurance Services as senior vice president within its employee benefits group.

She is based in Alliants headquarters in Irvine, California.

Powers has more than 13 years of experience in the benefits industry. Before joining Alliant, Powers was vice president of client services at OneDigital, focusing on operations, team development and client retention.

Topics Alliant Employee Benefits
The Washington Unified School District in Fresno, Calif. settled a federal charge of firing a 65-year-old teacher.

The age discrimination charge was filed in April 2022 by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging that the employee was denied reasonable accommodation, subjected to different terms and conditions of employment, and finally discharged because of age and disability.

The EEOC said it investigated the allegations and found reasonable cause to believe the Washington Unified School District violated the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), when it denied equal terms and conditions of employment and discharged a math teacher due to the employees age.

Without admitting liability, the school district entered into a conciliation agreement with the EEOC. The district agreed to pay $17,000 to the impacted individual, provide a neutral letter of reference, and provide training to supervisors and managers on the ADEA and complaint handling. Additionally, the school district will post a notice to all employees about the resolution of this charge and their rights under federal anti-discrimination law.

Topics California K-12 Education
Fire took everything, please help.

The headline was one of hundreds like it on GoFundMe campaigns that launched even as the embers of the fires in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena were still smoldering. They were a grim reminder that even in more affluent areas of the US, there are always people who are uninsured or, despite having insurance, still need help with immediate needs like clothing and shelter after a disaster.

Three-hundred and fifty miles to the north of Los Angeles, another California city is pioneering a form of disaster insurance that could provide more reliable relief than the kindness of strangers.

Related: Cascading Extreme Weather Events Unleash Billions in Damages Globally

Fremont, a Bay Area city of 226,000, in September became the first municipality in the nation to buy its own citywide flood insurance policy. Its whats known as parametric insurance: If the agreed-upon threshold, or parameter, for flooding is met, that will trigger an immediate payout. Fremont could use the money for anything it needed, whether cleaning up debris or helping uninsured citizens to get back on their feet, or even just replenishing the general budget.

While there are plenty of smaller experiments in community-wide parametric insurance  there are homeowner associations in California, for example, that carry wildfire insurance  Fremonts marks a major step forward since it involves public monies and coverage for an entire city.

It comes as pressure for communities to do more to protect themselves is growing intense. Private insurers are leaving more households exposed by dropping policies and exiting some markets altogether. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has fired hundreds of employees at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which responds to natural disasters, and has targeted more at an office of the Department of Housing and Urban Development that is key to funding disaster relief. President Donald Trump has said hed like to close down FEMA altogether and have states handle their own disaster response and recovery.

Its clear that more innovative solutions need to be brought to the table to protect Americans, said Daniel Kaniewski, a former FEMA official who now leads the public sector practice at Marsh McLennan, a risk management firm. We feel that community-based catastrophe insurance is one such approach.

The US is vastly underinsured for catastrophes. Home insurance doesnt cover flood damage, and only about 4% of Americans purchase it separately through the federal governments National Flood Insurance Program. Roughly 12% of US homeowners have no home insurance at all, says the Insurance Information Institute. (Lenders require mortgage holders to have insurance, but homeowners without mortgages are under no such obligation.)

Local governments may insure key public buildings, like city halls. But when disaster strikes, they mostly rely on aid from FEMA and HUD to recover. The president must declare a major disaster for FEMA funds to kick in. Even then, it can take a very long time for residents claims to be processed, a delay that has financial repercussions for cities and towns as the tax base shrinks.

Fremont has flooded before, although that wasnt entirely what inspired the recent purchase. The city was required to take out flood insurance for its police headquarters building because it serves as collateral for municipal bonds. But that building is on a hill and never floods, even when other parts of the city are inundated.

Steven Schwarz, the citys risk manager, reasoned that at a slightly higher cost, Fremont could get more extensive protection. The parametric basically allows me to provide specific coverage and then broaden it, he said. Im actually covering the event and not the building itself. The additional cost is just 20% more than the city was paying for a traditional policy on the police HQ, which had a deductible, Schwarz said.

Related: Los Angeles County Sues Utility Edison Over Deadly Wildfire

The policy starts paying out when flooding is observed in a contiguous area of at least 0.58 square miles, anywhere within the citys 78 square miles of land. That would trigger a $200,000 payout that could increase with worse flooding.

Although mainstream insurers only began to offer parametric insurance in the 1990s, its becoming a favored way to insure against catastrophes like earthquakes, droughts and hurricanes, especially in Africa and the Caribbean.

It is more affordable than traditional insurance because it only triggers if and when the parameter is met  for example, with 1 inch of water on the ground following heavy rains or when storm winds reach 145 miles per hour. Then the money is paid automatically, without need of claims or adjusters. The downside is that if a catastrophe misses the prescribed metric by a tiny amount, the policyholder gets nothing.

Parametric insurance for earthquake damage has been available in California for several years. Crafting an option for flooding has become possible only more recently, with new mapping technology that can accurately measure flooding and flood severity, said Bessie Schwarz, the chief executive officer of New York City startup Floodbase (and no relation to Fremonts Schwarz).

This coverage requires a dataset that can monitor flooding inside the entire extent of the city all the time, she said. Floodbase is providing just that to underpin Fremonts policy: constant, real-time flood monitoring.

Fremont couldnt have gotten parametric flood insurance in 2017, when it experienced major flooding. But if it had its current policy then, the city would have received more than $710,000, Floodbase estimates. (The citys conventional policy on the police building did not pay out.) With the new policy, there hasnt been a rain event yet that threatened to trigger a payout, Steven Schwarz said, but its still early.

While Fremont put its own money toward the policy, which insurance brokers say is a first, there is at least one similar pilot out there. In New York City, non-profit groups including the Environmental Defense Fund and the Center for NYC Neighborhoods, working with the mayors office, banded together to buy parametric flood insurance to cover some low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. The policy was active in both 2023 and 2024, and so far it has not paid out.

Alliant Insurance Services Inc. and Amwins Group Inc., the retailer and wholesaler respectively behind Fremonts plan, believe there is widespread appetite for this type of insurance.

I am seeing a lot of interest in this right now, said Rob Lowe, Fremonts broker with Alliant. Lowe, who has been selling insurance to public entities in California for 15 years, says recent extreme events like downpours caused by atmospheric rivers have awakened cities to their vulnerabilities, and they see parametric insurance as a way to close that gap.

Floodbases Schwarz said the company hopes to scale citywide parametric flood insurance across California, and eventually to flood-prone regions around the country. She said shes received inquiries from cities in the Southeast affected by Hurricane Helene.

Jesse Keenan, a professor at Tulane University who studies cities and climate risk, says local governments, in particular, could use these policies to reduce the disruptions to their tax base brought by disasters. This would likely be very positively viewed in the muni bond credit rating agencies, he said.

But, he added, cities would basically be kicking the can down the road unless they take bigger, more expensive steps  like reining in new construction  to lower risk and adapt to the climate that is coming.

Ultimately, local governments will need to reduce risk through appropriate land use, zoning and building controls, he said. Without this, parametric insurance might not even be available in the future.

Top photo: The Warm Springs area of Fremont, California.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics California
San Diego, CA., March 11th 2025  Broker Educational Sales & Training, Inc. is excited to announce a strategic partnership with the Insurance Journals Academy of Insurance. This collaboration aims to deliver Insurance Journals Academy of Insurance classes, their brand and content supremely regarded in the industry as exceeding standards of industry-related content excellence via on-demand and live formats in the form of on-demand versions of their classes approved for continuing education credits in all 50 states. The first classes are the Academy of Insurances 8 Part Commercial Property Master Class and their 7 part Commercial General Liability Master Class!

Patrick Wraight, Director of Education at the Academy of Insurance, adds,  We are proud to be working with BEST to take our world-class content and offer it in a form that meets a need in the market. Everyone needs CE, and we believe that if youre going to invest in CE, you should get the best insurance learning content available.

This synergistic partnership promises to:

Elevate the quality and range of educational content available to Broker Educational Sales & Training, Inc. customers as well as to Insurance Journals Academy of Insurance members and the wider insurance community.

Support the ongoing professional development of insurance practitioners, including agents new to the profession, ensuring they remain at the forefront of industry advancements.

Foster a stronger community of well-educated, connected, and inspired insurance professionals.

Both Broker Educational Sales & Training, Inc. and the Insurance Journals Academy of Insurance look forward to witnessing the positive impacts this partnership will bring to insurance professionals and to the industry as a whole.

About the Insurance Journals Academy of InsuranceThe Academy, founded in 2010, provides live online training and on-demand webinars and classes taught by more than 65 of the industrys leading educators, consultants, writers and executives. Its current library holds more than 600 different courses on coverages, management, sales and risk management. The Academy also offers books and insurance skills testing. The Academy is a division of San Diego-based Wells Media Group, which further serves the property/casualty insurance industry through its digital and print publications that include Insurance Journal, Carrier Management, Claims Journal, MyNewMarkets and Insurance Journal TV.

For more details on this partnership or to access their range of educational offerings, visit www.brokered.net and www.ijacademy.com.

The Commercial Property Master Class for CE may be accessed by clicking CE at the top of any Academy page or https://bestonlinecourses.com/ija/catalog/select/

Media Contact

George Jack

800-897-9965 x166

gjack@ijacademy.com

Topics Agencies Training Development
British online fashion retailer Boohoo has announced it is to rebrand itself as Debenhams Group after it acquired the department store chains name and website operations from administrators in 2021.

In April 2020, Debenhams Retail Ireland announced it was going into voluntary liquidation with the closure of its stores in Ireland. The move came after its British parent said it would no longer continue funding what already was an ailing business.

Staff impacted by the closures picketed outside stores seeking four weeks of redundancy per year of service and this lasted for more than a year.

However, on Tuesday, Boohoo announced that it was rebranding as Debenhams Group saying a business review has confirmed that Debenhams, its business model and its technology is at the epicentre of our Group going forward.

The company also named Phil Ellis as the new chief financial officer. Last October, Boohoo announced the departure of then chief executive John Lyttle, and appointed Dan Finley to replace him, and also unveiled a strategic review.

Since late 2024, Boohoo has faced a board dispute with its largest shareholder, Mike Ashley's Frasers Group. In January, Boohoo shareholders rejected Frasers' attempt to remove co-founder Mahmud Kamani from the board.

The two businessmen, Mr Ashley and Mr Kamani, have been rivals in the past, notably when Frasers failed to rescue department store chain Debenhams, in which Ashley previously held a stake.

On Tuesday Boohoo said that Debenhams is growing rapidly, the business model is stock-lite and capital-lite, it is very profitable and highly cash generative.

Boohoo added that it sees a clear path to Debenhams becoming a business in the medium term with multi-billion pound gross merchandise value and a core earnings margin on net sales of about 20%.

Mr Ellis, the current finance director of Debenhams and managing director of DebenhamsPay+, will become group CFO and a member of the board, replacing Stephen Morana with immediate effect, Boohoo said on Tuesday.

Boohoo, once boosted by the pandemic's online shopping surge, now faces supply chain issues, rising returns, weak consumer demand, and tough competition from Shein and Temu - all of which are impacting its profits.

Reuters
Launching Dorothy Cross new book Kinship: Home at Waterstones Cork last week, John OHalloran, the president of UCC, praised the Montenotte-born artist for her courage in taking on the project the book is based on; the restitution of a 2,000-year-old mummified man to Egypt.

UCC is a university that really wants to support everything about diversity, equality, inclusion and belonging, he said.

The mummy is thought to be that of a middle-aged priest from Thebes. Cross has recalled that she first heard of its existence from her Aunt May, whose husband Billy ODonovan was a professor of Pathology at UCC; the mummy was donated to the university by a missionary priest in 1928. Five years ago, when she began making enquiries into the mummys whereabouts, she came to believe it was in storage at the National Museum in Dublin.

Worried that the mummy might have started to decay, Cross called to a restoration expert at a facility in Letterfrack, five miles from her current home in Killary Harbour, Co Galway, to establish what it might cost to conserve it properly. And it turned out they had the mummy upstairs, she says. Hed been there for the past 12 years.

Cross became determined to return the mummy to Egypt. She assembled a team to work with her on the project: poet and UCC librarian John Fitzgerald; arts producer Mary Hickson; and curator Maeve-Ann Austen.

Cross had previously worked with Hickson on her Heartship project, the centrepiece of the 2019 edition of the Sounds from a Safe Harbour arts festival, which Hickson directs. On that occasion, Cross famously borrowed a human heart from the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford and had it carried up the Lee on the LE James Joyce. This too was a restitution of sorts; the heart had originally been discovered in the crypt at Triskel Christchurch in 1863.

Dorothy Cross working on the mummy before its return to Egypt.

It was days after the Heartship project that Dorothy rang me, saying, Ive got another idea, says Hickson. To be honest, Id be happy to work with Dorothy on anything. There followed a highly complex series of diplomatic manouevres before they obtained permission to bring the mummy back to Egypt.

Originally, Cross had hoped to place it on a ship in Ireland; sail down the Bay of Biscay, through the Straits of Gibraltar and across the Mediterranean sea, to arrive home to Cairo, with music from both cultures heralding it along the way.

Her intention was to draw attention, as she had done with the Heartship project, to the dangers present-day migrants face in attempting to cross these waters. In the end, however, it was only possible to secure permission to transport the mummy by plane.

In 2023, arrangements were made to return the mummy from Connemara to Cork, pending its departure for Cairo, and Crosss team rented a hearse from OConnors funeral home to come and collect it. She had something of a shock when one of the two undertakers who arrived with the hearse turned out to be a relative.

Aunt Mays daughter Margaret is my godmother  shes still with us, aged 91  and her nephew was one of the undertakers. It was bizarre. They arrived in beautiful black suits, and were so respectful. They stopped at the local garage, and everybody was asking, whos dead? We told white lies, saying it was my uncle. It was easier than trying to explain why we had an Egyptian mummy in the hearse.

The mummy, accompanied by Cross, Fitzgerald, Hickson and Austen, was finally flown to Cairo in a gilded crate on an Air Egypt flight on December 12. It is now in the possession of the Museum of Cairo.

Over the past few years, Cross has been working on a book and a film on the Kinship project. The film is a work in progress, but the book, published in a lavish edition by Lilliput Press, chronicles the whole saga from start to finish. It features a selection of Cross photographs, along with poems and essays by a prestigious group of writers.

The first of these is a poem called The Return by Michael D Higgins, the President of Ireland. Michael was brilliant, says Cross. And his poem is beautiful. He really knew what I was trying to do.

Dorothy Cross and Mary Hickson at the pyramids in Giza, Egypt.

Cross herself contributes an essay entitled Home, while the nine other contributors were chosen because they had written about loss, or some kind of displacement. They include Max Porter, Edmund de Vaal, Sonali Deraniyagala, Hisham Matar, Philippe Sands, Ahdaf Souief, Rosemary Mahoney, John Fitzgerald and Nadia Mabrouk.

I asked Max because he had written Grief is a Thing with Feathers, says Cross, and Edmund because a lot of his family were killed in the Holocaust, and he wrote that beautiful book, Letters to Camando. Sonali I asked because she wrote so beautifully about losing her husband and two young sons in the Sri Lanka tsunami in her book Wave, and Hisham Matar because of his book The Return, about his fathers disappearance in Libya.

Cross asked Sands, a lawyer, author and activist, to contribute an essay after reading his book The Last Colony, which chronicles his efforts to restore the Chagos Islands to their original inhabitants. Cross contacted Mahoney because the Boston writer had rowed a skiff down the Nile in her 30s. "For our Kinship book, she wrote a very beautiful story about herself and her boyfriend walking along the edge of the Nile, picking up fragments of bones and putting them in their pockets, thinking, isn't this great? Though later on, they put them back, of course.

Souief is one of the two Egyptian writers Cross invited to contribute. Ahdaf is 74, and shes extraordinary, she says. We met her in Cairo, and I think she scrutinised me more than anybody else I asked. But in the end, she wrote a short piece about the tradition of burial in Egypt. It's gorgeous to have her voice.

The other Egyptian writer is Nadia Mabrouk, who contributes a poem in Arabic and English. And then John Fitzgerald, who's been one of our team from the start, wrote a series of sonnets and had the brilliant idea of having Nadia translate them into Arabic as well.

Max Porter and Dorothy Cross at the launch of Kinship: Home at Waterstones, Cork. Picture: Noel Sweeney

Fitzgerald read his work at the launch of Kinship: Home, as did Porter, whose contribution is a highly poetic piece of experimental fiction called My Child. Porter is no stranger to Cork, having served as artist-in-residence at the Sounds from a Safe Harbour festival in 2023, where he read from his novel Lanny. On that occasion, Porter also presented his collaboration with local actor Cillian Murphy, a short film called All of This Unreal Time. Murphy will also star in Steve, a forthcoming Netflix film adaptation of Porters novel Shy.

Ill be returning to Cork in September as a co-curator of the festival, says Porter. One thing Ive learned is that you cant say no to Mary Hickson. Or Dorothy Cross, for that matter.

Cross first came to mainstream attention with a project called Ghostship, which involved coating a decommissioned lightship in phosphorescent paint and mooring it in Dublin Bay for three weeks in 1999. She sees Kinship as the conclusion of a trilogy that began with that project and continued with Heartship in 2019. I think our job is done, she says.

It is Fitzgerald who sums up best what the return of the mummy to Egypt has come to represent. I think it was simply a gesture of civility, he says. Particularly now, in a time of aggression. And for those of us involved, theres more a sense of relief than achievement.

Dorothy Cross book Kinship: Home is published by Lilliput Press and available at Waterstones. Further information: dorothycross.com
All that glitters

While antiques come with their own histories, bespoke jewellery allows you to create your own unique story from scratch. The beauty of finding an heirloom-worthy piece is that it can be passed on through the generations and never date. The embodiment of wearable luxury, Joshua Reynolds jewellery is created with exquisite craftsmanship. Eschew identikit mass-produced accessories and embrace the care that goes into every piece that Reynolds makes. Choose from ethically sourced lab-grown diamonds or recreate the rainbow-like in this unique engagement ring pictured (starting at 6000, depending on the gemstones). The beauty of the process is in its slow approach - most pieces take between six and 8 weeks. This includes a 3D render of the product to ensure that any changes can be incorporated. With the demand for gold at an all-time high, it's likely to rise in value and who needs a pension anyway?

A feminine mystique

Picture: Anne-Sophie Auclerc

Fashion designer Roisin Pierce opens the door to the darkest depths of our collective history and from that place of primal pain, creates something beautiful. At first glance, her all-white feminine aesthetic imbues saccharine sweet innocence but on further inspection, the textures and layers reveal the resilience in the woman she dresses. Drawing inspiration from the whitework embroidery of the Magdelene Laundries, the zero waste designer reimagines Mna i Blath, the unmarried women who became pregnant. Light, airy fabrics reinvent these women turning tragedy into triumph. From dressing Alexa Chung for the Met Gala to winning the first-ever Chanel Metiers dArt prize, the collections are as wearable as they are talking points. Were investing in the floating fleur lace and organza sleeveless top, approximately 1610 and pairing it with selvedge denim. Shop at 10corsocomo.com or Dover Street Market doverstreetmarket.com.

Bag of tricks

We have officially entered the era of the little black handbag. When classic styles like Bottega Venetas Intrecciato bag and Loewes Puzzle bag trump logomania and novelty, you know the fashion set is wising up to the merits of longevity over trends. Enter Irish brand Aleo, whose timeless leather handbags deserve a pinned post on your grid. Shielding oneself from the paparazzi, providing a hiding place for chilli heatwave Doritos or as a chic home for one's furry friend - Aleos Palma bag, 309, is our must-have accessory of this season. Leave the ludicrously capacious bags to Greg's date (if you know you know). Find the full collection at aleoeurope.com.

Happy feet

The fine art of cobblers and cordwainers has all but diminished over the years, save for a select few artisans carrying on a family tradition. Every high street store turns over high volumes of styles that change to accommodate seasonal trends but smaller labels can mean more exclusivity and superior craftsmanship. Such is the case with new Irish brand Brog. Made ethically in Spain and Italy with buttery smooth leather, these dusty pink mules, 220 will usher us into the warmer days and last a lifetime. Available at brog.ie.

A timeless trench

The ubiquitous trench coat has enjoyed perennial appeal for a reason. Err on the side of classic to avoid looking like an Inspector Gadget cosplay without the Marigold glove (mental note, excellent Halloween idea). Shrimps signature spirited sophistication is imbued in the spring summer 2025 Birch trench coat, 830. Strong references to its heritage like the water-resistant fabric are modernised with contrasting gingham accents and the oversized collar du jour. Does it have pockets? Why, yes, yes it does. Purchase at shrimps.com.

Jean genie

If you've stepped away from skinnies but you're not quite ready to embrace the dread barrel, try something in between. This pair, 89.99, from the new H&M Atelier collection verge on loungewear - but make it louche. Relaxed silhouettes are of the moment: all the better to nip to the shops in. Run, don't walk, these true blue jeans are only available in selected H&M stores and online at hm.com

Sleek sunglasses

Whether your inspiration is Bella Hadid, Hailey Bieber or Neo in The Matrix, everyone needs a chic pair of black-rimmed sunglasses in their arsenal. Oval glasses saw a renaissance of sorts last year. With a low bridge and slim fit, this shape is ideal for those who prefer a subtle style statement. If youre reticent to commit fully, try something with a high street price like this sophisticated pair from M&S, 20. Available in store or online at marksandspencer.com.

The reservation

Kaldero, the restaurant located in the prime city centre Dublin location that was home to Wagamama, is a Pan-Asian offering - the word kaldero means pot in Tagalog, one of the principal languages of the Philippines. The menu from Eclective Hospitality Group - formerly Press Up - is a vast offering. But it's the chocolate dessert that really piqued out attention. Chocolate mousse with kiwi sounds like an unusual pairing but trust us - it's a sweet treat you'll never forget. kaldero.ie

Tongue-in-cheek trinket dishes

Zhuzh up your bedside locker and add some whimsy with a playful trinket tray. As a catchall for jewellery, keys and odds and ends, it's a convenient way to make your most-worn jewellery more accessible. Anything that saves routing through drawers in the morning is a win/win, don't you think? This cute pair from Oliver Bonas is our first choice; there's a wide selection in store or on the band's website, 8 at oliverbonas.com.
Ukrainian soldier Maxim Martynenko recalls the horrific day he begged his comrade to use him as a human shield after being paralysed by a Russian machine gun.

He does so in a chillingly matter of fact way while speaking to the Irish Examiner during a visit by Cork humanitarian Fiona Corcoran.

The charity worker, who heads the Greater Chernobyl Cause, is by his side as he completes a litany of daily exercises at Rert Rehabilitation Military Hospital in Kyiv.

Maxim has been staying there for a month after spending time in 10 different hospitals due to life-changing injuries sustained on November, 4, 2023.

While shocking to the uninitiated outsider, the combat horror stories dominate everyday conversation at the facility. Maxim is determined to master a standing aid.

The 35-year-old explains that he never had a family of his own. He lives for his mum, dad, and sister. His hope is to return to frontline duties and finish the fight from his wheelchair.

The director of the hospital and military doctor, Olexy Mikhayloe, had been struggling to generate funds to supply vital medical equipment for his patients, prompting Fiona Corcoran from the Greater Chernobyl Cause to step in.

Over the course of the last few weeks, she has been visiting orphanages, pre-schools, and care homes ravaged by war.

Fiona says that many of the street children who were initially helped by the charity several decades ago are now war veterans in their 30s.

Maxim has only recently been supported by the charity, and he is grateful to them for their assistance and for highlighting injuries suffered by Ukrainian soldiers who have been defending their homeland since Russian forces first invaded three years ago.

Russian soldiers ride atop Akatsyia self-propelled gun on an undisclosed location in eastern Ukraine. File Picture: Russian defense ministry press service via AP

As his last battle ended more than two years ago, a new one began that saw him fight for his life in numerous facilities. His surgeries included the reconstruction of a lung  which now operates at a 43% capacity.

My troop was appointed to Bachmut, which is where the Russians were occupying. They were in the forests.

They were at the entrance and exit of the city. Our job was to get them out of those territories. That was when the injury happened.

My comrades and I could see the Russian troops being dropped only five or six feet away from us. There was no warning. They just started using all their weapons.

My lungs were ripped open at that point. I had a good bullet proof vest and a helmet that helped. There were two Russians attacking me, and I managed to kill one. The other Russian came at me from behind and shot me in the back with a machine gun. Thats when I received the spinal injury. My liver was also damaged.

Maxim remembers believing he would die.

My comrade and I were in the trench. When I first received the bullet from the machine gun in my back, my first thought was Im dying

I learned some basics in the army. One of them was that if you couldnt feel the tips of your toes, then that was a very bad sign.

When my brain gave a signal to move my feet, and I couldnt move them, I realised how bad things were.

I refilled my gun with bullets and threw the weapon over to a friend.

I then managed to throw myself in front of my comrade so he could use me as a human shield. I believed at the time that it would have meant the end for him otherwise. He killed the Russian soldier who shot me.

Maxim said he was so badly injured that he considered ending his life by detonating a grenade, but his comrade intervened and told him an evacuation team was on its way.

He said: You are still alive. There is still hope. Im calling the evacuation team for you.

It was then that I started thinking, not only about myself and my misery, but my mum, dad, and sister too.

They wouldnt receive any supports if I die. The pain was excruciating, but my senses became so sharp.

He praised the evacuation team for their professionalism and working in a combat zone

They were able to administer first aid in the moment I was dying. As soon as we got into the car, it was severely attacked. It barely made it out of that zone to the ambulance.

Purchasing military equipment

Having served in the army as a younger man, Maxim said there was never any doubt that he would volunteer when the Russians invaded.

I was born in Brovary, Ukraine. Before the war, I lived in the Czech Republic and worked for a pharmaceutical company. When the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, I put all my necessities in a bag to fight in the war.

I had collected some funds to purchase military equipment to bring to Ukraine. I had eight duffle bags when leaving for Ukraine.

I had friends who were no longer living in Ukraine. Each one of us shared this great desire to fight for our country.

We all decided simultaneously that we wanted to come back and fight in this war. We communicated by phone from three different countries  including France, Poland, and the Czech Republic. When we arrived back to Ukraine we didnt know what to expect.

Things were changing every day, every minute. It was so difficult to know whether we could be together."

We wanted to stick together, fight together, but none of us knew what unit we were going to be appointed to

With pressure coming from the US on Ukraine and its president to agree a ceasefire deal with Russia, Maxim says he is urging the people of Ireland not to forget the struggles of the Ukrainian people and those fighting on the frontline.

If the rest of the world could hear my message, I would ask for continued support. This is the end of resources when it comes to strong soldiers with the mental capacity needed on the frontline. There is less motivation for people to go and learn to fight, which is a challenge for Ukraine.

War veteran Maxim Martynenko, centre, during his previous life on Ukraines frontline. Maxim says he is determined to finish the fight from his wheelchair.

I dont support Trumps decisions and demands right now. I wish the world could see us as people who still need support. There are not enough people fighting and we have less weapons. We still need help. I dont have much to live for. My only goal is to get into better shape with all the help that I have here. Then I will go back and finish the fight and see my country free.

The director of the Rert Rehabilitation Military Hospital, Olexy Mikhayloe, says that some soldiers are unable to return to the frontline after their injuries.

I am playing a double role, because I am also trying to help people find a new way of life after they endure this.

Most do not continue in the military after such an injury. Some start drinking and behave in an anti-social way. Finding a proper job to earn money is also very difficult. Psychological help is very important to help a person get motivated. To help people become motivated, you need to show them light at the end of the tunnel.

Arthem Ruden, who lives in Kyiv, is also a patient at the facility.

In July 2022, I received an injury that damaged my ribs on one side, he told the Irish Examiner.

I also received several injuries in my back while on the frontline in Donetsk.

They resulted from the debris of shelling.

In Ukraines civilian, military, and even private clinics and rehabilitations centres, they tell people that this is the end for them

If your condition has been stabilised at the hospital and youre referred to a rehabilitation centre, they are working with your arms and not your legs. Even if there is slight movement in your toes, they dont react to that. It is easier for everyone to put you in a wheelchair, and help you understand how to live that way, than doing all the hard work by getting your legs back up and running. This place is different.

'Don't take hope away'

The 33-year-old said he has come a long way since the start of his rehabilitation.

They say that if for two years there is no tingling in your legs and feet, then thats it.

Two years of therapy and I am starting to recover and get back on my legs. This is one out of few rehabilitation centres that dont take hope away from people.

I am trying to prove doctors wrong and show soldiers with spinal injuries like me that there is hope and you dont give up.

This is only the beginning. I know that I may be able to walk again.

Fiona is trying to raise enough funds to purchase a total of six medical beds and rehabilitation equipment for the centre through the charity.

Initially started in response to the Chernobyl disaster, the Greater Chernobyl Cause has been supporting victims of war since the Russian invasion began.

She has been visiting Ukraine on a frequent basis to liaise with people and organisations desperately in need of help and financial support.

Ms Corcorans most trip to Kyiv came during Russias most significant drone attack since the wars onset.

Our adopted nursing home at Prybirsk, where Russian soldiers trapped 30 residents, is still suffering from radiation sickness without proper food, water, or heating. The Russians have left a trail of devastation in their wake.

Two villages were completely wiped off the face of the Earth by airstrikes, leaving hospital staff in shock

Prybirsks care home was devastated, with residents suffering from organ dysfunction and constant pain.

We have transformed the place into a real care home, purchasing specialised beds, bathing wheelchairs, and therapy equipment. We also purchased an ambulance to transport the patients to the capital, where they can get the highly specialised treatment they require.

The Cork woman described the other horrors she witnessed.

In the Chernihiv region, the kindergarten was totally demolished. The children were terrified and confused about what had happened to their nursery. The eerie feeling of walking through rubble is contrasted with the solemn names and pictures of children adorning white boards, in a place where they will never see their smiling faces or hear their laughter at their playground.

To support the Greater Chernobyl Cause visit www.greaterchernobylcause.ie
The minister for children has said she has no plans to establish a statutory inquiry into the sexual abuse scandal at St John Ambulance Ireland (SJAI) despite calls from survivors to do so.

The charity was the subject of a major report after more than 15 men came forward to allege they were sexually abused by one former member involved in the first aid unit of the Old Kilmainham division in Dublin more than 30 years ago.

A report by Geoffrey Shannon, published in March 2023, found that the charity had failed to act against the man for years, despite being aware he posed a significant risk to children.

However, abuse survivors want to see a statutory inquiry established, criticising the lack of accountability by St John Ambulance Ireland.

Norma Foley was asked about calls for a statutory inquiry by Independent TD Barry Heneghan in a parliamentary question. The minister said her department continues to meet with St John Ambulance Ireland and the safeguarding officer to discuss progress to date but added: I am satisfied that progress is being made, and I have no plans to establish a statutory inquiry.

Mick Finnegan from Dublin was the first to speak out about the abuse after he revealed he was raped by the same man at the centre of the allegations. Mr Finnegan told the Irish Examiner there is a lack of accountability by the charity and he is deeply disappointed with the ministers response regarding a statutory inquiry.

There has been lots of backwards and forwards with the Department of Children and I, he said.

While there have been three progress reports since Dr Shannons review and another one is due, the full recommendations of the review have not been implemented by St John Ambulance and there has been no accountability.

Its devastating when you are waiting this long for change to something that has already been found to be true. It takes an emotional toll on you.

"More than 15 men came forward, we protested, we spoke out and we got the review but with that amount of people coming forward, there should be an inquiry, and the minister said shes not doing one. Thats very hard to take.

The accused  who is elderly  has never been convicted, but a previous Tusla report found that abuse did take place.

Mr Finnegans expose of the abuse led to other survivors coming forward. He and others have taken personal injuries cases in the High Court since.

He has described how his life took a downward turn after he spoke out and he is currently living in temporary accommodation: I was drinking heavily he said. I lost everything. I just couldnt cope with the flashbacks, they were very vivid experiences, and I would be waking up in a state.

However, he said he has turned his life around and will be sober two years in August. He is working with Ciaran Lanigan, clinical specialist with North Dublin Homeless Mental Health team who told the Irish Examiner that Mr Finnegan has been working well with the unit.

He is one of the strongest people I know he said. He has engaged fully with the service, and he has been through an awful lot.

"People dont choose to be homeless, and mental health and trauma are usually a part of the background.

There was a terrible injustice done to him, and thats very hard for any survivor when they dont have accountability.

The Department of Children said: SJAI is progressing the implementation of the recommendations as set out in Dr Geoffrey Shannons report and the department is aware that SJAI will be publishing its next progress report in the near future.

A key recommendation of Dr Shannons report was for the appointment of a National Safeguarding Officer to SJAI.

The department has provided funding for a 12-month period to ensure that all of Dr Shannons recommendations, including safeguarding, are implemented in full.
US president Donald Trump is "always welcome" to visit Ireland, the Taoiseach has said.

Speaking in Texas ahead of meeting Mr Trump on Wednesday, Micheal Martin said the Irish delegation "would be engaging" with the Trump administration on a potential visit to Ireland.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently met with Mr Trump and brought with him an invitation from King Charles to visit Britain. Asked if he would be doing similar in the Oval Office on Wednesday, Mr Martin said there would be engagements.

"The President is always welcome to visit Ireland, and obviously we'll be engaging on that front," he said.

Mr Martin said he was not "rehearsing" his engagement with Mr Trump. On Monday the Taoiseach met Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a close ally of Mr Trump, but he told the Irish Examiner he had not sought an insight into Mr Trump from the Texan. Mr Martin said Mr Trump's announcement earlier this week of Irish Heritage Month in the US was a "positive".

He added he is not concerned there could be criticism from the US side of the Occupied Territories Bill or Ireland's stance on Gaza.

"[The meeting] reflects the very strong tradition between Ireland the United States in celebrating the Irish American diaspora. Irish Heritage Month was announced by the President in a very positive way. I think it's an opportunity to celebrate that in the first instance, and then to discuss the issues of the day. And obviously the economic relationship would be a very strong and key part of it.

"I think we're all fundamentally agreed on peace. We're all fundamentally agreed and my focus is on copper fastening the ceasefire, get the release of all hostages. And we've seen of late the terrible condition of some hostages, the way in which they were kept.

"So I think the focus has to be on consolidating the ceasefire, consolidating the peace, getting hostages out, and also then a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza, because the people of Gaza have suffered to an enormous amount and to an enormous degree, and it cannot continue."

Mr Martin had told the SXSW on Monday that multinationals in Ireland should "hold their nerve" in the face of tariffs coming from the Trump administration. On Tuesday he repeated that advice across the board.

"The actual reaction of multinationals that I've met has been very positive. I met with Microsoft last week in Dublin. They're 40 years in Ireland. I spoke to a number of pharmaceutical companies. They're in Ireland for the long haul. I think what will happen is there will be debate in the US, independent of any particular European country or Ireland. So I think we have to just monitor the situation and see how it evolves and develops."

Mr Martin rejected the idea that the Government had announced a plan to build a strategic reserve of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in advance of the trip in a bid to woo Mr Trump.

"First of all, it was in planning during the term of the last government and the last minister. And during the programme for government talks it was made very clear to us how serious the vulnerability is if something were to happen to the gas connectors for the Irish economy - we wouldn't last a week without some backup. It's very stark, actually. It's a fundamental responsibility, we have to have energy security."
The Department of Defence is looking for drones for search and rescue that can be adapted to strike targets.

This strike capability could include an ability to fire air-to-surface laser-guided micro missiles that are being developed for the size of drone being considered.

A tender-related process initiated by the Department of Defence is calling for submissions from manufacturers of unmanned aircraft system (UAS) platforms.

While it states that currently, the ability of any of the drones to strike at targets is not contemplated, the department is interested in the ability to seamlessly adapt them for such uses.

The ones being looked at are those that are in widespread usage amongst contemporary militaries for a variety of taskings.

The notification, which was published on Tuesday, states: No strike capability is currently contemplated.

But the ability of either the platform and/or the ground control component to seamlessly deliver a strike capability might be stated in the responses.

Later in the annex to the notification, it asks potentially interested parties: Can the platform be seamlessly configured to host a strike capability? If so, elaborate.

Quite what sort of strike the department has in mind is not specified, but could include so-called micro-missiles designed to be deployed by drones like the Tarsis 75.

Weighing just 3kg, these small missiles have a range of up to 4km and would be effective against light-armoured vehicles.

The notification on the EU Tenders website says it is not a procurement (notification) nor an invitation to submit bids.

Instead, it states the Department of Defence is undertaking a preliminary market engagement exercise to outline a planned procurement of UAS, and to to alert the market of the requirement.

It also states the scope of its enquiry is to establish the extent of market offerings available further to broad parameters listed in an annex to its notice.

It says these parameters relate to a potential successor platform to the current platform in use with the Defence Forces predominantly used for ISTAR purposes.

This is a reference to CLASS-1 military drones used for gathering Intelligence in Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Target Acquisition missions (ISTAR).

While the department is looking for fixed-wing UAS platforms, Vertical Take-Off and Landing systems will also be considered.

It adds: If fixed wing, the platform should be catapult launched, preferably propelled by electric motor and carry a dual Electro-Optical and IR ISTAR payload.

This is a reference to an all-weather, high-resolution thermal-imaging, long range air surveillance system.

The notification also states: It is additionally envisaged the platform would align with Nato class 1small designation.

This is a reference to one of three sizes in this class, and it means the sort of drone they want will weigh between 15kg and 150kg and have a normal mission radius of 50km.

Both the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces were asked for a comment.
A former chef accused of attempted deception after losing a 2.3m compensation claim against a Co Cork hotel has been sent forward for trial.

Jason Platt, aged 53, from Merseyside, England, was arrested in September by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB).

He was granted bail, and his case was listed again at Dublin District Court today when he was served with a book of evidence.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed "trial on indictment".

Judge Michele Finan acceded to a request from State solicitor John Forde to grant a return-for-trial order, sending the case to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where it is scheduled to be listed on May 1 next.

Mr Platt, who was on crutches, was granted legal aid and warned to notify prosecutors within 14 days if he intends to rely on an alibi. Judge Finan also ordered gardai to hand over interview videos to the defence.

The former chef had been on a trip to Cork in February 2009 with his partner when he suffered injuries in the fall from the window of the Old Bank House Hotel in Kinsale.

However, in an unsuccessful High Court action in 2015, he lost his personal injury claim for damages.

He is now accused of seven offences, including one for attempted deception of the Aviva insurance company between August 2010 and June 2015, contrary to common law.

The remaining charges are under the Civil Liabilities Act for giving false or misleading evidence in the High Court in Dublin and to a doctor at Beaumont Hospital and in an affidavit.

A conviction could result in a sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment. He has still to enter a plea.

Earlier, GNECB Detective Yvonne Costello told the court that Mr Platt "made no reply" when charged.

Mr Platt, of Queensland Ave, Thatto Heath, St Helen's, Merseyside, had to lodge 1,000 bail and give an undertaking not to withdraw a further 1,000 from an account.

He must not contact witnesses directly or indirectly and must appear in court whenever required.

In September, the defence had said Mr Platt was on a disability benefit, getting 250stg a week and "had no savings or assets".
The jury in the trial of a thirteen-year-old boy and a fifteen-year-old boy accused of raping a 16-year-old girl at a Christmas race meeting were discharged following legal submissions and a new jury was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court today.

Mr Justice Paul McDermott thanked the seven women and five men who were sworn in as jurors on Monday and explained to them, As a matter of law I have taken the decision  having heard legal submissions  to discharge you. Your jury service has ended. You may think this is a waste of time and that I have treated your time in a cavalier way, but I dont. My duty is to apply the law in relation to the case. This process was followed and had to be gone through to raise this point. I cannot offer you any more than my thanks.

A new jury of nine women and three men was then sworn in for the trial which recommenced this afternoon at the court sitting in Cork.

The two defendants, now aged 15 and 17, are both charged with raping and sexually assaulting the teenager at a St Stephens Day race meeting at Limerick racecourse. A third boy is accused of aiding and abetting the first two defendants in carrying out these offences and he is also charged with falsely imprisoning the girl.

It is alleged that the contested incidents occurred in a car in a field car park at Limerick racecourse at Patrickswell, Co Limerick, on December 26, 2023.

All three have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

Dean Kelly, prosecution senior counsel, gave the jury an outline of the expected evidence but stressed that this account was not itself evidence.

He said the complainant went to a friends house to get dressed for the races and to have some drinks with friends before getting a taxi to the racecourse.

Mr Kelly said the three defendants and the complainant were all in the pavilion at the racecourse that afternoon and ended up chatting together.

All four of them ended up leaving the pavilion and going to a car in a field being used as a car park. The events of what happened in the car will be the focus of the case. It is the prosecution case that (first defendant) had sexual intercourse with her, plainly against her will. It is the prosecution case that (second defendant) did the same, and that within the same period of time they engaged in sexualised touching of (complainant).

It is the prosecution case that they were assisted in that enterprise  depriving her of her liberty  by (third defendant). It is the prosecution case that it was not consensual, Mr Kelly said.

The disputed events in the car relate to a period of somewhere between 20 and 40 minutes, Mr Kelly said.

The prosecution senior counsel said that it may be the most normal thing for a juror to have sympathies for the complainant, or for the accused because they are so young, but he said they must approach their work as jurors coldly and dispassionately in a trial that is expected to take up to three weeks.
A 15-year-old facing a shocking catalogue of charges who was released on bail despite Garda objections has stayed out of trouble since his release last Thursday.

Judge Aine Clancy was told the teenager had not come to the adverse attention of gardai since the matter was before Cork District Court on March 6. The judge remanded the youth on continuing bail until the Childrens Court in Cork on March 14.
When An Taoiseach visits the White House tomorrow, St Patrick will be at his side to ensure that Micheal Martin will not be badger-baited like President Zelenskyy. I predict the meeting will go very well.

Former Taoiseach and defence minister, Leo Varadkar, neatly handled a difficult situation when he met president Trump back in 2019. When president Trump said that Europe needs to fork up for its own defence and stop ripping off the US taxpayer, Leo simply agreed with The Donald.

This was a standard message the president was giving to every European leader that came to the White House. The former taoiseach had no problem at all with Europe paying for its own defence, nor indeed have most Irish politicians, so long as Ireland is not involved.

Maybe Irish defence spending wasnt even mentioned during their meeting. Or, better still, the former taoiseach persuaded the president that Ireland wasnt really part of Europe at all. After all, the Gulf stream now comes from the Gulf of America to our western seaboard. We are all Americans now.

For some sentimental Americans, Ireland is special. The Emerald Isle is regarded as a kind of semi-detached paradise, permanently in orbit between the US and heaven, with great golfing, and comely maidens dancing at the crossroads.

The question in my mind, then, is, whether president Trump is one of those sentimental American golfers, perhaps like Bing Crosby, still wondering how are things in Glocca Mora.

St Patricks week is now an institution in itself. It is not just a chance for Washingtonians to wear the green, but a special opportunity for the leader of the free world to meet the Taoiseach of the day, Micheal Martin.

This is a unique chance for president Trump to state his worries and concerns to the real Taoiseach. The Irish public expect our Taoiseach to raise issues of concern also, and, being an honourable man, he will, but in a most diplomatic way.

In Washington the reputation of Irish diplomacy is legendary. Back in 72, while on a visit to the State Department in Washington, I remember a plaque on the wall. It said: An Irish diplomat could tell you to go to Hell, in such a nice way, that you would look forward to the journey!

Former Taoiseach and Defence Minister, Leo Varadkar, neatly handled a difficult situation when he met President Trump back in 2019. File photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Of course, no visit to the White House would be complete without the famous photo call. President Trump and the Taoiseach, all smiles as the shamrock bowl is handed over. The elephant in the room is really a huge stuffed Irish wolfhound, dressed in green livery.

However, this dog has really had his day, having been militarily neutralised decades ago. It can no longer growl, bite or even bark. It is a very docile animal really, timid, always ready to offer a paw or wag its tail. Just press the play button. Very well behaved, not like the lively labrador president Putin had in his office when he met chancellor Merkel.

But, seriously, who in Europe is going to pay for our continents security? Of course, back in the sixties and seventies, when my American military friends mentioned Europe, they really meant Germany. Great! Germany can pick up the tab for European defence.

US pressure

Since the seventies all US presidents have tried to get Europe to increase its defence spending. With the exception of Donald Trump, all have failed.

The most coercive attempt was made by president Nixon during his Reykjavik meeting with French president Pompidou in the autumn of 73. Even then Nixon was not asking Europe directly to increase defence spending but to concede a favourable trade deal with the US, in acknowledgement of the US contribution to European defence.

Pompidou pointed out that trade arrangements between the US and Europe could only be done through the EEC (EU), while defence was a matter for Nato. Since the membership of the EEC and Nato did not fully overlap, it was not possible to put US-Europe trade and defence on the one agenda.

One EEC Member State, Ireland, was neutral. Then Nixon, at secretary of state Kissingers suggestion, threatened to withdraw the quarter of a million US service personnel from Europe, Pompidou, though very ill at the time, did not budge.

From the beginning of the Cold War, there was always a worry in the background that the US might not fully honour Article 5 of the Nato Charter, by which all members agreed to come to the defence of another member country, if attacked. Would the US really use nuclear weapons to defend a European Nato member country and risk nuclear retaliation by the USSR?

At that time the nuclear doctrines of both the USSR and the US were based on MAD, (mutually assured destruction). For MAD to work, both sides adopted a policy not to strike first with nuclear weapons. Since both sides had the strategic nuclear capability to wipe out the other several times over, Armageddon was avoided.

By the early seventies, the USSR had expanded their ground forces, so much, that the US feared Nato could not withstand a Soviet offensive in Europe without resort to nuclear weapons.

These fears abated with the collapse of the USSR in 89. However, with the arrival in power of president Putin, a revived nationalist Russia began upgrading the Russian Armed Forces. But now Putin has changed Russias nuclear policy. He can authorise the use of tactical nuclear weapons in response to an overwhelming conventional (non-nuclear) attack.

Donald Trump

When Trump launched his first election campaign in 2016, he said that the US would not help a Nato member country that did not commit to NATOs 2% level of GDP on defence. Several of the smaller Nato countries became worried and began to rapidly increase defence spending towards, and even beyond, the agreed target.

When Trump was elected, he repeated his threat not to support delinquent Nato countries. Annoyed with chancellor Angela Merkels cool response, he announced the phased withdrawal of 12,000 US troops from Germany, half of which would be located elsewhere within the Alliance. The US had 36,000 troops in Germany at that time.

During his first term, he had called for a study to be done on the implications of the US leaving Nato completely. The Biden Administration restored Natos confidence in US support, but the crisis in Ukraine intervened to reinforce Trumps central message.

In the meantime, Trump will pressure his Nato allies to substantially increase defence spending, at Junes Nato Summit in the Netherlands. Trump is already talking about raising the current 2% level to 5% of GDP.

Irelands shamefully low level of defence spending remains at 0.2% of GDP, but lets pretend to move the decimal point one click to the right. Hopefully Trump wont notice. If he does, he can be reassured that the new Government will achieve its highest target level of defence capabilities, as soon as the Third World War is over.

Anyway, since Ireland is not really part of Europe, maybe we have nothing to worry about.
The section on housing in the programme for government is entitled accelerating housing supply.

The preamble to the section states what is colloquially known as the bleedin obvious.

Housing is a major social and economic challenge that touches every generation, it reads.

This government will prioritise a radical step change in housing supply to rise to that fundamental challenge.

Why is a step change needed?

Why a step change is required between the last government and this is not outlined. The principal components of the two administrations, the civil war parties, remain the same.

Not much has changed in the depth of the crisis between October when they last sat around a cabinet table and January when the new programme was formulated.

Still, the suggestion of a step change infers that it is finally dawning on the government that the housing crisis is a social emergency.

Yet, despite the strong words about change, the evidence so far is that if anything, the step change is towards less, not more housing.

As reported in the 'Irish Examiner', there are now sober predictions that we will have less rather than more housing completions this year.

Architect and housing analyst Mel Reynolds said that it could hit less completions this year than the 30,300 last year, and it wont be much more in 2026.

We will be lucky to hit 27,000 this year, he said. The biggest single fall-off last year was in private funding for apartment schemes, and it looks like the only ones to be completed this year will be by the Land Development Agency or the approved housing bodies [AHBs].

Now you have the funding delay for the AHBs on top of that which will impact this year but also 2026. So for the next two years it looks like it will be struck around or under 30,000.

There are issues around the cost of building apartments that will require some imagination to tackle.

Dithering in an emergency

However, the other reason Mr Reynolds mentions for the lagging completion figures is down to what one opposition spokesperson has described as dithering.

At a time of an alleged emergency this, as one source suggested to the Irish Examiner, beggars belief.

Last month, the 'Irish Examiner' reported on the delays in funding from the department of housing to build thousands of cost rental and social houses.

These come under two separate schemes. Since last September, funding for schemes that had received provisional approval dried up.

The process by which these schemes are built involves a developer striking a deal with the AHB to build a housing or apartment development and the AHB then approaching the department for funding.

For a whole range of schemes the response for the department was that everything was in order. However, the funding was not provided mainly due to an issue between the departments of housing and public expenditure.

State is awash with money

According to reports, the department had used up all its allocated funding for the year by last autumn. If this was the main issue, the obvious question is why extra funding was not provided immediately.

The State coffers are awash with money, apart from the windfall of 13bn from the Apple tax money. There is a whole gamut of problems holding up the acceleration of home building, but we are constantly told that money is not one of the those.

It would be reasonable to assume that the one area of public funding to be prioritized at this point is housing. Yet that did not happen.

A few days after the Irish Examiner revealed that funding had been delayed for nearly six months, the Cabinet approved an immediate injection of 450m for social and cost rental housing.

That was three weeks ago.

Yet, according to a number of sources in the industry, the shovel ready projects that were waiting on the nod about the money have not yet received it.

There are up to 5,000 homes either earmarked for construction or paused in the course of construction affected by this impasse.

None of this has to do with ensuring value for money for the state. All of the projects at issues have been assessed and approved.

No reason for funding delay

If the delays were attributable to a change of government, which would be ushering in a radically different policy, or a sudden shock to the national coffers, there may be some method to the madness.

Nothing of that nature is at issue here.

If the spending was to do with some aspect of social or economic policy that wasnt urgent the inclination to stick rigidly to an annual budget might be understandable.

However, this is housing, a major social and economic challenge that touches every generation, and yet there appears to be a complete lack of urgency in contributing to get homes built.

So much for the step change.
Most of the world has dirty air with just 17% of cities globally meeting World Health Organisation air pollution guidelines, according to a report.

Switzerland-based air quality monitoring database IQAir analysed data from 40,000 air quality monitoring stations in 138 countries and found Chad, Congo, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India had the dirtiest air.

India had six of the nine most polluted cities with the industrial town of Byrnihat in northeastern India the worst.

Experts said the real amount of air pollution might be far greater as many parts of the world lack the monitoring needed for more accurate data. In Africa there is only one monitoring station for every 3.7 million people.

A man walks past a sign that reads Drive carefully save life in Peshawar, Pakistan (AP)

More air quality monitors are being set up to counter the issue, said the report, which was published on Tuesday.

This year, report authors were able to incorporate data from 8,954 new locations and around a thousand new monitors as a result of efforts to better monitor air pollution.

But last week, data monitoring for air pollution was dealt a blow when the US State Department announced it would no longer make public its data from its embassies and consulates around the world.

The World Health Organisation estimates that air pollution kills around seven million people each year.

Several cities like Beijing, Seoul, South Korea, and Rybnik in Poland have successfully improved their air quality through stricter regulations on pollution from vehicles, power plants and industry.

They have also promoted cleaner energy and invested in public transportation.

Another notable effort to curb severe air pollution was the Association of Southeast Asian Nations agreement on transboundary haze pollution.

Even though it has had limited success so far, 10 countries in the region pledged to work together to monitor and curb pollution from large forest fires, a common occurrence in the region during dry seasons.

Shweta Narayan, a campaign lead at the Global Climate and Health Alliance, said many of the regions witnessing the worst air pollution are also places where planet-heating gases are released extensively through the burning of coal, oil and gas.

Slashing planet-warming emissions to slow the heating up of the planet can also improve air quality, she said.

Air pollution and climate crisis are two sides of the same coin, she said.
The Russian Defence Ministry said air defences shot down 337 Ukrainian drones over 10 Russian regions in what appears to be the biggest Ukrainian drone attack on Russia in three years.

The attack came as a Ukrainian delegation was set to meet with Americas top diplomat in Saudi Arabia about ending the three-year war with Russia.

The most drones  126  were shot down over the Kursk region across the border from Ukraine, parts of which Kyivs forces control and 91 were shot down over the Moscow region.

Other regions listed included Belgorod, Bryansk and Voronezh on the border with Ukraine and those deeper inside Russia, such as Kaluga, Lipetsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Oryol and Ryazan.

A damaged apartment on the site where a shot down Ukrainian drone fell, outside Moscow (Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyev official Telegram channel/AP)

There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian officials on the attack.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said over 70 drones targeted the Russian capital and were shot down as they were flying toward it.

Drones were shot down in the Ramenskyy and Domodedovo districts of the Moscow region surrounding the Russian capital, he said on the messaging app Telegram.

The governor of the Moscow region, Andrei Vorobyov, said one person was killed and three more wounded as a result of the drone attack. The attack damaged seven apartments in a residential building in the Ramensky district, he said.

It also set cars on fire in a parking lot in the Domodedovo district, according to Russian state news agencies RIA Novosti and Tass.

Flights have been restricted in and out of six airports, including Domodedovo, Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo and Zhukovskyy just outside Moscow and airports in the Yaroslavl and Nizhnyy Novgorod regions.

Train traffic through the Domodedovo railway station has also been briefly halted, local officials reported.
A top Romanian court on Tuesday rejected an appeal by far-right politician Calin Georgescu to lift a ban on his candidacy in the presidential rerun.

He won the first round of last years race before the same court annulled the election.

The ruling by the Constitutional Court in the capital Bucharest, which was unanimous, came two days after the Central Election Bureau rejected Mr Georgescus candidacy for the May election.

It was not immediately clear on what grounds the court made Tuesdays decision, which is final.

Hundreds of Georgescu supporters who had gathered near the court, many waving Romanian flags, responded by chanting Thieves!.

Supporters of Calin Georgescu react during a protest after Romanias Constitutional Court upheld a ban on his candidacy in the presidential election rerun, in Bucharest, Romania (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

The bureau had cited in its decision on Sunday the Constitutional Courts ruling last year to cancel the elections after allegations of electoral violations and that Russia had run a co-ordinated online campaign to promote Mr Georgescu, who ran as an independent.

The decision to cancel the election was made two days before the December 8 runoff.

Mr Georgescu had denounced his ban on Sunday as a direct blow to the heart of democracy worldwide and said: Europe is now a dictatorship, Romania is under tyranny!

The courts decision on Tuesday is likely to inflame tensions in the European Union and in the Nato member country, which has been gripped by a protracted political crisis since the election was cancelled last year.

The first round of the rerun is scheduled for May 4. If no candidate wins more than 50% of the ballots, a runoff will follow on May 18.

Romanias far-right  which holds about a third of seats in the countrys legislature  will likely seek to replace Mr Georgescus candidacy, the deadline for which is March 15 at midnight.

We will decide tonight what is happening next because we are facing a huge blow against democracy and the rule of law

Many observers have speculated that his close political ally, George Simion, could take up the mantle.

We will decide tonight what is happening next because we are facing a huge blow against democracy and the rule of law, Mr Simion, the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, told The Associated Press after the ruling on Tuesday.

There is no democracy in Romania, (I) hope we will restore it.

The courts final decision came after prosecutors launched a criminal investigation against Mr Georgescu last month, accusing him of incitement to actions against the constitutional order, supporting fascist groups and false declarations of electoral campaign funding and asset disclosures.

Before the November 24 election, Mr Georgescu, who is under judicial control and has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, had polled in the single digits and declared zero campaign spending.

Allegations quickly emerged of electoral violations and Russian interference. Moscow denied that it had meddled in the election.

Mr Georgescu has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and questioned Ukraines statehood in the past, but says he is not pro-Russia.

Romanias decision to annul the election, and this weeks ban on Mr Georgescus candidacy in the redo, has been strongly criticised by US Vice President JD Vance, Elon Musk and Moscow.

Russian state news agency Tass quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Tuesday that any election without Mr Georgescus participation will have no legitimacy.

That remark came a day after Mr Musk asked in a post on his X account: How can a judge end democracy in Romania?
Ukraine agreed to accept an immediate 30-day ceasefire in the conflict with Russia during talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia, the countries said in a joint statement.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would now take the offer to the Russians, and that the ball is now in Moscow's court.

The United States will resume sharing intelligence with Kyiv.

Ukrainian and U.S. officials met behind closed doors for hours to find a path towards ending the war with Russia, after Kyiv's forces launched their largest drone attack on Moscow of the war overnight.

The Trump administration said on Tuesday that it would immediately lift its suspension of military aid to Ukraine and its intelligence sharing with Kyiv.

It came more than a week after the US imposed the measures to push Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to enter talks to end the war with invading Russian forces.

The announcement came at talks between Ukraine and the United States in Saudi Arabia.

Ukraine also said it was open to a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Russia, subject to Kremlin agreement.

The announcements emerged as senior officials from Ukraine and the United States opened talks in Saudi Arabia focused on ending Moscows three-year war against Kyiv and hours after Russia shot down more than 300 Ukrainian drones.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Ukrainian Head of Presidential Office Andriy Yermak and Ukrainian Minister of Defence Rustem Umerovto during the meeting with US officials (Saul Loeb/Pool Photo via AP)

It was Ukraines biggest attack since the Kremlin ordered the full-scale invasion of its neighbour.

US President Donald Trumps special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to travel later this week to Moscow, where he could meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a person familiar with the matter but not authorised to comment publicly.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US would present the ceasefire offer to the Kremlin.

Were going to tell them this is whats on the table. Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking. And now itll be up to them to say yes or no, Mr Rubio said.

Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak earlier told reporters that the most important thing was how to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

He said security guarantees were important to prevent Russia from invading again in the future.

It was the first meeting between the two sides since the Oval Office argument between Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy last month.

Saudi Arabias foreign minister was also on hand as American, Saudi and Ukrainian flags could be seen in the background. Officials did not answer any of the journalists shouted questions.

The delegations met for about three hours in the morning before taking a break, and officials said the talks continued in the afternoon.

There was also no immediate comment from Ukrainian or US officials on the massive attack in which 343 drones targeted 10 Russian regions, leaving three people dead and 18 wounded, including three children, officials said.

Meanwhile, Russia launched 126 drones and a ballistic missile at Ukraine, the Ukrainian air force said, as part of Moscows relentless pounding of civilian areas during the war.

In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the United States will inform Russia about the results of the Jeddah talks, which he described as normal practice.

On the streets of Kyiv, Ukrainians kept an eye on the Saudi talks.

Lena Herasymenko, a psychologist, said she accepts that compromises will be necessary to end the war, but she said they must be reasonable.

We had massive losses during this war, and we dont know yet how much more well have, she told The Associated Press. We are suffering every day. Our kids are suffering, and we dont know how the future generation will be affected.

If there is a ceasefire, it would only give Russia time to increase its firepower, manpower, missiles and other arms. Then they would attack Ukraine again

Oleksandr, a Ukrainian soldier who could give only his first name because of security restrictions, warned that Ukraine cannot let down its guard down.

If there is a ceasefire, it would only give Russia time to increase its firepower, manpower, missiles and other arms. Then they would attack Ukraine again, he said.

The meeting in Jeddah offered an opportunity for Kyiv officials to repair Ukraines relationship with the Trump administration after an unprecedented argument erupted during Mr Zelenskys February 28 visit to the White House.

Ukrainian officials told AP on Monday that they will propose a ceasefire covering the Black Sea, which would bring safer shipping, as well as long-range missile strikes that have hit civilians in Ukraine, and the release of prisoners.

The two senior officials said Kyiv is also ready to sign an agreement with the United States on access to Ukraines rare earth minerals  a deal that Mr Trump is keen to secure.

The Kremlin has not publicly offered any concessions. Russia has said it is ready to cease hostilities on condition that Ukraine drops its bid to join Nato and recognises regions that Moscow occupies as Russian. Russia has captured nearly a fifth of Ukraines territory.

Russian forces have held the battlefield momentum for more than a year, though at a high cost in infantry and armour, and are pushing at selected points along the 1,000-km (600-mile) front line, especially in the eastern Donetsk region, against Ukraines understrength and weary army.
Armed militants are currently holding hundreds of train passengers captive during a siege attributed to a separatist group known for escalating violence in southwestern Pakistan.

The assailants injured the train driver as they seized control of the vehicle in a remote, mountainous region of Balochistan province, which shares borders with Afghanistan and Iran.

More than 450 passengers on board are being held hostage by armed men, stated Muhammad Kashif, a senior railway official in Quetta, the provincial capital, in an interview with AFP.

Among the passengers are women and children, he added.

According to a statement, the attackers detonated explosives on the railway track before boarding the train.

The militants quickly gained control of the train and took all passengers hostage, the statement, issued to the media, read.

The group threatened severe repercussions if there are any attempts made to rescue the hostages.

The incident occurred around 1 PM local time (8 AM Irish time) in the rural Sibi district, close to a city station where the train was scheduled to stop.

An armed group halted a passenger train known as the Jaffar Express, remarked a senior government official in Sibi, who requested anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak to the media.

The passengers are being held captive, and the driver has sustained injuries.

The train departed Quetta en route to Peshawar in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for a journey exceeding 30 hours at approximately 9 AM. An emergency has been declared at hospitals in Sibi, as confirmed by the government official.

A senior police officer from the area near Sibi, who also chose to remain unnamed due to media restrictions, indicated that the train is stalled just before a tunnel surrounded by mountains.

This regions mountainous terrain provides militants with ample opportunities to establish hideouts and orchestrate attacks.

Security forces are engaged in a long-standing battle against an insurgency in economically deprived Balochistan, where militant factions assert that external entities are exploiting the region, with local populations seeing little benefit from its natural resources.

Violence has escalated in the western border territories adjacent to Afghanistan, stretching from north to south, especially since the Taliban regained control in 2021.

According to the Center for Research and Security Studies, an Islamabad-based analytical organization, more than 1,600 individuals lost their lives in various attacks across Pakistan in 2024, marking the deadliest year in nearly a decade.

In February, BLA militants killed seven Punjabi travelers after forcing them off a bus.

Coordinated attacks last year resulted in at least 39 deaths, primarily targeting ethnic Punjabis.

Additionally, in November, the BLA claimed responsibility for a bombing at the main railway station in Quetta that claimed 26 lives, including those of 14 soldiers.
U.S.-Ukraine Talks Kick Off in Saudi Arabia Following Significant Drone Strike on Russia

Officials from Ukraine and the United States commenced discussions in Saudi Arabia aimed at discovering ways to end the ongoing war with Russia, just hours after Ukraine executed its largest drone strike on Moscow to date.

President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hope that the negotiations in Jeddah would reinstate pragmatic relations with the US, following a challenging meeting with US President Donald Trump last month, and has proposed an initial truce with Russia regarding air and maritime activities.

Andriy Yermak, the chief of staff to the Ukrainian presidency, who is participating in the talks, mentioned that the discussions have started off on a positive note.

The meeting with the US team commenced very constructively, and we are continuing our efforts, Mr. Yermak shared on social media.

Since the invasion in 2022, the United States has been Ukraines primary ally, but it has recently altered its approach regarding the war, increasing pressure on Ukraine by halting military support and suspending intelligence sharing with Kyiv.

We are hopeful for tangible outcomes, Mr. Zelensky stated in a post on X prior to the talks last night, adding, Ukraines stance in these negotiations will be fully constructive.

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In a significant overnight operation, Ukraine executed its most extensive drone assault on Moscow yet, deploying at least 91 drones, resulting in one fatality, igniting fires, shutting down airports, and leading to the diversion of numerous flights, according to Russian authorities.

The timing of the attackduring which Russia claimed to have downed 337 dronesappeared designed to demonstrate Ukraines capability for substantial strikes, despite a recent series of Russian missile attacks that left at least 14 victims on Saturday.

Mr. Zelensky has been urging his European partners to support his truce proposal, which he believes presents an opportunity to test Russias intent to conclude the war.

Ukraine is working to restore its ties with the US following the clash at the White House, which placed the signing of a bilateral minerals agreement in jeopardy and jeopardized Ukraines pursuit of security assurances from the US.

Latest Ukraine stories

Mr. Trump has emphasized the significance of the minerals deal, scheduled for discussion today, as crucial for maintaining US support and compensating for the substantial military aid provided to Ukraine since Russias invasion three years ago.

Last month, Mr. Trump criticized the Ukrainian president during their Oval Office meeting.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed reporters on the way to Jeddah that the discussions with Ukraine would be vital in assessing its willingness to make concessions for peace.

We need to comprehend the Ukrainian standpoint and have a general understanding of what concessions they might consider, as achieving a ceasefire and concluding this war will necessitate concessions from both parties, he remarked.

Mr. Rubio is accompanying US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz to the talks.

Andriy Yermak, a senior aide to Mr. Zelensky, is leading the Ukrainian delegation.

Mr. Zelensky, who met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia yesterday, will not be present for the discussions.

The meeting between the Ukrainian and American delegations is commencing in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the Ukrainian foreign ministry stated on Telegram, sharing a video of senior Ukrainian officials entering a meeting room around 9 AM Irish time.

The Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, extends a welcome to the Ukrainian delegation (Pic: Ukrainian Presidency).

Before the talks, Mr. Trumps special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, who has been involved in diplomacy related to Ukraine, expressed optimism regarding the imminent signing of the US-Ukraine minerals deal.

Mr. Witkoff plans to travel to Moscow to meet with President Vladimir Putin, as per a source familiar with the arrangements.

Ukraines European allies contend that Ukraine can only engage in negotiations for a peace agreement with Russia from a position of strength and should not be hurried into discussions with an aggressor.

Mr. Zelensky has warned that Putin is not seeking peace and has cautioned that Russia may target other European nations if its invasion of Ukraine does not end in a decisive defeat.

Mr. Rubio refrained from detailing the concessions each side might need to make but noted that Ukraine would face challenges in reclaiming all its lost territories.

Marco Rubio indicated that the Trump administration would likely welcome a ceasefire proposal.

The Russians cant conquer all of Ukraine, and its evident that it would be quite challenging for Ukraine to force the Russians back to their positions from 2014 in any reasonable timeframe, he told reporters.

Currently, Russia occupies approximately one-fifth of Ukraines territory, including Crimea, annexed in 2014, and Russian forces maintain a repressive presence in the eastern Donetsk region.

In February, US and Russian officials convened in the Saudi capital for a rare meeting between these former Cold War adversaries, focusing primarily on restoring relations after a near-total cessation of official exchanges under former US President Joe Biden.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has emphasized the need for a surge in European defense expenditures, as the 27-nation bloc confronts a belligerent Russia and diminishing support from the United States.

Speaking to lawmakers in Strasbourg, Ms. von der Leyen remarked that Europes security framework is being shaken, indicating that the continent may no longer be able to depend on Americas complete protection.

The era of illusions is now over. Europe must take greater control of its own defense, the President of the European Commission stated before the EU parliament.

We require a surge in European defense. And we need it immediately.

The defense initiative suggests providing member states with EU-supported loans of up to 150 billion and relaxing fiscal regulations to enable countries to increase their spending significantly.

European governments are facing pressure to enhance their defense capabilities as US President Donald Trump questions the United States continued role as the guarantor of European security since World War II within NATO.

Read more: US-Ukraine discussions begin amid hopes for a practical outcome

Trumps shift away from transatlantic relationships coincides with his attempts to foster better relations with Russia to resolve the Ukraine conflict, raising concerns that Ukraine might be compelled to accept a disadvantageous agreement.

Ms. von der Leyen declared that Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted but only deterred, pointing out that the Kremlin is investing more in its military than all of Europe together.

We all wish we could live in more peaceful times. However, I am confident that if we harness our industrial strength, we can restore deterrence against those who wish to harm us, she asserted.

It is time to establish a European Defence Union that guarantees peace on our continent through unity and strength.

The commissions proposal also allows member states to redirect cohesion funds, intended for the development of less wealthy European nations, and removes restrictions on defense investments from the blocs funding arm, the European Investment Bank.

Discussions about enhancing the blocs military capabilities will continue at a summit in Brussels next week, with the commission set to present a white paper in advance outlining additional options to significantly boost financing for European defense.

The European Council will keep working to strengthen our deterrence and bolster the security of our continent, said Antonio Costa, who leads the body representing the 27 EU nations, while addressing lawmakers in Strasbourg.
What We Understand About the North Sea Tanker Collision

A cargo ship reportedly transporting sodium cyanide collided with a tanker chartered by the US military, resulting in a fire and fuel leakage into the North Sea off the British coast.

Over 30 individuals sustained injuries; however, all crew members from the tanker have been accounted for and rescued.

Heres what we know regarding the incident involving the tanker Stena Immaculate and the container vessel Solong, which triggered a significant pollution alert along the British coastline.

Fuel tanker struck while anchored

The maritime news outlet Lloyds List reported that the Solong was carrying 15 containers of sodium cyanide, which is a flammable substance.

A large fire broke out, engulfing both vessels. According to Crowley Maritime, the tanker was loaded with jet-A1 fuel, and the US Defense Department has verified that the US military was chartering the vessel.

The tankers crew abandoned the vessel following multiple explosions onboard, as stated by Crowley Maritime, based in Jacksonville, Florida.

Approximately 32 individuals were rescued and brought ashore via three vessels, as reported by Grimsby port director Martyn Boyers. Stena Bulk, the Swedish company that owns the tanker, confirmed that all crew members were safe.

The 140-meter Portuguese-flagged Solong, owned by German company Reederei Koepping, was en route from Grangemouth in Scotland to the Dutch port of Rotterdam, according to Vessel Finder.

Vessels ablaze

Images captured the scene of flames and thick black smoke billowing from the wreckage of the two ships. The UK Coastguard coordinated a rescue and emergency pollution response following Crowley Maritimes statement that the impact had ruptured the tanker and ignited a fire.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) mentioned reports of fires on both ships.

The governments Marine Accident Investigation team is on-site, gathering evidence and planning next steps.

A plane, lifeboats from coastal stations, and other nearby vessels participated in the rescue efforts, according to the coastguard.

Humber traffic suspended

Associated British Ports (ABP), managing ports in Hull and Imminghamareas affected by the incidentannounced the suspension of all vessel movements in the Humber estuary leading into the North Sea.

Relatively rare

While the North Sea features busy shipping lanes, accidents are not that common.

Earlier in October 2023, two cargo ships, the Verity and the Polesie, collided near Germanys Heligoland islands, resulting in three fatalities and two missing individuals.

On October 6, 2015, the freighter Flinterstar sank after colliding with the tanker Al Oraiq eight kilometers off the coast of Belgium, while carrying 125 tonnes of diesel and 427 tonnes of fuel oil.

A significant oil spill in the North Sea occurred in January 1993 when the Liberian tanker Braer experienced engine failure on its route from Norway to Canada, running aground near Scotlands Shetland Islands and releasing 84,500 tonnes of crude oil.

Was a proper lookout maintained?

David McFarlane from the Maritime Risk and Safety consultancy noted that there are about 200 to 300 ship collisions globally each year, though most involve mere slight bumps in port areas.

Collision regulations require that all ships maintain a proper lookout at all times. Clearly, something went wrong here, because if a proper lookout had been upheld, this collision could have been avoided, Mr. McFarlane told AFP.

Once the flames subside, investigators will seek the video data recorders from the two shipsakin to a planes black box.

These devices are expected to contain information from the vessels radar as well as voice recordings from the bridge teams. Mr. McFarlane indicated this information would be crucial in determining whether there was communication between the two ships.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and chief US diplomat Marco Rubio have arrived in Saudi Arabia to engage in ceasefire discussions, as Ukraines proposal for a partial truce has sparked hopes for a breakthrough after three years of conflict.

Mr. Zelensky, who recently had a public dispute with US President Donald Trump, landed in Jeddah where Mr. Rubio cautiously expressed support for the idea of an aerial and naval ceasefire.

The talks scheduled for tomorrow between Ukrainian officials and Mr. Rubios US delegation will mark the first meeting since Mr. Zelensky left the White House without signing a minerals agreement requested by Mr. Trump.

The two leaders exchanged sharp words in front of global media regarding the ongoing war with Russia.

In light of recent developments, Washington has halted military assistance to Ukraine, along with restricting intelligence sharing and access to satellite imagery, in an effort to pressure Ukraine into negotiations with Moscow, which initiated its large-scale invasion in February 2022 under President Vladimir Putins orders.

These ceasefire options are straightforward to implement and monitor, making it feasible to start with them,

Mr. Rubio suggested that the concept holds potential.

Im not implying that its sufficient on its own, but it represents the kind of concession necessary to conclude the conflict, he told reporters.

Achieving a ceasefire and ending this war demands concessions from both sides.

Mr. Rubio also expressed hope to resolve the suspension of military aid that threatens to undermine Ukraines efforts.

I believe addressing the general pause in aid is something we should work towards. Clearly, what transpires tomorrow will be crucial to that, he commented.

Mr. Zelensky was expected to meet with the de facto Saudi ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, later today before his team meets with the US delegation tomorrow.

Framework for peace deal, ceasefire

According to a source briefed on the preparations for the talks, reported by Britains Financial Times, Kyivs proposal for a partial ceasefire aims to persuade Washington to restore military aid and intelligence cooperation.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer conveyed to Mr. Trump during a call that he hopes the discussions will lead to the renewal of US military assistance to Ukraine, as stated by Downing Street.

Prior to his trip to Jeddah, Mr. Zelensky emphasized Ukraines desire for peace, attributing the ongoing war solely to Russia.

Ukraine has been striving for peace since the outset of the conflict, and we have consistently maintained that the sole reason for its continuation is Russia, he expressed on social media.

US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff indicated that Washington aims to leverage the discussions to establish a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire as well.

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In Jeddah, numerous Ukrainian and Saudi flags were displayed prominently on a major roundabout near the airport and along main roads.

In addition to Mr. Rubio, Mike Waltz, Mr. Trumps national security adviser, has confirmed his attendance.

Mr. Zelensky stated that his negotiating team would include Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, his chief of staff Andriy Yermak, and military commander Pavlo Palisa, who is also Mr. Yermaks deputy.

Zelensky offered to sign deal

Mr. Zelensky referred to the White House incident as regrettable and expressed his willingness to collaborate with Mr. Trumps strong leadership, also showing readiness to sign the minerals deal.

Mr. Witkoff mentioned that Mr. Trump received a letter from Mr. Zelensky, labeling it a very positive first step and an apology.

When asked if Ukraine would sign the deal in Saudi Arabia, Mr. Witkoff responded: I believe Zelensky has offered to sign it, and we will see if he proceeds.

Mr. Trump has rekindled discussions with Mr. Putin and criticized Mr. Zelensky, causing concerns in Kyiv and among European allies that the US leader might attempt to compel Ukraine to accept a settlement favorable to Russia.

However, on Friday, Mr. Trump indicated he was contemplating further sanctions on Russia for its aggressive actions against Ukraine.

Last week, Ukraines European allies convened a summit with Mr. Zelensky, announcing a significant increase in defense spending. Mr. Starmer will host virtual discussions on Saturday to build upon the meeting.

Meanwhile, a senior Ukrainian official informed AFP that Russia could gain an upper hand against Ukrainian forces if the US continues to halt intelligence sharing.

Should the situation persist for an extended period, it will provide the Russians with a considerable advantage, the source stated.
Vancouver, British Columbia, March 11, 2025  TheNewswire - Westward Gold Inc. (CSE: WG, OTCQB: WGLIF, FSE: IM50) (Westward or the Company) is pleased to welcome Dr. John-Mark Staude as the Companys newest Strategic Advisor. Dr. Staude brings a wealth of leadership experience and Carlin-type gold expertise to Westwards robust team of exploration veterans, at a time when the Company is on the cusp of executing its most significant drill campaign to date at its flagship Toiyabe Hills Property in Lander County, Nevada (see press release dated February 27, 2025, for additional information).

Dr. John-Mark Staude, incoming Strategic Advisor, noted: Ive been following Westward since its inception as a private company prior to the pandemic, knowing the passion Colin and Andrew bring to business, company development, and successful Nevada mineral exploration. I am impressed at their growth from an upstart gold explorer with a small land position, to one with a district-scale property on the Cortez Trend capable of enticing major company suitors. Westward has attracted a top-notch team of proven Carlin-type mine-finders and have been refining exciting new drill targets through persistence, self-funding, and a dedication to sound exploration science. Ive been waiting on the sidelines but am now delighted at the opportunity to officially contribute to their pursuit of a significant new gold discovery in Nevada.

Dr. Staude is a Ph.D. Economic Geologist with over 30 years of experience in mineral exploration, project finance, and capital markets. His career began in Nevada along the Carlin and Cortez trends, focusing on gold exploration and resource development. Leveraging his technical and financial expertise, he founded Riverside Resources Inc. (TSX-V: RRI), a Vancouver-based mineral exploration company that generates and finances high-value projects in Mexico, the United States, and Canada, where he continues to serve as CEO and Director.

Dr. Staude is also Chairman of Capitan Silver Corp. (TSX-V: CAPT) and a Technical Advisor to Arras Minerals Corp. (TSX-V: ARK), specializing in financing and strategic development for precious metals discoveries. With a proven track record in raising capital, structuring deals, and executing successful mineral project transactions, he has helped drive shareholder returns and advance key mining assets through innovative funding strategies and partnerships.

Andrew Nelson, Chief Financial Officer, added: We continue to attract the attention of seasoned mining professionals who have seen decades-worth of projects and companies come and go, and John-Marks appointment speaks to the quality of what were building at Westward. Ive been fortunate to count him as a friend and mentor over the years, and I believe he will open several new doors for us, especially as it relates to attracting investors and developing corporate partnerships.

Corporate Update

Westward is also pleased to announce the engagement of Hillside Consulting and Media Inc. ("Hillside"), a British Columbia-based firm, to assist in the Company's ongoing marketing and investor relations efforts. Hillside will provide a comprehensive suite of services to enhance the Company's public presence and drive investor engagement. Hillside will provide a digital outreach program to update the market on the Company's gold properties, exploration activities, and overall value proposition. The initial engagement will commence immediately and remain in effect for up to two weeks. The Company will pay Hillside a total of forty-five thousand dollars (Canadian), plus applicable GST for these services. Westward continues to pursue all available avenues to grow its investor base and execute on its business growth plans and long-term exploration strategies.

About Westward Gold

Westward Gold is a mineral exploration company focused on developing the Toiyabe Hills Project located in the Cortez Hills area of Lander County, Nevada, and the Coyote and Rossi Projects located along the Carlin Trend in Elko County, Nevada. From time to time, the Company may also evaluate the acquisition of other mineral exploration assets and opportunities.

For further information contact:

Andrew Nelson

Chief Financial Officer

Westward Gold Inc.

+1 (604) 828-7027

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.westwardgold.com

The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

This news release contains or incorporates by reference forward-looking statements and forward-looking information as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes, or developments that the Company expects to occur are, or may be deemed, to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally, but not always, identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expect", "believe", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate, potential, on track, forecast", "budget", target, outlook, continue, plan or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved or the negative connotation of such terms.

Such statements include, but may not be limited to, information as to strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance, such as the Companys expansion plans, project timelines, expected drilling targets, and other statements that express managements expectations or estimates of future plans and performance.

Forward-looking statements or information are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information, including, without limitation, the need for additional capital by the Company through financings, and the risk that such funds may not be raised; the speculative nature of exploration and the stages of the Companys properties; the effect of changes in commodity prices; regulatory risks that development of the Companys material properties will not be acceptable for social, environmental or other reasons, availability of equipment (including drills) and personnel to carry out work programs, that each stage of work will be completed within expected time frames, that current geological models and interpretations prove correct, the results of ongoing work programs may lead to a change of exploration priorities, and the efforts and abilities of the senior management team. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Companys forward-looking statements or information. These and other factors may cause the Company to change its exploration and work programs, not proceed with work programs, or change the timing or order of planned work programs. Additional risk factors and details with respect to risk factors that may affect the Companys ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are set out in the Companys latest management discussion and analysis under Risks and Uncertainties, which is available under the Companys SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Companys forward-looking statements and information are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations, and opinions of management as of the date of this press release, and other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements and information if circumstances or managements assumptions, beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, or changes in any other events affecting such statements or information.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2025) - Gold Hunter Resources Inc. (CSE: HUNT) (OTC Pink: HNTRF) ("Gold Hunter", "HUNT" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the successful closing of its previously announced non-brokered private placement, raising total gross proceeds of $1,706,199.92, more than 40% oversubscribed from the originally planned $1.2 million financing.

The Company initially announced on February 5th, 2025, its intention to raise $1.2 million through the issuance of non-flow-through units. Due to strong investor demand, the financing closed significantly oversubscribed, resulting in the issuance of 28,436,665 Units at a price of $0.06 per Unit, generating total gross proceeds of $1,706,199.92.

Each Unit consists of one common share (a "Share") and one-half of one transferable common share purchase warrant. (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional Share at an exercise price of $0.12 for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance. All securities issued will be subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and a day from the date of distribution.

"The team at Gold Hunter would like to thank all of our continued shareholders, and welcome our new investors to the Company," commented Sean Kingsley, President & CEO of Gold Hunter. "We are excited of what the Great Northern Project can be and look forward to working for each and every shareholder to realize the potential."

Insider Participation:

Eric Sprott, subscribed for 3,333,333 Units through 2176423 Ontario Ltd., a corporation beneficially owned by him. This investment has increased Mr. Sprott's holdings of common shares to 7.26% on a partially diluted basis and to 9.88% on a fully diluted basis. Mr. Sprott is an insider of the Company and, as such, his participation in the private placement is a related-party transaction under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. The Company is relying on exemptions from the minority shareholder approval and formal valuation requirements applicable to related-party transactions under sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a), respectively, of MI 61-101, as neither the fair market value of the shares to be purchased on behalf of Mr. Sprott nor the consideration to be paid by him exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

Directors of the Company subscribed for an aggregate of 600,000 Units. Participation by an insider constitutes a related party transaction as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101").

In relation to the financing, the Company has also paid finder's fees of $25,695.00 and issued 428,250 non-transferable finder's warrants to arm's-length parties, each entitling the holder to acquire one Share at a price of $0.06 per Share for a period of 24 months from today.

The Company intends to allocate the funds raised towards general operational expenses and ongoing business activities.

About Gold Hunter Resources

Gold Hunter Resources is a mineral exploration company committed to the evaluation and development of mineral-rich regions in Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as Ontario, Canada. Our operations are concentrated in areas known for their abundant mineral resources. We're dedicated to unveiling the full potential of our project sites in a manner that prioritizes responsibility and sustainability.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

GOLD HUNTER RESOURCES INC.

"Sean A. Kingsley"

President, CEO, and Director

www.goldhunterresources.com

The Canadian Securities Exchange and its Regulation Services Provider do not take responsibility for the accuracy of the content of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" concerning the Company's activities, exploration, drilling, and mineralization projects. These statements reflect the current views and assumptions of the Company's management and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ substantially from any future results implied by these forward-looking statements. The Company is under no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates, or opinions change. Potential risks include operational hazards, geological uncertainties, assay interpretation, securing necessary permits, and financial contingencies. For a comprehensive discussion of these risk factors, please refer to the Company's publicly available documents at www.sedarplus.com.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2025) - Infinitum Copper Corp. (TSXV: INFI) (OTCQB: INUMF) ("Infinitum Copper" or the "Company") announces the appointment of Alex Gostevskikh as Chief Executive Officer and as a director of the Company replacing Matt Hudson.

The Company sincerely thanks Mr. Hudson for his contributions and wishes him the greatest success in his further endeavors.

Alex Gostevskikh MSc MBA, is a geologist with over 30 years of experience in international mining and exploration for such commodities as gold, uranium, and base metals. He has extensive corporate experience through his involvement with a number of listed companies on the TSX and AIM markets. Mr. Gostevskikh currently serves as CEO and director of Sendero Resources Corp. (TSXV: SEND) and Karus Mining Inc. Until recently, he was engaged as Managing Director with a major PGM deposit and gold and base metal projects, he was Managing Director of Uranium Resources PLC (LON: URA), Director of Mediterranean Resources Ltd (TSX: MNR) a Regional Exploration Manager for Centerra Gold Inc (TSX: CGI), and has held other positions including Exploration Manager for Gulf International Minerals, Senior Geologist for Kinross Gold/Amax Gold, as well as consulting engagements with a number of major and junior mineral exploration companies.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of

INFINITUM COPPER 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.

About Infinitum Copper

Backed by a strong team of industry veterans, Infinitum Copper is advancing La Adelita project, where the Company has an 80% interest. The high-grade copper-silver-gold La Adelita Project is located in Sonora and Sinaloa states in Mexico. La Adelita is a Carbonate Replacement Deposit located in a mineralized district with a rich history.

Infinitum Copper has an option to earn 25% interest in the Hot Breccia project in the heart of the Arizona Copper Belt about 90km north of Tucson, AZ. The Hot Breccia project is prospective for porphyry copper and copper skarn mineralization.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Forward-looking information is based on, among other things, opinions, assumptions, estimates and analyses that, while considered reasonable by the Company at the date the forward-looking information is provided, are inherently subject to significant risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors that may cause actual results and events to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. The risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information may include, but are not limited to, risks generally associated with the Company's business, as described in the Company's Filing Statement dated February 11, 2022. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While the Company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2025 / Zeus North America Mining Corp. (CSE:ZEUS) (OTCQB:ZUUZF) (FRANKFURT:O92) (the "Company" or "Zeus") announces the Company has commenced drilling and exploration planning for the 2025 exploration and development season at the Cuddy Mountain project in Idaho, less than 3 km to the north of the Hercules Metals high grade copper-gold-silver porphyry discovery announced in October 2023.

Highlights of the 2024 Exploration Program at Cuddy Mountain:

Staked 19 additional BLM Lode Claims to cover areas underlain by the Seven Devils Volcanics, which host the neighboring Leviathan Porphyry Copper mineralization.

Completed a property wide 3D-DCIP Induced Polarization ("IP") and Resistivity Survey using Dias Geophysical Ltd.

Conducted a property wide Ground Magnetic Survey totalling 105-line km of high- resolution magnetic data.

Collected 799 soil samples and 339 rock grab samples.

Completed a property wide mapping campaign. The mapped stratigraphy within the Cuddy Mountain Property demonstrates that the same stratigraphic section exists with the Property as that shown-on Hercules drill sections which intersected porphyry mineralization.

The Cuddy Mountain Property is adjacent to Hercules Metals Corp. ("Hercules") recently discovered Leviathan Copper Porphyry ($167M MC).* The discovery resulted in Major Mining Company Barrick injecting $23M in equity in to Hercules and staking a substantial land position in the district along with Major Mining Company Rio Tinto. The Cuddy Mountain Property consists of 101 lode mining claims respectively and cover a cumulative area of approximately 2020 acres.

On February 20th, 2025 Hercules summarized recent drilling at their Leviathan Copper Property. The Highlights of which were as follows:

HER-24-21 intersects 171m of 0.64% CuEq in volcanic host rock, within a broader intercept of 354m of 0.47% CuEq ending in a late porphyry.

Highest grades occur in volcanic host rocks.

New mapping and sampling demonstrate the host rocks transition to iron-rich volcanics and limestone in the Eastern Block and Southern Flats zones, conducive to significantly higher-grades.

See Hercules' Press Release Here Dated February 20th, 2025.

Furthermore, on March 4, 2025, Hercules showed their chargeability anomaly open to the northeast towards the Zeus Cuddy Mountain Property.

See Hercules' Press Release Here Dated March 4th, 2025.

Dean Besserer, President and CEO, stated, "Our 2024 exploration program data compilation is nearly complete, and we are excited to release our results and advance towards drilling in this highly prospective region. Hercules is planning an aggressive 2025 drill season and the team at Zeus looks forward to following suit in the near future."

About the Cuddy Mountain Copper Property (Idaho, USA)

The Cuddy Mountain Property is adjacent to Hercules Metals Corp recently discovered Leviathan Copper Porphyry ($167M MC).* The discovery resulted in Barrick injecting $23M in equity. The Cuddy Mountain Property consists of 101 lode mining claims respectively and cover a cumulative area of approximately 2020 acres.

The Property is in Washington County, Idaho just 2.5 hours Northwest of Boise and readily accessible by road.

Historical Drilling at Cuddy Mountain consisted of 7 shallow drill holes in 1977 intersecting anomalous lead and silver. Drill hole Mun 8 contained 90 feet of 2.02 oz/t Ag (Taylor, 1977). Further historical exploration on Zeus's Cuddy Mountain Project occurred at the Edna May Mine: Mineralized vein with chip samples containing 750 ppm ppm Pb, 7.7% Zn and 252 grams per tonne Silver over 4 feet. Underground drilling in 1979 intersected 1.38 oz/t Ag over 7 feet in a breccia zone (Burmeister, 1980). Additional exploration (By Taylor, 1977) at the Rockslide area encountered Malachite-stained outcrops with a grab sample containing 760 ppm Pb, 0.67 % Zn and 36 grams per tonne Silver (Taylor, 1977).

*Adjacent Property (www.herculessilver.com)

*All information is derived solely from management of Zeus Mining and otherwise publicly available third-party information which are believed to be reliable, but which have not been independently verified by the Company and as a result are not guaranteed as to accuracy and completeness. Zeus's management cautions that past results or discoveries on properties in proximity to Zeus may not necessarily be indicative of the presence of mineralization on the Company's properties.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dean Besserer, P.Geo., the President & CEO for the company and Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101.

On behalf of the board of directors.

"Dean Besserer"

President and CEO

For more information, please contact the Company at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

FOR INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT:

Kin Communications Inc. Ph: 604-684-6730

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About Zeus North America Mining Corp.

The Company is in the business of mineral exploration. The Company is focused on its exploration properties in the state of Idaho known as the: Cuddy Mountain; Selway; and Great Western properties, respectively. The Idaho properties consist of 101 (Cuddy Mountain), 57 (Selway) and 38 (Great Western) lode mining claims respectively and cover a cumulative area of approximately 4,200 acres. The Company's flagship Cuddy Mountain Property is adjacent to Hercules Metal Corp's Leviathan Copper Porphyry discovery.

Forward Looking Statements

When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of their respective officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the parties can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements and information in this news release include, amongst others, the Company's exploration plans. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. There are risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements or implied by such forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: currency fluctuations; limited business history of the parties; disruptions or changes in the credit or security markets; results of operation activities and development of projects; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; and general development, market and industry conditions.

The Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of its securities or its financial or operating results (as applicable). The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. The Company does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SAGA Metals Corp. ("SAGA" or the "Company") (TSXV: SAGA) (OTCQB: SAGMF) (FSE: 20H), a North American exploration company focused on critical mineral discovery, is pleased to announce the successful execution of its 2025 maiden drill program at the Radar Project, located near the town of Cartwright in Labrador, Canada. This program confirmed a large mineralized layered mafic intrusion with early indications suggesting it is completely undeformed and contains its original primary magmatic textures from over 1 billion years ago. The Dykes River intrusion (Gower 2017), which hosts the entirety of the Radar Ti-V project, has been historically mapped over an area of 160km2, which is similar in size to Greenlands Skargaard intrusion. This size underscores the immense untapped potential of the region for hosting critical metals, including vanadium and titanium, essential to the global green energy transition.

Figure 1: Regional geology of the southeastern Grenville Province and the Radar property

Radar Ti-V Project: A Strategic Critical Mineral Exploration Initiative

The Radar Project was initially targeted by SAGA to test a distinct geophysical signature and historical geochemical indicators suggesting the presence of Orthomagmatic Fe-Ti-V mineralization.

The Grenville Province is recognized as one of the most comprehensive deep continental-collision models on Earth, and has historically been under explored, under prospected, and underestimated (Louise Corriveau 2005). SAGAs targeted exploration of the Dykes River Intrusion aims to redefine the regions potential by leveraging modern geoscience techniques and seeking resources previously under-valued. The region was first explored during the Voiseys Bay exploration boom, yet much of its vast potential remains untested.

Sampling Results from Summer 2025 Field Program Guide Maiden Drill Program:

Following two intensive summer field programs, SAGA has built a robust geological database, confirming the presence of key mineralization indicators:

388 rock samples analyzed

Titanium Dioxide (TiO): 49 samples exceeded 4.0% TiO , with a peak of 11.1% .

49 samples exceeded , with a peak of . Vanadium Pentoxide (VO): 36 samples reported values above 0.2% VO , with a maximum of 0.66% .

36 samples reported values above , with a maximum of . Iron (Fe): 34 samples returned values over 20% Fe, reaching up to 46.7%.

Additionally, petrographic and SEM analyses confirm that magnetite is the primary host of both titanium and vanadium, further validating the projects potential significance.

2025 Ground Geophysics:

SAGAs confidence in the project had been further bolstered by geophysical surveys, particularly the identification of a highly magnetic donut-shaped anomaly. High-resolution magnetic and EM surveys provided crucial insights into the layered structure of the intrusion, allowing for precise drill targeting.

Figure 2: Regional residual magnetics of the Radar property. Newfoundland & Labrador geophysics.

What is most intriguing is the clarity of the layering sequences observed in magnetic inversions and drill core data, stated Michael Garagan, CGO & Director of SAGA. We have been able to predict intercepts of massive to pervasive magnetite layers within 1020m accuracy, even on our first drill hole. Detailed sampling, logging and structural interpretation reaffirms that the system remains open at depth.

Figure 3: Analytical geophysics of the Radar property historical data

Q1 2025 Maiden Drill Program:

SAGAs 2025 maiden drill program aimed to test the core of the magnetic anomaly identified through geophysics at the Hawkeye Zone. Initially planned for 1,500 meters, the program was confidently expanded to 2,200 meters after early drilling revealed strong intercepts through the primary layering sequences.

Key findings from drilling include:

130200 meters of intermittent magnetite layering across strike

Consistent correlation between geophysical anomalies and mineralized zones

Layered Fe-Ti-V mineralization extending at depth

Figure 4: Magnetic inversion of the Hawkeye zone (looking east). Note the pronounced defined layering in the top and most accurate magnetic signatures.

Summary of Key Drill Intercepts:

Drilling confirmed extensive magnetite mineralization within the Hawkeye Zone. The main zone yielded intercepts of 130 to 200 meters of intermittent magnetite layering, along with over 300 meters of pervasive to disseminated magnetite within the Gabbro-Norite groundmass.

R25-HEZ-01, the first hole of the program, was drilled at a 43-degree north-northeast azimuth with a -47-degree dip. It successfully intercepted magnetite layering sequences from 110 meters to 245 meters downhole.

R25-HEZ-04 targeted the same zone 200 meters down-strike to the east. It intercepted intermittent magnetite layering from 102 meters to 287 meters, with additional smaller sequences between 24 and 56 meters.

R25-HEZ-05, designed to test the depth of the near-vertical system, was drilled from the R25-HEZ-04 platform at a steeper -70-degree dip. This hole revealed that initially steeply dipping layers gradually became perpendicular to the core axis at 425 meters depth, raising theories of a folded system or a layered mafic-lopolith structure potentially linking the Hawkeye and Trapper Zones.

EZ-02, HEZ-03, and HEZ-06 contributed to increasing the system's width by intercepting additional magnetite layering sequences as well as pervasive magnetite groundmass of the Gabbro-Norites. These holes confirmed that geophysical magnetic anomalies are directly correlated with significant magnetite content in the Gabbro-Norite, whether within structured layering sequences or disseminated throughout the rock mass.

HEZ-07, the final hole, targeted an unusual anomaly oblique to the main layeringcorresponding to the highest surface sample readings and strongest magnetic signals. It intercepted expected magnetite layering but also encountered a nearly 3-meter-wide solid magnetite band, followed by massive layers extending over a combined 9 meters. Beyond this, the drill intersected an offset structure with signs of fluid movement and retrograded Gabbro textures, offering valuable structural and geochemical insights into the genesis and structural characteristics of the intrusion.

Figure 5: Layering sequence of magnetite ranging from 2-10 inches per band over an almost 30m run of drill hole R25-HEZ-01

Figure 6: Layering Sequence of DDH R25-HEZ-04. Note magnetite banding intermittent throughout the Gabbronorite.

Figure 7: Gladiator drilling set up on HEZ-05 on the Radar 2025 drilling program. Drone shot captured by Jeff Martin.

Geological and Geophysical Correlation:

The drill program successfully confirmed the magnetite layering zones identified by geophysics and aligned accurately with magnetic inversions. The shoulder rock to the main zones remains visibly enriched in magnetite and is consistently present throughout the Gabbro intrusive. The data suggests a robust, magnetite-rich intrusion where magnetite mineralization correlates directly with titanium and vanadium content, which is consistent with earlier petrographic and SEM analyses.

Figure 8: Detailed magnetic geophysics over the Hawkeye Zone with Ti and V samples

Next Steps

With over 2,200 meters of drilling completed, the team is now finalizing core logging and sample assays. Initial surface sampling from the past two summers has shown a strong correlation between magnetite and titanium-vanadium content, which is also anticipated in the pending assay results. The programs success has laid the groundwork for additional step-out drilling to further expand both the width and strike of the mineralized system.

The team remains highly optimistic and eager to unlock the full potential of this promising asset.

Figure 9.Target zone map of SAGAs Radar property

Unlocking a New Critical Metals Hub in North America:

The Radar Project represents a unique opportunity to develop a secure, domestic supply of critical metals, particularly vanadium, which is vital for grid-scale battery storage and steel alloying. The Company feels that results to date suggest similarity to world-class Fe-Ti-V deposits such as Lac Tio, Black Rock, and Mt. Sorcier. The Radar Project stands at the forefront of a potential new discovery.

Petrographic work on samples collected on the 2024 exploration program conclusively indicates that Radar project; Dykes River Intrusive (Gower 2017), hosts a polycyclic gabbronoritic intrusive complex with multiple oxide layers, said Dr. A. Miller, lead petrographer.

SAGA remains committed to further defining this large-scale layered mafic intrusive system and is eagerly anticipating pending assay results from the Q1 2025 drill program.

With existing infrastructure, including road access to the property and proximity to the deep-water port in Cartwright, the Radar Project has all the hallmarks of a high potential, strategically positioned critical metals opportunity.

About SAGA Metals Corp.

SAGA Metals Corp. is a North American mining company focused on the exploration and discovery of critical minerals that support the global transition to green energy. The company's flagship asset, the Double Mer Uranium Project, is located in Labrador, Canada, covering 25,600 hectares. This project features uranium radiometrics that highlight an 18-kilometer east-west trend, with a confirmed 14-kilometer section producing samples as high as 4,281ppm U 3 O 8 and spectrometer readings of 22,000cps.

In addition to its uranium focus, SAGA owns the Legacy Lithium Property in Quebec's Eeyou Istchee James Bay region. This project, developed in partnership with Rio Tinto, has been expanded through the acquisition of the Amirault Lithium Project. Together, these properties cover 65,849 hectares and share significant geological continuity with other major players in the area, including Rio Tinto, Winsome Resources, Azimut Exploration, and Loyal Lithium.

SAGA also holds secondary exploration assets in Labrador, where the company is focused on the discovery of titanium, vanadium, and iron ore. With a portfolio that spans key minerals crucial to the green energy transition, SAGA is strategically positioned to play an essential role in the clean energy future.

For more information, contact:

SAGA Metals Corp.

Investor Relations

Tel: +1 (778) 930-1321

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.sagametals.com

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Qualified Person

Peter Webster P.Geo. CEO of Mercator Geological Services Limited is an Independent Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information related to the Radar Ti-V Project disclosed in this news release.

Cautionary Disclaimer
Rodrigo Duterte, the 79-year-old former Philippines president, faces charges for "the crime against humanity of murder", according to the International Criminal Court (ICC), for a crackdown that rights groups estimate killed tens of thousands of mostly poor men, often without proof they were linked to drugs.

"Early in the morning, Interpol Manila received the official copy of the warrant of the arrest from the ICC," the presidential palace said in a statement.

"As of now, he is under the custody of authorities."

Duterte demanded to know the basis of his arrest in a video posted to his youngest daughter Veronica's Instagram account following his detention.

"So what is the law and what is the crime that I committed? Show to me now the legal basis of my being here," he said in the video.

"I was brought here not of my own volition but somebody else's ... you have to answer now for the deprivation of liberty."

While no location was given for the video, a photo released by his political party said he was being held at the Villamor Air Base next to Manila airport.

Duterte's former chief legal counsel, Salvador Panelo, called the arrest "unlawful".

"The (Philippine National Police) didn't allow one of his lawyers to meet him at the airport and to question the legal basis for PRRD's arrest," he said.

Reactions from those who opposed to the drug war, however, were jubilant.

One group that worked to support mothers of those killed in the crackdown called the arrest a "very welcome development".

"The mothers whose husbands and children were killed because of the drug war are very happy because they have been waiting for this for a very long time," Rubilyn Litao, coordinator for Rise Up for Life and for Rights, told AFP.

"Now that Duterte has been arrested, (President) Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should make sure that he is actually delivered to the ICC for detention and trial," said Philippine rights alliance Karapatan, calling the arrest "long overdue".

Human Rights Watch also called on the government to "swiftly surrender (Duterte) to the ICC", saying the arrest was a "critical step for accountability in the Philippines".

China however warned the ICC against "politicisation" and "double standards" in the Duterte case and said it was "closely monitoring the development of the situation".

A winding path

Duterte's Tuesday morning arrest at Manila's international airport followed a brief trip to Hong Kong.

Speaking to thousands of overseas Filipino workers there Sunday, the former president decried the investigation, labelling ICC investigators "sons of whores" while saying he would "accept it" if an arrest were to be his fate.

The Philippines quit the ICC in 2019 on Duterte's instructions, but the tribunal maintained it had jurisdiction over killings before the pullout, as well as killings in the southern city of Davao when Duterte was mayor, years before he became president.

It launched a formal inquiry in September 2021, only to suspend it two months later after Manila said it was re-examining several hundred cases of drug operations that led to deaths at the hands of police, hitmen and vigilantes.

The case resumed in July 2023 after a five-judge panel rejected the Philippines' objection that the court lacked jurisdiction.

Since then, the Marcos government has on numerous instances said it would not cooperate with the investigation.

But Undersecretary of the Presidential Communications Office Claire Castro on Sunday said that if Interpol would "ask the necessary assistance from the government, it is obliged to follow".

Duterte is still hugely popular among many in the Philippines who supported his quick-fix solutions to crime, and he remains a potent political force.

He is running to reclaim his job as mayor of his stronghold Davao in May's mid-term election.

Charges have been filed locally in a handful of cases related to drug operations that led to deaths -- only nine police have been convicted for slaying alleged drug suspects.

A self-professed killer, Duterte instructed police to fatally shoot narcotics suspects if their lives were at risk and insisted the crackdown saved families and prevented the Philippines from turning into a "narco-politics state".

At the opening of a Philippine Senate probe into the drug war in October, Duterte said he offered "no apologies, no excuses" for his actions.

"I did what I had to do, and whether or not you believe it or not, I did it for my country," he said.
Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte, arrested Tuesday on an International Criminal Court warrant for alleged crimes against humanity during his "war on drugs", once said he would be happy to kill three million addicts.

While Duterte has insisted he was not responsible for any unlawful deaths, police estimate killing 6,000 people in his anti-drug campaign.

But rights groups say many thousands of other murders of mostly poor men remain unexplained, with ICC prosecutors placing the death toll at 12,000-30,000.

Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the European Union all criticised the controversial leader for bombastic statements he made that appeared to support the killing.

Here is a selection of Duterte's comments made on deaths and the drug war as the crackdown first got underway:

- Kill order -

"When I become president, I'll order the police and the military to find these people and kill them."

As a presidential candidate Duterte says on March 16, 2016 that he will eradicate drugs in the Philippines by killing so many dealers it will cause a boom for funeral businesses.

- Rough justice -

"If you know of any addicts, go ahead and kill them yourself as getting their parents to do it would be too painful."

Hours after being sworn in as president, Duterte goes to a Manila slum and urges residents to kill drug-addled neighbours on June 30, 2016.

- No let up -

"This campaign (of) shoot-to-kill will remain until the last day of my term. I don't care about human rights, believe me."

An unapologetic Duterte vows no let up as the death toll from his drug war nears 1,000 on August 6, 2016.

"I'd be happy to slaughter them."

Duterte estimated on September 30, 2016 that there were three million drug addicts in the Philippines, adding that he would like them all dead. A year later, he said the figure had grown to four million despite his crackdown.

- Leading by example? -

"I used to do it (kill) personally just to show to the guys that if I can do it, so can you."

On December, 12, 2016 Duterte boasts that he had murdered suspects when he was mayor of the southern city of Davao.

"If you commit corruption, whoever you are, I will have you flown by helicopter to Manila and I will toss you out. I have done it before, why would not I do it again?"

Duterte alludes to a past crime in explaining to typhoon survivors how he will take drastic measures against drugs and graft on December 27, 2016.

- Sorry? Not sorry -

"You want to scare me by threatening to have me thrown in prison? International Criminal Court? Bullshit."

On November 28, 2016 Duterte bristles at ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda's stark warning that any person who incites "mass violence" in the Philippines was "potentially liable to prosecution" at the world court.

"I don't give a damn about being prosecuted in the ICC. Go ahead. It would be my pleasure to go to prison for my country. It would be a distinct honour for me, even if they don't make me a hero, to die for my country."

Duterte again shrugs off potential prosecution on September 20, 2017.

- 'It's on me' -

"It's on me, not on you. I will answer for it and if someone should go to prison, I will be the one to go to prison."

Duterte tells his police force on May 3, 2021 that he will protect officers carrying out the war on drugs as long as they "obey the law".

- Parting shots -

"Those who destroy my country, I will kill you. And those who destroy the young people of our country, I will kill you."

In a defiant final State of the Nation address on July 26, 2021, Duterte tells an audience of lawmakers, diplomats and judges the country still has "a long way in our fight against the proliferation of drugs".
Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested on Tuesday, just weeks before his 80th birthday, on the charge of committing crimes against humanity during the deadly years-long drug war that was his signature policy.

Other former Philippine leaders have been arrested before, including Joseph Estrada in 2001 and Gloria Arroyo in 2011, both on graft charges, but Duterte is the first potentially to face an international tribunal.

AFP below looks at the case before the International Criminal Court (ICC) and how it unfolded:

Why was Duterte arrested?

The Philippines' prosecutor general acted after Interpol Manila received a copy of the ICC warrant early on Tuesday, according to the presidential palace.

Duterte was taken into custody at Manila airport shortly after stepping off a plane following a visit to Hong Kong.

The arrest warrant specifically cites "murder as a crime against humanity" in connection with his violent drug war.

The tribunal has been investigating the Duterte government's drug war since September 15, 2021. Thousands were killed during the campaign, mostly poor men.

The ICC reinstated the investigation in 2023 after a break in proceedings following an appeal by the Philippines.

While estimates of those killed vary, prosecutors at the Hague say "the total number of civilians killed in connection with the so-called 'war on drugs' campaign" ranges from 12,000 to 30,000.

Duterte was in power from June 2016 to June 2022.

How has the Philippine government treated the case?

The Duterte government had a long-standing policy of refusing to cooperate with the ICC probe, saying it lacked jurisdiction and infringed on the country's sovereignty.

Duterte instructed his government to pull out of the ICC's founding treaty, the Rome Statute, after the tribunal began looking into allegations of systematic extrajudicial killings during his rule.

However, the tribunal ruled that alleged crimes committed before Manila's withdrawal from the treaty in 2019 remained under its jurisdiction.

Current President Ferdinand Marcos refused to resume ICC membership after he was elected in 2022, with Duterte's daughter Sara as his vice-presidential running mate. He also continued to rule out any cooperation with the ICC probe.

However, Marcos's stance shifted subtly as the alliance between the two powerful families unravelled. He said Manila would comply, under its obligations as an Interpol member, if the ICC sought Interpol's help in arresting Duterte.

What happens next?

Kristina Conti, a Philippine lawyer serving as assistant to counsel in the ICC case, said it was possible Duterte would be flown out on the next available flight to a detention facility "nearest" to the ICC, which is based in The Hague in the Netherlands.

She said the arrest warrant specifically instructs the officers who served it to "bring the accused to the court, and the court is in The Hague".

What has Duterte said about the case?

When the drug war case was first filed in the ICC, Duterte insisted the tribunal lacked jurisdiction and that he would only be willing to be arrested and tried in a Filipino court.

Duterte told hundreds of cheering supporters at a rally in Hong Kong on Sunday that his actions during the drug war were meant "to provide a semblance of peace and quiet" for Filipinos and everything he did was "for my country".

He also said he would "accept it" if he were arrested.

However, Duterte quickly challenged his detention's legality in a clip posted to social media after his arrest on Tuesday.

"What is the law and what is the crime that I committed? Prove to me now the legal basis for my being here," he said.
On March 10, the military court of Kasai Central sentenced the two men prosecuted for the murder of a traditional chief in May 2017 to 20 years in prison on appeal. Chief Mbangu had been murdered and his body dismembered by militiamen of the Kamwina Nsapu insurgent group. Marcel Tshilumba and Emmanuel Mukini were again found guilty of war crimes, based on a video of the crime, numerous testimonies and after the two defendants accused each other of these atrocities. But while the court had sentenced them to death at first instance, the court of appeal significantly reduced their sentence. The two convicts will also have to pay damages to the tune of 80,000 dollars, in Congolese francs. The judges therefore took into account mitigating circumstances related to their young age at the time of the crime, their status as first-time offenders, their low level of education and the influence of their environment. For each of the parties, the word relief dominates. We have mixed feelings. It's a relief for us, but the sentence is still heavy, said Alidor Mampuya, lawyer for Tshilumba. We are totally relieved by the convictions. We believe that our clients will be restored to their rights. We congratulate the court for this quality work, done here in Masuika, saidSamy Lukusa, one of the civil party lawyers.

The Kamwina Nsapu insurrection bloodied this region between 2016 and 2019. The crimes committed during this war are the subject of several trials before the military courts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). From March 3 to 10, judges, prosecutors and lawyers met to judge the facts in the midst of the victimized population. Throughout the week, the inhabitants of Masuika, a small town in Central Kasai, turned out in large numbers to attend the hearings. Because in parallel to the trial of Chef Mbangu's murderers, the military court held another, in which four individuals were prosecuted for the murder of two students, at the same time in the same town when it was caught up in the conflict.

The military court, in a traveling court hearing in Masuika, handed down nuanced judgments after the very heavy sentences handed down in the first instance. Photo:  Joseph Mbuyi

Katuala Katuala, Robot Lushimba (so nicknamed because he was a taxi driver who never got tired, according to the population), Francois Kamilonga and Munyinyi Musapu have already been sentenced to life imprisonment at first instance for criminal association, participation in the insurrectionary movement and war crime of murder. A fifth suspect, Milonga, is still at large. The events took place in May 2017 when the Kamwina Nsapu militia entered the region. A young teenager, a finalist student (i.e. in his final year of secondary school) was sent by his parents to buy coffee in Wulongo, a village near Masuika. The boy invited a friend to keep him company on the trip. But the two students  whose names were never disclosed by the court  were arrested by a group of militiamen, local men who are now being tried before their community.

Why did they join the insurrection?

When the boy's mother heard the news of his arrest, she went to plead with the militiamen for her son and his friend to be set free. The request was rejected and the crowd was dispersed by a shot fired into the air. According to the mother, whose testimony in the first instance under the pseudonym TB was recalled by a lawyer since she did not want to return to the witness box on appeal, even the village chief intervened for the release of the two boys, without success. Panicked, the boy's parents released a sum of money which was given to a certain Milonga, still at large to this day, to request the release of these children. To no avail. Back at home, there was only despair. The children were taken elsewhere. They were never seen again and are presumed to have been murdered.

In 2018, when the Congolese armed forces were in control of the situation in Masuika, the parents of the missing boy saw Katuala, one of the militiamen they believed had arrested their child, walking around as a free man. They alerted the authorities and this first suspect was arrested. During his interrogation, Katuala named three other individuals: Kamilonga, Musapu and Lushimba, who were all arrested. Before being tried and sentenced to life imprisonment by the garrison military court in October 2023.

During the appeal trial, the court asked each of the defendants to explain what had prompted them to join the rebel movement. For Katuala, it was the suffering of his family, the lack of money and food, and the hope of finding a way to earn a living. Kamilonga, who claims his innocence in this case, says he joined the Kamwina Nsapu movement to get treatment for the hernia that had been bothering him for several years. For Musapu, it was out of necessity, so as not to lose his life. He had been identified as a Swahili speaker by the militia, and all those who spoke a language other than Tshiluba and the local dialects were suspected of being enemies, supporters of Kabila's regime, which the militia was fighting. Musapu therefore preferred to agree to join the movement, he said.

Lushimba's mother and his wife were present at the hearing. They wished to make their statements without being protected. Lushimba was forced to join the militia, he was not there when the two teenagers were arrested, his mother said. He was also in the bush, he had fled, as they were looking to kill him because he speaks Swahili. When he came out, he found a bicycle that allegedly belonged to the captured children and he returned it to the owner. That's why he was arrested. He doesn't know anything, adds his wife.

Lushimba, Kamilonga and Musapu all accused Katuala and Milonga, the fugitive. They claim that these two are the ones who arrested and killed the two students. Katuala rejects the accusation and proclaims his innocence.

Debate over who is responsible and the procedure

The appeal proceedings were not without a certain amount of technical confusion. Article 464 of the Code of Criminal Procedure requires the public prosecutor to lodge an appeal in the event of a life sentence or the death penalty, explained the senior military prosecutor at the beginning of the trial. But during his closing speech, he asked the court to declare the appeal unfounded and to confirm the judgment at first instance. This caused a stir. We didn't understand the position of the public prosecutor. It's unclear. How can you request an appeal to demand that the work of the first judge be confirmed? asked a law student who was attending the trial. We don't understand this attitude of the public prosecutor. We think that the court could rule taking into account the arguments raised by us, explains a defense lawyer who requested anonymity and believes that the prosecutor has not studied the case properly. The lawyers for the four defendants have pleaded not guilty and are seeking the outright release of their clients, due to insufficient evidence.

Among the population, the murder of the students is an accepted fact, but doubt seems to remain as to the responsibility of each of the defendants. I don't think they're all involved in this case. May the court punish the real culprits, said a notable from Masuika. But for Jean Malhis Lungala, lawyer for the civil parties, the case is clear: May the convictions be upheld and may the damages also be upheld, he pleaded at the close of the hearings.

Finally, on March 10, the judges handed down a nuanced judgment in this case. First, they duly amended the qualification of the crime: as proof of the death of the two teenagers was never provided, they reclassified the crime as forced disappearance. Then they amended the life sentences to 20 years for Lushimba, 15 years for Musapu, 10 years for Kamilonga and 8 years for Katuala.
Prayers of thanksgiving mingled with quiet sobs on Tuesday as family members of people slain during former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte's drug war gathered for a mass celebrating his arrest on charges of crimes against humanity.

Widows and mothers carefully placed framed photographs of their dead husbands and sons in front of the altar at the Sacred Heart Parish in a Manila suburb, casualties of a crackdown that activists say killed tens of thousands of mostly poor men.

The women said Duterte's arrest on Tuesday morning by police serving an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant was an "answered prayer".

Father Flaviano Villanueva, a Catholic priest and fierce opponent of the drug war, recalled in his homily the despair the relatives felt while waiting for justice, likening news of Duterte's arrest to a long-closed prison cell finally being flung open.

"I hope this arrest will pave the way for the complete healing of our country, for people to remember that justice will prevail," Villanueva told AFP after his sermon.

Luzviminda Dela Cruz, whose 19-year-old son was killed by police after a raid on a relative's house in 2017, told AFP she felt relieved that "my son has now achieved justice".

"I feel a kind of happiness that I cannot explain. I have been praying for this every day," said Dela Cruz, who wore a sky-blue shirt printed with the word "justice".

- 'The Lord listens' -

Duterte was president from 2016 to 2022 and ICC prosecutors in The Hague say the number of those killed in his drug war ranges from 12,000 to 30,000.

He and his lawyers have questioned the legality of the ICC warrant but Duterte has also said he offered "no apologies, no excuses" for his actions while president.

For Sofia Joveres, a widow who participated in the mass, Duterte's arrest was "proof that the Lord listens to us", although she said she was "not completely happy".

"I honestly don't feel that happy because, even if Duterte was arrested, it can't bring back the life of my husband that they heartlessly took away in the drug war," the 45-year-old said through tears.

Joveres said her husband was forcibly brought out of their home in the capital by about a dozen uniformed and plainclothes police officers in 2016.

She said her neighbours told her that police ordered her husband to run as fast as he could before gunning him down.

Joveres said one of her prayers in Tuesday's mass was for Duterte to own up to his responsibility and pay for the crimes committed in the name of his drug war.

"It's important that Duterte admits that, because he was the root of all the pain and violence that we endured," Joveres said.
A plane carrying former Philippines leader Rodrigo Duterte left Manila bound for The Hague on Tuesday night following his arrest on an International Criminal Court warrant tied to his deadly war on drugs, President Ferdinand Marcos said.

The 79-year-old faces a charge of "the crime against humanity of murder", according to the ICC, for a crackdown that rights groups estimate killed tens of thousands of mostly poor men, often without proof they were linked to drugs.

"Former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte took off at 11:03 pm this evening and exited Philippine airspace," Marcos told a press briefing shortly after takeoff.

"The plane is en route to The Hague in the Netherlands allowing the former president to face charges of crimes against humanity in relation to his bloody war on drugs."

Duterte was arrested at Manila's international airport Tuesday after "Interpol Manila received the official copy of the warrant of the arrest from the ICC", the presidential palace said in a morning statement.

Before his evening departure, Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte said her father was being "forcibly taken to The Hague".

"This is not justice -- this is oppression and persecution," she said in a statement.

Duterte had earlier taken to social media to say he believed the Philippine Supreme Court would step in and prevent his transfer.

"The Supreme Court will not agree to that. We do not have an extradition treaty," he said on Instagram live after his lawyers filed a petition with the court.

"What is the crime that I committed? Show to me now the legal basis of my being here," he said in a separate video on the same platform.

Flight tracking data from FlightRadar.com showed that the plane carrying the former president -- tail number RP-C5219 -- was scheduled to leave Dubai for Rotterdam at 2130 GMT Tuesday.

While supporters dubbed his arrest "unlawful", reactions from those who opposed Duterte's drug war were jubilant.

One group working to support mothers of those killed in the crackdown called the arrest a "very welcome development".

"The mothers whose husbands and children were killed because of the drug war are very happy because they have been waiting for this for a very long time," Rubilyn Litao, coordinator for Rise Up for Life and for Rights, told AFP, while Philippine rights alliance Karapatan said his arrest was "long overdue".

Human Rights Watch also said the arrest was a "critical step for accountability in the Philippines".

China, however, warned the ICC against "politicisation" and "double standards" in the Duterte case, saying it was "closely monitoring the development of the situation".

Neither the ICC nor the prosecutor's office were able to offer immediate comment.

- A winding path -

Duterte's morning arrest at Manila's international airport followed a brief trip to Hong Kong.

Speaking to thousands of overseas Filipino workers there Sunday, the former president decried the investigation, labelling ICC investigators "sons of whores" while saying he would "accept it" if an arrest were to be his fate.

The Philippines quit the ICC in 2019 on Duterte's instructions, but the tribunal maintained it had jurisdiction over killings before the pullout, as well as killings in the southern city of Davao when Duterte was mayor, years before he became president.

It launched a formal inquiry in September 2021, only to suspend it two months later after Manila said it was re-examining several hundred cases of drug operations that led to deaths at the hands of police, hitmen and vigilantes.

The case resumed in July 2023 after a five-judge panel rejected the Philippines' objection that the court lacked jurisdiction.

Since then, the Marcos government has on numerous instances said it would not cooperate with the investigation.

But Undersecretary of the Presidential Communications Office Claire Castro on Sunday said that if Interpol would "ask the necessary assistance from the government, it is obliged to follow".

Duterte is still hugely popular among many in the Philippines who supported his quick-fix solutions to crime, and he remains a potent political force.

He is running to reclaim his job as mayor of his stronghold Davao in May's mid-term election.

A self-professed killer, Duterte while president instructed police to fatally shoot narcotics suspects if their lives were at risk and insisted the crackdown saved families and prevented the Philippines from turning into a "narco-politics state".

At the opening of a Philippine Senate probe into the drug war in October, Duterte said he offered "no apologies, no excuses" for his actions.

"Whether or not you believe it or not, I did it for my country," he said.
Lawyers for former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, who is bound for The Hague following his arrest on an International Criminal Court warrant tied to his deadly crackdown on drugs, filed a petition Wednesday demanding he be sent back to Manila.

The 79-year-old faces a charge of "the crime against humanity of murder", according to the ICC, for a crackdown that rights groups estimate killed tens of thousands of mostly poor men, often without proof they were linked to drugs.

On Wednesday morning, his lawyers said they had filed a Supreme Court petition on behalf of his youngest daughter, Veronica, accusing the government of "kidnapping", and demanding it be compelled "to bring him back".

"The ICC can only exercise its jurisdiction if a country's national legal system is not functioning," Duterte lawyer Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr. told reporters outside the court, insisting the Philippines' judicial system was "working properly".

But palace press officer Claire Castro said cooperating with Interpol on the case was the government's prerogative.

"This is not just surrendering a Filipino citizen, this is surrendering a Filipino citizen who is accused of crimes against humanity specifically murder," she said at a briefing.

At a church in the capital Wednesday, some who lost family members in the crackdown gathered to discuss the former president's arrest.

"Duterte is fortunate, there's due process for him. There was no due process for my son. He will be lying down on a good bed, my son is already rotting at the cemetery," Emily Soriano said of her son Angelito at a press briefing organised by a local rights group.

"For us -- the poor, the victims -- we weren't able to receive that chance (at a trial)," said Llore Pasco, whose two sons were killed in 2017.

President Ferdinand Marcos announced Duterte's departure at a Tuesday press briefing shortly after 11 pm.

"The plane is en route to The Hague in the Netherlands allowing the former president to face charges of crimes against humanity in relation to his bloody war on drugs," said Marcos.

AFP correspondents in Dubai saw the flight land around 4:00 am (0000 GMT).

- ICC warrant -

Duterte was arrested at Manila's international airport Tuesday after "Interpol Manila received the official copy of the warrant of the arrest from the ICC", the presidential palace said.

An ICC spokesman later confirmed the warrant and said an initial appearance hearing would be scheduled when Duterte was in court custody.

Before his departure, Vice President Sara Duterte said her father was being "forcibly taken to The Hague", labelling the transfer "oppression and persecution".

Her office issued a statement Wednesday saying she had left on a morning flight for Amsterdam, without offering further details.

The night before, the former president said he believed the Philippine Supreme Court would step in and prevent his transfer after his lawyers filed a petition.

"The Supreme Court will not agree to that. We do not have an extradition treaty," Duterte said on Instagram live shortly before his departure.

But no reprieve materialised.

While supporters dubbed his arrest "unlawful", reactions from those who opposed Duterte's drug war were jubilant.

One group working to support mothers of those killed in the crackdown called the arrest a "very welcome development".

"The mothers whose husbands and children were killed because of the drug war are very happy because they have been waiting for this for a very long time," Rubilyn Litao, coordinator for Rise Up for Life and for Rights, told AFP.

- A winding path -

The Philippines quit the ICC in 2019 on Duterte's instructions, but the tribunal maintained it had jurisdiction over killings before the pullout, as well as killings in the southern city of Davao when Duterte was mayor, years before he became president.

It launched a formal inquiry in September 2021, only to suspend it two months later after Manila said it was re-examining several hundred cases of drug operations that led to deaths at the hands of police, hitmen and vigilantes.

The case resumed in July 2023 after a five-judge panel rejected the Philippines' objection that the court lacked jurisdiction.

Following that decision, the Marcos government said repeatedly it would not cooperate with the investigation, but recently reversed course, saying it would be "obliged to follow" should Interpol ask for assistance.

Asked Tuesday what he would say to supporters of Duterte, who remains hugely popular, Marcos said the government was "just doing its job" by living up to its international commitments.
Kennesaw State student exploring the use of robotics in agriculture

KENNESAW, Ga. | Mar 11, 2025

Andrea Martinez Angulo As the first person in her family to attend college in the United States, Andrea Martinez Angulo has long been imbued with a tireless work ethic.

It was instilled in her by her parents, who brought her to the U.S. from Jalisco, Mexico at 4 years old as her father pursued his career ambitions, and it continued as she was introduced to STEM as a student at Kennesaw Mountain High School. Today, she is well on her way to breaking new ground in robotics as a student in Kennesaw State Universitys Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology.

My parents have always given me a great example of what it means to work hard for what you earn, said Martinez Angulo, a KSU Journey Honors College student. That mindset has stuck with me, especially when things get tough at school. You just keep working, and things will work out in the end.

Originally set on studying biomedical engineering, Martinez Angulo later shifted to mechatronics due to her affinity for science and math. At KSU, she has continued to thrive academically, gaining hands-on research experience and honing her communication skills by presenting at the Symposium of Student Scholars. Shes also an active member of the Synergy Robotics Lab, where shes been working on a cutting-edge project involving robot dogs designed to reimagine agricultural practices.

Reflecting on her growth, she acknowledged the support from professors and mentors for helping her develop both technical expertise and the confidence to engage with others in the field. She credits SPCEET assistant professor Muhammad Tanveer for carefully guiding her research efforts.

Dr. Tanveer has supported me from Day 1, Martinez Angulo said. Hes given me a lot of opportunities for sure. Hes let me be part of different engineering projects and always guided me and answered any questions that I have, whether they be about engineering or my career.

Tanveer, in return, complimented Andreas hard work and dedication to her craft.

"Andrea has consistently demonstrated exceptional technical skills and a remarkable work ethic in our research projects, he said. Her passion for robotics and her ability to tackle complex challenges head-on has made her a valuable member of the Synergy Robotics Lab.

One of Martinez Angulos most exciting ventures is her involvement in a research project aimed at enhancing the collaboration between robot dogs and agricultural ground vehicles. The project focuses on a robotic dog named the "Husky," which is equipped with a robotic arm, cameras, and LIDAR sensors. Its primary function is to assist in agricultural tasks, such as monitoring crops, identifying ripe produce, and even potentially assisting with harvesting.

We wanted to see how AI models like ChatGPT could be integrated into the robot to give it commands and analyze how it responds, Martinez Angulo said. "Its not just about programming the robot; it's about seeing how well it interacts with the environment and follows instructions.

The research aims to push the boundaries of automation in agriculture, where robots can help with tasks that typically require large human labor, such as monitoring vast crop fields and identifying ripe produce.

The use of large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT allows the robot dog to comprehend and follow basic commands, such as walking a few feet or turning a certain way. This research is part of a larger goal to create robots that can autonomously complete complex tasks in various industries.

Every groundbreaking research project comes with its challenges, and Martinez Angulos project is no exception. One of the early obstacles was outdated technology, specifically, a faulty Raspberry Pi that hindered their progress. Despite the setbacks, Martinez Angulos determination and problem-solving skills helped overcome the issues.

It was frustrating, but we knew it was just part of the process, she said. You have to keep adapting and learning as technology evolves.

The impact of this research has the potential to be global. By improving agricultural monitoring with robotic assistance, Martinez Angulo believes this technology could help address labor shortages, reduce the risk to workers, and optimize crop production.

"I see this project as just the beginning, she said. In the future, robots like these could make farming more efficient and safer for everyone."

As a passionate researcher and an advocate for women in STEM, Martinez Angulo is setting an example for a future where technology can bridge gaps and solve real-world problems. Her experience at Kennesaw State has empowered her to reach new heights, and she hopes to inspire other young women to follow their passions in STEM.

I want to show other women that they can do this too, Martinez Angulo said. The field is challenging, but its also incredibly rewarding. If you work hard and stick with it, youll see the impact you can make.

 Story by Raynard Churchwell

Photos by Darnell Wilburn

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The universitys vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.






Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - A dramatic incident unfolded near Thika YMCA on Monday evening when four armed men, believed to be law enforcement officers, seized a young man in a swift operation.

Eyewitnesses reported that the incident occurred at around 4 PM, with the officers, brandishing firearms, surrounding the man, estimated to be between 23 and 27 years old, before whisking him away in an unmarked vehicle.

The circumstances leading to the incident remain unclear.

Watch the video.






Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - Security agencies in Limuru intercepted 80 donkey carcasses being transported to Burma Market on Monday after the animals were slaughtered in the bushes under unhygienic conditions.

The meat, likely contaminated, was carried in dirty used sacks, posing a serious public health risk, including the potential spread of zoonotic diseases.

Authorities have raised concerns over the dwindling donkey population, linking the illegal slaughter to the booming trade in donkey skins smuggled to China.

Calls have been made to Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe and Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke to gazette the African Union ban on the donkey skin trade, which is believed to be fuelling the illicit donkey meat market.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - DCI detectives have arrested 18 suspects at a godown in Eastleigh, Nairobi, after they were ambushed while offloading a consignment of fabrics allegedly on transit from the port of Mombasa to DRC.

The arrest which was effected last evening followed days of surveillance by hawkshaws from the elite Operation Support Unit (OSU), who have been trailing a suspected ring of organized criminals involved in tax fraud by falsely declaring goods as exports but later diverting them into local markets.

In a classic case of impunity and conspiracy with rogue government officials, the trailer carrying the consignment (http://reg.no. KBT 641G/ZD3436), was spotted changing its original registration plates to KBY 548K at the Machakos Junction, and at the same time tampered with the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS) before proceeding with the journey towards Nairobi.

After several stops around the Capital perhaps to find out whether the tampering had been detected, the trailer proceeded with the journey to Mai Mahiu, where the driver assisted by another person decorated the truck with some stickers to further conceal the identity of the trailer.

The vehicle then took a turn to Nairobi's Eastleigh area at the KBS parking yard where it was opened and the offloading started.

Right on cue, the detectives struck rounding up the 18, including tMeshack Leo (driver) and two store owners, Yusuf Mohammed Noor and Abdi Nasir Dur.

Preliminary investigations have established that the same syndicate has been under investigations by DCI and KRA Investigations Department whereby it previously diverted 5 trucks with the same type of consignment and consignee/ importer, one Kasdama Kasongo Francois of DRC.

It is also believed that the suspects are part of a wider criminal web that has been diverting goods on transit, having mastered the art of compromising RECTS officers manning the trackers and those deployed on the transit corridor to respond in case of an alert on interference of the RECTS seal.

Notably, imported textile is subjected to higher rates of taxation thus the cartel evades huge amounts of taxes leading to loss of revenue by the government.

The scene is being processed as the investigation continues.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - The body of Kenyan police officer, Samuel Tompoi Kaetuai, who was killed while serving on a peacekeeping mission in Haiti, was received at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Monday night in a solemn ceremony.

Deputy Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli, Kaetuais family, and fellow officers gathered to pay their last respects.

Kaetuai was fatally shot by armed gangs during an operation, as confirmed by the Multinational Security Support Mission and the National Police Service.

Foreign Ministry Principal Secretary Korir Singoei expressed deep sorrow over his passing, acknowledging the immense loss to the nation.

Haiti continues to struggle with escalating gang violence, with the United Nations recording 5,601 killings in 2024, an increase of 1,000 from the previous year.

The crisis has displaced over a million people, with reports of lynchings and summary executions by both gangs and law enforcement.

Kenya leads the peacekeeping mission in Haiti, which faced a temporary funding suspension in February under President Donald Trumps directive.

However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later granted a waiver, allowing operations to resume.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - Collins Leitich, alias Afande Chepkulei, the daring man arrested for running an unauthorized police post in Cherus Centre, Uasin Gishu County, lived a lavish lifestyle.

Leitich frequently flaunted high-end vehicles, including a Range Rover and Toyota Land Cruiser V8 on social media.

Investigations reveal that he extorted unsuspecting members of the public by making arrests and imposing fines.

His operations had been thriving until authorities caught up with him.

Well, the audacity of fraudsters in Kenya is unmatched.

See some of his expensive rides.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - Collins Letting alias General Chepkulei, the man arrested for setting up his own police station in Kesses and branding it with police colours without the approval of the Inspector-General, moves around with bodyguards and a chase car with a siren.

He also seems to be connected within the police ranks after a photo of him and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja surfaced on social media.

The station he was running for more than six months had detention cells and an office.

Who exactly is this man?





See more of his photos below.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - The Kenya Kwanza Government has officially disclosed that it spent KSh 523.85 million on former Prime Minister Raila Odingas unsuccessful campaign for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship.

New details presented before the National Assembly confirm that the funds were allocated to support Railas bid.

Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations Committee chairman, Nelson Koech, stated that the National Treasury approved the expenditure under Article 223 of the Constitution, which permits withdrawals before parliamentary approval.

Appearing before the Liaison Committee - chaired by Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei - Koech defended the spending, stating, "The committee approves the expenditure of KSh 523.84 million for the State Department for Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Affairs, incurred under Article 223."

The revelation comes amid controversy over claims that the Government allocated KSh 13 billion for Railas campaign.

Juja MP, George Koimburi, a close ally of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, made the allegations.

However, Raila dismissed Koimburis claims upon his return to Kenya.

Speaking alongside President William Ruto at State House, Mombasa, he termed the allegations as baseless and accused critics of inflating figures to tarnish his image.

The expenditure has ignited debate over Government spending priorities.Top of FormBottom of Form

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - A family in Mosop, Nandi County, is grappling with a heartbreaking double tragedy.

This is after their son, Eugene Kipkoech, a student in Karkila, Finland, who was reported missing on March 7th, was found dead in a nearby lake on Saturday night.

This devastating loss comes exactly a year after the family lost their daughter in Australia.

Still recovering from that grief, they are now faced with yet another unimaginable heartbreak.

Below is Eugenes photo.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - An Iftar dinner organized to raise funds for Madarasatul Najah, a learning institution in Garissa County, saw an impressive Ksh 112 million collected in just two hours on Sunday evening.

The high-profile event, held at Weston Hotel in Nairobi, was graced by Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho, Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen, Garissa Senator Abdul Haji, and Governor Nadhif Jamah.

Also in attendance were MPs from Garissa County, Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, and Mombasa County Assembly Speaker Aharub Khatri, among other prominent figures.

Notably absent was Environment CS Aden Duale, who hails from the region.

His decision to skip the fundraiser has stirred political debate, with some attendees suggesting he underestimated the events success.

He perhaps assumed the event wouldnt achieve much without his presence, but reality proved otherwise, said an associate familiar with the matter.

Duale did not immediately comment on his absence, though his team cited fasting as the reason.

President William Ruto contributed Ksh 5 million, while Murkomen donated Ksh 3 million.

Joho and his associates gave Ksh 22 million, Governor Jamah and his allies raised Ksh 22.5 million, Senator Haji and his team collected Ksh 20 million, businessman Maalim Weli of BBS Mall in Eastleigh donated Ksh 10 million, and the owner of Seven Aside contributed Ksh 10 million.

Senator Haji praised the overwhelming support.

This was a huge success, and we are glad to be helping many in the community. No politics for now, he remarked.

Garissa is shaping up to be a political battleground ahead of the 2027 elections, with several heavyweights eyeing the gubernatorial seat.

Among those expected to contest are former Governor Ali Korane, Senator Haji, and former MP and ambassador Mohamed Shidiye.

Korane and Haji, who have long-standing political ties dating back to the late Yusuf Hajis era, could potentially form an alliance.

East African Community Principal Secretary Abdi Dubat has also signaled interest in the race.

Duales absence from the fundraiser is widely seen as a political misstep.

This will haunt him in the end. He should have at least sent a donation, remarked one political observer.

With alliances forming and rivalries deepening, Garissas political landscape is heating up, setting the stage for a fierce contest in 2027.






Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - A viral video showing two women demanding payment from men after having fun has left Kenyans talking.

In the clip, one man asks a lady to confirm she received her payment of Ksh 800 to which she agrees.

However, she insists her friend, who looks distressed, must also be paid.

The men initially refuse, claiming they didnt have fun with her, but later send Ksh 200, saying, ndio tusionekane sisi ni watu wabaya (so we dont seem like bad people).

The video has sparked mixed reactions online.

Some netizens condemned the men for publicly exposing the women, while others sympathized with their struggle to make a living.Bottom of Form

Watch the video here>>> and reactions below.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - Police in Kadibo Sub-County have launched a manhunt for a 19-year-old female student accused of fatally stabbing her 41-year-old uncle in Ongeche, Katho Sub-Location.

The shocking incident occurred last night after the uncle, reportedly intoxicated, allegedly harassed his stepmother, who is also the suspects grandmother.

According to Katho Location Chief Hesbon Nyabanda, the deceased had a history of violent behavior, particularly when drunk.

The suspect, a Form Four student at a local day secondary school, lives with her elderly grandmother.

Witnesses say tensions flared when the uncle allegedly attempted to forcibly take maize flour from the house.

A confrontation ensued, during which the teenager reportedly grabbed a knife and stabbed him in the chest.

The uncle bled profusely and died on the spot. The suspect fled immediately and remains at large.

Police have launched a manhunt, urging anyone with information on her whereabouts to come forward.

Meanwhile, the body of the deceased has been taken to Ahero Sub-County Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem examination.

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - Flashy and controversial businessman Collins Letting, alias General Chepkulei, is in custody after he was arrested for setting up his own police station in Kesses and branding it with police colours without the approval of the Inspector-General.

The station, which has detention cells and an office, is said to have existed for more than six months.

Chepkulei is a popular figure on social media and is well-connected within the political circles.

He has been pictured rubbing shoulders with prominent Kenyan personalities, among them seasoned media personality Betty Kyallo.

Chepkulei and Betty Kyallo have met several times, although the nature of their relationship remains unknown.

See photos.

The Kenyan DAILY POST


The Future of Online Trading in Kenya: Trends and Innovations

In the 2020s, growth in internet penetration and mobile connectivity has radically altered online trading in Kenyawidespread access to affordable smartphones and improved network coverage have encouraged traders to participate in financial markets with greater ease.

Moreover, continued investments in fiber-optic networks and mobile data services are expected to strengthen further adoption of online trading platforms. As connectivity strengthens, an increasing number of individuals and institutions will be able to engage in financial markets with minimal barriers.

Adoption of Mobile Trading Platforms

Kenyas leadership in mobile money solutions has assembled auspicious circumstances for mobile-based trading platforms; here, the integration of mobile payment systems with brokerage services has simplified the process of funding trading accounts and withdrawing earnings.

In tandem, fintech companies and financial institutions are continuously enhancing mobile applications to offer real-time market analysis, seamless transactions and automated trading features. These innovations are expected to accelerate the growth of online trading in Kenya among retail investors. Ultimately, the increasing adoption of 5G technology will further boost mobile trading efficiency and accessibility moving forward.

Rise of Artificial Intelligence and Automation

The introduction of artificial intelligence in online trading in Kenya has revolutionized decision-making processes; AI-driven algorithms analyze large volumes of market data to identify profitable trading opportunities and optimize investment strategies. Meanwhile, automation has also supplemented trade execution speed, diminishing the delays that often impact profitability.

In the coming years, AI-powered trading assistants and predictive analytics will assume a more consequential function in dictating investment decisions, rendering trading platforms more efficient and accessible. Meanwhile, continued refinements in machine learning will augment AI models, resulting in even more accurate market predictions.

Increased Regulation and Consumer Protection

Regulatory authorities in Kenya have taken proactive measures to construct a secure and transparent online trading climate. In this context, licensing requirements for brokers, compliance with anti-money laundering laws and investor education initiatives have converged, increasing market integrity.

Future developments in regulation will focus on enhancing consumer protection measures and mitigating risks associated with online trading. Here, more potent enforcement mechanisms and technological advancements in regulatory oversight will support market stability and investor confidence. Concurrently, regulatory frameworks will likely incorporate digital identity verification to further augment security.

Growth of Cryptocurrency Trading

Ahead of 2030, interest in cryptocurrency trading has accumulated velocity in Kenya, compelled by increasing cognition and digital asset adoption. In this context, local exchanges have emerged, providing traders with access to a multiplicity of digital currencies. Meanwhile, global cryptocurrency exchanges have expanded their services to accommodate Kenyan traders, offering multiple payment options (including mobile money).

As blockchain technology advances, new financial instruments and decentralized trading platforms will feasibly materialize, recalibrating the online trading domain. Equally, the development of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) could further influence cryptocurrency trading dynamics going forward.

Expansion of Social and Copy Trading

Social trading platforms have introduced a collaborative strategy to online trading, permitting users to follow and replicate the strategies of experienced investorsthese platforms provide access to shared market insights, performance analytics and interactive discussion forums.

Meanwhile, the metamorphosis of social and copy trading is foreseen to draw novice investors by diminishing the learning curve associated with independent trading. As technology unwinds, enhanced risk management tools and AI-assisted portfolio recommendations will refine this model further, while increased social engagement in trading communities will contribute to broader financial inclusion.

Emergence of Fractional Investing

Online trading platforms such as Exness have familiarized fractional investing, entitling traders to purchase smaller portions of high-value assetsthis has democratized access to global financial markets, encouraging retail investors to diversify portfolios with limited capital. Exness proffers fractional trading through Contracts for Difference (CFDs), allowing traders to speculate on market movements without owning the underlying asset.

As demand for fractional investing extends, brokerage firms have the potential to introduce more asset classes, including stocks, commodities and exchange-traded funds. This tendency will continue to bridge the gap between institutional and retail investors. On top of this, increased participation in fractional investing will contribute to a more diversified and resilient market.

Integration of Blockchain in Trading Platforms

Blockchain technology has introduced greater transparency and security in online trading; decentralized exchanges, smart contracts and tokenized assets have decreased reliance on intermediaries, lowering transaction costs and settlement times.

Moreover, Kenyan trading platforms are researching blockchain integration to enrich trust and security. Additionally, future developments in blockchain-based trading will further streamline processes, improve data accuracy and provide traders with greater control over transactions. Finally, more sweeping adoption of blockchain technology could viably result in the emergence of more decentralized financial services.

Expansion of Education and Market Literacy

Comprehensive market education has become a rudimentary lodestar for brokers and fintech firms in Kenyaonline courses, webinars and interactive learning platforms have appeared to furnish traders with indispensable knowledge and skills. Here, enhanced financial literacy programs are expected to empower individuals to make informed decisions, reducing speculation-driven trading.

As educational resources become more accessible, the number of well-informed traders is expected to expand, leading to a more resilient trading backdrop while the integration of gamified learning experiences may further supplement financial literacy levels.

Evolution of Trading Strategies and Risk Management

Advanced trading strategies are being assembled to boost portfolio performance and risk management: algorithmic trading, hedging techniques and diversified asset allocations have gained prominence among traders seeking long-term stability.

Here, technological advancements will continue to refine risk assessment tools, allowing traders to make data-driven decisions; with the growing availability of sophisticated trading instruments, the emphasis on strategic risk management will shape the future of online trading in Kenya. Meanwhile, the integration of AI-powered risk assessment tools will indubitably enrich decision-making processes.

Future Prospects for Online Trading in Kenya

Ahead of 2030, the rapid evolution of financial technology, regulatory frameworks and market accessibility is set to drive online trading into new frontiersenhanced mobile platforms, AI-driven analytics and decentralized trading solutions will contribute to more efficient and inclusive trading conditions.

As technology persists in its unceasing advancement, online trading in Kenya is foreseen to undergo sustained growth, offering untested and stalwart traders greater opportunities in the financial markets. Ultimately, increased collaboration between fintech firms and traditional financial institutions will accelerate market expansion as we approach the end of the decade.






Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - Outspoken political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi has predicted that President William Ruto will secure re-election in 2027 even without backing from the Kikuyu community.

Ngunyi also issued a stark warning to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who has openly declared a political battle against Ruto, cautioning him that he stands no chance of victory.

Gachagua, a vocal critic of the Kenya Kwanza administration, insists that he has the numbers and strategy to unseat Ruto.

Speaking in Kitengela on Sunday, March 9th, the former DP confidently asserted that Ruto has only two years left in power.

I know people think two years is a long time, but dont worry, time moves fast.

The moment is coming, Gachagua declared.

He urged Gen Z and Millennial voters to register in large numbers, positioning them as the decisive force to bring an end to Rutos presidency.

According to Gachagua, Mt Kenya - working in alliance with leaders like Wipers Kalonzo Musyoka and DAP-Ks Eugene Wamalwa - has the political muscle to topple Ruto.

However, Ngunyi has dismissed these claims, arguing that Ruto does not need Mt Kenyas full support to secure victory.

In a tweet on March 11th, he reminded Gachagua of the late President Daniel Mois reign, during which he ruled for 24 years despite resistance from Mt Kenya.

Dear Gachagua: You will NOT win the war against Ruto. When Kikuyus showed ARROGANCE towards Mzee Moi, he IGNORED them.

Then he turned to the MINORITY tribes like Somalis of Eastleigh, and ruled for 24 years! Do you UNDERSTAND what I am saying? Ngunyi stated.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
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EU Delegation Engages with IIIT-Delhi on Women in STEM and Global Research Collaborations



khaskhabar.com : Tue, 11 Mar 2025 6:07 PM

Sayed HabibNew Delhi. Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIIT-Delhi) hosted a distinguished European Union (EU) delegation, led by Ms. Roxana Minzatu, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission. The visit focused on fostering discussions around Women in STEM and strengthening bilateral education and research collaborations under the Erasmus+ initiative.

The delegation engaged with IIIT-Delhis leadership, faculty, and students, beginning with a roundtable discussion on gender diversity in STEM fields. Female undergraduate and graduate students shared their experiences and aspirations, reinforcing the need for global partnerships in promoting inclusivity in science and technology. A key highlight of the visit was the delegations tour of IRAS-HUB, a robotics education initiative spearheaded by IIIT-Delhi in collaboration with nine Indian and European institutions.

Dr. Jainendra Shukla, Associate Professor at IIIT-Delhi, presented the project's advancements, showcasing efforts to bridge Indias talent gap in robotics and cyber-physical systems. Students exhibited their cutting-edge work, receiving commendation from Ms. Minzatu for their contributions to the field. Recognizing IIIT-Delhis commitment to academic excellence and innovation, Ms. Minzatu praised the institutes efforts in fostering international collaborations.

Prof. Ranjan Bose, Director, IIIT-Delhi, reiterated the significance of global academic partnerships in shaping the future of technology. IIIT-Delhi expressed gratitude to the EU delegation and looks forward to furthering international cooperation in education, research, and technological advancements.
Stephen Maguire

A Co Donegal man has been extradited from Northern Ireland to face a litany of sex assault rape charges against three different people.

The man, who is in his 60s, appeared at Letterkenny District Court.

Detective Garda Robin Doyle told the court the accused was arrested at Lifford Bridge at 11.05am on Monday morning.

The man had served a sentence in a prison in Northern Ireland before being extradited to Co Donegal on a European Arrest Warrant.

Detective Doyle told the court that there are nine outstanding arrest warrants for the man who cannot be named at this stage of proceedings.

The man was taken to Letterkenny Garda Station where he was cautioned and given a copy of each charge sheet for the various alleged offences.

He is charged with a range of sexual assault/rape charges which allegedly took place at locations in Co Donegal between 1990 and 2000.

When cautioned, the accused man gave a range of replies including "I wasn't down there then", "I wasn't there", "I wasn't there in '93", "wasn't down there in '93."

Garda Sergeant Jim Collins said the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed trial at the Circuit Criminal Court and that a book of evidence would now be prepared.

Solicitor for the accused man, Mr Donough Cleary, said he was not making a bail application for now, but it is the intention to do so.

Judge Eiteain Cunningham asked if gardai could be given notice of this with the bail application.

She adjourned the case until Friday next, March 14th and granted legal aid in the case.

Judge Cunningham also said she was issuing a publication order on the accused man's identity.
KILDARE Town Community School (KTCS) welcomed Irelands Chinese Ambassador, H.E. ZHAO Xiyuan, for a special ceremony on Friday, 28 February.

KTCS Deputy Principal Colm Hanratty, Deputy Principal Amanda Rice, Deputy Principal Fiona Behan, Principal John P Hayes with the Chinese Ambassador H.E. ZHAO Xiyuanfor the unveiling of the Confucius Classroom plaque.

The ceremony marked the unveiling of the schools Confucius Classroom Plaque. This event celebrated the strong and growing ties between the school and University College Dublin (UCD) Confucius Institute.

The event commenced with a brilliant performance by the KTCS school choir and Irish dancers before Principal John P Hayes officially opened the ceremony.

KTCS students who travelled to China last October with the Chinese Ambassador H.E. ZHAO Xiyuan with members of the Kildare Town Community School Board of Managment

Guest speakers included Former Ceann Comhairle TD Sean O Fearghail and Professor Liming Wang, Director of UCD Confucius Institute Ireland, both of whom spoke passionately about the importance of fostering connections between Ireland and China through education, language, and cultural appreciation.

Kildare Town Community School Choir and Irish dancers.

A highlight of the event was the inspiring presentation by KTCS students, who shared their experiences from their recent trip to China, where they had the incredible opportunity to visit Beijing and Xian.

The celebrations continued with a breathtaking performance by the KTCS Irish dancers. The combination of Irish and Chinese cultural elements throughout the event highlighted the beauty of cross-cultural collaboration and the spirit of unity that education fosters.

Principal of Kildare Town Community School Mr.John P Hayes with the Chinese Ambassador H.E. ZHAO Xiyuan for the unveiling of the Confucius Classroom plaque

Principal Hayes said: A special thank you to KTCS School Leadership Team, the Board of Management Ms Keogh and Ms Kavanagh, whose dedication and hard work ensured that the choir and dancers delivered an unforgettable performance.

This visit was a landmark occasion for KTCS, reinforcing our reputation as a school that values global engagement, cultural diversity, and academic excellence.

It was truly a day to remember, and we are incredibly proud of our students, staff, and entire school community for making it such a resounding success, he concluded.
By David Young, PA, in Austin, Texas

Taoiseach Micheal Martin will tell President Donald Trump that there is a two-way street of investment between the US and Ireland, as a trade imbalance between the two countries looms over their upcoming bilateral.

Mr Trump will host the Taoiseach in the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday as part of the Irish Governments traditional St Patricks programme of overseas engagements.

The meeting comes amid heightened concern that the presidents protectionist approach to tariffs and tax could pose a significant risk to an Irish economy that is in large part sustained by long-standing investment by US multinationals.

However, Mr Martin said his message to companies operating in Ireland was to hold the nerve and not react too quickly to the potential major policy shifts.

On Tuesday, he continues his itinerary in Austin, Texas, where he said his emphasis was to copper fasten the enduring nature of the US-Irish economic relationship.

That ambition will form part of his engagement with state legislators at the Texas Capitol in the city, before he departs the Lone Star State for Washington DC where he will attend a St Patricks Day Reception at the Irish Ambassadors Residence.

On Monday, Mr Martin said the main point he will be making with Mr Trump is how its a two-way street of investment and that Ireland operates as a powerful base for the European single market.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin speaking at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas (Niall Carson/PA)

While being interviewed for a fireside chat at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in the city, he added: Its not just American investment in Ireland, its Irish investment in America as well.

We are buying a lot of stuff, a lot of American products. We have a lot of Irish companies based here that will grow, and that will continue to grow.

Earlier, on Monday, Mr Martin met Texas Governor Greg Abbott and visited US tech multinationals Dell and Tricentis, with the latter announcing plans to hire 50 additional staff in its Cork base over the coming years.

He also met with businesses supported by Enterprise Ireland, introduced a panel on the Irish screen industry and participated in a pop-up Gaeltacht at the Department of Foreign Affairs hub for SXSW, Ireland House.

Mr Martin concluded his packed itinerary on Monday by attending a St Patricks reception at the same venue hosted by the Irish consulate in Austin.

Mr Martin and Mr Trump are expected to discuss a range of issues on Wednesday, including the war in Ukraine and the situations in the Middle East and Northern Ireland.

The Irish leader will later present Mr Trump with the traditional shamrock bowl in the White House, extending St Patricks Day greetings from the people of Ireland to the people of the US

A host of Irish Government ministers will also travel to the US, including Tanaiste Simon Harris, who will visit Philadelphia and New York at a time described as a key juncture in European-US relations.

Elsewhere, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle ONeill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly led an NI Chamber business delegation to North Carolina on Monday.

Ms Little-Pengelly will attend Washington DC engagements alone after Ms ONeill and her Sinn Fein party colleagues ruled out travelling to the US capital as part of a principled stance against the threat of mass expulsion of the Palestinian people from Gaza.
Hes a legend and an icon, a revolutionary and an immortal - and he's coming to Kilkenny.

John Lydon  aka Johnny Rotten  changed the face of music and sparked a cultural revolution.

The frontman and lyricist of the Sex Pistols and Public Image Ltd (PiL) caused a political earthquake and transformed music for good.

In his new spoken word show, I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right, Lydon is touring the UK and Ireland.

READ NEXT: Kilkenny designer making waves in the world of fashion

As part of his tour, he will be making an appearance in The Watergate Theatre in Kilkenny City on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.

He will talk about how he sees life, along with his unique and extraordinary career, and take audience questions during a pyrotechnic, one-off tour.

Lydon will be sharing his thoughts with audiences. As the title suggests, he could be wrong, he could be right.



Full ticket details available on watergatetheatre.com

FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE
The Irish Government should start its own public inquiry into the Omagh bombing, according to a motion passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Dublin has said it will fully co-operate with the UK inquiry into the bombing, which is operating out of Omagh, but the Government in the Republic of Ireland has stopped short of committing to a separate public inquiry.

Irelands Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan said the Irish Government expects to agre one a memorandum of understanding with the UK Omagh Bombing Inquiry in the coming weeks.

The existing probe is examining whether the atrocity carried out by the Real IRA in the Co Tyrone town in August 1998 could have been prevented.

The bomb killed 29 people, including a woman who was pregnant with twins, in the worst single atrocity in the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

All those who were killed were remembered during commemorative hearings at the inquiry earlier this year, and evidence was also heard from those injured and emergency workers who responded.

The motion passed by the Assembly on Tuesday laments the lack of any tangible effort by the Irish Government to conduct their own inquiry into the Omagh bombing atrocity or deal with the wider aftermath of the Troubles.

The motion was brought by UUP MLAs Doug Beattie, Dr Steve Aiken, Robbie Butler and John Stewart.

Mr Beattie told the Assembly that the vehicle that delivered the bomb was stolen in the Republic of Ireland, adding that the explosives were also sourced and assembled in the Republic.

Yet the Dublin Government does not feel the need to hold a public inquiry in parallel to the UK inquiry or even a commission of investigation.

They clearly do not take their commitment to victims seriously, and many victims do not trust their hollow words. They do not trust some weak memorandum of understanding in regards to information sharing, and they have good reason not to trust them.

Mr Beattie said that commitments on implementing new legislation will be pointless if it does not include powers to compel witnesses from the Republic of Ireland, including gardai and military intelligence, to address the Omagh bomb inquiry.

Mr Butler told the Assembly that the intent of the motion was to seek truth and justice for innocent victims of terrorism.

He said the legacy of pain from the Troubles spreads beyond Northern Ireland and added that that means the Government of the Republic of Ireland need to act.

However, Mr Butler said active engagement is not enough. He told the Assembly: We need to tie this down and it needs to be codified and it needs to be done in agreement between the UK Government and the Irish government.

Mr Butler said there also needs to be a parallel or standalone inquiry in the Republic of Ireland, adding: Warm words will not cut it.

He told the Assembly: If a Government knows and is holding on to information that would give relief and release to these people, shame on them.

He added: In 2025, theres absolutely no reason why the Government in the Republic of Ireland shouldnt do what our Government in the UK do, and that is to fess up and provide the absolute truth for victims of terrorism. 

The UUP motion also called on the UK Government to initiate an inquiry into the role of the Irish state during the Troubles, but this wording was replaced by a DUP amendment.

The DUP amendment states that the Assembly believes the memorandum of understanding between the Omagh Bombing Inquiry and the Irish Government will be entirely deficient in providing answers for the victims and their families.

It also calls on the Irish Government to initiate a public inquiry into the Omagh bomb, with powers to compel any person in the Republic of Ireland to provide evidence, information, and material pertinent to a full and unfettered investigation on behalf of victims and survivors.

That amendment was brought by DUP MLAs Joanne Bunting, Maurice Bradley, and Stephen Dunne.

Ms Bunting said it was imperative that the Republic of Ireland Government instigates its own inquiry.

The DUP amendment called on Northern Ireland Justice Minister Naomi Long to demonstrate her commitment to challenging the Irish Governments failure to investigate the role of the Irish state during the Troubles.

Ms Long told the Assembly that her Department has no role in the conduct of the inquiry and that it would be for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to formally engage with the Irish Government in relation to the inquiry.

She added: Whilst there has been considerable discussion about the compellability of testimony and evidence from the Irish state, I would hope that the Irish government will live up to their commitment to fully co-operate with this inquiry, and that such compulsion should not be required.

It is a moral obligation that falls on all of us when we are aware of information that could bring someone else truth and justice, that we disclose that information and co-operate in every way that we could.

Ms Long also said the Northern Ireland Department of Justice cannot intrude on the decision of the Republic of Ireland to hold its own inquiry or compel it to co-operate with the existing inquiry.

She also said she shared some concerns with Mr OCallaghan that an entirely separate inquiry could result in putting people through another traumatic process.

She said it would be sensible to examine whether a mechanism can exist by which people can be assured they can get full truth from the existing inquiry.
More than 20 million has been awarded to three projects addressing climate change and conserving the marine and coastal environment of Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.

The Peaceplus funding of 20,893,560 (24,794,328.34 euro) will contribute towards preserving coastal infrastructure and natural resources.

Activities will include marine protection area climate change action plans, community and citizen participation initiatives and education and awareness training programmes.

Peaceplus is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and represents a funding partnership between the European Union, the UK and Irish Governments and the Northern Ireland Executive.

The projects receiving the funding will be:

 The MOSAIC Project (8,069,141.48 euro). Led by Loughs Agency, the project will create a cross-border marine biological observation system that gathers data on endangered and declining species, along with their ecological environments. The aim is to generate data-driven action plans and decision-making tools to bolster ongoing monitoring activities.

 The ACCLIMATISE Project (7,111,978.67 euro). Led by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, it will focus on promoting climate change adaptation by developing monitoring tools, strategies and action plans for more effective, ecosystem-based marine management.

 The CMAP Project (9,613,208.19 euro). Led by Ulster University, the project will address the challenges of managing a dynamic, more resilient marine environment. The project will incorporate a citizen science approach and focus on addressing biodiversity loss and restorative-based coastal adaptation.

Stormonts Environment Minister Andrew Muir said the three projects would help to increase understanding of climate change pressures.

He added: Our seas and oceans do not recognise borders and it is key that we work together through these projects in tackling climate change challenges and the biodiversity crisis we are facing.

Irish Minister of Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne said: Not only do these projects mark a significant step forward in supporting coastal adaptation to climate change and safeguarding Irelands marine environment, this 25 million euro investment will also strengthen cross-border cooperation in marine science.

SEUPB chief executive Gina McIntyre said: Our natural environment is one of our most important assets and continued enhancement and protection is critical to future economic and social development.

A clean, green and accessible environment makes a major contribution to people having long, active, healthy lives as well as creating a place where people want to live, visit and invest. This helps support a community who want to have a peaceful and prosperous future.

Strategic cross-border investment will enhance and protect the environment while strengthening the economy. Both human activities and climate change pose a very real threat to Ireland and Northern Irelands cultural and natural resources.
Young entrepreneurs from Presentation Secondary School, St Kierans College and Colaiste Abhainn Ri will represent Kilkenny at this years Student Enterprise Programme national finals on Thursday, May 8.

The students all took part in the Kilkenny County Final on Wednesday, held at Lyrath Estate Hotel. Over 950 students from 12 schools took part in the annual programme locally with 120 students making it to the county final.



Best Endeavour Award: James Prendergast, Ronan Dwan, David Long and Louis Evans of Canine Comfort from CBS Kilkenny with Cathaoirleach Michael McCarthy and John Mulcahy, LEO Kilkenny. Pictures by Vicky Comerford

In the Junior category, the students representing Kilkenny at the national finals are Natalia Burke and Kaleigh OShea from Colaiste Abhainn Ri with their mini company Circular Chic, which is a sustainable fashion business that gives pre-loved clothing a new life.

Michael OKeeffe from St Kierans College will represent the county at the finals in the Intermediate category with his mini company Suet & Song, which markets nutrient-rich suet cakes that provide sustenance for a variety of birds during the colder months.

In the Senior category of the competition, Kilkenny will be represented by Amy Bergin and Mathilde Beubry from Presentation Secondary School Kilkenny with their mini company business Bounce Back. Amy and Mathilde published an Injury Recovery Journal, which was designed as a support tool to assist in tracking progress and maintaining a positive mindset during the injury recovery process.

This years Innovation Award went to Lock It from Grennan College. Team members Millie Brennan, Hannah Murrihy, Laura Bourke and Ola Opac designed and produced a 3D printed jewellery capsule that clips onto your bag, and acts as a practical storage solution when playing sport or on the move.

What our students are learning from the programme is that with the right supports and encouragement, they can take an idea from the classroom and develop it into a real-life business, said Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council Michael McCarthy.



The skills they learn along the way, such as business planning, market research, selling and team-work, will help them become more entrepreneurial throughout their future careers.

Aileen McGrath, Head of Enterprise at Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny also congratulated the students: We have a very successful student enterprise programme here in Kilkenny with 950 students from 12 local schools taking part this year, she said.

Our national finalists are excellent ambassadors for the programme and we wish them the very best of luck on Thursday, May 8 and we will to be there to support them.

The local students will be competing against hundreds of other student entrepreneurs from all over Ireland at the Student Enterprise Programme National Finals, taking place at Mullingar Park Hotel on May 8.

Further information on the Student Enterprise Programme is available from www.studententerprise.ie and by searching #studententerprise on social media.

READ NEXT: KILKENNY BUSINESS TO REPRESENT COUNTY AT NATIONAL FINAL
The Museum of the Moon, a luminous sculpture by internationally renowned artist Luke Jerram, was unveiled at St Canice's Cathedral on Monday, March 10. This seven-metre spherical lunar installation is open to the public for an exclusive three-week exhibition, free with admission to the cathedral.

Museum of the Moon's detailed artwork is testament to Luke's mastery of his craft. By collecting data from NASA, Luke has been able to capture the surface of the moon in such a way that the model's canvas appears textured.

But what is the story behind all these grey patches and grooves?

The dark patches on the moon are called lunar maria. Maria is the Latin word for seas, which is what early astronomers mistook them for. These seas are plains of basalt, formed when lava flowed into impact craters.

The largest lunar sea is the Oceanus Procellarum, the Ocean of Storms, which dominates the western edge of the moon.

There are currently 9,137 recognised craters on the moon. The moon's atmosphere is not strong enough to impede the impact of asteroids the way the earth's can. Because of this, the moon is constantly bombarded with asteroids.

The impact craters on the moon span five lunar geologic systems, a time period of approximately four billion years; the oldest and largest crater is the South Pole-Aitken basin.

The moon doesn't create its own light; what we call moonlight is reflected sunlight. As a result of their iron-rich composition, the lunar seas are less reflective, and appear darker to the naked eye.

There is no dark side of the moon per se, but there is a far side. The lack of lunar seas on the far side of the moon gives it a barren appearance not unlike the planet Mercury.

Most of this far side is never visible to earth due to tidal locking, which occurs as a result of the earth's tidal forces slowing down the moon's rotation.
Signed a statement of intent: Professor Jan S. Hesthaven, President of KIT, Professor Mouna Maroun, Rector University of Haifa (Foto: Medhat Zioud)

Amid the ongoing political, economic, and social challenges in the Middle East, fostering scientific collaboration with the region has never been more crucial. During a recent delegation visit to Israel, the Helmholtz Association, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), and the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) reaffirmed their commitment to intercultural dialogue and closer cooperation in research, education, and entrepreneurship. At the heart of the visit were new statements of intent between KIT, the Tel Aviv University, the University of Haifa, and Hasoub, the first Arab innovation hub in Israel.

Science knows no borders. Especially in times of geopolitical tensions, it is vital to use research and innovation as bridges for collaboration and understanding, said KIT President Professor Jan S. Hesthaven. I am delighted that these new exchange programs will create precisely such connections.

A key milestone of the visit was the signing of a statement of intent between the Helmholtz Office Israel, KIT, and Hasoub, hosted at the German Embassy in Tel Aviv. The event was attended by German Ambassador Steffen Seibert and HRK President Professor Walter Rosenthal. In addition, KIT formalized partnership agreements with the University of Haifa and Tel Aviv University, further strengthening its ties to Israels academic and innovation ecosystem.

Expanding Exchange, Cooperation, and Diversity

We are thrilled to deepen our long-standing collaboration with Hasoub and to expand KITs bilateral exchange programs with leading Israeli universities, said Andrea Frahm, Head of the Helmholtz Office Israel. With its unique integration of university and research centre, and its strong focus on entrepreneurship, KIT is an ideal partner for fostering innovation-driven exchange.

Rabea Zioud, co-founder and CEO of Hasoub, emphasized the importance of this partnership: The Helmholtz Office Israel and KIT have been key supporters of Hasoub since our innovation centre was founded three years ago. I am delighted that we are now expanding our excellent collaboration.

HRK President Professor Walter Rosenthal highlighted the broader significance of these initiatives: The work of KIT and the Helmholtz Office Israel is exemplary for Germanys entire higher education landscape. Strengthening ties between universities, research institutions, and the start-up scene contributes significantly to the regions future. Hasoub is an impressive grassroots movement, inspiring Arab students across Israels universities to engage in entrepreneurshipfostering diversity in Israels innovation ecosystem.

Founded in 2014, Hasoub is an Israeli non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the participation of the Arab community in Israels high-tech sector, making the countrys renowned start-up ecosystem more inclusive.

The new partnership between KIT, Hasoub, and the Helmholtz Office Israel will support student, researcher, and start-up exchanges, fostering deeper collaboration. Additionally, the Helmholtz Office Israel aims to expand collaboration.



About Helmholtz



Helmholtz contributes to solving major and pressing societal, scientific, and economic challenges through scientific excellence in six research fields: Energy, Earth and Environment, Health, Information, Matter, as well as Aeronautics, Space, and Transport. With approximately 46,000 employees in 18 research centers and an annual budget exceeding 6 billion euros, Helmholtz is the largest scientific organization in Germany. Its work follows in the tradition of the great natural scientist Hermann von Helmholtz (1821-1894).



About Helmholtz Israel



The Helmholtz Office in Tel Aviv is the official representation of the Helmholtz Association in Israel and serves as the primary point of contact for existing and future partners in research, innovation, business, and politics. Located in the heart of the Start-up Nation, the office advises both Helmholtz representatives and Israeli stakeholders on bilateral cooperation opportunities and promotes initiatives for knowledge and technology transfer across all R&D fields.

Being The Research University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 10,000 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,800 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Showers and thunderstorms. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High around 85F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
What You Need To Know The last day of school will be Tuesday, May 27. The school day, and May 23, will be half-days.

Superintendent Jeff Klein will make $255,000 in the first year of his newly-approved contract, beginning July 1.

The new contract only requires the district to pay 12 months of salary as severance.

COLUMBIA  The Columbia School Board voted to add an additional day to the end of the school year.

The vote ensured Columbia Public Schools reaches a total of at least 169 school days this school year. As outlined in Missouri Senate Bill 727, the district would not be eligible for extra funding if it does not meet the minimum requirement.

CPS Chief Human Resource Officer Michelle Holz said the district would miss out on $750,000 if it did not extend the calendar.

RELATED: Bills moving through Missouri legislature could clarify AMI policies After final AMI day, Columbia Public Schools requested clarification on how AMI hours are interpreted.

"All of that money from the state would go towards teacher salaries, so it's really important that we receive this funding," Holz said.

The school year was set to end on May 23. The school year will now end on May 27, with both May 23 and May 27 to be half days.

For the remainder of the school year, additional days will be added to the end of the schedule for every snow day that may occur. The district will not use AMI anymore this school year.

The Columbia School Board also voted to approve the contract of new Superintendent Jeff Klein at Monday's meeting.

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The three-year contract for Klein will begin on July 1.

Klein's salary for the 2025-26 school year will total $255,000. Klein's contract states that if he leaves CPS before the end of his deal through a separation agreement, the district will only be required to pay him 12 months of salary in severance. Previously, the district was required to pay out the remaining contract.

RELATED: CPS changes separation policy in new superintendent contract Jeff Klein's contract with Columbia Public Schools includes modifications for payout under a separation agreement.

"It was very expensive to separate from our previous superintendent, so we wanted to protect both the district and our taxpayers from having to have that large chunk of money at play in a three-year contract," School Board President Suzette Waters said.

Columbia Public Schools was required to pay former Superintendent Brian Yearwood more than $667,000 in a separation agreement.

Board receives attendance update

Additionally, the school board received an update on the district's attendance data at Mondays meeting.

Chief Equity Officer Carla London shared with the board that during the 2024-25 school year, there has been a slight decline in overall attendance.

London said that 79.7% of students are attending school at least 90% of the time. Last year, over 80% of students were able to hit that mark. Chief Equity Officer Carla London said the district wants to get that number up to 90%.

"We're asking parents to keep it on the forefront," London said. "We also encourage businesses not to employ our students during school hours and to not have them be the closers so that they aren't too sleepy to go to school the next day."
COLUMBIA  A man using his phone was the cause of a Columbia crash that killed a Moberly middle school teacher in January, according to a new crash report.

Ashley Apel, 39, was killed on Jan. 23 when a 20-year-old man from Higbee rear-ended the vehicle she was in, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The crash happened on southbound U.S. 63 north of Columbia in a traffic backup from another fatal crash about a mile farther down the highway, according to the crash report.

Moberly teacher killed in crash worked to preserve Moberly history The Moberly woman who died, Ashley Apel, was a sixth-grade language arts teacher at Moberly School District.

The driver of the vehicle Apel was in began slowing due to congestion, the crash report states. The Higbee man, who has not been named, was driving behind the vehicle Apel was in and did not stop in time, according to the crash report.

The crash report states the man was speeding and distracted by his phone. The report includes statements from the Higbee man and the driver of the vehicle Apel was in.

"I just rammed them," the man said in the crash report statement. "I was putting my phone down. I was about to make a call. I was looking down at somewhere to put it."

The crash also injured three others that, according to the report, were taken to University Hospital. The Moberly School District said they were teachers at the district.
Two Sessions Explainer: Bringing suggestions and proposals to make a better China

21:00, March 10, 2025 By Peng Yukai, Zhao Tong, Cui Dong, Yin Xingyun ( People's Daily Online

This year, nearly 3,000 National People's Congress (NPC) deputies and over 2,100 Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) members are attending the "two sessions", or "lianghui", China's annual grand political event with their motions and proposals. Join a People's Daily Online reporter to hear about the new suggestions and proposals brought forth by them.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Wu Chengliang)
Ontario premier threatens to shut off electricity completely for US if trade war escalates
Ukraine agrees to proposal for ceasefire with Russia as US restores aid and intel sharing
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Tom Tuite

Dublin City Council is prosecuting Sinn Fein MEP Lynn Boylan and a local politician under litter laws for failing to remove election posters on time.

Boylan was elected to the European Parliament for the Dublin constituency following the vote on June 7th last year.

Posters must be removed within a week of polling day.

However, the council summonsed Lynn Boylan, C/O Sinn Fein, 44 Parnell Square West, Dublin, to appear before Dublin District Court.

According to the court document, there are two charges alleging that on July 3, at Collins Wood Dublin 9, "not being the owner, occupier or person in charge exhibit or cause to be exhibited an article or advertisement on a structure or other land, door, gate, window, tree, pole or post in or visible from a public place without being authorised in writing in advance by the owner, occupier or person in charge".

Sarah Kearney BL, prosecuting, told Judge Anthony Halpin there had been engagement between the council and the defendant, Ms Boylan, who was not present.

The barrister said the case "should not trouble the court" and asked for an adjournment until April 1st which was granted.

Solicitor Malachy Steenson, who won a seat on Dublin City Council after the June 7th 2024 local elections, was summonsed under the same laws.

The judge noted that Mr Steenson could not attend court on Tuesday, and the prosecution had his case adjourned until the same date.

The Dublin Central councillor is accused of a single offence on June 20th at Beaumont Road.

Their charges are contrary to sections 19(1) and 19(6) of the Litter Pollution Act 1997, amended by the Local Government Act 2001, the Protection of the Environment Act 2003 and the Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2009.
It was a proud day for pupils from Killenard NS when they made their Confirmation on Thursday 6 March. St John's Church was packed with equally proud family members and teaching staff, who watched as each pupil made their way to the altar to be confirmed by Bishop Denis Nulty, assisted by Fr Eugen Dragos Tamas. Photographer Denis Byrne captured the warm, family and community atmosphere of this special day.

See a two-page spread of photographs in this week's issue of the Laois Nationalist, currently on sale in all local stores or online.
Eva Osborne

The man in his late teens arrested on Monday as part of the investigation into a stabbing in Dublin city centre last month has since been charged.

He is the seventh person to be charged as part of the ongoing investigation into the death of Quham Babatunde on South Anne Street on February 15th.

He is due to appear before Court 3 of the Criminal Courts of Justice Dublin on Tuesday morning.
A snack company is closing a plant in Pennsylvania.

Pladis North America Inc. filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry informing the state it will close its facility at 11 Main St. in Mohnton, Berks County, and 55 people will be laid off.

The layoffs will take place on or about May 29.

The 55 employees include six bakery operators; five accountants; one HR and safety manager; three machine operators; one maintenance and engineering manager; six maintenance technicians; one operator; 10 packaging generalists; two packaging operators; one processing operator; four production supervisors; one receptionist, HR assistant; two sanitation workers; three senior operators; three quality assurance technicians; one enrober; two enrobing feeders; four enrobing operators; one food safety and quality documentation specialist and one food safety and quality supervisor.

A spokesperson couldnt immediately be reached for comment.

The WARN Act is federal legislation that offers protection to workers, their families, and communities by requiring employers to provide notice 60 days in advance of a covered-business closing and covered-business mass layoff. The WARN notice was dated Feb. 26.

Pladis has 27 bakeries in 11 countries. The companys brands include Godiva, BN, Carrs, Flipz, Go Ahead, Haansbro, Jacobs, McVities, Sultana, Turtles, Ulker and Verkade.
A man died after his car veered off a Lehigh County roadway and crashed into a tree, authorities said.

The deceased is being identified by the Lehigh County Coroners Office as 53-year-old John M. Schaeffer of Palmerton, Carbon County.

Schaeffer was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 2:15 a.m. Thursday.

Lehigh County Coroner Daniel A. Buglio told lehighvalleylive.com Tuesday an autopsy has been completed, but results are pending to determine Schaeffers cause and manner of death.

The crash happened around 1:20 a.m. Thursday in the 4900 block of Mountain Road in Heidelberg Township, state police said.

Pennsylvania State Police in Bethlehem continue to investigate.

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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
Flames ignited just after 4:35 a.m. Sunday, March 9, 2025 in the 100 block of George Avenue in Upper Nazareth. The fire originated in a detached garage before spreading to a ranch-style home, Upper Nazareth Fire Chief Jeff Fassl told lehighvalleylive.com. Courtesy photo

A raging blaze that erupted early Sunday spread from a detached garage to an Upper Nazareth Township home, leaving it uninhabitable and leaving a man with second-degree burns, a fire official said.

Upper Nazareth Fire Chief Jeff Fassl told lehighvalleylive.com flames ignited just after 4:35 a.m. in the 100 block of George Avenue. The fire originated in a detached garage before spreading to the ranch-style home, he said.

Four adults were home at the time and managed to escape safely on their own, but a 40-year-old man fell into the flames during the escape, Fassl said.

The man was taken to an area hospital for treatment of second-degree burns to his hands, Fassl said.

Crews started fire suppression in the garage and entered the home from the front door as heavy fire raged in the rear. Firefighters cut a hole in the roof to gain access to the crawl space area of the attic.

It took about 45 minutes of intense firefighting efforts to get the flames under control, Fassl said.

Flames ignited just after 4:35 a.m. Sunday, March 9, 2025 in the 100 block of George Avenue in Upper Nazareth. The fire originated in a detached garage before spreading to a ranch-style home, Upper Nazareth Fire Chief Jeff Fassl told lehighvalleylive.com. Courtesy photo

In the end, the home sustained heavy fire damage to the garage and rear, with severe smoke and water damage throughout the rest of the structure.

Cristina Maisel, regional communications manager for the American Red Cross Greater Pennsylvania Region, told lehighvalleylive.com Tuesday the organizations Disaster Action Team is helping the four adults with shelter and other needs.

The Upper Nazareth Fire Department was assisted by Vigilance Hose Co.; Hecktown Fire Co.; Bushkill Township Fire Co.; Nancy Run Fire Department; the Bethlehem Township Volunteer Fire Department; and Forks Township Fire Department.

The blaze is not deemed suspicious by fire officials but its cause remains under investigation, Fassl said.

Flames ignited just after 4:35 a.m. Sunday, March 9, 2025 in the 100 block of George Avenue in Upper Nazareth. The fire originated in a detached garage before spreading to a ranch-style home, Upper Nazareth Fire Chief Jeff Fassl told lehighvalleylive.com. Courtesy photo

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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
Enci Aubrey Wu went missing Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 from her Palmer Township home, leaving the home while her parents slept, police said. Courtesy photo

The FBI has joined what has become a broad, multi-agency investigation into the whereabouts of a 14-year-old Palmer Township girl, the Northampton County District Attorneys Office announced Tuesday.

Enci Aubrey Wu has been missing for more than two months, and Palmer Township police have brought in multiple law enforcement agencies to help find her.

The agencies include the DAs Office, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations Task Force, Pennsylvania State Police in Bethlehem, the Pennsylvania State Polices Intelligence Center, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, according to a news release from Northampton County District Attorney Stephen G. Baratta.

Those groups are receiving assistance from non-law enforcement agencies that specialize in tracking social media platforms, according to the news release.

Wus mother, Jade Wu, and her stepfather, John Gehrmann, have been critical of the effort by police to find Enci Wu. They have staged rallies and put Enci Wus photo on billboards hoping to generate clues to her whereabouts. They questioned on social media whether police have done enough to bring her home.

Jade Wu said March 7 on Facebook that police should hold suspects accountable that she and her husband believe helped Enci Wu run away.

Baratta said in his news release that authorities are cautiously optimistic that this matter will remain a non-criminal investigation.

He said police have uncovered no evidence of criminal activity in connection with Enci Wus disappearance.

Further, we also note there is inaccurate information spreading online regarding the disappearance ... we would like to ensure the public that every measure is being taken to locate Ms. Wu and return her to her parents, Baratta said.

Police have issued search warrants and posted numerous bulletins looking for clues.

Wu left the house sometime after 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 10. She was last seen on video surveillance footage wearing a navy blue sweater (with red on the sleeves) and light pants while carrying a small overnight bag.

She was last seen the next day, with reports placing Wu in the Allentown area and near Parkland High School in South Whitehall Township, township police had said.

Police said Wu has disposed of a cellphone given to her by someone other than her parents. She left the area before troopers arrived at her suspected temporary residence, police said.

A second description of Wu by a witness reported her wearing a Nirvana band gray hooded sweatshirt, black yoga pants and white Nike Billie Eilish brand sneakers.

Anonymous donors are offering $7,000 in rewards for any information leading to the location and safe return of Wu.

Those with information on the teens whereabouts should call the Palmer Township Police Department at 610-759-2200 or 911.

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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
Long-time fly fishing anglers and newbies alike can learn more about the sport at the 19th annual Fly Fishing Film Tour 2025 coming to Bethlehem on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, and the Lancaster Fly Fishing Show on Saturday and Sunday, March 15-16, 2025. Dennis Nett File Photo | For syracuse.com

Fly fishing enthusiasts and those looking to learn more about the sport have two events to check out this week in Pennsylvania.

First up, SteelStacks in Bethlehem is hosting the Fly Fishing Film Tour 2025 on Wednesday evening. In its 19th year, the tour features a curated selection of fly fishing films from around the world.

Anglers, outdoor enthusiasts, and adventure seekers are invited to join the tour as it visits cities nationwide, showcasing stunning cinematography, unforgettable stories, and the heart-pounding excitement of fly fishing, organizers say. This years event promises to be the biggest yet, with a diverse lineup of films that highlight remote locations, unique challenges, and the passionate anglers who pursue them.

The tour begins with a 6 p.m. refreshment hour at the Pour Bar on the first floor of the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, with the screening beginning at 7 p.m. inside Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas. Admission is $15 in advance, $20 the day of the show. Learn more at steelstacks.org.

Then this weekend is the Lancaster Fly Fishing Show, scheduled 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday in the Lancaster County Convention Center, 25 S. Queen St. in Lancaster.

Highlights include classes with fly fishing experts, a coffee-klatch chat with Pennsylvania fly fishing legend Joe Humphreys, 18 seminars included with the price of admission, films, demonstrations, hands-on experiences and wall-to-wall displays, according to news release.

Nearly $100,000 worth of door prizes will be awarded including a Golden Dorado trip for two by Nervous Waters, value $9,500; a week at Alaska Trophy Adventures Lodge in King Salmon, Alaska, value $7,500; a week at Rio Manso Lodge in Northern Patagonia, value $7,000; Belize River Lodge, Belize for two anglers, value $6,400; a week at Chile Trout, value $6,190; and three days at Fish Partner Lodge, Iceland, value $6,375; Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, $1,500 credit on any trip, according to the release.

In addition to 49 Destination Theatre presentations, the show features 22 classes covering a variety of aspects of the sport. These include a day-long advanced casting course with Mac Brown on Friday, the day before the show opens, and Comprehensive Euronymphing with Jason Randall and Josh Miller split between the morning and afternoon on Saturday. Costs of classes vary.

Fly Fishing Show admission is $20 for one day and $35 for both days. Children under age 5 are free, as are Scouts (girls and boys) under age 16 in uniform. Children 6-12 are $5. Admission for active military with ID is $10.

Visit flyfishingshow.com for more information and to buy advance tickets.

Pennsylvanias trout season opens Saturday, April 5, one week after the mentored youth day on Saturday, March 29.

Also on the 29th, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission says the Delaware Valley Womens Fly Fishing Association is sponsoring a Ladies Introduction to Fly Fishing noon to 3 p.m. at Orvis in the Plymouth Meeting Mall outside Philadelphia. Registration is required. Find more details through Fish and Boats upcoming events page accessible through the commissions website at pa.gov.

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Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
Laois people have no access to Government-promised help to community services to recover or cope with serious neurological illness or injury six years after a pledge to deliver nationally was made, according to a national alliance.

The Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI) says that six years since a commitment to nine community neurological rehabilitation teams across the country, Laois and other counties still do not have any access to an expert team.

In a statement to the Leinster Express / Laois Live the national umbrella body for 40 neurological organisations called for a new commitment to deliver to coincide with the National Brain Awareness Week (March 10  16). The alliance says the opening of dedicated community neurorehabilitation teams is a critical issue.

"There is now a notable regional disparity for patients in Laois, as the Midlands is one of only two regions in the country that has yet to receive funding for a community neurorehabilitation team," said a statement from the alliance.

The HSE says such teams help people after serious neurological illness or injury to improve health outcomes, reduce disability and improve quality of life.

The National Neurorehabilitation Strategy published in 2019 committed to delivering specialist community teams and long-term neurorehabilitation services across the country, as well as addressing the shortfall of 171 specialist inpatient neurorehabilitation beds.

Magdalen Rogers is the CEO of the Neurological Alliance of Ireland.

Neurorehabilitation is a vital service to enable people in Laois with neurological conditions to live their day to day lives. Were calling on the Government to announce a commitment to funding four community neurorehabilitation teams in this years Budget.

READ ALSO: Laois health volunteers plead with Government for help

"We want to see this commitment during their first 100 days in office, to send a clear signal they intend to deliver on the pledges within the Programme for Government to complete the national rollout of community neurorehabilitation teams and to developing more specialist inpatient rehabilitation beds and implement community based multidisciplinary rehabilitation services in each HSE Regional Health Authority Area, she said.

NAI is calling for funding in the upcoming Budget for full community neurorehabilitation teams for the North West, North Dublin, South East and Midlands, promised since 2019.

Patient advocate, Liam Lynch been living with an acquired brain injury (ABI) since 2017, after being knocked off his bike by a car, during a charity cycle. Despite experiencing multiple side effects afterwards, including memory loss and struggling with work, he only learned that this was due to having an ABI, as part of a check-in with his neurologist two years later.

One person went out for a cycle that day in 2017 and a different person came back. I wont recover from the ABI but I have learned to live with this new normal, now I understand why I am the way I am and I have the support from ABI Ireland, he said.

The HSE says on its website that it is recruiting senior and clinical specialists, health and social care professionals and other roles for Community Neuro-Rehabilitation Teams in HSE Dublin and Midlands, HSE South West, HSE West and North West, HSE Dublin and South East.
Water charges will not be brought back, the Taoiseach has pledged.

It comes as opposition parties accused the Government of trying to re-introduce the water charges through the back door.

Attempts to introduce metered water charges as part of the bailout programme were abandoned in 2014 after numerous mass protests.

Under commitments in the previous Programme for Government, work was initiated on draft regulations for charges for excessive water use.

A recent briefing document prepared for new Housing Minister James Browne lists finalising the draft household water conservation charge regulations as a high-level priority.

However, speaking to reporters in Austin, Texas on Tuesday, Mr Martin said: There will be no return to water charges.

The Department of Housing also said that Minister Browne is not giving consideration to bringing in excessive use charges at this time.

It added: No proposal has been brought to the Minister in this regard, and charges do not form part of the current programme for government.

The minister is focused on implementing the programme for government, and in particular, he is focused on increasing the delivery of more homes, which is his highest priority.

Asked about this statement, Sinn Fein TD David Cullinane accused the Government of flying kites by saying the measures would not be brought in at this time.

He said: My position is: Not at any time.

He added: It wasnt in the (new) Programme for Government. It wasnt something that they went to the electorate on. We had an election in 2020 and 2016 where, clearly, water charges were an issue  particularly in 2016.

The issue has been put to bed. There should not be, and there will not be, in my view, domestic water charges, either through the front door or through the back door.

Mr Cullinane said Sinn Fein will put maximum pressure on the Government not to cheat the Irish people on water charges.

People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Paul Murphy said the introduction of water charges was previously defeated through grassroots organisation, mass protests and co-ordinated non-payment.

Mr Murphy, who was a key figure in those protests, said on Tuesday that the regulations setting the limit for excessive water usage could be revised down to allow for charges on the mass majority of people.

We want to say very, very clearly to the Government that if they proceed with this, they will face massive opposition.

That opposition will not just be in the Dail where they have a majority, but it will be like we saw 10 years ago on the streets in massive numbers in communities resisting water meters, and we will make it impossible for them to impose these excessive usage charges.

So we are warning the government to step back from this.
The Ulster American Folk Park in Co Tyrone is to receive a 750,000 funding boost as part of a drive to increase cultural and heritage links with the US.

The announcement was made by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons during a visit to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, DC.

The museum tells the story of the emigration of people from Ulster to North America in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Mr Lyons said: It is fitting that I announce this investment in the Ulster American Folk Park The Journey Ahead project at the iconic Smithsonian in Washington.

The museum chronicles the history of emigration from Ulster to the United States and its profound impact on the formation of modern America.

This announcement is the first step in unlocking over 20 million through the Mid South West Growth Deal, an investment which will transform what the museum can offer, enhancing the visitor experience and driving tourism to the wider area.

He added: Our story and the heritage we share with the US is a history worth telling.

Our connections make Northern Ireland a deeply resonant tourist destination for many Americans wishing to learn more about their Ulster Scots roots.

I want to ensure we can attract these visitors and share the story of their ancestors journey from our local shores, providing visitors with new ways to engage with this captivating narrative.

The funding will modernise the museums welcome centre with updated interpretation and exhibitions.

It will also enhance the immersive storytelling experience across the open-air museum.

Mr Lyons was joined by Kathryn Thompson, chief executive of National Museums NI and Professor Margaret Topping, pro-vice-chancellor for global engagement at Queens University Belfast.
The death has occurred of the well-known Portlaoise man Andy Molloy who made his home in Mountmellick.

Andy of Irishtown, Mountmellick and formerly of Mountrath Road, Portlaoise, died peacefully on Monday, March 10 surrounded by his loving family in his 86th year, following a brief illness.

Predeceased by his parents Andrew and Josephine, brother Seamus, nephews Andrew and James. Andy is survived by his brother John and sister Mary, brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, daughters Dorothy and Yvonne.

Andy will be sadly missed by his adoring wife Julie and their children Andrew, his wife Fiona, Jennifer and her husband John, Robert and Linda and her partner Vinnie, his grandchildren Sean Ronan Saoirse Lucy Caolan and Roisin, nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbours and a huge circle of friends.

Andy, a skilled electrician, was known to many for his native town of Portlaoise for his work for many years with Portlaoise GAA especially when the club was based at Fr Browne Avenue.

His volunteer work for the club also made him a familiar face to many in Laois GAA as a constant fixture on the car park duties at the entrance to Laois GAA HQ O'Moore Park and the Portlaoise GAA grounds.

After moving to Mountmellick, Andy became involved with many community activities such as the Christmas lights committee and traders group. He was also instrumental in securing the future of The Rock NS while serving on the school's management board.

He was active in numerous other ways. In recent years he worked tirelessly on the Mountmellick Mountmellick Flood Disaster Committee.

A proud Republican, Andy was also active in local politics with Sinn Fein over the years. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Pictured: Presidential candidate Martin McGuinness signs his name for Andy Molloy while campaigning with Brian Stanley in Portlaoise in 2010.

Portlaoise GAA said it was deeply saddened at his passing, announcing him as "a cherished and dedicated member of our club for decades".

READ ALSO: Glowing GAA Tribute to heart of the club

"Andy was the heart and soul of many club activities," he said.

Brian Stanley TD and his wife Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley also paid tribute.

Andy Molloy was a lifelong Republican here in Laois. He followed on from his own father Andy Snr, who was also deeply involved in the Republican Movement going back as far as the 1930s.

"Andy got involved in the 1950s and would have served along with the late Republican Leader Patrick McLogan, Main Street, Portlaoise and would have been involved in preparations for the 1950s border campaign. He maintained his involvement and interest in the decades since then.

"Andy fully supported the peace process that developed in the 1980s and 90s, as did Andy Snr. He was also a great community person and a very diligent and skilled tradesman at his chosen profession as an Electrician. He done so much work during the full life that he lived.

"Our sincere condolences to his wife Julie and family. Our thoughts are with them at this sad time.

Numerous tributes were paid online and on www.RIP.ie

Anne Harvey also extended sympathy.

"I was so saddened to hear of Andy's passing a kind and jovial man. I met Andy through Mountmellick Flood Disaster Committee where he worked tirelessly for our town. I loved to meet him and have a chat he was a very knowledgeable man who cared about others," she said.

Tara and Adrian Bourke paid tribute describing Andy as "a great man, he will be missed in Mountmellick".

His remains will repose in Moloney's Funeral Home Mountmellick on Wednesday from 5 pm with recital of the Rosary at 6.30 pm.

Removal from his home on Thursday at 10.20 am to St Joseph's Church for Requiem Mass at 11 am and burial after in St Joseph's Cemetery.
Pioneering adult learning initiatives for Traveller women from Laois and Offaly were celebrated in Croke Park at Ireland's national adult learning awards.

The Aontas STAR awards  short for showcasing teamwork, awarding recognition  highlight education initiatives that showcase the transformative power of adult education.

A statement to the Leinster Express / Laois Live said two Laois and Offaly community projects were recipients of special recognition awards at the event at GAA HQ, co-hosted by special guest, the writer and actress Pauline McLynn, aka Mrs Doyle from Father Ted.

The Laois and Offaly winners were Beyond Barriers and Transformative Journeys for Traveller Women which are both run by the Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board. They brought home the European Social Fund (ESF) Special Recognition Award and the Open University Ireland Shooting Star award.

Aontas say the Beyond Barriers project captured and shared voices of adult learners in Laois and Offaly Education and Training Boards literacy service, highlighting their personal journeys and achievements, especially those who have faced unique challenges in returning to education.

Transformative Journeys for Traveller Women is a programme designed to empower parents or carers who have experienced cumulative trauma and have been denied access to education and societal opportunities. Aontus said the programme nurtures self-compassion, both for the child they once were, for their own parents, and for the young people they are parenting.

Commented on the awards, Joe Cunningham, Chief Executive at LOETB, acknowledged the work of the FET Inclusion team and their support of those in the community with literacy difficulties.

"Many of us take for granted the ability to read and write, use technology or manage our financial affairs. However, for many more, through no fault of their own, these areas are a constant challenge. Literacy support, in all its forms, is a key focus of our staff so that we can help people break down these barriers. The impact of this work is rewarding for all concerned and the personal accounts of the students who took part in this project are truly inspiring," he said.

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AONTAS CEO, Dearbhail Lawles spoke at the STAR Awards ceremony in Croke Park on Friday, March 3. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

PICTURED: Representatives from the Beyond Barriers initiative by Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board, winners of the European Social Fund Special Recognition Award, pictured at the 2025 AONTAS STAR Awards ceremony. Photo: Marc OSullivan

The Laois STAR Award winners highlight the incredible initiatives and programmes that are running in Laois and across the island of Ireland that promote adult learning and community education. The value and benefit of adult education is truly reflected in the individuals here this morning and I highly commend all the winners and nominees for their fantastic achievement, she said.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless TD today congratulated Laois Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB).

"The fantastic Beyond the Barriers amplifies the voices of adult learners in the LOETB literacy service by filming the personal accounts of student ambassadors from diverse communities who act as advocates for adult literacy and lifelong learning.

The project allows student ambassadors to demonstrate why skills and lifelong learning are an investment priority, particularly for my own Department and for the European Union.

Their stories show how the decision to return to education can have far-reaching impacts for individuals, their families and even their communities.

They show that everyone deserves their education to be taken seriously, and literacy levels must not be a barrier to personal development or personal fulfilment, he said.

The STAR Awards marked the end of the 2025 AONTAS Adult Learners Festival, a week-long all-island celebration of adult learning that this year centered around the theme of connecting communities.

AONTAS is Irelands national adult learning organisation for adult and community education providers and adult learners. It promotes the value and benefits of adult learning, and advocates on behalf of the sector. Founded in 1969, it is an independent Non-Governmental Organisation, with over 500 members nationwide.

In addition to promoting adult learning in Ireland, AONTAS is the national coordinating body for the New European Agenda for Adult Learning (NEAAL), which is aimed at increasing participation in adult learning across the EU, enhancing policies and supports for adult learners, and gathering and disseminating best practices.
Over 783,172 has been awarded to 11 community centres in Laois through the Community Centre Investment Fund.

Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary TD announced this fund today, which will oversee the modernising of community centres in local towns and villages.

Welcoming the announcement of funding under the 2024 Community Centre Investment Fund today, William Aird, TD said the funding will help community centres across County Laois to carry out building renovations and enhance amenities.

Deputy Aird said this funding will result in community facilities being more sustainable and accessible, so that they can be enjoyed by all.

I am delighted to see funding of 783,172 for community centres in Laois. I want to thank the volunteers who work so hard to facilitate activities in our community centres," Deputy Aird said.



Community centres play an essential role in bringing our communities together. Whether its local meetings, celebrations, or classes for children or retired people, our community centres in Laois have always been a central point in every town and village for people to come together.

Pictured: Killeshin Community Centre will receive 100k

Communities across Laois, from Clonaslee to Clonad, from Rathdonwey to Mountmellick, from Portarlington to Killeshin will now be empowered to make the changes they need to their community centres to ensure they are up to a high standard.



Nationwide this funding will be used for a range of measures such as roof and insulation enhancements; others

will see kitchen and toilet upgrades; while others will ensure their buildings are more accessible and energy

efficient," he said.



This funding will make our towns and villages better places to live, work, and raise a family. This funding is aimed at the heart of our communities in Laois, and I look forward to seeing the completed works, concluded Deputy Aird.

Pictured: Portarlington Parochial Hall. Photo: NBHS

Fianna Fail Deputy Sean Fleming also welcomed this news. "These grants will help the 11 centres in Laois fund refurbishment, upgrading of facilities, roof and floor repairs, solar PV panels, upgrading of kitchens, window replacements, insulation works, and heating systems," Deputy Fleming said. "These very substantial grants will help ensure these improvements works can go ahead as quickly as possible. I especially want to thank all the voluntary committees involved in these community centres for their ongoing work to improve facilities for their local communities. "Community Centres are the lifeblood of our local communities, it is important that they be maintained to the highest standard. " The new Programme for Government ensures this new Community Investment Fund will provide a rolling fund to upgrade and refurbish local community centres on an ongoing basis," Deputy Fleming finished.

Pictured: Rathdowney Community Centre will receive 94,000

"All of these halls started to support the local areas in days gone by, the money in Rathdowney will go towards interior insulation and rewiring, the hall is in need of upgrades," Cllr John King told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"There are new windows and a new roof on the building, so this work should bring it up to a very high standard."

The funding will go towards upgrading the bathroom facilities in the Hawthorn Sports Complex, along with other works.

"All of these centres are used regularly, they are vital for a town in holding events and catering towards the community. There are classes and workshops held in them for people of all ages and all nationalities, these centres are used more now than they were years ago," Cllr King said.

Pictured: Cullahill Community Centre

"In Rathdowney, the two main things it was used for was the pantomime and the bingo, but now there is something on in the centre almost every night. We need to modernise the buildings.

"I am delighted it is coming to the area, and the more that comes the better," Cllr King finished.
Three schools across Kildare take part today (March 11) and tomorrow (March 12) in the Leinster semi-finals of the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards (YEA.)

Young environmental activists will travel from schools across Leinster, including Newbridge College; Salesian College, Celbridge; and Gaelcholaiste Mhaigh Nuad, Maynooth; with their projects which focus on a range of topical issues, such as waste, climate change and eco-entrepreneurship.

The Leinster semi-finals of the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards (YEA) are held today and tomorrow, at Airfield Estate, Dundrum, Dublin.

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ECO-UNESCOs Young Environmentalist Awards is an all-Ireland programme that recognises the work of young people, including from Kildare, who have taken environmental action in their school or community and come up with creative solutions to solve environmental issues.

Forty teams from across Leinster, including three schools from Kildare, are competing across today and tomorrow in the ECO-Dens, as the semi-finals are known, to win a place in the final of the Young Environmentalist Awards in Dublin in May.

The Leinster regional ECO-Den is one of four provincial semi-finals being held across the country in March, with the winners of each advancing to the final.

Speaking from the Leinster semi-finals, Elaine Nevin, national director of ECO-UNESCO, said: The ECO-Dens and Young Environmentalist Awards are some of the most exciting events in the ECO-UNESCO calendar. It is great to kick off this years provincial semi-finals at Airfield Estate again.

The passion and problem-solving initiative of these young peoples projects, including those from Kildare, offers great hope for the fight against climate change and reminds us that we can all play our part, from a community to a national level.

Ms Nevin continued: This year, we have over 500 young people representing 78 groups across 26 counties, including Kildare, with projects addressing key problems like climate change, biodiversity, and waste.

With such a high standard of entries, it certainly wont be an easy decision for our judges. ]We are excited to see who makes the final and look forward to crowning winners across 30 junior and senior level categories in May. Regardless, the real winner is the future of climate activism, in the safe hands of these incredibly bright young people.

For more information, see www.ecounesco.ie.
The Stationery Store in Naas, county Kildare is celebrating its 40th birthday with a week of fantastic giveaways every day until this Friday.

Customers are invited to drop into the premises on the Dublin Road where they may be lucky to win a spot prize.

Then a big party is planned on Friday, March 14 where there will be some treats and bigger prizes on offer, K Cruiser will be broadcasting live!

Opened in 1985

Director Edel McGarr has been with The Stationery Store since it opened in 1985 alongside the original owners - Helen Magee and the late Hugh Magee Senior.

Long-serving employee Theresa Ronaldson is also a Director.

Hugh Senior passed away in December 2023 and is still fondly remembered by staff and customers.

Helen and Hugh Seniors son Hugh, has been with the company since 1995 and is now the Managing Director.

Hugh specialises in the Office Furniture and Equipment end of the business; this area of the business has grown immensely since back in the early days.



Loyalty

Edel said: "We have always been blessed with loyal staff, loyal customers and loyal suppliers.

Our 40 years in business is a big achievement for us and we want to celebrate that with our Appreciation Week.

We're asking people to pop into the store all week and they could be lucky and win a spot prize!

Everybody who follows, likes and shares the store on Facebook will also be entered into a draw to win a prize.

In a world of electronic communication, The Stationery Store still encourages people to drop into the store for friendly customer service.

As well as the retail business, The Stationery Store has over 300 business customers which it supplies products to.

With free parking and being in a very close proximity to Dublin it is very beneficial to the business and enables The Stationery Store to give an exceptional service.

The Stationery Store will mark another milestone next month when shop manger Johnny Kelly retires after 25 years of service.

Congratulations to The Stationery Store and here's to the next 40 years!

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The HSE has issued a warning to parents who allow their baby to sleep in their bed, reminding them that "the safest place for your baby to sleep is in a cot in the same room as you."

The HSE website issues advice on co-sleeping, warning parents to avoid the practice due to a number of dangers.

The advice states: "A separate cot in your room is the safest place for your baby to sleep. Bed sharing or co-sleeping in the same bed can be dangerous. It can increase your babys risk of suffocation or cot death.

Suffocation can happen when your baby: slips under the bed covers, rolls under an adult, gets trapped between the bed and the wall, falls out of the bed."

"Your baby should not share a bed with your other children," it continues.

"The advice further states: "Do not share a bed with your baby, if you or your partner: are smokers, have taken alcohol, drugs (legal or illegal) or medicines that can make you drowsy, are over tired, your baby is less than 3 months old, was premature (born before 37 weeks), had a low birth weight - less than 2.5kg (kilograms) or 5.5lbs (pounds).

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"The risk of cot death is higher for babies who sleep in a separate room. Keep your baby's cot in the same room as you for at least the first 6 months."

In terms of cot safety, the HSE advises that you "make sure the cot is in good condition and correctly assembled.

"The mattress should be clean, firm and flat with no rips. It should fit the cot. An uneven mattress could allow your baby to roll onto their side and tummy.

"There is a risk your baby could get trapped in a gap between the mattress and the edge of the cot if the mattress does not fit properly. This could lead to suffocation.

"Do not use sleep positioners and other similar products. They do not prevent cot death or flathead syndrome (plagiocephaly), and are a suffocation risk.

"Pillows and cushions should not be in the cot as they could suffocate your baby.

"Do not use them to elevate your baby's head during sleep. This does not reduce reflux and is not recommended.

"Keep the cot clear of all objects Do not have any soft objects and anything loose or fluffy in your baby's cot. This includes: cot bumpers, blankets, duvets, toys, teddies, wedges and bedding rolls. These objects could suffocate or smother your baby," the website states.

Further information on safe sleeping for your baby can be found on the HSE website.
Dublin Airport have announced that the number of tourists expected to travel to Ireland for St Patrick's Day is set to be lower by than recent years, due to the passenger cap in place.

They have also assured holiday makers that the gates will still be busy with people expected to travel for the long weekend and the Cheltenham Festival.

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Graeme McQueen, Media Relations Manager at DAA said:

"Between tomorrow (Wednesday) and next Tuesday, we're expecting to welcome around 400,000 passengers. The same period last year saw us welcome more than 410,000 passengers, so its clear that the cap is having an impact.

Our departure gates will still be busy this week, with thousands of racing fans making the short trip to Cheltenham for the annual horse racing festival, while many others will avail of the long bank holiday weekend to enjoy a city break or spring trip overseas. Our arrivals halls will be busy too with tens of thousands of tourists arriving from all over the world to celebrate St Patrick's Day here in Ireland.

The St Patrick's Day period is one of the pinnacles of Ireland's tourism year when many high net-worth visitors, many of them from North America and Asia, arrive here for extended breaks in Dublin and all around the country.
Members of the Burke family were spotted flying to Washington on the same day the Taoiseach is set to travel there to meet President Trump.

Journalist Cuan O Seireadain tweeted about seeing the family and wrote on their X account: "Members of the Burke family are on my flight to Washington DC."

When he asked them for a comment he goes on to say: "When asked about the purpose of their journey the refused to answer my question as to whether they have been invited or not."

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Taoiseach Micheal Martin when asked about their journey he said:

"Im not familiar with the travel arrangements of any particular family, and Im not aware of any issues around that. I mean, people are free to travel."

Speaking on if the Taoiseach would have an issue with them being involved in the St Patrick's Day festivities in Washington he said:

"Im going to represent the Irish people on behalf of the Government of Ireland and the people of Ireland. I have a lot of functions on all week, and thats what Im focused on."

In recent months Elon Musk has retweeted a post on X about Enoch Burke's legal situation.
As of February 2025, more than 12,000 farmers have yet to receive their 2024 payments from the Agri-Cultural Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) with nearly 3,000 still awaiting payments from 2023.

The Department of Agriculture has faced criticism for these delays in a scheme designed to support biodiversity while providing income assistance to up to 50,000 farm families in Ireland.

Cllr Paddy Farrell sought the backing of the Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District to contact the Minister for Agriculture, urging that all outstanding ACRES payments be issued as a matter of urgency.

Describing the scheme as a farce, he pointed out that many farmers have yet to receive payments for both 2023 and 2024.

Theres a lot of young farmers out there that could do with the money. If it happened in any other sector there would be strikes everywhere, Cllr Farrell said.

He also warned that the ongoing delays are eroding farmers confidence in all farmers schemes.

Cllr Farrells motion was widely supported.

Cllr Enda Stenson emphasised the unfairness of the situation, saying, It is a way of paying farmers to do good by the land and whats happening is wrong. Mistakes can be easily made and then the only one thats being punished is the farmer.

Cllr Maeve Reynolds argued that the scheme is not fit for purpose, highlighting that farmers have invested time, labour and money without any certainty about when they will receive their entitlements.

The Department has missed deadline after deadline and if the shoe was on the other foot, the farmer would be paying penalties, Cllr Reynolds said.

She proposed an amendment to Cllr Farrells motion, suggesting that in addition to demanding payment, the Council should ask whether farmers can be compensated for the loss of purchasing power and the tax implications of receiving three years worth of payment in one year, given that the fault lies with the Department.

At the end of the day farmers are the most important people in this country, Cllr Sean McGowan added.

Correspondence will be issued to the Department of Agriculture regarding the issue.

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A Leitrim-based business is proof that Googles Youre the Business competition can be a game-changer. Now in its third year, the initiative is once again calling on Irish businesses to take part, offering the chance to win digital training, expert mentorship, and a cutting-edge AI-powered advertising campaign.

Launched in partnership with Enterprise Ireland (EI) and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEO), the program aims to help businesses enhance their online presence. The competition is open to companies at any stage of their digital journey, from beginners to those already leveraging technology for growth.

Leitrim-based Pathfinders Custom Conversions was one of last years winners. The business, which specializes in bespoke vehicle conversions, credits the program with helping them level up their digital skills.

You're the Business was invaluable in helping us to upskill digitally, said Breffni Kearns of Pathfinders. It was also an amazing networking opportunity, allowing us to meet fellow founders from across the country and to learn from their experiences. I would highly recommend the experience.

This year, the competition has an even greater focus on AI. Selected winners will receive a one-year subscription to Google Workspace Business Standard, including access to AI-powered tools like Gemini Advanced and NotebookLM. The standout business will also win a bespoke AI-powered advertising campaign created by Googles AI experts.

We know that AI has the power to revolutionize the way we do business, said Cera Ward, Managing Director at Google Ireland. Thats why weve made it a key focus of this years initiative. We want to support Irish businesses as they take the next steps in their digital journey.

Entries are open until March 21, 2025. Businesses must submit a 200-word entry explaining how they have used digital skills to grow, uploaded as a PDF on the You're the Business website. More details can be found at g.co/yourethebusiness.

READ MORE Lights, Camera, Leitrim! Be part of an exciting tourism campaign
Associate Justices of the Supreme Court seated during the ceremony on Monday, March 10, 2025
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THE Technological University of the Shannon has been awarded a top spot at a prestigious national awards ceremony for adult learning.

The TUS Access Service and Flexible Learning Department based at the Universitys Moylish Campus took home the gong for its Transition to Higher Education Certificate under the Third Level Access and Engagement category at the 19th annual AONTAS Star awards in Dublin last weekend.

The Level 6 certificate provides a pathway for students to gain experience of Third Level Education and potentially progress to entry onto TUS certificate/degree programmes.

Vice President for Student Education and Experience, Frances OConnell, highlighted the significance of the programme:

We are extremely proud to win the Aontas award in the category for Adult Learning Initiatives that Support Third-Level Access and Engagement for our Certificate in Transition to Higher Education programme. The programme provides a pathway for adults who experience severe social, economic, and/or educational disadvantages to engage in a supportive and structured third-level academic foundation programme, that is delivered flexibly to suit our students needs. It reflects our work with our communities that is Inclusive, Supportive and Collaborative and our strategic priorities related to access and widening participation.

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This programme really makes a difference to students' lives by providing comprehensive support through peer mentoring, academic guidance, career counselling, and access to learning technology. It equips our students with the confidence and skills to progress to full-time degree programmes. I would like to thank our incredible lecturers who deliver this programme and our amazing students, who are fabulous ambassadors as graduates of this programme.

Anna Murphy, the Programme Leader of the Certificate in Transition to Higher Education, said:

I am extremely proud that our course has been recognised with an AONTAS STAR Award. This achievement is a testament to the dedication of our students, community partners, the commitment of our lecturing team, and the transformative impact of access to education. At TUS, we believe that education should be inclusive and empowering, and this award reaffirms the importance of providing pathways for learners to achieve their full potential. It is an honour to receive this recognition, and we look forward to continuing to support our students on their educational journeys.

TUS was shortlisted for this accolade alongside UCC, WWETB and SETU, and College Connect.

The AONTAS STAR (Showcasing Teamwork, Awarding Recognition) Awards celebrate the impact of adult learning across Ireland, recognising initiatives that empower learners and foster educational equity. The Third Level Access & Engagement category highlights initiatives that remove barriers to higher education for learners from low-income backgrounds and individuals with disabilities, while also promoting collaboration between higher education institutions and local communities.

Established in 2017, the Certificate in Transition to Higher Education was developed by TUS Flexible Learning and TUS Access Service to offer a structured foundation for adult learners who may have faced social, economic, or educational disadvantage.

The part-time programme spans 24 weeks and includes modules in Mathematics, Computer Applications, Personal Development, and Learning & Academic Skills Development.
A NEW STUDY by researchers at the University of Limerick (UL) has revealed an extraordinarily high burden of kidney disease in older individuals in Ireland that suffer from common chronic conditions.

Women were also 50% more likely to have chronic kidney disease than men, according to the results of the new study by researchers at UL School of Medicine.

The researchers also found that economic and societal factors had an influence, with medical card holders and unemployed individuals far more likely to have kidney disease.

The publication of the research coincides with World Kidney Day this Thursday, March 13, with the primary focus of which is early detection of kidney disease in order the protect long term kidney health.

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The study was led by Dr Meera Tandan, a postdoctoral researcher at the National Kidney Disease Surveillance System (NKDSS) in the UL School of Medicine.

Chronic kidney disease poses a huge problem for the Irish population and exerts a significant impact on patient survival and quality of life, said Dr Tandan.

Our research has generated precise estimates of the burden of kidney disease in Ireland and identified those individuals with the greatest risk in our community. We have shown that chronic kidney disease is very common among individuals with certain chronic conditions, the majority of which are generally managed in primary care.

We have also for the first time highlighted the importance of new conditions like cancer and obesity as these conditions contributed greatly to the high burden of kidney disease in the population.

Ireland has an estimated 500,000 individuals living with chronic kidney disease. Many are at significant risk of progressing to kidney failure and premature death. Just over 5,400 of these individuals have already developed kidney failure and are receiving treatment with either dialysis or a kidney transplant.

The goal of the study was to estimate the prevalence of chronic kidney disease in a representative sample of the Irish population aged 50 and over, and determine what groups had the highest burden of disease so that this information might be used to target these groups as part of a national population health screening programme.

The largest study of its kind in Ireland, the research explored in detail factors associated with kidney disease using data from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging (TILDA).

It found that one in seven individuals suffered from chronic kidney disease in Ireland (14.7%), age 50 and over, and this increased to one in two individuals over the age of 75 years. Women were more affected than men (17.8% versus 11.5%), a finding that persisted across all age groups.

Professor George Mellotte, Director of the National Renal Office and Consultant Nephrologist said: This research reinforces the need for inclusion of chronic kidney disease into the HSE chronic disease management programme so that these patients at risk of kidney disease can benefit from early screening and early intervention.

A detailed analysis revealed that the burden of chronic kidney disease was far more common in individuals with common chronic conditions including pre-existing heart disease (33.9%), diabetes (28%), cancer (25.5%), and bladder problems (23.7%).

Professor Austin Stack, senior author on the study and Director of the NKDSS at ULs School of Medicine and Consultant Nephrologist, University Hospital Limerick (UHL), said: These new findings provide an enormous opportunity to the Irish health service to identify and screen these high-risk groups for early signs of kidney damage.

Earlier detection of kidney disease will facilitate more timely investigation and treatment, leading to better outcomes.

There is a real chance that we can stem the tide of kidney failure and improve patient survival. Detecting disease early through an active or passive surveillance system is an effective way of preventing chronic disease, especially if the disease is common, treatable and can be detected with simple screening tests. Chronic kidney disease ticks all these boxes.

The addition of chronic kidney disease to the Chronic Disease Management Programme of the HSE to begin in July 2025 is a major step forward in improving kidney health in Ireland, Professor Stack added.

Welcoming the research findings, Carol Moore, CEO of the Irish Kidney Association, said: The report is timely in that the need for early detection and management is also now being recognised at an international level.

We are calling upon the government to endorse the World Health Organisation resolution, Reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases through promotion of kidney health and strengthening prevention and control of kidney disease which is being brought to the World Health Assembly in May in Geneva.
SIX YEARS on from the government commitment to deliver nine fully funded community neurological rehabilitation teams across Ireland, the rollout has been beset by delays including in Limerick, which is still without any access to a team.

Thats according to the Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI), the national umbrella body for 40 neurological organisations.

The group recently met with TDs and Senators at Leinster House, to call for their renewed commitment in delivering on the targets outlined in the 2019 Neurorehabilitation Strategy.

As National Brain Awareness Week marks its 20th year running from March 10 to 16, the NAI underscores the urgent need for dedicated community neurorehabilitation teams to address this critical issue.

READ ALSO: New University of Limerick research identifies groups at high risk of chronic kidney disease

There is now a significant regional inequity for patients in Limerick who are unable to access the existing understaffed community neurorehabilitation team, said a spokesperson.

The Mid-West region is only funded to fill half of the necessary staffing positions it requires, resulting in a year-long waiting list to access vital services.

The National Neurorehabilitation Strategy published in 2019 committed to delivering specialist community teams and long-term neurorehabilitation services across the country, as well as addressing the shortfall of 171 specialist inpatient neurorehabilitation beds.

Magdalen Rogers, CEO of the NAI said: Neurorehabilitation is a vital service to enable people in Limerick with neurological conditions to live their day-to-day lives.

We're calling on the government to announce a commitment to funding four community neurorehabilitation teams in this years budget. We want to see this commitment during their first 100 days in office, to send a clear signal they intend to deliver on the pledges within the Programme for Government to complete the national rollout of community neurorehabilitation teams.

The group also want to see the government developing more specialist inpatient rehabilitation beds and implement community-based multidisciplinary rehabilitation services in each HSE Regional Health Authority Area.

NAI is calling for funding in the upcoming Budget for full community neurorehabilitation teams for the North West, North Dublin, South East and Midlands, promised in 2019.
Spring may very well have sprung over the weekend, however, the seemingly rising temperatures are set to drop later this week.

Met Eireann has confirmed temperatures could drop to sub-zero levels between Wednesday and Friday but possibly reaching temperatures no higher than 10 degrees over the weekend ahead of St. Patrick's Day.

Tonight, Tuesday, March 11 will be cold with a mix of cloud and clear spells. Scattered showers will continue to feed southwards over the country, with the occasional wintry fall about high ground. Lows of -1 to +4 degrees with some frost forming in light to moderate northerly breezes, fresh to strong near coasts.

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Wednesday, March 12 will be cool and a little breezy with variable cloud amounts and sunshine. Although many places will have a largely dry day, there will be a few light showers in the mix, mainly in eastern and southeastern parts. Highest temperatures of 6 to 8 degrees in mostly moderate northerly winds.

Wednesday night is set to be cold with a mix of cloud and clear spells and dry apart from a few coastal showers in the northwest and southeast. Lowest temperatures of -1 to +4 degrees with some frost forming in light northerly or variable breezes.



Thursday will see some bright or sunny breaks to begin in the morning but becoming mostly cloudy into the afternoon with a few light showers developing. Highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees in light to moderate northerly breezes.

Cloud breaking with a few clear spells developing early on Thursday night. Cloud will build from the west and north overnight with outbreaks of rain pushing in from the Atlantic overnight. Some sleet is possible, mainly about high ground. Winds will fall light northwest or variable. Lowest temperatures of -2 to +3 degrees with frost and icy patches forming.



Friday will see rain break up into bright spells and showers in the morning. Some showers of hail and sleet are possible for a time but the showers will become increasingly isolated through the afternoon with dry conditions and sunny spells developing for most by the end the day.

Highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees with light to moderate mainly northeast winds. Turning cold under clearing skies on Friday night. Lowest temperatures of -2 to +3 degrees in light northeast or variable breezes with frost and icy patches forming.



Saturday is set to be mainly dry and bright or sunny to begin with frost and icy patches clearing in the morning. Cloud tending to build for the afternoon with highest temperatures 7 to 9 degrees in a light east to northeast breeze.



As for the rest of the Bank Holiday weekend, mostly dry conditions look set to persist. Cloud amounts a little uncertain at this stage. Light to moderate easterly breezes on Sunday. Potentially a bit breezier on Monday, St. Patricks Day with moderate to fresh easterly winds. Daytime highs around 7 to 10 degrees.
Irish premier Micheal Martin will tell President Donald Trump that there is a two-way street of investment between the US and Ireland, as a trade imbalance between the two countries looms over their upcoming bilateral.

Mr Trump will host the Taoiseach in the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday as part of the Irish Governments traditional St Patricks programme of overseas engagements.

The meeting comes amid heightened concern that the presidents protectionist approach to tariffs and tax could pose a significant risk to an Irish economy that is in large part sustained by long-standing investment by US multinationals.

However, Mr Martin said his message to companies operating in Ireland was to hold the nerve and not react too quickly to the potential major policy shifts.

On Tuesday, he continues his itinerary in Austin, Texas, where he said his emphasis was to copper fasten the enduring nature of the US-Irish economic relationship.

That ambition will form part of his engagement with state legislators at the Texas Capitol in the city, before he departs the Lone Star State for Washington DC where he will attend a St Patricks Day Reception at the Irish Ambassadors Residence.

On Monday, Mr Martin said the main point he will be making with Mr Trump is how its a two-way street of investment and that Ireland operates as a powerful base for the European single market.

While being interviewed for a fireside chat at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in the city, he added: Its not just American investment in Ireland, its Irish investment in America as well.

We are buying a lot of stuff, a lot of American products. We have a lot of Irish companies based here that will grow, and that will continue to grow.

Earlier, on Monday, Mr Martin met Texas Governor Greg Abbott and visited US tech multinationals Dell and Tricentis, with the latter announcing plans to hire 50 additional staff in its Cork base over the coming years.

He also met with businesses supported by Enterprise Ireland, introduced a panel on the Irish screen industry and participated in a pop-up Gaeltacht at the Department of Foreign Affairs hub for SXSW, Ireland House.

Mr Martin concluded his packed itinerary on Monday by attending a St Patricks reception at the same venue hosted by the Irish consulate in Austin.

Mr Martin and Mr Trump are expected to discuss a range of issues on Wednesday, including the war in Ukraine and the situations in the Middle East and Northern Ireland.

The Irish leader will later present Mr Trump with the traditional shamrock bowl in the White House, extending St Patricks Day greetings from the people of Ireland to the people of the US

A host of Irish Government ministers will also travel to the US, including deputy premier Tanaiste Simon Harris, who will visit Philadelphia and New York at a time described as a key juncture in European-US relations.

Elsewhere, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle ONeill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly led an NI Chamber business delegation to North Carolina on Monday.

Ms Little-Pengelly will attend Washington DC engagements alone after Ms ONeill and her Sinn Fein party colleagues ruled out travelling to the US capital as part of a principled stance against the threat of mass expulsion of the Palestinian people from Gaza.
Newly elected Limerick IFA Chair Louise Crowley said that 2025 signals a resetting of the approach to agriculture in Ireland, as a new Government must now deliver on the election promises they preached in the build up to the General Election last November.

Louise Crowley believes the new Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon is well positioned to tackle the challenges that farming faces given his time as Minster of State in the last Government and being a farmer.

The Programme for Government signals a re-set of the approach to farming and in IFA we will be working with the Government to make sure the policy direction is practical and works for farmers.

For Minister Heydon it is a step up, but he has the advantage of an understanding of the issues that hes facing, she said.

Louise Crowley said the Mercosur trade deal rammed through by the EU Commission must be pushed back against and rejected by the Irish Government and Irish officials in Brussels.

This deal, if ratified, has serious implications for Irish farming. The introduction of over 90,000 tonnes of beef, which is not produced to the same quality and safety standards as Irish beef, will have a severe negative effect on the Irish beef sector and rural Ireland, she said.

Louise Crowley also highlighted the need for a solution on GAEC 2, with a large number of farmers impacted across Limerick and the south-west region.

Minister Martin Heydon should have sought a further delay of the implementation of GAEC 2 from the EU Commission. This would have allowed it to be considered under promised simplification measures being designed by the EU, she said.

The IFA has been lobbying on this issue since 2021 and its implementation was postponed in 2023 and 2024. The Minister should have stood up to the Commission and looked for it to be reconsidered as part of the much-promised simplification package, she said.

GAEC-2 will apply to up to 35,000 farmers. While the measures may not impact on many farming activities in 2025, it is the thin end of the wedge and there are real concerns that it will impact these farmers more in the future, she said.

The Limerick IFA Chair also said the new Government must deliver on their commitment to the retention of our Nitrates Derogation this year.

Whatever needs to be done must be done. The new Programme for Government contains a strong commitment to fight for the derogation in Brussels.

The decision to have a Cabinet committee chaired by the Taoiseach shows the willingness to give this the attention that is needed.

But we now must see those words become actions, and we need our need leaders to secure the retention of the derogation. Farmers are playing their part, but retaining the derogation we have is a red line issue for the IFA and our elected representatives must deliver this, Louise Crowley said.

In light of the recent destruction caused by Storm Eowyn, the second major weather event to hit the country this spring following significant snowfall in some areas in early January, Louise Crowley is calling for the Government and local authorities to fully assess the countrys infrastructure and limit further disruption of future extreme weather events.

We need to assess our infrastructure in the aftermath, and implement what can be done to be better prepared. This review should involve all stakeholders to see what steps can be taken to minimise disruption when we encounter similar events in the future, Louise Crowley said.

There is a real fear that the focus will move off these issues until it happens again. This cannot be the case. We must begin work on addressing the vulnerabilities this storm has brought to light, she said.

Louise Crowley also highlighted the significant damage caused to farm forestry across the country by Storm Eowyn, acknowledging the establishment of the Forest Windblow Taskforce as a positive step.

The damage to forestry is extremely devastating, in some cases full plantations unsalvageable. It is important that everything is done to help the farmers who have been devasted by the storm damage.

IFA will be engaging with the Taskforce, to ensure that storm-damaged forests are managed safely and appropriately. Funding must be made available for the felling of these damaged forests, and also later on the reconstitution of the forestry lost.

He must also allow licenses for felling of forestry that is not already licensed, she said.

But crucially, the Minister must intervene and control the supply of timber into the market, to ensure the issues forestry farmers are facing is not compounded by an oversupply, Louise Crowley added.

The Limerick IFA Chair has again pleaded for people to take greater responsibility for their dogs, with recent attacks on livestock around the county causing devastation to family farms.

The devastation caused has to be brought home to those who think their dog would not be part of an attack on livestock. Dog owners cannot absolve themselves of the wreckage left behind when sheep are attacked, she said.

The lack of robust enforcement of the legal obligations on dog owners has allowed horrendous attacks to persist and increase across the country. It is unacceptable, Louise Crowley said.

Again, through our No Dogs Allowed campaign, we are demanding stronger regulations and stricter enforcement for those who disregard the safety and wellbeing of our livestock, she said.

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Hyundai Motor India Ltds plans to enter into seven transactions with group companiesor related partiesstirred controversy when prominent proxy advisory firm Stakeholders Empowerment Services recommended that investors vote against six of those.

Proxy advisory firms Institutional Investor Advisory Services and InGovern Research Services did not raise any objections to Hyundai Motor India's proposed transactions, which add up to more than 31,500 crore.

Hyundai Motor India's board resolutions for the seven transactions will pass even if all institutional and retail investors vote against them, given that its South Korean parent controls over 82% of the companys shares.

The two-day e-voting on the seven resolutions will close on the evening of 13 March. These transactions involve the purchasing of engines, parts, machinery, moulds, body parts, and engineering construction services.

It is a commonly accepted practice among companies, especially ones that are part of large groups, to enter into related-party transactions for sourcing raw materials and parts and for availing certain services.

But why do such related-party transactions tend to attract controversy? Mint explains.

Why do companies enter into related-party transactions?

Related-party transactions are part of structuring a business and establishing separate entities focused on specific activities.

For Hyundai Motor India or any other automobile manufacturer, it does not make sense to house all activities involved in manufacturing a car in one factory or under one company, as each activity requires a level of expertise, specialisation and precision.

It is common for automobile manufacturers to promote multiple ancillary unitssome as wholly owned subsidiaries or joint venturesto make specific parts used to assemble a vehicle. Some of these ancillary units may be suppliers to other manufacturers too.

Also read | Mint Explainer: What is a social security agreement?

A company making steel pipes may have associate companies with mining rights for iron ore or coal, and for producing power. Many manufacturers prefer to buy from related and associate companies as they will have greater control over quality and production.

The scope of related-party transactions is not limited to dealing in goods and services. It could involve a transfer of business or property. Also, the related party need not be a subsidiary, a joint venture, or a group company. A related party could be an entity promoted by the relatives of a companys promoters, its directors or their relatives, its key managerial personnel, or even by someone with close business ties with it.

Why is there a need to regulate related-party transactions?

It is widely believed that transactions between related parties will be priced or valued differently than deals between two unrelated businesses. Several related-party transactions have been found to be abusive or unfair to non-promoter shareholders.

Over-invoicing by a supplier company when sending goods or providing service to a related buying company is one such practice. This helps the buying company to show higher expenses and lower profit and tax liability while the supplier (usually, a smaller company) would show higher income and higher profits.

Also read | Mint Explainer: The ripple effects of Trump pulling the plug on Ukraine

Such valuation of a transaction hurts the interest of non-promoter and minority shareholders of the buying company while benefiting the promoters of the supplier company. This is a form of siphoning out resources from a company.

To protect the interests of minority shareholders and non-promoters, the law requires that transactions between related parties follow the arms length principlei.e., such a transaction should be at the same valuation as if it were between two independent entities.

What do the Companies Act and Sebis regulations mandate?

Over the years, various laws and regulations have been put in place in India and across all major jurisdictions to ensure greater transparency in transactions between related parties and to ensure that these are valued appropriately and fairly in the books of accounts.

Listed companies have to adhere to the requirements spelt out by the market regulator, the Security and Exchange Board of India. Under the Sebi (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, a listed company is required to seek the approval of its audit committee before entering into a transaction with a related party.

If a transaction is material, the company has to seek prior approval from its shareholders. A material related-party transaction is one that exceeds 1,000 crore in value in a financial year or which accounts for more than 10% of a companys annual consolidated turnover as per its last audited financial statement, whichever is lower.

Also read | Mint Explainer: Microsoft's new chip and a quantum leap for computing

All seven transactions listed by Hyundai Motor India for shareholders approval are above the 1,000-crore threshold.

Unlisted companies need to comply with the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013, which requires the approval of the board of directors for related-party transactions. Shareholders approval is required in the form of ordinary resolution where the transaction value is above a prescribed threshold.

Also, all companies have to comply with accounting standards on related-party transactions and income tax laws when preparing their accounts.
SRF Ltd will enter into the cast polypropylene (CPP) film business by acquiring the entire plant and machinery from Kanpur Plastipack Ltd (KPL) for 49.25 crore, the company said in a stock exchange filing on Tuesday.

SRF has entered into a binding agreement to acquire and purchase plant and machineries, along with spare parts related to CPP films, subject to closing conditions, it said in the filing.

Also Read: Study-abroad player Leap is in late-stage talks to acquire Prodigy Finance The transaction is expected to close in the coming months. Upon closure, the assets will be relocated and installed at SRFs state-of-the-art facility in Indore.

KPL diversified into CPP film manufacturing two years ago with a newly installed line that had an annual capacity of 7,200 million tonnes per annum. The line was capable of producing seven-layer high-barrier transparent films and other value-added films.

The acquisition of KPLs non-core entity comes on the back of the wide range of use cases for CPP, which is more durable than biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) films and has a lot of rising demand for its end-uses in sectors like packaged consumer goods, automotive, and pharmaceuticals.

Other global players in this market include Amcor, Sealed Air, Mondi, while domestic competitors include Uflex, Polyplex, Emperial, Sparsh, Pasupati and Kalpna.

SRF portfolio With this acquisition, SRF will add a new product line to expand and complement its existing offerings and complete its product portfolio in flexible packaging films, including BOPP, BOPET, and CPP.

Also Read: ITC in talks to acquire MTR , Eastern for $1.4 billion Singhi Advisors acted as an exclusive strategic and financial advisor to KPL.

Founded in 1970, Gurugram-based SRF specialises in the manufacturing of industrial and speciality intermediates. The company's business portfolio includes fluorochemicals, speciality chemicals, packaging films, technical textiles, and coated and laminated fabrics.

With over 8,000 employees, SRF operates eleven manufacturing plants across India and additional facilities in Thailand, South Africa, and Hungary, exporting products to over 90 countries worldwide.

Meanwhile, KPL specialises in products such as Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers (FIBCs), also known as bulk bags or jumbo bags, polypropylene (PP) multifilament yarn, PP woven sacks and exports packaging solutions to over 50 countries.
Physics Wallah is building small language models (SLMs) to solve questions in physics, chemistry, mathematics and biology, as the edtech major seeks to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) for scale and efficiency.

Our chief technology officer Devesh Mishra has dropped all his other responsibilities to focus on building SLMs for Physics Wallah," company founder and chief executive Alakh Pandey told Mint in an interview.

The Noida-based company aims to have these SLMs ready by the end of 2026.

The investment is huge and Im investing blindly. Im not thinking too hard about it because I dont want to miss this [AI], because timing here will make a lot of difference," Pandey said. The company is able to make substantial investments in AI because the rest of Physics Wallahs projects run frugally".

SLMs are trained on significantly fewer parameters, ranging from a few million to a few billion. In comparison, large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT are trained with hundreds of billions or even trillions of parameters. SLMs are also cost-efficient because they require significantly less computational power and can be tuned to perform specific tasksin Physics Wallah's case, answering questions on different subjects.

Every business will potentially do this. And if you look at the broader spectrum of AI, they say that anything related to STEM skillslike the subjects PW is potentially using AI forwill likely be impacted by AI," said Amit Nawka, technology deals partner at PwC India. Tech-first companies providing education in this space will need to adopt AI."

Also read | Physics Wallahs big leap: New funding, higher valuation, IPO next

Physics Wallah, seeking to race ahead of peers, is hiring for its AI and data science teams and has given them complete freedom to build products, without worrying about success or failure.

The companys latest AI offering, Project Bharat, is part of its larger focus on AI as it prepares to file for an initial public offering this year. Project Bharat attempts to localize video lessons with context and teachings specific to local regions of India.

The goal is twofold: How do I personalize classes for students while keeping costs down. Secondly, how do I reach out to all of our students with the help of AI, without increasing the number of teachers we already have," Pandey explained.

But PwC's Nawka flagged challenges in the monetization of such AI tools.

For edtechs, the question is whether AI will be integrated as a feature within existing offeringswill it be part of a subscription? Or can it be monetized separately?" he said. Whats certain is that they have to adopt AI. Its not a choice. The depth of investment and spending will depend on ROI."

Human touch

The Physics Wallah team had been working on AI-driven dubbing but wasnt satisfied with the results. The problem with AI was that, conceptually, its still not strong enough. No LLM is advanced enough to fully understand concepts from physics," Pandey said.

AI also struggled with local nuances. Lets say, in a lecture, Im giving examples from northern statesmaybe talking about Bihar or Lucknow. AI wasnt able to understand and adapt these references properly."

Realizing that a human touch was essential, Physics Wallah shifted its approach. What we did was let the dubbing be handled by a professional dubbing artiste, because they understand how to convey emotions, and maintain academic accuracy. Then, we trained AI on my voiceits modulation, the way I speak," he explained.

A significant part of the investment is now going into hiring dubbing artistes. Pandey sees this as an initial version of Project Bharat but believes that as they advance with SLMs, roadblocks will reduce.

Doing dubbing well is going to be expensive. PhysicsWallah needs to see if they're an education company or a technology company," according to AI-first venture capital firm SenseAI founder Rahul Agarwalla.

Also read | Will raise more capital if an interesting acquisition comes up: Physics Wallah

He suggests that the company should use third-party software from companies like unscript.ai that are actively working in that space. The technology is in flux, which means its very expensive to keep up with and build a great team," Agarwalla said. It's a lot of capital going into something that might be better off going into the company's core competencies."

Immortalizing star teachers

As the project progresses, PhysicsWallah's aims to preserve and scale the teaching of star" educators like Pandeythose with exceptional delivery skills, strong student feedback and high learning outcomes.

What is happening now in India is that there are very few teachers with exceptional delivery skills. So, the question is whether these teachers can teach the whole of India with the help of AI and dubbing artistes," he said.

Pandey added that while the project is still in its early stages, it has the potential to scale. This is a project for the entire country, which is currently being thought of on a very small scale. We dont know yet where it will go."

Project Bharat is set to go live with its first batch of students on 5 April. Physics Wallah had initially planned to take it live with 16 languages. Pandey, however, limited it to four languages for the launch.

This is the year that were going to build out Project Bharat. We want to crack the formula on how to make it work, what are the problems we need to iron out, what are the kinds of dubbing artistes that well need and what issues within the AI we need to solve," Pandey said.

With Project Bharat, the company has loftier ambitions. Physics Wallah doesnt just want to recreate the content it already puts out but also move into different streams of education. Or, as Pandey puts it, Taaki main saare subjects bhi padha sakta hun (So that I can teach all subjects)."

AI offerings so far

Physics Wallah already has three AI-driven products in circulation: AI Guru, a multimodal round-the-clock companion that can answer doubts related to coursework; AI Grader, which is able to grade answers of students; and Sahayak, an AI assistant capable focusing on practice and revision.

Initially, the company had wanted to name its suite of AI products Alakh AI. But he was apprehensive citing concerns around AI hallucinationsa phenomenon when an AI model generates incorrect or misleading information while passing it off as correct, essentially, making things up.

I said lets not release it to the children with my name on it because its new AI. It can say something controversial. If Alakh AI says something incorrect, then the impact would be wrong," Pandey said. Ultimately, the Physics Wallah team went ahead with AI Guru, but internally, it continues to be referred to as Alakh AI.

Also read | Physics Wallah ropes in Hornbill Capital for a lesson in IPOs

Initially, AI Guru was able to solve 30-40% of queries with approximately 50% accuracy. Today, the bot can solve 95% of queries, with an accuracy of 90%," Pandey said, attributing it to the companys large database. Last year, AI Guru, the company claimed, solved 50 million doubts for students.

For context, Physics Wallah claims to have a database of 5 million questions related to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams as well as major education boards.

Physics Wallah was started as a YouTube channel in 2016 by co-founders Pandey and Prateek Maheshwari, and made a formal beginning as an edtech startup only in 2020. It became a unicorn, or a billion-dollar company, with its first funding round two years ago. The startup has raised over $300 million so far.

Mint exclusively reported previously that the edtech startup is set to raise 200-230 crore ($22-26 million) in a secondary funding round led by existing investor WestBridge Capital, at $3.7 billionup from $2.8 billion just six months ago.

The company has been chasing aggressive growth over the past two years, entering new business segments and making acquisitions to expand into new markets. Its consolidated revenue nearly tripled to 2,015 crore in the fiscal year ended 31 March 2024, but its losses surged on the back of a jump in expenses.
For decades, scientists have been on the hunt for an antiaging drug. Now, some say we may have already found it.

A fast-growing body of research signals potential health benefits of GLP-1s, the class of diabetes and weight-loss drugs known by names like Ozempic, beyond what they were initially approved to treat. That includes age-related conditions like Alzheimers, osteoarthritis, certain cancers and even mortality.

Doctors and researchers emphasize the need for larger, more rigorous long-term studies to confirm these preventive effects are causal, not just correlational.

Still, since Ozempic was approved in 2017, thousands of studies have been published examining the effects of GLP-1s. Last year, Wegovy won a new Food and Drug Administration approval to reduce the risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular events, and Ozempic, was recently approved to help kidney-disease patients.

This accumulating body of research has led longevity clinics to market and prescribe GLP-1s as so-called gerotherapeuticsdrugs that can target certain biological hallmarks of aging.

Dr. Nir Barzilai, a physician-scientist who is president of the Academy for Health and Lifespan Research, reviewed a dozen FDA-approved drugs and drug classes with potential benefits to extend lifespan and so-called healthspan, or how long people live in good health. GLP-1s ranked in the top third.

Excess weight can trigger chronic low-grade inflammation, which has been linked to increased risk for a host of conditions from heart disease to dementia. Obesity drives aging," says Barzilai.

The drugs work in part by suppressing appetite and making users feel fuller faster. Their weight-loss effect likely plays a big role in their potential preventive health benefits, health experts saybut it is probably not the whole story.

An analysis of a large trial involving adults with heart disease revealed that semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisks Ozempic and Wegovy, provided cardiovascular benefits regardless of participants initial weight or the amount of weight they lost.

A Novo Nordisk production line in Denmark for Ozempic pens.

This could suggest anti-inflammatory benefits, or show that people on these medications often eat healthier foods, not just less food, says John Deanfield, a professor of cardiology at University College London, who led the analysis.

Part of the longevity issue is not just living longer, its making sure that you avoid some of these diseases of aging as well," he says, adding that drugs like this will need to be tested for their ability to prolong life expectancy.

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University found that among older patients with Type 2 diabetes, semaglutide was associated with a 40%-to-70% lower risk of an Alzheimers diagnosis over three years than other diabetes medications.

The medications power is that it works through various mechanisms, says Rong Xu, senior author and director of the universitys Center for Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery: Its like one stone, multiple birds."

Despite the promising data, doctors and researchers emphasize that many studies are in animals or are observational clinical trials in people with diabetes or other health conditions. More robust studies are needed in healthy people.

One drawback is that the medications can lead people to lose lean-muscle mass alongside fat, which is particularly detrimental for older adults already experiencing muscle loss, and for biohackers aiming for optimal health.

Biohacker Alexander Boldizar stopped taking a GLP-1 after he noticed an increase in his average resting heart rate.

Alexander Boldizar, a 53-year-old writer based in Vancouver, British Columbia, tried taking a version of semaglutide, hoping it would help lower one of his blood-sugar markers. But he stopped after noticing his average resting heart rate increaseda known side effect of GLP-1swhich he says led him to feel tired more quickly during his near-daily workouts.

I still consider exercise to be the single most important longevity intervention, which is why I kind of got scared off," he says. My body fat is low enough that its not really worth it."

Common side effects such as nausea and constipation, as well as the drugs price tag, can also be deterrents. Dr. Predrag Pavlovic, co-founder and chief medical officer of Longevity Care Clinic in Colorado Springs, Colo., isnt yet convinced that the benefits outweigh the costs for healthy people. He recommends patients take supplements instead.

I would say, do you really want to feel nauseous? Do you want to be constipated?" says Pavlovic. And theyre probably going to say no."

A dearth of data isnt stopping companies from taking advantage of the growing consumer interest in the preventive potential of these drugs.

The global market for obesity drugs will reach $159 billion in 2030, according to Morgan Stanley Research estimates. The New England Consulting Group projects that by 2030, as much as 15% of the adult American population will be actively using the drugs, and 30% will have tried them, up from 10% and 15%, respectively, today.

AgelessRx, a telemedicine company whose clinicians prescribe off-label medications like metformin, rapamycin and GLP-1s for longevity, added a microdosing semaglutide" option in February. It is a compounded form of the drug in the form of drops that users put under their tongues at low doses.

Theres no consensus in the medical community as to what amount constitutes a semaglutide microdose.

A spokesperson for Novo Nordisk said the company doesnt condone microdosing, which they described as a misuse of their products, and they are concerned about safety risks associated with compounded versions.

It is too early to declare GLP-1s a magic bullet for aging. For now, doctors say, a careful approach is warranted.

There may be health promotion benefits," says Dr. Richard Isaacson, a preventive neurologist and director of the precision prevention program at Atria Health Institute. But Im cautious about using the term longevity promotion benefits."

Write to Alex Janin at alex.janin@wsj.com
Employees may be in for an even bigger disappointment this year as the economy and the market grapple with uncertainty. Companies are not only offering slimmer hikes but will also elevate fewer people.

Consulting firm Deloitte estimates a 25% drop in the number of promotions in 2025 versus last year.

The current financial year has seen slower growth for companies across sectors and promotions have been impacted to manage fixed cost increases," said Anandorup Ghose, partner at consulting firm Deloitte India and who tracks and advises corporates on compensation and rewards. Slower market conditions also lead to organizations not needing to promote people for bigger roles, etc."

A Mint analysis of 3,577 BSE-listed companies showed the revenue growth in Q3FY25 dipping to 4.4% from 7.3% and 9.1% in previous two quarters, respectively. Net profits surged 12.4%, up from 8.7% in Q2, but on account of lower input costs and disciplined cost management. Employee expenses remain steady.

Also read | Infosys resorted to this tried-and-tested hack to stem its top-level exodus: Promotions

Slowing corporate top line growth coincides with a bout of uncertainty unleashed by US President Donald Trumps proposed reciprocal tariffs, which are likely to affect multiple sectors. That has turned companies even more cautious.

Our promotions will go down by 15%," said the HR head of one of the private lenders. We rolled out quarterly promotions to 20% of eligible employees throughout the fiscal and had we not done that, the annual hit would have been more."

The drop in promotions will be an added setback since salary raises too are estimated to be slimmer. Consulting firm Aon estimates that salaries across industries will rise an average 9.2% in 2025, a marginal decline from the average increase of 9.3% in 2024. Mercers Annual Total Remuneration Survey predicts a 9.4% overall salary increase across industries in India this year versus 10% last year. Meanwhile, Deloitte India Talent Outlook 2025 forecasts an 8.8% hike compared with 9.0% in 2024.

Back to the bell curve

Promotions are one of the main ways to retain employees. But this year, even the bell curvewhere performance is plotted on whether employees met, exceeded or did not meet expectations will get more rigid. Deloitte expects the number of those categorized as below meets expectations to rise more than 25% over last year.

More companies are adopting the bell curve, up from 67% in 2024 to 72% in 2025, indicating the need to rationalize performance to manage lower increment budgets," Ghose of Deloitte said. Even organisations that do not have a bell curve have implemented some rating mechanisms to drive performance orientation."

Read this | It's going to get harder to swing a promotion

The president of human resources at a conglomerate with business interests across energy, IT and securities sectors estimates that about 10% of the workforce eligible for promotions will get higher designations versus 15% last year. "There is no fight over talent supply and the market sentiment is down," the executive said. Large-scale promotions are out of budget for many firms."

Meanwhile, Trumps reciprocal tariffs are also expected to hit textiles, pharmaceuticals and agricultural products sectors that have exposure to the US market. These are worrying trends and firms that are expected to do well, like the renewable energy sector, will take time to reap the benefits of their investments," said the HR head cited above.

While the IT and IT-enabled services sector is relatively better placed on hikes and promotions, the HR head of a mid-tier IT firm warned that many of the promotions rolled out are titular" to retain employees and may not come with a pay hike.

Still, a few companies may not cut down on promotions. Praveen Purohit, deputy chief human resources officer at Vedanta Group, told Mint that 15% of the eligible workforce will get promotions, a similar percentage as last year.

And read | To retain talent, Wipro doles out record number of promotions
Tata Power, one of India's oldest and most influential energy conglomerates, is rewriting its legacy.

No longer just a conventional power provider, the company has emerged as a leading force in India's clean energy transition. With ambitious expansion plans, strategic partnerships, and cutting-edge innovations, Tata Power is setting a benchmark for sustainable energy.

As India races toward its 500 GW renewable energy target by 2030, Tata Power is placing itself at the forefront of this revolution, ensuring its portfolio is dominated by green energy sources.

A 7 GW mega project in Andhra Pradesh

In a landmark move, Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd (TPREL), a subsidiary of Tata Power, has signed an MoU with the Andhra Pradesh government to develop 7 GW of renewable energy projects.

The initiative, valued at an estimated 49,000 crore, will be spread across four districts: Kadapa, Kurnool, Anantapur, and Prakasam.

This mega-project will comprise 4.2 GW of solar energy and 2.8 GW of wind power. It is expected to generate 3,000 crore in revenue for the state through SGST and create approximately 33,000 jobs across various phases.

The projects align with Andhra Pradesh's Integrated Clean Energy (ICE) Policy, which envisions the development of over 160 GW of renewable capacity with an investment potential of 10 trillion.

TPREL's investment in the state will not be limited to large-scale renewable installations. The company also plans to enhance rooftop solar adoption and expand its EV charging infrastructure, further supporting Andhra Pradesh's green ambitions.

Investments in green energy expansion

Tata Power has unveiled a massive capex plan of 1.46 trillion over the next five years, with 65% of its energy mix expected to be renewable by 2030.

The company aims to increase its renewable capacity from 6.7 GW to 33 GW, including 10 GW in ongoing projects across solar, hydro, hybrid, and pumped storage.

Among its most significant initiatives is a $4.25 billion financing deal with the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The funds will be directed toward several large-scale clean energy projects, including a 966 MW solar-wind hybrid system and pumped hydro storage ventures. This strategic partnership underscores Tata Powers commitment to decarbonisation and sustainable growth.

The company is also focusing on group captive projects that allow industries to source renewable energy at competitive prices, ensuring stable and cost-effective power supply.

As the demand for round-the-clock renewable power grows, Tata Power is investing in hybrid solutions that integrate battery storage and hydro solutions to provide a stable power supply even when solar or wind resources are unavailable.

Huge push in Assam and Rajasthan

Tata Power's renewable energy expansion is not limited to Andhra Pradesh.

In Assam, the company has pledged an investment of 30,000 crore to establish 5 GW of renewable energy projects, including solar, wind, hydro, and energy storage solutions.

The Assam government has assured land allocation and infrastructure support to facilitate the initiative, which will generate thousands of jobs while contributing to the state's energy security.

Similarly, in Rajasthan, Tata Power has committed a staggering 1.2 trillion to renewable energy projects, power distribution, and transmission infrastructure. The investments will include 10 GW of renewable capacity and a 2 GW solar module manufacturing unit in Jodhpur.

Additionally, the company will install 100,000 EV charging stations across the state, reinforcing Rajasthan's ambition to become a green energy powerhouse.

Tata Powers solar vision

A critical pillar of Tata Powers renewable expansion is its aggressive solar energy push. The company recently inaugurated a 4.3 GW solar cell and module manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu, making it Indias largest single-location solar manufacturing plant. The facility utilizes high-efficiency TOPCon and Mono PERC technologies, catering to Indias growing solar demand.

Moreover, Tata Power has pioneered floating solar technology, successfully commissioning a 126 MW floating solar project in Madhya Pradesh. The Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project, one of the largest in India, represents a milestone in optimising water surface utilization for clean energy generation.

Additionally, rooftop solar adoption is a key focus area, with Tata Power partnering with Canara Bank and IndusInd Bank to offer easy financing solutions for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and residential consumers under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.

Hydro surge: 5 GW partnership with Bhutan

While solar and wind dominate Tata Power's green portfolio, hydropower remains integral to its strategy.

The company has expanded its hydroelectric footprint through a 5,000 MW clean energy partnership with Bhutan's Druk Green Power Corporation. This initiative includes 4,500 MW of hydro projects and 500 MW of solar capacity, further strengthening regional energy security.

Tata Power's longstanding collaboration with Bhutan dates back to the 126 MW Dagachhu Hydropower Plant, a pioneering public-private partnership.

With the newly signed agreements, the company is poised to play a crucial role in Bhutan's goal of expanding its clean energy generation capacity to 25,000 MW by 2040.

Revolutionising EV charging and battery storage

Recognising the symbiotic relationship between renewable energy and electric mobility, Tata Power is making significant strides in EV infrastructure.

It has signed multiple agreements to expand its EV charging network, including a partnership with Tivolt Electric Vehicles to enhance charging solutions for commercial EVs.

Additionally, Tata Power Renewable Energy has entered into a strategic alliance with ONGC to explore battery energy storage solutions (BESS).

This collaboration will facilitate grid stabilisation, renewable energy integration, and large-scale energy storage systems, ensuring consistent power supply even during fluctuations in solar and wind output.

Sustainability and ESG commitments

Tata Power is not just focusing on renewable energy expansion but is embedding sustainability into its core operations. The company has committed to achieving carbon neutrality before 2045, making it the first Indian power utility to set such an aggressive net-zero target.

Its ESG commitments extend to water neutrality and waste management, with plans to achieve zero waste to landfill by 2030.

Conclusion

Tata Power's aggressive push into renewable energy, supported by strategic investments, technological advancements, and strong government collaborations, positions it as a key driver of India's clean energy transformation.

From large-scale solar and wind projects to innovative floating solar and hydro initiatives, the company's commitment to sustainability is unparalleled.

With ambitious targets and a robust execution plan, Tata Power is not just keeping pace with India's energy transitionit is defining it. As the nation moves toward a greener and more sustainable future, Tata Power remains a formidable force in shaping the renewable energy landscape.

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 Tata Power 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.
The 15th edition of Aero India, a biennial air show and aviation exhibition, concluded earlier this month. Conducted across 42,000 sq m, with more than 900 exhibitors including 150 foreign companies, it was the biggest Aero India to date. Scores of aircraft and helicopters produced by global and Indian defence majors showcased their abilities at the event.

Bharat Forge, one of the first private companies to enter the defence sector, unveiled its first fully indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) engine at Aero India. Once primarily an auto ancillary company, Bharat Forge is now known for its expertise in forging and precision engineering, and is looking to fill one of the most significant gaps in India's defence ecosystem: jet engine technology.

Also read | Let there be light: Five stocks poised to benefit from Indias $1 bn solar push

India has long relied on imported gas turbines for UAVs, aka drones. Several startups have entered drone manufacturing in recent years, but most depend on propulsion units imported from China or Europe. To bridge the gap in jet engine technology, Bharat Forge is producing landing gears in Pune. The company already produces 100% of Airbus's commercial aircraft parts.

Bharat Forge is also investing in the latest technologies used in warfare. It is collaborating with foreign partners to produce everything from AI-powered drones to hypersonics and directed energy weapons.

Auto ancillaries boom

Bharat Forge is unique in the auto ancillary space. Most of its peers are currently busy manoeuvring their product profiles from internal combustion engine (ICE) supply chains to electric vehicle (EV) supply chains. Some are getting into hardware for electric vehicles, others into digital products.

With road accidents on the rise, the government has mandated safety features such as anti-lock braking systems (ABS) for commercial vehicles, driver and passenger airbags, seat belt reminders and more, with the aim of reducing accidents by 50% by 2030.

This has given ancillary companies an opportunity to increase their digital content per vehicle. Premiumisation of passenger vehicles has allowed most auto ancillary companies to offer add-on features and technologies in cars.Makers of car sensors, sunroofs, alloy wheels, advanced driver assistance systems, instrument clusters and other such parts and systems are seeing demand surge because of this.

Companies such as Motherson Sumi Wiring and Tata Elxsi, which compete with Bharat Forge, have been catering to the changing trends in automobiles while keeping their margins intact.

Also read | Betting on the future: Five high-growth stocks poised for long-term success

Motherson Sumi Wiring has designed and developed high voltage wiring harnesses, connectors, and components for EV powertrains and battery management systems (BMS) to prepare for the deeper penetration of features based on regulatory changes.

Tata Elxsi meanwhile has been at the forefront of developing software-defined vehicles (SDVs), which promise to transform the mobility landscape.

So while Motherson Sumi Wiring is leveraging the demand for premium hardware for vehicles, Tata Elxsi is leveraging the demand for connected and tech-enabled vehicles. Neither has compromised on margins while doing so. Both also havenegligible debt and healthy return ratios.

Marching to its own beat

Bharat Forge, meanwhile, was one of the earliest private-sector, non-defence companies to venture into the space dominated by public sector units (PSUs).

For almost a decade until 2022, it focused on platform development, metallurgy and material science as well as embedded electronics for defence equipment. With these efforts, the company positioned itself as a product supplier and not just a component supplier in the defence vertical. Its offerings included artillery (towered and mounted guns), protected vehicles, and armoured vehicles for the defence segment.

It eventually won orders to make propellants for the Akash missile (a medium-range surface-to-air missile), the Pinaka (multiple rocket launcher), and for pyrotechnics, which helps initiate the explosion, and igniter, which provide the spark for the ammunition.

The fact that Bharat Forge is already focussing on making parts of the jet engine and catering to maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) demands of the Airbuss commercial aircraft highlights management's foresight.

What spooks investors

However, what has ailed Bharat Forge through all of this is a lack of focus on margins and return ratios. Also, it tends to keep the debt-to-equity ratio uncomfortably high. Such issues in fundamental quality have dampened its stock price.

View Full Image Source; Equitymaster

Also read | UltraTech's entry into cables & wire: This smallcap proxy stock is insulated

While the stocks of Bharat Electronics, Hindustan Aeronautics, Bharat Dynamics rose three- to five-fold between April 2024 and February 2025, the recent market correction has erased some of these gains. In the case of Bharat Forge, the erosion of the valuation multiple has been much sharper. So, despite having reasonable exposure to the defence sector, the stock has been a laggard among Indian defence stocks.

Although its prospects in aviation defence and aviation MRO are extremely promising, Bharat Forge may not be able to sustain its valuations without focusing on margins.

Happy investing.

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. It is not a stock recommendation and should not be treated as such.

This article is syndicated from Equitymaster.com
Coforge Ltd has emerged as a multibagger in recent years, almost quadrupling investor wealth in less than five years. While the broader IT sector has also performed phenomenally in the digitization boom since the covid-19 pandemic, Coforge has been an unequivocal outperformer.

But it hasnt always been a growth story. The Noida-based company started as a division within NIIT Technologies Ltd in 1992. As a small software services division within an organization largely focused on computer learning, it did not see much growth.

That is until Sudhir Singh took the helm as the chief executive in 2017-18. Close on the heels of this ex-Infosys executive who swears by a hands-on approach to management, Baring Private Equity Asia joined the companys cap table in April 2019. The private equity firm later raised its stake to 70%, taking over control from the promoters. Since then, there has been no looking back.

A company that had been growing at a modest compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.3% in the six years up until 2017-18 moved into the fast lane by almost doubling its growth in the next six years. Rebranded as Coforge in August 2020, its turnaround story has been one for the books.

Niche business focus

A key element in Coforges turnaround has been its self-awareness. Unlike its peers who kept struggling to compete with the industry leaders, Coforge acknowledged that it could not efficiently compete with the biggies in their territory.

So, Coforge picked up a niche in the banking, insurance, and travel sectors. Its tech specialists developed a deep understanding of these businesses, allowing them to develop solutions in sub-segments largely overlooked by the large players. For instance, Coforge developed Pega for workforce automation in the banking sector, AdvantageGo for insurers to manage costs and risk, and Monalisa for cloud-based airline solutions. It also partnered with Duck Creek for insurance solutions.

Of its $1.1 billion revenue in 2023-24, more than 15% came from Pega and Duck Creek alone. They have grown exponentially from $7 million to $110 million and from $5 million to $70 million, respectively, over the last seven years.

People-led turnaround

People have been a key pillar of Coforges success. Instead of poaching leaders from tier-2 peers, the whos who of tier-1 IT companies were brought in to steer the business and from locations close to the clients.

Furthermore, thanks to its focused strategy on specific sub-segments, the company was able to hire subject matter experts with practical experience in the sectors. In addition, the sales force incentives were quadrupled to bring in large margin-accretive deals, while delivery incentives were tripled.

The company has seen unparalleled senior leadership stability in an industry known for high attrition. Of the 14 key executives who led the turnaround at Coforge, all but one are still leading the business. Extending beyond the top brass, the overall attrition rate of 11.9% is also one of the lowest in the industry.

All in all, the efforts across the corporate ladder were streamlined to align with the long-term business vision.

Another quarter of stellar performance

In Q3FY25, Coforges top line and operating profit grew by around 40% year-on-year to $397 million and $70.5 million. Esops, merger expenses, and depreciation led to a mellower 10% growth in profit after tax (PAT) to $32 million. For the second consecutive quarter, it won deals worth more than $500 million, taking its trailing 12-month fresh order intake to more than $2 billion and extending its revenue visibility.

Coforge announced a 13-year contract worth more than $1.5 billion with struggling travel tech provider Sabre. Notwithstanding issues in receivables, this is the largest deal ever secured by Coforge and is expected to supplement 2025-26 revenues by $80-120 million.

While such large deal wins could add to customer concentration risk, which has ticked up in the December quarter, they are expected to help operational leverage and improve margins. From 17.8% in the third quarter, the company aims to expand its Ebitda margin by 1.5-2.5 percentage points by 2026-27. Ebitda is short for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

Markets celebrated the latest quarters earnings. Coforge shares jumped by 12% on a single day but gave up the gains in a week.

Next growth phase

Coforge has corrected by 20% in 2025 so far, partly due to mid-double-digit corrections in the mid-cap and IT indices. But there is also a company-specific factor at play. While a niche focus has helped Coforge so far, the management acknowledges that the next leg of growth will have to come from playing the same game as the large players.

Moving away from its currently concentrated exposure of 65% to BFSI and Travel, Coforge is looking to expand beyond niche services in its focus sectors, as well as into new sectors such as healthcare, retail, and global public sector. It will also need to move away from low-code and no-code software services, which contribute about 15% to its revenue and have a weak competitive moat.

It has entered emerging technologies by building relationships in cloud computing with AWS and ServiceNow, and in customer relationship management with Salesforce. In artificial intelligence, it has developed Quazar for document processing and has been leveraging ChatGPT for insurance use cases. It is also exploring the metaverse for its clients in the travel sector.

It's disadvantage

Coforge is planning to drive growth by expanding in North America. While North America contributes 56% of Coforges revenues, the broader Indian IT sector derives about 70% of its revenues from the region. This is to say that Coforge will have to meet larger players head-on in North America.

While Coforge is aiming for a $2 billion revenue by 2026-27, it is much smaller in scale compared to peers and ranks 10th in India by revenues. Larger players have deeper and longer client relationships, as well as a larger workforce to offer services quicker and at a much larger scale. They also have deeper pockets to offer near-shoring services, which is the need of the hour in the new world era of protectionism.

Inorganic expansion risks

Over the years, Coforge has made several acquisitions, including RuleTek, Wishworks, SLK Global, and Cigniti. SLK Global has grown from $60 million in 2020 to $100 million. Cigniti Technologies was acquired in May 2024 to help Coforge broaden its reach into North America. Thanks to synergies with Coforge, Cignitis revenues have grown 3.5% sequentially, and its operating profit margin has expanded from 11% in the March quarter of 2023-24 to 17.3% in the latest reported quarter.

The latest in the series of acquisitions have been Xceltrait, Rythmos, and TMLabs. The pace of expansion has accelerated in recent years and could turn margin-dilutive depending on the margin profiles of the acquired businesses.

Moreover, in this new leg of growth that needs agility and cohesive vision, the democratic decision-making of a board-run company could play spoilsport. It will have to be seen how Coforge navigates these challenges.

For more such analyses, read Profit Pulse.

Ananya Roy is the founder of Credibull Capital, a Sebi-registered investment adviser. X: @ananyaroycfa

Disclosure: 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.
The White House granted a temporary reprieve for many of its tariffs on Canada and Mexico last week, but a similar pause seems less likely for revamped global steel and aluminum tariffs set to go into effect Wednesday.

President Trumps team has repeatedly said there would be no exceptions or exemptions from the 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum. In internal discussions and conversations with industry and labor groups, the administration appears to be sticking to that line, at least for now, say people familiar with conversations.

Ive seen him do steel and aluminum tariffs before, so I have no reason to not expect that will take place," said Sen. Bill Hagerty (R., Tenn.), a close Trump ally who served as ambassador to Japan during his first term.

The tariff move this week would increase levies on aluminum and tighten loopholes for existing tariffs. Trump imposed 25% tariffs on steel and 10% tariffs on aluminum in 2018. During his first term, and subsequently under the Biden administration, the U.S. negotiated exclusions and duty-free quotas for allied nationsincluding Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Ukraine, the EU, and the U.K.as well as a litany of individual companies that received exemptions for specific products.

Last month, Trump issued a proclamation increasing the aluminum tariffs from 10% to 25%, effective March 12. He directed the Commerce secretary to end all exemptions to the steel and aluminum levies on that date, and prohibited new ones. He also ordered Commerce to widen the scope of steel and aluminum products covered by the tariffs.

Many nations have lobbied for their exemptions to continue despite the administrations insistence that none would be granted, including Japan, Australia and the European Union members. Mexico also sent a delegation to Washington on Monday for meetings on the tariffs, and Canada has been discussing the issue with Trumps team.

Automakers and metals companies like Alcoa with footprints in multiple countries have also sought carve-outs or delays from the Trump administration, according to people with knowledge of the requests. The CEO of Pittsburgh-based Alcoa, which produces aluminum in Canada, Australia, Iceland and other countries, told an industry conference last month that the 25% tariffs could threaten 100,000 jobs in the U.S. that rely on aluminum supplies, particularly from Canada, that cannot currently be sourced domestically.

Publicly, the administration has been steadfast that it will not allow for any carve-outs this time. Tariff exemptions, the White House wrote in its proclamation, inadvertently created loopholes" that allowed Chinese-made steel to flow through those countries and into the U.S. duty-free.

U.S.-based steel and aluminum companies have reiterated that argument, as have protectionist advocacy groups close to the White House. A report from the Coalition for a Prosperous America, which advises the Trump administration on trade, argues that exemptions to the first-term steel and aluminum tariffs have dramatically undercut their effectiveness.

U.S. steelmakers and aluminum companies have pushed the study to the White House, along with an increase in public pressure. Last week, CEOs from eight U.S. steel companies, including U.S. Steel and Cleveland Cliffs, sent a letter to Trump urging him to resist any requests for exceptions or exclusions and to continue standing strong on behalf of American steel."

The tariffs are set to be enacted under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion of 1962, which allows tariffs on products deemed essential to national security. They are expected to be effective immediatelyrather than initiating a new probe, the White House plans to impose them under the tariff investigation it conducted in its first term.

The tariffs also are expected to be written broadly, covering not just primary steel and aluminum but products that contain it, said people familiar with discussions. That could dramatically increase the number of metal products affected by the tariffs, potentially driving prices higher for a litany of metal goods in the U.S.

Still, Trump has left himself some wiggle room for carve-outs despite the administrations insistence otherwise. In early February, the president told reporters he would consider exempting Australia from the metals tariffs after a call with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, though people with knowledge of policy planning say a carve-out is now unlikely.

The administrations recent reversal on its Canada and Mexico tariffsexempting goods compliant with the North American free trade deal two days after imposing the tariffsis also leaving some room for skepticism on Capitol Hill about what the ultimate policy will be.

The White House has shown itself to be adaptable on this tariff issue," said Sen. Josh Hawley (R., Mo.), so, there may well be some sort of [exemption] process. I dont know, so lets just see."

Write to Gavin Bade at gavin.bade@wsj.com.
At the first cabinet meeting of his second term in office, US President Donald Trump declared his intention to impose a sweeping 25% tariff on all imports from the European Union . But before opening a European front in his trade war, Trump might want to consider the continents economic malaise: the German economy has been experiencing a prolonged downturn, while Italy and France are struggling with serious public-debt problems.

Maybe then Trump will grasp that his tariff actions, which constitute a significant part of his America First agenda, risk triggering a Europe-wide recession and another eurozone debt crisis.

Some might argue that Trump has no interest in the fate of Europe or any country on the other side of the Atlantic from the United States. But given how badly the 2010 Greek debt implosion shook American and world financial markets, similar crises in France and Italywhich are not just the European Unions second- and third-largest economies but also many times the size of Greeceswould have truly catastrophic consequences for markets and the global economy.

That is the last thing that President Trump needs on his watch.

Germanys recent economic woes, like Shakespeares sorrows, come not single spies but in battalions."

Germanys current woes include supply-chain disruptions related to the covid pandemic, an energy shock caused by Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, a major slowdown in Chinese demand for German capital goods (which followed the collapse of the Chinese housing-market bubble), and increased competition from Chinese firms, especially in the automotive and clean-energy sectors.

Under these circumstances, and given that exports account for nearly 50% of Germanys gross domestic product (GDP), its economy can ill afford US import tariffs.

It is difficult to overstate the adverse effects that the aforementioned shocks have had on the German economy. Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, the economy of the United States has grown by 12%, whereas the German economy experienced no growth in output, and even fell into recession in 2023, from which it has yet to recover.

Now, the Bundesbank, Germanys central bank, is warning that Trumps proposed import tariffs could cause the German economy to contract by 1.5% in 2027.

Unfortunately, all signs point to Trump setting his sights on Europe in general, and on Germany in particular, as the next target of his trade war.

Following his 25% tariff on steel and aluminium imports, the US president is reported to be contemplating similar duties on automobiles and pharmaceutical productsa large share of which the United States imports from Germany. Trump has also threatened reciprocal tariffs to match those of Americas trading partners, while pledging to target countries that have large bilateral trade surpluses with the US. In 2024, Germanys trade surplus with America reached a record $72 billion.

Meanwhile, Italy and France currently have higher public debt-to-GDP ratios than they did during the eurozone sovereign-debt crisis of 2010-12. The governments in Rome and Paris have also amassed unsustainably large budget deficits, but seemingly lack the political will to address their public- finance problems.

Even if the leaders of Italy and France mustered the political will to act, it would be difficult for these two countries to put their public debt on a sustainable path. Stuck in the euro straitjacket, Italy and France cannot use interest-rate or exchange-rate policy to boost exports or consumer demand to offset the contractionary effect of fiscal belt-tightening on aggregate demand.

Moreover, a significant downturn in the German economy would make it even more difficult for these countries to reduce their debt burdens, because demand for their exports to Germany would fall.

Given the unfolding dynamics, Europes last hope is that Trump recognizes, before it is too late, that triggering a recession and a debt crisis in Europe is not in Americas economic interest.

As the Greek sovereign-debt crisis illustrated, the financial system of the United States has considerable exposure to the European economy. At the same time, a eurozone recession would likely be bad news for Trumps beloved stock market. This is because around 40% of the profits of companies that compose the S&P 500 index are derived from their overseas operations.

But hope is not a strategy, especially not at a time when Trump seems fully committed to an aggressive America First trade policy.

Instead, European policymakers should ready themselves for an all-out trade war. The best defence they could mount under the circumstances would be to undertake the bold structural reforms that Mario Draghi, the former president of the European Central Bank, proposed last September to restore the blocs global competitiveness. 2025/Project Syndicate

The author is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, former deputy director of the International Monetary Funds Policy Development and Review Department and a former chief emerging-market economic strategist at Salomon Smith Barney.


By Shayne Heffernan

Published: 06:00 AM +07, Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Lets explore a compelling question that has surfaced in economic circles: Could the substantial aid to Ukraine, alongside significant contributions from USAID, have served as a disguised stimulus for the US economy? The official narrative presents this as a vital humanitarian and strategic effort to counter Russian aggression, but a closer examination suggests a portion of these funds may have been strategically directed to benefit American interests. Heres a thoughtful analysis.

The scale of assistance to Ukraine has been considerable since the onset of Russias invasion, with emergency funding and USAID providing substantial support for military, humanitarian, and economic needs. On the surface, its framed as a lifeline for Kyivsupporting defense, relief efforts, and civil services. Yet, digging deeper reveals a different dynamic. A significant share of this aid appears to circle back into the US, bolstering domestic manufacturing and employment, particularly within the defense sector. This suggests the assistance may have doubled as an economic boost at home rather than solely a foreign aid mission.

Consider initiatives like the Ukraine Security Assistance program, which trains forces and procures equipment, largely from US suppliers, and Foreign Military Financing, encouraging allies to purchase American goods. The Departments of Defense and State, holding the majority of the spending authority, have channeled large sums into replenishing US stockpiles, with much of the money staying stateside. Even humanitarian aid for displaced Ukrainians flows through American NGOs and contractors, creating a cycle where funds return to the US economy. Independent analyses support this view, indicating that a majority of the assistance effectively supports domestic interests under the banner of international support.

The prevailing argument is that this arrangement benefits both Ukraine and the USoffering Kyiv a fighting chance while strengthening the American defense industry. However, this perspective merits closer inspection. The recent aid freeze initiated by President Trump, with a review period underway, has strained Ukrainian organizations as funding stalls, yet the US economy shows little disruption, with defense companies maintaining stability. Economic aid, often in the form of direct budget support, has kept Ukrainian civil services operational, but it has also enriched US consultants and banks managing related loans, hinting at a hidden economic motive masked as humanitarian aid.

Some might contend this is shrewd geopolitics rather than economic manipulation. Supporting Ukraine does weaken Russia and secures a strategic advantage for the US. Yet, the balance of contributions raises questions. Europe has surpassed the US in financial and humanitarian assistance, while the US leads in military support, suggesting a focus on domestic gain over Ukraines needs. Efforts to enhance Ukrainian exports, primarily through technical assistance to align with EU standards, often benefit American firms. Additionally, funding for global infrastructure to counter China, included in recent requests, appears to prioritize American job creation.

The evidence presents a nuanced picture. USAIDs annual budget, a major portion of US foreign aid, has long been a tool for soft power, yet Trumps push to dismantle it reflects an acknowledgment of its domestic economic impact. Senator Rubios call to ensure every dollar enhances US safety, strength, and prosperity further highlights this shiftwhy allocate resources abroad if the primary gains are local? Ukraines economy has faced significant challenges, relying heavily on this support, but the US economy, with its defense sector thriving, remains resilient even as aid pauses.

In conclusion, the evidence suggests that Ukraine aid and USAID may have functioned as a covert stimulus for the US economy, with a substantial portion redirected into American jobs, factories, and contractors, using Ukraine as a convenient justification. Readers are encouraged to review the details independently. The official stance will emphasize humanitarian motives, while skeptics may see it as a strategic maneuver. Ultimately, the flow of funds reveals a pattern of American self-interest veiled as global support. What are your thoughts on where the true beneficiaries reside?
UPDATE: A former Hamilton Co. Schools teacher has changed his plea agreement to a guilty plea on federal child sex crimes charges.

Kenya White, a teacher at Chattanooga Preparatory School and East Lake Academy, pleaded guilty to federal charges related to messaging his underage students inappropriately.

Court documents show two victims were involved, one student at East Lake Academy and one student at Chattanooga Preparatory School.

White will face sentencing on October 22 for his federal charges. He still faces state charges of sexual exploitation of a minor and solicitation of a minor.

White was arrested while employed at Chatt Prep in February. He was hired while under DCS investigation.

PREVIOUS STORY: The case involving Kenya White, a former Hamilton County teacher facing numerous child sex crimes charges, was back in a Hamilton County courtroom on May 8.

The former teacher at Chattanooga Preparatory School and East Lake Academy recently pleaded guilty to federal charges related to messaging underage students inappropriately.

He still faces state charges, including sexual exploitation of a minor and solicitation of a minor.

White's attorney and the judge discussed the next steps in his case.

"He'll have to enter a change of plea, and then there will be a sentencing date," said Judge Dunn.

White's next court date is July 16th.

PREVIOUS STORY: Chattanooga Preparatory School has made a statement following a former teacher's plea deal on child sex crimes that detailed his relations with two victims, one being a Chatt Prep student.

Troy Kemp, CEO of Prep Public Schools, says a student at Chatt Prep reported Kenya White's inappropriate actions to a faculty member only after hearing of his arrest on February 12, 2025.

Kemp says the school followed protocol and state law by informing the Department of Children's Services and the Chattanooga Police Department.

Kemp also explained why the school never chose to share that White was accused of committing the same crime at Chatt Prep that he did at East Lake Academy:

"Out of an abundance of concern for the student's anonymity, because there was no threat to other students, and because DCS and CPD were only beginning their investigations, Prep Public Schools did not share news of this secondary allegation. School leaders and counselors have been in contact with the student and his parents throughout this situation and ask for the media to respect the privacy of the student as well."

White pleaded guilty to federal charges of enticement of a minor. The mandatory minimum prison sentence is 10 years.

Court documents show two victims were involved, one student at East Lake Academy and one student at Chattanooga Preparatory School.

White was employed at Chatt Prep at the time of his arrest in February. He was hired while under DCS investigation, stemming from his misconduct at East Lake Academy.

White was one of several teachers at the school at the time without a valid teaching license.

PREVIOUS STORY: The former Chattanooga Preparatory Schools teacher arrested in February for several child sex crimes has pleaded guilty to his federal charges.

Court documents show Kenya White has pleaded guilty to enticement of a minor. The mandatory minimum prison sentence is 10 years, with a possible fine up to $250,000. It also includes at least five years of supervised release.

Court documents show two victims were involved, one student at East Lake Academy and one student at Chattanooga Preparatory School.

On February 16, 2023, a Chattanooga police dept. investigator responded to East Lake Academy on reports of White having inappropriate contact with a 12-year-old student at the school. At the time, White was 30 years old.

The officer located texts over a three day period, starting on Feb. 13, where White tried to persuade the victim to take explicit images to send to White.

"The defendant used an iPhone to commit the offense - an iPhone is a facility of interstate commerce," says the plea agreement.

Two years later in February of 2025, a second victim, a student at Chatt Prep, reported to a school counselor that he had received inappropriate messages from White, a teacher at the school. White began communicating with the 14-year-old student on Snapchat in May of 2024.

White's messages continually asked the second victim to "create sexually explicit images of himself and send them" to White. White also asked if the victim would allow him to "perform a sexual act on him."

The court documents say "The defendant is pleading guilty because the defendant is in fact guilty."

The plea agreement was signed on May 1 and 2 of 2025.

PREVIOUS STORY: Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Dr. Robertson no longer recommends for the charter to be revoked for Chattanooga Preparatory School after finding nearly half of the teachers were unlicensed in March.

The school caught attention in February when an unlicensed teacher was arrested on several child sex crimes charges. That teacher, Kenya White, has since been arrested a second time on federal charges. He was under a Dept. of Children Services investigation when he was hired at Chatt Prep, which began when he was working at East Lake Academy.

The joint statement released on April 16 stated:

"Instead, the schools charter will be placed in probationary status while the district and the school continue to work together to ensure the school is aligned with all compliance expectations. A probationary charter does not affect the schools operations or accreditation."

The statement says the following corrective actions must be implemented:

Provide Course Verification for students in grades 6-11 and provide additional evidence that all standards within the course have been taught and assessed for all current students.

Provide Proof of Insurance Coverage to ensure no gap in coverage will occur.

Update PowerSchool to accurately reflect the Teacher of Record. If an administrator is listed as the Teacher of Record, provide an explanation of how the administrator is teaching the course while also serving in the administrator role.

The following corrective actions have already been completed:

Verification and updating of teacher licensures and certifications

A thorough audit of students transcripts to ensure timely graduation or promotion for all students who were believed to be on track

Revision of HR procedures to ensure proper hiring, evaluation, and documentation practices

Ongoing collaboration with Chattanooga Prep, HCS, and legal and education consultants.

One of the main concerns previously written in the letter to recommend the charter to be revoked was the graduating senior class possibly not gathering valid credits because of unlicensed teachers.

Chatt Prep has since hired new leadership at the school.

Kenya White is still in federal custody.

PREVIOUS STORY: A newly unsealed indictment for Kenya White, a former Chattanooga Preparatory School teacher facing several child sex crimes charges, says he coerced a minor to engage in sexual activity and the production of child porn.

The indictment says the federal charges stem from incidents between Feb. 13 to 15 of 2023, when White was a teacher at East Lake Academy.

Chattanooga Prep parents frustrated over unanswered questions at school meeting A video sent to Local 3 News by a concerned parent captured the emotional gathering in the school's gymnasium, where hundreds of parents sought clarity on the school's potential charter revocation. However, many left feeling the meeting was more of a formality than a forum for transparency.

White was arrested exactly two years later, on Feb. 13, 2025, on the following charges while he was a teacher at Chatt Prep:

Sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means x12

Solicitation of a minor

Kidnapping

Indictment documents say in Feb. of 2023, White drove a child across state lines to "persuade, induce, entice, and coerce" a minor in sexual activity: the production of child porn, exploitation, especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, and soliciting sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means.

Two days later, White was informed by Hamilton County Schools that he was suspended without pay regarding a Dept. of Children's Services investigation.

Documents from the hiring process of Kenya White at Chatt Prep show he did not tell the school why he was previously removed as a teacher from East Lake Academy.

Chatt Prep was not set up through DCS to provide background checks, but they knew there was a disciplinary hold on White's file. He continued to work as a teacher at Chatt Prep until his arrest, two years after the incident.

White was also unlicensed during his time teaching at Chatt Prep, as were nearly half of the school's staff, says Hamilton County Schools.

In a letter to Chatt Prep, Hamilton Co. Schools says they will recommend the revocation of the school's charter on April 17.

Chatt Prep has since hired new leadership at the school.

Former Chatt Prep coach begins 30-day jail sentence for aggravated assault In July of 2024 he was indicted on charges of domestic assault, aggravated assault, child abuse and neglect, and evading arrest.

PREVIOUS STORY: A judge has set the federal trial date for Kenya White, the former Chattanooga Preparatory School teacher who faces several charges.

White was first arrested on various child sex crimes charges in February, stemming from a two-year Dept. of Children's Services investigation.

White was then arrested again in March on federal charges of enticement of a minor and exploitation of a minor. The trial is set to begin on May 19.

Internal emails at Chatt Prep show the school knew White was under DCS investigation at the time they hired him.

Hamilton Co. Schools soon after found that White was one of several teachers unlicensed at the charter school.

In a letter to Chatt Prep, Hamilton Co. Schools says they will recommend the revocation of the school's charter on April 17.

PREVIOUS STORY: Chattanooga Preparatory Schools says "a new era began" on Tuesday, March 25, as the school announced new leadership at Prep Public Schools.

Troy Kemp has been named Chief Executive Officer and Chad Everett as Vice President of Schools.

"Both Kemp and Everett have passed all necessary background checks without issue," says Austin Cantrell in a release from the school.

The scrutiny of Chatt Prep began in February when an unlicenced teacher, Kenya White, was arrested on various charges of child sex crimes.

Hamilton County Schools began investigating other teachers at the school and found almost half of the teachers were unlicensed as well. They recommended the charter be revoked.

Kemp comes to Chatt Prep with 27 years of experience at the McCallie School, as well as Director of Strategic Initiatives at Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta.

I am thrilled to lead the efforts of Prep Public Schools because this is an opportunity to rewrite the narrative, increase the expectations, and improve the outcomes for Black and brown boys in Chattanooga and Knoxville, said Troy Kemp, incoming CEO of PREP Public Schools. Challenges in the past may have pushed us back on our heels, but we are shifting our stance and playing from our toes.

Everett currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of IOTA Community Schools, a charter network serving 2,100 students.

I am excited for the opportunity to cultivate the environment I wanted as a scholar and that every scholar deserves  an environment where every scholar has the freedom to discover curricular truths, as well as truths about themselves; an environment where excellence is the expectation and the brilliance of scholars and teachers is embraced bell-to-bell, every class, every day, said Chad Everett, VP of Schools of PREP Public Schools.

PREVIOUS STORY: Chattanooga Preparatory Schools is set to introduce the school's new leadership after an unlicensed teacher's arrest led Hamilton Co. Schools to recommend the school's charter be revoked.

Hamilton Co. Schools says they found almost half of the teachers at Chatt Prep were not licensed.

The investigation began when an unlicensed teacher under a Dept. of Children's Services investigation was hired at the school in 2024.

Former Chatt Prep teacher, Kenya White, was arrested in February on several charges of sexual exploitation of a minor. He was then arrested again in March on federal charges of enticement of a minor and exploitation of a minor.

PREVIOUS STORY: Hamilton County Schools says they are currently verifying senior credits to ensure Chattanooga Preparatory School's senior class will graduate on time.

HCS released the following statement:

"Our top priority is supporting the students at Chattanooga Prep and safeguarding their academic progress. We are currently verifying senior credits and taking any necessary corrective actions to ensure that the Senior Class will graduate on-time. We are hopeful that all 50 seniors will graduate on time, but more collaboration is needed before we can state this definitively.

Hamilton County Schools and Chattanooga Prep continue to work together to address the recent concerns regarding teacher licensure and ensure compliance with state requirements. Through our collaborative efforts, we have identified a few of Chatt Prep's 50 teachers are not eligible for a teaching license, permit, or waiver. We are actively taking steps to secure the appropriate certifications, waivers, or permits for the remaining teachers to ensure all instructional staff meet state guidelines.

As we move forward, we are committed to strengthening procedures for verifying teacher eligibility to prevent future issues. Through ongoing collaboration and accountability, we are confident in our ability to resolve this matter so that Chattanooga Prep can continue providing a high-quality education to its scholars for years to come."

Hamilton County Schools recommended for Chatt Prep's charter to be revoked after finding almost half of teachers were not licensed.

The investigation began when an unlicensed teacher under a Dept. of Children's Services investigation was hired at the school in 2024.

Former Chatt Prep teacher, Kenya White, was arrested in February on several charges of sexual exploitation of a minor. He was then arrested again in March on federal charges of enticement of a minor and exploitation of a minor.

PREVIOUS STORY: The latest TCAP scores for the 2023-24 school year show Chattanooga Preparatory Schools is below the state average in every subject. Hamilton County Schools is recommending the school's charter to be revoked after learning that 21 of 45 teachers at the school were unlicensed.

The achievement rate at Chatt prep is 26.1%, while the state average is 39.6%.

Biology I

State average: 45.2%

Chatt Prep average: 29.5%

ELA

State average: 33.1%

Chatt Prep average: 21.5%

HS English

State average: 42.8%

Chatt Prep average: 35.8%

HS Math

State average: 28.5%

Chatt Prep average: 13.8%

Math

State average: 37.6%

Chatt Prep average: 28.1%

Science

State average: 43.9%

Chatt Prep average: 29.7%

Social Studies

State average: 45.5%

Chatt Prep average: 37.8%

PREVIOUS STORY: The Tennessee Charter School Center has released a statement pertaining to Chattanooga Preparatory School students potentially impacted by unlicensed teachers:

There is no law that would specifically prevent these students from graduating or invalidate their credits based solely on the licensure status of the teacher in the classroom. The state does not issue credits or diplomas and therefore would not be in a position to reject these credits or prevent a student from graduating. Issuing credits is a local issue. Chattanooga Prep makes awards credits and diplomas. We hope Hamilton County will not pursue any action that would negatively impact any student.

A letter from Hamilton County Schools recommending the revocation of Chattanooga Prep's charter status said that it's "likely" the entire graduating class was not accumulating valid credits after they found 21 of 45 teachers at the school to be unlicensed.

Spring 2025 will be Chatt Prep's first graduating class, and the school says students have accumulated $638,000 in scholarships already.

The investigation into Chatt Prep began when an unlicensed teacher was hired while under DCS investigation, then arrested for several charges of solicitation of a minor. Kenya White was recently arrested a second time for federal charges.

Several leaders at the school have resigned or been put on leave since.

Hamilton County School and Chattanooga Preparatory School say they are both committed to working together to "ensure that Prep meets or exceeds its high standards for hiring personnel."

PREVIOUS STORY: Hamilton County Schools says 21 of 45 teachers at Chattanooga Preparatory Schools are unlicensed, not having permits or waivers for classes they teach.

This means high school students are not accumulating valid credits towards graduation.

"Likely, Chattanooga Prep's entire senior class is impacted by this licensure issue."

Spring 2025 was expected to be the school's first graduating class. The school posted on facebook that each senior has a post-high school plan, and the class has together secured $638,000 in scholarships.

Hamilton County Schools say they were not aware that almost half of Chatt Prep's teachers were teaching without a license, waiver, or permit "until recently."

In a letter to Chatt Prep, Hamilton Co. Schools says they will recommend the revocation of the school's charter on April 17. The revocation will be effective at the end of the school year.

The letter from Hamilton County Schools states:

"Chattanooga Prep have willfully violated Tennessee laws governing the licensure of teachers. I also believe that the governing body and management have deliberately misrepresented who were the teachers of record in classes actually taught by these unlicensed personnel in order to avoid scrutiny from TDOE."

HCS states in the letter that all teachers in a public charter school must hold a valid Tennessee educator license.

The following teachers listed on the Chatt Prep website either did not have permits or waivers at all, or did not have an active license through the TN Dept. of Education license look-up:

Ethan Reyes - 12th Grade AP Calculus

Justin D. Shull - 12th Grade AP Government and Economics

Brandie Morgan - Exceptional Education Assistant

Davarius Joseph Harris - Geometry

Erikka Nichole Benning - Computer Science

Jaylin Davon Rogers - Physical Education

Theanthony Demonta Haymon - Behavior Interventionist

Ivan Andres Lobo - 9th Grade Guided Math

Joshua Carroll Grossi - 9th Grade Guided Reading

Khalil Marjon Watts - 8th Grade ELA

Peyton Anderson Whitley - 7th Grade History

Cheryl Hines - 7th Grade Math

Kenya White has been removed from the schools website, but was unlicensed at the time of his arrest.

The investigation into Chatt Prep began when an unlicensed teacher was hired while under DCS investigation, then arrested for several charges of solicitation of a minor. White was recently arrested a second time for federal charges.

PREVIOUS STORY: Hamilton County Schools has started the process to revoke Chattanooga Preparatory Schools charter after an unlicensed teacher was arrested for child sex crimes.

Chatt Prep stated in a letter to families that while they believe it is "Unnecessary," they will work with HCS to find a solution that benefits the district and the school.

Chatt Prep says the primary concern of Hamilton County Schools is teacher licensure.

"Prep has accepted HCS's offer to send HR staff to work alongside our employment attorneywho is currently auditing our HR processesto review employment practices and recommend any necessary changes."

Chatt Prep said there will be no disruption to school operations for the time being. The school also promised parents that they are committed to addressing concerns while they work closely with HCS.

The school also told parents to attend and share their opinions at the upcoming School Board meeting, contact members of the Hamilton County School Board, and post on social media about how the school has benefited their children.

A former Chatt Prep teacher was arrested on several charges of sexual exploitation of a minor in February, then arrested a second time on federal charges early March.

Internal emails obtained by Local 3 show that Kenya White was hired at Chatt Prep while he had a disciplinary hold on his file for being under a Dept. of Children's Services investigation.

PREVIOUS STORY: Chattanooga Preparatory School says they will have an answer about where they conduct teacher background checks by the end of the week, after hiring a teacher under Dept. of Children's Services investigation for sexual exploitation of a minor.

Chatt Prep's Interim CEO, Micah Bess stated:

"Our third-party legal team, which we have hired to audit our hiring processes (including our use of the DCS portal), believes they will be able to answer this question by this Friday. We will provide you with that answer as soon as it is available."

DCS told Local 3 News that the charter school was not set up in their system to do background checks for any teachers, despite the school saying they were.

It's state law for all public and charter schools to perform background checks for teachers through DCS.

Kenya White, a former Chatt Prep teacher, faces several charges including federal charges of enticement of a minor and exploitation of a minor. He was hired at Chatt Prep while under a DCS investigation that began while he was employed at a city school.

Local 3 reached out to learn if Knox Prep, Chatt Prep's sister school in Knoxville, uses the same hiring process.

Bess told Knoxville NBC affiliate, WBIR, that the Knoxville campus will learn from Chatt Prep's mistakes, but did not specify their background check process:

"All personnel being considered for employment at Knox Prep are required to undergo several levels of background checks to ensure every one of our scholars is safe while learning. Chattanooga Prep is working to hire an outside firm that specializes in HR practices to review the school's past and current processes to ensure the school's process for conducting these checks is performed without exception. Lessons learned from that review will be applied to Knox Prep if necessary. Neither Chattanooga Prep nor Knoxville Prep will allow this situation to distract from our mission to prepare the next generation of young men for success in our communities."

Local 3 has reached out to Chattanooga Preparatory Schools with more questions on staff impacted.

PREVIOUS STORY: Chattanooga Preparatory School has declined the former principal's request to be paid severance after quitting during an investigation into a former teacher hired while under Dept. of Children's Services investigation.

Former principal Diamond Kelley's letter of resignation to the school says she had been "hurt."

Kelley also asks for an "exchange" to waive any legal claims against the school:

"I am also offering to waive any legal claims I have against Chattanooga Preparatory School. In exchange, I am requesting:

1. Severance pay in an amount equal to the remainder of my contract.

2. A letter confirming that background checks were the responsibility of HR.

Let me be clear: my reputation is not for sale. My integrity is not up for negotiation. I have carried myself with dignity, and I will not allow my name to be tarnished."

She goes on to say, "Only God knows I did what I was supposed to do. I leave with my head held high, I do not leave in surrender. I stand on my character, my values, and my unwavering commitment to these young men."

Chatt Prep's interim CEO Micah Bess responded to Kelley's resignation email saying, "it seems we must agree to disagree about your record while at Chattanooga Prep."

The email goes on to state:

"I politely decline the opportunity to respond to every aspect of your resignation message, except to say this: you have not been slandered by Chattanooga Prep. Your personnel file, which was requested by several local media outlets due to your involvement in the situation regarding Mr.

White, speaks for itself. Chattanooga Prep was compelled by law to respond to these FOIA requests, and we had no choice but to share your record, along with a great deal of other information legally requested by local media.

I also politely decline your request to be paid a severance. The circumstances surrounding your resignation, do not lend themselves to such an outcome."

Read the full resignation below:

PREVIOUS STORY: Chattanooga Preparatory School Principal Diamond Kelley, originally placed on leave after the arrest of a former teacher, has now resigned.

Kelley was placed on administrative leave on Feb. 18. The letter from Chatt Prep's interim CEO says the leave was while law enforcement continued to "review the Kenya White situation." She then resigned on March 6.

Kenya White, a former Chatt Prep teacher, was first arrested on Feb. 13 on several charges of sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means, solicitation of a minor, and kidnapping.

On March 7, White was arrested a second time on federal charges of enticement of a minor and exploitation of a minor.

Internal emails from Chatt Prep show the school saw a disciplinary hold on his file while he was under a Dept. of Children's Services investigation, but decided to hire him anyway.

Local 3 also learned that Chatt Prep was not set up to background check teachers through DCS, which is required by law.

PREVIOUS STORY: Kenya White, a former Chattanooga Preparatory Schools teacher, faces federal charges of enticement of a minor and exploitation of a minor after his second arrest on Friday morning.

These are in addition to his previous charges he was indicted on:

Sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means x12

Solicitation of a minor

Kidnapping

While those charges stem from a Chattanooga police and Dept. of Children Services investigation that began in 2023 while he taught at East Lake Academy, it's not clear what situation led to the recent federal charges.

Documents show White did not tell the school why he was previously removed as a teacher from East Lake Academy.

The Chatt Prep screening says Kenya White told the school he left for his own reasons:

"White reports he was employed with HCDE- East Lake Academy and left in March 2023, due to unhappiness at the school. For six years, he taught Theatre, 6th, 7th, 8th. White was a participant in HCDE's Grow Your Own program and program ended after his voluntary resignation; therefore, no teaching license."

However, White's personnel file at Hamilton County Schools says he was suspended without pay because of a Dept. of Children's Services investigation linked to inappropriate communication with a student:

Chatt Prep was not set up through DCS to provide a background check after their screening. DCS says the school is not set up in their system to provide background checks for any teachers, and Hamilton County Schools say they did not perform a background check on White through their services.

One of the references given to Chatt Prep by an East Lake Academy teacher says his weaknesses were "setting boundaries with the students. Students see him as a big brother, rather than a teacher."

Despite that statement, Chatt Prep stated on White's screening that White has "appropriate communication with parents and students."

Chattanooga police are still looking for potential victims of White during their investigation. If you have any information, call the Chattanooga Police Department at 423-698-2525 or the Department of Children's Services at 877-237-0004.

PREVIOUS STORY: McCracken Poston, attorney for Kenya White, the former Chattanooga Preparatory School teacher who now faces federal charges after his second arrest, states:

"Our constitution provides that every person is to be considered innocent until they are found guilty by plea or trial.

Its unfortunate that this matter is now being used as a political issue to attack others, and even the entire concept of charter schools.

My focus must and will remain on ensuring that Mr. White gets the fairness guaranteed to every citizen in our courts."

White was first arrested on several charges in February of 2025:

Sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means x12

Solicitation of a minor

Kidnapping

Local 3 News has reached out to Chattanooga police to ask if they are still searching for potential victims.

PREVIOUS STORY: The former Chattanooga Preparatory Schools teacher previously arrested on several charges of sexual exploitation of a minor is now behind bars again on federal charges.

The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office says Kenya White was arrested in Rossville, GA and brought into the Hamilton Co. Jail around 1:00am on Friday, March 7, by federal law enforcement officials.

He has now left their facility.

Chattanooga police first arrested White on Feb. 13 after an investigation that began two years prior with the Dept. of Children's Services.

At the time of White's first arrest, police said they were actively investigating if there could be more victims.

Since White's arrest, Local 3 discovered that Chatt Prep hired White knowing he was under a disciplinary hold stemming from the 2-year-long investigation. Internal emails show the school decided to hire him anyway.

On March 5, Tennessee Representative John Ray Clemmons requested the state to investigate Chattanooga Preparatory School.

On March 6, DCS told Local 3 that the school wasn't set up to background checks in their system, which is law for Charter Schools in Tennessee.

Since White's arrest, Chattanooga Preparatory School principal Diamond Kelley has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal review, and Human Resources Coordinator, Dr. Angelnetta Ulmer, took an early retirement.

PREVIOUS STORY: A Hamilton County charter school facing scrutiny for hiring a teacher under investigation by the Dept. of Children's Services has given Local 3 News conflicting reports of where they perform background checks for teachers.

Chattanooga Preparatory School's interim CEO, Micah Bess, stated:

"Chattanooga Prep uses the DCS portal to retrieve background checks for all prospective employees as part of our schools hiring process."

The Department of Children's Services states the opposite:

"Chattanooga Preparatory School is not set up through the TN Dept. of Childrens Services portal to perform DCS background checks. It is the responsibility of each school system to identify a select number of personnel to be granted access to the portal for the purpose of conducting background checks."

Hamilton County Schools tells Local 3 News that the school did not perform a DCS background check through their system either:

"Chattanooga Prep does not obtain background checks through HCS."

Tenn. Code Ann. 49-5-413 states that all local boards of education, charter schools, or child care programs are required to perform a DCS background check on any applicants for teaching positions.

Chatt Prep teacher Kenya White was arrested in February of 2025 on several charges of sexual exploitation of a minor. The DCS investigation began when White was a teacher at East Lake Academy in 2023.

White was suspended from East Lake Academy and put on a disciplinary hold, which showed up in his file during the hiring process at Chatt Prep in 2024.

Internal emails show Chatt Prep knew of the disciplinary hold, but decided to hire him anyway.

Since the arrest, Chattanooga Preparatory School principal Diamond Kelley has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal review, and Human Resources Coordinator, Dr. Angelnetta Ulmer, took an early retirement.

Tennessee Representative John Ray Clemmons has officially requested the state to investigate the school.

PREVIOUS STORY: Chattanooga Preparatory Schools confirms to Local 3 News that Human Resources Coordinator, Dr. Angelnetta Ulmer, is stepping down earlier than expected.

Ulmer initially planned to retire at the end of the 2024-25 school year, but school officials say she chose to accelerate her departure due to several factors including the ongoing situation with Kenya White, a former Chatt Prep teacher indicted on several charges of sexual exploitation of a minor.

Internal emails within Chatt Prep reveal the school knew of a disciplinary hold on White but decided to hire him anyway - even though he was under investigation by the Dept. of Children Services.

Emails show Chattanooga Prep knew about teachers troubled past before hiring Tennessee Rep. John Clemmons is urging the state to investigate how White was allowed to teach at Chattanooga Prep despite his documented past.

Chattanooga Preparatory School principal Diamond Kelley has also been placed on administrative leave pending an internal review after White was arrested.

Chattanooga police are still looking for potential victims of White during their investigation. If you have any information, call the Chattanooga Police Department at 423-698-2525 or the Department of Children's Services at 877-237-0004.

PREVIOUS STORY: Tennessee Representative John Ray Clemmons has officially requested the state to investigate Chattanooga Preparatory School after the school hired a teacher on a disciplinary hold, who was later arrested for sexual exploitation of a minor.

The letter to Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti states:

"One would expect a school, even a charter school that operates with little to no oversight, to make best efforts to protect students by requesting pertinent information from a previous employer and performing a background check."

Rep. Clemmons goes on to say a state investigation into Chatt Prep would "shed much-needed light on how something as seriously disturbing as this could happen."

Read the full letter here:

PREVIOUS STORY: Internal emails show Chattanooga Preparatory School knew about a teacher let go from a different school in Hamilton County because of a Dept. of Children Services investigation before he was hired again at Chatt Prep.

The DCS investigation into Kenya White first started while he was an Education Assistant at East Lake Academy. He put on leave in 2023 pending a law enforcement investigation.

In January of 2024, White was then hired as an 8th grade english teacher at Chattanooga Preparatory School.

Internal emails obtained by Local 3 News show that Chatt Prep saw the disciplinary hold on White, but hired him anyway.

One email sent within the school said, "we cannot hire him while he's under review," and "we will need to terminate Mr. White this week."

Parents concerned about Chatt Prep's oversight after hiring teacher under DCS investigation Local 3 News is working with DCS to confirm if Chatt Prep requested background checks through DCS for White and current employees.

However, instead of terminating White, an employee at the school replied, "let's discuss this before he is terminated."

The Chatt Prep website listed him as a Guided Reading teacher for the 2024-2025 school year on their website.

Almost exactly one year since those emails were sent, White was arrested on several charges in February of 2025:

Sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means x12

Solicitation of a minor

Kidnapping

Chattanooga Preparatory School principal Diamond Kelley has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal review after White was arrested.

Chattanooga police are still looking for potential victims of White during their investigation. If you have any information, call the Chattanooga Police Department at 423-698-2525 or the Department of Children's Services at 877-237-0004.

Hamilton Co. School Board discusses charter school application process after teacher's indictment Questions about the application process for charter schools come after a now former teacher of Chattanooga Preparatory was hired amid an investigation.

PREVIOUS STORY: Chattanooga Preparatory School principal Diamond Kelley has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal review.

In February, Chatt Prep teacher Kenya White was arrested on several charges of sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means. White's personnel file shows White was suspended from his previous employment in 2023 at East Lake Academy pending a Dept. of Children's Services investigation.

Tenn. Code Ann. 49-5-413 states that all local boards of education, charter schools, or child care programs are required to perform a DCS background check on any applicants for teaching positions.

Local 3 News is working with DCS to confirm if Chatt Prep requested background checks through DCS for White and current employees.

Micah Reed Bess, Interim CEO of PREP Public Schools stated:

The greatest responsibility of every school is to ensure the safety of the children it has the privilege to educate. Chattanooga Prep believes this is one of our most fundamental responsibilities to the community we serve, which is why the school has been taking sweeping actions since learning that one of its former employees was arrested on charges that have nothing to do with Chattanooga Prep.

The extraordinary actions we have taken since learning of Mr. Whites arrest include firing the employee, placing on leave senior school staff, making counseling services available to members of our school community, and hiring an independent employment firm to investigate what internal HR processes require changes to ensure this situation never happens again.

Chattanooga Prep is determined not to allow this situation to distract from our mission to prepare the next generation of young men for success in Chattanooga.

Former teacher employed for years by Hamilton Co. Schools before child sex crimes indictment Kenya White's personnel file from Hamilton County Schools shows he was originally hired as a part-time tutor at East Lake in 2018.

PREVIOUS STORY: Now-former Chattanooga Prep School teacher Kenya White was arraigned in court Friday, Feb. 21 after he was charged with 12 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means, solicitation of a minor and kidnapping.

No testimony or video was shown.

White is due back in court on May 8.

PREVIOUS STORY: A spokesperson for Hamilton County Schools says they did not receive any reference checks on Kenya White, the Chattanooga Preparatory School teacher arrested on charges of sexual exploitation.

Dr. Zac Brown, Chief of Talent with Hamilton County Schools, says, "As far as I know, [Hamilton County Schools] did not receive any reference checks on Mr. White.

Children's Advocacy Center gives tips to parents after local teacher arrested for child sex crimes A local expert said parents should look for these signs to keep their kids from becoming a victim of sexual misconduct by an educator.

White was employed at East Lake Academy for the 2022-2023 school year when the initial investigation began, but was working at Chatt Prep at the time of his arrest.

PREVIOUS STORY: The Chattanooga Preparatory School has confirmed a teacher arrested for sexual exploitation is no longer employed at the school.

Chatt Prep declined to answer multiple requests about Kenya White's employment status since his arrest on Feb. 13.

On Feb. 19, the school said:

"Chattanooga Preparatory School is deeply troubled by the recent arrest of a former employee. The safety and well-being of our scholars remain our top priority, and we are treating this matter with the utmost seriousness.

We are cooperating with law enforcement and conducting a thorough internal review. As this is an open investigation, we cannot provide further comment at this time."

White was arrested on several charges of sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means, solicitation of a minor, and kidnapping.

While Hamilton County Schools says he was employed at East Lake Academy for the 2022-2023 school year when the investigation began, Chatt Prep has not said if they were aware of the investigation when hiring White.

A student of Chatt Prep says he was a teacher at the school since 2023, but the school has not confirmed this.

Former teacher employed for years by Hamilton Co. Schools before child sex crimes indictment Kenya White's personnel file from Hamilton County Schools shows he was originally hired as a part-time tutor at East Lake in 2018.

PREVIOUS STORY: Hamilton County Schools confirms to Local 3 News that Kenya White, the Chattanooga Preparatory teacher arrested for sexual exploitation, was employed at East Lake Academy for the 2022-2023 school year.

Chattanooga police say they first responded to East Lake Academy in February 2023 to investigate Kenya White. The school system declined to answer if parents at East Lake were notified of the investigation or if White had a valid teaching license at the time.

Kenya White was arrested on the following charges:

Sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means- 12 counts

Solicitation of a minor

Kidnapping

Police are actively seeking to find if there are more victims. If you have any information, call the Chattanooga Police Department at 423-698-2525 or the Department of Children's Services at 877-237-0004.

Chattanooga Preparatory School has still declined to answer if White is still employed at the school or not.

PREVIOUS STORY: Tennessee Department of Education records show that Kenya White, the Chattanooga Preparatory School teacher arrested for sexual exploitation of a minor, does not have a teaching license in the state currently.

It is not clear if White's license was suspended or revoked, or if he ever had a valid teaching license in the state.

Chatt Prep has still declined to comment on White's employment status.

The Chattanooga Police Department says they are actively investigating if there could be more victims of White, after he worked as a teacher for two years before the investigation lead to an indictment.

If you have any information, call the Chattanooga Police Department at 423-698-2525 or the Department of Children's Services at 877-237-0004.

PREVIOUS STORY: Chattanooga police say the investigation into a Chattanooga Preparatory School teacher arrested for multiple counts of solicitation of a minor began two years ago.

The Chattanooga Police Dept. says they first responded to East Lake Academy in February of 2023, when the Special Victims Unit and Dept. of Children's Services joined the investigation.

Multiple teams worked together to obtain digital forensic evidence to successfully lead to an indictment of Kenya White in February of 2025.

Kenya White was arrested on the following charges:

Sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means x12

Solicitation of a minor

Kidnapping

The Chattanooga Police Dept. says they are actively investigating if there could be more victims.

If you have any information, call the Chattanooga Police Department at 423-698-2525 or the Department of Children's Services at 877-237-0004.

Chatt Prep has still declined to comment on if White is still an employee at the school at this time.

PREVIOUS STORY: A Chattanooga Preparatory School teacher has been ordered to not have contact with minors after being indicted on 14 counts related to sexual exploitation.

Kenya White's charges all stem from a February 2023 incident.

White faces a $10,000 bond for each count. He was indicted on February 10, 2025 on the following charges:

Sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means x12

Solicitation of a minor

Kidnapping

The sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means indictment indicate White exposed a child younger than 13 years old to sexual material through electronic communication.

The solicitation of a minor charge involved a child younger than 18 years old in sexual activity.

The kidnapping charge does not detail the age of the victim.

The school still declines to comment on if White is still employed.

PREVIOUS STORY: A Chattanooga Preparatory School teacher has been arrested on several charges of sexual exploitation of a minor.

Chattanooga Preparatory School lists Kenya White as a Guided Reading 6th Grade teacher on its website.

While the Hamilton County Courts System doesn't have documents on his arrest yet, the following charges are listed:

Sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means x12

Solicitation of a minor

Kidnapping

Chattanooga Preparatory School posted on Facebook in 2024 that White was recognized as teacher of the month in March.

When asked if White was still employed by the school, Chattanooga Prep responded:

"Chattanooga Prep cannot speak to the facts surrounding the criminal charges. Please refer all questions to the Chattanooga Police Department or the Hamilton County district attorney's office."

When asked a second time if White was still employed by the school, they declined to answer the question again.
Six years on from the government commitment to deliver nine fully funded community neurological rehabilitation teams across the country, the rollout has been beset by delays, with most areas of the country including Longford still without any access to a team.

Thats according to the Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI) , the national umbrella body for 40 neurological organisations, who recently met with TDs and Senators at Leinster House, to call for their renewed commitment in delivering on the targets outlined in the 2019 Neurorehabilitation Strategy. As National Brain Awareness Week marks its 20th year (March 10th  16th), the NAI underscores the urgent need for dedicated community neurorehabilitation teams to address this critical issue.

There is now a notable regional disparity for patients in Longford, as the Midlands is one of only two regions in the country that has yet to receive funding for a community neurorehabilitation team.

Also Read: Uisce Eireann reporting Longford water disruption

The National Neurorehabilitation Strategy published in 2019 committed to delivering specialist community teams and long-term neurorehabilitation services across the country, as well as addressing the shortfall of 171 specialist inpatient neurorehabilitation beds.

Magdalen Rogers, CEO of the Neurological Alliance of Ireland said, Neurorehabilitation is a vital service to enable people in Longford with neurological conditions to live their day to day lives. Were calling on the Government to announce a commitment to funding four community neurorehabilitation teams in this years Budget. We want to see this commitment during their first 100 days in office, to send a clear signal they intend to deliver on the pledges within the Programme for Government to complete the national rollout of community neurorehabilitation teams and to developing more specialist inpatient rehabilitation beds and implement community based multidisciplinary rehabilitation services in each HSE Regional Health Authority Area.

NAI is calling for funding in the upcoming Budget for full community neurorehabilitation teams for the North West, North Dublin, South East and Midlands, promised since 2019.

Also Read: PICTURES | Fantastic night of style and celebration for Longford Slashers

Patient advocate, Liam Lynch who lives in Oldcastle Co. Meath, which is part of the Midlands region, discussed the importance of access to neurorehabilitation teams to Oireachtas members. Liam has been living with an acquired brain injury (ABI) since 2017, after being knocked off his bike by a car, during a charity cycle. Despite experiencing multiple side effects afterwards, including memory loss and struggling with work, he only learned that this was due to having an ABI, as part of a check in with his neurologist two years later. He is now retired, and he and his wife are carers for their daughter who has learning difficulties and physical disabilities.

He said, From 2017 to 2019 I really struggled with everyday work-related tasks that previously I wouldnt have thought much about before the accident. In particular online research for the PLC course I was teaching in Dundalk at the time, really caused me problems, and I felt like I was going crazy.

It was only during a routine check in with my neurologist where I mentioned this struggle and his response that it was to be expected because I was living with an ABI, that everything suddenly made sense. Id spent two years wondering why this was happening and now I knew why. A change in personnel at his office meant my GP had never received the report which diagnosed the ABI.

Also Read: ALERT | HGV traffic must avoid Longford's Battery Road for next four weeks

My neurologist introduced me to Acquired Brain Injury Ireland and theyre the only ones providing support to people like me in the area. I spend time in their club house in Navan every week. Theyve given me help with understanding and managing my brain injury.

One person went out for a cycle that day in 2017 and a different person came back. I wont recover from the ABI but I have learned to live with this new normal, now I understand why I am the way I am and I have the support from ABI Ireland.

For more information visit: www.nai.ie
New York State Department Of Health Announces First Case Of Measles In New York State Outside Of New York City In 2025

Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: March 11 2025

State Health Department Working with NYC and Suffolk County Health Departments, Northwell Health to Closely Monitor and Investigate This Case.

The New York State Department of Health today announced the first case of measles in New York State outside of New York City in 2025, the third case in the state this year, amid a global and domestic increase in measles cases. The case was identified in a patient less than 5 years of age who resides in Suffolk County and was confirmed at the Department's Wadsworth Laboratory in Albany.

The State Health Department is closely monitoring this casealong with Suffolk County and New York City health officials  and have alerted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All New Yorkers are urged to protect themselves by making sure they're up to date on important, lifesaving immunizations.

"Our epidemiology and vaccine experts at the State Health Department and the States Wadsworth Lab are working in collaboration with the health officials of Suffolk County, New York City and Northwell Health to monitor and investigate this case and any potential exposures," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "Measles can be very serious. Its much more than just a rash as complications can include pneumonia and inflammation of the brain, and often results in hospitalization. The most important thing people can do to protect themselves is to ensure they've been properly immunized against measles and immediately get a shot if they are not."

All partners are collaborating with Northwell Health, the parent company of Cohen Childrens Medical Center in Queens where the patient is being treated, to investigate the case and are taking the necessary proactive steps to prevent the spread of measles.

It has been determined there was potential exposure to measles for the public and persons who visited the pediatric emergency department at Cohen Children's Medical Center on March 3 to March 4, 2025 or visited an inpatient child on the Medicine 3 unit from March 3 to March 6, 2025.

These times reflect the potential exposure period when the infected individual was in the identified areas. As this investigation is ongoing, potential other exposures are also being assessed.

Cohen Children's Medical Center is contacting patients who visited the emergency department and the pediatric floor at the time of the potential exposure and has identified patients who are at high risk who may require timely treatment. Anyone who feels they were exposed should consult with their doctor or pediatrician.

Measles is a highly contagious, serious respiratory disease that causes rash and fever. In some cases, measles can reduce the immune system's ability to fight other infections like pneumonia.

Serious complications of measles include hospitalization, pneumonia, brain swelling and death. Long-term serious complications can also include subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a brain disease resulting from an earlier measles infection that can lead to permanent brain damage.

Measles during pregnancy increases the risk of early labor, miscarriage, and low birth weight infants.

Measles is caused by a virus that is spread by coughing or sneezing into the air. Individuals can catch the disease by breathing in the virus or by touching a contaminated surface, then touching the eyes, nose, or mouth. Complications may include pneumonia, encephalitis, miscarriage, preterm birth, hospitalization, and death.

The incubation period for measles is up to 21 days. People who are exposed to measles should quarantine 21 days after exposure and those who test positive should isolate until four days after the rash appears.

Symptoms for measles can include the following:

7-14 days, and up to 21 days after a measles infection

High fever

Cough

Runny nose

Red, watery eyes

3-5 days after symptoms begin, a rash occurs

The rash usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet.

Small, raised bumps may also appear on top of the flat red spots.

The spots may become joined together as they spread from the head to the rest of the body.

When the rash appears, a person's fever may spike to more than 104 Fahrenheit.

A person with measles can pass it to others as soon as four days before a rash appears and as late as four days after the rash appears.

The single best way to prevent measles is to be immunized. Individuals should receive two doses of Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine to be protected. Those who aren't sure about their immunization status should call their local health department or health care provider. Those who were born before 1957 have likely already been exposed to the virus and are immune. Those born between 1957 and 1971 should check with a doctor to ensure they've been properly immunized as vaccines administered during that time may not have been reliable.

Health care providers should report suspected measles cases to their local health department.

Visit the Department's dedicated measles website here for information about the measles, immunization data, and information for providers.

More information about the measles vaccine can be found here.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: March 11 2025

New York Lags Behind 46 States in Addressing Drugged Driving Crisis.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announces that his Special Assistant for Legislative Initiatives and Co-Chair of the DAASNY Vehicular Crimes Subcommittee joined victims families and a coalition of more than 50 organizations in Albany at a rally supporting the Governors drugged driving proposal in the budget (S.3008A/A.3008A) and legislation to close dangerous loopholes in New Yorks drugged driving laws.

Both the Governors proposal and the Deadly Driving Bill (S.5457 and A.3981), seek to make New Yorks drugged driving laws applicable to all dangerously impaired drivers; not just those impaired by drugs on a statutory list. New York is one of only four states that limits drugged driving to such a list, which the National Transportation Safety board urged New York to eliminate in a 2023 safety recommendation.

Too many families have been devastated by impaired drivers who could not be prosecuted because of this dangerous loophole in our law, said District Attorney Tierney. When a driver is clearly impaired and endangering lives on our roads, it shouldnt matter whether the substance they have used appears on an outdated list. What matters is the danger they pose to everyone sharing our roadways.

Regardless of your position on the decriminalization and legalization of recreational marijuana, everyone should be able to agree that rampant drugged driving is not only reckless but dangerous and presents a clear and present danger to our roadways, fellow motorists, and pedestrians. Rest assured, the women and men of my office will continue to do everything in our power to hold those who drive under the influence and commit vehicular violence accountable in the courtroom, said District Attorneys Association of the State of New York President, Richmond County District Attorney Michael E. McMahon. However, wholly inadequate and outdated state laws combined with a severe dearth of Drug Recognition Experts across New York State have allowed for far too many to drive under the influence and endanger the lives of our loved ones without accountability. The critical legislation put forth in Governor Hochul's Executive Budget will not only hire more Drug Recognition Experts but will empower police and prosecutors alike to better hold impaired drivers accountable for jeopardizing the lives of themselves and all around them and I proudly join my fellow District Attorneys in calling for the passage of this commonsense and pro-public safety legislation.

Drivers cannot get behind the wheel if they are impaired by alcohol or any type of drug because they risk the lives of other drivers and pedestrians, as well as their own, said Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark. Passing this legislation will give us more tools to hold dangerous drivers accountable and ultimately make our streets safer.

Anyone who takes the wheel holds the responsibility of keeping those around them safe, said New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg. People who drive under the influence of drugs pose a major risk to public safety, taking the lives of far too many. I thank Governor Hochul for including this crucial legislation in her proposed budget, and our legislative partners for this commonsense legislation that will finally hold these dangerous drivers accountable.

Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe on our streets, but current laws fail to hold drug-impaired drivers accountable unless a specific substance can be named. Thats not how impairment works, and its not how justice should work either, said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. The Deadly Driving Bill closes a dangerous loophole, ensuring that drivers who are visibly impaired  regardless of the substance  can be stopped before they cause another tragedy.

This is common-sense reform that will save lives, and I urge the legislature to pass it before more families have to suffer the irreversible loss of a loved one.

The Deadly Driving Bill aims to fix a major loophole in our vehicular and traffic law by providing an additional tool for law enforcement to crack down on drugged driving. Under the current law, all an impaired driver has to do at the scene is refuse a drug test to avoid any accountability for placing numerous lives in danger, said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. We need policies that reflect the real threat and harm these preventable crimes have on our families and communities. I thank the Governor and the State Legislature for leading the charge to update the law against drugged drivers to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers on our shared roadways.

We continue to see, year after year, reckless drunk and drugged drivers causing death and destruction on our roadways in Nassau County. Unfortunately, for too long, our state laws have not kept pace with changes in drug chemistry, allowing drugged drivers to slip through our fingers, avoid accountability, and put fellow motorists at risk, said Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly. Ive stood with my law enforcement colleagues from across the state to advocate for closing this dangerous loophole, and again, urge our legislature to include proposed fixes to our drugged driving laws in this years budget.

Communities across New York are losing family members and friends to drivers impaired by all kinds of substances, said Onondaga County District Attorney William J. Fitzpatrick. It does not matter whether the drug is on a list or not. What matters is that people are in danger and it is time for New York to join the other 46 states and fix this law. I want to commend Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli for leading the fight on this issue and the Governor for including this urgent public safety issue in her budget.

This outdated loophole in state law handcuffs law enforcement, leaves those struggling with a drug problem untreated and puts innocent drivers, cyclists and pedestrians at risk. Long Islanders rely heavily on cars and our region leads the state in crashes and roadway fatalities. Those injuries and deaths are preventable, said Family and Childrens Association, President/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds.

If we have learned anything during the current opioid crisis, it is that public safety is enhanced when laws that hold people accountable for their actions are paired with evidence-based substance use prevention messages and readily accessible drug and alcohol treatment. This shouldn't wait another day.

National not-for-profit Responsibility.org and the National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving (NASID) stand with the Coalition to Protect New Yorkers from Drugged Driving (CPNYDD) in urging Governor Kathy Hochul and Assembly and Senate leadership to pass the drugged driving bill, said Kelly Poulsen, Senior Vice President of Government Relations, Responsibility.org and National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving (NASID) representative. Drunk driving, impaired driving, and multi-substance impaired driving are dangerous choices that oftentimes result in tragedy. We are proud to work with partners every day to increase road safety and prevent lives lost, and legislation is a big part of that. S3008/A3008 is a comprehensive bill that will make sure that impaired drivers in New York are not able to avoid arrest and, it further establishes New Yorks dedication to eliminating impaired driving.

MADD applauds Governor Hochul for her leadership to stop drug-impaired driving. We are thankful to the Governors commitment to promote safer streets for all New Yorkers by including Assembly Transportation Committee Chair Magnarellis Deadly Driving proposal in the proposed state budget, said MADD New York Regional Executive Director Paige Carbone. MADD calls on lawmakers to follow the Governors lead and enact a state budget that includes these lifesaving drug-impaired driving reform provisions.

The New York State Association of Chiefs of Police joins with other traffic safety organizations in support of pending budget bills S.3008A and A.3008A and also the Deadly Driving Bill re-filed as A.3981. The increase in the number of drivers in fatal crashes testing positive for drugs is alarming and a threat to public safety on our roadways, said William Georges, Chair of the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police Traffic Safety Committee. Passage of these bills would produce positive results in addressing this dangerous issue and at the same time, would not expand law enforcements powers.

The county STOP-DWI coordinators are the backbone of the States efforts to combat impaired driving. Over the years our members have been increasingly frustrated with the inability to hold impaired drivers accountable solely because the impairing substance was not included on the Public Health Law list  particularly when the impairment led to death or serious injury to innocent victims, said Lauren Savino, Vice President, STOP DWI Association. The ability of law enforcement to stop drug-impaired drivers before they are involved in a tragedy is further exacerbated by the absurd requirement that a law enforcement officer has to be able to identify the drug in order to make an arrest. They dont have to identify what kind of liquor was consumed by a suspected drunk driver, do they? For all that is good and sacred, we plead that the Legislature address these issues and make New York roadways that much safer.

Far too many people are being seriously injured or killed by drivers impaired by drugs. Indeed, according to recent state data from 2022, 37% of fatal crashes in New York State are drug related, said AAA New York State Legislative Committee Chairman, John Corlett. AAA strongly encourages legislators to pass legislation closing the glaring loopholes in the states drug impaired driving laws during this legislative session. AAA also commends both Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney and the Nassau County District Attorney for their leadership on this issue.

New Yorks Legislature should act quickly to pass the Governors budget provisions that would modernize New Yorks drugged driving statutes, said Thomas M. Louizou, former USDOT NHTSA Regional Administrator (retired). By allowing drugged driving charges based on observations of impairment and not requiring inclusion on a statutory list that can never be complete, Empire State lawmakers can take a distinct evidence-based step to save lives.

This marks the third rally for this legislation after the deadly driving bill failed to pass in 2024 despite 50 co-sponsors and gathering more than 3,700 petition signatures.

The proposed legislation codifies multiple safeguards, including the best available science, roadside drug screening, expanded toxicology testing and officers specially trained officers to record the physical effects of substances. Body worn cameras will record driver appearance, behavior, and those physical effects.

Data from the Division of Criminal Justice Services shows that current drugged driving enforcement has not disproportionately affected minority drivers, with approximately 70 to 75% of those arrested being white.

Suffolk County District Attorney Tierney has dedicated staff specifically to work with the Assembly Transportation Chair Bill Magnarelli and the bill sponsors to create an effective, fair, and equitable solution to the danger of drugged driving. He emphasizes that the bill would not create new crimes or expand police powers to stop vehicles. It would direct drivers to treatment and rehabilitation before they crash and kill. And it does not change the basis of the MRTA cannabis legalization law that always allowed for the smell of burnt cannabis to be considered in drugged driving investigations and uses an actual impairment standard publicly supported by the National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws. Neither will it expand drugged driving to things like coffee. There is no evidence of these false claims from the rest of the country.

Rather, it would allow for effective enforcement of existing laws against all forms of dangerously impaired driving, regardless of the substance causing the impairment. The rally featured Henry Rivera and Kristin Ruggles who spoke on behalf of all families who have had family members stolen from them by drug impaired drivers.
Members of the SDF Internal Security Forces during a campaign in the countryside of Deir Ezzor in February. (SDF)

On March 10, Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), signed an agreement with Syrias interim President Ahmad al Sharaa. The deal outlines a plan to integrate the SDF and other civil and military institutions in northeastern Syria into the new Damascus administration over the next nine months. The effort will include responsibility for border crossings, an airport, and oil and gas fields, the agreement states.

The deal leaves key questions about what will become of the SDF and how the US-led Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) will operate in Syria in the future. In the lead-up to the agreement and the day after, US forces continued emphasizing their close partnership with the SDF.

On March 7, three days before Abdi signed the deal, US Central Command (CENTCOM) head General Michael Erik Kurilla traveled to eastern Syria, where he met with US military commands and members of the SDF. Gen. Kurilla received an update on the evolving situation in Syria and an assessment of the ongoing Defeat-ISIS campaign and efforts to prevent the resurgence of the terrorist group in the region, CENTCOM said. Local reports noted that Kurilla met Abdi, though CENTCOM did not provide specifics on the discussion.

US forces operate in eastern Syria and at the Tanf Garrison in southern Syria near the Jordanian and Iraqi borders. The SDF is the main partner force for the US in Syria, and its creation in 2015 was largely a result of US support for anti-Islamic State (IS) fighters in Syria back in 2014. CJTF-OIR was formed on October 17, 2014, and the SDF was founded in October 2015.

By August 2016, the commander of CJTF-OIR said the SDF had pushed IS out of Shaddadi, Hasakah, and Tishreen and was advancing into Manbij. By early 2019, the Islamic State was largely defeated as the SDF took its last holdouts near the Euphrates River. Thousands of IS detainees and their families ended up in camps and detention centers run by the SDF. During this period, the SDF ballooned to up to 60,000 fighters controlling a fifth of Syria. When the Assad regime fell, the SDF was likely the countrys largest and most cohesive individual armed group.

The commanders of Inherent Resolve appear keen to show that the US still works closely with the SDF. The day after Abdi and Sharaa signed the agreement, Inherent Resolves X account released a photo of the SDF and noted, Our Syrian partner forces are always ready for action, mastering the art of coordination and firepower during live-fire exercises. The SDF also issued a statement describing its relationship with the Coalition. Our partnership with the International Coalition in the fight against ISIS remains a steadfast guarantee of Syrias stability and the protection of its people.

As if to underpin that IS still poses a threat, on March 6, the SDF conducted a raid to capture an IS cell leader with support from CENTCOM. The US Combined Special Ops Joint Task Force-Levant praised the SDF for a phenomenal job pursuing this ISIS cell and capturing its leader. CENTCOM has also focused in recent weeks on strikes on Al Qaedas Syrian affiliate, Hurras al Din.

A third focus of US efforts in Syria is the Tanf Garrison and the US relationship with the Syrian Free Army (SFA). Elements of the US 10th Mountain Division are operating at the garrison and working closely with the SFA. The SFA, comprised chiefly of hundreds of Arab fighters from Homs province, was largely hemmed in at Tanf during the era of the Bashar al Assad regime. When the Assad regime fell, the group took up duties securing roads and other areas in southern Syria, working with local Bedouins, and clearing unexploded ordnance.

On March 11, the SFA praised the new agreement between Abdi and Sharaa. We support all efforts made by all parties that support the unity of the Syrian territory and support security and stability towards a prosperous future for all Syrians, the group said. The statement indicates that the two US partner forces in Syria, the SDF and SFA, are now on the same page.

The overall US posture in Syria continues to lack clarity. During his previous administration, President Donald Trump sought to withdraw US forces from Syria. In recent months, the 2,000 American troops in the country have completed various missions.

On December 12, four days after the Assad regime collapsed, Americans conducted a force presence patrol in northeast Syria with Bradley Fighting Vehicles. The US has also conducted a number of recent trainings in eastern Syria. In November 2024, the US 324th Military Police Battalion facilitated the Specter Castle Detention Facility Guard Training Program. Another training took place in Al Mazyouna in eastern Syria in late February.

US forces in Syria, such as the Combined Special Operation Joint Task Force-Levant, continue to work with the SDF and SFA. However, the operational tempo appears relatively low in eastern Syria, at least from US military reports. As these groups integration with Damascus progresses, the US role in the country could shift.

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).
Syrian Democratic Forces Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi (left) and Syrian interim President Ahmed al Sharaa shake hands after signing an integration agreement. (Mazloum Abdi on X)

On March 10, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) signed an agreement with Syrias interim government, integrating the SDFs 100,000-strong, predominantly Kurdish force into the new Syrian military. This move is surprising, given the deep distrust Syrias Kurds have toward the interim government led by Ahmed al Sharaa.

Sharaa, formerly the leader of Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS)a previously Al Qaeda-affiliated group with historic ties to the Islamic State (IS)was long perceived by the Kurds as a jihadist figure intent on dismantling Kurdish autonomy. Since 2015, the United States has directly partnered with the SDF to combat IS. However, after overthrowing dictator Bashar al Assad, Sharaa dissolved HTS and repositioned himself and former HTS elites as Syrias new interim rulers. Seeking Western legitimacy, the new regime has promised inclusivity, hoping for the removal of international sanctions and terrorism designations on HTS leaders, including Sharaa himself.

Initially, the SDF remained cautious as Kurdish leaders doubted that a former jihadist could establish an inclusive government. Their concerns were reinforced by early post-Assad attacks on Kurdish areas by Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) militias and Turkish drone and artillery strikes targeting civilian infrastructure. Despite these hostilities, Sharaa called on the SDF to dissolve and integrate into the Syrian militarya demand the Kurds resisted until March 10.

The SDFs calculated risk

Why did the SDF ultimately accept integration? The most plausible explanation is a security guarantee from Turkey. On February 27, Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned Kurdish leader, was permitted by Turkish authorities to issue a public statement calling for the disarmament and dissolution of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), an organization Ocalan established. The PKK, designated a terrorist organization by the US and Turkey, is the ideological parent of the SDFs fighting forces.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been negotiating with Ocalan, likely to secure the Kurdish parliamentary votes needed to amend the constitution and extend his rule beyond the current term limit. In return, Ocalan may have demanded constitutional guarantees for Kurdish political and cultural rights, as well as assurances that Turkey would not attack the SDF.

A risky gamble

Some may see the agreement between the SDF and the new Syrian regime as a Faustian bargain. Given a potential US withdrawal from Syria, the SDF faces a stark reality: without American protection, it risks annihilation by the Turkish military. Integrating into the Syrian armed forces could provide the SDF a temporary buffer against Turkish aggression.

However, the nature of this integration remains uncertain. If Sharaas forces continue targeting minoritiessuch as the Alawite massacres on March 7or if Kurds face renewed persecution, the SDF likely has contingency plans to withdraw from the agreement. For now, the deal reflects a pragmatic, albeit precarious, survival strategy in an unpredictable conflict.

Sinan Ciddi is a non-resident senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), an associate professor of national security studies at Marine Corps University, and an expert on Turkish domestic politics and foreign policy.
An image posted on Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavis X account shows nationalist dissident Abol Korkor holding the Iranian monarchy flag.

In a rare escalation, four Iranian men took up arms against the Islamic Republics security forces during a standoff the dissents broadcast live on Instagram on March 8. The footage captures gunfire from regime forces and tear gas engulfing a residence where the men had sought refuge. Despite one of the rebels declaring, [We] surrender, the authorities continued their assault. Abol Korkor, realizing there was no escape, uttered his final wordsI have no other choice, goodbye, Iran.before taking his own life.

The three other dissidentsSohrab Ahmadi, Hossein Mehri, and Reza Abdollahzadehwere with Korkor when security forces stormed the residence. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-affiliated Fars News released footage of Mehri and Abdollahzadeh in a hospital bed on March 9, with the latters arm in a cast. Ahmadi was absent from regime-released videos. According to sources close to the dissident, he may have either been killed in custody or died during the clashes.

The regime has a long history of extracting forced confessions from political prisoners, often portraying them as foreign agents linked to the CIA, Mossad, or organized crime. In this case, authorities opted for the latter, releasing a video claiming Korkor had a criminal record.

The group of nationalists had been active in mobilizing anti-regime demonstrations in Izeh, a city in Khuzestan Province that has long been a flashpoint for dissent, particularly during the nationwide protests of 2019 and 2022. Persian-language diaspora outlet ManoTo reported that regime forces had been seeking Korkor since the 2022 uprising, eventually tracking him through his cellphone. Two others affiliated with the group, Kamar Tahmsasbi and Mojahed Korkor, were previously shot and sentenced to execution by the regime, respectively. Activists close to the group stated the dissidents had no other choice but to take up arms against a regime that routinely fires on unarmed protesters.

Reports indicate that in response to Saturdays clash, the regime deployed additional forces to Izeh and restricted internet accessstandard tactics during periods of unrest.

What sets this case of rebellion apart is the groups nationalist aspirations. Photographs show Korkor posing with the pre-revolutionary Iranian flagthe lion, sun, and crownrather than the Islamic Republics emblem with its Arabic script. In the livestream of their uprising, Korkor taunted the regime, shouting, To hell with your Islamic Republic, as he returned fire with an AK variant. He also called on Iranians to show courage and rise up.

Unlike most armed confrontations with the state, which have historically been led by sectarian separatist groups such as the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), Komala, or designated terrorist organizations like Jaish al Adl and the Islamic State, this incident appears distinctly nationalistic.

Celebrated by many Iranians, scattered assassinations targeting regime figures have occurred in various parts of the country, including the recent case of a Supreme Court kitchen staffer who shot and killed two senior judges known for sentencing protesters to execution. However, the latest confrontation appeared more cohesive than most, potentially suggesting a shift in the nature of armed opposition against the Islamic Republic.

The focus of protests in Iran has evolved in recent years from calls for reform to demands for outright regime change. [S]ince 2017, a new wave of anti-government demonstrations has swept the country, expressing broad discontent and a desire for revolution, wrote Saeed Ghasseminejad, Behnam Ben Taleblu, Eliora Katz in the Journal of International Affairs in 2020.

Polls conducted by the Netherlands-based Group for Analyzing and Measuring Attitudes in Iran found that 81% of Iranians supported the nationwide 2022 protest wave, while over 80% said they are against the Islamic Republic in its entirety. A regime-organized survey from September 2024 further underscored rising discontent, revealing that 92% of Iranians were dissatisfied with the countrys current conditions.

This shift has led some Iranian dissidents to adopt tactics beyond demonstrations and civil disobedience, including acts of violence against the regimes security apparatusa significant break from aspirations of reform within the system.

Janatan Sayeh is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on Iranian domestic affairs and the Islamic Republics regional malign influence.
Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant in South Boston is serving Lucky Charm pancakes in honor of St. Patrick's Day. Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant

Looking for the best St. Patricks Day bites in the best city to celebrate the holiday?

Boston was named one of the top places to celebrate St. Patricks Day by U.S. News & World Report, with the outlet praising the city for being a mecca of Irish culture.

As a city with one of the largest percentages of inhabitants of Irish descent according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Boston is a no-brainer if youre looking for authentic St. Patricks Day celebrations in the U.S., the outlet wrote. Not only has Boston hosted one of the largest St. Patricks Day parades nationwide since as far back as 1901, but the city features an array of additional events like a St. Patricks Day Road Race and a concert series with Dropkick Murphys, a local Irish punk band.

Boston also has an array of notable Irish pubs that boast some of the best St. Patricks Day-themed dishes. More information about some of these dishes is below:

Breakfast specials at Ned Devines: Neds will serve St. Patricks Day breakfast items until 2 p.m. each day from March 14 through 17. Breakfast specials include corned beef hash and eggs, while daily specials include a corned beef sandwich, Irish Toastie, Shepherds Pie and Guinness onion soup.

Lucky Charm Pancakes at Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant: This Southie staple is offering Lucky Charm Pancakes  a short stake of pancakes with sprinkles, Lucky Charms marshmallows and green icing  for the Irish holiday.

Corned Beef & Cabbage Egg Rolls at MJ OConnors: This Irish pub in the Back Bay and Seaport will have specials from March 14 through 17, including corned beef and cabbage egg rolls, Monaghan Shepherds Pie, Guinness beef stew and more.

Fish and Chips at The Black Rose: Bostons premiere Irish pub will be highlighting several classics on its menu from Fish and Chips to corned beef and cabbage spring rolls.

Corned beef soup, sandwich at Hunters Kitchen and Bar: Hunters Southern-inspired menu is getting an Irish makeover in honor of St. Patricks Day. The restaurant will serve drink and food specials including a corned beef and cabbage sandwich, bangers and mashed and corned beef soup from March 13-15 and March 17.

Irish Pizza at McGonagles: This modern, authentic Irish recently opened in Dorchester with a menu featuring unique Irish pizza options such as a rosemary roast potato pizza and a ricotta cream and confit garlic pizza.

Ploughmans Platter at Sweeneys on Boylston: Sweeneys, which took over the space of Solas in the Lenox Hotel, offers authentic Irish cuisine with standout menu items, including the Ploughmans Platter, corned beef and cabbage Sando and Guinness beef stew.

Irish cream cheesecake at Scobies Cafe & Bar: This Irish restaurant has several March specials including an artisanal Irish cheeseboard and Irish cream cheesecake.
Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy (73) talks with center Brad Marchand (63) and right wing David Pastrnak (88) during a break in action against the New York Islanders during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021, in Uniondale, N.Y. The Islanders won 4-2. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger) AP

BOSTON  In the one game that the Bruins have played since Brad Marchand was traded, nobody wore the captains C that he vacated upon his departure.

Barring a pivot in philosophy, nobody will assume those duties officially until at least next season.

David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy are both alternate captains. Brandon Carlo and Charlie Coyle had been alternates as well with Marchand and McAvoy injured, but they were traded too. It was unclear whether the Bruins would add a third player with an A this year.

Meeting with Boston media for the first time since the trade, Marchand said the Bruins' player leadership was in good hands, especially with Pastrnak and McAvoy working together. He compared the potential melding of their leadership styles and personalities to former captains Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron.

They both lead in different ways and especially together, the way I look at that is like a Bergy-Z type thing where theyre co-leaders where they have different ways they can lead, Marchand said. But theyve been around. Theyve seen it and the way that Z and Bergie built that culture and whats expected every single day. (I have) complete faith in those guys to carry on that culture and legacy and continue to add to it. Not just carry it, you got to leave it better than you found it.

Especially with the term those guys are on and how young they are, they have a great opportunity ahead of them to kind of carve their own path and build a legacy that theyre excited about and, and lead the way that they want to, Marchand continued. Thats what Z did when he came in. He had an idea of how he wanted to lead and how he wanted to change things, and he put it in motion. And then Bergy came in and the two of them just took over and did their thing. So, those guys have that opportunity to do the same thing now.

Marchand said hes spoken to Pastrnak already and had plans to see McAvoy later in the day on Tuesday.

Ive been with Pasta a long time. Ive seen him go from a little boy to one of the best players in the world, Marchand said. Its been incredible to see.
Southwest Airlines is ending free baggage check later this year for the first time in the airlines 54-year history.

The airline will start charging passengers for their first and second checked bags starting on flights booked on or after May 28, Southwest said in an online press release Tuesday.

The airline said the change  among others announced Tuesday  was made to support business objectives and create choice for current and future customers of Americas largest domestic carrier.

We have tremendous opportunity to meet current and future customer needs, attract new customer segments we dont compete for today and return to the levels of profitability that both we and our shareholders expect, Bob Jordan, president and CEO of Southwest Airlines, said in the press release. We will do all this while remaining focused on whats made us strong  our people and the authentic, friendly, and award-winning customer service only they can provide.

Southwest Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred members and passengers who book their top-tier Business Select fares will still get two free checked bags. Frequent flyer A-List Members, Southwest-branded credit card holders and other select customers will be allowed one checked bag.

Experts say this historic end to Southwests free baggage policy could undermine customer loyalty.

This is how you destroy a brand. This is how you destroy customer preference. This is how you destroy loyalty. And this, I think, is going to send Southwest into a financial tailspin, airline industry analyst Henry Harteveldt of Atmosphere Research Group told CBS News. Southwest, with these changes, becomes just another airline.

This sentiment was felt among people on social media who expressed their anger with Southwests initiative.

Thats a horrible business decision considering thats the only thing that set them apart from other airlines, one X user wrote.

Ugh. @SouthwestAir charging for bags is a bad move. It was the one reason I was loyal to them for so many years, another X user wrote. There is now absolutely no perk to fly Southwest over other carriers. This is a bad move, Southwest. A very bad move."

The change comes as an activist investor has been pressuring the airline to improve its financial performance, CBS News reported.

Southwest, the countrys fourth-largest airline, recently announced its first-ever layoffs, launched its first redeye flights and intends to stop its long-running open seating policy by offering seat assignments next year. The airline plans to sell extra legroom seats for an additional fee, according to CBS News.

Southwest also announced changes to the airlines Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program on Tuesday. The airline increased the points flyers can earn on Business Select fares and reduced the points earned on less expensive fares, including Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus.

Southwest will also introduce variable redemption rates across higher-demand and lower-demand flights.
The U.S. Department of Education building is seen in Washington, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Six Massachusetts colleges and universities are among dozens being investigated by the U.S. Department of Education for not protecting Jewish students from antisemitic discrimination and harassment.

Sixty colleges and universities across the country were named in a Monday press release announcing investigations into whether they have failed to meet their obligations to Jewish students under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Boston University, UMass Amherst, Tufts University, Emerson College, Harvard University and Wellesley College were among the institutions named in the press release as being under investigation.

The release states that the education department is investigating the 60 colleges and universities for violating Jewish students civil rights, such as by not ensuring them uninterrupted access to campus facilities and educational opportunities.

The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in the release.

Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin in programs or activities that receive federal funding. It also allows money allocated by the federal government to be halted if an institution violates this provision.

U.S. colleges and universities benefit from enormous public investments funded by U.S. taxpayers. That support is a privilege, and it is contingent on scrupulous adherence to federal anti-discrimination laws, McMahon said in the release.

How Mass. colleges are responding

Wellesley College said it is in the process of reviewing the letter in a Tuesday statement to MassLive.

Wellesley condemns antisemitism and other forms of hate and discrimination and has taken action to ensure that all our students, including Jewish students, have a strong sense of belonging at Wellesley, the statement reads.

The college is continuing its work to improve the climate on campus and ensure Title VI compliance, it said in the statement. It is encouraging reporting of potential Title VI violations and has created mandatory Title VI anti-discrimination training for students and for other community members.

Wellesley also called attention to the fact that its efforts to crack down on antisemitism on campus were recently recognized in the Anti-Defamation Leagues 2025 Campus Antisemitism Report Card. The Jewish anti-hate organization gave Wellesley a grade of B and acknowledged the colleges improvements over the past year.

Our work on these issues is ongoing, and we look forward to updating [the Department of Education] on the ways we are addressing these issues and to sharing the results of this important work, the college said

UMass Amherst acknowledged it had received the letter in an update posted to its website.

The university condemns hatred, including antisemitism, in all forms. The University of Massachusetts Amherst will continue to cooperate fully with the Department of Educations Office of Civil Rights, the update reads.

A spokesperson for Tufts said the university is currently reviewing the letter. None of the other colleges or universities named in the release responded to a request for comment by 1 p.m. Tuesday.

How we got here

Tufts, Harvard, Emerson and UMass Amherst were among the myriad colleges and universities across the country at which students formed encampments to protest the Israel-Hamas War last spring. A similar protest took place at Boston University around the same time, and Wellesley College was previously accused of failing to protect Jewish students from antisemitism in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack.

The federal education department first announced the Title VI investigations last week, but only named five colleges and universities, none of which are located in Massachusetts. The Monday press release announced that 55 additional universities are also now under investigation.

The investigations are part of the Trump administrations efforts to fulfill a Jan. 29 executive order from President Donald Trump that calls for Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism. The executive order accuses former President Joe Bidens administration of failing to protect Jewish Americans in the wake of the Oct. 7 terrorist attack.

These attacks unleashed an unprecedented wave of vile anti-Semitic discrimination, vandalism, and violence against our citizens, especially in our schools and on our campuses, the executive order reads. Jewish students have faced an unrelenting barrage of discrimination; denial of access to campus common areas and facilities, including libraries and classrooms; and intimidation, harassment, and physical threats and assault.
A black market doctor's office was discovered in a Framingham apartment complex on March 10, authorities say. Pictured is the consultation/exam room they found. (Courtesy/U.S. Attorney's Office)

Federal authorities executing search warrants in Framingham Tuesday discovered a black market doctors office operating inside of a large apartment complex, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office, where four Brazilian nationals had been peddling illegal prescription drugs to the Portuguese-speaking community.

Inside the unit at The Green at 9 & 90, which advertises itself as a luxury apartment community at 1630 Worcester Road, law enforcement found an examination and consultation area, large quantities of controlled substances and non-controlled prescription and/or misbranded drugs imported from Brazil and used syringes ostensibly used to inject patients, they said.

Charged in the investigation, which began in Oct. 2023, are Douglas Reis de Souza, 40; Dekny Marcos de Carvaleho Reis, 33; Dekmara de Carvalho Reis, 34; and Wandiscleia Ferreira de Souza Guimaraes, 41. They each face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Law enforcement said lead defendant Reis de Souza falsely portrayed himself as a legitimate pharmacist with 22 years of experience to Framinghams Portuguese-speaking community. According to court documents, he did business as Droga Reis, which is Portuguese for Drug King.

U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley said the operation exploited a communitys trust for years. Framingham has the largest Brazilian community in Massachusetts and one of the largest in the U.S.

Law enforcement photos show large quantities of illegal prescription drugs inside a Framingham apartment that purportedly operated as a black market doctor's office. (Courtesy/U.S. Attorney's Office)

Reis de Souza had electronic business cards that advertised remedies from Brazil, including medicines for adult and pediatric use, contraceptive pills and injectables, injectable cocktail to treat muscular and orthopedic problems and perforation of ear cells, court documents show.

Reis de Souza told patients to contact him on WhatsApp and included a QR code that auto-populated a chat requesting medication, according to authorities.

Dont miss your work day, the business card purportedly said.

Law enforcement said Reis de Souza collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits as a result of the drug trafficking scheme.

The three other defendants  Carvaleho Reis, Dekmara de Carvalho Reis and Wandiscleia Ferreira de Souza Guimaraes  were employed to process, fill and deliver orders, according to authorities.

Investigation began with anonymous tip

According to a federal court affidavit, in Oct. 2023, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration received an anonymous tip through its web portal, identifying Reis de Souza as selling illegal medicines without prescription to the Brazilian community inside the Green at 9 & 90 condominiums in Framingham.

The tip said some of the drugs included Zolpidem, Ritalin, Vyvanse, Dipyrone and Ozempic.

Pictured are illegal prescription drugs that law enforcement says were sold by a black market doctor's office in Framingham run by four Brazilian nationals. (Courtesy/U.S. Attorney's Office)

The DEA enlisted a confidential source to purchase pharmaceutical-grade narcotics from Reis de Souza. During an initial Whatsapp exchange, Reis de Souza agreed to sell the source one injectable pain medicine cocktail for $100, court documents show.

Between 2023 and 2024, the confidential source made seven undercover purchases from Reis de Souza, the documents state, all at the 1630 Worcester Road address, where Reis de Souza leased an apartment.

Codeine, Tramadol, clonazepam, morphine and alprazolam were among the drugs authorities say Reis de Souzas operation distributed to paying customers.

Customers asked to come forward

Law enforcement also seized at least 24 packages sent from Brazil to Reis de Souzas drug trafficking organization during the investigation, they said, all of which were found to contain illegally imported pharmaceutical-grade controlled substances.

In total, an estimated 8 kilograms of controlled substances and tens of kilos of non-controlled substances were recovered during the investigation, law enforcement said.

Prescription drugs play a vital role allowing individuals to control symptoms, treat illnesses, and improve overall health, said Ketty Larco-Ward, inspector in charge at the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Boston Division. The illegal and improper dispensing of prescription drugs to vulnerable individuals without the concurrence from a medical professional or a licensed pharmacist is a deadly combination.

Foley urged individuals impacted by the scheme, especially those who may have experienced adverse effects, to come forward and report it to law enforcement by contacting USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.
Immigrants and immigration advocates asked the Boston City Council Monday to preserve the law that limits Boston polices ability to cooperate with federal immigration authorities and also to strengthen the protection it provides.

The 2014 Trust Act, which Mayor Michelle Wu defended during a Congressional hearing in Washington, D.C., last week, helps immigrants feel safe in the city, speakers said during a council hearing. But under the current presidential administration, which has made immigration enforcement and deportations a priority, that protection is especially important.

Ive witnessed parents afraid of sending their children to school, worrying about what will happen if they step out of their homes, said Nivia Pina, a Boston Public Schools teacher and small business owner. The fear is harmful to our community, our workplaces and our schools. No one should have to live in fear simply for trying to build a better future for their family.

The Trust Act prohibits local police from working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on civil immigration enforcement efforts. Police officers are prohibited from asking people about their immigration status, making arrests or holding someone based on ICE administrative warrants if there is no other criminal charge or otherwise performing the functions of an immigration officer.

Boston police are still free to work with ICE on criminal investigations, including drug or human trafficking cases.

City officials and supporters of the law have said it protects public safety by allowing undocumented immigrants to contact law enforcement to report a crime or provide information for an investigation without the fear of being deported.

However, some of the advocates at the hearing, which was held to assess the effectiveness of the Trust Act in the decade since it was enacted, said those protections could be strengthened.

Policy consultant Neenah Estrella-Luna said that while the text of the law specifies that police can cooperate with ICE on investigations involving criminal charges or aggravated felonies, those terms can be left up to interpretation without more specific language.

At the federal level, you will find that that law under aggravated felonies includes things like shoplifting. And I dont know about you, but I do not define stealing bread or deodorant or baby formula as an aggravated felony, Estrella-Luna said.

Suzanne Lee, an educator and retired Boston Public Schools principal, said the Trust Act is especially important for protecting children in schools. She said school staff need to be trained to know what to expect, because while typically they would not need to know the specifics of immigration law, right now, they do.

The fear of immigration enforcement, she said, is negatively affecting students, even those who are in the country legally.

When children dont feel safe and worry about their parents, and worry about whether or not when they get home their parents will be there, or whether or not they have jobs that can provide for them ... They dont focus. They tend to act out, she said, adding that this affects other students in the classroom as well.

You cannot learn unless you have the mental capacity to feel safe and then open your mind to learn, she said.

While most people at the hearing supported the law, a few testified against it during the public comment period.

Shawn Nelson, a former City Council candidate who also attended a rally against the Trust Act in front of City Hall on the day of Wus Congressional testimony last week, accused city councilors of supporting the law to push ... the Democrats' agenda.

You are not cooperating with the federal government with taking out illegal immigration, Nelson said. This has nothing to do with those who came here legally. You actually are disrespecting the hard work they had to go do to come into this country, to allow people to break our federal laws and to protect them.
Former U.S. Army soldier Michelle Miller, 29, was last seen alive in Cambridge. Her body was found in the basement of an empty apartment two weeks later when a neighbor complained about a rank odor. Courtesy of the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office

A Boston man accused of killing a former U.S. soldier at the command of her partner in 1992 will be arraigned in a superior court on Tuesday morning, officials said.

Edward J. Watston, 65, of Mattapan will be arraigned at the Middlesex Superior Court at 10 a.m., Marian Ryan, the Middlesex County District Attorney said in a statement.

Watson is accused of killing Michelle Miller, a 29-year-old former U.S. Army soldier, in a basement of an empty apartment, according to the district attorneys office. She was the mother of two children and was being abused by her jealous and violent partner Daniel J. Innis.

Watson was charged with first-degree murder in the Cambridge District Court and was arraigned on Dec. 16, 2024, according to the district attorneys office.

Miller was last seen alive in Central Square in Cambridge. Her body was found in the basement of an empty apartment two weeks later, when a neighbor complained about a foul odor.

Prosecutors say that Miller was the victim of a murder-for-hire plot. Watson killed her at the command of Innis.

Innis was sentenced to 15-20 years in state prison for an unrelated manslaughter charge in 1994, the district attorneys office said. He died in 2012.

By 1992, Miller had fallen on hard times, according to Ryan. The army veteran was being abused by Innis, who was threatening to take her kids away.

On July 28, 1992, the day after she told her social worker of her intention to obtain a restraining order against that abusive partner, she disappeared, Ryan said in a statement. Her body was found two weeks later, partially naked, with her face covered by a blanket, in the filthy basement of an abandoned building in the Central Square neighborhood of Cambridge. For more than thirty years this case had gone unsolved. Our Cold Case Unit, using archived records from the Department of Social Services, was able to unearth previously unknown details about the abuse that Michelle Miller had suffered at the hands of her partner, and how she tried to protect herself immediately before her disappearance.
Two dogs named Chocolate Chip and Salami Mami attacked a group of police officers during a drug bust in a Webster snack retail shop on March 5, authorities said.

The drug bust was the result of a months-long investigation into the sale and distribution of drugs from the store. Webster police and FBI officers executed a search warrant at Mr. Exotixs snack retail shop at 106R E. Main St. on March 5, the department said, and led to the arrests of two men from New York.

Four Webster police officers were hurt as a result of the resistance from the two men and the subsequent dog attacks, the department said. Three of the officers were taken to the University of Massachusetts Webster Hospital. Theyve since been released.

During the drug bust, the officers were met with heavy resistance from two men, the department said. They were also attacked by the two pit bulls whom they did not know about beforehand.

One of the dogs was shocked with a department Taser and officers tried to use pepper spray on the other, the department said.

After the drug bust, the dogs were taken by the Webster Animal Control, the Webster Police Department said. The canines werent up to date on their rabies vaccines, but they were otherwise in good health and safe in our shelter. Due to the dog bites, theyll be subject to a 10-day quarantine.

Jeffrey Salley, 35, of Yonkers, New York, is facing six charges, while Gabriel Blandino, 30, of the Bronx faces nine, the department said. Most of the charges are related to guns and drugs.
A 28-year-old man at Malden District Court for an arraignment in connection with an altercation at the Encore Casino on Monday faces a new charge after police say he stabbed a man outside the courthouse.

The man, Kalongie Bradley, is charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in connection with the incident shortly after 12 p.m. Monday at Malden District Court. Bradley was at the courthouse after being arrested at the nearby casino in Everett on a charge of disorderly conduct, which was dismissed after his arraignment.

At the casino, police say Bradley engaged in a physical altercation with a relative of the man stabbed outside the courthouse Monday. The man stabbed sustained a serious, but non-life-threatening injury, according to Massachusetts State Police.

When troopers arrived to the courthouse Monday, a court officer pointed them to nearby Commercial Street. There, troopers found two Medford Police officers with five men, all of whom were detained. As they searched the men, police found a knife on one of their waistbands.

Police also detained three other individuals at a restaurant near the courthouse.

Bradley was identified as a suspect after police spoke to the five men detained on Commercial Street.
Editors note: This story has been updated to include remarks Gov. Maura Healey said Tuesday about the demolition.

The Pink House, a famed landmark along Plum Island Turnpike in Newbury, was demolished on Tuesday, NBC 10 Boston reported.

Last Friday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said it was going to move forward with plans to tear the house down.

Following the announcement, people gathered outside the house to say goodbye, NBC wrote.

It breaks my heart, Gov. Maura Healey told reporters in Springfield on Tuesday. We tried really hard to broker a deal. Unfortunately, the feds werent having it.

The governor referred to efforts by the federal government to sell the property and have the house removed from the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.

Healey previously reached an agreement with the wildlife service in October to pause demolition. This would allow for additional conversations about ways to save the structure, which sat on a salt marsh. After a thorough and collaborative effort among all parties, officials could not agree on a plan to relocate the structure.

Healey told reporters that she received photos of the demolition from her sister.

The Pink House will live on, Healey said Tuesday. In what form, I dont know... Im going to be really sad next time I drive past it. Its really sad. A lot of people worked really hard to try and save it.

Support the Pink House President Alison Odle, whose organization led much of the public organizing to save the home, previously told MassLive that we join all who will be completely devastated by the imminent loss of this treasured landmark and what it could have become.

Built in 1925, the two-story, three-bedroom house was surrounded by salt marsh and tidal creek, with the turnpike to the north, and has been subject to increased flooding in recent years. The structure flooded at least twice in 2024, and sea level rise means it likely will again if the house remains where it is, according to the service.

For decades, the home was owned by The Cutter Family, a prominent Newburyport family that owned a cafe and had ties to the Fern Shoe Company, according to research conducted by Support The Pink House. The Cutters eventually sold the home in 1947, and its ownership bounced around before it was sold to Milton and Juliette Stott in 1960. The Stotts were the last occupants of the home, which was bought by the service in 2011.

Following its demolition, the Fish and Wildlife Service intends to transform the site by restoring it to a wildlife habitat and opening part of the property to the public. Earlier plans called for the construction of an observation platform on the site but after hearing community feedback, the service will instead install benches and educational panels for public use.

The Republican reporter James Kinney contributed to the reporting of this story.
A man who was charged in connection with the rapes of two women in a Framingham clothing store in 1989 was ordered held without bail at his court appearance on Monday, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryans office said.

Stephen Paul Gale was arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court on four counts of aggravated rape, two counts of kidnapping and one count of armed robbery, Ryans office said in a statement.

A Superior Court judge ordered Gale to be held without bail. Gale is next expected to appear in Middlesex Superior Court at 10 a.m. on March 18.

On Aug. 8, Gale was arrested in Los Angeles after leading police on a one-and-a-half-hour pursuit through the city that ended in Westwood. After his arrest, Gale was arraigned on charges first filed in Los Angeles County in 1996.

When the U.S. Marshals Service announced his capture, they found that Gale was believed to be behind several rapes in Boston between 1989 and 1990 perpetrated by a man known as the Boston Strip Mall Rapist.

On Dec. 27, 1989, Gale entered a womens clothing store on Route 9 in Framingham where two women, 18 and 29, were working, prosecutors say.

As the women prepared to open the store, prosecutors say Gale approached one of the women and said he was there to buy clothes and asked for help picking out an outfit.

Then he showed the woman what he said was a gun and forced the two women into the back of the store, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said in a May press conference.

Prosecutors identified Gale as a suspect in the rapes through forensic genealogy using DNA evidence collected at the time, Ryans office said on Monday.
A former Quincy resident was sentenced to prison for destroying evidence connected to four fires at Jewish institutions in the Boston area, United States Attorney Leah Foleys office said.

U.S. District Court Judge Patti Saris sentenced Alexander Giannakakis, 37, to 42 months, or over 3 years, in prison, Foleys office said in a statement. This sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release.

In November 2024, Giannakakis pleaded guilty to the charges of concealing records in a federal investigation; tampering with documents and objects; and tampering with an official proceeding, Foleys office said.

He was extradited to the United States from Sweden in February 2024.

Rather than assist authorities, Alexander Giannakakis chose instead to impede the FBIs investigation by lying to investigators and destroying and concealing evidence, Foley said in the statement. Obstructing law enforcement is a serious crime that can embolden individuals to continue criminal behavior, sometimes with serious or even deadly consequences. Todays sentence leaves no room for doubt, that this type of deceit and obstruction will not be tolerated.

In February 2020, Giannakakis younger brother was suspected of setting four fires in 2019, two at a Chabad center in Arlington on May 11 and May 16, 2019; at a Chabad center in Needham; and at a Jewish-affiliated business in Chelsea later that month, Foleys office said.

When Giannakakis brother was identified by authorities as a suspect, he was hospitalized in a coma and died later that year, the statement read. After his brother was identified, Giannakakis left the United States for Sweden, where he lived at the time. He took his brothers electronic devices and documents with him.

In March 2020, he returned to the United States and answered questions by investigators about his brother, when he made false and misleading statements, Foleys office said.

Giannakakis later hid and destroyed physical evidence that implicated his brother in the arsons, the statement read. Hours later, he flew back to Sweden and stayed there until he was arrested by Swedish authorities in February 2022.
A Massachusetts State Police trooper was indicted in connection with the sexual assault of a driver in Brighton, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryans office said.

Terence Kent was indicted on charges of bribery and indecent assault and battery, Ryans office said in a statement.

At around 4 p.m. on Aug. 24, 2024, a person was parked near Soldiers Field Road in Brighton, the statement read. Driving his State Police cruiser, Kent drove up to the driver to block the mans car from leaving.

When the man asked Kent to move his cruiser, the trooper told the man that his vehicle registration and insurance had expired, and the vehicle had to be towed, Ryans office said.

When the victim expressed concerns, Trooper Kent requested that the victim meet him at a Department of Transportation property, located in Lexington, the statement read. The trooper requested the victim perform a sexual act as a favor to him, and, in turn, Trooper Kent would take care of the victim by not towing his car.

In November, State Police said that Kent was suspended without pay. Kent graduated from the State Police Academy in 2017, according to state police. State police previously suspended him in 2023 for abandoning his assigned post.

In her statement, Ryan said Kent used his position of power as a sworn police officer to commit a sexual assault.

These allegations, if true, are a blatant violation of the public trust and his obligation to uphold high ethical standards and the values of the community, Ryan continued. Todays indictment is a reflection of our continued commitment to the highest level of accountability and transparency when it comes to those entrusted to protect public safety.

Kents arraignment in Middlesex Superior Court has not yet been scheduled.

MassLive has reached out to Massachusetts State Police for more information.
FILE - Mahmoud Khalil, (center) a lawful U.S. resident who was a graduate student at Columbia until December, was detained Saturday by federal immigration agents in New York and flown to an immigration jail in Louisiana. AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File

When Smith College student organizers Priya Dalal-Whelan and Midge Hayward heard that a prominent pro-Palestinian activist at Columbia University was arrested and facing potential deportation by federal immigration authorities over the weekend, they experienced a mix of outrage and fear.

I think that it was just really scary to hear. I think it sets a really scary precedent for this policy of kind of blurring the lines or trying to frame people as not American or strip us of our legal rights for speaking on certain issues, said Dalal-Whelan, who is part of Smith Students for Justice in Palestine.

Mahmoud Khalil, 30, a lawful U.S. resident who was a graduate student at Columbia until December, was arrested Saturday by federal immigration agents and flown to an immigration jail in Louisiana, according to the Associated Press.

He has not been charged with a crime, but President Donald Trump has argued that protesters forfeited their rights to remain in the country by protests he claimed support Hamas, the Palestinian group that attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

The arrest of Mahmoud Khalil is the first of many to come, according to Trump.

Dalal-Whelan said student organizers have always been working knowing theres a certain amount of danger, especially with mass protests at the University of Massachusetts Amherst a few miles away, but this federal action took it to another level.

Its obviously very scary for us, but I think its also moving people to take action, she said.

Smiths chapter of National Students for Justice in Palestine joined nationwide protests on Tuesday at noon to walk out of class in response to attacks on the Student Movement and popular education.

The Trump administration said the arrest was in support of Trumps executive order on antisemitism, claiming that Khalil led activities which aligned with Hamas, which the United States has designated a terrorist organization.

The characterization of American campuses as antisemitic, strikes me as an exercise of gaslighting by the Trump camp, said Mathias Risse, Harvard professor and the director of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy.

He said the administration is using accusations of antisemitism as a tactic to attack those who do not easily fall in line with their illiberal understanding of democracy.

The gaslighting enables them to pursue these sinister goals from a moral high ground and enlist people who genuinely believe they occupy this ground, Risse said.

While there havent been any arrests at Massachusetts institutions yet, protests and encampments at colleges and universities in the state drew similar national attention to the ones at Columbia University.

Six Massachusetts colleges and universities are among 60 that were named announcing investigations into whether they have failed to meet their obligations to Jewish students under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Harvard is one campus that faces particular attention. Last week Trumps federal task force on antisemitism said Harvard and Columbia would be among 10 schools that they will visit in response to antisemitism concerns. The administration later announced it would be pulling $400 million from Columbia.

Read more: Harvard implements hiring freeze amid federal uncertainty

In reaction, Harvard University announced a temporary hiring freeze, following in the footsteps of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Will the arrest impact free speech in Mass.?

For students, faculty and organizers in Massachusetts, the arrest of Khalil meant something different.

Some raised concerns with how the arrest will infringe upon free speech in the country, especially on higher education campuses. Others said it was the right  and law-abiding  thing to do.

Ruth Wisse, a former Harvard professor and senior fellow at the Tikvah Fund, a conservative nonprofit promoting Jewish thought and ideas, said what the Trump administration is doing is a reaction to what is wrong at the universities.

The government should not have had to come in like the cavalry to save the university from itself, Wisse said.

Wisse said universities need to be corrected from within and need to blame themselves instead of trying to scapegoat the Trump administration for coming in and doing what it felt it had to do because the universities would not correct themselves.

Lawrence Summers, a former Harvard University president and critic of the institutions response to antisemitism and student protests, told The Boston Globe that he is concerned about the ramifications of the funding cuts.

He said he fears it will counterproductively promote antisemitism, as others in the community blame Jewish activists for the sanction. Indiscriminate funding cuts are the worst higher education policy step in decades, Summers said.

Summers said he didnt know enough about Khalils case but that selective punishment of individuals based on speech the government authorities find noxious, absent violation of law, is antithetical to all our countrys traditions and deeply repugnant and offensive.

He said he hopes it is reversed in the courts if that is what happened.

Jeffrey Flier, Harvard University professor and former dean, posted on X that the arrest raises important concerns about free speech and due process, reposting a letter from the free speech organization FIRE which requested the legal basis for arresting Khalil.

Taking concerns about antisemitism at Columbia to a whole new level. Existential threat with a blunt instrument, Flier said.

Kaia Dandelion, an active member leader for Jewish Voice for Peace Western Massachusetts, a Jewish left-leaning anti-Zionist advocacy organization, said they see the arrest of Khalil as an effort to silence pro-Palestine organizing across the country.

I very much see the Trump administration not caring at all about Jewish safety but silencing this mass anti-war student movement for Palestinian freedom in a way that will silence all of us from being able to speak our minds and live into our values, Dandelion said.

I believe that calling anything and anybody pro-Hamas is a way to detract from the human rights violations that are being committed in an ongoing way by the Israeli military at this time, Dandelion said.

Others had different thoughts, including Shabbos Kestenbaum, a former Harvard student who is suing the institution for failure to combat antisemitism.

He said it was about time for the presidential administration to hold protesters accountable.

As a first generation American, I know that being in this country. It is a privilege. Its not a right. And its a shame that this individual so obviously violated the terms of his green status. And he has really no one to blame but himself, Kestenbaum said, who has been a vocal advocate in support of Trump.

This really has nothing to do with speech. It has nothing to do with Jewish students. It has nothing to do with antisemitism. It has everything to do with simply following the law. And I dont understand why theres this Palestine exception that so long as you protest for Palestine, you could be immune from prosecution, Kestenbaum said.

He added that he is glad that public outrage at Harvard has forced the institution to discipline its staff, including librarian Jonathan Tuttle who was filmed tearing down a poster at a rally on March 3 with photos of Israeli hostages, according to the Harvard Crimson.

Its a shame because there are lots of other incidents that arent recorded is not public outcry. So Harvard does not feel the need to take any action, he said.

What happened to Mahmoud Khalil

On Saturday, federal immigration authorities arrested Khalil at his university-owned apartment and later flew him to an immigration jail in Louisiana, according to the Associated Press.

Khalil earned his masters degree from Columbias school of international affairs last year.

He hasnt been charged with any crime related to his activism. He is a permanent resident with a green card but Trump has hinted that Khalils actions would be cause for him to be deported.

Elora Mukherjee, the director of the immigrants rights clinic at Columbia Law School, told The New York Times that revoking a green card in response to public speech is prohibited by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

We have not been able to get any more details about why he is being detained, his attorney, Amy E. Greer, told the Associated Press on Sunday. This is a clear escalation. The administration is following through on its threats.

On Monday, a federal judge ordered that Khalil not be deported while the court considered a legal challenge brought by his lawyers. It is scheduled for Wednesday.

Federal agents attempted to take another international student at Columbia but werent allowed to enter her apartment, the outlet reported.

We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, Trump wrote in a social media post. We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country  never to return again.

Smith College student organizer Hayward said Trumps actions are " profoundly horrifying" but not surprising. As a Jewish student, she said it is particularly difficult to hear the arrest being done in the name of Jewish so-called safety.

Dalal-Whelan agreed.

I think it just comes down to a question of humanity, every person in Gaza is a person, every student here thats on a green card is also a person, and every U.S. citizen is also a person, and no one deserves to have their rights stripped from them, said Dalal-Whelan. Everyone deserves access to freedom and safety, and thats what weve been fighting for, and thats what well continue to fight for.
A Weymouth man admitted in Norfolk Superior Court to the 2020 fatal beating and strangling of his father, Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrisseys office said.

William Walling Jr., 42, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, Morrisseys office said. He was sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility.

Judge Michael Doolin also sentenced Walling to a concurrent 19- to 2-year prison term on a related charge, the statement read.

Police were called to a home at Lochmere Avenue on May 16, 2020, Morrisseys office said at the time. Family members went to check on William Walling Sr., 61, and his son.

Police found the son in his bedroom, with his father dead on the floor, Morrisseys office said Tuesday.

I would like to thank the Weymouth Police and Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the Norfolk District Attorneys Office for their investigation into this tragic crime, Morrissey said in the statement.
Over the course of three hearings beginning Friday, a Cambridge District Court clerk magistrate will decide if there is enough evidence to charge 28 men who are accused of paying for sex through a high-end, interstate brothel ring.

The show cause hearings will be held over the course of three days on March 14, 21 and 28. Typically, such hearings are held behind closed doors, but the clerk magistrate found there was a special public significance in making the hearings public following requests from media outlets.

Eighteen of the 28 men appealed the decision, but the Supreme Judicial Court sided with the clerk magistrate. The states highest court found the public interest in the case outweighed the mens rights to privacy.

Officials have not named any of the men, but their names will become public by virtue of the show-cause hearings being held in open court. It is not clear how many hearings will be held each day.

In an affidavit prepared to support charges against the three people who ran the brothel ring, the men are described as politicians, pharmaceutical executives, doctors, military officers, government contractors that possess security clearances, professors, lawyers, business executives, technology company executives, scientists, accountants, retail employees and students.

I believe there are potentially hundreds of yet-to-be-identified customers that may include other professional disciplines not included in the list above, Special Agent Zachary A. Mitlitsky wrote.

In November 2023, federal prosecutors indicted three people on charges tied to the operation of the brothel ring, which operated out of apartments in Cambridge, Watertown and eastern Virginia.

Since then, all three people: Han Lee, Junmyung Lee and James Lee have pleaded guilty to criminal charges.

Federal prosecutors have said Han Lee served as the ringleader of the brothel network while Junmyung Lee was an employee responsible for booking appointments for the buyers and bringing women to the brothels. James Lee rented several apartments where the brothels operated.

The buyers found the women through two online platforms: a site called bostontopten10.com, and another named browneyesgirlsva.blog, according to federal prosecutors.

Both sites were falsely presented as advertisements for nude Asian models for professional photography appointments and claimed to not offer sexual services.

In reality, the sites, which featured nude or semi-nude pictures of the women along with specific information on their physical qualities such as height, weight and breast size, were points of access for buyers.

The brothel network is described by prosecutors as high-end because of the abnormally high prices it set  between roughly $350 to more than $600 depending on the specific sexual services.

Customers are paying a premium price compared to standard rates for commercial sex being offered in the area, Mitlitsky wrote.

Interested customers were required to submit verification: submitting a selfie or drivers license photo, completing a survey and submitting credit card information. They were then offered a menu that showed the women working at the brothel, the sexual services available and the hourly rate.

Customers were then texted directions to the brothel locations.

Women were often shuttled between brothels, including those in Massachusetts and Virginia: the affidavit describes two men paying for sex with the same woman in each state. The websites were updated regularly to list which women were available, and phrases like coming soon or open to show when new women would be arriving.

Han Lee established house rules for sex workers at the brothels, which included No laundry after 9 p.m. Always be mindful of your neighbors when you open and close the door. Be careful when you close the door. Turn on the TV in the living room, according to an affidavit filed in federal court.

More rules included turning on music while working, being careful with cigarettes, not going outside with heavy makeup, being mindful of using the heater when working ... in winter, no red lights or other colored lights in front of the door and never talk on the phone in the hallway of the apartment.

While the brothels were operating, Han Lee lived a lavish lifestyle, according to prosecutors. She shopped at Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga and Jimmy Choo, all the while concealing more than $1 million worth of payments earned through the ring.

Neither Han Lee, Junmyung Lee nor James Lee have been sentenced. Han Lees sentencing is set for March 19, Junmyung Lees sentencing is set for April 18 and James Lee will be sentenced on April 29.
Though two of the top wideouts never made it to free agency, Cooper Kupp may be a late addition to the marketplace on Wednesday.

Rams are planning to release WR Cooper Kupp after the start of the new league year unless a trade materializes, ESPNs Adam Schefter reported.

The Patriots missed on Tee Higgins and Chris Godwin, both of whom stayed with their respective teams. Higgins was hit with the franchise tag (again) by Cincinnati, while Godwin reportedly re-signed with the Buccaneers on a three-year, $66 million deal.

There was been a significant drop-off after those two in the talent pool, so could Kupp now make sense for New England as a fallback option?

The 31-year-old caught 67 passes for 710 yards last season, but plagued by injuries, hasnt played more than 12 games since 2021. Kupp is four years removed from that other-worldly 2021 that saw him named a First Team All-Pro and Offensive Player of the Year.

Until now, it hasnt made sense for the Patriots to surrender draft capital in a trade for Kupp given his age and bloated contract, but if hes cut, the veteran would be worth a roll of the dice in New England.

From a talent perspective, Kupp would easily be the best wideout in Foxborough, and the Super Bowl champ could provide a sorely-needed veteran presence in the receiving room.

He certainly still has some fire left, too.

The way I see myself is Im ascending, even if people on the outside say Im descending, Kupp told the Los Angeles Times But they arent in our rooms. They arent hearing our game plans. They dont see our practices. All they see is what happens on Sunday, and sometimes they dont even see that and all they see is a stat line and decide, Oh, this is who he is.

Thats not what defines a player. Thats not going to define who I am, certainly. Im not going to allow that. But when you go through the things Im watching  I go through every single rep, I feel every single rep I take. I diagnose every rep.  I, with all the information, know that Im moving in the right direction.
The Patriots struck early on Monday afternoon, agreeing to terms with linebacker Robert Spillane less than an hour into the legal tampering period.

New England signed the 29-year-old to a three-year, $37.5 million deal. Spillane registered over 140 tackles in each of his last two seasons with the Raiders, and should bolster a lackluster linebacker group in Foxborough.

Heres how a few experts graded the signing:

Grade: B

Looking for a linebacker to spark Mike Vrabels revamped defense, the Patriots add Spillane, who last season racked up 158 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and seven pass breakups for the Raiders. Signed by the Titans in 2018 as an undrafted free agent out of Western Michigan, Spillane spent four seasons with the Steelers before becoming one of the Raiders leading tacklers the last two seasons.  Mike Jones

Grade: B+

Linebacker was expected to be a deep position in this free agent class, but many of the best were off the board when the negotiation period (started). Zack Baun, Jamien Sherwood, Nick Bolton and Ernest Jones IV all re-signed with their old teams by the time the Patriots were able to agree to terms with a linebacker.

Spillane is a good player, though older than you think at 29. This deal is not cheap, but I think I would rather have Spillane at this price than Bolton, Sherwood or Jones at theirs.  Seth Walder

Grade: A

Mike Vrabel gets a guy that will instantly fit his culture for the New England Patriots by signing veteran linebacker Robert Spillane.

A former UDFA in 2018, Spillane has turned into a legitimate starting ILB over the last two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders. He racked up 158 total tackles with a missed tackle rate of just 6.0 percent, making him a key part of New Englands depleted defensive roster to handle the middle of everything.  Tyler Brooke

Grade: Average

Spillane has established himself as a top-tier run defender at his position, though that success hasnt necessarily translated to passing downs. The Patriots have been willing to deploy defenders based on the situation, so Spillane should be a locked-in early-down player with the possibility of coming off on passing downs. Alongside a healthy JaWhaun Bentley and Kyle Dugger in those latter situations, Spillane might be given the opportunity to play to his strengths and make a positive impact for the Patriots' defense in 2025.  PFF Staff
In Sydney, scenes like this one in Leichhardt are becoming increasingly common.

Dozens of people queued for a chance to score a $500-per-week rental in Sydney's Inner West. Source: Reddit/baron_von_jackal

It's a sight becoming all too familiar in Australia  dozens and dozens of people lining up down the street to inspect a property, as the country's housing crisis continues to create challengers for renters.

Yet another viral example emerged online over the weekend, this time in Leichhardt in Sydney's Inner West. While it's not unusual to expect metres-long queues for a one bedroom in the city's inner suburbs, this particular listing had a feature that drew an exceptional crowd  an asking price of just $500 per week.

While still a steep sum for a small apartment, in today's market, it's a price many are more than willing to pay. The property in question features a balcony, internal laundry, access to swimming pool and is just five kilometres from Sydney's CBD.

'Cheap' Sydney rental draws huge queues

While some online theorised that the reasonable asking price was merely a ploy to start a bidding war, the property's leasing agent eventually set the record straight.

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Agent Elliott Kazzi said the owner was just a "real nice bloke" who voluntarily opted to keep the asking price below the market rate as "a personal preference".

He said the owner is sensitive to the challenges facing renters and is happy "to maintain a lower rent".

According to the agency, who spoke to news.com.au and was also contacted by Yahoo News, the landlord was informed that similar rentals were averaging between $580 and $610 per week, but he chose to list it for $500.

Queueing for inspections is a sight all too familiar in the city. Photo: TikTok/@djdaroc

"This has been his position even with existing tenancies over the years," Elliot told news.com.au.

People on social media agreed that the asking price is lower than the standard for the area.

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"Looking at the listing and where it's located, I can see why it's so popular," one Sydney resident commented.

"This is my block! Its outrageously underpriced. $500 per week for a brand new apartment, near a train station, in Sydney is outrageous. We paid $600 previously for a s**t-hole in [nearby] Glebe," echoed a second.

NSW given bleak title for renters: 'Situation is dire'

The disheartening scene for young renters come as it's revealed NSW is facing its worst rental affordability crisis on record, significantly worsening homelessness, according to the latest REA Group report.

Median rents in Sydney have hit $780 for houses and $700 for units, making NSW the least affordable state for renters. Even households earning $116,000 can only afford 36 per cent of available rentals.

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Homelessness NSW warns the system is failing, with housing crises, financial struggles, and family violence driving an increase in rough sleepers. Alarmingly, 76 per cent of those seeking long-term housing and 49 per cent needing emergency accommodation are unable to secure it.

"This report validates what 67,900 people seeking homelessness support last year already know  housing has become completely unaffordable for many," said Homelessness NSW CEO Dominique Rowe.

"The REA Group report shows that even high-income earners are struggling in this market. For vulnerable populations, particularly our Aboriginal communities who make up 33 per cent of homelessness service clients, the situation is dire.

"We need a 30 per cent increase in homelessness service funding and $2 billion annually for social housing. This is essential. The REA Group's data makes it abundantly clear that this is a systemic crisis requiring immediate action."

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Buffeted by six weeks of funding freezes and employee purges across the federal government, a visibly angry Gov. Maura Healey appeared to hit her tipping point on Monday.

During a joint news conference with legislative leaders, the Democratic governor lambasted GOP cuts to a school nutrition program, calling it just another example of bad actions by President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk that are going to hurt people here in our state.

Officials at the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education learned Friday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture was terminating a second round of grant funding for the Local Food for Schools program.

Agency officials had determined this agreement no longer effectuates agency priorities and that termination of the award is appropriate.

The $12.2 million headed for Massachusetts, known as the Northeast Food for Schools program was to be used to provide local healthy food to child care programs and schools, and to create new procurement relationships with local farmers and small businesses, Healeys office said in a statement.

When she was asked whether the state had a plan to backfill that loss of federal support, Healey, flanked by Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, state Senate President Karen Spilka, D-Middlesex/Norfolk, and House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano, D-3rd Norfolk, didnt mince words.

Are you kidding? she shot back.

I think people have got to understand the scope of what were talking about here ... the scope is so vast when youre talking about federal funding, she said. Were talking about tens of billions of dollars, she continued.

Healeys $62 billion budget proposal for the new fiscal year that starts July 1 is premised on more than $16 billion in assistance from Washington.

That money funds a host of programs, including MassHealth, as Medicaid is known in the Bay State, as well as public education.

And thats not even accounting for the funding that doesnt even come to us, Healey continued. Theres money that comes directly to not-for-profits, and to organizations and to school districts directly that is also subject to just being cut completely. So, the numbers are so huge that there is no way the state can begin to fill the void and pick up the tab.

The state does have some limited avenues, including its Rainy Day Fund savings account, which is now flush with more than $8 billion in funding.

Right now, however, there is no legislative appetite to tap those funds.

The financial box in which the state finds itself reinforces the importance of court fights waged by state attorneys general including Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea J. Campbell  who are trying to frustrate the White Houses efforts.

This money has been appropriated. Its Congress who makes the laws. Its Congress who appropriates, and theyre just ... taking it away, Healey continued. And [the administration is] also ignoring federal orders. People need to know that right now, while the [attorneys general] are having success, the Trump administration is ignoring federal orders.

But thats not enough, Healey added. Lawmakers have to step up. And for that to happen, there has to be public pressure, she said.

Thats why people really need to be speaking up, and speaking to Republicans in Congress in particular, to get them to take action and to get Congress to take action, she said. Because really, theyre the only ones who can step in right now and assert their power, assert their role, [and] take back their power, which theyve allowed Elon Musk, an unelected, to take from them.

Turning to Spilka and Mariano, Healey asked the lawmakers if they had anything to add.

Ditto, Spilka quipped.

In a statement, Massachusetts Republican Party Chairpeson Amy Carnevale chastised Healey for not finding the money to save the program, while still finding the cash to keep the states emergency shelter system afloat.

She has the resources to spend over $1 billion a year to fund the migrant crisis  but cant backfill $12 million to ensure our children have access to healthy, locally sourced meals? Carnevale said.

The states emergency shelter system serves both permanent Massachusetts residents and migrant new arrivals.

Healey, a former two-term state attorney general who sued Trump nearly 100 times during his first term, underscored what she said was the breakdown of the longstanding partnerships between the state and federal governments.

And I just want to be upfront with the people of Massachusetts, but at the end of the day, every state in this country has as its partner, or has had as its partner the federal government when it comes to funding, she said.

Legal experts have pointed to what they have described as a deliberate effort by the White House to use the funding stick as a way to bring state governments to heel.

Those efforts are not only legally dubious," they also are "unconstitutional," the American Civil Liberties Union asserted last month.

Pointing to the food cuts and firings at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that will reverberate in Massachusetts, Healey again argued that Congress needs to step up and act because all states are going to suffer.

All states are going to suffer, and people are going to get hurt, and its a shame. Its a shame, she said.
By Olivia George

Her Fulbright fellowship stipend from the federal government was already days late when the email arrived.

As with many federal agencies, State Department funding has been temporarily paused, began the message, landing March 1 in the inbox of Maaya Prasad, who grew up in Virginia but now lives thousands of miles away in Mauritius studying microplastics.

She was expecting about $6,000. Instead, she got closer to $500, she said, and no word on when she might see the rest.

Last month, the State Department froze funding for long-standing international exchange and study-abroad programs that connect Americans to the world, including the Fulbright Program, established by Congress in 1946. The funding tap has not yet been turned back on, according to groups that support international education and more than two dozen affected participants.

The freeze, spurred by President Donald Trumps slash-and-burn efforts to reshape the federal government, also affects the Gilman Scholarship, which supports students of limited financial means to study or pursue internships abroad, and the Critical Language Scholarship, an immersive summer program for American students to learn languages of strategic importance for the United States.

These programs are not charity, said Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of NAFSA, a nonprofit that supports international education. They were created with the understanding that the U.S. must exchange with the rest of the world and vice versa. This is about smart diplomacy. It is an investment in our future, and in our national security and economic interest.

The funding uncertainty has stirred panic among the thousands of American scholars stranded overseas and international scholars in the United States without clarity on the future of their programs or the money needed to support themselves. They worry about rent payments and their academic futures; about letting down partner organizations and the long-term deterioration of Americas reputation abroad.

Everything Ive done for the past few months will have been for nothing if Im not able to stay, said Prasad, 24, who moved to Mauritius in December for a nine-month fellowship. Other than the March 1 email from the Institute of International Education (IIE), the nonprofit that administers the competitive program, she said shes been left in the dark.

As her bank account drains, she wonders whats next. As an undergraduate, she studied electrical engineering and creative writing at MIT. Then she graduated with a masters last summer. Instead of immediately pursing an engineering PhD, she took a leave of absence for the Fulbright.

Will the money ever come? she said.

The freeze jeopardizes the well-being and future of over 12,500 American students, youth, and professionals currently abroad or scheduled to participate in State Department programs in the next six months, according to a recent newsletter from the Fulbright Association, the programs American alumni group, reviewed by The Washington Post.

The alumni association is launching a two-month #StandforFulbright campaign to encourage Congress to restore funding and to demonstrate how international exchange strengthens Americas safety, prosperity, and global standing. The campaign begins Wednesday with a day of canvassing lawmakers on Capitol Hill for support.

Funding for U.S. programs hosting more than 7,400 people from around the world is also frozen, according to the email. Neither the Fulbright Association, the IIE nor the State Department replied to requests for comment from The Post.

I feel extremely disrespected. This is not how we treat our guests in my culture, said Shafiqul Islam, a Fulbright fellow from Bangladesh studying at the University of Montana.

Islam, 35, had another scholarship to pursue studies in the United Kingdom, he said, and would have accepted that instead of the Fulbright if he had known the U.S. government would humiliate me this way.

Meanwhile, Joanna Ehrlich, of St. Paul, Minnesota, wonders if her grant to research tuberculosis in sub-Saharan Africa will happen at all. She was preparing to fly out when she said she received an email from IIE stating no further planning would take place until further notice due to ongoing administrative issues affecting the transfer of funds from the State Department. Shes indefinitely on pause.

Withholding these funds and threatening the Fulbright program as a whole only hurts the best and brightest Americans, said Ehrlich.

The funding fiasco comes on the heels of the administrations rapid-fire dismantling of USAID - the principal U.S. agency tasked with assisting countries around the globe as they recover from disaster, try to escape poverty and engage in democratic reforms.

The uncertainty of international exchange programs has stirred broader concerns among fellows, too, about Americas reputation abroad and souring relationships with long-standing partners.

We dont want to react too quickly in case something changes in favor of releasing the funds, said Laura Odegaard, a Fulbright public policy fellow working in Cambodia who is now wondering if shell have to fly home prematurely. But at the same time the longer we wait to pull the plug the more expensive it will be for us and the more hurtful it will be to my Cambodian colleagues.

She and her partner uprooted from Austin to move to Phnom Penh in January so she could embed with Cambodias Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts for nine months. Her parents, sister, grandfather and great-grandfather all served in the military. She is a former Peace Corps volunteer and lifetime Girl Scout.

Public service is part of my identity, and this blatant disregard for the hardworking, deeply caring, smart people behind these sweeping policy changes is deeply troubling, said Odegaard, 41.

She said shes supposed to be paid $14,000 in late March or early April. She wonders if the money will arrive at all. At least she received an unpaid leave of absence from her employer back in Austin and has a job to return to.

Other fellows have not been so fortunate, she said.

The funding chaos feels particularly unfortunate, she said, given that 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of U.S.-Cambodia diplomatic relations.

fulbright-scholars 1006 words Funding freeze leaves Fulbright and study-abroad scholars stranded (c) 2025 , The Washington Post  Olivia George  NATIONAL, POLITICS, EDUCATION, NATIONAL-SECURITY, WHITEHOUSE, RACE  Mar 11, 2025 - 9:41 AM Her Fulbright fellowship stipend from the federal government was already days late when the email arrived. As with many federal agencies, State Department funding has been temporarily paused, began the message, landing March 1 in the inbox of Maaya Prasad, who grew up in Virginia but now lives thousands of miles away in Mauritius studying microplastics. She was expecting about $6,000. Instead, she got closer to $500, she said, and no word on when she might see the rest. Last month, the State Department froze funding for long-standing international exchange and study-abroad programs that connect Americans to the world, including the Fulbright Program, established by Congress in 1946. The funding tap has not yet been turned back on, according to groups that support international education and more than two dozen affected participants. The freeze, spurred by President Donald Trumps slash-and-burn efforts to reshape the federal government, also affects the Gilman Scholarship, which supports students of limited financial means to study or pursue internships abroad, and the Critical Language Scholarship, an immersive summer program for American students to learn languages of strategic importance for the United States. These programs are not charity, said Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of NAFSA, a nonprofit that supports international education. They were created with the understanding that the U.S. must exchange with the rest of the world and vice versa. This is about smart diplomacy. It is an investment in our future, and in our national security and economic interest. The funding uncertainty has stirred panic among the thousands American scholars stranded overseas and international scholars in the United States without clarity on the future of their programs or the money needed to support themselves. They worry about rent payments and their academic futures; about letting down partner organizations and the long-term deterioration of Americas reputation abroad. Everything Ive done for the past few months will have been for nothing if Im not able to stay, said Prasad, 24, who moved to Mauritius in December for a nine-month fellowship. Other than the March 1 email from the Institute of International Education (IIE), the nonprofit that administers the competitive program, she said shes been left in the dark. As her bank account drains, she wonders whats next. As an undergraduate, she studied electrical engineering and creative writing at MIT. Then she graduated with a masters last summer. Instead of immediately pursing an engineering PhD, she took a leave of absence for the Fulbright. Will the money ever come? she said. The freeze jeopardizes the well-being and future of over 12,500 American students, youth, and professionals currently abroad or scheduled to participate in State Department programs in the next six months, according to a recent newsletter from the Fulbright Association, the programs American alumni group, reviewed by The Washington Post. The alumni association is launching a two-month #StandforFulbright campaign to encourage Congress to restore funding and to demonstrate how international exchange strengthens Americas safety, prosperity, and global standing. The campaign begins Wednesday with a day of canvassing lawmakers on Capitol Hill for support. Funding for U.S. programs hosting more than 7,400 people from around the world is also frozen, according to the email. Neither the Fulbright Association, the IIE nor the State Department replied to requests for comment from The Post. I feel extremely disrespected. This is not how we treat our guests in my culture, said Shafiqul Islam, a Fulbright fellow from Bangladesh studying at the University of Montana. Islam, 35, had another scholarship to pursue studies in the United Kingdom, he said, and would have accepted that instead of the Fulbright if he had known the U.S. government would humiliate me this way. Meanwhile, Joanna Ehrlich, of St. Paul, Minnesota, wonders if her grant to research tuberculosis in sub-Saharan Africa will happen at all. She was preparing to fly out when she said she received an email from IIE stating no further planning would take place until further notice due to ongoing administrative issues affecting the transfer of funds from the State Department. Shes indefinitely on pause. Withholding these funds and threatening the Fulbright program as a whole only hurts the best and brightest Americans, said Ehrlich. The funding fiasco comes on the heels of the administrations rapid-fire dismantling of USAID - the principal U.S. agency tasked with assisting countries around the globe as they recover from disaster, try to escape poverty and engage in democratic reforms. The uncertainty of international exchange programs has stirred broader concerns among fellows, too, about Americas reputation abroad and souring relationships with long-standing partners. We dont want to react too quickly in case something changes in favor of releasing the funds, said Laura Odegaard, a Fulbright public policy fellow working in Cambodia who is now wondering if shell have to fly home prematurely. But at the same time the longer we wait to pull the plug the more expensive it will be for us and the more hurtful it will be to my Cambodian colleagues. She and her partner uprooted from Austin to move to Phnom Penh in January so she could embed with Cambodias Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts for nine months. Her parents, sister, grandfather and great-grandfather all served in the military. She is a former Peace Corps volunteer and lifetime Girl Scout. Public service is part of my identity, and this blatant disregard for the hardworking, deeply caring, smart people behind these sweeping policy changes is deeply troubling, said Odegaard, 41. She said shes supposed to be paid $14,000 in late March or early April. She wonders if the money will arrive at all. At least she received an unpaid leave of absence from her employer back in Austin and has a job to return to. Other fellows have not been so fortunate, she said. The funding chaos feels particularly unfortunate, she said, given that 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of U.S.-Cambodia diplomatic relations.
An early morning view of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. (John L. Micek/MassLive) John L. Micek

A U.S. House hearing was abruptly adjourned Tuesday after U.S. Rep. William Keating, of Massachusetts, laced into its Republican chairperson for misgendering a Democratic colleague from Delaware.

U.S. Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committees Europe subcommittee, introduced U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del., the chambers first transgender lawmaker, as Mister McBride.

According to a video posted to X, McBride, who won election in 2024 as Delawares sole House member, shot back, Thank you, Madame Chair.

McBride had just thanked Keating when the Cape Cod, Mass., lawmaker broke in.

WATCH 



US Rep. Keith Self referred to transgender Congress member Sarah McBride as Mister, sparking a heated reaction from Democrat Rep. Bill Keating.



Rep. Self: "I now recognize the representative from Delaware, Mister McBride."



Rep. McBride: "Thank you, Madam chair." pic.twitter.com/FjkGMov9Sa  Open Source Intel (@Osint613) March 11, 2025

Mr. Chairman, could you repeat your introduction again, please? Keating, the panels ranking Democrat began.

Yes, we have set the standard on the floor of the House, and Im simply ... Self said.

Keating, D-9th District, broke in: What is that standard, Mr. Chaiman? Would you repeat what you just said? You introduced a duly elected representative from the United States of America. Please.

I will, Self continued. The representative from Delaware, Mr. McBride.

His voice rising, Keating turned on Self, saying Mr. Chairman, you are out of order. Mr. Chairman, have you no decency? I mean, Ive come to know you a little bit. But this is not decent.

We will continue this hearing, Self broke in.

You will not continue it with me unless you introduce a duly elected representative the right way, Keating said.

That ended the proceeding.

This hearing is adjourned, Self said, gaveling out the session.

Taking to X after the hearing, Self noted that it is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female.

The latter is a reference to an executive order that President Donald Trump signed shortly after taking office in January declaring that its the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female.

These sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality, the White Houses order reads, in part.

LGBTQ advocates sharply criticized the order when Trump signed it.

The president cant, with a wave of a pen, change the reality of who people are and the fact that we as a community of people exist, Jennifer C. Pizer, the chief legal officer at Lambda Legal, a civil rights organization, told NBC News. We have equal protection rights, just like anybody else does.

McBride has found herself the target of Republican criticism before.

Shortly after McBride won election to the House, U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., filed a bill that would ban transgender women from using facilities on federal property that do not correspond with their assigned sex at birth, Delaware Public Media reported.

Mace said her measure was absolutely intended to target McBride, NBC News reported.
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Ahead of Brain Awareness Week, calls have been put forward as Mayo still has no access to a neurological rehabilitation team.

In Ireland it is estimated that 860,000 people have a neurological condition and there are about 600 different neurological conditions, including many rare conditions.

Six years on from the government commitment to deliver nine fully funded community neurological rehabilitation teams across the country, the rollout has been beset by delays, with most areas of the country - including Mayo - still without any access to a team.

Thats according to the Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI), the national umbrella body for 40 neurological organisations, who recently met with TDs and Senators at Leinster House, to call for their renewed commitment in delivering on the targets outlined in the 2019 Neurorehabilitation Strategy.

Magdalen Rogers, CEO of the Neurological Alliance of Ireland said: Neurorehabilitation is a vital service to enable people in Mayo with neurological conditions to live their day to day lives. Were calling on the Government to announce a commitment to funding four community neurorehabilitation teams in this years Budget. We want to see this commitment during their first 100 days in office, to send a clear signal they intend to deliver on the pledges within the Programme for Government to complete the national rollout of community neurorehabilitation teams and to developing more specialist inpatient rehabilitation beds and implement community based multidisciplinary rehabilitation services in each HSE Regional Health Authority Area.

NAI is calling for funding in the upcoming Budget for full community neurorehabilitation teams for the North West, North Dublin, South East and Midlands, promised since 2019.

READ NEXT: PICTURES: New to the Mayo market is this king-size property on 1.6 acres of land

Of the Nine Community Neurorehabilitation Teams the government committed to establishing in 2019, three have not received any funding to date, (Midlands, North Dublin and South East) while the North West team has only three posts funded compared to the 12 that should be in place. Four teams are due to be established in 2025, for Cork/Kerry, Galway, Wicklow/South Dublin and West Dublin/Kildare. The ninth team (Mid West) is due to get an uplift from 7 posts to the required 12.

For more information visit: www.nai.ie
by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, March 11, 2025

Facts about John Mulaneys new talk show set to premiere this week on Netflix are hard to come by.

This is because very little information is available on the proprietary website Netflix runs for the convenience of journalists on the TV beat.

Netflix has landing pages for (probably) hundreds of its show. Thats where you find pictures available for use on websites like this one and some descriptive verbiage about the shows.

Netflix calls this material Info, but the info Netflix provides can be a little scanty in the detail department.

There is no landing page at all on the Netflix press site for Mulaneys new show, titled Everybodys Live with John Mulaney. It starts streaming Wednesday night at 10 Eastern.

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Elsewhere on the site, if you look hard enough, there is a page with information on the show in the form of a press release.

I will use everything I can glean from this info a little later on. But what it does not have are crucial details a journalist looks for when covering a show launch, especially one like this one.

Everybodys Live is described as running for 12 weeks, including this Wednesday. It is possible to interpret this information to mean that the show will be once-a-week -- hence 12 episodes. Plus, five-day-a-week talk shows do not usually premiere on Wednesdays.

But interpretations are not facts. Nowhere in the press material (such as it is) clarifies whether the show is to be seen five days a week or one.

It is not unreasonable to wonder about this. Although the show comes on at 10 p.m. Eastern and 7 p.m. Pacific, it is styled like a network late-night show.

As such, it may be a Netflix attempt to join the nightly talk-show fray with one of its own. As a matter of fact, this is not a bad idea.

Also not provided is the length of each show. This is also a detail a journalist looks for to include in a story about any show.

Is Everybodys Live an hour? Is it weekday or weekly? Will it really be live, or is the word live applied here in the same manner of Jimmy Kimmel Live, which is not live?

On this last question, the answer seems to be yes, it will be live. In the press material unearthed by the TV Blog, Mulaney says so.

We will be live globally with no delay, Mulaney said, possibly at a press event for which I must have misplaced my invitation.

We will never be relevant, he vowed. We will never be your source for news. We will always be reckless. Netflix will always provide us with data that we will ignore.

Celebrity guests and musical performances will be regular features of the show. Actor Richard Kind and a delivery robot named Saymo appear to be recurring on the show, but this was unclear too.

They were both seen on Mulaneys last show on Netflix that was, in fact, a talk show. Titled Everybodys in L.A., the show ran for six episodes last year. It appears to be a precursor to the new one.

Five guests are listed for this weeks premiere -- Michael Keaton, Joan Baez, Fred Armisen, musical guest Cypress Hill and Jessica Roy, a personal finance columnist.

John Mulaney and Netflix have been in business together through three stand-up specials and Everybodys in L.A.

The company obviously thinks highly of him. The TV Blog does too. Thats why more information about his new show would have been helpful.
by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, March 10, 2025





Chicago-based agency VSA Partners has bulked up its leadership team with three internal promotions.

YanYan Zhang and Kim Mickenberg have been named partners, while Susan Pfeifer, an existing partner, has been appointed to the new role of head of operations.

With the promotions, VSAs seven-member leadership team is now composed of five women.

advertisement advertisement Zhang, now partner-brand design, has been with the agency for nearly two decades and throughout that time has led teams for many of VSAs longtime clients including BNY, CME Group, IBM, PepsiCo and Sappi.

Mickenberg, now partner-campaign design, has been with the agency for nearly eight years and has led campaign and brand building efforts for clients like Chime, FactSet, Wayfair, Affirm, IBM, Google, YWCA and others.

Pfeifer has been with the agency for over a decade and specializes in project management, client relations and strategic leadership.
by Gord Hotchkiss , Featured Contributor, March 11, 2025

A number of years back, I was in China for a conference when, during a dinner thrown by the hosts for their international presenters, I was lucky enough to find myself sitting next to James Fallows, who was in China on assignment for The Atlantic. His dispatches back eventually became the book Postcards from Tomorrow Square: Reports from China.

It was my first trip to China, and I was stunned by the apparent contradiction of the most entrepreneurial society I had ever seen under the rule of a Communist regime. I asked James how Chinas then leader, Hu Jintao, managed to maintain that seemingly impossible balance without widespread insurrection. He said something Ill always remember: As long as the Chinese people believe that their lives today are better than they were yesterday, and that they will be even better tomorrow, they will continue to follow their leader.

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That same very simple equation is what populists, some of whom may eventually become dictators, depend on -- promising to make life better for their base. If you were Hitler, Mussolini, or Francisco Franco, that was easy to do. Each of those countries and their economies were fundamentally broken in the 1920s or 30s. You didnt have to be a genius to make things better for the average German, Italian or Spaniard. Just getting trains to run on time was a pretty big step in the right direction.

But thats not the U.S.A. Things there are (or were) pretty good. Perfect? Not by a long shot. But pretty good.

You disagree? The plain facts are that at no time in history have people eaten more, had more, did more or lived longer than right now. And that is doubly true for the U.S., which has about 5% of the worlds population but consumes about 20% to 25% of the worlds resources. Yes, theres a lot that can be fixed (for instance, there are huge disparities in wealth and consumption), but things are pretty good. Especially in the U.S. of A.

So where does that leave a populist like Trump? Populists say that they -- and they alone -- can make life better tomorrow for their base. But when things are pretty good already, thats a hard promise to keep. The U.S. -- and the rest of the world -- is a complex place that exists thanks to complex systems. The economy, financial markets, diplomacy, healthcare, immigration, education -- all of these things are complex. And because of this complexity, the problems that do exist are what are called wicked problems -- problems that have no quick or simple solution. In fact, they may have no solution at all.

Someone like Trump has no clue about complexity. He will spout inanely ignorant fixes and back them up with talking points that have no basis in reality.

Take Trumps insanely stupid tariff solution he imposed just over a week ago. It wasnt even 24 hours old when he started pulling it back because the U. S. economy started running off the rails. As I said a month ago, imposing a 25% blanket tariff is like doing open heart surgery with a hand grenade.

And this is a big problem for Trump. He has no idea how to keep his promise to make life better for people in a complex environment. Its not just tariffs. The flurry of executive orders and the chainsaw massacre that is DOGE are similarly stupid solutions to complex issues. They are doomed to fail, which means the U.S. will inevitably slip backwards, rather than leap forward.

Trump will blunder from mistake to mistake, blowing up all the systems that made things pretty good in America. He is bulldozing through the complex international relationships that have enabled the U.S. to perch on top of the world order for 100 years, pissing off every other country in the world with the exception of one: Russia.

As the Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau just said, Make that make sense.

It would be easy to blame Trump. But I wont. Hes just being Trump, just like a shark is just being a shark. It would also be easy to blame the Republican sycophants that are letting him do this. But again -- sharks will be sharks. They have evolved to swim toward blood.

No, to truly assign blame, we have to ask why a few times.

Why was Trump put in the position where he could do this? Hes there because 77 million Americans voted for him. And why did they vote for him? Because they believed he could make things better tomorrow than they are today. Its a pretty simple equation.

Lets ask why one more time. Why did they believe that Trump could save them? Ah! Now, were getting somewhere. Our media built this belief. They built it because there is no profit in saying things are pretty good.

The media thrives by creating conflict. And so they built the belief that things were fundamentally broken and needed fixing. They created the illusion that there are simple solutions to complex problems. They gave Trump the air he needed to breathe.

The media -- especially social media -- also planted the false notion that we deserve better than pretty good. It has fostered the nonsensical equation that all of us should have the same as the richest of us.

We are entitled to it. And if we dont get it, somebody is to blame. No one stops to think that that equation is mathematically impossible.

That is what we have to fix.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, March 11, 2025

Google has released a project called Carbon Footprint for Google Ads, available beginning Tuesday by request to select advertisers across EMEA. It will become widely available in the future.

A video on YouTube explains how the company calculates the carbon footprint for advertising customers using Google Ads.

The calculation follows the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, the global standard for carbon accounting. It also provides information on how to integrate Google emissions data estimates into a companys emissions reports.

The goal is to help advertisers better measure and manage their carbon emissions. The tool provides first-party data to marketers to help track campaign emissions in Display & Video 360, Search Ads 360, Campaign Manager 360, and Google Ads.

In 2024, Google reported a 13% increase in greenhouse gas emissions for 2023 driven by the energy required for artificial intelligence and scarce availability of renewable energy in Asia and certain U.S. regions.

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Googles total emissions reached 14,314,800 metric tons, a 48% increase over 2019 levels -- the baseline for its emissions reduction targets, according to the companys 2024 Environmental Report published in July of that year.

A Google spokesperson said the project rolled out globally, despite today's announcement being published on Think With Google EMEA. The post details how consumer sentiment continues to shift, with 4 in 10 European consumers occasionally or regularly thinking about sustainability and climate change when shopping.

Emissions reporting requirements are rolling out across the European Union, and Google believes this calls for a sophisticated, data-driven approach to measuring emissions generated from marketing activities.

Our research indicates that about half of businesses in the ecosystem are estimating the impact of digital media products and most of these have reported figures to clients, Dimitris Beis, data analyst and sustainability lead at IAB Europe, told Google.

Google is a founding member of Ad Net Zero that has participated in the industry working groups focused on developing this framework for estimating emissions across media channels using media industry and climate science standards.

In a 2023 blog post, Google outlined ways to reduce carbon in advertising. The post details processes ranging from designing energy-efficient bidding to reducing the brightness of creative assets.

But a digital ad involves more than just graphic assets. Trackers, pixels, and snippets of code are added to ads for measurement, attribution, and data acquisition purposes. These can generate significant network traffic and create emissions.

Optimizing all these parts of the advertising process can lead advertisers to reduce ad emissions, and create customer-specific carbon reporting for Google advertising customers.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, March 11, 2025

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has told ad companies and others that their practices regarding the collection and use of consumers' geolocation data may violate California's privacy law.

The risk posed by the widespread collection and sale of location data has become immediately and particularly relevant given federal threats to California's immigrant communities, and to reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare, Bonta's office stated Monday.

The office added that it has requested additional information from ad companies, app developers and data brokers that appear to be in violation of the California Consumer Privacy Act, which restricts businesses' ability to harness state residents' location data.

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Andrew Folks, an attorney with Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz, notes that Bonta's move comes just weeks after Deputy Attorney General Stacey Schesser told a California bar group that the office was focused on risks to consumers posed by location data practices.

Bonta's office refused to disclose how many companies it contacted regarding location data, telling MediaPost that this information was part of the investigative files of the Attorney General.

California's privacy law gives state residents the right to tell businesses to limit their use of sensitive data -- including geolocation data. The law also enables California residents to opt out of selling or sharing their personal information.

A state lawmaker recently proposed legislation that would tighten restrictions regarding location data. That bill (AB 1355) would prohibit businesses from collecting location data from consumers unless the information was necessary to provide goods or services, and the consumers expressly consented.

The measure would also make it illegal to sell, rent, trade, or lease location data to third parties, among other prohibitions.

Bonta's letters regarding location data are the latest in a series of enforcement measures taken by the state attorney general. Last year, for instance, his office warned developers of streaming apps and sellers of streaming devices that they must allow residents to easily opt out of the use of their data for advertising purposes.
by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, March 11, 2025

The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity announced today that David Lubars, the longtime Chief Creative Officer of BBDO Worldwide will receive its lifetime achievement award, the Lion of St Mark, at the Festival in June.

With a career spanning more than 40 years, Lubars has won more than 600 Lions. During his reign at the agency BBDO was named Network of the Year at Cannes Lions a record-setting seven times, leading it to win Network of the Decade in 2020.



Lubars is credited with being the creative mind behind some of the most awarded work at Cannes Lions, including the You're Not You When You're Hungry for Snickers, which won 47 Lions. That campaign was activated in over 70 countries and grew market share in 56 of the 58 markets where it ran in its first year, starting with the 2010 Super Bowl.

advertisement advertisement Another notable piece of work, HBO Voyeur, which debuted in 2008, won two Grands Prix, five Gold, two Silver and one Bronze Lion.

Lubars started his career in 1982 as a copywriter at Leonard Monahan Saabye before moving to Chiat\Day LA as a writer for Apple. A few years later he came back to Leonard Monahan, this time as a partner to build Leonard Monahan Lubars, before moving on to lead BBDO West as CEO and Chief Creative Officer. In 1998, he took on the top creative job at Fallon in Minneapolis, where he made some of his best-known work, including a groundbreaking series of early internet ads under the BMW Films banner. In 2004, Lubars returned to BBDO, where he remained at the helm for 20 years until announcing his retirement last year.
by Colin Kirkland , March 11, 2025

Following a period of major instability with regard to the proliferation of antisemitic and pro-Nazi content appearing alongside ad placements on X, more companies continue to reallocate ad dollars to the social-media platform. However, in addition to harmful content, brands now have to consider another threat to their X-related ad spend: cyberattacks.

Over the past 24 hours, tens of thousands of people have reported issues with X, spurring company owner Elon Musk to publicly announce that the platform is experiencing a massive cyberattack.

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Over 41,000 people reported problems with accessing the platform Monday morning on DownDetector, a user report-tracking website. Throughout the following day, report rates continued to accumulate in the tens of thousands before the issue was resolved.

By Tuesday, DownDetector showed over 1.6 million reports of problems with the social-media site from users on Monday.

Musk posted that the attack was done with a lot of resources by a large, coordinated group and/or a country. The billionaire entrepreneur then stated on Fox Business Network that X had traced the issue to IP addresses originating in the Ukraine area.

Musk's mention of Ukraine, which is in the middle of a war with Russia, did not align with the public confession of a pro-Palestinian group with links to Russia called Dark Storm made on Telegram soon after the attack.

Dark Storm is known for primarily targeting countries and entities that support Israel's attack on Gaza following Hamas' attack in 2023.

Regardless of whom Musk blames for the attack, or who lays claim to it, brands advertising on X face concerns that their investment in the platform may come with unexpected outages, especially as Musk becomes further involved with the Trump administration and an ever-divisive moment in American politics.

I can't think of a company of the size and standing internationally of X that's fallen over to a DDoS attack for a very long time, Ciaran Martin -- former head of the UK's National Cyber Security Centre  told BBC.

Martin called the attack on X's servers a very old technique that is not that sophisticated -- a poor reflection on the company's cyber security status.

In addition to X, Musks position as the head of DOGE -- the Department of Government Efficiency -- has spurred global retaliation against Tesla as well, which experienced its worst daily loss since September on Monday, marking a 50% decline in shares in the past three months.

In general, X stands out in the social-media landscape due to its reputation as a real-time news source. Further cyberattacks could limit the platform's ability to sustain its real-time news coverage, driving users to copycat platforms like Threads, Bluesky or Mastodon.
by Teresa Buyikian , March 11, 2025

Now new fast-casual business owners can experience their own Chicken Joy by owning a piece of one of the Philippiness most successful exports.

This week Jollibee announced it has launched its own franchise program in the U.S.

The chain, whose Chicken Joy dish was recently named "the best fast-food fried chicken" in America by USA Today, recently surpassed 100 company-owned units in North America, with 76 stores in 14 U.S. states and 28 stores in Canada. Jollibee currently has 1,700 units globally.

Per the brand, Jollibee is seeking high-caliber, multiunit franchisees, who can not only bring operational expertise and development capabilities, but also share its passion to bring the joy of eating to everyone.

U.S Jollibee locations have reported average gross sales of $4.3 million per calendar year. The company also boasts attaining 50 months of consecutive growth, driven by customer transactions.

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Per foot traffic research firm Placer.ai, Jollibee experienced a 20% growth in foot traffic from Feb. to Nov. 2024, while the average QSR only saw a 2% increase in customer visits for the same time period.

Jollibee aims to open 350 U.S. and Canadian stores within the next couple years," with franchise-owned stores projected to make up the majority.

Jollibee is the flagship company of Jollibee Foods Corporation, which has 19 brands with over 9,500 stores across 32 countries. Its portfolio includes such wholly owned brands as Jollibee, Smashburger and Tim Ho Wan; franchised brands like Burger King and Panda Express in the Philippines; and ownership stakes in other brands such as The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.
What was intended to be a fashion event celebrating creativity in the serene snowfields of Gulmarg, unfortunately ended up igniting an unwanted controversy. Designers Shivan Bhatiya and Narresh Kukreja, collectively known as Shivan & Narresh, recently marked their label's 15th anniversary with a ski-themed fashion show amidst the tranquil landscapes of Gulmarg. However, to everyones utter displeasure, the timing and the nature of this landmark event during the holy month of Ramadan led to unforeseen events.

The designer duo unveiled their skiwear collection, which featured sculptural ski suits and apres-ski ensembles, with Gulmargs picturesque landscape serving as its backdrop.The intention of the show was to simply highlight innovation in luxury ski wear, but the viral videos of skimpily clad models ended up fuming people on social media and stirred a lot of religious tension, because all this happened during the Holy month of Ramadan. A lot of religious and political figures eventually expressed their discontent, and the event was eventually labeled as obscene.

Shivan and Narresh, however, were pretty prompt in their response and have already issued a public apology, expressing deep regret for the unintentional hurt that was caused. The duo explicitly has mentioned that they did not desire to offend any kind of religious sentiments at all. A lot of media portals also eventually took down the snippets from the fashion show which were shared earlier. This unintended clash of two worlds highlights a very important issue which should be considered by artists from every field. Oftentimes than not, it is possible for creativity to clash with the cultural fabric of a particular sector in any part of the world, and unintentionally, challenge norms and freedom of expression.

The eventual emotional disruption that this Gulmarg show stirred is a reminder that overtly sensitive issues like religion, culture and local traditions can simply not be overlooked or sidelined, no matter how unintentional the disruption might be.

 Instagram/Shivan & Narresh

For these designers, this was a wake up call to pay extra attention and primarily understand the cultural context in which they choose to showcase their work.By holding an extravagant show during a period of religious significance, the message of creativity and innovation is simply lost in translation.

A Lesson in Cultural Sensitivity

The Gulmarg controversy serves as a lesson in cultural sensitivity, not just for the fashion industry but for all creatives in every field who choose to reach out to a diverse audience base. Fashion and culture need to find a way to co-exist, while keeping local sensibilities in mind. The need to tread thoughtfully is higher more than ever right now. This controversy has sparked a dialogue to remind the world of art, that creativity is vital, but not by disrespecting any culture.
Back in 2019, Govinda claimed in an interview with Aap Ki Adalat that he was offered the Hollywood blockbuster Avatar directed by James Cameron but he rejected it. He also added that he was against the idea of body paint to play the character and didnt want to portray a handicapped character on-screen. No points in guessing the actor was heavily trolled for his statement.

 X/Cine Vichaar Now, six years later, he has reiterated that he was indeed offered Avatar and rejected it because of various reasons. He told Mukesh Khanna,I have left an offer of Rs 21.5 crore, and I remember this because it was very painful leaving it. I had met a Sardarji in America and gave him a business idea that worked; some years later, he made me meet James Cameron in London. He asked me to do a film with James, so I invited them for dinner to discuss it. I have given the films title  Avatar. James told me the hero in the film was handicapped, so I said I am not doing the film. He offered me Rs 18 crore for it and said I would be required to shoot for 410 days. I said that is okay, but if I paint my body, I will be in the hospital. Govinda also gave an example of Rajesh Khanna playing a handicapped man in the 1983 film Avtaar and said that he didnt like that a superstar of such stature is playing a character of a physically challenged man.
Clark presents new crossover series for the first time at LogiMAT 2025

Get Electrified with Crossover Technology! This is the motto under which the industrial truck specialist Clark is presenting the new Crossover series to the public for the first time at LogiMAT 2025 in Stuttgart.

The Crossover models combine the advantages of environmentally friendly electric forklift trucks with the versatility and robustness of traditional diesel and LPG forklift trucks.

Clark is thus setting new standards in material handling, especially for intensive indoor and outdoor applications.

Another special feature: Clark has given product names to forklift trucks again for a long time. For example, the L25-35XE goes by the name Raider and the S25-35XE by Renegade.

The right crossover model for every application

The two new crossover series L25-35XE and S25-35XE with load capacities of 2.5 to 3.5 tons are the next logical step for Clark in its efforts to further electrify the Clark counterbalance truck product range and increase the performance of electric forklifts to such an extent that they can replace combustion engines in all areas of application.

In order to meet this requirement, the Raider and Renegade, for example, are mounted on the proven Clark chassis of IC engine-powered forklift trucks.

This has the advantage that the crossover electric forklift trucks not only have the high ground clearance of IC trucks, but also the correspondingly larger and more robust tires and greater legroom for the operator.

This equips the vehicles perfectly for outdoor use - especially on uneven terrain or bumps. On the other hand, the crossover trucks also achieve comparable values to combustion engines in terms of driving speed, working aisle width, turning radius and climbing ability.

Thanks to water-protected components, such as the IP54 protection (dust and splash-proof) of the drive and hydraulic motor, they can be used in damp working environments or outdoors in bad weather without any problems.

The powerful emission-free lithium-ion batteries based on lithium iron phosphate technology (Li-FePO4) also ensure a powerful drive with long operating times and short charging times.

Different battery capacities and chargers are available depending on the power requirement, including an onboard charger integrated into the vehicle.

This enables fast and flexible recharging anytime and anywhere - indoors or outdoors. All these features make the Raider and Renegade the ideal choice for demanding indoor and outdoor applications where high efficiency is paramount.

The Clark Raider - Solid and robust powerhouse for shift work

The Raider series (L25-35XE) opens the door to the crossover segment. It offers operators an environmentally friendly and solid alternative to forklift trucks with combustion engines.

The vehicles are characterized by excellent all-round visibility, predictable handling and an ergonomic driver's seat with generous foot space.

The Raider therefore ensures fatigue-free working, even over long shifts. The electric drive ensures powerful acceleration thanks to immediately available maximum torque and optimum power delivery. The robust Raider reaches a maximum driving speed of 19 km/h.

Thanks to the excellent all-round view of the load and the surroundings, safe operation is guaranteed.

The intelligent arrangement of the controls reduces the physical strain on the driver and enables easy operation without unnecessary arm and shoulder movements.

The fully suspended comfortable seat absorbs shocks and vibrations on uneven ground. The ramp function prevents unintentional acceleration or rolling backwards on ramps and inclines.

The Raider series is equipped with a modern 4.3-inch LCD colour display that provides information on all important driving parameters.

Three riding modes are available to adapt the riding characteristics to the application: H (High), S (Standard) and E (Eco). For additional safety, the L25-35XE series is equipped with the Operator Presence System (OPS).

The OPS automatically switches off the hydraulic and drive functions when the operator leaves the driver's seat. The truck can only be moved when the operator is seated and in control of the vehicle.

To adapt the Raider to different applications, Clark offers, for example, different driver's seats, blue LED warning lights as a visual reversing warning, additional hydraulic functions for attachments, fork positioners with sideshift function.

The Clark Renegade - The powerhouse for demanding customers

The Clark Renegade (S25-35XE) is designed for operators who want the benefits of the Clark S-Series - Smart. Strong. Safe.

Built on the proven chassis of the S-Series IC engine-powered forklifts, the models, like the S-Series Electric, have an impressive range of safety features, customizable options and maximum comfort.

They therefore offer maximum flexibility for a wide range of indoor and outdoor applications.

As a powerful yet very quiet electric forklift truck, the Renegade combines pioneering Li-ion technology with a robust, ergonomically optimized vehicle frame and tried-and-tested lift masts from our own production with 6-roller fork carriage.

Its emission-free and low-noise operation makes the Renegade the ideal choice for applications in mixed areas where the focus is on quiet work processes.

The vehicle achieves a sound pressure level at the driver's ear of less than 65 dB(A). Thanks to its versatile safety functions and extensive options, the S25-35XE can be flexibly adapted to the individual requirements of a wide range of industries and applications.

The complete ramp stop ensures safe use on ramps, for example if the vehicle is frequently used for truck loading.

The roll-back protection activates the automatic parking brake and thus prevents the vehicle from rolling backwards.

The ergonomic driver's workplace offers maximum comfort. The slim steering column offers the operator generous legroom, while the optimally positioned step ensures safe and comfortable entry and exit.

The hydraulic levers, ergonomically mounted next to the driver's seat with integrated direction change, enable intuitive and effortless control.

The operator enjoys excellent all-round visibility. All these features reduce additional stress factors for the driver and allow safe and efficient work.

The Renegade's Smart Display provides all important driving parameters at a glance. Among other things, it shows the battery status, error codes and operating hours in a clearly structured manner.

The information is available in various languages. The driving characteristics, such as acceleration and braking behaviour, can be individually adapted to the operator's requirements via the 5-inch colour display. When using a reversing camera, the image is transmitted directly to the colour display.

This means that the driver always has an overview of the route and surroundings, even when reversing. The optional load weight display is also shown to the driver via the Smart Display.

This increases safety during load handling. Long operating times and short charging cycles thanks to the advanced Li-Ion technology make the Renegade a reliable partner for companies that need a reliable and efficient solution.

We are delighted to launch the Raider and Renegade crossover electric forklift ranges, which not only significantly increase efficiency, but also ensure environmentally friendly and sustainable material handling, explains Thomas Bach, Director R&D at Clark Europe.

The Raider and Renegade crossover electric forklift trucks are the perfect solution for companies that want to remain competitive in an ever-changing logistics world.
The analysis shows 2025 marks a return to positive sentiment for the industry

There is cautious optimism for the year ahead in the UK logistics sector, and consolidation through merger and acquisition (M&A) activity is deemed likely or very likely, according to Logistics UK.

The report analyses the opinions of more than 100 senior-level logistics professionals on M&A activity and general sentiment surrounding consolidation in the sector.

The analysis shows 2025 marks a return to positive sentiment for the industry concerning consolidation and reveals an M&A Index score of 50.2 (a score above 50 indicates positive sentiment), compared with the 41.9 score recorded in 2024.

However, the overall improvement in positive sentiment is tempered by the revelation in the report that 72% of respondents cite increased labour costs as having a significant, negative impact on company performance.

Logistics UK President Phil Roe says, In the 12 months since we commissioned the last UK Logistics Sector M&A Index report, we have seen the UK's first change of governing party in 14 years and elections in several other major economies.

"In this politically volatile environment, one would expect some impact on M&A and this is reflected in our findings, with more than one in six respondents (17%) reporting they are awaiting clarity on government policy as a reason for not undertaking M&A activity in 2025.

"However, despite the need for further clarity on government policies and the threat of rising labour costs, it is encouraging that business sentiment is overall positive and significantly more positive than last year.

The report shows M&A activity in logistics has increased over the last 12 months with more than one in five respondents (23%) undertaking M&A compared with 19% reporting M&A activity in the 2024 report.

In addition, 21% of respondents reported they had undertaken M&A activity which had either been aborted or not completed but despite this, most (94%) consider consolidation is likely or very likely to continue over the next 12 months.

The report also examines company valuations, revealing almost half of respondents felt those in the logistics sector had either decreased slightly (32%) or significantly (12%) over the last 12 months.

Mr Roe suggests this reflects the sector settling into a new normal post-COVID: There is a perception that businesses were overvalued during the pandemic, as the unique circumstances faced by our industry skewed profitability.

"The sense now is that we have entered a period of more realistic pricing and our research indicates that the trend for consolidation seems likely to increase.
Daniel Martuscello, the commissioner of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, had a message Monday after a three-week-long walkout that crippled his agency.

"The strike is over," he said.

DOCCS is moving forward with more than 10,000 security staff, including correction officers and sergeants who participated in the work stoppage but have returned to duty. The department is firing more than 2,000 officers who did not report by the 6:45 a.m. Monday deadline.

The number of returning officers was not enough to meet the 85% threshold for triggering an agreement between DOCCS and the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, the union representing correction officers and sergeants. But Martuscello said he will honor the terms of a prior agreement reached with striking officers, as well as elements of the deal with the union.

Among the actions Martuscello will take is the formation of a committee to propose changes to the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement Act, known as HALT. The 2022 law restricts the use of segregated confinement in jails and prisons. Officers who engaged in the strike say the law has contributed to the unsafe working conditions in prisons and must be repealed.

Martuscello will also suspend HALT-related programming for 90 days.

DOCCS will have officers work 12-hour shifts to avoid 24-hour overtime  mandated overtime was another complaint from officers  and staff who work overtime will be paid double time and a half.

The state will expedite the review that could increase salary grades for correction officers and sergeants. It will also work with a vendor to screen legal mail, a source of contraband in prisons.

Officers will not be disciplined by DOCCS for participating in the walkout. However, they will face penalties under the state's Taylor Law, which prohibits public employee strikes. Health insurance was restored for employees who returned to duty.

The National Guard, which was activated during the first week of the strike, will remain at prisons to support staff and prevent officers from working 24-hour shifts.

DOCCS will create a committee to boost efficiency in the agency and officers can receive up to $3,000 in referral bonuses for recruiting new staff. The department will also launch a "high-energy recruitment campaign" to address a staffing crisis in prisons.

"I want you to know that I heard you," Martuscello said to his correction officers. "Your safety, your family, your work-life balance are important to me and I'm committed to continue listening to your voices as we move forward. It is time to turn the page."

The strike, which was not sanctioned by NYSCOPBA, began at three correctional facilities on Feb. 17. The next day, officers at most New York prisons  including Auburn and Cayuga correctional facilities  joined the walkout.

Officers said their work stoppage was due to unsafe working conditions. Prison violence has increased over the years, with record numbers of assaults on incarcerated individuals and staff reported in 2024.

According to DOCCS, about 90% of its 13,500 correction officers and sergeants were considered absent without leave for participating in the strike. The department warned officers that they could be arrested or fired if they didn't end their protest.

During the first week of the strike, DOCCS agreed to enter mediation with NYSCOPBA. The process resulted in the first of three agreements that aimed to end the strike. But that initial deal was largely rejected by officers who felt it didn't go far enough in addressing their concerns.

After that agreement fell apart, Martuscello decided to negotiate with striking officers. He signed a memorandum of understanding to honor the deal struck during those talks, but NYSCOPBA killed it because the union wasn't involved in the process.

DOCCS and NYSCOPBA reentered negotiations Friday night and announced another agreement on Saturday. The deal would've been enforced if 85% of striking officers had returned to work by 6:45 a.m. Monday. But Martuscello confirmed they did not meet that threshold.

It has been a tumultuous time for DOCCS. The strike occurred three months after Robert Brooks, an inmate at Marcy Correctional Facility, was beaten to death by officers. The state is investigating a second inmate death at Mid-State Correctional Facility.

Meanwhile, a staffing shortage has led to officers working long hours in prisons. Those levels worsened with the loss of more than 2,000 officers who have been fired for joining the strike.
The U.S. military wants to keep training at Pohakuloa, so it's ready to quickly send troops to Asia and the Pacific.
Department of Veterans Affairs employees and veterans fired from other agencies as part of the Trump administration's slashing of federal jobs would be reinstated with full back pay and benefits under a bill being introduced in the coming days by a top Democrat.

The bill from Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., the ranking member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, would also reinstate military spouses, survivors, veteran caregivers and members of the National Guard or Reserves who have been fired from the federal government since Jan. 20, according to a summary of the bill provided to Military.com from Blumenthal's office.

Veterans make up about 30% of the federal workforce. Democrats have estimated that about 6,000 veterans have been fired so far across the federal government in departments ranging from the Federal Aviation Administration to the National Park Service to the Pentagon to the VA itself.

Read Next: GOP Plan to Avert Government Shutdown Would Fund Next Month's Junior Enlisted Pay Raise

At the VA, about 2,400 employees have been fired. The firings at the VA so far have focused on probationary employees, which means those who were recently hired, promoted or transferred.

But the VA cuts are poised to grow much larger in the coming months. Last week, a leaked memo revealed that the department is planning on firing about 83,000 employees later this year.

While Blumenthal's bill stands little chance of getting taken up while Republicans control the Senate, it marks the latest and strongest effort to date by Democrats to confront Republicans on the politically sensitive issues of cuts to the VA and veterans employment, and suggests Democrats are digging in for a fight over the VA after an initially muted response in the early days of the Trump administration.

"My proposed bill is a call to action at a moment of crisis for veterans," Blumenthal said in a statement. "VA's system of health care and benefits has been disastrously and disgracefully put on the chopping block by Elon Musk and Donald Trump. Their heartless and heartbreaking cuts, freezes, firings and other malign directives will destroy lives and livelihoods if unchecked. We must stop them."

Since his first day in office, Trump has worked to dismantle parts of the federal government through hiring freezes, firings and unilateral withholding of funds that are legally mandated by Congress. Trump has empowered Musk, the world's richest man, to lead the slash-and-burn effort through a White House office dubbed the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

VA Secretary Doug Collins has insisted cuts to the VA will not harm veterans health care and benefits.

"We're going to accomplish this without making cuts to health care or benefits to veterans and VA beneficiaries," Collins said in a video posted to social media last week about the impending 83,000 firings.

But Democrats contend the cuts and other Trump administration actions have already hurt veterans. For example, the hiring freeze has led to a suspension of VA research in areas such as cancer and suicide prevention.

Democrats also argue it will be impossible to cut more than 80,000 employees without reversing progress on implementing the PACT Act, the sweeping law that extended VA health care and benefits to millions of veterans exposed to toxic substances during their military services. Cuts that deep will bring the VA back to pre-PACT Act staffing levels after the department went on a hiring spree in order to handle the influx of new patients and beneficiaries from the law.

In addition to reversing the firings that have already happened, Blumenthal's bill would require the VA to certify that care and benefits won't be harmed by each firing, according to his office's summary.

It would also mandate the resumption of all research projects, bar any hiring freezes at the VA if they would reduce benefits or care, prohibit closing any VA offices or programs unless explicitly authorized by law, require at least a year's notice before any changes in telework policies and prohibit the VA from rescinding job offers for any reason not directly related to the prospective employee's actions, according to the summary.

For civil servants who are veterans, military spouses, survivors, caregivers and reservists, the bill would also bolster their job protections by prohibiting their inclusion in any mass firings; requiring their supervisors to be notified at least 10 days before they are fired; mandating proof of poor performance; and barring them from being fired if it would leave their office more than 50% vacant, the summary said.

The cuts at the VA have been among the only actions by the Trump administration that have elicited public statements of concern, albeit not outright opposition, from Republicans.

After news leaked of the upcoming 83,000 firings at the VA, House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost, R-Ill., released a statement acknowledging he had "questions about the impact these reductions and discussions could have on the delivery of services, especially following the implementation of the PACT Act."

And Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, said in a statement that while he agrees the VA needs reform, "current efforts to downsize the department and increase efficiency must be done in a more responsible manner."

At a committee meeting Tuesday, Moran also said he is in the process of crafting his own bill to ensure any changes in the VA workforce are "thoughtful, transparent [and] carried out in close coordination with this committee, with our colleagues and with stakeholders including veterans."

Sensing the vulnerability, Democrats have been seizing on the effects on veterans as part of their political messaging against Trump.

Separate from Blumenthal's bill, Sens. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and Andy Kim, D-N.J., introduced a bill Monday that would also force fired veterans to be reinstated to their jobs in the federal government. Blumenthal is also a co-sponsor on their bill, which is a companion measure to one introduced in the House by Rep. Derek Tran, D-Calif.

Last week, Blumenthal tried to muscle through a vote on the Senate floor on a nonbinding resolution opposing the firings at the VA, forcing Moran to publicly object.

Democrats have also written a torrent of letters to administration officials, demanding answers on the firings.

And several Democrats invited fired veterans as their guests to Trump's address to a joint session of Congress last week.

Among them was David Pasquino, an Army veteran who served 18 years in the infantry and twice deployed to Iraq. In February, Pasquino was fired from his job in human resources at the VA, where he focused on recruiting information technology specialists to, among other areas, help get the VA's beleaguered electronic health records program back on track.

At Trump's speech, he was a guest of Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., the ranking member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee.

"I was in shock. I was appalled, angry, upset ... I ran through all the stages of grief in about four days," Pasquino told Military.com in an interview last week about his reaction to being fired. "The narrative is that these terminations and firings are not going to affect services to veterans or services that the American public relies on, which is completely false."

Related: 83,000 VA Employees Slated to Be Fired This Year by Musk's DOGE, Memo Says
Locations set up across the country to give military entrance exams to potential recruits have been forced to close or reduce hours due to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth halting the use of government travel for civilians, according to a notice and email reviewed by Military.com.

The Military Entrance Processing Command, which is part of the Army, has managed the Military Entrance Testing program, which is designed to aid recruiting and make it easier to administer the entrance exam, known as the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or ASVAB, to potential recruits for all the military branches. The service did not immediately provide information on closed locations and curtailed operating hours, but the changes were recently announced by the U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command.

"The suspension of civilian employee travel has impacted Military Entrance Testing (MET) Site operations," a post to Facebook by the Military Entrance Processing Command announced Friday. The command said it was "conducting analysis to determine which MET sites can remain operational using alternative means."

Read Next: Fired Veterans and VA Employees Would Be Reinstated to Federal Jobs Under Senate Proposal

As a result of Hegseth's halt on civilian travel, potential recruits now have to travel to a Military Entrance Processing Station to take the test, which is a critical prerequisite for enlistment. In some parts of the country, that could mean driving for many hours.

At the same time, Hegseth has cheered the military's recent successes in recruiting on social media despite many of the gains having occurred before he took office.

The test itself consists of more than 100 questions that cover a host of topics from math and language to mechanics and takes around two and a half hours to administer.

While recruiters are able to offer practice or abbreviated versions of the test at recruiting stations, the official exam has to be conducted in a formal test-taking environment.

When asked about the halt, officials for Hegeseth referred Military.com to a memo written by Darin Selnick, who is performing the duties of under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, that was issued March 5 and restricted almost all civilian travel.

It was not immediately clear what effect closures and reduced hours would have on military recruiting. Neither Army nor Navy officials were able to answer questions about how the loss of the programs would impact recruiting efforts.

While there are more than 60 MEPS locations across the country, they are mostly located in major cities or at large military installations, leaving some portions of the country without one within easy driving distance.

Neither Kansas nor Wyoming has a MEPS location. Meanwhile, other large states like Montana and Minnesota have just one location, which means a recruit from Billings, Montana, for example, might need to drive for more than three hours to Butte just to take an exam that is one of the first steps in determining whether they are qualified for service and what careers they are eligible for.

The problem isn't confined to sparsely populated areas. Florida has three MEPS stations -- in Jacksonville, Tampa and Miami. However, this still means the closest test location for a potential recruit from Pensacola, the seat of a major Navy base, is two and a half hours away in Montgomery, Alabama. A potential recruit in Daytona Beach, Florida, could be required to drive up to three hours to Tampa.

Would-be recruits in U.S. territories like Guam or American Samoa would have to fly for hours to a MEPS location to take the test.

In all of those scenarios, it's also not clear whether recruits would be expected to make the drive themselves or if the military will turn to recruiters in uniform to take up these tasks.

The halt in the programs also comes at a crucial time for military recruiting. All the services finally managed to overcome serious shortfalls in recruiting just last year, but with significant help from programs that were aimed at taking applicants who wouldn't have otherwise qualified in prior years.

In the past, military officials regularly laid blame on COVID-19 pandemic-era policies that forced them to retreat from places like high schools, thus denying them an opportunity to speak with a key recruiting pool.

Meanwhile, the recruiting figures from 2024 also show that, while programs like Army and Navy prep courses that take academically or physically struggling recruits enable the services to make their recruiting goals, they also signal a growing inability to connect with the current generation of young people.

Related: Pentagon Caps Civilians' Government Charge Cards at $1, Limits Travel as Part of Trump Cuts
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The Trump administration has shut down a unit of the Department of Veterans Affairs created under President Joe Biden to address disparities in how the federal government provides disability compensation to military service members.

The closure of the Veterans Benefits Administration's Office of Equity Assurance effectively hobbles internal efforts at the VA to investigate and eliminate long-standing racial inequities the department itself has acknowledged.

The office was eliminated as part of the Trump administration's purge of programs broadly aimed at addressing diversity, equity or inclusion, according to emails obtained by ProPublica. But several VA sources said that the office was not exclusively focused on race, and that it takes on cases for a range of veterans to ensure no one is denied proper benefits -- including for reasons of age, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation and geographic location.

Rep. Mark Takano, a California Democrat, criticized the Trump administration's action as "excessive" and "reckless."

"The closure of the OEA will undoubtedly have disastrous effects on the care we offer veterans," Takano, former chair and now ranking member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, said in a statement to ProPublica. "This office was making it easier for minority veterans to access care and benefits. Its closure will directly impact the care and benefits received by minority veterans."

Richard Brookshire, co-founder of the Black Veterans Project, a nonprofit focused on rectifying discrimination faced by Black veterans, echoed Takano's concerns.

"It's a first step toward gutting the second-largest agency in our federal government," he said. "The consequences will be dire, wide-reaching and deadly."

VA spokesperson Peter Kasperowicz declined to say whether the agency would continue to study racial disparities. But he emphasized in a statement that newly installed VA Secretary Douglas Collins "treats all veterans and beneficiaries fairly and equally, so the Office of Equity Assurance is no longer needed."

He added: "The money saved by closing the office will be redirected to improve health care, benefits and services for Veterans, all of whom we treat fairly and equally. VA will always fulfill its duty to provide veterans, families, caregivers and survivors the health care and benefits they have earned. That is a promise."

The VA grew significantly under the Biden administration, with tens of thousands of employees added to beef up capacity in conjunction with the passage of the PACT Act. The 2022 law expanded health care and benefits for an estimated 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxic substances from burn pits and other chemicals.

The Biden administration also created the OEA and several other initiatives to help analyze and rectify discrimination in the delivery of health care, benefits and other services. Those moves were seen as a direct response to long-standing complaints by minority veterans.

The closure of the OEA is just one of several disruptive staff cuts at the VA in recent weeks. Around 2,400 VA employees have lost their positions since the Trump administration began slashing the federal workforce, with significantly more firings to come.

The department currently employs around 470,000 workers. Kasperowicz said that the administration plans would shed nearly 15% of its workforce, dropping the total to roughly 398,000.

Workers assigned to the OEA were informed on Feb. 14 via email that their positions were terminated immediately and that the office was being "liquidated." The notices were sent to nearly all of the office's employees, effectively dissolving the unit, sources familiar with the firings told ProPublica.

The administration reversed at least some of the terminations later that month, according to correspondence obtained by ProPublica. Workers who were attached to the OEA have now been placed on administrative leave pending a possible reassignment within the VA or another federal department, according to sources familiar with the department who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.

"But even if they are reassigned, it won't be to the OEA," said one official familiar with the moves. "It's definitely gone."

Black veterans and their advocates have long complained of a divide in how claims are handled. An ongoing suit filed by the National Veterans Council for Legal Redress against the government gave the suspicions new life.

The group's case was bolstered by data unearthed through Freedom of Information Act requests from the Black Veterans Project, which found that the VA was far more likely to reject applications for service-related disabilities by Black veterans than their white counterparts.

Attorneys for the federal government asked the judge overseeing the suit to dismiss the claims, stating that only the VA secretary has jurisdiction to decide disputes over award benefits and that the court lacks the jurisdiction to hear them.

A 2023 U.S. Government Accountability Office report also concluded that there were disparities. It found that the department approved compensation applications for service-related disabilities like hearing loss, impaired limb movement and post-traumatic stress by Black veterans at lower rates than veterans of other races.

The report found that between 2010 and 2020 the approval rate for benefit applications made by White male veterans was 3% to 22% higher than Black male veterans for the selected medical conditions.

The OEA's demise is just one part of an ongoing rollback of the racial equity programs the Trump administration has called "radical and wasteful."

Since Trump entered office, a webpage detailing the VA's work to address equity and diversity appears to have been scrubbed from its website. In January, the administration fired the heads of internal advisory groups formed to address the concerns and needs of minority and female veterans.

One of those groups, the Center for Minority Veterans, worked in conjunction with the OEA to address racial disparities in disability compensation. Between 2013 and 2018, the advisory group raised its concerns over the Black veterans' lower rate of claims approval to VA leadership five times, according to the National Veterans Council for Legal Redress suit.

Mariela Roca, a former Republican congressional hopeful, took over as director of the advisory group last week. It's unclear what specific strategies the group will pursue to advance the needs and concerns of minority veterans under new leadership. Roca did not respond to a request for comment.

The original version of this article appeared on ProPublica.org.
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia  The Trump administration lifted its suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing for Ukraine, and Kyiv signaled that it was open to a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Russia, pending Moscows agreement, American and Ukrainian officials said Tuesday following talks in Saudi Arabia.

The administration imposed the measures a week ago to push Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to enter talks to end the war with invading Russian forces.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. would present the ceasefire offer to the Kremlin.

Were going to tell them this is whats on the table. Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking. And now itll be up to them to say yes or no," Rubio said. If they say no, then well unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here.

National security adviser Mike Waltz added: "The Ukrainian delegation today made something very clear, that they share President Trumps vision for peace.

Waltz said negotiators got into substantive details on how this war is going to permanently end, including long-term security guarantees.

The announcements emerged as senior officials from Ukraine and the United States opened talks in Saudi Arabia focused on ending Moscows three-year war against Kyiv. The discussions started only hours after Russia shot down over 300 Ukrainian drones. It was Ukraines biggest attack since the Kremlin ordered the full-scale invasion of its neighbor.

President Donald Trump 's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to travel later this week to Moscow, where he could meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a person familiar with the matter but not authorized to comment publicly. The person cautioned that scheduling could change.

The Mood Across the Room

Earlier in the day, journalists were briefly allowed in a room where a senior Ukrainian delegation met with Rubio, who smiled at the cameras and when asked about his expectations for the meeting, gave a thumbs-up and replied, Good.

Across the table, Ukrainian officials, including the countrys top diplomat and defense chief, showed no facial expressions as the meeting got underway at a luxury hotel. However, Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak told reporters that the most important thing was how to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. He said security guarantees were important to prevent Russia from invading again in the future.

It was the first meeting between the two sides since the Oval Office blowup between Trump and Zelenskyy last month.

Saudi Arabias foreign minister was also on hand as American, Saudi and Ukrainian flags could be seen in the background. Officials did not answer any of the journalists' shouted questions.

The delegations met for about three hours in the morning before taking a break, and officials said the talks continued in the afternoon.

There was also no immediate comment from Ukrainian or U.S. officials on the massive attack in which 343 drones targeted 10 Russian regions, leaving three people dead and 18 wounded, including three children, officials said.

Meanwhile, Russia launched 126 drones and a ballistic missile at Ukraine, the Ukrainian air force said, as part of Moscows relentless pounding of civilian areas during the war.

In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the United States will inform Russia about the results of the Jeddah talks, which he described as normal practice.

On the streets of Kyiv, Ukrainians kept an eye on the Saudi talks.

Lena Herasymenko, a psychologist, said she accepts that compromises will be necessary to end the war, but she said they must be reasonable.

We had massive losses during this war, and we dont know yet how much more well have, she told The Associated Press. We are suffering every day. Our kids are suffering, and we dont know how the future generation will be affected.

Oleksandr, a Ukrainian soldier who could give only his first name because of security restrictions, warned that Ukraine cannot let down its guard down.

If there is a ceasefire, it would only give Russia time to increase its firepower, manpower, missiles and other arms. Then they would attack Ukraine again, he said.

The meeting in Jeddah offered an opportunity for Kyiv officials to repair Ukraines relationship with the Trump administration after an unprecedented argument erupted during Zelenskyys Feb. 28 visit to the White House.

The Kremlin Is Sticking to its Conditions for Peace

The Kremlin has not publicly offered any concessions. Russia has said its ready to cease hostilities on condition that Ukraine drops its bid to join NATO and recognizes regions that Moscow occupies as Russian. Russia has captured nearly a fifth of Ukraine's territory.

Russian forces have held the battlefield momentum for more than a year, though at a high cost in infantry and armor, and are pushing at selected points along the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line, especially in the eastern Donetsk region, against Ukraine's understrength and weary army.

Ukraine has invested heavily in developing its arms industry, especially high-tech drones that have reached deep into Russia.

Most of the Ukrainian drones fired overnight  126 of them  were shot down over the Kursk region across the border from Ukraine, parts of which Kyivs forces control, and 91 were shot down over the Moscow region, according to a statement by Russia's Defense Ministry.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said over 70 drones targeted the Russian capital and were shot down as they were flying toward it  the biggest single attack on Moscow so far in the war.

The governor of the Moscow region surrounding the capital, Andrei Vorobyov, said the attack damaged several residential buildings and a number of cars.

Flights were temporarily restricted in and out of six airports, including Domodedovo, Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo and Zhukovsky just outside Moscow, and airports in the Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod regions.

Associated Press writers Hanna Arhirova and Dmytro Zhyhinas in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this report.
The Space Force says environmental remediation efforts that include returning sacred soil back to a volcano in Hawaii after 700 gallons of fuel spilled at an observatory on the grounds in 2023 could take as long as seven years to complete.

"We're moving as fast as the process allows us, but we're doing so with minimal disruption to that environment," Brig. Gen. Anthony Mastalir, commander of Space Forces Indo-Pacific, told Military.com during an Air and Space Forces Association conference in Colorado last week. "So, that's kind of key, and sometimes we forget that there's a balance there."

A week after Mastalir's comments, a Space Base Delta 1 spokesperson, who didn't attribute a name to the statement saying the information came from several groups, confirmed with more details that it could take as long as 2032 for the contamination to be fully cleaned up.

Read Next: Fired Veterans and VA Employees Would Be Reinstated to Federal Jobs Under Senate Proposal

"The estimated time to reach the levels where the contamination will not pose a hazard is three to seven years and will be confirmed with periodic testing throughout that process," the Space Base Delta 1 spokesperson said.

More than two years ago, on Jan. 29, 2023, a diesel fuel pump for a backup generator at the Maui Space Surveillance Complex located atop the more than 10,000-foot summit of Haleakala broke, spilling hundreds of gallons of fuel onto the ground. The incident not only harmed trust with the Maui community, it marked the latest in military environmental contamination within Hawaii as a whole.

As cleanup efforts have dragged on for two years and could stretch on for nearly a decade since the original spill, the local Maui community has voiced its concerns -- and the Space Force is planning a new project that would expand its footprint on Haleakala by adding seven more telescopes atop the dormant volcano.

The Maui County Council said in a June 20 resolution that "erecting even more telescopes on Haleakala -- when the military has yet to complete cleanup and soil-remediation efforts within the same footprint -- would be insulting."

The summit of Haleakala is considered a sacred place and is often used for religious ceremonies and prayers to the native Hawaiian gods, the council said in its resolution.

Benjamin Silva, a Maui County Council spokesperson, told Military.com on Friday that the June resolution passed unanimously but also added "the council is not scheduled to take further action on the matter."

The Space Base Delta 1 spokesperson told Military.com that the Hawaii State Department of Health recently approved a plan to remediate the soil from the fuel spill that called for "active bioventing," a process using blowers to bring air into the ground to break down contaminants.

"Workers will install bioventing wells while the actual bioventing system is being constructed off-site; the bioventing system will be brought to the site when complete," the spokesperson said. "An electrical system is scheduled for installation in April, paving the way for system start up and testing later that month."

As the remediation process for the 2023 fuel spill continues, an environmental impact statement is also being drafted for the creation of the Air Force Maui Optical Supercomputing Site Small Telescope Advanced Research Center, nicknamed AMOS-STAR.

The Department of the Air Force, which oversees the Space Force, heard over 600 local Hawaiians testify about their concerns over the project and the disturbance it may cause. The environmental impact statement is set to be made public this year and will include eight weeks of public hearings and comments from the community.

"We work very closely with the mayor, with the council down in Maui, with the governor to be able to explain why these capabilities are not just important to Hawaii, they're important for national security," Mastalir told Military.com. "We'll continue to share that message and work with Maui County and work with local officials to understand where we can find common ground."

Mastalir added they were ensuring they could "do everything we can to make this, this process, as painless as possible."

The Space Base Delta 1 spokesperson also added that a new "Maui Council of Environmental Stewardship" is being created that will have members from state government and the community as well as the Air Force leaders "to discuss the issues at various Maui sites."

It's unclear what environmental or cultural effects will ultimately be taken into account or whether the dialogue will continue with native Hawaiians as the Department of Defense and President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency have reportedly planned to cut climate-related programs and have already started to disband programs related to diversity and cultural education within the ranks.

"The [Department of Defense] does not do climate change crap," Hegseth posted Sunday on X.

Related: Air Force Looks to Add Telescopes on Sacred Hawaii Volcano as Outrage Continues over Fuel Spill
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On March 7, 2025, Autoliv officially signed an agreement with the Dongxihu District government in Wuhan, Hubei Province, to establish its second R&D center in China, according to a post on Autoliv's WeChat account.

This move marks a further step in the company's commitment to deepening its local R&D strategy and advancing its "In China, For the World" innovation initiative, aimed at serving global customers and driving high-quality, intelligent development in the automotive sector.

Photo credit: Autoliv

As a key strategic hub in Autoliv's China operations, the Wuhan R&D center will span 40 mu (26,667 square meters) and feature state-of-the-art laboratory equipment and a digital R&D platform. The first phase of construction is expected to be operational by mid-2026. The center aims to become a world-class innovation facility, providing strong support for Autoliv's technological advancements and product development in China.

Mr. Sun Yi, President of Autoliv China, highlighted Wuhan's advantages in education, talent, transportation, and industrial ecosystem, which create a fertile environment for collaboration. Autoliv will leverage its expertise in automotive safety to deepen its partnership with Wuhan, fostering a strong ripple effect that will help enhance and upgrade Hubei's automotive supply chain.

In a related development, on February 28, 2025, Autoliv China signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Baowu Magnesium, a global leader in the magnesium industry, in Chaohu, Anhui Province. This collaboration represents another milestone in Autolivs expansion in China, focusing on automotive lightweighting and safety performance enhancements. The two companies will drive innovation through a "materials revolution + safety innovation" model, delivering lighter, more advanced product solutions for global customers while promoting technological breakthroughs and sustainability in the automotive industry.
A ferry heads to the harbor entrance of Mackinac Island, Mich. on Friday, May 17, 2024. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

MACKINAC ISLAND, MI - Expanding on her announcement last week that Mackinac Island City Council has decided to counter sue the ferry owner thats suing it in federal court, longtime island Mayor Margaret Doud has released a statement saying the citys focus with this legal action is protecting its residents, workers and visitors from unreasonable fares and other charges.

News of the citys planned countersuit came last Wednesday, just two days after Hoffmann Marine filed a lawsuit against Mackinac Island. In its suit, the arm of the Florida-based private equity firm Hoffmann Family of Companies claims the city lacks authority to freeze the ferry lines' passenger ticket rates or their parking rates. Hoffmann Marine owns Sheplers ferry service and Arnold Transit Co. (formerly known as Star Line/ Mackinac Island Ferry Co.).

In its countersuit, the city has vowed to vigorously defend itself, saying the ferry lines' suit is without merit. The citys counter-claim will accuse Hoffmann Marine of setting up a ferry business monopoly in violation of state and federal anti-trust laws, according to a press release signed by the mayor and sent out by the citys attorney late last week.

Antitrust laws exist to protect consumers from unfair pricing and business practices.

The citys charter of 1899 - which was later affirmed by the Michigan Supreme Court - gives Mackinac officials the authority to regulate the rates and charges of any ferry company doing business with the island, the mayor said.

The city plans to keep doing just that in order to protect the visitors who travel to the island, the workers who commute to the island, and the residents and businesses of the island from unfair or unreasonable fares and charges, Douds press release said.

Hundreds of thousands of visitors hop on and off the ferries each year on their way to and from Mackinac Island.

A Mackinac Island Ferry Company vessel heads toward the harbor of Mackinac Island, Mich. on Friday, May 17, 2024. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

The Hoffmann Marine lawsuit came after the City Council decided to freeze the ferry lines 2025 ticket and parking prices while they sought outside guidance on how to regulate a business monopoly like this. The city claims Hoffmanns illegal monopoly is a three-tiered issue: the umbrella company owns the ferry boats, docks and all the customer parking.

By acquiring both of the ferry boat companies, Hoffman Marine obtained ownership or control over not only all of the ferry boats, but also all of the docks suitable for ferry boat operation on Mackinac Island and in St. Ignace and Mackinaw City, as well as all the vehicle parking for ferry boat passengers in Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, the citys statement said.

The City Councils annual approval of ticket prices and ferry schedules was something Hoffmann Marine was aware of when it purchased a controlling share of Sheplers ferry service in 2022. Then last summer, Hoffmann also purchased Sheplers competitor, the Mackinac Island Ferry Co. (formerly Star Line). Last fall, Hoffmann rebranded that line as Arnold Transit Co.

But in their lawsuit, 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. They also have pushed back on the monopoly label, saying the ferry lines are run by separate management teams and have separate boats and slightly different price structures.

Ferry company leaders have suggested that cuts to daily ferry schedules could be coming unless there is a rate increase to offset their higher costs and the huge investment theyve already made to repair and maintain the ferry boats.

While City Council members have said they are not opposed to raising rates in the future, they also dont have enough details about Hoffmann Marines financials to authorize a rate increase.

How will the lawsuit dispute impact travel to the island? The Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau says it wont.

This is a matter between the city and Hoffmann Marine, and the outcome remains uncertain, said Tim Hygh, the tourism groups executive director. What we do know is that it will not impact ferry service this season. A robust schedule has been agreed upon by both parties, and well be welcoming guests starting in April.

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.
PRESQUE ISLE COUNTY, MI  An 87-year-old man who was hit by a dirt bike in Northern Michigan has died.

Michigan State Police said Tuesday that the man died on March 5, four days after troopers in Alpena responded to the incident on County Road 451 in Presque Isle County at 7 p.m. on March 1.

Police say the Rogers City man walked across County Road 451 with a flashlight to his mailbox.

Once the man reached his mailbox on the east shoulder of the road, a juvenile operating a dirt bike without a headlight collided with him.

The man was taken to the hospital in critical condition, police said, while the driver of the dirt bike was uninjured.

Troopers were assisted at the scene by troopers from Gaylord, Presque Isle County Sheriffs Office, Rogers City Police Department, Rogers City Ambulance and Rogers City Area First Responders.
WASHINGTON -- Elon Musks next target as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) appears to be federal benefit programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

During an interview Monday on Fox Business, Musk claimed the programs are fraught with waste, saying billions in funding needs to be cut.

Most of the federal spending is entitlements, Musk said. Thats the big one to eliminate.

Approximately half of all federal government spending is through entitlement programs. Musk said somewhere between $500 million and $700 million in waste can be cut from the programs.

Musk has been slashing through the budgets of government agencies since President Donald Trump created DOGE through an executive order signed in January. Trump has tasked Musk with eliminating wasteful government spending and reducing the overall size of the federal government.

While Trump has promised to defend cuts from being made to Social Security, Musk has routinely criticized the program, calling it the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.

Related story: Ex-Social Security leader sounds alarm: DOGE staff cuts will lead to total collapse of systems

Musk claimed wasteful and fraudulent payments continue to be made by the various entitlement programs, but hes aiming to stop it. Musk then again repeated a previously made claim that 20 million dead people appear in the Social Security database.

Although the people may appear in the database, acting Social Security commissioner Lee Dudek said payments are not going out to those people.

The reported data are people in our records with a Social Security number who do not have a date of death associated with their record. These individuals are not necessarily receiving benefits, Dudek said last month.

While he didnt specifically indicate the cuts to entitlement programs would impact available benefits, Musk accused Democrats of using the programs to sway voters. Musk then falsely claimed that by making cuts to the programs, it would hurt the Democratic Party who use the payments to attract undocumented immigrants.

That is also a mechanism by which the Democrats attract and retain illegal immigrants by essentially paying them to come here and then turning them into voters, Musk said. This is why the Democrats are so upset about the situation.... if we turn off this gigantic money magnet for illegal immigrants, they will leave and (Democrats) will lose voters.

Undocumented immigrants cannot vote in elections and cannot obtain federal benefits such as Medicare, SNAP or Social Security.

Michigan Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin responded to the interview in a post on Musks social media platform X, saying Musk is targeting benefits.

Musk said the quiet part out loud: hes going after your Social Security and Medicare. Period. Mark my words, Slotkin wrote. They will make you pay in every part of your life.
Oakland County sheriffs deputies found three children living in deplorable conditions during a welfare check Friday, Feb. 14, in the 600 block of Lydia Lane in Pontiac. (Photo provided by Oakland County Sheriffs Office) Photo provided by Oakland County Sheriffs Office

PONTIAC, MI -- Kelli Bryant, the 34-year-old Pontiac woman accused of leaving her children to live alone for several years, is facing more charges. On Tuesday, the Oakland County Prosecutors Office charged Bryant with three counts of welfare fraud after she allegedly collected support payments while the children were living alone in a Pontiac townhouse.

The defendant appears to have effectively abandoned her children while collecting their public assistance, said Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald. This crime is, first and foremost, a theft from Kelli Bryants children. These resources were intended to ensure they had the basic necessities denied to them. The children deserved better.

Related story: Father of abandoned Pontiac children tried to see them, but mother refused, police say

Prosecutors allege Bryant collected $29,397 in support payments from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services from January 2022 through February 2025. While an exact timeline of how long the children were left alone is unclear, police have previously said the children were by themselves for four-to-five years. They were found living in the townhouse on Feb. 14.

Bryant was previously charged with three counts of first-degree child abuse in the case. Bond in the matter was initially set at $250 million, but last week a judge lowered bond to $50,000.

As of Tuesday morning, Bryant is still listed as an inmate at the Oakland County Jail.

Bryant was arrested last month after police found a 15-year-old boy, a 13-year-old girl and a 12-year-old girl living alone in a townhouse in the 600 block of Lydia Lane. The children were living among piles of trash and feces. There was no working toilet in the home and the girls used cardboard boxes as a bed.

Bryant faces up to life in prison if convicted on the child abuse charges, while the welfare fraud charges carry a maximum sentence of four years in prison.
Protesters gather for a demonstration in support of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, Monday, March 10, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) AP

By JAKE OFFENHARTZ and PHILIP MARCELO Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP)  President Donald Trump warned Monday that the arrest and possible deportation of a Palestinian activist who helped lead protests at Columbia University will be the first of many to come as his administration cracks down on campus demonstrations against Israel and the war in Gaza.

Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful U.S. resident who was a graduate student at Columbia until December, was detained Saturday by federal immigration agents in New York and flown to an immigration jail in Louisiana.

We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, Trump wrote in a social media post. We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country  never to return again.

But a federal judge in New York City ordered Monday that Khalil not be deported while the court considered a legal challenge brought by his lawyers. A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

Khalils detention drew outrage from civil rights groups and free speech advocates, who accused the administration of using its immigration enforcement powers to squelch criticism of Israel.

He is the first person known to be detained for deportation under Trumps promised crackdown on student protests.

Federal immigration authorities also visited a second international student at Columbia on Friday evening and attempted to take her into custody but were not allowed to enter the apartment, according to a union representing the student.

Khalil, 30, had not been charged with any crime related to his activism, but Trump has argued that protesters forfeited their rights to remain in the country by protests he claimed support Hamas, the Palestinian group that attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The U.S. has designated Hamas as a terrorist organization.

Khalil and other student leaders of Columbia University Apartheid Divest have rejected claims of antisemitism, saying they are part of a broader anti-war movement that also includes Jewish students and groups. But the protest coalition, at times, has also voiced support for leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, another Islamist organization designated by the U.S. as a terrorist group.

The U.S. Education Department on Monday warned some 60 colleges, including Harvard and Cornell, that they could lose federal money if they fail to uphold civil rights laws against antisemitism and ensure uninterrupted access to campus facilities and education opportunities. The Trump administration is already pulling $400 million from Columbia.

A group of Columbia faculty members expressed concern Monday that Khalils detention was intended to suppress free speech by students and staff who are not U.S. citizens.

The attack on Mahmoud Khalil is intended to make them quake in their boots, and to make all of us quake in our boots, said Michael Thaddeus, a Columbia math professor. Our message to Washington is that we are not silenced, we are not afraid, and we stand together, determined to defeat this ongoing assault on our fundamental rights.

In their legal complaint, Khalils attorneys accused the government of retaliating against him for his constitutionally protected advocacy on behalf of Palestinian human rights.

Typically, the government has to meet a higher bar to expel a person who has permanent residency in the U.S., like showing someone has been convicted of a serious crime.

Born in Syria to Palestinian parents, Khalil entered the U.S. to attend Columbia in 2022. He subsequently got married to an American citizen, who is now eight months pregnant.

Khalil emerged as one of the most visible activists in large protests at Columbia last year, serving as a mediator on behalf of pro-Palestinian activists and Muslim students. That role put him in direct touch with university leaders and the press  and drew attention from pro-Israel activists, who in recent weeks called on the Trump administration to deport him.

He took a public facing role, and now hes being targeted for speaking to the media, another student protester, Maryam Alwan, told The Associated Press.

More recently, Khalil faced investigation by a new disciplinary body set up at Columbia University, which sent him a letter last month accusing him of potentially violating a new harassment policy by calling a school official a genocidal dean online.

Khalil told The Associated Press last week that he served as a spokesperson for protesters but did not play a leadership role.

They are alleging that I was the leader of CUAD or the social media person, which is very far from reality, he said, using the acronym for Columbia University Apartheid Divest.

Khalil received a masters degree from Columbias School of International and Public Affairs last semester. He previously graduated from the Lebanese American University in Beirut with a computer science degree and worked at the British Embassy in Beiruts Syria office, according to his biography on the Society for International Developments website.

A few hundred protesters rallied near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Manhattan on Monday to demand Khalils release.

By arresting Mahmoud, Trump thinks he can strip us of our rights and strip us of our commitment to our people, Ibtihal Malley, a New York University student, told the crowd. To that we say: You are wrong.

Back on campus, Columbia sophomore Pearson Lund was among those who found the potential stripping of Khalils green card concerning.

At what point does this process stop? the physics student said as he entered campus through a security line guarded by city police officers.

___

Associated Press writers Cedar Attanasio in New York and Collin Binkley in Washington contributed to this report.
This MLive file photo pictures the Diag on the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor. Jacob Hamilton, MLive.com file Jacob Hamilton

EDITORS NOTE: The story has been updated with comment from University of Michigans Director of Public Affairs Kay Jarvis.

ANN ARBOR, MI - Federal officials are warning the University of Michigan and 59 other higher education institutions of potential consequences if they do not protect Jewish students on campus, according to a Monday announcement.

The U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights announced on March 10 that a letter was sent warning these institutions about potential enforcement actions if they do not fulfill their obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits an institution receiving federal funds from discriminating on race, color and national origin, including Jewish ancestry.

All these U.S. universities set to receive a letter are currently under investigation for Title VI violations related to antisemitic harassment and discrimination.

The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in the announcement. U.S. colleges and universities benefit from enormous public investments funded by U.S. taxpayers. That support is a privilege and it is contingent on scrupulous adherence to federal antidiscrimination laws.

University of Michigans Director of Public Affairs Kay Jarvis confirmed the university has received the letter and is reviewing it carefully.

The University of Michigan remains committed to providing a safe and non-discriminatory environment for all members of the university community, Jarvis wrote.

UM agreed in June to actions to ensure its compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act following investigation into complaints of alleged antisemitic incidents.

Read more: University of Michigan did not adequately respond to antisemitic complaints, federal officials say

Regent Sarah Hubbard understands why the university is on the list to receive this letter, but she said UM has been taking steps to address these concerns.

We have made significant changes related to policies, procedures and priorities to be sure that all our students on campus feel safe expressing themselves and ensuring free speech for everyone in line with our rules of time, place and manner, she said.

Some of the universitys recent changes have included the Board of Regents approval of an institutional neutrality policy in October, where the university announced it will not release statements or comments on political issues that are outside of its operations. The board also updated and affirmed the universitys free speech policy in January 2024.

Hubbard said the university also changed how it holds students accountable on campus when they are engaging in behaviors outside of the universitys rules.

Read more: University of Michigan can file its own complaints against alleged civil rights violators

The university saw an increase in protests regarding the Israel-Hamas war beginning in October 2023.

At the time, Hubbard said the university erred on the side of free speech with initial protests, allowing them to continue even if they werent following the rules.

Following the take down of a pro-Palestine encampment on the UM Diag in May, Hubbard said the board has enforced its rules as they are written.

Read more: Pro-Palestinian encampment driven from University of Michigan campus

Were really holding people accountable to the rules we already have on the books, she said.

Seven of those May protesters currently face felony charges in Washtenaw County Court for resisting and obstructing police officers during the removal of the encampment.

Hubbard said she has not yet seen the letter but is hopeful the authors behind it are aware of the changes that the university has been making.

I hear on a very regular basis from students and parents how much better things are now... and how happy they are to be at Michigan and learning what they came here for, without interruption, she added.

Although she may not be able to speak on the letter, Hubbard said she believes the University of Michigan has made valuable changes regarding its concerns.

I feel confident that we have established protocols on campus that will continue to keep things in an environment where our students can learn properly, she said.

This announcement comes following the Departments Office for Civil Rights decision to direct its enforcement staff to make resolving the backlog of complaints alleging antisemitic violence and harassment a priority.

President Santa Ono has previously criticized the Republican push against antisemitism on the Ann Arbor campus as unbalanced. He said at the time that U.S. House Republicans are focused on antisemitism over Islamophobia in a very unbalanced way.

Read more: Federal complaint urges investigation into Islamophobia at University of Michigan

It also comes following the immediate cancelation of approximately $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University due to the schools inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students, a release stated.

This Administration will use all the tools at its disposal to protect Jewish students and end anti-Semitism on college campuses, the release states.

These cancellations are among the first round of action as additional cancellations are expected to follow, according to the release.

President Trump has been clear that any college or university that allows illegal protests and repeatedly fails to protect students from anti-Semitic harassment on campus will be subject to the loss of federal funding, the statement continued.

UM received $1.17 billion in research expenditures sponsored by federal agencies last fiscal year. This amount alone accounts for more than half of the universitys total research volume, according to the universitys 2024 annual report.

If you would like more reporting like this delivered free to your inbox, click here and signup for our weekly newsletter: Michigan Schools.

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FLINT, MI  A group of Howard University students recently spent time volunteering at Flint Community Schools through a program aimed at providing assistance to communities in need.

The group assisted district staff and students at six Flint schools as part of the universitys Alternative Spring Break program from Monday, March 3, through Friday, March 7, according to the Flint Center for Educational Excellence.

Its something students from Howard University, based in Washington, D.C., have been doing for a decade with this years venture.

Among the schools Howard University students visited during this years trip were the Accelerated Learning Academy, Brownell STEM Academy, Doyle-Ryder Elementary School, Holmes STEM Academy, International Academy of Flint, and Southwestern Classical Academy.

Im from the Bronx. Being from an underserved community, I understand the importance of having role models that you can look up to, 20-year-old Howard University junior Saskia Ivery said while volunteering at Doyle-Ryder Elementary School. Sometimes its weird to find that in these underserved communities, these kids dont have anywhere to look up.

Thats why I was really encouraged to come out here to be a role model for the kids that may not have role models like this to live up to on a day-to-day basis.

Howard University students began their visits through a partnership with the Flint Center for Educational Excellence that began in response to the Flint water crisis.

Their continued commitment to serving our Flint schools community is an encouraging sign that these young adults are invested in supporting Flint kids and focused on positively impacting the City of Flint. They are reaching in to uplift the next generation of future leaders, Mohammed Aboutawila, Implementation and Partnership Consultant for the Flint Center for Educational Excellence, said in a statement.

The group of college students spent last week educating and mentoring Flint students through presentations on social justice, character education, and panel discussions about college preparation as well as what its like to attend an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) like Howard University.

They also completed beautification projects and provided assistance in classrooms as well as the Flint Centers Community Education Initiative and after-school program office spaces.

Additionally, Howard University students helped with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Flint after-school program and local food pantries.

Ive seen several of them work one-on-one with the children, and its been quite fulfilling to even see those one-on-one interactions in addition to them supporting scholars in the classrooms, Doyle-Ryder Principal Natoya Coleman said.

Coleman also discussed the impact the Alternative Spring Break program has on students, noting that it gives students at her school the chance to see a college student that looks like them, especially a student from an HBCU.

Dominique Robinson, a 19-year-old Howard University freshman who volunteered at Doyle-Ryder, said the program is meant to fulfill one of the colleges core values, service, by helping to bring light to communities in need, particularly communities of color.

We have people in Tampa, Nashville, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Memphis, Chicago, Robinson said. We try to go to urban areas and cities.

Robinson and other Howard University students assigned to Doyle-Ryder for their spring break this year helped the school put on its annual Blacks in Wax Walking Museum on March 7.

Related: Flint elementary school students honor Black icons through interactive wax museum

During the event, fifth and sixth grade students dressed as a variety of notable figures in Black history and told younger students and other attendees some facts about their assigned historical figure.

I think its amazing, Robinson said. Its very inspiring to the younger kids because theyre like, This is a person I look up to. But theyre also learning about historical figures at the same time, so it resonates more than just sitting in the classroom.

Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter.
Holland police arrested a suspect in the killing of an Illinois company CEO. (MLive File Photo)

OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  Holland police last week arrested a man who was wanted in the killing of the CEO of an Illinois trucking company.

The suspect, who has not been identified, was captured at a Holland truck stop.

Dane Koteski, 46, the CEO of ATG Truckload in Crestwood, Illinois, was found dead Wednesday, March 5, after police and firefighters responded to a report of heavy smoke at the companys offices, Crestwood police said.

Firefighters put out the fire, reported around 4:05 p.m., before the victims body was found amid heavy smoke, police said. His neck had been cut with a sharp or pointed object, an autopsy showed.

Over the course of hours, Crestwood police and South Suburban Major Crimes Task force identified a company worker as the suspect. The killing was quickly determined to be an isolated event, specifically targeting the victim, Crestwood police said in a statement.

The next day, task force officers notified Holland Department of Public Safety that the suspect was believed to be at Pilot Truck Stop, off M-40 near I-196. The task force informed police that a GPS tracker was on the vehicle the suspect was believed to be driving.

Holland police spotted the parked vehicle around 6:15 a.m. Thursday. Police kept surveillance on the vehicle while a tactical team responded to the scene. Officers then approached the vehicle and removed the suspect who was taken into custody, Holland police Capt. Robert Buursma said.

The suspect is held in the Ottawa County Jail and is expected to be returned to Illinois later this week, police said.

A GoFundMe page has raised over $95,000 for funeral services and education and living expenses for his son, Kiko.

Koteski was CEO of the company, the Chicago Sun Times said.
A Byron Center man was ordered jailed after a hearing Tuesday, March 11, at Gerald R. Ford Federal Building and Courthouse in Grand Rapids (MLive File Photo) Daniel Shular | MLive.com

KENT COUNTY, MI  A Byron Center man is accused of meeting a 15-year-old online and convincing her to carve his name into her thigh and share nude photos.

Eric Joseph Terrell is also accused of communicating with nearly 30 people who identified themselves as being under 18, the FBI said in court records.

Terrell was ordered jailed Tuesday, March 11, at a detention hearing before U.S. District Magistrate Judge Ray Kent in Grand Rapids.

The case will go before a federal grand jury for potential indictment.

Terrell was named in a criminal complaint alleging sexual exploitation of a minor, a charge that carries a penalty upon conviction of at least 15 years in prison and up to 30.

The investigation began Jan. 8 when Kent County Sheriffs Office received an anonymous tip through OK2SAY about an adult talking to minors about sex. The tip said Terrell was sexting and sending inappropriate images to minors on Discord, used for instant messaging and group chats, and Instagram.

No names of victims were included, but there was a screenshot of a Discord conversation between the alleged victim and Terrell, who went by Iswearitsconsentual, FBI special agent Adam Eastham wrote in the complaint.

The screenshot, dated Dec. 14, showed an image of his misspelled name, Erik, carved into an arm or leg deep enough to bleed, FBI said.

Later in January, Discord submitted a cyber tip to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. It included an online chat between Terrell and the 15-year-old.

He said he was twice her age, the FBI said.

He warned her that I may seem sweet and innocent but I promise my tastes are much darker than my personality, the FBI said.

Terrell then wrote: I want to hurt you, I want you to hurt yourself, Im going to embarrass you privately, public anything I want, whatever I feel like at any given time. You are playing a very dangerous gameee

The FBI said Terrell asked if she had any scars. She sent videos that showed scars on a white females thigh and wrist, the FBI said. He allegedly told her she had pretty skin that he wanted to bruise and mark my name into it 

Court records showed numerous conversations between the two. The FBI used a search warrant for Terrells Discord account.

A cursory review of the chats found in the Discord account revealed that Terrell was in communication with over 28 different people who identified themselves as being under the age of 18, some of which were as young as 13-years-old, Eastman wrote in the complaint.

The FBI interviewed Terrell on March 5. He told investigators he had been talking to the 15-year-old for a few months. He thought she was 15 and admitted she had cut his name into her skin, Eastman wrote.

He said Terrell admitted he asked the girl for five nude photos, which she sent. Terrell provided the FBI with the password for his cellphone.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  The Michigan Bluebird Society, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing eastern bluebird populations in the state, will host its annual Spring Bluebird Festival this weekend.

For its 21st year, the free event kicks off on Saturday, March 15, at Calvin Universitys Prince Conference Center in Grand Rapids.

From 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., attendees can expect education programs and exhibits about bluebirds and other native cavity-nesting birds.

Julie Zickefoose, a nationally renowned naturalist, bluebird expert, author and artist, will be the keynote speaker.

Her program, What I Have Learned in 40 Years of Bluebirding, will cover insider tips and tricks for helping bluebirds raise more young.

Eastern bluebirds are open-country, year-round residents native to most of the eastern U.S. and the Lower Peninsulas southern areas. They breed in all 83 Michigan counties.

Bluebirds were once abundant in Michigan, but the introduction of farm chemicals, habitat loss and nesting pressures from non-native bird species resulted in their steep decline in the early to mid-1900s.

Banning DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) and introducing managed-nesting boxes have resulted in a turnaround in bluebird populations in the last several decades.

Representatives of the Michigan Bluebird Society will be on site to answer questions about bluebirds and help people interested in attracting them by using nesting boxes and feeders.

Special prize drawings will also be held, and a Bluebird & Nature Expo will feature products for sale and other informational displays by local conservation groups.

Keep scrolling for the entire event schedule.

9 to 10 a.m. - Join old friends, new bluebirders and the public for conversation, camaraderie and coffee or tea. Visit the Bluebird/Nature Expo, including exhibitor, informational displays and the MBS Store.

10 to 10:30 a.m . - Annual MBS business meeting in the Willow Room. President Kurt Hagemeister will provide an update on MBS activities in 2024 and plans for 2026.

10:30 to 10:45 a.m. - Visit the Bluebird/Nature Expo and the MBS Store.

10:45 a.m. to noon - The bluebird question and answer session in the Willow Room. Get the answers to your bluebird (and other cavity-nesting birds) questions. Then sit tighta prize drawing will immediately follow this session. You must be present to win.

Noon to 1 p.m. - Lunch or another chance to visit the Bluebird/Nature Expo and the MBS Store.

1 to 2:15 p.m. - What I have Learned in 40 Years of Bluebirding by renowned author, biologist, bird blogger and artist Julie Zickefoose. This program is for all those who faithfully monitor nest boxes. Video clips and hard-won bluebird wisdom will be included. A prize drawing will immediately follow this session.

2:15 to 2:30 p.m. - Break.

2:20 to 3:30 p.m. - Get to know bluebirds with Myrna Pearman, a retired biologist, naturalist and wildlife photographer. Pearman will walk guests through the A-Z of bluebirds as described in her book of the same name. Her program for audiences of all ages will share her four decades of experience helping bluebirds, mainly in Alberta, Canada. Another prize drawing will immediately follow this session.

3:30 to 3:45 p.m. - Break.

3:45 to 4:45 p.m. - The effect of light pollution on migratory birds with Robyn Porteen, president of DarkSky Michigan. The night sky grows increasingly brighter due to the rapid growth of light pollution caused by artificial light at night, and birds are paying the price. See how to help by making simple changes to lighting, from cities to private properties. The final prize drawing will immediately follow this session.

4:45 p.m. - Adjourn.

To learn more about the Spring Bluebird Festival or the Michigan Bluebird Society, visit MichiganBluebirds.org/springfestival.

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In February, after the Chinese New Year holiday, China's automotive industry saw accelerated production and sales activities, with new product launches and promotional events boosting market vitality. As a result, both vehicle production and sales registered strong year-on-year growth.

In the first two months of 2025, the expanded and early implementation of the vehicle trade-in policies drove demand, alongside technological advancements and product upgrades by automakers. The passenger vehicle segment continued its strong performance, the commercial vehicle market showed signs of recovery, and new energy vehicle (NEV) sales remained on a rapid growth trajectory. This robust start has laid a solid foundation for a strong first-quarter performance for the Chinese auto market in 2025.

As China implements the economic strategies outlined in the Central Economic Work Conference, various government ministries have introduced targeted measures to stimulate market growth. These include expanding trade-in policies, optimizing the consumption environment, and stabilizing foreign investment. The government's work report has also emphasized the need to "accelerate efforts to address weak links in domestic demand, particularly in consumption, making it the primary driver and stabilizing force of economic growth."

The combined effect of these policies is expected to further strengthen the auto industry's steady upward trend, encourage innovation among enterprises, and support the industry's high-quality development.

In February 2025, there were 2.103 million vehicles produced in China, representing a 14.1% month-on-month decline but a 39.6% year-on-year leap. Meanwhile, China's auto sales stood at 2.129 million vehicles, which dropped 12.2% from the previous month while jumping 34.4% from the previous year, according to data provided by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).

Among the vehicles sold in the past month, 1.688 million units were consumed domestically, down 13.6% month-on-month but up 39.9% year-on-year.

In the first two months of this year, a total of 4.553 million vehicles were manufactured in China, representing a 16.2% rise compared to that of the previous year. At the same time, China's year-to-date auto sales amounted to 4.552 million units, climbing up 13.1% from a year ago.

Despite the month-on-month slowdown overall, China's NEV market still maintained its robust growth trend.

In the past month, a total of 888,000 NEVs were produced in China, skyrocketing 91.5% year over year. Meanwhile, the country's NEV sales reached 892,000 units, soaring 87.1% from a year ago and accounting for 41.9% of the China's total auto sales volume.

Among the NEVs sold last month, 760,000 units were sold in the domestic market, indicating a 4.2% month-on-month dip and a 92.6% year-on-year spike. On the other hand, China's NEV exports saw a 12.6% month-on-month decline but a 60.5% year-on-year hike in February, amounting to 131,000 units.

Xiaomi SU7; photo credit: Xiaomi EV

In the first two months of 2025, China's NEV production and sales volumes summed up to 1.903 million units and 1.835 million units, respectively, both surging 52% year over year. NEVs constituted 40.3% of China's auto sales in the period.

In the Jan.-Feb. period, China's domestic NEV sales reached 1.554 million units, zooming up 51.6% from a year ago. At the same time, the country's NEV exports increased 54.5% year over year to 282,000 units.

STERRA ES; photo credit: Chery

In terms of Chinese automaker's overall performance in overseas markets, the country's monthly auto export volume stood at 441,000 units in February, slightly dipping 6.2% from the previous month while jumping 16.9% from the previous year.

In the first two months of this year, automakers in China achieved a combined auto export volume of 911,000 vehicles, which grew 10.9% compared to the same period last year.

In the past month, among the top ten auto export companies in China, Chery stayed in the lead with its export volume reaching 86,000 units, representing a year-on-year increase of 9% and accounting for 19.6% of the country's total volume. Compared to the same period last year, BYD realized the biggest growth with 71,000 vehicles shipped overseas, which tripled from the year-ago period.
Dollar Tree is expected to open this summer inside Plainfield Plaza. Photo by Monica Scott

GRAND RAPIDS, MI  A popular discount brand is coming to northeast Grand Rapids.

Dollar Tree is expected to open in the coming months inside of Plainfield Plaza Shopping Center at 3144 Plainfield Ave. NE in Grand Rapids, Angela Bono with Bradley Company, the leasing firm for Plainfield Plaza, told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press.

We are not 100% sure when they plan to open but assume by this summer, she said.

The store will occupy a 11,073-square-foot suite on the west end of the shopping plaza next to Gall Sewing Center, Boost Mobile and the recently opened Rancho Bonito Venezuelan supermarket.

Dollar Tree did not immediately respond to questions about the new store at the time of publishing.

There are three available suites at Plainfield Plaza, according to the property listing. Bono said there has been some tenant interest, but nothing has been confirmed.

There are about 20 Dollar Tree stores in greater Grand Rapids but few locations in the citys northeast side. The only other stores in that part of town are at 1621 Leonard St. NE and at 4311 Plainfield Ave. NE Suite B, according to Dollar Trees store finder.

Rival chain Dollar General has two nearby stores at 2444 Plainfield Ave. NE and 1625 Leonard St. NE.

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Stricjavvar Floyd Strickland is led out of the court room in handcuffs after being sentenced in front of Kalamazoo County Circuit Court Judge Paul Bridenstine in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Monday, Jan. 30, 2023. Strickland, who pleaded guilty to one felony count of facilitation of travel services for purposes of prostitution, was sentenced to 12 months in Kalamazoo County Jail. He now faces embezzlement charges in Mississippi. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com) Joel Bissell | MLive.com

A former Kalamazoo pastor who served time after pleading guilty to a sexual-related charge in Kalamazoo is now in legal trouble in Mississippi.

The Rev. Stricjavvar Strick Strickland, 42, is being accused of stealing nearly $90,000 in church funds from Galilee Missionary Baptist Church in Mt. Olive, Mississippi, Fox 59 in Mississippi reports.
As the U.S. and its international neighbors exchange tariffs, we are asking you to share your thoughts.

As of Monday, March 10, a Canadian plan to raise electricity costs by 25% went into effect in response to Trumps tariffs, effective March 4. The electricity is sold to 1.5 million Americans, the Associated Press reported.

The new rules require any generator selling electricity to the U.S. to add a 25% surcharge. Ontarios government expects it could create a revenue of 300,000 to 400,000 Canadian dollars, or $208,000 to $277,000 in U.S. dollars, per day, according to the AP.

RELATED: In response to Trump tariffs, Canada charges extra 25% for electricity

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the bump could add $69 each month to the bills of each American affected.

A tariff is a government surcharge on products imported from other countries. Tariffs are paid by the companies that import goods into a country.

We are asking readers to share their opinions in the form below:

Some 7,718 gigawatt hours of power moved from the Canadian province into Michigan in 2023, with just 135 gigawatt hours going the other way, per Ontarios grid operator.

However, the vast majority isnt used in Michigan but supports power flows that loop around the Great Lakes, adding stability for both countries.

Its unclear how those flows would be impacted by the tariffs, Dan Scripps, one of Michigans top energy regulators, said last month.

RELATED: Trump shares message to millions struggling to buy groceries Shut up about egg prices

Experts predicted natural gas, oil and electricity would likely be caught up in new tariffs the Trump administration imposed on Canada and Mexico on Tuesday, March 4.

Imports from Canada and Mexico are taxed at 25%, and Canadian energy products are subject to 10% import duties.

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A photo of Kevin Graves is decorated with ribbons from Missing in Michigan events at the Graves house in Howell, Michigan, on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com)
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On March 11, Chinese smart electric vehicle technology developer U POWER Tech announced on its LinkedIn account that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Dr. Ralf Cramer, a prominent figure in the global automotive industry.

As the global strategic advisor of U POWER Tech, Dr. Cramer will leverage his extensive expertise in automotive technology, mobility solutions, and global strategy to support the company's technological innovation and international market expansion.

Dr. Ralf Cramer; photo credit: U POWER Tech

Dr. Cramer previously served as a member of the Executive Board of Continental AG and President & CEO of Continental China, where he played a pivotal role in advancing ADAS, chassis systems, and powertrain technologies. He has also held board and advisory positions at several major global automakers and private equity firms. His deep experience in automotive electronics and industry transformation aligns closely with U POWER Tech's mission to redefine electric vehicle platforms through skateboard chassis technology.

Commenting on the collaboration, Dr. Cramer stated: "U POWER Tech has rapidly built a highly competitive technology platform, demonstrating the team's exceptional technical vision and execution. Its skateboard chassis technology holds tremendous potential in the European market, and I look forward to working together to drive strategic collaboration and ecosystem development."

U POWER Tech said this partnership marks a new milestone in its global expansion, reinforcing its commitment to bringing cutting-edge innovations to the international stage. The company looks forward to working with Dr. Cramer to reshape the future of mobility through innovation.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On March 10, leading urban air mobility (UAM) technology company EHang announced that its EH216-S unmanned electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft successfully completed its first flight in Mexico.

This milestone marks the debut of eVTOL operations in the country, advancing urban air mobility solutions and contributing to the development of Mexico's low-altitude economy.

Photo credit: EHang

With this flight, EHang has now expanded its global presence to 19 countries. Mexico's high-density urban population, thriving tourism industry, and well-established manufacturing sector make it an ideal environment for the growth of advanced air mobility (AAM) solutions.

The fresh flight followed the issuance of a Special Airworthiness Certificate by Mexico's Federal Civil Aviation Agency ("AFAC") for the EH216-S unmanned aircraft system (UAS). The certification process was rigorous and comprehensive, covering technical document reviews, ground inspections, operational manual approvals, pilot training, and licensing to ensure compliance with Mexico's aviation safety and operational standards.

This achievement was made possible through close collaboration between AFAC, EHang, and its local partner, Air Mobility. As EHang's official partner in Mexico, Air Mobility will continue working alongside the company to drive the development of the country's AAM industry, laying the groundwork for the future commercialization of eVTOL operations.

Meanwhile, AFAC and the Civil Aviation Administration of China ("CAAC") have been strengthening cooperation, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in August 2023. The agreement covers environmental sustainability, operational safety, capacity building, and UAS regulations, accelerating Mexico's adoption of eVTOL technology and advanced aviation solutions.
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Screengrab via WWE

WWE will take an unprecedented step next week for one of their biggest weekly programs of the year when Monday Night Raw airs live from Brussels, Belgium on March 17.

Instead of airing at their normal 8 p.m. ET time slot on tape delay, Raw will air live around the world with a special start time of 3 p.m. ET and Noon p.m. PT. It also happens to be the first time that John Cena will appear on WWE television since the heel turn heard round the world at Elimination Chamber as he is advertised to be on the show along with WWE champion Cody Rhodes.

When Monday Night Raw aired on USA Network and linear television, WWE would always air the shows in their normal timeslot on tape delay. Of course, for plugged in fans this meant that spoilers would run rampant online, sharing what happened in the show before it was aired on television.

However, WWE is now in a brand new era thanks to their new deal with Netflix. With Raw airing globally and not designated for any particular timeslot (or even having a regular end time each week), WWE is free to air the show whenever they want to a worldwide audience. Theyve done similar things with early start times on the weekends for Premium Live Events in Europe, but its obviously different doing it on a weekday.

But if youre a fan who is thinking to themselves that you cant watch in the middle of the afternoon because of work, school, or other obligations you can just watch it at its normal time or any other time on demand.

The early Monday Night Raw start times will likely continue over the next three weeks as WWE does a European tour on their road to WrestleMania. On March 24, Raw will air from Glasgow, Scotland and on March 31, it will emanate from The O2 in London. It may be an interesting scheduling quirk, but its symbolic of the new streaming era and WWEs global Netflix audience taking centerstage.
Saurav Pandey is the Deputy Manager of Content at Moneycontrol, specialising in content strategy, execution and performance analysis. He integrates advanced SEO techniques to deliver high-impact, data-driven content formats. His expertise spans various beats, including education, career, science and others, where he adopts a technical approach to optimise visibility, improve search rankings, and drive organic traffic growth. He can be reached out at Saurav.Pandey@nw18.com.

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Arijit Singh and Martin Garrix' upcoming song Angels For Each Other to release on THIS date, duo confirm with latest post

M Snehanjali

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Deepika Padukone stuns in a classic Louis Vuitton at Paris Fashion Week, hubby Ranveer Singh writes: 'Lord have mercy on me'

Sarika Sharma

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Exclusive - Dupahiya director Sonam Nair on overwhelming response to the show, and why she gave Govinda CDs to Sparsh Srivastava

Sarika Sharma is Editor, Entertainment, MoneyControl.com. She has over 24 years of experience in the field of journalism.

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Hina Khan gets emotional over beau Rocky Jaiswals support during cancer journey, says, Every woman deserves a man like him

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Karan Kundrra replaces Abdu Rozik temporarily on Laughter Chefs 2, talks about his bond with Aly Goni

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Kareena Kapoor on not doing sexual scenes in her 25 years of film career: Won't be comfortable doing that

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Vaishnavi Gavankar

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Shark Tank India 4: Kunal Bahl Says 64-Year-Old Founder Reminds Him of His Mother

Sarika Sharma

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Timothee Chalamet starrer Dune: Part Two and Interstellar to re-release in Indian theatres on THIS date

Gayatri Rani

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Triptii Dimri visits Nashik's Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple, shares pic of waiting in queue: 'One for the soul'

M Snehanjali

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Bihar Police Constable Recruitment 2025: Notification out for 19838 posts, applications open from March 18 to April 18

Saurav Pandey is the Deputy Manager of Content at Moneycontrol, specialising in content strategy, execution and performance analysis. He integrates advanced SEO techniques to deliver high-impact, data-driven content formats. His expertise spans various beats, including education, career, science and others, where he adopts a technical approach to optimise visibility, improve search rankings, and drive organic traffic growth. He can be reached out at Saurav.Pandey@nw18.com.

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Debaroti Adhikary

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NAIROBI, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President William Ruto on Monday presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the protection and restoration of the Nairobi River Basin, a project to be implemented by Energy China.

Senior government officials, executives from Energy China, and environmental advocates also attended the event, which seeks to restore the ecological health of the Nairobi River as it winds through the capital.

The Nairobi River Basin rehabilitation will run with an affordable housing project, set to be implemented over four years at a cost of 50 billion Kenyan shillings (about 388 million U.S. dollars).

Ruto said reclaiming the Nairobi River's ecological integrity after decades of pollution will create new jobs for young people, improve public health, and enhance the capital's environmental sustainability.

"This project will give us an opportunity to expand and deepen the Nairobi River while constructing a 60-km sewer line to carry wastewater, making Nairobi a cleaner and more respectable city," Ruto said.

The construction of decent homes, connected to a modern sewer system along the rehabilitated Nairobi River Basin, will facilitate the resettlement of flood victims, he added.

The Nairobi River originates from the northwestern outskirts of the Kenyan capital, flowing through southeastern residential areas, but has long suffered from severe pollution and flooding during the rainy season.

In February, the Kenyan government signed a contract with China Energy Engineering Group Guangxi Electric Power Design Institute Co., Ltd. to implement the project's first phase.

Funded by the Kenyan government, the project includes the construction of main sewage pipelines and wastewater treatment plants, protection of upstream water sources, river dredging, stormwater management, solid waste treatment, landscaping, and the development of affordable housing.

Upon completion, the project is expected to mitigate flooding along the Nairobi River Basin, improve local living standards and transform the urban landscape.

The initiative will also increase land value in the metropolitan area, promote tourism, boost Kenya's economic growth, and provide significant social and environmental benefits to local communities.

Lv Guoqing, managing director of Energy China, said the firm will leverage advanced technologies and mobilize a local workforce to accelerate the river's restoration.

According to Li Cheng, project manager at Energy China, the rehabilitation of the Nairobi River is expected to take two years, with riparian communities set to benefit from substantial environmental improvements upon completion.
The trauma of two bullets fired outside of a Billings club went far beyond the death of Beau Harlan Beaumont.

More than two years later, Trevor Smith with the Billings Police Department struggled in Yellowstone County District Court to testify about the morning he was the first officer to reach the wounded 21-year-old. Behind the bar, Beaumonts family wept.

I observed a young man lying on the ground who was in extreme pain, Smith said, recalling a chaotic, hectic scene outside of what was Americas Wild West Saloon, I couldnt render aid and thats what I wanted to do.

Smiths testimony on Monday concluded the first day of the trial of Xavier Thanae Buffalo, who is facing counts of deliberate homicide and tampering with evidence. Yellowstone County prosecutors are alleging Buffalo shot Beaumont with no provocation whatsoever, fled the scene and then disposed of the handgun he used in the shooting. Attorneys representing Buffalo are arguing that he fired the fatal shots in self-defense.

Early on the morning of Feb. 12, 2023, emergency crews were called to America's Wild West on Southgate Drive. They found Beaumont on the ground in the parking lot. Hed been shot two times in the abdomen. Smith testified that the parking lot was filled with people walking or running away from the scene.

When he reached Beaumont, body camera footage showed a circle of people around the 21-year-old, one of whom was a nurse giving him first aid. In the effort to assess Beaumonts injuries, and create a safe space for first responders, Smith said there was tension between law enforcement and the crowd around Beaumont. Amidst that tension, Smith said he heard Beaumont say he couldnt breathe.

After seeing Beaumonts injuries firsthand, Smith said he knew that there was little that could be done to save his life. Crews took Beaumont to a local hospital, where he died of his injuries. His family raised him in Pryor, but hed been living and working in Billings.

Witnesses at the scene identified the shooter as Buffalo, according to charging documents. A fight between Buffalo and Beaumont escalated to Buffalo grabbing a gun and shooting the 21-year-old, court documents said. Surveillance footage allegedly captured the fight, during which Buffalo punched Beaumont, and stomped on him while Beaumont was on the ground.

In his opening argument to jurors, Yellowstone County Attorney Scott Michael Prudhomme said Beaumont was leaving the bar and had gotten in the passenger side of a vehicle when Buffalo pulled him out and instigated the fight. Less than a minute later, Prudhomme said, Buffalo drew his handgun and shot Beaumont. Before leaving the scene, Buffalo allegedly kicked and taunted the man as he was dying.

BPD officers arrested Buffalo later that same morning. In an interview with investigators, Buffalo allegedly admitted to shooting Beaumont, then told officers he gave the gun he used to an acquaintance.

Meaghan Bailey, one of two attorneys representing Buffalo, told jurors in her opening argument that Buffalo had no other choice than to shoot Beaumont. She said she and her colleague, Blaine McGivern, planned to show evidence that Beaumont had Buffalo pinned to the ground in the parking lot, with Beaumonts hands at Buffalos throat. Feeling cornered, Bailey said, Buffalo grabbed the gun tucked into his waistband and fired.

Yellowstone County prosecutors filed criminal charges against Buffalo a day after the shooting. He was 18 years old at the time. At his arraignment, Buffalo pleaded not guilty to counts of deliberate homicide and tampering with evidence. He left custody on a $250,000 bond. While arguing that Buffalo killed Beaumont in self-defense, his attorneys are denying that he tampered with evidence in the case.

Since 2020, homicides in Billings have increased on average when compared to the previous decade. While the annual number of violent deaths in the city peaked that year with 22 homicide cases investigated by BPD, there have been at least nine homicides in Billings every year since then.

Before closing, America's Wild West marketed itself as a club for those 18 and older, with the expectation that those underage would be barred from drinking. Leading up to the night Buffalo allegedly shot Beaumont, the club was a frequent source of complaints for BPD. Smith himself testified that the department prioritized having an officer visit the property during the club's business hours. In April 2022, a 29-year-old Billings man was shot dead in the parking lot of the nightclub. No criminal charges were filed in the fallout of the shooting.

The establishment is now known as the Stars 'n' Stripes Lounge And Casino. In late February 2023, Beaumonts estate filed a lawsuit against the operators of Americas Wild West, SBD Enterprises and America Foods Inc., alleging negligence on their part. Along with accusing the owners of the establishment of selling alcohol to minors like Buffalo, Beaumont's family is alleging they failed to provide adequate security for their patrons.
IndusInd Bank to see profit in Q4 even after absorbing losses over derivative discrepancies: CEO Sumant Kathpalia

Debaroti Adhikary

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Viswanath Pilla is a business journalist with 16 years of reporting experience. Based in Mumbai, Pilla covers pharma, healthcare and infrastructure sectors for Moneycontrol.

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Market fall, volatility hits HUFs, brokers, financial institutions harder than FIIs as assets see steep erosion

Ravindra Sonavane

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Mutual funds take Rs 6,900-crore hit as IndusInd Bank stock plunges 27%: Here are the worst-hit MFs

Ravindra Sonavane

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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

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US was among top 10 importers in half of the 118 countries that exported dairy products in 2023

Ishaan Gera

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Sunil Matkar

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A Canadian man who illegally entered the United States and shot up electrical substations in the Dakotas was sentenced Monday to 25 years in federal prison, a punishment well above sentencing guidelines after a judge ruled his actions met the federal definition of terrorism.

Cameron Smith, 50, was also ordered to pay more than $2.1 million in restitution to electrical companies in both states. Additionally, Smith was ordered to pay fines totaling $250,000 and will be deported after his release. It wasn't immediately known what part of Canada he is from.

Smith pleaded guilty in September 2024 under a deal with prosecutors to charges of destroying energy facilities and illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.

Those charges stem from incidents initially near Carpenter, South Dakota, on July 17, 2022. A second incident occurred on May 13, 2023, at the Wheelock substation near Ray.

U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor sentenced Smith to two consecutive 12 -year terms, far exceeding guidelines that recommended 3  to 4  years per count. Other charges were dismissed.

Traynor said the departure was justified after reviewing arguments and briefs on Smith's alleged "terrorist activities."

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Hagler said sentencing guidelines allowed the departure since Smith's actions met the definition of terrorism by "attempting to intimidate or coerce a civilian population."

Hagler said the enhancement was warranted due to Smith's extensive planning. He noted Smith had his girlfriend buy the weapon and ammunition to avoid a direct link to him. Smith also waited about 10 months after the South Dakota attack before targeting the substation near Ray.

Defense attorney Douglas Passon argued against the enhancement, describing Smith as a "hyper-aware individual wanting to create awareness about climate change" who intentionally avoided harming anyone.

"Putting Mr. Smith in the same bucket as Timothy McVeigh or Osama bin Laden does a great disservice to our laws," Passon said.

McVeigh was convicted of terrorism and murder for the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, which killed 167 people, including children at a day care. He was sentenced to death and executed on June 11, 2001.

After lengthy arguments, Traynor ruled the sentencing enhancement was appropriate.

"The defendant did this twice," Traynor said. "Using a high-powered rifle in pretty intimidating conduct. That's pretty damn coercive, that's criminally coercive."

What did Smith plead guilty to in the Dakotas?

In both cases, Smith allegedly used a .450 caliber Bushmaster rifle. Court documents filed in connection with the Wheelock substation incident indicate a number of shell casings were found outside an 8-foot fence surrounding the property, and investigators reportedly matched those shell casings to ones found near the South Dakota installation.

In the South Dakota incident, prosecutors said the damage inflicted by Smith caused a shutdown of a pump station on the Keystone XL Pipeline. That shutdown reportedly caused a containment system to fail, and a leak developed that impacted neighboring land. Traynor ordered Smith to pay more than $402,000 in restitution to owners of the South Dakota substation.

Damages to the Wheelock substation caused power outages to 243 customers of Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative, which co-owns the facility with Basin Electric Power Cooperative. During Monday's sentencing hearing, Derik Johnson, Basin Electric's manager of Transmission Systems Maintenance, read a statement in support of restitution in excess of $1.7 million.

Johnson said the damages to transformers and other electrical infrastructure caused "significant impacts on customers and the regional electrical grid," and forced Basin to redeploy a large number of employees and resources from other maintenance and construction projects the co-op was involved in.

Passon had argued the amount requested by Basin was too high because the co-op chose to move damaged components off-site, rather than making repair locally. Hagler countered Passon's claim by telling Traynor the company addressed repairs according to accepted industry standards, and a preponderance of evidence presented at an evidentiary hearing on Jan. 27 supported the restitution amount.

Traynor said his review of documents and evidence presented at the evidentiary hearing supported the restitution order.

Speaking for himself, Smith said his actions were driven by frustration after years of trying to raise climate change awareness through lawful means. He said he chose remote locations to avoid harming people, and argued for a lesser sentence, citing his autism and Crohn's disease.

"This is tantamount to a life sentence and I don't think that's right," Smith said.

Smith said managing his Crohn's in jail has been "nearly impossible" and that his condition has made him a target of ridicule and violence from other inmates. Crohn's is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes painful swelling in the gastrointestinal tract and requires ongoing management.

He expressed doubt he would receive the care his condition requires while incarcerated.

"I won't survive this," he claimed.

Traynor was not swayed, saying he reviewed all arguments and documents, ultimately giving weight to the facts that Smith was in the country illegally, meticulously planned his actions, and used others to obtain weapons. Smith had also previously affiliated with an extremist group.

Traynor noted Smith's connection to "Extinction Rebellion," a global organization based in the United Kingdom that advocates nonviolent civil disobedience to raise awareness about climate change.

"You ignored the rule of law in the United States and carried out your actions in a terrorist manner," Traynor said. "You did not engage in this conduct on a whim. You committed two separate attacks on critical infrastructure 10 months apart and traveled a great distance to do so."

After his incarceration, Smith will serve three years of supervised release, which Passon said is needed for Smith to apply for good time credit under Federal Bureau of Prisons policies.
Srushti Vaidya

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China is a good cyclical market to play; India still most expensive relative to other EMs

Khushi Keswani

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Its not over till its over: Minority shareholders mull further action against NCLAT order favour ICICI Securities delisting

Zoya Springwala

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Macrotech, Godrej Properties, DLF, other real estate stocks jump up to 5% to lead market recovery

Debaroti Adhikary

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Morgan Stanley expects India to recover lost ground through 2025, says market looks attractive

Vaibhavi Ranjan

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Russian oil exports to China surpass exports to India in a first since December 2023

Shubhangi Mathur

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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

Naina Sood

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The silent debt collectors: How a new breed of startups is adding an 'AI brain' to loan recovery

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1, 2 or 3? Why language is a ticking time bomb in Tamil Nadu amid Hindi pushback

Swati Das is an independent journalist covering Tamil Nadu politics, and is based in Chennai.

Armaan Bhatnagar

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Sonalee Borgohain

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Kerala News Live: Kerala govt denies delay in Wayanad rehabilitation as alleged by UDF

The Kerala government today denied in Assembly the allegations of Congress-led UDF that state was delaying the rehabilitation of the Wayanad landslides victims, following which the opposition staged a walkout from the House.

State Revenue Minister K Rajan said it was the Centre which did not provide any financial assistance for the rehabilitation and only in February they provided a long-term loan of around Rs 530 crore.

The minister further said that it was the Centre which delayed designating the landslides as a disaster of severe nature, while the state government right from the start has taken various measures, including waiving loans given by Kerala Bank, to ease the suffering of the victims.
Siddharth Chakravorty

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Delay in NEET-PG admissions unacceptable, why is this happening: Jairam Ramesh

101Reporters

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Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 introduced in Lok Sabha. Here's a look at its provisions

Siddharth Chakravorty

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Indian student who went missing In Dominican Republic may have drowned during swim: Police

Arishaa Izaj

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Journey through 11 countries, Rs 35 lakh to agents: How Haryana man reached US, only to be deported

101Reporters

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Armaan Bhatnagar

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Smriti Mishra

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Parliament Session LIVE: Oppn members in Rajya Sabha accuse govt of forcibly thrusting NEP on states, impinging upon their autonomy

Opposition members in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday accused the government of forcibly thrusting on states the National Education Policy and impinging on their autonomy.

During the discussion on the working of Ministry of Education, Ritabrata Banerjee (TMC) and Kanimozhi NVN Somu (DMK) accused the Centre of withholding funds meant for education programmes in opposition ruled states of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

"Without any consultations with the state governments, the NEP (National Education Policy) has been forcibly thrusted upon states," Banerjee said adding the West Bengal government was forced to stop the four-year graduation course with inter-disciplinary and mulit-disciplinary framework
Surabhi Pandey

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William Oddy of Youngstown doesnt need a five-year anniversary to recall the effects of Covid-19. He lives with them every day.

Covid in Western New York - 5 years later The Buffalo News takes a look at life in Western New York, five years after we first heard the terms "coronavirus" and "Covid-19."

He also happens to live near a place that is trying to do something about them.

Oddy, 63, is being treated by providers at UBMDs Long Covid Recovery Center, which opened in the fall of 2023 to care for patients with long Covid and connect them to health care opportunities and resources. The University at Buffalo clinic is the only medical practice in upstate New York dedicated to long Covid, so patients have traveled from Rochester, Ithaca, Watertown and the Finger Lakes for treatment.

Oddy is one of about 6% of Americans living with long Covid, or ongoing health problems that occur after a coronavirus infection. UBs Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences estimates that 100,000 people in Western New York have long Covid, with about 25,000 living in Buffalo.

Five years since Covid first made its way into the United States, there are no diagnostic tests and zero proven treatments for long Covid. At the clinic, providers focus on treating patients symptoms and helping them improve their quality of life, while also collecting data and information for research to learn more about the condition.

We know long Covid exists, said Dr. Jennifer Abeles, a UBMD physician and UB medical professor who is a co-director of the Long Covid Recovery Center. We dont question that. We just dont have all the answers yet.

Oddy was sick with Covid during Christmastime in 2023. He said his illness wasnt anything serious. It felt like a bad cold.

But near the end of January, Oddy started to feel so fatigued he could barely stay awake during the day. He experienced headaches, brain fog and began to get winded after walking short distances.

Oddy said he went to his doctor, but they werent sure what was wrong. After doing some research online, Oddy figured out he probably had long Covid and came across the UBMD clinic. He filled out the long Covid survey and made an appointment at the clinic.

Throughout all this, Oddy was struggling to keep up with his work as a mechanical designer at Buffalo-based architecture firm CannonDesign. He went on medical leave last February and decided to retire early at the end of 2024.

I finally realized that I was not in any shape to go back anytime soon, said Oddy, who had planned to work until he was 67 years old.

Oddys first appointment at the clinic was in April. He met with the nurse practitioner, Trudy Stern.

Right off the bat, (Stern) met with my wife and I and she just made us feel at ease and that there was hope, he said.

Oddy was referred to a cardiologist and neurologist to rule out any other health problems, he said. That is the typical first step for patients who come to the clinic, said Dr. Sanjay Sethi, the other co-director of the clinic.

Were looking for other things to explain it, said Sethi, who is also a professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at UBMD and the Jacobs School. For example, with fatigue, do they have sleep apnea? Do they have low thyroid function? And what we found out as we went along was that most of our diagnostic testing was not revealing anything much, but we still do it. Were very happy when we find something, because then we can fix it. But its a real challenge finding things that we can fix.

Long Covid can come with an assortment of symptoms and not everyone with the condition has the same problems, Abeles said.

The most common symptoms include fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath and cardiac problems like POTS, a condition that causes a significant increase in heart rate when standing up from sitting or lying down.

Acute Covid-19, or the initial infection, is more of a lung disease, said Sethi, so when he and Abeles started the clinic, they expected most patients would have respiratory problems. But fewer than half of patients have those symptoms. The majority of long Covid patients the doctors have worked with report fatigue and brain fog as their top symptoms, which is in line with the national data, Sethi said.

After the initial appointment, providers refer patients to research studies and put them in specialized physical and occupational therapy to try to help with the fatigue. Patients can also meet with a social worker from the Buffalo Urban League and join long Covid support groups.

Rehabilitation has been one of the most successful tools to helping patients feel better, Sethi said, so much so that the clinic has twice applied for a research grant focusing on individualized rehab for patients.

Oddy is doing physical therapy to help with his balance and strength. Because of his fatigue, he often feels extra exhausted the day after physical therapy, which is not uncommon for long Covid patients, Abeles and Sethi said.

Oddy is also taking medications to treat hand tremors, headaches and heart palpitations. The medications have improved those symptoms, he said. He still deals with fatigue, but he thinks that symptom has improved a bit since last year.

Before he got Covid, Oddy said he was fairly healthy. This is the first time a health condition has significantly affected his life.

For me, this is not a life-threatening thing, but it is definitely a life-altering illness, Oddy said.

Oddy said hes started seeing a therapist for the first time to treat the depression brought on by his illness. While Oddy has learned to give himself grace, he still struggles with his limitations.

I cant do the things I used to do, Oddy said. And this is not how I want to spend my retirement either. I get tired doing things. I have trouble breathing, shortness of breath just walking down the hallway sometimes. I was active before and now its very tough to go for a walk, of any length.

Despite that, Oddy says there is light at the end of the tunnel. He believes he will get better someday and praised the providers hes worked with at the clinic for being caring and understanding.

Im hoping it all turns around and Ill be able to walk down the hallway without having to stop and catch my breath, or I wont have to sleep 16 hours a day, Oddy said. And I can be engaged more and carry on a more fluent conversation with people.

Sethi said many patients do get better. It just takes time.

I dont want to get the picture that once you got it youre never gonna get well, Sethi said. We have people who have recovered and gone back to normal lives. Time is a tincture here. But clearly some of them dont (get better). Some of them slowly get better. So I think the idea is to support them through this process.

Abeles, Sethi and their colleagues have worked with and supported 300 patients in the Long Covid Recovery Center.

The clinic is not accepting new patients due to a lapse in personnel, Sethi said. When the clinic first opened, it had a grant that allowed providers to treat patients without insurance, but that grant has run out, Abeles said.

But long Covid patients can still help researchers learn about the conditions impact by signing up for the Long Covid Connection. Since it was launched in 2022, more than 1,500 have filled out the survey and receive a monthly newsletter with the latest long Covid research, information about participating in research studies and opportunities to connect with other long Covid patients through support groups.

The survey has been a great tool for researchers to gain a better understanding about long Covid. With this knowledge, they can help design research and treatment options.
Who is ex-Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel's son Chaitanya, raided by ED in multi-crore liquor scam?

Sonalee Borgohain

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Alvaro Pascual is Portfolio Manager at Delorean Partners. Views are personal, and do not represent the stance of this publication.

Amit Bhartia is Portfolio Manager at Delorean Partners. Views are personal, and do not represent the stance of this publication.

Namrata Agarwal

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C Uday Bhaskar is Director, Society for Policy Studies, New Delhi. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.

Namrata Agarwal

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Putin's faced some tough US presidents. Not this one

Marc Champion writes editorials on international affairs. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.

Namrata Agarwal

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Namrata Agarwal

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Ishaan Gera

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ByteDance cofounder becomes China's richest person. 7 points to know about Zhang Yiming

Ankita Sengupta

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8 of top 10 brokers see a drop in active investors in February as market gloom deepens

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DarkStorm Team: Who are they and how they may be related to X outage yesterday

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How India's ER&D sector overtook BPM in the tech industry for the first time

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Baloch separatists fire upon Peshawar-bound train, hold hundreds hostage. What we know so far

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BLA militants unleash unprecedented attack on Pakistan train, kill 20 soldiers: Here's what we know so far

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Citi cuts US stocks to Neutral, raises China to Overweight on pause in US exceptionalism

Rohit Singh

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Dalai Lama says his successor to be born outside China

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Mauritius seeks fresh terms for Chagos deal with UK in shared interests of all, including India: Foreign Minister

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Arindam Roy

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UniCredit poised to get ECB nod for Commerzbank stake in days

101Reporters

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US and Ukraine begin talks on path to possible truce with Russia

Arindam Roy

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US and Ukraine to meet in Saudi Arabia after disastrous White House talks

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Why the US keeps losing to China in the critical minerals race

Manjiri Patil

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UPDATE: Philippines sends Duterte to ICC over drugs war killings; warrant says ex-president was head of a death squad
by Ji Li, Frank Kanyesigye KIGALI, March 10 (Xinhua) -- As we navigated the Muhanga-Nyange road about 50 km southwest of Kigali, the Rwandan capital, we were held in awe by the beautiful view of the mountains in the distance and the precipices close by. We were equally amazed by the difference one year can make, thanks to Stecol Corporation, the Chinese construction firm contracted to rehabilitate and widen the 29-km transport corridor connecting Rwanda's Southern province with the Western and Northern provinces. The dusty, potholed gravel surface that we saw last time has now been replaced with asphalt, as workers put finishing touches to this major infrastructure project. "The road construction project is advancing steadily, creating over 400 jobs for local residents and significantly improving the region's infrastructure," says Jiang Pengfei, the project's general manager. About a quarter of the overall physical work is now done, and the road is expected to be fully completed by September next year, said Jiang, 41. He started working in Rwanda in April last year, but has been in Africa since December 2010, first briefly in Libya, and then for about 13 years in Kenya. "Once the road is completed, transportation speeds will greatly increase, and local residents will enjoy greater convenience in their daily travel," he said. "I believe the biggest highlight of this project is that, through design optimization, we are creating a safer driving environment for all vehicles using the road." The radiuses of the curves have been lengthened on the bends and more speed bumps added to improve safety at places with sharp turns and steep slopes. Lamps, sidewalks and drainage systems have also been put in place to make the road better at facilitating Rwanda's modernization drive, Jiang said. The local community along the road is also feeling the positive change it brings. Devotha Kubwayo, a resident of Nyarusange Sector in Muhanga District, shared her excitement about the improved transport conditions. "The road was in very bad condition, making it difficult to get cars. Now, we are happy with the progress of the construction," she said. "Before, finding transport to access markets and trade was a challenge, but now, even at 6 p.m., transportation is available," said Kubwayo, about 40. Margaret Umurerwa, another resident, in her thirties, recounted the difficulties people faced before the construction. "The road was full of potholes, causing accidents and discouraging drivers from using it. Even motorcycle taxi riders avoided it." "Now, vehicles are using the road, and once construction is completed, transportation will be even better, helping us trade and travel with ease," she said. Beyond its immediate benefits, the road construction is also fostering career growth for individuals like 40-year-old Fabrice Ngenzi, a secretary at the project. "Before construction, the road was in poor condition, making travel difficult. But with this improvement, many people can now visit the Western Province, which is a major tourist destination," he said. Having worked with Stecol for nearly a decade, Ngenzi credits the company for his professional growth and personal achievements. "When I started working with the company in 2015, I had just graduated from university. Over the years, I have gained valuable experience," he said. "Today, I have a stable income, own a house and a car, and can support my family." "I feel fortunate to be part of this company," Ngenzi said, praising the cooperation between Rwanda and China. "Chinese companies are creating jobs and offering technical expertise to Rwandans. We want more of them to come, as they provide opportunities for young professionals to gain experience, especially in engineering," he said.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Cross Dete-Binga Road is set for a major rehabilitation this month, following a partnership between the Government and two mining companies in Matabeleland North province. This development aims to accelerate roadworks on critical sections of the route, which serves as a key link between Binga and the rest of the country, crucial for tourism and commercial activities.The road has suffered severe deterioration due to incessant rains, resulting in numerous potholes and heavily damaged sections that have made traffic movement increasingly difficult. However, significant rehabilitation efforts are underway, with lithium investor Kamativi Mining Company (KMC) and British-owned Muchesu Coal Mine stepping in to assist.KMC, which began operations at the old tin mine last year, has already rehabilitated a 20km stretch of the road. Muchesu Coal Mine, owned by Contango Holdings, a strategic coal asset in Southern Africa with over 2.6 billion tonnes of coking and thermal coal, has also committed to supporting the rehabilitation initiative.Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Richard Moyo, met with representatives from KMC and Muchesu Coal Mine, along with Binga Rural District Council (RDC) chief executive officer Mr. Joshua Muzamba and provincial road engineers. The meeting focused on strategies to expedite the roadworks.Minister Moyo emphasized the importance of collaboration between the Government and mining companies in improving infrastructure. "A resolution was made at the meeting with officials from Muchesu Coal Mine and Kamativi Mining Company, road engineers, and the Binga RDC CEO that rehabilitating the Cross Dete-Binga Road is a priority project that should start as soon as possible," he stated.The road engineers have been tasked with determining the materials required for pothole patching from Cross Dete to Binga, with findings expected in the coming days. Minister Moyo credited President Mnangagwa's leadership for attracting major investors to Matabeleland North, which has enabled such infrastructure development initiatives."The mining companies understand how important it is to partner with the Government in implementing key projects such as road rehabilitation, which they also rely on for transportation," added Minister Moyo. The planned pothole patching will cover the entire Cross Dete-Binga Road, which was significantly damaged by heavy rains this year.KMC has already resurfaced a stretch from its main gate to the Cross Dete-Binga road, up to the roundabout. Additionally, sections of the road leading to the business center, police station, Transmedia transmitters, and the community hall have been tarred, with one segment named after Chief Nekatambe in recognition of his jurisdiction over the area.Truck drivers and local business owners have expressed relief at the planned rehabilitation. Mr. Albert Savanhu, a truck driver, described the current road conditions as a nightmare, with potholes forcing even haulage trucks off the tarred road onto dusty side paths. Similarly, Mr. Patrick Chisulu, a local business owner, warned that if small bridges in the area are not repaired, certain sections of Binga could be cut off from the rest of the district.The Government has identified Cross Dete-Binga Road as a critical highway in need of urgent attention, and the involvement of mining companies in its rehabilitation is expected to significantly improve accessibility and economic activities in the region.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume on Monday called for accountability and good governance among city officials, even as a recent commission exposed exorbitant salaries being paid to council directors. The commission's findings revealed that top administrators at Town House were earning between US$15,000 and US$30,000 per month, consuming over half a million US dollars in salaries alone.Speaking at the launch of a revenue collection blitz in Harare, Mafume emphasized the importance of responsible leadership."Accountability is essential for effective governance and development," Mafume said. "When officials are held accountable, it fosters trust and confidence in government, encouraging residents to participate in civic activities, pay taxes, and comply with laws and regulations."However, his remarks stood in contrast to recent revelations about lavish spending within the municipality. In addition to high salaries, city officials reportedly allocated US$1 million for high-end vehicles for top administrators, raising further concerns about financial mismanagement.The Harare City Council has long been criticized for poor service delivery, with persistent failures in water and sewage reticulation, road maintenance, and infrastructure development. Even council offices themselves have been described as desolate and neglected.The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) director, Ruben Akili, condemned the council's spending priorities, calling the situation a sign of systemic failure."The local government system structures have not been performing up to standards," Akili said. "There is a need to reform our local government system. Our local government system promotes corruption and does not encourage citizen participation. Transparency and accountability are sorely lacking."Residents have expressed growing frustration, with many questioning why they should continue paying rates when the funds appear to be fueling extravagant lifestyles rather than essential services. Some have threatened to withhold payments, citing uncollected garbage, poor road conditions, and failing water infrastructure as justification for their discontent.As the controversy unfolds, pressure is mounting on Mafume and the Harare City Council to justify their expenditure and restore public confidence in local governance.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Health, education, and various other sectors in Zimbabwe and across Africa face a tough period ahead following the announcement that 83% of USAID-funded programs have been suspended.United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday revealed that the U.S. government had canceled 5,200 contracts deemed to be consuming tens of billions of dollars without serving America's core interests.The decision comes just weeks after nearly all USAID-funded programs, except for a select few, were put on hold. The global suspension, implemented less than a week into President Donald Trump's second term, has left Africa reeling as many nations depended heavily on U.S. aid for humanitarian assistance."After a six-week review, we are officially canceling 83% of the programs at USAID," Rubio stated. "The 5,200 contracts that are now canceled spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, and in some cases even harmed, the core national interests of the United States. In consultation with Congress, we intend for the remaining 18% of programs (approximately 1,000) to now be administered more effectively under the State Department."The review was conducted by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a unit tasked with auditing, streamlining, and determining the future of USAID.In Zimbabwe, USAID played a crucial role in supporting the health sector, including funding salaries for nurses, supplying essential medical technology, and constructing clinics, particularly in rural areas. The suspension of funding is expected to leave significant gaps in healthcare provision, as the government has struggled to invest adequately in public health over the past 45 years of independence.Despite this setback, Zimbabwean authorities maintain that alternative plans are in place, urging citizens not to panic. However, critics question the government's preparedness to fill the void left by USAID.The crisis extends beyond Zimbabwe. In South Africa, clinics providing free antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) have already been forced to shut down, leaving thousands of HIV-positive individuals without essential medication.The situation has been further worsened by the withdrawal of UKAID and other European humanitarian agencies, which had also been significant contributors to development and relief programs across the continent.With the abrupt end of U.S. aid, governments in affected countries now face the challenge of either increasing domestic funding for essential services or seeking alternative donors to fill the funding gap. The long-term impact on Africa's most vulnerable communities remains uncertain, with fears of worsening healthcare, education, and economic instability in the wake of these cutbacks.
Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin delivered the official Democratic response to President Trumps joint address to Congress last week.

Slotkin was Tuesdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here is the full transcript:

Hi everyone. Im Elissa Slotkin. Im honored to have the opportunity to speak tonight. Its late  so I promise to be a lot shorter than what you just watched.

I wont take it personally if youve never heard of me. Im the new senator from the great state of Michigan, where I grew up. Ive been in public service my entire life, because I happened to be in New York City on 9/11 when the twin towers came down. Before the smoke cleared, I knew I wanted a life in national security.

I was recruited by the CIA and did three tours in Iraq, alongside the military. In between, I worked at the White House under President Bush and President Obama, two very different leaders who both believed that America is exceptional.

You can find that same sense of patriotism here in Wyandotte, Michigan, where I am tonight. Its a working-class town just south of Detroit. President Trump and I both won here in November. It might not seem like it, but plenty of places like this still exist all across the United States  places where people believe that if you work hard, and play by the rules, you should do well and your kids do better.

It reminds me of how I grew up. My dad was a lifelong Republican, my mom a lifelong Democrat. But it was never a big deal. Because we had shared values that were bigger than any one party.

We just went through another fraught election season. Americans made it clear that prices are too high and that government needs to be more responsive to their needs. America wants change. But there is a responsible way to make change, and a reckless way. And, we can make that change without forgetting who we are as a country, and as a democracy.

So thats what Im going to lay out tonight.

Because whether youre in Wyandotte or Wichita, most Americans share three core beliefs: That the Middle Class is the engine of our country. That strong national security protects us from harm. And that our democracy, no matter how messy, is unparalleled and worth fighting for.

Lets start with the economy.

Michigan literally invented the Middle Class: the revolutionary idea that you could work at an auto plant and afford the car you were building. Thats the American Dream. And in order to expand and protect the Middle Class, we have to do a few, basic things:

We need to bring down the price of things we spend the most money on: Groceries. Housing. Healthcare. Your car.

We need to make more things in America with good-paying, union jobs  and bring our supply chains back home from places like China.

We need to give American businesses the certainty they need to invest and create the jobs of the future.

And we need a tax system thats fair for people who dont happen to make a billion dollars.

Look, President Trump talked a big game on the economy, but its always important to read the fine print. So: do his plans actually help Americans get ahead?

Not even close.

President Trump is trying to deliver an unprecedented giveaway to his billionaire friends. Hes on the hunt to find trillions of dollars to pass along to the wealthiest in America. And to do that, hes going to make you pay in every part of your life.

Grocery and home prices are going up, not down  and he hasnt laid out a credible plan to deal with either.

His tariffs on allies like Canada will raise prices on energy, lumber, cars  and start a trade war that will hurt manufacturing and farmers.

Your premiums and prescriptions will cost more because the math on his proposals doesnt work without going after your health care.

Meanwhile, for those keeping score, the national debt is going up, not down. And if hes not careful, he could walk us right into a recession.

And one more thing: In order to pay for his plan, he could very well come after your retirement  the Social Security, Medicare, and VA benefits you worked your whole life to earn. The President claims he wont, but Elon Musk just called Social Security the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.

While were on the subject of Elon Musk, 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? No oversight. No protections against cyber-attack. No guardrails on what they do with your private data.

We need more efficient government. You want to cut waste, Ill help you do it. But change doesnt 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 re-hire them two days later? No CEO in America could do that without being summarily fired.

OK, so weve talked about our economic security. How about national security?

Lets start with the border. As someone who spent my whole career protecting our homeland, every country deserves to know who and what is coming across its border. Period. Democrats and Republicans should all be for that.

But securing the border without actually fixing our broken immigration system is dealing with the symptom not the disease. America is a nation of immigrants. We need a functional system, keyed to the needs of our economy, that allows vetted people to come and work here legally. So I look forward to the Presidents plan on that.

Because heres the thing: Todays world is deeply interconnected. Migration, cyber threats, AI, environmental destruction, terrorism  one nation cannot face these issues alone. We need friends in all corners  and our safety depends on it.

President Trump loves to promise peace through strength. Thats actually a line he stole from Ronald Reagan. But let me tell you, after the spectacle that just took place in the Oval Office last week, Reagan must be rolling over in his grave. We all want an end to the war in Ukraine, but Reagan understood that true strength required America to combine our military and economic might with moral clarity.

And that scene in the Oval Office wasnt just a bad episode of reality TV. It summed up Trumps whole approach to the world. He believes in cozying up to dictators like Vladimir Putin and kicking our friends, like Canada, in the teeth. He sees American leadership as merely a series of real estate transactions.

As a Cold War kid, Im thankful it was Reagan and not Trump in office in the 1980s. Trump would have lost us the Cold War.

Donald Trumps actions suggest that, in his heart, he doesnt believe we are an exceptional nation. He clearly doesnt think we should lead the world.

Look, Americas not perfect. But I stand with most Americans who believe we are still exceptional. Unparalleled. And I would rather have American leadership over Chinese or Russian leadership any day of the week.

Because for generations, America has offered something better.

Our security and our prosperity, yes. But our democracy, our very system of government, has been the aspiration of the world. And right now, its at risk.

Its at risk when a president decides he can pick and choose what rules he wants to follow, when he ignores court orders or the Constitution itself, or when elected leaders stand idly by and just let it happen.

But its also at risk when the President pits Americans against each other, when he demonizes those who are different, and tells certain people they shouldnt be included.

Because America is not just a patch of land between two oceans. We are more than that. Generations have fought and died to secure the fundamental rights that define us. Those rights and the fight for them make us who we are.

We are a nation of strivers. Risk-takers. Innovators. And we are never satisfied.

That is Americas superpower.

And look, Ive lived and worked in many countries. Ive seen democracies flicker out. Ive seen what life is like when a government is rigged. You cant open a business without paying off a corrupt official. You cant criticize the guys in charge without getting a knock at the door in the middle of the night.

So as much as we need to make our government more responsive to our lives today, dont for one moment fool yourself that democracy isnt precious and worth saving.

But how do we actually do that? I know a lot of you have been asking that question.

First, dont tune out. Its easy to be exhausted, but America needs you now more than ever. If previous generations had not fought for democracy, where would we be today?

Second, hold your elected officials, including me, accountable. Watch how theyre voting. Go to town halls and demand they take action. Thats as American as apple pie.

Three, organize. Pick just one issue youre passionate about  and engage. And doom scrolling doesnt count. Join a group that cares about your issue, and act. And if you cant find one, start one.

Some of the most important movements in our history have come from the bottom up.

In closing, we all know that our country is going through something right now. Were not sure what the next day is going to hold, let alone the next decade.

But this isnt the first time weve experienced significant and tumultuous change as a country. Im a student of history, and weve gone through periods of political instability before. And ultimately, weve chosen to keep changing this country for the better.

But every single time, weve only gotten through those moments because of two things: Engaged citizens and principled leaders.

Engaged citizens who do a little bit more than theyre used to doing to fight for the things they care about. And principled leaders who are ready to receive the ball and do something about it.

So thank you tonight for caring about your country. Just by watching, you qualify as engaged citizens. And I promise that I, and my fellow Democrats, will do everything in our power to be the principled leaders that you deserve.

Goodnight everyone.

The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML.
Calaveras, CA The Calaveras County Board of Supervisors will convene for its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 11th, where members will consider multiple proclamations, hear presentations on economic and recreational development, and vote on a nearly $600,000 appropriation from the PG&E Settlement Fund.

Supervisors will recognize March 2025 as American Red Cross Month, Arts Education Month, and Social Work Appreciation Month in the county. The board will also receive a report from Westwood Professional Services on the countys comprehensive Parks, Facilities, and Recreation Master Plan, which could shape future improvements and funding priorities. Additionally, representatives from the Small Business Development Center, Rural Minority Business Development Agency, and the California Office of the Small Business Advocate will present on local business support initiatives.

The board will consider approving a $594,951.98 allocation from the PG&E Settlement Fund to the 39th Agricultural Association. The funding, which requires a four-fifths vote, would be designated as a public benefit.

The meeting begins at 8 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors Chambers at 891 Mountain Ranch Road, San Andreas.
Snow falls in Twain Harte (File Photo) View Photo

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the western slope of the northern Sierra Nevada and Yosemite National Park, from 11 PM tonight until 11 PM Thursday. Additionally, a Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for the lower Sierra Nevada of Mariposa County, also from 11 PM tonight until 11 PM Thursday.

Heavy snow is forecast above 4,000 feet.

The heaviest snowfall is expected through Wednesday evening.

The total snow accumulations from the 3,000 to 4,000 foot elevation, will likely range from half-a-foot to one foot. The total snow accumulations above the 4,000 foot elevation, will range from one to four feet. The higher you go, the more the snow.

The winds could gust as high as forty to sixty-five mph. Such strong winds could cause tree damage.

The hazardous conditions will probably impact the Wednesday and Thursday commutes.

Very difficult to impossible travel conditions are anticipated from travel delays, chain controls, road closures, and low visibility due to the combination of wind and heavy snow expected. If you must travel, slow down and use caution, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.
Cold Weather Safety NOAA graphic View Photo

San Andreas, CA  As temperatures drop due to a winter storm system set to hit the Mother Lode this evening, remember to protect using the four Ps: people, pets, pipes, and plants.

As we reported earlier, the National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory for the Mother Lode and the northern San Joaquin Valley from 8 p.m. tonight through 11 p.m. Wednesday. Additionally, a Winter Storm Warning has been issued for the western slope of the northern Sierra Nevada and Yosemite National Park from 11 p.m. tonight until 11 p.m. Thursday, with the heaviest snowfall expected through Wednesday evening. As the storm system moves through the Mother Lode, the temperatures will dip to freezing or below. Calaveras County Public Health encourages the public to prepare and protect by using the four Ps provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA):

People:

Minimize time outdoors.

Prepare for power outages.

Check on the elderly and other vulnerable people to make sure they are okay.

Pets:

Keep your pets warm, dry, and indoors as much as possible.

Ensure their food and water do not freeze.

Limit outside time and keep them bundled up.

Pipes:

Insulate pipes if possible.

Open up sink cabinets to expose pipes to heated air.

Disconnect hoses and turn off water to sprinklers.

Plants:

Know their temperature thresholds.

If possible, cover them before the cold weather sets in to help retain some heat.

For more cold weather safety tips, click here.

As California faces more severe weather, were deploying fire and rescue resources throughout the state to protect communities, advised Governor Gavin Newsom.

Newsom has instructed the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to work with partner agencies across the state to keep people safe. More than 400 state employees are being pre-deployed to aid in the reaction.
News / National

by Zenzele Ndebele

I do not usually review scholarly material or critique academic work, but I must make an exception for Takawira Chatambudza's outrageously misleading article, "A Lion Eating Its Cubs? Assassinations, Mutinies, Renegades, and the Failure of ZIPRA's Turning Point Strategy, 19771980," published in Small Wars & Insurgencies in February 2025.The level of disinformation and misinformation in this article raises serious questions about the quality of the peer-review process at the Taylor & Francis journal, which allowed some of its fabrications to pass as academic arguments.The entire article is built on the premise that ZPRA - referred to by the author as ZIPRA - was a chaotic and ineffective organisation that failed to achieve its objectives during the liberation war. The author then works backwards to justify this conclusion, making numerous claims to explain ZPRA's alleged inefficiency. These claims largely revolve around accusations against ZAPU and ZPRA leaders and combatants, portraying them as either criminal or deliberately undermining the liberation struggle. Worse still, the article is littered with excitable, activist-style language rather than solid, irrefutable evidence to support these allegations.As a result, the final product reads more like a Tsikamutanda Newsletter than a serious academic piece. Many of the article's damaging claims are presented as fact, yet they are clearly opinions designed to justify pre-existing biases against ZAPU in general and the Ndebele ethnic group in particular. Below are some of the most outrageous assertions made in the article.First, the author boldly claims that ZAPU stalwarts Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo, Charles Sotsha Ngwenya (also known as John Dube or JD), and ZPRA commander Rogers Alfred Nikita Mangena were assassinated for plotting a coup against Joshua Nkomo. To lend credibility to this claimor at least to cloak it in moral concernthe author suggests that their deaths weakened ZPRA's transition to conventional warfare in the late 1970s. The assassinations, he argues, compromised ZAPU/ZPRA's 'combat effectiveness during a crucial phase of the armed struggle', ultimately leading to its failure to overthrow the Rhodesian regime through full-scale conventional warfare.The second claim, closely linked to the first, is that Nkomo 'surround[ed] himself with loyalists [and] appointed mostly fellow Kalanga/Ndebele people to senior positions within ZAPU, to the detriment of the Shona, most of whom were Zezuru'. To support this, the author makes the factually incorrect claim that Nikita Mangena was Shona. According to the article, Mangena was not only killed for his alleged coup plot but also to make way for Ndebele/Kalanga leadership within ZPRA. Lookout Masuku's succession of Mangena is then framed as a deliberate move by Nkomo to ensure that only Kalanga or Ndebele loyalists led his movement.The claim that Mangena was Shona is not only false but also an insult to the readers of the journal, as it is a fabricated assertion used to justify the pre-existing narrative that Nkomo purged ZAPU and ZPRA of Shona leadership. A simple background check would have clarified Mangena's ethnic identitythough, in any case, his ethnicity should not even be relevant when discussing his assassination. The author further claims that Ambrose Mutinhiri was overlooked as Mangena's successor solely because he was Shona.However, the late former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko was also overlooked when Masuku was appointed. Since Mphoko was Ndebele, his exclusion contradicts the author's narrative and is conveniently ignored. Why was Mutinhiri left out? That is a question the author should have investigated. From interviews with senior ZPRA commanders, the late Jack Mpofu explained that Mutinhiri was not appointed because, in 1971, he had defected with James Chikerema and others, including the late Tshinga Dube, to form FLORIZI. Mphoko himself stated in multiple interviews that, according to ZPRA hierarchy, he was next in line for command. His omission, he noted, remained a sore point in his relationship with the late Dumiso Dabengwa.A related falsehood in the article is the claim that Shona guerrillas believed "ZAPU was an instrument for advancing the supremacy of the Ndebele ethnic group over the Shona majority" and consequently defected to ZANLA. To reinforce this, the author alleges that ZPRA guerrillas, possibly influenced by their Marxist ideology, "hated members of the vapostori sect", humiliated them by forcing them to drink the illicit brew sikokiyana, and routinely raped women in Shona villages.Given ZAPU's historically diverse leadership, I have tried to understand the basis of this claim. Did the author even attempt to verify whether any guerrilla ever made such statements? Was he unaware that desertions between ZPRA and ZANLA were not uncommon? Moreover, what ideology did ZANLA cadres follow if not Marxism?The article further claims that ZPRA combatants defected to ZANLA due to operational clashes following the deaths of Moyo and Mangena. Others, it is alleged, joined Abel Muzorewa's Security Force Auxiliaries (SFA)/Pfumo reVanhu. While the deaths of key leaders undoubtedly affected morale and operationsas would be expected in any military movementthere is no evidence that these defections happened at the scale suggested.John Padbury, a former Rhodesian Special Branch detective inspector who commanded-PFumo reVanhu in Hurungwe, recently told me that he never encountered any cases of ZPRA defections to the SFAs in his operational area. The supposed link between ZPRA desertions and leadership disputes seems to have been fabricated to retroactively justify the defections of ZPRA combatants at assembly points in 1980, which occurred for entirely different reasons. The author explicitly states that what happened in 1980 was "nothing new".This claim is an insult to the hundreds of ZPRA cadres who disappeared from assembly points or were abducted from their army stations after 1980. Many of these early victims of state violence were arrested, tortured, or even executed by the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA). These crimes, sanctioned at the highest levels of the ZNA, are well-documented. Among those implicated is the decorated Josiah Tungamirai.The article also attempts to frame war crimes such as rape as acts committed exclusively by ZPRA combatants against Shona women. While it is true that abuses, including torture and killings, occurred during the waras documented in Zimbabwean scholarshipthe author's selective framing is misleading. Research has shown that rape was used as a weapon of war by both ZPRA and ZANLA combatants. Numerous accounts, including testimonies from former fighters, highlight incidents of sexual violence in guerrilla camps, often perpetrated by senior commanders. To single out ZPRA for these crimes while ignoring ZANLA's well-documented abuses is academically dishonest.Lastly, the article's title suggests an in-depth exploration of assassinations within ZPRA, but this theme is only touched on sporadically. Instead, the main objective appears to be discrediting ZAPU and its military wing. Far from an academic analysis, the article reads like a work of rumour-mongering, where stereotypes and pre-existing biases are dressed up as scholarly arguments.
Harare  The bail appeal of incarcerated Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) journalist Blessed Mhlanga has been delayed after the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) attempted to have the case transferred to the Anti-Corruption court. The application was rejected by High Court judge Gibson Mandaza on Monday.

Mhlanga, a prominent reporter for AMH, was arrested two weeks ago in connection with interviews he allegedly conducted with Blessed Geza, a war veteran and vocal critic of President Emmerson Mnangagwas leadership and the 2030 agenda. Geza is currently in hiding and wanted by police on charges of incitement, undermining the authority of the President, and theft.

The states attempt to move the bail proceedings to the Anti-Corruption court was met with strong opposition from Mhlangas legal team. Fungai Nyanhunzvi, representing the state, argued that Justice Mandaza lacked jurisdiction over the matter, but this was swiftly dismissed by the judge.

Speaking to journalists after the court proceedings, Mhlangas lawyer, Chris Mhike, explained the defences objection to the states request. The matter was scheduled for hearing this morning and earlier in the morning the state requested that the bail proceedings be referred to the anti-corruption court of the High Court and we objected to that transfer because as far as we are concerned, there is nothing corrupt or corruption related about the charges Blessed is facing.

Mhike confirmed that the judge rejected the states application, and the bail appeal will now be heard in the ordinary bail court on March 12, 2025. He also stated that the state is yet to provide them with their response to the bail appeal, but has undertaken to do so by the end of Tuesday.

The state is yet to furnish us with their response to the bail appeal, Mhike said. It is our hope that by Wednesday, that response would have been furnished to us. There was an undertaking by the state that by the end of tomorrow, they would have responded to the bail appeal. It is our hope that our appeal will prevail and Blessed will be released.

Mhlanga is accused of inciting violence through broadcasts featuring Geza on AMHs broadcast unit, HStv. Geza, a known nemesis of President Mnangagwa, has publicly criticised the president for corruption and poor leadership, demanding his resignation.

Mhlanga handed himself in to police after they issued a statement saying they were looking for him in connection with distributing content deemed harmful to the State.

During his initial court appearance, the NPA opposed Mhlangas bail application, arguing that he was likely to interfere with police investigations. Prosecutor Ruvimbo Matyatya told the court that Mhlanga, as a boss at HStv, was likely to intimidate his subordinates, whom they intend to call as witnesses in the case.

Magistrate Farai Gwitima sided with the state, ruling that Mhlangas release could jeopardise peace and security in the country and that he was likely to re-offend. Aggrieved by this decision, Mhlanga filed an appeal, which was initially scheduled to be heard on Monday before the states intervention.

Mhike also conveyed his clients sentiments regarding his continued detention. He is of course very unhappy to be in detention over a matter as far as we are concerned, that does not warrant detention, the lawyer said.

He worries about his family because he is a breadwinner and his day-to-day activities are disrupted without the liberty that he deserves, his studies have been disrupted. So, he remains strong but obviously, his present situation is not ideal, Mhike added.

Despite the challenges, Mhike emphasised that Mhlanga remains resolute and urged his colleagues in the press to do the same. He is being strong. He encourages you, members of the press, to remain resolute, strong and brave in the face of adversity.

The case has raised concerns about press freedom in Zimbabwe, with many viewing Mhlangas arrest as an attempt to silence critical voices and stifle reporting on sensitive political issues. The outcome of the bail appeal will be closely watched as it could set a precedent for future cases involving journalists and freedom of expression.

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There is something new in the air in military affairs. Inexpensive and deadly small drone helicopters are revolutionizing conventional warfare. In a refreshing departure from journalistic malpractice, the New York Times recently ran a detailed feature article describing the growing significance of drone warfare in the fighting in Ukraine. The article reported that currently about 70% of all casualties in the Ukraine war are inflicted by drones. In this coffee break I will take a broader view of the advent of unmanned weaponry and consider its future implications.

The Drone Explosion

Drones are experiencing an evolutionary explosion as they invade every domain of military conflict. In the air, on land, at sea, and even in space, drones promise to change dramatically the character of armed conflict. I wont try to catalog all the categories of current drone life forms, but they are clearly evolving in unexpected ways.



The Orwellian possibilities are not difficult to imagine



Enabling Technologies

The reason why drones are evolving so rapidly and unpredictably is that both microchip power and AI software technology are on exponential growth curves. The cheap and capable cameras and processors in our phones are providing the eyes and brains for inexpensive drones. At the same time, fierce competition in AI development is pushing out the frontiers of machine vision, problem solving, and adaptive behavior for drones. Weapons designers can now use COTS (commercial off the shelf) hardware and software that dramatically reduces the cost of drones. Moreover, the ability to upgrade the intelligence of drones via software downloads means that, unlike conventional military hardware, the capabilities of a drone arsenal can continue to grow after the hardware is deployed.

The Power of the Swarm

Quantity has a quality all its own.  Joseph Stalin

On the battlefields of Ukraine, $5,000 drones have destroyed U.S. supplied M1 Abrams tanks costing $7 million. Because a drone can attack the weakest points of a tank, where the armor is thinnest, a single drone can usually achieve a mobility kill, preventing the tank from moving. Then follow-on drone attacks can completely destroy it. Vehicles with less armor are usually destroyed by a single drone impact.



Although many measures have been taken to counter the drone threat, these have been largely ineffective. Jamming the signals controlling drones doesnt work with drones controlled over fiber optic cables or drones using machine vision for terminal guidance. Active protection systems (APS) designed to intercept drones are costly, dangerous to friendly forces, and unreliable. Moreover it is impractical to retrofit APS to all vehicles on the battlefield. Improvised turtle tanks covered with external sheets of armor can survive a few drone hits, but drones can find gaps in the armor or drop mines in front of them.

The cost-effectiveness of military drones overwhelmingly favors their increasing usage. In the Ukraine war, drones are so plentiful that they are often used to attack small groups of infantry, and sometimes individual soldiers.

Here is a list of the drone types in use in this war

Country Drone Name Type Description Source Ukraine UAS SETH Combat Drone Homegrown drone resembling the Shahed for front-line strikes. Business Insider FPV Drones Loitering Munition Commercial drones modified for kamikaze-style attacks. Wikipedia Dragon Drones Incendiary Drone Dispenses molten thermite to destroy enemy fortifications. Wikipedia Corvo PPDS Recon/Attack Flat-packed Australian drones used for various missions. Wikipedia DJI Drones Commercial Drone Used for surveillance and targeting. Wikipedia Russia Shahed-136 Loitering Munition Iranian-designed drone used for deep strikes. Wikipedia ZALA Lancet Loitering Munition Precision drone targeting artillery and defenses. Wikipedia FPV Drones Loitering Munition Commercial drones modified for kamikaze-style attacks. Wikipedia Dragon Drones Incendiary Drone Dispenses molten thermite to destroy assets. Wikipedia DJI Drones Commercial Drone Used for reconnaissance and targeting. Wikipedia

The OODA Loop and the Kill Chain



The great intellectual achievement of Colonel John Boyd was a universal model of competitive dynamics in armed conflict. Boyd determined that the essence of any fight was the execution by each combatant of a series of steps he called the OODA loop. Each fighter Observes the situation, Orients new information relative to his intentions, Decides on an action, and Acts on the decision. All other things being equal, the combatant who can execute the OODA loop faster than the opponent will win the fight. The genius of Boyds model is that it extends across the entire spectrum of conflict, irrespective or scale or complexity, from boxers in the ring to competing companies in a market, to opposing armies in the field.

When we superimpose the graphic of the OODA loop on a diagram of the current drone attack kill chain, it becomes clear that removing human decision input from the engage step of the chain accelerates the OODA loop and confers competitive advantage. This is the cause of the evolutionary pressure that will drive drone developers and operators to give engagement authority, the license to kill, to AI-guided drones.

Drones Alone (aka Skynet)

The complete replacement of human combatants by drone forces is a technologically feasible end state for the evolution of drone weaponry. There is no reason why the command hierarchy of human armed forces cannot be emulated and improved upon by appropriate software, with every level of operational units responsive to commands from above it and directing the levels below. The greater decision-making bandwidth of automated control nodes would likely result in a highly efficient and flexible organization of forces. Thus, under competitive evolutionary pressure, it is likely that the current hybrid human/drone order of battle will steadily shift its composition toward a full drone force, with considerable autonomy, operating under high-level human directives.

An obvious danger of fully automated military forces is departure from human control. The depiction of AI-directed killing machines turning against their human creators is now a staple of dystopian science fiction. Accordingly, considerable design effort will be devoted to to preventing runaway drone forces. However, given the likely self-generating and adaptive character of future AI software, the reliability of such absolute control would be uncertain. Unfortunately, like the advent of nuclear weapons, the genie of drone warfare is out of the bottle. Civilization faces a new danger from technological innovation again outpacing the creation of the political structures required to govern it.

Conclusion

The rise of the drones conforms to a pernicious behavioral equation that threatens the modern world:

Technological Ingenuity + Organized Irresponsibility = Growing Risk of Disaster

The ingenuity of a highly trained, funded, and motivated global STEM workforce is creating a steady stream of unprecedented innovations in weaponry. Powerful corporate and government entities are funding and deploying these weapons irresponsibly, heedless of the long-term dangers. The result is unsustainable compounding of risks to the world, risks that may lead to human extinction. To paraphrase John Donne: Ask not for whom the drones swarm. They swarm for thee.
Tennessee has not carried out an execution for more than five years  partly by choice, and partly by necessity.

One afternoon in 2022, when it became clear that the Tennessee Department of Correction had violated or otherwise ignored aspects of the states 99-page lethal injection protocol, Gov. Bill Lee stopped the scheduled execution of Oscar Smith hours before he was set to die. The ensuing chaos prompted calls from advocates and lawyers for an official moratorium on executions  which the governor eventually imposed  and an official review of the secretive punishment still practiced by just a handful of states and even fewer sovereign nations.

Smiths abruptly canceled execution in April 2022 pulled back the curtain on the states disturbing pattern of lax oversight, procurement struggles and improper screening that has enabled Tennessee executions by lethal injection. At Lees request, attorney Ed Stanton III compiled his meta-analysis of TDOC executions into a scathing report that revealed an execution system flawed both by the methods and the people it relies upon.

Tennessee Sets Execution Dates for Four Men on Death Row With new lethal injection protocol in place, state Supreme Court sets new slate beginning in May

In addition to the suffering moral and political credibility for those who, like Lee, stand behind flawed executions, straying from or ignoring protocol could implicate the state in constitutional violations. The state cannot guarantee the proper functioning of expired or tainted chemicals, potentially subjecting victims to torturous and protracted deaths. Lethal injection has the highest incidence of botched executions, supporting what advocates point to as the death penaltys fundamental contradiction: There is no humane way to kill a human.

The scandal set off a legal and bureaucratic sequence that has produced a new TDOC commissioner, a slimmed-down lethal injection protocol, expanded powers for the state attorney general to advance executions in court, and four new execution dates for this year alone. For more than two years, Stantons findings and Lees apparent apprehension suspended executions and even appeared to threaten the future of state killings. Previous questions about credibility and legality seem to have expired with time, giving way to a renewed state urgency to carry out death sentences.

The governor appears satisfied with the reduced guidelines recently presented by Frank Strada, the TDOC commissioner brought in by Lee two years ago at least in part to get executions back on track. Strada came from a similar post in Arizona, one of the few states still practicing executions.

The new protocol reads even more quickly than its page count suggests, thanks to liberal redactions throughout its 44 pages. Stradas work appears deficient when compared with Stantons robust criticism of the previous protocol, the logical jumping-off point for someone looking to make improvements. Each execution commands a large staff separated into an escort team, restraint team, special operations team, IV team and physician, led by the warden and commissioner. Among other criteria, participating individuals are selected for their ability to maintain confidentiality.

Tennessee Finalizes New Lethal Injection Protocol The state will resume executing people on death row using the single drug pentobarbital

Several major pharmaceutical companies refuse to sell chemicals or equipment for use in executions per corporate policy, and Tennessee has shielded its entire chemical procurement process from public view. The Drug Enforcement Administration has seized Tennessees lethal injection chemicals in the past, and difficulty securing such chemicals has created a so-called gray market involving overseas drug manufacturers and compounding pharmacies. The unreliable supply chain may lead to longer storage times, risking potency and further necessitating proper testing and jeopardizing a viable execution. Redactions obscure various other personnel, equipment, roles and steps. But perhaps the biggest knock against transparency comes in the introduction, which empowers the commissioner to alter or ignore aspects of the process if he deems it necessary to deviate from protocol.

 I believe that Gov. Lee takes seriously this grave responsibility  if you want to call it that  of the government, says Stacy Rector, executive director of Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, a statewide advocacy group. He has said numerous times that if the state is to have the death penalty, it needs to be done in a way that is transparent and that the public can have confidence in. I do not believe this protocol provides that. I hope that Gov. Lee will take a hard look at what hes been given and recognize that this is not what he asked for.

Rector also anticipates that the protocol will prompt litigation, which could potentially stall or postpone executions. A recent decision by the Tennessee Supreme Court allowed the state attorney general to control post-conviction appeals, the legal avenue for individuals on death row to contest their sentences. The ruling empowered AG Jonathan Skrmetti to argue against death penalty appeals and clarify execution dates from the court, which Skrmetti promptly requested.

Multiple sources tell the Scene that they believe Lee, a devout Christian, is personally uncomfortable with bearing responsibility for executions. Lee has indicated in comments to the media that he sees executions, which he refers to as the law of the land, as a responsibility of his office. Lee has not spoken publicly about the states swift push to schedule killings and did not respond to the Scenes request for comment.

Governor Grants 'Temporary Reprieve' for Death Row Inmate Oscar Smith 'Due to an oversight in preparation for lethal injection,' Thursday's planned execution will not move forward as planned

In the past six months, conservative Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has used reprieves and postponements to keep executions off the state schedule until after his current term ends, citing ongoing uncertainty with the pharmaceutical supply chain. Lee paused executions with the same justification but will presumably oversee at least four more executions before the end of his second term.

Smith now has a new execution date: May 22, 2025. He will die by a single intravenous chemical, pentobarbital, rather than the three-drug cocktail mandated by the previous protocol  a combination of sedative midazolam, paralytic vecuronium bromide and potassium chloride, which initiates cardiac arrest. The federal Department of Justice recently abandoned its use of pentobarbital after a review found that the chemical was reasonably suspected to cause unnecessary pain and suffering.

Smith will be joined this year by Byron Black, Donald Middlebrooks and Harold Nichols, all of whom received 2025 execution dates at the request of Skrmetti.
Alex Constantines Jackals delves into the history of the CIAs collaboration with terrorist groups

Investigative author Alex Constantine exposes decades of CIA involvement in covert operations, financial scandals and alliances with extremist groups, painting a disturbing picture of systemic corruption and unchecked power.

The book delves into the CIA's alleged ties to Black September and its leader Yasser Arafat, suggesting a "wink-and-nod" relationship despite public denouncements, with key operatives like Ali Hassan Salameh maintaining contact with the agency.

Constantine explores the CIA's post-WWII links to Nazi collaborators like Haj Amin al-Husseini and Francois Genoud, highlighting a pattern of opportunism and moral compromise in U.S. intelligence operations.

The book suggests the CIA's involvement in the 1980s savings and loan crisis and the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis, portraying them as deliberate acts rather than mere incompetence, and criticizes the dismissal of whistleblower Nye Lavalle's reports on mortgage fraud.

Constantine critiques the rise of neoconservatism and its ties to the military-industrial complex, scrutinizing figures like Michael Ledeen and Paul Wolfowitz, and condemns the outsourcing of intelligence to private contractors like DynCorp, linking them to human trafficking and exploitation.

In his book "Jackals: The Stench of American Fascism," investigative author Alex Constantine pulls back the curtain on decades of covert operations, financial scandals and alliances with extremist groups tied to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

The book offers a chilling examination of the CIA's alleged involvement in global terrorism, financial crises and the rise of neoconservatism. Drawing on historical records, investigative reports and insider accounts, Constantine paints a disturbing portrait of systemic corruption and unaccountable power.

The book begins with a startling revelation: the CIA's alleged ties to Black September, the Palestinian paramilitary group responsible for the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre. Constantine argues that the agency maintained a "wink-and-nod" relationship with Yasser Arafat, leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), despite his public denunciations of the policies of the United States, especially its unconditional support for Israel.

Arafat's top intelligence officers, including Ali Hassan Salameh, a key Black September operative, reportedly had regular contact with the CIA. Salameh, also known as Abu Hassan, refused to become an American agent but continued to collaborate with the agency, even providing security for U.S. diplomats in Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War.

Constantine also delves into the CIA's post-World War II connections to Nazi collaborators, such as Haj Amin al-Husseini, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem. Al-Husseini's granddaughter married Abu Hassan, creating a web of ties between Nazi collaborators and Palestinian militants. The book further implicates figures like Francois Genoud, a Swiss Nazi who advised Arab nationalists and had links to PLO terrorists. These alliances, Constantine argues, reveal a pattern of opportunism and moral compromise that has defined U.S. intelligence operations for decades.

The financial sector is not spared in Constantine's expose. He suggests that the CIA played a role in the savings and loan crisis of the 1980s, with thrifts allegedly looted by the agency and the Mafia. The subprime mortgage crisis of 2008 is also scrutinized, with Constantine arguing it was a deliberate act rather than mere incompetence.

The book highlights the efforts of Nye Lavalle, a Floridian businessman who attempted to expose mortgage fraud years before the crisis. Lavalle's reports, corroborated by a law firm, were ignored, allowing figures like Fred Malek, a Nixon aide and Fannie Mae audit committee member, to turn a blind eye to systemic looting.

Constantine also explores the rise of neoconservatism and its ties to the military-industrial complex. He critiques figures like Michael Ledeen, Eliot Cohen and Paul Wolfowitz, whose policies, he argues, led to disastrous foreign interventions and the rise of extremist groups. The media, too, comes under fire for allegedly promoting neoconservative agendas and war propaganda.

One of the book's most chilling sections examines the 2001 anthrax attacks. Constantine suggests the attacks were part of a larger, organized effort, implicating figures like Steven Hatfill and Bruce Ivins, both linked to the U.S. Army's biological warfare program. He also raises questions about the military's use of the controversial anthrax vaccine, hinting at broader experiments with potentially deadly consequences.

The book concludes with a damning indictment of the outsourcing of intelligence operations to private contractors, such as DynCorp, which has been linked to human trafficking and child exploitation. Constantine argues these are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a systemic problem in the exercise of American power.

"Jackals: The Stench of American Fascism" is a provocative and deeply unsettling work that challenges readers to question the narratives surrounding U.S. power and its global impact.

Watch this video discussing in length Alex Constantine's groundbreaking book "Jackals: The Stench of American Fascism."

This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Brighteon.ai

Brighteon.com
Brian Mock calls for historic investigation into January 6: This was treason on a scale never seen before

Brian Mock claims January 6 was a staged false flag operation orchestrated by high-ranking officials like Pelosi and Schumer to discredit Trump supporters and suppress dissent, backed by "irrefutable evidence."

Arrested in 2021, Mock spent over a year in pretrial detention, often in solitary confinement, and represented himself in court, ultimately beating his most serious charge before being pardoned in 2024.

Mock alleges critical video footage from January 6 was concealed, timestamps altered, and exculpatory evidence destroyed, with undercover operatives inciting violence to frame Trump supporters.

Mock is leading efforts to expose the alleged conspiracy, collaborating with January 6 defendants, legal experts, and lawmakers like Jim Jordan and Marjorie Taylor Greene to demand accountability.

Mock warns of potential mass protests if the government fails to act, emphasizing the fight to uncover the truth and hold those responsible accountable to "save our constitutional republic."

In a bombshell interview with Mike Adams of Brighton.com, Brian Mock, a former January 6 political prisoner, has come forward with explosive allegations that the events of January 6, 2021, were a staged false flag operation orchestrated by high-ranking government officials. Mock, who was pardoned after serving time for his alleged involvement in the Capitol breach, is now leading a grassroots effort to uncover what he describes as "the single biggest conspiracy in U.S. history."

Mocks claims, backed by what he says is irrefutable evidence, point to a coordinated effort by figures like Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and others to discredit Trump supporters, justify a crackdown on dissent, and cover up election irregularities. Mock warns that the truth, once revealed, will "blow the minds of the American people" and lead to widespread demands for accountability.

From Political Prisoner to Activist: Mocks Journey

Brian Mocks story is one of resilience and defiance. Arrested in June 2021, Mock was accused of assaulting officers on the Lower West Terrace of the Capitola charge he vehemently denies. He claims his most egregious offense was touching a police shield, yet he was labeled one of the "81 worst of the worst offenders" of January 6.

Mock spent over a year in pretrial detention, much of it in solitary confinement, where he says he was denied basic rights, including access to evidence in his case. "They shackled me, put me on Con Air, and transported me across the country," Mock recounted. "They told 120 men of color that I was a racist extremist and dangerous, then stood back and let me fight for my life."

Despite the odds, Mock represented himself in court, firing his public defender mid-trial and successfully beating his most serious charge. He was ultimately sentenced to 33 months but was pardoned in January 2024. Since his release, Mock has dedicated himself to exposing what he calls the "real truth" behind January 6.

The Evidence: A Staged False Flag Operation?

Mock alleges that the events of January 6 were not a spontaneous riot but a carefully orchestrated operation designed to frame Trump supporters and justify a broader crackdown on dissent. He claims to have seen evidence that high-ranking officials, including Pelosi and Schumer, were complicit in the conspiracy.

"January 6 was the most videotaped event in U.S. history, but the public has only seen a fraction of the footage," Mock said. "Theyve hidden 120 minutes of critical video, altered timestamps, and destroyed exculpatory evidence. This was treason on a scale never seen before."

Mock also alleges that undercover operatives were embedded in the crowd, working with law enforcement to incite violence. "We have proof that officers were ordered to open fire on the crowd, and that weapons were planted to provoke a response," he said. "This was a setup from the beginning."

A Call for Accountability: The Fight for Justice

Mock is now working with other January 6 defendants and legal experts to compile evidence and push for a full investigation. He has met with members of Congress, including Jim Jordan and Marjorie Taylor Greene, to present his case. "This isnt just about January 6," Mock said. "This is about exposing a criminal enterprise that has infiltrated every level of our government."

Mocks efforts are not without challenges. He admits that funding is a major hurdle, as he has spent over a million dollars of his own money on legal fees and activism. Despite this, he remains undeterred. "Were the ones who cared enough about this country to stand up on January 6," Mock said. "Now, were going to make sure the truth comes out, no matter what it takes."

The Road Ahead: A Nation at a Crossroads

As Mock and his team prepare to launch a comprehensive investigation, the stakes could not be higher. He warns that if the government fails to act, January 6 defendants and their supporters will take to the streets of Washington, D.C., to demand justice. "This isnt just about us," Mock said. "This is about saving our constitutional republic and ensuring that this never happens again."

For Mock, the fight is personal. "They tried to destroy us, but they picked the wrong people," he said. "Were not going away until the truth is told and those responsible are held accountable."

As the nation grapples with the implications of Mocks allegations, one thing is clear: the story of January 6 is far from over. And for Brian Mock, the battle for truth and justice has only just begun.

Watch this full episode of the "Health Ranger Report" with Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, and Brian Mock as they talk about the latest breaking news on what's happening with the J6 political prisoners and the US Federal government.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

J6 Select Committee chairman seeks PARDON from Biden as Trump threatens retribution

$50 Billion J6 restitution suit set to shake up political landscape

Federal government ends sanctuary protections, expands immigration enforcement to SCHOOLS and CHURCHES

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

X.com
News / National

by Staff reporter

A recent national survey has revealed that the majority of Zimbabweans remain unemployed or reliant on informal work, with many struggling to secure stable incomes.The 2024 Citizens' Perceptions and Expectations Survey, conducted by Sivio Institute, found that only 37% of respondents were formally employed, while 30% were self-employed and 28% were unemployed. Among those working, 36% were in the informal sector, compared to just 20% in the private sector and 20% in government jobs.The survey sampled 1,272 respondents across Zimbabwe, painting a bleak picture of the country's employment landscape."Young people are the most affected," the report states, noting that unemployment is highest among Zimbabweans aged 18-35.Agriculture remains the country's biggest employer, accounting for 15% of jobs, followed by education (11%) and construction (11%). However, manufacturing, which has traditionally been a key sector, now accounts for just 2% of employment, signaling a decline in industrial activity.Income levels also remain low, with the majority (71%) of those employed earning between US$51 and US$500 per month. A concerning 4% reported having no income at all, highlighting the severity of economic hardships faced by many households.Employment creation was ranked as the top national priority by 62% of respondents, followed by healthcare improvement (37%) and price stabilisation (34%). Despite this, only 5% of respondents felt that the government had made significant progress in creating jobs since the 2023 elections."We need stable jobs and industries that function properly," said one respondent. "Without that, nothing will improve."As Zimbabweans continue to grapple with economic instability, the report suggests that government policies will be judged primarily on their ability to create sustainable employment opportunities and improve livelihoods.
Butterflies vanishing at catastrophic rate, insecticides a major culprit

Butterfly populations in the U.S. have declined by 22% over 20 years, with 114 species experiencing significant drops.

Insecticides, particularly neonicotinoids, are a major driver of the decline, harming biodiversity and ecosystems.

The Southwest U.S. saw the most severe losses, with butterfly populations dropping by over 50% in some states.

Butterflies are vital pollinators, and their decline threatens food systems, wildlife, and ecological balance.

Experts urge immediate action, including reducing pesticide use, restoring habitats, and promoting public conservation efforts.

Americas butterflies are disappearing at an alarming rate, with populations declining by 22% over the past two decades, according to a groundbreaking study published in the journal Science.

The research, which analyzed data from 76,957 surveys across the lower 48 states, reveals a troubling trend: for every five butterflies present in 2000, only four remain today. This dramatic decline, described as catastrophic by experts, threatens not only the beauty of these iconic insects but also the health of ecosystems and agriculture nationwide.

The study, the first of its kind to provide a comprehensive national analysis, found that 114 butterfly species experienced significant population drops, while only nine saw increases. Iconic species like the monarch butterfly, once numbering 1.2 million in 1997, have plummeted to an all-time low of fewer than 10,000.

Losing one out of every five butterflies over 20 years should be a big wake-up call to people, said Dr. Eliza Grames, a co-author of the study and assistant professor at Binghamton University. These declines are not stopping.

The role of insecticides

While habitat loss and other factors contribute to the decline, researchers point to insecticides as a primary driver. A separate study published in PLOS ONE found that the widespread use of neonicotinoid-treated seeds and other chemical pesticides is strongly linked to an 8% decline in butterfly species diversity across the Midwest.

Nick Haddad, a professor at Michigan State University and co-author of the Science study, emphasized that insecticides are causing extraordinary harm to butterfly populations.

It makes sense because insecticide use has changed in dramatic ways in the time since our study started, Haddad said. He added that the minimal gains in crop yields that farmers see from using these chemicals is destroying insect life.

The PLOS ONE study, which analyzed 17 years of data, found that insecticidesnot herbicides or climate changewere the strongest factor in monarch butterfly declines. Butterflies are key indicators of broader insect decline, Haddad added. The implications of our findings for conservation will extend to the entire insect world.

The decline is not limited to one region. While the Pacific Northwest saw a 10% increase in butterfly numbersdriven largely by a temporary spike in the California tortoiseshell populationthe Southwest experienced the most severe losses. States like Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma saw butterfly populations drop by more than half over two decades.

David Wagner, an entomologist at the University of Connecticut, called the findings catastrophic and saddening. He warned that the annual decline of 1.3% may seem small, but over time, it adds up to devastating losses. In just 30 or 40 years, we are talking about losing half the butterflies over a continent, Wagner said. The tree of life is being denuded at unprecedented rates.

Why butterflies matter

Butterflies are more than just symbols of beauty and freedom. They play a critical role in pollination, supporting crops and maintaining ecological balance. Their decline could have cascading effects on food systems and wildlife, including birds, which have also seen significant population drops in recent decades.

Butterflies are an ambassador for natures beauty, fragility, and the interdependence of species, said Anurag Agrawal, a butterfly expert at Cornell University. Their loss is a warning sign for the health of our ecosystems.

Researchers urge immediate action to curb the decline, including stricter regulation of insecticides, habitat restoration, and public education. Elise Zipkin, a professor at Michigan State University and co-author of the Science study, stressed the need for broad-scale conservation interventions.

"People depend on plants, microbes, and animals for the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. Yet, we are losing species at rates that rival the major mass extinction events on our planet."

Although the situation is dire, experts remain cautiously optimistic. By reducing pesticide use, planting pollinator-friendly vegetation, and supporting conservation efforts, individuals and policymakers can help reverse the trend. You can make changes in your backyard, and in your neighborhood, and in your state, Haddad said. That could really improve the situation for a lot of species.

The disappearance of butterflies is more than an ecological crisisits a call to rethink how we interact with the natural world. Without swift action, the fluttering symbols of summer may become a rare sight, leaving ecosystems and agriculture vulnerable in their absence.

Sources for this article include:

KOMONews.com

Earth.com

Phys.org

CANR.MSU.edu
CDC finally forced to investigate vaccine-autism links, after decades of anecdotal evidence going ignored

The CDC finally plans to study the potential link between vaccines and autism, after decades of anecdotal evidence going ignored.

Autism rates have skyrocketed from 1 in 1,000 children in the early 2000s, to 1 in 36 in 2022, raising urgent questions about environmental and medical factors.

After the landmark study was announced, the pharma-funded media went into overdrive, hyping up measles cases in Texas that follow annual trends in the US for reported measles cases.

Paul Offit and other vaccine profiteers fear that the new CDC study could further erode public trust in vaccines, even though it aims to answer legitimate questions regarding vaccine safety.

Parents of vaccine injured children watched their children lose brain functions and communication abilities following routine vaccinations, and they believe these kinds of studies are long overdue to address the autism epidemic.

Media pushes MMR vaccines, the same vaccine that is often correlated with autism

After decades of stonewalling on this critical public health issue, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reportedly preparing to investigate the potential link between vaccines and autism. This connection has been dismissed by mainstream health authorities for decades. This bombshell decision comes as autism rates continue to climb alarmingly, with 1 in 36 children now diagnosed with the condition. After the study was announced, the pharma funded media went into overdrive, hyping up reported measles cases in Texas that follow similar trends as years' past. This hysteria is intended to get more parents to submit their children to the MMR vaccines at one year's old and at four to six years old. Coincidentally, this is the same vaccine that is often correlated with autism diagnoses.

The CDCs move raises critical questions about the role of vaccine ingredients, such as aluminum and thimerosal, in damaging the developing brain. While the agency has long maintained that vaccines are safe and effective, mounting concerns from parents, researchers, and public health advocates suggest that the current childhood vaccine schedulewhich includes up to 77 doses of multiple vaccinesmay be overwhelming young immune systems and contributing to neurological harm.

The autism epidemic: a public health crisis ignored

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has become one of the most pressing public health crises of our time. In the early 2000s, autism affected approximately 1 in 1,000 children. By 2022, that number had surged to 1 in 36, according to the latest data from the CDC. While some experts attribute the rise to improved diagnostic tools and increased awareness, others point to environmental toxins, maternal health factors, and the potential role of vaccines in triggering neurological damage.

The debate over vaccines and autism dates back to the late 1990s, when British researcher Andrew Wakefield published a controversial study linking the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine to autism. Wakefields research was later discredited, and his medical license was revoked, but his findings ignited a global movement of parents and advocates questioning the safety of vaccines. Despite being gaslit by the medical establishment and the mainstream media, many parents remain unconvinced, citing anecdotal evidence of children regressing into autism shortly after receiving vaccines.

The role of vaccine ingredients in neurological damage

One of the most contentious issues in the vaccine-autism debate is the use of neurotoxic ingredients in vaccines, such as aluminum and thimerosal. Aluminum, a known neurotoxin, is used as an adjuvant in many vaccines to stimulate an immune response. However, studies have shown that aluminum also causes inflammation and can cross the blood-brain barrier, potentially damaging the developing brain, and leading to chronic fatigue syndrome.

Thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, has also been implicated in neurological harm. Although thimerosal was removed from most childhood vaccines in the early 2000s, it is still used in some flu shots and other vaccines. Critics argue that even trace amounts of mercury can be harmful, particularly when combined with other toxins and administered in multiple doses during critical periods of brain development.

Dr. Paul Offit, a prominent vaccine advocate and director of the Vaccine Education Center at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, has repeatedly dismissed concerns about vaccine ingredients, stating that the question [of a vaccine-autism link] has been answered again and again and again. However, many parents and researchers remain skeptical, pointing to the lack of long-term safety studies on the cumulative effects of multiple vaccines given to children under the age of two. When studies are conducted, there are links between vaccination and neurodevelopmental disorders, yet these studies are often dismissed or ignored as conspiracy.

A "measles outbreak" and the erosion of public trust

The CDCs decision to revisit the vaccine-autism debate comes at a precarious time, as the U.S. grapples with a measles outbreak that has sickened over 150 people and is being attributed to two deaths in Texas and New Mexico. Health officials blame the outbreak on declining vaccination rates, particularly in communities where vaccine hesitancy is high.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the newly appointed Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary and a longtime critic of vaccine safety, has been accused of fueling vaccine hesitancy with his outspoken skepticism of the MMR vaccine and COVID-19 shots. While Kennedy recently urged parents to vaccinate their children against measles, he also emphasized that vaccination is a personal choice, a stance that has drawn criticism from public health experts.

Senator Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican and physician, has expressed concern about Kennedys influence on vaccine policy, calling on him to disavow any connection between vaccines and autism. During a recent confirmation hearing, Kennedy denied being anti-vaccine but stopped short of acknowledging that the vaccine-autism link has been debunked.

A call for transparency and accountability

The CDCs decision to study the vaccine-autism link has sparked outrage among some health experts, who fear it could further erode public trust in vaccines. Dr. Offit warned that reopening the debate could lead to even lower vaccination rates, exacerbating the measles outbreak and putting more lives at risk.

However, others argue that the study is long overdue, given the staggering rise in autism rates and the lack of comprehensive research into the potential role of vaccines and environmental toxins. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a nominee to lead the National Institutes of Health, acknowledged that while he does not believe there is a link between vaccines and autism, the sharp rise in autism rates remains unexplained.

We do have a sharp rise in autism rates, and I dont think any scientist really knows the cause of it, Bhattacharya said. I would support a broad scientific agenda based on data to get an answer to that.

The CDCs decision to revisit the vaccine-autism debate marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing battle over vaccine safety and public health. As autism rates continue to climb and measles hysteria is spread by the media, the need for transparency, accountability, and rigorous scientific inquiry has never been greater.

For too long, the voices of concerned parents and independent researchers have been dismissed, while the pharmaceutical industry and government agencies have maintained a stranglehold on the narrative. The CDCs study, if conducted with integrity and independence, could finally shed light on the true causes of autism and restore public trust in the medical establishment.

Sources include:

Dailymail.co.uk

Pubmed.gov

Datawrapper.de

Pubmed.gov

Pubmed.gov

Pubmed.gov

Pubmed.gov

PublicHealthPolicyJournal.com
Professor David Betz warns of civil war in Britain as Rural-Urban divide deepens

Civil war looms in Britain due to UK policies imposing harsher penalties on native Britons vs. migrant leniency, fueling rural resentment and urban-rural tensions.

Betz warns of guerrilla-style attacks led by rural factions targeting urban infrastructure (power grids, transit) to destabilize cities, akin to Latin American conflicts.

Discrepancies in sentencing and immigration responses have shifted political discourse rightward, intensifying dissent amid perceived governmental neglect.

Strained UK-Russia relations, potential Russian interference, and globalist discontent risk exacerbating internal divisions, escalating conflict.

Current societal fractures and governmental ineptitude make Betz grim forecast realistic, urging reform to avert systemic collapse.

In a stark warning, Professor David Betz of Kings College London has forecasted the potential for civil war in Britain, citing escalating tensions between rural and urban populations. Betz attributes these rifts to the UK government's policies, including harsh sentencing guidelines for native Britons compared to leniency for illegal migrants. The professor predicts a "Latin American-style dirty war," characterized by low-level violence, with rural factions targeting urban infrastructure to destabilize cities.

Growing Rural-Urban Conflict: A Blatant Divide

Professor Betz has meticulously analyzed the growing divide between rural and urban communities in Britain, attributing much of the friction to the UK government's policies. The professors research points to disproportionately harsh sentencing for native Britons, which has fostered deep resentment and a sense of being marginalized by the government. This resentment, coupled with the perception of preferential treatment towards illegal migrants by the UK legislature, has contributed to significant social unrest. Native Britons, feeling pushed to the periphery, are increasingly vocal in their dissatisfaction and frustration.

Betz specifically notes the government's implementation of harsher sentencing guidelines for crimes committed by Britons, while migrants often face more lenient treatment. This discrepancy, he posits, has catalyzed growing anti-government sentiment and has moved the ideological center further to the right, creating an environment ripe for upheaval. Adding to the complexity, the professor also highlights instances where protest against illegal immigration has been met with aggressive law enforcement, creating a combustible atmosphere that fuels further dissent.

Predicting a 'Latin American-Style' Conflict

Betz paints a grim picture, predicting a form of conflict reminiscent of Latin American civil warschronic, low-level violence designed to disrupt the status quo. This type of warfare is typically characterized by militant rural factions launching attacks on urban infrastructure, such as power grids, transportation networks, and water supplies, to plunge cities into chaos.

The professor argues that rural Britain, feeling besieged by what he terms "urbanite elitism" and government overreach, could see the spontaneous rise of militant anti-government factions. These groups would employ guerrilla-style tactics to destabilize major cities like London, relying on established guerrilla warfare techniques and targeting vulnerable infrastructure.

Betz emphasizes that while the attacks may be characterized as "simple," their effectiveness should not be underestimated. The urban condition's inherent vulnerability makes infrastructure targets relatively unprotected, making the destruction of critical services relatively straightforward. According to the professor, this is no mere academic theory but a practical and highly plausible scenario given current conditions.

External Pressures Compounding Internal Strife

The warning on civil war in Britain comes amidst a broader context of tension and instability. Betz points to strained relations with Russia and dissatisfaction with globalist leadership, painting a picture of a country grappling with significant internal turmoil and external pressures. The fallout of Britains uneasy relationship with global powers could exacerbate these existing divisions, prompting further action against the sitting government.

The professor also raises the specter of Russias influence, noting that another front in the Eastern Ukraine conflict, particularly if urban centers like Kursk fall, could create additional pressure on the British government. An emboldened Russia, Betz suggests, may even consider symbolically striking at British governance targets, such as Parliament, if the situation escalates dramatically. Such actions could significantly destabilize the UK, increasing public support for a radical change in leadership.

Watch this March 10 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about how a Professor of war warns that civil war is coming to the UK.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Is the UK heading for civil war? Professor predicts mass unrest within five years due to open borders, social fracture, eroding legitimacy

UK Leaders Propose Military Draft and War with Russia: A Recipe for Catastrophe

UKs new Gravehawk missile system bolsters Ukraines air defenses amid shifting Western support

Sources include:

Brighteon.com
Deborah Birx was a product of USAID corruption, propped up by a shadow government

Deborah Birx, appointed White House Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator in February 2020, came directly from USAID, a department long suspected of being a front for CIA propaganda and regime change operations.

Birx, with no background in epidemiology or pandemic response, was handpicked by the National Security Council (NSC) and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, bypassing public health agencies.

Her role in the COVID-19 response was marked by unscientific lockdowns, medical tyranny, and policies that divided society, all while undermining President Trumps authority.

Evidence suggests Birx was a key agent in a globalist agenda to impose draconian measures, using taxpayer-funded USAID resources to destabilize the United States from within.

In February 2020, as the world braced for a pandemic, the United States government made a fateful decision: Deborah Birx, a career bureaucrat with ties to USAID and the State Department, was appointed as the White House Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator. This decision, shrouded in secrecy and orchestrated by the National Security Council (NSC), marked the beginning of a coordinated effort to impose authoritarian measures on the American people. Birx, a physician with no expertise in epidemiology or pandemic response, became the face of a shadow governments agenda to dismantle civil liberties, wreck the economy, and sow division under the guise of public health.

The USAID connection: A front for globalist agendas

Deborah Birxs appointment to the Task Force was not a random selection. She came directly from USAID, an agency notorious for its involvement in covert operations and regime change efforts abroad. USAID, often described as a front for CIA activities, has a history of using taxpayer dollars to destabilize foreign governments under the pretense of global health diplomacy. Birxs role as the U.S. Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy, a joint USAID and State Department position, placed her at the center of this globalist machinery.

Her appointment to the Task Force was not made by public health officials or agencies like the CDC or HHS. Instead, it was orchestrated by the NSC and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who moved her over to the White House at the request of the President. This move, as revealed by Trumps National Security Advisor Robert OBrien, highlights the NSCs central role in the COVID-19 response  a role that bypassed traditional public health channels and placed national security interests above the well-being of the American people.

Birxs unscientific lockdowns and medical tyranny

Once in power, Birx wasted no time in advocating for draconian measures that had no basis in science or public health policy. Her push for nationwide lockdowns, mask mandates, and other authoritarian measures mirrored the tactics of totalitarian regimes like China. These policies, which she admitted years later, were not grounded in scientific evidence, were designed to create panic and compliance among the population.

In her book Silent Invasion, Birx fails to provide coherent scientific arguments for her policies, like six foot social distancing, school closures, masking, and discriminatory lockdowns. Instead, she offers self-contradictory assertions and outright falsehoods, many of which have been debunked by the scientific community. Her lack of expertise in epidemiology or public health policy raises serious questions about her true motives. Was she simply incompetent, or was she acting as a willing agent of a globalist agenda to destabilize the United States?

A shadow government at work

The evidence suggests that Birx was not working in the best interests of the American people or even the Trump administration. According to Dr. Scott Atlas, a member of the Task Force, no one seemed to know how Birx was appointed or who authorized her role. Despite her lack of qualifications, Birx wielded immense power, even subverting the policy prescriptions of President Trump himself.

This raises alarming questions about the role of USAID and the NSC in the COVID-19 response. Were taxpayer funds being used to prop up a shadow government intent on destroying the United States from within? Birxs actionsher unscientific lockdowns, her divisive policies, and her undermining of the Constitutionwere not the result of incompetence. They were part of a deliberate plan to destroy small businesses, weaken the nation, tear the country apart, and impose a new world order.

Deborah Birxs role in the COVID-19 scandal is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by shadow governments and globalist agendas. Like a Trojan horse, she infiltrated the highest levels of the U.S. government, using her position to impose policies that divided society, wrecked the economy, and eroded civil liberties. Her ties to USAID and the NSC reveal a disturbing truth: The enemies of the United States are not always external. Sometimes, they are within, using taxpayer dollars and bureaucratic machinery to dismantle the nation from the inside.

Sources include:

Brownstone.org

TrumpWhiteHouse.archives.gov

Substack.com
Democrats and Liberals are OUTRAGED that a non-elected government employee, Elon Musk, is making decisions about the livelihoods of people  how ironic

Funny how that works. All the Demoncrats and TDS-suffering Lib-nuts are infuriated and throwing hissy fits daily as a non-elected government employee uncovers all of their waste, perversions, fraud and embezzlements in order to restore order and financial security to our nation.

How quickly they all forget that their own non-elected government employee, one infamous Anthony Gain of Function Fauci, commanded every American to shelter in place for the plandemic, wear bacteria-breeding masks 24/7/365, social distance at 6 feet, shut down all non-essential businesses (anything non-corporate Big Food and Big Pharma run), and obey all deathly vaccine mandates or suffer the consequences (get fired and condemned by society).

Scamdemic King Fauci was not elected to run the country, but ran the plandemic playbook like a vicious dictator in charge of everything science and medical

Want your small business shut down and bankrupted? Then you better obey King Fauci. So-called mandates during the COVID plandemic were enforced like federal laws, and anyone who broke them were treated like lepers, criminals, and blights on society. Fauci made sure all Americans rights to privacy, medical choice, and the right to work were violated and decimated to the core. Then, when the cameras werent rolling (or at least when he thought they werent), his mask came off immediately and he laughed with his cohorts at all the peons who were forced to obey his horrific rules of dirty medicine and deadly hospital protocols.

Now that DOGE and Elon Musk are investigating more Dem fraud and mayhem, every Democrat and Liberal in America, especially the criminals, are crying the blues and screaming out in defiance that an unelected official is investigating fraud and trying to save America. How ironic.

The hypocrisy of the Left is deafening, but now fake news is sunk, ruined, wrecked, and all by their own workings. Never again will a plandemic pull the wool over patriots eyes and mouths. For the folks still alive and not suffering from clot shot syndrome, it was actually all a blessing in disguise, because we certainly wont fall for it again (not that we all did, but we did all suffer).

Now its time for the predators to become the prey. The vaccine fanatics and vax-cult are suffering from spike protein syndrome, and most of them will realize one day exactly why. The mass embezzlers are running for cover as DOGE and Trump investigate them with a real Department of Justice. The crooks are about to get busted, and they dont have a leg to stand on. No more power for fake news propaganda. No more corrupt officials in charge of the CDC, FDA, FBI, CIA and so forth. Drain the swamp creatures and put them in prison for their crimes. The irony is like watching a sit-com as the criminals cry and the patriots become the victors. Grab some popcorn and pull up a chair, the show has just begun.

Tune your apocalypse dial to Preparedness.news for updates on real news about surviving the Democrat-led government aggression, lies, and propaganda that comes at us every day now.

Sources for this article include:

Censored.news

NaturalNews.com
DOGE uncovers $645 million in pandemic loans to children and centenarians, sparking fraud investigation

DOGE uncovered $645 million in pandemic-era loans issued to borrowers as young as 11 and as old as 157, sparking national debate on government waste and fraud.

President Trump criticized the fraud in a March 7 congressional address, emphasizing efforts to eliminate inefficiencies in federal programs.

DOGE canceled 162 nonessential federal contracts, saving taxpayers $90 million, but faces legal challenges over privacy concerns and data access.

Critics argue DOGEs methods are intrusive, while supporters praise its mission to save $1 trillion in taxpayer dollars and improve government accountability.

The findings highlight pervasive fraud and inefficiency, with DOGE leading efforts to restore trust and streamline federal operations.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has uncovered hundreds of millions of dollars in shocking pandemic-era loans issued to borrowers as young as 11 years old and as old as 157. The findings have sparked a nationwide conversation about government waste and fraud, with President Donald Trump addressing the issue in his recent speech to Congress.

DOGE, led by Elon Musk, reported that the Small Business Administration (SBA) granted 5,593 loans worth $312 million to borrowers whose only listed owner was 11 years old or younger during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a separate post, DOGE also revealed that 3,095 loans totaling $333 million were issued to individuals listed as over 115 years old, including one borrower who was recorded as being 157 years old.

While it is possible to have business arrangements where this is legal, that is highly unlikely for these 5,593 loans, as they all also used a [Social Security number] with the incorrect name, DOGE stated in a post on X.

Trump addresses government waste in Congress

President Trump highlighted the issue during his March 7 address to Congress, criticizing the widespread fraud and inefficiency in federal programs. I know some people who are rather elderly but not quite that elderly, Trump quipped, referencing the millions of centenarians listed in the Social Security database. Money is being paid to many of them, and we are searching right now.

Trumps remarks underscored the administrations commitment to rooting out waste and fraud, a mission spearheaded by DOGE. Since its inception under the second Trump administration, DOGE has been combing through federal agency data to identify and eliminate unnecessary spending.

DOGEs cost-cutting efforts face legal challenges

Despite its successes, DOGE has faced significant pushback. On March 7, a coalition of labor unions filed a motion in federal court seeking to block DOGEs access to Social Security data, citing privacy concerns. Judges have raised questions about the agencys sweeping cost-cutting efforts, though they have not yet ruled to restrict its access to government systems.

DOGE has also canceled 162 nonessential federal contracts, including a $10.3 million Department of Agriculture contract designed to identify unnecessary contracts. These terminations are expected to save taxpayers $90 million.

A mission to save taxpayer dollars

DOGEs findings have reignited debates about government accountability. Critics argue that the agencys methods are overly intrusive, while supporters praise its efforts to save taxpayer dollars. The executive DOGE team is confident, they think they can get $1 trillion, one lawmaker familiar with the agencys work told Fox News Digital. Now, well see, right? And the thing is, he acknowledged that were going to make mistakes, but were going to correct them very quickly.

As investigations into the fraudulent loans continue, DOGE remains at the forefront of the Trump administrations efforts to streamline government operations. With billions of dollars potentially at stake, the agencys work could have far-reaching implications for federal spending and accountability.

The discovery of $645 million in loans to children and centenarians highlights the pervasive issue of government waste and fraud. While DOGEs efforts have drawn criticism, its mission to save taxpayer dollars and restore trust in federal programs is more critical than ever. As President Trump and his administration continue to tackle these challenges, the nation remains hopeful for a more efficient and accountable government.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

ZeroHedge.com

FoxNews.com
Creepy: Globalists all post same X message after Zelenskys Oval Office humiliation

(Article by Paul Joseph Watson republished from Modernity.news)

Zelensky left the White House early and in disgrace after he acted disrespectful during the meeting with the President and Vice President in the Oval Office.

The Ukrainian leader clearly didnt expect to be holding the meeting in front of the press and was visibly irked for the entire 50 minute exchange.

Look at the body language in this screenshot. He had no clue what he was in for. ? pic.twitter.com/EYhwlziX24  m o d e r n i t y (@ModernityNews) February 28, 2025

Everything came to a head around 40 minutes into the discussion when Zelensky started talking down to JD Vance, prompting the VP to note that the Ukrainian President has not once said thank you for the ongoing support and the opportunity to visit the White House.

Trump then took over getting into a heated exchange with Zelensky, telling him he is gambling with World War Three.

Here is the full 50-minute conversation between President Trump and President Zelensky. There are a lot of politicians claiming Zelensky was "ambushed." There was a full 40 minutes of dialogue before the "fireworks" started. The president insisted throughout the first 40 pic.twitter.com/yu1ragwpAS  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 28, 2025

Trump kicked Zelensky out before the scheduled lunch and before an agreement of access to minerals in exchange for ongoing security could be signed.

Trump then told reporters that Zelensky clearly is not ready to accept peace and that he has no cards to play without US support.

Zelensky also refused to apologise in a subsequent interview with Fox News.

? #BREAKING: Zelensky refuses MULTIPLE TIMES to apologize to President Trump after disrespecting him and our country in the Oval Office GO HOME, Zelensky. Your time is over. We're done with you. pic.twitter.com/GMvrYMcqu5  Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) February 28, 2025

Following all of this, EU globalists Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis, EU Commission, Roberta Metsola, President of EU Parliament, Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, and Manfred Weber, President of the European Peoples Party all began sent out this same message

Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Be strong, be brave, be fearless. You are never alone, dear President @ZelenskyyUa. We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.  Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) February 28, 2025

Your dignity honours the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Be strong, be brave, be fearless. You are never alone, dear President @ZelenskyyUa. We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.  Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) February 28, 2025

Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Be strong, be brave, be fearless. You are never alone, dear President @ZelenskyyUa. We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.  Antonio Costa (@eucopresident) February 28, 2025

Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Be strong, be brave, be fearless. You are never alone, dear President @ZelenskyyUa. We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.  Valdis Dombrovskis (@VDombrovskis) February 28, 2025

Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Be strong, be brave, be fearless. You are never alone, dear President @ZelenskyyUa. We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.  Manfred Weber (@ManfredWeber) February 28, 2025

So... how did all the Euro leaders happen to post the exact same identical thing? I mean it was identical - down to the letter! Can you explain? Of course you can, but will you?https://t.co/JUAtVpjP2G  Phil Holloway ?? (@PhilHollowayEsq) March 1, 2025

Other globalists wrote their own messages of solidarity with Zelensky, despite the fact that he came across like a petulant toddler and clearly had no intention of being diplomatic with Trump and Vance.

Its almost as if they dont actually want peace.

Read more at: Modernity.news
HHS launches investigation into ORRs handling of unaccompanied migrant children

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has initiated a comprehensive investigation into the potential abuse and exploitation of unaccompanied migrant children under the Biden administration.

As of May 2024, nearly 323,000 unaccompanied children were either released without court appearance dates or failed to show up for court hearings. A whistleblower has raised concerns about these children falling into the hands of criminals and sex traffickers.

The investigation highlights serious lapses in the Office of Refugee Resettlement's (ORR) vetting procedures, including instances of doctored images being used to obtain custody of children. Less than one percent of sponsorship applications were denied, and no meaningful steps were taken to address the issue.

In response, the ORR has proposed several critical measures to improve sponsor vetting and oversight, such as fingerprinting, DNA testing, enhanced background checks, facial recognition technology and post-release monitoring.

Some of the proposed changes have already been implemented, including fingerprinting of all adult household members before release. Additional measures are being pushed for by Trump administration sources to further tighten security and accountability within the ORR's handling of migrant children.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has launched a comprehensive investigation into the potential abuse and exploitation of thousands of unaccompanied migrant children under the Biden administration to ensure that such lapses in safety do not occur again.

According to the investigation, spearheaded by the HHS Office of the General Counsel, as of May 2024, 291,000 migrant children arrived in the U.S. as unaccompanied minors and were released without a date to appear in immigration court. An additional 32,000 children were released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with court hearing dates but failed to show up, raising concerns about their safety and whereabouts. A federal whistleblower has expressed concern that many of these children may have already fallen into the hands of criminals and sex traffickers.

The investigation has found that only less than one percent of sponsorship applications were denied in recent years. But despite these findings, the Biden administration allegedly took no meaningful steps to address the issue. (Related: Trump signs executive order halting taxpayer funds for illegal immigrants, prioritizing American citizens.)

This reveals serious lapses in the Office of Refugee Resettlement's (ORR) vetting procedures, which may have allowed children to fall into the hands of human traffickers and sexual predators. The probe highlights how ORR prioritized expediency over safety, resulting in a system that failed to adequately protect vulnerable children.

It details several egregious cases of lax vetting, including instances where sponsors submitted doctored or fake images to obtain custody of children.

HHS investigation calls for reforms

In line with this, the investigation has prompted calls for sweeping reforms to improve sponsor vetting and boost oversight.

Among the proposed reforms, the ORR has outlined several critical measures to strengthen its procedures. These include fingerprinting and DNA testing to verify the identity of sponsors and ensure that children are placed with verified and trustworthy individuals; enhanced background checks for potential caregivers to weed out any individuals with criminal records or other red flags; and facial recognition technology and post-release monitoring to track the safety of migrant children after their release from ORR custody.

A second senior HHS source confirmed that some of these changes are already in place. "The fingerprinting recommendation, it's already implemented. And that has been put out in the field guidance to ensure that all adult household members, their sponsors are fingerprinted and thats checked and verified before they're released. Which again, seems completely obvious, but it wasn't happening."

The same official highlighted the critical nature of these reforms, noting, "In the last administration, they weren't even fingerprinting sponsors. We didn't know who those people were that we were releasing kids to." This lack of basic vetting techniques created significant vulnerabilities in the system, potentially putting children at risk.

As the investigation progresses, Trump administration sources are also pushing for additional measures to address the pipeline that puts migrant children in harm's way. These efforts are expected to lead to sweeping reforms aimed at tightening security and accountability within the ORR's handling of migrant children.

Head over to Migrants.news for more stories like this.

Watch the video below where Karoline Leavitt talks about Trump taking necessary actions to secure the border.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Noem launches ad campaign warning illegal immigrants: "We will hunt you down."

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez under fire: Did she cross the line by helping illegal immigrants evade ICE?

Democrats under fire for helping illegal immigrants evade deportation.

FEMA spends $59M on luxury hotels for illegal immigrants as disaster victims suffer.

White House press secretary declares all illegal immigrants are CRIMINALS, unveils media access changes.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

NYPost.com

Lifezette.com

Brighteon.com
Israel accused of SABOTAGING direct U.S.-Hamas talks to prolong Gaza conflict

Israeli media reports indicate that Israel is actively working to undermine direct talks between the U.S. and Hamas in Doha, aimed at securing the release of Israeli captives and exploring a ceasefire agreement.

Israel's opposition to U.S.-Hamas talks stems from fears that such negotiations could lead to arrangements for Gaza's future without Israeli involvement, potentially prioritizing U.S. strategic interests over a swift resolution to the conflict.

Israeli officials have confirmed that the country leaked details of the negotiations to the media, which was characterized as an act of "sabotage."

U.S. President Donald Trump defended his administration's engagement with Hamas, emphasizing that the talks are aimed at securing the release of hostages and not providing cash to the group.

Despite Trump's assurances, Israel remains deeply concerned about the implications of a U.S.-Hamas agreement, as it could force Israel to make concessions on its ambitions in Gaza, reflecting broader geopolitical dynamics where allies with vested interests in prolonging conflicts undermine U.S. efforts to broker peace.

Reports from both Israeli and U.S. media have revealed that Israel is actively working to undermine direct talks between the second Trump administration and Hamas  evidence that tensions are rising not only on the battlefield, but also in the diplomatic arena.

According to Israeli analyst Ronen Bergman of the daily newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, U.S. sources have put forward the accusation of the Jewish nation "sabotaging" negotiations between Washington and Hamas in the Qatari capital Doha. These talks, which were held without prior notification to Israel, focused on securing the release of Israeli captives with U.S. citizenship and exploring the possibility of a broader ceasefire agreement.

But this opposition to a separate U.S.-Hamas channel stems from fears that such talks could lead to arrangements for Gaza's future without Israeli involvement. It also raises concerns that Tel Aviv is prioritizing its strategic interests over a swift resolution to the conflict.

"Jerusalem is not happy about the direct U.S.-Hamas talks," an official source told the Times of Israel. The source confirmed that Israel leaked details of the negotiations to the media, a move described by Ynet as an act of "sabotage." This revelation comes amid reports that the U.S. had previously canceled a planned meeting with Hamas due to strong Israeli pressure, prompting Washington to proceed without informing Tel Aviv this time.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump defended his administration's engagement with Hamas, emphasizing that the talks are aimed at securing the release of hostages. "We are helping Israel in those discussions because were talking about Israeli hostages," Trump said on Thursday, March 6. (Related: Trump issues "final warning" to Hamas: Release hostages or face destruction.)

"We're not doing anything in terms of Hamas. We're not giving cash. You have to negotiate. There's a difference between negotiating and paying. We want to get these people out."

Ceasefire or war: Israel's role in maintaining Gaza conflict

Despite Trump's assurances, Israel remains deeply concerned about the implications of a U.S.-Hamas agreement. An Israeli source familiar with the talks told Yedioth Ahronoth: "The U.S. is currently negotiating a deal with Hamas for the release of the hostages, with Israel ultimately having to pay at least part of the price."

This sentiment reflects Israels broader fear that Washington's direct engagement could force it to make concessions on its ambitions in Gaza. It mirrors broader geopolitical dynamics, where U.S. efforts to broker peace are being undermined by allies with vested interests in prolonging conflicts.

Just as Ukraine and its Western allies have been accused of sabotaging Trump's attempts to negotiate with Russia, Israel appears to be employing similar tactics to maintain control over the Gaza narrative. By obstructing U.S.-Hamas talks, Israel ensures that the war continues, allowing it to pursue its strategic objectives without external interference.

For its part, Hamas has rejected Israel's attempts to extend the ceasefires first phase, insisting on strict adherence to the original agreement. The group has also condemned Israel's decision to cut off humanitarian aid to Gaza, a move that rights groups argue violates international law. Meanwhile, the second Trump administration has approved massive arms sales to Israel during the ceasefire, further complicating efforts to de-escalate the conflict.

"We want to see those hostages come home," U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said Thursday. "We're prepared to have dialogue. But if the dialogue doesn't work, then the alternative is not such a good alternative for Hamas."

With Israel's actions threatening to derail diplomatic progress, the question remains: Is Tel Aviv more committed to prolonging the war than securing peace?

Watch this Fox News report about President Trump's warning to Hamas that Israel will "finish the job" if the group doesn't release the remaining hostages it has.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Israel and Hamas resume ceasefire talks amid ongoing violence in Gaza.

Hamas to boycott ceasefire negotiations as long as Israel continues killing Palestinians in Rafah.

Israeli government under Netanyahu rejects all ceasefire talks, pushes to ANNEX GAZA into Greater Israel.

Sources include:

TheCradle.co

NewArab.com

TimesOfIsrael.com

Brighteon.com
Waste, wokeness and waning accountability: Judge greenlights Trumps USAID purge amidst outrage over taxpayer-funded absurdities

USAID has faced criticism for its bloated bureaucracy and questionable spending habits, with projects like a transgender opera in Colombia and providing packed lunches for Al-Qaeda jihadists in Syria drawing scrutiny.

U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols denied a request for a temporary restraining order by USAID contractors, allowing the Trump administration to proceed with terminating contracts. This decision is seen as a victory for accountability and the administration's efforts to curb USAID's excesses.

President Donald Trump has made it clear that USAID's unchecked spending is over, with significant cuts already implemented and more likely to follow. The administration aims to redirect resources toward programs that align with American values and priorities.

USAID has long been criticized for funding projects that prioritize progressive ideologies over tangible results, leading to a ballooning budget with little oversight. This has resulted in neglect of critical programs that could have made a real difference in the lives of those in need.

Judge Nichols' ruling underscores the need for fiscal responsibility and common sense in government spending. The American people expect their government to prioritize their interests and values, and the reforms to USAID are seen as a step toward restoring accountability and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), long touted as a beacon of American generosity abroad, has become a symbol of government waste and misplaced priorities. This week, U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols dealt a blow to USAID contractors seeking to halt the Trump administrations mass termination of their contracts, allowing the administration to proceed with its sweeping reforms. The decision has reignited a fierce debate over the role of USAID, the misuse of taxpayer dollars and the need for accountability in government spending.

For decades, USAID has been a lightning rod for criticism, with conservatives decrying its bloated bureaucracy and questionable spending habits. Under the Biden administration, the agencys excesses reached new heights, funding projects that many Americans would find not only wasteful but outright absurd. From a transgender opera in Colombia to packed lunches for Al-Qaeda jihadists in Syria, USAIDs spending has often seemed more focused on virtue signaling and appeasing global elites than advancing Americas interests or helping those truly in need.

The judges ruling: A victory for accountability

Judge Nichols decision to deny the contractors request for a temporary restraining order marks a significant victory for the Trump administrations efforts to rein in USAIDs excesses. The contractors, represented by the Personal Service Contractor Association, argued that the stop-work order would cause irreparable harm, cutting off essential communication and endangering their safety overseas. However, Nichols dismissed these claims, stating that any harm faced by the contractors was directly traceable to changes in their contracts and that relief should be sought through other legal avenues.

This ruling is part of a broader push by the Trump administration to dismantle what it sees as a deeply flawed and wasteful agency. Since taking office in January 2025, President Trump has made it clear that USAIDs days of unchecked spending are over. The agency has already faced significant cuts, with more likely to come as the administration seeks to redirect resources toward programs that align with American values and priorities.

A history of waste and wokeness

The need for reform at USAID is not a new revelation. For years, the agency has been criticized for funding projects that seem more focused on advancing progressive ideologies than delivering tangible results. The transgender opera in Colombia, for example, cost taxpayers millions of dollars, while doing little to address the root causes of poverty or instability in the region. Similarly, the decision to provide packed lunches to Al-Qaeda jihadists in Syria raised serious questions about the agencys judgment and priorities.

These projects are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of waste and mismanagement. Under the Biden administration, USAID became a vehicle for advancing woke policies abroad, often at the expense of American taxpayers. The agencys budget ballooned, with little oversight or accountability. Meanwhile, critical programs that could have made a real difference in the lives of those in need were neglected or underfunded.

The broader implications

Judge Nichols ruling is not just about USAID; its about the future of government accountability. For too long, federal agencies have operated with impunity, spending taxpayer dollars on projects that serve narrow ideological interests rather than the public good. The Trump administrations efforts to rein in USAID represent a broader push to restore fiscal responsibility and common sense to government spending.

However, the fight is far from over. Advocacy groups and contractors are likely to continue challenging the administrations reforms in court, arguing that the cuts will harm vulnerable populations and undermine Americas global influence. But as Judge Nichols ruling makes clear, the courts are not a rubber stamp for unchecked government spending.

The American people deserve better than a government that wastes their hard-earned money on woke pet projects and misguided initiatives. They deserve a government that prioritizes their interests and values, both at home and abroad. The Trump administrations efforts to reform USAID are a step in the right direction, but much work remains to be done.

As the debate over USAIDs future continues, one thing is clear: the era of unchecked waste and wokeness must come to an end. Judge Nichols ruling is a reminder that accountability matters, and that the American people will no longer tolerate a government that puts ideology over results. Its time to put USAID back on track, and to ensure that every taxpayer dollar is spent wisely and responsibly.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

ABCNews.com

TheHill.com
News / National

by Staff reporter

Despite the questionable agreement surrounding the state-owned People's Own Savings Bank (POSB), Attorney-General Virginia Mabiza's correspondence with the bank's management and a directive from President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the deal to sell the public asset to the elusive Hebrew Investment Group (HIG) has come under scrutiny.The sale, reportedly worth US$100 million, would involve transferring the bank - responsible for processing civil servants' salaries - to HIG, alongside a loan of US$6 billion to the government. Insiders have raised concerns that this transaction could be a scam and part of a money laundering scheme.In Zimbabwe, the sale of a public asset is a complex process that demands a shareholders' agreement, board approval, and a transparent tendering process to ensure fairness. These steps are required by the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act [Chapter 22:23], which establishes the legal framework for such transactions. The law ensures that the disposal of public assets follows a fair and competitive procedure to secure the best possible price for the asset.A shareholders' agreement, a critical component in such deals, sets out the rights, responsibilities, and obligations of the company's shareholders. It also outlines how significant decisions, like the sale of an asset, are made. Additionally, any major decision, including the sale of a public asset, must receive approval from the board of directors before being implemented.Moreover, the law mandates a transparent and competitive tendering process, overseen by the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe, which supervises public procurement proceedings to ensure that they are transparent, fair, cost-effective, and competitive. The Special Procurement Oversight Committee, an independent body, also plays a role in overseeing procurement processes.Tenders, which are formal bids from potential suppliers, must follow set procedures, ensuring that all offers are treated fairly and that the process is competitive. The act's aim is to guarantee that the disposal of public assets delivers good value for money and fosters a competitive, transparent environment.The failure to adhere to these legal processes in the case of POSB's sale casts doubt on the legitimacy of the transaction. Without proper legal procedures, the deal raises serious concerns about transparency and the protection of public assets.
Trumps Strategic Bitcoin Reserve: A bold move or a missed opportunity for crypto growth?

President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, marking a significant shift in U.S. digital asset policy and fulfilling a campaign promise. This move aims to position the U.S. as a global leader in cryptocurrencies.

The reserve will be funded exclusively with Bitcoin seized in criminal and civil forfeiture cases, not through new purchases. The government will conduct a full audit of its digital asset holdings to ensure transparency and accountability.

The announcement led to a sharp decline in Bitcoin prices, dropping nearly 6% from 90,400 to 85,000. This reaction was due to investor disappointment, as many expected the government to actively purchase Bitcoin, thereby driving up demand and prices.

While some industry leaders view the reserve as a positive step, others criticize the reliance on seized assets rather than new acquisitions. The reserve is seen as a cautious move, with hopes for more proactive strategies in the future to maximize the value of the government's crypto holdings.

The establishment of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve is part of a larger effort to make the U.S. the "crypto capital of the world." It reflects a growing recognition of digital assets as legitimate and valuable components of the global financial system, though questions remain about the government's long-term commitment to cryptocurrency.

In a historic move that underscores the growing influence of digital assets in the global economy, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. The announcement, while celebrated by some as a step toward legitimizing cryptocurrency, has left many in the crypto community underwhelmedand the market has responded accordingly. Bitcoin prices slid nearly 6% following the news, dropping from 90,400 to 85,000 within minutes.

The executive order, which fulfills a campaign promise made by Trump, marks a significant shift in U.S. digital asset policy. However, the details of how the reserve will be funded have tempered enthusiasm. Instead of purchasing new Bitcoin, the reserve will be capitalized exclusively with Bitcoin seized in criminal and civil forfeiture cases. This approach ensures that taxpayers bear no financial burden, but it has also left investors questioning the long-term impact on the crypto market.

A digital Fort Knox: What the reserve means for Bitcoin

The Strategic Bitcoin Reserve has been likened to a digital Fort Knox, a secure repository for the cryptocurrency often referred to as digital gold. According to David Sacks, the White House Crypto and AI Czar, the U.S. government currently holds an estimated 200,000 Bitcoin, though a full audit has yet to be conducted. The executive order mandates a complete accounting of the federal governments digital asset holdings, ensuring transparency and accountability.

The reserve will not sell any Bitcoin deposited into it, instead holding the assets as a store of value. This decision comes in response to past missteps, such as the premature sale of Bitcoin by the government, which reportedly cost U.S. taxpayers over $17 billion in lost value. By establishing a long-term strategy to maximize the value of its holdings, the federal government aims to avoid repeating such costly errors.

Steven Lubka, head of private clients and family offices at Swan Bitcoin, praised the move as a positive first step but expressed hope for a more proactive approach in the future. They can hold onto seized assets and create a stockpile, but a stockpile is different from a strategic reserve, which would presumably involve purchasing assets and actively going into the markets to acquire or trade them, Lubka said.

Market reaction: Why Bitcoin took a hit

The immediate market reaction to the announcement was largely negative, with Bitcoin prices dropping sharply. Analysts attribute the decline to unmet expectations. Many investors had anticipated that the government would actively purchase Bitcoin, driving up demand and prices. Instead, the reserve will rely solely on seized assets, a detail that has disappointed market participants.

Rachel Lin, CEO and co-founder of decentralized exchange SynFutures, explained the sentiment succinctly: The executive order establishing a U.S. strategic Bitcoin reserve didnt spark a price rally because the market expected new government purchases, but currently it only used existing seized Bitcoin, leading to disappointment.

The broader crypto market also felt the ripple effects, with XRP falling 8%, Solana down 6% and Ethereum losing 5% within the hour. Despite the initial dip, some industry leaders remain optimistic about the long-term implications of the reserve. Seth Ginns, head of liquid investments at CoinFund, noted that the order removes the constant overhang FUD that the U.S. government might dump its holdings on the market at an inconvenient time.

A broader vision: The U.S. as the crypto capital of the world

The establishment of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to position the United States as the global leader in digital assets. In addition to the Bitcoin reserve, the executive order creates a U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile, which will consist of other cryptocurrencies forfeited in criminal or civil proceedings. Like the Bitcoin reserve, the stockpile will not acquire additional assets beyond those obtained through forfeiture.

President Trump has repeatedly emphasized his commitment to making the U.S. the crypto capital of the world, a vision that has garnered support from industry leaders. David Sacks, in a post on X, praised the administrations swift action, stating, President Trump is keeping his promise to make the U.S. the Crypto Capital of the World. More to come at the Summit.

The timing of the announcement is no coincidence. It comes just ahead of the first-ever White House crypto summit, scheduled for Friday. The event, hosted by President Trump, will bring together key players in the industry, including Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev and Ripple Executive Chairman Brad Garlinghouse. The summit is expected to address critical issues in digital asset policy, and many are hopeful that additional announcements will further bolster the crypto market.

Historical context: Why this matters

The creation of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve is a landmark moment in the history of cryptocurrency. It reflects the growing recognition of digital assets as a legitimate and valuable component of the global financial system. Historically, governments have been slow to embrace cryptocurrencies, often viewing them with skepticism or outright hostility. The Trump administrations decision to establish a reserve signals a shift in this attitude, acknowledging the potential of Bitcoin and other digital assets to serve as stores of value and tools for economic growth.

However, the reliance on seized assets rather than new purchases raises questions about the governments long-term commitment to cryptocurrency. As Ian Katz, an analyst at Capital Alpha Partners, noted, The consensus on Capitol Hill is that it would require an act of Congress, and is unlikely to happen.

For now, the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve represents a cautious yet significant step forward. While it may not have delivered the immediate boost that some in the crypto community had hoped for, it lays the groundwork for a more structured and strategic approach to digital asset management. As the U.S. continues to navigate the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency, the reserve could serve as a cornerstone of its efforts to lead the world in this cutting-edge industry.

In the words of Sue Ennis, head of investor relations at Hut 8, Whether the U.S. government holds or trades crypto, that doesnt really matter, because its more like a feather in the cap of legitimacy and use-case for this asset.

The crypto world will be watching closely as the Trump administration unveils its next moves. For now, the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve stands as a testament to the growing influence of digital assetsand the challenges of balancing innovation with fiscal responsibility.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

X.com

Fortune.com
QUESTION: If the Jan. 6th protesters are legitimate felons, why did Biden have to PARDON the Jan. 6th COMMITTEE?

The January 6th, 2021, event at the Capitol was a staged insurrection by the Left, with Antifa members disguised as pro-Trump protesters and federal agents instigating the crowd.

DC metropolitan police actively escorted protesters into the Capitol, opened doors for them, and led them to congressional offices, including Nancy Pelosi's.

The video footage that would reveal the alleged treason by the FBI, DC police, Nancy Pelosi, and the Biden administration was confiscated, deleted, and censored, and the pardons issued by Biden were to protect those involved in staging and persecuting the so-called insurrection.

According to the Left, the biggest insurrection to ever take place on U.S. soil happened on January 6th, 2021, after Biden stole the election with tens of millions of falsified mail-in ballots in all 7 swing states. Patriots from around the nation arrived at the Capital building in Washington DC to peacefully protest the election results before the electoral college finalized it all and then came the staged mayhem.

George Soros paid Antifa members to dress up in pro-Trump paraphernalia and climb the walls and fences around the Capital for MSM media coverage nobody could deny. Federal agents (FBI) dressed up in red MAGA hats and carried megaphones and signs (think Ray Epps here), instigating a Capital crowd rush to knock down barriers and surge past the DC police who were supposedly guarding the building.

Next came the walk in. DC police literally escorted the protesters into and throughout the Capital building, holding doors open for hundreds of protesters and leading them down the halls to congress peoples offices, include Nancy Pelosis.

Meanwhile, outside, police began macing innocent protesters, throwing pepper spray bombs into the crowd, shooting people with rubber bullets, hitting women with night sticks, and literally shooting patriots to death for simply holding up their fists in protest.

Biden pardoned everyone on the Select Committee to Investigate the Attack on the United States Capital because he knew it was all staged to control the nation

The real criminals are the ones who testified that American patriots were violent insurrectionists who violently stormed the Capital that fateful day and killed innocent police officers and tried to overturn the most secure election in history. Sure.

All of the video footage that reveals the treason committed by the FBI, DC police, Nancy Pelosi and the Biden Regime was confiscated, deleted, and censored from all mass media. Biden HAD to preemptively-pardon everyone on the corrupt Select Committee because they were all in the know about how the whole insurrection was staged, instigated, propagated, and persecuted by the Democrat Communists about to take control of everything.

Among those receiving preemptive pardons were Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-8th), who served on the Jan. 6th committee and former U.S. Capitol Police Office Harry Dunn, who lied under oath before the panel about that day. They all claimed they were just doing my job, like the Nazi cohorts under Hitler said about sending Jews to the gas chambers, as these crooks and co-conspirators sent 1,500 innocent patriots to the DC gulags to suffer abuse, torture, medical negligence, and death for so many (by torture, suicide and murder).

If the patriots really were criminals that day who stormed the Capital and threatened lives, then there would be NO NEED for preemptive pardons for all the liars on the Select Committee. Thats how you know for sure it was all a set up propagated and carried out by the Feds, Antifa, Nancy Denture Chewing Pelosi, Chuck the Schmuck Shumer, and the DC metro police. Shame on all of them. May all these corrupt officials and lawmakers serve time in prison like the innocent patriots they helped convict.

Tune your apocalypse dial to Preparedness.news for updates on real news about surviving the Democrat-led government aggression, lies, and propaganda that comes at us every day now.

Sources for this article include:

Censored.news

NaturalNews.com

MarylandMatters.org
Yemens Houthi leader issues four-day ultimatum to Israel over Gaza aid blockade

Yemens Ansarallah leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi issues a four-day ultimatum to Israel, demanding it lift the Gaza aid blockade and resume ceasefire talks.

Yemen threatens to reimpose a naval blockade targeting Israeli-linked ships in key maritime regions if Israel fails to comply.

The Houthis accuse Israel of delaying ceasefire obligations and have previously disrupted global shipping in solidarity with Gaza.

The Gaza humanitarian crisis worsens as Israel reimposes a total aid blockade, with over 48,000 Palestinians killed and 111,000 wounded.

The Houthi ultimatum risks further regional destabilization and global trade disruptions, drawing international condemnation and Hamass support.

Yemens Ansarallah leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi has issued a four-day ultimatum to Israel, demanding it lift its blockade on humanitarian aid to Gaza and resume ceasefire talks. If Israel fails to comply, Yemen has threatened to reimpose a naval blockade targeting Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and Mediterranean.

The announcement, made on March 7, underscores the growing regional fallout from the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the deepening involvement of Yemens Houthi movement in the crisis.

The Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF), led by Ansarallah, had previously suspended military operations following a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza earlier this year. However, al-Houthi accused Israel of procrastinating in fulfilling its obligations under the ceasefire agreement, particularly regarding the delivery of humanitarian aid. We meet the siege with a siege, al-Houthi declared, emphasizing that Yemen cannot stand by and watch the Israeli enemys aggressive approach in starving the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Since November 2023, the YAF has targeted U.S., UK, and Israeli-linked commercial ships and warships in key maritime regions, including the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. These operations, which disrupted global shipping and forced vessels to take longer, costlier routes around Africa, were carried out in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The Houthis have also claimed responsibility for downing 15 U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones and firing on a U.S. F-16 jet, demonstrating their growing military capabilities despite facing hundreds of airstrikes from the U.S. and UK.

The groups actions have drawn international condemnation, with the U.S. re-designating the Houthis as a terrorist organization earlier this year. However, former U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Timothy Lenderking acknowledged that there is no military solution to the conflict, highlighting the complexity of the situation.

Ceasefire stalemate and humanitarian crisis

The Houthi ultimatum comes amid a stalemate in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Israel recently reimposed a total blockade on humanitarian aid to Gaza, demanding an extension of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement. Hamas has rejected this, insisting on strict adherence to the original terms and calling for international pressure on Israel.

The blockade has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over 48,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 111,000 wounded since the war began. The United Nations and human rights organizations have warned that Israels actions may constitute war crimes, citing the use of starvation as a weapon of war.

As the occupying power, Israel has a legal obligation to ensure the provision of the necessities of life for Palestinians living under its control, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) stated. Any denial of the entry of the necessities of life for civilians may amount to collective punishment.

Regional and global implications

The Houthi threat to resume naval operations could further destabilize the region and disrupt global trade routes. The groups ability to target ships in strategic waterways has already forced major shipping companies to reroute vessels, increasing costs and delivery times. If the Houthis follow through on their warning, the economic and geopolitical consequences could be significant.

Hamas has welcomed the Houthi announcement, calling it a brave decision that reflects the groups ongoing support for Palestinians as Israel carries out its genocidal campaign in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel has yet to respond to the ultimatum, leaving the international community to watch closely as the four-day deadline approaches.

Sources for this article include:

TheCradle.co

AlJazeera.com

Reuters.com
20 State AGs sue Trump administration over mass layoffs

Twenty state attorneys general have filed a lawsuit in a Maryland federal court against the Trump administration, demanding the reinstatement of tens of thousands of probationary federal workers who were recently laid off without the legally required 60-day advance notice.

The lawsuit accuses the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) of directing federal agencies to conduct unlawful mass terminations of probationary employees without following proper procedures, causing sudden unemployment and straining state resources.

The sudden layoffs have led to a surge in unemployment and increased demand for state services, such as unemployment benefits and social support. States are struggling to identify which agencies conducted the layoffs and which workers need assistance.

It seeks a court order to halt the mass terminations and reinstate any workers who were fired on or after January 20, the day President Trump was inaugurated.

The Trump administration, through the Government Efficiency Commission, argues that the mass layoffs are necessary to address inefficiencies in the federal government. The administration plans to use executive action to implement these changes, bypassing congressional approval, to significantly reduce the federal workforce.

A coalition of 20 state attorneys general has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, demanding the reinstatement of tens of thousands of probationary workers recently laid off by federal agencies.

The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Maryland on March 6, accused the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) of directing 21 federal agencies of conducting unlawful mass terminations of probationary employees without providing the necessary 60 days of advance notice to workers and states.

Participating states include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.

"This has inflicted and will continue to inflict serious and irreparable harms on the Plaintiff States, as they must now deal with a sudden surge in unemployment, without the advance notice required under the federal (reduction in force) statute and regulations," stated the lawsuit.

Moreover, the mass layoffs have strained state resources as terminated workers seek unemployment and other social services. The coalition also claims that the sudden terminations have made it difficult for states to identify which agencies have conducted layoffs and which terminated workers require state support. In turn, the lawsuit seeks a court order to stop the mass terminations of probationary workers and reinstate any workers fired on or after Jan. 20, the day President Trump was sworn in.

Trump: Mass layoffs necessary to address inefficiencies in the federal government

In November 2024, shortly after Trump's presidential victory, then-forthcoming Government Efficiency Commission announced its intention to implement large-scale layoffs and mandatory in-office workdays for federal employees.

"We expect mass reductions," supposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) former co-leader Vivek Ramaswamy said at that time. "We expect certain agencies to be deleted outright. We expect mass reductions-in-force in areas of the federal government that are bloated." (Related: Trump Administration cuts 2,000 USAID jobs, places most employees on leave in sweeping reform effort.)

Moreover, Ramaswamy emphasized that DOGE will not require congressional approval to enact these changes. Instead, the president plans to utilize executive action to swiftly implement the proposed reforms. Ramaswamy, who previously campaigned on a promise to reduce the federal workforce by 75 percent, stated that the commission will focus on downsizing bloated areas of the government.

Now, this significant shift in federal employment practices, has been going on for several weeks since Trump takes office in January. Trump also clarified recently that he has been doing mass layoffs to address inefficiencies in the federal government.

Head over to Trump.news for more stories related to the president's moves to streamline the bureaucracy.

Watch this video that talks about how the mass layoffs of 2008 and 2009 are happening again as companies try to avoid getting caught with bloated payrolls.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Trump administration announces mass layoffs at HHS: CDC and NIH among hardest hit as 5,200 federal health workers face termination.

Mass layoffs incoming: 50% of employers plan to cut jobs in the next 12 months.

AND SO IT BEGINS: Swedish fintech company Klarna becomes first to conduct MASS LAYOFF directly linked to AI advancements.

Google faces backlash over MASS LAYOFFS in January despite companys financial success.

Manufacturing giant 3M announces mass layoffs in preparation for a recession.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

TimesofIndia.com

GovExec.com

Brighteon.com
Canada refuses to lift tariffs despite Trumps postponement

Canada maintains $30 billion retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods despite Trump delaying 25% duties on Canadian and Mexican imports to protect the U.S. auto industry.

Incoming Canadian PM Mark Carney vows to uphold tariffs until the U.S. shows "respect" and commits to fair trade practices.

Trump postponed tariffs after U.S. automakers warned of economic fallout, citing national security concerns under the USMCA trade agreement.

Outgoing PM Justin Trudeau emotionally defended Canadas stance, calling the U.S. trade actions "unjustified," while Trump criticized Trudeau on social media.

In a high-stakes trade standoff, Canada is refusing to lift its retaliatory tariffs on $30 billion worth of American imports, even after President Donald Trump postponed his planned 25% duties on Canadian and Mexican goods.

The delay, initially set to take effect on March 4, was granted to protect the U.S. auto industry and allow time for negotiations. However, Canadas incoming Prime Minister Mark Carney has vowed to maintain the tariffs until the U.S. demonstrates respect and commits to fair trade practices. The escalating dispute underscores the fragile state of U.S.-Canada relations and raises questions about the future of North American trade.

Trumps tariff delay and Canadas response

President Trump announced the 25% tariffs in February, citing concerns over border security and the drug trade. The duties were delayed after Trump met with U.S. automakers, who warned of the economic fallout. The White House emphasized that the suspension was necessary to safeguard the U.S. auto industry, which it deemed vital to national security. The delay applied to imports compliant with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which governs a significant portion of trade between the three nations.

Despite the reprieve, Canada has maintained its retaliatory tariffs on $30 billion worth of U.S. goods, including steel, aluminum, and agricultural products. Canadian Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc called the decision a first step toward resolving the dispute but stressed that Canada would not back down. We want to get to a position that we were in two weeks ago, where there are no tariffs applied to the trade between Canada and the United States. Its a first step, LeBlanc said. Its an important step, but were not at the end of the road.

Trudeaus emotional stand and Trumps criticism

The tariff dispute has strained relations between Trump and outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. During a recent phone call, Trump reportedly used profanity when discussing Canadas dairy industry protections, while Trudeau remained composed. In a public address, Trudeau became emotional, declaring that Canada would stand firm against what he called an unjustified and unjustifiable trade war.

We are in a moment right now where Canada has a very, very strong bargaining position, Trudeau said. Canadians are so united and unequivocal about standing up for our country, standing up for our fellow citizens, and being very, very firm.

Trump, meanwhile, took to social media to criticize Trudeau, accusing him of leveraging the tariff issue for political gain. 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 posted.

Carneys hardline stance on trade

As Trudeau prepares to step down, incoming Prime Minister Mark Carney has signaled a tough approach to the trade dispute. Carney, a former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, won a landslide victory to lead Canadas Liberal Party and will soon take office. In his acceptance speech, Carney vowed to maintain Canadas retaliatory tariffs until the U.S. demonstrates respect and commits to fair trade.

The Americans want our resources, our water, our land, our country ... if they succeed, they will destroy our way of life, Carney said. My government will keep our tariffs on until the Americans show us respect.

Carneys stance reflects a broader shift in Canadian policy as the nation seeks to protect its economic interests amid growing tensions with the U.S. The Trump administration has threatened to reimpose tariffs on April 2, setting the stage for a potential escalation in the trade war.

The ongoing tariff dispute highlights the fragility of U.S.-Canada relations and the challenges of navigating North American trade dynamics. While Trumps delay offers a temporary reprieve, Canadas refusal to lift its tariffs signals a hardening of positions on both sides. As Mark Carney prepares to take office, his commitment to maintaining tariffs underscores Canadas determination to defend its economic interests. With the April 2 deadline looming, the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the two nations can resolve their differences or if the trade standoff will deepen further.

Sources for this article include:

YourNews.com

Reuters.com

Bloomberg.com
Faith under fire: FCC investigates Google, YouTube over alleged discrimination against religious programming

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), led by Chairman Brendan Carr, has launched an investigation into YouTube TV over allegations that it discriminates against faith-based programming, specifically excluding Great American Family, a channel offering religious and family-friendly content.

Great American Media, the parent company of Great American Family, claims YouTube TV refuses to carry its channel despite its availability on other major platforms. This has sparked debates about censorship, corporate bias and the role of government in regulating digital platforms.

The investigation reflects long-standing accusations from conservatives and religious groups that tech giants like Google and YouTube suppress right-leaning and faith-based content. The FCCs probe could challenge Section 230 protections, which shield tech companies from liability for third-party content.

The investigation could lead to new regulations for virtual multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs), such as YouTube TV, by extending rules that currently apply to traditional cable providers. This could reshape the regulatory landscape for streaming services.

The FCCs findings could set a precedent for digital platform regulation, impacting free speech, religious freedom and the balance of power between government and Big Tech. The investigation represents a broader battle over the future of public discourse in the digital age.

In an era where Big Techs influence over public discourse has become a lightning rod for controversy, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is taking a stand. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has launched an investigation into YouTube TV over allegations that the streaming platform discriminates against faith-based programming. The probe, announced in a letter to Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, centers on claims that YouTube TV has systematically excluded religious and family-friendly content from its lineup.

The allegations, brought forward by Great American Media, the parent company of Great American Family, have sparked a heated debate about censorship, corporate bias and the role of government in regulating digital platforms. As the investigation unfolds, it raises critical questions about the future of free expression in an increasingly digital world.

The allegations: A hidden policy against faith-based content?

At the heart of the controversy is Great American Family, a network that has become a staple for viewers seeking faith-based and family-friendly programming. According to Great American Media, YouTube TV has refused to carry the channel, despite its availability on other major platforms like Comcast, Cox, Hulu, FuboTV and DirecTV Stream.

In his letter, Chairman Carr highlighted the discrepancy, writing, YouTube TV refuses to carry [Great American Family], while other cable and streaming services do. He added that the allegations come at a time when American public discourse has experienced an unprecedentedand unacceptablesurge in censorship.

Carrs concerns are not unfounded. Over the past decade, conservative voices and religious organizations have repeatedly accused tech giants like Google and YouTube of bias, alleging that their algorithms and policies disproportionately suppress right-leaning content. While YouTube has consistently denied these claims, the FCCs investigation marks a significant escalation in the ongoing battle over digital censorship.

A YouTube spokesperson responded to the allegations, stating, We welcome the opportunity to brief the FCC on YouTube TVs subscription service and the strategic business decisions we make based on factors like user demand, operational cost and financial terms, and to reiterate that we do not have any policies that prohibit religious content.

Historical context: A pattern of censorship?

The FCCs investigation is not happening in a vacuum. For years, conservatives have accused Big Tech companies of engaging in viewpoint discrimination, particularly against religious and right-leaning content. From demonetizing conservative creators to shadow-banning political commentary, platforms like YouTube have faced mounting criticism for their opaque content moderation practices.

Chairman Carr has been a vocal critic of these practices, often citing Section 230 of the Communications Act, which shields tech companies from liability for third-party content posted on their platforms. In his letter, Carr noted that Googles products, including YouTube, have benefited from the protections contained in Section 230. However, he emphasized that these protections are contingent on companies acting in good faith.

If there is any action on Section 230, tech companies are likely to challenge the FCCs authority, Carr acknowledged. Indeed, FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, a Democrat, has argued that only Congress can amend Section 230, and that the FCCs involvement in content moderation issues could be a fools errand.

Despite these challenges, Carrs investigation reflects a growing consensus among conservatives that Big Techs unchecked power poses a threat to free speech and diversity of thought. As Carr wrote, Understanding the nature of carriage policies in the virtual MVPD sector can help inform the FCCs approach to the broader set of regulatory issues the FCC has been called upon to address.

The broader implications: A turning point for digital regulation?

The FCCs probe into YouTube TV could have far-reaching implications for the streaming industry and beyond. If the investigation uncovers evidence of discriminatory practices, it could pave the way for new regulations governing virtual multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs), such as YouTube TV.

Currently, the FCCs authority over virtual MVPDs is limited compared to traditional cable providers. However, Carrs letter references Section 616 of the Communications Act, which prohibits discriminatory practices in carriage agreements between traditional MVPDs and video programming vendors. The FCC has been exploring whether to extend similar rules to virtual MVPDs, a move that could significantly alter the regulatory landscape for streaming services.

Critics of the investigation argue that YouTube TVs programming decisions are protected as a form of editorial discretion, akin to free speech rights for private companies. They also point out that Great American Family is available on YouTubes main platform, with channels like Pure Flix and Great American Family boasting hundreds of thousands of subscribers.

However, Carr and his supporters contend that the issue is not just about access but about fairness. As Carr wrote, These concerning allegations come at a time when American public discourse has experienced an unprecedented surge in censorship. For many conservatives, the investigation represents a long-overdue reckoning with Big Techs growing influence over what we see, hear and think.

Whats next?

As the FCC prepares to brief Google and YouTube executives on March 11, the tech and media industries are watching closely. The outcome of this investigation could set a precedent for how digital platforms are regulated in the future, with significant implications for free speech, religious freedom and the balance of power between government and Big Tech.

For now, one thing is clear: the battle over faith-based programming on YouTube TV is about more than just one channel. Its a fight for the soul of American discourse in the digital ageand the stakes couldnt be higher.

Sources include:

JustTheNews.com

Deadline.com

CordCutterNews.com
Federal Judge blocked Trumps attempt to terminate wasteful government credit cards, so DOGE and ELON MUSK set spending limit to ONE DOLLAR  problem solved

Elizabeth Warren, the fake Indian, is on the record back in 2010 saying, When that much money disappears, its usually because somebody broke some laws somewhere, but if we dont look, if we dont ask, if we dont uncover it and make it all public, well never find out. How ironic that now shes at the forefront screaming and crying at the podium and the Capital building that any investigation of all the Democrat fraud, embezzlement and coverups are an infringement of her rights and an invasion of her privacy. Hilarious.

Elon Musk is now outsmarting the Leftist Judges, who are paid off by George Soros and in cahoots with Obama (who appointed them) to block Trump, Musk and DOGE from stopping the flood of illegal money into the pockets of the Democrat and Globalist crooks who already stole trillions of dollars from American taxpayers.

Musk came up with the clever idea to simply limit all these Democrat official credit cards to ONE DOLLAR to undermine Democrat Judges rulings

Federal Judges are jumping into the embezzlement bandwagon with the Demonic Democrats and their Shadow Government, siding with them so the mass embezzling can continue, but theres somebody whos even smarter than the Judges and his name is Elon Musk.

Musk came up with the clever idea to simply limit all these credit cards given to Democrat officials and shills to ONE DOLLAR, since they run up thousands of dollars on these cards daily for transexual pleasures, luxurious hotels, plane trips to Communist China, and other wasteful things they should be arrested for purchasing. This is not what those credit cards were intended for, and they know it, but they dont care.

Do you as a taxpayer want to keep footing the bill for Democrat politicians and government workers who make six figures to spend their whole day in tranny sex chat rooms talking about gender mutilation surgery, fetishes, and grooming kids, while eating expensive lunches they used their government-issued and paid credit cards to buy?

The flow of money to the crooks is being cut off. The well is running dry. Thanks to Elon Musk and DOGE, the Dirty Dems are being choked out. Cut off. The swamp is getting drained of the creatures and the waste. Finally. Hopefully its not too late. Can Trump and Musk save America? Save the economy. Save the Republic.

The crooks are all mad because theyve been caught. For years, they preached that the government should inspect any wasted money and cut programs that waste money, and it was all a front. A lie to win votes. Now the chickens are coming home to roost. Now the hunters are becoming the hunted. How many of these Democrat crooks will spend time in prison for it? Only time will tell. Somebody needs to burn at the stake for all this waste and corruption. Innocent people have lost their livelihood, their businesses, their homes, even their lives because of this corruption.

Do your own research and dont use Google. Try the search engine Brave BETA and get more truth news and real information. Bookmark Censored.news to your favorite websites for truth news about Democrat fraud and embezzlement thats all censored from the mass media to keep the Demoncrats and Libtards in the dark and brainwashed.

Sources for this article include:

NaturalNews.com

X.com
Unravel the mysteries of ancient maps and lost civilizations in Graham Hancocks Fingerprints of the Gods

The 1513 Piri Reis Map, which was rediscovered in 1929, accurately depicts Antarctica's coastline  a continent officially discovered in 1818. This raises questions about the map's origins and the source of its information.

Piri Reis claimed his map was based on older sources dating back to the fourth century B.C., suggesting an ancient civilization with advanced cartographic skills and knowledge of Antarctica's ice-free coastline, supported by recent geological evidence.

Additional ancient maps, such as those by Oronteus Finaeus, Gerardus Mercator and Philippe Buache, also depict Antarctica with remarkable accuracy, challenging conventional historical narratives and suggesting a lost civilization with sophisticated knowledge of global geography.

Theories, including those by Professor Charles Hapgood, propose that these maps point to a prehistoric civilization with advanced knowledge, aligning with myths of civilizing heroes like Viracocha and Quetzalcoatl, indicating a complex, interconnected past.

Graham Hancock's "Fingerprints of the Gods" invites readers to re-examine and question established historical narratives, embracing the exploration.

Graham Hancock's "Fingerprints of the Gods" is a groundbreaking exploration of humanity's forgotten past, challenging conventional historical narratives through the enigmatic Piri Reis Map and other ancient cartographic anomalies. The book takes readers on a journey from the archives of Constantinople to the icy wilderness of Antarctica, unraveling a story that suggests the existence of an advanced civilization predating known history.

The Piri Reis Map, created in 1513 by Ottoman admiral Piri Reis, was rediscovered in 1929 in the archives of the Imperial Palace in Constantinople. This map painted on gazelle skin depicts the coastline of Antarctica  a continent officially discovered in 1818. Even more astonishing, the map appears to show Antarctica free of its massive ice sheet, which has concealed its true topography for thousands of years. This raises a profound question: How could a 16th-century map accurately depict a continent that was supposedly unknown and buried under ice for millions of years?

Piri Reis himself claimed that his map was a compilation of older sources, some dating back to the fourth century B.C. or earlier. This suggests that the knowledge of Antarctica's ice-free coastline may have originated from an ancient civilization with advanced cartographic skills. Recent geological research adds weight to this theory, indicating that parts of Antarctica may have been ice-free as recently as 6,000 years ago. This challenges the conventional timeline of human history and opens the door to the possibility of a prehistoric civilization with sophisticated knowledge of global geography.

The Piri Reis Map is not an isolated anomaly. Other ancient maps  such as those by Oronteus Finaeus, Gerardus Mercator and Philippe Buache  also depict Antarctica with remarkable accuracy. The Finaeus map, for instance, shows Antarctica with ice-free coasts, mountains and rivers  suggesting the continent was visited or settled during a warmer period. Similarly, the Buache map depicts a waterway across Antarctica that aligns with modern seismic surveys, implying its source materials could date back to a time when the continent was entirely ice-free, around 13,000 BC.

These maps collectively point to a civilization that existed long before the rise of ancient cultures like Egypt and Mesopotamia. This aligns with the theories of Professor Charles Hapgood, who argued that the precision of these maps could only be explained by an advanced, pre-historic civilization. Hancock weaves these cartographic mysteries with myths and legends of civilizing heroes like Viracocha and Quetzalcoatl, suggesting a global pattern of lost knowledge and forgotten civilizations.

The implications of these discoveries are profound. If these maps are indeed remnants of a lost civilization, they challenge our understanding of human history and the origins of advanced knowledge. They suggest that humanity's past is far more complex and interconnected than previously thought, with a hidden chapter waiting to be uncovered.

While skeptics argue that these maps could be elaborate forgeries, the convergence of geological evidence, ancient myths and cartographic precision makes a compelling case for their authenticity. Hancock's work invites readers to question established narratives and remain open to the possibility that our history is richer and more mysterious than we have been led to believe.

"Fingerprints of the Gods" is more than a book; it is a call to re-examine the past and embrace the idea that humanitys story is far from complete. As Hancock demonstrates, the mysteries of the Piri Reis Map and its counterparts continue to beckon, urging us to explore the depths of our forgotten heritage.

Watch this video about Graham Hancock's book "Fingerprints of the Gods."

This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Brighteon.ai

Brighteon.com
InfoWars reporter Jamie White brutally murdered in Austin; investigation underway

InfoWars reporter Jamie White was killed outside his Austin apartment in what Alex Jones called a "brutal murder."

Austin police found White with severe injuries; he died shortly after being hospitalized, with no suspect or motive identified.

White was a passionate advocate for freedom and a key voice at InfoWars, leaving the team devastated by his loss.

The murder has reignited concerns about rising crime in Austin and sparked speculation about political motives behind the killing.

Jamie White, a prominent reporter for InfoWars, was killed on Sunday night outside his Austin, Texas, apartment. The incident, described by InfoWars founder Alex Jones as a "brutal murder," has sent shockwaves through the conservative media community and raised urgent questions about the safety of journalists in an increasingly polarized America.

According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded to a call in the 2300 block of Douglas Street at 11:57 p.m. on Sunday night. They discovered White with "obvious signs of trauma." He was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival. The APD has not yet identified a suspect or motive, leaving many to speculate whether this was a random act of violence or a targeted attack.

A devastating loss for InfoWars

Jamie White was more than just a reporter; he was a passionate advocate for freedom and a key voice in the fight against what InfoWars describes as "globalist tyranny." Alex Jones, who broke the news of Whites death, called him "our best writer" and a dedicated colleague.

"We sent some people over this morning when he didnt answer the phone because hes always here early, loves to work, loves to fight tyranny, loves to promote freedom," Jones said in a somber broadcast. "He passed away at the hospital very soon after they got him there."

Whites death has left the InfoWars team reeling. In a statement, the outlet described his murder as "senseless" and "tragic," vowing that his work would not be forgotten. "We pledge that Jamies tragic death will not be in vain, and those responsible for this senseless violence will be brought to justice," the statement read.

A city in crisis

The murder has also reignited concerns about rising crime in Austin, a city that has seen a surge in violent incidents in recent years. Jones pointed to what he called "the policies of the Soros Austin, TX D.A. Jose Garza" as a contributing factor to the citys deteriorating safety. While it is too early to determine whether Whites murder was politically motivated, the possibility has sparked intense speculation.

Could this have been a random act of violence in a city grappling with crime? Or was White targeted for his work as a journalist exposing uncomfortable truths? Unfortunately, America has become so polarized, thanks largely to efforts by the left, that we've gotten to the point where it's sadly quite believable that an unhinged liberal might think this is an appropriate response to a journalist they dont agree with.

A call for justice

As the investigation unfolds, the conservative media community is mourning the loss of a fearless reporter while demanding answers. Whites death is a grim reminder of the dangers journalists face, particularly those who challenge powerful institutions or ideologies.

In a heartfelt tribute, InfoWars shared a quote from White: "Im grateful to Alex Jones for bringing me on board to wage this information war against the globalists. Weve only begun the fight  Infowars never dies."

For now, the focus remains on finding those responsible for this heinous crime. As the APD continues its investigation, Jamie Whites legacy as a journalist and advocate for freedom will endure.

Our deepest condolences go out to Jamie Whites family, friends, and colleagues. May justice be served swiftly, and may his memory inspire others to continue the fight for truth and liberty.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

InfoWars.com

FoxNews.com

NYPost.com
Israel cuts all electricity to Gaza, deepening suffering and raising fears of escalation

Israel has cut all electricity to Gaza, worsening the humanitarian crisis for 2.3 million residents.

The move is seen as a potential precursor to military escalation amid a fragile ceasefire.

Gazas water desalination and healthcare systems are collapsing due to the power cutoff.

Hardline Israeli officials advocate for harsher measures, while Hamas condemns the decision as "genocidal war."

Ceasefire negotiations are stalled, with Israel demanding the release of hostages and Hamas pushing for lasting peace.

Israel has cut all electricity supplies to the besieged Gaza Strip, plunging the enclave into darkness and intensifying the humanitarian crisis for its 2.3 million residents.

The decision, announced Sunday by Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen, comes as a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas falters, raising fears of an imminent military escalation.

Cohen stated that Israel would use "all means available  to ensure the return of all Israeli hostages" and to force Hamas out of Gaza. This drastic measure, which follows months of intermittent blackouts, has drawn sharp criticism from human rights advocates and Palestinian officials, who accuse Israel of employing starvation and deprivation as tools of war.

The electricity cutoff has left Gazas already strained infrastructure in shambles, with dire consequences for water desalination, healthcare, and daily life. Local officials warn that the decision will exacerbate the enclaves water crisis, as desalination plantscritical for providing drinking waterare now unable to function. Cutting off the electricity to Gaza will increase the need for water, especially drinking water, said Asem Al Nabih, mayor of Gaza municipality. Nizar Ayyash, mayor of Deir al-Balah, added that the move would result in a 70% reduction in desalinated water suitable for drinking in central and southern Gaza.

A precursor to military action?

The decision to sever Gazas electricity supply is widely seen as a precursor to further military action. Historically, such measures have signaled impending escalations in Israels operations against Hamas. Hardline Israeli politicians have openly advocated for harsher measures, with far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir praising the electricity cutoff and urging the government to go further.

The Gaza Strip must be completely and immediately blacked out as long as even one Israeli hostage is being held there, Ben Gvir said. He also called for Israel to bomb fuel depots and generators operated by Hamas, a move that would further cripple Gazas ability to function.

Hamas, meanwhile, has condemned the decision as part of Israels broader strategy to wage genocidal war against Palestinians. This behavior confirms the occupations intent to continue its genocidal war against Gaza, through the use of starvation policies, in clear disregard for all international laws and norms, said Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem. The militant group has called on mediators in Egypt, Qatar, and the United States to pressure Israel into complying with the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

A fragile ceasefire on the brink

The electricity cutoff comes amid tense negotiations over the future of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The initial phase of the truce, which involved the exchange of hostages and prisoners, has largely held, but talks over a second phase have stalled. Israel has demanded the release of all remaining hostages59 of whom are still believed to be in Gaza, more than half presumed deadbefore committing to a permanent end to the war. Hamas, however, insists on moving forward with negotiations for a lasting peace.

The White House has remained largely silent on the issue, though President Donald Trump has warned of hell to pay if all Israeli captives are not released. Meanwhile, US officials have expressed cautious optimism about the potential for a deal. I think something could come together within weeks, said Adam Boehler, Trumps special envoy for hostages, during an interview with CNN.

As Gaza grapples with the immediate fallout of Israels electricity cutoff, the broader implications are deeply troubling. The move not only intensifies the suffering of Palestinians but also raises the specter of renewed violence in a conflict that has already claimed thousands of lives. With Gazas infrastructure on the brink of collapse and its population facing unprecedented deprivation, the international community faces a critical test of its commitment to human rights and peace. For now, the people of Gaza remain trapped in a humanitarian catastrophe, their fate hanging in the balance as negotiations teeter on the edge of failure.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

CNN.com

AlJazeera.com
News / National

by Staff reporter

Documents supporting President Emmerson Mnangagwa's controversial handling of the planned sale of the state-owned People's Own Savings Bank (POSB) have sparked grave concerns regarding transparency and accountability in the disposal of public assets. The documents, which include the agreement between the government, POSB, and the Hebrew Investment Group (HIG), letters from Attorney-General Virginia Mabiza to the POSB chief executive and other stakeholders, and a directive from Mnangagwa, have raised serious questions about the legitimacy of the deal.The documents were initially leaked to political activist Jealousy Mawarire, The NewsHawks, and ZimLive by a mutual source acting on public interest and whistleblowing grounds. Mawarire subsequently used Alpha Media Holdings' online platform, HStv, to expose the details of the POSB deal, with additional coverage provided by ZimLive and The NewsHawks. Prominent journalist Hopewell Chin'ono also shared some of the documents on social media, further escalating the controversy.The planned sale, which involves transferring a 70% stake in POSB to HIG for US$70 million as part of a US$100 million recapitalisation deal, has been widely criticised for lacking due diligence and proper regulatory oversight. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, the country's financial sector regulator, has sought to distance itself from the deal, but the leaked documents show that the story surrounding the sale has always been firmly grounded in reality.According to the documents, Mnangagwa handpicked HIG, bypassing standard public tendering processes and corporate governance procedures. This has raised questions about the fairness of the process and the potential for corruption. Mabiza, the Attorney-General, has also come under scrutiny for her role in the deal, with accusations that she acted as a "legal conduit" for Mnangagwa to push the sale through despite its opaque nature.HIG's key figures, including Morris Brown Gwedegwe and Professor Emile Kue, have also raised eyebrows due to their questionable backgrounds and credentials, further casting doubt on the legitimacy of the transaction.The sale of POSB is particularly concerning as the bank plays a critical role in processing salaries for civil servants, distributing foreign currency pensions, and offering salary-linked loans. The lack of transparency and accountability in the deal has raised alarms about the potential for corruption and the risk of Zimbabwe's public assets being sold off clandestinely.Overall, the planned sale of POSB has ignited widespread concerns about the erosion of transparency and accountability in the handling of public assets, with many questioning whether the transaction is a thinly veiled attempt to enrich individuals at the expense of Zimbabwe's taxpayers.
New Mexico measles death is based on MEDICAL FRAUD: medical report disregarded patients comorbidities, relied on faulty testing on a CORPSE

In a move that reeks of medical manipulation and malfeasance, New Mexico health officials announced on Thursday that an adult in Lea County tested positive for measles post-mortem, yet refused to confirm whether the infection was actually present or had any roll in the individual's death . The announcement, shrouded in secrecy and devoid of critical details, has sparked outrage among medical freedom advocates who accuse public health authorities of exploiting the tragedy to fuel fear and push mass vaccination campaigns.

The deceased, whose identity and medical history remain undisclosed, was reportedly unvaccinated for MMR and did not seek medical care before passing away. The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) confirmed the presence of the measles virus through laboratory testing but provided no information on comorbidities, underlying health conditions, or the actual cause of death. David Morgan, the departments public information officer, stated that the death is still under investigation, yet the NMDOH has already labeled it a measles-related death  a classification that critics argue is premature and scientifically dubious.

This incident follows a similar case in Texas, where a 6-year-old child reportedly died after testing positive for measles. In both instances, health officials have withheld critical details, raising questions about the true motives behind these announcements. Medical authorities are currently being encouraged to run tests on hospitalized patients and even CORPSES, to come up with a positive test result for measles to further drive the measles hysteria. This is history repeating itself: medical malpractice being covered up by fraudulent diagnoses to perpetuate a narrative and push populations to take faulty vaccines.

The dubious science of post-mortem measles testing

The NMDOHs decision to classify the death as measles-related hinges on a post-mortem test that detected the measles virus. However, as Brian Hooker, Chief Scientific Officer for Childrens Health Defense (CHD), pointed out, This is similar to the death of a young adult woman in 2015 in Washington state whose autopsy testing revealed she died with the measles virus. The woman had multiple comorbidities, including pneumonia, which was the cause of death.

Hooker emphasized that attributing the death to measles without further investigation is a quantum leap in logic. To tell the reader that they died from the measles is quite a quantum leap for a deceased person who wasnt tested for measles until their autopsy, which yielded a positive test, he said.

The reliability of the test itself is also under scrutiny. Was it an RT-PCR test, known for its high false-positive rates? What were the cycle thresholds used? These questions remain unanswered, leaving the public to wonder whether this is yet another example of medical authorities using flawed science to advance a predetermined narrative. There is significant money to be made in weaponizing these PCR tests, to drive a narrative, and deceive people into taking MMR vaccines.

A public health strategy rooted in fear

The NMDOHs announcement was swiftly followed by a call for increased vaccination rates, with Dr. Chad Smelser, the departments deputy state epidemiologist, urging New Mexicans to get the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. We dont want to see New Mexicans getting sick or dying from measles, Smelser said.

But critics argue that this rhetoric is less about public health and more about pushing a pro-vaccine agenda at all costs. Karl Jablonowski, Ph.D., a senior research scientist for CHD, accused health authorities of inciting fear to drive vaccination rates. This is the second death reported from a state health department where the minimum amount of information was released, he said. Without cause of death, comorbidities, circumstances, or any other details, it is akin to screaming fire in a crowded theater.

Jablonowski also highlighted the broader implications of this strategy. The posturing of so-called public health is to increase vaccination rates at all costs. It is a value-free enterprise, meaning it doesnt matter what your values are  they still want you to vaccinate. When we accept achieving a goal as value-free is when we lose our humanity, let alone our freedoms.

The hidden risks of the MMR vaccine

While health officials tout the MMR vaccine as the ultimate solution, evidence suggests that the vaccine carries significant risks. Over the past decade, 41 deaths following MMR or MMRV vaccination have been reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Research has also linked the vaccine to serious adverse effects, including febrile seizures, anaphylaxis, meningitis, encephalitis, and autism.

A 2004 study found that boys vaccinated with their first MMR vaccine on time were 67% more likely to be diagnosed with autism compared to those who received the vaccine after their third birthday. Despite these risks, the CDC continues to recommend the vaccine for children as young as 12 months old.

Mainstream medias role in spreading hysteria

Mainstream media outlets have played a pivotal role in amplifying the fear surrounding these cases. Headlines such as Second measles death reported as outbreak grows in Southwest (The Hill) and Unvaccinated New Mexico Resident Dies of Suspected Measles (The New York Times) have dominated the news cycle, despite the lack of confirmed causation.

This sensationalized coverage has disproportionately targeted unvaccinated communities, particularly the Mennonite population in West Texas. Tina Siemens, a member of the Mennonite community, told The Defender that the medias portrayal of the unvaccinated as uneducated and responsible for the outbreak has left many feeling frustrated and targeted.

The lack of transparency surrounding these cases underscores the need for a more honest and balanced discussion about measles, vaccination, and public health. As Dr. Meryl Nass, an internist and medical freedom advocate, noted, There are risks from measles and risks from the vaccine. There are apparent benefits from both.  And everyone should have the right to balance their own risks and benefits and make this decision for themselves.

The current narrative, driven by fear and incomplete information, serves only to erode public trust and strip individuals of their right to informed consent. Until health officials provide full transparency and address the legitimate concerns surrounding vaccine safety and efficacy, the public will remain rightfully skeptical of their motives.

In the end, this is not just about measles or vaccines  its about the integrity of our medical institutions and the freedom to make informed decisions about our health. As the shadows of medical fraud and fear-mongering grow darker, the light of truth must shine brighter.

Sources include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

NMHealth.org

Substack.com

NewYorkTimes.com
The No IRIS Act: A dangerous surrender to corporate interests at the expense of public health

The "No IRIS Act," introduced in Congress, aims to prohibit the EPA from using scientific assessments by its Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) program, undermining the agency's ability to regulate toxic chemicals and protect Americans from carcinogens and other harmful substances.

The legislation is driven by the chemical industry, which seeks to avoid the costs of cleaning up pollution and ensuring product safety, prioritizing profits over public health. Critics argue this move represents corporate cronyism rather than genuine conservatism.

Established in 1985 under President Reagan, IRIS provides science-based assessments of chemical toxicity, forming the foundation of EPA regulations. Eliminating IRIS would leave the EPA unable to determine safe exposure levels for hundreds of chemicals, jeopardizing public health.

IRIS assessments have empowered communities to combat pollution, such as in Willowbrook, Illinois, where ethylene oxide emissions were exposed, and in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, where chloroprene risks were identified. These successes highlight the program's importance in safeguarding vulnerable populations.

The No IRIS Act contradicts conservative principles of limited but effective government, prioritizing corporate interests over the government's duty to protect citizens. Critics urge Congress to reject the bill, emphasizing the need to preserve public health safeguards over industry profits.

In a stunning display of government overreach and corporate cronyism, Congress is poised to dismantle one of the most critical tools protecting Americans from toxic chemicals. The so-called No IRIS Act, introduced in both the House and Senate, would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from using scientific assessments conducted by its Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) program. This move, championed by industry lobbyists and their allies in Congress, threatens to gut the EPAs ability to regulate harmful chemicals, leaving Americans exposed to carcinogens and other toxins.

The No IRIS Act is not about reducing bureaucracy  its about handing over public health decisions to corporations with a vested interest in keeping dangerous chemicals on the market. This is not conservatism; this is corruption.

The IRIS program: A Reagan-era success under threat

The IRIS program was established in 1985 under President Ronald Reagan to provide a consistent, science-based approach to assessing the risks of toxic chemicals. For nearly four decades, IRIS has served as the backbone of the EPAs regulatory framework, offering independent, nonpartisan evaluations of chemicals toxicity. These assessments are used to set limits on pollutants in air, water and soil, ensuring that Americans are not exposed to levels of chemicals that could cause cancer, respiratory diseases, or other health problems.

Now, this vital program is under attack. The No IRIS Act would bar the EPA from using IRIS assessments in any environmental regulations, enforcement actions, or permits. Without these scientific evaluations, the EPA would be flying blind, unable to determine safe exposure levels for hundreds of chemicals.

William Boyd, a professor at UCLA School of Law, put it bluntly: Theyre trying to undermine the foundations for doing any kind of regulation. If you get rid of step one, youre totally in the dark.

Corporate interests over public health

The push to dismantle IRIS is not coming from concerned citizens or grassroots activistsits being driven by the chemical industry. Companies that produce and use toxic chemicals have long opposed IRIS, claiming its assessments are based on questionable science and impose billions in economic costs. These claims are echoed in Project 2025, the ultraconservative policy blueprint guiding the Trump administrations second term.

But lets be clear: The economic costs these companies are worried about are the costs of cleaning up their pollution and ensuring their products dont harm public health. The real cost of the No IRIS Act will be borne by American families, who will face increased exposure to cancer-causing chemicals like formaldehyde, ethylene oxide and chloroprene.

Robert Sussman, a veteran attorney who has worked both for the EPA and chemical companies, called the effort to eliminate IRIS completely off the deep end. He added, What theyre really trying to do here is prevent the EPA from doing assessments of their chemicals.

The human cost of ignoring science

The IRIS program has had a tangible impact on communities across the country. In Willowbrook, Illinois, an IRIS assessment revealed that a sterilizing plant was releasing ethylene oxide, a carcinogen, into the air at levels 30 times higher than previously believed. Armed with this information, local residents organized protests, lobbied lawmakers and ultimately succeeded in shutting down the plant.

In St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, an IRIS assessment of chloroprenea chemical emitted by a nearby plantshowed that the community had the highest cancer risk from air pollution in the country. Robert Taylor, a lifelong resident, said, I didnt realize the depth of the poisoning that was taking place until EPA came to our community in 2016 and brought us that IRIS report. Taylors wife died of cancer in December 2024, a tragedy he attributes to the toxic fumes they breathed for decades.

These stories are not outliers. IRIS assessments have repeatedly exposed the dangers of toxic chemicals and empowered communities to fight back against polluters. If the No IRIS Act passes, these victories will become far harder to achieve.

A conservative case for protecting IRIS

The No IRIS Act is a capitulation to corporate interests. It undermines the EPAs ability to do its job, leaving Americans vulnerable to the harmful effects of toxic chemicals. Its time for conservatives in Congress to stand up to the chemical lobby and reject this dangerous legislation.

Daniel Rosenberg, director of federal toxics policy at the Natural Resources Defense Council, put it best: The current political alignment is clearly very favorable to the chemical lobby, but their actual agenda has never been popular. Theres never been a case where people are in favor of more carcinogens in their environment.

Congress should listen to the people, not the lobbyists. The health of the nation depends on it.

Sources include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

ProPublica.org

WaterEducation.org
Trump: Arrest of Palestinian activist is first of many to come

President Trump on Monday hailed the arrest of "anti-Semitic" pro-Palestine protester Mahmoud Khalil and said it is "the first arrest of many to come."

(Article by Chris Menahan republished from Informati0nLiberation.com)

Trump wrote on Truth Social:

Following my previously signed Executive Orders, ICE proudly apprehended and detained Mahmoud Khalil, a Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas Student on the campus of Columbia University. This is the first arrest of many to come. We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, and the Trump Administration will not tolerate it. Many are not students, they are paid agitators. We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country  never to return again. If you support terrorism, including the slaughtering of innocent men, women, and children, your presence is contrary to our national and foreign policy interests, and you are not welcome here. We expect every one of Americas Colleges and Universities to comply. Thank you!

It's nice that Trump is acknowledging this was a political arrest done pursuant to his executive order on combating "anti-Semitism," as that will no doubt be entered as evidence in court.

He's justifying the decision by claiming Khalil is "pro-terrorist" and "support[s] terrorism" -- all while he sits in the Oval Office with a golden pager gifted to him by Netanyahu to commemorate an Israeli terrorist attack on Lebanon.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed last week that the US was using AI to "catch and revoke" the visas of anti-Israel protesters who appear to be "pro-Hamas" -- but it's a lot more likely they're just relying on Jewish doxing groups like Canary Mission (Khalil was the top person in the Canary Mission's crosshairs).

The Trump administration last week also announced they were canceling $400 million in federal grants and contracts for Columbia University for failing to turn their campus into a safe space for Jewish students.

"These cancellations represent the first round of action and additional cancellations are expected to follow," the Trump administration said in a press release on HHS's website. "The decisive action by the DOJ, HHS, ED, and GSA to cancel Columbia's grants and contracts serves as a notice to every school and university that receives federal dollars that this Administration will use all the tools at its disposal to protect Jewish students and end anti-Semitism on college campuses."

As I noted yesterday, Trump has faltered on his pledge to conduct "mass deportations" of illegal aliens and is now moving to deport critics of Israel who are in America legally.

Khalil is here legally on a green card (which Trump has said he wants to hand out to anyone who graduates from any college in America) and it can only be revoked for "fraud, violating immigration laws, criminal activity or failure to maintain permanent residence," according to Axios.

Read more at: Informati0nLiberation.com
Global civil war or revolt: Patriots vs. Globalists as Trump takes charge

Mike Adams describes a growing global conflict under Trump's leadership, involving cyber attacks, deep state sabotage, and a financial war led by the British banking system against globalists in London.

The deep state, including figures like Blinken and Sullivan, is orchestrating sabotage against the Trump administration, employing cyber attacks, economic turmoil, and disruptions in critical supplies and law enforcement to undermine the administration.

Key figures like Tulsi Gabbard, Georgescu, and Elon Musk are uniting to fight the globalist regime. Gabbard has stripped security clearances from officials tied to the false Russia collusion narrative, significantly weakening deep state operatives.

Musk faces cyber attacks on X (formerly Twitter) from UK-aligned entities, part of an information war aimed at discrediting him. Georgescu, meanwhile, is marginalized in Romania for his anti-NATO stance but finds an audience for his critiques of EU tyranny.

Mike Adams warns of escalating civil strife and economic turmoil due to deep state operations. He calls for vigilant preparation amid potential disasters, emphasizing the fight for freedom against the British Empire and its globalist apparatus.

In a recent broadcast, Mike Adams, The Health Ranger, painted a picture of an escalating global conflict unfolding under the leadership of President Trump. He outlined a coordinated series of cyber attacks, deep state sabotage, and a financial war led by the British banking system, all part of a broader revolt by patriots against the globalist regime centered in London. Adams emphasized that the globalists, deeply entrenched in the city of London, have long held considerable control over the United States and other countries, including Canada and Ukraine.

Adams highlighted that the globalist deep state, involving figures like Anthony Blinken and Jake Sullivan, is actively engaged in coordinated sabotage, targeting the Trump administration with cyber attacks, economic turmoil, and even disrupting essential services like food supplies. The deep state's efforts have included causing fuel shortages and shortages of critical supplies like eggs, as well as defunding law enforcement to increase violent crime rates, all with the aim of making life as difficult as possible for the American people. By sponsoring protests and cyber attacks, the deep state seeks to blame the resultant chaos on the Trump administration, thus promoting the narrative that only big government can prevent such disruptions.

Key Figures Join Forces Against the Globalist Regime

The coalition of patriots fighting against the globalist regime is not just limited to Trump. Key figures such as Tulsi Gabbard, Georgescu, and Elon Musk are joining forces to dismantle the globalist regime. Tulsi Gabbard, now serving as the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), has been aggressively stripping security clearances from officials involved in the false Russia collusion narrative, effectively neutering many of the deep state's key operatives. Gabbards actions were not confined to stripping clearances; she also targeted the former 51 signers of the disinformation letter about the Hunter Biden laptop investigation, a move that had significant political repercussions.

Georgescu, a presidential frontrunner in Romania and staunch anti-NATO advocate, finds himself marginalized by the Romanian government, which banned him from running for office. However, his ongoing criticism of what he describes as the tyranny of the EU has found a receptive audience. Meanwhile, Elon Musk, a notable critic of the British ruling class, has faced retaliatory cyber attacks on X (formerly Twitter), which he alleges originated from UK-controlled entities in Ukraine. These attacks are part of an information war designed to disrupt and discredit his growing influence.

The Deep State and the Road Ahead

Adams warns that the deep state's operations have now reached epidemic proportions, encompassing everything from coordinated cyber attacks to domestic sabotage. The ongoing tension in Washington, D.C., reignites questions about the deep state's pervasive influence in intelligence and politics, potentially leading to prolonged civil strife and economic turmoil. With the deep state already at war with the truth, Adams calls for vigilant preparation. As he notes, We are living in a war. This is a globalist terrorist war.

The road ahead is fraught with potential disasters, from localized violent uprisings to global financial meltdowns. The deep state's ultimate goal is to push the United States and Europe into a state of crisis, exploiting the ensuing chaos to reinforce their own narrative. However, Adams and his allies remain committed to the fight for freedom, championing a future where the British Empire and its deep state apparatus are dismantled forever. As Adams concludes, When the British Empire collapses and the British banking system collapses, we the people will win.

The global economy, political landscape, and civil society are all at stake as the battle for control intensifies. Stay informed, stay prepared, and stay resilient as this riveting drama unfolds.

Watch this March 11 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about Trump leading a patriot revolt against revenge-minded deep state globalists.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Health Ranger Report: Scott Wiper discusses Gen. Michael Flynns stand against Deep State tyranny

Trump declares war on anonymous sources: A bold stand against media corruption and the Deep State

Health Ranger Report: Scott Wiper discusses Gen. Michael Flynns stand against Deep State tyranny

Sources include:

Brighteon.com
Rubio axes 83% of USAID programs, exposes Deep State and Globalist slush fund

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with the support of Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), dismantles USAIDs bloated bureaucracy, ending decades of taxpayer-funded corruption and left-wing globalist agendas.

 83% of USAID programs canceled, totaling 5,200 contracts worth tens of billions of dollars.

 Remaining 18% of programs to be overseen by the State Department, ensuring accountability and alignment with U.S. interests.

 USAID exposed as a Deep State slush fund, funneling taxpayer dollars to radical NGOs, destabilizing allies, and undermining American values.

 Elon Musks DOGE hailed as instrumental in uncovering USAIDs wasteful spending and partisan abuses.

Rubio and Musk take on gargantuan corruption

In a historic move that has sent shockwaves through Washington, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the cancellation of 83% of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) programs, effectively dismantling one of the Deep States most egregious tools for advancing a far-left globalist agenda. After a six-week review conducted in collaboration with Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Rubio revealed that 5,200 contractsworth tens of billions of taxpayer dollars  were terminated for failing to serve, and in some cases actively harming, U.S. national interests.

The 5,200 contracts that are now canceled spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, and in some cases even harmed, the core national interests of the United States, Rubio stated in a post on X. He added that the remaining 18% of programs, approximately 1,000, will now be administered more effectively under the State Department.

This sweeping reform marks the end of an era in which USAID operated as a shadowy slush fund for progressive NGOs, left-wing media outlets, and even extremist groups. For decades, the agency funneled billions of taxpayer dollars into projects that undermined American values, destabilized allies, and promoted radical ideologies worldwide.

USAIDs corruption is not a new revelation, but the scale of its abuses has only recently come to light. Under the guise of humanitarian aid, the agency became a taxpayer-funded arm of the Deep State, advancing a far-left agenda that often ran counter to U.S. interests. From funding radical environmental groups to propping up leftist media outlets, USAIDs tentacles reached into every corner of the globe, sowing chaos and division.

One of the most egregious examples of USAIDs malfeasance was its interference in foreign elections, often destabilizing allies who were not sufficiently aligned with progressive ideologies. The agency also funneled money to NGOs that opposed free speech, capitalism, and traditional values, effectively using American taxpayer dollars to wage war on the very principles that define the United States.

Elon musks DOGE: the watchdog America needed

The dismantling of USAID would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Established to root out waste, fraud, and abuse in federal agencies, DOGE has emerged as a critical ally in the fight against the Deep State.

Tough, but necessary. Good working with you, Musk tweeted in response to Rubios announcement. The billionaire entrepreneur has long been a vocal critic of government waste and inefficiency, and his departments role in exposing USAIDs corruption has cemented its reputation as a force for accountability.

DOGEs investigation revealed that USAIDs bloated bureaucracy was not merely inefficientit was actively harmful. Tens of billions of dollars were wasted on projects that did nothing to advance U.S. interests, while critical programs were neglected. By bringing these abuses to light, DOGE has paved the way for much-needed reforms.

For decades, American taxpayers have been forced to foot the bill for USAIDs globalist agenda, watching helplessly as their hard-earned dollars were funneled into projects that undermined their values and interests. The agencys cancellation of 83% of its programs represents a long-overdue reckoning, one that will save taxpayers tens of billions of dollars while ensuring that remaining aid programs are aligned with U.S. priorities.

Sources include:

Zerohedge.com

X.com

Zerohedge.com
St. Louis schools ordered to pay $180,000 in landmark vaccine mandate lawsuit

A federal court ordered St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS) to pay $90,000 each to two former employees denied religious exemptions to the districts COVID-19 vaccine mandate, marking a significant legal victory for religious freedom.

SLPS implemented a strict vaccine mandate in 2021, denying all 150200 religious exemption requests without individualized review, leading to unpaid leave or termination for unvaccinated employees.

The lawsuit, filed by 43 employees, alleged violations of the First Amendment, 14th Amendment and civil rights laws, arguing the policy disproportionately targeted religious objections while granting medical exemptions more leniently.

The case is part of a growing trend of legal victories for employees challenging vaccine mandates, with similar rulings in Michigan and Tennessee reinforcing the protection of religious freedom during public health crises.

The ruling underscores the enduring importance of religious liberty in American history, emphasizing that constitutional rights cannot be suspended, even in emergencies, and serves as a call to action to defend individual freedoms.

In a stunning rebuke of government overreach, a federal court has ordered St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS) to pay $90,000 each to two former employees who were denied religious exemptions to the districts COVID-19 vaccine mandate. This ruling is the latest in a growing wave of legal victories for Americans fighting to protect their constitutional rights in the face of coercive pandemic policies.

The case, which began in 2021, highlights the ongoing tension between public health mandates and the fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. For the plaintiffs, the fight was never just about a vaccineit was about the right to live according to their deeply held religious beliefs without fear of losing their livelihoods.

A mandate that divided a community

In August 2021, SLPS announced a strict vaccine mandate requiring all employees to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, which was the only fully licensed vaccine at the time. The policy allowed for medical exemptions on a case-by-case basis and promised to consider religious exemptions for employees with sincerely held religious beliefs. However, the districts actions told a different story.

Despite its promises, SLPS denied every single religious exemption request it receivedan estimated 150 to 200 applicationswithout individualized review. Employees who refused the vaccine were placed on unpaid leave or terminated, leaving many families in financial distress.

The Districts alleged policy put Plaintiffs to a choice: compromise their convictions or lose their livelihoods, wrote U.S. Chief District Judge Stephen R. Clark in his June 2023 ruling. Restrictions impermissibly infringing on constitutional rights, like the right to freely exercise ones religion, spread across the country like a virus.

The judges words echo the sentiments of countless Americans who felt betrayed by institutions that prioritized compliance over constitutional rights.

A legal victory for religious freedom

The lawsuit, filed by 43 SLPS employees in June 2022, alleged violations of the First Amendment, the 14th Amendments Due Process and Equal Protection clauses, and federal and state civil rights laws. The plaintiffs argued that the districts policy disproportionately targeted employees with religious objections, while granting medical exemptions more leniently.

The court agreed, ruling that the employees had sufficient grounds to pursue their claims. The decision paved the way for settlements, with two employees receiving 90,000 each and four others awarded 25,000 in July 2024. Another 35 employees are currently in mediation talks, with the possibility of a jury trial if negotiations fail.

This case is part of a broader trend of legal victories for employees who were wrongfully terminated over vaccine mandates. In November 2024, a Michigan jury awarded 12.7 million to a Catholic woman fired by Blue Cross Blue Shield for refusing the COVID?19 vaccine. Similarly, a Tennessee jury awarded 687,000 to a scientist who cited religious objections to the vaccine.

These rulings underscore the importance of protecting religious freedom, even in times of crisis. As Judge Clark noted, the districts actions not only violated constitutional rights but also created a self-inflicted staffing shortage. When the District suspended and/or terminated over 100 employees en masse for refusing the vaccine, it may have imposed on itself a staff shortage of a worse nature than the one it sought to avoid in the first place, he wrote.

Why this matters

The fight for religious freedom is deeply rooted in American history. The First Amendment was designed to protect individuals from government coercion in matters of faith, a principle that has been tested repeatedly throughout the nations history. From the persecution of Quakers in colonial America to the Supreme Courts landmark rulings in Sherbert v. Verner (1963) and Burwell v. Hobby Lobby (2014), the courts have consistently affirmed the right to religious liberty.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought these issues to the forefront once again, as governments and employers imposed sweeping mandates with little regard for individual rights. The SLPS case is a reminder that constitutional freedoms cannot be suspended, even in the name of public health.

A call to action

The St. Louis lawsuit is more than a legal victoryits a wake-up call for Americans to remain vigilant in defending their rights. As vaccine mandate cases continue to make their way through the courts, the outcomes will shape the future of religious freedom in the workplace.

For those who value health freedom and constitutional rights, this case is a beacon of hope. It demonstrates that even in the face of overwhelming pressure, individuals can stand up to government overreach and win.

As one unnamed SLPS employee told Fox 2 St. Louis in 2021, the mandate created a lot of added stress  because we are missing so many people. Today, those missing voices are being heard loud and clear in courtrooms across the country.

Sources include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

Stltoday.com

SharylAttkisson.com
Trump is a Dictator says the HATE PARTY that kills babies on day of birth, censors free speech, force-vaccinates the populace, and uses lawfare to jail political opponents

Barrack Hussein Obama was the ultimate dictator in America, who served for three terms, including this last one where he propped up a senile old man as the fake POTUS and used autopen to sign all the tyrannical orders that nearly destroyed the entire Republic. Obama ran this country for 12 of the last 16 years, speaking into Bidens earpiece, writing the script for the teleprompter, and using the Communist playbook to wreck Americas infrastructure through supply chain crippling, a decimating plandemic, fake news propaganda, open borders, and anything perverted he could use to distract the masses from anything that actually matters.

Obama the Dictator has all his sheeple followers calling Trump a dictator instead

That is why the Democrat party projects their hate and dictator identity onto Trump, as a cover story so their own common-senseless base wont realize that Obama was a ruthless dictator and ran the country even when his senile cohort was propped up. They say Trump is a fascist, but Obama is the fascist, who sent billions of dollars to terrorist organizations under the USAID fake humanitarian front.

The Dems and Libs call Trump a fascist, racist Dictator, but its Obama who led the charge to DIVIDE America into race groups and gender groups and pit everyone against each other while he took away our personal and medical freedoms right under our noses.

The Dems and Libs call Trump a fascist, racist Dictator, but its Obama who opened up our borders and used George Soros to fund the mass illegal migration invasion of America to try to make it a one-party nation ruled by tyranny and communism (disguised as socialism). Obama the gun grabber. Obama the man married to another man. Obama the foreigner. Obama the Communist. Obama the sleeper cell. Obama the Domestic Terrorist.

The Libtards call Trump a Dictator, but its the Democrats who illegally used the DOJ to create trumped-up charges against Trump so he couldnt run for POTUS, be on the ballots, all while they tried to put him in prison, kill him twice, and smear his name daily for 8 years on every fake news media outlet that exists (but not for long anymore).

The Biden Regime had the invisible dictator running the show. The Dark Brandon Devil behind the scenes. Obama dictated how to kill babies during the mothers third trimester, how to turn children and teens into genitalia-mutilated sex-thinking perverts, how to traffic millions of children and teens into sex slavery through open borders and constant wars, and how to wreck our education system with DEI, CRT, and Drag Queen Story Hour.

Obama was the evil Dictator, not Trump. Obama weaponized the FDA, CDC, CIA, FBI, DOJ, USDA, EPA and every other government agency to wreck lives, ruin the economy, jail innocent conservatives, and cheat for the POTUS seat. America has never had a more vicious, vile, perverted DICTATOR than Obama himself. Follow the bouncing perv ball.

Tune your apocalypse dial to preparedness.news for updates on real news about surviving the Democrat-led government aggression, lies, and propaganda that comes at us every day now. #ObamaTheDictator

Sources for this article include:

Censored.news

NaturalNews.com
A new American empire: Trump, Russia, and the end of globalism

Donald Trumps return to the White House is shaping up to be nothing short of a political revolution. The new administration is rapidly dismantling the old order, purging the ruling elite, reshaping both domestic and foreign policy, and cementing changes that will be difficult to reverse  even if his opponents regain power in future elections.

(Article by Vasily Kashin republished from Profile.ru)

For Trump, as for all revolutionaries, the priority is to break the existing system and consolidate radical transformations. Many of the principles that guided US policy for decades  sometimes for over a century  are being deliberately discarded. Washingtons global strategy, long built on expansive military, diplomatic, and financial influence, is being rewritten to serve Trumps domestic political needs.

The end of the American liberal empire

For the past 100 years, the US has functioned as a global empire. Unlike traditional empires built on territorial expansion, the American empire extended its reach through financial dominance, military alliances, and ideological influence. This model, however, has become increasingly unsustainable. Since the late 1990s, the costs of maintaining global hegemony have exceeded the benefits, fueling discontent both at home and abroad.

Trump and his allies seek to end this liberal empire and return America to a more self-reliant, mercantilist model  one reminiscent of the late 19th and early 20th centuries under President William McKinley. Trump has openly praised this era, viewing it as the golden age of US prosperity, before the country took on the burdens of global leadership.

Under this vision, America will reduce unproductive foreign expenditures and refocus on its natural advantages: Vast resources, an advanced industrial base, and the worlds most valuable consumer market. Rather than policing the world, Washington will wield its economic power more aggressively to secure trade advantages. However, the transition to this model carries significant risks, particularly in a highly globalized economy.

A shift in global strategy

Trumps policies are driven by domestic concerns but will have major implications abroad. His administration is systematically dismantling key institutions of the old order, including those that irritated Moscow. For instance, USAID  a major vehicle for American influence in the post-Soviet space  has been gutted. Ironically, Trump had more motivation to destroy USAID than even Russian President Vladimir Putin, given that its resources had been repurposed for domestic political use by Trumps rivals.

If the US abandons its liberal empire model, many sources of tension with Russia will disappear. Historically, Moscow and Washington had relatively stable relations throughout the 19th century. If Trumps America reverts to a more isolationist approach, Russia will no longer be a primary target of US interference. The main friction point will likely be the Arctic, where both nations have strategic interests.

China, however, remains Trumps top adversary. Beijings state-led economic expansion is fundamentally at odds with Trumps mercantilist vision. Unlike Biden, who sought to counter China through alliances, Trump is willing to go it alone  potentially weakening Western unity in the process. His administration is expected to escalate economic and technological warfare against Beijing, even if it means alienating European allies.

Europes strategic uncertainty

One of Trumps most disruptive moves has been his open hostility toward the EU. His vice president, J.D. Vance, recently delivered a speech in Munich that amounted to direct interference in European politics, signaling support for right-wing nationalist movements that challenge the EUs authority.

This shift is forcing Europe into an uncomfortable position. For years, China has viewed Western Europe as an alternative West with which it could engage economically without the same level of confrontation it faces with the US. Trumps approach could accelerate EU-Chinese ties, especially if Western European leaders feel abandoned by Washington.

There are already signs that European policymakers may loosen restrictions on Chinese investments, particularly in critical industries such as semiconductors. At the same time, the ambitions of some Europeans for NATO expansion into the Indo-Pacific may falter, as the bloc struggles to define its new role in a post-globalist US strategy.

Russia and China: A changing relationship

For years, Washington fantasized about splitting Russia and China apart. But Trumps new approach is unlikely to achieve this goal. The Russia-China partnership is built on strong fundamentals: A massive shared border, complementary economies, and a shared interest in countering Western dominance.

If anything, the shifting geopolitical landscape could push Russia into a position similar to that of China in the early 2000s  focusing on economic development while maintaining strategic flexibility. Moscow may reduce its efforts to actively undermine the US and instead concentrate on strengthening its economic and security ties with Beijing.

China, meanwhile, will bear the brunt of Trumps new American empire. The US will no longer rely on alliances to contain Beijing but will use direct economic and military pressure. While this may make life more difficult for China, it does not necessarily mean the US will succeed. China has been preparing for economic decoupling for years, and Beijing may find opportunities in a more divided Western world.

The road ahead

Trumps return marks a fundamental shift in global power dynamics. The US is moving away from being a liberal empire and toward a more transactional, power-based foreign policy. For Russia, this means fewer ideological conflicts with Washington but continued competition in key areas like the Arctic.

For China, Trumps policies present a direct challenge. The question is whether Beijing can adapt to a world where the US is no longer just containing it but actively trying to roll back its economic influence.

For Western Europe, the picture is bleak. The EU is losing its privileged status as Americas primary partner and is being forced to fend for itself. Whether it can navigate this new reality remains to be seen.

One thing is certain: The world is entering a period of profound transformation, and the old rules no longer apply. Trumps America is rewriting the playbook, and the rest of the world will have to adjust accordingly.

Read more at: Profile.ru
Trump touts manufacturing revival as February jobs report signals economic shift

President Donald Trump celebrated a net gain of 151,000 jobs in February, with 10,000 manufacturing jobs addeddouble the expected 5,000. He contrasted this with the loss of 110,000 manufacturing jobs during the last year of the Biden administration, framing it as evidence of his economic policies reversing a decline.

Trump emphasized manufacturing as central to his economic agenda, criticizing NAFTA and its successor, USMCA, for contributing to the closure of 90,000 U.S. plants. He highlighted the return of manufacturing facilities to the U.S. as a result of tariffs and trade policies.

Trump reiterated his use of tariffs to address trade imbalances, specifically targeting Canadas 250% tariff on U.S. dairy and lumber. Economists warn that escalating tariffs could lead to higher consumer prices and supply chain disruptions, with some attributing the manufacturing job gains to businesses preparing for potential tariff impacts.

The jobs report revealed a 10,000-job decline in federal employment due to cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). While aligned with Trumps smaller-government philosophy, these cuts raise concerns about broader economic impacts, including potential private-sector job losses.

The February report presents a complex economic picture, with manufacturing gains and private-sector job growth offset by rising unemployment, declining federal employment and ongoing trade tensions. Trump remains focused on sustaining manufacturing revival through tariffs, trade deals and reducing government size, but the long-term success of this strategy remains uncertain.

In a bold declaration from the Oval Office, President Donald Trump heralded a "manufacturing boom" following the release of the first full jobs report of his second term. The February report, released by the Labor Department, showed a net gain of 151,000 jobs, slightly below economists' expectations of 160,000. However, the standout figure was the addition of 10,000 manufacturing jobsdouble the anticipated 5,000a statistic Trump seized upon as evidence of his administration's economic policies bearing fruit.

"During the last year of the Biden administration, we saw a loss of more than 110,000 manufacturing jobsor 9,000 every single month," Trump said. "During the first full month in office, we've not only stopped that manufacturing collapse, but we've begun to rapidly reverse it and get major gains. We created 10,000 manufacturing jobs in February alone. That hasn't happened in a long time."

The President's remarks underscore a broader narrative of economic renewal, one that contrasts sharply with the challenges of the previous administration. But as Trump celebrates these gains, questions linger about the broader implications of his policies, particularly on trade and federal employment.

A manufacturing renaissance?

The manufacturing sector's rebound is a key pillar of Trump's economic agenda. Historically, manufacturing has been a cornerstone of American prosperity, but decades of globalization, outsourcing and automation have eroded its dominance. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), implemented in 1994, is often cited as a turning point in the decline of U.S. manufacturing. Trump has long criticized NAFTA, and its successor, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), as detrimental to American workers.

"Since the beginning of NAFTA, there's been 90,000 plants and factories closed in this country," Trump said. "Think of that90,000 plants and factories have been closed. Many of them have been car manufacturing plants. And that's a terrible statistic. And we'll be turning it around."

The President pointed to recent developments, including the return of manufacturing facilities to the U.S., as evidence of his policies' success. "We already have numerous [plants] that are being built or starting to be built, and numerous that were being built in other countries and they stopped and they're coming here now because of the tariffs. And that's a big deal. That's what you want to hear."

Tariffs and trade tensions

Trump's emphasis on tariffs as a tool for economic revival has been a hallmark of his presidency. On Friday, he reiterated his commitment to reciprocal trade policies, particularly targeting Canada. "Canada charges a 250% tariff on U.S. dairy and lumber products," Trump said. "Unless Canada lowers that tariff, the U.S. will impose a reciprocal 250% tariff on like goodspossibly as soon as today."

While tariffs have been effective in some cases, they also carry risks. Economists warn that escalating trade tensions could lead to higher consumer prices and disrupt supply chains. Michael Feroli, chief U.S. economist at JP Morgan, noted that the uptick in manufacturing jobs could reflect "some front-loading ahead of expected tariffs," suggesting that businesses may be preparing for potential disruptions.

Federal job cuts and economic uncertainty

While manufacturing gains have been a bright spot, the broader jobs report revealed signs of economic softness. The unemployment rate edged up to 4.1%, and the labor force participation rate dipped. Federal government employment declined by 10,000 jobs in February, a result of cuts initiated by the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk.

"We had too many people in government," Trump said. "You can't just do that. We had many, many, too many. This is for 40 years. You know, this isn't just now. This built up and got worse and worse, and they just hire more and more people."

These cuts, while aligned with Trump's smaller-government philosophy, have raised concerns about their impact on the broader economy. Chris Rupkey, chief economist at FwdBonds, warned, "You cant have mass firings of federal workers and government contractors and think it is not going to mean job losses for the private sector."

A mixed economic picture

The February jobs report paints a complex picture of the U.S. economy. On one hand, manufacturing gains and private-sector job growth suggest resilience. On the other, rising unemployment, declining federal employment and ongoing trade tensions point to potential challenges ahead.

For Trump, the focus remains on manufacturing. "These aren't government jobs, which actually we cut," he said. "Under the final two years of Biden, one in every four jobs created in America was a government job. Thats a tremendous percentage. But under the first full month of President Trump, which we havent even gotten started yet, an incredible 93% of all job gains were in the private sector."

As the administration continues to implement its economic policies, the question remains: Can Trump sustain this manufacturing revival while navigating the broader challenges of a shifting global economy? For now, the President is betting on tariffs, trade deals and a leaner federal government to deliver on his promise of an American economic renaissance.

Only time will tell if this strategy will yield the long-term gains Trump envisionsor if the February jobs report is merely a fleeting snapshot of an economy in transition.

Sources include:

FoxBusiness.com

CNN.com

KeycNews.com
Trumping Trudeau: The 386-day honeymoon and the clash of global visions

Justin Trudeau was elected as Canada's Prime Minister on Oct. 19, 2015, promising progressive leadership and international cooperation, but his victory was based on a coalition of specific groups and only 39 percent of the popular vote.

Donald Trump's unexpected election on Nov. 8, 2016, marked a significant ideological and political shift, challenging Trudeau's principles and ending his brief honeymoon period almost immediately.

The clash between Trudeau's liberal, globalist vision and Trump's nationalist, "America First" approach extended beyond policy differences into deeply personal and political opposition, with Trudeau often positioning himself as the leader of the anti-Trump movement.

Significant policy differences, particularly in energy and immigration, led Trudeau to pursue carbon taxes and halt pipeline projects, which are critiqued by author Ezra Levant for potentially damaging Canada's economic competitiveness against an energy-booming United States.

Trudeau's more open immigration policies and reluctance to label attacks by Muslim extremists as terrorism are portrayed by Levant as naive and potentially endangering Canada's security, in stark contrast to Trump's more restrictive and hardline approach.

In the annals of modern political history, few periods have been as tumultuous and transformational as the 386 days between Oct. 19, 2015 and Nov. 8, 2016. On the first date, Justin Trudeau, the young and charismatic son of a Canadian political icon, was elected Prime Minister of Canada, promising a new era of progressive leadership and international cooperation. Less than a year later, Donald Trump, the brash and divisive businessman, was elected President of the United States, upending the global order and challenging the very principles Trudeau had championed.

In his new book, "Trumping Trudeau," Ezra Levant explores the dramatic shift that occurred and the ensuing clash between two of the most talked-about leaders of our time. Levant begins his narrative with a striking assertion: "The Justin Trudeau Era lasted precisely 386 days."

This timeframe, from Trudeau's election to the seismic shift brought by Trump's victory, sets the stage for a compelling exploration of how quickly political fortunes can change and how the world can be rewritten in a single year. Trudeau's victory in 2015 was not as decisive as it initially appeared. Despite his win, he secured only 39 percent of the popular vote, a victory that Levant describes as "buoyed by a coalition of social justice warriors, environmentalists and various interest groups." The media, enchanted by the Prime Minister's youthful appeal and his father's legacy, quickly anointed him as the torchbearer of a new liberal dawn.

However, the world had other plans. The shock of Trump's victory in 2016 was a rude awakening for Trudeau and his administration. As Levant writes, "Trudeau's victory was not the landslide it appeared to be and Trump's election marked the end of his honeymoon period almost before it began."

The U.S. president's nationalist, "America First" approach was a direct challenge to Trudeau's liberal, globalist vision. This ideological conflict was not just a matter of policy differences; it was deeply personal and political. Levant paints a vivid picture of Trudeau and his team's virulent opposition to Trump. The Liberal Party used Trump as a fundraising tool, demonizing him in emails to supporters. Trudeau himself couldn't resist the temptation to criticize Trump, making campaign-style visits to New York to denounce the future president's platform. This anti-Trump stance was shared by Trudeau's inner circle, including his brother Alexandre and it shaped the Prime Minister's approach to international relations.

Levant argues that Trudeau chose to position himself as the leader of the opposition to Trump, often at the expense of Canadian interests. For example, Trudeau's decision to lift the visa requirement for Mexicans in the weeks leading up to Trump's election was seen as a provocative move. Similarly, his praise for China's Communist regime and his approach to Cuba were attempts to distance Canada from Trump's America, moves that Levant suggests were more about virtue-signaling than advancing Canadian interests.

One of the most significant areas of conflict between the two leaders was energy policy. Trudeau, heavily influenced by his advisor Gerald Butts, pursued a policy of phasing out Canada's oil and gas industry, imposing carbon taxes and blocking pipeline projects. In contrast, Trump championed fossil fuels, rolling back environmental regulations and promoting energy independence. Levant argues that Trudeau's policies are economically damaging, particularly as the U.S. experiences an energy boom. He suggests that Trudeau's approach could leave Canada at a competitive disadvantage, with American companies taking advantage of cheaper energy and Canadian jobs and investments moving south.

Levant also examines Trudeau's approach to immigration and security, contrasting it with Trump's more hardline stance. Trudeau's open-door policy towards Syrian refugees, his reluctance to use the term "terrorism" when discussing attacks by Muslim extremists and his criticism of Trump's proposed Muslim ban are analyzed. Levant argues that Trudeau's policies are naive and potentially dangerous, especially in the face of growing security threats.

Watch the video below to learn more about the book "Trumping Trudeau."

This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Brighteon.ai

Brighteon.com
News / National

by Staff reporter

The streets of Mbare and Epworth are more than just a workplace for young sex workers - they are battlegrounds where they face violence, stigma, and limited access to health care. However, a growing network of peer educators, supported by Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), is changing this harsh reality.These young women are not just receiving health care services but are stepping up to become advocates within their communities. As peer educators, they distribute condoms, provide basic medical support, and encourage others to seek treatment, bridging the gap between traditional health care providers and vulnerable groups.Fighting for Safety and AccessMaida*, a sex worker in Mbare, describes the dangers she faces. "Sometimes a client refuses to pay after services. If you ask for your payment, they threaten or even beat you," she says. Beyond the physical risks, many sex workers struggle to access health care due to discrimination in medical facilities."You walk into a clinic with an STI, and before you even explain further, they start judging you," Maida adds. This stigma prevents many from seeking treatment, increasing their vulnerability to infections and diseases.Zira*, a mother of two and peer educator in MSF's Mbare project, recalls her own struggle. "I became pregnant without knowing because I was drunk while working on the streets. I didn't know about contraception," she says. Through the MSF program, she learned how to protect herself and gained access to contraception, STI treatment, and HIV prevention services. Determined to help others, she became a peer educator."Many young women don't know their rights or where to get help," Zira explains. "So I go to them - in bars, in the streets. I ask: Do you have condoms? Do you know where to get tested?"Building Trust Through ExperienceSamuel Sithole, MSF's health promotion manager, emphasizes the importance of peer educators in reaching those who avoid traditional health care. "Many young sex workers won't trust conventional providers, but they trust someone who has lived their experience," he says.This model has had a transformative impact. Zira recalls an adolescent girl who had been raped and unknowingly living with HIV. "She didn't know she was positive. Her parents didn't know either. I brought her to the clinic, and she got the help she needed," she says.Jaya*, another peer educator, highlights the program's impact. "Before, I only cared about money. I didn't think about my health," she admits. "But MSF empowered me - I no longer work in bars, and now I teach others about the importance of protection."However, she stresses the need for expanded services, including better access to condoms and lubricants to ensure safer practices.A Lifeline for Vulnerable WomenSince 2016, MSF has provided comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services to young people in Zimbabwe, working with the Ministry of Health and Child Care. Their integrated approach includes STI and HIV screening, family planning, mental health counseling, and psychosocial support.In 2024 alone, MSF conducted over 8,400 consultations in Mbare, many involving young sex workers. As calls grow for expanded services and economic support, peer educators remain at the heart of this fight - providing not just health care, but hope and empowerment for Zimbabwe's most vulnerable women.*Names changed to protect identities.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The son of the late Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Joel Biggie Matiza, has been dragged to court over allegations that he attempted to seize control of a US$1 million agro-forestry project to boost his political ambitions.Bastirai Joel Matiza is accused of forcefully taking over the Green Rebirth Trust Jiri raMambo project in Murehwa, where he had initially been appointed an ambassador. The project, which promotes biodiversity and environmental preservation, was registered by trustees led by Nadia Vingai Mabvirakure. The trustees have now filed an urgent chamber application at the Harare High Court seeking an interdict against Matiza, alleging that he has violated their rights to operate and benefit from the initiative.The trust has also cited Tichabaiwa Gwadu and Familia Muvhunwa as respondents in the case. According to court documents, the Green Rebirth Trust officially registered the Jiri raMambo project on October 11, 2023, to advance conservation efforts in the Murehwa district.Matiza allegedly became involved in August last year when he offered financial donations to the trust, claiming that his political aspirations aligned with the projects mission. The trust accepted his contribution, but the situation soon took a turn when Matiza allegedly used his position to take over operations by force.The trustees are now seeking legal intervention to regain control of the project, arguing that Matiza's actions have undermined their ability to continue their environmental work. The court is expected to hear the case and determine whether Matiza unlawfully seized control of the initiative.
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News / National

by Staff reporter

Bulawayo City Council is considering a major investment of up to US$1 million to drill a single deep well in the Matobo Aquifer as part of its strategy to address the city's persistent water shortages. The project, under the Bulawayo Groundwater Resources initiative, aims to secure a reliable alternative water supply for the drought-stricken city.The proposed well, estimated to be between 800 metres and 1.2 kilometres deep, is expected to yield as much water as ten shallow wells combined. If successful, it could provide a significant boost to the city's water supply, easing the burden on existing dams.Located in Matobo District, Matabeleland South, the aquifer is pressurised, allowing water to naturally rise to a certain level and flow by gravity from the bottom hole to the wellhead. This unique characteristic makes it a promising source for sustainable water extraction. The aquifer is naturally replenished by rainfall percolating through soil and rock layers, though rainfall in the region remains moderate to low.According to estimates from the local authority, the Matobo Aquifer could yield between 20 and 40 megalitres of water per day. Proposed boreholes could be drilled to depths ranging from 1 to 3 kilometres, significantly increasing groundwater accessibility for the city.A recent council agenda revealed that the Future Water Supplies and Water Action Committee has recommended the Finance and Development Committee approve the drilling of at least one deep well to assess the aquifer's potential yield."A single deep well (800m to 1.2 km in depth and over 1.5m width) could achieve a yield equivalent to 10 shallow wells. The water quality is also improved as the well taps from depths over 800m into the ground. Cost of siting, drilling and equipping each borehole was estimated between US$500,000 to US$1,000,000 depending on borehole depth," reads part of the report.The council has also stressed the importance of conducting a detailed hydrogeological assessment of the aquifers before moving forward with large-scale development. Such an assessment would incorporate expertise from geology, hydrology, chemistry, and environmental science, ensuring that groundwater resources are managed sustainably.Engagement with key stakeholders has been recommended to develop a comprehensive water management strategy that integrates both surface and groundwater resources.Bulawayo has been facing a worsening water crisis due to dwindling dam levels and rapid population growth over the past two decades. The city currently depends on six surface water sources - Insiza, Inyankuni, Lower Ncema, Upper Ncema, Umzingwane, and Mtshabezi - as well as one groundwater source. The combined total water yield stands at 181.5 megalitres per day, which is insufficient to meet rising demand.As the city continues to explore long-term solutions, the Matobo Aquifer project could prove to be a game-changer in securing Bulawayo's future water supply.
"Instead of crawling under our bed covers, we chose to organize. Thus, CURE the Champaign-Urbana Resistance Effort  was born. We are determined to resist any effort by the president or his people to undermine the Constitution. We are calling on everyone in our community to join in this peaceful endeavor," Joseph Pavia writes.
At the beginning of 2025, Anhui has showcased impressive foreign trade results. On March 10, reporters learned from Hefei Customs that in the first two months of this year, the total value of goods trade in Anhui Province reached 141.53 billion yuan, an increase of 14.8% year-on-year. Exports amounted to 96.1 billion yuan, up 18% year-on-year, while imports reached 45.43 billion yuan, an year-on-year 8.5% increase. The province's new industrial "engines" have accelerated foreign trade. In the same period, over 70% of the province's exports were electromechanical products, with "new trio" of products seeing nearly a doubling in export growth. Data shows that electromechanical product exports totaled 71.04 billion yuan, a year-on-year 22.8% increase, making up 73.9% of total exports. Notably, exports of automobiles (including chassis), automatic data processing equipment and components, and household appliances were 13.03 billion yuan, 8.63 billion yuan, and 6.67 billion yuan, reflecting year-on-year growth of 11.9%, 64.2%, and 13.1%, respectively. Meanwhile, exports of new trio products like electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and photovoltaic products totaled 13.19 billion yuan, soaring by 98.8% and accounting for 13.7% of total exports. Improved demand in the manufacturing sector has also driven growth in related product imports. In the first two months, imports of electromechanical products reached 16.86 billion yuan, an increase of 21%, representing 37.1% of total imports. Additionally, imports of metal ores and minerals stood at 16.04 billion yuan, a 4.8% increase, comprising 35.3%. Since the beginning of this year, Anhui's exports to Europe and the United States continue to grow. In the first two months, trade with the province's top four trading partnersthe EU, ASEAN, the U.S., and Japanreached 18.09 billion yuan, 16.66 billion yuan, 15.14 billion yuan, and 8.13 billion yuan, with year-on-year increases of 21.1%, 22.8%, 12.1%, and 37.2%, respectively. Moreover, the province is forging relationships with an increasing number of "new friends," enhancing trade with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, which brings new growth points for foreign trade. In the first two months of this year, trade with Belt and Road participating countries reached 76.05 billion yuan, an 11.7% increase, while trade with other RCEP member countries totaled 33.99 billion yuan, up 15.6%.

Source: Anhui Daily


Is there anyone in your neighborhood who speaks one of the more than 350 languages in our country? Why not learn just enough in several languages so that you can greet your neighbors Chinese father who walks their dog in front of your house every morning and so you can say thank you in the cashiers language at the corner store?
As measles vaccination rates drop and zero-dose children rise, a new study urges urgent action to prevent a resurgence of this deadly disease.

Study: Measles Vaccination Coverage and Anti-Measles Herd Immunity Levels in the World and WHO Regions Worsened from 2019 to 2023. Image Credit: Phichet Chaiyabin / Shutterstock

In a recent study published in the journal Vaccines, researcher Pedro Plans-Rubio at the College of Physicians of Barcelona assessed zero-, one-, and two-dose vaccination coverage across 2030 across all World Health Organization (WHO) regions. They compared data from WHO and the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) databases between 2019 and 2023 to evaluate if current immunization coverage is on track to meet Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) objectives.

Only 41.5% of WHO member countries currently have enough measles immunity to block virus transmission at an R0 of 15, far short of what's needed to fully protect communities.

Study findings revealed several alarming trends: 1. Global two-dose vaccination coverage in 2023 decreased by 3.7% compared with 2019 levels; 2. One-dose vaccination coverage improved by 7.8% globally, but most measles vaccination coverage indicators depict lower values than those from 2019; and 3. Current vaccination coverage is not on track to achieve IA2030 agreements. These findings highlight a need for policy and public health implementations to increase two-dose vaccination globally.

Additionally, the study found that zero-dose measles vaccination coverage  indicating children who received no doses  increased by 7.8% globally between 2019 and 2023, with a particularly concerning 24.9% rise in the African region. As of 2023, the number of zero-dose measles children was 40.6% higher than the level needed to remain on track for halving zero-dose children by 2030, a key IA2030 target.

Background

Measles, sometimes called rubeola, is a highly contagious airborne viral infection resulting in high fever, cough, red eyes, and rashes. It often afflicts children and was once lethal, though advances in clinical interventions have since diminished its severity.

Measles is an eradicable disease. Medical science has developed effective vaccines against the exclusively human-borne measles virus (genus Morbillivirus), which, alongside intensive epidemiological surveillance, can curb its infectivity and halt its transmission. In light of this, the 73rd World Health Assemblys Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) committed to eliminating the disease from at least five World Health Organization (WHO) regions (out of six total regions) by 2030.

To achieve this agenda and effectively immunize individuals, two doses of vaccination (measles-containing vaccine [MCV]) are required. The WHO has implemented the widespread dissemination of the measlesmumpsrubella (MMR) vaccine alongside education about its administration to children between the ages of 12 and 15 months (first dose) and again between 3 and 15 years (second dose).

High percentages of routine measles vaccination can generate both individual measles protection and sufficient population herd immunity to block measles transmission in the community.

Unfortunately, 2019 research aimed at tracking global progress toward IA2030 goals demonstrates that only 14.4% of countries had two-dose vaccination coverage  95%. Worryingly, the basic reproduction numbers (R0) of African and Eastern Mediterranean regions were found to be  10,  11 in Western Pacific regions, and  13 in European, American, and South-East Asia regions. These R0 values correspond to required population immunity levels ranging from 90% (for R0 = 10) to 95% (for R0 = 20), and R0 is a metric that denotes the number of clinical cases a single infection within a community can trigger.

About the study

European countries reached 92.5% two-dose coveragecloser to the 95% target than other regionsbut still fell short, highlighting uneven global progress.

The present study aims to update this information by assessing: 1. The 2023 global measles vaccination coverage in WHO member nations (zero-, one-, and two-dose coverage); 2. Comparing current variations in measles vaccination coverage to 2019 levels; and 3. Assessing whether measles vaccination indicators are on track to meet IA2030 goals.

Study data was obtained from the WHO and the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) databases (global and regional). This data is recorded annually in all WHO member nations across its six designated regions: Africa, the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific.

For estimating anti-measles herd immunity levels and similar measles vaccination indicators, this study assumed that one vaccination dose provided 92% immunity to individuals, while two doses imparted 95% immunity. Correspondingly, required immunity percentages were calculated based on R0 thresholds  for example, 93.3% population immunity is needed to block measles viruses with an R0 of 15.

tracks required from 2019 to 2030 to achieve a 50% reduction by 2030 were determined for three zero-dose measles coverage indicators: (1) estimated number of children who did not receive the first dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV1); (2) mean MCV1-based zero dose coverage; and (3) mean zero dose coverage determined from one and two doses of measles vaccine coverage.

All statistical analyses were carried out in Microsoft Excel.

The number of zero-dose measles children (who did not receive the MCV1 vaccine) is estimated from 2019 and 2023, and a number of zero-dose children required from 2019 to 2030 to achieve the IA 2030 objective (9.65 million).

Study findings

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted measles immunization programs, leading to a 24.9% increase in zero-dose children in Africa and delaying recovery efforts in low-income regions.

Analyses results revealed that, on average, only 85.2% and 77.1% of WHO region children had received one or two doses of MCV vaccine, respectively. This corresponds to a 3.7% reduction in two-dose vaccination coverage compared to 2019 and is significantly below the on-track estimates for meeting IA2030 targets. Notably, only the Western Pacific region met MCV two-dose requirements of 95.5%, while the European region reached 92.5% coverage and all other regions were below 95%.

Dose-specific findings revealed that global zero-dose coverage was 65.3%, one-dose at 27.8%, and two-dose at 6.9%, with Africas zero-dose rate at 21.1%  far higher than other regions (less than 3%). These rates are more than 31% lower than IA2030 requirements. The African region demonstrated the lowest one-dose coverage, with 48.1%, while the Western Pacific region had the highest coverage (93.2%). Only 17 WHO member nations (8.7%) were found to have two-dose vaccination coverage of 95% or above.

Regarding herd immunity, the study found that only 41.5% of countries achieved sufficient immunity to stop measles virus transmission with R0 values of 15 or lower, and no region achieved immunity sufficient to block viruses with R0  19 or 20. Only the Western Pacific region and some countries in the European region reached levels to prevent community-level outbreaks of highly contagious strains (R0  15).

Despite some regional variationsthe Western Pacific region has shown modest improvements since 2019most areas, especially Africa, showed deteriorations in vaccination coverage and herd immunity levels.

The study noted that these trends were compounded by disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly impacted routine immunization programs and delayed recovery efforts.

In addition, the paper highlighted limitations such as reliance on WHO/UNICEF data, which may underrepresent gaps in certain populations, and emphasized the need for serological surveys to assess real-world immunity.

Conclusions

One in five children in Africa has received no dose of the measles vaccine, making it the region with the highest proportion of zero-dose children and the greatest risk for future epidemics.

The present study highlights the decrease in the effectiveness of WHO-endorsed anti-measles vaccination programs in its six regions between 2019 and 2023 (-3.7% for two-dose coverage), with only one region (Western Pacific) depicting improvements from 2019 findings. While one-dose coverage increased by 7.8% globally, all metrics of measles vaccination coverage indicate that current efforts are not on track to meet IA2030 goals.

This underscores the need for policy improvements and enhanced vaccination dissemination programs aimed at both education and successful two-dose vaccine administration to help eradicate this childhood disease from the human population.

The study also calls for broader international cooperation and targeted efforts in regions like Africa to close immunization gaps and build sustainable herd immunity.
With soaring egg prices and ongoing bird flu headlines, many parents are uncertain about the risks and facts surrounding the virus, a national poll suggests.

Most parents say they don't know if there have been cases of bird flu in their state, and less than half feel that they are able to find accurate and current information about it, according to the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's health.

Many parents may hear about bird flu in the news but don't feel well-informed or know if they should be taking action to protect their families. This report highlights the challenge for parents to keep track of an emerging health situation and understand its potential threat to their child's health." Sarah Clark, M.P.H., Mott Poll Co-Director

Bird flu, or H5N1, which was reported in the U.S. in March 2024, is widespread in wild birds worldwide that transmit infection to poultry and dairy cows. H5N1 infections in humans have so far been limited to those who come in close contact with infected animals, including U.S. farmworkers.

While the current public health risk has been deemed low, with no evidence of transmission from human to human, the outbreak has increased public concern about the potential for broader transmission.

Previous outbreaks of H5N1, including one in 2003-2005, highlight this possibility.

Steps parents believe protect families from avian flu

While one in five parents say the media is making too big a deal about the virus, two in five wish the government was doing more to prevent an outbreak, according to the nationally representative report based on responses from 2,021 parents of children aged 18 and under.

Another one in three parents have taken action to protect their family against bird flu, the poll suggests, but not all strategies are evidence-based.

A little less than a quarter of parents say they're being more careful about general hygiene while 13% are more cautious handling eggs, chicken and beef. Another 12% are avoiding contact with birds and other wild animals while 7% are eating less eggs, chicken, and beef.

"Some parents indicated they have cut back on eating poultry products like eggs and chicken," Clark said. "However, as long as eggs and meat are fully cooked, there's no evidence that bird flu is spread through these products."

Among the 68% of parents who haven't taken preventive actions, their main reasons are that they already have good hygiene practices, don't know the recommendations or don't feel at risk.

Confidence in containing the virus

Nearly half of parents rate themselves as very concerned about the rising cost of eggs and meat associated with bird flu, and over a quarter are very concerned about bird flu spreading from animals to humans or humans to humans.

A third of parents, however, weren't confident in the government's ability to contain bird flu.

Less than 20% of parents expressed high confidence in the state or federal government's ability to remove infected animals or animal products from the food supply while 22% are very confident the government will be able to inform people about which products should be recalled or thrown away.

"There appears to be a gap in public confidence when it comes to the national response to bird flu," Clark said. "Misinformation and uncertainty can fuel anxiety, so it's critical that health officials communicate transparently about containment efforts and food safety to reassure families."

Keeping up with evolving information can be challenging with parents polled saying their main sources are news reports, followed by social media and internet searches. Fewer got information from family or friends, a government agency or healthcare providers

Reinforcing preventive health measures

Bird flu is an influenza A virus that produces a gastrointestinal infection, causing death from diarrhea and respiratory distress. The version currently circulating in the U.S., known as H5N1 2.3.4.4b, is highly lethal

Because H5N1 is very contagious, it's become standard practice to cull the entire flock or herd to prevent the spread once it's discovered in an animal. Millions of chickens have been culled as a preventive measure, contributing to the increased price of eggs.

While the risks of bird flu are greatest for individuals who work with farm animals and their families, Clark says, the situation presents an opportunity for parents to reinforce the principles of good hygiene with their children.

Children should be cautioned to avoid dead animals, she says, and try to avoid animal droppings, which can be hard to detect in yards or sandboxes.

"Parents should teach their child to keep their hands away from their face and remind them to wash their hands with soap and water after touching birds and other animals at a petting zoo or a neighbor's backyard chicken coop," Clark said.

Clark recommends that parents practice good hygiene with food, such as cooking eggs and meat to recommended temperatures, and choosing milk and other dairy products that are pasteurized to kill germs.
New research from University of Manchester experts suggests that introducing a UK-wide self-sampling program alongside existing smear tests could help to remove most of the current barriers to cervical screening.

In an article published by Policy@Manchester, Stephanie Gillibrand, Caroline Sanders, Emma Crosbie and Jennifer Davies argue that a national rollout of self-sampling methods including a novel urine test could also fulfil the promise of successive governments and aid in addressing health inequities for under-served groups.

The authors highlight that cervical cancer accounts for 2% of new cancer cases in women in the UK, affecting over 3,000 people each year, with those from more socioeconomically deprived areas particularly affected.

And they remind readers that cervical screening - commonly known as the smear test, carried out using a speculum - is key to detecting and treating the disease at preinvasive stages before the development of cervical cancer, when outcomes for patients are most positive.

But they add: While the incidence of cervical cancer in the UK has fallen since the 1990s, so too has screening coverage, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Against this background, the University of Manchester academics set out to explore the barriers to screening uptake and how the introduction of self-sampling methods - which have similar test accuracy to routine cervical screening - could help to overcome these barriers.

Working with 46 participants from across Greater Manchester, Gillibrand, Sanders, Crosbie and Davies  alongside colleagues from the University of Manchester  investigated attitudes to, and experiences of, current cervical screening.

Many participants described negative past experiences as barriers to attending future screening appointments, with pain and discomfort a common point raised by participants of all backgrounds, they write. Other participants, especially those from ethnic minority backgrounds and those with mental health conditions, highlighted a lack of empathy or feeling of being rushed by the healthcare professionals (HCPs) carrying out the screening.

They add: The speculum itself was a significant element of participants discomfort and often formed part of their reluctance to attend screening appointments.

The authors also make clear that not all experiences reported by participants were negative with examples of good practice referred to, particularly where HCPs helped them to feel comfortable and communicated well throughout the procedure.

From their research, Gillibrand, Sanders, Crosbie and Davies explain in the article that self-sampling alternatives to cervical screening - such as a vaginal swab or urine sampling - were welcomed by all participant groups, being seen as more accessible than the traditional speculum method, as well as less invasive and less stressful.

They write: These methods also increased feelings of control and autonomy. Being able to do screening in their own homes was highlighted as a key benefit, with participants generally seeing it as more practical and convenient. They add: The removal of the need for the speculum was particularly welcome among participants, and ultimately, participants felt that self-sampling methods gave patients a choice in which method was most suitable for them.

Concluding their piece, the University of Manchester academics describe cervical screening as an essential tool in the armoury to eliminate cervical cancer that ensures the best outcomes for the patients and lowering the cost to health services.

They continue: It is therefore vital that screening is made as accessible as possible, to ensure the greatest burden of disease does not fall on individuals and communities who already face additional barriers to accessing healthcare. A national rollout of self-sampling methods would help fulfil the promise of successive governments, and aid in addressing health inequities for under-served groups.

Cervical cancer prevention: ensuring equity throughout the screening process, by Stephanie Gillibrand, Caroline Sanders, Emma Crosbie and Jennifer Davies is available to read on the Policy@Manchester website
Researchers at UZH have studied the impact of pandemics on the birth rate in Switzerland for the first time. While the number of births unexpectedly rose initially during COVID-19, it fell significantly during previous pandemics in history.

Birth rates are currently declining in Switzerland, just like they are in other European countries. It is well established that the number of births is subject to medium-term fluctuations and also responds to pandemics or crises in the short term. However, there is less detailed research on the most recent trends - especially in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Researchers from the University of Zurich have now examined the monthly birth figures in Switzerland between 1871 and 2022 and placed them in their relevant historical context. They did this using the data that is collected on a regular basis by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO) and the statistics chronicling the natural population change (BEVNAT) from 1987 to 2022. The team compared the monthly recorded statistics with the figures that would have been expected based on the previous year. Besides the long-term trends, the researchers were also particularly interested in earlier and more recent pandemic periods.

Thirteen percent more births during the pandemic

The study shows that the birth rate in Switzerland has generally been declining since around 2018 and is approaching a historical low. But in 2021, which was the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an unexpected temporary double-digit increase in the number of births of around 13 percent. More babies were conceived in particular in the first year of the pandemic in 2020, during and shortly after the implementation of the lockdown measures. "Our analysis shows that during this period the increase in births was particularly pronounced among Swiss women and mothers over the age of 30," says lead author Katarina Matthes from the Institute of Evolutionary Medicine.



The authors state that the precise reasons for this brief baby boom have not yet been established. But there are strong indications that the time spent at home and a better work/life balance during the pandemic made people bring forward their plans to get pregnant. In an international comparison, only France displayed a similar trend - Germany, Austria and Italy, by contrast, did not see such a significant increase in the birth rate as Switzerland.

Decline in births from February 2022

But following this temporary rise, from February 2022 Switzerland saw a renewed return to the previous negative trend in the birth rate. This applied in particular to non-Swiss women and mothers under the age of 30. The researchers suspect that in the spring of 2021 young women were being cautious and decided they would rather wait to receive their COVID-19 vaccination before getting pregnant.



In addition, there could be other reasons for the persistent decline in the number of births: "We might be seeing shifting values within society, with young people wanting fewer or even no children at all," explains Matthes. People perceive their own future to be insecure as a result of economic worries, uncertainty or climate change, and this could help explain the increase in the number of people choosing not to have children. As part of a UZH PRC grant, lead author Kaspar Staub will pursue this question further in an interdisciplinary project together with researchers from the UZH.

Drop in birth rate during previous pandemics

From a long-term perspective, the team of researchers were surprised to find the fluctuations in the birth rate during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, especially compared to other pandemics in the past.

We were able to highlight the fact that the pattern in the birth rate during and after the pandemics from 1889-90, 1918-20 and in 1957, in which a large proportion of the Swiss population fell ill, was different to the one seen during and after the COVID-19 pandemic." Kaspar Staub, adjunct professor at the Institute of Evolutionary Medicine

For example, in the earlier pandemics, there was a drop in the birth rate of around 12 to 25% roughly six to nine months after the peak, but this did not last very long. The likely reasons for this are reduced fertility because of an infection and an increased rate of miscarriage. The authors surmise that the fact that the number of births did not decline in this way during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic is probably because the number of infections in the population at large was relatively low in 2020 thanks to the public-health measures that were taken to protect people.
Trump's Trade War: Swadeshi Jagran Manch's Call For Swadeshi And Bilateral Trade

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Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 15:53 IST

Donald Trump, as President, imposed higher tariffs to boost US manufacturing and address unemployment. Swadeshi Jagran Manch supports Bharat's move towards self-reliance.

US president Donald Trump

After taking over as President of USA, Donald Trump has launched a frontal attack on the global free trade system by announcing his intent to impose higher tariffs (on reciprocal basis) on imports from many countries around the world. It intention is to bring back manufacturing in USA so that issue of unemployment is addressed

If we go into history, it was US and its allies only who had pushed the world towards free trade, especially with the advent of World Trade Organisation, introducing rule based global trading system. However, it secured a distinct right to impose country specific tariffs, if it wishes to do so. In spite of extensive protest from Swadeshi Jagran Manch, the then Government in Bharat signed the WTO agreement on the dotted lines.

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Since 1990s, a belief has been gaining ground that the policy of liberalization, globalization and privatization is the only way forward for the world, especially developing countries though Swadeshi Jagran Manch was always against liberalisation and globalisation as was being presented.

The US, once the biggest supporter of free trade and a rule-based global trading system, has suddenly realised under Donald Trump that for decades it has bought more goods from the rest of the world, than it sold, due to which US has been facing huge trade deficit. In 2024, USAs had a huge trade deficit of 918.4 billion US dollars. Now Donald Trump wants to reverse this situation. But it is worthwhile to know the background of initial negotiations at WTO. The developed countries, including USA, in bargain with developing countries, allowed imposing higher tariffs on goods than developed countries for accepting new issues in GATT and signing agreements on TRIPS, TRIMS, agriculture and services.So it was a bargain at that time which America is now consciously ignoring. The WTO system greatly benefited the US and other developed countries, as it paved the way for a strong patent and other IPRs (Intellectual Property Rights) regime, which benefited their pharma and other companies, by way of royalties for their IPR, opened the doors of developing countries for investment by multinational companies and opened markets for US agricultural products in developing countries including India.

Donald Trump understood very well that Americas free trade policy is somehow responsible for slowdown in economy and increasing unemployment as it allowedcheap imports from China. To deal with this situation, Donald Trump is imposing reciprocal import duties on many countries including China, Canada, Mexico, Britain, South Korea and Bharat. Right from its inception, Swadeshi Jagran Manch, has been fighting against unequal WTO agreements, adversely impacting our public health, farmers, industry and the common man. While making it very clear that SJM is not against promoting international trade, we firmly believe that multilateral trade agreements are not good for the economy, as there is no point giving Most Favoured Nation treatment to all countries. Government of Bharat has also stated that bilateral arrangements are going to be the order of the day as Multilateralism is on its way out.

In the last five years, Bharat has decided to promote the manufacturing of all those goods in the country, in which it was dependent on other countries including China, through the policy of Atmanirbhar Bharat. This policy has also started giving dividend. Bharat will have to prepare its industries for global competition in a protective environment.

In view of a frontal attack of US on our exports, on an illegitimate argument that India imposes higher tariffs, and likely increase in tariffs by them, once again underlines the importance of Swadeshi.

National Council of Swadeshi Jagran Manch strongly suggests that Bharat should enhance its foreign trade with bilateral trade agreements rather than multilateral trade agreements. However, while entering into bilateral trade agreements with US and other countries, national interests should be protected, especially our farmers and small entrepreneurs.

In the past we have observed that in the last 10 years, government has been protecting the interests of farmers and their livelihood, while negotiating trade agreements, whether it was a regional trade and investment agreement, RCEP, from it withdrew, due to concerns of its adverse impact on dairy and agriculture. This policy needs to continue, so far as agriculture small industry is concerned, especially where livelihood of farmers and workers is involved.

SJM appreciates the Governments effort to enhance foreign trade in Indian Rupee however, efforts should also be to ensure foreign currency and payment system like SWIFT should are not allowed to be used as pressure tactics.

The whole world is passing through a syndrome of geo- economic fragmentation and the key to success in this scenario is the policy of Nation First" based on the philosophy of SJM.

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National Council of SJM also urges upon patriotic citizens of Bharat, that its time that wherever domestic produce, both agriculture and industrial, are available, we should use Bhartiya products only. They are also entered encouraged to use to use Ayush for their wellness to reduce reliance on reliance on patented medicines.

SJM also believes and advocates that encouraging entrepreneurship at the grass root level and village led development will be the right economic growth path for Bharat.

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First Published: March 11, 2025, 15:53 IST
DMK Protests In Parliament Over NEP, Three-Language Policy; Demands Apology From Dharmendra Pradhan

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Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 12:08 IST

DMK MPs staged a protest in Parliament against the NEP, the three-language policy, and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's remarks on Tamil Nadu.

DMK MPs stage protest in Parliament over NEP, three-language formula. (Image: PTI)

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MPs, led by Kanimozhi, staged a protest in Parliament on Tuesday against the National Education Policy (NEP), the three-language policy, and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhans recent remarks in Parliament. The DMK strongly opposes the NEP, particularly the three-language formula, alleging it is an attempt to impose Hindi on Tamil Nadu.

DMK MP Kanimozhi accused the Centre of jeopardising the future of Tamil Nadus students by linking central funds to the adoption of the NEP and three-language policy.

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The Union Government is withholding the funds meant for Tamil Nadu, insisting that we sign the three-language policy and implement NEP. This is destroying the future of our children. The Centre has no right to withhold these funds," Kanimozhi said.

She also demanded an apology from Dharmendra Pradhan for his alleged abusive" response to DMK MPs in Parliament.

He said we are dishonest and that the people of Tamil Nadu are uncivilised. This is undemocratic and unacceptable," she added.

Congress MP K Suresh also criticised the Centre over the NEP, claiming that the policy was implemented without proper consultation with state governments or academicians.

This is a serious issue. The Union Government introduced the NEP without the consent of state governments. Their real aim is to saffronise the education system. The DMK has always opposed the three-language policy, but the Centre disregarded their stand," Suresh said.

The controversy escalated after a heated exchange between Dharmendra Pradhan and the DMK MPs during Question Hour in Parliament on Monday. Pradhan reportedly called the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government dishonest" and accused them of ruining the future of Tamil Nadu students" by refusing to implement the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme.

He further remarked that the DMK was undemocratic and uncivilised" for creating language barriers and refusing to accept the NEP.

ALSO READ: Playing Politics: Annamalai After Stalin Hits Back At Dharmendra Pradhan In NEP Row

Reacting sharply to Pradhans statement, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin condemned the Union Ministers remarks, calling them an insult to the people of Tamil Nadu." In a post on X, Stalin said, Pradhans arrogant remarks are unacceptable. Disrespecting the people of Tamil Nadu shows his arrogance and lack of responsibility." Stalin also demanded an apology from Pradhan for his comments.

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Following the remarks, DMK MPs staged a walkout and protested in Parliament, resulting in the adjournment of the Lok Sabha session. They reiterated their demand for the Centre to retract the three-language policy and release the pending central funds to Tamil Nadu without conditions.

(With inputs from ANI)

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First Published: March 11, 2025, 12:07 IST
DU Admission 2025: UG Admission Bulletin Released, Check Admission Process And More

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Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 14:13 IST

Delhi University Admission 2025-26: Candidates must take CUET 2025 for subjects studied in Class XII or related subjects to apply.

DU Admission 2025: Delhi University releases UG admissions brochure for 2025-26. (Image/AFP)

DU UG Admission 2025: The University of Delhi (DU) has officially released the information brochure for undergraduate (UG) course admissions for the academic session 2025-26. As per the announcement, DU UG admissions for 2025 will be solely based on the scores obtained in the CUET (UG) 2025 exam. The university has clarified that Only the scores obtained in CUET (UG)  2025 will be considered for admissions to the academic year 2025-26."

DU UG Admission 2025: Key Admission Details

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CUET (UG) Scores: Admissions to all undergraduate programs at DU will be determined by CUET (UG) 2025 scores, with the exception of admissions to the School of Open Learning (SOL), Non-Collegiate Women Education Board (NCWEB), and foreign nationals.

Eligibility Criteria: Candidates must have passed the Class XII examination or its equivalent from a recognized board. Students who have completed their education abroad should ensure their qualification is recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).

Mandatory CUET Subjects: To be eligible for admission, candidates must appear in CUET (UG) 2025 for subjects they have studied in Class XII. If a subject studied in Class XII does not appear in the CUET syllabus, candidates are required to appear in a related subject (e.g., a candidate who studied Biochemistry must appear in Biology in CUET).

Program-Specific Eligibility: Admission will be based on the combination of Language/s, Domain-Specific Subjects, and/or General Aptitude Test (GAT) scores. Candidates should refer to the specific eligibility requirements for their chosen program to determine which subjects to appear in CUET.

Registration and Seat Allocation: All candidates, including those under supernumerary quotas, must register for CUET (UG) 2025 on the NTA portal (cuet.nta.nic.in). For seat allocation, candidates will need to apply through the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS-UG) 2025 on the DU admissions portal (admission.uod.ac.in).

Citizenship Requirement: Only Indian citizens or Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) are eligible to apply for regular undergraduate courses.

Program-Specific Eligibility and Subject Mapping: Candidates should check the program-specific eligibility criteria for the courses they wish to apply for and choose their CUET (UG) subjects accordingly. The university reserves the right to establish subject similarities based on at least 50% syllabus overlap.

DU UG Admission 2025 Information Bulletin

DU Admission 2025: Important Notes For Candidates

For DU admissions, only one mark sheet from a single recognized board will be considered for minimum eligibility.

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The universitys decision on subject mapping and eligibility is final and binding.

Candidates should keep checking the official DU admission website- admission.uod.ac.in for further updates related to seat allocation and admission processes.

First Published: March 11, 2025, 14:13 IST
Masi Magam 2025: Schools In This District To Remain Closed On March 12

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 09:55 IST

Masi Magam Festival 2025: Collector B Priyanka Pankajam announced that government offices and educational institutions in the district will remain closed on March 12, 2025

The festival involves processions of temple deities to water bodies for ceremonial baths, attracting thousands of devotees. (News18 Tamil)

The Collector of Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu has issued an order declaring a local holiday on March 12, 2025, due to the Masi Magam festival.

The Masi Magam festival, also known as Maasi Makam, is a significant event celebrated by Tamil Hindus over 10 days in Kumbakonam, Thanjavur district. In 2025, Masi Magam falls on Wednesday, March 12. The festival involves processions of temple deities to water bodies for ceremonial baths, attracting thousands of devotees.

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Significance

On the 12th day of Masi (Tamil month), the Masi Magam festival takes place, during which the sacred temple icons, known as Utsava Murthis, are ceremoniously carried to nearby rivers, ponds, or the sea for a ritual cleansing. This revered tradition attracts throngs of devotees who come to witness and participate in the sacred bathing. It is believed that immersing oneself in the water during this time washes away sins and bestows spiritual merit.

The festival takes place across 12 Shaiva temples and five Vaishnava temples.

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In light of this, Thanjavur District Collector B Priyanka Pankajam has announced that government offices and educational institutions in the district will remain closed on March 12, 2025.

To compensate for this holiday, Saturday, March 29, 2025, will be a working day.

Location : Thanjavur, India, India

First Published: March 11, 2025, 09:55 IST
Top Countries For Indian Students To Study MBBS Abroad In 2025

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 07:23 IST

Due to tough competition for limited medical seats and the high costs of private education in India, many MBBS students decide to study overseas in search of more accessible and cheaper options.

The UK is one of the top choices of Indian students to study MBBS abroad.

MBBS Abroad: The Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) is one of the most sought-after courses in India, with approximately 24 lakh student applications each year for admission across 706 medical colleges in the country. However, due to tough competition for limited medical seats and the high cost of private medical education in India, many MBBS aspirants opt to study overseas in search of more accessible and affordable options.

Choosing the best country to study MBBS abroad can be a challenging task, as it involves considering several crucial factors such as university rankings, tuition fees, environment, visa requirements, student-friendly locations, future career prospects, and more.

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If you are planning to pursue an MBBS degree abroad this year, were here to assist you. Below is a list of the best countries to study medicine abroad based on costs, quality of education, global recognition, and career opportunities. Take a look:

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom (UK) is one of the top choices for Indian students pursuing MBBS abroad, as several universities offer admissions to international students every year. The institutes here provide scholarships, high-quality education, excellent infrastructure, and promising job prospects.

To study MBBS in the UK, Indian students must achieve an IELTS score of 6.5 or above, with a minimum of 7.0 required for admission. Additionally, they must clear the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) or BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT), which assesses verbal, quantitative, and abstract reasoning, along with decision-making and situational judgment skills.

The cost of studying MBBS in the UK ranges from approximately Rs 21 lakh to Rs 50 lakh per year.

USA

The United States of America (USA) is another top destination offering quality medical education to international students. Notably, no individual is allowed to practise medicine in the USA without completing a postgraduate degree. To pursue a PG medical course in the USA, students must clear the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). The MBBS degree in the USA is known as Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO).

The cost of studying MBBS in the USA is approximately Rs 42 lakh per year.

Australia

Australia is also one of the most preferred countries for Indian students pursuing MBBS abroad. To secure admission, candidates must have completed their higher secondary education from a recognised board and must obtain an IELTS score of at least 7. Additionally, students are required to appear for medical entrance examinations such as UMAT, GAMSAT, or MCAT.

The estimated cost of studying MBBS in Australia ranges from Rs 30 lakh to Rs 44 lakh.

Canada

Canada remains a popular choice among Indian students for pursuing MBBS abroad. Admission requirements for MBBS in Canada vary from one institution to another. However, Indian students must qualify the NEET examination and appear for the MCAT entrance exam to secure admission.

The cost of studying MBBS in Canada is approximately Rs 50 lakh to Rs 60 lakh, offering world-class education.

France

France is another preferred destination for pursuing MBBS abroad. Indian students must achieve a good rank in the NEET entrance examination to secure admission. However, it is important to note that the number of seats for international students in France is considerably low, with only 8% of seats reserved for foreigners.

The annual tuition fee for MBBS in France ranges from approximately Rs 50 lakh to Rs 60 lakh.

Germany

Germany is regarded as one of the best countries for pursuing MBBS abroad, primarily because its medical courses are globally recognised by organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO). Indian students aiming to study MBBS in Germany must qualify the NEET examination and clear English proficiency tests such as TOEFL or IELTS.

The cost of studying MBBS in Germany is significantly lower compared to other countries, making it an affordable option for many students.

Russia

Russia has always been a popular choice for Indian students pursuing medical degrees due to its affordable fee structure and world-class education. To secure admission, students must have passed Class 12 with a minimum of 50% in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, along with a valid NEET score.

The cost of studying MBBS in Russia is relatively low, ranging from Rs 1.75 lakh to Rs 8 lakh per year.

Philippines

The Philippines has also emerged as a preferred destination for Indian students seeking affordable medical education. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, approximately 15,000 Indian students travelled to the Philippines for medical studies in 2022. The MBBS course here is known as the BS-MD programme, which consists of two stages  Bachelor of Surgery (BS) and Doctor of Medicine (MD).

The total cost of studying MBBS in the Philippines ranges from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 25 lakh.

Belgium

Belgium offers an excellent opportunity for medical students, given its high-quality education system, affordable living costs, and cultural diversity. Indian students must clear the IELTS examination to prove their English language proficiency for admission to medical colleges.

The tuition fee for studying MBBS in Belgium is relatively affordable, ranging from Rs 1.2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh per month.

ALSO READ: Top 5 Engineering Colleges In Kerala And Their Admission Criteira

Ukraine

Ukraine is also considered one of the most affordable destinations for pursuing MBBS abroad. Students are required to have a minimum of 50% in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology in Class 12 and must clear the NEET examination to secure admission.

The annual cost of studying MBBS in Ukraine ranges from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh, making it one of the most budget-friendly options.

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Some of the top Universities for MBBS abroad are Harvard University, University of Oxford, Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Cambridge, University of California etc.

Which of these countries are you looking forward to?

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 11, 2025, 07:23 IST
'EPIC' Fail? 13,03,065 In Bengal Have Copied Identities & Now Duplicate Voter Cards, Alleges BJP Before EC

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 23:31 IST

The BJP has submitted crucial data to drive home the point of voter duplication while seeking an "extensive review" of Bengal's electoral roll with the help of technology

If someone has the name X, age Y, and address Z on their voter ID card, it should be unique to that person. (Representational image: Shutterstock)

Even before the Trinamool Congress could make a move against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre, the West Bengal BJP was one step ahead. Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar last Friday announced that they would be visiting the Election Commission of India over the issue of bogus voters, surprising the TMC.

By the time the Trinamool delegation went in on Tuesday to the ECI, the BJP team, including Sukanta Majumdar, Bengal co-in-charge Amit Malviya, Rajya Sabha member Samik Bhattacharya, and others, had already submitted crucial data to drive home the point of voter duplication while seeking an extensive review" of Bengals electoral roll with the help of technology.

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According to the Bengal BJP, there are 13,03,065 voters having the same name or bearing the same relatives names and the same age in their respective districts (as of March 10, 2025). For instance, if someone has the name X, age Y, and address Z on their voter ID card, it should be unique to that person. However, 13,03,065 people have copied identities and voter cards.

The Bengal BJP says the issue is more nuanced than that. The duplicate voter ID card issue is of three variations. First, the voter card itself is a duplicate and is found in other states. The number of such cards in Bengal stands at 323, said the delegation in a report to the ECI. However, the second kind of duplicate Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC), which is found in the same state but the persons name is different, can be quantified at 857, said the report. But then came the big revelation in the third category, where the Bengal BJP claimed that the third type of EPIC IDs, which are duplicate but found in the same state and the persons name is the same, are roughly 7,235 in total. In laymans language, they have two voter ID cards. So, if one calculates, the duplicate saga amounts to a whopping 8,415 duplicate voter cards in the mix.

Earlier in the day, Sukanta Majumdar had a long telephone conversation with the leader of the opposition in the Bengal assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, to formulate a two-pronged strategy, say sources in the state BJP. At the heart of it was for the party to be seen as one unit, be in Bengal or New Delhi on this issue, and that there shall be no deviation.

It was decided how the BJP will counter TMCs electoral roll complaint with outside voter" allegations both in the EC and Parliament. While the two Bengal leaders decided to stick to statistics, it was decided to go ahead with the narrative that a large section" of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas are given fake voter ID cards, said sources in the state BJP.

In the second part of their strategy, Suvendu and Sukanta, in their long telephone call, decided that starting Wednesday, in both houses of Parliament, BJP MPs hailing from West Bengal will raise the issue of how Bangladeshis and Rohingyas are being infiltrated into India in a systematic way", said a source.

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The issue of duplicate or fake voter cards in West Bengal is serious. We have asked the Election Commission to go for an extensive review for detection. There is technology available in this day and age. The ECI should avail them. Thankfully, the ECI assured us that they will do their best," said Majumdar.

Interestingly, even as Majumdar was addressing the press outside the Election Commission, a TMC delegation was entering with complaints of its own about the voter list.

About the Author Anindya Banerjee Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep throat in ... Read More Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep throat in ... Read More

First Published: March 11, 2025, 20:04 IST
'No Confidence' Must Be Complemented With Constructive Confidence: Former CJI Ranjan Gogoi To One Nation One Election JPC

Reported By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: March 12, 2025, 01:34 IST

The former Chief Justice of India expressed confidence in the bill and said that it was constitutionally strong and sound

Sources also said that while speaking to the committee, Gogoi stated that this was in no way going to infringe the right of anybody to vote, which is guaranteed by the Indian Constitution. (Representational pic/PTI)

Former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi appeared before the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) formed to examine the bill for the One Nation One Election plan in Parliament on Tuesday. Gogoi participated in the discussion on the bill in the presence of various Members of Parliament, including those from the opposition. The deposition of Ranjan Gogoi went on for more than three hours. He initially made a presentation, expressing his views on the subject, and then also responded to questions that were asked by members in the meeting.

To begin with, the former CJI expressed confidence in the bill and said that it was constitutionally strong and sound. He also told the members that he was expressing his views according to the legality of the bill. Sources also said that while speaking to the committee, he stated that this was in no way going to infringe the right of anybody to vote, which is guaranteed by the Indian Constitution. In fact, adjusting of the timing, once in five years, thats the crucial step that the government will have to take. Such a step will only strengthen democracy because in such a matter once the election is done, the remaining period of the governments term can be focused on governance," he reportedly said.

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The sources also said that Gogoi told the committee that this would ensure the return to Indias original electoral system backed by modernisation of the current governance needs.

Gogoi also argued that this legislation would not result in any violation of the federal structure, as it is being deemed right now by some political parties. He also went on to say that this does not interfere with the basic structure. He is said to have argued that neither voting nor elections are a basic structure in a country.

Members of Parliament, especially those from the opposition, argued that in the present structure, the Election Commission has limited powers because it has to hold polls immediately after a government has fallen. It is also well defined that if there is a six-month or one-year term left for the existing government that has lost its confidence, then, in that case, Presidents rule or Governors rule can apply. However, under the new legislation, there is no definition of what term can result in an imposition of Governors/Presidents rule. The opposition MPs also asked if this would result in giving overarching powers to the Election Commission.

Some members also asked the committee to be provided with factual data of how the voting percentages would improve in case the legislation comes into effect and how the GDP would be in the positive or the negative, with numbers, since the government has been harping on the fact that there will be financial benefits to the country in case One Nation One Election is implemented.

Members also expressed concern about the future of any state or the country as a whole, should there be midterm polls. Gogoi is said to have suggested that in such a situation, not just a no-confidence motion but also a counter-confidence motion must be brought in to ensure the stability of a government.

In fact, adding to his suggestion, some members of the opposition also opined that in case a party loses confidence and therefore loses government, it should automatically ensure that the single largest party in the opposition should be handed over the reins to the government for continuity.

In its earlier meeting, the panel also saw former Chief Justice of India UU Lalit depose before it in a session, which lasted more than three hours.

An interaction with Justice Rajendra Menon, former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court and presently chairperson, Armed Forces Tribunal, also took place on Tuesday.

In fact, the panel led by PP Chaudhary was scheduled to inaugurate the official website for the legislation, which would provide an opportunity for citizens to give their suggestions and opinions on the bill. This website will allow people to express their opinions on the bill as a whole as well as comment and give their suggestions or criticism for every clause of the bill separately. The decision to come up with the website has been taken after it was seen what a huge response was received by the JPC for the Waqf Bill and how suggestions were received in lakhs. It was a bit of a nightmare for the Parliament staff to go through all the mail and physical communication received. Therefore, this website will not only invite suggestions online, but it is also understood that the use of artificial intelligence will play a role in analysing the content of the suggestions received. The proposal for launching the website on Tuesday was put on hold after some suggestions came in from members during the meeting; so it is likely that the site will go live in the next few days.

This JPC was announced during the last winter session of Parliament after the government said that it was keen on sending the bill for parliamentary scrutiny once its introduction happened in the Lok Sabha. Later, law minister Arjun Meghwal also read out the list of members who were part of the committee. Upon insistence by some opposition MPs, a day later, the number of members of the committee was increased to 39. Former minister and Lok Sabha lawmaker PP Chaudhary is the chairman of the panel. However, the Lok Sabha speaker added two members to the committee as special invitees.

Among the members of the committee from the opposition is Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The panel has a number of eminent lawyers who are also Members of Parliament like Manish Tewari, P Wilson, and Kalyan Banerjee. Other opposition MPs who are part of the panel include Supriya Sule from the NCP, Randeep Surjewala and Mukul Wasnik from the Congress, and Anil Desai from the Shiv Sena (UBT).

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On the ruling side, MPs in the committee include former union minister, Anurag Singh Thakur, Baijayant Panda, Bhartruhari Mahtab, Anil Baluni from the BJP, Shrikant Shinde from the Shiv Sena, and Harish Balayogi from the TDP, among others.

The term of the committee has been extended to the first day of the last week of the ongoing budget session of Parliament. However, enough indication has been given that the committee will definitely get an extension, given the volume of consultations needed before submitting the report. The second part of the ongoing budget session will go on till April 6.

First Published: March 12, 2025, 01:34 IST
Poll-Bound Bihar May Adopt Delhi, Maharashtra Models For Womens Welfare

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 09:40 IST

Sources told News18 that the process of identifying the scheme and drawing its financial contours was underway and the plan could be implemented from July this year

Women have been rallying behind the BJP-led NDA government across states, inlcuding Mhaarashtra and Delhi. (PTI)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), riding on the success of the recent elections in Maharashtra and Delhi, is now keen to bring welfare schemes for women in poll-bound Bihar to woo the critical vote bank.

Sources aware of the developments told News18: Currently, the process of identifying the scheme and its details, including financial planning and the name of the scheme, are under consideration."

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They added: There has to be effective financial planning for the same, and a budget must be set aside. It looks like the scheme will be implemented from July."

Women have been rallying behind the BJP-led NDA government across states. They proved to be instrumental in Maharashtra where the Ladki Bahin scheme  which saw 2.5 crore women as beneficiaries  turned out to be one of the major factors helping BJP sweep the state.

Women also helped BJP secure a victory for the first time in more than two-and-a-half decades in the national capital. Recently, the BJP government in Delhi give its approval to the welfare scheme promised in polls for women. Delhi also has Rekha Gupta as the chief minister  the fourth woman CM the national capital has seen.

In the last assembly elections, women played a vital role in helping NDA sweep Bihar. It is believed that two factors tilted the scale in chief minister Nitish Kumars favour.

One was the implementation of the liquor ban, especially in the rural belts of the state where spurious liquor was a menace. Two, the elections happened within months of the first wave of Covid-19 and the Centres scheme of providing free ration to the public was welcomed by voters. Many women acknowledge the fact that under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, despite the hardships of Covid-19, their families did not go hungry. Bihar sends a huge number of migrants across states who could benefit from the Union governments scheme.

The long queues of women at polling stations in 2020 was an indication of the way the wind was going to blow. It was for the first time after a long duration that women emerged as a silent vote bank.

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The saffron party has clarified that in the upcoming elections, incumbent chief minister Nitish Kumar will continue to be their face for Bihar. It is also learnt that soon, all the alliance partners will hit the ground running and seat-distribution talks will be held. Both the JDU and BJP will seek the lions share of seats in the alliance, which also has parties like the Lok Janshakti Party Ram Vilas faction led by Chirag Pawan, Jitan Ram Manjhi-led Hindustani Awam Morcha and Upendra Kushwahas Rashtriya Lok Samta Party.

As the build-up begins for the Bihar elections  slated to take place later this year  the NDA will once again stress to the voters the advantages of having a double-engine government. This years budget by the Centre has awarded many crucial developmental projects for the state and also honoured the long-pending demand of a board for the production of Makhana, a superfood grown in some parts of the state.

First Published: March 11, 2025, 09:40 IST
Can Electoral ID Numbers Be Duplicated? EPIC Voter Row In Parliament Explained

Curated By :

News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht



Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 15:59 IST

Mamata Banerjee has alleged fake Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers of voters from other states are being used in the West Bengal voters list to influence next years state assembly election

The Election Commission of India said all cases of duplicate EPIC numbers will be resolved within three months. (PTI File Photo)

The issue of multiple Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) with identical numbers has taken centre-stage in Parliament, with opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress, the Congress and the Biju Janata Dal alleging irregularities in electoral rolls and an immediate discussion on the matter.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has led the charge, prompting the Election Commission of India (ECI) to announce corrective measures within three months. Refuting the allegations, the poll body stressed that key demographic details remain distinct.

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What Is The EPIC Number?

Electors Photo Identification Card or the EPIC number is the 10-digit voter ID card number issued by the Election Commission of India to each elector above 18 years of age.

The Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 provides for EPIC to all electors to prevent any impersonation. Registered voters began to be issued EPICs by state governments from 1993 onwards.

An EPIC contains an electors name, age, residence and any particulars specified by the EC; a photograph of the elector; and the facsimile signature of the registration officer.

Poll authorities cross-check this unique identification against the data to ensure that the voter ID card given is genuine. The verification procedure protects against identity theft, impersonation, and other possible voting malpractices.

How To Find The EPIC Number?

As per the ECs Manual on Electoral Rolls, 2023, every EPIC is issued under a unique EPIC Number"  an alphanumeric series with three alphabetical codes followed by a seven-digit number. This number, provided by the EC, includes a Functional Unique Serial Number (FUSN) for each Assembly constituency.

Starting in 2017, the EPICs have been made using the ECs ERONET portal. The manual says EPICs can only be made online. A unique EPIC Number is allotted to every elector whenever EPIC is issued to an elector for the first time," the manual says. In case of a replacement EPIC, the number would remain the same as the original.

You will find your EPIC number at the top of your voter ID card. If you do not have your card with you, then here are the steps to find your EPIC number:

 First, you need to visit the official website of the National Voters Service Portal.

 Then fill in the necessary details, such as full name, fathers or husbands name, gender, and state.

 After filling in your information, click on the search button.

 You will find your EPIC number at the bottom of the screen.

Whats The Political Row Over EPIC Number?

On February 27, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee alleged that the ruling BJP at the Centre was with the blessings of Election Commission of India" trying to influence next years West Bengals assembly election by using fake Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers of voters from other states in the West Bengal voters list.

She alleged that the voters list in the recently concluded Maharashtra and Delhi assembly elections had been manipulated by the BJP in collusion with the ECI.

She further said that non-residents were being brought into West Bengal to cast their votes using duplicated EPIC numbers.

On March 10, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MPs walked out after notices from the Congress and other TMC MPs seeking a debate on the issue were rejected.

We accept your (Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla) remarks that the government does not make voter lists. But we demand a discussion on the issue. The voter lists are being questioned across the country. Questions have been raised by the opposition in one voice in every state, including Maharashtra," he said.

BJD floor leader Sasmit Patra told Deccan Herald that the EPIC row is the latest anomaly found with regard to the electoral process, and the party is clear about raising the issue vociferously in Parliament.

Patra also recalled that the BJD had approached the EC in December raising the questions about the conduct of Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha, claiming that people are baffled" by the discrepancies that have emerged, including the mismatch in votes polled and counted.

In Rajya Sabha, Opposition MPs demanded an immediate discussion on the EPIC issue but were disallowed, leading to a walkout. Leader of the House JP Nadda said the government is ready to discuss any issue.

What The ECI Said On The EPIC Row

According to ECI sources, the matter related to duplicate EPIC number is a legacy issue". Even in 2008-2013, duplicate EPIC numbers were issued to electors. During the annual SSR (Special Summary Revision in 2024), the ECI had been directing states to remove all discrepancies in EPIC.

It further clarified that 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".

It also listed out the detailed process of how voters lists are prepared and names added and deleted.

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It said it any person has any objection, he has the option to file the first appeal to the DM/District Collector/Executive Magistrate under section 24(a) of RP Act 1950. Even if the person is not satisfied with the decision of the first appellate authority, a second appeal to Chief Electoral Officer of the concerned State/UT under the same Act.

The ECI further said all cases of duplicate EPIC numbers will be resolved within three months by ensuring a unique EPIC number to the existing electors and for future electors as well.

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 11, 2025, 15:54 IST
Why Nepal Had A Hindu Monarchy, And Why Thousands Want The King Back? Explained

Curated By :

News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht



Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 11:28 IST

Analysts say peoples shift towards the monarchy in Nepal politics represents the deep dissatisfaction' against corrupt governments and a yearning to return to the past

An estimated 10,000 supporters of former King Gyanendra Shah blocked the main entrance to Kathmandus Tribhuvan International Airport as he arrived from a tour of western Nepal. (AP File Photo)

Nepals former king, King Gyanendra Shah, was welcomed by thousands of his supporters in capital Kathmandu on Sunday, amidst calls for the reinstatement of monarchy and Hinduism as a state religion.

An estimated 10,000 supporters of Gyanendra blocked the main entrance to Kathmandus Tribhuvan International Airport as he arrived from a tour of western Nepal.

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Reports suggest that members and workers of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) formed the crowd. The RPP, which was founded in 1990s, is now leading the call for restoring the monarchy.

The RPP, backed by allies in the monarchy, has 14 out of 275 seats in Nepals Parliament, up from a single seat in the previous election. The next Nepalese election is in 2027.

Let us understand Nepals current political situation, how Gyanendra Shah was ousted and why the country is seeing a churn for Hindu monarchy.

When Former King Gyanendra Shah Was Ousted

Gyanendra, 77, became king in 2002 after his elder brother Birendra Bir Bikram Shah and his family were massacred in the palace.

He ruled as the constitutional head of state without executive or political powers until 2005, when he seized absolute power, saying he was acting to defeat anti-monarchy Maoist rebels.

The king disbanded the government and parliament, jailed politicians and journalists and cut off communications, declaring a state of emergency and using the army to rule the country.

The moves triggered huge street protests, forcing Gyanendra to hand power to a multi-party government in 2006. The government signed a peace deal with the Maoists, ending a decade-long civil war that caused thousands of deaths.

In 2008, Gyanendra stepped down from the throne after parliament voted to abolish Nepals 240-year-old Hindu monarchy, transforming the country into a secular republic.

Since then, Nepal has seen 13 governments, and many people in the country have grown frustrated with the republic. They say it has failed to bring about political stability and blame governments for Nepals flagging economy and widespread corruption.

Why People Want Monarchy Back

Those who participated in the rally to welcome Gyanendra said they were hoping for a change in the political system to stop the country from further deteriorating.

We are here to give the king our full support and to rally behind him all the way to reinstating him in the royal throne," Thir Bahadur Bhandari, 72, told The Associated Press.

Analysts say this turn towards the monarchy" in Nepal politics represents the deep dissatisfaction against corrupt governments and a yearning to return to the past before the monarchy was abolished formally in 2008, following a peoples movement.

Will Gyanendra Shah Make A Comeback?

Despite being dethroned, Gyanendra did not leave the country. On February 18, on the eve of Nepals National Democracy Day, he gave a speech urging Nepalis to unite for the the defence, progress and prosperity of the country," issuing an appeal to the country to move towards a path of progress."

Politics that adopt a prohibitive approach does not strengthen democracy," he said, quoted by ThePrint. The arrogance, personal interests and dogmatism of the parties and the opposition cannot make democracy dynamic."

An editorial in The Kathmandu post had forewarned against eulogizing the monarchy. Many believe it would be an exaggeration to say most Nepalis want to restore the institution as the monarchists claim.

In a democracy, the best measure of the popularity of a political party or a political ideology is the support it gets at the ballot box," the editorial says, pointing out that the RPP is by no means a political heavyweight yet.

Former PM and chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal(CPN)-Unified Socialist Madhav Kumar Nepal had on March 7 ruled out any possibility of reinstatement of monarchy.

If former king Gyanendra did foolish things in the name of returning monarchy, it would be costly for him", warned CPN-Maoist chairman Prachanda, according to a PTI report.

The challenge to the monarch has been offset by the trouble within parliament, as the Maoists led by former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda have been protesting against the corruption of the current KP Oli government.

What Is Nepals Current Political Situation?

KP Oli  leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), or CPN (UML) is leading the countrys government for the fourth time since 2015. He replaced former Maoist guerrilla Lider Maximo" Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who was at the helm since 2009.

Oli and the Nepali Congress partys president Sher Bahadur Deuba, 78, will rotate in holding the prime ministers post until the next general election in 2027.

Recently, after the so-called support for Gyanendra Shah increase in the last few weeks, PM Oli challenged the former king to return to mainstream politics.

He doesnt mention about the constitution, nor about the law, nothing about Loktantra (democracy), nothing about the system, process what has happened to the country? This kind of activity would invite instability; chaotic activities," he said while addressing Sudurpaschim Province Assembly.

Nepal follows proportional representation (PR). The other electoral system is the first-past-the-post (FPTP), under which whoever wins more votes gets elected, to elect the Federal Parliament and Provincial Assemblies.

In Nepals 275-member House of Representatives, 165 members are elected under FPTP and the remaining 110 under the PR system. This mixed system makes it extremely difficult for a single party to win a majority, hence the last two elections since the promulgation of the Constitution in 2015 have resulted in hung parliaments, and multiple governments.

Experts believe the tendency to blame others for political instability stems from successive governments quest for power.

Nepal has not seen any government complete its full term ever since the restoration of democracy in 1990. However, its not for the lack of a majority for any party in the last three and a half decades. The 1991 and 1999 elections gave the mandate to one party or the other to form a majority government, but the parties failure led to the dissolution of the House on both occasions, as per The Hindu report.

Why Nepal Had A Hindu Monarchy

Unlike European monarchies, which were deeply connected to Christianity, Nepals monarchy is Hindu. The king of Nepal needs to be born into a Hindu family, and he needs to marry a Hindu woman. He also needs to have close relationships with Brahmin priests.

The king needed to honour major Hindu holidays. He surveyed the army on Shiva Ratri, and blessed government leaders during the Hindu festival of Vijaya Dasami. He received a blessing from his patron goddess Kumari, a young girl believed to be the manifestation of the Hindu goddess Taleju, during the festival of Indra Jatra, as per The Conversation.

For centuries, Nepal had been divided into principalities. In the 1760s, a minor local king conquered all his neighbours, relocated his capital to Kathmandu and set his dynasty. By 1800, the country was being governed in the kings name by regents and self-appointed prime ministers.

In 1950, King Tribhuvan Shah, who had been serving a purely ceremonial role since 1922, formed an alliance with a democracy movement in order to step into more direct political power. From King Tribhuvan onward, Nepals kings would actively lead the government.

Monarchy became much more centralised and consolidated under the rule of Tribhuvans son King Mahendra, who ruled the country from 1955 to 1972.

King Mahendra passed the throne to his eldest son, Birendra. But in June 2001, King Birendra was murdered in the palace, allegedly by his own son, along with his wife and children and half a dozen other members of the royal family.

In the tumultuous aftermath, Mahendras second son, Gyanendra Shah, succeeded the throne.

While Gyanendra Shah was taking the reins, an armed Maoist insurgency was threatening Nepal and while the multiparty Parliament bickered in the capital. Thus, Gyanendra declared a state of emergency and took direct control of the government in 2005.

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In spring 2006, people took to the streets to protest the monarchy, which brought Nepal to a standstill. King Gyanendra capitulated to the insurgency.

At the time, he was so unpopular that the interim government decided to dissolve the monarchy completely. They stripped Gyanendra of royal duties and religious activities. The country was declared a democracy and the royal palace was turned into a museum. King Gyanendra was moved out of the palace in June 2008.

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 11, 2025, 10:33 IST
Assam Government Allows Inter-Religious Land Transfers, But State Approval Mandatory

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 13:01 IST

Earlier, inter-religious land transfers were completely prohibited in Assam. However, the state has now decided to lift this blanket ban, aligning with the Constitutional framework of India, which allows such transactions between individuals regardless of religious identity

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has underscored the importance of balancing development with social cohesion. (PTI File)

In a policy shift, the Assam government has announced that land transfers between individuals of different religions can be carried out, but only with prior state approval. This move is aimed at preventing conflicts, maintaining communal harmony and ensuring transparency in property transactions across the state.

Earlier, inter-religious land transfers were completely prohibited in Assam. However, the state has now decided to lift this blanket ban, aligning with the Constitutional framework of India, which allows such transactions between individuals regardless of religious identity.

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However, the government has implemented a crucial safeguard: mandatory state approval for all inter-religious land transactions. This approval process will enable authorities to carefully scrutinise each transfer, ensuring that potential conflicts and illegal activities are avoided.

The change in policy comes amid growing concerns over land ownership and demographic changes, which have historically been sensitive issues in Assam. The government has emphasised that the new policy is part of a broader effort to maintain social stability while ensuring that land transactions are conducted fairly and transparently. By introducing a monitoring system, officials hope to prevent disturbances that may arise from land deals and ensure the integrity of the states land records.

To protect Assams communal harmony the government will scrutinise instances of inter religious land sale. pic.twitter.com/17Za8Dyhju Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) March 10, 2025

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has consistently underscored the importance of balancing development with social cohesion. Government officials have stated that the policy is not meant to restrict property rights but to safeguard communal peace and prevent the misuse of land transactions for divisive purposes. The policy aims to ensure that land dealings do not lead to tensions between religious communities or pose a threat to the states cultural harmony.

The process for obtaining state approval is expected to involve a thorough verification of the buyers and sellers identities, as well as the purpose of the transaction and its potential effects on the local community. The Assam government has assured that the approval process will be efficient and will not cause unnecessary delays in legitimate transactions. This initiative is expected to enhance the transparency of land dealings and help tackle issues like illegal land encroachment and fraud.

While the policy has been welcomed by some as a necessary measure to protect indigenous communities and prevent forced conversions of land, it has also attracted criticism. Detractors argue that the mandatory state approval requirement could lead to bureaucratic hurdles and delays in property transfers, affecting the rights of individuals. Some legal experts are also examining whether the policy could conflict with property rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution.

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As Assam moves forward with this new policy, the government has pledged to closely monitor its implementation and make adjustments as needed. Authorities are determined to ensure that the balance between property rights and social stability is maintained.

The success of this policy will depend on its ability to navigate the complexities of land ownership and demographic changes while promoting peace in the region. All eyes will be on its impact in the coming months to see whether it achieves the intended objectives without creating new challenges for landowners or the administration.

Location : Assam, India, India

First Published: March 11, 2025, 12:55 IST
Aurangzeb Remarks Case: Mumbai Court Grants Anticipatory Bail To SP MLA Abu Azmi

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 21:45 IST

While granting relief to Azmi, suspended from the Maharashtra legislative assembly till March 26, imposed a set of conditions and directed him to furnish a solvent surety bond of Rs 20,000.

SP MLA Abu Azmi | File Image

A Mumbai court on Tuesday granted anticipatory bail to Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi in a case filed against him for remarks praising Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

While granting relief to Azmi, suspended from the Maharashtra legislative assembly till March 26, imposed a set of conditions and directed him to furnish a solvent surety bond of Rs 20,000.

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A case was registered at south Mumbais Marine Drive police station last week against the MLA from the Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar constituency in the metropolis under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) over his remarks eulogising the medieval-era Mughal emperor.

Azmi, who is also the Samajwadi Partys Maharashtra unit president, had said that during Aurangzebs reign, Indias borders reached Afghanistan and Burma (Myanmar).

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"Our GDP accounted for 24 per cent (of world GDP) and India was called a golden sparrow ," claimed the opposition legislator.

Asked about the fight between Aurangzeb and Maratha king Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Azmi had termed it a political battle.

First Published: March 11, 2025, 21:45 IST
'Azad Kashmir' Graffiti On Jadavpur University Walls, Police File Case Against PDSF Members

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti



Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 10:02 IST

The graffiti, which also featured slogans like "Free Palestine," "Ladakh," "Manipur," "Hasdeo," "Joshimath," "Deocha Pachami (Birbhum)," comes amidst ongoing student protests at the university.

Graffiti drawn on Jadavpur University walls. (Image: News18)

Tensions continue to escalate at Jadavpur University as Kolkata Police filed a suo motu case against members of the Progressive Democratic Students Federation (PDSF) upon finding Azad Kashmir" graffiti on university walls. The case, registered under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), criminalises acts deemed threats to Indias sovereignty, unity, and integrity, including secessionist activities and armed rebellion. Section 61/2, pertaining to criminal conspiracy, has also been added to the FIR.

The graffiti, which also featured slogans like Free Palestine," Ladakh," Manipur," Hasdeo," Joshimath," Deocha Pachami (Birbhum)," comes amidst ongoing student protests at the university. The protests, ignited by an alleged incident on March 1 where West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu was confronted by students during a visit, centre around demands for student elections. The protests began after violence on March 1, when two students, including Indranuj, were injured after a car in Basus convoy allegedly brushed past them amid a scuffle. Basu was gheraoed by protesting students, and his car glass was broken.

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This latest FIR, bringing the total to eight in connection with the ongoing unrest, has significantly elevated the situations gravity, particularly due to the invocation of anti-state sections of the law. Authorities spoke to the police for over 45 minutes on cases against students, sources said, adding that the police have said that all angles be considered, but action will be taken as per the law.

The Calcutta High Court had last week directed the state government to file a comprehensive report on the incidents that happened during Basus visit to Jadavpur University on March 1. Earlier in 2014, an HC order had asked Jadavpur University to implement security measures. Sources say the administration may refer that to escalate security arrangement inside the University.

While Jadavpur University has a history of student activism, often characterised by Left-leaning ideologies, the recent graffiti incident has sparked serious concern, with sources indicating that the administration is prepared to take a firm stance against those responsible.

Despite ongoing exams, students continue to demand an apology and acknowledgement of the alleged incident from the Education Minister and the universitys interim VC, Bhaskar Gupta. While student representatives have engaged in discussions with JU authorities, who appealed for leniency from the police given the ongoing exams and the summons issued to various students, law enforcement maintains that it is obligated to fulfill its duties and those summoned must comply.

Although police presence within the university campus has been uncommon, the gravity of the situation, particularly the Azad Kashmir" graffiti, has prompted discussions about increasing security measures, with some within the administration suggesting a visible police presence within the university.

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While the PDSF, identified as a Leftist student organisation, faces allegations related to the graffiti, the Student Federation of India (SFI), another prominent student group, has condemned the act and distanced itself from any involvement, despite actively participating in the ongoing protests.

The situation has also drawn judicial scrutiny. A court case filed by Indranuj, seeking action against the Education Ministers driver, has raised concerns about security lapses on campus and prompted the court to demand a report from the government regarding police intelligence operations within Jadavpur University.

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 11, 2025, 09:58 IST
Bharat Hai Toh RSS General Secretary Calls For Decolonisation Of Minds In Bharat Vs India Debate

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 08:32 IST

Dattatreya Hosabales comments signal an intensified push by the RSS to popularise Bharat over India, a campaign that has gained traction in political and cultural discourse

Hosabale questioned why institutions like the Reserve Bank of India or the Constitution should still carry the English name. (News18)

Bharat should be called Bharat and not its anglicised name, RSS national general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale has said, reigniting the Bharat vs India debate.

Hosabale questioned why institutions like the Reserve Bank of India or the Constitution should still carry the English name when Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself referred to the country as the Republic of Bharat during the G20 dinner at Rashtrapati Bhavan last year.

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Hosabale asserted that Bharat is more than just a geographical entity or a constitutional framework; it embodies a profound philosophy and a spiritual legacy. Speaking at the launch of the book Vimarsh Bharat Ka, published by Suruchi Prakashan, at the Panchsheel Balak Inter College auditorium, Hosabale emphasised the need to embrace Bharats identity over India. The event was organised by Prerna Shodh Sansthan Nyas, an RSS-inspired organisation.

Desh ka naam Bharat hai, toh Bharat hi Bolo. India toh angrezi naam hai," he said, pointing out contradictions such as the Constitution of India and Reserve Bank of India still carrying the colonial" name.

From India to Bharat

Urging citizens to question this duality, referencing how the G20 dinner hosted by PM Modi at the Rashtrapati Bhavan mentioned the country as the Republic of Bharat in the invitation card.

Hosabale linked the issue to a broader need for decolonisation of mind, arguing that British rule left a deep imprint that still continues to shape Indian consciousness. He cited historical instances of cultural erasure, from the destruction of temples and gurukuls during the invasion by the Mughals to the imposition of English as a dominant language.

Mughals invaded Bharat, destroyed our temples, gurukuls, ancient culture, dominated us, but it did not make us feel inferior to the extent the British did. British rule made us feel that they were better than us. The idea of Engraziyat still persists. That is why the business of English medium schools flourishes here," he said, calling for a shift from colonial-era mindsets.

He also dismissed Left-liberal historical narratives as misleading, accusing them of portraying Bharats past rulers as oppressors. They want us to believe that all our kings were oppressors. They made that narrative, which was misleading."

Hosabale invoked VS Naipauls critiques of post-colonial societies, emphasising the need for an intellectual reset. A new wave must sweep across the nation, one that does not diminish others or demean other nations but reclaims our own identity," he said. Bharat will never stand for Dadagiri (one up-manship), or to destroy other countries. Bharat will always stand for global good. But, before that, we have to stay united and lead by example," he added.

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Hosabales comments signal an intensified push by the RSS to popularise Bharat over India, a campaign that has gained traction in political and cultural discourse.

News18 had earlier reported on government-initiated efforts to make Bharat appear on official documents more than before. Starting from G20 documents to naming new programmes and also naming the new penal code, the government used Bharat or Bhartiya in place of India or Indian. However, senior officers said there would not be any retrospective effect.

About the Author Madhuparna Das Madhuparna Das, Associate Editor (policy) at CNN News 18, has been in journalism for nearly 14 years. She has extensively been covering politics, policy, crime and internal security issues. She has covered Naxa... Read More Madhuparna Das, Associate Editor (policy) at CNN News 18, has been in journalism for nearly 14 years. She has extensively been covering politics, policy, crime and internal security issues. She has covered Naxa... Read More

First Published: March 11, 2025, 08:31 IST
BJP Leader, Who Took On Mulayam Singh Yadav In 2004 Bypoll, Dies In Suspected Lethal Injection Plot

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 08:13 IST

Gulfam Singh Yadav, 60, was sitting at his farm in Daftara village under Junawai police station limits when three bike-borne men approached him

BJP leader Gulfam Singh Yadav | File Image

A BJP leader was killed in Uttar Pradeshs Sambhal district on Monday after three unidentified assailants allegedly injected him with a poisonous substance, the police said.

Gulfam Singh Yadav, 60, was sitting at his farm in Daftara village under Junawai police station limits when three bike-borne men approached him and injected him with a substance before fleeing, said Gunnaur Circle Officer Deepak Tiwari.

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The three men arrived under the guise of meeting Yadav. They sat with him, inquired about his health, requested water, and drank it.

As Yadav lay down after serving them water, they seized the opportunity, and one of them injected poison into his stomach, according to a report.

The BJP leader screamed in pain as his health began to deteriorate. The locals reached the spot and rushed him to a nearby hospital. However, he died on the way.

Yadav was being taken to Aligarh for treatment but died on the way. So far, no formal complaint has been received from the victims family. A police team has been deployed to investigate the case," CO Tiwari added.

The post-mortem at Aligarh Medical College did not confirm the cause of death, leading officials to preserve Yadavs viscera (organs of his body) for further examination.

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SP Krishna Kumar Bishnoi, ASP Anukriti Sharma, and a police team arrived at the scene, where forensic experts gathered evidence, including an empty injection and a helmet.

Bishnoi stated that CCTV footage is being reviewed, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the suspects.

Location : Uttar Pradesh, India, India

First Published: March 11, 2025, 07:25 IST
As Americas trading partners joust over tariffs in a feud begun by President Donald Trump shortly after he took office, many Wisconsin farmers fear the repercussions on their livelihoods.

On Monday, state Sen. Brad Pfaff, D-Onalaska, was joined by several local farmers at Rodger and Carol Schombergs farm near Barre Mills to discuss the urgency of the situation, as Wisconsins farm season is just around the corner.

The people that continue to get up early every single day and make sure that all of us have the food and the fiber that we rely upon as a people and as a nation, theyre at risk, said Pfaff. It was very reckless to start talking about agriculture tariffs and what that would mean for the people in this region, people in this state, and the people in this country.

Last week, Trump implemented new tariffs on the nations primary trading partners, then backed off on some of them. The actions left the future of U.S. trade in question as 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico were placed on hold until April. The 20% tariffs on Chinese imports are still in place.

All three countries have promised retaliation, increasing tariffs on U.S. products, in response to Trumps demands.

Despite retaliation from the top trading partners of the U.S., Trump said farmers are going to have a field day after an adjustment period.

To our farmers, have a lot of fun, I love you too, said Trump during an address to Congress.

The potential impact has left many some farmers panicked.

Every time that (tariff) is mentioned, the prices for our products that were selling, our soybeans, those prices go down, said Doug Rebout, president of the Wisconsin Soybean Association. When that happens, its not just affecting us on our farm, but its also affecting our local communities.

Rebout said when farmers are having bad years, they are unable to update equipment and facilities or put money back into their local communities.

Our rural communities are weakened when our farmers are losing income and when they have to sell their property, possibly, and move on to some other form of income, said Melissa Mahon Stein, secretary of the Vernon-Crawford chapter of the Wisconsin Farmers Union. Weve seen that happening in the U.S. for years now, as there is an exodus of growers, and the tariffs will only exacerbate that if people are not able to maintain a living wage for themselves and their families.  These have much broader impacts and much more personal impacts than what you might think just looking at them on the surface.

As costs of materials and energy used in farming are expected to rise, the inability to make ends meet is a growing reality.

Were getting impacted by tariffs by having lower prices, and then the products that we buy, whether its our fertilizer or our steel for our bins and stuff like that, all those prices are going up because of tariffs, said Rebout. We know that there are issues with trade and everything, but from the farming economy, from the farming groups, we would just hope that theres another way around working on this, other than using tariffs.

Wisconsin exported $3.87 billion in agricultural and food products to 142 countries in 2023, according to Wisconsins Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Within the state economy, agriculture contributed $116 billion.

Pfaff says addressing the impending tariffs is a top priority.

Wisconsin farmers feed the world. In fact, the corn, soybeans and dairy products from our Wisconsin farmers are enjoyed by consumers all around the world, said Pfaff. Our family farmers should not have to face the burden of paying the price of losing their market share for the products that they work hard to grow.

Pfaff described the potential impact of tariffs as devastating.

Were seeing foreign competitors, such as soybean producers in Brazil, are ready to fill the gap if the American soybeans will not be available, said Pfaff. If tariffs are going to be placed on them, Brazil is ready to fill that gap  That can have a real detrimental effect, not just in the short-term, as far as the American farmer losing that market share, but in the long-term, as we may not get that market share back.

While Pfaff says he is working at the state level to mitigate the impact of tariffs on family farmers, he called on the states congressional delegation to listen and address the concerns of Wisconsin farmers.

I would have liked my member of Congress, and I would like our two U.S. senators, to be here and to be listening and to share their thoughts on how a policy that puts tariffs and retaliatory tariffs in place  how the farmers behind me are going to win on that policy, said Pfaff. I think its extremely important that, at the federal level, that we have a larger conversation on what we can do working together in order to try and share the same goal of rebuilding domestic manufacturing and rebuilding our economy in this country.
Bus Carrying BSF Personnel Falls Into Gorge In Manipur; Three Killed, Eight Injured

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 21:57 IST

A large number of BSF personnel have been posted in Manipur following the unrest in the region.

Three Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were killed when the bus they were travelling in fell into a gorge. (IMAGE: PTI)

At least the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were killed on Tuesday after their bus fell into a gorge in Senapati district in Manipur, according to broadcaster NDTV. A senior police officer said at least eight people were injured in the accident. The accident occurred in Changoubung village.

A large number of BSF soldiers have been posted in Manipur in the wake of the ongoing violence. The report said that the bodies of the deceased soldiers have been kept at the district hospital.

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Manipur governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla expressed deep sorrow and extended condolences to the families of those killed while wishing speedy recovery of those injured.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More

Location : Imphal, India, India

First Published: March 11, 2025, 21:55 IST
Centre Bans Awami Action Committee, J-K Ittihadul Muslimeen For 5 Years

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 18:55 IST

The Awami Action Committee (AAC), headed by Kashmir's influential cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM), led by Shia leader Masroor Abbas Ansari, were on Tuesday banned by the Centre for their alleged antinational activities, supporting terrorism and fuelling secessionist activities.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah (PTI Image)

The Awami Action Committee (AAC), headed by Kashmirs influential cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM), led by Shia leader Masroor Abbas Ansari, were on Tuesday banned by the Centre for their alleged anti-national activities, supporting terrorism and fuelling secessionist activities.

Farooq is the chairman of the separatist amalgam All Parties Hurriyat Conference and head cleric of Srinagars Jamia Masjid, Kashmirs grandest and most influential mosque, where he delivers sermons.

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Ansari is also a senior leader of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference and a Shia leader of Kashmir.

In a notification, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said the AAC is also indulging in unlawful activities that are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country.

Strongly condemn the ban on Awami Action Committee and declaring it an Unlawful Association." Formed by shaheed e Millat at the peak of holy relic (moi muqadas) agitation in 1964, it has unwaveringly stood by the people of J&K advocating their aspirations and rights through Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (@MirwaizKashmir) March 11, 2025

In a separate notification, the MHA said the JKIM is indulging in unlawful activities, which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country. Its members have remained involved in supporting terrorist activities and anti-India propaganda for fuelling secessionism in J-K, it said.

Considering all the facts available, the MHA declared both groups outlawed for five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, according to the notifications.

The home ministry said the leaders and members of AAC have been involved in mobilising funds for perpetrating unlawful activities, including supporting secessionist, separatist and terrorist activities in J-K.

It said the AAC and its members by their activities show sheer disrespect towards the constitutional authority and constitutional set up of the country and the outfit is involved in promoting and aiding the secession of J-K from India by involving in anti-national and subversive activities, and sowing seeds of disaffection amongst people.

The AAC is exhorting people to destabilise law and order, encouraging the use of arms to separate J-K from the Union of India and promoting hatred against the established government, it said.

The notification said and cited several cases and charge-sheets filed by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against the members of the AAC for their alleged involvement in unlawful activities.

The cases registered against AAC leaders like Umar Farooq, Mushtaq-ul-Islam, Nisar Ahmad Rather and Nisar Ahmad Bhat include shouting slogans against the integrity of India and delivering a speech stating that they would struggle till J-K is not separated from the Union of India, and for also pelting stones.

Another case against Umar Farooq was for supporting the hartal call given by Syed Ali Shah Geelani on August 3, 2011 and for instigating the general people and the youth of the valley for waging war against the sovereignty of India.

On the JKIM, the home ministry said the leaders and members of JKIM have been involved in mobilising funds for perpetrating unlawful activities, including supporting secessionist, separatist and terrorist activities in J-K.

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It said the JKIM and its members by their activities show sheer disrespect towards the constitutional authority and constitutional setup of the country and are involved in promoting and aiding the secession of J-K from India by indulging in anti-national and subversive activities, sowing seeds of discontent among the people and inciting people to destabilise law and order.

It is also encouraging the use of arms to cause secession of J-K from the Union of India and promoting hatred against the established government.

First Published: March 11, 2025, 18:55 IST
Delhi Police Crackdown On Illegal Migrants Continues: 5 Bangladeshi Nationals Arrested

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 13:45 IST

According to police, while two Bangladeshis were arrested from Sadar Bazar, the remaining were arrested from outer Delhi

Police personnel during a campaign to identify Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants residing without valid documentation, in New Delhi. (PTI File)

Intensifying its crackdown on foreigners staying illegally in the national capital, the Delhi Police on Monday arrested five Bangladeshi nationals. Senior officials said the formalities to deport these arrested persons will begin shortly.

According to police, while two Bangladeshis were arrested from Sadar Bazar, the remaining were arrested from outer Delhi. All of them were arrested after it was established that they had been living illegally in India and had also procured government documents, the officer added.

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The arrests followed an ongoing crackdown against illegal foreign residents in India, following orders from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Earlier, on March 8, the Delhi Police had conducted a verification drive against illegal immigrants at Jai Hindi Camp in the national capitals Vasant Kunj area, wherein the people were asked to show their identity proofs for verification.

A similar drive was conducted on March 6, in south Delhis Sangam Vihar area.

In January, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena had directed Delhi Police to launch a special mission to identify Bangladeshi immigrants living in the national capital.

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Earlier this year, in a major crackdown, the Delhi Police busted an organised gang that was helping illegal foreign residents, particularly Bangladeshis, procure government identities and stay in India illegally. At least 12 arrests were made in this case and several Bangladeshis were deported back to their country.

The case also brought the spotlight on gangs that facilitate illegal residents and provide them with all kinds of fake government identities to enjoy the facilities provided by the state. Some of them also had Indian voter identity cards, which raised suspicion of them also participating in the elections. Police said that a detailed investigation is going on.

About the Author Anvit Srivastava Anvit Srivastava, Principal Correspondent at CNN-News18, covers crime, security, policing and society in Delhi. His impactful ground reports have helped him make his mark among the select credited journalists i... Read More Anvit Srivastava, Principal Correspondent at CNN-News18, covers crime, security, policing and society in Delhi. His impactful ground reports have helped him make his mark among the select credited journalists i... Read More

First Published: March 11, 2025, 13:44 IST
ED Attaches Punjab Congress MLA's Chandigarh House In Drug Trafficking Money Laundering Probe

Last Updated: March 12, 2025, 00:02 IST

An order has been issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on March 8 to provisionally attach the property located in Sector 5 of Chandigarh

Punjab Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira. (File image via X/@SukhpalKhaira)

The Enforcement Directorate Tuesday said it has attached Punjab Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khairas house in Chandigarh worth Rs 3.82 crore as part of a probe into a drug trafficking-linked money laundering case against him and some others.

An order has been issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on March 8 to provisionally attach the property located in Sector 5 of Chandigarh, the federal agency said in a statement.

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The asset is worth Rs 3.82 crore, it said.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleged Khaira "acquired and utilised" the proceeds of the crime to the tune of Rs 3.82 crore "generated" from an international drug syndicate operated by his "close associate" Gurdev Singh and his overseas-based associates.

Reacting to the development, Khaira took to X to say, "Ive just learnt through media that ED has attached my Chandigarh residence about which I want to clarify that I have received no notice about this from ED or any other government source. Even if the news is correct I should have been notified instead of the news being released to the media." "This is nothing but pure character assassination apart from the known fact that the BJP is misusing the ED to witch-hunt opposition leaders across India, he added.

The 60-year-old politician won the assembly election in 2017 from the Bholath Assembly seat in Punjabs Kapurthala district on an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ticket.

He resigned from the primary membership of the Arvind Kejriwal-led party in January 2019 and floated his own outfit, the Punjab Ekta Party. He then rejoined the Congress and won the 2022 state polls from the Bholath seat.

The federal probe agency claimed, "In lieu of protection/passage provided for smuggling of narcotic drugs by Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Gurdev Singh provided cash payments of Rs 3.82 crore to Khaira and also funded his election campaigns out of the proceeds of crime derived from illegal drugs business." Khaira was arrested by the ED as part of his investigation in November 2011 and a chargesheet was filed against him and Gurdev Singh before a special PMLA court in Mohali in January 2022. The court framed charges in the case in October 2023.

According to the ED, Gurdev Singh served as the chairman of the market Committee in Kapurthala districts Dhilwan.

Between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2020, Khaira and his family members spent Rs 6.61 crore apart from an "unaccounted" expenditure of Rs 3.82 crore which was "more than" their known sources of income, the agency said.

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This was found after the ED seized "handwritten" notebooks during searches conducted in the case in March 2021.

The money laundering case stems from a Punjab Police FIR filed against Gurdev Singh and others. A local court in Punjab had convicted Singh and eight others on drug trafficking charges in 2017, according to the ED.

First Published: March 12, 2025, 00:00 IST
From Gavels To Gigabytes: Justice Gavai Bats For India-Kenya Judicial Synergy To Tackle Challenges Of Digital Age

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 08:45 IST

Justice BR Gavai and Justice Surya Kant are in Kenya for a week-long engagement between the two Supreme Courts. The visit, which began on March 7, is slated to conclude on March 15.

Supreme Court of India judge Justice BR Gavai. (File Image: PTI)

With South Asian voices roaring in global corridors, Supreme Court Judge Justice BR Gavai batted for strengthened India-Kenyan judicial ties to address common challenges in justice delivery. At a time when the voices of the Global South are gaining prominence, it is imperative for our judiciaries to work together to address common challenges and share best practices," said Justice BR Gavai while addressing the Supreme Court of Kenya.

He added that the engagement would allow the two nations to learn from each others experiences in ensuring access to justice, safeguarding fundamental rights, and enhancing judicial administration.

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Addressing the accelerating trend of technological advancements in judiciary, Justice Gavai highlighted that the integration of technology in the judiciary is not merely about modernisation. It is a fundamental step toward ensuring that justice is delivered swiftly, equitably, and in a manner that is accessible to all citizens," he said.

He further added that as technology continues to evolve, new legal and constitutional questions are emerging, particularly concerning online content regulation, free speech, and hate speech on digital platforms.

Courts are increasingly being called upon to balance freedom of expression with the need to curb misinformation and online harassment. The judiciarys role in interpreting and defining the limits of digital rights, intermediary liability, and governmental regulation of online platforms remains crucial in both India and Kenya," the Indian Supreme Court judge emphasised.

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Justice BR Gavai and Justice Surya Kant are in Kenya for a week-long engagement between the two Supreme Courts. The visit, which began on March 7, is slated to conclude on March 15.

The visit marks an important foundation to initiate vital dialogue and facilitate the mutual exchange of judicial insights and practices. The two judges would not only be meeting their counterparts but also would get a tour of the Supreme Court facilities, and visits to the Kenya Judicial Academy and the Court of Appeal.

About the Author Ananya Bhatnagar Ananya Bhatnagar, Correspondent at CNN-News18, reports on various legal issues and cases in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. He has covered the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, JNU violence, De... Read More Ananya Bhatnagar, Correspondent at CNN-News18, reports on various legal issues and cases in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. He has covered the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, JNU violence, De... Read More

First Published: March 11, 2025, 08:45 IST
Gold Smuggling Surge, Digital Assets' Analysis Brought Actor Ranya Rao Under Scanner After Confidants Tip-Off

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 11:40 IST

Sources revealed that the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, along with other financial intelligence agencies, had been monitoring two significant trends in gold smuggling, including the rise in smuggling through air routes

Actress Ranya Rao was arrested for allegedly smuggling gold from Dubai. (Photo: X,Representative)

A tip-off from a confidant of Ranya Rao who worked as an informer, along with a digital analysis of her assets and movements, brought the Kannada actor under the scrutiny of financial intelligence agencies.

According to a top-level government official familiar with the case, the investigation is a prime example of both domestic and international coordination, an extensive intelligence network, and successful digital tracking of an individual.

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Sources revealed that the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), along with other financial intelligence agencies, had been monitoring two significant trends in gold smuggling, including the rise in smuggling through air routes.

ALSO READ | Will Ranya Rao Face Prison In Gold Smuggling Case Or Get Away With Fine? What The Law Says

It was observed that south Indian airports reported more gold seizures than their north Indian counterparts. Intelligence networks were instructed to gather actionable tip-offs that could lead to operations. In December last year, a team got a tip-off that a high-profile network is working to smuggle gold.

Working on the lead, officials got to know that Ranya Rao has planned trips to Middle East. Upon analysis of her financial assets and information, it was found that she had made multiple trips to the Middle East between the second week of February and March. A tip-off from an informer, who was also known to Rao, suggested that she was about to receive a large quantity of gold," a senior government official told News18 on the condition of anonymity.

The official added that with assistance from foreign authorities, Indian officials confirmed that Rao was carrying gold. When she landed at Bengaluru airport, she was caught with 14.8kg gold concealed in her clothing. The initial investigation revealed that this was not her first instance of smuggling gold into India which is now a matter of investigation," the official said.

According to sources, DRI has been actively working to curb gold smuggling through air routes, which has seen a resurgence after the pandemic.

As per DRI data, gold seizures through air routes increased by approximately 24.14 per cent from 2022-2023 to 2023-2024.

ALSO READ | Betrayed, Framed, Jailed: Revisiting Bollywood Actors UAE Ordeal Amid Ranya Rao Gold Smuggling Row

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DRI data further indicates that in the 2023-2024 report, land routes accounted for 55 per cent of gold seizures, air routes for 36 per cent, and sea routes for 9 per cent. Comparatively, in the 2022-2023 report, land routes were responsible for 52 per cent of the seizures, air routes for 29 per cent, sea routes for 7 per cent, while 12 per cent of cases involved unknown sources. This data suggests an increase in gold smuggling through air and sea routes in the most recent year, although land routes remain the dominant channel.

The official also noted that several high-profile individuals are under scrutiny as smuggling tactics continue to evolve. Methods such as concealing gold within machinery or embedding it in household goods indicates that smugglers are adapting to stricter enforcement measures. In such cases, the carrier tries to influence law enforcement officials, making smuggling easy. Officials are not taking it as an isolated case and expect that a full network is working.

About the Author Ankur Sharma With over 15 years of journalistic experience, Ankur Sharma, Associate Editor, specializes in internal security and is tasked with providing comprehensive coverage from the Ministry of Home Affairs, paramilitar... Read More With over 15 years of journalistic experience, Ankur Sharma, Associate Editor, specializes in internal security and is tasked with providing comprehensive coverage from the Ministry of Home Affairs, paramilitar... Read More

First Published: March 11, 2025, 11:32 IST
Govt To Build Road Through Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary To Connect 2 Army Border Posts On LoC | Exclusive

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 09:22 IST

The first-ever road --- to be built at a cost of Rs 288 crore --- will go from Cheema to Leech Nallah in Baramullah, and further connect to the Gurdaligali Post and the Sarson Post of the Army

A BRO document said the road will enhance the mobility of troops, equipment and vehicles to forward posts along LoC. (PTI)

In a challenging project in difficult mountainous terrain, the government will construct a new 44-km road through the Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) to provide connectivity to two remote border posts on the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has started the process to execute the project at the cost of nearly Rs 288 crore within the next three years. The first-ever road will go from Cheema to Leech Nallah in Baramullah, and further connect to the Gurdaligali Post and the Sarson Post of the Army.

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The Ministry of Defence has been focusing on the development of national highways in the northern region. It has started accelerated Road Development Program for connecting remote locations in border areas which are strategically important," says a document with CNN-News18.

The project road is located in an important strategic axis and will pass through steep, dense snow and 100 per cent mountainous terrain. There is no existing road from Cheema to Leechi Nalah and to Gurdaligali Post and Sarson Post. The condition of the existing pavement (Class 5 track) which connects these army posts is poor and is not suitable for movement of army vehicles due to steep gradients," the document says. There is no population located in the project stretch and the new road will make it possible to easily provide logistic support to the troops deployed at these border posts.

Also, as a large number of troops are deployed at various posts along the road and other various border posts situated in the nearby vicinity, a proper all-weather road with paved shoulder will be able to provide reliable road communication for logistics support to various posts located on the alignment.

Development of this axis will enhance the mobility of troops, equipment and vehicles to forward posts along LoC. The development of road will increase safety, improve road geometrics, reduce travel time, and lower the cost of vehicle use. The proposed road is of strategic importance which shall connect forward posts along LoC," the BRO document says.

Access Needed From Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary

There is no possibility of alternate alignment for the project road and hence, the clearance of the wildlife sanctuary area is the only choice to construct the road. Most of the road will pass through the Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary which covers an area of approximately 180 square kilometres.

The sanctuary, established in 1987, is renowned for its diverse flora and fauna, including species such as the Himalayan brown bear, musk deer, and a variety of bird species. The elevation within the sanctuary ranges from 2,400 to 4,300 meters, encompassing a variety of habitats from dense forests to alpine meadows, and is located 50 km from Srinagar.

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The Himalayan brown bear is one of the flagship species of the Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary. It is an endangered species that roams the alpine meadows and forests of the sanctuary, foraging for berries, roots, and small mammals. The bear is a solitary and nocturnal animal. The Hangul, also known as the Kashmir stag, is the only species of red deer found in India and is critically endangered. It is mainly found in the dense forests and grasslands of the sanctuary. The Hangul is an iconic species and a focus of conservation efforts. The Musk deer, meanwhile, is a small, elusive mammal found in the forested areas of the core zone. It is critically endangered and has a highly restricted range in the region.

The snow leopard is an apex predator of the high-altitude ecosystems in the sanctuary, primarily found in the more remote and rugged areas. This elusive big cat is adapted to cold, mountainous environments and preys on smaller mammals like marmots, hares, and mountain goats.

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

Location : Jammu and Kashmir, India, India

First Published: March 11, 2025, 09:02 IST
Hyderabad Couple Kills Two Children, Then Hang Themselves Amid Financial Crisis: 'Forgive Me...'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 15:21 IST

The police recovered a note, written by the man, at the scene, revealing that he was struggling with financial difficulties and health issues.

Chandrasekhar Reddy and Kavitha | Image/CNN-News18

A couple killed their two children before ending their lives at Habsiguda in Hyderabad, the police said on Tuesday, adding that the couple was struggling with financial difficulties, which became the key reason that led to their extreme step.

The local police found the bodies of the couple, identified as Chandrasekhar Reddy and Kavitha, in separate rooms, while their children were found dead on the bed.

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Initial probe revealed that the man, first strangled their children to death, before hanging themselves, according to Osmania University police stations inspector N Rajender.

The incident happened at around 9:30 pm at their residence at Ravindranagar Colony in the Habsiguda area. We rushed to the spot after getting a call from neighbours and began an investigation," he added.

Suicide Note Recovered

The police recovered a note, written by the man, at the scene, revealing that he was struggling with financial difficulties and health issues.

No one is responsible for my death. Please forgive me for taking my own life as I had no other way. I have been facing career, physical, and mental problems. I am suffering from diabetes, nerve issues, and kidney-related ailments," Chandrasekhar wrote.

The bodies of the family members have been taken to the Gandhi Hospital for post-mortem, said officials, adding that an investigation into the matter is underway.

According to the police officer, the family hailed from Mukuralla village in Kalwakurthy block, Mahabubnagar district, and had relocated to Habsiguda a year ago.

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The man, who had earlier worked as a lecturer at a private college, had been unemployed for the past six months.

DISCLAIMER: If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata)

First Published: March 11, 2025, 11:45 IST
India Considering Mending Ties With Canada After Mark Carney Wins Race To Replace Trudeau

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Vani Mehrotra



Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 12:38 IST

More than a year after ties between India and Canada strained, New Delhi is considering mending the same, after Mark Carney's election as Liberal Party leader, succeeding Justin Trudeau as PM.

Flags of India and Canada (Getty Image)

India is considering mending its relations with Canada, hours after Mark Carney was elected the new leader of the countrys ruling Liberal Party and the successor to Justin Trudeau.

The fresh development comes amid reports of Canadas intelligence chief, Daniel Rogers likely visit to India in mid-March to attend an annual intelligence gathering.

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This would be the first meeting between the two sides ever since the authorities of both nations met in Singapore for discussions over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Addressing reporters, Carney had said Canada was looking to diversify" its trade relationships with like-minded nations in the wake of its ongoing trade war with the United States.

There are opportunities to rebuild relationships with India, there needs to be a shared sense of values around commercial relationships and if I am the Prime Minister, I look forward to the opportunity to build that," Carney said last Tuesday in Calgary before being elected as the leader of the governing Liberal Party.

India-Canada ties saw tensions after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in September 2023 in the House of Commons claimed there were credible allegations" of a potential link between Indian agents and the killing of Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia.

New Delhi, however, consistently denied the allegations, with the Ministry of External Affairs saying Canada has presented us no evidence" in support of the serious allegations Ottawa chose to level against India and Indian diplomats.

As the controversy snowballed, both countries, in a tit-for-tat move, recalled their diplomats.

ALSO READ | Justin Trudeau In Tears At His Farewell Speech, Says Canada Faces Existential Challenge From US

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India also temporarily suspended the issuance of visas to Canadian citizens. The visa services were resumed several weeks later.

India has been maintaining that the main issue between the two countries is that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity.

About the Author Siddhant Mishra Siddhant Mishra is a Senior Special Correspondent at CNN-News18, covering foreign affairs and international relations. With over 12 years of experience in journalism, he has also reported extensively on crime, ... Read More Siddhant Mishra is a Senior Special Correspondent at CNN-News18, covering foreign affairs and international relations. With over 12 years of experience in journalism, he has also reported extensively on crime, ... Read More

First Published: March 11, 2025, 12:15 IST
'Both Nations Plan To Negotiate Mutually': Govt's Response To Tariff Question Amid Trump's Tirade

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 14:45 IST

India and the US are negotiating a Bilateral Trade Agreement to enhance market access and reduce trade barriers, with no reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US, the Parliament was told.

PM Narendra Modi with US President Donald Trump (Photo: AP)

India continues to engage with the United States, and both countries plan to negotiate to achieve enhancement and broadening of bilateral trade ties in a mutually beneficial and fair manner, the Parliament was informed on Tuesday.

In a written response to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada said that as on date, reciprocal tariffs have not been imposed by the US on India.

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This comes days after US President Donald Trump claimed that India had agreed to lower its import duties against the US because he had exposed" the country.

Both countries plan to negotiate a mutually beneficial, multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement. Both countries would focus on increasing market access, reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers, and enhancing supply chain integration," Prasada said.

This is an ongoing exercise and Indian exporters are working towards diversifying trade baskets and export destinations," he said.

In a separate reply, the minister said Indias tariff policy aims to regulate trade, protect domestic industries, and generate revenue through taxes on imported and exported goods.

Recent reforms have focused on streamlining the tariff structure and facilitating trade," Prasada said.

With the changing trade scenario, India is moving towards having Preferential/Free Trade Agreements wherein customs tariffs and non-tariff barriers are reduced or eliminated on substantial trade between the PTA/FTA members," he added.

A day earlier, on Monday, Sunil Barthwal, Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Department of Commerce) briefed the department, Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs on the Current Developments in Indias Foreign Trade and Policy, where he said to have told the panel that the US has not officially imposed any tariffs on India, unlike Mexico, Canada and China.

He also said India is still negotiating with the United States and has not made any commitments so far.

(Tariffs are import duties imposed and collected by the government and paid by companies to bring foreign goods into the country.)

During Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Washington last month, India and the US announced their commitment to more than double the two-way commerce to USD 500 billion by 2030 and negotiate the first tranche of a mutually beneficial, multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by fall of 2025.

In 2023, the US-India bilateral trade in goods and services stood at USD 190.08 billion (USD 123.89 billion in goods and USD 66.19 billion in services trade).

That year, Indias merchandise exports to the US stood at USD 83.77 billion, while imports were USD 40.12 billion, leaving a trade gap of USD 43.65 billion in favour of India.

During 2021-24, America was Indias largest trading partner. The US is one of the few countries with which India has a trade surplus.

In 2023-24, India has exported engineering goods worth USD 17.62 billion. The other major goods included electronics (USD 10 billion), gems and jewellery (USD 9.9 billion), petroleum products (USD 5.83 billion), textiles (USD 4.7 billion), and marine products (USD 2.5 billion).

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India is a member of the WTO (World Trade Organization) and bound to its maximum tariff that can be applied on a product category. The applied tariffs are generally below the bound tariff for a given commodity line.

At present, India is a member of 13 FTAs and 9 PTAs apart from the negotiations with the EU, the UK, and Oman.

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: March 11, 2025, 14:15 IST
Today we're discussing the Peace Train trip with Elizabeth May to the United Nations to attend meetings for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Peace Train

Yusuf Islam - Cat Stevens Greatest Hits 40 People on a Peace Train

Chris White - Last Night I had the Strangest Dream

John Denver -
Kerala Lottery Results LIVE: Sthree Sakthi SS-458 Winners For March 11, 2025 Soon; First Prize Rs 75 Lakh!

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 09:48 IST

Kerala Lottery Result Guessing Numbers: Check the Live Updates and full list of winning numbers for Sthree Sakthi SS-458 lucky draw for Tuesday, March 11, 2025 here from 3 pm.

Kerala Lottery Sthree Sakthi SS-458 Results: The first prize winner of Sthree Sakthi SS-458 will get Rs 75 lakh. (Image: Shutterstock)

KERALA LOTTERY STHREE SAKTHI SS-458 RESULT ON TUESDAY, 11.3.2025, LIVE UPDATES: The Kerala State Lottery Department will release the Sthree Sakthi SS-458 lottery results on Tuesday, March 11. The lottery draw in Thiruvananthapuram is scheduled for 3 PM at Gorky Bhavan, which is near the bakery junction. Rs 75 lakh would be given to the first prize winner. The second place winner would get Rs 10 lakh and the third-place finisher would get Rs 5,000. An impartial panel of judges will oversee the entire lottery process to guarantee fairness. Check the Live Updates and Full List of Winning Numbers here from 3 pm.

KERALA LOTTERY STHREE SAKTHI SS-458 GUESSING NUMBERS

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6014 6041 6104 6140

6401 6410 0614 0641

0164 0146 0461 0416

1604 1640 1064 1046

1460 1406 4601 4610

4061 4016 4160 4106

KERALA LOTTERY RESULT: STHREE SAKTHI SS-458 PRIZE STRUCTURE

1st Prize: Rs 75 lakh

2nd Prize: Rs. 10 lakh

3rd Prize: Rs. 5,000

4th Prize: Rs. 2,000

5th Prize: Rs. 1,000

6th Prize: Rs. 500

7th Prize: Rs. 200

8th Prize: Rs. 100

Consolation Prize: Rs. 8,000

FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR STHREE SAKTHI SS-458 LOTTERY

WINNING NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE OF RS 75 LAKH IS: Result at 3 pm

WINNING NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE OF RS 10 LAKH IS: To be updated

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE OF RS 5,000 ARE: To be updated

WINNING NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE OF RS 8,000 ARE: To be updated

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE OF RS 2,000 ARE: To be updated

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE OF RS 1,000 ARE: To be updated

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE: To be updated

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE OF RS 200 ARE: To be updated

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 8TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE: To be updated

HOW TO VERIFY KERALA STHREE SAKTHI SS-458 LOTTERY RESULTS?

The winning numbers from the Sthree Sakthi SS-458 lottery results can be verified by participants using these two methods. They can visit the lottery office or visit the Kerala Lottery Departments official website at www.keralalottery.info.

HOW TO COLLECT YOUR PRIZE MONEY?

By comparing their lottery ticket to the winning numbers listed in the Kerala Government Gazette, people can confirm their winning. The person can receive a reward if the two numbers match. Within 30 days of the results being published, winners must personally pick up their prize money at the Kerala lottery headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram. The winning ticket must be provided with a valid ID for verification.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO CLAIM PRIZE MONEY?

A duplicate of the winning ticket, both sides of which bear self-attestation

A Gazette officials signature on passport-sized images.

A certified copy of the participants PAN card.

Complete the online award money receipt form and attach a revenue stamp before submitting it.

Documents that prove identity, including voter IDs, ration cards, PAN cards and Aadhaar cards

HOW TO DOWNLOAD A PDF WITH A FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS?

Visit the Kerala Lottery Departments official websites at www.keralalotteries.info or keralalotteryresult.net.

Click on the Sthree Sakthi SS 458 Result link.

The result should now show each winning number.

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To find the download link, go to the website.

Select the PDF version of the SS 458 lottery results.

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 : Thiruvananthapuram [Trivandrum], India, India

First Published: March 11, 2025, 09:00 IST
Kerala Police Finds Human Skeleton In Suitcase Near Cemetery In Kollam

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 14:05 IST

Kerala Police have initiated an investigation after a human skeleton was found inside a suitcase in a plot next to a church cemetery in Kollam district.

Representative Image. (Pexels)

Police on Tuesday launched an investigation after a human skeleton was discovered inside a suitcase in a plot adjacent to a church cemetery in Kollam district of Kerala.

The Kollam East police said that the age of the skeleton has not yet been determined and that clarity will be achieved only after a detailed scientific examination.

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Officers suspect that the suitcase containing the skeleton was thrown from the road into the cemetery area.

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The remains were discovered in an overgrown area when some persons arrived there to carry out maintenance work.

They immediately informed the police.

Location : Kollam, India, India

First Published: March 11, 2025, 14:05 IST
Man Dies After Losing Leg As Speeding SUV Crashes Into Scooter In Chandigarh; Two Others Injured

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 13:34 IST

According to police and witness accounts, the luxury SUV was moving at an excessive speed when it first struck an Activa scooter carrying two young women, before colliding with another Activa ahead, ridden by a man.

The victim, Ankit Aswal, lost his life on the spot. (Pic: News18 India)

Chandigarh witnessed a tragic accident on Monday night when a speeding Porsche Cayenne, allegedly driven rashly and on the wrong side of the road, crashed into two scooters near a petrol pump in Sector 4. The collision left one man dead and two women injured.

According to police and eyewitness accounts, the luxury SUV was moving at an excessive speed when it first struck an Activa scooter carrying two young women, before colliding with another Activa ahead, ridden by a man. The impact was so severe that the first scooter became lodged in the cars engine and was dragged for a significant distance.

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The Porsche lost control, crashing into an electric pole, a traffic signboard, and finally a tree with immense force. The Activa was split into two pieces due to the intensity of the crash. The rider, identified as Ankit from Nayagaon, succumbed to his injuries on the spot after reportedly losing a leg. The two women, Soni and Gurleen, suffered serious leg injuries and were rushed to PGI Hospital for treatment.

The police arrived at the scene and arrested the Porsche driver while seizing the vehicle. A case has been registered under sections related to reckless driving, negligence, and road safety violations. Preliminary investigations indicate that the luxury car is registered to a Sanjeev, a resident of Sector 21, Chandigarh. Authorities are further investigating the circumstances, including the possibility of overspeeding and negligent driving.

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 : Chandigarh, India, India

First Published: March 11, 2025, 13:17 IST
News18 Evening Digest: Balochistan Militants Open Fire On Pakistan Train In Hostage Crisis & Other Top Stories

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 17:08 IST

We are also covering: Ukraine Launches 337 Drone Barrage On Russia Before Saudi Arabia Truce Talks, Rohit Sharma Hails 'Silent Hero' For Building Important Alliances With Virat Kohli.

BLA militants took responsibility for capturing the Peshawar-bound train. (Reuters/Representatvve Image)

In todays evening digest, News18 brings latest updates on Balochistan train hijack, Rajya Sabha row, and other top stories.

Balochistan Militants Open Fire On Pakistan Train In Hostage Crisis, 6 Security Men Killed

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Separatist militants in Pakistans restive Balochistan province attacked a Peshawar-bound train on Tuesday and took nearly 400 passengers hostage. The provincial government suspected a terrorist involvement and activated emergency measures, according to local media. Read More

Unacceptable: BJP Mounts Big Attack As Mallikarjun Kharges Rajya Sabha Remark Sparks Row

A heated confrontation erupted in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday after BJP leaders strongly objected to remarks made by Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge during his speech. BJP leaders accused Kharge of using inappropriate language against the Speaker and demanded an apology. Read More

Ukraine Launches 337 Drone Barrage On Russia Before Saudi Arabia Truce Talks | Video

Ukrainian drones smashed into high-rise apartment blocks on the outskirts of Moscow in the early hours of Tuesday, with both sides saying it was the largest attack on the Russian capital of the three-year conflict. Read More

Aamir Khan And Ranbir Kapoor To Collaborate Soon, Alia Bhatt Shares Big News: Battle Of The Best

Aamir Khan and Ranbir Kapoor will soon be collaborating for a project. On Tuesday, Alia Bhatt, who is married to the latter, took to her Instagram handle and shared an exciting" update with her fans. She mentioned that Ranbir and Aamir will be coming together for a project, details about which will be revealed on Wednesday, March 12. Read More

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Rohit Sharma Hails Silent Hero For Building Important Alliances With Virat Kohli And Others

The Indian team had a memorable run in the Champions Trophy 2025 that saw them win all their five matches en route to lifting the trophy in Dubai on Sunday. Marshalled by Rohit Sharma, India defeated New Zealand by chasing down 252 on a tricky pitch to become the champions for the third time in the competitions history. 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 11, 2025, 17:08 IST
On Dunki Route To US, Two Indian Youths Kidnapped And Tortured In Guatemala

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 18:14 IST

The kidnappers are demanding USD 20,000 in ransom, the families of the victims said as they appealed to the Indian government for assistance in securing their sons' release.

Disturbing footage of the youths being abused by their captors was sent to their families in December 2024. | Representative Image

Two young men, one from Haryana and the other from Punjab, who were attempting to immigrate to the US illegally via Central America, have allegedly been kidnapped in Guatemala. The kidnappers are demanding USD 20,000 in ransom, the families of the victims said as they appealed to the Indian government for assistance in securing their sons release.

Kuldeep Singh, father of Yuvraj Singh, one of the kidnapped youths, met with Kaithal Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kalia to plead for his sons safe return. Yuvraj, a resident of Mohna village in Haryanas Kaithal district, left for the US in October of last year.

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According to Kuldeep Singh, the kidnappers sent a video of his son being tortured and threatened at gunpoint. Kuldeep Singh alleges that he was promised a legal route to the US by the agents, to whom he paid a sum of Rs 41 lakh. He made an initial payment of Rs 2 lakh, followed by additional payments totaling Rs 22 lakh during the journey.

I gave the passport of my son to these three agents including one from Kurushetra, and the deal was done for Rs 41 lakh and he paid Rs 2 lakh in advance. They then said that the rest of the money they will take once he reached US. But while he was on the way, he took another Rs 14 lakh from me, he said.

Disturbing footage of the youths being abused by their captors was sent to their families in December 2024. The kidnappers ransom demands have fluctuated between USD 20,000 and USD 40,000.

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The second kidnapped youth is from Dasuaya in Punjabs Hoshiarpur district. His family also received the kidnapping video in December and contacted the agents, who have since disappeared.

Kaithal Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kalia said that an FIR has been registered against the travel agents.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: March 11, 2025, 18:14 IST
On This Day In 2020: WHO Declares COVID-19 A Pandemic  A Look At Indias First Case And Key Milestones

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Trending Desk

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 07:10 IST

On This Day In 2020: WHO urged nations to take immediate action to curb the viruss spread, emphasising government interventions.

On This Day In 2020: The World Health Organisation formally declared COVID-19, a global pandemic. (Image: Shutterstock)

On This Day In 2020: The COVID-19 outbreak was formally declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on 11 March 2020. Shockwaves spread worldwide when WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the announcement. The worlds leading public health organisation urged nations to take immediate action to curb the viruss spread, emphasising the need for stronger government interventions. This set off a series of unprecedented measures across the globe.

Wuhan, China, is believed to be the first place where the virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, jumped from an animal host to humans. Initially, most cases were concentrated in China and among travellers and their close contacts.

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Since there was little to no transmission outside China, these cases, although concerning, did not indicate a pandemic. However, as the number of community transmissions increased globally, the outbreak escalated rapidly.

As fatalities rose sharply in Europe, the epicentre of the outbreak shifted from China to Italy. The virus spread rapidly across major European countries, including France and Germany, compelling nations around the world to implement strict lockdowns. The United States became the worst-affected country in terms of COVID-19 cases and deaths.

According to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centre, nearly 79 million COVID-19 cases and more than 1.7 million related deaths have been recorded worldwide to date, with India ranking significantly lower, reporting over 10 million cases, followed by Brazil, Russia, and France.

When did COVID-19 start in India? A timeline from Indias perspective

30 January 2020: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare confirmed Indias first COVID-19 case in Kerala (a student who had returned from Wuhan, China).

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare confirmed Indias first COVID-19 case in Kerala (a student who had returned from Wuhan, China). 3 March 2020: India imposed a travel ban on China, South Korea, Italy, and Iran.

10 March 2020: The Kerala government closed educational institutions and cancelled all public functions until 31 March. Indias tally of coronavirus cases reached 50 (MoHFW).

12 March 2020: India reported its first COVID-19 death.

14 March 2020: The Government of India declared COVID-19 a Notified Disaster."

15 March 2020: India reported 112 coronavirus cases, and the government instructed all paramilitary forces to prepare quarantine camps for suspected cases.

16 March 2020: The central government recommended the closure of all educational institutions until 31 March. Social distancing measures were advised as a precaution against the virus.

17 March 2020: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) closed 3,000 monuments and 200 museums due to rising cases. Health experts stated that India had entered the second stage of COVID-19 transmission.

19 March 2020: India suspended all commercial international flights for one week starting 22 March.

21 March 2020: Rajasthan declared a lockdown until 31 March 2020.

22 March 2020: India observed the Janata Curfew. The Railways suspended all trains until 31 March. Citizens expressed gratitude to essential service workers by clapping and banging utensils, as requested by the Prime Minister.

24 March 2020: The central government imposed a 21-day nationwide lockdown as coronavirus cases reached 512 (MoHFW).

7 April 2020: Train services were suspended further until 30 April 2020.

9 April 2020: Odisha became the first state to extend the lockdown until 30 April.

14 April 2020: The nationwide lockdown was extended until 3 May.

17 April 2020: Rajasthan conducted COVID-19 rapid testing.

1 May 2020: The lockdown was extended until 17 May. The Ministry of Home Affairs announced relaxations in green and orange zones. The Railways launched Shramik special trains for migrant workers.

4 May 2020: India entered the third phase of lockdown.

7 May 2020: India recorded 52,952 confirmed cases.

17 May 2020: The government extended the lockdown until 31 May. India became the first country to impose such a prolonged lockdown.

19 May 2020: India reported 100,000 confirmed coronavirus cases.

8 June 2020: A phased reopening began after 75 days of lockdown.

1 July 2020: Unlock 2.0 commenced. Coronavirus cases exceeded 600,000.

17 July 2020: Indias COVID-19 cases crossed 1 million.

1 August 2020: Unlock 3.0 began. Gyms and yoga centres reopened. The night curfew was revoked.

11 August 2020: Russia approved the Sputnik V" vaccine for civilian use.

26 August 2020: India began trials of Covishield, developed by the Serum Institute of India.

29 August 2020: The government issued Unlock 4.0 guidelines.

7 September 2020: India became the second-worst affected country in the world.

14 September 2020: Schools reopened with restrictions in several states.

30 September 2020: Unlock 5.0 guidelines were issued. Cinemas and multiplexes reopened at 50% capacity from 15 October.

31 October 2020: Indias COVID-19 death rate fell below 1.5%.

20 November 2020: 50,000 Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres became functional across the country.

2021: The Second Wave

India launched its immunisation campaign on 16 January 2021. However, a severe second wave of infections struck the country in early April 2021, with devastating consequences. On 9 April, India surpassed 1 million active cases, and by 12 April, it overtook Brazil to become the country with the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases globally.

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By the end of April, India was reporting an average of 2,000 deaths and 300,000 new cases daily, exceeding 2.5 million active cases. Some analysts feared an undercount of cases and fatalities.

The pandemic significantly impacted financial stability and mental health, making it crucial for individuals and communities to prioritise recovery in these areas.

First Published: March 11, 2025, 07:10 IST
Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 23:10 IST

Budget Session 2025 Live: Members in the Lok Sabha during the Budget session of Parliament, in New Delhi. (PTI)

Parliament Budget Session Day 2 Highlights: Four bills will be taken up for discussion in Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Further, the Lok Sabha will have an hour-long discussion on the statutory resolution seeking approval of the proclamation of Presidents Rule in Manipur. The Lok Sabha will take up a discussion on the Manipur budget, presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, from Tuesday.

The first day of the second part of the Parliament Budget Session witnessed a confrontation between the opposition and the government over National Education Policy in Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, opposition parties led by the Congress demanded a detailed discussion in Parliament on the doubts that have arisen on the integrity of the electoral process after alleged discrepancies in voter lists, with Rahul Gandhi raising the issue in the Lok Sabha. Gandhi said that the voter lists are being questioned across the country and the entire opposition has been demanding a discussion on the matter.

The government is keen on the passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Parliament, which is likely to be another point of friction between the Opposition and the treasury benches.

Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned on February 13, marking the end of the first part of the session.

Follow LIVE updates here
PM Modi Conferred With Mauritius Highest Civilian Award

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Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 19:58 IST

Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth made the announcement, making the award the 21st international award conferred upon PM Modi by a foreign nation.

Mauritius has conferred its highest civilian award, The Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (GCSK), on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (IMAGE: X)

Mauritius has announced its highest civilian award, The Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (GCSK), for Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. According to sources, PM Modi became the first Indian to receive the prestigious honour.

Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam made the announcement, making the award the 21st international award conferred upon PM Modi by a foreign nation.

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The Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean is the highest distinction in Mauritius, awarded for exceptional service to the nation and its people.

Ramgoolam said Modi is the fifth foreign national to receive this distinguished recognition.

The Prime Minister also met Mauritius President Dharam Gokhool and the two leaders exchanged views on deepening the special and close bilateral ties.

Modi, who arrived here Tuesday morning on a two-day State Visit, called on Gokhool at the State House.

Had a great meeting with His Excellency Mr. Dharambeer Gokhool, President of Mauritius. He is well acquainted with India and Indian culture. Expressed gratitude for inviting me to be a part of the National Day celebrations of Mauritius. We discussed how to further boost bilateral ties across diverse sectors," Modi said in a post on X.

During the meeting, the two leaders exchanged views on deepening the special and close bilateral ties between India and Mauritius, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

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They recalled the shared history between the two countries and the existence of strong people-to-people linkages, it added.

Prime Minister Modi noted that it was an honour for him to attend the National Day celebrations of Mauritius as chief guest for the second time.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More

Location : Port Louis, Mauritius

First Published: March 11, 2025, 19:45 IST
Modi In Mauritius: PM Gifts Mauritius President Holy Sangam Water From Mahakumbh, Makhana From Bihar

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Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 16:14 IST

Before departing for Mauritius, Modi expressed optimism, stating that his visit would mark a "new and bright" chapter in India-Mauritius relations.

PM Modi receives grand welcome in Mauritius. (News18)

PM Modis Mauritius Visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a grand welcome in Mauritius on Tuesday. The PM is in the island nation for a two-day state visit where he will participate as the chief guest in the countrys national day celebrations and engage with its top leadership.

Despite the early hour, he was welcomed by the countrys top dignitaries, with Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam greeting him with a garland. He was joined by the Deputy Prime Minister, Chief Justice of Mauritius, Speaker of the National Assembly, Leader of the Opposition, Foreign Minister, Cabinet Secretary, Chairperson of the Grand Port District Council, and several other high-ranking officials.

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Deeply touched by the warm welcome from the Indian community in Mauritius. Their strong connection to Indian heritage, culture and values is truly inspiring. This bond of history and heart continues to thrive across generations. pic.twitter.com/kVjPhTixR8 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 11, 2025

A total of 200 dignitaries, including MPs, MLAs, members of the Diplomatic Corps, and religious leaders, were present to welcome PM Modi, underscoring the significance of his visit.

At the invitation of his Mauritius counterpart, Navin Ramgoolam, Modis visit will see the signing of several agreements aimed at enhancing cooperation in capacity building, trade, and combating cross-border financial crimes.

Before departing for Mauritius, Modi expressed optimism, stating that his visit would mark a new and bright" chapter in India-Mauritius relations.

During his stay, he will meet the President of Mauritius, hold discussions with the Prime Minister, and engage with senior officials and political leaders. He will also interact with the Indian community and inaugurate the Civil Service College and the Area Health Centre, both built with Indias grant assistance.

PM To Inaugurate India-Funded Projects

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate over 20 India-funded projects, ranging from capacity building to community-linked infrastructure, during his two-day state visit to Mauritius, beginning Tuesday, officials said.

The prime minister will also announce new major infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening democracy in the Southeast African island nation.

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Prime Minister Modi, along with his Mauritian counterpart Navin Ramgoolam, will jointly inaugurate the Civil Services College building. The construction of the building was completed at an approximate cost of USD 4.75 million. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the project was signed in 2017.

Modi will also e-inaugurate the Area Health Centre and 20 community projects, which have been constructed at a cost of around INR 7 crores. These community projects also include sports-related infrastructure.

About the Author Abhro Banerjee Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ... Read More Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ... Read More

First Published: March 11, 2025, 08:24 IST
How Did Ranya Rao Dodge Airport Security? Karnataka To Probe IPS Father's Role In Gold Smuggling Case

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Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 12:44 IST

The Karnataka government has ordered a probe into Kannada actor Ranya Rao's alleged misuse of protocol to bypass security checks while smuggling gold.

Actress Ranya Rao was arrested for allegedly smuggling gold from Dubai. (Photo: X)

The Karnataka government has ordered a probe into the alleged misuse of protocol and privileges by Kannada actor Ranya Rao while bypassing security checks while smuggling gold.

As per the government directive, the probe will be carried out by Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta.

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The order dated March 10 stated, A report on how Ranya managed to bypass security checks at the airport, how she availed and misused privileges reserved for top officials, and whether there is any role of the Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation MD Ramachandra Rao has been asked to be submitted within a week."

Top police officers, Karnataka secretaries, the Department of Personnel, and Administrative Reforms have been instructed to provide all necessary documents and assistance to the authorities concerned for the inquiry.

Actor Says Shes Emotionally Broken

Rao, who is accused of smuggling gold worth Rs 14.56 crore and was nabbed at Bengaluru Airport, on Monday broke down in the court and alleged that she is traumatised and emotionally broken". Rao claimed that she has been verbally tortured and threatened" in the custody of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).

Twists And Turns So Far: A Timeline

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, which is probing the 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, and 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.

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.

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.

Who Is Ranya Rao And Why Was She Arrested?

Ranya Rao is the stepdaughter of Director General of Police (Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation) Ramachandra Rao.

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She was under the radar because of her frequent travel to Dubai. In one year, she allegedly went to Dubai 30 times and four times in just 15 days. The authorities nabbed Rao at the Bengaluru airport when she was smuggling nearly 15kg of gold earlier this week.

After she was arrested, gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Rs 2.67 crore in cash was recovered from her home in Bengaluru by the Bengaluru Directorate of Revenue Intelligence during raids. Rao is married to Jatin Hukkeri, who was also frequently travelling to Dubai with the actress. This is one of Karnatakas biggest gold seizures in history.

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 11, 2025, 11:57 IST
Ranya Raos Associate Nabbed In Second Arrest In Bengaluru Airport Gold Smuggling Case: Who Is Tarun Raju?

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Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 13:13 IST

Bengaluru Airport Smuggling Case: Tarun Konduru Raju, belonging to a prominent Bengaluru business family, was arrested based on information from Ranya Rao.

The KIADB said Ksiroda India Pvt Ltd, a company linked to Kannada actress Ranya Rao, was allotted 12 acres of land on January 2, 2023. (Image: X)

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), investigating a gold smuggling ring after the arrest of Kannada actor Ranya Rao, apprehended her associate Tarun Konduru Raju. Ranya Rao was detained at Bengaluru International Airport on March 3 with 14.2 kg of gold.

Who Is Tarun Konduru Raju?

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Tarun Konduru Raju, belonging to a prominent Bengaluru business family, was arrested based on information from Ranya Rao. A special court remanded Tarun Konduru Raju to DRI custody for five days after the agency presented evidence from Ranya Raos seized mobile phone and laptop, establishing a link between them and the smuggling operation.

Read more: How Did Ranya Rao Dodge Airport Security? Karnataka To Probe IPS Fathers Role In Gold Smuggling Case

Tarun Konduru Raju, reportedly a long-time associate of Ranya Rao, is believed to have knowledge of the smuggling activities.

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What Is The Bengaluru Airport Smuggling Case?

Ranya Raos arrest occurred as she attempted to smuggle 14.2 kg of gold biscuits strapped to her body. The DRI declared the seizure, valued at Rs 12.56 crore, as one of the largest at the Bengaluru airport. Investigations reveal Ranya Rao made 27 trips to Dubai in the past six months.

First Published: March 11, 2025, 13:10 IST
Robots Join Search Operation At Telangana Tunnel Collapse Site

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 12:16 IST

The Telangana government has decided to deploy robots to avoid any danger to the rescue personnel as the conditions inside the tunnel, including water and slush, posed a challenge.

Robots Joins Search Operation At Telangana Tunnel Collapse Site. (PTI)

Robots on Tuesday joined the operation to locate the seven persons who remain trapped inside the partially collapsed SLBC tunnel in Telanganas Nagarkurnool since February 22.

The team of a Hyderabad-based robotics company along with a robot went inside the tunnel Tuesday morning. 110 rescue personnel also went into the tunnel.

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The Telangana government has decided to deploy robots to avoid any danger to the rescue personnel as the conditions inside the tunnel, including water and slush, posed a challenge.

State irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on March 8 said the government would spend Rs four crores to undertake the operation by utilizing the services of robot experts (of the Hyderabad-based private company).

Fragments of the huge Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) got submerged under water, soil and stones inside the tunnel caused hazard to the rescue team, he had said.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who visited the tunnel on March 2, suggested to the officials leading the operation to use robots inside the tunnel if necessary, to avoid any danger to the rescue personnel.

The search operations have been continuing with teams from NDRF, state-run miner Singareni Collieries, rat miners and others working at specific spots indicated by cadaver dogs and radar survey to locate the seven persons.

Rescue personnel guided by the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys conducted by the scientists of National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) in Hyderabad are focusing efforts at suspected locations.

The search was further aided by Human Remains Detection Dogs (HRDD) of Kerala police.

Two days ago, the rescue personnel recovered the dead body of Gurpreet Singh, a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) operator who worked for a foreign company involved in tunnel works.

The body was sent to his native place in Punjab in a hearse van.

The Telangana government has provided an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh to his family.

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Apart from Gurpreet Singh, seven others trapped include Manoj Kumar (UP), Sunny Singh (J&K), Gurpreet Singh (Punjab) and Sandeep Sahu, Jegta Xess, and Anuj Sahu, all from Jharkhand.

The eight persons  engineers and labourers  got trapped in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project tunnel after a portion of it collapsed on February 22.

Location : Nagarkurnool, India, India

First Published: March 11, 2025, 12:16 IST
'Mauritius At Heart Of India's SAGAR Vision': PM Modi Calls For Securing Indian Ocean Amid Chinese Threat

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 20:40 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm welcome from the Indian diaspora at the event held in the Mauritius capital.

PM Modi addresses the Indian diaspora in Port Louis, Mauritius. (IMAGE: X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that Mauritius is at the heart of Indias SAGAR vision while addressing a diaspora event in Port Louis.

Mauritius is at the heart of Indias SAGAR vision," PM Modi said, referring to SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision, introduced by PM Narendra Modi in 2015, is a strategic framework aimed at enhancing maritime security, economic cooperation and sustainable development in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), adding that the Indian Ocean needs to be secured.

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It aims to act as a counter to predatory Chinese investments in the region which has attracted countries with infrastructural projects but then traps them in bad debt.

In his address, he also recalled that first visit to the island nation a decade ago and noted that his previous trip, which took place on the same date 10 years ago, was shortly after Holi.

He said that he had brought with him the spirit of Fagwathe Bhojpuri term for the festival.

This time, I will take the colours of Holi with me to India," PM Modi said in an address to the diaspora at an event held in capital Port Louis.

Recalling historical ties between India and the island-nation, PM Modi said that Indian freedom fighters were brought to the island to face torture at the hands of British colonialists.

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Indian freedom fighters were brought here by deceit, they were tortured, but in those tough times, Lord Ram and Ramcharitmanas gave them strength and inspiration I came here in 1998 to attend the International Ramayan Conference I can still experience that faith today, which I experienced years ago," PM Modi said.

Many families of Mauritius could not attend the Maha Kumbh. I was concerned about their sentiments. Hence, I brought the holy water from the Sangam from the time of Maha Kumbh," he said.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More

Location : Port Louis, Mauritius

First Published: March 11, 2025, 20:07 IST
Telangana Tunnel Collapse: AI Robot Joins Search Operation To Locate 7 People Trapped For 17 Days

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 22:42 IST

A team from a Hyderabad-based robotics company, along with a robot equipped with an AI-based camera, entered the tunnel on Tuesday morning. Additionally, 110 rescue personnel were deployed, an official statement said

The eight individualscomprising engineers and labourersgot trapped in the SLBC project tunnel after a portion of it collapsed on February 22. (PTI file)

A robot equipped with an AI-based camera joined the operation on Tuesday to locate the seven people trapped inside the partially collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel since February 22.

A team from a Hyderabad-based robotics company, along with a robot equipped with an AI-based camera, entered the tunnel on Tuesday morning. Additionally, 110 rescue personnel were deployed, an official statement said.

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The Telangana government has decided to deploy robots to minimise risks to rescue personnel, as water and slush inside the tunnel pose significant challenges.

State Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy announced on March 8 that the government would spend Rs 4 crore to carry out the operation with the help of robotics experts from the Hyderabad-based private company.

Fragments of the massive Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), submerged under water, soil, and debris inside the tunnel, have posed a major hazard to the rescue team, he said.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who visited the tunnel on March 2, suggested that officials use robots inside the tunnel if necessary to ensure the safety of rescue personnel.

As part of efforts to locate the missing individuals, rescue personnel once again deployed Human Remains Detection Dogs (HRDD) at the accident site, an official release said.

State Special Chief Secretary (Disaster Management) Arvind Kumar, who has been overseeing the search operation, held a meeting on Tuesday with officials from various agencies involved in the rescue efforts.

The search operations continue with teams from the NDRF, state-run miner Singareni Collieries, rat miners, and others working at specific locations identified by cadaver dogs and radar surveys.

Rescue personnel, guided by Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys conducted by scientists from the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) in Hyderabad, are focusing their efforts on suspected locations.

The search is also being supported by HRDDs from the Kerala Police.

Two days ago, rescue personnel recovered the body of Gurpreet Singh, a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) operator who worked for a foreign company involved in the tunnel project. His body was transported to his native place in Punjab in a hearse van.

The Telangana government has provided an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh to his family.

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Apart from Gurpreet Singh, the seven others still trapped include Manoj Kumar (Uttar Pradesh), Sunny Singh (Jammu & Kashmir), Gurpreet Singh (Punjab), and Sandeep Sahu, Jegta Xess, and Anuj Sahu, all from Jharkhand.

The eight individualscomprising engineers and labourersgot trapped in the SLBC project tunnel after a portion of it collapsed on February 22.

First Published: March 11, 2025, 22:42 IST
UP: 20-Year-Old Man Shot Dead On Busy Road In Lakhimpur Kheri

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 14:12 IST

The youth, identified as Amogh Seth was a resident of Seth Colony in Hathipur. After the incident he was rushed to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Representative Image

A 20-year-old man was chased and shot dead by around five assailants on a busy road near a police outpost in Mishrana locality in UPs Lakhimpur Kheri, an official said on Tuesday.

He said the youth, identified as Amogh Seth, a resident of Seth Colony in Hathipur, was rushed to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

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A book store employee, Aditya Kashyap, was also injured on hand when the attackers opened fire as the youth took shelter in the shop, police said. He is said to be out of danger.

They said the assailants fled the spot on two bikes after the incident, which happened on Monday evening.

Lucknow range Inspector General (IG) Prashant Kumar, who was patrolling the city on the day along with Kheri Superintendent of Police (SP) Sankalp Sharma to review the law and order situation ahead of Holi, inspected the scene of crime.

Speaking to reporters, the IG said, Preliminary inquiry reveals that the deceased youth was said to have had a dispute with another person, Anmol Puri Bala. Thorough investigation would be carried out and the accused would be arrested soon." The police have registered a case based on a complaint filed by the father of the deceased, Bharat Seth, who accused Anmol and five unidentified accomplices of shooting his son dead and injuring the shop worker.

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Kheri SP Sankalp Sharma said several teams have been formed to identify the culprits, and they are examining the CCTV footage.

The injured book and stationery store employee, Aditya Kashyap, who is undergoing treatment at the district hospital, said the youth ran into the shop to take shelter. The assailants fired at Amogh, during which he was also shot at in the hand, he said.

Location : Lakhimpur, India, India

First Published: March 11, 2025, 14:12 IST
Bhojpuri In Mauritius? Heres Why PM Modi Was Welcomed With Geet Gawai Performance

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Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 18:20 IST

PM Modi in a post on X wrote: Memorable welcome in Mauritius. One of the highlights was the deep rooted cultural connect, seen in the Geet-Gawai performance. Its commendable how the great Bhojpuri language thrives in the culture of Mauritius.

PM Modi greets people in Mauritius. (X)

As Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi reached Mauritius on Monday, he was welcomed with a Bhojpuri Geet-Gawai performance. Modi is in Mauritius as the chief guest for the National Day celebrations of Mauritius on March 12.

PM Modi in a post on X wrote: Memorable welcome in Mauritius. One of the highlights was the deep rooted cultural connect, seen in the Geet-Gawai performance. Its commendable how the great Bhojpuri language thrives in the culture of Mauritius."

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Memorable welcome in Mauritius. One of the highlights was the deep rooted cultural connect, seen in the Geet-Gawai performance. Its commendable how the great Bhojpuri language thrives in the culture of Mauritius. pic.twitter.com/ou7YJMYoN8 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 11, 2025

Mauritius has a special connection with India, especially with the northcentral language, Bhojpuri.

The Central government led by PM Modi has engaged in strengthening its special and lasting partnership with Mauritius for the past several years. Heres why Bhojpuri and Hindi are among the dominant languages of Mauritius.

WHERE IS MAURITIUS?

Mauritius is a small island country located in the Indian Ocean. It is east of Madagascar, off the south-eastern coast of Africa. The distance of Mauritius from the Madagascar coast is about 800 km. It is a part of the Mascarene Islands. Mauritius got independence from Britain on March 12, 1968. The population here is around 12 lakh, with 70 per cent of Indian origin. The religion of most people living here is Hindu.

5 LAKH INDIANS CAME TO WORK

There was a time when Mauritius was a British and French colony. From 1834 to the beginning of 1900, around five lakh Indians were brought here by the British to work. Two-thirds of these workers settled here.

The first batch of 36 people who came to Mauritius in a ship named Atlas on November 2, 1834 were from Bihar, the Bhojpuri speaking belt. This day is still celebrated as the Immigrant Day in Mauritius.

Port Louis has the immigrant ghat, where Indian workers descended to change the fate of Mauritius. UNESCO has declared the place a World Heritage Site.

BHOJPURI AND HINDI ARE DOMINANT

A report on Mauritius Times website, citing the 2011 Census, stated that of the total population, 5.3% people speak Bhojpuri, whereas according to the 2000 census, 12.1% people spoke Bhojpuri. Apart from this, Urdu, Tamil and Telugu are also spoken in the country.

The official language of Mauritius is English, while French and Creole are also widely spoken.

Political parties, too, are seen using Bhojpuri in their election campaigns to appeal to the Bhojpuri

community.

WHY IS IT CALLED MINI INDIA?

Mauritius is often called Mini India" owing to the large population of Indian origin. Before independence, a large number of people from Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Bihar were brought to the country as indentured labour. They were called Girmitiyas. These people made Bhojpuri and Hindi popular in Mauritius.

Apart from language and dialect, a large number of people are seen wearing Indian clothes, with women wearing saris seen singing jhumar, sohar, kajri or ratwai in any village of Mauritius.

PROMOTION OF BHOJPURI

In 2005, Bhojpuri was introduced as an optional subject in primary schools, and 2012, it was included in the school curriculum as a compulsory subject for students in Class 4.

The Government of Mauritius had introduced the Bhojpuri-Speaking Union Act in 2013 (which was amended in 2015) for the establishment of a Bhojpuri-Speaking Union operating under the aegis of the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage. It is mandated to promote the Bhojpuri language in its spoken and written forms and engage in any educational, academic, cultural and artistic work to further that objective.

In 2017, the Bhojpuri Speaking Council was established to promote and preserve the language and culture of the Bhojpuri-speaking community. Additionally, the 2007 Language Act recognises the importance of multilingualism and cultural diversity in Mauritius and acknowledges the role that languages like Bhojpuri play in the countrys linguistic and cultural heritage.

In 2018, the government of Mauritius launched the Bhojpuri Speaking Region project.

To further promote the Bhojpuri language, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, then PM of the Republic of Mauritius, had in January 2019 announced at the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas in Varanasi that Mauritius would host a Bhojpuri Mahotsav in 2020. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic worldwide and the ensuing global lockdowns, the International Bhojpuri Festival could not be held.

The Bhojpuri Mahotsav was held at the Long Beach Mauritius Hotel, Belle Mare, Flacq in the Republic of Mauritius in 2024.

WHAT IS GEET GAWAI?

Geet-Gawai is part of pre-wedding ceremonies and combines rituals, prayer, songs, music and dance through which they honour Hindu Gods and Goddesses. It is seen as an expression of the collective identity of the indentured Girmityas, who were struggling to preserve their languages. It has been passed on within families, by community centres and academies.

It is included in the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

WHEN EAM VISITED MAURITIUS

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In July 2024, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar received a Bhojpuri Geet Gawai welcome at the Grand Bois Medi Clinic in Mauritius.

Sharing a video, Jaishankar, in a post on X, wrote, Mauritius is a home away from home! Delighted to witness a Bhojpuri Geet Gawai welcome at the Grand Bois Medi Clinic, symbolizing the enduring bond between India and Mauritius."

About the Author Manjiri Joshi At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ... Read More At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ... Read More

First Published: March 11, 2025, 14:19 IST
Yogi Adityanth's Photo Displayed At Pro-Monarchist Rally In Nepal, Sparks Controversy

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Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 09:54 IST

Yogi Adityanath's posters were seen at a pro-monarchist rally in Nepal, thus sparking a controversy, with accusations that the KP Oli-led government orchestrated the move to discredit the movement.

Posters of Yogi Adityanath displayed at a rally in Nepal (Photo: X/@GeneralBakshi)

Posters of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at a rally in Nepal have sparked a row. According to the details, the posters of Adityanath were displayed at a pro-monarchist rally organised in Kathmandu on Sunday, to welcome former king Gyanendra Shah.

As soon as Gyanendra, 77, landed at the Tribhuvan International Airport from Pokhara on board the Simrik Air helicopter, hundreds of loyalists, including leaders and cadres of pro-monarchist Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), started chanting slogans in his favour.

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The rally was intended to demonstrate support for the reinstatement of monarchy in Nepal after Gyanendra returned from his visit to religious places in different parts of the country.

Hundreds of loyalists riding motorbikes carrying Gyanendras picture and national flags greeted him on both sides of the road outside the airport.

Meanwhile, some supporters also displayed photographs of Adityanaths image alongside Gyanendras.

The photos of people carrying Adityanaths posters were widely shared on social media and were criticised by various political factions as well as by the general public on social media.

One such post was also shared by Retired Major General GD Bakshi, who, in a lengthy X post, wrote, The Former king of Nepal had just toured the country and has returned to Kathmandu to a grand welcome by over 4 lakh Nepali people."

Posters of Yogi Aditya Nath have appeared in the rallies in Nepal. I pray for deliverance of the long suffering people of Nepal and the restoration of Hindu kingdom. Let the Will of the people prevail. The voice of the people is the voice of God," (sic), his post read.

Following the backlash, Gyanendra Shahi  a spokesperson for Nepals Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), alleged that the display of Adityanaths photograph was a deliberate attempt to malign the pro-monarchist movement by the KP Oli-led government.

He accused the Oli government of orchestrating the move through infiltration.

The photograph of Yogi Adityanath was displayed in the rally at the instruction of Bishnu Rimal, chief advisor of Prime Minister KP Oli, at the advice of Oli," Shahi claimed in a social media post on Sunday.

Rimal strongly refuted the allegations in a social media post, saying, It was an illusion created through disinformation by the disqualified people who accidentally reached a responsible position."

Meanwhile, without naming Adityanath, Prime Minister Oli at a programme in Kathmandu on Monday said, We dont use photograph of foreign leaders in our rallies."

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Gyanendra had reportedly met with Adityanath during his visit to Uttar Pradesh in January.

The former king supporters have been rallying in different parts of the country, including Kathmandu and Pokhara, for the past few days, demanding the reinstatement of the monarchy abolished in 2008 following the Peoples Movement.

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: March 11, 2025, 09:54 IST
Ananya Panday's Champagne-Hued Midi Dress Is The Perfect Pick For Your Next Date Night

Curated By :

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Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 17:50 IST

Ananya Panday recently took to her social media to share pictures from her sister Rysa Panday's birthday bash. For the celebrations, she opted for a champagne-hued midi dress.

Ananya Panday flew to Seychelles for her sister's birthday celebrations.

Ananya Panday recently flew to Seychelles for her sister Rysa Pandays birthday bash. The actor was also accompanied by her parents, Chunky and Bhavana Panday. She took to her social media to share a series of pictures from Rysas birthday. Among the pictures, what has caught our eye is the golden dress donned by the actor for the celebration.

Taking to her social media, Ananya Panday shared a series of pictures from Rysas birthday. She wrote, Happpy birthday Rychiieeee! No one else Id rather lay on a runway with and stargaze at midnight and then wake up at 8 am on a holiday for a yoga class for." The pictures captured wholesome moments from Rysas birthday, and the post was all about love, family, and warmth. For Rysas birthday, Ananya opted for a midi-length champagne dress that makes for a perfect pick for all celebrations.

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Take a look at Ananyas OOTD here.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ananya  (@ananyapanday)

Ananya opted for a chic champagne-hued dress for Rysas birthday. The knee-length dress came with spaghetti straps and an elegant cowl neckline. The dress was tailored to perfection and it brought out the actors svelte frame. Crafted from a luxurious fabric, the dress featured an abstract pattern all over its length. She paired the ba&sh dress with minimal yet stylish accessories. She added a pair of round silver earrings and delicate rings.

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For the glam, she kept it subtle yet stunning. She went with a sun-kissed look. She went with a dewy base and defined her eyes with mascara and eyeliner. She added a sweep of rosy blush for that flush of colour. She added a glossy pink shade to her lips and left her hair open.

Ananyas look is a perfect pick for romantic date nights or for a quiet dinner with your best friends at your favourite restaurant.

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!

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: March 11, 2025, 17:50 IST
From Fiery Reds To Chic Checks: 5 Times Bollywood Divas Showed How To Rock Tailored Blazers

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Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 15:01 IST

A well-fitted blazer can take up a basic outfit several notches higher. Take a look at these stylish looks by some of the most fashionable Bollywood stars to take inspiration for your next OOTD.

A well-fitted blazer is a versatile item to have in your closet.

A well-fitted blazer is the ultimate power statement, and these Bollywood divas have proved just that. From fiery reds to sophisticated browns and edgy blacks, these divas showcased the versatility of tailored blazers with unmatched fashion goals. These women owned their looks with confidence and charisma.

From Kiara Advani to Kriti Sanon, take a look at these looks to take inspiration on how you can elevate a basic outfit with a well-tailored blazer.

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Kiara Advani

View this post on Instagram A post shared by KIARA (@kiaraaliaadvani)

Kiara Advani turned heads in a plain red tailored blazer that screamed confidence and power. Adding a touch of femininity, she accessorized with a delicate rose, creating a balance between boldness and grace.

Sonakshi Sinha

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sonakshi Sinha (@aslisona)

Sonakshi Sinha brought a unique twist to power dressing by pairing a crisp white blouse and dhoti pants with a cream-white tailored suit. The fusion of ethnic and modern elements made her stand out, proving that a well-structured blazer can elevate any look.

Ridhi Dogra

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ridhi Dogra (@iridhidogra)

Ridhi Dogra embraced dark tones with a classy brown tailored suit that exuded timeless sophistication. She took the glam up a notch by pairing it with white beaded stones, adding a touch of regal charm. Her structured outfit and bold stance made her look like an absolute powerhouse.

Karishma Tanna

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Karishma K Tanna (@karishmaktanna)

Karishma Tanna made a striking statement in a black blazer worn with a vest, channelling major pilot-inspired vibes. The sharp tailoring and bold colour gave her an edgy look, proving that nothing beats the power of a well-structured blazer.

Kriti Sanon

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kriti Sanon  (@kritisanon)

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Kriti Sanon redefined boss-lady aesthetics in a stunning red, black, and white checked tailored suit. Layered with a vest inside, her outfit was a perfect blend of classic and contemporary. The structured fit highlighted her tall frame, making her look effortlessly stylish and sophisticated.

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!

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: March 11, 2025, 15:01 IST
Madhuri Dixit Brings Boss Woman Energy To IIFA 2025 In A Classic Black Pantsuit With Gold Accents

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Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 12:53 IST

Madhuri Dixit took to her social media to share pictures of her looks from IIFA 2025. In one of her looks, she donned a black pant suit and exuded a boss-woman vibe.

Madhuri Dixit was styled by celebrity fashion stylist Sukriti Grover.

When it comes to serving elegance and grace, no one does it like Madhuri Dixit. The actor recently flew to Jaipur to attend the 25th edition of the International Indian Film Awards (IIFA). During the IIFA celebrations, she served stylish looks which left her fans in awe. She recently took to her social media to share pictures of one of her IIFA looks where she served major boss woman energy.

Taking to her social media, Madhuri Dixit shared a series of pictures of herself in a black pantsuit. She wrote, Regal vibes with a power move." The pictures showed the actor striking some stunning poses in her pantsuit. Her corporate-core look is something that all fashion girlies can take inspiration from.

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Take a look at the pictures here.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Madhuri Dixit (@madhuridixitnene)

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For IIFA, Madhuri opted for a black Alexandre Vauthier ensemble. Her OOTD came with a tailored black blazer. The fitted blazer came with structured shoulder pads. What added to the charm of the black blazer was the gold buttons on the bodice and the cuffs. She paired the blazer with a lace-trim black top inside. For the pants, she opted for a pair of black baggy pants which balanced out the fitted structure of the blazer. Madhuri played with the gold accents on the blazer and opted for gold accessories.

The actor went with gold rings and a square-shaped gold statement earring as well. She was styled by celebrity stylist Sukriti Grover. For the glam, Madhuri went with a flawless base. She added a hint of blush for that youthful flush of colour. She also added highlighter to the high points of her face for some sheen. She defined her eyes with a brown shimmery shade on her eyelids, kohl on the waterline, winged eyeliner, and mascara. She styled her hair in a side partition and tied it in a half updo. She finished her look with a bright red shade on her lips.

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!

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: March 11, 2025, 12:53 IST
Mouni Roy Shows How To Elevate A Black Midi Dress With The Right Accessories

Curated By :

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Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 12:09 IST

Mouni Roy recently took to her social media to share pictures of her latest look. The actor was dressed head-to-toe in Moschino.

Mouni completed her look with diamond rings and black loafer-style flats.

Mouni Roy has been on her A-game when it comes to serving looks lately. Be it ethnic wear, resort wear, or red carpet glamour, the actor aces every aesthetic and manages to get people talking with her looks. Recently, the actor took to her social media account to share her latest look. Mouni gave the classic black dress an elevated spin by pairing it with some chic and classy elements.

Taking to her social media, Mouni Roy shared a series of pictures from her recent outing in London. Sharing the pictures, she wrote, Tie me in @Moschino @Adridanappiolaza #headtotoe Loving the new collection x." She opted for a black midi dress that she had paired with a layered pearl necklace and a black bag.

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Take a closer look at Mounis OOTD here.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by mon (@imouniroy)

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Mouni opted for a midi-length black dress which hugged her svelte frame. The sleeveless dress came with a demure round neckline. The versatile dress could easily be dressed up or dressed down depending on the occasion. The actor paired the black dress with a layered pearl necklace. She added a set of diamond rings to her fingers to elevate her look further. She ditched the other accessories and carried a black handbag and black loafer-style flats.

For the glam, she went with a radiant and dewy look. She opted for a fresh and dewy base. She added a sweep of blush on her cheeks for that lovely flush of colour. She defined her eyes with a soft brown shade on her eyelids. She added further definition with black eyeliner and mascara. She added a lovely glossy rosy shade to her lips and finished her look by leaving her hair open.

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!

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: March 11, 2025, 12:09 IST
Holi 2025: 15 Perfect Holi Getaways To Rejuvenate

Curated By :

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Last Updated: March 13, 2025, 11:27 IST

Whether you seek floral Holi celebrations, wild getaways, or luxurious brunches, these destinations offer unforgettable experiences to make your festival extra special

Celebrate Holi your wayamidst nature, indulgence, or adventure!

Escape the city chaos and immerse yourself in a vibrant Holi retreat. Whether you seek adventure, relaxation, or a cultural experience, these destinations offer the perfect blend of festive joy and luxury.

Naini Retreat, Nainital

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Celebrate Holi in the lap of nature at this stunning palatial retreat. Experience Phoolon Ki Holi with eco-friendly organic colors, folk performances, and an open-air festive party under the stars. Indulge in sumptuous buffets, high tea with live music, and breathtaking views for a serene yet lively getaway.

The Riverview Retreat, Jim Corbett

Nestled along the Kosi River, this rustic yet luxurious retreat offers a Holi celebration in the wilderness. Enjoy Phoolon Ki Holi with fresh flower petals, folk dances, DJ-led parties, and fun family games. Savor festive delicacies like Kesar Thandai and enjoy a tranquil Ganga Aarti at the Pool Deck.

Aloha On The Ganges, Rishikesh

Blend Holis vibrant colors with the serenity of Rishikesh. Celebrate with live music, yoga sessions, and a traditional Ganga Aarti, followed by festive feasts and cultural experiences. Rejuvenate with meditation, riverfront walks, and peaceful moments by the Ganges.

The Cliff by Zuper  Panchgani

Considered a Panchgani jewel, the Cliff by Zuper is a magical resort with views of the valleys and lakes combined with world-class dining and amenities. On Holi, the resort will be teeming with festivities, including a Live DJ who will belt out extremely dance-worthy songs. You also have traditional mithayis, and thandai, to soothe your soul. As a resort committed to sustainability in our own way, we present a Holi of conservation with no colours and fun with flowers  the unique Phool Holi.

Anchaviyo, WADA

A pinnacle resort, Anchaviyo is full all around the year, and we are sure that guests who have already had a taste of luxury and conceptualism will head towards us again. Holi packages include natural colour celebrations, pichkaris at the Main Lawn, a Rain Shower, a Live DJ, and, of course, unforgettable scenic views. The celebrations are particularly lined up on March 14th, 2025. This is not to be missed!

The Forest Club, KARJAT

If Holi is a big celebration, then Indias largest meandering pool plays host to your dream fun! Palatability is up a notch with traditional meals made from local produce. On the same lines, enjoy sweets, snacks and the traditional thandai, a potent mix of almonds, fennel seeds, rose petals, pepper, watermelon kernels, saffron, milk, sugar, poppy seeds and cardamom. Get your heartful of this drink to enjoy the legacy of the festival. Rain Dance, Live DJ, and Holi Masti with natural colours are there too!

Make this Holi memorable, colourful and, of course, notable as you make your way to any of our resorts for a hearty celebration.

Celebrate Holi in Royal Splendor at Noormahal Palace Holi Celebration  RANG BARSE

This year, as the vibrant festival of Holi arrives on the weekend, elevate your celebrations to new heights of joy and festivity. Indulge in a delightful escape and add a splash of royalty to your experience at Noormahal Palace with their colorful Rang Barse" package, available from March 13th to 16th, 2025. Embrace the magic of the long weekend, filled with laughter and vibrant colors, as you revel in spirited celebrations.

Experience a getaway overflowing with fun, togetherness, and unforgettable moments, immersed in joyous colors, Holi-inspired cuisines, and traditions that celebrate renewal. Take a journey through culture, colors, and grandeur at Noormahal, where each festive moment creates a symphony of memories that linger like the hues of Holi.

Set amidst lush greenery, Noormahal Palace, Karnal is just a 2.5 hours drive from Delhi NCR. Create lasting memories with your loved ones in a setting as wonderful and colorful as the festival itself!

Where: Noormahal Crossing, National Highway 1, Sector 32, Karnal, Haryana 132001

When: March 13th-16th, 2025

Whats Included:

 March 13th: The celebration begins with the traditional Holika Dahan, featuring rituals and the pulsating beats of a live DJ. Enjoy Holi-inspired drinks and a sumptuous traditional buffet.

 March 14th: Dive into the vibrant Holi celebrations with traditional delicacies at lunch and dinner buffets. Enjoy unlimited snacks and drinks, followed by a live DJ and an exhilarating rain dance.

 Additional Amenities: Complimentary access to the steam room, sauna, gym, billiards, and more for all guests.

Tipai Wildlife Luxuries, Maharashtra

Escape to a sustainable wildlife retreat in the heart of Tipeshwar Forest. Celebrate Holi with a sunset trail, bird-watching, eco-conscious spa therapies, and an exquisite dinner by award-winning Chef Amninder Sandhu. Enjoy a private bio-pool villa, nature walks, and a curated degustation meal showcasing the colors of nature.

For bookings: Call 9699786275

voco Jim Corbett  Holi in the Wild

Trade traditional celebrations for an off-beat adventure at voco Jim Corbett. Enjoy safari rides, birdwatching, and a rejuvenating spa session. End your day with a private BBQ under the stars, complete with live cooking and karaoke.

Rambha Palace, Chilika Lake  A Serene Holi Escape

For a slow, soulful Holi, Rambha Palace offers a heritage retreat by the tranquil Chilika Lake. Indulge in Ayurvedic spa therapies, lakeside picnics, and a scenic boat ride to spot Irrawaddy dolphins. Enjoy handcrafted Odia-inspired luxury in a peaceful ambiance.

Celebrate Holi in the lap of luxury at Della Resorts

Get ready to play, party and indulge this Holi at Della Resorts, where luxury, adventure and gastronomy come together to create an unforgettable experience.

The resort is all set to up the ante this Holi by offering a weekend getaway with a luxurious stay on double occupancy, a Holi Dahan Bonfire & DJ Party, an exclusive Holi-themed brunch with festive dishes, as well as a live DJ & rain shower party with unlimited thandai. The resort hosts one of the biggest adventure parks in the country and is offering an adventure day pass for two to add a dash of thrill to the festivities.

Date: 13th  15th March 2025

Venue: Della Resorts, Lonavala

Indulge in a Grand Holi Feast at The LaLiT Resort & Spa Bekal

Celebrate the festival of colours with a lavish multi cuisine buffet at Nombili Restaurant at The LaliT Resort & Spa Bekal, featuring authentic festive flavours, live chaat stations, and a vibrant ambiance.

Savour a festive feast with live chaat delights, smoky tandoori kebabs, rich Indian curries, regional specialties, fusion sweets, and live music  perfect for a vibrant Holi celebration.

Date: 14th March 2025

Venue: Nombili Restaurant, The LaLiT Resort & Spa Bekal

Timings: 12:30 PM  3:30 PM

Price: INR 1800 + Taxes

La Mosteiro villa 9 in Assagao, Goa by The Blue Kite

Heading to Goa for the Holi weekend? Escape the crowds and unwind at La Mosteiro villa 9 in Assagao. This private 4 BHK villa, nestled in a gated community, offers a peaceful retreat with sunlit rooms, breezy verandahs, and a private pool to relax after the festivities. Managed by The Blue Kite, you can expect seamless service and a hassle-free stay, so all you have to do is soak in the serenity.

Price: Starting from INR 25,000 + taxes per night

Celebrate an Eco-Friendly Holi at The LaliT Laxmi Vilas Palace Udaipur.

Immerse yourself in the magic of Flower Holi and Organic Colours at Oko Lawn on 14th March 2025, where tradition meets sustainability. Celebrate with organic colours and flower petals, complemented by an array of cultural experiences, ensuring a joyful and eco-conscious Holi.

The LaliT Laxmi Vilas Palace Udaipur is all set to celebrate Holi the traditional way with refreshing Thandai, festive sweets, and soulful folk music, followed by a delightful Holi-special lunch at Padmini Restaurant.

Date: 14th March 2025

Venue: Oko Lawn, The LaliT Laxmi Vilas Palace Udaipur

Price: 1800 + Taxes per person (For resident guests only)

Experience a Vibrant Holi Celebration at The LaliT Great Eastern Kolkata

The Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata is all set to celebrate Holi where colours, music, and festive joy come alive. Set against the breathtaking rooftop skyline, the Holi event promises an unforgettable experience filled with rain dance, DJ performances, and a delectable spread of festive food & beverages.

Dance to electrifying DJ beats, dive into the festive spirit with a rain dance, indulge in delectable food and signature drinks, and immerse yourself in a riot of colours.

Date: 1st  2nd Week of March 2025

Venue: The LaliT Great Eastern Kolkata  Rooftop

Celebrate Holi at The LaliT Temple View Khajuraho

Celebrate Holi with an exclusive Long Weekend Retreat Experience at The Lalit Temple View, Khajuraho. Indulge in a luxurious getaway that combines the festive spirit with comfort, heritage, and impeccable hospitality.

Enjoy a minimum 2-night stay from 14th  17th March 2025, inclusive of curated experiences, delectable cuisine, and premium services designed for families, friends, and couples seeking an extraordinary Holi celebration.

Package Inclusions

Accommodation with mandatory Lunch/Dinner

15% discount on Food & Beverages

15% discount on laundry services

Pick & Drop service to the Western Group of Temples

Early check-in/out by 1 hour (subject to availability)

Event Details

Date: 14th  17th March 2025

Venue: The LaliT Temple View Khajuraho

Celebrate Beachside Holi at The LaliT Golf & Spa Resort Goa

Get ready for an unforgettable Holi celebration by the beach, filled with unlimited live counters, delicious snacks & main course, high-energy DJ beats, and a splash of organic colours at Cortas Beach Shack at The LaliT Golf & Spa Resort Goa.

Groove to electrifying DJ beats, feast on unlimited live counters, and embrace the festive spirit with themed costumes for an unforgettable Holi celebration.

Date: 1st & 2nd Week of March 2025

Time: 11 AM  4 PM

Venue: Cortas Beach Shack, The LaliT Golf & Spa Resort Goa

Charges: INR 2000++ per person

Experience Holi Celebrations at The LaliT Jaipur

Join in for an unforgettable Holi celebration from 9th  14th March 2025, where colours, flavours, and festive spirit come together in a lively outdoor setting at The LaliT Jaipur. Whether youre an in-house guest or visiting for the day, gift yourself the joy of Holi with traditional delights and refreshing beverages.

Indulge in festive gujiya, sip on refreshing thandai and chilled beer, and celebrate this Holi filled with music, colours, and pure joy.

Date: 9th  14th March 2025

Venue: The LaliT Jaipur  Outdoor Lawn

Price for Non-Resident Guests: 1000++ per person (Includes 2-pint bottles)

Celebrate a Grand Holi Festive at The LaliT Chandigarh

Indulge in a vibrant culinary experience at 24/7 on 14th March 2025, where the spirit of Holi comes alive through an extravagant buffet. Relish festive delicacies, regional favorites, and colorful desserts that capture the essence of the festival of colors.

Date: 14th March 2025

Venue: The LaliT Chandigarh- 24/7

Time: Dinner service from 7:00 PM onwards

Price: 2000 + Taxes per person

ibis Styles Goa Vagator  Where the Party Never Stops

For those who want to be at the center of the action, ibis Styles Goa Vagator is a no-brainer. Located minutes from Vagator Beach, this stylish hotel is perfect for a fun-filled Holi weekend. Lounge by the pool with a cocktail, explore Goas buzzing party scene, or simply soak in the beachy vibesall while enjoying the vibrant energy that Goa is known for.

Location: Vagator, North Goa

Taj Usha Kiran Palace, Gwalior

Spread across nine acres of landscaped estate, the meticulously restored Taj Usha Kiran Palace is the perfect destination for a long weekend with friends and loved ones. Embrace the vibrant spirit of Holi with an eco-friendly celebration featuring herbal gulaal and fresh flowers. Dance to the beats of live music, immersing yourself in the festivities. Then, savour a lavish buffet featuring an exquisite spread of regional and national delicacies, thoughtfully curated by our expert culinary team for an unforgettable dining experience.

Immerse yourself in the grandeur of Maratha royal heritage with a stay in the Palaces elegantly appointed rooms, suites, or pool-facing luxury tents for a unique glamping experience. Indulge in the finest dining at Silver Saloon, where closely guarded royal recipes, home-style regional dishes, and global flavours come to life. Sip on curated wines and liqueurs at the retro-luxe Bada Bar, unwind by the Navtaal swimming pool, or rejuvenate with ancient Indian wellness therapies and signature J Wellness Circle spa treatmentsdesigned to restore harmony to mind and body.

This Holi, let Taj Usha Kiran Palace be your canvas for celebration, indulgence, and timeless memories.

Taj Corbett Resort and Spa, Jim Corbett

Nestled in the scenic beauty of Jim Corbett, Taj Corbett Resort & Spa invites you to an eco-friendly Holi celebration like no other. Immerse yourself in the festive spirit with an enchanting Kumaoni Cultural Show over evening high tea, followed by Holika Pooja & Dehan under the starlit sky. On Rangwali Holi, revel in a burst of colors with live music by the Kosi River Lawn, all while indulging in authentic flavors and rejuvenating experiences. Escape to the wilderness and make this Holi truly unforgettable!

Taj Hotel and Convention Centre, Agra

This Holi, escape to the Taj Hotel & Convention Centre, Agra, for an unforgettable long weekend filled with luxury, tradition, and festive cheer. Inspired by the Phoolon Ki Holi of Braj, Noor-e-Rang brings a royal celebration of flower showers, soulful music, and exquisite delicacies set against the stunning backdrop of the Taj Mahal. Indulge in a Thandai Ritual, live performances, and a grand festive feast, or immerse yourself in the joy of eco-friendly Holi at the poolside with vibrant dhol beats and Radha-Krishna Leelas.

YashGeet Goa by ELIVAAS  The Ultimate Private Villa Experience

With its pristine white exterior and modern architectural design, this exquisite 4-BHK villa reflects elegance where every space is a visual delight, creating a serene and inviting retreat thats perfect for a getaway! The grand living room captivates with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, striking chandeliers, and a chic semi-circular sofa. A stunning reindeer sculpture serves as a unique centrepiece, adding charm to the space. Each of the four bedrooms offers distinctive features like private balconies, luxurious bathtubs, and plush bedding for a restful retreat. The beautifully designed terrace is perfect for leisure and celebration, featuring a cabana, jacuzzi, outdoor bar counter, and sunken seating with a water feature.

Location: North Goa

Royal Heritage Haveli, Jaipur

Experience Holi in true royal style with a Holi Brunch on March 14, 2025 (11:30 AM  3:30 PM). Enjoy a festive feast with organic colors and the rhythmic beats of the dhol in a stunning 18th-century haveli setting. Extend your experience with a rejuvenating Ayurveda treatment at the Frangipani Spa or a fine dining experience at Kigelia Court, Mehrab, or Cibo.

Holi Supplement:

Non-Residents: 5000 + 18% GST per person

In-House Guests: 4000 + 18% GST per person

Inclusions: Lunch, Organic Colors & Dhol

TreeHouse Achrol Niwas Resort, Jaipur

Celebrate Holi like never before with a weekend full of fun activities, dhol beats, a Monsoon DJ, and festive treats like Thandai. Arrive to a refreshing drink, enjoy a grand buffet dinner, and take part in the traditional Holika Dahan. Extend your stay for an extra day at just 8,000.

Stay Packages:

Deluxe Room: 1 Night 11,000 | 2 Nights 16,000

Villa with Courtyard: 1 Night 12,000 | 2 Nights 17,000

Villa with Private Pool: 1 Night 21,000 | 2 Nights 24,000

(Taxes extra, stays from March 1315, 2025.)

TreeHouse Hotels & Resorts, Bhiwadi

Just a short drive from Gurugram, enjoy an unforgettable Holi celebration with rain dance, DJ, dhol, Holika Dahan, and a lavish buffet. Relax in luxurious rooms with balconies and gardens or unwind by the shimmering pool.

Stay Packages:

Deluxe Room: 1 Night 11,000 | 2 Nights 16,000

Villa with Courtyard: 1 Night 12,000 | 2 Nights 17,000

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Villa with Private Pool: 1 Night 21,000 | 2 Nights 24,000

(Taxes extra, stays from March 1315, 2025.)

Celebrate Holi your wayamidst nature, indulgence, or adventure!

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 11, 2025, 18:09 IST
BTS' J-Hope Opens Up About HOPE ON THE STAGE World Tour After Military Hiatus: I'm Ready

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 12, 2025, 01:51 IST

J-Hope teases his solo tour post-military service, promising fans an electrifying, one-of-a-kind experience.

BTS member J-Hope (Photo Credits: Instagram)

BTS J-Hope (Jung Ho-seok) is making a grand return to the stage after completing his mandatory military service. The rapper, dancer, and all-around powerhouse is set to embark on his highly anticipated HOPE ON THE STAGE World Tour, his first-ever solo tour. In a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, J-Hope gave fans a glimpse of whats in store, exuding his signature energy and excitement.

During the interview, Fallon asked how it felt to be back and what fans could expect from the tour. J-Hopes response was filled with optimism: HOPE ON THE STAGE, the title itself says it all. Itll be a show unique to J-Hope. So yeah, Im ready. And if you guys are ready, it will be a great time!" His enthusiasm was contagious, hinting at a show packed with his personal artistry and creative vision.

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Fallon, a longtime supporter of BTS, even asked if he could attend. J-Hope playfully responded, You are member 8" Fallon laughed, saying, Weve known each other a long time, and thank you for always showing up and loving us. Its fun to see your career just go higher and higher and higher."

The conversation shifted to the origins of the tour, with Fallon recalling J-Hopes groundbreaking performance at Lollapalooza 2022, where he became the first South Korean artist to headline the festival. J-Hope admitted that he had initial worries about performing solo at such a major event. I was worried whether there would be many fans of mine since it was a festival. But there were so many ARMY there, who gave me so much strength. The success of that night led to HOPE ON THE STAGE. So there is great synergy between them."

The excitement in the studio was palpable as fans cheered for J-Hopes long-awaited return. This tour marks a significant moment in his career, with HOPE ON THE STAGE running from February 28, 2025, in Seoul, to June 1, 2025, in Osaka, Japan. While most BTS members (except Jin) are still serving their enlistments, this tour is set to be an unforgettable celebration of J-Hopes artistry and connection with ARMY.

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 12, 2025, 01:51 IST
Deepika Padukone Sets Paris Ablaze With Glam Look; Ranveer Singh Reacts: Lord Have Mercy On Me

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 05:00 IST

Draped in high fashion and posing against the Eiffel Tower, Deepika left fansand her husband, Ranveer Singhawestruck.

Deepika Padukones Glamorous Comeback Post-Motherhood.

Deepika Padukone is turning heads in Paris as she represents India at the Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2025 show. The Pathaan actress, the first Indian to be signed as a House Ambassador by the luxury fashion giant, shared stunning glimpses of her Parisian adventure on Instagram.

Draped in high fashion and posing against the Eiffel Tower, Deepika left fansand her husband, Ranveer Singhawestruck. The actor, known for his over-the-top admiration of his wife, couldnt hold back, commenting, Lord have mercy on me (sic)."

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This marks Deepikas return to the global stage after welcoming her daughter, Dua Padukone Singh. She recently attended the Forbes 30/50 Global Summit in Abu Dhabi, where she spoke about juggling personal and professional commitments. When asked about her last Google search, the new mom laughed and admitted, Definitely some mommy question like when will my baby stop spitting up or something to that effect."

Reflecting on her goals, Deepika added, Being a survivor of mental illness, for me the goal is always to be at peace of mind because there is nothing more important than that. And easier said than done because it requires work every single day." On the professional front, she emphasized her desire to use her platformthrough films, her skincare brand 82E, and social mediato create a positive impact" while having fun."

Whats Next for Deepika?

Deepika is yet to officially announce her next film post-maternity. However, reports suggest the makers of Kalki 2 are eagerly awaiting her return. Meanwhile, Prabhas is wrapping up his prior commitments before production resumes.

The actress was also rumoured to star in The White Lotus Season 3 but had to opt out due to her pregnancy. At the Fighter press conference last year, when questioned about it, director Siddharth Anand playfully teased, Lotus 3 Wheres the space now? Lotus 3 is coming." Deepika, unable to contain her amusement, simply laughed.

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 11, 2025, 05:00 IST
Popular K-Drama Actor Kim Soo Hyun Was Dating Kim Sae Ron When She Was A Minor? His Agency REACTS

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 10, 2025, 22:20 IST

Kim Soo Hyuns agency labelled the accusations as "clear falsehoods" and announced possible legal action.

Kim Soo Hyun's team denies dating rumours with late Kim Sae Ron.

Kim Soo Hyuns agency, Gold Medalist, has strongly denied claims made by the YouTube channel Garo-SEO Research Institute" (Gaseyeon) about the actors alleged past relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron. The agency labelled the accusations as clear falsehoods" and announced possible legal action.

In a statement issued on March 10, Gold Medalist addressed the claims aired on Gaseyeons broadcast, which alleged that Kim Soo Hyun had been in a six-year relationship with Kim Sae-ron, beginning in 2015 when she was 15 (a minor) and he was 27. The claims resurfaced after Kim Sae-ron posted and quickly deleted a selfie with Kim Soo Hyun on Instagram on March 23, 2024.

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Refuting these allegations, the agency stated, The claims made by the Garo-SEO Research Institute regarding actor Kim Soo-hyun through a YouTube broadcast are clear falsehoods." The agency also addressed additional accusations, including claims that they had colluded with YouTuber Lee Jin-ho to harass Kim Sae-ron and that their handling of her 2022 drunk driving incident was inappropriate. All of these are falsehoods that cannot be overlooked, and we are considering the strongest legal action we can take," they added.

Expressing condolences over Kim Sae-rons passing, the agency stated, We express our heartfelt sorrow at the news of the passing of the late Kim Sae-ron, who once worked with our agency, and we mourn for her. However, the dissemination of such false information by Gaseyeon is merely repeating the behaviour of what is called cyber bullying that the deceased struggled with in life."

Gold Medalist urged the public and media to stop spreading unverified claims: We earnestly request that these baseless falsehoods do not continue to be disseminated, expanded, or reproduced."

Kim Sae-ron was found collapsed in her home on February 16, 2025. A friend discovered her and alerted authorities, but she tragically passed away at the age of 25.

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 : Seoul, South Korea

First Published: March 10, 2025, 22:20 IST
Shefali Shahs Take On Skipping Airport Fashion Trend: I Just Want To Be Comfortable

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 15:25 IST

Shefali Shah recently shared her thoughts on the airport looks trend and revealed what she finds most comfortable while travelling.

Shefali Shah will be next seen in season 3 of Delhi Crime. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

Airport fashion has become a major trend, with celebrity travel outfits often sparking conversations. However, Delhi Crime star Shefali Shah isnt one to follow the crowd. Sharing her thoughts on the trend, the actress revealed her go-to choice for comfortable travel attire.

During a chat with Humans of Bombay, while addressing the issue of unequal pay in the industry, Shefali Shah casually shared her thoughts on her preferred travel style. I have managed to nail it. I got it sorted. I have a uniform when I travel  My black track pants, black T-shirt and black hoodie, slides and any neon coloured socks I have," the actress said. However, her kids often complain about her go-to look.

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My children are embarrassed. They are like  How can you dress up like this? My thing is travelling. Do I want to look pretty or do I want to be comfortable? I want to be comfortable," she said.

While she admires those who travel in style, Shefali admitted, Hats off to them! They deserve to be covered. I just cant do it."

Shefali also shared a funny experience from her trip to Rishikesh where she realised there was no point in trying to keep up a polished look while travelling. First two days I have got blow dry and once I go rafting, blow dry is not gonna stay. So, by the time I come back my hair is kind of on its own. So, it looks so bad that it like a horror show," she joked. That is exactly why Shefali prefers to stay low-key while travelling.

So, I never ever want to be seen by anybody while I am travelling. I am very happy with my old bag and comfortable shoes," she added.

On the professional front, Shefali Shah is gearing up for her return to the screen with the third season of Delhi Crime. Netflix had earlier announced the new season of the Emmy Award-winning show by sharing a teaser on social media.

Open the case files. Madam Sir and the team are back! The Emmy Award-winning franchise returns with their toughest case yet. Delhi Crime: S3 is coming soon, only on Netflix!" the streaming giant wrote in the caption.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Netflix India (@netflix_in)

Directed by Tanuj Chopra, the series boasts a talented writing team comprising Tanuj himself, Anu Singh Choudhary, Apoorva Bakshi, Michael Hogan, Mayank Tiwari and Shubhra Swarup. The upcoming season will feature an impressive cast, including Shefali Shah, Rasika Dugal, Rajesh Tailang, Huma Qureshi, Sayani Gupta, Mita Vashisth and Jaya Bhattacharya.

First Published: March 11, 2025, 15:18 IST
Shilpa Shettys Airport Look Had Us Distracted Enough To Miss The Boarding Call

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 17:38 IST

Shilpa Shetty was spotted flaunting a winning airport look in trendy co-ord set.

Shilpa Shetty was last seen in the action series Indian Police Force. (Photo Credit: Instagram)

Shilpa Shetty often turns heads with her on-point fashion game and fitness. Whether it is ruling in an evening gown or a casual outfit, the 49-year-old actress creates waves in the fashion world with all her looks. Solidifying her position as the evergreen style icon, Shilpa was recently spotted at the Mumbai Airport flaunting a winning airport look.

In a video shared on Instagram, the actress could be seen making her way to the departure gate at the Mumbai airport in her fashionable best. On her way, she briefly stopped to pose for the paps stationed at the location.

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by F I L M Y G Y A N (@filmygyan)

For her jet set look, Shilpa donned a matching denim co-ord set which included a trench coat. As per reports, her chic layer jacket featuring blue and white patchwork detailing comes from the shelves of design label Mellowdrama. The estimated cost of the jacket is around Rs 36,000.

Choosing the perfect match, Shilpa completed her look with a pair of matching jeans that mirrored the same design detailing as the jacket. The wide-legged cargo fit displayed patches for a unique appeal. Created by the same label, the quirky bottom is reportedly priced at Rs 19,000.

Adding more luxury to the ensemble were Shilpas accessories. The actress chose tinted sunglasses to tackle the morning sunlight. Staying by the color tone of her outfit, Shilpa picked a pair of Gen-Z inspired white chunky sneakers to round off her look. Last but certainly not the least, she pulled out the perfect large Goyard tote bag personalized with the letters SSK.

Letting her natural beauty shine, Shilpa went with a minimal makeup technique. Light moisturiser base and glossy pink lips sealed the deal for the Indian Police Force actress.

Shilpas ultra chic airport look did not go unnoticed by her fans on the internet. One of them wrote, Almost 50 but you still manage to look so good." Another added, Lovely" Many other fans dropped fire and heart emojis.

On the work front, Shilpa Shetty was last seen in the Rohit Shetty helmed action series Indian Police Force on Prime Video where she impressed fans as officer Tara Shetty.

About the Author Akriti Anand Akriti Anand is Chief Sub Editor of the entertainment team at News18. A news writer with over a decade of experience, Akriti loves to keep a close watch on Bollywood celebrities and their social media. A post-g... Read More Akriti Anand is Chief Sub Editor of the entertainment team at News18. A news writer with over a decade of experience, Akriti loves to keep a close watch on Bollywood celebrities and their social media. A post-g... Read More

First Published: March 11, 2025, 17:38 IST
'South Indian' Party? Why DMK's Language Protest Has Congress Worried About Perception Game

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 22:28 IST

The Congress is trying to resist attempts to be labelled as 'south Indian', after having lost space in north India but coming to power in Telangana and Karnataka

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram, DMK MPs Tiruchi Siva, A Raja, MDMK chief Vaiko and other MPs stage a protest against the BJP-led Centre during the budget session of Parliament, in New Delhi on March 11. (Image: PTI/Shahbaz Khan)

The Hindi versus Tamil war between the Centre and DMK has caught the Congress in a bind and put the INDIA bloc in a fix. The Grand Old Party is trying to resist attempts to be labelled as south Indian, after having lost space in north India but coming to power in Telangana and Karnataka.

In fact, when senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was elected from Keralas Wayanad in the Lok Sabha elections last year, this perception gained in strength. This is why the party was keen that he represent the Rae Bareli parliamentary constituency in the Lok Sabha while Priyanka Gandhi moved to Wayanad.

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The DMK is an important ally to the Congress and, without it, the party has little or no future in Tamil Nadu. After a days hesitation, it asked its Tamil Nadu MPs to join the DMKs protest over the three-language policy in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. It was only after that, Karti Chidambaram and Manickam Tagore were spotted alongside their southern allies.

But this support for the English cause and anti-Hindi" stance makes sense for the DMK, which is based out of Tamil Nadu, and for the Congress down south. But the party prides itself on being pan-Indian and wants to increase its footprint in the north as well. Which is the reason why this perception that it is anti-Hindi" is worrying many of its northern leaders.

According to sources, some Congress MPs from the north raised this concern during a parliamentary strategy party meeting. We understand that we need to support our ally, DMK, and southern MPs but wont it make us look anti-Hindi? Wont it hurt us?" they asked during the meeting, sources said.

Hence, the nuanced stand on the NEP by the Congress. While objecting to it imposing" Hindi on the Tamil people, the party does not want to issue a strong statement against it. In fact, the Gandhis have steered clear of strong protests. This is also due to the upcoming elections in Bihar, a Hindi-speaking state.

Recently, Rahul Gandhi had spoken on the draft UGC (University Grants Commission) norms and said there was an attempt by the RSS to influence the education system.

The Tamil people have their history, language, traditions, and they have had their struggles. Doing this (UGC draft regulation) is an insult to them and all other states, where the RSS is trying to impose its hegemony," he had said.

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But with the Bihar elections around the corner, many Congress leaders have given feedback to the Gandhis to go slow about targeting the NEP, or the three-language policy. They are worried that if the Gandhis step up their attack, it will look like the party has taken a strong stand.

This could reinforce the perception that the Congress is restricted and only interested in issues of the south. This is one reason why many party leaders and MPs from north are now being cautious and do not want to be seen as siding with the DMK during their protest.

About the Author Pallavi Ghosh Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als... Read More Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als... Read More

First Published: March 11, 2025, 22:28 IST
'Look At Their Hypocrisy': Nirmala Sitharaman Slams DMK Over Language Row

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 22:37 IST

Sitharaman also regretted that the DMK MPs did not even condemn a caricature portraying Prime Minster Narendra Modi in chains before US President Donald Trump

In a fiery speech in the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman said DMK people idolise a person who spoke "disparagingly" against Tamil language. (PTI file)

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday lashed out at the DMK over the language row as she accused it of hypocrisy, saying the elderly person" they worship used to describe Tamil as a barbaric" language which cannot even help beggars get alms.

In a fiery speech in the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman said DMK people idolise a person who spoke disparagingly" against Tamil language.

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I do not want to name him, but the moment I read the passages, anyone with a small, faint familiarity with Tamil will know who Im speaking about. So when this person speaks about Tamil and much horribly, theres no objection.

On the contrary, they would keep his photo. They will also say he is our Dravidian icon," she said while quoting the elderly person" from various Tamil magazines.

While the BJP leader did not take the name of the elderly person", she was apparently referring to Periyar, foremost leader of the Dravidian movement.

Sitharaman also regretted that the DMK MPs did not even condemn a caricature portraying Prime Minster Narendra Modi in chains before US President Donald Trump.

She said action will be taken against those behind the cartoon (now withdrawn) published in the online version of Vikatan Plus.

when the cartoon is done about honourable prime minister, do you want all of us to sit and watch it? Certainly action will be taken, and Im happy Vikatan cartoon was pulled down. And for that, you have sympathy," she said, adding if somebody says anything against the Tamil Nadu chief minister, the person is arrested midnight".

Continuing her attack on the DMK, Sitharaman said the ruling party in Tamil Nadu has double standards regarding Tamil language.

She pointed out that for just saying your protest are uncivil", they (DMK) made Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan withdraw his statement.

But a man who repeatedly says Tamil is a barbaric language, they keep his photograph in every room, they garland him and worship him and say he is the icon of Dravidian movement. Look at their hypocrisy," the finance minister said.

Pradhans remarks in the Lok Sabha on Monday criticising the Tamil Nadu government for refusing to implement the National Education Policy and doing a U-turn" on the issue for politics" drew angry protests from the DMK, disrupting proceedings in the House.

They are dishonest and they are ruining the future of the students of Tamil Nadu  they are misleading the people," Pradhan said while replying to a query on the Centre not releasing funds for the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme.

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Hitting back, the DMK said it had clearly told the minister we cannot accept" the NEP in full" and the three-language formula is not acceptable to Tamil Nadu".

It said the Centre cannot stop the release of budgetary allocation for education on the issue of implementing the NEP.

First Published: March 11, 2025, 22:37 IST
Maharashtra Budget Balance Sheet: Shinde's Sena Left Behind As BJP, Ajit Pawars NCP Get Bigger Share

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 18:11 IST

The BJP-led ministries have been allocated Rs 89,128 crore, the highest among all alliance partners. Ajit Pawars NCP, despite being the smallest party in the alliance, has received Rs 56,563 crore. Shindes Shiv Sena has been given only Rs 41,606 crore

(From left) Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. (PTI/CMO)

Maharashtras deputy chief minister (CM) and finance minister Ajit Pawar on Monday presented the state budget, sparking fresh tension within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.

As expected, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has the highest number of ministers in the Maharashtra cabinet, received the biggest share of the budget. However, what has surprised many is that Ajit Pawars Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has secured more funding than Eknath Shindes Shiv Sena, despite being the third largest party in the alliance.

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This imbalance has led to speculation about internal dissatisfaction, especially within the Shinde camp.

THE DIVISION

The total budget allocation shows a clear division:

The BJP-led ministries have been allocated Rs 89,128 crore, the highest among all alliance partners.

Ajit Pawars NCP, despite being the smallest party in the alliance, has received Rs 56,563 crore.

Shindes Shiv Sena, which has more MLAs and ministers than Ajit Pawars NCP, has been given only Rs 41,606 crore, the lowest among the three parties.

Reacting to the division, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske said, Funds get allocated to departments and not ministers. Hence it will be wrong to say that parties or ministers have got the funds, as these funds will be used for different projects and developmental works related to people only."

LIKE MVA

The development is significant because it mirrors a pattern seen in the previous government. When Pawar was the finance minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, Shinde, who was then part of Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Sena, had accused him of sidelining the party by not allocating enough funds. At that time, Shindes frustration played a key role in his decision to rebel against Uddhav Thackeray and align with the BJP.

Now, with history seemingly repeating itself, political observers are closely watching Shindes next move. Will he confront Ajit Pawar over the funding disparity, or will he accept this financial setback to maintain stability within the alliance?

WHY THE BUDGET MATTERS

The budget is particularly crucial because the government has adopted a cautious spending approach. As the civic polls may happen this year across many corporations, each party in the alliance was hoping for a significant allocation to fund development projects in its stronghold. However, the fact that Shindes Shiv Sena has received the least amount of funding could weaken its position in the upcoming elections.

Sena ministers and MLAs are likely to feel the pinch, especially in constituencies where they need funds for infrastructure and welfare projects. On the other hand, Ajit Pawars ability to secure more funds despite being the third-largest party suggests his growing influence within the government. Having control over the finance ministry has clearly worked to his advantage.

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The situation puts Shinde in a tricky position. His rebellion against Thackeray was largely based on the claim that Shiv Sena was not getting its due share in the government. Now, even in Mahayuti, he finds himself in a similar situation. If his MLAs feel short-changed, it could lead to internal unrest.

For now, the budget allocations have exposed yet another faultline in the Mahayuti alliance. Whether Shinde chooses to raise the issue or remains silent to avoid rocking the boat will determine how the alliance functions in the months ahead.

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 11, 2025, 16:34 IST
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma Calls PM Modi His 'Favourite Actor', Congress Mocks Him

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 07:36 IST

Reacting to Sharmas remark, Rajasthan Congress chief Dotasra said that Congress leaders have long maintained that Prime Minister Modi is more of an actor than a leader.

Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma, Deputy CM Diya Kumari with Bollywood stars Kartik Aryan and Karan Johar during the IIFA Awards, in Jaipur, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (PTI Photo)

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma sparked a political controversy after reportedly calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi his favourite actor" during an awards function on Sunday night. The Congress quickly seized on the remark, claiming it validated their long-standing assertion that Modi is more of a performer than a leader.

BJP spokesperson Laxmikant Bhardwaj, however, refuted the interpretation, clarifying that Sharma was asked about his favorite hero," not an actor, and that his response was taken out of context.

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Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra took a jab at Sharma for referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as his favourite actor."

During the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards ceremony on Sunday night, CM Sharma was asked by reporters about his favorite hero or actor. With a smile, he responded, Narendra Modi."

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Reacting to Sharmas remark, Dotasra said on Sunday that Congress leaders have long maintained that Prime Minister Modi is more of an actor than a leader.

We have been saying this for a long time that Modi ji is not a leader but an actor. Though late, even the Chief Minister of the BJP government has started saying that Modi Ji is not a public leader but an actor. He is an expert in camera skills, teleprompter, costumes and flowery speeches," Dotasra said in a post in Hindi on X.

About the Author Abhro Banerjee Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ... Read More Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ... Read More

First Published: March 11, 2025, 07:33 IST
'Tamil Is No Ones Monopoly': Pradhan Says Centre Not Imposing Language As DMK Escalates NEP Row

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 22:03 IST

Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday clarified that the central government is not imposing any language on anyone, nor is it taking away anyone's rights

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan speaks in the Rajya Sabha.

Amid the ongoing dispute between the Tamil Nadu government and the Centre over alleged Hindi imposition," Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday clarified that the central government is not imposing any language on anyone, nor is it taking away anyones rights.

Responding to questions on the functioning of the Ministry of Education in the Rajya Sabha, Pradhan stressed that India is a multilingual country and assured that the Modi government would not hurt anyones feelings based on language."

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The Education Minister stated that Tamil language is no ones monopoly" and expressed that there was no need for anyone to question the central governments commitment to Tamil. He referenced an incident in the Tamil Nadu Assembly in 1989, when the late Jayalalithaa, then Leader of the Opposition, was physically assaulted by DMK members.

What they did to Jayalalitha on the floor of the house, we dont need anyones certificate on whether we are committed to Tamil language or not. We are fully committed to Tamil language," Pradhan noted.

On PM SHRI school scheme

In his address, Pradhan also referred to a letter from the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary, which confirmed the states willingness to adopt the PM SHRI school scheme.

The senior BJP leader stood by his claim that the Tamil Nadu government had initially agreed to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the scheme but later took a U-turn.

Pradhan also shared a consent letter from the Tamil Nadu School Education Department, dated 15th March 2024, to support his claims on social media X.

Yesterday, DMK MPs and Honble CM Stalin accused me of misleading the Parliament regarding Tamil Nadus consent for establishment of PM-SHRI Schools.I stand by my statement made in the Parliament and am sharing the consent letter from Tamil Nadu School Education Department pic.twitter.com/vp6GtPEp1q  Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) March 11, 2025

Meanwhile, government sources told News18 that since the PM-SHRI schools are mandated to follow the NEP, Tamil Nadus initial agreement to the scheme essentially meant agreeing to the NEP.

The Union Minister also shared that number of Tamil-medium students in government schools had decreased over the last six years, while the teaching of colonial language" was on the rise.

The Education Minister further explained that the NEP prioritises mother tongues, and in Tamil Nadu, the NEP had designated Tamil as the primary language. However, he pointed out the contradiction, with Tamil-language education declining while the teaching of other languages, particularly Hindi, had increased in schools.

You can call me a fool, but you cannot make a fool of the people of Tamil Nadu. You can abuse me, but dont deny the opportunities to the youngsters of Tamil Nadu," he noted.

Spreading misinformation wont change facts

In response to Dharmendra Pradhans remarks, Tamil Nadus Education Minister Anbil Mahesh stated that spreading misinformation would not alter the facts. He reaffirmed that Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, claiming it undermines our successful education model".

Mahesh took to X to clarify, saying, Theres no sudden change in stance." He further explained that the letter dated 15th March 2024 was not an endorsement of the NEP.

TN engages with central schemes only when beneficial to students, but that doesnt mean blind acceptance of any scheme or framework," he added.

#Bolan update: According to railway officials, the Jaffar express being held hostage by #BLA has nine carriages and is carrying over 400 passengers.Majority on board are government employees. https://t.co/d8f6UIETE0  Kiyya Baloch (@KiyyaBaloch) March 11, 2025

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The DMK minister also accused those supporting the imposition of the NEP of playing politics and distorting Tamil Nadus culture and legacy."

ALSO READ: DMK Protests In Parliament Over NEP, Three-Language Policy; Demands Apology From Dharmendra Pradhan

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 11, 2025, 21:15 IST
OnePlus Confirms The Alert Slider Is Going Away For This New iPhone-Like Button: Heres The Reason

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 09:15 IST

OnePlus has launched most of its phones with the slider tool but that will change with the new models and a new button from the brand.

OnePlus is going to replace the iconic slider with a new button

OnePlus has finally said that it wants to move beyond the popular and iconic alert slider button for a new addition on its phones. We had recently talked about the prospect of Oppo (and OnePlus) looking at an iPhone-like customisable hardware button and this update from the brand confirms those rumours.

Pete Lau, the man running OnePlus, shared a detailed note on Monday, talking about the change, the reason for killing the alert slider, and what can OnePlus users expect from the upcoming devices.

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Alert Slider Goes, OnePlus Settles?

Lau says OnePlus had no choice but to look at other options than the alert slider, mostly because of its inability to make the existing button customisable. The Alert Slider is a hardware switch. Its function is locked to its physical position, meaning it cant be reprogrammed or expanded without losing its simplicity," Lau explains why the new button became inevitable.

With the advent of AI and how companies are being forced to reinvent the use of smartphones with all the power, this new actionable button, as per Lau, acts as intelligent companions.

OnePlus has previously highlighted the extra space afforded to the alert slider, which could become useful for other changes or upgrades. But it seems that the brand is simply trying to follow the existing trend, something that we first saw with Apple launching the action button and then camera control button last year. The company has always vouched for the industry with this call and in some ways, settling against its nature.

Change For Good?

The alert slider had a clear purpose, and gave OnePlus devices an identity. You can quickly switch from ring to vibrate or silent. Some people in the community post have suggested OnePlus could keep the slider and bring the new button but chances of that becoming a reality are sadly very slim.

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The action button will surely offer more options but will it make a difference for users, only time will tell.

All in all, the past few months have been OnePlus-heavy and most of them have come in the form of bad news for users in India. OnePlus confirmed that it will not launch a foldable in 2025, and later said the OnePlus Watch 3 is unlikely to debut in the country.

About the Author S Aadeetya S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr... Read More S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr... 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!

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: March 11, 2025, 09:15 IST
Data Analyst Gets Rejected Over A Missing Comma, Calls Job Market A Joke

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 08:58 IST

A data analyst, who applied for a data engineer role at a company, got rejected in the second round over a comma.

A data engineer got rejected in the second round of a job interview over a minor grammatical error. (GettyImages)

A data analyst was taken aback after being rejected from a job interview not due to incompetence or lack of skills, but over a minor grammatical error. The individual had successfully cleared the first round for a data engineer role at a well-known company, whose name resembles the word quantity". However, in the second round, they were dismissed over a missing comma in a SQL query written in Notepad.

The frustrated individual took to Reddit to share their experience and seek advice on transitioning from a data analyst (DA) to a data engineer (DE).

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Had my second-round interview for a Data Engineer role at a well-known company (The name has a resemblance to quantity). I cleared the first round, and in the second, I answered everything correctly  except I forgot a comma between two column names while writing a SQL query in Notepad," the Redditor wrote on the platform.

The interviewer, instead of acknowledging the simple oversight, reportedly launched into a 20-minute rant about the overreliance on AI tools. They added, The interviewer went off on me for 20 minutes about relying on AI tools and IDEs, completely dismissing my experience working with complex analytical queries and building ETL pipelines at a leading CDP."

It was a simple oversight, not a lack of knowledge, but I still got rejected for it. Frustrating, to say the least. Any advice on navigating my first transition from DA to DE?" they further added.

Posts from the developersindia community on Reddit

The post, since being shared on Reddit, has accumulated over 700 upvotes and counting. Many even flocked to the comments section of the post to give their two cents.

A full-stack developer echoed what a companys CEOs would have said to investors: We are actively looking to hire, but candidates have no skills and it would be a waste of funds to train these candidates, and we dont want to burn investors money."

I was once asked the current PyTorch version as a question and got ghosted," another shared a similar experience.

A third joked, What company rhymes with quantity? I know thats not remotely the point of the post, but I cant think about anything else!"

Others felt the rejection was a blessing in disguise. The interviewer did you a solid. I once got lectured because I used interchangeable words, the interviewer was expecting a textbook answer, and this was for a SDE2 role," commented yet another full-stack developer.

An Internet user suggested that they should have walked out of the room the moment the interviewer started whining". To this, the original poster replied, Im kind of scared to have walked out of an interview like that. Ive never done something like this before. I even thanked him for his time and wished him a good day."

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One even asked if the interview attended the skill builder role at EY?

A social media user doubted if the interviewer went off for 20 minutes just over a comma? Addressing this, the Redditor elaborated, My interviewer had plenty of time. He went on and on about how, when he started his career, he didnt have access to advanced IDEs and debugging tools. Then, he ranted about how AI tools are ruining this generation of developers. He also claimed to have never used a debugger and insisted that I should develop the same habit. Ive never experienced anything like this. If I had already made my decision as an interviewer, I would have simply ended the interview."

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 11, 2025, 08:26 IST
Office Pressure Took A Toll: Wife Of GST Deputy Commissioner Who Died By Suicide In Noida Speaks Out

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 11:21 IST

Noida: Wife of GST Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Singh, who jumped to death from his apartment building in Noida, has blamed the system behind his tragic step.

Noida: GST Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Singh who jumped from his apartment building (right) and his wife (left).

A GST Deputy Commissioner, Sanjay Singh, tragically ended his life by jumping from the 15th floor of his apartment building in Noidas Sector 75. His family claims immense office pressure drove him to take this drastic step.

The incident occurred at Apex Athena Society around 11 AM. Singh was posted at the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Department in Ghaziabad.

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Reports were suggesting that the 59-year-old was suffering from cancer and battling depression, which may have led to his suicide. According to MP Singh, GST Additional Commissioner, Ghaziabad, he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer five years ago and was in its final stage, struggling with depression.

However, his wife firmly denied these claims and instead pointed to workplace stress as the real cause of his death.

Read| Mumbai Suicide Case: Man Hangs Do Not Disturb Sign Outside Hotel Room Before Dying By Suicide, Blames Wife And Aunt

He was survivor: Wife of Sanjay Singh

When asked about rumours that Sanjay Singh was struggling with cancer, his wife dismissed them outright. She replied, No, he was a survivor. We cannot say that he was battling it He not only took care of himself but also helped many of his close ones get treated for it. Be it my sister-in-law or father-in-law."

We cannot say his cancer was life threatening. From the very first day, it was stated that it was not life-threatening," she further clarified.

Wife claims extreme office pressure

Singhs wife stressed the mental toll of his job, hinting at a toxic work environment. Singh was posted at the GST office in Rajendra Nagar, Sector 2, Ghaziabad, where he oversaw cases being heard in the Supreme Court of India.

She said, He was under immense mental pressure from the office. Maybe the people in our department will understand this. The mental pressure was extreme."

When a reporter pointed out that Sanjay Singh had recovered from cancer 8-9 years ago, she responded, Yes, even today, he was fine. We had no fear that anything would happen to him. But what happened, this incident; it wasnt normal."

He was a victim of the system

In some way or another, he became a victim of this system of yours," she blamed the system in a scathing remark.

His wife asserted, My husband did not have stage four cancer. That is 100 percent clear, and I have proof of it. Secondly, whatever happened, the entire system is to be blamed. It needs to be investigated."

Sanjay Singh is survived by his wife and two sons. His elder son works in Gurugram, while his younger son is pursuing a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) at Sharda University in Greater Noida.

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(With inputs from PTI)

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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 11, 2025, 10:46 IST
The Irula Tribe: Where Even Children Know How To Extract Venom From Deadliest Snakes

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 20:04 IST

The Irula tribe excels in snake handling and venom extraction, vital for anti-venom drugs. Their co-op, founded in 1978, supports their sustainable livelihood.

Irula tribe excels in snake handling and venom extraction.

A remarkable tribe has turned a dangerous craft into a life-saving mission in southern parts of the country. The Irula tribe, spread across Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, has mastered the ancient art of snake handling and venom extraction  a skill passed down through generations. Their work is not only risky but also essential for producing anti-venom, which saves countless lives every year from deadly snake bites.

For most people, the sight of a snake is enough to trigger panic and fear. But for the Irula tribe, snakes are not creatures to be feared  they are a source of livelihood and a vital part of their heritage. While 70% of snakes are non-venomous, the remaining 30% include some of the deadliest species in the world. A single bite from a venomous snake can lead to paralysis, organ failure, and death within hours.

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Yet, the Irula tribe handles these deadly reptiles with astonishing ease. Men, women, and even children are trained from a young age to identify, catch, and extract venom from snakes with bare hands. This expertise makes them one of the most sought-after snake-catching communities in the world.

The Irula tribes work is crucial for the production of anti-venom. They specialise in extracting venom from four of the most dangerous snake species in India:

King Cobra

Krait

Russells Viper

Indian Saw-Scaled Viper

These snakes produce venom so potent that a single drop can kill a human. The venom is collected by carefully holding the snake by the neck, opening its mouth, and allowing it to bite into a jar. Under pressure, the snakes fangs release venom, which drips into the container.

The collected venom is then sold to pharmaceutical companies, where it is processed to create anti-venom injections. These life-saving treatments are essential in India, where snake bites cause an estimated 50,000 deaths each year.

Irula Snake Catchers Industrial Co-operative Society

The Irula tribes organised involvement in venom extraction began in 1978 with the establishment of the Irula Snake Catchers Industrial Co-operative Society. Founded by American herpetologist Romulus Whitaker, the society gave the Irula tribe legal protection and a sustainable source of income after the government banned snake hunting under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

Before this, the Irula tribe had made a living by hunting and selling snakes, often to the British colonialists, who prized snake skin for luxury goods. The ban initially left the tribe without a livelihood, until Whitaker recognised their expertise and helped them transition from snake hunters to snake saviours.

Today, the society has over 100 members and holds a government licence to catch and extract venom from up to 13,000 snakes annually. The venom trade generates an estimated Rs 25 crore (approximately $3 million) each year for the community.

Strict Guidelines and Ethical Practices

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Snake venom extraction in India is tightly regulated. The Irula tribe is allowed to collect venom only from the four approved snake species. Each snake is kept in a clay pot covered with a cotton cloth for up to 21 days. During this period, venom is extracted up to four times before the snake is released back into the wild.

The extraction process is carefully monitored to ensure the snakes are not harmed. After their venom is collected, the snakes are released into their natural habitat, ensuring a balanced ecosystem and sustainable practices.

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 11, 2025, 20:04 IST
Woman Collapses In New York Court As Prosecutor Reads Her Statement About 'Monster' Rapist

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 11:08 IST

The victim, an illegal migrant from Paraguay, was blackmailed and tormented by 62-year-old Jose Espinoza.

The convict was sentenced to 22 years in prison. (Representative Image)

A migrant woman in New York City collapsed in court while listening to her victim-impact statement being read out. The woman had suffered years of rape and abuse by a building superintendent who was sentenced to 22 years in prison. The incident took place in Manhattan Supreme Court during his sentencing.

According to the New York Post, the victim, an illegal migrant from Paraguay, was blackmailed and tormented by 62-year-old Jose Espinoza. Because of this bastard, Im struggling to continue with my life normally," she said in her statement which was read by Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Jonathon Junig.

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Moments later, her eyes rolled back and she fainted. The courtroom remained tense for nearly ten minutes as people rushed to help her. Once she regained consciousness, she sat in the first row while the prosecutor finished reading her statement.

For many years, I suffered hell for no reason at all. He destroyed my life and my innocent family," the woman said in her letter to the judge, urging to show no mercy when sentencing the rapist.

As per the outlet, Espinoza was convicted in December of rape, labour trafficking and other charges. He had met the victim in 2017 and offered her money for sex and cleaning of apartments in the Flatiron building where he worked as the superintendent.

When she tried to end the arrangement a year later, he became violent. Prosecutors said he physically assaulted her, took her passport and tracked her movements. At one point, he demanded naked photos of her special-needs child and threatened to expose them if she spoke out.

Dont be fooled by this monster, your Honor. He isnt a human being.  He likes to make people suffer, and he enjoys it. And I assure you, he will never change," the victim said in her statement.

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Espinozas crimes went on for six years. He forced the woman to live with his wife and one of his daughters so that he could have full control over her. The abuse only came to light when the victim was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022 and told a social worker at Bellevue Hospital about her years of abuse. Espinoza was arrested in December 2023.

In court, Espinoza denied being a rapist but admitted to making very bad, terrible mistakes." His wife and family supported him but the judge dismissed their defense. Good family men do not cheat on their wives, enslave other women, install them in their homes where they can exercise ultimate control over them, and rape them," the judge said.

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 11, 2025, 11:08 IST
11 Pakistan Army Personnel Killed As Balochistan Militants Seize Train, 182 Passengers Taken 'Hostage'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 18:23 IST

The BLA said in a statement, The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) fighters, after seizing the Jaffar Express, have taken 182 hostages."

Pakistan Train Hostage Crisis: Separatist militants in Pakistans restive Balochistan province attacked a Peshawar-bound train. (Image: Representative)

Pakistan Jaffar Express Attack: The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) issued a statement saying that they hijacked the Jaffar Express, a train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, and took 182 passengers hostage. It further said that so far, 11 Pakistani army personnel have been killed.

The BLA said in a statement, The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) fighters, after seizing the Jaffar Express, have taken 182 hostages. So far, eleven Pakistani military personnel have been killed, and a drone has also been shot down."

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BLA further asserted that it has full control of the Jaffar Express.

It further mentioned that are active-duty personnel from the Pakistani Army, Police, ISI, and ATE, who were travelling have been held as hostages. However, civilian passengers, including, women, children, senior citizens, and Baloch citizens, who were onboard the train, have been released safely and given a secure route.

The BLA has clarified that among the hostages are active-duty personnel from the Pakistani Army, Police, ISI, and ATE, all of whom were traveling on leave. Civilian passengers, particularly women, children, the elderly, and Baloch citizens, have been released safely and given a secure route."

Read More: Hostages Will Be Executed If: Balochistan Militants Warn Pakistan Army After Train Hijack

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Warning the Pakistani army against intervention, the BLA warned that any attempt at a military operation will result in the execution of all hostages.

The BLA further warns that if military intervention continues, all hostages will be executed. The operation is being led by the Majeed Brigade, STOS, Fatah Squad, and Zirab Unit of the BLA, and any military action will be met with a decisive response," it added.

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More

Location : Pakistan

First Published: March 11, 2025, 18:23 IST
Bangladesh Armys Internal Power Struggle Gives Edge To Pakistan In Latest Headache For India | Exclusive

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 19:00 IST

Amidst the turmoil in Bangladesh, ISI chief Lt Gen Asim Maliks visit to Dhaka --- the first such visit in decades --- is being is seen as a sign of Pakistans ambition in the Northeast

Bangladesh's Chief of Army Staff General Waker-uz-Zaman has hinted at a potential coup in Bangladesh, expressing concerns over the countrys stability and sovereignty. (Reuters)

A potential crisis is brewing in the Bangladesh Army as a deep rift has emerged between the Army Chief and a top general, raising concerns about external influences and the militarys future role in the country.

At the heart of the tension lies a clash of ideologies and allegiances. General Waker-uz-Zaman, appointed Army chief in June 2024, is widely respected as a balanced leader with a pro-India tilt. In stark contrast, Lieutenant General Mohammad Faizur Rahman, the Quartermaster General (QMG), is seen as harbouring pro-Islamist and pro-Pakistan sentiments, putting him at odds with the Army chiefs vision.

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Rahmans controversial meeting with the Pakistani ISI chief in early 2025, reported by CNN-News18, has further fuelled tensions within the army. The meeting, reportedly aimed at establishing an intelligence-sharing network, was perceived as a direct challenge to Zamans authority and a sign of external forces meddling in Bangladeshs military affairs.

Adding to the turmoil are reports, though unverified, of a failed coup attempt orchestrated by Rahman. While the details remain murky, the alleged attempt underscores the severity of the rift and the QMGs ambition to assert his influence.

Zaman, a staunch advocate for a professional and apolitical military, has publicly expressed his frustration with the interim governments instability and emphasised the need for the army to return to barracks once stability is restored. He has also issued stark warnings about the potential consequences of undermining the police and armed forces, stating that such actions could lead to Bangladeshs downfall.

Rahman, on the other hand, appears to favour a more active role for the military, potentially aligning with Islamist factions within Bangladesh and drawing support from Pakistans ISI. His perceived loyalty to external actors has raised serious concerns about his true agenda and the potential for further destabilisation.

The power struggle within the Bangladesh Army has sent shockwaves through the nation, raising concerns about its stability and the potential for further unrest. The clash between Zamans vision of a neutral and professional military and Rahmans alleged ambitions, fuelled by external forces, has created a dangerous and unpredictable situation. The coming months will be crucial in determining the trajectory of Bangladeshs military and the future of the nation itself.

CHANCES OF COUP?

Zaman, meanwhile, has hinted at a potential coup in Bangladesh, expressing concerns over the countrys stability and sovereignty.

Zaman has warned of a potential threat to the nations independence, implying that the country might be under external influence. General Zaman stressed his desire to see Bangladesh in safe hands, hinting that a military takeover might be an option if the situation doesnt improve.

According to top intelligence sources, the army chiefs recent statements suggest growing concern over external influence in Bangladesh. He appears to be urging a return to stability and democratic processes, hinting that a military takeover is possible if the situation doesnt improve.

ISI CHIEFS DHAKA VISIT RAISES CONCERNS

Amidst the turmoil in Bangladesh, ISI chief Lt Gen Asim Maliks visit to Dhaka  the first such visit in decades  is raising security concerns for India. The visit, officially aimed at creating an intelligence-sharing network, is seen as a sign of Pakistans ambition in the Northeast.

Intelligence assessments suggest that the ISI seeks to exploit divisions within the Bangladesh Army, which is split between those loyal to the Awami League and those aligned with Islamist factions. The ISI aims to cultivate ties with student groups capable of disrupting elections and potentially destabilising the government.

With Khaleda Zias political future uncertain, the ISI sees an opportunity in Jamaat-e-Islami cadres, despite their limited support base. By uniting student groups and Jamaat-e-Islami, the ISI hopes to create unrest in Bangladesh and potentially use these groups to foment trouble in India.

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Lt Gen Maliks meeting with Lt Gen Muhammad Faizur Rahman, the Bangladesh Armys Quarter Master General, is significant. Rahman is believed to be close to Islamist factions and faces serious allegations related to the destruction of evidence and enforced disappearances. His appointment as head of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) after Sheikh Hasinas departure raises further concerns about growing ISI influence within the Bangladesh military.

This development follows earlier reports of Jamaat-e-Islamis activities against India, highlighting the complex security challenges facing the region. The ISI chiefs visit underscores Pakistans intent to exploit internal divisions and cultivate proxies in Bangladesh, posing a potential threat to Indias security along its eastern and North-eastern borders.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh

First Published: March 11, 2025, 19:00 IST
Deepseek Founders Small Village Turns Into Tourist Hotspot; Visitors Take Soil, Stones As Souvenirs

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 21:06 IST

Liang, whose parents work as primary school teachers in the village, has brought unexpected attention to Mililing, prompting local authorities to give the hamlet a much-needed facelift.

DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng (right) was invited to meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang last week. (Photo: CCTV/ South China Morning Post)

The small, unassuming village of Mililing in southern China has become an unexpected tourist hotspot, thanks to the AI success of one of its natives, Liang Wenfeng, the 40-year-old founder of DeepSeek.

Liang, whose parents work as primary school teachers in the village, has brought unexpected attention to Mililing, prompting local authorities to give the hamlet a much-needed facelift, reported South China Morning Post.

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The village, with a population of around 700, primarily relies on shoe manufacturing and agriculture. Liang studied at Mililings primary school, later attended the well-regarded Wuchuan No 1 Middle School. He further excelled in the challenging gaokao exams and secured a place at the prestigious Zhejiang University in 2002.

News of Liangs achievements spread, sparking a wave of curiosity that has transformed Mililing into an unlikely tourist destination. Since January, the village has seen a steady stream of visitors, from families to company employees on organised trips, eager to catch a glimpse of the AI prodigys roots. This interest peaked during the Spring Festival holiday period, from January 29 to February 10, when Mililing welcomed a staggering 10,000 visitors per day.

This sudden influx of tourists, however, brought to light the villages inadequate infrastructure. To address complaints and capitalise on the newfound popularity, local authorities undertook a significant revamp. Roads were widened, sewage drains were built, and the village received a much-needed cleanup. The exterior of 29 houses were refurbished, dilapidated structures were demolished, and the addition of trees aimed to enhance the villages overall aesthetic, the report added.

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However, not all residents are happy about the villages newfound fame. Liangs grandfather, the sole occupant of their four-story house, now finds himself constantly bothered by tourists. Hes resorted to keeping his front door closed for a majority of the day to avoid unwanted attention. Some visitors have even taken souvenirs," with reports of soil, stones, and even leaves disappearing from the village.

While Mililing basks in the reflected glory of Liangs success, the situation highlights the unforeseen consequences of sudden fame on a small, unprepared village, the report added.

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 : China

First Published: March 11, 2025, 20:50 IST
'A Great American': In Big Elon Musk Shout-Out, Trump Will Buy 'A Brand New Tesla' Amid Boycott Calls

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 10:51 IST

Donald Trump said he will buy a new Tesla to show support for Elon Musk, calling him "a truly great American." He also slammed the 'Radical Left' for allegedly trying to boycott Tesla.

Elon Musk (R) jumps on stage as he joins (then) US President during a campaign rally (Photo: AFP)

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he would be buying a brand new Tesla car on Wednesday morning, as a show of confidence and support for billionaire Elon Musk, whom he termed a truly great American".

Trumps announcement comes as police across the United States are investigating a series of attacks on Tesla showrooms, charging stations and Tesla vehicles, as vitriol escalates against CEO Elon Musk.

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Such protests have also been reported in other countries.

To Republicans, Conservatives, and all great Americans, Elon Musk is putting it on the line" in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! But the Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the Worlds great automakers, and Elons baby," in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Socia.

They tried to do it to me at the 2024 Presidential Ballot Box, but how did that work out?"

In any event, Im going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American," Trump wrote.

Why should he be punished for putting his tremendous skills to work in order to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN???" (sic).

In response, Elon Musk quoted Trumps post and wrote, Thank you, President."

ALSO READ | 12 Tesla Cars Torched In France As Anger Toward Elon Musk Grows

There have also been peaceful protests at many Tesla locations, which involve demonstrators carrying signs and chanting Elon Musk has got to go" in response to the slashing of federal jobs and budgets by Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Though the protests have been peaceful, there have also been widespread reports of vandalism.

While there have been no reports of injuries, the incidents pose a potential financial problem for Tesla. The company faces declining sales for the first time due to increased competition and backlash over Musks contentious role in the Trump administration.

ALSO READ | Teslas China Sales Hit Lowest In 19-month, Overshadowed By 10-times From BYD

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In the wake of the backlash, Tesla also reported the first drop in annual sales in its history, and there are indications that sales could be down again this quarter.

According to Reuters, while overall electric vehicle sales in Europe surged by 34 per cent in January, sales of Tesla plummeted 50 per cent. Teslas sales fell 29 per cent in China  the companys second-largest market after the United States  in the first two months of the year.

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: March 11, 2025, 10:09 IST
Trump Doubles Tariffs On Canadian Steel & Aluminum Imports, Harps On '51st US State' Taunt

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 22:56 IST

Trump's latest announcement came after Ontario Premier Doug Ford slapped 25% additional tariffs for electricity to 1.5 million Americans in response to his trade war.

US president Donald Trump

In a significant escalation to a lingering trade war with Canada, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he has instructed his Commerce Secretary to impose double tariffs on all Canadian imports to 50%. His response came after Ontario slapped a 25% tariff on electricity provided to the US.

Based on Ontario, Canada, placing a 25% Tariff on Electricity" coming into the United States, I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

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The tariff will come into effect on Wednesday (March 12), marking an immediate end to the temporary pause in tariffs Trump had announced earlier on Canadian goods. Trumps trade war against Washingtons three biggest trading partners  Canada, Mexico and China, has drawn immediate retaliation and wreaked havoc on financial markets.

This will allow the US to quickly do what has to be done to alleviate this abusive threat from Canada," he added. He also threatened to substantially increase" tariffs on cars coming into the United States on April 2 if other egregious, long time Tariffs are not likewise dropped by Canada."

Canadas PM-Designate Mark Carney reacted strongly to Trumps new statement. President Trumps latest tariffs are an attack on Canadian workers, families, and businesses. My government will ensure our response has maximum impact in the US and minimal impact here in Canada, while supporting the workers impacted," he said on X.

President Trumps latest tariffs are an attack on Canadian workers, families, and businesses. My government will ensure our response has maximum impact in the US and minimal impact here in Canada, while supporting the workers impacted.My government will keep our tariffs on  Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) March 11, 2025

Carney said the Canadian tariffs will be kept in place until the Americans show us respect and make credible, reliable commitments to free and fair trade".

ALSO READ: Tongue Out, Chair In Hand, Justin Trudeau Bids Farewell To Canadian Parliament

US-Canada Trade War

Since taking office, Trump has threatened Canada with tariffs and has promised to make it the 51st US State", mockingly referring to former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as Governor Trudeau. His remarks have infuriated Canadians, who are booing the American anthem at NHL and NBA games.

After Trumps initial announcement of tariffs, Canada announced retaliatory tariffs of C$30 billion worth of imports, while an additional C$125 billion in tariffs were put on hold after Trump paused his 25% tariffs last week after stock markets tumbled.

This trade war has brought US-Canada relations to an all-time low. In his farewell speech, Trudeau warned that Canada faces an existential challenge" from the United States.

Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing for national security. Nearly CA$3.6 billion ($2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day.

Trump Reiterates 51st State Warning

He also remarked that Canada pays very little for national security and relies on the US for military protection. Trump also reiterated his demand to make Canada the 51st US State, and he would remove all tariffs if this is achieved.

Canadians taxes will be very substantially reduced, they will be more secure, militarily and otherwise, than ever before, there would no longer be a Northern Border problem, and the greatest and most powerful nation in the World will be bigger, better and stronger than ever  And Canada will be a big part of that," he said in his post.

He continued, The artificial line of separation drawn many years ago will finally disappear, and we will have the safest and most beautiful Nation anywhere in the World  And your brilliant anthem, O Canada," will continue to play, but now representing a GREAT and POWERFUL STATE within the greatest Nation that the World has ever seen!"

Canada Will Never Be Part Of America

Mark Carney, who replaced Trudeau as the Liberal Party leader, said he would never allow Canada to be part of America in any way." Regarding Trumps tariff threats, Carney stated that Canadas retaliatory measures would remain in effect until the US makes a credible commitment to free and fair trade.

Describing America as a country we can no longer trust" as it has brought dark days on Canada, he said, We are getting over the shock but let us never forget the lessons, we have to look after ourselves and to look out for each other. We need to pull together in the tough days ahead."

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Reacting to US President Donald Trumps repeated wish to make Canada the 51st state of the United States, Carney said, America is not Canada. Canada will never ever be part of America in any way, shape or form."

(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 11, 2025, 19:55 IST
'Hostages Will Be Executed If...': Balochistan Militants Warn Pakistan Army After Train Hijack

Reported By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 18:47 IST

Pakistan Train Hostage Crisis: Warning the Pakistani army against intervention, the BLA warned that any attempt at a military operation will result in the execution of all hostages.

Pakistan Train Hostage Crisis: Separatist militants in Pakistans restive Balochistan province attacked a Peshawar-bound train. (Image: Representative)

Pakistan Train Hostage Crisis: The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) hijacked the Jaffar Express, a train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar.

The BLA said in a statement, The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) fighters, after seizing the Jaffar Express, have taken 182 hostages. So far, eleven Pakistani military personnel have been killed, and a drone has also been shot down."

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In an earlier statement, the militant group had said, The Baloch Liberation Army has completely repelled the Pakistani militarys ground assault following the seizure of Jaffar Express. After intense clashes, Pakistani ground troops were forced to retreat, but airstrikes from helicopters and drones continue unabated."

Warning the Pakistani army against intervention, the BLA warned that any attempt at a military operation will result in the execution of all hostages.

Follow LIVE Updates

The responsibility for such bloodshed will solely be on the Pakistani army, the BLA said.

The Baloch Liberation Army has carried out a meticulously planned operation in Mashkaf, Dhadar, Bolan, where our freedom fighters have blown up the railway track, forcing the Jaffar Express to come to a halt. The fighters swiftly took control of the train, holding all passengers hostage," it said.

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Read More: Balochistan Militants Open Fire On Pakistan Train In Hostage Crisis, 6 Security Men Killed

This operation is being conducted jointly by the Majeed Brigade, STOS, and Fateh Squad specialized units of the BLA. Any military incursion will be met with an equally forceful response," they added.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Location : Pakistan

First Published: March 11, 2025, 16:37 IST
I Am Wheels Up: Tulsi Gabbard Begins Trip To India, Japan, Thailand; First Stop At Honolulu

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 08:28 IST

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced a trip to India, Japan, and Thailand to strengthen ties and support President Trump's goals.

Tulsi Gabbar leaves for her Indo-Pacific journey. (Photo: X)

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced on Monday that she will be visiting India as part of a multi-nation" trip to the Indo-Pacific. The trip is focused on strengthening relationships and opening communication channels to support President Donald Trumps goals of peace and freedom.

Im #WheelsUp on a multi-nation trip to the Indo-Pacific, a region I know well from my childhood in the Pacific. Ill be visiting Japan, Thailand, and India, with a brief stop in France on my way back to DC," Gabbard shared in a post on X, along with a photo of herself boarding a plane.

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I am #WheelsUp on a multi-nation trip to the Indo-Pacific, a region I know very well having grown up as a child of the Pacific. Ill be going to Japan, Thailand, and India, with a brief stop in France enroute back to DC. Building strong relationships, understanding, and open pic.twitter.com/7PiM1a5RGu DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) March 10, 2025

Building strong relationships, fostering understanding, and maintaining open communication are crucial for achieving President Trumps objectives of peace, freedom, and prosperity," she added.

Her first stop will be Honolulu, where she plans to meet with IC partners and INDOPACOM" (US Indo-Pacific Command) leaders, as well as visit US troops engaged in training. This will mark Gabbards first visit to India since assuming the role of the eighth Senate-confirmed Director of National Intelligence, and the first female combat veteran to hold the position in the second Trump administration.

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Earlier in February, Gabbard had met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Washington DC for a bilateral meeting with President Trump at the White House. Gabbard was the first US official to meet Modi at Blair House on February 12, shortly after the Indian Prime Ministers arrival in the US capital.

Met USAs Director of National Intelligence, @TulsiGabbard, in Washington DC. Congratulated her on her confirmation. Discussed various aspects of the India-USA friendship, of which shes always been a strong advocate," Modi wrote in a post on X.

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 11, 2025, 08:28 IST
Pakistan's Top Diplomat Denied Entry Into US, Deported From Los Angeles Airport: Report

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 14:51 IST

The incident comes almost a week after reports indicated that the US administration, under President Donald Trump, would soon announce travel restrictions on Pakistan.

Pakistans ambassador to Turkmenistan KK Ahsan Wagan | File Image

Pakistans Ambassador to Turkmenistan was denied entry to the United States and deported from the Los Angeles airport despite owning a valid visa and other documents.

According to a report in The News, KK Ahsan Wagan was reportedly heading to Los Angeles on a vacation when he was denied entry by US immigration officials.

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Ambassador K K Wagan was deported from the US. He had an immigration objection which led to his deportation," a Pakistani Foreign Ministry official said on Tuesday.

Notably, the report claimed, citing sources, that the US immigration system detected controversial visa references", leading to his deportation from the country. However, the US has not issued any official concerns that led to their sudden move.

The authorities forced Wagan to return to departure point in a rare diplomatic incident.

Pakistan On Toes

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Secretary Amina Baloch were briefed on the incident, prompting the Foreign Affairs Ministry to direct its Los Angeles consulate to investigate the incident.

Wagan may be recalled to Islamabad to explain the incident, said sources.

Wagan, an experienced diplomat, has served in several key roles within Pakistans foreign service. Before becoming the envoy to Turkmenistan, he worked as the second secretary at Pakistans embassy in Kathmandu and later as the deputy consul general at the Los Angeles consulate.

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The incident comes to the spotlight almost a week after Reuters reported that the US administration, under President Donald Trump, would soon announce travel restrictions on Pakistan, potentially limiting the entry of its citizens into the United States.

About the Author Ronit Singh Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: March 11, 2025, 14:51 IST
Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 22:15 IST

Separatist militants in Pakistans restive Balochistan province attacked a Peshawar-bound train on Tuesday and took nearly 450 passengers hostage, including women and children. The provincial government suspected a terrorist involvement and activated emergency measures, according to local media.

There are reports of intense firing at a Jaffar Express [train] going from Quetta to Peshawar," Dawn quoted Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rinds statement. The spokesperson said the incident could be a possible terrorist incident. More than 30 security personnel have been killed in intense clashes in the area.

In a statement, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a militant separatist group, claimed responsibility for the attack and said they had taken hostages from the train, including security forces.

ALSO READ | Pakistan Train Hijack LIVE: Hundreds Of Hostages Under BLAs Captivity, 6 Personnel Killed

The Baloch Liberation Army has carried out a meticulously planned operation in Mashkaf, Dhadar, Bolan, where our freedom fighters have blown up the railway track, forcing the Jaffar Express to come to a halt. The fighters swiftly took control of the train, holding all passengers hostage," it said.

The militants said six military personnel were killed in the attack, and hundreds of passengers remained under BLA custody. It warned of executing all passengers if Pakistan attempted any military operation.

This operation is being conducted jointly by the Majeed Brigade, STOS, and Fateh Squad specialized units of the BLA. Any military incursion will be met with an equally forceful response," they added.

A train driver was allegedly injured in the firing on Tuesday, according to police and railway officials. The train was on its way to Peshawar from Quetta when it was fired upon.

100 Security Personnel In BLAs Captivity

In another statement, the BLA said it completely repelled" the Pakistani militarys ground assault following the Jaffar Express attack, as Pakistani forces were forced to retreat" after intense clashes with the militants. However, the Army has started conducting airstrikes and drone attacks.

The BLA warned that if the aerial bombardment was not halted immediately, all hostages would be executed within the next hour", adding that any further military action would have catastrophic consequences". Pakistani political analyst Amjad Ayub Mirza told CNN News-18 that the Pakistan Armys first attempt to rescue operations failed miserably.

Security forces told Reuters that an explosion had been heard near the tunnel and that they were exchanging fire with the militants in a mountainous area.

Over 100 enemy personnel remain in BLA custody. The occupying forces still have a chance to cease airstrikes and save their men, or else the Pakistani military will bear full responsibility for the execution of all hostages," said BLA spokesperson Jeeyend Baloch.

Civilian Passengers Released

In a follow-up statement, the BLA said the group has taken 182 hostages, including military personnel, but all civilian passengers  including women, children, the elderly and the Baloch citizens  have been released safely and given a secure route.

A total of 20 Pakistani security personnel have been killed in intense clashes, and a drone was shot down. Among the hostages are active-duty personnel from the Pakistani Army, police, ISI and ATIF, all of whom were travelling on leave. The BLA threatened to execute all hostages if military intervention continued.

Pakistani journalist Wajahat Kazmi said that security forces had confirmed an intense and tough battle between BLA militants and Pakistani security forces near the Jaffar Express train. The Jaffar Express train is held hostage under a tunnel, which makes the operation very complex, he said.

Not a single BLA militant had been killed in the operation so far, the group said. Clear instructions have been issued to the Majeed Brigade: if the Pakistani military attempts to approach all hostages will be executed," it added.

BLA Demands Release Of Baloch Activists

In another statement, the BLA said that more than 30 Pakistani security personnel were killed in clashes and 214 personnel were being held captive as prisoners of war". The BLA said it forced Pakistani troops to retreat after eight hours of fighting.

The separatist group gave a 48-hour ultimatum for Pakistan to release all Baloch activists in exchange for the captive Pakistani personnel and threatened to neutralise" them and destroy the train if their demands were not met.

Rescue Efforts Underway

Rescue teams and security forces have reached the scene, and an operation is underway to track down the militants. An emergency relief team has been dispatched to assist the train driver who sustained serious injuries in the attack, according to The Express Tribune.

An emergency was imposed at the Sibi Hospital in the wake of the attack. Officials were facing difficulties in reaching the site of the attack due to the rocky terrain, according to the Balochistan government spokesperson.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the incident and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the firing. The beasts who fire on innocent passengers do not deserve any concessions," he said in a statement. Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, in a statement, strongly condemned the incident, saying that passengers were injured due to the firing."

The railway department has sent more trains to the site to provide rescue and emergency measures" have been activated by the provincial government. The spokesperson urged the public to remain calm.

Notably, Pakistan had announced the restoration between Quetta and Peshawar in October after an over month-long suspension following an uptick in terror attacks.

Terrorist Attacks in Balochistan

Terrorist attacks in Pakistans restive Balochistan province have increased in recent months, as separatist movements have been fighting for increased autonomy and the recognition of Baloch peoples rights. Pakistans Army has responded by launching counter-insurgency operations which have been criticised for excessive use of force.

The BLA carried out 302 attacks last year, resulting in over 580 deaths and 370 injuries, according to a report by The Balochistan Post. Other groups like Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), and Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS) also launched hundreds of attacks that cumulatively caused over 1,000 deaths in 2024.

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In November 2024, the BLA claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at Quettas main railway station that killed 26 people, including 14 soldiers.
Pakistan Train Hijack: Around 150 Military Personnel Killed By BLA, Says Baloch Activist Mama Qadeer To News18

Reported By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 22:02 IST

According to Qadeer, the insurgents learnt that many army personnel on leave for Eid were travelling by this train. They were separated from the others and then killed

Security forces have been deployed after the Jaffar Express train hijacking. (Image/Agencies)

The separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) on Tuesday attacked and took control of a train in Pakistan, holding 182 passengers hostage. In an exclusive conversation with CNN-News18, Balochistan activist Mama Qadeer Baloch claimed that around 150 military personnel travelling by the Jaffar Express were killed by the militants during the operation.

BLA has made several similar attempts in their bid for independence. They have taken many people captive in the past too," he said. They learnt that many army personnel on leave for Eid were travelling by this train. They were separated from the others and then killed. Around 150 soldiers were killedThis is the biggest such operation of its kind."

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The Jaffar Express, with hundreds of passengers on board in nine bogies, was on its way from Quetta in Pakistans southwestern Balochistan province to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when it came under attack.

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The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which is fighting for independence of Balochistan and accuses outsiders of exploiting the regions wealth, claimed responsibility for the attack.

BLA fighters blew the railway tracks and forced the train to stop, after which they boarded it.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

First Published: March 11, 2025, 22:00 IST
Pakistan Train Hijack: Baloch Rebels Take 214 Hostages, 30 Security Personnel Killed | Top Points

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 22:16 IST

Pakistan Train Hijack: BLA militants bombed the railway track and captured the Quetta-Peshawar Jaffar Express train on Tuesday. The militants killed 20 Army personnel in intense clashes.

Security forces have been deployed after the Jaffar Express train hijacking. (Image/Agencies)

Pakistan Train Hijacking: Separatist Baloch militants staged a major attack on Tuesday by derailing and hijacking a Peshawar-bound train near Bolan district in Pakistans restive Balochistan, taking hundreds of passengers hostage and beginning a long confrontation with the embattled military.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) took responsibility for hijacking the Jaffar Express, which was going from Quetta to Peshawar in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. At least 450 passengers were initially taken captive, and the BLA warned that all passengers would be executed if Pakistan launched a military operation.

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Rescue teams and ambulances were dispatched to the site, but they encountered significant difficulties due to the rocky terrain of the mountains. Several local media outlets reported of intense clashes between the Pakistani Army and the Baloch rebels, after which more than 30 security personnel were killed, in a major embarrassment for the all-powerful military. More than 214 people are being held captive by the militants.

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Pakistan Train Hijack: Top Points

BLA militants hijacked the train between Pehro Kunri and Gadalar in Balochistan province while it was travelling to Peshawar from Quetta, which takes around 34 hours. The gunmen had bombed the railway track" and taken control of the train in Sibi after wounding the driver. The BLA said it had taken captive hundreds of passengers, estimated to be 450, aboard the Jaffar Express and threatened to execute all hostages in case of a military intervention. Rescue teams and security forces were dispatched to the scene. In another statement, the BLA said it completely repelled" the Pakistani militarys ground assault and Pakistani troops were forced to retreat" after intense clashes near the captured train. The Army has started conducting airstrikes and drone attacks. by deploying Cobra helicopters and jet fighters. As the first attempt to rescue hostages failed miserably, the BLA took 100 enemy personnel into captivity and told the Pakistani military to stop the aerial bombardment or bear responsibility for the execution of all hostages. Later, the BLA said it had taken 182 hostages, including military personnel, but all civilian passengers  including women, children, the elderly and the Baloch citizens  have been released safely and given a secure route. At least 20 security personnel were killed in intense clashes. The 182 hostages included active-duty personnel from the Pakistani Army, police, ISI and ATIF, all of whom were travelling on leave. In another statement, the BLA said that more than 30 Pakistani security personnel were killed in clashes and 214 personnel were being held captive as prisoners of war". The BLA said it forced Pakistani troops to retreat after eight hours of fighting. The separatist group gave a 48-hour ultimatum for Pakistan to release all Baloch activists in exchange for the captive Pakistani personnel and threatened to neutralise" them and destroy the train if their demands were not met. Security forces cordoned off the area and surrounded the team, Pakistans security sources told local media. The forces had to take extreme caution as the BLA terrorists" were using women and children as human shields", they added. Pakistans security forces launched a clearance operation to neutralise the attackers and rescue hostages, and that the militants responsible for the cowardly" attack were in touch with their facilitators abroad. Officials said the train was captured inside a tunnel, complicating rescue efforts. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the incident and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the firing. The beasts who fire on innocent passengers do not deserve any concessions," he said in a statement. The Balochistan government imposed emergency measures and all institutions were mobilised to deal with the situation. Local police later told Reuters that armed militants had taken at least 35 hostages during the train hijack, and over 350 passengers are believed to be safe.

ALSO READ: Railway Track Bombed, Train Driver Attacked: How Baloch Rebels Hijacked Pakistans Jaffar Express

Baloch Militancy In Pakistans Border

Security forces have been battling a decades-long insurgency in impoverished Balochistan, which militant groups claim is being exploited by outsiders, with wealth from its natural resources syphoned off with little benefit to the local population.

Terrorist attacks in Pakistans restive Balochistan province have increased in recent months, with attacks on civilians, police, the Army and even foreign workers. Pakistans Army has responded by launching counter-insurgency operations, which have been criticised for excessive use of force and violation of human rights.

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The BLA carried out 302 attacks last year, resulting in over 580 deaths and 370 injuries, according to a report by The Balochistan Post. Other groups like the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), and Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS) also launched hundreds of attacks that cumulatively caused over 1,000 deaths in 2024.

In November 2024, the BLA claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at Quettas main railway station that killed 26 people, including 14 soldiers.

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 : Peshawar, Pakistan

First Published: March 11, 2025, 21:59 IST
Pakistan Train Hijack Puts Spotlight On Balochistan Crisis: What Are BLA's Demands?

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 12, 2025, 10:16 IST

Pakistan Train Hijack: Baloch rebels have been fighting the Pakistani state for decades after Islamabad failed to check police brutality and push developmental projects in the region.

A paramilitary soldier frisks motorbike riders, a day after separatist Baloch militants conducted deadly attacks, on the outskirts of Quetta, Pakistan. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

Pakistan Jaffar Express Train Hijack: Baloch militants held train passengers hostage in a remote, mountainous area of Balochistan province. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of over 450 passengers which included women and children.

The BLA said if attempts are made to rescue the hostages there will be severe consequences". According to several media outlets, the incident happened on Tuesday afternoon near Sibi province.

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Baloch Rebels Hijack Train In Pakistan: Catch LIVE Updates Here

The Baloch rebels have carried out several attacks on Pakistani forces, infrastructure and have also targeted Chinese engineers working in the region, claiming that outsiders are profiting from the regions wealth.

The rebels want to carve out a nation for themselves out of Pakistan and claim that they are doing so because the Pakistani state has carried out several attacks on Baloch residents.

Forced disappearances is also one of the reasons why Baloch rebels are demanding a separate nation. The residents of Balochistan have earlier claimed that they are subject to ethnic profiling.

A report by French news agency Le Monde citing the UN said that as on January 2024, the UN Commission of Inquiry into Enforced Disappearances reported a total of 10,078 enforced disappearances in Pakistan since 2011, with 2,752 cases from Balochistan.

The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) claims that around 5,228 Baloch people went missing between 2001 and 2017.

Balochistan is in southwestern Pakistan and makes up about 44% of the countrys land area, but only 6% of Pakistans 240 million people live there.

The province shares borders with Iran and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and has a long coastline along the Arabian Sea.

The Baloch people are the largest ethnic group, followed by the Pashtuns. The province is named after the Baloch tribe, which has lived there for centuries.

Balochistan is rich in natural resources like gas and minerals and plays a key role in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

As part of Chinese President Xi Jinpings Belt and Road Initiative, the region has a deep-sea port in Gwadar, near the Gulf of Oman.

Since Pakistan took control of Balochistan in 1948, the region has seen several uprisings, fueled by anger over political neglect, economic exploitation and cultural suppression.

Despite its rich reserves of natural gas, coal, copper, and gold, Balochistan remains the poorest province in the country. Government data released by the Pakistani government shows that its contribution to Pakistans economy is far less than what its resources should allow and the people here earn much less than the national average.

Recent Attacks On Army

Pakistan, which has been facing an economic crisis as well as a political crisis since 2023, has seen a wave of attacks on Pakistani forces. Attacks have been led by separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), United Baloch Army (UBA), the Pakistan Taliban and other militant groups, who have taken advantage of the economical and political uncertainty, over the past few years.

Baloch rebels are also angered because Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a committee which calls for peaceful demonstrations for Baloch rights, faced police brutality when they took out marches to Gwadar and Islamabad last year.

They also demanded that the Pakistani government allow activist Mahrang Baloch to leave the country to attend a seminar organised by the Time magazine in New York and were angered when she was not allowed to leave the country in October last year.

Anger Over China

Chinese projects in the area have also angered Baloch residents who claim that cellphone towers being installed in the region are being used for surveillance purposes. They claimed on several occasions that these are used to spy on Baloch youth.

Critics say that the CPEC mainly benefits the central government in Islamabad and Chinese investors, while doing little to address the needs and hopes of the local people.

For years, Balochistans rich natural resources have been taken away without fair compensation or efforts to improve the lives of its people. The CPEC has only made things worse, as large projects have harmed the environment and forced communities to leave their homes. Mining and construction have destroyed forests, reduced farmlands and polluted water sources, leaving locals struggling to sustain their way of life.

Google Searches On The Train Hijack

As news of the Jaffar Express Train hijack broke, netizens in India took to Google to know more about the developments. Balochistan remained high on Google Searches starting 4pm on Tuesday, peaking at 9:06pm.

Most searches came from J&K, Delhi and Karnataka.

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Netizens also searched for pakistan balochistan, pakistan, balochistan map, balochistan army, and balochistan news.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More

First Published: March 11, 2025, 17:54 IST
Pakistan Train Hijack: BLA Sets 48-Hour Deadline, Demands Prisoner Swap For 214 Hostages

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Shankhyaneel Sarkar



Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 23:41 IST

Pakistani separatist militant group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for hijacking the train and holding 214 passengers hostage.

A man stands near charred truck containers torched by armed separatist group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) at central Bolan district in Balochistan. (IMAGE: AFP FILE)

Pakistani separatist militant group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) issued a fresh deadline to the Pakistani government on Tuesday demanding the release of Baloch political prisoners in exchange for the 214 hostages it is holding.

In its newly released statement, it called the Pakistani government an occupying state" and listed its demands. BLA has maintained complete control of the train and all hostages for the past eight hours. Under the rules of war, these 214 hostages are considered prisoners of war and BLA is prepared for a prisoner exchange. The occupying state of Pakistan is given 48 hours to immediately and unconditionally release Baloch political prisoners, forcibly disappeared persons and national resistance activists," the statement said.

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If our demands are not met within the stipulated period or if the occupying state attempts any military action during this time all prisoners of war will be neutralized and the train will be completely destroyed. The Pakistani army will bear full responsibility for the consequences," Jeeyand Baloch, spokesperson for the Baloch Liberation Army, said.

Sources speaking to CNN-News18 said that any aerial attack on the train will not work. They also said that the ultimatum issued by the armed separatists is too short to complete demands. Baloch activist Mama Qadir Baloch claimed that all army personnel inside the train have been killed.

The BLA, which seeks independence for Balochistan province bordering both Afghanistan and Iran, said it had killed over a dozen soldiers and shot down a drone. There was no confirmation of that from Pakistani authorities.

The group said the hostages included Pakistan army members and other security officials travelling on leave.

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Baloch militants wounded the driver as they took control of the train in a remote, mountainous area of Balochistans Sibi.

Security forces have been battling a decades-long insurgency in impoverished Balochistan, which militant groups claim is being exploited by outsiders, with wealth from its natural resources syphoned off with little benefit to the local population.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Location : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: March 11, 2025, 22:31 IST
On a farm just north of Charlottesville, the life cycle is on full display  and not just that of plant and wildlife, but humans too.

At Panorama Farms in Earlysville, hot air balloonists land in empty fields after a day gliding over the Blue Ridge Mountains, cross country athletes race through 850 acres of rolling hills and, now, the dead are laid to rest in a 20-acre corner on the far northwest side where the propertys owners have established a natural burial ground.

Its a place of rest, but also a place for living. In addition to the natural burial ground, Panorama has also started offering walking tours that allow the living to connect with the earth and their loved ones who have returned to it.

Being there brings me peace and joy, said engineer Indra Paul, whose wife Marjie died in March 2024, a year after Panorama officially opened the natural burial ground.

The couple learned about the space  one of only 220 natural burial sites in the United States  shortly before Marjie Pauls death, at a seminar held at a local senior center.

Now she rests under the earth at Panorama, in a place where beams of sunlight from vast blue skies above filter through the tree canopy and soft breezes whisper in the woods.

Even before Panorama began offering walking tours every Tuesday morning at the end of last year, Indra Paul said he found the space so welcoming he was visiting every week anyway.

It kept me close to Marjie and allowed me to share her passion for trees, meadows, birds and butterflies. This is what she wanted, he said. I like the place so much that I bought the space next to her for myself.

Now with groups regularly attending the Tuesday morning walks, Indra Paul said he feels as though hes found a community.

He noted that the trails the group follows do not go through the actual burial sites of the deceased.

We walk amongst the ones returning to nature, but never tread on them, he said.

The walking tours were started by the burial sites general manager Stephanie Bonney. She said she was inspired by her fond memories of walks she took with her grandmother.

Being out in nature when its quiet gives me the opportunity to reflect on people who meant a lot to me who Ive lost, said Bonney.

Cemeteries can be places of memories, she added, but also places of renewal. I think it can be a source of life.

Panorama invites the public, and not just the immediate relations of the deceased, to join the walking tours.

Participants such as Angela Genz treasure outdoor exercise specifically because of the variety it provides.

Walking on the grounds at Panorama provides a variety of terrain, from gravel roads to windy paths through wooded sections to open, hilly fields, she said.

Genz said she is aware that most walking groups get their steps in at shopping malls, suburban neighborhoods and high school racetracks.

A cemetery may seem like an odd place to take a stroll, she said, but I knew this was the perfect place to connect with others, increase my cardio and appreciate what nature was accomplishing at this burial site.

Genz said the walking tours, and other offerings at Panorama, celebrate life knowing death is at the end of each of our paths.

If you need serenity, youll find it, said Bonney. If you need community, we have that, too. Of course, there are tears, but at other times, there are smiles and even laughter. We are so much more than a final resting place.

Panoramas natural burial ground looks different from a traditional cemetery. Visitors may not even realize at first that they are walking by a grave. No upright headstones are allowed; rather, simple river rocks with the name, birthdays and death dates of the deceased are laid flush to the ground. Loved ones who wish to plant flowers nearby are asked to choose native plant species.

As a so-called green cemetery, the bodies buried at Panorama are placed in the earth in biodegradable boxes or burial shrouds, rather than metal caskets or concrete vaults. Toxic embalming chemicals are not permitted.

Burial costs at Panorama vary. Cremation burials range from $2,800 to $3,800, including an interment fee, while full burials range from $5,600 to $7,600, also including an interment fee.

The green burial process is an attractive option for those in Charlottesville, a city known for its progressive politics, new age spiritualism and environmentalism.

Many in the Charlottesville area consider the condition of our planet a part of their personal legacy, said Bonney. Natural burial is leaps and bounds more environmentally friendly.

Longtime Earlysville residents Gary Grant and his wife Pam Slade were so attracted to the alternative burial ground that they disinterred their daughter Emily  who died in 1993 of cardiac arrhythmia when she was just 21 months old  from her original gravesite and reinterred her at Panorama in January of last year. Emily Grants parents now volunteer with the Panorama Natural Burial Restoration Committee, planting trees, installing birdhouses and otherwise stewarding the land.

A natural, green burial is something I had been looking for for probably the past 10 years, and we were fortunate to discover [Panorama] is only 3 miles from our Earlysville home, Grant recalled. I have visited the grounds on days other than Tuesday morning walk days, just to enjoy the beauty and quiet of the grounds. The place simply makes me feel at peace and comforted.

Grant, a former teacher and journalist, and his wife, a former nurse with the University of Virginia Health System, are now retired. Like Indra Paul, they have bought gravesites at Panorama. Grant and Slade have plots on either side of their daughter.

Grant said her death made the family very aware how fragile and short ones time is, and best to make the best of what one still may have ahead.

As part of his volunteer work, Grant is the designated bluebird box volunteer at Panorama. In a single day in early January, he cleaned all eight of the birdhouses on the grounds so that the boxes are ready for the next batch of winged tenants this spring, he said.

On a Tuesday morning walk a few weeks later, Grant said he had a nice surprise.

One of the bluebird boxes I had cleaned the first week of January had three male bluebirds chirping and fluttering at each other on top of the roof, while a solo, female bluebird was examining the entrance hole  a simple but satisfying reward for my time.

Death amid life, and life amid death.
Pakistan Train Hijack: Who Are The Baloch Liberation Army And Why They Want A Separate Nation?

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 23:43 IST

The BLA has been active in the area bordering Afghanistan and Iran, a resource-rich region which they claim Balochis could never benefit from.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has been in an active war for decades against the Pakistani state. (IMAGE: SOURCED)

Pakistani separatist militant group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for attacking a train in southwestern Pakistan on Tuesday and said they have taken scores of hostages, including security personnel who were on the train on leave and threatened to kill them.

The BLA is one of the strongest insurgent groups operating out of Balochistan and one of its key demands has been to carve out a separate Baloch state out of Pakistan. It is active in the area bordering Afghanistan and Iran, a mineral-rich region that is home to Beijings investment in Gwadar deep water port and other key projects, like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

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The group has gained strength in the past couple of years as Pakistan faced economic and political uncertainty.

BLAs AIMS

BLAs key aim is independence for Balochistan, a province located in Pakistans southwest and bordering Afghanistan to the north and Iran to the west.

They have battled the Pakistani forces for decades and claimed that Balochistans rich gas and mineral resources were exploited by the Pakistani state with no benefits passed on to the Baloch peoples.

The militants have been fighting to lay a claim to local resources which they say belong to their people. The regions mountainous border serves as a safe haven and training ground for the Baloch insurgents but also houses Islamist militants.

How BLA Became Lethal

The Pakistani government and its army were taken aback by the groups strength in 2022 when the militants stormed army and navy bases in 2022.

The group hires women suicide bombers and used them to attack Chinese nationals at a university in Karachi and a bombing in southwest Balochistan.

An umbrella group of several Baloch ethnic groups said last week that it had convened all factions in a bid to unite them under a unified military structure.

A dormant BLA splinter group called BLA (AZAD) became active in recent weeks.

WHAT ARE THE BLAS TARGETS?

BLA often targets CPEC infrastructure, security forces and Chinese engineers. BLA has long claimed that the Pakistani state used Chinese tools to spy on Baloch youngsters and often tortures them, falsely accusing them of acting against the state.

They also claim that the Punjabi community of Pakistan are often preferred over Balochis when it comes to jobs and business opportunities. They have also struck the southern port city of Karachi.

The Gwadar deep sea port in the Arabian Sea, a strategic port, has been a key target of the BLA. Baloch separatists have killed Chinese citizens working in the region and attacked Beijings consulate in Karachi.

Baloch rebels also brought Iran and Pakistan close to war when they became the centre of tit-for-tat strikes last year as Iran and Pakistan both claimed that they struck militant bases on each others territory.

Why Does Balochistan Matter

Balochistan is key to both Pakistan and China. It is an integral part of the CPEC, a part of Chinese President Xi Jinpings $65 billion pet project  the Belt and Road initiative.

The region houses key mining projects, including Reko Diq, run by mining giant Barrick Gold and has one of the largest gold and copper mines.

China also operates a gold and copper mine in the province.

Balochistan has been facing insurgency for several decades and the province is one of the most unstable. Pakistans plans to access untapped resources in the region. Balochistan is Pakistans largest province by area, but smallest by population.

Balochistan also has a long Arabian Sea coastline, not far from the Gulfs Strait of Hormuz oil shipping lane.

Hundreds of Baloch activists, many of them women, have protested in Islamabad and Balochistan over alleged abuses by security forces  accusations the government denies.

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Islamabad accuses India and Afghanistan of backing the militants to damage Pakistans relations with China, a charge both countries deny.

(with inputs from Reuters)

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More

Location : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: March 11, 2025, 23:42 IST
Russia Launches Overnight Air Strikes On Kyiv Ahead Of Peace Talks In Saudi Arabia

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 07:07 IST

Russia launched air strikes on Kyiv, engaging air defenses. The attack occurred before key peace talks in Saudi Arabia between Ukrainian and US officials where Zelenskyy seeks constructive outcomes

Soldiers stand next to a Russian RS-24 Yars ballistic missile parked along Tverskaya street. (AP Photo/File)

Russia has launched air strikes overnight on Kyiv, with air defence systems engaged in repelling the attack, Ukrainian authorities said.

Air defence forces are working to eliminate the threat in the skies over Kyiv," Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on the Telegram messaging app.

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According to a Reuters report, explosions were heard in the capital and surrounding region in what sounded like air defence systems in operation.

Peace Talks In Saudi Arabia

The attack occurred just before crucial talks between Ukrainian and US officials in Saudi Arabia, where both parties hope to make significant progress in ending the Russian war in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraines stance in the upcoming Tuesday talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia will be fully constructive."

We are hopeful for practical outcomes," Zelenskyy wrote in a post on X. Ukraines position in these talks will be fully constructive."

Before the negotiations, Zelenskyy visited Saudi Arabia for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with a significant portion of their discussion focusing on security guarantees for Ukraine. Both Zelensky and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio have arrived in Saudi Arabia ahead of the critical peace talks scheduled for Tuesday.

Zelenskyys officials are also seeking to repair the damage from his previous visit to Washington, where tensions flared into an argument with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office.

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During tomorrows meeting with US officials, Ukraine is expected to propose an air and sea ceasefire in an attempt to garner favour with an administration that has raised doubts about Kyivs commitment to peace. Last month, the US held talks with a Russian delegation.

Speaking to reporters aboard his plane, Rubio mentioned that he and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz would assess Ukraines responses.

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 11, 2025, 07:07 IST
Ukraine Backs 30-Day War Ceasefire, US Lifts Restrictions On Military Aid After Jeddah Talks

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 12, 2025, 00:18 IST

Ukraine backs a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia. The US will lift restrictions on military aid and intelligence sharing. Talks in Saudi Arabia also target a minerals deal.

President Donald Trump had shut off aid after a disastrous meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on February 28. (Photo: AFP)

In a significant development, Ukraine on Tuesday backed a US proposal for a 30-day general ceasefire with Russia, with the United States in turn agreeing to lift restrictions on military aid and intelligence sharing, a joint statement said.

These discussions were the first meeting between US and Ukrainian officials since a White House blowup between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Trump that led to Washington halting military aid to Kyiv.

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After talks in Saudi Arabia, the two sides also agreed to conclude as soon as possible" a deal on Ukrainian minerals, the statement said. The Ukrainian delegation reiterated the Ukrainian peoples strong gratitude to President Trump, the US Congress, and the people of the United States for making possible meaningful progress toward peace, it said.

Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the US proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, and which is subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation," read a joint statement said after the talks.

The delegations also discussed the importance of humanitarian relief efforts as part of the peace process, particularly during the abovementioned ceasefire, including the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children, according to the statement.

ALSO READ: Elon Musk Hints At Ukraine Link To X Cyberattacks Amid Global Service Disruption

US Resumes Security Assistance To Ukraine

The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace," it added. The United States will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine."

President Trump had shut off aid after a disastrous meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Zelenskyy on February 28. Zelenskyy also walked out of a minerals deal with Trump following his White House clash.

However, Zelenskyy has since called the spat regrettable" and said he was willing to work with the US, including signing on the minerals deal. US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said Trump received a letter from Zelenskyy, calling it a very positive first step" and an apology".

Before his departure for Jeddah, Zelenskyy said Ukraine wanted peace, insisting Russia was the sole reason that the war was carrying on. Witkoff said Washington wanted to use the talks to get down a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire as well".

Both sides also discussed Ukraines long-term security in Saudi Arabia, including Europes participation in the peace process. They also agreed to conclude as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraines critical mineral resources.

Ukraine Unleashes Drone Barrage Ahead Of Saudi Talks

Ahead of the talks, Ukraine fired more than 300 drones at Moscow, believed to be the largest attack on the Russian capital in the three-year conflict. Kyiv said the attack should push Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept its call for a halt to long-range aerial strikes.

The attack killed at least two people and wounded several more, Russian officials said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denounced Kyiv targeting residential houses", claiming its forces only hit military infrastructure, despite near daily attacks on Ukraines civilian areas and thousands of Ukrainian civilians killed by its offensive.

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Moscows army said it intercepted 337 Ukrainian drones across the country in what Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin called the most massive enemy drone attack on Moscow."

(with inputs from agencies)

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 : Saudi Arabia

First Published: March 11, 2025, 23:59 IST
US, Ukrainian Envoys Meet In Saudi Arabias Jeddah To Discuss Military Aid, Truce

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 16:00 IST

Ukrainian presidency chief of staff Andriy Yermak told reporters that Kyiv wants peace. Yermak is leading the Ukrainian delegation.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (C-L) is welcomed by Deputy Governor of Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz (C-R) upon his arrival to Jeddah for talks between Ukrainian officials, Saudi and US representatives. (IMAGE: AFP)

American diplomats are meeting their Ukrainian counterparts to discuss measures to halt the Ukraine war, holding discussions on various topics like mineral deal and also a possible resumption of US military aid to Ukraine.

Ukrainian presidency chief of staff Andriy Yermak told reporters that Kyiv wants peace. Yermak is leading the Ukrainian delegation.

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While talks began in Jeddah, Ukrainian drones smashed into high-rise apartment blocks on the outskirts of Moscow in the early hours of Tuesday, with both sides saying it was the largest attack on the Russian capital of the three-year conflict.

We are ready to do everything to achieve peace," Ukrainian presidency chief of staff Andriy Yermak was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.

Following the argument between US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Zelenskyy before reporters in the White House earlier this month, Washington has suspended military aid to Ukraine as well as intelligence sharing and access to satellite imagery in a bid to force it to the negotiating table.

The Ukrainian President was in Jeddah to meet Saudi rulers but left the talks to three top aides.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trumps national security advisor Mike Waltz said that the aid suspension is something I hope we can resolve" in the talks.

Rubio refuted claims that the United States had not cut off intelligence for defensive operations.

Ukraine will give the United States a plan on Tuesday for a limited ceasefire with Russia, news agencies said.

Meanwhile, military chiefs from 30 European and NATO countries willing to contribute to security guarantees for Ukraine after any negotiated truce with Russia will be meeting in Paris.

The Paris meeting of military chiefs of staff from 30 European and NATO nations  including the United Kingdom and Turkey  will happen that same day, the French military has said.

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President Emmanuel Macron is to address the meeting, which he has said is being held in tight coordination with NATO military command.

Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have been leading efforts to form a so-called coalition of the willing" to enforce an eventual ceasefire in Ukraine.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More

Location : Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

First Published: March 11, 2025, 15:04 IST
Who Are The 'Dark Storm Team'? All About The Group Behind Cyberattack On Elon Musks X

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 11, 2025, 10:16 IST

After multiple attacks, hacking group "Dark Storm Team" allegedly took responsibility for a Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack on the platform, according to a post on Telegram

Elon Musk said his platform X was targeted by a "massive cyberattack". (Reuters File Image)

Elon Musk-owned social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, experienced three major outages in a single day. After multiple attacks, hacking group Dark Storm Team" allegedly took responsibility for a Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack on the platform, according to a post on Telegram. The disruptions, which started early on Monday, had its impacts even till Tuesday morning.

While taking responsibility, the group said they are taking Twitter offline."

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After several users reported disruptions, Elon Musk in a post on X, said: There was (still is) a massive cyberattack against X. We get attacked every day, but this was done with a lot of resources. Either a large, coordinated group and/or a country is involved. Tracing."

This is not the first time that X has been down. Last year, there were several instances when the the social media site went down. However, the impact this time has lasted long.

Who Are The Dark Storm Team

Dark Storm Team, a hacking collective founded in 2023, is known for its sophisticated cyber warfare tactics and successful breaches of high-security systems.

BREAKING: Pro-Palestinian Hacker Group 'Dark Storm Team' Deployed DDoS ATTACK Against X March 10, 2025X (formerly known as Twitter) has been hit by a massive cyberattack today, resulting in widespread outages across the globe. The attack, which began early this morning, has pic.twitter.com/gQhtro3GY8  Jay Anderson (@TheProjectUnity) March 10, 2025

According to Orange Cyberdefense, the group operates with a pro-Palestinian agenda and has recently vowed to launch cyberattacks against government websites of NATO countries, Israel, and nations supporting Israel.

On Monday, the group claimed responsibility for a Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack on social media platform X, formerly Twitter. In a Telegram post, they stated they had successfully taken Twitter offline" and shared a screenshot of a real-time connectivity status page displaying failed connection attempts from multiple locations worldwide.

The X Disruptions

X faced intermittent outages, according to Downdetector, restricting 39,021 users in the U.S. from accessing the platform at its peak at 10 a.m. ET. By 5 p.m., there were reports of the service being down for roughly 1,500 users.

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A source in the internet infrastructure industry said X had been hit by several waves of denial of service beginning around 9:45 UTC. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity as the person was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

Denial of service works by overwhelming targeted websites with rogue traffic. Such attacks are not necessarily sophisticated but they can cause significant disruption.

About the Author Abhro Banerjee Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ... Read More Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ... Read More

First Published: March 11, 2025, 10:09 IST
The Provincial Finance Director for the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Liniah Chinoda has been dragged to court for claiming US$600 travel and subsistence allowances for a trip she allegedly never made

The money was from the Better Schools Programme Fund made up of contributions by all schools in a district through the Better Schools Programme Zimbabwe (BSPZ). Chivi District Education accountant Tapiwa Mapindani was allegedly suspended for resisting moves to pay Chinoda the allowance.

Chinoda appeared before Magistrate Elizabeth Hanzi on Friday facing abuse of duty charges.

Chinoda who is represented by Yolander Chandata of H Tafa and Associates was remanded out of custody to March 19.

It is the State case that Chinoda was attending activities in Bikita, Gutu and Zaka when the exercise she claimed payment for was being conducted in Chivi. The matter was unearthed through investigations carried out by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC).

On January 20, 2024, Chinoda who is director finance, administration and human resources and whose duties include superintending over effective use of the Ministrys financial resources within the province acted contrary to her duties. She omitted to do roles which include ensuring that accounting policies are followed and that financial records are accurate and complete when she filled in incomplete information on the travel and subsistence claims form.

Chinoda gave her travel and subsistence allowances claim forms of US$600 to Evershine Ndongwe, the District Schools Inspector for Chivi who then followed Chivi district accountant Tapiwa Mapindani at the bank and forced him to add them on the money that he was withdrawing for people who attended the Chivi Accounts Verification exercise.

The verification exercise was held in October 2023 in Chivi.

The accused was not entitled to the allowances as she never participated in the exercise, according to the State outline. The district accountant counter-signed for the withdrawal of US$5 290 from the Chivi BSPZ bank account for purposes of paying the participants, including the purported travel and subsistence claim forms by the accused person among others.

The accused allegedly connived with Ndongwe and used intimidation and victimisation towards the accountant by threatening to fire him and subsequently suspended him for refusing to pay the T and S allowance which was not due to her, says the State. Masvingo Mirror
UPDATE

Mar 11, 2025 2:30 AM CDT

The Texas man who forced his 8-year-old daughter to jump on a trampoline in 110-degree heat has been sentenced to 18 years behind bars, prosecutors announced. Daniel Schwarz, 48, pleaded guilty to manslaughter after the death of the girl, whom he and his wife had adopted, USA Today reports. The girl's mother, Ashley Schwarz, was convicted in 2023 of capital murder and is serving a sentence of life in prison without parole. Ashley Schwarz testified that she'd fed the girl and her sister breakfast and allowed them water, but prosecutors said the girl, named Jaylin, was denied both, Fox 8 reports.

Oct 15, 2020 3:20 AM CDT

A Texas couple could be facing the death penalty for forcing an 8-year-old girl to jump on a trampoline. Ashley and Daniel Schwarz have been arrested on capital murder charges in the Aug. 29 death of the Odessa girl, ABC reports. Police say the girl, who was in the couple's care, was forced to jump nonstop on the trampoline in extreme heat as a form of punishment. She was pronounced dead at the scene after police were called to the address. "A search warrant was later obtained and the temperature of the trampoline read to be approximately 110 degrees and the ground was approximately 150 degrees," police said in a press release.
In spite of a body of scientific evidence that vaccines do not cause autism, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is launching a new study to look for a link. "As President Trump said in his Joint Address to Congress, the rate of autism in American children has skyrocketed," the agency said in a statement, per ABC News . "CDC will leave no stone unturned in its mission to figure out what exactly is happening." Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of Health and Human Services, has written books and given speeches for years arguing that vaccines are unsafe and tied to autism. The study is a request of Trump administration officials, the Washington Post reports.

The debunked theory connecting the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines to autism began with a study in 1998 that was later retracted. Its author was barred from medical practice in the UK and found guilty of professional misconduct. Dozens of studies since then have found no relationship, per the New York Times. The CDC was asked but did not answer about how the latest study would differ from others. About 1 in 36 children in the US have autism, a rate that has increased over timethough less than Trump and Kennedy have said. Part of the increase is attributable to improvements in identifying and diagnosing autism.

One opponent of again looking for a link to vaccines is the Republican chairman of the Senate Health Committee. Sen. Bill Cassidy, a physician, said last week that such a study would be a waste of money and a distraction from research to discover the real reason autism rates are climbing. "It's been exhaustively studied," said Cassidy. "The more we pretend like this is an issue, the more we will have children dying from vaccine-preventable diseases." Texas is dealing with a measles outbreak now.
A British woman won't give up a 16th-century Italian piece of art that she says her late husband bought in the early '70sand that authorities now say is stolen. Per the Guardian , a "Madonna and Child" painting by Antonio Solario had been housed at Italy's Civic Museum of Belluno for a century, until it was stolen in 1973 along with a bunch of other art. Barbara de Dozsa says her husband stumbled across the Solario piece soon after and scooped it up without knowing it was stolen, and the painting remained in their home in Norfolk until they divorced.

When Barbara de Dozsa tried to sell the painting in 2017, someone from the Belluno museum found out and knew that everyone from the Italian police force to Interpol was on the lookout for it. However, because there were COVID-related delays in Italian authorities getting the right provenance paperwork to UK police, they eventually handed the painting back to de Dozsa. She has since argued, under a British statute-of-limitations act, that she's the rightful owner after six years, since her husband's purchase of the painting wasn't tied to the original theft.

Art specialist lawyer Christopher Marinello says de Dozsa has already received a letter from local police telling her that even though she still has possession of the painting, she doesn't own the title. He says he's also tried to persuade her to return the painting. "It's the right thing to do," he tells the Guardian.

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Solariowho was nicknamed "the Gypsy," per the London Timestrained in Venice and did much of his work in the first 20 years of the 16th century. Another of his "Madonna and Child" paintings had been on the auction block at Christie's in 2023, with an estimated price tag of $155,000, but it failed to attract a buyer. The Times details other stolen art that was eventually recovered, including a da Vinci painting stolen from a Scottish castle in 2003 and a Van Gogh painting returned to an art investigator in an Ikea bag.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio says American military and intelligence support for Ukraine could resume if t alks on Tuesday go well. The suspension of aid "came about because we felt the Ukrainians were not committed" to talks on ending the conflict, but "if that changes, obviously our posture can change," Rubio told reporters after he arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday. "My hope is we'll have a really good meeting tomorrow and be in a different place," he said, per the Washington Post .

Rubio will hold talks with a high-level Ukrainian delegation while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who also arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday, will meet separately with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and is not expected to play a formal role in talks with US officials, the BBC reports. Rubio said that to end the war, both Russia and Ukraine will need to make concessions, reports the New York Times. "I think both sides need to come to an understanding that there's no military solution to this situation," he said. "The Russians can't conquer all of Ukraine, and obviously it'll be very difficult for Ukraine in any reasonable time period to sort of force the Russians back all the way to where they were in 2014."

Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine just over three years ago, has rejected calls for a temporary or partial ceasefire. Rubio, however, said Monday that a Ukrainian proposal has "promise." ABC News reports that Ukrainian officials are proposing a pause in attacks at sea and long-range missile attacks. White House special envoy Steve Witkoff said Monday that the pause in intelligence-sharing did not cover "anything defensive that the Ukrainians need," the AP reports. Rubio said the Ukrainians are "already receiving defensive intelligence information as we speak."
The deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, one of the leaders of pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, has been halted by a federal judge. Judge Jesse Furman of the Southern District of New York issued the order Monday and scheduled a hearing in the case for Wednesday. Khalil, who is a legal permanent resident with a green card and is married to a US citizen, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents Saturday night who told him his visa had been revoked. President Trump linked the arrest to his executive order aimed at combating antisemitism on US college campuses, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said "Hamas supporters" would be seeing their green cards revoked, Politico reports.
Michelle Obama is launching a new podcast, this one a video version co-hosted by her big brother. On IMO, an acronym for "in my opinion," the former first lady joins Craig Robinson to address "everyday questions shaping our lives, relationships, and the world around us," the Obamas' media company, Higher Ground, announced Monday. Robinson, executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, said the siblings grew up talking through life's questions, per the Hill . "Now, we're inviting listeners into that conversation, with the hope that it sparks new ideas, new perspectives, and creates the connection we could all use right now."

Higher Ground said Obama would be "at her most relaxed and honest" for these conversations, per Variety. In an Instagram post, the former first lady said her brother "is one of the people I turn to whenever I have anything on my mind" and "always has the insights, the wisdom and the humor to get me through anything." She said the podcast would "create a space for people to come as they are, ask honest questions, give their opinions, and have thoughtful conversations about life." Opening up about life's challenges, "whether it's family, faith, or our personal relationships ... can provide hope," she said.

The first two episodes will be released Wednesday, with additional episodes set to air weekly. One of those will include a live episode filmed Thursday at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, per the Hill. The first guest on episode two is actor and producer Issa Rae, who discusses "mismatched expectations in adult friendships," per Variety. Other guests will include Tracee Ellis Ross, Tyler Perry, Keke Palmer, Jay Shetty, Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union, Seth and Lauren Rogen, Abby Wambach and Glennon Doyle, behavioral scientist Logan Ury, and Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky.
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It appears the stock market will open in positive territory on Tuesday after Monday's steep selloff, though nowhere near big enough to recoup the losses. Dow futures were up about 100 points, reports CNBC, after losing nearly 900 at Monday's close. A "modicum of calm" also returned to markets in Europe and Asia, per Reuters. Few, however, were predicting a quick end to the current downturn. Coverage:

The White House played down the market turmoil, which has largely been blamed on President Trump's tariffs, as momentary and for the greater good, reports the Washington Post. "There are a lot of reasons to be extremely bullish about the economy going forward," said White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett. "But for sure, this quarter, there are some blips in the data." He predicted things would "take off" in the second quarter.
One can certainly expect a documentation check when entering the United States from another country, but a boob check? That's what cost a Border Patrol agent his job after he was accused of asking women to lift their shirts and show off their breasts before being allowed entry into the US, reports McClatchy News . Shane Millan was stationed at New York's Wellesley Island in the summer of 2023, with his main task being to process immigrants who'd come over the nation's southern border.

However, when it came to some female immigrants, Millan, "during virtual processing ... commanded the victims to expose their bare chests to him via webcam," says a DOJ release. He's said to have had some sneaky ways of going about that: McClatchy cites court records detailing one incident in which he made up a phony story that a woman's file indicated she had a tattoo on her chest. When the woman, who had her baby with her, denied having such a tattoo, Millan asked her to lift her shirt to show him, according to the records.

She did, but he later asked her to show her breasts again for confirmation, and when she refused, he threatened that he wouldn't sign the paperwork she needed, inducing her to once again expose herself, according to records. His alleged reply: "OK, Welcome to the USA." Court records show that Millan also performed online searches for Spanish phrases such as "to verify I will need you to lift your shirt, please." Millan, 53, pleaded guilty on Friday to two counts of deprivation of rights under color of law; he'd originally been hit with four of the misdemeanor charges, per USA Today. He's set to be sentenced in July, at which time he could see up to two years behind bars and a fine of up to $200,000.
Former Democratic US House member Katie Porter announced Tuesday that she's entering the 2026 contest for California governor, reports the AP , joining a crowded field that could be upended if former Vice President Kamala Harris joins the race. Porter, who became a social media celebrity by brandishing a whiteboard at congressional hearings while grilling CEOs, promised in a campaign launch video to be an aggressive counterweight to President Trump. "In Congress, I held the Trump administration's feet to the fire when they hurt Americans. As governor, I won't ever back down when Trump hurts Californianswhether he's holding up disaster relief, attacking our rights or our communities, or screwing over working families to benefit himself and his cronies," Porter said.

The contest to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom already has lured a large scrum of announced and likely candidates that would be upended if Harris decides to seek the state's top office. Harris hasn't ruled out seeking the governorship. Porter is friendly with the former VP and has indicated she would step aside if Harris joins the race. In 2012, Harris, then California's attorney general, appointed Porter to be the state's independent bank monitor in a multibillion-dollar nationwide mortgage settlement.

"There are very few politicians who would want to take [Harris] on," said Claremont McKenna College political scientist Jack Pitney. Porter, who made an unsuccessful run for US Senate last year and also is known for her small-dollar fundraising prowess, becomes one of the best known candidates, joining former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, among others, on the Democratic side. On the GOP side, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco last month became the first major Republican to announce a bid to replace Newsom.

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Even if Harris gets in the race, the state's open primary system can be unpredictableall candidates appear on a single ballot, regardless of party, and only the top two vote-getters advance to the November general election. Trump-aligned candidates could enter on the GOP side, generating conservative interest, or a wealthy candidate could emerge with the funds to rattle the expected order. "These open primaries are hard to handicap," said Democratic consultant Andrew Acosta.
The Trump administration said Tuesday that it would immediately lift its suspension of military aid to Ukraine and its intelligence sharing with Kyiv, more than a week after imposing the measures to push Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to enter talks to end the war with invading Russian forces. The announcement came at talks between Ukraine and the United States in Saudi Arabia, the AP reports. Ukraine also said it was open to a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Russia, subject to Kremlin agreement.

"Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the US proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, and which is subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation," according to a joint statement from the US and Ukrainian delegations. "The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace." Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US will now take the offer to the Russians, adding that "the ball is in their court," the Guardian reports.

"Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking, and now it'll be up to them to say yes or no," Rubio said of the Russians. He said he hopes they accept the proposal but if they don't, "then we'll unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here." National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said he plans to speak to his Russian counterpart in the days to come. Waltz said the Ukrainian side made it clear Tuesday that they "share President Trump's vision for peace."
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, saying "both parties are heated and the temperature needs to come down," has suspended the Canadian province's 25% surcharge on electricity exports to the US. Ford, who vowed to be "relentless" earlier Tuesday after President Trump said he would double US tariffs on steel and aluminum from Canada, said he had a "productive conversation" with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about the economic relationship between the US and Canada, CNBC reports. Ford said he would travel to Washington, DC on Thursday with Canada's finance minister to discuss a "renewed" United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.

"They understand how serious we are about the electricity and the tariffs, and rather than going back and forth and having threats to each other, we have both agreed that cooler heads prevail, we need to sit down and move this forward," Ford said, per the CBC. After Ford's move, Trump said he would "probably" reduce the tariffs on Canadian imports. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump described Ford as a "gentleman" before arguing once again that Canada should become the 51st state, the Guardian reports.

Ford called the invitation to Washington, DC an "olive branch," CP24 reports. "When you're negotiating with someone, they call you and they hand over an olive branch, the worst thing I think I could do as Premier of Ontario is ignore them and hang up the phone on them," he said. "I don't operate that way. I believe when someone's putting out an olive branch, we sit back, we accept it graciously."
A stopgap funding bill to avoid a partial government shutdown passed the House in a 217-213 vote on Tuesday, with one Republican and one Democrat bucking their parties. Democratic Rep. Jared Golden of Maine voted for the bill, while GOP Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky voted against it, the Hill reports. The measure, which funds government agencies until Sept. 30, will now head to the Senate, where it will need at least 8 Democratic votes to pass. Government funding is set to expire at midnight Friday.

The bill boosts defense spending by around $6 billion and cuts non-defense spending by $13 billion, but it otherwise largely retains spending levels set by Joe Biden last year. Unlike similar measures in the past, the bill was supported by almost all the Republican deficit hawks in the House, with Massie the only exception, Politico reports. In a Truth Social post, President Trump said Massie should be primaried and he would "lead the charge" against him, but House Speaker Mike Johnson is standing by Massie for now. Massie argues that Republican leaders always promise fiscal reform is coming soon, but always end up relying on stopgap bills, reports the New York Times.
TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrains efforts to mobilise Arab and international support for Gazas reconstruction, without the displacement of its residents, have been commended by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who praised His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifas leadership in advancing Palestinian rights and unity at the recent Palestine Summit.

This came as HM the King, current President of the Arab Summit, received a letter from President Abbas, who is also the Palestine Liberation Organisation Executive Committee chairman. In his letter, President Abbas expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation for HM the Kings leadership of the extraordinary session of the Arab League Council at the summit level (Palestine Summit), recently held in Cairo, as a step towards strengthening Arab unity in the face of challenges.

Address President Abbas valued the address of His Majesty, which addressed many fundamental issues that underscored Bahrains firm and unwavering position in supporting the steadfastness and permanence of the Palestinian people in their homeland as a legitimate right.

He noted that HM King Hamad also emphasised the importance of holding an international conference to secure Arab and international funding for its implementation, affirming the support for the efforts of the State of Palestine to assume its responsibilities in Gaza.

Humanitarian aid President Abbas also valued Bahrains continuous support for the Palestinian people, particularly in providing humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The Palestine leader expressed appreciation for Bahrains efforts in international forums to support the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to freedom, independence, and a sovereign state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Standard Chartered Bahrain is proud to announce that it has been honoured with an International Finance Awards as The Best Partnership for Digital Wealth Management Solutions  Bahrain 2024. This recognition underscores the banks commitment to providing innovative and customer-centric financial services.

The International Finance Awards are highly regarded in the financial sector and are a testament to the hard work and dedication of banks in Asia. The Standard Chartereds win in this category reflects its continued efforts to provide top-notch financial services to clients globally.

Kunal Varma, Head, Wealth and Retail Banking (WRB), Bahrain at Standard Chartered, commented We are thrilled and honoured to receive this prestigious award. This recognition is a testament of our teams hard work and dedication to providing our wealth management clients with the best possible digital wealth management solutions which allows ease of transacting with us. We are committed to innovate and enhance our digital offerings to meet the evolving needs of our clients.

The Standard Chartered Bank has established itself as a leading financial institution with a strong focus on customer service, sustainability, and technological innovation. With a global presence spanning multiple countries and regions, the bank offers a comprehensive range of banking services to individuals and institutions.
Canada Beef seeks the best restaurant beef dish in the country through their new contest

CALGARY, AB, March 11, 2025 /CNW/ - Canada Beef invites Canadians to celebrate local restaurants by nominating and voting for their favourite beef dishes in the Best Canadian Beef Dishes Contest. This nationwide competition encourages diners to support local and showcase the best in beef via the Canadian Beef Information Restaurant Gateway (Restaurant Gateway).

The Best Canadian Beef Dishes Contest (CNW Group/Canada Beef)

The contest offers Canadians an opportunity to nominate their most-loved beef dishes at local restaurants, with a chance for someone in each region to win $200 for participating as nominators. The contest will also crown a restaurant winner from each province, with each provincial champion advancing to the national finale. Provincial winners will receive a prize pack valued at $1000, and the national winner will take home a grand prize valued at $5000.

The nomination window will run from March until November 30, 2025, giving Canadians ample time to try local beef dishes and nominate their favourites.

"It's more important than ever to support local," says Director of the Canadian Beef Information Restaurant Gateway, Kelly Hyde. "The Best Canadian Beef Dishes Contest allows Canadians an opportunity to champion their most-loved beef dishes on the Restaurant Gateway for others to discover and enjoy while serving as a reminder of the vital role that restaurants play in our communities."

The Restaurant Gateway is an online hub dedicated to celebrating Canada's high-quality beef and the farmers and ranchers who produce it. This comprehensive resource features a Where to Eat directory, helping diners discover restaurant chains that serve Canadian beef, along with insights into the restaurant industry's beneficial impact on local communities. Restaurant Gateway visitors can explore exclusive videos from farmers, ranchers and chefs from across the country, highlighting their dedication to Canadian beef.

The Restaurant Gateway will also house the Best Canadian Beef Dishes Contest and over time, offer diners in each province a list of nominated restaurants serving delicious beef dishes.

For more information about the Best Canadian Beef Dishes Contest or to nominate, visit the Restaurant Gateway.

About Canada Beef

Canada Beef is a cattle producer-funded and run organization responsible for domestic and international beef and veal market development. It has offices in Canada, Japan, Taiwan and Mexico. Canada Beef works to enable and sustain loyalty to the Canadian beef brand and build strong relationships with trade customers and partners around the world. These efforts increase demand for Canadian beef, and the value producers receive for their cattle.

SOURCE Canada Beef

Media inquiries: Eve Workman, Worthington PR & Story, [email protected], 587.888.0497
CALGARY, AB, March 10, 2025 /CNW/ - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier Danielle Smith, Premier Doug Ford and all the other Premiers have spoken strongly and patriotically about Trumps's tariffs and how they will hurt both the Canadian and American economies. There is a renewed sense of a Canada First approach, breathing life back to our energy sector which is one on the key drivers of Canada's economy. Even past critics such as Premier Francois Legault of Quebec is now on side, calling for more pipelines and infrastructure to be built, not just to make Canada an energy superpower, but also to get our oil/gas to other markets thereby reducing our dependence on the one market  the USA. The truth is that we can no longer trust the USA.

Unfortunately, during this jingoism and renewed Canadian patriotism, no one is speaking about the rights and interests of First Nations. We are not a spectator in this important dialogue, but rights holders and stewards of our land.

So, the Indian Resource Council of Canada (IRC) is speaking out.

We are a national advocacy body that represents the oil/gas/energy interests of First Nations across Canada. Our members champion Canada's energy independence and actively support all energy related initiative including LNG, pipelines and increased upstream and midstream activities that are inclusive and offer our people opportunities to get out of the chronic poverty that is endemic in our communities.

Our Board of Chiefs met last week and issued the following statement:

"On behalf of First Nations across this country that are actively involved in the energy sector, we stand in solidarity with Canada, the Provinces and territories, in opposition to Trump's bullying tactics against Canada including his illegal tariffs. We support the growth of this important sector, to build more pipelines including Energy East and the Northern Gateway, that will transport these resources not just within Canada but to other markets in Europe and Asia. The one market that has taken advantage of us  the USA  is no longer reliable, so we must diversify".

Grand Chief Greg Desjarlais of Treaty 6 and Chairman of the IRC Board stated:

"First Nations have Treaty Rights to resource ownership which must be respected and recognized moving forward. We will do our part to support other levels of Government as they wage this battle on behalf of Canadians. But we must be involved every step of the way"

SOURCE Indian Resource Council

For additional Information, contact: Stephen Buffalo, President and CEO, IRC, [email protected]
The organization has teamed up with Leger to conduct a Canada-wide study.

MONTREAL, March 11, 2025 /CNW/ - The mental health of 2ELGBTQIA+ people is in crisis, and it's time to act. Interligne presents striking results of a Canada-wide study conducted by Leger with the support of Women and Gender equality Canada will be unveiled. The study highlights gaps and needs in psychological support for these communities.

To access the study results, click here (in French only).

Interligne x Leger (CNW Group/Interligne)

Alarming figures call for action

The study, carried out among 2,007 Canadians, compares the mental health of 2ELGBTQIA+ people with that of people not from these communities. The results are unequivocal:

86% of 2ELGBTQIA+ people have experienced at least one mental health challenge in the past year, compared to 64% of non-2ELGBTQIA+ people.

of 2ELGBTQIA+ people have experienced at least one mental health challenge in the past year, compared to of non-2ELGBTQIA+ people. Only 33% of 2ELGBTQIA+ feel they are in excellent or good mental health, compared with 49% of non-2ELGBTQIA+.

of 2ELGBTQIA+ feel they are in excellent or good mental health, compared with of non-2ELGBTQIA+. 28% of 2ELGBTQIA+ rate their mental health as poor or very poor, compared with 14% of non-2ELGBTQIA+.

When it comes to support, the study also reveals marked dissatisfaction:

68% of 2ELGBTQIA+ respondents said they were satisfied with the support they received.

of 2ELGBTQIA+ respondents said they were satisfied with the support they received. 28% of 2ELGBTQIA+ respondents were dissatisfied with the support they received.

A call to action for increased support

 These figures confirm what we observe on a daily basis: a crying lack of adapted resources. It is imperative that decision-makers recognize this reality and act swiftly to fund accessible and sustainable support services. , affirms Pascal Vaillancourt, General Manager of Interligne.

TOGETHER, LET'S MOBILIZE FOR BETTER ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN 2ELGBTQIA+ COMMUNITIES

About Interligne

Interligne is a front-line community organization that, since 1980, has been contributing to the well-being of people affected by sexual and gender diversity through its listening, intervention and awareness-raising services. Through its actions, the organization aims to break the isolation of 2ELGBTQIA+ people, provide concrete support adapted to mental health issues, and sensitize the general public and decision-makers to the realities of LGBTQ+ communities. Interligne depends on community support to pursue its mission. Your commitment is essential to ensure the sustainability of these actions and to make a real difference.

SOURCE Interligne

To schedule an interview or request information: Marie-Helene Avon, [email protected]
TORONTO, March 11, 2025 /CNW/ - Amid rising construction costs caused by Trump's tariffs, three associations representing municipal builders are calling for standardized road-building specifications and procurement practices at the municipal level to reduce costs through efficiencies and economies of scale.

The Toronto and Area Road Builders Association (TARBA), Greater Toronto Sewer and Watermain Contractors Association (GTSWCA, and Heavy Construction Association of Toronto (HCAT) are calling for standardized road-building specifications and procurement practices at the municipal level to reduce costs through efficiencies and economies of scale. (CNW Group/Toronto and Area Road Builders Association (TARBA)) Greater Toronto Sewer and Watermain Contractors Association (GTSWCA) (CNW Group/Toronto and Area Road Builders Association (TARBA)) Heavy Construction Association of Toronto (HCAT) (CNW Group/Toronto and Area Road Builders Association (TARBA))

Ontario's municipalities own and manage more public infrastructure than the federal and provincial governments combined, with more than 50 per cent of their budgets allocated to construction and infrastructure. While provincial standards exist, municipalities have discretion in their implementation and have instead amassed hundreds of varying requirements for how to build and procure similar use projects, like roads, bridges, sewers and watermains. These differences cost taxpayers millions of dollars more, while reducing quality and productivity and increasing waste and carbon emissions.

The Toronto and Area Road Builders Association (TARBA), the Greater Toronto Sewer and Watermain Contractors Association (GTSWCA), and the Heavy Construction Association of Toronto (HCAT) members build more than 75 per cent of the total capital infrastructure construction portfolio across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) each year.

The associations are sounding the alarm about the critical transportation and house-enabling infrastructure projects that will be put at risk with rising construction costs and continued economic uncertainty.

"This is a pivotal moment for infrastructure development in Ontario," said Patrick McManus, Executive Director of the GTSWCA. "By standardizing construction specifications and contracts, we will reign in rising construction costs and lay the groundwork for sustainable growth and cost-effective infrastructure solutions without fundamentally altering how we design, build, finance, or maintain our critical core infrastructure in the region."

"There are more than 300 different asphalt mix designs in the GTA alone, with each municipality having different requirements on how a road ought to be paved," said Raly Chakarova, Executive Director at TARBA. "We're talking about breaking down interprovincial trade barriers, but just as important is harmonizing practices across municipal boundaries, especially in an economically significant region like the GTA. This is a real solution that will bring in faster construction timelines and create significant cost savings for taxpayers, particularly through initiatives such as the standardized and enhanced use of Recycled Crushed Aggregates ."

"This is the time for the provincial and federal governments to step in and ensure that municipalities have predictable and continuous infrastructure funding to get projects out the door, shovels in the ground, and keep everyone employed," said Peter Smith, Executive Director at HCAT. "But municipalities need to drop their own barriers. There is no reason that a different asphalt type or watermain fitting needs to be used simply because a project crosses over Steeles Ave."

To safeguard infrastructure projects while addressing the significant red tape and associated business costs of having hundreds of road specifications and procurement specifications across Ontario, the province should consult with municipalities to develop a comprehensive strategy to enhance efficiency and reduce construction costs by:

Implementing uniform technical standards for road construction throughout Ontario to ensure consistency, efficiency, and performance in infrastructure projects.

to ensure consistency, efficiency, and performance in infrastructure projects. Streamlining and standardizing procurement processes to shorten tender timelines, facilitating quicker project commencement and completion.

Providing clearer guidelines and timelines for permitting processes, reducing uncertainty and delays in project approvals.

Establishing a common framework and approach for reimbursement for cost increases caused by new tariffs to limit project disruption.

About TARBA

The Toronto and Area Road Builders Association (TARBA) represents contractors involved in the new construction and maintenance of roads, sidewalks, highways, and other critical infrastructure in the Greater Toronto Area. TARBA advocates for policies and practices that promote safe, efficient, and sustainable infrastructure development. www.tarba.org

About GTSWCA

The Greater Toronto Sewer and Watermain Contractors Association (GTSWCA) serves as a collective voice for its members who build water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure across the Greater Toronto Area. www.oswca.org

About HCAT

The Heavy Construction Association of Toronto (HCAT) represents contractors in the heavy civil engineering construction sector, including bridge construction and rehabilitation, tunnels, marine construction, and structure foundations. HCAT advocates for best practices in infrastructure development while addressing industry challenges, providing educational opportunities, and promoting safety and sustainability. www.hcat.ca

SOURCE Toronto and Area Road Builders Association (TARBA)

Media Contact: For media inquiries or further information, please contact Raly Chakarova, Executive Director, TARBA at [email protected] or Patrick McManus, Executive Director, GTSWCA at [email protected].
Manus AI, developed by the Chinese startup Monica.im is making a lot of splash as the worlds first fully autonomous AI agent. Manus operates independently, executing complex, multi-step tasks without human oversight. It has GAIA benchmark edge but it has some errors and problems. Competitors are either more reliable now (Operator, Claude) or poised to catch up (Google, xAI).

What are Manus AI key innovations ?

Multi-Agent Architecture

Manus works with a system overseeing specialized sub-agents. Each sub-agent handles specific components of a taske.g., web browsing, data analysis, or code executionallowing it to manage complex workflows seamlessly. This modular approach enables Manus to break down tasks like resume screening or stock analysis into actionable steps performed concurrently.

Asynchronous Cloud-Based Operation

Operating in a cloud environment, Manus processes tasks asynchronously. Users can initiate a task, disconnect, and receive results later, as the agent continues working independently. This innovation supports real-time adaptability, allowing mid-task instruction changes without restarting.

Integration of Existing Models with Fine-Tuning

Rather than building a new foundational model, Manus uses existing large language models (e.g., Anthropics Claude, Alibabas Qwen) and fine-tunes them for autonomy. This pragmatic approach accelerates development and enhances performance by combining proven technologies with task-specific optimization.

Advanced Tool Usage and Real-Time Interaction

Manus integrates with external tools like web browsers, APIs, and code sandboxes, enabling it to fetch real-time data, execute scripts, and deploy solutions (e.g., building a website from scratch). Its ability to see and interact with digital environments mimics human-like task execution.

Memory and Learning Capabilities

The agent retains contextual memory and learns user preferences over time. For example, if it was told to deliver results in a spreadsheet once, Manus AI can apply that format to future tasks, reducing repetitive user instructions.

Open-Source Foundation

Manus builds on open-source, with plans to release its models publicly under an open-source license.

These innovations allow Manus to outperform benchmarks like GAIA (General AI Assistants benchmark), where it reportedly surpasses OpenAIs Deep Research by achieving state-of-the-art results across all difficulty levels, excelling in reasoning, tool usage, and real-world problem-solving.

Competing Autonomous Agents as Good or Better Than Manus AI

While Manus has generated significant hype, several competing agentsboth existing and emergingrival or potentially exceed its capabilities as of March 10, 2025.

Competitive AI Agent Landscape

OpenAIs Operator (and Deep Research)

Released late 2024, OpenAI Operator is an autonomous agent that performs web-based tasks, while Deep Research focuses on in-depth analysis. OpenAI announced a $20,000/month enterprise-grade agent subscription in early 2025, signaling advanced capabilities.

Operator is great at in web interactions and structured outputs, while Deep Research matches Manus on GAIA benchmarks in some areas. OpenAIs vast resources and rapid iteration give it an edge in refinement.

Early tests show Operator is faster (e.g., completing tasks in 15 minutes vs. Manuss 50+ minutes in some cases), but less autonomous, often requiring human confirmation.

Manuss broader task scope (e.g., coding, deployment) may give it an edge but bugs and slower execution are problems.

Anthropics Claude with Computer Use

Released late 2024, Claudes Computer Use feature allows it to interact with digital interfaces autonomously, executing tasks like file management and basic coding.

Claudes interpretability and safety focus make it reliable, with fewer errors than Manuss beta version. Its multi-modal capabilities (text, images) are robust.

It is less ambitious than Manus in scope. Claudes stability and refinement seems to outperform Manus in controlled environments. Manuss broader autonomy comes with more reported glitches.

xAIs Grok (Hypothetical Advancements)

There are rumors on X that xAI might leapfrog AI Agent competitors soon.

It is expected that Groks real-time knowledge integration and concise reasoning could soon make a competitive agent with tool-using capabilities.

Googles Gemini with Agentic Features

Rumor that Google will have autonomous agents in 2025.

Google has world leading data access and infrastructure that will support a highly efficient agent. Early agent prototypes are great at web navigation and multi-modal tasks.

Critical Assessment

Manus AIs innovationsparticularly its multi-agent system and cloud autonomypush the frontier of agentic AI beyond Western counterparts, which often remain tethered to human prompts. Its GAIA benchmark edge (e.g., 12.2% over OpenAIs Deep Research) is great. There are early user feedback reveals bugs, slow performance, and incomplete tasks. More testing and fixes are needed. suggesting its still maturing. OpenAIs Operator and Anthropics Claude offer more polished experiences, though with narrower scope. Google and xAI loom as future threats. DeepSeek-R1, while not a full agent, sets a high bar for reasoning that Manus must consistently match.

Manus is good and its breakthroughs are real. Competitors are either more reliable now (Operator, Claude) or poised to catch up (Google, xAI).
Boston, USA, March 11th, 2025, CyberNewsWire

GitGuardian, the security leader behind GitHubs most installed application, today released its comprehensive 2025 State of Secrets Sprawl Report, revealing a widespread and persistent security crisis that threatens organizations of all sizes. The report exposes a 25% increase in leaked secrets year-over-year, with 23.8 million new credentials detected on public GitHub in 2024 alone.

Most concerning for enterprise security leaders: 70% of secrets leaked in 2022 remain active today, creating an expanding attack surface that grows more dangerous with each passing day.

The explosion of leaked secrets represents one of the most significant yet underestimated threats in cybersecurity, said Eric Fourrier, CEO of GitGuardian. Unlike sophisticated zero-day exploits, attackers dont need advanced skills to exploit these vulnerabilitiesjust one exposed credential can provide unrestricted access to critical systems and sensitive data.

Eric Fourrier points to the 2024 U.S. Treasury Department breach as a warning: A single leaked API key from BeyondTrust allowed attackers to infiltrate government systems. This wasnt a sophisticated attackit was a simple case of an exposed credential that bypassed millions in security investments.

Key Findings for Security Leaders

The report identifies several critical trends that demand immediate attention:

The Blind Spot: Generic Secrets

Despite GitHubs Push Protection helping developers detect known secret patterns, generic secretsincluding hardcoded passwords, database credentials, and custom authentication tokensnow represent more than half of all detected leaks. These credentials lack standardized patterns, making them nearly impossible to detect with conventional tools.

Private Repositories: A False Sense of Security

The analysis reveals a startling truth: a full 35% of all private repositories scanned contained at least one plaintext secret, shattering the common assumption that private repositories are secure:

AWS IAM keys appeared in plaintext in 8.17% of private repositories over 5 more frequently than in public ones (1.45%)

appeared in plaintext in 8.17% of private repositories (1.45%) Generic passwords appeared nearly 3 more often in private repositories (24.1%) compared to public ones (8.94%)

appeared nearly (24.1%) compared to public ones (8.94%) MongoDB credentials were the most frequently leaked secret type in public repositories (18.84%)

Leaked secrets in private code repositories must be treated as compromised, emphasized Eric Fourrier. Security teams must recognize that secrets should be treated as sensitive data regardless of where they reside.

Beyond Code: Secrets Sprawl Across the SDLC

Hardcoded secrets are everywhere, but especially in security blind spots like collaboration platforms and containers environments where security controls are typically weaker:

Slack : 2.4% of channels within analyzed workspaces contained leaked secrets

: 2.4% of channels within analyzed workspaces contained leaked secrets Jira : 6.1% of tickets exposed credentials, making it the most vulnerable collaboration tool

: 6.1% of tickets exposed credentials, making it the DockerHub: 98% of detected secrets were embedded exclusively in image layers, with over 7,000 valid AWS keys currently exposed

The Non-Human Identity Crisis

Non-human identities (NHIs)including API keys, service accounts, and automation tokensnow vastly outnumber human identities in most organizations. However, these credentials often lack proper lifecycle management and rotation, creating persistent vulnerabilities.

A security leader at a Fortune 500 company acknowledged this challenge: We aim to rotate secrets annually, but enforcement is difficult across our environment. Some credentials have remained unchanged for years.

Secrets Managers: Not a Complete Answer

Even organizations using secrets management solutions remain vulnerable. A study of 2,584 repositories leveraging secrets managers revealed a 5.1% secret leakage rate far from the near-zero we anticipate. This surpasses the overall GitHub average of 4.6%.

Common issues include:

Secrets extracted from secrets managers and hardcoded elsewhere

Insecure authentication to secrets managers exposing access credentials

Fragmented governance due to secrets sprawl across multiple secrets managers

The Path Forward: Comprehensive Secrets Security

As AI-generated code, automation, and cloud-native development accelerate, the report forecasts that secrets sprawl will only intensify. While GitHubs Push Protection has reduced some leaks, it leaves significant gapsparticularly with generic secrets, private repositories, and collaboration tools.

For CISOs and security leaders, the goal isnt just detectionits the remediation of these vulnerabilities before theyre exploited, said Eric Fourrier. This requires a comprehensive approach that includes automated discovery, detection, remediation, and stronger secrets governance across all enterprise platforms.

The report concludes with a strategic framework for organizations to address secrets sprawl through:

Deploying monitoring for exposed credentials across all environments

Implementing centralized secrets detection and remediation

Establishing semi-automated rotation policies for all credentials

Creating clear developer guidelines for secure vault usage

To read the full 2025 State of Secrets Sprawl Report, users can visit GitGuardian.com.

Additional resources

GitGuardian  Website

The State of Secrets Sprawl 2025

About GitGuardian

GitGuardian is an end-to-end NHI security platform that empowers software-driven organizations to enhance their Non-Human Identity (NHI) security and comply with industry standards. With attackers increasingly targeting NHIs, such as service accounts and applications, GitGuardian integrates Secrets Security and NHI Governance. This dual approach enables the detection of compromised secrets across your dev environments while also managing non-human identities and their secrets lifecycles. The platform is the worlds most installed GitHub application and supports over 450+ types of secrets, offers public monitoring for leaked data, and deploys honeytokens for added defense. Trusted by over 600,000 developers, GitGuardian is the choice of leading organizations like Snowflake, ING, BASF, and Bouygues Telecom for robust secrets protection.

Contact

Media Contact

Holly Hagerman

Connect Marketing

[email protected]

+1(801) 373-7888


When state Sen. Cedric Hayden ran into Brownsville Mayor Adam Craven at the Capitol in January, he asked his typical questions: What do you want, and how much will it cost?

It was City Day in Salem, and state politicos were meeting with local representatives. Brownsville went in force. Along with Craven, four other council members attended, accompanied by City Administrator Scott McDowell.

What Hayden didnt know at the time, however, was that those were not the questions to ask a Brownsville elected.

Craven, relaying the story two days later at the Jan. 30 City Council meeting, explained they werent looking for a handout. They were looking for change, but not the pocketed kind  policy change.

Unlike many mid-Willamette Valley city councils that occupy themselves with parochial issues, Brownsville officials are just as likely to rail against edicts coming down from Salem and Washington, D.C. as they are to discuss public works projects or pass a proclamation.

Indeed, at a candidates forum ahead of the Nov. 5 election that saw three council seats up for grabs, not one of the five candidates discussed parks or roads or the library.

To a T, even the Democratic candidates  the positions are nonpartisan but the councils rhetoric decidedly is not  spent their time discussing how difficult life is in a small town facing big regulatory demands crafted from afar.

The election sent the last Democratic Party councilor packing, replacing him with Felipe Eversull, the local U.S. post master and a close friend of the mayors.

The city speaks with one voice, and that voice is mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.

Being proactive

Its not just performative grievance offered up in Brownsville, though theres definitely some of that. The city is trying to effect real change.

To that end, it started the Small Municipalities Advocacy Coalition, featuring the perhaps intended acronym SMAC. It seeks to represent the concerns of small, rural cities on a larger stage after Brownsville representatives determined that the League of Oregon Cities, the lobbyist for the states 241 cities, pays too much attention to the needs of the metro areas.

SMAC now counts among its constituents pint-sized mid-valley neighbors Halsey, Harrisburg, Scio, Monroe and Sodaville.

Past reports shared with the Brownsville City Council describe how the coalition is focused on making its opinions known on statewide proposals as well as devising those of its own. That work may be stalled, however, with the most recent report in late February indicating its lobbyist will resign from the organization at the end of this legislative season. That lobbyist, Sean Tate, could not be reached for comment.

But Brownsville is also willing to go it alone. Its most coveted working committee  if measured by how many times it was mentioned at the Oct. 24 candidates forum  is called the Legislative Advocacy & Policy Committee, created by local ordinance in 2023. Eversull was a member before his election, and his vacated spot was quickly filled at Februarys meeting.

Heres the battle on tap for the coming year, per the latest goals laid out for the city:

The state continues to press Gov. Koteks four pillars that include climate change policy, the housing crisis policy, homelessness policy, and DEI. (Despite recent court rulings that) should cause the state to reprioritize their efforts in at least two of these areas  the state maintains defiant ambivalence to these and other federal actions.

Defiant ambivalence is among the nicer phrasing used to discuss state and federal mandates.

Getting feisty

Brownsville has created an at-a-glance info sheet that offers such factoids as its the third-oldest city in Oregon; it features 18.58 miles of roadways; and it sources its water from the Calapooia River and the ground.

But it also has a very Brownsvillian vibe. It lets you know that it has to respond to trial lawyers association nonsense, every bill passed strips away citizen rights, and that climate change regulations are driving costs up for citizens for no meaningful environmental gains.

Environmental rules, especially, get City Administrator McDowells goat. In email correspondence with representatives from the state Department of Environmental Quality, which is asking cities to monitor and curtail street runoff into the Willamette River basin, McDowell doesnt hold back.

In a letter sent Jan. 31, McDowell submitted required information under protest: The City Council hears about the impacts of this program too often. They do not appreciate unfunded mandates that this program represents nor the burdensome reporting requirements  which (were) unduly forced on cities in Oregon.

Its a philosophical difference, according to council members, who use the comments portion of the monthly agenda to discuss their bigger-picture political viewpoints.

For example, Mayor Craven penned a lengthy statement, which he read at the February meeting:

Government's role is not to control but to serve to create an environment where we as citizens have the opportunity to thrive and make choices in our lives, homes and businesses. Yet when government begins to impose restrictions without consultation, when it grows larger and more distant, it strips us of the control we have over our own futures.

Local governments like ours are closest to the people and best equipped to understand and address the specific challenges we face. We are the ones who know the people, the values and the needs of our neighborhoods, he said.

Councilor David Hansen took it one step further. At the November meeting, he talked about a flier he created, which was included in the council packet, announcing, Stealing is wrong.

While that may seem self-evident, he wasnt talking about petty crime. He was talking about taxes, comparing collectivism with individualism.

Collectivism is generally realized through CENTRALIZED GOVERNMENT and FORCED WEALTH REDISTRIBUTION via CONFISCATORY TAXATION otherwise known as STEALING!!!"

The flier, which groups representative republic-style governments with moral anarchy and anarcho-capitalism as examples of individualism, was approved for inclusion on the agenda by both Craven and McDowell, the latter said.

The city administrator and mayor set the agenda, McDowell said by email. Yes, there is a screening process, however, council members are electors of the community. So, unless its completely egregious, it goes in.

It doesnt happen very often, McDowell said: I have had four pieces go in from council members in 18 years.

Published with the regular agenda, the flier prompted two residents to appear at the November meeting to question it as official business of the city. Don Lyon, one of the unsuccessful council candidates earlier that month, said he found the flier curious.

I appreciate Councilor Hansens efforts to educate the hoi polloi of Brownsville, but Im afraid this document is confusing and frightening, Lyon said, reading from a statement.

Don Ware was mayor in Brownsville for 16 years. Reached by email, he said such pronouncements seldom happened under his watch.

As mayor I would accept it if it had to do with city activities, but not if political in nature, he wrote.

Doing the job

To be fair, the city does tackle its needs, or at least quantifies them before setting many of them aside.

McDowell is in the process of preparing the next fiscal year budget, which is built on council priorities. He recently shared a bevy of big-ticket items on the citys to-do list, and offered a corresponding fee that would be tacked on to utility bills should the council want to move forward with them.

For example, replacing the pavilion at Pioneer Park  the site of the annual Stand By Me Day activities  would cost about $1.4 million, McDowell estimates, which translates to an additional fee of $5.80 on residents utility bills. Adding up everything on the wish list could bring future monthly bills to $160.40, up from the just under $100 residents currently pay, according to a slide presented at the most recent council meeting.

One of the projects on this list  which isnt likely to be prioritized  is the shoring up of the Calapooia River banks as it meanders through Pioneer Park, which McDowell estimates would cost $3.1 million. That could be funded with a $24.40 add-on to residents bills.

The rivers banks had been eroding for years, prompting the city to remove a bathroom built too close to the shore in 2011. Reluctant to spend the big bucks needed for a permanent fix, the citys approach is literally retreat, McDowell said by email, moving the barriers each year as the river continues its relentless forward push.

Ironically, one of the major gripes of late has been the redrawing of federal floodplain maps, with councilors complaining that the government shouldnt tell landowners where they cant build.

One of the projects the city may end up prioritizing this year is moving and replacing the parks playground because of the rivers impact, which could cost $250,000. Some $100,000 was set aside last year but then reallocated for the makeover of the Central Linn recreation center, a project that required the city to borrow money to finish.

Also likely to get the green light this year is a coat of paint for City Hall.

The city takes in just over $1 million in property taxes, McDowell said, has a $1.2 million budget and is $8.3 million in debt.

A new push

With all that is going on, Mayor Craven said he had one more advocacy card to play this year. Hes teaming up with a city council member in Estacada to figure out a way to glean some of the savings he believes the Trump administration is finding.

Nows the time, right? he told his fellow councilors. And the small rural towns are due.

Our approach is to kind of just circumvent the state and try to get some of that money in the way of grants.

Hansen did not weigh in.

Related stories:
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.
Miles, a 100-pound potbelly pig, rests in a South Jersey animal hospital after roaming across Hamilton and Egg Harbor townships in Atlantic County on Friday, March 7, and Saturday, March 8, 2025. Anna Kulczycki, provided

At a veterinarians office in South Jersey, a potbellied pig, Miles, is resting after eluding those trying to catch him as he traversed at least two towns.

The 100-pound domesticated pig was captured Saturday night by a volunteer-based group after being seen in Hamilton and Egg Harbor townships in Atlantic County over the weekend. The pigs rescuers estimate Miles roamed 12 miles in less than 48 hours before being caught.

Miles' journey was shared on social media, encouraging a volunteer-led effort to rescue him. He was found behind houses in Egg Harbor Township around 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

Anna Kulczycki, cofounder of Eastern Snouts, an animal rescue catering to lost or displaced pigs, helped rescue and find care for Miles. Snaring pigs, she said, is particularly challenging because of their fast-thinking evasive instincts.

Its honestly a miracle that the pig was able to be caught, said Kulczyckis, whose nonprofit helps rescue and re-home stranded pigs across the country, particularly on the East Coast.

Miles will rehabilitate at Cape Veterinary Hospital in Cape May Court House, where he is recovering from having gone several days without eating or drinking, Kulczycki said. Once neutered and healthy, the nonprofit intends to make him an adoptable pet.

Miles displayed a pigs smart character at least twice when, Kulczycki said. He escaped a crate Friday night, leading to his continued trek across the area Saturday. He also bypassed an enclosure at his foster home in Hammonton but was kept on the property by outdoor fencing.

The pig, which is believed to be between 4 and 5 years old, was captured around Kingsley Drive, a residential neighborhood off the Black Horse Pike, said Melanie Nacion, one of 10 volunteers who searched for him. The group combed through thick bushes and vines to reach Miles after he settled in a wooded area behind homes, she said.

After being caught, Miles enjoyed a much-needed bowl of food and bails of hay.

Nacion, 46, of Marmora, partnered with Eastern Snouts several years ago, fostering rescued pigs before adopting one herself. They are not like a dog, Nacion said. You cant call them to you.

Trapping a loose pig, she said, depends on timing.

Theres really nothing that you can do until they settle down and theyre either in a yard, at least contained by three sides, and (you) get like a lot of people to try and contain them, Nacion said. But, when (pigs) are on a mission, theyre very difficult to catch.

A search party of around 10 people began looking for the animal after photos of it surfaced on social media Friday. The pig was photographed beside a retention pond in a housing development and behind residential properties.

At one point, Miles walked through a wooded area near the Hamilton Commons shopping plaza onto a grassy area beside the Atlantic City Expressway.

He was then coaxed away from the plaza and nearby roads and back into the woods, Martin said.

Some have told Kulczycki they may have seen the pig as much as 10 days ago, she said. Its origins, however, remain unknown.

Sometimes, I get pigs after theyve been roaming for months, and they cover a long, long area because when theyre loose and theyre timid, theyre not coming near you, Kulczycki said.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.
President Donald Trump walks down the stairs of Air Force One upon his arrival at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on Sunday, March 9, 2025. Luis M. Alvarez | The Associated Press

A federal judge has granted New Jerseys request to temporarily block President Donald Trumps administration from eliminating federal funding to train and hire K-12 teachers.

New Jersey is one of seven states suing the Trump administrations attempt to withdraw $600 million for teacher recruitment and preparation grants. The lawsuit was filed last week after the administration said it intends to cut the funding for the teacher training programs, which federal officials said had divisive ideologies.

The states suing the Trump administration asked a federal judge to temporarily block the cuts while the matter is decided in court. The Massachusetts U.S. District Court judge ruled in favor of New Jersey and other states on Monday, according to court records.

New Jersey, California and Massachusetts are the suits lead plaintiffs. White House officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NJ Advance Media.

The U.S. Department of Education also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin announced the judges decision Tuesday. He said the ruling was vital to keeping schools properly staffed.

The ruling also prevents potential layoffs or reductions in working hours at universities that oversee the teacher training programs, he said.

I am glad the Court has stopped the Trump Administrations unlawful attempt to deprive students in New Jersey of the best-in-the-nation education that they deserve, Platkin said in a statement.

President Trump is not a king, and he cannot unilaterally dismantle our education system. We will continue to fight this illegal action and protect our students, teachers, and schools, he added.

The cuts are part of attempts by the Trump administration to reduce government spending and eliminate programs it says focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.

State officials said the federal teacher training money was needed to recruit teachers in hard-to-fill subjects, including math and special education. In 2024, about one in eight teaching roles  or about 400,000 positions  were vacant or filled by uncertified educators, the attorney generals office has said.

The targeted grants are from the federal Teacher Quality Partnership and Supporting Effective Educator Development programs, which were enacted by Congress in 2008 and 2015, respectively.

Prolonged teaching vacancies have become common in New Jersey. School officials statewide have warned of increased reliance on long-term substitutes, larger class sizes and staff spreading thin to cover high course loads.

Montclair State University used the Teacher Quality Partnership funds to recruit and prepare teachers in the Newark and Orange school districts. The College of New Jersey intended to use the money to train educators as part of its teacher residency program.

Representatives of both institutions did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Both schools were notified Feb. 7 of the impending cuts.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.
Lawyers and advocates for immigrants say the use of the word "warrant" could lead undocumented immigrants to confuse the relatively powerless administrative form above, left with a powerful judicial warrant that allows enforcement officers to enter premises or arrest individuals without consent or probable cause. ICE/United States District Court

To someone in the United States without proper documentation, a Warrant of Removal/Deportation presented by an ICE agent at their door might be as intimidating as a SWAT team or a growling K9 unit.

But its all bark and no bite, according to civil rights and immigration lawyers, immigrants' advocates, and the government itself, who say the removal warrants carry no legal authority granting ICE agents access to a home or business without the occupants consent or to arrest anyone without documentation.

Though the name of the form includes the word warrant printed in bold type just below DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, immigration lawyers and advocates say its not the same as a judicial warrant that grants federal agents or police officers the power to conduct a search or make an arrest without the occupants consent or some probable cause at the scene at that time.

Just because someone calls something a warrant doesnt make it a judicial warrant, said Farrin Anello, a senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey. A judicial warrant is signed by a judge  a federal district court judge or a magistrate, or a state judge."

(Federal district judges and magistrates do many of the same things, but the president appoints judges who have a higher ranking, while judges appoint magistrates.)

To be sure, a warrant of removal/deportation is an official document that orders that a person be removed from the country.

But the removal warrant is an administrative document issued by an ICE employee directing another ICE employee to remove a specific individual. Lawyers say the form lacks the authority of a judicial warrant.

The problem, lawyers and advocates for immigrants say, is that warrants of removal can be confusing or misleading to the immigrants they target, who are typically unfamiliar with legal or administrative documents, may speak little English, and may be intimidated or terrified at that moment by aggressive, heavily armed agents.

Some suggested the word warrant was deliberately misleading.

The name of the document and the way it is used and presented is intended to cause confusion and make people believe that it authorizes a search or seizure, when it does not, Make the Road New Jersey, an immigrants' rights group, said in a statement.

The group called ICEs use of the term warrant deeply problematic, amounting to an unconstitutional violation of the Fourth Amendments protection against undue search and seizure.

Immigrants' lawyers and advocates said they hadnt heard of any complaints that ICE agents deliberately misrepresented a removal warrant as its more powerful judicial counterpart.

But, said Mustafa Cetin, a Wayne-based immigration lawyer, I wouldnt be surprised if thats whats happening out there.

Ice did not answer questions from NJ Advance Media asking whether its agents presented warrants of removal when seeking access to a home or business and, if so, whether they explained the documents meaning.

Newark became a focal point of the nationwide immigration crackdown promised by President Donald Trump. Three days after Trumps Jan. 20 inauguration, ICE raided the Ocean Seafood Depot, a distributor and retail outlet in Newark, where agents arrested three undocumented immigrants.

ICE did not have a judicial warrant for the raid, a fact that drew outrage from Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka and other Democratic elected officials. But ICE said it didnt need a warrant after it received permission to search the business from the person in charge there.

Since then, Make the Road NJ, the ACLU and other groups have urged immigrants not to let agents into their homes or businesses without a judicial warrant signed by a judge and specifying the address or individual targeted for search or arrest.

Like other enforcement agencies, ICE can obtain a judicial warrant by convincing a federal judge or magistrate that there is probable cause for a search or arrest. Judicial warrants are recognizable by the words United States District Court emblazoned across the top.

ICE acknowledges the difference between its relatively powerless removal warrants and their powerful judicial counterparts, a distinction taught to immigration employees at the governments Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers.

In the day-to-day ICE world, the ICE officer will utilize administrative removal warrants to carry out their duties, John Seaman, a senior instructor with the centers Legal Division, told trainees in one such session, according to an online transcript. A removal warrant does not authorize the ICE officer to enter into an area to execute the warrant.

Another senior legal instructor, Jenna Solari, told the same trainees, If the officer does not have consent to enter, even if the officer knows the person subject to the warrant is inside the home, the officer has no legal authority to enter the home pursuant to that removal warrant."

But regardless of how clearly ICE agents understand the limits of a removal warrants authority, immigrants' advocates say pressure on agents in the form of widely reported arrest quotas invites abuses of removal warrants or other enforcement tools.

In the field, theyre motivated to do whatever it takes to find and arrest aliens, said Cetin, the immigration lawyer. Our understanding is they have this quota. When gaining access to a private home or private business is going to lead them to more arrests, theyll be motivated to do so.

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Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com
Monmouth County authorities charged a 28-year-old man with murder and weapons offenses in connection with Tuesdays fatal stabbing in Neptune, officials said.

Zhahiem Spann, of Ocean Township, was charged with first-degree murder and weapons offenses in the killing of Kaylib Paul, 24, of Neptune Township, on Tuesday.

Neptune police responded to the 200 block of West Sylvania Avenue at 11:31 p.m. and found Paul suffering from multiple stab wounds.

He was rushed to an area hospital for treatment.

Paul was pronounced dead on Wednesday, officials said.

Spann was arrested on Saturday and remains in the Monmouth County Jail, online records show.

An attorney for Spann did not immediately return a request for comment.

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Military personnel search for Sudiksha Konanki on Monday, March. 10, 2025. The University of Pittsburgh student disappeared Thursday from a beach in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. (AP Photo/Francesco Spotorno) AP

A search is underway for a college student who was reported missing on Thursday while on a spring break trip in the Dominican Republic.

Sudiksha Konanki, 20, of South Riding, Virginia, is a pre-med student at the University of Pittsburgh, who traveled with five other female university students on March 3 to the Hotel Riu Republic in Punta Cana, WTOP News reported.

For spring break, she wanted to have a nice break with her friends in Punta Cana, Konankis father Subbarayudu Konanki told WTOP News.

Thomas Julia, a spokesperson for Virginias Loudoun County Sheriffs Office, told WTOP News that Konanki seems to have vanished between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Thursday.

Konanki is a U.S. and Indian citizen, so Julia said the embassy of India in the Dominican Republic has taken the lead on the ground, working with the U.S. Department of State and local law enforcement.

Julia said the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has also been assisting local authorities.

Konankis father told CNN, So farmultiple authorities here in the Dominican Republic have searched in the waters. They searched using helicopters and other tools. They also searched near the bay, bushes, (and) trees. They went multiple times around the same areas.

After being informed by the Loudoun County Sheriffs Office that his daughter was missing, Konanki, his wife, and two family friends flew from Virginia to Punta Cana, the New York Post reported.

Subbarayudu Konanki said his daughter, some friends, and some guys they met at the resort went to the beach around 4 a.m. on March 6.

Surveillance footage captured five women and one man leaving the beach around 5:55 a.m. on Thursday. However, CNN reported that Konanki was believed to have stayed behind on the beach with a different young man.

At 9:55 a.m., CNN reported that the resorts surveillance cameras showed the man exiting the beach, but Konanki was not seen leaving.

Authorities have interviewed the young man who was last seen with Konanki to gather information about what happened between them, and the Dominican National Police are actively investigating his account.

Police are also questioning others who last saw Konanki on Thursday to establish where to focus their oceanic search, CNN reported.

Julia said the friends Konanki traveled with were scheduled to return to the United States on Friday but decided to stay to help with the search.

In a criminal complaint filed with authorities, Konankis family asked Dominican authorities to investigate the possibility of an accidental drowning and the possibility of a kidnapping or foul play, the New York Post reported.

Her belongings, including personal items like her phone and wallet, were left with her friends, which is unusual because she always carried her phone with her, the complaint said.

Julia said authorities are investigating all possibilities.

La Altagracia Civil Defense, a local Dominican Republic emergency operations agency, said it was coordinating an extensive search.

Several brigades have been deployed by sea and land to find the whereabouts of (Konanki), the agency said in a statement on Facebook.

The U.S. Department of State advised travelers to exercise increased caution when visiting the Dominican Republic due to violent crimes occurring throughout the country, according to its website.

In a statement, The Riu Republic hotel chain said its staff is assisting authorities in the search and expressed empathy for Konankis family and friends.

Meanwhile, CNN reported that the University of Pittsburgh has advised anyone with information to contact the Loudoun County Sheriffs Office in Virginia.

Mosaic staff writer Vashti Harris can be reached at vharris@njadvancemedia.com.

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A 38-year-old Plainfield man with a lengthy criminal history has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for drugs and weapons offenses.

Dominick Montgomery sold eight guns, cocaine, and fentanyl to an undercover law enforcement officer on multiple occasions between October 2021 and January 2022, the U.S. Attorneys Office for New Jersey said.

Montgomery and the undercover officer linked up when Montgomery learned that another drug dealer who had previously supplied narcotics to the officer had gone to prison, according to court papers. Montgomery then called the undercover officer and offered to become the cops new dealer, the documents stated.
UPDATE: N.J. high school student identified following crash that also killed his 2 friends

A third passenger of a car involved in a three-vehicle crash Sunday in Gloucester County has died, authorities said.

A New Jersey State Police spokesman confirmed that the 17-year-old passenger died Monday but did not identify him or provide any other information.

The driver, Brenden Cary, 19, of Franklinville, was traveling north on Route 55 in Elk Township around 4:15 p.m. Sunday when his cars right front corner struck an SUV ahead of him, police said.

Cary lost control of his car, crossed onto the right shoulder of the highway and hit a disabled minivan stopped on the side of the road, police said.

Cary and a passenger, Dominic Reyes, 19, of Franklinville, died Sunday of their injuries in the crash, police said.

Brenden Cary, 19, of Franklinville, died Sunday in a crash on Route 55 in Gloucester County. He was set to graduate from high school this spring. (Provided Photo/Laura Perez)

A 36-year-old Monroeville woman driving the minivan suffered serious injuries and three juveniles in her vehicle suffered minor injuries, authorities said.

Carys legal guardian told NJ Advance Media that Cary, Reyes and the 17-year-old were close friends.

They were always together, working on their cars, going to the car wash and car meets, playing video games or just hanging out, Perez told NJ Advance Media. Its an immense loss that Im not sure we will ever fully recover from.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
A 54-year-old New Jersey man died by suicide on Monday after shooting and injuring a couple who lived next door to him, authorities said.

A SWAT team found John Adamo dead in an upstairs bedroom of his home in Berkeley following a two-and-half hour standoff with law enforcement that began at about 4:45 p.m., the Ocean County Prosecutors Office said.

Adamo shot his neighbor outside the mans home and then shot into the house, injuring the wife, officials said. He then locked himself in his own house.

The husband and wife were flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune where they are in critical but stable condition.

After finding Adamo, the SWAT team found a pressure cooker in the bedroom and evacuated area homes. Investigators later determined that it was not an explosive.

Authorities didnt disclose a motive for the shooting.

Editors note: NJ Advance Media 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. 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 TALK to 741741.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) called out the amount of fraud discovered during President Donald Trumps first term as the current administration continues to slash government spending.

Moskowitz questioned why Trumps administration is blaming former President Joe Biden for the fraud found in government payment systems during a hearing of the subcommittee on Government Operations on Tuesday. He explained that there were billions of dollars of improper payments made during Trumps first term.

In 2017, 140 billion in improper payments. In 2018, $150 billion of improper payments. In 2019, 174 billion of improper payments. And in 2020, 206 billion in improper payments. Those are GAO numbers. So let me just do some math. In the first Trump administration, there were $670 billion of improper payments, Moskowitz said during the hearing.

Im not blaming him, but he is blaming Joe Biden, and so is Elon Musk, blaming for the improper payments, for what happened in the four years of Joe Biden. My point is, Mr. Chairman, if we do want to solve this on a bipartisan basis, then we gotta separate fact from fiction. We gotta depoliticize it, he added.

Moskowitz: In 2017, $140 billion in improper payments. In 2018, $150 billion. In 2019, $174 billion. In 2020, $206 billion. In the first Trump Administration, there was $670 billion of improper payments. Im not blaming him but he is blaming Biden and so is Elon Musk pic.twitter.com/HQAYoazrG2  Acyn (@Acyn) March 11, 2025

The hearingtitled Shifting Gears: Moving from Recovery to Prevention of Improper Payments and Fraudheard testimonies from three witnesses who worked at U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

The three witnesses agreed that Moskowitzs numbers on improper payments during Trumps first term were likely accurate.

The hearing is part of an effort to expose flaws in federal government payment systems and evaluate solutions to improve data collection, close eligibility loopholes, and thwart any further loss of taxpayer dollars, according to a press release.

His line of questioning came as the Trump administration remains under fire for the so-called Department of Government Efficiencys efforts to cut government spending.

During an interview on the Fox Business Network on Monday, tech billionaire Elon Musk claimed there was $500 billion to $700 billion in waste from entitlement programs.

The comments on the popular program and other benefits provided to Americans could rattle politicians on both sides of the aisle as Musk works to downsize the federal government, especially as he already faces blowback for his chainsaw-wielding approach to laying off workers and slashing programs.

Musks estimate for the level of fraud in entitlements far outpaces figures from watchdogs like Social Securitys inspector general, who previously said there was $71.8 billion in improper payments from fiscal years 2015 through 2022. Thats less than 1% of benefits paid out during that time period.

Musk also said there were 20 million people who are definitely dead marked as alive in the Social Security database. However, the leader of the agency has rejected claims about widespread payments to dead people.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
President-elect Donald Trump gestures after ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in New York. The market has tanked since Trump took over. (AP Photo | Alex Brandon) AP

As the stock market loses more yardage than the Giants offense; as trade wars break out across the globe like pimples on the face of a teenager; as investors stuff cash under their mattresses and Donald Trump admits a recession is a possibility; as business leaders open their Wall Street Journals every morning like theyre opening a crypt, one Fox News guest insists its time for America to thank Trump for his economic genius.

No, really, she said that.

I cannot get over these business leaders, sitting there whining about the quarterly report while President Trump teaches them how to build an economy based on the love of the country and love of your neighbor, Batya Ungar-Sargon told a Fox News audience on Monday. We should be listening and watching and saying thank you rather than whining and moaning.

Never mind that every time a right-wing commentator or Republican politician opens their mouths theyre demanding a thank-you note to Trump. But the notion that successful business leaders must take advice from a guy who went bankrupt six times (or four, depending on how you count), including while in the casino business, is nervy.

But Ungar-Sargon goes further in her cultish praise and analysis: She insists that tariffs have netted American workers higher wages.

Maybe she meant to say unions.

Regardless, there is near-zero polling that shows that working-class Americans want to pay more for anything or everything, including Canadian electricity.

Economics 101: Tariffs bring higher prices and unemployment, not bigger pay checks.

Still, Ungar-Sargon insists Americans, rich and poor, as theyre getting spanked economically, should tell Trump, Thank you, sir, can I have another?

Donald Trump has done an amazing thing, she said. He turned the GOP into the party of the working class. And working-class voters love tariffs because they make their labor more rewarding for them. They get the American working class higher wages, which they can then use in the marketplace to compete against elites and to actually achieve the American dream.

President Trump is teaching a generation of Republicans and business leaders how to build an amazing economy that will lift all boats, that will lift working class people, as well as the stock market, and that will give the GOP a ruling majority for years and years to come, an economy based on love of country that will make America into the powerhouse of manufacturing, this superpower that it used to be.

Well point out that the stock market has been in full retreat since Trump moved into the White House. Unemployment is rising; other guests on Fox News are calling the overall economy very wobbly and insisting a bigger crash could be coming; former Trump economic adviser Stephen Moore is criticizing Trumps fickle tariff-palooza policy; and Sen. Tommy Tuberville, that economic whiz, has blamed the market pull back on over-bloated stocks.

Well, at least a Kennedy is making money in the down market.

When President Joe Bidens economy was roaring, Trump said it was because of him. Now that Trump has the economy in the toilet like its a classified document at Mar-a-Lago, he says its Bidens fault.

The bottom line on everyones bottom line: There doesnt appear to be a reason for anyone to say thanks, except maybe Elon Musk, who keeps racking up billions more in government contracts as he throws federal employees  many of whom are war veterans  out of work.
President Donald Trump waves to the media as he walks on South Lawn of the White House, in Washington, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) AP

Has President Donald Trump met his match on an issue he cant distance himself from?

Its very possible.

Veteran Axios reporter Marc Caputo spoke to a Trump insider who suggested the tumbling stock market could be the presidents Achilles' heel.

However, the insider cast doubt that the woes would linger.

Ever since the election, Trump has been the master of the narrative, the insider said. We won every day. But this stock market fall is just different, no control. But its just a detox  itll get better."

A narrative that Trump cant out-message; the falling stock market https://t.co/36p4hqMPdH  Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) March 11, 2025

The U.S. stock markets sell-off cut deeper on Monday as Wall Street questioned how much pain Trump will let the economy endure through tariffs and other policies in order to get what he wants.

The president, meanwhile, doubled down on his trade war on Tuesday.

Trump said that he will double his planned tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50% for Canada.

Trump says the increase of the tariffs set to take effect on Wednesday is a response to the price increases that the provincial government of Ontario put on electricity sold to the United States.

I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, Trump posted Tuesday on Truth Social.

The U.S. stock market promptly fell following the social media post.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
FILE - President Donald Trump pumps his fist before departing on Marine One from the South Lawn of the White House, Friday, March 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) AP

President Donald Trump received poor marks on how he is handling key issues, according to a new poll.

The new Emerson College poll shows Trumps honeymoon phase might be over as his disapproval rating ticked up in its latest survey. The poll found 47% approve of how he is handling his job while 45% disapprovea 2-point increase from last weeks survey.

Despite not yet delivering on the economy in voters minds, Trumps support remains strong. However, the true challenge will be how voters perceive their financial future. While little has shifted since the election, the initial honeymoon phase seems to be coming to an end, Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said in a statement.

Voters are most supportive of Trumps immigration policy, but they disapprove of his handling of the economy, believe tariffs will hurt economic growth, and are skeptical of his cryptocurrency policy, Kimball added.

The poll found that Trumps approval is strongest on how he is handling immigration and balancing the federal budget. Forty-eight percent approve of how he is handling immigration, 40% disapprove and 12% said they are neutral.

Forty-three percent approve of how he is handling balancing the budget, 39% disapprove and 18% said they are neutral.

Trumps weakest numbers come on how he is handling the economy, healthcare and cryptocurrency. Just 37% approve of how he is handling the economy, 33% approve of his handling of healthcare and 23% approve of his handling of cryptocurrency.

It appears that the economy could be dragging Trumps approval rating down. A plurality of voters46%said Trumps policies are making the economy worse. Just 28% said his policies are making the economy better and 26% said there has been no effect or it is too soon to tell.

Voters also have negative views on tariffs, with 53% saying it will hurt the U.S. economy. Thirty-nine percent said their family finances are worse than they were a year ago, 37% said they are about the same and 24% said they are better off.

This comes as the stock market continues to reel from Trumps flip-flopping tariffs. He reversed his policy just days after issuing 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada last week.

The survey was conducted among 1,000 registered voters March 8-10 and has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Lara Trump at "The ABC News Presidential Debate: Race for the White House" held at the National Constitution Center on September 10, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bryan Dozier/Variety via Getty Images) Variety via Getty Images

Lara Trump told Americans they should be kissing the feet of President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk.

The statement immediately drew criticism on social media, with many users mocking her comment about her father-in-law and his top adviser. Lara Trump defended the president and Musk for slashing the size of the federal government in a segment during Fox Newss Hannity on Monday.

She claimed that Musk is being attacked by those on the left, noting that many are boycotting his businesses and criticizing his character.

Theyre doing any and everything they can to this man. And its really horrific to see, because what is Elon getting for all of this? You know, much like Donald Trump, he didnt need this job ... hes not taking a salary. Its actually laughable every time you hear these people on the left say, Elon is enriching himself and his friends. You just talked about it, this guy is losing money because of what hes doing, but he understands the importance of this moment, she said.

She then made a bizarre statement on how Americans should praise Trump and Musk.

So people ought to be kissing the feet of Elon Musk and Donald Trump for being the two people to actually do this, but these folks on the left are going to continue down this path, and you know what? Theyre going to continue to lose the support of the American people. They ought to be ashamed of themselves, she added.

Lara Trump: People should be kissing the feet of Elon Musk and Donald Trump pic.twitter.com/Vbjfcn54Pa  Acyn (@Acyn) March 11, 2025

Social media users mocked the former Republican National Committee co-chair for her gross comment on the social media platform X.

One user said: Kissing the feet? What a bizarre way to talk about the President of the United States and his First Buddy.

Another wrote: Ill take things a cultist says for $200, please.

Americans do not kiss the feet of politicians. They work for us. Not the other way around, one user commented.

Lara Trump is married to the presidents son, Eric Trump. She previously served as a co-chair of the Republican National Committee last year and recently started her own show with Fox News, My View with Lara Trump.
People walk outside the U.S Capitol building in Washington, Thursday, June 9, 2022. The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol will hold the first in a series of hearings laying out its findings on Thursday night. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) AP

Are Republican lawmakers secretly handing over more power to President Donald Trump?

House Republicans appeared to have added a provision in a rule that could prevent Congress from using its authority to end a national emergency declared by Trump last month, according to Aaron Fritschner, the deputy chief of staff for a Virginia Democrat. He highlighted a social media post on Tuesday that explains the rule for the continuing resolution (CR).

Republicans snuck a provision into the rule for the CR that would preemptively surrender congressional authority to block tariffs. When House Republicans vote for this rule today, they will also be voting to support Trumps tariffs and all the resulting damage to the US economy, Fritschner wrote on social media platform X.

Republicans snuck a provision into the rule for the CR that would preemptively surrender congressional authority to block tariffs.



When House Republicans vote for this rule today, they will also be voting to support Trump's tariffs and all the resulting damage to the US economy https://t.co/2gUCBtl53c  Aaron Fritschner (@Fritschner) March 11, 2025

One social media user noted that even if this provision is adopted, it will not affect the Senates consideration of a joint resolution terminating the national emergency. The provision is referring to Section 202 of the National Emergencies Act, which details how Congress can quickly terminate a national emergency.

The White House justified Trumps tariffs last week by citing emergency powers granted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the NEA. He quickly reversed the initial 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico after the countries announced their own retaliatory tariffs.

Former New Jersey Rep. Tom Malinowski explained in a social media post last month that any member of Congress could force a vote to terminate a national emergency declared by Trump that gave him the authority to impose tariffs on Mexico, China and Canada. He told Democrats that they should force a vote on the issue to put Republicans on the spot.

Because Trump used his emergency economic powers to impose tariffs, any member of Congress can force a vote to terminate them. This is because the National Emergencies Act makes such resolutions privileged - if introduced, they must be [quickly] taken up. Dems should do this! he wrote.

Because Trump used his emergency economic powers to impose tariffs, any member of Congress can force a vote to terminate them. This is because the National Emergencies Act makes such resolutions "privileged" - if introduced, they must be quicly taken up.



Dems should do this! pic.twitter.com/9lVCbtbNb5  Tom Malinowski (@Malinowski) February 2, 2025

This comes as Republicans are preparing to vote on a continuing resolution to fund the government and avoid a government shutdown.

Republicans will face a critical test of their unity when a spending bill that would avoid a partial government shutdown and keep federal agencies funded through September comes up for a vote.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is teeing up the bill for a vote as soon as Tuesday despite the lack of buy-in from Democrats, essentially daring them to oppose it and risk a shutdown that would begin Saturday if lawmakers fail to act.

Republicans will need overwhelming support from their members in both chambers  and some help from Senate Democrats  to get the bill to President Donald Trumps desk. Its one of the biggest legislative tests so far of the Republican presidents second term, prompting Vice President JD Vance to visit Capitol Hill on Tuesday morning to rally support.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
FILE - Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, left, and Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump attend a campaign event at the Butler Farm Show, Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) AP

People unhappy with Elon Musk have been boycotting the worlds richest mans car company and President Donald Trump is having none of it.

And whats more? The president apparently thinks its illegal for people to use their wallets as a form a protest.

To Republicans, Conservatives, and all great Americans, Elon Musk is putting it on the line in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! But the Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the Worlds great automakers, and Elons baby, in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for. They tried to do it to me at the 2024 Presidential Ballot Box, but how did that work out? In any event, Im going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American. Why should he be punished for putting his tremendous skills to work in order to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN???" Trump posted to social media.

Id hate for anybody to get in legal trouble for boycotting Tesla. Maybe you should buy one to be safe. pic.twitter.com/gCTBOZOYeE  Rep. Jack Kimble (@RepJackKimble) March 11, 2025

The Republican president announced early Tuesday that he was going to buy a new Tesla as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American.

Meanwhile, Tesla dealerships around the country  including one in Springfield, N.J.  have been the sites of massive ongoing protests for several weeks. Police say there have been several incidents of vandalism attached to the protests, nicknamed Tesla Takedowns.

Musks electric vehicle company is being battered by sagging sales and plunging stock prices. He continues to run the automaker  as well as the social media platform X and the rocket manufacturer SpaceX  while also serving as Trumps adviser on overhauling and downsizing the federal government.

Musk has billions of dollars in government contracts. Hes also exerting sweeping influence over Trumps administration through the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, and traveling frequently with the president.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Intelsat and MaxIQ Space are expanding efforts to deliver Intelsats Africa Space STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) Program to schools in four different countries across Africa.

The program, now in its fifth year, aims to increase to a total of 12 schools and expand to include in-person learning for students in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Senegal. Participants will receive in-person, in-community learning with subject matter experts on Space STEM curriculum mixed with innovative STEM kits, hands-on training, and exclusive resources to integrate space science, sustainability and IoT education into their classrooms.

The newly adapted 2025 program is focused on empowering schools and educators to build a lasting impact on African education systems, ensuring thousands of students gain the skills and inspiration needed to thrive in STEM careers. STEM skills build a future-ready workforce, advancing national development goals and boost technological capabilities.

As a pioneer in satellite technology, Intelsat remains committed to maximizing its contribution by inspiring the next generation and connecting African students to real-world applications of space technology, said Rhys Morgan, RVP of the EMEA region for Intelsat.

With Africa emerging as a key frontier for space infrastructure, it is essential to equip future leaders with the knowledge and skills to drive this transformation. We are honoured to play a role in preparing the young generation for this future, said Judi Sandrock, program manager at MaxIQ Space.
Because my wife Monica is not from New Orleans, she often has questions. Recently, she was curious about the wide space between West End and Pontchartrain boulevards, noting that it didnt seem like it was supposed to be a park.

I told her that in the 1830s, a canal was built linking Lake Pontchartrain to the Mississippi River to improve the city's transportation infrastructure. The project was largely done by Irish immigrants, many of whom arrived in New Orleans after fleeing the Irish potato famine. These men, desperate for work and a new life in America, found themselves in treacherous conditions as they worked to dig the canal through the swamps and marshlands of the city.

+6 Chef Kevin Belton: Celebrating the roundabout way to love with chicken saltimbocca and cake I met Monica in 2000 while I was teaching cooking classes. She had moved to a nearby area to pursue a graduate degree. She had come to New Orl

Thousands of Irish laborers are believed to have perished during the construction of the New Basin Canal, a staggering loss of life that casts a shadow over the ambitious project. A cholera epidemic about the same time may have made the death toll seem even higher.
The PEACE subsea cable cut in the Red Sea, reported by a number of news outlets early last week, could be a long-term issue, with repairs taking months.

The breakage is located some 1,450 kilometres from Zafarnaat, Egypt, although the actual reason for the break is not known.

However, the Red Sea area is affected by issues that are somewhat different from those troubling many other routes, notably Houthi attacks on ships passing by Yemeni water since November 2023. It has been suggested that some abandoned ships have drifted and damaged subsea cables.

According to the Data Centre Dynamics website, this latest repair is expected to take several months  and not just due to complexity. The subsea connectivity industry is suffering from a lack of cable ships despite several new vessels entering service in the last 18 months; many projects have apparently been delayed, and some re-routed.

The problem seems to be that there are more than 400 or so subsea cables in operation, with dozens more due to enter service over the next few years. However, the global supply of ships that can actually lay and maintain these cables is small: just 60 ships worldwide. Most of them are not new either.

The 25,000km PEACE cable (PEACE was originally an acronym for Pakistan and East Africa Connecting Europe) connects 14 points across 13 countries; France, Egypt, Cyprus, Kenya, the Maldives, Malta, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, Tunisia and the UAE.

We reported on Monday that UAE-based operator du had signed a partnership deal to extend the PEACE subsea cable system into the UAE and Gulf region.

Severing of submarine cables is not just a concern for cable companies. As we reported at the time, the ITU, the United Nations specialised agency for digital technology, last year announced plans to set up an International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience whose aim is to promote dialogue and collaboration on potential ways and means to improve resilience of this critical infrastructure that powers global communications and the digital economy.
Ansley Dinkler, 4, hides behind her cow doll as a syringe is prepared for her to administer a COVID vaccination at Children's Hospital New Orleans on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. Children under five can now receive the vaccination. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
During MWC 2025 in Barcelona, Huawei held an all-optical summit themed "Accelerate F5G-A, Boost Industrial Intelligence". At this summit, Huawei discussed and shared the latest industry practices in ISP, all-optical campus, industry communication network, and fiber sensing with global industry experts, customers, and partners.

Marcus Brunner, Vice chairman of ETSI ISG F5G, noted in his speech that F5G Advanced (F5G-A) technologies provide a robust foundation for AI applications, enabling fast, reliable networking and highly accurate sensing. At the same time, AI enhances both the network and sensing performance, delivering a superior user experience and higher-quality services for a variety of industries and applications.

Perry Yang, President of Huawei Enterprise Optical Domain, delivered a keynote speech titled "Embracing Three Trends in Optical Business to Promote Industrial Intelligence". He stressed that in an effort to promote industrial intelligence, Huawei has accelerated "3 In 3 Out" based on F5G-A. The all-optical campus solution has helped more than 10,000 campuses around the world implement "Fiber-in Copper-out". Furthermore, in sectors like electric power and transportation, fgOTN has been commercially deployed, driving "fgOTN-in SDH-out". The optical-visual linkage solution has been commercially used in more than 90 projects, helping oil and gas, railway, and airports achieve "Optical-sensing-in Hard-work-out".

Huawei introduced four F5G-A optical connectivity and sensing solutions

To meet "3 In and 3 Out" requirements, Huawei launched four solutions based on F5G-A:

For ISPs, Huawei launched the fiber to the home (FTTH) solution that supports low-cost and fast network construction as well as multiple fiber to the room (FTTR) products to help ISPs achieve fast coverage, bandwidth increase, and user experience improvement. For areas with insufficient fiber broadband coverage, Huawei's FTTH solution helps improve the fiber network penetration rate. For areas with 100 Mbit/s broadband, 10G PON and Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7 optical terminals are upgraded to provide premium gigabit HBB for users. FTTR can also be used to provide premium ultra-gigabit experiences.

For campus scenarios, Huawei FTTO 2.0 Solution implements four major upgrades in terms of bandwidth, scenario, operations, and planning. The campus network bandwidth is upgraded from 10 Gbit/s to 50 Gbit/s, delivering 50 Gbit/s to classrooms and 10 Gbit/s to Wi-Fi. This provides a superb ultra-broadband experience as well as campus network experience with one fiber for multiple networks. Optical terminals that meet the M45 installation standards in Europe and the Middle East have also been launched, which support a direct fiber connection to hospital beds without information boxes and can be installed on the bed head panels without affecting the decoration. Additionally, outdoor optical APs were released to extend indoor coverage to outdoor coverage, ideal for school playgrounds and outdoor swimming pools in hotels. As for operations, one NMS could manage only one campus in the past, but now it can manage multiple, achieving easy O&M in multi-tenant scenarios. Moreover, planning can be upgraded from manual to AI-based automatic configuration, shortening the network design time from two days to one hour.

For AI computing scenarios, Huawei released the All-Optical Lossless Data Center Interconnect (DCI) Solution, where DC-based OTN OSN 9800 K12 platform is used to achieve zero packet loss during RDMA across data centers. It can also achieve zero bit errors upon intermittent fiber disconnections during long-haul transmission, and upon fault-triggered switchover. This ensures efficient and stable intelligent computing and meets the requirements of scenarios such as remote intelligent computing and separated storage and computing training in cross-data center scenarios.

Huawei has introduced a cost-effective, easy-to-deploy miniaturized perimeter inspection solution for small campuses, including substations, oil and gas stations, and data centers. The solution is based on converged sensing technologies such as fiber and video sensing, as well as AI algorithms. Passive optical cables deployed outdoors cover a long distance and do not require power supply. In addition, the cables can resist electromagnetic interference and bad weather such as thunderstorms. All this meets the high security requirements of small campuses for fire and lightning protection, and provides intelligent perimeter inspection with strong anti-interference and precise reporting.

Latest industry insights and best practices

Up to now, passive optical LAN (POL) has entered industry and group standards in many countries. "In smart hospitals, everything is interconnected, including the data center, outpatient area, nursing area, operating rooms, clinical laboratory center, and medical imaging center, resulting in an exponential increase in connections," Francisco Hortiguela, President of Ametic, Spain, mentioned in his speech. He went on to say, "The Passive Optical LAN (POL) network features long transmission distances, high bandwidth and energy efficiency, and a 30-year service life with one-time deployment, making it highly efficient for use in healthcare settings."

In December 2023, the International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) officially approved the fgOTN standard, which is defined as the next-generation technology to replace SDH. This marks a critical turning point in the optical communication field. At the summit, Marcio Szechtman, Ex-CIGRE Technical Council Chair and Honorary Member of CIGRE, IEEE/PES Life Fellow, noted that as nowadays with all changes provided by energy transition, cutting-edge communications technologies, such as fgOTN are essential for aligning transmission and distribution system operations with actual requirements for grids resilience and reliability, by offering secure, accurate and fast communication channels for the electricity industry.

Huang Yu, Senior Manager of Signal Office of Power Grid Dispatch and Control Center of China Southern Power Grid (CSG), also shared CSG's research and practices of key technologies on optical transmission networks. He said, "China Southern Power Grid has adopted the improved ASON technology and applied it extensively in existing networks, ensuring that the average downtime of production real-time control services continues to decrease. In recent years, it has even achieved zero service interruptions."

Azamat Akhmetzhanov, CEO of International Global Partners LLP, pointed out that the AI-enabled optical fiber sensing perimeter inspection solution can resist environmental interferences such as vehicle accompaniment, strong wind, heavy rain, and various soil conditions. It enables automatic alarm reasoning and accurate reporting, and reduces the cost of manual inspection, making operations more efficient and safer.

Looking ahead, Huawei will intensify collaboration with global customers and partners to accelerate "3 In 3 Out" across connectivity and sensing, unlocking the full potential of industrial intelligence and shaping a smarter, more connected future for all.
North Devon is pulling out all the stops to give tourism the best chance as it approaches its tourist season.

One person preparing for the crucial months ahead is Rick Turner, owner of The Big Sheep, who describes tourism as the lifeblood of North Devons economy, drawing in visitors with high disposable income to a relatively poor part of the country.

Attractions like his, along with local restaurants and country pubs, depend on these visitors to generate much-needed revenue.

With English Tourism Week running from 14 to 23 March, the industry is taking a moment to reflect on its significance.

However, Rick sees it as less about immediate footfall and more about building momentum for the months ahead.

For us, it is more about promoting for the future season rather than attracting people out during this spring week, he said.

One of North Devons biggest challenges, he argues, is the lack of a coordinated marketing strategy to position itself as a top destination.

He explained that nlike the English Riviera, which benefits from a Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) to fund marketing campaigns, North Devon relies on individual businesses and organisations to promote the area.

Rick believes that a similar scheme could help drive visitor numbers, but hes sceptical about whether local councils would back such an initiative.

I would love to see this, but it needs backing and commitment from the two councils, which I dont think will ever happen, he added.

While tourism is undoubtedly a pillar of North Devons economy, it also raises wider questions about sustainability.

The influx of visitors brings economic benefits, but it also fuels concerns among residents about congestion, second-home ownership pushing up house prices, and the strain on local services during peak months.

The North Devon Economic Strategy, a five-year plan developed in collaboration with North Devon Council and Torridge District Council, aims to create a more dynamic, year-round tourism industry.

With domestic tourism rates showing signs of slowing after post-Covid recovery, the strategy seeks to boost business tourism and diversify the visitor economy.

Kelly Brend, the sales and marketing director of the Brend Collection, a group of hotels operating year-round across Devon and Cornwall, believes that business tourism will play a significant role in benefiting North Devon.

Since 2023, Kelly has been actively working in the business tourism market, including travelling to the United States in collaboration with Visit Britain to promote the region.

She is working closely with North Devon Council and Torridge District Council to develop and promote business tourism initiatives, aiming to create a stronger, unified approach to attracting business visitors.

Kelly is focusing on showcasing North Devon's unique offerings, including its manufacturing sector, pharmaceutical companies, agricultural industry, and green maritime initiatives, which she believes provide compelling reasons for businesses to choose North Devon as a destination.

We need to attract business tourists to the area because they spend more money. It's as simple as that, Kelly said.

They spend more per head. They use the local shops more. They use more of the facilities. And it's not just about my business, it's about the whole area.

Kelly also mentioned the potential for blue-sky thinking in North Devons distinctive venues, suggesting they could market unconventional or inspiring locations for business events such as product launches and retreats.

Additionally, Kellys team is collaborating with travel providers like GWR to improve transport links between major hubs like London and North Devon, making it easier for business travellers to reach the area.

If we can bring the business tourism in, ultimately we'd hope to keep the skill set within North Devon, she said.

If we've got decent businesses here, and the way that the businesses will come to the area is by us exposing the area through the likes of business tourism.

Visitors to North Devon and Torridge already play a huge role in the local economy, with over 4.5 million people visiting the area each year, contributing more than 350 million.

The councils hope to build on this by promoting business tourism, attracting conferences and trade fairs to the region, and ensuring North Devon and Torridges natural assets continue to be a national leader in nature tourism.

The strategy outlines several key objectives, including:

Developing business tourism by promoting North Devon as a conference and event destination.

Strengthening the work of the Nature Tourism Officer to better connect local businesses with sustainable tourism initiatives.

Seeking funding for North Devon+ to provide specialist business support for the visitor economy.

Delivering capital grant schemes through the Rural England Prosperity Fund to encourage investment in decarbonisation.

Improving transport and digital connectivity to remove barriers for tourism businesses.

The visitor economy is also supported by year-round facilities such as Ilfracombe Watersports Centre, North Devon Wake Park, local leisure centres, and indoor and outdoor skate parks.

The councils aim to enhance these offerings and ensure that local towns each develop their own distinct marketing plans as part of a wider regional vision.

In addition, the strategy highlights the importance of thriving town centres in strengthening North Devons tourism sector.

Councillor Ken James, Leader of Torridge District Council, said:Plans for a year-round and diverse visitor economy form a key part of North Devon and Torridges Economic Strategy. The North Devon UNESCO Biosphere which was set up by Torridge and North Devon District Councils, plays a pivotal role in driving the local nature tourism agenda. Tourism has a unique role to play in preserving and protecting the areas natural resources to maintain its attractiveness and long-term sustainability. We have some of the darkest skies in the UK, which need to be protected, promoted and enjoyed. In addition, we are also lucky to have a fantastic coastline with world-class surfing beaches. Our strategy aims to protect and enhance the surfing eco-system, whilst protecting the communities that surround these coastal areas. Our heritage provides a truly inspiring and unique tourism offer, one that we are focused on looking to develop and protect for both our residents and visitors alike.

Attracting more visitors to town centres is seen as a key factor in building a year-round visitor economy and preventing further decline.

The councils aim to shape vibrant, dynamic town centres with a strong evening economy that celebrates local produce and food heritage.

By making these areas more attractive to residents and the local workforce, they hope to create an environment that naturally draws in tourists.

Data from the strategy shows that the average spend per trip varies significantly: domestic visitors spend an average of 262, international visitors spend 927, and business delegates from Europe spend around 990.

For those extending their trips for leisure, as 87 per cent of overseas business delegates do, spending can reach an average of 1,942.

Striking a balance between growth and sustainability remains a challenge.

As English Tourism Week approaches, the conversation around North Devons visitor economy feels more relevant than ever.

Can the region find a way to market itself more effectively while ensuring tourism works for both businesses and the community?
A North Devon club is on a mission to prove that stamp collecting can become the perfect hobby for people of all ages  even in the 21st century.

Taw and Torridge Stamp Club has just launched its first ever Facebook page and is inviting people to a special presentation on Thursday, March 13 to discover the world of stamp collecting and the fascinating history of postal services in North Devon.

This will include tiny local Post Offices now lost to the mists of time, letters sent locally over the centuries  both before and after stamps were issued  and even hand-coloured Valentines letters to sweethearts dating from the early 1800s as well as early 1900s Christmas postcards.

The Taw and Torridge Club has been running for more than 50 years and meets every other Thursday at the Castle Centre in Barnstaple.

Known as philately, stamp collecting may seem like a dry and dusty hobby in the digital age but it offers a wide range of avenues and themes for collectors to explore, the thrill of hunting certain stamps and the joy at discovering a bargain that may be worth quite a bit of money.

Longstanding club member Philip Milton, who will be making the presentation this Thursday, started collecting when he was just seven-years-old and he joined the club aged 11.

He said: There is really no limit and no age restriction - its a hobby anyone can take up at any time and you can start for very little money, spend as much or as little time on it as you wish and you might even find a hidden gem worth thousands of pounds!

The internet is wonderful, but it is still nice to be able to collect actual physical things, often with a rich background story and history behind them and of course digital technology also enables us to search even wider for bargains and rare stamps, using online sales sites such as eBay.

The club is very social too and for me, collecting provides a little world into which I can escape from time to time and I have accumulated a collection of various items over the decades, acting as a custodian of them for future generations.

The first ever stamp issued in Britain was the iconic Penny Black in 1840, followed by the Penny Red and today there are literally millions of different stamps for collectors to seek.

Changing global borders, countries that do not even exist anymore and eerie stamps from fallen regimes such as Nazi Germany all offer a wealth of collecting targets for enthusiasts plus plenty of historical interest too as well as themed sets to collect commemorating everything from anniversaries and pop culture to wildlife and ships.

Rare or unusual stamps can command a lot of money  the British Guiana 1c Magenta from 1856 is known as the worlds most valuable rare stamp and was sold in 2014 for almost nine-and-a-half million Dollars!

Philips presentation will also include items of interest from his collection and anecdotes from his own philatelic career, as well as delving into North Devon postal history and would be a good introduction to anyone considering collecting as a potential new hobby.

Does he have a Penny Black used on cover from North Devon?

Youll have to come along to find out!

The club is very keen to hear from anyone who would like to find out more about stamp collecting and people of all ages are welcome to visit the new Taw & Torridge Stamp Club Facebook page or to drop in to the meeting at the Castle Centre this Thursday, March 13 at 7.30pm or any alternate Thursday up until June 5.

You can visit the new club Facebook page at www.facebook.com/taw.torridgestampclub
Kacific Broadband Satellites Group announced on Tuesday it is partnering with satellite operator Paksat International and Pakistans national space agency, the Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), to expand high-speed, affordable satellite internet across the country.

The partnership will leverage the Paksat-MM1 geostationary satellite, which was launched in May 2024. Paksat-MM1 provides communications services in Ka, Ku, C and other bands across 99% of Pakistan, with gateway beams over Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad. Kacific provides 24/7 support for the satellite via its operations centre in Singapore.

Kacific and Paksat will utilise 11 Ka-band spot beams on Paksat MM1 to deliver high-throughput capacity for over 20,000 sites, providing essential broadband access for communities, businesses, government agencies, ISPs, and telcos, to include mobile backhaul and backup connectivity in remote regions.

According to Kacific, over 54% of Pakistans population lacks reliable broadband, with over 131.8 million people offline. Fibre infrastructure is extremely limited, with less than 5% of homes and 15% of mobile towers connected by fibre. Kacific said its high-speed satellite service will significantly enhance Pakistans mobile backhaul capabilities, bypassing infrastructure limitations at a fraction of the cost of fibre.

Kacific will launch its Gigstarter plans in Pakistan, which offer unlimited data in three monthly package tiers starting at speeds of 30 Mbps downstream and 20 Mbps upstream. It will sell the services via local licenced operators, and promises easy, low-cost installation for residential and business users.

Kacific also intends to train and certify hundreds of Kacific Authorized Distributors (KADs) to install, resell, and maintain sites across Pakistan.

With this partnership, Kacific is making a long-term investment in Pakistans digital future, said Kacific CEO Christian Patouraux. Were expanding ISP partnerships, training KAD installers, and deploying essential infrastructure to meet the countrys growing connectivity needs.
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will hold a town hall, open to the public, at Sisters High School gymnasium, 1700 W. McKinney Butte Rd., on Tuesday, March 18, at 6 p.m.

The Sisters town hall is one of four set in Central Oregon this month. The first two will be on Sunday, March 16, in Linn and Clackamas counties, co-hosted with U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum.

Wyden holds at least one town hall each year in each of Oregons 36 counties.

Given the unprecedented times, its more important than ever that elected officials meet with Oregonians in their communities for direct conversations to hear their opinions and answer their questions, Wyden said. Im glad Congresswoman Bynum will be joining me in Linn and Clackamas counties, and look forward very much to those discussions on March 16, as well as those in Crook and Deschutes counties on March 18.

The events were set at the largest venues available, but space may still be limited. Doors will open one hour before the town hall start times for attendees. For everyones security, backpacks and large bags will not be allowed in the town hall.
Editor's note: This story was edited to correct the last name of Ken Gardner.

"The people in this facility are like residents of a village in a valley, with a dam above them. As time goes by, the dam gets weaker and weaker but the organization responsible for the dam doesn't tell anyone, so the villagers aren't warned of impending trouble. When the dam owners finally release the water stored behind the dam to decrease pressure on the dam, the village is flooded and those who reside right in the village are washed away. Those who live on the hills above the village are safe."

This was the metaphor that came to Sisters Senior Living (SSL) resident Ken Gardner, 83, when he awoke in the middle of the night after hearing that residents on Medicaid must vacate by April 24. In his metaphor villagers are the 15 Medicaid residents, and some of the assisted living people, and the independent living residents are safe up on the hill.

In the two weeks since Artegan Management sent out letters to residents and their families and held a community-wide meeting to explain changes coming as of April 24, according to residents, the atmosphere at SSL has been full of fear, anger, frustration, grief, uncertainty, and rumor.

The 15 residents who rely on Medicaid to pay for their room and board and needed care have no option other than finding someplace else to live in less than two months. They will be leaving comfortable, familiar surroundings and valued friendships as they are, in Gardner's formulation, "washed away."

Several have been able to make a quick departure. Moving vans are a frequent sight these days. Others are investigating their options - some good, some not so good - after believing they were settled in their "forever home," of which many were assured when they moved to SSL. A number of the residents came to SSL because they have family here in Sisters. Now the closest they may be is Bend or Redmond. There are currently no Medicaid vacancies in Sisters, very few in Bend or Redmond, and people are being advised to look in Prineville and Madras.

Photo by Sue Stafford

Ken Gardner, 83, who has served as the SSL Resident Council president, has lived here for a year-and-a-half. When he moved to Sisters to be close to his sister, Sydney Harrison, he began as a self-pay assisted living resident. After intentionally spending down his resources, six months ago he qualified for Medicaid through Pacific Source but now is no longer able to live at SSL as it transitions to a non-Medicaid-accepting independent living facility. As the Council president, Ken was responsible for creating bylaws for the resident organization, an accomplishment he is proud to leave as his legacy.

Ken and Sydney grew up in a cabin with cold running water, in Nimrod on the McKenzie River, where his dad was a logger. They say they received great love from both parents and were taught to respect the earth and others.

Ken has known difficulties in his life but has tackled them with a positive attitude and good outcomes. As a child, Ken had a tonsillectomy which resulted in an infection that was treated with radium, due to wartime shortage of penicillin. The radium treatment destroyed nerves in his ears and thickened his ear drums, leaving him hearing impaired. Thirteen years ago, Ken was fortunate to receive cochlear implants which enabled him to hear normally. Twenty-three years ago, Ken began experiencing essential tremors and four years ago he was diagnosed with Parkinson's.

As an adult, Ken became an electrical engineer and worked for consulting firms involved in wastewater treatment, including on Maui. Ken was married, never having children.

Ken moved to Sisters from Oregon City where he said his accommodations left something to be desired. He was not in very good physical or mental shape due to poor care and facilities. He reported his transition to SSL was very good. He is now healthier and happier. He attributes his current improved health to exercise five times a week at SSL and the nice surroundings and people. Ken will continue to work with a private physical therapist two times a week after he leaves SSL.

Ken had great praise for the SSL staff and their level of care, saying they were "exceptional." He appreciates Life Enrichment Coordinator Alea Schliep's energy.

On April 25 he and his cat Allie will be moving in with his sister Sydney and her daughter. He will have his own bedroom and bathroom on the first floor. Medicaid will pay for any adaptive equipment Ken may need.

Sydney said she felt like the SSL management company was myopic in their treatment of the residents.

"I can see where the residents would feel like they don't matter," she said.

Ken said, "I was counting on this to be my forever home."

Seventy-one-year-old Dan Folwick describes himself as a 36-year-old in his heart, a 48-year-old in his mind, and an 85-year-old in his knees. This upbeat man moved to SSL on December 7, 2024. He hasn't even unpacked all his boxes or hung his pictures yet, and he already must move.

After selling his home in Beaverton and finding that assisted living facilities in the Portland area had two-to-three year waiting lists, Dan moved in with family in Terrebonne in September 2024. He enjoyed having time to spend with his 11-year-old granddaughter Ruby. Leaving Portland meant he was out of Kaiser Health's service area, so he applied for Medicaid through the Oregon Health Plan, was quickly approved, and was able to move to SSL last December.

Dan said Deb Wattenberg at SSL was the reason he came here, Deb telling him this could be his forever home. He didn't know what to expect but he loved the sign Deb had posted on his door when he moved in: "Welcome home, Dan." There was no mention of any changes coming.

Wattenburg and her husband relocated to Idaho before any of the current events at SSL unfolded.

Dan admits he hates moving but he doesn't care where he goes because he has friends all over the country. As long as he has his music and cable he doesn't feel alone or lonely.

He has found an assisted living facility in Portland that he was going to see this past Monday and will be able to move in on March 22, if all goes well. Dan says he has enjoyed meeting the other SSL residents and hopes to stay in touch. He will be a little closer to his son who lives in Kent, Washington, south of Seattle.

"If you work with what you're given," Dan said, "you can make lemonade from lemons."
Outlandish claims

To the Editor:

In response to Barbara Draxlers letter, Happy Now, there are so many outlandish claims it is difficult to attempt to focus on just one or two.

Ill start on the first paragraph where she says that Trump won by a big majority of voters across the country. Let me just state the facts and not the FOX, OAN and Newsmax standard line. In the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump received approximately 77.3 million votes (49.9 percent), while Kamala Harris garnered about 75 million votes (48.4 percent). Trump won both the popular and Electoral College votes, securing 312 electoral votes compared to Harris 226. Trump won the popular vote by 2.3 million votes (1.5 percent).

Another notable fact is that he garnered less than 50 percent of the vote. This is not a majority, and hence, not a big majority. And less than a majority does not a mandate make. As a comparison and a fine example of a big majority, President Reagan, who is no doubt rolling over in his grave much like a crocodile with its prey, won in 1984 by 17 million votes (18.2 percent) over Walter Mondale. Reagan additionally won 49/50 states in the Electoral College as compared to Trump who won 31/50. Now 18.2 percent and 49/50 is a big majority. Clearly, Trump did not have a big majority and if you were being accurate, you would say he did not even have a majority.

The second point I will address is the comment that use of the COVID vaccine was responsible for many deaths across our country. The author will likely not believe this as she already identified, without a valid source, that the CDC is corrupt. Regardless, a paper published by the CDC, that was a review of multiple studies revealed the following. In a cohort of 6.4 million COVID-19 vaccinees and 4.6 million demographically similar unvaccinated persons, recipients of the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Janssen vaccines had lower nonCOVID mortality (death) risk than did the unvaccinated comparison groups. There is no increased risk for mortality among COVID vaccine recipients.

This paper actually showed that the risk for non-COVID associated mortality was lower in people vaccinated for COVID. It thus appears that if you received a COVID vaccine you had a smaller chance of dying from diseases other than COVID. And there are reams of research papers, too numerous to count, concluding that the risk of dying from COVID is lower when vaccinated for COVID. Here is the reference to the above cited material: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7043e2.htm. Fortunately in the medical realm, science does not give a hoot what you believe.

In good taste, the wording was changed to avoid vulgarity.

Mark Parchman

Propaganda

To the Editor:

The letters to the editor in this weeks edition of The Nugget made me wonder, again, why the papers editor fails to exert editorial discretion to stop the spread of demonstrably blatant falsehoods.

Nearly every week, The Nugget publishes letters to the editor that are chock full of lies, conspiracy theories, disinformation, and propaganda. Some may argue that in the marketplace of ideas that Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. described anyone should be able to spew out whatever nonsense one wants to, for the public to evaluate and accept or reject. But this favors those with the biggest megaphone and a shameless willingness to repeat baldfaced lies until the sheer force of repetition causes them to be accepted. As Nazi propagandist Goebbels reportedly pronounced, If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. Putins propagandists (including Donald Trump), channeling their Soviet predecessors, are now employing this technique in repeating the lies that Zelensky is a dictator and that Ukraine is the instigator of Russias aggression against it. Time will tell if they are successful.

Last week The Nugget published a letter, which among many falsehoods, describes J6ers as persons whose constitutional liberties were ignored and who were allegedly victimized by the great injustice that the government did by having at least (fact confirmed by DOJ [not true]) 26 FBI influencers at the Capitol January 6, causing havoc and riling up the people The letter repeats the false conspiracy theory that the January 6 Commission destroyed all their evidence after the election. When The Nugget receives such a letter, one that is so patently, if possibly unwittingly, a vessel for disinformation, does the paper feel the need to ask the writer to provide credible sources for the statements in the letter? If not, why not, when the result is to repeat and reinforce big lies and propaganda that harm all of us?

Other newspapers apply strict rules requiring that factual claims in letters to the editor and opinion pieces be supported by credible sources. Why doesnt The Nugget do so?

Mary Chaffin

From the superintendent

To the Editor:

As Superintendent of Sisters School District, I am excited to share some of the highlights from our recent board meeting. We began with a presentation from the High Desert Education Service District on the Local Service Plan, which provides essential paid services to districts in our region  services which are typically not feasible to sustain independently.

One of the biggest points of celebration was the announcement that Sisters Elementary School (SES) has earned the prestigious American School Counselor Association RAMP certification, making it currently one of only eight schools in the state to receive this distinction. This recognition honors schools with exemplary, data-driven counseling programs that positively impact students. With this achievement, our district now has two certified schools, a testament to the dedication and hard work of our incredible counseling team over the past three years. Additionally, we continue to invest in academic resources, with the selection of a new K-3 English Language Development curriculum. This curriculum is currently available for public viewing at the District Office and will be up for final approval at our next board meeting.

We are also making strides in facility improvements and community partnerships. Our board discussed several infrastructure projects, including maintenance on the new SES field, relocating portables to the high school, improving our irrigation system, and breaking ground on a new SES greenhouse. In addition, Sisters Park & Recreation District is preparing to move into the old elementary school over spring break, which opens the door for discussions about the future of our district office.

To move forward, the board has decided to begin a formal search for realtors to assess the market value of the property. We also had the opportunity to attend the National Association of Independent Schools Conference, where we explored innovative approaches to education, particularly in interest-based and place-based learning  concepts that align with our districts vision for the future.

Sisters School District is committed to fostering a thriving learning environment through continued investments in student support, facilities, and community partnerships. I encourage everyone to stay engaged and informed by subscribing to our weekly district newsletter. Simply visit our website at https://district.ssd6.org and click the Newsletter button on the homepage.

Curt Scholl

Superintendent

Irish history

To the Editor:

As an Irish immigrant to the United States, I was embarrassed by Donald Trumps recent proclamation praising the Irish as great people and claiming they voted for him in large numbers. This statement is not only misleading but an insult to those of us who understand Irish history and values.

Irish immigrants came to America fleeing famine, persecution, and economic ruin, only to be met with hostility, exclusion, and anti-immigrant rhetoric. The same brand of xenophobia that once targeted the Irish is now directed at other immigrant groups, much of it stoked by Trump himself. His sudden admiration for Irish Americans feels less like genuine respect and more like a cynical attempt to rewrite history for political convenience.

To suggest that the Irish broadly support Trump is both inaccurate and offensive. Our history teaches us to stand against discrimination, not embrace leaders who promote it. If Trump truly respected the Irish, he would recognize the values we hold dear  fairness, justice, and solidarity with the oppressed  not use us as a prop to serve his own agenda.

Colette Whelan

Trump

To the Editor:

After just reading a book about an episode in Americas Civil War, a war in which 750,000 Americans were killed, it comes as no surprise we continue to make irrational decisions. Electing the likes of Donald Trump hoping he will do something about the price of groceries, it should come as no surprise his focus is on the wasting of our resources causing the further degradation and viability of the planet.

I have to give credit to the Biden Administration for attempting to prevent Ukraine from using the weapons weve provided in a manner likely to result in Russia pulling the nuclear trigger ending in our immediate demise. Electing Trump will hasten the degradation of the planet, but at least the end wont come as soon should Russia be goaded into exercising the nuclear option.

Heres hoping we survive four years of Trump and we do better next time by electing someone who will put an end to the reckless course we are now on.

Roger Detweiler

Wildfire risk

To the Editor:

Steve Woodside raises some important concerns about the Wildfire Hazards Map (WHM), but placing blame on politicians and scientists for risk assessments and proactive mitigation efforts feels a bit like shooting the messenger.

The reality is that our climate is changing and wildfire risks are increasing. Insurance companies face $40 billion in losses from recent fires alone. They dont rely on publicly funded models to set ratesthey use their own expensive, proprietary risk assessments. The WHM helps illustrate why insurance rates are rising, but the idea that rate increases are caused by HB672 is a misunderstanding.

Mr. Woodside makes a valid point about property rights, but no right exists in a vacuum. If property owners expect fire protection and, in worst-case scenarios, disaster relief, we all share the financial burden as taxpayers. If we want to keep costs down, both in insurance and taxes, we should consider how and where we build to better mitigate wildfire risks.

The fact is, wildfires are becoming more frequent and severe. 2023 was the hottest year on recorduntil 2024 beat it. This trend is expected to continue. Insurance companies must make decisions based on financial responsibility to their shareholders, while the government has a duty to safeguard the public good. Neither is perfect, but both are responding to an evolving landscape.

Instead of searching for someone to blame, perhaps we should focus on what we can do  working together as communities to build smarter, manage risks, and adapt to our changing world. As a famous saying goes, We have met the enemy, and he is us. The question now is: what do we do about it?

Winston Saunders

Lies are our demise

To the Editor:

Of course we all know that we are not spending $8 million on transGENDER mice. We know that the word Trump could not read was TransGENIC mice  mice that have modified DNA and are used to study human diseases like Cancer and Alzheimers disease. We also know that the reason we have 200-year-old people on the Social Security system is not because they are being given benefits. Benefits are audited for anyone over 115 and not on Medicare. These are typical auditing techniques. If a death certificate is not turned into Social Security by family members or a mortician, the person may stay active in the system and then there can be fraudulent payments  but that fraud is not committed by public employees.

Why do we have to continually put up with the lies or implications that lead to lies, and more important why are people believing them? I hate to point this out, but Trump isnt the problem; people who dont look for the truth and dont expect Trump to tell the truth are the problem. The lies are our demise. (Proverbs 6: 16-19)

Nancy Buffinton-Kelm
Tencent Cloud and TrueWatch have announced a partnership to launch what is said to be Indonesia's first multi-cloud SaaS observability platform.

The collaboration between Tencent Cloud, the cloud business of global technology company Tencent, and TrueWatch, a Singapore-based unified monitoring platform provider will, the partners say, enable TrueWatch to deploy its innovative observability platform within Tencent Cloud's Indonesia Availability Zone, ensuring low-latency access, robust security, and compliance for Indonesian enterprises.

An availability zone is a physical internet data centre (IDC) of Tencent Cloud with independent power supply and network in the same region.

TrueWatch says its platform consolidates monitoring tools into a single pane of glass, simplifying complexity and providing full cost transparency. Through this partnership, TrueWatch will leverage Tencent Cloud's local data centre infrastructure to launch Indonesia's first multi-cloud SaaS observability platform, empowering enterprises with real-time monitoring, analytics and cloud-native observability tools across multiple cloud environments.

By deploying on Tencent Cloud's Indonesia Availability Zone, TrueWatch says it has achieved high availability and reliability for its observability platform, ensuring a 99.99% uptime SLA for its enterprise customers.

It also says that with Tencent Cloud's advanced cloud resources, global infrastructure, and availability zones, TrueWatch has cut infrastructure setup and deployment time by 50%.

In addition, hosting its observability platform on Tencent Cloud's globally certified infrastructure ensures compliance with local data protection regulations in key markets, including Indonesia, Singapore, Europe, and North America.

Mike Loong, Executive Director of TrueWatch, describes the collaboration as a game-changer for enterprises struggling with fragmented cloud environments and says that Tencent Cloud's robust infrastructure allows us to deliver a unified observability platform that not only simplifies complexity but also aligns with Indonesia's data sovereignty needs.
Rather than being just a hot topic for the next few years, AI will impact every aspect of every users life and be adopted by mobile operators as a productivity tool to create value, reduce costs and boost network ROI, according to Chief Marketing Officer of Huawei Wireless Networks, Zhao Dong.

Speaking at Huaweis Wireless Summit at MWC2025 in Barcelona, Zhao set out Huaweis vision for a flexible, intent-driven intelligent network built on the convergence of 5.5G (5G-Advanced) and AI technologies, and addressed the opportunities and challenges associated with creating the AI-centric network.

Zhao pointed to three major challenges created by the convergence of networks and AI - how to make networks more flexible in order to meet the complex requirements associated with AI applications, how to manage the higher opex demands associated with the introduction of network AI; and how to open up the opportunities created by AI and allow operators to monetize new services. We all need answers to these three challenges, he said.

Autonomous Networks and the Intelligent RAN

Zhao said that as wireless network intelligence evolves the industry is moving closer to a highly autonomous network architecture (HANA) through initiatives such as the Telecom Foundation Model (TFM) and RAN digital twinning, which are reshaping operators experience in terms of network O&M, service creation and customer experience, in the AI world. The companys intelligent RAN solutions, already widely deployed across nine cities in China, had encouraged Huawei to accelerate the process, he added.

As mobile AI sets higher expectations for RAN intelligence the industry needs to discuss how to support AI applications across all scenarios, said Zhao. The advent of the AI-centric network model, specifically with regard to 5.5G, is enabling this greater degree of autonomy. Revenues that have traditionally been derived from a single service proposition will be opened up with the incorporation of AI, to a far more diverse range of service experiences.

Todays software-defined networks (SDNs) are not truly autonomous as they only addresses Levels 2 and 3 of the network, said Zhao. Our vision is to upgrade all features in the network to achieve Level 4 or Level 5 autonomous networking through intent-driven capabilities, with the defined rules of todays SDN architecture being replaced by an intelligent and highly adaptive model, so contributing to opex reduction. Introducing agentic workflow in a closed-loop structure across the planning, analysis, decision-making and execution phases will represent a totally new autonomous network model, said Zhao.

Threefold opportunities of AI adoption

In order to reap the benefits of AI and bring higher value to their pipes, telecom operators needed to plan their networks to address the diverse needs of AI services, said Zhao. The major benefits of this approach will be increased spectral efficiency, greener and more energy efficient networks, enhanced O&M capability, and the capacity to address the diverse demands of AI services.

When Huawei designs its new 5.5G network solutions it includes provision for AI adoption and the needs of AI services, Zhao explained. AI will bring the benefit of simplifying O&M in a more complex 5.5G environment. Wed like to adopt AI to increase the choreography and the collaboration of AI services, so that network resources will feature higher efficiency and higher flexibility. In the future we look forward to working together with operators to seize this opportunity. Huawei is willing to welcome industry partners to enable more business opportunities for agentic AI.

Zhao went on to highlight three key areas of opportunity he believed would flow from AI-centric adoption - traffic simulation, device form factor and person-to-network interaction, and the synergy between devices and the cloud.

On traffic simulation, Zhao noted that the generation of tokens on networks as a result of GenAI is already consuming more and more data in the pipe, and will account for an increasingly large proportion of mobile data in the future. Last year in China alone the amount of traffic on the network generated by tokens grew by 33 times, while the traffic generated by paid tokens grew by 15 times, said Zhao. However, cost savings in excess of 90 per cent as recently demonstrated by DeepSeeks AI model would be good news for future mobile networks.

Secondly, AI will change device form factors and the way that people interact with networks, said Zhao. New applications such as personal co-pilots running on digital devices can increase efficiency as well as mobile traffic. AI will also change the way people interact with networks, allowing them to not just consume data from networks, but for the interaction between people and the network to evolve to multimodality. Interaction with networks will be through voice and video, while AI will try to understand the semantic difference between data as well. This multimodal interaction between people and networks will raise the demanding requirements on mobile traffic and the bandwidth.

The third opportunity lies in the synergy between devices and cloud, said Zhao. Terminal devices are limited by the battery life and the screen size so that its impossible to complete all the inference (machine learning tasks) on devices. Therefore some of the inference tasks will have to be offloaded to the cloud, and that means that interaction between device and cloud will increase.

The three opportunities are also challenges for telcos because telcos are supposed to re-shape their networks to offer better coverage, uplink and latency, only thus can telcos serve the new needs in the AI era. The 5.5G solutions designed by Huawei are addressing these changes for telcos, so that theyre in a better position to embrace the AI era, Zhao explained.

Working to remove pain points

Also speaking at the event, Calvin Zhao, President of Huaweis MAE Product Line, referenced the combination of 5.5G and AI already being used in specific application areas such as healthcare, as well as to power efficiency upgrades in applications such as mines and ports. He explained that allowing vendors to quickly integrate their capabilities into the telecom operators processes is improving overall efficiency and energy consumption for telcos, and in this way AI and 5.5G are encouraging the development of each other.

Huawei is understood to be working with China Mobile to develop and mature these features, so letting the value manifest sooner. In the future, Huawei says it will continue to work with operators in China, the Middle East and Europe.

Zhao Dong said Huaweis aim is to address the challenge of increasing costs and limited revenues that have been common pain points for the industry. In the past, new radio access technologies or new spectrum bands have required new investment, whereas AI and 5.5G are encouraging the development of each other. If telcos want to achieve revenue growth they must embrace new opportunities in the market.and to embrace these opportunities by upgrading networks, he said.

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LAKE STATION  A Hobart man allegedly strangled and beat his wife to death last year inside their Lake Station home, according to Lake Criminal Court records.

Edwin Burgos Sr., 65, was charged Friday with the murder of his wife, 58-year-old Patricia Burgos. He surrendered following a what Lake Station police called a "lengthy and thorough" investigation and was booked Friday into the Lake County Jail, according to online court records. He will make his formal court appearance March 19 in front of Lake Criminal Court Judge Salvador Vasquez.

Patricia Burgos was found dead by a family member on the floor of her bedroom shortly before 1 a.m. Aug. 30 in a home in the 2900 block of State Street in Lake Station. She was found lying nude on top of numerous items scattered all over the floor including various belongings and garbage, according to a probable cause affidavit. She had extensive bruising to her face and neck.

When police spoke to Edwin Burgos Sr., he told them his wife "fell down the stairs" two days prior to her death which left her bruised, the affidavit said. He said administered her medications to her around 8 a.m. Aug. 29 then fed her lunch around noon. He said he had her lie on the ground later in the afternoon because she urinated in the bed.

He said he went to watch TV around 9 p.m. and checked in on her around midnight to find her unresponsive and not breathing. He panicked and drove to the Hobart home of one of his adult children to ask for help, the affidavit said. He said he was unable to call 911 because he did not know how to.

He denied hurting his wife.

"During the initial investigation, there were several signs that this was not a natural death," Lake Station police said in a news release posted to Facebook.

A witness told police the couple often had loud arguments, sometimes where they would physically assault each other. The day before Patricia Burgos' body was found, Edwin Burgos Sr. was shouting at his wife, but she was not arguing back, according witness accounts in the affidavit. He was the only person who went inside the bedroom where Patricia Burgos was that day, according to the the three other occupants of the home.

The witnesses described instances where Edwin Burgos Sr. would smash picture frames on the floor during their arguments. One of the witnesses said Patricia Burgos did not go downstairs to use the bathroom before she went to bed, which she usually does with the assistance of her husband. The witness saw Edwin Burgos Sr. run out of the house crying later that night. He arrived home 20 minutes later after police were on scene.

In a second interview with police, Burgos again denied causing the injuries to his wife but allegedly changed a few details in his story: he said he went to his child's Hobart home around noon to inquire about taking Patricia Burgos to the hospital. He said when he returned to his home, he found his wife unresponsive and not breathing. He then changed the story once again and said this in fact happened around 6 p.m., the affidavit said.

DNA tests conducted by an Indiana State Police analyst show no DNA was found on the Patricia Burgos' neck other than her own.

Lake Station police investigated the death along with the Lake County Prosecutors Office, resulting in the murder charge.

Burgos reportedly turned himself in to police the same day the arrest warrant was issued, police said.
At the urging of the city's mayor and some local union representatives, the Valparaiso City Council voted on Monday to delay a final vote on an ordinance that would impose requirements on businesses seeking financial incentives from the city.

Ordinance No. 6, authored by Councilman Robert Cotton, D-2nd, was approved on first reading at the council's Feb. 23 meeting with a 4-3 vote. The legislation is modeled on Valparaiso's responsible bidder ordinance, which mandates that bidders on city infrastructure projects worth at least $150,000 provide an apprenticeship program for workers and disclose payroll data along with information on their subcontractors and any history of regulatory infractions.

Cotton's proposed ordinance, an earlier version of which was introduced in November before being tabled, would apply similar requirements to any business seeking tax abatements or other incentives worth $150,000 or more for construction projects in Valparaiso.

Valparaiso, like many of its peers, makes frequent use of tax abatements as a means of incentivizing private sector investment in the city. Each tax abatement agreement is subject to the approval of the city council, which exercises authority over Valparaiso's finances. Cotton has framed his legislation as a commonsense means of ensuring that tax dollars are managed responsibly and local workers are protected. Under its provisions, the council would be able to waive the disclosure or apprenticeship program requirements for individual businesses through a vote.

The proposal received pushback from Mayor Jon Costas, who argued it could discourage businesses from investing in the city, and ultimately received "no" votes from council members Jack Pupillo, R-4th, Peter Anderson, R-5th, and Diana Reed, D-1st on its first reading. The body rejected a less far-reaching resolution proposed by Pupillo and Anderson, which held only that the council "may require an applicant commit to certain requirements" rather than imposing binding obligations, with the same vote split.

With the ordinance up for its second and final reading Monday, Costas reiterated his concerns and advised the council to table the legislation in order that a "compromise ordinance" might be considered at the next meeting. He relayed to the council that over the last two weeks he met with representatives of labor and industry organizations  the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, the Construction Advancement Foundation, and the Northwestern Indiana Building and Construction Trades Council  and that he was "willing to support a version of Ordinance 6 that includes some safeguards."

During a public hearing, Operating Engineers Local 150 representative Jason Creasbaum, who backed Ordinance No. 6 at the Feb. 23 meeting, said he supported the idea of tabling the bill in order to "get an ordinance that works for everyone, the council, the city and its citizens." Harvey Jackson, a secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 142, also took to the podium to ask that a final vote be postponed. Nick Merkel, a business representative at the Central Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters, urged that the council instead move ahead and adopt the ordinance.

Cotton was initially resistant to the idea of another delay and lamented that he and his council colleagues had not been included in the mayor's stakeholder meetings.

"I think it's time to actually move this ordinance forward," he said. "I don't know that it's the mayor's domain or the union's domain to actually give us what we will pass. I think we've worked on it and done a good job meeting all of the objections that were presented over the course of the last six months."

He advised Costas and other interested parties not to "engage outside of us and then come to this body as though our responsibility, our role, isn't prominent and most important in this whole discussion."

Councilwoman Emilie Hunt, D-at large, who voted for Ordinance No. 6 in February and who joined Cotton in defending it from criticism, echoed the councilman's frustration with the council's non-involvement in the past two weeks of talks but indicated that she was open to the idea of delaying final approval in order to make sure "that we have considered every perspective we can."

She stressed, however, that she wants to see the legislation receive its final vote at the council's March 24 meeting and not face further delays.

After Costas indicated that he was willing to include Hunt and Cotton in another round of talks, the council voted unanimously to table Ordinance No. 6.
How Covid Changed the Lives of These 29 Americans

Five years ago, Covid took hold and the world transformed almost overnight. As routines and rituals evaporated, often replaced by grief, fear and isolation, many of us wondered: When will things go back to normal? Could they ever?

Today, for many, the coronavirus pandemic seems far away and foggy, while for others its as visceral as yesterday. We asked Americans what changes forged in that upheaval have lasted, and hundreds of you detailed the ways your lives assumed a different shape  for better and for worse.

Here are some stories of those enduring changes. Interviews have been edited and condensed for clarity.

Donna Sintic , 72, Santa Monica, Calif. It totally changed my perspective on holidays which I had controlled for too many years. Suddenly it was okay to eat pizza on the patio  spaced six feet apart  on Thanksgiving. My new resolution was to relinquish control and just let holidays be about gathering family and counting blessings.

Asher Steinberg , 33, New York City Life is mostly back to normal for me, but my partner and I still test if we have respiratory symptoms, and generally ask our family to as well. I still feel some uncertainty about what the right decisions are  Should I put on a mask on this crowded subway car? Is that person just coughing because of allergies or should I move a couple seats over?

Antoine Carter , 39, Milwaukee He lost his stepdad and an aunt to Covid in 2020. It restructured our family dynamic, and I needed to step up and fill new roles. Then George Floyd happened, and it gave me courage to stand up for myself, and ask for what I deserved at my job. I went back to school in 2021 and finished my bachelors degree online. It forced me to think, and figure out what was next, and who the next me was.

Carolina Acosta-Alzuru , 66, Athens, Ga. Before the pandemic I had only one houseplant. Today I have more than 30. I still work a lot. I still wake up at 5 a.m. But now I meditate and take care of my plants before I do anything else.

Sarah Kelly , 35, Winston-Salem, N.C. She was finishing graduate school at the time. My fellowship ended with no direction forward, I lost my temporary housing and didnt qualify for unemployment as a student. With little savings, I moved back to my hometown for family and community support. I live a much smaller life now, in a town with no opportunities in my field. The upside to it all? I have a beautiful 5-month-old baby girl, who has brought me more joy than I knew was possible.

Miguel Guzman , 56, San Antonio He nearly died after getting Covid in late 2020. The most important thing is being grateful to be alive, just being able to do the things that we love to do, to play mariachi music. Being in that dire situation, thats the only thing that I wanted. I was thinking about my family  how they were going to manage if I didnt live. But Im still here.

Michelle Jaggi , 43, Erie, Pa. Masks became so divisive, and I didnt expect that. A lot of the concrete connections with people are eroded when youre not participating in the typical activities, when going out to lunch is replaced by texts and calls. It leads to hurt feelings on both sides. I have friends who have said, Things dont have to be this way, but my family feels, for our safety, that it does need to be this way. Those friendships have changed.

Lynn Truong , 36, Las Vegas My favorite thing I learned was how to love and appreciate my face with no makeup on. Pre-pandemic, I would put on makeup just to check the mail.

Kesha Coward , 47, Richmond, Va. She has multiple sclerosis, and lost her job in April 2022. I had never been unemployed and I had to lean on my savings. I have M.S., and I didnt have health insurance for about a year, so I didnt have my medication. I was able to find a new job, with insurance, but I could not work remotely. I did get Covid, and it impacted my health  I have had a heart monitor installed. I was really going through it, and I had to push myself. I told myself, this cant be the end of everything.

James P. Burns , 72, New York City My wife and I had always wanted a dog, but had hesitated because of time constraints. But with the uncertain future, a dog made perfect sense. Kiki will be 5 in April.

Constance Kreemer , 75, Santa Cruz, Calif. She is a professional dancer and has taught yoga for decades. I believe my body is my temple. I became a pariah during the pandemic because I wasnt willing to be vaccinated. I had friends who wouldnt hug me or get in a car with me. I had people tell me I must be a Republican, when I am very, very liberal. There was so much fear instilled in everyone. The lasting change for me was to know who my people were.

Rosanne Zoccoli , 72, New York City I do wish that more investment be made into this type of long Covid. It is, incorrectly, not considered dangerous. But I cant smell gas or smoke.

Paige Woodard , 21, Northampton, Mass. It was the most drastic weight gain I had ever had in my life. And I think I didnt notice it for a while, in part because I was living in, like, sweatpants and pajama pants, and I didnt really have to go anywhere. And that weight has stayed on.

Jacqueline Child , 30, Denver She started a dating app with her sister for disabled and chronically ill people. I was not outspoken about my disability, and now, interacting with this community every day, I have really normalized it for myself. I think for many non-disabled people, theres a view that disability and intimacy dont go together. That is something we want to change.

Sydney Drell Reiner , 67, Hermosa Beach, Calif. She was married for 27 years. You look so much happier, friends tell me now that were separated and finalizing the divorce. But what I think theyre really seeing is me  the person I used to be before this marriage. The person who made choices based on what I wanted, rather than what I believed was required of me. Covid stripped away the distractions and revealed a truth Id been avoiding. And for that, strangely enough, I am endlessly grateful.

Tarit Tanjasiri , 61, Irvine, Calif. His cafe and bakery had 70 employees in 2020. We were able to leverage our relationship with our vendors and at least keep our employees fed. I know that they were there at the hardest times volunteering to come and clean the bakery for free. Were able to now really make more investments to offer everyone health insurance, retirement plans.

Michele Rabkin , 61, Oakland, Calif. Trying to keep our spirits up, me, my husband and a few friends decided we would get together on Zoom to chat, then go watch a movie and come back on Zoom afterwards to talk about it. Weve watched 175 movies together so far.

Shawnte C.R. Harvell , 42, Elizabeth, N.J. He is a funeral home manager. I wasnt getting much sleep because we were so busy, and that was the first time I questioned my career choice. Everything changed with how we culturally referenced and dealt with our dead, to the point where we were going to the cemetery and it was just the funeral director and the deceased. You had to FaceTime the family. I did not get into this to just be picking up a body to dispose of it. It changed the way we do funerals now.

Charles Huang , 22, Rosemount, Minn. He has not gotten Covid and continues to mask. The isolation I still feel is painful. When Im in a crowded elevator or on a fully booked flight, I try to act calm, but my mind frantically fixates on the possibility of contracting Covid, and puzzles over why post-pandemic life never came for me the same way it came for what looks like nearly everyone else.

Cindy Way , 67, State College, Pa. When my evangelical church closed, I felt a spiritual urge to explore other traditions. I began to question everything I had been told, and went into a spiritual freefall from which I havent fully recovered. I saw my lifelong Republican views flip as well. I no longer felt threatened by those outside my bubble and began to attend an affirming church and support the rights of all the disenfranchised. Its still very painful to acknowledge the pain and damage I may have caused others.

Carolyn Thomas , 60, Strasburg, Va. My employer insisted that we get Covid shots or file for exemptions that, if approved, would lead to regular testing. I wouldnt get the shots or tests, and so I had to retire early and give up my high salary for a lower pension than Id expected. Id voted for Democrats my entire life, and in 2024 I voted for Trump.

Malik Shelton , 33, Augusta, Ga. A lot of nurses would tell you, in some ways, we miss Covid  the way people treated you then. The country was going through a hard time, and everyone was being hit, so you didnt have so many situations with nurses being called names, or patients saying they dont want anyone with an accent. Those things, now? They happen every day.

Kevin Nincehelser , 37, Topeka, Kan. He and his wife had two more children during the pandemic. I have been close to them their whole lives because Covid allowed me to work from home and better assist with childcare. My wife and I converted our kids from public school to home-school. We now have all our groceries delivered. I am also a business owner and converted our business from 100 percent in the office to 100 percent work from home.

Dr. Mark Hamed , 45, Sandusky, Mich. He is a local public health official. It taught me to get out of my silo and listen to people with different opinions, different politics and let them educate me. I met with these little old ladies, as they explained their fears about vaccines and autism. They were so scared for their grandchildren. And after that conversation, they were hugging me, texting me. This community is all about family, so now I tell them, We should probably get the flu vaccine, because we care about our older folks. They all mean well, there is just so much misinformation.

Talia Falkenberg , 22, Atlanta Her high school was still remote when she returned for her senior year in the fall of 2020. There were a lot of firsts I was missing out on. My peers and I were so focused on our own futures, and it made us zoom out and focus on the big picture. I dont sweat the small stuff anymore, and I dont feel as angry. I give a little more grace, now, to the administrators who made that decision.

Judith Liskin-Gasparro , 78, Iowa City An informal Yiddish study group started up over Zoom. Although Yiddish was the native language of all of my (immigrant) grandparents, I had learned no Yiddish as a child. I thought the group might be a nice distraction. To my surprise, I fell in love with Yiddish.

Stephanie Woerfel , 72, Everett, Wash. My sister and I were avid pool swimmers. We live 10 minutes away from Puget Sound. One day we saw a woman in a bikini coming out of the water onto the beach. The next week my sister and I took the plunge. We swim twice a week in the Sound rain or shine, snow or wind.

Asia Santos , 39, San Diego She volunteered to travel as a nurse to New York City in April 2020. You were faced with these huge questions every day: What is a good death? What is a bad death? My thing was, no one is allowed to die alone. It was the only way I could get up the next day. You can make trauma work negatively for you, or positively.
Whitney Hart

Avenue Z brings on Whitney Hart as chief strategy officer. Hart was most recently executive director at Feral File, a platform dedicated to showing digital art. She was previously interim CMO at blockchain research and development hub Trilitech. Hart has advised industry leaders, institutions and governments on navigating digital disruption, leveraging AI and emerging technologies to secure competitive advantages. At Avenue Z, she will drive the agencys proprietary AI Optimization strategy, working to position it at the forefront of the search industry landscape. Whitney is a force multipliershe sees around corners and understands where AI, finance, and culture converge, said Herzog. The next wave of digital marketing belongs to first movers, and Whitney is a key architect of that shift.

Ilana Shenitzer

Ruder Finn hires Ilana Shenitzer as EVP, brand experience and head of consumer goods, based in Denver. Shenitzer joins the agency after close to 18 years at Ketchum, where she also served as EVP. She has led strategic and creative campaigns for such clients as ABSOLUT, General Mills, J.M. Smucker Company, Kodak, Motorola, PepsiCo Foods (Frito-Lay) and Procter & Gamble. At Ruder Finn, Shenitzer will work to expand Ruder Finns consumer goods offering through brand storytelling capabilities and executive thought leadership. Her broad range of US and global experience and expertise spanning consumer technology, food and beverage, and consumer packaged goods industries helps solidify our leadership position in these categories, said Ruder Finn managing director, brand experience Corinne Gudovic.

Danielle Rienas

LDPR, which works with travel and lifestyle clients, appoints Danielle Rienas as VP  Miami. Rienas was most recently the founder and president of DKR Media & Marketing, an agency focused on the hospitality industry. She previously served as executive director at Wagstaff Media & Marketing. In her new position, Rienas will lead LDPRs efforts in Miami, crafting PR strategies tailored to the regions evolving hospitality landscape. Her hire follows LDPRs recent growth in Los Angeles, further solidifying the agencys reach in key U.S. markets beyond its New York City base.

Sam Erdheim

Radiant Logic, an identity data platform, appoints Sam Erdheim as head of marketing. Erdheim has held marketing leadership roles at GuidePoint Security, Fidelis Security and AlgoSec. In his new role, he will leverage his extensive experience in cybersecurity and enterprise software marketing to drive brand awareness, demand generation and strategic growth. His deep understanding of the cybersecurity and enterprise software markets, combined with his proven track record in driving marketing success, will be invaluable as we continue to expand our reach and help organizations securely manage their digital identities, said Radiant Logic CEO John Pritchard.
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In fintech, the spotlight often shines on founders and engineers, but behind every fast-scaling startup is an unsung, detail-oriented person, making sure the operation doesnt derail.

In the startup world, where structure often plays catch-up with ambition, visibility for women in non-founder roles remains a challenge, particularly in critical behind-the-scenes positions like delivery, operations, and engineering management.

In the fintech sector, women remain significantly underrepresented in leadership roles. Globally, they hold just 7 percent of CEO positions and 19 percent of executive leadership roles. In Australia, the numbers are slightly higher but still unbalanced, with women occupying 18 percent of CEO roles and 22 percent of board positions in the tech industry.

Lack of visibility is even more pronounced in critical roles like delivery, office management, operations, and engineering management. These roles keep startups moving forward, often determining whether a business scales or stalls. Yet, despite making up 35 percent of key management positions in tech, women are still underrepresented in strategic leadership roles such as CTOs, Heads of Delivery, and Engineering Directors.



Building from the Ground Up

When Mel Clark joined Fat Zebra eight years ago, the company was in its infancy, just two founders and one engineer. Her role was to bring structure to the chaos, laying the groundwork for the businesss operations. She tackled everything from trademarks and compliance to recruitment, office moves, and major projects, ensuring the startup had a solid foundation to scale.

At the start, it was all about putting solid foundations in place and making sure wed covered everything. It was more of a business management role initially, but like any startup, as the company evolved, so did my role, Mel said.

Over time, her responsibilities expanded into engineering delivery, a shift that happened naturally as she stepped into gaps and took on what the business needed.

In fintech, you have to deliver big projects, and you need someone who can lead the team in the right direction, on deadline, Mel explained.

Thats how I became Head of Delivery. I worked across all the engineering teams, from customer experience to sprint planning to managing the business roadmap. Essentially, I became the conductor, pulling all the moving parts together, she said.

This transition, from setting up the business structure to driving engineering projects, is a pattern familiar to many women in startups. They step into gaps, wear multiple hats, and do what needs to be done.

In fact, 22-25 percent of Australian startups are founded by women, and female founders are more likely than their male counterparts to juggle multiple executive functions in the early stages, leading operations, product, and business development simultaneously.

Why Visibility Matters for Women in Fintech

Mels story isnt just about her, its about the many women in fintech who play pivotal roles in operations, delivery, and engineering but arent always seen.

For me, its never been something I actively thought about, as Im very supported in our team, but anything that promotes visibility and supports women in the industry is a good thing, said Mel.

Startups, particularly in fintech, often default to male leadership in key decision-making roles, a reflection of an industry norm that has been held for too long.

However, if theres a common thread among women in fintech, its resilience and execution. Many, like Mel, have had to build their roles from the ground up, yet their impact is pivotal.

That get it done mindset is what keeps fintech startups moving. Its also why diversity in leadership matters, because the people setting roadmaps and shaping teams determine the kind of industry fintech becomes.



The challenge isnt capabilityits visibility. While fintech has made strides in hiring women in compliance, HR, and operations, technical and delivery leadership roles still remain male-dominated.

The next step isnt just getting more women into tech, but making sure theyre part of the strategic decision-making at every level. That includes:

Recognising leadership beyond founders and engineers  Operations and delivery leaders shape fintech growth as much as developers do.



 Operations and delivery leaders shape fintech growth as much as developers do. Creating clear pathways for women in technical and delivery roles  Without structured progression, women often plateau in mid-level positions rather than stepping into strategic leadership.



 Without structured progression, women often plateau in mid-level positions rather than stepping into strategic leadership. Promoting visibility  Companies need to actively highlight the women driving fintech forward, not just on IWD, but year-round.

The tech industry thrives on execution, adaptability, and problem-solving. Women are already leading in these areas, so now is the time for the industry to make sure theyre seen.
While radical, daily policy changes make the whole world precarious, I wonder how to keep healthy and survive-- how to sleep well every night, have a good bowel movement every day and keep peace between my ears. As much as possible, I figure we've got to keep local.

Alas. Because of the international supply chains that my computer and yours require during manufacturing-- and to build and operate the Internet's data centers and access networks-- this substack ain't local. (While I wonder if a less ecologically damaging Internet is possible, I say thanks to the late Richard Feynman, who "would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned.")

Michael Shuman lays out nine principles of localism: 1)Localists need a functional federal government. 2)Localists want a diversity of independent communities. 3) They want free(r) trade. 4)They detest war. 5)Localists love small businesses. 6)They need a vibrant democracy. 7)They embrace free speech. 8)They need a stable economy. 9)Localists are Constitutionally conservative.

Let me add: Localists consider the international consequences of their purchases (of food, electricity, electronics, appliances, vehicles, solar PV systems, batteries, generators, pharmaceuticals, etcetera) on waterways, air quality, soil quality and public health. They recognize lethal greed: how corporate manipulation of science and regulation makes people sick.

Localists aim to live within the energy, water, ores and food within their watershed-- even while Congress cut funding for organic food programs just before Donald Trump took office.

Localists recognize that since they are manufactured by international, ecologically-ravaging supply chains, solar PVs, industrial wind turbines, battery energy storage systems and EVs are not local. Watch Australian Sandra Bourke's documentary, Dollars & Destruction: How Renewables Harm Our Farms & Cost the Earth. See Calvin Luther Martin's "Friends Against Rural Mismanagement. Solar Energy: Yes or No?"

Localists notice how butterflies are surviving, or not, near them. Note: for NY Times (or other media) access, go to your local! public library's website, find the NYT link, then log in with your library card number to access the digital edition.

LOCALISTS LEARN ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE & INTERNATIONAL SUPPLY CHAINS.

They study how proposed development (regarding telecommunications, power lines, smart utility meters, energy storage, data centers, cryptocurrency, EV chargers, etcetera) would impact local flora, fauna and human health.

LOCALISTS RECOGNIZE THAT REGULATION IS DEAD, and INVESTMENT HAS REPLACED REGULATION

On February 10-11, The European Union held an A.I. summit in Paris-- and decided to cut back on regulations so that artificial intelligence can flourish. In a recent Zoom call, people who attended this EU conference reported that:

A i ? ? A ? i ? ? i ? ? A ? i ? ? i ? ? Rational questions about AI's sustainability and ecological consequences were not welcome.

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On February 26, Jeff Bezos -- founder of e-commerce giant Amazon and space travel company Blue Origin -- dropped a note to staff at his 2013 acquisition, the Washington Post, "to let you know about a change coming to our opinion pages." He also tweeted the note to the public:

"We are going to be writing every day in support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets. We'll cover other topics too of course, but viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others."

A single-word summary of those "pillars": Libertarianism.

Does Bezos really plan to put the Post in the "L" column -- if not in terms of political partisan affiliation, at least where editorial ideology is concerned?

If so, huzzah and kudos.

While the American newspaper community finds itself blessed by a libertarian paper here and there, most of them are smaller community publications.

From the New York Times to the Wall Street Journal to USA Today (and, until now anyway), the big players are 100% "establishment," though sometimes leaning ever so slightly "left" or "right" within a narrow spectrum of acceptable opinion.

Apart from an occasional novelty column, libertarian ideas mostly find themselves excluded. The largest overtly libertarian-leaning newspaper outfit (and a fine one at that) is the Orange County, California Register and its affiliated southern California chain. I love the Register, and not just because it occasionally publishes my own columns.

I'd love nothing more than seeing the movement I belong to get the Post as jewel in its media crown.

But as always, the devil is in the details. If I had a nickel for every time the word "libertarian" -- or even phrases like "personal liberties and free markets" -- got used incorrectly or dishonestly, I could spend my time racing my Ferrari between a Manhattan apartment and a gated-community LA McMansion instead of submitting libertarian op-eds to newspapers.

Does Bezos really support "free markets?" If so, how does that square with the billions of tax dollars the federal government spends with his companies -- for example, the $10 billion contract Amazon has with the Pentagon for its "Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure" project, or Blue Origin's billions of dollars in launch contracts with DoD and NASA?

Does Bezos really support "personal liberties?" If so, why does Amazon provide its Rekognition surveillance software to, among other government entities, US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement?

Color me skeptical. It seems more likely that Jeff Bezos's version of "personal liberties and free markets" is just version 2.0 of Elon Musk's whiny "free speech for me but not for thee" guff and corporate welfare queenery combo.

But please, Mr. Bezos, prove me wrong. And let me know if you're looking for libertarian op-ed writers.
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Which countries should Vietnam waive visas for?

The tourism industry wants visas waived for visitors from large markets such as China and India and affluent countries like New Zealand and Australia to compete with neighbors.

At a recent government meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh ordered the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Public Security and Culture, Sports, and Tourism to review visa policies, particularly for nationals of "traditionally friendly nations," and consider exemptions for some billionaire travelers.

Nguyen Van My, chairman of Hanoi-based Lua Viet Tours, called for visa waivers "as much as possible," saying Vietnam should make unilateral exemptions.

He pointed out that Thailand waives visas for more than 90 countries in its bid to attract 40 million visitors this year, nearly double Vietnam's target of 22-23 million.

But if Vietnam opts for a more selective approach, prioritizing high-spending tourists would be key, he said.

He proposed visa exemptions for travelers who spend at least US$2,000 per trip.

Associate Professor Pham Hong Long of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, concurred.

Vietnam should also target nations with neutral policies and strong diplomatic ties, particularly high-spending markets like Australia and New Zealand, he said.

Huynh Phan Phuong Hoang, deputy general director of leading tour operator Vietravel, emphasized the importance of visa exemptions for large source markets such as China and India and emerging markets with high potential like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Central Asian nations.

"A long-term visa policy with multiple entries would encourage visitors to return to Vietnam rather than choose other destinations."

Regarding billionaire travelers, experts said while this niche group has significant spending power, it also demands high-end services.

The U.S., China, India, the UAE, and Europe are key sources of origin of these visitors.

But Vietnam lacks specialized travel companies catering to this market.

As competition for foreign tourists intensifies, expanding visa exemptions could be a crucial step in helping Vietnam achieve its tourism goals and stay competitive with regional rivals.

From March 1 Vietnam extended visa-free travel to 45 days for citizens of Poland, Czechia and Switzerland traveling on package tours, adding to a list of 25 countries enjoying visa-free entry, compared to 162 in Malaysia and Singapore and 157 in the Philippines.

Vietnam received 3.96 million foreign arrivals in the first two months of 2025, a 30% year-on-year increase, with China regaining its crown as the country's biggest source of visitors.

The U.S., India and Australia were among the top 10.
Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Experts, such as Britaini ? ? s MI6 intelligence agents, have observed President Obamai ? ? s policies toward Russia in 2014 sowed the seeds for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Democrats like Obama and Biden have championed the war in Ukraine, and have instilled fear in the minds of Europeans, that they will be next if Russia should win. President Trump recognizes the war in Ukraine as a failed project by the Democrats which must be stopped while he i ? ? drains the swampi ? ? . Steven Sahiounie of MidEastDiscourse interviewed Donald Courter, a news correspondent covering Russian and Ukrainian issues. 1. Steven Sahiounie (SS): It would appear that US President Trump will not continue new funding of the war in Ukraine. In your opinion, what are the options that President Zelensky has? Donald Courter (DC): Zelensky has two paths he can go down. Firstly, accept the outcome of Trumpi ? ? s negotiations with Putin. He will have little to no input in these negotiations but it will be better than nothing for Zelensky. Or, secondly, reject the outcome of US-Russian negotiations and suffer an unconditional defeat against Russia, following the cessation of US military aid to Kiev. We have seen Zelensky do everything in his power to break out of this unavoidable dilemma, such as trying to scare the West with stories of a Russian invasion of Europe, publicly claiming that he will not accept the results of negotiations in which he is not a participant, and causing a fiasco at in the Oval Office, but it is only causing him to make the second of two choices by default. For its part, the European Union will be free to continue sending aid to Ukraine, but the US has been Kievi ? ? s single largest donor since the beginning of Russiai ? ? s military operation in February 2022. It is, therefore, highly unlikely that Ukraine will be able to continue fighting without US support, especially with Ukrainian forces already facing defeat after defeat on the battlefield. Moreover, who is to say that Trump will not use tariffs or other mechanisms to pressure Brussels into aligning its foreign policy with that of Washingtoni ? ? s? Because of the fact that the Ukraine conflict has been entirely a Democratic Party project from the beginning, with the US sponsoring regime change in Kiev under the Obama Administration and provoking Russia into entering the conflict under the Biden Administration, the Trump Administration sees little to gain from continuing the war and much to benefit from its swift-end. This is because the White House now represents the interests of a different faction of Americai ? ? s ruling class, which is much more concerned with countering the influence of China primarily in Latin America, but also on the world stage more generally. 2. SS: After the contentious meeting between Trump and Zelensky in the Oval Office, most of the Western and European allies of the US came out with strong support of Zelensky and Ukraine. In your opinion, can Europe alone support Ukraine in the war with Russia? DC: As I mentioned, the withdrawal of US-aid to Ukraine at a time when Russian forces are advancing on the battlefield would be a catastrophic blow to the Ukrainian war effort. According to conservative estimates by a German-based think tank called The Kiel Institute, Washington has provided Kiev with $119.7 billion between January 2022 and December 2024, while the combined contributions of all European Union member-states amounted to $138.7 billion during that same period. Subtracting around half of Kievi ? ? s total foreign aid, along with considering how US political pressure on its European patron states might lead to a further reduction in assistance, paints a very bleak picture for the future of Ukrainei ? ? s war effort. It is likely that Western leaders very well understand this reality already, as the cooling of relations between the US and Russia has caused a number of said leaders to lash out with suggestions of drastic measures. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and his so-called i ? ? coalition of the willingi ? ? , is promising to send troops from NATO countries to Ukraine, while French President Emmanuel Macron has both called Russia a threat to the European Union, and said that France must be ready to use nuclear weapons against threats to Europei ? ? s security! These threats, however, will likely not materialize, amounting to little more than the death throes of Western imperialismi ? ? s latest adventure. 3. SS: Many European leaders repeat a narrative that President Putin has an ultimate goal of invading other European countries after Ukraine. In your opinion, is this accusation a way to keep European support to Ukraine going? DC: Absolutely i ? ?  this narrative is a typical fear-mongering tactic that Vladimir Zelensky is using to try to get out of the desperate situation in which he has found himself. The idea that Russia is interested in attacking Europe and provoking NATO for no reason is absurd, and does not correspond to the way geopolitical events have transpired over the past decade. Moscowi ? ? s opponents have long claimed that i ? ? Russia attacked Ukraine and therefore would not have any problem attacking Europe,i ? ?  but this argument is based on a false premise. Conversely, it was Kiev which began this conflict by attacking its former citizens when it launched a so-called i ? ? anti-terrorist operationi ? ?  on former Ukrainian provinces that declared independence, following the US-sponsored 2014 Euromaidan coup di ? ? etat carried out by neo-Nazis in Ukraine. The only crime those people committed was that they no longer wanted to live in a country taken over by fascist maniacs. Moscow even tried to mediate the conflict alongside European leaders by means of the Minsk Agreements, which turned out to be a ploy to use Ukraine as a staging ground for a larger war with Russia i ? ?  something we know through the admissions of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. Russiai ? ? s special military operation did not amount to an invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, it was a military intervention in defense of the peoplei ? ? s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk which had, by that time, fought to defend their homeland for eight years. Therefore, Russiai ? ? s geopolitical behavior has not at all suggested that it might be interested in attacking Europe. 4. SS: Iran has supported Russia in the war with Ukraine. The relationship between Trump and Putin is increasing. In your opinion, if Trump succeeds in brokering a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, and eventually a peace deal, will Putin attempt to broker a normalization deal between Iran and the US? DC: According to Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Russia is already willing-and-able to broker talks between the US and Iran, while media reports suggest that Trump expressed interest in dialogue with Iran during his phone call with Vladimir Putin last month. Considering Irani ? ? s new strategic partnership agreement with Russia, future talks with the United States regarding Irani ? ? s nuclear program, mediated by Moscow, will likely yield a more effective agreement than the failed 2015 JCPOA. Furthermore, Vladimir Putini ? ? s foreign policy aide, Yury Ushakov, also stated that Iran was discussed during the recent Russian-American negotiations in Saudi Arabia, and that both parties had agreed to hold separate discussions on the matter. 5. SS: France's President Emmanuel Macron and UK's Prime Minister Starmer have both been actively working to garner European support for Ukraine. In your opinion, will Trump accept a European-led peace process? DC: There is little to no chance that Trump will accept a European-led peace process because, as the US-president told Vladimir Zelensky in the oval office, they i ? ? doni ? ? t have the cardsi ? ?  i ? ?  meaning they have no leverage in the conflict! The Trump Administration is finally openly stating what the Russians have been saying all along i ? ?  that the Ukraine conflict is an American project and, therefore, the Americans must be negotiated with to end it. This is because the US has the power to make or break Ukrainei ? ? s war-effort with its contribution, or withdrawal of military aid. We have already seen European leaders try to preemptively avert Kievi ? ? s collapse in the forecasted cessation of US military aid, which has birthed unrealistic cries to send NATO troops to Ukraine. In case the US truly does cut off aid to Kiev, European attempts to increase their contributions to the Kiev government will likely be met with the same pressure tactics Canada and Mexico have faced i ? ?  wild tariffs and threats. The equation is simple i ? ?  if the US continues to support Kiev, the war continues; if it decides to stop, then there will be peace. The peace process must, therefore, be conducted by the United States and the Kiev governmenti ? ? s enemy, Russia. The Trump administrationi ? ? s way of doing business has turned out to be much more honest than anything we have seen for a long time in American politics, in that Washington is no longer hiding the fact that the rest of the West is a collection of its patron states that can be bossed around. Steven Sahiounie is a two-time award-winning journalist
One would not think it a moral fit to include the adjectives "joyful, cheerful," and "happy" to recount the instant murder of 70,000 plus souls by way of a genocidal weapon engineered to do its duty in a flash of light. Yet, such a sinister juxtaposition of "elation" and "death" spreads its silver wings for public view just 25 miles from the Whitehouse, where a former occupant sanctioned its homicidal mission. In an absurd - and freshly immoral - twist of fate eighty years later, the abode's current occupant, President Trump, has recently taken offence to the display of this deadly relic at the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum in Chantilly Virginia. The President is not grieving the B29's role causing mass casualties by way of conflagration, but rather, in the recent words of Pope Francis, he is lamenting its association with "faggotry." You see, pilot Paul Tibbets named his flying Vishnu after his beloved mother, Enola Gay.

The whisking of the frontal lobe necessary to conflate the name of this murderous plane with the manufactured threat of American citizens practicing their human rights would be comical if it wasn't coupled with an existential threat to American democracy. What existential threat? One can do no better than examine George Orwell's prophetic novel 1984, penned just three years after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Orwell's future concerned itself with:

Totalitarian Regimes and Surveillance The Loss of Individual Freedom Manipulation of Truth and Language Psychological Control

5. The Futility of Rebellion

6. The Cycle of Oppression

And since we are swimming in an omelet of gray matter, let's crack open a reference to another George, George Langelaan who penned

The Fly

in 1957. Langelaan's work explored "the fragility of identity and how it can be easily disrupted by external forces." For those of us keeping the whisk of ignorance free of Orwellian yoke, we would do well to heed Gina Davis's warning in the

The Fly

's 1986 film adaptation: "Be afraid. Be very afraid!"
84% of women change their last names to their husbands' when they get married. Most just start using their new surnames, maybe changing their drivers' licenses, using them on official documents; some go so far as to get new Social Security cards but many do not. Very few, though, if any, go through the trouble of getting their birth certificates updated with their new names.

Why would they? The name on a birth certificate is the name with which one was born. The name one adopts through marriage or changing legally is the name of that person at a particular stage in his/her/their life. 69 million women and one million men do not have birth certificates matching their present names.

No big deal, right?

Well, congressional republicans think it is, and they want to make sure that women--and men--who do not go through the trouble of obtaining new birth certificates reflecting their married names are stripped of their right to vote.

It's a new scheme in a long line of vote suppression efforts compliments of the political party whose sole winning strategy for the past four decades has been making it harder to engage with the most fundamental democratic act our country practices.

In July, House republicans passed the SAVE Act (Safeguard American Eligibility Act). If passed through the Senate and signed into law, it would require state boards of elections to ascertain documentary proof of U.S. citizenship.

What's so wrong with that?

According to the legislation, the president of the United States--and only the president of the United States--would be in charge of enforcing it, stripping authority from the states that constitutionally are responsible for their own voter registration processes. A president who decides certain voters' registrations are "problematic" would demand r egistrations be "cured", and state authorities would have no say in it.

Lest a potential voter be subjected to this arbitrary "curing," the SAVE Act would require a passport or other proof of citizenship. In the event someone is unable to produce one of these (like the 146 million Americans without valid passports), he or she would be required to produce both an official birth certificate with the issuing state's seal (no copies) and a current form of identification.

And both must contain the exact same name.

If the birth certificate contains a maiden name but the person's driver's license has his or her married name, that person's opportunity to vote would be eliminated.

That would include about 90% of women without passports or other proof matching their birth certificates or proof of legal name change.

The National Organization for Women (NOW) explained:

Voter ID laws have a disproportionately negative effect on women. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, one third of all women have citizenship documents that do not identically match their current names primarily because of name changes at marriage. Roughly 90 percent of women who marry adopt their husband's last name. That means that roughly 90 percent of married female voters have a different name on their ID than the one on their birth certificate. An estimated 34 percent of women could be turned away from the polls unless they have precisely the right documents.

As NPR reported:

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February, the White House barred Associated Press journalists from presidential events for refusing to change the name of a body of water from "the Gulf of Mexico" to "the Gulf of America" in its reporting.

AP sued on various grounds, including due process (citing a court ruling that press access to to the White House "undoubtedly qualifies as liberty which may not be denied without due process of law under the fifth amendment") and First Amendment protections (citing the same ruling).

On February 24, a federal judge refused to issue a temporary restraining order restoring AP's access while the suit awaits resolution. AP reporters and photographers still possess White House press passes and can attend White House briefings; it's the Oval Office and Trump's personal preference they're excluded from.

Court precedent aside, I don't see anything in the Constitution requiring the president to speak to, or the White House to "brief," reporters at all, or specifying which particular agencies, publications, and journalists are part of a special protected class entitled to that kind of access.

In fact, I suspect many Americans wish that the president (not just this one -- I'm speaking of the office, not the man) acted a lot less like Dr. Phil (loud, annoying, omnipresent) and more like Punxsutawney Phil (silent, cute, and only very occasionally demanding our attention).

That said, if the press wants to cover the presidency, I suggest that the agencies, publications, and journalists get together and turn the tables.

Just as there's no constitutional requirement for the president or the White House to host, humor, and answer to journalists, there's no constitutional requirement for the press to cover the president or the White House at all.

Why don't the major newspapers, television networks, etc. get together and set up the White House "press pool" on their own terms instead of subjecting themselves to the president's terms?

They could rent, buy, or build a small studio/auditorium facility, handle their own journalist credentialing, and let the White House and the president know when they'll be hosting briefings.

The president and/or press secretary could show up or not. If they showed, maybe they'd get some coverage. If not, there's always other news to report, right?

In anything resembling a free society, an independent press is far more important than any functionary in any fancy office. America's journalists should take that truth to heart and act on it.
The US/Israeli empire is imploding as we predicted a long time ago. A recession is looming and the stock market is crashing. Watch but better act because we are building alternative world order FOR PEOPLE and empires cause lots of suffering during such transition periods. It is always a good bet to help the suffering and the indigenous people. Hence these weekly emails will have that title temporarily; maybe we need a positive title like "rebuilding after empire"?

FRANCESCA ALBANESE wrote 'Imagine if people stopped telling the Palestinians what to do and instead focused on Israel's LEGAL OBLIGATIONS to:

1. Withdraw its unlawful presence (cum Apartheid) from the 22% that remains of historical Palestine;

2. Stop committing acts that may result in genocide, as per the ICJ South Africa v Israel;

3. Start devising a Reparation Plan for the apocalyptic destruction caused in the occupied Palestinian territory."

As the Zionist movement continues its genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza, Jerusalem and the West Bank, it is asking Jews to vote (you must agree to Zionist racism to be able to vote) to select between factions that are all racists (but different nuance). Here is the spectrum.

Petition demanding Khalil's release was created by Deportation Defense and garnered 700,000 ignatures so far.

Towards complete Zionist takeover of the US branch of empire (all three branches of government):

Over the past few decades free junkets to police chiefs, congress-people, local government officials in the US to travel to "Israel" to be brainwashed and now adding federal judges (and we are told "Russia intervened in US elections"!).

For more on he nefarious role of the Zionist lobby.

It is claimed to be Trump's plan to ethnically cleanse the occupied territories of Palestinians. Yet, he is a puppet (blackmailed) of the Zionist movement which had these plans for 75 years.

The Zionist regime is creating a migration administration to effect ethnic cleansing of Gaza.

Trump said to the Palestinian resistance "Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted!" Can someone inform him that Israel keeps the bodies of >600 Palestinians they murdered (including several the murdered via torture)? Who is sick and twisted colonizers or colonized indigenous people trying to hang on to their lands?

Understanding Hamas: Palestinian resistance from the PLO onwards with Helena Cobban (and why it matters).

Zionist colonial settlers in Lebanon and REMINDER Israel still occupies south Syria.

What is wrong with Israelis? This is what Palestinians had to deal with for 75 years.

Exemplary work for Palestine Continues at Columbia University even though its administration refuses to stop supporting apartheid (which is not saving them as this week we are told the Federal Government is planning review and cutting off federal grants to universities allowing free speech on Palestine). Protesting genocide persecuted in the US police state: Our friend Mahmoud Khalil was arrested by ICE agents in front of his pregnant wife.

Article about my visit and lecture in Cloughjordan, Ireland.

How a future Gaza would look like under plan adopted by the Arab league. This is rejected by the colonial power Israel/USA and the US is ruled from Tel Aviv who insist on continuing genocide and ethnic cleansing.

We at the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability ( palestinenature.org) at Bethlehem University already drew plans for a similar institute in Gaza that promotes sustainable human and natural communities. Email us if you like to know more at PIBS@bethlehem.edu. Two reports on our work.

Stay Humane and keep hope alive

Mazin Qumsiyeh

A bedouin in cyberspace, a villager at home

Professor, Founder, and (volunteer) Director Palestine Museum of Natural History

Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability Bethlehem University Occupied Palestine

facebook pages Personal Institute

French
This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here.

It's rare for me to say that I could see it coming. Still, on Donald Trump's decision to use the U.S. military base at Guanta'namo Bay, Cuba, in his mad campaign to take the very words "immigrant" and "immigration" out of the American lexicon, I must admit that I did exactly that. When TomDispatch regular Karen Greenberg, who has followed Guanta'namo's now-infamous offshore prison of injustice since the early years of the Global War on Terror, sent in her latest update on the subject (just as the second Trump presidency was about to begin), I had a sudden thought. I must have had a vague memory that, once upon a time, long, long ago that military base had indeed been used to hold Haitians trying to emigrate to the United States. And somehow it instantly occurred to me that this president might indeed use it again in just that way (or in a far worse fashion).

I began looking into the possibility and noted that, as far back as 2019, he had reportedly suggested that migrants to this country might be designated "enemy combatants," which, I wrote, "would indeed prepare the way for sending them to Guanta'namo." Then I added:

"And here's a (grim) thought to put with that: Donald Trump has sworn to deport nothing less than 'millions' of immigrants now in the United States and has already threatened to visit economic devastation on countries that might refuse to take them back. But count on one thing: all of this won't be faintly as easy as he imagines and it won't surprise me at all if, at some point in his own war not on but of terror, he starts sending some immigrants to" yes, Guanta'namo!"

I posted that piece about a week later on January 28th at TomDispatch and, lo and behold (!), within a day or so it was being reported that President Trump was indeed preparing to use that base for up to 30,000 immigrants. And indeed (again!), he's already sent the first few hundred (Venezuelan) deportees there, before dispatching many of them back to their country on (very expensive) military flights. Meanwhile, ominously enough, Secretary of Offensiveness (oh, sorry, Defense) Pete Hegseth only recently visited the facility (where he was actually stationed as an Army lieutenant in 2004-2005) with Fox News's Laura Ingraham. Imagine that!

And now, let TomDispatch regular Michael Gould-Wartofsky take you deep into what he terms "an all-American nightmare" at Guanta'namo and, all too sadly, elsewhere across this country. Tom

An All-American Nightmare

How to Build a Deportation Machine in the Age of Trump

By Michael Gould-Wartofsky

"Flights to Guanta'namo Bay have begun. The worst of the worst have no place in our homeland."

With those words the U.S. government announced the fate awaiting "criminal aliens" in its custody.

On a military base in El Paso, Texas, masked men in combat fatigues paraded a group of young Venezuelan immigrants, their hands cuffed and their ankles shackled, in front of the cameras, before loading them onto a waiting Air Force C-17, which was to deliver its human cargo to Naval Station Guanta'namo Bay overnight.

Once there, they were to be incarcerated in the infamous Camp 6, held incommunicado in the same cells where al-Qaeda suspects were once held in indefinite detention, and guarded by the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. Meanwhile, a tent city, which could ultimately house as many as 30,000 detainees, rises around the prison.

Though most of those immigrants have since been returned to Venezuela, the Pentagon has pledged to continue using the base for the "temporary detention of illegal aliens who are pending return."

Back on the mainland, the Department of Defense (DoD) is deploying thousands of troops to "seal the borders"; the Department of Justice (DoJ) is deputizing its agents to round up undocumented immigrants; Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is mobilizing to meet its daily quota of 1,200 to 1,500 arrests, armed with target lists, surveillance technology, and "less-lethal" weapons; and immigration detention facilities are to be built on military bases across the country.

And that's not all either. Entire families are set to be detained, and the grim family-separation policy of the first Trump administration revived. Humanitarian parole is to be revoked, refugees rejected, and asylum seekers returned. And cities, counties, and states that dare to defy the deportation regime are to be punished.

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President Donald Trump has publicly stated, "I know nothing about Project 2025," and "I have nothing to do with Project 2025. . . . I haven't read it. I don't want to read it purposely. I'm not going to read it." Trump has also averred, "I have no idea who is behind it. I disagree with some of the things they're saying, and some of the things they're saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal." Obviously, these statements are contradictory, for if Trump is truly oblivious to the machinations of Project 2025, then how can he honestly disavow its policies, especially if he didn't actually read the official "Playbook," Mandate for Leadership: Project 2025?

While contemplating the answer to this question, consider that Project 2025 contributor Russell Vought was recorded with a hidden camera which caught him saying that Trump's public distancing from Project 2025 is merely a feint intended to deflect and placate his opponents in media and politics. Meanwhile, at least 29 Project 2025 contributors, including Project 2025 Director Paul Dans, have served under Trump in official positions across various levels during his first presidential administration.

Moving forward into Trump's second term, many of his picks for high-level officials in his executive branch are Project 2025 contributors. These include Cabinet appointments, such as John Ratcliffe, who is the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and Russell Vought, who is the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Other appointments include Tom Homan, who is Trump's Border Czar, and Brendan Carr, who is the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. Altogether, this constellation of Project 2025 contributors orbiting Trump indicates that his administration will be adopting at least some of the Project 2025 directives, such as the mass deportation operation already being carried out by Homan.

Concerning education policy, Trump has nominated Linda McMahon to serve as the Secretary of Education. While McMahon did not contribute to Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation, which oversaw the publication of Project 2025, has been funded by America First Works Inc. where McMahon serves as a "Board Member" and a "Senior Advisor." McMahon, like Trump's previous Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, has led several non-profit corporations, such as America First Works Inc. and the America First Policy Institute, which advocate for public-private "school choice" partnerships that are also championed in Project 2025.

In anticipation of her secretarial confirmation, McMahon has already met with multiple members of Congress, including Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA), and Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), to get the ball rolling for corporatist school choice overhauls that align with Project 2025. Given McMahon's pedigree, her nomination as Secretary of Education signals that the Trump administration will be going forward with Project 2025 plans for dismantling the Department of Education (ED) and expanding school choice corporatization.

Far from abolishing government control of schools, the Project 2025 plan to disband the ED would only restructure the bureaucracies involved in administering federal education entitlements. In the meantime, Project 2025's school choice reforms, which include federal "Education Savings Accounts" (ESAs), will likely expand government control over private schools, including religious schools, and home schooling, while also publicly subsidizing ed-tech corporations. At the same time, Project 2025's school choice tax credits are primed to expand the corporatization of education through public-private partnerships that leverage ed-tech to data-mine how "Pay for Success" (PFS) impact scholarships streamline student outcomes for the social credit economy of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

To be sure, as I have documented extensively in a litany of articles and my book, School World Order: The Technocratic Globalization of Corporatized Education, "school choice" is nothing more than a euphemism for an array of public-private partnerships that corporatize government education by funneling tax subsidies into private schools, charter school companies, and ed-tech businesses. Rather than foster curricular freedom independent of federal control, Project 2025's menu of "school choices" is primed to restrict options to government-regulated private schools, charter edu-companies, and ed-tech corporations, or corporate-managed PFS scholarships, which data-mine students' learning analytics for social credit commodification in the digital economy of the 4IR. In fact, key architects of Project 2025 are entrenched in the State Policy Network (SPN): an old swamp of neo-conservative and beltway-libertarian think tanks that has long been bankrolled by Koch Brothers philanthropy to push public-private "school choice" corporatization and social impact finance, which are integral to the planned stakeholder economy of the 4IR.

The Dpt. of Education Reorganization Act: Shuffling the Chalkboards on the Titanic

Mandate for Leadership: Project 2025 recommends that the Trump administration dissolve the ED by passing a "Department of Education Reorganization Act." Trump himself has essentially concurred as he has pledged, "[o]ne other thing I'll be doing very early in the administration is closing up the Department of Education in Washington D.C., and sending all education and education work and needs back to the states." Keeping his promise, Trump is preparing to sign an executive order that "would shut down all functions of the department [of ED] that are not written explicitly into statute, or move certain functions to other departments," according to Newsweek. In the meantime, the Department of Government Efficiency has cut nearly $1 billion worth of ED contracts and grants. Republican Congressmen have also introduced HR 369 and HR 899, which are bills to "[a]bolish" or "eliminat[e]" the ED.

While Trump may align with Project 2025's plan to sunset the ED, whether he knows it or not, doing so by itself would not return "all education . . . back to the states." Rather than terminate the government's control of education, axing the ED by itself would only reshuffle the bureaucracies in charge of schools as the federal entitlements provided under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the Higher Education Act (HEA), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) would still remain. Unless the Trump administration were to also pass bills to repeal the ESEA, the HEA, IDEA, and WIOA, the mandates for administering federal education entitlements would merely be shifted to other government departments. In fact, such a reallocation of federal education entitlements through a "reorganization" of government bureaucracies is precisely what is laid out in Project 2025.

According to the Project 2025 Playbook, the proposed "Department of Education Reorganization Act" would transfer the bulk of federal education entitlements to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) while transferring other entitlements to the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Commerce (DOC), and the Department of State (DOS).

For examples:

In these ways, Project 2025's "Department of Education Reorganization Act" would actually expand, rather than diminish, government reaches into education as five different federal agencies, rather than a single department, would be permitted authority over school systems. Meanwhile, the ED "employees whose positions are determined to be essential to the mission would move with their constituent programs" to the newly appointed departments, so much of the bureaucratic personnel will remain the same.

At the same time, by yoking education to HHS and the DOL, Project 2025's restructuring of the ED would basically revert the federal bureaucracy into a system that hearkens back the days of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW), which implemented centralized "Planning, Programming, and Budgeting Systems (PPBS)" as the precursor to the ED and HHS. Whereas the 1979 "Department of Education Organization Act" broke up HEW and upgraded its Office of Education into the ED while upgrading its Offices of Health and Welfare into HHS, Project 2025's "Department of Education Reorganization Act" would merely shift the Offices of the ED back to HHS and other departments, such as the DOL, which administers "Welfare-to-Work" grants. In brief, Project 2025's disassembling of the ED would bundle together federal health and education bureaucracies under the same department of HHS, like they were bundled together under the same department of HEW, while other departments, such as the DOL, would administer school-to-work along with welfare-to-work programs.

In sum, the Project 2025 plan to dismantle the ED is just another contrivance to refurbish the labyrinth of federal bureaucracies which has always systematically reduced school learning outcomes to an aggregate of mental health and workforce competencies that determine student placement in the "human capital" supply chain of America's planned economy. By scattering federal education entitlements to HHS and the DOL, data-tracking of students' mental health and career pathways outcomes would be streamlined by HHS and the DOL respectively, thus magnifying the medicalization and corporatization of government schooling. In this redistributed bureaucracy, HHS and the DOL would also track student health and career outcomes linked with PFS scholarships subsidized by the school choice tax credits proposed in Project 2025.

School Choice, Social Impact Investing, and Government Control of Private, Religious, and Home Schools

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Indoff Solutions, a trusted provider of high-quality office furniture, has officially relocated to a more convenient and centrally located showroom in Lafayette, Indiana. The company has moved from 31 N Earl Ave, Lafayette, IN 47904, to its new address at 101 N 4th Street, Suite 222, Lafayette, IN 47901. This transition highlights Indoff Solutions' commitment to serving businesses, organizations, and professionals seeking stylish, affordable, and functional office furniture. Affordable Office Furniture 
The Trump administrations Education Department announced Monday that its investigating 60 universities  including Portland State  for allegedly failing to protect students from discrimination against Jewish students.

The department has criticized universities for tolerating an explosion of antisemitism since the start of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, sparked when Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis in a shock attack on Oct. 7, 2024. More than 46,000 Palestinians have died in the war since then, leading to widespread protests at college campuses across the U.S., including at PSU, in response to Israels offensive in Gaza.

The departments Office for Civil Rights warned the schools listed  which includes PSU  of potential enforcement actions, with Education Secretary Linda McMahon saying in a statement that public investments funded by U.S. taxpayers (are) contingent on scrupulous adherence to federal antidiscrimination laws.

The announcement comes a month and a half after President Donald Trump  who has vowed to shut down the Education Department  signed an executive order aimed at curtailing antisemitism on college campuses.

Shortly after the order was signed, the Education Department announced it was investigating Portland State and four other universities.

PSU said in a statement on Monday that it was dedicated to addressing and preventing any form of discrimination or harassment, including antisemitism, within our community.

The U.S. Department of Education under then-President Joe Biden opened an investigation into PSU in August 2024 after a series of Islamaphobic fliers popped up on campus.

In a Truth Social post on Monday, Trump commended the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent figure in pro-Palestinian protests at New Yorks Columbia University last year.

In the same post, Trump said that Khalils arrest by immigration enforcement officials was the first of many. Columbia University is one of the 60 institutions under investigation by the Education Department.

 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 sailboat moves with almost no sound. No engine noise, no splashing wakejust the creak of rigging, the slap of water against the hull, and the force of the wind driving thousands of pounds of boat forward. The sails harness an immense amount of power from Mother Nature, converting shifting air into smooth, forward motion.

For those watching from shore, it can seem like another worldone that requires deep pockets, technical know-how, or a yacht club membership. But getting on a sailboat in Portland is easier than most people think. Whether you want to race, cruise, or learn the fundamentals, opportunities exist for anyone willing to show up and hold a line.

How to Get Started

The fastest way onto a boat is by filling out the form on the Oregon Corinthian Sailing Association (OCSA) crew list at sailpdx.org. No prior experience is required. Skippers looking for extra hands will often take on new sailors, some eager to teach, others expecting quick learners. Crew positions range from simply moving from one side of the boat to the other when it tacks, to adjusting sails and handling lines.

For those interested in racing, Small Yacht Sailing Club of Oregon (SYSCO) runs three major race series on the Columbia River, between the I-5 and I-205 bridges: The Spring, Summer and Twilight.

For those who prefer a slower pace, the Columbia River Associations cruising clubs organize trips that last from a few hours to several days, often with overnight stays on the water. Some Portland-area sailors take it even farther, making extended voyages to Alaska and Mexico.

From left, crew members Carolyn Morse, skipper Carisa Bohus, and Robert Miller tack and jibe aboard Moana, a 1975 San Juan 30 sailboat, during a Sailing on Sundays winter race sponsored by the Corinthian Yacht Club. The race took place Sunday, May 9, 2025, on the Columbia River between the I-5 and I-205 bridges. Mark Graves/The Oregonian

Learning to Sail

For those who want to understand the mechanics of sailing before stepping aboard, Portland has several sailing schools that offer structured training:

Portland Sailing Center , located in a marina off Marine Drive in Northeast Portland, offers a 15-hour beginner course ($436$449). Classes take place on 22- to 24-foot keelboats with four students per boat, providing hands-on experience.

Willamette Sailing Club , just south of downtown, teaches on smaller boats, offering a more responsive way to learn sail control. The club recently opened a new clubhouse on the Willamette River, creating a more accessible hub for local sailors.

Why Sailing?

Carisa Bohus, who joined the Portland sailing scene in 2011 with no prior experience and now races her own 30-foot San Juan sailboat, Moana, says the appeal of sailing goes beyond just getting on the water.

In my opinion, theyre so much more beautiful [than motorboats]. They take more skill. And the dynamics of working with the wind, your sails, and the currentits just, for me, very exciting. Its three-dimensional physics in practice, she said.

Bohus is a member of the Oregon Womens Sailing Association (OWSA), one of the few womens sailing clubs in the U.S. that provides training and access to sailing for women in a sport that has historically been male-dominated.

Sailboats compete in a race during during a Sailing on Sundays winter race sponsored by the Corinthian Yacht Club. The race took place Sunday, May 9, 2025, on the Columbia River between the I-5 and I-205 bridges. Mark Graves/The Oregonian

Where to Find Sailing Opportunities

Sailing Schools & Membership-Based Clubs

Island Sailing Club  ASA-certified school with beginner and advanced courses. Membership includes access to club-owned boats.   ASA-certified school with beginner and advanced courses. Membership includes access to club-owned boats.  islandsailing.org

Passion Yachts Sailing School  ASA-certified courses from basic keelboat to advanced coastal cruising.   ASA-certified courses from basic keelboat to advanced coastal cruising.  passion-yachts.com

SailTime Portland  Offers lessons and fractional boat ownership, allowing members to sail without owning a boat.   Offers lessons and fractional boat ownership, allowing members to sail without owning a boat.  sailtime.com

Sailing & Racing Associations

Corinthian Yacht Club of Portland (CYC)  Organizes racing events, social gatherings, and sailing education programs on the Columbia River.  Oregon Corinthian Sailing Association (OCSA)  A nonprofit dedicated to promoting sailing races in the Pacific Northwest.   Organizes racing events, social gatherings, and sailing education programs on the Columbia River.  cycportland.org  A nonprofit dedicated to promoting sailing races in the Pacific Northwest.  sailpdx.org

Oregon Womens Sailing Association (OWSA)  Focused on helping women get into sailing, offering affordable lessons and networking events.   Focused on helping women get into sailing, offering affordable lessons and networking events.  owsa.net

Yacht Clubs & Social Sailing Groups

Portland Yacht Club (PYC)  One of the oldest yacht clubs in Oregon (est. 1908), with racing, cruising, and social events for members.   One of the oldest yacht clubs in Oregon (est. 1908), with racing, cruising, and social events for members.  portlandyc.com

Rose City Yacht Club (RCYC)  A member-owned club offering private moorage and a strong community of sailors.   A member-owned club offering private moorage and a strong community of sailors.  rosecityyachtclub.org

Columbia River Yacht Club (CRYC)  A premier boating club in the Portland-Vancouver area, offering facilities, events, and camaraderie.   A premier boating club in the Portland-Vancouver area, offering facilities, events, and camaraderie.  cryc.com

Multnomah Channel Yacht Club (MCYC)  A casual, friendly club located in Scappoose, Oregon, offering monthly cruising events for members.   A casual, friendly club located in Scappoose, Oregon, offering monthly cruising events for members.  mcyc.com

Small Yacht Sailing Club of Oregon (SYSCO) - Founded in 1957, a welcoming community that promotes small boat sailing through recreational sails, races, and educational programs for sailors of all skill levels.

Sailboats compete in a race during during a Sailing on Sundays winter race sponsored by the Corinthian Yacht Club. The race took place Sunday, May 9, 2025, on the Columbia River between the I-5 and I-205 bridges. Mark Graves/The Oregonian

Harness the Wind

For those who try it, sailing often becomes more than just a hobby. Theres something about the way a well-trimmed sail turns wind into motionsomething about the quiet efficiency of moving a boat with nothing but air. Its technical and physical, strategic and instinctive, and its more accessible than most people realize.

Find a crew. Take a lesson. Show up to a race. The wind is waiting.

 Reporting and photography by Mark Graves, The Oregonian/OregonLive

IG: @Mark_W_Graves

mgraves@oregonians.com
The United States condemns the radical Islamist terrorists, including foreign jihadis, that murdered people in western Syria in recent days, said Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a statement.

More than 1,000 people have been reported killed after clashes broke out March 6 between forces loyal to ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and security forces of the interim government of president Ahmed al-Sharaa. Sharaa was the head of the al-Qaida-linked Sunni Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, that led the offensive overthrowing Assad in December.

After the clashes, revenge killings took place by forces affiliated with the government, targeting minority religious communities. Some 745 civilians were massacred, according to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Observatory said the two days of violence following the clashes were among the deadliest since the start of Syrias civil war 14 years ago.

A majority of the civilians targeted and killed were from the Alawite community, a sect of Shiite Islam to which Assad belonged, and which comprises 10 percent of Syrias population. In towns and cities, including Latakia and Tartous, men, women and children were reportedly massacred indiscriminately. Christians, including clergy, were also murdered. Prior to the civil war and the rise of the Islamic State in Syria, Christians, with a 2000-year history in the country, also made up 10 percent of the population. Their numbers have fallen to under 3 percent.

When he seized power in December, Interim Syrian President Sharaa pledged to protect Syrias religious and ethnic minorities. The horror that took place in western Syria at the hands of Islamist forces linked to his government makes the pledge seem tragically hollow. On March 9, Sharaa promised to set up an independent committee to investigate the violations against civilians and identify those responsible for them.

Secretary of State Rubio said, The United States stands with Syrias religious and ethnic minorities, including its Christian, Druze, Alawite, and Kurdish communities, and offers its condolences to the victims and their families. Syrias interim authorities must hold the perpetrators of these massacres against Syrias minority communities accountable.
President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk speak to reporters as they sit in a Tesla vehicle on the South Lawn of the White House Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Washington. Pool via AP

WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump shopped for a new Tesla on the White House driveway on Tuesday, selecting a shiny red sedan to show his support for Elon Musk s electric vehicle company as it faces blowback because of his work to advance the presidents political agenda and downsize the federal government.

Wow, Trump said as he eased his way into the drivers seat of a Model S. Thats beautiful.

Musk got in on the passenger side and joked about giving the Secret Service a heart attack as they talked about how to start a vehicle that can reach 60 miles per hour in a few seconds.

Trump told reporters that he would write a check for the car, which retails for roughly $80,000, and leave it at the White House so his staff can drive it. The president also said he hopes his purchase will boost Tesla, which is struggling with sagging sales and declining stock prices.

Its a great product, he said. Referring to Musk, Trump said we have to celebrate him.

It was the latest  and most unusual  example of how Trump has demonstrated loyalty to Musk, who spent heavily on his comeback campaign last year and has been a key figure in his second administration. Teslas stock price increased nearly 4% on Tuesday after dropping almost 48% since Trump took office in January.

The Republican president announced on social media overnight that he was going to buy a new Tesla as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American.

Musk continues to run Tesla  as well as the social media platform X and the rocket manufacturer SpaceX  while also serving as Trumps adviser.

Elon Musk is putting it on the line in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! Trump wrote. But the Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the Worlds great automakers, and Elons baby, in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for.

President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk speak to reporters near a red Model S Tesla vehicle on the South Lawn of the White House Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Washington. Pool via AP

Others have also rallied to Musks defense. Alex Jones, a prominent conspiracy theorist, said that he bought a customized version of a Cybertruck that hell give away to a customer of his online store next month.

In addition to Teslas struggles, Musk has faced other challenges too. He said X was targeted by a massive cyberattack that disrupted the social media platform on Monday, and the last two test launches of his Starship rocket ended in explosions.

Presidents almost never drive for security reasons. Joe Biden got behind the wheel of an electric truck while promoting domestic manufacturing, and Barack Obama took a spin with Jerry Seinfeld in the White House driveway for a comedy show.

But regardless of the practicality of Trumps purchase, his overnight announcement about buying a Tesla represented another step in how the president has blurred lines between private and public interests.

During his first term, top adviser Kellyanne Conway urged people to show their support for Trumps daughter Ivanka by purchasing her retail products.

Go buy Ivankas stuff, she said. Im going to give it a free commercial here.

Trumps wealth and business savvy is core to his political appeal. The president promoted his products while running for office last year, and he attached his name to a cryptocurrency meme coin that launched shortly before he took office.

However, its rare to see Trump use his own money to support an ally, no matter how important they are.

Musk is the worlds richest person, with billions of dollars in government contracts. Hes also exerting sweeping influence over Trumps administration through the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, and traveling frequently with the president.

During an interview with the Fox Business Network on Monday, host Larry Kudlow asked Musk how are you running your other businesses while also advising Trump.

With great difficulty, he said.

But theres no turning back, you say? Kudlow responded.

Im just here trying to make government more efficient, eliminate waste and fraud, Musk said.

Tesla has recently faced protests and vandalism. Police are investigating gunshots fired at a dealership in Oregon, and fire officials are examining a blaze that destroyed four Cybertrucks at a Tesla lot in Seattle.

At times, the White House has needed to play cleanup for Musk, who had never worked in public service before and has admitted that hell make mistakes along the way.

For example, Musk presented inflated estimates of fraud in government benefits like Social Security on Monday, leading Democrats to argue that he was planning cuts to the popular programs.

Most of the federal spending is entitlements, Musk said in the interview. Thats the big one to eliminate.

The next morning, a White House account on X criticized news organizations as lying hacks and told Democrats to spare us the fake outrage about reducing benefits.

He was clearly talking about the WASTE in the programs, the White House posted.

--Chris Megerian/The Associated Press
FILE - Mahmoud Khalil, (center) a lawful U.S. resident who was a graduate student at Columbia until December, was detained Saturday by federal immigration agents in New York and flown to an immigration jail in Louisiana. AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File

NEW YORK  President Donald Trump warned Monday that the arrest and possible deportation of a Palestinian activist who helped lead protests at Columbia University will be the first of many to come as his administration cracks down on campus demonstrations against Israel and the war in Gaza.

Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful U.S. resident who was a graduate student at Columbia until December, was detained Saturday by federal immigration agents in New York and flown to an immigration jail in Louisiana.

Homeland Security officials said Khalils arrest was a result of Trumps executive orders prohibiting antisemitism.

We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, Trump wrote in a social media post. We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country  never to return again.

Khalils detention drew outrage from civil rights groups and free speech advocates, who accused the administration of using its immigration enforcement powers to squelch criticism of Israel.

His lawyers filed a lawsuit challenging his detention. A federal judge in New York City ordered that Khalil not be deported while the court considered his case. A hearing was scheduled for Wednesday.

Typically, expelling a person who has permanent residency in the U.S. requires a high bar, such as that person being convicted of certain types of crimes, but Khalil has not been charged with any crimes over his activities during campus unrest last year at the university.

Hes the first person known to be detained for deportation under Trumps promised crackdown on student protests.

Federal immigration authorities also visited a second international student at Columbia on Friday evening and attempted to take her into custody but were not allowed to enter the apartment, according to a union representing the student. The woman has not been identified, and its not clear what grounds the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency had for the visit.

Trump has argued that protesters forfeited their rights to remain in the country by supporting the Palestinian group Hamas that controls Gaza. The U.S. has designated Hamas as a terrorist organization.

Khalil and other student leaders of Columbia University Apartheid Divest have rejected claims of antisemitism, saying they are part of a broader anti-war movement that also includes Jewish students and groups. But the protest coalition, at times, has also voiced support for leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, another Islamist organization designated by the U.S. as a terrorist group.

The Republican administration on Monday also warned some 60 colleges that they could lose federal money if they fail to make campuses safe for Jewish students.

The Education Department said it would take enforcement action if the schools, including Harvard, Columbia and Cornell, fail to uphold civil rights laws against antisemitism and ensure uninterrupted access to campus facilities and education opportunities.

The Trump administration is already pulling $400 million from Columbia and has threatened to cut billions more.

Born in Syria to Palestinian parents, Khalil emerged as one of the most visible activists in the protests at Columbia.

He served as a mediator on behalf of both pro-Palestinian activists and Muslim students, a role that put him in direct touch with university leaders and the press  and drew attention from pro-Israel activists, who in recent weeks called on the Trump administration to deport him.

He took a public facing role, and now hes being targeted for speaking to the media, another student protester, Maryam Alwan, told The Associated Press.

More recently, Khalil, who also has an American citizen wife who is eight months pregnant, faced investigation by a new disciplinary body set up at Columbia University.

The Office of Institutional Equity sent him a letter last month accusing him of potentially violating a new harassment policy by calling a school official a genocidal dean online.

Khalil told the AP last week that he served as a spokesperson for protesters but did not play a leadership role in the groups decision-making or have anything to do with its social media posts.

They are alleging that I was the leader of CUAD or the social media person, which is very far from reality, he said, using the acronym for the group Columbia University Apartheid Divest.

Khalil received a masters degree from Columbias School of International and Public Affairs last semester. He previously graduated from the Lebanese American University in Beirut with a computer science degree and worked at the British Embassy in Beiruts Syria office, according to his biography on the Society for International Developments website.

Columbia University declined to comment on Khalils arrest over the weekend and also did not respond Monday.

Meanwhile, a few hundred protesters gathered across from a Manhattan federal building containing an ICE field office. Many held signs depicting Khalils face and handwritten messages demanding his release.

By arresting Mahmoud, Trump thinks he can strip us of our rights and strip us of our commitment to our people, Ibtihal Malley, a New York University student, told the crowd. To that we say: You are wrong.

Back on campus, Columbia sophomore Pearson Lund was among those who found the potential stripping of Khalils green card concerning.

At what point does this process stop? the physics student said as he entered campus through a security line guarded by city police officers.

--Jake Offenhartz and Philip Marcelo/The Associated Press
President Donald Trump is single-handedly reversing 80 years of U.S. foreign policy.

As of today, Trump has blamed Ukraine for the war, suspended the delivery of military aid to Ukraine, removed sanctions against Russia, harangued Zelensky with Russian talking points, re-authorized staffing a Russian embassy in the U.S., sided with Russia on a U.N. resolution on Ukraine and many other actions that seek to establish a warm relationship with Vladimir Putin. A recent poll shows 81% of the American people do not trust Putin. They are not being consulted in Trumps reversal of U.S. foreign policy regarding Russia.

This is not a peace process; it is a capitulation to our historic adversary.

Congress must debate this change in foreign policy rather than have it jammed down their throats. In 2023, Congress passed legislation to prevent any president from withdrawing from NATO without consent from Congress. Perhaps a bill or joint resolution can be crafted to oppose Trumps current policies regarding Russia. The American people could register their opinions through their senators and representatives. This debate needs to occur immediately; it cant wait for the 2026 or 2028 elections. That would be too late.

David Shaw, Portland

To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion.
A Harrisburg city official will pay a $1,000 fine to settle ethics violations.

Those violations stem from a complaint filed against Chuck Scholz, Harrisburgs Public Works director, for living at the citys wastewater treatment site.

Last summer, the state body tasked with looking at ethics complaints, Oregon Government Ethics Commission, found Scholz used his position to benefit himself by living in a recreational vehicle, rent-free, on city property by Harrisburgs sewage treatment lagoons, and on March 7, approved the penalty.

Scholz previously contended, along with other Harrisburg officials, that he was saving the city money and providing security at the site.

He also maintained the violations were due to a lack of communication and documentation, according to the final order, and that he didnt willfully or intentionally violate state rules.

Harrisburg resident Alan Collison filed a complaint with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission in late 2023 after noticing Scholzs camper at the citys wastewater lagoons, and learning the public works director had been living there under the approval of the previous city manager, Brian Latta.

Current City Manager Michele Eldridge also had OKd the arrangement and informed the City Council about Scholzs residence at the citys wastewater site in April 2023, following Collisons inquiries.

She also said Scholz was providing security required under federal law and he wasnt connected to water or sewer service.

The following month, City Attorney Jim Brewer recommended the city have a rental agreement with Scholz to live on the site, for as little as $1 a month, according to meeting minutes.

Eldridge eventually drafted a caretaker policy in December of 2023, after the complaint was filed, that outlined Scholzs responsibilities for keeping the site safe.

An Oregon Government Ethics Commission investigation looked into whether Scholz had violated Oregons prohibited use of office rule, barring public officials from using or attempting to use their position to obtain a financial benefit or detriment  in this case, free lodging.

The investigation also looked at whether the arrangement put him in a conflict of interest and whether he alerted the public to it.

Ultimately, the commission moved last summer to find violations.

Scholz had maintained he was providing federally required security and that he had informal conversations with Latta back in 2019 approving the arrangement. He had also written that he was dumbfounded the investigation went ahead.

Eldridge, city councilors and Mayor Bobby Duncan wrote letters in support of Scholz and criticized the commissions investigation.

Eldridge had also said she believed the citys caretaker policy showed Scholz met the exception to the prohibited use of office rule, which doesnt apply to any part of an official compensation package, meaning wages and benefits approved by a public body, whether its part of an employment contract or a personnel policy.

But the final order notes, the policy wasnt on the books until the end of 2023, and between 2019 and that point, Scholz was living on the site rent-free, so it didnt apply.

Under the final order, Scholz will pay a civil penalty of $1,000 to settle the matter.

 2025 Albany Democrat-Herald, Ore.. Visit www.democratherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The Office of Community & Civic Life stopped awarding grants through the Portland International RacewayNorth Portland Trust Fund in 2020. Dave Killen / The Oregonian

Portland officials failed to distribute money intended to support neighborhoods near the often noisy and fossil-fuel-heavy Portland International Raceway, causing the funds to sit dormant for five years, the citys elected watchdog has found.

City Auditor Simone Rede called the programs mismanagement by the Office of Community & Civic Life  an agency long plagued personnel and performance problems  a case of inefficiency and waste in an investigation released last week.
The brutal murders of four University of Idaho students shook the small town of Moscow, Idaho. Investigative journalists and some of the nation's top criminal minds explore new theories to answer why it happened. (Photo credit: Philo)

If you are just learning about alleged killer Bryan Kohberger with his trial in full swing, Investigation Discoverys compelling "The Idaho College Murders" special documentary is still available streaming free on demand on the Philo streaming service (free trial).

 WATCH NOW: The Idaho College Murders documentary for FREE with Philo (free trial). If you prefer a different streaming platform, you can also watch it on Fubo (free trial).

The film dives into the mystery and investigation that led to the capture of Bryan Kohberger, who is suspected of brutally stabbing four University of Idaho students to death in 2022. Kohberger, a criminology graduate student at Washington State University, was arrested in December of 2022 for the murders of Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. They were all found fatally stabbed on Nov. 13 at a home the female victims shared with two other people in Moscow, Idaho.

Heres more on the latest news developments in the case and trial, as well as more information about how to watch this documentary for free.

 Chilling text messages reveal terrifying new details of night 4 college students were killed

 Judge declines to throw out genetic evidence in University of Idaho killings

 Prosecutors argue for death penalty in Idaho student murders case

Where can I watch the Idaho Murders documentary?

What: The Idaho College Murders special documentary from ID Network.

TV channel: Investigation Discovery

Watch the show live streaming online for free: You can watch the The Idaho College Murders streaming on demand for free with Philo (free trial), or streaming on MAX (plans start at $9.99/month).

What is Philo? Why is it cheaper than other TV streaming services?

As far as TV streaming services go, Philo remains the most cost-friendly and affordable TV streaming service on the market. The company has built their platform by focusing on a particular kind of TV viewer. Fans of Philo tend to like popular series, documentaries, reality TV and movies, but arent as interested in things like live sports, premium channels and expensive linear cable networks that drive up the price of other streaming platforms and cable service providers. You can see the complete list of channels Philo has and more information about the platform in our complete Philo streaming guide.
British Columbia Prime Minister David Eby announced Monday that the B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch will stop purchasing American wine, beer and liquor and remove existing American alcohol stock from its shelves.

Ebys move responds to President Donald Trumps plans to extend tariffs to a broader range of Canadian goods.

The 198 B.C. government stores, which serve over 36 million retail customers a year, have offered strong support for wines from California, Oregon and Washington in the past decade. That support is momentarily on hold as Canada and the U.S. have the gloves off and elbows up over tariffs.
Editor's Note: This story was updated at 5:55 p.m. March 10 to include information on Regent Rick Nagel's affiliation with the National Defense Industrial Association.

OU Board of Regents met Monday afternoon to discuss and approve housing and food rates, dean searches, master plan updates and a refresh to the universitys strategic plan.

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OU Students for Justice in Palestine

Before the meeting, protesters and members of OUs Students for Justice in Palestine stood and sat outside the Scholars Room in the Oklahoma Memorial Union, demanding the university divest from its corporate partners involved in weapons manufacturing.

About seven protesters interrupted Regent Rick Nagels opening remarks. Nagel is a member of the National Defense Industrial Association.

We are the Students for Justice in Palestine, and we demand divestment (from) the weapons manufacturers that have dropped bombs on civilians that have killed over 200,000 civilians, one member shouted.

The board told the protesters they could be removed. The group was escorted outside the room while chanting. The protesters continued to chant and beat drums outside the door of the Scholars Room as the regents continued the meeting.

After a few minutes of continued protest, the protesters were escorted out of the Union.

Regent Natalie Shirley

The board honored Regent Natalie Shirley during her last Board of Regents meeting. Shirley served as chair of the board from 2023 to 2024. She was appointed to the board by Gov. Kevin Stitt in 2018.

I have been gratified to get to be a part of this group and the amazing work that our teams did here, Shirley said.

Following her remarks, the board and audience gave Shirley a standing ovation.

Shirley also served as the Oklahoma secretary of education and workforce development from 2015 to 2018 under former Gov. Mary Fallins administration. Shirley also served as president of Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City from 2011 to 2017 and was the first woman to serve as president in the OSU system.

The board voted to approve Regent Anita Holloway as Chair Eric Stevenson's successor and appointed Nagel as vice chair of the board effective March 12.

Joseph Harroz Jr. remarks

The news: OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. gave a report and remarks regarding the university.

What theyre saying: At the beginning of his remarks, Harroz thanked Shirley for her work on the board.

Ive been doing this for 30 years, working with the board closely for almost all of those;  she is one of the most consequential regents I've had the pleasure to work with, Harroz said. This university is better because of you, and I just want to express true gratitude.

Harroz spoke about the universitys strategic plan refresh

OUs Lead On, University is a strategic plan that includes five pillars representing goals set by the university. Fall 2024 marked the halfway point of the eight-year strategic plan. The refresh process for OU Normans Lead On Strategic Plan incorporates the OU Health Sciences' Strategic Plan and a new five-year Strategic Plan for OU-Tulsa.

Harroz said the university has been working on the strategic plan refresh for the past 10 months.

It'll be five years to the day when we launched the 'Lead On' plan, and this is the 'Lead On' next step. Things that were unimaginable five years ago are in this strategic plan, Harroz said. We're going to continue to focus on affordability and accessibility, and we're going to approach this thing the only way a truly great state can do, and that is together.

Harroz said the strategic plan includes plans to hire 300 new faculty members and positively impact the state through education in a variety of fields.

As you look across it, there is a fundamental purpose that our students leave here as citizen leaders, Harroz said. We saw over the last five years, challenges that are presented, and we anticipate challenges. But I know that with this plan and with the team that we have assembled with this commitment, it is going to be exceptional.

During Harrozs remarks, Dr. Ian Dunn, executive dean of the OU College of Medicine, presented updates about the College of Medicine.

Dunn presented a video of Madison Naylor, an OU Health doctor and student who survived the Oklahoma City bombing when she was six months old, in remembrance of the 30-year anniversary of the bombing.

Its important to remember the lives that were lost, but also those that were saved, in part to our health system, Francisco said.

In the video, Naylor discussed her work in pediatrics and her experience with the bombing.

My mom talks about how I was literally being held by a stranger that was just trying to help evacuate the daycare center. And so she always gets chills when she talks about it, Naylor said.

Harroz said his godson was in the nursery and survived.

Its just a miracle that (Naylor) made it out alive, Harroz said.

Strategic plan refresh

The news: The board approved OUs strategic plan refresh.

In April, an executive steering committee chaired by Harroz began the process of refreshing the universitys Lead On, University strategic plan.

According to the agenda, a 24-member cross-campus working group composed of students, faculty and staff representatives from the Norman campus, OU Health Sciences Center and OU-Tulsa campus examined the strategic plan and input to inform recommendations to the committee on the plans next phase, which would go from 2025 to 2030.

What theyre saying: Harroz thanked the board for the approval and its engagement in the process.

We've had 15 separate interactions with committees and with the board, so (Im) beyond grateful for the input on that, Harroz said.

The vote: The board approved the proposal.

Housing and food rates

The news: The board heard the 2025-26 room and board rates for Norman and Health Sciences Center residential colleges, residence halls, apartments and meal plans.

According to the agenda, the standard meal plan, which is currently at $3,075, is proposed to increase $90 to $3,165.

For Walker and Couch centers, the new rates for the two-bedroom suite for four people will have a $110 increase to $3,850 per semester, and a two bedroom suite for two people will have a $175 increase to $6,055 per semester. A two-bedroom connected suite for four people will have a $110 increase to $3,850 per semester, a two bedroom connected suite for three people will have a $145 increase to $5,065 per semester and a two-bedroom connected suited for two will have a $180 increase to $6,125 per semester.

For David L. Boren Hall, a standard room for two will see a $90 increase to $3,125 per semester. A standard room for one will increase $135 to $4,610 per semester.

For Headington Hall, a two-bedroom, two-bathroom suite for two people will increase $450 to $7,950 per semester; a two-bedroom, two-bathroom suite for four people will increase $350 to $5,550 per semester; a two-bedroom, one-bathroom suite for two will increase $400 to $6,750 per semester; and a four-bedroom, two-bathroom suite for four people will increase $550 to $6,100 per semester.

For residential colleges, a standard room for two people will increase $115 to $3,915 per semester, and a standard room for one will increase $190 to $6,625 per semester. A one-bedroom suite will increase $235 to $8,040 per semester, and a three-bedroom suite will increase $210 to $7,155 per semester. The two standard room for two people will not increase and remain $6,700 per semester.

For Cross Village, four-bedroom suite will increase $170 to $6,100 per semester, the two-bedroom suite for four people will increase $130 to $4,530 per semester, the two-bedroom suite for two people will increase $200 to $6,750 per semester and the one-bedroom suite will increase $255 to $8,715 per semester.

For Traditions Square, a two-bedroom, two-bathroom single room will increase $120 to $4,170 per semester; a two-bedroom, one-bathroom single room will increase $105 to $3,615 per semester; and a four-bedroom, two-bathroom single room will increase $100 to $3,375 per semester.

For Kraettli Apartments, a two-bed furnished apartment will increase $30 to $965 per month, and a two-bed unfurnished apartment will increase $25 to $850 per month.

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For McCasland Hall, a new first-year residence building set to open in August, a two-bedroom suite for four people will be $4,400 per semester, a one-bedroom suite for two people will be $6,200 per semester, and a one-bedroom suite for one person will be $8,000 per semester.

According to the agenda, all increases were within a range of 3%-6%. It also listed a comparison chart to Oklahoma State University and other colleges in the Southeastern Conference. In the chart, OU ranks as No. 11 with a $13,565 housing rate for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Vanderbilt University is No. 1 with $22,424 while Auburn University is No. 17 with $11,431.

What theyre saying: Harroz said the increases to Headington Hall are higher than the others due to higher demand.

The vote: The board approved the housing and food rates.

Dean searches

The news: The Board of Regents approved dean searches for the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences and Michael F. Price College of Business.

According to the agenda, current interim dean for the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, Petra Klein, who has been in the position since December following the death of former dean Berrien Moore III, is not eligible to become a candidate.

The agenda states the current interim dean for the Price College of Business, Laku Chidambaram, is eligible for the position. Chidambaram has served in the position since July 13 after former dean Corey Phelps stepped down to become the dean of the Smeal College of Business at Penn State University.

Andre-Denis Wright, senior vice president and provost, is set to chair the committee for the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences dean search, while OU College of Law Dean Anna Carpenter is set to chair the Price College search.

What theyre saying: Harroz said the search committee for the new dean of Price College has yet to find the candidate the university is looking for.

Search didn't find the candidate we were looking for, and we want to reconstitute and make sure we get the right candidates during this time period," Harroz said. If approved, Dr. Chidambaram will continue doing a great job.

The vote: The board approved both dean searches.

Master plan updates

The news: The board approved several updates to the Campus Master Plan of Capital Improvements Projects.

According to the agenda, updates to the Gallogly College of Engineering have estimated costs of $105 million, $80 million of which will be funded from state appropriations. The remaining amount will be funded through the university and private funds.

The updates are meant to address critical space needs for the college and review potential expansion or renovation to several existing buildings. The agenda states that the goal of the master plan is to optimize space usage, consolidate programs and enhance educational experience for all students.

The board also approved $22 million to renovate the Chemistry Annex Building. The renovations would reconfigure the space, upgrade building systems and improve accessibility. A study to support each of these needs will be required, the agenda reads.

The board also approved $6.75 million in the construction of an Infrastructure Transportation Building. According to the agenda, the building will be an office and laboratory located on the OU Research Campus with the intention to offer space for the engineering college to support transportation research.

The facility will include unmanned vehicles, battery testing, fuel cell testing and an open dry lab. The project will also include an office space for up to 12 faculty members and 40 graduate students. Funding for construction will be divided by the state, donor funds and university sources.

The vote: The board approved the improvements.

Suicide prevention

The news: The board approved the Suicide Prevention Resource Center to contract with the Education Development Center for their professional services.

The Suicide Prevention Resource Center is funded through a five-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration with a total of around $37.9 million.

According to the agenda, the Education Development Center was chosen because it was the only entity besides OU Health Sciences Center to receive the Suicide Prevention Resource Center award, which they received 17 years before the Health Sciences Center.

The agenda states the Education Development Center possesses significant staffing resources and expertise relevant to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center project and would provide consulting hours to support four of its goals:

Increase capacity of health, behavioral health systems and clinical workforces to screen, assess, treat and transition care effectively to reduce suicide deaths and attempts among those at risk who are in care.

Increase capacity among state, tribal and community systems, and their workforces to implement what works to reduce rates of suicide deaths and attempts in populations they serve.

Develop strong national public-private partnerships among key stakeholders from multiple sectors to advance the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, and develop policy and practice.

Increase the availability of effective, appropriate resources to support suicide prevention among individuals at highest risk, survivors and their families to improve crisis response, help loved ones reach care and increase access to community supports for mental wellness.

The Suicide Prevention Resource Center is funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and has its own line in the federal budget, according to the agenda.

The vote: The board approved the proposal.

Airplane purchases

The news: The board approved a proposal to compete, negotiate and award contracts and place orders of up to $2.2 million for the purchase of five airplanes for the School of Aviation.

The new airplanes are meant to expand the fleet in order to meet increasing student enrollment. According to the agenda, in November 2022, the School of Aviation was approved to expand its fleet by nine aircrafts, which arrived in February 2024. This purchase allowed enrollment to increase by 79% in comparison to fall 2022, according to the agenda.

The school, with the consultation of the Office of Budget and Financial Planning, developed a multi-year budget to increase freshman by another 60 students and expand the airplane fleet with five modern state-of-the-art airplanes.

According to the agenda, the funding necessary for the expansion has been identified as available within the School of Aviation's operating account and other accounts set aside for aviation.

What theyre saying: Harroz said the purchase of the additional five airplanes would allow the School of Aviation to take in 60 more students.

The vote: The board approved the purchases.

Morris sculpture

The news: The board approved the donation of a bust of former OU Provost J. R. Morris.

Morris was a faculty member and top academic official at OU for four decades. During his time at OU, he was an academic counselor and taught graduate psychology classes. He served as associate dean of University College, vice president of University Community and provost and senior vice president of the Norman campus for nine years. He also served as interim president of the university from 1982 to 1994.

Upon retirement, Morris received the title of provost emeritus and regents professor emeritus and was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame in 1996. He died on Sept. 28.

The bust was created by OU artist Sohail Shehada and is expected to be placed in the Bizzell Memorial Library, according to the agenda. Shehada also created the Michael F. Price statue located outside the north entrance of Price Hall, which was unveiled in December.

What theyre saying: Harroz commended Morris and the work he did at the university.

Here at OU, he is truly a legend, Harroz said. We sit here because of him and others like him. He has been a dean, he was a provost for almost a decade, and he was truly beloved.

The vote: The board approved the donation of the sculpture.

Street acquisition

The news: The board approved authorizing the university to negotiate the acquisition of a single family home located on 425 Page Circle upon consultation with general counsel.

According to the agenda, the university wishes to purchase for strategic purchases due to the homes proximity to campus and location near other single-family homes already owned by the university.

The board will also consider entering into any agreements and execute and acquire any deeds, or instruments that may be necessary to transfer any titles for the transaction.

What theyre saying: Harroz did not specify why the OU wished to make the purchase, he said the university has a strategic interest in the property.

The vote: The board approved the street acquisition.

This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure and Ana Barboza.
Civil rights activist and OU professor George Henderson announced his retirement after a 58-year career with the university.

In a Facebook post Saturday, Henderson wrote about his retirement and thanked students for their impact on him.

I will always cherish the educational transformative moments that we had together, Henderson wrote.

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Before he came to Norman, Henderson lived in Detroit, where he advocated for racial equality and civil rights issues and served in various leadership positions along with civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.

Henderson moved to Norman in 1967, joining OU as the third full-time Black professor at the university.

My wife and I were the first Black (couple) to own property in Norman. So we saw the good, the bad and the ugly, Henderson said. We had some bad things happen, but for every bad thing that happened, a good thing.

In 1969, Henderson established the Human Relations Department at OU and developed its curriculum.

I did the best that I could, Henderson said about creating opportunities with the new department. I'm satisfied with my contributions.

Henderson was awarded the 1992 Distinguished Service Award from OU. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2003 and awarded the 2004 Otis Sullivant Perceptivity Award.

During his time at OU, Henderson worked to uplift Black voices on campus and helped create the Black Student Association, a student organization dedicated to supporting Black students at OU.

That mission of support goes beyond academic and institutional efforts, Henderson said. Henderson said he worked to make his students feel a part of his family.

I helped them. I mentored them. Our house was open to them for whatever activities they wanted, Henderson said. Students were like our extended family members.

In 2001, the Henderson Scholars Program was established in Hendersons honor. The program aims to provide access to higher education to a diverse group of students and create opportunities for service and learning.

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Miles Kelly, director of the Henderson Scholars Program, said he works to uphold the values of Henderson while working with students.

A lot of us have lived out his vision and his teaching, his scholarship through our academic programs and degrees, Kelly said. It's really about a true partnership or a friendship with students.

Kelly took the position of program director in October 2019. Since the first meeting with Henderson, Kelly said he has worked closely with Henderson.

Dr. Henderson changed my life. He challenged me, Kelly said. He's a true champion. He's a constant mentor and he's fully present.

Kelly says that he will continue to show up and lead the way Henderson led.

We will continue to lead with love, Kelly said.

On Facebook, Henderson wrote about how his former students impacted him.

I thank each and every student who was in at least one of my classes, Henderson wrote. Mutual respect and love bound us together.

Summer McGuire, a former student of Henderson, said she took one of Hendersons classes during the first semester of her masters program. McGuire said this class and Henderson himself had a profound impact on her both professionally and personally.

I just remember after that first class, and that was like, 20 years ago, just being so in awe, and just like, this is where I belong, McGuire said.

Henderson said it's an honor to leave an impact on students.

I feel that as a teacher, I have grown, I have benefited, I've been blessed, Henderson said. Of all of the awards and honors that I've received, the greatest award and honor was to have the ability to be a teacher to students.

This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure, Ana Barboza and Ismael Lele.
A Wisconsin court has ruled to mandate the state to provide incarcerated mothers the chance to maintain physical custody of their infants for the first year of their children's lives.

The situation comes as there are state laws that have been in place for more than three decades requiring the Department of Corrections (DOC) to provide such programs. However, this particular legislation has yet to be fulfilled in earnest.

Mothers and Their Infants

One example is Alyssa, who is serving a two-year sentence at Robert E. Ellsworth Correctional Center in Union Grove, Wisconsin. She became pregnant and gave birth to a child while she was incarcerated.

Alyssa said that whenever she went to the county jail for appointments, she would be placed in handcuffs, sit in the waiting room of her doctor's office, and feel the indignity of prenatal care while visibly incarcerated.

When she went into labor, the male guards were still present until the time Alyssa was about to push her baby out. During that time, she had no idea about the identities of anyone in the room with her. She was then separated from her baby, Bentley, soon after giving birth, according to ACLU Wisconsin.

Alyssa said that her infant being taken away from her was one of the hardest things that she experienced in her life. She added that with her other children, she has always been a part of their lives during this early stage.

The incarcerated mother's separation from her baby was not only emotionally taxing but also considered illegal in Wisconsin. State statute 301.049, which was established in 1991, requires the DOC to offer jailed mothers physical custody of their infants in the least restrictive setting.

Wisconsin Mandate

Circuit Court Judge Stephen Ehlke ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in a case in support of statute 301.049. The judge said that the plaintiffs, two incarcerated mothers, were able to establish a "clear right" to be considered for the program, the Wisconsin Examiner reported.

Now, the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin expects to work with the DOC to determine a realistic timeline for implementing the program. The non-profit organization's legal director, Ryan Cox, added that they hope the final judgment also reflects the same sentiment.

Cox noted that the first year of an infant's life is so crucial to their emotional development as well as their connection to their mothers and families. He argued that there are implications that would last for the rest of their lives if they were separated from their mothers during that time, as per Urban Milwaukee.
The United States Supreme Court will take up a challenge to a Colorado law that bans the use of "conversion therapy" on LGBTQ youths.

The case in question is Chiles v. Salazar, which seeks to legalize the discredited method of counseling that was supposedly designed to turn LGBTQ patients cisgender and heterosexual. The Colorado law that bans such therapy disallows licensed therapists from engaging in "any practice or treatment" of such processes.

Challenge to Ban on Conversion Therapy

These include any attempts to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity. However, there is an exemption for counselors who are "engaged in the practice of religious ministry."

Following a 2023 dissent by Justice Samuel Alito, 20 states across the country, alongside the District of Columbia, have implemented laws restricting conversion therapy. A federal appeals court also explained that every major medical, psychiatric, psychological, and professional mental health organization opposes the use of such therapy.

Furthermore, the American Psychological Association said that conversion therapy only puts individuals at risk of harm. It added that it was not an effective method of changing a person's gender identity or sexual orientation, according to Vox.

The latest case raises difficult questions about the First Amendment, mainly whether a restriction on what people can discuss with their therapist violates constitutional free speech protections.

Historically, the First Amendment was not taken to protect malpractice or similar misconduct by licensed professionals, even if such things only involved speech. This means that a lawyer cannot simply tell their client that "nothing will happen to you if you go rob a bank" without risking professional sanction.

Argument of First Amendment Rights

The plaintiff in the latest case brought the challenge to Colorado's ban on conversion therapy in September 2022. At the time, a federal district court declined to block the ban after it found that the law did not infringe upon free speech protections, HRC reported.

Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson said that the Supreme Court's decision to take up the case is not just about conversion therapy. She argued that it is about whether extremists can take advantage of the courts to push their "dangerous agenda."

On top of the dangers of conversion therapy on LGBTQ youths and their mental and physical well-being, it also has a financial burden if it does get legalized. A study in 2022 found that conversion therapy could cost roughly $9 billion per year for patients and their families, as per Forbes.
In September 2024, the Germanys federal criminal police (BKA) and the public prosecutors office in Frankfurt, Germany were able to report a success: The suspected operators of the darknet platform Boystown, formerly one of the largest websites for child pornography with around 400,000 members, were identified and arrested after years of research.

The special thing about this is that the suspects were identified via the TOR network, which to this day stands for security and anonymity on the internet.

Has TOR now been cracked?

If criminals can be stopped, this is of course good news. But the TOR network is not only used by criminals.

Many press representatives and opposition members in totalitarian states also use TOR to gain access to information, disseminate news, or communicate with each other without being identified by the state authorities.

See also: What is the Darknet? How the webs secretive, hidden underbelly works

Major international media outlets such as the BBC, the New York Times, and the NDR maintain mailboxes in the TOR network, through which they can be reached anonymously by informants. And the darknet is not all evil either. Deutsche Welle, for example, operates a website there to give the inhabitants of some heavily monitored countries free access to information.

Are all these services no longer secure? And what other options are there for remaining anonymous on the internet?

Internet connection via a proxy server

The little brother of the TOR network is the proxy server. The word proxy means a representative, and this is how you could actually describe the function of a proxy server: It surfs the internet on behalf of the user.

In technical terms, this means that you connect your PC to a proxy server, which forwards your website calls, entries, and commands to the internet and returns the responses to you. Only the IP address of the server is visible to the outside world; your own address remains hidden.

Websites such as Raid.Rush maintain constantly updated lists of free proxy servers. There are hundreds of these servers in countries all over the world, so the user can fake any location. Foundry

You can find dozens of lists of free proxy servers on the internet, many of which also provide data on current utilization and accessibility. Examples include Raidrush and Hidemyname.

Instead of configuring the proxy server in the Windows settings (Windows icon > Settings > Network and Internet > Manual proxy setup > Setup), you can also use proxy websites such as Proxysite.com, Croxyproxy, or the free online web proxy from Steganos.

The disadvantage of free proxies is that the data transfer rates are often rather low. In addition, these services often do not offer any real anonymity, but instead name the country in which the user is based, for example, or sell the collected user data to advertising networks.

You should also be aware that many proxy servers write the data of the connections that run through them in log files, which they pass on to government agencies on request.

You can get more anonymity and higher speeds with paid proxy services. You can find a list here, for example.

Proxysite is one of many free proxy websites that provide a private way to browse. IDG

VPN: Good and cheap services

If you have decided to pay for an anonymizing internet connection, you should consider a VPN service as the means. VPN stands for virtual private network.

Like proxy webites, these services also redirect your data traffic via a server on the internet, but go one step further when it comes to anonymization.

In contrast to a proxy service, the connection between your PC and the VPN server is securely encrypted, while the proxy server forwards the data unencrypted.

Further reading: The best VPN services

In addition, a proxy service works at application level, i.e. it only conceals your IP address when using the browser, for example, but not when working with an FTP client or a mail program. A VPN service, on the other hand, works at operating system level and protects all data traffic via the internet.

There is a whole range of free VPN services. However, with these providers you always have to live with restrictions, either the monthly data volume is limited, or the number of VPN servers is only in the single-digit range, or the speed is limited.

There is also a risk that these services will transmit user data to the advertising industry or government agencies.

our favorite vpn for ultimate privacy Mullvad Read our review

Paid VPN services such as NordVPN, Mullvad VPN, or ExpressVPN offer high speeds and thousands of servers around the world at prices of around $3 to $5 per month.

The services advertise a no-log policy, i.e. they promise not to store any user data. This has also been confirmed in the past by independent institutions for the three services mentioned.

Blurring fingerprints

As IP addresses can change from time to time and computers from networks access the internet under a shared IP address, the advertising industry has been relying less and less on IP addresses to identify website visitors for years, and instead increasingly on fingerprinting methods.

Firefox and some other browsers contain defences against fingerprinting and provide incorrect or nonsensical data in response to such requests. Foundry

Fingerprinting does not (only) record the IP address of a website visitor, but also the configuration of their computer. Which browser is she using, which version, with which extensions, which screen resolution is set, which graphics card is installed, which driver version, which operating system ?

The browser willingly provides all this and much more data to the web server after a Javascript request. You can make fingerprinting impossible by deactivating Javascript, but this also means that many websites can no longer be used.

Firefox, Brave, and Avast browsers contain functions that either deliver incorrect data in response to Javascript requests or generally block companies that are known to use fingerprinting.

Classic tracking with cookies, etc.

When you browse the web with a browser, the websites you visit place cookies on your computer. These are small text files which, on the one hand, are a prerequisite for online shops to function at all.

On the other hand, so-called third-party cookies are used by specialized tracking companies to track visitors to a website as they move around the internet.

These companies generate a profile from the data collected in this way, which they sell to advertisers who use it to display adverts tailored to you on the websites you visit.

You can switch off the acceptance of third-party cookies in any browser. In Edge and Firefox, it is also possible to automatically delete all cookies when you close the browser, and there is a corresponding extension for Chrome called Click & Clean.

You will also find a do-not-track switch in every browser, which prevents the websites you visit from tracking you as you browse the internet. However, this is nothing more than a request. Switch the function on anyway.

In Chrome, as in other browsers, there is a do-not-track switch that you can use to ask websites not to track your movements on the internet. Foundry

Why TOR is still the best solution The TOR network protects its users by redirecting connections via three randomly selected servers (the so-called nodes) and encrypting them at least three times. The second node only knows the location of the first server, but not the user. The third only knows the second server, but neither the incoming server nor the user. After 10 minutes at the latest, the TOR browser  a customized version of Firefox  swaps the second and third servers for other locations. Connections via TOR are therefore highly secure and anonymous. The TOR browser is a slightly modified version of Firefox that offers preconfigured access to the TOR network. The TOR network, in turn, is a prerequisite for access to the Darknet.

Primakov / Shutterstock.com In the case of the darknet platform Boystown, the investigators had probably exchanged messages with the suspect via a messenger. This meant they knew exactly when which data packet was sent and only had to wait until one of them was forwarded via the nodes they were monitoring. The BKA officials presumably configured a large number of high-performance and well-connected servers as TOR nodes for this purpose. As the TOR network looks for fast servers with low latency when switching nodes, it was only a matter of time before a chat with the suspect was registered there. However, correspondingly extensive investigations can only take place in individual cases. For the vast majority of users, currently around 2 million every day, TOR is still the safest way to remain unrecognized on the internet.

Anonymizing search queries

Both Google and Bing save their users search queries. Google and Microsoft use this data to create user profiles and sell them to the advertising industry. If you have a Google account, you can see what queries and other activities you have saved there after logging in online.

You can also deactivate this tracking at the same place. Bing provides this information directly via the browser: Open the menu with the three dashes at the top right and go to Search history. There you can delete the search history, deactivating it is not possible.

To remain anonymous during your web searches, you must switch to other search engines. Although the Dutch search engine Startpage uses Googles search results, it does not record your search history, does not save IP addresses, and does not display personalized advertising.

The U.S. service Duck Duck Go obtains its results from over 400 sources, including Bing, Wikipedia, and Yahoo. Like Startpage, it does not store IP addresses or information about users. However, due to the U.S. Patriot Act, Duck Duck Go must grant the U.S. authorities access to its servers on request.
After months of speculation, including by yours truly, the U.S. Department of Justice has doubled down on its recommendation that Google be forced to divest itself of Chrome in punishment for operating an illegal monopoly. Personally, I cant wait.

How we got here

It was over six months ago that the DOJ won its four-year suit against Google, which was found in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta found that Google had intentionally created and maintained an illegal monopoly by using agreements that forced its business partners to use Chrome and Google Search. Googles own Android operating system, in conjunction with its search agreements with Apple for the iPhone and iPad, cemented its unassailable position as the mobile web boomed.

Initially there were a lot of options on the table. The Department of Justice considered forcing Google to sell off or otherwise get rid of Chrome, Google Search, Android, or some combination of all three. Google appealed  indeed, might still be appealing, considering the slow pace of these big intersections between business and law.

There was also a big question mark over whether any of this would matter: August 2024 was before a business-friendly Donald Trump won a second presidential term, and before Google donated a million dollars to him and sent CEO Sundar Pichai to the inauguration. Pichai visited the president-elect at his Mar-A-Lago residence before Trump assumed office, and the company has also abandoned its diversity and inclusion staffing goals to align with Trumps directives, in the explicit hope of preserving contracts with the U.S. federal government.

Google

All of these would be questionable moves for a company in the middle of the biggest antitrust case since AT&T in the 1980s. In 2025, it appears to be standard practice  Google wouldnt be the only company that saw its legal troubles disappear after donating to a politician. But it hardly matters. The DOJ, now firmly under the thumb of the Trump regime, is still insisting that Google get rid of Chrome, but not Search or Android. Googles attempts to curry favor seem to have failed, as the Republican-controlled Congress is also looking to get a few good licks in.

Were probably still months away from this getting a final, definitive resolution and the approval of a federal judge, with Google no doubt exhausting every official and unofficial avenue to stop it. It isnt the triple disaster that the big G was dreading, but the Chrome browser is still an essential part of the companys strategy. Proceeding under the assumption that Google will indeed be forced to give up Chrome, there are a lot of ways that I think this will be a positive for users like you and me.

Google doesnt deserve to keep Chrome

Judge Mehta declared that Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly. That was already blindingly obvious to anyone who looked at a search market analysis. Google holds a 90 percent share today, with the closest alternative being Bing at under 4 percent, and thats almost certainly due to Microsoft aggressively shoving it into every corner of Windows. Other competitors like Baidu and Yandex operate in regions where Google does not, China and Russia, respectively.

But theres an important distinction between a monopoly and an illegal monopoly, as determined by the Sherman Antitrust Act. If you sell the only EVA space suit for turtles, than you have a monopoly on turtle space suitsbut thats not illegal. Google, it has been determined, intentionally engineered and maintained its monopoly state. It used corporate partnerships and its status as the owner/maintainer of Chrome and Android to make it effectively impossible for a competitor to gain ground, and hid or destroyed evidence to make it harder for investigators and litigants to prove it.

Michael Crider/Foundry

All of this was in aid of keeping Google the de facto search on the internet, an invincible juggernaut of digital advertising, one of the most valuable and powerful technology companies on the planet. Thats what finally pushed it over the edge here. And its worth pointing out that these moves helped Google obtain a 65 percent share of the browser market and 70 percent of the mobile OS market, too.

Again, none of this is shocking, and its not even necessarily concerning from the perspective of an individual user. Its all but impossible to use the modern internet without interacting with companies like Google, Amazon, Meta/Facebook, and Microsoft, and having your personal info sold to a thousand different data brokers.

But speaking as a computer and smartphone user, not a commenter on public policy and the governance of Americas technology sector, I have plenty of reason to take issue with Googles handling of Chrome in particular. Chrome seems to have become fundamentally worse as a browser over the last few years. Its always been a RAM hog compared to alternatives, but the speed that won so much praise when Google debuted it way back in 2008 seems to have slipped away  though that might also be because the web is just a lot heavier these days.

Joel Lee / Foundry

Googles more deliberate choices arent without problems. It seems to have hamstrung ad-blocking extensions with the latest standard update, something thats only recently come into effect for most users. Google says that the Manifest V3 update is to improve performance, security, and privacybut developers disagree, strongly. The creator of the popular uBlock Origin refused to hobble his extension, and created a Lite version rather than comply.

I wont say that Google is lyingbut the idea that one of the biggest advertising companies on the planet intentionally made a software design choice that makes blocking advertising harder would hardly be surprising. After all, its been more than ten years since Google released Chrome for Android, and it still doesnt support third-party extensions, something that both the desktop version and other Android browsers can do. I wonder whywhen one of the first extensions most users load up is some kind of ad blocker.

Google has made plenty of other choices that give users like me reason to complain, like mismanaging YouTube, making Google Search worse and worse, and pushing questionably necessary AI into all aspects of its business. Its hoarding (and sharing) of personal data is a cornerstone of todays web advertising. In short, the idea of Google being divorced from Chrome and the browser market isnt one that brings a tear to my eye, no matter how we get there.

Were in for some chaos

That being said, Id be a fool if I didnt foresee a lot of problems coming out of a breakup. Chrome isnt just Chrome, and hasnt been for a long time. Whatever its sins, Google has done tons of open source browser development via the Chromium project. Chromium now forms the code base of most of Chromes alternatives, including Microsofts Edge, Opera, and my own new browser bestie, Vivaldi. In fact, of the browsers with more than 1 percent of the market, only Firefox and Apples Safari are not based on Chromium.

Chromium is also the basis of ChromeOS, Googles alternative to Windows. While its nowhere near as successful as Android, Chromebooks form a substantial chunk of the market, particularly for entry-level machines and large-volume sales to schools and other big, centralized organizations. ChromeOS is still well behind MacOS, even Linux (and I think the Steam Deck is a big part of that), but without it a lot of people would be trying to run Windows on laptops that really cant handle it.

So yeah, if Chrome and Chromium disappeared tomorrow, wed be in for a big shakeup in the browser space and beyond. Exactly whats going to happen to Chromium (and by extension, ChromeOS and Chromebooks) might be the biggest variable in this situation. It seems unlikely that Google will continue to pour millions and millions of dollars into the development of an open source platform for which it is no longer the primary benefactor.

Maybe itll switch Chromebooks over to Android for a safe haven, and let some other company take over Chromium. That would still hurt a lot for Google, and cause headaches for every other browser developer. But it wouldnt be the end of the worldand wed see some competition thats been sorely lacking in this space for over a decade.

But which company would be the first in line to take over Chrome? Thats not hard to guess.

A big chance for Microsoft

Microsoft not only has a lot of history as both a backbone of the internet and a browser developer, it has the deep pockets necessary to take over a business as big and unwieldy as Chrome. And Im betting Microsoft would absolutely leap at the chance to do it  after all, its been not-quite-forcing Windows users to deal with Edge for years.

Imagine the branding coup that would be Microsoft Chrome pre-installed on every new Windows laptop. If nothing else, it would save Microsoft the trouble of faking those Bing search results and support pages. Speaking of Bing, Microsoft would be in a position to use (or abuse, depending on whom you ask) Chrome to grow Bing search, using some of the same techniques that Google has with a browser in its back pocket.

Microsoft, Universal Pictures

If youre thinking, Hey, are you saying Microsoft would try to do the same thing that got Google in so much trouble for creating a monopoly? Yes, thats exactly what Im saying. And Microsoft is hardly a newcomer when it comes to monopoly abuse, or even being naughty with browser integration.

But with a tiny fraction of the search and browser market in 2025, Microsoft has a certain license to try and make up for the advantage Google has been enjoying for the better part of two decades. It would be, if not exactly fair, then at least somewhat balanced. As much as Id love for an independent like Opera or Firefox to come out on top of this, that just isnt the world we live in.

And Microsoft would certainly take a gamble on regulatory trouble 20 years from now, if it meant getting a big chunk of Googles browser, search, and advertising business today.

Microsoft could certainly use an edge at the moment. Its in no danger of being dethroned as the desktop operating system leaderbut that lead is looking a lot shakier than it used to. Not only are the peasants revolting when it comes to being forced onto Windows 11, Linux is gaining as a realistic alternative thanks to support from Valves SteamOS. That would hit Windows right in its comfy spot as the de facto home of PC gaming, to say nothing of a broader shift towards mobile hardware and OS-agnostic web tools.

Microsoft is merely the most likely candidate for a new owner of Chrome, according to my reckoning. Other tech giants  Apple, Amazon, Meta/Facebook, you know, all the other companies that would love to make those same monopoly swings  could win a bidding war. Or Google could simply shut down Chrome, if thats an option, and take a big hit to its bottom line simply to deny its competition that opportunity.

If that happens, some other browser (very likely a continuation or fork of Chromium) will take its place. And thats fine by me.
Okay, is someone messing with me? This is the second day in a row Ive spotted a company putting weird crap into their newest monitor designs. Yesterday it was Lenovo, who put an AI NPU into a monitor. But at least that one matches up with current tech trends. Now Im seeing that Asus has stuck an air purifier into a PC display. What?

According to the press release, the VU Air Ionizer series of monitors comes in 24-, 27-, and 34-inch sizes, all of which include an air ionizer in the back. Maybe I should let Asus do the talking here, since Im way out of my depth when it comes to copy that reads like it was lifted from Sharper Image but I digress.

The screens themselves are pretty basic, with IPS panels, 100Hz refresh rates, and standard 1080p resolution on the smaller models. The 34-inch VU34WCIP-W has a slight curve and a USB-C connection. More detailed specs werent provided, but in keeping with the general feel-good vibe, the monitors retail packaging can be re-folded into cardboard phone and laptop stands, a file holder, and a desk organizer box.

A box that can be repurposed as a box. Will wonders never cease? Asus

Incongruous combinations seem to be a trend with Asus, who recently released a mouse that doubles as an air freshener. And unlike Lenovos weird motorized AI monitor, these screens appear to be headed for sale, though the press release doesnt mention a release date or price.

Alright, Ill be generous and consider how this might make sense. I suppose if you live in a small apartment and you want an ionizer, but you cant spare even a cubic foot or two for it, then integrating it into your desk setup might appeal. Just dont expect an OLED panel or a super-fast gaming refresh rate at the same time  after all, convergence devices always come with compromises. (I think Id prefer one of these OLED monitors with a fancy Wi-Fi antenna.)

Lets go for a three-peat. Tomorrow I want to write about an Acer monitor that doubles as carbon monoxide detector. Fingers crossed.
For years, Windows users have complained about ads touting Microsoft services, showing up in various places. Now the alarm bells should be seriously ringing: Microsoft has publicly disclosed plans for monstrous ads within Copilot, as well as a roadmap to what appears to be AI-driven advertising, too.

Last week, Microsofts advertising blog outlined what it called the future of audience engagement. And you already know what that is: AI. Microsoft believes that not only will generative AI provide a more natural interface for users to shop, but agents will assist them. It gets worse: Brands may even deploy their own agent AI, too.

We are committed to helping brands create agents and making it easy to connect them to our audiences, Microsoft wrote, via Windows Central. As the first step in this journey, we are launching a pilot product that enables brands to create smart, AI-based agents on their websites.

Imagine if a website could talk? Microsoft suggested.

Microsoft Advertisings new digital ad format plants ads right next to a Copilot window. Microsoft

Its hard to say whats worse: having a virtual version of Elon Musk knock on your virtual screen and offer to help buy you a Tesla, or just a giant ad pop up once you start digging around for the best EV available. But thats coming, too.

Microsoft now says that it has two new ad formats, entirely designed with Copilot in mind, it said. These ads are interactive in nature, adapting to each user input.

The first is what Microsoft calls an Advertising Showroom ad, which appears nothing more than a giant ad alongside a Copilot text box.

For example, if a user starts asking questions to Copilot about a particular product and expresses purchase intent, they may be invited to enter a Showroom ads experience, Microsoft says. Here, rich sponsored content complements the organic experience, helping to showcase the product benefits as people ask Copilot more questions. This immersive environment allows users to interact with products in a way that closely mirrors the experience of visiting a physical showroom. In the future, the experience will be even richer, as brand agents will be integrated into the Showroom ads allowing people to engage directly with a virtual brand representative.

Suggested ads within Copilot would dynamically create new ways to shop, Microsoft believes. Microsoft

Microsoft is also testing dynamic filters, which apparently is designed to narrow down a search to something you can buy: This feature removes the friction of typing additional questions and quickly narrows down options that are more likely to drive conversions based on an individuals preferences, Microsoft said.

But it appears that advertisers wont even have to buy ads. Instead, Microsoft will create them, just for you! Microsoft has started to create what are known as Dynamic Seach ads, using queries as a basis to crate ads. In the future, Microsoft says, the company will personalize ads, such as location and seasonal events, specifically for each users context.

Time and again, weve written features that show you how to turn off ads within Windows. But Microsofts new vision for the future of ads  start chatting with Copilot, and a digital gremlin will show up, pushing you to buy the latest sneaker, cereal, or credit card  sure doesnt seem to be consistent with what Microsoft has said before. Save us, ad blockers!
March is Womens History Month, highlighted by International Womens Day on March 8.

Fine Wine & Good Spirits sent out a digital packet at the beginning of the month highlighting the women making waves in the wine and spirits industry around the globe while offering unique products and cocktail recipes inspired by these female trailblazers.

It included the following:

Featured Products and Recipes

Spring Fling Fine Wine & Good Spirits

Lynchburg Lemonade Fine Wine & Good Spirits

Women in the Wine & Spirits Industry

Barton & Guestier - Veronique Florentin, Provence Winery Manager and Winemaker

Veronique Florentin Fine Wine & Good Spirits

Florentin has a background in agricultural engineering and oenology from SUPAGRO Montpellier. She began her career in the Aude region, overseeing grape supply and winemaking processes, before moving to Beaujolais to manage wine purchases and partnerships. In 2007, she joined Listel as a quality control manager and soon took charge of the cellar and bottling operations. Since 2015, she has been responsible for two vinification and bottling centers in the Cotes de Provence region, playing a key role in winemaking and production management.

Buck Shack (Shannon Family of Wines) - Angie Shannon, Proprietor

Angie Shannon Fine Wine & Good Spirits

Founded in 1996 by Clay Shannon in Lake County, California, Shannon Family of Wines is dedicated to sustainable viticulture, managing over 2,000 acres with high-elevation vineyards on ancient volcanic ridges. With a strong commitment to environmental stewardship, the estate has transformed 1,000 acres into a regenerative organic farming system. Among their wines is Buck Shack, inspired by a restored 100-year-old skinning shed called Ye Old Buck Shack, which embodies the wild spirit of Lake County.

Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi - Genevieve Janssens, Winemaker Emerita

Genevieve Janssens Fine Wine & Good Spirits

Janssens is a highly respected winemaker who has played a significant role in the legacy of Robert Mondavi wines, including Woodbridge. She was the director of winemaking at Robert Mondavi Winery for many years, followed by Chief Winemaker, shaping the brands quality and vision. While primarily associated with the premium Napa Valley wines, her expertise extended to ensuring excellence across all Mondavi labels. Her leadership upheld Robert Mondavis philosophy of crafting approachable, high-quality wines, including the widely available Woodbridge line.

McBride Sisters Collection: Founders Robin McBride and Andrea McBride-John

Robin McBride and Andrea McBride-John Fine Wine & Good Spirits

Raised among the vines of Monterey, California, and Marlborough, New Zealand, the McBride sisters path to winemaking was destiny at work. The sisters were raised across the world from one another, but Robin and Andreas love affair with wine was planted within them at an early age, growing up in two of the most iconic wine-growing regions. In 2005, when the sisters were together, fueled by a shared passion for wine, winemaking and a desire to shake up the industry, that the McBride Sisters Collection was born. McBride Sisters has grown into not only the largest Black-owned wine company in the U.S. but one of the most inclusive, accessible, socially aware and sustainable. The signature McBride Sisters Collection wines are direct reflections of the terroirs of their youth, with flavors designed for all palates. The Black Girl Magic Collection, Robin and Andreas personal ode to their culture and story, is inspired by the magic and resilience of Black women, to be enjoyed by all.

Viarae Prosecco: Founder Issa Rae

Issa Rae Fine Wine & Good Spirits

Rae is the creator and star of the Peabody award-winning, Emmy-nominated and Golden Globe-nominated series, Insecure, and also the founder of multi-faceted media company, HOORAE. Her unique flair and infectious sense of humor weaved into the Black stories shes brought to life on screen has made her one of the biggest and most loved stars in Hollywood. Beyond her creative endeavors, Issas love for Prosecco is no secret. Whether celebrating milestones or simply unwinding after a long day of work, Prosecco has been Issas signature drink both on and off the screen. Issa Rae created Viarae Prosecco to celebrate good times and great friends no matter the occasion.

21 Seeds Infused Tequila - Kat Hantas, Nicole Emanuel, and Sarika Singh, Founders

Sisters Kat Hantas and Nicole Emanuel and their friend Sarika Singh Fine Wine & Good Spirits

21 Seeds is a fruit-infused tequila brand founded by sisters Kat Hantas and Nicole Emanuel and their friend Sarika Singh. Hantas, a former film producer, created the brand after experimenting with tequila infusions in her kitchen, seeking a smooth, flavorful alternative to beer and wine. Emanuel, with a background in finance, saw the potential in her sisters idea and joined forces to build the business. Singh, an engineer and product innovator, brought her expertise in consumer goods to help develop and scale the brand. Together, they launched 21Seeds with a mission to offer a high-quality, approachable tequila that inspires social connection, using real fruit infusions in flavors like Valencia Orange, Cucumber Jalapeno, and Grapefruit Hibiscus.

Hendricks Gin - Lesley Gracie, Master Distiller

Lesley Gracie Fine Wine & Good Spirits

Gracie is a pioneering figure in the spirits industry, known for her innovative approach to gin-making. Fascinated by botanicals from an early age, she pursued chemistry and later worked in pharmaceuticals before joining William Grant & Sons in 1988. Tasked in 1999 with creating an ultra-premium gin, she developed Hendricks unique infusion of rose, cucumber, and 11 botanicals. Over two decades, she has continued to push boundaries with experimental flavors and limited-edition releases. Recognized as Gin Distiller of the Year in 2018, she also received a Lifetime Achievement Award and was inducted into the Gin Magazine Hall of Fame in 2021.

Jack Daniels - Lexie Phillips, Assistant Master Distiller

Lexie Phillips Fine Wine & Good Spirits

Phillips collaborates with master distiller Chris Fletcher on whiskey innovation, brand education, and distillery tours. She holds a degree in agricultural science from Middle Tennessee State University and previously worked in quality control and distillery operations. As one of the few women to have served as a distillery operator, she is passionate about inspiring future female distillers. A native of Estill Springs, Tennessee, she has deep family ties to the distillery, with over 20 relatives working there, including her husband, Josh. She enjoys Jack Daniels neat but adds ice on hot days.

Michters Distillery - Pam Heilman, Master Distiller Emerita, and Andrea Wilson, Master of Maturation

Pam Heilman Fine Wine & Good Spirits

Heilman is the first woman to hold the title at a Kentucky Distillers Association distillery since Prohibition. Before joining Michters, she spent nearly 15 years at Beam Global, Inc., where she managed whiskey production at the Booker Noe Distillery, the worlds largest bourbon distillery at the time, in Boston, Kentucky. She worked closely with former Master Distiller Jerry Dalton and is recognized as one of Americas most talented distillers.

Andrea Wilson Fine Wine & Good Spirits

Wilson is the master of maturation and the chief operating officer at Michters, overseeing barrel specifications, aging processes, and whiskey innovation. She was the first woman to chair the Kentucky Distillers Association and has played a vital role in the whiskey industry. Before joining Michters, she spent over a decade in key leadership roles at Diageo, including director of distillation and maturation for North America. Holding a Master of Chemical Engineering from the University of Louisville, she was featured in the KET documentary Kentucky Bourbon Tales and was inducted into The Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2022.

Elizabeth McCall Woodford Reserve

Woodford Reserve - Elizabeth McCall, Assistant Master Distiller

McCall is the master distiller for Woodford Reserve, overseeing quality and innovation and leading special releases, including the Masters Collection and Distillery Series. She is a Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS). She has a masters degree from the University of Louisville and began her career as a member of Brown-Formans Research and Department in 2009. McCall was a master taster and assistant master distiller before being named master distiller in February 2023. She interacts one-on-one with consumers through personal barrel selections and education on sensory methodology and works to define the quality sensory standard to which every batch of Woodford Reserve must comply. Elizabeth and her husband, Matt, have two children and a dog, Beasley.
It certainly wasnt what she ordered.

A cop in Michigan is suing a local Taco Bell, claiming one of its employees spit in her food.

News Channel 3 reports how Maccah McGhee  who serves as a deputy in Calhoun County  had ordered a potato bowl during her lunch break on Sept. 10, 2024 at a location in Albion when she noticed something slimy on her food. The food was served by Governor Cameron-Wayne Stovall, who has been named in the lawsuit filed in Calhoun County Circuit Court along with Border Foods, the Minnesota establishment owns and operations the restaurant.

The same News Channel 3 articles notes how McGhee initially alerted the Taco Bells manager, who stated it was just sour cream. But after contacting the Albion Department of Public Safety, she managed to conduct a DNA test on the substance.

According to Wide Open Country, Stovall denied spitting on the food but gave contradictory statements to police: First, he said that the substance simply looked like water and he served it without any other thought. Then he stated he might have accidentally sneezed on the food.

News Channel 3 states that no clear motive was immediately given for Stovalls actions outside that he must just  in the words of the complaint  have disdain for law enforcement.

This conduct by the employee  conduct which was subsequently attempted to be defended by the restaurants management  has caused [McGhee] persistent damages including but not limited to emotion distress, loss of enjoyment, and impairment of quality of life, the lawsuit reads.

The lawsuit is looking for at least $5 million on the grounds of emotional distress, mental anguish and financial loss. Stovall also faces a felony charge of violation food law, and is set to appear in court on Aug. 5.
They're creepy and gross, but they're harmless (and they're not locusts). (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) AP

Cicadas are juicy, red-eyed bugs that emerge in writhing masses every once in a while.

And one of the largest cicada broods around will emerge in certain places of the U.S. this spring. Pennsylvania is one of these said places.

According to CicadaMania.com, Brood XIV (14) will grace 13 states this upcoming spring season, Pennsylvania among them. Theyll also pop up in Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

This brood involves all three 17-year species, the site explains: Magicicada septendecim, Magicicada cassini, and Magicicada septendecula.

The University of Connecticut explains that Brood XIV is, in fact, the second largest periodical brood there is. Brood XIX is the largest.

Periodical cicadas are found in eastern North America and belong to the genus Magicicada, explains the University of Michigan. There are seven species  four with 13-year life cycles (including one new species described in 2000), and three with 17-year cycles.

The three 17-year species are generally northern in distribution, while the 13-year species are generally southern and midwestern. Magicicada are so well-synchronized developmentally that they are nearly absent as adults in the 12 or 16 years between emergences.

They also may be called locusts, but theyre not, the University of Michigan adds. Additionally, while theyre certainly freaky-looking, theyre harmless to humans (and even nutritious).

Brood XIV is expected to emerge around mid-May. This emergence will end late June.
By COREY WILLIAMS, The Associated Press

Four people have been charged in the death of a 5-year-old boy who was killed inside a pressurized oxygen chamber that exploded at a suburban Detroit medical facility.

Thomas Cooper from Royal Oak, Michigan, was pronounced dead at the scene. His mother was standing next to the chamber and suffered injuries to her arms when it exploded Jan. 31 at the Oxford Center in Troy.

Online court records show the centers founder and chief executive, Tamela Peterson, is charged with second-degree murder.

The other defendants are Gary Marken, 65, and Gary Mosteller, 64, charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter; and Aleta Moffitt, 60, charged with involuntary manslaughter and intentionally placing false medical information on a medical records chart.

Arraignments were scheduled Tuesday afternoon in Troy District Court, Lt. Ben Hancock said. The case is being prosecuted by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and details were expected to be released during a late morning news conference.

Here's what a hyperbaric chamber looks like. This one was at the Oxford Center in Brighton, Mich., in 2024. (David Guralnick/Detroit News via AP, file) AP

Raymond Cassar, Markens attorney, said the second-degree murder charge comes as a total shock to him and his client.

For fairness, he is presumed innocent, Cassar said. This was a tragic accident, and our thoughts and our prayers go out to the family of this little boy.

I want to remind everyone that this was an accident, not an intentional act. Were going to have to leave this up to the experts to find out what was the cause of this.

Moffitts lawyer, Ellen Michaels, declined to comment before Tuesdays arraignment. The Associated Press left a telephone message Tuesday morning seeking comment from Petersons attorney. An attorney was not listed for Mosteller.

A voicemail was left seeking comment from an attorney representing the Oxford Center. The AP also left a message seeking comment from the center.

The Oxford Center had said in an email following the explosion that a fire started inside the hyperbaric oxygen chamber.

The Detroit Free Press said the boy was being treated for ADHD and sleep apnea.

The safety and well-being of the children we serve is our highest priority, the center said. Nothing like this has happened in our more than 15 years of providing this type of therapy. We do not know why or how this happened and will participate in all of the investigations that now need to take place.

Hyperbaric therapy increases delivers pure oxygen to a persons body inside the pressurized chamber. Thats up to five times the amount of oxygen in a normal room, Troy Fire Lt. Keith Young said following the explosion.

The presence of such a high amount of oxygen in a pressurized environment can make it extremely combustible, Young said. We did some initial investigation. This is very uncommon, so were not sure what led up to it.
By David Bauder, The Associated Press

A columnist who has worked at The Washington Post for four decades resigned on Monday after she said the newspapers management decided not to run her commentary critical of owner Jeff Bezos' new editorial policy.

It breaks my heart to conclude that I must leave, Ruth Marcus, who has worked at the newspaper since 1984, wrote in a resignation letter.

Her exit is the latest fallout from the billionaire owners directive that the Post narrow the topics covered by its opinion section to personal liberties and the free market. The newspapers opinions editor, David Shipley, had already resigned because of the shift.

The storied newspaper has been in a free fall, financially and editorially, over the past year. Marcus, who worked in the news and opinion departments during her career, is the bedrock of The Washington Post, embodying the history of the place as well as the talent and accomplishments of its journalists, said Paul Farhi, a former media reporter there.

Marcus said that the Posts publisher, Will Lewis, declined to run her column, which she described as respectfully dissenting from Bezos' edict. It was the first time in nearly 20 years of writing columns that shes had one killed, she said.

The decision underscores that the traditional freedom of columnists to select the topics they wish to address and say what they think has been dangerously eroded, she wrote. Her resignation letter was first reported by The New York Times.

A Post spokesperson said Monday that were grateful for Ruths significant contributions to The Washington Post over the past 40 years. We respect her decision to leave and wish her the best.

Is it unusual for a publisher to strike down a news column?

While Bezos and Lewis have the right to make such decisions  theyre the bosses  that has not been the tradition, Farhi said. He likened it to how the Justice Department, while technically under White House control, has generally operated independently. Editorial writers and columnists, paid to give their opinions, usually decide what to write, he said.

The danger is that a decision by the publisher not to allow a column to go forward can make readers question whether the viewpoints of writers are truly their own, he said. Worse yet, it could taint the news department, which by most accounts is aggressively covering the new administration.

Shortly after the editorial page decision was announced nearly two weeks ago, another Post story on the issue, by media columnist Erik Wemple, was scrapped, according to the Gene Pool, a blog written by former Post writer Gene Weingarten. Wemple declined comment on Monday.

In January, editorial cartoonist Ann Telnaes resigned after her work depicting Bezos and other billionaires genuflecting before a statue of President Donald Trump was rejected, a decision Shipley explained at the time was because it was repetitive of other opinion pieces.

Under executive editor Matt Murray, the Post has also said it would refrain from having its journalists write about issues involving the newspaper, a decision Wemple said in a chat with readers in January that I couldnt possibly dissent (from) more strongly.

The Posts opinion section on Monday included an editorial opposing Mexicos $10 billion lawsuit against firearms manufacturers, a case before the U.S. Supreme Court. Columnists Max Boot wrote about Trump and Russia, Perry Bacon Jr. about Democratic resistance to Trump centering in the states, Phillip Bump on whether Trump would pay a political price for unpopular policies and Jim Geraghty about violence in Syria.

Post has seen an exodus of prominent journalists

The Post, which made money during the first Trump administration, has been losing money in recent years and its internal strife largely began last June, when Sally Buzbee resigned as executive editor rather than accept a newsroom reorganization. Several prominent Post journalists  among them Ashley Parker, Josh Dawsey, Philip Rucker, Matea Gold, Jackie Alemany, Michael Scherer and Will Sommer  have left for other jobs.

Bezos' decision last fall that the Post would not endorse a presidential candidate  after the editorial staff had prepared to support Democrat Kamala Harris  led to an exodus of subscribers that the newspaper is fighting to recover from.

Marty Baron, the Posts executive editor when Bezos bought the paper in 2013, wrote last week in the Atlantic that Bezos handled his ownership admirably for more than a decade. But his courage failed him when he needed it the most.

Marcus' resignation on Monday overshadowed a newsroom reorganization plan introduced by Lewis, including separating workflows for the Posts digital and print products.

David Bauder writes about media for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social
From the top of a building, Kanon Kennedy, of Washington, looks down at the Black Lives Matter mural as demolition begins, Monday, March 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) AP

By Ahraf Khalil and Jacqueline Martin, The Associated Press

WASHINGTON  Starlette Thomas remembers coming down almost daily to the intersection of 16th and H streets, to protest police brutality and systemic racial iniquities during the summer of 2020.

On Monday, the 45-year-old Bowie, Maryland resident returned to the site of those protests to mourn the end of Black Lives Matter Plaza.

I needed to be here today. I cant just let this go away, Thomas said, as jackhammers began tearing into the giant yellow letters in the street. Thomas discretely secured a chunk of pavement and said holding it made her feel conflicted.

To walk away with a piece of that, it means its not gone, she said. Its more than brick and mortar.

Crews started work Monday to remove the large yellow Black Lives Matter painted on the street one block from the White House. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the change last week in response to pressure from Republicans in Congress. The work is expected to take about six weeks and the words will be replaced by an unspecified set of city-sponsored murals.

The painting of those words was an act of government-sponsored defiance during President Donald Trumps first term. The removal amounts to a public acknowledgement of just how vulnerable the District of Columbia is now that Trump is back in the White House and Republicans control both houses of Congress.

Bowser, a Democrat, ordered the painting and renamed the intersection Black Lives Matter Plaza in June 2020. It came after days of chaotic protests at that location following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer; Bowser had clashed with Trump over her handling of the protests.

With the White House in the background, demolition begins on the Black Lives Matter mural, Monday, March 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) AP

But now Bowser has little power to fend off encroachments on D.C.s limited autonomy. Bowser said last week on X that, The mural inspired millions of people and helped our city through a painful period, but now we cant afford to be distracted by meaningless congressional interference. The devastating impacts of the federal job cuts must be our number one concern.

Among those who gathered to witness the work Monday was Megan Bailiff, CEO of Equus Striping, the pavement marking company that originally painted the letters.

Bailiff called the dismantling of Black Lives Matter Plaza historically obscene and said its presence was more significant at this very moment than it ever has been in this country.

The far right celebrated the shift online, with conservative provocateur Charlie Kirk visiting the site to hail, the end of this mass race hysteria in our country.

In Trumps second term, Bowser has worked to avoid conflict and downplay any points of contention. She traveled to Mar-a-Lago in Florida to meet with Trump after the election and has publicly emphasized their points of agreement.

Tears roll down the face of Starlette Thomas, of Bowie, Md., as she holds a chunk of pavement from the Black Lives Matter mural, Monday, March 10, 2025, as the mural begins to be demolished in Washington. "I needed to be here to bear witness," says Thomas, who was present at the 2020 George Floyd protests. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) AP

Trump recently revived a frequent campaign talking point about wanting a federal takeover of the nations capital, describing Washington as being riddled with crime, graffiti and homeless encampments. Bowser has refused to comment on reports that the White House is preparing an executive order targeting Washington. She publicly said that the greatest threat to the so-called Home Rule autonomy was some of the people in Congress.

Congressional Republicans have repeatedly threatened to interfere in city affairs in large and small ways. A measure currently before Congress, named the BOWSER Act, seeks to completely revoke the Home Rule Act of 1973, which grants the capital city limited autonomy.

Associated Press journalists Nathan Ellgren contributed reporting.
ELKO  Rural health care is a key component of the University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicines focus.

Gerald Ackerman, assistant dean of Rural Programs with the universitys medical program, said UNR extends its medical resources to rural areas like Elko, even into Elko High School.In the past, we started a rural residency that was based in Nevada Health Centers. Its not here anymore because of the hospital pulling its funding  but we have the Nevada State Office of Rural Health, he said.

We support a statewide rural EMS conference. We are actually working with about nine rural hospitals on recruitment, retention and financial support of rural hospitals. We have something called a Rural Hospital Flexibility Program, that we work with on quality assurance measures for our small critical-access hospitals and quality assurance measures, Ackerman said.

We have something called Project ECHO Nevada, where we do continuing education to rural healthcare providers around the state and theyre able to do consultation with specialty teams, he added.

Ackerman said the university has a state loan-repayment program for med students called the Nevada Health Service Corps.

We help assist hospitals in recruitment of healthcare professionals, including physicians, PAs, nurse practitioners, nurses  and we help pay their loans off to come into the rural communities, Ackerman said.

We also have something that we coordinate and collaborate with called the Rural Recruitment and Retention Network, which is a national free service for rural areas, for facilities and healthcare providers, he said. We work with our rural hospitals in posting jobs and then also work with healthcare providers in matching and finding jobs.

He said his rural focus also tries to increase the number of students who come from rural Nevada to the medical school.

Because of some of our efforts, the number of rural medical students have increased. Upwards of 17% to 18% of our class is now rural students, Ackerman said.

Our office assisted in helping to begin a physician assistant training program, which is specifically out of UNR. We assist in grant writing and partnering in grants just this year for something called Rural Health and Network Development Grants, he said.

We provide opportunities for both medical residents, medical students, physician assistant students and other students to do training in the rural communities, he added. As part of the Frontier Area Health Education Center program, each of our fourth-year medical students are required to do a monthlong rural rotation in a rural community.

While UNR no longer runs a rural residency program in Elko, the office assisted in bringing the rural residency training program that is also in Winnemucca.

He explained how the universitys Frontier Area Health Education Center assists with recruiting for the rural Nevada health industry. We have an active program with Elko High School called the Aspire Program, to work with high school students to prepare them to go to college and hopefully into healthcare professions, he said.

As you know, it takes more than one health professional to provide services, he said. So, we do something called interprofessional education, or Scholars Program, which works with teams of students to provide them education. A physician, a student whos in medical school, can work with nursing students who can work with speech pathologists. That provides them those opportunities while theyre in school, so that when they come out, they can work in todays healthcare environment, which is more team-based healthcare than it is just physician-led.

Ackerman said funding is a recent concern. I dont know how many calls Ive gotten with questions about cuts with federal dollars that may be coming down. As you know, in Nevada, we rely a lot on federal dollars with some of the things that we do in our healthcare environment, he said.

Pending Medicaid cuts, if those things happen, are going to impact our rural hospitals. Medicaid Managed Care being implemented in rural Nevada is a big one thats going to start this next year, which has not been in rural Nevada before, Ackerman said.

Also, he said, another challenge is our baby boomers are aging and we have fewer people to take care of those baby boomers.

Through Nevada Health Service Corps, we used to be unique in offering loan repayment. There are so many loan repayment programs now that its become pretty competitive to just get those few providers, he said.

We continue to expand the number of medical school spots that we have in this state. But at least for physician care, a lot of what happens after medical school and medical residencies are important to capture those students, Ackerman said.

Were putting a lot of money into their undergraduate medical education, because once they graduate medical school, theyll go into a residency anywhere from three years to seven or eight years, depending on their specialty, he said. So, we have to increase that number of slots in Nevada. Were not training them in an undergraduate education here and then sending them off to another state to do a residency program, hoping that they return.
FILE - Student negotiator Mahmoud Khalil is on the Columbia University campus in New York at a pro-Palestinian protest encampment on April 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, file) AP

By Jake Offenhartz and Philip Marcelo, The Associated Press

NEW YORK  President Donald Trump warned Monday that the arrest and possible deportation of a Palestinian activist who helped lead protests at Columbia University will be the first of many to come as his administration cracks down on campus demonstrations against Israel and the war in Gaza.

Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful U.S. resident who was a graduate student at Columbia until December, was detained Saturday by federal immigration agents in New York and flown to an immigration jail in Louisiana.

We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, Trump wrote in a social media post. We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country  never to return again.

But a federal judge in New York City ordered Monday that Khalil not be deported while the court considered a legal challenge brought by his lawyers. A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

Khalils detention drew outrage from civil rights groups and free speech advocates, who accused the administration of using its immigration enforcement powers to squelch criticism of Israel.

He is the first person known to be detained for deportation under Trumps promised crackdown on student protests.

Federal immigration authorities also visited a second international student at Columbia on Friday evening and attempted to take her into custody but were not allowed to enter the apartment, according to a union representing the student.

Khalil, 30, had not been charged with any crime related to his activism, but Trump has argued that protesters forfeited their rights to remain in the country by protests he claimed support Hamas, the Palestinian group that attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The U.S. has designated Hamas as a terrorist organization.

Protestors demonstrate and demand the release of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, Monday, March 10, 2025, outside the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) AP

Khalil and other student leaders of Columbia University Apartheid Divest have rejected claims of antisemitism, saying they are part of a broader anti-war movement that also includes Jewish students and groups. But the protest coalition, at times, has also voiced support for leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, another Islamist organization designated by the U.S. as a terrorist group.

The U.S. Education Department on Monday warned some 60 colleges, including Harvard and Cornell, that they could lose federal money if they fail to uphold civil rights laws against antisemitism and ensure uninterrupted access to campus facilities and education opportunities. The Trump administration is already pulling $400 million from Columbia.

A group of Columbia faculty members expressed concern Monday that Khalils detention was intended to suppress free speech by students and staff who are not U.S. citizens.

The attack on Mahmoud Khalil is intended to make them quake in their boots, and to make all of us quake in our boots, said Michael Thaddeus, a Columbia math professor. Our message to Washington is that we are not silenced, we are not afraid, and we stand together, determined to defeat this ongoing assault on our fundamental rights.

In their legal complaint, Khalils attorneys accused the government of retaliating against him for his constitutionally protected advocacy on behalf of Palestinian human rights.

Typically, the government has to meet a higher bar to expel a person who has permanent residency in the U.S., like showing someone has been convicted of a serious crime.

Born in Syria to Palestinian parents, Khalil entered the U.S. to attend Columbia in 2022. He subsequently got married to an American citizen, who is now eight months pregnant.

Khalil emerged as one of the most visible activists in large protests at Columbia last year, serving as a mediator on behalf of pro-Palestinian activists and Muslim students. That role put him in direct touch with university leaders and the press  and drew attention from pro-Israel activists, who in recent weeks called on the Trump administration to deport him.

A protester raises signs during a demonstration in support of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil outside Columbia University, Monday, March 10, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) AP

He took a public facing role, and now hes being targeted for speaking to the media, another student protester, Maryam Alwan, told The Associated Press.

More recently, Khalil faced investigation by a new disciplinary body set up at Columbia University, which sent him a letter last month accusing him of potentially violating a new harassment policy by calling a school official a genocidal dean online.

Khalil told The Associated Press last week that he served as a spokesperson for protesters but did not play a leadership role.

They are alleging that I was the leader of CUAD or the social media person, which is very far from reality, he said, using the acronym for Columbia University Apartheid Divest.

Khalil received a masters degree from Columbias School of International and Public Affairs last semester. He previously graduated from the Lebanese American University in Beirut with a computer science degree and worked at the British Embassy in Beiruts Syria office, according to his biography on the Society for International Developments website.

A few hundred protesters rallied near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Manhattan on Monday to demand Khalils release.

By arresting Mahmoud, Trump thinks he can strip us of our rights and strip us of our commitment to our people, Ibtihal Malley, a New York University student, told the crowd. To that we say: You are wrong.

FILE - Pro-Palestinian demonstrator Mahmoud Khalil, second from left, debates with a pro-Israel demonstrator during a protest at Columbia University, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File) AP

Back on campus, Columbia sophomore Pearson Lund was among those who found the potential stripping of Khalils green card concerning.

At what point does this process stop? the physics student said as he entered campus through a security line guarded by city police officers.

Associated Press writers Cedar Attanasio in New York and Collin Binkley in Washington contributed to this report.
Elon Musk flashes his t-shirt that reads "DOGE" to the media as he walks on South Lawn of the White House, in Washington, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) AP

Elon Musk and DOGE have been busy cutting federal jobs since President Donald Trumps second term began, and if seeing folks lose their livelihoods bothers you there might be good news.

Might be.

Because a plan of having DOGE turn some of its claimed government savings into dividend checks to return to the American people has been flirted with. It began on social media as a pitch from Azoria investment firm CEO James Fishback.

USA Today wrote that Musk, whom the Trump administration argued in court does not actually work for DOGE, responded to Fishback on X, Will check with the President.

Such payments would, perhaps, provide tangible evidence for Americans of the money saved. Without that, it appears, the cuts are coming hard and fast with no planned return to the taxpayer.

Trump weighed-in on the proposal, too.

Theres even under consideration a new concept, where we give 20% of the DOGE savings to American citizens, and 20% to paying down debt, Trump said while speaking recently in Miami.

But if you are sitting home, with your bank account on E, getting excited about a potential influx of cash  Fishbacks proposal reportedly calls for $5,000 payments  you might be in for some bad news. And that is because, if your bank account is really on E, theres a good chance you dont make enough to actually get a DOGE check  if they ever actually do go out  under Fishbacks plan.

And that is because, per Newsweek, Fishbacks proposal calls for payments to only go out to households that are net-payers of federal income tax. That means, per Newsweek, only folks who pay in more taxes than they get back would be eligible for the stimulus payments. And, the site said, most Americans who have an adjusted gross income of less than $40,000 per year effectively pay no federal income tax.

So, poor folks are not in the current plan, per Newsweek.

And if you consider yourself in that group, dont worry. Again, there is no guarantee at the moment that anyone is getting a stimulus check from DOGE so theres still a solid chance that no money goes out at all.
Jamie White, who worked for the controversial InfoWars site, was killed Sunday night in Texas, according to multiple reports.

InfoWars founder Alex Jones said Monday that White was a reporter for his network and site, and told his viewers that he was brutally murdered.

Jones blamed George Soros, Austins District Attorney and Democrats for Whites death, although he didnt exactly explain why or how they were responsible.

Reports stated that police said the incident took place in a residential neighborhood of South Austin Sunday night. Austin Police said they arrived on the scene at around 11:59 p.m. to find an adult male with obvious signs of trauma. He was reportedly transported to the hospital where he later died.

His death is being investigated as a homicide.

Jones said Monday on air that White worked on Sunday before he was killed.
Former President Barack Obama talks with President-elect Donald Trump before the state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter at Washington National Cathedral in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) AP

Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and Jennifer Aniston is the rumor that just wont die, and if you dont know what that rumor is  good for you.

That means you probably dont invest a ton of time on social media, and these days that is not such a bad thing. But if you do frequent social media, particularly Elon Musks X platform, you probably already know a little about where this is going.

And it is going there, again this week, because Michelle Obama and her new podcast is in the news. She reportedly talks about her marriage on that podcast, and, well, that has folks talking about her marriage again, too, particularly the rumors that she and former president, Barack Obama, are on their way to splitting up. The other half of that rumor, of course, is that the former president is set to leave Michelle because he has been in a relationship with Aniston.

It is a rumor that was born more than a year ago and has popped up again from time-to-time since. Thus far, and this cant be stressed enough, there is no evidence to support that there is any truth at all to it.

In fact, Aniston was asked about it during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmels show last fall, and she denied it.

Per PEOPLE Magazine, she was shown headlines on the show that included The Truth About Jen & Barack, which also said that Michelle Obama was betrayed as Aniston steals her husbands attention.

The tabloids said last year that Aniston and Obama are obsessed with each other.

So, what did Aniston have to say about that? Of all the calls you get from your publicist, where youre just like, Oh, no, whats it gonna be? Or the email saying, you know, some cheesy tabloid is gonna make up a story, and then its that.

Aniston told Kimmel she wasnt mad at it. And she was clear in saying the tabloid headlines are absolutely untrue.

I have met him once, she said. I know Michelle more than him.

So, how did these ugly rumors get revived? Well, Barack Obama attended the funeral of former president Jimmy Carter and the inauguration of Donald Trump by himself as Michelle sat things out. That appears to have gotten folks talking.

But former The View host Meghan McCain appears to have helped fan the flames, too, during a recent podcast.

McCain claimed that the Obamas live separate lives.

I have been hearing this rumor that the Obamas are getting a divorce by reputable people, McCain, the daughter of John McCain, said on Tara Palmeris podcast. Im not talking about TMZ. Im not talking about Perez Hilton, although I love him, hes my friend. Im talking about like very serious journalists telling me that theyre hearing that the Obama divorce rumors are true.

Palmeri said she had heard similar things, and added its not really surprising at this phase of their life.

And she clearly has very little interest  she has always hated politics! she said. She did not like being First Lady.

Palmeri also noted that the Obamas did share a photo on Instagram on Jan. 17 that appeared to show them at dinner for Michelles birthday.

Also, back on Valentines Day, Barack Obama shared a photo of himself alongside Michelle, his head pressed against hers, and smiling.

Thirty-two years together and you still take my breath away, Obama wrote. Happy Valentines Day, @MichelleObama!

Meanwhile, Michelle shared the photo to her Instagram stories and wrote, If theres one person I can always count on, its you @barackobama. Youre my rock. Always have been. Always will be. Happy Valentines Day, honey!

So, again, the rumors appear to be just that, rumors.
Former President Barack Obama, right, and former first lady Michelle Obama appear at the Obama Foundation Summit in Chicago in 2017. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File) AP

Michelle Obama is back in the headlines this week because she has an exciting new professional venture on the way  a podcast alongside her brother, Craig Robinson.

The New York Times was given the first two episodes of the podcast, called IMO, which stands for In My Opinion, and it gave a review. A tidbit in there, especially considering widespread rumors across the past year or so, caught plenty of folks eyes.

That tidbit?

Well, the former first lady and her brother talk about a wide-range of things including Robinsons divorce from his first wife and Michelle also reportedly discusses her marriage to former president Barack Obama, according to the Times.

That, of course, is interesting to a lot of folks because despite no real evidence to support it, the Obamas have been followed by a persistent rumor for more than a year that the former president is dating acting star Jennifer Aniston. That rumored relationship, as the story goes, means that the Obamas are on the verge of splitting up.

Again, theres no real evidence to back it all up, and the Obamas have been together for quite some time since the rumors first began to pop up.

The only person to really comment on it all has been Aniston, who was asked about it all during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! las year. Per PEOPLE Magazine, she was shown headlines that included The Truth About Jen & Barack, which also said that Michelle Obama was betrayed as Aniston steals her husbands attention.

Per PEOPLE, the tabloids have said that Aniston and Obama are obsessed with each other.

So, what did Aniston have to say about that? Well, she has heard about those headlines, too.

Of all the calls you get from your publicist, where youre just like, Oh, no, whats it gonna be? Or the email saying, you know, some cheesy tabloid is gonna make up a story, and then its that.

Aniston told Kimmel she wasnt mad at it. And she was clear in saying the tabloid headlines are absolutely untrue.

I have met him once, she said. I know Michelle more than him.

That hasnt deterred folks from continuing to give the rumor legs on social media, and neither has the Obamas appearing on social media together  including loving Valentines Day posts to each other  since.

So, there are plenty of folks who will be interested to see just how much Michelle opens up about her relaationship with Barack, and if she touches on any of the rumors that have followed them for more than a year.

The podcasts first episode is slated to drop on Wednesday.
Story by Halie Kines, Centre Daily Times (State College, Pa.)(TNS)

UNIVERSITY PARK  A new building on the University Park campus brings several academic units in the Penn State College of the Liberal Arts in one building, which has helped to boost collaboration among faculty while giving the college an updated facility for research and studies.

Construction on the Susan Welch Liberal Arts Building at 137 Fischer Road began in 2022 and opened to classes this semester, although some pieces are still working toward completion, such as the anthropology museum. When the board of trustees approved the project in 2022, the total cost was estimated to be $127.7 million, with most of the funding coming from the state, borrowing and capital reserves.

The building, named for the late Susan Welch, the dean of the college from 1991 until 2019, is the first new liberal arts building at University Park in more than 50 years. It serves as an innovative hub for social science teaching, research and outreach.

The 143,000-square-foot building brings several academic units, labs, centers, institutes and other learning spaces under one roof, its website states, including anthropology, political science, sociology and criminology, public policy, the criminal justice research center, the Matson Museum of Anthropology, the McCourtney Institute for Democracy, the Social Science Research Institute and general purpose classrooms.

The building is open, but the official ribbon cutting is scheduled for early May, so some are still in the process of moving in and getting settled.

Michelle Frisco, department head of sociology and criminology, said her department moved into the new building after being in an old building that had some environmental and structural problems. There were only six offices on each floor, so the faculty didnt get to see their colleagues very often, she said. Plus, their unit was the only one in the building so they didnt see other liberal arts colleagues.

Now were all on a common floor, the political science head and the school of public policy director and the anthropology director all in the same building with us, along with the social science research centers. Already, the collaboration and our ability to work together as units has  its remarkable the difference in community and collaboration and just new ways to think about teaching and connecting. Its been fabulous, Frisco said.

Take a look at some of what the new Susan Welch Liberal Arts Building has to offer below.

Classrooms

The building has general classrooms, which can be used for any class, not just those in the College of the Liberal Arts.

Some classrooms have a backpack, or a storage area, connected to it. A classroom primarily used for anthropology on the ground floor has a backpack connected that people can keep things like bones and archaeological artifacts in. Its secure and close to the classroom, so those items dont have to be carted across campus, Chris Hort, facilities manager for the College of the Liberal Arts, said during a tour of the building in late February.

An advantage of a brand-new facility as well, we can have all these valuable, high-security things right next to the room where theyre being used, Hort said.

The backpack has high-density storage that is set up so everything can easily be found and accessible, he said.

Common Spaces

Like most academic buildings, the Susan Welch Liberal Arts Building includes common spaces for students to hang out and study in. On the ground floor of the building is the Chaiken Family Atrium, named for Gene and Roz Chaiken, two huge benefactors to Penn State, said Bill Hessert, senior director of strategic communications for the College of the Liberal Arts. They donated the gift that made the naming of the Susan Welch Building possible.

While it is primarily space for students to use between classes, the space can also be used for receptions, Hessert said. If there is a lecture being held in a classroom on the ground floor, they can use the Atrium for a reception space.

That was one of the features that was a priority for this space was meeting space and places for collaboration for the students to gather, Hessert said.

The space is open and has a lot of windows that bring in natural light. The facility is LEED certified, Hort said, and part of that is having natural light in the space. The windows are bird-friendly, and theyre also working on planting vegetation that is native to Pennsylvania around the facility as part of the landscaping.

There are bike racks available and individual showers at the building as well to bring a health and fitness aspect into it. People who want to ride their bikes or walk/run to the building can do so and have an area to shower or change clothes. This is the first liberal arts building to have these types of facilities, Hort said.

Labs

The building includes several labs that are secure and require ID access to enter due to the nature of the work being conducted.

The anthropology lab, for example, deals with high-end lab work in areas like modern DNA research and biological anthropology. Previously, most of the lab activities took place in the Carpenter Building, Hort said, which was a dated facility that received many updates over the decades but was nothing like the level it is at the Susan Welch Building.

Truly a step up in terms of square footage and functionality, Hort said.

Some labs also include cold rooms, a walk-in chamber for research on materials that require a low temperature, another unique factor they didnt have before.

The college also didnt have an anatomy lab. The lab will be used with cadavers as part of coursework and programs. Each table has a screen to show what is on the table, which can then be broadcast to other screens around the room so everyone can see the work.

So lets say your group is here working on something and you have an amazing kidney size. Well, guess what? Hort asked. You can transmit that across the other screens and monitors and say, Look at what Im working on table one. Its really cool; I cant wait to see this.

Matson Museum of Anthropology

The Matson Museum of Anthropology will be the cornerstone of the building when it opens in May, Hessert said. The museum has anthropological collections and a variety of items that highlight the physical, social and cultural development of humans.

It was previously located on the second floor of Carpenter Building, which wasnt the best location, Hort said, but the Susan Welch Building gives it the space for all of the tools, cabinet displays and storage it needs. It also provides more outreach opportunities and things like field trips from local schools.

It is slated to be open May 1 as part of the buildings ribbon-cutting ceremony and open to the public beginning May 2.

The building also has storage for the museum collections, which are easily accessible. The items are cataloged and have bar codes, so it is easier to find things when updating and switching out displays.

Graduate Suites & Conference Rooms

Theres dedicated space for graduate students in each department, where they can hang out, have meetings and work on their studies and teachings.

Thats just a quality space. These students are working so hard to get their degree, their teaching support, research support for our faculty. This gives them a better space to do that, Hort said.

Separate conference areas are available for faculty to have meetings or host events.

Repurposed Wood

Before the building was constructed, the site was a surface parking lot with some old oak trees. They tried to keep what they could, but whatever they did have to cut down, they aimed to reuse.

Each floor has a feature wall made of repurposed white oak wood that was cut down when the site was cleared to start construction, Hort said. They kiln dried the wood for 60 days and brought it back to be repurposed.

I think thats such a neat story when you bring from the outside in, and all this is from the site, for the most part. So wherever you see this wood ... 90% (is from) right here, Hort said.

 2025 the Centre Daily Times (State College, Pa.). Visit www.centredaily.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Elandon Roberts is heading to the Las Vegas Raiders on a one-year, $3 million deal, according to multiple reports. After the Steelers signed Malik Harrison, it essentially shut off any avenue for the team to bring Roberts back, and now he heads to a new team.

Roberts had said he wanted to retire a Steeler, but it seems the Steelers wanted to go elsewhere in this free agency period. Harrison brings a ton of special teams value, and so the Steelers are paying for that as much as they are Harrisons run-down capabilities.

Roberts has played with the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins. He is a two-time Super Bowl Champion from his days in New England and had instilled a winning culture in Pittsburghs room as one of the few players on the roster who won a Super Bowl.

This clears the path for Payton Wilson to start in 2025 alongside Roberts. Cole Holcomb, who will return on a restructured contract, is likely be one of the top backups on the team.

The Steelers are set to have a solid linebacker room with the moves, but losing Roberts is a tough blow for someone who has been a steady producer for two seasons.
A report from the National Weather Service was issued on Tuesday at 8:16 a.m. for elevated fire danger until 7 p.m. for Westmoreland Ridges, Fayette Ridges and Higher Elevations of Indiana as well as Mercer, Venango, Lawrence, Butler, Clarion, Jefferson, Beaver, Allegheny, Armstrong, Washington, Greene, Westmoreland, Fayette and Indiana counties.

"A combination of dry and windy conditions this afternoon will create an elevated risk of wildfire spread across Central Pennsylvania. Minimum relative humidity values will range from 25 to 35 percent accompanied by wind gusts between 20 and 30 mph. Residents are urged to exercise caution if handling any potential ignition sources, such as machinery, cigarettes, or matches. If dry grasses and tree litter begin to burn, the fire will have the potential to spread rapidly. For more information about wildfire danger and wildfire prevention and education, please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website," says the weather service.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.
Ohio Poker Dealer Jason Saliba Pleads Guilty to Stealing Chips Out of Pots

Jon Sofen Senior Editor U.S. Copy link

Former JACK Cleveland Casino poker dealer Jason Saliba changed his plea on Tuesday to guilty on charges related to stealing chips out of cash game pots.

Saliba was charged in November with 14 casino gaming law violations, a fifth degree felony. He also faced a misdemeanor theft charge. The now fired Ohio casino employee originally professed his innocence, but the defense and prosecution have been discussing a plea deal for the past few months, according to the Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts.

Poker Dealer's Punishment

Saliba appeared in court Tuesday morning where he entered a guilty plea to nine gambling violations, a plea the court accepted. He was advised of his constitutional rights prior to doing so.

The Cleveland area resident will avoid jail time. He was informed of his non-prison sentencing, which includes minor fines and a lifetime ban from JACK Casino, which boasts one of the most popular poker rooms in the area. Saliba is also prohibited from contacting his former employer.

Saliba was indicted Oct. 28 after a player in the poker room noticed the dealer stealing chips out of a pot during a Sept. 6, 2024 low-stakes cash game. The patron then alerted poker room staff of this discovery. Casino staff reviewed surveillance footage which confirmed the player's accusations. The Ohio Casino Control Commission was then alerted and opened an investigation.

Staff watched additional surveillance footage and discovered five other instances where the poker dealer had apparently stolen chips from cash games. Investigators now say Saliba stole chips 14 times  hence, the 14 original charges  over a one-month period. But the amount of the theft was less than $1,000.

Ohio law states that a theft is classified as a misdemeanor if the amount stolen is under $1,000 and a felony if $1,000 or above. Saliba, who resides in a western Cleveland suburb, faced up to 12 months in jail for the felony charge and up to 180 days in jail for the misdemeanor charges, but the case closed with Saliba serving no jail time, the felony charge dropped, and counts 10-16 also being dropped.

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A Long March-3B rocket carrying a test satellite for communication technology blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, March 10, 2025.

Launched at 1:17 a.m. (Beijing Time), the satellite has entered the planned orbit, marking the success of the launch, according to the launch center. (Photo by Ma Wenbo/Xinhua)

XICHANG, March 10 (Xinhua) -- China sent a new test satellite for communication technology into space from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern Sichuan Province early on Monday.

The satellite was launched by a Long March-3B rocket at 1:17 a.m. (Beijing Time). It has entered the planned orbit, marking the success of the launch, according to the launch center.

The satellite will be mainly used to carry out multi-band and high-speed communication technology validation, said the center.

This launch was the 562nd mission of the Long March carrier rocket series. 

A Long March-3B rocket carrying a test satellite for communication technology blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, March 10, 2025.

Launched at 1:17 a.m. (Beijing Time), the satellite has entered the planned orbit, marking the success of the launch, according to the launch center. (Photo by Ma Wenbo/Xinhua)

Editor: JYZ
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.

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Aiken Standard reporter

Bill Bengtson is an Aiken Standard reporter and has focused since 1996 on such subjects as education, churches, retirees, agriculture, veterans, North Augusta, Fort Gordon and northern Aiken County. His start in South Carolina reporting was in Greenwood, with the Index-Journal. He is a native of Florence, Alabama, and a graduate of Whitman College and the University of Georgia.

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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 70%..

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 50%.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Tropical storm conditions possible. Rain diminishing to a few showers this afternoon. High near 85F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

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 50%.
Seth Taylor covers Greenville and the Upstate for The Post and Courier. Born in Iowa, he worked in Wyoming at the Buffalo Bulletin before moving to the Palmetto State.
Staff work at the secretariat of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 9, 2025. Chinese national lawmakers submitted 269 proposals to the country's annual legislative session as of Saturday noon, the deadline for proposal submission at the ongoing third session of the 14th NPC. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

BEIJING, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese national lawmakers submitted 269 proposals to the country's annual legislative session as of Saturday noon, the deadline for proposal submission at the ongoing third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC).

The secretariat of the session said on Sunday that it had also received over 8,000 suggestions from NPC deputies.

Among the proposals, 268 are related to legislative work and one concerns oversight work, the secretariat said. It added that the proposals primarily cover legislation in key, emerging, and foreign-related areas.

The suggestions cover a wide range of topics, including boosting consumption, promoting AI applications to drive economic growth, and protecting the rights and interests of private enterprises.

The secretariat is studying these proposals and will compile a report on the handling of the proposals to present to the session's presidium for deliberation. 

Staff work at the secretariat of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 9, 2025. Chinese national lawmakers submitted 269 proposals to the country's annual legislative session as of Saturday noon, the deadline for proposal submission at the ongoing third session of the 14th NPC.

The secretariat of the session said on Sunday that it had also received over 8,000 suggestions from NPC deputies. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Editor: JYZ
Kingstree, SC (29556)

Today

Cloudy early, then off and on rain showers for the afternoon. High 84F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Potential for heavy rainfall. Low 71F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
Mount Pleasant, SC (29464)

Today

Tropical storm conditions possible. Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. High 84F. 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%.
This photo taken on March 10, 2025 shows the Lufthansa service desk at the Frankfurt Airport in Frankfurt, Germany. Over 1,000 flights at the Frankfurt Airport have been affected as airport workers went on strike on Monday. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

FRANKFURT, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Over 1,000 flights at the Frankfurt Airport have been affected as airport workers went on strike on Monday.

Fraport, the operator of Frankfurt Airport, has asked originating passengers to refrain from going to the airport because all the flights departing from Frankfurt Airport have been canceled.

Connection flights will also be affected except for the "most essential airport services," according to Fraport.

Around 1,170 flights and 150,000 passengers are expected at the Frankfurt Airport on Monday when a strike has been called by the Verdi union, representing public-sector workers at various airports across the country.

The union decided to put on a 24-hour strike because the two rounds of negotiations between the union and employers failed to produce an agreement on the union's request for a pay rise and better working conditions, said Verdi in a statement.

The German airport association ADV estimated that over 3,400 flights would be canceled due to the strike and over half a million passengers would be affected. 

This photo taken on March 10, 2025 shows the empty departure hall of the Frankfurt Airport in Frankfurt, Germany. Over 1,000 flights at the Frankfurt Airport have been affected as airport workers went on strike on Monday. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

A passenger walks past screens showing flight information at the departure hall of the Frankfurt Airport in Frankfurt, Germany, March 10, 2025. Over 1,000 flights at the Frankfurt Airport have been affected as airport workers went on strike on Monday. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

People demonstrate at the Frankfurt Airport in Frankfurt, Germany, March 10, 2025. Over 1,000 flights at the Frankfurt Airport have been affected as airport workers went on strike on Monday. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

This photo taken on March 10, 2025 shows the empty departure hall of the Frankfurt Airport in Frankfurt, Germany. Over 1,000 flights at the Frankfurt Airport have been affected as airport workers went on strike on Monday. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

Passengers look at a display screen showing flight information at the departure hall of the Frankfurt Airport in Frankfurt, Germany, March 10, 2025. Over 1,000 flights at the Frankfurt Airport have been affected as airport workers went on strike on Monday. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

Editor: JYZ
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2025 / Legacy Professionals, a certified public accounting firm located in Chicago, IL, recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of certain individuals.WHAT HAPPENED?In April 2024, an unauthorized party accessed Legacy Professionals' computer system, resulting in unauthorized access to consumers' sensitive information, including names, financial account numbers, and Social Security numbers.On February 27, 2025, after completing an investigation of the incident, Legacy Professionals filed a notice of data breach and sent out data breach letters to those who were affected.WAS YOUR INFORMATION IMPACTED BY THE DATA BREACH?If you received a notice letter from Legacy Professionals, your information was impacted by the data breach.ARE YOU ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Companies that fail to secure personal data may be held liable and required to compensate data breach victims. Siri & Glimstad is actively investigating whether affected individuals may be entitled to compensation as a result of the Legacy Professionals data breach.WHAT SHOULD YOU DO NEXT?If you received a data breach letter from Legacy Professionals, contact Siri & Glimstad, a nationally recognized and trusted data privacy law firm that has recovered tens of millions of dollars for consumers. The firm's team of over 60 attorneys and other legal professionals has a winning track record in the data privacy space, holding companies accountable for lax data privacy practices, and securing compensation for millions of consumers.We work on a contingency basis, meaning we do not receive any payment unless we win for YOU!Remember, data breaches are serious matters that can result in long-term harm. Hackers and other third-party actors may use stolen information to commit financial fraud or other forms of identity theft. It is crucial that you do not delay. Contact us today.CONTACT INFORMATION: Siri & Glimstad LLP / Join Class ActionsNational RepresentationOffices in NY, NC, MI, CA, FL, AZ, & D.C.Main: 888-747-4529Text: 440-381-0338Ask for Jen MalainyEmail: databreach@ sirillp.comwww.sirillp.com SOURCE: Siri & Glimstad LLP
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2025 / Sunflower Medical, a medical facility located in Kansas City, KS, recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of more than 220,000 individuals.WHAT HAPPENED?From December 15, 2024 to January 7, 2025, an unauthorized party accessed Sunflower Medical's computer system, resulting in unauthorized access to consumers' sensitive information, including names, home addresses, dates of birth, driver's licenses, medical records, health insurance information, and Social Security numbers.On March 7, 2025, after completing an investigation of the incident, Sunflower Medical filed a notice of data breach and sent out data breach letters to those who were affected.WAS YOUR INFORMATION IMPACTED BY THE DATA BREACH?If you received a notice letter from Sunflower Medical, your information was impacted by the data breach.ARE YOU ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Companies that fail to secure personal data may be held liable and required to compensate data breach victims. Siri & Glimstad is actively investigating whether affected individuals may be entitled to compensation as a result of the Sunflower Medical data breach.WHAT SHOULD YOU DO NEXT?If you received a data breach letter from Sunflower Medical, contact Siri & Glimstad, a nationally recognized and trusted data privacy law firm that has recovered tens of millions of dollars for consumers. The firm's team of over 60 attorneys and other legal professionals has a winning track record in the data privacy space, holding companies accountable for lax data privacy practices, and securing compensation for millions of consumers.We work on a contingency basis, meaning we do not receive any payment unless we win for YOU!Remember, data breaches are serious matters that can result in long-term harm. Hackers and other third-party actors may use stolen information to commit financial fraud or other forms of identity theft. It is crucial that you do not delay. Contact us today.CONTACT INFORMATION: Siri & Glimstad LLP / Join Class ActionsNational RepresentationOffices in NY, NC, MI, CA, FL, AZ, & D.C.Main: 888-747-4529Text: 440-381-0338Ask for Jen MalainyEmail: databreach@ sirillp.comwww.sirillp.com SOURCE: Siri & Glimstad LLP
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New York, New YorkNEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2025 / Community Care Alliance, headquartered in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of more than 114,000 individuals.WHAT HAPPENED?Between July 1 and July 5, 2024, an unauthorized party accessed Community Care Alliance's computer system, resulting in unauthorized access to consumers' sensitive information, including names, addresses, dates of birth, medical data, health insurance information, and Social Security numbers.On March 7, 2025, after completing an investigation of the incident, Community Care Alliance filed a notice of data breach and sent out data breach letters to those who were affected.WAS YOUR INFORMATION IMPACTED BY THE DATA BREACH?If you received a notice letter from Community Care Alliance, your information was impacted by the data breach.ARE YOU ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Companies that fail to secure personal data may be held liable and required to compensate data breach victims. Siri & Glimstad is actively investigating whether affected individuals may be entitled to compensation as a result of the Community Care Alliance data breach.WHAT SHOULD YOU DO NEXT?If you received a data breach letter from Community Care Alliance, contact Siri & Glimstad, a nationally recognized and trusted data privacy law firm that has recovered tens of millions of dollars for consumers. The firm's team of over 60 attorneys and other legal professionals has a winning track record in the data privacy space, holding companies accountable for lax data privacy practices, and securing compensation for millions of consumers.We work on a contingency basis, meaning we do not receive any payment unless we win for YOU!Remember, data breaches are serious matters that can result in long-term harm. Hackers and other third-party actors may use stolen information to commit financial fraud or other forms of identity theft. It is crucial that you do not delay. Contact us today.CONTACT INFORMATION: Siri & Glimstad LLP / Join Class ActionsNational RepresentationOffices in NY, NC, MI, CA, FL, AZ, & D.C.Main: 888-747-4529Text: 440-381-0338Ask for Jen MalainyEmail: databreach@ sirillp.comwww.sirillp.com SOURCE: Siri & Glimstad LLP
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Bank has originated $185 million in solar lending in just two yearsORLANDO, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2025 / Climate First Bank ( www.climatefirstbank.com) , the world's first FDIC-insured digital community bank founded to combat the climate crisis, today announced it had reached the significant milestone of $1 billion in assets. This achievement, a combination of mission-driven banking and strong demand for renewable energy investments, underscores the bank's rapid growth and unwavering commitment to sustainability. Climate First Bank Climate First Bank LogoKen LaRoe, Founder of Climate First Bank, said, "Our rapid national growth is because of our commitment to fight climate change, not in spite of it. Across the country, individuals, homeowners and businesses are demanding renewable energy investments, especially solar. That demand will only grow in the years ahead. So let me be clear: we have seen incredible growth since we opened our doors three years ago, but we are only getting started." As other banks continue to back out of CSR and ESG commitments, Climate First Bank has stayed true to its mission and continues to be a proud member of the NetZero Banking Alliance, a global initiative aimed at aligning the banking sector with the goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.One of the key drivers of Climate First Bank's growth has been its innovative solar loan financing program. Through its fintech subsidiary, OneEthos, the bank has originated over $185 million in solar lending in just two years. This includes a groundbreaking national loan solution for Tesla's Solar Roof and Powerwall technologies, offering homeowners ethical and affordable financing options."Reaching $1 billion in assets is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, customers, and stakeholders," said Lex Ford, CEO of Climate First Bank. "We are excited to continue our journey towards creating a more sustainable future and positively impacting the communities we serve." About Climate First BankRecognized as the fastest growing new bank in America since 2009, Climate First Bank is the world's first FDIC-insured, values based, digital community bank founded to combat the climate crisis. A Certified B Corp, 1% for the Planet member and operationally net-zero since it opened its doors in June 2021, the Bank offers a complete, full-service portfolio of simple and easy-to-use traditional banking products powered by technology to meet the expectations of today's consumers. In addition to offering standard banking services, the company places a special emphasis on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and businesses committed to sustainability. Eco-conscious customers will find dedicated loan options for solar photovoltaic (PV), energy retrofits and infrastructure to help combat the climate crisis. The Bank reports annually on its impact in line with corporate social responsibility goals. Read the most recent Impact Reporthere . Member FDIC.For more information, please visit: www.climatefirstbank.com About OneEthosOneEthos is a Certified B Corp, mission-driven fintech company. The company operates at the intersection of financial technology (fintech) and traditional banking with the objective to accelerate the delivery of sustainable and inclusive financial services to all segments of the population. OneEthos is one of the only fintech companies specializing in climate finance in the United States and regulated by the Federal Reserve Bank. The company's mission is to enable Community Banks, Credit Unions, CDFIs, and Green Banks to grow their loan portfolios profitably and responsibly, providing access to banking products and services that have a positive impact on people, communities and the environment.For more information, please visit: www.oneethos.com Contact InformationJohn CollinsCollins Strategy Groupjohn@ collinssg.com (917) 496-4587Rachel KentMarketing Directorrachel.kent@climatefirstbank.com 5186693550SOURCE: Climate First Bank
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2025 / Community Care Alliance 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 Community Care Alliance.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On July 6, 2024, Community Care Alliance experienced a network disruption that affected its ability to access certain systems. Upon detection, Community Care Alliance launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. Through the investigation, it was determined that certain information may have been accessed or acquired by an unauthorized individual between July 1, 2024, and July 5, 2024. On or around January 8, 2025, Community Care Alliance 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: first and last name, address, date of birth, driver's license number, Social Security number, diagnosis/condition, lab results, medications, patient ID number, health insurance information, provider name, and/or other treatment information. On March 7, 2025, Community Care Alliance disclosed the breach to the Maine Attorney General's office, and, on March 10, 2025, began mailing notice letters to impacted individuals.Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY IMAY BE 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 Community Care Alliance, 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
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2025 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against FMC Corporation ("FMC" or "the Company") (NYSE:FMC) and certain of its officers.Class DefinitionThis lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired FMC securities between November 16, 2023 and February 4, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/FMC Case DetailsThe Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) the Company's channel management initiatives were not progressing as represented; (2) that, faced with pricing pressure, the Company had made the decision not to compete on prices and instead walk away from sales opportunities; (3) that, as a result, the Company had inflated inventory in the channels in "LATAM, including Brazil, Asia, including India, as well as Canada and Eastern Europe;" and (4) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.What's Next?A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/FMC.or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at332-239-2660 . If you suffered a loss in FMC you have until April 14, 2025, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.There is No Cost to YouWe represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & GrossmanBronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Follow us for updates onLinkedIn ,X ,Facebook , orInstagram .Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.ContactBronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Nathan Miller332-239-2660|info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / March 10, 2025 / Future Fuels Inc. (TSXV:FTUR)(FSE:S0J) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company entered into an independent marketing service contract (the "Agreement") with MCS Market Communication Service GmbH ("MCS") dated December 14, 2024. The engagement of MCS by the Company under the Agreement is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.Pursuant to the Agreement, MCS agreed to provide the Company certain marketing services and campaigns for a total fee of 250,000 EUR plus a one-time 16% agency fee, which will include, among other things, project management and consulting services for an online marketing campaign and its coordination, maintenance and optimization of AdWords campaigns, adaptation of AdWords bidding strategies, optimization of AdWords ads, AdWords keyword research and optimization, optimization action for different device types, and the creation and optimization of landing pages (the "Services").The initial term of the Agreement is for a period of 6 months (the "Term"), and the provision of Services began on January 7, 2025. The Agreement provides the parties an option to extend if mutually agreed to in writing at least five (5) business days prior to the end of the Term. The Agreement may be terminated at any time by either party with 30 days' advance written notice. The Company may also terminate the Agreement without notice in the event that MCS: (A) breaches any term of the Agreement, (B) neglects to perform the Services or any other duty to be performed by MCS under the Agreement, (C) engages in any conduct which is dishonest, or damages the reputation or standing of the Company, (D) is convicted of any criminal act, (E) engages in any act of moral turpitude, (F) files a voluntary petition in bankruptcy, or (G) is adjudicated as bankrupt or insolvent.MCS is a company based in Monheim am Rhein, Germany. MCS specializes in the management of online advertising measures, optimization of marketing campaigns, and advice on increasing the efficiency of advertising media and digital communication measures. Their services include planning and implementing marketing solutions and related business activities. MCS and its principal Monika Woeste are arms length to the Company and (to the best of the Company's knowledge) hold no interest, directly or indirectly, in the securities of the Company or any right to acquire such an interest as of both the date of the Agreement and the date hereof.About Future Fuels Inc.Future Fuels' principal asset is the Hornby Basin Uranium Project, covering the entire 3,407 km Hornby Basin in north-western Nunavut, a geologically promising area with over 40 underexplored uranium showings, including the historic Mountain Lake Deposit. Additionally, Future Fuels holds the Covette Property in Quebec's James Bay region, comprising 65 mineral claims over 3,370 hectares.On behalf of the Board of DirectorsFUTURE FUELS INC."Rob Leckie"Rob Leckie, CEO Tel: 604.681.1568The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service 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 contains forward-looking statements and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. 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. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include but are not limited to market conditions and the risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the Agreement, the Term, the Services and the anticipated benefits thereof, the Company's anticipated business and operational activities, and the Company's plans with respect to the Agreement and the Services. Factors that could cause actual results to vary from forward-looking statements or may affect the operations, performance, development and results of the Company's business include, among other things, the Company's ability to generate sufficient cash flow to meet its current and future obligations; that mineral exploration is inherently uncertain and may be unsuccessful in achieving the desired results; that mineral exploration plans may change and be re-defined based on a number of factors, many of which are outside of the Company's control; the Company's ability to access sources of debt and equity capital; competitive factors, pricing pressures and supply and demand in the Company's industry; and general economic and business. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law.SOURCE: Future Fuels Inc.
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2025 / As Atlanta-based Hop On A Cure heads into its fourth year as a leading non-profit in ALS research, the foundation - started by John Driskell Hopkins (founding member of GRAMMY Award-winning group Zac Brown Band) and his wife Jen, after John's own ALS diagnosis - has much to celebrate. As of February 2025, Hop On A Cure has given over $4 million in grants to research programs at notable hospitals across the country, including Houston Methodist Medical Center, Duke University Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital, as well as several university labs and independent programs, like ALS Therapy Development Institute, and ALS Cure Project. Hop On A Cure Logo Hop On A Cure logo in blue"To witness the growth of Hop On A Cure and the continued giving from sponsors, donors, and friends, has been overwhelming," said Hopkins. "Every dollar brings us closer to a cure, and we're beyond thankful for the support we've been shown up to this point. It's not lost on me that we wouldn't be nearly as far in some of these studies and trials as we are because of the generosity of those who give. We could never fully express our gratitude." Hop On A Cure kicked off 2024 with a $250,000 contribution to Project ALS. The funds have been divided between research initiatives for two new ALS drug candidates: Prosetin and the Paullones. Developed by Project ALS Therapeutics Core to treat all forms of ALS, Prosetin was engineered specifically to get into the brain and rescue ALS motor neurons. Hop On A Cure and Project ALS are partnering to mine additional patient data from the Phase 1 ALS trial of Prosetin (PRO-101) across Europe, Canada, and the United States. The paullones are a family of chemical compounds that leading researchers and doctors have wished to develop for ALS for over two decades. Having honed the paullones into soluble, orally available, brain penetrant compounds, Project ALS - along with Hop On A Cure - are supporting a pre-clinical push to optimize the top paullones performers and select a lead paullone compound to move forward toward ALS clinical trial.The organization also donated $300,000 in grant funding to ALS Finding a Cure and their Organoid/Assembeloid studies. The goal of this partnership is to establish methodic consistency between studies, allowing for consistency between studies, allowing for comparison and collaboration, as well as drug screenings that could ultimately lead to new therapies - and a cure - for ALS. Congratulations to The labs working on these studies: Dr. Joao Pereira ( UAB), Dr. Andras Lakato Univ of Cambridge, UK), Drs. Jimena Andersen and Jie Jiang (Emory), Drs. Daryl Bosco (U Mass), Oscar Liang (Drexel University) and Dr. Kornelia Szebenyi (HUN-REN Research Center for Natural Sciences, Hungary).2024 saw a second partnership with Massachusetts General Hospital - this time, Hop On A Cure donated $300,000 helping move forward the testing of a novel cell therapy for ALS in collaboration with the Massachusetts General Hospital's Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center and the Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS. The study will involve the infusion of B cells from closely-matched donors into patients with ALS. Two patients have already received this treatment under the FDA's expanded access program. HOAC grant money supports the preparation for a complete Phase 1 clinical trial at Massachusetts General Hospital, including the regulatory application to the FDA.In September, Hop On A Cure doubled down on its support of Duke University's Dr. Richard Bedlack. Previously awarded a $70,000 grant for his pilot trial to investigate the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of BL-001 probiotic in people with ALS, he was honored as the first recipient of Hop On A Cure's Accelerate a Miracle Project Award (AMP Award) during the organization's inaugural Harmony for Hope Gala. With that, an additional $50,000 was given to Dr. Bedlack and his team for their research.The organization capped the year with a $300,000 grant donation to Packard Center, supporting four critical research initiatives in the fight against ALS: Case Western School of Medicine Assistant Professor Aaron Burberry's study of the microbiome; Barrow Neurological Institute's Dr. Rita Sattler's study of communication between neurons in the brain; University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine's Dr. James Shorter and his study in reversing the aggregation of TDP43; and Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine instructor Jack Humphrey and his study to identify patient subsets and create a system to stratify data based on patients' genetic signatures. Hop On A Cure feels that the Packard Center's initiative to require collaboration between research entities is an important model that helps to advance the entire ALS scientific landscape.Additionally, Hop On A Cure issued a $250,000 grant in December to The ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) to support their work in identifying potential biomarkers of sporadic ALS by exploring Cryptic Exons. - It is a critical study, as roughly 85% of all ALS cases are sporadic, with no known history of the disease in the family.Already in 2025, Hop On A Cure has signed off on a $330,000 grant to local partner Emory ALS Clinic (also based in Atlanta). Using a new methodology called NULISASeq, the funding will go toward analyzing blood samples from a large group of people, comparing those to the protein biomarkers specific to people with ALS in the hopes of providing essential information for the design and execution of clinical trials and more individualized care.2025 has also seen a $100,000 grant to Dr. Feng Tian and his lab at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School. Dr. Tian's lab is exploring combinations of drug treatments. He utilized multiple unbiased genomic approaches combined with an advanced deep learning-based drug target mining tool to find the optimal combination of drugs that maximize the neuroprotection in ALS treatment. In particular, Dr. Tian's lab has found that concurrent inhibition of two neurodegenerative pathways, namely integrated stress response and neuroinflammation, can achieve a high degree of neuroprotection."We continue to raise money for research because ALS isn't incurable - it's underfunded," said Hop On A Cure CEO Nic Shefrin. "This isn't an if,' it's a when,' and the more people who support our work and spread awareness about the importance, the quicker we'll get to the day that a major breakthrough is made and ALS is no longer considered terminal." Contact InformationElise AndersonOwner, Elicity Public Relationselise@ elicitypr.com (615) 946-6055SOUR
Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders including Li Qiang, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng attend the closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisory body on Monday concluded its annual session, calling on political advisors to make new and greater contribution to advancing Chinese modernization.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders including Li Qiang, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng attended the closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Wang Huning, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, presided over the meeting.

Wang said the session has demonstrated the political strengths of the CPPCC and the vitality of whole-process people's democracy in China. Political advisors have expressed their commitment to further firming up their resolve and confidence in achieving greater success in socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, Wang added.

Wang urged the CPPCC to better fulfill its roles as the most inclusive patriotic united front organization, a key channel for practicing socialist consultative democracy and a specialized consultative body.

The CPPCC should keep enhancing its capacity for political consultation, democratic oversight, and participation in and deliberation of state affairs, Wang added.

He urged the political advisors to stay united and work harder to advance national rejuvenation through a Chinese path to modernization.

Monday's meeting approved four documents: a resolution on the work report of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee, a resolution on the report on how the proposals from political advisors have been handled since the previous annual session, a report on the examination of new proposals, and a political resolution on the third session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee.

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

Wang Huning, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, presides over the closing meeting of the third session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. Wang delivered a speech at the meeting. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Li He)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Li He)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Li He)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhou Dixiao)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Li He)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhou Dixiao)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhou Dixiao)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

The military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army performs at the closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

Journalists work at the closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

The closing meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) leave the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting of the third session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) leave the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting of the third session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) leave the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting of the third session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) leave the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting of the third session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) leave the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting of the third session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhou Dixiao)

Editor: GSY
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NEW YORK CITY, NY AND NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESS Newswire / March 10, 2025 /Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have untilMarch 18, 2025to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. (NYSE:IIPR), if they purchased the Company's securities between February 27, 2024 and December 19, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Innovative and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-iipr/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court byMarch 18, 2025 .About the LawsuitInnovative and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On December 20, 2024, the Company disclosed that on the previous day, PharmaCann Inc., the Company's tenant for eleven properties "which represented 17% of IIP's total rental revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024defaulted on its obligations to pay rent for the month of December under six of the eleven Leases, for properties located in Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. December rent, including base rent, property management fees and estimated tax and insurance payments, totaled $4.2 million for these six properties." On this news, the price of IIPR's stock fell fell $21.68 per share, or 22.73%, to close at $73.66 per share on December 20, 2024.The case is Giraudon v. Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc., No. 25-cv-00182.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. This past year, KSF was ranked by SCAS among the top 10 firms nationally based upon total settlement value. KSF serves a variety of clients, including public and private institutional investors, and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana, Chicago, New Jersey, and a representative office in Luxembourg.To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2025 / Hillcrest Convalescent Center 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 Hillcrest.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On June 27, 2024, Hillcrest became aware of a security incident on its network. Upon detection, Hillcrest 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 certain Hillcrest data. Hillcrest conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals. On February 13, 2025, Hillcrest identified persons whose sensitive data was included in the impacted data.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal and protected health information may have been compromised:name, Social Security number, address, date of birth, driver's license number, government issued ID number (e.g., passport, state ID card), financial information (e.g., account number, credit or debit card number), medical information (e.g., patient data, treatment information, health care provider information), and health insurance information. On March 4, 2025, Hillcrest filed a notice with the Attorney General of California 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 I MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATIONData 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 Hillcrest Convalescent Center, 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
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2025 / Freddie Macrecently 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
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 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
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 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 text investorinfo@ 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
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CINCINNATI, OH AND CHICAGO, IL / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2025 / NTT DATA Business Solutions, a global digital business and IT services leader, and SimpleFi Solutions, a powerhouse in enterprise planning, reporting, and financial consolidations (or "Enterprise Performance Management"), are joining forces to redefine how companies drive performance through data-driven decisions. This strategic partnership enables NTT DATA Business Solutions to extend its SAP Analytics Cloud practice with even more robust enterprise planning and analytics services, powered by SimpleFi's expertise and PlaniFi Application Suite. Together, NTT DATA Business Solutions and SimpleFi will offer an integrated approach that combines operational efficiency with financial insight, providing CFOs and finance teams a complete, end-to-end solution for managing and optimizing budgets, forecasts, consolidations, and performance reporting across the organization.This partnership uniquely positions NTT DATA Business Solutions and SimpleFi as the ideal solution for SAP-powered organizations looking to leverage their ERP foundation to achieve a new level of financial and operational agility. The combined expertise of NTT DATA Business Solutions in ERP implementation and SimpleFi in advanced analytics and consolidations is a synergy unmatched in the industry, bringing together the best of transactional and analytical technologies to serve forward-thinking businesses."We're thrilled to join forces with SimpleFi Solutions," said Steve Niesman, Executive Vice President & President Americas Region of NTT DATA Business Solutions. "At NTT DATA Business Solutions, we're dedicated to empowering our clients through SAP's transformative technology. With SimpleFi as our strategic partner, we can now offer a seamless solution that compliments robust ERP solutions with more powerful analytics, helping our clients not only manage but strategically grow their organizations in ways that were previously unattainable." In today's competitive landscape, companies are pushing beyond traditional ERP systems, recognizing that long-term growth requires optimized analytics processes that turn raw data into strategic foresight. SimpleFi, founded by CPAs and CFOs, brings technical acumen and industry insights essential for delivering these services. Their solutions are specifically designed to support CFOs in aligning financial operations with enterprise-wide objectives, ensuring faster, more accurate decision-making."Partnering with NTT DATA Business Solutions gives us a powerful platform to extend our impact," shared Jon Essig, CEO of SimpleFi Solutions. "We've always believed that financial analytics is the foundation for business growth. Now, with NTT DATA Business Solutions' extensive reach in the SAP ecosystem, we can help more organizations harness the true power of their ERP data to drive smarter, real-time decision-making across every function." "Our shared mission with SimpleFi is to elevate what companies can achieve with their ERP investments," said Theo Tavrides, Vice President, Strategic Partners & Alliances at NTT DATA Business Solutions. "This partnership redefines the boundaries of operational insight and financial planning, offering a dynamic, unified approach to enterprise analytics that sets a new standard in the SAP ecosystem." Henner Schliebs, EVP and Head of Growth at SimpleFi Solutions, reinforced the vision: "In today's data-driven world, CFOs are tasked with much more than reporting. They're now the architects of strategic planning and foresight. By partnering with NTT DATA Business Solutions, we're empowering CFOs with an unparalleled solution that brings together financial and operational data, enabling them to serve the entire organization with the insights needed to navigate an ever-changing landscape." As part of the broader collaboration, NTT DATA Business Solutions will leverage PlaniFi Applications, built on the SAP Analytics Cloud, to reimagine its own business forecasting, budgeting and reporting processes. This advanced solution will provide NTT DATA Business Solutions with a fully integrated business planning and reporting framework that initiates with financial reporting and statutory consolidations to capture the Americas' businesses, followed by HR planning, revenue and bookings forecasting, cost and contract planning, and ultimately capital planning."SimpleFi's PlaniFi Applications are bringing a new level of clarity and foresight to our business operations," said Jason Facer, Finance Head Region Americas, CFO USA at NTT DATA Business Solutions. "With this fully integrated planning process, we're not only enhancing our financial reporting and statutory consolidations but also unlocking forward-looking insights across key business areas, from HR and contract planning to capital investments. This strategic step ensures that NTT DATA Business Solutions can adapt proactively and drive sustained value creation." NTT DATA Business Solutions will utilize SimpleFi as their implementation partner and the PlaniFi Consolidations and Enterprise Performance Management applications within SAP Analytics Cloud to meet their growing business needs in the Americas."This marks an exciting evolution in our partnership," commented Steve Niesman. "With PlaniFi, our teams gain unparalleled visibility and control over every financial and operational decision, enabling us to be even more strategic and agile." Jon Essig added, "Our goal with PlaniFi is to revolutionize how businesses view and manage their financial health. We're excited to see this capability in action with NTT DATA Business Solutions, as they fully harness the SAP Analytics Cloud and our expertise in integrated business planning." "Our collaboration goes beyond client services," said Theo Tavrides. "By implementing PlaniFi Applications, we're creating a best-practice model that reinforces our own business operations with the same powerful solutions we're bringing to the market." Henner Schliebs concluded, "We believe that transforming internal planning and statutory consolidation processes within NTT DATA Business Solutions not only strengthens our partnership but also sets a new industry standard for strategic foresight and data-driven steering. PlaniFi Applications enable us to connect operational reality with strategic vision, making this partnership a true game-changer." No other alliance brings together ERP and Analytics with the depth, strategic insight, and technical expertise that NTT DATA Business Solutions and SimpleFi offer-an essential, powerful collaboration for companies focused on transforming their financial processes for competitive advantage.About NTT DA
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 10, 2025 /WHY: New York, N.Y., March 10, 2025. 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=33590or 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=33590call 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
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SCOTTSDALE, AZ / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2025 /Sibannac, Inc. (OTC PINK:SNNC), a Nevada corporation (the "company"), is strategically expanding into the high-growth wellness tourism sector with its Starwalker Journeys-a series of luxury, transformational retreats combining consciousness exploration, psychedelic wellness, and curated travel experiences. Partnering with William Henry , investigative mythologist and Ancient Aliens host, Sibannac is poised to lead the next wave of high-end wellness retreats.The Explosive Growth of Wellness & Psychedelic TourismAccording to the Global Wellness Institute , wellness tourism is expected to grow from $651 billion in 2022 to $1.4 trillion by 2027-nearly twice the rate of conventional tourism. With travelers seeking deeply immersive health and healing experiences, brands like Sibannac are perfectly positioned to capitalize on this trend.At the same time, psychedelic retreats are rapidly emerging as a dominant force in the wellness industry. A recent Vogue article reveals that luxury plant-medicine retreats are attracting an elite clientele-including CEOs, high-net-worth individuals, and wellness seekers-who are willing to invest thousands for guided, legal psychedelic experiences.Industry Insight: The average cost of a high-end psychedelic retreat ranges from $5,000 to $15,000 per guest, making it one of the most profitable wellness tourism segments. (Vogue)Market Expansion: The global psychedelic market is projected to grow from $3.8 billion in 2023 to $10.7 billion by 2027, driven by shifting regulations and rising demand. (Global Wellness Institute)Legalization & Accessibility: Countries like Costa Rica, Portugal, Peru, Mexico and Jamaica already allow use of some psychedelics like Ayahuasca and Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms) and have decriminalized others for personal use. In the U.S., Oregon has legalized Psilocybin through licensed centers, where over 8,000 people have already legally consumed psychedelic mushrooms in a controlled setting with great success. Colorado has passed similar legislation where Psilocybin centers will begin to provide mushroom journeys in 2025. Arizona has passed legislation to continue to study mushroom therapy and has approved MDMA, contingent upon FDA rescheduling."We are witnessing a complete shift in how people approach health, healing, and consciousness," said David Mersky, CEO of Sibannac . "Starwalker Journeys isn't just about travel-it's about transformation. We're providing a structured, high-end experience for seekers who want safe, expert-guided psychedelic wellness retreats in the most breathtaking destinations." Starwalker Journeys: Luxury Psychedelic Retreats Designed for GrowthBuilding on William Henry's extensive background in sacred travel, Starwalker Journeys is launching a strategic expansion of its curated retreats, focusing on high-revenue, immersive experiences in:Sedona, Arizona - A vortex of energy and spiritual transformation.Bozeman, Montana - Gateway to pristine nature and expansive consciousness work.Oregon - One of the first U.S. states to legalize therapeutic psilocybin experiences.Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru & Portugal (Planned Expansions) - International locations known for legal plant medicine retreats.What Sets Starwalker Journeys Apart?Legally Sanctioned Psychedelic Retreats - Offering regulated, expert-led plant-medicine experiences.Luxury Travel & Sacred Site Exploration - Exclusive, guided access to energetically powerful locations.Post-Experience Integration - Ensuring guests maximize personal growth after their journeys.Elite Membership Tiers - VIP clients receive priority access, premium content, and private consultations.A New Era in Consciousness & Wellness,Luxury Psychedelic Wellness Retreats Offer High-Growth Revenue Stream Amid Rising DemandUnlike traditional tourism, psychedelic wellness retreats offer a highly profitable model with low guest capacity but high per-person spending.A source article in Vogue from 2024, highlighted the high cost and exclusivity of psychedelic wellness retreats, making these retreats a premium, high-margin business model.Luxury psychedelic retreats typically range from a few thousand dollars to premium cost, average spending is $5,000 to $15,000+, per guest.Many retreats cater to high-net-worth individuals, CEOs, and wellness seekers willing to pay a premium for personalized, expert-guided plant medicine experiences.The global demand for psychedelic tourism is accelerating, with elite travelers seeking out scientifically backed, legally sanctioned retreats.Countries like Costa Rica, Mexico, Portugal, and Peru-where plant medicine retreats are legal-are becoming psychedelic tourism hotspots.Join the MovementStarwalker Cafe is now open for membership. Gain access to exclusive content, book upcoming retreats, and become part of a rapidly growing community of explorers.Visit Starwalker Cafe now: Starwalker CafeWatch our launch video:Stay tuned for more announcements as we expand our offerings and locations.About William HenryWilliam Henry is a visionary author, investigative mythologist, art historian, and TV presenter, renowned for uncovering the hidden threads connecting ancient wisdom, spiritual transformation, and the modern quest for higher consciousness. As a Consulting Producer and the spiritual voice of Ancient Aliens for 16 seasons, he has guided millions through the mysteries of otherworldly encounters, lost civilizations, and ascension sciences. Beyond television, Henry is a leading figure in consciousness exploration, hosting the Gaia TV series Ascension Keepers, The Awakened Soul: The Lost Science of Ascension, and Arcanum. His expertise has made him a sought-after speaker at global conferences, where he delves into the intersection of history, symbolism, and the future of human evolution. For decades, Henry has led transformational journeys to the world's most sacred sites, including Egypt, France, England, and Spain, helping seekers unlock ancient gateways to enlightenment. Now, he brings this wisdom to Starwalker Cafe, a groundbreaking multimedia and wellness platform created in partnership with Sibannac. Through exclusive content, immersive experiences, and plant-based journeys, Henry is pioneering a new era of spiritual discovery, conscious expansion, and integrative wellness.About MediaWorks 360As Starwalker Cafe's and Sibannac's platform operator, MediaWorks 360 will bring its innovative approach to membership management and digital brand expansion, helping to create a thriving community around consciousness exploration, wellness tourism,
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Call to Action: Join Open Class Action Against AbbVieCHICAGO, IL / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2025 / Recently, the Northern District of Illinois denied AbbVie's motion to dismiss a lawsuit alleging that AbbVie violated the Illinois Genetic Information Privacy Act ("GIPA").In Henry v. AbbVie, Inc. (N.D. Ill. Case No. 23-cv-16830), it is alleged that AbbVie improperly asked prospective employees about their family medical histories during pre-employment physical examinations. AbbVie moved to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that Mr. Henry failed to allege a violation of GIPA because family medical history was not genetic information. The Court disagreed with AbbVie and denied the motion, finding that family medical history was part of the definition of "genetic information," and if AbbVie asked for family medical history, that was sufficient to allege a violation of Section 25 of GIPA.The lawsuit seeks to represent all individuals who had a physical examination in connection with employment with AbbVie in Illinois in the past five years where family history was requested. Are you an Illinois resident who applied for a job at AbbVie? Did they ask you about your family medical history? If so, you might be entitled to compensation!WHAT IS GIPA?GIPA makes it illegal for an employer or prospective employer to ask about your genetic information, which as the Court in AbbVie found, includes medical conditions of a person's parents, grandparents, siblings, or other family members.ARE YOU ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?If you applied for a job at AbbVie in Illinois or were an employee in the past five years and were asked at an AbbVie physical examination about any medical conditions that your family has suffered, your rights to privacy of your genetic information may have been violated. Contact us today to see if you may qualify for compensation!CONTACT INFORMATION: Siri & Glimstad LLP / Join Class ActionsNational RepresentationOffices in NY, NC, MI, CA, FL, AZ, & D.C.Main: 888-747-4529 (Ask for Jen Malainy)Text: 440-381-0338Email: newintakes@ sirillp.comwww.sirillp.com SOURCE: Siri & Glimstad
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COLORADO SPRINGS, CO AND NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2025 /Tekumo Inc. (TKMO or the "Company"), a leading provider of innovative solutions for On-Demand field service delivery, is excited to announce the release of TekumoPRO Version 2.0. This newest version introduces a host of powerful features and enhancements designed to improve user experience and productivity.What is TekumoPRO 2.0?TekumoPro is the Onsite Field Service Industry's first Uber-like service delivery platform for installing, monitoring and maintaining smart and connected technologies. This platform enables customers to both "self-manage" and "insource" service providers on a single platform, ensuring a unified process and a streamlined data flow. By enhancing operational efficiency and visibility, TekumoPRO also contributes to a reduction in service costs.The platform provides real-time connectivity between the end-clients, the technical resources (both w2 and 1099), service managers, required parts and logistic vendors, eliminating layers of margin stacking with intelligent automation.Key Features and Enhancements:Automated Workflow:TekumoPro manages the entire service event workflow. Service event management is outside of simple marketplaces that only engage a technician, beyond tired FSM (Field Service Management) systems that only route internal resources and is a lot more than connectors that require costly customization. Tekumo is about "getting work done" and provides intelligent, automated lifecycle management across both your internal and external workforce.Dynamic Guardrails:TekumoPro offers systematic monitoring and alerts at various stages of the Work Order, managing technician time-to-task and other engagement parameters. Finally, the industry has a way to control the parameters that determine the total cost of delivery.Real-Time Communications:TekumoPro supports real-time communication between Client, Customer, Service Providers, Vendors and field technicians via bi-directional messaging and task integration that minimizes escalations and exceptions and ensures SLA alignment throughout the work order lifecycle. The combination of having all communication attached to the work order with real-time data gives users of the platform a complete understanding of everything going on in the field.Process Improvement:Data Science and Collaboration drive Field Delivery process refinement, increasing tech utilization and decreasing unbillable time across a Dynamic workforce that is optimized for internal and external resources.Three-Tiered Service Offering: TekumoPro provides a unified platform to manage all W2, Preferred Third Party Vendors and independent contractors. Service operations can deploy a three-tiered approach of self-managing work orders, adding as-needed support services (project managers, resource coordinators, technical support and field labor) with "Assisted Insourcing", or engaging fully "Managed Services" to provide flexibility and scalability without fixed costs."The professional services industry needs to change and Tekumo has set out to make that change happen", stated Strings Kozisek, Tekumo CEO. "There is no longer a need to rely on antiquated systems from the 1990's." Strings continued, "With the focus on getting work done, Tekumo brings total control of service delivery to all parties involved. We have proven that automation, AI, and real-time accessible data is more powerful and more effective at getting work done than the legacy requirements on a single vendor and the use of only W2 technicians. Simply put, we do it better and at a fraction of the cost." Availability:TekumoPRO, Version 2.0 is currently in Beta with several key clients. The full version will be rolled into production by the end of April 2025.About Tekumo:Tekumo offers an Onsite field services delivery platform that solves the "last-mile" of installing, monitoring, and maintaining technology systems and smart connected devices.We play at the intersection of several major trends: the "Uber-ization" of product and service delivery, the explosion of smart connected devices brought about by the "Industrial Internet of Things" (IIoT), the push of "Data-to-the Edge" and the AI revolution. Our Service Delivery platform is designed to intelligently automate the installation and maintenance of products by coordinating On-Demand local technician resources and service management with complete data visibility of service events.Tekumo caters for a broad range of technologies from POS systems, kiosks, digital menu boards, print services, cameras, cabling, Wi-Fi and networking, as well as smart homes devices, wearable sensors, and access control.Our platform results in "less people, less time and less cost" for our customers.Tekumo, Inc (OTC: TKMO) is an alternative reporting publicly held company that wholly-owns Tekumo LLC.Safe Harbor:When we discuss our strategy, plans, future financial and operating performance, or other things that have not yet taken place, we are making statements considered to be forward-looking statements under United States (US) securities laws.Forward-Looking StatementsAny statements made in this press release which are not historical facts contain certain forward-looking statements, as such term is defined in the Private Security Litigation Reform Act of 1995, concerning potential developments affecting the business, prospects, financial condition and other aspects of the company to which this release pertains. The actual results of the specific items described in this release, and the Company's operations generally, may differ materially from what is projected in such forward-looking statements. Although such statements are based upon the best judgments of management of the Company as of the date of this release, significant deviations in magnitude, timing and other factors may result from business risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, the Company's dependence on third parties, general market and economic conditions, technical factors, the availability of outside capital, receipt of revenues and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the company. The Company disclaims any obligation to update the information contained in any forward-looking statement. This press release shall not be deemed a general solicitation.Colorado SpringsPhillip Dignan, President & CFO719-793-4500 Investors@ Tekumo.com SOURCE: Tekumo, Inc
Metal structures have great potential in reconstruction projects and will help speed up the reconstruction process, Andriy Ozeychuk, director of Rauta, chairman of the board of directors of the Ukrainian Steel Construction Center association, told Interfax-Ukraine.

Metal structures have great potential for use during the reconstruction of infrastructure facilities, primarily bridges, and protection of the energy complex, Ozeychuk said.

According to him, partnerships with international companies will help promote the development of the Ukrainian construction sector, and it is possible to stimulate the market through government orders.

Ukrainian manufacturers of metal structures can be involved by foreign companies that are looking for local manufacturers to implement construction projects, since steel is the preferred material for construction in most EU countries, he explained.

The market for metal structures can also be significantly increased by programs for the modernization of logistics hubs, warehouses and industrial zones, as well as the active construction of modular housing and social facilities using steel solutions. The business is ready to offer innovative products for such reconstruction projects, the head of the association emphasized.

In particular, the technology of frameless buildings made of sandwich panels, for which Rauta received a patent in 2024, allows to build energy-efficient buildings in a matter of days. Such a solution can be used for the construction of individual residential buildings, quickly assembled cold storage rooms and cold storages, as well as other single-story residential and commercial buildings, Ozeychuk gave an example.

Rauta's comprehensive airtightness solution allows building owners to save up to 30% on their operating costs. The technology is based on the use of Ruukki Energy series sandwich panels and takes into account all possible elements to ensure the airtightness of the structure.

In 2023, Rauta developed a technology for erecting walls of multi-story residential buildings using sandwich panels instead of masonry made of artificial materials, which allows increasing the area of the sold premises by 4.5%, as a result of which the developer receives approximately 11% additional profit, the expert explained.
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Strategic merger strengthens market presence and optimizes operations under new brandPHOENIX, AZ AND CLEARWATER, FL / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2025 / In a significant step towards strengthening its market presence and optimizing operations, AmeriLife's Wealth distribution division announced today that its affiliates Unkefer & Associates, DFS Marketing (DFS), and AmeriLife Insurance Marketing (AIM) will now operate under the new name, Southwest Annuities Marketing (SAM).This strategic merger is designed to leverage these three leading organizations' collective resources and expertise, ensuring a more streamlined and efficient operation. The combined entity will be better positioned to deliver enhanced service and value to clients and stakeholders."This merger represents a strategic alignment to leverage collective resources and expertise to serve our clients and stakeholders," said Brian Peterson, President of Accumulation and Retirement Income Distribution (A&RI) for AmeriLife Wealth Group. "Aligned with the overarching vision of AmeriLife Wealth Group, this integration ensures cohesive leadership and operational strategies." Integrating Unkefer & Associates, DFS Marketing, and AmeriLife Insurance Marketing into SAM is a testament to the commitment of AmeriLife Wealth Group to cohesive leadership and operational excellence. Chad Hilkemeier, Principal of SAM, will lead the new organization, supported by a seasoned leadership team comprising of Gregg Griffin, Jeff Zwick, and Chris Fuhrer."Today marks a pivotal moment in our journey as we unite under the Southwest Annuities Marketing banner," said Hilkemeier. "By consolidating our strengths, we are poised to offer unparalleled service and innovative solutions to our clients. This merger aligns with our overarching vision to lead the industry in accumulation and retirement income strategies." Southwest Annuities Marketing will continue to build on the strong foundations laid by its predecessor organizations, focusing on innovation, client satisfaction, and market leadership. The new entity is committed to maintaining the high standards of service and integrity that have been hallmarks of Unkefer & Associates, DFS Marketing, and AmeriLife Insurance Marketing.About AmeriLifeAmeriLife's strength is its mission: to provide insurance and retirement solutions to help people live longer, healthier lives. In doing so, AmeriLife has become recognized as the leader in developing, marketing, and distributing life and health insurance, annuities, and retirement planning solutions to enhance the lives of pre-retirees and retirees across the United States. For over 50 years, AmeriLife has partnered with top insurance carriers to provide value and quality to customers through a distribution network of over 300,000 insurance agents, financial professionals, and over 160 marketing organizations and insurance agency locations nationwide. For more information, visit AmeriLife.com and follow AmeriLife on Facebook and LinkedIn.About Southwest Annuities MarketingSouthwest Annuities Marketing (SAM) is a leading provider of annuity and retirement income solutions, formed through the strategic merger of Unkefer & Associates, DFS Marketing, and AmeriLife Insurance Marketing. SAM is dedicated to delivering innovative financial products and services that help individuals and families achieve retirement goals. For more information, visit Southwest Annuities Marketing.Contact InformationJeff MaldonadoAmeriLife - Media Inquiriesmedia@ amerilife.com Alex HyerAmeriLife - Partnership Inquiriescorporatedevelopment@ amerilife.com SOURCE: AmeriLife
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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2025 / Coffee Republic, the premier coffee shop destination known for serving the finest beans, is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its newest location at 500 W Trade Street in Uptown Charlotte. This latest addition is set to bring Coffee Republic's unique coffee experience and a vibrant atmosphere to the heart of Charlotte, complete with outdoor seating and an engaging environment that celebrates art and music.Coffee Republic: Where World-Class Coffee Meets Local CharmNestled conveniently in Charlotte's Uptown, the new Coffee Republic location is not just a coffee shop but a destination. With its grand opening celebrations set to start on Saturday, March 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Coffee Republic at 500 W Trade Street promises to be a sanctuary for coffee lovers and culture enthusiasts alike. Customers can expect the same high-quality, in-house roasted beans that Coffee Republic has been celebrated for, along with a few surprises.Grand Opening and St. Patrick's Day CelebrationKick off your St. Patrick's Day celebrations early with the grand opening of Coffee Republic. The festivities will begin at 9 a.m. and run until 1 p.m., featuring a DJ to set the mood, cornhole for spirited competition, and more prizes to amplify the excitement. We encourage everyone to join in on the fun with festive attire and get their first beads at Coffee Republic to start their bar crawl in style.The first 50 customers will receive exclusive free gift bags containing tumblers and other unique Coffee Republic merchandise, a token of our appreciation for the community's support.About Coffee RepublicCoffee Republic is a testament to the passion for excellence in coffee and community connection. Locally owned and operated by Sean and Kalea Flynn, the couple's dedication to creating welcoming spaces for coffee aficionados and casual sippers alike has seen Coffee Republic grow to 11 bespoke locations strategically placed between Charlotte and Washington, D.C. This growth reflects the company's commitment to delivering exceptional service and top-tier coffee in a space that feels like home.Rooted in the serene Lake Norman area, Coffee Republic is a family business through and through. Sean and Kalea's vision has always been to weave the fabric of family values into the very essence of their coffee shops, ensuring that each location isn't just a place to grab a cup of coffee, but a cozy nook where relationships are nurtured over the shared love for java.Join Us for the Grand OpeningCoffee Republic extends an invitation to everyone in the Charlotte area to join us for the grand opening celebration and St. Patrick's Day festivities at our 500 W Trade Street location. Come for the coffee, stay for the atmosphere, and leave inspired.For more information about Coffee Republic and our new location, please visitcoffeerepub.com Contact:Sean Flynn | CEOsean@ coffeerepub.com| 8432007511Coffee Republic https://www.instagram.com/coffeerepublicnc/https://www.facebook.com/coffeerepubliccarolinas/https://linktr.ee/coffeerepub Contact InformationKalea FlynnManagerkalea@ sksholdings.com 2037685661SOURCE: Coffee Republic
PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-11 09:07:19

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / March 11, 2025 /Zeus North America Mining Corp. (CSE:ZEUS)(OTCQB:ZUUZF)(FRANKFURT:O92) (the "Company" or "Zeus") announces the Company has commenced drilling and exploration planning for the 2025 exploration and development season at the Cuddy Mountain project in Idaho, less than 3 km to the north of the Hercules Metals high grade copper-gold-silver porphyry discovery announced in October 2023.Highlights of the 2024 Exploration Program at Cuddy Mountain:Staked 19 additional BLM Lode Claims to cover areas underlain by the Seven Devils Volcanics, which host the neighboring Leviathan Porphyry Copper mineralization.Completed a property wide 3D-DCIP Induced Polarization ("IP") and Resistivity Survey using Dias Geophysical Ltd.Conducted a property wide Ground Magnetic Survey totalling 105-line km of high- resolution magnetic data.Collected 799 soil samples and 339 rock grab samples.Completed a property wide mapping campaign. The mapped stratigraphy within the Cuddy Mountain Property demonstrates that the same stratigraphic section exists with the Property as that shown-on Hercules drill sections which intersected porphyry mineralization.The Cuddy Mountain Property is adjacent to Hercules Metals Corp. ("Hercules") recently discovered Leviathan Copper Porphyry ($167M MC).* The discovery resulted in Major Mining Company Barrick injecting $23M in equity in to Hercules and staking a substantial land position in the district along with Major Mining Company Rio Tinto. The Cuddy Mountain Property consists of 101 lode mining claims respectively and cover a cumulative area of approximately 2020 acres.On February 20th, 2025 Hercules summarized recent drilling at their Leviathan Copper Property. The Highlights of which were as follows:HER-24-21 intersects 171m of 0.64% CuEq in volcanic host rock, within a broader intercept of 354m of 0.47% CuEq ending in a late porphyry.Highest grades occur in volcanic host rocks.New mapping and sampling demonstrate the host rocks transition to iron-rich volcanics and limestone in the Eastern Block and Southern Flats zones, conducive to significantly higher-grades.See Hercules' Press Release Here Dated February 20th, 2025.Furthermore, on March 4, 2025, Hercules showed their chargeability anomaly open to the northeast towards the Zeus Cuddy Mountain Property.See Hercules' Press Release Here Dated March 4th, 2025.Dean Besserer, President and CEO, stated, "Our 2024 exploration program data compilation is nearly complete, and we are excited to release our results and advance towards drilling in this highly prospective region. Hercules is planning an aggressive 2025 drill season and the team at Zeus looks forward to following suit in the near future." About the Cuddy Mountain Copper Property (Idaho, USA)The Cuddy Mountain Property is adjacent to Hercules Metals Corp recently discovered Leviathan Copper Porphyry ($167M MC).* The discovery resulted in Barrick injecting $23M in equity. The Cuddy Mountain Property consists of 101 lode mining claims respectively and cover a cumulative area of approximately 2020 acres.The Property is in Washington County, Idaho just 2.5 hours Northwest of Boise and readily accessible by road.Historical Drilling at Cuddy Mountain consisted of 7 shallow drill holes in 1977 intersecting anomalous lead and silver. Drill hole Mun 8 contained 90 feet of 2.02 oz/t Ag (Taylor, 1977). Further historical exploration on Zeus's Cuddy Mountain Project occurred at the Edna May Mine: Mineralized vein with chip samples containing 750 ppm ppm Pb, 7.7% Zn and 252 grams per tonne Silver over 4 feet. Underground drilling in 1979 intersected 1.38 oz/t Ag over 7 feet in a breccia zone (Burmeister, 1980). Additional exploration (By Taylor, 1977) at the Rockslide area encountered Malachite-stained outcrops with a grab sample containing 760 ppm Pb, 0.67 % Zn and 36 grams per tonne Silver (Taylor, 1977).*Adjacent Property ( www.herculessilver.com) *All information is derived solely from management of Zeus Mining and otherwise publicly available third-party information which are believed to be reliable, but which have not been independently verified by the Company and as a result are not guaranteed as to accuracy and completeness. Zeus's management cautions that past results or discoveries on properties in proximity to Zeus may not necessarily be indicative of the presence of mineralization on the Company's properties.Qualified PersonThe scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dean Besserer, P.Geo., the President & CEO for the company and Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101.On behalf of the board of directors."Dean Besserer"President and CEOFor more information, please contact the Company at info@ zeusminingcorp.com FOR INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT:Kin Communications Inc. Ph: 604-684-6730 ZEUS@ kincommunications.com About Zeus North America Mining Corp.The Company is in the business of mineral exploration. The Company is focused on its exploration properties in the state of Idaho known as the: Cuddy Mountain; Selway; and Great Western properties, respectively. The Idaho properties consist of 101 (Cuddy Mountain), 57 (Selway) and 38 (Great Western) lode mining claims respectively and cover a cumulative area of approximately 4,200 acres. The Company's flagship Cuddy Mountain Property is adjacent to Hercules Metal Corp's Leviathan Copper Porphyry discovery.Forward Looking StatementsWhen used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of their respective officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the parties can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements and information in this news release include, amongst others, the Company's exploration plans. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. There are risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks%
In a major stride toward fostering innovation and collaboration, the United Kingdom and Nigeria have officially launched the Creative Industries Technical Working Group, marking a pivotal development in the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP).

This partnership aims to deepen bilateral ties and create a robust framework for growth within the creative sectors of both nations.

The launch of this Working Group and a match-making event for UK-Nigeria creative industries leaders Tuesday in London, represents a milestone in the UK-Nigeria relationship, designed to boost innovation, cross-border creative collaborations, and drive sustainable economic growth and development.

Both events provided a dynamic platform to explore new opportunities and form commercial alliances within key creative subsectors such as film and TV, music, fashion & design, architecture, advertising, and gaming.

By prioritising collaboration and cultural exchange, the initiative is poised to foster long-term growth, enhance job creation, and unlock new pathways for creativity and innovation in both countries. A Terms of Reference and joint workplan for 2025 were also agreed upon to guide the groups focus and efforts.

Speaking on the significance of the launch, Florence Eshalomi, the UKs Trade Envoy to Nigeria and Co-Chair of the UK-NG Creatives Technical Working Group, remarked: Today marks a significant moment as we launch the UK-Nigeria Creatives Working Group. Our nations share a rich cultural bond and a deep belief in the transformative power of creativity, through music, film, fashion, and arts.

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This initiative, rooted in our landmark Enhanced Trade & Investment Partnerships (ETIP), will drive stronger trade ties, foster deeper collaboration, and unlock the full potential of our creative industries. By enhancing market access and investing in skills, we are opening doors to new opportunities that will create jobs and boost economic growth in the UK and in Nigeria.

Emphasising the need for deeper creative and cultural ties, Obi Asika, Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture and Co-Chair of the UK-NG Creatives Technical Working Group in Nigeria, said: Nigerias creative economy is a global force, driven by our storytellers, musicians, designers, and digital innovators. From Nollywood to Afrobeats, fashion to gaming, our industries are reshaping global culture and commerce. However, to unlock the full potential of this sector, we need strategic investment and support not just in talent, but in the institutions and infrastructure that will sustain long-term growth.

Representing Mr Asika from the Nigerian side, Baba Agba, Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on Creativity, underscored the importance of leveraging UK expertise for impactful collaborations: The UKs creative industries stand as a global benchmark for institutional excellence, market distribution, and innovation. We are eager to tap into your expertise for meaningful partnerships. This Working Group isnt just about discussions  its about taking concrete actions that will yield tangible outcomes for creators, businesses, and industry stakeholders on both sides.

Also speaking on behalf of the music industry, Adedayo Ayoade, Product Lead at Gbedu Labs, said: The future of Nigerias music industry lies in live experiences, innovation, and global collaborations. The launch of the Creative Industries Technical Working Group, under the ETIP framework, represents a significant first step towards bridging cultures and amplifying the voices of the next generation.

The launch of the working group and match-making event which took the form of a series of in person dialogues attended by officials from the UK and Nigerian

governments as well as creatives and served as an institutional framework for deliberations and actions.

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Nollywood actress Queeneth Hilbert has filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court, Lagos, seeking protection from arrest and prosecution by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

She alleges a violation of her fundamental rights and claims the police attempted to arrest her at the instigation of fellow actress Destiny Etiko.

Ms Hilbert filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit at the Federal High Court in Lagos, alleging that police officers attempted to unlawfully detain her on 8 March, at the instigation of Ms Etiko.

She claims the police actions violate her constitutional rights and are an abuse of power.

The suit stems from a now-deleted video on her Instagram page, wherein Ms Hilbert accused Ms Etiko of snatching her wealthy boyfriend and other colleagues benefactors, who allegedly sponsor their lavish lifestyles.

However, in response to the allegations, Ms Etiko, 35, issued a cease-and-desist letter through her legal representatives, Nwabundo Associates.

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Ms Etikos legal team gave Ms Hilbert 48 hours to retract the allegations and publicly apologise to their client.

They also demanded N100 million in damages for the harm the allegations caused to their clients reputation.

Ms Hilberts Suit

PREMIUM TIMES obtained copies of the court filings from her official Facebook handle on Monday. The suit, marked FHC/L/CS/453/25, names the IGP as the first respondent and Ms Etiko as the second respondent.

Ms Hilbert demands a court declaration that her arrest attempt and ongoing threats against her violate Sections 34, 35, 39, and 41 of the 1999 Constitution, guaranteeing human dignity, personal liberty, freedom of expression, and movement.

She is also seeking N100 million in damages for the alleged harassment and restriction of her movement.

Order

Ms Hilbert seeks a perpetual injunction restraining the police from arresting, interrogating, or detaining her over a statement she made on Instagram on 7 March.

She demands a declaration that an alleged home invasion by armed police officers at her residence in Asaba, Delta State, is a violation of her fundamental rights.

Order of perpetual injunction restraining all police officers under the control and command of the 1* Respondent or any Commissioner of Police of any states of the federation or any other Law Enforcement Agency from arresting, interrogating and detaining the Applicant in respect of the statement made against the 2 Respondent on her Instagram handle, she said.

Backstory

The legal battle stems from a long-standing feud between Ms Hilbert and Ms Etiko, dating back to 2020.

According to court documents, Ms Hilbert accused Ms Etiko of twice interfering in her romantic relationships.

She claims the first incident occurred in 2020 when her then-fiance, Tony Ujiagbedion, visited her on a movie set in Enugu.

Ms Hilbert alleges that Ms Etiko deliberately sought out Mr Ujiagbedion and later met with him privately, leading to the eventual breakdown of her engagement.

A second incident allegedly occurred in 2024 when Ms Hilberts new partner, Izuchukwu Callistus, lent N15 million to Ms Etiko.

Ms Hilbert claims that upon discovering this, she warned Mr Callistus to cut ties with Ms Etiko, fearing a repeat of her previous experience.

Ms Hilbert further alleges that Ms Etiko later conspired with an Instagram blogger, Ajemba Stanlelabellingze, to defame her by labelling her a drug addict.

She claims this social media smear campaign caused her to lose lucrative endorsement deals.

Allegations of police harassment

According to Ms Hilbert, the conflict escalated on 8 March, when she received a cease-and-desist letter from Ms Etikos lawyers, demanding she stop making public statements about their feud.

She said that same day, a police officer contacted her identified as Superintendent Paul, who summoned her to Abuja for questioning over allegations of cyberbullying made by Ms Etiko.

Later that night, she claims that armed police officers wearing hoods and wielding weapons arrived at her Asaba residence to arrest her.

However, Ms Hilbert, who had been tipped off, was reportedly at a neighbours house and avoided the confrontation.

From 8 to 10 March, Ms Hilbert alleges she received multiple threats, warning her to halt all film projects until she secured legal protection.

She says one direct message on Instagram warned her to avoid movie productions in Delta State.

Her lawyer, Ebinimi Beredugo, has described the polices actions as unlawful and politically motivated, urging the court to intervene and protect Ms Hilberts constitutional rights.

Ms Hilbert, who says she has since fled to Lagos for safety, argues in her affidavit that her freedom of expression, movement, and personal liberty will continue to be at risk unless the court intervenes.

She also claims she has suffered financial losses, having had to cancel multiple movie projects due to fears of arrest.

The case is expected to be heard at the Federal High Court in Lagos, though no date has been set.

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A Customary Court in Dawaki, Abuja, has ruled that no marriage existed between former Skye Bank chairman Tunde Ayeni and Adaobi Alagwu, despite the purported relationship allegedly producing a daughter.

In its judgment on suit FCT/CC/CV/DKDK, delivered on Tuesday, the court ruled Ms Alagwus claims to lack merit, citing statutory limitations under the Marriage Act.

The ruling came after Mr Ayeni sought legal confirmation that his alleged marriage to Ms Alagwu, an Abuja-based lawyer, was invalid.

How the case started

The case, which began on 26 February, centred on the legitimacy of a purported marriage.

Mr Ayeni contended that he never married Ms Alagwu and that any payments made were strictly for the child, following pressure from Ms Alagwus father.

He further argued that his existing marriage to Abiola Ayeni, solemnised in 1994 under the Marriage Act, rendered any alleged union with Ms Alagwu legally void.

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Ms Alagwu challenged the courts jurisdiction, arguing it lacked the authority to hear the case.

However, the court ruled otherwise, stating that the dispute was not between Mr Ayeni and his legally wedded wife but between him and Ms Alagwu.

It also noted that Ms Alagwu had admitted to returning the money paid under customary rites, nullifying any jurisdictional limitation claim.

Blackmail allegations and financial dispute

During court proceedings, Mr Ayenis counsel, Joseph Silas, argued that Ms Alagwu resorted to blackmail after Mr Ayeni withdrew a N5 million monthly allowance he had given her.

He also requested that she vacate a N400 million property in Jabi, Abuja, which she occupied.

Mr Silas asserted that Ms Alagwu continued to claim a marital relationship with Mr Ayeni despite having no legal or customary basis.

He urged the court to issue a pronouncement clarifying that no marriage ever existed between the two parties.

Paternity and DNA dispute

A significant point of contention in the case was the paternity of Ms Alagwus daughter, Omarosa.

Mr Ayeni denied fathering the child and called for DNA tests for Ms Alagwus other alleged partners.

His legal team accused Ms Alagwus father, a self-proclaimed high chief, of coercing Mr Ayeni into accepting responsibility for the child to avoid cultural disgrace.

Mr Ayeni alleged that the DNA test results presented by Ms Alagwu were fraudulent.

He claimed the test centre had denied issuing certain documents, raising doubts about the validity of the results.

According to Mr Ayeni, a second DNA test at an independent centre was proposed, but Ms Alagwu refused.

Speaking with journalists after the proceedings in February, Mr Ayeni, who attended the court session with his wife, said, The matter is about one rabble-rouser girl trying to malign me that she has a child for me. Initially, I took some responsible steps when I thought it was real. But later, I discovered that it was all a set-up. I, therefore, took immediate steps to reverse those steps.

The money I paid because of the child has been returned. I want a clear record to make it convincingly and unambiguously clear that there is no connection between me and the lady. Shes a gold digger but has met with the wrong person this time.

I brought her to court here so that matters are laid to rest once and for all. I have records of all the events, and we are ready to prove our case.

Courts judgement

The court ultimately ruled in Mr Ayenis favour, affirming that no marriage existed between him and Ms Alagwu.

It dismissed all of Ms Alagwus claims and upheld Mr Ayenis argument that his legally recognised marriage to Mrs Ayeni rendered any other purported marriage invalid.

Ms Alagwu, who missed multiple court appearances, had previously filed a jurisdictional challenge, arguing that the court lacked the authority to hear the case.

However, after reviewing both sides arguments, the three-member panel, led by Adlin Achoru, dismissed her objections and proceeded with the ruling.

Background

The case has been ongoing for months, with Ms Alagwu repeatedly missing court dates, citing medical reasons.

The controversy gained public attention following Mr Ayenis legal action to dispel rumours about his alleged second marriage and the blackmail allegations.

In his statement to the court, Mr Ayeni maintained that Ms Alagwus actions amounted to a campaign of blackmail and deception.

He urged the court to put the matter to rest, stating that his marriage, reputation, and financial resources had been targeted.

With the ruling now in Mr Ayenis favour, Ms Alagwu can appeal.

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The Russian Defence Ministry on Tuesday said that 337 drones were shot down overnight in what is believed to be the largest Ukrainian drone attack on Russia this year.

The ministry said 91 drones were shot down in the Moscow region alone, state news agency TASS reported.

Another 126 drones were destroyed over the Kursk region and 38 over the Bryansk region, both of which border Ukraine.

Russian officials said at least one person had been killed and three others injured in Moscow.

In the Moscow district of Ramenskoye, drone debris damaged at least seven apartments, prompting the evacuation of 12 people, including three children, the governor of the Moscow region, Andrei Vorobyov, said.

The information could not be independently verified.

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Earlier, the Russian aviation authority temporarily halted take-offs and landings at Moscows main airports Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky, citing security concerns.

The air traffic restrictions have also affected the airport in Nizhny Novgorod, located more than 400 kilometres east of Moscow.

Restrictions like these are frequently enforced at Russian airports following drone attacks from Ukraine.

The activation of Russias air defence systems often results in temporary halts to take-offs and landings.

For more than three years, Ukraine has been defending itself against Russias invasion with Western support.

It has repeatedly targeted sites within Russia as part of its ongoing defence efforts.

(dpa/NAN)

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Top Ukrainian and US officials are on Tuesday set to sit down in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in an effort to get Russias war against Ukraine stopped.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would not be there, though he was in the Gulf state on Monday to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, Defence Minister, Rustem Umerov, Presidential Office Chief, Andrii Yermak and his deputy Pavlo Pallisa will represent Ukraine, Mr Zelensky said.

On the US side, Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser, Mike Waltz, and special envoy Steve Witkoff, who have been working on the Gaza-Israel negotiations, are expected to attend.

The Ukrainians recently supported an initiative by French President Emmanuel Macron in favour of a partial ceasefire on airstrikes and attacks from the sea, which Russia rejected last week.

Kiev also wanted an exchange of all prisoners with Russia as a first step.

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Washington, on the other hand, wanted a quick and comprehensive ceasefire followed by elections in Kiev.

READ ALSO: Russia shoots down 337 Ukrainian drones in attack this year

Ukraine had been defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion for more than three years with western support.

Following a fractious meeting at the Oval Office on 28 February in which US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance castigated Mr Zelensky and called him ungrateful, Washington had paused arms deliveries to Ukraine and access to key intelligence information.

Mr Trump has been keen to get a minerals deal signed with Mr Zelensky, but the Ukrainian president has demanded security guarantees.

(dpa/NAN)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin was briefed on Ukraines overnight drone attack, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.

He added that the Russian armed forces did great job repelling the attack.

Earlier in the day, the Russian Defence Ministry said that Russian air defence systems had shot down and intercepted 337 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) over the countrys territory overnight.

Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that the largest attack of Ukrainian drones on Moscow had been repelled.

Russian Assistant Health Minister Alexey Kuznetsov said that a total of 18 people were injured, including three children, and two people were killed as a result of the attack.

Naturally, the commander-in-chief was reported about it.

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The Kiev regime does not abandon the practice of strikes, it is important to note, the Kiev regime is hitting social facilities, residential houses.

Our military and our air defence forces did a very good job. Let us hope that they will continue to do so, Mr Peskov told reporters.

(RIA/NAN)

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Suspected outbreak of Cerebrospinal Meningitis in Kebbi State has killed no fewer than 26 persons, according to the State Government.

The Commissioner for Health, Musa Ismaila, confirmed this during a press briefing in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.

Mr Ismaila said In week seven, we are saddled with unfortunate situation of outbreak rising number of cases more than usual, characterised with symptoms like fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, stomach ache, vomiting, diarrhoea and sensitive to light.

A total of 248 suspected cases was line-listed; 11 samples were taken and sent to National Reference Laboratory, Abuja for confirmation.

Two samples results turned negative from the national reference laboratory Abuja, one in Jega and another one in Gwandu LGAs. Nine samples results are pending from national reference laboratory, Abuja.

He said of the 26 deaths recorded, Gwandu recorded 15, Jega six, Aliero, four and Argungu one.

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Mr Ismaila noted that an advocacy visit to stakeholders was carried out in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO), Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), and UNICEF.

He added that the state government had released N30 million to purchase drugs and other consumables for the responsive activity to cushion the effect.

He also said that drugs had been distributed and other commodities to affected Local Government Areas.

Isolation centres were set up in Gwandu, Jega and Aliero, while, drugs and other consumables were also provided, he said.

The commissioner, then, called on the general public to comply with health instructions and report any suspected case to the nearest health facility for necessary action.

(NAN)

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Ukrainian cities of Kryvy Rih, Odesa, Kharkiv, and Mykolaiv face the greatest difficulties in preparing for the next heating season, primarily due to Russian attacks. These cities require maximum preparation for winter, says Oleksandr Kharchenko, Director of the Energy Research Center (ERA).

"A large part of the preparation for the next heating season falls on municipal authorities. For example, Kryvy Rih is in a catastrophic situation. I find it hard to imagine what can be done there in one season given the current state of affairs. Kharkiv and Odesa also require significant efforts and must be prioritized. Kryvy Rih, Odesa, Kharkiv, and partially Mykolaiv are facing severe challenges," Kharchenko said during a briefing at Ukraine's Media Center in Kyiv.

He explained that these cities' difficulties stem from the war, which has led to attacks on heating infrastructure, power generation facilities, and distribution networks. Therefore, efforts to restore these systems must be maximized.

Regarding other cities, Kharchenko noted that their situations are relatively stable, but most municipalities are well aware of their vulnerabilities. He stressed the importance of not relying on another mild winter like the last one and instead beginning preparations for the next heating season immediately.

In his view, Ukraine managed to get through the 2024/2025 winter relatively smoothly, with residential consumers largely unaffected by restrictions. This was mainly due to record-high temperatures and a substantial reduction in industrial electricity consumption.

"Warm weather and lower industrial electricity use allowed us to get through the heating season without major issues. In 2023, peak consumption reached 18 GW, whereas this winter, it did not exceed 16 GW," Kharchenko explained.

At the same time, he noted that outages were much more frequent in Kharkiv, Odesa, and Sumy regions.

Previously, on November 22, 2024, Ukraine's Ministry of Communities, Territories Development reported a critical heating crisis in Kryvy Rih. At that time, 934 residential buildings, home to 110,000 residents, as well as 11 healthcare institutions, 43 educational facilities, and a social welfare center were left without heat.

Later, law enforcement authorities opened a criminal investigation into the disruption of the heating season in Kryvy Rih. As of December 6, 2025, 443 residential buildings in the city still had no heat.

Meanwhile, in Odesa region, another Russian strike on March 6 left more than 10,000 households without power.
The Lagos State Government has confirmed 14 cases of Diphtheria at Kings College Annex, Victoria Island, with one fatality recorded.

In response, the States ministry of health launched an emergency vaccination exercise for students and staff members to curb the spread of the bacterial infection.

During a visit to the school on Tuesday, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi assured parents and the public that the situation is under control, noting that affected students were receiving appropriate treatment.

Mr Abayomi noted that 12 of the infected students are responding well to antibiotics and diphtheria antitoxin therapy.

We have provided diphtheria-tetanus vaccines and are ensuring that all students and staff members get vaccinated. This includes teachers, cooks, cleaners, and other personnel, he said.

The commissioner alongside the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Kemi Ogunyemi; and other delegations from the ministry, inspected the school facilities to assess water supply, ablution areas, and dormitory arrangements.

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Public health measures

Addressing the students, Mr Abayomi emphasised the importance of personal and environmental hygiene, urging them to adopt proper handwashing habits and report any symptoms of Diphtheria promptly.

He explained that the vaccination campaign is targeting all students with parental consent, as well as school staff, to create a protective ring against the disease.

Parents should not panic. The best way to contain the infection is by keeping students in a controlled environment where medical teams can monitor and manage the situation, he said.

He also advised students to avoid close contact and wear face masks if experiencing symptoms such as coughing or sneezing.

He advised members of the public to be vigilant, watch for symptoms such as sore throat, difficulty breathing, and fever, and report any suspected cases to the nearest Primary Healthcare Centre.

We have activated our emergency response, and we are working closely with partners, including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and UNICEF, to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to prevent further spread, he stated.

Mr Abayomi added that vaccination exercise remains ongoing, with medical teams working swiftly to immunise as many students and staff as possible.

Medical condition of affected students

The Chief Medical Director of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Wasiu Adeyemo, confirmed that four of the affected students from Kings College admitted to the hospital are in stable condition.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos, Mr Adeyemo disclosed that two students had been transferred to the ward while the other two remained under close observation in an isolation room.

He noted that the affected students have been given antitoxin to neutralise the Diphtheria toxin and emphasised that the situation is under control, urging the public to remain calm.

Preventing further spread

Diphtheria spreads through direct contact and respiratory droplets, making crowded environments like boarding schools particularly vulnerable.

Parents have expressed concerns over the outbreak, but the government reassured them that proactive measures were in place to safeguard students.

The schools principal, Mogaji Zakaria and the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) Chairman, Peter Olaoluwa also emphasised the importance of cooperation in ensuring a safe learning environment.

Mr Zakaria commended the Lagos state government for their swift response to the outbreak.

In collaboration with the PTA, the school procured prophylactic medicine for students showing symptoms.

Additionally, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had supplied medication that would cater to 100 patients.

Diphtheria in Nigeria

Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that affects the respiratory system and spreads through coughing, sneezing, or direct contact with an infected person. If untreated, it can lead to severe complications or death.

The disease is preventable through vaccination, which health officials emphasised as the most effective control method.

Health authorities have urged parents and guardians to ensure their children receive the complete Diphtheria vaccine dosage as part of routine immunisation programmes.

The Lagos State Governments decision to conduct mass vaccination comes amid rising cases of Diphtheria in Nigeria.

The NCDC has reported 1,280 deaths and over 41,978 suspected cases across 350 local government areas in 37 states.

Of these, 25,298 cases (60.3 per cent) were confirmed, 7,769 (18.5 per cent) were discarded, 3,561 (8.5 per cent) were pending classification, and 5,350 (12.7 per cent) were unclassified.

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The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, has reiterated the Federal Governments commitment to improving the welfare of health workers in the country.

Mr Salako made this statement in Abuja on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the executive body of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).

He acknowledged the concerns raised by the National President of NANNM, Haruna Mamman, and assured that the longstanding demands of the association would be addressed.

Specifically, he pointed out that the delay in implementing the scheme of service for nurses, the 2012 National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) judgment, and salary adjustments would all be resolved.

The minister pledged to engage relevant agencies, including the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, to ensure a timely resolution.

I am assuring you that I will take this matter personally to the coordinating minister. I ask that you take me by word, Mr Salako stressed.

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He emphasised the vital role nurses play in the healthcare system, noting that their dedication was crucial to national development.

He urged the association to continue constructive engagement with the government, emphasising that dialogue should replace industrial actions.

Patriotism should guide our actions. As caregivers, the lives of many depend on you, he said.

While your demands are valid, we must consider the impact of prolonged strikes on patient care and the healthcare system.

Mr Salako also expressed concern about the mass exodus of nurses to foreign countries due to poor working conditions, highlighting that the ongoing brain drain is exacerbating Nigerias healthcare crisis.

He encouraged nurses to remain in the country to help build the system, stressing that if all healthcare workers leave, the nation would face significant challenges.

Our hospitals need not close. The system must work through our collective efforts and we see nurses as partners in this mission, he said.

In his remarks, Mr Mamman acknowledged the Ministers visit and explained that nurses had endured years of unmet promises, refraining from industrial action for two years, hoping their concerns would be addressed.

He pointed out that in spite of the NICN judgment of 2012, its implementation is still pending, and the associations patience is wearing thin.

Nurses are at their breaking point. If urgent action is not taken, we may have no choice but to escalate our demands through lawful means, he warned.

Mr Mamman urged the government to expedite actions on nurses demands, including a review of their remuneration and working conditions to prevent further migration.

The General Secretary of NANNM, Thomas Shettima, stressed the need to gazette the scheme of service, which was approved by state heads of service nine years ago.

Mr Shettima expressed frustration that in spite of repeated assurances from government officials, no concrete steps have been taken to formalise the scheme, leaving nurses uncertain about their future.

Our members have waited long enough. We do not want industrial action, but continued neglect of our demands could lead to disruptions in the healthcare sector, he said.

He also highlighted the critical role of nurses in national emergencies, such as disease outbreaks and humanitarian crises, urging the government to recognise and adequately reward their sacrifices.

(NAN)

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The Edo State Government has confirmed 15 deaths from Lassa Fever since the outbreak of the disease in the state in December 2024.

The Director of Public Health, Edo State Ministry of Health, Stephenson Ojeifo, disclosed this on Tuesday in Benin while responding to concerns on social media regarding the governments efforts in tackling the outbreak.

Mr Ojeifo said that as of today, Edo State has recorded over 1,000 suspected cases of Lassa Fever, out of which 103 have been positive.

From the 103 confirmed cases, we have recorded 15 deaths, while others have been treated and discharged, he said.

Mr Ojeifo asserted that the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, had strengthened surveillance and contact tracing efforts, ensuring that all necessary resources are available to contain the outbreak.

He, however, attributed the high mortality rate to late referrals, noting that many patients arrive at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) in critical condition.

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The problem is that patients are only referred to ISTH when their condition has deteriorated, he said.

We have been sensitising residents to seek medical attention if they experience persistent fever that does not resolve, so that samples can be tested and treatment can commence early if needed.

The director urged healthcare providers to avoid delays in referring suspected cases to designated treatment centres.

He warned that any hospital found treating Lassa fever patients without proper authorisation would face sanctions.

In addition to the Lassa fever outbreak, Mr Ojeifo disclosed that the state had recorded 11 suspected cases of Mpox, with five confirmed positives.

He, however, said that no deaths were recorded, as all affected individuals received timely medical attention.

(NAN)

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The special independent investigative panel on the alleged corruption and other violations against some senior personnel of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has begun.

Secretary of the panel, Uju Agomoh, who chaired the session on Tuesday in Abuja, said that a number of cases brought before the panel involved very senior correctional officers in charge of custodial centres across Nigeria where the alleged corrupt practices took place.

Ms Agomoh said that the panel, in its terms of reference, was charged with conducting a thorough inquiry into specific cases as well as recommend immediate measures.

This, she said, was to prevent future occurrences and improve correctional administration and services in Nigeria.

Recent reports have emerged regarding instances of corruption, torture, and cruelty, inhumane, and degrading treatment by correctional officers in Nigerias correctional facilities.

These allegations include violations of laid-down rules, abuse of authority, and mistreatment of inmates, undermining the rights and dignity of individuals within the custody of the NCoS, she said.

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The panel secretary also pointed out that the panels scope of work included recommendations for immediate, medium-term, and long-term actions.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that that Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, had set up the independent investigative panel.

This followed the widely known case of cross-dresser Idris Okunneya, popularly known as Bobrisky, amid controversy over whether he served his prison term in the designated custodial centre.

The panel is also investigating cases of corruption and extortion against the person in charge of Kuje custodial centre, Iloafonsi Ikechukwu, who was said to have intimidated, threatened, and defrauded an inmate in custody.

(NAN)

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The police in Lagos State have detained two suspects for allegedly kidnapping an online vendor who came to deliver products in the Iyana-Isashi area of the state.

The commands spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this while briefing journalists at the commands headquarters in Ikeja on Monday.

He said that the victim was kidnapped while attempting to make a delivery.

The victim received a request for a product and proceeded to the customers house.

Upon arrival, the door was opened, and she was forcibly dragged inside by a man and a woman.

They stripped her, beat her up and took her nude pictures, the spokesperson said.

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Mr Hundeyin said that the suspects demanded a ransom of N2 million, threatening to leak the images, if she failed to comply.

He said that the victim managed to pay N300,000 on the spot before she was allowed to go.

They threatened to release the pictures if she did not pay the balance as promised, Mr Hundeyin said.

He said that the victim reported the case, leading to the apprehension of the suspects.

The suspects were tracked and apprehended. They are currently in police custody as investigations continue, the image maker said.

(NAN)

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The police in Lagos State have sealed a church over the alleged killing of a 28-year-old graduate of Lagos State University (LASU), Adedamola Ogunbode.

The commands spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the development while briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Ikeja on Monday.

Mr Hundeyin said that the church where some people alleged that the missing boy was killed and buried had been sealed to prevent it from being burned.

The church was sealed following intelligence reports that some people planned to burn it down out of vengeance and we do not want that to happen.

It is still a suspected crime scene, we still need to go over it, we may need to revisit that scene multiple times for us to gather evidential value.

The church has been sealed for now to prevent it from being burned. And we assure the public that updates will be given about the investigation and the progress we have made as soon as we get new updates, he said.

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The spokesperson said that three suspects have been detained so far.

We have three suspects, the pastor and two others in custody, and the case is ongoing at the State Criminal Investigation Department, he said.

According to him, efforts are underway to apprehend five other suspects, two of whom are outside the country in Benin Republic.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Mr Hundeyin, in a statement on Friday, said that the matter was no longer a case of missing person but suspected murder.

Investigation has been intensified to locate the body of the deceased and uncover the circumstances surrounding his death.

Among the five suspects into whose accounts money was moved from the victims account, three suspects had been apprehended and in police custody, he said.

Mr Hundeyin said that the State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, assured of an intensive investigation.

CP Jimoh has assured the public that the command is fully committed to resolving the matter and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

CP Jimoh calls for restraint from actions that could potentially hinder or interfere with the ongoing investigative efforts, he stated.

(NAN)

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 28 persons suspected of operating a Ponzi scheme in Minna, Niger State.

The Kaduna zonal directorate of the agency said the suspects were arrested at a three-bedroom apartment in Al-Bishiri Talba Estate, following a tip-off on fraudulent investment activities under the guise of a network marketing scheme.

According to the EFCC, the suspects operated a company, Q-Net Ltd, which they claimed to be affiliated to companies in Dubai, India, Indonesia, and Thailand.

It said victims paid between $790 and $850 (approximately 1,462,000) as a registration fee and for product purchases.

The agency said at the time of the raid, some of the suspects were receiving lectures on Ponzi scheme operations, disguised as network marketing. Items recovered included Q-Net application forms and other incriminating documents.

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The EFCC said the suspects would be charged to court after investigations.

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The defection of the former Kaduna Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, from APC to SDP and Rivers political crisis dominated headlines today.

Punch reported the news under the headline Defection to SDP: Presidency, APC knocks El-Rufai, dismisses threat to unseat Tinubu.

Intrigues as El-Rufai Dumps APC for SDP, The Point reported.

APC, SHEHU SANI TO EL-RUFAI: We arent losing sleep, party stronger without you, the Blueprint reported on its cover page.

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The internal dispute between APC party members in Rivers State also made headlines.

The Daily Times reported that Rivers APC demands Fubaras resignation within 48 hours.

Amebo newspaper reported the crisis under the headline RIVERS CRISIS: Resign or be impeachedOkocha-led Rivers APC to Fubara.

Salient News reported, Tinubu hosts Fubara, Wike, govs, others.

The Guardian reported, Opposition camp swells against Tinubu, as el-Rufa dumps APC for SDP.

Rivers crisis: We will emerge stronger despite all odds, says Fubara, the Independent newspaper wrote.

Other headlines are; Mixed reactions as NNPC suspends crude for Naira deal, Salient Times.

According to the Tribune, Gunmen attack four Ondo communities, 20 feared killed.

The Matrix reported State Of Nation: Presidency Counters Catholic Bishops.

Oil loans disrupt Nigerias naira for crude deals, Business Day wrote.

Over 7 million businesses shut down in two years amid economic crisis  report, Platform Times wrote.

We thank Abiola Ayankunbi, a media management expert, for providing screenshots of the newspapers front pages.

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The police on Tuesday arraigned a 50-year-old woman, Idayat Odunola, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, for allegedly failing to produce a suspect.

The prosecution charged Ms Odunola with conspiracy and perverting the course of justice.

She, however, pleaded not guilty before an Iyaganku Magistrates Court.

The prosecutor, Musbau Lawal, an assistant superintendent of police, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on 31 December 2024 at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Iyaganku, Ibadan.

Mr Lawal said that Ms Odunola stood as surety for one Segun Ilemobayo, who was allegedly involved in a fraud and stealing case.

The prosecutor said that Ms Odunola failed to produce the suspect on 3 January and dates when he was needed at the SCID.

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ALSO READ: Court orders interim forfeiture of digital assets linked to 792 internet fraud suspects

He said that the offences contravened Sections 516 and 126(1) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The Magistrate, Olaolu Olanipekun, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 and two sureties in like sum.

He adjourned the case until April 10 for hearing.

(NAN)

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President Bola Tinubu has appointed principal officers for the Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Abeokuta, Ogun State and Federal College of Education (Technical), Yauri, Potsikum, Yobe State.

President Tinubu appointed Fatiu Arogundade, a professor, as the vice chancellor of the Federal University of Medicine in Abeokuta.

Obayomi Gregory is the registrar, Adedokun Olufunso is the bursar, and Idiat Agboola is the university librarian.

Mr Arogundade, a professor of medicine at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, currently serves as the college registrar of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, Ijanikin.

With over 33 years of teaching, research, and administrative experience and as a Fellow of the International Society of Nephrology, he has spearheaded ground-breaking initiatives in medical research and academic reforms and attracted substantial research grants from 2012 to 2023.

The new registrar, Mr Gregory, has been the deputy registrar at the National Mathematical Centre, Abuja. Mrs Olufunso, a chartered accountant, served as deputy bursar at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Mr Agboola, the librarian, has been an associate professor of library science at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, until now.

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President Tinubu implored the new officers to provide visionary leadership and build a solid foundation for the universitys growth and development.

He expressed confidence in the university officers ability to leverage their collective expertise to ensure that the institution, established in 2023, produces world-class medical professionals.

Similarly, President Tinubu has appointed Saadu Umar, a professor, as the provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical) in Yauri, Kebbi State.

Abdullahi Ahmed is the registrar, Muhammad Alkali is the bursar, and Maimuna Ahmed is the librarian.

Mr Umar is a professor of Agriculture Extension and deputy vice-chancellor (Research and Innovation) at Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero. He is renowned for his academic leadership and commitment to educational development.

Mr. Ahmed, formerly deputy registrar of Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, has served in various capacities in the Federal College of Education (Technical), Potiskum, Yobe State.

Mr Alkali, a former dean of the School of Accountancy and Finance at Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic, Birnin Kebbi, and Mrs. Ahmed, currently the college librarian at the Niger State College of Nursing Sciences, Minna, complete the leadership team.

The tenures of the principal officers at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Yauri, Kebbi State, are set at five years each, with no extensions, as stipulated in the Federal Colleges of Education Act, 2023.

Established by an Act of the National Assembly, the Federal College of Education (Technical), Yauri, Kebbi State, offers full-time courses in teaching, instruction, and training across disciplines such as technology, applied science, arts, social sciences, humanities, and management.

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President

(Information & Strategy)

March 11, 2025

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One civilian was injured in an enemy drone attack in Kherson this morning, the Kherson administartions Telegram channel reports.

"In the morning, a cyclist was injured in the Dniprovsky district of Kherson due to a Russian drone strike. A 40-year-old man was diagnosed with an explosive injury, contusion and shrapnel wounds to the leg. The victim is under medical supervision," the report says.
The Police Command in Rivers State has arrested five suspected kidnappers following credible intelligence on their operations and hideouts.

Grace Iringe-Koko, the command spokesperson, disclosed this to journalists in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, stating that operatives also recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from the suspects.

She alleged that the suspects were responsible for multiple kidnappings in Rivers and the recent killing of the chief security officer (CSO) of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.

The arrested suspects were identified as Bello Amadu, 35, Mohammadu Bello, 30, Adamu Musa, 30, Suleman Umar, 26, and Abubakar Mohammed, 22.

According to Mrs Iringe-Koko, a superintendent of police, the operation lasted about eight hours before the alleged kidnappers were apprehended.

The suspects were arrested following a series of kidnapping incidents in Rukpokwu, Igwuruta, Omagwa, and Etche communities, which prompted the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the command to take swift action, she stated.

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She added that acting on actionable intelligence, police operatives conducted a coordinated raid in the communities, leading to the suspects capture on Saturday

Mrs Iringe-Koko listed arms recovered from the suspects, including two AK-47 rifles, six AK-47 magazines, 66 rounds of live ammunition, and 10 live cartridges.

Others are three locally made pistols and several mobile phones and SIM cards.

During interrogation, the suspects confessed to committing multiple murders, including the brutal killing of the CSO of Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium and his son.

They are currently in police custody and are cooperating with investigators, Mrs Iringe-Koko added.

The spokesperson said the police were pressing on to uncover details of other crimes committed by the syndicate and to apprehend other members still at large.

(NAN)

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President Bola Tinubu has expressed sadness over the death of a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dubem Onyia.

Mr Onyia, 73, died on Monday in Abuja after a brief illness, the family announced on Tuesday.

Brilliant administrator, accountant

In a statement on Tuesday by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, Mr Tinubu described the former minister as a brilliant administrator, accountant and respected political leader.

The president lauded Mr Onyias rich record of service and commitment to nation-building.

He said the former minister was a statesman and patriot who made contributions to Nigerias political development.

President Tinubu commiserates with the government and people of Enugu State, particularly the Ngwo Community, on the passing of their illustrious son, the statement read in part.

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Monumental loss

On his part, Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, also expressed sorrow over the passing of Mr Onyia, describing his death as monumental loss to the nation.

In a post on his Facebook page on Tuesday, Mr Mbah described the former minister as a  a distinguished leader, fine diplomat, patriot, consummate public servant, and quintessential intellectual.

He was indeed a fine gentleman, philanthropist, promoter of peace, justice and equity, and indeed a colossus in all ramifications, whose selfless service, wealth of experience, deep knowledge, and local and international reach will be highly missed.

His demise is, therefore, a monumental loss to not just Enugu State, but Nigeria as a whole, he said, praying God to grant him eternal repose.

The governor condoled with the family of Mr Onyia, his Ngwo Community and all Nigerians who were impacted by the death of the former minister.

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In line with its commitment to sanitising the financial space of the nation and offer the investing public adequate and reliable information on the activities of illegal ponzi scheme operators across the country, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) hereby alerts Nigerians on the operations of 58 companies posturing as investing entities and defrauding innocent Nigerians of their hard-earned money.

The companies are neither registered with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, nor the Security Exchange Commission, SEC. The two regulators, in separate correspondences with the EFCC, denied that they are registered with them.

The Commission has charged many of the companies to court, with five of them convicted, another five pleaded guilty but awaiting review of facts while the rest are pending arraignment.

Please, find below the names of the illegally operating companies:

Wales Kingdom Capital, Bethseida Group of Companies,

EFCC PRESS RELEASE

EFCC Alerts the Public on 58 Illegal Ponzi Scheme Operators

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In line with its commitment to sanitising the financial space of the nation and offer the investing public adequate and reliable information on the activities of illegal ponzi scheme operators across the country, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, hereby alerts Nigerians on the operations of 58 companies posturing as investing entities and defrauding innocent Nigerians of their hard-earned money.

The companies are neither registered with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, nor the Security Exchange Commission, SEC.

The two regulators, in separate correspondences with the EFCC, denied that they are registered with them.

The Commission has charged many of the companies to court, with five of them convicted, another five pleaded guilty but awaiting review of facts while the rest are pending arraignment.

Please, find below the names of the illegally operating companies:

Wales Kingdom Capital, Bethseida Group of Companies, AQM Capital Limited, Titan Multibusiness Investment Limited, Brickwall Global Investment Limited, Farmforte Limited & Agro Partnership Tech, Green Eagles Agricbusiness Solution Limited, Richfield Multiconcepts Limited, Forte Asset Management Limited, (Biss Networks Nigeria Limited, S Mobile Netzone Limited, Pristine Mobile Network), Letsfarm Integrated Services, Bara Finance & Investment Limited, Vicampro Farms Limited, Brooks Network Limited, Gas Station Supply Services Limited, Brass & Books Limited, (Annexation Biz Concept & Maitanbuwal Global Venturescrowdyvest Limited,) and Crowdyvest Limited,

Others are : Jadek Agro Connect Limited, Adeeva Capital Limited, Oxford International Group and Oxford Gold Integrated, Skapomah Global Limited, MBA Trading & Capital Investment Limited, TRJ Company Limited, Farm4Me Agriculture Limited, Quintessential Investment Company, Adeprinz Global Enterprises, Rockstar Establishment Limited, SU.Global Investment, Citi Trust Funding PLC, Farm Buddy, Eatrich 369 Farms & Food, Globertrot Farmsponsors Nigeria Limited, Farm Sponsors Limited, Cititrust Credit Limited, Farmfunded Agroservices Limited, Adamakin Investment & Works Limited.

The rest include: Cititrust Holding PLC, Green Eagles Agribusiness Solutions Limited, Chinmark Homes & Shelters Limited, Emerald Farms & Consultant Limited, Ovaioza Farm Produce Storage Limited, Farm 360 & Agriculture Company, Requid Technologies Limited, West Agro Agriculture & Food Processing Limited, NISL Ventures Limited & Estate of Laolu Martins, XY Connect Investment Limited, River Branch Unique Investment Limited, Hallmark Capital Limited, CJC Markets Limited, Crowd One Investment, Farmkart Foods Limited, KD Likemind Stakeholders Limited, Holibiz Finance Limited, Ifeanyi Okpe Oil & Gas Services, Servapps Nigeria Limited, Barrick Gold Mining Company and 360 Agric Partners Limited.

The EFCC assures the public of its vigilance and proactive monitoring of every entity and player in the nations economic space to safeguard the public from opportunistic and predatory operators and use the instrumentality of its anti-corruption mandate to stimulate growth in the economy.

Dele Oyewale

Head, Media & Publicity

March 11, 2025

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President Bola Tinubu has written to the Senate, requesting confirmation of Melvin Ayogus appointment to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Board of Directors.

The request was contained in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and read during Tuesdays plenary.

The letter states: In compliance with Section 10(1) of the CBN (Establishment) Act, 2007, I present for Senate confirmation the appointment of Prof. Melvin Ayogu as a board member.

It adds: His Curriculum Vitae is attached. The Senate is invited to note that this nominee completes the Boards composition as required under Section 6 of the CBN Act, 2007.

Mr Tinubu also sought Senate confirmation for Mr Nwakuche Ndidis appointment as Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCOS).

In compliance with Section 3(1)(b) of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019, I present for Senate confirmation the appointment of Mr Nwakuche Ndidi as Controller-General, NCOS.

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(NAN)

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The House of Representatives has urged the Nigerian Army to release the detained innocent members of the Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State or charge them to court.

The call was a sequel to the adoption of a motion moved by Francis Waive (APC-Delta) at plenary on Tuesday in Abuja.

Moving the motion, Mr Waive recalled the unfortunate killing of 17 soldiers on 14 March 2024, whose lifeless bodies were discovered in the Okuama community.

He said the incident led to the reprisal destruction of the community and the arrest of some residents by the army.

The lawmaker further stated that since the event happened, the perpetrators of the crime had not been arrested despite claims that the alleged criminals were known to the authorities.

Several innocent indigenes of the community, including Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogo, Mr Dennis Amlaka, Miss Owhemu Mabel and Pa James Oghoroko, who died in custody, among others, were detained and have since been in detention.

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The affected community requested that a judicial inquiry be made to look into the facts of the events, an option that was not considered.

The Committee on Defence conducted an investigation into the matter, in which the army refused to participate.

The Nigerian Army decided to conduct their own investigations; it is believed that by now, one year later, they should have had sufficient time to conclude investigations, he said.

The House urged the army to release the investigations report and rebuild the homes destroyed by their men in the wake of the incident.

In his ruling, the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, mandated the Committee on Defence to ensure compliance and report to the house within four weeks for further legislative action.

(NAN)

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The Nigerian government on Monday said the policy framework enabling the sale of crude oil in naira for domestic refining remains in force.

The Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, who also chairs the technical subcommittee on the presidential initiative on naira for crude sales, made this known in reaction to reports alleging unilateral termination of the crude oil sale agreement between NNPC and Dangote Refinery.

In a statement on Monday, the government said the reports do not reflect the realities of the ongoing work under the Federal Executive Council Initiative on the domestic sale of crude oil and refined products in Naira.

Our attention has been drawn to reports suggesting that the naira-based crude oil supply arrangement with local refineries has been discontinued, forcing them to rely solely on international crude purchases. These reports do not reflect the realities of the ongoing work under the Federal Executive Council Initiative on Domestic Sales of Crude Oil and Refined Products in Naira.

As the committee driving the implementation of this initiative, we wish to provide an update on the Federal Executive Council initiative and confirm as follows: the policy framework enabling the sale of crude oil in naira for domestic refining remains in force, Mr Adedeji said.

He explained that the initiative was designed to ensure supply stability and optimise the utilisation of local refining capacity.

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He said there has been no decision at the policy level to discontinue this approach nor is it being considered.

After implementing the policy for some months, evidence abounds that it is the right way to go and it will continue to help the economy. The engagement process for crude oil supply to domestic refineries therefore remains in place by structured agreements, balancing factors such as availability, demand, and market conditions.

There is no exclusion of local refineries from access to domestic crude. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) is actively ensuring compliance with the Domestic Crude Oil Obligations provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, he said.

He added that the framework for domestic crude transactions is designed to promote a competitive and efficient pricing environment.

We remain committed to ensuring the efficient execution of this initiative in line with its core objectives  enhancing local refining, reducing foreign exchange exposure, and stabilising the domestic fuel supply, he said.

In July last year, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) directed NNPC Ltd to engage Dangote Refinery and other local refineries to resolve the dispute over the sale of crude oil to them.

The FEC, presided over by President Bola Tinubu, also directed that crude oil sales to the refineries be made in naira and that the refineries, located in Nigeria, sell their refined products to the Nigerian market in naira.

Last October, the Nigerian government said it had officially commenced the sale of crude oil and refined petroleum products in Naira.

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The Anambra 2025 Governorship Election Screening Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared all seven aspirants who bought its Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to contest for its ticket.

Felix Morka, the partys national publicity secretary, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

He said the aspirants cleared by the committee headed by Ibrahim Shema, a former Katsina State governor, included Paul Chukwuma and Obiora Okonkwo.

Others, he said, were Nicholas Ukachukwu, Chukwuma Umeoji, Valentine Ozigbo, Johnbosco Onunkwo and Edozie Madu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the aspirants are to contest for the partys ticket at its governorship primary election slated for Saturday, 5 April 2025.

Mr Morka said that the party also issued certificates of clearance to the aspirants at its national secretariat in Abuja.

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One of the cleared aspirants, Valentine Ozigbo, has been granted a waiver by the party to contest its primary election.

All members of the party, including new and old members in Anambra are required to revalidate their membership as prescribed by it ahead of the scheduled primary election, he said.

The Anambra governorship election has been slated for 8 November by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Each of the cleared seven aspirants purchased the APC nomination form for N40 million and its expression of interest form for N10 million.

(NAN)

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The Federal University Lokoja (FUL) has reopened for the commencement of academic activities after three weeks of shutdown over students protests.

The Registrar and Secretary of Council of the University, Rebecca Okojie, made the disclosure in a statement on Monday in Lokoja.

Ms Okojie said that the university would reopen on Tuesday, 11 March, while lectures would commence on Monday, 17 March.

According to her, the institutions reopening followed an emergency meeting held on Monday, 10 March.

The senate approved the reopening of the university with effect from Tuesday, 11 March.

The decision is following the ongoing efforts and consultations in several quarters to address the challenges which led to road mishaps that resulted in the loss of lives of five students and serious injury to some others, she said.

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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the management of the university had shut down the institution following a threat by students to block the Abuja-Lagos Highway over the truck accident that killed five of their mates.

Following the unfortunate incident, the students barricaded the gates of the university in spite of interventions from the state government as well as frantic efforts and appeals by the university management for calm.

Based on the advice of the security agencies and to forestall further loss of lives, the Vice Chancellor, after due consultation with management, decided to, on behalf of the senate, shut down the university indefinitely on Feb. 20, Ms Okojie had said.

(NAN)

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A former APC National Vice-Chairman (North West) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman, has described former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufais defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as too hasty.

Mr Lukman stated this while speaking with journalists on Monday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr el-Rufai had, in a statement on his verified Facebook page on Monday, announced his defection from the ruling APC to SDP, citing some reasons for his action.

Mr Lukman, a political ally of Mr El-Rufai and former National Working Committee (NWC) member of APC, expressed concern that the former governors defection could disrupt ongoing negotiations for a broader political coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Although he stated that Mr El-Rufais defection had been anticipated, he, however, said that he should have exercised more patience to allow coalition talks to be finalised.

It was expected. Even after the interview he granted on national television, you can see the handwriting on the wall. But whether it is going to come so soon is what even I couldnt have said.

My expectation was that he should have been a bit patient for us to work as a group based on the current negotiation that is ongoing, Mr Lukman said.

While acknowledging Mr El-Rufais right to political association, the former APC chieftain warned that the timing of his defection might have unintended consequences for opposition realignments.

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When asked if he would be joining the former governor in SDP, the former Director-General of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) said that could only happen if the party met the conditions set for it.

At the moment, they are yet to meet the conditions. We are in discussion, no doubt about it. If they meet the conditions tomorrow, fine, he said.

On the planned coalition, Mr Lukman said that negotiations were still ongoing.

I think the discussion about whether SDP will be there or not has been an ongoing thing.

The challenge is the question of whether SDP will submit itself to some of the conditions that we believe are necessary, he said.

According to him, while most conventional politicians just need a platform to achieve political power, there are a few politicians, including himself, who believe the issue is beyond that.

What Nigerians need is a platform that will promote political competition in the country. If you remember, the problem Nigerians had with PDP is the problem of imposition of candidates, he said.

(NAN)

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has emphasised its commitment to due process in the importation of Rifampicin, an anti-leprosy drug, into Nigeria.

NAFDACs Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, explained the agencys position on the matter in a statement issued on Monday.

Mrs Adeyeye, a professor was responding to a BBC report titled Vital leprosy drugs due in Nigeria after year delay.

The report had suggested that NAFDAC had either delayed or prevented the importation of essential leprosy treatment.

Mrs Adeyeye explained that before any drug could be imported into Nigeria, it must undergo rigorous testing, laboratory checks, and compliance with regulatory requirements.

This was the case with Rifampicin, the medicine in question, which NAFDAC was accused of delaying, she said.

The BBC report also highlighted a request from the World Health Organisation (WHO) for NAFDAC to lift its new testing policy to expedite the importation of the medicine.

Mrs Adeyeye clarified that her response is aimed at providing accurate information and dispelling any misinformation circulating regarding the agencys actions.

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She said NAFDAC was established to safeguard public health through a robust legal and regulatory framework, ensuring that only safe, effective and quality medicines were available in Nigeria.

She said one of the agencys key initiatives is the Clean Report of Inspection and Analysis (CRIA) scheme which ensures that medicines from high-risk countries such as China and India, meet the required quality standards before being exported to Nigeria.

This policy, in place since 2002 and strengthened in 2020, ensures that medicines imported into Nigeria meet the highest standards, she said.

A key component of this process is the submission of the Certificate of Pharmaceutical Products (CoPP), a document that verifies that a consignment of medicines has undergone thorough quality checks by the regulatory authority of the exporting country.

Developed by WHO, the CoPP provides assurance that medicines comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and meet safety, quality, and efficacy requirements.

The NAFDAC boss clarified that the manufacturer of the Rifampicin consignment had failed to provide the necessary CoPP documentation, a critical part of the importation process.

She said to address that, WHO requested a waiver for the required documentation, which NAFDAC reviewed.

Upon receiving the appeal, NAFDAC requested a laboratory evaluation of the Rifampicin consignment from one of its approved CRIA laboratories in India to ensure the product met the necessary quality, safety, and efficacy standards, she said.

Following satisfactory laboratory results, assurances, and the need to replenish the stock of the medicine for Nigerian patients, NAFDAC granted approval for the Rifampicin shipment to be exported to Nigeria.

Additionally, Mrs Adeyeye stated that NAFDAC is collaborating with local pharmaceutical industries to reduce Nigerias dependence on imported medicines.

She said that the agency is strengthening regulatory systems and building local manufacturing capacity to ensure that quality medicines were available in Nigeria.

She reassured the public that NAFDAC would continue to ensure the availability of only safe, efficacious, and quality medicines for distribution, sale, and use within Nigeria.

(NAN)

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Photo: https://www.facebook.com/minenergoUkraine

Iceland has transferred over EUR2 million to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, after which the country's total contribution to the fund increased to over EUR5.6 million, the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine reported on Tuesday.

In particular, during 2023-2024, Iceland made four tranches of contributions to the fund. The funds were used to purchase the necessary equipment for enterprises of the fuel and energy sector of Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions.

"Equipment is being purchased with the appropriate funds that helps energy workers restore what was destroyed by the enemy and return light and heat to the homes of Ukrainians. We thank Iceland for its support and another contribution to the energy sustainability of Ukraine," said Minister of Energy of Ukraine Herman Haluschenko.

The Ukraine Energy Support Fund was established in April 2022 on the joint initiative of Minister of Energy Herman Haluschenko and European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson at the Secretariat of the Energy Community.

To date, the announced contributions of partners to the fund have exceeded EUR1 billion. Among the donors of the fund are the public and private sectors from more than 30 countries, including EU member states, the United Kingdom and the United States, international and regional organizations.

During its operation, the fund has become an effective tool for providing international assistance in the energy sector, thanks to which Ukrainian energy companies are able to restore energy facilities after Russian attacks, carry out repairs, and install new capacities.
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has condemned the burning of Gwer West Local Government Area Secretariat and Ter Tyoshin Palace by protesters in the state.

This is contained in a statement issued by the governors Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo kula, in Makurdi, the state capital, on Tuesday.

Mr Alia also condemned the vicious and ferocious attack and murder of three brave members of the Civil Protection Guards at On-MbaAondo, Tsambe-Mbesev ward of Gwer-West Local Government Area of the state.

He stated that the inhuman act, carried out by bandits, was once more, a flagrant affront to the peace and security of Benue State communities.

We appreciate the deep rage and frustration that has led to the anxiety at Naka, the headquarters of Gwer-West, including the regrettable burning of the local government secretariat and palace of Ter Nagi by protesters.

While we empathise with the sentiments of our people, we advocate restraint and foresight in funneling this anger.

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Destruction of our own worths, simply serves to frustrate the intentions of our government, which is devoted to building up peace and security in the state.

We request all security organs to intensify efforts in detecting and capturing perpetrators of this heinous atrocity. It is essential that these marauding bandits are forced to deal with the full wrath of the law.

The security of our residents is paramount, and we will not rest until those culpable for this violence are held liable, he said.

He emphasised that his administration remained committed to ensuring that security efforts and protecting communities from further attacks were enhanced.

We implore all residents to stand vigilant and collaborate with security agencies in reporting unusual activities.

In these trying moments, let us stand together against violence and endeavor for peace and justice in Benue. Together, we can conquer these challenges and establish a healthier environment for all, he stated.

(NAN)

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The Labour Party (LP) has constituted a three-member Intervention and Truce Committee to smoothen the relationship between it and its members in the National Assembly.

The partys National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, said this was part of the on-going efforts to engender an enduring harmony in the party.

According to him, the committee, headed by Ben Etanabene, has Mathew Nworgu and Chinedu Obika as members.

He said that LP National Chairman, Julius Abure, inaugurated the committee on Monday at the partys national headquarters in Abuja.

Mr Abure urged the committee to liaise with the LP legislators in both chambers of the National Assembly to identify and resolve all differences between them and the party.

We entrust you with this important assignment of bringing together all our members in the National Assembly, both in the Senate and House of Representatives.

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This is for the purpose of bridging the gaps and resolving all issues that may have existed.

There is a need for all our members, about 40 of you, to be on the same page with the party leadership.

You are our ambassadors at the National Assembly and we are proud of some of you and the values you have exhibited.

But we think there are still some gaps that needed to be plugged, hence the urgency for this assignment, Mr Abure said.

He said that the party expected that within two weeks, the committee would have concluded its assignment and report to the leadership of the party.

We can assure you that the party will do all it can to ensure that enduring truce is achieved within the party and particularly with a key stakeholder such as the NASS caucus, he said.

In his response, Mr Etanabene pledged the desire and willingness of the committee to take the assignment very seriously.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that some LP members in the National Assembly had recently defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The most notable was the defection of four LP legislators in the House of Representatives in one sitting, with all of them citing the crisis in the party for their action.

They were Chinedu Okere (Owerri Municipal/Owerri North/Owerri West); Mathew Donatus (Kaura); Akiba Bassey (Calabar Municipal/Odukpani) and Esosa Iyawe (Oredo).

(NAN)

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The National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO) says it has so far captured more than 68 million poor and vulnerable Nigerians into the National Social Register (NSR).

NASSCO disclosed this on Tuesday in its verified social media handle on Instagram @nassco_nigeria.

The agency also explained that the figure represented a total of 19 million vulnerable households across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NSR is designed to create a comprehensive database of poor and vulnerable households in the country.

This is to assist government design, coordinate and integrate social safety-net programmes into social protection systems including the distribution of Conditional Cash Transfers (CCT) to vulnerable Nigerians.

Funmi Olotu, the National Coordinator of NASSCO, said in her mission statement that the national social register would ensure that social protection initiatives are targeted, impactful and evidence-based.

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Our goal is not just to help, but to create a lasting platform that empowers families and communities to overcome the daily challenges they face.

We are committed to transparency, she said.

However, some Nigerians have expressed mixed reaction over the process of disbursement of the CCT to beneficiaries.

Dantala Ahmed, an enrollee of the defunct N-Power Programme in Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT, told NAN that the current distribution of N25,000 was not done in a transparent manner like the previous ones.

In 2019, we were given physical cash because the coordinators came down to Gwagwalada and we were asked to queue-up. Once your name appears in the register, you will be called to collect the money.

But now we are living in the dark, we dont know what is going on; sometimes we just see adverts on social media that the federal government will resume payment of N25,000 CCT, he said.

On his part, Mohammed Awwal, a beneficiary of the N25, 000 CCT from Kpako Ward in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State offered a different view on the distribution of the CCT.

Mr Awwal said the process was transparent and digitalised in the sense that coordinators came to the electoral ward to register people with National Identity Numbers (NIN).

As a beneficiary of the N25,000 CCT, I can attest to the fact that the process is transparent, because the coordinators came to our ward, registered us with our NIN and gave us ATM cards.

As I am talking to you now, I received N25,000 in January this year and they said the total money is N75,000 and they will pay it in three tranches.

So, I think what the government wants to do is to digitalise the system and avoid the process of giving people physical cash to ensure accountability, he said.

(NAN)

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The House of Representatives has urged the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) to direct Internet Service Providers (SPs) operating in the country to take immediate steps to block all websites that host obscene and pornographic content.

The call was a sequel to the adoption of a motion by Rep. Dalhatu Tafoki (APC-Katsina state) at a plenary on Tuesday in Abuja.

Moving the motion earlier, Mr Tafaki said that cyber pornography is fast becoming a global problem, and no concrete steps have been taken to curb the phenomenon in the country.

Nigeria, he said, is a religious country, and all the major religions in the country have forbidden nudity and obscenity in any form.

According to him, countries across Asia, Africa and the Middle East have enacted legislation that ban pornography in their domains.

Rationale

He said: Renowned psychologists and sociologists around the world have issued stern warnings on the psychological, sociological and mental consequences of viewing pornographic content.

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Some of the immediate effects of viewing pornographic content include causing deception in marriage, which may, later on, affect family life. It promotes adultery, prostitution and many unreal expectations that can result in dangerous promiscuous behaviour.

It leads to addiction, escalation, desensitisation and acting out sexually by one person as well as a change of attitude towards oneself and his family, he said.

The house urged the NCC to apply the full rigours of the Nigerian Communications Act and the National Information Technology Development Act against defaulting ISPs.

In his ruling, the speaker of the house, Tajudeen Abbas, mandated the Committees on Communications and Legislative Compliance to ensure the implementation and report within four weeks for further legislative action.

(NAN)

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A group of protesters gathered at the entrance of the National Assembly on Tuesday, calling for additional punishment against Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, should she persist in mobilising her supporters against the Senate.

The protesters, under the aegis of Women for Good Governance, accused Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan of collaborating with certain individuals who planned to discredit the image of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and destabilise the National Assembly.

They carried placards with inscriptions such as Senator Natasha is a serial blackmailer, Senate Committee on Local Content is not our birthright but privilege, Nigerian women for sustainable democracy support Sen. Akpabio, Nigerian women for good governance asked Sen. Natasha to stop embarrassing Nigerian women, and Nigerians are proud of Akpabio.

Enakeme Ojineme, the secretary of United Women for Good Governance, led the protest.

Background of Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans suspension

The Senate suspended Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, effective 6 March, after considering a report by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, which was presented by its Chairman, Neda Imasuen.

The decision, supported by most senators, was made following her refusal to adhere to the sitting arrangement and her alleged misconduct during the plenary session on 20 February.

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In addition to the suspension, the senator faced other penalties, including withdrawing all her security aides and closing her office within the National Assembly.

She will be prohibited from entering the federal legislatures premises during the suspension period. She will also hand over all the Senate properties in her possession to the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA).

Her salary and allowances were also suspended for the duration of the suspension while she was banned from presenting herself as a senator, both locally and internationally.

However, the Senate left the door open for the suspension to be lifted if Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan submits a written apology, which the leadership may consider before the entire six-month period expires.

Protesters accuse Akpoti-Uduaghan of political manipulation

Mrs Ojineme, while speaking with journalists, described Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans sexual harassment allegations against Mr Akpabio as part of a politically driven agenda to undermine the integrity of the senate president.

We, the United Women for Good Governance, have discovered that this false allegation of sexual harassment has a very strong political undertone heavily propelled in collaboration with Sen. Natasha by those who are interested in the office of the senate president at all cost, she said.

She condemned any effort to undermine the Senate through unconventional, unlawful, and demonic means, describing such actions as treasonable.

We, the United Women for Good Governance, hereby send a strong warning to these evil planners that what theyre doing is nothing but trying to stab democracy with a fire dagger, which must be resisted by all well-meaning and good Nigerians.

Any unconventional, unlawful, and demonic means such as this targeted at removing any head of a tier of government is treasonable, she added.

Mrs Ojineme warned that if the Kogi senator persists in mobilising supporters against the Senate, she will face even stricter punishments.

We, therefore, encourage the Nigerian senators and the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to remain dedicated to their duties and not fail to give stringent punishment to Senator Natasha should she continue to mobilise street beggars, jobless boys and ladies against the Nigerian Senate.

Earlier protests against Akpabio

Last Wednesday, a group of youth from Kogi State staged a protest at the entrance of the National Assembly to demand the immediate resignation of Mr Akpabio to allow an independent and unbiased probe of the sexual harassment allegations against him.

Victor Giwa, a lawyer who led the protest, urged the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, to which the matter was referred, to handle the case transparently and ensure that the process is free from political interference.

Two days later, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for her refusal to adhere to the sitting arrangement and her alleged misconduct during the plenary session on 20 February.

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A former Nigerian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dubem Onyia, is dead.

Mr Onyia died on Monday in Abuja, the family announced on Tuesday.

The former minister hailed from Ngwo, a community in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigerias South-east.

He was 73 years old.

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Hon. Chief Dubem Onyia, a distinguished statesman and former Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Emeka Onyia said in a statement on behalf of the family on Tuesday.

Mr Onyia said the former minister died after a brief illness.

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Continuing, he said: Chief Onyia dedicated his life to God and public service, leaving an indelible mark on Nigerias diplomatic landscape at home and overseas.

His tenure as minister of state for foreign affairs was marked by his unwavering commitment to national interest, which remains his legacy.

Duben Onyia at a glance

Born on 23 February 1952 in Enugu, Mr Onyia attended Ikeja District Primary School, Lagos; Fatima College, Ikire; and the College of Immaculate Conception, Enugu.

He would later proceed to the Northampton College of Technology, formerly known as Nene College in the UK which is an affiliate of Leicester University.

He subsequently went to the Coventry Polytechnic in the same UK.

In 1999, the former minister was elected to the House of Representatives but resigned to serve as minister of state for foreign affairs during the administration of the then Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007.

Mr Onyia had served in various leadership positions in Nigeria.

Some of the positions included the chairperson of the International Technical Commission for the National Boundary Commission, chairperson of the Nigeria Economic Joint Commission, and chairperson of the Sao Tome and Principe Joint Boundary Commission.

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Reno Omokri, a former presidential aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has recounted how Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan accused him of sexual harassment.

Mr Omokris revelation comes amid the ongoing controversy surrounding a similar allegation she made against Senate President Godswill Akpabio during an interview on Arise Television.

On Saturday, he posted a video on his X page, which he claimed Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan recorded on 12 October 2021.

According to him, the lawmaker made the allegation in the video while contesting for the Kogi State governorship seat under the umbrella of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The 51-year-old stated that she accused him of flirting with her at a state banquet held at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa by then-President Goodluck Jonathan in honour of visiting Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.

However, in his rebuttal, Omokri denied the claim in a video on his Facebook page Saturday, noting that he was not in Nigeria on the date she mentioned.

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He added that Mr Jonathan sent him to the United States as a special envoy to repair Nigerias image following the Chibok girls abduction.

Mr Omokri said: On Tuesday, 12 October 2021, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had a dispute with me, and after the dispute, she went on social media and accused me of sexually harassing her. Now, the thing is, a month before, the Chibok girls were abducted, as one of the presidents spokespersons, Goodluck Jonathan sent me to the United States as a special envoy to try to clean up Nigerias image.

I left in April and was back in Nigeria until the end of May. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan lied. So what I did was I went on social media and published my passport stamps with my passport leaving Nigeria and then entering the United States showing the stamp. I also published a first-class British Airway ticket showing that I left Nigeria for the United Kingdom and from there to the United States. I wasnt in Nigeria until Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan accused me.

Denial

Mr Omokri noted that after he published his evidence in national dailies, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan deleted all her accusations across all her social media handles.

She had made a video insulting me, my wife and my newborn daughter; she also deleted that. The next day, I got a phone call from a prominent Christian clergyman who said they felt that, as a fellow pastor, Id listen to a member of the body of Christ. The senior member of the body of Christ called me on three ways with Emmanuel Uduaghan, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghans present husband.

They appealed to me and quoted scriptural references about Christians taking each other to court. I listened to them and settled the matter out of court, and I was paid a large amount of money as damages, and I let the matter go, said Mr Omokri.

Detector test

Furthermore, he admitted that he did not know whether the lawmakers allegations against Mr Akpabio were true.

However, he emphasised that Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans past actions spoke volumes.

He said: Four years later, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had a dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio and then went on Arise Television and accused him of sexual harassment, and it sounds like deja vu, and the thing is, I dont know if those allegations are true, but one thing I know is that Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is a liar. So heres the thing: past behaviour is the best predictor of future behaviours.

Before Nigeria crucifies Senator Godswill Akpabio, Id encourage people like Obiageli Ezekwesili and others now agitating to ask Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to take a lie detector test. One Senator can escort her in her support and one thats objective or Obiageli Ezekwesili and a third party, maybe someone from CAN, National Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, or some other objective body, to do the lie detector test.

Evidence

According to him, Nigerians might have believed the lawmaker if he had not presented evidence.

If you think about what happened to me and I didnt have ticket and passport stamps and even videos and pictures of me in the State Department in Washington and later at my sons school in San Francisco, everybody would have believed that I sexually harassed Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Because I have evidence she retracted all her false allegations and deleted traces of them. Now, assume Im lying; just Google Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan accuses Reno Omokri. Just read the facts on Vanguard, Punch, etc. But I dont know if what she said is true until she takes a lie detector test; the presumption is that shes acting on her past behaviour, he added.

This newspaper reported that amid the controversy, the Senate suspended Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months on February 20 over alleged misconduct and her refusal to comply with the chambers sitting arrangement during plenary.

However, the upper chamber stated that if she submitted a written apology, its leadership may consider lifting the suspension before the six-month period expires.

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This is not the first time an elected senator has been arbitrarily suspended. The courts have ruled against such actions in the past, yet the Senate, in flagrant disregard for the rule of law, has once again wielded suspension as a weapon of intimidation. If an outspoken, accomplished, and politically strategic woman like Senator Natasha can be targeted, what hope is there for ordinary women who aspire to leadership?

The Nigerian Senate, in a stunning display of patriarchal impunity, has suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, demanding an apology from her for daring to speak out. Her crime? Alleging sexual harassment against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, a man previously publicly accused of similar misconduct. This suspension is a travesty of justice, an assault on democracy, and a dangerous precedent that threatens the very foundation of gender equality and political freedom in Nigeria.

The Weaponisation of Power Against Women in Politics

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghans suspension is not just about one woman, but about the institutional silencing of women in Nigerian governance. The National Assembly, which should be a bastion of democracy, has instead become a hostile battlefield where women who challenge entrenched systems of patriarchy are systematically bullied, humiliated, and cast aside.

How does a democratically elected senator, representing thousands of citizens, get stripped of her constitutional role for exposing sexual harassment, a fundamental issue that the Nigerian government has vowed to combat? The message is chilling: Speak out, and you will be punished. Stand for justice, and you will be erased. Demand accountability, and you will be silenced.

This is not the first time an elected senator has been arbitrarily suspended. The courts have ruled against such actions in the past, yet the Senate, in flagrant disregard for the rule of law, has once again wielded suspension as a weapon of intimidation. If an outspoken, accomplished, and politically strategic woman like Senator Natasha can be targeted, what hope is there for ordinary women who aspire to leadership?

A Pattern of Political Violence Against Women

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The attack on Senator Natasha is part of a larger, more insidious war against women in Nigerian politics. Nigeria already ranks among the lowest in the world for womens representation in governance, and this latest act of political suppression will only widen the gender gap. Women who might have considered public office will now think twice, knowing that:

1. Their voices will be met with hostility rather than respect.

2. Their integrity will be questioned if they expose wrongdoing.

3. Their positions will be precarious, subject to the whims of male-dominated political structures that can erase them overnight.

It is no coincidence that this suspension comes just as Senator Natasha was making groundbreaking contributions to legislation, infrastructure, education, and economic development in her state. Her work threatened the status quo, and the system responded with brutality.

The Dangerous Future We Are Creating

If this trend of political misogyny continues, Nigeria will cement its status as a hostile nation for women in governance. This will have profound consequences:

Reduced development: Countries with higher gender parity in politics experience greater economic growth and social stability. By stifling womens leadership, Nigeria is sabotaging its own progress.

Global condemnation: The world is watching, and this blatant abuse of power undermines Nigerias international standing. How can Nigeria claim commitment to gender equality in global forums, while publicly persecuting its most prominent female politicians?

Disenfranchisement of half the population: Women make up nearly 50 per cent of Nigerias population, yet their voices are being systematically erased from governance. A democracy that excludes half of its citizens is no democracy at all.

There Is Still Hope: The Fight for Justice Is Not Just for Women

Amid this travesty, there is a glimmer of hope. There are men, young and old, within and outside the Senate, who are knowledgeable about human rights and democracy, who stand for justice, and who are willing to join right-thinking and progressive Nigerians in supporting Senator Natasha in this fight for justice.

This is not just a womens issue; it is a national crisis that concerns every Nigerian who believes in fairness, equity, and democracy. The struggle for gender justice must be fought by all who envision a Nigeria where competence, character, and contribution  not gender  determine leadership.

We Must Resist

Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF) vehemently condemns the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and the shameful political bullying orchestrated against her. We call on all Nigerians especially women and progressive men to resist this injustice.

The Senate must immediately reverse this suspension and respect the rule of law.

Human rights organisations must intervene to protect Senator Natashas rights.

Men who believe in justice must speak up silence is complicity.

Women must mobilise and reject political structures that continue to diminish their place in governance.

The Senate may have succeeded in silencing one woman for six months, but they cannot silence the voices of millions of women and men who refuse to accept a future in which gender discrimination dictates political destiny.

Senator Natashas fight is the fight of every Nigerian who believes in justice, fairness, and a truly democratic future. And we will not be silenced.

Mabel Adinya Ade is the Founder and Executive Director, Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF)

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Mallam Kabir Dangogo was a multi-award-winning PR practitioner whose decades of distinguished practice left an indelible mark on the communications landscape and the banking industry. His remarkable journey is a testament to his exceptional leadership, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to excellence As we bid farewell to this doyen of public relations in Africa, we celebrate a life well-lived and a legacy that will endure.

My father died a while ago! Janaza will be at Sultan Bello Mosque Kaduna after Jumuat prayer Insha Allah

This was the sombre message that greeted me on my phone from Sadiq Kabir Dangogo, son of the legendary Mallam Kabir Dangogo, as I awoke for the Ramadan Sahur at 4:00 a.m. on Friday, 7 March. For a moment, I was paralysed by disbelief. I pinched myself to ensure it wasnt a nightmare and sought further confirmation. The reality soon sank in: the man who had inspired countless African public relations professionals was no more.

Mallam Kabir Dangogo was not just a name in the field of public relations (PR); he was an institution. His contributions to the profession are monumental, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations of PR practitioners.

My first encounter with Mallam Dangogo was through his writings during my early years in PR. However, it was an unforgettable honour to share a podium with him when we were both recognised as PR Personalities of the Year by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Kano/Jigawa Chapter exactly 30 years ago. The event, held on 5 August, 1995, at Daula Hotel in Kano, was graced by dignitaries such as the NIPR President, Alhaji Sabo Muhammad; former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Ali Saad Birnin Kudu; and my boss, Alhaji Abu Gidado, then minister of state for Finance, who was the special guest of honour.

That moment marked the beginning of a mentorship and professional relationship that profoundly shaped my career. Mallam Dangogos towering presence in strategic communication opened the doors for numerous opportunities and networks. His establishment of Timex Communications and Training School, after his retirement, further cemented his commitment to nurturing the next generation of PR professionals.

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As a revered authority in financial public relations and reputation management, Mallam Dangogos expertise transcended borders. On 21 February, 2019, we had the privilege of hosting him at the PRNigeria Centre in Abuja for a mentorship session with our interns, mostly Mass Communication students. Unbeknownst to him, we had orchestrated a surprise 70th birthday celebration in his honour.

At exactly 4:00 p.m., as I led him into our conference room, the staff and interns erupted into a melodious rendition of Happy Birthday. The look of surprise on his face was priceless. The celebration deepened as calls began pouring in from top PR practitioners across the continent. The first was from the President of the African Public Relations Association (APRA), Mr Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, followed by the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Mr Mukhtar Sirajo, and many others, all extending heartfelt wishes to him.

In his remarks that day, Mallam Dangogo admitted that he had long forgotten his birthday, which he rarely commemorated. With a sense of nostalgia, he reflected on the golden days of public relations, when decorum, ethics, and professionalism were the guiding principles of the profession. He lamented the current state of PR in Nigeria, emphasising that the profession was not merely about crafting grammatically impeccable press releases or delivering eloquent speeches at press conferences. He urged young practitioners to be hardworking, diligent, and steadfast in upholding the ethics of the profession.

Born on 21 February, 1949, Mallam Kabir Dangogo was a scholar and trailblazer. He earned academic degrees from Ohio University, Athens, in the United States in 1981, and the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom in 1987. Mallam Dangogos illustrious career began in journalism, where he worked at the New Nigerian newspaper and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). He actually served as the Managing Editor of New Nigerian between 1988 and 1989, was a Senior Lecturer at Kaduna Polytechnic in the late 1980s, and the Press Adviser to the United States Information Service in 1990.

He later transitioned into public relations, serving as a Public Relations Officer at the Bank of the North Limited and Union Bank of Nigeria Plc. He was the founding President of the Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB). He served as Secretary-General of the Federation of African Public Relations Associations (FAPRA, later known as APRA), while also being the Chairman of the Nigeria Chapter of the International Public Relations Associations (IPRA) between 2002 and 2006, bringing pride to Nigeria on the continental and global stages.

After 32 years of distinguished service in various corporate organisations, Mallam Dangogo voluntarily retired from Union Bank on 26 June, 2005, as the Assistant General Manager (AGM) of Corporate Affairs. He then established Timex Communications, a PR firm and communication training school that hosted global events in Nigeria.

His contributions to the profession were recognised worldwide. In 1981, he was elected a Fellow of the International Radio and Television Society (IRTS) in New York. He became a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in 2000 and received the NIPR Presidents Award for Excellence in Public Relations in 1996. He was also a Fellow of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) and received the Lagos State Chapter of the NIPR Award for Excellence in Public Relations in 2005.

Mallam Kabir Dangogo was a multi-award-winning PR practitioner whose decades of distinguished practice left an indelible mark on the communications landscape and the banking industry. His remarkable journey is a testament to his exceptional leadership, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to excellence.

As we bid farewell to this doyen of public relations in Africa, we celebrate a life well-lived and a legacy that will endure. May his soul rest in peace.

Yushau A. Shuaib is the author of A Dozen Tips for Media Relations and Introduction to Financial Public Relations in Nigeria. Email:[email protected]

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He remains in the pantheon of torchbearers and those who enriched our history and corpus of knowledge. His transition leaves a gap in mentorship, scholarship, practice, advocacy, and organisational management in the communication management ecosystem in Africa. His spirit is very rare. We will mind the gap and rededicate ourselves to raising the banner of his philosophical, didactic, pragmatic, and organisational spirit.

I received with shock and resultant deep grief, the news of the transition of Mallam Kabir Dangogo in the wee hours of 7 March. If I want to sound official, I will say Mallam Dangogo was one of my predecessors as Secretary General of the African Public Relations Association (APRA). Indeed, he was Nigerias first Secretary General of FAPRA, the forerunner of APRA, and expectedly the continental body of professionals and practitioners of public relations is already treating this as a tragedy and putting it in historic context beginning with the letter of condolence dispatched to his family.

But Mallam was my mentor, an uncommon enabler, on whose wings many of us rode to recognition in professional practice and to the centre of APRA as the organising principle for public relations offerings in Africa. It was he who handed me over to Dr Wole Adamolekun, who succeeded him as APRAs scribe, though I had known him earlier at the height of my twitchy spirit and itinerant activism. I refer to the time I wanted to do everything under the sun to remake Nigeria. To that extent, Dangogo was our Mwalimu, a special teacher, and a Socratic mentor.

In APRA, before Dangogo, Nigeria had the legendary Sam Epelle, the inimitable Bob Ogbuagu, and the trailblazing Mike Okereke. When on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the formation of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), the global body took its Council Meeting and General Assembly to Nairobi in June 1975, Epelle was there to fly the Nigeria flag. Epelle, with his colleagues, Jesse Opembe (Kenya), first chairman (president) of Federation of African Public Relations Association (FAPRA), and Carl Reindorf (Ghana), first secretary general and others from Egypt, Ethiopia, Mauritius, South Africa, Rhodesia (the colonial name of todays Zimbabwe), Uganda and Zambia, founded FAPRA, as it then was.

Thus, 10 African countries, on the 10th of June 1975, seized the auspiciousness of the IPRA historic forum to reshape the history of public relations on the continent. The second conference could not take place until five years later in Lagos. Ogbuagu was elected president at the third conference in Accra in 1981, and Okereke was elected president in 1990 in Abuja. Okereke set up a befitting FAPRA secretariat with the appointment of an executive director, Ben Eke, a retired director of Public Relations at the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Information. Okerekes term also witnessed the regular organisation of robust conferences and expansion of the participatory/democratic space (that started during Ogbuagus chairmanship) to foster inclusivity.

Conferences took place in Kampala in 1991; Abidjan, 1992; Dakar, 1993 (a revolutionary forum that shaped finance, membership and voting policies, as well as set the tone for re-christening and remaking of APRA); Accra in 1994; Kenya in 1995; and Zimbabwe in 1996. I will stop here to refocus on Mallam Dangogo and pray that I have the grace to write about a number of accomplishments of some of our leaders in their lifetimes. They are many and include, Mazi Mike Okereke, Wole Olaoye, Kate Bapela, Wole Adamolekun, Peter Munywoki Mutie, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, Robyn de villers, Jane Gitau, Ike Neliaku, and so on.

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Today, the brass tack is Mallam Dangogo, our soft-spoken, unassuming enabler, uncommon teacher and mentor, a willing uplifter, who ever so often offered his shoulders to others to climb to success. Mallam was avuncular, non-tribalistic, egalitarian, and therefore ecumenical in spirit, through and through. He was kind but tough. I think his mentee, Dr Nkechi Ali-Balogun, must have acquired that oxymoronic character trait from him. He was principled but very fair, thoroughly firm, and unapologetically forthright  values that he brought to NIPR and APRA to nudge us to thrive beyond our imagination.

It was Dangogo who became more restless than others towards remaking FAPRA, especially from 1997 when the Association suffered terminal decline. Strangely, quite unfortunately and inexplicably, Okerekes successor did not only take his eyes off the ball, but also practically dropped the ball. I hope history will be kinder to him and his colleagues whenever we discover what exactly happened. Anyway, Dangogo, a leading light in the re-mobilisation efforts that rallied revolutionary elements and other enthusiasts, came to the rescue of the Association from a five-year moribundity. As a major re-awakening of the historic continental body from recession, Dangogo, who was elected secretary general at Accra in 2003, had been mandated earlier in 2002, alongside Ghanas Joseph Allotey-Pappoe, who was elected president also in 2003, to constitute a coordinating team to reorganise the Association.

In 2004, Dangogo hosted his comrades and professional colleagues in Abuja, where the 17th All Africa Public Relations Conference took place. Since that time, the Association has never suffered dormancy. In 2006, at the 19th Conference in Johannesburg, while Ghanas Allotey-Pappoe was re-elected president, Dangogo, though eminently qualified for re-election, stepped down from office as secretary general and nudged Dr Wole Adamolekun to run for the office. With his support of his colleagues, Adamolekun continued the reformation and, particularly, the Associations secretariat sustainability project, with fervour. At the 20th conference in Kampala in 2007, FAPRA Council resolved to move the headquarters of FAPRA to Nigeria after 32 years of being headquartered in Kenya  an idea that had been muted by Okereke and his colleagues, alongside the need to democratise the organisational membership. The progressive elements had insisted that FAPRA should embrace individual membership, like IPRA and CIPR of the United Kingdom, to be able to sustain its financial obligations, rather than maintaining institutional membership and the meagre contribution that comes with annual subscription.

By the reckoning of key actors in APRA at that time, choosing Nigeria as the secretariat of APRA was the best way to prevent the Association from slipping back to recession because of the countrys tendency for playing the Big Brother role in the continent. So, many trusted Nigeria to preserve the Association. Nigeria, thus, became the secretariat of the Association, though you do not have to be a Nigerian to be elected the secretary general. Indeed, Jane Gitau of Kenya and Henry Rugamba of Uganda have been elected and served as secretaries general of APRA. In the pre-Reformation era, Ghanas Carl Reindorf and Kafui Asem, as well as Kenyas John H, Mramba, among others, also served as secretaries general at different times.

At the 21st conference in Kumasi in 2008, Kate Bapela of the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa was elected president, the first female to assume such responsibility, and Dr Adamolekun was re-elected secretary general. While the idea of reforms to foster broader participation of all professionals from all parts of Africa had been a recurring matter right from Ogbuagus tenure, when the first attempt to decentralise FAPRAs governance was muted and implemented, arguably the Kampala conference produced the concrete resolution to change FAPRA to APRA. Re-christened the Association for African Public Relations Practitioners (AAPRP), its trading name became the African Public Relations Association (APRA) following the efforts of Dangogo and Adamolekun. It is to the credit of Adamolekun, with Dangogos mentorship, that the resolution was implemented with speed and precision to ensure that APRA did not suffer a further reversal of fortune.

While the decentralisation project had been a popular advocacy since the 1980s, it got a stronger fillip and concrete expression during Dangogos secretary generalship, when APRA had three vice presidents for West, East and Southern Africa respectively, as well as a director of Programmes, director of Public Relations and treasurer. Dangogo has also been given the credit for bringing South Africa to the APRA fold when the Association recovered from its dormancy. Dangogo seized every opportunity to encourage professional colleagues in Southern Africa, particularly from the Republic of South Africa, to attend APRA events. These mentoring yielded fruits when Kate Bapela became vice president and later president of APRA.

Born in Katsina in February 1949, Dangogo earned academic degrees from Ohio University in Athens, USA, and University of Leicester, United Kingdom. He traversed the gamut of communication management practice and scholarship, starting with journalism, then advertising and public relations. He worked with the Nigerian Television Authority (Africas largest television network) and later joined the New Nigerian newspapers, a leading print medium of the 1970s and 1980s, where he was Managing Editor in the late 1980s. Dangogo also taught journalism and communication studies at Kaduna Polytechnic, one of Nigerias leading tertiary institutions. He became a press adviser to the United States Information Service (USIS) in 1990.

Dangogos sojourn in corporate public relations was also seminal. He worked with two leading banks in Nigeria  Bank of the North and Union Bank  where he was a leading light of the organisations corporate affairs managements. His stint in the banking sector became consequential when he rallied his colleagues in other banks to form one of the most influential groups in Nigerias financial sector  the Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB). He was elected ACAMBs first president, and he used the platform to mentor many young people in financial public relations. His first book, Beyond Banking Hall, captured his experience in that sector and thereafter. He established Timex Communications to enhance knowledge production and share about global standards in public relations and communication management. He is on record to have said that public relations transcends crafting impeccable press releases, but it is a profession built on the doctrinal tripod of decorum, ethics, and professionalism.

A towering personality, Dangogo became a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in the year 2000 and earlier in 1981, he was elected a fellow of the International Radio and Television Society in New York. He was equally a fellow of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON). As the Chairman of the Nigerian Chapter of the International Public Relations Association and subsequently Secretary General of APRA, Dangogo was noted for bespoke value creation, integrity, and reputational uptakes. Mallam Kabir Dangogo received many awards and would certainly be one of the most celebrated and decorated professionals in the annals of public relations and communication management in Africa.

The avalanche of condolence messages, tributes, eulogies, and associated memorialisations attest to derivable benefits of the life, times, and works. He remains in the pantheon of torchbearers and those who enriched our history and corpus of knowledge. His transition leaves a gap in mentorship, scholarship, practice, advocacy, and organisational management in the communication management ecosystem in Africa. His spirit is very rare. We will mind the gap and rededicate ourselves to raising the banner of his philosophical, didactic, pragmatic, and organisational spirit. May his family and friends be comforted. May his soul rest in peace.

Omoniyi Ibietan is the secretary general, African Public Relations Association (APRA).

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President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff plans to visit Moscow to meet with President Vladimir Putin, Bloomberg reported on Monday.

"President Donald Trumps envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, plans to visit Moscow for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, people familiar with the matter said, as the administration looks to secure a cease-fire in the Ukraine conflict," the agency reports.

According to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, his trip will coincide with meetings between Ukrainian officials and Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz in Saudi Arabia.

On Sunday, Trump said the United States had "big meetings coming up" with Ukraine and Russia.
Perhaps the most important political event, this week in Nigeria, so far, nobody knows if there would be a free-for-all fight in Rivers state tomorrow, or some melodrama in Osun state or elsewhere, before the week runs out  is the announced defection of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai from the All Progressives Congress party (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). In a signed statement dated March 10, 2025, El-Rufai says at this point in my political journey, I have come to the conclusion that I must seek another political platform for the pursuit of the progressive values I cherish. In plain terms, he no longer finds the APC useful, the same party which he had thought he would continue to align (with) up to the time I choose to retire from politics. He helped to create the party in 2013, and worked to secure the APCs election victories in 2015, 2019, and we may add  2023. It was on the platform of the party that he served as Governor of Kaduna state from 2015 to 2023. He says the party has treated its membership with contempt in the last two years. By this, he is obviously referring to himself. I find this no longer acceptable, he declares. And so now, in effect, El-Rufai has resigned from the APC to join the SDP and adopt it as the platform for our future political engagements and activities. His objective is to help form a unified democratic platform to challenge the APC in all elections and bye-elections between now and 2027 by the Grace of God. In other words, his goal is to get the APC out of power most certainly and with God as an accomplice!

Nasir El-Rufai joining the SDP is the fourth political platform that he would have been associated with publicly since the return to civilian rule in 1999. His first port of call was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when President Olusegun Obasanjo emerged as President, after the June 12 debacle that lasted for six years with grave implications for national unity, progress and stability. In 2011, he became a member of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) after his return from exile. In 2013/14, he aligned with the APC, and now, he has ported as they say in common parlance to the SDP. Nasir El-Rufai according to those who knew him was a smart, resourceful little known Quantity Surveyor and Business Administrator with a First-Class brain, doing his own little thing in his own little corner until he was brought into public service first by the military administration General Abdusalami Abubakar in an advisory capacity. He eventually came into prominence when as is widely believed, he was invited to join the Obasanjo administration by Waziri Adamawa Atiku Abubakar who was then Vice President of Nigeria. He was appointed Director General of the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE). In that capacity, he proved himself as a competent and knowledgeable technocrat, becoming in the process a key member of the governments economic team in key areas such as privatization, commercialization, energy security and the oversight of due process within the economy. Nasir El-Rufai was an influential member of an inner group within the Obasanjo team of well-informed, young technocrats and intellectuals  the shining stars of the administration; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Oby Ezekwesili, Nuhu Ribadu, and Charles Chukwuma Soludo. He had the ears and the eyes of the President.

He was later rewarded with a Ministerial appointment when he was appointed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in 2003. He was a colourful, bold, outspoken and assertive Minister who insisted on the sanctity of the Abuja Master Plan. He earned a reputation as Mr. Demolition, demolishing over 900 buildings including the properties of highly placed members of society. He ended up with not a few enemies, and a community of critics. The Obasanjo administration completed its tenure in 2007. The YarAdua administration that followed was practically anointed by President Olusegun Obasanjo but both Obasanjo and his foot-soldiers who wheeled the YarAdua Presidency into existence were disappointed. After an initial thank-you visit to Ota, accompanied by members of his family, YarAdua soon began to assert himself in power as his own man. He refused to kow-tow to any Godfather. Obasanjos former aides fared worse. Whatever sense of entitlement they thought they deserved was given short-shrift treatment by President YarAdua. Nasir El-Rufai was one of the lonely victims of the period. President Goodluck Jonathan who had been YarAduas Vice President and who succeeded his boss after the unfortunate incidents of illness and death, and the doctrine of necessity also did not feel compelled to over-pamper the old Obasanjo brigade. Many members of the group naturally became critics of the Jonathan administration, yesterdays men and women who fervently believed that they could sabotage the new power elite in Abuja to regain relevance. Those who could find programmes of study abroad did so, those who could find jobs too, some went into exile, while others found a new vocation as public affairs commentators and a censorious, aggrieved band of agitators.

This group found an opportunity for vengeance between 2013 and 2014 when they joined forces with others, notably Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), as well as a faction of the PDP, known as the new PDP (nPDP) led by Senator Bukola Saraki. There was also General Muhammadu Buharis CPC, and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). These groups came together to form a party known as the APC on February 6, 2013. Coalition politics had been tested with considerable success in other African countries  Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania  it was therefore not surprising that Nigerian opposition politicians embraced the same option. Nasir El-Rufai was indeed one of the key architects of the coalition. General Muhammadu Buhari was the candidate, the rallying point. He was re-packaged and sold to the Nigerian people as a soldier turned democrat. The APC was a gathering of strange bedfellows. They had one mission: to take power back to the North and to remove President Jonathan from power. President Jonathan famously had said that his ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian. He was committed to the idea of free, fair and peaceful elections. When it became obvious that INEC was going to announce Buhari as winner in 2015, President Jonathan conceded defeat. While President Buhari presided over Nigerias affairs at the centre, Nasir El-Rufai was Governor in Kaduna State (2015  2023) with considerable influence within the ruling party.

I have given this background to paint a picture of how Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has been part of the making of Nigerian politics since 1999. He has told part of his own story in a book titled The Accidental Public Servant (Safari Books, 2013, 712 pp). In the lead up to the 2023 general elections, he was one of the voices of reason in the APC who defended the principle of Rotational Presidency, in this instance from North to the South and he supported Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who claimed the credit for bringing Buhari to power as a civilian President in 2015, and insisted that in 2023, it was his turn to become Nigerias President. Emilokan (It is My Turn), he said. Given the fervour with which Mallam El-Rufai championed Tinubus cause, it was perfectly reasonable that he would expect to be rewarded for his loyalty and support. The hope that this would be so was in fact raised by Asiwaju Tinubu, himself, who as President-elect publicly announced that El-Rufai would be a member of his team. It was an open invitation with witnesses in attendance, the only person to be so honoured by the in-coming President. Politicians invest. They expect returns on their investment. They may mouth platitudes about serving the people but they are actually in politics to serve their own selfish interests. There may be exceptions to the rule and there are notable ones including Nelson Mandela, Obafemi Awolowo, the Sardauna Ahmadu Bello, Margaret Ekpo, Aminu Kano, Ibrahim Waziri, Tafawa Balewa El-Rufai, as expected made the list of Ministerial nominees but to everyones consternation, he purportedly failed security screening. How? The President had cleared him even before his nomination. His friend, from their days of partnership and comradeship since the Obasanjo years, was the National Security Adviser (NSA). Nuhu Ribadu would not clear Nasir El-Rufai? Which security clearance is that? Well, that was the beginning of Nasir El-Rufais troubles or the complication of it. A perfect storm. Trouble in Paradise. He would later be accused of mismanagement of public funds by the Kaduna State House of Assembly. The lawmakers said they were looking for N423 billion! purportedly spent without following due process. He denied any wrong-doing during his eight years as Governor of the State.

Some of the officials who worked with him as Governor, including his Chief of Staff and four others were called in for investigation and interrogation. They were later arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on charges of money laundering. It did not take too long before El-Rufai, known for his outspokenness, started fighting back. In January, he said he could no longer recognize the APC  a party that he helped to create, which has now been taken over by others and he has been left behind. The party, he affirmed, no longer practices internal democracy, it has since abandoned its founding principles and has been taken over by illiterates and internal mercenaries! No party organ has met in two years  no caucus, no NEC, nothing. You dont even know if it is a one-man show; its a zero-man show. By February this year, the matter had degenerated into a face-off between Mallam El-Rufai and NSA Ribadu. The former Governor condemned the Presidents economic reforms and the quality of the people implementing the reforms, some of which he considers wrong. He frontally accused the President of being the one who rejected him as a Ministerial nominee. Still firing from all cylinders, El-Rufai said his friend, Ribadu is not good enough to be the countrys National Security Adviser. He accused him of working hard to tarnish his reputation, because he thinks he, El Rufai, poses a threat to his 2031 Presidential ambition. The biggest blow came yesterday with him walking away from the APC.

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This should not be surprising to students of Nigerian politics though. It is usual practice for Nigerian politicians to move from one political party to another. They are driven not by ideological beliefs, or principles, but convenience, expediency or wherever they think they can easily realize their ambitions. There are Nigerian politicians who since 1999 have been in different political parties. This is Nasir El-Rufais fourth. He must be given credit however for the forthrightness of his defection statement: he is calling on opposition politicians to unite and get the APC out of power in 2027. He is not quite mouthing those pretentious cliches about saving Nigeria. He has drawn a line in the sand. His exit from the APC is the equivalent of the declaration of political war.

This was a strategy that worked in 2015. But there is no guarantee that it would work again this time around. Nonetheless, it is clear that El Rufai is not alone. He has been seen visiting and meeting with other politicians who many have an axe to grind with President Tinubu and the APC, and there has been so much talk about a Grand Coalition to unseat President Tinubu in 2027. This is easier said than done. It may not be so easy to intimidate Tinubu out of office, and certainly not by the likes of politicians who were once beneficiaries of his own method of politics. They know him. He knows them too. Those who do not know anybody are the hapless masses in whose name the politicians commit atrocities, and settle their differences when it suits them. Tinubu also does not have a strong opposition challenging his government. Between 2013  2015, the then emergent APC had a team of aggressive, hyperactive and hypertensive spokespersons who specialised in abusing and attacking the Jonathan administration. I should know. I was a constant target of their malicious vituperations. President Tinubu does not have that kind of challenge. He has at least one prominent agent within the PDP, at the highest levels, who is also within the corridors of power serving Tinubu. The planned Grand coalition of anti-Tinubu opposition forces may also be dead on arrival as there is no clearly identifiable, symbolic figure to lead the gathering. The ambitions of the key figures are equally dissimilar. Nasir El-Rufai who has now presented himself as a rallying and roving coordinator plays a kind of politics that could alienate many. As Governor in Kaduna State, he was constantly accused of favouring one religion against the other, and within the larger Nigeria space, his critics consider him a polarizing, irredentist. The SDP which he has opted to join had its brightest moment in Nigerian politics way back in 1993, when Chief MKO Abiola won the June 12 Presidential election on its platform, and even that outcome was annulled. That was 32 years ago! By showing his hands and intentions so early, so prematurely, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai may have begun a long journey into political wilderness. As a two-time yesterday man, he should know better, except he is playing the Trumpian game of striking first, to force a negotiation. But even that does not look like a prospect. The Presidency has dismissed El-Rufais defection as inordinate ambition. His former colleagues in Kaduna APC have simply said: we are unperturbed we are not disturbed and we are not going to lose sleep over El-Rufais moves.

Reuben Abati, a former presidential spokesperson, writes from Lagos.

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Polarisation within Nigerias civil society sector is a challenge, but it is also an opportunity for growth and transformation. By confronting these divisions head-on, civil society can maintain its role as a unifying force for good The findings of this research offer a roadmap for navigating these challenges and building a more cohesive, resilient sector. The time to act is now.

In Nigeria, civil society organisations (CSOs) have played a vital role in advocating for democracy, human rights, and social development. Over the decades, these organisations have acted as intermediaries between citizens and the state, giving voice to the voiceless and holding the government accountable. However, the sector is confronted with challenges of unhealthy divisions often arising from the competition for resources, generational disconnects, and ideological differences. If left unchecked, these divisions risk eroding the very foundations of civil society, undermining its capacity to deliver on its mission of advocacy and social change. That is why it is imperative to understand and address the challenge of polarisation in the civic space.

A recent study conducted by Thoughts and Mace Advisory, in partnership with SBM Intelligence, with support from Ford Foundation Nigeria, has sought to understand the extent, drivers, and implications of polarisation within Nigerias civil society sector. The study rose from a growing recognition that Nigerias civil society space, like the wider society, faces the challenges of polarisation. Through extensive polling of 134 CSO leaders and 908 CSO beneficiaries, as well as stakeholder consultations in Lagos and Abuja, the research provides critical insights into the underlying causes of these divisions and explored actionable solutions for fostering unity.

Understanding the Problem

The research found that 82 per cent of CSO leaders had observed some level of disagreements within the sector, often driven by either competition for funding, ideological differences, or interpersonal conflicts. Divisions in the sector manifest in multiple ways including:

Generational divides: Older activists and younger advocates often find themselves at odds. Younger leaders feel that the older generation is resistant to change, while more experienced leaders see the youth as lacking the necessary experience and respect for established structures. The #EndSARS protests brought this tension into sharp focus, as younger activists deliberately distanced themselves from traditional civil society leaders.

Older activists and younger advocates often find themselves at odds. Younger leaders feel that the older generation is resistant to change, while more experienced leaders see the youth as lacking the necessary experience and respect for established structures. The #EndSARS protests brought this tension into sharp focus, as younger activists deliberately distanced themselves from traditional civil society leaders. Ideological rifts: Differences in organisational missions and cultural values, particularly on sensitive issues like abortion, have led to tension.

Differences in organisational missions and cultural values, particularly on sensitive issues like abortion, have led to tension. Resource competition: With limited donor funding, organisations increasingly compete for grants, often sacrificing collaboration and shared goals in the process.

Ultimately, when civil society organisations fail to work together, the communities they serve suffer the most. Beneficiaries lose access to coordinated services, and the sectors ability to hold the government accountable is severely weakened.

The Real Cost of Division

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Polarisation has consequences. It can dilute advocacy efforts, strain donor relationships, and adversely impact public trust. Ultimately, when civil society organisations fail to work together, the communities they serve suffer the most. Beneficiaries lose access to coordinated services, and the sectors ability to hold the government accountable is severely weakened.

As one CSO leader noted during a stakeholder consultation in Abuja:

When we let our differences define us, we forget that we are all fighting for the same thing  a better Nigeria. Division only serves those who want to see us fail.

Stories of Hope: Bridging Divides and Building Trust

Despite the challenges, there are many examples of CSOs overcoming their differences and working together for the common good. The Interfaith Mediation Centre, founded by Pastor James Wuye and Imam Muhammad Ashafa, is a powerful example of how dialogue can break down barriers. Once adversaries in religious conflict, they now work side-by-side to promote peace and understanding between Christian and Muslim communities.

Similarly, the Green Institute, led by environmentalist Adenike Akinsemolu, focuses on bridging generational gaps by mentoring young environmental advocates. Initiatives like these show that with intentional efforts, civil society can overcome divisions and emerge stronger.

CSOs must prioritise dialogue, inclusivity, and collaboration, recognising that diversity of opinion can be a strength rather than a weakness. Efforts should be made to build intergenerational bridges and embrace ideological diversity while maintaining a shared focus on core values like human rights and social justice.

A Call to Action: Building a More Cohesive Civil Society

The path forward requires a collective effort from all stakeholders CSOs, donors, and policymakers to address the underlying causes of polarisation.

CSOs must prioritise dialogue, inclusivity, and collaboration , recognising that diversity of opinion can be a strength rather than a weakness. Efforts should be made to build intergenerational bridges and embrace ideological diversity while maintaining a shared focus on core values like human rights and social justice.

, recognising that diversity of opinion can be a strength rather than a weakness. Efforts should be made to build intergenerational bridges and embrace ideological diversity while maintaining a shared focus on core values like human rights and social justice. Donors, Nigeria , play a critical role in fostering unity by encouraging joint funding opportunities and capacity-building programmes that emphasise collaboration. Funding mechanisms should avoid exacerbating competition and instead promote collective impact.

, play a critical role in fostering unity by encouraging joint funding opportunities and capacity-building programmes that emphasise collaboration. Funding mechanisms should avoid exacerbating competition and instead promote collective impact. Government stakeholders must create an enabling environment for civil society by supporting regulatory frameworks that protect CSOs independence and encourage partnerships across ideological lines.

Conclusion: A United Future for Nigerias Civil Society

Polarisation within Nigerias civil society sector is a challenge, but it is also an opportunity for growth and transformation. By confronting these divisions head-on, civil society can maintain its role as a unifying force for good.

The findings of this research offer a roadmap for navigating these challenges and building a more cohesive, resilient sector. The time to act is now. If we fail to address these divisions, we risk weakening one of Nigerias most critical pillars of democracy and social progress.

But with intentional action and the spirit of collaboration, Nigerias civil society can emerge stronger, more united, and ready to tackle the complex challenges that lie ahead.

Joy Ekanen-Babasola is a programme manager at Thoughts and Mace Advisory.

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There is nothing to celebrate until the government and society cease paying lip service to womens rights and take meaningful action to address sexual harassment, gender-based violence, and the political exclusion of women. Until Nigerian women no longer have to fight for basic dignity and respect, there can be no genuine celebration. Women deserve more than empty words; they deserve change. Until that change occurs, there is nothing to celebrate.

Every year, certain international days are commemorated globally to celebrate progress and achievements and restate commitment to issues affecting specific groups, whether climate, children, humanitarian issues, or women. International Womens Day acknowledges (or should acknowledge) how far nations have come in the fight for equality  at home, in the workplace, and politics.

But let us ask the women of Nigeria who endure violence daily, from femicide at the hands of their intimate partners to microaggressions, because Nigeria, as it is currently constituted, is not a safe place for women. The tragic reality is that for many Nigerian women, our fight for rights, dignity, security, and the space to simply exist  not even thrive  is a daily one.

In a country where sexual and gender-based violence is pervasive, the International Womens Day feels like a hollow spectacle, a circus act that is neither entertaining nor coordinated, or a funeral we are forced to attend. Our funeral. Women live in fear, not just in our homes but everywhere: in the streets, in places of worship, in our offices, in schools, and even in supposedly hallowed chambers.

Each one of us has a story to tell: A story of harassment, of violence, of a diminished voice or dismissed complaint, of capitulating to bad behaviour from men because the alternative is to be socially ostracised as troublesome, being made to feel less than a equal human, even in spaces that are meant to be safe. Technology and social media introduce new layers of violence and breeding ground for abusers to target women without consequence or accountability. Women are forced to deal with inappropriate comments, unsolicited advances, and threats of violence for stating opinions, disagreeing with opinions, or just having opinions. Women who are victims of violence continue to be blamed, their stories dismissed, and their abusers walk free.

Much has been written and said about the chaotic and disgraceful handling of the allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, raised by Senator Natashi Akpoti-Uduaghan. The Senate has repeatedly committed blunders and perpetuated apparent illegalities simply because a woman dared to speak out. While Senator Akpoti-Uduaghans struggle should inspire us all, the broader issue of systemic and institutionally enabled gender-based violence in Nigeria cannot be ignored.

The perpetrators, meanwhile, continue to thrive, as Nigerian laws remain toothless and largely unenforced, and violence against women and girls is yet to be accorded the urgency and priority it deserves, both in national discourse and actual action. Even with the existence of laws such as the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) and the Child Rights Act (CRA), understanding and utility are weak, and justice remains out of reach for most women.

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And yet, year after year, we are bamboozled with platitudes by the same government and legislature that refuses to create laws and institutionalise policies that advance and protect women and girls. We are told that we have come so far, we are making progress, when the reality is that we are regressing at an alarming rate.

This systemic retrogression is even more evident in Nigerian politics, where womens representation remains appallingly low and, in 2025, has regressed to 1999 percentages, when Nigeria first returned to democracy. Women are either excluded from decision-making or relegated to tokenised, marginalised roles that dont carry real power. Nigeria, the so-called Giant of Africa, sits at the bottom of the continent with womens political representation. At 180th out of 185, Nigeria ranks amongst the lowest for womens parliamentary representation globally. Yearly calls on International Womens Day for the implementation of 35 per cent affirmative action or the increase of women in political spaces by the ones with the power to institute these laws are a joke and tantamount to an insult to Nigerian women.

Much has been written and said about the chaotic and disgraceful handling of the allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, raised by Senator Natashi Akpoti-Uduaghan. The Senate has repeatedly committed blunders and perpetuated apparent illegalities simply because a woman dared to speak out. While Senator Akpoti-Uduaghans struggle should inspire us all, the broader issue of systemic and institutionally enabled gender-based violence in Nigeria cannot be ignored.

Womens rights are neither a social nor a charitable issue; they are a fundamental human rights issue that demands justice, equality, and systemic change across all spheres of society. Womens full, uninhibited participation in public life is essential for economic and societal development, as our full participation in the workforce, education, and leadership contributes directly to the advancement of Nigeria.

So, what is there to celebrate on International Womens Day in Nigeria? Whether Accelerating Action or For All Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment, what is there to celebrate? What does it mean to celebrate when women endure vilification and the emotional and physical toll of harassment and violence just to participate in our countrys politics?

What progress have we genuinely made when legislators are contemplating the repeal and reenactment of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP), which took over eight years to be adopted by all Nigerian states (except Kano)?

Womens rights are neither a social nor a charitable issue; they are a fundamental human rights issue that demands justice, equality, and systemic change across all spheres of society. Womens full, uninhibited participation in public life is essential for economic and societal development, as our full participation in the workforce, education, and leadership contributes directly to the advancement of Nigeria. A government at all tiers that doesnt understand this does not bode well for the nation.

There is nothing to celebrate until the government and society cease paying lip service to womens rights and take meaningful action to address sexual harassment, gender-based violence, and the political exclusion of women. Until Nigerian women no longer have to fight for basic dignity and respect, there can be no genuine celebration. Women deserve more than empty words; they deserve change. Until that change occurs, there is nothing to celebrate.

Chioma Agwuegbo is the executive director at TechHerNG, an organisation that uses technology and digital tools for the advancement of women and girls. She writes from Abuja.

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in the court of public opinion, it is still a case of she said versus he said. No one can be sure who is fibbing and who is not at the moment. With the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions already empaneled, the truth will surely be revealed somehow, someday.

Who is fibbing, who is not? That is the question following recent revelations by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan that Senate President Godswill Akpabio made sexual advances at her. Five years ago, another woman, Joy Nunieh, then acting managing director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) made a similar charge against Akpabio, who was minister of Niger Delta Affairs at the time. For Akpabios failed effort at his Apo Guest House in Abuja, Nunieh is alleged to have rewarded him with an unexpected and explosive slap, and she promptly told Nigerians about it. In that kind of situation, no man is likely to own up to being thusly humiliated by a woman who is not his wife. Akpabio did not. So, Akpoti-Uduaghans latest accusation is by no means the first time Akpabio will be facing this incipient controversy over sexual harassment.

Nothing deflates a mans ego more than trying and failing to bed a woman he considers should be an easy conquest. Nothing pricks his conscience even more than when the unsuccessful attempt becomes public knowledge. Such could possibly just be the state of mind of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, currently entangled in a sexual harassment controversy with fellow senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Early on Friday, 28 February on Arise TV Morning Show, the senator representing Kogi Central let on how Akpabio sexually harassed her in his new country home in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom, where Akpabio was governor for eight years from 2007.

It was 8 December 2023, with other high-profile politicians invited as guests of the Senate president for a birthday bash the following day. In Akpoti-Uduaghans words, the Senate president offered to show her around the new pad, much like cicerones do with awe-struck tourists in newly-commissioned historic buildings. Her husband was also a guest of Akpabio but walking a pace or two behind the two chatting senators, like a Muslim wife.

In the course of the tour, according to Akpoti-Uduaghan, Akpabio held on to her hand firmly, notwithstanding that her spouse was right behind them. For much of that time, though, Chief Uduaghan, no relation of former governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan, was on the phone and so he couldnt have eavesdropped on whatever the Senate president and his wife were discussing.

Whatever they discussed that day would have remained a secret between the two serving senators. But circumstances decreed otherwise, prompted by none other than Akpabio himself, if we are to believe Akpoti-Uduaghans rather unsettling allegation during the Arise TV interview.

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Giving a blow-by-blow account of her interaction with Akpabio on that day in Uyo (a day to their birthdays, because both of them are birthday mates), Akpoti-Uduaghan said her senior colleague, while still holding her hand, went on to say that, now that youre a senator, Im going to create time for us to come spend quality moments here. You will enjoy it.

At that point, the senator said she withdrew her hand, maybe forcefully; an action her hubby wouldve seen and been alarmed by. Possibly out of propriety, he made no fuss in the presence of their host. He only asked his wife what happened when they had left the premises and were in bed at Four Points Hotel, where they lodged. That night, alone with her husband, she said she gave no clue what Akpabio had said. Instead, she dissimulated, as some women caught in that situation probably would have done, like it was no big deal. Besides, ratting on Akpabio wouldve marred the sweetness of her birthday, which was only a few hours away.

But as most people now know, circumstances changed all that, resulting now in the raging battle, claims and counter-claims, suits and counter-suits, between the lawmakers.

Its been a good 26 months since the incident in Uyo, which is enough time, as anyone would reasonably assume, to forever erase the matter from their minds. Apparently, time has not. If anything, Akpoti-Uduaghans disclosure on prime time TV validates the age-old truism that, however long it takes, a secret shared between two persons is no longer a secret. It may blow open one day.

Not only has that informal flirty conversation in early December 2023, which the senator did not immediately disclose to her husband, popped up in the public domain, it has become the fulcrum on which Akpoti-Uduaghans allegation against Akpabio revolves. It has also, in a way, sparked mutual resentment and bitterness between both parties.

Before her disclosure last weekend on Arise TV, distinguished senators witnessed a rather awkward confrontation between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan right in the hallowed chambers of the Upper House of the National Assembly, Abuja. Much of the acrimonious exchange is now in the public domain. The Senate president had ordered his colleague to relocate to another seat, for reasons which no one can say.

As alleged by Akpoti-Uduaghan, her unrequited love for the presiding officer of the Upper House of the National Assembly, one with immense powers and authority, is the reason for being undermined deliberately, so as to erode her confidence, bit by painful bit, as a senator.

Unable to bear such indignities from the Senate president any longer, she claims to have confronted him once. Akpabios response? Natasha, she quoted him saying, I am the presiding officer. You can enjoy a whole lot if you take care of me and make me happy. The ball is in your court.

It was no surprise, therefore, that everything came to a head on 20 February, after Akpabio ordered that she relocate to another seat.

Before her disclosure last weekend on Arise TV, distinguished senators witnessed a rather awkward confrontation between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan right in the hallowed chambers of the Upper House of the National Assembly, Abuja. Much of the acrimonious exchange is now in the public domain. The Senate president had ordered his colleague to relocate to another seat, for reasons which no one can say. But one of the four female lawmakers in the Senate, Mrs Ireti Kingibe, has defended Akpabios random allocation of seats in the house, saying she herself had been so ordered once and she complied.

But Akpoti-Uduaghan resisted, despite pleas from some of her colleagues and staff of the Senate. Akpabio, she went on, was deliberately using the power of his office to intimidate and bully her because she turned down his sexual advances. For her refusal, she was to then face the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions chaired by Neda Imasuen (LP Edo), which was mandated to report its findings in two weeks.

Still on her disobedience and obvious insubordination to the principal officer on that day in question, Senators Yemi Adaramodu, Jimoh Ibrahim and Bamidele Opeyemi called out Akpoti-Uduaghan, for her extreme intransigence.

Going by the Order 1(b) and 10 of the Upper House, the Senates spokesperson, Adaramodu, not only moved a motion against Akpoti-Uduaghans behaviour but also ribbed her. The Senate is not a platform for content creation but a place for lawmaking and oversight functions, he said, insisting that, where there is sin, there must be penalty. This chamber is not a place for theatrics or social media content creation. We are here to legislate, advocate for our constituents and provide oversight over MDAs, not to engage in media dramatisation.

Almost immediately, Ibrahim supported him, urging his colleagues to respect the law and order in the house, which his counterpart Opeyemi Bamidele reechoed. Under our watch, we will not allow this institution to be discredited beyond what we inherited. Our integrity is non-negotiable, he said, adding that senior senators had accepted seat changes without protest.

Furthermore, Opeyemi dismissed claims that the dispute was rooted in gender bias or discrimination. For Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, all the brouhaha was clearly avoidable. He then apologised on Akpoti-Uduaghans behalf.

Looking on from his vantage position above his colleagues, the Senate president ruled out Akpoti-Uduaghans claim that she was being victimised. The Senate rules, he declared, allow for members to sit anywhere, but that contributions must be made from their designated seats. He also insinuated that the lack of familiarity with the Senate procedures might have contributed to the altercation.

The first day she (Akpoti-Uduaghan) was sworn in, she stood up to contribute and I was worried if she had even read the rule book. There is nothing wrong with being vibrant but everything is wrong with disobeying procedures.

But the leading female star in the unfolding drama would have none of these. She stands by her allegation of rejecting Akpabios amatory overtures as the root cause of her problems in the Senate. And not one to keep quiet about the whole affair, Akpoti-Uduaghan decided to go public with what shes been allegedly going through with Akpabio, since politely brushing him off.

Naturally, the feud in the Upper House has pitted family members and supporters of the senators against one another. Mrs Unoma Akpabio, wife of the Senate president, has come out in stout defence of her husband, saying Akpoti-Uduaghans allegation against her husband is just about seeking attention and attempting to tarnish her husbands reputation for personal gains.

In the still trending interview on Arise TV, Akpoti-Uduaghan pointedly told her interviewer that her refusal to yield to the sexual advances was behind the hatred and antagonism by the Senate President, insisting that these advances happened within and outside the country.

Naturally, the feud in the Upper House has pitted family members and supporters of the senators against one another. Mrs Unoma Akpabio, wife of the Senate president, has come out in stout defence of her husband, saying Akpoti-Uduaghans allegation against her husband is just about seeking attention and attempting to tarnish her husbands reputation for personal gains. Curiously enough, Unoma was loudly silent when Nunieh, the former MD of NDDC, had declared to one and all in 2020 that, in his attempt to sexually harass her in his private digs in Apo, she dealt Akpabio a stupefying slap.

In an interview on Arise TV, the same medium through which Akpoti-Uduaghan broke her silence on Akpabios alleged sexual harassment, Nunieh gloated openly about this, quite possibly to the delight of the Akpabios enemies. Why did he not tell Nigerians that I slapped him in his guest house at Apo? I am the only Ogoni woman, the only Nigerian woman that has slapped him. I slapped him because of his plan B. Since he couldnt get me to take that money, he thought that he could come up on me. He didnt know that Im a Port Harcourt girl. Port Harcourt girls are not moved by moneyby somebody telling me that he will make me the substantive MD. Akpabios meetings with me were either at Apo or MeridienYes, I am accusing him of sexual harassment.

Akpabio denied sexually harassing Nunieh but admitted that unnamed individuals afraid of the Forensic Audit at the NDDC were behind Nuniehs aggressive behaviour to tarnish his image. How an unexpected slap by a woman in the privacy of his room translates into tarnishing his image publicly is hard to understand.

Undaunted by Unomas counter-suit in court and protestations of her husbands innocence, Akpoti-Uduaghan has responded correspondingly. In a letter through her lawyer Victor Giwa on 1 March, she advised Unoma to, stay out of the matter, adding that her husband should be the one to respond to the allegations. Stay away from Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghans allegation against Sen. President Godswill Akpabio, to safeguard your sanity and that of your family, the epistle stated unambiguously. Continuing, the lawyer said his client had endured repeated harassment from Akpabio and was left with no choice but to speak out, boasting that she possesses concrete evidence to substantiate her claimsTherefore, we wish to clarify that our clients allegations are directed at the Senate President alone, and she firmly believes that he has the ability to defend himself.

Even so, in the court of public opinion, it is still a case of she said versus he said. No one can be sure who is fibbing and who is not at the moment. With the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions already empaneled, the truth will surely be revealed somehow, someday.

In the meantime, a senior citizen and former Senate president Bukola Saraki has weighed in on the matter between the bellicose lawmakers. In a letter entitled, Akpabio  Natasha: Lets Protect the Institution, Not Individuals, now in the public domain, Saraki expressed his displeasure over the rift in the Senate.

The feud between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan, Saraki laments, has made me sad because of its overall negative effect on the integrity, sanctity, image and public perception of the institution. I believe that any person who has had anything to do with the National Assembly, particularly as a leader, member, and worker should always jealously protect these values which make the institution, the numero uno, among the three arms of government. It is for this reason that I believe that the two parties in this dispute and their supporters in and out of the chamber should be mindful of the impact of their actions, inactions, claims and counterclaims to be sure that nothing is done to rubbish the institution.

During his tenure as president of the eighth Senate, Saraki said he was similarly maligned when a member accused him of underpaying on custom duties for an imported car. In his telling, he stepped down as president and obligingly submitted himself to a panel set up to investigate the matter. In the end, he was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Through the epistle, Saraki admitted that he isnt supporting any of the parties but that, in resolving the issue, it should be done transparently without being seen to be protective of any of the parties. Rather, the objective should be to unfold the truth and to protect the lawmaking institution against a wrong perception of involvement in or tolerance of law breaking.

Very well said from a former president of the highest lawmaking body in the country. But his sermon that, nothing is done to rubbish the institution in the ongoing war between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan, and how the lawmakers resolve it, will be a hard sell to Nigerians. It is not hard to see why. Notoriously distrustful of politicians, in general, and lawmakers, in particular, Nigerians can hardly take Sarakis word for it that the two senators havent already desecrated the Upper House.

Mike Jimoh, a freelance journalist, writes from Lagos.

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Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has commended United Nigeria Airline for commencing air transport operations between Katsina and Abuja. Speaking at the takeoff ceremony at the Katsina Airport on Monday, Governor Radda emphasised the significance of this development for the states business environment.

The coming of another airline has proved to the world that Katsina has grown up and advanced more from weekly to daily flights, he stated. The Governor also noted the economic benefits of increased flight options. With this development, Katsina air business has grown to the desired level as people can now have airlines to carry out their businesses at all times,

Governor Radda said. This opens up business and economy to the state and makes investors and other business partners come to the state with ease and have all opportunities provided. He expressed his appreciation to the airlines management for their prompt response in establishing operations in Katsina.

Former Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari, who played a pivotal role in bringing the airline to the state, acknowledged the current administrations support. The airlines operation in the state was made possible with the full support of the state government, Mr Masari said. This made a gradual impact to encourage more airlines to join the flight operations, he added.

Also speaking at the event, another former Governor, Ibrahim Shema, urged the airline to maintain high operational standards. Be committed in ensuring timely departure and arrival of passengers. This would make them have the confidence of the company, Mr Shema advised.

In his remarks, Mr Obiora Okonkwo, Chairman of United Nigeria Airline, explained the companys swift response to begin operations in Katsina. The coming of the airline to Katsina was made possible following a special request for our intervention to fill the operations gap. The request was made by the immediate past governor Aminu Bello Masari, he revealed.

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All the necessary arrangements were concluded within two weeks and all our officials are on ground with offices open for full operations in the state, he said. He also expressed gratitude to Governor Radda for the support towards the timely commencement of the operations.

In the same vein, the APC National Secretary, Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, said, Mobility is essential to the realisation of economic development and particularly in the area of tourism which Katsina is one of the central states for the realisation of renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The air transport debut commenced with several distinguished personalities in attendance, including State Deputy Governor Malam Faruk Lawal Jobe; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir among others.

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The President of Lombardy Regional Government in Italy, Attilio Fontana, has promised that his government would collaborate with the Federal Capital Territory Administration to strengthen vocational education by establishing a training centre in Abuja and also facilitate training of youths from Abuja in Lombardy.

President Fontana, who was speaking during a meeting in Milan, with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, also assured of partnership with the FCTA to develop agriculture, especially in the area of modern farming technologies.

Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, who made this known in a statement in Milan, on Thursday, said that Mr Wike and the President of Lombardy Region had discussions on areas of collaboration in agribusiness and vocational education.

The FCT Minister, who thanked President Fontana for the reception accorded him and his team said; We had meetings with your countrys ambassador in Nigeria where we put heads together to see how we can exchange ideas with you and partner with Lombardy Region.

We are aware that Lombardy Region is very strong in agriculture and vocational education. Ours is to see how we can partner to have investors in agriculture in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. And to also get assistance in the area of vocational education, to train our youths and women, especially in ICT and other skills acquisitions.

Abuja has vast fertile land, agro business will thrive there. It has over 800,000 hectares of land out of which 274,000 hectares is earmarked for agricultural development while 270,000 hectares is for forest reserve. Therefore, we are particular about collaboration with your government to develop agriculture in Abuja.

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Also, vocational training for the youths, especially in ICT is key. It gives self employment and once our youths can employ themselves and are taken off the streets, crime will reduce.

Basically, these are the two areas we are seeking that we can partner together and also get assistance from your government.

Responding, Mr Fontana said; You know that Lombardy Region is very strong in industry and battery manufacturing, apart from agriculture. We have a lot of ideas in agriculture too.

We are willing to collaborate with you in the education of the future because a lot of education is about software, innovation, technology and it is very important. We are the best region in this. More than 30 percent of technical education in Italy is here in Lombardy.

We can establish something on vocational training in your country and you can also come here to learn our kind of education.

When Mr Wike asked; how and when do we start? Like signing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Mr Fontana responded Today. Our office will prepare an MoU and your officers will look at it with them, we sign and take off.

On agriculture, Mr Fontana said; My team will sit with your team, look at your priority areas and see how will can partner and also be of assistance.

Apart from the Minister, the meeting was also attended by the FCT Mandate Secretaries for Education, Dr Danlami Hayyo and Mandate Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development, Lawan Geidam.

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Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago says his administration made a miscalculation by obtaining a 1 trillion loan to fund infrastructure projects.

The government obtained the loan in 2023 to fund an initiative positioned as a transformative effort to modernise roads, bridges, and other public utilities, particularly in rural areas.

However, concerns over the financial burden and the slow pace of project execution have led to fresh scrutiny.

During a meeting with contractors handling various state projects, Governor Bago openly admitted that securing such a massive loan might have been a miscalculation.

If I had known, I would have just taken 500 billion because the cost of 1 trillion is heavier on me, he stated.

Despite the availability of funds, the governor lamented the slow pace of work, noting that less than half of the allocated amount had been utilised.

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He warned that the state could face financial strain if the situation persists.

Expressing frustration over delays, Governor Bago issued an ultimatum to contractors, demanding accelerated work to meet the April 2025 deadline.

So you want me to come up and tell you to do it? You have to do it in two weeks, he charged.

While acknowledging progress on some roads, including the Paiko-Lapai road, the governor warned that underperforming contractors risked being dropped from future projects.

If you dont perform by April, I will give the project to someone else. I am serious.

Despite current challenges, Governor Bago reaffirmed his commitment to infrastructural development, revealing that Phase 2 of the Urban-Rural Renewal Project is scheduled to commence in 2027.

However, with delays and financial concerns mounting, questions remain about the feasibility of completing the ongoing projects within the stipulated timeline.

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Kogi West Senator Sunday Karimi apologised to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on behalf of his colleague, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, just moments before her controversial suspension from the Senate last Thursday.

During the plenary, Mr Karimi admitted to lobbying for Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans appointment as the Committee on Local Content chairperson but said he regretted doing so.

Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months over alleged misconduct and refusal to comply with the chambers sitting arrangement during the plenary session on 20 February.

Karimis regret and apology

Mr Karimi, speaking with a tone of remorse, referenced the ongoing holy month of Ramadan as a time for reflection and confession.

He explained that Mr Akpabio had initially hesitated to give Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan a leadership position because of her inexperience in legislative duties.

However, Mr Karimi and other senators, including Kogi East Senator Isah Jibrin, pressured Mr Akpabio into allocating the local content committee chairmanship to Kogi State.

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This move eventually benefited Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The Kogi central senator was inaugurated a senator on 3 November, 2023, after a court victory. She replaced Abubakar Sadiku-Ohere.

Mr President, I want to confess my sin today because this is the holy month of Ramadan and at the same time for fasting. I am one of those who put you in this problem and Im very sorry.

When my sister came to the Senate, you were very reluctant giving her a leadership position. I want to recall your words; you said, Shes a rookie and that people that came before her. You said, Karimi, why would I give her a chairmanship position? I said you wouldnt do that, and your conscience will not allow you to do that. I went to some leaders to put pressure on you, then finally, I and Senator Jibrin came to you (to tell you) that the position Senator Ohere left is for Kogi State and that you must give it back to Kogi State.

I even went to hold a meeting with the husband to strategise on how she will be given that chairmanship of local content, and finally, you succumbed. Im very sorry, sir, Mr Karimi said.

Akpabio accused Karimi of attempting to divide Senate

Mr Karimi also disclosed that his persistent push for Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans political comfort led to a rift within the Senate, which prompted Mr Akpabio to accuse him of creating division.

You (senate president) led the leadership after sitting one day and saying, Karimi, what are you doing? Do you want to divide this place because you want to favour your sister?

Allegation of verbal abuse

Mr Karimi also accused Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan of verbally abusing both him and his mother when he attempted to pacify her after she refused to adhere to the sitting arrangement during the plenary session on 20 February.

Senate president, I want to recall what happened that day before the leadership came in. She was very unhappy. She shouted my name, she abused me, abused my mother. For what!

To further pacify her, Mr Karimi said he sent Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan a private message on 24 February, urging her to apologise to the Senate leadership to maintain a cordial working relationship.

Mr Karimi then read his message to Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Senate:

I sent a private message to her. I want to read it, Madam, why not take a path of peace, apologise to the leadership and your colleagues and move on? The one that seems to be your enemy today can still be your friend tomorrow. It is not even healthy to keep warring always, my sincere advice, I hope youre not offended.

If at all you need my support in carrying out my suggestion, you can have my back. The spirit of God is leading me to do this. Please note that I have not discussed this with anyone. Do not interpret this to be anyone sending me to you. Your husband is our friend; we enjoy a valued relationship, and I owe him a lot. God guide you right. He who fights and runs away may live to fight another day.

Those advising you to keep fighting, most of them dont know what it takes to win an election to the Senate. You know your labour, the pain, and the struggle to get to where you are, and you need a good relationship with your colleagues to get the best for your people. A good politician will do everything possible to move on.

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Suspected bandits attacked villages in a Kebbi local government on Sunday and killed at least 11 people, the police have said.

The attacks on villages in the Arewa Local Government Area (LGA) of Kebbi were properly coordinated, police spokesperson Nafiu Abubakar said in a statement.

Kebbi is one of the states in northern Nigeria where armed groups, locally called bandits, routinely attack rural communities and travellers.

Mr Abubakar said the bandits that carried out the Sunday night attack used sophisticated weapons and are suspected to be members of the Lakurawa terror group.

On 09/03/2025 at about 2047hrs, suspected Lakurawa bandits in their large numbers with sophisticated weapons invaded Dogon Daji, Danmarke, Yar Goru, Tambo, Birnin Debi, Garin Nagoro and Garin Rugga villages, he wrote in the Monday statement.

He said all the attacked villages are in Arewa LGA and are border communities between Nigeria and Niger Republic.

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As a result, 11 people lost their lives, and two others sustained gunshot wounds. The suspected bandits also set ablaze some houses in the affected villages, he stated.

The police spokesperson added that upon receiving the report, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Bello Sani, swiftly mobilised to the scene for an on-the-spot assessment.

He said the police chief interacted with the police, army, civil defence, and the vigilance group that had been deployed to the areas to combat crimes.

The CP equally condemned the unfortunate incident and instantly reviewed the security architecture of the area by deploying additional tactical teams.

He charged them to decisively deal with suspected Lakurawa bandits operating in the area.

The CP also had a meeting with critical stakeholders in the area, where he commiserated with them, and appealed to them to always assist the police and other security agencies with relevant and timely information for prompt response.

Apart from Kebbi, other states in northern Nigeria where such groups operate include Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto and Niger.

The bandits kill some of their victims and kidnap others for ransom, using the money to finance their operations.

Although many bandits and their leaders have been killed by security forces, others continue to operate in the region.

Sundays attack occurred three days after security operatives killed a notorious bandit kingpin, Maigemu, in the same Kebbi State.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the states Director of Security, Cabinet Office, AbdulRahman Usman-Zagga, announced the killing in a statement on Friday.

He said Maigemu was killed on Thursday at Kuncin Baba in Arewa Local Government Area, a remote area with challenging terrain, after a fierce gun battle.

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The House of Representatives has resolved to constitute an ad-hoc committee to investigate the state of oil and gas pipelines across Nigeria.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion by Mohammed Shehu (APC-Kano State) and 14 other lawmakers at plenary on Tuesday in Abuja.

Moving the motion, Mr Shehu said that Nigerias oil and gas sector remained the backbone of the national economy, contributing approximately nine per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) while generating over 90 per cent of export revenues.

The lawmaker said that effective transportation of petroleum resources depended on the integrity of the countrys pipeline infrastructure.

According to him, between 2018 and 2023, Nigeria recorded over 7,000 incidents of pipeline vandalism, resulting in the loss of $12.74 million worth of crude oil.

He recalled that in October 2024, crude oil supply to Shells Forcados Terminal was reduced by 50 per cent due to sabotage, leading to loading delays and the risk of force majeure declarations.

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Mr Shehu said that in January 2025, a major pipeline spill from a facility owned by Shells Nigerian subsidiary caused environmental devastation in the Niger Delta, worsening pollution and economic hardship for host communities.

He said that in February 2025, Shell reported an oil spill near Port Harcourt caused by an overflow during pipeline flushing operations, highlighting ongoing risks in pipeline management.

Recurrent pipeline breaches have led to extensive environmental degradation, loss of livelihoods, and substantial national revenue losses, further straining the countrys economic and security landscape.

The Niger Delta region has suffered from decades of oil spills, causing severe health hazards, destruction of farmlands, and contamination of water sources, thereby exacerbating poverty among local communities.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has intensified efforts to combat crude oil theft, uncovering 19 illegal pipeline connections and 58 illegal refineries in a single week in January 2025.

The deterioration of oil and gas pipeline networks threatens not only Nigerias energy security but also undermines the countrys potential sustainable economic development, he said.

The House mandated the committee to also investigate the causes and impacts of frequent vandalism and operational failures in the country

The committee will also assess the adequacy of existing security and maintenance measures in safeguarding national petroleum infrastructure.

READ ALSO: Reps urge CBN to suspend increase in ATM withdrawal charges

As part of its mandate, the committee will examine the effectiveness of past and present government interventions aimed at protecting pipelines.

They are to engage all relevant stakeholders, including host communities and civil society organisations, to recommend sustainable solutions.

The committee is expected to report to the House within four weeks for further legislative actions.

(NAN)

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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is heading to Saudi Arabia for talks with Ukrainian officials, said that upcoming talks with Moscow will be needed to determine what Russia is willing to give up to end the war, the New York Times reported on Monday.

"Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday that Ukraine would have to make concessions over land that Russia had taken since 2014 as part of any agreement to end the war. Mr. Rubio spoke as he was flying to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for talks with senior Ukrainian officials, and 10 days after a contentious White House meeting between President Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy," the publication writes.

"The most important thing that we have to leave here with is a strong sense that Ukraine is prepared to do difficult things, like the Russians are going to have to do difficult things to end this conflict or at least pause it in some way, shape or form," Rubio told reporters.
The Police Command in Lagos State has detained two Pakistani nationals among other criminal suspects for various offences committed between 27 February to date.

The commands spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, a chief superintendent of police, confirmed this during a press briefing at the commands headquarters in Ikeja on Monday.

Mr Hundeyin said that among those arrested were two Pakistani nationals who kidnapped their fellow countryman and demanded a ransom of N50 million.

On 5 March, a distress call was received at Ikeja, that a 48-year-old Pakistani, had been kidnapped by seven other Pakistani Nationals.

He was lured to Lagos from Kano, under the pretext that they got a job for him as a chef.

The victim, who innocently arrived Lagos on 28 February, was received at the airport by the suspects.

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However, on 1 March, the suspects visited the victim where he was lodged, they overpowered him, tied his hands and legs.

They robbed him of $2000, three Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards, his green card, drivers license and National Identity Number slip.

Thereafter, they demanded a ransom of N50 million from the victims boss in Kano who reportedly paid N1 million to the suspects, Mr Hundeyin said.

The police spokesperson added that upon receiving the report, operatives of the command raided the location where the victim was being held.

He was successfully rescued unharmed and (the police operatives) apprehended two suspects, aged 19 and 28, while five others escaped.

Mr Hundeyin added that a Toyota Camry with registration number EDO-SGD-AE was recovered from the suspects.

According to him, effort is being intensified to arrest other suspects

DJ shot dead

Mr Hundeyin also said that the police had detained a 35 year-old suspected cultist for allegedly shooting a Disc Jockey (DJ) dead at a hotel in the Abule-Ado area.

He said that the shooting occurred at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday on Community Road, Abule-Ado.

The suspect and others, still at large, stormed the hotel, shot the DJ on stage, and inflicted machete cuts on him,Mr Hundeyin said.

He said police operatives responded swiftly and pursued the attackers as they fled toward FESTAC and were apprehended

While escaping, he was found in possession of a locally made shotgun with one live cartridge, which was recovered by the police, he said.

Murdered during a fight

Mr Hundeyin said that on 8 March, the command also apprehended two suspects for alleged murder.

On 8 March, a report was received that a 25 -year-old victim allegedly engaged two others in a fight at NPA Road, Victoria Island.

In the process, the said victim sustained severe injury, and he was rushed to Lagos Island General Hospital, Marina for treatment, where he was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.

Based on the report, detectives of the command promptly visited the scene and arrested the two suspects who engaged the deceased in the fight that led to his death.

Investigation is in progress, he said.

Kidnap victims rescued

He said on 7 March, police rescued some three kidnap victims.

The three victims were found in a forest in Lekki-Epe Expressway. They went to inspect a land to build an airport in Lekki. As they were about to enter their car, five kidnappers came out to kidnap them.

The anti-kidnapping unit swung into action, the kidnappers had no choice than to abandon their victims and flee, he said.

Woman blackmailed, extorted

He said that there was a case of human trafficking that happened in Isheri-Osun.

A woman reached out to the police that she had been kidnapped, the police got to the apartment and broke into it. A total number of 27 foreigners were found in the apartment.

Investigation revealed that they were lured into the country with the guise of getting them jobs, he said.

Mr Hundeyin said that a man went to deliver a product and was kidnapped at Iyana-Isashi.

On getting there to deliver the items, the door was opened and she was dragged in by a man and a woman,

They stripped her, beat her up and took her nude pictures, and asked her to pay N2 million or the pictures will be leaked.

She was able to give them N300,000 and promised to pay the rest but they threatened to release the pictures if she did not pay the balance.

She reached out to the police and the two suspects were apprehended, he said.

Wanted suspected cultist caught

The spokesperson said that on 8 March, a team of operatives of the command apprehended a notorious cultist and recovered exhibits.

The police while on stop and search duty at Fagba Junction, Iju, apprehended a 26-year-old notorious cultist.

The suspect has been on police wanted list for cult related killings for some time while others escaped.

Upon searching the suspect,some wraps of illicit drugs were recovered.

Meanwhile, effort is ongoing to arrest other fleeing suspects, he said.

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Amid a surge in building collapses across Lagos State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has launched the Certified Accreditors Programme (CAP)a reform aimed at strengthening building regulations and ensuring safer construction practices.

The programme, inaugurated on Monday at the White Stone Events Center in Oregun, inducted 111 certified accreditors, comprising private-sector consultants and monitoring officers. These accreditors will collaborate with government agencies to enforce compliance with building codes.

CAP is a stakeholder-driven initiative arising from recommendations by a panel set up in 2021 to advise the government on tackling building collapses and their associated risks.

The panel will ensure coordinated supervision between government regulators and private sector professionals to ensure strict adherence to building standards.

Following the governors approval, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) screened and selected professionals and consulting firms as certified accreditors. Their responsibilities include reviewing structural drawings, conducting inspections at various stages of construction, and ensuring compliance with building codes.

Mr Sanwo-Olu emphasised that CAP would serve as an additional layer of oversight to enhance safety in the built environment.

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This initiative is not just a regulatory measure; it is a transformative step towards a safer, more compliant, and sustainable Lagos. By incorporating private sector expertise into our regulatory framework, we are ensuring that construction activities align with established safety standards, the governor said.

He added that the programme would not disrupt private investments but protect them by reducing the risks of structural failures.

Commitment to safety and compliance

Mr Sanwo-Olu urged property developers, architects, engineers, and other stakeholders to collaborate in upholding construction integrity. He also encouraged residents to report substandard buildings and unauthorised developments to relevant authorities.

The success of this initiative depends on the commitment of all stakeholders to uphold the highest standards. I urge members of the public to remain vigilant and report any case of substandard construction to prevent further tragedies, he said.

To further curb building collapses, the government announced plans to introduce the Comprehensive Structural Investigation Programme (CSIP)a mandatory structural integrity assessment to be conducted every five years on all buildings in Lagos.

At the launch, Olajide Babatunde, Special Adviser to the Governor on e-GIS and Urban Development, explained CAPs role in enhancing the ease of business in Lagos.

He stated that buildings failing to meet state regulations would either be stopped at the development stage or subjected to fortification and new permits.

Also, Gbolahan Oki, LASBCAs general manager, noted that the programme would strengthen regulatory enforcement and minimise cases of building collapses.

CAP is a far-reaching reform that will help LASBCA serve the public more effectively while enhancing excellence in building control practices, Mr Oki said.

A pattern of structural failures

The launch of CAP follows a series of building collapses in Lagos, which have resulted in the loss of lives and property.

Early in March, a three-storey building under construction collapsed on Oriwu Street, Lekki Phase 1, killing four people and injuring 15 others.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the fatalities, with police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin stating that two bodies were recovered on the day of the incident and two more were found the following morning.

Similarly, in January, a building collapsed at Northern Vulture Estate, Chevron Drive, claimed the lives of a teenager and two adult males and left six others seriously injured.

In July 2024, a building collapsed at Arowojobe Estate, Maryland, resulting in the deaths of three site workers.

Another collapse occurred at Cameroun Street, Mushin, which left seven people injured and required emergency rescue operations.

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Financing led by existing investors Fountain Healthcare Partners and Panakes Partners;

Neuromod will use funds to accelerate commercialisation in the USA and Europe .

DUBLIN, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Neuromod Devices Ltd. (Neuromod), an Irish medical device company specialising in tinnitus, has successfully closed a 10 million equity financing to expand the availability of its tinnitus treatment device, Lenire.

Oversubscribed Financing to Drive Commercialisation

Neuromod Founder & CEO, Dr. Ross O'Neill with FDA Approved Tinnitus Treatment Device, Lenire

Neuromod has raised 10 million of equity in an expansion of its Series B fundraisings. The financing was oversubscribed and was led by existing investors Fountain Healthcare Partners and Panakes Partners, backing Neuromod's mission to advance tinnitus care for patients globally.

Neuromod has been making Lenire available through audiology and ENT practices throughout the USA and Europe. Proceeds from the financing will be used to meet demand for Lenire through sustainable commercial expansion in the USA and Europe and expand on existing opportunities in the US Department of Veteran Affairs (USVA).

Following FDA approval in March 2023, more than 100 clinics throughout the USA now treat tinnitus patients with Lenire. Availability of Lenire has also expanded in Europe with clinics in 14 countries now using the device. In the last 6 months, the number of clinics in the UK trained to use Lenire has doubled, and it is available to patients in Sweden for the first time.

In June 2024, Neuromod was awarded a Federal Supply Schedule 65 II Medical Equipment and Supply Contract from the US Government, making Lenire a treatment option for the 2.9 million US Veterans living with tinnitusv through the USVA. 35 USVA facilities have been trained to provide treatment with Lenire with more scheduled for training in 2025.

Real-World Evidence  Substantial Momentum

Positive results for tinnitus patients treated with Lenire in real-world settings at independent USA-based clinics have been compiled with a base of over 1,500 patients that continues to grow. In what will be the first of a series of planned real-world evidence publications, results from Alaska Hearing & Tinnitus Center showed that 91.5% of 220 patients reported clinically significant improvement in their tinnitusvi. This data is consistent with, and in many instances outperforms, data from Lenire's large-scale clinical trials.

These results followed the publication of Lenire's pivotal controlled clinical trial results, which led to US FDA approval and featured as the cover-story in peer-reviewed journal, Nature Communicationsiv. This article is in the 99th percentile of more than 250,000 tracked Nature articles.

Comments

Commenting on the news, Dr. Ross O'Neill PhD, Founder & CEO of Neuromod, said, "We are delighted to announce an oversubscribed financing at a pivotal time when we are driving forward with our mission of making Neuromod the category creator for tinnitus globally."

"Tinnitus is the largest unmet need in hearing healthcare globally and is the number one service-connected disability among US veterans and military personnel. I am proud of the progress Neuromod is making to deliver our market-surpassing treatment to as many tinnitus patients as possible while enabling care providers' expertise to be commercially rewarded. I am also grateful for the continued support of our investors who share our vision of advancing tinnitus care globally," Dr. O'Neill continued.

Dr. Manus Rogan, Chairman of Neuromod and Managing Partner of Fountain Healthcare Partners, commented, "Recent results from tinnitus patients using Lenire in the real-world show that it represents a new standard of care for tinnitus. The successful closing of this financing ensures more patients will get access to this standard of care as quickly as possible."

Alessio Beverina, Managing Partner of Panakes Partners, said, "Panakes is pleased with the progress of Neuromod since our investment, with significant clinical trial, FDA approval, real-world evidence, and commercial success in both Europe and the USA; and it is proud to continue supporting Neuromod's work to bring a new standard of care to a historically underserved patient population."

Emily E. McMahan, Owner of Alaska Hearing and Tinnitus Center and author of the clinic's Real World Evidence Paper, said, "Impressive clinical trial results for Lenire led me to early adoption of the landmark tinnitus treatment technology."

"In my clinic, and my colleagues' clinics, we are seeing results that are superior to clinical trial results," Dr. McMahan continued.

About Neuromod Devices Ltd

Founded in 2010, Neuromod Devices Ltd. is a medical technology company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Neuromod specialises in the design, development, and commercialisation of neuromodulation technologies to address the clinical needs of underserved patient populations who live with chronic and debilitating conditions. The lead application of Neuromod's technology is in the field of tinnitus, where Neuromod has completed extensive clinical trials to confirm the efficacy of its non-invasive neuromodulation platform in this common disorder. For more information visit www.neuromoddevices.com.

About Tinnitus

Tinnitus, commonly known as 'ringing in the ears', is a complex neurological condition that causes a perception of sound when there is no external source. Tinnitus affects an estimated 15% of the global adult populationi.

The management of tinnitus poses significant burden on healthcare systems. A 2021 study estimated the socioeconomic costs of tinnitus in Germany at 21.9 billion per annumvii. In the USA it's estimated the Veterans Benefits Administration paid out approximately $5.8 billion through its Veterans Compensation benefits program for tinnitus in 2023v. The American Tinnitus Association, the leading advocacy body in the USA for people living with the condition, has recently revised its estimate that 50 million Americans live with tinnitus upward to 70 millionviii.

About Lenire

Lenire is the first non-invasive bimodal neuromodulation tinnitus treatment device shown to soothe and relieve tinnitus in a large-scale clinical trial. Lenire works by delivering mild electrical pulses to the tongue, through an intra-oral component called the 'Tonguetip', combined with auditory stimulation through headphones. This combination drives changes in the brain to treat tinnitus. To date, the device has been used in large-scale clinical trials with over 700 patientsii,iii,iv.

Lenire has CE-mark certification for the treatment of tinnitus under the supervision of an appropriately qualified healthcare professional in Europe and has received a De Novo grant of approval by the US FDA. Further details about Lenire including a list of providers can be found at www.lenire.com.

Connect with Neuromod Devices Ltd

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/neuromod

X: x.com/NeuromodDevices

Facebook: facebook.com/neuromoddevices/

Website: www.neuromoddevices.com

References & Notes

(i) Baguely et al., Tinnitus, The Lancet (2013), sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673613601427

(ii) Conlon et al., Sci. Transl. Med. 12, eabb2830 (2020)

(iii) Conlon et al., Different bimodal neuromodulation settings reduce tinnitus symptoms in a large randomized trial, Sci Rep, doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-13875-x (2022)

(iv) Boedts M, B. A., Khoo G, et al. Combining sound with tongue stimulation for the treatment of tinnitus: a controlled pivotal trial. Nature communications (2024)

(v) US VA Benefits Report Fiscal Year 2023: https://www.benefits.va.gov/REPORTS/abr/

(vi) McMahan, E.E. and Lim, H.H., 2024. Effectiveness of bimodal neuromodulation for tinnitus treatment in a real-world clinical setting in United States: A retrospective chart review. medRxiv., pp.2024-08; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.08.22.24312175 [preprint]

(vii) Tziridis K, Friedrich J, Brueggemann P, Mazurek B, Schulze H. Estimation of Tinnitus-Related Socioeconomic Costs in Germany. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Aug 22;19(16):10455. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191610455. PMID: 36012089; PMCID: PMC9407899

(viii) https://www.linkedin.com/posts/patrickalynch_tinnitus-activity-7270503831304654848-VbWN/

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2638098/Neuromod_Dr_Ross_ONeill.jpg
Fintech Disruptor Reshapes the Creator Economy, Turning Future Brand Deals into Immediate Cash Flow

JERSEY CITY, N.J., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A $100 million fund has been launched to help influencers at all levels secure upfront payments based on their projected future earnings, eliminating the long waits and inconsistent deal flow that have held back countless creators. Since launching in January, Alchemy has already put millions into the hands of creators, proving that the demand for faster, more reliable funding is real.

For years, influencers, whether micro, mid-sized, or largehave struggled with inconsistent cash flow, waiting months to get paid for brand deals and facing unpredictable deal flow. Some months bring multiple brand deals, while other months leave creators without sponsorship opportunities. Alchemy is eradicating this problem by offering advances not only on secured brand deals, but also projecting future earnings based on past performanceempowering influencers of all sizes to grow their businesses on their terms.

Some months bring multiple brand deals, while other months leave creators without sponsorship opportunities. Post this

"The creator economy is booming, yet too many influencers are stuck waiting months for sponsorships and delayed payments to clear." said Isaac Wagschal, Founder of Alchemy. "Creators should have financial access that matches the speed of the digital world."

Alchemy's model flips the traditional payment cycle on its head. Instead of relying solely on secured contracts, Alchemy analyzes creators' historical earnings and revenue patterns to provide upfront advances on projected future income. This gives influencers the financial flexibility to secure higher-profile brand collaborations, upgrade their content, and focus on growth without relying on unpredictable deal flow.

Unlocking New Opportunities for Agencies

Alchemy is actively forging partnerships with leading creator agencies, talent managers, and influencer platforms. By integrating its financial solutions directly into the brand deal workflow, Alchemy is streamlining payments and setting a new industry standard.

"By helping influencers secure predictable cash flow, agencies can operate more smoothly and secure more deals," said Wagschal. "Agencies that offer this kind of financial stability will have a clear competitive edge."

Additionally, agencies that offer Alchemy's advance payment solution to their talent can position themselves as a strategic partnerproviding stability and consistent cash flow that makes influencers more likely to sign with them and stay long-term.

Alchemy also provides agencies with a financial incentive. Agencies that facilitate advances for their influencers can generate additional commission-based revenue, creating a win-win scenario for both influencers and their management teams.

With $100 million now earmarked for creator advances, Alchemy invites influencers of all sizes, talent agencies, and brand platforms to explore how this funding model can fuel sustainable, long-term growth in the creator economy.

About Alchemy

Alchemy is a financial technology company dedicated to empowering creators with fast, flexible funding solutions. By providing instant advances on future brand deals and other digital earnings, Alchemy removes payment delays and cash flow barriers, enabling influencers to grow their businesses on their terms. With a focus on innovation, transparency, and creator-first finance, Alchemy is redefining how the creator economy gets paid.

For more information, visit www.alchemyhelps.com/

SOURCE Alchemy
WASHINGTON, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AARP commends the reintroduction of the Credit for Caring Act, legislation that would provide financial relief to eligible working family caregivers. The bill, introduced in the Senate by Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) and in the House by Representatives Mike Carey (R-OH) and Linda Sanchez (D-CA), offers up to a $5,000 nonrefundable federal tax credit to help offset caregiving expenses, addressing the significant personal and financial sacrifices caregivers make to support their loved ones. On average, family caregivers spend over $7,200 annually26% of their incomeon out-of-pocket expenses.

"America's family caregivers put family first, helping their parents, spouses and others stay at home," said Nancy LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer. "They spend thousands of dollars every year on this care, while juggling work and family responsibilities. We urge Congress to put money back into the pockets of hardworking family caregivers by passing the Credit for Caring tax credit."

More than 48 million Americans are caregivers who dedicate themselves to caring for aging parents, spouses, and others in need, enabling millions to remain in their homes and communities. However, caregiving often comes at a steep personal cost. Sixty-one percent of family caregivers work either full- or part-time, but many have had to cut back on work or leave their jobs, sacrificing income, retirement savings, and financial security.

The Credit for Caring Act addresses these challenges by providing a nonrefundable federal tax credit of up to $5,000 for specific caregiving-related expenses, such as home care aides, adult day care, home modifications, and respite care.

Caregivers provide immense economic value by delaying or avoiding costly institutional care for their loved ones. An AARP analysis estimates that if caregivers aged 50 and older received better workplace support, the U.S. GDP could grow by an additional $1.7 trillion in 2030.

About AARP

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation's largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/, www.aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol and @AARPadvocates on social media.

SOURCE AARP
WATERTOWN, Mass., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Liaison is proud to announce that its founder and CEO, George Haddad, has been awarded the prestigious Gies Award for Eminence in Innovation by the ADEAGies Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). This honor recognizes Mr. Haddad's transformative contributions to oral health and health professions enrollment management, as well as his decades-long commitment to advancing dental education through technology and innovation.

Mr. Haddad, who was officially named a 2025 Gies Award recipient in October 2024, was formally honored at the 75th ADEAGies Foundation Awards Celebration on March 10 in National Harbor, Maryland.

With a career spanning more than 30 years in higher education technology, Mr. Haddad has played a pivotal role in modernizing dental school admissions and enrollment processes. Under his leadership, Liaison has revolutionized the field with its Centralized Application Service (CAS) and advanced enrollment management solutions, which have streamlined application processes for dental programs worldwide.

"Mr. Haddad has transformed the oral health and health professions enrollment management landscape, bringing exceptional impact and value to dental education," the ADEAGies Foundation noted in its award recognition. "Mr. Haddad and Liaison have created innovations that have helped strengthen the application system for oral health education applicants and for schools, colleges, and programs across the United States and around the globe."

Liaison's partnership with ADEA dates back to the late 1990s, when ADEA became an early adopter of Liaison's Centralized Application Service technology to support dental education programs. This collaboration has since expanded, reflecting a shared mission to improve student access and institutional success through data-driven, technology-enabled solutions.

"It is a tremendous honor to receive the Gies Award for Eminence in Innovation from the ADEAGies Foundation," Mr. Haddad said. "For more than three decades, Liaison has worked closely with ADEA to transform dental school admissions and support the next generation of oral health professionals. I am deeply grateful for this recognition and look forward to continuing our work together to advance dental education."

About the ADEAGies Foundation

The ADEAGies Foundation supports innovative, future-ready oral health initiatives that advance dental education and strengthen the dental professions. Through grants, scholarships, programs, and special initiatives, the Foundation develops leaders in academic dentistry and ensures a robust faculty pipeline. As the philanthropic arm of ADEA, it draws upon an extensive network of dental deans, program directors, faculty, students, corporate partners, and industry leaders to drive meaningful change. For more information about the ADEAGies Foundation and the Gies Awards, visit: https://www.adea.org/adeagies-foundation/gies-awards.

About Liaison

Through an advanced combination of technology and services, Liaison assists higher education institutions and students in making informed enrollment decisions. Our vision of fostering a more educated world fuels our passion for expanding access, simplifying experiences, and empowering decision makers. With over 30 years of experience, we've served over 1,200 campuses and supported 40,000 programs globally, empowering individuals, partnering with institutions, and strengthening communities in the pursuit of knowledge and success.

Media Contact:

Erin Kennedy, Marketing Communications Specialist

[email protected]

SOURCE Liaison
PHILADELPHIA, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Philadelphia-based digital agency ADSQUIRE has achieved 2025 Premier Partner status in the Google Partners program.

ADSQUIRE's team of experts provides a range of digital advertising options for law firms across the US and Canada. Explore the full range of offerings on their website https://adsquire.com .

ADSQUIRE has been named a 2025 Google Premier Partner, Placing them in the top 3% of agencies in the U.S. Post this ADSQUIRE Legal Marketing Is A 2025 Google Premier Partner

ADSQUIRE's CEO Anthony Higman stated: "We are over the moon to receive this honor and recognition from Google that places us among the top 3% of advertising agencies in the US. We honestly did not expect to receive this honor this year, as we are only in our 4th year in business and are still a small, yet mighty, team! We got here by really just loving what we do, being passionate about search advertising, and helping our legal marketing clients to grow their businesses. We look forward to continued growth from Google ads in this partnership while search continues to change and evolve."

In February, Google recognized the achievements of top-performing digital marketing partners across the globe by awarding Premier Partner status as part of the Google Partners program.

ADSQUIRE has been named a 2025 Premier Partner, which means:

They're among the top 3% of Google Partners participants in their respective countries, signaling their leading expertise in Google Ads, as well as their ability to forge new client relationships and support their clients' growth.

They're listed on the Google Partners directory , which helps potential clients find top Premier Partners like ADSQUIRE on their own dedicated page. They receive exclusive benefits that promote client growth and success with Google Ads. The Partners program is designed for advertising agencies and third parties that manage Google Ads accounts on behalf of other brands or businesses. Its mission is to empower companies by providing them with innovative tools, resources, and support to help their clients succeed and grow online.

ADSQUIRE is a premier digital marketing agency specializing in helping law firms reach their target audiences through innovative advertising solutions. With a focus on data-driven results, cutting-edge technology, and customized strategies, ADSQUIRE empowers law firms to grow their client base and increase visibility. Whether through pay per click advertising, social media, search engine optimization, or unique branding strategies, ADSQUIRE is dedicated to delivering measurable outcomes for every law firm.

SOURCE ADSQUIRE
The third episode of Digital Disruption, a video podcast from global research and advisory firm Info-Tech Research Group, features Conor Grennan, AI expert, bestselling author, and Chief AI Architect and NYU Stern School of Business, discussing the evolving impact of generative AI on business, education, and human interaction.

TORONTO, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - As AI continues to evolve at an exponential rate, it's fundamentally reshaping the way individuals and organizations interact, learn, and operate. In the third episode of Digital Disruption, titled "How to Adopt AI Without Causing Chaos," Info-Tech Research Group's video podcast series, Conor Grennan, Chief AI Architect at NYU Stern and founder of AI Mindset, joins host Geoff Nielson to discuss how generative AI is redefining human connection, decision-making, and business strategy in the digital age, while also addressing the opportunities and challenges that come with its widespread adoption.

The third episode of Digital Disruption, a video podcast from global research and advisory firm Info-Tech Research Group, features Conor Grennan, AI expert, bestselling author, and Chief AI Architect and NYU Stern School of Business, discussing the evolving impact of generative AI on business, education, and human interaction. (CNW Group/Info-Tech Research Group)

With a background that bridges technology, business, and humanitarian work, Grennan has led AI training and strategy initiatives for global organizations, including OpenAI, Google, Amazon, JPMorgan, NASA, and PwC. Through his AI Mindset consultancy, he helps professionals and institutions develop practical AI fluency and integrate emerging technologies into their workflows. Beyond AI, Grennan is a New York Times bestselling author and the founder of Next Generation Nepal, a nonprofit dedicated to reuniting trafficked children with their families.

"Conor Grennan's expertise in both AI adoption and human-centric leadership makes him a compelling voice in the everchanging AI landscape," says Geoff Nielson, senior vice president of brand at Info-Tech Research Group and host of Digital Disruption. "His perspective on what this technology can do and how best we can harness it will be invaluable to Digitial Disruption listeners who are looking to navigate the fast-changing digital landscape."

Digital Disruption, Episode 3: "How to Adopt AI Without Causing Chaos"

The latest episode of Digital Disruption featuring Conor Grennan will explore:

How generative AI is reshaping business operations and decision-making.

The role of AI in enhancing education, creativity, and personal productivity.

Key challenges and ethical considerations in AI adoption.

"With all the recent advancements in AI, it's important to ensure that its adoption strengthens rather than weakens the human connection," explains Nielson. "Our latest podcast episode will explore how AI needs to be integrated thoughtfully to enhance human interactions, creativity, and productivity instead of diminishing them."

Episode 3 of Digital Disruption, featuring Conor Grennan, is now available on YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify. IT and business professionals are encouraged to subscribe for insights from top industry experts shaping the future of digital transformation.

For more details, visit the Digital Disruption podcast page and follow Info-Tech Research Group on LinkedIn and X for updates.

To learn more about guest opportunities and participation in upcoming episodes, please contact [email protected].

About Info-Tech Research Group

Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT and HR professionals. The company produces unbiased, highly relevant research and provides advisory services to help leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.

To learn more about Info-Tech's divisions, visit McLean & Company for HR research and advisory services and SoftwareReviews for software buying insights.

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact [email protected].

SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group
Aitech and Intuidex Collaborate to Bring AI Processing with Pattern of Life Analysis

to Demanding Environments for Faster, More Effective and Accurate Responses

CHATSWORTH, Calif. and BETHLEHEM, Pa., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Aitech , a leading provider of rugged embedded systems for use in military, aerospace and space platforms, and Intuidex, Inc., a software, services and data model solution provider, today announced a partnership to deliver ruggedized AI-enabled computing solutions for mission-critical Sea, Land, Air, and Space initiatives. Aitech embedded solutions utilizing the Intuidex Watchman Analytics platform will deliver AI processing infrastructure to achieve more comprehensive, near-real-time data analysis and intelligence extraction from varying data sources for applications ranging from environmental monitoring and urban planning to asset and object tracking.

"Working with Aitech, our high-level goal is to extend and streamline the use of AI across applications in ways previously thought unattainable," said William M. Pottenger, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Intuidex Inc. "This collaboration with Aitech underscores our commitment to scale the impact of AI."

Aitech & Intuidex partner to deliver ruggedized AI-enabled computing solutions for Sea, Land, Air, and Space initiatives Post this

Integrating seamlessly with Aitech's mission-proven, rugged embedded computing solutions, Intuidex delivers effective analytic tools to discover and detect relevant content, utilizing Higher-Order Low-Resource Learning (HO-LRL) data modeling technology. Aitech embedded solutions featuring Watchman Analytics will empower real-time data processing and decision-making for a range of exploration, defense and surveillance applications previously not possible.

"Coupling Intuidex advanced data analysis and intelligence with Aitech's mission-proven, ruggedized, high-performance computing solutions, we are bringing to market AI-enabled solutions that reduce latency, improve response times and ensure continuity in extreme environments where communication is limited," said Pratish Shah, general manager, Aitech. "Together, we are fundamentally transforming the way data is collected, processed and utilized for mission-critical initiatives."

Managing and analyzing multi-source data effectively is an ongoing obstacle for organizations. Pairing the Intuidex Watchman platform with Aitech embedded computing and expertise, spanning a legacy of aerospace, space and defense-proven experience, the collaboration will deliver deployable AI solutions for a range of rugged and extreme environment scenarios. Aitech is building computing solutions using Intuidex data modeling technology to support future anticipated missions and deployments. For more information visit www.aitechsystems.com.

About Intuidex

Intuidex, Inc. provides advanced data analysis and decision support solutions for clients across the defense, homeland security, intelligence, law enforcement, civilian agencies, and the commercial sector. An artificial intelligence, machine learning (AI/ML) and data-modeling software development company, its focus is delivering effective mission-directed solutions that expand on existing client capabilities, facilitate intelligence extraction, driving understanding and comprehensive decision-making throughout the organization. For more information, visit www.intuidex.com.

About Aitech

Leveraging four decades of experience providing reliable, rugged embedded systems for use in military, aerospace, and space platforms, Aitech is the world's first independent, open systems architecture, COTS/MOTS innovator offering customized boards as building blocks for integrated computing and networking subsystems. Offering customization services for rugged and severe environment military, aerospace, and space applications, Aitech delivers mission-optimized and proven system solutions across Sea, Land, Air, and Space domains. Aitech solutions are used by industry leaders like Airbus, BAE Systems, Boeing, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T), Leonardo, Lockheed Martin, NASA, Northrop Grumman, Rafael, and Virgin Galactic.

Aitech is supporting a better tomorrow with highly reliable, cost-effective, and proven rugged embedded solutions designed to meet your mission and platform requirements. For more information, please visit www.aitechsystems.com.

SOURCE Aitech
ROCKVILLE, Md., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Albatross Consulting is pleased to announce that the company's new website is officially live. Through the launch of this website, Albatross Consulting hopes to more effectively guide its clients through the challenges of building successful businesses. Albatross Consulting is a legal marketing and consulting company located in Rockville, Maryland that helps law firms and other businesses enhance their business practices and increase their online presence. Through the user-friendly, comprehensive website, Albatross Consulting is pursuing its goal of bringing clients one step closer to achieving their goals and helping their communities.

With the new website, Albatross Consulting provides information about the various services offered to its clients. Prospective clients can learn more about services such as intake management, competitive analysis, staffing, CRM management, law firm websites, search engine optimization, digital marketing, and much more. The website allows prospective clients to understand how Albatross Consulting can help their law firms expand, increase efficiency, and maximize their success.

Beyond the company's services, website visitors will also find other resources that highlight Albatross Consulting's mission and work ethic. A growing list of testimonials speaks to the reputation Albatross Consulting has built with law firms and businesses across the state and nation. The website also provides college students with the opportunity to apply for the Future of Advertising Scholarship, a biannual $1,000 award offered to students who are pursuing an education in the fields of marketing or advertising.

Steve Foreman, founder and CEO of Albatross Consulting, opened his business with a mission to change people's lives through the success of his clients. Throughout his career, Steve has sold over $20 million in legal advertising, and he has broken numerous sales records. After spending 10 years working for multiple top media companies, Steve's invaluable experience helps him to excel at building and scaling his clients' law firms.

To contact our team, call 240-301-7742. To learn more about Albatross Consulting, visit https://www.webuildlawfirms.com/.

SOURCE Albatross Consulting
Poland buys Starlink systems for Ukraine to protect its own strategic interests  Minister of Digitalization

Protecting military access to the Internet in Ukraine meets Poland's strategic interests, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digitalization of Poland Krzysztof Gawkowski.

"We are buying Starlinks to protect the Internet in Ukraine, because it is of strategic importance. The Ukrainian front would collapse without the Internet, and it is beneficial for Poland to keep the front away from Warsaw," the press service of the Ministry of Digital Affairs reported on the social network X.

He added that Poland is working on purchasing additional Starlink kits.

"Today, about 30,000 Starlink kits are operating in Ukraine, which we have purchased. We are in the process of purchasing another 5,000 kits, which should provide access to the Internet in Ukraine for the army and civilian use," he said.
Leveraging Reasoning models to Simplify Market Entry and Global Sourcing for SMEs

HANGZHOU, China, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group ("Alibaba International") announced today that its artificial intelligence (AI)-driven business-to-business (B2B) search engine, Accio, has surpassed 1 million users within five months of launch. To further empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), two new featuresBusiness Research and Deep Searchare now available, offering AI-driven solutions for market entry and global sourcing.

Recent AI Momentum at Alibaba

Accio is an AI-native application designed to simplify global trade for SMEs. Built on Alibaba's foundational technologiesincluding the Qwen large language model available as open-sourceAccio leverages reasoning models fine-tuned with real industry data across the internet. These models power Accio's multilingual capabilities and ability to generate precise market insights and actionable sourcing strategies.

"Reaching 1 million users is just the beginning. Our goal is to consistently refine our toolkit, enabling SMEs to seamlessly integrate AI functionalities into their workflows," said Kuo Zhang, President of Alibaba.com, a leading platform for global B2B e-commerce and a business unit of Alibaba International. "With the enhanced Accio, anyone can now turn vague product ideas into actionable plans in minutes, not months. Everyone can get a shot at becoming an entrepreneur."

Business Research: From Insights to Execution

Accio's Business Research streamlines market analysis by automating labor-intensive tasks like data collection and trend tracking. Instead of juggling scattered reports, users input broad goalssuch as launching a product in a new regionand receive structured, real-time reports on consumer demand, pricing trends and competitive landscapes. The tool identifies high-potential niches, and even generates ready-to-use business plans with cost estimates and supplier recommendations. This allows SMEs to act swiftly on opportunities without months of groundwork.

Deep Search: Precision Sourcing, Simplified

Deep Search tackles the complexities of global sourcing by adapting to intricate requirementswhether technical specs, certifications or budget constraints. If a query yields few results, it will intelligently refine searches using synonyms or industry terms, mimicking procurement experts. The feature also vets suppliers for compliance and reliability, delivering AI-curated shortlists in minutes. By translating decades of Alibaba's trade data into an intuitive interface, it empowers newcomers to source like seasoned professionals.

Revamping Global Trade with AI

A recent Alibaba.com survey of over 4,000 sourcing decision-makers across the US, UK, Germany and France revealed that nearly 64% plan to integrate AI into their sourcing strategies by 2025. Their top motivations include long-term business growth, efficiency improvements and cost reductions.

With global trade projected to exceed $33 trillion in 2024[1], businesses are increasingly adopting advanced technologies to stay competitive. Tools like Accio address this need by simplifying AI adoption.

Alibaba.com is also undergoing a comprehensive upgrade to incorporate Accio's capabilities, empowering its 50 million SME buyers and sellers to identify business opportunities and connect with trustworthy suppliers.

To try the new product, please visit: Accio.ai or Accio.com

# # #

About Alibaba International

Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group (Alibaba International) is dedicated to supporting the development of global digital trade with AI-powered technology. It operates various platforms with distinctive business models, covering multiple countries and regions around the world.

Media Contact

Lingnan Cui

Alibaba International

[email protected]

[1] https://unctad.org/news/global-trade-set-reach-new-high-opportunities-and-challenges-developing-economies-2025#:~:text=Global%20trade%20is%20set%20to,global%20trade%20despite%20persistent%20challenges.
TOKYO, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cosmos Hotel Management Co., Ltd., which operates MIMARU apartment hotels, launched the "Travel Style Finder" on February 26, 2025, in line with a website renewal. The Travel Style Finder is a tool that turns the stress of choosing a hotel into a fun experience that will have travelers looking forward to their trip more than ever.

Image1:

https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M107482/202503055205/_prw_PI8fl_CC0OS9N5.png

Solve Japan Trip-Planning Headaches

- MIMARU matches group travel needs with kitchen-equipped rooms starting from around 40 square meters for 4-10 guests

- Find must-visit spots and hidden gems with the Travel Style Finder, featuring 500+ real experiences recommended by families from a variety of nationalities who chose MIMARU and its staff

- Get tips and insights into the local atmosphere through authentic reviews and photos

International Families Trust MIMARU

- 90% of MIMARU guests are international travelers with families

- A diverse team comprised of 37 nationalities shares local insights and travel tips

- This is how the trip could look:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzzJvnogPMc&feature=youtu.be

Image2:

https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M107482/202503055205/_prw_PI5fl_18y731rh.png

Start planning a trip now on MIMARU's official website: https://mimaruhotels.com/en/

Match to a Travel Style and Find the Perfect Trip with the Travel Style Finder

By answering a few simple questions, travelers can discover their ideal travel style and receive recommendations for MIMARU locations, sightseeing spots, and travel tips across Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. The feature categorizes travelers into four types and curates tailored advice based on their interests and needs. The excitement of the trip starts with choosing the perfect MIMARU.

Image3:

https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M107482/202503055205/_prw_PI9fl_9jM5H4H8.png

The Top Choice for Families Visiting Japan

MIMARU specializes in spacious apartment-style accommodations with kitchens, living areas, and dining spaces, averaging 40 square meters or more -- ideal for families and groups. With 90% of guests visiting from overseas, MIMARU has become a preferred home away from home for families during their trip to Japan. Its diverse staff of 37 nationalities* ensures a warm and inclusive experience for travelers worldwide.

*Based on MIMARU's 2024 guest and staff demographics.

Image4:

https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M107482/202503055205/_prw_PI10fl_9B1307j8.png

All Images: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/release/202503055205?p=images

SOURCE Cosmos Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
DALLAS, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ATI Inc. (NYSE: ATI) is disappointed to learn that one of two ratification votes for a labor agreement was unsuccessful. ATI's Specialty Rolled Products employees in Western Pennsylvania and Lockport, New York, and the United Steelworkers (USW) failed to ratify a successor labor agreement. ATI and the USW have agreed to extend the expired agreement through April 30, 2025, while negotiations continue. In the coming days, negotiations will reconvene toward reaching an agreement that keeps ATI on the path of stability and consistency, enabling us to continue operating and rewarding our team.

ATI is pleased to have reached agreement with the USW for Specialty Alloys and Components employees at the 34th Avenue facility in Albany, Oregon. The new agreement delivers a competitive wage and benefit package covering the term from March 1, 2025  February 28, 2031.

ATI: Proven to Perform

ATI (NYSE: ATI) is a producer of high-performance materials and solutions for the global aerospace and defense markets, and critical applications in electronics, medical and specialty energy. We're solving the world's most difficult challenges through materials science. We partner with our customers to deliver extraordinary materials that enable their greatest achievements: their products fly higher and faster, burn hotter, dive deeper, stand stronger and last longer. Our proprietary process technologies, unique customer partnerships and commitment to innovation deliver materials and solutions for today and the evermore challenging environments of tomorrow. We are proven to perform anywhere. Learn more at ATImaterials.com.

SOURCE ATI
West Hill Capital Doubles Down on Investment to Accelerate Market Expansion

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ATLANT 3D, whose atomic-scale manufacturing technology enables precise development of advanced materials and devices for optics, photonics, microelectronics, quantum computing, sensors, and space applications, today announced a $15M Series A+ funding round led by West Hill Capital .

West Hill Capital was also the lead investor in ATLANT 3D's $15M Series A round in September 2022. "Our continued investment in ATLANT 3D across both the A and A+ rounds reflects our deep confidence in their transformative technology and their ability to redefine microfabrication," says Alan Richards, Partner and Co-Founder, West Hill Capital. "The team has an unwavering commitment to disruptive innovation and strategic execution, and we believe ATLANT 3D is uniquely positioned to capture significant market opportunities in the semiconductor and advanced manufacturing sectors."

ATLANT 3D builds materials and devices, atom by atom, through its direct atomic layer processing (DALP) technology, which places precise amounts of materials exactly where needed. The system creates complex structures for microelectronics, semiconductors, and advanced devices in a single step. By replacing traditional multi-step fabrication with direct atomic-scale manufacturing, this approach eliminates process complexity while reducing material waste by 90 percent. Different research teams use DALP technology to create what was previously impractical or impossible, from quantum computing components to devices that will operate in space.

Since ATLANT 3D's series A round, the company successfully launched NANOFABRICATORTM LITE as a product and a prototype of industrial multimodular NANOFABRICATORTM FLOW. NANOFABRICATORTM LITE is a versatile system that uses DALP technology to accelerate materials research, device R&D, and prototype development. The University of Vermont became the first institution to acquire the system, marking a significant milestone. ATLANT 3D has since established partnerships with over 50 industrial and research organizations, including major semiconductor manufacturers like STMicroelectronics, Sony and several other Fortune 500 companies.

ATLANT 3D also grew their team to more than 35 members, bringing in talent specializing in atomic layer deposition (ALD) and material sciences; filed for a total of 11 patents, with one granted in the U.S., Singapore, Japan, and South Korea; and expanded their validated materials library to a potential 20 materials. This allows for greater flexibility and innovation in developing new products and applications across various industries.

With the Series A+ funding, ATLANT 3D plans to continue focusing on technology leadership and industrial product development, extending its global innovation network, broadening its application portfolio and strategic partnerships, and expanding its sales and marketing teams and commercial growth.

"This investment marks the next chapter for ATLANT 3D," says Dr. Maksym Plakhotnyuk, Founder and CEO. "One of our key discoveries was that labs needed a way to build complex devices without the traditional constraints of multi-step fabrication as well as testing and adopting advanced high-quality materials. Our technology lets research teams create and test advanced materials and prototype devices in days instead of months and prepare them for scaling to manufacturing. With this funding, we'll continue developing tools that make atomic-scale manufacturing accessible to any lab, accelerating the pace of scientific discovery and industrial adoption. The demand we're seeing from R&D, quantum computing, aerospace, automotive, communication, and semiconductor markets shows we're solving a critical need. We are actively seeking partners who want to speed up their research cycles, develop previously impossible devices, and build the next generation of smart glasses, quantum computers, AI chips, and space-ready materials and devices."

About ATLANT 3D

ATLANT 3D has mastered control of matter at the atomic scale, enabling the creation of advanced materials and devices with unprecedented precision. The company's breakthrough technology allows research teams and manufacturers to build what was previously impossible - from next-generation quantum computers to devices that can operate in the harsh conditions of space - while significantly reducing resource consumption. Based in Copenhagen and London, operations in the US, ATLANT 3D partners with research institutions and industrial companies to expand the boundaries of technological possibility. For more information, visit www.atlant3d.com.

SOURCE ATLANT 3D
DALLAS, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- We will release our first-quarter 2025 results on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, and webcast a conference call to discuss results.

Key Takeaways:

AT&T will release its first-quarter 2025 results on April 23

AT&T will webcast a conference call to discuss results

AT&T (NYSE:T) will release its first-quarter 2025 results before the New York Stock Exchange opens on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The company's earnings release and related materials will be available on the AT&T Investor Relations website.

At 8:30 a.m. ET the same day, AT&T will host a conference call to discuss the results. A live webcast of the call will also be available on the AT&T Investor Relations website, and the webcast replay and transcript will be available following the call.

To automatically receive AT&T financial news by email, please subscribe to email alerts.

About AT&T

We help more than 100 million U.S. families, friends and neighbors, plus nearly 2.5 million businesses, connect to greater possibility. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to our 5G wireless and multi-gig internet offerings today, we @ATT innovate to improve lives. For more information about AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), please visit us at about.att.com. Investors can learn more at investors.att.com.

 2025 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T and the Globe logo are registered trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property.

SOURCE AT&T
Auto Parts Remanufacturing Market is Segmented by Type (Engine, Transmission, Starter, Generator), by Application (Commercial Car, Personal Car).

BANGALORE, India, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Market for Auto Parts Remanufacturing was estimated to be worth USD 16850 Million in 2023 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 27210 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of 7.0% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

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Major Factors Driving the Growth of Auto Parts Remanufacturing Market:

The auto parts remanufacturing market continues to advance as consumers embrace cost-effective, eco-friendly alternatives. Growing acceptance of remanufactured components stems from factors such as stringent regulations, aging vehicles, and shifts in public attitudes toward resource conservation. Meanwhile, industry players leverage innovation to upgrade processes and enhance quality control. Standardized testing protocols and improved warranties convince skeptics that refurbished parts are both reliable and affordable. With government incentives encouraging circular economy initiatives, remanufacturers gain competitive traction. As global vehicle populations expand, the need for sustainable and economical replacements remains robust. Consequently, the market shows no signs of slowing, reflecting a larger trend toward durable, environmentally responsible automotive practices that resonate with a wide range of stakeholders.

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TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE AUTO PARTS REMANUFACTURING MARKET:

Engines are pivotal in powering vehicles, and their remanufacturing has become a significant catalyst for market growth. As consumers and businesses seek cost-effective solutions, remanufactured engines offer substantial savings without compromising performance. By reconditioning components such as cylinder heads and piston assemblies, remanufacturers ensure engines can function as reliably as new units. This emphasis on resource efficiency aligns with growing environmental awareness, as reusing engine parts reduces waste and conserves raw materials. Additionally, rigorous testing procedures guarantee that remanufactured engines meet or exceed original specifications, boosting consumer confidence. As automotive fleets age and owners look to extend vehicle lifespans, demand for high-quality remanufactured engines increases, thus reinforcing the engine's crucial role in driving overall market expansion.

Transmissions play a vital role in maintaining smooth and efficient vehicle operation, making them a focal point for the auto parts remanufacturing market. As replacement transmissions can be expensive, remanufactured alternatives serve as affordable options for consumers and fleet operators looking to manage costs. Remanufacturing involves disassembling, inspecting, and refurbishing gears, torque converters, and clutch assemblies to restore optimal performance. This process not only conserves valuable materials but also reduces the environmental footprint associated with producing new units. Furthermore, dependable remanufactured transmissions encourage vehicle owners to keep older models running longer, preventing premature scrapping of functional cars. By delivering consistent quality and reliability, remanufactured transmissions fuel growth in an industry that thrives on satisfying both budgetary and sustainability concerns.

Passenger cars represent the largest segment in automotive sales, and their high volume directly influences the expansion of the auto parts remanufacturing market. As more private owners look for cost-conscious ways to maintain vehicles, remanufactured components offer a budget-friendly and eco-conscious solution. Engines, transmissions, and various other assemblies are refurbished to extend vehicle lifespans and uphold performance standards. This approach aligns with a broader shift toward sustainable mobility, where waste reduction and resource efficiency rank high among consumer priorities. Moreover, stringent emissions and safety regulations encourage the upkeep of older passenger cars, increasing the need for reliable replacement parts. By combining value, durability, and environmental responsibility, remanufactured parts support a robust growth trajectory within the passenger car segment.

Cost savings stand out as a major force propelling the auto parts remanufacturing market. Vehicle owners increasingly look for budget-friendly repairs, especially as automobile prices rise. By restoring used components to near-original quality, remanufacturers present attractive price points compared to brand-new parts. This enables consumers to extend the service life of their vehicles without sacrificing reliability. Fleets, in particular, value cost containment and often embrace remanufactured solutions to keep operating expenses manageable. Moreover, remanufacturers capitalize on economies of scale in sourcing core parts and streamlining refurbishment processes. This focus on affordability resonates with budget-conscious individuals and businesses alike, making cost savings a powerful motivator for continuing market expansion and heightened interest in remanufactured parts.

An increasing emphasis on sustainability contributes significantly to the popularity of remanufactured auto parts. By extracting more value from existing materials, remanufacturing curtails the amount of raw resources used in production. This practice also helps reduce landfill waste, as core components are repurposed instead of discarded. Governments and advocacy groups support such efforts through policies and awareness campaigns that promote circular economy principles. Consumers respond by seeking environmentally responsible alternatives that enable them to maintain their vehicles with minimal ecological impact. Remanufacturers, in turn, spotlight their green credentials to attract conscientious buyers. As this environmental consciousness spreads globally, remanufactured parts find a receptive market that prioritizes resource conservation, establishing an ever-stronger link between green practices and industry growth.

A stable supply chain fosters growth within the auto parts remanufacturing sector. Global disruptions, material shortages, and logistical bottlenecks can raise the price and reduce the availability of new parts. In contrast, remanufacturing operations rely on reclaiming existing cores, which can often be sourced domestically or regionally. This local or shorter supply chain approach offers more resilience in unpredictable markets. Additionally, remanufacturers build strong partnerships with dismantlers, recyclers, and distributors to secure a steady flow of core components. By reducing dependency on new raw materials and overseas suppliers, remanufacturing strategies help ensure consistent product availability. As unpredictable market dynamics continue, this flexible and self-reliant supply chain model underpins the stable expansion of the auto parts remanufacturing industry.

An aging vehicle fleet drives up demand for replacement parts, benefiting auto parts remanufacturers. Many owners choose to keep older vehicles running longer, often for economic reasons or personal preference. Consequently, these vehicles require periodic refurbishment to maintain operational integrity and meet safety regulations. Remanufactured components, ranging from alternators to brake systems, offer an ideal alternative when new parts are difficult to source or prohibitively expensive. Owners can preserve the life of their cars at a fraction of the cost, avoiding premature disposal of otherwise serviceable vehicles. This trend translates into a growing customer base for remanufacturers, fueled by the consistent need for quality parts in older cars, trucks, and commercial vehicles.

Consumer attitudes toward remanufactured parts have shifted, paving the way for robust market growth. Previously, some vehicle owners questioned the reliability or durability of non-new components. However, transparent quality checks, standardized refurbishing processes, and rigorous testing regimens have proven remanufactured parts to be trustworthy options. Many consumers now recognize that properly remanufactured parts often meet or exceed original equipment specifications. Warranties and third-party certifications further validate product credibility, dispelling lingering concerns. As a result, drivers and fleet managers feel more confident in choosing remanufactured parts, driven by value, performance, and environmental advantages. This increased acceptance reflects a broader cultural shift toward sustainability and resource efficiency, strengthening the market's foothold in the mainstream automotive space.

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AUTO PARTS REMANUFACTURING MARKET SHARE

North America, with its established automotive industry, showcases a strong consumer base that values cost-effective repairs and sustainability.

Europe's emphasis on stricter environmental policies motivates the adoption of remanufactured components to curtail waste and align with circular economy targets.

Meanwhile, the Asia Pacific region, marked by surging vehicle ownership, represents a dynamic growth area where budget-conscious consumers discover compelling benefits in remanufactured parts.

Key Companies:

FAW Group

Shanghai Dazhong Allied Developing

JATCO

BMW

Toyota

Borg Automotive

Jasper Engines & Transmissions

Volvo Cars

Caterpillar Inc

Japan Rebuit

Meritor

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DISCOVER MORE INSIGHTS: EXPLORE SIMILAR REPORTS!

- Automobile RemanufacturingMarket revenue was USD 16850 Million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 27210 Million by 2029 with a CAGR of 7.0% during the review period (2023-2029).

- Wheel Remanufacturing market was valued at USD 761 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 998 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 4.1% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Auto Repair Equipment Market

- Luxury Automotive Aftermarkets Market

- Scrap Car Dismantling Service Market

- Engine Remanufacturing Market

- Gearbox Remanufacturing Service Market

- The global market for Automotive Spare Parts Aftermarket was estimated to be worth USD 350380 Million in 2023 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 428170 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of 2.9% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Transmission Repair market was valued at USD 172.8 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 203.9 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 2.6% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Wheel Remanufacturing market was valued at US$ 761 million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach US$ 998 million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 4.1% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- The global market for Automotive Parts Washing System was estimated to be worth USD 466 Million in 2023 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 666.6 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of 5.3% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

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LOGRONO, Spain, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Bodegas Casa La Rad is delighted to announce the appointment of Barbara Palacios Lopez-Montenegro as its new head winemaker. Palacios is the first woman winemaker from the acclaimed Palacios family of Spain. With her deep roots in La Rioja and extensive international experience, she brings a fresh perspective to the eco-diverse estate in Rioja Oriental.

Barbara Palacios, new Head Winemaker at Bodegas Casa La Rad Bodegas Casa La Rad wines

"We are thrilled to welcome Barbara to Casa La Rad. Her expertise, passion, and commitment to terroir-driven winemaking align perfectly with our vision," said Laurent Grumel, winery general manager. "Barbara's leadership will be instrumental in crafting wines that embody elegance as well as authenticity, reflecting the unique characteristics of our estate."

Palacios' journey in winemaking is both rich and diverse. Following in the footsteps of her father and uncles, she first pursued viticulture and oenology studies in Bordeaux, earning technical diplomas in 2004. She gained hands-on experience at some of the world's most renowned wineries, including Chateau Margaux and Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron in Medoc, and Robert Mondavi in Napa Valley. Her subsequent career has taken her around the globe, refining her expertise with top-tier wine producers in Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Chile, Argentina, and Spain. Upon returning to Rioja in 2005, she dedicated herself to cultivating a small vineyard near Haro planted in 1989 by her father, Antonio Palacios. This project laid the foundation for Bodega Barbarot, her personal winemaking venture. In 2014, Palacios further solidified her expertise by earning an oenology degree from the University of Rioja.

Casa La Rad, originally established in the 17th century as a hunting lodge for the Marquises de Legarda, has evolved into the largest single-property wine estate in Rioja. Spanning 800 hectares, the estate features 48 distinct vineyard parcels planted at elevations between 515 and 675 meters above sea level. The vineyards average more than thirty years of age, including 28 hectares of Garnacha, Malvasia, and Viura vines dating back to the mid-1970s. The estate's altitude, microclimates, and rugged terrain contribute great complexity and depth to its wines.

Committed to sustainability, Casa La Rad is certified with the internationally recognised FAIR'N GREEN seal for sustainable viticulture. Nestled in the Ocon Valleya UNESCO World Biosphere Reserveonly 14% of the estate is under vine. The rest is dedicated to old-growth woodlands, olive groves, and grain fields. Since its transformation under new ownership in 2014, the winery has embraced innovative barrel-aging techniques, opting out of traditional Reserva and Crianza classifications in pursuit of maximum terroir expressiveness in its wines.

Bodegas Casa La Rad produces 100% estate-grown Rioja DOCa wines under the Casa La Rad, Alma La Rad, and Vina Solarce labels. With current production at 75,000 litres, the winery anticipates growth to 200,000 litres by 2030. The appointment of Palacios marks an exciting new chapter for Casa La Rad, reinforcing its commitment to quality, authenticity, and sustainability.

For more information, visit www.casalarad.com. For media inquiries, interviews, or distribution opportunities, contact us at [email protected].

JOSEPH GRANADOS, +34 676 31 44 00, [email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2636203/Barbara_Palacios.jpg

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OAKLAND, Calif., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Shield of California, the nonprofit health plan serving the state's residents since 1939, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Mike Stuart, the health plan's Chief Financial Officer, as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer. Stuart succeeds Lois Quam, who is stepping down from her role as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. The Board will begin a formal search for a permanent successor.

"Blue Shield of California is very fortunate to have Mike, an exceptional senior leader, to step into the role of interim CEO," said Kristina (Kris) Leslie, Chair of the Board. "Mike has a deep understanding of our operations and a dedication to our mission, and the Board is confident that he will capably lead the execution of our vision to transform the healthcare system."

"We want to thank Lois for her contributions and her commitment to our employees, providers and members," Leslie added. "We wish her well as she moves on to new opportunities."

Stuart brings over 22 years of experience in health care and over a decade of experience with Blue Shield of California, tackling the biggest challenges in health care and helping the organization innovate and create a healthcare system that is sustainably affordable. He has served as the health plan's CFO since October 2022, and before that as the Senior Vice President of Finance.

"I am honored to serve Blue Shield of California in this interim role," said Stuart. "I look forward to working with the Board and the entire Blue Shield of California team to execute our vision and implement the long-term transformational strategies necessary to ensure that quality health care is more affordable and accessible for all Californians."

"I am thankful for the opportunity to have served Blue Shield of California and proud of the accomplishments of my team," said Quam. "Blue Shield of California understands the healthcare challenges facing everyday Americans and is committed to finding solutions to improve our caregiving system. That is a commitment I share and one that I will take forward to my next leadership role."

About Blue Shield of California

Blue Shield of California strives to create a healthcare system worthy of its family and friends that is sustainably affordable. The health plan is a taxpaying, nonprofit, independent member of the Blue Shield Association with nearly 6 million members, over 7,500 employees and more than $25 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1939 in San Francisco and now headquartered in Oakland, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates provide health, dental, vision, Medicaid, and Medicare healthcare service plans in California. The company has contributed more than $60 million to the Blue Shield of California Foundation in the last three years to have an impact on California communities. For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visit news.blueshieldca.com. Or follow us on LinkedIn or Facebook.

Media Contact

Mark Seelig

Blue Shield of California

510-607-2359

[email protected]

SOURCE Blue Shield of California
NEW YORK, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Bluerock Homes Trust, Inc. (NYSE American: BHM) (the "Company") today announced that its Board of Directors has established June 11, 2025 as the date of its 2025 annual meeting of stockholders. The Board of Directors has established April 11, 2025 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting.

About Bluerock Homes Trust, Inc.

Bluerock Homes Trust, Inc. (NYSE American: BHM), headquartered in New York, New York, is an externally managed REIT that owns and operates a portfolio of institutional residential properties including single-family homes, build-to-rent communities, and other residential communities located in attractive markets with a focus on the knowledge-economy and high quality of life regions of the Sunbelt and high growth areas of the Western United States. BHM's principal objective is to generate attractive risk-adjusted investment returns by acquiring residential units, developing residential communities, and through Value-Add renovations. BHM properties are located across a diverse group of growth markets with healthy long-term demand fundamentals for residential rentals and will seek to target the high disposable income renter by choice. For more information, please visit bluerockhomes.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are based upon the Company's present expectations, but these statements are not guaranteed to occur. Furthermore, the Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, of new information, data or methods, future events or other changes. Investors should not place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements. For further discussion of the factors that could affect outcomes, please refer to the risk factors set forth in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 12, 2024, and subsequent filings by the Company with the SEC. The Company claims the safe harbor protection for forward looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

SOURCE Bluerock Homes Trust, Inc.
Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning offers tips to find and fix hidden leaks that can waste water

BROOKLYN, N.Y., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning, a family-owned home service company serving Brooklyn and Manhattan since 1906, urges homeowners to celebrate the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Fix-a-Leak Week by chasing down hidden leaks that could be costing them a fortune on their utility bills.

This year, Fix-a-Leak Week runs from March 17-22.

Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning offers tips to find and fix hidden leaks that can waste water during Fix-a-Leak Week March 17-22.

"About 10% of homes have leaks that waste enough water to fill 1,440 glasses every day," said Michael Petri, owner of Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning. "As Brooklyn's first GreenPlumbers, we are also concerned about the impact on our environment by wasting such a precious natural resource. And when leaks go undetected, there's an increased demand for water, leading to more energy consumption."

Petri said homeowners should look for leaks in and around their houses to make sure they avoid water damage, mold growth and rot.

"The Federal Emergency Management Administration has determined that a single inch of water from a leak can cause up to $25,000 in property damages," he said. "This shows that even small leaks can damage everything from drywall and flooring to furniture and electronics."

Petri suggests homeowners inspect their homes for leaks in the following:

The toilet: Leaky toilets are the most common offenders. Homeowners can check for leaky toilets by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank, waiting 15 minutes and then checking to see if any of the coloring has entered the bowl. If it has, it is time to replace the flapper.

Leaky toilets are the most common offenders. Homeowners can check for leaky toilets by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank, waiting 15 minutes and then checking to see if any of the coloring has entered the bowl. If it has, it is time to replace the flapper. Their surroundings: Some leaks could be coming from pipes buried inside a home's walls. If homeowners see standing water on the floors or wet spots on the ceiling or walls, there is a chance a pipe is leaking within the walls. A professional plumber has the equipment to find the leak and repair it with minimal damage.

Some leaks could be coming from pipes buried inside a home's walls. If homeowners see standing water on the floors or wet spots on the ceiling or walls, there is a chance a pipe is leaking within the walls. A professional plumber has the equipment to find the leak and repair it with minimal damage. Faucets: Check for dripping or leaking faucets in the kitchen and bathroom. Often, all that is needed to stop the leak is a new washer, but sometimes the faucet may need to be replaced.

Check for dripping or leaking faucets in the kitchen and bathroom. Often, all that is needed to stop the leak is a new washer, but sometimes the faucet may need to be replaced. The water heater: Like HVAC systems, water heaters also need yearly maintenance. Homeowners who see a damp area near the water heater or aren't getting good water pressure may need to have their water heater serviced or replaced.

Like HVAC systems, water heaters also need yearly maintenance. Homeowners who see a damp area near the water heater or aren't getting good water pressure may need to have their water heater serviced or replaced. Hoses and sprinklers: Make sure the home's exterior nozzles aren't dripping and pay attention to the grass. If the grass is thicker and greener in one area, the sprinkler system may have sprung a leak.

For more information about Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning, visit https://www.petriplumbing.com/, or to schedule service, call (718) 717-1089.

About Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning

Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning is a family owned and operated business serving Brooklyn and the New York City area. Founded in 1906, the company offers a 100 percent guarantee on all services, upfront pricing, and friendly and knowledgeable Service Experts for all kinds of home and business plumbing and heating needs. Services offered include water and gas pipe leak repair and installation, fixture installations, inspections, boiler repair, water heater installation, complete bathroom, kitchen, laundry & utility room remodeling and more. Petri is also licensed and certified by Green Plumbers USA, the first in New York City to receive this designation. For more information, please visit www.petriplumbing.com or call (718) 717-1089.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Heather Ripley

Ripley PR

865-977-1973

[email protected]

SOURCE Petri Plumbing & Heating, Inc.
An infectious diseases department, renovated with the help of the Luxembourg Red Cross, has been opened in the Tsarychanka Central District Hospital of Dnipropetrovsk region, the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) reported on Facebook on Tuesday.

The renovation of the Tsarychanka hospital was very important due to its geographical location and transport connections with the community, which hosted about 5,000 IDPs. The hospital has been completely renovated, new necessary medical furniture and equipment were provided to the hospital for over UAH 12 million. The Luxembourg Red Cross will continue to provide support in providing housing and improving healthcare infrastructure so that Ukrainians have access to quality health services, said Gulnamo Khudobakshova, Head of the Luxembourg Red Cross Mission in Ukraine, at the opening of the branch.

According to her, the Luxembourg Red Cross has renovated more than 15 hospitals, two Ukrainian Red Cross Society offices and 80 private houses in Dnipropetrovsk region since 2022. She also reported that this year the Luxembourg Red Cross plans to renovate one rehabilitation center, three hospitals and another 100 households in the region.

The Tsarychanka hospital has eight branches and provides services to local residents, residents of four communities and internally displaced persons from Donetsk region.
Regional agency partners recognized for extraordinary efforts.

MONTEREY, Calif., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Capital Insurance Group (CIG), a leading regional property and casualty insurer in the Western U.S., is proud to announce its 2024 Agencies of the Year, representing each of CIG's four regions. CIG partners with independent, local agencies to provide the best possible service to policyholders. This unique partnership model is the foundation of CIG's business, and every year the company recognizes the agencies that made remarkable progress, surpassed expectations in written premium, client acquisition, and retention, while adding value to their communities. The following agencies are being recognized for 2024:

Capital Insurance Group, Monterey, CA

Southwest Region Winner

Woodruff Leavitt Insurance (formerly Powers-Leavitt)

Northern California Region Winner

WSR Insurance

Southern California Region Winner

Morris & Garritano

CIG is proud of all the relationships with their agency partners, which are spread across its five-state footprint. Recognizing and acknowledging the partners that go above and beyond, is part of showcasing and celebrating these successful partnerships. The Agencies of the Year award program was created for this purpose.

"2024 was a year in which many of CIG's independent agencies excelled," said Andy Doll, President & CEO of CIG. "Despite a tough marketplace, our agency partnerships shown through. This performance has made it difficult to narrow down our list to only four agencies for recognition. Through a comprehensive review of the results and an assessment of their demonstration of and commitment to partnership, we were able to select our 2024 Regional Agencies of the Year. Each of these winners excel year over year, so that made their selection a bit more special."

Learn more about recipients of CIG's 2024 Agencies of the Year below.

About Parker, Smith & Feek

Since 1937, Parker Smith & Feek has guided clients through informed risk management decisions with a steadfast dedication to client advocacy, exception service, and long-term partnerships. Three years ago, Parker, Smith & Feek joined IMA to deliver a more powerful, forward-looking insurance and risk management experience.

"I am pleased to announce Parker, Smith & Feek Insurance, LLC as the 2024 Northwest Region's Agency of the Year," said Jennifer Wagner, CIG's Regional Field Executive for the Northwest. "The agency ended the year with impressive profitability and new business growth. This success would not have been possible without the strong partnership CIG enjoys with this agency in both Commercial Lines and AgriBusiness. Congratulations to this organization!"

About Woodruff Leavitt Insurance

Woodruff Leavitt Insurance, formerly Powers-Leavitt, is one of the leading independent insurance agencies in Arizona. They began as an insurance agency with roots in Buckeye, Arizona, serving customers for over 50 years. Today, as part of Leavitt Group, they are part of a network of 250 offices in 27 states.

"2024 was a challenging year where Tim Woodruff and his entire team rose to the occasion, not only exceeding their financial metrics, but embracing the collaboration and culture that makes this relationship successful," said Tom Nowell, Regional Field Executive for CIG's Southwest Region. "This agency works to find solutions together, caring about their clients and company relationships. I am thankful for this strong growing partnership, and excited for the future."

About WSR Insurance

WSR Insurance Services is one of the oldest and largest independently owned insurance agencies in Northern California. Since 1917, they have dedicated themselves to providing their clients with the highest quality insurance products and services  on local, regional and national levels.

"WSR Insurance is a trusted partner to CIG Northern California, and this is reflected in their exceptional growth and continued profitability," said Pauleen Hepner, CIG's Regional Field Executive for Northern California. "Aside from achieving outstanding results in 2024, the true success is the partnership we share with the entire WSR team. We appreciate them choosing CIG for their valued clients and recognize that our success is incomplete without their full support and commitment."

About Morris & Garritano

Headquartered on the Central Coast of California, Morris & Garritano began in 1885, with the purpose of serving their clients and protecting what matters. Now, with growth and expansion across the nation, they continue to live out that same mission in their work each day, building relationships and furthering their legacy. They are one of California's largest independent agencies. With meaningful relationships that span generations, their clients know them for earning their trust twice: at the time of service, and at the time of need.

"The Morris & Garritano leadership, production, and account support teams are fully committed to protecting and growing CIG in all lines of business," said Bruce Ostrem, CIG's Regional Field Executive for Southern California. "CIG has been very fortunate to be an anchor carrier selected to protect the agency's cherished clients for nearly 60 years. We couldn't ask for a better partnership."

CIG is proud to partner with these agencies and recognize their accomplishments and future success with the 2024 Agencies of the Year Award.

About Capital Insurance Group

Established in 1898, Capital Insurance Group (CIG) is a leading regional property and casualty insurer in the Western U.S. CIG offers trusted Agriculture, Commercial, and Personal coverage across Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.

Known for superior customer service and customizable coverage, CIG delivers insurance solutions tailored to meet the needs of policyholders, sold exclusively through independent agents. CIG's suite of insurance offerings includes coverage for Homeowners, Renters, Personal Auto, Dwelling Fire, Businessowners, Commercial Auto, Farm Owners, Commercial Agriculture, Farm Auto, Commercial Real Estate, and more. Throughout its footprint, CIG partners with regional and local charitable organizations and events to give back to communities in ways that promote preparedness, enhance resilience, and bring relief from crisis.

CIG is underwritten by its affiliate companies: California Capital Insurance Company, Eagle West Insurance Company, Nevada Capital Insurance Company, and Monterey Insurance Company. CIG's member companies have received a Financial Strength Rating of "A" (Excellent) and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (ICR) of a+ (Superior) from AM Best, the independent financial monitor of the insurance industry. CIG is proud to be part of the Auto-Owners Insurance group of companies, one of the nation's largest, most-trusted insurers. For more information, please visit CIGInsurance.com.

SOURCE Capital Insurance Group
Healthgrades is proud to recognize outstanding achievements in patient care

DENVER, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Healthgrades, the #1 site Americans use when searching for a doctor or hospital, today announced the recipients of the 2025 Patient Safety Excellence Award. This award recognizes hospitals that excel at providing top-quality care while preventing serious safety events during hospital stays. This year's recipients include 442 hospitals from 40 states and represent the top 10% of hospitals in the nation for patient safety.

Patient safety is a vital component of achieving the best possible health outcomes, ensuring that serious injuries and complications are minimized for patients during hospital stays. In fact, if all hospitals performed similarly to the 2025 Patient Safety Excellence Award winners, they could have avoided 100,891 patient safety events between 2021 and 2023.

"As one of the most important aspects of hospital quality, patient safety should always be a top consideration for consumers seeking the best care possible," said Debra Gradick, MD FACEP, senior physician consultant at Healthgrades. "Healthgrades' Patient Safety Excellence Award offers transparent, data-driven insights on hospitals that consistently place patient safety at the forefront and deliver exceptional results in this aspect of care. With this information consumers can feel confident they are making an informed decision about their healthcare."

This award is based on an analysis of inpatient MedPAR data that measures clinical performance across 13 patient safety indicators (PSI), with each PSI representing a serious, potentially preventable complication.* Healthgrades' analysis found that four PSIs accounted for nearly 76% of all patient safety events between 2021 and 2023 and that patients treated at a 2025 Patient Safety Excellence Award recipient hospital have a lower risk of experiencing each of these adverse events:

In-hospital fall resulting in fracture (54% less likely)

Collapsed lung due to a procedure or surgery in or around the chest (54.8% less likely)

Pressure sores or bed sores acquired in the hospital (69.4% less likely)

Catheter-related bloodstream infections acquired in the hospital (72% less likely)

View the full Patient Safety Excellence Award recipient list and methodology on healthgrades.com. See the complete award methodologies for more information on how Healthgrades rates hospital quality.

*Statistics are calculated from Healthgrades Patient Safety Award methodology which is based primarily on AHRQ technical specifications (Version 2024.0.1) to MedPAR data for years 2021 through 2023 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only. To be eligible for the award, hospitals must meet certain clinical quality thresholds, have zero instances in which a foreign object was left behind during a procedure, and have data on at least seven out of eight core PSIs.

About Healthgrades

Healthgrades is dedicated to empowering meaningful connections between patients, doctors, and hospitals. As the #1 platform for finding a doctor and a leader in healthcare transparency, we help millions of consumers each month find and schedule appointments with their healthcare professional of choice and prepare for their appointments with best-in-class, treatment-focused content.

For over 20 years, our health system, group practice, and life sciences marketing solutions have helped our partners reach and engage consumers on their way to the doctor.

Healthgrades is part of RVO Health, a partnership between Red Ventures and Optum, part of UnitedHealth Group. RVO Health has the largest consumer health and wellness audience online across its brand portfolio, including Healthgrades, Healthline, Medical News Today, Greatist, Psych Central and Bezzy, which touch every part of the health and wellness journey. RVO Health helps more than 100 million unique visitors live their strongest and healthiest lives each month.

SOURCE Healthgrades
CHICAGO, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicagoland clergy and community leaders including Neighborhood FORWARD Chicago are urging the Chicago City Council to take immediate action to protect Island Furs, a Black-owned southside business, in light of a proposed ordinance threatening to close establishments like Island Furs, a vital community fixture for over 30 years.

"Now is the time for our city to stand up for Black-owned businesses," Pastor Jarvis Hanson, Mobilizing Preachers and Communities (MPAC) Chicago stated. "These businesses are essential to our neighborhoods, providing jobs and supporting families. We need city leadership to celebrate and nurture these contributions."

The call for support comes at a critical moment when major retailers like Walgreens have been closing stores in predominantly Black neighborhoods. This trend highlights the urgent necessity for city officials to prioritize local enterprises that contribute to local communities.

The proposed ordinance poses more than just a financial threat; it attacks the cultural fabric of Chicago. Black-owned businesses reflect the history, resilience, and creativity of our neighborhoods. Forcing these businesses to close sends a damaging message that their contributions do not matter, and that the city is willing to sacrifice cultural richness for policies that intentionally overlook their significance.

The closure of Island Furs and others would diminish the unique cultural landscape that Black and minority-owned businesses help to create and sustain. These businesses serve as gathering places and sources of pride, fostering community identity and connection. Supporting minority-owned businesses is about ensuring that the vibrancy of our neighborhoods remains intact.

"Supporting Black-owned businesses isn't just a slogan said during election season; it requires a commitment 365 days a year," said Pastor Walter P. Turner III, Baptist Ministers Conference of Chicago and Vicinity.

In this time of need, faith leaders are asking city officials to VOTE NO on any proposed ordinances that would negatively impact Black-owned businesses, including Island Furs and others crucial to the community's cultural landscape.

"Let's come together to protect our heritage, our businesses, and the future of our community," implored W.R. Robinson, Neighborhood FORWARD Chicago activist.

Media contact

[email protected]

SOURCE Neighborhood FORWARD
BEIJING, March 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In today's world, with the sluggish global economic recovery and the rising trend of trade protectionism,we are faced with many challenges. As the top contributor of global economic growth, China's economy has always been the focus of the world's attention. During this year's two sessions, China Talk of China.org.cn has interviewed ambassadors and counselors from various countries to share their views on China's economy in 2025 and the cooperation between China and their countries.

Foreign Ambassadors Views on Chinas Economy in 2025

Peter Lizak, Ambassador of Slovakia to China: China has been developing in tremendous ways over the last 40 years, and let me congratulate to the results you have achieved. Over the years, Chinese people have achieved good results and that is really the situation. You are now turning from the extensive development to intensive development, from quantity to quality. As Chinese President formulated, rejuvenation of the country. So you are focusing on the most prominent, more modern part of the economy. And I think these will be discussed during these days.

China is one of the most important players in the world, and global partners expect from China a stable and reliable approach for solutions to world questions and challenges.

John Busuttil, Ambassador of Malta to China: The global economy is in a very difficult situation right now. Europe is also faced with challenges. But China's economy, we hope that the situation improves and that the plans made during two sessions will help. Because if China's economy improves, the global economy will also improve. And also we hope that relations and trade between the European Union and China will continue to grow, because more trade we have, more prosperity there will be for the people. Malta, as a member of the European Union, as I mentioned, we hope that trade relations will be increased and the relationship between both global players (China and EU) will get better and better. We have our foreign Minister coming in July to China, and we hope that the discussions between China and Malta will continue. We have very long diplomatic relations with China since 1972, and the relations are very strong. Malta is a neutral country. We hope that peace and prosperity of the the two nations will continue to improve for the best benefit of the whole global economy and the global situation.

Fernando Lugris, Ambassador of Uruguay to ChinaI think it's very important for the international community, and especially for countries like Uruguay, that have such a close trade and economic relationship with China, to hear the indications that the government is going to provide to the public during the two sessions.

We hope to hear good news. We hope to hear that China will continue to be the engine of the world economy as it has been in the last decades. We have a new government in Uruguay, and the new authorities are hoping to be able to elevate our comprehensive strategic partnership (with China) to a new level. We have a very close relation with China, and especially China is our number one trading partner. So we are hoping to be able to increase and diversify the goods that we export to China, to be also able to export more services and to negotiate new frameworks for more investments to come.

So we are having a lot of conversations and hoping to have a lot of high-level meetings and visits from both sides in order to make this comprehensive strategic partnership into a new beginning with this new Uruguayan administration.

Alfredo Ortuno Victory, Ambassador of Costa Rica to China: We are very happy to be here to hear the perspective of China for 2025. I hope everything is good for the Chinese people and for the people of my country. I expect China's economy to be more or less the same as 2024, around 5% of GDP increase. My country Costa Rica is looking forward very pleasantly to major cooperation with China in terms of trade and in terms of more profound cooperation. We have a very interesting matrix of products. We send to China more than 800 different products. And we import a lot from China as well.

Miguel Humberto Lecaro Barcenas, Ambassador of Panama to China: If you were in China many years ago, you can see the difference. You can be a witness of the big development of the economy of China. We have a good relationship in this moment between Panama and China and to develop the commerce and trade with all the world. The main importance of Panama is the geographical position. It's in the middle of the Americas. And then we play an important role in the trade and commerce of China in the American continent.

Allan Joseph Chintedza, Ambassador of Malawi to ChinaWe always expect the Chinese economy to be stronger because the stronger economy (of China) serves us well because of the Belt and Road Initiative and the relationship that we have under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. You may remember last year in September, we had heads of states from the African continent. And what we have said is that the relationship between China and Africa is quite crucial. Because when you combine the two populations, we can create a huge market, which is win-win for both China and Africa.

Now, specifically for Malawi, Malawi is an agricultural country and having a close relationship with China in terms of the modernization of agricultural sector, which is again a win-win (cooperation). Because we expect exporting raw materials, products like soybeans, chilies, groundnuts and macadamia. So all these China will be able to use. And for us in return, we hope we can be able to import mechanization, tractors, drones, which indeed does bring in mechanization and modernization to our agricultural sector.

Kenneth Rabale, Ambassador of Lesotho to China: The economy of China seems to be kind of balancing. And the cooperation between Lesotho and China seems to be very good for a long time. More than 40 years ago, we have started the relationship with China and everything seems to be smooth, especially with regard to the partnership that exists between the two countries in terms of trade, bilateral relations, etc. I think China seems to be kind of improving technologically. China is the best country in terms of technological development. So we are learning from it. We are actually cooperating closely with China in many aspects.

Arlindo do Rosario, Ambassador of Cape Verde to ChinaChina makes the same target as 2024, 5%, which is a challenge because the global situation is not good, but I think it's possible. China is a great country, great economy, with very good qualification. So I think if the government sets its target as 5%, I think it will be possible. I think the economy will grow. Maybe with more difficulty, but I think it is possible (for China) to do it. I hope that the cooperation between China and Cape Verde will continue to grow. Next year is the 50th anniversary of the relationship between Cape Verde and China. And so I have a great hope that this cooperation can go to a higher level.

Antonio Monsuy Esono, Counselor of the Equatorial Guinean Embassy in China: China's economy is developing very fast and China offers a great help to Africa. The relationship between Equatorial Guinea and China goes well in all aspects, I am very happy to work in China to do something for the relationship between the two countries. Equatorial Guinea and China have established diplomatic relations for 55 years, and the cooperation between the two countries in all aspects is very good. I feel that China's political system is very good. Chinese government works for their people.

Abdullah Almantheri, Counselor of the Embassy of Oman in China: I think the Chinese economy is heading upwards, it might face some challenges, global challenges, and that's very natural. And the Chinese economy is progressing very confidently. It's moving on. It's focusing on high-tech, artificial intelligence, etc. I think it will just keep going on and keep improving. And this is my wish as well, because I'm in love with this country. Most of the things I use are China-made.

Thanks to the long history of cooperation between the two countries, not only commercially, but also politically, the level of cooperation and the economy between China and Oman is improving. It's going to be even better in the coming days because Oman is now focusing a lot on opening up with the Chinese economy. I think in 2025, we're going to see a leap in the economic cooperation between the two countries.

Foreign Ambassadors' Views on China's Economy in 2025

http://fangtan.china.com.cn/2025-03/09/content_117755787.htm

SOURCE China.org.cn
PUNE, India, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Control Room Solution Market is projected to witness substantial growth, expanding from USD 53,028.80 million in 2023 to USD 95,237.99 million by 2032, reflecting a CAGR of 6.59% during the forecast period. The increasing demand for advanced control room solutions across industries such as energy, transportation, defense, and public safety is a key driver of market expansion. Organizations are investing in modernized control rooms equipped with cutting-edge visualization, analytics, and communication technologies to enhance operational efficiency, real-time monitoring, and decision-making processes. Furthermore, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud-based control systems is reshaping the market landscape, enabling seamless data management and automation.

Additionally, the growing emphasis on cybersecurity, disaster management, and smart city initiatives is further fueling the demand for robust control room solutions. Governments and enterprises are focusing on enhancing situational awareness and incident response capabilities, driving the adoption of video walls, data dashboards, and remote monitoring solutions. The expansion of critical infrastructure projects and digital transformation efforts across industries is expected to sustain market growth. North America and Europe dominate the market due to high technological adoption, while Asia-Pacific is anticipated to witness the fastest growth, supported by increasing investments in infrastructure development and smart governance projects.

Browse the report and understand how it can benefit your business strategy - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/control-room-solution-market

Key Growth Determinants

1. Increasing Demand for Real-Time Monitoring and Decision-Making

The rising need for real-time data analysis and situational awareness is a major driver for control room solutions. Industries such as utilities, transportation, defense, and emergency response require advanced monitoring systems to enhance operational efficiency and quick decision-making. The integration of AI-powered analytics and IoT-enabled sensors further improves data collection and response times, making control room solutions indispensable.

2. Growing Investments in Smart City and Infrastructure Projects

The expansion of smart cities and large-scale infrastructure projects globally is significantly boosting market demand. Governments and municipal bodies are deploying control room solutions for traffic management, public safety, energy distribution, and emergency response coordination. The adoption of cloud-based and remotely accessible control room technologies is also gaining traction, ensuring seamless management of critical urban functions.

3. Increasing Focus on Cybersecurity and Data Protection

With the growing reliance on digital control room solutions, the risk of cyber threats and data breaches has escalated. Organizations are prioritizing secure communication networks, encrypted data storage, and advanced authentication mechanisms to safeguard sensitive information. This has led to increased investments in cyber-resilient control room technologies, further driving market growth.

4. Adoption of Advanced Technologies (AI, IoT, and Cloud Solutions)

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud computing in control room operations is transforming the industry. These technologies enable automated data processing, predictive maintenance, and remote access capabilities, improving overall system efficiency. AI-driven video surveillance, automated alerts, and predictive analytics are being widely adopted across industries, ensuring proactive response mechanisms and minimizing operational risks.

Key Growth Barriers

1. High Initial Investment and Maintenance Costs

The implementation of advanced control room solutions requires significant capital investment in hardware, software, and network infrastructure. Organizations must invest in video walls, high-performance computing systems, data analytics platforms, and cybersecurity measures, leading to high upfront costs. Additionally, regular maintenance and system upgrades add to the overall expenses, which can deter small and mid-sized enterprises from adopting these solutions.

2. Complexity in System Integration and Compatibility Issues

Control room solutions must integrate with multiple legacy systems, communication networks, and security protocols across various industries. Ensuring seamless interoperability between different hardware and software platforms is a major challenge. Organizations often face compatibility issues when upgrading existing control room infrastructure, leading to delays, additional costs, and operational inefficiencies.

3. Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Concerns

As control rooms increasingly rely on cloud-based and AI-driven technologies, they become more vulnerable to cyber threats, data breaches, and unauthorized access. The risk of hacking, ransomware attacks, and data manipulation poses a significant barrier to adoption, especially in critical sectors such as defense, healthcare, and public safety. Organizations must invest heavily in secure encryption, firewalls, and threat detection systems, which adds to operational costs and complexity.

4. Shortage of Skilled Professionals and Technical Expertise

The efficient operation of modern control room solutions requires a workforce skilled in data analytics, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and AI-driven automation. However, the shortage of trained professionals in these domains poses a challenge for organizations looking to implement and manage sophisticated control room technologies. The lack of expertise in handling advanced systems and real-time analytics can lead to inefficiencies, security risks, and operational bottlenecks, hindering widespread adoption.

Segmentation

Based on End-user:

Government

Critical Infrastructure

Commercial/Civil

Others

Based on Enterprise Size:

Small Enterprises (1 to 9 employees)

Small Enterprises (10 to 99 employees)

Medium-Sized Enterprises (100 to 499 employees)

Large Enterprises (500 to 999 employees)

Very Large Enterprises (1000+ employees)

Based on Deployment:

Cloud

On-Premise

Hybrid

Based on Solution:

Integrated Control Room Platforms

Standalone Software

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

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Regional Analysis

1. North America: Market Leader with Strong Technological Adoption

North America holds a dominant position in the control room solution market, driven by high investments in advanced security, surveillance, and critical infrastructure management. The presence of key industry players, including Honeywell, ABB, and Barco, along with the rapid adoption of AI, IoT, and cloud-based control systems, fuels market expansion. The demand for smart city projects, emergency response solutions, and cybersecurity enhancements is particularly high in the U.S. and Canada. Government initiatives to modernize transportation, energy grids, and public safety systems further contribute to market growth in this region.

2. Europe: Strong Growth Due to Smart City and Security Initiatives

Europe is experiencing steady growth in the control room solution market, largely driven by smart city projects, strict cybersecurity regulations, and rising infrastructure modernization efforts. Countries such as Germany, the UK, and France are investing in public safety, railway control centers, and energy management systems to improve operational efficiency. Additionally, the European Union's focus on data privacy and cybersecurity compliance (e.g., GDPR) is pushing organizations to adopt secure and technologically advanced control room solutions.

3. Asia-Pacific: Fastest-Growing Market with High Infrastructure Investments

The Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the highest growth rate, fueled by rapid urbanization, increasing smart city initiatives, and expanding industrial sectors. China, India, Japan, and South Korea are leading in investments in transportation, defense, and public safety control rooms. Governments in this region are prioritizing the deployment of advanced surveillance, emergency response, and traffic monitoring systems to manage growing urban populations and infrastructure demands. The integration of 5G networks, AI-driven analytics, and cloud-based control centers is further accelerating market adoption.

4. Middle East & Africa: Expanding Investments in Security and Infrastructure

The Middle East & Africa region is experiencing growing demand for control room solutions in sectors such as oil & gas, defense, and smart city projects. Countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa are investing heavily in real-time monitoring systems, security solutions, and advanced surveillance technologies. The rise of smart city initiatives, airport security enhancements, and industrial automation is driving market expansion. However, budget constraints and limited access to skilled professionals may hinder widespread adoption in some African nations.

Credence Research's Competitive Landscape Analysis

The global Control Room Solution Market is highly competitive, with key players focusing on technological advancements, strategic partnerships, and industry-specific solutions to strengthen their market position. Leading companies such as ABB, Barco, Johnson Controls, Siemens, Honeywell, and General Dynamics are investing heavily in AI-powered analytics, cloud-based control room solutions, and cybersecurity enhancements to meet the growing demand for real-time monitoring and operational efficiency. These players are also expanding their service offerings by integrating IoT, 5G, and big data analytics to enhance decision-making capabilities in industries such as public safety, defense, energy, and transportation.

The market is witnessing an increase in mergers, acquisitions, and collaborations as companies aim to expand their geographic footprint and enhance product portfolios. For instance, Honeywell and Barco have introduced next-generation control room visualization and automation solutions to cater to the growing need for advanced security and surveillance. Additionally, emerging players are leveraging cloud computing, remote monitoring, and AI-driven predictive analytics to gain a competitive edge. North America and Europe remain key markets for established players, while Asia-Pacific is attracting investments due to rapid infrastructure development and smart city initiatives. The competitive landscape is expected to intensify as demand for integrated, cyber-secure, and scalable control room solutions continues to rise globally.

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Key Market Companies

Motorola Solutions, Inc.

Hytera Communications Corporation Limited

NEC Software Solutions

Christie Digital Systems USA , Inc.

, Inc. Regola

Black Box

Mauell GmbH

3tc Software

Mistral Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

Haivision

ALE International

IHM A/S

Airbus

Motilde

Recent Industry Developments

Barco, a leading provider of control room solutions, introduced its latest product lineup at InfoComm 2024, held in Las Vegas, NV , from June 12-14 . The company showcased advancements in control room software, LED video walls, and LCD video walls, setting new industry benchmarks. This product launch reinforces Barco's commitment to innovation and its drive to redefine control room technology standards.

, from . The company showcased advancements in control room software, LED video walls, and LCD video walls, setting new industry benchmarks. This product launch reinforces Barco's commitment to innovation and its drive to redefine control room technology standards. In January 2024 , Cognite, a prominent industrial software solutions provider, launched the beta version of its Remote Operations Control Room (ROCR) at the Celanese facility in Clear Lake, Texas . The ROCR leverages generative AI technology to enhance operational efficiency and decision-making.

, Cognite, a prominent industrial software solutions provider, launched the beta version of its Remote Operations Control Room (ROCR) at the facility in Clear Lake, . The ROCR leverages generative AI technology to enhance operational efficiency and decision-making. In March 2020 , Data Projections, Inc. secured a contract with the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) to supply advanced technology solutions and services to public sector and government entities.

, Data Projections, Inc. secured a contract with the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) to supply advanced technology solutions and services to public sector and government entities. In January 2020 , Honeywell Process Solutions, a division of Honeywell, introduced a panel PC specifically designed to enhance control room efficiency, further strengthening its portfolio of industrial automation solutions.

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NEW YORK, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Storage Deluxe, a Manhattan-based owner and developer of self-storage assets, is pleased to announce the appointment of Cyril Pietrafesa as a Partner of the firm. Pietrafesa brings a distinguished track record in private and public market investing, as well as investment banking, across the real estate, hospitality and financial services sectors. In his new role, Cyril will lead strategic growth initiatives, focusing on driving expansion and acquisitions at Storage Deluxe and its affiliate, UOVO.

Cyril Pietrafesa

"Cyril's expertise in scaling businesses and driving sustainable value creation will be critical as we continue to expand our footprint," said Nick Coslov, CEO of Storage Deluxe and Director and shareholder at UOVO. "We are thrilled to welcome Cyril as well to the UOVO Board of Directors, where his leadership and vision will be instrumental to our success."

Cyril becomes Storage Deluxe's fourth Partner, alongside Steven Guttman, Nick Coslov, and Steve Novenstein, and arrives as Storage Deluxe and UOVO enter a new phase of growth, leveraging their market-leading franchises and investment capacity to capitalize on substantial demand for their services. Storage Deluxe and UOVO, each recognized as pioneers in their industry, are executing on aggressive, ongoing development and acquisition strategies to solidify their respective positions as the premier providers in the self-storage (Storage Deluxe) and art, wine, and fashion storage and logistics (UOVO) segments.

Most recently, Pietrafesa was an investment professional at Centerbridge Partners, L.P. and worked across its equity, real estate, and credit funds, with a focus on operationally intensive real estate businesses. Pietrafesa started his career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs & Co. Previously, Pietrafesa served as a Director or Board Observer of Suntex Marinas, Boatsetter, and Great Wolf Resorts.

About Storage Deluxe

Founded in 1998, Storage Deluxe is the leading self-storage developer in the New York City metropolitan area. Headquartered in Manhattan, the company has completed and is currently developing 84 projects, totaling 8 million square feet and representing a total investment of over $2.5 billion. As a fully vertically-integrated real estate company, Storage Deluxe specializes in acquisitions, development, construction, property management, asset management, capital formation, and retail leasing.

About UOVO: Art, Fashion and Wine

UOVO: Art, Fashion, Wine is the premier luxury storage and logistics provider for fine art, fashion, and wine. With locations across the U.S., our expert team of industry professionals offers bespoke solutions to meet the specialized needs of any collection. UOVO offers comprehensive stewardship of both world-class commercial and personal collections at our purpose-designed, state-of-the-art facilities. From maintenance, preservation, archiving, and cataloging, to international and domestic shipping, storage, and installation, UOVO goes beyond storage to create a unique experience on par with elite hospitality, managed through one-to-one personal relationships and full digital optimization.

Please visit https://storagedeluxe.com to learn more about Storage Deluxe and https://uovo.art/ to learn more about UOVO: Art, Fashion, Wine's facilities, handling, and services.

SOURCE UOVO
BOSTON, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dyad, a leading provider of innovative insurance technology solutions, and American Eagle Underwriting Managers, a global insurance program administrator and brokerage division of Mission Underwriters, are pleased to announce the successful implementation of ALIS, Dyad's state-of-the-art insurance platform to support American Eagle's business. The implementation, completed in under six months, marks a significant step forward in modernizing operations, streamlining workflows, and enhancing the user experience for the Excess & Surplus (E&S) lines market.

As American Eagle Underwriting Managers continues to expand its diverse insurance program offerings, the need for a scalable, tech-forward platform became a top priority. The company sought to enhance its capabilities with an advanced digital ecosystem, allowing for automated wholesale workflows, operational efficiencies, and a seamless user experience. Dyad's ALIS solution was selected to optimize this transition, providing a comprehensive, cloud-native platform tailored to the unique complexities of the E&S market. The implementation equips American Eagle with a strong and efficient underwriting infrastructure, enhanced automation, comprehensive 3rd party integrations, and an intuitive interface to support long-term growth.

"Operational efficiency was a key driver in our selection of Dyad's ALIS platform. We needed a solution that could not only support our wholesale strategy but also reduce manual work for our underwriters and brokers. Dyad delivered an innovative, scalable system that positions us for long-term success in the market," said Michael Waller, Vice President of Digital Delivery & Strategic Partnerships at American Eagle Underwriting Managers.

"We're proud to have partnered with American Eagle Underwriting Managers to provide solutions that address their business needs," said Ryan Bosworth, Chief Sales Officer at Dyad. "ALIS is purpose-built for the evolving needs of the E&S market, and this implementation showcases how modern technology can drive efficiency and growth in the insurance sector."

About American Eagle Underwriting Managers

American Eagle Underwriting Managers is a bespoke global insurance program administrator and brokerage that specializes in the placement of hard-to-place risks with domestic carrier partners. As a coverholder of Lloyds of London for over 35 years, we strive to find the right solutions for our client by creating new and innovative insurance products. American Eagle Underwriting Managers was acquired by Mission Underwriters in 2023. For more information, visit https://aeums.com/.

About Dyad, Inc.

Dyad delivers software and services that simplify insurance processing and distribution. We have redefined insurance technology by continuously improving our solutions, ensuring our customers can focus on growing and evolving their business, delivering superior customer service, and developing valuable insight into their business. Retail agencies, wholesalers, agency networks, program administrators, MGAs, and carriers benefit from our solutions. For more information about Dyad, go to dyadtech.com.

Media Contact:

Kat Barrett

Dyad, Inc.

[email protected]

Mason Glod

Omni Paratus for Mission Underwriters

[email protected]

SOURCE Dyad, Inc
Company co-founder Josh Koplin to share insights with HVAC contractors to help them flourish in a fast-moving environment

SEATTLE, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Josh Koplin, co-founder and CRO of EDEN, a pioneering digital sales enablement platform in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industry, will share insight into the rapidly evolving home service landscape, presenting key findings at the 2025 Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) conference. The conference takes place at the Kalahari Resort in Austin, Texas, from March 24-27.

During his session, Koplin will share strategies for HVAC professionals who wish to grow their businesses strategically. His breakout session will empower contractors to capitalize on new consumer trends and technology developments.

Koplin's presentation, "The Convergence of Modern Consumer Behavior and AI Innovation," will explore how homeowners' buying habits are changing and how leveraging new trends in AI search is imperative for HVAC contractors looking to drive sales.

"In order to succeed, today's HVAC contractors will need to wrestle with all the ways in which their industry is changingand all the ways in which digital tools can help them adapt and thrive," said Koplin.

ACCA 2025 will provide HVAC contractors with ample opportunity to network, as well as educational sessions to help them better understand the shifting consumer landscape.

"The home service industry is changing at a staggering paceand events like ACCA are crucial for contractors who are looking to keep up," Koplin said. "It's my privilege to highlight emerging trends that can help contractors grow their customer base, including things like digital sales tools, AI search, and financial incentives that lead to a more frictionless consumer experience."

EDEN's Instant Quote is an industry-leading, web-based tool designed for HVAC contractors to provide personalized equipment recommendations and estimates online. By instantly integrating rebates, tax credits, and financing options into the quoting process, EDEN helps contractors close more sales through a seamless customer experience.

For more information about EDEN, visit https://www.e-denhomes.com/.

About EDEN

EDEN's mission is to empower contractors with innovative technology, helping them to grow their businesses and provide exceptional customer experiences. Founded in 2021, the Seattle-based startup provides a digital sales enablement tool to help HVAC contractors provide quick and accurate instant quotes for HVAC systems. By leveraging technology to provide prices and detailed breakdowns of eligible incentives and expected utility savings online, EDEN helps promote high-efficiency systems that contribute to sustainability and benefits both homeowners and contractors. For more information, visit https://www.e-denhomes.com/.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Heather Ripley

Ripley PR

865-977-1973

[email protected]

SOURCE EDEN
Annual recognition honors organizations committed to business integrity through robust ethics, compliance and governance programs

CARROLLTON, Ga., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwire, North America's leading wire and cable company, has received the 2025 World's Most Ethical Companies recognition by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices.

In 2025, Ethisphere recognized 136 companies spanning 19 countries and 44 industries. 2025 marks the second consecutive year that Southwire has been recognized. This year, Southwire is one of only four honorees in the electronics and components industry.

A Southwire team member at the company's Copper Rod Plant.

"It is an honor to be recognized once again by Ethisphere as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies," said Rich Stinson, Southwire's president and CEO. "Receiving this recognition for two years in a row is a testament to the fact that doing right is not only one of our core tenets of sustainability but a true pillar of Southwire's culture."

The World's Most Ethical Companies assessment is grounded in Ethisphere's proprietary Ethics Quotient, which requires companies to provide 240+ different proof points on practices that support robust ethics and compliance, governance, a culture of ethics, environmental and social impact and initiatives that support a strong value chain. That data undergoes further qualitative analysis by Ethisphere's panel of experts who spend thousands of hours vetting and evaluating each year's group of applicants.

The process serves as an operating framework to capture and codify best-in-class ethics and compliance practices from organizations across industries and from around the world.

"Being named as one of the 2025 World's Most Ethical Companies is an achievement and an honor we don't take lightly," said Burt Fealing, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer. "This recognition underscores Southwire's unwavering dedication to ethical business practices. Our commitment to integrity is not an empty promise; it's a guiding principle that informs the decisions we make in our work each and every day."

"Congratulations to Southwire for achieving recognition as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies. Behind this honor is a true dedication and a commitment to advancing business integrity. This approach is good for business  employees and other stakeholders value companies that prioritize the kinds of practices we measure with our process," said Erica Salmon Byrne, Ethisphere's Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Chair.

To view the full list of this year's honorees, please visit the World's Most Ethical Companies website, at https://worldsmostethicalcompanies.com/honorees. For questions about Southwire's Ethics and Compliance program, visit https://www.southwire.com/sustainability/doing-right-connection. For more Southwire news, visit www.southwire.com/newsroom.

Southwire Company, LLC is North America's leading wire and cable company. The $8.4B organization is made up of more than 9,000 team members across the globe who unite as ONE Southwire each and every day to serve each other, their customers and their communities. Southwire and its subsidiaries provide solutions including building wire and cable, metal-clad cable, utility products, portable and electronic cord products and OEM wire products. In addition, Southwire offers electrical products, engineered solutions and a variety of field support services. For more on Southwire's products and solutions, its community involvement and its vision of sustainability, visit www.southwire.com.

 2025 Southwire Company, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Contact: Ashley Bush

Director, Communications

Phone: (678) 684-7634

[email protected]

SOURCE Southwire
SALT LAKE CITY, March 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Extra Space Storage Inc. ("Extra Space") (NYSE: EXR), a leading owner and operator of self-storage facilities in the United States and a member of the S&P 500, today announced that its operating partnership, Extra Space Storage LP (the "operating partnership"), has priced a public offering of $500 million aggregate principal amount of 5.400% senior notes due 2035 (the "Notes"). The Notes were priced at 99.830% of the principal amount and will mature on June 15, 2035. BofA Securities, TD Securities, Truist Securities, BMO Capital Markets, J.P. Morgan, PNC Capital Markets LLC, Wells Fargo Securities and US Bancorp are acting as the joint book-running managers for the offering. Regions Securities LLC, BOK Financial Securities, Inc., Citigroup, Huntington Capital Markets, Scotiabank, Zions Capital Markets, Fifth Third Securities, Academy Securities and Ramirez & Co., Inc. are acting as the co-managers for the offering.

The offering is expected to close on or about March 19, 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Extra Space and certain of its subsidiaries.

The operating partnership intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay amounts outstanding from time to time under its lines of credit and its commercial paper program, and for other general corporate and working capital purposes, including funding potential acquisition opportunities.

The Notes will be issued pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor will there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale is not permitted. The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, copies of which, when available, may be obtained from BofA Securities, Inc., 201 North Tryon Street, NC1-022-02-25, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001, Attn: Prospectus Department, email: [email protected], or by telephone: 1-800-294-1322; TD Securities (USA) LLC, 1 Vanderbilt Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10017, or by telephone: 855-495-9846; or Truist Securities, Inc., Attn: Prospectus Department, 50 Hudson Yards, 70th Floor, New York, NY 10001, email: [email protected], or by telephone: 1-800-685-4786.

A prospectus supplement related to the offering will also be available free of charge on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.

About Extra Space Storage Inc.:

Extra Space Storage Inc., headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust, and a member of the S&P 500. As of December 31, 2024, the Company owned and/or operated 4,011 self-storage stores in 42 states and Washington, D.C. The Company's stores comprise approximately 2.8 million units and approximately 308.4 million square feet of rentable space operating under the Extra Space brand. The Company offers customers a wide selection of conveniently located and secure storage units across the country, including boat storage, RV storage and business storage. It is the largest operator of self-storage properties in the United States.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain information set forth in this release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning the terms, timing and completion of the offering of securities by Extra Space and the operating partnership, including the anticipated use of proceeds therefrom. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "believes," "estimates," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "anticipates," or "intends," or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy. All forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations and various assumptions. Our expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith and we believe there is a reasonable basis for them, but there can be no assurance that management's expectations, beliefs and projections will result or be achieved. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in or contemplated by this release. Such risks and uncertainties include without limitation those associated with market risks and uncertainties and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions for an offering of securities, as well as the risks referenced in the "Risk Factors" section included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements apply only as of the date of this release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

SOURCE Extra Space Storage Inc.
At the talks in Saudi Arabia with the American team, it is important to discuss how to start the peace process, said head of the President's Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak.

"Security guarantees are very important, because we want such aggression to never happen again in the future. Now we believe that it is necessary to discuss the most important thing - how to start this process. We are very open and want to have a constructive, deep, friendly, partnership conversation with our American partners," Yermak told journalists in Jeddah.
Award recognizes "advisors that are leading the way."

Ranking based on quantitative and qualitative measures that identify the highest standards of best practices.

Recognition comes as Mesirow Wealth Management continues to grow organically as well as through strategic acquisition.

CHICAGO, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mesirow, an independent, employee-owned financial services firm, today announced that Wealth Advisor Jennifer Rosenblum, CFA has been recognized in the 2025 Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State ranking by Forbes.1 Based on advisor surveys and interviews, the 2025 list features over 2,400 experienced women who cumulatively manage approximately $3.6 trillion in assets.

Forbes Names Mesirow Wealth Advisor Jennifer Rosenblum, CFA as 2025 Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State

According to Forbes.com, Forbes' Top Advisor rankings "are the only advisor rankings with a focus on quality, including interviewing advisors." The research "creates rankings of role models  advisors who are leading the way in offering best practices and providing a high-quality experience for clients."

"We congratulate Jennifer on her recognition as a top woman wealth advisor in Illinois," said Mesirow Wealth Management CEO Brian Price. "Jennifer exemplifies excellence as we continue to grow our founding capability of wealth management, and we look forward to her continued contributions to Mesirow and the individuals, families and organizations she serves."

Jennifer Rosenblum, CFA joined Mesirow in 1997 and has more than 35 years of experience in the financial services industry. Throughout her career, she has specialized in working with individuals, families, charitable organizations, and business owners to help them create comprehensive financial planning strategies to accumulate, protect and distribute their wealth. Jennifer is a mentor in the Link Unlimited Scholars Program, a board member for Providence Farm Foundation, an advisory committee member for the University of Illinois Jewish Studies Program, and a member of the Chicago Finance Exchange (CFE).

As a Barron's Top 100 RIA firm,2 Mesirow Wealth Management offers a differentiated approach that places equal emphasis on customized, comprehensive wealth plans that evolve along with clients' lives and expert investment selection in all markets, including access to traditional stock and bond opportunities as well as alternative investments. Mesirow Wealth Management has more than $12.4 billion in assets under management / assets under advisement,3 and Mesirow overall has $306.2 billion in assets under supervision.4

Learn more about Mesirow Wealth Management.

About Mesirow

Mesirow is an independent, employee-owned financial services firm founded in 1937. Headquartered in Chicago, with offices around the world, we serve clients through a personal, custom approach to reaching financial goals and acting as a force for social good. With capabilities spanning Global Investment Management, Capital Markets, Investment Banking and Advisory Services, we invest in what matters: our clients, our communities and our culture. To learn more, visit mesirow.com, follow us on LinkedIn and subscribe to Spark, our quarterly newsletter.

Mesirow has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Chicago by Crain's Chicago Business multiple times and is one of Barron's Top 100 RIA firms.

Media

[email protected]

Michael Herley | 203.308.1409

Mesirow refers to Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. and its divisions, subsidiaries and affiliates. The Mesirow name and logo are registered service marks of Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc.,  2025, Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. Investment management services provided through Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc., Mesirow Institutional Investment Management, Inc. and Mesirow Financial Private Equity Advisors, Inc., all SEC-registered investment advisor, a CFTC registered commodity trading advisors and member of the NFA, or Mesirow Financial International UK, Ltd. ("MFIUK"), authorized and regulated by the FCA, depending on the jurisdiction.

Award recognition disclosures: mesirow.com/award-recognition-disclosures

Each year, Forbes partners with SHOOK Research to evaluate prospective advisors. Evaluation criteria is gathered through telephone, virtual and in-person due diligence interviews, as well as quantitative data. They weigh factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those who encompass the highest standards of best practices. For the complete list of 2025 Top Women Wealth Advisors and methodology, visit https://www.forbes.com/sites/rjshook/2025/02/11/methodology-americas-top-women-wealth-advisors-2025/. 2024 Barron's Top RIAs (Received September 2024 for the year 2023  Licensing fees paid post award for use of the ranking). In order to be considered for the Barron's 2024 Top RIA Firms list, applicants were required to complete a 145-question survey, with the firm's ADV informing the majority of responses. Firms were also required to meet a number of other specified requirements to be eligible for inclusion. Firms were ranked based on various qualitative and quantitative factors, including assets managed, the size and experience of teams, regulatory records of the advisors and firms, technology spending, staff diversity, organic and M&A growth, client segmentation as well as succession planning. Assets under management is as of 12.31.2024 and Assets under advisement is as of 9.30.2024 . Some assets under advisement ("AUA") are on a 45-to-90-day lag due to time needed to confirm away assets. As of 12.31.2024 unless otherwise noted. | 1. "Assets under supervision" includes regulatory assets under management; assets under advisement; and non-securities currency assets under management. For these purposes: (1) regulatory assets under management ("RAUM") is calculated in accordance with Instruction 5A of Form ADV and includes all assets of securities portfolios (both discretionary and non-discretionary). (2) Some assets under advisement ("AUA") are on a 45-to-90-day lag due to time needed to confirm away assets. (3) Currency assets under management includes AUM associated with (i) active and passive currency risk management products $175.23 billion , (ii) non-fx overlay strategies such as equitization and beta overlays $885.03 million , and (iii) alpha strategies $1.57 billion . In all such cases, AUM is calculated based on notional value of currency investments. Additionally, AUM for alpha strategies is adjusted because clients can select a volatility target (generally between 2% and 12% annualized), which is normalized to 2% in order to create a consistent depiction of alpha strategy AUM. This results in a "scaled" AUM, which is higher than the actual ag6gregate notional value of all alpha strategy portfolios if clients have selected a volatility target higher than 2%. As of 12.31.2024, the "unscaled" AUM for alpha strategies was $365.38 million .

SOURCE Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc.
BEIJING, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Gaotu Techedu Inc. (NYSE: GOTU) ("Gaotu" or the "Company"), a technology-driven education company and online large-class tutoring service provider in China, today announced that it expects a meaningful reduction in its non-GAAP operating loss for 2025 compared to 2024. The Company's 2025 financial projections reflect anticipated cost and expense trends, including, among others, the impact of lease commitments, ensuring a well-measured outlook for business growth across both online and offline operations.

Gaotu is committed to providing investors with accurate and transparent disclosures. All financial guidance and estimates follow applicable accounting principles and standards. Investors are encouraged to review the Company's public filings made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the business outlook, as well as the Company's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company's ability to continue to attract students to enroll in its courses; the Company's ability to continue to recruit, train and retain qualified teachers; the Company's ability to improve the content of its existing course offerings and to develop new courses; the Company's ability to maintain and enhance its brand; the Company's ability to maintain and continue to improve its teaching results; and the Company's ability to compete effectively against its competitors. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's reports filed with, or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information or any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

About Gaotu Techedu Inc.

Gaotu is a technology-driven education company and online large-class tutoring service provider in China. The Company offers learning services and educational content & digitalized learning products. Gaotu adopts an online live large-class format to deliver its courses, which the Company believes is the most effective and scalable model to disseminate scarce high-quality teaching resources to aspiring students in China. Big data analytics permeates every aspect of the Company's business and facilitates the application of the latest technology to improve teaching delivery, student learning experience, and operational efficiency.

For further information, please contact:

Gaotu Techedu Inc.

Investor Relations

E-mail: [email protected]

Piacente Financial Communications

Brandi Piacente

Tel: +1 212 481-2050

Jenny Cai

Tel: +86 10 6508-0677

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Gaotu Techedu Inc.
BEIJING, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As China's ongoing two sessions project a positive, stabilizing message to the world, a number of foreign companies, institutions and envoys have expressed their upbeat view on China, with some announcing new investments in recent weeks to bank on China's vast market and the country's pledges on further opening up.

The annual national "two sessions," a highly anticipated event on China's political calendar, are being held in Beijing. On March 5, China set an annual GDP growth target of around 5 percent for 2025, according to the Government Work Report delivered to the National People's Congress (NPC) for deliberation.

A slew of other economic targets were also unveiled, with the deficit-to-GDP ratio being set at approximately 4 percent while the surveyed urban unemployment rate was targeted at around 5.5 percent.

Achievable targets

Salvador Moncada, Honduran ambassador to China who was among foreign envoys attending the NPC opening session this year, told the Global Times he believes the Chinese government must have carefully considered the GDP growth target and that he is confident that China will achieve this goal in the current economic environment.

"It would be a pretense for me to judge a number that has been, I'm sure, carefully calculated and can be accomplished given the circumstances," said the Honduran ambassador, adding that the 5 percent growth will contribute significantly to global growth.

In the Government Work Report, "high-quality development" was mentioned multiple times. In the view of Peru's Ambassador to China Marco Vinicio Balarezo Lizarzaburu, "China has entered a new phase of high-quality development."

"When China develops, other countries such as Peru also benefit," Balarezo said, noting that China has established the first Luban Workshop, a Chinese vocational education program, in Peru and the workshop is training local workers who understand lithium batteries and new-energy vehicles (NEV) manufacturing technology to provide a workforce for future bilateral cooperation in green industries.

Evaluating China's GDP growth target, Khalil Hashmi, Pakistani Ambassador to China, told the Global Times that he is confident the 2025 target will be met.

"We know that for a large and mature economy like China with nearly $18 trillion GDP, it is no longer possible to grow at double-digit. I think among the major economies, 5 percent growth is very significant and this is almost double the average of other mature economies," he said.

The Pakistani ambassador explained that he thinks the 5 percent goal is achievable because the right micro economic policies and monetary policies are in place.

"There is a high degree of optimism and confidence that economic growth and economic growth target of 5 percent is certainly achievable," Hashmi said, noting that appropriate macro-economic and monetary policies, fiscal and foreign trade policies, and investment priorities have made him optimistic about China's economic outlook.

The targeted increment of China's GDP in 2025, which will be equal to that of a mid-sized economy, will continue to contribute to the global economy which has yet to fully recover from the pandemic, Tian Xuan, a deputy to the National People's Congress and associate dean of Tsinghua University's PBC School of Finance, told the Global Times.

Tech innovation in focus

The Government Work Report has offered insights on China's development with a strong focus on technology and innovation, foreign analysts and envoys pointed out.

Fostering sci-tech innovation has become a key buzzword in the Government Work Report, according to media reports. Also, the country has announced that it will allocate a greater share of science and technology expenditures to basic research.

"There will be more focus on tech innovation. The meeting pledges to bolster tech innovation by improving market ecosystem, and increase support for AI applications and new generation of intelligent terminals (NEVs, AI-enabled phones and PCs, and humanoids) ... We think tech animal spirits may return," Robin Xing, chief China economist at Morgan Stanley, said in a statement sent to the Global Times.

China has become a powerhouse of innovation, with a strong and comprehensive ecosystem that includes hardware, software and AI, Airbus China CEO George Xu told the Global Times on Sunday.

In particular, the booming low-altitude economy will further boost China's general aviation market, and benefit the development of the helicopter market, the general aviation industry and its overall ecosystem, Xu said.

Dassault Systemes, a French software multinational, has been closely monitoring policies related to China's high-quality development and technological innovation goals, with a focus on advancing the digital economy, green and low-carbon transformation, and the deep integration of frontier technologies like AI, industrial software, and the real economy.

"In 2025, China will remain the global core engine of innovation and industrial modernization, and Dassault Systemes maintains strong confidence in the long-term development of the Chinese market," Zhang Ying, managing director of Greater China with Dassault Systemes, told the Global Times on Sunday.

"Biomedicine is of great interest since this is now an area of priority and innovation is occurring in the areas of generating new molecules guided by AI, clinical trials and integration of traditional Chinese medicine with Western medicine," said Moncada, Honduran Ambassador to China.

Investing in China

In recent days, foreign investors have increasingly turned their attention to the burgeoning opportunities in AI and robotics in China.

In a sign of such an interest, about 100 foreign institutions have been researching China's A-share listed companies since February, conducting surveys of more than 60 listed companies, domestic financial newspaper the Shanghai Securities Journal reported in February.

Multiple foreign financial institutions and their analysts have drawn great confidence in their prospects in the Chinese market from the ongoing two sessions.

These happened as pleasant surprises pop out in a succession since the start of 2025, from DeepSeek's chatbot to UniTree's humanoid robot, according to Tian.

"For many multinational companies, China is and will remain an important market. China is too big to be missed - as a critical source of revenue and profitability," Denis Depoux, global managing director of Roland Berger, a German business consulting firm, told the Global Times.

China today is not only a manufacturing powerhouse but also a global innovation powerhouse, Depoux said.

Many companies also translated their bullish outlook into investment actions.

Global investors have bought up $2 billion of Chinese stocks in January, as well as $8.1 billion worth of debt purchase, according to a report from the Institute of International Finance on February 18.

At the start of 2025, Morgan Stanley announced that Morgan Stanley Futures (China) Co, a wholly owned subsidiary, had officially commenced business to provide brokerage services for China's onshore commodity futures. Standard Chartered Securities China said its Shanghai branch had obtained a license to conduct securities and other businesses in China.

On March 3, US hotel giant Marriott International opened its 600th property in Greater China with the opening of the 289-room The St. Regis Shenzhen Bao'an, as the company "continues to focus on development opportunities" in China, according to a press release the hospitality provider sent to the Global Times.

Singapore-based Singapore Perennial Holdings opened up China's first wholly foreign-owned, third-grade general hospital, in North China's Tianjin Municipality on February 26. The 500-bed hospital, developed and equipped at a cost of 1 billion yuan ($138 million), is positioned to tap the rising and diversified medical care demand by Chinese citizens.

SOURCE Global Times
Consulting Firm for Financial Institutions Celebrates Client Growth and is Hiring Investment Professionals to Support Data and Technology Projects

CHICAGO, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Grandview Analytics, a leading data and technology consulting firm serving financial institutions, continues to build on its strong trajectory of business growth, driven by its unwavering commitment to delivering for clients and fostering rewarding career opportunities for its team of talented financial industry professionals.

As investment firms seek solutions to complex data and technology challenges, Grandview has expanded client engagements across insurance asset management, wealth management, private credit, and hedge fund sectors.

Grandview Analytics Announces 2025 Business Momentum and New Partner Promotion

The firm also celebrated major milestones in 2024, including its 10th anniversary, a second consecutive Inc. 5000 recognition, and the successful spin-off of its data management software, Rivvit Inc. As Grandview deepens its focus on consulting, it is strengthening its leadership team with the promotion of Tony Kauzlarich to Partner.

Momentum and Growth in 2025

Grandview enters 2025 with renewed focus on its core consulting service offerings for financial institutions: operational transformation, technology modernization, and data management. Following the Rivvit Inc. spin-off, Chris Lamb takes the helm as Grandview Co-Founder and President, with Co-Founder Matt Biver now leading Rivvit in an independent capacity.

"Financial services and asset management firms continue to navigate an evolving technology and data landscape, which has a significant impact on their people, processes, and operations," said Chris Lamb, Co-Founder and President. "Grandview is well-positioned to help our clients define and deliver strategies to adapt to this changing environment."

Grandview also continues to expand its consulting team to support new and existing client projects. "We've entered 2025 with exciting new engagements and a growing demand for our expertise," said Jen Pavlus, Head of Talent Management. "We are actively hiring investment professionals with 10 or more years of experience in the front-middle-back office who want to leverage their industry knowledge in a consulting role supporting data and technology projects."

Tony Kauzlarich Promoted to Partner

Grandview is proud to announce the promotion of Tony Kauzlarich to Partner, marking the firm's first internal promotion to this role. Since joining Grandview in 2021, Tony has been instrumental in driving the firm's growth, elevating client delivery standards, expanding brand presence, and deepening key client relationships. He will continue as Head of Client Delivery, leading Grandview's approach to client engagement to ensure consistent, high-impact execution across projects.

Additionally, Tony oversees Grandview's Center of Excellence, where he mentors consultants, strengthens domain expertise, and enhances relationship management skills, further advancing the firm's consulting capabilities.

Tony has played a crucial role in Grandview's success," said Lamb. "His leadership, deep industry expertise, and ability to develop scalable frameworks for client delivery have been instrumental in driving Grandview forward. His promotion reflects both his outstanding contributions and Grandview's ongoing investment in its people, its clients, and its continued growth."

Reflecting on his promotion, Tony said, "I'm incredibly proud of what we've built at Grandview and grateful for the opportunity to continue shaping the firm's future in this new role. Our strength comes from the talent and dedication of our team, and I look forward to helping drive Grandview's next phase of growth while continuing to deliver exceptional results for our clients."

Grandview at InvestOps USA 2025

Grandview continues its momentum as a sponsor of InvestOps USA, the leading buy-side investment operations conference, held through Wednesday this week in Orlando, Florida.

"InvestOps is a fantastic opportunity to engage with industry leaders, share insights, and connect with our clients," said Chip Rabus, Managing Director, Head of Business Development. "We invite attendees to visit Grandview Analytics at Booth #42 to learn more about how we are driving transformation in investment operations."

ABOUT GRANDVIEW ANALYTICS

Grandview Analytics is a data and technology consulting firm serving financial institutions. Our consulting services include technology modernization, operational transformation, and data management solutions that drive improved business processes, integrated technologies, accurate and timely reporting, and enhanced decision-making capabilities. Our seasoned team of financial industry professionals brings deep business and technical domain expertise across asset classes and the trade lifecycle. With hands-on financial industry experience, we execute complex initiatives that help clients maximize ROI on data and technology investments. Learn more at www.grandviewanalytics.com.

SOURCE Grandview Analytics
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., ROTTERDAM, Netherlands and SHANGHAI, March 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Harbour BioMed (HKEX: 02142), a global biopharmaceutical company committed to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel antibody therapeutics focusing on immunology and oncology, today announced the appointment of Dr. Ian Y. Liu as Senior Vice President, Global Head of Legal. Dr. Liu will be based in the U.S. and report directly to Dr. Jingsong Wang, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Harbour BioMed.

With his extensive legal expertise and industry experience, Dr. Liu will oversee business development transactions, ensuring legal and regulatory compliance while facilitating seamless execution to safeguard the company's interests. He will also lead the company's global intellectual property strategy. Additionally, Dr. Liu will take full responsibility for managing U.S.-related legal affairs, including prosecution and litigation of all legal cases, protecting the company's business operations in the region and supporting its strategic growth in the U.S. market.

Before joining Harbour BioMed, Dr. Liu worked at renowned law firms, including Finnigan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP, and K&L Gates, LLP, where he gained extensive experience in patent applications, litigation, and due diligence. In the corporate legal affairs sector, he held key positions such as Head of Legal and Governmental Affairs at Simcere Pharmaceutical, demonstrating exceptional ability in handling complex legal matters and commercial negotiations.

Dr. Jingsong Wang, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Harbour BioMed, commented: " We are pleased to welcome Dr. Ian Y. Liu to Harbour BioMed. As we continue to expand our business globally, Dr. Liu's expertise in intellectual property, business transactions, and regulatory affairs will be invaluable. With his extensive legal expertise and industry experience, we look forward to him playing a critical role in supporting the company's sustained growth in the U.S. and international markets, further strengthening our industry position and global impact."

Dr. Ian Y. Liu, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Legal of Harbour BioMed, added: "Harbour BioMed has always been at the forefront of drug discovery and development, business innovation, and globalization. It is a privilege and honor to become a member of Harbour BioMed and I am looking forward to contributing to Harbour BioMed's bright future."

Dr. Liu holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Fudan University, a Ph.D. from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School.

About Harbour BioMed

Harbour BioMed (HKEX: 02142) is a global biopharmaceutical company committed to the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel antibody therapeutics focusing on immunology and oncology. The company is building its robust portfolio and differentiated pipeline through internal R&D capability, collaborations with co-discovery and co-development partners, and select acquisitions.

The proprietary antibody technology platform Harbour Mice generates fully human monoclonal antibodies in two heavy and two light chains (H2L2) format, as well as heavy chain only (HCAb) format. Building upon the HCAb antibodies, the HCAb-based immune cell engagers (HBICE) bispecific antibody technology is capable of delivering tumor-killing effects unachievable by traditional combination therapies. Integrating Harbour Mice, and HBICE with a single B cell cloning platform, our antibody discovery engine is highly unique and efficient for the development of next-generation therapeutic antibodies. For further information, please refer to www.harbourbiomed.com.

SOURCE Harbour BioMed
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., ROTTERDAM, Netherlands and SHANGHAI, March 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Harbour BioMed (HKEX: 02142), a global biopharmaceutical company committed to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel antibody therapeutics focusing on immunology and oncology, today announced the appointment of Michael D. Patten as Chief Strategy Officer. Michael will be based in the United States and report directly to Dr. Jingsong Wang, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Harbour BioMed.

In this role, Michael will be responsible for formulating and overseeing the global corporate development and growth strategy for Harbour BioMed. In addition, as the Head of Global Alliance, he will lead efforts to manage and strengthen Harbour BioMed's global strategic partner network and ecosystem, with a particular focus on high-potential markets outside of China, further enhancing Harbour BioMed's global branding and presence.

Michael brings extensive experience and a strong track record in the biopharmaceutical industry. During his tenure at Bristol Myers Squibb, he held several key leadership roles. Most recently, as Head of Equity & Venture Capital, he led and managed significant numbers of strategic equity investments and LP commitments across the life science ecosystem. Prior, he held roles of increasing seniority in Business Development and Alliance Leadership, successfully executing transactions and managing multiple early- and late-stage business development alliances, demonstrating exceptional expertise in business development and alliance management.

Dr. Jingsong Wang, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Harbour BioMed, commented: "We are pleased to welcome Michael D. Patten as our Chief Strategy Officer. Harbour BioMed has always been committed to the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative biotherapeutics, striving to provide more effective treatment options to patients. Michael's academic background and extensive experience align perfectly with our strategic direction. I am confident that with Michael's expertise, we will further expand our global footprint and enhance the visibility and impact of Harbour BioMed."

Michael D. Patten, Chief Strategy Officer of Harbour BioMed, added: "I am excited to join Harbour BioMed at such a pivotal time. The company's innovative platforms and commitment to addressing unmet medical needs create tremendous potential. I look forward to driving strategic initiatives with existing and new partners that will accelerate growth globally and deliver impactful therapies to patients."

Michael holds a Bachelor of Science with Joint Honors in Pharmacology & Business Studies from the University of Edinburgh, a Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Medicine from the University of Surrey, and an MBA from the University of Maastricht (EuroMBA Consortium).

About Harbour BioMed

Harbour BioMed (HKEX: 02142) is a global biopharmaceutical company committed to the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel antibody therapeutics focusing on immunology and oncology. The company is building its robust portfolio and differentiated pipeline through internal R&D capability, collaborations with co-discovery and co-development partners, and select acquisitions.

The proprietary antibody technology platform Harbour Mice generates fully human monoclonal antibodies in two heavy and two light chains (H2L2) format, as well as heavy chain only (HCAb) format. Building upon the HCAb antibodies, the HCAb-based immune cell engagers (HBICE) bispecific antibody technology is capable of delivering tumor-killing effects unachievable by traditional combination therapies. Integrating Harbour Mice, and HBICE with a single B cell cloning platform, our antibody discovery engine is highly unique and efficient for the development of next-generation therapeutic antibodies. For further information, please refer to www.harbourbiomed.com.

SOURCE Harbour BioMed
WARMINSTER, Pa., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Havis, a leader in rugged mounting and docking solutions, is unveiling the new Rugged Pole Mount, its latest innovation designed for forklift applications, at ProMat 2025. Built for durability and efficiency, the Rugged Pole Mount provides material handling professionals with a secure and accessible way to mount tablets within the forklift cab.

NEW Havis Rugged Pole Mount

At ProMat 2025, Havis will showcase its end-to-end mobility solutions designed to meet the evolving needs of warehouse and logistics applications. From rugged docking stations to durable mounting solutions, Havis products enhance efficiency, safety, and workflow optimization in fast-paced material handling environments.

Introducing the Rugged Pole Mount

In dynamic warehouse and distribution settings, forklift operators require reliable solutions that keep essential technology within reach. The Rugged Pole Mount delivers a versatile, heavy-duty mounting system that ensures tablets remain secure, accessible, and optimized for workflow efficiency.

Key Features

Heavy-Duty Stability  2.25" dual ball pillar mount delivers unmatched durability & strength in demanding forklift environments.

Maximum Adjustability  360-degree top & bottom rotation with virtually limitless positioning for optimal device access.

Universal Compatibility  Supports 4-hole AMPS and includes a VESA 75 adapter for seamless device integration.

Secure, Vibration-Dampening Grip  TPU over-molded steel clamps provide a firm hold while reducing movement & wear.

Versatile Mounting Options  Securely attaches to square, rectangular, or round poles from 1" to 4" in diameter.

Visit Havis at ProMat 2025

ProMat 2025 is the premier material handling event in the Americas, bringing together industry leaders and innovative technologies for manufacturing and supply chain professionals. Havis is proud to showcase its latest rugged mounting and docking solutions, demonstrating how our purpose-built designs support warehousing mobility needs across various applications.

"As warehouses and distribution centers continue to evolve, material handling professionals need rugged, adaptable solutions to keep their technology secure and accessible. The Rugged Pole Mount is designed to meet those demands, providing a durable, highly adjustable mounting system that enhances efficiency and workflow. We're excited to unveil this innovation at ProMat 2025 and showcase how Havis continues to deliver end-to-end mobility solutions for the warehouse and logistics industry," says Doug Dodson, Havis Director of Sales for Enterprise.

Visit Havis at booth #S341 to see the Rugged Pole Mount in action and explore how our cutting-edge mobility solutions can optimize your material handling operations while keeping your critical technology securely in place.

About Havis

Havis, Inc. is a privately held, ISO 9001-certified company that is the leader in providing robust and reliable end-to-end technology mounting and mobility solutions in demanding environments. The Havis legacy dates back over 80 years as a trusted designer and manufacturer of critical equipment that ensures critical technology is accessible, secure and reliable.

Havis's engineering and manufacturing teams are committed to consistently researching and developing unique products and solutions for a range of industries worldwide. With headquarters in Warminster, PA, and additional locations in Plymouth, MI, Burnsville, MN, Hilliard, OH and in the UK, Havis currently employs more than 400 team members. For more information on Havis, please call 1.800.524.9900 or visit http://www.havis.com.

SOURCE Havis, Inc.
Premieres Weekend Mornings Starting Saturday, April 5

NEW YORK, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hearst Media Production Group (HMPG) today announced the premiere of The Visioneers with Zay Harding, on Saturday, April 5. The original series, produced in an exclusive partnership with VoLo Foundation, will air weekend mornings on the CBS Television Network as part of the "CBS WKND" educational/informational programming block (check local listings). The Visioneers will also be available on Paramount+.

Zay Harding hosts "The Visioneers," produced by Hearst Media Production Group and debuting April 5 on the CBS Television Network as part of the CBS WKND lineup

Coinciding with the start of Earth Month, the 30-minute weekly eco-adventure series, hosted by international explorer Zay Harding, will take viewers around the world as it showcases the remarkable scientists, engineers, and everyday people who are creating environmental solutions.

Harding, perhaps best known for his role on the popular, long-running PBS series Globe Trekker, has captivated television audiences for more than 25 years as host or guest star on more than a dozen television shows on ABC, Discovery Channel, FX, History, MTV, Nat Geo, Netflix, PBS, Travel and, now, CBS. Born and raised in Hawaii, he spent his childhood scouting and exploring the outdoors, all perfect preparation for the many outdoor adventure shows for which he's become known. Harding is represented by Paul Barrutia at Arise Artists Agency.

"Through our partnership with VoLo Foundation, The Visioneers will inspire and amaze audiences," said Bryan Curb, HMPG executive vice president and general manager, education/information. "The 'Visioneers' who are featured will showcase how they are accelerating positive change through sustainable and futuristic solutions."

"The Visioneers aligns perfectly with VoLo Foundation's mission to connect the scientific community with the public," said Thais Lopez Vogel, cofounder and trustee of VoLo Foundation. "Zay Harding presents groundbreaking climate solutions in a dynamic and engaging way. Don't miss the chance to be informed and inspired."

HMPG's current program portfolio comprises more than 30 original series and hundreds of hours of original content annually on leading broadcast networks and station groups and on connected TV and streaming platforms. It has a library of more than 5,000 hours of programming and its content can be found in 97 countries.

About VoLo Foundation

VoLo Foundation, is a private nonprofit foundation with a mission to accelerate change and global impact by supporting science-based climate solutions, enhancing education, and improving health. Learn more at volofoundation.org.

About Hearst Media Production Group

Hearst Media Production Group (HMPG), a business unit of Hearst Television, is an independent producer and distributor of original programming for TV stations, broadcast and cable networks and streaming services. HMPG produces hundreds of hours of programming annually across linear, streaming, digital and social media platforms for domestic and international distribution in nearly 100 countries. Its popular shows include the Emmy Award-winning educational/informational (E/I) programming blocks airing weekends nationwide including "Weekend Adventure," on ABC stations; "CBS WKND," on the CBS Network; "The More You Know," on the NBC Network; "One Magnificent Morning," on the CW Network; "Mi Telemundo" on the Telemundo Network and "Go Time" on independent stations. HMPG also produces and/or distributes a diverse slate of other programming and content including Matter of Fact with Soledad O'Brien, America's #1 nationally syndicated public affairs news magazine; Consumer Reports TV, and the company's dedicated FAST channels Xplore, The Jack Hanna Channel and Rovr Pets, available on some of the most popular smart TVs and streaming platforms. HMPG has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and Charlotte. HMPG is represented by United Talent Agency.

SOURCE Hearst Media Production Group, LLC
ISELIN, N.J., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hexaware Technologies, a global leader in IT, AI, and digital solutions, announces the inauguration of its global business headquarters in Jersey City today. The ceremony features New Jersey's Lieutenant Governor, Tahesha Way, along with Taylor Bodman, Partner at Brown Brothers Harriman (BBH), and R. Srikrishna, CEO of Hexaware Technologies. Esteemed clients, partners, and industry leaders will attend the launch.

Hexaware Inaugurates Global Business Headquarters in Jersey City

The inauguration of the new global business headquarters, located at 185 Hudson Street (24th Floor), Jersey City, NJ, marks a significant step in Hexaware's U.S. growth strategy. It reinforces the company's commitment to expanding its North American presence and driving digital transformation across industries.

R. Srikrishna, CEO of Hexaware Technologies, highlighted the significance of this expansion: "The headquarters represent Hexaware's next phase of growth and affirms our commitment to being closer to our clients, driving deeper collaboration, and delivering transformative solutions at scale. Jersey City provides the perfect environment for innovation, talent, and business growth, and we are excited about the opportunities this move brings."

Governor Phil Murphy emphasized New Jersey's role as a thriving technology hub: "Hexaware's decision to establish its global business headquarters in Jersey City is a testament to New Jersey's growing reputation as a hub for global innovation and technology. We are proud to welcome a company that is driving digital transformation on a global scale while creating opportunities within our state's thriving tech ecosystem."

Lt. Governor Tahesha Way expressed her enthusiasm in welcoming the global technology leader to New Jersey: "We are thrilled that Hexaware has recognized New Jersey as the ideal location for its global business headquarters. A world leader in IT, AI, and digital solutions, Hexaware has a proven record of providing premier global technology and business process services. As we continue to reclaim our legacy as the original Silicon Valley, we are honored to serve as Hexaware's headquarters for innovation and technology."

The global business headquarters will serve as a hub for AI-led automation, cloud transformation, and customer-centric digital solutions, supporting enterprises in optimizing operations and accelerating innovation.

Taylor Bodman, Partner at Brown Brothers Harriman (BBH), Hexaware's client for 20 years and neighbor in 185 Hudson Street, also welcomed the company's move: "We are delighted to welcome Hexaware to 185 Hudson Street. Their leadership in digital transformation and AI solutions aligns well with Jersey City's reputation as a center for financial and technological excellence. We look forward to having Hexaware next door as we continue our collaboration which has stood the test of time over the past two decades."

With a presence in over 34 countries, Hexaware continues to deliver innovative digital solutions for enterprises worldwide.

The inauguration event includes an exclusive luncheon with Global 2000 clients and industry executives, offering attendees a first look at Hexaware's vision for the future of technology and business transformation.

For more information about Hexaware and its services, visit www.hexaware.com.

About Hexaware Technologies

Hexaware is a global technology and business process services company. Every day, Hexawarians wake up with a singular purpose: to create smiles through great people and technology. With this purpose gaining momentum, we are well on our way to realizing our vision of being the most loved digital transformation partner in the world. We also seek to protect the planet and build a better tomorrow for our customers, employees, partners, investors, and the communities in which we operate. With offices across the world, we empower enterprises to realize digital transformation at scale and speed by partnering with them to build, transform, run, and optimize their technology and business processes.

For more information, please visit https://hexaware.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2639280/Hexaware_Technologies_Ltd_1.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2237417/Hexaware_NEW_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Hexaware Technologies Ltd.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- H.I.G. Capital ("H.I.G."), a leading global alternative investment firm with $67 billion of capital under management, is pleased to announce that one of its affiliates has completed the acquisition of Quisitive Technology Solutions Inc. ("Quisitive" or the "Company"), a Microsoft Cloud and AI solutions provider. Quisitive's management team, headed by CEO Mike Reinhart, will continue to lead the Company.

Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Dallas, Quisitive is a premier cloud services provider in the Microsoft ecosystem, providing digital transformation services, managed services, and AI solutions to mid-size and enterprise clients. The Company has nearly 500 employees globally, and helps clients harness the power of Microsoft Cloud solutions to modernize software applications, streamline business processes, securely migrate and optimize cloud environments in Azure, enhance workforce collaboration, and advance data capabilities and analytics. Quisitive's industry-leading technical capabilities, breadth of offerings, and proprietary technologies distinguish the Company as a preeminent Microsoft partner.

Mike Reinhart, CEO of Quisitive, said, "This partnership with H.I.G. is an acknowledgement of the trusted and cutting-edge advisory and support services our employees provide to clients as they navigate critical technology evolution. Given H.I.G.'s track record in the IT services sector, we are excited to partner with them as we continue our strategic growth and investment agenda to benefit our customers."

Kevin Van Culin, Managing Director at H.I.G., commented, "We gained a real appreciation for Quisitive's differentiation in its scale and depth of technical offerings across the Microsoft Cloud ecosystem, including valued products such as Dynamics, Power BI, Azure, Copilot, and Fabric. We have been extremely impressed by what Mike and the management team have built over the last decade, and look forward to helping the Company accelerate growth."

H.I.G. was advised by Guggenheim Securities LLC, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and Stikeman Elliott LLP.

About Quisitive

Quisitive is a premier global Microsoft partner that leverages the power of the Microsoft cloud platform and artificial intelligence, alongside custom and proprietary technologies, to drive transformative outcomes for its customers. The Company focuses on helping enterprises across industries use the Microsoft platform to adapt, innovate, and thrive in the era of AI. For more information, visit quisitive.com .

About H.I.G. Capital

H.I.G. is a leading global alternative investment firm with $67 billion of capital under management.* Based in Miami, and with offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco in the United States, as well as international affiliate offices in Hamburg, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Bogota, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Dubai, and Hong Kong, H.I.G. specializes in providing both debt and equity capital to middle market companies, utilizing a flexible and operationally focused/value- added approach:

H.I.G.'s equity funds invest in management buyouts, recapitalizations, and corporate carve-outs of both profitable as well as underperforming manufacturing and service businesses.

H.I.G.'s debt funds invest in senior, unitranche, and junior debt financing to companies across the size spectrum, both on a primary (direct origination) basis, as well as in the secondary markets. H.I.G. also manages a publicly traded BDC, WhiteHorse Finance.

H.I.G.'s real estate funds invest in value-added properties, which can benefit from improved asset management practices.

H.I.G. Infrastructure focuses on making value-add and core plus investments in the infrastructure sector.

Since its founding in 1993, H.I.G. has invested in and managed more than 400 companies worldwide. The Firm's current portfolio includes more than 100 companies with combined sales in excess of $53 billion. For more information, please refer to the H.I.G. website at hig.com .

*Based on total capital raised by H.I.G. Capital and affiliates.

Contact:

Kevin Van Culin

Managing Director

[email protected]

Rachel Overboe

Principal

[email protected]

H.I.G. Capital

One Sansome Street

37th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94104

P: 415.439.5500

hig.com

SOURCE H.I.G. Capital
The Ukrainian army remains the main guarantee of the country's security, and France "will refuse any demilitarization of the Ukrainian army," said French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu.

During the opening of the Paris Defence and Strategy Forum, he emphasized that Russia has been violating the ceasefire for many years, and therefore it is now necessary to "think about what the Ukrainian army should be like in the future."

"And, accordingly, start from the principle that the first guarantee of security remains the Ukrainian army. Think about what the Ukrainian army should be like in the future, and proceed from the fact that the first guarantee of security remains the Ukrainian army, we will refuse any form of demilitarization of Ukraine," he noted.

More than 30 military chiefs are gathering in Paris on Tuesday to discuss what Europe and the West can offer to support Ukraine as part of a peace deal with Russia. According to Lecornu, the meeting is important because it "lays the first stone in the foundation of these security guarantees."

In addition, the parties will discuss how NATOs eastern flank will be protected "next year, in five years, in ten years, in fifteen years."

"We have NATO defence plans, each country must contribute to them. And if tomorrow the contributions of certain countries, in particular one of them, decrease, how can we, European countries, properly implement NATO defence plans?" the defence minister said.
Strategic acquisition strengthens HITT's presence in the New York healthcare market

NEW YORK, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- HITT, a top-ranked national commercial general contractor, announced today the acquisition of Central Consulting & Contracting, a leading healthcare construction firm based in the New York metropolitan area. This strategic move strengthens HITT's presence in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut while reinforcing the firm's commitment to delivering high-quality healthcare construction solutions that support patient-centered care. By combining Central's deep industry experience with HITT's national resources, the firm is well-positioned to meet the growing demand for complex medical facilities.

HITT Co-President Drew Mucci, Vice President & New York Office Leader Andre Grebenstein, and Vice President and Former Central Consulting & Contracting Founder and CEO Richard Simone

"For more than 30 years, Central has been a trusted leader in healthcare construction, earning a strong reputation across the New York region. We're proud to welcome their team of experts to HITT," said HITT Vice President and New York Office Leader Andre Grebenstein. "Their specialized industry knowledge, commitment to quality, and strong relationships will be invaluable as we continue to expand in this key market."

The acquisition positions HITT to meet increasing demand for medical facilities in one of the largest and fastest-growing healthcare markets in the U.S. Central brings an impressive portfolio of projects and longstanding relationships with major healthcare institutions, including Englewood Health, Montefiore Health System, and St. Barnabas Health System Bronx.

Central's Founder and CEO Richard Simone has joined HITT's New York team as vice president, bringing decades of experience and deep industry relationships. He will work closely with HITT's New York leadership to ensure a seamless transition while maintaining the high standards of quality and service that clients and partners have come to expect. Central's team members have also officially joined HITT, expanding the firm's local presence to more than 70 New York-based team members.

"Joining forces with HITT marks an exciting new chapter for Central and our clients," said Richard Simone. "Our shared values, dedication to quality, and passion for healthcare construction make this a perfect partnership."

To learn more about HITT's New York metropolitan area offices, visit www.hitt.com/newyork

ABOUT HITT CONTRACTING

HITT Contracting provides a wide range of commercial construction services across the nation, including complex core and shell buildings, renovations, interior fit-outs, and routine service work. No matter the project size or type, HITT delivers a premium construction experience. With 2024 projected revenues of $8.4 billion and nearly 1,900 team members across 14 office locations and jobsites nationwide, HITT is ranked among the top 20 largest general contractors in the U.S. For more than 85 years, the Washington, D.C.-area headquartered firm has been driven by a spark of curiosity to push boundaries and redefine what's possible in construction. Through innovation, sustainability, and partnership, HITT is igniting progress and tackling the industry's greatest challenges while consistently delivering exceptional building experiences. Learn more about HITT's general contracting capabilities at hitt.com

MEDIA CONTACT

HITT Contracting

Jaclyn Randolph

Senior Manager, Communications

703-942-5078

[email protected]

SOURCE HITT Contracting
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa., March 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- IMI is proud to unveil the WHEEL TEQ Wheel Washer, an innovative solution designed to optimize wheel maintenance for fleets and Commercial Tire Dealer service shops. The Wheel Washer efficiently cleans steel and aluminum wheels, outperforming traditional power washing with less labor, minimal mess, and greater productivity.

WHEEL TEQ Wheel Washer

Engineered to streamline wheel maintenance, the Wheel Washer accommodates wheels ranging from 19" to 24" and cleans both sides in a single, 2-minute cycle  automating the process for faster turnaround and boosted productivity. By ensuring a safer, more thorough clean that meets DOT safety standards, the Wheel Washer uncovers hidden defects like cracks, corrosion, and damage  ultimately extending wheel life and enhancing overall safety.

"As the original provider of turnkey truck Wheel Refinishing Systems for the commercial tire and trucking industries, we've seen a growing demand from fleets wanting to have their wheels washed regularly  not just for appearance, but to remove grease, grime, and brake dust for a more thorough safety inspection before mounting new tires or retreads," says IMI President Bob Fogal. "The Wheel Washer provides tire dealers with a viable service that's both user and environmentally friendly. Unlike pressure washing, which is prohibited in many parts of the country due to environmental regulations, this equipment is designed to quickly clean the entire wheel, including the bead seat area for concentric mounting. Tire dealers can unlock a valuable new revenue stream by offering wheel cleaning whenever customers bring their vehicles in for new tires."

In addition to improving operational efficiency, the Wheel Washer helps reduce costs by minimizing labor and wheel downtime. Its optimized water temperature, pressure, and cleaning methods reduce waste and conserve water, making it an environmentally responsible option for the industry.

Proudly manufactured in the USA, the Wheel Washer reflects IMI's commitment to superior quality and craftsmanship, delivering a cost-effective solution to improve safety, efficiency, and profitability in the commercial trucking industry.

To learn more about the WHEEL TEQ Wheel Washer and how it can enhance your operations, visit https://www.imiproducts.com/wheel-washer/ or contact IMI at 800.233.7086.

About IMI

Based in Chambersburg, PA, IMI was founded in 1973 and has been at the forefront of innovation in truck tire, wheel, and fuel-preserving solutions for the commercial trucking industry. With over 300 years of combined industry experience, IMI's success has come from understanding the challenges facing commercial trucking fleets and dealers and creating exceptional products designed to make fleets safer, smarter, and more profitable at every turn. At IMI, we aim to deliver extra miles in extraordinary ways by providing high-quality solutions and exceptional customer service.

Solutions like EQUAL FLEXX, MILCURE, WHEEL TEQ, LUG LINX, and STS Tire Sealants lead the industry with rigorous testing and scientifically proven advantages to meet industry challenges.

SOURCE IMI
Inc.'s eighth annual Female Founders list highlights the nation's top business leaders who challenge the status quo to tackle some of the world's biggest problems

SALT LAKE CITY, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Inc., the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future, today announced its eighth annual Female Founders list , honoring HealthTree CEO and Founder Jenny Ahlstrom in the bold group of 500 women whose innovations and ideas are leading their industries forward.

Each year, Inc. editors review thousands of applications highlighting female founders and applicants through three rounds of judging, looking specifically at an entrepreneur's accomplishments in the past year. Criteria include quantifiable metrics such as revenue, sales, revenue growth, funding, and audience size. Inc. also looks for qualitative metrics including social media momentum and stories of impact. Applicants are additionally evaluated through the program's advisory board.

"I'm honored to be recognized as an Inc. Female Founder 500 for my work at HealthTree," said Ahlstrom. "We are revolutionizing cancer research by using technology that links patients and their data with researchers for faster cures. Providing patients with tools that enable them to become cure contributors is the future of personalized medicine."

Restricted access to complete and accurate patient data slows cancer research. HealthTree overcomes these challenges by empowering patients with tools to provide researchers with complete, longitudinal data. HealthTree overcomes traditional research barriers with its direct-to-patient model, building long-term relationships of trust with patients through its comprehensive programs.

As a multiple myeloma patient herself, Ahlstrom understands deeply the challenges facing those with a cancer diagnosis. Under her leadership, HealthTree has become the market leader in Digital Health Advocacy, expanding its programs and software platform of over 14 integrated technology tools to support all cancers.

"Female founders know what struggle is, but they're also experts of improvisation, adaptability, and creativity. The women featured on this year's list exemplify these qualities. Through times of uncertainty, their unwavering dedication and steadfast leadership are not only inspiring but vital to driving progress," said Inc. executive editor Diana Ransom.

To see the complete list of honorees, please visit: https://www.inc.com/female-founders

About Inc.

Inc. is the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future. Inc. is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow leading business publication Fast Company. For more information, visit www.inc.com .

About HealthTree Foundation

HealthTree Foundation is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to improving outcomes and finding cures for blood cancers through cutting-edge technology, patient education, and research collaboration. The foundation's HealthTree Cure Hub Registry provides a powerful patient data portal where over 10,000 patients contribute real-world data, enabling researchers to drive lifesaving discoveries. By uniting patients and researchers, HealthTree is revolutionizing cancer care and accelerating cures. For more information, visit healthtree.org .

SOURCE HealthTree Foundation
Inc.'s eighth annual Female Founders list highlights the nation's top business leaders who challenge the status quo to tackle some of the world's biggest problems

COSTA MESA, Calif., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Inc., the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future, today announced its eighth annual Female Founders list , honoring a bold group of 500 women whose innovations and ideas are leading their industries forward. These resilient entrepreneurs expressed grit and drive to collectively attract approximately $9 billion in 2024 revenue and $10.6 billion in funding.

Each year, Inc. editors review thousands of applications highlighting female founders who are challenging the status quo and tackling some of the world's biggest problems, and cull applicants through three rounds of judging, looking specifically at an entrepreneur's bona fides in the past year. Criteria include quantifiable metrics such as revenue, sales, revenue growth, funding, and audience size. Inc. also looks for qualitative metrics including social media momentum and stories of impact.

Honoree selection is also honed through the evaluation of the program's advisory board: Cate Luzio, founder and CEO of Luminary; Dany Garcia, founder, CEO, and chairperson of the Garcia Companies; Pinky Cole Hayes, founder and CEO of Slutty Vegan; Anu Duggal, founding partner at Female Founders Fund; Katherine Power, serial entrepreneur and partner at Greycroft; Tiffany Dufu, president of the Tory Burch Foundation and founder of the Cru; and Kay Koplovitz, co-founder and chair at Springboard Enterprises, founder of USA Network.

Jacobson shares that, "Rove was built on hustle, relationships, and an obsession with quality. For me, nothing compares to the energy I get from hitting the pavement with my amazing team. I'm proud of the products and the company we've built together, and so grateful for our incredible retail partners and customers who keep us innovating and thriving. I'm also happy to be among other cannabis industry members and see our industry gaining momentum within the greater business community."

The founders cross all industries and bring with them unique stories of success from each stage of the entrepreneurial journey  from startup to going public, being acquired by big buyers, or spending decades at the helm of an organization.

Throughout 2024, under Jacobson's leadership, every new market launched quickly saw Rove become a top-ten seller within a matter of months. Using an in-person lead generation strategy that results in deep buyer relationships and open doors in new markets, Jacobson has grown Rove's retailer footprint by 400-500 doors in 2024, a 45-50% increase over 2023.

Launching new markets in which legal recreational cannabis itself is new requires significant achievements in strategic partnerships and a keen ability to learn the buying habits and preferences of a local population to create Rove's notable brand loyalty. Rove has maintained an average re-order rate of 97% YOY between the years of 2021 and 2024 across its markets. Jacobson's finger on the pulse of the retail market has meant getting into the most notable retailers in any given market and educating buyers and consumers about premium, legal cannabis products where none had previously existed.

"Female founders know what struggle is, but they're also experts of improvisation, adaptability, and creativity. The women featured on this year's list exemplify these qualities. Through times of uncertainty, their unwavering dedication and steadfast leadership are not only inspiring but vital to driving progress," said Inc. executive editor Diana Ransom.

Several honorees will be featured in Inc. magazine's Female Founders issue, on newsstands March 18, 2025. To see the complete list of honorees, please visit: https://www.inc.com/female-founders

About Inc.

Inc. is the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of its community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating the future of business. Inc. is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow leading business publication Fast Company. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

About Rove

Rove means to wander and was envisioned in 2016 to encourage enthusiasts to enjoy cannabis while searching for new experiences. Headquartered in California, Rove is a multi-state cannabis manufacturer operating in California, Nevada, Oklahoma, Arizona, Michigan, Missouri, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Ohio, Illinois, Mississippi and New Jersey. All Rove products are crafted by an in-house product development team and designed to provide the best quality, best tasting and safest cannabis experience. Rove is the first cannabis manufacturer to implement a QR code-scanning mobile app to ensure authenticity and provide information on cannabinoid and terpene content, as well as ensure any given product is free from pesticides and foreign material.

Contacts

Media Contact:

Margaux Lushing

Rove Brand

[email protected]

(800) 757-4680

SOURCE Rove Brand
PITTSBURGH, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- "We wanted to create a product that would aid in applying compression stockings," said one of two inventors, from Bradenton, Fla., "so we invented MY FOOT SCOOT. Our design would promote ease and control when dealing with the painstaking application of compression stockings daily."

The patent-pending invention provides a means to aid the user in applying compression stockings. In doing so, it eliminates the need to wrestle with compression stockings. It also eliminates the need for assistance. As a result, it saves time and effort. The invention features a portable and lightweight design that is easy to use so it is ideal for individuals who are required to wear compression stockings, such as the elderly, athletes, etc. Additionally, a prototype model and technical drawings are available upon request.

The original design was submitted to the Tallahassee sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 23-TLS-722, InventHelp, 100 Beecham Drive, Suite 110, Pittsburgh, PA 15205-9801, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.

SOURCE InventHelp
NEW YORK, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Eldorado Gold Corporation ("Eldorado" or the "Company") (NYSE: EGO). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Eldorado and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On February 5, 2025, Eldorado issued a press release "provid[ing] an update on the construction progress at its copper-gold Skouries Project ('Skouries' or the 'Project'), detailed 2025 production and cost guidance, and three-year production outlook." Eldorado disclosed that "labour market tightness in Greece, particularly pronounced in construction, has continued to limit the availability of key construction personnel at Skouries, resulting in a slower ramp-up of the workforce and delayed progress in certain areas of the Project" and that "[f]irst production at Skouries is now expected in the first quarter of 2026, followed by commercial production expected in mid-2026." Eldorado also advised that "[t]he revised Project capital cost estimate incorporates an increase of approximately $143 million or 15.5% over prior capital cost estimates, to a total of approximately $1.06 billion" and that "the Company expects to complete additional pre-commercial production mining and has accelerated the purchase of higher capacity mobile mining equipment (originally expected to be purchased post commercial production), resulting in $154 million of accelerated operational capital prior to commercial production."

On this news, Eldorado's stock price fell $1.78 per share, or 11.27%, to close at $14.01 per share on February 6, 2025.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Danielle Peyton

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against GSK plc ("GSK" or the "Company") (NYSE: GSK). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] 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.

The class action concerns whether GSK and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

You have until April 7, 2025 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired GSK securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

In September and October 2019, GSK suspended its distribution of Zantac (the brand name for the drug ranitidine) and issued a voluntary recall after studies demonstrated that, by interacting with nitrites, ranitidine could create a highly carcinogenic compound called N-nitrosodimethylamine.

On August 10, 2022, Deutsche Bank analysts published a note stating that it seemed "very possible" that GSK and other distributors of Zantac "will incur the risk of some degree of shared liability, with the only real requestions being what the magnitude of liability may be." The Deutsche Bank note forecasted that total liability could be between $5 billion and $10 billion.

Following publication of the Deutsche Bank note, GSK's American depositary receipt ("ADR") price fell $4.30 per ADR, or 10.74%, over the following two trading sessions, to close at $35.73 per ADR on August 11, 2022.

Then, on August 15, 2022, GSK admitted that its Zantac liability exposure was between $1 billion and $10 billion.

On this news, GSK's ADR price fell $1.08 per ADR, or 3%, to close at $34.95 per ADR on August 15, 2022.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Danielle Peyton

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against TransMedics Group, Inc ("TransMedics" or the "Company") (NYSE: TMDX). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] 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.

The class action concerns whether TransMedics and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

You have until April 15, 2025 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired TransMedics securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On February 21, 2024, U.S. Representative Paul Gosar, a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, issued a letter accusing TransMedics of various forms of misconduct, including the misappropriation of corporate resources.

Following publication of Representative Gosar's letter, TransMedics' stock price fell $3.85 per share, or 4.43%, over the following two trading sessions, to close at $83.14 per share on February 23, 2024.

Then, on January 10, 2025, Scorpion Capital ("Scorpion") published a report on TransMedics' business practices, which allegedly include fraudulent billing schemes, off-label misuse of its devices, and reliance on kickbacks to drive sales. The Scorpion report also describes ongoing regulatory scrutiny of TransMedics, reporting investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Internal Revenue Service, and state attorneys general into Medicare fraud linked to organ acquisition costs. The Scorpion report also describes alleged customer dissatisfaction, asserting that prominent transplant centers have discontinued their use of TransMedics devices, citing concerns over their clinical value.

On this news, TransMedics' stock price fell $3.74 per share, or 5.16%, to close at $68.81 per share on January 10, 2025.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Danielle Peyton

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
SAN DIEGO, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that purchasers or acquirers of Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. (NYSE: IIPR) securities between February 27, 2024 and December 19, 2024, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), have until Tuesday, March 18, 2025 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the Innovative Industrial Properties class action lawsuit. Captioned Giraudon v. Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc., No. 25-cv-00182 (D. Md.), the Innovative Industrial Properties class action lawsuit charges Innovative Industrial Properties as well as certain of Innovative Industrial Properties' top executives with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the Innovative Industrial Properties class action lawsuit, please provide your information here:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-innovative-industrial-properties-class-action-lawsuit-iipr.html

You can also contact attorneys J.C. Sanchez or Jennifer N. Caringal of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at [email protected].

CASE ALLEGATIONS: Innovative Industrial Properties is a self-advised Maryland corporation focused on the acquisition, ownership, and management of specialized properties leased to experienced, state-licensed operators for their regulated cannabis facilities.

The Innovative Industrial Properties class action lawsuit alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Innovative Industrial Properties was experiencing significant declines in rent and property-management fees in connection with certain customer leases; (ii) the foregoing would likely impair Innovative Industrial Properties' ability to maintain funds from operations ("FFO") and revenue growth; and (iii) accordingly, Innovative Industrial Properties' leasing operations were less profitable than Innovative Industrial Properties had represented to investors.

The Innovative Industrial Properties class action lawsuit further alleges that on November 6, 2024, Innovative Industrial Properties reported its third quarter of 2024 financial results, disclosing normalized FFO per share of $2.02, missing the consensus estimate of $2.03 and declining from $2.09 in the same period in 2023, and revenue of $76.5 million, missing the consensus estimate of $77.5 million and declining from $77.8 million in the same period in 2023. The complaint alleges that Innovative Industrial Properties stated that the year-over-year decrease was due to a $3.0 million decline in contractual rent and property management fees in the third quarter related to properties that Innovative Industrial Properties regained possession of since June 2023; a decline of $1.3 million due to rent received but not recognized in rental revenues resulting from the re-classifications of two sales-type leases beginning January 1, 2024; and $1.3 million of contractually due rent and property management fees that were not collected during the current quarter. On this news, the price of Innovative Industrial Properties stock fell more than 10%, according to the complaint.

Then, on December 20, 2024, the Innovative Industrial Properties class action lawsuit alleges that Innovative Industrial Properties announced that on the previous day, PharmaCann Inc., the tenant for eleven properties that Innovative Industrial Properties owns  and the revenues from which represented 17% of Innovative Industrial Properties' total rental revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024  defaulted on its obligations to pay rent for the month of December under six of its eleven leases, for properties located in Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. On this news, the price of Innovative Industrial Properties stock fell nearly 23%, according to the Innovative Industrial Properties class action lawsuit.

THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased or acquired Innovative Industrial Properties securities during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the Innovative Industrial Properties class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the Innovative Industrial Properties class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the Innovative Industrial Properties class action lawsuit. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the Innovative Industrial Properties class action lawsuit.

ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the world's leading law firms representing investors in securities fraud cases. Our Firm has been #1 in the ISS Securities Class Action Services rankings for six out of the last ten years for securing the most monetary relief for investors. We recovered $6.6 billion for investors in securities-related class action cases  over $2.2 billion more than any other law firm in the last four years. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs' firms in the world and the Firm's attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest securities class action recovery ever  $7.2 billion  in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/services-litigation-securities-fraud.html

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.

Contact:

Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP

J.C. Sanchez, Jennifer N. Caringal

655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101

800-449-4900

[email protected]

SOURCE Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP
ATLANTA, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The monthly new-vehicle average transaction price (ATP) report from Cox Automotive's Kelley Blue Book was released today. Key takeaways from February include:

Cox Automotive logo (PRNewsfoto/Kelley Blue Book)

The estimated February new-vehicle ATP from Kelley Blue Book was $48,039 , a year-over-year gain of 1.0%, but lower by 1.3% from January.

was , a year-over-year gain of 1.0%, but lower by 1.3% from January. Sales incentive levels were mostly flat month over month but higher compared to February 2024 by 18.6%. The average incentive package last month was equal to 7.1% of ATP, or roughly $3,392 . A year ago, it was 6%. Incentives for electric vehicles (EVs) increased.

by 18.6%. The average incentive package last month was equal to 7.1% of ATP, or roughly . A year ago, it was 6%. Incentives for electric vehicles (EVs) increased. In February, sales of the Mitsubishi Mirage  the only vehicle in the U.S. with an ATP under $20,000  fell to 2,323, down 15% from January. The average incentive package on the Mirage, the most affordable new vehicle, was just 2.0% of ATP and well below the industry average of 7.1%. Reports indicate the Mirage has been discontinued. The Mitsubishi brand ($30,410) had the lowest average ATP in the industry in February, followed by Nissan ($32,262) .

 fell to 2,323, down 15% from January. The average incentive package on the Mirage, the most affordable new vehicle, was just 2.0% of ATP and well below the industry average of 7.1%. Reports indicate the Mirage has been discontinued. The Mitsubishi brand had the lowest average ATP in the industry in February, followed by Nissan . The volume of six-figure vehicles continues to boom, according to the latest Kelley Blue Book data. Through the end of February, more than 52,000 new vehicles transacted at prices above $100,000 , up from 46,000 in the first two months of 2024. Five years ago, in January and February of 2020, just over 12,000 six-figure vehicles were sold. Last month, Land Rover's Range Rover was king of the hundred-grand jungle, with sales in excess of 3,800 units.

data. Through the end of February, more than 52,000 new vehicles transacted at prices above , up from 46,000 in the first two months of 2024. Five years ago, in January and February of 2020, just over 12,000 six-figure vehicles were sold. Last month, Land Rover's Range Rover was king of the hundred-grand jungle, with sales in excess of 3,800 units. In the hyper-competitive Compact SUV segment  including Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4  the ATP last month was $36,198 . The February ATP was higher year over year by approximately 0.5%. More than 220,000 Compact SUVs sold, representing 18% of all vehicle sales.

. The February ATP was higher year over year by approximately 0.5%. More than 220,000 Compact SUVs sold, representing 18% of all vehicle sales. Last month, 11 of nearly 40 brands tracked by Kelley Blue Book had ATPs that were lower year over year. All four of the major Stellantis brands  Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram  had notably lower ATPs in February compared to one year ago. Jeep prices were lower by more than 11%, the most of any brand. Ram ATPs were lower by nearly 7%.

Quote from Erin Keating, Executive Analyst Cox Automotive

"February marks the five-year anniversary of the last 'clean month' of data prior to the global COVID pandemic that shifted the automotive landscape. Compared to February 2020, ATP is up 25% while incentives are down 13% and monthly sales are down 9%. Auto loan rates are higher now as well, making new-vehicle affordability a real challenge for most households."

"While affordability is a challenge for many households, six-figure vehicles continue to sell well and have experienced a four-fold increase in sales volume since early 2020. The income divide remains a key issue for new-vehicle sales momentum, as the industry continues to count on high income households with prime and super prime credit scores to drive sales."

Electric Vehicle Prices Higher Year over Year by 3.7%; Incentives Hit Record High

In February, at $55,273 , new-electric vehicle prices were lower by 1.2% from January  generally aligned with the industry  and higher by 3.7% versus February 2024 . The January EV ATP was revised higher by 0.06% to $55,929 .

, new-electric vehicle prices were lower by 1.2% from January  generally aligned with the industry  and higher by 3.7% versus . The January EV ATP was revised higher by 0.06% to . Compared to the overall industry ATP ($48,039) , EV ATPs in February were higher by 15.1%, an increase from the 14.9% gap recorded in January.

, EV ATPs in February were higher by 15.1%, an increase from the 14.9% gap recorded in January. The average incentive package for a new EV was 14.8% of ATP, or approximately $8,162 , the highest level in more than 5 years. Incentives for EVs are more than twice the overall market. A year ago, EV incentives were 10.2%. EV incentives, as a percentage of ATP, have increased by 44% in the past year.

, the highest level in more than 5 years. Incentives for EVs are more than twice the overall market. A year ago, EV incentives were 10.2%. EV incentives, as a percentage of ATP, have increased by 44% in the past year. For EV market leader Tesla, ATPs increased 1.8% year over year in February to $53,248 but were lower by 3.7% compared to the revised-lower January ATP. Model 3, Model Y and Cybertruck posted price declines in February compared to January; Model S and Model X had month-over-month increases. As sales cooled, the Cybertruck ATP in February declined by more than 10% from January to an estimated $87,554 .

Data tables are available for download.

About Kelley Blue Book

Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource, is the vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the automotive industry for nearly a century. As the industry standard for generations, Kelley Blue Book provides transparent, objective information and data-driven, innovative tools for consumers, automotive dealers and manufacturers. Kelley Blue Book publishes millions of market-reflective values weekly on its top-rated website KBB.com, from its famous Blue Book Trade-In Values to the Kelley Blue Book Price Advisor tool, which offers a range for what consumers reasonably can expect to pay for a vehicle in their area. KBB.com editors rate and review hundreds of new vehicles each year to help consumers understand the Best Cars and Best SUVs to meet their needs. Kelley Blue BookSM Instant Cash Offer provides a redeemable trade-in offer to transaction-ready consumers and conveniently connects them to local participating dealers. Kelley Blue Book's Service Advisor provides guidance on how much to pay for service and repairs, allowing consumers to schedule service with local dealers on KBB.com. Kelley Blue Book also provides vehicle values to finance and insurance companies as well as governmental agencies. Kelley Blue Book is a Cox Automotive brand.

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive is the world's largest automotive services and technology provider. Fueled by the largest breadth of first-party data fed by 2.3 billion online interactions a year, Cox Automotive tailors leading solutions for car shoppers, auto manufacturers, dealers, lenders and fleets. The company has 29,000+ employees on five continents and a portfolio of industry-leading brands that include Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book, Manheim, vAuto, Dealertrack, NextGear Capital, CentralDispatch and FleetNet America. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately owned, Atlanta-based company with $22 billion in annual revenue. Visit coxautoinc.com or connect via @CoxAutomotive on X, CoxAutoInc on Facebook or Cox-Automotive-Inc on LinkedIn.

SOURCE Kelley Blue Book
White House National Security Advisor Michael Waltz commented on the results of the first part of the meeting with the Ukrainian delegation in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), which has been going on for four hours now.

In response to a question from CNN about how the meeting went, Waltz responded getting there.

Now the meeting has been adjourned.

As reported, earlier the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak said that the meeting with the US delegation started very constructively.
NEW YORK, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Kensington Vanguard National Land Services ("KV"), one of the largest independent, full-service national title insurance agencies in the country, announces Linda Bruce has joined KV in Phoenix as Vice President of Commercial Business Development. Bruce has spent nearly 30 years in the title industry in Phoenix. Most recently, Bruce was in business development with a major underwriter.

"I am incredibly honored to join the Phoenix team at Kensington Vanguard. Our team focuses on exceptional customer service and trusted partnerships, and I look forward to contributing with experience, dedication and a strong sense of purpose in this exciting industry," Bruce said.

Zach Sams, Executive Vice President, overseeing KV's Phoenix presence said, "Linda is an industry veteran in the commercial title insurance space in Arizona. She has a great track record and strong relationships that are integral to success in our business. We are excited to have her aboard. We believe Linda will add significant value to our team and company."

Kensington Vanguard National Land Services operates three divisions:

The Commercial Division handles the largest and most complex commercial real estate transactions in the marketplace, servicing a prominent and diversified clientele consisting of leading property owners, developers, REITs, private equity groups, law firms, private investors and institutional lenders.

The Residential Division provides title insurance and settlement services on residential purchases and refinances referred by realtors, attorneys and both regional and national mortgage originators. Approved as a preferred vendor for leading financial institutions, this division's technology and operating model drive the highest quality execution and service.

The 1031 Exchange Services Division, through wholly owned subsidiary Legal 1031 Exchange Services, employs a team of seasoned experts, attorneys and Certified Exchange Specialists providing clients and their advisors with IRC 1031 qualified intermediary services enabling them to defer capital gains tax they would otherwise realize upon the sale of investment properties.

About Kensington Vanguard National Land Services

Kensington Vanguard National Land Services, LLC, headquartered in New York City with offices in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia, is one of the largest fullservice national title insurance and settlement agencies in the United States. Founded in 2002, Kensington Vanguard serves as agent to the nation's leading title insurance underwriters. Kensington Vanguard's client base is a highly diversified mix of law firms, investors, developers, operators, opportunity funds, commercial lenders, family offices, realtors and regional and national residential lenders. The company is part of CRC Group, one of North America's largest independent wholesale specialty insurance distributors, delivering the broadest range of insurance solutions available in the marketplace today.

For more information, visit www.kvnational.com

SOURCE Kensington Vanguard National Land Services
Yael Cosset to Lead as Chief Digital Officer

CINCINNATI, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today announced the creation of a new eCommerce business unit, which aligns the teams contributing to every aspect of the online customer experience. Yael Cosset, Kroger's senior vice president and chief information officer, will lead this function as executive vice president and chief digital officer, effective immediately.

As chief digital officer, Cosset will continue to oversee technology and data for the company and expand his responsibilities to include the new eCommerce unit.

"Accelerating Kroger's eCommerce growth is a top priority," said Ron Sargent, Kroger's Chairman and CEO. "As the architect of Kroger's digital strategy, Yael will continue to make it easier for customers to shop for our fresh, affordable food."

Kroger's eCommerce sales reached $13 billion in 2024.

About Yael Cosset

As SVP and CIO, Cosset has overseen Kroger's recent technology transformation. This transformation simplifies our associates' work, allowing them to spend more time serving our customers. These investments bring a more convenient and personalized shopping experience, both in store and online, offering customers relevant choices, quality and value  all through Kroger's seamless ecosystem.

Cosset also leads Kroger's Alternative Profit portfolio of businesses, including insight and media focused subsidiary, 84.51, financial services business, Kroger Personal Finance, and retail media business, Kroger Precision Marketing.

Prior to this, Cosset was group vice president and chief digital officer, where he led the company's overall digital growth strategy and eCommerce expansion. He also previously served as chief commercial officer and chief information officer of 84.51 since its inception in 2015.

SOURCE The Kroger Co.
CAESAREA, Israel and RIGA, Latvia, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Latvenergo, Latvia's national electricity company, and H2Pro, an Israeli innovator in green hydrogen production, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore the feasibility of deploying H2Pro's breakthrough decoupled electrolysis technology in Latvia. The signing took place at an event in Tel Aviv hosted by Minister of the Economics of the Republic of Latvia, Mr. Viktors Valainis, during his visit to Israel. This MOU codifies a shared commitment to clean energy leadership, and underscores the role of technology innovation in accelerating the use of green hydrogen as a critical tool for industrial decarbonization and energy security.

Latvenergo CEO Dr. Martins Cakste stands with H2Pros Business team led by CBO Rotem Arad in front of H2Pros new development system. Photo C/O H2Pro Latvenergo CEO Dr. Martins Cakste, Latvian Minister of Economy Mr. Viktors Valainis, and H2Pro CBO Rotem Arad at the signing of the MOU during the Ministers visit to Israel. Photo C/O H2Pro H2Pro CBO Rotem Arad and Latvenergo CEO Dr. Martins Cakste sign MOU. Photo C/O H2Pro

In phase one of the agreement, Latvenergo and H2Pro will review the feasibility of piloting an electrolyzer in the 5 MW range within Latvenergo's energy infrastructure and explore opportunities for commercial deployment in future projects. The collaboration aims to integrate H2Pro's technology with Latvia's renewable energy sources, including wind and solar, while ensuring that green hydrogen production is economically viable in the long term.

"Latvenergo presents an excellent environment for demonstrating the unique advantages of our technology," said Tzahi Rodrig, CEO of H2Pro. "Latvenergo's diverse renewable energy portfolio provides the perfect testing ground to validate our electrolyzer's high efficiency across multiple load scenarios, as well as our technology's seamless integration with renewables thanks to the hyper-flexibility of our system. This project is not just about proving technical feasibilityit's about laying the groundwork for a cost-effective, scalable green hydrogen economy."

For Latvenergo, the partnership aligns with the company's broader commitment to clean energy innovation, energy independence, and decarbonization. "Public support mechanisms like EU funding play an important role in enabling the green hydrogen transition, nonetheless, we aim for the economics of any endeavor to stand on their own," said Dr. Martins Cakste, CEO of Latvenergo during his visit to H2Pro's headquarters. "That's why we are particularly interested in breakthrough technologies like H2Pro's decoupled electrolysis, which can reduce capital costs while maintaining high efficiency. Achieving a competitive cost structure is key to unlocking the full potential of green hydrogen in Europe. At Latvenergo, we are proud to lead the region in the clean energy transitiona transition that is not only about sustainability but also about fostering energy security and resilience for the European Union as a whole."



During the event, aimed at strengthening bilateral economic ties between the two countries, the Latvian Ministry of Economy expressed strong support for the initiative, emphasizing the strategic importance of Israeli-Latvian cooperation in clean energy.

"We are happy to review the Israeli company H2Pro's efficient, flexible, and cost-effective green hydrogen electrolysis technology in Latvia, together with Latvenergo," said Mr. Viktors Valainis, Latvian Minister of Economy. "We are happy to facilitate access to EU funding and other structural instruments that may be required. We are hopeful to keep developing the energy and other sectors of the economy in a mutually beneficial way between Latvia and Israel."

About H2Pro

H2Pro is developing the world's leading next-generation electrolyzer to make affordable green hydrogen production at scale. H2Pro's breakthrough electrolysis technology solves the key challenges of traditional electrolysis by decoupling hydrogen and oxygen generation (producing hydrogen and oxygen at separate times). This decoupled process significantly cuts down both capital and operating costs via a streamlined membrane-less reactor design, economical materials, and highly efficient energy usage. H2Pro's technology is also designed from day one to be hyper-flexible and therefore ready for direct renewable integration, making it the first fit-for-green electrolyzer.

Headquartered in Caesarea, Israel, H2Pro was founded in 2019 based on years of research conducted at the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology. H2Pro has raised over 100 Million USD. It is backed by leading investors and strategic partners, including Bills Gates' climate fund Breakthrough Energy, Temasek Holdings, ArcelorMittal, CSN, Sumitomo Corporation, and Yara Growth Ventures. Learn more at www.h2pro.co.

About Latvenergo

Latvenergo Group is one of the largest providers of energy supply services in the Baltic states, engaged in the generation and trade of electricity and thermal energy, and distribution of electricity. Since 1939, Latvenergo is the largest producer of renewable energy in the Baltics and one of the greenest electricity generators in Europe - approximately half of the electricity is generated in three large hydropower plants. They are complemented by modernized combined heat and power plants, where electricity is obtained from natural gas. The Group develops new green wind and solar energy generation capacities in Baltics and is also a leader in the field of electromobility services. All shares of Latvenergo AS are owned by the state and held by the Ministry of Economics of the Republic of Latvia.

Learn more at www.latvenergo.lv/en.

Contact information:

For press inquiries, please contact [email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2639202/H2Pro_and_Latvenergo_1.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2639203/H2Pro_and_Latvenergo_2.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2639201/H2Pro_and_Latvenergo_3.jpg

SOURCE H2Pro; Latvenergo
#1 New Release in Mate Seeking on Amazon

NEW YORK, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Renowned writer, actor, speaker , economist, and spiritual guide LEANDRO TAUB released his latest book, ROMANCE  an essential work for those seeking to build a meaningful, conscious, and sacred relationship.

Rooted in Torah teachings, Jewish mysticism, and years of research, this book offers profound insights into love, commitment, and personal growth within a relationship.

 ROMANCE is available in both English and Spanish: https://amzn.to/4kxGIzn

A transformative guide to building a healthy and long-lasting relationship, inspired by the wisdom of the Torah and Leandro Taub's deep insights.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In ROMANCE, Leandro Taub challenges conventional beliefs about love and relationships. Through a mystical, biblical, and philosophical lens, he provides readers with practical tools to create a healthy and long-lasting romantic relationship.

"We've been taught that love alone is enough to sustain a relationship. But in reality, it's our behavior that determines whether a relationship thrives or not. To build something that strengthens over time, we need real, practical tools to understand how to behave in a healthy and meaningful way. This book is a guide to creating a strong and fulfilling relationship, based on what I've learned from my rabbis and study of the Torah."  Leandro Taub

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Leandro Taub has dedicated his life to sharing wisdom on personal growth, spirituality, and ancient teachings. With over one million followers on social media , his work continues to impact thousands worldwide. He is an actor, author of multiple books, an international speaker, and a respected voice in self-development and spirituality.

Taub's influence spans literature, film, and philosophy. He has collaborated with renowned figures, including Alejandro Jodorowsky, who has publicly praised his work and even cited him in his teachings, a notable role in Jodorowsky's Endless Poetry and collaboration on London Town alongside Fito Paez.

His impact reaches Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, Spain, and the United States, particularly the influential City of New York.

His latest book, ROMANCE, offers deep insights into building a healthy and long-lasting relationship, drawing from his extensive studies with rabbis and years of research.

FOR REVIEW COPIES & MEDIA INQUIRIES

 For interview requests, press inquiries, or review copies, contact:

 [email protected]

 www.leandrotaub.com

@leandrotaub (X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok)

SOURCE TIKUN OLAM MEDIA
CHICAGO, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Levata, a global leader in planning, financing, building, deploying, and managing enterprise mobility, barcoding, and visibility solutions, will showcase its latest innovations at ProMat 2025. The premier event for supply chain and warehouse technology takes place March 17-20 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

At booth S3180, Levata will present cutting-edge technologies designed to optimize supply chain operations, including:

RFID Solutions  Real-time asset tracking for enhanced operational efficiency and visibility.

 Real-time asset tracking for enhanced operational efficiency and visibility. Automation with Vision  Advanced warehouse automation, automated labeling, and pick-and-place solutions.

 Advanced warehouse automation, automated labeling, and pick-and-place solutions. Enterprise Mobility  Rugged devices and software integrations that keep workforces connected and productive.

 Rugged devices and software integrations that keep workforces connected and productive. Wireless & Private Cellular Networking  Seamless connectivity solutions, including CBRS technology, for optimized operations.

Additionally, an exclusive live demo of Levata's Vision, RFID, and Print & Apply technology will take place at Zebra Technology's booth (S637). Levata's vision-based automation tunnels can process up to 250 packages per minute, capturing multi-angle data in milliseconds to ensure accuracy and efficiency.

As global supply chains face increasing demands for speed, accuracy, and automation, Levata remains at the forefront, helping businesses reduce errors, increase throughput, and gain real-time insights. The integration of AI-driven automation, RFID tracking, and wireless and private cellular networking enables warehouses and distribution centers to improve scalability, visibility, and decision-making capabilities.

"ProMat is the leading forum for supply chain innovation, bringing together industry leaders to explore the future of automation and efficiency," said Patrick Finn, Senior Vice President, Enterprise Sales at Levata. "We're excited to demonstrate how Levata's solutions drive smarter, more connected operations in the Industry 4.0 era."

About Levata

Levata empowers businesses to rise above expectations with end-to-end technology solutions that enhance mobility, barcoding, and access control. With over 40 years of industry leadership, Levata connects people, data, and assets to drive operational success. By combining cutting-edge hardware, intelligent software, and deep industry expertise, Levata ensures organizations can adapt, evolve, and thrive in a rapidly changing landscape. Learn more at www.levata.com .

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Alana Tufford, Director, Enterprise Marketing

Levata

905-475-5505 x242

[email protected]

SOURCE Levata
OAK BROOK, Ill., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lions KidSight USA (KidSight), a program of Lions International, was recognized with the Champion for Vision award at the annual American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, last week.

The KidSight program began in 2014 with the understanding that most kids are visual learners, but many do not have their vision screened until they begin school. With some vision conditions, the chances of successful treatment drop off dramatically after age six, so oftentimes the threshold for successful treatment has passed. The aim of KidSight is to reach young kids before it's too late, arranging free screenings at schools and daycare centers. In addition to the concentration on younger children, Lions also screen kids through high school to reach those who may need glasses. Using a high-tech screening device, the Lions check the children for visual disturbances. Children who are found to have a vision issue are then referred to an eye doctor for further evaluation.

Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) supports the Lions clubs involved with KidSight by awarding grants that help pay for the required vision screening devices.

"Lions International has championed the vision cause since our organization's inception more than 100 years ago, and LCIF is proud to support the impact Lions worldwide are making in children's vision through the KidSight program," said LCIF Chairperson Dr. Patti Hill. "This award is a true testament to the work Lions are doing to help children see the world more clearly."

Retired optometrist, KidSight USA Chairman and Lions Clubs International Past International Director Dr. Edward Cordes accepted the award on behalf of the organization.

"I was honored to accept this award on behalf of Lions International, LCIF and Lions around the world," Cordes said. "We recognize that 80% of a child's learning and development requires healthy, corrected vision. Through the KidSight program, Lions train and mobilize caring people to easily and efficiently screen the vision health of youth to help ensure they receive interventions to promote the academic and social development success that we all deserve."

The Champion for Vision award is a joint award presented by the Children's Eye Foundation of AAPOS (CEF of AAPOS) and AAPOS, and it celebrates organizations and/or individuals that have made extraordinary efforts to champion children's vision. Organizations or individuals that have made an extraordinary impact on children's vision and children's blindness prevention efforts are considered for this award.

Executive Vice President of the Children's Eye Foundation of AAPOS, Christie Morse, MD noted that "the Lions KidSight USA have provided extraordinary support for vision screenings performed throughout the United States and have identified thousands of children in need of follow-up eye examinations."

Lions' vision screenings identify children who have risk factors for amblyopia and are then referred for a comprehensive eye exam. If a child is uninsured or underinsured, the child may qualify for CEF's All Children See Program, where they are paired with a volunteer pediatric ophthalmologist who will provide one year of eye care at no charge. To date, 103 volunteers have provided more than 60 children with glasses, eye exams, or surgery. For more information on All Children See, please visit https://www.childrenseyefoundation.org/what-we-do/all-children-see.

To learn more about Lions KidSight USA, visit lionskidsightusa.org.

About Lions International

Lions International represents Lions Clubs International and Lions Clubs International Foundation. Lions take on some of the greatest challenges facing our communities and the world through the service of 1.4 million members in 49,000 clubs and the grant-funding support of our foundation. We improve health and well-being, strengthen communities and support those in need, locally and globally. At Lions International, we are serving a world in need. Learn more about who we are and what we do at lionsclubs.org.

SOURCE Lions International
36-Year-Old Gaethje Earns Unanimous Decision Victory After Three Rounds in Co-Main Event, Claims $50,000 "Fight of the Night" Bonus

LAS VEGAS, March 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Highlight is back! Monster Energy congratulates Justin Gaethje on defeating Rafael Fiziev via unanimous decision at UFC 313 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday night. In the night's co-main event fight contested in the Lightweight division, the 36-year-old from Tucson, Arizona, earned the win after three rounds. The spectacular battle also earned both fighters the UFC's $50,000 "Fight of the Night" bonus.

Monster Energys Justin Gaethje Defeats Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313 in Las Vegas

UFC 313: Pereira vs Ankalaev was contested in front of a live crowd of 18,869 spectators inside T-Mobile Arena. With five fights on the Main Card, the event was broadcast on ESPN pay-per-view and Prelims streamed on the ESPN+ platform.

Monster Energy's Gaethje (26-5) came to Las Vegas looking for a win after recently suffering a loss against Max Holloway at UFC 300 in April 2024. Initially, Gaethje was supposed to fight American Dan Hooker, who was forced to withdraw from the fight due to injury.

Gaethje's opponent on Saturday, Azerbaijani fighter Fiziev (12-4) took the fight after his most recent loss to Mateusz Gamrot at UFC Fight Night 228 in September 2023.

As the night's co-main event got underway, both fighters charged with reckless abandon in a wild opening sequence. Within less than one minute, Fiziev swept Gaethje to the mat and attempted to secure a reverse triangle, which Gaethje escaped. After both fighters exchanged punches and leg kicks, Gaethje rocked Fiziev with big overhead right hand before the end of the round.

Gaethje dialed up the aggression in the second round, finding openings for hard right hooks that stung his opponent. Towards the end of Round 2, Gaethje dropped the challenger to the canvas with a heavy uppercut, followed by fierce ground and pound, but Fiziev survived until the bell.

The final round saw Gaethje assert his dominance with another big uppercut, followed by elbows to the midsection. As Fiziev attempted to capitalize on his Muay Thai skills, Gaethje shut him down with punches and a surprise head kick. In the final moments of the fight, Gaethje connected precise one-two combinations and remained unfazed by Fiziev's body shots. When all was said and done, Gaethje was pronounced the winner by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

"I had to come back. I had to show everybody," said Gaethje after returning to the victory column at UFC 313. "I don't care how far down you areIt's on you. You have to get back on the horse."

The fast-paced fight earned both athletes the UFC's $50,000 "Fight of the Night" bonus for the second time. Their first battle earned the award at UFC 286 in March 2023. Gaethje secured the victory in both fights by decision.

What's next for Gaethje? At the UFC 313 post-fight press conference, he shared his determination to fight champion Islam Makhachev for the Lightweight division title. "I want to fight for the belt, obviously. That's a much different matchup than the one I just had." Stay tuned for more!

Monster Energy's elite UFC athletes include Jon Jones, Alex Pereira, Belal Muhammad, Dricus Du Plessis, Merab Dvalishvili, Valentina Shevchenko, Zhang Weili, Marlon Vera, Michael Chandler, Justin Gaethje, Brandon Moreno, Giga Chikadze, Johnny Walker, Brendan Allen, Jalin Turner, Sean Strickland, Dan Ige, Diego Lopes, Daniel Zellhuber, Derrick Lewis, Alexa Grasso, Raul Rosas Jr., Tatsuro Taira, and Shara Magomedov.

For more on Monster Energy's MMA athletes, visit www.monsterenergy.com. Follow Monster Energy on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.

About Monster Energy

Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes and musicians represent. More than a drink, it's the way of life lived by athletes, bands, believers, and fans. See more about Monster Energy including all of its drinks at www.monsterenergy.com.

SOURCE Monster Energy
Revolutionary Formula Combines Base Coat, Treatment, Color, and Top Coat for Long-Lasting, High-Gloss Wear

LONDON, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Nails.INC, the global leader in nail innovation, known for internet-breaking collaborations and product innovation, is shaking up the beauty industry once again with the launch of It's Topless, the first-ever 4-in-1 nail polish on the market. Designed to simplify and elevate the manicure experience, this game-changing formula combines a base coat, treatment, color, and top coat in just one bottleoffering an effortless, salon-quality finish in a single step.

It's Topless is designed to deliver:

Nails.INC It's Topless

Time-Saving Convenience  A complete manicure in one swipe, drying touch-fast in just 50 seconds.

 A complete manicure in one swipe, drying touch-fast in just 50 seconds. Long-Lasting Wear  87% of testers agreed they were satisfied with the glossy finish, tip wear, and lack of chipping after six days*. It's Topless contains a new latest-generation Alkyd resin, a film-former, which is highly stable and resistant, providing the extreme wear-proof quality.

 87% of testers agreed they were satisfied with the glossy finish, tip wear, and lack of chipping after six days*. contains a new latest-generation Alkyd resin, a film-former, which is highly stable and resistant, providing the extreme wear-proof quality. Nail-Strengthening Benefits  Infused with potent nail treatment ingredients including a patented bonding Hexanal, retinol-like cranberry bio-peptides and kale extract to help improve nail appearance and provide a protective film on your nails.

 Infused with potent nail treatment ingredients including a patented bonding Hexanal, retinol-like cranberry bio-peptides and kale extract to help improve nail appearance and provide a protective film on your nails. Vibrant, On-Trend Shades  A curated collection of chic, highly pigmented hues, from classic burgundy and lipstick red to modern mushroom grey and iridescent pink.

"With It's Topless, we've solved the biggest challenge for nail lovers: time. This innovative formula is not only a lifesaver for those on the go but also a true testament to Nails.INC's commitment to unearthing the latest and greatest nail technology," said Thea Green, Founder and CEO of Nails.INC. "We wanted to create a product that delivers flawless, long-lasting results without compromising on quality, shine, or nail health. Now, achieving the perfect manicure is as easy as applying lipstick, so nail polish can finally occupy its rightful place in make-up bags everywhere."

Applying It's Topless couldn't be easier, thanks to Nails.INC's exclusive patented wide-hugging brush, which is ergonomically crafted to follow the natural curve of the nail bed. This unique design minimizes the number of strokes needed for smooth, even coverage. The innovation continues with the bottle itself: the signature Nails.INC cap doubles as a built-in manicure station, creating a stable surface for perfect polish application anytime, anywhere.

Nails.INC It's Topless is available at Target and Walmart stores nationwide, Target.com, Walmart.com, Amazon and NailsInc.com.

*In a consumer perception survey of 30 people tested over 8 days

About Nails.INC

Nails.INC is the UK's leading nail brand founded in London by Thea Green MBE in 1999. Spotting a gap in the market for fashionable, high-quality nail polish, Nails.INC quickly became one of the most innovative independent beauty businesses on the market. With industry accolades due to its first to market product innovation, trending must-wear shades and collaborations with the likes of Victoria Beckham, Diane Von Furstenburg and Alexa Chung, Nails.INC continues to lead the way in the nail category.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

ALISON BROD MARKETING + COMMUNICATIONS

[email protected]

SOURCE Nails.INC
Join Tijuana Flats' Rewards Program and Enjoy 30 Days of Free Daily Deals Throughout March

ORLANDO, Fla., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tijuana Flats , the fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand known for its bold flavors and fun, festive, and south-of-the-border atmosphere, is spicing up March with its "30 Days of Freejuana" campaign. The promotion offers Flathead Rewards members more than $80 in complimentary food throughout the month. Existing Flathead Rewards members automatically receive daily offers, while new guests who download the Flathead Rewards app at https://qrco.de/bbUMoR can sign up at any time during the campaign.

Every day in March will bring a fresh free deal, repeating throughout each week of the month.

Monday: Free Cookie Dough Flautas (small order; 3 pieces) with an adult entree purchase

Free Cookie Dough Flautas (small order; 3 pieces) with an adult entree purchase Tuesday: Free Fountain Drink with an adult entree purchase

Free Fountain Drink with an adult entree purchase Wednesday: Free small Guac with an adult entree purchase

Free small Guac with an adult entree purchase Thursday: Free Make It Wet - the option to smother a burrito with queso

Free Make It Wet - the option to smother a burrito with queso Friday: Free Double Stack upgrade wrap any hard taco in a queso-coated soft taco shell

Free Double Stack upgrade wrap any hard taco in a queso-coated soft taco shell Saturday: Free small Queso with an adult entree purchase (excluding the 2-for- $22 deal)

Free small Queso with an adult entree purchase (excluding the 2-for- deal) Sunday: Free Street Taco with an adult entree purchase

Flathead Rewards members receive a daily redeemable credit to their account via the app, website, or in-store (by providing a phone number or email). Guests interested in joining the Flathead Rewards program may download the Flatheads Rewards app at https://qrco.de/bbUMoR . New sign-ups will receive their first free offer the following day, unlocking exclusive daily deals.

Tijuana Flats injects its playful, with-a-twist innovation into the entire dining experience. Its Flatheads loyalty program rewards guests for their visits and purchases. Members earn one point for every dollar spent, which can be redeemed for exclusive rewards and deals, and they also gain access to bonus point opportunities and instant rewards just for signing up.

For additional details on joining the Flatheads Rewards program and to start enjoying these exclusive offers, download the Flatheads Rewards app at https://qrco.de/bbUMoR and visit https://www.tijuanaflats.com/promotions/30-days-of-free-juana .

ABOUT TIJUANA FLATS

Tijuana Flats, a fast-casual Mexican restaurant founded in 1995 in Winter Park, Fla., operates nearly 100 company-owned and franchised restaurants across Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee. With bold flavors and colorful experiences piled high with big-hearted, over-the-top service, Tijuana Flats boasts a menu consisting of fresh, made-to-order tacos, burritos and other Mexican appetizers, entrees and desserts. For more information or to locate a Tijuana Flats near you, visit www.tijuanaflats.com .

MEDIA CONTACT

Alexis Knapp | RockawayMore

[email protected]

305.751.9641 ext. 101

SOURCE Tijuana Flats
The industry's premier open networking and edge event features a robust list of pioneering thought leaders from Deutsche Telekom, Red Hat, ETSI, OCP, NGNM, Infosys, Microsoft, Nokia, Ericsson, China Mobile and more

Individuals attending KubeCon + CloudNativeCon EU are encouraged to kick-start their week and explore future of open innovation in networking, edge, and cloud-native technologies at Summit

Register today to speak to thought leaders, experts on Domain Specific AI, Cloud Native, 5G/6G, Edge/IOT and all things Open - Real world, real discussion, real end users

SAN FRANCISCO, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- LF Networking , the facilitator of collaboration and operational excellence across open source networking projects, today announced the final list of speakers and sessions for the upcoming Open Networking & Edge Summit . The Summit takes place March 31 in London ahead of KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe and will be followed by a half-day Cloud Native Telco Day event officially co-located with KubeCon + CloudNativeCon. Attendees are encouraged to attend both events to get the full experience.

"This year's Summit features another great roster of industry pioneers working across the globe to shape the future of technology," said Arpit Joshipura, general manager, Networking, Edge and IoT, at the Linux Foundation. "Insights gleaned from the past decade of rapid open innovation among a 100+ year-old industry provide a strong foundation for the next wave of transformation. From networking to AI to edge computing, this year's Summit will showcase groundbreaking advancements, collaboration, and real-world implementations that are driving the future of open technologies."

Latest confirmed sessions include:

For the full conference agenda featuring many of the industry's brightest luminaries, please visit here .

The Open Networking & Edge Summit has long been a key gathering for the open networking and edge computing community, uniting global leaders, innovators, and stakeholders to drive technological progress. For over a decade, it has served as a premier platform for discussions, collaboration, and showcasing cutting-edge advancements shaping the future of connectivity and infrastructure. As the year's only LF Networking in-person event, this is the place to connect with industry peers, decision makers, and thought leaders  in an intimate conference setting, including the irreplaceable "hallway track."

The summit covers a broad spectrum of topics, including domain-specific AI, large language models (LLMs), Edge/IoT, Open RAN, enhanced connectivity and access, enterprise and multi-cloud networking, 5G/6G, security, and more.

Register Today & Extend the Experience

Open Networking & Edge Summit registration is open, but hurry - time is running out. Attendees are encouraged to optimize their time in London by also attending co-located events:

Cloud Native Telco Day ( April 1 ): Attendees are encouraged to extend their Open Networking and Edge Summit experience by attending the half-day "Cloud Native Telco Day" event on April1, a KubeCon + CloudNativeCon co-located event. Registration for Cloud Native Telco Day is included in the All-Access pass to KubeCon + CloudNativeCon EU.

Attendees are encouraged to extend their Open Networking and Edge Summit experience by attending the half-day "Cloud Native Telco Day" event on April1, a KubeCon + CloudNativeCon co-located event. Registration for Cloud Native Telco Day is included in the All-Access pass to KubeCon + CloudNativeCon EU. KubeCon + CloudNativeCon EU ( April 1-4 ): KubeCon + CloudNativeCon attendees should seize the opportunity to dive deeper into the open ecosystem driving next-gen infrastructure by adding Open Networking and Edge Summit to existing registrations.

Members of the media interested in attending Open Networking & Edge Summit via a complimentary press pass should reach out to [email protected] .

Learn more about LF Networking and the impact it's making across the open ecosystem at www.lfnetworking.org . Follow the LFN community on LinkedIn and join our mailing list for real-time updates.

About The Linux Foundation

The Linux Foundation is the organization of choice for the world's top developers and companies to build ecosystems that accelerate open technology development and industry adoption. Together with the worldwide open source community, it is solving the hardest technology problems by creating the largest shared technology investment in history. Founded in 2000, The Linux Foundation today provides tools, training and events to scale any open source project, which together deliver an economic impact not achievable by any one company. More information can be found at www.linuxfoundation.org .

The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see our trademark usage page: https://www.linuxfoundation.org/trademark-usage .

Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

Media Contact

Jill Lovato

The Linux Foundation

[email protected]

SOURCE LF Networking
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says that increasing Europe's defence capabilities will fill the gaps in military supplies to Ukraine.

Speaking in Strasbourg on Tuesday at a plenary session of the European Parliament devoted to discussing the special European Council meeting of March 6, which considered the issue of European and Ukrainian defence, von der Leyen said: We need a surge in European defence, and we need it now. We need it first and foremost because of the situation in Ukraine. There is the urgent need to fill the gaps in Ukraine's military supplies and to provide Ukraine with solid security guarantees.

The President of the European Commission stated that the European security order is being shaken, and so many of our illusions are being shattered.

After the end of the Cold War, some believed that Russia could be integrated in Europe's economic and security architecture. Others hoped that we could rely indefinitely on America's full protection. And so, we lowered our guard. We cut our defence spending from routinely averaging more than 3.5% to less than half of that. We thought we were enjoying a peace dividend, but in reality we were just running a security deficit. The time of illusions is over now. Europe is called to take greater charge of its own defence, not in some distant future but already today, not with incremental steps but with the courage that the situation requires, she explained.

Von der Leyen stressed that this is not only about Ukraine, but also about the security of all of Europe and the entire continent. Putin has proven time and again that he is a hostile neighbour. He cannot be trusted, he can only be deterred. And we know that Russia's military complex is outproducing ours. If we look at the military expenditure in real terms, the Kremlin is spending more than all of Europe combined. Europe's production is still on a lower order of magnitude, the President of the European Commission stated.

According to her, the range of threats facing the EU is becoming wider every day. And this is more dangerous, today, the era we live in, so Europe really needs to step up. This is the goal of the plan that I presented to leaders last week. It's logic is very simple: we want to pull every single financial lever we have, to strengthen and fast track our defence production. With the REARM Europe plan, we can mobilise up to EUR 800 billion, von der Leyen said.

She elaborated on the elements of the plan and concluded her speech with the words: We all wish we could live in more peaceful times, without any question. But I'm confident that if we unleash our industrial power, we can restore deterrence against those who seek to harm us. It is time to build a European Defence Union that ensures peace on our continent, through unity and through strength.
This program brings $1M in funding to companies reinventing after Hurricane Helene

ASHEVILLE, N.C., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Optimist Ventures, Western North Carolina's premier accelerator and investment fund, is officially open for applications, offering an unparalleled opportunity for early-stage, tech-enabled startups to secure funding and mentorship. The deadline to apply is March 23, 2025.

This program brings $1M in funding, with each selected startup receiving $50,000  half as a non-dilutive grant and half as a Shared Profit Agreement (SPA) note, meaning founders retain full ownership while investors see long-term returns. This hybrid model is founder-friendly, investor-aligned, and designed for sustainable success.

A new model of venture philanthropy in response to Hurricane Helene. Post this

Unique to this model is the SPA Note vehicle "The Shared Profit Agreement (SPA) was born out of a desire to create a founder-friendly, regionally aligned funding model. Unlike traditional equity investment, where founders dilute their ownership and often feel pressure to exit on an investor's timeline, the SPA allows startups to retain full control. Instead of giving up a percentage of the company, founders commit to sharing a percentage of revenue or profit, based on a fixed sliding scale.

This structure works particularly well in a region like Western North Carolina, where many businesses are capital-efficient, bootstrapped, and value independence. Founders appreciate that the SPA allows them to focus on profitability and long-term impact, rather than short-term valuations. So far, feedback has been overwhelmingly positiveentrepreneurs love the flexibility, and investors appreciate that it aligns incentives around building sustainable businesses rather than chasing the next funding round," said Jeffrey Kaplan, CEO of Optimist Ventures.

Who Should Apply?

Optimist Ventures is seeking ambitious, tech-enabled companies across Western North Carolina. But what does "tech-enabled" really mean? If your startup leverages technology to scale, optimize, or enhance business operations you're tech-enabled.

A CPG startup using AI to manage supply chain logistics? That's tech-enabled.

A restaurant-tech platform optimizing food waste with predictive analytics? Tech-enabled.

A manufacturing company integrating IoT sensors to improve efficiency? You guessed ittech-enabled.

A health & wellness brand deploying a mobile app for personalized user experiences? Absolutely tech-enabled.

If your business uses software, data, automation, or digital tools to accelerate growth, Optimist Ventures is built for you.

Why This Model is a Game-Changer

Traditional venture capital models often force founders into all-or-nothing trajectorieschasing unicorn status at all costs or losing control of their business. Optimist Ventures does things differently.

Half Grant, Half SPA Note: Founders only pay back a portion of the investment, reducing financial risk.

Founders only pay back a portion of the investment, reducing financial risk. No Equity Surrendered: Keep full ownership while accessing crucial capital.

Keep full ownership while accessing crucial capital. Investor Returns Without Founder Burnout: The SPA model ensures investors see returns without forcing aggressive, unsustainable growth.

The SPA model ensures investors see returns without forcing aggressive, unsustainable growth. Support Beyond the Check: Mentorship, connections, and a network that genuinely invests in your success.

Backed by Philanthropy & Innovation

Optimist Ventures is powered by a coalition of visionary partners, including Venture Asheville, the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville Buncombe County, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, Dogwood Health Trust, Truist Bank, Poppy Popcorn, individual philanthropists, and the Bank of America Foundation, ensuring that startups receive not just capital, but a community of champions behind them.

Apply Now

If you're a Western North Carolina-based founder with a high-growth, tech-enabled venture, the time to apply is now. Applications are open through March 23, 2025, with selections announced in early April.

**Apply today at **OptimistVentues.co and join the next wave of innovation in WNC!

Media Contact: Jeffrey Kaplan, CEO, Optimist Ventures Director, Venture [email protected], 954-205-1352

Optimist Ventures is a founder-friendly investment fund and accelerator dedicated to fueling the next generation of tech-enabled startups in Western North Carolina. Built on a hybrid funding model, Optimist Ventures provides $50,000 per companyhalf as a non-dilutive grant and half as a Shared Profit Agreement (SPA) noteallowing founders to scale their businesses without sacrificing ownership. Backed by venture philanthropy and forward-thinking investors, Optimist Ventures supports companies that leverage technology, data, automation, and digital tools to drive innovation in their industries. With mentorship from proven entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts, Optimist Ventures is more than capitalit's a growth engine for the next wave of ambitious startups. Optimist Ventures operates in partnership with Venture Asheville and the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County, playing a key role in shaping WNC's startup ecosystem. For more information, visit www.OptimistVentures.co.

SOURCE Optimist Ventures
NEW YORK, March 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- OUTFRONT Media Inc. (NYSE:OUT), one of the largest out of home media (OOH) companies in the U.S., is proud to announce a series of initiatives to honor and celebrate the achievements of women in leadership, art, culture, and innovation throughout Women's History Month this March. With a continued partnership with Ad Age, a collaboration with The Female Quotient, and a special MOMENTS series, OUTFRONT aims to highlight the contributions of women throughout history and in contemporary society.

OUTFRONT continues its collaboration with Ad Age to celebrate Women's History Month, highlighting inspirational women in the industry. OUTFRONT is also proud to support The Female Quotient in its mission to ensure International Women's Day goes beyond just a marketing moment-driving real, measurable impact.

Moments by OUTFRONT, OUTFRONT's content and publisher platform, will celebrate Women's History Month through a special curated series, running across the MTA in New York and Brightline in Florida.

Moments in Culture , in partnership with Artsy , will showcase "Women Artists Reimagining Self-Portraiture," featuring captivating works from up-and-coming women portrait artists.

, in partnership with , will showcase "Women Artists Reimagining Self-Portraiture," featuring captivating works from up-and-coming women portrait artists. Moments in Life , in partnership with Gallery Media Group and Ballplayers , will highlight Women's March Madness facts.

, in partnership with , will highlight Women's March Madness facts. Moments in Art will partner with MoMA to explore art inspired by New York City , featuring influential artist and sculptor Louise Nevelson's "Sky Cathedral."

Building upon its ongoing collaborations, OUTFRONT is once again teaming up with Ad Age to celebrate Women's History Month. Throughout March, OUTFRONT's digital media across the U.S.  including billboards and transit locations  will feature insights and advice from inspirational leaders across the industry. These messages will be accompanied by QR codes directing audiences to AdAge.com, where they can further explore the editorial features. Additionally, OUTFRONT and Ad Age will be partnering on a special Women's History Month event at OUTFRONT's headquarters in New York on March 26.

"At Ad Age, we are committed to elevating the voices of women shaping the marketing and advertising industries," said Jeanine Poggi, Editor in Chief of Ad Age. "Our continued partnership with OUTFRONT during Women's History Month allows us to showcase the insights and achievements of leading women across our industry, reaching audiences in powerful and unexpected ways. Through this collaboration, we hope to inspire future generations and spark meaningful conversations about the impact of women in business, media and culture."

OUTFRONT is also proud to support The Female Quotient in its mission to make International Women's Day more than just a marketing moment - and drive measurable impact. When women are invested in, the equation for everyone changes - fueling economic growth, innovation, and stronger returns. Yet as a whole, women owned businesses remain underfunded. This year, The Female Quotient is utilizing Times Square media to amplify their charge to make International Women's Day an actionable movement: "Invest in Women Daily."

"We are honored to continue our partnership with Ad Age to celebrate the powerful contributions of women across industries," said Liz Rave, Vice President, Marketing at OUTFRONT. "By leveraging our media platforms to showcase our MOMENTS content, we aim to amplify the voices and stories of remarkable women, inspiring audiences nationwide to recognize the profound impact women have madeand continue to makeon our world. When women win, we all win."

About OUTFRONT Media Inc.

OUTFRONT leverages the power of technology, location and creativity to connect brands with consumers outside of their homes through one of the largest and most diverse sets of billboard, transit, and mobile assets in the United States. Through its technology platform, OUTFRONT will fundamentally change the ways advertisers engage audiences on-the-go.

OUTFRONT Media Contacts:

Matt Biscuiti

The Lippin Group

212-986-7080

[email protected]

Courtney Richards

OUTFRONT Media

646-876-9404

[email protected]

Stephan Bisson

OUTFRONT Media

212-297-6573

[email protected]

SOURCE OUTFRONT Media Inc.
The Six-Week Program Provides Networking and Mentorship for Veteran-Owned Companies

TYSONS, Va., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The PenFed Foundation, a national nonprofit organization that supports veterans in their transition from service to success, is proud to continue supporting veteran-owned businesses with the announcement of the Veteran Entrepreneur Program March 2025 cohort. The accelerator program for veteran-owned businesses begins with a three day in-person seminar in Bentonville, Arkansas, followed by a six-week virtual program.

Members of the PenFed Foundation Veteran Entrepreneur Programs March 2025 Cohort and PenFed Foundation staff attend an in-person seminar in Bentonville, Arkansas.

The program brings veteran-owned companies from across the country together to participate in networking events, roundtables and mentorship opportunities. Seminars with prominent business leaders cover topics ranging from business development, marketing and branding, legal considerations, communications, strategic planning and pitching investors.

"The PenFed Foundation is proud to continue propelling veteran-led companies to new heights with the first cohort of 2025," said PenFed Foundation Director of Veteran Entrepreneur Program and retired U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Terry Williams. "Members of the military community are well-suited to entrepreneurship, and we will continue empowering them with additional cohorts in May and August of 2025."

The accelerator program is free of charge to military founders and the PenFed Foundation does not take equity in the businesses. Veteran and military-spouse owned and led companies who are interested in upcoming cohorts, are encouraged to apply here.

This cohort brings together military veteran entrepreneurs from a variety of industries.

The March 2025 cohort includes:

BuilderComs

U.S. Marine Corps veteran Ron Nussbaum is the founder and CEO. BuilderComs is a next-generation communication platform built exclusively for the construction industry. Designed to eliminate inefficiencies, enhance collaboration, and improve project transparency, BuilderComs connects teams and clients in real time, ensuring seamless information flow from project start to completion.

U.S. Marine Corps veteran is the founder and CEO. BuilderComs is a next-generation communication platform built exclusively for the construction industry. Designed to eliminate inefficiencies, enhance collaboration, and improve project transparency, BuilderComs connects teams and clients in real time, ensuring seamless information flow from project start to completion. AXELERA

Founded by U.S. Navy veteran Axel Lopez . AXELERA Technologies has created a3D-4X Joystick Omni-directional controller and software protocol. A leader in air mobility innovation, specializing in developing advanced navigation control systems for Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL), law enforcement and defense markets, Axelera is focused on delivering cutting-edge solutions that enhance operational efficiency and precision across multiple industries.

Founded by U.S. Navy veteran . AXELERA Technologies has created a3D-4X Joystick Omni-directional controller and software protocol. A leader in air mobility innovation, specializing in developing advanced navigation control systems for Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL), law enforcement and defense markets, Axelera is focused on delivering cutting-edge solutions that enhance operational efficiency and precision across multiple industries. Spear AI

U.S. Navy veterans John McGunnigle, Jr. and Michael Hunter are the co-founders. Spear AI is a technology startup that delivers tailored Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) products and services focused on the maritime domain to the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. allies and industry. Spear AI also builds custom edge sensors to collect maritime data.

U.S. Navy veterans and are the co-founders. Spear AI is a technology startup that delivers tailored Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) products and services focused on the maritime domain to the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. allies and industry. Spear AI also builds custom edge sensors to collect maritime data. Elevate Vending

Founded by U.S. Air Force veteran Nicholas Grillo , Elevate Vending provides a concierge level of service to its clients through its expansive offerings, advanced AI hardware/software, custom markets, and dynamic partnerships. Based in the Washington D.C. , Maryland , and Virginia (DMV) area, Elevate Vending delivers cutting-edge, community focused micro-market solutions.

Founded by U.S. Air Force veteran , Elevate Vending provides a concierge level of service to its clients through its expansive offerings, advanced AI hardware/software, custom markets, and dynamic partnerships. Based in the , , and (DMV) area, Elevate Vending delivers cutting-edge, community focused micro-market solutions. BobiHealth

U.S. Army veteran Dave Esra and military spouse Ann Villegas are the co-founders. BobiHealth is a pioneering AI-powered maternal health monitoring platform designed to improve pregnancy outcomes and reduce maternal and infant mortality. The app utilizes real-time biometric data, predictive analytics, and advanced AI/ML technologies to provide proactive monitoring and early intervention for high-risk pregnancies.

U.S. Army veteran and military spouse are the co-founders. BobiHealth is a pioneering AI-powered maternal health monitoring platform designed to improve pregnancy outcomes and reduce maternal and infant mortality. The app utilizes real-time biometric data, predictive analytics, and advanced AI/ML technologies to provide proactive monitoring and early intervention for high-risk pregnancies. Shadowscape

Founded by U.S. Marine veteran James McCarter . Shadowscape is an intelligence-driven cybersecurity, training, and analytics company dedicated to enabling proactive security solutions. Shadowscape leads the development of cutting-edge cyber risk intelligence capabilities, including Threatspherea proprietary AI-driven, cyber risk intelligence fusion platform, combining Continuous Threat Exposure Management with Cyber Risk Quantification to help organizations prioritize security efforts based on real-world threats, financial impact and ROI.

Founded by U.S. Marine veteran . Shadowscape is an intelligence-driven cybersecurity, training, and analytics company dedicated to enabling proactive security solutions. Shadowscape leads the development of cutting-edge cyber risk intelligence capabilities, including Threatspherea proprietary AI-driven, cyber risk intelligence fusion platform, combining Continuous Threat Exposure Management with Cyber Risk Quantification to help organizations prioritize security efforts based on real-world threats, financial impact and ROI. Smart Farm Tools

U.S. Navy veteran James Lucas is the CEO and Oregon National Guard veteran Bryan Riester is the co-founder and chief operating officer. Smart Farm Tools is revolutionizing small-scale agriculture by providing accessible, AI-powered technology solutions. The all-in-one farm management platform combines artificial intelligence, IoT sensors, and data analytics to help small and medium-sized farms optimize their operations and increase profitability.

U.S. Navy veteran is the CEO and Oregon National Guard veteran is the co-founder and chief operating officer. Smart Farm Tools is revolutionizing small-scale agriculture by providing accessible, AI-powered technology solutions. The all-in-one farm management platform combines artificial intelligence, IoT sensors, and data analytics to help small and medium-sized farms optimize their operations and increase profitability. Condition One Nutrition

U.S. Marine Corps veteran Matthew DeMaio is the founder and CEO. Condition One Nutrition (C1) creates, manufactures, and distributes clean, whole food nutrition bars specially formulated to keep the brain and body functioning at peak performance. Created in collaboration with a Naval Special Warfare nutritionist, Matthew named the bar Condition One, which represents being ready for action.

Since 2018, the Veteran Entrepreneur Program has accelerated over 120 military founders. Through The PenFed Foundation and its investor partnerships, alumni founders have accessed several million dollars in startup capital, grown a network of key stakeholders, and received invaluable mentorship from industry experts.

About PenFed Foundation

Founded in 2001, The PenFed Foundation is a national nonprofit organization that supports veterans in their transition from service to success. Affiliated with PenFed Credit Union, the Foundation has provided more than $55 million in financial support to veterans, active-duty service members and military families. PenFed Credit Union covers the salaries and administrative costs of The PenFed Foundation, so more of your donation goes right to our programs. To learn more, please visit www.penfedfoundation.org.

SOURCE PenFed Foundation
PHILADELPHIA, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pep Boys, a leading automotive service provider, is proud to announce a new discount program for first responders and military members. All active-duty military, veterans, police, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and 911 dispatchers will enjoy a 10% discount every day* and a special 50% discount on Conventional Oil Changes and Platinum Synthetic Oil Changes every Wednesday.**

"Our company was founded by veterans, and at Pep Boys, we are committed to giving back to those who dedicate their lives to protecting and serving our country and our communities," said Joe Auriemma, CEO of Pep Boys. "We want to make sure military personnel and first responders know how much everyone at Pep Boys appreciates their service."

To receive the discount, eligible individuals must present a valid military ID or first responder ID at the time of service.

This expanded program is part of Pep Boys' ongoing mission to support the communities it serves. It reflects Pep Boys' commitment to providing exceptional value and recognizing the dedication of heroes across the nation.

For more information about the program and how to participate, visit pepboys.com.

About Pep Boys

Founded in 1921 by military veterans, generations of drivers have counted on Pep Boys ASE-certified Pros to care for their cars. With a national network of Service and Tire Centers, millions of consumer and fleet vehicles pass through Pep Boys bays each year. Our commitment to being the one our communities count on is demonstrated through our exceptional customer experience and technical expertise. For more information, visit www.pepboys.com.

*In-store only with qualifying ID. Excludes PepBoys.com, gift cards, installations, special orders, and commercial, fleet, warranty, and road hazard-adjusted tires. Cannot be combined with other offers, except mfg rebates.

**Valid in the continental U.S. on Wednesdays only with qualifying ID. Excludes special orders, commercial, and fleet accounts. Cannot be combined with other offers, except manufacturer rebates.

SOURCE The Pep Boys - Manny, Moe and Jack LLC
Survey of 650 automotive development professionals finds quality and compliance are key to developing safe and secure autonomous vehicles with AI-driven design.

MINNEAPOLIS, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Perforce Software, the DevOps company for global teams requiring speed, quality, security, and governance at scale along the development lifecycle, announces the release of the 2025 State of Automotive Software Development Report. This year's findings highlighted an uptick in the use of AI, continued challenges around code complexity, and a larger emphasis on safety than security.

2025 Automotive Report

Safety was the top concern in AI vehicle development for 49% of respondents, so teams who are guided by functional safety standards need to employ additional considerations when using AI, as the algorithms tend to be non-deterministic.

"Automotive software development is becoming more dependent on AI systems, but the software must still be developed, deployed, and maintained with safety in mind," said Perforce Director of Compliance Jill Britton. "AI systems bring additional challenges to achieving functional safety and to provide guidance, new and updated standards are emerging for their use in safety-critical applications."

AI is driving autonomous vehicle design for 42% of automotive professionals (up 9% from last year) and is affecting at least some components in connected vehicles (41%). Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) were the leading components with AI/ML applications, alongside In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) systems and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) components.

In the previous report, security rose as a concern over safety, but with the rapid introduction of AI/ML in connected and autonomous vehicle development and design, safety is once again of higher concern in 2025.

Automotive software professionals are increasingly aware that maintaining high-quality code contributes to both the safety and security of the software system. But the complexity of the code base can make producing quality code challenging, especially for engineers with less than three years of experience: 57% of respondents with less than one year and 45% with one to three years expressed code complexity as their top concern; as opposed to those with more than five years (37%) who cited testing resources as their top quality concern.

While wider market conditions and challenges like the global economy and remaining competitive are driving most organizations, a consistent trend throughout the report showed an emphasis on maximizing existing resources (49%) and educating existing talent (42%).

Developers are turning to static analysis tools to manage complex code bases, ensuring compliance with industry standards like MISRA and ISO 21434. The report found that 30% of teams prioritize software quality improvements through static analysis, version control, and continuous testing tools.

Other notable findings include:

86% are using at least one coding standard, which is important for code quality.

53% use static analysis/SAST tools, with 30% citing the primary reason as improving software quality.

89% are required to track code quality metrics to reduce errors  an increase of 12%.

EV software development is stabilizing, with 47% working extensively on EV systems.

AI-driven development is growing, with 71% adopting ISO/DPAS 8800 for AI functional safety assurance.

As regulations evolve, proving compliance with functional safety and security standards is more critical than ever. The anticipated release of MISRA C:2025 will impact 53% of automotive developers, highlighting the need for robust software quality and compliance tools.

The annual study, conducted in collaboration with Automotive IQ and the Eclipse Foundation, delivers exclusive research on the current challenges of developing safe and secure automotive software in increasingly connected and autonomous vehicle systems.

Interested parties can download the full 2024 State of Automotive Software Development Report by visiting: https://www.perforce.com/resources/sca/2025-state-automotive-software-development-report.

About Perforce

The best run DevOps teams in the world choose Perforce. Perforce's suite of products are purpose-built to develop, build and maintain high-stakes applications. Companies can finally manage complexity, achieve speed without compromise, and run their DevOps toolchains with full integrity. With a global footprint spanning more than 80 countries and including over 75% of the Fortune 100, Perforce is trusted by the world's leading brands to deliver solutions to even the toughest challenges. Accelerate technology delivery, with no shortcuts. Power Innovation with Perforce.

Media Contact

PERFORCE

Maxine Ambrose

Ambrose Communications

Ph: +44 118 328 0180

[email protected]

SOURCE Perforce Software
TAMPA, Fla. and STAMFORD, Conn., March 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Primo Brands Corporation (NYSE: PRMB) ("Primo Brands" or the "Company") today announced the pricing of its previously announced underwritten public offering by one of its stockholders (the "Selling Stockholder"), an affiliate of One Rock Capital Partners, of 45,000,000 shares of the Company's class A common stock, par value $0.01 ("Class A Common Stock"), at a price to the public of $29.50 per share. Additionally, Primo Brands has agreed to purchase 4,000,000 shares of its Class A Common Stock from the underwriters at a per-share purchase price equal to the price payable by the underwriters to the Selling Stockholder in the offering. The Selling Stockholder will receive all of the net proceeds from this offering. No shares are being sold by the Company. The offering is expected to close on March 12, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions. The Selling Stockholder granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 6,750,000 additional shares of Class A Common Stock.

Morgan Stanley and BofA Securities are acting as joint lead book-running managers for the offering. J.P. Morgan, RBC Capital Markets and Barclays are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. BMO Capital Markets, Deutsche Bank Securities, Jefferies, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Mizuho, TD Cowen, Truist Securities and William Blair are acting as joint bookrunners for the offering. Drexel Hamilton, LLC and Loop Capital Markets are acting as co-managers for the offering.

A shelf registration statement on Form S-1 (including a prospectus) relating to the offering of Class A Common Stock has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and an accompanying prospectus. You may obtain these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. When available, copies of the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus related to the offering may also be obtained by contacting Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10014; BofA Securities, NC1-022-02-25, 201 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001, Attn: Prospectus Department, Email: [email protected], 1-800-294-1322; J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717 or by email at [email protected] and [email protected]; RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Attention: Equity Capital Markets, 200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10281, by telephone at (877) 822-4089, by email: [email protected]; or Barclays Capital Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717 (or by email at [email protected] or telephone at 1-888-603-5847).

This communication is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security and does not constitute an offer, solicitation, or sale of any security in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.

About Primo Brands Corporation

Primo Brands is a leading North American branded beverage company with a focus on healthy hydration, delivering responsibly and domestically sourced diversified offerings across products, formats, channels, price points, and consumer occasions, distributed in every state and Canada.

Primo Brands employs more than 13,000 associates with dual headquarters in Tampa, Florida, and Stamford, Connecticut.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and several important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any such forward-looking statement. In some cases, forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "may," "will," "would," "should," "could," "expect," "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "predict," "project," "seek," "potential," "opportunities," and other similar expressions and the negatives of such expressions. However, not all forward-looking statements contain these words. They also include statements regarding the Company's intentions, beliefs, or current expectations and other information that is not historical information, including statements regarding the expected closing date of the proposed secondary offering and the potential exercise of the underwriter's option to purchase additional shares. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

Although management believes that it has a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this press release, you are cautioned that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known by the Company and its expectations of the future, about which it cannot be certain. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the ability to consummate the proposed secondary offering, volatility in the Company's Class A Common Stock price and those other important factors discussed in Item 1A "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as any such factors may be updated from time to time in the Company's other filings with the SEC, including the prospectus supplement on Form 424(b) being filed in connection with this offering, each accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

As a result of these factors, the Company cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this press release will prove to be accurate. You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors. Consequently, you should not consider any such list to be a complete discussion of all potential risks or uncertainties that may substantially impact the Company's business. Moreover, Primo Brands operates in a competitive and rapidly changing environment. New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible to predict the impact of all of these factors on the Company's business, financial condition, or results of operations.

Furthermore, if any forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by Primo Brands or any other person that the Company will achieve its objectives, plans, or cost savings in any specified time frame or at all. In addition, even if its results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which the Company operates, are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE Primo Brands Corporation.
MARLBOROUGH, Mass., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Quantiphi , an AI-first digital engineering company, has been named a Leader in Advanced Analytics and AI Services in three quadrants including Data Science and AI Services, Data Modernization Services and Advanced BI and Reporting Modernization Services by ISGfor Specialist Providers in the US and Europe.

The evaluation recognized Quantiphi's strengths in advanced analytics, AI-driven decision-making and modern data infrastructure, further positioning Quantiphi as a trusted authority and premier choice for enterprises navigating complex digital transformation initiatives.

"This recognition from ISG reflects our commitment to being one of the world's leading AI-first digital engineering companies, as we continue to help our customers reimagine and realize the transformational opportunities at the heart of their business," Quantiphi Co-founder Asif Hasan said. "This nod of excellence reflects Quantiphi's dedication to push the boundaries of what's possible with AI and advanced analytics across the US and Europe."

"Quantiphi's strength lies in its ability to integrate advanced analytics with AI-driven automation, delivering industry-specific solutions that enhance decision-making and operational efficiency," ISG Assistant Director and Principal Analyst Gowtham Sampath said. "With deep expertise in predictive modeling, intelligent automation and AI-powered insights, Quantiphi empowers enterprises to unlock real-time intelligence, optimize complex workflows and drive measurable business outcomes that enhance transformation and long-term competitiveness."

"As organizations increasingly prioritize AI adoption to gain a competitive edge, Quantiphi's leadership across multiple quadrants reinforces its role as a key enabler of enterprise innovation, providing scalable and customized solutions tailored to industry needs," Hasan said.

About Quantiphi:

Quantiphi is an award-winning AI-first digital engineering company driven by the desire to reimagine and realize transformational opportunities at the heart of business. Since its inception in 2013, Quantiphi has solved the toughest and most complex business problems by combining deep industry experience, disciplined cloud and data engineering practices, and cutting-edge artificial intelligence research to achieve accelerated and quantifiable business results. Learn more at Quantiphi.com and follow us on LinkedIn , X, formerly Twitter , and Instagram and YouTube .

Media Contact:

H. Mayes

[email protected]

Quantiphi Newsroom

SOURCE Quantiphi
Taps former Acting Director of National Intelligence and a pair of top U.S. financial services executives

Joe Maguire, former Acting Director of National Intelligence and retired Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy

John O'Connor , CEO of J.H. Whitney Investment Management

, CEO of J.H. Whitney Investment Management Allen Parker , former Interim CEO and General Counsel of Wells Fargo

WASHINGTON, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rivada Select Services, a subsidiary of Rivada Networks, Inc. solely focused on securely serving the specialized connectivity needs of U.S. government's defense and civilian agencies, today announced the appointments of three key board members capable of advancing the company's breakthrough Outernet satellite constellation and its impact on critical missions.

Rivada's Outernet. The first unified global communications network.

Joe Maguire, a former Acting Director of National Intelligence, Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Commander of Naval Special Warfare Command, and Vice Admiral of the U.S. Navy and Commander of the Navy Seals, is an inaugural Rivada Select board member. The Washington, DC-based organization is dedicated to providing the highest level of secure, resilient communications to U.S. Government operations.

Rivada Select was awarded a Virtual Network Operator (VNO) contract with the U.S. Navy in December to build a tailored zero-trust architecture from the ground up to meet the military service's specialized and mission-critical government communications requirements through its innovative Outernet constellation.

John O'Connor, CEO of J.H. Whitney Investment Management and former Chairman of JP Morgan Alternative Asset Management, joins Rivada Select's first board of directors with a wealth of financial and government insight. O'Connor is a Senior Fellow at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he lectures on the economics of national security, and a member of the Global Tech Security Commission.

Allen Parker, also named to the Rivada Select Board, served as interim CEO and General Counsel of Wells Fargo after a highly acclaimed law practice in commercial banking and finance and service as a law clerk on the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

"We are delighted to welcome this stellar group of innovative leaders to the Rivada Select Board," said Michael Abad-Santos, who heads up the Rivada Select Services organization, Abad-Santos brings extensive experience in government and defense space systems to RSS. "Joe Maguire, John O'Connor, and Allen Parker bring unique perspectives to our company and board from their deep experience at the highest levels of national intelligence and naval defense, investment banking, and finance law." He added: "They will collectively enrich our mission to empower U.S. government and civilian agencies with the world's first self-contained global network."

"I am thrilled to join the Rivada Select Board to collaborate on an entirely new category of global networks," said Joe Maguire, who led U.S. National Intelligence and the U.S. Navy Seals and today joined the Rivada Select Board. "The Outernet is designed from the ground up to meet the specialized needs of the U.S. government, defense and civilian agencies around the world, and I look forward to bringing my experience as a war fighter and the head of national intelligence to this groundbreaking network."

"The formation of Rivada Select demonstrates the company's commitment to the Outernet and the differentiator it will deliver to its U.S. government and defense customers," said Allen Parker, former interim CEO of Wells Fargo and Rivada Select board member. "I'm excited to contribute my business, law, and financial experience to this important breakthrough."

A global low-latency point-to-point connectivity network of 600 low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, Rivada's Outernet is a unique next-generation architecture combining inter-satellite laser links with advanced onboard processing that provides unique routing and switching capabilities to create an optical mesh network in space. The data stays in space from origin to destination with this orbital network that creates an ultra-secure satellite network with pole-to-pole coverage, offering end-to-end latencies much lower than terrestrial fiber over similar long distances. By routing traffic on a physically separated network, the Outernet provides a layer of defense for any organization that needs to securely share data between widely distributed sites.

Rivada's Outernet is particularly well suited for the secure connectivity required by national governments and defense sectors. Leveraging the Outernet's robust, resilient and secure space-based architecture, the DoD can connect its assets on a global scale with low latency and without any third-party networks in the communication chain. Assets anywhere in the world can be connected back to home soil and between each other, platform-to-platform.

About Rivada Space Networks

Rivada Space Networks GmbH is deploying the first true "Outernet": a global, low-latency, point-to-point connectivity network of LEO satellites. By connecting its satellites with lasers, Rivada will provide resellers and B2B customers with the ability to securely connect any two points on the globe with low latency and high bandwidth. The constellations, comprising 600 low-earth-orbit communications satellites, will represent a fundamental change in the availability of secure, global, end-to-end enterprise-grade connectivity for Telecom, Enterprise, Maritime, Energy and Government Services markets. Rivada Space Networks is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rivada Networks, Inc. www.rivadaspace.com

Follow Rivada Space Networks on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rivada-space/

Twitter: @rivadaspace

Media Contacts

Melanie Dickie, Chief Marketing & Communication Officer

Rivada Space Networks GmbH

Tel: +31 6 14 22 97 62

Email: [email protected]m

Brian Carney, SVP Corporate Communications

Rivada Networks, Inc

Tel: +1 (207) 256-0386

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Rivada Networks, LLC
NEW YORK, March 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces it is investigating potential breaches of fiduciary duties by the directors and officers of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE: UNH) in connection with a report of an investigation by the United States Department of Justice into UnitedHealth's billing practices.

If you currently own shares of UnitedHealth stock, please visit the firm's website at https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=25195 for more information. You may also contact Phillip Kim of Rosen Law Firm toll free at 866-767-3653 or via email at [email protected].

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/.

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. 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.

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 Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.
PALM SPRINGS, Calif., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Samdesk has been honored with the Innovation Award at the 2025 Esri Partner Conference (EPC), held March 910 in Palm Springs, California. This award recognizes samdesk's innovative use of emerging technologies, including generative AI and real-time integration capabilities, to enhance situational awareness within the Esri ArcGIS ecosystem.

From left to right: Danny Spillmann, Corporate Director, Global Business Development, Esri; Tiffany Menchaca and Steve Dirks, Senior Account Executives, Public Sector, samdesk; Jack Dangermond, Esri President; Jason Breukelman, Director, Strategic Alliances, Esri Canada; Fiona Hatfield, Business Partner Manager, Esri Canada; Richard Cooke, Corporate Director, Global Business Development, Esri; and Thomas Fair, Director, Esri Partner Network (CNW Group/samdesk)

This award highlights the work samdesk and Esri have done to remove barriers and delays between crisis detection and geospatial intelligence. In today's rapidly changing world our customers demand the fastest, seamless integrations that are cost effective and low latency to achieve public safety efficiently.

Samdesk empowers organizations with AI-driven crisis monitoring and early warning alerts, integrating seamlessly with Esri technology to provide real-time crisis intelligence. Through the samdesk API Integration, organizations can pull live crisis data into the ArcGIS environment every minute, ensuring decision-makers have immediate access to critical updates. Customers such as NATO, LA Metro and Nutrien leverage this integration to gain situational awareness, optimize operations, and enhance overall resilience through real-time and historical crisis data analysis.

"Esri appreciates the strong partnership with samdesk and acknowledges their dedication to customer success with ArcGIS by awarding them this 2025 EPC award," said Thomas Fair, Director, Esri Partner Network.

"We are delighted to receive this recognition for the work that samdesk does with Esri. Esri is nothing short of fantastic to work with," said James Neufeld, Founder and CEO of samdesk. "In today's environment customers need safe, cost efficient and fast solutions. Working tirelessly to solve customer pains is the shared value between Esri and samdesk."

Esri is the global leader in location intelligence, with a network of 3,000 partners worldwide. The EPC award winners are recognized for their exceptional work in advancing GIS technology to solve complex challenges.

About Esri

Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping, helps customers unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Founded in 1969 in Redlands, California, Esri software is deployed in hundreds of thousands of organizations globally, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, nonprofit institutions, and universities. With regional offices, international distributors, and partners providing local support in over 100 countries, Esri delivers innovative solutions that leverage a geographic approach to solving some of the world's most complex problems. Visit esri.com .

About Samdesk

Samdesk is an AI-powered global disruption detection platform that delivers real-time crisis alerts and situational awareness to organizations worldwide. By leveraging AI and open-source data, samdesk empowers security, risk, and operational teams with instant insights into emerging eventshelping them protect assets, ensure business continuity, and respond proactively to crises. The samdesk platform seamlessly integrates with Esri's ArcGIS technology, enhancing decision-making with real-time and historical event data. Learn more at samdesk.io .

SOURCE samdesk
Photo: https://x.com/antoniocostapm

European Council President Antonio Costa speaks about the work being done in the European Union to support Ukraine in order to ensure that a fair and lasting peace is achieved in future negotiations.

Speaking in Strasbourg on Tuesday at a plenary session of the European Parliament following the special meeting of the European Council on 6 March, Costa said: We have been with Ukraine since day one. We have already provided more than EUR 135 billion in support to Ukraine since 2022. And we have now committed to increasing our support even more.

Member states can immediately increase their support thanks to increased fiscal space, he said, and several member states have already announced commitments of an additional EUR 15 billion. Last week, we also tasked the Council to work urgently on further initiatives to address Ukraines pressing military and defence needs. At the same time, we are preparing to support Ukraine for when it decides to engage in negotiations, to help it reach a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. And we stand behind Ukraine together with many partners, stressed the President of the European Council.

Costa noted that the efforts they undertake in the European Union to spend more on European defence will also benefit Ukraine. Ukraines security cannot be separated from Europes security. The best security guarantee we can provide is to strengthen Ukraines self-defence and to build a credible and robust Europe of Defence, he is convinced.
SEBASTOPOL, Calif., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival (SDFF), a program of Sebastopol Center for the Arts (SebArts), is set to take place from March 2730, 2025, at SebArts and The Rialto Theatre. An Oscar-qualifying festival for short-form documentaries, SDFF promises to showcase a powerful selection of films that invite audiences to "engage in what's real," while enhancing accessibility and audience interaction.

This year's festival will present 57 films, carefully chosen from over 700 submissions by a panel of filmmakers and passionate film enthusiasts. The festival will feature films across three categories: Feature Films, Short Films, and Mini Docs (under 10 minutes).

Among the standout films is Big Mama Thornton: I Can't Be Anyone But Me, which explores the life of Alabama-born blues legend Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2024, Thornton is renowned for her iconic original recordings of Hound Dog and Ball & Chain. The festival will also showcase the Oscar-nominated Porcelain War, a poignant documentary about Ukrainian artists Slava, Anya, and Andrey, who choose to stay behind in the midst of war to fight for their homes and their art, finding beauty amid the destruction of their country.

The SDFF continues its tradition of offering an engaging, thought-provoking experience for documentary lovers, with a focus on films that spark meaningful conversations and foster greater understanding of the world around us.

Tickets & Access

Tickets are available for individual screenings, along with various bundles and festival passes, including full access to all films, discussions, and special events.

A Commitment to Creativity and Social Impact

"We love films that emerge from the imagination of each filmmaker," says Jean McGlothlin, Lead Programmer and one of the Founding Festival Directors . "We celebrate experimental storytelling and excellence in craft." In recent years, social justice, LGBTQ+ and women's themes have become increasingly central to SDFF's programming. "We emphasize the importance of individuals telling their stories to move our culture forward," McGlothlin adds.

SDFF 2025 is shaping up to be an unforgettable celebration of documentary storytelling, offering audiences an immersive experience filled with thought-provoking films, engaging discussions, and a vibrant festival atmosphere.

For tickets, full program details, and updates, visit sebdocs.org

Sebastopol Center for the Arts

Since 1988, SebARTS has provided a welcoming hub for artists and art enthusiasts through high-quality programs and exhibitions in the visual, performing, literary and film arts. SebArts is home to award-winning signature events, including Sonoma County Art Trails, Art at the Source Open Studios, and the Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival.

Board of Directors

Sally Baker, President

Sandi McCubbin, Vice President

Len Goldfine, Treasurer

Linda Loveland Reid, Secretary

Andrea Caron

Omar Figueroa

Mark Stevens

Jamie Studley

Jon Cooper

Enriching Lives through the Arts - Sebastopol Center for the Arts is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization.

Gifts are tax deductible to the extent of the law. Tax ID 68-0168638

To make a donation visit, SebArts.org

SOURCE Sebastopol Center for the Arts
NEW YORK, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sigma360, the definitive AI-powered risk screening and monitoring technology platform, has been independently recognized as the #1 Adverse Media Solution for 2025 by Chartis Research as part of their annual Financial Crime and Compliance50 rankings. This award underscores Sigma360's unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence in combating financial crime.

Sigma360 Named #1 Adverse Media Solution for 2025 by Chartis Research

Powered by always-on monitoring of global media sources across 50+ languages, Sigma360 enables organizations to proactively identify relevant and material risks the moment they emerge. Its cutting-edge AI-driven models process up to 10x more risk data than legacy providers and deliver up to a 35% gain in efficiency for compliance teams. By combining expansive global coverage with advanced materiality and entity risk scoring models, Sigma360 helps teams cut through noise and focus only on the risks that truly matter.

"In our conversations with regulators, boards and shareholders, it is clear that adverse media screening is now a requirement versus a nice-to-have," said Stuart Jones, Jr., CEO and Founder of Sigma360. "And for good reason, as adverse media screening finds client and counterparty risks that virtually every other control would miss, presenting a powerful and necessary capability to help detect drug cartel, sanction evasion, corruption and human trafficking-related risks hiding in plain sight. This latest recognition by Chartis Research is a tremendous honor and the result of a multiyear team-effort to redefine how adverse media can and should work at scale - across models, tunability and workflows."

Sigma360's Adverse Media is Differentiated Across Several Dimensions:

Customizable Risk Tuning  Configure risk thresholds with precision to align with specific policy objectives and ensure compliance.

 Configure risk thresholds with precision to align with specific policy objectives and ensure compliance. Advanced Materiality Scoring  Identify and surface only the relevant and most critical risks, reducing false positives and capturing crime at any stage.

 Identify and surface only the relevant and most critical risks, reducing false positives and capturing crime at any stage. AI-Powered Risk Summarization  Generate concise, high-relevance insights that accelerate investigations and decision-making.

 Generate concise, high-relevance insights that accelerate investigations and decision-making. Seamless Integration & Scalability  Work effortlessly alongside KYC, AML, sanction screening, and due diligence workflows for integrated global risk monitoring.

 Work effortlessly alongside KYC, AML, sanction screening, and due diligence workflows for integrated global risk monitoring. Multiple Deployment Options  Access Sigma360 through a web-based platform, APIs, or flat-file delivery, eliminating unnecessary friction points associated with capability upgrades.

"Harnessing the power of cutting-edge natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning, our advanced models screen millions of pieces of adverse media every week," said Nick Marton, Director of Machine Learning & Data Science at Sigma360. "With billions of inferences delivered at a fraction of the cost of competitors, we provide unmatched efficiency, accuracy and affordability in risk detection and we are committed to the testing, evidencing, and resourcing required to ensure full adoption of our end-to-end capabilities."

To learn more about Sigma360's adverse media capabilities and to see it in action in real-time, please visit: https://www.sigma360.com/solutions/adverse-media-screening

About Sigma360

Sigma360's cloud-based data platform has emerged as the definitive choice for point-in-time risk screening and perpetual client monitoring. Underpinned by thousands of fully integrated and hosted data sources and proprietary entity resolution, risk extraction and scoring algorithms, the platform can identify and return direct and network-based entity risk at sub-second speeds. Sigma360's solutions are used by financial institutions, asset managers, professional services firms, fintechs and global corporations seeking to consolidate operations into a singular risk intelligence platform and more efficiently manage the entire client lifecycle.

For further information connect via LinkedIn or at www.sigma360.com.

Media Contact:

Ashley Mullis

282-575-0233

[email protected]

SOURCE Sigma360
SILVER SPRING, Md., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Morgan Whitlock, a Maryland personal injury lawyer, is proud to announce that she has been named an Elite Lawyer for 2025. As the founding attorney of Whitlock Law, Morgan's hands-on approach with clients and determination throughout each case have earned her this respected distinction. The Elite Lawyer award highlights Attorney Whitlock's credibility, skillset, and the admiration she has received from her peers.

Silver Spring Elite Lawyer Morgan Whitlock

For the past 17 years, Attorney Whitlock has provided exceptional legal services to clients throughout Maryland and Virginia. Morgan helps victims and their families recover compensation after life-altering injuries or the loss of a loved one. As a passionate advocate for her clients, Attorney Whitlock provides representation in cases involving car, motorcycle, and tractor-trailer accidents, as well as premises liability and police brutality cases.

As a leader in the legal community, Attorney Whitlock holds memberships with the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and the Maryland Association for Justice. Ms. Whitlock started practicing law in 2008 before opening the doors of Whitlock Law in 2017.

Elite Lawyer serves as a trusted directory for prospective clients who are searching for a lawyer who will meet their needs. Attorneys are vetted through a diligent selection process, and members are regularly reviewed to ensure that they uphold the high standards set by Elite Lawyer. Attorneys listed in the directory have been recognized by their peers, can showcase a history of success, and have demonstrated a commitment to their communities.

To view Morgan Whitlock's Elite Lawyer profile, visit: https://www.elitelawyer.com/profile/11985-morgan-whitlock.

About Whitlock Law

With locations in Silver Spring, MD and Leesburg, VA, Whitlock Law provides crucial legal guidance to victims of personal injuries. Founding Attorney Morgan Whitlock is joined at the firm by Associate Attorney Ellie Emani, and Trial Attorney Amy Harber. The firm prioritizes transparent and consistent communication with its clients, ensuring accessibility and honesty throughout the entire process. Whitlock Law helps clients recover compensation after suffering traumatic brain injuries and other catastrophic injuries in car crashes, semi-truck wrecks, animal attacks, and more. The firm also provides criminal defense services to people facing charges related to drug crimes, drunk driving, white-collar offenses, violent crimes, and more.

To learn more about Whitlock Law, visit our website at https://www.whitlocklawllc.com/. To arrange a free consultation, call 301-565-1655 today.

OVC, INC.

https://www.ovclawyermarketing.com/

[email protected]

SOURCE Whitlock Law
Ham to Be the Centerpiece of 80% of Easter Tables

ATLANTA, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Easter is just around the corner  and The Honey Baked Ham Company, the iconic name in premium hams and delectable feasts, once again delivers timeless taste of celebration to gatherings big and small with its Easter menu.

Signature Honey Baked Ham Meal

Research found ham is the most sought-after menu item on family's tables for Easter, with more than 80% of U.S. households serving the classic Easter centerpiece. Smoked for up to 24 hours and individually hand-glazed with its signature sweet and crunchy glaze, HoneyBaked's Bone-In Half Ham has been a fan-favorite and a staple at Easter tables for more than 65 years.

HoneyBaked's Culinary Expert Chef Tim Ziga is here to inspire hosts with tips and advice for serving HoneyBaked's signature ham at Easter.

"For generations, families have gathered around our delicious Honey Baked Ham at their Easter tables," Ziga said. "As an expert on all things Easter ham, I'm here to offer guidance on how to make your Easter celebration a success  from selecting and ordering the perfect ham, to preparing and serving, to choosing ideal pairings, and what to do with all those leftovers"

Easter Menu Offerings

HoneyBaked is excited to announce its seasonal menu, which elevates entertaining and promises to leave friends and family full and happy. The menu includes:

Signature Honey Baked Ham Meal: A bone-in-half ham topped with HoneyBaked's signature sweet and crunchy glaze. Choose three Heat & Serve sides such as Maple Sweet Potato Souffle, Double Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese, Cheesy Potatoes Au Gratin, or Baked Cinnamon Apples.

A bone-in-half ham topped with HoneyBaked's signature sweet and crunchy glaze. Choose three Heat & Serve sides such as Maple Sweet Potato Souffle, Double Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese, Cheesy Potatoes Au Gratin, or Baked Cinnamon Apples. Half Boneless Ham Meal: A boneless half ham topped with HoneyBaked's signature sweet and crunchy glaze. Choose three Heat & Serve sides.

A boneless half ham topped with HoneyBaked's signature sweet and crunchy glaze. Choose three Heat & Serve sides. Take & Bake Ham & Cheddar Biscuits: Take & Bake 8-packs of biscuits features Honey Baked Ham & cheddar cheese generously piled on eight Southern-style buttermilk biscuits and topped with savory Garlic Herb Butter and Sweet Honey Glaze Sauce. Just bake for 20 minutes.

Take & Bake 8-packs of biscuits features Honey Baked Ham & cheddar cheese generously piled on eight Southern-style buttermilk biscuits and topped with savory Garlic Herb Butter and Sweet Honey Glaze Sauce. Just bake for 20 minutes. Take & Bake Sliders: A 12-pack of sliders available in two flavors, original Ham & Swiss, or savory Garlic Herb Turkey & Cheddar. Both served on King's Hawaiian Rolls and ready in 20 minutes.

Easter is the perfect time to sign up for HoneyBaked Rewards . Join now and earn rewards for Easter. Customers who join will receive $9 in HoneyBaked Cash after signing up and making a purchase. Here's how it works:

Customers earn one Piggy Point per $1 spent

spent 99 points = $9 HoneyBaked Cash for future purchases

HoneyBaked Cash for future purchases New members get a $9 HoneyBaked Cash bonus after their first purchase (valid for 30 days)

HoneyBaked Cash bonus after their first purchase (valid for 30 days) Start earning now by joining myHoneyBaked Rewards

The full menu is available at your nearest HoneyBaked location. Visit honeybaked.com to find your nearest store. To make sure you are ready for your Easter gatherings, HoneyBaked encourages customers to order online early.

Survey Methodology

This random survey of 1,000 Americans who celebrate Easter was commissioned by The Honey Baked Ham Company between February 16-21, 2024. It was conducted by market research company SWNS Media Group.

About The Honey Baked Ham Company

For more than 65 years, The Honey Baked Ham Company has provided customers and their families with delightful food to enjoy for all of life's special moments. HoneyBaked's origins began when founder Harry J. Hoenselaar patented a spiral-slicing ham machine, making way for the first HoneyBaked Store in Detroit, Michigan. Since that momentous

opening in 1957, the family-owned company has grown to more than 400 locations nationwide, serving its signature spiral-sliced Honey Baked Ham with sweet and crunchy glaze, premium turkey breast, heat & serve sides, desserts, sandwiches, and most recently, delicious take & bake sliders and biscuits. Offering convenient meals using the best ingredients, HoneyBaked will make every occasion a little more memorable, whether you're dining in store, picking up or ordering online. For more information visit www.honeybaked.com and connect on Instagram , Facebook , Twitter , Pinterest and TikTok .

SOURCE The Honey Baked Ham Company
MANAHAWKIN, N.J., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Paul V. Sunkavalli is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Lifetime Member for his contributions to the field of Pediatrics.

Dr. Sunkavalli pursued higher education at St. Mary's College where he earned a double major in biology and chemistry after transferring from Baylor University. He received a Doctor of Medicine degree from Spartan Health Sciences University in St. Lucia; completed a Pediatric residency at Mount Sinai Medical Center (Jersey City Program).

Dr . Paul V. Sunkavalli

Board-certified in Pediatrics, specializes in treating patients up to 23 years of age, particularly those with special needs and complex cases, including autism and spectrum disorders; ADHD; and developmental delays. He notes that he places a strong emphasis on educating the families of these children about their conditions.

The doctor practices in a hospital-based setting in Manahawkin, New Jersey, in partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health and is also affiliated with Southern Ocean Medical Center. When considering his significant achievements, Dr. Sunkavalli believes his success is due to his dedication to following his philosophy which involves fostering a partnership with patients; actively listening to their concerns, questions, and preferences; and ensuring trust and collaboration in healthcare. Looking to the future, the doctor notes that he is actively involved in community service, including volunteering at his local Hindu Temple and community health and welfare activities in conjunction with the Monmouth and Ocean Count American Association of Physicians of Indian Origen (MOCAAPI) . He is also helping to organize a health camp for underserved communities in Nigeria in collaboration with the Nigerian government and has future plans to set up a similar camp in Rwanda.

Dr. Sunkavalli asserts that he is inspired by his entire family, including his father, Dr. Krishna Sunkavalli and his wife Dr. Anupama Sunkavalli. He has been married to his wife for 25 years and they have one child together.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
First grants distributed to high-impact programs affected by recent cuts to foreign aid

SEATTLE, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Life You Can Save , a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting extreme poverty, and Founders Pledge , a global nonprofit empowering entrepreneurs to do the most good possible with their charitable giving, have raised over $1.5 million in donations since launching its Rapid Response Fund on Feb. 17, 2025, in effort to backfill funding gaps as a result of the recent U.S. cuts to foreign aid.

The two nonprofit organizations created the Fund to ensure the world's highest-impact charities and programs can continue to function following the suspension of U.S. foreign aid. Grants are being disbursed after reaching this pivotal $1.5 million milestone, less than a month after the Fund's launch. Affected organizations receiving funding are offering critical, cost-effective interventions, particularly in essential healthcare, maternal and child well-being, infectious disease prevention, mental health support, domestic violence intervention and combating organized crime. These include the International Rescue Committee, the Iodine Global Network and Goal 3's IMPALA project.

"Reaching $1.5 million in donations is a testament to the generosity and commitment of our donors, as well as to the power of collective action," said Jessica La Mesa, Co-CEO of The Life You Can Save. "Their support is helping ensure life-saving interventions remain available to those who depend on them. But the work is far from oversignificant funding gaps remain."

"As governments across the world begin to follow the lead of the U.S. in cutting back on foreign aid, there is an urgent need for philanthropists to step forward," said David Goldberg, Co-Founder and CEO of Founders Pledge. "The Rapid Response Fund is demonstrating how private donors can prevent devastating disruptions to life-saving programs. We urge individuals and foundations to join us in closing this critical $77 million funding gap before it's too late."

"With over 45 million children suffering from acute malnutrition, access to nutritious food and treatment is a matter of life and death," said Bob Kitchen OBE, Vice President Emergencies at The International Rescue Committee. "The recent U.S. funding reductions have put the International Rescue Committee's (IRC) nutrition centers at risk, with thousands of children's lives at stake. We are deeply grateful for the support of Founders Pledge and The Life You Can Save, which will help us continue providing round-the-clock medical care, therapeutic food, and holistic family support to prevent malnutrition-related deaths. Together with Founders Pledge, the IRC remains committed to helping children survive and recover."

The Life You Can Save and Founders Pledge bring decades of expertise in charity evaluation and strategic philanthropy, ensuring that funds are directed toward the most effective organizations. The Rapid Response Fund leverages this knowledge to identify and support high-impact nonprofits at risk due to funding shortfalls.

"The situation demands urgencynot just in raising funds, but in getting them to our recommended nonprofits affected by the cuts," said La Mesa. "We're balancing speed and rigor to ensure funds reach those who need them most as quickly as possible. With enough support, we hope to cover a significant portion of the gap."

With over $1.5 million already raised, the fund is making an immediate differencebut ongoing contributions are needed to prevent further setbacks. To continue donating to the Rapid Response Fund, visit founderspledge.com/rapid-response-fund .

About The Life You Can Save

The Life You Can Save was founded to promote high-impact philanthropy, meaning giving that is research-based and cost-effective. Its mission is to improve the lives of people living in poverty by changing the way people think about and donate to charity. The team at The Life You Can Save does research to develop a list of recommended nonprofits delivering high-impact interventions across all of the dimensions of poverty. The Life You Can Save works to raise awareness of and connect donors with its recommended giving opportunities to increase the impact of giving. Through research and funds, The Life You Can Save offers a simplified donating process for individuals who want to maximize their impact in uplifting people experiencing extreme poverty. Learn more about high-impact philanthropy at thelifeyoucansave.org .

About Founders Pledge

Founders Pledge is a global nonprofit empowering entrepreneurs to do the most good possible with their charitable giving. Since 2015, our growing community has given almost $1.5 billion to charities and has pledged $11 billion more. We provide tailored advice on high-impact charities vetted by our in-house research team, as well as the infrastructure to enable ambitious, international grantmaking through our Donor Advised Funds, coupled with invitations to private events to connect & learn. Our members include fast-growth startups as well as the people behind household brands including Bolt, Unity, Klarna, Wise, Webflow, Twelve and Replicate. Together, we are funding solutions to the world's biggest challenges, from health & education to climate change, AI safety and existential risk. Learn more about making high-impact giving the norm at founderspledge.com .

About International Rescue Committee

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) runs a highly cost-effective program to combat global childhood malnutrition, which is linked to approximately 45% of deaths among children under five years old. The IRC's community-based approachknown as Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM)is led by community health workers, who identify malnourished children and provide them with nutrient- and calorie-rich foods, as well as other treatments. The IRC's CMAM programs cost only approximately $130 per child treated, and multiple studies have found recovery rates of 5382%, making these programs remarkably cost-effective. What sets the IRC apart is their pioneering expertise in malnutrition treatment, commitment to serving high-need areas that other organizations cannot reach due to conflict, and their continuous research to improve protocols. By allowing children to receive treatment while remaining at home with their families, the IRC's approach not only saves lives today but also prevents lasting cognitive and physical impairments, breaking the cycle of poverty and malnutrition for future generations.

About Iodine Global Network

The Iodine Global Network (IGN) tackles one of the world's most preventable causes of cognitive impairmentiodine deficiency. As the authoritative voice for iodine nutrition, IGN advocates for government support of iodization programs, monitors global progress, provides technical guidance, and coordinates between scientific and global health communitiesall at the remarkably low cost of just $0.05-$0.10 per person annually. IGN strategically targets the Western Pacific, South-East Asia, and Africa, where nearly two billion people suffer from iodine deficiency. By preventing the devastating mental and physical developmental issues caused by iodine deficiency during pregnancy and childhood, IGN's work not only saves lives but also improves educational outcomes and breaks cycles of poverty in the world's most vulnerable communitiesmaking it an exceptionally cost-effective intervention for donors interested in both health and education.

About Goal 3's IMPALA project

The IMPALA System by GOAL 3 is an innovative solution that empowers healthcare workers in low-resource health settings to monitor and prioritize patient care. Designed for resource-constrained healthcare settings in Africa, this comprehensive systemwhich includes a patient vital signs monitor, a clinical support application, and a data serverempowers healthcare workers to detect patient deterioration early and intervene when treatments are most effective and affordable. Initial results from a Malawian hospital demonstrated a remarkable 59% reduction in child mortality compared to the previous year. By addressing the critical shortage of appropriate monitoring technology in low-resource settings, GOAL 3 aims to improve access to quality care for 100 million people by empowering 1 million health workers by 2030.

Notes to Editors

Jessica La Mesa , Co-CEO of The Life You Can Save, and David Goldberg , Co-Founder and CEO of Founders Pledge, are available for interview.



The Rapid Response Fund was launched on February 17th, 2025 .



Founders Pledge have identified a gap of $77M across known high-impact funding opportunities.



As of March 10 , the Rapid Response Fund has raised $1,667,386 .



Grants made as of March 10 are:

$100,000 to the International Rescue Committee to support their acute childhood malnutrition program. $50,000 to the Iodine Global Network to support their most urgent needs in Madagascar in iodine deficiency and associated monitoring activities. $300,000 to Goal 3's IMPALA project to support vital signs monitoring devices for neonatal and pediatric wards in Malawi .



SOURCE The Life You Can Save
ORLANDO, Fla., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tompkins Solutions, a leader in supply chain consulting and automation, and MSI Automate, a premier provider of warehouse automation solutions, today announced their plans to merge their respective companies. This strategic move brings together two industry innovators to create a comprehensive end-to-end warehouse automation solutions provider. By combining expertise, technology, and resources, the combined company will provide nationwide offerings spanning supply chain consulting, material handling and system integration services, managed services and support, and end-to-end software offerings spanning warehouse management, warehouse execution, and warehouse control systems. The combined company will retain the Tompkins Solutions brand and name.

"The integration of Tompkins Solutions and MSI Automate marks a significant milestone in our mission to provide best-in-class supply chain automation solutions," said Anders Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Tompkins Solutions. "By bringing together Tompkins Solutions deep expertise and long history in supply chain management solutions and MSI's advanced automation technologies, we are uniquely positioned to offer a full spectrum of solutions that drive efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance flexibility for our customers."

Richard Lanpheare, President of MSI Automate, shared his enthusiasm about the integration, stating, "We are thrilled to join forces with Tompkins Solutions. Our combined capabilities will allow us to deliver even more powerful and innovative automation solutions to customers worldwide. This partnership will not only expand our technology offerings but also enable us to provide seamless, scalable solutions that meet the evolving needs of modern supply chains."

Grays Peak Capital and Valore Ventures are the financial sponsors of the combined company, having worked with both Tompkins Solutions and MSI Automate on their growth strategy and capital requirements.

"I couldn't be more excited for the combination of these two industry leading companies," said Scott Stevens, Managing Partner of Grays Peak Capital. "We see significant synergies and opportunity to build the customer base, partnerships, and employee value as we grow our product offerings in this market. The robotics and warehouse automation industry continues to accelerate in growth, and believe we are continuing to build the leading company and brand in the space."

About MSI Automate

MSI Automate specializes in advanced warehouse automation solutions, including robotics, conveyor systems, and software-driven fulfillment technologies. For more information, please visit www.msi-automate.com .

About Grays Peak Capital

Grays Peak Capital is a global investment firm that manages assets focused on the public market, private equity, real estate and credit. The firm is focused on identifying emerging business trends and technologies across a variety of industries. The firm endeavors to invest in companies that are creating innovation and disruption within their respective industry. Our portfolio includes multinational brands that have created value by disrupting industries and embracing technology led innovation. For more information, please visit www.grayspeakcapital.com .

About Valore Ventures

Valore Ventures is an investment firm specializing in operating companies and commercial real estate. Our experienced team and trusted equity partners collaborate closely to support these companies, ensuring they reach their full potential. We also invest selectively in commercial real estate, redeveloping diverse value-add properties in strategic locations across the U.S.

Contact Information:

Scott Stevens

Grays Peak Capital

Email: [email protected]

About Tompkins Solutions

Tompkins Solutions is a global leader in supply chain consulting and material handling integration, providing innovative solutions that improve operational performance and streamline logistics. With expertise spanning warehouse automation, supply chain optimization, and fulfillment center design, Tompkins helps clients across retail, ecommerce, food & beverage, and other industries achieve their goals. For more information, please visit www.tompkinsinc.com.

Press Contact:

Scott Stevens

212-506-7051

https://grayspeakcapital.com/

SOURCE Tompkins Solutions
NEW YORK, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The United Nations Global Compact, in partnership with UN Women and the Champions of Change Coalition, today concluded a high-level Business Leadership Dialogue, convened on the margins of the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69). The gathering united over 50 business leaders, policy experts and change-makers to accelerate private-sector commitments toward women's economic empowerment by 2030.

The event marked three significant anniversaries for global gender equality efforts:

30 years since the establishment of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action

25 years since the founding of the UN Global Compact

15 years since the creation of the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs)

Despite decades of progress, on average, women are paid about 20 per cent less than men, according to the International Labour Organization leading to significant lifetime income inequality. At the current rate it will take 134 years to close the global gender gap . Yet companies with diverse leadership teams are 25% more likely to outperform their peers .

During the dialogue, participants examined how businesses can apply a gender lens across the value chain by creating gender-responsive supply chains and directing capital to women-owned businesses, engage male allies and advocate for policy enablers to bridge persistent gender gaps worldwide. Conversations focused on:

Invest in Women Initiative : The UN Global Compact spotlighted its Invest in Women initiative designed to increase capital flows to women-owned businesses and champion gender-inclusive investments, urging companies to align their investment and procurement strategies with gender equality objectives. Business leaders also shared successful case studies on how they have embedded a gender lens into supply chain operations, emphasizing that doing so unlocks diverse markets, fosters innovation, and reinforces stakeholder trust.

: The UN Global Compact spotlighted its Invest in Women initiative designed to increase capital flows to women-owned businesses and champion gender-inclusive investments, urging companies to align their investment and procurement strategies with gender equality objectives. Business leaders also shared successful case studies on how they have embedded a gender lens into supply chain operations, emphasizing that doing so unlocks diverse markets, fosters innovation, and reinforces stakeholder trust. Male Allyship : In a fireside chat featuring the Champions of Change Coalition and Equimundo, speakers highlighted effective approaches for mobilizing men in leadership positions to champion gender equality and women's economic inclusion, with a focus on culturally attuned, scalable programs. The UN Global Compact also launched its new knowledge tool  "Mainstreaming Male Allyship: an Action Guide for Business," developed in partnership with Equimundo.

: In a fireside chat featuring the Champions of Change Coalition and Equimundo, speakers highlighted effective approaches for mobilizing men in leadership positions to champion gender equality and women's economic inclusion, with a focus on culturally attuned, scalable programs. The UN Global Compact also launched its new knowledge tool  "Mainstreaming Male Allyship: an Action Guide for Business," developed in partnership with Equimundo. Africa Business Leaders Coalition (ABLC) : This dialogue dove into the extensive implementation that ABLC members have driven on the Gender Statement. It also explored the progress that ABLC member companies are advancing across sectors and geographies on the continentsince launching a historic Gender Statement in Kigali, Rwanda in May 2024 , demonstrating how regional coalitions can drive global transformation.

: This dialogue dove into the extensive implementation that ABLC members have driven on the Gender Statement. It also explored the progress that ABLC member companies are advancing across sectors and geographies on the continentsince launching a historic Gender Statement in in , demonstrating how regional coalitions can drive global transformation. Forward Faster initiative & the WEPs: Businesses were called on to commit to the Forward Faster initiativetargeting equal representation, participation, and leadership of women at all levels by 2030and to sign on to the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs), which provide a comprehensive framework for embedding gender equality across the workplace, marketplace, and community.

"Accelerating women's full participation is not just a moral imperative, it's an economic one," said Melissa Powell, Deputy Executive Director of the UN Global Compact. "As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and 25 years of the UN Global Compact, we have never been closer to a true tipping point. By investing in women-led enterprises, championing male allyship, and building equitable supply chains, businesses can lead the charge on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030."

Following the dialogue, attendees participated in roundtable discussions and committed to sharing key insights across their networks. Companies are encouraged to join or deepen their engagement with the Forward Faster initiative and the WEPs, setting measurable targets to close leadership and pay gaps, and to implement policies that champion inclusivity at every level.

About the UN Global Compact

The ambition of the UN Global Compact is to accelerate and scale the global collective impact of business by upholding the Ten Principles and delivering the SDGs through accountable companies and ecosystems that enable change. With more than 20,000 participating companies, 5 Regional Hubs, 63 Country Networks covering 80 countries and 13 Country Managers establishing Networks in 18 other countries, the UN Global Compact is the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative  one Global Compact uniting business for a better world.

SOURCE United Nations Global Compact
Udayan-Chiechi brings over 25 years of global marketing, growth and digital marketing experience to Wagestream as the company eyes US leadership position, following UK success

LONDON and NEW YORK, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Financial wellbeing provider Wagestream has announced the appointment of Prelini Udayan-Chiechi as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), reporting to CEO and Co-Founder, Peter Briffett.

Udayan-Chiechi brings a wealth of experience to Wagestream, with over two decades of marketing leadership across the technology and high-growth sectors. She comes with a track record of driving growth at some of the world's leading technology companies, including Zendesk, Bazaarvoice, Lithium Technologies, Adobe, and IBM. She has also served as a Strategic Advisor to Northzone - one of Europe's leading venture funds, and an investor in Wagestream.

The appointment comes as Wagestream continues to expand its US presence: already headquartered in Washington, D.C., the company will continue to expand its New York City presence, with a new Soho office and greater investment in its go-to-market teams.

Wagestream experienced 250%+ growth last year in the U.S. with surging demand for its market-leading financial wellbeing platform, among employers. It expects to support more than one million members in the U.S. by the end of 2025, with companies like Crate & Barrel, Floor & Decor, New Balance and Burger King now offering financial benefits through Wagestream's platform.

"Prelini has a proven track record of growth and impact at leading high tech organisations. We are on a journey of bringing fair financial services to all employees, and with Prelini's experience, coupled with her dynamism, personality and strong leadership, we have no doubt of the value we will continue to drive for our clients and members" said Peter Briffett, CEO and Co-Founder of Wagestream.

Commenting on her appointment, Udayan-Chiechi said "Wagestream's mission is to deliver better financial wellbeing to the employees who are often underserved by traditional finance. With an unparalleled suite of products, ranging from flexible pay and savings to loans and pensions, Wagestream can effectively deliver on its mission and social charter, of bringing financial security and stability to the lives of billions of people around the world.

I couldn't be more excited to be joining, and leading the team at this pivotal phase of its journey".

This announcement comes amid continued growth and momentum for Wagestream. The company processes more than 10 million monthly transactions and $3 billion+ in monthly payments on its platform. It was also recently recognised in The Times Tech100 for 2025.

Wagestream is backed by the world's leading impact and venture investors, including Northzone, QED, Balderton, Smash Capital, BlackRock, and the British Business Bank.

About Wagestream

Globally, 3 million people now have Wagestream membership through 1,200 employers - across the U.K., Europe and U.S. - making it the world's most widely-used financial wellbeing provider. Offered through employers, the platform attracts more than 12 million monthly visits, helping members to earn, learn, save, spend and borrow on their own terms, all in one smartphone app.

Wagestream is a B corporation, built with a social charter to provide fair financial services.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2639253/Wagestream_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Wagestream
SEATTLE, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- For 75 years and through 14 U.S. presidential administrations, World Vision has been living out our calling to work in the hardest places in the world to be a child. As a Christian humanitarian organization with a presence in nearly 100 countries  including many of the world's most challenging locations  we see firsthand the impact that wise investments in humanitarian aid can have not only for children living in these challenging places but also for our neighbors in America.

World Vision worker checks an infant for malnutrition at a clinic in South Sudan.

"From food for hungry children to clean water access to lifesaving medical care, investments from the American people have made the United States a leader in creating a healthier, more stable world," said Edgar Sandoval Sr., president and CEO of World Vision. "Together, our legacy of service to the most vulnerable shines brightly. I pray that in this moment we can look at those in need  both in the United States and around the world  with our hearts open."

The lifesaving help provided by the U.S. for children and families has yielded strong returns, helping to cut deaths from AIDS and childhood diseases by more than half, save millions of lives from hunger and starvation, and provide millions with access to clean water.

Through programs like the global effort to combat polio, World Vision has helped deliver vaccinations for as many as 4 million children every year. This 25-year program has not only saved children worldwide from death and disability  it has also helped keep the deadly disease from spreading to our shores and our children.

Humanitarian dollars also provide vital economic support to U.S. farmers in the form of business revenue as they sell crops (like sorghum, beans, peas, corn, and oil) that then support families facing famine or severe malnutrition in places where food supplies cannot be purchased or sourced locally. These aid programs sustain a vast network of as many as 60,000 American jobs across the entire supply chain, from farmers to truckers to port workers and beyond. In the past year alone, humanitarian funding in partnership with U.S. small businesses reached $1 billion, helping to strengthen American innovation and leadership.

Trusted faith-based organizations like World Vision are critical humanitarian aid implementers, since 85% of people around the world are people of faith. World Vision serves as Jesus' hands and feet wherever we work, including places where few Christian organizations are invited  partnering with local leaders in the shared goal of fuller lives for the children in their communities.

World Vision carries out these lifesaving efforts with investments from a multitude of partners, including individual donors, churches, corporations, and the U.S. government. We thank God for all of our faithful donors, and we treat the donations committed to us as a sacred trust. We recognize the critical importance of ensuring rigorous stewardship in humanitarian assistance.

We support a future of wise U.S. humanitarian aid that continues to be locally led and evidence-based, and which delivers maximum impact. Because of this, we are very concerned about the impact that further delays in restarting lifesaving aid programs including those that deliver urgently needed food, water, and medicine  will have on the most vulnerable families around the world.

"As we have for 75 years, we remain committed to following Jesus by caring for and working alongside families in need, both here at home and around the world," said Sandoval. "This is our calling, and our prayer."

About World Vision:

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, we serve alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of God's unconditional love for all people. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, visit worldvision.org or follow on X @WorldVisionUSA.

SOURCE World Vision U.S.
Photo: https://president.gov.ua/news/ukrayina-ta-polsha-obgovorili-dvostoronnyu-spivpracyu-zokrem-96549

During a working visit to Warsaw, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Brusylo met with the Head of the Political Cabinet of the Prime Minister of Poland Pawel Gras and discussed the continuation of military support and prospects for cooperation between enterprises of the defense industry complex.

As reported by the presidential press service, Brusylo thanked for the comprehensive assistance from Poland and the solidarity of the Polish people. In turn, Gras confirmed the immutability of Poland's position on supporting Ukraine.

"Strengthening Ukraine's defense capability is an integral element of strengthening the security of all of Europe. The military power of European armies is already a necessary given," noted Deputy Head Brusylo.

The parties separately discussed Ukraines European integration, interaction formats for responding to global security challenges, humanitarian aspects of bilateral cooperation and joint projects.
Zespri calls for innovators to find solutions that drive meaningful decarbonization and enhance orchard productivity

SINGAPORE, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Zespri, the world's largest kiwifruit marketer with over $US2.5 billion in revenue and one-third of the industry's global volume, is reaffirming its US$2 million investment to ZAG, the Zespri Innovation Fund, a commitment to accelerating sustainable innovation as it meets the growing demand for kiwifruit.

Following ZAG's launch in November 2023, Zespri is now looking to rally innovators and pioneers to strengthen climate resilience across food systems and help create solutions that advance productivity and carbon-positive practices relevant to kiwifruit.

ZAG has already received more than 100 submissions from more than 15 countries, with 11 moving into pilot programmes with the fund focusing on four areas: (1) Initiatives that are good for kiwifruit by driving superior quality and lifting on orchard productivity; (2) Initiatives that are good for people by promoting wellbeing through kiwifruit consumption; (3) Initiatives that are good for the environment by protecting and enhancing nature; (4) And finally, initiatives that foster a thriving kiwifruit industry, benefitting growers and the local communities they are a part of.

ZAG pilots have to date explored a variety of sustainability efforts, including the use of biochar on kiwifruit orchards to increase orchard productivity while reducing emissions, technology which analyzes the unique chemical signatures emitted by fruit to support planning around kiwifruit harvesting and the use of microwave sensing technology as a non-destructive method for quality assessment of kiwifruit without waste.

"We've had a really positive first year with ZAG. It's helped connect us with innovative problem solvers from around the world to address key challenges our industry faces as we meet the growing demand for kiwifruit, but this is just the beginning," said Jiunn Shih, Chief Marketing, Innovation and Sustainability Officer. "For year two, we are heightening our efforts to focus on strengthening climate resilience and solutions that will help us grow a more sustainable future, one kiwifruit at a time."

"We'll also be refreshing the focus of ZAG every quarter, initially prioritizing climate resilience as part of our pledge to work with partners to be carbon positive by 2035, and then looking at other priorities," Mr. Shih says.

As part of the industry's focus on climate resilience, ZAG is expected to include solutions to help grow better kiwifruit while nurturing soil health by improving water retention, biodiversity and carbon storage to support growers, enhance orchard resilience and safeguard productivity while growing sustainably.

As one of the world's leading fruit brands, Zespri works with more than 4,000 growers around the world to bring delicious fruit to more than 50 countries. Its long-term sustainability targets and goals are closely aligned and accelerated through the ZAG initiative.

To learn more or apply to the fund, please visit: https://www.zespri.com/en-NZ/zagfund.

Zespri's ZAG Annual Report outlining the 11 pilots from year one can be found here.

ABOUT ZESPRI

SOURCE Zespri
China evolving into AI "super market" driven by scale, innovation

Xinhua) 08:03, March 11, 2025

BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The topic of artificial intelligence (AI) has stood out at meetings and press conferences during China's annual "two sessions," painting a broader picture: China is rapidly evolving into an AI "super market," with the application of frontier technology woven into the fabric of a wide range of sectors in its economy.

Vowing to advance the AI Plus initiative, a government work report submitted Wednesday at the national legislature session pledges to support the extensive application of large-scale AI models and to vigorously develop new-generation intelligent terminals and smart manufacturing equipment, including intelligent connected new-energy vehicles, AI-enabled phones and computers, and intelligent robots.

Passionate discussions on AI among lawmakers and political advisors present a panorama of innovative applications -- from algorithmic script generation for short films to precision agricultural weeding and robotic manufacturing -- that vividly illustrate how scale and innovation come together to propel the integration of technology into the industrial and everyday contexts.

AI-DRIVEN TRANSFORMATION

At an industrial park in Shenzhen's Pingshan District, industrial AI models analyze data streams from over 2,000 devices, enabling production lines to optimize technological parameters autonomously nearly 30 times an hour.

This example of manufacturing represents just one facet of China's broader push for AI integration. In the automotive sector, He Xiaopeng, chairman of Chinese auto brand Xpeng and a national lawmaker, believes a transformative AI era is approaching, and that it will bring two significant changes.

"First, AI will accelerate the arrival of autonomous driving, and even driverless vehicles. Second, the automotive industry is beginning to merge with robotics," he told reporters during a group interview on Saturday.

In 2024, China's new energy vehicle production and sales volumes both surpassed 12 million units, maintaining the world's leading position for a 10th consecutive year.

AI Plus will emerge as a critical strategic opportunity for China's automotive industry, simultaneously driving a new wave of development in large language models, intelligent connected electric vehicles, and smart robotics, said Zhang Yongwei from China EV100, a non-governmental research and policy institute.

Data indicates that by 2024, nearly 200 generative AI models had been registered and launched for service in China, with over 600 million registered users. The country's industrial robot installations now account for more than half of the global total, and China is leading the development of international standards for elderly care robots.

Industry observers point to DeepSeek, a powerful new large language model, as a catalyst that could accelerate China's AI adoption. DeepSeek demonstrates that cost-effective computing power can achieve remarkable feats, said Tian Feng, head of an AI think tank.

Tian predicts that in the next one to two years, small and medium-sized enterprises will actively adopt AI applications, and large enterprises will develop industry-specific models using open-source frameworks.

"We are nearing a tipping point in AI Plus," he said.

FROM LABS TO INDUSTRIES

China is home to over 1.4 billion people and 1.1 billion internet users, its manufacturing sector has maintained its global lead for 14 consecutive years, and the country has hosted the highest number of global top-100 tech clusters for two consecutive years. China's world-leading market scale, industrial prowess and thriving innovation ecosystem underpin its capacity to develop prototypes and scale technologies rapidly.

Consumers are increasingly experiencing the tangible benefits of AI Plus through products like intelligent cars that understand user intentions and helpful chatbots that effectively solve problems. The industry's proactive approach to adopting AI in various scenarios is creating a feedback loop that drives AI technology from research labs into the industrial arena.

"The best is yet to come," Kai-Fu Lee, CEO of 01.AI and chairman of Sinovation Ventures, said in an interview with People's Daily. China clearly shines in technology, building applications that cater to user needs and create economic value, he said.

The pharmaceutical industry has long been plagued by a problem: developing a new drug can take 10 years and 1 billion U.S. dollars. AI is now expected to break this cycle.

Experts predict that in the next three to five years, China's AI-supported drug research will enter a phase of rapid development, with AI technologies taking on comprehensive research tasks such as molecular optimization, synthetic route design, as well as automatic generation, analysis and screening.

Chen Kaixian, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has said that AI could generate up to 1.2 trillion dollars in value for the pharmaceutical industry.

"We look forward to the first AI-assisted drug receiving regulatory approval as soon as possible," said Xi Jianzhong from the College of Future Technology at Peking University.

The AI Plus initiative aligns with China's broader strategy to develop new quality productive forces as a new engine for growth amid challenges both at home and abroad, including insufficient domestic demand and rising global protectionism.

According to a Goldman Sachs Research report in February, the widespread adoption of AI over the next decade could drive a 2.5 percent annual increase in the overall earnings of Chinese equities. Additionally, improved growth prospects combined with a potential confidence boost are expected to lift the fair value of Chinese stocks by 15 percent to 20 percent, and may attract portfolio inflows exceeding 200 billion dollars.

"I look forward to 2025 as the year when Chinese AI apps really rise up and become among the best in the world," Lee said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Kaley Chiles, who practices in Colorado, says the state law banning such treatment is unconstitutional and has forced her to deny counseling to potential clients who share her faith, in violation of her religious beliefs. More than 20 states and the District of Columbia restrict mental health counseling that attempts to change a young person's gender identity or sexual orientation. The laws follow recommendations by most professional health-care provider associations that such counseling can harm young people.

The justices will review the case in the term that begins in October.

Colorado Attorney General Philip J. Weiser (D) criticized conversion therapy as "unscientific and cruel" and defended the law as within the state's power to set standards for mental health professionals.

"States have long regulated medical practices to protect patients from harmful professional conduct," he said in a statement. "Colorado's law protecting young people from unscientific and cruel gay conversion therapy practices is humane, smart, and appropriate."

In 2023, the Supreme Court refused to consider a challenge to a similar law in Washington state. It takes the votes of four justices to review a case, and that decision sparked dissent from three justices - Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Brett M. Kavanaugh.

"There is fierce debate over how best to help minors with gender dysphoria," Thomas wrote then.

The Supreme Court is separately deciding this term whether states can ban gender transition care for minors, such as hormones and puberty blockers.

In the conversion therapy case, the therapist is represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, the Christian legal organization behind many conservative victories at the court - including two recent past cases that are also from Colorado.

The group represented a Christian web designer from Colorado who won a ruling from the court that said she could turn away same-sex wedding clients and the Colorado baker who refused to create a wedding cake for a same-sex couple.

Chiles specializes in counseling for trauma related to addiction and personality disorder, according to court filings, and more recently took an interest in specializing in areas such as gender dysphoria and sexuality. Jim Campbell, the ADF's chief legal counsel, said Chiles has had to turn down multiple prospective clients because of the law.

In court filings, Chiles said clients with "same-sex attractions or gender identity confusion" who "prioritize their faith above their feelings are seeking to live a life consistent with their faith."

Not being able to do so leads to "internal conflicts, depression, anxiety, addiction, eating disorders and so forth," she said.

Chiles's lawyers said her clients seek her out because they share her Christian worldview and faith-based values.

"The government has no business censoring private conversations between clients and counselors, nor should a counselor be used as a tool to impose the government's biased views on her clients," Kristen Waggoner, the ADF's president and general counsel, said in a statement.

Jaymes Black, CEO of the Trevor Project, a crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young people, responded to the court's decision to hear the case by saying: "Ending conversion therapy is not about partisan politics, and it is not about free speech.'"

"Ending conversion therapy is about protecting young people from clear and proven psychological harm, and saving young lives," Black said in a statement.

Since 2019, Colorado has prohibited mental health treatment for patients under 18 that attempts to change a client's sexual orientation or gender identity. Health professionals who violate the law can have their licenses suspended or be fined as much as $5,000.

The provision has never been enforced, but in 2022, Chiles sued preemptively in federal court, seeking a declaration that Colorado's law is unconstitutional and to prevent the state from enforcing it.

A district court judge upheld Colorado's law, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit affirmed that ruling.

"By regulating which treatments Ms. Chiles may perform in her role as a licensed professional counselor, Colorado is not restricting Ms. Chiles's freedom of expression," the appeals court said.



(COMMENT, BELOW)




The Ukrainian and American delegations, which are holding talks in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), have already discussed during the first round an agreement on rare earth minerals, as well as Ukraine's proposal for a ceasefire regime at sea and in the sky, Suspilne reports, citing its own sources.

"The first round of negotiations was devoted to Ukraine's proposal for a ceasefire at sea and in the sky, a source familiar with the course of the meeting reported. Also during the first part, they talked about an agreement on rare earth metals. The second round of negotiations is currently underway," the publication's website reports.

After the break, the negotiations resumed, said State Department press secretary Tammy Bruce.

Communications adviser to the head of the President's Office Daria Zarivna wrote on Telegram that "everything is happening constructively."
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New York, March 10 : Engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity like walking may be key to warding off death risk among postmenopausal women with a history of cancer, according to a study.

The study showed that more daily steps and more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were associated with a progressively lower risk of all-cause mortality. The greatest benefit was seen among participants who logged 5,0006,000 steps per day, and their risk of all-cause mortality was reduced by 40 per cent.

Each additional 2,500 steps per day was also incrementally associated with a 34 per cent reduction in risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Cancer survivors are at an increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease.

According to the American Heart Association, exercise training is an essential part of cardiac rehabilitation and recovery after cancer treatment. Exercise therapy can help to reduce cardiovascular toxicity during cancer treatment.

"Encouraging cancer survivors to be more active, sit less, and take more steps every day could be a feasible approach for prolonging survivorship and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease mortality," said lead author Eric Hyde, a research analyst at the University of California, San Diego.

"Our study helps us to better understand potential physical activity behaviors of postmenopausal women in relation to cancer survival," he added.

The study followed nearly 2,500 post-menopausal women between the ages of 63 and 99 years for about eight years with a history of cancers of breast, endometrial, colon, lungs, bladder, rectal, ovarian, and kidney, among others. The greatest benefit from moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was seen among participants with at least one hour per day, which reduced all-cause mortality risk by 40 per cent and cardiovascular disease mortality risk by 60 per cent.

However, significant reductions in risk were also evident at amounts far below one hour per day, the researchers noted. Every 102 minutes of sitting time per day was associated with a 12 per cent increased risk of all-cause mortality and a 30 per cent higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease.

"Risk reductions were even evident when participants walked fewer than 5,000 steps per day, half of the often touted 10,000 steps per day threshold," Hyde said.

"Daily steps are an important measure because they are easily understood by the public, can be at any intensity level, and are recorded on wearable devices like smartwatches that are increasingly being worn by all."

The research was presented at the American Heart Association's meeting held in New Orleans, US.
Washington, March 11 : Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the Trump administration could resume aid and intelligence support to Ukraine if the war-torn country's leaders commit to a peace process at a crucial meeting of senior officials of the two countries in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

Rubio told reporters after landing Monday in Jeddah for the talks that the aid was suspended "because we felt the Ukrainians were not committed" to ending the three-year-war triggered by the Russian invasion in 2022, The Washington Post reported. If that changes, so could the US policy.

"My hope is we'll have a really good meeting tomorrow and be in a different place," he added.

The Trump administration suspended all US aid and support, including intelligence, to Ukraine after a White House spat between Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on the one side and President Donald Trump and Vice-President J D Vance on the other.

Harsh words were exchanged and Trump and Vance were especially frank about the criticality of US support for Ukraine and reminded Zelensky again and again of it and demanded respect and gratitude.

Former President Joe Biden had a similar complaint about Zelensky and told him so in a harsh phone conversation in 2022, months after the invasion and the US support that followed. Zelensky had expressed public gratitude for the US support just hours after.

He took days to convey the same to the Trump administration. He offered a "it was regrettable" message on X just hours before Trump was to give his first speech of his second term to a joint meeting of congress.

"None of us wants an endless war," 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 Ukrainians. My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump's strong leadership to get a peace that lasts."
Jeddah, March 11 : Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, late Monday evening, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Tuesday.

The SPA said on social media platform X that the Saudi crown prince received the Ukrainian president at the Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, where an official reception ceremony was held. The two leaders also held formal talks.

Zelensky arrived in the Saudi coastal city earlier on Monday, ahead of US-Ukraine talks.

"On Monday, I am scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia to meet with the Crown Prince (Mohammed bin Salman). After that, my team will remain in Saudi Arabia to work with our American partners," the Kiev-based Ukrainian News Agency quoted Zelensky as saying on Friday.

Also on Monday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Jeddah and met with the Saudi crown prince.

According to a previous statement by the US State Department, Rubio will stay in Jeddah from Monday to Wednesday and meet with a Ukrainian delegation "to advance the President (Trump)'s goal to end the Russia-Ukraine war."

According to Al-Arabiya, when speaking to reporters on the flight, Rubio expressed optimism about the upcoming meeting with the Ukrainian delegation, although he added that there were still more details to be worked out on the minerals deal between the US and Ukraine.

The upcoming Ukraine-US meeting, reportedly on Tuesday, follows a rare shouting match at the White House between US President Donald Trump and Zelensky in late February, which led to the cancellation of a bilateral minerals agreement and the subsequent suspension of US military aid to Ukraine.
Kolkata, March 11 : A ten-member delegation of Trinamool Congress MPs, from both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha will be meeting the full Bench of the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday afternoon on the issue of bogus voters in West Bengal.

Incidentally, on Monday four-time Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha member and senior advocate of Calcutta High Court Kalyan Banerjee raised his voice on the floor of the Lok Sabha on this issue, accusing the Election Commission of not acting transparently on this matter.

Political observers say that being vocal on this issue on Monday, the veteran party MP indicated that the ten-member delegation of party MPs would be quite vocal while placing their points of argument during the course interaction with the commission's full Bench on Tuesday afternoon.

Trinamool Congress insiders said that during the interaction with the ECI later in the day, the delegation members will also be quite insistent on the demand for ensuring Unique IDs for the EPIC cards similar to those in Aadhaar cards and passports.

Already on March 6, a four-member delegation of the Trinamool Congress led by the party's state vice-president in West Bengal Subrata Bakshi arrived at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal. The delegation submitted a memorandum on the matter highlighting the demand for 'Unique IDs' for the EPIC cards.

"During our course of deliberation with the ECI's full Bench today, we will be insisting on a specific assurance from the latter on this matter along with a specific deadline," said a member of the 10-member delegation.

The meeting has been fixed at 5.30 p.m. on Tuesday.

The ten-member delegation will be led by the leader of Trinamool Congress' Parliamentary party in the Rajya Sabha, Derek O'Brien.

The other nine MPs are Dr. Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Kalyan Banerjee, Asit Kumar Mal, Sagarika Ghosh, Kirti Azad, Sazda Ahmed, Abu Taher Khan, Saket Gokhale, and Prakash Chik Baraik.

However, political rumblings have started in the corridors of power in West Bengal over Trinamool Congress' general secretary and the party Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee's name not figuring in the list of delegates to meet with the full Bench of the Commission.

Last week, Abhishek Banerjee did not even attend the crucial first meeting of the Trinamool Congress' internal core committee constituted by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to screen the voters' list in the state and identify the bogus voters there, although his name was in the second position in the list of core committee members.
Pope Francis, the first to take a papal name after St Francis of Assisi. Image Source: IANS News

Vatican City, March 11 : The Vatican has said that Pope Francis' health has shown significant improvement, and doctors are no longer concerned about his life.

The Vatican announced in an update that the 88-year-old pontiff could be discharged from the hospital within days. While his condition remains complex, medical staff have withdrawn their earlier prognosis of caution following his steady recovery.

"The clinical conditions of the Holy Father continue to be stable," the Vatican said in a statement.

"The improvements recorded in the previous days have been further consolidated, as confirmed by blood tests, clinical evaluation, and the good response to pharmacological therapy," the statement read.

Doctors have advised that Pope Francis remain under medical observation for a few more days to complete his treatment due to the complexity of his condition and the severe infection he had at the time of his hospitalisation.

During his recovery, Pope Francis has been undergoing physical and respiratory therapy. As part of his treatment, he has alternated between using an oxygen mask at night and a high-flow oxygen cannula during the day.

Although the Pope has not made any public appearances since his admission, he has followed Vatican prayers via video link.

Last week, the pontiff also recorded a brief audio message, in which he expressed gratitude for the prayers and support he has received.

Despite missing his Angelus prayer for four consecutive Sundays, Pope Francis shared a heartfelt message expressing appreciation for his medical team.

"I too experience the thoughtfulness of service and the tenderness of care, in particular from the doctors and healthcare workers, whom I thank from the bottom of my heart," he wrote.
Chennai, March 11 : The Tamil Nadu state unit of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has announced a massive protest in Tenkasi on March 19 in solidarity with the third round of talks between SKM and the Union government in Chandigarh regarding the legalisation of the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

In a statement, SKM leader P.R. Pandian said that the protest would witness a significant gathering of farmers from across Tamil Nadu.

The demonstration is part of a broader movement demanding the legal implementation of MSP, a long-standing demand of farmers nationwide.

The Union government has already held two rounds of discussions with SKM representatives in Delhi regarding MSP legalisation.

However, these discussions did not yield any concrete assurances, nor did the government take steps to implement the Supreme Courtas directives on the issue.

The third round of negotiations is scheduled for March 19 in Chandigarh, where SKM members will once again push for their demands.

On March 5, the Tamil Nadu unit of SKM staged a hunger strike in Thanjavur, known as the aRice Bowl of Tamil Nadu,a in support of the ongoing farmersa protests in Delhi.

The Delhi protest, which began on November 26, 2024, has been calling for various demands, including the legalisation of MSP.

Despite multiple demonstrations, the Union government has maintained an unusual silence on the issue.

Union ministers met protesting farmers on February 19 and 22, but no assurance was given on MSP, leading to intensified protests and a nationwide call for farmer solidarity.

Pandian expressed deep concern over the prolonged hunger strike of SKM leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, which has lasted for more than 100 days.

He warned that if anything were to happen to Dallewal due to government negligence, it could trigger unimaginable riots across the country.

He also urged Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to pressure the Union government to legalise MSP, which he emphasised would benefit millions of farmers across India.

However, Pandian also criticised Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for his silence regarding Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiahas statement on the proposed Mekedatu dam across the Cauvery River.

He urged Stalin to take a firm stance and oppose the project, which has been a point of contention between the two states.
Photo: https://t.me/kyivoda/26092

A delegation from Finland headed by Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen visited Kyiv region, Kyiv Regional State Administration reported.

"Together with the head of the international cooperation department of Kyiv Regional State Administration Mykyta Heraschenko, the delegation visited Irpin, Bucha and Moschun. In 2022, these settlements became outposts that helped the Ukrainian military prevent Russian invaders from entering Kyiv," the Administration said on the Telegram channel on Tuesday.

It is noted that Hakkanen visited the territory of the Church of The Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called in Bucha, where there is a wall of memory with the names of those killed and deceased Bucha residents during the occupation, and the Alley of Heroes. In Moschun, the Finnish Minister of Defense visited the Angels of Victory memorial, and in Irpin - a cemetery of cars that were burned to the ground, torn apart by bullets and debris as a result of Russian shelling.
Indian Wells, March 11 : The Australian Open champion extended her winning streak to 14 matches thanks to a topsy-turvy 6-2, 6-7 (8), 6-4 victory over a player, who has troubled her in the past, Elise Mertens.

Keys originally led by a set and 5-3 at Stadium 2 and had two match points on her own serve in the ninth game to advance to the fourth round.

They slipped away. She saw two more match points dissipate in the tiebreak. But Keys recovered to seal the win.

Keys has now won all nine three-set matches she has played in 2025. In fact, the last time she lost a deciding set was to Mertens, a 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-4 heartbreaker in the fourth round of last year's US Open, WTA reports.

Keys is bidding to reach the quarterfinals here for the second time, following her 2022 run. Her next opponent will be No. 19 seed Donna Vekic, who eliminated No. 10 seed Emma Navarro 7-6(5), 6-1 on Monday night -- Vekic's first Top 10 win since she beat Coco Gauff at last year's Olympics.

Later at Stadium 1, Coco Gauff defeated two-time finalist Maria Sakkari 7-6 (1), 6-2 in a rematch of last yearas rain affected semifinal that Sakkari won.

Gauff took 1 hour and 35 minutes to overcome Sakkari, who is one of the strongest Indian Wells players of recent years. Sakkari is a two-time finalist at the Paribas Open, including last year, where she beat Gauff in the semifinals.

Belinda Bencic set up a meeting with Gauff, taking out 13th seed Diana Shnaider 6-4, 6-4 on her 28th birthday.

Aryna Sabalenka improved to 3-0 against Italian Lucia Bronzetti to cap play in the afternoon session at Stadium 1.

The World No. 1 hit 24 winners to just 17 unforced errors and excluding a 2-0 deficit in the second set, largely cruised in the 6-1, 6-2 result.
Port Louis, March 11 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi described his two-day visit to Mauritius as a "wonderful opportunity" to engage with a valued ally and strengthen bilateral ties as he arrived in Port Louis on Tuesday.

Taking to X, PM Modi posted, "Landed in Mauritius. I am grateful to my friend, PM Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, for the special gesture of welcoming me at the airport. This visit is a wonderful opportunity to engage with a valued friend and explore new avenues for collaboration in various sectors."

He added that he would be meeting Mauritius President Dharam Gokhool, Prime Minister Ramgoolam, and addressing a community event later in the evening.

Upon arrival at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, PM Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome.

Mauritian Prime Minister Ramgoolam, Deputy PM Paul Berenger, Chief Justice Rehana Mungly-Gulbul, and several senior officials, including Speaker of the National Assembly Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra and Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful were present to greet him.

A gathering of 200 dignitaries, including MPs, MLAs, members of the Diplomatic Corps, and religious leaders, also extended their welcome to the Prime Minister.

Adding to the spirited reception, members of the Indian diaspora gathered outside the Oberoi Hotel in Port Louis, welcoming PM Modi with 'Dhols' and garlands.

During his visit, PM Modi will participate as the Chief Guest at Mauritius' National Day celebrations on March 12, following an invitation from Prime Minister Ramgoolam.

This visit marks PM Modi's first trip to Mauritius since 2015, when he introduced India's Vision SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), emphasising regional cooperation in the Indian Ocean.

PM Modi's schedule includes a meeting with President Dharam Gokhool, discussions with Prime Minister Ramgoolam, and interactions with leaders from various political parties.

He will also engage with members of the Indian-origin community, which plays a significant role in Mauritius' cultural and social landscape.

As part of his engagements, PM Modi will inaugurate two key projects -- the Civil Service College and the Area Health Centre -- both built with Indian grant assistance, showcasing India's continued support for Mauritius' development.

Several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed during the visit, focusing on areas such as maritime security, healthcare, small and medium enterprises, trade, and capacity building. The visit aligns with India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy, aimed at fostering stronger ties with regional partners.

A significant highlight of the National Day celebrations will be the participation of Indian Defence forces. An Indian Navy contingent, along with an Indian Navy ship, will take part in the event.

Additionally, an Indian Navy helicopter, the Akash Ganga Skydiving Team from the Indian Air Force, and a group of NCC cadets will showcase their skills during the celebrations.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that India and Mauritius will sign a technical agreement for sharing white-shipping information between the Indian Navy and Mauritian authorities.

This initiative is expected to enhance Mauritius' maritime security, improve trade corridor surveillance, and facilitate regional cooperation for real-time data sharing.

Foreign Secretary Misri further stated that PM Modi and PM Ramgoolam will jointly inaugurate several India-supported projects and witness the signing of MoUs related to capacity building, bilateral trade, combating cross-border financial crimes, and promoting small and medium enterprises.

India-Mauritius ties have witnessed consistent high-level engagement in recent years. President Droupadi Murmu was the Chief Guest at Mauritius' National Day celebrations in 2024, while Mauritius participated in PM Modi's swearing-in ceremonies in 2014, 2019, and 2024.

Mauritius was also a special invitee at the G20 Summit in 2023 and co-launched the Global Biofuels Alliance alongside India and other nations.
Seoul, March 11 : Industry and labour ministers on Tuesday called for an exemption of researchers in the semiconductor industry from South Korea's 52-hour workweek system that prevents them from working extended hours even when needed.

The government has been calling for a revision to the system to allow such workers to put in additional hours when necessary, reports Yonhap news agency.

Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun and Labour Minister Kim Moon-soo made the call during a meeting with officials from the semiconductor industry, including those from leading chipmakers Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc.

"The ongoing chip war is a technology war, and a tech war is ultimately a race against time," Ahn said, referring to the fierce global competition in the chip industry.

"The United States, Japan and Taiwan are fostering their semiconductor ecosystems with their national fortunes at stake, while China has almost caught up with our memory chip technology, which is one of our major growth engines," he added.

"It is deeply concerning that only our semiconductor industry remains hindered by labor hour regulations."

The government and rival parties had been discussing legislating a special bill aimed at exempting semiconductor workers from the country's 52-hour workweek system but failed to reach an agreement.

The government earlier said it will review ways to improve the work hour system for the chip industry.

South Korea's exports increased from a year earlier in the first 10 days of this month on strong demand for shipbuilding and automobiles, data showed.

Outbound shipments reached US$13.87 billion in the March 1-10 period, up 2.9 percent from $13.48 billion tallied over the same period last year, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service

Imports gained 7.3 percent on-year to $15.92 billion during the period, resulting in a trade deficit of $2 billion.

The daily average volume of exports increased 12.3 percent on-year over the cited period, according to the trade agency. The number of working days during this period stood at 5.5, compared with six days last year.

In February, the country's exports increased 1 percent from a year earlier, rebounding from a decrease the previous month.

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San Jose, March 11 : Guatemala's active Volcan de Fuego (Volcano of Fire) poses an imminent threat to at least 30,000 people, the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred) warned.

The agency's executive secretary, Claudinne Ogaldes, called on nearby residents in the departments of Sacatepequez, Chimaltenango and Escuintla on Monday to immediately evacuate their homes following eruptions in the past hours, Xinhua news agency reported.

The army and the National Civil Protection are coordinating safety measures in conjunction with the General Directorate of Protection and Security (Provial), said Ogaldes.

Some 282 families have already been evacuated to shelters in the town of San Juan Alotenango, in Sacatepequez, and a shelter has been prepared in Cotzumalguapa, Escuintla, she said.

According to a Conred newsletter, the volcano could spew "constant incandescent material during the night and early morning, as well as lava flows that can descend any ravine of the volcano."

If the activity continues, it said, officials expect plumes of ash and smoke to reach "heights of 6,000 meters above sea level" and fall on communities as far as "40 kilometres west, southwest and northwest" of the volcano, the agency warned.

"Constant (lava) avalanches can also be registered towards the different flanks of the volcano, which could cause pyroclastic flows causing greater amounts of ash at low altitude," it added.
Guwahati, March 11 : Assam Police foiled a major drug peddling bid and narcotics worth Rs 30 crore were seized by the security personnel, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Tuesday.

The police have seized over 80,000 Yaba tablets in the operation in Cachar district that have an international market value of at least Rs. 30 crore.

Taking to his X handle, Sarma wrote, "Massive Drug Bust in Assam: 98,000 Yaba Tablets Seized Worth 30 Crore! Thanks to credible Intelligence, @cacharpolice launched an anti-narcotics operation in Chandrapur Part II, Kakmara, under Lakhipur Police Station, resulting in the arrest of a suspect with 98,000 Yaba tablets valued at 30 crore and 3.5 lakh in cash."

"Kudos to @assampolice for their tireless efforts towards a #DrugFreeAssam", he added.

Recently, Tripura Police also seized highly addictive 1.06 lakh methamphetamine tablets valued at over Rs 5.5 crore and arrested three drug peddlers.

West Tripura district Superintendent of Police Kiran Kumar K said the police, while acting on secret information, conducted a raid on Thursday night at the home of one Mohammad Babul Miah (45) at Mahiskhala Chandinnamura area on the outskirts of Agartala city and recovered the methamphetamine tablets, also known as Yaba or party tablets.

The estimated value of the drugs is Rs 5.5 crore. Five smartphones and two motorbikes were also seized.

Along with Mohammad Babul Miah, two other drug peddlers -- Sipan Hussain (26) and Sanjay Miah (42) -- were also arrested.

A specific case under Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985 has been registered against the trio, and they would be produced before the court later in the day.

The raid was led by Sub-Divisional Police Officer (Sadar) Deba Prasad Roy, along with officials from West Agartala Police Station as part of Tripura's intensified anti-drug operations aimed at making the state 'drug-free'.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, who holds the Home portfolio, appreciated the police's success in seizing the drugs.
Raipur, March 11 : In response to multi-location raids conducted by the Enforcement Directorate in Chhattisgarh, the Congress has announced state-wide protests, including the symbolic burning of effigies of the ED and Bharatiya Janata Party.

The ED conducted raids at 14 locations, including the residence of Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday.

The raids were conducted at locations linked to Baghel and his close associates in Durg district in connection with a multi-crore liquor scam.

This action has ignited a fierce exchange of accusations between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress.

While Congress has labelled the ED's actions as a politically motivated ploy by the BJP, the latter has countered, asserting that the ED only steps in where there is wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, the ED summoned Baghel's son, Chaitanya, for interrogation, fueling the already raging fire.

The operation sparked outrage among Congress supporters, who staged protests throughout the day. Allegations have surfaced that some protesters resorted to stone-pelting, targeting the vehicles of ED officials as they departed Baghel's residence.

The Durg district police confirmed receiving a verbal complaint from the ED about the incident, citing damage to a vehicle's window.

The police officers have assured ED to investigate and take appropriate action. The Bhilai Police have since registered an FIR against 25 individuals, accusing them of obstructing government work, vandalism, and blocking the ED convoy.

Arrests are expected soon, police sources said.

The sources reveal that the ED's raids were part of an investigation into a money laundering case involving Chaitanya Baghel, linked to an alleged liquor scam.

The operation extended to properties associated with Chaitanya's close ally, Laxmi Narayan Bansal (also known as Pappu Bansal), and others.

Chaitanya, who resides with his father in Bhilai, became a focal point of the search.

Meanwhile, Bhupesh Baghel has posted on his X handle: Aaj Ka Karyakram (with self-portrait), 11 March, subah 11 baje, Vidhan Sabha Satra indicating that he will take on the government in the state Assembly this morning.

The Budget session of the Assembly which began on February 24 will conclude on March 21.
Port Louis, March 11 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi was warmly welcomed in Mauritius on Tuesday morning as he arrived for a significant two-day visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between India and the island nation.

One of the highlights of the reception was a vibrant performance of "Geet Gawai," a traditional Bhojpuri musical ensemble, which added a unique cultural touch to his arrival.

Geet Gawai, which traces its roots to the Bhojpuri belt of India, holds deep cultural significance for the Indian diaspora in Mauritius. The music is traditionally performed by women and has been an important part of the cultural fabric of the Indian-origin community in Mauritius, which has strong connections to India.

This cherished musical tradition was recognised by UNESCO in December 2016 when it was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, further solidifying its cultural importance.

PM Modi, who arrived at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, was received with a ceremonial welcome by his Mauritian counterpart, Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam.

"Deeply touched by the warm welcome from the Indian community in Mauritius. Their strong connection to Indian heritage, culture and values is truly inspiring. This bond of history and heart continues to thrive across generations," PM Modi wrote in a post on X.

The air was filled with excitement as members of the Indian diaspora, many of whom trace their roots back to the Bhojpuri-speaking regions of India, greeted the Prime Minister with warm enthusiasm.

Following his arrival, PM Modi made his way to the Oberoi Hotel in Port Louis, where he was once again met by members of the Indian community, eager to interact with their beloved leader.

The Indian diaspora in Mauritius has long been an essential part of the nationas social and cultural landscape, and their warm reception of PM Modi reflected the enduring bonds between India and Mauritius.

PM Modi is scheduled to attend Mauritiusa National Day celebrations as the Chief Guest on March 12, following an invitation from Prime Minister Ramgoolam.

This visit is expected to further strengthen the bilateral relationship, particularly in areas of development, maritime security, and people-to-people connections between the two nations.
Mumbai, March 11 : As "The Kashmir Files" completed three years in Hindi cinema on Tuesday, filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri said that if his 2022 film disturbed people, then upcoming movie 'The Delhi Files' will destroy you because my life's mission is to tell the darkest truths of our history.

Mumbai, March 11 (IANS) As "The Kashmir Files" completed three years in Hindi cinema on Tuesday, filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri said that if his 2022 film disturbed people, then upcoming movie 'The Delhi Files' will destroy you because my life's mission is to tell the darkest truths of our history.

Vivek took to X, formerly called as Twitter, where he shared a poster of "The Kashmir Files", which presented a fictional storyline centred around the 1990 exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from Indian-administered Kashmir.

He wrote: "Dear friends, They tried to silence me. They tried to erase history. But The Kashmir Files became a movementshaking the nation and exposing the truth of the Kashmiri Hindu genocide."

He said that "The Kashmir Files", which stars Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumar and Pallavi Joshi, was a voice for the voiceless.

"The Kashmir Files was more than a film; it was a revolution, a voice for the voiceless, and a relentless fight for justice."

"The Kashmir Files" depicts the exodus and the events leading up to it as a genocide a framing considered inaccurate by scholars.The film claims that such facts were suppressed by a conspiracy of silence.

"If The Kashmir Files disturbed you, The Delhi Files will destroy youbecause my life's mission is to tell the darkest, most buried, untold truths of our history, no matter how uncomfortable they are. -VRA #3YearsOfTheKashmirFiles #RightToJustice #TheDelhiFiles"

The Kashmir Files follows a Kashmiri Hindu college student (played by Darshan), raised by his exiled grandfather and shielded from the knowledge of the circumstances of the death of his parents.. The plot alternates between the student's quest in the present time, 2020, and his family's travails of thirty years before.

"The Delhi Files: The Bengal Chapter" reportedly is centred around the 1946 Calcutta Riots. The Delhi Files is the third of Agnihotri's trilogy of films, which includes The Tashkent Files and The Kashmir Files.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, March 11 : Three people lost their lives when a fire broke out in a slum in Delhi's Anand Vihar during the early hours of Tuesday, police said.

The incident occurred around 2 am at a slum on a DDA plot near Manglam Road in Anand Vihar, where four labourers employed by the IGL company resided, according to a police statement.

The fire engulfed the entire tent, reducing it to ashes. Forensic teams are currently examining the scene to determine the exact cause of the blaze.

Among the four occupants, only one labourer, Nitin Singh, managed to escape. He initially believed his companions had fled as well. Tragically, the other three -- Jaggi, Shyam Singh, and Kanta Prasad -- were unable to get out in time and lost their lives.

According to Nitin, the group kept a diesel container on a cooler stand, which they used to light a lamp inside their tent. They also locked the temporary gate of the tent from the inside each night for safety.

A gas cylinder reportedly exploded during the fire, further intensifying the blaze. Fire tenders were called in and managed to extinguish the flames. The area was subsequently inspected by the fire brigade, crime team, and forensic experts.

The bodies of the deceased have been shifted to the mortuary for post-mortem examination.

Police have recorded statements from survivor Nitin Singh, fellow labourer Jeetender, and Rampal, the father of deceased siblings Kanta Prasad and Shyam Singh.

Nitin, who sustained minor burns and injuries on his leg while escaping by climbing down a wall, recounted the terrifying moments.

"I was there when the fire broke out. Around 2:00 to 2:15 am, Shyam Singh woke me up, hitting me to alert me about the fire. Shyam Singh was trying to unlock the door with a key. I thought the others had already escaped, so I managed to climb down the wall and get out," Nitin told IANS.

Dilip, the employer of the deceased, told IANS, "I kept trying their phone the entire night after I got to know that there was a fire. We were not aware that they had died. We thought that they had escaped. After the fire tenders brought the blaze under control, we saw the bodies of all the boys."

"Jaggi was working with for the last ten years while brothers Shyam Singh and Kanta Prasad used to come and go every few months," he said.

The police suspect the diesel lamp may have triggered the fire but are investigating other possible causes as well.

Further details are awaited.
Ranchi, March 11 : Notorious gangster Aman Sahu, accused of over 150 crimes across multiple states, including Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, was killed in a police encounter on Tuesday morning in Chainpur, Palamu district, officials said.

Sahu had been lodged in Raipur jail for the past few months. Jharkhand Police took him on remand for questioning in connection with recent criminal incidents.

While being transported from Raipur to Ranchi on Monday night, his gang allegedly ambushed the police convoy near Andhari Dhoda in the Chainpur police station area, using a bomb. During the attack, the police vehicle lost control.

According to the police, Sahu took advantage of the chaos, snatched a weapon from a police jawan, and attempted to escape while opening fire. In retaliation, the police shot him dead. A police jawan was also injured in the exchange of fire.

Palamu Superintendent of Police (SP) Reeshma Rameshan confirmed Aman Sahu's death, adding that an ambulance was dispatched to the scene.

A resident of Matve village in Ranchi's Burmu police station area, Sahu was linked to the notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. Previously imprisoned in Jharkhand's Saraikela jail, he was transferred to Raipur on a production warrant issued by Chhattisgarh Police on October 14, 2024.

Sahu was convicted in two cases -- sentenced to six years in a criminal case in Ramgarh and three years in another case in Latehar. His gang recently claimed responsibility for a firing incident targeting coal transporter Bipin Mishra in Ranchi, with his key aide Mayank Singh posting about it on social media.

Authorities also suspected Sahu's gang's involvement in the recent murder of NTPC Deputy General Manager (Dispatch) Kumar Gaurav in Hazaribagh. Police sought his questioning in both cases.

On Monday, DGP Anurag Gupta had claimed that many of the recent incidents in Jharkhand are being orchestrated from inside the prisons.

Speaking to the media outside the Assembly on Monday, DGP Gupta identified three major gangs -- led by Aman Sahu, Aman Srivastava, and Vikas Tiwari -- as the masterminds behind several crimes in the state.

"Despite being in jail, they continue to plan crimes using virtual foreign numbers for WhatsApp calls. The police are tracking them, but there are some technical challenges," he had said.
(Paragraphs 8-11 have been added; the headline adjusted)

Employees of the State Bureau of Investigations (SBIs) are conducting investigative actions in the premises of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine (HQCJ), a law enforcement source told Interfax-Ukraine.

"Investigative actions are being conducted in the HQCJ premises," the agency's interlocutor said, without specifying details.

The Anti-Corruption Action Center says in its Telegram channel that the grounds for the searches in HQCJ could be a statement by MP Maksym Buzhansky. According to the center, the investigative actions are related to the case of Oksana Tsarevych, a judge of Pechersky District Court of Kyiv, who made a decision regarding the Automaidan for participating in the motorcade to Mezhyhirya.

"Maidan judge' Tsarevych complained to the State Bureau of Investigations that HQCJ allegedly interfered in her 'personal life," the Anti-Corruption Action Center said.

The Anti-Corruption Action Center said that HQCJ is currently considering the cases of judges of Pechersky, Shevchenkivsky district courts and the District Administrative Court of Kyiv. "These are precisely those judges who are known for their scandalous decisions and cooperation with the authorities," the center said.

HQCJ is conducting a qualification assessment of judges.

Interfax-Ukraine currently does not have information from official sources regarding investigative actions in HQCJ.

"The State Bureau of Investigations is conducting searches at HQCJ, seeking documents related to the qualification assessment of judges of the District Administrative Court of Kyiv. The investigation is motivated by suspicions that HQCJ may have interfered with the information system. In essence, it is a question of a possible suspension of all judicial selection processes, because SBI should theoretically seize the servers in order to check whether there was interference. How long this will take is unknown," the agency's sources at High Council of Justice (HCJ) and HQCJ said.

According to the agency's interlocutors, on March 17, seven judges of the District Administrative Court of Kyiv are to undergo qualification assessment, including the head of Pechersky District Court of Kyiv.

"They have issued a decision to conduct searches. The evaluation of the judge of Pechersky District Court Oksana Tsarevych is also approaching," the agency's interlocutor said.

In addition, according to the source, the information that these searches are related to Buzhansky's application for the position of deputy head of HQCJ and the "Tandyr case" is not true.
Seoul, March 11 : Hyundai Motor plans to build its first hydrogen fuel cell systems plant in South Korea for the start of operations in 2028, the company's labour union claimed on Tuesday.

Hyundai Motor currently operates a hydrogen fuel cell systems plant in China. If built, the domestic facility will be the carmaker's second such plant globally.

The company will begin the plant's construction within the year at its mainstay car manufacturing plant in Ulsan, about 305 kilometers southeast of Seoul, according to the union website, reports Yonhap news agency.

"To push ahead with the plan, there should be consultations between the company and the union," a company spokesperson said, without elaborating.

If confirmed, Hydrogen fuel cell systems produced at the new plant may be used in the Nexo hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (EV), hydrogen-powered Elec City bus and hydrogen trucks.

The first plant in Guangzhou began operations in 2023. It is capable of manufacturing hydrogen fuel cell systems that can power 6,500 hydrogen commercial vehicles.

Meanwhile, the government will spend 129.3 billion won ($88.6 million) this year to support projects aimed at developing technologies that will help achieve carbon neutrality and ensure a stable supply of energy.

The projects include developing technologies related to renewable energy, such as next-generation solar power and hydrogen power, and the efficient operation of nuclear power plants as part of efforts to help South Korea achieve net zero carbon emissions.

South Korea has pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent from the 2018 levels by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2050.

Part of the funds will also be funnelled into enhancing stability in the nation's energy supply amid soaring demand for electricity sparked by the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and other cutting-edge technologies, as well as climate change.

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Mumbai, March 11 : Undeterred by financial constraints, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has rolled out a roadmap for Maharashtra to be $1 trillion economy by pushing growth across sectors.

In an interview with IANS, he explained the government's strategy to achieve the target.

IANS: Don't you consider the estimated rise in revenue deficit and fiscal deficit in 2025-26 a matter of serious concern?

Ajit Pawar: During the Budget for 2025-26, the revenue deficit is estimated at Rs 45,891 crore and the fiscal deficit at Rs 1,36,000 crore. Let me tell you that the government has been successful in keeping the fiscal deficit below 3 per cent of gross state domestic product (GSDP) under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act. Further, the state's revenue deficit has been consistently less than 1 per cent of GSDP.

IANS: Similarly, the state's debt stock is expected to be Rs 9.32 lakh crore in 2025-26. Does it not impact the spending on development works?

Ajit Pawar: The GSDP in 2025-26 is expected to be Rs 49.39 lakh crore against Rs 45.31 crore in 2024-25. The state's tax revenue is expected to increase by 6.41 per cent to Rs 4,77,400.20 crore in 2025-26 against Rs 4.48,630.57 crore as per the revised estimate for 2024-25.

Against this backdrop, the state debt stock is estimated at Rs 9.32 lakh crore, but it will be 18.87 per cent of the GSDP, which is below 25 per cent of the limit proposed by the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act.

The government is making all efforts to increase its revenue to weather the situation. Efforts to increase the development rate through capital expenditure aimed at stimulating the development cycle. The target is to increase Mumbai Metropolitan Region's economy to $300 billion by 2030 and $1.5 trillion by 2047. The government will make special efforts to secure more central funds for the state through centrally-sponsored schemes.

IANS: There are limitations to increasing taxes under the GST regime. What measures are being taken to ensure fund availability?

Ajit Pawar: The state's Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue is expected to grow by 12-14 per cent annually. Innovative measures such as public asset monetisation, financing from international financial institutions, and project streamlining will be taken to ensure smooth fund availability for ambitious schemes.

IANS: To achieve a $1 trillion economy target, a boost for time-bound infrastructure development is needed. What you have proposed in the Budget?

Ajit Pawar: Sufficient budgetary provisions are made for highways, ports, airports, waterways, bus transport, railways, and metro systems. Efforts will be made to ensure quality rural roads, with substantial financial backing for state highways and district roads.

A new housing policy will soon be announced, with Rs 15,000 crore allocated for rural housing and Rs 8,100 crore for urban housing projects in the next five years. There has been a significant 33 per cent increase in the state's annual plan, with a 42 per cent increase in Scheduled Caste and 40 per cent increase in Scheduled Tribe schemes.

A high-level committee will evaluate and streamline ongoing schemes to optimise resources and suggest improvements.

In addition, the government will soon release a new industrial policy to attract investment of Rs 40 lakh crore and the creation of 50 lakh jobs in five years. It will also release MSME policy, space policy, circular economy policy, electronic policy and gems and jewellery policy to attract more investments and thereby maintain the state's preeminent position.

IANS: Opposition has criticised the government for not announcing an increase in aid of Rs 2,100 from Rs 1,500 to beneficiaries under the Ladki Bahin Yojana and farm loan waiver. What is your take?

Ajit Pawar: The Mahayuti has come back to power. We have never said that the monthly financial aid will be increased immediately to women beneficiaries under the Ladki Bahin Yojana. We said during the Assembly elections that after being voted to power, we will increase the aid. Have I ever made a statement about when the aid will be given? Show me. We will announce when there will be a rise and after that, the women beneficiaries will start getting it. I have never made any statement on the farm loan waiver.

(Sanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjay.j@ians.in)
New Delhi, March 11 : Armenian Foreign Affairs Minister Ararat Mirzoyan expressed his gratitude to External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S. Jaishankar on Tuesday for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to him and his delegation during their official visit to India.

Taking to social media platform X, Mirzoyan posted, "Thank you Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar for the warm welcome & hospitality extended to me & my delegation today in Delhi."

"We had a fruitful discussion on key topics of our bilateral agenda both reflecting on the significant progress we have made & outlining the ways to further deepen our partnership. Glad to continue the conversation also on regional & international developments," he added.

The Armenian Foreign Minister is on an official visit to India from March 9 to 11 at the invitation of EAM Jaishankar. During this visit, the two leaders engaged in productive discussions, focusing on a wide range of issues aimed at further strengthening the growing India-Armenia bilateral relationship.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the talks between the two leaders covered significant areas of cooperation, including political exchanges, trade, economic collaboration, education, culture, and enhancing people-to-people ties between the two countries.

Both ministers emphasised the importance of exploring new avenues for cooperation in digital technologies and pharmaceuticals, highlighting the potential for growth in these sectors, the MEA stated.

The discussions included a strong focus on multilateral cooperation, particularly within the United Nations and other global forums.

Additionally, the MoU on Cooperation between the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service and the Diplomatic School of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and another MoU between CDSCO, India, and CDMTE, Armenia, on cooperation in the field of regulation of medical products was also signed, the MEA stated.

Regional and global developments of shared interest were also part of the conversations, where both leaders exchanged views on critical issues impacting their respective nations and the international community.

This official visit marks another important step in solidifying the India-Armenia partnership, with both sides expressing a mutual desire to explore new opportunities for cooperation across various sectors.
Jaipur, March 11 : A tragic road accident claimed the lives of three students and left 24 others injured when a Volvo bus carrying students from the National Law University (NLU) Jodhpur overturned near Laldas Ji Maharaj Dham in Nagaur, Rajasthan, on Tuesday morning, officials said.

The accident occurred around 5.30 a.m. near Burdi Phante when the bus, en route from Chandigarh to Jodhpur, collided with a trailer. The impact of the collision was so severe that the bus overturned, leading to multiple casualties.

The deceased students have been identified as Harshit, Aarushi, and Aarav, all residents of Jodhpur.

Following the accident, emergency responders and local authorities rushed to the scene, and the injured students were immediately transported to JLN Hospital in Nagaur for medical treatment.

Hospital officials stated that several students had sustained serious injuries, while others were undergoing treatment for minor wounds.

Police from Surpalia station confirmed the details, stating that the collision's intensity led to the bus overturning, causing major damage.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances that led to the crash, including possible over-speeding or driver fatigue.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a high-speed car overturned on Bikaner Road around 1.30 a.m. on Monday night, resulting in the deaths of four youths.

Police officials are probing both accidents to determine the exact causes and ensure road safety measures are enforced.

Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal in a post on X said, "The death of Sushil Jat, Mehram Jat, Mahendra Jat and Revantram Jat, residents of Barani, in an accident where a car overturned near Barani near Nagaur late last night is very sad and heart-breaking. Mahendra and Dinesh, who were injured in this accident are being treated in Bikaner. Doctors there have been directed to provide them with better treatment. May God give the departed souls peace and speedy recovery to the injured."
Mumbai, March 11 : Sneha Shetty Kohli, who directed Badshah's Genda Phool, Naagin din gin gin and Dil ko karaar aaya, revealed how she pulled off Ishaan Khatter and Tara Sutaria's new music video "Pyaar Aata Hain" shot in pictureque locale of Pahalgam in Kashmir.

Mumbai, March 11 (IANS) Sneha Shetty Kohli, who directed Badshah's Genda Phool, Naagin din gin gin and Dil ko karaar aaya, revealed how she pulled off Ishaan Khatter and Tara Sutaria's new music video "Pyaar Aata Hain" shot in pictureque locale of Pahalgam in Kashmir.

Talking about the song, Shetty Kohli said: "It has two beautiful actors Ishaan Khattar and Tara Sutaria. We shot this song in Pahalgam, Kashmir. A chunk was also shot in Betaab Valley where the movie Betaab was shot. We were lucky enough to shoot it in the perfect weather. So what really happened is during the recce of this video, my DOP Girish Kant and I, we tried to go up Chandanwadi to find spots that had never been shot before."

"We tried the recce twice but we couldn't reach the location because it was a steep snowy trek and it was snowing heavily, our cars were slipping off the roads due to the thin ice layers followed by a snowy trek. Our toes were frozen and we were unable make it to the top."

"But finally on the shoot day it got sunny and I decided "let's just trek up with a minimum unit taking some safety precautions and Just start rolling. Thankfully God was great to bless us with the perfect sunny weather that day."

Talking about the visuals, she added that the snow-clad mountains with the magical sunlight was making the frame look so gorgeous.

"Some projects really have God's hand in it so it really worked for us. Apart from that I would also like to say that there are two difficult sequences that we shot in the song."

Shetty Kohli says the song looks gorgeous and everything on screen.

"But what these actors went through still takes my breath away. Ishaan was wearing a transparent shirt and had to actually shoot in minus 10 degrees in Pahalgam and talking about Tara, She is a superwoman. Tara was wearing this blue saree which was a chiffon saree and it was Difficult beyond imagination."

Tara was recovering from a viral fever when she shot for the song.

I couldn't even think of taking off my gloves even for a second and for her she was down with viral for two three weeks and after that she was like semi recovering it and then coming all the way there and shooting that sequence and just doing everything so beautifully."

"As soon as the camera was on that girl was magic on screen. Ishaan and Tara are passionate about their work and their chemistry is beautiful."

Ishaan Khatter and Tara Sutaria came together for the first time in the music video Pyaar Aata Hai. The track, voiced by Shreya Ghoshal and Rito Riba, was produced by Anshul Garg under Play DMF.
Bengaluru, March 11 : The Union government announced on Tuesday that the famous Hindu pilgrimage centre Sri Renuka Yallamma temple in Saudatti of Karnataka's Belagavi district has been brought under the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) scheme.

Welcoming the decision, former Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

Bommai said, "Thank you Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji and Union Minister of Culture Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat ji for approving the development project of Shri Renuka Yallamma Temple under the Prasad scheme. This initiative will enhance the pilgrimage experience and provide modern amenities to thousands of devotees."

"We are excited about the positive impact this will bring to our community!" Bommai stated.

Minister Shekhawat taking to social media platform X, announced, "Today, our Ministry of Tourism has approved the development project of Sri Renuka Yallamma Temple in Saundatti, Belagavi, Karnataka under the Prashad scheme."

"At a cost of Rs 18.37 crore, the temple will be equipped with modern amenities like pilgrim arrival centre, cafeteria, first aid centre and more, which will greatly benefit the large number of devotees visiting the temple," Union Minister Shekhawat stated.

Yallamma Temple is the beautiful and ancient temple of the Goddess Renuka also known as the Yallamma. It is at a distance of 70 kilometres from Belagavi city in north Karnataka. It is situated on a hilltop known earlier as Siddhachal Parvat and now known as "Yallammanna Gudda", named after the temple.

The temple is built in the Chalukyan and Rashtrakuta Style and the Carvings reflect the Jain architecture. The temple was constructed by Bomappa Naik of Raybag in the year 1514.

There are temples of Lord Ganesh, Mallikarjun, Parshuram, Eknath, Siddeshwar etc in the temple premises.

Lakhs of devotees from Maharashtra, Goa and Andhra Pradesh also come here, apart from people from Karnataka, especially during the time of Jatras which are held twice a year.

The temple's management was handed over to the Government in 1975 and the government has made provisions such as dharmashalas, Health Centres and other facilities for devotees.

With the new scheme, the devotees are expected to get more facilities and comforts at the venue.
Los Angeles, March 11 : Hollywood star Will Smith is a family man, and can go to any lengths to protect them. We saw a glimpse of it at the 2022 Oscars when he slapped the comedian Chris Rock across the face over a joke that the latter made on his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

Recently, the Hollywood star shared a picture on his social media, reports 'People' magazine.

"Someone say it was National Napping Day?", the Academy Award winner, 56, captioned an Instagram post on Monday, March 10 of himself relaxing as his loved ones gathered around, standing behind him.

As per 'People', his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, stood in between the couple's two children, Willow, 24 and Jaden, 26, while his former wife, Sheree Zampino, stood next to their son, Trey, 32.

Each member of his blended family did a fun pose for the photo op.

In October 2024, the Fresh Prince of Bel Air star opened up about fatherhood while speaking on a panel as part of An Evening with Will Smith at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles.

As he shared how "vulnerability and transparency" can bring out "real strength" from within, he explained that he tries to instill those values in his kids.

"I've been really practicing it with my children", Smith said. "I'm finding such a different relationship just in being able to say, 'Hey, I don't know, guys. I'm a partner with you in this situation, and I'm not going to pretend I'm Superman. I love you, son, but I don't know'".

The 'I Am Legend' actor, who won the first Grammy for best rap performance in 1989, added that music helps his family to bond.

"It's really good in the house working on music and everyone creating together and listening to each other's music", the actor added.

Smith welcomed his first

son, Trey, in 1992 with Zampino, 57. The former couple divorced in 1995 before he married the Red Table Talk host, 53, in 1997.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, March 11 : Indian women have established their unlimited capabilities, and potential globally, said Annapurna Devi, Union Minister, Women and Child Development (WCD), at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Devi said this while participating in the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the UN and delivering India's statement at the Ministerial Forum. She also highlighted global progress and challenges in the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and the full realisation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

"Today I feel proud to represent India at the @UNHeadquarters and to proclaim the power of women in the country and their progress. Under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the women of India have established their unlimited capabilities and potential to the entire world," Devi shared in a post on social media platform X.

During the session, the Minister outlined the progress of India on gender equality addressing the 12 critical areas of concern.

The government flagship schemes "have significantly contributed to improving health, nutrition, education, and economic opportunities for women and children," in India, said Devi.

The Minister also reaffirmed the Government of India's unwavering commitment to the empowerment, protection, and holistic development of women and children across the nation.

The government aims "to ensure that every woman and girl has access to their rights and entitlements," Devi said, adding that "the welfare of women and children is at the core of our nation's progress".

"Through a multi-pronged approach, we are working towards a future where every woman is empowered and every child is nurtured in a safe and supportive environment," the Minister noted.

The session witnessed large-scale participation from all UN member states, intergovernmental organisations, the private sector, philanthropists, academia, civil society, women's collectives, and UN agencies.
Kolkata, March 11 : Tapasi Mondal, the BJP legislator from the Haldia Assembly constituency in East Midnapore, joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday, becoming the fifth MLA to switch sides while still being officially recorded as a BJP legislator in the state Assembly.

With Mondal's defection, the BJP's effective strength in the West Bengal assembly has dropped to 65. However, on paper, the party still holds 70 seats, as these five MLAs continue to be listed as BJP legislators.

The other four MLAs in this category are Mukul Roy (Krishnanagar Uttar, Nadia), Tanmay Ghosh (Bishnupur, Bankura), Harakali Protiher (Katulpur, Bankura), and Suman Kanjilal (Alipurduar).

Barring Roy, who is bedridden and undergoing continuous medical treatment, the remaining three actively participate in Assembly proceedings as TMC members.

All five defectors have cited similar reasons for leaving the BJP -- discomfort with the party's "divisive" politics and a desire to contribute to West Bengal's development under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The BJP, however, has questioned their political credibility. The party argues that if these MLAs were truly disillusioned with the BJP, they should have formally resigned instead of continuing under the BJP label.

Additionally, the saffron camp challenges why, if they were confident in TMC's popularity, they did not resign and seek re-election on a TMC ticket.

Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, claimed Mondal's defection was anticipated.

"Recently, the party decided that no sitting MLA could also serve as a district president in an election year. Realizing she would lose her post as district president, she chose to switch to TMC," Adhikari said.

Tapasi Mondal on Monday reached the Assembly, but from there, she went to the Trinamool Bhavan, the ruling party's state headquarters, and joined the party.

Senior Trinamool leader and state Power Minister Arup Biswas welcomed her to the party by handing her over the party flag.

After joining the Trinamool, Mondal told media persons that her decision was prompted by her inability to adjust to the "culture of divisive politics" that the BJP is allegedly promoting in West Bengal.
Guwahati, March 11 : Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday asserted that the latest state budget is set to give relief to at least 1.43 lakh taxpayers in Assam as the government has included the provisions of exempting Professional Tax.

Taking to X, CM Sarma said, "To provide relief to our middle class, we have exempted payment of Professional Tax for individuals earning up to 15,000 per month. This will benefit more than 1.43 lakh taxpayers of Assam."

Assam's Finance Minister, Ajanta Neog on Monday presented the state's budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, outlining a comprehensive plan aimed at fostering economic growth and social welfare.

In a move to benefit the middle class, the budget proposed exemptions from Professional Tax for individuals earning up to Rs. 12 lakh annually and for those aged 60 and above.

The budget proposed a total expenditure of Rs. 2.63 lakh crore, reflecting the government's commitment to balanced development across various sectors.

According to Neog, Assam is set to become the first Indian state to launch its own satellite, named 'ASSAMSAT'. This initiative aims to enhance data collection for socio-economic projects and bolster border surveillance. The project is estimated to cost between Rs. 450 to Rs. 500 crore.

CM Sarma said that discussions with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) are underway to collaborate on this project.

The Chief Minister highlighted the satellite's potential benefits, including providing advance flood warnings and aiding in border monitoring.

He also mentioned that having a dedicated satellite would allow the state to receive timely data, which is crucial for effective governance and disaster management.

"Beyond its immediate applications, ASSAMSAT is expected to inspire and involve college students in Assam by engaging them in building experimental satellites, fostering interest and innovation in space technology," the CM added.

Meanwhile, in the budget, the government introduced a financial assistance programme focussing on youth empowerment 'Prerana', offering Rs. 2,500 per month to graduates from government universities and colleges in Assam for up to one year.

Neog said, "This initiative aims to support youths during their job-search period. Additionally, a one-time grant of Rs. 25,000 was announced for research scholars, with differently-abled scholars receiving Rs. 50,000."
At the request of the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI), the court limited the time for familiarization with the "coal case" for the defendants in the case (in particular, MP, leader of the European Solidarity party Petro Poroshenko) and their defense lawyers, the SBI reports.

"At the request of the State Bureau of Investigations, the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv limited the time for familiarization with the case for the fifth President of Ukraine, now a member of parliament of Ukraine, whom the Bureau suspects of committing treason and assisting the activities of terrorist organizations. In accordance with the court ruling, the deadline for familiarization with the materials of the pretrial investigation is set until April 15, 2025," the Bureau said on its Telegram channel on Tuesday.

The State Bureau of Investigations recalls that earlier, the Bureau's investigators filed a motion with the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv to set a deadline for the suspects, the current and former MPs (Poroshenko and Viktor Medvedchuk, respectively) and the top manager of the coal sector, as well as their defense lawyers, to familiarize themselves with the materials of the pretrial investigation.

The State Bureau of Investigations completed the investigation of the criminal case on the organization of a criminal scheme for the supply of coal from the temporarily occupied territories and assistance to the terrorist organizations "LPR" and "DPR" by a group of Ukrainian citizens for a total of about UAH 1.5 billion on September 2, 2022.

At the same time, the case materials were transferred for review to the defense and the suspects. "However, the suspects, in particular the current MP, are abusing their procedural rights and do not appear to review the case materials," the report notes.

The fifth President of Ukraine is suspected of having acted in collusion with a group of individuals, including representatives of the top leadership of the Russian Federation, to facilitate the activities of the terrorist organizations "LPR" and "DPR".

In September-November 2021, another former deputies and the Minister of Energy were notified of suspicion in the said proceedings.

They are suspected of purchasing coal in ORDLO with state funds. According to the investigation, by their actions the defendants in the case made Ukraine's energy sector dependent on the Russian Federation and terrorist organizations. This, in turn, undermined the economic security of the state in 2014-2015, deprived it of opportunities to diversify sources of energy supplies, and also provided the Russian Federation with broader opportunities for further interference in Ukraine's internal affairs and subversive activities against it.

The proceedings were carried out under Part 1 and Part 3 of Article 258-5 (financing of terrorism), Part 1 of Article 111 (high treason) and Part 1 of Article 258-3 (assistance to the activities of a terrorist organization) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The sanctions of the above-mentioned articles provide for punishment in the form of imprisonment for up to 15 years with or without confiscation of property.

Poroshenko's lawyer Ilya Novikov believes that the current government is preparing for elections and therefore plans to eliminate the opposition leader through the so-called "coal case." "This all makes sense in the context of preparations for the elections ... As they plan, Poroshenko will have all of his assets frozen and subsequently confiscated," he said after the court hearing.

"We are not even talking about elections here, but about holding on to power at any cost, using methods more typical of an aggressor state and with the help of people, many of whom are very closely connected to the aggressor state. And here it was already clearly visible that there was no time to even pretend that there would be some kind of justice here," added lawyer Ihor Holovan.

According to him, there were "a lot of procedural violations, violations of the law" in the case.

"That is, we are talking about blocking Poroshenko's activities as the leader of the opposition by any means, regardless of any violations," Holovan said.
Mumbai, March 11 : Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra's husband and politician Raghav Chadha met American rapper 50 Cent in the US.

Raghav took to Instagram, where he shared a selfie posing with the rapper, who is known for songs such as "In Da Club", "Candy Shop" and "In My Hood".

"I was looking for a Dollar but all I got was a 50 Cent! @50cent," Raghav wrote as the caption.

Recently, on March 6, Parineeti expressed admiration for her husband and politician Raghav Chadha, calling him an "inspiring human."

The actress reshared Raghav's video on her Instagram stories and captioned it, "Crushing on this inspiring human," followed by a red heart emoji.

In the video, Raghav could be heard expressing his excitement about being invited to participate in the prestigious Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) Executive Education Program.

Raghav stated: "I am super excited to be back at school. I am honored to be handpicked for this prestigious program and deeply grateful to the Harvard as well as the 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. It's truly a 'back to school' moment for me, and I look forward to gaining new insights that will contribute to India's policymaking landscape."

Raghav also emphasised the significance of incorporating these learnings into India's policy framework. He was recognized as a Young Global Leader (YGL) by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Talking about Parineeti, she has started shooting for her OTT series debut.

She took to her social media handles and shared a note that read, "Some mysteries don't just unfold - they pull you in, keep you guessing, and refuse to let go". A new mystery thriller series is in the making! Can't wait for you all to see this labour of love from Team Netflix and us, when it's ready! Shooting had begun .. Marking my OTT series debut!"

She also posted photos of other cast members, including Tahir Raj Bhasin, Anup Soni, Jennifer Winget, Chaitannya Choudhry, Harleen Sethi, and Soni Razdan.

Set against the scenic backdrop of Shimla's hills, the upcoming yet-to-be-titled project is poised to deliver an intense mix of mystery and suspense. Produced by Siddharth P. Malhotra and Sapna Malhotra, the series will be directed by Rensil D'Silva.
Seoul, March 11 : Some lawmakers of South Korean Opposition parties said on Tuesday they will stage a hunger strike calling for a verdict by the Constitutional Court to officially remove impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol from office over his failed bid to impose martial law.

A group of Opposition lawmakers, including from the main rivals Democratic Party (DP), the Rebuilding Korea Party and the Progressive Party, told reporters that they will go on a hunger strike urging the court to swiftly dismiss Yoon, who was released from detention last Saturday.

Yoon's release came as another court allowed him to stand trial without physical detention, citing some questions about the legality of investigations over his charges.

"Yoon Suk Yeol must return to jail," they said, calling on the court to "immediately detain Yoon, the mastermind behind the insurrection."

They also demanded the resignation of Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung, who released Yoon, and said the ruling People Power Party (PPP) should be disbanded, accusing it of obstructing Yoon's impeachment.

Earlier in the day, the DP and the Rebuilding Korea Party set up tents in Gwanghwamun in Seoul to continue with their outdoor rallies.

DP Reps. Park Hong-bae and Kim Moon-soo said they decided to shave their heads later in the day, demanding Yoon's removal from office, Yonhap news agency reported.

Meanwhile, the PPP said it has no plans to stage rallies or take any "collective action" in response to the Opposition.

"If there is a particular issue, we may take collective action, but we will have various meetings to express our position, so unlike the DP, we will not resort to street rallies or hunger strikes to pressure the Constitutional Court," PPP floor leader Kweon Seong-dong told reporters after a general meeting of the party's lawmakers.

Yoon was impeached by the National Assembly over his short-lived imposition of martial law on December 3. He was also alleged to have sent military troops to the National Assembly to prevent lawmakers from voting down the martial law declaration and to have planned to arrest key political figures.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 11 : The CPI-M in Kerala appears to have successfully doused the first spark of dissent within its ranks after damage control efforts reined in senior leader A. Padmakumar, who had openly criticised the party's selection process for the newly formed state committee and secretariat.

The 89-member state committee, featuring 17 new faces, and the 17-member state secretariat are dominated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's loyalists, sidelining those who are out of favour.

Padmakumar, a former legislator and ex-president of the Travancore Devaswom Board, publicly voiced his displeasure over the inclusion of State Health Minister Veena George as an invitee to the state committee. He had questioned how George, a party member for just nine years, secured a position while he, with five decades of party experience, was overlooked.

Though he initially withdrew his social media post criticising the decision, Padmakumar reiterated his dissatisfaction on Monday and announced his resignation from all party positions.

However, by Tuesday, his tone had softened. "I should have controlled my emotions, but I failed to do so. I will attend the Pathanamthitta district committee meeting on Wednesday and accept any action the party takes against me," he said.

Meanwhile, senior CPI-M legislator and former state Minister Kadakampally Surendran dismissed reports of his discontent over not being included in the state secretariat.

"A section of the media seems more concerned about my position than I am. I have held party posts for years and have always adhered to party discipline. I have never lobbied for positions. What Padmakumar did was wrong. Let me be clear -- I am not upset about my exclusion. Please do not spread false news," Surendran told reporters.

Padmakumar's brief defiance and walkout had momentarily shaken the otherwise disciplined CPI-M, and Vijayan in particular, but the party now appears to have regained control of the situation.
Mumbai, March 11 : The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has issued a regulatory warning to IIFL Capital Services regarding its due diligence in handling debt securities, the company informed the Indian bourses on Tuesday.

The brokerage firm disclosed in an exchange filing that it received an administrative warning letter from SEBI on March 7.

"The order was received on March 10, following an inspection of its merchant banking division's debt issues between April 1, 2022, and April 30, 2024," the company said in its filing.

The inspection focused on the company's compliance with the SEBI (Issue and Listing of Non-Convertible Securities) Regulations, 2021.

The market regulator raised concerns about the disclosure of issue-related expenses and the timelines for payment of fees to intermediaries in offer documents.

Following the company's response to the inspection findings, SEBI issued the warning letter highlighting these issues.

IIFL Capital has clarified that there is no financial impact on its business due to the market regulator's action.

The company stated that the warning does not affect its operations or financial performance.

The company's stock remained stable as it was trading at Rs 207.85, up 1.46 per cent on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, SEBI has taken strict actions in the past against companies for violations in debt merchant banking.

It previously banned Axis Capital and JM Financial from conducting debt merchant banking activities for non-compliance with regulatory norms.

Last week, the market regulator issued an administrative warning to FMCG giant Nestle India for breaching insider trading regulations.

The warning, issued by SEBI's Deputy General Manager, was addressed to the company's Compliance Officer (CCO).

SEBI stated that the violation involved a "contra trade," which occurs when an insider buys or sells shares of the same security within six months of a previous transaction, intending to make short-term profits.

--IANS

pk/na
New Delhi, March 11 : Flexible health insurance plans have seen an upsurge of almost 300 per cent in the last five years in India, said a report on Tuesday.

The report by Mercer Marsh Benefits (MMB) showed that even as the workforce in the country is evolving, organisations are reinventing benefits to meet diverse employee needs. Beyond statutory provisions, companies are increasingly introducing innovative solutions like flexible health insurance plans.

The inclusive coverage options focus on parents, cover, siblings cover and wellness programme, and financial planning tools. These forward-thinking approaches not only enhance employee well-being but also help attract and retain top talent in a competitive landscape, the report said.

"Employee benefits in India are no longer just about healthcare coverage; they are evolving into holistic well-being solutions. There is a significant shift towards flexible, inclusive, and future-ready benefits," said Prawal Kalita, Managing Director, Mercer Marsh Benefits India Leader.

"The adoption of flexible health insurance has surged by 300 per cent in the last five years. Employers are recognising the value of offering comprehensive support -- from parental insurance to mental health programmes -- to meet the diverse needs of their workforce," Kalita added.

The report highlighted the transformative changes in India's employee benefits landscape including employer sponsorship for parental insurance which increased from 35 per cent in 2019 to 53 per cent in 2024. The provision is a key benefit for employee retention and well-being.

Organisations and insurers are also promoting cashless hospitalisation, leading to higher payout ratios and a reduction in the average hospital stay from 5.9 to 5.3 days.

Further, understanding the workforce needs employers are increasingly expanding coverage to include fertility treatments, surrogacy, and adoption benefits. Employees are also demanding greater autonomy in choosing benefits, leading to increased adoption of customisable insurance and wellness programmes.

Organisations are prioritising preventive healthcare measures, including early diagnosis, screenings, and wellness programmes, to reduce long-term medical expenses, the report said.

"As businesses compete for talent, benefits strategies must go beyond statutory provisions and embrace innovation, ensuring they remain relevant, cost-effective, and impactful for employees across all life stages," Kalita said.
Ahmedabad, March 11 : Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) is well positioned to capitalise on India's long-term growth potential due to its businesses' thematic alignment with the nation's development, a Macquarie Equity Research report has said, giving the country's leading ports operator an 'outperform' rating.

Macquarie said that the Adani Group company offers a diversified port and cargo mix support resilience and the increasingly integrated nature of logistics offerings should aid further customer lock-in.

The visibility of healthy recurring operating cash flows remains high, supported by mix and customer partnerships. Initiate at Outperform," Macquarie said in its note.

"We are optimistic on APSEZ' long-term growth prospects supported by its diversification efforts, execution track record, and expansion plans in turn supported by high operating cash flow (OCF) generation. Valuations look reasonable," according to the global financial institution.

Adani Ports is India's largest port operator and aims to grow at twice the rate of the country's cargo volume.

Macquarie believes the diversity of cargo handled, the locations of its ports, hinterland connectivity, customer partnerships, and its early-mover advantage are favourable factors.

The network effect of a rapidly growing logistics business is further supportive. Management's target for the company's logistics business (inland transportation, warehousing, etc.) is a 40-45 per cent revenue CAGR over FY25-29, it noted.

The company, which handled its highest-ever monthly cargo volume of 39.9 million metric tonnes (MMT) in January, up 13 per cent year-on-year, plans capex of Rs 800 billion over FY25-29 for organic domestic business growth (vs Rs420 billion organic over FY15-24).

"This includes domestic ports (Rs 450-500 billion) and logistics (Rs 200-250 billion). APSEZ will also evaluate international port expansion opportunities. By 2030, it targets 800-850 MMT domestic cargo volume, implying 11 per cent domestic cargo CAGR over FY24-FY31," according to Macquarie.

APSEZ's average OCF/EBITDA stood at 75 per cent over FY20-24. The brokerage expects cash-flow generation to remain strong given a 50 per cent sticky cargo in-port cargo mix and continuing diversification efforts.

APSEZ Mundra has achieved a historic monthly cargo volume of 17.20 million metric tonnes in January, surpassing the previous record of 17.11 million metric tonnes, the highest ever by any Indian port in the history of maritime trade.
Kolkata, March 11 : The West Bengal government will soon bring a Bill to the state Assembly to regulate the fee structure in different private schools in the state. This was informed by state Education Minister Bratya Basu on the second day of the budget session of the Assembly, here on Tuesday.

At the same time, Basu also announced the formation of a commission to address complaints from parents regarding exorbitant fees and other grievances against school authorities.

It has been learned that the commission to be constituted for that purpose will be headed by a retired justice. The other members of the commission will include representatives from the different wings of the state education department, representatives from school education boards, and two educationists to be nominated by the state Education Minister.

The commission members will review the fee structures of different private schools operating in the state and address complaints of high free structures and high admission fees there.

On Tuesday, during the discussion on the floor of the house, the matter of skyrocketing fee structures and admission fees at different private schools in the state was raised by a BJP legislator from the Chhatna Assembly constituency in Bankura district, Satyanarayan Mukhopadhyay.

He also raised issues on the security aspects of the students at private schools in the wake of a recent incident of three students of a private school in Kolkata being injured after a glass panel fell from the schoolas fourth floor.

Admitting that the state school education department is aware of such complaints especially those related to fee structure in private schools, Basu acknowledged the growing complaints about high fees in private schools and assured that the government is taking steps to regulate them through the proposed Bill and commission.
Patna, March 11 : A day after Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav slammed BJP MLA Haribhushan Thakur Bachual over his Holi remark and questioned his authority in issuing such direction, the latter took a swipe at the RJD leader, saying "unlike his father, my father was not convicted and jailed".

"Unlike Tejashwi's daddy, my father has never gone to jail. My father did not eat animal fodder, unlike Tejashwi's father," Bachaul said while referring to the fodder scam involving Lalu Prasad.

"Tejashwi should remember that Bachaul is an honest MLA, not a fraudster," he said.

Bachaul, the BJP MLA from the Bipsi Assembly constituency in Madhubani district on Monday said that Muslims should stay indoors on Holi to avoid being coloured, sparking controversy. He added that if they wish to come out, they should do so with a "big heart."

The BJP and RJD are now locked in a bitter verbal battle.

The opposition, led by Tejashwi, strongly criticised Bachaul, escalating the political war of words.

The Leader of the Opposition questioned Bachaul's authority, stating: "Is this Bachaulas rule or his father's rule? Who is he to make such statements?"

He also slammed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, accusing him of being unaware and inactive in handling such "divisive" remarks.

Bihar's political landscape has heated up following Bachaul's remark regarding Holi celebrations.

Meanwhile, Bihar DGP Vinay Kumar has instructed all district SPs and SSPs to take strict measures to ensure a peaceful and safe celebration across the state.

He asked the officials to deploy additional forces in vulnerable areas to prevent any disturbances. Besides DGP Kumar also instructed forces to conduct a flag march.

He also asked them to conduct peace committee meetings in all districts and bring together local leaders, public representatives, and community members.
New Delhi, March 11 : Union Minister of State for Home, Nityanand Rai on Tuesday introduced the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha, aiming to modernise and consolidate India's immigration laws and replacing four different laws with a holistic one.

While presenting the Bill, Rai said the government is looking to add a provision related to compounding of crimes and ensure better compliance involving different agencies that deal with immigration, passports and registration of foreigners.

Dispelling doubts of some members from the Congress and Trinamool Congress, he said, "The government is not introducing the Bill to prevent anyone from entering the country."

The Bill requires universities, medical colleges and nursing homes to inform the government about admission of foreigners and provides for fines in case of non-compliance.

Insisting that entry of foreigners is a prerogative of the government as it is related to security of the country, Rai said, "India is a fast-developing country, and the government is committed to promote tourist arrival but security of the country is also a priority."

The Bill seeks to grant the Centre powers to provide for the requirement of passports or other travel documents in respect of persons entering and exiting from India.

Rai said the Narendra Modi government is removing clauses of archaic laws that are not needed and the clauses that are still relevant have been retained in the new holistic proposed law.

He said the Bill looks to replace the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920; Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939; the Foreigners Act, 1946 and Immigration Act, 2000.

"Two of these laws were enacted at the time of World War I and II," he said, pointing to the need to abolish archaic laws.

On Congress member Manish Tewari raising the question of "legislative competence" for drafting such a Bill, Rai said the subject lies within the legislative competence of the government as it is listed under the Union List in Schedule 7.

Earlier, Tewari opposed the Bill and said it should either be withdrawn or referred to a parliamentary committee as its provisions violate multiple constitutional rights and international agreements.

He said the provision mandating hospitals to share details of patients and their attendants to the government appeared to be against principles of medical ethics.

Saugata Roy of Trinamool Congress described the Bill as "superfluous" and said the provision requiring universities and medical colleges to inform the government before admitting foreigners would "restrict the flow of talent into the country in the fields of academics and medical science".

Roy said while the Bill speaks of the government's intention to decrease the number of laws, the introduction of fines for non-compliance was undesirable.

He said an increased bureaucratic interference will make stay of foreigners difficult.
Dhaka, March 11 : Amid ongoing protest movements in Bangladesh against gender-based violence, another six children were raped in six districts, according to local media reports on Tuesday.

At least seven people were arrested on Monday on charges of rape in six districts.

These cases of sexual violence were reported from across several districts of Bangladesh. The children who were sexually assaulted are all aged from six to fourteen. Among one of the incidents, a teenage girl who was a victim of sexual assault died by suicide after being falsely accused and vilified during a local arbitration meeting, reports the leading Bangladeshi newspaper, The Daily Star.

These rising incidents of sexual assault, despite the demonstrations by the people against the rising incidence of violence against women, exposed the further deteriorating law and order situation in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh has recently been gripped with protest marches against the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. Women in Bangladesh took to the streets demanding justice for rape, stricter punishment for offenders, and the resignation of Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.

Students and teachers from different universities across the country also demonstrated against the recent rape incidents, including that of an eight-year-old in Magura who is currently fighting for her life, and demanded exemplary punishment for the perpetrators of the crime, local media in Bangladesh reported.

During the demonstrations, Dhaka University Professor Tasneem Siraj Mahboob called for the dismissal of the Home Affairs Advisor instead of his resignation, emphasising that she had demanded this months ago.

"Resignation is an honourable exit. He doesn't deserve that honour," she was quoted as saying by the country's leading daily, The Dhaka Tribune.

The various political outfits that earlier joined hands to overthrow the democratically elected government of Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina have criticised the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus for the failing law and order situation and the rising incidence of violence against women across Bangladesh.

Addressing a rally on Monday, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Senior Joint Secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi alleged that the rise in incidents of rape and violence against women in the country is due to the present administration's inaction, according to a report by United News of Bangladesh.

"Why is this situation arising under the current interim government? If the administration had functioned properly, incidents of rape, murder, injuries, and corruption would not have escalated," he said.

Rizvi said that the reality now is that the number of rape incidents has increased, and women are not safe anywhere in the country.

Addressing the media on Sunday, the radical outfit Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar told The Dhaka Tribune, "Women and children are not safe anywhere today -- be it on buses, trains, launches, offices, homes, schools, or madrasas. The situation in the country is much worse than what is reflected in newspapers and the media."

Several cases of violence against women have been reported from across Bangladesh since the Muhammad Yunus-led interim regime came to power in August 2024. The incompetence of the interim government in curbing gender-based violence sparked public outrage, with students demanding the resignation of Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and the interim government accountable for degrading the law and order situation across the nation.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/vadym.filashkin/

As a result of enemy attacks in Donetsk region on Tuesday, March 11, six people were killed, including two children, and seven more were wounded, including one minor, said head of the Regional State Administration, Vadym Filashkin.

"Already in the evening, the enemy shelled Rivne of Myrnohrad community with artillery. Two brothers, aged 11 and 13, were killed. In addition, a 14-year-old boy was wounded - he is in serious condition," he wrote on the Telegram channel on Tuesday.

Filashkin reported that all three were evacuated to Dnipro region in August-September last year. "The children obviously did not make the decision to return home themselves, but they paid the most terrible price for this decision," he noted.

Also today, Russians attacked two civilian vehicles between Pokrovsk and Rodynske with FPV drones: one person was killed, two were wounded. In addition, today in Siversk, three people were killed and three were wounded, and one more person was wounded in Kostiantynivka.
Taipei, March 11 : Taiwan is set to introduce a bill to make tougher laws for spies and punish active military personnel who pledge loyalty to an enemy and damage military interests, local media reported.

The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defence on Monday said that under the proposed bill, active military personnel who pledge loyalty to an enemy through speech, actions, words, pictures, digital records, or other methods sufficiently to harm military interests would face a prison sentence of one to seven years.

The ministry stated that in the past few years, the military has collaborated with national security agencies to crack down on Chinese spying, which showed that the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) espionage and spying activities are becoming more rampant, as reported by leading Taiwanese daily, Taipei Times.

Taiwan has witnessed a surge in Chinese espionage activities. In January, Taiwan's National Security Bureau (NSB) published an analysis of China's infiltration tactics, highlighting Beijing's attempts to use military veterans to recruit active service members.

The short report, 'Analysis on the Infiltration Tactics Concerning China's Espionage Cases,' noted that the number of individuals in Taiwan prosecuted for Chinese espionage increased significantly in recent years, from 16 in 2021 to 64 in 2024.

According to the NSB, targets of Chinese infiltration attempts included military units, government agencies, and local associations. It further stated that spies in Taiwan on behalf of the CCP used a variety of channels and methods to infiltrate all sectors of the country and recruited Taiwanese to cooperate in developing organisations and obtaining sensitive information from the country's government.

Last week, the Supreme Court of Taiwan upheld jail sentences handed to two former Air Force officers for passing military intelligence to China.

The two officers, identified by their last names, Yeh and Su, served in the 501st and 301st battalions of the Air Defence and Missile Command of Taiwan.

Yeh was sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison, while Su received a five-year and eight-month sentence.

In February 2025, the Supreme Court of Taiwan upheld the decision of the Taiwan High Court to hand eight people, including several active-duty military officers, sentences ranging from 18 months to 13 years for collecting intelligence for China.
Bengaluru, March 11 : Karnataka BJP senior leader N. R. Ramesh shot off a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday warning him of a protest if the beef import is allowed in the state.

The BJP leader asked Siddaramaiah to check and act on the development of the alleged meeting of slaughter "mafia" pressuring the government to issue a trade license under the name of "beef shop".

"In a shocking development where, disregarding all legal regulations, a meeting was held at Minister for Housing and Waqf B. Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan's office, pressuring the Urban Development Department to issue trade licenses under the name "Beef Shop" for slaughterhouse mafias," the letter read.

"Currently, trade licenses are issued under the name 'Buffalo Meat Shop' in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and other municipal corporations, city councils, and town panchayats. They demanded that trade licenses be issued under the name 'Beef Shop' instead of 'Buffalo Meat Shop'," Ramesh said.

"On March 6, 2025, a meeting took place at the office of Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, Minister of Housing, Waqf, and Minority Welfare Department, in Vikas Soudha at Rooms 143 to 146, located on the First Floor. The meeting was attended by officials from BBMP's Animal Husbandry Department, officials from the State Urban Development Department, slaughterhouse owners/leaders, minority traders, minority religious leaders, and some legislators from the minority community," Ramesh stated.

"During this meeting, a shocking demand was made: The Karnataka government has only banned cow slaughter, meaning the anti-cow slaughter law applies only if cows are slaughtered within the state. Therefore, they requested that the government facilitate the import of beef from neighbouring states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu for sale in Karnataka," Ramesh's letter read.

Ramesh claimed that this "informal decision made in the meeting is illegal and, in a way, indirectly supports cow slaughter, benefiting the slaughterhouse mafia".

"If the government proceeds with issuing trade licenses under the name 'Beef Shop' instead of 'Buffalo Meat Shop' across BBMP and other municipal limits in the state, a widespread legal battle will be inevitable," he warned.

Furthermore, if the Karnataka government allows beef import from Kerala and Tamil Nadu, legal actions will also be taken against it, the BJP leader said.

The BJP leader said that he urged Siddaramaiah to ensure that the sentiments of the majority community are not hurt.

Ramesh said he also requested Siddaramaiah to warn Minister Khan against engaging in such activities.
Seoul, March 11 : Some lawmakers of South Korea's Opposition parties on Tuesday launched a hunger strike calling for a verdict by the Constitutional Court to officially remove impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol from office over his failed bid to impose martial law.

A group of opposition lawmakers, including from the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), the Rebuilding Korea Party and the Progressive Party, went on the hunger strike urging the court swiftly dismiss Yoon, who was released from detention last Saturday.

Yoon's release came as another court allowed him to stand trial without physical detention, citing some questions about the legality of investigations over his charges.

"Yoon Suk Yeol must return to jail," they said, calling on the court to "immediately detain Yoon, the mastermind behind the insurrection."

They also demanded the resignation of Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung, who released Yoon, and said the ruling People Power Party (PPP) should be disbanded, accusing it of obstructing Yoon's impeachment.

DP Reps. Park Hong-bae, Kim Moon-soo and Jeon Jin-sook shaved their heads outside the National Assembly's main building, demanding Yoon's removal from office.

Earlier in the day, the DP and the Rebuilding Korea Party set up tents in Gwanghwamun in Seoul to continue with their outdoor rallies.

Meanwhile, the PPP said it has no plans to stage rallies or take any "collective action" in response to the opposition.

"If there is a particular issue, we may take collective action, but we will have various meetings to express our position, so unlike the DP, we will not resort to street rallies or hunger strikes to pressure the Constitutional Court," PPP floor leader Kweon Seong-dong told reporters after a general meeting of the party's lawmakers, Yonhap news agency reported.

Earlier in the day, South Korean Acting President Choi Sang-mok pledged "zero tolerance" for any acts of violence as the Constitutional Court is set to deliver its ruling on whether to reinstate or remove impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The court is expected to announce its decision as early as this week, raising concerns over potential clashes as both Yoon's supporters and opponents are anticipated to gather in large numbers.
New Delhi, March 11 : The annual sales volume of electric buses in the country is expected to reach more than 17,000 units in FY27 -- nearly 15 per cent growth from total bus sales volume of 4 per cent in FY24, a report showed on Tuesday.

Electric buses account for 4 per cent of India's annual bus registrations, with 3,644 units sold in FY24, reflecting an 81 per cent year-on-year growth.

The transition to cleaner fuels has decreased conventional diesel and petrol buses' market share from 97-98 per cent a decade ago to 90 per cent in FY24, according to the report by CareEdge Ratings.

"Till now, e-bus penetration had been limited to a few larger cities, but gradually e-buses are being rolled out in more cities, which is expected to result in widespread adoption of e-buses across the country," said Arti Roy, Associate Director at CareEdge Ratings.

Government support has also been demonstrated through various policy initiatives, which is expected to continue in the foreseeable future.

India's potential for electric buses (e-buses) is significant, with only six e-buses per million people compared to the world average of 85.

Currently, e-bus adoption is limited to a few states and cities, but widespread adoption is expected to drive exponential sales growth in the medium term.

According to the report, India has sizeable e-Bus manufacturing capability, whereby five companies account for more than 85 per cent of the e-bus market share, with an aggregate of 40,500 e-bus manufacturing capacity per annum.

Also, they have sizeable outstanding order book on the back of auctions held by many State Transport Undertakings (STUs) in the recent past.

Evolution of Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model compared with the outright bus purchase by STUs is expected to speed up the adoption of e-buses in a big way; albeit few concerns persist due to the inherent weak financial health of most STUs despite presence of mitigants in the form of payment security mechanism.

Further, the total cost of ownership (TCO) for AC e-bus is nearly 15-20 per cent lower than that of AC diesel buses over the 12 years period, making it an attractive proposition in the long term.

The strong policy push from the government by way of PM e-Bus Seva and PM e-Drive, annual sales volume of e-Buses in the country is expected to grow further, the report noted.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 11 : The Congress party's centenary celebration of the historic meeting between Mahatma Gandhi and Sree Narayana Guru has stirred political chatter in Kerala, as two 'disgruntled' Communist leaders are set to attend the event on Wednesday.

Thiruvananthapuram, March 11 (IANS) The Congress partyas centenary celebration of the historic meeting between Mahatma Gandhi and Sree Narayana Guru has stirred political chatter in Kerala, as two adisgruntleda Communist leaders are set to attend the event on Wednesday.

Former state ministers G. Sudhakaran (CPI-M) and C. Divakaran (CPI), both of whom served in the 2006-11 cabinet under V.S. Achuthanandan, will be the chief guests at the event at the Congress state headquarters.

The meeting will be inaugurated by Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan and chaired by veteran Congress leader and former state party president V.M. Sudheeran.

Though neither Sudhakaran nor Divakaran has publicly distanced themselves from their respective parties, both are known to have strained relationships with their leadership.

Despite his reputation as one of the cleanest leaders in the CPI-M, G. Sudhakaran has been sidelined by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan since 2021. Ironically, he once enjoyed respect from the Congress-led UDF while serving in the cabinets of both Achuthanandan and Vijayan (2016-21). His exclusion from the recent four-day CPI-M state conference, where he was not even invited, has only deepened his discontent.

Adding to the speculation, AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal recently visited Sudhakaran at his residence in Alappuzha, Venugopalas Lok Sabha constituency. While both leaders termed it a casual meeting, it has fueled political intrigue.

Divakaran, on the other hand, has been increasingly vocal in his criticism of both Vijayan and his party after being denied a ticket in the 2021 assembly elections. His political standing suffered further when he finished third in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. His sporadic barbs at the CPI and Vijayan have signaled his growing frustration.

With Sudhakaran snubbed from the Kollam CPI-M event and Divakaranas presence at the Congress function, the duoas participation is drawing significant media attention.

The event marks the 100th anniversary of Gandhias meeting with Sree Narayana Guru on March 12, 1925, at Vanajakshi Mandiram near Sivagiri, about 50 km from Thiruvananthapuram. On that day, the two leaders sat together on a Khadi rug, symbolizing their shared vision of social reform.

As the Congress hosts this milestone event, the presence of two sidelined Communist leaders could add a layer of political significance to the occasion.
Mumbai, March 11 : Bollywood actress Bhumi Pednekar didn't think being back to school could be so fun after she visited the Harvard Kennedy School.

Invited as a Young Global Leader (YGL) in association with the World Economic Forum (WEF), she was attending an exclusive program focused on Leadership and Global Policy, designed for individuals driving change across industries.

Bhumi took to Instagram, where she dropped a gamut of images from the school and captioned the picture as: "Have had the most amazing week 1 @harvardkennedyschool ,learning global policy and leadership in the 21st century. Didn't ever think being back to school could be such fun. Along with my the other young global leaders, all of whom are so brilliant #YGL @worldeconomicforum."

As part of this intensive program, she is engaging with global leaders, policymakers, and academics to deepen her understanding of governance, policy-making, and leadership on a global scale.

Recently, Bhumi celebrated six years of 'Sonchiriya'. As the drama completed 6 years of release, she dropped a couple of behind-the-scene photographs from the movie with her late co-star Sushant Singh Rajput on her Instagram.

"6 years to a film that is one of my most beloved for many many reason #Sonchiriya", Bhumi wrote commemorating the milestone.

Co-written and directed by Abhishek Chaubey, the project starred Sushant Singh Rajput, Bhumi Pednekar, Ashutosh Rana, and Ranvir Shorey in crucial roles. Set in the ravines of the Chambal valley, the film tells the tale of dacoits in 1975, who termed themselves Baaghis, the rebels. Its dialogues are entirely in the Bundeli dialect.

Released on March 1, 2019 "Sonchiriya" received positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances, direction, and writing of the movie. Bhumi was last seen in "Mere Husband Ki Biwi". The film is directed by Mudassar Aziz. The film features Arjun Kapoor, Bhumi Pednekar and Rakul Preet Singh.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, March 11 : P.P. Chaudhary, the chairman of Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on 'One Nation, One Election' (ONOE) on Tuesday explained, how the 'poll model' would enable elected representatives to focus on governance for their entire five-year term, benefitting the nation immensely.

A meeting of the JPC on ONOE was held last week, where all the members displayed a apositive attitudea. The Constitution Amendment Bill on ONOE, currently under review by the JPC, seeks to synchronise Lok Sabha and state assembly elections, streamlining the electoral process.

The JPC, chaired by BJP's P.P. Chaudhary, comprises 39 members, including 27 from the Lok Sabha and 12 from the Rajya Sabha.

In a special interaction with IANS, Chaudhary spoke about the sweeping changes that the bill could bring in Indian political landscape and also hoped that Opposition will not oppose the bill, just for the sake of opposing it.

"Today's meeting is not about strategy formation. It will be more of a presentation and interaction session. Former Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi will also be present, and there will be an interaction with him. Former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Rajendra Menon, will also be there, and we will have discussions with him as well," he said.

Addressing concerns about logistical challenges, Chaudhary pointed out that from 1952 to 1967, elections were conducted simultaneously across the country despite the absence of modern resources such as EVMs, VVPATs, and advanced technology.

"At that time, we didn't even have the resources we have today. There were no EVMs, no VVPAT, and no advanced systems or technology. Even then, elections were conducted together across the country. Now, we have progressed a lot, and today, India is the third-largest economy in the world. So, we can say that it is not impossible for us," he said.

"Our official witnesses from the Election Commission, and IT ministries, we will call them and those related to technology, and they will tell us how it can be done simultaneously. In today's time, in this technological age, it is not a difficult task to gather all the election resources at once," he further mentioned.

Highlighting the potential benefits of ONOE, Chaudhary claimed that the synchronisation of elections would result in considerable savings, both direct and indirect which will "greatly benefit" India.

"Once synchronisation happens, the direct benefit and indirect benefit, if we look at the direct and indirect benefits, are immense, a lot. The direct benefit is that thousands of crores of rupees are spent; that will be saved. Indirect profit of around 1.6 per cent in the GDP will happen," he explained.

Responding to the Congress party's consistent opposition to the proposal, Chaudhary stated, "I believe that if someone is opposing just for the sake of opposition, then it is not right. But if someone really feels that something is not right, we will also correct that thing. But after it is corrected, if there is only opposition, then we do not have any remedy for that. However, I still believe that those who are opposing will be with us wholeheartedly."

He added that many Congress leaders have privately expressed concerns about the disruptions caused by frequent elections.

"The entire time of politicians is not spent on the work for which they are elected by the people. Instead of focusing on making laws and serving the people for the entire five years, the parties get busy in elections. So the right work that should be done in a democracy does not happen," he said.

Confident about achieving consensus, Chaudhary insisted that ONOE would not only benefit India but could also set an example for other democracies worldwide.

"We will arrive at a consensus, and there is no doubt about it, and 'One Nation, One Election' is for the benefit of the country. It is beneficial to take the country's economy to the third position and to move further from the third position."

"And once India does it, I believe that other mature democracies of the world will also see it and after seeing it will try to adopt it in other places as well because they believe that India is such a big democracy, there are so many voters, and if they can conduct an ONOE successfully, then why cannot other democracies of the world do it?" he added.
Kolkata, March 11 : Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari said on Tuesday that the BJP would approach the Supreme Court on the MLA defection issue and even make the state Assembly Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay a party in the matter.

His remarks come a day after the BJP legislator from the Haldia Assembly constituency in West Bengal, Tapasi Mondal, joined Trinamool Congress but retained her tag of 'BJP legislator'.

Speaking to the media outside the Assembly premises, Adhikari said that the Speaker does not honour the Indian Constitution.

"Since 2011, Trinamool Congress has taken at least 56 defecting legislators into its fold. They were from all parties including BJP, Congress, CPI(M), Revolutionary Socialist Party, and the Forward Block. The Speaker has no regard towards the 10th Schedule of the Indian Constitution that deals with the 'anti-defection' law," the Leader of the Opposition said.

He also accused the Speaker of illegally allowing two Trinamool Congress namely Sayantika Banerjee from Baranagar constituency in North 24 Parganas districts and Reyat Houssen Sarkar from Bhagabangola constituency in Murshidabad district to participate in Assembly proceedings violating the order of the West Bengal Governor C. V. Ananda Bose.

"Recently, a case has been filed at the Apex Court on the similar defection of 10 legislators at Telangana. The next date for a hearing in the matter at the Apex Court is March 25. After that, BJP will also move the Supreme Court on the issue of MLA defection in West Bengal and the Speaker will be made a party there," the Leader of the Opposition said.

At the same time, Adhikari said that in the coming days, there would be massive protest demonstrations by the BJP within the Speaker's constituency of Baruipur in South 24 Parganas district.

Speaking on the occasion, Adhikari also said that during the last few days, there had been orchestrated attacks on the religious and business establishments of the Hindus in different pockets of the state.

"The police had remained silent spectators in all such cases and not a single arrest had been made in this connection," Adhikari added.
Chennai, March 11 : The Tamil Nadu government's Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS) has become a crucial support system for students preparing for exams, including competitive tests.

Launched in October 2022, the initiative has seen a sharp increase in distress calls, highlighting the growing demand for mental health support.

According to official data, the number of calls to Tele-MANAS more than doubled over the past year, rising from 37,258 in 2023 to 80,999 in 2024.

In January 2025 alone, the helpline received 4,978 calls. Since its inception, it has handled over 1,26,451 calls across Tamil Nadu.

The highest surge in distress calls occurs between March and September, coinciding with Board examinations, competitive entrance tests like NEET, and result announcements.

Dr. V. Venkatesh Madan Kumar, coordinator of Tele-MANAS, stated that the team proactively reaches out to students who have failed their exams.

He also emphasised the strong correlation between examination results and the increase in distress calls. "After NEET results are announced, our team contacts aspirants, especially repeaters, to offer counseling with their consent," he said.

While students make up a significant portion of callers, the helpline also receives distress calls from the general public.

A study conducted by Tele-MANAS found that over 70 per cent of callers fall within the 2040 age group.

One case involved a 23-year-old woman from Thanjavur who faced severe mental distress due to relentless pressure from her employer over a small debt.

Through multiple counseling sessions, she gradually regained confidence and learned to stand up for herself.

In another instance, a divorced motherstruggling with work, caregiving responsibilities for her ailing mother, and raising her childreached out to Tele-MANAS. Overwhelmed by loneliness and suicidal thoughts, she was connected to a district mental health officer in Chennai for counseling and medication.

Tele-MANAS counselors believe that the increase in calls reflects a positive shift in public attitudes toward mental health. "People are seeking help instead of suffering in silence. Any mental health issue is treatable, and early intervention through counseling is crucial," said one of the counselors.

Psychiatrist Dr. Manomani G, based in Chennai, highlighted the importance of continuous support. "Many people feel better after the first call, but without sustained support, they may relapse. While there is still stigma and fear surrounding mental health, the increasing number of calls shows that people want to be heard," she said.

The growing reach of Tele-MANAS is a testament to the increasing awareness and acceptance of mental health support in Tamil Nadu, offering hope and solace to those in distress.
Kolkata, March 11 : Chaos erupted in the West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday as BJP legislators staged a walkout, protesting against Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay's decision to withhold circulation of Assembly-related documents to them during the session.

Tensions flared when the Speaker refused to admit an adjournment motion tabled by BJP members to discuss recent incidents of communal clashes in certain parts of the state. Justifying his decision, Bandopadhyay stated that the issue had already been deliberated upon in the House and did not warrant further discussion.

This rejection triggered a strong reaction from BJP MLAs, who protested inside the Assembly.

The uproar intensified as some BJP legislators descended into the well of the House, shouting slogans against the ruling dispensation. In a dramatic show of dissent, a few tore apart assembly papers and documents circulated to them.

Reacting sharply to this, the Speaker announced that henceforth, BJP MLAs would not be provided with any official documents or papers during the session.

The Speaker's directive further enraged BJP legislators, who stormed out of the House in protest. Their agitation continued in the Assembly premises, where they staged a demonstration, raising slogans against what they termed an "undemocratic move" by the Speaker.

Speaking to the media outside the Assembly, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari condemned the Speaker's decision, calling it "unprecedented and unconstitutional."

"This is a blatant attempt to stifle the voice of the opposition. We have never seen a Speaker taking such an authoritarian step of barring opposition MLAs from receiving assembly-related documents," Adhikari said.

Undeterred by the Speaker's move, Adhikari vowed to escalate BJP's protests inside the House. "We will bring our own bundles of paper daily and tear them apart in protest. This fight against the Speaker's undemocratic decision will continue," he declared.

The BJP's protest adds to the ongoing political tensions between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition in West Bengal.
Russia has resumed oil exports to Hungary via the Druzhba oil pipeline after removing the consequences of a UAV attack, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said.

"The Russian system operator has eliminated the damage caused by the attack by a Ukrainian drone, and oil supplies to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline have resumed," he said on his personal account page on one of the social networks.

Earlier, the Hungarian minister said supplies of Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline were suspended on March 11. According to him, this happened due to damage to the measuring station after the drone strike.
Tokyo, March 11 : Japan on Tuesday marks the 14th anniversary since a massive earthquake and tsunami hit the nation in 2011, triggering a nuclear accident that continues to affect the region.

Attending a memorial service hosted by Fukushima Prefecture, where the crippled Daiichi nuclear power complex is located, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba offered his condolences and pledged to make Japan a world leader in disaster prevention, local media reported.

"We will leverage our experience from the disaster to implement thorough disaster preparedness and strengthen our response system," Ishiba said.

When the triple disasters struck 14 years ago, scores of people were forced from their homes. The disaster-prone nation has since taken steps to be better prepared for natural calamities, including the handling of evacuations and rebuilding the affected areas, Kyodo News reported.

On March 11, 2011, Japan suffered an earthquake and tsunami of unprecedented proportions. The Great East Japan Earthquake was measured at a magnitude 9.0, the largest ever recorded in Japan's history.

The earthquake and the resulting tsunami struck the Pacific coast of the Tohoku and Kanto regions with such devastating force that it dramatically changed the face of the seaside landscape.

During that year, the number of dead and missing as a result of the earthquake was reported to be approximately 20,000 people, with over 350,000 homes and other buildings completely or partially destroyed.

In addition, damage from the earthquake and tsunami at Tokyo Electric Power's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station led to a serious nuclear accident, forcing many of the residents of surrounding areas into long-term evacuation, according to Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Last week, Prime Minister Ishiba jointly held the 42nd meeting of the Reconstruction Promotion Council and the 65th meeting of the Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters at the Prime Minister's Office. At the meeting, the participants engaged in discussions on the current situation of reconstruction from the nuclear disaster and other matters.

Following the discussion, the Prime Minister's Office stated, "As it has been almost 14 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake, our Cabinet regards the reconstruction of Tohoku as well as that of Fukushima from the nuclear disaster as one of our highest-priority issues."

"At the end of last year, I visited a Difficult-to-Return Zone in Futaba Town and saw the scars of the quake disaster and nuclear accident with my own eyes. Upon seeing overgrown vegetation and deserted houses, I once again extended my thoughts to the earnest wishes harboured by residents to return to their homes, who are still forced to evacuate," the statement further read.

"Without the reconstruction of Fukushima, there will be no reconstruction of Tohoku. And without the reconstruction of Tohoku, there will be no revival of Japan. We must never let this disaster fade away and be forgotten. With the determination that all ministers are ministers for reconstruction, I request that you further speed up reconstruction efforts," it added.
Chennai, March 11 : Actor Sivakarthikeyan has left for Sri Lanka for the next schedule of shooting of director Sudha Kongara's eagerly-awaited period action drama, 'Parasakthi'.

Interestingly, Sivakarthikeyan's departure for the island nation was confirmed by pictures posted by Sri Lankan Airlines on their X timeline.

On Tuesday, Sri Lankan Airlines posted pictures of the actor along with the flight crew on board the flight and wrote, "We are thrilled to welcome aboard South Indian cinema star Mr. @Siva_Kartikeyan during his recent travel from Chennai to Colombo with SriLankan Airlines. Thank you for choosing SriLankan Airlines!"

Actor Ravi Mohan, who plays the antagonist in director Sudha Kongara's upcoming period film, 'Parasakathi', featuring Sivakarthikeyan in the lead, has disclosed a month ago that the unit of the film would be heading to Sri Lanka for the next schedule.

Director Sudha Kongara had, last month, announced that the first schedule of the film had been wrapped in Madurai.

Posting pictures of her unit and her cast members at the famous Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple, she wrote," Meenakshi, mayil, malli and schedule wrap in one of my most favourite places on this planet...Madurai #shootdiaries."

'Parasakthi' has triggered huge interest among fans and film buffs. The period film, which also features Atharvaa and Sreeleela, is believed to be set in the 1960s in the then state of Madras.

A teaser released by the unit shows that the story takes place in the Pachaiyappa's college in Madras where Sivakarthikeyan is seen going door to door, in search of something. He comes across as a fearless leader, looking to lead students on a violent protest in rebellion against an unjust system which seems to have imposed orders such as 'Students - do not touch'. Incidentally, the teaser shows this order printed on a wall changed to 'Do not touch students'.

The teaser has disclosed that Ravi Mohan's character is intent on killing Sivakarthikeyan's character.

Parasakthi, which was tentatively being referred to as #SK25 as it is Sivakarthikeyan's 25th film, has music by G V Prakash and cinematography by experienced cameraman Ravi K Chandran. Stunts for the film are by Supreme Sundar.

--IANS

Mkr/

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Patna, March 11 : A day after a sensational Rs 25 crore robbery at the Tanishq showroom in Ara, Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav and his sister Rohini Acharya launched a scathing attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

While sharing the CCTV footage of the robbery, Tejashwi sarcastically termed it an "auspicious video" showcasing Bihar's law and order under Nitish Kumar's NDA government.

"In broad daylight, 6-7 criminals looted jewellery worth 25 crore in just 17 minutes from a showroom located a few steps from the SP's residence and police station," Tejashwi Yadav said.

"Hundreds of such crimes happen every month under government protection. Firing takes place indiscriminately. There is no count of rape, murder, dacoity, theft and chain snatching incidents. The Chief Minister is unconscious, and administrative anarchy has spread everywhere," Tejashwi Yadav further posted on X.

"Businessmen should now protect their lives and property themselves because expecting anything from this corrupt, illegal, and useless government is foolish," he said.

Rohini Acharya, daughter of Lalu Prasad Yadav, also took to social media to question Nitish Kumar's governance.

"In the crowded district headquarters of Ara, jewellery worth 25 crore was looted from a showroom in broad daylight, without any fear of the police. Did this happen before you came to power? It did not," Acharya said.

She further slammed Nitish Kumar's claims of good governance, saying: "No matter how much you and your media management try to make false claims about the rule of law in Bihar, the truth is that the whole world knows that your governance has collapsed. You have become synonymous with a helpless, incompetent, and useless ruler."

"Nitish Kumar, in your desperation to cling to power, you have left Bihar at the mercy of criminals. Your police administration has bowed down to criminals. At this rate, it won't be surprising if fearless criminals one day enter the Chief Minister's residence itself, considered the safest place in the state, while you remain idle," she said.

Meanwhile, Bhojpur police arrested two accused in connection with the robbery after a brief chase on Monday.

The arrested accused are identified as Vishal Kumar Gupta, a resident of Dighwara, Saran district and Kunal Kumar a resident of Sonpur in Saran district.

Police have recovered two bags containing the looted jewellery and the hunt continues for the remaining four accused.
Imphal, March 11 : Two minor girls, allegedly recruited by a militant outfit, were rescued from the Kakching bazar area under the Kakching district and the Wangbal Laikon area under the Thoubal district in Manipur, officials said here on Tuesday.

A police official said the girls were rescued during a search operation on Monday.

Police also arrested two active cadres of People's Liberation Army (PLA) from the Kakching Bazar area. The PLA cadres were identified as Moirangthem Romen Singh (23) and Nongmaithem Mohendro Singh (54). One two-wheeler and two mobile sets were recovered from their possession.

The official said that the PLA militants were involved in recruiting these girls in their outfit. The rescued minor girls have been produced before the Chairperson, the Child Welfare Committee in Thoubal district for further formalities.

In separate search operations, five other militants were arrested from three districts -- Bishnupur, Imphal East, and Imphal West.

The militants belonging to Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), United Peopleas Party of Kangleipak (UPPK) and Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) outfits were arrested, and four grenades, one pistol, some varied ammunition, one two-wheeler, and few incriminating documents were recovered from them.

In a separate incident, the Army and the Assam Rifles in a joint operation dismantled a makeshift camp of the banned militant outfit United Kuki National Army (UKNA) in a forest near Songphu village in Churachandpur district. Four temporary bamboo huts were set up in the camp.

The UKNA is not a signatory of the Suspension of Operations pact with the central government.

Meanwhile, normal life was affected in Kuki-Zo areas of Manipur for the third day on Tuesday due to the indefinite shutdown called by the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), the apex body of the tribals, to protest the resumption of the bus services between the state capital Imphal and the hill districts and the police action in the tribal areas on Saturday.

Tribal leaders claimed that the indefinite shutdown was total and successful in Kangpokpi, Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, and Pherzawl districts.

"The Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) leaders on Monday held an inconclusive meeting with the government officials about the withdrawal of the indefinite shutdown. The meeting will be held on Tuesday also," a tribal leader told IANS over the phone.

The COTU, which is a constituent of KZC, has been demanding the transfer of the Superintendent of Police of Kangpokpi district, the cancellation of bus services and a government apology over the killing of Lalgouthang Singsit according to customary law.

On March 8, at least 43 people, including 27 security personnel, were injured and a protester was killed during the clashes in Kangpokpi and a few other districts as the Kuki-Zo tribal organisations protested against the resumption of the bus services between Imphal and the hill districts.

The bus services were resumed on Saturday by the Manipur State Transport Corporation under security to alleviate public inconvenience and as an initiative to bring back normalcy in the state.
Mumbai, March 11 : Actor Saif Ali Khan, who suffered a knife injury back in January this year, has fully recovered, and is all set to offer his acting services to his new project as he reached the location for the filming in Jaipur on Tuesday.

Whatas interesting is that the actor returned to shoot his yet-to-be-titled film at the same spot where he shot for his debut movie aParamparaa 32 years ago. Several pictures from the sets have gone viral, showcasing Saif Ali Khan in a new avatar. The actor looks fit and charming in a classic moustache and a side-parted hairdo, leaving fans guessing about the nature of his role in his new project.

Though the details of his next project are kept under wraps, the snippets from the shoot location have undoubtedly sparked curiosity among his fans and followers.

A few days ago, the media reported that the actor will soon start shooting for aRace 4a. However, this film is not aRace 4a, and has nothing to do with the aRacea franchise, which saw a sharp decline in its fandom after the release of its third part starring Salman Khan.

Meanwhile, Saif Ali Khan is gearing up for his next title aJewel Thief: The Heist Beginsa in which he essays the titular character. The Netflix film also stars Jaideep Ahlawat, Kunal Kapoor, and Nikita Dutta. The film is helmed by Robbie Grewal and Kookie Gulati, and is generating significant social media buzz ever since it was officially announced. Though the release date has not been announced yet, aJewel Thief: The Heist Beginsa is slated to land soon on Netflix, promising a thrilling package of Saif Ali Khanas acting brilliance!

Earlier, Saif was attacked by an assailant who barged into his Bandra house through his youngest son, Jehas room in January. The actor was accompanied by his son Taimur to the hospital. Saif was woken up by the commotion in his son Jehas room. He went inside the room to see the culprit arguing with their house help, looking at this, Saif intervened to save the house help with bare hands to fight off the intruder.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Raipur, March 11 : Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday claimed that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids against his son and close aides were nothing but part of BJP's plot to damage his image and credibility. A team of ED officials had raided the Congress leader's residence in Bhilai yesterday, allegedly in connection with the liquor scam.

Baghel, speaking to media in Raipur said, "Investigations were conducted in Mahadev Satta App case, yet no evidence has been found against me. My name was dragged into the liquor scam despite the court giving me a clean chit. These raids are nothing but an attempt to frame and defame me."

He further claimed that the Centre was using investigative agencies to silence dissent.

"If you ask questions, they get you raided. Former Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma raised a question, and within eight hours, the ED reached his house. I also asked questions from the government, and within four days, the ED was at my doorstep," he claimed.

Baghel accused the government of intimidating Opposition leaders, saying, "This government wants to instill fear among us."

On Monday, Congress workers protested against the raids, raising slogans against the government. Some even clashed with the police, and an ED vehicle was attacked during the confrontation. Protesters stopped an ED car after spotting a currency-counting machine being taken away. Amid the scuffle, Congress worker Sushil alias Sunny Agarwal allegedly hurled a stone at the vehicle, shattering its windshield.

The police have since registered an FIR against 25 persons on charges of obstructing government work, vandalism, and blocking roads. Officials have indicated that arrests are imminent.

Meanwhile, the ED has summoned Chaitanya Baghel, son of the former Chief Minister, for questioning regarding the alleged multi-crore liquor scam. The ED teams searched the residences of Bhupesh Baghel and his son in Padumnagar, Bhilai.

After an 11-hour search, Baghel addressed the media, while his office detailed the seized items in a post on X.

"The ED has left after recovering three items -- a pen drive containing details of transactions worth crores involving Manturam and Dr Puneet Gupta (son-in-law of former CM Dr Raman Singh); documents related to a shell company owned by Abhishek, son of Dr Raman Singh; and records of farming, dairy, Stridhan (valuables of female family members), and Rs 33 lakh in cash, for which an account will be provided to the ED," his office stated.

Baghel also pointed out that ED officials had not provided an ECIR (Enforcement Case Information Report) number, calling it a sign of desperation. "It seems that asking questions in the Assembly has become a crime," he remarked.
Mumbai, March 11 : Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane has triggered a fresh controversy with his recent appeal to the Hindu community to purchase 'Jhatka' mutton from shops bearing the 'Malhar certification' instead of opting for 'Halal' mutton.

Rane's remarks have drawn sharp political reactions, with the Congress accusing him of attempting to create a communal divide, while some leaders have supported his move, citing the right to make informed choices about food consumption.

The controversy erupted after Rane on Monday announced an initiative to issue 'Malhar certification' to shops selling Jhatka mutton. He claimed that this certification would help Hindus identify mutton shops owned by members of their community.

Speaking to IANS, Rane had said, "The 'Jhatka Mutton' that is suitable for our Hindu society is free from any kind of mixing, such as Halal, spitting or other practices. Hence, we have launched a 'Malhar Certification' website, and we believe that through this platform, our Hindu community will not be exposed to any inappropriate or harmful mutton."

He further urged the Hindu community to use the platform, saying, "I urge the Hindu community to visit the website. This will provide you with information about the mutton shops being run by Hindus. The Hindu community should buy mutton from these shops only."

BJP Borivali MLA Sanjay Upadhyay voiced support for Rane's initiative.

Speaking to IANS, he said, "I fully support Nitish Rane's statement because when we slaughter animals, the process involves not just killing but also inflicting pain, which releases harmful chemicals into the body, making it detrimental to health. Many people are unaware of this."

He also emphasised the need for stricter regulations on meat shops.

"All non-veg shops should be licensed, and no shops should operate on footpaths. Hygiene and cleanliness should be maintained. Actions have also been taken against all the shops on the footpath in the Borivali Assembly," Upadhyay added.

However, Congress MLA Amin Patel dismissed Rane's remarks as baseless.

"I do not feel that his statements are serious as they are irrelevant and without logic. Today, we are talking about mutton; the next day, they will talk about vegetables or refrigerators and divide it into Hindu-Muslims. Let people eat what they want to eat," Patel told IANS.

He also defended Halal-certified meat, stating, "As far as 'Halal' mutton is concerned, it is labelled as the best in America, Europe, Canada, etc. Nitesh Rane should know better than me; he keeps travelling to these countries."

Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh offered a balanced view, expressing support for Rane's initiative while questioning the controversy surrounding it.

"I support Nitesh Rane's statement that people can choose what they want to eat. He is creating an option; whoever wants to get Jhatka mutton's certificate should go to Nitesh Rane. What is wrong with it?"

"If they are giving Malhar certification to the people, then it is good. We support it. I don't know why people are creating controversies over this. Also, no one takes him seriously so there is no point of any controversy," Shaikh added.

The debate continues to stir political tension in Maharashtra, with both supporters and critics expressing strong opinions on the matter.
New Delhi, March 11 : Taking a swipe at the Rajiv Gandhi government for its failure to check the pilferage of Central welfare funds, Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday highlighted the gains from the Narendra Modi government's direct benefit transfer (DBT), especially, under the PM-KISAN scheme.

He also denied any prejudice against Tamil Nadu farmers in the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme and offered to launch a special drive for the state, claiming that about 14,000 farmers were still out of the net as the state government needed to conduct inquiry and update applications on the portal.

Replying to a question by M.S. Tharaniventhan of DMK in Lok Sabha, Chouhan said gone are the days when a helpless Prime Minister had admitted that only 15 paise out of each rupee released by the Centre were reaching beneficiaries of welfare schemes on the ground.

"Today, central funds land in the accounts of beneficiaries with a single click of a button without even a single paise being stolen midway," Chouhan said referring to the Narendra Modi government's DBT.

He said earlier there were complaints that some ineligible farmers were benefiting from the scheme so we introduced the three-pronged strategy of land seeding, Aadhar seeding and e-KYC.

The Minister also highlighted that on the sixth anniversary of the PM-KISAN scheme PM Modi released the 19th instalment of the scheme on February 24 from Bhagalpur, Bihar, wherein Rs 22,000 crore were transferred to the bank accounts of 9.8 crore farmers, including 2.41 crore women farmers.

Under the PM-KISAN scheme, a direct payment of Rs 6,000 per year is transferred in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 each, every four months into the bank account of a registered beneficiary farmer.

Hailing Tamil farmers and the state's language and culture, Chouhan said the Central government is committed to extending the benefits of the scheme to all beneficiaries in the southern state.

"Even if some farmers could not be enrolled due to delays in e-KYC we would give the benefit from back date. This is Modi ki Guarantee, guarantee for fulfilment of guarantee," said the Minister.

Denying any delay on the part of the Central government side in delivering the benefits of the PM-KISAN scheme, Chouhan said the Centre is working with state governments where beneficiaries have not yet received the benefits.

"We have urged state governments to update applications on the portal," he said, pointing out that in the case of Tamil Nadu.

"We can even launch a special campaign to enrol Tamil Nadu farmers," said Chouhan, hinting at the lack of interest shown earlier by state ministers.

He recalled his bad experience during his two visits to the state during which neither the agriculture nor rural development minister attended his meetings.

Chouhan also highlighted that nearly Rs 7,600 crore have so far been given to Tamil Nadu under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, which is almost the highest among all states.
Aravalli, March 11 : In an inspiring move under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Swachh Bharat Mission, Gujarat's Modasa Municipality in Aravalli district is leading the charge in promoting cleanliness through creative initiatives.

Aravalli, March 11 (IANS) In an inspiring move under Prime Minister Narendra Modias Swachh Bharat Mission, Gujarat's Modasa Municipality in Aravalli district is leading the charge in promoting cleanliness through creative initiatives.

The municipality has taken proactive steps to transform the cityas polluted areas by installing paver blocks and creating vibrant wall paintings at identified garbage points.

As part of this mission, 13 pollution hotspots across the city have been targeted, with the goal of both beautifying and raising awareness about the importance of cleanliness. Beautiful murals now grace the main roads and areas with heavy pollution, acting as a visual reminder of the necessity for a cleaner environment.

These artistic efforts aim to instil a sense of responsibility among residents while highlighting the role they can play in maintaining a tidy and hygienic city.

Local resident Nileshbhai Joshi spoke to IANS about the success of the campaign, saying: aPrime Minister Modias vision has always been about a clean and healthy nation. Here in Gujarat, the state government has embraced this mission, and in Modasa, weave seen significant improvements. The municipalityas efforts to paint walls and address dirt have been widely praised. However, there are still areas that require attention. Itas important for everyone involved to keep working towards fulfilling the Prime Ministeras vision of cleanliness."

Neeraj Sheth, Chief of Modasa Municipality, shared insights into the projectas development.

"Weave identified high-garbage points like the GBP area and worked to improve them. In these locations, weare not just painting walls, but also adding sitting areas, planting trees, and laying down paver blocks. This is just the beginninga"we plan to continue this initiative and develop more areas as needed," Sheth added.

The Swachh Bharat Mission represents a transformative phase in India's sanitation narrative, driven by a history enriched with ancient innovations and bolstered by contemporary governmental efforts. Initiated in 2014 by the Prime Minister, the mission targeted making India clean.

This massive undertaking successfully mobilised nationwide participation, marking it as the largest behavioural change movement globally. By 2019, the mission celebrated the construction of over 100 million individual household toilets, declaring more than 6 lakh villages ODF, a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary and aligning with SDG Target 6.2.
Chennai, March 11 : Malayalam actor Suraj Venjaramoodu, who makes his debut in Tamil cinema with director S U Arun Kumar's eagerly awaited action entertainer, 'Veera Dheera Sooran', featuring Chiyaan Vikram in the lead, seems to have impressed the entire unit of the film in general and the director in particular, with his ability to deliver dialogues in Tamil clearly and correctly, despite not knowing the language.

In a recent interview to a YouTube channel, director S U Arunkumar spoke about the experience of working with Malayalam actor Suraj Venjaramoodu in his film, which has already raised huge expectations among fans and film buffs.

Arunkumar said, "I wanted to cast Suraj Venjaramoodu in the film. So, I told the producer as Suraj Venjaramoodu and he are good friends. However, when I went to meet him (Suraj Venjaramoodu), he said, 'I will do your film. Narrate the story to me.'"

The director said that the actor's decision to accept to act in his film even before he had begun narrating the script surprised him big time.

"The reason why he had made up his mind to do my film even before hearing the story was because he liked my earlier film 'Chithha' very much. He also liked my film 'Pannaiyarum Padminiyum'. When so many people come willingly to work in my project, trusting me, then, my responsibility increases," Arun said.

He then went on to explain how Suraj was an absolute professional.

"He (Suraj) was coming here for the first time. On the first day, there were so many dialogues for him. But he was able to deliver them easily. The reason for that was he ensured that he got his dialogues in advance, got a translator to translate it for him and then memorised them completely. If you watch the film, there won't be lip synching anywhere in the film. More significantly, he does not know Tamil," explains the director, who admits that he is a a big fan of the actor.

It may be recalled that the unit of the film had released a visual glimpse and teasers of the film earlier.

From what has been revealed so far, Vikram plays a simple common man, owning a grocery store while S J Suryah plays a senior police officer in the film.

Interestingly, 'Veera Dheera Sooran', which has an ensemble star cast including Chiyaan Vikram, S.J. Suryah, Suraj Venjaramoodu and Dushara Vijayan, will have its second part released first. The second part is scheduled to hit screens on March 27 this year.

While the film has cinematography by Theni Eswar, it has music by G V Prakash Kumar. Editing has been taken care of by G.K. Prasanna. Art direction for the film is by C.S. Balachandar. Riya Shibu of HR Pictures is producing this film, which will be an edge-of-seat action thriller.

--IANS

Mkr/
Ukraine ready to accept US proposal for immediate 30-day ceasefire on conditions of simultaneous implementation by Russia  joint statement

Ukraine has expressed its readiness to accept the US proposal to immediately introduce a 30-day ceasefire, provided that it is simultaneously implemented by the Russian Federation, says a joint statement following the meeting of the Ukrainian and US delegations in Jeddah.

Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the US proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, and which is subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation. The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace, the document says.

The delegations also discussed the importance of humanitarian relief efforts as part of the peace process, particularly during the abovementioned ceasefire, including the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children.
March 11 : South Eastern Railways and Central Railways have announced a total of 28 special trains for the 2025 Holi festival, which will fall on March 14. South Eastern Railways will operate 8 of these trains, while Central Railways will run 20. These additional services are aimed at managing the increased passenger demand during the festive season. Trains will run on key routes, including Tatanagar-Katihar, SMVT Bengaluru-Santragachi, Ranchi-Jaynagar, CSMT-Banaras, Panvel-Chiplun, and more, ensuring greater convenience for passengers during this time.

Special trains deployed by South Eastern Railways include Train No.08181 Tatanagar-Katihar Special, which will leave Tatanagar on March 12 at 1 PM and will reach Katihar at 2 AM the next day. In the return direction, Train No.08182 Katihar-Tatanagar Special will leave Katihar on March 13 at 3:50 AM and arrive at Tatanagar at 4 PM the same day. Similarly, Train No. 06541 SMVT Bengaluru-Santragachi Special will depart from SMVT Bengaluru at 3:50 PM on March 11 and 15 and reach Santragachi at 6 AM on the third day. In the return direction, Train No.06542 Santragachi-SMVT Bengaluru Special will leave Santragachi on the 13th and 17th of March at 12:10 PM and will arrive at SMVT Bengaluru at 8:10 PM the following day.

Additionally, the South Eastern Railways will operate Train No.08105 Ranchi-Jaynagar Special, which will depart from Ranchi station at 2:50 PM on March 12th and will reach Jaynagar at 6 AM the next day. Return service, Train No.08106 Jaynagar-Ranchi Special will leave Jaynagar on th 13th at 12:10 PM and reach Ranchi at 03:30 AM on the subsequent day. Further, Train No.08183 Tatanagar-Buxar Special will depart Tatanagar station at 4:20 PM on March 12th and will reach Buxar at 07:45 AM on the next day. In the return direction, Train No.08184 Buxar -Tatanagar Special will leave Buxar on March 13th at 10 AM, and reach Tatanagar at 3 AM on the day that follows.

Central Railways has scheduled festival special services as follows: Train No. 01013 CSMT- Banaras Special will leave CSMT at 10:30 PM on 13th March and arrive in Banaras at 05:30 AM on the third day. Train No.01014 Banaras-CSMT Special will leave Banaras at 8 AM on March 15th and reach CSMT at 1:30 PM on the next day. Likewise, Train No. 01015 CSMT-Mau Special will leave CSMT at 10:30 AM on the 12th and arrive at Mau at 10:30 AM on the third day. In the return direction, Train No.01016 Mau-CSMT Special will leave Mau at 5 AM on the 14th of March and arrive at CSMT at 12:40 AM, on the third day. Train No.01011 LTT-Danapur Special will depart from LTT at 10:30 AM on March 10, arriving in Danapur at 6:45 PM on the next day. Return service, Train No.01012 Danapur-LTT Special will leave Danapur at 9:30 PM on the 11th and will arrive at LTT at 04:50 AM on the third day.

Additionally, Central Railways will operate several special services, including Train No. 01103 LTTMadgaon Special, which will depart from LTT on March 17 and 24 at 8:20 AM, arriving in Madgaon at 9:40 PM the same day. The return service, Train No. 01104 Special, will leave Madgaon on March 16 and 23 at 4:30 PM, reaching LTT at 6:25 AM the following day. Similarly, Train No. 01101 PanvelMadgaon Special will depart from Panvel at 6:20 PM on March 15 and 22, reaching Madgaon at 6:45 AM the next day. In the return direction, Train No. 01102 MadgaonPanvel Special will depart from Madgaon at 8 AM on March 15 and 22, arriving in Panvel at 5:30 PM the same day. Additionally, Train No. 01017 PanvelChiplun Unreserved Special will operate on March 13, 14, 15, and 16, departing from Panvel at 9:10 PM and reaching Chiplun at 2 AM the next day. Its return service, Train No. 01018 ChiplunPanvel Unreserved Special, will depart from Chiplun at 3:25 PM on March 13, 14, 15, and 16, arriving in Panvel at 8:45 PM the same day.

Furthermore, Central Railways has arranged additional special trains for passenger convenience, including Train No. Pune-Danapur Special, which will depart from Pune at 7:55 PM on March 11 and arrive in Danapur at 4:30 AM on the third day. Train No.01420 Special will leave Danapur at 06:30 AM on the 13th and will arrive in Pune at 5:35 PM, the next day. Similarly, Train No.03426 Pune-Malda Town Special will leave Pune at 8 PM on 23rd March and will arrive in Malda Town at 4:30 PM on the third day. In the return direction, Train No.03425 Malda Town-Pune Special will leave Malda Town at 5:30 PM on the 21st and will arrive in Pune at 11:35 AM on the third day. Additionally, Train No.04726 Hadapsar-Hisar Special will depart from Hadapsar at 5 PM on March 10 and 17th and will arrive in Hisar at 10:25 PM on the following day. Return service, Train No.04725 Hisar-Hadsapar, will arrive in Hisar at 05:50 AM on March 9 and 16 and will arrive in Hadapsar at 10:45 AM on the next day. Further, Train No. 06520 Kalaburagi-Sir M Visvesaraya Terminal Bengaluru Special will depart from Kalaburagi at 9:35 AM on March 14 and 15, arriving in Bengaluru at 8 PM the same day. In the return direction, Train No. 06519 Sir M Visvesaraya Terminal Bengaluru-Kalaburag will leave Bengaluru at 9:15 PM on the 13th and 14th of March and will arrive in Kalaburagi at 7:40 AM on the next day.

The proactive measures undertaken by the South Eastern Railways and Central Railways to accommodate the rush of passengers during the Holi festival are commendable. The deployment of a total of 28 special trains reflects a thoughtful gesture to ensure a comfortable travel experience for the passengers. Wishing everyone a safe and joyous journey this festive season. Happy Holi!!
Shahjahanpur, March 11 : In a bid to maintain peace and ensure the safety of religious places during the upcoming Holi celebrations, the district administration of Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, has taken a unique precautionary step with over 60 mosques in the region been covered with tarpaulin sheets ahead of the famous 'Joota Maar Holi,' a colourful and chaotic event known for its exuberant processions and exuberant revelry.

The decision comes after extensive discussions with religious leaders and local authorities, aimed at preventing the mosques from being smeared with colours or, in some cases, shoes during the festivities.

Shahjahanpur is home to one of the most distinctive Holi traditions, where people engage in a playful 'Joota Maar Holi' during a procession that spans approximately 10 kilometres. The festivities attract thousands of participants, often leading to uncontrolled chaos, making the precautionary measures necessary.

To prevent damage to the mosques and ensure the smooth flow of the celebrations, the district administration, with the support of local religious leaders, decided to cover mosques and other religious structures with tarpaulin.

This is intended to keep them protected from the shoe hitting, colour splashes and potential disruptions associated with the event. Authorities have also planned for additional security measures, including surveillance and monitoring by police personnel in military uniforms, as well as the use of drones to keep a watchful eye on religious places during the celebrations.

While the Muslim community in Shahjahanpur has expressed their support for these protective measures, they have emphasised that the covering of mosques is in everyoneas best interest. By ensuring that no colour falls on their religious places, the atmosphere will remain undisturbed, allowing everyone to enjoy the festivities peacefully. The initiative has been broadly accepted, and religious leaders have voiced their approval after attending peace committee meetings with local officials.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajesh S. reassured the public, stating, "We have covered the mosques and are deploying special security around all religious structures. We are monitoring them with both videography and drone surveillance to ensure safety. The peace committee has given its approval, and the cooperation from the minority community is commendable."

The district administration is hopeful that the celebrations will proceed without incident, maintaining the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeba"the spirit of communal harmonya"for which the city is known.
Chennai, March 11 : The Madras High Court on Tuesday stayed the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) provisional attachment of property worth Rs 10 crore belonging to renowned Tamil filmmaker S. Shankar in the 'Enthiran' copyright case.

A division bench, comprising Justice M. S. Ramesh and Justice N. Senthilkumar, granted the stay while hearing a petition filed by Shankar.

The ED had taken action in connection with a copyright infringement case related to the 2010 movie 'Enthiran'.

The ED had attached Shankar's property on February 17 following a complaint by writer Arur Tamilnadan, who alleged that the story of Enthiran was based on his work, 'Jugiba', without proper authorisation.

Since copyright violations fall under the scheduled offences listed in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the ED took action under its provisions.

However, in June 2023, a single judge of the Madras High Court dismissed Tamilnadan's civil suit against Shankar, ruling that copyright protection cannot be claimed over mere ideas or concepts.

The judge also observed that there was no evidence proving that 'Enthiran' was a direct imitation of 'Jugiba'.

When the matter came up for hearing on Tuesday, Senior Advocate P. S. Raman, representing Shankar, argued that the ED's action was arbitrary, especially in light of the previous court ruling that found no copyright violation.

He also contested the ED's claim that Shankar had earned Rs 11.5 crore from 'Enthiran', asserting that his earnings came from other projects.

Therefore, he argued, the ED had no grounds to attach the filmmaker's property.

The bench questioned whether the ED could initiate such an action based solely on an individualas complaint.

"Can the ED register cases merely because someone alleges that a crime has been committed? Why didnat the ED wait for the outcome of the complaint before attaching the property?" the court asked.

In response, ED's counsel Vishnu referred to the ruling in Vijay Madhanlal Choudhary, arguing that the agency had the legal authority to act on individual complaint.

He further contended that the property attachment had not caused any harm to Shankar and that there was no need for judicial interference. After hearing the arguments, the court directed the ED to file a counter affidavit and adjourned the case to April 21.
Islamabad, March 11 : A passenger train in Pakistan's Balochistan province came under a major attack on Tuesday, forcing the train to derail and allowing enough time for the attackers to take over 100 passengers hostage.

As per latest reports, at least six people are confirmed dead while several others have been injured in the terror incident.

The attack was carried out on Jaffar Express passenger train when it was crossing from Ab-e-Ghum area of Mach Town in the Kachhi district (formerly named Bolan District) of Balochistan province.

Details reveal that about six armed men opened fire on the train. The heavy firing forced the train off the track, spreading panic among the passengers.

Pakistan-based militant group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that it had taken over 100 passengers as hostages.

"The Baloch Liberation Army has carried out a strategic operation in Mashkaf, Dhadar, Bolan, seizing control of the Jaffar Express by derailing it. During the resistance, six military personnel were killed while over 100 passengers have been taken into the BLA custody," read a statement issued by BLA.

The latest attack is by far one of the biggest conducted by BLA in recent times. The BLA claims of taking 100 hostages, majority of them security personnel, have not been confirmed or verified by the security forces till now. A cleansing operation to take out the attackers and rescue the hostages from militant custody is underway.

Local media cited that railway officials have deployed emergency protocols and facilities in nearby hospitals activated as ambulances have been dispatched from Sibi.

"Security forces have reportedly surrounded the area around Mach mountains, which is known for its difficult terrain. The authorities have deployed additional convoys to assist in the operation. Sources further indicated that explosives may have been used to damage the railway tracks before the firing began, and the driver was among those seriously injured. The gunmen have reportedly continued to fire sporadically, with ongoing efforts to free the hostages and secure the passengers," reported Express Tribune.
New Delhi, March 11 : Telecom major Airtel on Tuesday said it has signed an agreement with Elon Musk's SpaceX to bring Starlink's high-speed internet services to its customers in India.

This is the first agreement to be signed in India, which is subject to SpaceX receiving its own authorisations to sell Starlink in the country.

Airtel and SpaceX will explore offering Starlink equipment in Airtel's retail stores, Starlink services via Airtel to business customers, opportunities to connect communities, schools, and health centres, among many others, in even the most rural parts of India.

Airtel and SpaceX will also explore how Starlink could help expand and enhance the Airtel network, as well as SpaceX's ability to utilise and benefit from Airtel's ground network infrastructure and other capabilities in India, said the company.

"Working with SpaceX to offer Starlink to Airtel customers in India is a significant milestone and further demonstrates our commitment to next-generation satellite connectivity," said Gopal Vittal, Managing Director and Vice Chairman, Bharti Airtel.

"This collaboration enhances our ability to bring world-class high-speed broadband to even the most remote parts of India, ensuring that every individual, business, and community has reliable internet," he added.

Starlink will complement and enhance Airtel's suite of products to ensure reliable and affordable broadband for our Indian customers  wherever they live and work, said Vittal.

By adding Starlink, (in addition to its existing alliance with Eutelsat OneWeb) to its offerings, Airtel will further its ability to offer nationwide connectivity and connect previously underserved areas, particularly those with limited to no coverage today.

With Starlink enterprise suite, Airtel will be able to offer enterprises, businesses, and communities comprehensive and seamless connectivity packages.

"We are excited to work with Airtel and unlock the transformative impact Starlink can bring to the people of India. We are constantly amazed by the incredible and inspiring things that people, businesses and organizations do when they are connected via Starlink," said Gwynne Shotwell, President and Chief Operating Officer of SpaceX.

"The team at Airtel has played a pivotal role in India's telecom story, so working with them to complement our direct offering makes great sense for our business," Shotwell added.

Starlink delivers high-speed, low-latency internet to users all over the world. As the world's first and largest satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit, Starlink delivers broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls and more.
New Delhi, March 11 : The Government has informed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs that India has not made any commitment to reduce tariffs on goods imported from the US.

In a briefing on the issue, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal told the Parliamentary committee that negotiations between India and the US were still ongoing and that no trade agreement had been finalised.

The Commerce Secretary's clarification came in the wake of US President Donald Trump's statement that India has agreed to bring "way down" its tariffs on US goods.

Barthwal said, "One cannot go by the US President's claims and on media reports as the bilateral trade agreement talks between the two nations are still on. India has not committed to anything on trade tariffs to the US".

He also made it clear that India's interests were of paramount importance and would be taken care of during the trade negotiations.

Barthwal said that India was in favour of increasing bilateral trade with the US but would not indiscriminately lower tariffs, especially in sectors crucial to its domestic economy.

"India prefers to negotiate tariff reductions bilaterally rather than multilaterally to ensure national interests are upheld," Barthwal told the parliamentary committee

He also highlighted that India's situation was different from that of Canada and Mexico as these two countries shared a border with the USA which involved security concerns.

Trump's 'America First' policy has the potential to disrupt world trade as the US President has accused trading partners of unfair practices and threatened to impose punitive tariffs on a large scale. He has accused India of levying massive tariffs on US goods.

According to a Morgan Stanley report, India is the "best-placed country in Asia," amid the global uncertainty triggered by US President Donald Trump's threat to jack up tariffs, because of the nation's low goods exports to GDP ratio and strong Government policy to support domestic demand.

"While India is exposed to direct tariff risks, we believe on balance India is less exposed to global goods trade slowdown considering that it has the lowest goods exports to GDP ratio in the region," the report states.

According to the report, while India can eventually reach a trade deal with the US, it would be relatively more challenging given the multiple bilateral trade issues.

The report highlights that WTO's most-favoured-nation principle also prevents India from adjusting its tariffs on US imports first without extending this to other WTO members unless this happens under a free-trade agreement.

Under the WTO agreements, countries cannot normally discriminate between their trading partners. Grant someone a special favour (such as a lower customs duty rate for one of their products) and you have to do the same for all other WTO members.
Canberra, March 11 : Air Vice Marshal Di Turton will be representing Australia at a meeting called by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris later on Tuesday to discuss support for Ukraine.

Macron is hosting military chiefs from 30 European and NATO countries to discuss security assurances for Ukraine following a hope for a ceasefire deal.

Meanwhile, the Russian Embassy in Canberra on Monday warned of "grave consequences" if Australia joined a "coalition of the willing" proposed by the United Kingdom and France to guarantee Ukraine's security in the event of a peace deal, something Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he would consider.

In a statement to The Sydney Morning Herald, the Russian embassy in Canberra said, "For Australia, joining the so-called coalition of the willing would entail grave consequences".

"Once again, Western boots on the ground are unacceptable for Russia, and we will not remain passive observers. To those inclined to construe the above as a threat: it is not; it is a warning. Russia has no intention to harm Australians, and Canberra can easily avoid trouble by simply refraining from irresponsible adventurism in the zone of the special military operation," the statement added.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong had reacted strongly to the statement, saying that the Albanese government "won't be intimidated".

Wong said Australia had "a proud tradition of supporting peace through 80 years of contributions to international peacekeeping missions," while emphasising no such mission yet existed and that no decision has been made.

"Our message to Russia is: end your illegal invasion of Ukraine. We won't be intimidated from working towards a just peace for the people of Ukraine," she stated on Monday.

Earlier, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that Australia is "open to consideration" of its involvement in any peacekeeping process in Ukraine.

Albanese's signal of openness to joining a mission created a bipartisan fissure, with Opposition Leader and Prime Ministerial candidate for the upcoming elections in Australia, Peter Dutton, arguing Europeans should do more and that Australia should focus on regional needs, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
Kolkata, March 11 : West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay on Tuesday directed the assembly secretary to withhold circulation of house proceedings-related documents to BJP legislators.

The move comes in response to repeated incidents of BJP MLAs tearing Assembly documents inside the House. The Speaker noted that similar instances in the past had prompted this decision, aimed at preventing further disruptions.

The directive sparked strong protests from BJP lawmakers, who staged a walkout from the House. Even after leaving, they continued demonstrating within the Assembly premises, shouting slogans against the ruling dispensation.

Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari condemned the decision, calling it "unprecedented" and "authoritarian."

Speaking to the media, he said, "This is a blatant attempt to stifle the oppositionas voice. We have never seen a Speaker take such an extreme step of barring opposition MLAs from receiving assembly documents. However, we are not deterred. We will bring our own papers daily and tear them apart in the House as a mark of protest. Our agitation against this undemocratic move will continue."

Tensions flared when the Speaker refused to admit an adjournment motion tabled by BJP members to discuss recent incidents of communal clashes in certain parts of the state. Justifying his decision, Bandopadhyay stated that the issue had already been deliberated upon in the House and did not warrant further discussion.

This rejection triggered a strong reaction from BJP MLAs, who protested inside the Assembly.

The uproar intensified as some BJP legislators descended into the well of the House, shouting slogans against the ruling dispensation. In a dramatic show of dissent, a few BJP MLAs tore apart assembly papers and documents circulated to them.

Reacting sharply to this, the Speaker announced that henceforth, BJP MLAs would not be provided with any official documents or papers during the session.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 11 : Kerala BJP president K. Surendran on Tuesday asked the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left government to apologise to the ASHA workers after Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda revealed that the Centre has given all dues to the state regarding payments for them.

According to Surendran, Union Minister Nadda said on the floor of the House that there are no outstanding dues to be paid to Kerala for payments to be made to the Asha Workers.

"Now with things becoming crystal clear, the Vijayan government should apologise for spreading canards against the Centre. The ongoing protest by the Asha Workers is genuine and they are fighting for their rights," said Surendran.

On Tuesday just before the Parliament session began, the Congress-led UDF MPs staged a protest demanding action from the Centre.

"One also fails to understand the repeated statements by Leader of Opposition V. D. Satheesan that the Centre is ignoring the felt needs of Kerala, when the Centre has done its duties. Instead of protesting before the Parliament, the Congress-led UDF MPs should protest before the state secretariat here," said Surendran.

"Nadda has informed the Parliament that Kerala is yet to submit the utilisation of the National Health Mission funds. This is a serious issue as Kerala is playing hide and seek and one doubts if this is done to aid corruption," pointed out Surendran.

Incidentally, the Kerala ASHA Workers' protest issue was raised in Parliament on Monday.

In the Lok Sabha, it was raised by Congress MPs K. C. Venugopal, Shashi Tharoor and V. K. Sreekantan, and in the Upper House, it was BJP member and former National Women's Commission chairperson Rekha Sharma.

The ASHA protesters are demanding a hike in their monthly honorarium from Rs 7,000 to Rs 21,000, along with retirement benefits and the clearance of pending payments.

The CPI(M)-led Vijayan government has come under sharp criticism not just from the Congress-led UDF and the BJP but from various sections of society.
Bengaluru, March 11 : The Karnataka government issued a circular on Tuesday outlining guidelines for owners of homestays and resorts operating in tourist destinations across the state to ensure the safety of tourists.

This comes in the wake of the horrific gangrape of an Israeli female tourist and an Indian homestay owner near the Tungabhadra Left Canal in Gangavathi town, Koppal district, close to the UNESCO heritage site Hampi.

The circular, issued by the Karnataka government, states that homestays must take necessary precautions to ensure the safety of all tourists, including foreign nationals. Whenever tourists are taken to remote or isolated locations, the jurisdictional police must be informed, and prior permission must be obtained.

If tourists are taken to such locations without police permission, the homestay owners will be held responsible for any attacks by anti-social elements or wild animals. They will also face legal consequences as per the law.

S. R. Umashankar, Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department has issued the circular to the State Police Chief, all Deputy Commissioners, all Superintendents of Police, ADGP (Law and Order), and the Director of State Intelligence.

Officials have been directed to ensure that the circular reaches every resort and homestay in each district and to obtain an undertaking from the owners confirming compliance.

They have also been instructed to review the itineraries of homestays and resorts to ensure that planned visits do not involve risky locations.

Furthermore, officers have been given one week to implement these measures and submit a report by March 18.

The circular also states: "Authorities have reported that on March 6, two foreign nationals and two Indian tourists staying at a homestay in Anegundi, Gangavathi taluk, were taken for stargazing after dinner by the homestay owner. While there, three anti-social elements confronted the male tourists, assaulted them, and pushed them into the Tungabhadra Left Canal. They then raped the Indian homestay owner and the Israeli female tourist. Among those pushed into the canal, a tourist from Odisha tragically lost his life."

The circular describes this incident as deeply saddening and unfortunate. To prevent such tragedies in the future, these guidelines have been issued, it states.

The police have arrested all three accused in the case.
Zelenskyy, Trump agree to sign mineral deal as soon as possible  delegations joint statement

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump agreed to conclude an agreement on the development of Ukrainian minerals as soon as possible, according to a joint statement following the meeting of the Ukrainian and US delegations in Jeddah.

Lastly, both countries presidents agreed to conclude as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraines critical mineral resources to expand Ukraines economy, offset the cost of American assistance, and guarantee Ukraines long-term prosperity and security, the document reads.
Chandigarh, March 11 : President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday urged students to cultivate five essential qualities in life -- curiosity, originality, morality, farsightedness, and spontaneity.

Addressing the convocation ceremony at the Central University of Punjab in Bathinda, the President described the event as a significant milestone, marking both the culmination of one phase in students' lives and the beginning of another.

She expressed confidence that graduates, through their conduct and contributions, would bring glory to their university, families, and the nation.

Elaborating on the five qualities, the President said that curiosity keeps a person eager to learn and grow. "Curious people continue gaining knowledge throughout their lives," she noted.

She encouraged students to apply their understanding to innovate in their chosen fields. "Originality gives a unique identity," she emphasized.

On morality, she said it forms the foundation of a meaningful life. "Being a good person is more important than just being successful," she stated, advising students to pursue opportunities based on their abilities and interests rather than immediate gains.

Highlighting the value of spontaneity, she said it has multiple dimensions -- avoiding pretentiousness, maintaining consistency between words and actions, and staying connected to one's roots.

The President was happy to note that students from almost all states and union territories are studying in the Central University of Punjab.

She noted that its teaching community also reflects India's diversity. She said that this all-India representation is a commendable feature of this University. Such institutions are representative of the vibrant culture of our country.

She expressed her delight, saying, "I am overjoyed to see that nearly 65 per cent of today's medal winners are women. I whole heartedly congratulate these talented and determined individuals. The progress of women mirrors the progress of society itself. Educated women lay the foundation for a strong and thriving community. I firmly believe that these remarkable women will play a pivotal role in shaping our collective dream of a developed India into a beautiful reality."
New Delhi, March 11 : The Delhi High Court has refused to interfere with an order passed by a court below recommending disciplinary action against the city's police officials over the non-registration of an FIR in an alleged murder case.

A bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna was hearing a writ petition filed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of North District challenging the Special Judge's direction to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to take appropriate disciplinary action against the senior officials.

The petition contended that there was no cogent reason for the court below to make such remarks and give directions against the senior police officials/SHO in the facts of the present case. Further, the plea said that on receipt of the complaint, the proper enquiry had been conducted before arriving at the opinion that no cognisable offence was made out, and the opinion of the department was approved and endorsed by the Metropolitan Magistrate who declined to direct registration of FIR under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C.

The plea contended that the Special Judge erred in passing adverse remarks and giving directions against Delhi Police officials without giving them an opportunity to be heard.

The deceased was doing the business of handicrafts in Meerut and had rented premises in Delhi. He was in a relationship with Tavishi Chandra and they used to reside together in the rented flat, as and when the deceased visited Delhi. On the day of the incident admittedly, Tavishi Chandra and the deceased were together. The next morning, Tavishi Chandra left in the morning but when she came back, she found the deceased hanging with a rope. She informed the police and said that she had cut the rope with which the deceased was hanging with the help of a knife and had brought him down.

The post-mortem report reflects as many as 14 injuries, out of which five injuries were caused by a pointed object and two injuries by a sharp object. All the injuries were stated to be antemortem. "The respondent Trishla Jain, mother of the deceased, had given a complaint on the next day itself, but the police for the reasons best known, chose not to register the FIR on the pretext that they were conducting an enquiry. [I]t is not a case where there was a preliminary inquiry required to ascertain if it was an unnatural death. The circumstances, as described above, with 14 antemortem (before death) injuries justify the immediate registration of FIR," said the Justice Krishna-led Bench.

Clearly, it was a case where FIR should have been registered immediately on the complaint, it added. The Delhi High Court said that the revision court was not unjustified in observing that there was dereliction on the part of senior police officials and SHO/DCP of Police Station Sarai Rohilla.

"It is not as if any strictures or adverse remarks have been made, but it is an observation made in the background of the facts as already narrated. It cannot be, therefore, said that the learned ASJ failed to exercise any restraint, or his conduct was not in consonance with the High Court Rules, which discourage making of any strictures and observations against the Police Officials," further said the Justice Krishna-led Bench.

Upholding the order of the court below, the Delhi HC directed that a compliance report of inquiry in regard to dereliction of duties by the concerned officials be submitted before the trial court within six weeks. It clarified that any enquiry which may be initiated by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs would necessarily be done in accordance with the procedures.
Mumbai, March 11 : Veteran actress Rakhee Gulzar has said that the new song 'Bawshonto Dekeche Amake' from her upcoming Bengali language film 'Aamar Boss' celebrates the spirit of youthfulness.

The actress is set to make her return to the silver screen with her upcoming Bengali language film. The song embodies the timeless essence of youth, a feeling that transcends time and fills life with joy, energy, and hope. Adding to its charm, the track marks the first collaboration between Anupam Roy and Prashmita Paul on a film after their marriage, making it even more special.

Talking about the song, Rakhee Gulzar shared, "Youth is a feeling, an energy that stays with you. 'Bawshonto Dekeche Amake' is a song that celebrates that spirit, and it was a joy to be part of something so uplifting".

The music video features a stellar ensemble cast, led by the legendary Rakhee Gulzar, alongside Shruti Das, Souraseni Maitra, Kanchan Mallick, Gaurav Chatterjee, and more. With stunning visuals and a soul-stirring composition, the song beautifully captures the vibrancy of youth, the joy of new beginnings, and the essence of spring.

For Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee, the song is a tribute to the idea that youth is not just about age but about the way one embraces life.

They shared in a joint statement, "With 'Bawshonto Dekeche Amake,' we wanted to capture the beauty of eternal youth, the idea that every season of life brings new possibilities. The song is filled with that energy, and we hope it resonates with everyone who believes in the magic of new beginnings".

With its captivating melody and visuals, 'Bawshonto Dekeche Amake' is getting a lot of positive response, setting the tone for 'Aamar Boss', a film that promises to be as heartfelt as its music.
Mumbai, March 11 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Tuesday that stern action will be taken against the illegal use of loudspeakers in places of worship.

He was responding to a discussion on a calling attention motion moved by BJP legislator Devayani Pharande and others.

The Chief Minister said that as per the Supreme Court order, permission should be taken before the installation of loudspeakers at places of worship.

Loudspeakers need to be turned off between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., he said.

"There should be a noise limit of 55 decibels during the day and 44 decibels at night between 6 am and 10 pm. According to the law, if the loudspeakers are operated at more decibels, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has been given the power to take action against them by the central law. There is currently a provision in the law that the police should take note of this and inform the Pollution Control Board. However, this does not seem to be being followed at present," he added.

CM Fadnavis further said that from now on, no one will be given permission to use loudspeakers in general as they will have to be used for a fixed period.

"After that, if the concerned person wants to use loudspeakers again, they would have to get permission from the police again. Wherever the noise limit is violated, permission will not be given again. Also, the loudspeakers will be confiscated. It will be the responsibility of the police inspector from the concerned police stations to see the rules are followed strictly," he added.

"A police inspector should go to every place of worship and check whether permission has been obtained for the use of loudspeakers. If the decibel level of the loudspeakers exceeds the noise limit, the first step should be to inform the Pollution Control Board and the second step should be to not grant permission again," he said.

According to the present law, the police do not have adequate powers as the pollution control board, he said.

He added that the government is contemplating bringing changes in the prevailing rules after which effective action can be taken against the illegal use of loudspeakers.

"The state government will request the Centre to amend the rules," he added.
Gandhinagar, March 11 : Under the Swachhata Abhiyan (Cleanliness Campaign), Gujarat Legislative Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary, along with several MLAs, participated in a cleanliness drive at the MLA residential complex in Gandhinagar.

This initiative was part of the nationwide Swachhata Hi Seva Abhiyan 3.0.

The drive commenced with shramdaan (voluntary labor), where the Speaker and MLAs actively cleaned the premises. Following the cleanup, Speaker Chaudhary interacted with the sanitation workers and shared a light breakfast with them as a token of appreciation for their efforts.

Speaking on the occasion, Speaker Shankar Chaudhary emphasised how Prime Minister Narendra Modi has transformed Mahatma Gandhi's vision of a Clean India into a mass movement.

He highlighted that the campaign has successfully instilled cleanliness as a national priority, with public spaces across the country reflecting this change.

"Every citizen of India now proudly embraces cleanliness as a way of life. The Swachh Bharat Mission has become a collective movement, and today, as part of this initiative, we have undertaken a cleanliness drive at the MLA residential complex in Gandhinagar. Cleanliness should become a habit, a lifestyle, and Prime Minister Modi's efforts in this direction have yielded remarkable results. This collective effort will further contribute to building a cleaner nation," said Speaker Chaudhary.

During the event, Speaker Chaudhary and fellow MLAs actively participated in the cleanliness activities.

He also engaged in a heartfelt conversation with sanitation workers, acknowledging their dedication and hard work.

The Speaker commended the efforts of women sanitation workers, recognizing their crucial role in maintaining hygiene and cleanliness in public spaces.

The Swachhata Abhiyan (Cleanliness Campaign) is a national movement aimed at promoting cleanliness, hygiene, and sanitation across India.

Launched as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission, it seeks to instill a sense of responsibility among citizens towards maintaining a clean and healthy environment.

The campaign involves active participation from government officials, local authorities, community members, and volunteers who engage in cleaning activities, waste management, and awareness programmes.

The initiative extends to urban and rural areas, covering public spaces, educational institutions, workplaces, and residential areas.

It emphasises behavioral change, encouraging people to adopt cleanliness as a daily practice.

Over the years, the Swachhata Abhiyan has resulted in significant improvements in sanitation infrastructure, waste disposal, and public hygiene, making India a cleaner and more sustainable nation.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Bhopal, March 11 : Congress MLA Jaivardhan Singh on Tuesday questioned the Madhya Pradesh government's allocation of funds for the 'Chief Minister's Seekho-Kamao Yojana' (CMSKY), claiming that only Rs 30 crore has been sanctioned so far against the scheme's estimated requirement of nearly Rs 1,000 crore.

Bhopal, March 11 (IANS) Congress MLA Jaivardhan Singh on Tuesday questioned the Madhya Pradesh governmentas allocation of funds for the aChief Minister's Seekho-Kamao Yojanaa (CMSKY), claiming that only Rs 30 crore has been sanctioned so far against the schemeas estimated requirement of nearly Rs 1,000 crore.

The CMSKY aims to enhance skill development by providing financial assistance of Rs 8,000 per month for up to six months to eligible candidates, helping them adapt to modern industry demands.

Addressing the media on the second day of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assemblyas budget session, Singh said the state's skill development department had sought Rs 1,000 crore for the scheme, but the government allocated only Rs 30 crore.

"I had raised a question regarding the funds sanctioned for CMSKY, and it was revealed that merely Rs 30 crore has been allocated so far. The BJP government makes tall claims about its schemes, but the reality is quite different," Singh alleged.

The skill development initiative aims to bridge the gap between education and industry demands, equipping young people with the necessary tools to improve employability and entrepreneurship. For rural youth, the programme offers specialised training in agriculture, handicrafts, dairy farming, and traditional crafts, ensuring skills that align with the local economy.

According to state government reports, various vocational training programmes in fields such as construction, textile production, automobile repair, healthcare, and information technology are being conducted at Skill Development Centres across Madhya Pradesh.

The government has also been fostering industry-academia partnerships to align training curricula with employer demands, ensuring better job prospects for trainees.

The budget session of the MP Assembly began on Monday amid protests by the opposition Congress over various issues. Chief Minister Mohan Yadavas BJP government is expected to present at least five key bills for discussion and approval before the session concludes on March 24.
Islamabad, March 11 : In a major embarrassment to Islamabad, the United States denied entry to a top Pakistani diplomat and deported him from Los Angeles over "controversial visa references", local media in Pakistan reported on Tuesday.

Pakistan's Ambassador to Turkmenistan, K K Wagan was reportedly travelling to Los Angeles for a personal visit when he was stopped by the US immigration authorities upon arrival.

The US authorities flagged Wagan over "controversial visa references", leading to his immediate deportation even though it remains unclear what specific concerns triggered this response from the American authorities.

The Pakistani Foreign Office confirmed on Tuesday that their officer had gone to the US on a private visit. The Foreign Office spokesperson said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was looking into the matter of the envoy's deportation from the US and that an investigation was underway.

"Ambassador K K Wagan was deported from the US. He had an immigration objection, which led to his deportation," a senior Pakistani Foreign Ministry official was quoted as saying by the Pakistani media.

Several reports indicate that Wagan is likely to be summoned to Islamabad to explain his side of the story.

The incident comes amid reports that US President Donald Trump would soon impose a travel ban on travellers from Pakistan to effectively stop their entry into the country.

Pakistan's Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik on Monday admitted that some travel restrictions may be introduced on Pakistani citizens by the new US administration led by President Donald Trump. Malik stated that the US has expressed concerns over the surge in terrorism-related incidents in Pakistan.

Islamabad fears that, along with Afghanistan, Pakistan will also definitely feature in the list being prepared by the Trump administration to impose a new travel ban based on a government review of security and vetting risks.

Earlier this month, the US Department of State issued a travel advisory to American citizens asking them to reconsider travel to Pakistan due toaterrorism and the potential for armed conflict. It advised US citizens not to travel to Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces, which include the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), due to terrorism.

Terrorism and ongoing violence by extremist elements have led to indiscriminate attacks on civilians, as well as local military and police targets in Pakistan. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, military installations, airports, universities, tourist attractions, schools, hospitals, places of worship, and government facilities. Terrorists have targeted US diplomats and diplomatic facilities in the past, the advisory stated.
Srinagar, March 11 : Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference (PC) President and Handwara MLA, Sajad Lone, launched a sharp critique of the recently presented state Budget, calling it a "politically motivated exercise" that lacks financial viability, a statement by the PC said on Tuesday.

Speaking in the Assembly, Lone asserted that Budget formulation is a strategic and complex process typically overseen by experienced officers, but this Budget raises significant concerns regarding its economic soundness.

Commenting on its political underpinnings, the J&K People's Conference President said, "When I evaluate this Budget within a political framework, I see that it echoes the 'Naya Kashmir' narrative and discourse championed by Prime Minister Modi and the BJP, which has been aggressively pushed post-August 5, 2019."

He pointed to contradictions in the government's approach, remarking, "These are the same schemes and policies that were once criticised but are now being hailed as transformative. The very Prime Minister's Development Package (PMDP) for which we were vilified has suddenly become praiseworthy. Everything the ruling party has dismissed over the past five years is now being glorified. Both NC and BJP are competing in their praise of Modi Ji, leaving us confused about which endorsement is more enthusiastic."

To underscore the failure of past promises, Lone presented the National Conference's (NC) manifesto in the Assembly, reading aloud its commitments, including 200 free electricity units, job creation and social welfare benefits, all of which remain unfulfilled.

He asserted, "If I were to present this manifesto as evidence, as one does in a court, it would be clear that there is no mention of free electricity units being restricted to Antyodaya Anna Yojana beneficiaries. The promise was unconditional."

Backing his arguments with financial analysis, Lone outlined the staggering cost required to fulfill these commitments.

"The ruling party's promises alone require Rs 3,000 crore for one lakh jobs, Rs 2,200 crore for the regularisation of daily wagers, Rs 760 crore for providing 12 gas cylinders per household, and Rs 1,000 crore for implementing the Employment Guarantee Act."

Adding additional expenditures, he noted, "The total would rise to Rs 12,000 crore per year, amounting to Rs 60,000 crore over the next five years."

He also emphasised, "On top of this, the state Budget includes a one-time settlement of electricity bills, interest subvention on farmers' loans, establishment of preservation parks, plantation of medicinal trees, and the creation of six 'dream destinations'. This pushes the projected cost to nearly Rs 65,000 crore over five years. My question is simple -- what is the financing plan? Where is this money coming from? I challenge you to explain the economic science behind it."

Lone questioned the state Budget's capital expenditure figures, highlighting discrepancies.

"For 2025-26, the capital expenditure outlay is Rs 32,000 crore, while for 2024-25, it was Rs 36,000 crore, later revised to Rs 32,000 crore."

He noted that the numbers indicate stagnation or decline.

"If the revised estimate is lower than the initial one, the rule of thumb is that the government lacks the absorption capacity for higher spending. If expenditure is shrinking at the macro level, how can it increase at the micro and sectoral levels? The numbers simply do not add up."

Turning to revenue generation, Lone raised alarm over the dramatic increase in asset monetisation.

"The Budget shows asset monetisation rising from one per cent in 2024-25 to seven per cent now. What assets are being monetised? This House has a right to know, as seven per cent of the Budget is a massive sum."

He also criticised the one per cent tax hike, saying, "This amounts to an additional burden of Rs 1,000 crore, which will be extracted from the pockets of ordinary citizens. The impact will be most severe on the lowest 30 per cent of the population."
Mumbai, March 11 : Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and State Excise Minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday announced new rules for starting beer or liquor shops in the commercial areas of the housing societies.

He said that from now onwards the no objection certificate (NOC) of the concerned society will be mandatory.

His announcement is aimed to ensure that the environment in housing societies remains free from conflict, preventing the young generation from turning towards addiction and improving law and order.

He replied to a Calling Attention Motion moved by Mahesh Landge, Rahul Kul and others. They had claimed that law and order issue has become serious due to the permission of beer and liquor shops in housing societies.

"New beer or liquor shop cannot be now opened in the state without the 'No Objection Certificate' of the society."

He also clarified that if a liquor shop is to be closed or opened in a municipal ward, 75 per cent of the total votes cast in that ward will determine the decision.

Ajit Pawar said that the role of the state government is not to increase the sale of liquor in the state but to strictly implement the prohibition rules.

The issue of liquor sales licenses have been stopped in the state for many decades, he added.

"Liquor shops are not allowed in the premises of schools and colleges. If there is opposition from the locals, there is a law to close liquor shops through voting. To bring more clarity in this, if a liquor shop is to be closed or opened in a municipal ward, 75 per cent of the total votes cast in that ward will determine the decision," he said.

"It is not the role of the government to encourage the sale of liquor in the state, but we are committed to preventing the illegal sale of liquor. Any situation that disrupts the law and order of the state due to liquor will not be tolerated," he warned.

He assured that the government will consider suggestion made by the public representatives and citizens in this regard.

He reiterated the government will ensure strict implementation of the rules to prevent unauthorised liquor sales.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 11 : Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister of State for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan, on Tuesday, urged the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government to take stringent action against fraudulent recruiting agencies that dupe job seekers by charging exorbitant fees for overseas employment opportunities.

Speaking to reporters after visiting the residence of Thomas Gabriel Perera, a 47-year-old Kerala native who was shot dead by Israeli forces while attempting to cross the Jordanian border on February 10, Muraleedharan underlined the urgent need to crack down on illegal recruitment practices.

Muraleedharan, who also paid his last respects to Perera, said, "State governments have a duty to implement measures directed by the Centre to prevent fraudulent recruiting agencies from exploiting job aspirants. It is also the responsibility of job seekers to verify the credentials of agencies before engaging with them."

Perera's mortal remains arrived in Kerala early Tuesday morning after diplomatic efforts facilitated his repatriation. He had travelled to Jordan on a tourist visa along with three others on February 5, reportedly arranged by a Keralite working in Jordan.

At the time of the shooting incident, Perera's companion Edison, a resident of a coastal village near Thiruvananthapuram, also sustained injuries. While Edison managed to return to Kerala last month with an injured leg, the process of bringing back Perera's body took longer due to diplomatic procedures.

Meanwhile, in a related development, 283 Indian nationals who were lured abroad with fake job offers and stranded in Southeast Asian countries, including Myanmar, were flown back to Delhi from Thailand on Tuesday.

A Kerala government official handling diaspora affairs confirmed that among the rescued individuals, eight are from Kerala. The large-scale repatriation was made possible through coordinated efforts by the Government of India.

The incidents highlight the growing menace of fraudulent overseas job scams, prompting calls for stricter enforcement and regulatory oversight to protect job seekers from falling prey to unscrupulous agents.
At the talks in Saudi Arabia, Ukraine proposed ceasefire in the skies, at sea, and is ready to establish a complete ceasefire for 30 days; if Russia agrees, the ceasefire will work, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Our, Ukraines proposal for this meeting with the Americans consisted of three points: silence in the skies  meaning no missiles, bombs, or long-range drones  and silence at sea; and real measures to establish confidence in this whole situation, in which diplomacy is ongoing, which means, primarily, the release of prisoners  our military personnel and civilians  and the return of Ukrainian children who were taken to Russia. The American side understands our arguments and accepts our proposals, I would like to thank President Trump for the constructive nature of the dialogue between our teams, Zelenskyy said in video address on Tuesday.

And today, during the discussion, there was a proposal specifically from the American side to immediately take the first step beyond that and try to establish a complete ceasefire for 30 days, not only with regard to missiles, drones and bombs, not only in the Black Sea, but also along the entire frontline. Ukraine accepts this proposal, we consider it positive, we are ready to take this step, and the United States of America needs to convince Russia to do so. That is, we agree, and if the Russians agree, the silence will take effect at that very moment, the President explained.

He also noted the importance of the US readiness to resume defense assistance to Ukraine and intelligence assistance.

Ukraine is ready for peace. Russia must also show whether it is ready to end the war  or continue it. The time has come for the whole truth. I thank all our diplomats and our team in Saudi Arabia today. I thank everyone who helps Ukraine, the President noted.
New Delhi, March 11 : Senior Congress leader Rashid Alvi on Tuesday kicked up a fresh row with his controversial remarks on Waqf Amendment Bill and made an 'inflammatory' suggestion to the Muslim community, suggesting them to hold road blockages much like what the farmers did during their months-long stir.

Rashid Alvi, speaking to IANS, said that the community has a right to protest against the 'enforced' legislation and they should show their resistance to it, by organising sit-in protests on the streets.

His call for two-years blockade of the roads and streets came when he was questioned about All India Muslim Personal Law Board's warning that it will create multiple Shaheen Bagh stirs (like CAA protests 2020) across the country.

Alvi said, "They should have altered their statement to some extent. Instead of saying that they will turn the country into Shaheen Bagh, they should have said that they will stand firmly against the Centre's high-handedness on the Waqf bill."

He further stated, "They should have said that they will protest like farmers and block the roads like the farmers did for two years by organising sit-in protests on the streets."

Notably, the Shaheen Bagh protest in the national capital, against the Citizenship Amendment Act in 2020, earned itself global spotlight over claims that the new law will deprive the community of their basic rights.

The roads were blocked for several months, with protesters camping at the Shaheen Bagh for months, thereby giving the daily commuters a harrowing time.

Government had tried to puncture the Opposition's claims of discrimination against the Muslims under the CAA but the latter largely succeeded in convincing the public with its narrative, that the new law will be detrimental and damaging to their existing rights and privileges in the country.
New Delhi, March 11 : The Centre on Tuesday assured Parliament of an inquiry into the alleged rebranding of Union government schemes like MGNREGA and misuse of funds of Central schemes for political gains by ruling parties in states like Punjab.

Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in Lok Sabha that a team will be sent to inquire into complaints of misuse of funds and violation of rules as pointed out by Shiromani Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal.

"I want to assure the member that wherever there is non-compliance of directives, misuse of funds and violation of rules we will send a team, conduct an inquiry and take action," said Chouhan.

The inquiry was promised by Chouhan after Kaur alleged, during Question Hour, the diversion of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 (MGNREGA) funds through Block Development Officers in Punjab.

"The funds are being released to preferred people by completely bypassing the elected panchayats," she said, citing the example of Singhe Wala village in Lambi Tehsil which falls in her Bathinda constituency.

The Punjab MP also complained that the Chief Minister and state Agriculture minister were personally visiting the houses of beneficiaries and handing over certificates to them and photos of both the leaders are printed on them.

In the case of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAWAS) also, photos of state leaders have been pasted on documents.

Earlier, a similar issue came up in the House when Minister of State for Rural Development Kamlesh Paswan accused the West Bengal government of rebranding Central schemes.

Replying to a question by Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee over the alleged denial of MGNREGA funds to the states for over the past three years, Paswan hinted at the state's own actions for the curb on release of central funds.

He said the state had renamed Central schemes and indulged in lapses like breaking a tender into three parts. "When Central teams went there, our officials were ill-treated," said the MoS.

Banerjee alleged that every time the issue is raised in the House, the government claims that there are 25 lakh fraud cases related to MANREGA in the state. "My contention is that if there is fraud in 25 lakh cases, you may take action against them. But you cannot stop benefits of 10 crore people because of these cases," he said.
Patna, March 11 : The jewellery heist worth Rs 25 crore at a Tanishq showroom in Ara town of Bhojpur district created an uproar in the Bihar Legislative Council on Tuesday, with opposition leaders launching a scathing attack on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the deteriorating law and order situation.

Former Chief Minister Rabri Devi, RJD Councillors, and senior RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui led the protest inside the House, questioning the safety of businesses and citizens in the state.

Siddiqui sharply reacted to this incident.

"In Bihar, Rs 25 crore are being looted in broad daylight, and the government is talking about 'Ramraj'. If this is Ramraj, then it has no meaning. The government should take crime seriously instead of making hollow claims," the RJD leader said.

In response, CM Nitish Kumar personally addressed the House, assuring strict action against criminals.

"Whenever criminal incidents happen in Bihar, I personally look into them. Immediate action is taken, and no one is allowed to roam free," the Chief Minister said.

As opposition members continued to raise concerns about crimes against women and rising criminal activities, CM Nitish Kumar added: "If you feel something is wrong, inform us immediately, and we will take immediate action."

RJD and opposition parties continue to attack the NDA government over rising crime rates.

Nitish Kumar's government faces election-year pressure to improve law and order.

The Patna police have arrested two suspects, but the Opposition claims the bigger issue remains unresolved.

Bhojpur police have arrested two accused in connection with the robbery after a brief chase on Monday.

The accused are identified as Vishal Kumar Gupta, a resident of Dighwara, Saran district, and Kunal Kumar, a resident of Sonpur in Saran district.

Police have recovered two bags containing looted jewellery and the hunt continues for the remaining four accused.

As Bihar heads toward Assembly elections, this incident has turned into a major political battleground between NDA and RJD, with law and order becoming a key election issue.
New Delhi, March 20 : Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam on Tuesday strongly criticised the All India Muslim Personal Law Board's (AIMPLB) threat regarding the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, warning that such inflammatory rhetoric could also escalate into a 'Jallianwala Bagh' type situation.

The AIMPLB had claimed that the country would be transformed into another 'Shaheen Bagh' if the Waqf Amendment Bill is passed by the Parliament.

Speaking to IANS, Sanjay Nirupam clarified that the amendments to the Waqf Board were meant to resolve existing issues and would not harm the Muslim community at large.

He argued that the Waqf Board, which manages over 8 lakh acres of land, has long operated in a opaque manner lacking proper oversight.

"The Waqf Board operates like a big shop, and its land transactions have often gone unscrutinised. The proposed changes are aimed at removing these irregularities for the betterment of common Muslims. The real concerns lie with the Maulanas and Maulvis, who benefit from these unchecked dealings," Nirupam stated.

He also emphasised that if there were objections, they should be addressed in court and the Board must not afford to challenge the decision, politically.

"If certain sections are eying particular benefits by threatening another Shaheen Bagh like stir, they should be warned that this could also lead to a situation like Jallianwala Bagh," he stated.

Nirupam further reacted on the ongoing debate surrounding the 'Three-Language Formula' in India, defending it as a sensible approach originally introduced by former Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

According to Nirupam, the system allows for respect for regional languages, while also promoting Hindi as the national language, and English as a modern mode of communication.

He criticised Tamil Nadu politicians, particularly those from the DMK, for turning this policy into a political issue.

"In Maharashtra, where Marathi is the dominant language, the three-language formula works fine. Thereas no reason why Tamil Nadu can't implement it in the same way," Nirupam said.

Nirupam further addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding Aligarh Muslim Universityas decision to stop students from celebrating Holi on campus, a move that has sparked outrage.

"It is wrong to prevent anyone from celebrating Holi," Nirupam remarked.

"If Holi isnat celebrated in India, where will it be celebrated? In Pakistan? Weave been celebrating Holi here for centuries, and no one should be stopped from enjoying their festivals."

He pointed out that if students at the university were observing Ramzan and fasting during the holy month, they should respect the right of others to celebrate their festivals as well.
Islamabad, March 11 : The targeted attack of Jaffar Express passenger train by militants of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) at Mashkaf, Dhadar, Bolan, has now become a standoff between the security forces and the militants, who have taken over 100 passengers as hostages.

While BLA claims that it has taken at least 100 Pakistani military officials and personnel hostage after derailing the express train, Pakistani authorities said that the passenger train was carrying civilians and families, including women and children, who it says are under the custody of BLA militants after stopping the train in a tunnel.

"Terrorists have halted the train inside a tunnel to keep the hostages in control. Security forces have reached the area despite it being away from the roads. Terrorists are also in contact with their facilitators outside the country," stated sources in the security forces.

Other sources revealed that Pakistani forces have conducted multiple attempts to carry out a rescue operation but have been forced to retreat after heavy clashes with the militants.

"Pakistani helicopters and drones continue to hover over the area and, at times, have done airstrikes also," said a local source.

On the other hand, the BLA has warned the Pakistani forces that it will start executing the hostages if the airstrikes do not stop.

The BLA claims that it has taken personnel from the Pakistan military, police, ISI and ATF, who were going on leave to Punjab, into their custody. BLA also claims that it has already released women and children.

The BLA claims, however, have been rejected by the Pakistani forces, who say that the BLA militants have targeted civilians and their families, who are still held as hostage.

Tuesday's attack is one of the biggest carried out by the BLA Majeed Brigade (Suicide Unit), with STOS, Fateh squad and Zarb Unit actively coordinating and resisting any military incursion.

The situation continues to remain highly critical, sources said.

Pakistani security forces have faced major resistance from separatist groups like the BLA in Balochistan, which has been carrying out targeted attacks and killings of security personnel from other provinces in the country, especially Punjab.

Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces have continued to be one of the most volatile regions of the country with militant groups carrying out targeted attacks on security forces.

Pakistan maintains that these militant groups are getting all their support from across the border in Afghanistan as the Taliban regime is supporting, funding, facilitating and harbouring anti-Pakistan elements and promoting them to spread unrest in the country.
Kolkata/Itanagar, March 11 : The Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram (ABVKA) on Tuesday demanded that the Arunachal Pradesh government notify the rules of Religious Freedom Act, 1978 immediately and ensure its strict implementation to stop conversions based on greed, pressure and fraudulent means.

The demand was made by ABVKA's National President Satyendra Singh and Vice President Techi Govind in a press conference held in Kolkata on Tuesday.

Speaking to the media, Satyendra Singh said, "To protect the indigenous faith and culture of Janjatis (tribes) of Arunachal Pradesh and to prevent conversions under greed, pressure or fraudulent means, the then Janata Party government had passed the Arunachal Pradesh Religious Freedom Act in 1978. Unfortunately, due to its rules not being framed yet, this law has not been implemented for the last 47 years, due to which the Christian population in the state increased to 31 per cent by 2011, which was only 1 per cent before the law was made."

The Itanagar permanent bench of the Guwahati High Court had ordered the state government to notify rules for implementing this law within 6 months from the day of the order. Underlining this, Satyendra Singh said that as this period was approaching closer, the church and organisations inspired by it had started opposing the court's order and the state government's efforts to frame rules.

Expressing serious concerns over the consequences of conversion, the ABVKA chief said that in these 50 years, conversion has swallowed almost half the population of the Sanatan - Swadharmi tribal society of Arunachal Pradesh, its indigenous faith and culture.

"In this small state with 15 lakh population, two bishops and thousands of people inspired by churches are protesting against High Court order," he said.

Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram also expressed concern over various political parties' stand and their silence on the issue.

"Till now, the state government has largely shown gross negligence in the matter. Therefore, fulfilling its constitutional responsibility, it should immediately notify these rules and start strict implementation of this law," the Kalyan Ashram said in the press conference.

ABVKA also made a request to the Union Home Ministry to make necessary interventions in this matter to protect the cultural identity of the tribes in the border state.
New Delhi, March 11 : Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Tuesday slammed AAP leaders for making misleading statements about the BJP's manifesto promises, which the ruling party is committed to fulfilling at any cost.

He said it seems the AAP leaders, troubled by the daily exposure of their 10-year government's corruption, believe that they can mislead the public.

"But the truth is that the public is not being misled, but instead, the lies and reality of AAP leaders are being revealed every day," he said.

Sachdeva stated that about 15 days ago, former Chief Minister Atishi and other AAP leaders kept misleading women about the Mahila Samriddhi Yojana.

"However, as soon as the government announced an allocation of Rs 5,100 crore in the Delhi Budget 2025-26, the AAP leaders have now started making impractical comments on the BJP's promise of free LPG cylinders on Holi," he said.

The Delhi BJP President said that the fundamental difference between the BJP and AAP is that the ousted party's leaders only make announcements, whereas "our party leaders do not make any promises without proper financial management".

Sachdeva further stated that just as the BJP made budgetary provisions to implement the women's prosperity scheme, the Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's government will soon provide free LPG cylinders on priority to needy women during Holi and Diwali.

Earlier, he welcomed a city court's direction for registration of an FIR against Kejriwal in the 2019 self-promotion hoardings case.

He said ever since Kejriwal's first government was formed in 2013 and the practice of putting up hoardings and advertisements without any administrative necessity began, the Delhi BJP has consistently accused the Kejriwal government of misusing public funds.

The Delhi BJP President said the court's order has validated the BJP's allegations of public fund loot against Kejriwal and the AAP.

Sachdeva added that till now, Kejriwal had been using government funds for his legal defence. But now that he has lost power, it seems that one after another, his legal defeats are inevitable.
Chandigarh, March 11 : Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday informed the legislative assembly that strict action would be taken for operating an illegal maternity clinic in the state.

Replying to a question asked by member Chaudhary Maman Khan regarding illegal maternity clinic operating in Nuh during the question hour, Saini said the aim of the government is to provide accessible and better healthcare services to the citizens, and the government is continuously working towards this goal.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' campaign from Haryana, and the state government is working "diligently in this direction. If any illegal maternity clinic is operating without a licence or degree, it will be thoroughly investigated, and strict action will be taken against the offenders".

Replying to the question, Health Minister Arti Singh Rao said that in Nuh district, four private hospitals are registered under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act and 92 clinics are registered under the Health Management Information System (HMIS).

Also, 106 clinics are registered under the Central Registration System (CRS).

She said if any complaint or information is received regarding the death of a mother and newborn, immediate action is being taken. However, no such complaint has been received in Nuh.

The Health Minister, while giving detailed information, said a hospital having more than 50 beds is required to be registered under the Haryana Clinical Establishment Act.

In Nuh, only Civil Hospital in Mandikheda and Medical College in Nuh are registered hospitals under this Act. Responding to another question, CM Saini said the ESI Hospital in Panipat currently operates on 8.5 acres of land, and an additional block would soon be constructed.

The Chief Minister was replying in response to a question of member Pramod Vij. He said the number of industrial workers in Panipat is significant, which makes the need for an additional block essential.

He assured that a proposal would be prepared soon, and the process for the construction of the additional block at the ESI Hospital in Panipat would be initiated.

Additionally, he said over Rs 34 crore has been allocated to listed private hospitals for treatment from April 1, 2019, to March 31, 2024.

In another question, the Chief Minister told the assembly that the government has worked to provide tap water to every household in the past 10 years.

He said the drinking water is being supplied through canal-based and tubewell-based water supply schemes in the Rania constituency. The constituency consists 72 villages and 25 'dhanis', with water being supplied through 48 canal-based and 38 tubewell-based water supply schemes.

Of these, 35 tubewell-based schemes have already been handed over to the respective Gram Panchayats. He further said in villages where the TDS level in drinking water is high, the water supply will be converted to canal-based projects.
New Delhi, March 11 : The overall credit disbursement by banks to priority sectors including agriculture, MSME and social infrastructure in 2019 was Rs 23,01,567 crore, which rose to Rs 42,73,161 crore in 2024, recording an increase of 85 per cent over the six-year period, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Within priority sector lending, the overall credit disbursement to the agriculture sector has seen steady and positive growth during this period. In 2019, the total disbursement to the agriculture sector was Rs 8,86,791 crore, and by 2024, it significantly increased to Rs 18,27,666 crore. The data includes credit disbursement towards agriculture infrastructure by banks, she said in a written reply to a question in the Lower House.

The overall credit disbursement to the MSME sector has also increased steadily from Rs 10,99,055 crore in 2019 to Rs 21,73,679 crore in 2024.

As the financial landscape continues to evolve and to enhance the quality of banking services for customers, banks have been collaborating with FinTechs for the provisioning of various services to customers. Some of the major areas where FinTechs are further augmenting banking services include opening savings accounts through e-KYC, V-KYC processes leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology for face recognition and name match, the Finance Minister said.

Digital loan journeys such as account statement analysis, leveraging alternative data in underwriting for quick credit assessment and real-time decision making, and development of innovative products for customers using APIs of banks are also taking place, she added.

The FM further stated that the Government and RBI have also taken various measures to improve the financial soundness of banks and to address the issues related to credit discipline, responsible lending and improved governance, adoption of technology, recovery and reduction of NPAs.

These measures include the setting up of specialised stressed assets management verticals and branches by public sector banks for effective monitoring and focused follow-up of NPA accounts, which facilitates quicker and improved resolution/ recoveries. The deployment of business correspondents and the adoption of the Feet-on-Street model have also boosted the recovery trajectory of NPAs in banks.

A prudential framework for the resolution of stressed assets was issued by RBI to provide a framework for early recognition, reporting and time-bound resolution of stressed assets, with a build-in incentive to lenders for early adoption of a resolution plan.

Minimum provisioning requirements have been prescribed for both standard and non-performing advances and credit discipline was instilled through the enactment of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, set up of the Central Repository of Information on Large Credits and systematic checking of high-value accounts for wilful default and fraud.

Besides, the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act, 2002 and the Recovery of Debt and Bankruptcy Act have been amended to make it more effective. Institution of comprehensive, automated Early Warning Systems in banks to proactively detect stress and reduce slippage into NPAs, the Finance Minister added.
Raipur, March 11 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) provisionally attached immovable properties, including a land parcel, in connection with a wildlife smuggling case involving one Shabir Ali on March 7, 2025, an official said.

The ED has taken the action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

The investigation was initiated based on an FIR (first information report) registered by the Civil Lines Police Station in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, under various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

The FIR implicated Shabir Ali and Rakesh Nishad in the smuggling of two leopard cubs, allegedly intended for illegal sale of innocent animals.

Following the FIR, the Chhattisgarh state police filed a charge-sheet (No. 428/19) on November 1, 2019, before the Chief Judicial Magistrateas Court in Raipur.

The charge-sheet detailed the involvement of the accused in the smuggling operation. The ED's investigation uncovered substantial evidence linking Shabir Ali to the illegal trade of leopard cubs.

The ED investigation team recorded statements under section 50 of the PMLA, 2002, along with documentary evidence, confirmed the culpability of both Shabir Ali and Rakesh Nishad.

Further inquiries revealed that Shabir Ali was also engaged in unauthorised transactions involving birds and animals, violating Section 49 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Further investigations are on in the case.

Acting on a tip-off about illegal transportation of leopard cubs from Mainpur in Gariaband to Raipur, the Chhattisgarh state police had apprehended the two accused on September 12, 2019, at Ghot village near Raipur. A special police team, led by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Arif Sheikh Hussein, intercepted the suspects.

They set up checkpoints along the district's border areas.

When two individuals fitting the informeras description were stopped for questioning, their vehicles were thoroughly searched.

This led to the recovery of the leopard cubs and the immediate arrest of the suspects.

The leopard cubs were rescued during the operation and later sent to a jungle safari facility in Naya Raipur for rehabilitation.

Both Shabir Ali and Rakesh Nishad were residents of the Chuna Bhatti locality in Raipur.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. The Russian "LG Automatica" production and scientific company plans to resume its cooperation with Azerbaijan's petrochemical market, Irina Bondar, the leading specialist of the companys customer relations department, told Trend on the sidelines of the Moscow enterprise's business mission to Azerbaijan.

"We aim to localize our production. We have previously worked in the Azerbaijani market, but due to some factors, our presence diminished. Now we are resuming contacts because we have all the necessary capabilities and equipment in demand at local enterprises, including large oil companies like SOCAR, as well as government structures, petrochemical companies, and other industries," she noted.

Bondar added that the company's products could be used at SOCAR Polymer and SOCAR Carbamide plants.

"At this stage, its important to establish connections and build partnerships, whether through intermediaries or directly. Our products are in demand in the market, and the issue is simply about proper organization and market entry. Talking about competitiveness is unnecessarycompared to our European counterparts, our solutions are much cheaper, which is also significant," she added.

To note, "LG Automatica" production and scientific company has been developing and manufacturing regulating and shut-off valves, as well as control devices for the oil, gas, chemical, defense, energy, and other industries for over 30 years. The valves produced are used for controlling the flow of liquids and gases in various media, including oil, petroleum products, gas, steam, water, food products, sterilized products, suspensions, pulp, acids, and alkalis of any concentration.

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Mumbai, March 11 : Priyanka Chopra relived her popular "Tinka Tinka" song from her action thriller, "Karam". PeeCee took to her IG stories and dropped a video of the track.

Her latest social media post was captioned, "Wow I can't believe it's been 20 years. #Karam."

Helmed by Sanjay F. Gupta, the project further starred John Abraham Bharat Dabholkar, Vishwajeet Pradhan, Shiney Ahuja, Murli Sharma, Rajesh Khera, Aanjjan Srivastav, Nitin Arora, Bikramjeet Kanwarpal, and Sohail Khan in pivotal roles.

"Karam" talks about the journey of a guilt-ridden hitman who tries to quit his job after a traumatic killing, before his boss kidnaps his wife in order to make him do one last job.

The movie got a theatrical release on March 11, 2005, and opened to mixed reviews from critics and audiences.

Recently, Priyanka posted a few pictures and videos on social media of her landing in Odisha to reportedly shoot for SS Rajamoulias "SSMB 29", alongside Mahesh Babu.

The pictures of PeeCee posing with air hostesses were doing rounds on social media. The stunner further dropped a still of her peeking out of an airplane window. Her feed included several other glimpses from the journey.

Furthermore, Priyanka posted pictures of trees and videos of the scenic views she soaked in on the way to the shoot.

Touted to be a global adventure set across exotic locations, protagonist Mahesh Babu's role in the film is believed to be inspired by Lord Hanuman. If the reports are to be believed, the ambitious project will be made on a massive budget of Rs 900a"Rs 1,000 crores. The highly-awaited drama is expected to be made in two parts.

"SSMB29" will mark Priyanka's return to Telugu cinema after a long gap of 23 years. Her last project was P Ravi Shankar's 2002 romantic entertainer "Apuroopam".

Meanwhile, PeeCee's last Bollywood release was Shonali Bose's 2016 drama, "The Sky Is Pink".
Bengaluru, March 11 : The Karnataka government on Tuesday ordered a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe into the gold smuggling case involving actress Ranya Rao, daughter of senior IPS officer K. Ramachandra Rao.

The CID has been directed to investigate possible lapses by the police department and any collusion in connection with the case.

Additionally, the state government has ordered a separate probe into Ranya Rao's father, DGP Ramachandra Rao.

A senior IAS officer has been assigned to investigate the alleged violation of protocol at the Bengaluru International Airport and is required to submit a report within a week.

The state government's decision follows a report submitted by a Deputy Commissioner of Police-ranked officer.

The report indicates that Ranya Rao contacted a police constable before her arrival in Bengaluru, requesting an escort from the airport after arriving from Dubai, sources said.

Preliminary investigations have also revealed that Ranya Rao used her father's name to secure an escort from the state police.

Meanwhile, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers, who are also investigating the case, raided the residence of jailed actress Ranya Rao on Lavelle Road in Bengaluru. Two CBI officers conducted search operations at her residence and questioned her husband, sources confirmed.

Commenting on the case, A.S. Ponnanna, the Chief Minister's Legal Advisor and Congress MLA said, "The case is looked into completely with the central agencies, one is by the Customs, under the Customs Act and another, the FIR is now registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Therefore, the investigation is not under the control of the state government."

"Secondly, every accused is entitled for protection in the law. They can't be ill-treated, manhandled, third degree can't be used. These are all fundamental principles of law. If there are any failures or lapses, the court will take cognisance," he added.

Meanwhile, the Special Economic Offences Court in Bengaluru has adjourned the matter of bail petition by Ranya Rao to Wednesday.

The counsel representing the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) submitted objections for granting bail to the actress with the court.

The court had adjourned the case following the counsel for the actress sought time to present the submission.

Actress Ranya Rao was arrested on charges of gold smuggling and misusing her father DGP Ramachandra Rao's name to escape security checks by availing the protocol reserved for officials of the highest rank.

The DRI officials arrested Ranya Rao after seizing 14.8 kg of gold from her at the Bengaluru International Airport.

The agency 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.

Karnataka DGP for State Police Housing Corporation, Ramachandra Rao, responding to the development of the arrest of his step-daughter, Ranya Rao, had said that he was devastated and caught unaware by this development.
New Delhi, March 11 : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Malvinder Singh Kang on Tuesday moved an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha, raising an issue of drug smuggling via drones across the Punjab-Pakistan international border.

Stressing on the need for collective action, Kang demanded a discussion in the Parliament on measures to combat the increasing inflow of drugs and illegal weapons into Punjab.

Speaking on the motion, Kang said: "While Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is leading a comprehensive campaign against drugs within the state, it is imperative for the Union Government to step up its efforts to secure the international border.

"The inflow of drugs and illegal arms through drones is a grave threat to Punjab's youth and national security."

The adjournment motion comes amid the Punjab government's crackdown on drug smugglers under the "Yudh Nashian Virudh" campaign, which has resulted in 988 first information reports (FIRs) under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) and arrest of 1,360 drug traffickers.

Additionally, 1,035 kg heroin, opium, and other synthetic drugs have been seized.

Approximately 6.81 lakh drug pills and Rs 36 lakh in cash have also been recovered.

Kang acknowledged these significant efforts by the state government and stated, "Punjab is doing its part to fight the drug menace. However, the border's security falls under the jurisdiction of the Union government, and it is their responsibility to prevent the entry of drugs and weapons.

"The BSF must be provided with advanced technology and resources to intercept drones and stop this illegal smuggling."

The MP also highlighted that CM Mann has written to the Union Home Minister several times, urging decisive action to curb cross-border drug trafficking.

"The Centre must take this issue seriously and demonstrate due diligence in addressing it. Securing Punjab's borders is not just Punjab's responsibility but a matter of national importance," Kang said.

He further added that the Union government should work in coordination with Punjab to eradicate drug menace.

"The future of Punjab's youth depends on our joint efforts. The Centre cannot stay silent while the state government fights this battle alone," he added.
Seoul, March 11 : South Korean Police are reviewing whether to ban the release of firearms and instate flight restrictions over the compound of the Constitutional Court in Seoul on the day of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment ruling over concerns about their use in a terrorist attack, officials said on Tuesday.

The National Police Agency is looking into instructing police stations nationwide to prohibit the discharge of guns used for the purpose of killing dangerous wild animals.

By law, those who have received permission to own a firearm and to capture dangerous wild animals must keep the weapon at a police station, but it can be taken out for the purpose of chasing away boars or birds, even after the usual hunting season ends in February.

Police are also considering tracking down the location of gun owners in real-time via cellphone GPS on the day of the ruling, and reinspecting the purpose of firearm usage of those who have received permission to own one in the past two months.

In 2017, police banned the release of firearms for killing wild animals on the day of the impeachment ruling of then South Korean President Park Geun-hye.

A total of 106,678 firearms were owned by individuals and entities as of last year.

In addition, police have asked the land ministry to temporarily impose a no-flight zone over the Constitutional Court compound in Seoul in which aircraft and drones will not be allowed to enter, officials said.

Meanwhile, police are looking into a tip-off that a regional youth group, supported by a conservative group figure, is plotting to commit acts of terrorism against Constitutional Judges, Yonhap news agency reported.

South Korean Acting President Choi Sang-mok also pledged "zero tolerance" for any acts of violence as the Constitutional Court is set to deliver its ruling on whether to reinstate or remove impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The court is expected to announce its decision as early as this week, raising concerns over potential clashes as both Yoon's supporters and opponents are anticipated to gather in large numbers.
Mumbai, March 11 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said that the information from all government departments will soon be available to the public through the 'CM Dashboard'. This will also include details related to courts, RERA, and law and order.

Chief Minister Fadnavis has instructed that along with the services of 34 departmental websites included in the 'S3WaaS' (Secure, Scalable & Sugamya Website as a Service) system, all government departments should be integrated into this official IT platform.

Fadnavis launched the CM Dashboard website and the 'S3WaaS' information system on Tuesday.

The Chief Minister stated that the CM Dashboard should serve as a single platform for citizens to access real-time information about government schemes.

"The website should provide policy details, progress reports, current updates, and information on both central and state government schemes, including direct financial benefit schemes. Citizens should not have to visit multiple websites for information. Additionally, court-related updates, law and order details, and RERA-related data should also be available on the dashboard.

"Soon, the public will be able to access comprehensive government department information at https://cmdashboard.maharashtra.gov.in. This website will be user-friendly for differently-abled individuals and will also include Right to Information (RTI) details," he added.

The Chief Minister emphasised that the National Informatics Centre's 'S3WaaS' system, which currently integrates 34 departmental websites, should be expanded to include more government departments.

The platform is highly secure and provides seamless access in one place. Citizens will be able to use it on smartphones and computers with ease.

Principal Secretary of the IT Department, Parag Jain-Nainutia said that continuous updates and enhancements are being made to both the 'CM Dashboard' and 'S3WaaS' systems.
Bengaluru, March 11 : The Karnataka BJP on Tuesday accused the Congress-led state government of being directly involved in the gold smuggling case involving Kannada actress Ranya Rao.

Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly, R. Ashoka, has alleged in Bengaluru, saying: "Ranya Rao was always escorted in a police jeep. After the gold smuggling incident, she was given a lift in a police vehicle to her residence. Our charge is that the Congress-led government is directly involved in the case."

LoP Ashoka also asked, "How was she (Ranya Rao) granted protocol and escort service? All these aspects need to be investigated. The government is in a position of guilt. The case is already being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Let them conduct an unbiased probe, and any Ministers involved in this racket should be punished."

Reacting to Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's statement that no Minister is involved in the gold smuggling case and that the allegations are politically motivated, the LoP asked, "Who is Shivakumar to give a clean chit to a Minister before the probe? This also implies that Shivakumar is influencing the authorities to exonerate the accused. How can anyone be cleared before the investigation is completed?"

LoP Ashoka added that investigations indicate ministerial involvement, and public sentiment supports this claim.

"If no one is involved, why is there talk of a clean chit? This appears to be a ploy to steer the police investigation in a certain direction," he alleged.

BJP General Secretary and MLA V. Sunil Kumar accused the state government of attempting to suppress the Ranya Rao case.

He questioned, "The Home Minister claims he knows nothing about the gold smuggling case. Where was the gold brought to Bengaluru airport supposed to go? Was it meant for the Sadashivanagar locality or Chamarajpet in Bengaluru?"

He further alleged a systematic attempt to close the case.

"For four days, reports have suggested the involvement of two Ministers. How did an actress, who is also the daughter of an IPS officer, receive the same protocol privileges given to Cabinet Ministers? The government is directly involved. It must be revealed whom the jailed actress contacted while in the custody of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)," he demanded.

Sunil Kumar also likened the Congress government's situation to the Kerala gold smuggling scam, saying, "The Congress government is slowly getting entrapped in the gold smuggling case just like the Kerala government."

State BJP President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra remarked, "There is no smoke without fire. It is impossible to smuggle gold on this scale without political backing. This is a serious matter."

Responding to the allegations, State Labour Welfare Minister Santhosh Lad countered, "Who is controlling the airport? Were they asleep when the gold was being smuggled? How was the protocol violation allowed inside the airport? Where did the gold come from? Let the CBI investigate all aspects of this case."

Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister, Priyank Kharge, challenged BJP leaders to name the Ministers allegedly involved in the gold smuggling case.

He also referenced earlier allegations by BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who claimed that State BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra frequently visits Dubai and has made significant investments there.

Priyank Kharge said, "Let them (BJP) provide information, and the government will take action. They (BJP) should stop making baseless accusations."

Meanwhile, Home Minister G. Parameshwara briefed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on developments in the case.

Following the briefing, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held a private 20-minute meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar regarding the case, which threatens to damage the government's image, sources confirmed.

Coming under pressure, the Karnataka government has handed over the case to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and also ordered probe by a senior IAS officer against DGP K. Ramachandra Rao, the stepfather of jailed actress Ranya Rao.

Actress Ranya Rao was arrested on charges of gold smuggling and misusing her father Ramachandra Rao's name to escape security checks by availing the protocol reserved for officials of the highest rank.

The DRI officials arrested Ranya Rao after seizing 14.8 kg of gold from her at the Bengaluru International Airport.

The agency 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.

Karnataka DGP for State Police Housing Corporation, Ramchandra Rao, responding to the development of the arrest of his step-daughter, Ranya Rao, had said that he was devastated and caught unaware by this development.
Port Louis, March 11 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the deep-rooted cultural connection between India and Mauritius, that he said is evident in the warmth of the diaspora present in the Indian Ocean archipelago nation.

"Our forefathers were brought here from various regions of India. When we consider the diversity in language, dialects, and eating habits, this place truly represents a mini-Hindustan a" a miniature India!" said PM Modi while addressing a community programme in Port Louis during his ongoing two-day State visit to the country at the invitation of Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam.

This is PM Modi's first visit to Mauritius since 2015 when he had outlined India's Vision SAGAR - Security and growth for All in the Region - which along with 'Neighbourhood First' policy, 'Act East' policy, 'Think West' policy and 'Connect Central Asia' policy continues to guide New Delhi's approach to the neighbourhood and beyond while strengthening historical and civilizational ties at the same time.

"10 years ago, on this very date, I was in Mauritius. Whenever I come to Mauritius, I feel as if I have come among my own people. There is a feeling of belonging in the air, the soil and the water here," he said, adding that Mauritius remains at the heart of India's SAGAR vision.

"Mauritius is not just a partner country. For us, Mauritius is family. This bond is deep and strong, rooted in history, heritage and human spirit. When Mauritius faces a crisis, India is the first to respond. When Mauritius prospers, India is the first to celebrate," he told the gathering at the event which also included PM Ramgoolam, ministers from his cabinet, diplomats, top dignitaries besides members of the Indian community in the country.

At the start of the event, Mauritius Prime Minister Ramgoolam announced his government's decision to bestow the country's highest honour 'The Grand Commander of the Order of the Star' and Key of the Indian Ocean' to Prime Minister Modi.

Only five foreign dignitaries, none of them Indian, have received the honour before PM Modi, including South Africa's first democratically elected President Nelson Mandela who fought against Apartheid. It is also the 21st international award bestowed upon him by a country.

"The people and the government of Mauritius have decided to confer upon me their highest civilian honour. I humbly accept this decision with great respect. This is not just an honour for me, it is an honour for the historic bond between India and Mauritius," said PM Modi.

In a special gesture, Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday handed over OCI (Overseas Citizen Of India) cards to Mauritius President Dharambeer Gokhool and First Lady Vrinda Gokhool.

During his address, the PM mentioned that a decision has been made to extend the OCI Card to the seventh generation of the Indian diaspora in Mauritius.

"When Pran Pratishtha was organised in Ayodhya, our wait of 500 years ended, there was the same enthusiasm and celebration in India, we saw an equally big celebration here in Mauritius. Understanding your sentiments, Mauritius had then also declared half-day holiday. This relationship of faith between India and Mauritius is a major basis of our friendship," said PM Modi.

He also recalled his first visit to Mauritius in 1998 for the International Ramayana Conference.

"At that time, I was not even in any government post. I had come here on the salary of a common worker. What a coincidence, Naveen ji was the Prime Minister at that time too. Now when I became the Prime Minister, Naveen ji came to Delhi to attend my swearing-in ceremony. The faith and feeling that I had for Lord Ram and Ramayana many years ago, I still feel it today," he said.
Patna, March 11 : Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani on Tuesday declared that his party will contest 60 seats in the upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections.

The decision was finalised during the two-day national executive meeting in Valmikinagar, West Champaran that concluded on Tuesday.

Bihar has a total of 243 Assembly seats.

"VIP holds influence over 150 assembly constituencies and it is a decisive factor in Bihar politics. Our party has 8-10 per cent vote share and is in a strong position to influence election outcomes," Sahani said.

"VIP has made its mark in Bihar politics. We will fight on 60 seats and play a key role in shaping the government," Sahani asserted.

He further said his party will keep the remaining seats open for potential allies, signalling possible pre-poll partnerships. As Bihar gears up for the Assembly elections, VIP's move sets the stage for political realignments and intense electoral battles.

Mukesh Sahani declared his party's election strategy and said his party would distribute tickets and not ask for them. Mukesh Sahani has made a bold statement ahead of the Bihar Assembly Elections, declaring that his party is in a strong position and will not request tickets but distribute them.

"VIP is ready for a proper contest in the Bihar Assembly election. We can contest all 243 seats, but we seek an agreement. Alliance is important for us," said Sahani.

"Our goal is to elect 40 MLAs, not just 4. If we contest 60 seats, we will surely win 40-50," he said.

Sahani urged the party workers to begin election preparations immediately.

He also expressed his commitment to alliance partners for full support.

"Wherever our allies contest, we will help them win," he assured.

During the 2020 Assembly elections, VIP contested as part of the NDA on 11 seats and managed to win 4 of them.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Sahani switched sides and joined the Grand Alliance with Tejashwi Yadav, contested three seats and lost all three.

He actively campaigned with Tejashwi Yadav then and is now expecting an alliance with the Grand Alliance, according to sources.
Port Louis, March 11 : As he addressed a vibrant gathering of the Indian community and friends of India along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Trianon Convention Centre in Port Louis on Tuesday, Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam said that he "highly appreciates" Indian diaspora's contribution to the Mauritian economy and lauded India's rise various emerging sectors over the last 10 years.

"I would like to express my deep appreciation for you to have chosen Mauritius as your abode, and a place where you will pursue your career. When you come to Mauritius, you enrich our country. Globally, the Indian diaspora constitutes a very sizable group of roughly 35 million across the world, and they continue to shine in various sectors, including Science, IT, literature, films, medicine and culture," said Ramgoolam as he praised the Indian diaspora's contribution, not just in the Indian Ocean archipelago nation, but also all over the world.

Ramgoolam stated that the contributions of Indians to the Mauritian economy, especially their participation in construction, tourism, the medical field, hospitality, and financial services, remains vital for the economic growth of Mauritius.

"India is leading in various emerging sectors and driving progress in the field of Artificial Intelligence. We look forward to further cooperation with India... By virtue of deep-rooted cultural and historical ties that bind our two countries, India has offered unparalleled accessibility to countless Mauritians," he said.

The Mauritian leader thanked PM Modi for visiting the country and also reaffirmed the island nation's commitment to strengthening the deep and affectionate bond with India.

"I am bereft of words because I am so touched by the gesture of PM Modi. We are greatly honoured that you have managed to find time in your busy schedule to be our Chief Guest for 57th Independence celebration of Mauritius," said Ramgoolam while welcoming PM Modi at the venue.

During his speech, Ramgoolam also announced his government's decision to bestow the country's highest honour 'The Grand Commander of the Order of the Star' and Key of the Indian Ocean' to Prime Minister Modi.

Prime Minister Modi is the first Indian to receive the honour. It is also the 21st international award bestowed upon PM Modi by a country.

"It is very fitting for you, Prime Minister. Since we became a republic, only five foreign dignitaries have got that title and among them there is a person who we call the 'Gandhi of Africa' - Nelson Mandela who received it in 1998. Let me tell you that we are greatly honoured to have you amongst us here today and that you managed to find time out of your very, very busy schedule," said Ramgoolam amidst huge applause.
Mauritius, March 11 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi's arrival in Port Louis on Tuesday morning sparked an outpouring of excitement and pride among the Indian diaspora in Mauritius.

The two-day visit, aimed at reinforcing the strong ties between India and Mauritius, has been met with enthusiasm, as PM Modi engaged with the community and attended various events to deepen bilateral relations.

IANS spoke to several members of the Indian diaspora, each expressing their pride and excitement at the opportunity to meet the Prime Minister.

One attendee shared, "This is such a proud moment for all of us. Weare living here in Mauritius, and the anticipation of meeting PM Modi is overwhelming. The bond between India and Mauritius has always been strong, but with his visit, we can already feel it growing even stronger. His leadership has transformed India into a powerful nation, and itas heartening to know that Mauritius is benefiting from Indiaas progress as well. We hope this visit will pave the way for even greater collaboration between our nations."

Another attendee, Anju Bhagat Rajkumar from Toronto, was thrilled to follow PM Modi on his travels.

"I've met him in Odisha, at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, and now in Mauritius. As a Mauritian, itas a matter of immense pride for us to have a leader like PM Modi visiting our island. The collaboration between India and Mauritius has brought positive changes, especially in healthcare and finances. The way PM Modi is leading India, with a focus on future growth, is inspiring, and we can see the fruits of his policies here in Mauritius."

For many, this was their first opportunity to meet PM Modi in person, and the excitement was visible.

One woman remarked, "I've admired PM Modi for so long, and today I get to meet him. He's such an inspiration to all of us, a true role model."

Uday Niketan added, "We've waited for this moment for so long. PM Modi isnat just a great leader for India, but for the entire world. His influence is felt globally."

The Prime Ministeras visit comes at a significant time, as he prepares to attend the National Day celebrations of Mauritius on March 12 as the Chief Guest.

This visit marks his first to Mauritius since 2015, when he unveiled India's Vision SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region).

His visit underscores the importance of ongoing cooperation in the Indian Ocean region, further cementing the deep bond between India and Mauritius.

The enthusiasm of the Indian diaspora reflects their hope for an even brighter future together.
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When I interviewed Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Damascus on Feb. 27, neither one of us knew that the outlook for Syria, newly liberated from a despotic regime, was about to take a dramatic turn for the worse.

"I personally remain optimistic - but very cautiously optimistic," Aphrem said. "If things go the way they are going now, there is a chance of having a better Syria." On Thursday, things began going off the rails. A bloody conflict erupted between regime loyalists and the Islamist government's forces, with the latter apparently also embarking on the sort of sectarian slaughter of civilians that many had feared when rebel forces gained power three months ago.

On Dec. 8, Bashar al-Assad's rule, which had survived 13 years of civil war, suddenly toppled like a Jenga tower, and the dictator was sent scrambling to retirement in Moscow. The Islamist group that forced his ouster - Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, commonly referred to as HTS - set up an interim government with an acting president, Ahmed al-Sharaa formerly known by his nom de guerre, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani.

Sharaa might be unique among heads of state as someone formerly held in U.S. custody. He traveled to Iraq in 2003 to join al-Qaeda; he did so, and was captured and held at Camp Bucca. He later formed the Nusra Front in Syria at the start of the civil war in 2011 as an affiliate of the Islamic State. But in 2013, Sharaa had a falling out with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and the Nusra Front split off.

Assad was a member of a Muslim group called Alawites. They and Christians and other minorities had plenty of good reasons to be wary of the new Sunni Muslim government with a radical past. But in interviews with Western media organizations, Sharaa sounded like a man more interested in repairing a shattered country than in crushing minority groups.

"The next phase of five years will revolve around rebuilding the state on new and modern foundations," he told the Economist in late January. "It is going to promote justice and counseling, and it is going to be based on the participation of all segments of society in running the country."

When I sat down with Aphrem nearly a month later, a wide variety of Syrian leaders had just completed a two-day "national dialogue summit." The conference was not exactly brimming with specific suggestions to guide the formation of a new government, but it did resolve that a draft constitution should feature "a balance between authorities, establishing justice, freedom, and equality, and laying the foundation for a state of law and institutions."

Late last week, Syria's tense post-Assad relative stability came crashing down. In the coastal region of Latakia, the Alawite sect's heartland, the Islamist government's security forces clashed with fighters loyal to Assad. The fighting spilled into the neighboring Homs and Tartus provinces. And disturbing reports began pouring into Western media describing the killing of hundreds of civilians. "Armed men loyal to the Syrian government," CNN reported Sunday, "carried out field executions and spoke of purifying the country, according to eyewitnesses and video, providing a gruesome picture of a crackdown against remnants of the former Assad regime that spiraled into communal killings."

Over the weekend, Aphrem and other Syrian Christian Orthodox leaders issued a joint statement calling for "an immediate end to these horrific acts, which stand in stark opposition to all human and moral values" and urging "peaceful solutions that uphold human dignity and preserve national unity."

It was a nice three months of relative peace while it lasted.

The violence is a stinging setback for a nation that had been ravaged by years of a brutal civil war, Assad's use of chemical weapons, and a toll of civilian casualties so high that international human rights organizations can't make a solid estimate - anywhere from the Violations Documenting Center's 147,000 to the United Nations' 301,000 to the common shorthand "half a million." In 2017, the Assad regime, with Russia's help, bombed the Damascus suburb of Jobar to rubble. Nearly a decade later, nothing has been rebuilt - it's a ghost town of architectural bones.

I unknowingly timed my visit to Syria to enjoy what may well have been the last good days in Syria for a long time. We arrived two days before Ramadan, and the market in Old Damascus was packed shoulder to shoulder, with the occasional motorcycle working its way through the crowd. The new Syrian flag, similar to the independence flag used from the 1930s to the 1960s - black, green and white with three red stars - hung everywhere.

In Damascus, if young people in their 20s heard me and my companions speaking English, they often would smile and some would say, "Welcome to Syria!" As one Syrian man put it to me, "We are a hospitable culture, and for the past 13 years, we haven't been able to have guests."

But Damascus isn't necessarily reflective of the whole country. In Idlib, the Shahada flag flies from a high flagpole beside the city's museum. This flag features is the Muslim statement of faith in black script on a white background. It is used by the Taliban; ISIS often used a similar version of white script on a black background. No one confronted my small group of Western travelers as we walked Idlib's streets, but we stood out and got some wary looks.

The Syrians I spoke with desperately wanted Western sanctions on their country lifted. They had a decent argument that sanctions put in place to punish the Assad regime shouldn't apply to a government run by the guys who toppled him. Plenty of people in Syria deserve more, deserve a chance to build a better future for their children.

But given the carnage now unleashed in Syria, it's hard to envision the United States or other Western governments lifting sanctions anytime soon. Here's hoping that Syria hasn't closed one dark chapter of its history only to start a new one.

Jim Geraghty is National Review's senior political correspondent, where he writes the daily "Morning Jolt" newsletter, among other writing duties.

Previously:

 10/09/24: It's late to fight over voting rules, but they're doing it anyway

 07/16/24: Trump picks a VP that's just like Trump

(COMMENT, BELOW)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. A presentation session was organized as part of a business mission from Moscow in Azerbaijan's Baku, Trend reports.

The mission, organized by the Moscow Export Center (MEC), will run from March 11 to 13.

During the business mission, Moscow-based companies have showcased advanced solutions in industries such as automation, medicine, and industrial equipment while also presenting their products and services.

Vitaly Stepanov, CEO of MEC, stated that the Azerbaijani market presents significant opportunities for Moscow businesses seeking to expand their presence in the region. "Participating in this business mission will not only allow companies to present their innovative solutions but also to establish important business connections and understand the specifics of working in the local market," he said.

The business mission in Baku will feature leading Moscow companies from various sectors, including:

- Industrial Equipment: Companies will offer a wide range of products, from cables and wiring to analytical instrumentation and non-destructive testing solutions.

- Automation and Technology: Participants will present developments for process control, including regulating and shutoff valves.

- Medicine and Biotechnology: Moscow companies will showcase innovative medical products and advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies.

During the event, the Russian trade representative in Azerbaijan, Ruslan Mirsayapov, pointed out that main goal within the framework of the business mission is to sign agreements on new contracts and the supply of modern, high-quality products from Moscow enterprises to Azerbaijan.

"As the Russian Trade Representation, we are ready to provide all the necessary support, he said.

He emphasized that the business mission of Moscow companies to Azerbaijan has become a good tradition.

According to him, winners of the Moscow Export Center programsamong the most active and modern enterprises in the capitalcome to hold personal meetings with Azerbaijani partners.

Nuri Guliyev, Head of the representative office of the Russian Export Center (REC) in Azerbaijan, said that the Russian Export Center has supported exports to Azerbaijan, contributing over $3 billion.

"This is a significant contribution to the development of trade turnover between Russia and Azerbaijan," he stated.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Moscow, March 11 : Russia on Tuesday said that it expects that the United States will brief Moscow on the outcome of the US-Ukraine meeting in Saudi Arabia's Jeddah.

"A US-Ukraine meeting will take place in Jeddah today. The US, which is in search of ways to reach a peaceful solution, will keep us updated somehow," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by Russian news agency Tass.

Ukrainian and US delegates started their talks in Jeddah on Tuesday that will likely have a major impact on Washington's future support for Kyiv and any effort to end the Russia-Ukraine war. "The meeting with the US team started very constructively; we are working towards a just and lasting peace," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's Chief of Staff, Andriy Yermak.

The Ukrainian delegation is said to include Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, and Zelensky's Deputy Chief of Staff Pavlo Palisa. The US delegation is, meanwhile, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

The expectations are high as the meeting presents a chance to mend the relations between Kyiv and Washington after a heated exchange between Ukrainian President Zelensky and US President Donald Trump at the Oval Office in February, Ukrainian media outlet, The Kyiv Independent reported.

Addressing the media on Monday ahead of his meeting with the Ukrainian delegates Marco Rubio stated, "The most important thing that we have to leave here with is a strong sense that Ukraine is prepared to do difficult things, like the Russians are going to have to do difficult things to end this conflict or at least pause it in some way, shape or form."

"The Russians canat conquer all of Ukraine, and obviously it will be very difficult for Ukraine in any reasonable time period to sort of force the Russians back all the way to where they were in 2014. So the only solution to this war is diplomacy and getting them to a table where thatas possible. I think the French and the British have been very supportive along the way over the last week as well and very helpful, so we are hopeful we will have good meetings tomorrow," Rubio added further.

Meanwhile, Ukraine prepared a large-scale attack of its drones on Russia ahead of the Tuesday meeting of the US and Ukrainian delegations in Saudi Arabia. According to the Defence Ministry, 337 Ukrainian drones were shot down over Russian regions in the early hours on Tuesday, including 91 in the Moscow Region. Slamming the Ukrainian attack on Russia, a Russian expert stated that the Ukrainian side believes that its militaristic stance "will help" today at the negotiations in Jeddah, TASS reported.
Chennai, March 11 : A lecture titled 'How to Spread Christianity in India', scheduled for March 14 at the University of Madras, has been cancelled following protests from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Hindu organisations, and widespread outrage on social media.

The event, part of the Sir S Subramania Ayyar Endowment Lecture 2024-2025, was to be delivered by K. Siva Kumar, Chief Engineer from Hyderabad. The announcement of the lecture by the Department of Ancient History and Archaeology sparked controversy, especially due to its topics: 'How to Spread Christianity in India' and 'Why Need This Margam' (Path).

As soon as the invitation for the event went viral, criticism poured in on social media, with many accusing the university of turning a centre of learning into a platform for religious propaganda.

BJP State Secretary S. G. Suryah strongly condemned the university authorities for organising the event. Facing mounting pressure, the University of Madras officially announced the cancellation of the lecture.

In a communication to the Raj Bhavan, University Registrar Prof. S. Elumalai clarified that the Department of Ancient History and Archaeology had not obtained prior approval to conduct the endowment lecture. "In view of this, we instructed the concerned individual to cancel the lecture with immediate effect," he stated.

J. Soundararajan, Associate Professor and Head-in-Charge of the Department of Ancient History and Archaeology, also confirmed the cancellation, citing "administrative reasons."

ABVP took to social media, claiming responsibility for halting the lecture, which it labelled as religious propaganda unfit for a state university.

"This demonstrates ABVP's commitment to preventing the promotion of biased ideologies within universities," the organisation posted on X.

Political commentator and editor of Thuglak Tamil Weekly, S. Gurumurthy, also criticised the event, arguing that it was an attempt to influence intellectual institutions. He called for further action beyond cancellation, demanding that those responsible be held accountable.

Many scholars and social media users slammed the university for approving an event that was perceived as religious proselytisation. Some questioned how such a lecture was connected to archaeology, while others accused evangelical groups of systematically attempting to influence educational institutions.

One social media user remarked, "How on earth are these topics related to archaeology? This is getting crazier by the day!" Others labelled the event "absurd," "weird," and "nonsensical."

This is not the first time the University of Madras has faced backlash over similar issues. In 2020, a controversy erupted when the Department of Christian Studies, in collaboration with Elon University (USA), attempted to hold a conference titled 'Containment, Collection, and Arrangement in South Asian Religion'. The conference topics, which included temple architecture and Hindu religious narratives, raised suspicions of an anti-Hindu agenda.

Advocate A. Aswathaman had commented at the time, "The range of topics listed made us suspect that it was going to be an anti-Hindu conference."

With the latest controversy, concerns are once again being raised over religious influence in academic institutions and the potential misuse of university platforms for ideological promotion.
New Delhi, March 11 : The digital payment transactions (including UPI) surged with over 18,120 crore transactions in 2024-25 (till January this year), with transaction value crossing Rs 2,330 lakh crore, the government said on Tuesday.

The total digital payment transactions have grown from 8,839 crore in FY 2021-22 to 18,737 crore in FY 2023-24, with a CAGR of 46 per cent.

This growth has been driven by Unified Payment Interface (UPI), which grew at a CAGR of 69 per cent, increasing from 4,597 crore transactions in FY 2021-22 to 13,116 crore transactions in FY 2023-24, according to Minister of State of Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

The UPI has captured around 70 per cent of total digital payment transactions in FY 2023-24. Further, the digital payment infrastructure (QR code and POS terminals), onboarding of new merchants, and the Third Party App Providers (TPAPs) have also grown substantially during the scheme period, the minister informed.

The government has set up a DIGIDHAN mission to promote digital payments and strengthen the digital payments ecosystem in the country.

An incentive scheme has been implemented since FY 2021-22 to incentivise the banks and other ecosystem partners for promotion of digital payments including promotion of UPI.

While designing the scheme, consultations were held with the relevant stakeholders including the banks. A dedicated Incentive Scheme for Banks (ISB) portal has also been developed to create awareness and seamless data collection.

As a result, the number of banks offering digital payments including UPI payments have increased from 216 in FY 2021-22 to 572 in FY 2023-24, the minister said.

The "Incentive Scheme for the promotion of RuPay Debit Cards and low value BHIM-UPI transactions Person to merchant (P2M)" has significantly contributed to the growth of digital payments in the country.
Washington, March 11 : US President Donald Trump on Tuesday escalated the trade war with Canada by doubling the tariff on steel and aluminum imports from that country.

Trump announced the additional 25 per cent tariff on Canadian steel  taking it up to 50 per cent  in a long post on his social media platform Truth Social, in retaliation for Ontario, a province of Canada, announcing a 25 per cent surcharge on electricity exports to the American states of New York, Michigan and Minnesota to protest Trump's tariff on imports from Canada.

The new tariff rates go into effect from Wednesday.

"Based on Ontario, Canada, placing a 25 per cent tariff on 'electricity' coming into the United States, I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an additional 25 per cent tariff, to 50 per cent, on all steel and aluminium coming into the United States from Canada, one of the highest tariffing nations anywhere in the world," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "This will go into effect tomorrow morning, March 12th".

Trump said further: "Also, Canada must immediately drop their Anti-American Farmer Tariff of 250 per cent to 390 per cent on various US dairy products, which has long been considered outrageous. I will shortly be declaring a National Emergency on Electricity within the threatened area. This will allow the US to quickly do what has to be done to alleviate this abusive threat from Canada. If other egregious, long time Tariffs are not likewise dropped by Canada, I will substantially increase, on April 2nd, the Tariffs on Cars coming into the US which will, essentially, permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada."

Trump in February reinstated the 25 per cent tariff on all steel imports that he had imposed in his first term and elevated the duty on aluminum imports to 25 per cent from 10 per cent. He announced a second round tariff hikes targeting Canada, Mexico and China that went into effect on March 4 but are on hold, with the exception of the tariff on Chinese goods. A reciprocal tariff system is slated to go into effect from April 2 that will impose the same rates of duty on America's imports as its exports are subjected to by its trading nation partners.

Trump also slammed Canada on its defence spending. "Canada pays very little for National Security, relying on the United States for military protection. We are subsidizing Canada to the tune of more than 200 Billion Dollars a year. Why??? This cannot continue."

And he doubled down on his threats to turn Canada into the 51st state of the US. "The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State. This would make all tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear. Canadians' taxes will be very substantially reduced, they will be more secure, militarily and otherwise, than ever before, there would no longer be a Northern Border problem, and the greatest and most powerful nation in the World will be bigger, better and stronger than ever  And Canada will be a big part of that. The artificial line of separation drawn many years ago will finally disappear, and we will have the safest and most beautiful Nation anywhere in the World  And your brilliant anthem, "O Canada," will continue to play, but now representing a great and powerful state within the greatest nation that the world has ever seen!"
Amaravati, March 11 : The Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) on Tuesday gave its nod for development works worth Rs 37,702.15 crore in the capital city of Amaravati. The CRDA meeting chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu cleared 59 tenders for taking up various works.

The works will be taken up immediately after the approval of the Cabinet that is going to meet here on March 17, said the Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) Ponguru Narayana.

Briefing media persons on the decision taken by the CRDA, he said that next month over 20,000 workers will take part in the development works.

Narayana said that tenders have already been called for 73 different works worth Rs 48,012 crore as the Cabinet has already given its approval.

The Minister said of these 59 works, the cost of 22 works in the CRDA limits alone is Rs 22,607.11 crore while the 37 other works of the Amaravati Development Corporation are worth Rs 15,095.04 crore, he added.

Narayana also said that lands were allotted to various organisations between 2014 and 2019 and the CRDA meeting on Tuesday cleared the land allocation for 31 various organisations.

The date has been extended to change the location of the land allocated to 11 other units while the CRDA accepted the proposal to change the location of land for two units.

Maintaining that the development of the capital city of Amaravati is expected to cost an estimated Rs 64,000 crore, the Minister clarified that the taxes collected from the people will not be spent for this purpose.

Of the total extent of land acquired from the farmers, the CRDA has an excess of 6,203 acres and of this, 1,900 acres will be allocated to various organisations, the Minister disclosed.

The amount generated either by mortgaging or selling this surplus land the capital city will be constructed, he stated.

Already Rs 15,000 crore loan has been raised from the World Bank, the Minister said and observed that another Rs 11,000 crore will be raised as loan from HUDCO while Rs 5,000 crore will be borrowed as loan from various other banks, thus Rs 31,000 crore will be mobilised.

Narayana felt that the cost of the land would certainly go up following the development activities after which the land would either be sold or mortgaged to repay the loans. Amaravati capital region has an extent of 53,500 acres, including all types of land of which 30 percent of the land will be developed green and blue, the Minister said.
Imphal, March 11 : Three persons, who were arrested in Delhi, for making fake calls and demanding money from leaders and MLAs in Manipur, were brought to Imphal on Tuesday to initiate further legal action, an official said.

A Manipur Police official said that the department undertook an investigation and legal action as well after fraudulent telephone calls were received by some MLAs and leaders including state assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh, attempting to influence and mislead the legislators by exploiting the ongoing political situation in the state.

Police have received complaints on February 14 about fraudulent calls from unknown persons attempting to influence and mislead MLAs of the state by utilising the current political situation in the state.

"An FIR has been registered in Imphal police station on February 15 under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police then started taking necessary legal action. It is hereby warned that those involved in such fraudulent activities would face strict and strong legal consequences," the official told the media.

He said that an intensive investigation is underway in full swing.

The scamsters reportedly have demanded Rs 4 crore for ministerial posts.

Media reports said that, in a similar nature of crime, a 19-year-old man identified as Priyanshu Pant who allegedly impersonated Jay Shah and sought Rs 5 lakh from Uttarakhand BJP MLA Adesh Chauhan (legislator from Haridwar's Ranipur) was arrested from Delhi.

After interrogating Pant, two more accused were also arrested in the national capital.

Besides demanding Rs 5 lakh from Chauhan, the three accused also attempted to extort money from two other Uttarakhand legislators by promising to make them ministers.

The media report said that Chauhan received a call from an unknown number on February 16 evening and the caller identified himself as Jay Shah.

The caller asked for a Rs 5 lakh payment to the party fund.

Immediately after the call, one of Chauhan's associates lodged a complaint with the police, who immediately launched an investigation. After raiding several locations the trio were arrested in Delhi with the help of the record of mobile phones used in the crime.

Manipur police have been probing whether these three accused are also involved in the fake telephone calls to the state MLAs and leaders.
Ahmedabad, March 11 : Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has approved redevelopment projects worth approximately Rs 1,003 crore for Phase-2 of the Kharikat Canal Re-Development plan in Ahmedabad.

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) will undertake redevelopment work on the existing canal across five designated stretches. Stretch-1 will cover the section from S.P. Ring Road to Naroda Crematorium, Stretch-2 from Vinzol Vahela to Ghodasar (Avkar Hall), Stretch-3 from Ghodasar (Avkar Hall) to Vatva Village, and Stretch-4 and 5 from Vatva Village to S.P. Ring Road.

The project includes the development of RCC stormwater box structures, roads, footpaths, retaining walls, water supply pipelines, irrigation structures, stormwater extensions, and sewer systems.

Kharikat Canal, constructed by the Irrigation Department, runs through the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) limits.

While Phase-1 covered specific sections, Phase-2 will focus on the remaining open stretch of the canal, extending from S.P. Ring Road through Muthiya Village to Naroda Crematorium, and from Vinzol Vahela through Ghodasar and Vatva to S.P. Ring Road.

The growing urban expansion of Ahmedabad has led to increased pollution and waste accumulation in the canal due to uncontrolled disposal of solid waste, posing a public health hazard.

Additionally, connectivity issues for TP (Town Planning) areas on both sides of the canal have become a major concern.

In response, CM Bhupendra Patel has entrusted AMC with the responsibility of efficiently executing the Kharikat Canal redevelopment to address these issues.

In Phase-1, which covered a 12.75-km stretch from Naroda Crematorium to Vinzol Vahela, 80 per cent of the work has been completed.

The total budget for Phase-1 was Rs 1,338 crore, out of which over Rs 700 crore has already been spent. With Phase-2, the remaining sections of the canal will now be redeveloped across five different stretches, with full funding allocated under the Swarnim Jayanti Mukhyamantri Shehri Vikas Yojana (Golden Jubilee Chief Minister Urban Development Scheme).

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation will oversee the execution of this project, ensuring a cleaner and well-developed canal that enhances urban infrastructure, connectivity, and public health.
Bengaluru, March 11 : The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the suicide case of a woman advocate, an accused in the Bhovi Development Corporation Scam, taken place during the tenure of the BJP government in Karnataka, has arrested Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy SP) B.M. Kanakalakshmi on Tuesday in Bengaluru on charges of abetment to commit suicide and corruption.

Dy SP Kanakalakshmi was arrested following her appearance before the Investigating Officers on Tuesday morning.

The SIT had recorded her statement twice before.

Sources confirmed that the details in the suicide note matched with the video footage taken from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) office.

S. Jeeva, a businesswoman from Bengaluru, who ran a wood material shop, ended her life by hanging at her residence after leaving an 11-page death note on November 22, 2024.

She alleged that she was taking the extreme step, unable to take torture by Dy SP Kanakalakshmi.

The 33-year-old Jeeva, charged that Dy SP Kanakalakshmi had given her third degree treatment by stripping her naked while being in the custody and demanded Rs 25 lakh bribe to leave her out of the investigation.

The deceased woman's family also alleged that the CID officers harassed her at her shop and humiliated her in public and her staffers.

Jeeva took the extreme step within seven days of her questioning.

The case was handed over to the CID. In spite of the Karnataka High Court order to question Jeeva online, the CID had summoned her to appear before the CID.

Jeeva's family cried foul and demanded action against Dy SP Kanakalakshmi.

S. Sangeeta, the younger sister of deceased Jeeva, had lodged a police complaint against the Dy SP with the Banashankari police station.

The Advocates' Association had filed a petition before the Karnataka High Court demanding action against Dy SP in the case.

The Karnataka High Court constituted a three-member SIT, comprising of two IAS officers and a CBI officer to investigate the case.

It was alleged that a total of Rs 34 crore was illegally transferred from the Bhovi Corporation meant for the welfare of community members.

Of the total amount, Rs 7.16 crore was allegedly transferred to Annika Enterprises, a company owned by Jeeva.

The remaining amount was transferred to firms associated with close aides of former Managing Directors of the Bhovi Development Corporation.

The scam had come to light in 2022, during the tenure of the BJP government.

The probe had identified multiple bank accounts which received embezzled money.

Middlemen were in collusion with the Bhovi Corporation officials, collected government documents promising loans up to Rs 10 lakh and got their signatures and took the loans in their names.

The scam came to light when banks reverted to them for repayment of the loan.
Chennai, March 11 : Chennai-based anti-corruption watchdog Arappor Iyakkam on Tuesday lodged a detailed complaint with multiple investigative agencies, urging them to probe an alleged Rs 992 crore corruption scam in Tamil Nadu's food and civil supplies sector.

The complaint, submitted to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), and the Director General of Income Tax (Investigation), accuses several entities of financial misappropriation linked to inflated transportation tenders.

At a press conference held at the Chennai Press Club, Arappor Iyakkam convener Jayaram Venkatesan alleged that three companies -- Muruga Enterprises, Kandasamy & Co., and Karthikeya Enterprises -- secured transport tenders at highly inflated rates, leading to massive losses to the state exchequer.

The firms are reportedly controlled by T.S. Kumarasamy of the Christy Friedgram Group.

According to the complaint, these companies, in collusion with officials from the Tamil Nadu Food and Civil Supplies Department, the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC), and the Food Corporation of India (FCI), were awarded contracts at rates 107 per cent above market value.

The NGO claims these fraudulent tenders were approved within a month of the BJP-led NDA government's return to power at the Centre in 2024.

The 40-page complaint, supplemented with 565 pages of supporting documents, has been sent to key stakeholders, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, state and Central Food Ministers, the Finance Secretary, and senior government officials.

Venkatesan highlighted the direct consequences of the alleged corruption, particularly for ration card holders who face frequent shortages of essential commodities.

He said that ration items often run out within the first seven days of the month, leaving many citizens unable to access their entitlements.

The NGO claims that these supply shortages are a direct result of financial mismanagement and profiteering by private entities operating under the guise of government contracts.

This is not the first time Arappor Iyakkam has raised concerns about the Christy Friedgram Group's dealings.

In 2021, the organisation exposed a Rs 2,028 crore scam related to ration item procurement, which remains under investigation.

The latest controversy revolves around a transportation tender issued in June 2023 for the movement of paddy across Tamil Nadu's 38 districts.

The contract, covering transport from procurement centres to storage, milling, and distribution hubs, was awarded at a staggering Rs 598 per metric ton -- Rs 310 more than the original tender price.

Before 2020, local lorry operators transported paddy for Rs 200 to 250 per metric ton for short distances (up to five km).

However, in 2020, the Tamil Nadu government awarded a state-wide transport contract to Zinc Foods, a subsidiary of the Christy Friedgram Group, at a significantly higher rate of Rs 640 per metric ton for the same distance.

Although, this price hike did not impact local transporters directly, it allegedly allowed the Christy Group to pocket a substantial profit of Rs 350 to 400 per metric ton at the government's expense.

The state government eventually cancelled the contract within three years, but the group's renewed involvement in the 2023-2025 transportation contract has reignited concerns over financial malpractices.

Venkatesan has demanded the immediate cancellation of the current tender, arguing that nearly Rs 1,000 crore in public funds could be redirected toward improving access to essential commodities and strengthening education programs.

In a statement, Arappor Iyakkam accused both the BJP-led Central government and the DMK-led state government of enabling corruption, alleging that their political rivalry is merely a faAade while they work together on fraudulent deals.

The organisation has called on the media and civil society to apply pressure on authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and hold those responsible accountable.
Jaipur, March 11 : A Bangladeshi national who allegedly entered India illegally 10 years ago has been arrested by the Ajmer Police in Rajasthan, an official said on Tuesday.

The police are currently questioning the arrested individual.

Under a special operation, several Bangladeshis were arrested earlier as well. The fresh arrest has taken the total number of apprehended Bangladeshis so far to 18.

Dargah police station (Ajmer) in-charge, Dinesh Jeevani, said that the police headquarters had issued directives to identify and take action against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and intruders. Following these instructions, a special task force was formed under the guidance of Ajmer SP Vandita Rana to conduct the crackdown.

During the operation, the task force searched the Dargah area and questioned suspected individuals.

One suspect failed to provide satisfactory answers during questioning, prompting the police to take action.

The suspect, identified as Mohammad Saroj a.k.a. Rippon (48), a resident of Dhaka, was subsequently arrested. Upon interrogation, Rippon admitted that he had entered India illegally by crossing the border nearly a decade ago.

Since then, he had been living in the Dargah area as a nomad. His interrogation is still ongoing.

Jeevani further confirmed that a total of 18 Bangladeshi nationals have been arrested under this campaign so far, and the crackdown will continue in the future.

A special campaign has been launched in Ajmer to identify and deport illegal Bangladeshi citizens and other intruders.

As part of an intensive crackdown, the police conducted raids in key areas and other suspected hideouts. Using intelligence inputs from informers and advanced technical surveillance, the team successfully apprehended multiple suspects.

During questioning, the arrested individuals admitted to illegally infiltrating India and residing as nomads in the Dargah area. So far, the police have arrested 17 illegal Bangladeshi nationals.

The latest detainees include Mohammad Rana, Sapna, Salma, Yasin Khan, Shakoor Ali, and Iman Sheikh, all hailing from different districts of Bangladesh. Police officials have reiterated their commitment to continuing this campaign. Strict action will be taken against illegal Bangladeshi citizens after their identification.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 10. Azerbaijan has firmly rejected Armenias baseless accusations regarding the mine threat and reiterated the importance of international assistance in demining territories affected by the occupation, Trend reports.

The response was delivered by the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan to the UN Office in Geneva and other international organizations during the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Azerbaijans statement highlighted that the country remains one of the most mine-contaminated nations in the world. During the Armenian occupation, over 1.5 million mines and other explosive devices were planted across Azerbaijani territories, with more than 13% of the land still heavily mined.

The statement also revealed that mines and traps were placed in civilian-populated areas far from the former contact line, including places where displaced people are expected to return. Cemeteries and cultural sites were also targeted to cause maximum harm.

Since the end of the war in 2020, Azerbaijan has cleared approximately 180,000 hectares of land, discovering 56,460 mines and 121,188 explosive objects. Despite these efforts, the ongoing mine threat continues to obstruct the restoration of liberated territories, complicates the return of internally displaced persons, and hampers efforts to locate nearly 4,000 missing citizens.

Azerbaijan also noted that since 2020, only 6% of the necessary funds for humanitarian demining have been provided from foreign sources and called on the international community to increase its support for these critical demining operations.
Gurugram, March 11 : A crime branch team of the Gurugram police has arrested a wanted criminal, carrying a bounty of Rs 20,000 for allegedly killing a 32-year-old man over an enmity last month, police said.

According to the police, on February 24, information was received at the Farrukhnagar police station regarding the shooting of a youth in front of the ARAMEX India Private Limited Company near WCTM College in the Farrukhnagar area.

Following an investigation, the police team reached the spot, where it was found that the injured was taken to ERV hospital by his family and the police.

Taking further action, the police team reached the hospital, where it was found that the victim, Rohit (32), a resident of Khera Khurrampur village, Gurugram, was declared dead due to a bullet injury.

The crime spot was later inspected by police teams of scene-of-crime, fingerprint, and dog squad.

The father of the deceased told the police team that on February 24, Harsh, a resident of Khera Khurrampur village, Gurugram, had threatened to kill his son.

Harsh, along with his other companions had killed his son.

On the complaint received, a case was registered under the relevant sections in Farukhnagar police station, Gurugram, and a reward of Rs 20,000 was announced for the arrest of accused Harsh and his fellow accused involved in the case.

During the investigation, a crime branch team from Farrukhnagar nabbed the accused Harsh, a resident of the village of Khera Khurrampur on Monday from near the KMP flyover on Farrukhnagar Road, Gurugram.

During questioning, it was found that the victim, Rohit, was a companion of the accused, and they used to supply water and tea.

"The accused had talked to Rohit about killing a person along with his other companions, about which Rohit had told that person about the plan of accused Harsh and his fellow accused. Holding a grudge for this, accused Harsh, along with his other companions, shot Rohit dead. In this incident, the accused shot Rohit a total of eight bullets, due to which he died," Sandeep Kumar, Gurugram police spokesperson, said.

In the police investigation, it also came to light that nine cases of crimes like attempted murder, fighting, illegal recovery, etc., are registered against the deceased Rohit.

For further questioning and recovery, the accused has been produced in the district court and was sent to a four-day police custody.
Bengaluru, March 11 : Karnataka BJP and JD (S) legislators stalled the proceedings in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, condemning the appointment of Congress workers as office-bearers of the Guarantees Implementation Committee by the Congress government and the expenditure of Rs 15 to Rs 20 crore on their salaries and perks.

Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka later announced that the opposition would continue its protest inside and outside the Legislative Assembly from Wednesday.

Earlier, following a heated discussion, BJP MLAs came to the Well of the House and started raising slogans against the Congress government. Speaker U.T. Khader initially adjourned the House. When the proceedings resumed, BJP and JD (S) MLAs, under the leadership of R. Ashoka, intensified their protest, chanting slogans and accusing the Congress government of looting money from the state exchequer to benefit Congress workers.

Despite Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar stating that the issue would be discussed in the cabinet meeting, BJP MLAs remained adamant. Speaker Khader then adjourned the House for the day.

JD (S) MLA M.T. Krishnappa, representing the Turuvekere constituency, raised the issue in the Assembly and questioned why Congress workers were appointed as office bearers of the Guarantees Implementation Committee, sidelining MLAs. He argued that when MLAs and officials were already overseeing programme implementation, the Congress government was unnecessarily spending state funds on party workers.

BJP MLA and General Secretary V. Sunil Kumar asserted that the Congress government had no right to distribute taxpayers' money to Congress workers. He claimed that no ruling party in the past had appointed its workers and paid them salaries to oversee government programmes, calling the move illegal.

R. Ashoka criticised Deputy CM Shivakumar, stating that as the state president of the Congress party, the latter failed to differentiate between the government and the party. "How can you give taxpayers' money to Congress workers? If you really want to pay them, go beg on the streets. These Congress workers have been given cabinet rank, official bungalows, and offices," he alleged.

In response, Shivakumar defended the move, saying, "It is the will of the government. The party workers who brought this government to power have every right to oversee its programmes."

Ashoka countered by questioning whether BJP workers could be appointed to monitor Prime Minister Narendra Narendra Modi's programmes.

BJP MLA Satish Reddy remarked that a similar experiment was conducted in Andhra Pradesh by the YSR Congress and had failed.

MLA Krishnappa insisted that MLAs should not be ignored and demanded that the committee be dissolved.

Former Home Minister and BJP MLA Araga Jnanendra stated that politics should not interfere in such matters. "The Congress workers appointed as office bearers of the committee are conducting parallel meetings instead of working with MLAs. Don't you trust us? We are already receiving salaries and perks for the same purpose. This is undemocratic," he said.

Shivakumar responded by stating that the BJP had always opposed the guarantees. "Our government is allocating Rs 52,000 to Rs 56,000 crore, which is 20 per cent of the budget, for the guarantee schemes. The BJP is also implementing guarantees in Delhi, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh," he said.

BJP MLA Sunil Kumar clarified that the party was not opposing the guarantees but objected to the committee formed to monitor their implementation. Ashoka challenged the government to review past records, asserting that he had never spoken against the guarantees.

Ashoka further stated that Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had recently acknowledged that a debate was needed on the guarantee schemes as they were proving to be a burden on the government. In response, Shivakumar declared that as long as the Congress government was in power, the guarantees would continue.

MLA Sunil Kumar maintained that the BJP would not allow the Congress government to halt the guarantee schemes.

Ashoka concluded by stating that in the last 75 years, no government had undertaken such a destructive decision. Shivakumar, however, countered by asserting that it was a constructive move.

Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha after the session, Ashoka alleged that the Congress government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, is misusing taxpayers' money. He claimed that the funds are being given into the pockets of Congress workers.

"In every Assembly constituency, Congress leaders are being appointed and given a salary of Rs 25,000, along with personal assistants. A sitting fee of Rs 1,100 has been fixed. The state president is receiving a salary of Rs 40,000, while the vice president is being paid Rs 25,000. Every year, Rs 15-20 crore is being looted and distributed among Congress workers," he alleged.

He further stated that government funds should reach the poor. "Cooks in Anganwadis are being given an honorarium of Rs 3,000, ASHA workers receive Rs 7,000, and guest lecturers are paid Rs 12,000. This money could have been allocated to universities or increased payments for Anganwadi workers and ASHA workers. The BJP strongly opposes the Congress government's decision to distribute money to its party workers," he said.
Mumbai, March 11 : Ellyse Perry, Kim Garth, and Sneh Rana came up with a fine bowling performance after skipper Smriti Mandhana and Ellyse Perry batted well as Royal Challengers Bengaluru ended their Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025 campaign with a morale-boosting 11-run victory over Mumbai Indians at the Brabourne Stadium here on Tuesday.

Already out of contention and playing with a lot of freedom in their final league match, Royal Challengers Bengaluru came up with a performance they would have loved to have produced several times this season. With this win, they thwarted Mumbai Indians from topping the points table and then consigned them to the Eliminator match for the third time in the WPL. They will take on the Gujarat Giants on Thursday (March 13), with the winner of the match meeting Delhi Capitals in the final.

RCB's victory on Tuesday means that Delhi Capitals finished on top of the table on NRR after finishing level with Mumbai Indians on 10 points. Gujarat Giants are third with eight, while RCB and UP Warriorz both ended with six points.

RCB ended the WPL as they started, with a win. Their top order batted well and then bowlers capitalised on the conditions and scoreboard pressure as they restricted Mumbai Indians to 188/9 in 20 overs after skipper Smriti Mandhana blasted a half-century and Ellyse Perry struck an unbeaten 49 to help RCB post a challenging 199/3.

Mumbai remained on course thanks to a sensational 35-ball 69 by Nat Sciver-Brunt and some final over heroics by Sajeevan Sajana, who struck sixes off successive balls to bring the equation to 12 from three balls. Ellyse Perry bowled a dot ball and then got Sajana to attempt another big one but holed out to Meghana for a brilliant 12-ball 23 as the Mumbai Indians ended 11 runs short.

The dismissals of Nat Sciver-Brunt, after a knock studded with nine fours and two sixes, and Harmanpreet Kaur (20 off 18) in quick succession hampered their progress, from which they could not recover. Sneh Rana applied the brakes on MI innings with a 3-26 haul, Perry completed a fine all-round performance with 2-53, and Kim Garth bagged 2-33 to help RCB breach MI at the Brabourne for the first time in six attempts.

Earlier, Mandhana struck 53, and crucial contributions from Ellyse Perry (49 not out), Richa Ghosh (36), and Georgia Wareham (31 not out) helped RCB to a challenging total.

Mandhana gave RCB a good start after they were asked to bat first, taking the score to 53/1 runs in the power-play. Smriti has struggled to get going this season despite being in top form before the WPL. She and Sabbhineni Meghana, who came out firing on all cylinders for her 26 off 13, raised 41 runs for the first wicket partnership.

Smriti was dropped on a couple of occasions but took control from the start before reaching her fifty off 35 balls, studded with six fours and three sixes. She got off the mark with a four off Shabnim Ismail off the second ball and then treated the same bowler for a four and a six in the third over, hit Amelia Kerr flat over deep mid-wicket on one-kee for a six, and followed it up with a four off the next ball. A couple of boundaries in a row off Parunika Sisodia in the 11th over to reach her fifty. She got out soon after, hitting Kerr to Ismail for 53.

Smriti added 59 runs for the second wicket with Perry to take the score to three figures. After the skipper was out, Perry took charge and maintained the scoring rate with support from Richa Ghosh, who played a crucial cameo, hitting 36 off 22 balls, hitting five fours and one six. They added 53 runs for the third wicket off 44 balls to take RCB past 150.

Perry and Georgia Wareham blasted 46 runs off the last 16 balls, with Perry remaining unbeaten on 49 off 38 balls, hitting five boundaries and one six. She played a crucial knock, keeping the innings together after Smriti got out. They provided the real impetus to the innings with Wareham blazing to an unbeaten 31 off 10 balls, hitting five fours and one six as they reached a challenging total, which proved enough in the end.

Brief scores:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru 199/3 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 53, Ellyse Perry 49 not out, Richa Ghosh 36; Hayley Matthews 2-37) beat Mumbai Indians 188/9 in 20 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 69, Sajeevan Sajana 23; Sneh Rana 3-26, Ellyse Perry 2-53, Kim Garth 2-33) by 11 runs.
Gurugram, March 11 : The Gurugram police have arrested an accused for allegedly trying to kill a woman after she refused a marriage proposal here, police said.

The accused was identified as Mintu Kumar, a resident of Gaya in Bihar.

According to the police, on March 3, a police team from Sector-7 IMT Manesar received information through the Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) team that a woman was lying injured in the hill of Kasan village.

The ERV team immediately admitted the victim to a hospital for treatment.

The investigation team of the said police station reached the hospital; they found that the injured woman was not fit to give a statement.

The police team got the crime scene inspected by the scene-of-crime, fingerprint, and dog squad teams.

On March 4, the victim told the police team through a written complaint that she lives in a rented house in the Bhangarola village and works in a company in Sector-8, IMT Manesar.

She had become friends with a person named Mintu.

On March 2, she went to visit a temple in Kasan village with her friend and Mintu.

Later, she and Mintu left her friend in the temple and went for a walk in the hills of Kasan village. There, Mintu told her that he wanted to marry her, but she refused to marry him.

"Mintu got angry and threw her down and started kicking and punching her and hit her on the head and face with a stone, and thinking her to be dead, he ran away from the spot. She remained lying on the hill the whole night. On March 3 she was admitted to the hospital by the police team. Mintu had injured her with the intention of killing her," Sandeep Kumar, Gurugram police spokesperson, said.

Following a complaint lodged by the victim, a case was registered under the relevant sections in Sector-7 IMT Manesar police station, Gurugram.

During the probe, the police team of the Manesar crime branch of the Gurugram police nabbed the accused from Aurangabad (Bihar) on Monday.

During police questioning, it was found that the accused had injured the girl when she refused to marry him and fled from there thinking her to be dead, police said.
New Delhi, March 11 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday addressed a community programme in Port Louis during his visit to Mauritius at the invitation of the country's Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam.

New Delhi, March 11 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday addressed a community programme in Port Louis during his visit to Mauritius at the invitation of the countryas Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam.

Speaking on the occasion, he hailed the deep-rooted cultural connection between India and Mauritius, which he said is evident in the warmth of the diaspora present in the Indian Ocean archipelago nation.

"Our forefathers were brought here from various regions of India. When we consider the diversity in language, dialects, and eating habits, this place truly represents a mini-Hindustan -- a miniature India!" said PM Modi.

On the occasion, Mauritian ministers and NRIs spoke exclusively to IANS on PM Modi's historic visit to the country.

Mahend Gungapersad, Minister of Education and Human Resources, said, "We are very, very delighted, first of all, that PM Narendra Modi came to Mauritius for this National Day celebration. We are grateful because we are further consolidating our relationship... We are very grateful to India for this visit and for strengthening the ties with Mauritius..."

Arvin Boolell, Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy, and Fisheries, stated, "It is a beautiful relationship that is constantly being strengthened. This bond is not only significant but also unique. When India asks, Mauritius never hesitates --whether at the United Nations or elsewhere. And when Mauritius seeks support, India is always the first to respond positively, helping us build our economy and further consolidate our cultural ties. We look up to India and express our gratitude. The relationship between our Prime Minister and the Prime Minister of India is evident here today..."

Ajay Gunness, Minister of National Infrastructure, said, "You know, the relationship between Mauritius and India is like a blood relationship because we must not forget -- and Prime Minister Modi is right in saying -- that we are family. Prime Minister Modi has come to visit his family in Mauritius. We are truly honoured that, despite his tight schedule, he has taken the time to spend a day or two with us on our Independence Day..."

A woman, who attended the community programme addressed by PM Modi, said, "This is a matter of great pride for us that we got to see Modi Ji up close like this. All our Indian women are here today, chanting for Modi Ji. We love Modi Ji..."

Another woman shared, "First of all, we welcome PM Narendra Modi to Mauritius, and we are happy to know that the cooperation between Mauritius and India is still ongoing. He conveyed to us that he is committed to reinforcing the relationship we have with India..."

One attendee said, "It's a great pleasure for Mauritians, for the whole community in Mauritius. It's an honour for us because of the contribution between India and Mauritius. We are just a family here. It's not just that India is India and Mauritius is Mauritius. India has a great connection with us. So, India means a lot to us."
Chandigarh, March 11 : President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday attended a civic reception hosted in her honour by the government of Punjab in Mohali.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that with the blessings and inspiration of the Gurus, the land of Punjab has given birth to martyrs and revolutionaries. Important chapters of the country's freedom struggle have been written on the soil of Punjab.

The President said that the people of Punjab have set many examples of service and dedication. The 'langar' of the gurdwaras all over the world is open to all people without any discrimination.

People from across the world have learnt the art of 'langar seva' from the people of Punjab.

The President said that the contribution of the brave soldiers of Punjab to "our armed forces is very significant. The land of Punjab has given birth to extraordinary personalities who have contributed to the country and the world in many fields like social reform, education, science and technology, industry, sports, politics and social service".

"Punjab has also made a pioneering contribution in the development of Indian agriculture. Since the 1960s, when there was a food shortage in the country, the progressive farmers of Punjab through their hard work made the Green Revolution successful and provided food security to the country," she said.

She expressed confidence that farmers and agriculture scientists of Punjab would once again provide leadership to the entire country in the field of agriculture, adopting eco-friendly farming.

Meanwhile, welcoming the President at a function organised here at Indian School of Business, the Chief Minister said the visit of the President "is a red letter day in the history of state and every Punjabi is elated in this occasion".

He said the President "is welcome to Punjab -- the sacred land of great Gurus, saints, seers and prophets".

Mann hoped that during her visit the President would have a feel of the glorious cultural heritage of the state, besides enjoying the warm hospitality of the Punjabis.

Earlier, the President attended function at Central University Bathinda and on Wednesday she will be attending convocation at Panjab University in Chandigarh.
Guwahati, March 11 : Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that Assam has the growth rate of 14-15 per cent which is more than the national average.

He also said that Assam has positioned itself as one of the five fastest growing states in the country.

Sarma said, "We are consistently clocking growth rates of 14-15 per cent, which is much more than the national growth of 9-10 per cent. Assam is one of the 5 fastest growing States of the country and the resounding success of Advantage Assam 2.0 speaks volumes about our growth journey."

Earlier, CM Sarma said that Assam has registered a significant growth in mutual funds in the last five years.

According to him, at least 159 per cent rise in mutual funds in Assam was noticed during the last five years where the investment rose from Rs 11,298 crore to Rs 29,268 crore.

Sarma also claimed that the state has significantly contributed to the growth story of India.

The Chief Minister said, "A mammoth 159 per cent growth of Mutual Funds in Assam in the last 5 years, from Rs 11,298 cr to Rs. 29,268 cr, speaks volumes about the India Growth Story; the trust people of Assam have in our markets and the rise in the incomes of our people."

Moreover, he also mentioned that Assam was the leading contributor in the mutual funds from the northeastern region during 2020 to 2024.

Sarma also mentioned that Assam is dedicated to aiding in the nation's growth, particularly by providing qualified human resources for a range of industries.

He claimed that the northeast's newfound emotional ties to the rest of the nation, forged under Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led administration, have inspired residents to make even more contributions to the development of the country.

The Chief Minister said that the health infrastructure presented to Assam and other northeastern states in the Amrit Kaal will be a crucial milestone towards the development of the country. This will also help Assam and other North Eastern states to contribute to the development journey of the country.

IANS

tdr/pgh
Gandhinagar, March 12 : The Gujarat Minister of State for Forest and Environment, Mukesh Patel, said on Tuesday in the Assembly that reforestation work covering 855 hectares in Tapi district has been carried out under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) scheme over the past two years at a cost of Rs 9.91 crore.

He also added that the Central government has transferred a total of Rs 2,349.12 crore to the Gujarat State CAMPA fund under various components.

Providing further details, the Minister said that in the Financial Year 2023-24, reforestation of 190 hectares was conducted in Tapi district at a cost of Rs 2.11 crore, with 1.74 lakh saplings planted and a survival rate of 89.04 per cent.

This initiative resulted in the generation of 27,368 man-days of employment, he added.

Similarly, in 2024-25, an expenditure of Rs 7.80 crore was incurred for afforestation of 665 hectares, where 5.77 lakh saplings were planted, achieving an improved survival rate of 96.38 per cent, Union Minister Patel said.

This year's efforts led to the creation of 98,372 man-days of employment, he added.

Discussing the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, Union Minister Patel emphasised that prior approval from the Central government is mandatory for converting forest land for non-forest use.

In compliance with the Act's provisions, compensatory afforestation costs, Net Present Value (NPV) charges as per Supreme Court directives, and penalties for violations in specific proposals are collected from user agencies, the Minister said.

According to Minister Patel, the National CAMPA has allocated funds to Gujarat under different categories, including Rs 997.24 crore for compensatory afforestation, Rs 6.72 crore for Catchment Area Treatment Plans, Rs 12.79 crore for Wildlife Management Plans, Rs 1,191.53 crore for Net Present Value (NPV), Rs 54.64 crore as interest earnings, and Rs 86.20 crore under other expenditures.

In total, Rs 2,349.12 crore has been transferred to Gujarat State CAMPA to facilitate forest conservation, afforestation, and environmental protection measures, he said.
Port Louis, March 12 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi held "productive talks" with his Mauritian counterpart Navinchandra Ramgoolam, reviewing bilateral relations, ongoing collaborations while at the same time discussing ways to explore new avenues to elevate the special bond between the two countries to even greater heights, in Port Louis on Tuesday.

"Had an excellent meeting with Prime Minister Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam this evening. Thanked him for inviting me to be a part of the National Day celebrations of Mauritius and also his special gestures through my visit. I expressed gratitude to PM Ramgoolam for Mauritius' decision to confer upon me the Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean," PM Modi posted after the meeting.

In a special gesture that defines the unique and special relationship between India and Mauritius, both leaders drove together to the banquet, that the Mauritius PM was hosting in honour of the visiting Indian leader, in the same car after the bilateral talks, reaffirming the strength and value of the partnership that has grown considerably over the last 10 years under the leadership of PM Modi.

Notably, PM Ramgoolam had also warmly received PM Modi at the airport at the crack of dawn on Tuesday.

During their talks, PM Modi affirmed that India was proud to be a valued and trusted development partner for Mauritius and the two countries would work together for promoting the interests of the Global South.

"Sectors that featured prominently in the talks between PM Ramgoolam and me included defence, security, economic linkages, cultural exchanges and more," said PM Modi.

Earlier on Tuesday evening, PM Modi addressed a community programme in Port Louis that celebrated the deep cultural and emotional bonds between people of the both countries.

"Mauritius is not just a partner country. For us, Mauritius is family," said PM Modi while addressing the vibrant gathering of the Indian community and friends of India at the Trianon Convention Centre.

"The presence of my friend, Prime Minister Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam and Mrs. Veena Ramgoolam made today's community programme in Mauritius even more special. I also handed over OCI cards to them, illustrating the importance he attaches to India-Mauritius friendship," PM Modi added.
Washington, March 12 : The US on Tuesday said that Ukraine has agreed to its proposal for an immediate and interim ceasefire for 30 days and now it's up to Russia to reciprocate.

The US has also lifted the pause on sharing intelligence and providing military assistance to Ukraine.

"Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking, and now it will be up to them to say yes or no," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters after a meeting with Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, referring to Russia.

"I hope they're going to say yes, and if they do, then I think we've made great progress. If they say no, then we will, unfortunately, know what the impediment is to peace here," he said further, adding: "The President has been abundantly clear: he wants the shooting to stop. He wants the warfare to stop. He wants the dying and the suffering to stop, and he believes, and rightfully so, that the only way to end this war is to negotiate an end to it and we think that it's always easier to negotiate an end to the war when people aren't shooting at each other. That's how the President believes, that's what we hope to achieve, the Ukrainians today have expressed their willingness and readiness to do so immediately. We hope the Russians' answer to that will also be yes."

A joint statement issued by the US and Ukraine said: "Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the US proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, and which is subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation. The US will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace."

It added: "The US will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. A scientific-practical conference titled "In the footsteps of the deported heritage" is currently being held in Azerbaijan's Baku, Trend reports.

The event is being hosted by the Social Research Center in collaboration with the Western Azerbaijan Community.

As a highlight of the conference, the third volume of the "Return: Our Material and Spiritual Heritage in Western Azerbaijan" book will be unveiled.

The event is attended by Members of Parliament, representatives from NGOs, scholars, and other public figures.

Addressing the event participants, Zahid Oruj, Chairman of the Social Research Center's Board and Head of the Human Rights Committee in the Azerbaijani Parliament, pointed out that, just as Karabakh represents the ideal of national mobilization, a peaceful, lawful, and harmonious return to the Azerbaijani historical territories also aims to unite the people and safeguard their collective integrity.

"We are confident that the role of our brotherly Turkiye, a leading nation in both the region and the world, along with the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), will be pivotal in facilitating the return to Western Azerbaijan. We believe that the opening of the Zangezur corridor will significantly expedite this process," he said.

Will be updated
Bengaluru, March 12 : Karnataka BJP raised concern in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday over the Congress government's failure to curb illegal immigration in the state. Manappa D. Vajjal, BJP MLA from Lingasugur, brought up the issue in the House.

MLA Vajjal stated that, according to the Congress-led government's official statistics, there are only 556 illegal immigrants in the entire state. However, in Vijayapura district alone, there are 13,000 illegal immigrants settled. "If one district has 13,000 illegal immigrants, then the actual number across the state must be in the lakhs," he asserted.

He further alleged that these illegal immigrants had obtained government-issued documents such as ration cards and voter IDs, making it difficult to identify them as foreigners. "They are involved in drug peddling and narcotics-related activities and are misleading local youth," Vajjal claimed.

"The data available with the government is inaccurate. I urge the Home Minister to identify illegal immigrants across all districts. More importantly, the officials responsible for providing them with government documents must be identified. Bengaluru and Karnataka are globally recognised, and illegal immigrants are harming the state's reputation," he added.

BJP MLA and General Secretary V. Sunil Kumar stated that illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Pakistan pose a threat to national security. "The Rohingyas who have settled here are engaging in criminal activities. However, the governmentas statistics claim that there are only 556 illegal immigrants in the entire state. This issue needs to be discussed for at least 30 minutes. They are settling in places like Kodagu and Bengaluru, and the government should not take this matter lightly," he emphasised.

He also noted that illegal immigrants had been settling in Karnataka for the past 20 years.

Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka stated, "Illegal immigration is a serious issue, especially in Bengaluru. We are talking about people coming and settling here from Bangladesh. Additionally, individuals from countries like Nigeria are involved in drug peddling, with drugs being supplied from there. These immigrants are even attacking the police. Bangladeshi immigrants have managed to obtain all the necessary paperwork. We need a detailed discussion on this matter in the House."

Speaker U.T. Khader assured that he would consider allowing a comprehensive discussion on the issue and directed Home Minister G. Parameshwara to provide a clarification.

Last week, the Karnataka government said that there are 137 illegal immigrants in the state, including nationals from Bangladesh and Pakistan, and has assured that authorities are constantly monitoring the movements of illegal immigrants from the two neighbouring countries.

Among the 137 illegal immigrants identified in the state, 25 are Pakistani nationals.

During a discussion in the Assembly on the growing menace of illegal immigration, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara said that as of now 137 illegal immigrants from various countries, including Bangladesh and Pakistan, have been identified, and arrested, and legal action has been initiated against them.
Agartala, March 12 : A Tripura court on Tuesday convicted and sentenced to one year of simple imprisonment of 100 days and a fine of Rs 5,000 to a 29-year-old Bangladeshi youth for entering into India illegally last year, officials said.

A police official said that the Judicial Magistrate of first class court in southern Tripura's Gomati district convicted Bangladesh national Rajib Chandra Das under various provisions of law, including Indian Passport Act.

The court imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 and sentenced to one year of simple imprisonment of 100 days, the official said, quoting the court order.

Investigating Officer Kartik Dey, who investigated the case and submitted the charge sheet which ended in conviction, said that Rajib Chandra Das was arrested by the police on December 26 last year.

Das is a resident of Pudua village of Feni district of Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, a Border Security Force (BSF) spokesman on Tuesday said that the border guarding troops of Tripura Frontier in separate operations in between March 6 to 10 apprehended 29 Bangladesh nationals and seven Indian nationals, including touts from different locations of Tripura.

The Bangladeshi and Indian nationals were arrested from West Tripura, North Tripura, Sepahijala and South Tripura districts.

BSF battalions have also conducted nine village coordination meetings in border areas to address the concerns of the local population.

The BSF continues to enhance its surveillance and intelligence capabilities to ensure the safety and security of the nation, the spokesman said.

He added that the para-military troops have enhanced vigil and intensified its domination along the International Border since the violence in Bangladesh began in June-July last year, specially after the fall of the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government on August 5, 2024.

--IANS

sc/khz
Imagine packing your bags and setting off on a journey where each destination feels like stepping into a dream. From the surreal landscapes of distant continents to the vibrant cultures that beckon with every sunrise, some places around the world promise to be more than just checkmarks on your bucket listtheyre gateways to unforgettable moments and stories that will stay with you forever.

From taking a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia to watching the Northern Lights in Norway, here's a list of ten unmissable travel experiences that'll make your wanderlust sing.

1. Go Camping in Wadi Rum

Image Source: Envato.com Go Camping in Wadi Rum

If you have ever felt like rubbing your feet against velvety sands while experiencing a magical desert sunset, camping in Wadi Rum is something you'll want to add to your bucket list. Spend overnight in a camp amidst the endless sand stretches and incredible rock formations of the desert to lock in wonderful memories for a lifetime. You can easily reach this stunning destination from King Hussein International Airport, the closest major airport.

2. Balloon Ride in Cappadocia, Turkey

Image Source: Envato.com Balloon Ride in Cappadocia, Turkey

The best way to experience the magical view of the rock-cut churches and fair chimneys of Cappadocia is by taking a hot air balloon ride. This exhilarating adventure in Cappadocia is one of the most unmissable experiences you can ever have. The best time to take the ride is during the sunrise.

3. Sunset in Santorini, Greece

Image Source: Envato.com Sunset in Santorini, Greece

Tourists from around the world flock to Santorini to enjoy breathtaking views and gorgeous sunsets. This picture-perfect location, with its iconic white-washed buildings perched on cliffs overlooking the deep blue Aegean Sea, offers a magical experience that feels straight out of a postcard. Its charming cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and mouthwatering local cuisine leave a lasting impression on visitors. Santorini is easily accessible via Santorini (Thira) International Airport, making it a convenient getaway for travelers seeking paradise.

4. Hiking Along Inca Trail On Machu Picchu Mountain, Peru

Image Source: Envato.com Hiking Along Inca Trail On Machu Picchu Mountain, Peru

Located at almost 8000 feet above sea level, the Lost City of Incas offers one of the most incredible hiking trails worldwide. Its cascading terraces and stone cut stairs stand as a testament to the architectural genius of Incas. The cloud shrouded beauty of the city remains invisible from below, adding an air of mystery and enchantment to this ancient wonder.

5. Soaking in the Blue Lagoon, Iceland

Image Source: Envato.com Soaking in the Blue Lagoon, Iceland

Surrounded by dramatic volcanic landscapes, the astonishing blue waters of the Blue Lagoon create an ethereal ambiance. This geothermal spa in Iceland offers milky-blue waters that are rich in minerals like silica and sulfur. Whether you're relaxing in the warm waters, or simply gazing at the endless skies above, the Blue Lagoon is the perfect spot to unwind and connect with Iceland's unique natural beauty.

6. Floating In the Dead Sea, Israel

Image Source: Envato.com Floating In the Dead Sea, Israel

Floating in the Dead Sea in Israel is an unforgettable experience that defies the ordinary. This hypersaline lake is famous for its incredibly high salt concentration, allowing you to effortlessly float on its surface. The mineral-rich waters and mud are renowned for their therapeutic and healing properties, attracting visitors seeking relaxation and rejuvenation. Easily accessible via Mitspeh Ramon Airport, the Dead Sea is a perfect destination for those looking to indulge in this unique natural wonder.

7. Visiting the Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Image Source: Envato.com Visiting the Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Visiting Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe is like stepping into a natural masterpiece thats out of this world. The sheer power of the Zambezi River crashing down creates a breathtaking spectacle, with mist swirling up to form vibrant rainbows that dance across the sky. Surrounded by lush greenery and dramatic scenery, the falls offer a serene yet thrilling experience. Easily accessible via Victoria Falls Airport, this iconic destination is effortlessly cool, leaving you with unforgettable memories of natures raw beauty at its finest.

8. Watching the Northern Lights, Norway

Image Source: Xinhua/Li Changxiang/IANS Watching the Northern Lights, Norway

As the daylight falls, Norway's night sky transforms into a canvas of swirling greens, purples, and pinks, you're treated to a celestial dance that feels both magical and otherworldly. The serene, snowy landscapes below make the colors pop even more, adding a cool, tranquil vibe to the experience. The northern lights feel like natures own celebration, offering a moment of wonder and tranquility that you'll remember forever.

9. Hiking the Tiger's Nest, Bhutan

Image Source: Envato.com Hiking the Tiger's Nest, Bhutan

Perched on a cliffside over 3,000 feet above the Paro Valley, the Tiger's Nest monastery is one of Bhutan's most iconic landmarks. The mountain trail to the summit winds through pine forests, gradually revealing stunning views of the monastery clinging to the rock face. As you ascend, the air is filled with the aroma of pine and incense, offering a sense of serenity. A trek to the Tiger's Nest is not just a hike; its a pilgrimage that offers a profound connection to Bhutans rich spiritual heritage and natural beauty.

10. Discovering Petra in Jordan

Image Source: Storyblocks.com Discovering Petra in Jordan

Petra in Jordan is an archaeological marvel that captivates visitors with its grandeur and mystery. As you walk through the narrow Siqa dramatic gorge that serves as the entrance to the citythe anticipation builds until you reach the iconic Al-Khazneh, with its intricately carved facade. The Petra takes you to a sprawling complex of tombs, temples, and monuments, each telling a story of a civilization that once thrived in this desert oasis. Queen Alia International Airport is the closest major gateway to this stunning location.

These legendary travel experiences take you to experience the worlds most incredible sights, sounds, and sensations. From chasing sunsets over ancient ruins or drifting through crystal-clear waters, let these unmissable experiences transform your wanderlust into reality. The world is waiting, and its more spectacular than you ever imagined!!
Swiss-born literary and artists agent Annabeth Suter died of natural causes on February 14 at the Inselspital in Bern, Switzerland. She was 91.

Anne Elisabeth Suter was born November 29, 1933, in Basel, Switzerland and grew up in a small village near Schaffhausen. A champion of literacy and fierce advocate for childrens rights throughout her life, Suter put those passions into her work when she began her publishing career in the early 1970s as assistant to Daniel Keel, the founder and publisher of Diogenes Verlag in Zurich. She later became head of the companys subsidiary rights department. Suter and Keel shared a fondness for picture books and together they developed the Diogenes Childrens Books list, publishing such artists as Beatrix Potter, Maurice Sendak, and Tomi Ungerer.

In the early 1980s, Suter moved to New York City and in 1984 she founded the Gotham Art and Literary Agency. As an agent, she represented Diogenes and other European publishers in the U.S. and built a robust client roster of talented authors and illustrators that included Sendak and Ungerer as well as Laurent de Brunhoff, Edward Gorey, Helme Heine, Lillian Hellman, Patricia Highsmith, Petra Mathers, Salman Rushdie, and Peter Sis.

Suter was proud to support her Swiss culture by organizing programs and events at Manhattans Swiss Institute and the National Arts Club. A favorite project was the exhibition she curated in 1991 called Celebrating Heidi, which paid tribute to Johanna Spyris classic book Heidi, about an orphan girl sent to live with her cantankerous grandfather in the Swiss Alps. Joyce Dinkins, wife of then-New York City mayor David Dinkins, opened the show at the World Trade Center, and when the exhibit traveled to the Capital Childrens Museum of Washington, D.C., Suter persuaded First Lady Barbara Bush to open the show by marching in with the goats.

In 1997, Suter curated her most ambitious exhibition, a Peter Sis retrospective at Prague Castle-Riding School. Sis remembers it, and Suter, vividly in this tribute: I have no idea how she contacted President Vaclaf HavelPresident of Czech Republicmy home countryand arranged my exhibition in Prague Castle. Not just any exhibition but in the Emperors Riding School, the biggest space available, where I used to go see huge paintings of famous Baroque artists as a little boy. How do you fill a place like that with my art? Annabeth got to work. She arranged with numerous museums in Central Europe for loans of telescopes and instruments from Galileos time, models of medieval ships and dog sleds used by Innuits far, far north; a stuffed Komodo dragon and more to create educational islands throughout the exhibition. She found a carpenter who built a labyrinth in the center of the hall. She somehow found three-story high Christmas trees when the exhibition was extended over Christmas time.

Annabeth got a Zurich insurance company to donate color papers, Caran Dache pencils, and truckloads of milk chocolate bars given to children who kept coming back hoping for more. All this was unprecedented in the newly free Czech Republic of the 1990s. I arrived in Prague for the opening with a lot of trepidation. It was incredible: the most successful exhibition in the castle ever! They still talk about it! They remember chocolate! When the opening was over, the coat check lady in the stables told me that she had seen Annabeth the night before the exhibition opened. When she realized the floors needed mopping, Annabeth had taken off her long fur coat and scraped the whole place clean. She never mentioned it to me. Oh, how wonderful and dedicated a tour de force she was!
In honor of Womens History Month, we spoke with seven creators of picture book biographies highlighting overlooked female figures in history.

Josie James

How did you first learn about Marjory Stoneman Douglas?

In April 2015, my family and I visited the Everglades National Park [in Florida] in search of wood storks, roseate spoonbills, and manatees. On route, there were a lot of houses, hotels, shopping malls, and trac, but when we entered the park, its beauty transported us into another world. The vastness of the sawgrass was breathtaking. The view was unobstructed by tall trees, and a mighty wind blew across the prairie as enormous fluy clouds gathered in the bright blue sky. I knew I needed to know more about the Everglades, the park, and the people, like Marjory Stoneman Douglas, who preserved a precious piece of how our world used to be for future generations.

What contributions or achievements did you want to highlight in your book?

Marjory Stoneman Douglas, in her wide-brimmed hat and pearls, was the unlikely champion of a wetland wilderness. Her lifelong friendship with the Everglades illustrates the vital and beautiful connection between the environment and humanity, and her groundbreaking historical and environmental novel, River of Grass, as well as poems, articles, and short stories, foreshadowed a future of ecological woes. Her involvement in creating the Everglades National Park and lifelong eorts to preserve the Greater Everglades from destruction were pivotal in our national discussion about the sources of our water and unchecked land development. The founding of the Friends of the Everglades, which continues to fight to preserve and restore her beloved wildlife wilderness, is her crowning achievement.

What did you discover during your research that surprised you?

Shortly before Douglas died, 1.3 million acres, approximately 86% of the Everglades National Park, were designated the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness Area. Upon her death at the age of 108, park rangers spread her ashes among her beloved River of Grass within the namesake area.

Marjory's tenacity and dedication to research was fierce. She engaged scientists, botanists, geologists, archeologists, anthropologists, and historians when researching her novel River of Grass, published in 1947. Her writing heralded the cry for the environment, which did not become a national movement until the 1960s, and expertly wove the exploitation of the Everglades landscape with the atrocities inflicted upon the Native people.

In our current cultural climate, why is it important for young readers to see influential women in history?

It is a pleasure to introduce young readers to the grand dame of the Everglades. Marjory Stoneman Douglas demonstrates that women are strong. She stood before some of the most powerful politicians in a flowered dress, purse in hand, and commanded their attention. Women can fulfill their dreams. Marjory dreamed of becoming a writer, and she did. Women can protect the environment. Marjory believed in preserving and restoring the Everglades when others didnt. Women seek knowledge. Marjory engaged Floridas scientists, writers, politicians, and people to craft her stories, columns, poems, and novels to influence public opinion. Women shape the world through writing, activism, work, and art. Their achievements are the building blocks of our inspiration, and storytelling allows young readers to explore their well- lived lives.

Marjorys River of Grass: Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Fierce Protector of the Everglades by Josie James. Little, Brown/Ottaviano, Apr. $18.99 ISBN 978-0-316-44691-4

Caroline McAlister

How did you first learn about Ruth Asawa?

I saw her obituary in the New York Times in 2013 and I was intrigued by the story about her making undulating lines in the dirt. I loved the image of her as a child sitting on the back of the leveler with her heels dragging. I thought that this would make a beautiful opening image for a picture book. Also, the Quaker College where I taught, Guilford College, accepted Japanese American students from the camps during World War II and, in one of my classes, I had taught the novel No-No Boy by John Okada. [Asawa and her family were sent to incarceration camps during this period.] Guilford College also has interesting connections to Josef Albers, Ruths professor at Black Mountain College.

What contributions or achievements did you want to highlight in your book?

I wanted to highlight Ruths incredibly resilient creative spirit. I also wanted to emphasize her advocacy for art education, and her idea that art is for everyone. Finally, I wanted readers to see how beautiful her sculptures are, and I think the illustrator, Jamie Green, did a wonderful job conveying their originality, grace, and beauty.

What did you discover during your research that surprised you?

I was surprised that the students in the schools at the incarceration camps resisted by saying except for us when they pledged allegiance to the flag. I also hadnt known about the gifted Disney artists who were also incarcerated and gave art lessons to the kids at the Santa Anita racetrack. What a stroke of fortune that Ruth got to have these lessons! Also, I was disturbed and saddened by the pattern of family separation caused by order 9066. Ruth did not see her father for five years because he was considered a dangerous alien and sent to a different camp. This is not in the book, but the family had sent Ruths younger sister to Japan to visit relatives before the war broke out. The sister was stuck there until the end of the war and forgot how to speak English.

In our current cultural climate, why is it important for young readers to see influential women in history?

We have a president and a vice president and cabinet members who have disparaged women and tried to erase their contributions to public life. Ruths fountains and memorials have impacted the visual landscape of San Francisco. Young readers need to know that women have been leaders in the arts, in science, and in politics for over a century and we will not go back.

A Line Can Go Anywhere: The Brilliant, Resilient Life of Artist Ruth Asawa by Caroline McAlister, illus. by Jamie Green. Roaring Brook, Feb. $19.99 ISBN 978-1-250-31037-8

Jen McCartney

How did you first learn about Mary Katharine Goddard?

My mom, Karen Blumenthal, was working on this project when she passed away in 2020. She became fascinated with Mary Katharine Goddards story because she saw it as part of a trend in her work. Her focus was on writing about historical figures, particularly women, who were often overlooked. When she first heard Marys story, she excitedly asked all of us, Did you know a woman signed the Declaration of Independence? Then, Revolutionary Mary was born.

When my mom passed away, it meant a lot to me and my family to finish her work. I took over the picture book, wrapping up the research and writing, and helped shepherd the project through the publishing process. I loved getting to read her research, from the journal articles to her little scribbles in the margins of her photocopies. Finishing the project was a way for me to honor the work she did and to connect with her memory.

What contributions or achievements did you want to highlight in your book?

We wanted to highlight Marys contributions to the Revolutionary War, printing, and the distribution of the Declaration of Independence. Mary printed the Declaration of Independence so that it could be distributed to the colonies. While Mary typically signed her printed work with her initials, M.K. Goddard, she chose to sign the Declaration with her full name, Mary Katharine Goddard. She put her stamp on history with a fearless mark of pride in both the ideas in the Declaration and her own work. The Goddard Broadside is still shared and distributed to this day, and it will always have her name on it.

What Mary did by printing the Declaration was brave. If the British had won the war, she wouldve been punished for treason. We wanted to highlight for young readers how potentially risky Marys actions were and the strength that actions like that took during a tumultuous time.

My mom, who was a former business journalist, was also struck by Marys accomplishments as a businesswoman. Mary ran a difficult and important business at a time when women were not typically business owners. She was a true trailblazer.

What did you discover during your research that surprised you?

One story from Marys life that surprised me was of her service as Baltimores postmaster from 1775 to 1789. She was removed in 1789 in favor of a man with political connections. The postmaster general at the time believed the job was too dangerous and required too much travel for a woman. Mary wrote directly to George Washington, appealing the decision with a letter signed by more than 200 businessmen in Baltimore. She didnt get her job back.

Mary was discriminated against specifically because of her gender, even though she had been excelling in her position. That story feels so modern in many ways, especially as we see so much discrimination in workplaces today. It was something that I think connected my research of Marys life to modern America and showed how me her strength and bravery are just as necessary today as they were in the 18th century.

In our current cultural climate, why is it important for young readers to see influential women in history?

I think its important to remind young readers that women and people of color played a huge role in American history, even if the stories we primarily hear are about white men. Patriotism belongs to all of us and Marys story shows the ways that has always been true. Its important that everyone can see the contributions to history that all people make in order to feel the gravity of their own importance and potential for impact. Everyone has a role to play and the ability to make a difference!



Revolutionary Mary: The True Story of One Woman, the Declaration of Independence, and America's Fight for Freedom by Karen Blumenthal and Jen McCartney, illus. by Elizabeth Baddeley. Roaring Brook, Feb. $18.99 ISBN 978-1-62672-311-5

Laura Obuobi

How did you first learn about Michaela Mabinty DePrince?

I was browsing the YA aisle in a Barnes & Noble in New York City when I noticed the biography of Michaela DePrince sticking out of the shelf. Instead of pushing it back in to match the neat arrangement of the books, I pulled it out to see what the book was about. I read the blurb and was immediately taken by what the book promised to share. When I was in high school, I researched and wrote an essay about the Sierra Leonean civil war. Seeing in that moment that Michaela DePrince was born in Sierra Leone and lived through that same war I had researched and wrote about spurred me to buy the book so I could read her account of the war, and how she ended up in the United States as a ballerina. That book led me to the documentary First Position, which sealed my deep admiration and interest in Michaela DePrince and her very powerful story.

What contributions or achievements did you want to highlight in your book?

I wanted to highlight Michaelas resilience in the face of self-doubt, and prejudice regarding her identity as a Black ballerina. I also wanted to highlight her desire and persistence to perfect her skill by wearing tights and pointe shoes that matched her skin tone, and her rise to become one of the most important ballerinas in the world. She achieved a lot in the 29 years of her life. And shes left a legacy of what it means to have faith in a dream and to fight for it no matter what.

What did you discover during your research that surprised you?

I was surprised to learn that for a long time, brown-skinned ballerinas had to paint their pointe shoes: a process called pancaking. They would paint their pointe shoes using make-up foundation that matched their skin tone. And the reason for this was to create a more pleasing and precise visual in the various poses and ballet positions. Ballet professionals call it completing the line. Ballerinas with darker skin tones were painting their shoes to match the color of their skin because dancewear companies werent producing brown pointe shoes, and didnt have brown pointe shoes in their inventory. And it wasnt until 2017 that one dancewear company began to make brown pointe shoes available for sale. And finally in 2020 after more advocacy work by brown-skinned ballerinas, six more dancewear companies finally decided to include brown pointe shoes in their inventory. This really surprised me.

In our current cultural climate, why is it important for young readers to see influential women in history?

They can be inspired by the resilience of these women to push forward in their own unique and world-changing goals. I also mention in the books authors note that Black ballerinas like Michaela allow Black girls to envision themselves in the ballet world. At the same time, the presence of dancers like Michaela DePrince expands all of our perspectives on what a truly inclusive ballet world can look like. Michaela suffered a lot of adversity and trauma from a very young age. After she started developing her talent as a dancer, she faced prejudice as a Black dancer, and for her skin condition (vitiligo). And yet, she still became an influential and important ballet figure. It reminds us all that our painful beginnings or difficult pasts dont define us. Our ability to rise out of it and to step fully, unapologetically, and unwaveringly into who we are meant to be is what defines us. Michaelas story is powerful. And I hope more people get to know her.

Becoming a Ballerina: The Story of Michaela Mabinty DePrince by Laura Obuobi, illus. by Olivia Duchess. HarperCollins, Jan., $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-322246-5

Susan Goldman Rubin

How did you first learn about Clara Driscoll?

During the pandemic, I was home in lockdown and wanted to start a new book. Looking for an idea, I roamed my bookshelf and came across a book I had picked up at a conference: a novel called Clara and Mr. Tiffany. The name caught my interest again, and as I leafed through the novel, the concept of the Tiffany Girls as a subject for young readers excited me. The afterword acknowledged scholars recent discovery of the round robin letters from Clara to her mother and sisters, proving that she and her girls had designed and produced the gorgeous flower-themed lamps for Tiffany Studios. Clara not only described her designs in the letters, but she drew sketches of them. I sent for the book A New Light on Tiffany: Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Girls that accompanied a permanent exhibit of the lamps at New York Historical and eagerly began research.

What contributions of achievement did you want to highlight in your book?

I wanted to tell the story of a woman who pursued a career in the arts at a timethe late 19th centurywhen most women were raising children, or were nurses and teachers. Clara Driscolls unique achievement as a glass designer and glass cutter amazed me. Inspired by her love of nature growing up in Ohio, Clara captured the beauty of poppies, daffodils, and even cobwebs in an unusual art material: colored glass developed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. I also wanted to show Claras leadership qualities in heading the womens glass cutting department, the first of its kind in the world. With her Tiffany Girls, she not only collaborated with the male workers at the Tiffany Studio, she sometimes competed with them and won. Another singular achievement was Claras independence in courageously moving to New York City in the first place, learning new skills on the job at the Studio, and supporting herself with her art.

What did you discover during your research that surprised you?

I was astounded to learn about the techniques Clara patiently mastered to create her magnificent flower-themed lamps. By reading books, and watching videos on YouTube, I began to understand Claras process, from sketching her original ideas, gaining Mr. Tiffanys approval, choosing the exact right colors of glass to execute the design, cutting the shapes, and supervising her girls to wrap the pieces in strips of copper with beeswax. I was also surprised to find out that Mr. Tiffany only hired single women, so when Clara married Mr. Driscoll, she had to leave her work. But when Claras husband died a few years later, she returned to the Studio. Also, amazingly, Mr. Tiffany paid women and men equal wages.

In our current cultural climate, why is it important for young readers to see influential women in history?

As the fight for womens rights continues, its important to present role models to young girls and showcase women who have achieved success in their careers. For this purpose, I was thrilled to reveal the story of an unsung artist and her team, especially for readers interested in the arts. Claras innovation and determination, working hard behind the scenes to create masterpieces, prove that a woman can do anything!

Dragonflies of Glass: The Story of Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Girls by Susan Goldman Rubin, Susanna Chapman. Abrams, Feb., $19.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-5436-4

Allen R. Wells

How did you first learn about Yvonne Clark?

Im a former student of Yvonne Y.Y. Clark, a remarkable mentor and a pioneering engineer. In college, everyone called her Y.Y.  a name she adopted professionally to disguise her gender when applying for engineering jobs at a time when men were reluctant to hire women. I first met her in the summer of 2008 during my new student orientation at Tennessee State University. My assigned advisor couldnt attend, but Y.Y., a mechanical engineering professor, graciously guided me around the campus and Torrance Hall. This small act of generosity began one of the most impactful experiences of my time at TSU.

What contributions or achievements did you want to highlight in your book?

When I set out to write a picture book about Clark, I initially tried to cover her entire life. But I soon realized that capturing the heart of her legacy meant focusing on what made her story truly special. Y.Y.s passion for making engineering accessible to young people stood out, so I chose to highlight how a curious girl who loved building and fixing things grew up to become a problem-solver for NASA. I framed her story around a superhero themenot with superhuman powers, but with the real-life superpowers of curiosity, determination, and problem-solving. Most importantly, I wanted kids to see themselves in Y.Y.s journey and know that before she became a trailblazing engineer, she was a kid just like thema kid with a spark.

What did you discover during your research that surprised you?

Researching Yvonne Clark and Her Engineering Spark! gave me a deeper understanding of Y.Y.s legacy beyond what I knew as one of her former students. I was struck by how many obstacles she overcame, how profoundly she shaped the engineering field, and how underrecognized her contributions remain. Y.Y. intentionally made engineering accessible to young people, especially Black students, believing that kids should be introduced to engineering earlybefore doubt sets in. Her mindset was revolutionary at a time when opportunities for Black engineers, especially Black women, were scarce. She didnt just break barriers; she kept the door open for others. While researching, I discovered that Y.Y. worked as an aerospace engineer in the 1950s at Marshall Space Flight Center, where I had designed building renovation projects. Yet, more than her technical achievements, her commitment to mentorship left the most resounding impact. She wasnt just designing systemsshe was designing futures. Writing this book was about more than celebrating her brilliance; it was about helping kids see themselves in her story and recognizing that their own sparkswhether in science, art, or anything elsecan make a real difference.

In our current cultural climate, why is it important for young readers to see influential women in history?

In this current climate where conversations about equity, representation, and empowerment are highly important, young readers need stories of influential women. These stories reflect young girls potential and offer all children a wider perspective on womens contributions. Seeing trailblazers like Yvonne Y.Y. Clark break barriers in engineering challenges the false notion that historys most significant moments were driven only by men. Representation in history books shapes how children understand whats possible, empowering girls to see themselves as leaders and helping boys appreciate diverse voices. Telling these stories isnt just honoring the pastits inspiring future generations to break their own barriers.

Yvonne Clark and Her Engineering Spark by Allen R. Wells, illus. by DeAndra Hodge. FSG, Jan., $19.99 ISBN 978-0-374-39135-5

Julie Winterbottom

How did you first learn about Ruth Patrick?

I came across her in a collection of essays about women in science. What caught my attention was a description of the moment when Patrick fell in love with science as a very young girl. She was peering through her fathers microscope at a drop of pond water she had collected on a nature walk. She was astonished to see delicate, jewel-like shapes floating to and fro. They were diatoms, microscopic algae that would later become the subject of Patricks scientific research. That moment when she got hooked on science hooked me. I began a year of research into the life of this underappreciated botanist and ecology hero.

What contributions or achievements did you want to highlight in your book?

Ruth Patrick lived to be 105 and worked well into her 90s, so it was difficult to choose among her many accomplishments. I decided to focus on her landmark study of stream ecology, which demonstrated that biodiversity decreases as pollution increases. It sounds obvious today, but when Patrick made her discovery, scientists had no reliable way to measure pollutionand the term biodiversity didnt exist! I also wanted to highlight Patricks tireless efforts to get government and industry to address the problem of water pollution. In that regard, she is considered on a par with Rachel Carson.

What did you discover during your research that surprised you?

I was amazed to learn from an interview with Patrick that she used diatoms to help the United States during World War II. The Navy had captured a German submarine and wanted to know where its base was located. They asked Patrick to examine material scraped from the hull. She identified a species of diatom that lives only in the West Indies. The information allowed the Navy to locate a supply line of German submarines. In Patricks words, diatoms are like detectives.

In our current cultural climate, why is it important for young readers to see influential women in history?

Ruth Patrick was once told she couldnt lead her own research study because women waste money. While there has been progress since then, there still isnt enough support for women and girls in STEM. With the current backlash against womens rights, its more important than ever for young people to hear the stories of women who insisted on pursuing their intellectual passions in a hostile environment. Each womans story shows a different way of persevering, and each one can inspire a young reader to do the same.

Magic in a Drop of Water: How Ruth Patrick Taught the World About Water Pollution by Julie Winterbottom, illus. by Susan Reagan. Rocky Pond, Mar., $19.99 ISBN 978-0-593-62022-9
On March 7, the Swedish residence in New York City opened its doors to librarians and other members of the childrens book community for a gathering in honor of International Womens Day and the 80th book birthday of the strongest girl in the world: Pippi Longstocking. The event was held in partnership with the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award and Astrid Lindgren Company, PEN America, and the Swedish Institute.

Erik Ullenhag, Consul General of Sweden to New York City, kicked off the afternoon festivities by citing the tremendous impact of Lindgrens storytelling. He noted that from the time of its publication in 1945, Pippi Longstocking was a cultural sensation, with some critics praising it as a revolution in the nursery, while others decried the nonconforming heroine as an unpleasant thing. Ullenhag remarked that, in addition to being a goldmine of quotes, the story is a beacon of an independent childhood; Pippi and her author are feminist icons, embodying the courage of all women.

Next, childrens literature historian Leonard S. Marcus led a panel on the enduring relevance and resonance of the Pippi Longstocking books. The speakers were Johan Palmberg, Lindgrens great-grandson and member of the ALMA jury; Laurie Halse Anderson, 2023 recipient of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award; Jonathan Friedman, Sy Syms managing director of U.S. free expression programs at PEN America; and Jamia Wilson, feminist activist, writer, and VP and executive editor at Random House.

'Obstinate, Headstrong Girl'

Marcus opened the discussion with a brief overview of Pippis publication history, including its translation into more than 80 languages worldwide. The book has also come up against its share of critics and censors. It was banned outright in Iran, and Marcus referenced how an early French translation downsized the horse that Pippi lifts to a pony, in a misguided attempt to make the tale more plausibleitself a form of censorship.

After reading aloud quotations from Lindgren underscoring how she centered the childs point of view in her work, Marcus asked Palmberg about his first memories of encountering his grandmothers creation. Pippi was like the rain or the wind; she was always there, Palmberg said. He recalled listening to the stories on cassette tape over and over as a boy.

Anderson said that as a child she struggled to read, and when she finally learned, It was like this huge treasure cave had opened to me. Lindgrens book marked a turning point: Pippi picked up a horsenot a pony!and that changed me. Anderson was drawn to the protagonists brazenness and absolute joyfulness, noting how she dispatches with bullies but immediately resumes her characteristic kindness. Pippi embodies the golden rule of courage and comedy: punch up, not down. Another one of Andersons childhood heroines was Wonder Woman, and she mused about the possible influence of the comic book on Lindgrens imagination. Can you think of another superhero who is a child? she asked.

Wilsons early experience with Pippi Longstocking highlights the books global reach. At the age of six, Wilson moved with her family from South Carolina to Saudi Arabia, where she said she spent a lot of her time in the library. When she found Lindgrens bookwhich skirted the censorsit offered a way for her to connect with her classmates. And when a family from Stockholm moved in next door, she instantly bonded with her new neighbors over Pippi. I see her as someone who brings people together, she said. Pointing to her braids, Wilson said that as a young woman of color, she related to the feisty redhead and her pigtails, realizing, Its okay that Im different from everyone else.

Friedman of PEN America said that he was more of a book-skimmer than an avid reader as a kid, but he was always aware of Pippi Longstocking. Growing up in Canada, he found that a lot of his cultural references came from the U.S.; still, he was interested in other global influences. Lindgrens stories show children that theres something more to the world, Friedman said, adding that Pippi is part of the echelon of global characters. Powerful, rebellious, opinionatedboy, do we need that right now.

Pivoting to speak about Lindgrens work from an adult perspective, Marcus posed the question of whether the book would be published today. Wilson replied, We need fiction [like Pippi Longstocking] that foregrounds the visionary leadership of the child... to expand ourselves.

Anderson agreed that the book is essential, adding that the heroine carries within her the powers and strengths of all children. Its earth-shaking. Howeverand perhaps for the very reason of its radical empowermentshe said, Im not sure it would be published today.

Marcus raised the issue that as the book moves through history, certain aspects are now seen as objectionable, including racial and cultural stereotypes. When the 1960s television series based on the books re-aired in 2014, parts were edited out, causing some uproar in Sweden. Marcus asked the panelists, When is it okay to change a text?

Friedman pointed out that there are many problematic classics in the childrens canon and suggested that the approach to altering or reframing a text depends on whether the author is alive, the family oversees the estate, or its being managed by a larger company. He warned that the urge to update older works by smoothing over the offensive parts and the movement by conservatives to ban books may represent different sides of the same coin. He wondered, Why cant we reckon with the problems instead of hiding them?

Wilson agreed, saying, I believe that the conversation should be about media literacy and cultural competency. Rather than shelter the reader, We need to teach young people to engage with nuance and context and give kids the tools to come to their own critical evaluation. For Wilson, theres no single solution; the conflict must be generatively confronted.

Passing the Torch

When asked what Pippi Longstocking represents for the Swedish people, Palmberg replied that her influence is so large she almost symbolizes Sweden itself. She stands for the values the country hopes to present to the world: anti-authoritarianism, free thinking, and free-spiritedness. A key part of honoring and extending that legacy is the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, which was founded by the Swedish government in 2002, the year of Lindgrens death, with the mission to promote every childs right to great stories. It is the largest award for childrens literature, with a prize of five million Swedish kronor (just under $500,000 at present exchange rates).

Reflecting on how the award had changed her life, Anderson said, It might have saved my soul. When she received the call from the committee two years ago, she said, I was deeply depressed by the current political climate. She felt that everything she had worked for in her writing was under attack. The prize validated her efforts in the fight for authentic representation and free expression. Ive never felt more seen than when I read the judges description of my work. We are family, she said of the extended ALMA community, gesturing to fellow laureate Jacqueline Woodson, who was also in attendance. Looking ahead, Anderson hopes to see Pippi Longstocking paired with the spiritual descendants of Lindgrenbooks by contemporary childrens authors such as Meg Medina, Linda Sue Park, and Kelly Yangin classrooms and libraries.

During the q&a that followed, a member of the audience asked, Will Pippi be banned? While Friedman stressed that titles with BIPOC and LGBTQ+ authors and characters are primarily under fire, Wilson pointed out that another book starring a redheaded girl, Freckleface Strawberry by Julianne Moore, has been banned. Friedman acknowledged the librarians who are on the frontlines of the battle against censorship, saying, It takes so much bravery. Lets bring it back to Pippifull circle.

The birthday celebration continues throughout 2025, with 60 performances of a new Pippi Longstocking play by the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre in all five boroughs of New York City, among other events. Also in honor of Lindgren, Penguin Random House and the Swedish Womens Educational Association are donating a total of 7,500 books, which will be distributed across New York Public Library branches.

This years Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award laureate will be announced at the Bologna Childrens Book Fair on April 1.
Among the quartet of Authors of the Day featured at this year's London Book Fair is Argentine novelist Claudia Pineiro. Best known for her socially astute crime fiction, Pineiro's books are bestsellers in Argentina, and her 2007 novel Elena Knows, published in an English translation in 2021 by the Edinburgh-based Charco Press, was shortlisted for the 2022 International Booker Prize. Her 10 novels have been translated into multiple languages, including six in English, and adapted into feature films. She is also the author of several books for young readers, and the recipient of such literary prizes as Germany's LiBeratur Award and the Guadalajara International Book Fair's Sort Juana Ines de la Cruz Prize. PW talked with Pineiro ahead of this years London Book Fair.

How are you feeling about your Author of the Day role?

Its an honor and a pleasure. For the London Book Fair to assign me this role really is a privilege. I hope that being here will help my books to reach new readers and publishers in other languages. And that Andrea Kidd and I will have a good chat about literature.

What is your experience with book fairs, and how do you see their role in the literary landscape overall?

Ive been to fairs of all different kinds. Naturally, the Buenos Aires Book Fair is one of my favorites, because it is focused on readers. It lasts for several days and brings together a lot of people. It is a real party. The Guadalajara fair is probably the most important one [in Latin America], the largest and busiest, with a charm all its own, where as well as readers you meet a lot of friends and colleagues. It is a lot of fun, a celebration.

Ive also been to fairs in Bogota, Cali, Lima, Guayaquil, Santiago de Chile, Rio de Janeiro, and the Zocalo in Mexico City. Each of them has their own particular characteristics and delights. Outside of Latin America Ive been to Frankfurt a number of times, to Krakow, to Sopot, and to Cairo. These are unforgettable experiences, even when they are fairs more focused on doing business. There is always something to learn.

Your novels are bestsellers in Argentina, have been translated into many languages, and one was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize. How does it feel for your work to be read and well received in different parts of the world? Do you ever feel pressure to be a kind of ambassador?

It is enormously satisfying to know I have so many readers. Also, knowing that my books can be read on multiple levels: one reader might find their way to it on one level, and another at a different level. I think thats why a book can be treated as literary fiction and wind up a finalist for the Booker while another reader can enjoy it for the suspense or intrigue, or to follow the journey of one of the characters.

There are quite a few of us women writers from Argentina traveling the world to faraway book fairs, so in any case I am part of a group. Today my country is receiving attention for political reasons: constriction of rights, violence against culture, against women, against LGBTQ+ groups, against universities, attacks on individual artists. It weighs on me to have to talk about these things rather than the literature of my country, because the historical moment we are living through is a very troubling one.

Im a female Latin American writer and Im very aware of where Im writing froma place that is far from the heart of power, whether geopolitical or literary. I think that for this reason, so many women authors from the region have come to prominence in recent yearsbecause we are writing from the margins, as Deleuze says, a minor literature: writing like a dog digging a hole, with that kind of determination. Minor because we are not at the center of power. We do it almost like a survival instinct.

How do you understand the purpose and value of literature in translation, both as a writer and as a reader?

In Argentina, we read a great deal of literature in translation. Borges and [Adolfo] Bioy Casares had an imprint, Septimo Circulo, which published both the best of British detective fiction and the best of Latin American noir. The first translation into Spanish of the Nobel Prize winner Han Kang was thanks to an Argentinian publisher. The Norma publishing house has a collection of the works of Shakespeare translated by Argentinas greatest writers. We grew up with books translated from English, French, Japanese, Russian, and so many others. For me, its impossible to imagine reading, and becoming the writer I am, without these translations.

Which contemporary writers inspire or challenge you?

The Korean Han Kang has moved me a great deal this year, especially her book Human Acts. The Greek-Swedish writer Theodor Kallifatides. From Ireland, Claire Keegan. The French writer Violaine Berot. In Latin America, to name just a few: Eduardo Halfon, Samanta Schweblin, Dolores Reyes, Selva Almada, Carla Madeira, Pilar Quintana, Julian Lopez, Alejandro Zambra. There are many others I could mention, I read a lot of contemporary literature.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. There is no basis for the Armenians resettled to Azerbaijani lands in the South Caucasus at the beginning of the 19th century to claim any cultural heritage from these territories that predates their arrival, said MP Aziz Alakbarli, the Chairperson of the Board of the Western Azerbaijan Community,Trend reports.

Speaking at the scientific-practical conference In the footsteps of the deported heritage, Alakbarli stated that the last mass deportation of Azerbaijanis from Western Azerbaijan in the years between 1987-1991 provided an opportunity for Armenians and the government of Armenia to continue their harmful policies that had been developing over the past two centuries.

The process, which started with the Russian Empire's occupation of the South Caucasus, was approaching a destructive end in the 21st century until the powerful Republic of Azerbaijan intervened and stopped this infamous process, becoming a decisive force in the region, Alakbarli said.

The community chairperson also pointed out that Azerbaijan is not only ensuring the Great Return to the occupied territories but is also actively working to defend the rights of refugees displaced during the last deportation from Western Azerbaijan.

"Our scholars and intellectuals have significant responsibilities in this process, particularly in uncovering the truths of Western Azerbaijan, exposing Armenian falsifications, and communicating these facts to the global community.

Recent findings by our researchers on the Tepebashi residential area in Yerevan, which still holds the last traces of Azerbaijanis, along with their warnings about Armenia's plans to destroy mosques and historical buildings in the area, have once again confirmed that the policy to erase Azerbaijani cultural heritage from the region continues today. Unfortunately, the appeals made by Azerbaijani scholars, intellectuals, and the Western Azerbaijan Community to UNESCO and other international organizations on this matter have yet to yield any results.

This is why the publication of research works such as 'The Great Return: Our Material and Cultural Heritage in Western Azerbaijan' is of utmost importance today. These efforts aim to expose the ongoing process of erasing our people's traces, including the alteration of place names. However, it is essential that special attention is given to ensuring the accuracy of facts in such publications," Alakbarli concluded.

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The Supreme Courts ruling in Marbury v. Madison (1803) has long been recognized for its important articulation of the constitutional doctrine of judicial review. Chief Justice John Marshalls opinion famously identified a section of the 1789 Judiciary Act to be contrary to the judicial powers prescribed by the Constitution. Accordingly, he asserted the Supreme Courts authority to set aside federal laws deemed unconstitutional.

The historical notoriety of the case has been enhanced by the fact it arose from the volatile political context of the Election of 1800. Marshalls opinion effectively assuaged this drama by emphasizing the rule of law as inherently distinct from political action.

For historians crafting the narrative of national history a century later, Marbury v. Madison has stood as a prominent landmark that defined the political contests of the early republic. And it is a model for the resolution of subsequent constitutional conflicts. It has been a judicial case for all seasons.

John Marshall never studied constitutional law. He thought, adjudicated, and wrote in the language of the English common law tradition in which he was educated. His opinion in Marbury reflected this tradition. It was grounded in the historical responsibility of common law judges to determine the meaning, scope, and applicability of the law.

To the likely surprise of many reading the case for the first time, Marshall never used the term judicial review to characterize the Supreme Courts authority to determine the constitutionality of federal and state laws. That phrase only came into vogue in the early 20th century as modern legal scholars began viewing Marbury as part of a series of constitutional precedents that, taken as a whole, formed its own distinct body of constitutional jurisprudence.

Marshall instead described the actions of the Court, as did his contemporaries, as the province of the judiciary.

Contemplating Marbury as an anachronistic instance of judicial review arguably has contributed to foregrounding the political characteristics of the case, a consequence which stands in sharp contrast to what Marshall had hoped to achieve in writing the opinion.

Marshall ensured that his opinion remained focused on the legal questions of the case. His language was politically neutral and paid no heed to the partisanship motivating Marburys circumstance. He framed the ruling around the fundamental questions that informed the suit.

He asked if Marbury had a right to the commission. Then, he asked if Marburys right had been violated and if there was a remedy. Lastly, he queried whether the Supreme Court had the authority to remedy the situation through a writ of mandamus.

William Marbury was one of 42 federal justices of the peace who had been nominated, approved by the Senate, and commissioned in the final days of the Adams administration. These midnight judges were part of a hurried judicial expansion indicative of a desperate Federalist effort to establish a bulwark against Jeffersons anticipated agenda against the courts.

Marburys commission was signed by Adams and sealed by Marshall, who still served as secretary of state, but was not delivered prior to the inauguration. James Madison, the newly incumbent secretary of state, refused to deliver it upon assuming the office.

In establishing Marburys right to the commission, Marshall marginalized the political circumstances by focusing exclusively on the process by which the office was created. He elucidated the common law understanding of public office as an incorporeal right to real property.

His careful, definitional distinctions between the powers of appointment, nomination, and confirmation detailed the process of establishing investiture in the office. Through this process, Marburys commission became a vested property right once it had been signed and sealed. Madisons denial of it was an illegitimate dispossession.

The problem lay with the Supreme Courts inability to remedy the dispossession. Marshall identified a disparity between the statutory power enabling the Court to issue the writ in section 13 of the Judiciary Act of 1789 and the specification of the Supreme Courts jurisdiction in Article III, section 2 of the Constitution. Since the written Constitution represented the supreme law of the land, any law repugnant to it must necessarily be void.

Marshall reasoned that the court did not possess the constitutional authority to compel Madison to deliver the commission despite his illegal actions.

This profound conclusion has often cloaked other significant constitutional expositions in the opinion, notably Marshalls articulation of a clear criterion to justify the Courts intervention in the affairs of the executive branch. He acknowledged, almost effusively, the political essence of the executive, and confessed to the irksome and delicate nature of a judicial investigation into cabinet high officials. And he cautiously explained that political questions, or questions that are by the Constitution and laws, submitted to the Executive, can never be made in this court.

But he distinguished between the political and the ministerial functions of members of the executive branch. The secretary of state was a political office. But in Marburys case, an injury to an individual had been done by the failure to perform a ministerial duty. The requirement of the secretary of state to maintain the Great Seal of the United States and to apply that seal to commission letters signed by the president was an official function prescribed by Congress. The executive duty did not compromise the necessary political relationship between the secretary and the president.

For Marshall, the exercise of judicial province by the Supreme Court was circumstantial. It was always dependent on the presence of a proper legal question. He did not espouse it as a constitutional power but, in the language of the common law, as the proper function of the judiciary.
TLC / Reality TV World

By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/11/2025



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

couple Annie Suwan and David Toborowsky have welcomed their baby girl into the world."Welcome to the world! #90DayFiance couple David and Annie are thrilled to share their baby girl has arrived," wrote on its official Instagram page.Annie and David said in a statement uploaded on 's Instagram: "With hearts full of love and joy, we are thrilled to announce the arrival of our beautiful baby girl, Minthirarat. Her name means 'brave gem' and symbolizes the strength of Pisces, truly a shining light in our lives.""Baby Minthirarat was born on Tuesday, March 11, weighing 6lbs, 9 oz. and measuring 19.3 inches," the couple added. "Join us in congratulating the happy family!"Annie and David told Us Weekly that they feel "incredibly blessed to see this little miracle come to life.""A special thank you to Dr. Boostanfar, Angela Ho of HRC Fertility Encino, and Paradise Women's Health in Scottsdale, as well as the amazing doctors and nurses at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, whose care and support made this possible," the pair shared with the magazine."We are beyond grateful for the love and encouragement from all the fans who have been with us every step of the way. Your kindness means the world to us, and we couldn't have done it without you."Annie announced she was pregnant and expecting her first child with David after an IVF journey. (David is already a dad to three kids -- Ashley, Brittany and Jacob -- from a previous relationship).Annie underwent a successful embryo transfer procedure in June 2024, and she took to Instagram in early July of that year to share her big news with the world."The test results said I'm pregnant!!!!" Annie wrote in her caption, along with a handful of red heart and smiling emojis.In the video, Annie said, "Hi everyone! I just want to update you. I got the news. David just got an email [from the doctor]. Come on, tell them!"David proceeded to enter the room, showing off his phone."We got a phone call, and Annie is pregnant," David shared in the clip alongside an ecstatic and smiling Annie."Thank you all for the prayers, and your support has been overwhelming."Annie added, "Thank you everyone! Thank you so much. Thank you for your love and support. I can't wait... and keep sending prayers because I still need it. I'm so excited!"David also wrote in the comments of Annie's post, "I am so happy my love you are going to be an amazing Mom. I love so proud of you."David was a 48-year-old from Louisville, KY, and Annie was a 24-year-old from Bueng Kan, Thailand when she arrived in America on a K-1 visa.After originally appearing on Season 5 of , David and Annie -- who met in a bar in Thailand -- also returned for Season 3 of : Happily Ever After?.David struggled financially, especially when it came to impressing and receiving approval from Annie's parents. And despite allegations against David of substance abuse and infidelity, Annie still married him.In 2019, David was working a part-time job teaching English as a Second Language classes to adults in the Lexington area, but the couple was still living in an apartment above a storage facility owned by David's friend Chris that Annie hated.Once Annie received her travel and work permits after waiting over five months for her paperwork to be processed, she and David moved out of their apartment and began traveling the country and staying with family and friends.In August 2019, the couple -- who have also continued to make appearances on TLC's : Pillow Talk commentary show -- announced they had decided to settle in Arizona and were living in an apartment in Scottsdale.At the time, David was making money by teaching online classes.During a September 2020 episode of : Pillow Talk, David and Annie were shown celebrating their move to a new home in Fountain Hills, AZ.David and Annie then starred on two seasons of David & Annie: After the 90 Days, which aired from 2022 to 2023.The series showed the couple returning to Thailand to attempt to bring Annie's teenage brother Jordan and cousin Amber to America. It also documented David's weight-loss journey and the couple as they navigated marriage.Annie said in late 2022 that she and David try to stay positive during challenging times and have fun given "life is not easy.""Life is not perfect, [often] being too up and down," Annie explained at the time."But, you know, at the end of the day, I appreciate everybody who [has been] on my side no matter what I want to do, what I want to be and accept that the un-perfect part of myself and be my friend [or] my family and my husband."Annie officially became a U.S. citizen in February 2024.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage!
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For most of us, its a staple of action movies and an icon of first-person shooter video games thats rarely seen in the American wild. For others, its a gun they love to hate  or perhaps a gun they hate to love. The somewhat obscure and oft-misunderstood weapon we now know as the Brugger & Thomet TP9 rarely gets discussed in any depth and sometimes catches an unjustly bad rap  likely the result of being analyzed outside of its intended role or without an appreciation for its inner workings.

After spending several months with a complete test setup in hand  a factory short-barreled rifle with suppressor and full accessory suite  weve gained a new appreciation for this smooth shooting, compact PDW with undeniable sex appeal. But before we get to any of that, we need to start at the beginning. Which was, albeit, far less glamorous than what you see here.

SPECS:

B&T USA TP9 US

Caliber: 9x19mm

Capacity: 15, 20, 25, 30 rounds

Barrel Length: 5.1 inches

Overall Length: 11.9 inches

Weight (unloaded): 3.75 pounds

MSRP: $2,116

Accessories:

TP9 Suppressor: $690

Vertical Grip: $85

Folding Stock: $158

B&T Optic Mount: $124

Aimpoint Acro P2: $600

SureFire X300U: $300

Discreet Shooting Bag: $335

As Tested: $4,408

A ROCKY START

Long before the B&T there was the TMP  a Steyr product of the early 1990s. The 90s were, generally speaking, a time of outside-the-box thinking for small arms development and deployment with a number of would-be paradigm shifts that  well  wouldnt be, as time tells us. One such concept was the PDW, or personal defense weapon. As armored vehicles proliferated aggressively across both sides of the Iron Curtain during the Cold War, NATO realized that a significant number of its troops would spend the next conflict huddled inside the bellies of steel beasts where space was at a premium and assault rifles were unnecessary.

Even full-sized submachine guns of the day like Uzis and MP5s were deemed too large for the task of protecting vehicle crews in a last-ditch firefight. But pistols seemed too small and, perhaps more poignantly, too difficult for the average grunt to become skilled with. Ironically, this is the same concern that birthed the M1 carbine during World War II, which was specifically meant for support troops who couldnt hit the broad side of a barn with their issued 1911A1s.

The TP9 has seen duty across Western Europe; shown here being carried by the French Presidential Protection Detail. Image courtesy of B&T USA.

Enter the PDW: smaller than a rifle, smaller even than a submachine gun, but larger enough than a pistol to be easier to train on and easier to hit with at anything farther than across-the-table distance.

Why does any of this matter?

Well, the supposedly NATO-wide PDW initiative became Euro-centric almost immediately, with most of Western Europes legacy arms manufacturers producing something to fit the bill. Steyrs answer was the TMP  short for Taktische Maschinenpistole or, you guessed it, Tactical Machine Pistol. Sales of the TMP turned out to be as uninspiring as the name, with Steyr moving only a couple hundred units per year. A semi-automatic version of the TMP known as the SPP, or Special Purpose Pistol, was launched and brought to the American market. It too failed to excite the masses.

Fast-forward to around the turn of this century, and the corporate entity known as Steyr was broken up and restructured under new owners  who knew nothing about firearms but plenty about product profitability. The lackluster sales of the TMP led this new ownership to formulate a plan  destroy it. Literally. They fully and seriously intended to destroy all of the molds, tooling, drawings, existing parts inventory, and intellectual property related to the TMP, launching it into the catacombs of firearms history. In a truly fatalistic turn of events, a team from B&T just happened to be at Steyrs offices on other business and got into a conversation over lunch with the owner, who lamented the TMPs financial shortfall and his intentions on how to handle it. B&T made an offer for the parts and IP in question, which was accepted on the spot. According to B&Ts own historical records, by the time coffee was served, B&T owned the TMP.

A variety of magazines are available. Shown here (left to right) are the 15-, 25-, and 30-round options.

THE REST OF THE STORY

B&T received several shipping containers from Steyr that contained enough loose parts to build several hundred complete guns. Some of these guns were indeed assembled and sold almost immediately. But B&T also initiated a series of product improvement programs that took a few years to complete. By 2003, the TMP had undergone more than 20 individual design changes to be reborn as the MP9.

By this time, many NATO nations were supporting the American-led wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan, pushing Western Europe to reequip its civilian police forces and security services for a potentially more-violent counterterrorist role. In a new world order dominated by asymmetric operations carried out off the battlefield and in civilian clothes, the MP9 and  by extension  the PDW concept as a whole found new life in a previously unforeseen context.

Pistol-caliber weapons of any type, be they submachine guns, machine pistols, PDWs, or PCCs, have been almost wholly eschewed by U.S. forces in favor of short rifles. But our European counterparts continue to employ the MP9 in several roles, including close protection, counterterrorism, low-profile law enforcement, and armed intelligence work.

The TP9s thumb-accessible controls and T-shaped charging handle will be familiar to anyone whos run an AR.

Early adopters of the MP9 included police forces in Spain, Switzerland, and Romania, as well as special units of the Dutch KMAR national security force. When asked about current end users, B&T responded: Every single Western European military has purchased them, and the platform is extremely popular in Southeast Asia.

A number of purpose-driven accessories are available for the MP9 including a belt holster and covert deployment bag, which well come back to in a moment.

HANDS ON

For the American consumer, the MP9 is known as the TP9, specifically the TP9-US. While earlier versions of the TP9 had a section of Picatinny rail forward of the trigger guard, the current TP9-US has an empty socket that can be filled with the factory vertical grip if you choose to file a tax stamp for it.

The controls will feel very comfortable for American shooters. The safety selector is an HK style thumb lever on the lower receiver, just above the trigger. The mag release is a push button on the pistol grip, located right about where the trigger guard meets the grip. Both are ambidextrous, and both are located exactly where youd expect. Even the charging handle is top-mounted and T-shaped, right at the rear of the receiver, just like an AR.

All this to say that the TP9 manual-of-arms is incredibly intuitive for anyone whos ever handled any of the most popular guns in America. The polymer side-folding stock may be anemic in appearance but locks up tightly and provides a surprisingly sturdy weld to the shoulder. The folding mechanism is released by a push-button on the bottom of the receiver, opposite the charging handle, meaning that it too is ambidextrous. In addition to the selector lever, theres a trigger-within-a-trigger safety tab on the bang switch itself.

The understated aesthetic and shoot-through feature of B&Ts TP9 operators bag are purpose built for users operating undercover or in situations where knowledge of a weapon is undesirable.

Lets talk about the trigger, almost certainly the most maligned part of the design and regularly bemoaned by those whove shot a TP9. While not a true bullpup, youll notice in these pictures that the operating group (bolt and carrier) is indeed offset behind the fire control group. This design requires a longer trigger bar, translating to a longer, heavier trigger pull that feels less defined than might be desirable in the age of drop-in match options.

The problem is most obvious with guns that are brand new or not shot very often, when the trigger can feel heavy and like it has stages. But this bang switch can age like fine wine  or at least like a good factory striker trigger, which will smooth out and lighten up over time.

Another thing we sometimes hear TP9 users gripe about is suppressor compatibility. The short answer here is that there really isnt any. B&T makes a suppressor specifically for the TP9 thatll only work with its intended host. The reason for this has to do with the TP9s operating mechanism, which uses a rotating barrel. Not a commonly used method of delayed blowback, proponents say the rotating barrel design allows for a lower bore axis and drives the recoil straight back through the operating system, albeit without the harsh feel of a heavier direct-blowback mechanism.

But that rotating barrel can play havoc with direct-mount suppressors. Thus, the TP9s specially designed can locks onto the barrel guide, not the barrel itself. The lug-based attachment system is fast and ratchets securely into place. The can also incorporates a couple of unique design features. For one, it was the first B&T suppressor to incorporate their reduced blowback system. Achieved through a series of radial ports around the muzzle end of the body, it gives the can a unique toothed aesthetic.

Its also one of a small handful of suppressors that incorporates a Picatinny rail on the locking collar. Located at the 6 oclock position, putting it just forward of the vertical grip, this small section of rail-estate would be superfluous on just about any other gun. But in this case, when accessory mounting space comes at a premium, the option does come in handy and is perfectly sized for large pistol lights.

FINISHING TOUCHES

As we mentioned earlier, a number of uniquely purpose-built accessories exist for the MP9/TP9 family. The one we got our hands on, and which most excited us, was the discreet carry and deployment bag. Weve spent a lot of time with a lot of different carry bags meant to transport all manner of short guns. This example from B&T may be the single most well-thought-out SBR deployment bag weve ever seen, bar none.

They went with a messenger or laptop bag design as opposed to a backpack, specifically so that the gun can be fired from inside the bag. The exterior design is extremely sterile with muted colorways and only the most generic of accessory pockets. But thats exactly where generic ends with this bag.

The main compartment features a two-part opening, incorporating both the typical over-the-top main flap as well as a vertical zipper along the back side of the main compartment, which can be accessed without opening the flap. The zipper allows you to slip one hand into the back and get a secure firing grip around the TP9 for firing. A firing port on the front end of the bag includes a short plastic guide sleeve for the silencer to fit into.

On the outside, this port is covered by a plastic mesh flap that appears to be just a small admin pocket. Particularly ingenious is that this small piece of mesh is secured to the outside of the bag entirely by hook-and-loop, with no hard-sewn attachment point. In the event you do fire the gun through the bag and destroy the cover piece, just tear it off the hook-and-loop and replace it with a new one.

The bag is clearly designed to only be used with the suppressor attached.

Our test gun came with three different sizes of magazine: 15-, 25-, and 30-rounders. Of these, we found that the 25-round sticks with bumper plates set the gun at the perfect height inside the bag. Speaking of inside, the interior of the bag is lined entirely with hook-friendly soft cloth and includes two small foam blocks that can be fixed to the inside of the main compartment to stabilize the gun while its inside the bag.

We also noticed there are no straps, tie-downs, or hard attachment points for the TP9 itself, presumably so that it may be drawn from the bag and deployed properly if an initial volley fired from concealment doesnt get the job done. Our sample even included a small brass-catcher that clips onto the right-side Picatinny rail to keep the bag from filling up with spent casings.

Theres no doubt that the TP9 is a specialized weapon, offering some unique advantages as a stopgap between a pistol and traditional SBR or PCC. Its, arguably, the lightest SMG/PDW in the world coming in at a scant 3.75 pounds and less than 12 inches in overall length. In fact, three loaded 30-round magazines weigh more than the gun itself. In the civilian world, its applications are narrow  it makes a great bedside gun  and come at an equally specialized price point to set up properly.

But depending on your needs, this little Swiss subgun may be the Goldilocks answer to your personal protection needs.
Shockingly, it has been a little under two months since President Trump took office. In that amount of time, he has put Americans at unease, dismantled several government agencies, and kowtowed to the whims of an unelected South African billionaire.
The Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission discussed rezoning requests and development projects and raised the parking rates in downtown parking decks at their March 4 regular session meeting. On Tuesday, March 11, at the work session meeting, the ACC Mayor and Commission discussed federal funding grants related to housing, community development and more.
'He may respect others, but he is unlikely to admire them.'

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, February 28, 2025. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters

"Trump is a pragmatist, he does not believe that Russia should be punished at any cost, especially at the cost of American national interests," says Dr Dmitry Novikov, Deputy Head, Associate Professor, faculty of world economy and international affairs, HSE University, Moscow.

"The Russian-American rapprochement is real. But it must be understood that Washington and Moscow have not become allies or friends. They are still competitors, and their competition will continue.

"In the eyes of Donald Trump, Russia is an important power, but it is not the main competitor of the United States, and it does not pose an existential threat," Dr Novikov tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih.

IMAGE: Zelenskyy with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his visit to Jeddah, March 10, 2025. Photograph: Saudi Press Agency/Handout via Reuters

What are your thoughts about the spat between Trump, Vance and Zelenskyy in the Oval Office and the subsequent olive branch by Zelenskyy to work under Trump's 'strong leadership' on a peace agreement?

The scandal in the White House was an accident, but a happy accident, at least for the current administration in DC.

Now Donald Trump can effectively justify the policy of resolving the Ukrainian crisis and rapprochement with Russia in front of a domestic audience. He openly says that the main obstacle to peace is Zelenskyy and his government.

This is a drastic change of rhetoric in comparison with his predecessor.

I don't think Zelenskyy's statement will change the situation. Yes, he is ready to work under 'strong leadership', but it seems that the situation has already become irreversible.

Senior officials in Washington are openly talking about the need for Zelenskyy's resignation. This leaves him with no chance for political survival.

Do you believe that the end of this three-year war is within sight?

And that only Trump has the capital to negotiate a peace deal to end the Ukraine war?

Apparently, the Trump administration is determined to end the conflict. They believe that it does not correspond to the strategic interests of the United States.

Over the past three years, Washington's policy has been to provide military support to Ukraine in order to defeat Russian troops on the battlefield, combining it with the economic pressure, sanctions.

Ultimately, this policy was expected to lead to the strategic defeat of Russia as a great power, change Russian foreign and probably even domestic policy. Now it has become obvious that it is hardly possible. Russian troops are advancing, and the Russian economy is transforming.

The new administration does not pursue a pro-Russian policy and is not a friend of Moscow. Donald Trump is adapting US policy to the new reality. He is a pragmatist, he does not believe that Russia should be punished at any cost, especially at the cost of American national interests.

The Trump administration believes that the direction of the US foreign policy is Asia, the confrontation with China. If the continued confrontation with Russia strengthens China and weakens the United States, then the conflict must be ended.

That's how they think. I think it truly opens up opportunities for conflict resolution.

But the path to ending the conflict can be difficult. The negotiation process has just begun.

IMAGE: Russia's President Vladimir Putin, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, left, Trump and then US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, right, at a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, June 28, 2019. Photograph: Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via Reuters

The Russia-Ukraine issue has further deepened the divide between US and Europe.

What impact is this going to have on Russia which is already at loggerheads with Europe?

A quarrel between the United States and Europe was expected after Donald Trump's election victory. Trump criticised European allies and NATO during his first administration. Now he seeks for a fundamental transformation of transatlantic relations to cut costs and limit American engagement in European security.

Within this logic the United States does not want to get involved in conflicts in Europe directly, although Washington is ready to support European allies.

There is no doubt that the conflict between the United States and Europe will end sooner or later, their ties are too strong.

In the medium term, this creates a paradoxical situation. Russia and the United States can have good relations, the United States and Europe can have good relations, but the confrontation between Europe and Russia will continue. Let's see how long it will last.

IMAGE: Zelenskyy, Trump and US Vice President J D Vance in the Oval Office, February 28, 2025. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters

The United States seems to have done away with relationships built over 70-80 years -- siding with Russia at the UN and alienating Europe.

Is this US-Russia rapprochement for real?

The Russian-American rapprochement is real. But it must be understood that Washington and Moscow have not become allies or friends. Russia and the United States are still competitors, and their competition will continue.

However, the Trump administration believes that strategic and economic pressure on Russia makes no sense. They want to focus on domestic reforms and competition with China.

In the eyes of Donald Trump, Russia is an important power, but it is not the main competitor of the United States, and it does not pose an existential threat to the United States.

Russia does not have the opportunity to change the American political order and win the technological race. Geopolitically Moscow's interests lie in the post-Soviet space and Eurasia, and they do not fundamentally contradict American vital interests.

These considerations open the way for a peaceful coexistence and even partnership in some areas.

Will this rapprochement unravel the Russia-China 'no-limits' partnership?

The partnership between Russia and China has always had limits. Now, it seems, it has reached them. This does not mean that they will degrade or reverse.

Both Moscow and Beijing consider the strategic partnership between the two countries as very valuable. But it is natural that they both want to have their own independent track of relations with the United States and other centers of power.

That is how a multipolar world should work.

IMAGE: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Vladimir Putin's foreign affairs advisor Yuri Ushako, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Donald Trump's national security advisor Michael Waltz and special Mideast envoy Steven Witkoff at the Ukraine peace talks meeting at the Diriyah palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photograph: Kind courtesy @mfa_russia/X

Can the US and Russia overcome the mistrust and hostility that has existed almost throughout this century and walk a new path?

Let me remind you that after the collapse of the USSR, relations between Russia and the United States were very good. They remained that way until 2014.

The nature of Cold War 2.0 was that the United States sought to preserve the international liberal order, while Russia sought to change or destroy it.

Moscow was dissatisfied with its place in the world after the collapse of the USSR. Now the Trump administration is destroying the liberal order itself, and Russia has regained its capabilities and is quite satisfied with the role it plays in the world.

In these circumstances, Moscow and Washington can cooperate. Of course, it won't be easy to regain trust. But it's possible.

How do you think Trump [who is known to admire strong leaders] views Putin and vice versa?

I think Trump admires only himself. He may respect others, but he is unlikely to admire them. I believe that he believes that President Putin has a strong position and that he must be respected.

Vladimir Zelenskyy had a weak position, he had no cards, and look how he was treated. It's the same and vice versa.

Vladimir Putin believes that Trump has strong cards in his hands, and this must be respected. They are both ready to bargain.

IMAGE: Trump and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer shake hands during a joint press conference in the East Room at the White House, February 27, 2025. Photograph: Carl Court/Pool via Reuters

What does Trump actually expect from Russia, and likewise what does Putin expect from Trump?

Trump expects that after the conflict ends, Russia will pursue a peaceful policy in Europe and will not distract the United States from emerging matters in Asia.

In exchange, he is ready to normalise relations with Moscow and develop economic cooperation. We expect that US will not try to undermine Russia's vital security interests in Europe and the post-Soviet space.

Additionally we expect lifting of sanctions or at least a significant easing, what is necessary for normalisation of economic relations.

But first, normalisation of political relations is necessary. The first steps towards this have already been taken.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Azerbaijan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov held a comprehensive meeting with Kazakhstans Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Murat Nurtleu, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a post on its X page, Trend reports.

The meeting focused on the strategic partnership between the two countries, as well as the prospects for bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

During the discussions, the two sides exchanged views on the political, economic, trade, transport, communication, and humanitarian aspects of the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan strategic partnership.

The agenda also included cooperation issues within regional and international organizations, such as the UN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the UN Joint Office, and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA).

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
'And this will persist given the two-and-a-half-front threat we face.'

IMAGE: Indian Army tanks and helicopters during an exercise in the Rajasthan desert. Photograph: ANI Photo

The chiefs of the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy underscored the importance of 'Aatmanirbharta' (self-reliance) in defence, citing lessons from the conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia.

Speaking in separate sessions at the India Today Conclave in New Delhi, they highlighted the need to enhance self-reliance in defence capabilities to mitigate risks arising from dependence on foreign military equipment and supply chain disruptions.

This comes amid the government's ongoing push for defence indigenisation.

Since 2020-2021, a substantial portion of the armed forces' capital acquisition budget has been dedicated to domestic procurement.

For 2025-2026, Rs 1.115 trillion (75 per cent) of the Rs 1.49 trillion capital acquisition budget has been earmarked for domestic purchases.

General Upendra Dwivedi, chief of the army staff, pointed out that regardless of the resources a military possesses, they are never truly adequate in times of war.

"Even after a war, a nation must retain 25 to 30 per cent of its war resources to counter any future threats," General Dwivedi said, emphasising that no country is fully prepared for such a scenario.

This, he added, highlights the significance of self-reliance and the necessity of a strong domestic production capacity.

"When you have the production capacity, the lines of manufacturing and production are there with you," said General Dwivedi.

This would not only facilitate defence exports, the COAS added, but also ensure that, if the country goes to war tomorrow, the additional capacity allocated for exports can be utilised by the Indian armed forces.

"India is constantly in a state of 'not war, not peace', and this will persist given the two-and-a-half-front threat we face," said General Dwivedi.

Emphasising the need for India to recognise the "high degree of collusion" between Pakistan and China, he stated, "The two-front war threat is a reality."

Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, chief of the air staff, stressed the need for India's defence ecosystem to advance to a stage where it leads in technological innovation, with other nations following its developments.

He also noted that a key lesson from ongoing international conflicts is the necessity for countries to be prepared for prolonged, drawn-out wars.

"So, along with our capabilities, we need to build our capacity, a capacity to last a long-drawn war," the IAF chief said, adding that the earlier assumption that wars would be "short and swift" has changed.

He emphasised that not only must the IAF build up its arsenal in the present, but that it also needs "backup from the industry so that if a war breaks out and continues, we can keep replenishing our losses".

Observing that "we are chasing technology", Air Chief Marshal Singh stated, "We need to reach a stage where new technology comes out of India and others are chasing it."

Underscoring the importance of a resilient research and development culture, he said that the process needs to be accelerated.

"Our processes are a little slow. We need to be ready for failures in R&D. If you are not prepared for failure, you will never succeed in time."

Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, chief of the naval staff, also asserted that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has dispelled the notion that future conflicts will be short and swift, adding that this was due to advancements in technology.

Addressing the challenges of sustaining a prolonged conflict, he pointed out that disruptions in supply chains and shifting geopolitical alliances necessitate self-reliance.

"In times of war, supply chains face disruptions, and alliances may waver.

"Even trusted partners prioritise their own needs during crises.

"If a nation remains dependent on external sources for weapons and other resources, it risks vulnerability.

"This is where Aatmanirbharta becomes crucial," he stated.

Admiral Tripathi further emphasised that merely achieving self-reliance is insufficient and that the pace at which a nation becomes self-sufficient is equally critical.

"It's not just about being Aatmanirbhar, but also about how quickly we achieve it. We must accelerate the pace of technology induction, bolster our naval capabilities, and enhance battlefield readiness," he said.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
Government representatives told a parliamentary panel that the US has not officially conveyed to India that it should cut tariffs by April 2.

Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes. IMAGE: Shipping containers stored aboard the Albert Maersk at the APM terminals in Navi Mumbai, February 28, 2025. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

In its first official response to US President Donald Trump's recent claim that India had agreed to cut its tariffs way down, the Union government on Monday, March 10, 2025, told a parliamentary panel that New Delhi had not made any commitment to the US on reducing tariffs.

The government conveyed to the panel that negotiations were still on and that India had sought time until September, while clarifying that the Trump administration had not set a deadline of April 2 for New Delhi.

At the meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on external affairs held on Monday evening, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal told the panel members that India could reduce tariffs on some items, such as nuts, but would protect its dairy industry.

However, any reduction in tariffs will be done bilaterally and not replicated for multilateral agreements.

This comes after a series of fast-paced developments around India-US trade relations, including statements from Trump and US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick on issues linked to tariffs and bilateral deal.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal visited the US last week to discuss trade issues in a reset world order.

To questions from panel members that countries, such as Canada and Mexico, have threatened retaliatory tariffs against the US, Barthwal said India's trade and security ties were not comparable to that of Mexico and Canada.

Canada, Mexico and the US shared borders, and there were security and immigration implications, Barthwal added.

The commerce secretary pointed out that the joint statement issued after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with the US president in Washington on February 13 had specified that the two sides would 'negotiate the first tranche of a mutually beneficial, multi-sectoral Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by fall (September) of 2025', highlighting that the New Delhi is negotiating a BTA between the two countries that would indeed be mutually beneficial.

Barthwal briefed the 30-member panel headed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on the "current developments in India's foreign trade and policy" while Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri briefed the panel members on the "current foreign policy developments".

The meeting lasted a little over two hours with MPs asking a series of questions on the implications of the US demands on India to cut tariffs.

On Friday, Trump said India had agreed to cut its tariffs 'way down'.

In his remarks, following Goyal's trade talks with Lutnick, Trump said: 'Canada, Mexico and then you just go right down the line.

'India charges us massive tariffs, massive, you can't even sell anything into India.'

Trump said that India had agreed to cut its tariffs now 'because somebody's finally exposing them for what they've done.'

Earlier last week, Trump had reiterated that reciprocal tariffs on countries that impose levies on American goods will kick in on April 2.

However, the government representatives told the parliamentary panel that the US has not officially conveyed to India that it should cut tariffs by April 2.

The government representatives also briefed the panel members on China's reported plans to build a mega hydropower dam on the Brahmaputra River.

Foreign Secretary Misri was in China for a two-day visit at the end of January.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
The five largest exporters of major arms in 2020-2024 were the US (43 per cent), France (9.6 per cent), Russia (7.8 per cent), China (5.9 per cent), and Germany (5.6 per cent).

IMAGE: An Ukrainian soldier fires a howitzer at Russian troops near Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region, November 18, 2024. Photograph: Oleg Petrasiuk/Press Service of the 24th King Danylo Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces/Handout via Reuters

India was overtaken by Ukraine as the world's largest importer of major arms in the period 2020-24, falling to second place with an 8.3 per cent share of global imports, compared to Ukraine's 8.8 per cent, according to new data on international arms transfers published on Monday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri).

Ukraine became the world's largest importer of major arms in the period 2020-2024, with its imports increasing nearly 100 times compared to 2015-19, noted Sipri's Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2024 report.

This sharp increase is driven by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which began on February 24, 2022, and has continued for over three years.

The 2023 edition of the Sipri report had ranked India as the world's biggest arms importer in 2019-2023 with a 9.8 per cent share of all arms imports.

India's tensions with China and Pakistan largely drove its arms imports during the period, the report added.

However, it also observed that Indian arms imports decreased by 9.3 per cent between 2015-2019 and 2020-2024.

'The drop was at least partly the result of India's increasing ability to design and produce its own weapons, making it less reliant on imports,' said the report.

This comes amid the government's ongoing efforts to enhance Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defence.

In 2023-2024, India's total defence production hit a record Rs 1.27 trillion. The 17.25 per cent growth in total production that year was a seven-year high.

Since 2020-2021, a sizeable share of the armed forces' capital acquisition budget has been allocated to domestic procurement.

For 2025-2026, Rs 1.115 trillion (75 per cent) of the Rs 1.49 trillion capital acquisition budget has been earmarked for domestic purchases.

The Sipri report noted that the largest share of India's imports came from Russia (36 per cent).

'However, this was a significantly smaller share than in 2015-2019 (55 per cent) and 2010-2014 (72 per cent).

'India is shifting its arms supply relations toward Western suppliers, most notably France, Israel, and the US,' added the report.

It also noted that most of India's new and planned orders for major arms will come from Western suppliers.

The five largest exporters of major arms in 2020-2024 were the US (43 per cent), France (9.6 per cent), Russia (7.8 per cent), China (5.9 per cent), and Germany (5.6 per cent), together accounting for just under three-quarters (72 per cent) of all arms exports.

'US and French arms exports rose between 2015-2019 and 2020-2024, while Russian, Chinese, and German arms exports fell,' said the report, adding that US arms exports grew by 21 per cent between 2015-19 and 2020-24.

While France became the world's second-largest arms supplier in 2020-24, Russia fell to third place.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
Bharatiya Janata Party leader P C George, who is out on bail in connection with a hate speech case, has urged the Christian faithful to marry off their daughters by the age of 24, claiming that 400 girls have been lost to 'love jihad' in Meenachil Taluk alone.

IMAGE: Kerala BJP leader P C George. Photograph: P C George on Facebook

George made the controversial remarks while addressing a special conference in Pala on Sunday under the leadership of Bishop of Pala diocese, Joseph Kallarangatt, and the Temperance Commission of the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) against the menace of drugs.

"In Meenachil Taluk alone, we have lost around 400 girls to love jihad. Only 41 have been recovered. Just Saturday (March 8), a girl left. She was 25 years old. She left at 9.30 PM. We are still searching for her.

"Let me ask--shouldn't her father be beaten up for keeping her unmarried until 25? Why wasn't she married off? This is an issue we need to discuss," George said.

Meenachil Taluk has a significant Syrian Catholic population.

George stated that a girl should be married off by the time she is 22 or 23 and that such decency should be maintained.

"If she reaches 28 or 29 and starts earning a salary, she will not get married, and her earnings will simply be drained by her family. That is the problem. Christians must ensure that their daughters are married off by the age of 24," George said.

'Love jihad' is a term used by BJP and right-wing leaders who claim Hindu women were lured into marriage by Muslim men through Islamic jihad.

In 2020, the Centre had said the term 'Love jihad' is not defined under the extant of laws and no case of 'Love jihad' has been reported by any of the central agencies.

The government had informed Parliament that the Article 25 of the Constitution provides for the freedom to profess, practice and propagate religion subject to public order, morality and health.

Various courts, including the Kerala High Court, have upheld this view, the government had said in reply to a question.

A few weeks ago, George, a former MLA, was arrested for delivering a hate speech against a minority community during a TV channel discussion.

George, who had been sent to judicial remand in connection with the case, was granted bail on 28 February.
The Mumbai police apprehended eight persons at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport while they were being sent to London illegally by posing as students participating in an exchange programme, an official said.

IMAGE: A view of the Mumbai airport. Photograph: ANI Photo

The accused, seven of them posing as students of a Haryana-based private university and one as a professor, have been charged with human trafficking, the official said.

They were caught at the immigration checkpoint of the airport in the early hours of Monday, he said.

He said the accused allegedly used forged documents and furnished false information to procure visas to the UK.

The accused were travelling to London via Jeddah, the official said, adding that their agent had demanded Rs 20 lakh from each of them to facilitate their immigration illegally.

Officials of the Bureau of Immigration initially found that two of them were travelling to London on UK visit visas, he said.

The official said that on questioning, the travellers said they were participating in a student exchange programme through a private university in Hisar with their professor.

However, they were unable to provide details about the university they were heading to, and they were taken away for further questioning, he said.

The official said the accused, who posed as a professor, told the authorities he was travelling with seven others to London on the Haryana varsity's instructions.

He claimed that he met the travellers and an agent, identified as Bittu, at a hotel in Delhi and was taking them to London on his instructions.

The travellers told the immigration authorities that the agent promised to help them immigrate to the UK and had demanded Rs 20 lakh from each of them, the official said.

The agent also allegedly procured visas for the travellers by submitting forged documents to the UK Embassy, he said.

He said the eight accused were handed over to the Sahar Police for further action.

A case has been registered against the accused under section 143 (trafficking), 336(2) (forgery) and other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and Passport Act, the official said.

The crime branch has taken over the probe, he said.

Earlier, the Mumbai Police had busted a human trafficking racket by arresting a man who had sent over 80 persons to Canada, Turkey, Netherlands and Poland on forged passports and visas.
A Haryana man paid Rs 35 lakh to agents and began his 'dunki' route journey to reach the US, but despite passing through 11 countries in his six-month-long ordeal, he was nabbed as soon as he reached America and deported back to India this year, the police said.

IMAGE: Indian citizens deported from the US leave in a bus from Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport after they arrive on a US C-17 Globemaster aircraft, in Amritsar, Punjab, February 17, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

The man, Pankaj Rawat, a native of Panipat in Haryana, has lodged a complaint with the Gujarat police against the two agents, accusing them of human trafficking and cheating. Based on his complaint, the police have launched an investigation, a Surat crime branch official said on Tuesday.

The 'dunki' or 'donkey' route is a term largely used by traffickers to refer to a perilous multi-hop journey undertaken by illegal migrants to reach the western countries, especially the USA.

Rawat's 'dunki' route journey had started in August last year and ended in February this year when he reached America. But his 'American dream' got shattered as the authorities nabbed him and deported him back to India days later.

"As per their pre-planned conspiracy, the agents - Abdulla and Pradeep - sent the complainant abroad under the pretext of providing him work and accommodation in the USA, and illegally took Rs 35 lakh from him for the purpose," the FIR said.

The complainant had to go through 11 countries in South America, Central America and North America -- Guyana, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Mexico -- before entering the USA illegally through the Tecate border. But he was nabbed by the US police, and kept under detention for 15 days before being deported back to India on February 16, it said.

The FIR said that the agents and their handlers kept Rawant at different places in these countries, took him through dark and dangerous jungles, kept him hostage, took his mobile SIM and passport and threatened to kill him, thereby committing the crime of betrayal and fraud.

As per the details given by the victim to the police, he came in contact with Abdulla through an office located at Hojiwala industrial area in Surat. Abdulla convinced him to take him to the USA illegally through the 'donkey route' and provide him with work and accommodation in the US.

Abdulla told the victim that he had sent several persons illegally to the US and ensured that they got jobs as well as proper accommodation there. For the service, Abdulla charged him Rs 35 lakh.

Convinced, the victim collected Rs 20 lakh through his savings and took some loan for the purpose as well, and paid him the money at his office in January last year.

Later, he paid the remaining Rs 15 lakh at a given place at Ashok Vihar in Delhi.

As directed by his agent, the victim boarded a flight to Guyana from Mumbai airport on August 6, 2024.

He landed at Timari Airport in Guyana, and was asked to get in touch with another accused -- Pradeep -- through WhatsApp on a mobile number provided to him, the FIR said.

In Guyana, Abdulla's aide seized the complainant's passport and SIM and sent him to Brazil on a taxi through a route passing through a dangerous jungle.

He said he stayed in Brazil for 10 days before being sent to Peru on a bus, and from Peru to Ecuador on a taxi.

"In Ecuador, Abdulla's aide kept him hostage for around 25 days, and from there, he was sent to Colombia, where he was made to stay in a house in Monteria city for around four months," the FIR said.

After staying there for quite some time, Rawat asked the agent's helper about moving further, to which he offered one excuse after another.

"Enraged at the excuses, the complainant demanded his money back, after which the agent's aide threatened to kill him and refused to return a single penny," it said.

After a nearly four-month-long stay, the victim was finally taken through a dangerous forest to Panama, and reached Panama city after eight days.

There, he lived in the house of the agent's aide for some 10 days where he was assaulted time and again, before being sent to Costa Rica, and from there to Honduras on a bus.

He was then sent to Nicaragua and then to Guatemala, where he stayed for 15 days, it said.

From Guatemala, he reached Mexico city where he was made to stay in a hotel for 15 days. From Mexico city, he was taken to Hermosillo in Mexico on a taxi and made to stay there for 15 days.

Thereafter, on February 1, 2025, he entered the USA through the Tecate border where the agent's handlers took all his possessions. As soon as he entered the US, the police nabbed him and kept him detained with other Indians for 15 days, before deporting him on the US Air Force aircraft and reached Amritsar airport on February 16.

Police inspector of Surat crime branch, T B Pandya said the FIR was registered at Panipat in Haryana from where complainant Rawat hails, and transferred to the Surat crime branch for investigation because he worked in the Gujarat city when he came in contact with the agents.

"He had contacted the agents in Surat and paid them the money after their discussion. He reached the USA through the routes decided by the agents," Pandya said, adding that after his deportation, the crime branch was in touch with him for investigation.
Amid allegations of fudging of electoral rolls, the Election Commission on Tuesday invited political parties for an interaction to strengthen the electoral process.

IMAGE: A view of the Election Commission of India office in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

In a statement, the EC said it has invited suggestions from all national and state political parties by April 30 for "any unresolved issues" at the level of electoral registration officers, district election officers and chief electoral officers.

In individual letters issued to political parties Tuesday, the Commission also suggested an interaction with party presidents and senior members "at a mutually convenient time, to further strengthen electoral processes in accordance with the established law".

During an EC conference last week, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had instructed CEOs, DEOs and EROs of all states to hold regular interactions with political parties, resolve any suggestions received in such meetings strictly within the legal framework already in place and submit an action taken report by March 31.

The Commission had also urged political parties to pro-actively use this mechanism of decentralised engagement.

Political parties are one of the key stakeholders among 28 identified by it.

In its letter to political parties, EC also noted that Representation of the People Act 1950 and 1951, Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, Conduct of Election Rules, 1961; orders of Supreme Court have established a decentralised, robust and transparent legal framework for holding free and fair elections.

The issue of duplicate numbers has also found echo in Parliament with Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi demanding a discussion in the House on the issue of voter lists on which several political parties have raised certain questions.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Gandhi said the entire opposition has been demanding a discussion on voter lists.

Trinamool Congress member Kalyan Banerjee demanded action against the EC and alleged that the poll body had "failed" to conduct fair and transparent elections over the past few years.
A bill seeking to streamline various services related to immigration and foreigners, including their entry, exit and stay in the country was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday with opposition dubbing it to be violative of constitutional provisions.

Photograph: Screen grab/Sansad TV

Rejecting suggestions that Parliament lacked the legislative competence to bring the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said the central government has all the rights under the Union list to bring legislations on the subject.

He asserted that while tourists were welcome to come to India, it was the government's responsibility to ensure peace and sovereignty of the nation remain intact.

Opposing the bill at the introduction stage, Congress MP Manish Tewari said the bill is violative of multiple provisions of the Constitution and various laws.

He said the bill violates the principle of fundamental rights and the government may use the provisions of the proposed law to deny entry to those who are not in sync with the ideology of the ruling dispensation of the day.

Trinamool Congress Saugata Roy said the proposed law could prevent inflow of talent from outside in various fields.

In his remarks before formally introducing the bill, Rai said the draft law seeks to correct overlapping and duplicate provisions in prevailing laws governing immigration and foreigners in the country.

The legislation is aimed at streamlining various services related to immigration and foreigners, including their entry, exit and stay in India.

The entry, stay and exit of foreigners from India are currently governed by the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, and the Foreigners Act, 1946.

While Indian visas of all categories to foreigners can be granted in physical or sticker form by Indian missions or posts located abroad, the Bureau of Immigration (BoI) grants electronic visas under seven categories to people from 167 countries.

Besides, visa-on-arrival is granted by immigration authorities at six designated airports to nationals of three countries -- Japan, South Korea and the UAE (only for such UAE nationals who had earlier obtained e-visa or regular or paper visa for India).

The stay and movement of foreigners in India and their exit are regulated by the BoI and state governments and Union Territory administrations.

According to existing laws, all foreigners on long-term (more than 180 days) student, medical, research, employment, missionary and project visas are required to register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) or the Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) concerned, having jurisdiction over the place where the foreigner intends to stay, within 14 days of arrival.

Pakistani nationals are required to register within 24 hours of their arrival.

Other laws that cover foreigners in India include the Citizenship Act, 1955, which regulates acquisition and termination of Indian citizenship as well as acquisition and registration of foreigners as Overseas Citizens of India (OCI).

The Passports Act, 1967, provides for the issue of passports and travel documents to regulate departure from India of citizens of India and other persons, and the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act, 2000, that makes carriers liable in respect of passengers brought by them into India in contravention of provisions of the Passport Act.

Apart from movement, stay and visa, there are certain protected areas in India where foreigners need special permits to travel, including multiple states in the northeastern region, the whole of Andaman and Nicobar, and parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan.

According to Union Home Ministry data, a total of 98,40,321 (98.40 lakh) foreigners visited India between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024.
The United States again raised the issue of tariffs that India imposes on its goods, citing high tariffs on American alcohol and agricultural products.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump shake hands at the White House, in Washington, DC. Photograph: Press Information Bureau

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made references to high tariffs by India during a press briefing on Tuesday when she was responding to a question on Canada.

Canada has been ripping off the United States of America and hard-working Americans for decades. If you look at the rates of tariffs across the board that Canadians have been imposing on the American people and our workers here, it is egregious. In fact, I have a handy dandy chart here that shows not just Canada, but the rate of tariffs across the board. If you look at CanadaAmerican cheese and butter, nearly 300% tariff," she said.

You look at India, 150% tariff on American alcohol. You think that's helping Kentucky bourbon be exported into India? I don't think so. 100% tariff on agricultural products from India. Look at Japan, tariffing rice 700%, Leavitt said.

Leavitt held up a chart that showed tariffs charged by India, Canada and Japan. On the chart, two circles with the colors of the tri-colour highlighted the tariffs that India imposes.

President (Donald) Trump believes in reciprocity, and it is about dang time that we have a president who actually looks out for the interests of American businesses and workers, and all he's asking for at the end of the day are fair and balanced trade practices, and unfortunately, Canada has not been treating us very fairly at all over the past several decades, she said.

President Trump for the past few days has been criticising the high tariffs charged by India.

Trump on Friday said India has agreed to cut its tariffs way down as he repeated his assertion that the country charges America massive tariffs.
INS Tarkash's team provided assistance to an Iranian dhow after it was incapacitated by inclement weather off the coast of Somalia on Monday, March 10, 2025.

IMAGE: The Indian Navy's INS Tarkash provided technical and medical assistance to an Iranian dhow off the coast of Somalia on Monday. Photographs: ANI Photo

IMAGE: INS Tarkash's crew operationalised the Iranian dhow's defective RO plant, restoring drinking water availability on board.

IMAGE: INS Tarkash's team also provided first aid to an injured crew member of the Iranian dhow.

Photographs curated by Anant Salvi/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Mahipal Soni/Rediff.com
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. The newly signed action plan between the Foreign Ministries of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan for the years 2025-2026 covers various areas of cooperation, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said, Trend reports.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Kazakh counterpart Murat Nurtleu in Astana, Bayramov emphasized the significance of high-level visits and active parliamentary engagement in shaping the strategic partnership between the two countries.

"High-level engagements, including those in the parliamentary sphere, play a crucial role in shaping our strategic partnership across all sectors. The two visits of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan and the three visits of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan last year serve as clear indicators of the strong and elevated relations between our countries.

Cooperation mechanisms such as the Supreme Interstate Council of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, political consultations between our Ministries of Foreign Affairs, and the joint intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation significantly contribute to the systematic and sustainable development of our partnership.

The action plan signed today between our Ministries of Foreign Affairs for the years 2025 and 2026 encompasses a wide range of cooperative areas," he said.
A lecture titled 'How to spread Christianity in India' scheduled for March 14 at University of Madras has been cancelled following protest by the ABVP, Hindu organisations and outrage on social media.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: Istvan Kis from Pixabay

Flagging the issue, BJP state secretary S G Suryah condemned the university authorities for organising the event.

The formal announcement by the department of ancient history and archaeology, University of Madras, on holding the Sir S Subramania Ayyar Endowment Lecture 2024-2025 by K Siva Kumar, chief engineer, Hyderabad, on the topics: "How to spread Christianity in India" and "Why need this margam" kicked up a controversy.

The invite which went viral on the social media drew flak from several quarters. Shortly after the announcement of the event, several persons took to 'X' to flay the University of Madras accusing it of converting the temple of learning into a propaganda vehicle for Christianity.

Following the backlash, the University of Madras announced cancelling the lecture.

Prof S Elumalai, Registrar, in a communication to the Raj Bhavan dated March 7, informed that the Department of Ancient History and Archaeology had not obtained approval from the University of Madras to conduct the endowment lecture on the said topics.

In view of this, we instructed the concerned individual to cancel the endowment lecture with immediate effect, the registrar stated.

Earlier on that day, after he was reportedly questioned, J Soundararajan, associate professor and head in-charge, chairperson of School of Historical Studies, department of ancient history and archaeology, University of Madras said in a communication to the Registrar that the endowment lecture for the academic year 2024-2025 has been cancelled due to administration reasons.

In a post on 'X', the ABVP said its action halted the religious lecture at the University of Madras.

The lecture's topics, including 'How to spread Christianity in India', were flagged by ABVP as religious propaganda unfit for a State University. In response to the ABVP's concerns, the university administration cancelled the event. This demonstrates the ABVP's commitment in preventing the promotion of biased ideologies within universities, the ABVP claimed.
The US authorities denied entry to Pakistan's ambassador to Turkmenistan and deported him from Los Angeles, a media report said on Tuesday.

IMAGE: Pakistan's ambassador to Turkmenistan, K K Wagan. Photograph: X

The US authorities denied entry to Pakistan's ambassador to Turkmenistan and deported him from Los Angeles, a media report said on Tuesday.

Ambassador K K Wagan, who holds a valid US visa and all necessary travel documents, was stopped at Los Angeles airport by US immigration authorities,The News quoted diplomatic sources as saying.

Ambassador K K Wagan was deported from the US. He had an immigration objection which led to his deportation, a senior foreign ministry official said.

The officials forced him to return to his last port of departure, raising concerns about diplomatic protocol and the nature of the decision.

Foreign Office confirmed the envoy had gone to the US on a private visit.

It said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was looking into the matter and an investigation was underway.

The Foreign Office also advised avoiding any speculation in the matter.

Earlier, sources said the US immigration system flagged Wagan over controversial visa references, leading to his immediate deportation.

It remains unclear what specific concerns triggered this response from American authorities.

Wagan is a seasoned diplomat with extensive experience in Pakistan's foreign service.

Over the years, he has held several key assignments, including second secretary at the Embassy of Pakistan in Kathmandu, deputy consul general at the Consulate General of Pakistan in Los Angeles, deputy head of mission and ambassador in Muscat, Oman, head of mission at the Embassy of Pakistan in Niamey, Niger, Overseas Pakistanis, Consular Affairs, and Crisis Management Unit Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad.

Given the seriousness of the situation, Wagan is likely to be called back to Islamabad to explain his position, sources said.

The incident has already been communicated to Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Foreign Secretary Aamna Baloch who were reportedly briefed on the matter.

The Foreign Ministry has, meanwhile, directed its Consulate in Los Angeles to investigate the case, sources said.
A 24-year-old man was killed on the spot and two women were injured allegedly after a Porsche car hit two scooters in Chandigarh, police said on Tuesday.

IMAGE: The Porsche car that kills two in Maharashtra's Pune in May 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The incident happened near a petrol pump in Sector 4 at around 8 am on Monday, they said, adding that the deceased has been identified as Ankit, a resident of Nayagaon area.

Police said the impact of the collision was so strong that one of the two-wheelers was completely destroyed and the front portion of the luxury car, including its front wheel, was damaged.

The accident also severed Ankit's leg and injured the legs of the women.

A police officer said the driver, who was alone in the vehicle when the accident happened, was arrested.

A case has been registered under relevant sections, 281 (rash driving), under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, he added.
The Karnataka government has appointed Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta to probe the role of DGP rank officer K Ramachandra Rao, if any, in the alleged gold smuggling activity of his step daughter and Kannada actress Ranya Rao.

Photograph: Courtesy Ranya Rao on Facebook

Chief Minister's office informed media on Tuesday that an order appointing Gaurav Gupta was issued on Monday night.

Ramachandra Rao is presently serving as the Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation.

Gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore were seized from Ranya at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, following which searches were conducted at her residence and officials said that gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to Rs 2.67 crore were also recovered.
Thirteen of the world's top 20 most polluted cities are in India, with Byrnihat in Assam topping the list, according to a new report published on Tuesday.

IMAGE: Air pollution remains a serious health risk in India, reducing life expectancy by an estimated 5.2 years. Photograph: ANI Photo

The World Air Quality Report 2024 by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir said Delhi remains the most polluted capital city globally, while India ranked as the world's fifth most polluted country in 2024, down from third in 2023.

Four cities in neighbouring Pakistan and one in China are among the world's top 20 polluted cities.

The report said India saw a 7 percent decline in PM2.5 concentrations in 2024, averaging 50.6 micrograms per cubic metre, compared to 54.4 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023. Yet, 13 of the world's 20 most polluted cities are in India.

Air pollution in Delhi worsened, with the annual average PM2.5 concentration rising from 102.4 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023 to 108.3 micrograms per cubic metre in 2024.

The Indian cities in the world's top 20 most polluted cities are Byrnihat, Delhi, Punjab's Mullanpur, Faridabad, Loni, Gurugram, Ganganagar, Greater Noida, Bhiwadi, Muzaffarnagar, Hanumangarh and Noida.

Overall, 35 percent of the Indian cities reported annual PM2.5 levels exceeding 10 times the WHO limit of 5 micrograms per cubic metre, the report said.

The high level of pollution in Byrnihat, a town on the border of Assam and Meghalaya, is due to emissions from local factories, including distilleries, iron and steel plants.

Delhi grapples with high air pollution year-round and the problem worsens in winter when unfavourable meteorological conditions, combined with vehicular emissions, paddy-straw burning, firecrackers and other local pollution sources, make the air quality hazardous.

Air pollution remains a serious health risk in India, reducing life expectancy by an estimated 5.2 years.

According to a Lancet Planetary Health study published last year, about 1.5 million deaths in India every year from 2009 to 2019 were potentially linked to long-term exposure to PM2.5 pollution.

PM2.5 refers to tiny air pollution particles smaller than 2.5 microns, which can enter the lungs and bloodstream, leading to breathing problems, heart disease and even cancer. Sources include vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions and the burning of wood or crop waste.

Former WHO chief scientist and health ministry advisor Soumya Swaminathan said India has made progress in air quality data collection but lacks sufficient action.

"We have the data; now we need action. Some solutions are easy like replacing biomass with LPG. India already has a scheme for this, but we must further subsidise additional cylinders. The first cylinder is free, but the poorest families, especially women, should receive higher subsidies. This will improve their health and reduce outdoor air pollution," she told PTI in an interview.

In cities, expanding public transport and imposing fines on certain cars could help. "A mix of incentives and penalties is necessary," she said.

"Finally, strict enforcement of emission laws is crucial. Industries and construction sites must comply with regulations and install equipment to cut emissions instead of taking shortcuts," the former director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research added.
IMAGE: Every wheelchair at the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre in Pune tells a tale of sacrifice and strength. Photograph: ANI

Delhi to Jaipur in 30 minutes... Can you believe it?

The Top Videos of the Week, listed by Shailajanand Mishra.

Also see: Phoolon ki Holi.

Raveena Tandon's sweet geture.

Videos chosen by you through your likes on iShare.

When Love Knows No Boundaries

Location: Trichy

Watch this lovely wedding that took place in Trichy.

All Videos: ANI

Delhi To Jaipur In 30 Minutes... Can You Believe It?

Location: Chennai

India's first hyperloop test track has been developed at IIT-Madras with support from the ministry of railways.

It's 422 metres long which means, once it is put into use, you can travel 350 km in just 30 minutes. And guess the distance from Delhi to

Jaipur? It's roughly 300 km :)

The Heroes Who Never Gave Up

Location: Pune

When duty calls, soldiers answer without hesitation. But what happens when they return with life-altering injuries?

These brave warriors find inspiring ways to lead their lives, helped by the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre in Pune.

Every wheelchair here tells a tale of sacrifice and strength, of courage, resilience and unbreakable spirit.

When Snow Buries Cars...

Location: Lahaul-Spiti

...This is what it looks like.

Phoolon Ki Holi

Location: Mathura

Flowers, laddus, lathmar and colours were all part of the Holi celebration at Mathura's Ramanreti Ashram.

The Modi Video You Must Watch... Again

Location: Vantara

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Vantara, are you tempted to make a trip too?

Raveena Tandon's Sweet Gesture

Location: Mumbai

The generous-hearted actor did this!

Banner: Dominic Xavier/ Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Azerbaijan expresses its gratitude to Kazakhstan for providing a platform for negotiations between Baku and Yerevan, said Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov during a joint press conference with his Kazakh counterpart Murat Nurtleu in Astana, Trend reports.

"I provided my colleague with a detailed update on the peace process agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the ongoing restoration and reconstruction efforts in our territories, the return of former displaced persons to the liberated territories, and the challenges they face, which remain a serious obstacle in this process.

With gratitude, I note the construction of the Kurmangazy Children's Creativity Center in the liberated city of Fuzuli, supported by the government of Kazakhstan. Furthermore, Kazakhstan's provision of a platform for negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia in May 2024 highlights the significance of Kazakhstans role in this process," he said.

The FM emphasized that despite the significant progress made in normalizing relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia and in reaching an agreement on a final peace settlement, which is supported by Kazakhstan, the existing territorial claims against Azerbaijan, enshrined in Armenia's constitution, as well as the country's rapid militarization and revanchist sentiments, continue to present serious obstacles to the peace process.
BRATTLEBORO  State Treasurer Mike Pieciak assembled a task force to respond to what he called "the changing landscape at the federal level."
Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.

Nancy Braus is a long-time political activist who writes from Guilford. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Eldar Ibrahimov has been awarded the order "For Service to the Motherland" of the 1st degree for his long-term fruitful activity in the socio-political life of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree in this regard.
Six in 10 Kiwi businesses experienced a cyber-attack or incident in 2024, yet cyber security continues to be overlooked as a priority across the country.

According to Kordias annual New Zealand Business Cyber Security Report, despite the high frequency of attacks, many surveyed businesses still fail to implement basic cyber security measures or elevate cyber security as a top risk at the board level.

Alastair Miller, principal security consultant at Kordia-owned Aura Information Security, said it was concerning to see the state of cyber preparedness among Kiwi companies.

Its disappointing to see New Zealand businesses lagging behind  around one third of businesses say they dont do any reporting on cyber risk to their board of directors, and around half havent practiced their cyber security response plan, says Miller.

Bearing in mind that the businesses we surveyed are amongst some of the largest in the country and the biggest employers, wed have liked to have seen more evidence of a focus on cyber issues.

This report reveals that despite concerns around cybercrime and the devastating impacts it can have on Kiwi businesses, its still not being taken seriously enough. Building and maintaining a strong cyber security posture comes down to doing the basics right, taking a risk-based approach, and always keeping one eye on the horizon for new and evolving threats.

Humans remain the weakest link

The survey found that 25 per cent of New Zealand businesses have no cyber security awareness or training programs in place.
Cyber security vendor CrowdStrike has appointed Rhys George to the newly created role as head of distribution for A/NZ.

George joins CrowdStrike after spending more than seven years in a similar role for NetApp.

We are excited to welcome Rhys to lead our distribution program in Australia and New Zealand, where his extensive enterprise sales, channel and partner management experience make him an ideal fit for this important role, CrowdStrike APJ VP of channels Jon Fox said.

A/NZ is a key pillar of CrowdStrikes global growth strategy, with organisations in the region continually looking for the cybersecurity capabilities that enhance their security posture and help them stay ahead of adversaries.

With Rhys leading our A/NZ distribution program, we will be able to equip even more service providers and MSSPs with the industrys most advanced cyber security platform.

CrowdStrike recently released its fiscal year 2025 results, showing total revenue increased 29 per cent to US$3.95 billion, compared to US$3.06 billion in fiscal 2024.

Subscription revenue also rose 31 per cent to US$3.76 billion, compared to US$2.87 billion in fiscal 2024.

Four months ago, CrowdStrike hired Louis Tague who stepped in as the new vice president and managing director for A/NZ, replacing Brett Raphael at the time.
Welcome to Wider Europe, RFE/RL's newsletter focusing on the key issues concerning the European Union, NATO, and other institutions and their relationships with the Western Balkans and Europe's Eastern neighborhoods.

I'm RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak, and this week I am drilling down on two issues: Greenlands crucial elections and the EUs continued struggles with its external borders.

Briefing #1: Greenland Elections: Go American, Stay Danish, Or Go It Alone?

What You Need To Know: Normally the elections for the 31-member Inatsisartut, the parliament of Greenland, would get scant attention. The worlds biggest island, with a population of just 60,000, is rarely in the news. Until January 2025 that is, when the incoming US President Donald Trump expressed an interest in taking control of the strategically located and resource-rich territory. This was a move that sent shockwaves throughout Europe, notably for fellow NATO-ally Denmark to which Greenland in fact belongs. (While Copenhagen oversees foreign and monetary policy, Greenlanders control most domestic issues.)

That has meant all eyes will now be on the March 11 elections, called by Greenlands prime minister, Mute Egede, after Trumps pronouncements. And while regular domestic issues are part of the election campaign, the overriding issue is clear: go American, stay Danish, or aim for independence?

Deep Background: To be clear, most Greenlanders dont want to become American and none of the five parties in parliament are advocating for it . Along with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Egede has made it clear that Greenland -- which is an autonomous territory in the Kingdom of Denmark -- is not for sale and that only Greenlanders can decide its future.

Interestingly, the parliament recently passed a law banning both anonymous and foreign donations in the election campaign. But what if an offer they cant refuse comes their way? The United States first expressed an interest in the island in the 19th century and the territory is actually closer to North America than the European continent. Greenland's security is already guaranteed by virtue of a US air base in the north. And the Arctic is certainly not off-limits for the major powers.

Both China and Russia are active in the region, not only for its lucrative rare earth materials but also due to warmer temperatures melting sea ice and opening up lucrative trade routes. Even if the island doesn't become American anytime soon, there could be some sort of free trade or association deal with Washington in the future.

Then again, the Greenlanders can be a conservative bunch. Where others may see lucrative business opportunities, many of them see a homeland that should be preserved. Only two mines currently exist in Greenland, and the last election, in 2021, was dominated by the popular decision to limit oil and gas exploration and ban the mining of uranium.

Drilling Down

It is here where Denmark comes into the picture. Three of the five political parties want independence from Denmark, including Prime Minister Egedes left-wing Community of the People party, which finished first four years ago and is likely to finish on top again.

The same is true for the ruling party's current coalition partner, the social-democratic Forward party, which is aiming to finish second. The liberal Democrats party, which prefers to remain in a union with Denmark, is also doing well in recent polls and could well complicate any coalition-building and the direction Greenland will eventually take.

While most Greenlanders say they want independence, they also want to maintain their living standards. For that, the territory is largely dependent on Denmark. Loyal to the Danish crown since 1814, 50 percent of Greenland's exports go to Denmark and 60 percent of its imports are from Denmark.

Half of the population works in the public sector, which Copenhagen to a large degree finances via grants. And to boost the security around the island, the Danish government last month pledged 2 billion euros ($2.16 billion) to improve its Arctic defenses.

There is a commission in Greenland working on what a possible divorce from Denmark would look like, but essentially it would require three steps.

Firstly, there would have to be a deal with Copenhagen on what separation would look like; secondly, there would have to be a positive result in a Greenland-wide referendum on independence; and finally, the Danish parliament would need to green-light the whole endeavor.

The pro-independence parties want a referendum to take place sometime during the next four-year mandate, but, given the uncertainties surrounding the territory, that certainly doesn't look like it will happen in 2025.

Briefing #2: EU Delays New Entry/Exit System

What You Need To Know: The EUs Entry/Exit System (EES), which is meant to do away with the manual stamping of non-EU passports, was supposed to be in use late last year. Eventually, it will mean an elaborate IT system at every EU harbor, international airport, and land-crossing that records not only entries and exits into the bloc, but also all relevant passport data, fingerprints, and facial images of any non-EU national visiting.

The 24 EU countries taking part (all the member states apart from Cyprus and Ireland, with Denmark potentially opting into the system later) and four non-EU countries (Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein) simply weren't technically ready for the big bang rollout.

Notably, France, Germany, and the Netherlands -- the three countries in the bloc with the busiest airports and ports -- sounded the alarm that the system simply wasnt ready and warned of chaos at crucial hubs if it didnt function properly immediately. Other countries also expressed relief as they were behind in getting everything ready: for instance, putting in more automatic barriers, self-service kiosks, and getting the preregistration app fully functioning. This was quite a damning verdict as EES has essentially been in the works since it was first agreed by the bloc back in 2017.

Deep Background: When the clubs interior ministers met in Brussels on March 5, they agreed on how to proceed. What will happen now is a gradual rollout that will start in October. Member states that are confident the system works by then are free to operate it fully from day one. But, for others, the implementation will start in a progressive manner, with EES required at 10 percent of border crossings in each member state after the first month. To possibly complicate things further, designated EES lanes at border crossings will also be allowed.

After three months, the hope is that EES will be in place at 50 percent of border crossings. And then, after 180 days, the plan is for the system to be fully implemented. That will take us into the first quarter of 2026. During this entire period, however, member states are still allowed to stamp passports manually in case there are still issues with the system. Plus, participating states will still be allowed to both partially and fully suspend the system, as long as they communicate their reasons to the European Commission.

While the EU diplomats I have spoken to are a little nervous about how this will all turn out, they are hoping the EES will help prevent illegal migration and make it easier to police overstaying visas and identity fraud.

Drilling Down:

At the meeting last week, interior ministers also agreed on a timeline, seen by RFE/RL, of other measures that will have an impact on non-EU citizens wanting to visit the bloc in the future. The most significant development is that ETIAS (the European Travel and Authorization System) will be launched in the last quarter of 2026. ETIAS is the EU's answer to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) already used in the United States.

ETIAS will allow travelers to come to the EU visa free and can potentially be used by an estimated 1.4 billion people, including citizens from Britain, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, the United States, and the non-EU Western Balkan states. The authorization, valid for three years, will cost 7 euros ($7.60) and will have to be completed by everyone between the ages of 18 and 70.

It is worth, however, taking this latest timeline with a pinch of salt. Just as with the EES, ETIAS has been delayed repeatedly. It was first proposed back in 2018 and has been scheduled to be implemented every year since 2021. Rollouts have always been delayed due to technical issues.

If the EES is fully implemented in the first quarter of 2026, as currently planned, it would increase the chances that ETIAS will follow later that same year as the two systems are linked.

Looking Ahead

The main thing to look out for this week is whether or not the United States will impose 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum from the European Union -- and how Brussels would likely react. Washington has been toying with the idea for weeks already and the issue could further widen the transatlantic rift over the war in Ukraine.

That's all for this week! Feel free to reach out to me on any of these issues on Twitter @RikardJozwiak, or on e-mail at jozwiakr@rferl.org.

Until next time,

Rikard Jozwiak

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition subscribe here.
The military chiefs of 30 European and NATO countries are meeting in Paris to discuss a blueprint for a potential peacekeeping mission to Ukraine after any negotiated cease-fire with Russia.

The closed-door meeting on March 11-13 comes as US and Ukrainian officials meet in Saudi Arabia for talks aimed at ending Russias three-year war on Ukraine.

The Paris meeting brings together the chiefs of staff of all 30 of NATOs European members as well as Ukrainian officials. But there is one notable absence: the United States.

European officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told RFE/RL that US officials were not invited. Europe, the officials said, needs to show that it can take responsibility for the post-war security of the continent and Ukraine.

French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu suggested the Paris meeting will focus on how Europe could defend NATOs eastern flank if tomorrow the contributions of certain countries -- or one country in particular -- were to decrease.

His comments at the start of the Paris meeting on March 11 were a reference to US President Donald Trumps embrace of Moscow and his suggestions that the European continent, which has been under the US security umbrella for decades, should fend for itself.

France and Britain are working to form a coalition of the willing made up of European countries that would defend and guarantee peace in Ukraine after a deal with Russia is reached.

The meeting of military chiefs in Paris is aimed at seeing what other allies can contribute to a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine -- in terms of boots on the ground and military hardware.

French President Emmanuel Macron told European leaders during a special summit in Brussels on March 6 that 500,000-800,000 soldiers would be needed to safeguard a potential cease-fire in Ukraine, several European officials told RFE/RL.

The bulk of such a force would be Ukrainian. But it would need to be bolstered by troops from European NATO members, experts said.

Who's Willing To Contribute?

Paris and London have both indicated that they are ready to provide troops. Germany is also likely to follow suit, although Italy and Poland appear more reluctant.

Many European countries are grappling with military as well as political considerations.

The defense ministers of France, Britain, Italy, and Poland are set to meet in Paris on March 12 to discuss a European peacekeeping force.

Even as European military chiefs draw up plans, the deployment of forces would have to be green-lighted by parliaments in various countries -- something that is far from assured.

Beyond internal European politics, there are also two other substantial obstacles for any future European force in Ukraine -- one Russian and one American.

So far, the Kremlin has flatly rejected the presence of any European military personnel in Ukraine. Even if Moscow would agree, many European countries have indicated that they would only send troops to Ukraine if there was an American backstop.

What exactly such a backstop would entail is still up for negotiations. But European officials have told RFE/RL that the United States is crucial for air defense, intelligence, and transportation.

Europe alone cannot carry out large-scale military operations without American aid, a European ambassador, speaking under condition of anonymity, told RFE/RL.
Pakistani military sources claim to have neutralized the militants responsible for hijacking a passenger train in southwestern Pakistan with more than 400 people on board but doubts persists amid the lack of independent verification and counterclaims by the fighters.

Late on March 12, military sources told RFE/RLs Radio Mashaal that it had killed at least 32 militants in and around the hijacked train in Bolan, a rural district some 160 kilometers from Quetta, the provincial capital of the restive province of Balochistan.

The sources said 18 soldiers were killed in the fighting.

But the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist organization that accepted responsibility for hijacking the Jaffar Express on March 11, claimed its militants were still engaged in fighting and holding more than 100 hostages. The BLA said its fighters had killed more than 50 hostages.

With more than 400 passengers on board, the Jaffar Express was on its way from Quetta to Peshawar in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province when it was stopped by militants who blew up the train tracks. The bold attack represented the first time the BLA had hijacked a train, a sign it is escalating its fight with Islamabad.

The BLA, designated as terrorists by the United States, has warned that it will kill the remaining 150 hostages if Islamabad fails to respond to its prisoner exchange offer within the next day.

RFE/RL could not independently verify claims by Pakistani authorities and the separatist militants in the sparsely populated region that is inaccessible to journalists.

The AFP news agency quoted an unnamed military official who claimed that all the hostages were freed. The official told the news outlet that 28 soldiers were killed in the siege, adding that"346 hostages were freed, and over 30 terrorists were killed during the operation," the officer said.

Earlier, Shahid Rind, a spokesman for the Balochistan government, called the attack an "act of terrorism." He said helicopters were supporting security forces in countering the militants in the remote mountainous region.

On March 11, the BLA said it freed up to 150 people, including women, children, the elderly, and members of the minority Baluch ethnic group.

A passenger on the train told RFE/RL via telephone that the security forces had launched ground and air operations against the armed group while the militants were using weapons and rockets in response.

Muhammad Kashif, a spokesman for the Balochistan Regional Railways Department, told RFE/RL that the train had a total of nine carriages and was attacked as it passed through a tunnel in the remote, mountainous area.

The train came to a stop after the attack and remained inside the tunnel, Kashif said, estimating the train had been carrying 400-500 passengers.

This is a significant escalation and indicates more violence in the future, said Imtiaz Baloch, an analyst covering Balochistan for Khorasan Diary, a website tracking militant groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Balochistan, a vast and resource-rich province, has been plagued by insurgency for over two decades. The BLA and allied Baluch separatist groups seek independence from Islamabad.

Baluch nationalists blame Pakistan for committing grave rights abuses while countering the separatists. They criticize Islamabad for exploiting its vast natural resources without benefiting the locals.

Islamabad has outlawed the BLA and other separatist groups for their violent attacks on security forces and civilians.

Baloch says Islamabad has been pursuing "hard-line state policies, including forced disappearances, political engineering, and election rigging," which has resulted in bad governance in the marginalized province bordering Afghanistan and Iran.

The province has been a recipient of Chinese investments in energy and infrastructure. Since the turn of the century, Beijing has sought to develop Balochistans Gwadar port as a lynchpin of its efforts to create a new trade route with the Middle East.

The BLA has been ramping up attacks during the past few years and has adopted suicide bombings as a lethal tactic to target Pakistani security forces and Chinese personnel.

In November, the BLA carried out a suicide bombing at a Quetta train station, killing 26 people, including military personnel, railway workers, and passengers.

With reporting by AP, AFP and Reuters
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte boarded a Europe-bound plane on March 11, local media reported, hours after he was arrested on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant linked to his decades-long campaign against drugs that killed thousands of people in the South East Asian nation.

Citing a senior police official, the Philippine Star newspaper reported that Duterte, 79, was aboard a plane bound for The Hague in the Netherlands. There was no immediate official confirmation that the former leader was sent to The Hague, where the ICC is based.

Dutertes daughter wrote on Instagram that her father had been put on a plane, but the family had not been informed about its destination.

Duterte, who faces a charge of "the crime against humanity of murder, according to the ICC, was taken into police custody upon his arrival at Manila airport early on March 11, following a brief trip to Hong Kong.

In a video posted on his daughter's social media account, Duterte questioned the legal basis for his detention.

The ICC has been investigating Duterte since 2018 over his war on drugs, which saw thousands of people killed when he was president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022 and longtime mayor of the southern city of Davao before that. Many of the victims were impoverished young men.

The Associated Press quoted a former Davao police officer as saying that up to 10,000 suspects were killed by police and civilian hit squads under Duterte during the brutal campaign.

The families of the victims and human rights groups welcomed Dutertes arrest as a historic moment, with Human Rights Watch saying the arrest was a "critical step for accountability in the Philippines.

The right watchdog also called on the government to "swiftly surrender [Duterte] to the ICC.

Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC in 2019, but the ICC says it has jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed before the country quit as a member.

Duterte served as mayor of Davao for 22 years, before sweeping to the presidency in 2016 with the promise of a war against illegal drugs that had plagued the nation.

He has also been known for his populist rhetoric and outbursts against elites and the West, and has called Russian President Vladimir Putin his idol.

During his presidency, Duterte pivoted the countrys foreign policy toward China, moving away from longstanding ally the United States.

Dubbed the Donald Trump of the East Duterte still remains popular in the Philippines.

Despite his ill health, Duterte registered to run for mayor of Davao in October, while his daughter and political heir, Sara Duterte, currently serves as the Philippines' vice-president and is seen as a potential presidential candidate in 2028.

With reporting by AP, Reuters, and the BBC
BUCHAREST -- Romanias Constitutional Court has upheld the decision to bar populist Calin Georgescu from running in the May presidential election.

Georgescu appealed the March 11 decision of the Central Election Board (BEC), which barred him from competing in the presidential election because his candidacy "does not meet the conditions provided by law."

The verdict was unanimous with nine judges out of nine rejecting the appeal. Justice Minister Radu Marinescu said the decision was binding and must be respected. He defended the court's verdict, saying that "extremism is unacceptable in a democratic society."

'Exposed The Demon In All Its Ugliness'

Georgescu, who is critical of NATO and opposes Romanian support for Ukraine against Russia's invasion, was a surprise winner of the first round of the presidential election in November 2024. However, after the vote, Romanian intelligence said that foreign actors, most likely Russia, had manipulated social-media platforms, especially TikTok, to benefit Georgescu.

In a video posted on Facebook after the March 11 verdict , Georgescu said that the court's decision "was not and is not about the man Calin Georgescu. It could have been any other person. The system does not accept anyone outside of it."

Saying he had "exposed the demon in all its ugliness," he told his supporters to follow their consciences in supporting other candidates.

Supporters of Georgescu are gathering outside Romania's parliament building, where the Constitutional Court is headquartered.

The protesters were chanting slogans such as "Georgescu, President," "Down with dictatorship," and "We dont want to be led by thieves."

Demonstrations in support of Georgescu on March 9 turned violent, with more than a dozen police officers injured in scuffles with protesters.

'You Will Not Defeat Us!'

Nationalist politicians blasted the court's decision. An ally of Georgescu and the leader of the ultranationalist Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), George Simion, wrote on his Facebook page: "Shame on [the Constitutional Court]! Shame! Shame!"

While Georgescu stood as an independent in last year's presidential election, he has ties to AUR.

"You will not defeat us! The Romanian people have already woken up! And they will be victorious!" he added.

Another nationalist leader, Anamaria Gavrila, the president of the Party of Young People (POT), said "some judges...decided not to let me and others, millions of Romanians, choose who we really want to be the president of the country."

However, many welcomed the court's decision. Elena Lasconi, a liberal politician who would have faced Georgescu in the second round of last year's presidential election before it was annulled, said that "Georgescu is just one facet of a deeply corrupt and rotten system."

"Georgescu must be held criminally accountable for all the atrocities he is accused of in recent months," she said, "and the institutions that have been brought to their knees by the wave of disinformation must be lifted."

Romanian Society Split

Romania's nationalist and far-right forces are scrambling to find a replacement for Georgescu. Far-right parties made significant gains in the December parliamentary elections.

One of the proposed replacements is AUR leader Simion, who ranked fourth in the first round of the voided presidential election, although he has said he is not planning to run.

Romanian society is deeply split over the annulling of the last presidential election and now the decision to bar Georgescu from running.

Many Romanians were up in arms about the verdict, calling the court's judges and politicians supportive of the move traitors and thieves and bemoaning the state of corruption in the country.

Writing on Facebook, Ionela Nicoleta Bradeanu said the courts decision wasnt about Georgescu. Its about a fundamental right that has been violated, she said.

Catalin Balan said it was a mafia-like decision. Those of you who are rejoicing this controlled judiciary, comrades, welcome to the dictatorship, Balan said.

Other Romanians praised the Constitutional Courts decision. We cannot have a president supported by Russia, Dobrin Florin wrote on Facebook.

Ioan Ciprian Ghiran said that Georgescu should go to prison so characters like him will not emerge anymore.

The court's decision is also being discussed by legal analysts and constitutional law experts.

Laura Stefan, an expert at the ExpertForum think tank, said that the BEC had enough grounds to annul Georgescu's candidacy.

"In his particular case, I really think there are these legitimate concerns about both the way he built his campaign and the question marks regarding the funding or involvement of certain groups in his campaign," Stefan said.

Other analysts have disagreed. "Law and legal reasoning are being manipulated based solely on political criteria," said Bogdan Dima, a public law professor at the University of Bucharest.

Russia, which was accused of backing Georgescu in the first round of the vote last year, said that Romania was disregarding democracy.

"They accuse our country of having some kind of involvement with Georgescu, but this is total nonsense. This is an absolutely baseless accusation," said Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Hundreds of supporters of Romanian politician Calin Georgescu protested for a third consecutive day after the Constitutional Court upheld a decision barring him from running for president. Georgescu, known for his nationalist and pro-Russian views, unexpectedly won the first round of the election in November, but that vote was annulled amid claims of foreign interference. The latest court decision blocks him from running again in a new election scheduled for May.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Provocations against Azerbaijan continue in Armenia, Trend reports via the Western Azerbaijan Community statement.

According to the statement, information has recently appeared about an anti-Azerbaijani appeal allegedly made by a small group representing the 'parliament' to the parliament of a foreign country, as well as about a meeting of some 'commission' engaging in activities against Azerbaijan.

"It's unacceptable that Armenia, which refuses dialogue with the Western Azerbaijan Communitya community that has not taken any actions against its sovereignty and only wishes to peacefully return to its ancestral landscreates conditions for the activity of groups on its territory that threaten the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan.

All of this once again proves that Armenia is not interested in lasting peace but seeks to create tension in the region, continuing its policy of militarization.

The Western Azerbaijan Community urges Armenia to refrain from such destructive actions that hinder the peace process," the statement reads.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
At least three people are dead after Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack that struck the Moscow region overnight, causing damage to residential buildings and infrastructure just hours before diplomats from Washington and Kyiv began a high-level meeting in Saudi Arabia seeking find a path to ending the war.

The attacks early on March 11 were Ukraine's biggest-ever drone assault on the capital region, Russian Health Ministry official Aleksei Kuznetsov saying 20 people, including three children, were injured.

Two workers were killed at a meat warehouse, while Yevgenia Khrustalyova, mayor of Domodedovo, just south of Moscow, said on Telegram that a third person injured in the attack died later in hospital.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said a total of 337 drones launched by Ukraine -- 91 of which targeted Moscow -- were shot down across the country. It's not known how drones in total were involved in the attack, the first large-scale attack on Russian territory in recent weeks.

The massive strike came as senior US and Ukrainian officials were preparing to meet in Saudi Arabia for talks over how to end the war in Ukraine. In recent days, Russia has stepped up its own attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and civilian targets as diplomacy around the war has intensified.

Witness Captures Drone Attacks On Moscow No media source currently available 0:00 0:01:45 0:00

Unverified images and videos posted from Moscow and the surrounding area by residents showed drone strikes on residential buildings.

Ukraine has not claimed credit for the attack.

But in an interview with Current Time, the Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA, Maksym Yali, a lecturer at the National Aviation University of Ukraine, said the overnight strikes could be understood as a "clear signal" from Kyiv ahead of the talks in Saudi Arabia.

"As is known, the Ukrainian side has put forward its plan -- a ceasefire in the air and at sea. In this way, we have shown our capabilities in the air, so that Russia also has an incentive to agree to a ceasefire in that format [while showing] that Ukraine also has the potential to launch mass strikes with drones, including at the capital of the Russian Federation, which is of course very sensitive for the residents of Moscow," Yali said.

Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted that the strikes had come ahead of the visit of OSCE Secretary-General Feridun H. Sinirlioglu to Moscow. Zakharova said Sinirlioglu would be taken to a site in the capital where a drone had been shot down.

In Ramenskoye, more than 40 kilometers southeast of the Russian capital, a drone struck a high-rise building on Severnoye Highway, touching off a fire on the upper floors. Elsewhere in the town, a two-story house caught fire after a drone attack. Reports also indicate damaged high-rise buildings in Vidnoye, a suburb of the capital.

Ukrainian Telegram channels have also circulated unverified footage of explosions across the Moscow region.

Vorobyov said debris from downed drones also fell on an apartment building in Ramenskoye, damaging at least seven apartments.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported on his Telegram channel that air defense forces destroyed more than 70 Ukrainian drones heading for Moscow. He also confirmed that debris from a downed drone damaged the roof of a residential building on Domodedovskaya Street.

The attack also impacted air travel at Moscow's main airports. Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency reported that Sheremetevo, Zhukovsky, Domodedovo, and Vnukovo airports temporarily halted operations due to the drone strikes.

The Moscow Railway Authority also confirmed damage to railway infrastructure at Domodedovo Station at the airport. Meanwhile, reports from Ryazan indicate that the Dyagilevo military airfield was targeted.

Ryazan Governor Pavel Malkov stated that air defense forces intercepted the attack swiftly and effectively, without reported casualties or damage to residential buildings and social infrastructure in area, which he said demonstrated the country's strong defense capabilities.

The situation remains tense as authorities assess the full extent of the damage and continue monitoring potential threats.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian air defense forces said on March 11 that they successfully intercepted a Russian Iskander-M ballistic missile and 79 attack drones overnight.

According to the statement, 35 additional Russian drones lost radar contact, suggesting further disruptions. The interceptions covered multiple regions, including Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv, they said.

Ahead of the talks between Kyiv and Washington in Saudi Arabia, Moscow has been claiming major advances against Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region where Ukraine seized 1,300 square kilometers of Russian territory last year.

Ukraine's government characterized the surprise incursion as an attempt to gain a bargaining chip for future negotiations and draw Russian troops away from the front line in eastern Ukraine.

Russia's Defense Ministry said on 11 March that Russian forces had liberated 12 settlements and more than 100 square kilometers of territory in Moscow's latest offensive there -- a claim that could not immediately be verified.
WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump, and the world, are about to find out whether Russia is really interested in ending its more than three-year full-scale invasion of Ukraine or pursuing its maximalist goals of absorbing the country.

Following nine hours of negotiations in Saudi Arabia on March 11, Ukraine agreed to a US proposal for an immediate 30-day cease-fire that could be extended by both warring parties.

Now the ball is in Russia's court.

Trump said he would speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin later in the week to secure his commitment to the US proposal, but analysts said they weren't convinced the Kremlin would play ball.

"I would be surprised if Russia agrees to it," Oxana Shevel, a professor of political science at Tufts University, told RFE/RL.

Putin may demand concessions from Ukraine before consenting to any cease-fire, she added. That, in turn, could put Trump in a tough spot, Shevel said.

Trump has claimed to be a neutral arbitrator in the peace process but some analysts question that, pointing to his seeming admiration of Putin as a sign he favors Russia.

Trump has refused to blame Russia for the war it launched. "If Russia drags its feet [on the cease-fire], how will Trump respond?" Shevel said.

Putin may be opposed to laying down arms now because he believes he is winning and hasn't given up his ultimate goal of annexing the rest of Ukraine, experts say.

Russia, which controls almost 20 percent of Ukraine, has had the momentum on the battlefield for more than a year due in large part to its significant manpower advantage.

Moscow's troops have been slowly gaining territory, including key cities, in eastern Ukraine, albeit at enormous human costs.

Ukraine, which is dependent on fickle Western aid, has struggled to recruit enough troops to halt Russia's advance. That has raised doubts among many experts that Ukraine can regain its territory by force even with greater Western military aid.

Jeddah Meeting

The high-stakes talks in Jeddah on March 11 came amid deteriorating US-Ukrainian relations following a public blowup last month in the Oval Office between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

At the contentious meeting that went viral, Trump accused Zelenskyy of not being serious about ending the war.

The US president kicked Zelenskyy out of the White House before the two could sign a framework agreement on sharing revenue generated from Ukraine's mineral resources.

Days later, Trump paused crucial military assistance and intelligence sharing to push the Ukrainian leader to the negotiating table. Following the talks in Jeddah, the United States announced it would end the pause and sign the minerals deal with Ukraine.

Mark Cancian, a military expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Ukraine made the most of the meeting.

"This is probably the best they could have hoped for given where we are," he said, calling the resumption of military aid and intelligence "huge."

Cancian said it was "very good" for Kyiv that the joint US-Ukraine statement squarely put the onus of securing peace now on Russia.

However, the drawback is that Ukraine will have to accept a cease-fire that leaves a quarter of the country in Russian hands, "but there is not much they can do about it," he said.

"I just haven't seen any mechanism whereby they could reclaim some of that lost territory. The momentum [on the battlefield] was against them," Cancian said.

Though US Secretary of State Macro Rubio, one of the US negotiators in Jeddah, said prior to the talks that Ukraine would have to concede land, the joint statement did not touch on that issue.

The joint statement also sidelines Ukraine and Europe in the next steps in the peace process, something Kyiv and Brussels hoped to avoid, Cancian said.

While the United States will now hold direct talks with Russia regarding the cease-fire, the statement does acknowledge Ukraine's desire to have Europe involved in the peace process.

US security guarantees -- the holy grail for Ukraine -- were also left out of the joint statement, but Cancian downplayed the significance of that at this moment.

"I don't know if that would be appropriate in this kind of preliminary document. So the fact that there's nothing in there about that, I don't see that as particularly problematic."
A Russian diplomat recalled from Brussels amid a spy purge by Belgian authorities has been nominated to head the Belgrade mission of Europe's largest security body, a joint investigation by RFE/RL and several European media outlets has found. Moscow has nominated Dmitry Iordanidi, a former deputy head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) mission to Bosnia-Herzegovina with deep experience in the Balkans, to lead the organizations mission to Serbia, internal OSCE records obtained by RFE/RL show. His candidacy comes amid mounting accusations from the United States and European governments in recent years of malign Russian activities across the region covered by the 57-nation regional security body based in Vienna. Iordanidi, 55, is one of 20 Russian diplomats who quietly left Brussels in 2023 due to allegations by the Belgian State Security Service (VSSE) that they were spies working under cover, according to a list compiled by Belgian intelligence and authenticated independently by three Western intelligence sources, the joint investigation by RFE/RL, the Brussels-based news site EUobserver, the Belgian daily De Morgen, the Belgian weekly Humo, and the French daily Le Monde found. One intelligence source called the spy purge an occasion to empty our drawer in the wake of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

While the Belgian government does not publish lists of accredited diplomats in the country, and Russia's diplomatic mission in Brussels does not publish the names of its personnel, RFE/RL independently verified the presence of several of the expelled Russian diplomats in Belgium in 2023. The Russian diplomats, who have not been publicly identified until now, were alleged in the list to be affiliated with Russias Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) or its military intelligence directorate, known as the GRU. Iordanidi, whom the Belgian intelligence list identifies as affiliated with the SVR, is the only diplomat among the 20 who was not declared persona non grata, according to one intelligence source. The source said Russia recalled Iordanidi after Belgium communicated that Iordanidi would be declared persona non grata if Moscow did not recall him. Now, Moscow is trying to place Iordanidi back with the OSCE, the Vienna-based multilateral organization that, until Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, had played a central role in monitoring Russian aggression in Ukraine and attempting to mediate between Moscow and Kyiv. Iordanidi was listed as one of eight nominees for OSCE mission head in Serbia following the December 1, 2024, deadline for candidate submissions, according to the document obtained by RFE/RL.

Russia also nominated him to head an OSCE program office in Kyrgyzstans capital, Bishkek, and for the same position in Kazakhstans capital, Astana. The OSCE said in an e-mailed statement that the recruitment for all three of these positions is still ongoing and that it could not comment on the matter, citing confidentiality. The positions are appointed by the OSCE chairperson-in-office -- currently Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen -- in consultation with senior current and former OSCE officials and the host countries of the respective missions, OSCE spokesperson Alexandra Taylor said. "We follow a rigorous recruitment process for all of our positions at the OSCE, Taylor said.

Western officials and governments have accused Moscow of acting as a saboteur of the OSCE and abusing the organization's consensual politics, including in connection with Russias war on Ukraine  now the largest and bloodiest in Europe since World War II. Russia has criticized the OSCE as being reformatted to become an appendage of NATO and the EU. Following RFE/RL investigations into suspected Russian intelligence influence on the OSCE, the organizations parliamentary assembly, which facilitates dialogue among member states, called on OSCE leadership to initiate relevant discussions and security checks to rid the organization of the Russian destructive influence.

Russia has previously sent its diplomats expelled by EU states for alleged espionage to its embassy in Serbia, where President Aleksandar Vucic has sought to maintain Belgrade's traditionally strong ties with Russia, a March 2023 investigation by RFE/RL revealed. Neither Iordanidi nor the Russian Embassy in Brussels responded to requests for comment. The VSSE also did not respond to a request for comment. Balkan Journeys Following Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, hundreds of Russian diplomats were expelled by the United States and EU governments, including those posted at Russias diplomatic mission to Belgium and to the EU in Brussels. Among those was Aleksandr Studenikin, who was expelled by the EU for "illegal and disruptive actions" but resurfaced as an OSCE election observer for December 2023 parliamentary and local elections in Serbia, an RFE/RL investigation found. Iordanidis public footprint in the Belgian capital was negligible, though he appears to have arrived at some point in 2023 in a geographic break from a diplomatic career rooted largely in the Balkans. Publicly available records show that, as of 2009, he was serving as the first political secretary at the Russian Embassy in Sarajevo and, several years later, as head of the OSCE field office in Banja Luka, the administrative center of Bosnia's Serb entity, Republika Srpska. In May 2013, Iordanidi sat between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during their meeting with then-Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic at the Russian presidents summer residence in the southern resort town of Sochi. Vucic, at the time Serbias defense minister and first deputy prime minister, was present as well.

Iordanidi later became deputy head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia-Herzegovina in Sarajevo and appears to have left that post at some point toward the latter half of 2022 or early 2023. An OSCE source who spoke on condition of anonymity recalled Iordanidi leaving Sarajevo for Belgium, and one of the intelligence sources contacted for this report said he arrived in 2023 and left under pressure the same year. Reporters could find no open-source evidence of Iordanidis posting with the Russian Embassy in Brussels during his brief sojourn there, a stark contrast from his time with the OSCE in Bosnia-Herzegovina, where he gave frequent interviews and made public appearances.

Much of his earlier public work with the OSCE in the Balkans was related to environmental issues and the promotion of civil liberties. Leaked Russian government databases -- such as residential, vehicle, and tax records -- reviewed by RFE/RL do not reflect any clear connection on paper between Iordanidi and Russian intelligence. They do, however, for other Russians blacklisted in the Belgian spy purge that Iordanidi was swept up in. GRU Men In Brussels Among the 19 other Russian diplomats on the Belgian intelligence list of alleged spies along with Iordanidi was Aleksandr Kovalchuk, who formally served as a counsellor with the Russian Embassy in Brussels. Leaked residential records list Kovalchuks registered home address as Ulitsa Narodnogo Opolcheniya 50 in Moscow, the same address as the Russian Defense Ministrys Military Academy. The academy is widely known as the GRU Conservatory -- an acronym referring to Russias military-intelligence directorate.

Also on the list of alleged spy diplomats is Sergei Cherepanov, who served as second secretary at the Russian Embassy in Brussels. Leaked Russian government records show he previously worked at the Strategic Missile Forces Academy in Moscow and was registered at an address tied to Military Unit 46179, which specializes in seismic and infrasound surveillance via satellites under the 12th Main Directorate, responsible for nuclear security. The listed residential address of another expelled Russian diplomat, Dmitry Zamogilnykh, who worked as part of the embassys technical staff, is linked to Military Unit 92154, a GRU special forces division. Meanwhile, one of the expelled diplomats, Sergei Gudilin, photographed a military-related facility near the Belgian capital, according to publicly available data on his account with the fitness app Strava. In July 2021, he posted a photograph on his Strava account of the Bertem radar station, part of Belgiums air-traffic control network that provides radar data to the Belgian military.

Inquiries sent to listed e-mail addresses for Kovalchuk, Cherepanov, Zamogilnykh, and Gudilin went unanswered. Belgiums crackdown resulted altogether in the expulsion of 20 alleged Russian spies, according to the list, adding to 48 prior expulsions of members of Russian delegations to the EU and NATO. Belgium wishes to maintain normal diplomatic relations with Russia but cannot allow these relations to be abused for espionage purposes, Belgian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pierre Steverlynck said. Evolving Threats While European countries have collectively expelled more than 700 Russian diplomats -- including alleged spies -- since Russia launched its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Western experts warn the threat from Moscow is evolving. "We sawa diminishment for a little while in [Russian intelligence services] ability to conduct malign intelligence operations in our countries, but it has been reconstituted," James Appathurai, a senior NATO official specializing in hybrid warfare, said in an interview with EUobserver. Appathurai said Russia has shifted its focus to online recruitment, increasingly enlisting criminal gangs and unwitting individuals for sabotage. "These recruits often dont even realize who they are working for," Appathurai said. "They carry out acts of arson, train derailments, even attacks on politicians' properties -- all with Russian intelligence pulling the strings from the shadows."
Ukraine has agreed to a US proposal for a 30-day cease-fire in the war against the Russian invasion, prompting the United States to say it would immediately lift the suspension of military aid, including the sharing of intelligence.

The outcome of nine hours of talks on March 11 in Jeddah marked a stunning turnaround less than two weeks after an acrimonious meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The clash between the two leaders preceded the US pause in aid and limits on intelligence sharing, which the United States said were imposed because of doubts that Ukraine was committed to seeking peace.

"The President wanted this war to end yesterday... So our hope is that the Russians will answer 'yes' as quickly as possible, so we can get to the second phase of this, which is real negotiations," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters after the agreement was announced.

A joint statement issued by the two countries said Ukraine expressed a "readiness" to accept the US proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day cease-fire, "which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, and which is subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation."

Speaking to reporters in Washington, Trump said a meeting with Russia would take place later on March 11 or the following day.

Rubio, who attended the talks in Saudi Arabia along with national-security adviser Mike Waltz, said the cease-fire plan puts the ball in Russias court.

Were going to tell them this is whats on the table, he said of Russian President Vladimir Putins government. Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking. And now itll be up to them to say yes or no."

Russian officials have repeatedly said that they want a comprehensive peace deal, not a cease-fire or other temporary arrangement.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said it wouldn't rule out contacts with US officials over next several days, but gave no further comment.

The US and Ukrainian delegations said they also discussed the importance of humanitarian relief efforts as part of the peace process, particularly during the cease-fire, including the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children.

"I have confirmation that the security assistance from the United States has been restored," Pavlo Palisa, deputy head of the Ukrainian President's Office and a member of the delegation, said in a post on Facebook.

"Arrangements are starting to be fulfilled."

In addition, Ukraine and the United States agreed to conclude a pact on joint development of Ukrainian critical minerals and other resources as soon as possible.

That deal had been expected to be signed at the White House meeting on February 28, but Zelenskyy left early after the argument in the Oval Office, leaving it in limbo.

The talks were closely watched across Europe, which has grown concerned Washington's renewed contacts with the Kremlin would sideline both Kyiv and Brussels from the peace process.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who recently traveled to the White House to meet Trump, congratulated the US and Ukrainian delegations, saying it is now up to Moscow to end the fighting.

European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen saidthe proposal for a ceasefire agreement and the resumption of U.S. intelligence sharing and security assistance was a welcome development.



"This is a positive development that can be a step towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine. The ball is now in Russias court," she added.

The talks in Jeddah on March 11 followed a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack that struck the Moscow region and other Russian provinces overnight, killing three people.

John Herbst, a former US ambassador to Ukraine, said before the joint statement that restoring intelligence cooperation should be seen as a positive result for Kyiv.

He also said sequencing in future negotiations will be crucial. While an early cease-fire can be key part of a future peace process, he stresses that it's important that it be followed by further steps toward a lasting peace deal, such as continued military shipments to Ukraine, a potential demilitarized zone, and a greater role for European countries, including their forces deployed as peacekeepers.

These are all serious ideas that have been floated, Herbst said.

That might not be a just peace, because a just peace wouldnt see Ukraine have to concede territory, but it could still be a durable one that makes it very hard for Russia to renew aggression.

What Role Will Russia And Europe Play In Peace Talks?

As Ukrainian and US officials met in Saudi Arabia, attention was also shifting to the other two players that will decide how the war ends: Russia and Kyivs European allies.

Top military officials from more than 30 nations met in Paris on March 11 for talks on the creation of an international security force for Ukraine.

The force is being envisaged by Britain and France. Its aim is to reassure Ukraine and deter another large-scale Russian offensive after any cease-fire. The force might include heavy weaponry and weapons stockpiles that could be rushed within hours or days to aid in Ukraines defense.

Russia has so far said it is against accepting European troops in Ukraine as part of a deal.

The Kremlin has also spoken about getting Western sanctions lifted on its economy as part of a peace process, including in Saudi Arabia where US and Russian officials held talks nearly a month ago.

Marie Dumoulin, a former French diplomat and an analyst at the European Council on Foreign Relations, says that this gives European governments some leverage when the dust settles from the talks in Jeddah.

She said that doubts remain in European capitals about whether Russia is willing to make any concessions of its own and that Europe can use both its own offer of security guarantees to Ukraine and the possibility of lifting European Union sanctions on Russia as a way to shape discussions in both Moscow and Washington.

This gives Ukraine a few more cards to hold at the table, Dumoulin told RFE/RL. These can give Ukraine some room to say whether the deal being offered to them is good enough yet or not.

RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and RFE/RL's Kosovo Service contributed to this report
Moscow witnessed the heaviest drone air strike since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on March 11, just as talks between the United States in Kyiv officials began in Saudi Arabia. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with the Ukrainian president's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak for negotiations hoped to lead to peace. Yermak wrote on X that discussions began "very constructively"; meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been calling on European allies to support the idea of an initial truce with Russia in the air and at sea.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. An Armenian-origin individual living in Karabakh testified as a witness at the court hearings in the criminal case against Ruben Vardanyan, an Armenian citizen accused of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing terrorism, and other grave offenses under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

The witness noted that Ruben Vardanyan arrived in Khankendi shortly after the 44-day war, but he was unsure whether Vardanyan had come from Russia or elsewhere.

The witness testified that Vardanyan financed and supported groups composed of individuals aged 45-50 to fight against Azerbaijan. A lot of young people joined those groups. What intrigued me was why the world-famous businessman and oligarch, Ruben Vardanyan  Im not saying he is my enemy, no  would abandon his business and come to Karabakh?

The witness explained that individuals were recruited for these groups with payments ranging from 700 to 2,000 dollars and were involved in military training.

Subsequently, the witnesss statement given during the preliminary investigation at the State Security Service was read aloud, and the witness confirmed its accuracy.

The trial will resume after the recess.
Gala in Boyle has been selected as a recipient of a Gala Greener Grant, an initiative aimed at supporting retailers in their transition to sustainable technologies.

As part of Gala Retails nationwide commitment to sustainability, Gala Greener Grants offer financial support to Gala retailers seeking to reduce their energy usage by adopting sustainable technologies, such as waste heat recovery systems, solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, and electric vehicle (EV) charging points. The initiative is part of a 500,000 sustainability fund, which will be distributed to Gala retailers across Ireland by 2030.

With the support of this grant, Gala Boyle has introduced a new refrigeration system, helping to reduce energy usage and contribute to a greener future for the local community.

The new refrigeration system is projected to save the store 23,338 kWh of energy annually, reducing CO2 emissions by 7.57 tonnes per year  which is the equivalent of over 378 trees needed to offset the same amount of CO2.

Gary Desmond, CEO of Gala Retail said that "through the Gala Greener Grants scheme, we aim to support our retailers as they invest in the future and contribute to a greener, more sustainable Ireland. Gala Boyle is leading the way, and we are excited to see the positive impact that this will make to the store.
By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

More than 24 million has been awarded to three projects addressing climate change and conserving the marine and coastal environment of border counties and the North.

The Peaceplus funding of 24,794,328.34 will contribute towards preserving coastal infrastructure and natural resources.

Activities will include marine protection area climate change action plans, community and citizen participation initiatives and education and awareness training programmes.

Peaceplus is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and represents a funding partnership between the European Union, the Irish and British Governments and the Northern Executive.

Stormont Environment Minister Andrew Muir has welcomed the funding announcement. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA

The projects receiving the funding will be:

The MOSAIC Project (8,069,141.48). Led by Loughs Agency, the project will create a cross-border marine biological observation system that gathers data on endangered and declining species, along with their ecological environments. The aim is to generate data-driven action plans and decision-making tools to bolster ongoing monitoring activities.

The ACCLIMATISE Project (7,111,978.67). Led by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, it will focus on promoting climate change adaptation by developing monitoring tools, strategies and action plans for more effective, ecosystem-based marine management.

The CMAP Project (9,613,208.19). Led by Ulster University, the project will address the challenges of managing a dynamic, more resilient marine environment. The project will incorporate a citizen science approach and focus on addressing biodiversity loss and restorative-based coastal adaptation.

Stormonts Environment Minister Andrew Muir said the three projects would help to increase understanding of climate change pressures.

He added: Our seas and oceans do not recognise borders and it is key that we work together through these projects in tackling climate change challenges and the biodiversity crisis we are facing.

Minister of Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne said: Not only do these projects mark a significant step forward in supporting coastal adaptation to climate change and safeguarding Irelands marine environment, this 25 million investment will also strengthen cross-border cooperation in marine science.

SEUPB chief executive Gina McIntyre said: Our natural environment is one of our most important assets and continued enhancement and protection is critical to future economic and social development.

A clean, green and accessible environment makes a major contribution to people having long, active, healthy lives as well as creating a place where people want to live, visit and invest. This helps support a community who want to have a peaceful and prosperous future.

Strategic cross-border investment will enhance and protect the environment while strengthening the economy. Both human activities and climate change pose a very real threat to Ireland and Northern Irelands cultural and natural resources.
Funding of over 690,000 has been announced for ten community centres in County Roscommon for improvement and refurbishment works.

The largest grant of 100,000 has been made to Ballinagare Health & Leisure Centre CLG for Ballinagare Community Centre to fund insulation and solar panels, fire alarms, fireproofing and modernising the building.

45,000 has been granted to Athleague Community Centre to fund upgrades to the kitchen, kitchenette and reception area; 88,880 to Ballintubber Development Association Ltd for the Old School House which will fund the refurbishment of the roof; 72,000 for Ballyfarnon Community Centre for roof replacement, rewiring, dry-ling and plastering, flooring, new windows and doors, replacement of stairs, removal of internal steps and installation of accessibility ramp and 37,928 to Castlerea St. Kevin's GAA Club/St. Kevin's Community Centre for the upgrade of the ceiling, dry lining and skimming of walls and replacement of existing lighting.

Further funding of 93,300 has been given to Drum Community Centre for the refurbishments to the kitchen and toilet facilities, as well as upgrades to the floors and stage lighting ; 97,137 for Kilmurry Community Hall to fund the removal and replacement of the asbestos roof ; 82,741 has been grated to Roscommon Gaels GAA Club for the Dr. Hyde Community Centre to fund a variety of refurbishment works, including to the kitchen, meeting room, main hall and toilets; 44,960 for St. Joseph's Community Hall, Boyle to fund the replacement of windows and 29,290 for Moore Community Centre for the installation of solar panels, new windows and a bicycle rack.

Keash Community Hall will receive 37,839 for insulation and interior upgrades; Culfadda Community Building has been granted 71,257 to fund the installations of new toilets, a community cafe while Ballygar Community Centre will receive 62,000 for the replacement of external and internal doors and the refurbishment of toilet facilities.

Senator Gareth Scahill has welcomed the funding saying it will result in community facilities being more sustainable and accessible, so that they can be enjoyed by all.

I am delighted to see funding for community centres in Roscommon. I want to thank the volunteers who work so hard to facilitate activities in our community centres.

Community centres play an essential role in bringing our communities together. Whether its local meetings, celebrations, or classes for children or retired people, our community centres in Roscommon have always been a central point in every town and village for people to come together.

Communities across Roscommon will now be empowered to make the changes they need to their community centres to ensure they are up to a high standard.

I am delighted to see funding recognising the voluntary committees in Athleague, Ballintubber, Ballyfarnon, Drum, Kilmurray, Boyle, Moore and Ballinagare along with the support for the committees in Roscommon Gaels and my own club Castlerea St. Kevins. I know these communities have worked so hard to run and maintain the centres, and the funding will go a long way in helping the upkeep of the facilities. Nationwide this funding will be used for a range of measures such as roof and insulation enhancements; others will see kitchen and toilet upgrades; while others will ensure their buildings are more accessible and energy efficient.

This funding will make our towns and villages better places to live, work, and raise a family.

This funding is aimed at the heart of our communities in Roscommon, and I look forward to visiting each centre when the works are completed, concluded Senator Scahill.
Six years on from the government commitment to deliver nine fully funded community neurological rehabilitation teams across the country, the rollout has been beset by delays, with most areas of the country including Roscommon still without any access to a team.

Thats according to the Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI), the national umbrella body for 40 neurological organisations, who recently met with TDs and Senators at Leinster House, to call for their renewed commitment in delivering on the targets outlined in the 2019 Neurorehabilitation Strategy. As National Brain Awareness Week marks its 20th year (March 10th  16th), the NAI underscores the urgent need for dedicated community neurorehabilitation teams to address this critical issue.

There is now a significant regional inequity for patients in Roscommon who have no access to community neurorehabilitation teams in the West of Ireland because of a lack of funding.

The National Neurorehabilitation Strategy published in 2019 committed to delivering specialist community teams and long-term neurorehabilitation services across the country, as well as addressing the shortfall of 171 specialist inpatient neurorehabilitation beds.

Of the nine Community Neurorehabilitation Teams the government committed to establishing in 2019 three have not received any funding to date, (Midlands, North Dublin and South East) while the North West team has only three posts funded compared to the 12 that should be in place.

Magdalen Rogers, CEO of the Neurological Alliance of Ireland said: Neurorehabilitation is a vital service to enable people in Roscommon with neurological conditions to live their day to day lives. Were calling on the Government to announce a commitment to funding four community neurorehabilitation teams in this years Budget. We want to see this commitment during their first 100 days in office, to send a clear signal they intend to deliver on the pledges within the Programme for Government to complete the national rollout of community neurorehabilitation teams and to developing more specialist inpatient rehabilitation beds and implement community based multidisciplinary rehabilitation services in each HSE Regional Health Authority Area.

NAI is calling for funding in the upcoming Budget for full community neurorehabilitation teams for the North West, North Dublin, South East and Midlands, promised since 2019.

Patient advocate and NAI board member, Eamon McPartlin from Leitrim, who lived in Galway for many years, explained the importance of access to neurorehabilitation teams to Oireachtas members.

I was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) in 2021, although symptoms actually began to appear a lot earlier in my thirties. Even before I received my diagnosis, the condition led to me having to give up my work as an engineer and ultimately to my marriage ending and I know that from speaking to others, the consequences of living with a neurological condition can be even more difficult to deal with than the condition itself.

Accessing multidisciplinary treatment including physiotherapy, psychology and occupational therapy through community neurorehabilitation teams, without having to travel huge distances is vital. It allows people living with a neurological condition to receive treatment locally without they or their family having to take significant time off work or spend lots of money on travelling and accommodation. For some depending on where they live in the country the community neurorehabilitation team may be their only option to access the services they urgently need to support them in living a better quality of life."
Opposition to the councils regeneration works in Ballaghaderreen is set to intensify with a public rally due to take place in the town square on Sunday afternoon.

Local businessman Michael Mulligan confirmed that a public rally is being organised as opposition to the public realm plan scales up.

Notification flyers on the rally, which takes place on Sunday at 3.30 p.m., are to be circulated throughout the town and surrounding areas.

Mr Mulligan said the business community was also considering participating in the local St. Patricks Day parade by carrying placards.

Up to forty members of the business community protested in the town centre this morning, Tuesday, for a second day.

They are fiercely opposing the plans, claiming up to 70 street parking spaces will be lost around the town.

Negative impact on trade, on the ability for shoppers to park conveniently, and on delivery and other vehicles trying to negotiate the new layouts are among the fears being expressed locally.

It's understood that members of the business community are due to meet council management in the town this afternoon.
Long X Arts Foundation Director

The outstanding master guitarist, Paolo Schianchi will amaze the audience as he takes the stage in Watford City at the Watford City High School Performing Arts Center on Sunday, March 23 at 3 p.m.

The Watford City Area Concert Association hosts this out-of-the-ordinary musician and performer, able to master all existing variations of the guitar, from the Renaissance lute to electric guitars, to unique instruments which he has created...among them, a 49-string guitar he personally designed. A native of Parma, Italy, with four degrees in music and communications, he was the first Artist in Residence in the history of Saint Francis University in Pennsylvania. His performance will include selections from classical to rock.

This international guitar sensation will take you on a jaw-dropping trip with music and comedy, from 6 to 49 strings. With music by Bach, The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, Chuck Berry, Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson, and more, performed on unique instruments which he has created. Among them, a 49-string guitar he personally designed. An experience you'll never forget!

The Watford City Area Concert Series is a membership-driven organization, with individual memberships starting at $50. A 2024-25 membership grants access the Watford City Area Concert Series Concerts as well as reciprocity with concert series lineups in Williston, Dickinson, Crosby and Hazen.

If you don't have a membership, tickets are available at $30 for adults and all youth under 18 are free. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.longxarts.com or at the door and handicap parking and access is available on the north entrance of the building.

The remaining concert for the 2024-25 Concert Series season includes Street Corner Symphony on May 11.

Visit longxarts.com for more details on the 2024-2025 lineup and to purchase a membership or contact Jessie Scofield, Long X Arts Foundation Director at 701-770-8659 or [email protected] or visit longxarts.com.
Sidney, MT - The State has entered into a plea agreement in the case involving the homicide of Tyler Hayden. Tyler Hayden was murdered on July 2, 2019. The State charged Kyle Severson with Deliberate Homicide in the death of Mr. Hayden. On Oct. 2, 2020, a jury found Severson guilty of Mitigated Deliberate Homicide in the death of Mr. Hayden. The District Court sentenced Severson to the maximum sentence for Mitigated Deliberate Homicide which is 40 years in the Montana State Prison. Severson appealed his conviction to the Montana Supreme Court. On April 9, 2024, the Montana Supreme Court reversed Severson s conviction and remanded the case back to Richland County for a new trial. Based upon the Montana Supreme Courts ruling, the State was limited to the charge to Mitigated Deliberate Homicide. Since the time Severson was convicted in 2020, there has been a change in leadership at the County Attorneys Office. As the current County Attorney, I believe we have finally reached the best possible outcome in this matter. After the ruling of the Montana Supreme Court, as well as my own review of the case, a term of 40 years in the Montana State Prison no longer seemed a likely result in this case. For these reasons, I agreed to enter into a plea agreement calling for Severson to be sentenced to the Montana State Prison for a term of 30 years, with 15 of those years suspended. Severson pled guilty March 7, 2025 to Mitigated Deliberate Homicide. Sentencing has been set for May 2, 2025. Severson is currently serving 10 years with 2 years suspended at the Montana State Prison for Tampering With Witnesses And Informants. This conviction stands and was not affected by the plea agreement on March 7. Mr. Haydens family has been consulted and informed of my decision in this case. Mr. Haydens family and friends will have an opportunity to give impact statements to the Court at the sentencing hearing. I would like to personally thank the Sidney Police Department for their tireless work on this case. Their professionalism and commitment to this case is the only reason the State was able to secure a conviction in the death of Mr. Hayden. While nothing can bring Mr. Hayden back to his friends and family, it is my sincere hope that hearing Severson admit that he killed Mr. Hayden will bring some level of comfort to all who loved Tyler.
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President Donald J. Trump's triumphant address before a joint session of Congress Tuesday night won the widespread approval of the American people. A CNN poll reported 69% positive responses among viewers. A CBS study measured 76% support.

Congressional Democrats, not so much.

Soon after Trump began his buoyant recap of his momentous 43 days back in office, he eyed his scowling detractors. "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, nothing I can do."

Once again, Democrats validated Trump's prediction. They continuously sat on their duffs and frowned as Trump delivered good news, and Republican lawmakers leapt up and cheered.

 "I have stopped all government censorship and brought back free speech in America," Trump said.

Democrats sat still.

 "ISIS terrorists killed 13 American service members and countless others in the Abbey Gate bombing during the disastrous and incompetent withdrawal from Afghanistan," Trump remarked. "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."

Democrats stayed put.

 Joe Biden barely lifted a finger while Russia held American history teacher Mark Fogel hostage for almost four years. "I promised his 95-year-old mother, Malphine, that we would bring her boy safely back home. After 22 days in office, I did just that. And they are here tonight," Trump said, welcoming Fogel and his neo-centenarian mom who sat in the House Visitor's Gallery.

Democrats waved paddles that read "False" and "Musk steals."

 Trump discussed Jason Hartley, a high-school senior, also in the gallery. "Jason tragically lost his dad, who was also a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy, when he was just a boy," Trump explained. The varsity athlete with a 4.46 GPA itches to attend West Point. "I'm pleased to inform you that your application has been accepted." Hartley beamed at this severely pleasant surprise.

Democrats fiddled with their smartphones.

 Devarjaye "D.J." Daniel, 13, was diagnosed with Stage 3 brain cancer in 2018 and given five month to live. Six years later, he wants to become a police officer, and 908 law-enforcement agencies have made him an honorary cop. Trump said: "Tonight, D.J.I am asking our new Secret Service director, Sean Curran, to officially make you an agent of the United States Secret Service." Curran handed D.J. Secret Service credentials. D.J. gave a smiling Curran a hug  something seldom seen among these intrepid federal agents.

Sedentary, heartless Democrats did not give a damn about a teenage cancer-survivor who aspires to public service.

To be fair, not every Democrat sat and pouted through these opportunities for national unity.

Congressman Al Green of Texas stood up early on. The 77-year old interrupted Trump's speech, berated him, and shook his cane at the President. After Green ignored Speaker Mike Johnson's (R - Louisiana) command to sit back down, the Sergeant at Arms booted Green from the House floor. "You have no mandate!" Green hollered at Trump, who won 312 electoral votes, the popular vote, and all seven swing states.

Democrats relentlessly accuse Trump of being mean and divisive. And yet they rejected multiple occasions to join him in applauding news that every American should relish and embracing those who are enduring unthinkable tragedies. Instead, Democrats wallowed in their anger, marinated in their bitterness, and stewed in their hatred of Trump and his 77 million voters.

A February 19 Quinnipiac survey of 1,039 registered voters found that 40% approve of Congressional Republicans, a record-high, while 52% disapprove. A record-low 21% approve of Congressional Democrats, while 68% disapprove. This week's antics will plunge Democrats' dismal numbers even deeper.

Democrats did not display leadership that night. They exhibited yet another spastic gasp in the death rattle of a dying political party.

 2025 Deroy Murdock
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, during his official visit to Kazakhstan, met with the Director-General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), Berik Aryn, on March 11, 2025, Trend reports citing the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the meeting, the potential for expanding cooperation between Azerbaijan and IOFS was discussed, particularly in finding joint solutions to food security challenges.

"Emphasizing that Azerbaijan, as a donor country, has made significant contributions to international humanitarian programs and development aid, Jeyhun Bayramov highlighted the importance of encouraging mutually beneficial cooperation in addressing the critical global challenge of food security," the Ministry noted.

Bayramov added that strengthening food security sustainably is one of the main priorities of Azerbaijan's socio-economic policy, and this strategic issue is always at the forefront of attention.

Aryn expressed gratitude for Azerbaijan's contributions to food security programs and praised the country's active role within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and its significant impact on addressing regional food security issues.

The achievements of Azerbaijan during its presidency at COP29 were particularly highlighted. The direct impact of climate change on food security was emphasized, pointing to the need for special focus in this direction.

The meeting concluded with an exchange of views on other mutually relevant issues, reiterating the importance of deepening cooperation in the area of food security.

Additionally, information on the activities of IOFS was extensively presented, according to the Ministry's statement.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
The City of Sidney held their most recent city council meeting Monday, March 3. Jamie Larson took her Oath of Office for the Ward 1 seat; the Oath of Office was administered by Deputy Clerk and Treasurer BreeAnn Shanks. Larson's term will begin March 17, 2025 and end Dec. 31, 2025. She will run in the November 2025 election.

Jon Skinner was approved for the Sidney Richland County Library Board. There were three other candidates: Meagan Weber, Mike Eberling, and Nicole Davidson.

"All the candidates who applied for the library board look highly qualified, and it was a tough decision to make," stated Alderwoman Tami Christensen.

The McNutt Lot Aggregation was approved. Tri-County Implement sat on two lots in the Anderson subdivision; Lot one was located at 5th St. NW and 25th Ave., and Lot two was located at 25th Ave. and West Holly. The aggregation combined the two, meaning that going forward the business will only be taxed on a single lot, rather than two individually.

B&B Builders was approved as the only applicant for the City Facility and Ground Maintenance RFQ. The City of Sidney applied and received a little over $460,000 from the State-Local Infrastructure Partnership Act (SLIPA) through the Montana Department of Commerce, with the intentions of building new ADA accessible bathrooms and warming facilities at Quillings Park, and new concessions at Lyndale Park. However, after being awarded the funding, it was realized the funds could only be used to remodel existing buildings. With the age and state of the mentioned facilities, it was decided they could not be remodeled up to ADA compliance, and the decision was made to instead use the funding to address issues around the city shop, and other projects as needed. The plans for the city shop include a new garage door, walk through doors, bathroom remodel, addressing electrical and plumbing issues, and if funding allows, perhaps installing fencing. New rain gutters will be installed on the city shop as well as on the Water Treatment Plant. The city will match the SLIPA funds at 25%.
Per Jean's request, she will be cremated, and Celebration of Life services will be planned at a later date. Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, 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 St. NW, Sidney.

Jean (Price) Thirud was born to Winston and Jeanette Price in Williston, ND, on April 20, 1930. 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, 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.
President Droupadi Murmu to attend convocations ceremonies in Punjab and Chandigarh

President Droupadi Murmu is on a three-day visit to Haryana, Punjab, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh

President Droupadi Murmu is on a three-day visit to Haryana, Punjab, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, starting from March 10. During this visit, she is attending convocation ceremonies at various universities and a civic reception in Mohali hosted in her honor.

Today, during her Punjab visit, she will be gracing the convocation ceremonies of the Central University of Punjab (CUP) and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bathinda.

Reports indicate that Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria will accompany the President at both events, along with other dignitaries. Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place at all venues.

At AIIMS Bathinda, the President will confer 72 degrees and medals in MBBS, Doctor of Medicine (MD), Master of Surgery (MS), and Master of Dental Surgery (MDS).

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In the evening, the President is scheduled to attend a civic reception in Mohali, hosted by the Punjab Government in her honor. The event will be attended by the Governors and Chief Ministers of Punjab and Haryana, along with other dignitaries.

On March 10, the President attended the convocation ceremony of Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology in Hisar, Haryana.

On March 12, she is scheduled to grace the 72nd convocation ceremony of Panjab University (PU) in Chandigarh.

(for more news apart from the president attending events in Punjab and Chandigarh, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
NATO prepares for different scenarios

The interim president of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, says that NATO has prepared a number of military scenarios for any security outcome that would affect member states.

Foto: pixabay.com

Vlad Palcu, 11.03.2025, 14:00

According to a famous joke, NATO was created, a few years after the crushing of Nazism, to keep the Germans on their toes, the Soviets out of Europe and the Americans in. Three quarters of a century later, the joke has outlived its original context. Post-Soviet Russia has turned up the aggression again after regaining its murderous frenzy and appetite for new territories. Under the new Republican administration led by President Donald Trump, the United States seem less and less interested in guaranteeing the security of Europe, criticizing it for not investing enough in its own defense. These developments are creating anxiety especially on NATOs Eastern Flank, in countries bordering either Russia or Ukraine invaded by Russian troops. This is also the case of Romania, which shares almost 650 kilometers of border with Ukraine.

In a message meant to reassure his fellow countrymen, the interim president of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, said that NATO has prepared military scenarios for any security outcome that would affect member states, including those on the Eastern Flank. There are, lets say, strategic plans designed by NATO, including by the Romanian Army, Ilie Bolojan said. The president recalled that France is designated as the framework nation for the defense of Romania and has troops on the ground. The problem that arises is either an increase in the contribution of European countries in the current security context, which means that very little will change, or, in the second scenario, more responsibility from European countries, not just European Union members, the interim president further noted. In order to ensure its defense, Europe needs the United States of America, Ilie Bolojan argued.

According to Radio Romanias correspondent in Brussels, citing NATO sources, the United States might withdraw part of its military deployed in Europe as early as this year. The move, the same sources add, would not aim to question the Alliance itself, but would be an incentive for Europeans to get involved more in deterrence and defense efforts. Washington currently has about 160,000 troops deployed outside the United States, and most of them, about 35,000, are stationed in Germany. According to local media, due to uncertainty generated by the Trump administration, the major groups in the European Parliament are preparing a document that will call on the EU to promote the creation of a so-called European pillar within NATO, which would act autonomously, whenever necessary. This group might also include Great Britain, Turkey, Norway and Iceland, states that are not currently in the European Union, but are otherwise members of NATO. (VP)
No additional taxes in 2025

Romania will not introduce new taxes, as long as public spending is strictly controlled, says the finance minister

Photo: loufre / pixabay.com

Corina Cristea, 11.03.2025, 13:50

The current strategy of the Ministry of Finance in Bucharest is to impose monthly and quarterly limits on public institutions spending, so as to respect the 7% budget deficit target. The clarification was made by the relevant minister, Tanczos Barna, during a TVR Info show, in which he explained that it is a difficult but necessary task. The minister acknowledged that there is pressure from institutions to allocate more financial resources, but insisted that maintaining a budget balance is essential. In this context, he sent a clear message, thus eliminating speculation regarding the introduction of new taxes or additional fees in Romania: If we maintain this trend, we have every chance of not needing any other plan for new taxes. No, not at all, says the minister.

Tanczos Barna also said that February was an acceptable month in terms of state revenues, but it is essential that this trend is maintained throughout the year. The road is long, we still have 10 months ahead of us, but if we maintain this trend, we have every chance of not needing additional fiscal measures, he added.

Tanczos Barna has recently discussed with representatives from the financial, industrial, health-care, construction, circular economy and environment and automotive sectors about the most important elements for ensuring macroeconomic balance, strengthening resilience and increasing competitiveness. On this occasion, he stated that the regulations on the pole tax, imposed on special constructions, will be published in the last week of March. The process of developing the norms of application is already underway, and by the end of the month, each economic sector will be invited to discussions, says the minister.

The steps are in line with the Ordinance on fiscal-budgetary measures adopted at the end of last year, which also includes the so-called pole tax, namely the calculation of a 1% tax on the value of special constructions existing in the taxpayers patrimony, with the exception of buildings for which tax on building is already paid. The new tax also includes buildings in industrial, scientific and technological parks, which, according to the law, do not benefit from the exemption from paying tax on buildings. I understand the concern of some companies, but most companies already pay taxes for buildings, production halls and other assets that generate business. It is normal that those special constructions, which are actual assets of the business, should also be taken into account, the minister believes. It is estimated that, although some companies may try to transfer the costs of the new tax to consumers, the impact will not be significant compared to that of a VAT increase. (MI)
Japan will on Tuesday release Q4 figures for gross domestic product, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity.

GDP is expected to rise 0.7 percent on quarter and 1.4 percent on year after adding 0.3 percent on quarter and 1.2 percent on year in the three months prior. Capital expenditure is seen higher by 0.5 percent on quarter after slipping 0.1 percent in Q3.

Japan also will see January numbers for household spending and February figures for money supply. Household spending is tipped to fall 1.9 percent on month and rise 3.7 percent on year after gaining 2.3 percent on month and 2.7 percent on year in December. The M2 money stock is tipped to rise 1.4 percent on year, up from 1.3 percent in January.

Australia will see February results for the surveys of conditions and business confidence from National Australia Bank; in January, their scores were +4 and +3, respectively.

Malaysia will release January data for unemployment, with forecasts suggesting that the jobless rate will hold steady at 3.1 percent.

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German meal kit company HelloFresh SE (HLFFF,HFG.F) expects consolidated revenue for the fiscal year 2024 to be about 7.66 billion euros, up from 7.60 billion euros in fiscal year 2023, reflecting a constant currency growth of about 0.9%.

The adjusted EBITDA or AEBITDA of the HelloFresh Group is anticipated to be around 399 million euros, compared to 447.6 million euros in fiscal year 2023.

Both figures align closely with the previous outlook, with constant currency revenue growth expected to be near the lower end of the 1.0% to 1.7% range and AEBITDA projected to reach the upper end of the 360 million euros to 400 million euros range. The introduction of cost-efficiency initiatives in the second half of fiscal year 2024 has significantly improved the Group's AEBITDA compared to both the first half of fiscal year 2024 and the second half of fiscal year 2023. Consequently, the company is on track to meet the upper end of its previously provided 2024 Group AEBITDA outlook.

The company said it has decided to expand the comprehensive efficiency program initiated and communicated to the capital market in the second-half of 2024 and to extend it until 2026. This efficiency program covers all key aspects of the HelloFresh Group's cost base, except for its physical product. It comprises the disciplined pursuit of higher marketing return-on-investment thresholds, direct production labor productivity increases in both meal kits and ready-to-eat, a streamlining of the meal kit production capacity, savings in overhead personnel expenses, indirect procurement savings and a sustained lower level of the HelloFresh Group's capital expenditures.

The company targets to meaningfully increase adjusted EBIT (pre impairment) on Group level from 136 million euros in the fiscal year 2024 to 200 million euros to 250 million euros in the fiscal year 2025 representing an approximately 65% increase at the midpoint of the outlook range. The targeted AEBIT increase would also be commensurate with meaningful growth in AEBITDA on Group level, from 399 million euros in the fiscal year 2024 to about 450 million euros to 500 million euros in the fiscal year 2025.

For fiscal year 2025, the company estimates a decrease in constant currency revenue to be between 3% and 8%.

For more earnings news, earnings calendar, and earnings for stocks, visit rttnews.com.

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Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Azerbaijan currently exports natural gas to 12 countries, and geographically, our customers are located in Eurasia, said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev during a joint press conference with President of North Macedonia Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, Trend reports.

Ten out of these 12 countries are European nations. Last year, Azerbaijan exported 25 billion cubic meters of gas to foreign markets. Of course, we produce more than this, the head of state emphasized.

Europe needs Azerbaijani gas. The Declaration on Strategic Partnership in the field of energy between the European Union and Azerbaijan, signed in Baku about three years ago, is a clear manifestation of this, President Ilham Aliyev added.
Russia says airports in Moscow were closed after the capital was hit by massive drone attack by Ukraine overnight.

Two people have reportedly been killed and at least six others injured in the largest attack carried out by Ukraine in the region since the war broke out.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin was quoted as saying that Russian forces shot down 73 drones targeting the city. Flights were suspended for a few hours in four Moscow airports.

Several Moscow-bound flights were deviated to other destinations, TASS reports.

Reports quoting Russian defense ministry said a total of 337 drones were shot down since Monday night.

In spite of the latest escalation in tensions, peace talks between the U.S. and Ukrainian delegations started in Saudi Arabia, as scheduled on Tuesday.

"The meeting with the US team began in a very constructive way, we're working towards a just and lasting peace," Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's office, wrote on Telegram.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security adviser Mike Waltz are representing the United States while Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Andriy Yermak are representing the Ukrainian side for the talks in Jeddah.

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Jeffs' Brands (JFBR, JFBRW) announced that the company and its subsidiary, Smart Repair Pro, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Pure NJ Logistics, a company that operates a strategically located approximately 100,000 square foot logistics center equipped with 20 loading docks in New Jersey.

Smart Repair Pro will acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding equity interests of Pure Logistics from its current holders, in consideration for a base payment of $2.1 million, the Base Payment, and a deferred payment of $500,000.

Shares of Jeffs' Brands are up 20% in pre-market trade on Tuesday.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Today, Azerbaijani gas contributes to the energy security of many European countries, said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev during a joint press conference with President of North Macedonia Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, Trend reports.

We have always attached great importance to the requests of our European partners. In other words, bilateral cooperation in the energy sector is very important to us, and I do hope that this practical cooperation will pave the way for collaboration in other areas as well, the Azerbaijani President emphasized.
Astronomers using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope have explored the lowest mass limit of brown dwarfs within the Flame Nebula, a hotbed of star formation in the constellation of Orion.

The Flame Nebula is located approximately 1,400 light-years away in the constellation of Orion.

Otherwise known as NGC 2024 and Sh2-277, this emission nebula is approximately 12 light-years wide and less than one million years old.

The Flame Nebula was discovered by the German-born British astronomer William Herschel on January 1, 1786.

It is part of the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex, which includes such famous nebulae as the Horsehead Nebula and the Orion Nebula.

In a new study, astronomers used Webb to explore the lowest mass limit of brown dwarfs within the Flame Nebula.

The result, they found, were free-floating objects roughly two to three times the mass of Jupiter, although they were sensitive down to 0.5 times the mass of Jupiter.

The goal of this project was to explore the fundamental low-mass limit of the star and brown dwarf formation process, said said Dr. Matthew De Furio, an astronomer at the University of Texas at Austin.

With Webb, were able to probe the faintest and lowest mass objects.

The low-mass limit the team sought is set by a process called fragmentation.

In this process large molecular clouds, from which both stars and brown dwarfs are born, break apart into smaller and smaller units, or fragments.

Fragmentation is highly dependent on several factors with the balance between temperature, thermal pressure, and gravity being among the most important.

More specifically, as fragments contract under the force of gravity, their cores heat up.

If a core is massive enough, it will begin to fuse hydrogen.

The outward pressure created by that fusion counteracts gravity, stopping collapse and stabilizing the object.

However, fragments whose cores are not compact and hot enough to burn hydrogen continue to contract as long as they radiate away their internal heat.

The cooling of these clouds is important because if you have enough internal energy, it will fight that gravity, said Dr. Michael Meyer, an astronomer at the University of Michigan.

If the clouds cool efficiently, they collapse and break apart.

Fragmentation stops when a fragment becomes opaque enough to reabsorb its own radiation, thereby stopping the cooling and preventing further collapse.

Theories placed the lower limit of these fragments anywhere between one and ten Jupiter masses.

This study significantly shrinks that range as Webbs census counted up fragments of different masses within the nebula.

As found in many previous studies, as you go to lower masses, you actually get more objects up to about ten times the mass of Jupiter, Dr. De Furio said.

In our study with Webb, we are sensitive down to 0.5 times the mass of Jupiter, and we are finding significantly fewer and fewer things as you go below ten times the mass of Jupiter.

We find fewer five-Jupiter-mass objects than ten-Jupiter-mass objects, and we find way fewer three-Jupiter-mass objects than five-Jupiter-mass objects.

We dont really find any objects below two or three Jupiter masses, and we expect to see them if they are there, so we are hypothesizing that this could be the limit itself.

Webb, for the first time, has been able to probe up to and beyond that limit, Dr. Meyer added.

If that limit is real, there really shouldnt be any one-Jupiter-mass objects free-floating out in our Milky Way Galaxy, unless they were formed as planets and then ejected out of a planetary system.

A paper on the findings was published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.

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Matthew De Furio et al. 2025. Identification of a Turnover in the Initial Mass Function of a Young Stellar Cluster Down to 0.5 MJ. ApJL 981, L34; doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/adb96a
The megatooth shark, Otodus megalodon, is an iconic shark represented primarily by its gigantic teeth in the Neogene fossil record, but the lack of well-preserved skeletons has hampered the understanding of various aspects of its biology. In new research, paleontologists reassessed some of its biological properties using a new approach, based on known vertebral specimens of Otodus megalodon and 165 species of extinct and living sharks across ten orders. Their results show that Otodus megalodon could have had a slender body and possibly reached about 24.3 m in length.

Otodus megalodon, also referred to as Carcharocles megalodon, is a gigantic megatooth shark that lived in the worlds oceans from 23 to 3.6 million years ago.

This creature is typically portrayed as a super-sized monster in popular culture, with recent examples in the sci-fi films.

Otodus megalodon is represented primarily by its gigantic teeth measuring up to at least 16 cm and possibly as much as about 20 cm in height from Neogene marine deposits nearly worldwide, said DePaul Universitys Professor Kenshu Shimada and colleagues.

Some vertebrae, placoid scales, and fragments of tessellated cartilage have also been reported up to now.

However, the lack of complete fossil specimens has resulted in uncertainty regarding the true size of this prehistoric shark.

In their study, the authors examined an incomplete vertebral specimen of Otodus megalodon, mostly consisting of trunk vertebrae was 11.1 m, from the Miocene of Belgium as well as specimens of 165 species of extinct and living neoselachian sharks.

Assuming that Otodus megalodon had a body plan consistent with the vast majority of sharks, we determined that its head length and tail length possibly occupied about 16.6% and 32.6%, respectively, of the total body length, they said.

Because the Belgian specimen measures 11.1 m, its head and tail were calculated to be about 1.8 m and 3.6 m long, respectively, making the estimated total length of 16.4 m for the specific Otodus megalodon individual.

The largest vertebra of the Belgian specimen measures 15.5 cm in diameter, but putative Otodus megalodon vertebrae measuring as much as 23 cm in diameter are reported from Denmark.

If the Danish vertebrae represent the largest vertebrae in the body, that individual could have measured about 24.3 m long.

Based on comparisons of their body part proportions, they determined that the body form of Otodus megalodon likely resembled superficially the modern lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris), which has a more slender body than the modern great white shark.

They also noticed that modern-day gigantic sharks, such as the whale shark (Rhincodon typus) and basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus), as well as many other gigantic aquatic vertebrates like whales, have slender bodies because large stocky bodies are hydrodynamically inefficient for swimming.

In contrast, the great white shark with a stocky body that becomes even stockier as it grows can be large but cannot be gigantic (no more than 7 m) because of hydrodynamic constraints.

Our new study has solidified the idea that Otodus megalodon was not merely a gigantic version of the modern-day great white shark, supporting our previous study, said Phillip Sternes, an educator at SeaWorld San Diego.

What sets our study apart from all previous papers on body size and shape estimates of Otodus megalodon is the use of a completely new approach that does not rely solely on the modern great white shark, added Jake Wood, a doctoral student at the Florida Atlantic University.

According to the team, a 24.3-m-long Otodus megalodon may have weighed around 94 tons, with an estimated cruising speed of 2.1-3.5 km per hour.

The growth patterns recorded in the vertebral specimen from Belgium suggested that Otodus megalodon gave live birth to newborns measuring about 3.6-3.9 m long and that embryos nourished themselves through egg-eating behavior, the authors said.

Additional newly inferred growth patterns along with the known fossil record of Otodus megalodon and the white shark lineage support the idea that the rise of the great white shark roughly 5 million years ago likely played a role in the ultimate demise of Otodus megalodon due to competition.

Many interpretations we made are still tentative, but they are data-driven and will serve as reasonable reference points for future studies on the biology of Otodus megalodon, Professor Shimada said.

The study was published online in the journal Palaeontologia Electronica.

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Kenshu Shimada et al. 2025. Reassessment of the possible size, form, weight, cruising speed, and growth parameters of the extinct megatooth shark, Otodus megalodon (Lamniformes: Otodontidae), and new evolutionary insights into its gigantism, life history strategies, ecology, and extinction. Palaeontologia Electronica 28 (1): a12; doi: 10.26879/1502
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Azerbaijani gas has already reached the market of North Macedonia, which happened at the end of last year, and this year, Azerbaijan will regularly supply your market with natural gas. In the future, we can increase gas supplies to the required volume, said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev during a joint press conference with President of North Macedonia Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, Trend reports.

Statement by President Ilham Aliyev

- Dear Madam President,

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Madam President, I would like to once again sincerely welcome you to Azerbaijan. This is your second visit to Azerbaijan. I am very pleased that you were an active participant in the COP29 conference and contributed to the success of the conference.

During our meeting in November, I invited you to pay an official visit to Azerbaijan, and I am delighted that you have accepted my invitation and are paying an official visit today. We are working extensively to develop our bilateral relations. I am glad that the political dialogue between our countries is assuming a dynamic nature. Our second meeting with Madam President in a short period of time is clear evidence of that. Additional measures should be taken to develop our political relations. Relevant state institutions should be in close contact, of course. At the same time, opportunities in the economic sphere and in the field of investment should be explored. Unfortunately, so far, we have not yet achieved great results in the trade and economic sphere. However, I do hope that we will also fill this gap after your official visit and through contacts between our delegations.

A positive sign in recent months has been the fact that the two countries have started cooperating in the energy sector. Azerbaijani gas has already reached the market of North Macedonia, which happened at the end of last year, and this year, Azerbaijan will regularly supply your market with natural gas. In the future, we can increase gas supplies to the required volume. We are working hard on commissioning new gas fields today. I should note that Azerbaijan currently exports natural gas to 12 countries, and geographically, our customers are located in Eurasia. Ten out of these 12 countries are European nations. Last year, Azerbaijan exported 25 billion cubic meters of gas to foreign markets. Of course, we produce more than this. We also meet local demand. However, expanding the scope and geographical reach of our gas exports is also on the agenda. Europe needs Azerbaijani gas. The Declaration on Strategic Partnership in the field of energy between the European Union and Azerbaijan, signed in Baku about three years ago, is a clear manifestation of this. Today, Azerbaijani gas contributes to the energy security of many European countries, and we have always attached great importance to the requests of our European partners. In other words, bilateral cooperation in the energy sector is very important to us, and I do hope that this practical cooperation will pave the way for collaboration in other areas as well.

I remember you also getting acquainted with Azerbaijans cultural life during your last visit, and I am aware that there are similar events on your program tomorrow. We welcome and applaud this. There is also a great need for cooperation between our peoples in the humanitarian sphere. I am glad that you will also participate in the 12th Global Baku Forum. The Forum, organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, has been able to secure itself a prominent place on a global scale. Of course, your valuable ideas and recommendations will be of interest to everyone. You will also have the opportunity to meet with our students. Therefore, I express my gratitude to you.

You have extensive experience as a politician and statesperson. You have held high positions in international organizations and, at the same time, have been awarded the highest position in your country after going through different stages. Therefore, your valuable ideas may be of great interest to all of us.

Madam President, I would like to sincerely welcome you again. I am sure that your visit will be successful.
Newly achieved precise control over light emitted from incredibly tiny sources, a few nanometers in size, embedded in two-dimensional (2D) materials could lead to remarkably high-resolution monitors and advances in ultra-fast quantum computing, according to an international team led by researchers at Penn State and Universite Paris-Saclay.

In a recent study, published in ACS Photonics, scientists worked together to show how the light emitted from 2D materials can be modulated by embedding a second 2D material inside them -- like a tiny island of a few nanometers in size -- called a nanodot. The team described how they achieved the confinement of nanodots in two dimensions and demonstrated that, by controlling the nanodot size, they could change the color and frequency of the emitted light.

"If you have the opportunity to have localized light emission from these materials that are relevant in quantum technologies and electronics, it's very exciting," said Nasim Alem, Penn State associate professor of materials science and engineering and co-corresponding author on the study. "Envision getting light from a zero-dimensional point in your field, like a dot in space, and not only that, but you can also control it. You can control the frequency. You can also control the wavelength where it comes from."

The researchers embedded nanodots made of a 2D material called molybdenum diselenide inside another 2D material, tungsten diselenide, and then aimed a beam of electrons at the structure to make it emit light. This technique, called cathodoluminescence, allowed the team to study how individual nanodots in the material emit light at high resolution.

"By combining a light detection tool with a transmission electron microscope, which is a powerful microscope that uses electrons to image samples, you can see much finer details than with other techniques," said Saiphaneendra Bachu, first author who served as the primary doctoral student on the study before earning a doctorate from Penn State in 2023 and is now a TEM analysis engineer at Samsung Austin Semiconductor. "Electrons have tiny wavelengths, so the resolution is incredibly high, letting you detect light from one tiny dot separately from another nearby dot."

They found that larger dots give off one type of glow, while smaller dots produce another. When the dots are extremely tiny -- less than 10 nanometers wide, which is about the size of 11 hydrogen atoms arranged in a line -- they behave in a unique way, trapping energy and emitting light with higher frequency, which equates to a smaller wavelength.

According to Alem, this phenomenon is called quantum confinement. It occurs when the dots are contained in a space so small that their energy becomes quantized, meaning it becomes a discrete characteristic that enables new properties, including novel electronic and optical capabilities. In this case, the researchers confirmed that nanodots confined fundamental particle pairs known as excitons at the interface of molybdenum diselenide and tungsten diselenide.

Excitons can transport energy but do not carry a net charge, and they can influence how semiconductors -- the chips underpinning smartphones, computers and more -- behave. By precisely controlling the excitons in materials, scientists can manipulate the light they emit more effectively, which they said could lead to faster and more secure quantum systems, as well as other customizable, energy-saving devices like higher resolution screen displays.

"Think about how OLED displays work," Bachu said. "Each pixel has its own tiny light source behind it so you can control the exact color or brightness of each one. This lets the screen show true black and accurate colors like red, green and blue. If you improve this process, you make the picture much sharper and more vibrant."

The control comes from adjusting the band gap -- essentially the energy threshold electrons must cross to make a material emit light -- of a semiconductor material. Materials with lower dimensions, like a single layer of 2D tungsten diselenide, can have a direct band gap, which is more efficient at emitting light compared to its thicker, indirect bandgap counterpart, Alem said.

But light emission efficiency and other electronic and optical properties vary even among a family of related 2D materials -- like molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, molybdenum diselenide and tungsten diselenide -- because they each have different band gap energies.

"By mixing them -- like combining molybdenum diselenide and tungsten diselenide in specific ratios -- you can fine-tune the band gap to emit light at a specific color," Bachu said. "This process, called band gap engineering, is possible because of the wide variety of materials in this family, making them an excellent platform for studying and creating these light sources."

The researchers said they are now planning to build on this work.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg," Alem said. "By exploring the role of atomic structure, chemistry and other factors in controlling light emission while expanding on lessons learned in this study, we can move this research to the next level and develop practical applications."

Along with Alem and Bachu, other authors of the study from Penn State include Benjamin Huet, assistant research professor of materials science and engineering; Leixin Miao, who earned a doctorate from Penn State in 2022 and is now a TD module & integration yield engineer at Intel; Danielle Reifsnyder Hickey, assistant professor of chemistry and of materials science and engineering; Nicholas Trainor, graduate student in materials science and engineering; and Joan Redwing, distinguished professor of materials science and engineering and director of the Penn State Materials Research Institute's Two-Dimensional Crystal Consortium (2DCC-MIP), a U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Materials Innovation Platform and national user facility. Co-corresponding author Luiz H. G. Tizei, Steffi Y. Woo and Mathieu Kociak, Universite Paris-Saclay; Fatimah Habis and Yuanxi Wang, University of North Texas; Gwangwoo Kim and Deep Jariwala, University of Pennsylvania; and Kenji Watanabe and Takashi Taniguchi, Japan's National Institute for Materials Science, also contributed to the paper.

This work was supported in part by the Fulbright Scholar program, NSF CAREER award, 2DCC-MIP and the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programs.
University of Florida researchers are addressing a critical gap in medical genetic research -- ensuring it better represents and benefits people of all backgrounds.

Their work, led by Kiley Graim, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Computer & Information Science & Engineering, focuses on improving human health by addressing "ancestral bias" in genetic data, a problem that arises when most research is based on data from a single ancestral group. This bias limits advancements in precision medicine, Graim said, and leaves large portions of the global population underserved when it comes to disease treatment and prevention.

To solve this, the team developed PhyloFrame, a machine-learning tool that uses artificial intelligence to account for ancestral diversity in genetic data. With funding support from the National Institutes of Health, the goal is to improve how diseases are predicted, diagnosed, and treated for everyone, regardless of their ancestry. A paper describing the PhyloFrame method and how it showed marked improvements in precision medicine outcomes was published Monday in Nature Communications.

Graim's inspiration to focus on ancestral bias in genomic data evolved from a conversation with a doctor who was frustrated by a study's limited relevance to his diverse patient population. This encounter led her to explore how AI could help bridge the gap in genetic research.

"I thought to myself, 'I can fix that problem,'" said Graim, whose research centers around machine learning and precision medicine and who is trained in population genomics. "If our training data doesn't match our real-world data, we have ways to deal with that using machine learning. They're not perfect, but they can do a lot to address the issue."

By leveraging data from population genomics database gnomAD, PhyloFrame integrates massive databases of healthy human genomes with the smaller datasets specific to diseases used to train precision medicine models. The models it creates are better equipped to handle diverse genetic backgrounds. For example, it can predict the differences between subtypes of diseases like breast cancer and suggest the best treatment for each patient, regardless of patient ancestry.

Processing such massive amounts of data is no small feat. The team uses UF's HiPerGator, one of the most powerful supercomputers in the country, to analyze genomic information from millions of people. For each person, that means processing 3 billion base pairs of DNA.

"I didn't think it would work as well as it did," said Graim, noting that her doctoral student, Leslie Smith, contributed significantly to the study. "What started as a small project using a simple model to demonstrate the impact of incorporating population genomics data has evolved into securing funds to develop more sophisticated models and to refine how populations are defined."

What sets PhyloFrame apart is its ability to ensure predictions remain accurate across populations by considering genetic differences linked to ancestry. This is crucial because most current models are built using data that does not fully represent the world's population. Much of the existing data comes from research hospitals and patients who trust the health care system. This means populations in small towns or those who distrust medical systems are often left out, making it harder to develop treatments that work well for everyone.

She also estimated 97% of the sequenced samples are from people of European ancestry, due, largely, to national and state level funding and priorities, but also due to socioeconomic factors that snowball at different levels -- insurance impacts whether people get treated, for example, which impacts how likely they are to be sequenced.

"Some other countries, notably China and Japan, have recently been trying to close this gap, and so there is more data from these countries than there had been previously but still nothing like the European data," she said. "Poorer populations are generally excluded entirely."

Thus, diversity in training data is essential, Graim said.

"We want these models to work for any patient, not just the ones in our studies," she said. "Having diverse training data makes models better for Europeans, too. Having the population genomics data helps prevent models from overfitting, which means that they'll work better for everyone, including Europeans."

Graim believes tools like PhyloFrame will eventually be used in the clinical setting, replacing traditional models to develop treatment plans tailored to individuals based on their genetic makeup. The team's next steps include refining PhyloFrame and expanding its applications to more diseases.

"My dream is to help advance precision medicine through this kind of machine learning method, so people can get diagnosed early and are treated with what works specifically for them and with the fewest side effects," she said. "Getting the right treatment to the right person at the right time is what we're striving for."

Graim's project received funding from the UF College of Medicine Office of Research's AI2 Datathon grant award, which is designed to help researchers and clinicians harness AI tools to improve human health.
Water is unique. It is one of the only substances that can exist in nature as a solid, liquid and gas at the same time under ambient conditions (think of solid ice over a pond, which is liquid underneath while storm clouds float overhead). It is also one of the only substances whose solid form is less dense than its liquid -- this is why ice floats.

Now scientists from the University of California San Diego have uncovered a key finding to another unique property: at high pressure and low temperature, liquid water separates into two distinct liquid phases -- one high-density and one low-density. Their work appears in Nature Physics.

UC San Diego Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Francesco Paesani works at the intersection of chemistry, physics and computer science to build models based on the fundamentals of physics that can address problems in chemistry. By using machine learning techniques and algorithms from computer science, his group is able to create realistic molecular models that match what people can measure experimentally.

"Our water model is so realistic you can almost drink it," Paesani said.

Most liquids are homogenous -- it all flows together and you can't distinguish one liquid molecule from the next. Indeed, this is mostly true of water. However, in 1992 researchers theorized that at a certain temperature and pressure, liquid water would reach a critical point at which it would no longer be homogenous.

Paesani's team conducted simulations that revealed the critical point at which the temperature is low enough (198 Kelvin or -103 Fahrenheit) and the pressure is high enough (1,250 atmospheres) for water to spontaneously separate into high-density and low-density liquids.

At this critical point, water exhibits wild oscillations between high- and low-density phases. Below this pressure, water returns to its low-density phase; above it, it shifts entirely to the high-density phase. This is an unexpected phenomenon unfolding at the molecular level.

Data-driven, many-body potentials

The 1992 simulation was crude. Since then, researchers have tried to create this spontaneous separation experimentally, but without success. Over the past three decades, advancements in computational modelling have made more detailed, accurate simulations possible -- particularly the advent of data-driven many-body potentials, in which Paesani's group specializes.

The data-driven many-body model of water (MB-pol) developed by the Paesani group is trained on high-level quantum mechanical calculations (data-driven) and rather than calculating the energy of an entire system at once, they deconstruct energy in terms of individual contributions (many-body). These reference energies are fed into a machine learning model that is then able to provide realistic simulations of water across the entire phase diagram.

Paesani explains the MB-pol model in this way: a person alone in a room behaves a certain way. If someone else enters the room, the first person's behavior changes to accommodate the second person. If a third person enters, the dynamic of the first two changes. On and on until there are so many people in the room that the addition of one more does not significantly impact the behavior of any single person.

This is how MB-pol works. In the short range, there are quantum mechanical effects that directly modify the behavior of the water molecules, just as one person influences the behavior of another. However, at a certain point, the effects are averaged out over the entire system, just as adding one more person to an already crowded room doesn't impact the behavior of another individual.

"Quantum mechanical simulations can be extremely expensive. You might be able to calculate the energies of five or six water molecules. Our method, using MB-pol and machine learning, allows us to run simulations for up to several microseconds," stated Paesani. "This is something computational molecular scientists have dreamed about for a long time."

However, the discovery didn't come easy. Running simulations for this research took nearly two years of non-stop calculations using some of the world's most powerful supercomputers, including Expanse at the San Diego Supercomputer Center, which is a pillar of UC San Diego's new School of Computing, Information and Data Sciences.

In the future, as technology develops, Paesani hopes this research might be used to devise synthetic liquids that undergo a similar liquid-liquid transition as water, but can do so in everyday conditions. Porous liquids that can move from low to high density would behave similarly to sponges, and could be used to capture pollutants or aid in water desalinization.

"The simulation took almost two years, so this is a really exciting accomplishment," stated Paesani. "I think our estimate is very realistic. Now it's up to the experimental researchers to see whether our predictions are correct."

Currently, recreating these conditions in a laboratory remains a challenge. However, nanodroplet technology could offer a way forward by creating tiny water droplets that generate high internal pressure through surface tension, potentially leading to experimental confirmation of this phenomenon.

For now, this discovery offers the most accurate prediction yet of a phenomenon scientists have long suspected, but never directly observed. And when that day comes, it may change the way we think about water forever.

Full list of authors: Yaoguang Zhai, Sigbjrn Lland Bore, Francesco Paesani (all UC San Diego), and Francesco Sciortino (Sapienza Universita di Roma).

This research was supported in part by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (FA9550-20-1-0351) and the National Science Foundation (CHE230052).
Zeolites, crystalline materials widely used in the petrochemical industry, serve as pivotal catalysts in the production of fine chemicals, with aluminium being the source of active sites within zeolite structures. A research team from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has revealed the precise location of aluminium atoms in the zeolite framework. This discovery could facilitate the design of more efficient and stable catalysts, aimed at increasing the yield of petrochemical products, achieving efficient renewable energy storage, and controlling air pollution. This advancement will further promote the application of zeolites in relevant fields. The findings have been published in the international journal Science.

The research is led by Prof. Shik Chi Edman TSANG, Chair Professor of Catalysis and Materials of the PolyU Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology. He is joined by Prof. Tsz Woon Benedict LO, Associate Professor, along with first author Dr Guangchao LI, Research Assistant Professor, both from the same department. The team collaborated with researchers from the University of Oxford and the Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The unique properties of zeolites, characterised by their well-defined microporous structure, high surface area, and tuneable acidity and basicity, make them indispensable in petrochemical refining, environmental catalysis and fine chemical synthesis. The distribution of substitutional aluminium atoms within the zeolite framework influences the geometry of molecular adsorbates, catalytic activity, and shape and size selectivity. However, accurately locating these aluminium atoms and understanding their impact on the catalytic behaviour of zeolites has posed challenges for the scientific community for decades.

In their research, the team focused on both lab-synthesised and commercial H-ZSM-5 zeolites to bridge the gap between fundamental research and practical application, optimising H-ZSM-5 for advanced catalytic processes. Notably, the team introduced an innovative approach that integrates synchrotron resonant soft X-ray diffraction -- a powerful tool for studying atomic structure -- with probe-assisted solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) and molecular adsorption methods. This integration revealed the interactions of molecules at the active sites of aluminium atoms. Ultimately, the team has achieved a breakthrough in locating single and pairs of aluminium atoms in a commercial H-ZSM-5 zeolite.

The research findings will facilitate the development of more efficient and selective catalysts, which have wide-reaching implications beyond petrochemicals, offering potential benefits for industries such as renewable energy and pollution control. Reducing energy consumption, this can, in turn, promote sustainability and minimises environmental impact. With regard to petrochemical refining, these catalysts can improve fuel yield and quality, particularly for products like gasoline and olefins, simultaneously lowering energy usage. In the realm of environmental catalysis, they contribute to cleaner air and mitigating air pollution. For renewable energy and biofuels, these innovations advance hydrogen storage and utilisation processes, which are crucial for the development of a hydrogen economy.

Prof. Edman Tsang said, "This discovery is a game-changer as it precisely identifies the location of aluminium atoms in the zeolite framework and how they are positioned, providing for the first time a structural elucidation of zeolite frameworks. This breakthrough allows scientists to design more efficient and targeted zeolite catalysts, making the chemical process faster, more energy-efficient and more environmentally friendly."

Prof. Benedict Lo said, "We explored and combined various techniques to achieve a multidimensional view of the distribution of aluminium atoms and their interaction with adsorbed molecules, leading to insights into crucial reaction mechanisms. This provides scientists with a deeper understanding of the structure of zeolites."

Dr Guangchao Li said, "We will develop further novel synthesis methods to precisely control the distribution and concentration of aluminium atoms, as well as their pore architectures in zeolites. This advancement will enable the design of catalysts with optimised activity, selectivity and stability for specific industrial applications."

Looking ahead, the team will work closely with industry partners to translate research outcomes into commercial applications. By leveraging the extensive networks and research strengths of the PolyU-Daya Bay Technology and Innovation Research Institute, which focuses on green chemistry and sustainable catalysis, the team will collaborate with domestic petrochemical companies to promote translational research and accelerate the commercialisation of advanced zeolite catalysts. This effort is bolstered by state-of-the-art PolyU facilities, including the only SSNMR facility in Hong Kong and the soon to be introduced first Dynamic Nuclear Polarisation SSNMR (DNP-SSNMR) spectrometer in the Greater Bay Area and southern China. These resources strengthen the team's research capabilities and facilitate the advancement of their research efforts.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Speaker of Azerbaijans Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova, met Tuesday with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to discuss strategic partnership between the two countries, as well as joint regional projects, and economic cooperation, Trend reports.

The parties commended the effectiveness of the 10th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between Georgia and Azerbaijan, held this January under the co-chairmanship of Irakli Kobakhidze and Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov.

Emphasizing the importance of high-level visits in deepening collaboration, the two explored promoting the fruitful operation of the Middle Corridor.

The meeting also focused on importance of peace and stability in the South Caucasus region. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze highlighted Georgias readiness to contribute in further ensuring peace and prosperity in the region.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. On April 13, the Osaka, Kansai Expo 2025 will open in Osaka, Japan, under the theme "Designing the Future Society for Our Lives", Trend reports.

Azerbaijan, which has successfully participated in World Expos since 2000, will once again be represented with a national pavilion.

Azerbaijans national pavilion, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Center, will be located in the "Connecting Lives" section of the Expo and will showcase the theme "Seven Bridges for Sustainability".

Inspired by the great Azerbaijani poet and philosopher Nizami Ganjavis poem "Seven Beauties", the pavilion will highlight Azerbaijans rich cultural heritage, technological progress, and commitment to sustainable development while also emphasizing the importance of dialogue. The concept reflects the belief that connections and communication are key to building a more harmonious and sustainable future.

The three-story pavilion features a facade decorated with intricate lattice motifs, reflecting Azerbaijans traditional craftsmanship and artistic heritage. Inside, visitors will embark on a journey through seven thematic areas, each symbolizing one of the "Seven Beauties", covering cultural diversity, heritage, traditional arts, architectural landmarks, sustainability, natural resources, sports, and tourism.

A key feature of the pavilion will be three symbolic trees representing Azerbaijan and Japan: the "Azerbaijan Tree", the "Japan Tree", and the "Friendship Tree", which embodies the fusion of both nations' traditions.

In 2022, Azerbaijans Commissioner-General for Expo 2025 and Director of the Heydar Aliyev Center, Anar Alakbarov, signed an agreement on the countrys participation with Expo 2025 Secretary-General Hiroyuki Ishige and Commissioner-General Koji Haneda. Azerbaijan was the first country to sign a participation agreement for Osaka, Kansai Expo 2025, highlighting its strong ties with Japan and commitment to the World Expo movement.

Spanning over 155 hectares, Expo 2025 will bring together representatives from 165 countries and seven international organizations. Recognized as a major platform for advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the Expo is expected to attract 28 million visitors over its 184-day duration.

The official Expo 2025 mascot is a unique water-based creature that symbolizes the rhythm of sustainable life. Until October 13, millions of visitors will have the opportunity to explore exhibits and collaborate in shaping the future. The Expo will serve as a global hub for knowledge exchange and innovation, fostering new ideas to address the worlds most pressing challenges.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree amending some decrees in connection with the implementation of the decree "On some measures to improve governance in the field of civil aviation", Trend reports.

According to the document, the public legal entity "State Civil Aviation Agency" has been added to the list of public legal entities exempt from value-added tax for the provision of works and services at the expense of funds allocated from the state budget.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Hayrapetyan Kamo Eduardovich, an Armenian-origin resident of Karabakh, testified Tuesday at the court hearings in the criminal case against Ruben Vardanyan, an Armenian citizen accused of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing terrorism, and other grave offenses under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

The witness stated that three military warehouses - two near Khankendi and one in Asgaran - were built with Ruben Vardanyans financial support.

He further noted that these warehouses, along with the pathways leading to them, were guarded by armed individuals. According to the witness, the facilities were operated by both the Armenian army and forces in Karabakh. He revealed that the warehouses housed a large stockpile of military supplies brought to Karabakh under Vardanyans direction, including unmanned quadcopters and other unmanned aerial vehicles.

The witness added that most residents of Khankendi were aware of these activities, with Vardanyan actively advocating for armed resistance against Azerbaijan. His primary objective, the witness stated, was to instigate and sustain military conflict with Azerbaijan.

The trial will resume on March 18.
MDE's Scott Hutchins says the state has been working to expand mental health care in schools since 2018.



The growing need for school-based mental health services

Sanilac County CMH supports student mental health with case consultations, educational programs, and other collaborations with schools.

Delivering mental health care to rural schools

Deb Johnson

Challenges and opportunities in expanding mental health care in schools

Looking ahead: the future of mental health in Michigans schools
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. In the grand hall of the University of Texas in Arlington, USA, the enchanting melodies of Azerbaijani pianist Fidan Agayeva-Edler danced through the air, as she wove a tapestry of sound during her solo concert and masterclass, captivating hearts and minds alike, Trend reports via the State Committee for Work with Diaspora.

The event, put together with a helping hand from the State Committee for Work with Diaspora and the Azerbaijan-America Music Foundation, showcased the works of celebrated composers like Turkar Gasimzade, Rahila Hasanova, Ayaz Gambarli, Firangiz Alizadeh, Arnold Schoenberg, George Crumb, and Chaya Czernowin, leaving the audience spellbound with the richness of the music.

In addition to the concert, masterclasses were held for the university's students, where Agayeva-Edler shared her rich experience, knowledge, and skills. These classes offered students the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of contemporary piano performance.

Notably, Fidan Agayeva-Edler, residing in Germany, has made quite a name for herself in the world of pianists, showcasing her modern performances and professionalism. She is an integral member of Berlin's modern music scene and collaborates frequently with composers.

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Tuesday will bring with it two of the week's main risk events, a summit between Kyiv and Washington in Saudi Arabia and a vote in the US congress aimed at averting a looming government shutdown.

The former will come close on the heels of reports that Russia is open to a ceasefire agreement should the broad outlines of a long-term peace agreement be clear.

For his part, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to push the US to restart military aid shipments.

Stateside meanwhile, lawmakers in the House of Representatives will vote on a six-month Continuing Resolution aimed at keeping the government running until September, when the fiscal year ends.

Also in the US, at 1000 BST the NFIB will release its small business sentiment index for February.

It will be followed at 1400 BST by the results of the JOLTS labour market survey.

On home shores, overnight the British Retail Consortium will publish like-for-like retail sales figures covering the month of February.

Tuesday 11 March

INTERIMS

Aptamer Group, Craneware, Kier Group, Supermarket Income Reit

Q4

Maxcyte (DI)

FINALS

Argo Blockchain, Costain Group, Domino's Pizza Group, Genuit Group, Headlam Group, Maxcyte (DI), Maxcyte (DI), Persimmon, Somero Enterprises Inc. (DI), STV Group, Synthomer, TP Icap Group , Wickes Group

AGMS

Benchmark Holdings , Shoe Zone, Shoe Zone
The financial regulator is considering introducing an industry-wide redress scheme for customers left out of pocket by historic car finance mis-selling, it confirmed on Tuesday

Under any redress scheme, banks would be required to contact customers who had lost out and offer them appropriate compensation.

The FCA, which first started investigating the car finance market in early 2024, said a scheme would be simpler than customers bringing their own complaints.

It continued: "We would expect fewer consumers to rely on a claims management company, meaning they would keep all of any compensation they receive.

"It would also be more orderly and efficient for firms than a complaints-led approach, contributing to a well-functioning market in the future."

The watchdog added that it wanted to ensure consumers were "appropriately compensated in an orderly, consistent and efficient way", should they have lost out from "widespread failings by firms".

Accusations of mis-selling have sent shockwaves through the industry, with analysts at HSBC warning it could eventually cost lenders as much as 44bn.

Last October, the Court of Appeal ruled it was illegal for banks to pay commission to a car dealer without the customers informed consent. The Supreme Court will hear an appeal against that judgement between 1 and 3 April.

The FCA said it would confirm within six weeks of the Supreme Courts decision if it is proposing a redress scheme.

Among the sectors main lenders, shares in Lloyds Banking Group were down 2% at 68.14p last at 1130 GMT. Banco Santanders London stock was 1% lower at 500p and Close Brothers was flat at 331.6p

Along with South Africas FirstRand, Close Brothers is one of the two firms challenging the Court of Appeal ruling.
Ukraine-focused iron ore pellet producer Ferrexpo has delayed the release of its annual results due to ongoing events in Ukraine as well as the legal discussions surrounding its mining unit.

The Switzerland-based firm, which was due to report on Wednesday, said last week that a Ukrainian district court had granted a request from prosecutors to transfer 49.5% of its mining unit, Poltava Mining, to the state ownership in relation to an embezzlement case.

As a result, Ferrexpo said that "more time is needed" to finalise the results.

"The company will make further announcements relating to the finalisation and release of the full year financial results as appropriate," Ferrexpo said in a statement.

Ukrainian authorities have been investigating alleged embezzlement of funds from Bank Finance & Credit, a Ukrainian bank previously owned by Kostyantyn Zhevago which was declared insolvent in 2015.

Zhevago, who was arrested in absentia in July 2024, doesn't directly own shares in Poltava Mining, which is 100%-owned by Switzerland-incorporated Ferrexpo AG, which is in turn 100%-owned by Ferrexpo Plc. Zhevago owns 49.5% in Ferrexpo Plc.
Automotive fluid storage business TI Fluid Systems said on Tuesday that statutory operating profits had sunk in FY24 due to higher restructuring costs and a non-cash write-down of intangible assets.

TI Fluid Systems said statutory operating profits were down 32.4% at 132.4m in FY24, while revenues slipped 4.4% to 3.36bn. On an adjusted basis, underlying earnings ticked up 0.5% to 260.8m as adjusted EBIT margins expanded 40 basis points to 7.8%.

The London-listed group stated a 40.6m exceptional charge related to the closure of its manufacturing facility in Ligonier, as well as the associated exit of the powertrain business, and a jump in restructuring costs from 13.4m to 37.4m were mostly to blame for the drop in FY profits.

Bookings remained strong at 2.7bn, down from 3.0bn, as did the group's balance sheet, with a net leverage position of 1.6X adjusted EBITDA at year-end.

Chief executive Hans Dieltjens said: "Our financial performance was driven by relentless commercial execution and the benefits of our intensified productivity and efficiency measures. We also continued to successfully execute our strategic priorities by further investing in our EV growth opportunities and maximising our conventional portfolio.

"Together we have accelerated our transition to electrification and ensured TI is well-positioned to continue to deliver on its vision and create value for all stakeholders as part of an enlarged group."

As of 0920 GMT, TI Fluid shares were down 0.051% at 196.50p.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Chairman of Azerbaijan's State Committee on Work with Diaspora, Fuad Muradov met with the Azerbaijani community living in Spain, a source in the committee told Trend.

The meeting, moderated by member of the Azerbaijanis Society in Barcelona Gulnar Hajiyeva, began with the performance of the national anthem of Azerbaijan and a moment of silence for the martyrs who gave their lives for Azerbaijans territorial integrity.

"Today, the Azerbaijani state has developed a new conceptual approach to diaspora development, creating an exemplary model. The states approach to the diaspora is aimed at its further strengthening," emphasized Muradov.

In his speech, the committee chairman noted that the diaspora policy initiated by the National Leader Heydar Aliyev and further developed by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has entered a new stage, with the diaspora now acting in close unity with Azerbaijan.

The meeting was also attended by Consul of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Spain Afgan Khalili.

A video presentation was made showcasing the committee's activities, Azerbaijani Houses abroad, Coordination Councils, Sunday schools, and numerous ongoing projects.

Coordinator of the Coordination Council of Azerbaijanis in Spain for Barcelona, Chairman of the Azerbaijanis Society in Barcelona and the Azerbaijani House in Barcelona Karim Karimov informed about the council activities and emphasized the importance of strengthening the activities of Azerbaijani communities, societies, and associations.

Afterward, an exchange of views took place, and responses were provided to questions on diaspora development, support for strategic initiatives, strengthening the process of community building, and other topics.

Besides, a report on the activities of the Coordination Council was presented, and the achievements and projects implemented were widely discussed.

Over 120 participants attended the meeting, including Azerbaijanis residing in various cities and regions of Spain, such as Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid, Valencia, Alicante, and other cities, as well as in Portugal. The meeting also included participants from the Summer Camps for Diaspora Youth.

Mahammadali Akbarov, descendant of the Karabakh Khan Panakhali Khan and participant of the III Summer Camp for Diaspora Youth in Shusha, was elected Coordinator of the Coordination Council of Azerbaijanis in Spain, while Milana Seyidzade, participant of the IV Summer Camp for Diaspora Youth in Nakhchivan, was appointed Coordinator for Portugal, the committee statement said.

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The Indian government has received investment proposals worth Rs 18,500 crore under the PM MITRA Park scheme for increasing production, employment, and exports in the textile industry, Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) plan with an outlay of Rs 4,445 crore for the five years starting 2021-28 will create large-scale, state-of-the-art industrial infrastructure over the entire textile value chain. There are seven locations that have been finalized for the parks: Virudhnagar in Tamil Nadu, Warangal in Telangana, Navsari in Gujarat, Kalaburagi in Karnataka, Dhar in Madhya Pradesh, Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, and Amravati in Maharashtra.

Every park is likely to create Rs 10,000 crore of investments and provide about 3 lakh direct and indirect jobs. The program aims to support India's potential as a textile world hub by offering integrated ecosystems for manufacturers and exporters.

Along with PM MITRA, the government is rolling out other programs like Scheme for Integrated Textile Park (SITP), Integrated Processing Development Scheme (IPDS), Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, and National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM). There are also programs like SAMARTH, Silk Samagra-2, and National Handloom and Handicraft Development Programs for the benefit of artisans and small-scale businesses for skill building, technological enhancement, and marketing.

To give a boost to the handloom industry, assistance is given for raw materials, improved equipment, solar lighting, work sheds, product development, and marketing assistance. Concessional loans under the weavers' MUDRA scheme and social security pensions also improve workers' welfare.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Mauritius two-day State Visit that will enhance bilateral relations with high-level discussions and attending the national day celebrations of the island nation as the chief guest.

Welcomed by his Mauritian counterpart, Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, Modi's visit will see the signing of several agreements in order to enhance cooperation in capacity building, trade, and combating cross-border financial crimes.

Before leaving, Modi was optimistic that the visit would usher in a 'new and bright' chapter in India-Mauritius relations. He will meet with the president, prime minister, top dignitaries, and political leaders during his stay and discuss areas of further cooperation.

Modi will also meet with members of the Indian community and open two important projects a civil service college and an area health centre  both sponsored under India's grant assistance.

Emphasizing the strategic value of Mauritius, Modi called the nation a close maritime neighbor, a major Indian Ocean partner, and a gateway to Africa. "We are bound by history, geography, and culture. Deep mutual trust, a shared faith in democracy, and the celebration of diversity are our strengths", he added.

An Indian military contingent, an Indian Navy warship, and the Indian Air Force's Akash Ganga skydiving unit will take part in Wednesday's national day celebrations of Mauritius.

India and Mauritius enjoy centuries-old cultural and historical ties strengthened by a robust people-to-people relationship. Close to 70% of Mauritius's 1.2 million people are of Indian origin, further strengthening this special bond.

India remains one of Mauritius' largest trading partners, with robust economic engagement spanning decades. Modis previous visit in 2015 marked a significant milestone in bilateral relations.

The two leaders will also address the current Chagos Islands talks. India reaffirmed its backing of Mauritius in talks with the UK to achieve a mutually acceptable solution. In a historic move last October, the UK stated it would hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, bringing an end to more than 50 years of British rule.

common vision of growth and regional stability. Modi looked forward to consolidating the long-standing relationship between the two countries for development and prosperity for their people on the basis of a

The visit highlights India's interest in pursuing stronger regional alliances and consolidating its position as a reliable development partner in the Indian Ocean basin.
STATEN ISLAND N.Y.-- This past Wednesday, Wagner College hosted a screening and talkback of the new documentary series, Killa Hill written written and directed by Gerald Barclay, executive produced by Wu-Tang Clan members RZA and Raekwon the Chef, and produced by Robin Bell, Demetrius Cheeks, Gia Compton, Jean Gilles, Sheldon Lewis, Gina Barboza, and Herman Dawson.

The series explores the crime and violence that took over the Park Hill Houses in Staten Island during the crack epidemic of the 1980s.

Killa Hill is a project more than 40 years in the making. I compiled thousands of photos and video footage capturing the community through its many phases," stated producer Gerald Barclay.

Barclay, who is originally from the Park Hill community of Liberian immigrants, documents several featured members of Staten Islands Wu-Tang Clan.

Executive producer Herman Dawson stated, Seeing Killa Hill on screen is powerful and deeply personal, as my painful experience was shared in episode 2. Its more than just a documentary  its a window into the truth that shaped a community and a culture.

Following the screening, Barclay was joined by Richmond County District Attorneys Office and Wagner College adjunct Andrew Casas, legal aid public defender Kelvin Richards, and Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of Civic Engagement Dr. Bernadette Ludwig.

The group came together to discuss crime, anti-Black racism, and immigration in the urban environment and community.

Having it screened means these stories, the pain and the resilience, finally have a voice that cant be ignored. Its a reminder of where we come from, and why its so important to never forget, said Dawson.

Killa Hill will be availble to stream on Tubi TV on April 1, 2025.
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. -- Staten Island saw the second-highest rate of self-harm hospitalizations of any of NYCs five boroughs in 2021, according to data newly-released by the New York State Department of Health.

Teens, women and white individuals are most affected on the borough, the numbers underline.

The methods of self-harm that led to hospitalizations included overdose or drug poisoning with 126 of such cases, cutting or piercing with 41 of such cases, non-drug poising with eight of such cases, among others, according to the report.

Jasmin Valentin, a Licensed Master Social Worker and Chief Program Officer at Community Health Action Staten Island (CHASI), explains that self-injury is often an attempt to avoid suicide, not to carry it out.

CHASI, originally founded as the Staten Island AIDS Task Force in the 1980s, has expanded its focus to address critical community issues like substance use, mental health, food insecurity, chronic illnesses and violence.

When it exists at all, general understanding of self-injury is often rooted in outdated ideas about suicidal ideation, trauma, and what constitutes a cry for help, said Valentin. Researchers are understanding self-injury now as more aligned with an individuals attempt to avoid suicide than to complete it.

This does not mean we minimize the alarm that self-injury causes in loved ones, but rather to see this kind of action as an emergency indicator that someone needs supportive, trauma-informed counseling and behavioral health care.

The borough breakdown for the 2021 data shows the Bronx recorded the highest rate of self-harm hospitalizations at 43.8 cases per 100,000 people (661 total cases) -- Staten Island followed closely with 42.8 cases per 100,000 people (206 cases).

Of those who were hospitalized due to self-harm on Staten Island that year, the majority were between the ages of 10-19, accounting for 46 cases. The second most affected age group was 55-64, with 32 cases.

Valentin explained that young people aged 10-19 experienced part of their early development during the pandemic, which affected their emotional health and access to care. It will take time to fully understand the impact of delayed routine care, including pediatric and adolescent mental health screenings and interventions.

Women are 16.5% more likely than men to self harm and end up in the hospital on Staten Island-- with 120 women and 86 men in such cases.

More than two of three self-harm hospitalizations on Staten Island were among individuals who identify as white, with 139 cases, followed by 23 cases among Black individuals, 6 cases among Asians and 38 cases in other racial groups.

Emilie Tippins, a CHASI spokesperson, pointed out that Staten Island has unacceptably long waiting lists for youth and adolescent behavioral health services, particularly for Medicaid recipients.

In 2023, the ratio of residents to mental health providers in Richmond County was 404:1, a ratio that has dropped by more than a third from 690:1 in 2014, according to the research-driven website Data USA.

Walk-in behavioral health care must be available locally, where anyone in crisis can connect with a qualified person or team for evaluation, treatment, and connections to critical services, Tippins said. Schools and emergency rooms bear an unfair and untenable burden of this work.

How Staten Islands multimillion-dollar suicide prevention program aims to tackle this crisis

The MISSION project, still in the first months since its rollout, aims to not only address the boroughs mental health crisis but also serve as a game-changing model for communities nationwide.

MISSION stands for multi tier integrated supports for suicide prevention, implementation and outcomes in New York.

A federal grant of $3.67M over five years will fund Staten Islands suicide prevention program, which Borough President Vito Fossella describes as a first-of-its-kind project.

Dr. Ginny Mantello, Director of Health and Wellness for the Borough Presidents Office, explained that the core of this long-term project is centered on a collaborative approach to suicide prevention, aiming to intervene before a crisis arises.

We want to catch them earlier and earlier. We dont want them to get to the point where they are attempting suicide then ending up at the hospital... so were creating this intensive model where we can have the children and young adults flagged as high-risk refer to the providers, she said.

The project is being carefully structured in three tiers.

Tier one focuses on universal prevention and education. Tier two targets early intervention for at-risk children. Tier three addresses children in crisis, which Dr. Mantello described as those experiencing suicidal ideation, self-harming, substance use, or other similar challenges.

Ongoing trainings are happening for those working with Staten Island public schoolchildren, such as counselors, psychologists and social workers, to help identify at-risk youth. While the initial training focuses on school professionals, Dr. Mantello noted that future phases will include staff from hospitals, community organizations and youth programs.

One arm focuses on training our educators, while the other arm focuses on training the clinical providers, she said.

The four clinical providers involved are RUMCs Staten Island Mental Health Society, Staten Island University Hospital, The Jewish Board and Project Hospitality.

She added that the set of trainings for clinical providers, led by Dr. Christa Labouliere, PhD, will use the Hope Institute model, an intensive counseling approach that incorporates Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.

The idea is to then create a partnership -- the Suicide Prevention Specialty Partnership -- between schools and colleges and the four clinical providers, Dr. Mantello explained, and to implement a data platform in both schools and with clinical partners.

For individuals presenting with suicide ideation, suicide attempts, self-harm, and other high-risk behaviors, we will train the clinical partners on how to deescalate situations using an outpatient intensive counseling model, she said.

Dr. Mantello underlined the goal of this partnership: to ensure that any child or young adult flagged as high-risk can be referred to a treatment provider, seen within 24-48 hours, and receive intensive camp therapy and outpatient treatment over four to six weeks.
A Social Security Administration office building is seen on March 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) AP

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is set to close 47 Social Security Administration field offices nationwide  what does that mean for Staten Islands offices?

Staten Island has two Social Security field offices: one at 1441 South Ave., and a second at 1510 Hylan Blvd.

Social Security Administration field offices help constituents with accessing retirement benefits, disability benefits, survivors benefits, Medicare coverage and Supplemental Security Income.

So far, neither of the Staten Island offices are being closed, but three other New York-based field offices are set to lock their doors, in White Plains, Horseheads and Poughkeepsie.

As reported by Advance/SILive.com sister site, Oregon Live, the following areas are set to see shuttered offices:

White Plains, NY

Logan, WV

Carlsbad, CA

Roanoke Rapids, NC

Batesville, AR

Columbus, OH

Okemos, MI

Nacogdoches, TX

Green Bay, WI

Las Vegas, NV

Rockford, IL

Missoula, MT

Grand Junction, CO

Kalispell, MT

Rock Springs, WY

Minot, ND

Horseheads, NY

Anniston, AL

Campbellsville, KY

Cullman, AL

Gadsden, AL

Jasper, AL

Columbus, GA

Gainesville, GA

Vidalia, GA

Brunswick, GA

Thomasville, GA

Grenada, MS

Greenwood, MS

Meridian, MS

Poughkeepsie, NY

Elizabeth City, NC

Hazard, KY

Greenwood, SC

Lawton, OK

Franklin, NC

Melbourne, FL

Abilene, TX

Greenville, NC

Forrest City, AR

Texarkana, AR

Houma, LA

Jonesboro, AR

Victoria, TX

Nashville, TN

Mansfield, OH

Wausau, WI

An agency spokesperson said last week that most of the leases not being renewed were for spaces used for in-person hearings, but the sites are no longer necessary due to the majority of hearings now being held virtually. In the 2024 fiscal year, according to SSA, 20% of those offices held no in-person hearings.

Some of the other properties had already been set for closure, or were being consolidated anyway, the spokesperson noted, saying the agency was working with the General Services Administration to review our leases and ensure they are used efficiently.

According to the Social Security Administration, the agency has about 1,200 field offices across the U.S.

Reporting from the Associated Press was used in this article.
Authorities are still searching for a surfer after he was attacked by a shark at a Western Australian Beach on Monday. (NJ.com/Lori M. Nichols) NJ.com/Lori M. Nichols

The harrowing scream of a man in his 30s cleared swimmers in a Western Australian beach Monday and authorities are still searching for the surfer after he was attack by a shark.

The unidentified man was only 50 meters from the shoreline when he was attacked in front of his horrified partner, according to a report by the Daily Mail.

Witnesses said the surfer was in chest-high water when an extremely large shark attacked him at Wharton Beach at Cape Le Grand.

The surfers screams chased droves of swimmers from the water.

There were screams. There were people saying like get out', everything  it was a very panicked moment, witness Joscelin Boissieux told 9News, according to the Daily Mail.

Boissieux said when the screaming stopped, the only thing seen was a surfboard floating about 30 meters from the shore. When the surfboard was retrieved, it had bite marks on it.

The beach was immediately closed as first-responders searched frantically.

Wharton Beach is apparently not only a popular spot for surfers, but its known for its picturesque setting.

The shark attack continues a troubling trend down under as a number of people have been encountered by the sea creature in recent months.

A 17-year-old girl succumb to her injuries after being attacked by a shark in Queensland a little over a month ago.
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The virtue economy, the only bubble I have ever called, has now completely burst. Many companies are cutting their DEI programs, flows into ESG funds in the US have fallen, and companies are being more quiet about politics.



The disappearance of the virtue-industrial complex does not come without a cost, on a human as well as financial level. At the same time, there is a clear winner  the concept of shareholder primacy. The idea, popularized by Nobel laureate Milton Friedman in 1970, is that corporate executives and boards have a single goal: to maximize return to their shareholders.

The notion that shareholders are all that should matter sounded cruel and heartless in 2019, when 181 CEOs of the Business Roundtable signed a statement redefining the purpose of a corporation. They committed to lead their companies for the benefit of all stakeholders  customers, employees, suppliers, communities and shareholders. How they would do this, and to whom they would be accountable, was unclear. But who could argue with such a noble-sounding goal?

By then environmental, social and government (ESG) standards and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs were already popular. Still, the statement signified full private-sector buy-in. Soon it seemed every corporate decision  from who it hired to how it managed its supply chain  was weighed in relation to its stated values. It could all be featured heavily in marketing, to demonstrate how a company was committed to a better world (and worthy of your business).

Eventually, true to the spirit of capitalism, an industry of DEI consultants, marketers and HR professionals sprang up. It is hard to put a number on the size of the virtue economy, but it went beyond the corporate world: Virtue became a bigger priority among university administrators, at non-profits, and in the media. I remember talking to a business school dean in 2022 who noted that many more students were aspiring to work in DEI because they saw such jobs as well paid, hard to monitor and stable.

By 2025, that turned out the be a bad bet. It took a few years for corporate America to realize that Milton Friedman was right: It is better for society, the economy and a companys bottom line for it to just focus on profits.

This is not to say that advocates for the virtue economy did not have noble motives; it was a sincere effort to make the world a fairer, safer, cleaner place. The problem is that the stakeholder capitalism model pits equally deserving (if thats the right word) groups against each other.

For example, should a company move a factory from Detroit to Nashville? If it does, the unionized workers in Detroit will suffer, but the non-unionized workers in Tennessee will benefit. Whose interests matter more? Or consider environmental concerns: How much should consumers be willing to give up today, in terms of wealth and consumption, in exchange for a better environment decades from now? There are winners in the future, losers today  whose preferences matter more?

How much weight to put on each of these goals is a question of values. Everyone has different values, and one persons values are not necessarily better than anothers. This may be why, when companies take a political stand, it tends not to boost employee morale, but to be divisive.

Friedmans argument is not that values have no place in the economy. Workers have rights. Inequality and discrimination exist. If companies were simply allowed to pursue profit without regulation, some would harm the environment or take risks we all end up paying for.

The case for shareholder primacy does not deny any of that. It simply argues that it is not the CEOs job to impose their values on shareholders, employees, customers or anyone else. It is the role of public officials to represent societys values, through laws, regulation and taxation. And if they have values the majority of the public doesnt agree with, voters can hold them accountable.

Many of the champions of the virtue economy are now dismayed to see CEOs courting President Donald Trump. Instead of seeing this as a betrayal, maybe its better to view it as the final act of the virtue economy. Were these CEOs pretending to care about DEI a few years ago, or pretending not to care now? Its impossible to say. But if they had just stuck to business, none of this would be necessary.

Going forward, there will need to be some economic and professional readjustments. With the demise of the virtue economy, some jobs are being lost, some skills will prove less useful, and many young people will need to rethink their careers. At least the population that was most likely to benefit from the virtue economy  the well-educated and relatively affluent  also tends adjust fairly quickly to economic shocks. That is one small consolation in what has been a costly experiment.

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Allison Schrager, a Bloomberg columnist, is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a contributing editor of City Journal.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Fuad Muradov, Chairman of Azerbaijan's State Committee for Work with Diaspora, visited the Azerbaijan House in Barcelona during his official visit to Spain, Trend reports, citing the State Committee.

"Muradov met with Azerbaijanis living in Barcelona, as well as teachers and students involved in the various clubs operating under the Azerbaijan House.

There are notably 30 Azerbaijan Houses functioning in 18 countries worldwide. The State Committee for Work with Diaspora ensures that each Azerbaijan House is provided with the necessary resources.

Kerim Kerimov, the Coordinator of the Coordination Council of Azerbaijanis in Spain for Barcelona, the Chairman of the Azerbaijani Society in Barcelona, and the Head of Azerbaijan House in Barcelona, provided detailed information about the activities of the House and shared future plans.

He mentioned that Azerbaijan House has hosted a number of intellectual competitions, film days, exhibitions, and events promoting Azerbaijan's national cultural heritage and rich history, as well as open house days.

Members of the Turkish community in Spain and South Azerbaijanis were highlighted to have also visited the Azerbaijan House in Barcelona, participated in events, and shown great activity.

The Chairman of the Committee emphasized the important role of Azerbaijan House in organizing the Azerbaijani community in Spain, raising awareness about Azerbaijani realities among the global public, and promoting the country's cultural heritage. He wished the community continued success in their future endeavors.

One of the Azerbaijan Houses, including the one in Barcelona, was noted for having hosted polling stations for the extraordinary presidential elections held on February 7, 2024," the Committee said in its statement.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
No special equipment is needed to view the hour-long celestial event. (Associated Press/Ringo H.W. Chiu, File) AP

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Staten Islanders will have a unique opportunity to learn about the moon and witness a lunar eclipse this week at a lecture and stargazing event hosted by New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

On Wednesday, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., NASA Solar System Ambassador Harold Kozak will present a Lunar Lecture & Moon Gazing program at the Clay Pit Ponds Interpretive Center. Kozak, a retired Wagner College astronomy professor, plans to discuss information about Earths closest celestial neighbor.

Im basically going to be talking about the moon in general, said Kozak. Im going to be giving a lot of facts about the moon and not only about the eclipse, but about where the moon came from which a lot of people dont really know.

Following the indoor lecture, attendees of all ages will walk to nearby Sharrotts Pond to observe the night sky through a telescope.

The Nature Interpretive Center will also host a viewing Friday from midnight to 4 a.m. for those eager to witness the lunar eclipse. Bathrooms will be available for the duration.

Kozak, who also serves on Community Board 3, expressed enthusiasm about developments in the field of astronomy.

I think its exciting and its really a good field to get into, because there are a lot of things happening, he said. You know, I believe we will colonize the moon."

The NASA Solar System Ambassadors program, run in conjunction with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is active in all 50 states. Volunteer ambassadors like Kozak work to educate the public about the latest scientific developments and space exploration efforts.

While admission is free to both events, online registration is suggested. Walk-up spots may be available if online registration is full.

Tickets for both events are on Eventbrite.
A third passenger of a car involved in a three-vehicle crash Sunday in Gloucester County has died, authorities said.

A New Jersey State Police spokesman confirmed that the 17-year-old passenger died Monday but did not identify him or provide any other information.

The driver, Brenden Cary, 19, of Franklinville, was traveling north on Route 55 in Elk Township around 4:15 p.m. Sunday when his cars right front corner struck an SUV ahead of him, police said.

Cary lost control of his car, crossed onto the right shoulder of the highway and hit a disabled minivan stopped on the side of the road, police said.

Cary and a passenger, Dominic Reyes, 19, of Franklinville, died Sunday of their injuries in the crash, police said.

Brenden Cary, 19, of Franklinville, died Sunday in a crash on Route 55 in Gloucester County. He was set to graduate from high school this spring. (Provided Photo/Laura Perez)

A 36-year-old Monroeville woman driving the minivan suffered serious injuries and three juveniles in her vehicle suffered minor injuries, authorities said.

Carys legal guardian told NJ Advance Media that Cary, Reyes and the 17-year-old were close friends.

They were always together, working on their cars, going to the car wash and car meets, playing video games or just hanging out, Perez told NJ Advance Media. Its an immense loss that Im not sure we will ever fully recover from.
Trump posted a conservative opinion piece telling Americans to 'shut up about egg prices.' (Associated Press/Alex Brandon, File) (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

President Donald Trump based part of his campaign on promises to bring down egg and grocery prices  but in a recent Truth Social post, he shared a post telling Americans: Shut up about egg prices.

Trump posted a link to a Daily Caller opinion piece in which conservative political internet personality Charlie Kirk wrote the following headline: Shut up about egg prices  Trump is saving consumers millions.

Kirk pointed a finger at the Biden Administration for skyrocketing egg prices, saying the high price of eggs is in no way President Trumps fault.

He blasted Biden about the millions of chickens killed due to the bird flu, the disease that has rattled grocery stores across the country for months now.

It is federal policy to kill all the birds on a farm once a case of bird flu is found  something called the stamping-out policy per the USDA, according to Newsweek and Forbes.

In January, a month in which both Biden and Trump were president, 23 million birds were killed, it has been reported.

There is no cure for bird flu in birds who contract the disease, and it can be fatal to humans.

While on the campaign trail for his second bid at the presidency, Trump promised Americans: When I win, I will immediately bring prices down, starting on day one.

He said that in August, just a few months before he would declare victory over Democratic Presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris.

However, during a December interview with Time Magazine, Trump backtracked, CNN reported.

Its hard to bring things down once theyre up, Trump said. You know, its very hardBut I think that they will. I think that energy is going to bring them down.
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. The next court hearing in the criminal case of Armenian citizen Ruben Vardanyan, who is accused of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, as well as terrorism, financing of terrorism and other serious crimes under the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, has been scheduled for March 18, Trend reports.

Will be updated
TMK Energy has turbocharged its record run with a further 14 per cent jump in gas production last month to 9100 cubic metres at its Pilot Well project, which is part of the companys wider Gurvantes XXXV coal seam gas project in southern Mongolia.

Continuing with the record theme, the company also revealed it smashed out a new record daily gas volume of 465 cubic metres on March 4.

TMK Energys Lucky Fox-01 well flaring gas. The well is part of TMKs Pilot Well project in rugged Mongolia.

The company recorded a significant increase in gas production in January due to its three new Lucky Fox wells, LF-04, LF-05 and LF-06 coming online. Januarys record 8000 cubic metres of gas production blasted its previous high to oblivion, notching up a 40 per cent increase above its best-ever level at Pilot Well.

TMK says the reservoir pressure continues to decline towards critical desorption levels, with an overall improvement in the depressurisation of the reservoir. The decline was confirmed last month by a pressure build-up test.
Following the chick-lit prescription, Heather is unlucky in love and has an ex called Shawn hanging around who tells her its their destiny to be together, although all she sees are red flags. She takes off to Peru separately from Sandy and Bonnie and meets a seriously gorgeous tall, dark stranger on her first night, who plays into the comedy of errors later in the book.

The heroine in question is Heather, a young woman whose grandmother, the urn-carrying Bonnie, announces she has bought tickets for them (plus Bonnies daughter, Sandy) to Peru to visit Machu Picchu for her 70th birthday. As Bonnies husband, Junior, had died two days before her party, which is subsequently turned into a wake, she guilt-trips her daughter and granddaughter into going on the trip.

Amy Matthews Best, First and Last has all the ingredients for a good chick lit: exotic location (Peru), a grieving granny who carries around (and chats to) her dead husbands ashes, uses the words sexting and catching feeling, snappy dialogue that would put the Gilmore Girls to shame, and, of course, a smouldering stranger the heroine nicknames Romeo.

The three women begin their trip with plenty of bickering and banter about their relationships. Sandy has just discovered that her ex, Heathers father, is about to get remarried, throwing another emotional cat among the pigeons. The story then goes into flashback mode with Bonnie and Sandras memories of meeting the various men in their lives, mainly the cool, reckless kinds who wear aviator sunnies and tight jeans or sing in a band. Theres a lot of talk about magic and lightning strikes, as well as the old favourite destiny, and Heather tries to understand why shes inherited relational dysfunction.

Chick lit author Amy Matthews Credit: Sia Duff

Because so much of the story hinges on what Heather learns through her mother and grandmothers romantic relationships through flashbacks, the book struggles to maintain momentum in the present-day parts of the story. The conflict lies in Heathers reckoning with her life, with the only other complication being a will-they-wont-they element in her relationship with the tall, dark Romeo.

If you read this book wanting to experience a trek to Machu Picchu vicariously, you may be disappointed. The conversations dominate the scenes, and you get the sense that the story could have been set anywhere; Peru is simply a backdrop.

While the genre calls for deep and meaningful chats about life and love, theres a missed opportunity in Best, First and Last to engage the reader with unexpected twists and turns in the present-day plot line in Peru, aside from a handful early on. Matthews states in her acknowledgments that her grandmother made the trip to Machu Picchu in her seventies. Bonnie is probably the strongest drawn and most interesting character in the book, who touches on deeper themes in what is revealed about one of her relationships.
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Eating outRestaurants Making the cut: One of the worlds best pizzerias can be found in suburban Perth Max Veenhuyzen March 11, 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

Its common knowledge that Maestro Sourdough Pizza  Chiara Mezzasoma and Andrea Brunellis beloved neighbourhood restaurant in North Beach  is one of Perths most trusted sources for elegant, fleet-footed Neapolitan-style pizza. Following the announcement of 50 Top Pizzas 2025 Asia-Pacific rankings at Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Tokyo on Monday afternoon (WA time), Maestros status as a pizza powerhouse has been confirmed. Again. Launched in 2017, 50 Top Pizza is a dining guide that claims to employ anonymous inspectors to visit and rank pizza restaurants globally. In addition to a master list of 50 restaurants, the guide also publishes supplementary regional lists highlighting venues in Latin America, Europe, North America, Italy. Chiara Mezzasoma and Andrea Brunelli of Maestro Pizza. Tori Lill Maestros appearance in the 2025 Asia-Pacific list is the fourth time that Mezzasoma and Brunellis restaurant has enjoyed 50 Top Pizza recognition. (The restaurant also appearing in the 2024, 2023 and 2021 rankings). Placing at number 38 in this years countdown, however, is its highest ranking. Were very proud to be on the list, says Brunelli, who travelled with his wife to Tokyo to attend the awards ceremony.

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Its a great achievement to be considered one of the 50 best pizza chefs in the Asia-Pacific region. Its a nice reward for all the work weve put we put into managing the restaurant, searching for the best products and doing all those dough tests and trials. While Maestro is WAs only pizzeria to make the 50 Top Pizza cut, Australia is well represented with 10 restaurants  the most of any nation in the region  being recognised by the guide. Our top-ranked pizzeria is Melbournes Shop 225 which placed at number five. While Naples-style pizza is Maestros calling card and well worth travelling up the freeway for, the introduction of a new five-pizza tasting menu (four savoury pizzas plus a dessert pizza) in November is a chance for Umbria-born chef Brunelli to show off his range beyond puffy, blistered pies of unusual lightness. Three of the pizzas  the Quattro Stagioni that features four different toppings on one base, cut into quarters; a doppia cottura (double cooked) pizza that is fried and then baked in the pizzerias Moretti Forni oven till impossibly light and crisp; plus an Italian-style bombolone doughnut plumped up with pistachio paste  show off the diversity of the house sourdough that the regular pizzas are made from. The remaining two pizzas, however, are made with unique dough formulations. Related Article 14.5 / 20 Review Maestro by name, and nature: North Beach restaurant serves some of Perths finest pizza

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Synonymous with the city of Turin in northern Italys Piedmont region, the padellino is a deep-pan pizza featuring a denser, fluffier base that Brunelli adorns with an airy mousse of nduja and ricotta, olives and small twigs of sundried tomato. Starring a plinth of thin, crunchy dough topped with smoked scamorza cheese, roasted potatoes and a rubble of pork sausage mince, Romes fortifying pala romana is the Eternal Citys best known contribution to the pizza discussion. Be warned: this deep dive into flour power is as filling as it is thrilling  including a rejuvenating bottle of bitter-sweet amaro liqueur in your BYO arsenal would not be a mistake  but for those curious about exploring the near limitless potential of artisan flatbread, its an essential experience. There isnt just one style of pizza but many, many styles, says Brunelli. When they are done in the proper way, every single style of pizza can make you go wow. I love the idea of helping people understand that pizza isnt a simple dish. Maestros pizza tasting menu is $80 per person and bookings are essential. The menu is only available for even-numbered bookings (guests share one pizza between two) with sessions available at either 5.30pm or 7.30pm.

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Up to one in five Australians have been unable to afford specialist medical appointments or recommended treatments due to rising out-of-pocket fees, according to a survey of thousands of patients.

The alarming findings, collated by La Trobe University, also found 40 per cent of private hospital patients are being slugged with out-of-pocket specialist fees of more than $1000. Almost one in four of those patients say they were only informed of all costs once at the hospital or after they were discharged.

Luan Lawrenson-Woods paid $30,000 in out-of-pocket fees for surgeries and treatment related to breast cancer despite having private health insurance. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

The 2025 Patient View report, commissioned by advocacy group Patients Australia, surveyed more than 5400 Australians on their experiences with and views of out-of-pocket fees in general practice and specialist care.

Almost half of respondents who paid out-of-pocket costs for a GP visit paid an average gap fee of $51 or more. And for those who saw a specialist in their private rooms and had to dip into their own pocket, one in three paid $201 or more.
The Five Eyes, which also includes the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, evolved from co-operation during World War II to become the most successful intelligence-sharing partnership in history. Intelligence is vital for the security of smaller nations. Credit: Getty Images But the main hammer blow so far to Americas reputation as a reliable intelligence partner has been the suspension of sharing battlefield intelligence with a besieged Ukraine. This is a cruel lever to compel President Volodymyr Zelensky to end his nations war of resistance to Russian aggression on Trumps terms (and presumably to say thank you). Washington has even directed a private company, Maxar, to restrict Ukraines access to its high-grade commercial satellite imagery. Even without these developments, intelligence partners may quietly think twice about what sensitive information on Russia they should share with this US administration, given who some of its most senior intelligence consumers happen to be. These include not only Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, who seem more aligned with Putins Russia than with Ukraine in how they want to dictate the fate of Europe. The most powerful US intelligence official, Tulsi Gabbard, is on record expressing views closer to Kremlin propaganda than the assessments of the formidable analytical community she leads.

Where does all this leave Australia? In its public utterances, Canberra is understandably keeping its diplomatic cool in speculating about the future of the alliance with Washington. Loading The alliance is grounded in convergent interests. Under the 1951 ANZUS treaty, which Australia initiated, both sides committed to consult and act to meet the common danger of armed aggression in the Pacific. Australia also derives great benefit from US military technology, a bond that the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine deal has been designed to take to the next level. The US has increasingly looked to Australian territory as a staging point and bastion for its forces in future security crises, with the point being to deter China from starting a conflict at all. Despite the harm Trumps tariff threat may bring, the economic relationship between Australia and the US is vast and deep. America is our largest investment partner by far. And, whatever their flaws, our two open societies have long had much in common.

But closest to the heart of what makes the alliance special is the privileged sharing of intelligence. No prudent Australian government will seek to jeopardise it. However, it would be irresponsible to imagine that an America First hand on the intelligence tap will never be a problem for us. This means that now is precisely the wrong time to pause in shaping the future of Australias intelligence agencies. Loading A disconcerting future is already here: from radical technological transformation to the flood of disinformation, from the impact of natural disasters worsened by climate change to the erosion of social cohesion, from the trans-Atlantic strategic rift to Chinese warships doing an intimidating lap of our continent. Intelligence capabilities are a nations decision advantage. Properly investing in them is always a bargain in the long run. Our intelligence agencies operate under high standards of governance and accountability, with rigorous oversight from statutory bodies. Theres good reason to believe they are performing well.

But is our intelligence community positioned for the danger and disruption ahead? Does it have the funding and the next-generation talent it needs? Do we have the balance right between sovereign capabilities and reliance on America? How are we doing with partners beyond the Five Eyes, such as Japan and Europe? With the private sector now ahead of government in intelligence technologies, what scope for trusted and agile collaboration? Is the best intelligence still the secret stuff? Should we set up an agency that specialises in drawing intelligence meaning only from plentiful open-source information? Why not share strategic intelligence judgments with the public, using the model of the threat assessments pioneered by ASIO chief Mike Burgess? How effective is old-school human spying in an age of digital footprints and biometric identification? And are legal oversight mechanisms keeping pace with technological change? Australians deserve answers to these questions and more. Its not too late for the government to make good on its original willingness to ask them.
A lawyer for former broadcaster Alan Jones has claimed continued media coverage of his clients indecent assault case may be part of the anti-Jones crusade, telling a court he is seeking disclosure of all contact between NSW Police and journalists.

Jones was excused from appearing before Sydneys Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday for a brief mention of his case, days after detectives laid a 35th charge against the 83-year-old regarding an 11th alleged victim.

Former broadcaster Alan Jones leaves Sydneys Downing Centre Local Court in December. Credit: James Brickwood

The latest charge, laid on Friday, alleges Jones indecently assaulted a complainant by grabbing and squeezing his bottom in Tamworth in northern NSW in 2013. Jones has denied all charges against him.

Solicitor Bryan Wrench told the court Jones legal team had received the brief of evidence on Thursday and had been served material relating to The Sydney Morning Heralds chief investigative reporter Kate McClymont, who he noted was the journalist who broke this story about his client.
The NSW government will buy 50 new diesel-powered bendy buses and 10 B-line double-deck buses in a bid to end long queues for commuters left waiting for services on routes along Sydneys northern beaches and north shore.

The first six of 83 bendy buses, which were removed from service last October due to chassis cracks, are also expected to start returning to service next month following repairs. The government said it expected a staged return of the other bendy buses over the remainder of the year.

Commuters wait in a snaking line for B-line buses to the northern beaches at Wynyard station. Credit: Wolter Peeters

Following uproar from north shore and northern beaches residents, Transport for NSW began a tender process for 50 new bendy buses and 10 double-decker buses to boost the fleet used on the B-line route between Mona Vale and Wynyard.

The government expects the first of the buses to enter service towards the end of the year, helping to boost capacity across the northern beaches, north shore and the wider network. The outcome of the tender process will determine the cost of the purchases.
Judy Hellyer of Fairfield West could not believe that a certain takeaway chicken franchise that came to Australia in 1968 could possibly have enough chickens to serve such copious amounts of the one food. Must be rabbits, said my dad (no doubt smiling behind his beard). I couldnt touch the stuff after that but was glad that the rabbit plague was being dealt with.

In the why bother (C8) department, at a local coffee shop, a customer next to me ordered a skim decaf soy chai latte, reports Vicky Marquis of Glebe.

Scott Trezise of Inglewood (WA) has been waiting many years for C8-ers to discuss flat tyres (C8) and now, that time has arrived: Flying via Sydney on my way from Coffs Harbour to Perth, the last leg was delayed by several hours so, with baby daughter in tow, I decided to cab it from the airport to Woollahra for lunch at the recently opened Chiswick. On the way, the taxi had a flat on South Dowling Street. I hailed another and made it to lunch. Then, we caught a taxi back to the airport, and you guessed it: another flat tyre. This time we were not so lucky in getting another cab in time (none that stopped would accommodate baby) and we missed our flight home.

Surely, the classic anachronism (C8) is the saying We men of the Middle Ages must remember that tomorrow we go to fight the Hundred Years War, offers Anne Dorey of Hornsby.

My tiny town used to have a backpacker farm stay sheep station, where we took great delight in introducing Australian lollies to international tourists, writes Andrew Brown of Bowling Alley Point. Eucalyptus drops were undoubtedly a well-regarded new taste sensation for many, but musk sticks (C8) often prompted accusations of attempted deliberate poisoning. Our enjoyment of them was considered weirder than our love of vegemite!
People living in the Brisbane City and Scenic Rim council areas are now eligible to apply for Personal Hardship Assistance after the federal government found those regions met the criteria for disaster payments.

There are now seven council areas in south-east Queensland where residents can apply for payments of $180 for individuals, or up to $900 for a family of five or more to cover essential items.

Residents fill up sandbags at the Toowong Bowls Club in Brisbane on Friday. Credit: Dan Peled

Queensland Disaster Recovery Minister Ann Leahy said three levels of government were working together to support communities.

Personal Hardship Assistance provides immediate financial aid to get people back on their feet following a disaster, she said.

This funding covers emergency essentials like food, clothing and medicine, and grants for more severe impacts such as destroyed household goods and extended loss of services.

Eligible residents can apply at www.qld.gov.au/disasterhelp or by phoning the 24/7 Queensland Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 11. Kazakhstan's oil refining sector is demonstrating positive dynamics and can increase its share of contribution to the country's GDP, said Minister of Kazakhstans National Economy Serik Zhumangarin during a meeting of the Economic Growth Headquarters, Trend reports.

Deputy Prime Minister  Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin held a meeting of the Economic Growth Headquarters dedicated to the potential of the oil and gas industry this year and the investment-economic development of the Mangistau region. He noted that, with an actual GDP growth of 4.8 percent in 2024, the target for 2025 is 7 percent. This is a very high, yet achievable target, provided the timely implementation of investment projects in the real economy sector.

According to Vice Minister of Energy Erlan Akkenzhenov, oil refining in January amounted to 1.53 million tons, or 104 percent compared to January last year. This figure exceeds the plan for the first month of 2025 by 0.6 percent.

It was noted that after the completion of the CaspiBitum LLP expansion project, expected in late May 2025, its refining capacity will increase from 1 million tons to 1.5 million tons. As a result, the total refining capacity in Kazakhstan will grow from 18 million tons to 18.5 million tons by 2026.

The Deputy Prime Minister addressed concerns regarding the load of large refineries and mini oil refineries.



"In the absence of serious external factors, the oil refining industry has a good chance to increase its share of GDP contribution this year," emphasized Serik Zhumangarin.

The components of the targeted physical growth index for the Mangistau region were also discussed separately. With a growth target of 7 percent for this year, the performance indicators for agriculture and fishing (87.5 percent against a target of 101 percent) and trade (102 percent instead of the targeted 105.4 percent) in January were noted as low. The Deputy Prime Minister instructed to ensure the fulfillment of the set plans in the coming months. Given the significant share of trade in the country's GDP (19 percent in 2024), one of the upcoming headquarters meetings will focus on trade, transport, and warehousing.

The meeting also discussed and analyzed the reasons for the low utilization of funds for budgetary investment projects in the region. The Deputy Prime Minister instructed to review all projects requiring urgent funding through the lens of their impact on increasing the contribution to the real economy sector.

Overall, the share of oil refining in the structure of Kazakhstan's GDP is less than 1 percent (0.8 percent for 2023 and 0.6 percent for the first nine months of 2024).
The Gold Coasts iconic, skyscraper-lined surf beaches have been all but obliterated by ex-tropical cyclone Alfred, with an estimated 80 per cent of the sand washed out to sea.

Queenslands second-largest city entered the recovery phase on Tuesday after several days of wild weather closed schools and businesses and left more than 60,000 properties without power.

Powerlines were blown down, traffic lights were out, and trees toppled at the height of the slow-moving storm, which was downgraded from cyclone status before it reached the Australian coast.

Gold Coast locals Cade Wenngren and Samantha Stubbs inspect the beach erosion. Credit: Justin McManus

But the damage to the Gold Coast was most stark along its beaches, where the ocean has gouged sheer, two- to three-metre cliffs into the golden sand in many places.
The Albanese governments bid to secure a last-minute exemption from Donald Trumps steel and aluminium tariffs has been hit by the revelation Australia has run its first monthly trade surplus with the United States, undermining a key argument used to try to convince the US president to grant a carve-out.

With the clock ticking until the 25 per cent metal tariffs are due to come into effect on Wednesday afternoon Australian time, government officials said they were locked in intense discussions with their US counterparts but had not secured a prized exemption from the White House.

US President Donald Trump and former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull. Credit: Bloomberg; Alex Ellinghausen

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, who has been feuding with Trump after criticising the president in a television interview, said he thought it very, very unlikely that Australia would be spared.

Declaring he will not self-censor from harsh criticism of Trump, Turnbull writes in an opinion piece for this masthead: It has always been most unlikely that Australia will secure an exemption this time. It was hard enough in 2018 and all the signals from the administration are that the tariffs will be applied across the board.
Amid the rolling turmoil of US President Donald Trumps grave new world, his ability to make some of us self-censor is an astounding and unexpected byproduct.

The former prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, didnt mince his words when he accused the ABC of being cowardly after two of the national broadcasters most prominent hosts questioned whether he was wise to antagonise Trump when Australia is seeking exemptions to US tariffs, scheduled to start this week.

Malcolm Turnbull clashed with broadcaster Sally Sara (centre) over Donald Trump. Credit: AP and Sydney Morning Herald

Turnbull was questioned by ABC Radio National host Sally Sara on the wisdom of attacking Trump as a bully while trade talks were ongoing. Turnbull said the line of questioning was not dissimilar to what he had fielded on Monday nights 7.30. Has the ABC become so pusillanimous that youre seriously suggesting that we shouldnt be free to speak the truth in Australia for fear of Donald Trump? Turnbull said. Is that the depths youve sunk to? I believe in Australia, and I believe in standing up for Australia, and I think  Im sorry  apparently you dont.

On Nines Today show, host Sarah Abo wondered on Tuesday if it wasnt time for Turnbull to fall quiet. Here we were worried about Trump. When it turns out Malcolm Turnbull might be the one. The death knell here, she said. I mean, honestly, former prime ministers just need to shut up. I mean, Julia Gillard comes to mind. Even Tony Abbotts been pretty quiet. They need to (shut up).
The Coalition has made a formal complaint to the Australian Electoral Commission about an alleged fake newspaper funded by top teal donors that is paying to boost positive stories about independents.

As it fights to win back teal seats, the opposition is demanding a probe into Gazette News, an online local paper launched last year that opposition frontbencher Jane Hume claims is deceiving residents in seats where Liberals are contesting independents.

Opposition frontbencher Jane Hume has complained to the electoral commission about the Gazette News titles.

Hume wrote to the AEC on Tuesday claiming laws were being breached because Gazette News was not required to disclose its funders or how much it was spending on advertising that could sway voters.

Gazettes three major funders have donated more than $1.7 million to Climate 200 and associated candidates, according to AEC disclosures. Gazettes five local region-based outlets  all of which cover areas where Climate 200-backed candidates are running  use paid online marketing, classed as issues or politics advertising by Facebook, to elevate stories that criticise major parties or highlight independents policies.
He even said the caravan was believed to be the biggest planned terrorist attack in Australias history.

In fact, the opposition leader should be answering questions. More than anyone, he whipped up the political storm six weeks ago by claiming the caravan was a security failure at the top of the government.

Federal and state police have just shredded the confected claims about the caravan by confirming it was a ruse by criminals to gain plea deals with prosecutors, but the Coalition responds by declaring the government must reveal more about what it knew.

Peter Dutton has mastered the art of using attack as the best form of defence  so his team is at it again in reaction to the fake terror threat from a gangland plot with a caravan of explosives.

Believed by whom? Not by the federal and state authorities, because they acted on an early theory it was a con job by organised crime.

Dutton wanted to believe the caravan was the nations biggest planned terrorist attack because it suited him to amplify the danger. Nobody else dialled up the alarm in the same way.

Yes, NSW Premier Chris Minns called it terrorism. This is the discovery of a potential mass casualty event, he said on January 29, soon after a news report revealed the discovery of the caravan on Sydneys northwestern fringe. He was wrong to use such loaded words when he could have been more circumspect. It became too easy for others to skip the word potential when talking about mass casualties.

Yes, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called it terrorism. Asked on radio on January 30, he agreed with Minns and said the caravan was designed to create fear. This was technically correct, but there was another dynamic at work. Once the premier called it terrorism, it would have been risky for the prime minister to hedge on the same question. It would have helped, however, to inject an element of doubt.

Minns and Albanese could have been more honest: Is this terrorism? We simply cannot know at this stage. The problem is that so few leaders will admit what they do not know.
But for many of Greenlands 56,000 residents geopolitics is not a priority. At the recent town hall debate and in interviews with voters, residents expressed much more prosaic worries, often about living costs, unemployment, schools and healthcare. The election is shaped by what I would call a cross-pressure  two competing narratives pulling in different directions, said Rasmus Leander Nielsen, a political scientist at Ilisimatusarfik University in Nuuk. The geopolitical debates might dominate headlines, but for the average voter, daily life matters more. Houses covered in snow are seen on the coast of a sea inlet of Nuuk, Greenland, on Friday. Credit: AP Trump floated the idea of the US buying Greenland from Denmark during his first term. After Denmark said no, the idea seemed to die. But now, Trump seems determined to get Greenland, as he puts it. His refusal to rule out force has sent jitters across Europe, where relations with his administration are already hitting new lows over a number of issues, including tariffs and Trumps stunning pivot towards Russia.

European diplomats and American investors have been streaming into snowbound Nuuk, drawn by the islands resources and its strategic location. Greenlands position along Arctic sea lanes, which are opening up as the planet warms, have attracted the attention of the US, Russia, China and European powers. The island also possesses vast mineral deposits, although many are difficult to access. A crow flies over election posters in Nuuk. Credit: AP In contrast to those sweeping ambitions, people on the island say theyre worried about higher housing costs and economic uncertainty. This election is a test of where Greenlanders see their future  both in their everyday lives and on the global stage, Leander Nielsen said. The question is whether voters will prioritise immediate economic concerns or the bigger geopolitical picture. Its a tough call. At the heart of the election is the question of control.

For more than 200 years, Greenland was ruled as a distant colony of Denmark, its Inuit population largely sidelined as Danish officials controlled its land and resources. Over time, pressure for self-rule grew, leading to greater autonomy and eventually a government of its own. Today, Greenland controls most domestic affairs, while Denmark still oversees defence, foreign policy and monetary matters. But full independence remains a challenge. Denmarks financial support covers more than half of the islands budget, making economic stability a key hurdle to sovereignty. A plane carrying Donald Trump Jr lands in Nuuk, Greenland, in January. Credit: AP This election will decide the make-up of the 31-seat Inatsisartut, or parliament. Nearly all major parties agree that Greenland should become independent  its just a question of when and how. They also differ on what their ultimate relationship should be with the US and Denmark. No major politicians have expressed a desire to become an American state, and polls show that 85 per cent of Greenlanders dont want that. But some candidates, including Kuno Fencker, a member of the Naleraq party, believe the territory should establish close ties with the US.

He says Washington could best protect Greenland and such an alliance would deliver more investment and development. Fencker is part of a small pro-Trump camp in Greenland and went to Washington for his inauguration. He says the first step is breaking off from Denmark. Loading Its about us gaining full authority over our land, he said. From there, we will cooperate with international organisations and other countries. The US has maintained a military presence on Greenland since World War II, with a small missile defence base at the top of the island. The US is here to stay, Fencker said. They will always be part of the negotiating equation.

Other parties, including the Demokraatit, are more cautious about sovereignty and relations with Washington. We must be smart and not push for independence at the expense of our people, said Bo Martinsen, a Demokraatit candidate. Right now, immediate independence is not feasible. Trumps attention has intensified the conversation about independence and what Greenland should do if it breaks off from Denmark. The most important thing for me in this election is that theres so much talk about independence, but I really want to know: How? said Runa Svrd, a municipal planning chief in Nuuk. I need a road map. On an island where harsh weather can shut down entire towns and 80 per cent of the land mass is covered by a glacier ice cap, ensuring a smooth election isnt so simple.

Ballots are flown by helicopter, ferried by boats through Arctic waters and sped to remote settlements by snowmobile. Once cast, each vote is counted by hand, with results relayed by email or, in the most isolated regions, by satellite phone. The results are expected to be announced late on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT), weather permitting. Loading If a storm comes in and delays transport, we have to improvise, said Klaus Georg Hansen, a former election official. But storms arent the only threat. Danish intelligence officials have warned of foreign interference, with fake social media profiles posing as Greenlandic politicians and statements twisted to sow division. With each passing day, the election buzz grows louder in Nuuk. As travellers drive away from the new international airport, two massive banners  one for Naleraq and the other for Inuit Ataqatigiit, the governing party  hang on opposite sides of a rock-cut mountainside.
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: The Trump administration has lifted its suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing for Ukraine, and Kyiv has signalled it is open to a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Russia, pending Moscows agreement, American and Ukrainian officials said.

The administration imposed the measures a week ago to push Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to enter talks to end the war with invading Russian forces.

National security adviser Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Mario Rubio. Credit: Getty Images

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US would present the ceasefire offer to the Kremlin following talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

Were going to tell them this is whats on the table. Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking. And now itll be up to them to say yes or no, Rubio said.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Friday, March 7, 2025, Honorable Member of Parliament Lyndon Lewis met with Dr. Yadira Boston and Dr. Delroy Pierre to discuss the Foundation Based Education (FBE) Evaluation Study. The objective of this study is to engage with Ministers of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sportskey stakeholders since October 10, 2010to exchange ideas and integrate their perspectives to enhance the education system in St. Maarten.

During the meeting, MP Lewis underscored the importance of evaluating the current state of the education system to identify areas for improvement, ensuring that it meets the evolving needs of students and educators. He also stressed the need for collaborative efforts to strengthen policies, curriculum development, and teacher training programs to improve the overall quality of education.

MP Lewis expressed his satisfaction with the discussions, emphasizing the significance of increased collaboration with French counterparts, given the interconnected nature of the education system within the French territories. He believes that fostering relationships with both local and regional educational stakeholders will help create a more robust and cohesive learning environment for students in St. Maarten.

Furthermore, MP Lewis highlighted the necessity of incorporating innovative teaching methods and modern technology into the education system, ensuring that students are well-prepared for the challenges of the future. He also recognized the role of parental involvement in student success and encouraged initiatives that promote stronger engagement between schools, parents, and the wider community.

As a strong advocate for educational advancement, MP Lyndon Lewis looks forward to future meetings of this kind and remains committed to supporting initiatives that contribute to the growth and development of St. Maartens education system. In his capacity as a Member of Parliament, he pledges to provide assistance wherever possible to facilitate meaningful change and ensure that every child in St. Maarten has access to quality education.
Dutch naval ship HNLMS Groningen intercepted two drug shipments in the Caribbean Sea on February 13 and 25.

An American patrol aircraft informed HNLMS Groningen about the two go-fasts during its patrol. The fast interceptor boat, the FRISC, chased the go-fasts and forced them to stop. The FRISC carried a combined team of the ship's crew and a US Coast Guard law enforcement detachment assigned on board HNLMS Groningen. One go-fast managed to escape but threw contraband overboard, which was picked up by the FRISC.

The suspected smugglers on the second go-fast surrendered after the Dutch helicopter fired warning shots. The two suspects and the contraband were later transferred to the crew of the US Coast Guard for prosecution in the United States. A total of more than 500 kilograms of cocaine was seized.



Zr.Ms. Groningen has been patrolling the region as a station ship in the Caribbean since January 2025 and alternates coordinating counter-drug operations with the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard and the US Coast Guard.
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PHILIPSBURG:--- Over 100 volunteers, and counting, have assisted with an Alleyway Transformation as part of @ColorMeSXM by Be The Change Foundation. The transformation includes the cleaning and painting of both walls of the alley and painting a mural 200+ m2 in size.

Over the weekend, the third volunteer day was held in Afloop Steeg, Philipsburg, under the careful guidance of artists Nascha Kagie and Daphne Prevoo. Given the scale of the mural, volunteers are essential in bringing the design to life. As a Foundation, we also want to emphasize the importance of volunteerism, which brings people together and gives them the opportunity to create positive change in their community, explained Laura Bijnsdorp, the projects coordinator.

This past Saturday was the busiest volunteer day yet, with several project sponsors in attendance, including representatives from LICCOM Construction, Sherwin Williams, St. Maarten Tourism Bureau, and Cultuurfonds Caribisch Gebied. Members of Parliament (MP) and the Council of Ministers were also invited to experience the community project firsthand. Among those present were MPs Sarah Wescot-Williams, Darryl York, and Sjamira Roseburg, as well as Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling and Minister of VROMI Patrice Gumbs, who all joined in the painting.

This alleyway project is a collaboration with Plastic Free SXM, executed by St. Maarten Development Fund. Laura: The final mural will include messages about human impact and plastic pollution. As part of the Plastic Free SXM initiative, a legislative framework was developed to ban several single-use plastics. The legislation was handed over to the Government of St. Maarten, to finalize its trajectory towards Parliament for approval. Inviting public officials provided us with a chance to showcase both projects @ColorMeSXM and Plastic Free SXM, in an engaging way.

The Foundation would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all volunteers, sponsors, and supporters of the project. The fourth and final volunteer day for the alleyway project is planned for this weekend. The Foundation also intends to add two more large-scale murals with regional artists in the coming months.

For more information and to follow the project visit www.facebook.com/bethechangesxm or @colormesxm on Instagram.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM) remains steadfast in combatting gun violence and criminal activities across the island. In response to recent incidents, KPSM executed a targeted control operation in the early hours of March 11, 2025, focusing on firearms, narcotics, and traffic violations in the Dutch Quarter and surrounding areas.

During the operation, officers stopped and searched 26 vehicles, resulting in multiple fines for various traffic infractions. As part of these intensified efforts, officers conducted a vehicle search on Nick Spring Drive, where a red Toyota Hilux was stopped for inspection. Under the provisions of the firearms and narcotics laws, officers carried out a thorough search and discovered a firearm concealed beneath the vehicles seat.

The vehicle's three occupants were arrested and transported to the Philipsburg Police Station, where they remain in custody for further questioning. The investigation into the illegal possession of the firearm is ongoing.

Additionally, KPSM officers conducted controls at various locations where groups of young men were observed loitering. The public is reminded that loitering as a group is a violation, and individuals engaging in such activities are subject to police intervention.

Gun violence in Sint Maarten/ Saint Martin poses a serious threat to public safety, and KPSM will continue to take decisive action. Targeted searches and control operations will persist in different areas of the island, with zero tolerance for those involved in illegal activities. The police urge all law-abiding citizens to cooperate with law enforcement and report suspicious behavior.

KPSM remains committed to maintaining order and ensuring the safety of all residents and visitors. The public is encouraged to support these efforts by providing information that may assist in curbing criminal activity.

KPSM Press Release
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. A discussion has taken place between Azerbaijan and Hungary regarding gas supplies from Azerbaijan to European countries and the upcoming meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council, scheduled for April, said Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov, Trend reports.

"The development of bilateral energy cooperation, the implementation of the Green Energy Corridor project and the issues of energy security in Europe were discussed in Budapest at a meeting with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto.

Gas supplies from Azerbaijan to European countries and the next meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council to be held in April were talked over," he wrote on his page on X.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Musk says X hit by major cyberattack



San Francisco, March 10 (AFP) Mar 10, 2025



Elon Musk said X was hit Monday by a major cyberattack, raising questions as to whether the politically divisive billionaire is being targeted or his decision to gut staff at what was once Twitter is haunting the social network.

Reports of problems with X started early Monday, with users in Asia, Europe, and North America saying they could not access the platform, according to the Downdetector tracking site.

"There was (still is) a massive cyberattack against X," Musk said in a post on the platform, which was working sporadically as the day wore on.

The SpaceX and Tesla boss also blamed a cyberattack, although he provided no evidence, for crashing the site last year when an interview with Donald Trump was about to be streamed on it.

Musk shared a post from an account called DogeDesigner suggesting that the latest cyberattack was another burst of animosity towards him, in line with recent protests against the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) that he leads and vandalization of Tesla facilities.

Musk speculated that such an attack would take tremendous resources, and that it was the work of a country or large coordinated group.

During an interview on Fox Business, he alleged that computers used in the attack appeared to have digital addresses in the Ukraine area and that X was still trying to figure out exactly what happened.

Cybersecurity experts say that it is difficult to assess the situation without being able to see into X operations, but the duration of the trouble is a sign of an attack.

"It's cyberwar hitting at full force," said Chad Cragle of cyber defense platform Deepwatch.

"With Musk in the spotlight and political tensions at a peak, these attacks bear all the indicators of nation-state aggression."



- Ax wielding -



Trump responded last week to growing criticism over unprecedented cuts to the US government overseen by his billionaire advisor Musk, saying they should be carefully targeted.

"We say the 'scalpel' rather than the 'hatchet,'" Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social.

The president's message represents the first significant move to rein in the power accorded to Musk, as DOGE works toward gutting federal staffing and spending.

DOGE's cost-cutting campaign has faced increasing resistance on multiple fronts, including court rulings and some pressure from lawmakers.

Trump confirmed that he had convened his cabinet to deliver the message that they, not Musk, were in charge of their departments.

Outages on the X social media platform left tens of thousands of users unable to access the site intermittently over the course of hours, according to monitors.

At the peak, more than 40,000 people reported outages, the site said.

After Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion in late 2022, the majority of employees left or were fired, raising concerns about whether staffing was in place to keep the platform safe and stable.

Under his ownership, the platform has experienced technical issues and reinstated accounts of right-wing conspiracy theorists and Trump.

Advocacy groups say misinformation has flourished on X under Musk, who has come under fire for spreading it to his huge online audience.
Syrian state media reports Israeli air strikes in south



Damascus, March 10 (AFP) Mar 10, 2025



Syrian state media reported multiple Israeli air strikes in the southern province of Daraa on Monday night.

Since the overthrow of president Bashar al-Assad in December, Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes in Syria.

"The Israeli occupation aircraft carried out several strikes on the surroundings of the towns of Jbab and Izraa in the north of Daraa," the state news agency SANA said.

Most Israeli strikes since Assad's fall have targeted facilities and weapons held by the toppled government's forces in what Israel has said was a bid to prevent the assets from falling into hostile hands.

According to the Syrian observatory, Israeli aircrafts carried out 17 strikes on Monday night, targeting several positions of the former Syrian army, including an observation platform and tanks.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last month that southern Syria must be completely demilitarised, warning that his government would not accept the presence of the forces of the new Islamist-led government near its territory.

The same day Assad was ousted, Israel announced that its troops were entering a UN-patrolled buffer zone that has separated Israeli and Syrian forces on the strategic Golan Heights since 1974.
Military chiefs in Paris to discuss Ukraine security guarantees



Paris, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2025



Military chiefs from 30 European and NATO countries willing to contribute to security guarantees for Ukraine after any negotiated truce with Russia are to meet in Paris on Tuesday.

More than three years since Russia invaded neighbouring Ukraine, Europe is scrambling to boost its defences and break free from dependence on the United States.

The moves come as US President Donald Trump upends the transatlantic alliance and seeks rapprochement with Moscow.

Trump has renewed communication with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and criticised Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, raising fears in Kyiv and among European allies that the US leader may try to force Ukraine to accept a settlement favouring Russia.

Trump has also suspended military aid and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv.

Ukraine on Tuesday, in talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia, was to propose an aerial and naval ceasefire with Russia, according to a Ukrainian official.

The Paris meeting of military chiefs of staff from 30 European and NATO nations -- including the United Kingdom and Turkey -- will happen that same day, the French military has said.

President Emmanuel Macron is to address the meeting, which he has said is being held in tight coordination with NATO military command.

Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have been leading efforts to form a so-called "coalition of the willing" to enforce an eventual ceasefire in Ukraine.

Defence ministers from Europe's five main military powers -- France, Britain, Germany, Italy and Poland -- are then to meet in the French capital on Wednesday.

Those talks will centre on the "necessary rearmament of Europe" and military support to Ukraine, one of the French defence minister's aides has said.

Starmer will, in turn, host virtual talks on Saturday with leaders of the nations willing to help support the ceasefire, his office has said.

Macron last week said any European troops in Ukraine would only be deployed "once a peace deal is signed, to guarantee it is fully respected".

He has also said he would be ready to discuss extending France's nuclear deterrent to European partners.

Turkey, with NATO's second-largest army after the United States and a Black Sea shoreline, is looking to play a key role in Europe's security after Washington's pivot away from the region.

Its president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has thrown his support behind Zelensky's call for an aerial and naval truce.
Moscow targeted by 'massive' Ukrainian drone attack



Moscow, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2025



Ukraine targeted Moscow in a "massive" overnight drone attack, authorities said Tuesday, with Russia's defense ministry claiming it shot down 337 UAVs across the country.

"The Defense Ministry's air defense continues to repel a massive attack by enemy drones on Moscow," mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Telegram early Tuesday.

Russia's military shot down 91 drones around the capital, the defense ministry said in a statement, adding it downed another 126 over the Kursk region bordering Ukraine.

At least one person was killed and three more wounded in the southern suburbs of Moscow, according to the region's governor, Andrei Vorobyov.

He added that drone debris damaged at least seven units in a residential building in another suburb in the southeast.

The attack on the Russian capital, hundreds of kilometres from the Ukraine border, comes ahead of an expected meeting Tuesday between top US and Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia.

Ukraine is set to present the United States with a plan for a partial ceasefire with Russia, hoping to restore support from its key benefactor, which under President Donald Trump has demanded concessions to end the three-year war.

The talks in Saudi Arabia will be the most senior since a disastrous White House meeting last month, when Trump berated Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky for purported ingratitude.

Since Trump's dressing down of Zelensky, Washington has suspended military aid to Ukraine as well as intelligence sharing and access to satellite imagery in a bid to force it to the negotiating table.
Israel says struck Syrian air defences to thwart 'future threats'



Jerusalem, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2025



Israel's military said on Tuesday that its warplanes struck southern Syria overnight, targeting air defence systems and other military sites in the latest attack on the neighbouring country.

Syrian state media had said Israel hit the southern province of Daraa, with a war monitor reporting at least 17 strikes on positions of the former Syrian army, including an observation platform and tanks.

A statement from the Israeli military said its "fighter jets struck radars and detection assets used for constructing aerial intelligence assessments" as well as "command positions and military sites containing weapons and military equipment belonging to the Syrian regime".

Since the overthrow of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in December, Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes in Syria and deployed troops to a UN-patrolled buffer zone on the strategic Golan Heights.

The Israeli military statement said that the targets hit overnight "were struck in order to eliminate future threats".

"The presence of these assets in southern Syria posed a threat to the State of Israel and IDF (military) activities," it said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last month that southern Syria must be completely demilitarised, warning that his government would not accept the presence of the forces of the new Islamist-led government near its territory.

The latest strikes came soon after Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said world leaders should be wary of the new leadership in Syria, warning that a "jihadist group" was ruling the country.

Saar's comments were in reaction to the mass killings of nearly 1,000 civilians, many in the hands of the security forces of the new authorities or allied groups, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor, in the worst violence in Syria since Assad's overthrow.

"The international community must come to its senses. It must stop granting free legitimacy to a regime whose first acts are these atrocities," Saar said.

Even before Assad's fall, during Syria's civil war which broke out in 2011, Israel carried out hundreds of strikes in the neighbouring country, mainly on government forces and Iranian-linked targets.
EU chief calls for defence 'surge', says 'time of illusions' over



Strasbourg, France, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2025



EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday called for a "surge" in European defence spending, as the 27-nation bloc faces an aggressive Russia and faltering US support.

Addressing lawmakers in Strasbourg, von der Leyen said Europe's security order was "being shaken," suggesting the continent could no longer rely on "America's full protection".

"The time of illusions is now over. Europe is called to take greater charge of its own defence," the European Commission president told the EU's parliament.

"We need a surge in European defence. And we need it now."

Brussels has already sent a clear signal it is moving in that direction, with EU leaders last week endorsing a commission plan aimed at mobilising up to 800 billion euros ($860 billion) to boost defence spending.

The defence plan proposes to provide members with EU-backed loans of up to 150 billion euros and eases fiscal rules to allow states to spend much more.

European governments are under pressure to step up on defence as US President Donald Trump questions whether the United States -- the guarantor of Europe's security since World War II -- should continue its central role in NATO.

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.

Stating that Russian President Vladimir Putin "cannot be trusted" but only "deterred", von der Leyen noted that the Kremlin was spending more on its military "than all of Europe combined".

"We all wish we could live in more peaceful times. But I am confident that, if we unleash our industrial power, we can restore deterrence against those who seek to do us harm," she said.

"It is time to build a European Defence Union that ensures peace on our continent through unity and strength."

The commission plan also allows member states to repurpose so-called "cohesion" funds intended for the development of poorer European countries and lifts curbs on defence investments by the bloc's lending arm, the European Investment Bank.

Discussions on how to increase the bloc's military might are to continue at a summit in Brussels next week, with the commission to present a white paper ahead of time with further options to "substantially boost financing for European defence."

"The European Council will continue to take work forward to build our deterrence, to strengthen the security of our continent," Antonio Costa, who heads the body bringing together the 27 EU states, told lawmakers in Strasbourg.
EU chief calls for defence 'surge', says 'time of illusions' over



Strasbourg, France, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2025



EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday called for a "surge" in European defence spending, as the 27-nation bloc faces an aggressive Russia and faltering US support.

Addressing lawmakers in Strasbourg, von der Leyen said Europe's security order was "being shaken," suggesting the continent could no longer rely on "America's full protection".

"The time of illusions is now over. Europe is called to take greater charge of its own defence," the European Commission president told the EU's parliament.

"We need a surge in European defence. And we need it now."

Brussels has already sent a clear signal it is moving in that direction, with EU leaders last week endorsing a commission plan aimed at mobilising up to 800 billion euros ($860 billion) to boost defence spending.

The defence plan proposes to provide members with EU-backed loans of up to 150 billion euros and eases fiscal rules to allow states to spend much more.

Von der Leyen indicated Tuesday the loans should be directed towards reinforcing "strategic capability" domains within Europe's own defence industry.

"These loans should finance purchases from European producers, to help boost our own defence industry," she said, with multiannual contracts to give industry "predictability" and "a focus on joint procurement."

It was not immediately clear whether this would include non-EU producers such as the United Kingdom, Norway, Switzerland or, further afield, Turkey.

European governments are under pressure to step up on defence as US President Donald Trump questions whether the United States -- the guarantor of Europe's security since World War II -- should continue its central role in NATO.



- 'Restore deterrence' -



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.

Stating that Russian President Vladimir Putin "cannot be trusted" but only "deterred", von der Leyen noted that the Kremlin was spending more on its military "than all of Europe combined".

"We all wish we could live in more peaceful times. But I am confident that, if we unleash our industrial power, we can restore deterrence against those who seek to do us harm," she said.

"It is time to build a European Defence Union that ensures peace on our continent through unity and strength."

The commission plan also allows member states to repurpose so-called "cohesion" funds intended for the development of poorer European countries and lifts curbs on defence investments by the bloc's lending arm, the European Investment Bank.

Discussions on how to increase the bloc's military might are to continue at a summit in Brussels next week, with the commission to present a white paper ahead of time with further options to "substantially boost financing for European defence."

"The European Council will continue to take work forward to build our deterrence, to strengthen the security of our continent," Antonio Costa, who heads the body bringing together the 27 EU states, told lawmakers in Strasbourg.

Tuesday's EU parliament debate saw several lawmakers back calls for more ambitious EU-wide joint borrowing -- a tool used to confront the Covid pandemic, but until now ruled out by several member states including Germany.

The commission has so far steered clear of advocating such a step.
German military under-resourced despite investments: commissioner



Berlin, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2025



Germany's military still has "too little of everything" despite a massive, costly overhaul that was launched after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the parliamentary commissioner for the armed forces said Tuesday.

"A lot has been improved and a lot has been achieved, but we are still not there and there is still a lot to do," commissioner Eva Hoegl told reporters, amid a push by likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz to massively boost defence spending.

"I can say again this year that the Bundeswehr (armed forces) still has too little of everything," she said at the presentation of an annual report on the state of the military.

A 100-billion-euro ($109-billion) special fund established in the wake of Russia's invasion had supported initiatives to improve recruitment, develop infrastructure and speed up new weapons procurement, the report said.

But the results were in many cases "not yet visible, noticeable or measurable", while the special fund had largely been used up, it said.

"In order for the important projects started through the special fund to be completed or continued, an increase in the regular defence budget is essential," the report concluded.

Further investments to fix "far from sufficient" personnel numbers and sometimes "disastrous" army infrastructure were key.

The process of renewing the German military was similar to turning round a "tanker", Hoegl said in the report.

"It takes time to procure tanks, ships and aircraft or to modernise entire barracks," the report said.

The sense of urgency around the Bundeswehr has grown with the return of President Donald Trump to the White House.

Trump's direct overtures to Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the fighting in Ukraine have left Europeans worried they can no longer rely on US security guarantees.

Merz has proposed a change to Germany's strict rules that limit borrowing to ramp up defence spending.

The plan however faces significant hurdles to make it through parliament with the necessary two-thirds majority, as other parties have appeared reluctant to back it.
Macron to address military chiefs from 30 countries on Ukraine



Paris, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2025



French President Emmanuel Macron was on Tuesday to address a meeting of military chiefs from 30 European and NATO countries willing to contribute to security guarantees for Ukraine after any negotiated truce with Russia.

Macron, who has sought to rally a European response to Washington's shock policy shift in US-Russia relations, has said Tuesday's meeting will be held in coordination with NATO military command.

The closed-door meeting comes as Ukraine on Tuesday began negotiations with US officials in Saudi Arabia, with a partial ceasefire with Russia on the table.

The get-together of military chiefs of staff from 30 European and NATO nations -- including Britain and Turkey -- is "important," said Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu, adding that it would aim to lay the foundation for any possible security guarantees for Ukraine.

"It is simply a question of looking ahead and thinking about what the Ukrainian army should be in the future," Lecornu said ahead of the talks.

"We will reject any form of demilitarisation of Ukraine," he added.

With more than 800,000 troops, Ukraine's army is the largest in Europe, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.

More than three years since Russia invaded its neighbour, Europe is scrambling to boost its defences and break free from dependence on the United States.

Trump has renewed talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and criticised Zelensky, raising fears in Kyiv and among European allies that the US president may try to force Ukraine to accept a settlement favouring Russia.

Trump has also suspended military aid and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv.



- Meeting with defence manufacturers -



Macron has teamed up with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to lead efforts to form a "coalition of the willing" to enforce an eventual ceasefire in Ukraine.

On Friday, the French president, who has pushed the country's defence industry to switch to "war economy mode", is set to meet with defence manufacturers, according to a member of his team.

After Tuesday's talks, defence ministers from Europe's five main military powers -- France, Britain, Germany, Italy and Poland -- are to meet in the French capital on Wednesday. EU and NATO representatives and the Ukrainian defence minister will also take part.

Those talks will centre on the "necessary rearmament of Europe" and military support to Ukraine, one of Lecornu's aides has said.

Starmer will, in turn, host virtual talks on Saturday with leaders of the nations willing to help support the ceasefire.

Macron has said any European troops in Ukraine would be deployed only "once a peace deal is signed, to guarantee it is fully respected".

He has also said he would be ready to discuss extending France's nuclear deterrent to European partners.

Last week EU chief Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a plan to mobilise around 800 billion euros ($843 billion) for Europe's defence and help provide "immediate" military support for Ukraine.

France also plans to raise defence spending, with Lecornu referring to a target of around 100 billion euros a year, compared to 50.5 billion in 2025.

Turkey, with NATO's second-largest army after the United States as well as a Black Sea shoreline, is looking to play a key role in Europe's security after Washington's pivot away from the region.

Its president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has thrown his support behind Zelensky's call for an aerial and naval truce.

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Once accepted, trans troops face dismissal from US military



Reston, United States, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2025



Colonel Bree Fram has served in the US military for 22 years, but she now faces possible dismissal from the Space Force under President Donald Trump's ban on transgender troops.

Trump repeatedly took aim at trans people during the 2024 election campaign and signed an executive order in January stating they were unfit for military service, while the Pentagon has said it will remove transgender troops from the armed forces and prevent others from joining.

The ban has been challenged in court, but unless a judge issues an injunction soon, thousands of transgender military personnel may be just weeks away from the start of proceedings to force them to cut short their careers.

"I'm heartbroken about the loss, not just for myself, if it comes to that, but for all of us," said Fram, who spoke to AFP in a personal capacity and whose views do not necessarily reflect those of the Defense Department or US government.

"I think all of us want to be able to take the uniform off at a time and a place of our choosing," said the 45-year-old engineer, who served for 18 years in the Air Force before transferring to the Space Force.

"When it's your own government that says you have to take that off because you are somehow not suitable for military service, that's painful."



- 'Best version of ourselves' -



Transgender Americans have faced a roller coaster of changing policies on military service in recent years, with Democratic administrations seeking to permit them to serve openly, while Trump has tried to keep them out.

The US military lifted a ban on transgender troops in 2016, during Democrat Barack Obama's second term as president, after which Fram publicly came out as transgender.

But Trump took office the following year, launching his first attempt to ban transgender troops with a 2017 tweet that landed "like a lightning bolt out of the blue," Fram said. "The initial reaction was shock."

President Joe Biden lifted the restrictions in 2021, but Trump was reelected last year after making clear he would again seek to roll back transgender rights.

"This time around, it's been more like a hurricane approaching shore that you can see coming," she said.

But the latest restrictions are even harsher, targeting transgender personnel who are already openly serving in the military as well as those who want to come out or enlist.

"It's a challenge when your identity becomes political, because trans people are not broken. We're not asking anyone to fix us. We're merely reaching for the best version of ourselves," said Fram.



- Seeking 'the same opportunity' -



She said being true to herself has made her better at her job.

"I truly became a better commander, a better leader, by transitioning and embracing my authenticity and letting people in to hear my story, because then they wanted to share theirs," Fram said.

Chief Petty Officer Ryan Goodell, a 32-year-old US Navy cryptologic technician, came out as trans in 2018, before Trump's first attempt to ban trans troops went into effect.

The Republican's second ban "came as no surprise. It is disappointing nonetheless, right? Because I have 13 years in and I had planned on doing 20 -- at least 20 to retire," he said.

Goodell -- who like Fram spoke to AFP in a personal capacity, and whose views are his own and do not reflect those of the government or Defense Department -- now faces leaving the Navy before he was ready to do so, an experience he described as "nerve-wracking."

While government officials have declared trans people unfit to serve, "we've had 10 years of service showing that the things being said about us are just untrue and not based in fact at all," said Goodell.

"We understand that there's no right to serve. We just ask for the same opportunity as our cisgender counterparts to show that not only are we meeting the expectations as laid out before us now, we've in some cases exceeded them."
Joining NATO made Sweden safer, but of greater interest to Russia: intelligence



Stockholm, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2025



Sweden's security has been strengthened since it joined NATO, but its membership has also made the Nordic country a higher priority for Russian intelligence, the Swedish Security Service (Sapo) said Tuesday.

"Foreign powers are carrying out vast activities that threaten Sweden's security. We are seen as part of the collective West and are becoming a pawn in a global game, especially now that we are part of the NATO alliance," Fredrik Hallstrom, head of operations at Sapo, told a press conference.

Over the past year, there have been a number of incidents, including cyber attacks, drone flights over sensitive areas and cable breaks in the Baltic Sea, said Sapo chief Charlotte von Essen.

"As a NATO ally, we are safer, but we must at the same time be prepared for it meaning a changed and increased interest from the intelligence services, especially from Russia," von Essen told reporters.

"There is now a risk of sabotage against Sweden," she added.

According to the intelligence service, Russia, Iran and China are the main threats to the Scandinavian country's security.

Hallstrom added that Swedish assets are also a source of interest for foreign powers.

"This concerns, for example, technology procurement, strategic acquisitions, but also possible targets for sabotage. We must be prepared to act both quickly and discerningly," he said.

Sweden became NATO's newest member in March 2024, ending two centuries of military non-alignment to join the trans-Atlantic security alliance in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Gaza rescuers say Israeli air strike kills four



Gaza City, Palestinian Territories, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2025



An Israeli air strike hit Gaza City on Tuesday, with the civil defence agency reporting four men killed and the military saying it had targeted "terrorists" posing a threat to troops.

Mahmud Bassal, spokesman for the Gaza Strip's civil defence agency, told AFP that the Israeli strike "on a group of citizens in the Netzarim area in south Gaza City" resulted in "four martyrs including two brothers", all men in their 20s.

The Israeli military said that its air forces had struck "several terrorists engaged in suspicious activity posing a threat to IDF troops".

Later in a separate statement, the military said it targeted a militant in southern Gaza in another air strike.

"Earlier today, a terrorist was identified conducting surveillance activities and gathering intelligence on IDF soldiers in southern Gaza," the military statement said.

"The IAF (air force) conducted a strike on the terrorist to remove the threat," it added, not specifying whether the militant was killed.

Israel has carried out near-daily air strikes in Gaza since early March, often targeting what the military said were militants planting explosive devices.

A fragile truce in its war with Hamas, in effect since January 19, has largely held despite the attacks and with no agreement yet on extending the ceasefire.

The first phase of the truce ended in early March, but both Israel and Hamas have refrained from returning to all-out war.

Hamas has repeatedly called for implementing the second phase of the ceasefire, which should lead to a permanent end to the war, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the release of more hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners.

Israel says it prefers an extension of phase one of the ceasefire until mid-April.
Iran's Pezeshkian rejected US talks under threats



Tehran, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2025



Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday told his US counterpart Donald Trump to "do whatever damn thing" he wants, rejecting negotiations if conducted under orders or threats.

"It's not acceptable for them to say, 'we're ordering you not to do this, and not to do that, or we'll do this,'" Pezeshkian said during a meeting with Iranian producers and entrepreneurs.

"I'm not coming to negotiate with you at all. Go and do whatever damn thing you want."

The comments followed Trump saying on Friday that he had written to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging Tehran to strike a new deal on its nuclear program or face potential military action.

Pezeshkian, a reformist elected in July, has advocated reviving a 2015 nuclear accord agreed with world powers, which collapsed after Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the pact in 2018.

However, Khamenei, who holds ultimate authority in Iran, said in February that Iran should not negotiate with the US, calling it "unwise" while citing Washington's withdrawal from the original agreement.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told AFP last week that Tehran "will not enter any direct negotiations with the US so long as they continue their maximum pressure policy and their threats."

Pezeshkian reiterated on Tuesday that Iran sought global engagement but would not accept humiliation.

"We need to have a relationship with the world... but we're not supposed to bow in humiliation to anyone."
Macron urges allies to plan 'credible security guarantees' for Ukraine



Paris, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2025



French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday called on military chiefs from across Europe and beyond to draw up a plan "to define credible security guarantees" for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire, the presidency said.

His appeal, in a closed-door Paris meeting of top brass from more than 30 allied states, came as Ukraine endorsed an American proposal for a month-long ceasefire and agreed to immediate negotiations with Russia, in pivotal talks in Jeddah.

Macron has sought to rally a European response to Washington's shock policy shift in US-Russia relations.

The Paris meeting gathered representatives from 34 countries -- most of them from Europe and NATO, but also from Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

There was no representative from the United States, which is the leading member of NATO.

"This is the moment when Europe must throw its full weight behind Ukraine, and itself," Macron told the meeting, according to the Elysee.

"In view of the acceleration of peace negotiations," it was necessary to start planning to "define credible security guarantees" to make a lasting peace in Ukraine a reality, the French presidency reported Macron saying.

Macron has teamed up with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to lead efforts to form a "coalition of the willing" to enforce an eventual ceasefire in Ukraine.

According to the Elysee, the military chiefs of staff from European and NATO nations -- including Britain and Turkey -- agreed that the security guarantees "should not be separated from NATO and its capabilities".

Such guarantees should be "credible and long-term, and should be accompanied by unfailing support for the Ukrainian army," according to the Elysee.

More than three years since Russia invaded its neighbour, Europe is scrambling to boost its defences and break free from dependence on the United States.

It has been unsettled by Trump renewing contacts with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and criticising Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, raising fears that the US president may try to force Ukraine to accept a settlement favouring Russia.

Trump has also suspended military aid and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv.

Ahead of the meeting, French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said: "We will reject any form of demilitarisation of Ukraine."

"It is simply a question of looking ahead and thinking about what the Ukrainian army should be in the future," Lecornu added.



- 'Rearmament of Europe' -



On Friday, the French president, who has pushed his country's defence industry to switch to "war economy mode", is set to meet with defence manufacturers, according to a member of his team.

After Tuesday's talks, defence ministers from Europe's five main military powers -- France, Britain, Germany, Italy and Poland -- are to meet in the French capital on Wednesday. EU and NATO representatives and the Ukrainian defence minister will also take part.

Those talks will centre on the "necessary rearmament of Europe" and military support to Ukraine, one of Lecornu's aides has said.

Starmer will, in turn, host virtual talks on Saturday with leaders of the nations willing to help support the ceasefire.

Macron has said any European troops in Ukraine would be deployed only "once a peace deal is signed, to guarantee it is fully respected".

He has also said he would be ready to discuss extending France's nuclear deterrent to European partners.

Last week, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a plan to mobilise around 800 billion euros ($843 billion) for Europe's defence and help provide "immediate" military support for Ukraine.

France also plans to raise defence spending, with Lecornu referring to a target of around 100 billion euros a year, compared to 50.5 billion in 2025.

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US to deploy 600 additional troops to southern border



Washington, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2025



The United States will deploy more than 600 additional troops to its border with Mexico, the US military said Tuesday, as the Trump administration steps up measures to combat illegal immigration.

About 40 of the additional military personnel will be Air Force intelligence analysts, while some 590 will be Army engineers, US Northern Command (NORTHCOM) said in a statement.

"The deployment of these units will increase the total number of troops deployed or scheduled to deploy to the southern border to approximately 9,600," NORTHCOM said.

"The exact number of personnel will fluctuate as units rotate personnel and as additional forces are tasked to deploy once planning efforts are finalized," it added.

Border security is a key priority for President Donald Trump, who declared a national emergency at the US frontier with Mexico on his first day in office on January 20.

The Trump administration has launched what it cast as a major effort to curb illegal migration that has included immigration raids, arrests and deportations.

The president hailed his border security efforts earlier this month, posting on his Truth Social platform that "the Invasion of our Country is OVER."

"Thanks to the Trump Administration Policies, the Border is CLOSED to all Illegal Immigrants," Trump wrote.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Azerbaijan and Spain are strengthening their economic partnership, opening new opportunities for trade and investment, said the Director General of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, Immaculada Riera, Trend reports.

Speaking at the Azerbaijan-Spain Business Forum in Baku, Riera highlighted the strong interest from both countries' businesses, reaffirming their commitment to expanding cooperation.

"Spain is experiencing rapid economic growth and is a leader within the European Union. We believe that Europe must develop strong economic ties with partners who share values of integration, sustainable development, and stability," Riera stated.

She emphasized that Azerbaijan's economy is rapidly developing, providing favorable business conditions, and benefiting from a strategic location. The country is implementing a large-scale industrial diversification program while still maintaining a leading role in the oil and gas sector.

"Spanish companies possess significant international experience and are ready to actively participate in the development of Azerbaijan's economy. They see opportunities for collaboration in new sectors and utilizing the country's logistical advantages to access neighboring markets," she added.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. As of 2024, the volume of bilateral trade between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan has reached $500 million, said Azerbaijans Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov during a joint press conference with his Kazakh counterpart Murat Nurtleu in Astana, Trend reports.

"The establishment of the Kazakhstan-Azerbaijan fund, with an initial capital of $300 million, will play a key role in supporting joint institutional projects between our countries. Along with these developments, and considering the high level of our intergovernmental relations and active political dialogue, we must increase our efforts to fully tap into the potential of our economic cooperation," he said.

Bayramov also noted that there is significant potential for collaboration between industrial and technological parks, including Azerbaijans Alyat Free Economic Zone and Kazakhstans corresponding free economic zones.

"On the transportation and communications front, expanding cooperation within the framework of the international Trans-Caspian transport route, which is a vital part of the Middle Corridor, as well as the planned construction of a fiber-optic cable highway along the Caspian Sea bed between Baku and Aktau, which forms a key element of the Digital Silk Road project, will help make the partnership between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan even more dynamic," added the Azerbaijani FM.
Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, said: Our common goal on the Task Force has been to try to unlock the full power of the club for the benefit of its supporters and for Greater Manchester as a whole, creating thousands of new homes and jobs.
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
Hours before the talks in Saudi Arabia were due to begin, Russias defence ministry said it had shot down 337 drones that had targeted more than 10 regions, including Moscow in what appears to be the largest Ukrainian drone attack of the war.
Were meeting ahead of his keynote speech at this weeks Space-Comm, a conference at Londons ExCel that brings together leaders in the industry, and where Peake, 52, will set out his vision for the future of space travel, as he aims to become the first Briton to fly to space twice. Nine years ago, he became the first British astronaut to perform a spacewalk. In 2023, he stood down from the astronaut corps, only to come out of retirement after the European Space Agency (ESA) struck a deal with Axiom, a Texan space infrastructure company, last year.
However, Mr Butler said active engagement is not enough. He told the Assembly: We need to tie this down and it needs to be codified and it needs to be done in agreement between the UK Government and the Irish government.
Mrs Culligan was keen to keep the family home, where she lives, while Mr Culligan wanted it sold, pointing to an impending tax bill in the US which needs to be paid before he can buy his own home and arguing that his assets are largely tied up in business
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Azerbaijan will establish a joint fund with the Sultanate of Oman, said Elnur Aliyev, Deputy Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

In his speech at the Azerbaijan-Spain Business Forum in Baku, Aliyev also highlighted that Azerbaijan has recently established bilateral and multilateral funds with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and the UAE.

"Additionally, two years ago, a multilateral fund was established by Turkic states, with Hungary also participating as a representative of the EU," he added.

The deputy minister emphasized that Azerbaijan is actively developing its role not only as a host country for investments but also as an investor in the region. For instance, over the recent years, the country has invested over $20 billion in the Turkish economy.

"These financial opportunities open up prospects for cooperation with Spain," he concluded.

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I met with Microsoft last week in Dublin. Theyre here 40 years in Ireland. I spoke to a number of pharmaceutical companies. Theyre in Ireland for the long haul. I think what will happen is there will be debate in the US, independent of any particular European country or Ireland also. So, I think we have to just monitor the situation, see how it evolves and develops.
Trump said it is up to Russia now" as he piled pressure on Putin to agree to the ceasefire. Hopefully, we can get a ceasefire from Russia... that would be 80% of the way to getting this horrible blood bath [to end]," he said during an Oval Office meeting with the Irish taoiseach Michael Martin.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Azerbaijan offers a range of incentives to attract more investors, including exemptions from various corporate and income taxes, as well as land ownership and customs duties, said Yusif Abdullayev, Executive Director of the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO), Trend reports.

Speaking at the Azerbaijan-Spain Business Forum in Baku today, Abdullayev noted that residents of industrial zones and business entities benefit from these tax exemptions.

"Several key organizations, in addition to these incentives, collaborate with foreign investors by offering proposals, coordination, consulting, and financial support. These include the Economic Zones Development Agency and the Azerbaijan Investment Company, which have granted access to the free economic zone.

The Alat Free Economic Zone, designed to support industries and innovation-driven businesses, offers full tax and customs exemptions, making it a major industrial hub.

Azerbaijan ensures economic growth through strategic investments in key industries. We offer numerous projects in mining, tourism, real estate, and the chemical industry, aimed at increasing production, reducing dependency, and boosting exports," he said.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Azerbaijan and Spain are set to sign a memorandum of understanding that will serve as a foundation for enhancing bilateral cooperation, said Maria Amparo Lopez Senovilla, Secretary of State for Trade at Spain's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Business, Trend reports.

Speaking at the Azerbaijan-Spain Business Forum in Baku, Lopez Senovilla emphasized that the signing of this agreement would open a new chapter in the economic relations between the two countries, acting as a catalyst for joint projects and investments.

"This memorandum was the missing piece in forming a comprehensive partnership. Its signing will act as a catalyst for increasing capital flows, creating new business initiatives, and developing a strategic alliance between our countries," she said.

The official also noted that Spain is firmly committed to cooperating with Azerbaijan, particularly in key areas such as energy, infrastructure, transportation, and digitalization. In recent years, Azerbaijan has made significant strides in building energy infrastructure critical to Europe's energy security and has implemented ambitious decarbonization projects.

"Spain is ready to support promising projects through the internationalization fund and urges business representatives from both countries to seize these opportunities. We see Azerbaijan as a key partner in the region and are committed to deepening cooperation in various sectors, including the reconstruction and development of Karabakh," she added.

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NATO has military scenarios in place for any security situation that may affect the respective countries, including those in the Eastern Flank, interim President Ilie Bolojan said on Monday.

"There are, let's say, these strategic plans, which are devised by NATO, including by the Romanian Army," he said on Digi 24 private television broadcaster.

Bolojan brought to mind that France is designated as the framework nation for the defence of Romania, with troops in Romania and providing support for the NATO system.

"France is present in Romania today, it is an important support for our country through what it does, through the collaboration we have had, so the issue is either an increase in the contribution of European countries under the current security arrangement, which means that not much will change, which has been proven to work so far and we have had 80 years of peace, with an extraordinary role of the United States, or, in the second hypothesis, a takeover of additional responsibility by European countries, not just those in the European Union, but certainly the United Kingdom and the other countries as well," the interim president pointed out.
The premiere of The Eichmann Trial opera composed by Gil Shohat, featuring a libretto by renowned playwright Motti Lerner, based on his stage play of the same name, will be presented on March 30, on the stage of the Bucharest National Opera, informs a press release sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday.

According to the cited source, this cultural project aims to keep alive the memory of the past and inspire future generations in the spirit of empathy, tolerance and social responsibility, constituting an "essential history lesson" that we must learn to ensure a healthy evolution of the whole society.

Directed by Erwin Simsensohn, stage design by Dragos Buhagiar, musical direction by Daniel Jinga, with the participation of the Bucharest National Opera Chorus. Baritone Alexandru Constantin was cast in the role of Adolf Eichmann.

According to the cited source, both the opera and theatre versions focus on the trial of the odious Nazi lieutenant colonel Adolf Eichmann, the main person responsible for organizing and implementing the final solution in Europe, which meant the extermination of six million Jews between 1940-1945 (the historical phenomenon known as the Holocaust).

"In 1945, Eichmann escaped prosecution at the Nuremberg Trials and fled to South America under a false identity, where he was spotted by Israeli security services in 1960, brought to Jerusalem and tried in 1961. He was sentenced to death by hanging in 1962 for crimes against the Jewish people and crimes against humanity," the ONB reports.

Tickets are available on http://tickets.operanb.ro/ and at the ONB Ticket Office.
Finance minister Tanczos Barna will participate in the Economic and Financial Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on Tuesday, according to Ministry representatives.

According to information published on the European Council website, the important points on the agenda concern: Competitiveness and improving the business environment; Cooperation in the tax field (DAC 9); Russia's aggression against Ukraine; International meetings - G20; Recovery and Resilience Mechanism; Financial services; Taxation.

Thus, the Commission will present the Omnibus package to ministers. The objective is to contribute to achieving a reduction in administrative burdens of at least 25%, and for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of at least 35%.

"Ministers will have the opportunity to continue their exchange of views on competitiveness, simplification and improving the business environment in Europe," emphasises the same source.

The Council also aims to reach a political agreement on the Directive on Administrative Cooperation in the field of taxation (DAC9). The DAC9 proposal is closely linked to the 2022 Second Pillar Directive, which aims to ensure a global minimum level of taxation for multinational enterprise groups and large domestic groups in the EU.

Regarding Russia's aggression against Ukraine, ministers will exchange views on the state of play regarding the economic and financial impact of the aggression, including the implementation of sanctions, with a particular focus on their practical application in the customs area.

The president of the Council and the Commission will also inform the Council on the main outcomes of the G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors of February 26-27, 2025. The Council will instruct the Economic and Financial Committee to prepare the EU G20 mandate and the statement to the IMF, in view of the G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors of April 23-24 and the IMF Spring Meeting.

At the meeting, ministers will review the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), and the Council is to adopt implementing decisions approving the amended recovery and resilience plans submitted by some member states.

In addition, the presidency will present the current state of legislative proposals on financial services, and the Commission will inform the Council on the implementation of financial services legislation, as part of its biennial exercise.

The Council will be invited to approve conclusions on fiscal consolidation and simplification in the tax area, as well as to formally adopt the package on VAT in the digital age, which was agreed in November last year.
The president of AUR, George Simion, states that the Constitutional Court "attacks democracy and our essential rights and freedoms".

''Once again, the Constitutional Court is mocking the Romanian people, is attacking our democracy and our essential rights and freedoms. We stand with Calin Georgescu! Freedom! We will fight for it, no matter what!,'' Simion wrote on X.

The judges of the Constitutional Court rejected on Tuesday the appeal filed by Calin Georgescu, upholding the decision of the Central Electoral Bureau to invalidate his candidacy for the presidential elections in May, sources with the Constitutional Court told AGERPRES.
The Ministry of Finance (MF) on Tuesday borrowed RON 120 million from banks in addition to an auction on Monday, when it borrowed RON 1.083 billion in an issue of benchmark government bond of a residual maturity of 65 months, at an average yield of 7.38% per annum. according to data published by the National Bank of Romania (BNR).

The nominal value of the additional issue was RON 120 million, and banks offered RON 565 million.

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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. The Moscow Export Center (MEC) and the Russian Trade Representation in Azerbaijan are playing a key role in facilitating the entry of Moscow-based companies into the Azerbaijani market, the Russian trade representative in Azerbaijan, Ruslan Mirsayapov, said at a presentation session within the business mission, Trend reports.

Our main goal within the framework of the business mission is to sign agreements on new contracts and the supply of modern, high-quality products from Moscow enterprises to Azerbaijan. As the Russian Trade Representation, we are ready to provide all the necessary support, he said.

He emphasized that the business mission of Moscow companies to Azerbaijan has become a good tradition. According to him, winners of the Moscow Export Center programsamong the most active and modern enterprises in the capitalcome to hold personal meetings with Azerbaijani partners.

The mission, organized by the Moscow Export Center (MEC), will run from March 11 to 13.

During the business mission, Moscow-based companies will showcase advanced solutions in industries such as automation, medicine, and industrial equipment while also presenting their products and services.

The business mission in Baku will feature leading Moscow companies from various sectors, including:

- Industrial Equipment: Companies will offer a wide range of products, from cables and wiring to analytical instrumentation and non-destructive testing solutions.

- Automation and Technology: Participants will present developments for process control, including regulating and shutoff valves.

- Medicine and Biotechnology: Moscow companies will showcase innovative medical products and advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies.
The increase in the VAT registration threshold represents a breath of fresh air for many businesses at the beginning of their journey, meaning lower compliance costs and reduced bureaucracy for a longer period, according to representatives of IMM Romania.

"IMM Romania, the only representative employers' confederation at the national level for SMEs, requests the prompt transposition of the provisions of Directive (EU) 2020/285, amending Directive 2006/112/EC regarding the common VAT system for small enterprises," reads a press release of the organisation.

According to Directive (EU) 2020/285, member states were required to amend their national legislation by December 31, 2024, so that the changes regarding the application of the VAT regime would take effect on January 1, 2025.

"Although several changes were made to Law No. 277/2015 - the Fiscal Code, in December, the Ministry of Finance has only this month developed and published the draft emergency ordinance that transposes the European directive into national legislation. Updating the value of this threshold has been necessary for a long time, to correlate with the increase in the exchange rate and prices over the past few years, which have eroded the turnover of small entrepreneurs. Raising the threshold is a breath of fresh air for many businesses just starting out, meaning lower compliance costs and reduced bureaucracy for a longer period," said representatives of IMM Romania.

According to the quoted source, the draft emergency ordinance includes several changes. One of these is the increase of the threshold for mandatory VAT registration from the value of 300,000 lei (the declared or achieved annual turnover) to 395,000 lei, a measure that allows small businesses to be exempt from VAT registration if they exceed the 300,000 lei threshold or to be removed from the register of VAT-registered taxable persons if their turnover is below the 395,000 lei threshold.

Another change is "the application of the special VAT exemption regime for companies in Romania in other member states, with the obligation to meet two cumulative conditions: compliance with the 100,000 euro turnover threshold at the EU level and compliance with the thresholds in the member states."

According to the draft regulatory act, the new measures regarding VAT registration are expected to apply starting from April 1, 2025.

"Given the importance of these measures and the need for predictability in managing companies and in developing business strategies, IMM Romania requests the swift adoption of the Emergency Ordinance for the modification and completion of Law No. 227/2015 regarding the Fiscal Code. IMM Romania promotes and supports all fiscal measures that contribute to: reducing the bureaucratic burden on small businesses; simplifying the method of determining taxes for the activity carried out, through the application of the flat-rate tax for micro-enterprises; creating a predictable business environment; and developing SMEs in an economic environment characterised by stability and competitiveness," the document further reads.
An Italian citizen living in Arad is being investigated by the police over the transfer of foreign students from Arad to medical universities in Italy using false documents, with six searches being carried out in this case.

The Arad County Police Inspectorate (IPJ) on Tuesday informs, through a press release, that searches had taken place in a file in the field of higher education. Police officers from the Economic Crime Investigation Service, under the coordination of the Prosecutor's Office attached to the Arad Court, raided six addresses in the municipality of Arad.

"The activities were carried out in locations in the municipality of Arad, with the aim of building evidence in a criminal case in which investigations are being carried out in terms of committing the crimes of fraud, forgery in official documents and use of forgery. The investigations revealed that an Italian citizen, residing in Arad, had facilitated several transfers of foreign students from a university in Arad to other universities in Italy, based on false documents. Through the same method, namely through false documents, obtaining a specialist medical degree was facilitated, without completing the residency period," the press release states.

Following the searches, goods and documents were seized, as well as a 9-millimetre pistol, illegally owned.

The investigations are continuing, and more people are to be questioned.
The joint plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate approved, on Tuesday, the establishment of the joint special committee for combating human trafficking.

The establishment of this commission was proposed by the chair of the Chamber of Deputies, Ciprian Serban.

Among the objectives of the committee are: the analysis of the causes and structural and conjunctural factors that favour the manifestation of human trafficking, including labour exploitation, sexual exploitation, trafficking in minors and other forms of abuse, the analysis of the activity of public administration institutions and authorities empowered at central and local level in preventing, identifying, investigating and solving human trafficking, including labour exploitation and other forms of human trafficking, as well as the evaluation of the efficiency of the implemented measures, the elaboration of legislative proposals with a view to amending the legislation in the field.

Another objective is to identify, evaluate, promote best practices, tools and strategies in preventing and combating human trafficking, including labour exploitation and other forms of abuse, as well as the protection, support and reintegration of victims of these practices.

The committee will be composed of 25 members, designated by the parliamentary groups in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, according to the political configuration of the Parliament.

"Public administration institutions and authorities whose activity is related to the aforementioned objectives, as well as to other aspects related to these objectives, are obliged, under the terms of the law, to respond to the requests of the committee, within the deadline established by it. The committee may invite representatives of public institutions/authorities, professional associations, recognized specialists in the field of human trafficking, as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations and accredited international organizations, with experience in preventing and combating human trafficking, to participate in debates. The committee will collaborate closely with the committee on labour, family and social protection, as well as with other relevant parliamentary committees, to address issues related to labour exploitation and other forms of human trafficking," states the decision on the establishment of the special committee.

The committee will be led by a bureau, and the president will be a PSD (Social Democratic Party)parliamentarian, the two vice-presidents will be from the PNL (National Liberal Party) and AUR (Alliance for the Union of Romanians), and the secretary will belong to the USR (Save Romania Union) parliamentary groups.
Researchers from six countries will meet at the "I. C. Bratianu" Museum Centre in Buzau for a colloquium where they will be discussing the mortuary practices of ancient communities from the 3rd-1st millennia BC and the categories of goods deposited for the deceased in tombs.

The Buzau County Museum, in collaboration with the International Union for Prehistoric and Protohistoric Studies (UISPP) and the "Vasile Parvan" Institute of Archaeology in Bucharest, is organizing, between March 14-16, the International Colloquium on Funerary Archaeology with the theme "Mortuary Practices in Bronze and Iron Ages: Europe and the Northern Mediterranean."

"Now in its 22nd edition, this scientific event brings together renowned researchers from Poland, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Serbia, the Republic of Moldova and Romania. Buzau thus becomes the city in Romania where the most numerous international colloquiums have taken place (2004, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2019, 2025) under the aegis of UISPP, the most prestigious professional organization of archaeologists worldwide, thus joining the elite of scientific centres that have hosted such events. The colloquium's papers aim to answer a series of essential questions regarding the mortuary practices of ancient communities from the 3rd-1st millennia BC, as well as the categories of goods deposited for the deceased in tombs. At the same time, mortuary practices "offer us precious information both about the religious and magical beliefs of these peoples, as well as about the occupations and social status of the deceased within the communities in which they lived," the Buzau County Museum reports.

Representatives of the Buzau County Museum will present the funerary archaeological discoveries from Lipia, made in 2020 and 2021.

The official opening of the colloquium will take place on March 14.
The Romanian Air Force will soon carry out missions to defend national and allied airspace with three squadrons equipped with F-16 fighter jets deployed on three air bases, Defence Minister Angel Tilvar said on Tuesday at the ceremony officially marking the completion of the endowment of the 48th Fighter Squadron with this type of aircraft, informs a MApN press release.

According to the cited source, the event took place at the Romanian Air Force 71st Air Base "General Emanoil Ionescu" at Campia Turzii.

The ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway in Bucharest, Hilde Svartdal Lunde, and the Chief of the Romanian Air Force Staff, Lieutenant General Leonard-Gabriel Baraboi.

Defence minister Angel Tilvar emphasized the significance that the smooth execution of the contract for the purchase of 32 surplus F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft of the Norwegian Air Force has in relation to the security of Romania and NATO's Eastern Flank.

He expressed his appreciation for the way in which the Norwegian side is fulfilling the obligations assumed by the contract between the two governments.

"Norway is an important ally for Romania, bilateral cooperation in the field of defence ensuring consistency to the broad process of modernization and development of our country's defence capabilities," said Tilvar, according to the press release.

The Romanian Defence minister evoked the fairness and viability of the decision made more than 10 years ago to build for the Romanian Air Force a transition capability to 5th generation aircraft based on F-16 aircraft, MApN said.

"This F-16-based program has provided our air force with the opportunity to fundamentally change the mindset of its professional corps, ensured access to modern and interoperable air combat technologies, brought the operating infrastructure up to the most modern standards and, most importantly, catalyzed the transition to the world's top of the range combat aviation, the F-35 aircraft," he said.

Angel Tilvar pointed out that the national defence industry is part of this successful program, with the modernization of all F-16 aircraft of the Romanian Air Force to the M6.6 standard to be carried out in the country, at Aerostar Bacau. "It is an important asset for us, which counts not only nationally, but also in our region. The prospect of F-35 aircraft endowment will certainly create new industrial cooperation opportunities for our country's economic operators," the minister affirmed.

Tuesday's event also included a briefing visit to the construction site of some infrastructure objectives, as part of the project to expand and modernize the 71st Air Base.

At the end of January, an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, purchased by Romania from the Kingdom of Norway, landed at the "General Emanoil Ionescu" 71st Air Base in Campia Turzii, thus completing the 48 Fighter Squadron with all 16 aircraft.

The acquisition of the new batch of F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft and the related package of goods and services ensures the increase of Romania's security by executing the defence of the national/NATO airspace, in peacetime and in crisis situations, through the Permanent Combat Service - Air Police (SLP-PA), under national and allied command.

By the end of this year, the remaining 16 F-16 aircraft are expected to be delivered and to become part of the endowment of the 571 Fighter Squadron, which will be part of the 57th Air Base "Captain Aviator Constantin Cantacuzino" from Mihail Kogalniceanu. AGERPRES
Romania's Agency for Agricultural Payments and Intervention (APIA) has reminded farmers again about the ban on burning stubble, heather and grass amidst wildfires of late throughout the country.

According to APIA, all beneficiaries of financial support, granted in the form of direct payments, interventions and measures for rural development, are under an obligation to comply with GAEC 3 standard - maintain soil organic matter and soil structure through a ban of burning arable stubble; and GAEC 10 standard on heather and grass burning as part of the conditionality rules that must be followed by farmers.

At the same time, farmers receiving support under the National Strategic Plan 2023-2027 must comply with the rules on conditionality on the entire farm and throughout the year of application.

By complying with the two cross-compliance rules, namely GAEC 3 and GAEC 10, farmers contribute to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture and maintaining the level of organic matter in the soil, by prohibiting the burning of stubble, dry vegetation and plant residues existing on arable land as well as the vegetation of permanent grasslands, according to APIA.

"The GAEC 3 standard must be followed by all farmers who have arable land at their disposal. Farmers who use arable land must not burn stubble and/or plant residues resulting from crop harvesting (straw of straw cereals, protein plant or potato stalks, corn cobs, sunflower stalks, rapeseed, etc.). The GAEC 10 standard applies to all permanent grasslands on the national territory," according to APIA.

Permanent grassland vegetation includes dry vegetation on pastures and meadows, stubble and plant debris left after grazing or hay harvesting, as well as invasive vegetation or vegetation harmful to grass cover on permanent grasslands.

The main objective of the GAEC 3 and GAEC 10 standards is to maintain the level of organic matter in the soil.

In order to strengthen the measures to verify compliance with GAEC 3 and GAEC 10 standards, APIA concluded with the National Environmental Guard (GNM) and the General Emergency Management Inspectorate (IGSU) a collaboration protocol on actions to monitor farmers' compliance with the rules on conditionality regarding the ban on burning dry vegetation, plant residues existing on arable land, permanent grassland vegetation as well as the ban on burning stubble, dry vegetation and plant residues existing on arable land and permanent grassland vegetation located in Natura 2000 sites.

According to the collaboration protocol, APIA together with GNM and IGSU develop informative materials (posters, leaflets, posters, press releases, etc.) on burning stubble, heather and grass on arable land and permanent grasslands, and send them to the subordinated county departments in order to disseminate them to the population as part of public information campaigns. A
The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) admitted, on Tuesday, the referral lodged by the Ombudsperson and decided that the law for the completion of the Law on Military Pensions is unconstitutional.

"In the sitting of March 11, 2025, the Constitutional Court, within the a priori constitutionality review, by unanimous vote, admitted the objection of unconstitutionality raised by the Ombudsperson and found that the Law for the completion of Law no.223/2015 on military pensions is unconstitutional, overall. Essentially, the Court held that the regulation of two systems for balancing military pensions, with different legal regimes, depending on the date of entry into force of the criticized law, violates the provisions of Article 16 (1) of the Constitution. The decision is final and generally binding. The arguments contained in the reasoning of the Constitutional Court will be presented in the decision, which will be published in the Official Journal of Romania, Part I," the CCR announced.

In the referral sent to CCR, the Ombudsperson complained that the law amending the Military Pensions Law did not have approved sources of financing.

Thus, said the Ombudsperson, according to the normative acts and the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court, in order to comply with art. 138 paragraph (5) of the Constitution, it is necessary for the initiators to ask the Government for the financial statement, and the failure to submit the financial statement within the legal deadline by the public authority which is obliged to draw up this document cannot constitute an impediment in the continuation of the legislative procedure.

"Or, from the examination of the legislative process of the Law for the completion of Law 223/2015 on State Military Pensions, we note that the Government was unable to fulfill its obligation to draw up the financial statement within the legal deadline of 45 days. Thus, following the legislative process in the Senate, we note that the financial statement was requested on 7.10.2024, the deadline for submitting the financial statement being November 20, 2024. However, the legislative proposal was adopted on November 5, 2024, long before the deadline by which the Government could draw up the financial statement," the referral states.

In the Ombudsperson's opinion, the formal fulfillment by the initiator of the obligation to request the financial statement, without waiting for the 45-day deadline to allow the Government to draw up the financial statement, amounts to a failure to comply with Article 138 paragraph (5) of the Constitution. AGERPRES
AGERPRES special correspondent Florin Stefan reports: In light of the risk level it faces and of its weight, Romania must set itself as a goal securing at least 20 billion of the 150 billion euros announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in defense loans, Social Democrat MEP Victor Negrescu declared on Tuesday in Strasbourg.

The 150 billion euros represent the low-interest loan component that will be contracted by the European Commission from the EU's 800 billion euro rearmament plan, of which the remaining 650 billion euros would be provided from national investments, EU funds or the private sector.

"I believe it is crucial for Romania to already take steps to make sure that the formula for these funds' distribution takes into account the risks faced by member states and, in particular, the fact that the frontline states are the ones that urgently need funding for the defense component. Consequently, this means that we must have a calculation formula that takes into consideration these additional risks," Negrescu told a briefing for Romanian journalists.

"I believe that out of the 150 billion euros, Romania must set itself the goal - given both the risk it faces and its weight - to secure at least 20 billion euros in funds that should reach our country either through national distribution or through the possibility of effectively participating in European competitions and automatically managing to obtain at least this chunk form this European program that will be defined in the coming months," the MEP added.

Negrescu, who serves as European Parliament Vice-President, pleaded for "an efficient strategy, with well-thought-out steps" for Romania, which should determine "what projects we are tabling", so as not to find ourselves again in the situation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, which "was not properly written".

"We have this public consultation process in place, and we have to already think about involving the relevant companies from both the public and private sectors and to put those projects on the table, because only thus will we be able to secure that money now," Negrescu also stated.

He explained that the European treaties very clearly specify which types of financing are eligible for European funding and that "generally these are about production capacities and everything the dual technology area means."

"This is why, for example, drones were mentioned as being eligible. The purchase of military equipment requires increased attention to these European treaties. Some changes have been made to the regulations, but not all categories of military equipment can be procured from European money today," he pointed out.

"I believe that Europe must invest in industrial capabilities more than in procurement, and I also believe that we must have joint systems. The more interconnectedness, the greater the interdependence between member states, and the more common security guarantees will cover all the states," said Negrescu.

He also advocated the eligibility of third states for ReArm Europe projects, "yet only to the extent that those states will also co-finance this fund."

Negrescu mentioned that there is currently no set timeframe for the delivery of the projects, but that he expects more details to emerge in the run-up to the NATO summit in The Hague this summer.

"Probably after that summit we will already enter the final lap in drawing up these programs for the endowment and development of the European military industry. So, in my opinion, we still have about three months of reflection on these elements until we enter a timetable that the European Commission will present. These three months are crucial in identifying projects and attracting investors, because there is a big battle across Europe in convincing the relevant military technology companies to invest in their own countries," explained the EP Vice-President.

"It's not like you wake up today and tomorrow you already have a project in the making. This is impossible. For this reason I believe that increased attention is needed from the part of national authorities, and I hope that domestic political disputes do not affect this capacity of Romania, because we would once again miss out on an essential moment," the MEP cautioned.
ST. LOUIS  Beleaguered community radio station KDHX has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the station announced Monday evening.

Under Chapter 11, a company continues to operate while trying to develop a plan with creditors to repay all or some of its debt. The company is not obligated to pay any debt during the period of bankruptcy.

This process allows us to honor our financial obligations, protect our longstanding relationships and explore ways to redesign community media in service to our whole community, board President Gary Pierson said.

The Chapter 11 filings were forced due to longstanding financial pressures (including pending litigation) and industry-wide challenges unique to publicly supported media, the station said in a statement.

The station has been in freefall since September 2023, when it terminated the contracts of 10 of its 80 volunteer disc jockeys in one day and demanded a mediated discussion with 12 more to determine whether they could stay with the station. In the following weeks, at least another 14 volunteer DJs left the station in a show of support.

All or nearly all of the DJs who were let go or left  plus two others who had been let go a month before the mass firings  had earlier signed a letter of no confidence in executive director Kelly Wells.

Listener reaction to the firings was swift and fierce. Donations, which the noncommercial station depends on for the majority of its financing, dwindled. Underwriting, in which businesses contribute money in return for on-air announcements, similarly disappeared.

In 2023, the most recent year for which financial statements are available, the station lost more than $327,000 on revenues of $940,000  and listener anger did not materialize until late September.

The previous year, the station lost $137,000 on revenues of $1.09 million.

On-air listenership dropped from a Nielsen rating of 1.0 share in the three months before the firings to 0.6 before it stopped subscribing to the Nielsen service nine months after the DJs were released.

The Nielsen ratings measure what percentage of all people in a given area are listening to each station.

On Jan. 31, the station let go all 115 of its volunteers as a way, it said, to cut down on expenses. With no live announcers, the station has been playing pre-recorded shows from its past. The broadcasts have suffered from a couple of hours-long periods of dead air and unseasonal music, such as a recent show that featured Christmas songs.

On Jan. 29, 16 of the stations former volunteers sued KDHX, claiming it had taken a series of actions to take a measure of power away from the volunteers, which is guaranteed in the stations bylaws, and consolidate it among the administration and board of directors.

That case continues to make its way through the courts.
ST. LOUIS  Danny Ludeman, who left one of the most powerful positions in corporate America to launch a prison reform nonprofit, died Sunday. He was 68.

Ludeman spent more than 30 years leading St. Louis-based Wells Fargo Advisors, a financial services firm that has thousands of brokers and over a trillion dollars of assets under management. He retired as CEO in 2014 and went on to launch a nonprofit called Concordance that sought to help ex-cons adapt to life after prison.

His enthusiasm for the new venture persuaded business executives and political leaders to pledge support, raising over $15 million in donations.

Danny wasnt just a founder and chairman to me; he was a friend and a mentor for many years, Susan Stith, Concordances interim CEO, said in a statement. He had a rare ability to see the potential in everyone, and he inspired me  and so many others  to dedicate our lives to creating a more just and equitable society. I will miss his wisdom and his unwavering faith in the power of second chances.

In May last year, Ludeman was replaced as CEO at Concordance. The organization did not release more information.

In June, it said Ludeman had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer; David Steward, founder of World Wide Technology, would fill the role.

Ludeman is survived by his wife, Susan, and children  Danny Jr. (Erika), Allie (Adam), David (Francesca), and Caroline (Zach)  five grandchildren, a brother and nieces and nephews, according to an obituary.

The family is planning a private service.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Azerbaijan's growing exports and investments in non-oil and gas products to Spain continue to be a key priority for the country, said Yusif Abdullayev, Executive Director of the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO), Trend reports.

Speaking during the Azerbaijan-Spain Business Forum held in Baku, Abdullayev noted that, in 2022, Azerbaijans exports to Spain exceeded $1 billion, with total turnover reaching approximately $1.1 billion. However, he pointed out that this figure has been gradually decreasing.

"In 2023, these figures dropped slightly and were around $899 million. In 2024, due to a decrease in energy exports, our turnover was approximately $310 million".

However, when we examine Spain's imports to Azerbaijan, we see significant growth. While exports from Spain to Azerbaijan were nearly $100 million in 2022, they surged to approximately $165 million in 2024. A key objective for us is to continue increasing exports and investments in non-oil and gas products to Spain," he said.

Abdullayev emphasized that Spain is involved in energy projects in Azerbaijan, but the primary focus is on increasing exports of non-oil and gas products.

"Over 20 Spanish companies are currently collaborating with us in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, construction, services, and consulting. We particularly value the opportunities for cooperation in alternative and "green energy" sectors, where we can greatly benefit from Spains expertise. Additionally, our security relations with Spain remain strong.

In recent years, we have seen a rise in alcohol exports from Azerbaijan to Spain. At the same time, we are actively working on developing our tourism potential. The increase in direct flights is also a significant step, as it creates new opportunities to strengthen bilateral business ties between our countries. However, as I mentioned earlier, our primary focus remains on expanding cooperation in the non-oil and gas sectors," Abdullayev added.

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JEFFERSON CITY  The Missouri Senate on Monday easily approved a state takeover plan for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department over the objections of the citys mayor and local senators.

The plan, approved on a 27-5 bipartisan vote, now moves to the House, which could vote this week to send the measure to Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe for his likely signature.

The legislation calls for a six-member Board of Police Commissioners, including five gubernatorial appointees and the mayor, to oversee the police department.

The state takeover provision would take effect when Kehoe signs the legislation and the governor would have 90 days after that to appoint four of the commissioners.

The bill would require Kehoe to appoint a transition director to ensure oversight of an orderly transition of the control of any municipal police force from the city to the Board of Police Commissioners.

The implementation period would begin when Kehoe signs the bill and end no later than July 1, 2026, the legislation says. The board would take control of the police department during the implementation period.

Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, who faces reelection next month, has touted declining violent crime in efforts to kill the takeover. On Monday, she called the fight against state control far from over.

This effort to take away St. Louisans control of their own police department is in line with the cowardly attempts at autocracy we are seeing at the national level, Jones said in a statement. I cannot and will not sit down and allow this complete disregard for democracy to compromise the safety of our residents for political gain.

All Republicans except Sen. Mike Moon of Ash Grove voted for the takeover.

And only four of 10 Senate Democrats voted against it: Steven Roberts and Karla May of St. Louis, Stephen Webber of Columbia, and Brian Williams of University City.

Senate Democrats who voted for the bill were Minority Leader Doug Beck of south St. Louis County, Tracy McCreery of Olivette, and Maggie Nurrenbern and Patty Lewis of Kansas City.

Two Democrats, Angela Mosley of Florissant and Barbara Washington of Kansas City, were absent.

Roberts hinted last week that fellow Democrats could break with him to support the bill.

The vote came after multiple Democratic priorities were added to the omnibus crime bill that included the state takeover.

Now included in the legislation is a state task force on missing and murdered African American women, a limit on how much jails and prisons may charge inmates for phone calls, and a measure allowing more exonerees to seek restitution from the state.

The legislation also would require the sheriff of the city of St. Louis to have a valid peace officer license within two years of being elected as sheriff.

Roberts said he and May negotiated significant improvements to the legislation, including on the structure of the board.

Previous versions gave fraternal organizations such as the St. Louis Police Officers Association influence in the selection process for most of the board. But the latest version removes that. The new version also requires appointees to receive Senate confirmation.

Four citizen commissioners appointed by the governor would need to be city residents for at least two years, while the fifth gubernatorial appointee  a nonvoting member of the board  would need to be either a city resident or a St. Louis County resident who owns and pays taxes on real property in the city.

Resurrecting state control would put an end to an era of local control realized after a statewide campaign and vote in 2012 to undo the states police board.

Prior to the statewide campaign more than a decade ago, St. Louis police department had been under state control since the start of the Civil War, when pro-Southern state officials wanted to contain the pro-Union city police department.

Jones news release Monday said state control is rooted in pro-slavery and treasonous ideology dating back to the eve of the Civil War.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY  A member of the Rockwood School Board has been accused of stealing from two Target stores.

Chesterfield Police Department records show police arrested Izzy Imig around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, for allegedly failing to scan a vacuum cleaner at self-checkout at the Target at 40 THF Boulevard in Chesterfield.

Three days later, on Friday, Ballwin police issued Imig a court summons at the Target at 15025 Manchester Road for stealing, police records show.

Imig allegedly placed about $700 worth of items in shopping bags without scanning them at a self-checkout lane, including a Bissell vacuum valued at $113, according to an investigative report from Chesterfield Police. The Post-Dispatch received the report through a records request.

A Target employee noticed, and escorted Imig to the Targets service desk where Imig paid for the items, except the vacuum, which police said Imig put at the bottom of her shopping cart. Police said a Target employee placed a handheld scanning device in the cell phone spot on Imigs shopping cart. Imig took the scanner with her to her Cadillac Escalade along with the unpaid vacuum, police allege.

In the police's report, a Target security employee alleged Imig placed her phone on top of the scanner concealing it from view.

Police said they later called Imig, who said she came to the store with the vacuum to return it. An officer explained that he saw her take the vacuum from a store shelf in surveillance footage, according to the report.

Imig eventually met with police at Chesterfield City Hall at an unspecified date. During an interview, the report noted, Imig said she did not leave Target with unpurchased merchandise and she was confronted by employees before leaving. She said she returned the scanning device to the Target in Ballwin at a later time.

Police booked Imig and later released her from custody with a court date of June 10.

A Target security employee told Chesterfield police that Imig also allegedly stole about $300 worth of items from the Ballwin Target on Feb. 23. Imig returned to the Ballwin Target on Friday with a shopping bag containing merchandise and requested to re-purchase the items, according to Chesterfield Polices report.

Ballwin police then issued Imig a summons for stealing.

Ballwin police Public Information Officer Shannon Schaper said Imig was issued a summons in lieu of arrest for the alleged stealing.

The summons did not appear in online court records as of Tuesday afternoon, nor did court records related to the alleged theft in Chesterfield.

Imig declined to comment when reached by phone Monday morning. She did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Tuesday.

Imig was elected to the Rockwood Board of Education in 2022 amid a wave of conservative-minded candidates running for school board races in the region.

Shes running for reelection in April, along with two other candidates seeking to fill two open seats.

In a statement Monday, Board of Education President Lynne Midyett said the board was aware that a board member was issued a summons for shoplifting.

We understand that this news may be concerning to our community, Midyett said. The board is monitoring the situation and we are committed to upholding the highest ethical standards and ensuring the continued focus on the education and well-being of our students and staff.

Editors note: This story was updated Tuesday afternoon with details from the Chesterfield investigative report.
ST. LOUIS  St. Louis University School of Medicine has received a transformational $10 million gift from donor who wants to remain anonymous, but who made the contribution to honor alumnus Dr. Gerald Maguire  a leading authority on medication treatments for stuttering.

University officials called it one of the largest and most impactful contributions in the medical schools history.

This legacy investment will help us accelerate our efforts to be the medical school of choice for those committed to improving the health of the communities we are privileged to serve, said Dr. Christine Jacobs, dean of the SLU School of Medicine and vice president for medical affairs, in a press release announcing the gift.

Officials said they would use the donation in the following ways:

$3 million to establish an endowed deanship, named after Maguire and his wife Joanne S. Maguire, to help attract and retain visionary leaders in improving medical education and patient care.

$2 million to fund an endowed chair in neuropsychiatry research and education, to help support groundbreaking research in mental health.

$5 million toward plans to build a new, state-of-the-art Health Education Center to enhance student training.

Maguire, who has stuttered since childhood, graduated from the SLU School of Medicine in 1991. He went on to co-author Without Hesitation: Speaking the Silence and Science of Stuttering and founded and directed the worlds first clinic dedicated to the study and medical treatment of the condition, the Kirkup Center for the Medical Treatment of Stuttering at UC Irvine.

He currently serves as the director of residency training in psychiatry at College Medical Center, an urban teaching hospital in Long Beach, California; and as the faculty director of graduate medical education at Oroville Hospital, serving his rural home community in Northern California.

As a person who stutters, I am forever grateful to Saint Louis University School of Medicine for believing in my potential as a physician beyond my challenges with verbal communication, Maguire said in a statement.

The SLU School of Medicine provided me a foundational education not only in the science of medicine, but also the arts and ethics to practice and teach in my profession, Maguire, who also pledged $100,000 to support his alma mater, added.

The gift comes as the school is midway through its five-year strategic plan to grow its faculty, research and clinical footprint with partner SSM Health.

We are deeply grateful for this remarkable generosity, Jacobs said, which will help us train future physicians who, like Dr. Maguire, provide exceptional, compassionate care and embody the Ignatian principle of cura personalis  care for the whole person.
JEFFERSON CITY  The Missouri House gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a plan to slash the personal property tax on vehicles.

Under legislation sponsored by Rep. Richard West, R-Wentzville, the personal property tax rate would drop 50% over three years, potentially reducing tax revenues going to local governments by $909 million.

The legislation is among a number of tax cuts being promoted this year by Republicans, including proposed reductions in the income tax, corporate tax and the states share of the capital gains tax.

Each would reduce revenues going to state and local coffers without a clear way to replace the funding.

Currently, personal property taxes are based on a rate that is one-third of the value of the vehicle. The plan would drop the rate to 18%.

West said local governments can replace the lost revenue by finding other taxes to raise.

I think government spends too much money, West said. I guarantee if you put this on the ballot today ... it would pass with 70%.

Wests Republican colleagues are backing the proposal.

We fought a revolution over this premise, said Rep. Darin Chappell, R-Rogersville. Our people back home are drowning in governmental overreach.

This is going to save people money if they own a vehicle, added Rep. Brian Seitz, R-Branson. Its going to save everybody money.

Rep. Mark Matthiesen, R-OFallon, said the current setup punishes people for owning a car.

If you want to be a productive citizen and go to work, you must own a vehicle, Matthiesen said.

But Democrats argued that it would create a significant funding gap for local governments.

I dont think we should defund the police, said Rep. Michael Burton, D-Lakeshire.

Its defunding our roads. Its defunding our schools, added Rep. Mark Boyko, D-Kirkwood.

The personal property tax has been in the crosshairs of the Legislature before.

Former Sen. Bill Eigel, R-Weldon Spring, made it a key part of his unsuccessful run for governor in 2024.

Supporters say people pay a tax at the point of purchase and should not be subjected to an ongoing tax on that product.

But, the efforts have not found solid footing amid concerns that schools, hospitals and nursing homes that rely on the proceeds will have to reduce services.

In some of our smaller communities, it could lead to a shutdown of some services, said Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, D-Columbia.

The measure needs one more vote in the House before moving to the Senate for further debate.

The legislation is House Bill 903.
JEFFERSON CITY  The Missouri Senate gave initial approval Monday night to a $50 million tax-credit bill designed to jump-start development in downtown St. Louis and along main streets across Missouri.

The Senate action came after a two-hour filibuster led by a Kansas City-area lawmaker.

Sen. Steven Roberts, D-St. Louis, the sponsor, said his measure would help fill the gaps in the marketplace that resulted in spaces across our state, cities and towns lying dormant, thereby reducing vibrancy in our historic city centers.

Roberts proposal would create a new tax credit that would reimburse developers 25% of the cost of converting office buildings into other uses, including residential and retail. The office buildings would have to be at least 25 years old to qualify, and certain main street districts across the state would be eligible for slightly higher 30% credit reimbursements.

Among major beneficiaries of Roberts tax-credit plan are two major structures in downtown St. Louis.

The 44-story AT&T tower has been vacant since the telecommunications giant left for a smaller space in 2017. The Goldman Group, a Boston-based development company, bought the distressed building last year for $3.6 million. The 21-story Railway Exchange has been mostly empty since 2013, when Macys left the space. Combined, the buildings have 2.6 million square feet available.

Proponents argue that a subsidy is necessary for the vacant space to become useful as its very costly to convert office buildings into residential or commercial buildings. Research from Morgan Stanley found it to be about 15% more expensive to buy and convert an office building than to build new.

Right now, downtowns market conditions are not strong enough to support the immense cost of redevelopment on its own, Charles Goldman, managing partner at Goldman Group, said at a committee hearing.

Goldman added the $350 million development his company has planned for the AT&T Tower could not proceed without the legislature passing the tax credit.

The policy is somewhat targeted to the Tower. One provision allows developers to be reimbursed for money spent on building parking during a conversion. Part of the Tower conversion plan is to create a large automatic parking system.

While converting office space is not unique, St. Louis provides a special case. Many cities struggling under the weight of housing unaffordability, such as San Francisco, have targeted vacant offices for housing. Thats not the case in downtown St. Louis, which is in need of economic development more than further affordability.

The legislation is about creating a lively downtown where residents can live affordably. Without an economic jump-start, vacant buildings cannot become that, Roberts, a St. Louis Democrat, argued.

While the bill appeared to have strong support, action was delayed late Monday for about two hours when Sen. Joe Nicola, a freshman Republican from Independence, led a one-man filibuster. Nicola, founding pastor of New Covenant Ministries, argued the bill would advance a globalist plot to create dense communities where people need to rent instead of own.

Nicolas filibuster turned into a lengthy sermon that stretched into the evening and included readings from the Bible. He spoke of the death of Jesus on the cross  I cant imagine the excruciating pain  and he argued pastors need to be involved in politics because God is the one who created government.

After a few hours Nicola stood down and the legislation passed.

Other hard-line conservatives said the legislation was too expensive. Sen. Adam Schnelting, R-St. Charles, said, I think our entire country is going to go into some difficult times financially, and I just could not swallow (the price).

Elizabeth Lauber, representing the Missouri Main Street Connection, which assists smaller municipalities with development issues, said the proposal will help both big cities and the states rural communities in a committee hearing.

This bill tells a story of bipartisanship, Lauber said. This is a Missouri issue.

Senate Bill 35 will need one more vote in the Senate before going to the House.
ST. LOUIS  After just a few weeks on the market, a tavern built by Anheuser-Busch over a century ago in south St. Louis has found a buyer.

The Stork Inn in St. Louis Dutchtown neighborhood was listed for sale at $272,000, said real estate broker Mona Parsley.

I was truly honored to list it, Parsley said.

She declined to name who has the property under contract.

Wedged in at Virginia and Taft avenues, the Stork Inn was the first in a series of neighborhood taverns the brewery built as the temperance movement took shape, in hopes of changing the public perception of pubs, according to its nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.

Anheuser-Busch wanted taverns to be thought of as wholesome neighborhood hangouts rather than boozy saloons of ill repute.

The company used the Stork Inn to promote a nonalcoholic beverage called Malt-Nutrine that it marketed as beneficial to pregnant women and nursing mothers (hence the stork).

The triangle-shaped building, at 4527 Virginia Avenue, was designed in 1910 by Klipstein & Rathmann, which also designed four other neighborhood taverns for Anheuser-Busch, including the iconic windmill building Bevo Mill, at Morgan Ford Road and Gravois Avenue, and the Feasting Fox, at South Grand Boulevard and Meramec Street, according to the National Register.

The Stork Inn bears similar architecture to other brewery-commissioned properties with its glazed green brick and its limestone and stucco building with false half timbering. Advertisements from the 1940s and 1950s touted its delicious sandwiches, alongside weekend dancing and live music.

But its been decades since it last served as a tavern.

In the 1990s, Dale and Gwyn Preston bought it for $15,000 after the last tavern owner died.

Wed drive by and just drool over it, Gwyn Preston told the Post-Dispatch in 1999. We thought it would be a neat place for a business.

They spent $150,000 in a top-to-bottom restoration  the taverns original wood floors are still there  and converted the second floor into an apartment the Prestons rented out for $850 a month, news articles from the time report. Half of the first floor space became an ice cream shop; the other half became the Preston Art Glass Studio, part of the wave of art studios that opened in Dutchtown in the early 2000s.

In 2005, they sold it to Tony and Tracy Duncan, who operated their architecture firm there for more than 20 years.

Parsley, the broker, said Tony Duncan is closing his firm to work for another architect.

She said shes gotten a mix of serious buyers and looky-loos; she provided tours to all who inquired but only showed the second floor to those with pre-approval letters.

Parsley said she has spent the majority of her real estate career selling historic properties, including the Lion House in Soulard. But the Stork Inn has been special to market.

Im from a small town in Texas, she said. We dont have this (architecture) there.

Parsley said the Dutchtown community improvement district is helping infuse much needed investment in the area, which is making a turnaround. A new generation of residents and businesses are helping, she said.

Dutchtown is not going to be cheap for long, Parsley said.
The Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory was created by the U.N.-backed Human Rights Council and is led by former U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay. Its findings can be used as evidence for the International Criminal Court or other bodies that seek to prosecute war crimes and other rights violations in the context of the war.

Israel has refused to cooperate with the commission, accusing it and the council of anti-Israel bias. Israel, which quit the council shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a U.S. pullout last month, has repeatedly denied mistreatment of Palestinian detainees in its custody and said it takes action against any offenses.

Rights groups have alleged widespread abuse at a military detention facility, Sde Teiman.

The first witness, a male nurse from Gaza who spoke by video from the territory, alleged he was caged, hung up like a punching bag," beaten in the genitals until they bled and subjected with other detainees to attacks by dogs.

Saeed Mohammad Abdel-Fattah Abu Al-Jidyan, 26, said he was detained on Nov. 18, 2023, in the earliest days of the war, while working in Shifa Hospital. Through a translator, he described being ordered to strip naked and being held for three days with no clothes.

Israeli forces launched two major raids on Shifa, Gazas main hospital, during the war, accusing Hamas of using it for military purposes, allegations denied by hospital staff.

During questioning by military interrogators, including about tunnels Al-Jidyan said he knew nothing about, he said, the torture affected the genitals.

Another witness from Gaza, Abu Jidyan, said he was held at Sde Teiman and another facility. By the time of his release, he said he had lost nearly 30 kilograms (about 65 pounds). The duration of his custody was not immediately clear.

This is not just my story. Im just one person among many detained by the occupying Israeli power, he said, according to a translator.

The accounts could not be independently verified. The Israeli diplomatic mission in Geneva did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killed about 1,200 people, most of them civilians. Over 250 people were taken hostage and dozens remain in Gaza. The territorys Health Ministry says over 48,500 Palestinians have been killed in the war. It doesnt say how many were combatants but says over half the dead were women and children.

The commission of inquiry is not considering allegations of sexual, gender-based and other violence committed against Israelis during the Oct. 7 attack or against hostages in Gaza. Israeli authorities, citing eyewitness accounts and other evidence, have accused Hamas-led militants of widespread rape and sexual violence. A U.N. envoy last year reported reasonable grounds to believe such allegations.

The commission says it has always sought to speak directly with Israeli victims but has not been able to do so, citing obstruction by Israels government and a lack of access, the U.N. rights office said.

The commissions hearings continue Wednesday. It is expected to issue a report Thursday on Israels alleged systematic use of sexual and other gender-based violence against Palestinians since the Oct. 7 attacks.

The commission, created in May 2021 following other violence between Hamas and Israel, has previously held hearings on issues like the terrorism designation of several Palestinian NGOs and the killing of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. The Russian Export Center has supported exports to Azerbaijan, contributing over $3 billion, Nuri Guliyev, Head of the representative office of the Russian Export Center (REC) in Azerbaijan, said at a presentation session as part of the business mission of Moscow companies to Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

"The Russian Export Center has been operating in Azerbaijan since 2017. Over this time, we have supported exports to Azerbaijan worth more than $3 billion. This is a significant contribution to the development of trade turnover between Russia and Azerbaijan," he stated.

Guliyev pointed out that getting the ball rolling on promoting and popularizing products under the 'Made in Russia' brand is also a key piece of the puzzle for Russia.

To note, the mission, organized by the Moscow Export Center (MEC), will run from March 11 to 13.

During the business mission, Moscow-based companies will roll out the red carpet to showcase cutting-edge solutions in fields like automation, medicine, and industrial equipment, all while putting their best foot forward with their products and services.

The business mission in Baku will feature leading Moscow companies from various sectors, including:

- Industrial Equipment: Companies will offer a wide range of products, from cables and wiring to analytical instrumentation and non-destructive testing solutions.

- Automation and Technology: Participants will present developments for process control, including regulating and shutoff valves.

- Medicine and Biotechnology: Moscow companies will showcase innovative medical products and advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Few technological developments in human history have so thoroughly transformed society as the cellphone. In the fewer than 20 years since Apple introduced the first iPhone, that and the competing smartphones that followed have created an unprecedented level of societal connection, with global communication and literally the sum of human knowledge now as close as any pocket or purse.

Like any new technology, though, even this overwhelmingly positive one has its pitfalls. To young people who grew up with cellphone technology already in place, the connection the devices provide to the internet and to each other has become a bona fide addiction that afflicts, by some estimates, fully 50% of adolescents. Any teacher can tell you that competing with kids cellphones for their attention in class can be an almost constant struggle.

Many if not most school districts in Missouri today address the issue with district or individual school policies that either restrict cellphone usage during school or completely ban the phones from the classroom. Still, legislation pending to codify such restrictions is a good idea, if only to bring the occasional lagging school administrator into the fold on the issue.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker last month called for a statewide ban in his state on cellphones during class time, while allowing their use between classes, in all public schools. The proposal would give individual districts some leeway on how to implement the restrictions, as well as setting exceptions to allow phone usage in emergencies or other specific circumstances.

Bipartisan efforts in Jefferson City this session to address the issue take a more decentralized approach. Multiple pending bills would require districts to create written policies best suited to their own needs, while specifying that they must prohibit cellphone use by students during instruction time.

Both states would join a growing list that have restricted cellphone use in the classroom or banned the phone altogether. At least eight states instituted or expanded such restrictions last year alone, according to Stateline, with almost a dozen more considering legislative action this year.

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe, like neighboring Gov. Pritzker, is on record supporting banning cellphone usage in the classroom.

Its simple  cell phones have no place in Missouri classrooms, Kehoe tweeted last month.

On that point, the research is clear. Studies by the London School of Economics have found that students who are denied access to cellphones do up to 20% better on tests than their phone-using peers. A 2023 report under the United Nations found that students can take as much as 20 minutes to refocus on classroom material after being distracted by a phone.

Among the pending Missouri bills is a measure by state Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, D-Columbia, a retired teacher.

As somebody who was leading a classroom just two years ago, she said during committee debate last month, as quoted by the Missouri Independent, I can attest to the fact that some of our students really are almost addicted to their cellphones.

In fact, a Pew Reseach poll in 2023 found that 72% of high school educators consider cellphone distraction a major problem, while 60% said it is difficult to enforce cellphone bans in classrooms.

That would seem to indicate that merely prohibiting cellphone use during class  which is the approach several of the pending Missouri bills would take  might be a less effective policy than actually banning their physical presence from the classroom.

Thats an issue lawmakers might want to dig into as they consider the legislation this spring. But whatever form it ultimately takes, its time for a clear statutory statement that ending the distraction of cellphones in the classroom is the official policy of Missouri.
March 11, 2025: Until late 2024, an Iranian could drive unimpeded from Iran to Lebanon. This route marked the much desired Iranian Shia Crescent. By late 2024 that had all changed. The Assad government was replaced by a new one that does not assume Iran is a useful ally. The Iranian Shia militia Hezbollah was destroyed and its key leaders killed by the Israelis. In addition a series of Israeli airstrikes destroyed nearly all the Iranian supplied weapons in Syria as well as missile manufacturing operations in Iran, along with the plants that made the solid fuel rocket motors. The Iranian air defense network was also destroyed as well as some Iranian-supplied stockpiles of rockets and missiles in Yemen. These were used by the Iran-backed Houthi militia to attack shipping in the Red Sea headed for the Suez Canal. Americans and British airstrikes and warships also attacked the Houthi infrastructure. Israeli aircraft can regularly attack Houthi resources. American B-2 bombers are also participating. Suez canal traffic has returned to normal with the decline of the Houthi threat.

There are still some Hezbollah remnants left. Drug operations in eastern Lebanon are still operational. Hezbollah has long been active in the hashish and cocaine trade. The billions of dollars earned by drug operations is managed by a small number of Hezbollah members in the Persian Gulf state of Qatar. That money can be used to rebuild Hezbollah. America, European and most Persian Gulf nations want the Hezbollah treasury eliminated. That will be difficult to do, though Israel has done a fair job of destroying Hezbollahs financial infrastructure in Lebanon. Hezbollah money managers in Qatar have been dispensing and concealing their billions through late 2024 as the main Hezbollah organization in Lebanon was being taken apart. The United States no longer tolerates Qatari relationships with Iran and Hezbollah. Qatar has been told to sever its Iranian and Hezbollah ties or face sanctions and isolation by the U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf. None of the other Arab Gulf States are willing to defend Qatar.

Hezbollah can be reassembled by financing the fantasies of the many Lebanese Shia that desire revenge. This became more difficult after the lightning early December campaign by a reorganized Islamic terrorist organization HTS, which quickly took control of Syria and sent the ruling Assad family into a Russian exile. That means Hezbollah in Lebanon no longer has a land connection to Iran via Iraq and Syria. Iran was the primary supplier of weapons and IRGC/ Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps technical advisors to Hezbollah. The IRGC is an elite security organization that guards the religious dictatorship in Iran while creating and supporting pro-Iran groups worldwide. Growing popular unrest in Iran makes it difficult for the IRGC to spare manpower to help rebuild Hezbollah.

It is possible for the new Hezbollah leadership and their Iranian overlords to find ways to get the men, weapons and training together to rebuild Hezbollah. If left alone, that could take years. Israel and the many other nations hostile to Hezbollah will interfere with the rebuilding. Hezbollah will reappear, but it will not be as powerful or as expansive as its predecessor. For Hezbollah believers, thats better than nothing.

The Israeli attacks on Iran left the oil fields and export terminals alone, along with Irans nuclear weapons facilities. The Iranian economy is crippled and the population angry at their continued poverty. Iranians know that their government has spent nearly $30 billion to establish themselves in Syria and other Middle Eastern countries. That is all gone, along with weapons plants and air defense systems. What remains are hunger, poverty and an angry population. IRGC commanders have been warning the government that they do not have enough troops to put down widespread uprisings and a growing number of IRGC men are reluctant to kill Iranians to protect an unpopular government.

Since the 1979 revolution that overthrew the monarch and installed the religious dictatorship, everything in Iran has gone downhill. The economy is sanctioned, Israeli airstrikes have destroyed most of the military resources and overseas destabilization operations are in ruins. Iran is rated as one of the most corrupt nations in the world. GDP is declining and a growing number of talented Iranians are leaving the country.
A special tactics airman assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing waits for instruction to hoist a patient up a slope during a mass casualty exercise at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, in October 2022. (Tylir Meyer/U.S. Air Force)



The Air Forces 18th Wing is tightening approval measures for nighttime exercises after unauthorized training last month involving simulated explosions and gunfire drew complaints from a neighboring Okinawan town.

A unit at Kadena Air Base conducted the exercises without prior wing-level approval on the north side of the installation Feb. 25-27, wing spokeswoman Maj. Alli Stormer said in an email Monday.

The training included personnel recovery, combat search and rescue, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in the Indo-Pacific region, incorporating controlled sound and visual effects to enhance realism, she wrote.

While there was no intent to cause disruption, the wing has implemented stricter approval measures for any nighttime operations, Stormer said. We remain committed to being respectful members of the community while continuing to uphold our treaty obligations.

She declined to provide details on the new approval measures.

Kadena town officials received complaints about explosion or gunshot noises from the base on the night of Feb. 27, a town spokeswoman said Monday. A phone message left on the towns answering machine and two text messages to an official account on the Line messaging app reported the sounds, she said.

A noise-measuring device recorded explosion-like sounds five times between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. and six times between 11 p.m. and midnight, the spokeswoman said. The noise levels did not exceed 70 decibels, she said, roughly equivalent to a washing machine or a normal conversation.

The U.S. military typically notifies Kadena town before conducting nighttime exercises, but the town received no prior or post-event communication regarding the training, according to the spokeswoman.

The town contacted the Okinawa Defense Bureau, part of Japans Ministry of Defense, on Feb. 28 to confirm the training but had not received a response as of Monday, she said.

We are currently confirming the facts, she said. We will decide our measures after receiving the response.

Some Japanese government officials speak to the press only on condition of anonymity.
Air Force Staff Sgt. Jason Cochran browses a mobile field exchange set up for the Freedom Shield exercise at Osan Air Base, South Korea, on March 6, 2025. (Eric Mendiola/Stars and Stripes)



OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea  U.S. troops arriving here for the annual Freedom Shield exercise have access to snacks, beverages and cold-weather gear, thanks to a mobile field exchange set up for the first time in a decade.

The Army and Air Force Exchange Service erected the mobile field exchange, or MFE, on this base south of Seoul as part of the large-scale defense training involving thousands of American and South Korean troops.

One of our responsibilities is to ensure that the necessities of our airmen, soldiers and Marines supporting this exercise are met, Air Force Col. Jeff Elliot, commander of Osans 51st Mission Support Group, told Stars and Stripes on Thursday. And with that, we partnered with AAFES to make sure that we could get that quality of life.

The MFE, which backs up the AAFES motto We go where you go, offers a selection of items typically found in a convenience store. It was set up weeks in advance near the tents where incoming service members are staying during Freedom Shield, which began Monday and runs through March 21.

Roughly 19,000 South Korean troops are expected to participate in the exercise on land, air and sea, according to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff. U.S. Forces Korea, which oversees 28,500 American service members on the peninsula, does not disclose its troop participation numbers.

Osan, home to the 51st Fighter Wing, requested the MFE to support the hundreds of service members taking part in Freedom Shield at the base.

A mobile field exchange offers a selection of items typically found in a convenience store. (Eric Mendiola/Stars and Stripes)

A mobile field exchange offers a selection of items typically found in a convenience store. (Eric Mendiola/Stars and Stripes)



Mobile exchanges have long been a wartime staple, and date to at least the post-World War II period in Japan, where troops received goods delivered by Army helicopter, according to AAFES.com.

They were common during the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and a mobile exchange was erected at the Pentagon and World Trade Center following the attacks there on Sept. 11, 2001. They have also been employed to disaster zones, including Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and Hurricane Helene last year.

Service members who find themselves in a conflict zone in the future will be familiar with an MFE if theyre taking part in Freedom Shield at Osan this year, George McNamara, AAFES general manager at Osan and Camp Humphreys, said Thursday at the mobile exchange.
Air Force Staff Sgt. Kendall Turner works with an incinerator at North Field, Tinian, Feb. 2, 2025. (Manasseh Demissie/U.S. Air Force)



Engineers are on track to finish clearing vegetation from an airfield on Tinian by May, paving the way for the restoration of at least two of its four World War II-era runways, according to the Air Force.

Airmen from the 356th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Group at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, are nearing completion of the clearing work at Tinians North Field, group commander Col. Peter Joo said by phone Monday.

Between 15 and 30 airmen have been working on the island, a U.S. territory 118 miles north of Guam, at any given time over the past year, using bulldozers, excavators, loaders and dump trucks to remove overgrown vegetation, he said.

Senior Airman Elvin Dom uses a grader in preparation for asphalt paving at North Field, Tinian, Feb. 2, 2025. (Manasseh Demissie/U.S. Air Force)



The work began in January 2024 and should wrap up by May, though officials are seeking approval for an additional six to nine months of vegetation removal to provide more wingtip clearance for aircraft once repaving begins, 1st Lt. Ariana Wilkinson, a 36th Wing spokeswoman, said in an email Tuesday.

The project is part of a broader U.S. military effort to disperse forces across the Indo-Pacific, anticipating potential missile attacks on established bases in a conflict involving China over Taiwan or the South China Sea. To sustain operations across the region, the Air Force has been renovating World War II-era airfields from Micronesia to the Philippines.

North Field, which in 1945 included four 8,500-foot runways, was the launch site for B-29 Superfortress bombers targeting Japan. Visitors to Tinian can still see pits where the atomic bombs Little Boy and Fat Man were loaded onto B-29s bound for Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The airfield was completely overgrown before engineers started work, Joo said.

There were full-grown ironwood trees and lots of scrub, he said. Lack of maintenance and care over the decades means most of the airfield is in a very poor state from an engineering perspective.

Of the four runways, only Runway Baker remains serviceable, providing a basic landing strip for C-130 aircraft, Joo said.

The ultimate plan is to rebuild major portions of the airfield to support modern aircraft, he said.

While all four runways have been cleared, only two are set to be repaved so far, Joo said. Engineers are conducting ground analysis to assess the materials used by Navy Seabees when the airfield was built in the 1940s.

The work, which includes incinerating vegetation, is complicated by logistical challenges in moving personnel and equipment to Tinian. North Field is also a National Historic Landmark with protected wildlife, requiring coordination with agencies such as the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Joo said.

Runway Able, where the B-29 Enola Gay took off on Aug. 6, 1945, to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, is among the historically significant areas. North Field also contains structures from Japans wartime presence on the island.

We have been in awe of the scale of the effort and the historical significance of the airfield, Joo said.

North Field is home to the Marianas kingfisher and other nesting birds, requiring wildlife surveys before vegetation can be cleared, he said.

Fluor, a global construction firm based in Irving, Texas, has a five-year, $409 million contract with the Air Force to support the paving project. Air Force engineers will handle the actual repaving, Joo said.

The engineers work, including repaving a road, has cost $7 million so far, said Master Sgt. Eric Flores, a Pacific Air Forces spokesman.

This project represents a strategic investment in the Pacific, with the Air Force committed to modernizing key infrastructure in the region, he said by email Feb. 26.
Logos for the Department of the Air Force FIX IT information technology help desk are seen during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., Jan. 16, 2025. (Eric Dietrich/U.S. Air Force)



RICHMOND, Va.  President Donald Trump on Tuesday named Virginia GOP Chairman Rich Anderson to serve as assistant secretary of the Air Force, where the retired colonel had served for 30 years before leaving the Pentagon for politics in 2009.

The White House announced Andersons selection in an email listing dozens of nominations sent to the Senate for its approval. Among the other Virginians on the list was Hung Cao, a Republican who unsuccessfully challenged Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., in November. Cao, a retired Navy captain, is Trumps pick for under secretary of the Navy.

Anderson, a former Republican state delegate who considered a bid for lieutenant governor this year, will step down from the state party position that he has held since 2020. With Democratic Party Chairwoman Susan Swecker leaving her post later this month, both major parties will have new leadership heading into November elections for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and all 100 seats in the state House of Delegates. Democrats will elect their new chairwoman at a March 22 meeting. No date was immediately set for the GOP to replace Anderson.

Anderson, the state GOP and Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

During our time serving as party chairs, Rich and I found common ground  as natives of western Virginia, lovers of old-time gospel music and seltzer water, and, most importantly, in our steadfast belief in free and fair elections, Swecker said. I deeply respect

Richs devotion to this country, especially as a veteran, and I wish him all the best in his new role.

A Roanoke native who lives in Woodbridge, Anderson got involved in Republican politics after retiring from the Pentagon. He represented a Prince William County state House district for eight years before losing his seat in a 2019 anti-Trump wave.

Anderson took the helm of the Virginia GOP in August 2020, just months before Trump would lose the state by 10 points. The party was at a low point brought on by Trumps first four years in the White House, losing races for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general as well as three reliably red congressional seats. Democrats won full control of the General Assembly for the first time in a generation.

But the party rebounded a year later, with an unpopular President Joe Biden in office and Republican newcomer Youngkin leading a sweep of statewide offices and flipping control of the House of Delegates in 2021. The party has had mixed results since then, regaining one of the congressional seats in 2022 but losing control of the House of Delegates and failing to flip the state Senate in 2023. Trump lost the state by 6 points in November, an improvement over 2020 as he made gains in Northern Virginia suburbs.
An MQ-9 Reaper assigned to the 319th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron taxis on the flightline at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Oct. 13, 2023. (Tylir Meyer/U.S. Air Force)



The Air Force is investigating how an unmanned aerial vehicle rolled off a runway while taxiing Monday at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, according to the 18th Wing.

An MQ-9 Reaper deployed to the base was towed back to a protected aircraft shelter after the incident, wing spokeswoman Maj. Alli Stormer said in an email Tuesday. No injuries were reported.

A thorough investigation will be conducted to determine the cause, she wrote.

The Okinawa Defense Bureau, an arm of Japans Ministry of Defense, said the Reaper stopped on the south runway at 9:20 a.m. Emergency vehicles were seen gathering around the aircraft, a bureau spokesman said by phone Tuesday.

We are confirming details of this incident with the U.S. military, he said. We will share information with related municipalities after hearing from them. We will continue dealing with this matter appropriately.

Some Japanese government officials speak to the press only on condition of anonymity.

White smoke was spotted near the aircrafts engine after it stopped, and it was towed to a hangar around 1 p.m., Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported Tuesday, citing a camera it installed near the base.

The wing did not identify the Reapers squadron. In November, it said Reapers from the Air Forces 319th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron were operating from Kadena. Eight Air Force Reapers moved to Kadena in late 2023 from Kanoya Air Base on Kyushu.

MQ-9A Reapers with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3 from Marine Corps Base Hawaii are deployed to Okinawa, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing spokesman Maj. Joseph Butterfield said in an email Tuesday.

The aircraft provide real-time situational awareness to U.S. Marines, the Joint Force, and regional allies in support of mutual defense, he wrote.

Butterfield declined to say how many were deployed to Okinawa, citing security reasons. The defense bureau in August said fewer than six Marine Reapers were at Kadena.

The Reaper, made by General Atomics of San Diego, is a medium-altitude, long-endurance aircraft used primarily for surveillance, according to the Air Force. It may also carry Hellfire missiles and Paveway laser-guided bombs and costs $56.5 million each.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 11. Uzbekistans President, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, held a telephone conversation with the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, where he warmly congratulated the UAE President on his birthday, Trend reports.

Over the course of the phone discussion, the President of Uzbekistan sincerely wished the President of the UAE good health and well-being, great success in state activities, and peace and prosperity for the friendly people of the Emirates. The leaders of the two countries also shared heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, a time that holds great significance for the entire Muslim Ummah.

It was particularly noted that the visit of the President of Uzbekistan to the UAE in January this year opened a new chapter in the history of bilateral relations, elevating them to the level of strategic partnership. To ensure the full implementation of the agreements reached, a separate "roadmap" has been adopted.

Moreover, the leaders expressed deep satisfaction with the dynamic development of multifaceted Uzbek-Emirati cooperation, especially in the areas of trade, economy, and investment. The volume of trade turnover and investments, as well as the number of joint ventures, are steadily growing.

During the course of the phone conversation, issues related to the second summit of the "Central Asia-Gulf Cooperation Council" dialogue in Samarkand were also discussed.

As part of the current project portfolio worth $20 billion, active cooperation is ongoing between the two countries with leading companies from the UAE in key areas such as "green" energy, digitalization, artificial intelligence, urban planning and infrastructure, tourism, and private business.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
From left, Navy Capt. Chris Causee, Navy Capt. Ron Flanders and Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research Dr. Brett Seidle enter the hearing room before a meeting of the House Armed Services Committee on March 11, 2025, in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)



WASHINGTON  The resurrection of military shipbuilding in the U.S. will hinge on improving wages and benefits for workers at shipyards, Navy officials and experts said Tuesday as lawmakers raised fears of cuts to shipyard workforces.

Experts testifying before a House Armed Services Committee subpanel cited labor shortages due to poor pay as the main reason for the Navys yearslong struggle to build ships on time and on budget.

Cost overruns for 46 ships that the Navy has under construction grew from $3.4 billion to $10.4 billion in the past budget year while delays for certain naval vessels have stretched up to three years.

Nothing is more important than addressing the critical labor shortages that afflict all of the shipbuilding and public maintenance yards, said Eric Labs, a senior analyst for naval forces and weapons at the Congressional Budget Office.

The assessment comes as President Donald Trumps administration seeks to revitalize commercial and military shipbuilding to compete with China while also substantially reducing the Defense Departments civilian workforce.

Eric Labs, a senior analyst for naval forces and weapons at the Congressional Budget Office, testifies on March 11, 2025, during a meeting of the House Armed Services Committee subpanel on seapower and projection forces. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)



Democratic lawmakers have expressed concerns in recent weeks that the pending cuts will result in the loss of shipyard employees who are already hard to keep in the job. Retention of critical tradesmen such as welders, shipfitters and pipefitters is especially difficult, Labs said.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., said Tuesday that she voted against advancing Trumps nominee for Navy secretary, John Phelan, because workers at the Navys Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine have not been exempted from ill-considered layoffs.

The naval yard largely works on the overhaul, repair and modernization of submarines and must hire about 550 workers annually to keep pace with national security goals, according to Shaheen.

Recruitment at shipyards has been difficult for years, Labs said. Few workers are willing to toil in hot, cold, dirty and unpleasant conditions for $20 to $21 per hour when Subway offers $18 per hour with benefits, he said.

The differential between retail or even other manufacturing sectors in the areas that surround the shipyard has got to be much, much greater than it currently is, Labs said, adding better benefits, more affordable housing and tax benefits can also help attract talent.

Brett Seidle, the assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, said labor issues are the No. 1 problem facing shipbuilding and raising wages by three or four times would motivate people to apply.

Its a very purpose-driven life, supporting the Navy, he said. Theyd be all about it.

The Trump administration is expected to issue an executive order soon aimed at bolstering shipbuilding, including by reportedly raising wages for nuclear shipyard workers. Trump last week also announced he would create a new Office of Shipbuilding in the White House.

We used to make so many ships. We dont make them anymore very much, but were going to make them very fast, very soon. It will have a huge impact, he told lawmakers in a speech to Congress.

Lawmakers from both parties said Tuesday that they were encouraged by the Trump administrations focus on reinvigorating the shipbuilding industry. But reversing decades of manufacturing loss will be a steep hill to climb, said Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn.

Less than 15% of the American workforce is in manufacturing compared with 35% at the end of the Cold War, he said.

When you look back at how we built 5,000 ships in World War II and were able to turn on the industrial base so quickly  I mean you actually had a workforce that was primed, whether it was commercial shipbuilding or auto manufacturing, to basically shift into that type of production, Courtney said.

The U.S. today is severely lagging behind China in shipbuilding capacity and the size of its naval fleet.

Shelby Oakley, director of contracting and national security acquisitions at the Government Accountability Office, testifies on March 11, 2025, during a meeting of the House Armed Services Committee subpanel on sea power and projection forces. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)



China is on pace to surpass 400 warships this year while the U.S. Navy, with 296 battle-force ships, essentially has no more ships today than we did back in 2003, said Shelby Oakley, director of contracting and national security acquisitions at the Government Accountability Office.

Thats a serious problem, she told lawmakers. Especially at a time when our near-peer adversaries are rapidly expanding their fleets and fielding advanced technologies that could shift the balance of power away from the United States.

If the Navy continues with business as usual, it could have a shrinking, less-capable fleet that ultimately is unable to project the superior force the Navy has at its disposal today, Oakley warned.

She said the Navy needs to overhaul its budget and acquisition processes, which often result in ship construction beginning before a steady design is in place and be more realistic with its business planning.

But rectifying workforce challenges should be the top priority, experts said.

Without fully addressing the challenge of labor, all other efforts will be marginal, Labs said.
A Thai soldier applies face paint ahead of a Cobra Gold drone exercise in Phu Lam Yai, Thailand, March 1, 2025. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)



Cobra Gold, the largest multinational military exercise in mainland Asia, concluded in explosive fashion, but the real focus was a renewed emphasis on modern tactics and emerging technologies.

The 11-day exercise that ended Friday brought approximately 8,000 troops from 30 countries to Thailand for a variety of drills, simulations and training that featured cyber, space and drone warfare as overarching themes.

Now in its 44th year, Cobra Gold has marked numerous milestones over the decades, and this year was no different.

In one drill, U.S. soldiers with FIM-92D Stinger missiles targeted small practice drones. In another, troops carried a new anti-drone weapon into the field and tested it on two swarms of about 12 drones each.

Using the Stinger  a first during Cobra Gold  and focusing on anti-drone warfare demonstrated an adaptation to modern airborne threats and use of novel tactics, Capt. Jennifer Messina, spokeswoman for the 7th Infantry Divisions Combined Joint Information Bureau, told Stars and Stripes in an email Friday.

Away from the field, a multinational contingent of cyberdefense and space experts, including personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Space Force, practiced computer network defense against a simulated virtual attack throughout the nearly two-week exercise.

A UH-60 Black Hawk lands ahead of a Cobra Gold live-fire drill in Lopburi, Thailand, Feb. 27, 2025. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)

An M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, is used in Cobra Gold live-fire drills in Korat, Thailand, March 6, 2025. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)

U.S. airmen discuss cybersecurity during the Cobra Gold exercise in Nong Phai Lom, Thailand, March 4, 2025. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)

Maj. Gen. Michelle Schmidt, left, 7th Infantry Division commander; Lt. Gen. Matthew McFarlane, center, I Corps commander; and Lt. Col. Brandon Wohlschlegel, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment commander, discuss Cobra Gold's first-ever use of an FIM-92D Stinger in Lopburi, Thailand, Feb. 28, 2025. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)



Cyber specialists focused on protecting ground-based systems, including local internet networks, while space experts concentrated on satellites and other assets above 62 miles in altitude.

The inclusion of space as its own component  rather than a subcomponent of another command  was another first for Cobra Gold, marking a very, very special year for the exercise, said Maj. Moises Rendon, strategy and plans division chief for U.S. Space Forces Indo-Pacific.

This is only the third year that space has been included in Cobra Gold, and its been in a crawl, walk, run operation, he told reporters March 4 during a tour of Thailands Wing One air force base in Korat. This year is our first year of run, and we have, as I mentioned before, made sure that space was its own component with its own multinational force.

The space component focused on improving communication and coordination among the participating nations  the U.S., Thailand, Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea  so they could use the same systems and same organizational structure for greater effectiveness in a simulated conflict, Rendon said.

While new technologies played a key role, Cobra Gold also included large-scale simulated battles, live-fire demonstrations and other traditional drills.

The exercise began winding down Thursday with a thunderous display from an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, as part of a rapid infiltration exercise.

The following day, the exercise culminated in a large-scale combined arms drill featuring infantry, armor, artillery and aircraft from the U.S. and other nations in a dynamic live-fire battle drill, Messina said.

A closing ceremony followed, where military leaders reaffirmed their collective commitment to regional security and partnership, she wrote.
Employees work light armored tactical reconnaissance vehicles on the maintenance line at a plant in Garchizy, France. (Nathan Laine/Bloomberg)



Volkswagen AG is prepared to support the ramp-up of Europes defense capacity as the regions decades-long military alliance with the U.S. becomes increasingly brittle under President Donald Trump.

No concrete discussions have so far taken place, but the German carmaker is ready to advise other manufacturers on the development and production of armed vehicles, Chief Executive Officer Oliver Blume said Tuesday during the companys annual media conference in Wolfsburg.

We have automotive expertise and are also available to provide advice, but at the moment everything is completely open, Blume said.

European leaders have pledged to boost defense spending to shore up support for Ukraine after Trump halted military aid and stopped sharing some intelligence with Kyivs forces.

Europes largest carmaker has a history in defense. Beyond producing armed vehicles for the Nazis in World War II, the company developed and manufactured the Volkswagen Type 181 for the West German Army and then for civilian customers in the UK and the U.S., where the model was better known as The Thing.

Volkswagen already has a role in the defense industry via a joint venture between its MAN Truck & Bus brand and Rheinmetall AG, which makes military vehicles.

The defense spending initiatives from the EU and Germanys fledgling government coalition are exactly right, given the geopolitical situation we are in, Blume said. We simply have to invest more again in order to position ourselves with greater security.
Surveillance video from Sgt. Jian Zhaos office at Joint Base Lewis-McChord allegedly shows him taking photos of restricted military documents on Oct. 27, 2024, that he sold to an individual in China for $4,500. (U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington)



(Tribune News Serive)  In November 2021, Capt. Li Tian, an officer stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Lakewood, Washington, allegedly began emailing back and forth with a foreign national living in China. He introduced himself as a friend of Ruoyu Duan, a former Army soldier who lived in Hillsboro, Oregon. Tian said he was looking for a job opportunity.

At first, Tian sent the other person documents related to real estate investments on the East Coast of the United States, referred to in court records as a white paper. With Duan acting as a middle man getting money from a PayPal account based in China, Tian was reportedly paid $1,500 for the documents.

As the correspondence continued, the person in China, whose email account was based in Hong Kong, asked Tian for less open source material  documents that would be harder to get.

According to court documents filed last week in U.S. District Court in western Washington and Oregon, that was the beginnings of a years-long conspiracy where Tian and another soldier based at JBLM, Sgt. Jian Zhao, gathered and sold sensitive U.S. military information to Duan and individuals in China.

Among the documents allegedly handed over were excerpts of technical manuals for operating an artillery system used on battlefields in Ukraine and copies of PowerPoint presentations specifying the positions of military personnel in a Stryker combat vehicle. Video footage from inside Zhaos office at JBLM in November 2024 also allegedly showed him taking photos of a document pertaining to a military exercise simulating a conflict with the Peoples Republic of China.

Do you know how risky this is?!? Zhao told an individual in China while allegedly trying to sell another sensitive military document in October.

If I were in your position, I would not dare, the person replied.

Zhao also is accused of selling hard drives, some classified and some labeled SECRET, for thousands of dollars and sending them directly to a person in China from his home.

Zhaos indictment alleges that he accepted about $15,000 in exchange for gathering information for a co-conspirator purporting to reside in Changchun in northeast China.

According to copies of Duan and Tians indictments, Duan accepted about $38,500 from two PayPal accounts based in China between June 2021 and April 2023. He allegedly received about $14,600 from two accounts on Zelle, a mobile payment app, between June 2023 and July 2024.

Those identified in the conspiracy talked on Facebook messenger, through the messaging app WeChat and via email. According to the indictments, all of their communications occurred in Mandarin.

Duan and Tian are charged in U.S. District Court in Oregon with conspiring to bribe a public official and steal government property. Zhao is charged in U.S. District Court in western Washington with conspiring to gather, transmit or lose national defense information, as well as bribery of a public official and theft of government property.

Special Agent Mike Herrington with the FBI Seattle Field Office said in a press briefing Thursday that investigators had gathered additional information, and it is possible charges could be added.

Sgt. Jian Zhao allegedly sent this photo of 20 classified hard drives, some labeled SECRET in red, to an individual in China while negotiating their sale on July 16, 2024. (U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington)



Capt. Li Tians alleged involvement

Heres how court documents filed so far describe Tians alleged involvement:

After Tian was asked for less open source material by the person he was emailing with in China in December 2021, court documents dont describe any further communication between the two. But the next year he began sending military information to Duan, who had paid him for the white paper that was given to the person in China.

In October and November 2022, Tian emailed Duan links to Google drives three times containing Open Source Intelligence reports, which were not classified.

On Feb. 20, 2023, Tian started sending Duan more sensitive information. Via email, Duan received more links that day to Google drives which contained at least three PowerPoint presentations about the Stryker Brigade Combat Team and the Stryker vehicle. One discussed the formations, movements and employment of the team. Another, titled CAPABILITIES.pptx, specified the mission and capabilities of the unit. The third specified the positions of military personnel in the Stryker combat vehicle.

Also sent to Duan that day was a PowerPoint about a Department of Defense social media forum, Army mission requirements and strategy. Its unclear what a fifth PDF document sent to Duan pertained to. It was titled stp_91s13.pdf, and records state its markings showed it was only authorized to be distributed to U.S. government agencies and their contractors because it contained sensitive materials.

The same day, Tian and Duan talked on Facebook Messenger.

Please provide the tm (technical manuals) of the vehicles sent there. It is for writing an article, Duan said.

I dont have access. Will need to wait until Monday, Tian said.

Tian asked Duan to send him a list of the models he was looking for. Tian said it couldnt be downloaded, and it had to be looked up on AESIP, the Army Enterprise Systems Integration Program Hub, which Tian said only chief had access to.

Tian later said his supply had access, who he referred to as a guy from Beijing. Duan said he would take them out to eat next time. Tian liked the message.

Later on in their conversation, Duan appeared to ask Tian if he happened to have technical manuals for German military vehicles, such as a Leopard 1, a tank, or a Weasel, likely referring to the Wiesel Armored Weapons Carrier. Tian said he definitely didnt have those. Duan instead asked for American vehicles.

I first want an M 1126 Stryker infantry vehicle, an MI 09 howitzer, and M2 Bradley fighting vehicle, Duan wrote. I saw Army times also mentioned the Patriot, but I dont understand that stuff at all and cannot write anything.

Three days later, after Duan offered 500 for the three teaching materials, Tian emailed him links to Google drives with three PDFs. They were related to the Bradley Fire Support vehicle, which is designed for precision target location and assisting in in-direct fire. Two of the documents were technical manuals which could only be distributed to U.S. government agencies or their contractors. The third was approved for public release.

On Feb. 24, 2023, Duan and Tian had another exchange on Facebook Messenger.

I see that nothing happened after you said youd ask the chief, Duan wrote. Dont worry if it cant be done. I can find materials on wiki or reddit.

The main thing is not to get in trouble, Duan added. It is not easy to get to this point in the army.

Downloaded, Tian replied. Dont be anxious. Im out and will send it to you when I get back.

The next month, on March 29, 2023, Duan messaged Tian that he kept forgetting to give him the material fees. He offered 500. The same day, Duan accepted $2,500 from a PayPal account based in China, and he then sent $500 to Tian on PayPal.

Sgt. Jian Zhaos alleged involvement

Heres how court documents filed so far describe Zhaos alleged involvement:

Zhao appears to have been looped into the conspiracy by at least April 27, 2023. According to the Armys public affairs office at the Pentagon, that was six years after he joined the Army as a unit supply specialist, and three years after he was stationed at JBLM.

Over about a week, Zhao allegedly used his personal email to send Duan 13 documents that were excerpts of a technical manual for the HIMARS artillery system used in Ukraine. Its unclear how he knew Duan.

Months later, in October 2023, Duan connected Zhao to a foreign national living in China, identified in a court filing only as Conspirator 3. The foreigner introduced himself as a friend of Duan over WeChat.

Boss Duan says you have things to sell. Mind telling what you have, one message to Zhao said.

In November 2023, another person introduced himself to Zhao over WeChat as a friend of Duan. Identified as S.K.K. in court records, the person told Zhao hed bought equipment from him through Duan. He said he specialized in this type of business in China, made several million dollars a year and wanted to collaborate.

Then in July 2024, Zhao and the foreign national Duan had connected him with began discussing the sale of an encryption-capable computer. The two talked pricing until Oct. 13, when Zhao received $1,000 for it via WeChat. The foreign national received it by Dec. 4.

Also in July, Zhao discussed selling classified hard drives with S.K.K. and sent him a photo of 20 of them. Zhao then spoke with the foreign national about the hard drives over WeChat. Zhao said he didnt know the contents of the hard drives and couldnt guarantee anything. They agreed to a price of $10,000, with half as a down payment and half paid on delivery.

The foreign national confirmed he received them Sept. 12. He later informed Zhao the buyer had only gotten 19 hard drives, three of which were corrupted. The buyer wanted to pay $500 less than what theyd agreed on. Zhao went along with it, but he reportedly said hed never sell to this buyer again.

The next month, Zhao and the foreign national started to talk about the sale of sensitive U.S. military documents. Over WeChat, Zhao said he had good stuff on Oct. 11 and asked the other to get a quote from a buyer before he would name his price.

Spread the news. Its Brigade level, Zhao allegedly said of the document.

Ok. Done. Recall, the individual in China replied. This needs some time. This is way top [we] must be very very careful.

Very sensitive document. Super difficult to get, Zhao said.

As the two settled on a price over a couple weeks, tensions appeared to rise.

After the foreign national told Zhao on Oct. 22 that a buyer said one of the documents was worth $2,000 and he suggested Zhao sell two documents as a package, Zhao said he wouldnt consider it.

[Expletive] this world, Zhao said. Im not selling, brother.

After a voice call, the foreign national said he would ask for more and find high level people. The next day, the foreign national still pushed selling the documents as a package. Zhao reportedly said the second document wasnt for sale.

I cant afford to make this person angry, the foreign national replied. Dont play me boss. At the beginning you did say two documents. You said go find high level people yesterday.

The two continued to discuss Zhao sending both documents, and on Oct. 27, video footage from Zhaos office at JBLM showed him leave the room emptyhanded, then return with two documents he laid on his desk.

One was called Strategic and Operation Rockets and Missiles. It was considered controlled unclassified information, which could only be distributed to the Department of Defense and its contractors. The second document was similarly labeled, and it described a command post exercise designed to enhance U.S. combat readiness with multinational partners.

At 12:27 p.m. that day, Zhao allegedly told the foreign national via WeChat he was doing it now. Video footage then showed him using his cell phone to scan the first document page by page.

Later that day, Zhao confirmed he transferred all the documents. The foreign national told Zhao he would be paid in three days. Zhao later received $4,500 in three payments.

Over the next month, video footage from Zhaos office at JBLM showed him taking pictures of a sensitive document and videos of his government computer screen three times. The document he photographed was about a military exercise simulating a conflict with the Peoples Republic of China. Its unclear what he was videotaping on his computer screen. One video he took Nov. 7 was reportedly of an excel file he scrolled through.

In December, Zhao told the foreign national he had a 90-page manual he was willing to sell for $1,500. The next day, Dec. 5, Zhao was told a buyer would aim to pay him in seven to 10 days. And on Dec. 19, Zhao was paid $2,000.
A soldier assigned to 977th Military Police Company monitors the southern border near Eagle Pass, Texas, March 8, 2025. U.S. Northern Command is working together with the Department of Homeland Security to augment U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the southern border with additional military forces. (Walker Pino/U.S. Army)



AUSTIN, Texas  Another 600 Army and Air Force troops were announced Tuesday for deployments to the U.S. border with Mexico as President Donald Trump touted a dramatic decrease in migrants arrested for unauthorized entry into the country.

The latest deployment announcement included about 40 intelligence analysts from Air Force active-duty and Reserve units and about 590 engineers from the Army Corps of Engineers and the 18th Airborne Corps, according to U.S. Northern Command. A timeline for these troops to deploy has not been determined.

This will bring the number of service members assigned to the federal border security mission to about 9,600.

The deployments are part of a southwest border mission to assist the Department of Homeland Security that began in 2018 during Trumps first term in office and continued under former President Joe Biden. When Trump returned to the White House on Jan. 20, about 2,500 National Guard troops remained along the border.

Trump signed an executive order on his first day back to declare an emergency at the border and order additional active-duty service members be deployed to seal the border.

Marines with the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion of the 1st Marine Division, work on concertina wire barriers along the southern border near San Ysidro, Calif., March 2, 2025. U.S. Northern Command is working together with the Department of Homeland Security to augment U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the southern border with additional military forces. (Pfc. Dominic Atlas/U.S. Army)



People crossing between legal ports of entry peaked in December 2023, with federal agents recording nearly 302,000 migrants, according to Customs and Border Protection. Numbers have declined since then with the agency reporting more than 61,000 migrant crossings in January, the most recent official data available.

CBP officials havent formally reported February data, but Trump said only 8,326 migrants were arrested last month.

Troops working with border agents do not typically interact directly with migrants but instead work in support roles such as detection and monitoring, data entry, training, transportation, vehicle maintenance, warehousing and logistical support. This includes helicopter support for aerial reconnaissance to help CBP personnel on the ground.

The intel analysts will support the Joint Intelligence Task Force  Southern Border, which is part of a headquarters led by the 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Drum, N.Y. The engineers will work on a yet-to-be-determined mission, according to NORTHCOM.

The engineer units deploying under the 18th Airborne Corps are the 20th Engineer Brigade from Fort Bragg, N.C., 19th Engineer Battalion and 15th Engineer Company from Fort Knox, Ky., and the 687th Engineer Company from Fort Johnson, La.
WASHINGTON  Doug Collins, the secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, defended the mass firing of VA workers last month as the Trump administrations solution to making the agency more accountable and responsive to veterans.

Collins, who has served as VA secretary for four weeks, also blamed lawmakers for making the VA a punching bag for criticism while pouring billions of dollars into the agency without making meaningful improvements.

The union bosses, legacy media, even members of Congress who have complained for years about the VA not being efficient are now complaining when were actually trying to provide solutions, he said Monday in an interview about the layoffs of new VA workers in February.

Collins said publicity over the layoffs is failing to put into context the reason for them. The workforce reductions ordered by President Donald Trump are a response to voters who demanded generational change in Washington, D.C.

In my view, you cant have it both ways. You cant be the constant critic of the VA and not look for solutions when theyre offered, he said. Were not in a position anymore to say that what you have is not working, so you just have to keep it the same.

Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins answers questions from senators on Jan. 21, 2025, during his confirmation hearing. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)



Collins countered backlash from Democratic lawmakers over the firings of thousands of probationary workers at the VA as part of a reduction in force across the federal government that is expected to continue through the summer. Approximately 80,000 job terminations are planned at the VA through August after 5,000 agency workers were lost last month through firings and a hiring freeze.

Meanwhile, more than two dozen Democratic senators sent a letter to Collins on Monday that warned such a reduction will impact the VAs ability to deliver benefits and services to veterans. The senators wrote their concern is heightened by the VAs historic surge in enrollment under the PACT Act, which expanded health care and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances during military service.

Senators who signed the letter include Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Charles Schumer of New York, the Senate minority leader; and Mark Warner of Virginia, vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

Since the PACT Act was signed into law in 2022, more than 700,000 veterans have enrolled in VA health care, according to the agency. The number of outpatient visits to VA facilities has grown by 16%, and there has been close to a 24% increase in veterans receiving disability compensation, according to the senators letter.

Fewer staff to provide outpatient appointments will cause veterans to wait longer for care, and the costs of that care will only increase over time as their medical conditions worsen, they wrote.

But Collins maintained the workforce reductions will not affect the rank-and-file workers who process claims, deliver health care and deliver benefits.

Im very impressed by our workforce and their wanting to do good. But sometimes I think the layers of bureaucracy actually keep us from doing it, he said.

Collins blamed Democratic lawmakers and the media for giving heightened attention to the layoffs of veterans when the impact of job loss on veterans in the private sector is rarely discussed.

I hear very little when Southwest Airlines lays off 15% of their workforce. Nobody really mentions the veterans at that point. Nobody mentioned the veterans for that matter at Caterpillar, he said, referring to layoffs at the farm equipment company between 2013 and 2017.

Veterans make up about 30% of the federal workforce, which numbers more than 2 million employees.

Collins said he finds it ironic that as the Trump administration, with support from VA leaders, has moved to make significant reforms at the VA through workforce reductions and an anticipated reorganization, Democratic lawmakers are pushing back.

Collins said the practice of VA spending more money and hiring more staff is not improving the quality of health care or making the system more efficient. The VA has a $469 billion budget and more than 480,000 workers.

The goal now is to reduce staff to 399,000, the same size as the workforce in 2019.

Collins said the next round of job reductions at VA will be more strategic, after the surprise firing of 2,400 personnel.

Were putting together a very deliberative process with teams, with all career VA employees, but also senior executives and staff, he said.

But Collins said it will be up to him  as VA secretary  to manage the reductions.

At the end of the day, it comes down to me. As the president said, its the heads of the agencies, the secretaries, and his Cabinet, theyre going to be making decisions, he said.
Fired workers from the Department of Veterans Affairs joined Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, for a virtual news conference to discuss the impacts of layoffs at the VA, as well as a hiring freeze and contract cancellations by the agency. (Stars and Stripes)



WASHINGTON  Calls to NineLine Veteran Services in Washington state have been surging from veterans who lost their federal jobs or who fear they are next to be terminated in mass firings ordered by President Donald Trumps administration.

Army veteran Shawn Durnen, president of the nonprofit, said panicked veterans worried about paying their bills and finding jobs after sudden terminations are flooding the organization, which assists in finding housing and employment for veterans transitioning to civilian life.

Many of these individuals have dedicated their lives to public service by first serving in the military and then entering careers in public service with the federal government, said Durnen, who served from 2006-2010, including a deployment to Iraq.

He and three fired workers from the Department of Veterans Affairs joined Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., on Tuesday for a virtual news conference to discuss the impacts of layoffs at the VA, as well as a hiring freeze and contract cancellations by the agency. Durnen and the fired workers  all living in Washington  shared firsthand accounts of the impacts.

I was shocked and deeply disappointed when I received an email on Monday, Feb. 24, at 1:56 p.m., notifying me of my immediate removal from my position. I was left with the task of informing my supervisor, my section chief and my HR of this decision, said Future Zhou, an Army veteran terminated from her probationary job as VA inventory manager.

Zhou, Christian Helfrich, who was dismissed from his post as a research investigator at VA Puget Sound Health Care, and Dan Foster, an Army veteran whose VA contract was canceled for developing materials for a transition assistance program in Olympia, Wash., said they are hearing from former colleagues that the job cuts and contract cancellations are delaying and interrupting delivery of services and benefits to veterans.

Whats going on right now isnt a two-way door where you can tear down the VA and then see what happens, and if you dont like it, go back to the way it was. This is a one-way door  if we tear it down now, it is going to take years or decades to build back, Helfrich said.

Murray, vice chairwoman for the Senate Appropriations Committee, said she held the virtual news conference because she thought it is important that the voices of the fired workers are heard.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., attends a Senate Budget Committee meeting on Feb. 12, 2025. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)



Murray also blasted Trumps and Elon Musks efforts to decrease the VA workforce, which includes many veterans. She described the fired workers as losing employment through no fault of their own and with zero justification.

Other Democratic lawmakers also lodged protests this week over the purge of veterans from the VA and other federal jobs. They submitted bills to give veterans their jobs back and fired off an angry letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins.

Murrays news conference Tuesday was held 24 hours after two bills were introduced by Democratic senators to reinstate fired veterans to their federal jobs.

The Putting Veterans First Act, sponsored by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., would restore federal jobs to veterans, their military spouses and survivors, and provide them with back pay and benefits.

It would stop Musks Department of Government Efficiency from accessing veterans data and it would end the VAs hiring freeze at clinics and hospitals where vacancies are contributing to higher costs for health care.

The Protect Veterans Jobs Act, led by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., a retired Army National Guard lieutenant colonel, would reinstate veterans displaced from jobs across the federal government and require quarterly reports from the Trump administration documenting the progress. It is a companion bill to House legislation from Rep. Derek Tran, D-Calif.

More than 6,000 veterans have lost their jobs in firings that started in February and are expected to continue through the summer.

More than two dozen Democratic senators signed a letter Monday to Collins that condemned a plan by the Trump administration to terminate another 80,000 VA workers by August.

The senators wrote in the letter that many of the workers targeted for dismissal are veterans.

Since VAs solemn mission is to serve veterans and put them first, we would like to see evidence of how these cuts will impact the 20,000 veterans  making up 25% of the approximately 80,000 employees to be cut  you plan to terminate, as well as the millions of veterans they served, the senators wrote.

About 30% of federal employees are veterans. Military veterans receive hiring preference for federal jobs, which means they are giving priority for jobs over non-veteran applicants.

Veterans preference gets you in the door, but it does not get you a job, said Zhou, who was fired from her hospital job directing purchases and distribution of medical supplies.

Zhou was promoted to inventory manager in 2024 and was on probation in her new role when she was fired.

We are slamming the door on veterans in need, Murray said. What Trump and Musk are doing here is disrespectful, its unpatriotic, and its ungrateful.
Craig Maples (29) is currently serving a seven year sentence for violent disorder and assault causing serious harm to Austin Doherty on Main St, Mulhuddart, on July 21, 2022

A barbershop owner who left a man with a traumatic brain injury assaulted his housemate two years prior to this attack, a court has heard.

Craig Maples (29) of Green Briar, Verdemont, Blanchardstown, Dublin, is currently serving a seven year sentence for violent disorder and assault causing serious harm to Austin Doherty on Main St, Mulhuddart, on July 21, 2022.

Mr Doherty was left with limited mobility in his upper and lower limbs, requires a wheelchair for long distances and suffered a traumatic brain injury, which has left him with significant impairments, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard last year.

Last December, Maples pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm to his housemate at an address in Huntstown, Dublin 15 on January 2, 2020  some two years prior to his assault on Mr Doherty. This assault had such an impact on the victim that he has since emigrated, the court heard.

Derek Cooney BL, prosecuting, told the court today that the injured party was asleep in bed in his rented room around 1.30am on the night in question when he was awoken by slamming doors and loud voices.

He didn't know the name of Maples, his housemate, as he had only moved in a few weeks previously, but he shouted down to him to quieten down.

Maples immediately came upstairs and started shouting and knocking on his bedroom door. When the injured party told him to go away, Maples returned a few minutes later with two other men and kicked the door down.

One of the other men had a sock filled with heavy items, possibly coins, the court heard, and the three men set upon the injured party.

They hit him six to seven times, leaving the injured party with head wounds and a badly injured arm. He phoned gardai and his landlady, who was Maples' aunt. A few minutes later, Maples returned to the bedroom, holding a knife in his hand before he left again.

Gardai did not respond so the victim got a taxi to hospital. He had head wounds and required surgery for a fractured elbow.

In a victim impact statement before the court, he outlined how he was left homeless after the attack as he could not return to the house and was unable to work for a lengthy period.

He said he had never been out of work or homeless before and that the attack changed his life. He could no longer work as a security guard as he lost his confidence. He was sleeping on a friend's couch for a period but could not claim social welfare as he had no address.

He said he eventually emigrated to Croatia where he could afford to buy his own house, ensuring he never has to house-share again.

The court heard that Maples was arrested, but the other two men were never identified.

Simon Matthews BL, defending, said Maples had a troubled childhood. When he was aged 12, his father murdered his uncle and was imprisoned.

Maples set up his own barbershop, Faded, in Mulhuddart, in his early twenties but struggled with addiction to prescription tablets and other drugs along with mental health issues.

Mr Matthews said his longterm girlfriend were in court to support him and he is doing well in custody.

Sentencing Maples today, Judge Orla Crowe said Maples carried out a brutal and unjustified attack on somebody who was entitled to rent a room in a house. She said Maples had a disproportionate reaction to somebody who was simply asking him to keep the peace.

She sentenced him to two years and three months in prison, which she backdated to when he entered the guilty plea. She noted this meant he would not spend any further time in prison, but noted she was setting the sentence this way only because Maples was doing well in custody.
Ideal Care Services director, Karen Akwuobi was handed a six-month suspended sentence

A judge has slammed a care home for vulnerable children which used "altered" garda staff vetting and fake background checks as being "at the high water mark of criminality.

Ideal Care Services was fined 3,000 and must pay 2,000 in costs.

Its director, Karen Akwuobi, a qualified psychologist with a master's degree in human resource management, was handed a six-month suspended sentence.

They admitted failing to satisfy Tusla, the State's child and family agency (CFA), that care home staff numbers, experience and qualifications were adequate.

Children in homes in Carlow and Dublin 10 were exposed to "a high level of risk" due to the defendants' failings and "fundamental misleadings", Dublin District Court heard.

Tusla brought the prosecution under the Child Care (Standards in Children's Residential Centres) regulations and the Child Care Act.

Judge Anthony Halpin noted from the agencys barrister Morgan Shelley, instructed by solicitor Arthur Denneny, that this was the first case to be brought under these laws.

Finalising the case today, he condemned the accused, saying, "Having heard the facts in this case, I must say that the behaviour, conduct and management of the childcare facility and the defendants, in particular, were not only inadequate but it exposed vulnerable children to huge potential dangers."

He noted the evidence of CFA witness Michael McGuigan, who voiced his "extreme concern" about the staffing procedures at Ideal Care facilities in Co Carlow and Dublin 10, which were inspected in 2023.

"The unscrupulous falsification of documents, including the altering of garda vetting documents, places this offence at the high water mark of criminality," Judge Halpin said.

The court heard that Akwuobi, of Tyrrelstown, Dublin 15, was a psychologist and a psychotherapist, and she had further qualifications: a master's degree in human resource management and a primary degree in financial accounting.

Addressing her professional background, Judge Halpin stated: "These specialisms equipped the defendant in carrying out the tasks of selection and recruitment of suitably qualified people to work in this particular area. She has failed in this regard. The failure is such that this court has no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence."

He stated that was not surprising due to the aggravating factors; however, given the guilty plea, testimonials and character evidence, he suspended the sentence on condition she did not reoffend within the next two years.

Defence counsel Henry Kelly asked the judge to note the guilty pleas and acceptance of responsibility by the company and Akwuobi, who did not give evidence.

Staff later passed garda vetting, he said.

Mr Kelly said a previous administrator in the company had provided the documentation and is no longer in the jurisdiction. Counsel said the outcome of the case would impact her career.

Mr McGuigan, a CFA alternative care inspection and monitoring service manager in Tusla, told the court he had never seen anything like it before, and it placed children needing special emergency care placements at "significant risk".

Tusla asked for records about the Carlow care home, and Mr McGuigan visited the service provider's office in March 2023 to review personnel files.

He agreed with Mr Shelley that there was an immediate concern about the authenticity of the information supplied. The same or similar wording was used in several references purportedly written by different people from various organisations.

Five references from separate companies used the identical phrase, "a good legal understanding of the ethical and legal requirements of care" for four employees.

The references did not refer to them by name but simply as "the candidate". Signatures on the back of each were digital rather than original signatures, which was the usual practice, and did not match the supposed referee.

Mr McGuigan suspected garda vetting documents, including reference numbers and dates, had been altered.

He checked some of the references to see if they were genuine.

One staff member had a reference from a Limerick company, but its HR department had no record of that person having ever worked there.

Two care workers had references from the Peter McVerry Trust, who said they had never employed them. The referee's name was also misspelt.

Two references from another organisation had the wrong contact number. One organisation confirmed the person had worked there, but the signature was also misspelt, and that firm did not provide care services.

A supermarket chain knew of one person named but told Tusla they had not provided the reference, which was fabricated.

The defendants had no previous convictions.

Mr McGuigan also investigated the centre in Dublin 10.

A review of personnel files there revealed similar problems.

Staff in the centres were permitted to work directly with young people despite not having police clearances on file from other jurisdictions; names on records were often illegible, and historical instead of current garda vetting was used.

False vetting documents had been placed in the files of some staff members who had actually been cleared.

The Garda National Vetting Bureau confirmed the falsification of the documentation, including inconsistent fonts and serial numbers.

The provider looked after eight to ten children, but the case was concerned with the care of two or three children in the two centres.

Mr McGuigan agreed that the vetting procedures were "fundamentally misleading" and could expose vulnerable children to a high level of risk.

The company also admitted to submitting false, misleading, or falsified background checks to the child and family agency. They included documents about staff members, such as "altered" garda vetting, false staff references, and falsified records of reference checks.

Ideal Care Services also pleaded guilty to failings to satisfy the agency that appropriate pre-employment suitability checks were conducted.

Ideal Care Services, had an address at the Base Enterprise Centre, Ladyswell Road, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, but "is no longer trading", the court heard.

The full facts also applied to Akwuobi although she faced a single charge, the court heard.

* This article was updated to correct the spelling of barrister Morgan Shelleys name and the Tyrrelstown address of the defendant
Clifford, 26, refused to face the family of his victims - his ex-partner Louise Hunt, 25, her sister Hannah Hunt, 28, and their mother Carol Hunt, 61

Triple crossbow and knife killer Kyle Clifford has been handed a whole-life order, as a judge described him as a "jealous man soaked in self pity, who holds women in utter contempt".

Clifford, 26, refused to face the family of his victims - his ex-partner Louise Hunt, 25, her sister Hannah Hunt, 28, and their mother Carol Hunt, 61 - as Mr Justice Bennathan told the court from the outset his plan to jail the defendant for the rest of his life.

At Cambridge Crown Court on Tuesday, the judge said of Clifford: "The evidence I have heard shows you to be a jealous man soaked in self-pity, a man who holds women in utter contempt.

"This is no occasion to subject family and friends of your victims to any delay or suspense.

"I therefore make clear at once that for each of these three murders, the sentence will be one of life imprisonment with a whole-life order.

"That means a sentence from which you will never be released."

The judge began his remarks by saying: "Kyle Clifford, on July 9 last year, you went to the home of your former girlfriend Louise Hunt and launched a murderous attack on her and her family.

"You first killed her mother Carol, who even on that day showed you nothing but kindness in the moments before you attacked her.

"You raped and killed Louise who had been as gentle as she could in ending her relationship with you, after your arrogance and anger proved too much for her to stand.

"Then you murdered Hannah Hunt, who had done nothing to harm you save supporting her little sister."

Mr Justice Bennathan described the attacks as "brutal and cowardly".

He added that Clifford wrote letters to his own family that were "dripping with self-pity".

Speaking about the victim impact statements made by Carol Hunt's husband, BBC racing commentator John Hunt, and their surviving daughter Amy Hunt, he added: "They showed a gentle heroism of which you, Kyle Clifford, can only dream."

Mr Hunt and Amy Hunt both delivered tearful victim impact statements in Clifford's absence before the sentence was passed.

Mr Hunt addressed Clifford at Cambridge Crown Court, saying he could faintly hear the "screams of hell" which said "they're going to roll the red carpet out for you".

Amy also directed her words at the killer, telling the court: "Kyle, plainly the Hunt family are human and you are not."

The judge also said Clifford's military service was also little mitigation to him, saying: "You have been referred to at times as a former soldier.

"In many cases that would serve as significant mitigation.

"Not so in your case, however, as your two years in the army included 286 days at home claiming to be ill, you never saw active service, and your utility to the armed forces can be gleaned in a parting comment from your commanding officer that: 'His character is wholly unsuited to military employment and he has no care nor concern beyond himself.'"
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 11. The Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Turkiye, Mekan Ishangulyev, met with the Deputy Chairman of the Justice and Development Party (AK Parti) of Turkiye, Kurshad Zorlu, Trend reports.

The parties engaged in a comprehensive dialogue regarding the prevailing dynamics of bilateral collaboration across the political, economic, and cultural-humanitarian spectrums.



Focused emphasis was placed on the dynamics of inter-legislative engagement, which constitutes a pivotal element in the advancement of holistic bilateral collaboration.

The meeting also addressed the organization of joint events dedicated to the declaration of 2025 as the "International Year of Peace and Trust" and the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's neutrality. The interlocutors exchanged views on the possibility of the AK Parti delegation's participation in international events scheduled to take place in Turkmenistan.

Turkiye continues to be a heavyhitter in the trading game with Turkmenistan. In 2024, the trade turnover between the countries reached $2.2 billion, reflecting the strong momentum in bilateral economic relations. In 2024, Turkish contractors secured new projects worth $216 million. Currently, 25 ongoing projects valued at a total of $4 billion are being implemented, further strengthening the economic partnership.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
One of the assailants allegedly made a noose and laughed while he was beaten and cut at his flat in north Belfast

A man was hooded and bound to a cooker with dog leads as intruders tried to slice off his ear, a court heard today.

One of the assailants allegedly made a noose and laughed while he was beaten and cut at his flat in north Belfast.

Details emerged as a 27-year-old man accused of taking part in the attack was granted bail.

James Allsopp, of no fixed abode, faces charges of false imprisonment, criminal damage and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Belfast Magistrates Court heard Allsopp and a second man allegedly entered the complainants apartment in the New Lodge area on April 1 last year, informing him that he was going to be bound.

The victim was tied up by dog leads to his cooker, a pillow was placed over his head and he was then hit with something across his head, a police officer said.

During the attack several objects were thrown at him, inflicting a number of cuts and bumps.

One of the males then grabbed his left ear through the pillow case and tried to cut the ear separately, the officer added.

At one point the victim managed to break free from the dog leads and tried to escape but was stopped and detained by the co-accused, according to an account to police.

He was left with a deep laceration across his cheek and ear.

District Judge Steven Keown was told CCTV footage shows Allsopp near the flat at the suspected time of the attack.

But defence barrister Declan Quinn argued that the victim identified the co-accused and claimed to be afraid of him.

Mr Quinn insisted the other man allegedly made a noose and attached it to the cooker.

The injured party stated it was (the co-accused) who sliced his face and caused a lot of blood to flow, counsel submitted.

He also tried to cut his ear and was laughing.

Based on the time Allsopp has already spent remanded in custody, Mr Keown granted him bail under strict conditions.

He ordered the defendant to live at an address approved by police and imposed an exclusion zone to prevent any contact with the victim.

The judge stressed: I want an area on a map to give maximum protection to the complainant.
Sammy Bingham (34) had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting Tara Wright with intent to resist arrest

A Co Armagh man who allowed a drunk teenage girl to get behind the wheel of his car which then crashed and killed her has been jailed for seven months.

Sammy Bingham (34), of Winona Crest, Donaghcloney, Craigavon, had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting Tara Wright with intent to resist arrest.

He further admitted to "wanton and furious driving'' causing injury to a male rear seat passenger in his car.

Belfast Crown Court heard that Bingham and Ms Wright went to a pub in Ballygowan, Co Down to attend a party on Saturday, March 23, 2019 and were driven in Bingham's Mercedes car by one of his friends.

Prosecution counsel Sam Magee KC said that some time after midnight, members of the group were outside the bar.

"Shortly thereafter, witnesses noticed how Tara Wright was in the drivers seat of Mr Binghams silver Mercedes,'' explained Mr Magee.

"The engine was running, and she was seen changing her shoes to put on flat shoes with laces. One witness asked if she was old enough to drive and whether she had a licence. She told one witness that she didnt have a licence and she was only 17.''

She was described as "very drunk'' and others tried to discourage her from driving.

"Miss Wright took off at speed with no headlights illuminated with a male in the rear seat. A witness noticed how the car almost crashed into a bus stop within moments.''

Mr Bingham, said Mr Magee, was "guilty as he had control over the car as the front seat passenger, owner and keeper of that vehicle. He wilfully turned a blind eye to Tara Wrights condition.

"That wilful neglect, together with Taras decision to drive, would result in grave injuries being caused to the male in the back seat of the car.''

Around 30 minutes later, the car was captured on CCTV on the Ballygowan Road at Crossnacreevy.

A minute later it was seen on the wrong side of the road on police cameras at the junction with Ryan Park.

Road users described the vehicle as flying in the lead up to the collision.

Tara Wright

Analysis by a crash scene investigator concluded that the Mercedes was in contact with a raised kerb to the drivers right.

The car moved diagonally from right to left across the road, mounted a raised kerb on the drivers left, travelled across a verge and a footpath and then up a raised bank, "became airborne, rotated and came to rest on its roof''.

The investigator estimated the vehicle was travelling at 53mph when it left the road; there was evidence from CCTV footage to suggest the vehicle had been travelling above the speed limit on sections of the 60mph road.

Miss Wright was more than four times the legal drink drive limit at the time of the collision. No drugs were found in her system.

Said Mr Magee: "It would have been obvious to anyone who wilfully took notice, particularly given her age and slight frame, that she was suffering from the effects of being drunk when she embarked upon driving that night.

"The defendant, it is accepted, wilfully turned a blind eye to her condition and permitted her to drive the vehicle.

"Mr Bingham was twice the legal limit at the time of the crash.

"Rather than call or tend to Miss Wright and the male rear seat passenger, Mr Bingham exited the vehicle and began making telephone calls and moving away from the collision scene.

"Those actions worsened Taras condition and thereby hastened her tragically inevitable death.''

One of Bingham's friends arrived in Ballygowan at 1.42 am in his MG Rover car and was told about the accident.

A man who lived near the crash scene told police he heard voices shouting outside his window, including talk of a "need for an ambulance''.

After removing Miss Wright from the car, she was placed in the front seat of the MG car and one of Bingham's friends drove it from the scene at speed to the rear entrance of Belfast City Hospital.

The driver waved down an ambulance and began removing Miss Wright from the vehicle.

Bingham exited the car before leaving the grounds of the hospital as police were arriving.

He left the area and was later arrested having been seen washing his hands at a petrol station on the Donegall Road.

Said Mr Magee: "In leaving the crash scene and supporting others in removing Tara from the car and on to the City Hospital, Samuel Bingham was attempting to avoid detection and apprehension.

"His actions caused further harm which was life shortening to Tara Wright.''

Traces of cannabis and cocaine were also found in Bingham's system.

Paramedics attended the scene and found a male on the ground, "unconscious with blood coming from his forehead''.

He spent up to eight days in intensive care where a brain injury was detected along with a broken nose and jaw.

Branding the circumstances of the case as "shocking and tragic", defence barrister Eugene Grant KC said: "No words from us can bring any comfort whatsoever."

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Philip Gilpin said the case was both "tragic and shocking''.

"Miss Wright, who was aged 17, sadly died from her injuries sustained in that crash, he said.

"I want to extend condolences to Tara's family on their tragic loss. I appreciate that what has been said in this court today is distressing and difficult for them to hear.''

He told Bingham: "Through your wilful neglect as the owner and keeper, you allowed Tara to drive your car with such devastating consequences.''

The defence had urged the court not to impose an immediate custodial sentence.

Said Judge Gilpin: "He will serve the (seven month) custodial element with immediate effect. He will be released thereafter on licence for seven months.''

As the sentence was passed, Miss Wright's parents along with their two other children clenched hands in the public gallery.
Mr Babatunde (34), a Nigerian citizen who had sought asylum in Ireland, died after being stabbed at approximately 3am

A seventh man has been charged in connection with the fatal stabbing of Quham Babatunde (34) on South Anne Street in Dublin.

The adult male, aged in his late teens, was arrested yesterday as part of the investigation into the violent disorder and fatal assault which took place on February 15.

He has since been charged and is due to appear before Court 3 of the Criminal Courts of Justice Dublin this morning.

Mr Babatunde (34), a Nigerian citizen who had sought asylum in Ireland, died after being stabbed at approximately 3am.

Six other men, all aged in their 20s, have been charged and appeared before courts in Dublin and Northern Ireland as part of the investigation.

John Eghomwanre (23) from Dun Emer Glade, Lusk, Co Dublin, was arrested on Thursday and charged the following day with two counts of assault causing harm and one of violent disorder.

Bakuani Diavisi (25), from Cardy Rock, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, was charged with assault causing harm to another named male at Dawson Street, on the same date.

Sean Forde (23) was also arrested on February 25 and appeared at Dublin District Court the following day.

Mr Forde, with an address at Bath Road, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, was charged with committing violent disorder.

Ryan Ndede (23) of Boroimhe Birches, Swords, Co Dublin, was arrested by the PSNI in Belfast after boarding a ferry to England. He was charged with Quham Babatunde's murder and held in custody after he appeared at Belfast Magistrate's Court on February 21.

Rory Carr (21), of Ard na Greine, Seapoint Lane, Balbriggan, has also been charged with assault causing harm to Mr Babatunde and another man, and with violent disorder.

Jeffrey Bangu (21), of Cardy Rock Crescent, Balbriggan, appeared in court on February 17, accused of brandishing a knife and attacking Mr Babatunde.

He also allegedly assaulted and injured another man in the melee outside a nightclub on South Anne Street.
Badruzzaman Masum (47) was identified through CCTV footage and analysis of the app the teenager had used

A former taxi-driver who sexually assaulted a teenage passenger after speaking to her in a crude manner has been jailed for two years.

Badruzzaman Masum (47) of Forest Mews, Swords, Co. Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexual assault of the then 18-year-old on November 27, 2024. The father of four has no previous convictions.

Garda Ciara Ryan told Marc Murphy BL, prosecuting, that the victim ordered the taxi using a particular app to pick her up in a Dublin suburb around 2.30am.

Once in the taxi, Masum touched her thigh a number of times and started making crude comments about sexual activity.

It became apparent to the teenager that Masum was not travelling in the correct direction, so she offered to allow him to use the Google Maps on her phone. He then suggested that she sit in the front of the vehicle with him so he could see her phone.

Gda Ryan said he ultimately dropped her home but as she was getting out of the taxi he embraced her and groped her breast roughly at the same time.

She made a complaint to the gardai and Masum was identified through CCTV footage and analysis of the app the teenager had used.

He was arrested and interviewed but didnt make any admissions. A victim impact statement was prepared for the case and handed into court but not read out.

Defence counsel said Masum has not worked as a taxi driver since he entered his plea last November.

He said his client accepts that it was a significant breach of trust and the teenager was entitled to a quiet journey but this didnt occur in this case.

Judge Patricia Ryan said the most aggravating feature in the case was the very serious breach of trust and the young age of the victim.

She acknowledged that he has not come to garda attention and he has since expressed remorse for his actions.

Judge Ryan jailed Masum for two years and said he was to be placed on the sex offenders register.
Lorcan O Snodaigh (27) refused to leave the premises and also gave gardai a false address

A son of Sinn Fein TD Aengus O Snodaigh has been given a suspended sentence for obstructing gardai during a drunken public order disturbance in a Dublin hotel early yesterday.

Lorcan O Snodaigh (27) was arrested and brought before a court yesterday after he refused to leave the hotel. He also gave gardai a false address.

Judge Michele Finan gave him a three-month suspended sentence, telling him his conduct had been totally unacceptable and you cant go on like this.

O Snodaigh, of Naas Road, Bluebell, Dublin, pleaded guilty to obstructing gardai, failing to comply with their directions and giving them a false and misleading address. Dublin District Court heard the incident happened in the early hours of yesterday morning, at the Celtic Lodge hotel on Talbot Street.

Garda Karol Piech said O Snodaigh was arrested and taken to Store Street garda station, where he made no reply to the charges after caution. The garda initially objected to O Snodaighs bail due to his history of bench warrants.

Gda Piech also said O Snodaigh had only given an address in London that did not exist. Applying for bail, defence barrister Ciara Murray said the accused did not have a significant number of warrants and could stay at his fathers address in Dublin. The judge granted bail and was in the process of setting out conditions when Ms Murray said the accused now wishes to plead guilty.

Gda Piech gave evidence of being called to the hotel at 3am after O Snodaigh was refused service by staff. He was intoxicated and abusive and refused to leave the premises when told to do so.

The garda told the accused that he had to leave or he would be arrested for trespassing. O Snodaigh failed to do so and jumped over a staff counter, Gda Piech said. He had previous convictions.

Im sorry for what I did, I was drunk at the time, the accused told the judge. He said he was a full-time student and was living in London.

This kind of conduct is totally unacceptable, do you understand that? Judge Finan said.

Of course, O Snodaigh replied.

The judge said the accuseds behaviour was uncalled for.

It seems like youve come to your senses and youre a reasonable chap, but you cant go on like this, she said, before suspending the sentence for a year.

She told O Snodaigh the sentence hanging over him would give him an incentive to make sure youre not so drunk in public that you cant manage yourself.

I wish you well, the judge added.
Key figures include Jos Leijdekkers, who is also known as 'Bolle Jos', Dutch for 'Tubby Jos'

Dozens of defendants, including some of Europes most notorious drug traffickers, have gone on trial for importing at least 25 tonnes of South American cocaine into Belgium.

One of the biggest drug trials in recent years got underway this week in the court of Tongeren, Limburg.

Numerous criminals are facing charges relating to membership of a criminal organisation, drug trafficking, money laundering and violations of arms legislation.

Also on trial as part of the 'Costa' investigation, in which 55 defendants and several companies will be questioned, is Jos Leijdekkers, who was once on the 'EU Most Wanted List' and Willy Van Mechelen, a former officer of the state police (gendarmerie in French and rijkswacht in Dutch).

They have been accused of importing at least 25 tonnes of South American cocaine through the Port of Antwerp.

It is believed that they laundered the estimated 3.5 billion they made through the purchase of gold, luxury watches and real estate.

The various arrested defendants are currently being held in custody in various prisons, including Hasselt and Dendermonde, according to the Brussels Times, as 12 court days have been scheduled to hear the case.

The trial was delayed by more than 45 minutes on Monday morning after the prison transport was stuck in traffic.

Almost all the ringleaders are present with their lawyers in the assize courtroom of the Tongeren court, Belga News Agency reported.

However, key figures including Leijdekkers, who is also known as 'Bolle Jos', (Dutch for 'Tubby Jos') and a man only referred to as Anthony H, remain at large.

Last month it emerged that Leijdekkers, who has been on the run for at least two years, had popped up in Sierra Leone.

The Dutch national, who has been on the run for at least two years, was sentenced in absentia to 24 years in prison in June last year by a Rotterdam court.

In September Dutch police said he remained missing and offered a 200,000 reward for any information leading to his arrest.

Leijdekkers, the most wanted person in the Netherlands, was sentenced to 13 years in prison in absentia by the Antwerp correctional court for ordering the failed theft of 10 tonnes of cocaine.

The 'Costa' case investigation began in 2019, with the discovery of a container coming from Costa Rica that was destined for a company in Maasmechelen, also in the province of Limburg.

Hidden among tropical wood, investigators found 2,800 kilos of cocaine. This prompted a major investigation by the Federal Judicial Police.

Eight investigators spent the following year tracking gang members who had been using encrypted telephones.

However, after the Sky-ECC telephones were later cracked, investigators gained a great deal of additional information, according to the Times.

Police then raided dozens of addresses in Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom in September and October 2019 and seized 1.3 million in cash, 700,000 in bank accounts, shares, weapons, gold, paintings, expensive watches and 40 luxury cars.

At the end of October 2020, an even bigger drug haul of 11,500 kilos of cocaine was intercepted in a container of scrap metal.

Destined for Geert Frisson's motorcycle club in the Limburg commune of Borgloon, it was the largest cocaine seizure in Belgian history at that time.

Investigators were able to identify four different gangs that were all linked in one way or another.

Since then there have been more house searches, while more suspects have been arrested and shipments of cocaine, hidden among bananas, avocados or scrap metal, intercepted.

In September 2022, we reported on how Dutch police had issued new images of 'Bolle Jos', known as the cocaine king of Antwerp, after they received several tip-offs that he now may look different.

A reward of 75,000 was previously offered for the tip that leads to the arrest of Leijdekkers who is on the National Investigation List in the Netherlands for cocaine trafficking and violence.

The police had distributed message seeking information in May alongside the latest photos available of the suspect.

A dozen tips came in about Jos Leijdekkers, the police said at that time. Based on that information, it became clear that he probably looks different now, and a composite drawing was made of this. In addition, we received visual material with Jos Leijdekkers on it.

Police suspect that Leijdekkers, who has no fixed place of residence or residence in the Netherlands, has been abroad for some time, possibly in Turkey.

However, the investigation has not yet provided any concrete insight into his whereabouts. With this new material, we hope to get more information about his whereabouts so that we can subsequently arrest him," the police added.

He is suspected of large-scale laundering of the criminal proceeds of his drug trade and is considered one of the leading players in the international cocaine trade.

Intercepted crypto communications show that Leijdekkers was guilty of laundering tens of millions of euros and hundreds of kilos of gold that were probably earned through the cocaine trade.

An investigation team compiled criminal files about the involvement of Leijdekkers in the import of large consignments of cocaine via the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp. One of the cases also involved the threat and use of violence.

He is also suspected of being involved in very serious cases of excessive violence, including the disappearance and death of Naima Jillal (52), also known as 'Aunt Naima'. She disappeared on October 20, 2019 after getting into a car in Amsterdam.

Intercepted crypto communication messages show that Leijdekkers played an important role in Jillal's disappearance.

There was no further trace of Naima Jillal until photos of a woman were found on a telephone that was seized in the Marengo investigation. It is suspected that it is Jillal and that she has probably been tortured and is no longer alive.

The Marengo trial or Marengo case involved leading members of the Mocro Mafia, a Dutch-Moroccan criminal organisation.

Seventeen suspects, including Ridouan Taghi, a former ally of the Kinahan Cartel. went on trial for involvement in a number of murders and attempted murders.
The woman later developed breast cancer

A gynaecologist allegedly refused to refer a woman with an inverted nipple who later developed breast cancer for a mammogram because he considered her too young for such a scan, a medical inquiry has heard.

The gynaecologist, Jarosaw Kryzanowski, is accused of two allegations of poor professional performance over his treatment of the patient at his clinic in the Medicus Medical Centre at the Park Shopping Centre in Prussia Street, Stoneybatter, Dublin 7.

It was alleged at a fitness-to-practise inquiry held by the Medical Council on Tuesday that Dr Kryzanowski failed to have due regard to the complaint by Ioanna Stefanakou about her retracted nipple when she visited his clinic on September 25, 2020, in circumstances where he refused to arrange an appropriate investigation including but not limited to a mammogram.

The Polish-born medic is also accused of carrying out an ultrasound on the patients breast during two visits to his clinic when he did not have the requisite standard of skill or expertise.

Counsel for the Medical Council, Caoimhe Daly BL, claimed the allegations, if proven, represented a failure to meet the standards to be reasonably expected of a registered medical practitioner.

Dr Kryzanowski qualified as a doctor in 1978 and has been registered to practise in Ireland since March 2008. Although he is eligible for retirement, the inquiry heard he continues to practise at clinics in Ireland and Poland.

In evidence, Ms Stefanakou said she had submitted a complaint about Dr Kryzanowski to the Medical Council as she felt very dismissed by him.

She explained that it was her first time going to a doctor in Ireland and she had chosen Dr Kryzanowski because he was described as a breast specialist.

Ms Stefanakou said she discovered she had an inverted nipple on her right breast about four months before she first attended Dr Kryzanowskis clinic in September 2020.

At the appointment, the Greek national said they discussed her hometown of Kalamata and its famous olive oil before she explained she was really worried about her inverted nipple.

She claimed her request for a mammogram was refused because Dr Kryzanowski felt she was too young as she was under 45. The patient was aged 43 at the time.

Ms Stefanakou said the doctor told her that everything was normal following a physical examination and an ultrasound and told her not to worry and arrange a follow-up appointment in six months.

When she inquired about her inverted nipple, he replied that it was something that happens sometimes.

Ms Stefanakou said she subsequently found out on the internet that an inverted nipple could be a symptom of breast cancer.

The patient said Dr Kryzanowski became a bit annoyed when she asked a second time for a referral for a mammogram as she knew it provided more detail than an ultrasound.

Hes changed his voice. It wasnt calm as before, she recalled.

Ms Stefanakou said she got very stressed after discovering a lump on her right breast about six months later but it took some time before she was able to get another appointment with Dr Kryzanowski on May 20, 2021.

The woman said she was very surprised that the doctor responded in a very raised voice when she asked for a mammogram because of the lump on her breast that she was too young.

I dont know why I wasnt brave enough to get out of his office and run, she remarked.

The patient said she was worried that Dr Kryzanowski did not see anything after conducting another physical examination and ultrasound of her breast when the lump was very visible.

However, she claimed he said he would refer her for a mammogram in the Mater Hospital adding: Let them decide what it is.

The inquiry heard that the woman went for a mammogram and biopsy later that day and it was later confirmed that she had Stage II cancer on her right breast and lymph nodes.

She subsequently underwent surgery to remove the lump In July 2021 after which she was treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

The woman told the fitness-to-practise committee that she was now just on medication.

In her complaint to the Medical Council, the woman wrote: We all do mistakes but I cant forgive him that he made me believe that I have nothing to worry about.

In evidence she said: I want him to be more careful next time. I hope ten times more careful than he was with me.

In a written response to the complaint against him, Dr Kryzanowski said it was the first case of its type in his medical career of over 40 years.

The gynaecologist claimed he had no recollection of the patient but based on medical records he had detected no abnormalities during the first visit to his clinic apart from her inverted nipple which he noted should make doctors stay alert for the future.

Dr Kryzanowski said he did not see a reason for referring her for extra procedures at that time.

He claimed he immediately referred the patient for a mammogram after feeling a small lump in her right breast on her second visit to his clinic.

Dr Kryzanowski denied shouting at the women but accepted that sometimes his voice reaches high tones.

The gynaecologist said he had been dealing with breast ultrasound imaging for ten years.

He claimed everyone seemed to forget that Ms Stefanakous first visit had occurred at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic when he claimed most medical facilities were completely closed.

An expert witness and consultant surgeon, Denis Evoy, gave evidence that the changes to the nipple of a 43-year-old patient warranted an urgent referral which should include an ultrasound, mammogram and, if indicated, a biopsy.

Mr Evoy said the delay in referring the patient for such tests had delayed any potential diagnosis and intervention and was not an acceptable standard.

Another expert witness and consultant radiologist, Syliva OKeeffe, said Dr Kryzanowski did not appear to have reached the training level or qualifications expected of someone performing a breast ultrasound.

Dr OKeeffe said the ultrasound on the patient was not performed in an appropriate environment as there was no access to other necessary tests so that it could result in false reassurance and risk delay.

The inquirys chairperson, Marie Culliton, adjourned the hearing until a future date yet to be determined.
It probably is one of the factors that leads to that reduction of females in particular being interested in and partaking in activities

Former Cork footballer Valerie Mulcahy has said the death of Ashling Murphy, who was killed while out running, has left many women feel unsafe when they exercise outside.

Valerie said the biggest case that had everyone in shock was that of the 23-year-old school teacher who was stabbed 11 times by Jozef Puska along the Grand Canal in Tullamore.

Puska was later sentenced to life in prison for her murder.

Three-years on from Ashlings death in January 2022, a Red C poll found that 41% of women in Ireland aged between 18 and 35 have been threatened or experienced sexual harassment and unsolicited sexual remarks while out exercising.

Some 4% even said that they carry something that could be used as a weapon when they go.

Valerie told Newstalks The Hard Shoulder, how she believes such negative experiences are why so many women give up on exercise.

It probably is one of the factors that leads to that reduction of females in particular being interested in and partaking in activities, she said.

Certainly, activities outside - like running and walking - you would hear of people getting wolf-whistled and that.

I think the biggest case that had everyone in shock was that Ashling Murphy case.

So, its obviously alarming but theres strong evidence and its very shocking.

Valerie also said that the experience of Olympian Jack Woolley, who was assaulted so violently he needed hospital treatment in 2021, meant safety is an issue that men should worry about as well.

Taekwondo champion Jack (26) was hospitalised in August of that year when he was viciously assaulted by a gang of thugs just days after representing Ireland at the Paris Olympics.

I dont think its relevant just to women, she said.

If you look at one of our Olympians who got beaten up walking home by the canal in Dublin city.

So, its not, maybe, just women who feel unsafe.

Society isnt safe as it could be and needs to be - which is worrying.
It is believed that the toddler died as a result of choking.

Sudden death in the Burnvale Crescent area of Cookstown on the March 9, 2025 (Credit: Luke Jervis)

Police attend the scene of a sudden death in the Burnvale Crescent area of Cookstown March 9, 2025 (Credit: Luke Jervis)

Sudden death in the Burnvale Crescent area of Cookstown on the March 9, 2025 (Credit: Luke Jervis)

A toddler believed to have died as a result of choking in Co Tyrone has been named as Emily Whinnery.

The 15-month-old girl died suddenly at a property in Cookstown on Sunday afternoon.

Emergency services attended the scene on Burnvale Crescent including the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) and the Air Ambulance.

A Service of Thanksgiving for Emilys Life will take place in Derryloran Parish Church on Friday, March 14 at 1:30pm, followed by burial in Cookstown Cemetery.

Mourners have been asked to wear bright colours to celebrate Emilys life with any donations going to the Air Ambulance charity.

Police attend the scene of a sudden death in the Burnvale Crescent area of Cookstown March 9, 2025 (Credit: Luke Jervis)

He added that the entirety of the Co Tyrone town has been heartbroken and shocked by the news.

The people of Cookstown are in complete shock at what happened on Sunday and my thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time. Its absolutely terrible.

Sudden death in the Burnvale Crescent area of Cookstown on the March 9, 2025 (Credit: Luke Jervis)

A death notice states that baby Emily Whinnery passed into Gods Heavenly Kingdom.

"Beloved Daughter of Stacey Whinnery and Blane Gordon, much adored Sister of Rhys, Charlie and Riley, loving Granddaughter of Hazel (Keith) and Stephen (Joyce) and cherished Niece of Laura, Kirsty (Corey), Nicole (Ryan) and Nikita (John), it adds.

Forever loved and missed by the entire Whinnery, Holdsworth, Donaghy and Gordon Family Circle.

Burnvale Crescent area of Cookstown (Credit: Luke Jervis)

The smallest of feet have the power to leave big and everlasting footprints on our hearts."

The Belfast Telegraph understands the toddler died as a result of choking.

Local Ulster Unionist councillor Trevor Wilson said the absolutely tragic accident is every parents worst nightmare.

Its unbelievable, he told this newspaper.

An absolute nightmare.

Mr Wilson added that the entirety of the town has been heartbroken and shocked by the news which is the latest in a string of tragedies to hit mid Ulster.

The people of Cookstown are in complete shock at what happened on Sunday and my thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time. Its absolutely terrible.

Police have said they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the sudden death and that enquiries are continuing at this time.

Fellow Mid Ulster Councillor, Kerri Martin, who lives near the estate where the incident occurred, also sent her thoughts and condolences to the childs family and all of their loved ones.

Mid Ulster has been battered with tragedies in recent weeks, particularly with so many deaths of young people, the SDLP representative continued.

It's just awful. My thoughts and prayers, and everyone in Cookstowns thoughts and prayers, are with everyone involved.

Politicians have further called for those on social media to not speculate over the conditions and names of people involved.

Mid Ulster has been battered with tragedies in recent weeks"

On Monday, SDLP Councillor Denise Johnston also said that she is absolutely shocked to once again hear that another child has died in Mid Ulster and referenced Caitlin-Rose McMullan (11) who was recently buried on Sunday.

The Bellaghy schoolgirl died shortly after being struck by a car last Wednesday afternoon.

The incident happened just outside the village of Castledawson, near her family home on Broagh Road, shortly after she had exited a school bus.

She was rushed to hospital in Belfast but sadly succumbed to her injuries.

The funeral of teenager Callum Quinn also took place on Sunday morning at The Church of The Holy Family, Platers Hill.

The 18-year-old from Coalisland passed away after a single-vehicle crash involving a black Peugeot 207 on Coalisland Road outside Dungannon, shortly before 11pm last Tuesday night.

In a separate crash last month, police confirmed that a woman who died in a crash just outside the Cookstown area was 43-year-old Leanne Thomas.

Elsewhere in Mid Ulster, almost a fortnight ago, murder victim Adam Krzan (71) was found dead in Dungannon. He died as a result of serious injuries following an assault at a flat in Corrainey Park.

All four people arrested in connection with his murder have been released by police.
Sinead Dooher (McHugh), who was a prominent teacher at Our Lady & St Patricks College in Belfast, passed away on March 9

Tributes have been paid to a Co Tyrone teacher who has died following a short illness.

Sinead Dooher (McHugh), who was a prominent teacher at Our Lady & St Patricks College in Belfast, passed away on March 9.

A funeral notice said that Ms Dooher died following a short illness which was fought courageously, surrounded by her loving family.

Ms Dooher joined the joined the school 28-years-ago and was a key member of the English department.

The 52-year-old is survived by her three children, Daire, Ruari, and Aoibhe, as well as her husband, Gary.

Our Lady & St Patricks College said they were deeply saddened to hear of the untimely death and recognised Ms Dooher as an integral part of the community.

The east Belfast school said: The students, staff and Board of Governors of Our Lady and St Patricks College, Knock are deeply saddened to learn of the untimely death of Ms Sinead Dooher (RIP).

Sinead joined Our Lady and St Patricks College, Knock in 1997 and quickly became an integral member of our College community, admired and respected by staff and students alike.

She was exceptionally proud to teach in the College, a key member of our English department, committed to getting the very best out of every student, and a loyal supporter of #teamknock.

They added: Our thoughts and prayers are with Sineads husband Gary, their three children, Daire, Ruairi and Aoibhe, and her extended family and many friends.

Sinead will be very much missed by the students and staff, both former and present, of Our Lady and St Patricks College, Knock and we hold her in our prayers. May she Rest in Peace.

Ms Dooher came from a respected GAA family in Co Tyrone with Tyrone GAA expressing they were deeply distressed to learn about her death.

The Ulster GAA side said: Gaelic Tyrone is deeply distressed to learn of the death of Sinead McHugh dear sister of our cherished, enduring Club Tyrone Treasurer Roisin (Shanks), and dear daughter of Johnny and Gabrielle, hugely influential generational presences within and across Tyrone GAA.

Sineads cruel illness was taken on resolutely, in the full spirit of a family who contribute so much to what we are and what we try to do.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. The Russian "Aktiv" company, a developer of hardware and software systems for information protection, is looking to expand its collaboration with Azerbaijani businesses, Olga Minaeva, the Head of International Project GR at "Aktiv," told Trend.

Speaking on the sidelines of the business mission of Moscow-based enterprises to Azerbaijan, Minaeva expanded on the company's goals.

"Our goal here is not just to sell; we want to share the expertise we've accumulated over more than 30 years. We are ready to train our partners, localize products, and establish joint ventures. This is why we are participating in this business missionto explore the most important and relevant options. We aim to work with the Azerbaijan Innovation Agency; our first contact has already been made. We plan to meet with potential local partners and hope to develop successful cooperation with Azerbaijani companies," she said.

Minaeva highlighted that "Aktiv" is one of Russias leading companies in developing authentication and identification technologies, including electronic and digital signatures, with over 30 years of experience.

"Today, it's not just about flash drives but also other form factors, including smart cards. We see a lot of interest from countries in the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), as Russian technologies adapt well and can be localized in neighboring countries," she added.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Gary Thompson, 34, was sentenced to 7 years in prison for for the part he played in the Nelson Cheung murder in 2017. He received a further 3 years for assisting offenders and 3 years for attempting to pervert the course of justice, all to run concurrently.

Convicted sex offender Gary The Gimp Thompson has been labelled a scummy leech by an ex just days before hes sentenced for sex assaults against another woman.

Thompson, who has convictions for drugs and robbery too, has been on a charm offensive to make himself look a decent guy whos just trying to get on with his life.

He approached this newspaper to tell his story but after he was found guilty of repeatedly groping the daughter of a woman he was dating  including once while his partner was dying in hospital  we declined.

But in recent newspaper interviews hes made a string of wild allegations against his killer brother David Monster Thompson  including that his brother forced him to take drugs and take part in kinky sex parties.

Antrim brothers David and Gary Thompson had been publicly feuding for years after David gave a statement to the PSNI that helped send his little brother Gary to jail for seven years for his role in the robbery and subsequent murder of Chinese takeaway owner Nelson Cheung in Antrim in 2015.

Gary also had David sent back to prison last year after accusing him of assaulting him  though he failed turn up at court and the charges were dismissed.

Gary has continued to deny he was guilty of any sex offences  however a judge believed the young witness who took the stand and told Ballymena Magistrates Court that he preyed on her three times.

Now Thompsons ex-partner, who is not the woman who took him to court for sexually assaulting her, has spoken publicly about what she thinks of him  and its not exactly a ringing endorsement.

In fact she says Thompson is a narcissistic deadbeat whos not safe around any woman.

The ex was commenting on the recent newspaper interview which appeared on social media.

She posted: Druggie and always will be, Biggest LEECH with a capital L, runs up bills and debts everywhere he goes. Why was he kicked out of Lisburn again? He is not safe around any woman.

One of her friends comments back in support of her: Youve been through the wars girl but look how much stronger u are now girl and karma is coming back to bite him in the ass be proud girl cus Im proud of u.

And the ex replies: I know because he grooms his girls playing victim all he good at. Everyone elses fault but his own. Complete narcissistic deadbeat of a man no shame.

Thank you so much doll for being by my side from day one. He really is so scummy.

Thompson, once sentenced to seven years for his role in a robbery which left a businessman dead, now faces up to six more months in jail after he was found guilty by a judge of repeated sexual assaults on the daughter of a woman hed been dating but later died tragically after he fed her drugs.

Last month we revealed the sordid image which helped prove to the court that Thompson was a sordid sex beast.

The disturbing image  cropped by us  showed the 42-year-old sex pest shoving his partially exposed crotch into the face of the victims mum during a party  on the same night he assaulted the victim who is 25-years-old.

One of those depraved assaults took place on the same night he wore the oversized pink swimsuit which he admitted himself in court was so big his genitals were hanging out.

Another attack took place, shockingly, in the hospital when the victims mum lay dying close by.

But it was the swimsuit photograph which was passed to the judge at Ballymena Magistrates Court and used by the prosecution to demonstrate the type of disgusting behaviour Thompson was engaging in on the night of one of the attacks.

Speaking to us last month, the victim of that attack said: It has been a very difficult year with my mum passing away last year. Its no secret I blame Gary Thompson for that because of the drugs he was feeding her.

But regardless of that he had no right to sexually assault me, not once, but several times.

Now I hope he goes to jail and I can finally grieve my mum and when he gets out people will know what kind of man he is.

If there are others out there hopefully seeing me go to court will give you the strength to speak up.

In a bad week for Thompson he was also banned from driving for eight months after he tried to plough a field with a Vauxhall Mokka.

damage

He entered a guilty plea to charges of failing to stop, remain and report an accident where damage was caused to a farmers fence.

A prosecuting lawyer told Antrim Magistrates Court, sitting in Ballymena, it was around 8.30am on November 13 last year when a farmer found the wrecked car in his field.

Police inquiries established that 42-year-old Thompson, from Pinetree Grove in Antrim, was the last registered owner but he was not present and nor had he reported the accident.

Police also saw a wallet on the ground outside the car and it was empty except for a drivers licence belonging to the defendant, said the prosecutor.

Thompson told cops he had crashed the car around 11.30 the night before, explaining that it was foggy, he hit the kerb and spun.

That doesnt explain why he did not ring the police or stay at the scene, said District Judge Nigel Broderick.

Imposing 100 fines on each of the three charges, Judge Broderick also banned Thompson from driving for nine months.
Jill Brown, showed her displeasure with her UVF husband in a Belfast court yesterday when she turned her back and stormed away from him yesterday after proceedings. Johnny Brown, is part of the East Belfast UVF murder gang that killed Ian Ogle.

Jill Brown, showed her displeasure with her UVF husband in a Belfast court yesterday when she turned her back and stormed away from him yesterday after proceedings. Johnny Brown, is part of the East Belfast UVF murder gang that killed Ian Ogle.

Cowardly killer Jonny Brown may be hoping he gets a longer sentence for the murder of Ian Ogle next week as hes facing a certain earful from his accomplice wife when he gets out!

For 39-year-old Brown  who pleaded guilty to the UVF murder of Ian Ogle in 2019  was left red-faced when embarrassing kiss kiss messages hed been sending to another woman were read out in court in front of his now wife, Jill Brown.

And 42-year-old Jill was sitting right in front of her wandering eye hubby as she was in the dock alongside him for her part in covering up the murder.

It emerged that despite Jill putting herself in trouble with the cops by helping her then boyfriend evade justice by going to Thailand, Jonny was still in contact on his secret Thai mobile to another woman  and this revelation saw Jill blank Jonny on Friday.

savage

Father-of-two Mr Ogle (45) was beaten and stabbed a total of 11 times just yards from his Cluan Place home.

Jonny Brown was among nine people  seven other men and Jill  who appeared in the dock at Belfast Crown Court on Friday for a pre-sentence hearing for the savage slaying of the popular community worker.

All nine will discover their fate on Wednesday week but Jonny Brown and four others have already been remanded in custody and told they will serve a life sentence as they either pleaded guilty, like Brown did, or were found guilty at trial.

Four others including Jill Brown will be sentenced for lesser charges including assisting offenders and withholding information.

Jonny Brown is facing many years behind bars  all the judge has to decide is what the minimum term he must serve before he can be considered for release  but he may now be hoping he gets a few extra years as Jill was less than impressed on Friday.

Jill Brown is only in court for helping Jonny Brown escape from the clutches of the police in the early days of the investigation.

She packed him a bag and helped sort out keys for a car which was used to get him out of the country.

The killer did a runner after the murder to Thailand and stayed there for several weeks. At the time Jonny and Jill (Morrison as she was back then) were only partners but they since married in 2022.

Brown has been in jail for a year now since he pleaded guilty in February 2024 so hed have been glad to see his wife on Friday, or so he thought.

But with Brown sitting right behind his wife  close enough to touch each other  the court listened to text messages Brown was sending to another woman called Orla while he was hiding out in Thailand.

And after the hearing, Jill Brown blanked her hubby who had reached down for a loving goodbye kiss.

The caught-out killer even called out for his wife but mother-of-two Jill, whos free on bail currently, completely ignored him.

Prosecuting barrister David McDowell KC told the court that Browns mobile phone was seized on his arrest. And that forensic examinations revealed it was a new handset and had a Thai phone number.

The phone contained a WhatsApp conversation with Orla which included arrangements for his return home and advice from his solicitor as to where to fly.

serious

At 7.09am on February 5 2019, Brown sent a message saying: Dead on only wakened the ones yesterday were released they dont seem to have anything of [sic] anyone at all being there only me with this car and blood so Im just saying I took people up it all kicked of I seen what the fella was doin and tried to stop it thats how I got blood on me.

This was followed by a second message at 7.21am which said What u think xx

Orla replied at 7.26am and said: They dont seem to know whats going in and all they have on u is the car and ur top that isnt enough to be charged with m, and Im sure they have other things on people there xx

A court source told the Sunday World: Jill was clearly furious when those messages were read out because she obviously had no idea he was in contact with another woman.

It looked like she might have known who this woman was and was not happy he was texting her for advice while he was on the run.

Its understandable  Jill is going to have a very serious criminal conviction against her name now for life and its only because she was trying to protect her man.

She completely blanked him when the hearing was over. He was in handcuffs and heading back to jail but he obviously hoped he could steal a kiss before they were separated  Jill was having none of it.

In February 2024, Brown (39), from Whinney Hill in Dundonald, and 46-year-old Mark Sewell from Glenmount Drive in Newtownabbey, pleaded guilty to murdering Mr Ogle and were handed life sentences.

Three co-accused denied the charge and stood trial at Belfast Crown Court.

During a pre-sentence hearing this week, barristers for all three  Walter Ervine (43) from Litchfield Street in east Belfast, 42-year-old Robert Spiers (42) from Millars Park in Dundonald and Glenn Rainey (38) whose address was given as Ballyhalbert Caravan Park  revealed their clients were appealing their convictions.

Appearing alongside these five men in the dock were four co-accused who all admitted lesser offences linked to the murder.

Christopher Haire (55), from Killagan Bend in Belfast, 42-year-old Jill Brown, from Wolff Close in east Belfast and 37-year-old Thomas McCartney, also from Wolff Close, all admitted a charge of assisting offenders whilst Reece Kirkwood (27), from Belvoir Street in east Belfast, pleaded guilty to withholding information.
It has been 22 years since Mark Pakenham killed his girlfriend Sara Niethe and disposed of her body. While he admitted killing her, he has never disclosed where he hid her remains. A private investigator working with Niethes family has now revealed new information from a dying ex-crim that could lead to her lonely grave. And he has shared the results of a police review of the case  prompted by a formal complaint that the investigation into Niethes disappearance was flawed.

Sara Niethe was killed in 2003. Her body has never been found. Photo / Supplied

Niethe, 30, was reported missing on Monday, March 31, 2003 after she failed to arrive home from Pakenhams house.

Initially, he told police he and Niethe spent most of the previous day drinking at his home in Kaihere, 35km northwest of Morrinsville.

He said Niethe left early on Monday morning.

She lived just 10 minutes away. She never made it home and there has been no sign of her since.

In 2011 Pakenham was charged with Niethes murder.

Before his case went to trial he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter.

He admitted injecting Niethe with a fatal dose of methamphetamine but said he was too affected by drugs and alcohol to remember where he put her body.

Pakenham was sentenced to six years and seven months in prison and refused parole repeatedly until he was finally released in 2016.

In recent years Niethes family have been working with private investigator Bruce Currie to run their own searches for her body.

Mark Pakenham. Photo / Alan Gibson

Currie also made a formal complaint to police about how Niethes case was handled and the prosecution of her killer.

He did not believe basic homicide protocols were followed when Niethe was reported missing and was concerned that questions from her family could not be answered due to papers dealing with the issue being missing from the police file.

The original investigation into Saras disappearance was flawed and should be reinvestigated, Currie said.

We also asked police to follow up on some info we received. In 2024, an anonymous informant claimed that Pakenham had buried Sara and her vehicle on a farm property in the Thames District using a digger.

The informant, who described themself as a dying ex-crim, was wanting to clear their conscience before they died.

This information was passed to the police but has not led to the recovery of Sara and her vehicle.

Sara Niethe pictured with daughters. Photo / Supplied

Currie also sought answers to questions about how Pakenham was able to convince the authorities that Saras killing was an accident  leading to his murder charge being reduced from murder to manslaughter.

He said the killer later admitted he lied during the process.

Detective Superintendent Ross McKay responded to the complaint in November and Currie shared the information with the Herald before the anniversary of Niethes death.

He explained the process was problematic because the initial missing person inquiry was paper-based and in part deconstructed and reformed under the homicide investigation.

McKay said considerable time was spent manually searching and addressing the complaint.

He had all of the files scanned and digitised so an analysis could be carried out to identify missing components.

This took some time and cost but enabled us to largely address unexplained gaps and provide us both with a better understanding of the file holdings, he said.

Once digitised I assigned the files to a Detective Inspector to review the content.

Detective Inspector John Mackie submitted a report to McKay after the review.

There is no evidence I can identify that changes the position of the prosecution. This file has been extensively investigated to a high standard and a case has been taken to court, he said.

The recent admissions made by Pakenham hold no more weight than the multiple earlier accounts that are not corroborated with any other evidence.

There is not a single strand of new evidence that is apparent  Without further credible information, there is no obvious investigative opportunities that present themselves.

McKay said Pakenham was charged, pleaded guilty to, was convicted and has served his sentence for the manslaughter.

The [sentencing judge] is clear in that he challenges the veracity of Pakenham, and accordingly his final sentence outcome had a substantial uplift in terms of imprisonment, he said.

To achieve a murder conviction the Crown must prove, beyond reasonable doubt, that the killing was deliberate or reckless where death is likely.

Mark Pakenham. Photo / Alan Gibson

This is an extremely high threshold and necessitates proving intent. This intent component leads to a high proportion of homicide charges being prosecuted or convicted as manslaughter.

I am of the opinion that the correct charges were laid, and that the sentencing outcome was better than may have been anticipated.

He said he did not believe any admission by Pakenham about lying have any more merit or veracity than any previous comments.

And in the absence of any new evidence to corroborate them have no substantive value, he said.

McKay said there was a lot of demand on police to solve outstanding crimes, including from many families with unresolved homicides or missing persons that deserve our attention.

He acknowledged Currie and his team had shown passion and commitment in their search for Nieth, which totalled at least 1500 man hours.

It is due to that commitment that I have resourced and funded police continued work reviewing this case, he said.

It is only due to your work that I can even start to validate the resource and time we have committed to reviewing a case that has had a full court process with the offender convicted. An outcome many others justifiably expect.

Police are under pressure to solve crimes in New Zealand. Photo / NZME

While there are no legal grounds to advance this investigation, it is on the back of the possibility of identifying something that may advance the recovery and return of Sara to her family that after receiving the D/Insp review I have revisited the file again.

McKay had analysed Curries varying hypotheses and theories against the conflicted and fraught continuum of source information and evidence available.

I have also spent some time researching one of the worlds leading missing persons investigators  and some of his theories and reviews of international high-profile cases to try to identify any applicable gaps or theories that may assist to locate and return Sara home.

Regrettably I have been unable to provide any evidence-based options and it is possible now that the position has become even more complicated, with hearsay and Chinese whisperers affecting what was already unreliable and uncorroborated leads in either inquiry.

McKay concluded that the person responsible for Niethes death has been correctly identified and convicted of her manslaughter.

He has served his full sentence, which included uplifts for his attempting to pervert the course of justice and failing to identify where Saras remains are located, he said.

There is no new evidence identified within the file or from new information to justify further investigations.

I am unable to identify any new evidence that will assist in locating Sara.

McKay assured Currie any new information would be assessed and that the files were now fully digitised and searchable should the situation change.

Mark Edward Pakenham pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Kerepehi woman Sara Niethe. Photo / Christine Cornege

Currie was disappointed by the response and said it did little to reduce the anguish that Saras family have suffered over the past 21 years.

The bottom line was that the investigator found no reason to reopen the file and it appeared that it was a dead duck with no new avenues of inquiry available, he said.

So going forward, what does this mean for the family?

If the police have no further interest in solving the case, what chance is there of ever finding out the truth as to what happened to Sara? Both Sara and her vehicle remain missing and it would only be the finding of one or the other that would spark further interest in the case.

Currie said the key to finding Niethe was in the community.

The bottom line is that Pakenham needed help to dispose of both Saras body and vehicle. So who could possibly be this person and what would their motivation have been to help a killer? he asked.

It could be that this person played a part in Saras killing so that alone would be a reason to help with the disposal  this is possibly the most likely scenario, which in itself is disturbing.

There are people out in the Hauraki community who have information which could lead to this case being resolved.

The private search team call on these people to come forward, anonymously if needed, and end Saras familys trauma.

All they wish for is the opportunity to acknowledge their mother, sister, daughter etc and let Sara rest in peace.

There was no reason to kill Sara  she was a loving mother and, although a bit of a scallywag, did not have a bad bone in her body.

Currie said he had no intention of giving up the search.

It is now five years since we started analysing the case and calling for answers, he said.

It may well be that [Pakenham] will take the answers to his maker as he clearly has no intention to tell the truth anytime soon.
IT workers - threatened with large-scale job cuts at Health NZ - are hoping for a reprieve, after the health minister revealed he has asked officials to think again.

The agency had proposed to axe almost half its more than 2000 digital and data roles, and scrap or defer 136 IT projects, including upgrades to booking systems and radiology.

In a speech on Friday to the Business NZ Health Forum, Health Minister Simeon Brown said the health infrastructure investment pipeline was one of his "key priorities".

Digital infrastructure was "fragmented", with about 6000 applications and 100 digital networks, he said.

"That equates to roughly one application for every 16 Health New Zealand staff members, which is unsustainable."

In response to questions from reporters, Brown said he had asked Health NZ to look at its proposal around data and digital "to make sure that it is going to be able to support the current systems".

"We do need a transition to proper 21st century systems at Health NZ , that is going to take some time," he said.

"In the meantime, we need to make sure we are supporting those existing systems so that we can provide the care patients need and support clinicians in the important work they do."

Brown said he was expecting all the proposals on "back office bureaucracy" concluded by the middle of May.

Health NZ acting chief information officer, Sonny Tait, said the organisation was making changes to ensure its "support functions" were "right sized to support the front-line".

"The changes to our Data and Digital team remain a proposal at this point.

"IT systems will continue to operate, and appropriate transitional arrangements and contingency plans will be put in place once any final decisions are made."

Health NZ was currently considering all feedback before final decisions were made, he said.

"We will update staff in the coming weeks on the timeline for next steps.

"It is our intention that the vast majority of change process across Health NZ will be completed by mid-2025."

'Clear commitment' to reversing cuts needed - union

Public Service Association national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said the loss of data and digital specialist roles would have a "devastating" long-term impact on the public health system.

"The minister is finally waking up to the lasting damage that the job losses of 1100 specialist data and digital workers would mean. We need a clear commitment from the Minister to reverse the cuts and instead work with our dedicated IT professionals to make sure patient safety is central to any change."

Axing so many critical workers would hurt core aspects of patient care, from accurate charting medicines and analysing test results, to booking operating theatres, she said.

Nelson Hospital IT infrastructure engineer Bernd Wachter, a PSA member, said he and his colleagues were "flat-out" keeping out-of-date systems alive.

He had even had to "scrub up" and fix a malfunctioning computer in an operating theatre mid-surgery, to allow the operating team to monitor the patient's vital signs.

It was "inevitable" that patients would needlessly die if the cuts went ahead, he told RNZ earlier this month.

Private sector 'here to help'

Digital Health Association chief executive Ryl Jensen - who represents health software companies and healthcare providers - welcomed the fact the minister was "asking questions" about the proposed cuts.

"It has been a devastating year for digital and we've gone backwards at a rate of knots."

Jensen said the sector was also taking heart from the Minister's commitment to explore public-private partnerships, and investigate a separate Health Infrastructure Entity to manage and build physical and digital assets.

However, it was not a simple matter of expecting the private sector to jump in and fill the gaps, she warned.

"When you actually work well together you can get a lot of stuff done, but it still requires that investment. So you can't rely on the private sector to fund it, you actually need to have the government investing in technology in the first place."

Creating partnerships with private IT companies was "not about privatisation of the health sector", Jensen said.

Rather, it was about utilising their expertise and workforce to build up public capacity, and also give developers the platform to create products, which could have an international market.

"So you get a really good health system with digital infrastructure in the background, as well as moving forward with your economy. So it's a real win/win in my view."

But Fitzsimons cautioned against replacing in-house expertise with outside consultants.

"Privatisation of the IT systems within hospitals is not the answer.

"We have dedicated and experienced data professionals working within our hospitals now, who know and understand these applications.

"We need to invest in them and value them, instead of cutting their jobs."
The New Zealand government is tightening controls on 23 harmful substances, including three fentanyl-related drugs, to curb the risks posed by synthetic opioids and other dangerous substances.

Cabinet has agreed to progress stronger controls on the substances, increasing penalties and empowering law enforcement agencies to take action against those manufacturing and possessing these drugs, Health Minister Simeon Brown said.

Peddlers of illicit drugs are a scourge on society and cause devastating harm to families and communities across the country, Brown said.

Increasing penalties supports law enforcement agencies to crack down on these peddlers of misery and destruction and supports them to maintain law and order.

The proposed changes, which follow recommendations from the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs, aim to limit harm and prevent misuse.

The committee specifically advised the classification of three fentanyl analoguessynthetic opioids often more potent than the drugs they mimicas Class A controlled drugs. This designation carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment for manufacturing offences.

We know that fentanyl itself is many times stronger than morphine, and analogues can often be even stronger still, Brown said. Peddlers of illicit drugs cause significant harm in our communities and inflict misery on our streets.

New Zealand currently experiences lower rates of illicit opioid use compared to other nations. However, Brown said the stricter controls will help prevent potential harm should these substances become more available.

Beyond fentanyl analogues, the government is increasing controls on other substances, including synthetic cathinones, synthetic cannabinoids, amphetamine precursors, and novel benzodiazepines, under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975.

Most of these substances were previously regulated at some level, whether as close copies of existing drugs, prescription medicines, or psychoactive substances.

The Government has also agreed to increase controls on several other substances, Brown said. We know how important it is to reduce the impact of drug harm. Ensuring there are stronger controls in place for these harmful substances is a step towards that goal.

The planned changes have received initial Cabinet approval and will be drafted as an Order in Council.

The proposal will be tabled in Parliament and reviewed by the Health Select Committee before returning to Cabinet for final approval. If accepted, the new regulations are expected to take effect by mid-year.
While the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra travels by bus to venues this week, two musicians will take to the open road on motorcycles for their performances.

The NZSOs principal trumpeter, Michael Kirgan, and principal timpanist, Laurence Reese, will ride from Wellington to Palmerston North on March 11 for the first of five remaining concerts in the orchestras Timeless Beauty: Handel & Telemann tour.

The pair will then continue their journey by motorcycle to Napier, Rotorua, Hamilton, and Tauranga to perform in the Baroque-themed concerts, which feature Telemanns trailblazing Concerto for 3 Trumpets and Timpani.

The musicians estimate their round trip will exceed 1330km. Each day is carefully planned to ensure they arrive in good time for their performances, but in true Born to be Wild spirit, they intend to embrace the adventure along the way.

We arent just going to get up each day and ride straight to the next place, Kirgan said. We might go off the beaten track and ride around some back roads and have a really fun run before arriving at our hotel for a shower and rest before we play.

This is not the duos first motorcycle-powered tour. Reese recalled an eight-day, 2800km South Island concert tour in 2012 as probably the best motorcycle ride of my whole life.

We rode one day from Wanaka to Westport in one go and it was a beautiful day. It was a Tuesday and no traffic. It was like our own private rollercoaster, Reese said.

I remember we pulled up at the hotel and Mike took off his helmet and had this huge grin. He looked at me and said, you wanna turn around and go back again? It was magic.

Timeless Beauty showcases music by Baroque giants Handel and Telemann, along with renowned English composer Matthew Locke.

The NZSO ensemble, featuring 26 of New Zealands finest musicians, is led by concertmaster Vesa-Matti Leppanen.

Audiences will be treated to two masterpieces by Handel: his majestic Overture and Symphonia from Occasional Oratorio and the sublime Alcina Suite from his opera.

Kirgan and Reese will be soloists alongside associate principal trumpet, David Johnson, and sub-principal trumpet, Mark Carter.

Im very excited to be part of the Telemann concerto, as it will be the first time I have played it, Reese said. Audiences will love it.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 11. Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan discussed implementation of major strategic projects, including fiber-optic lines and deep-water electric cables across the Caspian Sea, Trend reports.

This issue was part of the agenda during a meeting between President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, who is in Astana on an official visit.

President Tokayev underscored the importance of this meeting in tightening the screws on multifaceted intergovernmental ties.

"Your visit is of great importance for the further advancement of our cooperation with brotherly Azerbaijan. Relations with Azerbaijan are very important to us. We consider your country a reliable strategic partner and ally," he emphasized.

The minister articulated appreciation for the conventionally hospitable reception and underscored the progressive evolution of bilateral engagements.



Bayramov expressed gratitude to the Kazakh counterpart for the swift support rendered in the aftermath of the unfortunate incident involving an Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft in Aktau.



Furthermore, the potential avenues for enhanced collaboration in the realms of commerce, capital infusion, digital transformation, logistical transit, and transportation modalities were deliberated.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Victoria Goodwin (L) and Aaron Goodwin from "Ghost Adventures" attend the premiere of "Mad Apple by Cirque du Soleil" at The Park on May 26, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Getty Images

The wife of a reality TV star has been arrested in an alleged murder-for-hire plot.

An arrest report obtained by TMZ says Victoria Goodwin, 32, was arrested last week on charges of solicitation to commit murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Police said she allegedly tried to hire a hitman to kill her husband, 48-year-old Ghost Adventures star Aaron Goodwin, while he was filming his show.

Police said Victoria sent messages to a Florida prison inmate about trying to end his existence, and provided information about his location and filming times in California where he was shooting Ghost Adventures. The prisoner was allegedly communicating with the hitman, and the plot was uncovered when corrections officers found and seized the inmates contraband phone.

According to the arrest report, Victoria allegedly set aside $11,515 to pay for Aarons murder and sent specific messages about a $2,500 upfront payment. When confronted, she denied wanting to kill her husband.

TMZ reports Victoria, who married Aaron in August 2022 at Disneylands Haunted Mansion, is currently being held on $100,000 bail.

Victoria is scheduled to appear in Clark County, Nevada, court on Tuesday, according to the Daily Mail.

Aaron Goodwin is a cast member on Ghost Adventures along with Zak Bagans and Nick Groff. The paranormal investigation series began in 2008 on the Travel Channel and currently streams on Discovery+; episodes feature ghost hunters searching for evidence on overnight stays in supposedly haunted places.
Albany, N.Y.  New Yorks prison chief declared Monday evening that the longest-running strike by prison employees in state history has ended.

More than 10,000 employees are now available to work across the states 42 correctional facilities, according to Daniel Martuscello III, the commissioner of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

The 22-day strike began Feb. 17 at a Buffalo-area prison and quickly spread to nearly every prison in the state. Gov. Kathy Hochul deployed thousands of National Guard personnel as the work stoppage placed enormous pressure on the prison system.

The previous longest-running prison strike was 16 days in 1979.

Strikes by government employees are illegal under a section of state Civil Service Law commonly known as the Taylor Law. A judge last month ordered striking corrections officers back to work, but they did not comply.

State officials unsuccessfully tried numerous times to resolve the strike, including by participating in mediation and reaching a written agreement with the union representing corrections officers, which has said it does not sanction the strike.

The latest deal to end the crippling strike was signed Saturday. It was to take effect if 85% of employees returned to work by 6:45 a.m. Monday, but that threshold was ultimately not met, Martuscello said.

The commissioner said provisions of the deal would nonetheless be honored, including creating a committee to recommend changes to the so-called HALT Act, which limits the use of solitary confinement in prisons. Strikers have said the law increases safety risks.

Discontent has been growing among officers, and union leaders last month issued a vote of no confidence in Martuscello.

Martuscello struck a positive tone during a Monday evening news conference, saying it was time for the new department to recover, rebuild and recruit.

The end to the strike may prove to be a Pyrrhic victory for state officials.

They moved Monday to immediately terminate more than 2,000 corrections officers and sergeants who did not return to work by the 6:45 a.m. deadline, adding to staffing woes at the department. The department had about 13,500 employees before the strike.

Replacing about one in seven pre-strike employees is likely to be extremely challenging. More employees have left the department than joined it every year since 2018, records show, when the department had a small net gain of 53 employees.

The loss of such a large number of employees could add to the extensive amount of overtime that corrections officers said they were forced to work before the strike due to a staffing shortage.

Martuscello said he stood by the commitment for corrections officers to not work shifts longer than 12 hours.

National Guard personnel will remain in a support posture in state prisons for the time being, he said. An end date for the deployment has not been announced.

The corrections department will launch an aggressive, high-energy recruitment campaign to fill employee vacancies, Martuscello said.

I want you to know that I heard you. Your safety, your family, your work-life balance are important to me, he said during a portion of the news conference aimed at rank-and-file employees. Im committed to continue to listen to your voices as we move forward. It is time to turn the page.

Staff writer Jon Moss covers breaking news, crime and public safety. He can be reached at jmoss@syracuse.com or @mossjon7.
Search and rescue team members work on clearing a wheelchair ramp of snow at a house in Hastings. (Provided) Oswego County

OSWEGO, N.Y.  Volunteers from search and rescue teams across the state have been helping over 200 Oswego County residents clear snow from ramps, walkways and heating vents from Februarys snowstorms.

The teams are staying at a fire station in Hannibal and getting meals from the American Red Cross.

The county opened a phone bank on Feb. 25 for people to call for help removing snow. The number accrued 178 requests within its first three days. After the rate of calls started to taper, the county closed the line on March 5.

This will enable us to focus on the requests weve already received, Cathleen Palmitesso, director of the Oswego County emergency management office, said in a news release.

Calls for assistance can still be made by dialing 211.

The search and rescue teams from outside Oswego County came from the counties of Fulton, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida and Saratoga. Members from Team Rubicon and Mennonites from Christian Disaster Relief joined the teams on their mission.

They came to help Oswego Countys search and rescue team with its massive case log. The response was coordinated through the New York State Federation of Search and Rescue Teams.

Our team is composed of dedicated volunteers who are passionate about helping others, said Aaron Albrecht, who leads the Oswego team. We come from all walks of life but share a common goal of serving our community.

Fire departments have also been getting some help. The state Department of Environmental Conservation helped clear snow from fire hydrants in the Scriba Water District, the town of Hastings and village of Central Square.

This assistance has been invaluable for our local departments, said Oswego County Fire Coordinator Shane Laws.
President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull walk at the White House during Trump's first term in 2018. Turnbull criticized Trump in recent interviews and Trump called Turnbull weak and ineffective. (Carolyn Kaster | AP Photo) Carolyn Kaster | AP Photo

A host on an Australian morning show had harsh words for the nations ex-prime minister after he criticized President Donald Trump.

Sarah Abo, a host on Today, a morning news show in Australia, said former leaders like ex-Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull need to shut up after Turnbull attacked Trump during an interview.

I mean, honestly, former prime ministers just need to shut up," Abo said, according to Sky News Australia. Its not his role to meddle here. He got the deal done when he was in government.

The deal Abo was referring to was Turnbulls successful negotiation for an exemption from Trumps first round of steel and aluminium tariffs in his first presidential term, Sky News said.

Turnbull commented on Trump and his second term so far during interviews with the Australian Broadcasting Corp. and Bloomberg News.

In the Bloomberg interview, Turnbull described Trump as chaotic, rude, abrasive and erratic, according to the ABC. Trump later called Turnbull weak and ineffective.

While speaking with the ABC, Turnbull referred to Trump as a bully and accused current world leaders of sucking up to Trump.

He said Australia shouldnt hold back on criticizing the U.S. president.

Turnbull was prime minister in Australia for part of Trumps first term and had a difficult relationship with him, according to Bloomberg.

Most of the people, pretty much all the people Ive seen international leaders that have sucked up to Trump and been sycophants have been run over Turnbull said during the ABC interview.

We are now seeing somebody that is utterly unconstrained, and if the advice is to go and suck up to him, well, where does that get you? Are we just going to become a conga line of sycophants creeping through the White House paying homage to this guy and telling him hes a genius? Its ludicrous.

I mean, this is weve got to get: the leaders of other countries, particularly friendly countries, are among the few people that can speak truth to Trump, because he cant sack them.

Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598
This photo provided by the Village Of Mount Pleasant Police Department in Wisconsin shows police officers delivering ice cream to a 4-year-old boy who had called 911 to report his mother ate his ice cream. Mount Pleasant Police

When a young child doesnt get to eat their ice cream, its apparently an emergency.

A 4-year-old boy called 911 last week to report that his mother ate his ice cream, according to the Village Of Mount Pleasant Police Department in Wisconsin. He said he wanted her to go to jail.

My mom is being bad, the child told the 911 operator, according to a recording obtained by WTMJ. Come and get my mommy.

The boys mother then got on the phone and explained that her 4-year-old son was calling because I ate his ice cream, so thats probably why hes calling 911. He could be heard continuing to object in the background.

Police were dispatched to the scene to ensure it wasnt a more serious situation, CNN reported. The child confirmed he was upset over ice cream and later said he no longer wanted his mother to be locked up.

Mount Pleasant police officers Gardinier and Ostergaard said they returned the next day to surprise him with some ice cream - with blue sprinkles. The boy, who was not identified, happily posed for a picture with his special delivery.
Soldiers of Ukraine's 100th mechanised brigade hold posters saying thanks the US for support during flashmob at the US made APC Bradley on the front line near Toretsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Monday, March 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Roman Chop) AP

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP)  The Trump administration lifted its suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing for Ukraine, and Kyiv signaled that it was open to a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Russia, pending Moscows agreement, American and Ukrainian officials said Tuesday following talks in Saudi Arabia.

The administration imposed the measures a week ago to push Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to enter talks to end the war with invading Russian forces.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. would present the ceasefire offer to the Kremlin.

Were going to tell them this is whats on the table. Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking. And now itll be up to them to say yes or no, Rubio said.

The announcements emerged as senior officials from Ukraine and the United States opened talks in Saudi Arabia focused on ending Moscows three-year war against Kyiv and hours after Russia shot down over 300 Ukrainian drones. It was Ukraines biggest attack since the Kremlin ordered the full-scale invasion of its neighbor.

President Donald Trumps special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to travel later this week to Moscow, where he could meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a person familiar with the matter but not authorized to comment publicly. The person cautioned that scheduling could change.

The mood across the room

Journalists were briefly allowed in a room where a senior Ukrainian delegation met with Americas top diplomat, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who smiled at the cameras and when asked about his expectations for the meeting, gave a thumbs-up and replied, Good.

Across the table, Ukrainian officials, including the countrys top diplomat and defense chief, showed no facial expressions as the meeting got underway at a luxury hotel. However, Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak told reporters that the most important thing was how to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. He said security guarantees were important to prevent Russia from invading again in the future.

It was the first meeting between the two sides since the Oval Office blowup between Trump and Zelenskyy last month.

Saudi Arabias foreign minister was also on hand as American, Saudi and Ukrainian flags could be seen in the background. Officials did not answer any of the journalists' shouted questions.

The delegations met for about three hours in the morning before taking a break, and officials said the talks continued in the afternoon.

There was also no immediate comment from Ukrainian or U.S. officials on the massive attack in which 343 drones targeted 10 Russian regions, leaving three people dead and 18 wounded, including three children, officials said.

Meanwhile, Russia launched 126 drones and a ballistic missile at Ukraine, the Ukrainian air force said, as part of Moscows relentless pounding of civilian areas during the war.

In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the United States will inform Russia about the results of the Jeddah talks, which he described as normal practice.

On the streets of Kyiv, Ukrainians kept an eye on the Saudi talks.

Lena Herasymenko, a psychologist, said she accepts that compromises will be necessary to end the war, but she said they must be reasonable.

We had massive losses during this war, and we dont know yet how much more well have, she told The Associated Press. We are suffering every day. Our kids are suffering, and we dont know how the future generation will be affected.

Oleksandr, a Ukrainian soldier who could give only his first name because of security restrictions, warned that Ukraine cannot let down its guard down.

If there is a ceasefire, it would only give Russia time to increase its firepower, manpower, missiles and other arms. Then they would attack Ukraine again, he said.

Talks bring a chance to mend US-Ukraine relations

The meeting in Jeddah offered an opportunity for Kyiv officials to repair Ukraines relationship with the Trump administration after an unprecedented argument erupted during Zelenskyys Feb. 28 visit to the White House.

Critically, Ukraine needs to persuade Washington to end the U.S. suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing after the blowout. U.S. officials have said that positive talks in Jeddah could mean that the pause is short.

Ukrainian officials told AP on Monday that they will propose a ceasefire covering the Black Sea, which would bring safer shipping, as well as long-range missile strikes that have hit civilians in Ukraine, and the release of prisoners.

The two senior officials said Kyiv is also ready to sign an agreement with the United States on access to Ukraines rare earth minerals  a deal that Trump is keen to secure.

While traveling to Jeddah, Rubio said the U.S. delegation would not be proposing any specific measures to secure an end to the conflict but rather wanted to hear from Ukraine about what they would be willing to consider.

Im not going to set any conditions on what they have to or need to do, Rubio told reporters accompanying him. I think we want to listen to see how far theyre willing to go and then compare that to what the Russians want and see how far apart we truly are.

Rubio said the rare earths and critical minerals deal could be signed during the meeting, but he stressed it was not a precondition for the United States to move ahead with discussions with either Ukraine or the Russians.

He said it may make more sense to take some time to negotiate the precise details of the agreement, which is now a broad memorandum of understanding that leaves out many specifics.

The Kremlin is sticking to its conditions for peace

The Kremlin has not publicly offered any concessions. Russia has said its ready to cease hostilities on condition that Ukraine drops its bid to join NATO and recognizes regions that Moscow occupies as Russian. Russia has captured nearly a fifth of Ukraines territory.

Russian forces have held the battlefield momentum for more than a year, though at a high cost in infantry and armor, and are pushing at selected points along the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line, especially in the eastern Donetsk region, against Ukraines understrength and weary army.

Ukraine has invested heavily in developing its arms industry, especially high-tech drones that have reached deep into Russia.

Most of the Ukrainian drones fired overnight  126 of them  were shot down over the Kursk region across the border from Ukraine, parts of which Kyivs forces control, and 91 were shot down over the Moscow region, according to a statement by Russias Defense Ministry.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said over 70 drones targeted the Russian capital and were shot down as they were flying toward it  the biggest single attack on Moscow so far in the war.

The governor of the Moscow region surrounding the capital, Andrei Vorobyov, said the attack damaged several residential buildings and a number of cars.

Flights were temporarily restricted in and out of six airports, including Domodedovo, Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo and Zhukovsky just outside Moscow, and airports in the Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod regions.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Kazakhstan expects oil shipments through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline to rise to 2.2 million tons per year, said Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu during a joint press conference with Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov in Astana, Trend reports.

The ministers praised the successful cooperation in the transit of Kazakh energy resources through Azerbaijan.

"We are successfully implementing our agreements to deliver Kazakh energy resources to the global market via Azerbaijan. Last year, 1.4 million tons of oil were exported through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. We plan to increase Kazakh oil transit to 2.2 million tons per year in the future," Nurtleu said.

In addition, the two sides agreed to boost cooperation in agriculture, industrial collaboration, the space sector, and telecommunications. The dialogue has been further strengthened by the establishment of the Kazakhstan-Azerbaijan Direct Investment Fund in 2024.
WTF?! It's tempting to consider getting revenge on a company for firing you. Creating a kill switch that crashes systems and locks thousands of employees out of their accounts, for example, might sound like sweet justice, but a developer who implemented this plan has been convicted of criminal sabotage and faces up to a decade in prison.

In November 2007, Houston resident Davis Lu started working for power management company Eaton Corporation. His work life went well until 2018, when a company-wide corporate realignment saw his role downsized. The change included his responsibilities being reduced and his access to the firm's computer systems limited.

Based on the DoJ's account, this spooked Lu into worrying that the company could eventually let him go. So, he decided to install malware onto the firm's systems that would activate if he were ever fired.

The code he added created infinite loops (code designed to exhaust Java threads by repeatedly creating new threads without proper termination and resulting in server crashes or hangs), deleted coworker profile files, and implemented a "kill switch" that would lock out all users if his credentials in the company's active directory were disabled.

The kill switch code he added was named "IsDLEnabledinAD," an abbreviation for "Is Davis Lu enabled in Active Directory." As the name suggests, it checked that Lu's account was enabled in the company's Active Directory. If it was, nothing happened.

On September 9, 2019, Lu's employment was terminated, setting off the kill switch he had created for such an event. Cleveland.com reports that it caused the company hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses and impacted thousands of users globally  Eaton's global headquarters are in Dublin, Ireland. Lu's defense attorneys argued that the incident cost the company less than $5,000.

Lu also encrypted the data on his company-issued laptop the day he was instructed to turn off the device and return it. His internet search history revealed he had researched methods to escalate privileges, hide processes, and rapidly delete files. Prosecutors say that after he was fired, Lu also tried to find ways of stopping his co-workers from fixing the issues he caused.

Lu was charged by federal prosecutors in 2021. Following a six-day trial, he was found guilty of one count of causing intentional damage to protected computers, a charge that carries a maximum of 10 years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

"Sadly, Davis Lu used his education, experience, and skill to purposely harm and hinder not only his employer and their ability to safely conduct business, but also stifle thousands of users worldwide," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen.
In brief: Global shipments of smartwatches dropped seven percent in 2024, marking the first annual decline for the wearables category. Apple maintained its position as the leading manufacturer, but shipped 19 percent fewer devices than it did a year earlier.

According to Counterpoint senior research analyst Anshika Jain, Apple Watch experienced a decline in its 10th year on the market thanks in part to minimal feature upgrades in the Series 10 lineup, the lack of an Ultra 3 model, and the fact that there hasn't been a new SE model introduced since 2022. Most assume Apple passed on an Ultra 3 due to price concerns; a third-gen Apple Watch SE is expected sometime this year.

Another contributing factor that slowed smartwatch shipments in 2024, Jain noted, was patent disputes. Earlier this week, Apple got an appeals court to side with it in a patent dispute against medical device maker AliveCor.

Apple captured 22 percent of the smartwatch market last year, followed by Huawei with a 13 percent share. Samsung was responsible for nine percent of all smartwatches shipped in 2024, Xiaomi grabbed eight percent, and Imoo nabbed six percent. All other manufacturers combined to make up the remaining 42 percent of the market.

Despite the slowdowns, smartwatches are gaining traction around the world. One in four models shipped last year went to China, which narrowly edged out India's 23 percent share for first place. North American trailed slightly with a 22 percent share, followed by Europe at 15 percent.

The data comes from Counterpoint's most recent smartwatch shipments tracker.

Research analyst Balbir Singh said the kids' smartwatch segment, which was the only category to experience growth last year, has been gaining traction as concerned parents are worried about their children's safety. A connected smartwatch, like those that Imoo specializes in, allows them to constantly track their location.

Given the success of kid-focused smartwatches, it's no surprise that other brands including Fitbit, boAt, and Noise are expanding their product lines to include devices for children.

Image credit: Daniel Romero
In context: It is a foregone conclusion that AI models can lack accuracy. Hallucinations and doubling down on wrong information have been an ongoing struggle for developers. Usage varies so much in individual use cases that it's hard to nail down quantifiable percentages related to AI accuracy. A research team claims it now has those numbers.

The Tow Center for Digital Journalism recently studied eight AI search engines, including ChatGPT Search, Perplexity, Perplexity Pro, Gemini, DeepSeek Search, Grok-2 Search, Grok-3 Search, and Copilot. They tested each for accuracy and recorded how frequently the tools refused to answer.

The researchers randomly chose 200 news articles from 20 news publishers (10 each). They ensured each story returned within the top three results in a Google search when using a quoted excerpt from the article. Then, they performed the same query within each AI search tool and graded accuracy based on whether the search correctly cited A) the article, B) the news organization, and C) the URL.

The researchers then labeled each search based on degrees of accuracy from "completely correct" to "completely incorrect." As you can see from the diagram below, other than both versions of Perplexity, the AIs did not perform well. Collectively, AI search engines are inaccurate 60 percent of the time. Furthermore, these wrong results were reinforced by the AI's "confidence" in them.

The study is fascinating because it quantifiably confirms what we have known for a few years  that LLMs are "the slickest con artists of all time." They report with complete authority that what they say is true even when it is not, sometimes to the point of argument or making up other false assertions when confronted.

In a 2023 anecdotal article, Ted Gioia (The Honest Broker) pointed out dozens of ChatGPT responses, showing that the bot confidently "lies" when responding to numerous queries. While some examples were adversarial queries, many were just general questions.

"If I believed half of what I heard about ChatGPT, I could let it take over The Honest Broker while I sit on the beach drinking margaritas and searching for my lost shaker of salt," Gioia flippantly noted.

Even when admitting it was wrong, ChatGPT would follow up that admission with more fabricated information. The LLM is seemingly programmed to answer every user input at all costs. The researcher's data confirms this hypothesis, noting that ChatGPT Search was the only AI tool that answered all 200 article queries. However, it only achieved a 28-percent completely accurate rating and was completely inaccurate 57 percent of the time.

ChatGPT isn't even the worst of the bunch. Both versions of X's Grok AI performed poorly, with Grok-3 Search being 94 percent inaccurate. Microsoft's Copilot was not that much better when you consider that it declined to answer 104 queries out of 200. Of the remaining 96, only 16 were "completely correct," 14 were "partially correct," and 66 were "completely incorrect," making it roughly 70 percent inaccurate.

Arguably, the craziest thing about all this is that the companies making these tools are not transparent about this lack of accuracy while charging the public $20 to $200 per month to access their latest AI models. Moreover, Perplexity Pro ($20/month) and Grok-3 Search ($40/month) answered slightly more queries correctly than their free versions (Perplexity and Grok-2 Search) but had significantly higher error rates (above). Talk about a con.

However, not everyone agrees. TechRadar's Lance Ulanoff said he might never use Google again after trying ChatGPT Search. He describes the tool as fast, aware, and accurate, with a clean, ad-free interface.

Feel free to read all the details in the Tow Center's paper published in the Columbia Journalism Review, and let us know what you think.
The News in Brief Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Giorgi Bachiashvili, the former head of Bidzina Ivanishvili's co-investment fund, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison in absentia by Tbilisi City Court. The verdict, announced on March 10, follows charges of cryptocurrency misappropriation and money laundering.The Prosecutor's Office confirmed that Bachiashvili was found guilty under Article 182, Part 3, Subparagraph "c" (misappropriation of a large amount of cryptocurrency) and Article 194, Part 3, Subparagraph "c" (legalization of illegal income) of the Criminal Offense Code.The Prosecutor's Office also noted that Bachiashvili is facing criminal proceedings in two other cases: failure to fulfill official duties during the "Mtkvari HPP" project and illegal crossing of Georgia's state border.In response to the ruling, Bachiashvili condemned the decision, calling it "shameful." He had previously posted on social media on March 4, stating that he was "forced" to leave Georgia, accusing Bidzina Ivanishvili, along with several judicial officials and prosecutors, of orchestrating his persecution. He claimed to be a target of Ivanishvili's "corrupt machinery" and expressed concerns for his safety, alleging that the former prime minister had threatened to "crush" him in prison.Shalva Papuashvili, Speaker of the Parliament, discussed Georgia's approach to international relations and national security. Reflecting on the country's 3,000-year history, he emphasized that Georgia has survived geopolitical challenges by prioritizing its own interests over reliance on others.Papuashvili pointed to Ukraine's situation as an example of the dangers of trusting external actors. "Ukraine was offered support, but we saw how that support worked in 1994 when Ukraine was forced to give up its nuclear weapons! Or where is the support given in February 2022?!" he stated.He warned that had Georgia trusted others as Ukraine did, the country would have been in a similar situation to Ukraine today - "a mourning, destroyed country.""We've been in these conditions for 3,000 years. Our genetic memory should teach us some things, if not our own experience over the last few decades. It should teach us that the first thing we should trust is ourselves and our own people," Papuashvili said.He also emphasized that the key to Georgia's survival has been focusing on its own national interests. "An independent country should focus on its own national interests, not on having someone's support!" he added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Iran is working to complete the construction of the Tamarchin-Sarakhs road corridor, connecting the Tamarchin border checkpoint on the western border with Iraq to the Sarakhs border checkpoint on the eastern border with Turkmenistan, said Irans Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Farzaneh Sadegh, Trend reports.

In her speech at an event in the East Azerbaijan province on March 11, where a section of the Maragheh-Hashtrud highway was inaugurated, Sadegh noted that Iran hopes to complete the highway as part of this corridor by the year 2028.

She emphasized that despite the sanctions imposed on Iran, parts of the Chabahar-Zahedan railway and now sections of the Tamarchin-Sarakhs road corridor have been successfully launched.

The minister further added that the completion of these corridor projects is vital for increasing transit and cargo transportation. "Given the continuous sanctions imposed on Iran, the best way to overcome them is through the development of railway and road infrastructure. These sectors, crucial for transit, cargo, and passenger transport, are less affected by sanctions," she noted.

To note, a 29-kilometer section of the 110-kilometer Maragheh-Hashtrud highway, which connects to the Tamarchin customs on the Iraqi border, has been officially opened today.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. INTRON PLUS, a Russian manufacturer of control and technical diagnostic instruments, plans to enter into agreements with two major companies in Kazakhstan this year, Andrey Anisimov, Deputy Commercial Director of the company, told Trend.

Speaking on the sidelines of the business mission of Moscow companies to Azerbaijan, Anisimov stated that the company intends to establish cooperation agreements with Kazzinc, a metallurgical company that produces zinc, lead, copper, and precious metals, as well as with Kazchrome, a mining and metallurgical company.

These are our main partners, but we continue to work with KAZ Minerals as well. These companies are significant customers of our products, the official added.

To note, INTRON PLUS has been operating in the global high-tech market for over 30 years. During this time, the company has produced and delivered more than 1,000 sets of wear measurement instruments for steel ropes, monitored over 10,000 steel ropes, and trained more than 1,000 specialists to operate the supplied equipment. Additionally, the company has published over 50 scientific articles in its field.

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Residents evacuated as Guatemalan volcano spews lava, rocks



Alotenango, Guatemala, March 10 (AFP) Mar 10, 2025



Guatemalan authorities evacuated around a thousand people on Monday after Central America's most active volcano erupted, spewing lava, ash and rocks.

Residents with traumatic memories of a deadly eruption in 2018 sought refuge after the Fuego volcano exploded spectacularly 35 kilometers (22 miles) from the capital Guatemala City.

"We heard the rumblings and then a strong eruption," Manuel Cobox, 46, told AFP after leaving his home with his wife and three daughters.

Some 125 families, around 900 people, were moved to safety from the community of El Porvenir, said Juan Laureano, a spokesman for Guatemala's disaster coordination agency, Conred.

Residents of another community in Las Lajitas were also evacuated, the official added.

Buses brought evacuees carrying belongings to a town hall turned into a temporary shelter, while others stayed with friends or relatives.

Around 30,000 people were potentially "at risk" and should evacuate themselves if necessary, Conred head Claudinne Ogaldes told a news conference.

Guatemala lies on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" and experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity.

In 2018, 215 people were killed and a similar number left missing when an eruption of the Fuego volcano sent rivers of lava pouring down its sides, devastating the village of San Miguel Los Lotes.

On that occasion, residents "did not believe the magnitude and a tragedy struck," said Cobox, who works on a pig farm.

Amanda Santos, a 58-year-old housekeeper, said that memories of that previous eruption came flooding back when she heard the firefighters' sirens.

"That's why we're afraid. Many people died," she added.

Another eruption in 2023 from the 3,763-meter (12,346-foot) Fuego caused the evacuation of around 1,200 people.

An alert was issued by the authorities on Sunday in order to coordinate the response and preventive measures, Conred said.

The government suspended local school activities and closed a road through the village that links the south of the country to the colonial city of Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Guatemala's most popular tourist destination.

Authorities were monitoring pyroclastic flows -- fast-moving currents of hot ash, gas and rock fragments that descend the slopes of a volcano, Conred spokesman Laureano said.

The state-run Volcanology Institute recommended that air traffic take precautions due to a spreading ash cloud.

It later reported that the volcano's activity had decreased in intensity, but cautioned that the eruption had not yet ended.
North Sea cargo ship owner says one crew member missing



Berlin, March 10 (AFP) Mar 10, 2025



One crew member is missing from a cargo ship that was involved in a collision with a US-military chartered tanker carrying jet fuel in the North Sea on Monday, the cargo ship's owner said.

The thirteen other crew members on board the cargo ship Solong "have been brought safely" ashore after the incident off the English coast, German shipping company Ernst Russ said in a statement.

"Efforts to locate the missing crew member are ongoing."

Both the Solong and the tanker, the Stena Immaculate, "have sustained significant damage in the impact of the collision and the subsequent fire," the German company added.

After the accident, the company "immediately activated an emergency response team," it said. "The first priority is the safety of the crew, all responders and the environment."

The collision in the North Sea sparked a massive fire and injured more than 30 people, according to the tanker's operator and authorities. The UK Coastguard is coordinating a major rescue operation.
One missing after cargo ship, tanker collide in North Sea



Grimsby, United Kingdom, March 10 (AFP) Mar 10, 2025



One person was missing Monday after a cargo ship ran into a US-military charted tanker carrying jet fuel in the North Sea, sparking concerns of "multiple toxic hazards" off the English coast.

Dozens of people were rescued in a major operation being coordinated by the UK Coastguard as images showed a huge plume of thick, black smoke and flames rising from the scene about 10 miles (16 kilometres) off the eastern coast.

The Stena Immaculate tanker was "anchored off the North Sea coast near Hull... (and) was struck by the container ship Solong", the Stena's US-based operators Crowley said in a statement.

The Stena was on a short-term US military charter with Military Sealift Command, according to Jillian Morris, the spokesperson for the command that operates civilian-crewed ships providing ocean transport for the US Defense Department.

Crowley said the impact of the collision "ruptured" the tanker "containing A1-jet fuel" and triggered a fire, with fuel "reported released".

It was carrying around 220,000 barrels of jet fuel while the Solong was carrying 15 containers of sodium cyanide, according to the Lloyd's List information service, but it is not known if any of the flammable compound had leaked.

A spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the situation "extremely concerning".

Ambulance crews assessed 36 patients on scene and none required hospital treatment, Alastair Smith of the East Midlands Ambulance Service said in a statement.

Thirteen of the Solong's 14 crew members were brought to shore and efforts to locate the missing crew member "are ongoing", said a statement from the ship's German-based owner Ernst Russ.

All crew members aboard the Stena Immaculate were confirmed to be alive, a spokeswoman for the tanker's Swedish owner, Stena Bulk, told AFP.



- 'Toxic hazards' -



There were reports of "fires on both ships", the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) confirmed to AFP.

A spokesman for the government's Marine Accident Investigation Branch spokesperson said "Our team of inspectors and support staff are gathering evidence and undertaking a preliminary assessment of the accident to determine our next steps".

Ivor Vince, founder of ASK Consultants, an environmental risk advisory group, told AFP that "the good news is it's not persistent, it's not like a crude oil spill".

"Most of it will evaporate quite quickly and what doesn't evaporate will be degraded by microorganisms quite quickly", he added, though warning that "it will kill fish and other creatures".

Paul Johnston, a senior scientist at the Greenpeace Research Laboratories at Exeter University, said "we are extremely concerned about the multiple toxic hazards these chemicals could pose to marine life."

The jet fuel entered the water close to a breeding ground for harbour porpoises, sodium cyanide is "a highly toxic chemical that could cause serious harm", he added.



- Humber traffic suspended -



All vessel movements were "suspended" in the Humber estuary that flows into the North Sea, according to Associated British Ports (ABP), which operates in the Ports of Hull and Immingham in the region.

The German Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said it was also dispatching a vessel capable of fire fighting and oil recovery.

The alarm about the crash near the port city of Hull in East Yorkshire was raised at 0948 GMT.

A coastguard helicopter, a plane, lifeboats from four towns and other nearby vessels were part of the large rescue operation, UK Coastguard said.

Grimsby native Paul Lancaster, a former seaman, told AFP that "I don't understand how two ships that big could collide".

"There must have been a massive engineering problem," he said outside a pub in Grimsby.



- Collisions rare -



Collisions remain rare in the busy North Sea.

In October 2023, two cargo ships, the Verity and the Polesie, collided near Germany's Heligoland islands in the North Sea.

Three people were killed and two others are still missing and considered dead.

In October 2015, the Flinterstar freighter, carrying 125 tonnes of diesel and 427 tonnes of fuel oil, sank after colliding with the Al Oraiq tanker eight kilometres (five miles) off the Belgian coast.
Trump's energy chief vows reversal of Biden climate policies



Houston, March 10 (AFP) Mar 10, 2025



The US energy secretary vowed Monday to reset federal energy policy to favor fossil fuels and deprioritize climate change as industry leaders gathered at their biggest event since President Donald Trump returned to office.

In the conference's opening session, Energy Secretary Chris Wright cited the Trump administration's moves to cut red tape that is delaying oil projects and promote liquefied natural gas exports as examples of a pivot away from policies pursued under former president Joe Biden.

"The Trump administration will end the Biden administration's irrational quasi-religious policies on climate change that imposed endless sacrifices on our citizens," Wright told a packed auditorium for the annual Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) conference.

Since returning to Washington seven weeks ago, Trump and his team have overhauled the existing economic order at a dizzying pace, launching trade wars against allies and hollowing government agencies the president and his allies dislike.

Trump made energy policy a central part of his agenda with his day-one "Unleashing American Energy" executive order, promising during his inaugural address to "end the Green New Deal" in favor of "that liquid gold under our feet."

But Mark Brownstein, senior vice president at the Environmental Defense Fund, said Wright's tone was "long on rhetoric," adding, "at some point the administration needs to get off the campaign stump speech and get on with the business of governing."

Brownstein described many CERA attendees as uncertain about investments, not only because of Trump's shifting position on energy and climate change, but also the nearly daily pivots on tariffs.

"The energy industry is a capital-intensive business and what they need to deploy capital at scale is certainty and consistency," Brownstein told AFP.

CERA's opening day coincided with deep stock market losses after Trump over the weekend refused to rule out a US recession.

Protesters held boisterous demonstrations outside the event in Houston. Advocacy group Oil Change International blasted the oil industry for pollution near industrial facilities and for fossil fuel investments that are worsening climate change.



- Change ahead? -



Energy played a key supporting role in Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, in which he pointed to higher gasoline prices as a reason more production was needed, embodied by his slogan: "Drill, baby, drill."

Trump's January 20 executive order represents a potentially wide-ranging attack on tax incentives which had been embraced by energy companies to advance billions of dollars of energy transition projects.

These projects were connected to laws enacted under Biden to mitigate climate change.

Some pundits think Trump will stop short of actions canceling existing projects where workers have been hired, including many in conservative districts.

Appearing just after Wright, Chevron CEO Mike Wirth warned that "swinging from one extreme to the other" on policy is "not the right policy approach in a long cycle industry like this."

Wirth welcomed Trump's executive orders on permitting reform, but said "we need to see some of this stuff put into legislation so that it's more durable and it's not at risk of being swung back in another direction by a future administration" with different priorities.



- Conciliatory tone on tariffs -



Wright downplayed the upheaval on trade policy after his remarks, noting Trump dropped many of his most impactful tariffs in his first term.

It's "too early to say on tariffs, but I feel quite confident having a smart businessman every day working for America writ large, not an interest group or a particular industry," Wright said. "I'm pretty optimistic about the outcome."

Wright said there were "vigorous" closed-door debates about tariffs within the administration, rejecting the idea that there was ideological uniformity on the issue.

He also suggested the Trump administration wouldn't challenge all Biden administration renewable energy projects, saying that while he wouldn't have picked some of the same projects for loans, "we inherit a loan book... and we follow the rule of law."

jmb/mlm

CHEVRON

Shell
Search ends for missing crew member after North Sea collision



Grimsby, United Kingdom, March 10 (AFP) Mar 10, 2025



The UK coastguard ended the search for a missing crew member after a cargo ship ran into a US-military charted tanker carrying jet fuel in the North Sea on Monday.

HM Coastguard rescued 36 crew members from the Stena Immaculate tanker and Solong container vessel, with one taken to hospital.

"One crew member of the Solong remains unaccounted for, after an extensive search for the missing crew member sadly they have not been found and the search has ended," said Matthew Atkinson, Divisional Commander for HM Coastguard.

Images showed a huge plume of thick, black smoke and flames rising from the scene about 10 miles (16 kilometres) off the east England coast, sparking concerns of "multiple toxic hazards".

The Stena Immaculate tanker was "anchored off the North Sea coast near Hull... (and) was struck by the container ship Solong", the Stena's US-based operators Crowley said in a statement.

The Stena was on a short-term US military charter with Military Sealift Command, according to Jillian Morris, the spokesperson for the command that operates civilian-crewed ships providing ocean transport for the US Defense Department.

Crowley said the impact of the collision "ruptured" the tanker "containing A1-jet fuel" and triggered a fire, with fuel "reported released".

It was carrying around 220,000 barrels of jet fuel while the Solong was carrying 15 containers of sodium cyanide, according to the Lloyd's List information service, but it is not known if any of the flammable compound had leaked.

The two vessels were still on fire 12 hours after the collision, said the coastguard.

A spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the situation "extremely concerning".

All crew members aboard the Stena Immaculate were confirmed to be alive, a spokeswoman for the tanker's Swedish owner, Stena Bulk, told AFP.



- 'Toxic hazards' -



A spokesman for the government's Marine Accident Investigation Branch spokesperson said "Our team of inspectors and support staff are gathering evidence and undertaking a preliminary assessment of the accident to determine our next steps".

Ivor Vince, founder of ASK Consultants, an environmental risk advisory group, told AFP that "the good news is it's not persistent, it's not like a crude oil spill".

"Most of it will evaporate quite quickly and what doesn't evaporate will be degraded by microorganisms quite quickly", he added, though warning that "it will kill fish and other creatures".

Paul Johnston, a senior scientist at the Greenpeace Research Laboratories at Exeter University, said "we are extremely concerned about the multiple toxic hazards these chemicals could pose to marine life."

The jet fuel entered the water close to a breeding ground for harbour porpoises, sodium cyanide is "a highly toxic chemical that could cause serious harm", he added.



- Humber traffic suspended -



All vessel movements were "suspended" in the Humber estuary that flows into the North Sea, according to Associated British Ports (ABP), which operates in the Ports of Hull and Immingham in the region.

The German Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said it was also dispatching a vessel capable of fire fighting and oil recovery.

The alarm about the crash near the port city of Hull in East Yorkshire was raised at 0948 GMT.

A coastguard helicopter, a plane, lifeboats from four towns and other nearby vessels were part of the large rescue operation, UK Coastguard said.

Grimsby native Paul Lancaster, a former seaman, told AFP that "I don't understand how two ships that big could collide".

"There must have been a massive engineering problem," he said outside a pub in Grimsby.



- Collisions rare -



Collisions remain rare in the busy North Sea.

In October 2023, two cargo ships, the Verity and the Polesie, collided near Germany's Heligoland islands in the North Sea.

Three people were killed and two others are still missing and considered dead.

In October 2015, the Flinterstar freighter, carrying 125 tonnes of diesel and 427 tonnes of fuel oil, sank after colliding with the Al Oraiq tanker eight kilometres (five miles) off the Belgian coast.
Ships still on fire after North Sea crash



Grimsby, United Kingdom, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2025



Fires were still raging on Tuesday after a cargo ship laden with toxic materials slammed into a tanker carrying flammable jet fuel in the North Sea, as questions mounted about how the accident happened.

The fires were "still going on", nearly 24 hours after the Solong cargo ship ran into the Stena Immaculate tanker, anchored about 10 miles (16 kilometres) off the northeast port of Hull.

One crew member was also still missing, Grimsby port chief executive Martyn Boyers told AFP.

The government's Marine Accident Investigation Branch has launched a probe into Monday's accident to determine the next steps and need for a counter-pollution response.

The UK Coastguard halted search operations late on Monday after rescuing 36 crew members from both ships. It was not immediately clear if the search had resumed early on Tuesday.

"One crew member of the Solong remains unaccounted for. After an extensive search for the missing crew member sadly they have not been found and the search has ended," said Matthew Atkinson, Divisional Commander for the HM Coastguard.

Images on Monday showed a huge plume of thick, black smoke and flames rising from the scene off the coast of East Yorkshire, sparking concerns of "multiple toxic hazards".

The Stena Immaculate was on a short-term US military charter with Military Sealift Command, according to Jillian Morris, the spokesperson for the command that operates civilian-crewed ships providing ocean transport for the US Defense Department.

Crowley, the US-based operators of the tanker, said the impact of the crash "ruptured" the ship's tank "containing A1-jet fuel" and triggered a fire, with fuel "reported released".

The Stena Immaculate was carrying around 220,000 barrels of jet fuel.

The Solong was carrying 15 containers of sodium cyanide, according to the Lloyd's List information service, but it is not known if any of the flammable compound had leaked.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the situation "extremely concerning".

All crew members aboard the Stena Immaculate were confirmed to be alive, a spokeswoman for the tanker's Swedish owner, Stena Bulk, told AFP.



- 'Toxic hazards' -



A spokesman for the government's Marine Accident Investigation Branch said: "Our team of inspectors and support staff are gathering evidence and undertaking a preliminary assessment of the accident to determine our next steps."

Dutch maritime servicing company Boskalis told the ANP news agency it had been tasked with salvaging the Stena Immaculate and was "fully mobilising".

Four ships with firefighting capacity were on their way to the site, a Boskalis spokesperson said, adding that the tanker would need to be "cooled down" before the fire could be extinguished.

Ivor Vince, founder of ASK Consultants, an environmental risk advisory group, told AFP: "The good news is it's not persistent. It's not like a crude oil spill".

"Most of it will evaporate quite quickly and what doesn't evaporate will be degraded by microorganisms quite quickly," he added.

He warned though, that "it will kill fish and other creatures".

There were growing concerns about the consequences of any spillage into the North Sea for the local environment and protected wildlife.

Paul Johnston, a senior scientist at the Greenpeace Research Laboratories at Exeter University, said: "We are extremely concerned about the multiple toxic hazards these chemicals could pose to marine life."

The jet fuel entered the water close to a breeding ground for harbour porpoises.

Sodium cyanide is "a highly toxic chemical that could cause serious harm", he explained.



- Humber traffic suspended -



All vessel movements were "suspended" in the Humber estuary that flows into the North Sea, according to Associated British Ports (ABP), which operates in the Ports of Hull and Immingham in the region.

The German Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said it was also dispatching a vessel capable of fire fighting and oil recovery.

Grimsby native Paul Lancaster, a former seaman, told AFP: "I don't understand how two ships that big could collide".

"There must have been a massive engineering problem," he said.

bur-jkb/aks/gil
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 11. At the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has departed for France on a state visit, Trend reports.

Throughout his engagement in Paris, Shavkat Mirziyoyev is poised to conduct strategic dialogues and interface with top-tier officials and key stakeholders from prominent French enterprises.



The agenda comprises discussions on enhancing synergistic collaboration between Uzbekistan and France, concentrating on pivotal domains of reciprocal significance.



Subsequent to the meeting, the two parties are anticipated to formalize a suite of intergovernmental and interagency agreements.

To note, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev's visit will last from March 11 to 14.

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Ships blaze, spill feared after North Sea crash



Grimsby, United Kingdom, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2025



Fires were raging on Tuesday after a cargo ship laden with toxic materials slammed into a tanker carrying flammable jet fuel in the North Sea, as questions mounted about how the accident happened.

There were also growing fears that any spill from the collision could harm the local environment and coastline, home to seals, porpoises and some protected waders and waterfowl.

Images on the BBC Tuesday showed a large hole in the side of the Stena Immaculate tanker as huge plumes of thick, black smoke rose from the stationary ships with smaller boats dousing the vessels with water.

The fires were "still going on" nearly 24 hours after the Portuguese-flagged Solong cargo ship ploughed into the Stena Immaculate tanker, anchored about 10 miles (16 kilometres) off the northeastern port of Hull, nearby Grimsby port chief executive Martyn Boyers told AFP.

One crew member was also still missing, he said.

The Stena Immaculate was on a short-term US military charter with Military Sealift Command, according to a spokesperson for the command that operates civilian-crewed ships for the US Defense Department.

Crowley, the US-based operator of the tanker, said the crash had "ruptured" the ship's tank "containing A1-jet fuel" and triggered a fire, with fuel "reported released".

The UK government's Marine Accident Investigation Branch has launched a probe into Monday's accident to determine the next steps.

The UK Coastguard halted search operations late on Monday after rescuing 36 crew members from both ships. It was not immediately clear if the search had resumed early on Tuesday.

"One crew member of the Solong remains unaccounted for. After an extensive search for the missing crew member sadly they have not been found and the search has ended," said Matthew Atkinson, divisional commander for the Coastguard.

The Stena Immaculate was carrying around 220,000 barrels of jet fuel, according to the maritime information service, Lloyd's List Intelligence.

The Solong was laden with 15 containers of sodium cyanide, it added, but authorities have not confirmed that and it is not known if any of the flammable compound had leaked.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who was hosting his weekly cabinet meeting on Tuesday, called the situation "extremely concerning".

Quoting government sources, the Daily Telegraph said there was nothing so far to indicated that "foul play" had caused the crash, but it could not be ruled out.



- 'Toxic hazards' -



A spokesman for the government's Marine Accident Investigation Branch said a team sent to Grimsby was "gathering evidence and undertaking a preliminary assessment".

Dutch maritime servicing company Boskalis told the ANP news agency it had been tasked with salvaging the Stena Immaculate and was "fully mobilising".

Four ships with firefighting capacity were on their way to the site, a Boskalis spokesperson said, adding the tanker would need to be "cooled down" before the fire could be extinguished.

The investigation was being led by US and Portuguese authorities, as the ships were flagged from their countries, housing minister Matthew Pennycook told Times Radio.

"We're obviously very alive to the potential impact on the environment," he said, but added the Coastguard was well equipped to deal with any oil spills.

"The good news is... it's not like a crude oil spill," Ivor Vince, founder of ASK Consultants, an environmental risk advisory group, told AFP.

"Most of it will evaporate quite quickly and what doesn't evaporate will be degraded by microorganisms quite quickly," he added.

Paul Johnston, a senior scientist at the Greenpeace Research Laboratories at Exeter University, said: "We are extremely concerned about the multiple toxic hazards."

Sodium cyanide is "a highly toxic chemical that could cause serious harm", he explained.



- Humber traffic suspended -



All vessel movements were "suspended" in the Humber estuary that flows into the North Sea, according to Associated British Ports (ABP), which operates in the Ports of Hull and Immingham in the region.

The German Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said it was also dispatching a vessel capable of fire fighting and oil recovery.

"It's more the nature, birds... if it gets down to the nature reserve," one local woman, Laura Scrimshaw, 47, told AFP in Grimsby, which is located on the south bank of the Humber estuary, home to several nature reserves.

"We don't want to see wildlife dying. It's a chain of events, it affects the wildlife which could then affect other" species, she added.

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North Sea emergency incident: what we know



Grimsby, United Kingdom, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2025



More firefighting ships were deployed Tuesday a day after a cargo ship carrying sodium cyanide struck a tanker laden with jet fuel chartered by the US military off the British coast.

Here is what we know about the incident involving the tanker Stena Immaculate and the container vessel Solong, which set off a major pollution alert on England's east coast.



- Tanker at anchor -



The Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of the fuel, according to the maritime information service, Lloyd's List Intelligence.

It was at anchor about 10 miles (16 kilometres) off the northeastern England port of Hull when it was "struck by the container ship Solong", said Crowley Maritime, the US shipping firm managing the tanker.

The alarm was raised at 0948 GMT.

Lloyd's List said the Solong was carrying 15 containers of sodium cyanide.

But UK authorities have not confirmed the presence of the compound, which releases flammable gas on contact with water. It is also not confirmed if any had leaked.

A massive fire erupted and engulfed both vessels.

Crowley Maritime said the tanker was carrying jet-A1 fuel and the US Defense Department has confirmed that the US military had chartered the vessel.

The tanker "crew abandoned the vessel following multiple explosions onboard" said Crowley Maritime, which is based in Jacksonville, Florida.

The UK Coastguard said 36 people had been rescued, with one taken to hospital.

Stena Bulk, a Swedish company that owns the tanker, said all of the crew on the vessel were alive.

Thirteen of the Solong's 14 crew members were brought ashore, said the ship's German-based owner Ernst Russ. The search for the missing crew member was called off late on Monday.

The Coastguard said the search had now "ended".



- Ships ablaze -



Latest images on the BBC showed a large hole in the side the tanker and a huge plume of thick black smoke rising from the ships.

Both stationary vessels were surrounded by smaller ships dousing the fire.

The UK Coastguard was coordinating the emergency pollution operation after Crowley Maritime said the impact had "ruptured" the tanker and set off the fire.

Following initial efforts to extinguish the blaze, four further ships with firefighting capacity were on their way to the site, according to Dutch maritime servicing company Boskalis, tasked with salvaging the Stena.

The tanker would need to be "cooled down" before the fire could be put out, it said.

The government Marine Accident Investigation Branch said it had a team at the scene already "gathering evidence" and assessing "next steps".

The investigation was being led by the US and Portuguese authorities, as the ships were flagged from their countries, UK housing minister Matthew Pennycook said.



- Traffic suspended -



Associated British Ports (ABP), which operates ports in Hull and Immingham, the stricken region, said it had halted all vessel movements in the Humber estuary that flows into the North Sea.



- Relatively rare -



The North Sea has busy shipping lanes but accidents are relatively rare.

In October 2023, two cargo ships, the Verity and the Polesie, collided near Germany's Heligoland islands. Three people were killed and two others were listed as missing.

On October 6 2015, the freighter Flinterstar, carrying 125 tonnes of diesel and 427 tonnes of fuel oil, sank after colliding with the tanker Al Oraiq eight kilometres (five miles) off the Belgian coast.

A major oil spill hit the North Sea in January 1993 when the Liberian tanker Braer suffered engine damage en route from Norway to Canada.

It ran aground off Scotland's Shetland Islands and released 84,500 tonnes of crude oil.



- Proper lookout? -



David McFarlane of the Maritime Risk and Safety consultancy said there were 200 to 300 ship collisions around the world each year, but most are just a "slight bump" in port.

"The collision regulations... state that all ships must maintain a proper lookout at all times. And clearly something has gone wrong here, because if a proper lookout had been maintained, this collision would have been avoided," McFarlane told AFP.

When the flames die down investigators will look for the video data recorders on the two ships -- the equivalent of a plane's "black box" data recorders.

These should have information from the ships' radar as well as voice recordings of the bridge teams. McFarlane said this would help investigators find out if there was communication between the two ships.

burs-tw-har/jkb/phz
Baby elephant separated from mother rescued in Indonesia



Jakarta, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2025



Indonesian authorities rescued a critically endangered baby Sumatran elephant after it became separated from its mother at a palm oil plantation, a local official said on Tuesday.

Sumatran elephants are on the brink of extinction with only about 2,400-2,800 left in the world, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature.

The two-month-old male calf was found at an oil palm plantation in Riau province on the western island of Sumatra on Monday after residents alerted authorities, local conservation agency official Ujang Holisudin told AFP.

"We suspect this elephant was left behind by his group or his mother," Ujang said, adding that the calf was alone when authorities found him.

The baby elephant is in good health after medical checks and was brought to the conservation agency's elephant training centre near the provincial capital Pekanbaru, he said.

Authorities were monitoring for elephant herds near the area to see if the calf could be reunited with its family.

"It is our hope that the group can be found and we can reunite (the calf). That is our hope," Ujang said.

Elephant populations are threatened by rampant poaching for their tusks, which are prized in the illegal wildlife trade.

The Southeast Asian nation is battling wildlife crime and several cases of elephant poisoning have been reported in recent years.

Deforestation has also reduced their natural habitat and brought them into increasing conflict with humans.
North Sea ship crash: what we know



Grimsby, United Kingdom, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2025



More firefighting ships were deployed off the British coast Tuesday a day after a cargo ship struck a tanker laden with jet fuel chartered by the US military.

Here is what we know about Monday's incident in the North Sea involving the tanker Stena Immaculate and the container ship Solong.



- Tanker at anchor -



The Stena Immaculate, owned by Sweden's Stena Bulk, was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel, said Crowley Maritime, the US shipping firm managing the tanker.

It was at anchor about 13 miles (20 kilometres) off the northeastern England port of Hull when it was "struck by the container ship Solong", it added.

The alarm was raised at 09:48 am (0948 GMT) on Monday.

A massive fire erupted after the crash and engulfed both vessels. A UK minister told parliament that the jet fuel onboard the tanker was "the source of the fire".

Despite initial reports, the Solong cargo ship was not transporting containers of toxic sodium cyanide, said its owners, German shipping company Ernst Russ.

Crowley Maritime said the tanker was carrying jet-A1 fuel. The US Defense Department has confirmed that the US military chartered the vessel.

There is no suggestion of "foul play" over the incident, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesperson said.

Despite fears of an environmental disaster, transport minister Mike Kane also told parliament that "as it currently stands, no signs of pollution from vessels is observed at this time.

"But monitoring is in place and should that change, assets in place, they will be provided as needed," he added.

The UK Coastguard said 36 people had been rescued.

Thirteen of the Solong's 14 crew members were brought ashore, said owners Ernst Russ.

The search for the missing crew member was called off late on Monday, and he was "likely deceased," Kane told parliament.

All 23 crew of the Immaculate were ashore and accounted for. One sailor was treated at the scene but declined any further medical assistance, Kane added.



- Ships ablaze -



Both ships are still alight, although the fire on board the Stena Immaculate had "greatly diminished", the UK Coastguard said.

The Solong had detached from the tanker overnight and was drifting southwards and being monitored, it said. An AFP photo showed the Solong had been devasted by the blaze and was still smoking.

Kane told parliament it was "unlikely the vessel will remain afloat".

Four further ships with firefighting capacity were on their way to the site of the stricken Stena Immaculate, according to Dutch maritime servicing company Boskalis, tasked with salvaging the tanker.

The tanker would need to be "cooled down" before the fire could be put out, it said.

The government Marine Accident Investigation Branch said it had a team at the scene already "gathering evidence" and assessing "next steps".

The investigation was being led by the US and Portuguese authorities, as the ships were flagged from their countries, UK housing minister Matthew Pennycook said.



- Proper lookout? -



David McFarlane of the Maritime Risk and Safety consultancy said there were 200 to 300 ship collisions around the world each year, but most are just a "slight bump" in port.

"The collision regulations... state that all ships must maintain a proper lookout at all times. And clearly something has gone wrong here, because if a proper lookout had been maintained, this collision would have been avoided," McFarlane told AFP.

When the flames die down investigators will look for the video data recorders on the two ships -- the equivalent of a plane's "black box" data recorders.

These should have information from the ships' radar as well as voice recordings of the bridge teams. McFarlane said this would help investigators find out if there was communication between the two ships.

bur-har/jkb/jhb
Scientists say Trump cuts threaten climate research, public safety



Washington, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2025



Climate scientist Tom Di Liberto had dreamed of working at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) since college. After more than a decade as a contractor, he finally secured a full-time position nearly two years ago.

Last week, he was among hundreds abruptly fired in a sweeping government purge which, critics warn, will delay hurricane forecasts, cripple climate research and disrupt vital fisheries.

Still more workers have accepted deferred resignation "buyouts" offered by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, and even deeper cuts are expected imminently.

"This is the dream job -- everything I want to do with my life," Di Liberto told AFP.

The 40-year-old father of two, who worked on the El Nino-La Nina cycle, was just days short of his two-year anniversary -- a milestone that would have protected him from the first round of probationary workers cuts.

"We knew it was coming," he said. "But it's never good to get such a dry, cold, callous email saying you were fired because your skills weren't needed."

A NOAA engineer, requesting anonymity for fear of losing her job, said the cuts were already taking a toll. Half of her satellite forecasting team was laid off because they were probationary, meaning malfunctioning satellites won't be restored as quickly.

"People won't be evacuated on time from natural disasters," she said. "They could lose property -- or their lives."



- Project 2025 -



Around 700 NOAA employees -- out of a 12,000-strong workforce -- have been fired, though the agency has not confirmed a final number. According to The New York Times, the total, including resignations, could soon reach 20 percent of staff.

The Trump administration appears to be following Project 2025, a conservative policy blueprint that calls NOAA one of the "main drivers of the climate change alarm industry" and proposes breaking it up.

It also seeks to privatize the National Weather Service (NWS), forcing Americans to rely on commercial services.

"Significant elements of Project 2025 have already been implemented, despite Donald Trump disavowing any knowledge of it," Democratic congressman Jamie Raskin of Maryland told AFP, vowing continued protests and legal action.

"This is being carried out in a completely lawless and irresponsible manner."

Some of those fired held leadership roles, including Sarah Cooley, 47, who was director of NOAA's Ocean Acidification Program. A longtime academic and nonprofit leader, she said climate science stagnated under Trump's previous term, though states and nonprofits worked to fill the gap.

"But at the end of the day, loss of the work at the federal level can have a very extensive effect," she told AFP.

While states and philanthropic organizations can fund research, they don't fly planes into hurricanes or maintain oceanographic expeditions -- at least not at NOAA's level, she added.



- Flagship climate agency -



NOAA scientists play a crucial role in marine conservation and fisheries management, collecting data on fish stocks and monitoring ecosystem changes to set catch limits and other policies.

"If they aren't there to do their important jobs, these fisheries may not go forward, they may not open for the year," Gib Brogan, a fisheries expert at nonprofit Oceana, told AFP.

He warned that the economic fallout for coastal communities could be severe.

But it is NOAA's role as a cornerstone of global climate monitoring that has made it a prime target.

"NOAA currently plays a major role as the clearinghouse for global climate data," Zeke Hausfather, a climate scientist at Berkeley Earth told AFP.

Its datasets inform major climate groups, he said, warning that severe cuts would amount to "willfully blinding ourselves to avoid the uncomfortable truth about the rapid changes the world is experiencing."

As uncertainty looms, researchers worldwide are scrambling to preserve NOAA's data.

"I am aware of several research groups that have preemptively downloaded the current version of their NOAA datasets of interest to mitigate some of the risks," Leonard Borchert, a climate statistician at the University of Hamburg, told AFP.
North Sea accident: What are the environmental risks?



London, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2025



The crash between a cargo ship and a tanker carrying jet fuel in the North Sea off the coast of England has raised fears of coastal pollution and damage to marine protected areas.



What pollutants were on the ships?

The Stena Immaculate tanker, which was anchored around 13 miles (20 kilometres) off the northeast Yorkshire coast when it was hit by the cargo ship Solong, was carrying around 220,000 barrels of kerosene, a petroleum derivative used as jet fuel, according to the specialist company Lloyd's List Intelligence.

Crowley, the ship's operator, said one of its tanks containing kerosene had been ruptured, and that a leak had been reported.

The cargo being carried by Solong is not known at the moment.

Its owner, the German company Ernst Russ, on Tuesday denied reports that sodium cyanide, a chemical compound that produces a highly flammable and toxic gas when in contact with water, was on board.

The Solong was carrying empty containers that had previously contained the "hazardous chemical", it added.

Both ships are also carrying their own fuel, which could be "marine diesel oil" or "heavy fuel oil", said Nicolas Tamic, deputy director of Cedre, a French centre specialising in accidental water pollution.

The former is lighter and dissipates more quickly in the environment.

If it is heavy fuel oil and has not yet burned off, then "the problem will have to be dealt with", said Tamic.



What are the environmental risks?

The area where the collision took place is close to the Southern North Sea and Holderness marine protected areas, whose seabeds are known for their rich fauna and flora.

The coastline around the Humber Estuary is home to many species of birds, particularly waders and other waterfowl.

"Chemical pollution resulting from incidents of this kind can directly impact birds, and it can also have long-lasting effects on the marine food webs that support them," said Tom Webb, lecturer in marine ecology at the University of Sheffield.

Martin Slater, Director of Operations at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, also said he was "very concerned" about the threat to birds, particularly colonies of puffins, razorbills, gannets and kittiwakes, which were gathering offshore before nesting season.

"If pollution spillage enters the Humber, this could potentially be devastating for the wildlife of the estuary, including important fish stocks and tens of thousands of overwintering and migrating birds who use the mud flats."



Is there a risk of an oil spill?



According to experts, the risk of an oil spill remains low and the UK government said Tuesday that there is presently "no sign of pollution" from the two ships.

Kerosene is "not persistent" like crude oil, Ivan Vince, director of the firm ASK Consultants, specialising in environmental risk security, told AFP.

"Most of it will evaporate quite quickly. And what doesn't evaporate will be degraded by microorganisms.

"So we're talking about a week or two, and it should be all gone," he added.

Nancy Kinner, director of the Center for Spills in the Environment at the University of New Hampshire, said that jet fuel's volatility means it "does not tend to make tarballs, evaporates from the surface faster, and tends to dissolve into the water column faster than crude oil.

"The severity of the impacts definitely depend on the amount of fuel that is released upon the surface unburned. The magnitude of the fire suggests that much of the fuel burned in place," she added.

The probability of the toxic hydrocarbons making it to wildlife refuges on the coast depends on the water currents, she said.

"What could be a bigger problem is if the sea birds land, fly close to the surface, or feed on materials they mistake for food on the water that contains the jet fuel slick," she told AFP.

But while kerosene does not tend to cause oil spills, it creates "atmospheric pollution when burned," said Tamic.
Oil companies greet Trump return, muted on tariffs



Houston, March 11 (AFP) Mar 11, 2025



Oil executives said Tuesday they are bullish on US petroleum investments in the emerging Trump era as some giants back away from renewable energy and beef up fossil fuel developments.

While there is still talk about decarbonization and climate change mitigation, speakers at this year's CERAWeek conference in Texas have welcomed the more "realistic" approach gaining favor in industry and policy circles that includes a hefty emphasis on energy affordability and economic development.

The Trump administration's unpredictable tariff announcements have pressured markets, but the lack of open criticism of the moves this week highlights an underlying affinity for the Trump White House after the Biden years.

TotalEnergies chief executive Patrick Pouyanne said the French company would continue to heavily invest to boost its US liquefied natural gas business.

He told an event panel that "maybe it's the time to go back to exploring the Gulf of America," employing the Trump administration's term for the Gulf of Mexico.

ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance praised the Trump administration's early moves to streamline permitting of new petroleum projects, pointing to a much-delayed Alaska oil project that was hindered by environmental challenges.

"We have to fix the system that we have here in the US," Lance said. "That's probably the biggest impediment to growing the energy system in the United States."



- Benefit of the doubt -







The comments highlighted the optimism in oil industry circles generated by President Donald Trump, who has reset the tone from Washington after predecessor Joe Biden lambasted the industry for spending billions of dollars on share repurchases.

Tariffs are "getting talked about in back rooms and private conversations," said Chris Treanor, executive director of the Partnership to Address Global Emissions, who described the industry as having "enough good will" to give Trump the benefit of the doubt.

"The US industry doesn't feel like it's being targeted by this administration, whereas it felt like it was targeted by the previous administration," he said.

But tariff talk has dominated some public panels at CERA Week, including one Tuesday in which Canadian officials from across the region expressed incredulity at Trump's latest tariff actions.

Potential US tariffs on Canadian crude would "very negatively" affect many consumers, said Brian Jean, energy and minerals minister of the oil-rich Alberta Province, who described widespread anger in Canada at Trump's talk of annexing the country.

"People are very shocked and surprised, and it's going to change people's attitude about the United States," Jean said.



- 'Continuous growth' for oil -



Begun in 1983 by Daniel Yergin, author of The Prize, a Pulitzer Prize-winning history of the oil industry, CERAWeek is an annual Houston gathering that has expanded beyond its petroleum roots to include the power and renewable sectors.

Trump's Secretary of Energy Chris Wright opened the conference on Monday, vowing to take steps to ease the path for fossil fuels to boost supplies of affordable energy and sharply criticizing the Biden administration's focus on climate change.

One of the most dramatic shifts in orientation has been from BP, which announced last month that it was trimming its renewable energy efforts and retreating from carbon emissions targets as it ramps up investment in fossil fuels.

"We're back to our roots," BP Chief Executive Murray Auchincloss told the conference Tuesday, describing ramped up investments in exploration and production in the United States and the Middle East.

Biden's administration enacted aggressive fuel economy standards designed to boost electric vehicles and generous tax credits to encourage EV battery projects and greater use of solar and wind power.

A couple of years ago, CERA Week was dominated by talk of "net zero" emission by the mid-century in line with the Paris Climate Agreement that challenges the future viability of crude oil and natural gas.

But at this year's CERA, Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser expressed confidence in oil, saying "we see continuous growth" of demand.

TotalEnergies' Pouyanne shrugged off talk in Europe of phasing out natural gas, pointing to Germany's needs after phasing out nuclear power, saying "this is a message, and then you have the reality."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. The European Investment Bank (EIB) has pledged 55 million euros to Ceska sporitelna (CSAS) to support lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and Mid-Caps in the Czech Republic, Trend reports.

The funding, structured as a guarantee on a mezzanine tranche of a synthetic securitisation, will allow CSAS to provide an estimated 228 million euros in new financing.

The initiative, backed by the European Investment Fund (EIF), aims to boost business activity, employment, and regional development, with around 80% of the new lending expected to support cohesion regions.

This strategic partnership strengthens Czech SMEs and Mid-Caps by improving access to financing, helping them innovate, expand, and create jobs, said EIB Vice-President Kyriacos Kakouris.

The EIF is providing protection on the mezzanine tranche, counter-guaranteed by the EIB, while CSAS retains the junior and senior tranches. The transaction, based on a 709 million euro portfolio, includes synthetic excess spread, pro-rata amortisation, and a three-year replenishment period.

This deal enables CSAS to expand lending, which is crucial for economic growth and job creation, said EIF Chief Executive Marjut Falkstedt.

Ceska sporitelna, the Czech Republics largest SME financier, highlighted the transactions role in strengthening businesses. We are pleased to build on our cooperation with the EIB and EIF to provide new financing opportunities for domestic companies, said Pavel Kracmar, CSAS Board Member for Corporate Banking.

The agreement is expected to bolster investor confidence in securitisation, particularly in regions with limited transaction activity.
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

Brooklyn Mirage, a popular nightclub located in Bushwick, is planning to reopen with updated security measures after several mysterious deaths took place nearby.

The club made headlines for all the wrong reasons two years ago, when two rave goers were found dead in the same nearly creek in seprate incidents just weeks apart.

Karl Clemente, 27, never made it inside the venue because he was turned away at the door for being too drunk on June 11, according to the Post. Footage obtained by Fox allegedly showed him jogging along Metropolitan Avenue and heading towards a lumber yard later that night. Five days later, his body was recovered from English Kills, a stream connected to the creek, but both his phone and wallet were missing.

Former Goldman Sachs analyst John Castic, also 27, had partied inside the Mirage at the Zeds Deads show until 2:30 a.m. on July 29. Police said he was last seen leaving the concert hall around 30 minutes later. Castics body was then pulled from the creek on August 1 along with his phone, wallet, and keys.

open image in gallery Two young men, John Castic and Karl Clemente, died near the same Brooklyn music venue within a month, in two separate incidents. ( Reddit / GoFundMe )

Around the same time, Dr. Michael Bautista, a 32-year-old ophthalmologist, was allegedly kidnapped when he exited the venue on July 21 and got into what he assumed was his ride-share car home. A Connecticut News 12 report named Anthony Benjamin, 43, and Steve Daley, 50, as Bautistas alleged kidnappers. Both walked free after the doctor stopped working with authorities, according to the New York Post.

The two deaths, specifically, garnered widespread attention with many questioning whether they were coincidental or somehow linked. Many New Yorkers called for immediate safety changes in a letter to Councilwoman Jennifer Gutierrez.

In October 2024, Avant Gardner  the Bushwick facility that includes the Mirage and a few other spaces  hired a new CEO and started a multimillion dollar makeover including updated signage, new light installations, and secure rideshare zones.

open image in gallery The Brooklyn Mirage will officially reopen on May 1 with trained security, updated lighting and signage, and a secure ride-share zone ( Getty Images for Kim Petras )

Now, according to Page Six, the Mirage will be ready to reopen its doors on May 1 with a team of trained guests ambassadors, expanded private security patrols, and increased first responder-trained staff,

These changes are meant to enhance guest experience and safety following the unfortunate incidents.

Speaking to Page Six, the new CEO Josh Wyatt said: When we designed Mirage 4.0, we wanted to honor its original spirit while iterating upon the visitor experience.

From arrival to departure, we have streamlined and optimized for both safety and efficiency, Wyatt continued, noting how the facility was more than just a music and cultural venue.

Its a transformative space that has allowed millions of visitors to engage in freedom of expression and self discovery over the last decade, he added. We cannot wait to welcome our loyal guests and a new generation of fans to see and feel the emotion of this mind-blowing space, where culture, fashion, art, and music will collide.

A handful of fan-favorite performers are already lined up and scheduled to perform inside the venue as it approaches its 10th anniversary. These music stars include Loud Luxury, The Chainsmokers, Empire of the Sun, Two Friends, Galantis, Alesso, and Subtronics.
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

Denise Richardss ex-husband has explained why Charlie Sheen is joining her reality show alongside their daughters, despite their once-messy custody battle.

The 54-year-old actor spoke about her ex-husbands expected cameo on her program, Denise Richards & Her Wild Things, during a new interview published on Tuesday. She said that Sheen has been proud of her Bravo show, which features their two daughters: Sami, 20, and Lola, 19. Richards 13-year-old adopted daughter Eloise is also in the show.

Charlie was very supportive and excited that the girls are doing their show, and this is a wonderful platform for them, she told Fold News Digital. They've always lived in the shadows, being known as Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards' daughters.

Now that they're adults and able to be their own person, it's great for them to have their own voice and [let] people get to know them for who they are, she added.

Richards also shared how she asked the Two and a Half Men star to make a brief appearance on her show.

I just said to Charlie, Hey, we're starting filming. He's very much a part of our lives, and it is about our life, she explained. And I said, Let's support our daughters. You support your daughters. Please film with us. And he did, and I'm glad that he did that.

open image in gallery Denise Richards says ex Charlie Sheen supports her new show with their daughters, despite a messy custody battle in the past ( Getty Images )

Sheen and Richards first tied the knot in 2002 and announced their split in 2005. Their divorce wasnt finalized until November 2006, nearly two years after they filed it.

However, the pair went on to have a messy custody battle over their daughters, including arguments about child support arrangements. In 2016, Richards filed a $1.2m lawsuit against Sheen, claiming that he didnt provide all of the financial support for his children that he agreed to.

According to court documents obtained by People at the time, Richards alleged that Sheen evicted her from a house in Beverly Hills that hed purchased for her and their daughters, despite promising not to do so.

In 2019, Sheen filed a request to change the terms of his and Richards child support arrangement. By October 2021, a judge ordered that Sheen had to pay his ex zero dollars in child support a month, as noted by Us Weekly.

This decision came after Sheens attorney argued that the actor had full custody of his and Richards daughters since April of that year. However, a source also claimed to Us Weekly at the time that Lola was living with her mother.

open image in gallery Sami Sheen, right, alongside her mother Denise Richards. The pairs will feature in a new reality show alongside her sisters and father Charlie Sheen. ( Instagram @deniserichards )

Richards has encountered a few ups and downs with Sami in the past, including concerns over her OnlyFans account. However, Richards has now made it clear that she admires her daughter and said theyre much stronger than she was at their age.

I grew up very different than they did. I grew up in Illinois, a small town, and my family was not in Hollywood, she told Fox News Digital. They've grown up having parents, you know, their whole life. This is all they know. This is their normal. So I think that they'll do a pretty good job at navigating everything.

Leading up to the release of her reality show, which aired on March 4, Richards also opened up about where she and her ex stand.

"Truth be told, I dont really call it co-parenting. I call it parenting. He has his way and I have my way," she said about their dynamic, during an interview with The Daily Dish. "And when things are good with he and I, we get along [and] its amazing. And when its not so good, its not so great."

Richards got remarried in 2018 to her husband, Aaron Phypers, whos also in her Bravo show. In 2008, Sheen married his now ex-wife, Brooke Mueller. The former couple share 15-year-old twins, Bob and Max.
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Miu Miu went very Mad Men, mixing workwear looks with just got home from a night out vibes, while at Chanel, bows were very big news.

Its been a pretty eclectic Paris Fashion Week (March 3-11). Weve had Victoria Beckham turn a dressing gown into a dreamily draped top, Sarah Burton put her stamp on Givenchy, and witty Dutch designer Duran Lantink  tipped to take over at Jean Paul Gaultier  sent a male model down the runway wearing prosthetic breasts.

The final day of the festivities will close out with Saint Laurents latest collection tonight, but first, Chanel and Miu Miu shared their womenswear ready-to-wear lines for fall/winter 2025/26.

CHANEL

Chanel got the day underway in a vast white space, the models threading their way around a gigantic black ribbon  a nod to the bows that defined practically every outfit on display. Not just decorating necklines, a hip-length puffer jacket was even belted with multiple bows and a seemingly pleather cowboy getup swapped classic tassels for yet more bows.

The collection was designed by the Chanel studio team. Matthieu Blazy joined the brand in December as artistic director from Bottega Veneta, but his first Chanel show isnt expected until September. So this is something of an interim collection.

Founded by the complicated, brilliant Gabrielle Coco Chanel, Chanel is still bound up with the late Karl Lagerfelds almost 40-year tenure. Quilted purses, the luxe CC logo, little black dresses, prim woven two-piece suits with gilt buttons  the Chanel look and colour palette (so much black, white and gold, the odd flash of red) are as classic as Chanel no.5.

This season black and white, of course, continued to dominate. Suits were overlaid with ethereal tulle dresses, Victorian ruffles wafted up and down the runway and Elizabeth I-like, round necks. Bags shrank from huge A3-size clutches in red leather and colossal strings of pearls lung crossbody, to tiny golden-snitches on thin chains.

There were arguably too many bows, and few of the looks really stuck in your brain, but the whole thing was undeniably Chanel.

MIU MIU

Next up, Miu Miu took over the historic Palais dIena in Paris, an incredible round building that inside, was done up in gaudy yellow walls, with cream Grecian columns flanking the runway.

Models that, although were your classic giraffes in size and shape, also included men and a very welcome range in ages  there was grey hair in there! Plus, stars including Lou Doillon and Gigi Hadid, who was in an almost frumpy, oversized black buttoned overcoat.

Fur was declared back  in stoles slung over handbags, and on collars  pullovers should be worn layered, with diagonal half-zips, and earrings should be massive enough to weigh down your earlobes, and gold.

Launched, and still run, by Italian designer Miuccia Prada in the early Nineties, Miu Miu is the impish, more light-hearted alternative to the grown-up world of Prada proper. The brands looks tend to be droll, quirky, bold, with lots of fun and a retro edge to them.

The summer 2025 collection was like a Seventies-Nineties mash-up, with models wearing multiple jangling belts and boob tubes over shirts.

This season, the boob tubes were out. Instead, it was all about skinny, long-sleeved t-shirts, collarbones on display and slacks worn very long in bright green, yellow and greys. There was a Sixties workwear feel to the trousers and jackets especially, as well as the fur accents and super shiny short dresses, while the colours  oranges, umbers, pale blues and tweedy browns  smacked of the Seventies.

There was also a running theme of looking slightly undressed and dishevelled, like the models had been up dancing all night  straps hanging down and buttoned-up cardigans yanked down below collarbones.

On the FROW, there was Emma Corrin, whos previously modelled for Miu Miu, in a pink shirt, while Anora actor Mark Eydelshteyn donned a dark grey buttoned cardigan over a dark-striped tee and loose navy trousers, with angular tortoiseshell sunglasses.

Emma Mackey from Sex Education looked quite skater boi in long cropped black shorts and plaits, while White Lotus actress Sydney Sweeney brought the glam in a boxy brown leather jacket.

Another medley of a show, but what was obvious is, youd better start wearing knee-high socks in lilacs and maroons.
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Gal Gadot has opened up about the terrifying emergency brain surgery she underwent after doctors found a massive blood clot while she was pregnant with her fourth child.

The Wonder Woman actor, 39, experienced awful headaches which led to her being diagnosed with cerebral venous thrombosis  a condition so rare it accounts for only three per cent of strokes.

Gadot previously detailed the health scare on Instagram in December and explained the incident further to Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show on Monday (March 10).

Speaking on the show in an interview to promote Snow White, Gadot said: I had a huge scare. All of the sudden, I realised what it means to be scared to death.

She continued: I had a brain clot, and it was a huge one. Like three. I had three. When I do something, I do it all the way.

Gadot explained she started to have major headaches for three weeks and saw multiple doctors and neurologists before she was eventually diagnosed with cerebral venous thrombosis.

CVT, or cerebral venous thrombosis, occurs when a blood clot forms in the brains venous sinuses. The clot prevents blood from being drained from the brain, which results in pressure building up in the blood vessels, leading to swelling and bleeding in the brain.

The star emphasised the importance of advocating for yourself with healthcare professionals, revealing doctors told her the headaches were due to hormones or a migraine.

After three weeks, it was Gadots mother who told her to go and get an MRI scan. They found this horrible thing and we were rushed to the hospital, and they got the baby out immediately, she said.

I went through a thrombectomy. I had the most amazing team, Gadot said. They saved my life. Mara and Dr Song, and Michael Alexander. Thank you so much for saving my life,' she added.

But I think, you know, just love yourself and check yourself, and be on top of your health.

Gadot shared that her baby daughter Ori is healthy, describing her as a little caterpillar.

Gal Gadot at the Oscars in March this year ( Reuters )

The actor welcomed Ori, 1, with her husband Jaron Varsano. The couple are also parents to 13-year-old daughter Alma, 8-year-old Maya and 3-year-old Daniella.

Elsewhere, Gadot revealed her daughters arent happy shes playing the Evil Queen in Disneys forthcoming live-action version of Snow White.

So Maya, the 8-year-old, when I told them I'm going to do Snow White, she was like, Yay! she said.

And then Alma goes, She's playing the evil queen. She's not playing Snow White. And Maya goes, What, is that true? Gadot added, before admitting Maya then started to cry.

The new film, by 500 Days of Summer director Marc Webb, follows Snow White after the wicked queen (Gadot), who is also her mother, orders her murder.

Fleeing from the peril, Snow White makes her way into a forest and discovers the seven dwarfs in a cottage.

Snow White is set to release in theatres on 21 March 2025.
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A mother's elation at being declared cancer-free turned to devastation just weeks later after doctors discovered a tiny, inoperable tumour, giving her less than three years to live.

Michelle Black, 50, from Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, received the joyous news that she had overcome a rare bile duct cancer in November. However, her world was shattered five days before Christmas when a scan revealed a new tumour, "less than a millimetre in size," changing her prognosis to stage three and incurable.

Bile duct cancer is exceptionally rare, affecting only three in a million people globally each year, with a grim survival rate: a mere three in 10 patients live longer than a year after diagnosis.

The full-time mums initial diagnosis came in March last year, following symptoms including appetite loss, pain under her ribs, dark urine, and yellowing skin.

open image in gallery Michelle remains in and out of hospital with repeat infections ( Collect/PA Real Life )

After surgery to remove 60 per cent of Michelles liver, doctors initially thought the cancer had gone but further tests in December 2024 revealed a tiny tumour remained in the tissues near her portal vein  a major vessel carrying blood from the liver.

Doctors have given her a prognosis of two to three years, but Michelle is determined to find a cure and be there for her son Mason, 16, her daughter, Shannon, 31, and her two granddaughters, six and nine.

Its impossible to believe that Ive gone from being cancer-free at Christmas to a stage three incurable cancer six weeks later for something so small you cant even see it, Michelle said.

The cancer is so small, it is almost invisible  were still baffled as to why it cant be cured.

open image in gallery Kirstine, left, and Michelle, right, have been best friends for 13 years having met on the school run ( Collect/PA Real Life )

My son hasnt cried yet because he says youre going to get through it.

Its crazy how something so tiny can be so aggressive. There has to be somebody out there who can help me and cure it.

I only have two to three years and I dont want to leave my children and grandchildren.

Michelle has lived a healthy life free of cigarettes and alcohol, but first realised something was wrong in December 2023 when her skin turned yellow and she experienced pain under her ribs, a loss of appetite, dark urine and pale stools.

Since then, she has endured 15 months of non-stop illness, hospital admissions, new diagnoses, repeat sepsis and surgery.

open image in gallery Michelle and her son Mason celebrating his 16th birthday ( Collect/PA Real Life )

Best friend Kirstine Cox, 53, who has supported Michelle throughout her ordeal, recalled the early signs of the illness.

We were sitting in our usual spot at our favourite cafe, Okka in Harpenden, after dropping our kids off at school, Kirstine said.

I asked Michelle are you going to have breakfast? and she said I cant eat it I just thought it was a virus or something.

In the weeks that followed, Michelle began losing weight without trying, dropping up to 2lb (0.9kg) every 10 days.

open image in gallery Michelle has always lived a healthy life, free from cigarettes and alcohol ( Collect/PA Real Life )

A visit to the rheumatologist showed she had a high level of Bilirubin, produced by the breakdown of red blood cells, and Michelle was sent for further tests at Lister Hospital in Stevenage.

She didnt think anything serious was going to happen but then she called me from the hospital in floods of tears, said Kirstine, from Markyate.

She said I cant believe it, they say it could be cancer but they cant be sure.

Kirstine drove Michelle to the Royal Free Hospital, in London, for further checks where doctors confirmed it was bile duct cancer  also known as cholangiocarcinoma.

We sat in the canteen and we were both in tears, said Kirstine.

If you get any cancer, you wouldnt want this one  its one of the most aggressive you can get.

Then Michelle said I need to tell my son so we met at my local Harvester and told him the news.

open image in gallery Michelle immediately after liver surgery at the Royal Free hospital, London, in April 2024 ( Collect/PA Real Life )

On April 8 last year, surgeons removed Michelles gallbladder, 60 per cent of her liver and reattached her bowel in a bid to remove the cancer.

I went to visit and couldnt believe how terrible she looked, Kirstine said.

She was just like a zombie due to the medicine. She couldnt speak, she wasnt herself.

Michelle spent the next few months in and out of hospital, being readmitted for MRSA and later sepsis.

By September, she still had discomfort under her ribs and went back to the Royal Free for further tests including a spyglass procedure where doctors took tiny biopsies from within her blood vessels.

We waited a couple of weeks and went back to the Royal Free where an oncologist said the biopsies have come back clear and there is no spread, Kirstine said.

open image in gallery Michelle tucking into some cake at her 50th birthday party ( Collect/PA Real Life )

A second opinion was required and confirmed it was not cancer but likely just inflammation.

Believing she was cancer-free, Michelle celebrated her 50th birthday with friends and family in November 2024.

I was told I was in the clear and it was the best birthday present ever, said Michelle.

By December however, Michelle still wasnt feeling right and underwent further scans and tests.

Five days before Christmas, doctors at the Royal Free confirmed she still had bile duct cancer in the tissues near her portal vein  and it was actually stage three and incurable.

It was awful but were talking about a microscopic area, it was really hard for doctors to know, said Kirstine.

Because it is in the tissues, it is inoperable and they cannot cure it.

Bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) symptoms NHS Bile duct cancer may not have any symptoms, or they can be hard to spot. Symptoms can include: the whites of your eyes turning yellow or your skin turning yellow, which may be less obvious on brown or black skin (jaundice)

itchy skin

darker pee and paler poo than usual

loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to

feeling generally unwell

feeling tired or having no energy

a high temperature, or you feel hot or shivery

In January, doctors suggested palliative care and chemotherapy as a means to give Michelle more time.

But Michelle is optimistic they caught the cancer early and remains determined to find a cure, while still battling the disease in and out of hospital.

I am up and down like a rollercoaster, Michelle said.

Its like a countdown. I keep thinking two months has gone already and I need to try and stop that.

Its really hard, how do you do that?

open image in gallery Kirstine, left, and Michelle on the barge boat along the River Thames ( Collect/PA Real Life )

So far, she has had one round of chemotherapy and remains in and out of hospital for treatment and recurring infections.

Kirstine has launched a GoFundMe page to raise money for alternative treatments for Michelle and to enable her to make special memories with her family.

Id like to thank Kirstine as well as my mum, my sister Claire, my daughter Shannon, my neighbour Emma, my son Mason and everybody who has helped me so far as I try to beat this, Michelle said.

Kirstine added: Michelle is the most wonderful friend you could ever imagine.

She just wants people to love her and she would do anything for anyone  she radiates love and she radiates kindness.

Michelles fundraising page can be found on GoFundMe.
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Less than one-fifth of the cities worldwide met the international criteria for clean air in 2024, a global study has found.

The IQAir World Air Quality Report, which analysed data from over 40,000 air quality monitoring stations across 8,954 locations in 138 countries, found that only 17 per cent of cities met the World Health Organisations (WHO) annual PM2.5 guideline of 5 micrograms per cubic metre (g/m).

The vast majority of the worlds population continues to breathe unsafe air, with pollution levels far exceeding recommended limits in most regions.

The study found that 126 of the 138 countries analysed  91.3 per cent  exceeded the WHO guideline, with several recording pollution levels more than ten times the safe limit.

The most polluted country was Chad, which had an annual PM2.5 concentration of 91.8 g/m, 18 times higher than the WHO threshold. Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and India also topped the list of countries with the worst air pollution.

open image in gallery Chart shows 10 most polluted countries in the world in terms of PM2.5 levels ( IQAir )

India, in particular, saw extreme levels of pollution, with six of the worlds nine most polluted cities. The countrys capital, Delhi, remained the worlds most polluted capital, with an annual PM2.5 average of 91.8 g/m.

The most polluted metropolitan area globally was Byrnihat, India, which recorded an alarming PM2.5 level of 128.2 g/m  more than 25 times the WHO guideline.

open image in gallery Most polluted cities in the world ( IQAIr )

By contrast, just seven countries met the WHOs air quality standard. Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Estonia, Grenada, Iceland, and New Zealand all maintained average PM2.5 levels at or below 5 g/m, making them the cleanest places to live in 2024.

The least polluted metropolitan area in the study was Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, which had an annual PM2.5 concentration of just 1.1 g/m.

open image in gallery Least polluted cities in the world ( IQAir )

In the US, Los Angeles was the most polluted major city, while Seattle had the cleanest air among large American cities. Ontario, California recorded the highest pollution levels in the country.

In Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina remained the most polluted nation, with PM2.5 levels averaging 25.3 g/m, five times the WHO limit.

open image in gallery Most polluted US cities in 2024 ( IQAir )

The study also highlighted regional pollution trends, with some areas seeing slight improvements. In Southeast Asia, PM2.5 concentrations declined across all countries, though transboundary haze from wildfires and agricultural burning continues to affect air quality.

In Africa, where pollution levels are among the highest in the world, monitoring remains a major challenge. The report found that the continent has only one air quality monitoring station for every 3.7 million people, making it difficult to track pollution accurately or implement effective solutions.

Air pollution remains a critical threat to both human health and environmental stability, yet vast populations remain unaware of their exposure levels, said Frank Hammes, Global CEO of IQAir.

Air quality data saves lives. It creates much-needed awareness, informs policy decisions, guides public health interventions, and empowers communities to take action to reduce air pollution and protect future generations.

open image in gallery Air pollution impact on human health ( IQAir )

In Latin America, wildfires in the Amazon rainforest had a severe impact on air quality. PM2.5 levels in some cities across Brazils Rondonia and Acre states quadrupled in September, driving pollution to hazardous levels. Oceania remained the cleanest region globally, with more than half of its cities meeting the WHO air quality guideline.

Health pollution is the second leading risk factor for deaths globally, responsible for 8.1 million deaths in 2021, a 2024 report by the Health Effects Institute (HEI) found.

Another study found that air pollution caused around 135 million premature deaths worldwide in the past four decades.

Apart from respiratory threats, a study published in Nature Communications also found that even brief exposure to air pollution can affect our brains ability to make decisions and focus on work.

Environmental groups are calling for stronger air quality regulations and urgent action to curb emissions.

The World Air Quality Report, which compiles measurements of air pollution from around the globe, should be a rallying call for urgent and concerted international efforts to cut pollutant emissions, said Aidan Farrow, Senior Air Quality Scientist at Greenpeace International.

By highlighting the disproportionate risk posed to young people by air pollution, the report reminds us that a failure to act today will be felt by future generations, while frequent references to human activities like coal burning and deforestation are a reminder that air quality, climate change, and the world that will be inherited by our children are inextricably linked.
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Krispy Kreme will be giving away free donuts for one year this St. Patricks Day.

On March 17, the donut chain is randomly selecting multiple guests at participating Krispy Kreme locations to win a Pot of Gold Pass.

Customers with this pass will be able to receive a free box of glazed donuts every month from April 2025 through March 2026.

Krispy Kreme will also be giving away one free glazed donut on St. Patricks Day through March 22 to anyone who walks in or uses the drive-thru by wearing the color green.

In honor of the upcoming holiday, the donut chain is launching four new flavors on Monday. If youre planning any holiday shenanigans  and you should  our St. Patricks Day Collection will make them more festive and fun, Dave Skena, Chief Growth Officer for Krispy Kreme said in a news release.

The new flavors are a Pot of Gold donut, an Over the Rainbow donut, a Choco-Shenanigans donut, and a St. Pattys Swirl donut.

The Pot of Gold donut is a glazed donut dipped in caramel icing and topped with caramel buttercream and gold coin glitter sprinkles.

The Over the Rainbow donut is an unglazed donut with a cake batter filling, dipped in light green icing and topped with rainbow sprinkles in addition to a sugar rainbow.

The Choco-Shenanigans donut is filled with white Kreme dipped in chocolate icing and topped with a drizzle of green icing and gold coin glitter sprinkles.

The St. Pattys Swirl donut is a glazed donut dipped in white icing, topped with a green icing swirl, and dipped in white and gold sanding sugar.

Krispy Kreme will also be selling their Original Glazed donut again  which is a glazed donut dyed green  from March 15 to March 17. They can be purchased individually or by the dozen.

This is not the first time Krispy Kreme have handed out a huge amount of their sweet treats for free, as one mom in Alabama found out earlier this year.

open image in gallery Lucky customers could win a box of glazed donuts every month for a year this St. Patricks Day ( Getty Images )

Back in January, Shanya Bennett gave birth to her son Dallas in a Krispy Kreme parking lot in Dothan, Alabama, according to local news station WTVY.

Bennet and the babys father, Keon Mitchell, were forced to stop at the bakery because the mothers contractions became more frequent. The initial drive to the hospital was also taking too long due to the icy roads in the city after a major snowstorm.

The Krispy Kreme shop wasnt yet open when Dallas made his appearance in the parking lot. The company, however, is still giving Mitchell, Bennett, and Baby Dallas a sweet deal: Free donuts for a year from the store in Dothan. In addition, they offered to host Dallas first birthday party in 2026, WTVY reported.

The store didnt stop there, however, and have offered to cover the childs birthday parties until he is 18, telling People: Krispy Kreme is sweetening the familys a-glaze-ing celebration by throwing Dallas a birthday party every year until hes all grown up!
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Michael Sheen has paid off 1m worth of debt for neighbours in his local community of Port Talbot.

The move was part of a two-year project to highlight issues with the current credit system, as part of forthcoming documentary, Michael Sheens Secret Million Pound Giveaway.

The 56-year-old Good Omens star purchased the credit for 100,000 from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and wiped off debt to the value of 1m, to help over 900 people in south Wales where he grew up.

In one scene, Sheen, who has been advocating for the impact of debt on peoples lives for years, talks to a woman in a cafe who tells him locals had been crying at these tables following the closure of a blast furnace. With steelworkers losing their jobs, Sheen said he cant walk away.

Were sitting in a cafe at the moment, with steelworks right behind us, and the ladies who work here, before we started filming, told me that tomorrow is the last ship, the last boat coming into the dock here to deliver stuff to the steelworks, the actor says in the clip.

And theyve described people sitting in here just crying at these tables. So it couldnt be more real, how much people are hurting. Its made me realise that this is  youve got to give it a chance, youve got to give it a go, and maybe this programme will make a tiny difference, or maybe it wont, but I cant walk away from it now.

He sets up a debt-buying business after working with Roland Roberts, a former director of a debt collection company. In the documentary, Sheen meets Labour MP Lloyd Hatton to learn more about the proposed Fair Banking Act. He also meets former prime minister Gordon Brown, who says he will help him have the kind of meetings that are necessary to make change.

Star announced he would be a not-for-profit actor in 2021 ( Getty Images )

Born in Newport, Sheen moved to Port Talbot when he was eight years old. Moving out of the area to make his career, the star returned home over ten years ago and has been living there ever since. Earlier this year, he launched the Welsh National Theatre, hoping to usher in a new dawn.

His mother was a secretary and his father a factory middle manager, but Sheen said he was too obsessed with his career when he was younger to notice the impact of policies by Margaret Thatcher, which impacted working-class communities, he told The Guardian.

Sheen announced he was a not-for-profit actor in 2021, based on his commitment to reinvest his earnings to social causes. Part of the change came when he returned to Port Talbot over a decade ago to perform in The Passion.

I was learning about what was going on that I was totally unaware of, growing up, he said of the experience, after coming into contact with hundreds of locals.
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Millie Bobby Brown has shared how frustrating she finds the online backlash to her switching between a British and American accent.

On the Smartless podcast, the Stranger Things star talked about the online reaction to her switching accents after host Will Arnett said it was cool how she went in and out during the conversation.

That was such a huge thing for a minute. I actually call it the accent-gate because its so frustrating because that was everywhere. Like for a second, everyone was talking about my accent, and they had a real problem about it, she said.

And I was like, Guys, Im married to an American, referring to her husband, model Jake Bongiovi, who she married in May 2024.

When Im around his family, I immediately go into, like, an American accent. But then I was just in England, and then the second I hear my mom and dads accent, I just go right back, she added.

Brown explained that it felt similar to playing a character.

You want me to play these characters, but you expect me not to morph into people. What I hear is what I do. Its all part of it.

Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi at the premiere of Netflix's The Electric State ( Getty Images )

Last year, after an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, fans were left confused after she appeared to switch between accents, leading to some fans saying she sounded Australian as she flipped between American and British.

The Enola Holmes star told TikTok interviewer Max Balegde: Im an actor. I grew up in the public eye. I grew up in America. I come to set and Im an actor and I adapt, and so I want to mimic other people!

I cant help that when Im around my fiance, or when Im with people like Jimmy Fallon who have a very American accent, I wanna replicate it! she said. And now Im in England, I wanna replicate that [accent]! I dont do it intentional, and Im sorry if it offends you, okay? But listen, Im trying my best! Im trying my best.

Brown recently called out disturbing press coverage of her physical appearance during promotions for her new film, The Electric State.

In a video she shared on her Instagram, she said: I started in this industry when I was 10 years old. 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.

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.

I refuse to apologise for growing up. I refuse to make myself smaller to fit the unrealistic expectations of people who cant handle seeing a girl become a woman. I will not be shamed for how I look, how I dress, or how I present myself.
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Rosie ODonnell has revealed that shes no longer living in the U.S.

The 62-year-old actor shared a video on TikTok on Tuesday to confirm that she has left America and moved to Ireland.

She also clarified that she and her 12-year-old adopted daughter, Dakota, moved on January 15, only five days before Donald Trump took office as the 47th U.S. President.

Its been pretty wonderful, I have to say, she said in the nine-minute video. The people are so loving and so kind and so welcoming. And Im very grateful.

ODonnell, who has a long-standing feud with Trump, also shared that shes in the process of getting her Irish citizenship since she has Irish grandparents.

I was never someone who thought I would move to another country. That's what I decided would be the best for myself and my 12-year-old child. And here we are, she added.

Later in the video, ODonnell shared that while she and her daughter  whom she referred to as Clay  are happy, she misses her other children in the U.S.

ODonnell and ex-wife Kelli Carpenter share three adopted children: Parker, 29, Chelsea, 27 and Blake, 24  and Viviene, 22, who is Carpenters biological daughter, conceived by IVF.

ODonnell adopted Dakota with her second wife, Michelle Rounds. They split up in 2015.

I miss my friends, ODonnell said in her video.

I miss many things about life there at home and I'm trying to find a home here in this beautiful country and when it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, that's when we will consider coming back.

Apparently referring to America under Trump, she noted: It's been heartbreaking to see what's happening politically and hard for me personally as well.

The Now and Then star shared that with the help of her friend, she has been exploring her new hometown, Dublin.

ODonnell apologized to those who were worried about her and missed her. She also expressed why she waited to make this announcement.

I just felt like we needed to take care of ourselves and make some hard decisions and follow through, she added, explaining her absence on TikTok. And now as we're getting settled, I was ready to post this and to tell everybody what's been going on.

The TV host continued her video by reiterating how much she has enjoyed traveling through Ireland, and that she now wants to get back into photography.

Rosie ODonnell is now living in Ireland with her 12-year-old daughter. ( @rosie/TikTok )

She then ended the clip with a message to her followers, urging them to protect [their] sanity as much as [they] can, even though it feels nearly impossible sometimes.

I think about everyone every day and the United States of America. And I am hoping that we can turn things around, counting on you, all of you, to do what's right. And I think deep down inside, we all know what that is, ODonnell ended.

The Independent has contacted ODonnell for comment.

Days before announcing her move, ODonnell hinted about the big change on Instagram. She posted a photo of herself behind the wheel of a car, indicating in the caption that she wasnt in the U.S.

Bought a little used car to tool around the countryside on the wrong side of the road," she wrote in the caption of her post shared last week, as reported by People. "Hit the curb three times  thought I hit a cat !!! #newadventures.

Her post also included a picture of Dakota in the backseat of the car next to her backpack.

ODonnell also mentioned in the caption that she was taking her child to school and that she couldnt wait to walk to school with Dakota.
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A Venezuelan model and reality television star was arrested on Monday night in Mexico after being eliminated from a Big Brother-style reality show, video posted online and broadcast on Mexican television show.

Aleska Genesis, 33, became the fifth person to be evicted from Telemundos La Casa de los Famosos: All-Stars on Monday after spending 35 days inside the house in Mexico City.

Video broadcast by Telemundo showed Genesis being confronted by law enforcement officers outside of the studio before she was handcuffed and led away in tears.

Telemundo told The Independent in a statement that it is cooperating with local authorities after Genesis was detained due to personal legal matters following Monday nights episode.

Prior to kicking off production, Aleskas legal team confirmed she was able to participate in the show, it added.

The model was first arrested in January 2024 at Mexico Citys Benito Juarez International Airport, suspected of participating in the theft of three luxury watches worth about 10 million Mexican pesos ($492,000) belonging to Mexican casino mogul Francisco Javier Rodriguez Borgio. Borgio was in a relationship with Michell Castellanos, Genesis younger sister.

Police accused Genesis and her sisters of stealing the watches from a Mexico City property in October 2022. However, prosecutors later dropped the charges.

Local media reported that the Attorney General's Office of Mexico City obtained an arrest warrant for Genesis for robbery.

The suspect was then taken to the medical examiner for a check-up before being handed over to the Mexico City police.

open image in gallery The Venezuelan model and influencer was also arrested in January 2024 on suspicion of theft, before later being released ( Instagram/@aleskagenesis )

Despite the reports of the arrest, Genesis Instagram account was active late on Monday night, resharing posts by her sister Michell Castellanos.

Castellanos, 29, also a celebrity in Latin America going by the pseudonym Michelle Roxana, alleged that Genesis arrest was a farce and a ploy by her ex-boyfriend, Borgio, to tarnish our image.

I directly blame Francisco Javier Rodriguez Borgio, author of all the false cases, who has been sending me threatening messages just when the police arrived to illegally detain Aleska Genesis Castellanos in Mexico City, she wrote in an Instagram Story in Spanish, translated by Google.

In another, Castellanos added: There is overwhelming evidence that confirms that this is a farce created by Borgio to harm and tarnish our image.

open image in gallery Francisco Javier Rodriguez Borgio is believed to have been in a romantic relationship with Aleska Genesis sister, Michell Castellanos ( X/@FcoJavierBorgio )

The woman also claimed, without citing evidence, that the Attorney General's Office acted illegally, allowing this abuse of power.

Court records show that last year, Castellanos attempted to sue Borgio for at least $16 million, claiming he had promised to buy her real estate during their relationship.

The trial resulted in the jury finding in favor of the defense on all counts, and Castellanos received no payment.

The Independent has contacted the Attorney General's Office of the State of Mexico, Telemundo and Borgios lawyer for more information.
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Firefighters in Illinois stumbled upon a murder scene after they were called to a blaze at a business just south of central Chicago.

Dane Koteski, 46, the CEO and president of a Crestwood trucking company, was found dead on the second floor of his business, ATG Truckload, Inc, on Wednesday afternoon, according to police.

Injuries on Koteski's throat led investigators to suspect that foul play was involved in his death, prompting an investigation with the Crestwood Police Department, the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, and the State Fire Marshals, according to WGN9.

Investigators ultimately determined that the suspected killer  whose identity has yet to be released  was an individual who worked for Koteski, and they believe the crime was an isolated incident, with Koteski as the sole target. An autopsy found that Koteski died as a result of injuries to his neck caused by a sharp or pointed object.

Deputies with the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office in Michigan tracked the suspect to a truck stop in Holland, Michigan, and took him into custody on murder charges. According to the Chicago Sun Times, the alleged murderer is expected to be extradited to Illinois by the end of the week.

Koteski was the father to a young son and was an active member of his local Serbian church and car club. A neighbor told WGN9 that the situation was extremely sad and beyond horror.

A GoFundMe has been established to pay for Koteski's funeral expenses and for his 13-year-old sons education. It had raised more than $94,000 of its $12,000 goal by Monday afternoon.

His generosity, friendship, and kindness are well known among the Macedonian and Serbian community and Church, the GoFundMe states. This fundraiser is to cover funeral expenses and to help Kiko's education and living expenses.Rest in peace, Dane! You will never be forgotten, and you will always be deeply missed, my dear friend!
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A hyperbaric chamber in Michigan exploded in January, killing a 5-year-old boy. Now, four people are facing charges related to the child's death.

The Troy Police Department arrested four people on March 10 in connection with the chamber explosion at The Oxford Center, including the medical facilitys CEO, Tamela Peterson, primary management assistant Gary Marken, and safety manager Jeffrey Mosteller, who have all been charged with second-degree murder. A fourth person, hyperbaric chamber operator Aleta Moffitt, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and putting false information on medical records.

"Due to many failures by men and women who would call themselves medical professionals  and wanton or willful disregard for the likelihood that their actions would cause the death of a patient  5-year-old Thomas Cooper was killed, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said during a press conference on Tuesday.

Nessel further accused the facility of failing to perform yearly inspections of the chamber and neglecting to have a licensed technician performing the treatments.

This was an unscrupulous business, operating powerful machines beyond their manufacturers intended term of use on children's bodies  over and over again  to provide unaccredited and debunked so-called treatments, chiefly because it brought cash into the door, Nessel said.

Thomas Cooper, 5, was killed while he was receiving treatments inside a hyperbaric chamber that exploded at The Oxford Center in Troy, Michigan, on January 31, 2025 ( Fieger Law )

On January 31, Cooper, 5, was brought by his parents to the center for sleep apnea and ADHD treatment, according to his family. Just before 8 a.m., Thomass hyperbaric chamber exploded, killing him.

James Harrington, the attorney representing Thomass family, told NBC News that the little boys mother, Annie Cooper, tried to reach her son following the explosion, but the chamber was filled with flames. She suffered significant burns to her arms, according to the attorney. Harrington added that the little boys family was absolutely devastated by Thomass death, and that they planned to file a lawsuit to make sure that this doesn't happen again.

Troy Police Department Chief of Police Josh Jones said the charges were the culmination of an extensive and difficult investigation. Second-degree murder charges carry a potential life sentence in Michigan.

Hyperbaric chambers are FDA approved. The chambers are filled with 100 percent oxygen and are under pressure, making them exceptionally combustible.

Fires inside a hyperbaric chamber are considered a terminal event. Every such fire is almost certainly fatal, and this is why many procedures and essential safety practices have been developed to keep a fire from ever occurring, Nessel said. The investigation into this tragedy has revealed how the Oxford Center in Troy and several of its key decision makers held safety among their lowest considerations in their hyperbaric treatment practice.

The Oxford Center questioned the timing of the arrests and charges in a statement provided to local news outlet WWJ.

After cooperating with multiple investigations starting immediately after the tragic accident in January, we are disappointed to see charges filed, the organization said. The timing of these charges is surprising, as the typical protocol after a fire-related accident has not yet been completed. There are still outstanding questions about how this occurred. Yet, the Attorney General's office proceeded to pursue charges without those answers.

The center added that its highest priority every day is the safety and wellbeing of the children and families we serve, which continues during this process.

The Independent has requested comment from The Oxford Center.
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An InfoWars reporter was brutally murdered not because of his job but by a suspect who was trying to break into his car, his heartbroken family has revealed.

Jamie White was killed late Sunday near his Texas apartment in a suspected homicide, his family confirmed.

I dont believe it was targeted, Whites sister Kelly Kneale told The Independent. He was shot by a person or persons trying to break into his car for the second time.

Kelly explained that her brothers car had first been broken into when he was home for Christmas.

A tragic accident, but we havent heard much else, she added. I hope whoever took his life is caught and brought to justice. My father and I are devastated, to say the least.

Whites death was first reported on Monday afternoon when far-right radio host Alex Jones announced it on his broadcast, saying that his best reporter had been brutally murdered. Jones accused Austin's Democratic district attorney and other Democrats across the country of "aiding and abetting" in White's death by failing to control crime, calling them "demons."

open image in gallery Infowars journalist Jamie White was reportedly killed outside his Austin home. His family says they believe the suspect had tried to break into his car ( Infowars )

open image in gallery Austin police give an update on the homicide of an InfoWars reporter outside of his Texas home. No arrests have been made in the case ( Austin police )

The Austin Police Department said in a statement Tuesday that officers responded to the call of a shooting at the Chandelier Apartments located at 2336 Douglas Street.

When police arrived, they found White lying on the ground in the parking lot of the apartment complex where he lived with obvious signs of trauma to his body. He was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead at 12:19 a.m. on Monday, APD said.

The initial investigation shows that White was shot and killed in the parking lot of the apartment complex in which he lived, the statement read. The suspects then fled the scene. Detectives believe the suspects were possibly burglarizing Whites vehicle, when he interrupted them.

Its unclear how long White, 36, had worked for InfoWars. He was a graduate of Ohio University.

"I come to the Infowars family of viewers and listeners, and to the world, with some really horrible news," Jones said in a post on X.

"There are a lot of really cool people that have worked at Infowars over the years, and one of the most amazing people was Jamie White ... Jamie was murdered last night outside of his home, just a few miles away from our studios, Jones added.

"We sent some people over this morning when he didn't answer the phone, because he was always here early. Loves to work, loves to fight tyranny, loves to promote freedom. And when they got to the apartment complex, there was yellow tape everywhere and blood all over the parking lot, Jones recounted.

Alex Jones says Infowars reporter Jamie White was murdered near Texas home

Jones praised the police for their quick response, and said Infowars staff had been sent home to grieve.

"I lay all of this squarely at the feet of these DAs and of the Soros crime syndicate, and of the Democratic Party, Jones said.

Austin District Attorney Garza was elected in 2020 with backing from a Super PAC funded by Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros, who is both a prolific donor to progressive causes and a regular fixation of antisemitic conspiracy theorists.

Since then he has been criticized by Infowars and targeted by conservative mega-billionaire Elon Musk, who reportedly channeled dark money into an unsuccessful effort to unseat him.
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Authorities are investigating after an InfoWars journalist was shot and killed outside his home in Austin, Texas late Sunday night.

Jamie White, 36, died from his injuries after being rushed to the hospital, his family confirmed.

Alex Jones, the owner of InfoWars, first reported the news in a broadcast on Monday afternoon that White, whom he called his best reporter, had been brutally murdered.

Whites sister confirmed to The Independent that her brother had been killed by someone who was trying to break into her car. She said that she does not believe it was a targeted attack.

Austin police, who have not confirmed Whites identity, have called the incident a homicide, but have not identified any suspects and say the investigation is in its early stages.

Heres what we know so far:

InfoWars journalist shot and killed

The Austin Police Department said in a statement Tuesday that officers responded to the call of a shooting at the Chandelier Apartments located at 2336 Douglas Street.

When police arrived, they found White lying on the ground in the parking lot of the apartment complex where he lived with obvious signs of trauma to his body.

He was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead at 12:19 a.m. on Monday, APD said.

Austin police give an update on the homicide of an InfoWars reporter outside of his Texas home. No arrests have been made in the case ( Austin police )

The initial investigation shows that White was shot and killed in the parking lot of the apartment complex in which he lived, the statement read.

The suspects then fled the scene. Detectives believe the suspects were possibly burglarizing Whites vehicle, when he interrupted them.

Detective Leah Ratliff, who is a spokeswoman for the Austin Police Department, said an ongoing investigation was underway, adding that homicide detectives aren't releasing information about the suspect/s.

"They will be releasing more information, though, as they are able to," she added.

Family reveals possible motive

Whites sister Kelly Kneale told The Independent that he was shot and killed by an unknown person or persons who tried to break into his car.

I dont believe it was targeted, she added.

He was shot by a person or persons trying to break into his car for the second time.

Kelly explained that her brothers car had first been broken into when he was back home in Ohio for Christmas.

A tragic accident, but we havent heard much else, she said. I hope whoever took his life is caught and brought to justice.

My father and I are devastated, to say the least.

Alex Jones blames Democrats for failing to control crime

Jones accused Austin's Democratic district attorney and other Democrats across the country of "aiding and abetting" in White's death by failing to control crime, calling them "demons."

In his broadcast on Monday, Jones blamed local Democratic politicians, including Austin District Attorney Jose Garza, for cutting police budgets and failing to lock up dangerous criminals.

"I come to the Infowars family of viewers and listeners, and to the world, with some really horrible news," Jones said in a post on X.

"There are a lot of really cool people that have worked at Infowars over the years, and one of the most amazing people was Jamie White ... Jamie was murdered last night outside of his home, just a few miles away from our studios, Jones added.

"We sent some people over this morning when he didn't answer the phone, because he was always here early. Loves to work, loves to fight tyranny, loves to promote freedom. And when they got to the apartment complex, there was yellow tape everywhere and blood all over the parking lot, Jones recounted.

He praised the police for their quick response, and said Infowars staff had been sent home to grieve. He did not speculate about who may have killed White or why.

Nevertheless, he said: "I lay all of this squarely at the feet of these DAs and of the Soros crime syndicate, and of the Democratic Party.

Alex Jones says Infowars reporter Jamie White was murdered near Texas home

Austin District Attorney Garza was elected in 2020 with backing from a Super PAC funded by Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros, who is both a prolific donor to progressive causes and a regular fixation of antisemitic conspiracy theorists.

Since then he has been criticized by Infowars and targeted by conservative mega-billionaire Elon Musk, who reportedly channeled dark money into an unsuccessful effort to unseat him.

InfoWars also released a statement about White on their site.

We are deeply saddened to inform you that InfoWars Reporter Jamie White was brutally murdered around midnight Sunday night due, in part, to the policies of the Soros Austin, TX D.A. Jose Garza.

We pledge that Jamies tragic death will not be in vain, and those responsible for this senseless violence will be brought to justice.

Jamies important work will be carried on through InfoWars, our readers, and our cherished listeners.

Who was Jamie White?

The 36-year-old journalist was from Ohio and attended Ohio University.

He had been living in Austin, Texas since 2017.

Jones posted a video to X about his "good friend" Jamie White, showing the desk he worked from.

"He's up here six, seven days per week, he was up here last nightSunday nightwriting articles and posting stuff for the show," Jones said, before showing viewers White's "Hold The Line" hat. Jones called White a "great guy" and a "classy guy."

White's work for Infowars includes articles on protests in Romania, MAGA figure Steve Bannon's comments, and "Mexican drug cartels."

In his bio for his account @whiteisthefury on X, White has quoted former President Thomas Jefferson saying: "I've sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."

Elon Musk, Nick Fuentes and Libs of TikTok are among some of the accounts that White has reposted from.
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As Donald Trump becomes president-elect for the second time, many have begun questioning whether it is time to close their X accounts for good.

The social media service is owned by billionaire Elon Musk, the controversial tech mogul who announced his sudden support for Mr Trump during the 2024 campaign.

The businessman, who also owns Tesla and SpaceX, donated over $132m (104m) to the Trump campaign and other Republicans in the run-up to the election.

Its also understood that the businessman has spent a lot of time with the president-elect following his victory.

open image in gallery Elon Musk shakes Donald Trumps hand. Trump joked he cant get rid of the billionaire on Wednesday ( AFP via Getty Images )

The number of active users has declined on the app since Mr Musk took over in October 2022 (renaming it from Twitter shortly after).

From a peak of 368 million active users that year, Xs growth has stood virtually still. It saw 162 million active daily users on US election day  which was the yearly high according to market intelligence site Sensor Tower.

The day after the election, active users had fallen by another 5 million.

The Guardian newspaper announced its decision to stop posting on Mr Musks site on 13 November, followed by author Stephen King and TV journalist Don Lemon.

For those thinking of packing up and heading elsewhere to get their social media fix, heres what you need to know:

Social media alternatives to Twitter / X

Bluesky

Fast becoming the one-to-watch, Bluesky picked up over a million new users in just a week following the US election result. This bump means it has gained 6 million new users in just two months.

However, this has only brought its monthly active user based up to 15 million, quite far shy of Xs

Blueskys interface is very similar to Twitter / Xs before Elon Musk took over. It was created in 2019 by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey (who has now left the project) and only became open to all in February.

Unlike X, Bluesky gives users greater control over the algorithm that dictates what they see on their feeds. Unlike the invisible hand approach of most social media services, Bluesky aims to let users have greater control over the topics and users they will see.

Threads

Facebook owner Meta launched Threads in 2022 shortly after Mr Musk bought Twitter. It was clearly designed as an alternative to the site, but did not quite steal its user base as some predicted it might.

Unlike Bluesky, Threads has enough active users to rival X, receiving a substantial boost from linking the service to Instagram (also owned by Meta), which boasts 2 billion active monthly users.

open image in gallery Meta CEO and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg ( AP )

Threads has a similar text-based interface to X, but with some key differences.

Critics have said the the services algorithm is slightly overbearing, creating shortcomings when it comes to breaking news  a key feature of X  due to restrictions on political content.

Mastadon

More different still is Mastadon. Favoured by tech-heads, this is a decentralized social media platform  meaning it is made up of hundreds of different servers which users can explore based on their interests.

Anyone can create one of these servers, giving the site a model which may be more familiar to those who use forum sites like Reddit.

Many have praised the services ability to allow users to fine tune their experiences. However, others have said the freedom can prove stifling for some entry-level users, who might want to see a bit more of everything.

How to delete your Twitter / X account

Before you delete your Twitter / X account, you first have to deactivate it. This is easy to do in the mobile app or on desktop, but the two are slightly different.

First, navigate to Settings and Privacy. On desktop, this comes under the More button. Then find the Your Account section. This should appear automatically, as it is the top option. At the bottom of this screen you will see the option to Deactivate your account.

A screen will appear, explaining the conditions of deactivation. If you want to proceed, click the red Deactivate button.

However, your account will not be permanently deleted at this point. It will remain deactivated for 30 days, and only after this point will it disappear completely. For premium users, you can choose to keep your account inactive for up to 12 months.

If you want to make a new account with the same username or email address, you will have to wait until after the deactivation period is over. To get around this, users can change their username or email address before deactivating, meaning they will not have to wait.

If you want to download your X data, you must do this before deactivating your account. It will be inaccessible after the account is deleted.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. The 1st meeting of the Strategic Economic Dialogue between Azerbaijan and Spain has taken place in Baku, Azerbaijan's Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov wrote on his X page, Trend reports.

"We met with Amparo Lopez Senovilla, Spains Secretary of State for Trade, to discuss prospects for strengthening economic cooperation between our countries. We also highlighted the significance of the Azerbaijan-Spain Business Forum and the 1st meeting of the Strategic Economic Dialogue, both held today, in fostering collaboration between our business communities," the minister pointed out.

He mentioned that as part of the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Strategic Economic Cooperation was signed between the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Business of Spain.

"The implementation of this agreement will foster diversified collaboration, strengthen bilateral business ties, enhance investment flows, and facilitate technology and knowledge transfer, expertise exchange, and joint initiatives," the minister underscored.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
If you're African American or in certain organized or social groups, you know there's a national DEI boycott planned for Friday. If you haven't heard about it, know that some Black folks  along with allies  will be living their normal lives without buying breakfast, lunch or dinner out, without buying coffee, snacks and soda at a neighborhood convenience store and without going to a local or big box store to shop for clothes or groceries. The idea is for enough Black people to withdraw from commerce while standing together in favor of diversity, equity and inclusion and against companies that have moved away from DEI, a valuable business approach and strategy that works to make things better for everyone.
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 It is the day after the Oscars and Madeleine Madden has been shaken, but not stirred. There was an earthquake that happened just after [the Oscars] that woke me up, she says over Zoom from Los Angeles. I was like oh, that was an earthquake  speaking as someone who hasnt experienced any earthquakes outside of Canberras Questacon earthquake room. So, yeah, it was a bit of an exciting day. The 28-year-old Australian actor is one of the central stars in the ambitious high fantasy series The Wheel of Time. It has been pegged as yet another successor to Game of Thrones, the HBO drama that left in a blaze of dragon-fire-fuelled glory in 2019 after an eight-season award-winning run that other streamers have been trying to replicate since. Three months earlier, Madden and I had met in Sao Paulo in Brazil, where she was with The Wheel of Times showrunner Rafe Judkins and Dutch star Josha Stradowski at the pop culture festival CCXP, earlier in the promotional tour for season three. The series is filmed largely in Prague, with pit-stops in the Canary Islands, South Africa, Slovenia, Croatia and Spain. Madeleine Madden (centre) as Egwene, with Ceara Coveney (left) as Elayne and Zoe Robins as Nynaeve in season three of The Wheel of Time. It is, by any measure, a long way from the earthquake room at Questacon and the suburb where Madden was raised  Redfern in Sydneys inner city. It was definitely a push outside my comfort zone, because Ive grown up in the very familiar and intimate film and TV scene in Australia where you see so many familiar faces, says Madden. Even on [upcoming Stan series] Saccharine, I was like oh, my God, thats someone I worked with well over 10 years ago.

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Maddens ties to the local creative industry run deep: her mum, a proud Arrernte and Kalkadoon woman, is the art curator and writer Hetti Perkins, her aunt is the award-winning filmmaker Rachel Perkins, who directed Madden in the ABC drama Redfern Now, and her grandfather was late Aboriginal civil rights activist Charles Perkins. Her younger sister, Miah, is also an actor, brother Tyson is a cinematographer who won an AACTA award in 2022 for his work on Mystery Road: Origins, and older sister Thea is an artist who was a finalist in last years Archibald and Wynne prizes at the Art Gallery of NSW. Family affair: Madeleine Madden (second from right) with her sister Thea Anamara Perkins (in red) and (from left) Theas partner Adam Finney, grandmother Eileen Perkins, Charles Madden (grandfather), and brother Tyson Perkins. Credit: Esteban La Tessa Im really lucky to have grown up in a really creative family, where people understand the highs and the lows of the industry, says Madden. So to have their support, and them understand these challenges, has been so crucial to me being able to do the work that I want to do. I really fret for them when Im away for too long, so were really close in that aspect, and I feel really lucky to have a family that understands that quite intricately. What really keeps the family together? Weve got a Signal group chat where its mainly just pet-driven, she says, laughing. Josha Stradowski and Madeleine Madden in 2021s The Dark Along the Ways epsiode. Alongside Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, The Wheel of Time is one of Amazon Primes big-budget fantasy tent-poles, with each episode estimated to cost upwards of $US10 million and each season taking about 10 months to film. The story is drawn from US author Robert Jordans bestselling 14-book series, which means it comes with a readymade and passionate fan base.

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Its also broadly in the same quest-based storytelling of Rings and Game of Thrones: in this case, it follows a group of five young men and women destined for great power, with one prophesied to be the one  in this case the Dragon Reborn. They are mentored and protected by the powerful Moiraine, played by Rosamund Pike with steely determination. Madeleine Madden (left) with Zoe Robins and Ceara Coveney in season two of The Wheel of Time. The series has been a hit for Amazon, with more than 100 million viewers, and critics have largely agreed, especially praising the second season for finding its groove after a rough start (The New York Times said it went nowhere fast). For Judkins, who worked on the Marvel series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. before he tackled The Wheel of Time, that awkward first season matches up with the books. The books really get stronger as they go on, says Judkins. And were doing that in the show, too. I feel like season two is much deeper, and you are closer to the characters than you are in season one. And season three is another step up. The actors, they can do anything that we throw at them  so we throw some really wild stuff at them this season  and they pull it off incredibly. The Wheel of Times Rosamund Pike, Daniel Henney, Zoe Robins, Josha Stradowski, Madeleine Madden, Barney Harris, and Marcus Rutherford. Madden plays Egwene, an apprentice healer who has slowly built her power over the first two seasons. Egwene enters season three after several traumatic events in season two, particularly where she was dragged by a chain and held captive and collared in scenes that were not just difficult to watch, but had echoes of how many Indigenous people have been treated in Australia.

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That was a really difficult, difficult couple of episodes, not only physically, but emotionally, says Madden. So to sort of sit in the passenger seat again [in season three] and have to experience that through Egwene was definitely a challenge. But what was really important for me and for the character, and I know for the audience, is to see her try to put the pieces of herself back together. Shes forever changed because of it. But no matter what she faces in life, she keeps moving forward. And thats something that Ive really learned from her, and its important that we see her lean on people for support and try and heal. Loading Egwene is one of many strong female characters in The Wheel of Time, in which women are firmly in charge from the beginning courtesy of a matriarchal order known as the Aes Sedai who channel a magical force called the One Power. Season three even opens with something still rarely seen on screen: a group of middle-aged women in a thrilling and deadly battle. Its a scene showrunner Judkins proudly calls women shredding. For Madden, that focus on women is what makes The Wheel of Time a standout series. Fantasy can, traditionally, look a certain type of way, in the people that exist in those worlds, she says. And, you know, Robert Jordan was very ahead of his time by having women at the forefront, and women of all walks of life. The same goes for the general casting. Fantasy epics used to always fall under the old pale, male and stale label, but The Wheel of Time is incredibly diverse. It is our superpower, agrees Madden. The Wheel of Time world, its incredibly vast and rich in culture, and that is something that we need to pull from our real world to make this world come to life, and also it is a true reflection of the world that we live in. Its really exciting to have people come from all corners of the world.

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As an Aboriginal woman, does Madden ever feel that extra pressure to represent not just herself but an entire culture? Loading You want to do a good job, she says. With each project, I do just represent myself. You cant necessarily represent everyone or everyones experience. But I feel a lot of support and draw strength from our community and my family and I wouldnt be able to do all the things that Im doing, and live the life that Im living, if it wasnt for the giants whose shoulders we stand on. As for where Madden would like to see her career go  her first film role came when she was eight years old, she starred in the first Australian Indigenous teen drama Ready for This in 2005, and got her international break in Dora and the Lost City of Gold in 2019  the answer is simple. Honestly, just to continue working with exciting filmmakers, she says. I know that sounds quite vague, but I just have open expectations for myself. Weve got such an amazing industry and so many great storytellers in our country that I would love to keep telling Australian stories, but then also, you know, doing international work. So I dont know. Sorry, that was not the best answer to that! Sounds good to me.

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Exclusive Eating outJust open A new Fitzroy North spot brings Italys bar culture to a leafy corner Suze is the answer when low-commitment drinking and dining is on the cards. Expect cheesy pastry puffs, house-made ricotta for smearing on focaccia, and dishes that encourage staying for dinner. Kosa Monteith March 12, 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

This venue appears in the April 2025 Melbourne hit list. See all stories .

1 / 7 Suze is designed for quick, casual visits that might spill over into dinner. Warren Davel 2 / 7 Small plates include raw snapper with Tasmanian wasabi (left) and Olasagasti anchovies with guindilla peppers. Warren Davel 3 / 7 The venue embraces quick visits inspired by Italys aperitivo, but dinner is also encouraged. Warren Davel 4 / 7 A snack-heavy menu includes marinated peppers with curry leaf and house-baked focaccia. Warren Davel 5 / 7 Chef Steve Harry and restaurant manager Giulia Giorgetti, who have worked in leading Melbourne wine bars. Warren Davel 6 / 7 Suze has a sleek and moody fitout, with seating over two levels. Warren Davel 7 / 7 Grapefruit sorbet is splashed with the venues namesake aperitif, Suze. Warren Davel Previous Slide Next Slide A couple who have worked in some of Melbournes favourite wine bars are ready to show off their own addition to the citys line-up with Suze, tucked on a leafy backstreet in Fitzroy North. Chef Steve Harry (ex-Napier Quarter, Auterra) and restaurant manager Giulia Giorgetti (ex-Marion) will throw open the doors on March 13 for aperitivo-ready snacks, house-made pasta and more. While theyre serious about quality, the pair want Suze to be casual and charming, inspired in part by Giorgettis love of Italian neighbourhood bars and their aperitivo culture, which encourages being social without too much financial commitment. You can go out every day of the week for an hour with a friend, [have] some focaccia with peppers and anchovies, a couple of glasses and go home, she says. The venue embraces quick visits inspired by Italys aperitivo, but dinner is also encouraged. Warren Davel

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Although youll always find aperitivo-friendly snacks, focaccia and a couple of house-made pastas on the menu, its not an Italian restaurant. Harrys food reflects his story and Melbournes many culinary influences. His experience in Japanese restaurants shows in raw fish with Tasmanian wasabi, and he gives a classic Continental dish of grilled flounder the hibachi treatment. Gougeres filled with stout and Bay of Fires cheddar custard are a delicious inevitability given Harrys fascination with choux pastry (theyre also a fan favourite from his Napier Quarter days). Grapefruit sorbet is finished with bittersweet Suze, the vibrant yellow French aperitif thats the venues namesake. Hibachi-grilled flounder with fried capers and bone marrow sauce. Warren Davel The couple are driven by care and craftsmanship, even buying their own flour mill from Bee Sustainable in Brunswick East so they can grind biodynamic grains each day for Suzes bread and pasta. Once you have this leisure of making something so fresh in-house, you cant go back, says Harry.

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He also makes ricotta each day using St David Dairy milk, and the jars of preserves lining the shelves arent just for show. Black walnuts are destined for cheese plates, and preserved lemons bring a bright note to the house martini. Vegetables come from small-scale local farms, including Somerset Heritage Produce and Dog Creek Growers. A snack-heavy menu includes marinated peppers with curry leaf and house-baked focaccia. Warren Davel Giorgettis drinks list includes favourite aperitivo cocktails such as spritzes, plus European and Australian vermouths (a special interest of hers). Her sommelier cred shows in a succinct list with a preference for light styles, especially whites from Italy, France and Australia, whether minerally chenin blanc or a fun gruner veltliner. The few premium wines are poured in smaller serves to make exploration affordable. Hidden on a quiet backstreet, the two-storey corner building is exactly what the pair envisioned. People find us because they want to, says Giorgetti. Chef Steve Harry and restaurant manager Giulia Giorgetti, who have worked in leading Melbourne wine bars. Warren Davel

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Formerly home to wine bar One Trick Pony (which closed in late 2024), the space is modern and moody with a palette of soft greys, slate and wood. Books, wine bottles, artwork and fresh flowers add character. Split over two levels, it seats 20 downstairs, with more outside on the footpath, and 20 upstairs beside the open kitchen. Giorgetti and Harry hope that, just as in Italy, Suze becomes a bar that locals visit multiple times a week. Lunch Saturday & Sunday, dinner Wednesday-Sunday from March 13 6 Newry Street, Fitzroy North, suzefitzroy.com

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Consider it official. The era of special favours is over, even for one of the United States most trusted allies.

With Donald Trumps decision not to provide an exemption to his steel and aluminium tariffs, the US-Australia alliance has entered a new era: one defined by transactions rather than trust. Its implications stretch beyond trade and will prompt confronting, in many ways overdue, questions about our relationship with our most important security partner.

Did Australias exemption pleas count for anything with Donald Trump? No. Credit: Getty Images

Yes, we have fought in every major conflict with the US since the First World War. Yes, the Pine Gap joint defence facility near Alice Springs provides invaluable intelligence. Yes, we are planning to spend tens of billions of dollars on US Virginia-class submarines. Did any of that count for a brass razoo with Trump? No.

Even the supposedly magical card in Australias deck  that we traditionally run a trade deficit with America  no longer has the same potency.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. The Spanish Fomento company is exploring consulting opportunities in Azerbaijan in the fields of irrigation, food production, and especially renewable energy, the companys Executive Director Diana Villaraga told Trend.

She gave the lowdown on the company and pointed out that they are keeping their ear to the ground for potential cooperation opportunities in Azerbaijan.

"Here at our Spanish company, we focus only on project development. Our consulting services span the whole project lifecycle, from engineering and supply to building and operation. Opportunities in the Azerbaijani market are something we're keen to investigate.

Your government has a very ambitious socio-economic development plan, particularly for the liberated territories, which is commendable.

We work in various sectors, but we focus significantly on the agro-industrial sector, especially in irrigation, food production, and renewable energy, particularly solar energy.

Therefore, our initiative here is to better assess opportunities and collaboration prospects with your government, as well as with businesses in Azerbaijan," emphasized the companys representative.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Children accused of serious crimes would be treated like adults when courts decide whether to grant them bail or release them into the community under a shake-up of Victorias juvenile justice system.

Under changes to the Bail Act proposed by the Allan government, remanding youth offenders in custody would no longer be a last resort for judges and magistrates. Instead, community safety would become the overarching principle when deciding bail for children and adults.

In other proposed changes approved by the cabinet on Tuesday, it would again become a separate crime to commit an indictable offence while on bail. This provision was scrapped in 2024 after it contributed to people spending months behind bars for relatively minor offences.

Under what the government claims will be the toughest bail laws in Australia, people charged with serious, violent crimes including home invasion and carjacking, would have a greater onus to convince courts they could be safely released while waiting for their trial.
Washington: Donald Trump had decisions to make about whether to grant Australia  and other allies such as Japan  an exemption to 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, due to begin on Wednesday.

But now, in the face of financial market turmoil and a simmering backlash among some Republicans and business leaders, the US president has a bigger issue on his hands: whether to proceed with the tariffs at all.

US President Donald Trump leaves Air Force One on his return to Washington from Florida on Sunday (US time). Credit: AP

Weve already seen that Trumps bark is worse than his bite when it comes to tariffs, at least when it concerns allies. Planned tariffs on Mexico and Canada were paused for a month, then implemented for less than a day, then modified to exclude goods covered by their tripartite free-trade agreement  at least for another month.

At first, it was only Mexico that was offered the reprieve; hours later, Canada joined the party. The process has been chaotic and utterly Trumpian.
A furious Industry Minister Ed Husic accused the US of a dog act after over a century of friendship, saying: Australians have stood by, and stood with Americans for many decades. In fact, Australians have spilt blood alongside Americans in different conflicts. Trumps tariff agenda roiled global sharemarkets as investors, increasingly worried about an American recession, sold off their holdings. The ASX200 lost 1.3 per cent, or more than $37 billion, on Wednesday, leaving it at its lowest level in 100 days. Asked why Trump had decided against an exemption, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: America first steel. If they want to move their steel manufacturers here, theyre welcome to do so.

Labelling the tariff move as not a friendly act, Albanese said: Quite clearly it is not a positive step in a relationship ... I think Australians will look at this decision and will be concerned that our friends in the United States have chosen to impose these tariffs on Australia, given that Australia does not impose tariffs on the United States. Loading Trump said in a February 11 phone call with Albanese that he would consider a tariff exemption for Australia, but the prime minister was unable to get the president on the line for a follow-up discussion. Albanese said the government had put in a request for a conversation again to take place in recent days and that he would continue to lobby for an exemption. Asked whether he should have travelled to Washington to argue for a carve-out, Albanese pointed out that no nation had received an exemption, including those whose leaders had held White House meetings with Trump.

Signalling plans to shore up Australian industry, Albanese said the Buy Australia campaign would get additional support in the March 25 budget. Dutton rubbished the government for failing to secure an exemption, saying: We dont believe that an outcome wasnt possible  we negotiated an outcome with America when the Coalition was in government in 2018. This prime minister has failed because the president wont take the call or grant a meeting with Anthony Albanese. It shows how incompetent and how hopeless this prime minister is. One of the affected Australian companies, BlueScope, issued a statement expressing disappointment that an exemption similar to that negotiated by the Turnbull government in 2018 had not been put in place. We are working closely with the Australian trade and diplomatic staff in Canberra and in Washington DC, and with a wide range of senior representatives in Congress to ensure the BlueScope investment proposition is fully understood, a spokesperson said.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong blasted the tariffs as unprovoked and unjustified, arguing they were not the way to treat a friend and partner. Credit: Matt Golding Wong disputed the claim that Albanese did not make enough contact with Trump, saying: The prime minister has had two calls with the president  we have been engaging at every level. Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on agricultural imports  which could hit Australian meat exporters hard  from April 2 as well as a 25 per cent tariff on pharmaceutical imports. The US is Australias largest export market for beef and veal, worth $3.3 billion last year: three times as much as steel and aluminium. Australia exports about $1 billion worth of pharmaceutical products to the US each year.

Paul Farrow, the national secretary of the Australian Workers Union, which represents workers at aluminium smelters, said: What the government must do is simple. Australian steel and Australian aluminium must be mandated for use in all Australian infrastructure and government buildings from this point onward. Australias purist free-market approach on procurement was naive a decade ago, sticking to it now would be sheer idiocy ... Australia is very good at making steel and aluminium. Trump knows it, and its about time we recognise it too. Loading The European Commission said it would respond to the tariffs with countermeasures worth 26 billion ($45 billion), labelling Trumps imposts unjustified. Business Council of Australia chief executive Bran Black said: Australia should adopt a cool-headed response to this news and keep making the case for our interests through continued extensive engagement with the US administration ... My primary concern is with the broader trade picture and the risk that lies ahead for our economy if a global contest of reciprocal tariffs were to escalate.

ANZ economists Sophia Angala and Adelaide Timbrell said the direct effects of the tariffs were likely to be small, noting South Korea was Australias largest steel and aluminium market, accounting for 19.4 per cent of total exports of the metals. But they warned that an escalation of trade tensions, including Trumps plan for tariffs on more goods beginning next month, would be more challenging for the Australian and global economy. Loading On the more extreme end, a trade war could lead to supply chain disruptions that increase the price of goods imports, negatively impacting domestic incomes and offsetting disinflation momentum, they said. Australias largest aluminium manufacturer, Capral, has been in business for 80 years producing extruded aluminium for construction and window frames. Chief executive Tony Dragicevich said imports already supply about 30 per cent of the local aluminium extrusion market, and he expects Trumps tariffs will increase competition.
Washington: Donald Trump has lauded the arrest of a prominent pro-Palestine student activist and vowed there would be more to come in a dramatic escalation of efforts to curb what the US president called antisemitic and anti-American activity on university campuses.

Immigration agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, who was until recently a graduate student at Columbia University in New York and who holds a US green card, at his university-owned apartment on the weekend. The lawful US resident, who has not been charged with a crime, has since been transported to a jail in Louisiana.

The Department of Homeland Security said the arrest flowed from Trumps executive order prohibiting antisemitism. Khalil led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation, it alleged.

Student negotiator Mahmoud Khalil during bargaining over the pro-Palestine encampment at Columbia last year. Credit: AP

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement on social media platform X: We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported.
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., March 11, 2025 --

2025 Chrysler Pacifica earns the Best Minivan for Families crown

2025 Jeep Wagoneer L wins the Best Large SUV for Families award

U.S. News & World Report evaluated 100 vehicles and named winners across nine categories

More information on U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best Cars for Families awards available at cars.usnews.com

U.S. News & World Report's annual Best Cars for Families awards are issued every spring to honor the cars, SUVs and minivans that offer the best combination of safety, reliability, space, comfort, convenience and connectivity in their class.

For 2025, the Chrysler Pacifica and Jeep Wagoneer L are recognized as the winners in the car rankings. The U.S. News methodology combines the vehicle's overall score in the U.S. News best car rankings, safety and reliability ratings, seating and cargo volume and the availability of family-friendly features. In each class covered by these awards, the vehicle with the highest composite score is named the Best Car for Families in that category. U.S. News & World Report evaluated 100 vehicles and named winners across nine categories.

2025 Chrysler Pacifica Earns Best Minivan for Families Award

The 2025 Chrysler Pacifica, the most awarded minivan ever, earned the honor of being named the Best Minivan for Families from U.S. News. This is the second consecutive year that the Chrysler Pacifica has won this prestigious award.

"Minivans can seem samey, but the Pacifica stands out as the best all-arounder in the class, with excellent safety ratings, a versatile, stylish and amenity-packed cabin, and a good driving experience," said Alex Kwanten, Autos managing editor at U.S. News & World Report.

The Chrysler Pacifica offers versatility, cargo space, easy entry/exit, a host of advanced safety features, excellent fuel economy and unique attributes that make it a smart choice for families looking for a comfortable vehicle to suit their daily, active lifestyles. Chrysler Pacifica has the most standard safety features in its segment, delivers available AWD capability paired with Pacifica's class-exclusive Stow 'n Go seating, and was first minivan with available Amazon Fire TV integrated into the Uconnect Theater System. This year, Chrysler is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Stow 'n Go seating and storage system.

Jeep Wagoneer L Earns Best Large SUV for Families Award

"The Jeep Wagoneer L's roomy cabin, easy-to-use systems and bevy of tech features make it a good family choice, but its adult-friendly third row, solid fuel economy and top safety scores clinched the award," said Kwanten.

The 2025 Jeep Wagoneer L takes spaciousness to a whole new level. Stretching 12 inches longer than the standard model (226.7 inches total) with a 7-inch increase in wheelbase (130 inches), it offers unmatched comfort for up to eight passengers. This translates to a best-in-class overall passenger volume and generous cargo space behind the third row, providing families with plenty of space for people and items they need daily.

Built to appeal to the heart of the large SUV market, the Jeep Wagoneer L combines heritage, refinement and technology with unparalleled comfort and legendary 4x4 capability. Powered by the standard Hurricane Twin Turbo I-6 engine with 420 horsepower and 468 lb.-ft. of torque, Jeep Wagoneer sets the benchmark for power and efficiency in the large SUV segment. The standard Hurricane Twin Turbo I-6 engine is up to 15% more efficient than larger V-8 engines, which helps families on the go save more money at the fuel pump.

Chrysler Brand

Chrysler marks its 100th anniversary in 2025, honoring Walter P. Chrysler's legacy of innovation, engineering excellence and beautiful, affordable designs. As the brand celebrates this milestone, the future looks bright with exciting new releases: a refreshed Chrysler Pacifica in 2026, a new crossover soon after and a third product inspired by the Halcyon concept.

The Chrysler Pacifica, the most awarded minivan ever, continues to lead the segment it created more than 40 years ago. The Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid, the first electrified minivan in its class, achieves 82 MPGe, with an all-electric range of 32 miles and a total range of 520 miles. With class-leading safety features and available all-wheel drive, Pacifica is designed for modern families. Chrysler will also celebrate the 20th anniversary of its exclusive Stow 'n Go seating and storage system in 2025, as well as the return of the budget-friendly Chrysler Voyager to the lineup.

Chrysler is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis , please visit www.stellantis.com.

Follow Chrysler and company news and video on:

Company blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Chrysler brand: www.chrysler.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/chrysler

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrysler

X (Twitter): www.twitter.com/chrysler or @StellantisNA

YouTube: www.youtube.com/chrysler or https://www.youtube.com/StellantisNA

Jeep Brand

For more than 80 years, Jeep has been the global leader in SUVs, delivering legendary off-road capability, advanced technology and exceptional versatility for those who seek adventure. With a commitment to innovation, the Jeep brand offers a diverse lineup of vehicles powered by internal combustion engines, hybrid technology and all-electric drivetrains. The brand's dedication to customer satisfaction is reflected in Jeep Wave, a premium owner loyalty and customer care program that provides exclusive benefits and 24/7 support. Built on a heritage of freedom, adventure, authenticity and passion, Jeep continues to set the standard for rugged yet refined vehicles designed to conquer it all.

Follow Jeep and company news and video on:

Company blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Jeep brand: www.jeep.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jeep

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jeep

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jeep

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/jeep

YouTube: www.youtube.com/thejeepchannel or https://www.youtube.com/StellantisNA

SOURCE Stellantis
Abby Lyons and Connor Goras work the deli counter at Perry Market Place on Saturday, March 8, hours after the store announced it would close at the month's end.

Perry Market Place is pictured Saturday, March 8, 2025, hours after the store announced it would close at the end of the month.

Aisle 2 at Perry Market Place is pictured Saturday, hours after the store announced it would close near the end of the month.

Teresa Romance shops packed meats at Perry Market Place on Saturday, March 8, hours after the store announced it would close at the months end.

PERRY  Perry Market Place has been an integral part of Rick Hausers familys life for 30 years and the Perry village mayor is among those who will miss the business when it closes later this month.

Theyve been an integral part of the community and are relied upon by many, he said Monday of the grocery store at 121 N. Center St. They are a significant employer as well, and my wife and I see those who work there more regularly than we see most of our friends. Im thinking of them too right now in this time of transition.

Ultimately the cost of doing business, an increase in the minimum wage and other stores operating nearby became too much for the Perry Market Place to survive, according to an owner of the store.

Those factors led the supermarkets owners to announce this past Saturday that the 60-year-old location will close later this month.

Unfortunately, just in the climate that we are here, our sales have diminishing progressively over the last few years, part-owner Corey Strick told The Daily News. A very large factor is a rise in the cost of doing business.

The upcoming closing is a disruption to the communitys momentum, Hauser said.

It will be an inconvenience for some, a hardship for many. Its a step back amidst all the steps forward recently of new businesses opening, existing ones expanding, building rehabs, population growth and enormous infrastructure investments locally and from the state level, the mayor said. That good news, along with continued investment of $20 million in DRI (Downtown Revitalization Initiative) and local funds over the next 2-3 years on public and private projects and more new housing to grow population, suggests Perry is an excellent investment for a future grocery store.

The Perry Market Place had long been a resource for residents from the village and surrounding area to get basic groceries and sometimes more  its doughnuts and other baked goods were among its more-popular items for many customers.

But the supermarket long faced challenges, including Wegmans in Geneseo, Tops Friendly Markets, Save A Lot and Walmart in Warsaw; and the growing number of Dollar General stores throughout the region.

A little over a year ago, a Family Dollar opened across the street from Perry Market Place.

It almost immediately took away about $20,000 in sales from us  pretty much the first week it opened, immediately, Strick said.

The majority owner of Perry Market Place is Steve Smyder, Stricks stepfather. Smyder bought the business in 1998, Strick said.

How long did they think about closing before deciding to do so?

Its not something we thought about too much, Strick said. We didnt want to do it. We just got into the position where we didnt have much choice.

Strick said the property was on the market for sale for over a year, but no offers panned out.

We used to operate at 1,300-1,500 hours a week about five years ago depending on the time of the year, Strick said. Now, were operating at 800 to 900 hours a week. Our payroll and dollar amount is the exact same as it was five years ago.

Strick said the tentative closing date is March 29.

If we clean out all of our inventory before then, well close the door. he said.

Perry Market Place has about 40 employees. It may stay open longer if it still has some inventory to sell as of March 29.

Were maintaining our regular hours through the end of next week, Strick said. After that, well adjust hours depending on the level of service that were able to provide as we sell down on product and start to lay off (staff).

Perry Market Place began as Star Market and its current location was built in 1964. It then became a Bells supermarket in the 1970s before becoming independent.

Its been an honor to serve the community and we appreciate all our customers weve had over the years. As a staff, we will greatly miss our interactions with the community, Strick said.

The part-owner said Perrys is open to the idea of someone reopening it.

It will depend on an individuals interest in buying the building and opening it as a supermarket, he said.

News of the impending closure saddened many area shoppers.

Diane Wolcott has been going to Perry Market Place for decades  since the 1970s. So has Sharon Ricotta.

Sunday was another day of shopping for them, like so many others.

Theirs were among the handful of vehicles in the parking lot, but they and other shoppers wont be able to spend too many more days browsing the selections.

This is the place to shop for food in Perry, Wolcott and Ricotta said as they started to head into the store to get away from the cold, windy parking lot.

Thats it, Ricotta said. Thats the only place we have. We have to go to Geneseo or Warsaw.

Milk, sour cream, cheeses and fresh fruit were among the items they like to get at Perry Market Place. Ricotta said on Sundays, there are muffins.

I used to get the cinnamon sweet rolls and then bake them myself, Wolcott said when asked what she no longer finds at Perry Market Place. They dont have those.

Half the time, theres no hash browns. I look for hash browns, Ricotta said. I have to go out of town. It took me four weeks to get one bag.

Hauser said, Were committed to doing everything we can to facilitate and support the effort to find a good fit. It could be a while but Im 100% confident that at the right price, that property will find a new owner and see significant investment to support our region with a supermarket for the next 30 years.

In 2007, Smyder told The Daily News Perry Market Place absorbed the financial blows when Walmart stores moved into nearby Geneseo and Warsaw about 15 years earlier. His business took another hit when Geneseos store was upgraded to a Supercenter in 2006.

In 93 they went in Geneseo, in 95 they went in Warsaw, Smyder said in 2007. It was a double whammy. At that time, we were a $10 million business gross. Wed just invested in our company and made it larger, and of course it went down to a $7.5 million business.

The Perry supermarket lost an estimated $225,000 in annual sales when Geneseos Supercenter opened.

Includes reporting by Matt Surtel.
ED CRACKS down on ex-CM Baghel, son Chaitanya





The Hitavada State Bureau

DURG/BHILAI/RAIPUR,

Cgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai said, The previous Congress Government was knee-deep in large-scale corruption, and this is exactly why we are witnessing such large-scale investigations today. This is a routine ED investigation, and the State has no role in it.

LAUNCHING a massive crackdown under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday stormed the residence of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, his son Chaitanya Baghel alias Bittu, and their close aides  conducting search and seizure operations in connection with the massive Rs 2,161 crore liquor scam.

The large-scale action that unfolded from early morning sent political tremors across the State, as ED teams spread across 14 key locations linked to the Baghel familys alleged financial network. According to credible sources, the EDs prime focus of the daylong operation was Bhupesh Baghels Bhilai-3 situated residence in Mansarovar Colony, where a convoy of ED vehicles escorted by heavily armed Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel arrived at 7.00 AM. Without any delay, officials launched a sweeping financial search, scanning property records, financial ledgers, cash logs, and digital evidence suspected to be linked to the proceeds of crime.

The operation rapidly gained momentum after note counting machines were brought in by the ED to tally large cash volumes  causing panic and hostility among Baghels supporters, who gathered outside the premises and fiercely confronted security forces. Heated arguments erupted between Congress workers and CRPF jawans, escalating tensions in the area. The EDs crackdown, however, was not limited to Baghels residence alone. Simultaneous search and seizure operations were also launched targeting key financial handlers and business conduits suspected of laundering scam proceeds for the Baghel family. Among them was Laxmi Narayan Bansal alias Pappu Bansal, a well-known business associate of Chaitanya Baghel, whose Bhilai residence was thoroughly searched by ED officials. According to inside sources, Bansal is believed to have played a critical role in channelizing illicit funds through benami transactions, property investments, and unaccounted cash transfers.

Multiple incriminating financial documents were seized from his premises, tightening the agencys grip around the Baghel circle. Further tightening the noose, the ED also swooped down on Rajendra Sahu, Congress Durg Lok Sabha candidate and a known financial handler of Baghels network. At around 7.30 AM, two ED vehicles accompanied by armed CRPF personnel, including female officers, reached Sahus residence in Dwarikapuri, Potia area of Durg. The officials reportedly seized suspect property papers, financial files, and evidence of large-scale cash movement, which are now being investigated to establish their link to the liquor scams proceeds of crime. Sahu, a long-time political confidant of Bhupesh Baghel, is now under the ED radar as suspicions mount over his financial dealings with Chaitanya Baghels associates.

A similar massive search operation was launched at the residence of Mukesh Chandrakar, Durg District Congress Committee President, whose house in Steel Colony, Durg was thoroughly combed by ED officials. Chandrakar is suspected of having facilitated major cash movements on behalf of the Baghel circle during the scam period. Transporter Sandeep Singh from Charoda, Bhilai, also came under ED radar, as his alleged involvement in cash logistics and hawala operations during the Baghel regime came to light.
ED raids in Rs 400 cr illegal foreign remittances case





NEW DELHI :

THE Enforcement Directorate on Monday said it has carried out searches in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra in a money laundering probe linked to alleged illegal foreign remittances of about Rs 400 crore against bogus import of gold, diamond and precious stones. The raids were undertaken on March 7. The money laundering case stems from a chargesheet filed by the Customs department before a designated court located in Jaipur, the federal probe agency said in a statement. Sixteen locations in Jaipur, Ajmer and Udaipur in Rajasthan apart from Noida (Uttar Pradesh) and Mumbai (Maharashtra) were searched under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), it said.

The Customs department found that funds of about Rs 400 crore were remitted to various overseas entities based in Hong Kong and the UAE through various bank accounts of Belstar Techno Solution (OPC) Pvt. Ltd. And Visual Bird Technology after routing through multiple shell companies. This was done in the guise of importing services which were never received. However, the funds were remitted outside India against the illegal import of gold, diamonds and precious stones, according to the ED. The agency seized Rs 10 lakh in cash, incriminating records and digital devices during the raids.
Indias AI sector poised to surpass2.3 mn job openings by 2027: Report





NEW DELHI :

THE Artificial Intelligence (AI) sector is poised to surpass 2.3 million job openings by 2027, according to a report on Monday. The report by Bain and Company showed that reskilling and upskilling existing talent is key to meeting the growing demand in the country. It showed that the AI talent pool in India is expected to grow to around 1.2 million, presenting an opportunity to reskill more than 1 million workers. India has a unique opportunity to position itself as a global AI talent hub. However, by 2027, the job openings in AI are expected to be 1.5-2x of the talent availability. The challenge -- and opportunity -- lies in reskilling and upskilling a significant portion of the existing talent base on emerging technology tools and skillsets, said Saikat Banerjee, Partner and leader in Bain and Companys AI, Insights, and Solutions practice in India.

Banerjee noted that while AI talent shortage is a significant challenge, it is not invincible. Addressing it requires a fundamental shift in how businesses attract, develop, and retain AI talent. Companies need to move beyond traditional hiring approaches, prioritise continuous upskilling, and foster an innovation-driven ecosystem, he said. Globally, AI-related job postings have surged by 21 per cent annually since 2019, with compensation growing 11 per cent annually over the same period. Yet the number of qualified candidates has not kept pace, creating a widening talent gap that is slowing AI adoption worldwide. Nearly half (44per cent) of executives cited a lack of in-house AI expertise as a key barrier to implementing generative AI.

This talent gap is expected to persist through at least 2027, with itsimpact varying in severity acrossglobal markets. The report predicted that in theUS, one in two AI jobs could beleft unfilled by 2027. In the next two years, AI jobdemand in America could reachup to more than 1.3 million, whilesupply is on track to hit less than645,000 -- implying the need toreskill up to 700,000 workers inthe country. Germany could seethe biggest AI talent gap, witharound 70 per cent of AI jobsunfilled by 2027. With an estimated 62,000 AI professionalsavailable to fill 219,000 job openings in 2027, there is a clearopportunity for reskillingemployees in Germany.
Mah proposes 6 pc tax on EVs costing over Rs 30 lakh





MUMBAI :

THE Maharashtra Government on Monday proposed a 6 per cent tax on electric vehicles priced more than Rs 30 lakh in the Budget for the fiscal 2025-26. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who also holds the Finance portfolio, tabled the Budget and announced a 1 per cent hike in the Motor Vehicle Tax on CNG and LPG vehicles. The Government has also proposed a 7 per cent tax on vehicles used for construction activities, which will generate additional revenue of approximately Rs 180 crore. The State Government has proposed a 6 per cent tax on electric vehicles above Rs 30 lakh and a 1 per cent tax hike on individual-owned non-transport four-wheeler CNG and LPG vehicles. The move will generate an additional revenue of approximately Rs 150 crore in 2025-26. Pawar also announced a 7 per cent tax on light goods vehicles (LGVs) carrying goods up to 7,500 kg, which will earn the state Rs 625 crore. The Government has also increased the maximum limit of the Motor Vehicles Tax from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 30 lakh, which is expected to generate a revenue of Rs 170 crore. Sufficient budgetary provisions are made for highways, ports, airports, waterways, bus transport, railways, and metro systems. Efforts will be made to ensure quality rural roads, with substantial financial backing for state highways and district roads.

New Industrial Policy to attract investment of Rs 40 lakh crore

MUMBAI,

Mar 10 (IANS)

IN A serious bid to boost the industrial growth, which has dipped 4.9 per cent in 2024-25 against 6.2 per cent last year, the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar in the annual Budget for 2025-26 proposed a slew of policy initiatives. He said, State Government will soon announce the New Industrial Policy 2025 with a target of attracting investment of Rs 40 lakh crore and generation of 50 lakh jobs in the next five years. Besides, the Government will issue gems and jewellery policy, electronic policy, circular economic policy, space policy to attract industrial investment while competing with other States. The Government will frame new labour rules as per the new labour code of the Central Government. The dedicated logistic infrastructure will be developed in more than 10,000 acres of land. Similarly, separate policies will be announced for space and defence manufacturing sectors, electronics, gems and jewellery, MSMEs as well as for circular economy, he said. New labour rules will be framed as per the new labour code of the Union Government, Pawar said in the assembly. Pawar presented a Rs 7,00,020 crore Budget for the fiscal 2025-26.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) will be developed as an international level economic development center as a Growth Hub. International level business centers will be established at seven locations, such as Bandra-Kurla Complex, Kurla-Worli, Wadala, Goregaon, Navi Mumbai, Kharghar, and Virar-Boisar. The objective is to increase the size of the economy of Mumbai Metropolitan Region from the current $140 billion to $300 billion by 2030, and to $1.5 trillion by 2047. The Finance Minister has proposed a Package Scheme of Incentives of Rs 6,400 crore to boost investments. He said that the electricity purchase costs will be reduced by Rs 1.13 lakh crore over the next five years due to energy sector planning and the procurement of low-cost green energy. This will make the electricity tariff for industries competitive as compared to the nighbouring states. The Government will establish Maharashtra Technical Textile Mission and also set up Urban Haat Center in Nagpur. In order to further promote information technology and data centres, the Government will establish Innovation City spread over 250 acres of land in Navi Mumbai. The Government has plans to start passenger services at Amravati airport by this months end, while the survey and exploration work for a new airport in Gadchiroli is in progress, and funds will be provided for the expansion of Akola airport.

Gadchiroli emerging as steel hub

MUMBAI,

Mar 10 (PTI)

GADCHIROLI, once afflicted with the Naxalism menace, is now emerging as a steel hub with investment agreements worth Rs 21,830 crore signed for the district at the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said on Monday while presenting the State Budget for 2025-26. These investments would generate 7500 jobs, Pawar, who holds the Finance portfolio in the Devendra Fadnavis Government, told the Assembly. A network of mining highways is being developed to improve transportation in the district, and works costing approximately Rs 500 crore will be undertaken in the first phase, Pawar said. A package scheme of incentives is being implemented to promote balanced regional development, under which a grant of Rs 6,400 crore is proposed for 2025-26, he said. Presenting the Budget, Pawar said the Maharashtra Technical Textile Mission will be established to develop the State as a global hub, which will benefit cotton farmers in Vidarbha. An Urban Haat will be set up in Nagpur, Vidarbhas largest city, to provide facilities for handloom weavers, he said.

Vadhvan port in Mah to be operational by 2030

MUMBAI,

Mar 10 (PTI)

THE Vadhvan port in Maharashtras Palghar district will be operational by 2030, Finance Minister Ajit Pawar said as he tabled his 11th State Budget in the Legislative Assembly on Monday. He said, Maharashtras new industrial policy will focus on Rs 40 lakh crore investment and generation of 50 lakh jobs. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region is being developed as a growth hub, and it will have a USD 1.5 trillion economy by 2047, Pawar said in his Budget speech. He also said Maharashtra will have a new health and senior citizens policy. Vadhvan port in Palghar will be operational by 2030, the minister said, adding the third airport for Mumbai is proposed near the Vadhvan port and a station of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train will also be near the port.
New-age hustlers Internships, volunteering shaping career-ready students







By Vaishnavi Pillay :

Balancing textbooks with team meetings, lectures with deadlines, and college events with professional responsibilities, todays undergraduates are doing more than just earning a degree. They are diving headfirst into internships and volunteering before they land their first full-time job, gaining real-world experience that no classroom can fully impart. So, what drives them to take on this extra challenge? How are these experiences shaping their confidence, adaptability, and career trajectory? To understand this, The Hitavada spoke to such students from the city who are turning their college years into a launchpad for their career. Ashish Singh, a final-year Bachelor of Arts (BA) student, knew that to truly understand his field, he had to step beyond the classroom.

Most educational institutions in India offer only theoretical exposure, with little to no practical understanding or research, he said. He interned at The Urban Learning Internship Programme (TULIP) at Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Peoples Archive of Rural India (PARI), and the Foreign Policy Research Centre (FPRC). He also worked as a Research Fellow at the International Institute of SDGs and Public Policy Research (IISPPR). Ashishs interests in society, foreign and public policy, and governance motivated him to go for these opportunities. Theories usually present an ideal picture, but once you step into practical work, the reality can be quite different, he noted. He strongly encouraged students to explore at least one internship during their studies.

Divya Bhandakkar, a second-year BTech student, teaches underprivileged children at an NGO and also participates in educational initiatives, contributing to both academic and social development. In the process, she has honed skills like communication, teamwork, and adaptability. Volunteering taught me how to work with different people. Otherwise, I would have gained this understanding much later when I started a job, she shared and added that leadership and teamwork sound easy in books, but handling real situations requires both patience and quick decision-making, which only comes with experience. Teesha Rawal, a third-year BBA student, has been volunteering for over a year, gaining first hand experience in both teaching and food distribution through her work with the Robin Hood Army (RHA). She quickly learned that every opportunity comes with its own challenges. Teaching children might seem simple, but it takes a lot of patience because they are often resistant to learning. On the other hand, food distribution requires a different skill set, she shared. Reflecting on one of her earliest experiences, she recalled, My first food distribution drive was absolute chaos. I realised how difficult it is to handle people.

Atharva Bhosale, a second-year BBA student, along with balancing academics, founded an NGO Karmanya Foundation with a vision to give back to society. Running an NGO has given Atharva the experience to deal with the challenges of social work, meet diverse people, and handle leadership responsibilities. Public speaking and social work helped shape my personality, improved communication skills, and boosted confidence, he added. Arya Hardas, a final-year BA student, blended her passion for history, advocacy, and creativity through her involvement with Zero Gravity, Girl Up Kaabil, and India Lost and Found. These internships aligned with my interests and allowed me to engage in research, writing, and community initiatives. I learned to manage a team, no matter how small or diverse, and conduct research in a detailed and professional manner, she shared. On managing her academics with volunteer work, she explained, I plan ahead, prioritise tasks, use digital tools, maintain a structured schedule without compromising on quality or burning myself out.

Mugdha Rishi, a third-year BBA student, who volunteered at Robin Hood Army, said that such opportunities are a real-world classroom. I would definitely suggest everyone to volunteer while studying. It helps one understand people, situations, and develop multiple soft skills in ways that textbooks never can, she stressed. By managing their internships and volunteer work outside college hours, some working on weekends and others utilising weekday evenings, they all found a way to balance college commitments smoothly. In an era where experience often outweighs a degree on a resume, these students are proving that the future belongs to those who start early.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Azerbaijan and Spain discussed issues of digitalization and transport, including cooperation on the Middle Corridor, Minister of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan Rashad Nabiyev said on Facebook, Trend reports.

"We met with Spains Secretary of State for Trade Amparo Lopez Senovilla who is on visit to our country.

We discussed issues of digitalization and transport between the two countries, including cooperation on the Middle Corridor.

At the same time, we exchanged views on increasing the frequency of weekly flights as well as cooperation with Spanish companies in the field of railway and metro transport," the minister added.

The Middle Corridor is a transportation and trade route that passes through several countries in the region, connecting Asia and Europe. It serves as an alternative to the traditional North and South corridors.

The route starts in China and passes through Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. It then continues through the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye, reaching Europe. The Middle Corridor provides a land route that connects the eastern parts of Asia, including China, with Europe, bypassing longer sea routes.

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Oppn walks out of Rajya Sabha





NEW DELHI :

LED by the Congress, the opposition parties on Monday staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha after their notices for discussions on issues ranging from duplicate voter ID cards to US funding to voter turnout were rejected, even as Union Minister J P Nadda insisted that the Government is ready to discuss any issue provided they are under the rules. The Opposition MPs raised slogans after the deputy chairman of the House, Harivansh, said a dozen notices under Rule 267, which calls for setting aside the business of the day to take up discussions on urgent matters, have been rejected. Citing the rejection, Harivansh did not allow Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge to make his submission. The Opposition MPs then protested for a while before staging a walkout.

Leader of the House and Union Minister Nadda termed the walkout irresponsible behaviour and suggested that the Opposition MPs, including Congress chief Kharge, should go for a refresher course on the rules of the House. He also termed the practice of Opposition MPs giving notices under Rule 267 despite elaborate ruling by the chair a vicious design to demean the institution of Parliament. They are not interested in debate. They want to give an impression that the Government does not want to answer queries or enter into a debate. The Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is ready to discuss anything under this roof. But there are certain rules and regulations for debates in the House, Nadda said, adding that the MPs will get an opportunity to raise their issues during the debate on the Union Budget over the next 10 days. We are ready for that discussion.

There is a provision for short duration discussions and there is a provision for long duration discussions. They (Opposition) dont read the rules, Nadda said, as he asked the Opposition MPs to first read the rules and learn to debate. This is irresponsible behaviour by the Opposition... In a way, it is an attempt to malign Parliament and democracy, Nadda alleged. They (Opposition MPs) should go for a refresher course. They should understand the rules and regulations (of the House). The Government is ready to discuss anything, Nadda added. Earlier, Harivansh said 12 notices had been received under Rule 267. Tiruchi N Siva of DMK, CPIs Santosh Kumar P, Vaiko of MDMK, CPIs P P Suneer, and P Wilson of DMK demanded discussions on concerns regarding the upcoming delimitation exercise in the southern States.

Trinamool Congress members Saket Gokhale and Sagarika Ghose, along with Pramod Tiwari and Ajay Maken of the Congress demanded discussions over the alleged lapse by the Election Commission in issuing multiple duplicate voter ID cards across States. While Sanjay Singh of AAP demanded a discussion on the financial loss incurred by the small investors due to the continued decline in stock market indices, Ramji Lal Suman of the Samajwadi Party called for a discussion over a statement made by US President Donald Trump on American funding to increase voter turnout in India. V Sivadasan of the CPI(M) wanted to raise issues faced by anangwadi and mid-day meal workers.
Ranya Rao smuggling case: Two Ministers may be involved, says Ktaka BJP chief





BENGALURU :

KARNATAKA BJP Chief B.Y. Vijayendra has alleged the involvement of two Ministers of the Congress Government in the sensational case of gold smuggling involving Kannada actress Ranya Rao. Vijayendra said on Monday that the gold smuggling case involving actress Ranya Rao was one of the rarest incidents in the countrys history. Centered around Bengaluru, this case has created a web of suspicion around influential figures in the State Government. Reports now suggest that two Ministers may be involved, making this a highly concerning development, Vijayendra stated. The investigation has revealed links to hawala transactions, and during her arrest, Ranya Rao allegedly attempted to contact a Minister. This raises strong suspicions about the involvement of influential figures from the Congress-led Karnataka Government. Additionally, since Ranya Rao is the daughter of a high-ranking police officer, the entire systems integrity is now under scrutiny, bringing disrepute to the State.

In light of this, the Chief Minister must disclose the truth about the case to the public, Vijayendra demanded. If ministers are indeed involved, the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is likely already aware of it. The Government must act transparently, expose the culprits, and ensure that the law takes its course. Failing to do so will result in the entire administration bearing the stain of this scam.

The Chief Minister should uphold moral responsibility and ensure justice...If the Government, like in previous scams, attempts to shield the corrupt, it will inevitably face embarrassment, especially with the ongoing Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation. This case is not limited to just one actress; the investigation has already uncovered a vast network operating behind the scenes, Vijayendra said. Ranya Rao remanded to 14 days judicial custody: Actress Harshavardhini Ranya alias Ranya Rao who was arrested in a gold smuggling case was remanded to judicial custody for 14 days by a special court for economic offences, on Monday. The actress was in the custody of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence for three days for interrogation.
Rs 36,000 cr to Ladki Bahin in Budget





MUMBAI :

SOME HIGHLIGHTS Maharashtra to announce new Industrial Policy soon To improve transportation in Gadchiroli Steel Hub, works worth Rs 500 crore to be undertaken Maharashtra Technical Textile Mission to be established Vadhavan Port in Palghar district to be established Agro-logistic Hubs to be developed along Samruddhi Mahamarg

THE Maharashtra Government on Monday allocated Rs 36,000 crore for the Ladki Bahin scheme but did not announce a hike in the allowance, proposed to increase Motor Vehicle Tax by 1 per cent on CNG and LPG vehicles, as it presented a Rs 7,00,020 crore Budget for the fiscal 2025-26. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who holds the Finance portfolio, tabled his 11th State Budget in the Legislative Assembly and announced a new industrial policy, focussing on Rs 40 lakh crore investment and generation of 50 lakh jobs. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region is being developed as a growth hub, and it will have a USD 1.5 trillion economy by 2047, Pawar said as he announced a third airport in the metropolis near the Vadhvan port in the neighbouring Palghar district. While the Government allocated Rs 36,000 crore for the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme, it made no mention of the hike in the allowance from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100 in the beneficiaries, as promised by the ruling MahaYuti before the Assembly elections last year. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, however, said the poll promise will be fulfilled after the fiscal balance is achieved, but it will not be done from April.

The Government has proposed to levy a Motor Vehicle Tax of 6 per cent on electric vehicles priced above Rs 30 lakh. The maximum limit of Motor Vehicles Tax is proposed to increase from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 30 lakh and is expected to generate an additional revenue of around Rs 170 crore. The increase in the Motor Vehicle Tax will benefit the State exchequer by Rs 1,125 crore.

The Minister announced an increase in the Motor Vehicle Tax by 1 per cent on individual-owned non-transport four-wheeler CNG and LPG vehicles depending on the vehicle type and price. The current rate is 7 to 9 per cent, and the 1 per cent hike will generate an additional revenue of around Rs 150 crore. The Government has proposed a Motor Vehicle Tax of 7 per cent on a lump-sum basis on price vehicles used for construction, such as cranes, compressors, projectors and excavators, and this is expected to generate an additional revenue of around Rs 180 crore. It has also proposed a 7 per cent Motor Vehicle Tax on a lumpsum basis on the price of light goods vehicles (LGVs) carrying goods up to 7,500 kg in the State, and this is expected to generate additional revenue of Rs 625 crore for the state in 2025-26. Pawar said the Industrial Policy 2025 aims to attract new investments and promote the Make in Maharashtra initiative He said Maharashtra will continue to be a preferred destination for industries.

The Government has pegged the fiscal deficit at Rs 1,36,234 crore, and the total expenditure for 2025-26 is Rs 7,00,020 crore. Revenue receipts were Rs 5,60,963 crore, while revenue expenditure was Rs 6,06,855 crore. Pawar said the Government has been successful in keeping the fiscal deficit below 3 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GDSP), and the States revenue deficit has been consistently less than 1 per cent of the gross State income. The Government has proposed to increase the Stamp Duty under section 4 of the Maharashtra Stamp Act from Rs 100 to Rs 500 on supplementary documents if more than one document is used to complete the same transaction. It has proposed to increase the adjudication fee payable on a document under section 31 (1) of the Maharashtra Stamp Act from Rs 100 to Rs 1,000 for the chargeability of the instrument and to make a provision for depositing the amount of Stamp Duty primarily payable while filing the executed document. The Government has proposed a new provision for e-stamp certificate in sections 10(3) and (4) of the Maharashtra Stamp Act to facilitate citizens to pay Stamp Duty and issue certificates online.

In his Budget speech, Pawar announced a night landing facility at Shirdi airport soon. He also said domestic flights will operate from Navi Mumbai International Airport next month, adding that 85 per cent of the work has been done and trials successfully conducted. Also, the Metro service will link Mumbais Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport with the Navi Mumbai International Airport, Pawar added. The Government has announced a Rs 15,000 crore outlay for rural housing, with a target to construct 20 lakh homes. The Minister said agriculture growth is projected at 8.7 per cent in 2024-25, compared to 3.3 per cent last year. He said the improvement is due to support for farmers through irrigation projects and solar energy initiatives, and the State is working on increasing value addition and allied agricultural income. Pawar said the economic growth rate is driven by reform-oriented policies and capital expenditure, which has a high fiscal multiplier.

Healthcare facilities are being expanded with a focus on accessibility, he said, adding the Government is working towards ensuring healthcare services within 5 km for every resident. The Minister said the Government would undertake cultural heritage projects and build a memorial at Agra, from where Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj escaped from Mughal custody. Pawar said the Government will celebrate Marathi Bhasha Sanman Din on October 3.
State approves Rs 224 crore for LITU





Staff Reporter :

In a major development, Maharashtra Government has in-principle approved a Rs 223,59,87,000 proposal of various construction works in Laxminarayan Innovation Technological University (LITU). The proposal, which included work of administrative building, buildings of various departments, workshop, mess building, laboratory and some other work was sent to the Government. The original proposal was of Rs 310.96 crore. It was given to Public Works Department for technical scrutiny. It was checked by PWD and then placed before a high level secretary committee. The committee approved Rs 223,59,87,000. LITU, as a university, came into existence a year ago in consonance with the National Education Policy 2020 and the policies of the State Government to create Centres of Excellence in niche areas to promote research, innovation, infrastructure and incubation for overall growth of the State. Accordingly, LITU asked RTMNU to vacate the campus.

As per earlier understanding, when the erstwhile Laxminarayan Institute of Technology (LIT) was the conducted college, the RTMNUs Examination Department was housed in its premises. Some people raised doubt as to how LITU would raise finance. Some had expressed their doubts as to whether without support from RTMNU it would survive. But we were confident about its growth. Against this backdrop, we got Rs 224 crore which is a good development. I am very happy and express my gratitude towards Government, said Dr Atul Vaidya, Vice-Chancellor of LITU. In recent budget ,RTMNU too has given Rs 2.5 crore to LITU. As per the agreement, RTMNU had to give Rs 5 crore to LITU of which half was already given in the past.

The Departments of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Rajiv Gandhi Bio-Technology Centre run M Sc courses and PhD research programs were under the administrative and academic control of the RTMNU. However, as per MoU, these have become the part of the LIT University. These departments were established on the LIT campus. LITU has several plans including starting BTech course in Pharma Engineering, in addition to Chemical Engineering subjects. Secondly, this money will be utilised for construction and setting up other facilities, explained Principal Advisor Mohan Pande.
WB Speaker suspends BJP MLA Barman, evicts two others





KOLKATA :

THE West Bengal Legislative Assembly witnessed chaos on Monday as Opposition BJP legislators protested the Speakers decision to switch off the microphone of their colleague, prompting Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay to suspend BJP MLA Dipak Barman for the rest of the session and order marshals to evict two BJP legislators Shankar Ghosh and Manoj Oraon from the House. The BJP MLAs later staged a walkout in protest against the biasness of the Speaker. The incident occurred when BJP MLA Hiran Chatterjee began questioning why the public service commission wasnt being allowed to perform its duties.

The Speaker reminded him of his authority and attempted to restrict his speech, but as Chatterjee continued speaking, Bandopadhyay switched off his microphone, triggering an outcry from BJP MLAs, who accused him of suppressing Opposition voices. In protest, Ghosh and Oraon began shouting slogans in the Assembly. Despite repeated warnings from the Speaker, the protests continued, leading to the marshals escorting both of them out of the chamber.

This action prompted a walkout by all BJP MLAs, who tore up and threw papers in protest. Speaking to reporters later, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari condemned the Speakers actions, calling it goondaism and accusing the ruling Trinamool Congress of stifling dissent. He also claimed that the marshals involved were acting under TMCs influence. However, TMC lawmakers defended the Speakers decision, saying the BJP was attempting to disrupt the legislative proceedings. They argued that the Speakers actions were justified in maintaining order in the House.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. The Czech Republic is interested in joining the Solidarity Ring, a source in the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade told Trend.

The source pointed out that generally, the Czech Republic is supportive of all diversification projects and recognizes the importance of alternative routes.

"Even though we are not directly participating or signatories of so-called Solidarity Ring, we are certainly interested especially considering available capacity at our interconnection with Slovakia which is a key part of the initiative," added the source.

The Memorandum of Understanding supporting the implementation of the Solidarity Ring transmission corridor was signed in Sofia, Bulgaria on April 25, 2023.

The document sets out directions of cooperation between SOCAR and four distribution system operators, namely, Bulgartransgaz (Bulgaria), Transgaz (Romania), FGSZ (Hungary), Eustream (Slovakia) for the supply of additional gas from Azerbaijan to Europe. The additional gas will be supplied through the upgraded transmission network systems of Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia called the Solidarity Ring.

The Solidarity Ring could transport up to 5-9.5 billion cubic meters of gas per year. The initiative can be realized by the end of 2026 with necessary EU financial support.

Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. We may offer services in Azerbaijan's Karabakh and East Zangezur utilizing our lighting systems, contingent upon appropriate proposals, Ignacio Galanena, a representative of Spain's "Alumbrado Tecnico Publico" (Public Technical Lighting) company told Trend.

He highlighted the company's activity direction and then mentioned the opportunities for cooperation with Azerbaijan.

"We represent a company that performs lighting work. Primarily, we implement projects in infrastructure, resorts, and recreational areas. If there are proposals for Karabakh and East Zangezur, we can carry out relevant work in those areas with our lighting systems

We haven't started cooperation in this direction yet, but we believe that we will benefit from mutual cooperation at the first opportunity. The purpose of our visit to Azerbaijan is exactly thisto increase our joint cooperation opportunities in the future," the company representative emphasized.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. The Spanish Enerdealers, Commodity Trading, and Energy Consulting company is exploring hydrogen production opportunities in Azerbaijan, the company's CEO Diana Gispert Perales told Trend.

She laid her cards on the table about the company and shone a light on the golden opportunity for cooperation with Azerbaijan.

"We are a consulting engineering company that supplies throughout the entire value chain for companies that require raw materials.

Thus, we are experienced in all new renewable sources that complement oil and gas and actual hydrocarbons, such as hydrogen, biomethane, or solar and wind systems. Therefore, we are very excited to search for synergies in Azerbaijan, and we are here for that purpose.

We are very eager to produce hydrogen in Azerbaijan. At the same time, we can combine it with traditional fuel to further increase our competitiveness in the world. The resulting fuel will be suitable for ships, cars, and other types of transportation engines," emphasized the CEO.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. The Spanish HIMOINSA company intends to expand its cooperation in energy solutions in Azerbaijan, the company's regional sales manager Oleksandr Tsarkov told Trend.

He laid all his cards on the table regarding his company's activities and ointed out that they are weighing the pros and cons of expanding their cooperation with Azerbaijan.

"I represent a company that provides diesel engines and energy solutions. We currently have two partners in Azerbaijan. Our intention is to increase this partnership and participate in new sectors.

We are exploring new partnership opportunities in Azerbaijan. We are looking for companies operating in the energy solutions sector in Azerbaijan, and we would be happy to collaborate with them," emphasized the company representative.

HIMOINSA, headquartered in Spain, was founded in 1982. Since the 1990s, the company has begun a continuous process of internationalization, which is ongoing to this day. The companys factories and sales offices are located on five continents.

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For years, Turkmenistan has played its own quiet game  a diplomatic tightrope walk between major powers, skillfully dodging pressure from heavyweights like Russia, China, and Turkiye. Ashgabat turned silence into a political art form, wrapping itself in an air of mystery and unpredictability. But now, that stoic desert wanderer seems to be eyeing a new path  one that could shake up the entire geopolitical chessboard of Central Asia.

The winds of change have started to drift across Ashgabat, carrying with them the unmistakable scent of Western opportunity  investments, economic growth, and a shot at modernization. Turkmenistan, long known for keeping the world at arms length, is increasingly turning its gaze toward Washington. Like a caravan master sizing up a new trade route  one brimming with promise but fraught with risk  Ashgabat seems to be inching toward fresh partnerships.

Meetings, delegations, and joint project discussions  all signs suggest Turkmenistan isnt content to remain a geopolitical shadow anymore. This isnt just a minor diplomatic flirtation; its a potential game-changer for the entire region. If Ashgabat truly commits to strengthening ties with Washington, the balance of power in Central Asia could tilt in ways that make Moscow sweat.

Ashgabats newfound curiosity about America is like a beam of sunlight breaking through the dusty haze of Eastern diplomacy. That light could illuminate new horizons for Turkmenistan, but it also risks sparking resentment from those whove long counted on Ashgabat as a steady, silent partner.

Turkmenistan now finds itself at a crossroads  where neutrality is no longer a guaranteed safety net but a delicate balancing act between global giants. Which road this desert caravan chooses could reshape not only Turkmenistans fate but the entire geopolitical landscape of Central Asia.

Turkmenistan and the U.S.: A New Dynamic in the Making

With the energy chessboard of Eurasia in flux, Turkmenistan is hustling to diversify its gas exports. The recent visit by U.S. Senator Steve Daines to Ashgabat on November 25 signaled a major step in that direction. During talks with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, they hashed out strategies for broadening Turkmenistans gas export routes. Given Ashgabats long-standing ambitions to supply natural gas to Europe, this meeting sent a clear message: Turkmenistan is eyeing a path away from its one-sided economic dependence on China.

But energy wasnt the only thing on the table. Daines talks with Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov touched on everything from political and diplomatic cooperation to trade, culture, and humanitarian issues  a sign that Washington isnt just angling for Turkmen gas. The U.S. wants to play the long game.

The upcoming Turkmen-American Business Council meeting, slated for later this month, is yet another sign that ties are heating up. Notably, Turkmenistan sees closer economic cooperation with Washington as a key tool for accelerating its bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Just days before Daines visit, Turkmenistans Ministry of Finance and Economy held a USAID-backed workshop focused on WTO accession. The presence of U.S. Ambassador to Turkmenistan Elizabeth Rood underscored just how much weight Washington is putting behind this new push for engagement.

Turkmenistan as a Regional Power Player

The U.S. sees Turkmenistan as more than just a gas station  its a potential regional kingmaker. Back in February, reps from major American heavyweights like John Deere, Boeing, Exxon Mobil, and General Electric huddled with Turkmen delegates in D.C. to explore new business opportunities. Fast forward to November 6, and Turkmenistans Foreign Economic Bank chairman, Rahimberdy Jepbarov, was in Washington to hammer out economic and environmental cooperation with U.S. officials.

Adding fuel to the fire, just one day after that visit, Turkmenistans Foreign Ministry announced that Washington had praised Ashgabats progress on climate commitments  a clear sign that the U.S. is using environmental diplomacy as part of its strategy to win Turkmenistan over.

Washingtons Changing Tune

It's worth noting that U.S.-Turkmenistan ties havent always been all sunshine and rainbows. Back in 2018, the U.S. State Department tore into Ashgabat for alleged torture, arbitrary detentions, corruption, and lack of free elections. In May 2023, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom slammed Turkmenistan as a highly authoritarian regime with a dismal record on human rights and press freedom.

But now, with Europe racing to break free from its reliance on Russian gas, Washington is shifting gears. Turkmenistans ambitions to sell gas to Europe present an economic win for the U.S.  and a golden opportunity to loosen Moscows grip on Central Asias energy game.

The Battle for Turkmen Gas: Russia vs. Turkiye

Despite Ashgabats growing flirtation with the West, Moscow isnt about to let Turkmenistan slip from its grasp. Russia still views Turkmenistan as part of its energy turf and is pushing hard to expand its TurkStream pipeline, aiming to turn Turkiye into a major gas hub feeding the European market. That plan goes head-to-head with Turkmenistans own ambitions to ship gas westward.

Meanwhile, Turkiye is playing its own game. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has made it clear that gas supplies from Turkmenistan to Turkiye and Europe are just a matter of time. Earlier in 2023, Turkmenistans top official, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, highlighted solid opportunities for Turkmen gas and electricity exports to Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Turkiye.

For Ankara, Turkmenistan is a vital partner in its grand vision of diversifying energy routes to Europe. The European Union is also making moves  a December 4 meeting of the Turkmenistan-EU Joint Committee in Brussels showed just how serious Europe is about locking in Central Asian energy alternatives.

In the race for Turkmen gas, Ashgabat is holding some powerful cards  and how it plays them could redefine the regions energy map for years to come.

Turkmenistan Caught Between East and West: Balancing Act in the Energy Game

Turkmenistans recent pivot toward Western energy partnerships doesnt spell an outright departure from its long-standing multi-vector foreign policy or its traditional neutrality. However, it's clear that Ashgabat is actively seeking to break free from its excessive economic dependence on China and is scouting new horizons for trade and investment. In doing so, Turkmenistan must walk a fine line, juggling the interests of Moscow, Ankara, and Brussels  all while steering clear of provoking confrontation with any of the major players.

Washington, meanwhile, is playing its cards skillfully, leveraging economic incentives to expand its foothold in Central Asia. By offering Turkmenistan support in investment, energy partnerships, and infrastructure development, the U.S. is positioning itself as a key partner in Ashgabats economic diversification drive.

In this shifting geopolitical landscape, Turkmenistan appears increasingly committed to a flexible foreign policy  one that strengthens ties with Western partners without jeopardizing its strategic balance with Russia and China. Ashgabats ambitions to raise its global profile are becoming more pronounced, and its strategic decisions may prove pivotal in shaping the evolving energy landscape of Eurasia.

Turkmenistan: A Rising Player in the Energy Game

For decades, Turkmenistan maintained its status as a neutral observer in regional geopolitics. Yet today, the country finds itself at the heart of a growing energy tug-of-war tied to Europes quest for energy security and the escalating rivalry over gas exports to the West. Turkmenistans push to expand its gas exports reflects more than just economic ambitions  it underscores the broader geopolitical chess game playing out in the region, where Moscow, Ankara, Washington, and Brussels are all vying for influence.

The Southern Gas Corridor and Turkmenistans Untapped Potential

The Southern Gas Corridor, a project championed by the European Commission in 2008, initially envisioned Turkmenistan as a key supplier of gas to the European market. The plan aimed to funnel roughly 30 billion cubic meters of Turkmen gas annually through the proposed Trans-Caspian Pipeline  a route that would connect Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye before reaching the EU.

Beyond its economic appeal, the project held strategic value for Brussels, offering a viable path to reduce its dependence on Russian gas. Yet Moscows political muscle quickly stalled progress. Leveraging its regional influence, Russia actively obstructed the pipelines development while pushing an alternative: expanding the TurkStream pipeline. Moscows vision of a major gas hub at the Turkiye-EU border  tightly controlled by Russian energy giants  effectively froze the prospects of Turkmen gas reaching Europe via the Caspian route.

Despite these hurdles, Ankara has doubled down on its efforts to integrate Turkmenistan into its energy network. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly stated that Turkmenistans gas supplies to Turkiye and Europe are only a matter of time. For Erdogan, Turkmenistan's gas isn't just an economic boon  it's a strategic move to bolster Turkiye's energy independence, especially as Ankaras ties with Moscow grow increasingly strained.

Turkmenistans leadership echoes this sentiment. In March 2023, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, chairman of Turkmenistans upper parliamentary chamber, underscored his countrys strong potential to export natural gas and electricity to Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Turkiye. This shift signals Turkmenistans intent to broaden its energy footprint beyond traditional markets  a crucial step as Ashgabat finds itself increasingly boxed in by Beijings unfavorable trade terms.

Gas Diplomacy: Turkmenistan, Turkiye, and the Future of Energy Exports

Energy talks between Ankara and Ashgabat have accelerated in recent months, with both sides exploring options to transport Turkmen gas either via the Caspian Sea or through Iran and Iraq. While the regions complex political climate complicates these efforts, Turkiye views Turkmenistan as a strategic partner capable of advancing major infrastructure projects in the energy sector.

For Turkmenistan, this diplomatic maneuvering isnt just about profits  its a calculated move to reclaim influence in Eurasias energy market. As Ashgabat edges closer to new trade routes and partnerships, its strategic choices could ultimately redefine the balance of power in the regions volatile energy landscape.

EU Energy Diplomacy: Turkmenistan Caught in the Crossfire

Turkmenistans push to break into the European energy market isnt just a smart move  its a no-brainer in the wake of Europes gas crunch. With Russia dialing down its energy exports, the EU is scrambling for fresh suppliers, and Ashgabats massive natural gas reserves make it an attractive partner. For Brussels, Turkmenistan could be a game-changer in the blocs strategy to diversify its energy imports.

On December 4, energy talks took center stage at the Turkmenistan-EU Joint Committee meeting in Brussels. European policymakers are eyeing Turkmenistan as a key supplier of natural gas, yet the much-hyped Trans-Caspian Pipeline project remains stuck in limbo. Political roadblocks, particularly Moscows behind-the-scenes maneuvering, continue to cast doubt on whether the project will ever get off the ground.

Meanwhile, Brussels is stepping up its political engagement with Ashgabat. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)  where Washington holds considerable sway  is fast becoming a Western leverage point in Turkmenistan. Eager to solidify Western influence in Central Asia, Washington has been actively encouraging Ashgabats alignment with OSCE principles  a move that some Russian analysts are spinning as Turkmenistan slowly shifting into the Wests orbit.

Turkmenistans High-Stakes Balancing Act

For years, Turkmenistan played the role of the quiet observer  the old sage perched at the crossroads of global power struggles. Russia, China, Turkiye  each viewed Ashgabat as a potential ally, lured by the countrys vast energy wealth. Yet Turkmenistan refused to be dragged into anyones camp, carefully guarding its reputation as a neutral player.

But lately, the winds are changing. Ashgabats once-silent diplomatic game is starting to hum with activity. Just beyond its tightly controlled borders, Washington is making noise  and its not just knocking at Turkmenistans door; its showing up with a briefcase full of investment deals and infrastructure plans. The message is clear: The U.S. sees Turkmenistan as more than just a gas station  its a strategic ally in the making.

With Europe on the hunt for alternative energy sources, Turkmenistan now finds itself smack in the middle of a high-stakes geopolitical chess match. For Moscow, this isnt just an annoying development  its a direct challenge to its energy dominance in the region. While Ashgabat keeps waving its neutrality flag, the pressure to pick a side is mounting  and fast.

A Ship in Stormy Waters

Today, Turkmenistan resembles a ship carefully navigating the stormy seas of global politics. On one side stands Moscow, a long-time partner; on the other, Washingtons relentless push for closer ties. The intensifying scramble for Central Asian energy resources has turned Ashgabat into a geopolitical hotspot  a vital piece on the energy chessboard.

For now, Turkmenistan is still walking the tightrope of diplomacy, clinging to its neutrality. But one things certain: Every move Ashgabat makes echoes louder and louder in the halls of global power. The question is  how long can Turkmenistan keep playing both sides without getting caught in the crossfire?

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Yes  Significant efforts are being made

No  Much more needs to be done

Some progress  But there are still critical gaps

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) seeks greater and deeper engagement with Turkmenistan in implementation of the ECO Transit Transport Framework Agreement (TTFA), Secretary General of ECO, Asad Majeed Khan, said in an interview with Trend.

"Given its strategic geography, Turkmenistan is in a special place to advance the development of trade, as well as connectivity, trade, and energy cooperation within ECO. Turkmenistan has a strong trade profile within the organization while its economy, as well as its trade with the ECO region, is growing steadily. In this regard, ECO seeks greater and deeper engagement with Turkmenistan in the implementation of the ECO Trade Agreement and the ECO Transit Transport Framework Agreement," he said.

According to him, as an active member of the organization, Turkmenistan is also a proponent of developing border trade zones within the region.

"Turkmenistan proposed to conduct a feasibility study on a shared border zone between Turkmenistan and Iran on the lines of the successful Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan border zones to enhance regional trade. We are now closely working with Turkmenistan and actively pursuing this model through the feasibility study to see how it can be replicated in the region," he said.

The secretary-general emphasized that the updated infrastructure with these projects will help attract investment to Turkmenistan and diversify its economys reliance on the energy sector for growth.

He noted that the TTFA, operational since 2006, is the cornerstone of ECO's legal framework for transport and transit cooperation. Its objectives include streamlining administrative procedures by simplifying customs and border-crossing processes to reduce delays and costs, promoting visa facilitation for drivers and transport personnel, and harmonizing regulations with international standards such as the TIR and e-TIR systems.

The TTFA also enhances regional connectivity by operationalizing major corridors and eliminating non-physical barriers, while encouraging member states to adopt modern practices and technologies in transit transport.

Majeed Khan further highlighted that the ECO Trade Agreement, in turn, is poised to play a significant role in future developments within the region, particularly in fostering economic integration, boosting bilateral trade, and enhancing transportation networks.

"By reducing tariffs and trade barriers, these two agreements could lead to increased trade flows between countries and are expected to create a more integrated regional economy, where countries can more easily access each others markets and diversify their export portfolios. The agreements will stimulate bilateral trade by making it more cost-effective for member states to exchange goods and services. Lower tariffs, streamlined customs procedures, and harmonized regulations will create an environment where trade can expand without being hindered by bureaucratic inefficiencies," he said

The official emphasized that in enhancing connectivity, the agreements can promote multimodal transport solutions (combining road, rail, and sea transport) for more efficient trade routes in the region.

"Jointly, the ECO TTFA and Trade Agreement hold great promise for enhancing bilateral trade, improving transportation networks, and fostering deeper regional integration. Over time, this could lead to a more interconnected and prosperous region, though success will depend on addressing logistical challenges that may arise," he stressed.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 11. Ambassador of Turkmenistan Orazmukhammet Charyev to Saudi Arabia met with Secretary General of the OIC Hissein Brahim Taha in Jeddah, Trend reports, citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

During the meeting, he handed over an official invitation letter to the International Forum on Peace and Trust, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality, which will be held on December 12 this year in Ashgabat.

The letter was delivered on behalf of the national leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

The negotiations also discussed ways to expand cooperation between Turkmenistan and the OIC.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), founded in 1969, brings together 57 member states and works to strengthen ties between Muslim countries in political, economic, scientific, and cultural spheres. The organization's headquarters is located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Research methodology & writing a dissertation in English literature (UG-NEP 2020)

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Dr Elangbam Hemanta SinghResearch methodology in English literature involves selecting a research topic, reviewing relevant literature, choosing an appropriate theoretical framework, and analyzing texts critically. Under NEP-2020, students are encouraged to develop analytical and interpretative skills, engage with interdisciplinary approaches, and use digital resources. A dissertation requires a clear thesis statement, structured arguments, proper citations (MLA/APA), and coherence in writing. Primary and secondary sources should be critically examined, and plagiarism must be avoided. The conclusion should summarize findings and suggest further research possibilities. Effective time management and regular consultation with guides ensure quality research output.Basic concept of research and terminology involved: Research is a systematic process of inquiry aimed at discovering, interpreting, or revising knowledge within a particular field. It follows a structured methodology, involving observation, hypothesis formulation, data collection, analysis, and conclusion. Research can be broadly classified into qualitative and quantitative types, with mixed methods combining both approaches. Key terminologies include hypothesis (a testable prediction), methodology (the framework guiding research design), variables (dependent and independent), and validity (accuracy of results). Creswell (2018) defines research as a systematic process of collec- ting, analyzing, and interpreting information to increase understanding of a phenomenon. Kothari (2004) emphasizes the importance of scientific methods in ensuring objectivity and reproducibility. Ethical considerations, such as informed consent and data integrity, play a crucial role in credible research. Secondary sources like Cohen et al. (2018) provide insights into research paradigms, aiding scholars in structuring and validating their studies.Basic Concept of Research in English Literature: Research in English literature involves the systematic study of literary texts, historical contexts, critical theories, and cultural influences. It encompasses various methodologies, including textual analysis, comparative literature, and theoretical criticism. Key terminologies include hermeneutics (interpretation of texts), intertextuality (relationships between texts), narratology (study of narrative structures), and close reading (detailed textual analysis). Abrams and Harpham (2015) who highlight that the literary research often engages with primary sources (original texts) and secondary sources (critical interpretations and scholarly articles). Literary theory plays a significant role, with approaches such as formalism, structuralism, post colonialism, and feminism guiding textual analysis. Eagleton (1996) emphasizes that research in literature is not only about textual meaning but also about its ideological and historical contexts. Research methods include archival research, discourse analysis, and reader-response criticism, all contributing to a deeper understanding of literary works.Basic Types of Research: Research in English literature can be broadly categorized into theoretical, analytical, historical, and comparative research. Theoretical research explores literary theories, such as structuralism, feminism, or postcolonialism (Eagleton, 1996). Analytical research involves close reading and textual interpretation (Abrams & Harpham, 2015). Historical research examines texts within their socio-cultural and historical contexts (Wellek & Warren, 1949). Comparative research studies literary works across different cultures, languages, or time periods (Damrosch, 2003). These methods help scholars develop critical insights into literatures meaning, evolution, and impact.Basic Tools of Research: Research in English literature relies on various tools, including primary sources (original literary texts), secondary sources (critical essays, journal articles, and scholarly books), and bibliographic databases (MLA International Bibliography, JSTOR). Theoretical frameworks such as feminism, structuralism, or postcolonialism (Eagleton, 1996) which guide textual analysis. Digital archives and linguistic corpora (e.g., Project Gutenberg, EEBO) support historical and stylistic research (McGann, 1991). Citation tools like MLA and Chicago Style ensure academic integrity (Gibaldi, 2009). These tools help researchers to develop critical perspectives and contribute original insights into literary studies.Reference Skills including skills to use dictionaries, encyclopaedias, library catalogues net resources: Effective reference skills are essential for literary research, involving the ability to use dictionaries, encyclopaedias, library catalogues, and online resources.(To be contd)
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 11. Uzbekistan and Georgia agreed to develop an action plan aimed at further expanding cooperation in agriculture and the food industry, with plans to sign it at upcoming events, Trend reports.

The news follows a meeting between Uzbekistan's Deputy Minister of Agriculture Kahramon Yuldashev with Georgia's Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture David Songulashvili, as well as with the heads of the Agricultural Research Center, the National Wine Agency, and associations representing tea and hazelnut producers.

The discussions focused on strengthening trade-economic and scientific cooperation in the agricultural sector. Priority areas for partnership were identified, including viticulture, winemaking, agricultural education, and the cultivation of hazelnuts and olives.

In addition, extensive negotiations took place, addressing the creation of vineyards, winemaking and silkworm farming enterprises, olive and hazelnut plantations, and the training and retraining of personnel in the agricultural sector.

Following the visit, the sides reached a number of agreements aimed at further strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of agriculture.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Transit through Iran has risen by 26 percent during the 11 months of the current Iranian year (from March 20, 2024, through February 18, 2025), compared to the same period last year (from March 21, 2023, through February 19, 2024), Foroud Asgari, the head of the Customs Administration of Iran (IRICA), told reporters, Trend reports.

He noted that during this period, 20.3 million tons of goods were transited through Iran.

Asgari further explained that the primary transit routes include the Shahid Rajaee Port with 5.3 million tons, the Parviz Khan Customs with 4.6 million tons, and the Bashmaq Customs with 2.7 million tons of goods.

Iran is located on a number of international transit routes (North-South international corridor, East-West international corridor). Nevertheless, the infrastructure on the trajectory of these routes passing through the country is fully lacking, the territory of Iran is not considered a safe route for international freight companies, and international sanctions have been imposed against this country. Based on this, international companies are not interested in transit through Iran.
AFP: Rodrigo Duterte, the former president of the Philippines, was arrested in Manila today. Whats Chinas response?

Mao Ning: This is an important sudden incident. China has noted the news and is closely following how this might develop. I would like to reiterate Chinas consistent view that the International Criminal Court should strictly follow the principle of complementarity, exercise its functions and powers prudently in accordance with the law and prevent politicization or double standards.

Beijing Daily: There is a lot of attention on the Report on the Work of the Government, which was released during Chinas two sessions, setting this years economic growth target at around 5 percent and outlining the task of expanding high-standard opening up. With the world economy in the doldrums, how will China make new contribution to global development?



Mao Ning: Opening up is where Chinas economic vitality comes from and Chinas firm commitment to the world. This years Report on the Work of the Government made it clear that regardless of changes in the external environment, China will remain steadfast in its commitment to opening up, steadily expand institutional opening up and take the initiative to open wider and advance unilateral opening up in a well-ordered way.

We will bolster policies for stabilizing foreign trade. We will promote innovation-driven development of trade in services, cultivate new growth drivers, such as green trade and digital trade, host major trade events to high standards, such as the China International Import Expo, the China Import and Export Fair, the China International Fair for Trade in Services, the Global Digital Trade Expo, and the China International Consumer Products Expo. We will vigorously encourage foreign investment. We will 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. We will strive for solid progress in pursuing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. We will ensure the stable and smooth operation of China-Europe freight trains, accelerate the development of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, and improve the layout of international cooperation in industrial and supply chains. We will deepen multilateral, bilateral, and regional economic cooperation. We will resolutely safeguard the WTO-centered multilateral trading system, broaden converging interests with other countries, and promote shared development.

China will continue to serve as an enabler of global prosperity through its high-quality development and high-standard opening up, and provide new key driving force for global economic recovery and development.

Kyodo News: Chinese Ambassador to Japan told Hong Kong media in an interview during the two sessions that China will participate in this years China-Japan-ROK summit to be held in Japan. Can you confirm that Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Tokyo in March and attend the China-Japan-ROK foreign ministers meeting?



Mao Ning: China attaches importance to China-Japan-ROK cooperation. We maintain communication with Japan and the ROK on affairs related to the China-Japan-ROK Foreign Ministers Meeting. On your specific question, I have no information to share at the moment.

China News Service: Recently, the head of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) wrote on social media that because of the U.S. funding freezing, the institute lacks anti-China materials and cannot produce contents attacking China, urging the U.S. or other organizations to immediately fund relevant anti-China agenda. Whats your comment?



Mao Ning: We noted relevant report. The so-called research institute from Australia that you mentioned has long been funded by the U.S. defense and diplomatic agencies and arms dealers. It serves the interests of its donors and has propagated a long list of lies against China. Its so-called research findings lack basic factual grounds and have been proved as disinformation many times, which clearly violates the professional ethics of academic research. There is no credibility to speak of for this so-called institute.

What the head of the institute revealed on social media exposes once again its hypocrisy of creating lies and spreading disinformation to vilify China with funding from the U.S. It is hoped that people in Australia and the international community will see clearly what kind of institute ASPI really is, and join the voices denouncing and resisting its disinformation campaigns.

AFP: According to the South China Morning Post, U.S. and Chinese presidents could meet next month in China. Is that true?



Mao Ning: I have no information to read out on that.

Kyodo News: It will have been nearly two years since a Japanese employee of the drugmaker Astellas Pharma was detained on suspicion of espionage. This has raised concerns in the Japanese business community. According to the 2024 data of balance of payments, foreign direct investment (FDI) in China plunged year-on-year, and some commentators said that this is because of the impact of the counterespionage law. Whats your view on this?



Mao Ning: For the specifics on the case you mentioned, Id like to refer you to the competent authorities.

On Chinas Counterespionage Law, let me point out that its a universal practice for countries to safeguard national security through domestic legislation. All the law enforcement and judicial activities of China are carried out based on facts and in accordance with Chinas laws. Companies that operate lawfully and people who act in accordance with the law have nothing to worry about.

Regarding the FDI statistics you mentioned, Im not sure the figure you quoted is accurate or not. An official from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange shared information on the subject recently, which you may refer to. Let me say that China is committed to high-standard opening up and will continue to build a market-oriented, law-based and world-class business environment and provide quality services to foreign investors including those from Japan.

Bloomberg: We have sources telling us that Chinese officials are having difficulty getting guidance from the U.S. side on how to stop President Trump from increasing tariffs. Can I get a reaction from you?



Mao Ning: The U.S. is bent on using the fentanyl issue as an excuse to impose additional tariffs twice on Chinese imports. China has made clear its opposition more than once. Our countermeasures are legitimate and necessary in safeguarding our rights and interests. If harming Chinas interests is what the U.S. wants, China will take resolute countermeasures. If the U.S. truly wants to solve the 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 others concerns.

AFP: So U.S. and Ukrainian officials are meeting today in Saudi Arabia for talks. Ukraine will propose its own ceasefire deal. What is Chinas expectation for the meeting?



Mao Ning: China supports all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis. We hope that parties can find a just and lasting solution that is acceptable to all sides. China is ready to work with the international community, and continue to play a constructive role for the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

Reuters: The 14th Dalai Lama has published a new book. He says that his successor will be born outside of China. He writes that the campaign for the freedom of the Tibetan people would continue no matter what, even after his death. Do you have any comment on his comments in the book?



Mao Ning: The 14th Dalai Lama is a political exile engaged in separatist activities under the guise of religion. He has absolutely no right to represent the people in Xizang.

Xizang enjoys a booming economy, stable society, flourishing culture and better life for its people. This is seen by many in the international community.

The reincarnation of Living Buddhas is unique to Tibetan Buddhism. It follows established religious rituals and historical conventions. The Dalai Lamas lineage, formed in Xizang, China, and religious standing and title which were affirmed by the central government, date back several hundred years. The 14th Dalai Lama himself was found and confirmed in line with this set of rituals and conventions and was approved by the then central government. The Chinese government issued Regulations on Religious Affairs and Measures on the Management of the Reincarnation of Living Buddhas, and respects and protects this method of succession. The reincarnation of Living Buddhas including the Dalai Lama must comply with Chinese laws and regulations as well as religious rituals and historical conventions, and follow the process that consists of search and identification in China, lot-drawing from a golden urn, and central government approval.

AFP: UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that China is conducting dangerous and destabilizing activity in the South China Sea. He said that just after a visit to the Philippines. Do you have any comments on his remarks?



Mao Ning: The South China Sea is one of the safest and freest waterways in the world. As a country outside the region, the UK should respect Chinas territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, and refrain from heightening antagonism and sowing discord.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. The lack of banking and monetary exchange between Iran and other countries has emerged as one of the major barriers to advancing the countrys trade efforts, Mousa Aghaei, the head of the Iran-Uzbekistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, told journalists, Trend reports.

Aghaei explained that the ongoing sanctions against Iran and the failure to approve Financial Action Task Force (FATF) conventions have exacerbated these challenges.

He added that several trade fairs held in Iran attract businesspeople from various countries, and they see the potential for development. They are interested in collaborating and signing contracts. However, the lack of approval for FATF conventions and the sanctions imposed on the country prevent the commencement of substantial cooperation.

Iran's Expediency Discernment Council is currently re-examining the two conventions (CFT and Palermo) that have not been ratified in Iran. He explained that there are differing opinions within the country about the approval of these conventions, with some seeing them as detrimental, while others believe they align with the country's interests.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development is an intergovernmental body that regulates the rules for combating money laundering and terrorist financing. At the last meeting of this organization, Iran was warned that if the country's program of steps is not improved, Iran may be added to the list of non-cooperative countries. Iran has complied with 37 out of 41 FATF steps.

The remaining four steps or conventions fall under the scope of the legislation. "Amendments to the Law on Combating Money Laundering," "Amendments to the Law on Combating the Financing of Terrorism," "Accession to the International Convention on Combating Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo)," and Accession to the International Convention on Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) have been drafted by the Iranian government and sent to the parliament. Although the four conventions were approved by the parliament and sent to the Advisory Council, the CFT conventions and the Palermo Convention have not yet been approved by the mentioned council.

The G7 group founded the FATF in 1989 to address money laundering. The organization comprises 37 members, with its administration situated in Paris.



The FATF designated Iran as a high-risk jurisdiction in 2007 and enacted formal sanctions on Tehran in 2009. Consequently, nations needed to exercise prudence in financial and banking transactions with Iran. Since 2016, diplomatic initiatives have postponed the implementation of retaliatory actions on Iran.



Additionally, the FATF designated Iran as a non-cooperative country (blacklist) on February 21, 2020.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Iran does not take instructions from any nation regarding its nuclear program, said the countrys first vice president, Mohammad Reza Aref, Trend reports.

Speaking today at an event organized by the Iranology Foundation in Tehran, Arif emphasized that Iran has consistently affirmed that it is not pursuing nuclear weapons, in line with the directives of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. As a result, Iran does not engage in consultations with any external parties on this issue.

Arif also highlighted that Iran believes modern technologies should be fully utilized and made available to others. In particular, nuclear technology should serve as a tool for advancing development and addressing global challenges.

On February 14, the IAEA Director General Grossi reported that Iran is increasing the amount of uranium enriched to 60 percent by nearly seven times. In the coming weeks, Irans stock of 60 percent enriched uranium is expected to reach around 250 kilograms. Iran remains the only non-nuclear weapon state to enrich uranium to this level, a development that has raised international concerns.

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.

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AnginaX AI, India's first intelligent cardiology assistant, is rapidly gaining recognition within the medical community. Following a successful real-world pilot, AnginaX is now preparing for its nationwide deployment on World Health Day  April 7, 2025marking a transformational shift in cardiovascular care.

Pilot Study Confirms the Need for Early Intervention

Under the leadership of Dr. V. N. Shah (Senior Endocrinologist) and Dr. Sunil Thanvi (Professor & Head of Cardiology) in one of Ahmedabads renowned hospitals, the pilot program uncovered a startling reality68% of 1,030 patients had significant cardiovascular risks they were unaware of.

By identifying core metabolic dysfunctions before symptoms appeared, doctors successfully intervened without last-minute emergency care or invasive procedures. The results underscore the urgent need for structured, systematic early intervention, ensuring no potential risk is overlooked.

Hospitals & Clinics Are Rapidly Integrating AnginaX AI

Following the pilots success, hospitals and clinics across Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka have expressed strong interest in integrating AnginaX AI into their clinical workflows. The overwhelming response signals a paradigm shift toward proactive intervention models, equipping physicians with structured insights that enhance decision-making and optimize patient care.

Why Hospitals & Clinics Are Adopting AnginaX AI

Intervening Before Symptoms Appear 

Leveraging the Latest Scientific Research 

Reducing Late-Stage Interventions  Preventing cardiovascular emergencies before they happen.

Seamless Integration Across Institutions

Empowering Doctors to See More Patients Without Compromising Quality  AnginaX reduces administrative workload by 80%, enabling doctors to intervene three times more efficiently than traditional methods.

Experts Weigh In on the Future of Preventive

Dr. Neeraj Desai (Cardiologist and Chief Medical Advisor)

AnginaX AI equips healthcare professionals with real-time insights, enabling them to prioritize high-risk patients and intervene at the right moment. This is how we prevent cardiovascular events before they happen."

Mahati Munikoti (Senior Biologist & Data Scientist)

"Scientific information is vast and narrowing it down to the right biomarkers for specific populations was key to our successful pilot. Every individual metabolizes differently, and the treatment should never be genialized."

A Conversation with Naman Gosalia, Founder of AnginaX AI

What is AnginaX, and Why Are Doctors Embracing It?

Doctors are already embracing AnginaXbecause this is the innovation theyve been waiting for. For years, theyve had to work within outdated systems that slow them down. AnginaX changes that.

Built on deep scientific research and an advanced in-house AI model, AnginaX delivers instant, high-precision risk assessments, providing doctors with everything they need in less than a minute. The entire intervention is completed in under five minuteswithout adding to their workload.

Doctors are life savers. They need intelligent tools that empower them so they can focus on what truly matterssaving lives.

This isnt a change or a transitionits a long-overdue breakthrough, already in clinical trials and making an impact.

What Makes AnginaX Different?

"The scientific research behind AnginaX is fundamentally distinctwe dont just provide insights; we translate them into structured intelligence. This system is an advanced medical assistantheadless, yet seamlessly aligned with a doctors expertise.

We are not just bridging the gap between science and medicine; we are merging them into one unified, intelligent system."

AnginaX was built in India. what makes it the right place for this innovation?

"Why not India? India has the expertise, the research capabilities, and the urgency to innovate at scale. This is Indias innovation for the world.

The same system built here will serve hospitals globally, setting a new standard in cardiovascular care."

What Do You Have to Say About the Pilots Success?

"We knew this. Over 70% of global healthcare costs are spent on chronic diseases. The current medical model is designed for acute care, not for treating underlying conditions.

The pilot proved what we expectedmost patients were moderately to severely at risk, and they had no idea. Theres no point in playing a gamble with our health anymore. Angina, shortness of breath, dizziness, and pain should no longer be the first warning signs.

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To achieve its ambitious goal of becoming a $30 trillion economy by 2047, India must utilize the full potential of its 48.2 per cent female population. With a target of reaching $1 trillion in exports by 2030, women-led businesses will significantly help the country's economic growth. Acknowledging this, the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC) and with financial support from the UK government, launched the SheTrades India Initiative Hub. This initiative will bring together governments, the private sector, and entrepreneurs on the same platform to build the businesses of women and to create a fairer, more sustainable global economy.



Ashwani Kumar, president (Officiating), FIEO remarked, The SheTrades India Hub marks a pivotal moment for Indias trade ecosystem. This initiative is not only a step forward in empowering women entrepreneurs but also a strategic move to harness their untapped potential in global markets.



Women entrepreneurship in India is in a sorry state especially if one looks at the total population percentage as less than 5 per cent of women in India participate in trade. According to the reports of the Economic Survey 2024-25, only 22 per cent of all MSMEs in India are owned by women entrepreneurs and this percentage shrinks further as womens ownership of small businesses is 12 per cent and further to 7 per cent for medium businesses.



The launch of the SheTrades India initiative is an encouraging step by the government to give the necessary push to women entrepreneurship. With 21 SheTrades in-country and regional hubs across several countries and a global network of over 260 partner organisations from 94 countries, SheTrade aims to help three lakh women businesses in India.



Santosh Kumar Sarangi, director general of foreign trade (DGFT), said in his inaugural address that FIEO and ITC should look at enrolling three lakh women entrepreneurs through this initiative launched today.



SheTrades, with its trade fairs and trade missions, aims to establish direct connections between pre-vetted buyers, UK companies, and target women-led businesses, deliver sector-specific information to buyers and suppliers, foster buyer-supplier trust, and establish new market linkages. Apart from this, SheTrades aims to help women learn the financial aspects of business and how to market it while bringing in people with experience to help the women as well.



Kanika Sahijeani, founder and creative director of Pusaaka, a handicraft brand that creates functional and wearable art pieces using biodegradable material shared her experience of paying heavy custom duties while importing sample pineapple leather from Spain due to an issue in paperwork which is supposed to be zero. She said,  I was waiting for the launch of the SheTrades initiative for so long as it will inform women like me when it comes to importing materials and also with marketing. I paid a lot of money due to lack of proper information, a gap SheTrades will bridge.



SheTrades is accessible to women in urban areas, but the problem comes when it comes to small businesses in rural areas and hinterlands. To tackle this, SheTrades is organising workshops in villages and rural populations and reaches out to women on the margins. They also aim to collaborate with the states in the northeast to promote local business. Bringing rural businesses online will provide a bigger market boosting the economy in turn.
Chinese military officials have called for increased participation of the civilian sector to support the development and war readiness of armed forces in the wake of the major strides made by the country's high-tech industry with the development of DeepSeek and other AI tools.

During the ongoing annual session of China's Parliament, officials of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) have advocated for the allocation of more civilian resources, especially in emerging technologies.

According to LA Daily, the PLA delegates made the call during the annual session of China's national legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), and the advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

ALSO READ: China building a nuclear-powered aircraft supercarrier? Leaked images spark concerns

"We need to innovate the model of transforming local emerging field resources into war (preparation), NPC deputy Liu Shuwei, a lieutenant general in the PLA Air Force, was quoted as saying by the PLA Daily.

Liu also called for research centres to focus on key areas such as unmanned systems and underwater and cyberspace warfare. He urged Beijing to optimise the certification, bidding and procurement processes for the civilian sector's participation in military projects, saying this would help to streamline the flow of emerging civilian resources for military application.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has also called for intensified joint civil-military endeavours. In his interaction with military officials during the parliament session last week, Xi urged efforts to effectively leverage the strengths and resources of the civilian sectors to enhance the quality and efficiency of military development, with an accelerated focus on developing new, high-quality combat capabilities.
14 years ago, actor Mel Gibson pleaded no contest to a domestic violence charge involving his then-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, following which he was sentenced to three years probation, a year of counselling and community service. The misdemeanour conviction naturally caused a revocation of Gibson's gun rights because federal law forbids individuals convicted of crimes from purchasing or owning firearms.

The Braveheart actor-director's name is back in the news again. Elizabeth G. Oyer, a senior pardon attorney of the Justice Department, has alleged that she was fired a day after she refused to recommend a reinstatement of Gibson's gun rights.

The development comes three days after it was reported that the Donald Trump administration fired a few senior officials of the Justice Department.

In her allegation, Oyer added that she was asked to recommend the reinstatement given Gibson's recent appointment by Trump as a special ambassador to Hollywood along with fellow actors Sylvester Stallone and Jon Voight.

In a New York Times interview, Oyer, whose former office is tasked with sending pardon recommendations to the White House, called the decision dangerous".

"This isnt political  this is a safety issue, she said. Giving guns back to domestic abusers is a serious matter that, in my view, is not something that I could recommend lightly, because there are real consequences that flow from people who have a history of domestic violence being in possession of firearms.

Oyer recalled that after telling her superiors of her decision opposing the reinstatement of Gibson's gun rights, she received a call from the U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanches office, informing her that "Mel Gibson has a personal relationship with President Trump" and that alone should be enough for her to make the recommendation.

She also recalled telling a colleague that Gibson would be her "downfall a day before getting fired.
On March 7, Tamil superstar Vijay hosted an Iftar gathering to commemorate breaking fast at sundown during the month of Ramadan. The event saw invitations extended to imams of 15 mosques, with a total of 3,000 attendees at Royapettahs YMCA grounds. The actor reportedly observed a full day of abstinence from food and water and offered prayers before breaking the fast.

The gesture quickly became viral on the internet, with many lauding Vijay, born to a Christian father and Hindu mother, for embracing diversity. However, it seems that his grand gesture has now landed him in some legal trouble. According to a report by News18, the Tamil Nadu Sunnat Jamath has lodged a complaint against the 50-year-old at the Chennai Police Commissioners office, alleging that the event was poorly organised, and hosted drunkards who had nothing to do with Iftar which insulted Muslims.

The complaint was filed by Syed Kous, the treasurer of the Tamil Nadu Sunnat Jamath. Speaking to the media, Kous stated, Muslims were insulted at the Iftar program organised by Vijay. We believe the participation of drunkards and rowdies who had nothing to do with fasting or Iftar has insulted Muslims.

Kous further added that the event was coupled with many mishaps due to disorganisation. Legal action should be taken against Vijay to ensure that this does not happen again. We did not file a complaint for publicity," he said.

Vijay, who launched his political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party a year ago, is actively preparing for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections.
A young couple allegedly killed their children and killed themselves in Hyderabads Habsiguda during the late hours of Monday. Telangana police have recovered their bodies a suicide note supposedly written by the lecturer.

According to police, the deceased were identified as Chandrasekhar Reddy (44), his wife Kavitha (35), daughter Sritha Reddy (15) and son Viswan Reddy (10). Reddy, a lecturer by profession lost his job about six months ago and the family was under severe financial stress.

The incident came to light after the neighbours alerted police. The couple, who originally hail from Mahabubnagar in Telangana moved to Hyderabad a year ago.

Personnel from Osmania University police station rushed to the spot after neighbours alerted them. According to police, the couple was found hanging inside the house. The incident happened at around 9.30pm on Monday, at their residence at Ravindranagar Colony in Habsiguda area. We rushed to the spot after getting a call from neighbours and began an investigation. Preliminary inquiry revealed that the couple had first strangled their children to death, before hanging themselves, Hindustan Times reported quoting Inspector N. Rajender.

While Reddy and his Kavitha were found hanging in separate rooms, the children were found lying on the bed. The bodies of the deceased have been sent for autopsy.

Police said Reddy lost his job six months ago and the familys financial condition worsened. Apparently, Reddy was also suffering from health ailments. No one is responsible for my death. I had no other option but to end my life. Please forgive me. I have been struggling in my career and suffering physically and mentally. I have been battling diabetes, nerve-related issues, and kidney diseases, read the suicide note recovered by police. A police probe is underway.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. 73 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) targeting Moscow were shot down, the Russian capital's Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said in a post on social media, Trend reports.

"The Ministry of Defense's air defense continues to repel the attack on Moscow. To date, seventy-three enemy UAVs targeting the city have been destroyed," he wrote.

Sobyanin added that relevant services are currently working at the scene.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
The last Assembly election results in West Bengal offered the BJP a lot to cheer after it bettered its tally from three seats in 2016 to 77 in 2021. This was hailed as the best performance of the party but things haven't been rosy since then. From 77, the party's current tally in the Assembly is just 65 after two-time Haldia MLA and BJP leader Tapasi Mondal on Monday joined the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Mondal's switch has come as a blow to the BJP and Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari, who is now left with an even lean party in the Assembly, with barely a year left for the elections.

Mondal, who jumped ship from CPI(M) to the BJP, made her second switch on Monday when she joined the Trinamool Congress. She cited the BJP's "divisive politics" for her decision, stating she had repeatedly cited this within the party but was ignored. Many see her leaving the BJP as a blow to the BJP in the Purba Medinipur region which is Adhikaris stronghold. Mondal's constituency Haldia is located in the region.

The BJP had called her a "political opportunist and said the people would reject her.

How BJP lost its MLAs

Though the BJP began its stint as the Opposition party for the first time in West Bengal, it couldn't retain the sheen. Two MLAs were selected as Lok Sabha candidates in the recent Parliament elections. The party lost both seats to the TMC, including Madarihat in North Bengal and Dhupguri assembly seat in West Bengals Jalpaiguri district.

The BJP also saw several of its MLAs leave for the TMC. They include Mukul Roy who returned to the TMC after the 2021 elections, Tanmay Ghosh, Harkali Pratihar Suman Kanjilal, Biswajith Das and Krishna Kalyani.

But, the switch is far from over. Trinamool Congress claims more BJP MLAs could join the party before 2026.

There are speculations that Bishnu Prasad Sharma, the BJP MLA from Kurseong could be next in the line. Sharma has been criticising the BJP leadership, over the promise 'special status' for the hills. He has also hinted at leaving the party if necessary. However, it is not clear whether he would join the TMC as Mamata Banerjee is not favourable to the demand for a separate state or special status.

Though Soumen Roy, the MLA from Kaliaganj in North Dinajpur, returned to BJP after a brief stint with the TMC, his loyalty remains under question, according to local media reports. Soumen's real loyalty is with Rajbanshi leader of Cooch Behar, Anant Maharaj. A section of the BJP claims that Soumen got the ticket from Kaliaganj in 2021 on the recommendation of Anant Maharaj. Soumen leaving BJP for TMC happened when Anant had a fallout with the BJP. When the issue was sorted out after BJP sent Anant to Rajya Sabha, Soumen returned. However, things are now not smooth between Anant and the BJP.
A prominent section of ASHA workers in Kerala have been in protests for the last one month, primarily due to long-standing grievances over their pay, working conditions, and lack of job security.

The ASHA workers started this protest with the demand for the state government to pay pending dues, change the honorarium scheme from 7,000 a month, give them the minimum wages of 21,000, and allow retirement benefits for those they have now asked to retire on reaching the age of 62. While they are currently classified as volunteers under the National Health Mission, ASHA workers are also pushing for recognition as permanent employees rather than volunteers.

The government initially downplayed the protest, with Health Minister Veena George claiming that only a small section of ASHA workers were participating, suggesting it lacked broad support. The state also issued ultimatums via the National Health Mission director, threatening dismissal if workers didnt resume duties.

After weeks of pressure, the government cleared some pending honorariums and incentives in late February 2025. However, it has resisted the core demands for a 21,000 honorarium and retirement benefits, citing financial constraints due to the central governments failure to release NHM funds.

Meanwhile, senior CPI(M) leaders dismissed the protest as "politically motivated" and orchestrated by "anarchist groups," citing the involvement of the Marxist-Leninist organization SUCI, which claims to be the only Communist party of the Indian soil. The CPI(M)-affiliated trade union staged parallel protests, arguing that ASHA workers issues should be addressed by the Centre, not the state. Some CPI(M) leaders even resorted to badmouthing the leaders of the ASHA workers' movement.

The CPI(M) has also accused the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party of exploiting the protest for political gain while defending the LDFs track record of incrementally raising honorariums (from 1,000 in 2016 to 7,000 now). Meanwhile, the protesters are planning to escalate their agitation, including a protest pongala during the famous Attukal Pongala festival, attended by lakhs of women, and a secretariat blockade on March 17.

ASHA workers operate at the grassroots level, and their discontentalong with that of their familiescould dent the CPI(M)s rural stronghold, especially if the opposition sustains its campaign. ASHA workers also form a key pool from which the CPI(M) recruits women candidates for local body elections. With ASHA workers being predominantly women, their struggle resonates with female voters, a demographic the CPI(M)-led LDF has traditionally courted. A perception of neglect or insensitivity could cost the party votes. The oppositions narrative of a hypocritical CPI(M)championing workers elsewhere while suppressing them at homecould stick, especially if the protest drags on.

However, political observers like N.M. Pearson believe the CPI(M) will take face-saving measures before the local body elections. Its highly unlikely that the CPI(M) will concede to the 21,000 honorarium demand, but they will ensure there are no dues and find a way to bring ASHA workers back into the fold, he says, adding that once the movement dies down, the partys local committees will work to regain their trust.

Pearson also argues that the protest cannot be sustained indefinitely. Once ASHA workers return to the grassroots, they will re-establish contact with the CPI(M). Political observers note that in many areas, the CPI(M) is the only party maintaining direct engagement, whereas parties like Congress lack a mechanism for sustained communication with them.

Congress MPs have raised the issue in Parliament, which Pearson believes may generate temporary public sentiment. However, the CPI(M) has the capacity to rebuild its ties with ASHA workers, even if they are strained now. The governments current stance likely stems from that confidence. Another possibility is that the CPI(M) aims to redirect the protest against the BJP-led Centre.
With instances of floods caused by glacier lake outbursts, cloudbursts and avalanches witnessing a substantial rise in recent years, a parliamentary committee has urged the Centre to adopt a more proactive and integrated approach, using the latest technological interventions for early warning forecasting.

The standing committee on water resources, led by BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy, presented its report in Parliament, emphasising that risk prevention measures alone are insufficient to mitigate the challenges posed by such natural calamities. "All factors such as climate change, global warming, deforestation, and other triggers must be identified and addressed promptly through proper planning and coordination by all stakeholders at every level," the report recommended.

The report highlighted that glacier outbursts in the northeastern and Himalayan regions have increased massively. It identified climate change as the primary factor driving these natural disasters. The committee stated that the impact of global warming has been observed worldwide, particularly over the Himalayan cryosphere, where glaciers are retreating at an accelerated pace, leading to the formation and evolution of glacier lakes. Most of these lakes in the Himalayan region have emerged within the last 50 years.

This rapid evolution of glacier lakes, coupled with continuously changing climatic conditions, has heightened the threat of Glacier Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and associated hazards.

The Ministry of Jal Shakti conducted a study on the risk assessment of glacier lakes in the Himalayan regions of Indian river basins through the National Remote Sensing Centre. This data has been used to compile glacier atlases of the Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra, and combined Indian Himalayan river basins. An inventory of 28,043 glacial lakes, each exceeding 0.25 hectares in size, has been prepared for the entire catchment area of Indian Himalayan rivers using high-resolution satellite data. Of these, 2,188 lakes are located in Arunachal Pradesh and 733 in Sikkim, both in India's northeast region.

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The committee noted recent GLOF incidents, including the bursting of South Lhonak lake in Sikkim in October 2023, which led to severe flooding of the Teesta river valley, causing extensive damage to buildings, highways, and communities in small villages. More recently, a glacier burst triggered a massive avalanche in Uttarakhands Chamoli district, resulting in significant loss of life and property.

According to officials, a GLOF is characterised by the sudden release of a large volume of lake water along with sediments, which rushes downstream and often transforms into a flash flood. The 2013 Kedarnath tragedy, where the lateral moraine-dammed Chorabari lake burst, causing substantial loss of life, property, and infrastructure, was cited as a prime example. In contrast, a cloudburst involves extremely heavy rainfall over a localised area at an exceptionally high rate of around 100mm per hour, accompanied by strong winds and lightning. Such events typically affect an area not exceeding 20-30 sq. kilometres.

When questioned by the parliamentary panel about the key factors contributing to the formation of glacial lakes and cloudbursts, the concerned departments stated, "The expansion of existing lakes and the development of new glacial lakes are primarily due to increased air temperature."
Telangana government has deployed robots to aid rescuers in the mission to save seven workers trapped inside the partially collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel for 18 days. Eight workers got trapped while working inside the tunnel following the accident on February 22 and rescuers recently recovered the body of a Punjab-based worker.

According to authorities, robots of a Hyderabad-based company have been deployed for the rescue operation. 110 personnel also accompanied the team for the rescue operation inside the tunnel. The state government decided to deploy robots for the operation considering the safety of rescue personnel. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy who had visited the tunnel on March 2 also advised authorities to utilise robots for the rescue operation.

Authorities said the slush and water inside the tunnel was posing a challenge for the rescue operation. Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said Rs 4 crore was spent for utilising robots. Earlier, cadaver dogs from Kerala were brought for the rescue operation. Two cadaver dogs, capable of identifying human bodies 15ft under the ground were deployed for the operation.

Over 700 personnel and 12 agencies including teams from NDRF, state-run miner Singareni Collieries, rat miners and others working at specific spots indicated by cadaver dogs and radar survey to locate the seven persons. According to officials, fragments of the huge Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) got submerged under water.

Eight persons including four labourers from Jharkhand, two engineers and two operators have been trapped inside the tunnel since February 22. Trapped persons have been identified as Manoj Kumar (UP), Sunny Singh (J&K), Gurpreet Singh (Punjab) and Sandeep Sahu, Jegta Xess, and Anuj Sahu, all from Jharkhand.

The body of Gurpreet Singh, a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) operator was recovered recently from the tunnel. The body was sent to his native place in Punjab in a hearse van. The Telangana government has provided an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh to his family.
The Indian security agencies, working to counter the rise of synthetic opioids in the country for illicit trade and consumption, are closely monitoring the entry of fentanyl - the killer drug- to the United States from its northern border with Canada.

India isnt just a producer of domestically manufactured drugs but also a transit route and a supplier for the global drug trafficking networks as the precursor chemicals have time and again found their way into the hands of drug cartels around the world.

Control over precursor chemicals is exercised in India through the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. In the last few years, reports of pharma medicine counterfeited with fentanyl have been reported by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to the Narcotics Control Bureau which has been examining the concerns and studying the modus operandi and routes used to supply the precursor chemicals to Mexican cartels.

There is no evidence so far to suggest Indian linkages in the supply of the killer drug into the US across its porous border with Canada. However, Indian security officials recognise that the terror and crime modules fuelling the drug menace in Punjab, which have made Canada and the US their safe haven, are not insulated from the rising fentanyl supply chains which operate between the two countries.

"Left unchecked, any drug cartel would dabble in the most lucrative business whether it is the supply of fentanyl or any other opioids."

In 2018, the Indian government had designated two direct fentanyl precursors, NPP and ANPP, as schedule B of the NDPS Act which restricted their export. In 2020, following reports of domestically manufactured ANPP being trafficked in Mexico, the Indian government tightened controls over ANPP and NPP by designating them as Schedule A in the NDPS RCS Order of 2013. This order brought the domestic manufacture, distribution, sale, possession, and use of those substances under national control.

The move came after the first case was detected in 2018, when two Indian nationals and a Mexican collaborator were arrested in Indore with possession of around 10 kg of illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF). At the time of the arrest, the three men were wearing protective gear used for handling dangerous chemicals, and it is alleged that they were conspiring to transport the IMF to Mexico.

The fentanyl was manufactured in a factory operated by one of the Indian nationals using the popular fentanyl precursors and ANPP. Also, in 2018, four Indian nationals were arrested in Mumbai with around 100 kg of NPP, the precursor for fentanyl.

However, drug enforcement agencies face challenges from the ever-evolving modus operandi of traffickers in the synthetic drug trade. At the moment, officials said abuse of fentanyl has not been reported at an alerting stage in India unlike other opioids like heroin and tramadol, but the worry is the precursors that can help manufacture it domestically if the transnational networks are allowed to spread their net wide.

"Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids like tramadol are most commonly trafficked through parcels as a diversion from the pharma drugs," said a senior official. Who carries these parcels and how they are being delivered to the drug trafficking agents in Canada or the US can only be unearthed when crime-terror-drug networks get busted on foreign soil. It has also to be seen whether there is a connection with the transnational criminal networks operating in both countries.
A glimmer of hope has emerged for Faizan Rasool, 28, from Safakadal, Srinagar, who has been held hostage in Myanmar after falling victim to human trafficking.

The Indian mission in Myanmar has taken up the matter with the concerned authorities, working through diplomatic channels to ensure his safe return.

According to Faizans father, Ghulam Rasool Bhat, Faizan left home for a better future but is now trapped in a foreign country. We are helpless. If the government does not act quickly, we may never see him again, Bhat told a local daily in Srinagar.

He said they are struggling financially, and are unable to pay the Rs 4.5 lakh ransom demanded by his captors.

The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has written to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, requesting immediate intervention.

Nasir Khuehami, JKSAs national convener, said that Faizan was tricked with a fake job offer in Thailand. He said Faizan and a friend travelled to Bangkok but were instead trafficked to Myanmar, enduring a 15-hour bus journey, crossing a river and ending up in a dangerous region known for forced labour and organised crime.

Khuehami said another Kashmiri youth, also named Faizan, was recently freed after his family paid the ransom, leaving them in severe debt.

He warned that human traffickers are increasingly targeting Kashmiri youth, taking advantage of their desperation for jobs.

The JKSA has urged the MEA to act swiftly to secure Faizans release. It has also called for stronger action against human traffickers exploiting job seekers, and clear travel advisories and awareness campaigns to prevent such cases.

The Indian government has always supported its citizens in times of crisis. We trust that under Dr Jaishankars leadership, every possible step will be taken to bring Faizan home safely, JKSA said in a statement.
For the second consecutive day, the BJP MLAs staged a walkout from the West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday during the ongoing second phase of the budget session. The BJP brought a motion of adjournment, citing allegations of communal unrest in the state. However, Speaker Biman Banerjee did not accept the proposal.

He stated that the matter had already been discussed. The rejection of their motion led to a heated situation, during which BJP legislators started sloganeering and tore up the assembly proceedings' documents.

Following this, Speaker Banerjee ordered that no documents be provided to BJP legislators in the assembly session starting Tuesday. In response, the BJP lawmakers walked out in protest.

Notably, during Monday's assembly session, BJP legislators Shankar Ghosh and Manoj Oraon protested by descending into the well of the house after their colleague Hiran Chattopadhyays microphone was switched off.

They persisted in their protest, disregarding the Speaker's instructions to return to their seats. In response, Speaker Banerjee ordered their removal from the chamber. Protesting the expulsion of his two colleagues, Falakata BJP MLA Deepak Barman tore up the assembly proceedings' documents, leading to his suspension for a day. He became the fifth BJP legislator to be suspended this session.

I dont feel that such a situation has ever occurred in the assembly. They did the same thing yesterday. I thought today they would restrain. But they not only tore up the papers but made very distasteful gestures, the Speaker told the media on Tuesday.

Maintaining discipline in the house is not just my responsibility but a collective duty. Everyone must recognise and uphold the dignity of the house," he added.

West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, who was suspended for 30 days from the assembly earlier in February this year, claimed that the state government under the Trinamool Congress (TMC) did not want the BJP MLAs to speak on record about the communal atrocities against Hindus in the state.

[What the speaker did] is illegal. This is an attempt to silence the voice of the people of West Bengal," LoP Adhikari told the media outside the assembly. He warned of large-scale demonstrations on Wednesday and added that the BJP would also stage a protest in Baruipur, the constituency of Speaker Banerjee.

"The Speaker has ordered that opposition legislators will not be given any bulletin or proceedings documents. This is one of the rarest incidents in the history of the Indian Constitution," the leader of the opposition said.

Adhikari also warned of large-scale demonstrations tomorrow. "We will bring a stack of papers every day and, if necessary, tear them in protest inside the assembly."
In a reiteration of the continuation of the growing strategic relationship between China, Russia and Iran against an increasingly aggressive US, the navies of the three countries began a five-day naval war game named Maritime Security Belt 2025 from Tuesday to Saturday (March 11-15).

The war drill is being held in the Gulf of Oman, near Irans strategically located Chabahar, a port India is keenly invested in. The war drill area is considered strategic, especially for global trade and energy exports.

Chabahar, Irans southernmost port on the Makran coast, connects India with Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan. More importantly, it is connected to the multi-modal transit corridor called the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) that connects St Petersburg on the Baltic Sea in Russia to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust near Mumbai, which is the largest container port in India.

The INSTC traverses 7,200 km of sea, rail and road links, making it the shortest and the cheapest route possible that links India to Europe.

Since 2014, India has invested considerable time, effort, and money to develop Chabahar port to set up new trade routes acting on the axiom that international trade indeed is a handmaiden of diplomacy. On May 13, 2024, India and Iran signed a pact on developing the Chabahar which is an ideal location for India to gain strategic, economic and military advantages.

Russian Navy wraps up joint drills with China, Iran



Details: https://t.co/StzWk2k8aM pic.twitter.com/blWslAi2JP  RT (@RT_com) March 14, 2024

On Monday, a Russian defence ministry release said: The opening ceremony of the international Maritime Security Belt 2025 exercise was held at the port of Chabahar in Iran. The drills involve warships of the Russian, Iranian, and Chinese Navies. The Russian side is represented by the Rezky and Russian Hero Aldar Sydenzhapov corvettes, and the Pechenega tanker of the Pacific Fleet.

The three navies will practice artillery shooting at sea-based and aerial targets besides testing skills of freeing seized ships, and search and rescue operations at sea. It will involve 15 warships, support vessels and gunboats, as well as helicopters.

A Chinese defence ministry release said China will be represented by the Type 052D guided missile destroyer Baotou and a supply ship Gaoyouhu from the PLA Navys 47th escort task group while the aim of the exercise is "to strengthen military mutual trust and foster pragmatic cooperation among the naval forces of the participating countries."

About 10 ships from the Iranian Navy and the Revolutionary Guard will take part in the drill which is the seventh edition since its inception in 2018. Interestingly, Chabahar is situated in the Sistan and Baluchistan province, only 93 nautical miles from Pakistans Gwadar porta pivotal port in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Hours after microblogging platform X faced a global outage, entrepreneur Elon Musk revealed on Monday that the social media site was disrupted by a "massive cyberattack." The billionaire said the attack originated in the "Ukraine area".

After thousands of X users reported outages throughout Monday, Musk took to X to post that the attack was done with a lot of resources. "We get attacked every day, but this was done with a lot of resources," Musk wrote on X. "Either a large, coordinated group and/or a country is involved."

A source in the internet infrastructure industry told Reuters that X had been hit by several waves of denial of service (DoS) attacks at around 9.45 am US time on Monday.

However, during an interview with Fox, Musk revealed that the attack originated from IP addresses "in the Ukraine area" and that the attackers were trying to "bring down the X system." However, the 53-year-old entrepreneur did not provide additional evidence to support his accusations.

The attack comes a day before US and Ukrainian delegates were set to meet in Saudi Arabia for peace talks. For the same reason, many believe it was improbable that Ukraine could be behind the act which could have a far-reaching consequence. "It makes absolutely no sense for Ukrainian hackers to attack Elon Musk the day before a meeting between the United States and Ukraine in which they are attempting to get the United States to start sharing intelligence again, and provide aid and assistance, working towards a peace agreement that has been in question since the Oval Office visit," the Atlantic Councils Alex Plitsas told The New York Post on Monday.

Nicholas Reese, an adjunct instructor at the Center for Global Affairs in New York University's School of Professional Studies, too believes it doesn't make sense that a state actor was involved in the hacking, considering the short duration of the outage. He mentions two types of cyber attacks, loud and quiet.

"And the ones that are usually the most valuable are the ones that are very quiet. Something like this was designed to be discovered. So to me that almost certainly eliminates state actors," Reese told the Star Tribune.

Though Reese agrees that a group may have been trying to make a statement with the attack, he said such a short outage 'was "not much of a statement to me.''
In a major embarrassment for the country, Pakistans ambassador to Turkmenistan was denied entry into the US at Los Angeles airport. Ambassador K K Ahsan Wagan was also deported to his last port of departure, in a possible violation of diplomatic protocol.

Ambassador Wagan was reportedly travelling to the US for a personal visit, according to The News. He reportedly held a valid US visa and had all the necessary travel documents but was stopped by the US immigration authorities upon arrival.

The report quoted sources which said the US immigration system flagged Wagan over controversial visa references. "Ambassador K K Wagan was deported from the US. He had an immigration objection which led to his deportation," The News quoted a senior Foreign Ministry official. However, it is unclear what the "objections" were.

However, there are unconfirmed reports that he was denied entry due to allegations of administrative corruption that surfaced during his previous posting in the US. K K Wagan had earlier served as the deputy consul general at the Consulate General of Pakistan in Los Angeles.

Though Pakistans Foreign Office has not yet issued an official statement on the matter, the reports said Ambassador Wagan is also likely to be called back to Islamabad to explain his position due to the seriousness of the issue.

Pakistans top diplomatic leadership, including Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Foreign Secretary Aamna Baloch, have been made aware of the incident. Pakistans Foreign Ministry has directed its Consulate in Los Angeles to investigate the case.

The Ambassador is said to be a seasoned diplomat who hs held several top positions, including second secretary at the Embassy of Pakistan in Kathmandu, deputy head of mission/ counsellor and ambassador in Muscat and Crisis Management Unit director general at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. Temporary flight restrictions have been imposed at all Moscow airports due to the drone attack, said Russias Federal Air Transport Agency representative Artem Korenyako, Trend reports.

"To ensure the safety of civilian flights, temporary restrictions on arrivals and departures were introduced at Moscows Sheremetyevo Airport at 4:40 AM MSK," Korenyako wrote on social media.

Similar restrictions had already been put in place at Zhukovsky, Domodedovo, Strigino, and Tunoshna airports.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin also announced on social media that 73 drones heading toward the city had been shot down.

"The Defense Ministrys air defense forces continue to repel the attack on Moscow. So far, 73 enemy drones have been intercepted," he wrote.

Sobyanin added that emergency services are working at the scene.
The Balochistan militants claimed to have taken over a hundred people as hostages after attacking a passenger train with around 400 passengers on board in southwestern Pakistan on Tuesday.

Several passengers were injured as the rebel group opened fire at the Jaffar Express in Mushqaf area of the Bolan district.

According to reports, the train was its way from Quetta in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Pakistan government has lost control of the majority of its land and operations, Baloch freedom group Baloch Liberation Army (#BLA) has killed 6 army personnel and hijacked the entire train #JaffarExpress train in #Balochistan and abducted over 100 passengers. pic.twitter.com/0nMIcks3rd  BBKNewsEnglish (@BBKNewsEnglish) March 11, 2025

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a militant separatist group which seeks independence for Balochistan from Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack and said six security personnel had been killed in the firing.

The rebels also warned of severe consequences if the "occupying forces" attempted any military operation.

"All hundreds of hostages will be executed, and the responsibility for this bloodshed will lie solely with the occupying forces," it said in a statement.

The BLA further claimed that the operation was carried out by its three specialised unitsMajeed Brigade, STOS, and Fateh Squad.

"So far, six military personnel have been killed, and hundreds of passengers remain under BLA custody," it said.

Reuters quoted Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind as saying that emergency measures have been imposed and all institutions mobilised to deal with the situation.

Balochistan has been witnessing insurgency for decades with the rebel group carrying out attacks against government, army and Chinese interests in the region.

Reports said there are 17 tunnels in the area on the railway line. The train, which was running slow due to the difficult terrain, was stopped by armed men in Tunnel No 8.

Rescue teams and security forces have reached the site and launched an operation to track down the assailants.
The delegations of Ukraine and the United States held hours-long closed-door talks in Saudi Arabia's Jeddah on Tuesday to find a path towards ending Kyiv's ongoing war with Russia.

The talks were held a day after Ukraine launched a massive overnight drone attack on 10 Russian regions, killing two people and injuring 18 others.

According to a report by the Associated Press, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio smiled for the cameras, while Ukrainian officials sat without expression at a table across from them.

The talks have offered Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to repair his relationship with his US counterpart Donald Trump after the White House blowout on February 28.

The showdown has led to Trump pausing all military assistance and intelligence sharing with Kyiv.

The AP quoted two senior Ukraine officials as saying that Kyiv is ready to sign an agreement which gives the US access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals. Trump was keen on securing the deal, but Zelenskiy's Oval Office clash with him left the signing of the deal in limbo.

'Deal not a pre-condition for talks'

Rubio, however, asserted that signing the deal was not a pre-condition for the US to move ahead with discussions with either Ukraine or the Russians.

"I'm not going to set any conditions on what they have to or need to do. I think we want to listen to see how far they're willing to go and then compare that to what the Russians want and see how far apart we truly are," he said ahead of the meeting.

The Ukraine delegation to Jeddah was led by Andriy Yermak, Zelenskiy's chief of staff.

According to reports, the Ukraine side, led by Andriy Yermak, Zelenskiy's chief of staff, is likely to propose a ceasefire covering the Black Sea.

What Russia wants

Though Russia has not publicly offered any consensus, Moscow wants Ukraine to drop its bid to join NATO and recognise the regions that Moscow occupies as Russian.

Russia has annexed a fifth of Ukraine's territory ever since the war began in 2022.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday the Trump administration had finished its six-week purge of programs of the six-decade-old U.S. Agency for International Development, and said he would move the 18% of aid and development programs that survived under the State Department.

Rubio made the announcement in a post on X. It marked one of his relatively few public comments on what has been a historic shift away from U.S. foreign aid and development, executed by Trump political appointees at State and Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency teams.

Rubio in the post thanked DOGE and our hardworking staff who worked very long hours to achieve this overdue and historic reform in foreign aid.

President Donald Trump on Jan. 20 issued an executive order directing a freeze of foreign assistance funding and a review of all of the tens of billions of dollars of U.S. aid and development work abroad. Trump charged that much of foreign assistance was wasteful and advanced a liberal agenda.

Rubios social media post Monday said that review was now officially ending, with some 5,200 of USAIDs 6,200 programs eliminated.

Those programs spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, (and in some cases even harmed), the core national interests of the United States, Rubio wrote.

In consultation with Congress, we intend for the remaining 18% of programs we are keeping  to be administered more effectively under the State Department, he said. Democratic lawmakers and others call the shutdown of congressionally-funded programs illegal, saying such a move requires Congress approval.

The State Department in one of multiple lawsuits it is battling over its rapid shutdown of USAID had said earlier this month it was killing more than 90% of USAID programs. Rubio gave no explanation for why his number was lower, and no details of what programs were spared or how the State Department would run them.

The dismantling of USAID that followed Trumps order upended decades of policy that humanitarian and development aid abroad advanced U.S. national security by stabilizing regions and economies, strengthening alliances and building goodwill.

In the weeks after Trumps order, one of his appointees and transition team members, Pete Marocco, and Musk pulled USAID staff around the world off the job through forced leaves and firings, shut down USAID payments overnight and terminated aid and development contracts by the thousands.

Contractors and staffers running efforts ranging from epidemic control to famine prevention to job and democracy training stopped work. Aid groups and other USAID partners laid off tens of thousands of their workers in the U.S. and abroad.

Lawsuits brought by some of the nonprofit groups and businesses that had partnered with USAID say the form-letter contract terminations purge eliminated even programs that Rubio had said he wanted to save, violated the contract terms and stiffed aid groups and businesses of billions of dollars.

The shutdown has left many USAID staffers and contractors and their families still overseas, many of them awaiting U.S.-paid back payments and travel expenses back home.

(AP)
An American biochemist whose research has helped scientists make inroads into treating coronavirus and HIV has won this years Wolf Prize, a prestigious Israeli award in the arts and sciences.

Pamela Bjorkman of the California Institute of Technology won the prize for offering new hope in the fight against infectious diseases, the Wolf Fund, which awards the prize, said Monday.

Bjorkmans research unlocked the secrets of how the immune system identifies and battles pathogens, developing game changing approaches to combat some of humanitys most formidable viral enemies, the fund said.

Eight others also received the state-funded prize, which has been awarded annually for 47 years. Many of the award winners have gone on to receive Nobel prizes.

Bjorkman grew up in Oregon and studied at the University of Oregon, Harvard and Stanford before moving to Caltech to begin teaching in 1989. Her research focuses on how the immune system identifies invading pathogens. She has broken ground, the fund said, in how scientists understand T-cell recognition and immunization strategies for HIV. T cells are white blood cells that help fight off diseases.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, she has worked on developing a new strategy to design immunogens that trigger certain antibodies against coronaviruses.

Pamela Bjorkmans work provides a glimpse of a new rational design strategy for future vaccines to deal with humanitys greatest immunization challenges, wrote the fund.

This years prize in architecture was awarded to Chinese architect Tiantian Xu for her work in rural China, which the prize committee said transformed villages throughout China economically, socially, and culturally.

Xu studied architecture at Harvard Graduate School of Design before returning to China, starting her own firm and working on a number of public projects that have kickstarted village economies, the fund said. They include a bridge connecting two villages separated by a flood, factories for tofu and brown sugar and renovating abandoned stone quarries.

It lauded her pioneering approach to rural development  one that contrasts with the sweeping, uniform strategies that characterized Chinas urban expansion.

Other recipients of this years award include Jeffery Dangl of the University of North Carolina, Jonathan Jones of the Sainsbury Laboratory in England and Brian Staskawicz of the University of California, Berkeley for agriculture.

Also receiving the prize are professors Jainendra Jain of Pennsylvania State University, Moty Heiblum of Israels Weizmann Institute of Science, James Eisenstein of Caltech in physics and Helmut Schwarz of the Technische Universitat Berlin in chemistry.

Past laureates include astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, artist Marc Chagall, conductor Zubin Mehta and musician Stevie Wonder.

(AP)
Syrias central government has reached a deal with the Kurdish-led authority that controls the countrys northeast, including a ceasefire and the merging of the main U.S.-backed force there into the Syrian army.

The deal was signed Monday by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.

The deal marks a major breakthrough that would bring most of Syria under the control of the government led by the group that led the ousting of President Bashar Assad in December.

The deal to be implemented by the end of the year would bring all border crossings with Iraq and Turkey in the northeast, airports and oil fields under the control of the central government.

Syrias Kurds will gain their rights including teaching and using their language, which were banned for decades under Assad.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. APs earlier story follows below.

Syrias interim government on Monday announced the end of a days-long military operation against insurgents loyal to ousted president Bashar Assad and his family in the worst fighting since the end of the 13-year civil war in December.

The Defense Ministrys announcement comes after a surprise attack by gunmen from the Alawite community on a police patrol near the port city of Lattakia Thursday spiraled into widespread clashes across Syrias coastal region, during which monitoring groups said hundreds of civilians were killed.

Syrias new interim Islamist rulers are struggling to exert their authority across the country and reach political settlements with other minority communities, notably the Kurds of the northeast and the Druze in southern Syria.

To the remaining remnants of the defeated regime and its fleeing officers, our message is clear and explicit, said Defense Ministry spokesperson Col. Hassan Abdel-Ghani. If you return, we will also return, and you will find before you men who do not know how to retreat and who will not have mercy on those whose hands are stained with the blood of the innocent.

Abdel-Ghani said that security forces will continue searching for sleeper cells and remnants of the insurgency of former government loyalists.

Though the governments counter-offensive was able to largely contain the insurgency, footage surfaced of what appeared to be retaliatory attacks targeting the broader minority Alawite community, an offshoot of Shia Islam whose adherents live mainly in Syrias western coastal region.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said 1,130 people were killed in the clashes, including 830 civilians. The Associated Press could not independently verify these numbers.

The interim government is made up of members of Sunni Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which led a lightning insurgency in December that overthrew Bashar Assad, ending over half a century of his familys dictatorial rule. The Assad family are Alawites.

Interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa said the retaliatory attacks against Alawite civilians and mistreatment of prisoners were isolated incidents, and vowed to crack down on the perpetrators as he formed a committee to investigate the incident.

Abdel-Ghani says the security forces will allow the committee the full opportunity to uncover the circumstances of the events, verify the facts, and rectify wrongdoings.

Still, the footage of houses in several neighborhoods set on fire and bloodied bodies laid on the streets alarmed Western governments, who have been urged by Al-Sharaa to lift economic sanctions on Syria.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a statement issued Sunday urged Syrian authorities to hold the perpetrators of these massacres accountable. Rubio said the U.S. stands with Syrias religious and ethnic minorities, including its Christian, Druze, Alawite, and Kurdish communities.

Thousands of Syrians from the coastal area fled to neighboring Lebanon, mostly through unofficial crossings. The UN refugee agency said in a statement that according to local authorities, 6,078 people have arrived in about a dozen villages in northern Lebanons Akkar province fleeing the fighting, while arrivals in other parts of the country were still being verified.

Lebanon is hosting more than 755,000 registered Syrian refugees, with hundreds of thousands more believed to be unregistered. Since the fall of Assad, the flow had begun to reverse, with the UN reporting that nearly 260,000 Syrian refugees have returned home since November, about half of them coming from Lebanon.

(AP)
Military officials from more than 30 nations will take part in Paris talks on the creation of an international security force for Ukraine, a French military official said Monday.

Such an international force would aim to dissuade Russia from launching another offensive after any ceasefire in Ukraine comes into effect.

The long list of participants in Tuesdays discussions will also include Asian and Oceania nations that will join remotely, the French official said. The international makeup of the meeting offers an indication of how broadly France and Britain  which are working together on plans for the force  are casting their net as they aim to build what the French official described as a coalition of nations able and willing to be part of an effort to safeguard Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.

The French military official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss the blueprint for the force that is shrouded in secrecy and the Paris talks that will consider it.

The force being envisaged by France and Britain would aim to reassure Ukraine and deter another large-scale Russian offensive after any ceasefire, the official said. It could include heavy weaponry and weapons stockpiles that could be rushed within hours or days to aid in Ukraines defense in the event of a Russian attack that shatters any truce, the official said.

The French-British blueprint will be presented to military officials from more than 30 nations in the first part of Tuesdays talks, the official said.

The talks second part will include more precise and concrete discussions where the participants will be invited to say whether and how their militaries might be able to contribute, the official said.

Its not, This is what we need, the official said. Its more, What are you bringing to the pot?

The official stressed, however, that the ultimate decision on whether nations take part in the force would be taken at a political level, by government leaders.

Army chiefs or their representatives from nearly all of the 32 nations of the NATO military alliance will attend the Paris talks  with the notable exception being the United States.

The official said the United States wasnt invited because European nations want to demonstrate that they can take responsibility for a large part of the post-ceasefire security framework for Ukraine.

Also attending will be the chiefs of staff of Ireland and Cyprus and a representative from Austria  all nations that are not NATO members but are in the European Union.

Australia and New Zealand, which are Commonwealth nations, as well as Japan and South Korea, will listen into the talks remotely, the official said.

Ukraine will be represented by a military official who is also a member of the countrys security and defense council.

(AP)
The Trump administration has rebranded a government mobile applicationoriginally designed to help asylum seekers schedule appointmentsas a tool for undocumented migrants already in the U.S. to voluntarily leave the country.

The app, now called CBP Home, allows migrants to submit an intent to depart form, which U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says provides a way for them to exit without facing harsher legal consequences. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized that those who self-deport using the app may still have the opportunity to return legally in the future and live the American dream. She warned, however, that those who do not leave voluntarily will be tracked down, deported, and barred from re-entering the country.

CBP Home includes questions asking whether the migrant has enough money to leave and if they possess a valid, unexpired passport from their country of origin. The Department of Homeland Security has not provided details on what happens once an individual completes the process through the app.

The app was originally launched in 2020 as CBP One and was later expanded under the Biden administration to allow asylum seekers to book appointments at U.S. ports of entry. At the time, officials credited the app with reducing detentions at the border by streamlining the asylum process. Now, under the Trump administration, its purpose has shifted dramatically. Rather than helping migrants enter the country legally, it is being used to encourage them to leave before facing deportation.

The rebranding of CBP Home is the latest in a series of immigration crackdowns under Trumps second term. A surge in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids has been reported in major U.S. cities, with officials seeking to arrest and deport undocumented individuals at an accelerated pace. In late February, the administration announced plans for a national registry requiring undocumented migrants over the age of 14 to provide their address and fingerprints. Those who fail to comply could face criminal prosecution. At the same time, the administration has paused humanitarian parole programs, closing off another legal avenue for migrants seeking temporary protection in the U.S.

The new policies mark a significant escalation in the administrations efforts to reshape the U.S. immigration system. While officials argue that these measures will restore order and deter illegal immigration, legal experts warn that some policies, such as the proposed registry, will be difficult to enforce and could face constitutional challenges.

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President Donald Trump overstepped his constitutional authority in freezing almost all spending on U.S. humanitarian and development work abroad, a federal judge ruled, saying the administration could no longer simply sit on the tens of billions of dollars that Congress has appropriated for foreign aid.

But Judge Amir H. Ali stopped short of ordering Trump officials to use the money to revive the thousands of contracts they have abruptly terminated for U.S. aid and development work around the world.

Alis ruling Monday evening came hours after Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the administration had finished what has been a six-week purge of programs of the six-decade-old U.S. Agency for International Development, cutting 83% of them. Rubio said he would move the remaining aid programs under the State Department.

Rubio made his announcement in a post on X, in one of his few public comments on what has been a historic shift away from U.S. foreign aid and development, executed by Trump political appointees at the State Department and Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency teams.

Rubio in the post thanked DOGE and our hardworking staff who worked very long hours to achieve this overdue and historic reform in foreign aid.

Trump on Jan. 20 issued an executive order directing a freeze of foreign assistance funding and a review of all U.S. aid and development work abroad. Trump charged that much of foreign assistance was wasteful and advanced a liberal agenda.

Rubios social media post Monday said that review was now officially ending, with some 5,200 of USAIDs 6,200 programs eliminated. Those programs spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, (and in some cases even harmed), the core national interests of the United States, Rubio wrote. About 1,000 remaining contracts would now be administered by the State Department, he said.

Democratic lawmakers and others call the shutdown of congressionally funded programs illegal, saying such a move requires Congress approval.

In his preliminary injunction Monday, Ali said Trump could not simply ignore most of what is roughly $60 billion in foreign assistance funding that was given to USAID and State by Congress, which under the U.S. Constitution has the authority to spend money.

The constitutional power over whether to spend foreign aid is not the Presidents own  and it is Congresss own, Ali wrote, adding elsewhere that Trump officials offer an unbridled view of Executive power that the Supreme Court has consistently rejected.

But Ali declined the request from nonprofit groups and businesses to revive the canceled contracts for foreign assistance work around the world, saying it was up to the administration to make decisions on specific contracts. The mass contract cancellations also were a separate matter than the funding freeze that two global health groups, the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition and the Global Health Council, had originally gone to court to challenge, he said.

Ali also ordered Trump officials to pay all of the roughly $2 billion it owed to aid groups and businesses up to mid-February, and ordered them to do it at a pace of at least 300 back payments a day.

Despite claims from the administration it was continuing to fund at least life-saving programs in its foreign aid freeze, USAID staffers and the agencys nonprofit and business partners say all payments through USAID were cut off until recently, and that USAIDs payment system itself disabled by Musks DOGE.

Alis ruling came after the Supreme Court had rejected the Trump administrations appeal in the case.

USAID supporters said the sweep of the cuts have made it difficult to tell what U.S. efforts abroad the Trump administration actually supports.

The patterns that are emerging is the administration does not support democracy programs, they dont support civil society  they dont support NGO programs, or health or emergency response, said Andrew Natsios, the USAID administrator for Republican former President George W. Bush.

So whats left? Natsios asked.

Republicans broadly have made clear they want foreign assistance that would promote a far narrower interpretation of U.S. national interests going forward.

The dismantling of USAID that followed Trumps order upended decades of policy that humanitarian and development aid abroad advanced U.S. national security by stabilizing regions and economies, strengthening alliances and building goodwill.

The State Department said in a court filing earlier this month it was killing more than 90% of USAID programs. Rubio gave no explanation for why his number was lower.

In the weeks after Trumps order, one of his appointees and transition team members, Pete Marocco, and Musk pulled USAID staff around the world off the job through forced leaves and firings, shut down USAID payments overnight and terminated aid and development contracts by the thousands.

The shutdown has left many USAID staffers and contractors and their families still overseas, many of them awaiting back payments and travel expenses to return home.

The Trump administration on Monday gave USAID staffers abroad until April 6 to move back to the United States if they want to do so on the governments tab, according to a USAID email sent to staffers and seen by The Associated Press. Staffers say the deadline gives them scant time to pull children from school, sell homes or break leases, and, for many, find somewhere to live after years away from the United States.

(AP)
Philippine ex-President Rodrigo Duterte, who left a savage legacy from his deadly anti-drugs crackdown, was arrested on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity for the thousands killed in a war he waged against drugs in a political career spanning decades. His detention capped an international investigation into the killings, which unfolded for more than a dozen years.

Duterte again came under the spotlight during a weekend trip to Hong Kong when the trip sparked speculation that he may have gone into exile to evade arrest. He had appeared as the main speaker on Sunday at a gathering of thousands of cheering and flag-waving Filipino expatriates, who jammed Southorn Stadium in downtown Wan Chai district.

Now 79 and in poor health, Duterte campaigned for his political partys senatorial candidates ahead of the May 12 mid-term elections in the Philippines. He said he was aware the International Criminal Court had issued a warrant for his arrest.

He again tried to justify the brutal crackdown as the crowd cheered him on. Police arrested him as he got off the plane at Manila International Airport based on an ICC warrant.

Heres more about Duterte, his ICC case and what lies ahead for one of Asias most unorthodox leaders in his time:

Why was Duterte popular at home but condemned internationally?

Duterte, a former prosecutor, congressman and longtime mayor of the southern Philippine city of Davao, built a political name with his expletive-laced outbursts against the elites, the dominant Roman Catholic church and the West. He was also seen as pro-poor and a populist, but he is perhaps best remembered for his brutal approach to criminality, particularly illegal drugs.

Under his police-enforced crackdown in Davao at the start of the millennium, an estimated 1,000 mostly poor suspects were gunned down extrajudicially. One police officer involved in the Davao killings who later distanced himself from Duterte told The Associated Press that up to 10,000 suspects were killed by his and other police and civilian hit squads.

The death toll in the crackdown was alarmingly high for years, gaining Duterte nicknames like the Punisher and Duterte Harry, after the Western movie police character with little regard for the law.

Human rights activists said people were afraid to testify against Duterte in court.

In 2016, Duterte won the presidency on an audacious but failed promise to eradicate illegal drugs and corruption within three to six months, in a country long weary of crime and corruption scandals.

All of you who are into drugs, you sons of bitches, I will really kill you, Duterte told a huge crowd in a 2016 campaign stop in Manila. I have no patience, I have no middle ground. Either you kill me or I will kill you idiots.

The United States, the European Union and other Western governments raised the alarm over the anti-drugs campaign, prompting Duterte in 2016 to tell then-President Barack Obama you can go to hell as he threatened to break up with America.

What case does Duterte face before the ICC?

The ICC launched an investigation into drug killings under Duterte from Nov. 1, 2011, when he was still mayor of Davao, to March 16, 2019, as possible crimes against humanity. Duterte withdrew the Philippines in 2019 from the Rome Statute, the courts founding treaty, in a move human rights activists say was aimed at escaping accountability over the killings.

The Duterte administration moved to suspend the global courts investigation in late 2021 by arguing that Philippine authorities were already looking into the same allegations, arguing the ICC  a court of last resort  didnt have jurisdiction.

Appeals judges at the ICC ruled in July 2023 the investigation could resume and rejected the Duterte administrations objections. Based in The Hague, the Netherlands, the ICC can step in when countries are unwilling or unable to prosecute suspects in the most heinous international crimes, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who succeeded Duterte in 2022 and became entangled in a bitter political dispute with the former president, has decided not to rejoin the global court. But the Marcos administration has said it would cooperate if the ICC asks international police to take Duterte into custody through a so-called Red Notice, a request for law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and temporarily arrest a crime suspect.

China, which controls Hong Kong, and the Philippines do not currently belong to the ICC, but both are members of Interpol. The global court may issue a warrant for Dutertes arrest through Interpol.

A prominent Philippine politician closely involved in the ICC cases against Duterte told the AP over the weekend the global court had issued a warrant for Dutertes arrest through Interpol. The politician spoke on condition of anonymity because of a lack of authority to discuss the sensitive issue publicly.

Neither the ICC nor Interpol have yet confirmed the issuance of an arrest warrant.

What will happen to Duterte?

In his rambling speech before mostly Filipino workers in Hong Kong on Sunday, Duterte again justified his deadly anti-drugs campaign, saying it safeguarded Filipino people.

Duterte has denied authorizing extrajudicial killings, but he openly and repeatedly threatened to kill suspected drug dealers when he was in office.

What was my sin? Duterte asked in Hong Kong. I did everything in my time so Filipinos can have a little peace and tranquility.

He said he was prepared to go to jail but told the crowd in jest to make donations for the construction of a monument of him  which he suggested with a gesture of his hand should show him holding a gun.

Duterte had said he retired from politics after his stormy presidential term ended in 2022. But in another turnaround from his earlier remarks, he registered to run for mayor of Davao with one of his sons as his running mate to be vice mayor, in elections in May.

In Davao, additional police forces were deployed at the international airport and extra checkpoints were set up in what authorities said were meant to be prepared for any contingency ahead of the mid-term elections. The forces in Davao and elsewhere could step in if Dutertes arrest were to ignite unrest, which the Marcos administration said it could deftly handle.

(AP)
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that a high-stakes meeting between President Donald Trumps hostage envoy and Hamas was a one-time occurrence that has so far produced no tangible results.

Speaking to reporters en route to Saudi Arabia, Rubio addressed the controversial meeting, in which Adam Boehler, the U.S. special envoy for hostages, directly engaged with Hamas officials regarding the release of American-Israeli captive Edan Alexander.

That was a one-off situation in which our special envoy for hostages, whose job it is to get people released, had an opportunity to talk directly to someone who has control over these people and was given permission and encouraged to do so. He did so, Rubio said.

As of now, it hasnt borne fruit. Doesnt mean he was wrong to try, but our primary vehicle for negotiations on this front will continue to be Mr. Witkoff and the work hes doing through Qatar, Rubio added, referencing Trumps Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.

The revelation of direct talks between the Trump administration and Hamas has sparked intense debate, marking a dramatic shift in long-standing U.S. policy that rejects negotiations with designated terrorist organizations.

Since 1997, the U.S. government has officially classified Hamas as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), making the recent diplomatic overture unprecedented. Despite this, Hamas political adviser Taher Nunu confirmed the meetings, stating that the group had engaged in discussions positively and flexibly to serve the interests of the Palestinian people.

Critics argue that Washingtons willingness to sit across the table from Hamas legitimizes the group, particularly after it orchestrated the October 7 massacre.

Hamas has made clear that it will not release hostages without sweeping concessions, including Israels full withdrawal from Gaza, an end to the war, and a total ceasefireessentially demanding total victory. While Hamas has indicated it is open to releasing Israeli hostages with American citizenship, it insists this must be part of a comprehensive agreement.

Israel has flatly rejected such demands. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahus government has refused to condition hostage releases on an Israeli military withdrawal, calling Hamass terms unacceptable. Instead, Israel has sent its own negotiators to parallel talks in Doha, led by hostage negotiator Gal Hirsch and senior security officials, to push for the release of over 24 living hostages and the bodies of 35 others still held in Gaza.

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Lorige and Timeless SA

Having been at the heart of the Lorige adventure since its creation in 2018 with the design and manufacture of the brands first two calibers, Timeless SA, through Georges Leger and its partners are renewing their collaboration and strengthening their commitment to Lorige. Strengthened by these first years of working hand in hand with the aim of offering enthusiasts exceptional timepieces, Lorige and Timeless SA are now even more united in their pursuit of the development of the brand and its new models, to continue to offer enthusiasts and now distributors ever more exclusive watches.

Writing a story

Founded in 2018 by Philippe Dumas, Clement Etienvre and Emeric Paraud, Lorige is a pioneering watch brand based in Paris and Geneva inspired, initially, by the world in which the founders evolved; motorsport.

LMP2 COOL Racing Raidillon at Spa-Francorchamps  Lorige

The brand has developed cutting-edge technologies to reprocess carbon components such as racing car brakes into the cases of its timepieces, offering and offers enthusiasts the chance to wear a piece of history on their Each Lorige timepiece tells a story through its carbon case, itself made out authentic brake pad from prestigious racing cars. It took to the brand no less than three years of research and development to perfect the unique, patented process for reprocessing the material and shaping these timepieces.

Far from the pace of mass production, each carbon/carbon case and dial is crafted with the luxury of some thirty hours of shaping and specific know-how.

Expertise and know-how

From the outset of this adventure, Lorige has been able to count on strong allies in the Geneva watchmaking world: Timeless SA.

In fact, thanks to the know-how acquired over many years working alongside and for some of the greatest names in the industry, Timeless SA and its partners have succeeded in building a centre of expertise and watchmaking skills.

Design of the Tourbillon Central Volant LOR-TC01, Lorige's first tourbillon, at the Timeless SA offices in Geneva  Lorige

At present, Timeless SA and its partners are among the few entities in the Geneva area that can start from a blank sheet of paper and produce a finished product worthy of the watchmaking industry, all from one contact.

These skills have been developed thanks to the passion of the people working within the group, under the supervision of a team resolutely devoted to watchmaking, and to the preservation of skills acquired over decades.

Sharing and creating

The creative drive of Loriges founders, combined with the know-how of Timeless SA under the hegemony of sharing, has already given birth to over fifty timepieces, each more unique than the last.

First beating of the Tourbillon LOR-TC01 heart at the Lorige x Timeless SA workshops in Geneva  Lorige

Among these creations, one of the most notable is the AS-01 Tourbillon Central Volant, a jewel of history and savoir-faire which, without the hard work and passion of Timeless SAs craftsmen, would never have seen the light of day.

A forward-looking partnership

Drawing on their respective universes and the creative stories theyve shared for more than 6 years, Lorige and Timeless SA are looking to a common future, to develop the brand by offering enthusiasts new, ever more meaningful timepieces. New projects are already underway, and now with is partner that the Loriges look is turning not only to the asphalt of the racetrack, but also to the sky.
In a bold statement posted on Truth Social, U.S. President Trump hailed the recent arrest of a Palestinian student at Columbia University as the beginning of a broader crackdown. The arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, described by Trump as a radical foreign pro-Hamas individual, was carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over the weekend. Trump signaled that this is just the start of a sweeping initiative targeting students and others involved in what he calls pro-terrorist, antisemitic, anti-American activity on college campuses nationwide.

This is the first arrest of many to come, Trump wrote on Truth Social. We know there are more students at Columbia and other universities across the country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, antisemitic, anti-American activity, and the Trump Administration will not tolerate it, he continued. The President also took aim at non-student agitators, adding, Many are not students, they are paid agitators. We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country  never to return again.

Khalils arrest follows his prominent role in anti-Israel, pro-Hamas protests at Columbia University last year, where he emerged as a key negotiator with school administrators on behalf of demonstrators. According to reports, ICE apprehended Khalil, a permanent U.S. resident with a green card, and informed his attorney that both his student visa and green card were being revoked. The move aligns with Trumps campaign promises to combat antisemitism and deport foreign students involved in such protests, a policy he has prioritized since returning to the White House in January.

The White House doubled down on the arrest with a separate social media post, tweeting, Shalom Mahmoud, alongside an image of Trumps Truth Social message. The post read in full: SHALOM, MAHMOUD. ICE proudly apprehended and detained Mahmoud Khalil, a Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas Student on the campus of @Columbia University. This is the first arrest of many to come. President Donald J. Trump.

The arrest comes on the heels of the Trump administrations decision to cut $400 million in government contracts and grants to Columbia University, a move announced last Friday in response to what the administration calls unchecked antisemitism on campus. Khalil himself had expressed concerns about being targeted hours before his arrest. In an interview with Reuters, he said, What more can Columbia do to appease Congress or the government now? They basically silenced anyone supporting Palestine on campus and this was not enough. Clearly Trump is using the protesters as a scapegoat for his wider agenda fighting and attacking higher education and the Ivy League education system.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A federal judge in Manhattan ruled that anti-Israel agitator Mahmoud Khalil is not to be deported unless and until the Court orders otherwise, on Monday.

Khalil, who led anti-Israel protests and encampments on Columbia Universitys campus, was taken into custody on the Upper West Side in New York City on Saturday. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said that he was a former Columbia graduate student who led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.

The judge ordered a hearing for Wednesday. This after Khalils lawyer argued their client had been detained illegally and should be released.

Politicians have also spoken out in defense of Khalil. Squad member Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., criticized his arrest, calling the incident an egregious violation of constitutional rights.

In a post published to Instagram on Sunday, Tlaib wrote that it was dangerous to allow our government to target people based on political speech, and warned that more targeting of students like this will happen.

Everyone should be concerned about this, Tlaib said in the Instagram video.

The Michigan congresswoman also addressed the reports about Khalil having a student visa revoked after his lawyer said he was a legal permanent resident.

They were revoking his student visa, well, guess what? He doesnt have a student visa, Tlaib claimed. Hes a green card holder. Legal permanent resident.

Now, again, they proceed to engage the attorney he or she asked for a warrant, they hung up on them, she continued. If you believe in constitutional rights, you understand that theyre targeting this person. And everyone knows he has been very vocal against the genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza, and theyre targeting him and refusing him constitutional rights. Whos next?

In an X post on Monday, New York State Attorney General Letitia James echoed Tlaibs concerns.

I am extremely concerned about the arrest and detention of Mahmoud Khalil, an advocate and legal permanent resident of Palestinian descent, Jamess post read. My office is monitoring the situation, and we are in contact with his attorney.

Khalils attorney, Amy E. Greer, released a statement claiming that her client was wrongfully arrested.

Last night ICE agents wrongfully arrested Mahmoud Khalil, claiming his student visa was revoked  even though Mahmoud is legal permanent resident (green card) and not in the U.S. on a student visa, Greers Sunday statement read. Confronted with that fact, the ICE agents detained him anyway.

President Donald Trump, however, said that Khalils apprehension was the first arrest of many to come in a recent social media post.

We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, and the Trump Administration will not tolerate it, Trump said in a Truth Social post.

Many are not students, they are paid agitators, he added. We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country  never to return again.

Fox News Digital reached out to Tlaibs office for additional comment.

According to ICE, Khalil is being held at the Lasalle Detention facility in Louisiana.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Transportation Minister Miri Regev slammed representatives of the IDF and Shin Bet at a meeting of the security cabinet on Sunday evening, Channel 13 News reported on Monday.

The meeting was held ahead of the dispatch of an Israeli delegation to Doha for talks on a ceasefire-hostage release deal.

It should be noted that Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, who last week refused Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahus urging to resign from his position, did not attend the meeting. It is unknown if he wasnt invited or he chose not attend amid soaring tensions with the Prime Minister.

Regev said: The Shin Bet had no intelligence before October 7 and you still have nothing even after a year and a half of being inside Gaza.

Its untenable that were still maintaining a ceasefire and no hostages are being released. The Shin Bet and the IDF need to come up with creative ideas for the cabinet.

She then turned to the Shin Bet representative and said: I hope you will also cooperate with the investigations despite the fact that the Attorney General is protecting you.

Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Biara has already threatened the government regarding firing the Shin Bet chief, saying that it will have to stand up to legal scrutiny  in other words, she will deem it illegal.

In recent days, there has also been an unprecedented scare campaign targeting Netanyahu in an attempt to deter him from firing Bar.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
In a lesson learned from the October 7 massacre, which occurred on Shabbos Simchas Torah, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir canceled all Yom leave for soldiers.

For years, the IDF has granted leave to numerous commanders and soldiers on Yamim Tovim, known as  (shutdown), meaning that the majority of soldiers at IDF bases and even entire units went on leave at the same time, leaving bases with a skeleton crew, or even completely empty.

Hamas was well-aware of this practice and took advantage of it on Simchas Torah 2023, when less than half of the normal number of IDF troops were stationed along the Gaza border.

The IDFs internal investigation of its failings regarding the October 7 massacre revealed that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar chose Simchas Torah as the day of the attack due to the reduced number of soldiers at bases on Shabbos and Yom Tov.

In a meeting with senior commanders on Monday, Zamir announced that there will be no more shutdowns in the IDF. The army will be alert all year around, Zamir said. Commanders and soldiers will still be granted leave on an individual basis in a manner that does not leave bases or borders vulnerable to attack.

MK Merav Michaeli, who serves as the chair of the Subcommittee on IDF Readiness and Ongoing Security, responded to the Chief of Staffs decision: I welcome Chief of Staff Zamirs decision to immediately cancel the IDFs Admamot. History teaches that the major wars of the State of Israel were launched on them in a complete surprise when the IDF lowered the level of alert following a widespread release of soldiers for holiday leave.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Two minibusses with dozens of Palestinian infiltrators were caught by police in a Chareidi neighborhood in Jerusalem on Monday evening.

The infiltrators were caught as part of a nationwide operation to locate Arab infiltrators and those who assist them.

During an undercover operation carried out by Jerusalem police, the minibusses were stopped for an inspection. After searching and questioning the occupants of the vehicle, the police officers discovered that 24 of the passengers were Arabs from Yehudah and Shomron who were in Israel illegally.

The Arabs, along with the minibus drivers, were transferred to the Lev HaBira police station for questioning.

A day earlier, Jerusalem police stopped a minibus for inspection and discovered nine Arab infiltrators, residents of Yehudah and Shomron. The suspects and the driver were transferred to the police station for questioning. An indictment against the driver for transporting illegal Arabs has already been filed at the Jerusalem Magistrates Court.

In addition, the three minibusses were towed and seized by the police and the process for their confiscation was launched.

A police statement emphasized that those who assist illegal infiltrators, including employers, drivers, and landlords, are endangering themselves and all Israeli citizens, especially during a time of war, as the presence of Arabs illegally residing in Israel is often exploited for terror-related or criminal activities.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
A New York federal judge on Monday temporarily halted the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Hamas Columbia graduate who was instrumental in organizing violent pro-Hamas riots at Columbia and other locations.

Khalil, a 30-year-old of Palestinian descent who grew up in Syria, was arrested on Sunday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after the Department of State revoked his student visa for directing activities aligned with Hamas.

Rashida Tlaib, a Hamas supporter who serves in US Congress and has ignored the plight of US-Israeli hostages abducted by Hamas, jumped to Khalils defense, claiming he was abducted by the lawless administration.

Tlaib wrote on X. We all have to fight back against fascism. This is a test case and it couldnt be more important we stop this and bring him home.

Mahmouds rights are our rights. If they can illegally abduct him and shred his legal rights, they will never stop. Anyone this lawless administration disagrees with can be targeted.

See some apt Jewish responses to Tlaib below:

Your browser does not support the video tag.

The video below shows Khalil, dressed as Hamas spokesperson Abu Obaida, inciting against Jews, calling on protesters to destroy and explode the heads of Zionists:

Your browser does not support the video tag.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
The limited edition of the BL-Endurance Cool Racing 2024 is unveiled!

Lorige is a Franco-Swiss watch brand created in 2018 after two motorsport enthusiasts met at Le Mans. Emeric Paraud and Clement Etienvre, their goal being to use their watches to arouse emotion similar to that felt on the racetrack. They were able to find investments to launch their production and surround themselves with suppliers recognized in the watchmaking industry, such as Timeless SA for the movements and Regence Production for the exterior parts of the watch (bezel, crown, hands...).

Passion at the heart of partnership

Building on its success, its only natural that the link created in 2023 between Cool Racing (the endurance team founded by Alexandre Coigny and Nicolas Lapierre) and Lorige should be continue in 2024.

The proximity between Annecy, where Cool Racing is based, and Geneva makes it easy to share this passion. Despite this, challenges remain at the heart of this meaningful collaboration, with challenges to be met every week and at every race. As with the creation of a watch brand, motorsport forces you to work on your resilience: just because youre first for three quarters of the race doesnt mean youre guaranteed a podium finish. Its these powerful moments of sharing and challenge that bring this union to life.

LMP2 COOL Racing #37 in Pitlane  Lorige

A 5-piece edition to commemorate the 2023 result

The BL-Endurance Cool Racing 2024 is unveiled after several months of design and production, with the aim of offering enthusiasts a timepiece that matches the passion of the drivers and the craftsmen who work every day to create these exceptional timepieces.

This new edition, limited to 5 pieces, carries with it the memory of the 2023 Le Mans 24h, as its carbon case is cut from the used brakes of the #37 Cool Racing LMP2. Whats more, these timepieces feature the latest LOR-PR01 movements manufactured by Lorige, which is currently working on new movements offer additional functionalities to its customers.

LMP2 COOL Racing #37 on track  Lorige

The LOR-PR01 movement

Lorige and Timeless SA took advantage of the creation of this new series to offer an update on the LOR-PR01 movement.

The brands first caliber, it is no less exceptional. Entirely designed, manufactured and assembled in Geneva for the brand, it incorporates several developed exclusively for Lorige, including the power reserve, as well as elements reworked for efficiency, such as the peripheral mass.

Comprising almost 300 parts, the automatic caliber back to the fundamentals of watchmaking. The hands indicate hours and minutes on a carbon/carbon dial featuring only Arabic numerals Arabic numerals, power reserve and date. As the brands first model, the BL-Endurance is a simple, everyday watch, refocused on its essence. refocused on its essence.

On this resolutely sporty new series, the details and complexities of the terminations as well as the updated operating principle of the power reserve operating principle, offering less friction thanks to optimizing the number of cogs, make this an exceptional timepiece.

Cut one by one from blocks of Neoralithe, the numerals then affixed to the carbon dial offer an exceptional depth of color, contrasting perfectly with the marbled carbon of the case made from the brakes used during the 24 hours of Le Mans in 2023 on the #37 LMP2 Cool Racing.

Calibre LOR-PR01  Lorige

In addition, the needles have no fewer than 3 endings. In fact, in order to give even greater contrast when reading the time, 3 finishes are combined to give this depth of field, ranging from black-treated bead-blasted to satin-finished and hand-beveled. The greatest challenge lies in the use of Maillechort for the manufacture of these the addition of these terminations while respecting tolerances and needling in this harder, less malleable material.

Carbon/carbon, an extreme material

It took three years of R&D to find a process for reprocessing process to reprocess the material, make it watertight and machine it to a watchmaking finish... a real challenge!

Carbon/carbon reprocessing patented by Lorige. The composition of this resin-poor carbon does not allow it to be used in its original state to manufacture watch cases. Unlike the carbons used in watchmaking (forged, TPT, etc.), Lorige had to reprocess the material to make it denser and therefore watertight, whereas a forged carbon can be machined directly without any reprocessing step.

Each carbon case produced by Lorige takes more than 30 hours to manufacture, with approximately: 10 different stages, 5 complex machining phases, around 10 tools per phase, including 0.2 mm milling cutters. Each case is unique thanks to two factors. On the one hand, the random weave of the carbon fibers in the brake pads gives each housing its own visual. Secondly, the year in which the brakes were produced varies the type of fiber used (straight, curved, etc.). Carbons density makes it a very light material: a Lorige housing weighs just a few grams. It took the two partners over three years to patent these to patent these specific techniques for reprocessing carbon/carbon to transform it into a watch case.

BL-Endurnace  COOL Racing 2024   Lorige

A unique palmares for the end of a series

This new five-piece series, already sold to the brands customers carries with it an exceptional piece of motorsport history, just like Loriges latest LOR-PR01 movements.

In fact, the brakes used to manufacture the carbon housings for this series are the same ones that enabled Nicolas Lapierre, Alexandre Coigny and Malthe Jakobsen to take second place in the Pro/Am class Pro/Am category in LMP2 during the centenary of the worlds greatest endurance race in 2023.
Certified for excellence in Swiss Made, the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) reveals its strengths to the world. Neutral and independent, it is a point of reference for watch brands and connoisseurs alike. Today, it is expanding its reach to a broader audience.

What is the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institutes guilty pleasure? Literally putting watch movements through their paces. For about two weeks, (almost) nothing is spared: upside down, sideways, temperature variations... Every movement, or watch head (meaning the movement inside the case), undergoes a battery of rigorous tests to evaluate its accuracy according to different criteria. If successful, the candidate earns the Certified Chronometer certification, an exceptional label that the brand may choose to highlight on the watch and in its communications. Most importantly, the watch officially becomes an ambassador of Swiss watchmaking excellence, synonymous with precision, reliability, and durability. "If Swiss Made is the foundation, the Chronometer certification is its star," explains the COSC, which is also a non-profit and public utility association recognized in Switzerland.

Savoir-faire  COSC

Independent and neutral, just like... the COSC!

Its secret weapon? A distinctly Swiss soul, built on independence and neutrality. Its organization guarantees complete impartiality: no watch group or brand can interfere with the tests or influence the results. COSC also claims accessibility to its certification. Its rates remain the same for all, with no discounts for higher volumes, ensuring fairness between brands, whether niche or more renowned.

This uniqueness has won over the Swiss watch industry, which appreciates such a guarantee of superior quality. Today, the association includes around sixty brands. The numbers are revealing: nearly 40% of mechanical wristwatches exported from Switzerland have passed the COSC tests  that's 15% of all watches produced (including quartz watches). In this sense, the Chronometer certification remains rare. However, watches and movements tested by the COSC pass the challenge with a success rate of exactly 93%, demonstrating their great quality.

Atomic equipment clock  COSC

Behind these numbers, an impressive machine: over 2 million timepieces tested every year (2.4 million in 2024), across three laboratories (Bienne, Le Locle, St-Imier), with 160 employees working 7 days a week to ensure ongoing compliance with standards. Each test lasts between 12 to 20 days, depending on the type of watch.

A label finally in the spotlight

Until now, the COSC certification was highly valued by brands and insiders, but remained relatively confidential and unknown to the public. Today, COSC has chosen to become a brand in its own right, a signature inseparable from watchmaking excellence. Its new website  https://www.cosc.swiss/  is educational and clear, pulling back the curtain on its inner workings. Furthermore, brands can access the results of each watch, providing an additional advantage in documenting the reliability, durability, and precision of a certified movement.

Savoir-faire  COSC

Watchmaking is characterized by its ability to adapt to the times, innovate, while remaining rooted in tradition. This time, it is not a brand reinventing itself, but the legendary COSC, a historical pillar of Swiss quality for more than half a century. This serves to strengthen the aura of Swiss Made watchmaking worldwide  and to position itself as an undeniable reference for fine craftsmanship.
Together with the extremely complex cyber universe, they are the great Achilles heel of European critical infrastructures. Underwater interconnections, whether energy (gas and electricity) or data, have been revealed in the last three years  since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine  as one of the weakest flanks of the community ecosystem. Five major incidents, all subject to ongoing investigations, have set off alarm bells and called into question the security of this tangle of hundreds of pipes, the importance of which has grown exponentially in recent decades. Until 24 February 2022, when the war in Ukraine began, the continents seabed was believed to be impregnable.

The recent succession of unprecedented outages has added an additional layer of turmoil to the European Union. Although still unproven, the suspicion of sabotage is strong and has forced action. NATO announced in mid-January the deployment of frigates, maritime patrol aircraft, and naval drones to help protect critical infrastructure in the Baltic, the sea that concentrates the bulk of the most serious incidents. Brussels has called in recent weeks for rapid and decisive measures to protect these critical infrastructures. And the International Telecommunication Union (ITU, dependent on the UN) created a specific body in December of last year to guarantee greater resilience of these cables. Facts and statements confirm the evidence: far from disappearing, concern is growing.

In the case of data cables alone, the UN agency estimates that the annual average of incidents  accidental or intentional  on submarine connections worldwide is between 150 and 200. In 2023, the last year for which there are records, there were 200, at the high end of the range. Thats almost four per week; one day on, one day off. There is, however, no specific data for Europe, the continent that is suffering most from this wave of outages.

There have always been incidents due to fishing, anchoring failures, or natural phenomena. But rarely have there been so many [in Europe] in such a short period of time, says Camino Kavanagh, a researcher at the Department of War Studies at Kings College London, with several published studies on critical submarine infrastructure, over the phone. The important thing is to determine whether it was deliberate. And that is something that cannot yet be stated with certainty. Sidharth Kaushal, from the British defence and security think tank Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), goes one step further: he believes that the frequency of these events in the Baltic suggests [some kind of] human intervention.

The big fear is of a coordinated attack. As citizens, we often dont notice when a power outage occurs, because there are alternatives: redundancy  multiple routes and alternative connections  allows data traffic to be automatically rerouted along other routes if a cable fails, ensuring that communication continues without significant interruptions, Kavanagh adds. Having more cables or alternative systems, such as satellites or microwaves, is essential. But you cant guarantee 100% supply, he warns.

In the past three years, more than a dozen of the 40 or so cables that run along the Baltic seabed have stopped working. The first case, in September 2022, was that of the Nord Stream pipeline that transported natural gas from Russia to Western Europe. It was destroyed by underwater explosions that caused the largest methane leak ever recorded on the planet. Although suspicions were initially directed at Russia, the German prosecutors office issued an arrest warrant last June against a Ukrainian citizen who had been living in Poland until he disappeared.

The war in Ukraine has had deep repercussions in the Baltic. When NATO was founded in 1949, Denmark was the only country on the Baltic Sea to join the alliance. Today, after the recent accessions of Finland (2023) and Sweden (2024), all of the nine Baltic states except Russia are members of the transatlantic organization. Despite being sidelined, the ports of Kaliningrad  a Russian exclave located between Poland and Lithuania  St. Petersburg, and Ust-Luga are vital for the Kremlin. Thousands of shadow ships sail from them, illegally exporting Russian crude oil.

In October 2023, over a year after the Nord Stream explosions, the Hong Kong-flagged vessel NewNew Polar Bear destroyed the Balticconnector (a gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia) and three telecommunications cables with its anchor.

In the past four months, three other ships have damaged infrastructure in the Baltic Sea  a sea of brackish water and very shallow, averaging 54 meters in depth  with their anchors. Last November, the Chinese-flagged ship Yi Peng 3 disabled two telecommunications cables, one between Finland and Germany, and the other between Lithuania and Sweden. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said that no one believes that these cables were cut accidentally.

On Christmas Day last year, the Eagle S, a ship flying the flag of the Cook Islands and illegally transporting crude oil from Russia to Egypt, severed the Estlink2 (an electricity cable between Finland and Estonia) and four telecommunications cables. Finnish police and border guards boarded the tanker. On Sunday, March 1, Finnish authorities allowed the Eagle S to leave Finnish territorial waters. However, the criminal investigation is ongoing and eight of the 24 crew members are suspected of causing the severing of the five submarine cables with one of the ships anchors. Of the eight suspects, three remain in Finland under a court order preventing them from leaving the country.

Both the Yi Peng 3 and the Eagle S had links to Russia, beyond simply setting sail from a Russian port when the damage occurred. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told the Munich Security Conference in February: We dont think that random incidents suddenly happen that often.

Finally, Swedish authorities intercepted the Vezhen, a Maltese-flagged vessel suspected of damaging a telecommunications cable between the strategically important Swedish island of Gotland  the largest in the Baltic  and Latvia, in late January. The ship was released shortly afterwards, as investigators deemed the breakage to have been accidental.

Last week, Swedish authorities launched a preliminary investigation into possible sabotage of Gotlands water supply network. Technicians went to the scene and found that someone had opened the electrical system, torn out a cable and interrupted the power supply to the water pump, a police spokesman told public broadcaster SVT.

Although the beds of the great European bodies of water  from the Baltic to the Mediterranean, from the Black Sea to the North Sea  are full of these interconnections, largely due to the greater population density, they are by no means exceptional. The same is true in America and Asia, as in Oceania. And, increasingly, in Africa as well. The big difference is that for three years now, the European continent has been the scene of the biggest armed conflict since World War II. With ramifications in all areas.

Given the essential role that submarine [data] cables play in connecting the world, an interruption in the middle of the ocean can be felt in very distant countries, Tomas Lamanauskas, the number two at the ITU, told EL PAIS. The interruption in key cable routes can seriously affect traffic between continents; for example, the cable cuts last year in the Red Sea  which the Houthi rebels in Yemen have turned into another theatre of conflict in the Middle East  affected at least 25% of traffic between Europe and Asia. Although outside its mandate  the investigation is the responsibility of the national authorities and the owners of the cables, says Lamanauskas  the UN arm is aware of the recent increase in incidents in the Baltic.

From WhatsApp to email

The first submarine data connection was installed in 1851. It was a primitive telegraph cable that ran the 40 kilometres between Calais (France) and Dover (England) through the English Channel. Seven years later, the first transatlantic connection would arrive, between Europe and the United States. This would open a new chapter in the history of telecommunications and also in that of the seas, whose bed would become - over time - fundamental to the possibilities of modern life.

Map of the first submarine telegraph cable that linked Europe and America in 1858.

Almost two centuries later, in the data age, 99% of emails, WhatsApp messages, documents, photos and videos that move from one country or continent to another do so through these infrastructures: more than half a thousand submarine cables deployed across the planet with a total length of 1.4 million kilometres. They would be enough to go around the world almost 35 times. Communications infrastructures must also include those for electricity and gas.

Unlike other critical infrastructures, these connections are, in most cases, privately owned. However, safeguarding them is the responsibility of the States, aware that if they fail, basic services for citizens such as the Internet or the supply of electricity and gas are put at risk. A powerful paradox with no clear solution. Governments have to take on a stronger role in their protection, Kavanagh claims. The investment required is high, and there is no clear economic return. That is why public money can be key here. The capacity for repair must also be improved: there is a lack of personnel and the ships [used in these cases] are scarce and, many, already old.

The Kings College researcher recalls that many public services depend on these cables and pipes  in the case of gas. However, we have to be aware that it is very difficult to protect the entire European data or energy system. We cannot scare the population, but what has happened in recent months clearly illustrates that we have to be better prepared for this type of contingency. Is Europe prepared? To a certain extent, but more is needed. We are not aware of how much we depend on these infrastructures, Kavanagh replies.

Assuming that without these pipelines the daily lives of millions of citizens would be severely disrupted, the operators of the electricity and gas systems have tried to double the interconnections to avoid the feared total blackout. With relative success: the cost is enormous. So have traditional telecommunications firms, once in public hands, which in recent years have faced competition from technological giants eager to guarantee their own connections.

In the case of data, satellites are an alternative, but only up to a certain point: their latency [the time it takes for data to travel from the point of origin to the destination] is higher and their transmission capacity is lower. They are a complement, but they are not interchangeable, Kavanagh concludes. And in electricity and gas, except in cases where another satellite is running in parallel, there are simply no alternatives.

The latter supply, gas, is what worries Kaushal, from the British think tank RUSI, the most: It is the most vulnerable area: the north-east of the EU is relatively poorly integrated with the rest of the [European] network and any cut-off has considerable repercussions for its energy security, he says. Something, he adds, extends not only to the Baltic but also to the North Sea.

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An apartment damaged by recent Ukraine's drone attack, according the local authorities, in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict, in Ramenskoye in the Moscow region, is seen in this image released March 11, 2025. Governor of Moscow region Andrei Vorobyov via Telegram/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine have carried out their biggest bombing raid on Russia since the war began, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. The agency claims to have shot down 337 drones in this latest wave, although some of the unmanned aircraft struck the capital, Moscow. At least two people have died and 13 others have been injured after drones hit buildings and parking lots. The attack took place hours before a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and a high-level Ukrainian delegation in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) that is considered decisive for the evolution of the conflict. Tuesdays meeting will be the first face-to-face contact between the governments of both countries since the televised argument between Donald Trump and his number two, J. D. Vance, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in the Oval Office on February 28.

In connection with the attack on Tuesday morning, the Russian Defense Ministry said it had shot down 126 drones over Kursk, where a Ukrainian incursion has been ongoing for six months; 91 over the Moscow region and the capital itself; and 38 over the border town of Bryansk. The rest were spread across several provinces of European Russia. The last major Ukrainian attack against Russia took place on November 1, when the Russian army said it had shot down 158 drones.

The Ukrainian army has taken this punitive action after the Kremlin stepped up its attacks following the European rearmament summit. In one of the latest Russian air strikes  carried out last Friday with a combination of ballistic missiles and drones  at least 11 people were killed, including five children. However, the Russian Foreign Ministry has linked the Ukrainian attack to the Moscow visit of the Secretary-General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Feridun Sinirlioglu.

This is not the first time that a high-level foreign delegations visit to Moscow is accompanied by a Ukrainian drone attack. Last night, the Kyiv regime [the elected Ukrainian government, recognized by Moscow in 2019] launched drones at the capital, which is expected to host the OSCE secretary general, said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. Notably, the OSCE is the organization that Zelenskiys sponsors have turned into a talking shop, making it unable to serve its initial goal of ensuring security and cooperation in Europe.

The most massed attack of enemy drones against Moscow was thwarted, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin wrote on his Telegram channel. I thank the Air Defense of the Aerospace Force of the Defense Ministry for the excellent job.

The south-east of the Moscow region was the hardest hit by the attack, particularly the districts of Domodedovo, where one of the regions three major airports is located, and Ramensky.

A drone strike in the parking lot of an industrial complex in Domodedovo killed a 38-year-old security guard, married with a son and daughter, and injured two other men. Another victim, a 50-year-old man, did not survive after being admitted to hospital. The doctors fought for his life until the end: they resuscitated his heart four times, lamented the governor of the Moscow region, Andrey Vorobyov.

An apartment damaged by recent Ukraine's drone attack, according the local authorities, in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict, in Ramenskoye in the Moscow region, is seen in this image released March 11, 2025. Governor of Moscow region Andrei Vorobyov via Telegram/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT. Governor Andrei Vorobyov (via REUTERS) Area cordoned off in response to a Ukrainian attack on a residential block in Vidnoye. Stringer (REUTERS) An investigator looks at damage to an apartment building where a downed Ukrainian drone landed in Sapronovo, on the outskirts of Moscow, Tuesday. AP A man photographs damage to a building by a Ukrainian drone, in Moscow. MAXIM SHIPENKOV (EFE) A resident and his daughter next to a vehicle damaged by a Ukrainian attack in Vidnove. SERGEI ILNITSKY (EFE) A local resident examines the damage to her apartment after the Ukrainian drone strike in Vidnoye. SERGEI ILNITSKY (EFE) A building in Moscow after being hit by a Ukrainian drone on Tuesday. MAXIM SHIPENKOV (EFE) A woman walks with two dogs next to a building hit by a Ukrainian drone in Sapronovo on Tuesday. AP Cars damaged and burned after a Ukrainian drone attack in Domodedovo, on the outskirts of Moscow. AP Municipal workers near an apartment damaged by a Ukrainian drone strike in Sapronovo on Thursday. AP Apartment damaged by a Ukrainian drone attack in Sapronovo. AP Damage in an apartment after a Ukrainian drone attack in the town of Domodedovo, southeast of Moscow. AP Police officers at one of the sites hit by the Ukrainian drone attack, Tuesday in Moscow. Stringer (REUTERS)

Two more victims were admitted to the district medical center: a 43-year-old woman with an abdominal wound, intestinal damage and a laceration to the chest, and a 44-year-old man with an abdominal wound, an open shoulder fracture and a shrapnel wound to the calf. The families of the deceased will receive compensation of one million rubles, approximately $11,430.

The device that fell in the parking lot of Domodedovo caused a fire that damaged about two dozen vehicles. In addition, another drone fell on the railway tracks, forcing the interruption of its service.

In Ramenski, authorities evacuated a residential building after it was hit by a drone. The device destroyed several apartments on the upper floors of the block.

The Telegram channel Shot, which is linked to the Russian security forces, posted images of some of the apartments destroyed. One of the victims, Vladislav, was wounded in the hands when the windows of his home were blown out. The enemy drones that attacked the Moscow region were equipped with shock-absorbing elements: metal bearings with a diameter of seven millimeters, Shot claimed.

Ukraines attack was launched with groups of six to 12 drones to overload Russian anti-aircraft defenses, according to Shots sources. The wave included long-range models of the Rubaka, Lyuti and PD-2 types, the latter known as the Peoples Drone.

At the same time, on the border with Ukraine, Russian anti-aircraft guns shot down more than 100 drones over the disputed Kursk region. There, the chief of the Russian General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, visited his troops on the ground Tuesday to celebrate their successes in fulfilling their assigned tasks and to give them instructions to continue their push against Ukrainian forces. The Russian army has managed to recover two thirds of the territory lost half a year ago and the situation of the Ukrainian troops, threatened by a possible encirclement, is increasingly precarious.

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By Elnur Enveroglu

Progress often lies in breaking free from destructive traditions and ingrained habits. At the very least, distancing oneself from such relics is a path to escape disastrous outcomes. While colonialism, exploitation, and imperialism are often associated with the brutality of slavery and the Dark Ages, these pernicious systems have gradually been dismantled over time. Many nations have turned the page on their shameful histories, embracing a cultural renaissance at the dawn of a new era. Yet, there are those who stubbornly cling to the remnants of these destructive traditions.

Take France, for example. Although it presents itself as one of the most developed nations in the European Union, the continued adherence to outdated imperialist traditions casts a shadow over this image. The crumbling political system within France tarnishes the country's global reputation and simultaneously stymies its progress on the world stage.

Recently, the French government, in a display of historical revisionism, has attempted to cast blame on Azerbaijan for its colonial failures. Manuel Valls, Frances Overseas Minister, publicly accused Azerbaijan of interfering in France's overseas territories during a visit to New Caledonia. However, Valls conveniently omits any discussion of France's own colonial abuses, particularly in the territories it once subjugated. He fails to acknowledge France's brutal past in its colonization of island nations and its exploitation of impoverished African peoples. Valls's accusations, laced with misleading rhetoric, paint Azerbaijan as the aggressor in the former Garabagh conflict, distorting historical facts to suit a narrow political agenda.

In fact, Azerbaijan has never occupied another nation's land; it has, on the contrary, been a victim of imperialist forces for centuries. The ministers ignorance or willful denial of the historical paradox between France and Azerbaijan only underscores the incompetence and political illiteracy of the French government. Rather than acknowledging its own colonial past, France has chosen to level baseless accusations against Azerbaijan.

Let's not forget that France itself took control of most of what is now New Caledonia in 1853 under the guise of establishing a penal colony. The indigenous peoples of this region were subjected to torture and exploitation, a dark chapter that France has yet to atone for. The country continues to maintain an overt military presence in the region, stationing more than 3,000 troops in New Caledonia. Meanwhile, French Polynesiaa vast archipelago of over 100 islands in the South Pacific, including Tahitiis still under French control.

In a time when imperialism is widely condemned across the globe, Frances ongoing colonial practices are nothing short of anachronistic. Rather than addressing its own internal economic, social, and political crises, France seems intent on nurturing a new wave of neo-colonialism. It is particularly telling that France has been a vocal supporter of the Armenian occupation in Garabagh, further highlighting its unrepentant imperialist tendencies. The alignment between French and Armenian politicsboth steeped in the legacy of occupationshould not be surprising. After all, both France and Armenia share a history of occupying territories, one in the South Caucasus and the other on various islands and continents.

In a world that increasingly rejects the notions of imperialist dominance and exploitation, Frances stubborn refusal to relinquish these outdated practices is not only a relic of the past but a stain on the worlds collective moral conscience. The question remains: How much longer will France, and the world, allow this unrepentant empire to rewrite history for its own political gain
Twenty-five percent of Texas counties do not have a hospital: 64 out of 254. And in West Texas, an endless, dry, sparsely populated plain that stretches into neighboring New Mexico, that requires patience and creativity amid the largest measles outbreak  a disease declared eradicated in the United States in 2000  in 30 years. Without real isolation rooms, separate spaces have been set up for testing, in some cases in other empty municipal buildings, local media report. And once the test is done, you have to drive dozens of miles with it to be sent to the lab. Then you have to wait up to two more days for the result, during which time the potentially infected person could be spreading the virus. Meanwhile, confirmed cases are rising in a climate in which the only proven effective response, the triple viral vaccine (MMR), raises deep suspicions.

The latest official update, from last Friday, put the number of confirmed cases nationwide at 222, 198 of them in Texas, in addition to two deaths: one of a Texas child and the other of an adult in New Mexico. The vast majority of infections have occurred in the western part of Texas, a largely rural area dominated by agriculture and oil wells, where Mennonite communities, generally wary of modern medicine, are being hit hardest. In fact, local doctors believe that since many are not coming forward to report an infection, the number of cases is probably higher. Cases are also expected to continue to rise, as vaccination rates are below what is needed to achieve herd immunity amid the rise of the anti-vaccination movement. Faced with this situation, the public health system of one of the poorest regions of the state, with the highest percentage of people without health insurance, itself poorly funded and with insufficient material resources, faces the challenge of fighting an extremely contagious virus and the misinformation that is helping it.

Its not just that many counties dont have hospitals  25 dont even have a primary health post. And in rural areas where they do exist, they are mostly in dilapidated buildings, lack modern equipment and facilities, and are understaffed, according to several official and external reports in recent years. At the same time, Texas is spending billions of dollars on an anti-immigration program of dubious effectiveness and legality. For example, the state has a shortage of pediatricians, which is a particularly serious problem in the midst of a historic measles outbreak, which disproportionately affects children.

The situation is bringing back recent memories of the Covid pandemic. After years of underinvestment, Texas public health system was overwhelmed, especially in rural areas that are now in the eye of the storm. According to an analysis by the Austin American-Statesman, the Covid death rate in counties without a hospital was 20% higher than in those with one.

But the legacy of Covid is also present in another way: in the growing distrust of vaccines. In Gaines County, the epicenter of the outbreak, the conscientious exemption from vaccination for preschoolers  parents who choose not to inoculate their children  has risen from about 7% a decade ago to 18% last year. Dr. Wendell Parkey, the medical director of the family clinic in Seminole, Gaines main city, put it bluntly to the Wall Street Journal. Before Covid, I could convince some people. Now its like, Forget it.

The fight is made more complicated by the anti-vaccine credentials of Washingtons Health Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and the loudspeaker he has at his disposal. In an interview on Fox News, he argued that vaccination is a parental choice and strongly recommended cod liver oil and vitamin A to fight measles. By contrast, health systems in this part of Texas do not have the resources to mount an effective campaign to inform and educate the public.

Only after the death of a child, the first in the outbreak, did state and federal support intensify. Twenty-seven contractors were sent to the area last week to assist local health agencies, state Health Services Commissioner Jennifer Shuford told a legislative hearing. A public awareness campaign was also launched with billboards and social media posts. And the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent disease detectives to West Texas to figure out the source of the infections, which remains a mystery.

Still, the logistical challenges inherent in an area where long distances are the norm pose an added obstacle to combating misinformation. Most counties rely on one of Texas 11 regional public health departments, with limited budgets and little knowledge of local communities. The targeted campaigns they can conduct are often short, due to travel times, and relatively sparsely attended, reflecting the low population density and poor communication channels with residents.

In any case, any measures now are reactive, which is not ideal when the battle is against measles: since it is one of the most contagious viruses known and the outbreak is already well advanced, containing it effectively is very difficult. So the current strategy of local officials, though not of the health secretary, is to reinforce the importance of vaccines, which are effective even in people already infected, and to counter misinformation about home remedies.

Five years after the Covid pandemic hit the world, the measles outbreak in Texas is once again highlighting how a deficient health system leaves rural communities in Texas very vulnerable. Gordon Mattimone, director of the Andrews County health department, told the Texas Tribune: We are in a public health shortage zone. We have to be creative.

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Spoiler alert . . . The life lesson is actually pretty simple but something that most men take a lifetime to learn . . .

IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, DON'T LIVE WITH WOMEN!!!



That's it.

It's that simple.

Get married, have kids, do what you want . . . We're just saying TKC has NEVER met a dude living with a lady who wasn't completely miserable in some way. (Hint: The converse of this axiom is probably true as well but almost NOBODY bothers to really listen to women over 34 years-old.)

Consider . . .



American divorce rates and the inevitable decline of the vapid "American Nuclear Family" offers data-driven evidence that nuptial bliss or any facsimile thereof is/was nothing more than a fantasy invented by corporations in partnership with the military-industrial complex.

Living with women is either a soul-crushing exercise in submission OR a state of constant conflict and disappointment.

Yes, this is bad advice from a dude who lives in his mom's basement BUT it's not like we didn't have the opportunity to "advance" our position by way of capitulating to consumerist fantasies of objectively hot ladies over the years.

And all of this brings to mind John Milton's Paradise Lost and this passage . . .

Satan, formerly called Lucifer, is the first major character introduced in the poem. He is a tragic figure who famously declares: "Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven"

Okay, that's a bit dramatic . . .

Forgive TKC's postmodern influences, it just seems ridiculous to pretend that there's any inherent "meaning" in a dead-end teaching career rather than this glorious path of delusion local blogging. (lulz)



But I digress . . .

The point here is that we're forced to stipulate that it seems that Xavier Worthy might be the good guy in this story.

Of course, we haven't heard anything but social media speculation and a lot of "Black Twitter" "Black Internet" hateration directed toward Tia Jones.

We'd be more than willing to consider her side of the story given that she might now be homeless and willing to lower her standards . . . Which, along with our joke-y good nature, is the only way TKC has EVER been able to find common ground with any member of the fairer sex.

Anyhoo . . .

All of this preamble is merely to ask for our blog community for their estimation of this sordid drama that starts the Chiefs off-season wherein SOMEBODY is likely to get badly hurt, embarrassed or make all of us endure a questionable hook-up dragged out for far too long . . . Check-it . . .



'The complainant was recently asked to vacate Mr. Worthy's residence upon discovery of her infidelity. She has refused to do so and made a number of extortive efforts prior to resorting to this baseless allegation against Mr. Worthy.'



Worthy's accuser is not identified in the statement, but he did get engaged to sprinter Tia Jones last July. Jones previously revealed the couple was constructing a mansion.



Online records show Worthy has a home in Georgetown, Texas, which is in Williamson County. It's still not known if the alleged altercation took place at the home he shares with Jones.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Who Is Xavier Worthy's Fiancee? All About Tia Jones Xavier Worthy proposed to his fiancee Tia Jones in July 2024. Here's everything to know about Xavier Worthy's fiancee.

Tia Jones' fiance Xavier Worthy arrested: Everything we know about NFL star's criminal assault charge Tia Jones' fiance Xavier Worthy has been arrested by police in Williamson County, Texas.

Xavier Worthy makes lurid sex claim against fiancee after 'strangling' Kansas City Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy is claiming to be the victim of an extortion plot following his arrest for allegedly strangling a family or household member on Friday night.

Tia Jones goes from Worthy victim to bad guy: infidelity video and brutal fight with Chiefs player As the Kansas City Chiefs look to regroup following their Super Bowl LIX loss, they were met with unexpected controversy involving 2024 first-round draft pick Xavier Worthy. The pr

Developing . . .
We would've missed this politicized weekend story if the newspaper didn't run it today and reignite the sketchy premise of what seems like partisan posturing.

We think it's important to let the Congressman have the first word on this story that says is completely untrue . . . Check-it . . .



"As a serious legislator, these types of reprehensible lies for relevancy are not only offensive to our team, but they are an embarrassing waste of time that does absolutely nothing to help the great people of Missouri.



"The truth is that Rep. David Tyson Smiths legislative assistant welcomed my team with open arms, smiles, and pleasant conversations. The meeting was full of professionalism and constructive conversations, and nobody ever discussed our public phone number (which is widely published on our website and on various Facebook posts).



"After this great meeting, she even took the picture posted in the comments below. Does she look 'intimidated'to you? Nobecause this entire claim is a flat-out lie."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Rep. Mark Alford accused of trying to intimidate Missouri state lawmaker's staff The social media scuffle comes after a heated town hall near Kansas City where a furious crowd shouted at Alford at every turn.

Per ushe . . . TV news actually has better coverage of the debate . . .



State lawmaker accuses U.S. congressman's staff of trying to intimidate assistant Rep. David Tyson Smith, D-Columbia, said on Facebook that staff for U.S. Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo., tried to intimidate his legislative assistant at the state Capitol in Jefferson City last week.

Developing . . .
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In mark of support for Musk, Trump buys Tesla car

In a mark of support for Elon Musk, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced to buy, what he called, 'a brand new Tesla car'

Tuesday March 11, 2025 4:12 PM , ummid.com News Network

Washington: In a mark of support for Elon Musk, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced to buy, what he called, a brand new Tesla car.

Trump has appointed Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, Head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Musk however is being criticized for the steps and initiatives he is taking. Along with the backlash, there is also a call to boycott Tesla cars.

Amidst the wildest campaign against Musk and boycott calls, Trump said he is strongly standing behind the Tesla Chief and said he will buy a Tesla car to his support to one of the worlds great automakers.

Trump all praise for Musk

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump also heaped praise on Musk saying he is doing a good job to make America Great Again.

"To Republicans, Conservatives, and all great Americans, Elon Musk is putting it on the line in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB!

But the Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the World's great automakers, and Elon's baby in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for, Trump wrote.

"Why should I punish Trump?"

Trump further wrote that the Left tried to do the same with him during the Presidential elections in 20245, but failed.

"They tried to do it to me at the 2024 Presidential Ballot Box, but how did that work out?" he stated.

Trump asked why should Musk be punished for working to make America Great Again.

"In any event, I'm going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American. Why should he be punished for putting his tremendous skills to work in order to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN???" he stated.

Tesla Motors released its first car, the completely electric Roadster, in 2008. Currently, the available models are Tesla S, Tesla Y and CyberTruck. Trump has not revealed which Tesla model he plans to buy Wednesday.

Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates.

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TOKYO - The Japanese Cabinet on Tuesday approved a basic policy for a new scheme to replace the controversy-plagued foreign trainee program, explicitly stating it is designed to attract overseas laborers to tackle the country's acute labor shortage.

In a landmark shift in Japan's official stance on accepting foreign workers, the new system, to be implemented by June 2027, will encourage workers to transition to the more permanent Specified Skilled Worker visa after three years, in principle.

The new scheme, which will permit participants to change workplaces, will replace the Technical Intern Training Program, which has been in place since 1993 to ostensibly improve the technical skills of foreign workers from developing nations. The program has been criticized as simply being an avenue for Japan to import cheap labor.

"As the global race to acquire foreign talent intensifies, the basic policy is an important guideline to (make Japan an) attractive labor environment," Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told a meeting with ministers.

Workers under the new system will be able to switch their workplaces within the same industry under certain conditions, provided they have worked in a job for over a year and their Japanese language and professional skills meet certain requirements.

The restrictions on changing employers for trainees working under the existing system caused many to abandon the program and their jobs in the face of abuse such as unpaid wages, harassment and unreasonably long work hours.

The basic policy also includes a requirement for both foreign workers and their employers to pay taxes and social insurance contributions.

It states that skilled foreign workers, if they cannot work due to pregnancy and childbirth, can have the period spent outside the workforce exempted from their five-year residency time. A similar exemption has already been adopted for foreigners working under the current technical trainee program.

Holders of the Specified Skilled Worker visa, created in 2019, are eligible to work in 16 industries struggling with severe labor shortages, including construction, nursing care and agriculture, with many transferring from the technical trainee program.

The Specified Skilled Worker No. 1 visa allows holders to spend five years in the country, while the No. 2 visa allows for unlimited renewals, opening the path to permanent residency, and permits workers to bring spouses and children to Japan.

The number of foreign workers in Japan reached a record 2.3 million as of the end of last October, continuing a trend of consecutive annual highs that has run since 2013, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

In the latest figures, holders of the Specified Skilled Worker visa rose nearly 50 percent from the previous year to 206,995.

Related coverage:

FEATURE: Firms urged to end "maternity harassment" of technical interns
MANILA - Philippine authorities on Tuesday served an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against former President Rodrigo Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity over the killings during his administration's drug war, the presidential office said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told reporters later in the day that the presidential office received the warrant through Interpol on Tuesday and transferred the former president to the court in The Hague by airplane.

Duterte, who was president from 2016 to 2022, was arrested on his arrival from Hong Kong, where he had attended a weekend gathering with local Filipinos.

A large police contingent gathered at the airport in Manila for his arrival. Bong Go, a lawmaker and close aide to Duterte, said the former president was taken to a nearby airbase.

The Marcos administration has said that while the Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019 under Duterte, authorities were obliged to cooperate with the ICC warrant as the country remains a member of Interpol.

The ICC prosecutor is investigating killings from 2011 until 2019 when the Philippines was still under the Rome Statute of the ICC, which sets out the court's jurisdiction over genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.

Official government data showed that some 6,200 people were killed in the brutal anti-narcotics campaign, although figures presented by human rights groups are much higher.
March 11 2025

An application for planning in principle has been made for 24 family homes on a cleared site off Rosyth Road, Forsyth.

Reiach & Hall have been appointed by Capital & Provincial to create a characterful cluster of flats and houses with views to the Port of Rosyth on land previously host to temporary accommodation pods for workers constructing new aircraft carriers at the nearby dockyard.

Vacant ground will be reintegrated into the town by routing a central street through the site, providing access to a mix of semi-detached properties and apartments arranged around a central play space.

In their application, the architects wrote: "The masterplan proposes an architectural style and palette of materials that will be suitable for the new neighbourhood in Rosyth, and serves to inform any future detailed planning applications.

"The dwellings should be simple in form with pitched roofs, dormers. The primary elevations are to positively address streets and lanes, and may include external balconies that are accessed through glazed, sliding doors."

Access will be via the existing entrance off Castle Road.
TOKYO - A 22-year-old woman died Tuesday after being stabbed on a street in downtown Tokyo and a man believed to have had a financial dispute with her was arrested at the scene, police said.

Airi Sato was attacked at around 9:50 a.m. while walking alone in a residential area near JR Takadanobaba Station in Shinjuku Ward. She was livestreaming when a man assaulted her with a survival knife about 13 centimeters long.

Sato, a resident of Tokyo's Tama, was stabbed multiple times in the neck and chest and was taken to a hospital, where she was later confirmed dead.

The Metropolitan Police Department arrested 42-year-old Kenichi Takano with two knives in his possession.

The police said Sato and the suspect got to know each other in 2021 through her video-sharing activity and it is believed that he began lending her money around 2022.

When Takano was apprehended, a blood-covered knife was found at his feet and the other was in his backpack, the police said. He was standing near the victim and appeared calm, according to witnesses.

Takano was quoted as saying, "There was trouble. I had lent her more than 2 million yen ($13,500) but she did not return it."

Investigative sources said Sato and Takano had consulted police outside Tokyo over the problem.

Takano, who is from Oyama, Tochigi Prefecture, told investigators he went to Tokyo after seeing an announcement that Sato would livestream her journey on the capital's circular Yamanote Line. He tracked her down by watching the feed, the police said.

Takano, a resident of the city around 70 kilometers from the center of Tokyo, was quoted by the police as saying he did not intend to kill Sato.

A man in his 50s who was in a nearby office at the time said he heard screams, including cries for help, lasting around 15 seconds. He said he then saw a woman lying on the street some 300 meters southwest of the busy train station.

A woman in her 40s said she saw a man wearing a black hat and mask apparently beating a woman at the scene, and after she fell down, he held a smartphone toward her.

Related coverage:

Ex-head of Japan hospital suspected of covering up murder in hospital

Japanese woman found dead in Hungary had sought embassy help over DV

18-yr-old man arrested over killing of woman in southwestern Japan
Registration is open for both the 2025 Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Summit and Search and Rescue Conference. Outdoor industry professionals are invited to this event, which will take place at the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center on the University of Wyoming campus Thursday-Saturday, May 1-3.

To view the schedule, learn more or register, go to www.uwyo.edu/worth/outdoor-rec-summit.html.

The theme for this years Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Summit is Outdoor Recreation in Wyoming Communities: Building Partnerships, Developing Workforce and Accessing Resources. The event is hosted by UWs Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute and the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation.

We are very excited about this years Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Summit and Search and Rescue Conference, says Dan McCoy, director of the Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute. We received more than 25 high-quality presentation proposals. Attendees this year will gain a significant amount of knowledge from a wide range of presenters.

The Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Summit will open Thursday, May 1, with a keynote address from Luis Benitez, chief impact officer for the Trust for Public Lands. Benitez previously served as the director of the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office and is the author of Higher Ground: How the Outdoor Recreation Industry Can Save the World, which was published in 2024.

Thursday morning events also will feature a session focused on the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act and what it means for Wyoming outdoor recreation.

The afternoon will consist of several breakout sessions focused on different aspects of Wyomings outdoor recreation community, including panel discussions about Wyomings retail and manufacturing industries; a grant workshop with insights and updates about the Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund and other federal grants; and a discussion about trail development and resulting community benefits. The days events will conclude with a poster session featuring UW students and a social hour for attendees.

Friday events will begin with a panel discussion focused on the integration of outdoor recreation issues into Wyomings legislative agenda and will feature representatives of the state Legislature. The days events also feature a talk about the role of outdoor recreation in local economic development; a discussion about challenges and opportunities in Wyomings guiding community; a session focused on the importance of grassroots trail stewardship; and a session focused on how the outdoor recreation industry and community can support public land management agencies through partnerships. Fridays programming will end with optional field trips based in the Laramie area.

The Search and Rescue Conference will take place Saturday, May 3, and will feature a panel discussion from Wyomings Search and Rescue Council about the relationship between outdoor recreation and search and rescue efforts; a session focused on mental health support for search and rescue volunteers; and breakout sessions in the afternoon with technical presentations and gear demonstrations.

For the two-day Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Summit, registration costs $100, which includes breakfast and lunch both days, access to all sessions and opportunities to interact with vendors for a raffle prize May 2. People must be present to enter for the raffle prize.

For the one-day Search and Rescue Conference, the registration fee is $50 and includes breakfast and lunch, and access to all sessions and demonstrations during the day.

This years Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Summit is sponsored by Discover Carbon County, SE Group and Kates Real Food. The deadline to sponsor this event is Monday, March 31. To learn how to become a sponsor, go to www.uwyo.edu/worth/outdoor-rec-summit.html.

For more information, email Taylor Kruger, an assistant research scientist at the Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute, at tkruger@uwyo.edu.
Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam.
The arrest of a Palestinian activist who helped organize campus protests of the war in Gaza has sparked questions about whether foreign students and green card holders are protected against being deported from the U.S.

Mahmoud Khalil was arrested Saturday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Homeland Security officials and President Donald Trump have indicated that the arrest was directly tied to his role in the protests last spring at Columbia University in New York City.

Khalil is being held at an immigration detention center in Jena, Louisiana, while he awaits immigration court proceedings that could eventually lead to his deportation. His arrest has drawn criticism that he's being unfairly and unlawfully targeted for his activism while the federal government has essentially described him as a terrorist sympathizer.

Here is a look at what the protections for foreign students and green card holders are and what might be next for Khalil:

Can someone with a green card be deported?

A green card holder is someone who has lawful permanent residence status in the United States.

Jaclyn Kelley-Widmer teaches immigration law at Cornell Law School. She said lawful permanent residents generally have many protections and "should be the most protected short of a U.S. citizen."

But that protection is not absolute. Green card holders can still be deported for committing certain crimes, failing to notify immigration officials of a change in address, or engaging in marriage fraud, for example.

The Department of Homeland Security said Khalil was taken into custody because of Trump's executive orders prohibiting antisemitism.

Trump has argued that protesters forfeited their rights to remain in the country by supporting the Palestinian group Hamas, which controls Gaza and has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States.

Khalil and other student leaders of Columbia University Apartheid Divest have rejected claims of antisemitism, saying they are part of a broader anti-war movement that also includes Jewish students and groups. But the protest coalition, at times, has also voiced support for leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, another Islamist organization designated by the U.S. as a terrorist group.

Khalil has not been convicted of any terrorist-related activity or charged with any wrongdoing.

But experts say the federal government has fairly broad authority to arrest and try to deport a green card holder on terrorism grounds.

Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, green card holders do not need to be convicted of something to be "removable," Kelley-Widmer said. They could be deported if the secretary of homeland security or the attorney general have reasonable grounds to believe they engaged in, or are likely to engage in, terrorist activities, she said.

But, she said, she has never seen a case where the alleged terrorist activity happened in the U.S., and she questioned whether taking part in protests as Khalil did qualifies.

What did ICE say about why they were arresting him?

One of the key issues in Khalil's case is what ICE agents said to his lawyer at the time he was arrested.

His lawyer, Amy Greer, said the agents who took him into custody at his university-owned home near Columbia initially claimed to be acting on a State Department order to revoke his student visa.

But when Greer informed them that Khalil was a permanent resident with a green card, they said they would revoke that documentation instead.

What are the next steps in his case?

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a message posted Sunday on X that the administration will be "revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported."

If someone is in the country on a student visa, the State Department does have authority to revoke it if the person violates certain conditions. For example, said Florida immigration attorney John Gihon, it's quite common for the State Department to cancel visas of foreign students who get arrested for drunk driving.

But when it comes to someone who's a lawful permanent resident, that generally requires an immigration judge to determine whether they can be deported.

Gihon said the next step is that Khalil would receive charging documents explaining why he's being detained and why the government wants to remove him, as well as a notice to appear in immigration court.

Generally, he should receive those within 72 hours of being arrested, and then he would make an initial appearance before an immigration judge. That could take from 10 days to a month, Gihon said.

But he cautioned that right now he's seeing extensive delays across the immigration court system, with clients often moved around the country to different facilities.

"We are having people who are detained and then they're bounced around to multiple different detention facilities. And then sometimes they're transferred across the country," he said.

Khalil's lawyers have also filed a lawsuit challenging his detention. A federal judge in New York City ordered that Khalil not be deported while the court considered his case. A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.
On March 5, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian affirmed China's commitment to keeping the Panama Canal a neutral international waterway and said China has never interfered in its management.

The claim is misleading.

China has been using its Belt and Road Initiative, or BRI, to strategically expand its presence in seaports worldwide. Analysts say that by securing key ports, Beijing is aiming to strengthen its geopolitical influence to dominate global trade and maritime logistics.

China's 'colonial enclave'

On Jan. 20, Panama began a financial audit of Panama Ports Company (PPC), a subsidiary of Hutchison Ports Holdings, which had owned terminals on each end of the Panama Canal since 1997 until selling its operations last week to a U.S. consortium led by BlackRock.

Panama's Comptroller General Anel Bolo Flores said the audit was to "ensure efficient and transparent use of public resources" as PPC's growth in cargo volume has not translated into adequate financial returns for Panama.

The Chinese turned the Panama Canal into "a colonial enclave that replaced the Americans," Flores said.

Hutchison Ports' parent company, CK Hutchison Holdings, is a Hong Kong-based multinational firm registered in the Cayman Islands.

CK Hutchison Holdings has faced standing allegations of collusion with the communist regime in China. Its founder, Li Ka-shing, had well-established and lasting ties with Chinese Communist Party leaders, Le Figaro reported in 2018.

Li's son and successor, Victor Li, is a longtime member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a top political advisory body.

The public perception of the company as allied with the Chinese regime intensified in 2000, when the Hong Kong government, without a public auction, secured a deal with Li Ka-shing's son Richard Li to develop a highly desired waterfront property into a hi-tech project called Cyberport.

South China Morning Post described the elder Li in 2017 as "the biggest beneficiary" of the state-run BRI, as his company operated 22 ports in 18 countries, accounting for over 86% of its total throughput and mirroring the BRI route. CK Hutchison Holdings played a key role in the BRI expansion, the paper said.

National security concerns

In June 2021, the Panama Maritime Authority revoked a 2016 concession granted to China-based Landbridge Group to build the Panama Canal Container Port terminal in Colon after conducting an audit over strategic concerns and violations of investment and local labor hiring requirements, among other issues.

In November 2018, the Australian government rejected CK Hutchison Group's $9.5 billion bid to acquire Sydney-based pipeline operator APA Group. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the acquisition would be "contrary to the national interest."

This decision followed a 2016 ban on a joint bid by CK Hutchison and Chinese state-owned State Grid Corp. for a majority stake in Australia's electricity distributor Ausgrid.

In May 2020, Israel rejected a bid from an affiliate of CK Hutchison Group to build the Sorek 2 desalination plant, citing concerns about Chinese involvement in critical infrastructure. The U.S. had previously warned Israel about potential security risks linked to Chinese investment, particularly in the strategic sectors.

Belt and Road Initiative

Chinese leader Xi Jinping announced the BRI concept in September 2013, describing it as seeking to improve trade routes and infrastructure across Asia, Africa, Europe and beyond. It includes building or acquiring major port facilities in strategic locations.

As it does with the Panama Canal, Beijing claims neutrality in BRI investments, framing them as part of economic cooperation and infrastructure development. Critics, however, argue that China uses BRI to expand its global influence.

Craig Singleton of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies warns these ports give Beijing political leverage not just over host nations but also their neighbors.

The U.S. Council of Foreign Relations (CFR) interactive tracker of ports outside of China owned or operated by Chinese companies includes 129 ports globally, of which the Chinese government owns over 50%. CFR identified 91 ports as having "physical potential for naval use," in 14 of them China owns a majority stake.

Conclusion: China's expanding control over key ports through the BRI is raising concerns about its influence on global trade and security. While Beijing insists on its neutrality, countries such as Panama, Australia, and Israel are pushing back, citing security risks of China's growing presence in critical maritime hubs.
Theft of truck loads of green coffee beans is surging in the United States, the world's largest importer of the commodity, as prices for the beans increased to all-time highs in the last year, according to transportation companies.

The issue was discussed by market participants over the weekend in Houston, where the U.S. National Coffee Association held its annual conference.

The U.S. is the world's largest consumer of the beverage. Since coffee is only produced in warmer geographies, it has to import nearly 100% of what it uses and transport millions of bags from ports to roasting plants, mostly via trucks.

"There were dozens of thefts in the last year, something that would happen only rarely in the past," said Todd Costley, logistic sales coordinator for Hartley Transportation, a freight broker in Pembroke, New Hampshire.

Theft of coffee has been reported in producing countries such as Brazil and Vietnam, usually in farms where the beans are temporarily stored after the harvest. Those sites are more vulnerable because they are isolated.

Armed men took 500 bags of coffee worth around $230,000 from a farm in Brazil's Minas Gerais state in January, according to the local police.

In the U.S., the thefts have been done by organized gangs who disguise as transportation companies.

Costley said those fake companies are in the market trying to get small contracts from importers by offering better prices or immediate availability of trucks.

"Importers should be careful about who they hire," he said. "Once they get the coffee, they disappear."

Each truck load has about 19,958 kg of green beans, which at current market value is worth around $180,000.

Some market participants believe the gangs then try to sell the beans to smaller roasters, which are feeling the pain from sky-high prices.

Some importers have started attaching tracking devices to the coffee bags, in an effort to protect their shipments.
European military and political heads are holding high-level talks this week after calls for massively rearming Europe  and boosting aid for Kyiv  amid fears of a less engaged United States. Lisa Bryant has more from Paris.

Speaking to top NATO and European Union military brass gathered in Paris Tuesday, Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans stressed the urgency of boosting Europes defense. While the transatlantic alliance is important, he said Europeans can no longer take U.S. protection for granted.

Europe therefore needs to fortify its security architecture. And we dont have much time to get this right. We only have one shot, said Brekelmans.

The same message came from European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen at the European Parliament.

We need a surge in European defense, and we need it now, she said.

The European Unions executive arm has proposed an $873 billion plan for rearming Europe and supporting Ukraine. It includes relaxing fiscal rules and some $164 billion in loans for defense investments. It has proposed increasing defense spending by an additional 1.5 percent of member states GDP yearly over four years.

The proposed surge comes as Washingtons priorities appear to be shifting. And European leaders are worried Russia may not stop at Ukraine  fears their populations appear to share.

One Ipsos survey found three-quarters of French and half of Germans are concerned the Ukraine conflict will spread elsewhere in Europe. Another poll, however, found few Europeans want to pay more for defense.

Critics, including Hungarys Viktor Orban, suggest Europe cant afford to defend Ukraine. Others argue Brussels is assuming too much power.

Europeans are also divided over whether to invest in their own defense industry  or buy externally. The U.S. has been a top supplier.

Former French Ambassador Michel Duclos said, They want to continue to sell weapons to European counties.

Duclos is now an analyst at the Montaigne Institute research group in Paris. Thats one argument, he believes, for Washingtons at least short-term commitment to Europes security.

What I fear more is not that they [the U.S.] will disengage. Its more that they will want the Europeans to pay more and more for European protection, he said.

This week sees more high-level meetings on Ukraine and European security. Theres another in Paris Wednesday, gathering Europes five top military powers, along with NATO and Ukrainian defense chiefs.
A Syrian fact-finding committee investigating sectarian killings during clashes between the army and loyalists of ousted President Bashar al-Assad said on Tuesday that no one was above the law and that it would seek the arrest and prosecution of any perpetrators.

Pressure has been growing on Syria's Islamist-led government to investigate after reports by witnesses and a war monitor of the killing of hundreds of civilians in villages where most of the population are members of the ousted president's Alawite sect.

"No one is above the law. The committee will relay all the results to the entity that launched it, the presidency, and the judiciary," committee spokesperson Yasser Farhan said in a televised press conference.

The committee was preparing lists of witnesses and potential perpetrators, and it would refer any suspects with sufficient evidence against them to the judiciary, Farhan said.

The U.N human rights office said entire families, including women and children, were killed in the coastal region as part of a series of sectarian slayings by the army against an insurgency by Assad loyalists.

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa told Reuters in an interview on Monday that he could not yet say whether forces from Syria's Defense Ministry  which has incorporated former rebel factions under one structure  were involved in the sectarian killings.

Asked whether the committee would seek international help to document violations, Farhan said it was "open" to cooperation but would prefer using its own national mechanisms.

The violence began to spiral on Thursday, when the authorities said their forces in the coastal region came under attack from fighters aligned with the ousted Assad regime.

The Sunni Islamist-led government poured reinforcements into the area to crush what it described as a deadly, well-planned and premeditated assault by remnants of the Assad government.

But Sharaa acknowledged to Reuters that some armed groups had entered without prior coordination with the Defense Ministry.

The Alawites are the second-largest religious group in Syria after Sunni Muslims. Their faith is an offshoot Shiite Islam.
Human rights advocates say at least some of the eight ethnic minority Uyghurs who remain in Thailands custody since authorities deported 40 others to China last month are at risk of the same fate.

After weeks of denying it was planning to repatriate any of the 48 Chinese Uyghurs it had held since arresting them for illegal entry in 2014, Thailand abruptly turned 40 of them over to China on Feb. 27.

The United States, United Nations and international rights groups strongly condemned Thailand for sending Uyghurs back to China. They say it violates Thailands international treaty obligations and, as of 2023, its own domestic law against deporting people to countries where they face a good chance of being abused or tortured.

The United States and others have accused Beijing of genocide over its treatment of the Turkic-speaking Muslim minority Uyghurs in Chinas western Xinjiang province. The United Nations says their treatment may amount to crimes against humanity. Beijing denies the allegations.

The Thai and Chinese governments have said nothing about the eight Uyghurs who were not sent back to China last month. The two governments have ignored VOA requests for comment.

But rights groups tell VOA they have confirmed that all eight remain in Thai custody  three in immigration detention without charge, with the other five serving prison sentences since 2020 for robbery and attempted escape from a detention center.

They say the five in prison face the greatest risk of being deported once their prison terms end.

After they complete their sentence, they have to come back to the immigration detention centers. That is  worrisome, because if there [is] the push from the Chinese again, these five people might be the most vulnerable group of people that will be deported again, Kannavee Suebsang, an opposition lawmaker and deputy chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Legal Affairs, Justice and Human Rights, told VOA.

He said their sentences are due to end in 2029.

Rights groups, though, say the five could face a forced return to China much earlier than that if they are added to the lists of prisoners pardoned by Thailands king on royal holidays each year.

We are very concerned

In a statement addressing the Feb. 27 deportations posted online the day after, the Thai government said China had in fact asked for the return of 45 Chinese nationals, referring to the Uyghurs. Krittaporn Semsantad, program director for the Peace Rights Foundation, a Thai rights group, says that number appears to include the five Uyghurs still in prison in Thailand  a sign, she believes, that China wants them returned as well.

So, yes, we are very  concerned, she told VOA. It could be very high risk and very high chance that these five will be sent back after they finish their sentence.

For the eight Uyghurs still in Thai custody, the danger is not passed yet, agreed Polat Sayim, an ethnic Uyghur living in Australia and the executive committee vice chair of the World Uyghur Congress.

Chalida Tajaroensuk, who heads Thailands Peoples Empowerment Foundation, another local rights group, echoed their concerns.

She told VOA she visited the five Uyghurs in prison the day after the 40 were deported and said they were terrified of being forced back to China as well.

They are afraid, and they also cried. They dont want to go back, she said.

We need to closely monitor

The rights groups told VOA that their sources in the Thai government and inside its detained centers have told them the other three Uyghurs also remain in Thailand, in the custody of the Bureau of Immigration.

Neither China nor Thailand has explained why they were not deported along with the 40 last month. Unlike the five Uyghurs in prison, Kannavee and the rights groups say these three, who also hail from China, claimed to have come from other countries when they were first caught in Thailand, which may have helped to spare them from being sent back.

But still we need to also closely monitor about the situation of the three, because they [have] already been disclosed, I mean their information has been disclosed that they are [from] the same group of the Uyghurs, said Kannavee, who previously worked for the U.N.s refugee agency in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand.

He was referring to the more than 300 Uyghurs Thailand caught entering the country illegally in 2014 as they sought to make their way to Turkey, where some had relatives, and other countries.

Of that group, Thailand deported 173 mostly women and children to Turkey in 2015 but sent 109, most of them men, back to China days later. Those sent back to China have not been heard from since.

Following the rebukes over last months deportations, the Thai government said Beijing had assured it that the Uyghurs would be treated well and that Bangkok could send envoys to check up on them regularly.

Rights groups and opposition lawmakers such as Kannavee, though, say they take little comfort in Beijings promises and still hope to persuade the Thai government to let the eight Uyghurs who remain in its custody settle elsewhere.

We dont have a country

Thai officials initially claimed that no other country had offered to take in the Uyghurs but later acknowledged that some had, without naming them, and that Thailand turned them down for fear that China might retaliate.

The Reuters news agency has reported that Australia, Canada and the United States all offered to resettle the Uyghurs.

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department told VOA on Sunday it had been working with Thailand for years to avoid their return to China, including by consistently and repeatedly offering to resettle the Uyghurs in other countries, including, at times, the United States.

Sayim, of the World Uyghur Congress, said those countries should keep their offers open for the eight Uyghurs Thailand still holds, and continue putting pressure on the Thai government to accept.

We dont have [a] country. Thats why we have to ask European countries if they can help.  Always we asking [the] U.S., Canada, U.K., Germany, Australia if they could make a decision and take them, he said. The Thai government shouldnt give these people back to China. They know its not good when they go back.
FUKUSHIMA, Japan - A town that hosts the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is being swept up in Japan's tourism boom, with visitors from China and other countries eager to see areas impacted by the 2011 disaster that forced residents to abandon their homes and former lives.

While more than 80 percent of the town of Futaba is still inhabitable due to radiation contamination, some travelers are not dissuaded. In 2024, around 4,000 foreigners visited a memorial museum on the nuclear crisis that opened in the Fukushima Prefecture town in 2020.

In response to the influx of visitors, a public corporation supporting the town's development has hired one guide who speaks Chinese and another who speaks English to inform visitors at the former JR Futaba Station building where a tourist information center is located.

In one corner of the building, tourists can leave their mark by putting a sticker indicating their home country on a signboard. As of January, 43 countries were represented, with China making up roughly a third of some 180 stickers in total.

Futaba saw the third-largest foreign visitor growth rate among cities, towns and villages across Japan between January to August 2023 compared with a 2019 baseline, according to a data analysis by Navitime Japan Co., an app provider for tourists to Japan.

Futaba visits are sometimes considered a form of "dark tourism," a phenomenon where people are attracted to places where they can learn about and experience great tragedies. In Futaba, people learn what can be done to prevent nuclear accidents from happening again, according to staffers assisting tourists.

The multilingual guides are a Chinese woman who initially came to Japan to study and a Japanese man who speaks English and Arabic. Maps providing tourist information are available in English and Chinese.

The guides feel that foreign tourists' motives for coming to Futaba differ from those of domestic visitors, with some asking if they can enter zones designated as "difficult-to-return" and others saying that they want to measure the radiation level.

Many appear to be eager to see in person the impact of one of the world's worst nuclear crises, which was triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami that hit northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011. Some even have traveled after studying radioactivity.

Futaba once had a population of 7,000. It and the neighboring town of Okuma co-host Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.'s Fukushima Daiichi plant.

Futaba's entire populace had to evacuate due to the radiation contamination caused by the triple reactor core meltdowns. It was only in 2020 that the government's evacuation order was lifted for the first time, affecting areas including near the train station. In 2022, people were permitted to return to live in some parts of the town.

While welcoming visitors, the town is working with the police to ensure locals are not disturbed by tourists intruding on their private property or into public facilities.

Last year, a video of a foreigner breaking into what was an elementary school building and other areas went viral.

Ryohei Unane, 48, secretary general of the Futaba Project public corporation, called for measures to address incidents associated with the increase in tourism but pinned his hopes on the role of overseas visitors in conveying the town's situation, with domestic media turning its attention elsewhere in recent years.

"I hope visitors will talk to others in their countries about the once-empty town that is now in the midst of a recovery," he said.

Back at the old station building, a message written in Chinese by a visitor was left by the entrance.

"May the wounds left by the disaster in Fukushima soon heal," it read.

Related coverage:

Japan marks 14th anniversary of quake-tsunami, nuclear disasters

Waves for days fuel surf tourism at Fukushima beach town
Philippine officials say arrested former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has left Manila on a plane and he will be turned over to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

A plane carrying Duterte left Manila late Tuesday. Duterte was arrested after arriving with his family from Hong Kong at the Manila international airport Tuesday morning on a warrant from the ICC.

The global court had ordered his arrest after accusing him of crimes against humanity over a deadly anti-drug crackdown that he oversaw while in office, the Philippine government said.

Walking slowly with a cane, the 79-year-old former president turned briefly to a small group of aides and supporters, who wept as they bid him goodbye, before he was helped by an escort up the stairs into the plane.

The ICC has been investigating mass killings in crackdowns overseen by Duterte when he served as mayor of the southern Philippine city of Davao and later as president.

Estimates of the death toll of the crackdown under Duterte as president vary, from the more than 6,000 that the national police have reported up to 30,000 claimed by human rights groups.

"Upon his arrival, the prosecutor general served the ICC notification for an arrest warrant to the former president for crime against humanity," the government said. "He's now in the custody of authorities."

The warrant of arrest sent by the ICC to Philippine officials, a copy of which was seen by The Associated Press, said "there are reasonable grounds to believe that" the attack on victims "was both widespread and systematic: the attack took place over a period of several years and thousands people appear to have been killed."

Duterte's arrest was necessary "to ensure his appearance before the court," according to the March 7 warrant, adding that the former president was expected to ignore court summons.

Although Duterte is no longer president, he "appears to continue to wield considerable power," it said. "Mindful of the resultant risk of interference with the investigations and the security of witnesses and victims, the chamber is satisfied that the arrest of Mr. Duterte is necessary."

The ICC began investigating drug killings under Duterte from Nov. 1, 2011, when he was still mayor of the southern city of Davao, to March 16, 2019, as possible crimes against humanity.

Duterte withdrew the Philippines in 2019 from the Rome Statute in a move human rights activists say was aimed at escaping accountability. The Duterte administration moved to suspend the global court's investigation in late 2021 by arguing that Philippine authorities were already looking into the same allegations, arguing the ICC  a court of last resort  therefore didn't have jurisdiction.

Appeals judges at the ICC ruled in 2023 the investigation could resume and rejected the Duterte administration's objections.

Based in The Hague, the Netherlands, the ICC can step in when countries are unwilling or unable to prosecute suspects in the most heinous international crimes, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who succeeded Duterte in 2022 and became entangled in a bitter political dispute with the former president, has decided not to rejoin the global court. But the Marcos administration had said it would cooperate if the ICC asked international police to take Duterte into custody through a so-called Red Notice, a request for law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and temporarily arrest a crime suspect.
Greenland residents vote on Tuesday in a closely watched election brought into the international spotlight by a pledge from U.S. President Donald Trump to take control of the mineral-rich island.

Since taking office in January, Trump has vowed to make Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, part of the United States, saying it is vital to U.S. security interests.

The island, with a population of just 57,000, has been caught up in a geopolitical race for dominance in the Arctic, where melting ice caps are making its resources more accessible and opening new shipping routes.

Both Russia and China have intensified military activity in the region.

Greenland, a former colony and a Danish territory since 1953, is three times the size of Texas. It gained some autonomy in 1979 when its first parliament was formed, but Copenhagen controls foreign affairs, defense and monetary policy and provides just under $1 billion a year to the economy.

In 2009, it won the right to declare full independence through a referendum, though has not done so, on concern living standards would drop without Denmark's economic support.

However, Trump's interest has shaken up the status quo and coupled with the growing pride of the indigenous people in their Inuit culture, put independence front and center in the election.

"The question of independence was put on steroids by Trump," said Masaana Egede, editor of local newspaper Sermitsiaq. "It has put a lid on everyday issues."

Polling stations are open for 11 hours on Tuesday. The final result is expected on Wednesday. No polls or exit polls are expected.

A January poll suggested a majority of Greenland's inhabitants support independence, but are divided over the timing and potential impact on living standards.

Reuters spoke to more than a dozen Greenlanders in the capital Nuuk, all of whom said they favored independence, although many expressed concern that a swift transition could damage the economy and eliminate Nordic welfare services like universal healthcare and free schooling.

The island holds substantial natural resources, including critical minerals such as rare earths used in high-tech industries, ranging from electric vehicles to missile systems.

However, Greenland has been slow to extract them due to environmental concerns, severe weather, and China's near-total control of the sector, which has made it difficult for companies elsewhere to make a profit or secure buyers.

Investment pledges

Trump initially declined to rule out military force, alarming many Greenlanders, although he later softened his stance, stating he would respect the will of the local people and was "ready to invest billions of dollars" if they joined the U.S.

Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede has stressed the island is not for sale and advocated for a broad coalition government to resist external pressure. In an interview aired on Monday by Danish broadcaster DR, he dismissed Trump's offer as disrespectful, expressing willingness to cooperate with other countries instead.

All six main parties, including the ruling Inuit Ataqatigiit and government coalition partner Siumut, support independence but differ on how and when it could be achieved.

The pro-independence Naleraq party, the leading opposition force, has gained momentum ahead of the election, bolstered by U.S. interest and fresh accusations of Denmark's historic exploitation of Greenland's mineral wealth.

"This is our independence election," said Qunanuk Olsen, a Naleraq candidate.

The party believes U.S. interest strengthens Greenland's position in secession talks with Denmark and aims to bring a deal with Copenhagen to a vote before the next election in four years.
Hard-liners in Israel have welcomed President Donald Trumps plan for the future of Gaza, which calls for many of Gazas 2.3 million Palestinians to leave the enclave. They say encouraging emigration does not violate international law. Palestinians have rejected the plan. Linda Gradstein reports for VOA from Jerusalem. Camera Credit: Ricki Rosen.
Militants attacked a cross-country passenger train Tuesday in Pakistans restive southwestern Balochistan province, taking many hostages.

Authorities say the Jaffar Express was traveling north from Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, to Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, when it came under intense fire, hours after departure.

The train was carrying roughly 450 passengers, when it came under attack while passing through a tunnel.

The Baloch Liberation Army, or BLA, quickly claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement to media, the banned separatist militant outfit said it had blown up tracks and taken more than 100 passengers hostage. It later claimed they were holding over 200 hostages.

According to security sources, 104 passengers, including 58 men, 31 women and 15 children, had been rescued, while 17 injured people were shifted to a hospital.

The sources said 16 terrorists had been killed.

A clearance operation involving military helicopters has been going on for hours with frequent exchange of fire reported between Pakistani security and BLA militants.

Emergency situation

"So far, it's no foot on the ground," Imran Hayat, the divisional railway superintendent in Quetta, told VOA, about the inability of railway officials to reach the scene.

"It's a no-signal area. They [attackers] stopped the train at a spot where there is no signal support," the railway official said.

A train carrying security officials to beef up support had departed Quetta, Hayat added.

Despite media reports, Hayat did not confirm the death of the train driver who sustained injuries during the initial attack.

Mobile and wireless signals are not working and, unfortunately, we are not able to get in touch with the crew, railway deputy controller Muhammad Sharifullah in Quetta told VOA soon after the attack.

Provincial spokesperson Shahid Rind earlier told media that security forces, a rescue train and ambulances had been dispatched. Located in barren, mountainous terrain, the scene of the attack is hard to reach.

An emergency has been declared at the government hospital in Sibi to receive the injured.

BLA surges

According to the Global Terrorism Index 2025 released last week, Pakistan experienced a 45% increase in terrorism deaths last year, compared to 2023. That is the largest year-to-year rise in more than a decade. The BLA emerged as one of the top two militant groups driving the increase.

The separatist group has been fighting a deadly insurgency against the Pakistani state, accusing the government of robbing the province of its rich natural resources. The group also opposes Chinese investment in the province.

Both Pakistan and China reject the claims that their joint ventures are depriving ethnic Baloch from economic opportunities and their share in the province's mineral wealth.

The United States and Pakistan have both designated BLA as a terrorist group.

Security sources have said the handlers of Tuesday's attack are based in Afghanistan. Islamabad has blamed several recent attacks on militants present on Afghan soil. Afghan Taliban routinely deny providing sanctuary to anti-Pakistan fighters.

Recent attacks

Since the beginning of the year, the BLA has ramped up attacks on security forces, settlers and workers primarily from the eastern Punjab province.

Earlier this month, a female suicide bomber detonated her explosive devices near a military convoy in Balochistans Kalat district, killing at least one security personnel and injuring four others.

Last month, BLA insurgents ambushed a bus transporting a paramilitary force in Kalat and killed 18 of those on board.

Just days later, a roadside bomb blast killed 11 coal miners in the city, while the BLA took credit for attacking a military vehicle securing a supply convoy for a mining company operated by China. Pakistani authorities reported the convoy was passing through Kalat when it came under attack, resulting in injuries to eight security personnel.

VOA Urdu's Murtaza Zehri in Quetta contributed to this report.
Major stock markets lost value on Monday after President Donald Trump declines to rule out a recession. This as threats of trade wars with allies appear imminent. Russia makes further military advances in Kursk, as U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators meet in Saudi Arabia. Syrias interim president speaks out against sectarian violence. Plus, an introduction to the next prime minister of Canada.
With Elon Musk facing escalating political blowback and financial troubles, U.S. President Donald Trump said he would buy a Tesla vehicle from his company, an unusual show of support from the president to his most powerful adviser.

It was the latest example of how Trump has demonstrated loyalty to Musk, who spent heavily on his comeback campaign last year and has been a key figure in his second administration.

The Republican president announced early Tuesday that he was going to buy a new Tesla as "a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American.

Musk's electric vehicle company is being battered by sagging sales and plunging stock prices. He continues to run the automaker  as well as the social media platform X and the rocket manufacturer SpaceX  while also serving as Trump's adviser on overhauling and downsizing the federal government.

Elon Musk is putting it on the line in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB!" Trump wrote on social media. "But the Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the Worlds great automakers, and Elons baby, in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for.

The White House did not immediately elaborate on Trump's plans, such as how the purchase would be handled or where the car would be kept.

Presidents almost never drive for security reasons. Joe Biden got behind the wheel of an electric truck while promoting domestic manufacturing, and Barack Obama took a spin with Jerry Seinfeld in the White House driveway for a comedy show.

But regardless of the practicality of Trump's purchase, his overnight announcement about buying a Tesla represented another step in how the president has blurred lines by bringing Musk into his administration.

Musk is the world's richest person, with billions of dollars in government contracts. He's also exerting sweeping influence over Trump's administration through the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, and traveling frequently with the president.

During an interview with the Fox Business Network on Monday, host Larry Kudlow asked Musk how are you running your other businesses while also advising Trump.

With great difficulty, he said.

But theres no turning back, you say? Kudlow responded.

Im just here trying to make government more efficient, eliminate waste and fraud, Musk said.

Tesla has recently faced protests and vandalism. Police are investigating gunshots fired at a dealership in Oregon, and fire officials are examining a blaze that destroyed four Cybertrucks at a Tesla lot in Seattle.

At times, the White House has needed to play cleanup for Musk, who had never worked in public service before and has admitted that he'll make mistakes along the way.

For example, Musk presented inflated estimates of fraud in government benefits such as Social Security on Monday, leading Democrats to argue that he was planning cuts to the popular programs.

Most of the federal spending is entitlements, Musk said in the interview. Thats the big one to eliminate.

The next morning, a White House account on X criticized news organizations as lying hacks and told Democrats to spare us the fake outrage" about reducing benefits.

He was clearly talking about the WASTE in the programs," the White House posted.
U.S. President Donald Trump's administration will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine following Tuesday's talks between senior U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, U.S. officials are expected to speak with Russian officials in the coming days. Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is reportedly set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow this week.

After nearly eight hours of talks, Ukraine announced its readiness to accept the U.S. proposal for "an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire" in the war with Russia, pending Kremlin approval.

On March 5, Trump ordered a suspension of intelligence sharing with Ukraine, a move seen as an effort to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into talks with Russia to end the war.

The Kremlin had no immediate comment on a ceasefire proposal from the U.S. and Ukraine. Russias Foreign Ministry said only that negotiations with U.S. officials could take place this week.

Watch related video by VOA's Veronica Balderas Iglesias:

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz led the U.S. delegation in Jeddah amid Trump's push to broker a swift end to the war that began in early 2022 with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Zelenskyy did not take part in Tuesday's meetings, with Ukraine represented by Zelenskyy chief of staff Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and military commander Pavlo Palisa.

Rubio told reporters late Tuesday that Ukraine has taken a concrete step toward ending the war.

"Now hopefully we'll take this offer now to the Russians. And we hope that they'll say yes. That they'll say yes to peace. The ball's now in their court," he said.

Waltz said he will speak with his Russian counterpart "in the coming days," while Rubio attends the G7 foreign ministers meeting in Canada. On Thursday, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte will visit the White House. All these discussions are part of the efforts to advance the peace process.

Waltz also told reporters that U.S. and Ukrainian officials delved into "substantive details" on how the war will "permanently end" and the types of guarantees needed for Ukraine's "long-term security and prosperity."

Before entering talks, Yermak told reporters that Ukraine is ready "to do everything to achieve peace."

When asked whether Ukraine is seeking security guarantees, Yermak responded "yes," emphasizing that Ukraine wants to ensure Russia never repeats its aggression.

Mineral deal?

Trump has voiced interest in making continued military aid conditional on access to Ukraine's raw materials.

More than four dozen minerals, including several types of rare earths, nickel and lithium, are considered critical to the U.S. economy and national defense. Ukraine has large deposits of uranium, lithium and titanium.

Following Tuesdays talks, the joint statement said both sides agreed to conclude as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraines critical mineral resources to expand Ukraines economy and guarantee Ukraines long-term prosperity and security.

An agreement on the matter had been expected to be signed last month by Trump and Zelenskyy but was canceled after their tense Oval Office meeting Feb. 28.

For Rubio, this marks the second visit to Saudi Arabia since taking office. He and other senior U.S. officials held talks with Russian officials in Riyadh on Feb. 18. He is scheduled to travel to Canada on Wednesday for meetings with G7 foreign ministers.

Some information for this story was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Russian officials said Tuesday that Ukrainian attacks involving more than 90 drones killed at least two people and injured 18 others in the Moscow region.

The assault was part of an overall attack overnight that included more than 300 Ukrainian drones targeting 10 Russian regions stretching from border areas to the Russian capital.

Andrei Vorobyov, governor of the Moscow region, said on Telegram that in addition to those hurt, there was also damage to an apartment building from falling drone debris.

The attack also forced flight restrictions at Moscow airports and interrupted train services.

Russias Defense Ministry said it shot down 91 drones in the Moscow area, and a total of 337 across all regions.

The ministry said it intercepted 126 drones over the Kursk region, 38 over Bryansk, 25 over Belgorod, 22 over Ryazan and others over Kaluga, Lipetsk, Oryol, Voronezh and Nizhny Novgorod.

Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram that drone debris knocked out power to some part of his region and damaged multiple residential buildings.

Ukraines military said Tuesday it shot down 79 of 126 drones that Russian forces used in overnight attacks.

The intercepts took place over the Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Kyiv, Odesa, Poltava, Sumy, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia and Zhytomyr regions, the military said.

Officials in Kaluga also reported damage to several buildings, while one person was reported hurt in Lipetsk.

Some information for this story was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
The Republican-majority U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday took a key step toward funding the federal government past a March 14 deadline.

The short-term spending measure  also known as a continuing resolution (CR)  passed in a 217-213 vote, with one Republican voting no and one Democrat voting yes. The measure still has to pass the Republican-majority Senate to be signed into law.

Voting against the CR will hurt the American people and kill the incredible momentum that President [Donald] Trump has built over the past 51 days, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Tuesday afternoon.

Appropriations bills are required to pass a 60-vote threshold for passage in the Senate, which means Republicans will need to secure Democratic votes. The House went out of session for the rest of the week starting Tuesday afternoon, putting pressure on senators to pass its version of the CR.

We are prepared to take it up here in the Senate and make sure that on Friday, the government stays open. But it will be up to the Democrats as to whether or not that happens between now and then, Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters Tuesday.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson quelled dissent from within his own party to pass the spending measure. He told reporters Tuesday the seven-month continuing resolution was an important step toward implementing Trumps agenda of rooting out government waste and abuse through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

It allows us to move forward with changing the size and scope of the federal government. There is a seismic shift going on in Washington right now. This is a different moment than we have ever been in. The DOGE work is finding massive amounts of fraud, waste and abuse, Johnson said. We have a White House that is actually dedicated to getting us back onto a fiscally responsible track.

Independent watchdogs and analysts, however, say DOGE is using overly broad claims of fraud to generate support for large-scale cuts to federal programs and offices.

Earlier Tuesday, Vice President JD Vance spoke to lawmakers on Capitol Hill to shore up support for the measure. Representative Thomas Massie was the lone Republican holdout, despite Trumps post Monday night on Truth Social calling for Massie to lose his seat if he voted against the spending measure.

The continuing resolution buys lawmakers time to reach a compromise on Senate and House versions of government spending, a key tool for implementing Trumps domestic policy agenda.

At question is how and when to enact a proposed extension of the 2017 tax cuts and how to pay down the U.S. deficit without cutting key safety net programs that help American voters.

Donald Trump, Elon Musk and Senate Republicans know their math on billionaire tax cuts won't work without slashing these vital benefits, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters Tuesday.

Senate leadership has proposed passing the tax cuts in a separate bill later this year.

VOA's Anita Powell contriubted to this report.
China wrapped up its week-long National Party Congress meetings on Tuesday, where its nearly 3,000 representatives cast votes to pass a total of seven bills in half an hour. Analysts called Chinas two sessions a rubber-stamp political gathering, where many dissidents have been placed on forced holidays outside of Beijing so that their voice would not be heard. One dissident told VOA he will be sent home one day after the NPCs closure on Tuesday.

Click here for the full story in Mandarin.
TOKYO - British business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said in a recent interview in Tokyo that there is "exceptional potential for the future" of defense collaboration with Japan as the two countries progress their next-generation fighter jet project with Italy.

Emphasizing that the Global Combat Air Program to develop a fighter by 2035 is a "complex" project, Reynolds said Friday, "I think the potential for...industrial collaboration in a whole range of defense sectors is absolutely evident."

Agreed upon in late 2022, the joint warplane project involves producers including Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Britain's BAE Systems Plc, and Italy's Leonardo S.p.A., with cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and drones expected to be integrated.

For Japan, it is the first joint development of defense equipment with a country other than the United States, its closest security ally. Japan has strictly restricted its defense exports under its postwar pacifist Constitution, but has gradually eased the rules amid an increasingly challenging security environment.

"I see defense and security in particular as being a focus of collaboration between our two countries, with, again, exceptional potential for the future," said Reynolds, who became business and trade secretary last July as part of Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Cabinet.

Reynolds visited Tokyo last week to attend the inaugural meeting of an economic version of the "two-plus-two" dialogue between Japan and Britain also involving British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto.

During the meeting on Friday, the foreign and economy ministers of the two countries agreed to promote free and open international trade, with concerns mounting over the fallout from U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats against major trading partners.

Britain had never held such ministerial talks before the meeting with Japan's representatives.

Reynolds said in the interview that it is a "reflection" of the importance of the Britain-Japan relationship, which is the closest for a generation and is "going to get deeper and stronger."

He also said Britain and Japan, which are both members of a trans-Pacific free trade agreement, can be "a force for good together across the whole of the global trading system."

Related coverage:

Japan, Britain agree to promote free trade amid Trump tariff threats
An indiscriminate shooting by security forces in Tehran resulted in the death of a young man, according to a human rights group.

The Human Rights Activists in Iran said the man, who was allegedly suspected of carrying smuggled goods, was shot by officers while passing through a street.

Click here for the full story in Persian.
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA  U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday the United States hopes to resolve the pause in aid to Ukraine during talks Tuesday with Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Rubio said the U.S. is in a listening mode and aims to understand what concessions Ukraine might be willing to make.

The Ukrainians are already receiving all defensive intelligence information as we speak. I think all the notion of the pause in aid broadly is something I hope we can resolve. Obviously, I think what happens tomorrow will be key to that, Rubio told reporters aboard a military plane before landing in Jeddah.

We're not going to be sitting in a room drawing lines on a map but just get a general sense of what concessions are in the realm of the possible for them [Ukrainians], Rubio said, adding that there is no military solution to the war, and that both Russia and Ukraine need to do difficult things.

Later on Monday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, commonly Known by his abbreviation MBS, met with Rubio in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah.

MBS held a separate meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Riyadh earlier in the day.

On Tuesday, Rubio will join U.S. national security adviser Mike Waltz for the Jeddah talks with Ukrainian officials as President Donald Trump pushes to broker a swift end to the war.

The Ukrainian delegation includes Zelenskyys chief of staff Andriy Yermak; Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha; Defense Minister Rustem Umerov; and military commander Pavlo Palisa.

Strong positions on the front line and strong diplomacy must work together to achieve a just and lasting peace, Zelenskyy wrote in a social media posting late Monday.

Mineral deal?

Trump has voiced interest in making continued military aid conditional on access to Ukraine's raw materials.

More than four dozen minerals, including several types of rare earths, nickel and lithium, are considered critical to the U.S. economy and national defense. Ukraine has large deposits of uranium, lithium and titanium.

But Rubio clarified that securing a deal on Ukraine's mineral resources was not the primary focus of Tuesdays talks.

There's still more details to work out, and at this point, we're probably  rather than a memorandum of understanding  just wanting to sign a specific agreement. And that would take a little bit more time," he told reporters.

I wouldn't prejudge tomorrow by whether or not we have a minerals deal. ... It's an important topic, but it's not the main topic on the agenda, Rubio added.

Rubio also credited Britain and France for playing a constructive role in talks with Ukraine.

He told VOA that there have been no discussions about China playing a role in postwar peacekeeping and reconstruction in Ukraine.

This marks Rubios second visit to Saudi Arabia since taking office. He and other senior U.S. officials held talks with Russian officials in Riyadh on Feb. 18. He is scheduled to travel to Canada on Wednesday for meetings with G7 foreign ministers.
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA  U.S. and Ukrainian officials met Tuesday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for talks on efforts to end Russias war with Ukraine, with both sides saying Kyiv supports a U.S. proposed 30-day ceasefire.

A joint statement released after the talks said, Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the U.S. proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, and which is subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation. The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace.

It added that the U.S. will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz led the U.S. delegation in Jeddah amid President Donald Trumps push to broker a swift end to the war that began in early 2022 with Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not take part in Tuesdays meetings, with Ukraine represented by his chief of staff Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and military commander Pavlo Palisa.

Yermak told reporters just before the start of Tuesdays meeting that Ukraine is ready to do everything to achieve peace.

When asked if Ukraine is seeking security guarantees, Yermak said yes and that Ukraine wants to ensure that Russia never repeats its aggression.

Rubio said Monday the United States hopes to resolve the pause in aid to Ukraine.

He said the U.S. is in a listening mode and aims to understand what concessions Ukraine might be willing to make.

The Ukrainians are already receiving all defensive intelligence information as we speak. I think all the notion of the pause in aid, broadly, is something I hope we can resolve. Obviously, I think what happens tomorrow will be key to that, Rubio told reporters aboard a military plane before landing in Jeddah.

We're not going to be sitting in a room drawing lines on a map, but just get a general sense of what concessions are in the realm of the possible for them [Ukrainians], Rubio said, adding that there is no military solution to the war, and that both Russia and Ukraine need to do difficult things.

Later on Monday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Rubio in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah.

Salman held a separate meeting with Zelenskyy in Riyadh earlier in the day.

Mineral deal?

Trump has voiced interest in making continued military aid conditional on access to Ukraine's raw materials.

More than four dozen minerals, including several types of rare earths, nickel and lithium, are considered critical to the U.S. economy and national defense. Ukraine has large deposits of uranium, lithium and titanium.

Following Tuesdays talks, the joint statement said both sides agreed to conclude as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraines critical mineral resources to expand Ukraines economy and guarantee Ukraines long-term prosperity and security.

An agreement on the matter had been expected to be signed last month by Trump and Zelenskyy but was canceled after their tense Oval Office meeting February 28.

For Rubio, this marks the second visit to Saudi Arabia since taking office. He and other senior U.S. officials held talks with Russian officials in Riyadh on February 18. He is scheduled to travel to Canada on Wednesday for meetings with G7 foreign ministers.

Some information for this story was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
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The US energy secretary vowed Monday to reset federal energy policy to favor fossil fuels and deprioritize climate change as industry leaders gathered at their biggest event since President Donald Trump returned to office.

In the conference's opening session, Energy Secretary Chris Wright cited the Trump administration's moves to cut red tape that is delaying oil projects and promote liquefied natural gas exports as examples of a pivot away from policies pursued under former president Joe Biden.

"The Trump administration will end the Biden administration's irrational quasi-religious policies on climate change that imposed endless sacrifices on our citizens," Wright told a packed auditorium for the annual Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) conference.

Since returning to Washington seven weeks ago, Trump and his team have overhauled the existing economic order at a dizzying pace, launching trade wars against allies and hollowing government agencies the president and his allies dislike.

Trump made energy policy a central part of his agenda with his day-one "Unleashing American Energy" executive order, promising during his inaugural address to "end the Green New Deal" in favor of "that liquid gold under our feet."

But Mark Brownstein, senior vice president at the Environmental Defense Fund, said Wright's tone was "long on rhetoric," adding, "at some point the administration needs to get off the campaign stump speech and get on with the business of governing."

Brownstein described many CERA attendees as uncertain about investments, not only because of Trump's shifting position on energy and climate change, but also the nearly daily pivots on tariffs.

"The energy industry is a capital-intensive business and what they need to deploy capital at scale is certainty and consistency," Brownstein told AFP.

CERA's opening day coincided with deep stock market losses after Trump over the weekend refused to rule out a US recession.

Protesters held boisterous demonstrations outside the event in Houston. Advocacy group Oil Change International blasted the oil industry for pollution near industrial facilities and for fossil fuel investments that are worsening climate change.

- Change ahead? -

Energy played a key supporting role in Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, in which he pointed to higher gasoline prices as a reason more production was needed, embodied by his slogan: "Drill, baby, drill."

Trump's January 20 executive order represents a potentially wide-ranging attack on tax incentives which had been embraced by energy companies to advance billions of dollars of energy transition projects.

These projects were connected to laws enacted under Biden to mitigate climate change.

Some pundits think Trump will stop short of actions canceling existing projects where workers have been hired, including many in conservative districts.

Appearing just after Wright, Chevron CEO Mike Wirth warned that "swinging from one extreme to the other" on policy is "not the right policy approach in a long cycle industry like this."

Wirth welcomed Trump's executive orders on permitting reform, but said "we need to see some of this stuff put into legislation so that it's more durable and it's not at risk of being swung back in another direction by a future administration" with different priorities.

- Conciliatory tone on tariffs -

Wright downplayed the upheaval on trade policy after his remarks, noting Trump dropped many of his most impactful tariffs in his first term.

It's "too early to say on tariffs, but I feel quite confident having a smart businessman every day working for America writ large, not an interest group or a particular industry," Wright said. "I'm pretty optimistic about the outcome."

Wright said there were "vigorous" closed-door debates about tariffs within the administration, rejecting the idea that there was ideological uniformity on the issue.

He also suggested the Trump administration wouldn't challenge all Biden administration renewable energy projects, saying that while he wouldn't have picked some of the same projects for loans, "we inherit a loan book... and we follow the rule of law."

jmb/mlm
Ukraine endorsed an American proposal for a 30-day ceasefire and agreed to immediate negotiations with Russia in crunch talks in Jeddah on Tuesday after three years of grinding war.

The positive response from Ukraine prompted President Donald Trump's administration to lift a freeze on military aid and to predict the beginning to an end of the conflict.

With Trump stunning allies by applying intense pressure on Kyiv and reaching out to Moscow, Ukrainian officials came to talks in Saudi Arabia eager to make up and had proposed a partial truce on air and sea attacks.

Trump's advisors pressed for more and said Ukraine agreed to their proposal for a full month-long ceasefire in a war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.

"Today we made an offer that the Ukrainians have accepted, which is to enter into a ceasefire and into immediate negotiations," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters after around nine hours of talks in an ornate hotel in Jeddah.

"We'll take this offer now to the Russians and we hope they'll say yes to peace. The ball is now in their court.

"If they say no then we'll unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here," Rubio said of Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of its smaller neighbour in February 2022.

Rubio said the United States would immediately resume military assistance and intelligence sharing it had cut off to pressure its wartime partner following a disastrous February 28 meeting between Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky.

In Washington, Trump said he was ready to welcome Zelensky back to the White House and may speak to President Vladimir Putin this week.

Asked by a reporter about the prospects of a comprehensive ceasefire in Ukraine, Trump answered: "Well, I hope it will be over the next few days, I'd like to see.

"I know we have a big meeting with Russia tomorrow and some great conversations hopefully will ensue."

In a joint statement, Ukraine and the United States said they would conclude "as soon as possible" a deal securing US access to Ukraine's mineral wealth, which Trump demanded as compensation for billions of dollars in US weapons under his predecessor Joe Biden.

Zelensky was supposed to sign the deal at the White House before the dramatic on-camera showdown, in which Trump and Vice President JD Vance dressed down the wartime leader and accused him of ingratitude.

Zelensky quickly thanked Trump over the "positive" ceasefire proposal made in Jeddah and said the United States must now work to persuade Russia.

"The American side understands our arguments, perceives our proposals, and I want to thank President Trump for the constructive conversation between our teams," Zelensky said in his evening address.

- Russia must respond 'clearly' -

Since the US cutoff of aid and intelligence sharing, Russia has stepped up attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure and seized back land in Russia's Kursk region which Ukrainian forces had infiltrated.

Hours before the Jeddah talks, Ukraine staged a major direct attack on Moscow, with hundreds of drones slamming into the capital and other areas, leaving three people dead.

Top Zelensky aide Andriy Yermak said in Jeddah that Ukraine had made clear that its desire is peace.

"Russia needs to say, very clearly, they want peace or not, they want to end this war, which they started, or no," Yermak told reporters.

Trump's abrupt shift on Ukraine following Biden's strong support has rattled European allies, with France and Germany increasingly speaking of developing common European defence if the United States no longer offers its security guarantees through NATO.

But Mike Waltz, Trump's national security advisor, countered that the brash president has "literally moved the entire global conversation" in support of peace.

"We've gone from if the war is going to end to how the war is going to end," Waltz told reporters alongside Rubio.

Waltz, who said he would speak in the coming days with his Russian counterpart, credited the Ukrainians with agreeing on the need to "end the killing, to end the tragic meat-grinder of people and national treasure".

- Allies cautious -

Rubio will head on Wednesday to Canada -- another country with which Trump is feuding -- to meet fellow foreign ministers of the Group of Seven industrial democracies.

Rubio has said he will push the G7 to avoid "antagonistic" language about Russia for fear of scuttling diplomacy.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who has mulled European forces in Ukraine as part of any deal, on Tuesday hailed the "progress" made in the Jeddah talks but insisted that Kyiv needs "robust" security guarantees in any ceasefire.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the deal a "remarkable breakthrough" while Italy's Giorgia Meloni said now the ceasefire "decision is up to Russia".

In Poland, a top supporter of Ukraine and where historical memories of Russia run deep, Prime Minister Donald Tusk praised the "important step towards peace" by the United States and Ukraine.

Even if Russia agrees to a ceasefire, much remains uncertain in negotiations. Ukraine has pressed for security guarantees, but Trump, in another shift from Biden, has ruled out NATO membership.

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Jet fuel caught fire and leaked into the North Sea on Monday after a cargo ship reportedly carrying sodium cyanide hit a tanker chartered by the US military off the British coast.

More than 30 people were injured, but all the tanker crew were reported rescued.

Here is what we know about the collision between the tanker Stena Immaculate and the container vessel Solong, which set off a major pollution alert on the British coast.

- Fuel tanker hit while anchored -

The Stena Immaculate, which was carrying the fuel, was at anchor about 10 miles (16 kilometres) off the eastern England port of Hull when it was "struck by the container ship Solong", according to Crowley Maritime, the US shipping firm managing the tanker. The alarm was raised at 0948 GMT.

The Lloyd's List maritime news outlet said the Solong was carrying 15 containers of sodium cyanide, but it is not known if any of the flammable compound had leaked.

A massive fire erupted and engulfed both vessels. Crowley Maritime said the tanker was carrying jet-A1 fuel and the US Defense Department has confirmed that the US military had chartered the vessel.

The tanker "crew abandoned the vessel following multiple explosions onboard" said Crowley Maritime, which is based in Jacksonville, Florida.

Around 32 people were brought ashore on three vessels, according to Grimsby port director Martyn Boyers. Stena Bulk, a Swedish company that owns the tanker, said all of the crew on the vessel were alive.

Thirteen of the Solong's 14 crew members were brought to shore and efforts to locate the missing crew member "are ongoing", said a statement from the ship's German-based owner Ernst Russ.

- Ships ablaze -

Images showed flames and a thick cloud of black smoke rising from the wreck of the two ships. The UK Coastguard was coordinating a rescue and emergency pollution operation after Crowley Maritime said the impact had "ruptured" the tanker and set off a fire.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) rescue service said there were reports of "fires on both ships".

The government Marine Accident Investigation said it had a team at the scene already "gathering evidence" and assessing "next steps".

A plane, lifeboats from coastal stations and other nearby vessels were in the rescue operation, the coastguard said.

- Humber traffic suspended -

Associated British Ports (ABP), which operates ports in Hull and Immingham, the stricken region, said it had halted all vessel movements in the Humber estuary that flows into the North Sea.

- Relatively rare -

The North Sea has busy shipping lanes but accidents are relatively rare.

In October 2023, two cargo ships, the Verity and the Polesie, collided near Germany's Heligoland islands. Three people were killed and two others were listed as missing.

On October 6 2015, the freighter Flinterstar, carrying 125 tonnes of diesel and 427 tonnes of fuel oil, sank after colliding with the tanker Al Oraiq eight kilometres (five miles) off the Belgian coast.

A major oil spill hit the North Sea in January 1993 when the Liberian tanker Braer suffered engine damage while going from Norway to Canada. It ran aground off Scotland's Shetland Islands and released 84,500 tonnes of crude oil.

- Proper lookout? -

David McFarlane of the Maritime Risk and Safety consultancy said there were 200 to 300 ship collisions around the world each year, but most are just a "slight bump" in a port.

"The collision regulations... state that all ships must maintain a proper lookout at all times. And clearly something has gone wrong here, because if a proper lookout had been maintained, this collision would have been avoided," McFarlane told AFP.

When the flames die down investigators will look for the video data recorders on the two ships -- the equivalent of a plane's "black box" information recorders.

These should have information from the ships' radar as well as voice recordings of the bridge teams. McFarlane said this would help investigators find out if there was communication between the two ships.

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Photo: Aeon)/GC Images

On the face of it, Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper are not a couple that makes a ton of sense. Hes 21 years older than her, shes a model while hes an actor, hes known for being super intense while her persona is a bit more easy breezy. But it turns out they have something very specific in common: the ability to get large corporations to indulge their fantasies of inserting themselves into musical theater history. In association with her April 2025 Vogue cover story, Hadid starred in a self-insert fanfic where the creative appears to be What if Hairspray was somehow even gayer, but had way fewer fat people? In the video, titled Gigi Hadid Cant Stop the Beat, Hadid lip-syncs to the Hairspray classic You Cant Stop the Beat, before being joined by Cole Escola, Laverne Cox, Alton Mason, and Marc Jacobs. The phrase fever dream gets thrown around a lot these days, but if anything deserves to get some use out of it, its this.

I grew up doing musical theater, Hadid explained to Vogue. I love all things musical theater. She even played Amber Von Tussle in Hairspray, Vogue says, at age nine. For this video, she collaborated with director Bardia Zeinali, who previously directed her on a 2018 Beetlejuice-themed shoot. Its been long-cooking, Hadid said. We finally got to do it, and were so excited. If you missed that Hadid is obsessed with musical theater, you wouldnt be alone, but she mentions it multiple times in the cover story. At one point, the writer even suggests that Jon M. Chu should cast her in one of the sequels to Wicked, despite the fact that there will be just one sequel to Wicked, and it has, in fact, already filmed.

Its hard not to compare this strange Hadid fantasy film to her boyfriend Bradley Coopers 2023 film Maestro, a Netflix production, which Cooper both directed and starred in as Leonard Bernstein, the composer known for writing the score to West Side Story. In both this fashion-focused video and in noted Oscar-villain Maestro, Hadid/Cooper play around in theater history to ridiculous effect. It tracks for them. One of their first recorded dates was to see the Off Broadway play Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, according to Page Six, and they also attended Alyssa Milanos debut in Chicago this past November, per E!. Hadid told Vogue that Cooper has opened me up to going to the theater more, and thats something thats so nice to bring back into my life. Just wait until she stars in a Cooper-directed adaptation of Evita, financed entirely by Disney.
Love Is Blinders at the bar. Photo: Netflix

Watching the Love Is Blind reunion, one question kept coming up for us: Is Minneapolis really that small? Seriously, when describing the past year of their lives, a constant thread nearly every ex-couple brought up was that the participants cant stop running into one other. At one point, it comes out that Madison Errichiello went out because she heard Mason Horachek was at the bar; a smoking gun against Devin Buckley during his spat with Virginia Miller comes when Madison and Molly Mullaney reveal something he said to them when he was out one night. So, how small is the Minneapolis bar scene, exactly? There are four bars, Monica Danus confirmed during a live discussion of the reunion at SXSW. In Minneapolis, North Loop is where a lot of people live and a lot of people hang out, so when you go out, you have to mentally prepare yourself: Im going to run into somebody that I want to see, and Im going to run into somebody that I dont want to see.

It turns out that, in the time between production and the reunion, the cast of Love Is Blind, season eight, saw each other out pretty often. A lot of us live on the same street, Danus said. I run into some people at my favorite coffee shop, so thats interesting. I mean, were cordial, were fine, but we definitely see each other even if we dont necessarily want to. Sounds like a nightmare to this New Yorker, but were happy for those who love the Twin Cities!
TOKYO - Nissan Motor Co. said Tuesday it has appointed Chief Planning Officer Ivan Espinosa as CEO, replacing Makoto Uchida, as the ailing automaker seeks to revive its business under new leadership after the collapse of merger talks with Honda Motor Co.

Espinosa, who has primarily worked in product planning at Nissan in regions including Southeast Asia as well as Central and South America, will assume the top role on April 1, while Uchida, 58, will remain a director until a June shareholders' meeting.

Espinosa, 46, will need to swiftly map out strategies to revive the company after its corporate performance sharply deteriorated due largely to sluggish sales in its major markets, the United States and China.

Criticism has been mounting of Uchida since Nissan's profit plummeted more than 90 percent in the nine months through December. The firm recently ended merger talks with Honda, which would have created the world's third-biggest auto group.

Speaking at an online press conference on Tuesday, Espinosa pledged to steer the carmaker back onto a growth path, saying, "I sincerely believe that Nissan has so much more potential than what we are seeing today."

Despite escalating speculation that Nissan's new leadership is considering resuming merger negotiations with Honda, Espinosa declined to comment on the issue.

Uchida, meanwhile, acknowledged his responsibility for failing to revive Nissan, saying at the news conference that he had been "unable to gain the confidence of some of our employees" and that "making a fresh start will be in the best interests of Nissan."

Nissan's vice presidents in charge of production and technological development will also step down.

Under the initial plan unveiled in December, Nissan and Honda said they would merge under a holding company in 2026, aiming to cut costs for developing electric vehicles and software amid the rise of global rivals like U.S.-based Tesla Inc. and China's BYD Co.

But the talks collapsed in February when it came to light that Honda had proposed making Nissan its subsidiary out of concern that the firm had made little progress in its turnaround, a key premise for the planned integration.

Nissan decided to terminate the negotiations as the Yokohama-based company believed its autonomy could not be preserved under such an arrangement, Uchida said.

In November, Nissan unveiled a plan to shed 9,000 jobs and reduce its global output by 20 percent as part of restructuring efforts.

Many analysts, however, say Nissan cannot survive on its own, and that it may need to form a partnership with other firms such as Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn, formally Hon Hai Precision Industry Co.

Espinosa joined Nissan in Mexico in 2003 as a product specialist having previously worked at an automotive research company.

Uchida, who became CEO in 2019, attempted to rebalance Nissan's decades-old alliance with French automaker Renault SA, agreeing to equalize their stakes to enhance the Japanese manufacturer's autonomy, but he failed to strengthen its global competitiveness.

In the United States, the lack of hybrid vehicles in its lineup is one reason for Nissan's flagging business as demand for gasoline-electric cars is robust there. The firm's reluctance to introduce new models has also hampered its growth in China.

Related coverage:

Nissan eyes replacing CEO Uchida amid struggling business: source

FOCUS:After scrapping Honda merger, Nissan may struggle to find new partner

Honda, Nissan merger talks collapse over management structure
Yeah  maybe no gun for him. Photo: Amanda Edwards/Getty Images

Elizabeth Oyer, the Justice Departments pardon attorney, was fired on March 7, which Oyer believes is because she refused to recommend that Mel Gibson should get the right to purchase a gun back, per the New York Times. Gibson lost his gun rights in 2011 after being convicted for a domestic-violence misdemeanor. Oyer was one of multiple Justice Department officials fired that day, and an anonymous Justice Department official told the Times that Gibsons case did not affect the choice to fire Oyer.

Two weeks ago, Oyers office was assigned the job of putting together a list of people who should have their right to purchase or own a handgun restored following various convictions that stripped them of that right. Her office produced a list of 95 people, she recalls in the Times report, which was then whittled down to nine, and at no point was Gibson on the memo. They sent it back to me saying, We would like you to add Mel Gibson to this memo, she tells the Times. Oyer did not wish to do so, she says, partially because Gibsons conviction was for domestic violence and partially because she did not have enough information about his case. Giving guns back to domestic abusers is a serious matter that, in my view, is not something that I could recommend lightly, she says.

She recalls sending an email saying she could not recommend Gibson get his gun rights back, then receiving a phone call from a senior Justice Department official. He then essentially explained to me that Mel Gibson has a personal relationship with President Trump and that should be sufficient basis for me to make a recommendation and that I would be wise to make the recommendation, she says. She remembers then telling a colleague, I cant believe this, but I really think Mel Gibson is going to be my downfall. Oyer says she then drafted a memo stating that she did not have the information to recommend Gibson get his rights back and acknowledging that it was the attorney generals decision. Hours later, she says, she was fired.

Gibson is working closely with President Trump as one of three special envoys to Hollywood, which Trump revealed on January 16, alongside Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone. And, yes, those are all actors who should stick to holding fake guns instead of real ones.
Fantasy-creature gore may be a funny spectacle, but its not enough to hang a whole movie on. Photo: Murray Close/A24

This review originally published on March 11, 2025 out of the SXSW Film Festival. We are recirculating it now timed to Death of a Unicorns theatrical release.

The rich having been looking enormously appetizing lately, so you have to really fuck up for your movie about eating them to feel unsatisfying. But so it goes with Death of a Unicorn, an upcoming horror comedy that dipped by the SXSW Film Festival for a premiere ahead of its theatrical release on March 28. Its antagonists are the Leopolds, a trio whose extensive holdings come courtesy of the pharma industry, for added villainy. Patriarch Odell (Richard E. Grant) is relentlessly imperious despite his terminal cancer, while his wife, Belinda (Tea Leoni), is consumed with using their charitable foundation to launder their reputation, and their only child, Shepard (Will Poulter), is your standard failson with substance-abuse issues. Aside from these family roles, theyre written so broadly, all identically manipulative and sneeringly self-serving, that it renders their characterizations toothless. Even in a new age of oligarchy where the rich are openly proclaiming themselves above the needs and laws of normal people, and even with obvious parallels to the Sacklers, the Leopolds manage to be generically monstrous instead of resonantly so.

You could argue that the real target of the film, which is the debut of writer-director Alex Scharfman, is Elliot Kintner (Paul Rudd), who works for the Leopolds as their VP of ethical compliance. Elliot, a widower, wants to attain a fraction of the Leopolds untouchable status so badly that hes devoted his life to toadying up to them at the expense of his relationship with his now-undergrad daughter, Ridley (Jenna Ortega). Hes dragged Ridley along with him to a weekend at the Leopolds palatial lodge in the Canadian wilderness to kiss the ring and, more importantly, to secure a spot on their board. Rudd plays Elliot as a man whose denial about what hes doing is so deep as to be almost dissociative, his face continually flashing consternation that then gets smoothed over into placid obsequiousness before anyone notices, but even hes depressingly one note. The big hook of Death of a Unicorn in there in its title  while driving through the wilderness preserve on the way to the lodge, Elliot hits one of the apparently non-mythical creatures, though no one else but Ridley is willing to initially acknowledge what it is. The legendary animals body turns out to have healing properties, which is handy for Odell, whos soon no longer dying. He becomes giddy about how to exploit this roadkill windfall, though the unicorn also inconveniently has parents who are bigger and considerably more bloodthirsty, and who quickly come calling in search of their child.

Theres enough material for a rollicking 25-minute short in Death of a Unicorn, which unfortunately spreads its goods out over the stretch of a feature. The terrific cast, which also includes Barrys Anthony Carrigan and Spaceds Jessica Hynes as the long-suffering house staff, and Sunita Mani and Steve Park as scientists summoned to examine the unicorn, is good enough to sustain the movies momentum for longer than it merits. But by its midpoint, Death of a Unicorn feels like its treading water, dragging out the approach of the adult unicorns, sending Ridley (an art-history major) on a mission to research unicorn tapestries, and repeating the same beats of Elliot choosing his employers over his daughter again and again. Scharfman is clearly titillated by the idea of unicorn gore, both inflicted on the magical creatures and inflicted by them on the deserving human characters. The sight of Grant ghoulishly slicing into a unicorn steak still swimming in purple blood isnt one Ill soon forget, but so much of the rest of the film relies on variations of the same punchline, and it doesnt feel especially edgy by the third or fourth time. The whole midsection of Death of a Unicorn involves killing time until the slaughter starts, and the actual unicorn-menace sequence amounts to a sub-tier Jurassic Park knockoff.

Death of a Unicorn was executive-produced by Ari Aster, whos ramped up his production game and has been involved in a slew of off-kilter projects, from Kristoffer Borglis Dream Scenario to Yorgos Lanthimoss upcoming Save the Green Planet! remake, Bugonia. Its easy to imagine why the pitch for Death of a Unicorn was appealing, with its gestures toward relevance and fantasy brutality, like a Ready or Not with fairy-tale creatures instead of infernal bargains. But watching the film, all those elements still feel like just that  the stuff of a pitch, ideas written on a whiteboard instead of a coherent vision to be executed. And the joke of a Lisa Frank standard being capable of tearing someones guts out isnt really enough to hang a whole movie on. Apparently even unicorns are ready and eager to eat the rich, but its a spectacle Death of a Unicorn just isnt able to do justice to.
Photo: Apple TV+

We all know what Miss Huangs innie is like on Severance: smart, serious, lover of the theremin. But what about her outie, Sarah Bock? Bock is an actress from North Carolina, and Severance is her first television-series role; she previously starred in the original Hulu movie Bruiser in 2022. She auditioned when she was 15, and her parents were huge fans of the show. But whats Bock doing on the outside, how has her outie been handling her newfound fame, and do others share her love of touchless instruments? Please try to enjoy all of her fun facts equally.

While Miss Huang is an expert on all things Lumon, some of the set pieces were history lessons for Bock. Miss Huang, she has a phone on a desk and it has the little keyboard, Bock explained in an interview with Jimmy Kimmel as someone in the audience screamed, probably becoming hyperaware of the age gap between them and Gen Z. I didnt know how to use that. Kimmel then asked if she knew what a rotary phone was, to Bocks confusion. She has to remind the audience that shes a teenager, not a historian.

Right now, Bock studies psychology and theater at Northwestern (shes not a child, okay!). In an interview with Northwesterns social-media page, Bock shared that one of her co-stars inspired her to apply to the university. When I was looking at colleges, Britt Lower, who plays Helly on the show, shes an alum of here and she kind of suggested it  she slid it in there  and she thought I might be a good fit for Northwestern. However, she thinks her Severance character would not follow the same path as her: She would not be a theater major.
Photo: Paras Griffin/Getty Images

A Timbaland beat can make you feel everything all at once. Call it the mosaic approach: The longtime producer picks a sample; blends it with odd, custom tones he crafted himself; throws in some polyrhythm; and then spits out a futuristic production that sounds like it was beamed directly from Mars. In fact, Tim is so good at this that the phrase beats Timbaland made thirty years ago sound like they were made today has turned into a well-worn cliche. But how did he get there in the first place? What accounts for a production approach many have tried but none have replicated? For Switched on Pops latest installment of their Modern Classics miniseries, host Nate Sloan and guest host Megan Lubin run down the story of the Timbaland sound  how it started, where it landed, and how we think of it today. You can read a preview of their discussion below and can hear the full episode here.

Megan: In the early 90s, songwriting partners Missy Elliott and Timbaland left their home state of Virginia and went to New Jersey to work with the R&B group Jodeci. But they were feeling pretty desperate to break out of this silo. They wanted to get their beats and songwriting in the hands of other artists. So one day, Timbaland was in the studio with another producer, Static Major. And, as Tim tells it, Static laid down a beat and played with it a bit until they got something that they were pretty happy with. But they knew it needed something else. One thing that Timbaland does is collect sounds. So Tim sifted through his catalogue and heard something that he liked. He described it as a futuristic robot saying yeah over and over in different tones. He then took that sound, truncated it, stretched it like dough to make it sound like it had been dragged through a warping machine, threw a little slide whistle on it, and thats how we got 

Nate:  Pony, by Ginuwine?

Megan: Pony, by Ginuwine.

Nate: The song that would become the soundtrack for male strippers around the world. This one sounds as fresh as it did when it first dropped.

Megan: This song is a good example of what Im calling Timbalands mosaic production approach. The conventional sampling method in 1995, when Tim was making this beat, was to build a new song on a recognizable piece of an old song. But Timbaland was almost never trying to do that. He wasnt aiming for nostalgia in his beats. His approach to sampling was much more collage-like. He would hear these individual bleeps and bloops, and hed arrange and manipulate them to separate them from whatever the source material was. Hed use them to make a wholly new sound, a sonic mosaic unlinked to the source. Some elements might have felt familiar, but the sum always felt really fresh.

Nate: So yes, the iconic sound that kicks off Pony is a Timbaland and Static studio invention. Thats their alchemy. And it puts this stamp on the song in this way because youve never heard it before. So now this new sound will be forever identified with that particular track. Thats a really powerful statement as an artist and producer to create this signature that will be indelibly connected to your song because, simply, it doesnt exist anywhere else. It sounds like the future.

Megan: Exactly. We talk about songs or sounds that sound futuristic or otherworldly. These are words that often get attached to the Timbaland production approach, but its hard to describe. To say what the future sounds like we talk about crunchy computer sounds or, like, zips and zaps. But I wonder if the sounds that we think of as sounding futuristic are just on some level sounds that we cant place in the past. Like, theyre just songs that we cant connect back to something weve heard before, which is basically the experience of listening to many Timbaland songs.

Nate: Yeah, part of the pleasure of his craft is how dislocated it is from what is familiar and expected.
Lily Rabe and Levon Hawke in Ibsens Ghosts, at the Mitzi E. Newhouse. Photo: Jeremy Daniel

Say what you will about critics. None of us can hold a candle to the Daily Telegraphs Clement Scott in 1891, reviewing the London premiere of Henrik Ibsens Ghosts:

This disgusting representation  infecting the modern theatre with poison  An open drain; a loathsome sore unbandaged; a dirty act done publicly; a lazar-house with all its doors and windows open  Gross, almost putrid indecorum  Literary carrion  Crapulous stuff  Novel and perilous nuisance.

When the play was published in Copenhagen nine years earlier, it caused such outrage that almost every one of the 10,000 copies sat moldering in a warehouse. (If he hadnt been suffering from the financial loss, Ibsen might have enjoyed the irony: In the play itself, one character raises her eyebrow at another for condemning books hes never read.) The story goes that even the king of Norway and Sweden, at a dinner given in Ibsens honor, told his guest, You shouldnt have written Ghosts, Ibsen. Thats not a good play  at which Ibsen, after a long, dreadful pause, burst out, Your Majesty, I had to write Ghosts!

This kind of wild history can present new productions with baggage to handle  not because were still scandalized by public discussions of venereal disease, incest, assisted suicide, and blatant moral hypocrisy, but because How do you live up to all that? How can Ghosts continue, if not to send us into spasms of offense, then still to electrify and unnerve, to shock not our delicate constitutions but our consciences, which, after all, was its intention all along?

Jack OBriens new attempt on Ibsens reviled andeventuallyrevered truth-bomb doesnt so much answer that question as sub it out for another less interesting one: What happens if you put a bunch of famous people in the show and, for the majority of its 110 minutes, play it pretty straight? In a streamlined, surprisingly low-key new translation by the Irish playwright Mark ORowe, this Ghosts doesnt exactly founder, but it doesnt haunt or horrify either. It feels stuck between times and impulses: 1880s Norway or now? Stylized or not? Unashamedly tragic or vaguely ironic? Theres a turned-up-to-eleven quality in Ibsens plot twists and moral confrontations that can be tricky to embrace without incurring a certain amount of contemporary giggling  nervous, detached, or otherwise. But the man also has his own wicked sense of humor. A director of his plays these days is scoring the audience as much as the onstage action: When do you want them to laugh? When do you need them rapt?

OBrien hasnt exerted that kind of tonal control, and so instead of transporting us between compelling extremes, the show, once it gets going, tends to skate within a more comfortable middle area. His major directorial gesture is a framing device that feels, if anything, birthed less from the depths of the play than from outside anxiety surrounding the production: On John Lee Beattys simple wooden thrust floorbacked by a wall of windows and adorned with a single stately wooden table and various bits of upholstered furniturethe actors enter with staggered casualness while the house lights are still up. Though the audience dutifully quiets down, sound designers Mark Bennett and Scott Lehrer keep a muffled hum of voices thickening the atmosphere, as if theres another invisible crowd in the room with us, still chatting, waiting for the show to begin. In outfits that attempt to straddle the gap between modern street clothes and softly period characters (the costumes are by Jess Goldstein), the ensemble navigate the space as if theyve just arrived for rehearsal. They carry scripts bound in green cardstock. Playing the drunken carpenter Jacob Engstrand, Hamish Linklater finds a chunk of two-by-four and a roll of gaffers tape in a drawer. Watched by Ella Beatty, playing his daughter Reginaa servant in the upper-class Alving household on an island off the coast of Norwayhe tapes the block to the bottom of one foot. Engstrand, well-meaning, dissipated, and unlucky, has an old leg wound that hes fond of reminding people he sustained standing up for a womans honor. When Linklater and Beatty begin to talk, they do so at first in flat, perfunctory tones  reading from their scripts, referring to rain that isnt there. They stop, go back to the top, and do it again. OBrien has them repeat the start of the play several times, layering in more realism (i.e., more theater) with each go. Soon enough, the scripts are gone, father and daughter are squabbling intimately with each other, and a steady gray rain is drizzling down the upstage windows.

Its  interesting. Especially watching Linklaterwhos giving by far the most compelling performance in the productioncoming to gruff, aggrieved life by degrees. But Im still not certain I know what it all has to do with Ghosts. What is it about the heart of this playwhich wrestles with the cancerous social sanctimony that, in masking abuse and depravity, winds up passing its infections on generation by generationthat necessitates an onstage transition from rehearsal nonchalance to fully realized performance? One could go the grad-school route and set about digging for intellectual justification: Something-something performance versus authenticity, something, truth and lies But the impression in the room is more one of conceptual insecurity, of attaching somethinganythingto the front of an old play because you dont quite trust just getting into the play itself. The irony is that once things get rolling, questions of theatricality, meta or otherwise, pretty much evaporate. OBrien still seems pressured to add a gesture here and there  every so often, Japhy Weidemans lights go lurid while something ominous booms in the sound design, but these moments feel flimsy, slapdash injections of melodrama into whats otherwise a play-shaped play.

Thanks to Ibsen, thats still an enthralling shape. In a grand old house on that Norwegian island, five lives come to a fiery point of crisis: Helena Alving (Lily Rabe) is preparing to open an orphanage dedicated to her late husband, remembered by all as a pillar of the community. At the same time, shes welcoming home her son, Oswald (Levon Hawke), whos been living abroad since childhood and whomuch to the chagrin of the familys spiritual counselor, Pastor Manders (Billy Crudup)has been cultivating a bohemian existence in Paris. Oswald has brought home a shattering secret, but its not stopping him from shooting glances at Regina, whos grappling with her own social aspirations and with pressure from her mess of a father to leave her rich mistress and come home. Ibsens Danish title for the play was Gengangere  literally the ones who return or, more forebodingly, the revenants. Theres something ambiguous and fleshy in the word that ghosts lacks  it could apply to both Oswald and his dead father, who are soon enough rolled into one as the son reveals his awful news: Hes dying of syphilis, and according to the doctor who diagnosed him, hes been worm-eaten since birth. Helena spirited Oswald away in time for him to retain a shining image of his father, but only she knows the truth: Captain Alving was depraved, obscene and lascivious, and the thing consuming her sons brain from the inside out is congenital  his poison inheritance.

Not that anyone says the word syphilis in Ghosts  in Ibsens version or, notably, in ORowes. Yes, on the one hand, if you know Ghosts, you know its the infamous syphilis play, but I found myself wondering about audience members who might not arrive with that familiarity. Worm-eaten and the equivalent word Oswald uses, the French vermoulu, are creepy and poetic, but its hard to deploy them in this day and age to generate an immediate sense of devastating stakes. It perhaps doesnt help that Hawke (one of the shows several kids of famous folks; his sister will be starring in Eurydice at Signature later this spring) has a natural breeziness about him. Hes lanky and golden and remarkably chill for someone whose brain is supposed to be disintegrating. His interpretation feels so consistently light that it can be difficult to keep a grip on the plays tragic core, or on its moral one. I hate the way people judge our way of life! he bursts out at one point, as Pastor Manders tries to paint his Parisian artist friends as enemies of family values. How, because of a moral deficiency in themselves, they try to turn our freedom into something debased, something shameful. Say it louder, Oswald! Thats a speech that hasnt aged a minute, but Hawke isnt undergirding it with full Ibsenian backbone. We hear the words, but we dont feel the punch.

Meanwhile, by Oswalds side at the center of the plot, Rabes Helena and Crudups Manders feel like they havent quite worked out their dance. Despite all the pastors conventionality and sanctimony, there are flames between them, but those flickers run fairly cool until a breaking point in which Manders at last makes explicit reference to them. Crudup is a wonderful actor, and Manders is also a tough part  one of Ibsens spineless and yet somehow not soulless creatures. Hes ingratiating, self-preserving, close-minded, and almost absurdly naive, but hes also got genuine wells of kindness and compassion, a wish to be better without the courage for it, a belief in love without the muscle. I have a feeling Crudups performance might both expand and focus over the course of the run, finding more rooms in the complicated house of the role. Whether that same deepening and sharpening is likely in OBriens production overall is another question. For now, this Ghosts doesnt actively shake us so much as remind us that, in its wily old bones, that capacity to rattle still remains.

Ghosts is at the Mitzi E. Newhouse at Lincoln Center Theater through April 26.
Photo: Lars Niki/Getty Images for New York Women

Wendy Williams, who had previously called her assisted living facility a luxury prison, was escorted out of said-living facility by NYPD to a local hospital for an evaluation on March 10, reports People. The New York Post reported that Williams was tossing several notes from her window earlier this morning that read Help! Wendy!! They also shared photos of Williams inside her apartment, waving out the window for help while on the phone. The police were then called for a welfare evaluation of Williamss care; she has been asking to be removed from the facility for quite some time. I feel like Im in prison, Williams said of her experience to The Breakfast Club in January, proclaiming that she was not cognitively impaired.

She has been in a guardianship since 2022 and has been fighting to get out of it; she was put into the guardianship because the bank claimed she was being financially abused. Williams was diagnosed with dementia and aphasia last year, and she claims she hasnt been reevaluated since her diagnosis in 2023. Her family says they have had trouble communicating with Williams while in this facility. The people who love her cannot see her, Wanda Finnie, Williamss sister, told People. Vulture has reached out to Williamss team for comment.
WASHINGTON - Japanese trade minister Yoji Muto on Monday met with U.S. officials to seek exemptions from new tariffs that President Donald Trump plans to impose on steel, automobiles and other imports, but he failed to secure assurances that Japan would be given dispensation.

Following separate talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington, Muto said he gained some understanding from them about the importance of Japan to the American economy.

He said Tokyo will continue to try to protect Japanese companies from being hit by the Trump administration's proposed tariffs.

"Based on the latest discussions, we will be in close consultation on how we can make the national interests of Japan and the United States a win-win situation," the economy, trade and industry minister said at a press conference.

He held a series of meetings with key figures involved in designing Trump's raft of tariff moves since his return to the White House on Jan. 20 for a nonconsecutive second term.

The talks, which also included head of the White House National Economic Council Kevin Hassett, came two days before Trump's 25 percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports are due to take effect.

The minister said he and the U.S. officials agreed to work closely toward strengthening bilateral economic ties, despite no deal being struck on tariff exemptions for Japan. He said he highlighted how Japanese firms have made huge and ongoing investments in the United States.

While stopping short of providing details, he said they also discussed bilateral energy cooperation, such as the development of liquefied natural gas in Alaska.

Asked whether they discussed anything related to Nippon Steel Corp's blocked $14.1 billion bid to take over United States Steel Corp., he said, "I will refrain from going into details of the discussion, but I believe that the concerned private-sector parties will advance their coordination on a specific plan."

Trump has promised to target various industrial sectors, including semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, saying he aims to boost the U.S. economy and create more jobs for American workers by imposing higher levies on imported goods.

However, Trump's aggressive approach has sparked tit-for-tat trade wars with Canada and China, leaving U.S. consumers facing the prospect of higher prices. U.S. stocks have fallen sharply in recent days amid growing market uncertainty over the economic effects of his tariff plans, with recession fears growing.

Trump has said that tariffs of around 25 percent on imported cars, up from the current 2.5 percent, will likely be imposed on April 2. Such a measure would be a huge blow for the Japanese auto sector.

The U.S. market is the largest export destination for Japanese automakers, accounting for about a third of total exports.

According to official Japanese trade data, about 1.37 million vehicles were shipped to the United States, accounting for 28.3 percent of its total exports to the world's largest economy in terms of value.

Japan does not impose tariffs on imported cars, trucks or buses. The U.S. government, meanwhile, charges duties of 2.5 percent on passenger vehicles, 25 percent on trucks and 2 percent on buses coming from Japan.

Trump has pointed to April 2 as the day he plans to roll out broader reciprocal tariffs, targeting goods from all countries with matching duties.

Last week, Trump paused until that date his administration's 25 percent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico that are covered by a North American free trade agreement.

His abrupt decision, which came amid a string of unpredictable moves and only two days after the levies took effect, brought further uncertainty among companies and financial markets worldwide.

Related coverage:

Trump grants automakers 1-month reprieve from new tariffs

Japan trade minister to seek exemption from U.S. steel tariffs
Salvini pushes for Italy to ink Starlink deal as Meloni urged to steer clear.

Italy's opposition parties on Monday renewed criticism of a proposed 1.5 billion deal with SpaceX's Starlink to supply the Italian government with secure telecommunications services.

The debate was reignited after SpaceX owner Elon Musk, who plays a senior role in the administration of US president Donald Trump, wrote on his X platform on Sunday that the Ukrainian armys entire front line would collapse without Starlink.

Following a public clash with Poland's foreign minister Radosaw Sikorski, Musk insisted that he would never cut off Ukraines access to the satellite service, regardless of his disagreements with the countrys policies.

Mattarella

Over the weekend Musk said on X that "it would be an honour" to speak to Italy's president Sergio Mattarella to discuss the deal which the right-wing government of prime minster Giorgia Meloni has been negotiating in recent months.

However Italian media report that it is highly unlikely that the Tesla and SpaceX magnate would actually meet Mattarella to discuss the proposed deal which is the business of the government, not the president.

The five-year contract reportedly includes a top-level encryption system for the Italian government's telephone networks, internet services and military communications.

The Financial Times reported on Sunday that the deal was at risk amid growing concerns within the government.

Opposition

Italy's opposition parties had already objected strongly to the deal involving the satellite company owned by Musk, the world's richest man and head of Trump's controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

However political opposition to any such deal gained momentum following Musk's latest remarks on Ukraine.

Elly Schlein, leader of Italy's centre-left Partito Democratico (PD), on Monday called on the government to "change course immediately", writing on Facebook: "How can Giorgia Meloni want to hand over the keys to Italy's national security to Musk after hearing his latest, very serious words?".

Carlo Calenda, leader of the centrist Azione party, described Musk as "not reliable" and said the government should "close all negotiations with Starlink and work with Eutelsat", following reports by Bloomberg that the French satellite operator was in discussions with Rome.

Caution

Meloni's centre-right coalition partner Forza Italia (FI) has sought to distance itself from the proposed deal.

"Caution is always needed in political choices and in this case it is a question of issues that concern the security of national data - FI national spokesperson Raffaele Nevi told Affaritaliani.it - "It must absolutely not be a choice based on the emotionality of politics and not linked to friendship with Musk".

Salvini

There was no such caution in the words of deputy premier Matteo Salvini, leader of the right-wing Lega party, who strongly backs the proposed deal.

Salvini told news agency ANSA on Monday that a meeting between Musk and Mattarella "would be stimulating", adding: "If Starlink connects half the world, I don't see why the Left should prejudicially say no."

On Sunday the Lega leader said he would be ready to sign the deal "tomorrow morning", ANSA reports, stressing: "Not because I like Musk or because I'm rooting for Trump - because it would improve Italy's national security".

Meloni, who in the past has defended her friendship with Musk, responded to questions in January about the potential Starlink deal, telling reporters that Musk was "not a danger to democracy" and asking whether the problem with the tech billionaire was "that he is rich and influential or that he is not left-wing?".
Eimear Dodd

A woman who was raped by three complete strangers she encountered in a Dublin nightclub said the men preyed and took advantage of her, treating her as an object.

In a powerful victim impact statement, the woman said the three men were complete strangers who watched my movements, and took advantage of me and used me and my body as if I was an object that they were entitled to.

Anthony Hickey (39), Fabio Vicente (42) and Matin Zolfaghari (34) were convicted last month following a trial at the Central Criminal Court. They had pleaded not guilty to offences which took place in a car and in a Dublin house on August 31st, 2019.

The three men do not accept the jury's verdicts, the court heard.

Hickey, of Ballyogan Square, Carrickmines, Dublin 18, was convicted of raping the woman in his then address in Dundrum, and of orally raping and sexually assaulting her in a car.

Vicente, of Little Newtown, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, was found guilty of raping the woman in the car and raping her in Hickey's then-home.

Zolfaghari (34), of Marley Court, Rathfarnham, Co Dublin, was convicted of the oral rape of the woman in the house. The jury found him not guilty of sexually assaulting her in the car.

Reading her statement on Monday, the woman said she had been a young woman in my 20s who loved fun, describing herself as joyful, fearless and carefree.

She said this changed after she was raped by the three men, that they robbed her of her freedom, her own body, and her love for life.

Not knowing what these men looked like protected me in some ways, but for months on end, I would think every man who looked at me could be them.

She said she exists in a heightened state of fear, and while she used to find the good in everyone, you turned me into someone who thinks that everyone I meet is a threat and is capable of what you were capable of.

She outlined suffering with anxiety, flashbacks and nightmares following that night.

She said until the trial, the men were faceless monsters, and she asked for a screen to protect her mental health so as to not have to see your faces.

But, she said that protection and right was robbed from me when I had to endure hours of CCTV with your faces and behaviour played back for me on a loop.

She said she internally screamed at the screen for someone to help and to change what happened, but that is impossible.

I know your faces now. And I will look at every single one of you when I say  this is your fault.

Every victim at one stage thinks its their fault. Why did I stay out?... Why could I not stay out to dance and get home safely?

Because of you  you who waited and preyed and took advantage... You not only raped me, I found out during the trial you violated me in another way. You videoed raping me.

You sent around these videos and laughed about me saying no. You laughed because you didn't care, and you have shown no remorse from the second you entered into these courts.

Later in her statement, the woman said the criminal process is long and daunting, adding then you get to the courts and your character is obliterated.

She told the men that they made a choice that night to hand her a life sentence all for the sake of a laugh and because boys will be boys.

I don't believe you will ever be remorseful for what you did to me, she said, adding that the only bit of light I have from this trauma is knowing that I brought you to justice and that makes this world a better world for my daughter.

Karl Finnegan SC, prosecuting, told the court that the Director of Public Prosecution's view is that this falls into the highest category of sentencing of 15 years to life imprisonment, due to the circumstances of the case and the gravity of the offending by the three men.

Hickey has 10 previous convictions, including one for assault causing harm for which he received an 18-month prison sentence in 2013. Vicente has one previous conviction for a road traffic offence, while Zolfaghari has no previous convictions.

Before the accused men were brought into the courtroom, a large number of family members and friends were initially in court to support them.

Mr Justice Paul Burns noted that the men were entitled to some support, but the court didn't want the victim or her family feeling intimidated or overawed by the sheer number of people in the courtroom.

The courtroom was then cleared, with two supporters remaining for each man.

Defence counsel asked the court to consider their clients' personal circumstances and testimonials submitted on their behalf from family members, friends, clients and others.

Hickey is a personal trainer and has two children.

Vicente is from Portugal and served in the military there for four years before coming to Ireland in his late 20s. He has worked in pub security, as a personal trainer and part-time as a stripper.

Zolfaghari has two children and is the director of a restaurant.

Defence counsel also suggested that the case falls into the sentencing category of 10 to 15 years.

Remanding the three men in custody, Mr Justice Burns adjourned the case to March 27th next, when he will impose sentence.

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.
First Steps Creche and Pre-School celebrated their milestone 25th birthday last week in Ballybeg.

The creche was officially opened by President Mary McAleese in 2000, an event captured by our photographer Joe Evans.

Over the last quarter century, the creche has gone from strength to strength.

Lisa Swift, Doireann Nix and Natasha Hurton, at First Steps Creche & Pre-School which celebrates its 25th Birthday. Photo: Joe Evans

In 2024, First Steps won a Child & Youth Participation Award from Tusla, for involving the children in making decisions and changes in the service. The creche is planning on expansion in the future, and have applied for a grant from Pobal.

Currently there are 107 children enrolled in First Steps. The premises caters to children aged between three months up to six years.

Alice Power with Eileen Keogh and Winnie Cleary, who walked to Dublin to help raise funds for the building of the Creche. Photo: Joe Evans

Manager, Doireann Nix welcomed the Waterford News and Star to their celebration. Doireann began working at First Steps in September 2020, during the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic. She said: "It was very daunting because there were massive challenges for the early years sector."

Sector challenges

Today, the major challenges are in retaining staff in the sector. Doriean said: "We're very lucky that we have retained our staff here, we've staff that have been here for 20, 25 years, we've loads of new staff as well. Any staff that have left us, since I've been here, have either left the country to do childcare in a different country or have left the sector all together."

First Steps Creche & Pre-School which celebrates its 25th Birthday. Photo: Joe Evans

There are myriad reasons as to why this happens, for instance poor pay. According to Doireann: "We do pay way more than other creches pay. But there still would be a lack of investment into the sector. While the Government have made great efforts in recent years, they're not anywhere they need to be."
By Cillian Sherlock, PA

The Irish Government should start its own public inquiry into the Omagh bombing, according to a motion passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Dublin has said it will fully co-operate with the UK inquiry into the bombing, which is operating out of Omagh, but the Government in the South has stopped short of committing to a separate public inquiry.

Minister for Justice Jim OCallaghan said the Government expects to agree on a memorandum of understanding with the UK Omagh Bombing Inquiry in the coming weeks.

The existing probe is examining whether the atrocity carried out by the Real IRA in the Co Tyrone town in August 1998 could have been prevented.

The bomb killed 29 people, including a woman who was pregnant with twins, in the worst single atrocity in the Troubles.

Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA.

All those who were killed were remembered during commemorative hearings at the inquiry earlier this year, and evidence was also heard from those injured and emergency workers who responded.

The motion passed by the Assembly on Tuesday laments the lack of any tangible effort by the Irish Government to conduct their own inquiry into the Omagh bombing atrocity or deal with the wider aftermath of the Troubles.

The motion was brought by UUP MLAs Doug Beattie, Dr Steve Aiken, Robbie Butler and John Stewart.

Mr Beattie told the Assembly that the vehicle that delivered the bomb was stolen in the Republic, adding that the explosives were also sourced and assembled in the Republic.

Yet the Dublin Government does not feel the need to hold a public inquiry in parallel to the UK inquiry or even a commission of investigation.

They clearly do not take their commitment to victims seriously, and many victims do not trust their hollow words. They do not trust some weak memorandum of understanding in regards to information sharing, and they have good reason not to trust them.

Mr Beattie said that commitments on implementing new legislation will be pointless if it does not include powers to compel witnesses from the Republic of Ireland, including gardai and military intelligence, to address the Omagh bomb inquiry.

Mr Butler told the Assembly that the intent of the motion was to seek truth and justice for innocent victims of terrorism.

He said the legacy of pain from the Troubles spreads beyond the North and added that that means the Government of the Republic of Ireland need to act.

Robbie Butler MLA (Liam McBurney/PA)

However, Mr Butler said active engagement is not enough. He told the Assembly: We need to tie this down and it needs to be codified and it needs to be done in agreement between the UK government and the Irish Government.

Mr Butler said there also needs to be a parallel or standalone inquiry in the Republic, adding: Warm words will not cut it.

He told the Assembly: If a Government knows and is holding on to information that would give relief and release to these people, shame on them.

He added: In 2025, theres absolutely no reason why the Government in the Republic of Ireland shouldnt do what our Government in the UK do, and that is to fess up and provide the absolute truth for victims of terrorism. 

The UUP motion also called on the British government to initiate an inquiry into the role of the Irish State during the Troubles, but this wording was replaced by a DUP amendment.

Joanne Bunting (Liam McBurney/PA)

The DUP amendment states that the Assembly believes the memorandum of understanding between the Omagh Bombing Inquiry and the Irish Government will be entirely deficient in providing answers for the victims and their families.

It also calls on the Irish Government to initiate a public inquiry into the Omagh bomb, with powers to compel any person in the Republic of Ireland to provide evidence, information, and material pertinent to a full and unfettered investigation on behalf of victims and survivors.

That amendment was brought by DUP MLAs Joanne Bunting, Maurice Bradley, and Stephen Dunne.

Ms Bunting said it was imperative that the Irish Government instigates its own inquiry.

The DUP amendment called on Northern Justice Minister Naomi Long to demonstrate her commitment to challenging the Irish Governments failure to investigate the role of the Irish State during the Troubles.

Justice Minister Naomi Long. Photo: Niall Carson/PA

Ms Long told the Assembly that her Department has no role in the conduct of the inquiry and that it would be for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to formally engage with the Irish Government in relation to the inquiry.

She added: Whilst there has been considerable discussion about the compellability of testimony and evidence from the Irish state, I would hope that the Irish government will live up to their commitment to fully co-operate with this inquiry, and that such compulsion should not be required.

It is a moral obligation that falls on all of us when we are aware of information that could bring someone else truth and justice, that we disclose that information and co-operate in every way that we could.

Ms Long also said the Northern Ireland Department of Justice cannot intrude on the decision of the Republic of Ireland to hold its own inquiry or compel it to co-operate with the existing inquiry.

She also said she shared some concerns with Mr OCallaghan that an entirely separate inquiry could result in putting people through another traumatic process.

She said it would be sensible to examine whether a mechanism can exist by which people can be assured they can get full truth from the existing inquiry.
Some of the most prominent residents of Perths millionaires row  from former WA governor Malcolm McCusker to media mogul Kerry Stokes  have been dragged into a bitter council dispute that has spilled out into the WA Supreme Court.

After more than two decades living interstate and overseas, Meredith McGarry told the court she and her property developer husband Paul believed they had found their forever home when she purchased 52 Jutland Parade in late 2021.

The block at 52 Jutland Parade, Dalkeith. Inset: Rob Anderson KC with Paul McGarry (top). Nedlands councillor Andrew Mangano with high-profile defamation lawyer Sue Chrysanthou (bottom). Credit: Jesinta Burton/Google Maps

But within six months, Meredith said the mere sight of the $12.4 million Dalkeith block on the banks of the Swan River gave her a sinking feeling akin to passing a hospital in which a loved one had died.

The McGarrys sued former Nedlands councillor Andrew Mangano in 2023 over claims he defamed them during three separate council discussions about the sites development, which he is defending on the basis his comments were substantially true.
British YouTuber and musician Yung Filly will fight allegations that he raped and choked a woman in a hotel room after a gig in Hillarys last year.

Filly, whose real name is Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos, returned to Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Musician and Youtuber Yung Filly, real name Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos. Credit: Marv.Media

The 29-year-old, who is on bail with strict conditions, is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in her 20s following a performance in Perths northern suburbs in September.

The entertainer pleaded not guilty to four counts of sexual penetration without consent and three counts of assault occasioning bodily harm.
SENDAI - Yuzuru Hanyu says the desire to support his native northeastern Japan in its recovery from the 2011 earthquake-tsunami catastrophe was a major motivating factor in his decorated figure skating career.

The magnitude-9.0 quake struck 14 years ago when the then first-year high school student was practicing at a rink in his home city of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. His house was deemed "completely destroyed," forcing the youngster to spend time at an evacuation center.

Delivering for northeastern Japan has "been one of the missions of my figure skating career," Hanyu said during a Kyodo News interview on Monday in Sendai, the prefectural capital.

"There remain lots of unresolved issues. I hope to be by the side (of those who suffered) and keep sending messages (of support)."

The quake and tsunami claimed around 15,900 lives, with 2,520 people still unaccounted for, and destroyed large swathes of Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima prefectures as well as triggering a long-running nuclear disaster.

"The sights from that period, and the fear I felt at that moment, I can recall them like yesterday," he said.

After becoming the first Asian to win figure skating Olympic gold in the men's event in Sochi in 2014, Hanyu returned to Japan and began making visits to the city of Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture among other devastated areas, using his fame to bring a positive distraction to struggling locals.

Hanyu, who went on to defend his Olympic title in 2018 in Pyeongchang, said despite having personal experience of the disaster, he still felt unsure whether his efforts were ultimately worthy.

"I wasn't sure if it was right for an outsider to step into such areas," he said. "I'm aware there are people yet to return to their houses, and those left with scars on their hearts."

Hanyu's support for disaster-hit regions extended to other parts of Japan after he visited Wajima in Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, last June after the M7.6 quake jolted Noto Peninsula on New Year's Day in 2024, killing more than 200 people.

He appeared in a charity event held in the prefecture in September and donated 44 million yen ($300,000) raised through livestreaming and T-shirt sales.

Hanyu promoted an exchange between Ishikawa Prefecture and his home region when he offered Wajima store owners who lost their businesses in a post-quake fire an opportunity to open booths in Sendai during his three-day ice show through Sunday.

"The fans who came to watch the show bought products from Wajima to support them, and I could sense the circle of support expanding," Hanyu said. "It made me realize that this could actually be the best way I can help."

With Hanyu's status as an icon of his sport not waning despite him leaving the competitive rink in 2022 for a professional career, the 2011 disaster will always be in the back of his mind.

"I want to be the catalyst to ensure the memory of the Great East Japan Earthquake never fades," he said.

Related coverage:

Figure skating: Icon Yuzuru Hanyu commemorates March 11 quake in ice show

Japan marks 14th anniversary of quake-tsunami, nuclear disasters
The global head of the Ukrainian diaspora has urged Peter Dutton to reverse his short-sighted opposition to sending Australian peacekeepers to Ukraine, arguing Australia must be prepared to break with the United States if Donald Trump definitively abandons the war-ravaged nation.

Paul Grod, the elected president of the Ukrainian World Congress, also called for Australia to stare down dire warnings from the Putin regime of grave consequences about sending troops to Ukraine, saying such rhetoric was predictable Kremlin propaganda.

Paul Grod, President Ukrainian World Congress, said it was in Australias interests to join a coalition of the willing in Ukraine. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has applauded Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for being willing to contribute to a coalition of the willing in Ukraine, while Dutton has argued it would be against the national interest to send Australian troops to eastern Europe.

Grod, who is visiting Australia to meet with government officials and leaders of the Ukrainian-Australian community, said: The reality is that you need to be part of this coalition of the willing because that coalition will be willing to help you.
So if News Corp was not surprising, the ABC definitely was. Both on Monday night on 7.30 and on Radio National on Tuesday, I was challenged about my remarks and whether I should have self-censored, said nothing critical about Trump lest it influence him on tariffs.

I was amused to reflect on the mental stress this episode was causing our friends at News Corp. Such a target-rich environment! They can blame me for the tariffs, or Kevin Rudd, or Anthony Albanese. Surely they can work out a formula where its the fault of all three  but never, ever the fault of Donald Trump!

And it perhaps never occurred to the team at News Corps Holt Street HQ in Sydney that it is utterly bizarre that the unremarkable comments of a former prime minister would cause the US to decide not to exempt Australia from tariffs. Not a word of criticism of Mr Trump, of course!

I was not surprised to see the News Corp publications gleefully adopting Trumps abuse and claiming that I had torpedoed any hopes of securing an exemption from steel and aluminium tariffs. It has always been most unlikely that Australia will secure an exemption this time. It was hard enough in 2018 and all the signals from the administration are that the tariffs will be applied across the board.

The problem with compromising free speech like this is that it is a slippery slope. Are we all to bite our tongues constantly lest we incur the wrath of the president? After all, he can put tariffs up and down on a whim, and has done so several times in the last few weeks. What other mischief might he inflict on us if we dare to say what we think?

The United States under Trump is not the America we have been used to. And he doesnt pretend it is. He does not respect the international rules-based order any more than he respects alliances and treaties. He is imposing swingeing tariffs on Canada and Mexico despite having signed the USMCA free trade agreement himself with both countries in 2018.

He has, effectively, changed sides in the war between Russia and Ukraine, cutting off military aid to, and intelligence sharing with, Ukraine. His formula for peacemaking is kneecapping Ukraine to the point that it has to accept Putins peace. A genuinely strong leader would use his power to compel the aggressor, Russia, to yield. Instead, he is punching down on the weaker party.

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We need to have an honest conversation about this  the gaslighting has to stop. We cannot assume that an America which believes might is right can be relied upon as an ally. We need to be able to defend ourselves  the assumption that we will never fight alone is busted. Of course, we hope the US will support us in time of need, but we know now, more than ever, that under Trump, it will only do so if it is in its interests so to do. And there may be a very high price. Fancy a minerals deal?
Mercy Theogenes (R) screens a child with congenital heart diseases under the guidance of Zhao Lijian, a pediatric cardiologist from the 27th Chinese medical team, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, March 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Emmanuel Herman)

DAR ES SALAAM, March 9 (Xinhua) -- On a sunny Wednesday morning, Mercy Theogenes, a 25-year-old Tanzanian cardiovascular technologist, was busy screening children with congenital heart diseases at the state-of-the-art Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) in Dar es Salaam.

Under the guidance of Zhao Lijian, a pediatric cardiologist from the 27th Chinese medical team, Theogenes conducted the screenings adeptly and confidently.

"After six months of training with Dr. Zhao, I have become proficient in screening children for cardiovascular conditions, including congenital heart diseases, which are common in Tanzania," she told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Theogenes, who earned her bachelor of science in cardiovascular technology in India, emphasized that the training from Chinese medical specialists has significantly honed her skills and contributed to improved survival rates for congenital heart disease patients.

"I have learned to apply advanced Chinese techniques, such as minimally invasive cardiac procedures that use arteries to perform surgeries instead of opening the heart wall," she said.

Zhao was impressed by Theogenes's rapid progress in cardiac disease screening, including echocardiography, electrocardiograms, and laboratory tests.

"Currently, three local doctors have completed our training and returned to hospitals across Tanzania," the Chinese doctor said, noting that he usually trains between three and five doctors at a time.

"My goal is to train as many local doctors as possible. They need more experience in interventional procedures, particularly for congenital heart diseases," said Zhao, wearing a green surgical gown.

He highlighted the urgent need for skilled pediatric cardiologists in the East African country, as many patients are still awaiting treatment.

"Tanzania faces a heavy burden of congenital heart disease, largely due to the lack of prenatal screening," Zhao said. According to JKCI statistics, one in every 100 children in Tanzania is born with a congenital heart defect.

In Zhao's view, limited medical resources, economic hardships faced by patients, a shortage of trained specialists, and other challenges continue to hinder Tanzania's efforts to combat cardiovascular diseases.

"My mission is to build a capable local team that can independently perform interventional procedures for congenital heart diseases," Zhao added. 

Mercy Theogenes speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, March 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Emmanuel Herman)
By Nazrin Abdul



Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has approved amendments to the "Housing Code." According to the document, citizens from specified categories will be provided with living spaces from the state or municipal housing fund through social rental agreements.

Azernews reports that this was reported by MP Vugar Bayramov on his social media account.

He noted that, under the legislation, several families and citizens will receive free housing with state support. "According to the current legislation, conditions are created for families of martyrs, war veterans, disabled individuals from the Chernobyl accident, and citizens who lost their parents to access the social housing fund. The new amendments include registering families in need of housing and providing them with living spaces under social rental agreements. This will further increase access to free housing."

"Under the new rules, changes have been approved to Article 48 of the Social Housing Code. This article pertains to residential areas provided under a social rental agreement. According to the law, individuals can only be registered as in need of residential space once to obtain housing from the state housing fund under a social rental agreement," V. Bayramov added.
Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin delivers a speech at the airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh, March 10, 2025. The first group of Bangladeshi patients, doctors, and travel agencies departed Monday from Dhaka to Kunming, Yunnan Province, for medical check-ups and treatment, exploring the potential for the medical tourism market. Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin, along with guests from various sectors of both China and Bangladesh, doctors, airline representatives, and media journalists, gathered at the airport to see the group off.(Photo by Habibur Rahman/Xinhua)

DHAKA, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The first group of Bangladeshi patients, doctors, and travel agencies departed Monday from Dhaka to Kunming, Yunnan Province, for medical check-ups and treatment, exploring the potential for the medical tourism market.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin, along with guests from various sectors of both China and Bangladesh, doctors, airline representatives, and media journalists, gathered at the airport to see the group off.

At the send-off ceremony, Yao emphasized that this visit to China not only implements the consensus reached by the two heads of foreign affairs, but also demonstrates China's commitment to addressing Bangladesh's urgent needs, enhancing medical and health cooperation, and promoting people-to-people exchanges between the two nations.

He wished the delegation a smooth trip to Yunnan, a speedy recovery for the patients, and expressed his hope that the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Bangladesh, and the Year of People-to-People Exchanges would serve as an opportunity to further deepen bilateral cooperation in various fields and jointly build a global community of health for all.

For his part, Jashim wished the delegation a successful visit and expressed his gratitude to the medical institutions in Yunnan for their strong support in providing valuable opportunities for the Bangladeshi patients to access quality medical treatment.

He noted that this initiative allows the Bangladeshi people to feel the profound friendship between the two nations.

He also highly appreciated the long-standing support and assistance provided by the Chinese government in the fields of public healthcare and humanitarian aid and looked forward to further strengthening pragmatic cooperation between China and Bangladesh to bring greater benefits to both peoples.

"I've heard that medical treatment in China is very good and advanced, (and) that is why we're going. I hope to receive better treatment and make a full recovery," female patient Sharmila Hakim told Xinhua at the airport.

Azizul Hakim, another patient, said, "Visa facility has been done very well. I would like to express my sincere thanks to China. I will be able to receive treatment at the best hospital in China."

This group consists of 31 members, including patients, their family members, doctors, travel agents, and journalists. They will respectively receive medical treatment and review relevant hospitals in Yunnan Province. 

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen and Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin see off the group of Bangladeshi patients, doctors, and travel agencies at the airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh, March 10, 2025. The first group of Bangladeshi patients, doctors, and travel agencies departed Monday from Dhaka to Kunming, Yunnan Province, for medical check-ups and treatment, exploring the potential for the medical tourism market.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin, along with guests from various sectors of both China and Bangladesh, doctors, airline representatives, and media journalists, gathered at the airport to see the group off.(Photo by Habibur Rahman/Xinhua)
SHREVEPORT, La. - Be sure to wash your hands. It's peak season for Norovirus.

The CDC is reporting two to three times the average number of cases this year across the U.S. which means Norovirus infections are up in northwest Louisiana as well.

Norovirus is the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea, and foodborne illness in the United States.

It's easily mistaken at first as food poisoning, but is a type of stomach flu and is highly contagious.

Dr. Joseph Bocchini, pediatric infectious disease specialist of Willis Knighton, shared how Norovirus is different than food poisoning.

"This is different from food poisoning because food poisoning means that an organism has grown within the food releasing a toxin that when you ingest it the toxin causes the symptoms. In this case it's an actual infection. So, people with Norovirus are actually infected with the virus. It's really food contamination with an active organism," said Bocchini.

Bocchini said the number one cause of Norovirus is foodborne because the virus can contaminate food and water.

It also can spread from person to person and live for weeks on countertops and door knobs.

He said the best way to prevent getting sick is to wash your hands. And if you can't control the symptoms, then it's a good sign that it may be time to see a doctor.
WASHINGTON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday that more than 80 percent of the programs sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) would be canceled.

After a 6-week review, the Trump administration is "officially cancelling 83% of the programs at USAID," Rubio wrote in a post on the social platform X.

He said the 5,200 contracts spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, and in some cases even harmed, the core national interests of the United States.

U.S. President Donald Trump said last month that there was "tremendous fraud" in the use of USAID funds at "unprecedented levels of corruption" and demanded that it be shut down. Trump administration is ending nearly all foreign assistance programs operated by USAID.

On Feb. 4, the official website of USAID issued a notice that said all directly employed personnel worldwide would be placed on "administrative leave," with a few designated individuals as exceptions.

According to previous reports from U.S. media, the Trump administration's goal was to reduce USAID's global workforce from over 10,000 to fewer than 300, a reduction of 97 percent.

USAID, an agency of the U.S. government responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance, is a key target for government reform by the Department of Government Efficiency. Some countries have accused the agency of being a U.S. tool to fuel civil unrest. 
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What a difference a new leader can make. No, not that one  I think we have all probably heard plenty for now about the difference hes making to the world we thought we lived in.

Step forward instead Sir Keir Starmer. Without doubt he has had a busy and important few weeks on the international stage, but he is also having an impact worth remarking on in a more local context.

Anglo-Irish relations needed a reset, and they have got one. In an uncertain and difficult world, the summit last week between the UK and Ireland was something of a beacon. Whether or not that would seem at first glance to be big news, we should mark it as a win. And since we could do with more good news on the international front, lets make sure to celebrate any of it that comes along.

The Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister held a private dinner in Liverpool last week before being joined the following day by a collection of their senior ministers. They discussed a range of topics in a friendly spirit. The mood music, a term they use about these kinds of events, was excellent.

The summit agreed a programme of co-operation which both sides described as "the most extensive policy engagement between the UK government and the Government of Ireland in a generation". The full communique issued after the summit set out a range of issues the two governments would work on, including energy security, offshore wind, cyber security and trade. These are all issues where we have common interests, and similar challenges.

Some suggested that what was actually agreed didnt amount to an awful lot. But how detailed any of that co-operation is right now, or how substantive it might become, is in many ways neither here nor there. What matters is that the summit happened, and that it took place in such a cordial atmosphere.

To illustrate that, it was the opening section of the communique that caught my eye. It stated that the relationship between our two countries is informed by our co-guarantorship of the Good Friday Agreement. And? What about it? That is surely only a simple statement of fact. We are both joint guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement. We all know that.

Why does that matter? Why did that phrase jump out? It matters because the last ten years has been so difficult. The trouble in our recent relations all started with Brexit and centred on the border with Northern Ireland. Ever since 2016, the fault lines along that border that Brexit exposed created nothing but problems. And from those problems arose an increasingly unsettling distance between our governments.

Can you recall how unlikely a joint statement  informed by our co-guarantorship of the Good Friday Agreement  would have been in the days of Boris Johnson as British Prime Minister? Can you remember how he and his fellow Brexiteers railed against our concerns? And how the language unleashed during that time would make you shake your head? How we watched in astonishment as a deal the British Prime Minister had committed to was reneged on, not overtly, but by denying it was what it was? I think we can all remember that, and we can probably remember our own reaction too. The British bulldog on full display does not bring out the best in us.

Even after the Windsor Framework patched up some of the damage that was caused, and relations improved a bit, the strains still showed. It had taken such a long time to get to a workable arrangement that the warmth had largely evaporated.

But that sense of chilliness in our relations has been dissipating ever since the election of the Labour government last year. And theres no doubt that our two countries have found it easier to bridge the distance that had arisen between us because of the particular personality and interests of Sir Keir Starmer. He gets Ireland. That comes not only from his political background but also his personal connections with this country. It shows too, I guess, what a change in political leadership can bring, and is a timely and welcome reminder that it can work for good rather than the other way round.

Of course, it is not just Sir Keirs personality and focus that has helped relations. The appointment of Hilary Benn MP as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has certainly contributed to that too. His steady and measured hand has removed the need for potentially inflammatory and unhelpful language in day-to-day politics. In Northern Ireland, that is always a positive, though in fairness it should be acknowledged that his Tory predecessor, the Brexiteer Chris Heaton-Harris, did a good job in that respect too. It surely also helped the mood that last weeks summit was the first meeting between the two governments where Northern Ireland was not a hot topic. That the parties which are governing together there have just published a Programme for Government is a big help.

But on the wider plane, whether that be on the Legacy Act or the Rwanda plan, the change in tack by the Labour government has removed lingering sources of tensions between our two countries. And while I appreciate that some will feel aggrieved about how clearly pro-Union Keir Starmer is, and disappointed that the British Prime Minister has not set out to reverse Brexit, we should be very glad and supportive of the fact that he has helped to restore civility to relations with us. Some will be dissatisfied at Hilary Benn effectively ruling out a referendum on a United Ireland, but one can hope that they might see that reducing tensions within the unionist community will make sense as the Windsor Framework is rolled out.

All that bad feeling which was so unhelpful can hopefully be put behind us. While the UK will not rejoin the EU, the British government will stabilise and even enhance relations between both sides. That is absolutely in Irelands interest, not least because of the new and wider international situation we find ourselves in. That situation is so changed and so volatile, and has the potential to have such a damaging impact on us, that Ireland needs to repair and enhance relations wherever we can. We are entering really choppy waters now that go to the heart of our political and economic model. These are very serious times and the challenges are enormous. Friends are always helpful in challenging times like this. And a British government led by Sir Keir Starmer is a friend to Ireland.

Speaking of friends or otherwise, the Taoiseachs job in Washington this week will be a little harder than that summit last week in Liverpool. Over dinner, Sir Keir Starmer may well have given Micheal Martin some tips on how to handle what awaits him in the White House. As he embarks on that mission, however you voted in our own election, wish him well.
Today

Mostly sunny and a bit warmer, but with still comfortable humidity levels.

Tonight

Mostly clear and milder overnight.

Tomorrow

Mostly sunny, warmer, and more humid with near 90 highs and stickier air to wrap up the holiday weekend.
EXETER TWP., Pa.  The Exeter Township Board of Supervisors took two big steps toward bringing a new fire station to the township Monday night.

By a 5-0 vote, the supervisors approved the proposed site location for the new fire/EMS station at the former K-9 training area centrally located in the township along Gibraltar Road. Township Manager William Heim told the supervisors that the K-9 training facility has been relocated.

In addition, the supervisors voted 5-0 to authorize the township manager to continue to engage with KCBA Architects, Hatfield, for the design, engineering and construction of a fire station or, if warranted, create and advertise a request for proposal for a new fire station.

Supervisor George Bell asked if the authorization covered companies affiliated with KCBA, such as construction, and was told by Heim that it did.

Also, in his manager's report, Heim said that he and the finance team were researching fundraising options to obtain financing for the new fire station.

Truck inspections

Truck inspections help keep roads safe for all drivers, police chief says From weighing trucks to checking their documentation, Exeter Township's police chief says his officers are working to enhance roadway safety for all drivers.

Police Chief Matthew Harley delivered a report on recent actions by the truck inspection detail on March 3 from 7 a.m. to 12 noon. He noted that Exeter has the only police department in Pennsylvania that has a weigh-in-motion scale. Also, Exeter has several officers that are trained in truck inspections.

Harley said the truck details enhance roadway safety for trucks and all other vehicles, making sure the trucks are in good condition and drivers are not driving more than 12 hours a day.

In the five-hour period, the police chief said 27 vehicles were inspected and 99 violations were discovered. Seven trucks were weighed, and five were overweight, earning 37 citations. The fine money was a total of $27,304.

Contracts

A proposal from Alarm Tech Systems, Reading, in the amount of $10,197 to supply and install IP video surveillance system at Pineland Park was approved. This is a budgeted item was included in the 2025 budget at $15,000.

The supervisors also approved a proposal from Landis Mechanical, Leesport, contingent on the solicitor's review and approval, in the total amount of $15,341 for preventive maintenance of the HVAC systems at the township building, mechanic shop, Dunn Community Center, library and ambulance building.

Supervisor Clarence Hamm pointed out that the township has done business with Landis, and the results have been excellent, he said.

A 1-year service agreement renewal with ITC Global Networks, Coplay, Pa., in the amount of $11,476.20 for all Township phone line services was approved. The agreement is payable monthly at $956.35 plus any applicable taxes

In addition, the supervisors approved a motion to sell items on Municibid: a 1999 Honda Accord with 199,000 miles and a 2008 New Holland T6030 Tractor long boom mower.

Promenade sale

Sale of former Promenade property falls through in Exeter The pending sale of the former Promenade property has fallen through, Exeter Township's solicitor says.

Solicitor Chad Schnee reported that the pending sale of the Promenade through the Berks County Redevelopment Authority is no longer operative and that the authority continues to look for other buyers.
MOSCOW, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Russian air defense forces shot down 58 Ukrainian drones in the Moscow region early Tuesday amid a large-scale drone attack by Ukraine, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on his Telegram channel.

Earlier on Tuesday the Federal Air Transport Agency announced that temporary flight restrictions are imposed at Moscow's Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports for the sake of flight safety.

"To ensure the safety of civil aircraft flights, temporary restrictions were imposed on the operation of Zhukovsky airport at 04:24 Moscow time (0124 GMT). Temporary restrictions on the arrival and departure of aircraft at 04:40 Moscow time (0140 GMT) were also imposed at Moscow's Domodedovo airport," the agency said. 
READING, Pa.  Frustrated residents are calling for tougher regulations after a series of dog attacks in the city.

Jon Auchter, a former member of Reading's Animal Control Board, resigned Monday morning and took his concerns straight to City Council, pushing for a new "dangerous dog owner ordinance."

"People are afraid to walk their dogs," Auchter told councilmembers. "I would like a law where you lose your privilege to own dogs based on a history of neglect."

Auchter outlined multiple dog attacks in Reading, including several cases where pets were killed, and their owners were bitten. He said his own dog was recently attacked but survived.

"No one else came here tonight, but my dog was attacked," he said.

Auchter's neighbor, Maria Lukas, said the issue has been ongoing.

Reading City Council hears update on costs from Animal Rescue League The CEO of the Animal Rescue League of Berks County says it is more costly to run a no-kill shelter.

"I had to go out and chase two more dogs that were after a guy walking his small dogs," she said.

Residents say repeat offenders continue to own dogs, even after multiple attacks, because there are no laws banning them from doing so.

Officials from the Animal Rescue League of Berks County said they have no authority to declare a dog dangerous or remove it from an owner.

"In 2024, the Pennsylvania Dog Law changed," said Ashley Mikulsky, CEO of the Animal Rescue League. "Only local police or the state dog warden can enforce it now."

Currently, only police or the dog warden can take action against a dangerous dog.

The process follows these steps:

1. A dog attacks or kills another animal or person, and police or the dog warden cite the owner.

2. A judge decides whether the dog is dangerous.

3. If ruled dangerous, the owner must follow strict rules, including using a short leash, obtaining liability insurance, and posting warning signs.

4. Dogs are not automatically removed unless ordered by a court.

A severe attack can lead to a dog being euthanized.
EXETER TWP., Pa.  The sale of the Promenade property in Exeter Township has fallen through, solicitor Chad Schnee told the board of supervisors Monday night.

Schnee said a pending sale of the Promenade property through the Berks County Redevelopment Authority is no longer operative, and the redevelopment authority continues to look for other buyers.

"While things were looking very, very optimistic there was a buyer lined up  that particular sale did not go through," the solicitor said. "There was some issues in terms of some of the requirements under the redevelopment authority law that could not be waived."

Apartments, hotel could come to former Promenade, Exeter solicitor says Exeter Township's solicitor says the BCRA is in negotiations with a leading national development company for the former Promenade property.

In November, Schnee had said the redevelopment authority was in negotiations with a leading national development company for a proposed plan that included market-rate apartments and a partnership with a global hotel chain.

On Monday, though, Schnee said the redevelopment authority is continuing to market the property in hopes of finding another buyer.

Exeter Township's agreement with the authority stipulates that if the property were sold for more than $3.3 million, the township would split the overage 50-50 with the redevelopment authority.
China's annual "two sessions" have drawn global attention. In a special coverage of the "two sessions," global media leaders share their thoughts on the "two sessions" and China's development.

In this episode, Momar Diongue, managing director of Senegalese Press Agency, spoke highly of the fruitful results of the Africa-China cooperation during the 14th Five-Year Plan period and denounced the so-called China threat rhetoric. He said that China is never a threat, but instead an inspiring model for the third world countries in Africa.
YANGON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Under the guidance of Myanmar's State Administration Council, the government has been providing financial assistance to nearly 700,000 displaced people, according to the Department of Disaster Management under the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement on Tuesday.

The government plans to allocate a total of over 166 billion kyats (about 79.047 million U.S. dollars) for 2025, using the National Natural Disaster Management Fund, an official from the department told Xinhua.

The assistance aims to help people who have temporarily fled their respective regions and states due to conflicts and terrorist attacks to meet their basic needs, she said. 
Photo taken on March 10, 2025 shows a production line at the Zettanet factory in Kisber, Hungary. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

KISBER, Hungary, March 10 (Xinhua) -- A new milestone in Chinese-Hungarian economic cooperation was celebrated with the grand opening of ZettaNet, a newly established optical cable manufacturing company in Kisber, Hungary on Monday. The investment, backed by Chinese telecommunications giant FiberHome, is expected to enhance Hungary's industrial capabilities and strengthen bilateral economic relations.

"This newly established ZettaNet cable manufacturing base is our first industrial entity invested in and constructed in Europe," said Zeng Jun, Chairman of the Board of FiberHome.

The Hungarian facility aims to leverage FiberHome's expertise in the fiber optic cable industry to establish a high-end optical communication manufacturing hub in Europe. The site will integrate production, technological research and development, and logistics delivery to serve the broader European market, he said.

Judit Bertalan Czunyine, state secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration and Regional Development, emphasized the project's positive impact on the local economy. She noted that the arrival of high-tech investments boosts economic resilience, competitiveness, and diversification, adding that "this project marks another important milestone in this process."

Levente Magyar, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, stressed the importance of evaluating the project's impact on the local community. He also pointed out that Hungary's strategic location makes it an attractive destination for Chinese investors and underlined the need for competitive wages to retain skilled labor.

Chinese Ambassador to Hungary Gong Tao remarked that the project was completed and put into operation in less than a year. He stated that this achievement not only demonstrated the efficiency and strength of Chinese companies but also reflected the mutual trust, cooperation, and shared vision between China and Hungary. 

Officials from Hungary and China attend an opening ceremony of Zettanet factory in Kisber, Hungary, on March 10, 2025. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

Photo taken on March 10, 2025 shows a production line at the Zettanet factory in Kisber, Hungary. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

Photo taken on March 10, 2025 shows a production line at the Zettanet factory in Kisber, Hungary. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)
Workers load baby strollers onto a truck at Hubei Ruizhi Children Appliances Co., Ltd. in Xiaogan City, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Tian Zhongquan)

WUHAN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- At a workshop in central China's Hubei Province, workers meticulously assemble stroller frames and components before packing them into boxes labeled in English, Japanese, and other languages, preparing them for shipment to international markets.

"With a daily shipment of over 2,000 units, our orders are fully booked until the second half of the year," said Deng Fangbo, deputy general manager of Hubei Ruizhi Children Appliances Co., Ltd., based in Hanchuan City.

The company secured numerous overseas clients at last year's China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, the longest-running comprehensive international trade event in China and a key barometer of the country's foreign trade.

"If we finalize the new orders currently in negotiation, we'll be busy for the entire year," Deng added.

Stroller manufacturing is a pillar of Hanchuan's foreign trade. The city is home to 43 stroller enterprises, producing 9.3 million units annually, with exports reaching 43 countries and regions.

In 2024, the industry's total output value exceeded 3.1 billion yuan (about 432.16 million U.S. dollars), marking a 10 percent year-on-year increase.

However, Hanchuan's rise as a global stroller hub was not without challenges.

Before 2000, the city's stroller industry primarily focused on domestic sales. When companies attempted to expand to overseas markets, outdated production techniques and technologies, and a lack of product differentiation posed significant obstacles.

"Some companies managed to secure overseas orders, only to have their products returned as they failed to meet customer expectations," recalled Zhong Shoucheng, secretary-general of the Hanchuan Stroller Association.

While the global market offered immense potential, it also demanded higher standards and continuous self-improvement from local manufacturers.

To overcome these challenges, manufacturers focused on innovation, supported by local government initiatives and corporate investment, resulting in a lasting transformation of the industry.

Companies embraced technological upgrades, increased research and development (R&D) spending, introduced advanced production equipment, and established product testing laboratories to enhance quality control.

The city also adopted European and American standards for stroller evaluation, assisted companies in registering international trademarks, and guided them in improving product quality to align with global market demands.

Like many companies, Hubei Ruizhi Children Appliances Co., Ltd. upgraded its production facilities and introduced intelligent manufacturing systems to enhance efficiency and quality.

Hubei Yangtian Plastic Products Co., Ltd. tailored its products to different regional preferences. "Russian customers prefer strollers with larger wheels and better insulation for snowy conditions, while Middle Eastern buyers favor gold and dark green designs. In Australia, brake pedals must meet the strict local safety standards," explained Pan Fan, the company's sales manager.

Meanwhile, Hubei Douhaha Technology Co., Ltd. has ventured into an emerging niche market -- pet strollers.

"The pet industry is booming, especially in developed countries where pet-related spending is on the rise," said Sun Bo, head of the company's factory. The company has leveraged its expertise in stroller manufacturing to innovate pet strollers, which have gained popularity in Japan, the Republic of Korea, and European countries.

The industry's rapid expansion has prompted several Hanchuan stroller manufacturers to build new factories and increase production capacity.

"The potential in overseas markets remains vast," said Zhong. With the rise of cross-border e-commerce and the growing reputation of Hanchuan-made strollers, local companies are now focused on strengthening industrial clusters, optimizing supply chains, and developing international marketing strategies to expand their global footprint further, he noted. 

A host conducts live-streaming sales at Hubei Yangtian Plastic Products Co., Ltd. in Xiaogan City, central China's Hubei Province, March 11, 2025. (Xinhua)
Moving graves and people for coal mines

The devastating costs of mining in South Africa: A new book looks at the spiritual dislocation experienced by people to make way for coal mines.

This is the subject of No Last Place to Rest: Coal Mining and Dispossession in South Africa by coal mining researcher Dineo Skosana. We spoke to her about her new book, published by Wits University Press.

How has coal mining dispossessed South African communities?

Coal mining affects communities in the Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo provinces. The coal seams there supply thermal coal (coal thats burnt to run electricity turbines) and higher quality anthracite coal, used locally for the production of steel and other products that are mainly exported. Both are important to South Africas energy system and the countrys economy.

In my book, I describe coal mining as South Africas paradox. It is the source of the countrys energy system. But it is also central to the dispossession of African communities who live in these areas of extraction. Their lives are sacrificed to keep our energy system and the economy going.

My book focuses on two regions, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. Communities in these provinces have lost their homes, land, and land-based livelihoods, such as sugarcane farms and their livestock selling businesses.

Open-cast mining, where coal is dug out of the ground through a giant, open pit, destroys habitats. South Africa has many of the largest open pit mines in the world. When these were established, a large number of homes and graves had to be relocated.

One of the major problems is that mining companies and heritage management companies increasingly recommend household and grave relocations as a way of mitigating the damage caused by open-pit mining.

But in reality, relocating homes and graves subjects communities to poverty and dehumanisation. Yet no academic studies highlight the magnitude of this problem in South Africa.

My book illustrates that dispossession did not end when colonialism and apartheid ended. It continues today.

I collected oral accounts from people living in these mining-affected communities. My book analyses what it means to lose the land, and challenges the idea that land is only a material asset. I argue that the land and access to it provides dignity, belonging, emotional and spiritual well-being.

How are coal mining companies dispossessing people today?

My book tells the stories of people who have been relocated both from privately owned commercial farms and tribal land since the 2000s. Communities who live on tribal land, under the governance of traditional leaders, are customarily buried at their homesteads. Labour tenants  people who work on commercial farms in exchange for living on and using the land  have historically been buried on these farms.

Both groups only have informal rights to the land they live on. When a coal mine sets up, their homes and ancestors graves are often relocated. As one participant I interviewed said,

I did not want to leave, so they packed my things as I sat and watched them. They never issued a date. They simply showed up on the day. Inside the truck, they combined my things with my neighbours.

Communities in South Africas rural Somkhele in KwaZulu-Natal spoke about the loss of their land and ancestral graves to Tendele coal mine in 2023:

The land is our bed. We sleep on it. Everyone. Now, when the mine dispossesses the land, where must we, Black people, sleep?

The people of Somkhele also explained that economically, the loss of land forced them into precarious and exploitative wage labour and left many to depend on very low social grants.

My book describes how the dehumanisation of being moved to make way for a coal mine affects both the living and their ancestors. One family recounted:

They used pickaxes to dig. One of ours (a buried person) was still covered in their blanket when they were exhumed. They (the mine) provided prison-like blankets for our remains, not the kind of blankets we had buried them in. Others had fossilised, and their remains had turned into soil. They placed the soiled remains on the prison-like blankets.

The trauma of watching family members graves being relocated affected people psychologically and spiritually. Many recounted that they became spiritually restless. They started seeing their loved ones in dreams because these ancestors were not happy at having been physically and spiritually disturbed.

The loss caused by displacement is intangible, and irreparable. It leads to what I describe as spiritual dislocation, as detailed by a recent clinical psychologists report into the psychosocial impacts of coal mining.

What should be done to compensate affected communities?

There is currently no law regulating how households can be moved to make way for mines. However, the rights of communities to refuse mining operations must be respected. Mining companies need to set up genuine negotiated processes that honour the views and choices of everyone affected before they build coal mines.

Society and the powerful must recognise that when communities contest the theft of their land, this is because land is not only an economic asset. It is part of a broader claim for a sense of belonging in a nation that persistently disrupts communities identities and heritage.

From the perspective of the communities, the ongoing disputes with mines are about recovering home, and holding on to a place of physical, emotional and spiritual return in a society that regards the land merely as storage for wealth and accumulation.

Mining-affected communities sacrifice their lives to defend their constitutional, land and heritage rights. The intervention of environmental justice organisations such as Groundwork, WoMin African Alliance, the Centre for Environmental Rights, Global Environmental Trust, Mining Affected Communities United In Action and others has helped shape campaigns and support litigation where necessary.

The No Last Place to Rest cover photograph was taken by Simon Gush, an artist, filmmaker and a researcher at the Society, Work and Politics Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Dineo Skosana, Researcher, University of the Witwatersrand

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
This photo taken with a mobile phone shows staff members cleaning the site of a bus accident in South Africa's northeastern Gauteng Province on March 11, 2025. At least 12 people were killed and 45 others injured on Tuesday morning after a bus overturned in South Africa's northeastern Gauteng Province. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua)

JOHANNESBURG, March 11 (Xinhua) -- At least 12 people were killed and 45 others injured on Tuesday morning after a bus overturned in South Africa's northeastern Gauteng Province.

Andile Mngwevu, a member of the Mayoral Committee for Transport in Ekurhuleni City, said that the accident occurred on a highway in Ekurhuleni City near Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport at about 6:45 a.m. local time (0445 GMT).

At least 12 people died at the scene, and the 45 injured passengers were transported to nearby hospitals, said Mngwevu. "Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased, and our prayers for a speedy recovery to those who have been taken to various hospitals around the area."

According to Mngwevu, an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident. Whether other vehicles were involved has yet to be confirmed.

Ekurhuleni City Spokesperson Zweli Dlamini told Xinhua that the bus involved in the accident was traveling from Katlehong to Kempton Park. "We are still at the scene, and we are in the process of removing the bodies," he noted. 

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows staff members cleaning the site of a bus accident in South Africa's northeastern Gauteng Province on March 11, 2025. At least 12 people were killed and 45 others injured on Tuesday morning after a bus overturned in South Africa's northeastern Gauteng Province. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua)

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows staff members cleaning the site of a bus accident in South Africa's northeastern Gauteng Province on March 11, 2025. At least 12 people were killed and 45 others injured on Tuesday morning after a bus overturned in South Africa's northeastern Gauteng Province. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua)

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows the site of a bus accident in South Africa's northeastern Gauteng Province on March 11, 2025. At least 12 people were killed and 45 others injured on Tuesday morning after a bus overturned in South Africa's northeastern Gauteng Province. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua)

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows the site of a bus accident in South Africa's northeastern Gauteng Province on March 11, 2025. At least 12 people were killed and 45 others injured on Tuesday morning after a bus overturned in South Africa's northeastern Gauteng Province. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua)

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows staff members cleaning the site of a bus accident in South Africa's northeastern Gauteng Province on March 11, 2025. At least 12 people were killed and 45 others injured on Tuesday morning after a bus overturned in South Africa's northeastern Gauteng Province. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua)

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows the site of a bus accident in South Africa's northeastern Gauteng Province on March 11, 2025. At least 12 people were killed and 45 others injured on Tuesday morning after a bus overturned in South Africa's northeastern Gauteng Province. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua)
TOKYO, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Co. announced on Tuesday that its CEO Makoto Uchida will step down at the end of March, with Ivan Espinosa, the company's head of product planning, set to take over.

Espinosa joined Nissan Mexico in 2003 and has served as an executive overseeing global product strategy since 2018. He became head of product planning in April 2024.

The change comes amid worsening financial performance for the carmaker, which an 80 billion yen (about 542 million U.S. dollars) net loss for the fiscal year 2024.

Criticism has been mounting of Uchida as the company reported plummeting profits. In November 2024, Nissan announced plans to cut 9,000 jobs worldwide and reduce its global production capacity by 20 percent.

The company has previously sought to join hands with Honda Motor Co. for a potential merger, but the restructuring attempt that could have created one of the world's largest automotive group ended last month as disagreements deepened for the two sides.

The new leadership will face significant challenges, including reversing Nissan's declining performance and redefining strategic partnerships after the abrupt end of merger talks with Honda. 
TOKYO, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Yoji Muto has met with U.S. officials in Washington to seek exemptions from President Donald Trump's planned tariffs on steel, automobiles, and other imports, but failed to secure assurances, local media reported on Tuesday.

Following talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Muto said that the officials acknowledged Japan's importance to the American economy, but did not offer guarantees regarding tariff exemptions, Kyodo News reported.

Trump's 25-percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports are set to take effect this week, with a similar levy on imported cars expected by April 2.

Japan exports about 1.37 million cars annually to the United States, making up 28.3 percent of its total exports to the American market, according to the report.

Muto said Japan will continue to try to protect companies from being hit by the proposed tariffs. "Based on the latest discussions, we will be in close consultation on how we can make the national interests of Japan and the United States a win-win situation," Kyodo cited him as saying.

He emphasized Japan's significant investments in the United States and discussed bilateral economic ties and energy cooperation, including liquefied natural gas development in Alaska.

When asked about the stalled bid by Nippon Steel Corp. to acquire United States Steel Corp., Muto declined to disclose details but expressed confidence that the relevant private-sector parties would advance their coordination on a specific plan. 
Hou Yanrong (R), a judge with the People's Court of Haidian District of Beijing, conducts a trial online at the Court in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2025.

Monday marks the International Day of Women Judges, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2021 to highlight the contributions of women in the judiciary system and encourage more women to pursue judicial roles.

Ahead of the Day, Xinhua journalists visited women judges under the People's Court of Haidian District of Beijing. They are earnestly involved in office and field services such as case filing and litigation, court trials, dispute mediation, court decision enforcement, and public awareness information campaigns.

With their wisdom and diligence, women judges honor the legitimacy of legal courts, and defend the justice and fairness for the society. [Xinhua/Huang Bohan]
China's regional powerhouses turbocharge high-quality development

Xinhua) 08:09, March 11, 2025

BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Having long propelled China's economic ascent, major provincial-level regions are now leading the charge in the country's transformative shift toward high-quality development.

China's top 10 provincial economic heavyweights, including Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shandong, Zhejiang and Sichuan, accounted for over 60 percent of the country's GDP, despite covering less than 20 percent of its land area.

Their development is redefining China's economic landscape and providing insights into how the world's second-largest economy navigates domestic and global challenges in the final year of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) to lay a strong foundation for the next five years and beyond.

INNOVATION AS THE NEW DRIVING FORCE

From artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and brain-computer interfaces to innovative drugs, China's economic powerhouses are doubling down on sci-tech innovation, yielding significant results in high-tech sectors.

A prime example is east China's Zhejiang Province, where the capital city, Hangzhou, has emerged as the country's hottest new tech hub. It has successfully nurtured a wave of cutting-edge companies known as the "Six Little Dragons," including the globally trending startups DeepSeek and Unitree Robotics.

Hangzhou's rise into an emerging tech hub is no coincidence. Experts and analysts attributed its success to years of groundwork, driven by the city's deep talent pool, a robust industrial ecosystem, strong policy support, a business-friendly environment, and visionary economic governance.

In Zhejiang's 2025 government work report, the province vowed to further cultivate new quality productive forces this year, foster emerging industries, plan for future industries, and promote the deep integration of the digital economy with the real economy.

In the neighboring Jiangsu Province, a relentless focus on sci-tech innovation has cemented its position as a front-runner in the numbers of national key laboratories and engineering technology centers. Last year, Jiangsu set a national record with 13 innovative drugs approved for sale.

Last year, the GDP growth of Zhejiang and Jiangsu reached 5.5 percent and 5.8 percent, respectively, both exceeding the national growth of 5 percent.

Leveraging their sci-tech resources, China's powerhouse provinces are well poised to drive innovation as a key engine of growth and accelerate the deployment of sci-tech advances in major industries, creating a ripple effect nationwide, said national political advisor Jin Li, vice president of Southern University of Science and Technology.

CLIMBING UP THE VALUE CHAIN

In just 53 seconds, a new energy vehicle (NEV) can roll off the fully automated assembly line at GAC Aion's factory in south China's Guangdong Province, where precise robotic arms twist and turn in seamless coordination.

Dubbed a "dark factory" due to its minimal reliance on human labor and lighting, the facility is also the NEV industry's sole "lighthouse factory" worldwide, highlighting its role in spearheading intelligent manufacturing.

The factory symbolizes Guangdong's broader industrial transformation. Once synonymous with low-end assembly lines, the province is now embracing advanced technologies and increasing investments to modernize traditional industries and move up the value chain.

At present, production of advanced manufacturing accounts for 56.7 percent of Guangdong's industrial output, while high-tech manufacturing takes up 31.6 percent of the total.

East China's Shandong Province, one of the country's major grain-producing areas, has empowered modern agriculture development with new technologies, such as drones and automated irrigation systems.

In its 2025 government work report, Shandong pledged to implement an action plan for high-quality industrial chain development, focusing on high-end, intelligent and green features this year, while also accelerating the development of intelligent agriculture.

Leveraging their strong industrial foundation, these powerhouses should further promote the upgrading of traditional industries, maintain leading roles in shaping new competitive advantages, and set an example for other regions, said Pan Jiaofeng, a national lawmaker and president of the Institutes of Science and Development at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

GREATER INTEGRATION

For the economic powerhouses to maintain momentum, it is essential to foster a fair and efficient environment free from local protectionism, according to analysts.

Southwest China's Sichuan Province and Chongqing Municipality have recently completed an electricity-sharing mechanism as part of their latest effort to enhance market connectivity. In recent years, the two regions have aligned their market entry policies and jointly launched a cross-regional development zone.

"By addressing the bottlenecks in economic circulation and curbing unhealthy competition, the innovation potential of market players will be fully unleashed," said Yang Decai, a national political advisor and professor at Nanjing University.

Regional integration is gaining momentum nationwide. Shanghai is expanding cooperation within the Yangtze River Delta region. Guangdong is streamlining administrative services to improve connectivity in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Hubei is partnering with Jiangxi and other central Chinese provinces to build a globally competitive digital ecosystem.

"Different regions are at varying stages of development. By implementing regional strategies, we can further amplify comparative advantages, improve efficiency, and unlock greater growth potential," said Liu Baokui, a researcher at a think tank under the National Development and Reform Commission.

According to Bao Jiawei, an urban development researcher, it is about forging synergies, not working in isolation.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
By Qabil Ashirov



Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs at the Presidential Administration, recently met with Vernon Coaker, Minister of State for Defence in the United Kingdom, Azernews reports, citing a post shared by Azerbaijan's Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Elin Suleymanov.

The Ambassador noted that the meeting was held at the UK Ministry of Defence. The ambassador expressed his gratitude on social media, thanking the Minister for the warm reception.

The Minister of State for Defence is a senior political official responsible for certain aspects of the UKs defense policy. The minister works within the Ministry of Defence, assisting the Defence Secretary in implementing national strategies and contributing to key decisions regarding security and defense matters.

Previously, Hikmet Hajiyev had engaged in discussions with other senior UK officials, focusing on strengthening Azerbaijan-United Kingdom bilateral cooperation.
ISLAMABAD, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A group of armed men opened fire on a passenger train in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province on Tuesday, injuring several while many passengers were being held hostage, said official sources.

The Jaffar Express train with over 450 passengers onboard was heading from the country's southwest Quetta city to northwest Peshawar when the militants launched the attack in Kacchi district of Balochistan province, Muhammad Kashif, a senior official of Pakistan Railways, told Xinhua.

He said that an emergency relief train has been dispatched to the site with essential supplies, adding that several trains on the route have also been stopped as precautionary measures.

While a security official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that the security forces halted the relief train's movement due to the evolving situation.

"The attack occurred in a mountainous region where communication is severely restricted due to the lack of mobile service. Our last contact with the train driver indicated that an explosion hit the railway track, forcing the train to stop. Immediately after, the militants opened heavy fire, injuring the driver and several passengers," the official said.

The train left the provincial capital city of Quetta at about 9:00 a.m. local time (GMT 0400), and at least six gunmen opened fire on the train, Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind said in a statement.

As the passenger train was attacked in a remote hilly area, it was difficult for security forces and rescue teams to reach the site, he added.

A senior police official of Balochistan police told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that law enforcement agencies are investigating the nature of the attack, saying a possible terrorist act cannot be ruled out based on preliminary investigations.

A full-scale security operation is underway to rescue the passengers and ensure their complete safety, he added.

Following the incident, security forces and rescue teams rushed to the site.

Waseem Baig, media coordinator of the provincial health ministry of Balochistan, told Xinhua that an emergency has been declared at government hospitals in Quetta and some districts of the province after the attack.

All the consultants, doctors, pharmacists, staff nurses and paramedical staff have been summoned to the hospitals, he added.

Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the incident, saying the beasts that fire on innocent passengers do not deserve any concessions.

The proscribed terrorist outfit Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on a social media platform, while Pakistani officials have not confirmed it. 
US will immediately lift pause on intel sharing and military aid to Ukraine after meeting in Jeddah
Correctional officers and their supporters demonstrate in sight of Coxsackie Correctional Facility in the Hudson Valley., Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, in Coxsackie, N.Y. [AP Photo/Michael Hill]

As the wildcat strike of New York state prison guards entered its fourth week, the death toll among prisoners has been mounting.

Despite a tentative agreement having been proposed last week between the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and the union, the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA), which represents the guards but did not officially call the strike in order to evade legal responsibility, most of the strikers rejected the agreement and have not returned to work.

A modified agreement was then proposed by the state, but the union refused to sign on to the agreement because it was not involved in its drafting. While some of the strikers have returned to work, under threat of dismissal and termination of health insurance by the state, many have continued the walkout.

A revised agreement between the state and the union was announced on Saturday, which required the guards to return to work on Monday, however compliance was limited throughout the day according to the latest reports.

National Guard troops and state troopers, deployed by New York Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul, remain as substitute guards along with some state troopers. Soldiers have complained that they are untrained and ill equipped to function as prison guards. Inmates report inhuman conditions, including a lack of food, medication and extended lockdown in their cells as well as increased brutality by their guards.

As a result, a growing number of deaths have occurred among the incarcerated population. So far, at least nine inmate fatalities have been reported since the beginning of the wildcat strike on February 17. One is the result of a beating by guards. Of the others, at least one is reported to have committed suicide by hanging, with no one present to intervene, likely as a result of the harsh conditions, and two others due to failure to receive prompt medical care. Details of the remaining deaths are not available.

The latest reported death, which occurred on Saturday, March 1, was that of Messiah Nantwi, 22, at the Mid-State Correctional Facility in Marcy. The New York State Police are investigating the death and 15 corrections staff members have been placed on leave.

Nine inmates interviewed by the New York Times reported that Nantwi was brutally beaten by corrections officers, reportedly members of the correctional emergency response team (CERT), which has been involved in other such attacks. Their intervention came after Nantwi had an argument with members of the National Guard who were enforcing a lockdown but was otherwise unprovoked. Governor Hochul has described the conduct by prison staff leading to his death as extremely disturbing.

There is a history of such behavior at Mid-State. In 2016, dozens of corrections officers brutally jumped on, kicked and sodomized inmates. The state has been ruled liable to pay monetary damages to the inmate victims. Nevertheless, in an indication that such a regime of terror is effectively condoned, many of the officers who took part in the beating still work at the prison.

It is telling that Nantwis death took place at the Mid-State facility which is located across the street from Marcy Correctional Facility, both in Marcy, located near Utica, in upstate New York. There, a similar beating death, that of Robert Brooks, took place last December.

The indictment of 10 prison guards in Brooks death was the immediate trigger that set off the wildcat strike, which quickly grew to encompass nearly all of the states 42 correctional facilities.

Unlike the beating of Brooks, details of which came to light due to having been recorded on guards body cameras, the corrections officers allegedly involved in the attack on Nantwi either did not have cameras or had them turned off, according to the Times interviewees. This was no innocent oversight, occurring after Governor Hochul had ordered all prison guards to wear functional body cams while on duty.

Another death reported during the strike is that of Jonathan Grant, a 61-year-old inmate at the Auburn Correctional Facility. He was found unresponsive in his cell. The cause of death has yet to be determined. However, it is known that Grant was unwell and had recently suffered a series of strokes but had been refused medical assistance.

Although the immediate trigger of the wildcat walkout was the indictment of prison guards in Brooks beating death, it has become clear that its principal aim is to repeal the HALT Act (Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement Act) which places certain limits on the use of solitary confinement. The striking guards refuse to accept any restraint on their ability to mete out this brutal form of punishment to impose control over the inmates.

The determination of the guards to accomplish this goal in spite of the various sanctions threatened by the state, including dismissal, testify to the real purpose of the prison system. In the latest proposed agreement, the state accedes to the guards demands by committing to establish a formal review of HALT.

The terms correctional and corrections officers are meant to denote a system whose aim is to correct bad behavior. In reality, these institutions and their staffs are key components of capitalist rule over a highly unequal society in which ordinary peoples lives are subject to the overriding interests and whims of the ruling elite and their agents.

The prison system is a concentrated manifestation of the general phenomenon of police violence where guards are empowered to exploit and brutalize inmates with almost total impunity.

The recent indictment of 30 correctional officers at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey, California, for orchestrating gladiator fights among incarcerated youth, provides a window into the brutality inherent in the US prison system, which dehumanizes societys most vulnerable and perpetuates class oppression.

According to a March 5 press release from the Correctional Association of New York, deaths in the states prisons are not an unusual occurrence. In 2023 there were 107 deaths. In 2024 there were 143, a 34 percent increase. This data is of limited utility, however, as it reports only the manner of death (accident, homicide, suicide, natural, unknown) not the cause of death (e.g., neglect to provide necessary medical care, assault by prison guards, etc.).

Although conditions created by the strike appear to have led to an increase in the rate of deaths, this is in fact simply an intensification of the barbaric environment which is normal for this and other prisons and jails across the country. Whether from assault or neglect, the New York state prison system is a deliberately brutal environment intended to subjugate working class and poor inmates by subjecting them to a regime of deprivation and terror.

All expressions of shock and disapproval about the conditions in the American gulag by members of the ruling class and their agents, such as that by Governor Hochul that the death of Robert Brooks is extremely disturbing and that of the state corrections commissioner, Daniel Martuscello III, who issued a pro forma statement which sought to represent the killing as uncharacteristic of the state prison system, are hypocritical in the extreme.
Louisville Metro Department of Corrections [AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley]

On November 4, 2021, Terri Beth Mays, a 32-year-old inmate at the Whitley County Detention Center located in Williamsburg, Kentucky, died after being held at the facility for a period of eight days. She had yet to have her first court hearing concerning her arrest.

Surveillance footage from the jail showed Mays breathing becoming ragged and harsh, until she exhibited a delirious state before collapsing and striking her head on the toilet in her cell and coming to rest on the floor.

Though the incident was caught on a surveillance camera within the jail, it took an estimated 30 minutes before a guard entered her cell and found Mays unresponsive on the floor. This delayed response was further exacerbated by the guard leaving the cell to call for help, despite having a radio clipped to their belt.

It is not known whether Mays received first aid within the key moments before she was transported to the local hospital where she would later be pronounced dead as the result of cardiac dysrhythmia due to dehydration.

In response, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed by her mother, Tammy Webb, in September 2023. The lawsuit cites that for the eight days she was in custody, Mays was not given her prescribed medication for seizures. This was not an unknown condition to the Whitley County Detention Center, because upon her arrest Mays informed jail staff of her seizure disorder. Furthermore, she had been held at the facility several times before and has a documented history of seizures that required her hospitalization.

Despite the claim on her death certificate that her passing was the result of an accident, the entire incident is a case of systemic medical neglect by the state institution. If Mays death was just an accident, how is it that hundreds of other inmates died in Kentucky jails over the past four years?

Between 2020 to 2024, 234 inmates have died while in custody according to a report by the Lexington Herald Leader. Of the 234 inmates, 165 were being held in jail without being convicted of the alleged crime for which they were arrestedmeaning they were still legally innocent. Inmate death rates are an escalating trend throughout the United States, not just within the state of Kentucky.

Higher death rates from 2020 to 2022 in Kentucky have largely been attributed to COVID-19, peaking at 63 in 2022.

Though the exact toll of COVID-19 within the US prisons and jails are largely undetermined, a report by the National Library of Medicine estimates that deaths due to the virus in correctional facilities were six times higher than deaths in the general population. At the start of the pandemic, the structures of jails and prisons, along with record rates of overcrowding, made it impossible to implement protective measures to ensure the health of both inmates and staff.

Though inmate death rates in Kentucky have been on the decline in recent years, they have once again started to increase. In 2024 alone, 34 people died while being held in custody, higher than any year between 2008 to 2020.

The seven county jails that have reported the most deaths since 2020 are Jefferson Countythe most populous in the state and location of Louisvillewith 20; Madison County with 12; Fayette County with 8; and Christian County with 7. Meanwhile Laurel, Hardin, and Whitley Counties have all reported 6.

Autopsy records for the inmate deaths reveal that 40 percent were attributed to natural deaths; 31 percent were deemed accidental; and 20 percent were ruled as suicides. Only one homicide and one undetermined death was recorded.

Jails consistently underreport deaths nationwide. In some cases, jails seek to circumvent their legal obligation to report deaths to state officials by releasing people from custody just before they die. The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) requires only that data be collected, but not that it be shared publicly. In 2020, Reuters was able to estimate that jail deaths had surged by 35 percent between 2009 and 2019, despite the decline in jail populations.

The classification of natural and accidental are problematic labels that serve to obscure the conditions that contributed to people dying while in their custody. The ruling of a natural death means that the persons death was caused through a natural process such as a disease or health condition and not due to external factors.

It is quite perverse to say that a death is natural or accidental if it is known that the person has a preexisting health condition and does not receive medical treatment, like in the case of Mays.

Prior to Mays death the Kentucky Department of Corrections had conducted an inspection of the Whitley County Detention Center that found eight violations. Later inspections revealed an additional 21 violations which included overcrowding, lack of medical training for staff and failure to conduct observation checks.

The Kentucky Department of Corrections places the blame on the inmates themselves for the growing trend in inmate deaths. They cite, transient conditions, unsanitary drug habits, general lifestyle dangers, and a rise in highly potent substances in the illicit drug supply. Despite their claim to be committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals who fall under the departments oversight they exhibit a blatant disregard for inmates health and disavow any responsibility for setting medical standards in local jails.

Despite the calls for reform made by advocacy groups and the mounting wrongful death lawsuits, Republicans and Democrats alike have responded by pursuing harsher policies targeting the most vulnerable portions of the working class using tough on crime laws.

The Safer Kentucky Act sought not only to implement harsher penalties for petty crimes like loitering and trespassing, but also criminalized homelessness. Other states like California, Georgia, Louisiana, Oregon, Tennessee and Vermont have proposed bills that would stiffen retail theft charges, re-criminalize certain street drugs, keep more suspects behind bars in lieu of bail and expand the powers of law enforcement.

It is not the first time that government officials have sought to increase the penalties for crime, as local governments, starved by low business taxes, seek to offset their budget deficits with predatory jailing practices. Tough on crime laws only exacerbate overcrowding issues which lead to higher rates of inadequate medical care and inmate death.

The only social force that can achieve the systemic change necessary to reduce overcrowding and that proper medical treatment be provided for preexisting health conditions of inmates is the working class. Only the working class has the power to confront a prison system designed to make life insufferable, serving only the interests of the capitalist system. The working class fighting to build a socialist system that can serve the needs and rights of all individuals, is the only way to overturn the entire social and economic structure that drives workers and the most vulnerable into prison and allows for the deaths of inmates to go unheard.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders including Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng attend the closing 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 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, concluded its third session Tuesday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders including Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng attended the closing meeting of the session at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Entrusted by the session's presidium, Li Hongzhong, executive chairperson of the presidium, presided over the meeting attended by 2,884 NPC deputies.

Lawmakers approved the government work report.

They adopted a decision to amend the Law on Deputies to the National People's Congress and to the Local People's Congresses at Various Levels. President Xi signed a presidential order to promulgate the decision.

Lawmakers approved a report on the implementation of the 2024 plan for national economic and social development and the 2025 draft plan, and approved the 2025 plan.

They approved a report on the execution of the central and local budgets for 2024 and the draft central and local budgets for 2025, and approved the central budget for 2025.

They also approved the work reports of the NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

Addressing the meeting, Li Hongzhong urged rigorous implementation of the arrangements made at the NPC session and high-quality accomplishment of the goals and tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core.

Li also called for practicing whole-process people's democracy, focusing on managing China's own affairs well, and working tirelessly to build China into a strong country and advance national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization.

A presidium meeting and an executive chairpersons meeting were also held on Tuesday before the closing meeting. 

Entrusted by the presidium of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), Li Hongzhong presides over the closing meeting of the session at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

Entrusted by Zhao Leji, executive chairman of the presidium of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), Li Hongzhong, executive chairman of the presidium, presides over the fourth meeting of the presidium at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

Entrusted by Zhao Leji, executive chairman of the presidium of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) and chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, Li Hongzhong, executive chairman of the presidium and vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presides over the third meeting of executive chairpersons of the presidium at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)
Melanie Schweizer [Photo: Melanie Schweizer ]

On February 28, MERA25 parliamentary candidate Melanie Schweizer was dismissed from her job at the federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and stripped of her civil servant status as a result of a political smear campaign. The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP) has well documented differences with MERA25, however, the dismissal of Schweizer represents a massive attack on fundamental democratic rights, which we condemn in the strongest possible terms.



Schweizer was a civil service lawyer and worked as a consultant in the Ministry of Labour. In this years federal election, she ran on the Berlin state list for MERA25 and as a direct candidate in Berlin Mitte. The hate campaign that led to Schweizers dismissal was triggered by a December 6 post on X in which she accused the Zionist Malca Goldstein-Wolf of waging a defamation campaign because she had called the renowned journalist Georg Restle an antisemite for his criticism of Netanyahus war.



Goldstein-Wolf apparently researched Schweizers occupation and, when she found out that she worked for the Ministry of Labour, made this known on X and initiated a smear campaign against her. Hundreds of Zionist trolls then spread the most vicious slanders against Schweizer and demanded that she be fired.



The media also immediately joined in the smear campaign. On December 11, the tabloid Bild ran with the headline Heil shocked! Employee spreads vile hatred of Israel and went so far as to accuse Schweizer of trivialising the Holocaust.



Schweizer was then invited to a staff meeting, then suspended in January and finally dismissed without notice from her job and stripped of her civil servant status in February. At the same time, in the final days of the federal election campaign, her LinkedIn account was blocked without explanation.



In the official letter of dismissal she was, among other things, accused of wearing watermelon-shaped earrings at work, considered a political symbol of Palestine. Some employees had stated that they no longer wanted to work with Schweizer and that her political views were having an impact on the service. Furthermore, it was said she had violated the moderation requirement for civil servants with her statements on X.



Schweizer said that she had never been accused of misconduct before. Furthermore, she said she had often raised the issue of Palestine with colleagues even before the events of October 7, 2023.



The decision to dismiss Schweizer and the reasons given for it are a far-reaching attack on fundamental democratic rights. Schweizer did not make her political statements in her official capacity, but as a candidate in the federal elections. MERA25, for which she stood, is a party founded by former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis. The party does not challenge the capitalist order in its programme or in practice. Schweizers condemnation of the genocide in Gaza is in line with the assessments of numerous UN institutions and other human rights organisations. There can therefore be no question of a violation of the moderation requirement for civil servants.



Rather, the action against Schweizer is intended to intimidate and criminalise all those who condemn the policy of war and genocide. Even candidates for the Bundestag (German parliament) from a bourgeois party are removed from office if they dare to criticise the Israeli genocide against the Palestinians and its support by the German government.



Schweizers case is just one of the most prominent. Since most of these dismissals do not come to public attention, there are no statistics about them. According to Schweizer, it can be assumed that the number of opponents of genocide who have been dismissed for political reasons since October 7, 2023 is well over 100.



Countless journalists and academics have also been dismissed or threatened with dismissal for criticising Israel. In the arts sector, all critical organisations and initiatives have to fear the cancellation of their funding. For example, the renowned cultural centre Oyoun had all funding cancelled as early as November 2023, resulting in its closure. In May 2024, the banning of the Palastina Solidaritat Duisburg (PSDU) and the dismissal of one of its leading activists followed. Furthermore, shortly before the federal elections, Munich and Berlin universities censored a lecture by UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese.



A far-reaching case also occurred recently in Munich. There, climate activist Lisa Poettinger was banned from starting her teacher training internship in mid-February, which is tantamount to a professional ban. The reasons given by the Bavarian Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs are sweeping. Among other things, she is accused of criticising the system of profit maximisation in an interview with the Suddeutsche Zeitung and of advocating class warfare, which is deemed not compatible with the constitution. It is also stated that she is a member of the Left Party. In addition, she is accused of participating in climate protests in Lutzerath and tearing down a transphobic poster from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).



The actions taken by the federal and state authorities are a clear warning signal. Against the background of the greatest militarisation and rearmament offensive in Germany since Hitler, which is currently being prepared by the ruling class, any form of opposition to capitalism, fascism and war is to be suppressed.



The accusations against Poettinger by the Bavarian Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs are similar to the justifications used by the state and courts to justify placing the SGP under surveillance by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (as the domestic secret service is called). The SGP is accused of Marxist class thinking and the propagation of class struggle and also agitation against alleged imperialism and militarism, which are deemed not compatible with the constitution.



As early as 2022, the SGP warned in a statement that this was paving the way for an attack on countless organisations and all left-wing opposition. Booksellers distributing Marxist literature, workers striking for higher wages, or peace activists could be criminalised with the stroke of a pen, we explained. This is now being confirmed and underlines the urgency of the SGPs perspective. The defence of democratic rights requires the development of an independent movement of the working class that links the struggle against social inequality, war and dictatorship with the struggle against their cause, capitalism.
A UPS driver walks near his truck during a winter storm in Tucker, Georgia. [AP Photo/Brynn Anderson]

UPS has announced a new wave of layoffs that will leave hundreds of workers in multiple states without a job. The announced layoffs will affect 198 UPS workers in Charlotte, North Carolina on March 31, 65 UPS workers in Hialeah, Florida on April 27, and an undisclosed number of UPS workers in Portland, Oregon on July 1.

This comes immediately after layoffs were initiated mid-January in Vernon, California, Commerce City, Colorado, Portland, Oregon and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, affecting nearly 1,200 UPS workers this year.



These cuts are part of an ongoing barrage of job cuts at the company, which is seeking to drastically reduce labor costs by implementing automation and artificial intelligence technologies at the expense of workers as part of the Network of the Future initiative announced last year.

UPS has continued their layoffs without any serious opposition from the Teamsters union, which purports to represent some 300,000 workers at UPS.

The catalyst for these layoffs was implemented by the Teamsters bureaucracy itself through President Sean OBriens fraudulent Strike Ready campaign in 2023. Prior to the expiration of the contract, UPS workers revealed their willingness to fight with a 97 percent strike vote.

As UPS workers voiced their support for a strike, tens of thousands of members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) were also on strike fighting for protections against job loss from automation and AI.



The potential for an enormous joint struggle between actors, writers and UPSers was sabotaged by the Teamsters bureaucracy, which called off the strike a week before the deadline with the announcement of a historic agreement with UPS.



The only thing historic about the agreement is the number of layoffs it has allowed. Since it has gone into effect, some 40,000 UPS workers have been fired or laid off.

The refusal of the Teamsters apparatus to fight in defense of UPS workers and their jobs is not unique in the slightest.

In 2023, the Teamsters sold out workers to Wall Street during the bankruptcy of the trucking and logistics company Yellow, which led to the wholesale destruction of over 30,000 jobs. This happened after the Teamsters handed Yellow $5 billion worth of concessions across multiple sellout contracts to supposedly save jobs and prevent a bankruptcy.

Revealing the social chasm between the labor bureaucrats and the rank and file, while Yellow workers were calling for a joint strike with UPS workers, OBrien called off a strike and peddled the lie that in doing so, it would buy Yellow enough time to pay into workers pensions. The company used the time afforded to them to file for bankruptcy in terms more favorable to themselves while workers received nothing.



Most recently the Teamsters blocked a strike at the retail giant Costco. Mirroring the betrayal at UPS, 18,000 Costco workers voted by a wide margin of 85 percent to initiate trike action but Teamsters officials overrode this decision and announced announced a tentative agreement which fell far short of workers demands. The sellout contract brought forward by the Teamsters was passed by a slim margin of 53 percent to 46 percent with widespread dissatisfaction among the membership.

The recent betrayals of the Teamsters bureaucracy are not a reversal of their previous course but a continuation of their rotten role of policing the working class on behalf of the financial aristocracy.

At a time when near-daily protests are taking place against Trumps attacks on immigration, science and federal workers, the Teamsters apparatus is terrified that a major strike by UPS workers could catalyze not only the 1.2 million members across the US and Canada, but also intersect with a broader movement against Trumps dictatorial measures and exploding social inequality.

Much like the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which has refused to call for strike action even as Trump/Musk purge thousands of government workers, claims to represent federal workers, the Teamsters are far more worried about a genuine movement from below that threatens their six-figure salaries than they are of Trump and fascistic forms of rule.

On the contrary, OBrien attended the inauguration of the fascist president and has supported Trumps reactionary cabinet nominees and the anti-immigrant, pro-Wall Street policies of the Republican Party more broadly.

On Monday, Republican Representative Lori Chavez DeRemer was voted in as acting Labor Secretary in a bipartisan 67-32 vote. Prior to the vote, the Teamsters official X/Twitter account praised DeRemer as a champion for American workers, while attacking Democrats and Republicans for voting against her nomination.

DeRemer, like every capitalist politician, is not a champion for the working class, but for the financial oligarchy and US imperialism. Her top donors in the 2023-2024 election cycle included Nike Inc. ($19,875), infamous for global sweatshops, and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee ($122,354), the foremost Zionist and pro-genocide lobby in Washington.



The Teamsters backed her nomination due to her previously stated support for the Protecting the Right Organize Act or PRO Act. The central purpose of the Democratic Party-crafted legislation is to bolster the union bureaucracies which are increasingly, and deservedly, reviled by the majority of workers.

Recent experiences at UPS, Costco and Yellow underscore that the fight to protect jobs and workplace safety cannot and will not be initiated by the Teamsters bureaucracy, or any other nationalist trade union officials, who have made their peace with Trump, corporate America and his fascist minions overseeing key government positions.

The way forward requires workers breaking with both big business parties and the trade unions, which function as labor police for Wall Street. Logistics workers, and every section of the working class, must build independent rank-and-file committees to transfer power from the corrupt apparatus to the workers on the shop floor.
This is the sixth in a series of articles on the recent Berlin International Film Festival. Part 1 was posted February 20, Part 2 February 27, Part 3 March 2, Part 4 March 6 and Part 5 March 10.

The end of the social state

Mothers Child

In the animated film Mothers Child (Naomi Noir, Netherlands), a single mother named Mary takes care of her 25-year-old son, who lives with cerebral palsy. He is unable to use the toilet by himself or even communicate his needs clearly.

Mothers Child

His mother is loving and does her best, but she is permanently exhausted, and this exhaustion is also conveyed through a surreal depiction of her and her surroundings. The colours and lines blend into one another, and reality turns into a dream world when she falls asleep. These effects were achieved by using 2D and 3D animation in combination with analogue watercolour painting.

Mary is trying to get financial support from the government as a full-time carer, but she is constantly kept on hold by the government and has to repeatedly explain her sons condition.

One really feels how nightmarish and absurd her situation is. A flashing billboard saying Welcome to the fabulous government waiting loop and a coffin reading RIP the welfare state appear in her dreams. When asked in the pub how she is doing, Mary replies: Im fine, Fred, I cant complain, and you? The film ends with a dedication to all the nurses who work tirelessly day and night.

Yoriko Mizushiris short animation Ordinary Life, which won the Silver Bear, is fascinating and well-made. With washed-out colours and subjects hinted at with broad brush strokes (a faceless woman, a dog without eyes), it focuses on everyday objects and sensations. The lamellae of a mushroom (the gills found on the underside of the cap in many species) are reflected in the blinds that a woman strokes with her fingers. A gust of wind inflates a plastic bag that seamlessly transitions into the womans hair. The play of forms is creative enough to captivate the viewer despite the absence of a traditional plot.

Ordinary Life

It conveys the feeling of a world increasingly falling apart, whose familiar routines of everyday life are absurdly mixed up.

The Iranian film Dar Band (Citizen Inmate) is shot in documentary style. CCTV footage of public places and people going about their daily lives alternate with scenes from inside a building that looks like a police station or surveillance headquarters.

There, employees sift through CCTV footage and keep an eye on citizens with the aid of ankle monitors, which appear as hundreds of small, moving facial icons on a map of the city. The employees appear bored and overworked. A woman in the crowd notices one of the cameras and stares back at whoever is behind it. The surveillance operators call the citizens as soon as they notice suspicious activity via their ankle devices.

A citizen calls back to headquarters after being ordered to walk up and down the street because his inactivity has triggered an alert vibration signal: Can you stop the vibration? If youre going to torture me like this, Id rather be back in prison. Soon the operators are inundated with calls. Their task seems unmanageable. A man in a hooded jacket throws a rock at a CCTV camera. The small icons on the operators computer monitors turn into a mass of angry faces.

Although the film was shot in Tehran, it could have been set in almost any other large city in the world. Its main message, that a surveillance apparatus betrays instability and that such a situation cannot last, is also universal.

Clickworkera form of global slavery

Their Eyes

One of the most interesting short films on view in Berlin this year was the documentary Their Eyes by French filmmaker and artist Nicolas Gourault. The protagonists are clickworkers (freelancers doing tedious and repetitive digital work paid by the job) from Venezuela, Kenya and the Philippines, who tell us about the tasks that make up their work at the computer screen.

Their job, the festivals notes comments, is to analyse, edit and label countless images of traffic on the streets of the Global North with the aim of training the AI of self-driving cars to navigate. Segmentation is like painting, comments one worker as he draws a rough circle around a human figure and then labels it humanauthority figureconstruction worker.

Their Eyes

The names of their clients are top secret. The tedious, meticulous tasks, which must be carried out according to an extensive lists of instructions, are worth between only a few cents to a few dollars each. We are slaves. The companies get quality work, but we are paid miserably, notes one worker.

Clickworkers are often labelled as independent contractors, but they are entirely dependent on platforms such as Amazon Mechanical Turk and Appen, which in turn deliver their work to large tech companies such as OpenAI or Google, as well as leading automotive brands. Clickworkers have no job security and no benefits.

Although the identity of the clients is unknown to them, the workers are constantly monitored and penalised with the help of algorithms that automatically determine which tasks are available to them and at what rates. Their pay can be delayed, frozen or even withheld entirely if they are banned from the platform.

Because everything is done online, platforms can easily scale down and scale up in real time, moving from country to country to find the most qualified workers at the lowest wages.

They all have different brains [the cars]we have to teach them how to find their way in the world, explains a worker. Without our work, they wouldnt be able to drive, we are their eyes, but its as if we dont exist. The camera perspective changes from the computer screen to the eyes of the Kenyan worker. We see the outdated laptop he uses and his modest circumstancesa small couch where he works, his bare kitchen, water jugs, a bucket.

A woman worker from the Philippines laughs as she shows the streets in her city: It would take a long time to annotate because there are so many people on the streets... Another wonders whether self-driving car technology will arrive in Nairobi and whether she will continue to work in this sector or whether her job will be replaced by robots.

The documentary shows several aspects of the situation. Like all technological innovations, under capitalism, artificial intelligence leads to an intensification of exploitation. While it is often presented in the media as an issue of the Global North versus the Global South (which the director also emphasises), the reality is more complex.

The Oxford Internet Institute and the International Labor Organization, for example, report that the United States is consistently ranked as the first or second largest provider of online labour. Big tech companies promote AI as a technology that relieves humans of repetitive tasks, while at the same time employing a massive workforce who are doing precisely that. Workers around the world are being told that they are of little value because AI could soon replace them, yet they remain essential to the functioning of these systemswhether as clickworkers in the US, the Philippines or Kenya, or as contract workers at Hitachi Ltd., which delivers product for Google AI.

It also shows how the clickworkers, who never meet in real life, organise and collaborate online. In WhatsApp groups, they discuss which tasks are best, help each other and develop a plan to get better pay by using VPNs that set their IP address to a country with higher wages.

Another strong point of the documentary is that it doesnt demonise technology itself. In fact, many of the clickworkers appear both proud of their skills and curious about the potential of AI. The film asks an overarching question: Under what social and economic conditions could innovations such as autonomous vehicles actually serve the majority, rather than enriching a small elite?

To be continued
Displaced Palestinian girls fill a plastic jerrycan with water at a school run by UNRWA, the UN agency helping Palestinian refugees, which they use as a shelter, west of Gaza City on Sunday, March 9, 2025. [AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi]

The Israeli government announced Sunday that it will completely shut off electricity into Gaza, following the blockade of all food and humanitarian supplies earlier this month.

The total blockade is aimed at implementing the plan, first proposed by far-right members of the Israeli government and later publicly adopted by the Trump administration, to ethnically cleanse Gaza by making the enclave unlivable, forcing its people to flee voluntarily in order to avoid starving to death.

When asked, What does Israels government allow to get into Gaza so far?, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric replied, Nothing. I mean, theres been no goods coming in. No trucks coming in.

UN humanitarian coordinator Muhannad Hadi said:

The entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza has been halted for nine consecutive days. ... International humanitarian law is clear: Civilians essential needs must be met, including through the unimpeded entry and distribution of humanitarian assistance.

Israel cutting off electricity supplies to Gaza means, among others, no functioning desalination stations, ergo: no clean water, said Francesca Albanese, the UNs Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory, adding that it is a genocide alert.

Since October 11, 2023, Gaza has experienced a complete electricity blackout after then-Energy Minister Israel Katz ordered the Israeli Electric Corporation to halt electricity supply. On November 14, 2024, the South Sea desalination plant became the only facility in Gaza to be reconnected to Israels power grid.

The plant, Gazas main water desalination facility, which provides the majority of the enclaves drinkable water, has been operating at only 20 percent capacity on generator power. The plant will be completely shut down within 10 days if the blockade continues, a spokesperson for the Gazas Coastal Municipalities Water Utility said Monday.

In December, Amnesty International reported that in several parts of Gaza, Palestinians had access to only 2 to 9 liters (a half gallon to less than 2.5 gallons) of water per person each day for both drinking and washing. This falls significantly below the 15-liter (almost 4 gallons) per person minimum required for basic survival.

Tania Hary, executive director of the Palestinian rights organization Gisha, said:

Cutting the electricity supply used for civilian purposes like desalinating water is not using the tools at our disposal, as Minister [Eli] Cohen says, its committing the crimes at Israels disposal.

As a result of the shutoff of electricity and fuel, Gazas food supply is just days away from total collapse.

Six out of 22 bakeries still in operation have been forced to close in recent days after running out of fuel, the head of Gazas bakers union told Reuters. The remaining bakeries may close down in a week or so should they run out of diesel or flour, he said.

As mass hunger stalks Gaza, people have been waiting in lines for hours for less than a days worth of food. For every person, theres only half a loaf of bread, half a pita bread. I leave home at 6:00 a.m. and return at 1:00 p.m. with just one loaf of bread, 75-year-old Abu Essam Abu Sahloul, a Khan Younis resident, told Reuters.

Samah Sahloul, another resident of the city, told Reuters:

We used to have electricity to cook with, but now theres no electricity, and theres no firewood to bake in an oven. As for the children, how am I supposed to feed them?

Ghada al-Rakab, a mother of six living in a tent in Khan Younis, told Al Jazeera:

What kind of life are we living? No electricity, no water. ... What else is there left in life? May God take us and give us rest.

In a statement, Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said the cutoff of food and fuel is clearly a weaponization of humanitarian aid.

Amnesty International spokesperson Erika Guevara Rosas said:

Israels decision to cut off electricity to Gazas main operational desalination plant, a week after it halted the entry of all humanitarian aid and commercial supplies, including fuel and food, violates international humanitarian law and is further evidence of Israels genocide against Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip.

She continued:

These inhumane and unlawful actions are a clear indication that Israel is continuing its policy of deliberately imposing on Palestinians in Gaza conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destructionan act prohibited under the Genocide Convention. They are also a reminder of the control Israel has as occupying power, allowing it to turn life-critical services on and off at any given point.

Seif Magango, spokesman for the UN Human Rights Office, told AFP that blocking access to the necessities of life for civilians intended to pressure a party to an armed conflict through hardship imposed on the civilian population as a whole raises serious concerns of collective punishment.

Even as it continues the total blockade of humanitarian aid into Gaza, Israel has only expanded its daily attacks on Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, despite a nominal ceasefire.

In a report published March 10, Btselem, an Israeli human rights organization, accused Israel of carrying out the Gazafication of the West Bank. This includes mass arrests, severe movement restrictions, airstrikes and widespread destruction. From October 2023 to March 2025, airstrikes killed 261 people, a drastic rise from previous years. Mass displacement has forced thousands into makeshift camps.

The organization concluded:

Israel intends to use the shift in combat to establish irreversible facts on the ground: reshaping the West Bank to further its aspiration of permanently displacing some Palestinians and forcing others into living conditions that will eventually drive them to leave.

On Sunday, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the Israeli government is creating an administration for the voluntary migration of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. We are establishing a migration administration, we are preparing for this under the leadership of the Prime Minister [Benjamin Netanyahu] and Defense Minister [Israel Katz], he said.

Endorsing Trumps proposal for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza, Smotrich said that sources in the American government agreed that its impossible for two million people with hatred towards Israel to remain at a stones throw from the border.

He continued, If we remove 5,000 a day, it will take a year, adding, The logistics are complex because you need to know who is going to which country. Its a potential for historical change.
On Saturday, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders brought his fraudulent Fight Oligarchy tour to Altoona, Wisconsin, and Warren, Michigan. The rally in Warren, an industrial suburb north of Detroit, drew an overflow crowd of more than 10,000 people.

Senator Bernie Sanders (Independent-Vermont) speaking during a Fighting Oligarchy: Where We Go From Here event on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at Lincoln High School in Warren, Michigan. [AP Photo/Jose Juarez]

Sanders uses left rhetoric and demagogy to channel growing popular anger against Trumps fascist policies back behind the Democratic Party, while covering for the Democrats role in facilitating the attacks and attempting to whip up support for economic nationalism and imperialist war. The event in Warren underscored this latter objective most clearly, with the appearance of United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain as the opening speaker.

Fain spoke just days after issuing a statement supporting Donald Trumps tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China and backing the economic nationalist agenda of the far-right government with the lying claim that it was a defense of US autoworker jobs. This followed his statements pledging to work with the fascist in the White House.

Trumps trade war measures will wreak havoc on the jobs and conditions of autoworkers in all three countries by disrupting global supply chains and fueling national divisions among workers, who will be made to pay the price of trade war and ultimately military conflict.

Fain has played a critical role in betraying the struggles of autoworkers. He vigorously campaigned for Joe Biden in the 2024 election, wearing an arsenal of democracy sweatshirt, a World War II reference intended to align the UAW with Bidens escalation of war with Russia.

Warren, Michigan, is a major industrial hub of auto companies like General Motors, Faurecia and Stellantis. In September 2024, Stellantis laid off 2,450 workers at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant, with no opposition from Fain and the UAW bureaucracy outside of a one-day Day of Action protest stunt.

Wearing an Eat the Rich shirt at the rally, Fain denounced billionaires and unchecked corporate greed. While attacking the auto companies for shifting American jobs to Mexico, Fain hypocritically said, Our fight is not with our Mexican brothers and sisters.

Though Fain denounced Elon Musk several times, he avoided mentioning the billionaire president and aspiring dictator Trump. The very next morning, Fain appeared on the ABC-TV This Week program, where he enthusiastically praised Trumps trade war policies.

United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain during a Fighting Oligarchy: Where We Go From Here event on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at Lincoln High School in Warren, Michigan. [AP Photo/Jose Juarez]

On the Sunday talk show he acknowledged that the UAW bureaucracy was working with Trump and his team, saying, Members of my team have been working with him  name me one president in the last 25 years thats talked about doing these things and trying to fix this broken system.

Sanders was, if anything, even more cynical and demagogic. While he denounced social inequality, cuts to social services, desperate living conditions and corporate greed, he made no mention of the source of these social crimescapitalism. He never raised the role of the Democratic Party in paving the way for Trump and facilitating his attacks since taking office.

At one point Sanders called for the minimum wage to be raised to $15 or $17 per hour. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the average hourly housing wage required to afford a modest two-bedroom rental home is $32.11. And this does not take into account rising prices for basic goods and the impending impact of US-instigated trade wars on housing costs.

For all his slogans about fighting the billionaire class and ending corporate greed, Sanders remarks were most notable for what he did not address. He said nothing about Trumps pogrom against immigrants, the spearhead of his assault on the democratic rights of the entire population. This includes the deployment of the military to carry out mass deportations and crack down on political dissent, the de facto abolition of the First Amendment guarantee of freedom of speech, with the detention and deportation of pro-Palestinian non-citizen protesters on college campuses, and the assertion of presidential powers that amount to dictatorship.

He never referred to Trumps tariff war, he refused to call the Biden-Trump policy on Gaza by its right namegenocideand he adhered to the policy of the Democratic Party in abandoning the f word, fascism, in reference to Trumps rampage against the democratic and social rights of the working class.

Prior to the election, Biden, Harris and Sanders were characterizing Trump as a fascist who posed an existential threat to the US Constitution and democratic rights. Now that their warnings are being realized in Trumps actions, Sanders and the Democratic Party are downplaying the dangers to the population, while doing nothing to oppose the would-be dictator.

Long gone are any references to socialism or calls for a political revolution, which was Sanders main 2016 presidential campaign slogan before he pulled out and backed Hillary Clinton. In 2020 he reprised his role, ending his campaign for the Democratic nomination and supporting Biden. In 2024, he backed Biden until the bitter end, calling him the most progressive president since FDR, and then campaigned for Kamala Harris.

Twice during his speech, Sanders made historical analogies to the Civil War. But he said nothing of Trumps efforts to end birthright citizenship, a pillar of the 14th Amendment, one of the three Civil War amendments that were a product of the Union victory over the Confederate slavocracy.

Sanders comments on the US-led war against Russia in Ukraine demonstrated his support for imperialist war. Referring to Trumps recent negotiations with Russian President Putin, he stated:

We are proud that we are the longest standing democracy in the world.  But I have to tell you that 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.

This is turning history on its head. By some estimates, the American ruling class, through its intelligence agencies and military, has covertly or overtly overthrown more than 60 different sovereign governments in just the last 100 years and installed US-backed regimes, including vicious dictatorships such as the Shah of Iran, Suharto in Indonesia and Pinochet in Chile.

This includes the 2014 coup in Ukraine, which ousted a pro-Russian government and installed a NATO puppet regime that is riddled with fascists and neo-Nazis. At no point during the rally was there a call to end US-led wars or dismantle the US military apparatus and its trillion-dollar yearly budget.

Above all, Sanders took care not to call on his audience of some 10,000 people to take independent action in the form of strikes or mass protests against the threat of fascism, war and the destruction of education, healthcare and other basic social services. He and the rest of the Democratic Party, reflecting the ruling class as a whole, are petrified of doing or saying anything that might encourage the mounting popular anger to assume the form of a mass rebellion.

Leading the cheers for Sanders were members of the Democratic Socialists of America, a faction of the Democratic Party and trade union bureaucracy.

Sanders made only one proposal to his listenersto pressure the districts Republican Congressman John James, who narrowly won in the November 2024 election. He called for the audience to phone James and ask him to vote against the Republican reconciliation budget bill and hold a town hall.

James is a far-right Republican who is politically allied with Trump advisor Steve Bannon. James was able to narrowly win in Macomb County because of decades of layoffs and auto plant closures, most recently the Romeo Ford Engine plant in 2022, which have left the Democrats deeply discredited.

Sanders, working in tandem with the Democratic Party leadership, is staging his Fighting Oligarchy rallies in narrowly contested congressional districts currently held by Republicans, the better to suppress the growing opposition of workers and youth against Trump and block it from taking a mass, independent and potentially revolutionary direction.

That is why he paraded Fain before the crowd in Warren, attempting to boost the right-wing, pro-corporate and economic nationalist trade union apparatus, which is likewise doing everything it can to suppress and undermine working class opposition.

The impotent and bankrupt maneuver proposed by Sanders underscores the fraud of his supposed campaign against oligarchic rule in the US. There are, in fact, two fundamentally different and opposed oppositions to Trump. There is the emerging mass opposition of the working class and youth, which is rooted in the defense of democratic and social rights and is of a left-wing and potentially socialist character.

And then there is the opposition of sections of the ruling class, including elements within the oligarchy itself, which oppose Trump on foreign policy questions, above all, his threat to pull back in the war against Russia. On making the working class pay for the mounting crisis of American capitalism, both bourgeois factions are in agreement. Sanders speaks for and represents the bourgeois opposition.

Members of the Socialist Equality Party and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality campaigned outside the rally. The SEP and IYSSE distributed hundreds of World Socialist Web Site newsletters, including the Perspective statement Bernie Sanders attempts to divert opposition to Trump behind the Democratic Party and support for war with Russia.

Their calls for building rank-and-file workplace, neighborhood and action committees, as well as breaking with the Democrats and fighting for socialism were met with broad interest.
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Attend the IYSSEs public meetings this week, Free Mahmoud Khalil!: Friday, March 14 at 6:30 p.m. at The Center (208 W 13th St., Room 310, New York City) and online Saturday with the Educators Rank-and-File Committee. Click here to register for the online meeting.

Protestors demonstrate and demand the release of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, Monday, March 10, 2025, outside the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in New York. [AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura]

The World Socialist Web Site, Socialist Equality Party (US) and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality demand the immediate release of Mahmoud Khalil. His seizure is a massive escalation of the attack on democratic rights. The Trump administration is operating as a dictatorship, indifferent to and uncontrolled by any laws or constitutional rights.

Khalil, a Columbia graduate and prominent advocate for last years campus protests, is being targeted for his political views opposing the genocide in Gaza, in blatant violation of the First Amendment. He is a legal permanent resident of the United States and a green card holder. He has not been arrested for any crime or charged with one.

On Saturday night, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents ambushed Khalil and his wife, an American citizen, in the lobby of their building. They snatched him, threatened her with arrest and transported him to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) holding cell in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Even as his lawyers filed a habeas corpus motion in Manhattan, he was secretly flown 1,300 miles away to a private detention center in Louisiana.

For much of Sunday, neither his lawyers nor his wife knew where he was. This is the method of a dictatorshipa disappearance, the type of extralegal kidnapping used by Latin American military juntas.

As of this writing, a federal judge in the Southern District of New York has issued a stay on any deportation of Khalil, pending a hearing Wednesday on whether his arrest and detention were lawful. But there is no reason to believe the Trump administration will obey this ruling.

In an extraordinary statement posted Monday, President Donald Trump boasted of his role in Khalils arrest and threatened thousands of others with similar action. Using the standard lie promoted by the entire political establishment that opposition to the genocide is antisemitic, Trump wrote on Truth Social: We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, and the Trump Administration will not tolerate it.

He then explicitly threatened mass arrests against anyone opposing the genocide in Gaza, writing, This is the first arrest of many to come. We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our countrynever to return again.

There is no precedent in American history for such a statement. Trump is operating outside all legal constraints, openly claiming the right to strip legal residents of their rights and deport them without trial, in direct violation of the Constitution.

In his first 50 days in office, Trump has waged a systematic war on the Constitution. The steady attack on democratic rights, the arrest of political opponents, the assertion of extraordinary powers by the executive on the pretext of an emergencyall of this has been played out before, in Hitlers Germany, Pinochets Chile and many other dictatorships. Trump and his coterie of Nazi lovers are smashing through laws, with each violation setting the stage for the next.

A police state is being imposed at colleges and universities, in which oppositional sentiment is criminalized under the threat of arrest or deportation. The Wall Street Journal wrote on Monday that Columbia has become ground zero in the Trump administrations campaign to dismantle what it calls extreme leftist ideology on U.S. campuses.

It noted that the Education Department sent letters to 60 schools warning of potential enforcement actions if they dont fulfill obligations to protect Jewish students. The list included Ivy League, state and small liberal-arts colleges.

The assault, however, will not be limited to campuses. Anyone who opposes the actions of the Trump regime and the interests of the ruling class it represents will be targeted. In particular, workers who take action and strike against attacks on their livings standards could be subject to seizure.

The attack on Khalil takes place in the context of mass layoffs of tens of thousands of federal workers by Trump and Elon Musk, the elimination of all restraints on corporate exploitation, and a frontal assault on social programs like Medicaid and Social Security. The assault on democratic rights is inseparably connected to the deepening war preparationsfrom Trumps calls to annex Greenland and Canada to his backing of Israels ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.

Not a single leading Democrat has opposed Khalils illegal arrest and threatened deportation. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has said nothing, and she personally called for swift action against student protesters at Columbia earlier this month. A spokesman for New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who has been working closely with Trump and previously denounced protesters as outside agitators, issued a perfunctory statement that the city does not cooperate with ICE.

The top Democrats in the Senate and House of Representatives, along with independent Senator Bernie Sanders, have all remained silent.

Columbia University, deeply tied to the Democratic Party, played an active role in the attack on Khalil. Just days before his arrest, Khalil warned interim President Katrina Armstrong that he was being subjected to a coordinated doxxing campaign led by Columbia Professor Shai Davidai and others, who labeled him a security threat and called for his deportation.

I havent been able to sleep, fearing that ICE or a dangerous individual might come to my home, he wrote, pleading for legal support and protection. Columbia ignored his appeals, allowing Trumps agents to drag him from his home.

The arrest of Khalil has triggered widespread outrage. More than 1.2 million people have participated in a letter-writing campaign launched by on-campus groups. Over half a million have signed petitions demanding his freedom.

A group of Columbia faculty and other supporters, including a local rabbi, held a press conference at Columbia Monday afternoon to denounce Khalils seizure, while hundreds of supporters demonstrated outside the Manhattan federal court.

These actions must be expanded. Mass meetings and demonstrations should be organized at Columbia, New York University and other schools throughout the city, state and nationally.

Students cannot be left to fight alone. This fight must be taken into the working class. Khalil is a member of the United Auto Workers (UAW), yet the UAW leadership has remained silent. Rank-and-file workers must act. Graduate students in the UAW, along with autoworkers, educators, Amazon workers, healthcare workers, and every section of the working class must take up the fight for Khalils freedom.

Rank-and-file committees must be established in workplaces and factories to defend democratic rights, linking this struggle to the broader fight against Trumps assault on the working class.

No one should underestimate the scale of this assault on democratic rights. This is the rule of the oligarchy in action.

The greatest mistake would be to place any faith in the Democratic Party or the trade union apparatus. The fight to free Mahmoud Khalil is an inseparable part of the broader struggle against the dictatorship of the financial oligarchy. The working class must intervene with its own independent strength to defend democratic rights and oppose the turn to war and dictatorship.
At a press conference yesterday, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) announced that a purported wave of antisemitic attacks in Sydney between November and January had nothing to do with racial or religious hatred, but was perpetrated by a group of criminals seeking to barter with the police and to divert attention from other illegal activities.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Anthony Albanese, Peter Dutton [AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson, Jason Edwards, Andrew Harnik]

The revelation is a damning indictment of the entire political and media establishment. The supposed attacks were invoked by politicians and the press to whip up an atmosphere of hysteria, fear and repression of a wartime character. This was an unprecedented national crisis, they all asserted, requiring extraordinary measures.

The concocted wave was directly invoked to justify the passage of hate speech laws federally and in New South Wales (NSW), which potentially criminalise a broad range of political speech. It was utilised to step-up the political attack on opponents of the Israeli genocide in Gaza, who have nothing to do with antisemitism, including respected Macquarie University academic Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah and anti-Zionist Jewish leader Sarah Schwartz.

The AFP officials confirmed what had already been floated in the press regarding the discovery of a caravan filled with explosives in the outer Sydney suburb of Dural on January 19.

The existence of the caravan was leaked to the Daily Telegraph, which on January 29 published an article presenting it as the preparation for a terrorism incident targeting the Jewish community. That was based on the presence with the explosives of a list, including Sydneys largest synagogue and the Holocaust museum.

But yesterday, AFP Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett stated that within hours of discovering the caravan, police had determined that there was no threat, deeming it to be a criminal con job.

The explosives were decades old, there was no serious attempt to hide them and no detonators were present. Why would terrorists leave their weaponry together with a target list unattended and easily discoverable? Criminals had also reportedly sought to barter with police for sentence reductions, with offers to reveal the location of the explosives.

Barretts confirmation that the Dural caravan was a fabricated terror plot raises major questions about the statements of NSW Labor Premier Chris Minns and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after the existence of the caravan was made public.

In a radio interview on January 30, Minns stated: This is the discovery of a potential mass casualty event. Theres only one way of calling it out and that is terrorism. Albanese immediately concurred, also labelling the unattended caravan as terrorism.

There remain unclarities as to when Albanese was briefed on the police discovery of the caravan. But Minns has repeatedly stated that he received police briefings about it prior to the Daily Telegraph story.

If the police had determined within hours that the caravan had nothing to do with terrorism, presumably that is what they told the NSW premier. Why then, more than a week later, did he tell the public that this was clearly a terrorism incident? Either the police misled Minns, or he was misleading the population, deliberately stoking fear and anxiety over what should have been a non-event.

That is only the most glaring example of the way in which politicians have sought to inflame the situation, presenting the murky antisemitic attacks as a dire threat legitimising a police-state crackdown and attacks on opponents of the Gaza genocide.

Labors record only underscores the fraudulent character of the federal governments response to yesterdays press conference. Albanese and other federal ministers have accused opposition Liberal-National leader Peter Dutton of politicising national security issues.

There is no question that Dutton sought to wedge the Albanese government, with claims that it was weak on terror. But the record demonstrates that Labor, no less than Dutton, inflated a criminal incident into a terrorism event when they knew that not to be the case.

The AFP and the NSW Police yesterday indicated that as many as 14 of the supposed attacks also had nothing to do with genuine antisemitism. They did not specify which incidents they were referring to, but that would comprise virtually the entirety of the wave that occurred in Sydney, involving graffiti and in some instances minor arson.

Like the Dural caravan, those incidents had always appeared suspicious. Anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish graffiti was plastered around the eastern suburbs of Sydney, with each incident given massive media coverage. The graffiti was crude and sometimes misspelled. The targets were frequently random; parked cars on the street, the restaurant of a celebrity chef with no connection to Israel or Judaism, a secular childcare centre. The graffiti did not promote any cause or publicise any organisation. Incidents appeared to be performed mostly for the media.

When arrests over the graffiti began in January, those picked up were small-time criminals with no apparent connection to, or interest in, the Middle East. Another 14 arrests were made yesterday, with police flagging as many as 49 charges against them.

The AFP stated that the caravan and the antisemitic graffiti attacks could all be traced back to the same criminal network, and to a criminal figure operating outside of Australia. The small-time criminals had carried out the attacks for money, not ideological reasons.

The AFP explanation of the Dural caravan has some plausibility. High-level criminals reportedly frequently offer to reveal illegal stashes, in exchange for sentence reductions. In this instance, they would have utilised the phony hysteria over antisemitism to try to get a better deal by claiming to be helping to thwart a terrorist incident.

The police explanation of the graffiti incidents, however, simply makes no sense. NSW deputy police commissioner David Hudson stated that the aim of the criminals was causing chaos and diverting police resources to facilitate other illegal activities.

But orchestrating and perpetrating highly public antisemitic attacks, in the current climate, was the surest way for the criminals to attract police attention, which is precisely what has occurred. Why, moreover, would they choose such a specific and highly political means of advancing ends which the police cannot coherently explain?

The explanation of the graffiti smacks of a cover-up. These were political acts, aimed at pursuing political ends. A serious investigation would include not only an examination of the forensics of the incidents, but the political motivations and the political forces that benefited from them. That would inevitably pose the following question.

Was the Israeli state involved in the attacks?

There is no smoking gun. However, it is indisputable that the graffiti incidents ran parallel with an aggressive campaign by the Israeli regime, demanding that the Australian state pursue an even more pro-Zionist line than it had previously. Senior members of the Israeli government followed the relatively minor incidents in Sydney with a strangely intense and active interest. They directly invoked the odd attacks to demand policy changes from Australian governments.

Throughout the genocide, the federal Labor government has stood full square behind the Israeli onslaught, supporting it diplomatically, politically and materially, including through weapons export permits. Albanese and the state Labor governments have aggressively targeted the mass opposition to the genocide, with venomous denunciations and police attacks.

But, two issues have rankled Israel and its local proxies in a small but influential Zionist lobby. Firstly, while continuing to back Israel fully, Labor has shifted its rhetoric slightly, bemoaning civilian deaths and making vague calls for peace. At the same time, the graffiti incidents occurred as the Labor governments were baulking at passing far-reaching hate speech laws, which could outlaw strident denunciations of Zionists and Israel.

In late November, an expert panel convened by the NSW government recommended that it not introduce such laws, partly because they could violate enshrined civil liberties. Within the federal Labor government, there were also reportedly fears that such laws at a Commonwealth level would be deemed unconstitutional.

On November 16, Australia voted in favour of a UN resolution recognising permanent Palestinian sovereignty over the occupied territories. That is clearly meaningless, given that Gaza has been reduced to rubble and the onslaught is being extended to the West Bank. But the vote provoked intense anger from Israel, under conditions in which it was anticipating and preparing for the final stages of its ethnic-cleansing operation. Trump, who has since pledged to remove all Palestinians from Gaza, had been elected less than a fortnight earlier.

On November 21, the first of the large-scale graffiti attacks occurred, with several cars in the eastern suburbs daubed with anti-Israeli graffiti. The Israeli embassy issued a statement, declaring that it was appalled by the anti-Semitic attack in Sydney last night. Unusually, for a seemingly isolated incident targeting random cars, the embassy also issued demands. Words are no longer enoughits time for action, it stated, insisting on immediate measures to protect and uphold the rights and safety of all citizens.

On December 6, a synagogue was firebombed in Melbourne. The incident is not covered by yesterdays AFP statement and continues to be investigated as an act of terrorism. It is something of an outlier, in that it occurred in Melbourne, not Sydney, and involved a degree of violence that could have claimed the lives of worshippers inside.

The synagogue was associated with the Addass Israel congregation. Its adherents are ultra-Orthodox, and largely eschew politics. The congregation was also for many years locked in a conflict with the Israeli government, which blocked the extradition of a school principal accused of molesting pupils. This was, in other words, a congregation that did not vocally support the Israeli war on Gaza and had recent antagonistic relations with the Netanyahu regime.

Netanyahu himself took to X/Twitter, denouncing the arson. But his post was a highly political intervention, including the following unhinged statement: Unfortunately, it is impossible to separate this reprehensible act from the extreme anti-Israeli position of the Labor government in Australia, including the scandalous decision to support the UN resolution calling on Israel to bring an end to its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as rapidly as possible

Over December and January, the hoax antisemitic incidents continued in Sydney. Israels Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel bizarrely responded to the daubing of antisemitic graffiti on a childcare facility in Sydney, with no connection to Judaism. Continuing the line of Netanyahu, she stated: [T]he attitude of the current Australian government towards Israel is inflaming a lot of these emotions and giving, I guess, some acceptance. Words are not enough, weve passed that a long time ago, she declared.

Other senior Israeli leaders made near identical comments in January, including Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and President Isaac Herzog.

This was, in other words, a political campaign, and one whose only real foundation were the antisemitic attacks which have since been exposed as fraudulent.

In mid-January, Labors Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus travelled to Israel. The press openly stated that the aim was to mend relations amid Israeli fury over the hoax attacks. It was unusual for Dreyfus, the first law officer to visit Israel, as opposed to representatives of the foreign or defence ministries. There is little public information about what Dreyfus discussed in his meetings with senior Israeli leaders.

Shortly after his return, in the first week of February, Labor rushed the hate speech laws through parliament. As the WSWS analysed in detail, they include sweeping attacks on democratic rights, which could be used to prosecute strident critics of Zionists and others using far-reaching and vague provisions. The laws include mandatory jail time.

Also in the opening weeks of February, the NSW Labor government introduced its own similar hate speech legislation, directly invoking the fake attacks in Sydney. State governments are also strengthening anti-protest laws, in a clear bid to shutdown demonstrations against the genocide.

Around this time, the wave of antisemitic graffiti attacks seemed to conclude as abruptly as they had begun, almost as though their purpose had been served.
The Macquarie University Rank-and-File Committee today called on the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) to hold an urgent campus meeting and rally of staff and students to fight moves to sack Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah. The widely respected academic is being targeted because of her high-profile opposition to the ongoing Israeli genocide and ethnic cleansing in Palestine.

Randa Abdel-Fattah [Photo: Macquarie University]

The rank-and-file committee issued its call under conditions where the campaign against Abdel-Fattah is rapidly escalating. Her employment is directly threatened by the decision of the Australian Research Council (ARC), acting at the behest of Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses federal Labor government, to freeze her research grant.

Members of the rank-and-file committee raised the call for such an urgent meeting and rally on February 28 during a vice-chancellors town hall staff meeting, and in a NTEU zoom gathering to observe the town hall meeting. But the NTEU has remained silent.

Today, the committees letter, addressed to the Macquarie University NTEU branch committee, stated:

The attacks on Randa Abdel-Fattah are deepening, with the suspension of her ARC grant, directly threatening her employment by the university. The so-called breaches of her research grant are a cover for a serious attack on academic freedom of speech and democratic rights. As a matter of urgency, the NTEU at Macquarie University must call an all staff and student meeting and rally to defend Abdel-Fattah, and insist that her employment be continued and that the ARC and university reinstate her research grant.

The letter, sent by maths educator Chris Gordon on behalf of the committee, proposed the following resolution for the meeting, similar to the one passed by the Macquarie University Rank-and-File Committee lunchtime public meeting on February 20:

This meeting opposes the victimisation and witch hunt of anti-genocide activist Randa Abdel-Fattah and calls for a campaign throughout the universities and the working class against it. The latest attacks on Abdel-Fattah are aimed at rescinding her research grant and sacking her from Macquarie University and we demand that no such action be taken. The harassment is being led by the Murdoch media and Zionist lobby groups, fully endorsed by the Albanese government. Abdel-Fattah, like others who oppose the genocide in Gaza, is being bullied and slandered as being antisemitic for speaking out in defence of the Palestinian people. The attack on Abdel-Fattah is not confined to one academic. It is aimed at silencing any opposition to the US-Israeli mass killings, the Labor governments support for the genocide and the Trump administrations criminal plan to ethnically cleanse Palestine. We call on educators, students and workers to pass similar resolutions defending Abdel-Fattah, the right to free speech and democratic rights, including academic freedom.

The ARCs suspension of Abdel-Fattahs ARC Future Fellowship grant for a study of the hidden history of Arab/Muslim social movements in Australia is a step toward terminating her employment because her job, as a fixed-term appointment, depends on the continuation of the research grant. This is a test case for trampling over both employment and democratic rights, including academic freedom and free speech.

The ARC froze Abdel-Fattahs fellowship just a month after federal Education Minister Jason Clare ordered the ARC to investigate her grant. The supposed reason is that she allegedly bent ARC rules by holding an online workshop as part of the grant, instead of a formal academic conference.

The ARC decision also followed a demand by Labor MP Josh Burns, the chair of the Labor governments witch-hunting antisemitism parliamentary committee, to know why Macquarie University had not already sacked her.

Clearly, Abdel-Fattah has been targeted because she, like other academics and journalists, has been falsely branded as antisemitic for denouncing the criminal atrocities being committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank.

These mass killingsalready officially up to 50,000and illegal aid, electricity and water cutoffs are intensifying behind the facade of a supposed Gaza ceasefire. Israels Netanyahu regime is openly backed by the Trump administration, which has supplied it with fresh multi-billion dollar arms supplies as part of a plan to wipe out or forcibly remove the Palestinian population.

Beside Abdel-Fattah, numerous other anti-genocide academics have been targeted, but the NTEU has not made a single public statement in their defence. Those known to have been victimised include University of Sydney academics John Keane and Nick Riemer and the same universitys sociology professor Sujatha Fernandes.

Many other critics of Israels barbaric crimes have been tarred as anti-Jewish bigots and persecuted by governments, the corporate media and Zionist organisations. They include journalists Mary Kostakidis, Antoinette Lattouf and Peter Lalor and Sarah Schwartz, the executive officer of the Jewish Council of Australia.

Despite determined opposition by NTEU branch officials, rank-and-file committee members and supporters successfully moved at NTEU branch meetings last month at the University of Sydney and Western Sydney University similar resolutions to that proposed at Macquarie University, as they had earlier done at Footscray High School in Melbourne.

As shown by the wall-to-wall media and government persecution, and criminal prosecution, of two Bankstown Hospital workers in Sydney, who were goaded by an Israeli provocateur into making stupid comments, the so-called antisemitism crusade is designed to intimidate and silence working-class people across the board.

In a further escalation of the suppression of opposition to the genocide, pro-Palestinian activist Hash Tayeh was last week served with unprecedented criminal charges for having publicly condemned Zionism as terrorism. This is a direct attack on political free speech.

In recent days, NTEU branch committees at La Trobe and Monash universities have adopted resolutions condemning the actions of the ARC and Clare, while appealing to the NTEUs national leadership to take a stand.

These resolutions urged the national NTEU to reaffirm its commitment to defending the ARCs independence from political interference, to provide Abdel-Fattah with support during the ARC investigation, including industrial and legal support, and to organise a public campaign to defend her and academic freedom.

The truth is that the NTEU bureaucrats have refused to conduct any campaign in defence of Abdel-Fattah and other targeted educators. Instead, the NTEU issued a mealy-mouthed media statement in late February saying the union was seeking assurances from ARC Chair Professor Peter Shergold that this process will not be influenced by external forces, including media corporations.

That was in line with an October 2023 NTEU National Council resolution, which claimed to commit the union to active solidarity with Palestine but proposed no action by workers against the genocide. Collectively, Australias union bureaucracies have not called a single strike in defence of the Palestinians, or against the witch hunt of genocide opponents.

As the Macquarie Rank-and-File Committee warned on January 21 in its statement calling for the mobilisation of university staff and students at Macquarie and across the country to defend Abdel-Fattah:

The National Tertiary Education Union cannot be relied on to conduct a principled defence. It has not issued a single statement in defence of anti-genocide academics. While it has acted for some academics individually, these processes have been kept confidential and isolated. There has been no concerted campaign to defeat the assault on free speech.

This reality underscores the need for educators and students across the entire tertiary education sector to form rank-and-file committees, independent of the union apparatuses, to discuss and organise in defence of Abdel-Fattah and other Zionist witch hunt victims.

That necessity was further demonstrated this month when Universities Australia, the universities peak employer body, agreed to enforce a new reactionary definition of antisemitism. This definition conflates antisemitism with anti-Zionism and essentially bans criticism of Israel, which was created in 1948 by the removal of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, accompanied by military violence and terrorism that has continued ever since.

The defence of basic democratic rights, including free speech and academic freedom, is more important than ever. The suppression of dissent is not confined to the issue of Palestine. It is calculated to stifle opposition to the whole agenda of militarism, job cuts and attacks on working-class conditions, now spearheaded globally by the fascistic Trump White House.

In its opening year statement on the universities on February 13, the Committee for Public Education (CFPE), the rank-and-file educators network, warned that despite outrage and opposition, university managements were pushing ahead with over 2,000 job cuts, especially in the humanities and arts, as a direct result of the Albanese governments reactionary cuts to international student enrolments on top of Labors deepening of the decades-long chronic under-funding of tertiary education.

We appeal to educators, students and workers to make statements or pass resolutions in defence of Abdel-Fattah and all the other targets of the Zionist-led witch hunt. To discuss moving resolutions, send statements of support or join or build a rank-and-file committee, email the CFPE at cfpe.aus@gmail.com.
Winston Peters, foreign minister in New Zealands far-right National Party-led government, sacked the countrys high commissioner to the United Kingdom, Phil Goff, on Thursday for criticising US President Trumps negotiations with Russia to reach a ceasefire in Ukraine.

New Zealand High Commissioner to the UK Phil Goff [Photo by Scottish government / CC BY 2.0

The position is one of NZs most important diplomatic posts. Goff, appointed in 2022, is a former Labour Party leader, foreign affairs minister and Auckland mayor.

As the rift widens between Washington and the major European powerswhich are demanding the continuation of the proxy war against RussiaGoffs sacking sends a clear message that the New Zealand government will not tolerate open criticism of Trumps new Ukraine policy.

While the New Zealand government continues to support the US-NATO proxy war against Russia over Ukraine, Wellington is also anxious to avoid offending Trump as it strengthens New Zealands alliance with US imperialism and its integration into the US build-up to war against China.

At a public event in London, Goff told Finnish Foreign Affairs Minister Elina Valtonen that he had been rereading a speech by Winston Churchill in 1938 after the Munich Agreement. Churchill had said to Britains then prime minister Neville Chamberlain: You had the choice between war and dishonour. You chose dishonour, yet you will have war.

Goff then asked: President Trump has restored the bust of Churchill to the Oval Office. But do you think he really understands history?

Goffs question implied that Trump is seeking to appease Moscow by negotiating over the fate of Ukraine, in the same way that Chamberlain and other European leaders agreed to allow Nazi Germany to annex large parts of Czechoslovakia in 1938.

Goff was sacked within hours of Peters learning of the incident. A spokesperson for the minister said Goffs comments do not represent the views of the NZ Government and make his position as High Commissioner to London untenable.

Peters, who is also deputy prime minister in the ruling coalition, told the New Zealand Herald he did not consult Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on the decision. Luxon later said he agreed with the decision.

Significantly, opposition Labour leader Chris Hipkins also agreed that Goffs comments went too far and did not oppose his sacking.

As mayor of Auckland and then as high commissioner to London, Goff vociferously supported the US-NATO war against Russia. He posted numerous photos on social media of his visit to New Zealand troops who are in the UK training Ukrainian conscripts. Many of his posts were signed off with the fascist slogan Slava Ukraini!

The Trump administration is, as the WSWS explained, responding to the crisis of American capitalism through a reorientation of foreign policy. It aims to dominate the Americas to prepare for war with China, the greatest competitor of US imperialism.

During the explosive meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on February 28, Trump made it clear that he regarded the Ukraine war as an expensive failure and would seek a peace deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He has also demanded US control over trillions of dollars in Ukrainian resources, effectively reducing the country to a colonial status.

The sudden shift has triggered a crisis in ruling circles around the globe. Following a summit of European leaders in London on March 2, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans for a European coalition of the willing, involving preparations for boots on the ground [in Ukraine] and planes in the air, nominally as peace-keepers to enforce a future ceasefire deal with Russia. All the European powers are massively rearming and there are open discussions of conscription.

New Zealands PM Luxon and opposition Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins have also indicated they would consider sending peacekeepers to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. The Greens, which occasionally posture as opponents of military spending, also support sending troops to assist in what would in fact be an imperialist occupation of Ukraine.

New Zealands ruling elite is desperately seeking to maintain ties with both the US and the European powers. The sacking of Goff shows that this balancing act is becoming increasingly difficult.

Luxon has refused to criticise Trump, whose administration he has pledged to work closely with. He described the Oval Office confrontation with Zelensky as a tough watch but told the media he maintained trust in the Trump White House.

At the same time, Luxon insisted that New Zealands position on the Ukraine war has not changed, posting on X on March 1: New Zealand remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine as it defends itself in a war that Russia started. Its mounting the defence of a proud, democratic and sovereign nation, but also the defence of international law.

Labours Hipkins posted the same day: The NZ govt must continue to stand with Ukraine. The values they are fighting for are Kiwis values. We should continue to do all we can to support them. Time for our govt to speak up!

The fact is that while Putins February 2022 invasion was thoroughly reactionary, it was provoked by the US and NATO powers, which backed the anti-Russian coup in Kiev in 2014, and relentlessly escalated the war to cement their domination of the Eurasian landmass. Trumps open admission that America intends to seize Ukraines raw materials has exploded the endless propaganda that the war is about national self-determination and the defense of democracy.

New Zealand is a minor imperialist power with interests throughout the Pacific and internationally. Since the end of World War II, it has relied on Washingtons backing for its own neo-colonial operations. Wellington has supported all the US-led wars over the past 30 years, including the criminal invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, and fully endorsed the US-Israeli genocide in Gaza.

In Ukraine, New Zealand has provided Defence Force personnel for training, intelligence, logistics and liaison worth $NZ35 million and over $130 million in direct financial aid. It has also supported various international efforts to hold Russia to account over the invasion.

A minority section of the political establishment, which is anxious to protect the countrys vital trade with China, is calling on the government to distance itselfat least to some extentfrom the White House. Labour and the Greens have opposed joining Pillar 2 of AUKUS, the quasi military alliance involving Australia, the UK and US, which would involve sharing of advanced military technology.

Former Labour Prime Minister Helen Clark has questioned New Zealands position in the Five Eyes, the intelligence and spy alliance that also comprises the US, Australia, United Kingdom and Canada, which is increasingly used as a vehicle for member countries to take a united stand on diplomacy and security.

With the developing trade conflict between the US and Canada, Clark told TVNZ: Theres been some talk in the media that Trump might want to evict Canada from [the Five Eyes] Please, could we follow. The current Labour leader Hipkins, however, has made no similar statements, and successive Labour governments, including Clarks, have strengthened the alliance with US imperialism.

Whatever the immediate outcome of the Ukraine crisis, the imperialist drive towards world war is intensifying, and New Zealands ruling class is preparing to join the new redivision of the world. Both the National-led government and the Labour Party are calling for a major military spending increase, in line with US demands.

An anti-war movement can only be built by mobilising the international working class in opposition to all the parliamentary parties and the capitalist system, which is the source of war.
Warrior Met Coal miners during their 2021-23 strike in Brookwood, Alabama [Photo: Friends of Coal-Alabama]

The nomination last month by Trump of Wayne Palmer to head the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) presages a major ramping-up of attacks on miners.

Palmer, a former mining industry executive, was the deputy assistant secretary of MSHA in the first Trump administration, that oversaw attempts to roll back safety standards 100 years or more.

Under Trump, MSHA saw its workforce decline by 13 percent from 2017 to 2021, according to the Charleston Gazette Mail.

MSHA is part of the US Department of Labor (DOL) and, alongside the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is specifically tasked with inspection and safety rule enforcement for over 300,000 miners employed at 13,000 mines; from surface and underground to other mineral mines classified as metal/non-metal (MNM). MSHA oversees the Coal Mine Safety and Health division in 12 coal districts and the Metal-Nonmetal Mine Safety and Health division in its six regions.

The Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 was the initial substantial response of the federal government to the longstanding, deadly, and unhealthy conditions at US coal mines.

Unsurprisingly, it was opposed by the mine owners, who calculated it would negatively affect the profits being extracted from the bodies of miners who were deemed replaceable at a lower cost, which is largely still the case. This was subsequently amended by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, which created MSHA.

Palmer, since his first stint as head of MSHA, advertises he was descended from generations of miners, including the anthracite coal miners in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania coal fields are associated with the Molly Maguires, the militant miners who were hunted by mine owners who hired Pinkerton thugs to suppress unionization battles in the 19th century, a time when hundreds of miners were killed in preventable accidents and illnesses. The also fought against the use of child labor and the promotion of divisions among workers through the use of recent immigrant workers by the mine owners.

Currently, each MSHA inspector is mandated with monitoring the safety of mines in their territory along with the investigation of accidents. The following examples of recent fatalities in the mines give an indication of the savagery of the American industrial slaughterhouse.

 On November 27 of last year, Cargill Cleveland, Ohio, salt mine worker Grzegorz Scyhla, 58 years old, died while in his utility vehicle underground working to reset a reclaim feeder when he was struck by a Load Haul dump-loader. There were 223 workers affiliated with Teamster Local 436 at the salt mine in 2023.



 Colton Walls, 34 years old, and a 14-year veteran of the underground Leer Coal Mine in Grafton, West Virginia, owned by Arch Resources. He sustained life-threatening injuries this past September, succumbing to them on October 5. According to MSHAs preliminary report, Walls sustained the injuries while in the process of realigning some longwall shields, a miner received injuries on an active longwall panel.

 A second fatality at the same Leer Coal Mine owned by Arch Resources had occurred just in August when William J. Crandell, 57-years-old and a motorman at Archs non-union mine, died two days after the accident. MSHAs preliminary report said, A miner was struck in the head while using an air-lifting bag to rerail a longwall electrical power car.

Coal miners are at risk of developing pneumoconiosis (black lung disease), affecting them many years later after even limited exposure. The same is true for other miners and workers encountering exposure to toxic silica dust at their workplaces. The final safety rule for silica dust exposure, aimed at protecting workers from the equally fatal disease silicosis, was approved last year. The mining industry is anticipating that under Trump MSHA will not receive the resources needed to adequately enforce the new safety standards.

In Cheyenne, Wyoming this month, in an area with a large coal mining industry, a demonstration of 100 workers was held in opposition to any cuts to workplace safety. Workers pointed to the attacks on safety standards expected under the new administration: Elon Musk and Trump just willy-nilly firing a bunch of people, thats going to destroy peoples lives, and people are going to get hurt and die and lose their livelihoods, said Cameron Tibbets, a Cheyenne union sheet metal worker, in comments to Wyoming Public Radio, which also reported that Musk has terminated the MSHA Green River office contract along with 28 other MSHA office contracts across the country.

Breaker boys sort coal in an anthracite coal breaker near South Pittston, Pennsylvania, 1911. [Photo: Lewis Hine for National Child Labor Committee]

The current president of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), Cecil Roberts, served under former UMWA and AFL-CIO head Richard Trumka, a notorious sellout who oversaw the collapse of the UMWA as a mass organization and the decimation of workers living standards.

Among his many betrayals, in 1990 Trumka was involved in the cover-up of the murder of miner John McCoy, who was killed in an ambush perpetrated by A.T. Massey thugs in a struggle near a non-union mine in Welch, West Virginia.

In a moving excerpt from Death on the Picket Line: The Story of John McCoy, Donna Carter, Johns youngest sister said, Johns thoughts and ideas were union, not leadership. He made a distinction. He was in the working class, period. If his brother 1,000 miles away needed him, then thats the one he was standing for. He was not standing for their leadership, or his leadership. He was standing for his class of workers, period. He believed strongly.

Since that time the UMWA and the other bureaucratized trade unions have repeatedly betrayed the working class, ever more openly collaborating with corporations and their servants in both capitalist partiesDemocrats and Republicans.

To oppose the drive to roll back conditions in the mines to the dark days of the 19th century mine workers must unite with workers in other industries in and industrial and political struggle against the corporations, which are backed by the Trump administration. This means building independent rank-and-file committees to organize resistance to the drive to destroy wages, benefits and other social gains such as health and safety.

The International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) is the means for workers to link up with their fellow class brothers and sisters, transcending industries and borders in the fight against transnational corporations and the pro-corporate trade unions and big business government in the fight for international socialism.

To learn more about forming a rank-and-file committee at your workplace please fill out the form below.
Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei attends a press conference in Tehran, Iran, on March 10, 2025. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, on Monday accused the United States of using so-called non-governmental organizations (NGOs) abroad to interfere in other countries' internal affairs. (Xinhua/Shadati)

TEHRAN, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, on Monday accused the United States of using so-called non-governmental organizations (NGOs) abroad to interfere in other countries' internal affairs.

Baghaei made the remarks at a weekly press conference when asked to comment on a recent U.S. funding freeze announcement.

With "meddlesome" approaches, different U.S. administrations provided considerable amounts of money to opposition groups, "or groups that were called opposition, but in practice worked towards (the implementation of) U.S. policies in different countries," said Baghaei.

He added that different U.S. administrations have used the tool of foreign aid over the past decades to interfere in other countries' internal affairs and cause division and sedition.

On Jan. 20, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid, which orders a 90-day pause in the country's "foreign development assistance." 
Tesla's Gigafactory Factory in Austin Texas [Photo: Jeff Roberts]

Tesla workers looking to expose working conditions: Contact the WSWS by filling out the form below. Your comments will be kept strictly anonymous.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a $49,650 (45,780) fine against Tesla for the August 1, 2024 death of journeyman electrician Victor Joe Gomez Sr. at its Gigafactory in Austin, Texas. The worker in question was electrocuted while working on a panel that was supposed to have not been energized.

The details in the OSHA reports make clear this was a foreseeable and preventable death, but it was made inevitable given the lack of safety measures at the plant. As of this writing, there is no indication that the citation has been contested, but the case status is still listed as open.

The fine amounts to less than a slap on the wrist for the worlds most valuable car company, with a market capitalization of nearly $700 billion at this time. The fine is less than 0.0003 percent of the companys $17.45 (16.09) billion in profit last year.

Financial news outlets estimate that Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the worlds richest person and open fascist who heads the infamous Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the Trump administration, makes an income of $6,420 (5,920) per second, meaning he could pay off the fine in less than 8 seconds, the time it takes to put on his shoes.

While little is done to protect Tesla workers, in the first two months of 2024 Tesla paid $500,000 for Musks personal security, and he reportedly travels with at least 20 bodyguards. The company also employs a number of private security firms to turn its factories into virtual fortresses with all entrances guarded by gates, guards and a sophisticated array of AI security cameras, including systems, such as the Turing AI surveillance system used in parking lots in order to monitor workers in Teslas factory in Fremont, California, and likely many others.

Through his control of DOGE, Musk and Trump are declaring war on virtually every federal department which even slightly infringes on the profit-making of the corporate oligarchy, with layoffs already having taken place in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and other regulatory agencies. Trumps pick for OSHAs new director, David Keeling, was a former safety director at Amazon and UPS, both companies with appalling safety records.

Amazon, in particular, has pioneered the use of robotics and tracking systems to enforce speedup inside its fulfillment centers, where workers are also regularly denied workers comp after suffering injuries while trying to make rate. During Keelings tenure as head of safety compliance at Amazon, former Amazon worker Shannon Allen became homeless after suffering repeated injuries, in a case first reported by the World Socialist Web Site.

Amazon founder and Musks fellow oligarch Jeff Bezos has also emerged as a major supporter of the Trump administration.

Unsafe conditions at Tesla

The death of Victor Gomez Sr. follows two previous fines of $7,000 each at Teslas Gigafactory for violations, including exposing four workers to toxic, cancer-causing hexavalent chromium.

Gomezs family launched a lawsuit against Tesla and the contractor, Belcan Services LP, which is separate from the citation by OSHA.

The details were not released until Wednesday despite the citation being issued in late January.

According to OSHA, the incident took place in the South Expansion Building, the site of the new Tesla headquarters following Musks decision to move out of California in opposition to limiting COVID-19 measures in 2020. Musk operated his Fremont, California, plant illegally during lockdowns without any consequences from the Democratic Party-controlled state government.

The fine total comes from three serious violations, viewable on OSHAs website here. The first violation was for working in close proximity to energized parts without wearing appropriate personal protective equipment, including for the eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers. From the description provided, it would seem that Gomez Sr. was doing work which necessitated an arc-flash rated suit. Instead, he was given essentially nothing.

The second violation was for Tesla permitting work in electric power circuits that were not protected against electric shock by de-energizing and grounding the circuits or effectively guarding the circuits by insulation or other means and that Gomez was performing an inspection on an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) without it being de-energized.

The third citation stated:

Before work began the employer did not ascertain by inquiry or direct observation, or by instruments, whether any part of an energized electric power circuit, exposed or concealed, was so located that the performance of the work could bring a person, tool, or machine into physical or electrical contact with the energized electric power circuit. The employer did not post and maintain proper warning signs where such a circuit existed. The employer did not advise employees of the location of such lines, the hazards involved, and the protective measures to be taken.

It adds that in the same building:

On or about August 1, 2024, and at times prior thereto, quality control employees were exposed to electrical hazards while performing tests and inspections on newly installed electrical equipment without prior hazard analysis, warning signs, and communication of safe work procedures.

Essentially, no safety measures, including such basic measures like Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO), were present A worker at the plant told the WSWS that LOTO was loosely enforced and that the company should enforce LOTO more and actually have a crew or a system to verify that LOTO is being properly done.

Tesla is one of the poster-children for workplace injuries. The Austin, Texas, plant had the eighth most injuries of any workplace in America, or roughly one injury for every 13 workers at the facility, according to OSHAs 2023 data, the latest available from the agency. The third-most dangerous plant, according to the same figures, was Teslas plant in Fremont, California, which had 2,149 injuries.
MOGADISHU, March 11 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were killed and several others injured on Tuesday after militant group al-Shabab attacked a hotel in the central Somali city of Beledweyne, a government official confirmed.

Minister for Health and Human Services Ali Haji Adam said the militants attacked the Cairo Hotel, where traditional elders and military officers were meeting for coordinated efforts against al-Shabab insurgents in the region.

According to Adam, a suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden vehicle into the hotel entrance, killing at least five people, including two elders attending the meeting. He noted that the elders had been mobilizing forces to reclaim areas in the Hiraan region still under al-Shabab control.

Independent sources suggested the death toll could exceed 10, as militants stormed the hotel and opened fire while the meeting was in progress.

"The suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the hotel where traditional elders were holding a meeting at the time. Then four gunmen entered the hotel and started shooting people inside," a witness told Xinhua, requesting anonymity.

A senior security officer warned that the death toll could rise as the situation remained fluid.

Al-Shabab, which has been waging an insurgency against Somalia's internationally backed government, claimed responsibility for the attack. The group said that its fighters had targeted senior officials and elders inside the hotel and had seized a cache of weapons. It also claimed that some people remained trapped inside the building. 
JERUSALEM, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli military said Tuesday it conducted airstrikes overnight on military headquarters and sites housing weapons and equipment in southern Syria.

The strikes also targeted "radars and detection assets used for constructing aerial intelligence assessments," said the military.

There were no immediate reports of casualties.

The strikes were the latest in a series of Israeli attacks on infrastructure belonging to the Syrian military. 
GAZA/JERUSALEM, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Four people were killed and 14 others injured by Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip over the past day, health authorities in the Palestinian enclave said on Tuesday.

Health authorities did not disclose the location of the attacks. Palestinian media reported a drone strike on the Netzarim Corridor in central Gaza on Tuesday. The official Palestinian news agency WAFA also reported Israeli bombings in Gaza City, airstrikes targeting civilians east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, and an Israeli attack in the town of Al-Shawka, east of Rafah city.

An Israeli military spokesperson said in a statement that a drone strike was conducted against Palestinian militants in central Gaza on Tuesday after identifying "several militants engaged in suspicious activity posing a threat to IDF (Israel Defense Forces) troops."

The strikes were the latest in almost daily Israeli attacks throughout the Palestinian enclave after the first phase of the ceasefire agreement expired on March 1. Negotiations for the next phase, which should secure a permanent ceasefire, remain stalled. 
I've seen the royal family visit their fair share of Commonwealth nations, from Prince William's recent adventures in South Africa to Princess Anne's 2024 trip to Sri Lanka. Now, in honor of Commonwealth Day, Buckingham Palace is taking fans down memory lane with highlights from the royals' previous visits to Commonwealth nations.

In case you missed it, the royal family took to Instagram and shared several pics from their travels in 2024 and 2025, including a snap of Duchess Sophie speaking with choir members in Malta and King Charles letting his hair down in Samoa. The caption reads, "Thank you to everyone around the Commonwealth who has welcomed a member of the Royal Family to their country in the past year."

As much as I enjoyed revisiting these highlights, however, there was one photo that immediately stood out. On the very first slide, a very relaxed King Charles and Queen Camilla posed among students at the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia.



Taken in October 2024, the striking photo shows His Majesty donning a pair of shades as he stands beside a beaming Queen Camilla. The sunlight hits their faces directly, creating a bright glow as the children who surround them all raise their hands. One fan commented, "We loved having you in Australia." Another added, "Camilla looks happy and pretty."

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You might recall that their Majesties had an action-packed agenda in Australia, attending events in Sydney and Canberra that focused on sustainability and protecting the environment from climate change. The pair also enjoyed a community barbecue near Sydney, where they chatted with local representatives of Australias cultural scene. And best of all, they received the ultimate greeting when they arrived on day one.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

In addition to sharing a collection of throwback photos on IG, the king penned a personal statement on the royal family's official website, noting the significance of the Commonwealth Day. He wrote, "The Commonwealths ability to bring together people from all over the world has stood the test of time and remains as ever-important today. Leaders recently reiterated the importance of collaboration for peace and human rights, as well as for the restoration of Nature both on land and in the oceans."

He continued, "As we mark this Commonwealth Day together, there is no more important task than to restore the disrupted harmony of our entire planet. For the sake of our younger generations threatened future, I can only hope that the Commonwealth will continue its vital work to restore that harmony."

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His Majesty also included his special signature, Charles R. Royal enthusiasts might recall that the letter R stands for Rex, which is the Latin translation of the word king. (His late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, also signed letters with her unique signature, writing Elizabeth R. In this case, the R stands for Regina, which means queen in Latin.)

Keep the photogenic snaps coming, King Charles.

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Prince William Just Pulled a King Charles & Broke Royal Protocol
Emily Lindberg and Wu Hanyen took matters into their own handsand those of their creative communityto save money where they could.

Emily Lindberg and Wu Hanyens home seems so distinctively their own because, for the most part, they made it themselves. Emily, an interior and architectural designer with a firm in her name, and Wu, a sculpture professor and furniture maker with her own brand, called Work in Use, replaced the nondescript interior of an 1870s Victorian in a historic neighborhood in Providence, Rhode Island, with earthen finishes, eye-catching patterns, and patches of color that reflect the owners complementary aesthetics. The rounded wooden furniture is distinctively Wu, while the mix of historic and modern details is right up Emilys alley. Beyond allowing for creative control, doing the renovation themselves brought down the cost of the project significantly. Working in short bursts while Wu was on breaks from teaching, they spent months living on a construction site, doing dishes in a bathtub and cooking out of an instant pot.

Wu Hanyen and Emily Lindberg bought their Providence, Rhode Island, Victorian in 2021. Since then, theyve spent almost any free time they have hadoften over summer breaks because Wu is a professor at the Massachusetts College of Art and Designupdating it to their tastes. The custom gate is by Wu. Photo: Levi Mandel

Though the hard stuff was done by Wu, Emily, and, occasionally, contractors, the couple also drew on their designer and artist friends to finish the house. Providences creative community was a large part of why Wu and Emily put down roots in Rhode Island. They met in New York, but after living in Brooklyn for several years, they moved to Providence so Wu could get an MFA in furniture design from Emilys alma mater, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Now, eight years after the couple moved to the city, their local creative community has made its way into the design of their home.

$6,500

Structural $30,000

Roofing + Exterior $15,500

Wall Finishes $2,200

Flooring (Wood) $1,400

Floor Refinishing $8,200

Electrical Labor $5,600

Plumbing Labor $3,000

Kitchen & Bath Fixtures $8,300

Lighting Fixtures $4,000

Countertops $15,500

Appliances $5,200

Windows & Glazing $1,200

Doors $34,000

Millwork $6,700

Tilework $3,800

Tile Installer $35,000

Furnishings & Decor $11,000

Gen. Contractor Fee $96,000

Other Labor



Grand Total: $293,100

Old + New

Emily Lindberg: Were trying to honor the Victorian style, but were not trying to re-create the past. We consider ourselves contemporary designers, but there was something about the spirit of this house that we could feel. Even though it needed some love, I wanted to not go too far away from the [original] style. For the entry tile, I came up with my own pattern. It feels traditional, but the scale and the color bring it into a contemporary space. Another technique that I use is painting the trim and the walls the same color. Its more modern because you dont have the busyness of the contrast.

The two lived in their labor of love during the renovations.

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See the full story on Dwell.com: Construction Diary: With $293K, Two Designers Make a Rhode Island Victorian Their Own

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JUBA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan President Salva Kiir dismissed three ministers in the latest cabinet reshuffle on Monday evening amid an ongoing political crisis that threatens the unity government, which was formed under a 2018 peace deal that ended the country's five-year civil war.

In a presidential decree broadcast on the state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation, Kiir removed Ruben Madol Arol as minister of justice and constitutional affairs and replaced him with Wek Mamer Kuol, a former deputy cabinet minister.

Awut Deng Acuil was relieved of her duties as minister of general education and instruction, with educationist Kuyok Abol Kuyok set to assume the role. Joseph Mum Majak was dismissed as minister of trade and industry

Both Deng and Madol have held ministerial positions since 2020, while Majak was appointed trade minister in July 2024. The president did not provide reasons for their dismissals.

The latest cabinet reshuffle came in the wake of armed confrontations in Nasir, including an attack on a United Nations aircraft, which resulted in the deaths of UN personnel and dozens of soldiers on March 7.

The international community has called on warring parties in South Sudan to advance the transition toward stability, democracy and lasting peace, urging them to prevent the country from backsliding into chaos.

Fighting in Nasir, a strategic town, has escalated tensions since March 3, leading to the arrest of senior government and military officials from the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army-In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO), led by First Vice-President Riek Machar.

More than 20 people have reportedly been killed, and several others injured on the outskirts of Nasir, near the border between South Sudan and Ethiopia. 
St. Patrick's Day, or the Feast of St. Patrick, is a religious holiday that always falls on March 17, which is the traditional death date of the Patron Saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick.

The holiday traditionally celebrates the arrival of Christianity to Ireland, although, it has evolved to celebrate Irish culture and heritage.

Celebrations on St. Patrick's Day include parades, wearing green or shamrocks, attending church services, as well as eating special foods and drinking alcohol.

The four best St. Patrick's Day parades in Louisiana

In Louisiana, Irish immigrants and descendants significantly shaped the state, contributing to the state's culture, economy and architecture.

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In fact, New Orleans was a major port of entry for Irish immigrants in the 18th and 19th centuries for those seeking economic opportunities and a predominantly Catholic environment.

Today, Irish culture is still deeply engrained within New Orleans, and the state of Louisiana as a whole, and that culture is celebrated with numerous St. Patrick's Day celebrations.

Metairie Road St. Patrick's Day Parade

Irish Channel Parade in New Orleans

The Irish Channel Parade will roll through New Orleans on Saturday, March 15 at 1 p.m., and will begin on the corner of Felicity and Magazine Streets.

The Irish Channel St. Patrick's Day Committee was organized in the Irish Channel in 1947 and, despite years of decline and change within the "Channel," the organization has lived on. Now, the committee plans to parade with the largest membership ever, with numbers over 1,400.

Downtown Irish Club Parade in New Orleans

On Monday, March 17, the Downtown Irish Club Parade in New Orleans will commence at 7 p.m. This club, and its parade, has been preserving and celebrating Irish identity in New Orleans since 1976.

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This annual parade begins on the corner of Burgundy and Piety in the Bywater, then proceeds up Royal, across Esplanade to Decatur, and then up Canal to Bourbon. Additionally, the parade make several "pit stops" on its way to Bourbon Street.

St. Patrick's Day Parade in Baton Rouge

The 40th annual Wearin' of the Green St. Patrick's Day Parade in Baton Rouge will take place on March 15 at 10 a.m. In order to secure a good spot to watch the entire parade, it's recommended that spectators lineup after the Catholic Life Center driveway on Hundred Oaks Avenue.

The first Wearin' of the Green Parade rolled through Baton Rouge in 1986, and it consisted of antique cars, convertibles, twirlers, scouts, as well as close family and friends. Now, this St. Patrick's Day parade is a beloved, popular event in the city of Baton Rouge.

Metairie Road St. Patrick's Day Parade

On March 16 at 12 p.m., the St. Patrick's Day Parade of Metairie will kick off with over 100 floats, as well as trucks, bands, marching clubs and even vegetables.

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This parade will begin traveling down Severn Avenue, from West Napoleon Avenue, onto Metairie Road, and then all the way to the railroad tracks. Metairie Road St. Patrick's Day Parade is the only parade to continue the tradition of the original Metairie parade route.

Gretna Italian-Irish Parade

The Gretna Italian-Irish Parade will take place on March 30 at 12 p.m., and conclude with an after-party at the Gretna Market from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Gretna Market is located at 739 Third Street in Gretna. The parade begins on Burnmaster Street and ends on Huey P Long Avenue.

This parade features vibrant music, dancing food and fun. Gretna's Italian-Irish Parade also fosters community participation, as well as supports local charities and businesses, all well celebrating the culture of Gretna.

Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: What are the best St. Patrick's Day parades in Louisiana? Here are 5
Finnish silence is more than just a lack of wordsits a form of communication that values presence over noise. In Finland, people are comfortable sitting together in silence without needing to fill every moment with chatter. According to CNBC, Finland consistently ranks among the happiest countries in the world, and their approach to silence might be part of why. In relationships, this quiet understanding can create a deeper connection, allowing couples to feel close without the pressure of constant conversation. Sometimes, not saying anything at all is exactly what your marriage needs. Finnish silence isn't awkward or coldit's intentional, comfortable, and surprisingly intimate and could be the answer to your marriage problems.

1. It Prevents You From Saying Things You'll Later Regret

We've all been in the heat of frustration, words flying out of your mouth that you wish you could catch mid-air and stuff back in. Finnish silence gives you a built-in buffer between feeling and speaking. When emotions run high, your first reaction isn't always your wisest one, and taking that moment of pause can be the difference between escalation and resolution. As the BBC points out, unlike the tension-filled silent treatments that plague struggling relationships, Finnish silence is about creating space for meaningful connection. Here are the ways it can save your relationship.

The beauty of practicing intentional silence is that it creates a habit of thoughtfulness. Over time, you'll find yourself automatically taking that beat before responding, especially in tense situations. Your partner will come to appreciate that your words are considered rather than reactive, building trust that even in disagreements, you won't resort to hurtful language that leaves lasting wounds.

2. It Stops Arguments Before They Escalate

Arguments have a sneaky way of snowballingone moment you're discussing who forgot to take out the trash, and suddenly you're rehashing grievances from your honeymoon. Finnish silence acts like a circuit breaker in these moments. According to Psychology Today, when you notice tension building, a deliberate pause can interrupt that familiar path to escalation and give you both a chance to reset.

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This isn't about avoiding conflicthealthy relationships need productive disagreement. It's about keeping conflicts contained to their actual scope instead of letting them expand into relationship-threatening blowouts. By practicing strategic silence, you create space to ask yourself: "Is this worth fighting about?" and "What's really bothering me here?" Often, you'll find the answer leads to a much more productive conversation than the one you were about to have.

3. It Gives Your Partner Time To Think

Your partner's brain doesn't process information at exactly the same speed or in the same way as yours does. Finnish silence acknowledges and respects these differences. When you give your partner unrushed space to formulate their thoughts, you're showing respect for their thought process rather than demanding immediate responses.

This practice builds a foundation of patience in your relationship. You'll begin to appreciate the thoughtful responses that emerge when someone isn't pressured to speak before they're ready. Many relationship counselors note that partners who feel rushed often give incomplete or inaccurate answers simply to fill the silence, which leads to misunderstandings that could have been avoided with a little patience.

4. It Teaches You To Read Nonverbal Communication

Yuri A/Shutterstock

Words make up only a fraction of how we communicate, yet we often fixate on them exclusively. Finnish silence encourages you to tune into the rich world of nonverbal cuesthe slight tension in your partner's shoulders, the softening around their eyes when they're moved, the way they fidget when uncomfortable. These signals often tell a more honest story than words alone.

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According to Better Up, about 55% of communication comes from body language. So, becoming fluent in your partner's body language creates a deeper connection than endless conversation ever could. You'll start noticing patternshow they withdraw slightly before sharing something vulnerable, or how their posture changes when they're feeling misunderstood. This awareness helps you respond to what they're really communicating, not just what they're saying, creating a level of understanding that feels almost like mind-reading.

5. It Makes Your Words More Meaningful And Impactful

In a culture of constant chatter, words become cheap. Finnish silence creates an economy of language where what you say carries weight precisely because you don't feel compelled to fill every moment with sound. Your partner learns that when you speak, it's because you have something worth saying, not because you're uncomfortable with quiet.

This approach transforms how your words are received. Compliments become more treasured because they're thoughtful rather than automatic. Concerns are taken more seriously because you don't raise them over every minor issue. When expressing love, your declarations carry deeper meaning because they come from reflection rather than obligation. In essence, speaking less often means being truly heard when you do speak.

6. It Models Healthy Communication For Your Children

Children don't learn from what we tell them nearly as much as from what we show them. When you practice Finnish silence with your partner, your kids witness a masterclass in respectful communication. They observe how pauses defuse tension, how listening matters as much as speaking, and how emotional regulation leads to better outcomes than impulsive reactions.

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These lessons will serve them in every relationship they ever have. By watching you navigate disagreements with intentional pauses and thoughtful responses, they develop a template for healthy conflict resolution. In a world where many young people have never seen constructive disagreement modeled at home, this gift of witnessing measured communication may be one of your most significant parenting contributions.

7. It Eliminates Pressure To Fill Every Moment With Talk

Many relationship problems stem from the misguided belief that constant conversation equals connection. Finnish silence liberates you from this exhausting expectation. Not every car ride needs a podcast-worthy discussion, not every dinner requires stimulating debate, and not every bedtime demands a heartfelt exchange about your day.

Embracing comfortable quiet together means you can simply exist in each other's presence without performance. This pressure-free togetherness often leads to more authentic sharing when it does happen. When conversation emerges organically rather than from obligation, it tends to be more meaningful, more honest, and more connecting than forced dialogue ever could be.

8. It Allows For Natural Thought Completion

Mavo/Shutterstock

Your brain needs uninterrupted time to fully process complex ideas and emotions. Finnish silence respects the natural rhythm of thought, giving both you and your partner the chance to follow ideas to their conclusion. When someone interrupts your thought process, you lose not just what you were about to say, but potentially insights that were still forming.

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By practicing patience while your partner thinks, you'll often be rewarded with more complete and nuanced perspectives than if you had hurried them along. This completeness of thought leads to more satisfying conversations where you both feel truly heard and understood. It's like the difference between rushing through a meal and savoring each bitethe experience is fundamentally transformed when you give it proper time.

9. It Prioritizes Quality Connection

Modern relationships often fall victim to quantity over qualitycountless texts throughout the day, constant updates, and non-stop communication that somehow leaves you feeling less connected than ever. Finnish silence flips this dynamic, emphasizing meaningful exchanges over constant contact. When you speak less, what you do share tends to matter more.

This quality-focused approach creates a relationship built on substance rather than noise. Instead of reporting every minor occurrence of your day, you share the moments that moved you, the thoughts that challenged you, the feelings that defined your experience. Your partner gets to connect with the authentic essence of your day rather than drowning in its details, creating deeper bonds through more meaningful exchange.

10. It Helps You Notice What Really Matters In Your Relationship

Constant noiseboth literal and figurativedrowns out the subtle but essential elements that make your relationship unique. Finnish silence creates space for noticing the small things: the way your partner hands you coffee exactly how you like it, their unconscious smile when talking about something they love, the specific way they reach for your hand in crowds.

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These seemingly minor observations often hold the key to deeper appreciation. In the quiet moments, you remember why you chose this person and continue choosing them daily. Without the distraction of constant chatter, you can notice patterns, appreciate growth, and recognize the countless ways your lives have become beautifully intertwinedawareness that gets lost in relationships that never pause for reflection.

11. It Builds Patience During Disagreements

Few relationship skills are as valuable as patience during conflict, yet it's often the first casualty when tensions rise. Finnish silence cultivates this exact skillthe ability to wait, to hold space for discomfort without rushing to resolution. Not every disagreement needs immediate closure; some benefit from marination time where both partners can process independently.

This patience transforms how you handle differences. You'll find yourself less desperate to "win" arguments and more interested in understanding different perspectives. The space created by intentional silence often reveals that many disagreements stem from misunderstanding rather than fundamental incompatibility. With patience, solutions often emerge organically that neither partner could have reached through forced reconciliation.

12. It Creates A Safe Space In Your Relationship

In a world that bombards you with noise, demands, and distractions, your relationship should be a refuge, not another source of sensory overload. Finnish silence transforms your connection into a safe harbor where both of you can drop the performance required everywhere else. You don't need to be "on" or entertaining or constantly engagingyou can simply be present, breathing the same air, existing in the same space.

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This shared quiet sanctuary becomes particularly precious in times of stress. When work is chaotic, when family drama erupts, when the world feels overwhelming, your relationship becomes the quiet center that holds. Many couples find that their most profound moments of support involve no words at alljust the silent, steady presence of someone who doesn't need to fix, advise, or distract, but simply remains alongside you in the quiet. This silent solidarity creates a unique bond that talkative relationships often miss.

13. It Helps Eliminate Tech Addiction

Most couples today struggle with phones constantly interrupting their connectionthe reflexive grab during dinner, the scrolling in bed, the constant pings demanding attention. Finnish silence creates a natural counterbalance to this digital intrusion by valuing present, unmediated connection. When you're comfortable with quiet together, you're less likely to reach for devices to fill perceived "empty" space.

This technology reset can revolutionize your daily interactions. Meals become opportunities for genuine connection rather than parallel phone scrolling. Bedtime transforms from separate social media rabbit holes into shared wind-down moments. Morning coffee shifts from immediate email checking to gentle awakening together. The Finnish approach doesn't require formal "no phone" rules that often feel punitiveinstead, it cultivates a relationship where the quiet connection between you is simply more appealing than the constant noise of your devices.
While the U.S. State Department periodically reviews and updates its list of countries based on how safe they are for travelers to visit, the Trump administration just made a big sweep to renew or add 23 countries, largely in Africa and South America, to the reconsider travel ranking.

This rating is the third level on a four-tier system; the first, exercise normal precautions, means that a country is just as or even safer to be in than home, while avoid all travel is usually given to war zones and authoritarian governments.

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These are the countries currently under reconsider travel

The 23 countries currently under reconsider travel include popular vacation destinations such as Egypt, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Colombia.

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The rest of the list includes Bangladesh, Burundi, Chad, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Macau, Mauritania, Mozambique, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Uganda and Vanuatu.

Related: This is why the State Department is warning against Germany travel

Extremists continue to express interest in plotting attacks in Egypt against religious sites, government entities, and diplomatic facilities, the updated advisory for Egypt reads. [] Terrorists have conducted attacks in urban areas, including in Cairo, despite the heavy security presence.

While the capital has seen some attacks over the years, Egypt is generally a very safe and by far the most popular African country for foreign visitors; over 15 million tourists come each year for sights such as the Pyramids of Giza as well as all-inclusive resorts on the Red Sea.

More on travel:

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The countries on the updated list vary widely on both how popular and safe they are for tourists. While nations such as Chad and Bangladesh see very few American tourists, others are standard vacation destinations with a plethora of resorts  Jamaica, in particular, sees an average of two million American tourists pass through every year.

While Jamaica is officially rated as reconsider travel, it remains a very popular tourist destination for Americans.Shutterstock

The other advisories focus on everything from petty crime targeting tourists to drug activity and trafficking; earlier this year, several advisories were issued for Central American countries through which traffickers pass through on the way to Mexico and eventually the U.S.

More warnings for Caribbean territories: Police strictly enforce these laws

While an overseas British territory rather than an independent nation, the combination of 40 islands known as Turks and Caicos was also the subject of a new travel warning from the State Department.

The territory particularly popular with luxury-seeking travelers is still under level twos exercise increased caution  it is too remote to see widespread crime  but the government issued a new warning about respecting local laws after five American tourists were arrested when customs found ammunition in their luggage upon flying back to the U.S. (the travelers said they forgot to remove it after domestic travel and, while eventually let off with fines, spent weeks in detention.

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"Police strictly enforce these laws, even at the airport when travelers are leaving," the advisory reads. "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.

Related: Veteran fund manager issues dire S&P 500 warning for 2025
TOOELE COUNTY, Utah (ABC4)  One man is in the hospital, and three suspects are in custody after a Sunday morning stabbing in Tooele County.

The victim was allegedly stabbed because of a confrontation over a debt, the Tooele County Sheriffs Office said. According to arrest documents, one of the suspects owed the victim $50.

Officials said a man and a woman assaulted the victim, and the suspects told police the victim wanted to start a fight with one of them. The suspects said the victim reportedly punched the male suspect in the face, but both suspects denied stabbing the victim, according to arrest documents.

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The victim had multiple stab wounds and was taken to a local hospital by a second female suspect, the sheriffs office said.

5 detained after suspicious death at Millcreek apartment complex

Tyrell James Brady, 39, and Stephanie Nicole Gilmore, 33, are accused of stabbing the victim. They were arrested and booked on charges including attempted murder, aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and possession of a weapon by a restricted person.

Kimberly Crinan, 30, is the suspect who drove the victim to the hospital. She was arrested for obstruction of justice after reportedly providing false information about the location of the incident and the identities of the people involved.

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Crinan allegedly told officers she picked the victim up from a lounge to take him to the hospital, but tracking data showed she did not go to that lounge before the hospital the night of the incident.

All three suspects are being held at the Tooele County Detention Center without bail. The investigation is ongoing. As of Monday, the sheriffs office said the victim was being treated for his injuries at a hospital in Salt Lake City.

Anyone with more information about the incident has been asked to contact the sheriffs office dispatch center at 435-882-5600.

There is no further information at this time.

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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.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  One person was injured after a shooting in Dayton Monday night.

According to the Montgomery County Regional Dispatch Center, officers were dispatched to the 600 block of Whitmore Avenue on report of the shooting, which occurred around 10:18 p.m.

Our 2 NEWS photographer spoke to a DPD Sergeant at the scene who said that one person had been taken to the hospital for non life-threatening injuries.

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The incident remains 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 WDTN.com.
MAPLE HEIGHTS, Ohio (WJW)  Maple Heights police are investigating after a shooting sent one person to the hospital on Monday afternoon.

Officers responded to reports of shots fired on Maple Park Drive around 4:38 p.m., according to the Maple Heights Police Department. A caller told dispatchers that a male was seen walking around the area with a gun.

By the time officers arrived, they learned that the male left the scene in a white vehicle, the police department said.

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Sheriff: Woman in US illegally had fake ID with dead persons Social Security number

Investigators said they found multiple vehicles struck by gunfire.

During the investigation, the Garfield Heights Police Department responded to a scene with several people near York Boulevard. Once there, officers found a male who was shot.

The victim was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, while the others were taken into police custody for questioning.

According to Maple Heights police, the white vehicle eventually returned to Maple Park Drive and the driver was also taken into custody.

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High-end car thieves leave Cleveland business, neighbors shaken: I-Team

There were no other reported injuries in the shooting, which remains under investigation at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to reach out to the Maple Heights Detective Bureau at (216) 587-9624 or by email at detectives@mhpd-ohio.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 Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
At least one person was killed and 17 others injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past day, regional officials reported on March 11.

Ukraines Air Force intercepted 79 of the 126 Russian drones launched overnight, including Shahed-type attack drones, as well as one Iskander-M ballistic missile.

Another 35 drones reportedly disappeared from radars before reaching their targets, likely acting as decoys to overwhelm Ukraines air defenses.

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Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare systems, aviation, and mobile fire groups repelled the attack.

In Donetsk Oblast, Russian strikes killed one person and injured two in Pokrovsk and injured one in Kostiantynivka, Governor Vadym Filashkin said.

Russian shelling and air strikes wounded 11 people in Kherson Oblast, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported.

A 61-year-old man was injured in Kharkiv Oblast when a Russian attack drone struck a warehouse roof, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov.

One civilian was also wounded in Sumy Oblast in a Russian drone strike, the regional military administration said.

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In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a 79-year-old woman was injured in a Russian attack, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported.

In Odesa Oblast, a house, a childrens toy warehouse, and a fuel tank caught fire in a massive Russian drone assault. Authorities are still clarifying information on casualties, Governor Oleh Kiper said.

Read also: Ukrainian delegation on-site ahead of talks with US in Saudi Arabia, Yermak says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Seattle Police Department says it arrested 10 people and recovered a large amount of drugs and cash during a recent operation in the Belltown and Little Saigon neighborhood,

The operation is part of a larger effort to crack down on drug hot spots in the city.

On March 10, officers from the West Precinct and detectives with the Narcotics Unit arrested several people on Third Avenue and Bell Street  with fentanyl and crack cocaine on them.

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During the operation, and while one person was being arrested, another approached a Seattle police officer and asked if they wanted to trade crack for a cigarette. They were also arrested.

Officers say they also made arrests on 12th Avenue South and South Weller Street. At about 7 p.m., investigators spotted a man and woman exchange a white, powdery rock substance with buyers for cash. Both were arrested. Fentanyl and meth were recovered as well as cash.
Mar. 10A dozen people were arrested and one person is facing charges after crowds of people celebrated St. Patrick's Day on University of Dayton's campus Saturday afternoon and evening.

Of those arrested, four are students and eight are not students, according to University of Dayton officials. The students are being referred to the student disciplinary system as appropriate.

A large gathering started around noon in the south student neighborhood near the 400 block of Lowes Street.

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There were 44 medic calls for illness and injured and 18 people transported to the hospital, according to university officials.

Police told the crowd to disperse and later used a loudspeaker and horse-mounted patrol officers to issue more commands for people to leave the area.

Officers used chemical munitions to clear the area after people in the crowds threw bottles at police, according to UD officials.

"There was not one incident that precipitated the decision to clear the street; instead it was multiple factors, including shifting crowd dynamics, increased medical emergencies and safety concerns for the crowd and first responders," said Savalas Kidd, assistant vice president and chief of police. "Many of those in attendance did leave the area when told; however, some in the crowd resorted to throwing bottles and other objects at officers. This unacceptable behavior caused an escalation in crowd control."

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Lowes Street was cleared around 4:45 p.m. and was closed for the rest of the evening.

About 90 minutes later, Dayton police received reports of disruptive crowds near Brown and Jasper streets.

UD Public Safety officers and Dayton police responded to disperse the gathering.

Around 9:15 p.m. police continued to break up crowds in the area when shots were fired in a business parking lot.

Springboro police responded to the scene, in addition to the Dayton and UD officers.

A suspect ran into the street in front of a Dayton officer, who tried to stop him by knocking him down, a Dayton police spokesperson said.

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The collision caused the officer to flip off of the bicycle and injured them.

An officer from another police department also knocked the suspect down with a bicycle, but he got up and continued to run, according to police.

The suspect, identified as 22-year-old Elijah Murph-Heard, was then arrested.

An officer used a taser to assist in the arrest, police said.

Murph-Heard was booked into the Montgomery County Jail.

He is facing receiving stolen property (firearm), obstructing official business, carrying concealed weapons, having weapons while under disability and resisting arrest charges in Dayton Municipal Court.

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The resisting arrest charge is a second-degree misdemeanor.

Brown Street was temporarily closed and students were urged to avoid the area while officers investigated, according to a post on the UD Facebook page.

Police gave an all-clear around 11:30 p.m., and Brown Street was reopened.
MOGADISHU, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Somalia on Tuesday directed all international airlines operating in the country to provide information about their passengers as part of global efforts to combat transnational crimes and enhance border security.

Effective March 31, the Immigration and Citizen Agency's directive requires international airlines to submit Advanced Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record data.

The immigration agency said that the directive is part of broader global efforts to strengthen aviation security, secure borders, and combat terrorism and human trafficking, among other transnational crimes.

"This directive aligns with Immigration Act No. 9 of 1966 and United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2178 and 2396, which aim to enhance border security and counter threats such as terrorism and transnational crime," the agency said.

The information is expected to help authorities screen passengers in advance and identify potential security risks, reinforcing Somalia's commitment to improving its aviation security framework and aligning with international best practices.

Analysts said the measure will enhance Somalia's ability to detect and prevent security threats posed by the al-Shabab terrorist group and other extremist organizations operating in the country. 
A group of 14 Democrats signed a Tuesday letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem urging her to release Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate who has become a test case in President Trumps pledge to deport immigrants who joined campus protests against the Gaza war.

Mahmoud Khalil must be freed from DHS custody immediately. He is a political prisoner, wrongfully and unlawfully detained, who deserves to be at home in New York preparing for the birth of his first child, the lawmakers wrote.

Khalil is a green card holder who had a prominent role in Columbias campus protests in support of Palestinians, and against Israel. He is currently being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a facility in Louisiana.

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Democrats and even some on the right have called the arrest a violation of his First Amendment rights. The Trump administration is reportedly relying on a provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act that gives Secretary of State Marco Rubio sweeping power to expel foreigners.

We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported, Rubio said Monday on the social platform X, sharing a news report about Khalils arrest.

The Democratic lawmakers who signed on to the memo are: Reps. Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), Mark Pocan (Wisc.), Nydia Velazquez (N.Y.), Delia Ramirez (Ill.), Ilhan Ohmar (Minn.), Jasmine Crockett (Texas), Summer Lee (Pa.), Ayanna Pressley (Mass.), Lateefah Simon (Calif.), Gwen Moore (Wisc.), Nikema Williams (Ga.), Al Green (Texas), Andre Carson (Ind.) and James McGovern (Mass.).

Universities throughout the country must protect their students from this vile assault on free thought and expression, and [DHS] must immediately refrain from any further illegal arrests targeting constitutionally protected speech and activity, they wrote.

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Tlaib, who has family in the West Bank, was censured for her remarks about the Israel-Hamas conflict in November of 2023.

In 2023, Omar, another signee, was removed from the House Foreign Affairs Committee for denouncing the actions of Israels government.

The 14 lawmakers on Tuesday argued that Khalils constitutional rights have been violated.

Khalil has not been allowed to see his counsel or his wife, and until the morning of March 10th his whereabouts were unknown. DHS initially informed them he was being held in Elizabeth, New Jersey, but his wife attempted to visit the facility on Sunday only to learn that he was not there, the letter reads.

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After filing a habeas corpus petition, it was discovered that Khalil was transferred to an ICE facility in central Louisiana.

The Democrats argue he was targeted solely for his activism and organizing as a student leader of the Gaza protest encampments last summer.

This illegal political justification has been stated clearly by figures throughout the administration, including the president himself. We must be extremely clear: this is an attempt to criminalize political protest and is a direct assault on the freedom of speech of everyone in this country.

Rep. Alexandra Ocasio Cortezs (D-N.Y.) chief of staff said she was waiting on one final detail from Kahlils legal counsel before signing on to the letter adding that if an opportunity to sign was still open, she would.

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If the federal government can disappear a legal US permanent resident without reason or warrant, then they can disappear US citizens too. Anyone  left, right, or center  who has highlighted the importance of constitutional rights + free speech should be sounding the alarm now, Ocasio-Cortez wrote in a Monday post on X.

Prior to his arrest, the federal government revoked $400 million in grants to Columbia University citing concerns about antisemitism on campus. The Department of Education threatened similar financial penalties against other universities in the coming months.

This story was updated at 6:11 p.m.

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ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- The Odessa Police Department has arrested a man in connection with a drive-by shooting that happened earlier this month. Jose Flores has been charged with three counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

According to an OPD report, on March 5, officers were called to the 400 block of S Sam Houston to investigate a shots fired call. At the scene, investigators found 14 shell casings in the roadway and a home and vehicle with multiple defects caused by gunfire.

Witnesses at the scene said a man in a black SUV had been parked outside the home before shots rang out. A woman inside the home where the shooting occurred said she believed her ex-boyfriend, identified as Flores, was responsible because of a break-up that happened earlier that same day. The woman said that Flores had also threatened to her son in the months before the breakup.

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Investigators later contacted Flores, and he initially denied any involvement in the shooting, but officers said he later admitted that he was involved and asked how much trouble he was facing. Flores reportedly told investigators that everything was falling apart before his eyes. He was arrested on a warrant on March 6 and has since been released from the Ector County Law Enforcement Center on a combined $75,000 bond.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  A 16-year-old died on Sunday night after a shooting in southeast Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City Police said theyre still searching for the gunman and hope they can get some help from the public.

Thats very disturbing to hear about a child being killed like that, nearby resident Lonnie Walker said.

Its a bit of a mystery for investigators right now as they search for answers at an apartment complex near SE 44th Street and Sunnylane Road.

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At this point, there have been no suspects identified, Msgt. Gary Knight with the Oklahoma City Police Department said.

Knight said when officers got there, they found someone in the breezeway just outside of an apartment door who had been shot.

The man was being worked on by paramedics, Knight said.

The victim was identified on Monday morning as 16-year-old Jashaun Cheatom. He died at the hospital. Its not clear right now what led up to the gunfire as police continue their investigation.

Thats bad, thats terrible, Walker said.

OSBI identifies man shot, killed by police in Guthrie

Walker lives in the complex where the shooting happened. She said she didnt hear anything on Sunday, but she has heard gunshots as recently as a couple weeks ago.

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I heard something go boom boom, you know? she said.

She usually keeps to herself, but she said she has brought concerns to management before over lighting and safety in the area.

When I feel like something is wrong, I go to the office and say something, she said.

Police are now turning to the public for help, in hopes of finding who did this.

These are crowded apartment complexes, Knight said. So, hopefully somebody knows something.

This marks the 12th homicide of the year in Oklahoma City. Its also the second where a teenager has died in the last two days.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 405-235-7300.

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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: Claudine Ritter. Image courtesy Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum.

We want to remember Claudine Ritter, while honoring those who survived and thanking those changed forever.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  A 17-year-old juvenile suspect was arrested after allegedly robbing five people at gunpoint in Birmingham on March 1.

According to the Birmingham Police Department on Monday, the suspect was charged with first-degree robbery and fraudulent use of a credit/debit card. The suspect was taken into custody Saturday. They will be charged as an adult and are in custody of the Jefferson County Jail.

WATCH: Hanceville City Council meets to discuss what to do with problem-riddled police department

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According to Birmingham police, four men and one female were robbed at gunpoint in the 4000 block of 39th Avenue North on March 1. The suspect allegedly approached one victim while outside the location and walked him back inside at gunpoint where the remaining victims were located. The suspect allegedly stole several items from each victim and fled the location.

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TOPEKA (KSNT)  The Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center is sharing that one of its resident animals died Tuesday.

The Topeka Zoo announced in a press release on March 11 that a mountain lion named Cassy passed away at the age of 17. The mountain lion was considered geriatric and was receiving constant care leading up to her death.

Cassy was taken in for a medical examination on March 11 during which the veterinary team found her pre-existing kidney disease had gotten worse with accompanying severe anemia. Zoo staff made the decision to euthanize Cassy.

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Caring for geriatric animals is a responsibility we do not take lightly, said Fawn Moser, the Topeka Zoo & Conservation Centers chief operations officer. Cassy has been a part of the Topeka Zoo family for nearly two decades, and the love and devotion our team has shown her throughout her life has been remarkable. She was deeply loved, not just by our staff but by the entire community who visited her over the years. While this is an incredibly difficult loss, we take comfort in knowing that she was given the best care possible every single day. My deepest condolences go out to our animal care and veterinary teams who dedicated so much time and heart to ensuring her well-being.

(Photo Courtesy/Jim Ramos)

Woman dead after being hit by vehicle in north Topeka store parking lot

Cassy arrived at the Topeka Zoo in 2007 after she was rescued as an orphan near the Cascade Mountain range. She previously lived at the Denver Zoo where she met another mountain lion named Dakota. The pair were moved to Topeka in 2009 to the Kansas Carnivores habitat.

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.

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BARABOO, Wis. (WFRV)  An 18-year-old Wisconsin man was taken into custody for several felony offenses after leading police on a high-speed chase while allegedly intoxicated on Saturday.

Deputies with the Sauk County Sheriffs Office say that shortly before 7:15 p.m., a deputy observed a sedan driving south on U.S. Highway 12, weaving in and out of traffic at an extremely high rate of speed.

Wisconsin man arrested for OWI, drug offenses after reported assault

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The deputy attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle, driven by 18-year-old Isaiah Vetor of Adams, but Vetor fled the scene, leading officers on a pursuit with speeds reaching over 120 mph.

Vetor exited U.S. Highway 12 onto County Road W, continuing west with speeds estimated at around 90 mph.

The release says Vetor reportedly lost control of the vehicle near the intersection of County Road W and Lovers Lane, veering off the road and hitting several trees, causing heavy damage.

Two passengers in the car fled the scene on foot and were later found at a nearby residence with injuries from the crash. Vetor also fled on foot and was located at a residence on Hatchery Road.

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Body found in Lake Michigan, Wisconsin authorities investigating

Vetor was arrested and is facing charges, including two counts of second-degree recklessly endangering safety, two counts of felony bail jumping, OWI causing injury, failure to keep vehicle under control, operating while suspended, possession of open intoxicants in a vehicle (driver), reckless driving  endanger safety, unreasonable and imprudent speed, and vehicle operator fleeing/evading an officer. The charges are being referred to the Sauk County District Attorneys Office.

No further details have been provided.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A West Memphis, Arkansas man is jailed on a $1 million bond for child pornography charges, while he was on probation for a similar case last year.

The Crittenden County Jail log shows Jonathan Sparrow, 27, was arrested March 4 on a charge of distributing, possessing, or viewing matter depicting sexual conduct involving a child.

WREG wrote about Sparrow last July, when he was charged with 45 counts of possessing visual print medium depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child. He pleaded not guilty to 41 of those charges.

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AR man facing 45 counts of possession of child pornography

Jonathan Sparrow

According to court records, Sparrow negotiated a plea deal on four counts last October, and was sentenced to 120 months probation, 60 of them supervised.

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(FOX40.COM)  Two men have been arrested in connection with a homicide that occurred last year in Natomas, the Sacramento Police Department said.

According to police, on Feb. 17, 2024, around 2:45 a.m., officers responded to a report of a shooting near the intersection of Edmonton Drive and Northstead Drive.

Video Above: Homicide vs Murder vs Manslaughter

Officers located a man with at least one gunshot wound,  police said, who was taken to a hospital where he later died.

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On Tuesday, police announced that a 25-year-old West Sacramento man and a 23-year-old Galt man had been booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on homicide related charges.

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo.  North County Police Cooperative was contacted on March 6 by a local hospital about a two-year-old who had suffered a gunshot wound to the leg.

By the time officers arrived at the hospital, the child and mother, Taiesha Campbell, had been transferred to another hospital.

According to the North County Police Cooperatives probable cause statement, the shooting happened on March 6. Police did not provide a more specific location.

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Miller and Campbell claimed the child had been wounded in a drive-by shooting, according to police. However, detectives reviewed surveillance footage from the time and place where the alleged drive-by occurred and found no evidence of that happening.

Investigators, however, learned that she and another suspect, Rodrick Miller, had been cleaning a firearm inside Campbells home before leaving it on a couch.

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Campbell admitted to detectives that she left Miller in the room. Moments later, she heard a gunshot and returned to find her son severely wounded.

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The two reportedly made a stop along the way to the hospital, hiding the gun in the woods.

Investigators said Campbell confessed to tossing the gun in a wooded area while she and Miller drove the child to the hospital. Police later found the firearm.

When officers later responded to the home with this new information, they discovered a section of the couch had been cut out, and they found suspected narcotics on the same couch.

When FOX 2 spoke with neighbors Monday afternoon, a few alleged that a couch by the apartment dumpsters was the suspects.

Miller was arrested Friday night, and Campbell was taken into custody Monday after remaining at large through the weekend.

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The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorneys Office charged Miller with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, armed criminal action, unlawful possession of a firearm, and tampering with physical evidence in a felony prosecution. Campbell was charged in absentia with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, armed criminal action, and tampering with physical evidence in a felony prosecution.

Everyones a victim in this scenario, right? Ultimately, parents, family, siblings, they had a child that was shot, right? And its our duty, not only the family, but as a community; we all feel that, said Corp. Benjamin Santoyo, a detective with North County Police Cooperative.

Legislature passes bill for state control of SLMPD

In 2019, Campbell spoke with FOX 2 after losing her daughter to gun violence. At the time, she had expressed grief and frustration over senseless shootings.

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Santoyo has a word of advice for parents who own guns in their homes.

Lock your firearms up; take the time to unload them, put them in a safe spot and put them out of reach of our children, Santoyo said.

She and Miller face multiple criminal charges, and Campbells children have been placed under state care.

Miller is due in court for a bond reduction hearing on March 17 and a preliminary hearing on April 9. A St. Louis Circuit Court judge signed an arrest warrant for Campbell on March 7.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
YANGON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A training program on digital skills has been launched in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, the state-run television channel MRTV reported on Tuesday.

The program, aiming to ensure the sustainability of medium-sized and small businesses by effectively adapting to rapidly evolving digital tools, was conducted with support of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund (2024), the report said.

The training, designed for 50 members, will equip them with digital skills that they will later share with businessmen, it said.

The courses will provide practical training on e-commerce websites, procedures for applying for business registration online and cybersecurity. 
Alaska Wildlife Troopers are conducting an aerial search operation after a side-by-side all-terrain vehicle carrying five adults broke through the ice on the Susitna River Thursday morning. They were on their way to a job site on Point MacKenzie, about 90 miles north of Anchorage, on March 6.

Troopers said in a statement that they received a report last Thursday that the ATV crashed through the ice around 8:45 a.m. "Three people were able to get out of the water, but two were reported to have gone under the ice in the current," the statement said. Troopers believe 32-year-old Skye Rench of Wasilla and 42-year-old Sean Kendall of Anchorage drowned after they fell through the river ice and were swept away.

Skye Rench, 32, of Wasilla, Alaska, is one of two men missing and presumed dead after an ATV crashed through the Susitna River on March, 6. (Photo credit: GoFundMe)

Sean Kendall, 42, of Anchorage, and his son Koen. (Photo credit: GoFundMe)

Sky Rench's fiancee, Heidi Goozen, told Alaska's News Source that Rench was working for a drilling company with a remote project that required crossing the Susitna River. According to Goozen, Rench became worried last Wednesday when warmer temperatures brought rain. The incident happened Thursday morning during a crew change when five people were crossing the river on an ATV and it went through the ice, Goozen explained.

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"One of the survivors - who was a close friend of Rench's - told Goozen the back half of the ATV went through the ice and while they tried to save Rench and the other man, they were unable to get them out of the water before they were swept away," Alaska's News Source reported.

The three people who made it safely out of the water walked to a nearby work camp and were later picked up by a chartered helicopter.

Because ice in the area is unstable, troopers are using a plane to search for the two missing men from where the ATV plunged through the ice, downstream to the mouth of the Susitna River.

Heidi Goozen and Skye Rench. (Photo credit: GoFundMe)

Goozen said Rench loved to be outdoors and recently accomplished a lifelong dream by racing in "The World's Longest, Toughest Snowmobile Race" with his best friend Kevin, who was also on the ATV but managed to escape the icy river.

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"When they were young, they said they always wanted to race the Iron Dog, and this year they finally made it happen," Goozen told said. "It was quite the journey because the race course was not the best this year, but they finished, and they did not come in last."

Goozen and Rench were supposed to be married this summer. A GoFundMe has been set up to assist Goozen as she plans funeral arrangements for Rench.

Kendall leaves behind his wife Gina and 16-year-old son Koen. Sean Kendall's brother has also set up a GoFundMe to care for his son, Koen, who he calls "Sean's greatest pride and joy in life."
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  A juvenile is facing charges after a crash involving two Rhode Island State Police cruisers on Route 10 in Providence.

Police said the troopers were conducting a traffic stop near the Union Avenue exit around 10:15 p.m. Monday when a car drove into the breakdown lane and rear-ended one cruiser, pushing it into the second cruiser.

One trooper and two juveniles were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, according to police.

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The juvenile driver was charged with driving under the influence of liquor, reckless driving, and driving to endanger resulting in physical injury.

One cruiser had heavy damage in the back, while the other had damage to the front, with the grill and hood lifted and the windshield smashed.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The Nevada Attorney Generals Office has charged 20 people in connection with the murder of three inmates in a state prison last year.

Connor Brown, 22; Zackaria Luz, 43; and Anthony Williams, 41, all died from multiple sharp force injuries during the fight inside the Ely State Prison on July 30, 2024, 8 News Now reported last year.

Luz and Williams were two of 23 Aryan Warriors, members of a white supremacist gang, charged as part of an earlier investigation. Williams faced additional charges for killing Andrew Thurgood, 26, inside a cell at High Desert State Prison in 2016. Brown was in prison on a robbery charge, records said.

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Five other inmates were injured in the fight.

Charges against the 20 defendants include first-degree murder and attempted murder with gang enhancements, prosecutors said.

The pursuit of justice does not stop at the prison gates, and those responsible for the

deaths of the three inmates at Ely State Prison will be held accountable, Democratic Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford said in a news release. We remain committed to ensuring that violence and misconduct within our state correctional system are met with the full force of the law.

Specific details about each case were not immediately known as prosecutors filed the cases in rural White Pine County.

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The prison, which is several hours north of Las Vegas, was home to Nevadas death row until the Department of Corrections moved offenders to High Desert State Prison. The state has not put an inmate to death since 2006.

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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  Nearly all of a $28 million payment to settle a federal sexual assault-related lawsuit against the City of Johnson City will come from city reserves rather than municipal liability insurance.

Attorney breaks down $28M Jane Doe settlement related to JCPD

A city spokesperson confirmed Monday that $27 million of the total will come from undesignated fund balance and restricted fund balance. The citys municipal liability insurer, held with Public Entity Partners, will chip in its maximum payout of $1 million per the citys policy, Sarah Nobles told News Channel 11 in an email.

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As of Dec. 31, the combined fund balance (unaudited) totaled $49.6 million.

The money will settle a suit filed in June 2023 by numerous women who claimed they had been drugged and sexually assaulted by downtown business owner and resident Sean Williams between 2018 and 2021. The plaintiffs claimed the Johnson City Police Department (JCPD) and individual officers failed to properly investigate Williams, with those claims eventually extending to allegations of bribery and corruption.

Jury finds Sean Williams guilty on all 3 counts of child porn production

Johnson City consistently denied all allegations, and the settlement includes language from the plaintiffs attorneys stating they faced a significant risk of not proving their claims.

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Williams, now 53, was never charged with sexual assault by JCPD and fled after a May 2021 attempt to serve an ammunition-related warrant at his Johnson City residence. Shortly after his arrest on unrelated charges in Cullowhee, N.C. in late April 2023, authorities allegedly found digital evidence in his possession  photos and videos  showing Williams sexually assaulting dozens of apparently unconscious women.

There were also images showing Williams sexually assaulting and exploiting children at his apartment, and he was convicted on three separate federal counts related to those at a federal trial in November 2024.

Federal Judge Ronnie Greer sentenced Williams to the maximum 90 years on those counts in February. Tennessee First Judicial District Attorney General Steve Finney has told News Channel 11 indictments in at least some of the alleged rapes of women are likely once Williamss federal cases are fully complete.

Two other federal lawsuits against Johnson City related to the Williams case remain outstanding. Johnson City has denied all claims in both of them as well.

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Three administrators at an elementary school in New Hampshire were placed on leave following an internal investigation into allegations of students being assaulted.

In a letter sent to parents and guardians on Friday and shared with Boston 25 News, Sanborn Regional School District Superintendent Thomas Ambrose announced administrative action after reviewing the findings of an investigative report on the In-Step program at D.J. Bakie Elementary School in Kingston.

Ambrose said the findings led him to place Principal Elizabeth Childs, Assistant Principal Lorin Caffelle, and Director of Student Services Troy Kennett on non-disciplinary paid administrative leave.

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The New Hampshire Union Leader reported that the internal investigation began in November 2024 after Kingston police charged Aimee Ragonese, 37, of Raymond, with seven counts of endangering the welfare of a child and four counts of simple assault.

Ragonese served as the former head of the schools In-Step program, which supports students with developmental and cognitive delays and learning and behavioral disabilities. She resigned from the position after police announced criminal charges against her, the Union Leader reported.

The alleged assaults reportedly involved five students between the ages of 6 and 9, some living with autism and special needs.

According to the Union Leader, the charges against Ragonese accuse her of using excessive force to pull up a boys pants, causing him to cry; pushing another boy to the ground with a wall divider, and in other incidents involving the same child, allegedly grabbing him by the shoulders and throwing him to the ground three times and yanking him by the arm with excessive force; digging her fingernails into a boys armpits, resulting in lacerations; dragging a boy by his ankle and holding him upside down, causing him to hit his head on the floor; and shoving another boy into an enclosure.

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Ragonese has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Ambrose says his next steps involve meeting with employees involved in the investigation and scheduling meetings with impacted families.

I will be meeting with every employee who is involved in this investigation next week. I will then begin scheduling meetings with the families that were directly impacted to provide an opportunity to review the report and meet with me one-on-one, Ambrose said in a statement.

Kelli Killen, the elementary schools current director of human resources, has since taken on the role of acting principal, according to Ambrose.

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Ms. Killen has worked in elementary schools throughout her career and has previously served as an elementary school principal as well as a central office administrator, Ambrose explained. I am grateful for her experience and willingness to step in to help.

Ambrose added, I understand how stressful this has been for all of you, and I cannot thank you enough for your patience and cooperation.

Ragoneses case is slated to return to court on March 18.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Three people, including two juveniles, were arrested after allegedly attempting to steal a car last weekend in Englewood.

The car owner was alerted early Saturday morning to the activity in their driveway by their doorbell camera. The owner then called Englewood Police, which later shared the doorbell camera footage on its Facebook page.

The suspects fled the scene in another car which was allegedly stolen. Police followed the group to Harrison Township, where the suspects allegedly abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.

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Englewood Police worked alongside the Trotwood Police Department and Montgomery County Sheriffs Office to apprehend the group from a home on Detroit Avenue.

Officials said all three people were taken into custody and that they had active arrest warrants.

This incident is still under investigation.

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Three Washington universities have been sent letters by the U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights (OCR), warning of possible actions against them if they do not fulfill their obligations to address anti-Semitic discrimination and harassment on campus.

The OCR sent out these letters to 60 universities, the Department of Education (DOE) said in a press release. Three of those colleges are: University of Washington (UW), Pacific Lutheran University, and Eastern University.

The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better, said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. U.S. colleges and universities benefit from enormous public investments funded by U.S. taxpayers. That support is a privilege and it is contingent on scrupulous adherence to federal antidiscrimination laws.

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The OCR concluded an earlier investigation into UW for previous instances of alleged discrimination. UW agreed to five actions in the resolution-- there was no finding of liability or wrongdoing.

You can learn more about that investigation here.

KIRO 7 has reached out to each of the Washington colleges. As of this writing, we have only heard back from UW.

A spokesperson told KIRO 7 that they personally have not seen the letter.

In a statement, they wrote:

The University of Washington stands firmly against antisemitism, and agreed with the U.S. Department of Educations Office of Civil Rights earlier this year to five actions that will strengthen the UWs commitment to timely and effective responses to complaints filed by students, faculty and staff. We understand that a letter has been sent to the UW and we will review it upon receipt. We continue to engage with Jewish students, faculty, and community leaders as we implement our response to the recommendations made by the UWs Antisemitism Task Force and work toward an even more welcoming environment for all students.

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We will update this story if we hear back from the other universities.

The Departments OCR sent these letters under its authority to enforce Title VI of the Civil Rights Act (1964), which prohibits any institution that receives federal funds from discriminating on the basis of race, color, and national origin. National origin includes shared (Jewish) ancestry, the OCR wrote.

The DOE announced that it had cut $400 million in federal grants and contracts for Columbia University, claiming the university had continued inaction to protect Jewish students from discrimination.

Its unclear if the Trump Administration will enact similar measures to the 60 colleges that were sent letters.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has clarified that an interim ceasefire in the Russo-Ukrainian war does not mean a "frozen conflict".

Source: Sybiha on Facebook after a meeting between US and Ukrainian delegations in Saudi Arabia, as reported by European Pravda

Details: A joint statement issued by the United States and Ukraine after the meeting mentions an interim 30-day ceasefire contingent on reciprocal agreement from Russia.

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Sybiha added that such a temporary ceasefire is essential as "this is in no way a frozen conflict".

"It's just an attempt to start the process of ending the war fairly. It is also a step that demonstrates who is genuinely interested in peace," he said.

The foreign minister stressed that it is also significant that "the statement explicitly states that the United States will immediately resume intelligence sharing and military aid to Ukraine".

"In addition, the statement sends out a positive signal directly from the leaders of Ukraine and the United States regarding the signing of the minerals deal. Moreover, it explicitly links this agreement to the US guarantee of Ukraine's long-term prosperity and security. This is what the Ukrainian side has sought," he added.

Background:

Following the talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 11 March, Ukraine said it is willing to implement a 30-day ceasefire, provided that Russia also adheres to it.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the ceasefire will apply "not only with regard to missiles, drones and bombs, not only in the Black Sea but also along the entire front line".

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Washington will submit a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine to Russia and said he hopes that Russia will accept it.

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Kenyan President William Ruto (2nd R) attends the groundbreaking ceremony of a Nairobi River ecological restoration project in Nairobi, Kenya, on March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

NAIROBI, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President William Ruto on Monday presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the protection and restoration of the Nairobi River Basin, a project to be implemented by Energy China.

Senior government officials, executives from Energy China, and environmental advocates also attended the event, which seeks to restore the ecological health of the Nairobi River as it winds through the capital.

The Nairobi River Basin rehabilitation will run with an affordable housing project, set to be implemented over four years at a cost of 50 billion Kenyan shillings (about 388 million U.S. dollars).

Ruto said reclaiming the Nairobi River's ecological integrity after decades of pollution will create new jobs for young people, improve public health, and enhance the capital's environmental sustainability.

"This project will give us an opportunity to expand and deepen the Nairobi River while constructing a 60-km sewer line to carry wastewater, making Nairobi a cleaner and more respectable city," Ruto said.

The construction of decent homes, connected to a modern sewer system along the rehabilitated Nairobi River Basin, will facilitate the resettlement of flood victims, he added.

The Nairobi River originates from the northwestern outskirts of the Kenyan capital, flowing through southeastern residential areas, but has long suffered from severe pollution and flooding during the rainy season.

In February, the Kenyan government signed a contract with China Energy Engineering Group Guangxi Electric Power Design Institute Co., Ltd. to implement the project's first phase.

Funded by the Kenyan government, the project includes the construction of main sewage pipelines and wastewater treatment plants, protection of upstream water sources, river dredging, stormwater management, solid waste treatment, landscaping, and the development of affordable housing.

Upon completion, the project is expected to mitigate flooding along the Nairobi River Basin, improve local living standards and transform the urban landscape.

The initiative will also increase land value in the metropolitan area, promote tourism, boost Kenya's economic growth, and provide significant social and environmental benefits to local communities.

Lv Guoqing, managing director of Energy China, said the firm will leverage advanced technologies and mobilize a local workforce to accelerate the river's restoration.

According to Li Cheng, project manager at Energy China, the rehabilitation of the Nairobi River is expected to take two years, with riparian communities set to benefit from substantial environmental improvements upon completion. 
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Over a quarter-million voter registrations could be removed from the Ohio voter database.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose is encouraging registered voters to check their registration status. LaRoses office has claimed it found 352,389 voter registrations that are qualified for removal.

Who is gubernatorial candidate Heather Hill?

This careful and deliberate process makes sure that every eligible voter can cast their ballot while removing outdated registrations that could compromise election integrity, said LaRose. Ohioans deserve transparency and accuracy in this process, and through the hard work of our county boards of elections, thats exactly what we deliver.

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Voters who could be impacted have been sent a Registration Readiness Notice.

No registrations will be canceled before the Primary Election in May.

Registrations deemed as abandoned will be canceled on Sept. 23, except for Lucas County registrations, which will be will be terminated Sept. 29.

To see if your voter registration information is impacted, click here.

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DENVER (KDVR)  A 20-year-old man was sentenced Friday to 17 years in prison after he pleaded guilty for his role in a retail theft scheme in Castle Rock and across the Denver metro, according to the 23rd Judicial District Attorneys Office.

Jaison Contreras-Rangel, of Venezuela, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act. Contreras-Rangel was accused of participating in 12 thefts at retail stores that included jewelry stores and a Sunglass Hut.

Retail crime ring member gets 8 years in prison for thefts across metro area; DA asks more retailers to cooperate

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According to an arrest affidavit, Contreras-Rangel was part of a group that was linked to 19 thefts in the Denver metro from Dec. 4, 2023, through Jan. 25, 2024. The crime ring, according to the court documents, has at least seven main members who have been identified by police.

Contreras-Rangel was identified in a robbery of a Sunglass Hut in Castle Rock where almost $9,760 of merchandise (which included 27 pairs of sunglasses) was reported stolen. The arrest affidavit describes how three men entered the store, selected several pairs of eyeglasses and fled the store with them.

The arrest affidavit also describes how detectives learned of jewelry grab-and-run thefts, and recognized suspects in the crime ring in crime bulletins, including Contreras-Rangel.

Another member of the crime ring, Jacson Rojas-Montilla, also pleaded guilty for his role in the thefts and has been sentenced to eight years in prison, and then will be deported as he is an undocumented immigrant, as are most of the members of the crime ring. Another co-conspirator, Bruno Gutierrez-Zorilla, was convicted at trial and is awaiting sentencing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
TROY, Mich. (CBS Detroit)  Four people have been arrested after a 5-year-old boy was killed in a hyperbaric chamber explosion in Troy, Michigan.

The Troy Police Department confirmed that the arrests occurred Monday morning. They are scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday.

CBS News Detroit reached out to the Oxford Center for comment and received the following statement:

After cooperating with multiple investigations starting immediately after the tragic accident in January, we are disappointed to see charges filed. The timing of these charges is surprising, as the typical protocol after a fire-related accident has not yet been completed. There are still outstanding questions about how this occurred. Yet, the Attorney Generals office proceeded to pursue charges without those answers. Our highest priority every day is the safety and wellbeing of the children and families we serve, which continues during this process.

Investigators say Thomas Cooper was in the chamber when it exploded on Jan. 31, 2025. The boys mother was in the room at the time and was injured in the explosion. In a news conference shortly after the incident, Troy police and fire departments did not indicate what may have led to the explosion but said that hyperbaric chambers are filled with 100% oxygen and are, therefore, combustible devices.

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Within days of the tragedy, the family retained Fieger Law, which alleges that the center had a history of being involved in questionable business practices.

Attorney James Harrington told CBS News Detroit last month that his office was getting ready to file a lawsuit demanding answers into what led to his death. Harrington said the lawsuit will be filed pending their investigation.

Under no circumstances  should anything ever like this happen and the only way this happens is negligence, Harrington said. This industry in Michigan is unregulated. Theres not a lot of science to back these claims that are being made as to what ailments and problems can actually be fixed or better by this hyperbaric treatment.

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Four Brazilian nationals were arrested Tuesday on drug charges after federal investigators raided a black-market doctors office linked to the distribution of illegal prescription medications in Massachusetts, authorities said.

Douglas Reis de Souza, 40, Dekny Marcos de Carvaleho Reis, 33, Dekmara de Carvalho Reis, 34, Wandiscleia Ferreira de Souza Guimaraes, 41, all of Framingham, are all facing charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances, according to United States Attorney for Massachusetts Leah B. Foley.

Reis de Souza posed as a legitimate pharmacist to the Portuguese-speaking community in the greater Framingham area, allegedly importing pharmaceutical-grade drugs, including controlled substances from various locations in Brazil and then re-sold them to Bay Staters, Foleys office said in a news release.

Investigators say Reis de Souza spread word of the operation by handing out business cards that read:

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Douglas Reis, Pharmacist

[REDACTED PHONE NUMBER]

Remedies from Brazil

Service 24 H

Call me on WhatsApp and I can help you

Dont miss your work day

Pharmacist with over 22 years of experience

Indication of medicines for adult and pediatric use

Contraceptive pills and injectables

Injectable cocktail to treat muscular and orthopedic problems

Perforation of ear cells.

Reis de Souza is accused of employing Carvaleho Reis, Dekmara de Carvalho Reis and Wandiscleia Ferreira de Souza Guimaraes to process, fill, and deliver orders for controlled substances and other prescription drugs that customers purchased.

Investigators say the drug trafficking organization distributed a total of 154 tablets of codeine, 60 tablets of Tramadol, 280 tablets of clonazepam, and 450 tablets of morphine through controlled purchases and by mail.

Search warrants executed Tuesday at an apartment used by the suspects and described by the feds as a black-market doctors office uncovered examination/consultation area, used syringes used to inject patients, and a massive stash of controlled and non-controlled prescription drugs, some of which were misbranded, according to Foleys office.

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Reis de Souza never held a license authorizing him to dispense these drugs and he collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits from the trafficking scheme, investigators noted.

For years, these defendants allegedly exploited a communitys trust to peddle black-market prescription drugs under the guise of legitimacy. They entered our country illegally and put countless individuals health and safety in danger, all for profit, Foley said in a statement. If you or someone you know was impacted by this scheme, we urge you to come forward and report it to law enforcement. Our office and our law enforcement partners will not allow reckless, exploitative criminals to operate in the shadows.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.

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LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Four people have been charged in the death of a 5-year-old boy from Royal Oak, Michigan, who was killed in a hyperbaric chamber explosion, Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Tuesday.

The boy, Thomas Cooper, was incinerated inside a pressurized oxygen chamber that exploded at Oxford Center, a medical facility in a Detroit suburb, on Jan. 31. His mother was standing next to the chamber and was injured trying to save her boy.

A single spark it appears ignited into a fully involved fire that claimed Thomass life within seconds, Nessel said at a news conference Tuesday.

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UK police arrest a man on suspicion of manslaughter over North Sea ship collision

The attorney generals office has charged three defendants with second-degree murder: the owner of the Oxford Center, Tamala Peterson, 58; safety manager Jeffery Mosteller, 64; and Gary Marken, 65, the primary management assistant at the facility.

Each faces one count of second-degree murder and one count of involuntary manslaughter.

Aleta Moffitt, 60, of Rochester Hills, who was operating the hyperbaric chamber, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and one count of intentionally placing false medical information on a medical records chart.

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Due to many failures by men and women who would call themselves medical professionals and wanton or willful disregard for the likelihood that their actions would cause the death of a patient, 5-year-old Thomas Cooper was killed when a fire erupted inside the pressurized, pure oxygen environment inside the chamber, said Nessel.

A hyperbaric chamber at the Oxford Center in Brighton, Michigan, is shown Feb. 8, 2024. (David Guralnick/Detroit News via AP, file)

Nessel said the defendants unscrupulously put childrens bodies at risk through unaccredited and debunked treatments, simply because it brought cash through the door.

We intend to demonstrate in court a series of actions undertaken by these defendants that satisfy these charges and tragically led to this childs death, she said.

Raymond Cassar, Markens attorney, said the second-degree murder charge comes as a total shock to him and his client.

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For fairness, he is presumed innocent, Cassar said. This was a tragic accident and our thoughts and our prayers go out to the family of this little boy. I want to remind everyone that this was an accident, not an intentional act. Were going to have to leave this up to the experts to find out what was the cause of this.

The Oxford Center said in an email following the explosion that the safety and wellbeing of the children we serve is our highest priority.

Nothing like this has happened in our more than 15 years of providing this type of therapy. We do not know why or how this happened and will participate in all of the investigations that now need to take place, the centers statement said.

Track star says hitting opponent in head with baton was an accident

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Hyperbaric therapy delivers pure oxygen to a persons body inside the pressurized chamber. Thats up to five times the amount of oxygen in a normal room, Troy Fire Lt. Keith Young said following the explosion.

The presence of such a high amount of oxygen in a pressurized environment can make it extremely combustible, Young said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared hyperbaric chambers to be marketed as safe and effective for a list of 13 disorders, such as severe burns, decompression sickness and non-healing wounds. The list doesnt include many of the other disorders advertised by the Oxford Center.

NBC News reported that, according to the familys attorney, the boy had received multiple sessions of hyperbaric therapy for sleep apnea and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. These conditions arent approved by the FDA to be marketed as effectively treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

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The FDA also recommends that consumers only use hyperbaric centers that are inspected and accredited by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. The Oxford Center doesnt appear on the societys February 2025 list of accredited facilities.

Attorney General Nessel said her office extensively consulted experts on hyperbaric chambers and treatments.

Horrifying and simple conclusions were reached, she said. The Oxford Center routinely operated sensitive and lethally dangerous hyperbaric chambers beyond their expected service lifetime and in complete disregard of vital safety measures and practices considered essential by medical and technical professionals.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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I scream, you scream, a 4-year-old boy has called the cops after his mother ate his ice cream, police have said.

The incident occurred last Tuesday in the town of Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin -- located seven miles west of Racine -- when police were contacted by a 4-year-old boy who said his mom being bad, according to a statement released by the Village of Mount Pleasant Police Department last week.

MORE: Chappy, the baby gray seal found on the streets near Yale University, dies from severe digestive issues

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Officer Gardinier and Officer Ostergaard were dispatched for a 911 hangup, authorities said. A little boy called 911 saying his mom was being bad and needed to go to jail.

When officers arrived at their home, the young boy said, his mom ate his ice cream and needed to go to jail for it.

MORE: Scorpion stings woman at Boston baggage claim as she picked up luggage after flight from Mexico

He also told police that he no longer wanted her to go to jail and just wanted some ice cream.

The good-spirted officers subsequently left the home once they verified that this was indeed the reason why they had been called out but they returned back the next day, this time to surprise the boy with some ice cream after he decided he didnt want mom in trouble anymore, police said.

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MORE: Dead woman's body found in trunk of car driven by her son after police chase

PHOTO: A 4-year-old boy has called the cops after his mother ate his ice cream, police in Wisconsin have said. (Facebook / Village of Mount Pleasant Police Department)

MORE: Woman caught trying to plant explosive devices at Tesla dealership

The responding officers werent the only ones to find humor in the situation either.

Im not saying hes right. All I am saying is I understand, said one person responding to the Village of Mount Pleasant Police Departments post about the incident on social media.

At least he knows how to call for help," said another response. "It could save someones life one day!

MORE: Man drives over 700 miles to set fire to home of man talking with his ex-girlfriend: Police

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The officers involved even took a picture with the 4-year-old after the whole incident was over and were able to find humor in the situation.

I love hearing about our amazing officers creating positive relationships with kids, another social media user said. Keep the good news coming!

4-year-old boy calls 911 after 'bad mom' eats his ice cream originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A hyperbaric chamber at the Oxford Center in Brighton, Michigan, is shown Feb. 8, 2024. David Guralnick via AP

Four people have been charged for the death of 5-year-old Thomas Cooper, who died in a hyperbaric chamber after it exploded, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Tuesday.

Cooper was pronounced dead at the scene at the Oxford Center, a medical facility in Troy, Michigan, on Jan. 31, according to The Associated Press.

In a video message, Nessel called the event tragic and said Thomas was killed in an easily preventable tragedy.

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Thomas died after a fire erupted inside the pressurized pure oxygen environment, Nessel said, adding that a single spark ignited a full fire that killed the boy within seconds.

The investigation in this tragedy has revealed how the Oxford Center in Troy and several of its key decision-makers held safety among their lowest considerations in their hyperbaric treatment practice, Nessel said.

Oxford Center owner Tamela Peterson, management assistant Gary Marken and safety manager Jeffrey Mosteller were all charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. Aleta Moffitt, the operator of the hyperbaric chamber on the day of Coopers death, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and intentionally placing false information on a medical record as medical provider.

According to the FDA, a hyperbaric chamber helps the lungs collect more oxygen. Inside the chamber, the air pressure is raised to a level higher than normal air pressure.

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James Harrington, the Cooper familys attorney, told NBC News that Thomas parents took the child to the center for multiple sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for sleep apnea and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Nessel said hyperbaric chambers arent new and there are plenty of national and international safety standards to ensure patients safety. She said the Oxford Center routinely operated sensitive and lethally dangerous hyperbaric chambers beyond their expected service lifetime and in complete disregard of vital safety measures and practices considered essential by medical and technical professionals.

She said the Oxford Center broke several safety measures, including not completing the daily maintenance check on the hyperbaric chamber, not having a medical doctor or safety supervisor at the center at the time, and not having a licensed technician perform the treatment. She also said that the center put the boy in the hyperbaric chamber even though the treatment was not supported by medical science for his ailments.

Thomas mother, Annie Cooper, was burned on the arm after she rushed over to the chamber after the fire broke out to try and save her son.

This is a very, very egregious case, Harrington told NBC News.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Four people were arrested in connection with a hyperbaric chamber explosion that killed a 5-year-old boy on the east side of the state.

Police said the four people were taken into custody Monday in connection to the explosion at Oxford Center in Troy that killed Thomas Cooper on Jan. 31, Detroit NBC affiliate WDIV reports. The boys mother was also injured.

The four are expected to be arraigned Tuesday, WDIV reports.

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Hyperbaric chamber explodes with 5-year-old inside, killing him

A hyperbaric chamber is used to increase the amount of oxygen in the body, according to the Mayo Clinic. It can be used to treat various issues, including carbon monoxide poisoning, tissue disease or damage, air bubbles trapped in blood vessels and decompression sickness caused by scuba diving.

The Oxford Center opened in 2008. The fire department said the facility will be closed until further notice while they continue to investigate the explosion, WDIV reported.

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SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO)  A Minnesota man is headed to prison for his roll in a plan to sell meth South Dakota.

Senate passes array of election bills

40-year old Francisco Javier Mendez was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison.

In June of 2023, authorities found 3 pounds of meth on Mendez during a traffic stop in Nebraska.

Mendez was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession of a

Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in June 2024. He pleaded guilty to

Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance on November 22, 2024.



He later told law enforcement he and the driver had bought the drugs in Kansas and were returning to South Dakota to sell it on the reservations.

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Mendez also stated they had made the same trip 2 to 3 weeks earlier.

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ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Rockford Police arrested Saw Moo, 44, for allegedly sexually abusing and assaulting a victim he knew personally.

On Feb. 25, around 9 p.m., officers received reports of a sexual assault in the 2200 block of Wyoming Drive.

Investigations led police to identify Moo as the suspect.

He was booked into the Winnebago County Jail on March 11th.

Moo is charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

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If you are a survivor of domestic or sexual violence, visit our Stateline Strong page for resources.

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Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan once again delivered a pompous speech about "deep civilizational ties" with India. A friendship story? Come on!

Until Yerevan started running around the world with its hand outstretched in search of weapons, no one had even heard of the great Armenian-Indian brotherhood.

All of Mirzoyan's words about "deepening partnership" are just a veiled way of saying, "India, give me more weapons!" After all the failures and dashed hopes with the West and Russia, Armenia is now turning to India, hoping to arm itself and... what? Take revenge? Win back what was lost? Funny.

Armenia's plans to become a transport hub are a separate circus.

What kind of "Crossroads of the world"? A country that can't even build proper roads for itself is trying to get involved in international transport projects.

And then there's the standard list of complaints: "We are being threatened," "Azerbaijan is putting pressure on us," and so on. Everything follows the old pattern: complain about everyone in the hope that someone will intercede.

As a result, we have a classic picture: India sells weapons to Armenia, and Armenia sells itself illusions.
MANILA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine Presidential Communications Office (PCO) issued a statement on Tuesday, confirming that former President Rodrigo Duterte was detained by police upon his return to Manila, capital of the Philippines, from abroad.

According to the statement, Duterte's flight arrived in Manila around 9:20 a.m. local time, where authorities presented him with an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

WHY WAS HE DETAINED?

Duterte "is currently in the custody of the authorities," the PCO said on Tuesday.

During his time as mayor of Davao City and as president of the Philippines, Duterte had carried out a "war on drugs," which garnered wide attention both domestically and internationally.

In February 2018, the ICC notified the Philippine government that it would open a preliminary investigation into whether Duterte's anti-drug operations violated human rights. In September 2021, the ICC officially commenced its investigation.

The official copy of the ICC's warrant of arrest, received by Interpol in Manila on Tuesday, stated that the purpose of the move was to "ensure his appearance before the court."

REACTIONS FROM VARIOUS SIDES

The PCO said in November 2024 that "if the ICC refers the process to the Interpol, which may then transmit a red notice to the Philippine authorities, the government will feel obliged to consider the red notice as a request to be honored, in which case the domestic law enforcement agencies shall be bound to accord full cooperation to the Interpol pursuant to established protocols."

Duterte, who will turn 80 this month, recently said at a rally that he was ready for a possible arrest if the ICC issued a warrant. However, he asked: "What is my sin? I did everything in my time for peace and a peaceful life for the Filipino people."

In a video released by his family on Tuesday, Duterte questioned his detention, asking: "What is the crime I committed?"

Duterte's detention has sparked widespread attention across Philippine political circles.

Former chief presidential legal counsel Atty. Salvador Panelo questioned the legal basis for Duterte's arrest in a statement.

"It is an illegal arrest because the ICC arrest warrant comes from a spurious source, the ICC, which has no jurisdiction over the Philippines," Panelo said.

WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN NEXT?

Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos has a strained relationship with Duterte and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte. Duterte's detention will likely bring more uncertainty to the Philippine political landscape.

The country is set to hold midterm elections in May, and Duterte has registered to run for mayor of Davao City. Local media reported that Duterte enjoys considerable support among the people.

Senator Imee Marcos, who is also the current president's sister, on Tuesday warned the arrest could spark further chaos.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo told local media that his department has yet to issue any instruction to its foreign mission in The Hague, as it defers actions related to the arrest of Duterte to law enforcement agencies.

Sara Duterte on Tuesday evening said in a statement that her detained father "is being forcibly taken to The Hague tonight."

"This is a blatant affront to our sovereignty and an insult to every Filipino who believes in our nation's independence," the vice president said in a statement. 
(KRON)  San Jose police are investigating the City of San Joses fourth homicide of 2025.

Brazen armed robbery of Milpitas massage parlor caught on camera

Police said officers responded at 8:45 p.m. Sunday to the 3500 block of Cas Drive for a report of a person shot. When officers arrived, they found evidence of a shooting but didnt locate any involved individuals.

Police soon discovered that the victim, a man suffering from at least one gunshot wound, had been dropped off at a local hospital but later succumbed to his injuries. His identity is being withheld until the Santa Clara County Coroners Office confirms and notifies the next of kin.

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The motive and circumstances surrounding the incident are not yet known, and police are investigating.

Police did not provide any further information on who may have dropped the victim off at the hospital.

Anyone with information on the case is urged to contact Detective Sergeant Taylor #4257 or Detective Van Brande #4542 of the San Jose Police Departments Homicide Unit via email: 4257@sanjoseca.gov and/or 4542@sanjoseca.gov or at 408-277-5283.

Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling (408) 947-STOP or visiting www.siliconvalleycrimestoppers.org. The Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers Program is offering a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest.

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Five undocumented immigrants were arrested during a multi-agency operation in the Charlotte area on Feb. 6, officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement stated in a news release.

ICE fails to detain suspect in Charlotte shooting, sheriff says

The operation, involving ICE, Norfolk Southern Railroad Federal Police, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, aimed to enhance the safety of freight trains and their crews, officials said.

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The operation was conducted in response to increased reports of gang-affiliated people on rail tracks, posing threats to citizens and railway employees while doing illegal activities, such as selling drugs and trespassing.

On Wednesday, ICE released the names of those arrested:

Feiser Jimenez-Jimenez, 32, a citizen of Guatemala. Jimenez has a final order of removal. Jimenezs criminal history includes trespassing, drug paraphernalia, robbery with a dangerous weapon, second-degree trespass, larceny, and resisting a public officer, in Charlotte. He admitted he had a juvenile conviction for homicide in Maryland related to gang involvement that agents later confirmed.

Lester Donaldo Cardona, 31, a citizen of Guatemala. Cardona has a notice to appear. Cardonas criminal history includes domestic violence and assault by strangulation in Charlotte .

Jose Herrera-Santos, 21, a citizen of Guatemala. Herrera-Santos has a final order of removal. Herrera-Santos criminal history includes larceny in Charlotte.

Maldonado-Gonzales, 54, a citizen of Honduras. Maldonado-Gonzales is a reinstatement of a prior order of removal. Maldonado-Gonzales has no significant criminal history.

Jose Alvarado, 50, a citizen of Honduras. Alavardo is a reinstatement of his prior removal. Alvarados criminal history includes driving without a license and failure to stop for a blue light in York, South Carolina.

Everyone arrested during the operation was taken into ICE custody on administrative charges. They are pending removal.

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President Donald Trump and DOGE boss Elon Musk are on a mission to significantly cut federal spending by $1 trillion this year  laying off workers, canceling contracts, and slashing budgets across all departments.

While it seems unlikely theyll meet their goal, the impact of their cuts is already being noticed. And some states are feeling the cuts especially hard.

WalletHub compiled a list of the most and least federally dependent states. It analyzed data to find both the state governments and the state residents federal dependency, looking at the return on taxes paid to the federal government, share of federal jobs, and federal funding as a share of state revenue.

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Regardless of whether the distribution of federal funds is fair or not, living in one of the most federally dependent states can be beneficial for residents, WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said. For every dollar residents of the top states pay in taxes, they get several dollars back in federal funding, which often leads to higher-quality infrastructure, education, public health and more.

Continue reading to see which states are the most  and least  dependent.

5th most dependent: South Carolina

Photo: Mark Wallheiser / Stringer (Getty Images)

4th most dependent: Mississippi

Photo: Streeter Lecka / Staff (Getty Images)

3rd most dependent: West Virginia

Photo: Spencer Platt / Staff (Getty Images)

2nd most dependent: Kentucky

Photo: Mario Tama / Staff (Getty Images)

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Most dependent: Alaska

Photo: Mario Tama / Staff (Getty Images)

5th least dependent: Utah

Photo: Christian Petersen / Staff (Getty Images)

4th least dependent: Massachusetts

Photo: Michael M. Santiago / Staff (Getty Images)

3rd least dependent: Delaware

Photo: Mark Makela / Stringer (Getty Images)

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2nd least dependent: California

Photo: Mario Tama / Staff (Getty Images)

Least dependent: New Jersey

Photo: Hannah Beier / Stringer (Getty Images)

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Five years ago, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a global pandemic. The novel coronavirus, dubbed SARS-CoV-2, began as a cluster of severe pneumonia cases of unknown cause reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. It had spread to 118,000 cases reported in 114 countries by March 11.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general at the time, said in a media briefing that day that the WHO is deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity and by the alarming levels of inaction. He urged leaders to move quickly to scale up their emergency responses, saying that all countries can still change the course of this pandemic.

Public health agencies like the WHO and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention played critical roles throughout the pandemic in coordinating with local health departments to detect, trace and test for the virus. The WHO and CDC websites received unprecedented traffic as they became invaluable go-to sources for the most up-to-date resources on means of prevention, case numbers, hospitalizations and deaths. The National Institutes of Health was instrumental in its development of COVID-19 treatments and contributions to vaccine research.

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Now, five years later, the Trump administration has cut more than 5,000 employees at the NIH and the CDC combined, and is withdrawing the U.S. from the WHO.

At the same time, the U.S. is facing outbreaks of tuberculosis, a resurgence of measles among unvaccinated communities, and the worst flu season in 15 years.

Much of the work of the WHO, CDC and other public health agencies occurs behind the scenes, only occasionally drawing public attention. To put these roles into perspective, it can be helpful to examine public health before these unifying entities existed.

A spreading epidemic, slow communications

As the author of the 2020 book Constructing the Outbreak: Epidemics in Media and Collective Memory and Capturing COVID: Media & the Pandemic in the Digital Era, published in 2025, I have extensively studied how public health crises have unfolded. And through my research as a health communication scholar, I have analyzed the integral role of nonprofits and public agencies in protecting public health.

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Both the WHO and the CDC were set up in the 1940s. Before an international or even national network of public health agencies existed, there were no coordinated communication means, external investigations or formalized ways of recording data across geographic areas. Without a means of sharing information, it was much more difficult for outbreaks and epidemics to be linked between regions.

One notable example was the 1918 influenza pandemic, a deadly combination of influenza and pneumonia that first emerged in a Kansas army base in the spring of 1918. From there, the epidemic moved overseas, spreading throughout Asia and Europe by late summer. When it returned to the U.S. in August, the disease had been mislabeled the Spanish flu. The lack of media coverage of the spring outbreak, paired with the lack of disease tracking, meant that most people believed the lethal strains had begun in Europe.

No one formally tracked these outbreaks until the disease returned with American troops in August 1918. In September, the U.S. Surgeon General and the U.S. Public Health Service attempted to gauge the magnitude and transmission of influenza by sending telegrams to state health officers.

The Sept. 27, 1918, issue of the official publication of the U.S. Surgeon Generals Office, one of the first reports to focus on the growing influenza epidemic. Public Health Reports

By that point, it was much too late for mass preparation. The few stories of the spring outbreaks had been buried in a flood of competing news stories about the world war. Therefore, people knew almost nothing about the raging disease until it infected their own town. Short on resources and caregivers, communities struggled to create makeshift hospitals and find healthy residents to nurse the ill.

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For example, at the University of Kansas during the influenza pandemic, female professors cared for sick students, faculty and staff, washed linens and prepared food. Since agencies like the WHO and CDC didnt yet exist and the world war further impeded communication, little information was documented and shared across geographic regions, such as the sharing of information on how to prevent the disease from spreading, possible treatments or even the number of cases and deaths.

The influenza pandemic quickly faded in the publics collective memory, due in part to an absence of personal narratives and follow-up stories after cases subsided  at least until COVID-19 sparked renewed public interest in the 100-year-old crisis.

In 1918, at a Massachusetts hospital, many flu patients were treated outside in tents so they could get fresh air. Hulton Archive via Getty Images

Polio epidemic saw a more coordinated response

Starting in the 1930s, public health responses to polio outbreaks demonstrated the advantages of nationally coordinated efforts. The National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis helped battle polio through fundraising, running extensive campaigns to educate the public, supporting scientific research and helping victims from the acute hospital stage through rehabilitation. This effort was especially apparent in the 1952 polio epidemic.

In the summer of 1952, U.S. polio cases escalated, eventually totaling 57,628  more than one-third of which included various stages of paralysis. Throughout the epidemic, the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis coordinated with local chapters of its organization. Together, the foundation kept people informed of the growing epidemic, created emergency polio-focused hospital wings, recruited nurses and other health professionals, and shared resources to the areas with outbreaks.

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Widespread vaccination efforts led to a deep reduction in polio cases in the U.S. by the 1960s, prompting the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis to change its name and mission to the March of Dimes. The organization served as a model for nonprofits and public health agencies for communicating and coordinating between local and national entities.

Polio patients in iron lung machines at a Boston hospital in 1955. Bettmann via Getty Images

The critical role of public health agencies

The CDC opened in 1946 as a small organization based in Atlanta, aimed at fighting malaria in the U.S. Two years later, representatives from 53 countries ratified the constitution of the WHO. This global entity brought countries together across continents to tackle disease surveillance, prevention, treatment and research.

As these agencies expanded into new areas of public health over the 1950s and 1960s, they mirrored many of the approaches and strategies utilized by the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis: tracking and recording data public, educating the public, investigating threats, aiding in moments of crisis and supporting scientific research. Together, the CDC and the WHO greatly improved public health, from the global eradication of smallpox and the decline of vaccine-preventable diseases to the development and implementation of HIV/AIDS treatments.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the roles of these agencies often didnt garner much attention, as field agents traveled to examine something as routine as salmonella or as frightening as hemorrhagic fever cases.

COVID-19 patients await entrance to a New York City hospital in April 2020, shortly after the start of the pandemic. John Moore via Getty Images

While public opinions of the CDC and the WHO shifted throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, recent survey results indicate that the majority of Americans trust public health agencies at least to some degree. A 2024 survey found that nearly 60% of American adults believe that the U.S. benefited from its WHO membership.

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Unfortunately, when infectious diseases move out of the spotlight and are seen as less urgent, the critical roles of these public health agencies fade into the distant collective memory, much like the 1918 and COVID-19 pandemics. People soon enough forget the need for ongoing scientific research, educational programs and teams that can quickly respond to local, national and international levels.

Disease continues to be a threat, as the outbreaks of measles, tuberculosis, influenza and other pathogens remind us. People are still sick or dying of COVID-19: As of March 1, 6,725 people had died in the U.S. from COVID-19 just in 2025, and nearly 7.1 million have died worldwide since January 2020.

Without strong, coordinated efforts between public health agencies, even small health calamities can escalate into full-blown epidemics or even pandemics, which the world will be far less prepared to handle.

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: Katherine A. Foss, Middle Tennessee State University

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Katherine A. Foss 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.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  In his role as Monroe County Health Commissioner, Dr. Michael Mendoza was watching COVID-19 hitch hike around the world.

China, Italy, and New York City.

Then, on March 11, 2020, he joined other local leaders to announce Monroe Countys first official COVID-19 patient.

I remember thinking, this is going to be a long haul, Mendoza said.

For the first few days, though, little changed.

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Folks still went to work and out to eat.

Then came business closures and masking guidance.

Mendoza said on Monday that he and other medical leaders worked with the best information they had at the time, which sometimes fell short.

Six feet inside versus six feet outside, whats the difference? And we had all these questions and didnt have great answers in the scientific community, Mendoza said.

Still, he commended the local health care system for adapting quickly to double their capacity, preventing the need for a field hospital.

They did what they needed to do in the initial 2 months, so our health care system didnt collapse but it was challenging, Mendoza said.

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He also commended all those who masked up and stayed home when possible.

I know our numbers were better than other spots for what thats worth, he said. Our mortality rates were lower, but thats not to diminish that a lot of people lost loved ones. A lot of people had really trying experiences and we cant make that go away with good data.

He said the messaging got more difficult as the months wore on, as new variants reversed falling case numbers, and more was learned about the virus.

That pivoting and pivoting and pivoting  and years of it  essentially got people tired, Mendoza said. COVID fatigue was something we talked about even in that first year.

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Then came the hate.

Mendoza, like many other health leaders across the country, would become the target of attacks, mainly on social media.

Its hard to think through some of that especially when some of that was directed at my family and my kids. My kids and my family didnt sign up for that. And I think Ive contextualized it and realized people were just responding to fear, Mendoza said.

News 8 Archives: Take a look back at how the pandemic evolved day-by-day

Monday, sitting in his new office at Trillium Health, Mendoza said his greatest hope is that the recent pandemic has better prepared the medical community and country as a whole for the next one.

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Its not a question of if, but when, he said. Estimates say its an annual risk of 2-4% to have another pandemic so if you play that out for the next 25 years theres a 50% chance.

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DENVER (KDVR)  Tuesday marks five years since the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic.

A lot has changed since then, but there are still patients dealing with long COVID all this time later.

Olin Martin is one of them. The 17-year-old from North Carolina is meeting with doctors at the Center for Post-COVID Care and Recovery at National Jewish Health in Denver.

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Martin has been diagnosed with COVID three times, gone to hospitals dozens of times, had numerous tests, and still has difficulty breathing.

Denver health officials warn residents to be wary of measles misinformation

I ended up having to go on a bunch of inhalers and stop cross country, which was something I really enjoyed doing, Martin said.

The teen also still deals with brain fog, and something called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS.

When you stand up it makes my heart rate rise up some. It also made it so when I move around it makes my hands feel a little tight or swollen, Martin said.

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POTS is something we see very, very often in these kids with long COVID, said Dr. Nathan Rabinovitch, a pediatric allergist and immunologist at National Jewish Health.

But the doctor says the long COVID symptoms he sees in pediatric patients can vary.

Well see kids that come in, Im short of breath. Im short of breath just by sitting down. Im short of breath with exercise, cant exercise like I did before. My heart rate races when I stand up. I faint. I havent done that before,' he said.

Other patients, he said, complain of chronic headaches, sleep issues, brain fog, pain in fingers and toes, and gastrointestinal issues.

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Five years ago, Colorado identified the first cases of COVID in the state

The clinic has treated thousands of patients with long COVID. The numbers are dramatically down from the peak, but hundreds of patients are still being seen there.

Its something that is still going on and people need to be aware of and if they know anyone that has it, just give them grace, Martin said.

Visit the National Jewish Health website for more information on the clinic.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Three alleged fentanyl dealers  including a brother and sister  are facing decades in prison for their roles in a major drug trafficking scheme, local and state officials announced on Tuesday.

The trio is accused of possessing more than 50 pounds of fentanyl with an intent to sell, according to L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochmans office. It is further alleged that the weight of the substance containing fentanyl is more than 20 kilograms.

They were caught after a joint investigation between the California Department of Justices Fentanyl Enforcement Program and the Downey Police Department turned up the large cache in an apartment within the city of Downey on Jan. 22, authorities said.

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#goteem: Southern California police go full Gen Z with arrest report

The DOJ added that, in the Jan. 22 bust, five kilograms of heroin, ten pounds of methamphetamine, a kilogram of cocaine, narcotics packaging and two firearm suppressors were also located.

The 50 pounds seized is more than all the fentanyl seized at the U.S.-Canada border in 2024, officials said; a total of 43 pounds was seized at the border last year, and a single kilogram of fentanyl is enough to kill 500,000 people. California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated that the seizure equates to 14 million lethal doses of the drug.

The approximate street value of the seized fentanyl, if sold by the gram, would be between $453,000 and $1.36 million.

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This one seizure could have killed literally every resident in L.A. County by itself, DA Hochman said at Tuesdays press conference.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta speaks alongside L.A. County DA Nathan Hochman and other officials at a press conference announcing a major fentanyl bust on Mar. 11, 2025.

The suspects were identified as Carlos Manuel Mariscal of Huntington Park, Gustavo Omar Gomez, also of Huntington Park, and Priscilla Gomez of Torrance. The latter two are siblings, the DAs office confirmed.

Mariscal, 39, is charged with two counts of possession for sale of a controlled substance, one count of possession of a silencer and another count of unlawful possession of ammunition prohibited by a prior conviction. He is being held on $60,000 bail, and if convicted as charged, he faces 31 years and eight months in prison.

Thousands at risk due to volcanic eruption in Guatemala

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44-year-old Priscilla Gomez faces two counts of possession for sale of a controlled substance as well as a single count of sale, transportation or offer to sell a controlled substance. She is being held on $35,000 bail and could spend 28 years in prison if convicted as charged.

Her brother Gustavo, 48, is charged with two counts of possession for sale of a controlled substance and faces 24 years in prison if convicted as charged. His bail was set at $10,000.

The preliminary hearing for Mariscal and Gustavo Gomez is set for March 20. Priscilla Gomez remains in federal custody.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
NORTH HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH)  Six people were arrested in connection to a street takeover in December, police said.

According to authorities, the street takeover occurred on Dec. 28, in the intersection of Montowese Avenue and Interstate 91 Exit 9 on/off ramp. A caller indicated that two people were struck by a car driving erratically.

When police arrived at the scene, the injured people and the people involved in the street takeover were no longer there, officers said.

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IG Report: 21-year-old man died of gunshot wounds to the torso during officer-involved shooting in Hartford

Since then, police said detectives have identified and arrested several people allegedly involved.

Luis Villeda-Garcia, 20, of Norwalk, was charged with breach of peace in the second degree, spectating a street takeover, and negligent use of the highway by pedestrian.

Jayden Ruiz-Navarro, 20, of Beacon Falls, was charged with breach of peace in the second degree, spectating a street takeover, and negligent use of the highway by pedestrian.

Hisan Chowdhury, 20, of Norwalk, was charged with breach of peace in the second degree and spectating a street takeover.

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Nevaeh Castro, 20, of Seymour, was charged with breach of peace in the second degree and spectating a street takeover.

Michael Cruz, 22, of Stratford, was charged with breach of peace in the second degree and spectating a street takeover.

Segundo Tixi Tixi, 28, of Flushing, NY, was arrested on March 6 at his New York residence. He is being held in New York as a fugitive from justice awaiting extradition to Connecticut.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights (OCR) sent letters to 60 universities, including 6 Massachusetts institutions, on Monday regarding an investigation into antisemitic discrimination and harassment.

The Massachusetts colleges include Boston University, Emerson College, Harvard University, Tufts University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Wellesley College.

The letter warns of potential enforcement actions if the universities dont comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin.

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The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better, said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.

The letters come in response to President Donald Trumps Executive Order to combat antisemitism, which initially started with an investigation into five universities where harassment of Jewish people was allegedly reported.

That investigation resulted in the cancellation of $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University.

Trump warns that arrest of Palestinian activist at Columbia will be 'first of many'

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U.S. colleges and universities benefit from enormous public investments funded by U.S. taxpayers. That support is a privilege and it is contingent on scrupulous adherence to federal antidiscrimination laws, McMahon said.

Boston 25 News has reached out to the six Massachusetts colleges for comment.

To read the full list of affected institutions, click here.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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Seven people pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a long list of charges in the killing of Sam Nordquist, a Black transgender man who was allegedly held captive and tortured in an upstate New York hotel room for more than a month before succumbing to his torment.

Nordquist's former partner, Precious Arzuaga, and six others pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, second-degree murder, kidnapping, conspiracy, endangering the welfare of a child and concealment of a human corpse. If convicted of first-degree murder, New York states heaviest penalty, the defendants could spend the rest of their lives in prison without parole.

Four of them, including Arzuaga, also pleaded not guilty to aggravated sexual abuse charges, and Arzuaga pleaded not guilty to coercion.

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The 11-count indictment issued last week outlined Nordquist's gruesome torment, which included beatings, hitting, kicking, punching, inserting an object into his anus, starvation, forced consumption of feces, urine and tobacco juice. Two young children were also coerced to partake in his torture, according to the indictment.

Prosecutors said last week that Nordquist, 24, was tortured from Jan. 1 to Feb. 2. Authorities found Nordquists body in a farmers field in Yates County, New York, on Feb. 13.

Sam Nordquist.

The brutality and astonishing nature of the killing has garnered national attention and fueled outrage among LGBTQ advocates in recent weeks.

Well never know the answer why, because what human being could do what happened to Sam? Ontario County Assistant District Attorney Kelly Wolford said at a press conference last week. Well never make sense of this case.

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Attorneys for six of the defendants  Arzuaga, 38; her son, Thomas Eaves, 21; Quijano, 30; Sage, 33; Goodwin, 30; and Kimberly Sochia, 29  did not immediately return NBC News requests for comment.

"The way that everyone's perceiving her is unfair given what I think her minimal involvement is," Lindsey Pieper, an an attorney for the seventh and youngest defendant, Emily Motyka, 19, said in a phone call.

Nordquist's family could not immediately be reached for comment.

Payne Road in Yates County, N.Y. The remains of Sam Nordquist were found in a field off the road.

Nordquist and Arzuaga met online and began dating in August, according to interviews with Nordquist's family. In September, Nordquist left his home in Oakdale, Minnesota, and traveled to Canandaigua, New York, to pursue the romantic relationship, his family said. The pair were staying at a motel in the Finger Lakes city, Patty's Lodge, for the entirety of Nordquist's time in New York.

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In the months leading up to his death, Nordquist's family told NBC News that his calls and texts became uncharacteristically infrequent. The family said they feared that Arzuaga was controlling his cellphone use and movements.

The family also accused local police of botching wellness checks they had requested while Nordquist was alive. Authorities have denied any wrongdoing.

Wolford said last week that the seven defendants knew one another from the area and that some were romantically involved. Records show that Goodwin, who is a registered sex offender, was also staying in a nearby room at Pattys Lodge at the time. Pieper said she did not know how Motyka met the other defendants, but that her client was living at Pattys Lodge for two weeks, starting on Jan. 18.

When asked if the two children coerced to partake in Nordquists torture belonged to Arzuaga  who has young children  Wolford declined to comment.

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Since his body was found, LGBTQ advocates urged prosecutors to pursue hate crime charges. Wolford pushed back on those requests last week, saying that to "limit us to a hate crime would be an injustice to Sam."

Nordquist's family laid him to rest last week in Minnesota. The seven defendants will next appear in court on May 2.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
ISLAMABAD, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Several people were injured after gunmen attacked a passenger train in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province on Tuesday, police and government officials said. 
A vast majority of Ukrainians believe that Russia is determined to destroy Ukraine and will not stop at the territories it currently occupies, according to a survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) published on March 11.

The survey comes as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on March 10 that Ukraine would need to make territorial concessions as part of any agreement to end the war.

According to KIIS, 87% of Ukrainians believe that Russia intends to continue its aggression beyond the currently occupied territories. This belief is consistent across all regions, with 80% in the east and south and 89-90% in the west and center agreeing that Moscow will not stop at the current front line.

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Furthermore, 66% of respondents said that Russia's ultimate goal is Ukraine's destruction  28% believe Moscow seeks physical genocide, while 38% say it aims to seize most or all of Ukraine's territory and eliminate its statehood and national identity.

A further 14% believe Russia seeks to occupy all or most of Ukraine and install a puppet government, while 7% think Moscow wants to consolidate control over the partially-occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

The findings align with Russian statements, as Russia's Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said on Dec. 16, 2024, that Moscow aims to capture the entirety of the four Ukrainian oblasts in 2025.

Only 4% of respondents believe that Russia aims to maintain control over its existing territorial gains, and just 3% accept Russia's claim that it wants to "denazify" and demilitarize Ukraine. The remaining 7% were undecided.

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The survey was conducted between Feb. 14 and March 4, with 1,029 respondents aged 18 and older interviewed by telephone across all Ukrainian government-controlled regions.

The survey results come amid growing concerns that U.S. President Donald Trump's push for a swift end to the war could lead to a peace deal on unfavorable terms for Ukraine, potentially leaving it vulnerable to future Russian attacks.

Read also: Russian lawmaker proposes Oreshnik strike following Ukraines mass drone attack

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
An Air India flight returned to Chicago in a nine-hour ordeal for passengers last week.

The airline said bags, rags, and clothes had been flushed down toilets and got stuck in the plumbing.

The Boeing 777 couldn't land in Europe because of night restrictions at most airports.

Air India passengers were left with a nine-hour flight to nowhere after most of the plane's bathrooms stopped working.

Data from Flightradar24 shows that last Wednesday's flight from Chicago to New Delhi U-turned over the Atlantic Ocean  about four hours into the 14-hour journey.

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"About an hour and forty-five minutes into the flight, the crew reported some of the lavatories in business and economy class to be unserviceable," an Air India spokesperson said in a statement.

"Subsequently, eight of the 12 lavatories in the aircraft became unserviceable, causing discomfort to all on board," they added.

Images on social media appeared to show that clothes had clogged pipes on the plane.

The airline spokesperson said its investigation found "polythene bags, rags, and clothes that had been flushed down and stuck in the plumbing."

The Boeing 777 landed back in Chicago at about 9 p.m. local time, per Flightradar24.

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So-called flights to nowhere are more common when an airline departs from one of its hub airports, where it's easier to make repairs and reroute passengers.

Air India diverted Flight 126 back to the US because of restrictions on night operations at most European airports, the airline spokesperson said.

The decision to return to Chicago "was taken entirely in the interest of passenger comfort and safety," they added.

Upon arrival, passengers were given hotel accommodation and alternative flight options to New Delhi.

It's not the first time a flight has turned around because of plumbing problems.

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Eight of the nine bathrooms stopped working on a KLM flight from Amsterdam to Los Angeles in February 2024, a report said. The Boeing 787 U-turned over the Atlantic Ocean and returned to the Netherlands.

Air India has previously found blankets, diapers, and other waste flushed down the toilets on other flights.

"We take this opportunity to urge passengers to use lavatories only for the purposes that they are meant for," the statement said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
STURGEON BAY  After more than seven years of being closed, the historic observation tower in Potawatomi State Park has been repaired and will reopen to the public this spring, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced Monday, while funding has been proposed for a lookout at the tower for those with accessibility issues.

The 75-foot-tall observation tower at Potawatomi State Park in Sturgeon Bay, built in 1931 and closed since the end of 2017 because of wood decay and safety concerns, is planned to reopen to the public in the spring of 2025.

An exact date has not yet been scheduled for the reopening. The DNR said in a press release it will happen when snow and ice are cleared enough to allow for safe access to the 75-foot-tall tower, likely mid to late April as was the case in past years, but that depends on weather conditions. Those interested can visit the Potawatomi State Park page on the DNR website for updates on the tower.

The planned reopening comes after Gov. Tony Evers approved funds in late March of 2023 for emergency stabilization repairs to the 94-year-old tower overlooking the bay of Green Bay, which was closed in December 2017 after an inspection found significant decay in the wooden structure, and approved funds in the most recent biennial budget to complete the restoration.

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The DNR then announced the tower was unsalvageable and planned to tear it down and replace it, but the Sturgeon Bay Historical Society Foundation commissioned a study that said the tower, which is on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, could be repaired.

After several years of discussion and a engineering study commissioned by the state, Evers' 2023-25 budget proposal included funds for restoration of the tower along with the addition of a spiral ramp for accessibility and added vehicle parking, all at an estimated cost of just more than $6 million.

However, with concerns the tower might not survive until such an extensive project began, local governments, interested citizens and state legislators Sen. Andre Jacque, R-New Franken, and Rep. Joel Kitchens, R-Sturgeon Bay, joined the historical society in spurring the state into approving the emergency restoration that would preserve the historic character of the tower, which many had requested since it was found it could be saved.

The press release from the DNR said restoration is now complete and the tower passed the necessary structural inspections, although minor site work is continuing around the tower that is expected to be completed before the reopening.

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In addition, Evers is recommending a request from the DNR of just more than $5 million to create a fully accessible lookout that would provide people who are unable to climb the tower, or may not want to, an elevated view of the bay. It's included in the governor's proposed Capital Budget for 2025-27 that was released Monday.

If approved, the proposed schedule for this project would call for bids in July of 2027, with construction starting in October of that year and completed by the end of 2028.

The State Building Commission will meet March 25 to vote on the Capital Budget recommendations. Following that vote, the commissions recommendations will be submitted to the Joint Committee on Finance by April 1 for consideration with the 2025-27 state budget.

Contact Christopher Clough at 920-562-8900 or cclough@gannett.com.

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MORE: Sturgeon Bay gets ready to celebrate with its annual St. Patrick's Day Parade

MORE: Parallel 44 selling its Kewaunee location to shift winery operations to Door 44

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This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: After 7 years of closure, historic Door County park tower to reopen
Aaron Goodwin, known for his role on Ghost Adventures, is in the spotlight after his wife, Victoria Goodwin, was arrested for allegedly plotting his murder. Authorities claim she conspired with a Florida prison inmate, offering payment in exchange for the crime. Moreover, the investigation uncovered disturbing messages, which ultimately led to her arrest on serious charges.

Here are more details about the arrest and charges.

Why was Aaron Goodwins wife, Victoria, allegedly arrested?

Victoria Goodwin, the wife of Ghost Adventures star Aaron Goodwin, has been arrested for allegedly plotting to have him killed. Authorities claim she conspired with a Florida prison inmate, offering money to arrange the murder while Aaron was away filming the show.

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According to TMZ report, Victoria Goodwin was in contact with the inmate and discussed her failing marriage. She allegedly wrote, Am I a bad person? Because I chose to end his existence. Not divorce. Investigators say she shared details of her husbands whereabouts and set aside $11,515 for the hit, with an upfront payment of $2,500.

The plan came to light when prison officials discovered messages on the inmates contraband phone, including one asking for an update on whether the attack had taken place. One of the texts read, Hes asleep right now in the hotel room  I need to know whats going on. Can I get an update? Was it done?

Victoria Goodwin was charged with conspiracy to commit murder. She has denied planning to kill Aaron Goodwin, telling police she was only daydreaming or fantasizing about being without her husband. She also claimed that she didnt remember sending the messages and insisted the money was for cell phones.

Its reported that Aaron Goodwin was unaware of the situation. He believed their marriage was in a good place and has been left devastated. His Ghost Adventures co-star Zak Bagans has expressed support during this difficult time. Victoria remains in custody as authorities continue their investigation.

The post Aaron Goodwins Wife Victoria Arrested Over Murder for Hire Allegations  Report appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
MADISON COUNTY, Iowa  Veterans. The elderly. The disabled. Those are some of the groups that will be impacted by the looming closure of a home health benefit in Madison County.

The Madison County Board of Health officially announced the end of its Homemaker Program at a meeting on Feb. 12, 2025, citing budget shortfalls due to changes at the state level regarding public health funding.

Vietnam Veteran Frank Sadler is a client of the doomed Madison County Homemaker Program

Vietnam Veteran Frank Sadler is a client of the Madison County Homemaker Program

There are 27 people from the most vulnerable populations that will be impacted by the end of the program. The family of one of those people, told WHO 13 that they are angry and feel as if their loved one has been left behind.

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He doesnt go outside. Hes not allowed downstairs because were afraid hes going to fall, said Scott Sadler of Winterset.

Scott is talking about his 83-year-old father, Frank, who he likens caring for to a full-time job. He and his wife, Kristen, spend an estimated 40 hours a week between them managing Franks appointments, running errands for him and monitoring a batch of cameras inside his home to ensure Frank has not taken a spill. Something that has happened multiple times before.

Wintersets Frank Sadler, 83, disabled after a fall.

He has fallen in the bathroom. He has fallen in the bedroom some times, said Scott.

Scott shared photos from several incidents, including one that showed a pale and fragile Frank surrounded by a pool of blood. He had been there for hours before anyone noticed and Paramedics were called to the home, Scott said.

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It is one of the reasons that makes he and his wife so grateful for the few hours of nursing aid relief the county has provided each week for the past two years. The peace of mind is great. The help  even better.

It has taken a lot of things off my plate, he told reporter Katie Kaplan.

She cleans the house. She does dishes. She gave me a bath, said Frank. I had a stroke and my right arm is almost numb.

Greenwood Park art exhibit demolition underway

The Vietnam Veteran is cognizant, but needs a helping hand to get around his house. The nurse spends a few hours helping with laundry (the washer and dryer are located in the basement), checking vital signs, grocery shopping or even mowing the lawn.



However, all that will come to an end in just a few months. Frank and the 26 other clients of the Madison County Homemaker Program were notified of the sunsetting of the program via mailed letter in mid-November.

The letter Frank Sadler received from the Madison County Health Department.

A bunch of pressure just went back onto me, said Scott, of learning the news. It was like, What am I going to do? How am I going to take care of him and take care of what needs to be done at our place with what my family needs?'

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Scott is a disabled Veteran himself and the father of two younger kids. The family lives in a home across the street from Frank and try to stop by every day to check on him.

The program is something that has helped a lot of people in the rural county maintain a sense of normalcy.

That its been a great program for many of my patients, said Dr. Kevin De Regnier.

Dr. De Regnier retired from the BOH on Jan. 1, 2025, after serving on it for more than 30 years. He spoke to WHO 13 as a private citizen and said the decision came down to the bottom line.

That its been a great program for many of my patients. Its allowed them to stay in their home, he said. Its allowed them to remain independent in the community and that so its sad to see it go.

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Ingersoll Dinner Theatre shares sneak peak of revamped space ahead of opening date

But, as with a lot of things  the program costs money. Roughly, $2,500 per client according to figures presented during a BOH meeting in 2024. And, when the money is not there  it is hard to support.

In simplest terms, it was declining revenues and increasing costs, he said. More complex was the fact that we had lost a key staff member to retirement.

An overview of the 2024 BOH meeting minutes showed the issue was discussed multiple times since February of 2024  with some disagreement over what to do. However, after several setbacks with filling an open Homemaker Supervisor position for the program, the decision to end the program went up for a vote. In May of 2024, the first vote to end the program passed unanimously. However, it was rescinded at the following BOH meeting. Ultimately, the issue persisted and a September vote by the health board to end the Homemaker Program passed unanimously with a plan promptly put into place to begin to notify impacted parties.

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However, that decision has prompted some pushback from concerned citizens, including an array of people who took advantage of public comment opportunities during county Board of Supervisors meetings.

A recent Madison County Board of Supervisors meeting where the public spoke out about the program closure.

Second-term Supervisor Diane Fitch, who agreed budget cuts needed to be made, believes the strong response from the public shows residents were willing to continue to fund the program. She said there could have been an opportunity to keep it.

I think many taxpayers have indicated theyre willing to pay taxes to keep this, she said. I think, I think our revenues are up. Weve had so much building. I think we could have, we could have found the money.

Unfortunately, during a budget work session on Mar. 3, 2025, the BOS voted to freeze the 2025 Fiscal Year budget to match the FY2024 budget, leaving little to no hope for the program moving forward. Fitch was the lone vote against the freeze.

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This is not fair for us, said Scott, who believes the more than two dozen impacted residents have been left behind.

I believe theyre being abandoned by the State of Iowa, he said. I think, statewide, could have done better on budgeting. I think the Madison County Board supervisors should have done better.

WHO-13 had an on-camera interview scheduled with the Madison County Public Health Administrator, but it was cancelled by the administrator the night before. The following information was sent in an accompanying fact sheet:

The Madison County Homemaker Program is closing due to a shift in state funding and a

reduction in local funding. ln fiscal year 2025, the programs budget was cut by $64,364

leaving $226,101 to run the program through June 30, 2025. Board of Health members

have been informed multiple times to expect further local cuts in the next fiscaI year.

Local funding will not increase to offset the 25% shift in funding from direct services to

population health activities, as required by state guidelines starting July 1 ,2025. -Susan Crowdes

Madison County Public Health Administrator

Residents have until June 13 to figure out alternative care. The program will continue until then as long as staffing permits. The BOH provided clients with a list of contact information for private in-home health services. For those that cannot afford it, a government-funded nursing home may be the only option. Luckily, there is at least one nursing home in Winterset that is a Medicare and Medicaid approved facility.

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The 27 impacted clients are comprised of 18 people from Winterset, seven Earlham residents, one client in Truro and one person in Macksburg, according to the BOH. The program employs two, full-time Home Health aides. However, Madison County is currently engaged in a 28E Agreement with Warren County, essentially paying its Pubic Health agency to provide services to Madison County residents.

The Madison County Board of Supervisors is now exploring selling the BOH building at 209 E. Madison St. in Winterset, and consolidating any remaining offices to the courthouse in order to compensate for budget loses.

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ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  The first woman to serve as Interim Abilene City Manager is set to be appointed on Thursday.

Abilene City Manager Robert Hanna to retire

In late 2024, the current City Manager, Robert Hanna, announced his plans to retire after serving in the position for 10 years. As he steps down, Mindy Patterson, the citys current Deputy City Manager, will take over his responsibilities, effective March 28, 2025.

However, the city council is still interviewing candidates for the permanent city manager position. Patterson is not in the running, as she did not apply for the job.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
A Montana bill to restrict abortion medicine based on effects on the environment fails on a tied vote in 2025. (Photo illustration by Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images)

A bill to curtail abortion based on environmental effects of medication failed on a tied vote last week after legislators on both sides of the issue presented graphic and emotional testimony.

Sponsor Sen. Theresa Manzella, R-Hamilton, said medicine used in chemical abortions pollutes the water supply, and in doing so, infringes on the constitutional rights of Montanans to a clean and healthful environment.

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A researcher who examines pharmaceuticals in the environment told the Daily Montanan environmental scientists state there is no evidence that mifepristone pollution harms people, animals or ecosystems.

Senate Bill 479, part of a national trend to attempt to restrict abortion based on environmental effects, also sought to restrict chemical abortions based on interstate commerce.

Seven Republicans joined all Democrats to oppose the bill last Thursday.

The bill would have required health care providers to give patients a catch kit and a medical waste bag, the latter with the container or warning labels in fluorescent orange or orange-red. The medical waste bag would be labeled BIOHAZARD.

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Providers who violated the law would have been subject to a felony and fine of up to $10,000 and three years in prison. The bill made exceptions for abortions necessary to preserve the life of a mother and for treatments of verified ectopic pregnancies.

The bill also aimed to regulate manufacturers of abortion drugs and would have subjected them to fines of up to $20,000.

It required manufacturers to properly dispose of the drugs and mitigate environmental effects of endocrine-disrupting chemical byproducts in public waste systems due to the disposal of tainted human remains entering the wastewater system as a result of at-home abortions.

Democrats stood up to harshly criticize the legislation as hypocritical and having potentially fatal effects.

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Republicans, however, said drugs in the water supply are a problem for humans and the environment, and Manzella invoked the Montana Supreme Courts order in the historic youth climate trial, Held vs. State of Montana.

In that case, she said, the youth plaintiffs argued the states actions could cause them future harm, and as such, a prohibition on the Montana Environmental Policy Act was declared unconstitutional.

In November 2024, voters approved Constitutional Initiative 128, which made abortion a constitutional right in Montana.

These constitutional rights are both fundamental, so they must be balanced, Manzella said. We dont place abortion over all other rights.

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In the Held order in 2024, the Montana Supreme Court said a law that limited analysis of greenhouse gas emissions violated the right to a clean and healthful environment. The justices said plaintiffs showed without dispute that climate change is already harming the environment.

In an email to the Daily Montanan, Jack Vanden Heuvel, a researcher and professor of molecular toxicology with Pennsylvania State University, said experts in his field argue the focus on mifepristones environmental impact is being used as a political tool rather than a genuine environmental concern.

While trace amounts may be flushed into wastewater, the drug tends to bind to solid waste and is effectively removed by most wastewater treatment plants, said Vanden Heuvel, who examines pharmaceuticals in the environment and knows the health effects of contaminants found in water. Concerns about pharmaceuticals in the environment are more significant for antibiotics and other drugs that contribute to antimicrobial resistance.

Additionally, research indicates that hormonal birth control medications detected in waterways primarily originate from untreated agricultural runoff rather than human excretion.

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On the Senate floor, Sen. Laura Smith, D-Helena, said the bill puts womens lives in danger.

Smith said when she was pregnant, she lived next door to a hospital in Missoula for two months because the doctors were concerned she would not survive the birth.

The bill bans  it criminalizes  two medications, one of which I personally know about, because it prevented my daughter from not having a mother, Smith said. It prevents postpartum hemorrhaging.

Smith said the drugs are pro-life  they save womens lives.

Democrats also said the goal of the legislation was not a clean environment at all but to restrict abortion  and Sen. Cora Neumann, D-Bozeman, said she appreciated the sponsor acknowledging that fact to her.

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Neumann said 21 Republicans represent districts that overwhelmingly voted for CI-128 to protect privacy and protect the right to abortion.

Neumann, who has a background in public health, said the bill targets mifepristone and misoprostol, critical tools in obstetric care, also used for miscarriage management, labor induction and postpartum hemorrhage.

She said when women or girls have an abortion, the bill would have them go to the doctors office, obtain a bright red or orange catch kit, and then collect the fetal remains.

You need to imagine a woman or a girl having to squat over a catch kit, Neumann said. This is gruesome. This is cruel.

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Is this how we treat the women that we hope will reproduce and have your babies? Its unreal.

Manzella retorted in her close.

If its gruesome to see whats expelled, maybe it should be gruesome to see whats expelled, Manzella said. Your right to an abortion does not trump my right to a clean and healthful environment.

Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, said he is a pro-life Democrat, and he might be called a hypocrite, but hes starting to oppose pro-life bills.

He said thats because the steep fines, prison time and felony charges bother him and reveal a purpose thats not about water quality.

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Weve become more of a policing state anymore, increasing penalties and all of that, Windy Boy said.

Other legislators spoke in favor of the bill as a step toward environmental protection.

Sen. Barry Usher, R-Billings, said he would encourage other legislators to bring bills to address some of the other toxic drugs polluting the environment.

He said Big Pharma is ultimately responsible, and science can find better solutions, but the industry will need to be forced into action.

Although it may save lives in some situations, the toxicity in our water tables is not good for anybody, Usher said. So Big Pharma can find good solutions if we force them to, but its about the money. Its always about the money.

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Sen. Jeremy Trebas, R-Great Falls, said he didnt want drugs going into his body that he hadnt chosen himself, at least as much as possible.

Overall, we should better regulate all drugs going into our water supply, Trebas said.

Sen. Ellie Boldman, D-Missoula, compared the abortion pill with another drug she said goes into the water supply.

This pill that we have access to is 10 times safer than Viagra, which is also a pill  a pill men can take. That pill also goes into our public water supply. That bill is affecting our environment. It is a hormone with residual effects.

So I pledge to my colleagues in this body that when you amend this bill to include Viagra, I will vote for this bill, and you can squat your residual effects into a bag.

But Boldman said she feared both parties would be wrong because the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously rejected another states effort to curtail womens access to the pill in June 2024.

The bill failed to pass second reading 25-25, and it failed a motion to reconsider 23-27.
EAU CLAIRE  Trial is scheduled for September in the case of a Radisson man accused of sexually abusing a girl in Eau Claire County, but court records indicate it is uncertain whether it will proceed.

Brodi Markham, 21, faces charges if first degree child sexual assault involving a child under age 13 and incest. The charges could bring a combined century in prison under Wisconsin law.

Authorities charged Markham in September 2024 after a young relative accused him of abuse while Markham was allowed to live with the childs family. In a text to the victims mother, Markham said he was high and found himself performing oral sex on the victim as he came down.

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There are multiple question marks about the scheduled trial. On Monday, Markhams attorney said the defense is trying to find a doctor to evaluate him. Court records showed neither side knows if the evaluation will lead to a resolution or not.

That update comes about a month after the attorney told the court an agreement is likely, in requesting an additional status conference.

The latter seems to hint at negotiations with prosecutors that would result in a plea agreement in the case. But the former suggests the defense could attempt a diminished capacity argument.

Next up is a status conference in June, with another set for August. The August date is specifically aimed at resolving pretrial issues like witness lists and jury instructions.

If there is no resolution, Markham faces a three-day trial from Sept. 9-11.
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  Not everyone wants, or needs, to attend a four-year college to find a thriving career. Thats why a local academy is setting students up for success, straight out of high school.

PETA offering $5,000 for tips on who shot, left Chance the dog on road

When you hear a welding torch or a circular saw in action, thats the sound of passion for trades firing up at the Academy of Craft Training in Mobile.

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Theres so many opportunities. We can go welding, you have electrical, you have HVAC, senior Hannah Adams said.

Each year, ACT interviews around 400 students and accepts nearly 250 juniors and seniors collectively. Students are given hands-on experience so they can land careers in Alabama fast.

ACT has a success rate of more than 90% for job placement and a stick rate of about 78%. That means these students are getting the jobs, and keeping them too.

Its above the state average and its above the national average, instructor Keith Gates said. So we, you know, the kids that buy in, I mean, we have some true success stories right now just from Mobile.

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Students like Adams and Corey Sanders are hoping to become some of the next success stories.

I want to go straight into the workforce. One, I love working with my hands and being able to see the finished product after Ive done the project, Adams said.

Sanders has found his niche with electricity.

Its nice to see when you flick that light switch, you can see that light just come on, or when you plug something up, you can see your phone charging and or something like that. Its just really good to see the ending result, Sanders said.

Mobile homicide detective stuns crowd with performance of National Anthem

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For him, finding a good job with good pay is more than just providing the community with power.

I can raise a family, Sanders began. I can go out there and work and show my boss just what my potential is and really just make myself proud.

Serving their families, the people, and their passions, all while Powering Progress in Alabamas workforce.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
ADDIS ABABA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a trade bloc in East Africa, is set to hold its 43rd Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government on Wednesday to discuss the evolving situation in South Sudan following the security crisis in the country.

The summit will be held virtually, the regional bloc said in a statement issued on Monday.

IGAD, as the guarantor of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting dialogue, de-escalating tensions, and securing a peaceful future for the people of South Sudan, the statement 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 that had been stationed in the area for several years.

Last week, IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu called for restraint and dialogue to ease rising tensions in South Sudan. He urged 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 the stability of the region. 
A Pride flag reads "Abide No Hatred" is hung at the entrance of Castaways, venue for the third annual SWLA Pride Fest weekend, June 10-12, in Big Lake. (Photo courtesy of Pride of SWLA)

To the Democrats of Louisiana:

I publicly acknowledge my failure as an elected official to effectively defend my own community  the LGBTQ+ community  and, in doing so, I have also failed to uphold equality for all.

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This past Saturday in Baton Rouge, the Louisiana Democratic Party LGBTQ+ Caucus introduced a resolution at the DSCC meeting. The resolution called on the state party to align with the national Democratic platform in protecting LGBTQ+ rights and to commit to not endorsing or supporting Democratic candidates or officeholders who use their votes or their public platform to deny fundamental rights and protections to LGBTQI+ citizens.

Ultimately, the majority of those present voted for an amended version that removed this key line. In other words, our party deliberately chose to weaken a resolution meant to hold accountable legislators and candidates who actively harm the LGBTQ+ community.

I understand that some who voted for the amendment did so out of fear that the resolution might not pass in its original form. However, the end result remains the same: the Louisiana Democratic Party opted to strip language that simply sought to uphold fundamental equality.

By removing this line, we have implicitly stated the inverse  that we are open to endorsing or supporting Democratic candidates or officeholders who use their votes or their public platform to deny fundamental rights and protections to LGBTQI+ citizens.

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As Democrats, would we allow this for any other marginalized group? Would we tolerate party support for candidates who attack Black and brown people, immigrants, women, or those with disabilities? Defending and uplifting marginalized communities is a core tenet of our party  yet in this moment, we have failed to uphold it.

This failure is not hypothetical. Here in Louisiana, the only state that has never had an openly LGBTQ+ legislator, some of our own Democratic legislators have publicly supported and even sponsored legislation that strips away LGBTQ+ rights. Meanwhile, The Guardian reported last week that Republican lawmakers in Montana voted en masse to help defeat two extreme anti-trans bills in an unprecedented move on Thursday, after powerful speeches from two trans representatives imploring them to reject the latest intent to criminalize gender nonconformity.

The contrast is stark, and it forces us to ask: what kind of Democratic Party do we want to be?

The willingness to abandon marginalized communities is not limited to Louisiana. Nationally, some factions of the Democratic Party are veering away from progressive values in favor of donor and consultant-class interests. As Sam Rosenthal wrote in Common Dreams on March 5, 2024, The party is very much at a crossroads: It can embrace progressivism and forge a new, compelling identity or it can take cues from the donor and consultant class and embrace the very policies that precipitated our current political crisis.

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The LGBTQ+ community is under relentless attack across the country. States including our own, have passed laws restricting gender-affirming care, banning transgender athletes from sports, and criminalizing discussions of LGBTQ+ topics in schools. There are efforts to redefine sex discrimination laws, weaken workplace and health care protections, and enable religious exemptions that justify discrimination.

Book bans, drag performance restrictions and inflammatory rhetoric fuel hostility, putting lives at risk. Already this year, legislators in nine states are working to overturn same-sex marriage. Last week, Texas introduced legislation that would criminalize simply being transgender, labeling it as gender identity fraud.

What is happening to transgender and queer people is the writing on the wall, and I am begging you to read it. We must demand more from our party. If we cannot hold our own to the most basic standard of equality, then what do we stand for?

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CHICAGO  A protester punched by a Chicago police officer at a heated 2020 demonstration is now in line to get a $280,000 settlement from the city.

Activist Miracle Boyd lost a front tooth at a protest near Grant Parks Christopher Columbus statue when former Officer Nicholas Jovanovich struck her phone, causing it to hit her face, according to a Civilian Office of Police Accountability report. Finance Committee aldermen advanced the settlement Monday, setting it up for a final vote Wednesday.

Before the committees 22-7 vote decision, Boyd told the aldermen the damage went far beyond her teeth.

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I remember it like yesterday, because for some reason I cant get over the harm that was caused to me, she said. There is no reason why that officer should have done that, because it was already decided that I deserved this.

Boyd and Ald. Nick Sposato, 38th, briefly argued during her public comment after Sposato called her a phony. Later, the Northwest Side alderman referred to a video of Boyd joking about her success raising money on a GoFundMe after her injury and argued that the protest was filled with professional anarchists.

These people were there to do nothing but wreak havoc, fight with the police, tear down the statue because they didnt agree with the art thats been up for 90 years, Sposato told aldermen. Wed be a bunch of fools to support this money.

Former Chicago police Superintendent David Brown said days after the protest that agitators had hijacked the demonstration and injured nearly 50 officers. The statue was not toppled during the protest, but was removed by former Mayor Lori Lightfoot a week later.

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Department of Law attorney Caroline Fronczak said the settlement would be used in part to pay legal fees. Eight officers captured body-worn camera footage of the altercation, but the two officers primarily involved, including Jovanovich, were not recording such video, she added.

COPA determined Jovanovich used unnecessary and excessive force when he hit Boyd and stopped her from recording a police encounter. He resigned his police position in April 2022. He had been set to move on to the Chicago Police Board for a disciplinary trial, where he faced firing.

Boyd has worked as an organizer with the anti-violence group GoodKidsMadCity, an organization for which Mayor Brandon Johnson has shared strong support. Ald. Jeanette Taylor, 20th, highlighted her own relationship with the group to argue the deal should be approved.

I really dont feel like I have to say anything, Taylor said. $280,000 is not enough to fix what was broken that day.

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The council also approved three additional settlements totaling $2.9 million tied to police driving.

One case involved a $400,000 deal for a pedestrian struck by a squad car when an officer ran a red light. The officer was distracted by a call, and the person he hit has since suffered chronic traumatic headaches, city attorney Margaret Mendenhall Casey said. In the two additional settlements, drivers pursued by police in alleged violation of Chicago Police Department chase policies hit and killed victims.

Officers had pursued an erratic driver at 87 mph without alerting supervisors ahead of the crash that killed 40-year-old Mignonne Robinson, Mendenhall Casey said. The evading driver pleaded guilty to reckless homicide and was sentenced to over three years in prison, she said.

Ahead of another crash in the Garfield Park neighborhood, police pursued a driver who had committed a traffic offense at 30 mph in an alleyway, Mendenhall Casey said. The February 2020 crash killed 54-year-old Ezell Ricky Island. The settlements for the victims families are for $1 million and $1.5 million, respectively.

_____
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  As the U.S. House of Representatives gets ready to vote on a temporary spending bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), on Tuesday, some D.C. officials and advocates are sounding the alarm about the impact it could have on the city.

The GOP proposal would slash about $1 billion in funds from the Districts local budget. Elected officials in D.C. said those cuts could include funding to first responders and public and charter schools.

Proposed federal bill would cut DC budget by roughly $1 billion, city officials say

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At Mondays House Rules Committee hearing, several advocates with the newly-formed organization, Free DC, showed up to listen and speak with lawmakers. The group advocates for D.C.s self-governance.

We need to reveal to these lawmakers what it is theyre doing and that theres a human face behind it, Keya Chatterjee, Free DCs executive director, said.

The House Rules Committee voted down an amendment proposed by D.C.s nonvoting Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton that would have added language to the CR that would allow D.C. to continue operating under its Congressionally-approved FY2025 local budget.

What theyre trying to say is that we cant spend our own money, Chatterjee said. To have attacks on our schools, on our fire departments, its very personal for all of us in D.C.

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Crews begin reconstructing Black Lives Matter Plaza

House Democrats on the Rules Committee echoed those arguments at Mondays hearing. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Ma.) said the bill kind of pulls the rug from under them, referring to the District.

But Rep. Tom Cole (R-Ok.) said the changes were not substantive.

D.C. budget officials said if the CR passes as currently written, that could mean an immediate hiring freeze followed by layoffs to core services.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
BOSTON (WWLP)  It has been 50 years since the earned income tax credit was first passed, and advocates are celebrating by looking for ways to make the tax break more inclusive.

When you file your taxes, you use your social security number. If you dont have a social security number, like many legal and illegal immigrants, you file using your individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN).

Clarion Hotel in West Springfield closing its emergency shelter

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As of now, many tax breaks are not available to people using ITINs, or any member of their households. This includes the earned income tax credit that benefits low-income individuals, and especially those with children.

Advocates are working to expand the tax credit to include the primarily black and brown communities that file with ITINs.

People are living here for many years, the conflation of this population with migrants or people who are here today, gone tomorrow, is completely erroneous, said Angela Divaris, an attorney with Greater Boston Legal Services.

Complicating access to these credits, many eligible families do not make enough money to have a tax obligation, and arent receiving the money back that they qualify for.

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So they could be missing out on thousands of dollars that are on the table that they just dont know that they are eligible for, said Childrens HealthWatch policy analyst Charlotte Bruce.

The group of advocates have a plan to raise awareness about the credits, ensuring all eligible families can participate.

Massachusetts looks to be the 11th state to expand their tax codes to include more immigrant community members.

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.

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The town of Johnston's decision to seize 31 acres of undeveloped land off George Waterman Road is now being challenged in federal court. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)

The owners of 31 acres of undeveloped land in Johnston targeted for seizure by eminent domain filed a federal lawsuit against the town Monday night, just two and a half hours after the Town Council voted unanimously to take legal action to condemn the land.

SCLS Realty, LLC, and Sixty Three Johnston, LLC, had plans to build a 252-unit affordable housing complex on the site, but Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena, Jr. wants to build a new public safety complex and town hall. The Town Council voted 5-0 about a half hour into its regular meeting Monday to pass a resolution to pursue the land seizure after obtaining an appraisal that found the property was worth $775,000.

Polisena is invoking the power of eminent domain in a legal maneuver that involves providing just compensation to the private owner. The value determined in the appraisal by Andolfo Appraisal Associates, Inc. of Providence would represent a cost of $25,000 per acre for the land off George Waterman Road.

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But the complaint filed at 10 p.m. in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island offers no objection to the value determined in the appraisal.

Instead, the complaint says the land seizure violates the Fifth and 14th amendments, which prohibits the taking of private property unless it is for public use. Plaintiffs say the towns decision to use eminent domain is merely a pretext to halt them from building the income-restricted apartment complex.

The lawsuit lists the members of the family-owned homebuilder corporations as Lucille Santoro, Salvatore Compagnone, Ralph Santoro, and Suzanne Santoro. They are being represented by the Pacific Legal Foundation, a California-based libertarian nonprofit that often takes on property rights cases including Rhode Islands coastal property owners who sought to challenge the states shoreline access laws.

The Constitution forbids using eminent domain under false pretenses, Kady Valois, an attorney at Pacific Legal Foundation, said in a statement. The town should be honest and transparent about its real reasons for using eminent domain and not lie about why its abusing its power to strip owners of their property rights.

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The plaintiffs intended to take advantage of the states Low and Moderate Income Housing law, which limits the ability of municipalities to block projects if less than 10% of their residences qualify as affordable. About 7.9% of housing units are considered affordable in Johnston, according to the 2024 HousingWorksRI factbook.

Polisena had opposed the apartment complex saying it was too big for the town and that Johnstons municipal buildings were in dire need of upgrades.

My number one priority is the 30,000 residents that currently live in Johnston and providing them effective and efficient government services, Polisena said in a statement Tuesday. I look forward to the legal fight initiated by the developers in federal court.

An official condemnation action will be filed in Providence County Superior Court likely by April, Town Solicitor William Conley Jr. told Rhode Island Current after the councils vote on Monday night.

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Its clearly a sham, Kelley Morris Salvatore, the Providence lawyer representing the project developer, said in an interview Tuesday. They didnt have any public discussions about a municipal facilities complex, but decided they needed one once they didnt want our project.

Town officials said the search for a new public safety complex site had been years in the making, choosing to operate under the radar until an adequate location was found.

But the lawsuit claims Polisenas push to use eminent domain only came after he made multiple public declarations that he would use all the governmental power he had to halt the project. Polisena has stated he prefers to see single-family homes built in Johnston, not high-density apartment complexes.

The Santoro family refused to buckle under this intimidation and declined to withdraw or alter its plans to build affordable housing, the lawsuit reads. The town, in bad faith and with spite and actual animus, exercised eminent domain to force the Santoro Family into a choice: either alter or halt the affordable housing plans, or be deprived of the familys land by government force.

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If the court reverses the towns land seizure, the developer intends to continue its plan to build the apartment complex, Morris Salvatore said.

An online search shows parcels of land in Johnston for sale ranging from $159,000 for 1.48 acres off Anglewood Avenue, $250,000 for just a little over an acre off Central Avenue, and $499,000 for 0.46 acre lot off Atwood Avenue. But the value of land varies by its proximity to utilities and zoning regulations, said Rhode Island Builders Association CEO John V. Marcantonio.

Like anything else, it all depends on what you can do with the land, Marcantonio said.

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A electric power plant, originally set to be located in southeast Oklahoma near Talihina and straddling the Kiamichi River has been stalled, once again by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Last week, officials from the FERC found the updated Proposed Study Plan for the project insufficient to proceed and sent a letter the plant's operator. The plant, a $3.1 billion project, is being pushed by the Southeast Oklahoma Power Corp., a company incorporated in Nevada and based in Dallas.

The project would require construction of three reservoirs  an upper lake created by impounding Long Creek, a lower lake created by an earthen dam, and a 40-acre reservoir.

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According to documents filed with federal regulators, the hydropower plant would generate electricity through a 100-mile-long power line extending through Pushmataha and western McCurtain counties in Oklahoma and through Lamar and Red River counties in Texas. The facility would be located on private land about five miles south of Talihina.

Power generated from the plant would most likely go to Texas.

Officials with the company could not be reached for comment. Documents filed with the FERC said the project was necessary.

"This project would provide a stable source of cost-effective renewable energy, carbon-free peaking capacity, dispatchable load to balance renewable energy sources and ancillary services for grid operators, while also conserving the water resources of the Kiamichi River," an introduction in the company's filing noted.

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The FERC's latest action means the company must file a second updated Proposed Study Plan with the FERC that includes the required explanations by March 22.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond speaks during a Feb. 25 news conference in Oklahoma City.

This is welcome news for Oklahomans who treasure the Kiamichi River and how this proposal would adversely impact property owners, wildlife and the river itself, said Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, one of several state and tribal officials who are opposed to the project.

For more than a year, Drummond, several state lawmakers and leaders of the Choctaw Nation, have opposed the project. In an August 2024 letter to the FERC, Drummond urged rejection of the application, noting that Southeast Oklahoma Power Corp. provided only limited information to the commission and had not requested the proper state licenses or permits for the project.

Drummond argued that the project appeared to be inconsistent with numerous mechanisms in the states Water Settlement Agreement with the Choctaw Nation and the Chickasaw Nation that are intended to preserve the flow of the Kiamichi River and protect the region.

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As the chief law officer of the State of Oklahoma, I will not tolerate violation of Oklahoma law or flagrant disregard for the sovereignty or federal law, protected rights of a tribal nation and similarly situated property owners, the attorney general wrote. Most of the proud Oklahomans who call the Kiamichi region home have lived there for generations. I intend, as Oklahomas Attorney General, to ensure that their private property rights are safeguarded to the full extent of the law.

Drummond isnt the only state official opposed to the project.

Last year, state Rep. J.J. Humphrey, a Republican from Lane, and Rep. Eddy Dempsey, R-Valliant, held an interim hearing about the project. Both lawmakers said they were concerned about the way land would be obtained for the project.

"Southeast Oklahoma Power Corporation is alleged to have threatened over 500 landowners with eminent domain and plans to remove these landowners to complete their project," Humphrey said. "The study reviewed potential effects of this project on the river, wildlife and landowners and revealed why there is such incredible opposition to this project."

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In July 2024, the Choctaw Nation's tribal council passed a resolution opposing the hydropower project. The tribe sent a formal letter about the issue to the FERC, which outlined the tribe's concerns about potential harm from the project and the importance of tribal participation in the approval process.

One of our tribes top priorities is defending our sovereignty, which includes protecting our culture and community. These efforts include being good stewards of our land and natural resources, Choctaw Chief Gary Batton said. Fortunately, FERC has recognized it must not issue preliminary permits for projects on tribal land if a project is opposed by a tribe, and we call on the agency to adhere to that policy.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: AG Drummond halt of controversial hydroelectric plant on Kiamichi River
(WHTM)  Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced he is joining a bipartisan coalition of 38 state Attorneys General and the U.S. Justice Department in proposing a final package of resolutions to end Googles monopoly over internet search engines.

The resolutions package concerns Googles prevalence as the default search engine on Android and Apple devices. If approved, the coalition says the proposal would prohibit Google from paying companies to maintain their presence on those Android and Apple devices. Sunday says the proposal will restore competition to the benefit of consumers nationwide.

The revised Final Judgement resembles a similar proposal to what the states and the Justice Department offered in November in an initial filing with the same federal judge who ruled in a landmark decision that Google maintained a monopoly in online searches last year.

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To Google is used synonymously with searching for something online, and this coalition strongly believes that is due to monopolistic practices that have gone on for far too long, Attorney General Sunday said. Monopolies are bad for consumers, and in this case, the current search engine configuration allows Google to dictate search results, instead of the consumer controlling what they see. We hope this proposal leads to a new standard of diverse search options for consumers who deserve a competitive market.

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The package proposes banning all search-related payments from Google to distribution partners, including Apple and Android. The ban would also require Google to divest Chrome and possibly Android if the initial solutions are less effective than anticipated or if Google does not comply with the court order.

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The proposal would further entitle the coalition to preliminarily review Googles future financial interests in online search and generative AI competitors for a limited period to ensure Google will not use the same monopolistic playbook with new technologies.

The order would also deny Google of its continuing exclusive control of ill-gotten gains by requiring the company to share targeted portions of its search index, user, and ads data with its competitors for a limited time.

The coalition says the proposal takes a more refined approach to sharing these types of data while accounting for important privacy considerations and protecting national security.

A hearing on the proposed remedies is scheduled to begin on April 21 and conclude by May 9, per the coalition.

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In recognition of International Womens Day, Allegheny General Hospital welcomed local high school students to observe an all-female surgical team.

On Monday, students from Avonworth High School who are part of the hospitals formal Open Heart Surgery Observation Program got a bird s-eye view of a team of eight women, led by Dr. Candice Lee, performing a coronary artery bypass graft. The program is designed to inspire careers in medicine.

AGH says this surgical team is emblematic of a nationwide movement to advocate for greater representation of women in medicine, especially the surgical fields.

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The hospital says that since Dr. Lee joined the team in 2020, an all-female heart surgery team has become a more common occurrence.

Its a special honor to be in the operating room today among such talented, highly skilled female clinical professionals, Dr. Lee said. Women are notably underrepresented in surgical specialties, but its our hope that todays event will serve as a powerful reminder for future generations of young women that they are more than capable of achieving their career goals in the field of medicine.

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An Air India flight from Chicago to Delhi was forced to turn around on Wednesday after passengers clogged lavatories with plastic bags, rags and clothes.

The Boeing 777-300ER, carrying about 300 passengers, had been in the air for an hour and 45 minutes when the crew found that eight out of 12 lavatories were blocked and could not be used.

Air India said an investigation later found polythene bags, rags and clothes stuffed down the lavatories and appealed to passengers to use them only for the purposes that they are meant for.

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It said the incident was not isolated, explaining that blankets, inner wear, and diapers, among other waste have been found clogging the lavatories on previous flights.

A spokesman said: We would like to confirm that as part of our investigation into the incident, our teams found polythene bags, rags and clothes that had been flushed down and stuck in the plumbing. This led the lavatories to become unserviceable.

Photos from the flight showed plastic waste rammed down a lavatory and a crew member holding a drainage pipe stuffed with rags.

Flight diverted without notice

One man who claimed to be on the flight wrote on social media: Apparently, the crew knew about it but decided to take off. Then the captain did not announce that the flight was returning back. Some passengers noticed it on the screen flight map and raised the issue.

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Another commenter said such incidents were not unusual, writing: My mum once flew from New York to Delhi on an Air India plane that was leaking toilet water into the aisle. So yes, this is normal.

Ajay Awtaney, an Indian journalist, said it could also be a reflection of the people who flush stuff down the toilets that should ideally be in the trash.

Air India described the incident as embarrassing and said its decision to divert the flight back to Chicago OHare International Airport was taken in the interests of passenger comfort and safety.

It added that it had helped passengers with hotel accommodation and alternative flight arrangements so they could continue their travel to Delhi.

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Who do we blame? Airline, passengers, or just a complete disregard in civil society for basic hygiene? a spokesman asked.

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Children walk among the rubble after an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, on March 11, 2025. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

RAMALLAH, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Three Palestinians were killed by the Israeli forces on Tuesday in Jenin Governorate, northern West Bank, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

In a statement, the ministry identified one of the victims as 58-year-old Faiza Ibrahim Abu Ghali but did not disclose the identities of the other two victims, saying that they were shot dead by Israeli forces at dawn.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Tuesday that at least three "militants" were killed during a "counterterrorism operation" carried out in coordination with Israeli security forces in the town of Qabatiya and the city of Jenin, both in the Jenin Governorate.

According to the IDF, the armed militants had barricaded themselves inside a structure and were killed in an exchange of fire. 

A boy stands outside a building damaged in an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, on March 11, 2025. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

Children look at a vehicle damaged in an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, on March 11, 2025. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

A woman walks past a vehicle damaged in an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, on March 11, 2025. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

Children collect items after an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, on March 11, 2025. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Airmen from the 178th Wing landed an MQ-9 Reaper on Monday at Springfield-Beckley Ohio Air National Guard Base.

The aircraft is an un-manned aerial vehicle designed for intelligence, precision strikes, recon and surveillance.

It was brought to the base for an Advanced Wrath exercise, where it will be a part of joint operations and training for nearly two weeks.

The purpose of Advanced Wrath is to prove the Air Forces Agile Combat Employment

concept, U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Benjamin Retherford, project manager for Advanced Wrath. It allows us to test the MQ-9s capabilities in a variety of mission sets and demonstrate how it can work alongside multiple agencies.

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MOSCOW (Reuters) - All airports in Moscow, Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod have resumed flights after a suspension caused by a major overnight Ukrainian drone attack on Russia, aviation watchdog Rosaviatsia said on Tuesday.

Russia's defence ministry said earlier that its air defence units destroyed 337 Ukrainian drones overnight, with 91 of them over the Moscow region.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
An Alaska Railroad train is in motion through the Chugach National Forest near Portage. (Photo by A&J Fotos/Getty Images)

A Big Lake Republican has reintroduced a bill that would require the state of Alaska to sell the Alaska Railroad.

Rep. Kevin McCabe, R-Big Lake, introduced House Bill 120 on Feb. 26. If enacted, the bill requires Gov. Mike Dunleavy to issue a request for proposals to purchase the Alaska Railroad and all other assets of the Alaska Railroad Corporation necessary to operate the railroad.

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The purchaser would have to continue operating the railroad for a minimum of 50 years, and the final sale agreement would be subject to legislative approval.

Originally built and operated by the federal government, the Alaska Railroad was transferred to the state of Alaska in 1985, and it remains a state-owned corporation today.

Under HB 120, before the sale, the governor shall commission an appraisal of the railroad, and the sale cannot be less than the appraised value.

As a condition of the sale, the state would have to set aside a portion of its sale proceeds for the construction of new railroad spurs and rail lines to access resource-rich areas of the state.

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McCabe has been a regular supporter of plans to extend the Alaska Railroad to Port MacKenzie, an alternative to the Port of Anchorage that is located on Mat-Su land at the northern end of Cook Inlet.

HB 120 follows the introduction of House Bill 332 by former Rep. Jesse Sumner, R-Wasilla, in 2024.

That bill, heard by the House Transportation Committee, drew support from Alaskans who felt that the railroad isnt doing enough to support resource development in the state. The railroad itself opposed the bill.

Because the bill failed to advance past the transportation committee, it died when the 33rd Legislature ended.

No hearings have yet been set for HB 120.

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By Timothy Gardner and Arathy Somasekhar

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Alberta Energy Minister Brian Jean said on Tuesday he had provided the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump several options to de-escalate a trade war with Canada.

He said his provincial government, which represents the bulk of Canada's oil industry, respected Ontario's decision this week to impose retaliatory tariffs on its electricity exports to the U.S., but was taking a different approach by trying to ease tensions.

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Ontario's government on Tuesday later announced it would freeze the tariff plan pending talks with the U.S.

"We want to de-escalate the situation," Jean told reporters at the CERAWeek conference in Houston. "We've provided them several options on how we can de-escalate this situation, how we can work together to benefit their long-term goal, which is to help their citizens ... have less expensive oil and gas."

He said the "truth is" that the U.S. has bought Alberta oil and gas at a discount for years and that U.S. refineries engineered to run on Canadian crude cannot quickly re-tool to process oil from other places.

Canadian officials have said the tariff dispute with Washington provides a fresh reason for Canada to find ways of getting its crude oil to new markets.

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The Canadian energy industry has proposed several major oil pipelines in the last decade from Alberta to the country's east and west coasts, but has faced opposition from provincial and local interests along their routes. Only one expansion project, Trans Mountain, was completed.

Ontario's energy minister Stephen Lecce was more defiant about Trump's tariffs, saying at CERAWeek that the trade war has the potential to ignite the "total breakdown" of inter-provincial trade barriers.

Jean said Alberta should "look seriously" in the Asia-Pacific area.

When pressed on what options there are to de-escalate Jean had a message for Washington: "Drop your tariffs and let's get back to business."

(Reporting by Timothy Gardner and Arathy Somasekar; Writing by Richard Valdmanis; Editing by Chris Reese and David Gregorio)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  The Albuquerque Police Department is investigating after two people were killed following two shootings and a crash in northeast Albuquerque.

APD says officers were called to the area of Montgomery Park around 3:30 a.m. to reports of a shooting in the area. Investigators say an elderly mother and her two adult children were in a car in a church parking lot in the area. Police say a suspect approached the vehicle and during the incident the son and mother were shot. The daughter, who was also in the vehicle, was able to flee from the car.

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The suspect took the vehicle and crashed into a Jeep nearby on Montgomery Blvd. Officials say the suspect and the driver of the Jeep got into an altercation and a security guard at a nearby apartment complex intervened. The confrontation escalated and police say the security guard shot the suspect. Police say the suspect and the son died from their injuries and the mother was transported to the hospital. Police say the security guard was not taken into custody.

Montgomery Blvd., between Marla Dr. and Andrew Dr., is closed in both directions while police investigate.

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DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN)  Alabama law enforcement agency said dozens of Alabamians across the state are getting affected with recent scams.

In late February, a scam targeting people for unpaid tolls was swarming the country

Troope Kendra with ALEA knows of people affected, and said that other scams are harming Alabamians and other people across the country.

Kendra said not many people know the warning signs, which are requests of personal information, too good to be true scenarios, and online romance scams.

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She said ALEA has a Fusion Center that helps Alabama fight terror attacks, criminal activity, and cybercrimes.

If anyone needs assistance with a recent scam can visit ALEAs Fusion Center here or click here for more information on the warning signs.

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Alex Jones, the founder of Infowars who falsely claimed the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting was staged by activists looking to curtail gun rights, says Infowars reporter Jamie White was murdered in Austin, Texas on Monday and he blamed billionaire financier George Soros, among others, for the death.

Police have not yet named White as the victim but the Austin Police Department said officers responded to an emergency call at 11:57 p.m. on Sunday to find a man with obvious signs of trauma who was taken to hospital where he died, according to CBS Austin.

Whites sister Kelly Kneale told the Daily Mail that her brother was shot while someone was trying to break into his car outside his apartment complex. She said it is not believed to have been a targeted attack.

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The Daily Beast has reached out to the Austin Police Department for comment.

In an online broadcast, Jones revealed White as the victim and attributed his death to Soros, Joe Biden, Al Green, Hakeem Jeffries, globalists, the Democratic Party, and more generally the policies of the Travis County D.A., Jose Garza, whom he referred to as the Soros D.A.

The Texas Justice and Public Safety PAC, funded by Soros, spent about $450,000 in support of left-leaning Garza as he campaigned for district attorney in 2020, according to state campaign-finance disclosures.

Crime in Austin has flatlined in recent years but violent crime is still way up compared to pre-pandemic numbers: In 2019, Austin Police Department (APD) reported 36 homicides. In 2024, APD reported 70. Across the U.S., over the same time period, homicide rates in 2024 are slightly down on 2019 numbers.

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Jones, in an angry diatribe released on X following the death of White, which is Austins eighth homicide of the year, accused the city of having turned the police into social workers. He said that parts of Austin, where Infowars is based, were like a war zone at night.

Jones said: Crime is very, very bad here in Austin it has just exploded the last four years.

Speaking of Whites death he said: You saw a little clip from the newscast about this in the early morning hours, its just become so routine.

Jones then attacked Garza as a leftist DA and an actual communist adding, Soros put him in, that is on record, he financed his run.

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Jones concluded: So to the globalists you murdered Jamie White. You opened the door, you created the climate. You created the conditions on purpose. George Soros, Alexander Soros, you murdered Jamie White. Joe Biden, you murdered Jamie White. The Democratic Party, Hakeem Jeffries, Al Green, you murdered Jamie White and were not going to forget him.

Jones filed for bankruptcy in 2022 after being ordered to pay out a staggering $1.3 billion to bereaved families over his false claims about Sandy Hook and other mass school shootings.

Following the 2012 shooting, which killed 20 children and six educators in Newton, Connecticut, Jones repeatedly told his followers that the tragedy was staged by crisis actors who were looking to enact stricter gun policies.

The satirical website The Onion has sought to buy Infowars to turn it into a satirical version of the platform, but faces being outbid by a group linked to Jones.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56)  An accused shoplifter faces multiple charges after reportedly spray painting a police officer.

Court records state that around 7 p.m. on Sunday at Walmart, 22-year-old Kurtis Smith was stopped for reportedly shoplifting.

Read more of the latest Kentucky news

But when an officer went to handcuff him, he reportedly punched the officer and then used a can of spray paint to spray the officer in her eyes and mouth before fleeing.

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He was later arrested and charged with the following:

Second-degree assault of a police officer

First-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer

Second-degree fleeing or evading police

Second-degree criminal mischief

First-degree robbery

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

Smith entered a not-guilty plea on Monday and is being held on a $50,000 bond.

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA)  An Allegiant plane had to return to St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport on Tuesday after a bird struck the plane.

Allegiant said flight 1536, which was bound for Flint Bishop Airport (FNT), left the airport just before noon. The bird strike happened shortly after takeoff.

Bags fly free no more: Southwest Airlines to end free checked luggage policy

A spokesperson from Allegiant said an emergency was not declared.

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Out of an abundance of caution, the captain returned to PIE, where the aircraft landed normally and taxied to the gate under its own power, the spokesperson said.

No one was hurt on the flight.

The plane is currently being inspected and assessed. The airline dispatched a replacement aircraft to take the passengers to Flint.

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SAO PAULO, March 10 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed and several others injured after a homeless shelter was set on fire early Monday in downtown Sao Jose dos Campos, a city in southeast Brazil's Sao Paulo state, local authorities said.

According to the Sao Jose dos Campos Police, a 42-year-old man was arrested on the spot after setting fire to a sofa, whose flames then spread throughout the building.

The shelter housed about 20 people at the time, police said, adding the fatal victims included two men and two women between the ages of 50 and 61. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals.

Police have classified the case as manslaughter and have already requested an investigation into the incident.

Meanwhile, the group that runs the shelter, the Comforting the Afflicted Community, issued a statement to express its "deep regret" for the arson. 
ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ)  A self-backed, self-produced stand-up special is now available on Amazon Prime starring Altoonas own Scott Kelley.

Kelley, who has been making waves in the Altoona comedy scene, and has been featured on Studio 814, filmed the special in September 2024 and it hit Amazon Prime Tuesday, March 11.

Word Of Mouth is available on Amazon Prime to rent for $1.99 or buy for $4.99, the lowest price points he could make them, Kelley said.

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Local comedian Scott Kelley talks about his new special coming to Prime Video and comedy night at the Railroaders Museum

You can watch the 35-minute special filmed at The Comedy Farm in Altoona by searching Scott Kelley on Amazon on your TV and mobile devices.

You can catch Scott Kelley live at the brand new State Comedy Wednesday, March 19 at Mannys Performance Center at 101 Heister Street in State College.

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.

Speaking of State College, The Comedy Farm will be at The Arena March 15 at 8 p.m. with comedienne Helen Wildy, born in Belfast, raised in Pittsburgh, and ready to make you laugh.

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BLAIR COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ)  An Altoona man was charged after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children was notified that child pornography was uploaded to Discord.

Jamie Rinehart, 29, was arrested and charged after an investigation by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney Generals Child Predator Section, according to a criminal complaint. On July 14, 2024, the NCMEC received a report that one file of child abuse material was uploaded by a user.

Discord provided officers with information showing the account the file was uploaded through a Google email address. Officers determined that the IP address was assigned to Breezeline and subpoenaed the company for information along with the Google email address.

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POLICE: NJ man traveled to Pennsylvania in attempt to meet teen for sex

Google confirmed that the email belonged to Rinehart, and Breezeline confirmed that the IP address belonged to a home on Wopsononock Avenue. A search warrant was obtained for that address and discovered that Rinehart had been living there at the time the child porn was uploaded, but had since moved out to an apartment on Ridge Avenue.

According to the affidavit, Discord turned over messages that showed Rinehart having a conversation with another user in regard to underage girls. Rinehart allegedly told the other user he was into minor girls, anything like 14 and up, and was referencing specific images of child porn that he had gotten through Discord.

Officers obtained a second search warrant, this time for the apartment Rinehart was now staying at. Rinehart allegedly admitted that the Discord account and email address were both his.

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In an interview, he allegedly admitted that he was into teen taboo and that he was using Discord to receive and send child porn. Adding that he would request, view, save and share the files of minors who were around 13 or older. Rinehart told officers he knew it was child porn and then would feel bad and remorseful and delete the images before going back to Discord to do it again.

Rinehart was asked about the messages he sent to another user, and officers said he did not remember this specific conversation because he engaged in this type of conversation on Discord several times. Allegedly, he told police that he could have up to nine separate conversations taking place at the same time.

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Rinehart was facing two felony charges of child pornography and criminal use of a communication facility. He died Friday, March 7, in a crash after his car crossed the center line and collided head-on with a semi-truck.

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President Donald Trumps Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sat down with top food company executives, who he has accused of making Americans sick because of additives in their products.

I hope he told them that theres clearly a new sheriff in town, and that old ways of poisoning Americans with the food their making is over, Jerold Mande, a nutrition professor who served as deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety at the US Department of Agriculture from 2009 to 2011, says.

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A common misconception is that diplomacy and warfare are mutually exclusive businesses. In fact, battlefields are negotiating tables. So is enemy airspace.

So Monday nights Ukrainian drone raid on Moscow, on the eve of talks in Jeddah, cannot have been a coincidence.

Modern drone warfare is a logistically challenging business. You have to muster the weapons, co-ordinate flight paths, lower your own electronic counter measures and jam the enemys in order to cross the line. You need to put up decoy flights to distract enemy air defences and absorb anti-aircraft fire. And for Ukraine, this is more challenging than for the Russians  simply because they have to fly farther over enemy territory to reach their targets.

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All of which means that this raid would not have been cooked up in a matter of hours, or on the initiative of a low-level local commander. It will have been planned in advance and launched at the moment of maximum anticipated impact.

Credit: , /Telegram

The diplomatic purpose is several-fold: it demonstrates to Russia that Ukraine, too, can cause damage on the home territory of its adversary. It tells ordinary Russians, once again, that the war is not something distant to be ignored. That, in defiance of Donald Trumps words, Ukraine still holds some cards.

It also shows that Ukraine can pull off major long-range air-raids even after a pause in US intelligence sharing that President Trump ordered last week. And it also directly strengthens Ukraines specific proposals in Jeddah, which include a truce in the air.

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There are diplomatic risks, of course. Primarily how the Americans take it.

Trump and his senior officials have not been shy in accusing the Ukrainians of sabotaging efforts to make peace over the past fortnight. Is this Kyivs way of signalling defiance not only to Moscow but to Washington?

The American reaction will give us some clues about that.

It is possible this was cleared with Washington in advance. Even that some intelligence sharing was restored to make it possible. After all, Russia has launched a series of large-scale drone and missile strikes on Ukraine in the past week, in defiance of Trumps call for peace talks. The Ukrainians might have told the Americans that a big, demonstrative raid hitting Moscow was a symmetrical response that makes sense in the context of peace talks.

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The Americans may or may not buy that.

Two civilians were killed in last nights raid, 18 people were injured, and all four of Moscows airports were temporarily shut down. That is nothing compared with the slaughter and chaos Russia has inflicted on Ukrainian civilians, but it is grim. And much will depend on the rhetoric the White House uses in its response.

Trump, vice president JD Vance and secretary of state Marco Rubio might simply deplore the loss of life as the regrettable outcome of the war and another reason to stop it.

Such a refusal to punish the Ukrainian attacks could signal that the White House now wants Russia to make some kind of concession towards making a ceasefire possible  a slight switch of pressure from Kyiv to Moscow.

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But if they accuse Ukraine of deliberately and recklessly killing innocent Russian civilians, it will signal a continuation of the policy of the past two weeks. That means demanding larger and larger concessions from the Ukrainians on the grounds that they, not the Russians, are the obstacle to peace.

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ADAMS, N.Y. (WWTI)  The American Red Cross is assisting three people after a fire late last week in Southern Jefferson County.

Volunteers from the Central and Northern New York Chapter of the American Red Cross gave immediate emergency aid to three people after a fire Friday night on Comstock Road in Adams.

The Red Cross provided financial assistance which can be used for necessities, such as food, shelter and clothing to one adult and two children, ages 10 and 12. Volunteers also offered health services, comfort kits containing personal care items, and stuffed animals for the children.

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In the coming days, Red Cross staff and volunteers will remain available to help those affected by the fire as they navigate the road to recovery.

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YANGON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Police seized 500,000 stimulant tablets and other drugs in eastern Myanmar's Shan state, according to the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC) on Tuesday.

Acting on a tip-off, a joint anti-narcotic task force intercepted a motorcycle in Tachileik township on March 9 and confiscated 300 grams of ketamine along with a suspect.

Further investigation led to the seizure of an additional 950 grams of ketamine and 162 grams of happy water at the suspect's house in the same township, it said.

Similarly, police intercepted a vehicle in Tachileik on March 10 and confiscated 500,000 stimulant tablets along with two suspects, it added.

The three suspects were charged under the Southeast Asian country's Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law, and further investigations were underway, the CCDAC said. 
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR)  The Virginia State Police are investigating another train collision in Roanoke involving a motorcyclist who allegedly failed to stop for a traffic ticket on March 11.

VSP said that officers attempted to pull over a man riding a motorcycle on Campbell Avenue for failing to wear a helmet around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday. However, police said the man allegedly refused to stop and fled, starting a vehicle pursuit.

SEPERATE STORY | Roanoke police identify victims in train crash

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During the chase, the motorcyclist allegedly tried to beat an Amtrak train at the crossing and then drove down the railroad tracks, according to police.

Police said the pursuit ended when the train hit the motorcycle. The driver then fled on foot.

Later, a 20-year-old man from Bedford arrived at the hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Virginia State Police said the investigation is ongoing, and charges are currently pending.

Check back with WFXR News for updates soon.

(Photo Credit: Virginia State Police)

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Reviewing her voting record, theres no denying Amy Coney Barretts conservative credentials.

Appointed to the Supreme Court by Donald Trump in 2020, she voted in favour of granting the US president immunity from criminal prosecution, ending affirmative action in college admissions and overturning Roe v Wade; restricting access to abortion for American women.

But this week she fell out of favour with Mr Trumps Magabase after siding with one conservative and three liberal justices to reject the presidents freeze on foreign aid.

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The ruling prompted a torrent of online hate by critics who called Ms Coney Barrett evil, a DEI hire, and a closet Democrat.

She has even been likened to Left-wing darling Greta Thunberg.

It was the second time in two-months that two Republican nominees - Justice Barrett and Chief Justice John G Roberts Jr  had voted with justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson to shoot down legally-contentious Trump policies.

Justice Barrett, a mother of seven, was rushed onto a lifetime position on the court by Mr Trump after Ruth Ginsburg, a liberal icon, died in September 2020.

Justice Barrett and her family at the White House in 2020. She has seven children, two of which are adopted - Stefani Reynolds

She joined the court just a month later, weeks before the 2020 presidential election.

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At the time, her appointment was met with glee by Mr Trumps supporters, who pointed to her lifelong opposition to expanding abortion rights.

As a law professor, she signed a statement in a newspaper in 2006 that opposed abortion on demand. Since then, she has voted to enhance constitutional protections for gun owners and protect Mr Trump from criminal prosecution.

But her recent votes on Supreme Court rulings have elicited severe backlash from the presidents base.

Last month, Supreme Court judges, including Justice Barrett, voted to block Mr Trump from removing the leader of an independent watchdog agency.

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Last week, she voted to back a federal judge who ordered Mr Trumps administration to begin repaying global health groups $2bn for completed work, the final straw for some Maga supporters who demanded she be impeached.

Amy Coney Barrett was put on the Court to overturn Roe v Wade. Her work is done. Impeach and remove, one post read.

Eric Daugherty, a Maga-supporting conservative media personality, said she was an anti-Trump judge.

Democrats are loving Amy Coney Barrett lately. Tells you everything, he said.

Justice Barrett signed a statement in a newspaper in 2006 that opposed abortion on demand - Brian Branch Price

Meanwhile, Mike Cernovich, another conservative activist, labelled her evil and suggested she was selected to check identity politics boxes.

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Another DEI hire. It always ends badly, he said.

But perhaps more important for critics than her voting record was her encounter with the US president last week.

In a clip that was widely shared on X, Mr Trump shook the hands of several Supreme Court justices, including Justice Barrett, after his State of the Union address.

According to the presidents supporters, her face showed her disdain for Mr Trump.

On his War Room podcast, former Trump adviser and Maga loyalist Steve Bannon said Justice Barrett had given the president the stink eye.

Thats not a look of admiration, he added.

Criticism of Justice Barrett, whose appointment was once targeted by Democrats, has divided the right.

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While Maga activists are furious, other legal schools have leapt to her defence, highlighting her staunchly conservative voting record.

Justice Barrett voted with the courts two most conservative justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, more than 80 per cent of the time in the term that ended last year. By contrast, she voted with Justice Sotomayor less than 70 per cent of the time.

Ed Whelan, a conservative legal commentator, said he couldnt believe the backlash she had received given that she helped to overturn Roe v Wade, which the American-Right had fought to achieve for decades.

Justice Barrett has proven to be an outstanding conservative justice. Whether or not she got it right in denying the Trump administration the emergency relief it requested, its incredibly myopic for her critics to broadly condemn her for that vote, Mr Whelan told the Telegraph.

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Meanwhile, Robby Starbuck, a Trump-supporting conservative activist, told the Telegraph her appointment to the Supreme Court had been a mistake.

Our standard should be that only people with a Clarence Thomas ideology should be nominated to the court, he said.

The widespread backlash, at least for the moment, appears to be confined to Mr Trumps base, with the president opting not to wade in.

Mr Trump and Justice Barrett after she was sworn in - BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI

But senior figures in his administration, including Elon Musk and JD Vance, have openly questioned the judiciarys authority after facing pushback over the presidents agenda.

Mr Musk, a key Trump ally, has repeatedly called for corrupt judges to be impeached and say they should not be able to stop every presidential action.

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If any judge anywhere can stop every presidential action everywhere, we do not live in a democracy, he posted last month.

Mr Vance also suggested a judge should not be able to block Mr Trumps policies.

If a judge tried to tell a general how to conduct a military operation, that would be illegal. If a judge tried to command the attorney general in how to use her discretion as a prosecutor, thats also illegal. Judges arent allowed to control the executives legitimate power, Mr Vance said over the weekend.

The comments were followed by a spike in threats of violence against the judiciary, according to 11 judges who spoke to Reuters.

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Chief Justice Roberts, in his end-of-year report in 2024, warned about the rising number of threats against the judiciarys independence, saying it was dangerous for elected officials to ignore court rulings they disagree with.

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ANDREWS COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- An Andrews man arrested in February by the Texas Department of Public Safety on charges of Possession of Child Pornography has been arrested again. Jail records showed that Albert Castille Duran, Jr. was arrested on March 4 on a warrant and has now been charged with Sexual Assault.

Duran was first arrested in early February as part of a Homeland Security investigation and was released from custody in that arrest on a $75,000 bond. His bond has now been set at $200,000.

Weve reached out to the authorities to learn more about both arrests and will update this story as more information becomes available.

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Right-wing media pundit Ann Coulter has questioned the effort by a pro-Israel group to put together a list of international students they say have taken part in protests in support of Hamas, arguing that it may be a violation of the First Amendment.

Theres almost no one I dont want to deport, but unless theyve committed a crime, isnt this a violation of the First Amendment? Coulter wrote on X as she responded to a report from the New York Post.

The outlet reported that the names of international students in the U.S. on visas who had taken part in protests had been gathered by Betar, a pro-Israel group, with the aim of forcing them to return home with the help of the Trump administration.

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Betar told The Hill that they provide information on jihadis.

We also believe naturalized citizens will also soon face consequences as our president has said, the group added.

Where Ms. Coulter is wrong is that one who supports terror is committing a crime, Betar told the outlet. The very support for Hamas is grounds for deportation. Free speech is not supporting terror. This is the first of many Mahmouds we expect will be deported.

Ross Glick, director of the U.S. chapter of Betar, told the New York Post, We have started commencing lists of Jew-hating foreign nationals on visas who support Hamas.

Ann Coulter questioned the effort by a pro-Israel group to gather the names of international students protesting the war in Gaza (Getty Images for Politicon)

Mahmoud Khalil, a student at Columbia University, led pro-Palestinian protests and was arrested over the weekend by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, sparking outrage as hes a green card holder and permanent legal resident, according to his lawyer.

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We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported, Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X.

On Tuesday morning, responding to a report that she was questioning the effort to deport Khalil, Coulter added: Manifestly, I make no mention of any specific protester whatsoever. I was responding to a Tweet about someone compiling a list of pro-Hamas foreign students.

President Donald Trump bragged about the arrest of Khalil on Truth Social on Monday, claiming that those who led protests at campuses last year against the war in Gaza were taking part in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, and the Trump Administration will not tolerate it.

We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country  never to return again, said Trump. If you support terrorism, including the slaughtering of innocent men, women, and children, your presence is contrary to our national and foreign policy interests, and you are not welcome here.
Ann Coulter Monday questioned the effort the Trump administration to deport a Palestinian graduate student at Columbia University for his leadership in protests of the Israeli government that have rocked the Ivy League campus.

The right-wing pundit, who boasts of her hardline anti-immigration views, questioned the arrest of student Mahmoud Khalil, who is a permanent resident in the U.S.

Theres almost no one I dont want to deport, Coulter posted on the social media platform X. But, unless theyve committed a crime, isnt this a violation of the first amendment?

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The First Amendment and other constitutional rights generally apply to U.S. citizens, but whether they apply to foreigners, even green card-holders like Khalil, is subject to some legal debate.

But advocates for immigrants agree with Coulter that permanent residents like Khalil should not be deported unless they have been convicted of a crime.

Coulter has raised hackles in the past for taking ultra-hardline stands against immigration and immigrants, both legal and undocumented.

She made headlines by saying she wouldnt vote for former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy because he is Indian, though the pharma billionaire is a U.S. citizen.

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Khalil, whose pregnant wife is a U.S. citizen, was arrested over the weekend by immigration agents enforcing Trumps executive orders barring antisemitism, the Department of Homeland Security said.

He has not been charged with any crimes over his activities during campus unrest at the university, which proponents say were aimed at curbing support for Israel and do not amount to antisemitic attacks on Jews.

Brushing aside those concerns, Trump vowed Monday to arrest and potentially deport more pro-Palestinian student activists.

We know there are more students at Columbia and other universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, Trump wrote on his social media site. We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country  never to return again.

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Khalils wife and lawyers were originally told he was taken to a immigration facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey. A Department of Homeland Security web site suggested he was moved to a Louisiana detention center.

Defense lawyers are trying to force law enforcement officials to present Khalil in court and allow a judge to decide whether he can be legally deported.

_____
Aerial view of a flock of sheep grazing in a solar farm with solar panels.(Getty Images.)

This story was originally published by Canary Media.

Months of proactive community engagement appeared to be paying off for the developer of the Grange Solar Grazing Center agrivoltaics project in central Ohio.

Open Road Renewables knew it faced an uphill battle before the state energy-siting board, whose recent deference to local opponents has helped make Ohio one of the most challenging places in the country to build large solar arrays. So the company showed up early and often in Logan County, listening to residents feedback and committing millions of dollars in donations for community investments.

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As public comments rolled into state regulators, the developer reviewed the submissions last month and found a clear majority of those weighing in supported its plan. The analysis filtered out hundreds of repeat comments, at least 140 of which came from just 16 people who mostly opposed the project.

Optimism around Grange Solar lasted only days, however. On Feb. 21, staff at the Ohio Power Siting Board recommended denying the projects permit: Staff believes that any benefits to the local community are outweighed by the overwhelming documented public opposition and, therefore, the project would not serve the public interest, convenience, and necessity.

Open Road Renewables withdrew its application for Grange Solar late last week, making it at least the fifth large solar project in Ohio to be canceled over the past 15 months.

The case highlights the power that local opponents have to block renewable energy projects in Ohio, even when they otherwise check all the boxes for regulatory approval. It also raises the question: What more can developers do?

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Open Road Renewables held listening sessions last spring for its up to 500-megawatt solar farm to learn about community concerns and address them even before applying for its permit. Beyond the $5 million in annual local tax revenue the development was expected to generate, the company committed $10 million in donations for a community center, public safety, a river cleanup, job training, and other programs.

All legitimate concerns about the project were addressed and the benefits would have been spread far and wide, Doug Herling, vice president of Open Road Renewables, said in an emailed statement.

Open Road Renewables held listening sessions last year for its now-scrapped Grange Solar project in Logan County, Ohio. (Courtesy of Open Road Renewables)

The section of the siting board staffs report that focuses on whether Grange Solar serves the public interest does not discuss local benefits. Nor does it address statewide public-interest issues, such as growing energy needs, efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and projected positive economic impacts.

The staff report also does not address conflict-of-interest issues and procedural problems raised by the developer about some of the local governments filings. And it doesnt mention the companys analysis of public comments, showing that three-fourths of those who had commented on the project supported it.

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The staff recommendation also does not consider the merits of opponents reasons for not wanting Grange Solar to move ahead.

[T]he dozens of pages of the [Power Siting Board] staff report represent rigorous analysis and thorough fact-checking of every aspect of Granges planned project, Herling said. But there is no such fact-checking of the onslaught of anti-solar propaganda, which caused local officials to make statements against solar.

Renewable energy developments face increasing headwinds across the country, often fueled by misinformation. Research released last June by Columbia Universitys Sabin Center for Climate Change Law identifies hundreds of projects encountering significant opposition across 47 states. And a July 2024 report from the watchdog organization Energy and Policy Institute lists multiple fossil-fuel companies with links to anti-renewable front groups and activists.

Withdrawing the Grange Solar application was a difficult business decision, Herling said in a phone interview with Canary Media. Management at the company felt it could have eventually won, if not at the Ohio Power Siting Board then perhaps on appeal. But even if the company did prevail, it had no guarantee on how long that would take. And Grange Solar is not the only site Open Road Renewables has been working on.

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The decision to withdraw the application is not surprising when you consider the cost of the administrative proceedings, hearings, and appeals that lay ahead and the challenge of persuading the Ohio Power Siting Board to override the recommendation of its staff to deny the application, said Matthew Eisenson, a lawyer with Columbia Universitys Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. He represented two landowners who had agreed to lease their property for the Grange Solar project.

The Ohio Power Siting Boards staff report acknowledges that Grange Solar is exempt from terms in a 2021 law, Senate Bill 52, which let counties block most large new solar projects. Two representatives from the host county and townships would still have served as ad hoc siting board members for deciding the case.

However, the [Power Siting Board] staffs recommendation to deny the application when the only purported defect was the existence of local opposition, particularly opposition from local government officials, is analogous to giving local government officials veto power, Eisenson said.

Our voices were heard, said Aubrey Snapp, a representative of the Indian Lake Advocacy Group, which has opposed Grange Solar and applauded its demise in a Feb. 28 statement.

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Other stakeholders had very different reactions.

The regulatory staffs recommendation to block the Grange Solar Grazing Center not only disregards the needs of Logan County workers and their families, but also squanders the potential for Logan County to become a leader in renewable energy and attract further investment, said a statement from IBEW Local 32, the local chapter of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which its lawyer in the case, Daniel Loud, provided to Canary Media.

The union also found fault with the local government leaders who opposed the solar farm. Local decision-makers have a fundamental responsibility to prioritize the economic well-being of their communities. By rejecting the Grange Solar project, they have failed to uphold this responsibility and have jeopardized the livelihoods of countless workers and families.

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WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  Monday night, Williamson County Commissioners elected not to show support for a bill moving through Tennessees legislature which would ban adding fluoride in public water supplies statewide.

Williamson County Commissioner Gregg Lawrence told News 2 while the commission doesnt actually have control over the countys water supply, hetried to win support for the proposal.

Theres concerns about the potential harmful effects of fluoride, Lawrence said.

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Health experts say communities have added fluoride to public water supplies for decades. However, Commissioner Lawrence says now theres plenty of other ways to get it and he thinks people should have a choice.

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You can get fluoride toothpaste. Theres fluoride mouthwashes. You can go to the dentist and get a fluoride treatment, he added. If youre a municipality, putting it in a water supply, youre basically forcing everyone to ingest fluoride, whether they want to or not.

According to Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventative medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, small amounts of fluoride can strengthen the enamel in our teeth, prevent tooth decay, and reduce cavities.

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He adds fluoride can be especially beneficial for underprivileged communities and children growing their first teeth who arent brushing as frequently.

I would think something that we have done across the country very wisely for a long time, thats supported by all the dental professional groups, is something we ought to look at very carefully before we stop doing it, Dr. Schaffner told News 2.

However, Commissioner Lawrence said hes skeptical of fluorides benefits, pointing to the City of Spring Hill, which he says stopped adding fluoride to their water fifteen years ago.

The evidence that it really improves the incidences of cavities isit seems to be pretty sketchy, Commissioner Lawrence said. Theres been some studies that came out last fall that say that fluoride in water could be lowering childrens IQ and it could be harming pregnant women.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Dr. Schaffner says the American Dental Association has looked at recent studies and still recommends adding fluoride to public water supplies. These were frequently studies of much more fluoride than we use  so thats the issue  you really have to look very carefully at the dose, Dr. Schaffner explained.

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With a vote of seven yes, five no and seven abstentions, the resolution failed.

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Last week, Mother Jones reported that Kingsley Wilson, the deputy press secretary for the Defense Department, has posted in recent years a long string of bigoted far-right postsincluding endorsing the claim that Leo Frank, a Jewish man lynched in 1915 in one of the most ghastly anti-Semitic killings in American history, was a rapist and a murderer.

In light of this disturbing news, the Trump administration leaped into action to combat anti-Semitism  on campus. The administration announced that it was slashing $400 million in federal grants to Columbia University due to the schools continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students. It followed up this action by detaining Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian anti-Israel activist who led protests at Columbia as a grad student last year. The arrest was carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in support of President Trumps executive orders prohibiting antisemitism, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

One can question the effectiveness of Columbias actions to combat anti-Semitism, but the allegation that it has failed to act is simply untrue. After the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks began tearing the campus apart, the school commissioned a task force on anti-Semitism. It called in police to clear out a building takeover by anti-Israel activists. Just a few weeks ago, two Barnard students were expelled after disrupting an Israeli-history course and distributing flyers depicting a Jewish star being stepped on by a jackboot.

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[Adam Serwer: Mahmoud Khalils detention is a trial run]

The Trump administration, by contrast, really has done nothing about anti-Semitism in its own ranks. The administration is threatening more arrests of foreign-born campus activists, and more funding cuts, all supposedly to contain anti-Semitism, at the same time that it is elevating anti-Semites to newfound prominence and legitimacy. Donald Trump opposes left-wing anti-Semitism because it is left-wing, not because it is anti-Semitic. And his campaign to supposedly stamp it out on campus is a pretext for an authoritarian power grab.

If you wish to understand the thought process that led to this point, a good place to begin would be a short missive written last month by Christopher Rufo, an influential conservative activist and a fellow at the Manhattan Institute. Rufo argued that the ascendant right needs to reject left-wing cancel culture, but not settle for returning to liberal norms. All cultures cancel, he wrote. The question is, for what, and by whom. This echoed, either consciously or unconsciously, Vladimir Lenins famous dictum, Who, Whom?, by which he defined politics as entirely a question of which class would dominate the other, rejecting any possibility of liberal accommodation.

Rufo chose as his explanatory example the case of Marko Elez, a DOGE staffer who resigned after his exposure for having written openly racist posts (including, literally, I was racist before it was cool), only to be rehired after a public intervention by Elon Musk and J. D. Vance. The vice president rejected the calculus of left-wing cancel culture, Rufo explained, demonstrating instead that forgiveness, loyalty, and a sense of proportion should be part of the decision-making process in such controversies.

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The key term here is loyalty. Protection would be afforded only to allies. We should propose a new set of values that expands the range of acceptable discourse rightward, Rufo argued, which would enable the right to protect its own members from unjust cancellation attempts and enforce just consequences on political opponents who violate the new terms.

[Yair Rosenberg: The anti-Semitic revolution on the American right]

The sole guiding principle at work is the defense of allies and the punishment of foes. Trump and his allies may purport to be following other values, but they barely bother with even the pretense of consistency. Trump will claim to defend free speech while launching a campaign to punish campus demonstrators on the basis of their viewpoints. (Many anti-Israel protesters have espoused ghastly political views, including support for the October 7 murders, but free speech means nothing if not preventing the government from punishing ideas it disagrees with.) He will occasionally justify his repression as simply a crackdown on disorder and other forms of misconduct, while granting sweeping pardons to the perpetrators of a violent mob assault on the Capitol.

That spirit of pure will to powerwho, whomhas defined the administrations gleefully selective approach to combating anti-Semitism, which in practice seems to mean using anti-Semitism as a pretext to intimidate its opponents while simultaneously cultivating its own anti-Semitic faction.

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Trumps rise over the past decade has broadened the Republican coalition in many waysincluding by pulling in far-right activists previously considered too racist to be permitted in the tent. During his first campaign and presidential term, Trump courted these factions with wink-and-nod rhetoric: calling his movement America First (a label previously used by the isolationist right before World War II), gesturing toward the Great Replacement theory (the idea, circulated by white supremacists, that mass immigration is a left-wing plot to transform American politics and culture), attacking his Republican critics as globalists, and refusing to denounce even virulently racist figures, such as David Duke, who supported him.

During his second term, the embrace is far less subtle. Winks and nods have been replaced by public Nazi salutes. Andrew Tate, the notorious manosphere influencer and alleged sex trafficker, recently received a special intervention from the White House allowing him to travel to the United States, presumably because he is loyal to Trump. (The president has denied involvement in that decision.) His extensive list of moral abominations includes overtly anti-Semitic statements, including praise for Hamas and the October 7 attacks.

It would be an exaggeration to say that Trump has turned the GOP into a white-supremacist or Nazi party. The still-disturbing reality is that he has brought white supremacists and Nazis into the coalition. As such, they receive his protection.

Right-wing anti-Semitism has exploded as a consequence of the Trumpist no-enemies-to-the-right principle. Elon Musk has made X both more central to conservative messaging and distinctly friendlier to anti-Semitic messages. Just this past week, the popular podcaster Joe Rogan credulously interviewed a notorious anti-Semitic conspiracy theorist.

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It is true that anti-Semitism has also surged on the left, frequently disguised as anti-Zionism. The key difference is that it has utterly failed to gain legitimacy within the Democratic Party. Indeed, the movements that have given comfort to anti-Semitism on the left have exuded hostility toward the Democrats, sometimes even expressing a preference for Trump. Democrats have managed to keep left-wing anti-Semitism marginal because they recognize that it exists. By denying right-wing anti-Semitism, Republicans have allowed it to spread.

[Conor Friedersdorf: How colleges should address anti-Semitism]

Jew hatred is now crossing a threshold of political viability such that even prominent Republicans in safe congressional seats hesitate to denounce it. Consider this telling response by Senator Lindsey Graham to Kingsley Wilsons anti-Semitic invective: 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. If what you say about these posts are true, then shes completely off-script with President Trump.

Graham is trying to signal, as tepidly as possible, that the White House should fire Wilson by calling her off-script with President Trump. But by saying he wont tell Trump whom to hire, he frees the president from any standard of accountability. Graham opposes anti-Semitism, but his opposition must yield to the highest imperative, Trump is always right.

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The rise of anti-Semitism on campus since October 7, 2023, is real. But the Republican campaign to use it as a justification to extend political control over universities has nothing to do with protecting Jews, and everything to do with undermining liberal democracy.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
(Photo via Getty Images)

The Iowa House unanimously passed legislation Tuesday offering legal protections against lawsuits filed to limit freedom of speech and press.

House File 472 is the latest attempt to enact an anti-SLAPP law in Iowa. SLAPP refers to strategic lawsuits against public participation, civil lawsuits filed without an expectation of winning in court, but as an attempt to intimidate a person or news organization from exercising First Amendment rights like freedom of speech and press by threatening a lengthy, expensive legal battle

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Rep. Steven Holt, R-Denison, said this measure was first brought forward in the wake of a 2018 lawsuit against the Carroll Times Herald filed by a Carroll police officer, who sued the newspaper after it reported that he had sexual relationships with teenagers, which the officer admitted to.

Even though the newspaper won the lawsuit, it cost them $100,000 almost put them out of business, Holt said.

The bill would hinder SLAPP lawsuits by allowing expedited relief in court for actions related to First Amendment rights, like freedom of speech and press, as well as freedoms to assemble, petition and of association. As of January 2025, 35 states and the District of Columbia have laws in place that provide ways to quickly dismiss SLAPP cases.

Iowa House lawmakers have passed anti-SLAPP bills with bipartisan support in several previous sessions, but the bills have failed to gain traction in the Iowa Senate. Rep. Megan Srinivas, D-Des Moines, urged support for the measure in floor debate Tuesday, saying she hopes the Senate will move on the bill this year.

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Ive only had three opportunities to vote for this bill, and Ill do it again today, and I hope that I dont get a fourth chance, and that our colleagues across the (rotunda) will pick this up, Srinivas said.

Holt said he is optimistic about the bills chances in the Senate this year. The Senate version of the bill, Senate File 47, was unanimously approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee in February.

I am proud that, in a bipartisan way, this chamber has been anti-SLAPP before anti-SLAPP was cool, Holt said. It appears that its now cool in the Senate, and actually is going to pass this session.
UNITED NATIONS, March 11 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday called for maintaining engagement with the Afghan interim government and expanding humanitarian assistance and economic cooperation for the country.

"Today, Afghanistan remains largely stable with a steadily improving economy and dynamic external relations, but the country also faces multiple challenges in humanitarian areas, development, terrorist threats, women's rights and interests, among others," Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, told a UN Security Council meeting.

Stressing the importance of maintaining the engagement momentum with the Afghan interim government, Fu said that China supports the international community in cementing mutual trust with the government and addressing each other's concerns through dialogue.

He urged the Security Council to reinstate its package of exemptions to the travel ban imposed on the relevant personnel of the Afghan government and timely adjust the 1988 sanctions regime.

The envoy also appealed for increasing humanitarian assistance and economic cooperation in support of Afghanistan's recovery.

Around 23 million people require humanitarian assistance, and nearly 15 million people are acutely food insecure in the country, while only 3.5 percent of this year's humanitarian funding has been received, according to UN data.

"Major traditional donors have abruptly paused or reduced their aid to Afghanistan, seriously impacting its healthcare, education, and food and agriculture systems, and making the already difficult life of the Afghan people even more precarious," Fu said, calling on traditional donors, especially those historically responsible for the problems of the country, to resume and increase their aid and desist from using humanitarian aid as a bargaining chip to exert political pressure.

Meanwhile, the Chinese ambassador called on the Afghan government to continue countering all terrorist forces to eradicate the breeding ground for terrorism.

"All countries should abandon their geopolitical calculation and ideological biases and reject double standards and selectivity to safeguard the greater good of international counter-terrorism cooperation," he said.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of China-Afghanistan diplomatic relations, Fu said. "China has always been action-oriented in supporting the country's peace, stability, development and prosperity. We stand ready to work with all sides to strengthen Security Council unity and consensus to make greater contributions to addressing the Afghan issue." 
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Portland State University is among 60 universities now being investigated for antisemitism by the U.S. Department of Education  potentially putting their access to federal funding at risk.

In a letter sent to PSU from the departments Office for Civil Rights, these universities could face potential enforcement actions if they do not fulfill their obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to protect Jewish students on campus, including uninterrupted access to campus facilities and educational opportunities.

PGEs project involving Forest Park tree removal moves forward after public hearings

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The letter comes one month after PSU was first named in the DOEs probe into alleged antisemitism on college campuses. The investigation came shortly after President Donald Trump signed an executive order that included measures to combat antisemitism in schools and college campuses.

Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a university can lose out on federal funding if found to have discriminated against students or faculty based on their race, color, or national origin.

PGEs project involving Forest Park tree removal moves forward after public hearings

The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better, said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. U.S. colleges and universities benefit from enormous public investments funded by U.S. taxpayers. That support is a privilege and it is contingent on scrupulous adherence to federal antidiscrimination laws.

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Other universities on the West Coast that received letters include several University of California schools and the University of Washington. A full list of the institutions under investigation is available on the DOEs website.

Portland State University shared the following statement with KOIN 6 News:

Portland State University recognizes the concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Educations recent communication, and we want to reaffirm our dedication to addressing and preventing any form of discrimination or harassment, including antisemitism, within our community.

We believe that every student has the right to pursue their education free from fear, prejudice and discrimination. Portland State will continue working with community Jewish organizations and supporting efforts to combat antisemitism and mitigate the impact of hate and bias. PSU has a long history of standing against hate in all its forms, and we will continue to ensure that our policies and practices reflect this unwavering commitment to uphold a safe, inclusive and respectful community for all.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MANILA, Philippines (AP)  Eds Note: This story previously moved on Oct. 19, 2016. The AP is republishing it after the arrest of former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte.

___

The bodies terrified Betchie Salvador, because she always knew her husband could be next.

They had begun turning up in cities all over the Philippines ever since President Rodrigo Duterte launched a controversial war on drugs this year  so many that one local newspaper had to create a Kill List just to keep track.

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Dealers and addicts were being shot by police or slain by unidentified gunmen in mysterious, gangland-style murders. Their bodies ended up dumped on highways in the rain, curled in pools of blood in the slums. Some were found tied up, with masking tape plastered across their faces. Some were draped with cardboard signs that warned, Im a pusher. Dont Be Like Me.

With each new death, Betchie imagined losing the man she had loved for a decade  a proud father of three who was also an addict.

We talked about it a lot, she said. I told him, Please dont go out at night.

Dont worry, Marcelo always told her. Its gonna be OK.

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___

MARCH 15: When I become president, Ill order the police and the military to find these people and kill them. The funeral parlors will be packed.

 Duterte at a rally in the northern city of Lingayen, detailing plans to fight the drug trade.

____

The lure of shabu

Marcelos addiction began when he was working as a driver in the eastern province of Bicol. And all it took was one hit.

A colleague introduced him to a potent methamphetamine known in the Philippines as shabu, saying it helped him stay awake at night. The drug was ubiquitous and easy to get. It could also be smoked, snorted, or injected for as little as one dollar.

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When the couple moved to Manila last year, hoping for better work prospects, they settled in a busy central district called Las Pinas. Marcelo found a new job driving a tricycle  a rickshaw with a motorcycle attached that is used as a taxi. He earned about $10 per day ferrying customers around the city, just enough to support their two boys, ages 6 and 7, and a newborn baby girl.

He also found a new group of friends who were into shabu, and his year-old drug habit did not let up.

Shortly after Marcelo arrived, a police officer caught him with methamphetamines. But there would be no jail time or court case to face, no drug rehabilitation program to go through.

Marcelo bribed the officer to destroy his case file and let him go.

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___

MAY 7: All of you who are into drugs, you sons of bitches, I will really kill you. I have no patience, I have no middle ground.

 Duterte on the final day of campaigning for presidential elections.

___

The punisher

Duterte called it a life-or-death threat to the nation, and the nation believed him.

The Philippines was at risk of becoming a narco state, he said. And a weary electorate, exasperated by decades of crime and corruption, agreed.

Something had to be done.

It didnt matter that statistics from the governments Dangerous Drugs Board showed the estimated rate of methamphetamine use had dropped from 6.7 million in 2004 to 1.7 million today. It didnt matter that this rate  an estimated 2 percent of Filipinos  was no higher than that of other countries like the United States or Australia in recent years, according to United Nations figures. It didnt matter that drug wars mounted in countries like Thailand or Colombia or America had miserably failed.

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What mattered was that drugs were still a problem, and this was a cause the nation could rally around.

With prisons already crowded and a justice system so broken that drug cases could take a decade, Duterte argued successfully for another, quicker way. It was modeled in part on a brutal anti-crime campaign he spearheaded while mayor of the southern city of Davao, where he rode a Harley-Davidson and cultivated a New Sheriff in Town image that earned him nicknames like Duterte Harry and The Punisher.

The campaign was fought not just by state security forces, but by motorcycle-riding assassins known as the Davao Death Squads who massacred more than 1,000 people. Human Rights Watch says the grim wave of extrajudicial killing was directed by active duty police and former officers. Only a handful of perpetrators were convicted.

After Duterte was sworn into office June 30, he directed police to launch a massive new anti-drug operation nationwide.

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It was called Double Barrel.

___

JUNE 30: They say that my methods are unorthodox and verge on the illegal ... The fight will be relentless and it will be sustained.

 Duterte speaking about the impending drug war during his inauguration speech.

___

Please dont go out at night'

In Marcelos neighborhood, the mood shifted quickly.

While security forces carried out raids and rounded up drug suspects, police drew up watch-lists of suspected addicts and dealers, aided by local officials, civil society leaders and vigilant residents.

Drug suspects were called out. Just a couple hundred meters (yards) from Marcelos home, residents demanded authorities evict a couple they accused of selling drugs. On July 12, the pair was found murdered in their rickshaw, where they had apparently tried to spend the night after being chased from their house, according to Filipino media.

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On July 18, another body turned up in Las Pinas, this time of a man with his neck slashed, found beside a placard labeling him an addict and a thief.

By then, Marcelos mother, Betty Soriano, had decided to start accompanying her son on his nightly tricycle shifts. The family believed he would be safer, and her presence would discourage him from spending time with the drug users he always ran across.

Marcelo then made his wife an extraordinary promise: He was quitting shabu. It had become too dangerous.

Betchie felt he had to do more, and convinced him to work day shifts. But the competition was too tough, the money too little, and Marcelo reverted to working nights. He told Betchie she didnt have to worry because Im not using drugs anymore.

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At one point, a government official approached Marcelo at his tricycle stand, and told him he needed to turn himself in, a process called surrendering that has drawn about 700,000 drug users so far. Most have been released after acknowledging their crimes, giving up the names of others involved in the narcotics trade, and pledging never to use again.

Marcelo waved the man off, saying it wasnt necessary. He had already quit.

___

AUG. 6: My order is shoot to kill you. I dont care about human rights, you better believe me.

 Duterte warning drug dealers during a press conference in Davao City after visiting a police officer who had been shot in the chest.

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___

An unprecedented surge of killings

The police statistics show an astounding rise in the number of drug suspects shot dead by security forces: just 68 in the first half of the year, compared to 1,578 since Duterte took office.

Vigilantes, though, appear to have killed significantly more: as many as 2,151 murders police have either linked to the drug trade or classified as unexplained. At least 864 of them were carried out by motorcycle-riding gunmen  a favored tactic employed by vigilantes against drug suspects.

Jose Luis Martin Chito Gascon, director of the independent Commission on Human Rights, described them as extrajudicial killings, and said the phenomenon has plagued the country at least since late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was ousted in a people power revolt in 1986.

The latest upsurge is unprecedented, he said, because of the scale, the large number ... over a fairly short period of time.

There is no shortage of theories about who the vigilantes are: drug syndicates killing their own, rogue police offing informants, state-sponsored death squads like the ones in Davao.

Regardless, human rights groups say Duterte bears much of the blame. In nationally televised speeches and press conferences he has repeatedly encouraged both the police and the public to eliminate drug suspects, dismissing the need for due process. The rhetoric is ironic in a country that banned the death penalty a decade ago, and it has left many aghast.

What I dont understand is, how can  it boggles my mind  how can you actually propose that to address the problem of injustice, you perpetuate more injustice? Gascon said.

One reason may be that many Filipinos feel there is no other way to fight drugs beyond brute force. Another may be that Dutertes campaign has had an immediate effect. Police say crime has fallen in some areas by nearly half, and neighborhoods once overrun with drug dealers are safer than theyve been in years.

___

AUG. 26:

Id like to be frank with you, are they (drug users) humans? What is your definition of a human being? Tell me.

 Duterte addressing soldiers at an army camp on Aug. 26.

___

Gunshots in the dark

On the night of Sept. 5, Marcelo parked his rickshaw at a small roadside kiosk, where he had stopped to buy essentials for the morning  coffee for his family, chocolate drinking powder for his kids.

When Malvin Balingatan, who worked at the shop, leaned forward to hand him change, shots rang out, according to a copy of the police report obtained by The Associated Press.

It was 10:05 p.m.

As Balingatan ducked out of the way, he caught a glimpse of the killers receding into the darkness: two men in black on a motorcycle, helmets covering their faces.

Marcelo managed to run 10 or 15 meters (yards) to the corner, where more shots were fired before he collapsed on the pavement.

His mother, who had dutifully accompanied him that night and was cowering in the back of the tricycle, screamed out.

My son! My son!

At their family home, a five-minute walk away, Soriano broke the news to Betchie. Marcelos children appeared, woken by the chaos and the crying.

Wheres Daddy? one of them asked. Wheres Daddy?

Hes gone, Betchie replied, tears streaming down her cheeks.

By the time Betchie got to the scene, Marcelo  her Marcelo  was sprawled face-down in a pool of blood, his body lit by a halo of light from a bank of television cameras.

A crowd had gathered, held back just behind a strip of yellow police tape that blocked the road. They stared silently at Marcelos closed eyes, the blood stain on the back of his yellow shirt, the 13 numbered signs investigators had placed in the road beside each spent bullet.

Just beside Marcelos limp fingertips was a small translucent packet of white methamphetamines.

___

SEPT. 5: Everybody has a terrible record of extrajudicial killings. Why make an issue about fighting crime?

 Duterte at a press briefing in Davao City.

___

We dont want any trouble'

Three days after the shooting, Betchies boys are home playing video games on a cellphone beside the open casket that holds Marcelo.

Betchie is thinking about their life together. She is trying not to cry.

I keep wondering what will happen to me, to my children, she says, explaining that her 39-year-old husband was their familys sole breadwinner. All we can do now is pray.

Her mother-in-law insists the drugs found at Marcelos fingertips werent his  and werent there when he died. She doesnt know who put them there, or why.

Everything he had been holding  the coffee, the chocolate powder  had scattered across the ground when the first shots rang out. If he was running for his life, how could he have held on to shabu, she asks, but dropped the rest?

She wont bring it up with the police, though, because we dont want any trouble, she says. Whats the point? What for?

There is a certain shame that hangs over the families of slain drug users here, and most dont know where to turn for help. Few trust the countrys notoriously corrupt police. Pointing fingers at killers who are still at large would also carry great risk.

Betchie says she still hopes they find who did this. But her voice is tinged with resignation. She is looking down, eyes half closed.

The vast majority of vigilante murders in the Philippines remain unsolved, and police say this case is no different. They have no leads.

Outside on the street, Marcelos rickshaw is parked on the curb, empty and quiet. A pair of red and blue wrist bands are wrapped around its headlight and speedometer, propaganda from the election campaign.

Each is inscribed with seven white letters: D U T E R T E.

___

AP journalists Teresa Cerojano and Aaron Favila contributed to this report.
CLINTON, Tenn. (WATE)  A court of appeals has upheld the 104-year sentence for a man who was convicted in 2022 on counts of child rape and aggravated sexual battery.

On Tuesday, Seventh District Attorney General Dave Clark released that the court upheld the sentence for Royce Scott Earley, 47, on March 6. Earley was convicted in 2022 of raping a child under the age of 13 years old multiple times over a month-long period.

Two charged with murder in 2023 death of LaFollette teen after seizure, fall

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Earley is currently serving the 104-year sentence on two counts of rape of a child, two counts of incest, and aggravated sexual battery.

At the sentencing, prosecutors urged the judge to use enhanced punishment and consecutive sentencing because of the severity of the convictions. The judge sentenced Earley to serve 40 years on each count of rape of a child, 12 years on the count of Aggravated Sexual Battery, and six years on each count of incest, to be served one after another for a total of a 104-year sentence.

The most difficult cases are ones that involve vulnerable child victims. We are satisfied that this offender will spend the rest of his life in prison, Clark said.

Driver dead after crash on I-40 at Exit 407

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Earley is listed on the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry as an offender against children.

The case was investigated by the Anderson County Sheriffs Office with the assistance of the Tennessee Department of Childrens Services and the East Tennessee Childrens Hospital.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 third appellate court has upheld a block on President Donald Trump's executive order limiting birthright citizenship.

The 1st Circuit Court of Appeals made the ruling Tuesday, denying a motion from Trump's legal team to immediately overturn a block issued by a federal judge in Massachusetts.

Trump's executive order would block automatic citizenship for any child born in the U.S. to someone who is in the country illegally, as well as children born to someone with temporary legal status if the child's father is not a citizen or legal permanent resident.

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Roughly two dozen states have sued over the executive order, which they say violates the Constitution's 14th Amendment promise of citizenship to anyone born inside U.S. borders.

But Trump's legal team argues the Amendment, ratified 157 years ago after the end of the Civil War, only confers citizenship to people born under the jurisdiction of the United States  and they say jurisdiction isn't always the same thing as being born on American soil.

At least half a dozen lawsuits over the order have been filed across the U.S. so far, though some of them have been consolidated. So far, judges have blocked Trumps order in six of them while those cases move forward. Two cases are still awaiting rulings on requests to block the order, and one case has been placed on hold.

In Tuesday's ruling, the appellate panel did not weigh in on the overall legality of the lower courts block, but said that Trumps attorneys didnt prove that the block should be lifted right now.

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The decision came in a pair of consolidated cases brought by New Jersey and 19 other states as well as organizations representing immigrants and a pregnant woman who is in the country legally with temporary protected status.

Attorneys representing the Trump administration had asked the circuit court to overturn the block placed by U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin in Massachusetts, arguing that New Jersey and the other states and organizations that sued didn't have the legal right, or standing, to bring the lawsuit in the first place.

But 1st U.S. Circuit Chief Judge David Barron, writing for the unanimous panel, said the government didn't make any developed argument about why Trump's executive order should be found legal.

The administration's attorneys also failed to convince the court that the states and other plaintiffs lacked standing, Barron wrote. He cited the lower court's finding that the states would suffer irreparable harm if the order went into effect, while blocking the order simply maintains the status quo.

___
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO)  The panel that sets state governments budget has decided against making a massive cut in general funding for South Dakota Public Broadcasting.

Former Gov. Kristi Noem had recommended in December that $3,613,698 of general funding be stripped from SDPBs budget for the new fiscal year that starts on July 1. Noem wanted SDPB to find the money from other sources.

House votes to slow growth of owner-occupied values

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But the Legislatures Joint Committee on Appropriations rejected the former governors proposed cut on Tuesday.

Members of SDPBs Friends organization and some of its management staff were in the room when the decision was made.

The vote was 15-0 against making the cut.

This was a team effort across both sides of the aisle, Democratic Rep. Erik Muckey said.

Republican Rep. Chris Kassin agreed. Really happy to see funding restored to South Dakota Public Broadcasting at the full level, he said.

The committees chair, Republican Rep. Mike Derby, asked that a SDPB representative come forward.

Executive director Julie Overgaard went up. Shes been with SDPB 37 years.

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This has been one of the few hardest months of my life and my past life, Overgaard said.

She thanked the appropriators for listening and acknowledged that theres probably more conversation to come about SDPBs future direction.

In the December budget speech, Noem said, I propose reducing funding for South Dakota Public Broadcasting to bring us in line with the national average. Currently, South Dakota has the 3rd highest per-capita funding of public broadcasting of any state in the nation. Weve been paying more than double the national average.

Noem meanwhile had also recommended starting education enhancement savings accounts that would have provided $4 million for K-12 students enrolled at an accredited nonpublic school or microschool or receiving state-approved virtual coursework outside of a public school district.

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The ESA legislation however failed in the House Education Committee. That in turn freed up money in the general fund.

Noem resigned in January as governor after the U.S. Senate confirmed her appointment as the new federal Homeland Security secretary. The lieutenant governor, Larry Rhoden, succeeded her as governor.

We appreciate the work that you did and the decision that you make, Overgaard told the appropriators.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Jewelry was an important part of ancient Egyptian culture.

Excavation at the Karnak temple found a 2,600-year-old pot filled with gold jewelry, beads, and statues.

The statues of Egyptian gods Amun, Mut, and Khonsu may have been worn as amulets.

Despite their hierarchical society, jewelry was for everyone in ancient Egypt. The poorest farmers and the richest pharaohs were all likely adorned (or at least buried) with jewelry. However, these accessories werent just for displaythey were thought to have apotropaic powers, or powers to ward off evil.

For the living, Egyptians thought jewelry would fend off disease and danger. For the dead, jewelry was meant to protect them for the rest of eternity. According to the American Research Center in Egypt, even just a single bead could act as a window into ancient Egyptian culture.

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A recent excavation on the Karnak temple complex near Luxor, Egyptwhich developed across a millennia , predominantly between the 12th and 20th dynasties, and prominently features the Temple of Amun-Raresulted in archaeologists discovering more than just a bead. It uncovered a whole treasure trove. The project was conducted by the Egyptian-French Centre for the Study of Karnak Temples (CFEETK) in collaboration with the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS).

At the dig site, archaeologists discovered a broken pot filled with gold jewelry, statues of gods, beads, and a brooch. Experts believe the vessel is approximately 2,600 years old, dating back to Egypts 26th dynasty. Researchers found the artifacts in good condition, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

The statues uncovered during the excavation depict the god Amun, the goddess Mut, and their son Khonsu side by side. Amun (meaning the hidden one) is often considered the father of pharaohs and king of gods. In the New Kingdom, Amun merged with sun god Ra (sometimes spelled Re), becoming both the visible and invisible god, which appealed to the Egyptian ideal of balance . Experts believe the figurines are part of an amulet or another piece of jewelry worn around the neck. According to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, all artifacts found at the site will be restored and likely displayed at the Luxor museum.

This excavation was a small part of ongoing work at the Karnak temple complex, according to Jeremy Hourdin, head of the Frenchs side of the project. Sherif FathyMinister of Tourism and Antiquitiespraised the collaboration between the teams, emphasizing the role of their work on some of the most important ancient Egyptian temples in the world.

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It is a very important discovery, Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said,because it provides a clearer understanding of the historical development of the Karnak Temples during the first millennium B.C.E.

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Don Hubble, an Independence County beef producer and second vice president of the Arkansas Cattlemen's Association, speaks in support of a bill affecting permit moratoriums in state watersheds to the Senate agriculture committee on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The bill sponsor pulled the bill down for revisions. (Screenshot from Senate livestream)

A bill that would make it harder to protect Arkansas watersheds from possible pollution from large animal farms finally got a hearing Tuesday after weeks of deferrals.

Sen. Blake Johnsons proposal drew questions from lawmakers on the Senate Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee, support from agricultural interests and opposition from environmental advocates. The Corning Republican ultimately pulled his bill for revisions.

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Johnson originally filed his proposal as Senate Bill 84 in January, but he filed Senate Bill 290 in late February, which expanded on the earlier version and was the subject of Tuesdays discussion.

The bill drew public interest, especially as it relates to the Buffalo National River and follows an abandoned legislative discussion of permit moratoriums for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) on watersheds late last year.

According to recent data from the National Park Service, the Buffalo National River saw nearly 1.7 million visitors in 2024, the second highest number of annual visits since it was established in 1973.

Environmental advocates have routinely traveled long hours from their rural hometowns to Little Rock hoping that Johnsons bill would be heard in committee, as it was frequently listed on the agenda. When it finally came time to testify on Tuesday, speakers were limited to three minutes.

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Six people spoke against the bill, sharing concerns about potential pollution and conflicts with the Administrative Procedures Act; five spoke in favor of it, primarily citing personal property rights.

Per state law, the Administrative Procedures Act gives state agencies, boards and commissions the authority to adopt rules regarding procedures. The law states an administrative agency must make rules or other written statements available for public inspection.

As outlined in SB 84, the bill heard Tuesday would also prohibit state agencies from instituting a moratorium of permits on any Arkansas watershed. But according to SB 290, a state agency could institute a watershed moratorium if it first obtained legislative approval from the Senate and House agriculture committees. If lawmakers approved an agencys request, the moratorium would then be reevaluated every two years, according to the bill.

Instead of eliminating existing moratoriums, as SB 84 would have done, Johnson said he tried to thread the needle with a legislative process for all future possible moratoriums under SB 290.

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Approval for existing moratoriums would follow the same procedure under the proposed legislation, with a 30-day timeline for approval starting upon the bills effective date to remain enforceable. Without legislative approval within the set deadline, the existing moratorium would be deemed unenforceable, according to the bill.

After the legislative approval, the state agency would then resume the existing process to promulgate related rules and seek approval through the Arkansas Legislative Council, Johnson said.

Johnson described SB 290 as a strictly legislative check-off before these sorts of things are placed on us.

Concerns about conflicts with the Administrative Procedures Act ultimately caused Johnson to pull down his bill for revisions. Republican Sens. Ben Gilmore of Crossett and Jimmy Hickey of Texarkana questioned elements of Johnsons bill after hearing public comment.

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Im in favor of what youre trying to do  so lets just get that out there on the table, Hickey said. I am 100% worried about the structure of this with the Administrative Procedures Act.  Im no attorney, but I dont know how it holds up.

Nail in the coffin of Gov. Sanders outdoor economy

Tuesdays speakers brought a nearly even-numbered debate during testimony. Bill supporters told lawmakers the legislation prioritized protections for farmers and ranchers across Arkansas, while opponents called the bill confusing, too broad and a solution in search of a problem.

Many supporters were farmers themselves and said they operated farms near a waterway. Representatives from the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation made a case for the proposed law, as did members of the Arkansas Cattlemens Association.

The authority to either approve or deny moratoriums should rest with the Legislature, which is close to the people and not the administrative branch of government, specifically state agencies and commissions, said Magen Allen, a farmer in Bismarck who also serves on the Board of Directors for the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation.

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Don Hubble, a commercial cattle producer in Independence County and second vice president for the Arkansas Cattlemens Association echoed Allens statements, and said ensuring watersheds are clean and healthy is a top priority for cattle producers.

Hubble said he used tactics like riparian buffers  an area near a waterway composed of trees and shrubs that provide conservation benefits  to stop erosion and runoff into creeks along his property.

These practices, which are common among cattle producers, are driven by our desire to care for the land that sustains our livelihoods and ensures its preservation for future generations, Hubble said.

The bill also earned the support of the state cattlemens association because it upholds the fundamental rights to private property, he said.

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In contrast, environmental advocates and local tourism business owners said the bill was overly broad and didnt define key words like moratorium, permit or watershed.

Gordon Watkins, president of the Buffalo River Watershed Alliance, said the bill seems to be just an effort to make this an onerous process.

Watkins said the proposal likely violates the Administrative Procedures Acts requirement for public input on rules, and asked about the precedent of a 10-year moratorium on the Buffalo River watershed. He questioned what type of permits the bill referred to and whether it extended beyond agricultural distinctions to building, fracking and crypto mining permits.

Gordon Watkins, president of the Buffalo River Watershed Alliance, testifies Tuesday, March 11, 2025, against a bill that would change how permit moratoriums in watersheds are approved. (Screenshot from Senate livestream)

As a farmer and a good neighbor myself, I know that my rights end at my fence row, Watkins said. The right to farm does not confer unrestricted rights. Some sites are simply inappropriate for industrial scale  CAFOs.  State and federal regulations, such as moratoriums, are meant as guardrails to protect landowners and the public against environmentally damaging activities.

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Brian Thompson, leader of The Ozark Society, said the proposed legislation would adversely affect the tourism sector by allowing feedlots near the scenic rivers. The society is a nonprofit that prioritizes the preservation of natural areas.

It would put a nail in the coffin of Gov. [Sarah Huckebee] Sanders outdoor economy, Thompson said.

Sanders has prioritized outdoor tourism in Arkansas during her governorship, and First Gentleman Bryan Sanders leads the Natural State Advisory Council.

The group works in tandem with the Natural State Initiative to further establish Arkansas as a leader in the outdoor economy and a destination for outdoor enthusiasts from around the world, according to the governors office.

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Thompson spoke highly of the Buffalo National River and claimed Johnsons bill is a message to outsiders that we do not value our God-given unique natural resources, resources only found in our state, resources that draw visitors by the millions.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  A new law signed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders requires yearly gun safety courses for students in public schools.

According to House Bill 1117, now Act 229, schools would use videos, online resources and live demonstrations off campus as part of that education.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signs 15 new bills into law on Tuesday

Some parents like Donny Kennedy say they feel like this could be good for the states school systems and others, like Mathew Hasen, say it will only create more problems.

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Some kids wont be around guns. They wont know nothing about them, Kennedy said. If they learn it at school, theyll have it for future reference.

The firearm safety course aims to protect Arkansas children from accidental discharge of firearms by providing age-appropriate gun safety and education.

But despite lawmakers attempt to crack down on gun safety, Hasen believes the new law could only make things worse.

Having kids more comfortable with guns could possibly lead to more school shootings I believe, Hasen said.

Amendment may bolster Arkansas legislation restructuring electrical utilities

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He said he feels that gun safety is a topic for parents to discuss with their children.

I think you should keep guns out of school completely, Hasen said. That includes teaching kids about guns in school.

The law is set to go into effect during the second half of the 2025 school year, something Kennedy is looking forward to.

Kids are going to learn and know how to use guns, theyre going to know what it is, Kennedy said. I think its good for them.

New laws going into effect in Arkansas from the 95th General Assembly

The bill does not state if parents are allowed to opt out of the safety courses, but their permission will be needed for live demonstrations off campus.

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Video: Amendment may bolster Arkansas legislation restructuring electrical utilities

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  The Arkansas Public Service Commission (PSC), which oversees utility rates, has reviewed a proposed change to the law regarding how a utility can charge rates.

The review was at the request of an amendment filed Thursday by Sen. Jimmy Hickey (R-Texarkana) requesting the review. The amendment came when the bill failed to pass the Senate by one vote on Wednesday but was placed back on the Senate schedule by a procedure.

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Bill filed in Arkansas legislature that would re-tool relationship between Public Service Commission and electric utilities

A cover letter with the review stated that it was free from outside influence and the PSC general staff did not participate in the review due to their status as a party in commission dockets. PSC chair Doyle Webb signed the letter.

The review clarifies how the legislation, Senate Bill 307, would impact ratepayers through charging for new construction and identifies and clarifies areas of the bill that could be problematic for the PSC. It also stated that the PSC does not take positions for or against legislation.

New power-producing or transporting utility projects are called strategic investments in the bills language.

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The overarching change proposed by the PSC review was tightening the definition of a utilitys strategic investment so ratepayers would be less likely to be billed for construction projects that the PSC has not approved. This was an issue for senators who voted against the bill last week.

Arkansas electric utility bill fails Senate vote, due to return later

Arkansas will lose two coal-fired power plants in 2030 out of its five.

SB307s primary sponsor, Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R-Searcy), has consistently pointed out that ratepayers would face increased costs if those plants were lost. He has also added that construction to replace the closing plants would raise rates.

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Video: Report on changes to the electric utilities bill and the withdrawal of the moratorium prevention bill

SB307s objective, Dismang said, was that it would allow prices to rise incrementally while new construction was underway, a change from the current model of rates changing, often significantly, only when a project is completed. Opponents pointed out that this could lead to ratepayers covering the cost of projects that could be abandoned by a utility, essentially taking the risk away from utilities and putting it with ratepayers.

In its review, the PSC recommended that a utilitys request for strategic development brought before it be accompanied by an attestation from the states economic development director on the economic impact.

Amendment may bolster Arkansas legislation restructuring electrical utilities

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SB307 has no upcoming events scheduled on the legislative calendar.

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ISTANBUL, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police detained 32 suspects on Tuesday, including officials from various municipalities in Istanbul, for allegedly financing a terrorist organization, authorities announced.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated that the suspects had established a committee to support the outlawed Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C).

Authorities revealed that the funds were allegedly obtained through corrupt tenders conducted by several district municipalities in Istanbul.

Following the issuance of arrest warrants by the prosecutor's office, police launched simultaneous operations at 31 locations across the Turkish provinces of Samsun, Bursa, Izmir, and Istanbul.

The DHKP-C, designated as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, has been blamed for a string of attacks in the country, including a suicide bombing at the U.S. embassy in Ankara in 2013. Enditem.
Authorities accused an Arlington Heights man of hitting and injuring a Chicago Police officer while driving under the influence Sunday on the West side, according to a news release.

Jose Ruiz-Crespin, 22, faces felony charges of attempted second-degree murder and aggravated driving under the influence, police said. Ruiz-Crespin also faces five misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol and a sixth count of driving an uninsured vehicle.

Ruiz-Crespin was allegedly driving recklessly when he hit an officer in the 100 block of North Lamon Avenue in the Austin neighborhood, police said. Officers arrested him just after midnight Sunday, according to the news release.

Ruiz-Crespin is set to appear in court Tuesday at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse.
The 41-year-old shot and killed Saturday by Milwaukee Police Department officers has been identified as Anthony R. Virginia, according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office.

The incident occurred after Milwaukee Police Department officers responded to a call concerning a break-in at a business on the 5100 block of N. 32nd St. The caller informed police one of the suspects had shot at them, Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said at a media briefing Saturday evening.

Norman said when officers approached the suspects, ordering them to drop their weapons. Officers then shot and killed Virginia, and arrested a 34-year-old armed suspect, Norman said.

Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman speaks to the media after police shoot and kill a man on the city's north side, Saturday, March 8, 2025.

The officer who shot the suspect is a 41-year-old man and 10-year veteran of the force. He was placed on administrative duty as is standard procedure.

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Norman said the Wauwatosa Police Department is leading the investigation. The department did not respond to a request for comment in time for deadline.

Members of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression were on the scene demanding that police release bodycam footage of the incident within 48 hours to the family, as required by department policy. Police have 15 days to release footage to media and others making a request, as required by department policy.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Armed man shot, killed Saturday by police has been identified
Employees at a Russian-owned steel plant operator in Oregon falsified inspection results on armored plating, including some used for U.S. Army vehicles, according to a new report.

An internal investigation, whose results were obtained by Bloomberg, detailed how workers at the steel plant operator Evraz North America bypassed mandatory hardness tests and inserted fake results for about 12,800 armor plates during incidents spanning from 2017 through 2019 at a facility in Portland. The plates were then labeled as tested and approved.

Evraz launched its internal probe following allegations of bypassed requirements in the quality control procedures, .

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The Independent has reached out to Evraz for comment.

Oshkosh Defense, a primary customer of the plates, according to Bloomberg, has been awarded contracts by the U.S. Army for Joint Light Tactical Vehicles. The United Kingdom, Israel, Romania and other countries also use the vehicles.

Oshkosh has built more than 22,000 of the vehicles as of 2024, and each are supposed to last about 20 years, according to Bloomberg. The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle has consistently demonstrated its ability to fill critical capability gaps for U.S. and international militaries, Oshkosh Defenses website states.

Some armored plates potentially sent to a U.S. Army contractor that produces Joint Light Tactical Vehicles bypassed required hardness tests, according to a new report (US Army Acquisition Support Center)

Evrazs 2019 internal findings found that beginning in November 2017, some employees failed to consistently use a machine to measure the hardness of the armored plates, circumventing a requirement, and then inputted fake results manually, Bloomberg reported.

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Armor plate does require 100% hardness testing, the internal report noted. Still, falsifying data was a widespread practice, the company investigation concluded.

Four employees admitted to falsifying hardness ratings; some even said there wasnt enough time to complete the test for each plate due to the demands to keep the process moving, Bloomberg reported.

Thats how I was trained, one employee said in the report. Even though his supervisors denied knowing he was doing this, the report determined it was highly likely that they all were aware of the practice.

One manager admitted that he understood false data was sometimes recorded. When youre thrown in the fire, you gotta do what you gotta do to keep the line rolling, he was quoted in the internal report.

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Its not immediately clear how many Joint Light Tactical Vehicles were equipped with untested plates. The Independent has contacted the U.S. Army for more information.

An Evraz official, however, identified the untested plates as part of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicles program, as well as bing used on another armored vehicle produced by Oshkosh, Bloomberg reported.

The steel operator stopped deliveries of armored plating for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicles program once management was made aware of the situation, according to Bloomberg.

Evraz told Bloomberg that the company follows strict compliance with all industry standards, adding that its armored plates passed independent testing by a government approved facility. The steel operator said it has not received complaints from customers about its products.

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The alleged problems at the facility arose two years after the U.S. Army awarded Oshkosh a $6.7 billion contract to procure nearly 17,000 vehicles for the Army and the Marines. Its not immediately clear if Oshkosh was aware of the falsified data or of the internal report. Evraz says Oshkosh was aware of its findings. The Independent has reached out to Oshkosh Defense for comment.

Law enforcement is now investigating the falsified tests, Bloomberg reported. FBI agents were visiting several of the steel operators facilities, Fox 21 noted last July. Evraz said it was fully cooperating with the agencys requests.

Evraz North America is a subsidiary of Evraz Plc. No evidence obtained by Bloomberg suggested that the skipped tests, false data or Evrazs Russian ownership were related to the U.S. efforts to fight Russia in its war against Ukraine.
The army chiefs of staff from many countries that support Ukraine meet in Paris later on Tuesday to discuss the deployment of troops to secure a possible peace agreement between Kiev and Moscow.

French President Emmanuel Macron has organized the meeting, with Germany, the United Kingdom and Poland expected to attend. A full list of participants has not been released in advance.

France and the UK have been pushing the idea of a European peacekeeping force for weeks, even though Ukraine and Russia are not yet even discussing a ceasefire.

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French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told the newspaper Le Parisien that the army talks on Tuesday were about determining the forces that would have to be deployed to secure peace and how to achieve long-term support for the Ukrainian army.

French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu has also floated the idea of arms depots in Europe, which could be used to supply Ukraine after a ceasefire in the event of a renewed crisis.

So far, there are no plans to inform the press about the results of the meeting.

On Wednesday, defence ministers from the five major NATO states will meet in Paris to discuss further support for Ukraine.
After yearslong litigation with community groups, staunch opposition from residents and recent resistance from the state environmental agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Tuesday it was dropping a plan to expand a toxic waste dump on the Southeast Side of Chicago.

Over the next two decades, the proposed 25-foot vertical expansion along the Lake Michigan shoreline would have taken in an additional 1 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment dredged from the Calumet River  the Corps solution to the disposal sites now-full 45 acres.

This is very good news and a victory for Chicagoans and all of us who care about protecting healthy communities and Lake Michigan, said Howard Learner, executive director of the Environmental Law and Policy Center and lead attorney for community groups in litigation against the Army Corps.

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After denying the Army Corps all of the state water quality permits needed to proceed, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency sent a letter in January saying the proposal was contrary to some environmental regulations, including an Illinois law that prohibits the construction of new landfills or the expansion of existing landfills in Cook County.

To drop its proposal, the Army Corps withdrew its formal approval of an environmental impact statement for the project it issued in 2020, which Learner called outdated since it used data from 2018. The agencys withdrawal follows a course of action the Environmental Law and Policy Center suggested to bring litigation to a reasonable closure.

In a news release, the Army Corps said it will work with the state, the city and the Illinois International Port District to explore sustainable and feasible alternatives.

The Army Corps has argued it needs somewhere to dispose of the sediment that has to be routinely dredged from the Calumet River so that commercial ships can pass through waterways connecting the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River basin.

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When the Alliance of the Southeast and Friends of the Parks sued the Army Corps in 2023, the community organizations claimed that the federal agency didnt consider alternative locations for a new dump or adequately assess the risks of expanding the current site.

In 2018, the Alliance of the Southeast rallied neighbors against the other sites  all located in the citys 10th Ward  where the federal agency was proposing to store the toxic waste before it decided to expand the existing site.

We are already overburdened with toxic landfills, toxic industry; we have a lot of air pollution, land pollution, water pollution. So weve had enough, said Amalia NietoGomez, the alliances executive director. It is our hope that the Army Corps look at sites that are outside of already overburdened communities.  This has been a hard-won fight that weve had, and we would not want another community to have to do the same.

The agencys original plan to manage dredging operations in the waterways was approved in 2020. The next year, Congress allocated funding for the vertical expansion of the disposal facility.

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In the Tuesday news release, the Army Corps said it remains committed to maintaining a safe and fully operational navigation system in Calumet Harbor and the Calumet River.

The Corps remains committed to maintaining commercial navigation in the Calumet Harbor, Calumet River, and the Cal-Sag Channel, said Col. Kenneth Rockwell, commander of the Chicago District. We will work closely with federal, state, and local partners to explore alternative solutions that balance environmental considerations, economic needs, and the long-term viability of these waterways.

In the January Illinois EPA letter, acting Director James Jennings urged the Army Corps to explore alternative means to manage dredged materials, including its disposal at permitted landfills or even upland beneficial use, which would entail its use on dry land for habitat creation, land reclamation, soil enhancement or even construction materials.

The ball is now in the court of the Army Corps of Engineers to come up with a better alternative, a better solution, Learner said.

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Since 1984, the Army Corps has been dumping toxic sediment dredged from the Calumet River into the containment site, which contains mercury, arsenic and polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs. After reaching capacity or after 10 years, whichever came first, the property was to be returned to the Chicago Park District to restore as a park for the largely Black and Latino community.

Four decades later, the property hasnt been turned over.

Gin Kilgore, interim executive director of Friends of the Parks, said in a statement Tuesday that the Army Corps did the right thing.

Now we can start turning our sights to capping the existing (disposal site) and turning it into the park they deserve and was promised to residents decades ago, she said.

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Learner said the win represents not only a legal victory.

This is an opportunity, particularly with the change in leadership at the Park District, to step up with the long-delayed, long-promised new lakefront park on the Southeast Side that will be used and enjoyed by people in the community and all Chicagoans, Learner said. I know Ive said this before  the lakefront is for people and parks, not toxic waste dumps.

adperez@chicagotribune.com
After yearslong litigation from residents and activists, and following recent opposition from the state of Illinois, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Tuesday it was dropping a plan to expand a toxic waste dump on the Southeast Side of Chicago.

Over the next two decades, the proposed 25-foot vertical expansion along the Lake Michigan shoreline would have taken in an additional 1 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment dredged from the Calumet River  the Corps solution to the disposal sites now-full 45 acres.

This is very good news and a victory for Chicagoans and all of us who care about protecting healthy communities and Lake Michigan, said Howard Learner, executive director of the Environmental Law and Policy Center and lead attorney for community groups in litigation against the Army Corps.

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After denying the Army Corps all of the state water quality permits needed to proceed, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency sent a letter saying the proposal was contrary to some environmental regulations, including an Illinois law that prohibits the construction of new landfills or the expansion of existing landfills in Cook County.

Learner said the agencys proposal defies common sense.

In a news release, the Army Corps said it will work with the state, the city and the Illinois International Port District to explore sustainable and feasible alternatives.

The Army Corps has argued it needs somewhere to dispose of the sediment that has to be routinely dredged from the Calumet River so that commercial ships can pass through waterways connecting the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River basin.

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When Alliance of the Southeast and Friends of the Parks sued the Army Corps in 2023, the community organizations claimed that the federal agency didnt consider alternative locations for a new dump or adequately assess the risks of expanding the current site.

In the Tuesday news release, the Army Corps said it remains committed to maintaining a safe and fully operational navigation system in Calumet Harbor and the Calumet River.

The agencys plan to manage dredging operations in the waterways and ensure commercial navigation was approved in 2020. The next year, Congress allocated funding for the vertical expansion of the disposal facility.

The Corps remains committed to maintaining commercial navigation in the Calumet Harbor, Calumet River, and the Cal-Sag Channel, said Col. Kenneth Rockwell, commander of the Chicago District. We will work closely with federal, state, and local partners to explore alternative solutions that balance environmental considerations, economic needs, and the long-term viability of these waterways.

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In the Illinois EPA letter, acting director James Jennings urged the Army Corps to explore alternative means to manage dredged materials, including its disposal at permitted landfills or even upland beneficial use, which would entail its use on dry land for habitat creation, land reclamation, soil enhancement or even construction materials.

The Army Corps will now need to find better and more sensible alternatives that are outside of Cook County and reduce the dredged waste to the extent practicable, Learner said. There are better solutions and better alternatives to the Corps flawed approach.

Since 1984, the Army Corps has been dumping toxic sediment dredged from the Calumet River into the containment site, which contains mercury, arsenic and polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs. After reaching capacity or after 10 years, whichever came first, the property was to be returned to the Chicago Park District to restore as a park for the largely Black and Latino community.

Four decades later, the property hasnt been turned over.

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The Army Corps, Park District and City of Chicago should now work together to restore the site and transform it into the long-delayed new lakefront park for the public to use and enjoy, Learner said. Chicagos lakefront is for people and parks, not toxic waste dumps.

_____
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  If you noticed posts regarding diversity, equity and inclusion vanishing from the Army Corps of Engineers social media pages  youre not wrong.

The agency said the Department of Defense requires them to remove and archive content promoting DEI.

A former employee with the Army Corps of Engineers said the week before she was let go it was part of her job to take down the agencys social media posts that had to do with DEI.

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I have respect, I have values, Im just sad they dont want to focus on them anymore, Cynthia Clark said. I just want to stand up for whats right.

Former federal worker in Kansas City shares his reality with DOGE cuts

Clark was a public affairs specialist with the Army Corps of Engineers.

Tuesday would have been one year at the job and off probationary period. But last week, Clark said she was fired for performance reasons.

They didnt give a real reason why, Clark said.

Clark said nearly 20 other people at their location have been laid off.

The Army Corps of Engineers said, its committed to maintaining a respectful and productive work environment for all employees  but could not comment on internal personnel matters.

As of March 10, we can verify that no employee of the Kansas City district has been terminated due to DOGE cuts, according to The Army Corps of Engineers.

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Clark is a retired veteran. She was in the Navy for more than 19 years and believes in the work done within the Army Corps of Engineers.

Im sad because the amazing friends and former coworkers I have that still work in this building, theyre veterans, Clark said, and once we take off the uniform, the wounds are still there.

Clark took part in the Deferred Resignation Program, noting she would get full pay and benefits through September. But instead  suddenly she was let go.

Clark said it happened one day after their deadline to scrub the agencys social media posts of anything related to diversity, equity and inclusion.

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We had to scrub through every single social media post, since the inception of our social media pages, Clark said, and get rid of anything that looked even the littlest like it might have been DEI.

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The Army Corps of Engineers said in a statement to FOX4, We removed and archived content promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), per the department of defense requirements.

Heres a list of some words and phrases Clark said they were told to search for: culture, historic, history month, LGBT, racism, respect, sexuality and values.

I respect minorities, and I respect people who have gone through so much, just to serve their country and be honored for it because they had all these obstacles that they overcame, and now all the obstacles that they overcame, every single record of that is gone, Clark said.

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PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  Firefighting equipment from the Prince Georges County Fire and EMS Department was donated to the Republic of Liberia.

On Monday, firefighting equipment valued at around $150,000 was donated to representatives visiting from the Republic of Liberia.

Residents in Camp Springs hoping for safety measures to curb dangerous speeding

The PPE included helmets, coats, gloves and boots.

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Councilmember Wala Belgay, whose father is from Liberia, helped facilitate the donations and met with the Liberian Vice President last week.

There are issues with access to gear. Youre talking about a country that has been for years, coming from a 14-year civil war, and its trying to get back on its feet, she said. Any help that it can get will save lives.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia and Ukraine have discussed efforts to achieve comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported Tuesday.

According to a joint statement carried by the SPA following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud at the Saudi port city of Jeddah on Monday, the Saudi prince expressed the hope that efforts will succeed in ending the war in line with international law and the UN Charter, including respect for the principles of sovereignty and internationally recognized borders.

Zelensky, for his part, expressed his appreciation for the kingdom's efforts in this regard and gratitude for the humanitarian and development aid the kingdom has provided to Ukraine.

Both sides commended the strong economic ties between the two countries and emphasized the importance of joint action to develop the volume of trade exchange.

The two sides also welcomed the upcoming re-establishment of the Saudi-Ukrainian Business Council in 2025.

Zelensky arrived in Jeddah on Monday, ahead of talks between U.S. and Ukrainian delegations that began in the city earlier on Tuesday. He left earlier on Tuesday without participating in the talks.

The talks came about two weeks after a U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal was called off. U.S. military assistance to Ukraine was also suspended after U.S. President Donald Trump and Zelensky were embroiled in a rare shouting match at the White House on Feb. 28.

According to Al-Arabiya News, Ukraine will propose to the United States a plan for a partial ceasefire in an initiative to regain the White House's support. The White House has been demanding that Ukraine make concessions to end its three-year war with Russia. 
The Pomona Police Department has made an arrest in connection with a fatal shooting in December.

Gregory Estel, 65, was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the 600 block of Lincoln Avenue on Dec. 15.

Estel, who was found inside his vehicle, was declared dead at the scene.

During an extensive investigation, deputies were able to identify 56-year-old Julious Whiten of Covina as being involved in the murder of Gregory Estel, police said in a news release.

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Whiten, 56, faces charges of murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is being held at the Mens Central Jail and was due to appear in Pomona Municipal Court on Monday.

Police said Whiten is being held without bail, and while jail records show a $4.205 million bail, a release hold was placed by the California Department of Corrections.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call police at 909-622-1241.

To report information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
EASLEY, S.C. (WSPA)  A woman is behind bars, accused of killing her baby as she delivered the child on March 7.

According to the Easley Police Department, An T. Ngo attended her bond hearing straight from the hospital. The judge at Ngos hearing could not set bond, due to the charge of homicide by child abuse carrying a life sentence.

Easley Police Chief Brandon Liner said officers were called to Nations Way near Powdersville Road on Friday night.

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The reason they responded was because it was an EMS call for service, Chief Liner said. They get on the scene and realize very quickly. This is something much more.

An T. Ngo arrives at a court hearing in Easley, S.C., March 11, 2025 (WSPA Photo)

According to warrants, Ngo is accused of repeatedly stabbing her baby with a long metal letter opener during and after giving birth to him, cutting the umbilical cord, putting him in a black trash bag and moving him to another room in the apartment.

Reports also said that Ngo confirmed her actions to police as she was read her rights.

It was very apparent that Ms. Ngo is the one who tragically murdered this child and it is at that time we went ahead and applied for a warrant for a homicide by child abuse, Chief Liner explained.

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Liner said this case is unlike anything he has experienced in 25 years.

Ive been doing this for two-and-a-half decades and Ive never seen anything this gruesome, anything this bad, said Chief Liner.

Liner said the investigation into the infants death is still in its early stages, but that his team will make an effort to hold those responsible accountable.

We are fully committed to uncovering the truth of this incident, holding the responsible accountable and ensuring justice is found for this child, Chief Liner explained.

Officials said that a bond for Ngo should be set by the circuit court judge in the next 30 to 45 days.

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The full press conference held by the Easley Police Department about Ngos arrest and charges.

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MANILA, Philippines (AP)  Philippine ex-President Rodrigo Duterte, who left a savage legacy from his deadly anti-drugs crackdown, was arrested on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity for the thousands killed in a war he waged against drugs in a political career spanning decades. His detention capped an international investigation into the killings, which unfolded for more than a dozen years.

Duterte again came under the spotlight during a weekend trip to Hong Kong when the trip sparked speculation that he may have gone into exile to evade arrest. He had appeared as the main speaker on Sunday at a gathering of thousands of cheering and flag-waving Filipino expatriates, who jammed Southorn Stadium in downtown Wan Chai district.

Now 79 and in poor health, Duterte campaigned for his political partys senatorial candidates ahead of the May 12 mid-term elections in the Philippines. He said he was aware the International Criminal Court had issued a warrant for his arrest.

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He again tried to justify the brutal crackdown as the crowd cheered him on. Police arrested him as he got off the plane at Manila International Airport based on an ICC warrant.

Heres more about Duterte, his ICC case and what lies ahead for one of Asias most unorthodox leaders in his time:

Why was Duterte popular at home but condemned internationally?

Duterte, a former prosecutor, congressman and longtime mayor of the southern Philippine city of Davao, built a political name with his expletive-laced outbursts against the elites, the dominant Roman Catholic church and the West. He was also seen as pro-poor and a populist, but he is perhaps best remembered for his brutal approach to criminality, particularly illegal drugs.

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Under his police-enforced crackdown in Davao at the start of the millennium, an estimated 1,000 mostly poor suspects were gunned down extrajudicially. One police officer involved in the Davao killings who later distanced himself from Duterte told The Associated Press that up to 10,000 suspects were killed by his and other police and civilian hit squads.

The death toll in the crackdown was alarmingly high for years, gaining Duterte nicknames like the Punisher and Duterte Harry, after the Western movie police character with little regard for the law.

Human rights activists said people were afraid to testify against Duterte in court.

In 2016, Duterte won the presidency on an audacious but failed promise to eradicate illegal drugs and corruption within three to six months, in a country long weary of crime and corruption scandals.

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All of you who are into drugs, you sons of bitches, I will really kill you, Duterte told a huge crowd in a 2016 campaign stop in Manila. I have no patience, I have no middle ground. Either you kill me or I will kill you idiots.

The United States, the European Union and other Western governments raised the alarm over the anti-drugs campaign, prompting Duterte in 2016 to tell then-President Barack Obama you can go to hell as he threatened to break up with America.

What case does Duterte face before the ICC?

The ICC launched an investigation into drug killings under Duterte from Nov. 1, 2011, when he was still mayor of Davao, to March 16, 2019, as possible crimes against humanity. Duterte withdrew the Philippines in 2019 from the Rome Statute, the court's founding treaty, in a move human rights activists say was aimed at escaping accountability over the killings.

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The Duterte administration moved to suspend the global courts investigation in late 2021 by arguing that Philippine authorities were already looking into the same allegations, arguing the ICC  a court of last resort  didnt have jurisdiction.

Appeals judges at the ICC ruled in July 2023 the investigation could resume and rejected the Duterte administrations objections. Based in The Hague, the Netherlands, the ICC can step in when countries are unwilling or unable to prosecute suspects in the most heinous international crimes, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who succeeded Duterte in 2022 and became entangled in a bitter political dispute with the former president, has decided not to rejoin the global court. But the Marcos administration has said it would cooperate if the ICC asks international police to take Duterte into custody through a so-called Red Notice, a request for law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and temporarily arrest a crime suspect.

China, which controls Hong Kong, and the Philippines do not currently belong to the ICC, but both are members of Interpol. The global court may issue a warrant for Dutertes arrest through Interpol.

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A prominent Philippine politician closely involved in the ICC cases against Duterte told the AP over the weekend the global court had issued a warrant for Duterte's arrest through Interpol. The politician spoke on condition of anonymity because of a lack of authority to discuss the sensitive issue publicly.

Neither the ICC nor Interpol have yet confirmed the issuance of an arrest warrant.

What will happen to Duterte?

In his rambling speech before mostly Filipino workers in Hong Kong on Sunday, Duterte again justified his deadly anti-drugs campaign, saying it safeguarded Filipino people.

Duterte has denied authorizing extrajudicial killings, but he openly and repeatedly threatened to kill suspected drug dealers when he was in office.

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What was my sin? Duterte asked in Hong Kong. I did everything in my time so Filipinos can have a little peace and tranquility.

He said he was prepared to go to jail but told the crowd in jest to make donations for the construction of a monument of him  which he suggested with a gesture of his hand should show him holding a gun.

Duterte had said he retired from politics after his stormy presidential term ended in 2022. But in another turnaround from his earlier remarks, he registered to run for mayor of Davao with one of his sons as his running mate to be vice mayor, in elections in May.

In Davao, additional police forces were deployed at the international airport and extra checkpoints were set up in what authorities said were meant to be prepared for any contingency ahead of the mid-term elections. The forces in Davao and elsewhere could step in if Dutertes arrest were to ignite unrest, which the Marcos administration said it could deftly handle.
ELKHART  The city of Elkhart began the 2025 ASPIRE Construction Season this past week.

The project is a significant initiative aimed at enhancing infrastructure and economic growth. To help with the undertaking, residents can stay informed about the progress of the 2025 ASPIRE construction through regular updates on the ASPIRE website.

The 2025 Aspire Construction Season will focus on key infrastructure projects, including:

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 Benham Avenue, which started this week under the Benham Neighborhood Initiative

 Oakland Wastewater Storage Tank, which begins later in March

 Blazer Boulevard and Railroad Crossing, also beginning in March and overseen by Patriot Railroad

 The Flats at Pinecreek, which starts May through Crossroads 41 and will have 252 units

 515 East, which also starts in May with 48 units

 The Cassopolis Gateway and Street Scape, which is expected to be completed in the second quarter

 Woodland Crossing-Goodwill, where a ribbon cutting will be held March 19

According to Mayor Rod Roberson-City of Elkhart, the next 18-24 months are critical as many of these projects are launched.

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"Infrastructure is the backbone of any thriving community," Roberson said. "By investing in our roads, bridges, and public spaces, we are not only improving the daily lives of our residents but also attracting new opportunities to Elkhart. This construction season is dedicated to our next phase of ASPIRE projects, where we are building the Elkhart of Tomorrow."

Roberson added, While we understand that construction can be inconvenient, each project is a stepping stone towards a more vibrant and resilient Elkhart. Our investments today will pave the way for a brighter tomorrow as ASPIRE Elkhart states Tomorrows Elkhart, Starting Today.

The projects slated for this construction season are part of a comprehensive plan that aligns with Elkhart's long-term vision for sustainable growth and development.
Four astronauts are gearing up to launch to the International Space Station on Wednesday. Their arrival will, at long last, kick off the process of bringing NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore home to Earth.

Williams and Wilmore have been the focus of public attention since they launched on the first crewed test flight of Boeings Starliner spacecraft in June. Although the plan called for them to stay on the space station for roughly a week, they have now spent nine months in orbit.

The Boeing capsule on which the pair launched encountered several problems on its journey to the ISS, including thruster malfunctions and leaking propulsion. So NASA opted to bring the Starliner craft back to Earth with no one onboard, leaving the two astronauts at the orbiting outpost.

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NASA then switched crew rotations around to free up seats on a SpaceX Dragon capsule to enable Williams and Wilmore to return home.

That capsule arrived at the space station on Sept. 29, carrying NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. The plan calls for Wilmore and Williams to hitch a ride with them at the end of their roughly six-month mission.

That time is approaching as the new crew prepares to launch. Heading to space Wednesday are NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. They are expected to ride into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on a mission known as Crew-10.

The crew of NASAs SpaceX Crew-10 mission poses inside SpaceXs new Dragon processing facility at the Kennedy Space Center on Feb. 17, 2025. From left, Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, NASA astronauts Nichole Ayers and Anne McClain and JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi.

Liftoff is scheduled for at 7:48 p.m. ET from NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

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The Crew-10 astronauts are set to arrive at the space station Thursday, docking at around 6 a.m. ET. From there, theyll take over from the four who are wrapping up.

The four crew members of the Crew-9 mission: NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard the International Space Station on Feb. 26.

Although NASAs plan for Williams and Wilmores return has remained relatively consistent since it was announced in August, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and President Donald Trump recently made unsubstantiated claims that the Biden administration held up the flight back to Earth for political reasons.

The comments, which Musk made in a joint interview with Trump that aired on Fox News last month, led to a public spat on X between Musk and several current and retired astronauts. European astronaut Andreas Mogensen called Musks comments a lie, and Musk fired back, calling Mogensen an idiot and a derogatory term. Retired astronauts Scott Kelly, Mark Kelly and Chris Hadfield also weighed in online.

NASA has maintained that its decision about the timing of Williams and Wilmores return was based on the safety of the crew members and the space station. The agency in December delayed the Crew-10 launch until late March to allow more time to process a new Dragon capsule, but NASA and SpaceX ultimately decided to use a spacecraft that had previously flown to cut down on the wait. (SpaceXs Dragon capsules are reusable.)

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An exact date for Williams and Wilmores return to Earth hasnt yet been announced. The handover period on the ISS typically lasts several days, during which outgoing crew members train and brief their incoming colleagues on experiments and other ongoing work.

NASA and SpaceX will also monitor conditions at the targeted splashdown sites off Florida before they announce an official landing date and time.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens will officially launched his campaign for re-election on Tuesday.

Dickens and his team held a news conference at 11 a.m. Former Mayor Shirley Franklin, Ambassador Andrew Young and former State Senator Jason Carter were among the other notable figures who will be in attendance.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The mayor shared highlights of his first term and his vision for a second term if he is re-elected.

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Tuesdays campaign launch has been in the works for at least a year.

A spokesperson for Dickens confirmed to Channel 2 Action News in Feb. 2024 that the mayor planned to run in 2025. But he wanted to focus first on getting through the 2024 election before he turned his focus to 2025.

I love being the mayor of Atlanta, a job Ive wanted since I was 16 years old. I believe we have accomplished a lot in the first two years, and I intend to work hard in the next two years and beyond, Dickens said in a statement at the time.

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Dickens grew up in Atlanta and graduated from Mays High School and Georgia Tech. He served on the Atlanta City Council before he was elected as the citys 61st mayor in 2021.

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The next Atlanta mayoral election is set for November 2025. Dickens is the only candidate who has declared so far.

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AURORA, Colo. (KDVR)  The Aurora Police Department is sending a message to criminals by loosening its pursuit policy.

The change went into effect on March 5. Over the past several years, police have not engaged in pursuits for felony offenses like stolen vehicles. Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain says its time to hold criminals accountable.

I thought I was only going 96 mph: Police share extreme speed detections

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I think its a much needed change, said James Allbee, law enforcement procedural expert. Its going to come down to some common sense policing where officers are going to have to constantly be doing risk assessments to determine whether or not the pursuit does need to continue or if its going to be terminated. Thats due to a lot of risk factors.

Those factors include suspect identification, vehicle and pedestrian traffic, nature of the area, weather and road conditions and speed.

I think the word has gotten out to the criminals and they are aware if they run they are not going to be pursued, said Allbee. Once the word gets out theres going to be accountability again.

Pursuits are now authorized under certain circumstances, including:

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The suspect has committed or is committing a felony and presents a serious risk to public

safety if not immediately stopped

The suspect has committed or is committing a crime involving a firearm that poses a

serious threat of harm to the public

The suspect is driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (DUI/DWI)

The suspect is driving a motor vehicle that has been confirmed stolen

Not everyone agrees with the revised policy.

Ive seen and heard things about police pursuits that can go awry and people can get hurt that shouldnt have got hurt, said Aurora resident Lily.

John Padilla said, In the long run its a slippery slope and I just think it puts the general public in danger just way too much. I mean if criminals are trying to run, they are going to do what it takes to get away.

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Are these your keys? Westminster police find over a dozen key fobs in stolen truck

Chamberlain defended the change in a release.

As the Chief of Police, my primary responsibility is ensuring the safety of the Aurora community while upholding the rights of residents not to be victimized by crime, Chamberlain wrote. Over the past several years, the Aurora Police Department has not engaged in pursuits of stolen vehicles, despite auto theft being a felony offense. This has created a reality where offenders believe they can victimize our community with no consequence, simply fleeing from law enforcement to avoid accountability.

This is unacceptable, Chamberlain continued. Public safety demands a balanced approach; one that allows officers to exercise discretion in holding offenders accountable while always considering the risks.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
This story has been updated with additional information.

The InfoWars writer who Alex Jones, the founder of the conspiracy website, said was "brutally murdered" late Sunday was possibly killed by people burglarizing his vehicle, according to the Austin Police Department.

Police said in a statement Tuesday that Jamie White, 36, was found lying on the ground in the parking lot of the apartment complex where he lived, with trauma to his body. He was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead at 12:19 a.m. Monday, the department said.

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"The initial investigation shows that White was shot and killed in the parking lot of the apartment complex in which he lived," the statement said. "The suspects then fled the scene. Detectives believe the suspects were possibly burglarizing Whites vehicle, when he interrupted them."

Whites body is in the possession of the the Travis County medical examiners office, county spokesman Hector Nieto confirmed.

The Police Department is asking that anyone in the area who may have had their vehicle burglarized Sunday or Monday, to come forward. Photos, videos, or potential evidence, can be submitted online.

In a statement released on social media Monday evening, Jones said White had been a "reporter" for the far-right site. White's most recent article was published a day before his death.

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"We pledge that Jamies tragic death will not be in vain, and those responsible for this senseless violence will be brought to justice," Jones said in a statement that blamed White's death "in part" on the policies of Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza, a Democrat.

Garza dismissed Jones' claim in a statement provided to the American-Statesman.

"Our hearts go out to the family of Jamie White," Garza said. "It is shameful, but not surprising, that Alex Jones is trying to exploit the victims death for political gain. However, we will not let Jones distract us from our work in seeking justice for Mr. White and supporting the Austin Police Department in its investigation."

State Rep. Briscoe Cain, a Republican from Deer Park, also blamed Garza in a post on X that claimed that "Austin is becoming more unsafe because of the policies of progressive Democrats."

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In 2022, Jones was found guilty of defamation by juries in Texas and Connecticut after he repeatedly claimed that the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting, which killed 20 children and six adults, was a hoax and that the families of the victims were "paid crisis actors."

He was ordered to pay $1.4 billion in damages and later filed for bankruptcy.

Late last year, the satirical news source the Onion, along with the Sandy Hook families who Jones defamed, successfully bid on InfoWars to cover the damages. A federal bankruptcy judge rejected the sale and ownership reverted back to Jones.

As of February 2025, the news site's sale was still pending.

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Anyone with information about the homicide can contact the Austin Police Department at 512-974-TIPS. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477.

Staff reporter Tony Plohetski contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: APD say InfoWars writer Jamie White possibly killed by car burglars
BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- China supports all efforts conducive to a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis and hopes all parties can reach a just, lasting and acceptable solution, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday.

China is willing to continue to work with the international community to play a constructive role in the political settlement of the crisis, Mao said at a regular news briefing.

The Ukraine-U.S. meeting is scheduled for Tuesday in Saudi Arabia's port city of Jeddah. It follows a rare shouting match at the White House between Trump and Zelensky in late February, which led to the cancellation of a bilateral minerals agreement and the subsequent suspension of U.S. military aid to Ukraine. 
(Bloomberg) -- Australia is playing down the possibility of an exemption from steel and aluminum tariffs expected from US President Donald Trump within days, despite last-minute discussions between officials in Canberra and Washington.

Most Read from Bloomberg

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Australia Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd has held meetings with Trump administration officials in recent days, while Trade Minister Don Farrell has met steel and aluminum producers to discuss possible diversification strategies. Speaking on Monday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was meeting with officials from Rio Tinto and Bluescope Steel in advance of the decision.

It is in Australias interest, but its also in the economic interests of the US for Australia to be exempted from tariffs that of course just increase prices for the purchaser of those goods, he said. Albanese said in February that Australias steel and aluminum were both critical inputs for the US manufacturing sector.

Following a call with Albanese in February, Trump said he would give consideration to a potential exemption for Australia from 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum exports to the US. However, since then senior Trump trade advisers have played down the possibility, accusing Australia of killing the American aluminum industry.

Asked by reporters outside the White House on March 7, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said Trump didnt like the word exemption.

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I walk in and I offer an exemption then Ill probably get kicked out of the office, well see how it goes though. Maybe therell be some. I doubt it, Hassett said. The steel and aluminum tariffs are due to come into effect on March 12 in the US.

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, whose government managed to negotiate tariff exemptions in Trumps first term, told Bloomberg on Monday it would be a lot harder for Australia to get the same deal this time around.

I suspect hell conclude himself that you give one country an exemption, then you have to give another and another, and before long there are too many exemptions and you havent got much of a tariff, Turnbull said.

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SYDNEY (Reuters) - A surfer is feared dead after being attacked by a shark in shallow water on a remote beach in Western Australia, police said on Tuesday.

A 30-year-old man from Melbourne was reported missing on Monday after witnesses saw a struggle and heard screams at Wharton Beach, a remote area around 800 km (497 miles) from the state capital, Perth.

A surfboard with bite marks was later recovered from the beach.

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Police believe the man was killed during the attack after failing to locate his body.

The family has been notified. I suspect it will be a recovery of a body if we can find it, Western Australia Police Commissioner Col Blanch said in an interview with Perth radio station 6PR on Tuesday.

Drone footage shot by a witness captured a shark swimming away from a large cloud of blood close to the shore, he added.

The man's suspected death would be the fourth fatal shark attack in the area since 2017, two of which were suspected to have been caused by great white sharks, which can grow up to 6 metres (20 feet) in length.

(Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney; Editing by Lincoln Feast)
TRIGG COUNTY, Ky. (WKRN)  An investigation is underway after a high-speed chase reportedly led to a deadly officer-involved shooting Tuesday morning in Trigg County.

According to Kentucky State Police (KSP), a preliminary investigation indicates that KSP troopers attempted to stop a vehicle near mile marker 42 on I-24 when the vehicle fled.

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The pursuit reportedly continued into Trigg County, which is where deputies joined in. Officials added the suspect exited the vehicle and fled from law enforcement on foot after crashing near mile marker 65.

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At some point during the pursuit, the suspect began shooting at law enforcement, striking one deputy. KSP said thats when three Trigg County deputies fired back at the suspect, striking him as well.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

The suspect identified as 21-year-old Jermaine Terrell Jackson Jr. of Florissant, Missouri died at the scene, officials said. Meanwhile, one deputy sustained injuries and was flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, where he remains in stable condition.

Additional details about the incident were not immediately released.

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 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.
The Iowa Department of Corrections is looking for a man who failed to report back to the Ottumwa Residential Facility over the weekend.

Jaron Nathan (Iowa Department of Corrections)

Jaron James Nathan was convicted of intimidation with a dangerous weapon in Des Moines County and failed to report back to the Ottumwa Residential Facility as required on Saturday, March 8.

Nathan is an 18-year-old Black man who stands 510 and weighs 171-pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on January 10.

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Persons with information on Nathans whereabouts should contact local 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 WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA)  Avelo Airlines is expanding its service in Lakeland with two new routes.

The airline will start flying nonstop to Grand Rapids, Michigan and Long Island, New York in June. It is the only airline offering nonstop service between Central Florida and these two destinations.

Avelo said one-way fees will start at $69 and operate twice weekly.

Bags fly free no more: Southwest Airlines to end free checked luggage policy

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Avelos service at Lakeland offers Floridians easy access to air travel, especially for Customers who value the convenience of a small airport. With two new destinations joining our seven existing nonstop routes, Customers flying at Lakeland can expect more time and freedom to explore Florida in any direction they choose, Avelo Airlines Founder and CEO Andrew Levy said.

Destination Service days Start date Grand Rapids, Mich. via Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) Fridays and Mondays June 13 New York / Long Island, N.Y. via Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) Thursdays and Sundays June 12

With the addition of Grand Rapids, MI (GRR) and Long Island, NY (ISP), Lakeland International Airport is looking forward to the possibilities this opens to our home or visiting communities, whether that be a new vacation spot or a connection to loved ones, Lakeland International Airport Director Kris Hallstrand said.

Breeze Airways announces new nonstop flight from TPA

Avelo Airlines currently serves nine nonstop destinations. To learn more, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
This is an adapted excerpt from the March 8 episode of Ayman.

During his campaign, Donald Trump made a lot of big promises to voters, including his vow that, if elected, he would end Russias war with Ukraine within 24 hours. But, of course, that didnt happen nor was it ever going to. In fact, with Trump in the White House, were even further from peace, especially after his shameful Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy late last month.

Since that day, Trump has been on a PR blitz with three main objectives:

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Make Zelenskyy seem ungrateful.

Blame former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama for the war.

And convince the American people hes tough on Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite his actions saying otherwise.

He [Zelenskyy] took money out of this country, under Biden, like candy from a baby  it was so easy. ... I just dont think hes grateful, Trump told Fox News Maria Bartiromo.

He added: Nobody has been tougher on Russia than Donald Trump. Nobody. And they know that. They know that.

Now, Trump did threaten Russia with sanctions recently, but that threat felt incredibly hollow. Plus, Russia is already heavily sanctioned by the U.S. Beyond the talk, Trump has made a string of recent decisions against Ukraine. He has halted military aid. He has cut off intelligence sharing and access to satellite imagery, which Ukraine uses to track Russian troops. And now, he wants more than just a minerals deal from Zelenskyy in order to give back aid and intelligence. Trump even said he was considering revoking protections for more than 240,000 Ukrainian refugees in the U.S.

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If this war feels far from over to us, imagine how Ukrainians must feel right now. As for Putin, hes taking full advantage. Russian attacks have ramped up. Last week, Russia launched airstrikes across Ukraine, killing at least 20 and injuring many more.

When Trump came into office, it was clear he was looking for a quick win. He knows thats not happening with Gaza, so maybe he figured: Why not gamble with Ukraine? But thats not working either. So now he needs someone to blame and that appears to be Zelenskyy.

Given Trumps history, none of this should shock Ukraine, Europe or NATO. Trump has praised Putin over and over. Back in 2018, he even said Crimea should be part of Russia, two diplomatic sources told BuzzFeed at the time. Just off that alone, maybe every party involved should have had a plan in place for the day Trump ditched the norms of U.S. foreign policy.

Ukraine might rely on the U.S., but Zelenskyy isnt letting Trump paint it as weak. Ukraine has made it clear it refuses to surrender without real security guarantees. Thats because Zelenskyy still has options. Europe is still sending billions in aid, domestic weapons production is ramping up and Ukrainians are already figuring out how to counter Trump siding with Putin.

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Bottom line: Trump is trying to twist Zelenskyys arm like Ukraine is some colonial asset. He expects Ukraine to roll over and sign a peace deal because he tells it to. Trump, like Putin, sees Ukraine as an obstacle, just something to be controlled. He believes it should be grateful to have a seat at the table.

But Trump is making the same mistake as Putin: underestimating Ukraine. As history keeps proving, underestimating a country and its people never ends well.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Repealing the magistrates  who have been appointed to five-year terms  could have financial repercussions, the New Hampshire Judicial System warned in a fiscal note attached to HB 592. (Photo by Andrew Brookes/Getty Images)

Three months after a 2024 bipartisan bail reform law took effect, New Hampshire Republicans, including Gov. Kelly Ayotte, are seeking to roll back large parts of it.

But finding consensus on how to do so could be complicated  and a test of Ayottes legislative influence. Some lawmakers are pushing for major changes; others, including Democrats, are hoping to preserve the system as is.

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In addition to a number of tweaks to the states bail system, the 2024 law created three magistrates  trained attorneys empowered to hold arraignments and set bail terms for defendants who cant get before a judge within 24 hours of their arrest. Those magistrates started hearing cases Jan. 1.

Ayotte and others had been skeptical of the magistrates since then-Gov. Chris Sununu signed the bill in 2024. But a February decision by one of the new magistrates to grant bail to a person accused of stabbing another person with a knife has galvanized the governor and other bail reform opponents. Now, they are calling to end the new system.

Send me legislation to fix this once and for all, Ayotte said to lawmakers in her Feb. 13 budget address, referring to that decision.

House Bill 592 is one vehicle to do that. Sponsored by Rep. Ross Berry, a Weare Republican and longtime critic of the original 2018 bail reform law, HB 592 would repeal the magistrate system entirely and instead require people who are arrested to be seen before a judge in a circuit court or superior court within 24 hours of that arrest  with weekends excluded.

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The bill would extend that mandatory trial period to 72 hours for people arrested while on release pending trial for another felony or misdemeanor.

And it would give judges broad tools to require the defendant to provide cash bail in order to ensure their future appearance in court.

Democrats and civil rights advocates say the effort is unnecessary, and have raised issues with the example from Manchester, noting that higher courts have upheld the magistrates decision to release that defendant, and pointing to the existence of self-defense claims.

Supporters of the 2024 law say the magistrate system allows people who are arrested to be seen in front of trained officers of the court  magistrates  in order for them to get bail on weekends and evenings when courts are closed. The magistrates are meant to augment the existing bail commissioner system, in which commissioners make quick decisions over whether to release someone ahead of their arraignment before a judge; instead, a magistrate can simply hold that arraignment.

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But Berry argues that system has failed because too many dangerous people have been released who might not have been with tougher bail requirements.

(Personal recognizance) bail has been basically an adamant failure, he said at a hearing. We do finally have something that will put an end to this.

Repealing the magistrates  who have been appointed to five-year terms  could have financial repercussions, the New Hampshire Judicial System warned in a fiscal note attached to HB 592.

This change will increase the number of bail commissioner fees required and necessitate judges to cover hearings during regular court hours that magistrates would have otherwise overseen, the analysis reads. A judges salary and benefits are twice those of a magistrate. With three magistrates being hired, trained, and starting their five-year terms on January 1, 2025, the Judicial Branch recommends that, if the legislature intends to eliminate the magistrate position, it should be phased out at the end of the current magistrates five-year term.

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And Democrats say it is premature. It is disappointing to have spent so much time really carefully making adjustments to our bail process that havent been given the time of day to fully work or not work yet, said Rep. Alissandra Murray, a Manchester Democrat.

HB 592 is moving to the House floor on Thursday after a party-line, Republican-led recommendation of ought to pass by the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee last month. But the committee added additional requirements.

An amendment from the Republican committee majority would make it a rebuttable presumption that an arrested person who violated a condition of their bail after a previous arrest will not abide by bail conditions, and requires the court or bail commissioner to hold them after their arrest. The defendant could then present evidence at the bail hearing to try to refute that presumption and prove they will adhere to their bail.

We have heard from the people of Manchester that they request that our bail bills be tightened, that too many people were getting out, said Rep. Terry Roy, a Deerfield Republican and the chairman of the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee. Whether or not that is the case, it is the public perception that it is.

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Committee Republicans also added the requirement that a person who is charged with a list of serious felonies and offenses be detained before their arraignment.

The amendment aligns the bill with language in Ayottes budget trailer bill, House Bill 2. I think its a strong proposal, because its my proposal, so that helps, Ayotte said during a Feb. 26 press conference, reacting to the committee vote.

Democrats on the committee have objected to the attempt to repeal magistrates, and have put forward a proposal of their own to clarify how bail should be decided.

A proposed amendment to HB 592 by Democrats would require magistrates and judges to consider a defendants prior convictions  including for violent crimes  and pending felony charges when deciding whether there is clear and convincing evidence that they would be a danger to themselves or others if released. But the amendment would also require courts and magistrates to consider the defendants employment situation, status as a single parent, and status as a sole income producer for dependents.

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The competing ideas underscore a longstanding reality for bail bills in New Hampshire: Proposing them is easier than passing them. A libertarian streak among some House Republicans has upended previous Senate Republican efforts to roll back the 2018 bail law. The bill signed by Sununu in 2024, House Bill 318, was meant to be a final compromise in the effort.

Ayotte said she is prepared to add legislative pressure.

Im going to be pushing this bill, she said Feb. 26. I will be making calls  myself and my staff  to talk to any members to answer questions about this bill, because I think its really important for public safety.
GOSHEN  Women who are forced by state law to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term can safely surrender the infant in Goshen.

The organization Safe Haven Baby Box installed a secure, climate-controlled box in a supplies garage behind the Goshen Fire Departments central station downtown. The location was chosen because there are no security cameras, allowing women to surrender their child anonymously.

Once the door is closed, theres a weight sensor so there would be a call that goes to dispatch, Mayor Gina Leichty explained Friday during the unveiling of the box. But theres also a notification that goes to the administrators of this fire station, so they know immediately that a child has been placed in the box. And its also locked from the outside.

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The organization 100 Women Who Care chose Safe Haven Baby Box to receive a $10,000 grant to install the device. Ongoing maintenance will be covered by a fund at the Community Foundation of Elkhart County.

They came to us with the idea and we felt like it was certainly something that was welcomed by our fire department and the community. Certainly something thats a need, to provide just one more option for people, Leichty said. While we hope that people are never faced with this kind of crisis, we hope that people know that there is this option available as an option of last resort. Theres a safe way.

Under Indianas Safe Haven Law, a person is allowed to surrender a newborn to an emergency medical services provider within 30 days of birth without being subject to prosecution for neglect or abandonment. No information is required from the person leaving the baby as long as there are no signs of abuse.

After an infant is examined and given medical treatment if needed, the Indiana Department of Child Services takes it into custody through Child Protective Services or a licensed agency and the infant is placed with a caregiver.

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The Goshen location marks the 145th Baby Box in Indiana and the 321st in the nation. Monica Kelsey, CEO of Safe Haven Baby Box, started the organization in 2016 based on her own experience of being abandoned at an Ohio hospital shortly after birth in the 1970s.

In my opinion, we would rather have a box and not need it than need a box and not have it. If a community doesnt have a Baby Box and theres a mother who cant go very far, whats going to happen? Kelsey said. We see that all over America, every three to four days in America, a baby is dumped. ... Thats not happening in Indiana anymore.
When Southwest Airlines announced significant customer service changes in July 2024, including the end of its open seating policy, it said bags would still fly free.

That's no longer true for all Southwest passengers.

In separate announcements to passengers and investors on Tuesday, March 11, Southwest said it will phase out its popular Bags Fly Free policy that allows all passengers to fly with up to two checked bags at no extra cost.

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The perk made Southwest, which operates the second-most flights at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, stand apart from other airlines. But Southwest has recently made changes in the face of declining profits and pressure from an activist investor, the hedge fund Elliott Management, which owns a 10% stake in the airline.

The addition of bag fees, along with others that include reclassifying its lowest-priced Wanna Get Away fare as Basic, will make Southwest's customer experience similar to its competitors.

Coke Lounge, Tacos Chiwas: New restaurants coming to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport in early 2025

What is the new baggage policy for Southwest?

Until Tuesday's announcement, Southwest passengers were allowed up to two free checked bags per flight. Soon, most flyers will have to pay to check bags on Southwest.

Who will have to pay to check on Southwest?

Checked bags on Southwest will only be free for people who book the Business Select fare or are A-List Preferred members of Southwest Rapid Rewards, who can check up to two free bags; and A-List members and other select customers, who can check one free bag.

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All other passengers will have to pay to check their baggage.

"We recognize these changes may be a disappointment to some, but know we're committed to building a Southwest that will continue to offer you low fares, convenient flights to destinations you want and a travel experience that is rewarding," Southwest CEO Bob Jordan said in the airline's emailed announcement to customers.

When will Southwest Airlines begin charging for check luggage?

Southwest passengers will begin paying to check luggage for flights booked on or after May 28.

How much is Southwest baggage fee?

Southwest did not say what the baggage fee would be. When contacted by The Arizona Republic, a Southwest spokesperson said they could not discuss future pricing.

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Here's what some of Southwest's competitors charge for checked bags:

American Airlines baggage fees: For domestic travel, American Airlines charges $40 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second checked bag. The first checked bag costs $35 if you pay online in advance. For international destinations in the Americas, such as Canada and Mexico, American charges $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second checked bag.

United Airlines baggage fees: For domestic travel, United Airlines charges $40 for the first checked bag and $50 for the second checked bag. The fees are $35 for the first bag and $45 for the second bag if you pay online at least 24 hours before your flight. Fees are similar for international destinations in the Americas and the Caribbean, but with no discount for paying in advance.

Delta Air Lines baggage fees: Checked baggage fees for U.S., Canada and Mexico flights are $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second checked bag.

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Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist whos covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republics consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Southwest new baggage policy: Here's when you'll pay
By Qabil Ashirov



Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has stated that, during his discussions with President Ilham Aliyev, the topic of peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia was addressed, along with other issues, Azernews reports, citing President Erdo?an, as he said about the outcomes of President Aliyevs visit to Ankara during a briefing on the results of the latest Cabinet meeting.

"During President Ilham Aliyev's visit on March 5, we participated in the opening of the I?d?r-Nakhchivan gas pipeline, which will fully supply the autonomous republic with gas for at least 30 years," Erdo?an mentioned.

He noted that he had the opportunity to discuss many important topics with "brother Ilham Aliyev," particularly the issue of peace negotiations with Armenia.

The Turkish President also touched upon Ankaras dialogue with European Union countries.

"Ankara's partners in Europe must recognise and accept Turkiye's role in the changing global order and shape their strategies in accordance with new global realities. Our priority remains the comprehensive development of relations with the European Union based on common interests and mutual respect. The course toward full membership in the EU remains unchanged," the Turkish leader emphasised.

Erdo?an drew attention to the growth indicators of Turkiye's economy. "The size of the Turkish economy has reached 1.3 trillion dollars, and the GDP per capita has surpassed 15 thousand dollars," he said, also highlighting that investments in Turkiye and the scale of exports have increased.

Touching on the situation in Syria, Erdo?an remarked that certain forces continue their attempts to destabilize the situation in the neighbouring country. "Provocateurs among the supporters of the former Bashar al-Assad regime are using interfaith tensions. Despite the remaining risks, the situation is under control due to the efforts of the Syrian government," he positively assessed the actions of the official Damascus.

"Ankara sincerely hopes that peace and stability will be established in Syria as soon as possible," Erdo?an added.

The Turkish President also commented on the situation in Ukraine. "Achieving long-term peace is not possible without the participation of Moscow or Kyiv. We state this on all platforms," the politician said.
People visit the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, March 11, 2025. A "lights out" mourning ceremony for four survivors of the Nanjing Massacre who passed away this year was held Tuesday in Nanjing.

Two survivors of the Nanjing Massacre passed away on Feb. 15 this year, bringing the number of living registered survivors to 28, according to the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

People attend a "lights out" mourning ceremony held at the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, March 11, 2025. A "lights out" mourning ceremony for four survivors of the Nanjing Massacre who passed away this year was held Tuesday in Nanjing.

Two survivors of the Nanjing Massacre passed away on Feb. 15 this year, bringing the number of living registered survivors to 28, according to the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

Light boxes of Nanjing Massacre survivors Ai Yiying, Wu Xiuying, Yi Lanying and Tao Chengyi (L-R in the bottom row), who passed away this year, are seen on the photo wall at the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, March 11, 2025. A "lights out" mourning ceremony for four survivors of the Nanjing Massacre who passed away this year was held Tuesday in Nanjing.

Two survivors of the Nanjing Massacre passed away on Feb. 15 this year, bringing the number of living registered survivors to 28, according to the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

Huang Xinghua, son of Nanjing Massacre survivor Ai Yiying, lays a flower at a "lights out" mourning ceremony held at the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, March 11, 2025. A "lights out" mourning ceremony for four survivors of the Nanjing Massacre who passed away this year was held Tuesday in Nanjing.

Two survivors of the Nanjing Massacre passed away on Feb. 15 this year, bringing the number of living registered survivors to 28, according to the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders. (Xinhua/Li Bo)
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A Bakersfield man pleaded guilty to charges related to making a bomb that was found near a community pool where he lived, according to the United States District Attorneys Office.

Robert Lawrence Hunt, 40, pleaded guilty Monday to being a felon in possession of a destructive device and manufacturing a destructive device.

Inmate serving life sentence for murder attacked, killed at Kern Valley State Prison

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Federal prosecutors said the device was manufactured on July 4 and July 5 in 2022. The bomb contained metal screws and was found at a community pool in a residential neighborhood, according to prosecutors. Hunt lived at a home closest to the pool, officials said.

Hunt was previously convicted in Kern County for second-degree robbery and first-degree burglary in which he served 11 years total for.

Hunt faces a maximum of 15 years in prison on the felon in possession of a destructive device charge and up to 10 years in prison for manufacturing a destructive device. Sentencing is is scheduled for July 14.

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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced hope on March 11 that Russia would accept the proposal for a temporary ceasefire with Ukraine.

"The ball is in their court," Rubio said during a press conference following the talks with Ukraine in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

After the negotiations with Washington, Ukraine's Presidential Office announced that it was ready to accept the U.S. proposal for a temporary 30-day ceasefire if Russia also complied with the agreement.

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Rubio noted that if the Kremlin rejects the ceasefire proposal, "then we'll, unfortunately, know what the impediment is to peace here."

"Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking," Rubio said, adding that U.S. President Donald Trump has been clear that he wants to stop the war swiftly.

Asked about the deadline for the onclusion of a truce agreement, Rubio said Washington hopes to do it "as soon as possible."

During the talks, the Ukrainian delegation proposed to implement a partial truce in the sky and at sea, while the U.S. side wanted "to try to do more," a source close to the Presidential Office told the Kyiv Independent.

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Russia's stance toward a partial ceasefire is unclear, the source added. Moscow has repeatedly rejected freezing hostilities along the current front line, believing it has the upper hand on the battlefield.

"Within a certain period of time, we will prepare a final agreement on how to end the war. Now, the discussions concern only the first steps," the source said.

Ways to enforce a possible ceasefire also remain uncertain. Kyiv has previously emphasized that firm security guarantees from the U.S. and other partners should be a key part of any cessation of hostilities, arguing that Russia has repeatedly violated multiple ceasefires since the start of its aggression in 2014.

Read also: Russias history of violating ceasefire agreements in Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
DENVER (KDVR)  On Monday morning, several ambassadors hit the streets around Coors Field as part of a new program aiming to improve the visitor experience to the area.

The Ballpark General Improvement District was created and one of its first orders of business was to get this ambassador program up and running, with the four major goals of hospitality, cleaning, safety and outreach.

Belles & Boots country bar takes over former Sports Column on Blake Street

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Coors Field is typically surrounded by black and purple hats, but now add orange to the mix.

So you can easily see us, said Luke McCarthy, operations manager for the Ballpark GID Ambassadors Program.

Before the Rockies season starts, the ambassadors first goal is cleaning up the neighborhood, deployed with trash cans and brooms for all things big and small.

We like to say no butt left behind, so we pick up every cigarette butt, said McCarthy.

And when fans start to show up next month, especially from out of town, those orange hats make them easy to spot to answer questions about anything from the nearest restaurants to directions to the ballpark.

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Were here to help, said McCarthy.

Ballpark neighborhood improvement district passes, mill levy heads to ballot

Safety is also a priority. McCarthy said the ambassadors are all trained directly by Denver police staff on de-escalation and to call 911.

So we can assist as best as possible without impeding whatever needs to get help, he says.

Denver police provided a statement on the ambassador program:

DPD believes public safety can best be achieved through partnerships with the community, and the ambassadors will provide extra eyes and ears in the downtown area to report crimes or safety concerns for police response and investigation. DPD looks forward to working with the ambassador program in helping provide a safe environment for people enjoying downtown Denver. Denver Police Department

Ambassadors are also trained to engage with the areas homeless population.

Well have a list of resources available for those individuals, get to know them, building profiles, understanding what their needs are, said McCarthy.

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From roofing to a spring training sensation, Rockies Jefry Yan delights with mound celebrations

McCarthy said the group, which is funded privately through the Ballpark GID, is excited to get started in its first year in Denver.

We have over 150 contracts around the country so its well proven that this works, he said.

McCarthy said the group has 18 full-time ambassadors right now and has some more positions open currently.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
(WSPA)  If someone steals from your bank account, youre protected right? Unfortunately, its not always that clear cut since the bank wont usually return your funds if someone tricked you into moving the money.

But what if your account was accessed and your money was used without you doing a thing

One Upstate couple is warning others to check their accounts carefully, after their long fight for their rights when they lost $15,000 to bank fraud.

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As a land developer in rural Oconee County, Chad Galbreath had always felt secure using his local bank.

So when he and his wife Heather discovered dozens of random purchases they never approved in their business account, they immediately called a friend at their Wells Fargo branch in Seneca.

We were panicking, you know. And so she and I just spent hours on the phone going through charges, Mrs. Galbreath said.

Hundreds of fraudulent charges

The Galbreaths said nearly $10,000 was missing from their business account, but were told the account had been frozen with nearly $9,000 remaining. The next day came a wake up call.

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By morning we were $700 in the red, so it had continued even overnight after we had called and talked to the morning, so there wasnt really a hold on the account, so we went into the negative, Mrs. Galbreaths said.

Thats just crazy, like, why they let this many go through, Mr. Galbreath said.

They assumed they had fraud protection for the charges they never approved, until Wells Fargo repeatedly denied their request for reimbursement.

The Galbreaths said part of the problem is that Wells Fargo said they failed to report the problem within 60 days, a bank imposed time limit that was threatening to leave them out thousands if it were true.

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The couple showed 7NEWS the 126 fraudulent charges occurred within 47 days of when they notified the bank.

Know your rights

Greenville Attorney Rodney Pillsbury said the law is on their side thanks to the Electronic Fund Transfer Act.

This is one of the few acts still in play that is consumer friendly. It was passed during the Carter administration and it provides a cap on consumers liability if some fraudster has truly gotten access to their account and transfers funds, then the financial institution is still responsible for that, Pillsbury said.

But despite the law, the Galbreaths said the denials kept coming.

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So, on the third one, I took each individual charge and started contacting the business and getting disputes letterheads emails saying these were not our charges, Mrs. Galbreath said.

The couple had almost given up hope, until they reached out to 7NEWS Here to Help, and the bank reopened their investigation.

It was within 24 hours of you, after 8 months of not hearing anything and they never return calls like we always had to call, Mrs. Galbreath said.

In a statement, Wells Fargo told 7NEWS:

We are pleased we could resolve this matter by working directly with our customer. We sincerely apologize for their experience; this does not reflect the customer service we strive to provide. We are dedicated to ensuring our customer interactions reflect our commitment to excellence, as well as the confidence in knowing that safeguarding their assets is our top priority.

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7NEWS business accounts, like the one that the Galbreath owned, may be less likely to get flagged for transactions.

And when the Galbreaths finally got a reimbursement check of more than $15,000, they knew it was time to warn others.

Thats our sole purpose in doing this, besides being eternally grateful to you for your help, but just to make people aware. Definitely check your accounts daily, I would recommend that to anyone, and dont be sure that your money is safe, Galbreath said.

If it happens to you

If you ever have trouble with a bank fraud case, you can contact the SC Department of Consumer Affairs to make sure financial institutions are accountable for following the Electronic Fund Transfer Act.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  U.S. Representative Tom Barrett (MI-7) held his first town hall Monday night, answering questions from the public by phone.

This comes after Speaker of the House Mike Johnson recently urged House Republicans not to hold in-person town hall events following confrontations and protests over spending and job cuts at events around the country.

Tom Barrett (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)

During the town hall, Barrett discussed issues like federal spending, infrastructure, and the need to renew the tax cuts from President Trumps first term in office.

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One constituent asked him about the recent appropriations bill in the Houseand how it was possible to achieve its cost-cutting goals without impacting things like food assistance or social security.

Barrett replied, saying those programs are not specifically mentioned in the bill, and conversations would happen in D.C. about where to cut spending.

However, many people complained on social media and even called 6 Newsbecause they couldnt get into the event. Those who signed up were meant to receive a phone number to call in via email, but several people on both X and Facebook claim they never received that email, even after the event was scheduled to begin at 7:10 p.m.

6 News has reached out to Barretts office for comment but has not yet heard back.

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Republican lawmakers hold telephone town halls as protesters demand more

Recently, West Michigan congressman Bill Huizenga also held a town hall by phonebut not before nearly 50 people gathered outside of his office to protest the choice to hold it virtually.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
Mar. 10BATH TOWNSHIP  Bath Township Fire Department firefighters arrived to heavy smoke and fire coming from a mobile home at 8:25 a.m. Monday at 1503 Findlay Road, Lot #5, Lima.

Firefighters, with help from the Lima Fire Department, brought the fire under control in about 10 minutes, according to a press release from Bath Township Fire Department.

Firefighters were on the scene for about two hours.

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The cause of the fire is undetermined and remains under investigation. The incident is being treated as suspicious.

The Bath Township Fire Department is asking anyone with information related to the fire to contact Lima/Allen County Crimestoppers at 419-229-STOP (7867).

Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  A new proposed plan was introduced that would keep dedicated funding for the East Baton Rouge Parish Library system while investing in essential City-Parish services.

The new proposal, titled Thrive! Baton Rouge, was a collaboration between the mayor-presidients office, councilmembers and the parish library board.

Without imposing any additional millages on the citizens of East Baton Rouge Parish, the council is pleased to have worked with the mayor in creating a comprehensive, straightforward plan to present to you, the public, for rededication of funding for the operations of government, District 12 Councilmember Jennifer Racca said.

What to know about the new proposal

Mayor-President Sid Edwards office provided a breakdown of the new proposed budgeting plan.

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Library Funding: The proposal states that East Baton Rouge Parish libraries will maintain a dedicated millage rate of 8.3 mills, resulting in a $48.14 million annual budget. The debt will be paid down using a one-time rededication of $52.4 million from the existing library fund balance. This frees up $9.4 million in recurring revenue.

Additionally, leaders said 2.8 mills will be rededicated to Parishwide General Purposes.

Mosquito Abatement and Rodent Control (MARC): The proposal includes renewing a portion of MARCs secondary millage at .35 mills with the remainder .65 mills renewed and rededicated to Parishwide General Purposes.

Operations are proposed to be continued with its primary millage of 1.41 mills, equaling an $8.17 million annual budget.

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A one-time rededication of $13.25 million from its fund balance would support budget stabilization.

Parish General Alimony Millage: The plan proposed renewing this at 4 mills.

Council on Aging: The agency would renew and rededicate .25 of its existing millage.

General fund revenue would be $36.89 with no millage increases, according to leaders.

This is about making smart, sustainable investments in our future, Edwards said. Thrive! Baton Rouge sets us on a path to long-term fiscal health and protects our essential services. This is how we build a Baton Rouge that works for everyone.

Previous plan proposed library fund rededication

Edwards released a proposed plan on Feb. 6 that would rededicate $114 million from the library tax to the general fund. The library systems board president said they were blindsided by the proposal in a Feb. 8 statement. After receiving backlash on the proposal, Edwards reassured residents in a Feb. 25 press conference that no services or hours would be cut.

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The mayors office compared the East Baton Rouge librarys $65 million in annual funding to Nashvilles $38 million and Dallas $48 million.

East Baton Rouge Parish Library discusses tax millage proposal

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News.
SOMERSET, Ky. (FOX 56)  A world-class bourbon distillery is taking shape in the heart of Kentucky.

Horse Soldier Bourbon, a veteran-owned company currently based in Florida, is moving to Somerset, where it will build its forever homeinfusing history, heroism, and economic opportunity into the community.

The companys origins are as unique as its name. After 9/11, founder Scott Neil and his fellow Green Berets were among the first U.S. soldiers deployed to Afghanistan. Their mission, which involved fighting alongside Afghan resistance forces on horseback, was later immortalized in the film 12 Strong.

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The name Horse Soldier came from our collective background, Neil explained. As President Bush was looking to communicate Americas response to 9/11, he learned we were on horseback and called us the Horse Soldiers.

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For these warriors-turned-entrepreneurs, transitioning from military service to business was a natural evolution.

Were kind of like the Armys expeditionary entrepreneurs, said Neil, now the companys president. We were given little guidance and few resources, sent to remote locations, and told to be successful. So that really became the background when I transitioned out of the military to grow and build a business.

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Horse Soldier Bourbon is more than a premium spiritits a tribute to the soldiers journey. Each bottle serves as a reminder of where their mission began.

The name Horse Soldier came from a little bit about our collective background. We were the first Green Berets into Afghanistan. We linked up behind the lines with some mujahideen resistance fighters, and they were on horseback, Neil said. So, as President Bush was looking to communicate to the American public about Americas response, he had learned that we were on horseback, and hence he called us the Horse Soldiers.

Now, the Horse Soldier team is carrying that spirit forward by investing in Somerset. While Kentuckys bourbon industry is typically centered in Louisville and Bardstown, the team saw something special in this small town community.

Somerset Mayor Alan Keck, who played a key role in recruiting the distillery, recalled his first outreach.

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I sent them a cold email in hopes of bringing a bourbon distillery to town, Keck said. When they came, they fell in love.

Horse Soldier Bourbons new facility will be more than just a distillery. It will include a restaurant, outdoor event spaces, and access to Lake Cumberland, creating a major tourism destination and a significant economic boost for the region.

Beyond construction, the company is prioritizing local hiring, particularly for veterans.

Weve already connected with Kentuckys veteran placement program, Neil said. We want to build our forever home with those we served with.

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Keck believes this project will be transformative.

Its huge for our community to be on the Bourbon Trail, he said. But even bigger than that, we have a distillery owned by true American heroes. That makes it even more special for our citizens.

Central Kentucky dog trainer changes veterans life

For the Horse Soldier team, this venture isnt just about bourbonits about proving that the American dream is alive and well.

This is America, and you should live the American dream youve been defending, Neil said. You have to reach out for opportunities, and any veteran has the chance to excel. Were just one example of what small business success looks like in this country.

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The grand opening is set for July 4, 2026fittingly, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

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Everyone knows that the BBC is achingly middle-class. Even its own comedy writers make jokes about how middle-class it is. In the very funny 2023 book Big Beacon by Alan Partridge (or rather, Steve Coogan plus Neil and Rob Gibbons), Norfolks favourite washed-up TV presenter describes going for a meeting at the BBC, a quarter of a century after it got rid of him.

While being introduced to a group of BBC producers, writes Partridge, it dawned on me just how completely the composition of the Beebs staff had transformed in the years Id been away. In my day the cliche of an organisation run by producers called Charles or Henry could not have been more true. Today? These were totally different people. Finlay. Jude. Seb. Saskia. What a breath of fresh air.

The BBCs latest chairman deserves at least some credit, therefore, for publicly acknowledging the problem. To achieve greater diversity of thought in its news coverage, said Samir Shah at the weekend, the BBC needs to hire more people from the northern working class.

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Unfortunately, however, it isnt just middle-class journalists who are in Mr Shahs sights. Its middle-class viewers, too. Because he seems to think that they should be forced to pay more for the BBC licence fee.

Of course, he didnt quite phrase it like that. What he said was: Why should people who are poor pay the same as people in wealthy households? The implication, though, is clear enough. If the BBC licence fee is reduced for people who are poor, you can be sure that it will simultaneously be increased for people who are deemed wealthy. And by wealthy, I doubt that Mr Shah is referring merely to Britains 50-odd billionaires. In practice, the people forced to stump up more for the BBC would be the middle class.

This, however, would be patently unfair. For one thing, no other broadcaster does it. Netflix does not charge higher fees for viewers who happen to be middle-class. Nor do Disney+, Apple TV or Amazon Prime Video.

Perhaps Mr Shah thinks it would be fairer if they did. In which case, does he think the same policy should be adopted by other kinds of business, too? Imagine if, every time you went to Asda, you were required to show the checkout assistant your three most recent bank statements.

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Ah yes, sir, I see that your recent pay rise has taken you into the higher rate tax bracket. As a result, this tin of baked beans will be 8.99.

Hang on a moment. My sons unemployed. How about if I get him to pay for the beans, instead?

In that case, sir, theyll be 13p.

A socialist would doubtless say that such a scenario sounds eminently fair. But if I were the chairman of the BBC, and I wished to dispel the notion that the BBC has a Left-wing bias, I would probably try to avoid proposing such nakedly Left-wing ideas.

Mr Shah might of course defend himself by saying that his suggestion is no different from ordinary taxation. The more money you earn, the more youre required to pay towards the upkeep of the nations hospitals, schools and fire brigades. Well, yes. But hospitals, schools and fire brigades are essential public services. Im not sure the same can be said of RuPauls Drag Race UK and Waterloo Road. Let alone tear-jerking documentaries about Gaza that turn out to be narrated by the son of a Hamas official.

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The real question, therefore, is not: Should the middle class be forced to pay more for the BBC? Its: Why should anyone be forced to pay for the BBC at all?

Trans criminals must stop playing the victim

In the US, under the orders of Donald Trump, male criminals who say they identify as women are being removed from womens prisons, and placed in mens prisons. The Guardian, for one, seems horrified by what it calls this sweeping attack on trans rights. And, unsurprisingly, the criminals themselves agree. Speaking to the Guardian, a trans inmate whose name was given simply as Whitney wailed: Im just continuing to be punished for existing.

No, dear. Youre being punished for breaking the law. Just like everyone else in prison. Yes, Im sure youd much rather serve your sentence in a prison full of women than in a prison full of men  who wouldnt? I suspect, however, that most inmates who are female would rather not be surrounded by inmates who are male. Especially at shower time.

Here in Britain, of course, we had a row about this very issue two years ago, when it emerged that a trans criminal going by the name of Isla Bryson had been placed in a prison for women. Given that Bryson had been convicted of raping two women  that is, of the old-fashioned, biologically female variety  it felt rather like letting a fox into a henhouse merely because the fox had stuck a couple of feathers behind its ears and announced that it was now a hen, too.

Way of the World is a twice-weekly satirical look at the headlines aiming to mock the absurdities of the modern world. It is published at 7am every Tuesday and Saturday

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MANILA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A chartered plane flew former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague in The Netherlands on Tuesday night, barely 12 hours after he was detained.

A social media post by one of his lawyers, Martin Delgra, showed a picture of a small plane that would take Duterte, 79, to The Hague. Salvador Medialdea, a close ally of Duterte, was among those who boarded the plane accompanying Duterte.

Duterte was detained on Tuesday morning due to an arrest warrant issued by the ICC over his "war on drugs" campaign, a move that Duterte has questioned.

The Presidential Communications Office has not issued a statement on Duterte's departure. 
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  As The Whos Roger Daltrey sang: Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

Moments after accepting Superintendent Brad Halls retirement at its monthly meeting Monday, the Bellefontaine City Schools board unanimously approved his rehiring for both the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years.

Bellefontaine to welcome the public to its parks for the eclipse

Hall has been in education for 33 years, including the last 11 as the Bellefontaine superintendent. He attributed his (brief) retirement to the State Teachers Retirement Systems new eligibility requirements, but said his enthusiasm for the role hasnt waned.

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My dedication to serving students, staff, and the community remains as strong as ever, said Hall.

The district has phenomenal students, a dedicated, professional staff, and a very supportive community, and it is an honor to continue leading it.

Bellefontaine High School Band Trip Proposal

Afterward, Bellefontaine High School Band Director Ken Hoffman proposed an idea for a band trip to Nashville, Tennessee, for April 1-4, 2026.

He said band students would perform at the historic Country Music Hall of Fame and Studio B. While there the band students would learn about the citys rich music history. The expected cost of the trip would be $525 per student.

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The board said it would consider approving the trip in the future.

To learn more about Bellefontaine City Schools click here.

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BELTON, Texas (FOX 44)  UPDATE: A Belton Independent School District teacher is accused of Sexual Assault of a Child.

Belton Police officers arrested 29-year-old Logan Michael Demeny around 3:50 p.m. Monday. He is a teacher at South Belton Middle School.

The arrest occurred after detectives obtained a warrant following the investigation. Demeny was taken into custody at his home in Belton and booked into the Bell County Jail.

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Officers received a report regarding the incident on February 22, 2025, which originally took place in 2021. The victim reported the assault occurred while they were a student in Demenys English class at South Belton Middle School, and did not occur on school grounds.

Man facing multiple charges after stealing, crashing ambulance

The Belton Independent School District cooperated with the Belton Police Department throughout this investigation.

Belton ISD Superintendent Malinda Golden issued a statement on Monday night, saying criminal charges have been filed against Demeny and his employment with the district is being terminated. Reports regarding these charges have also been submitted to the Texas Education Agency, State Board of Educator Certification, and Child Protective Services.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44.
LOVES PARK, Ill. (WTVO)  Loves Park Police arrested Dennis Bieniek, 66, for allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting a woman.

On Feb. 9, 2022, officers responded to Javon Bea Hospital for reports of a sexual assault by a victim. A toxicology report for the victim came back positive for benzodiazepine, which is an active ingredient in Xanax and Valium.

The woman said she does not take any prescriptions related to benzodiazepine.

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The victim told authorities she did not consent to any sexual activity with Bieniek.

Bienieks DNA was found on the womans socks, according to Illinois State Police lab reports.

The woman was granted an order of protection against the suspect after the incident in 2022 that expired in 2024.

Bieniek is charged with criminal sexual assault without consent.

He was booked into the Winnebago County Jail on March 11th.

If you are a survivor of domestic or sexual violence, visit our Stateline Strong page for resources.

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Editors Note: This article was updated on March 12, 2025 to clarify Anheuser-Buschs stance on tariffs announced by the Trump administration.

(NewsNation)  While some U.S. businesses and consumers are worried about their bottom lines amid President Donald Trumps trade war with Canada, Mexico and China, the tariffs could benefit others.

The New York Post reports Anheuser-Busch, which owns Budweiser and Michelob among other beverages, is bullish on tariffs. The beers Anheuser-Busch sells in America are also mostly made in the country, so if the prices of imported brews increase, the company could theoretically sell more of its brands.

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Cuomo & Carlson: The Conversation continues

Chief financial officer Fernando Tennenbaum told Yahoo Finance in February that any exposure to tariff is very limited. Tennenbaum also said 99% of what the corporation sells inside the United States is made domestically.

Trumps steel, aluminum tariffs going into effect Wednesday

New steel and aluminum tariffs go into effect tomorrow, and some executives are pointing to subsidies and lower labor costs in countries like Canada as to why the tariffs should exist. They believe these tariffs will level the playing field.

Americas largest primary aluminum producer, Century Aluminum, applauded Trumps initial reinstatement of a 25% tariff on primary aluminum imports in a news release last month.

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President Trumps decisive action will protect national security and help level the playing field for Americas aluminum workers, Century Aluminum CEO Jesse Gary said.

On behalf of our employees, I thank President Trump for putting America first and strengthening the Section 232 tariffs, which will help drive the resurgence of domestic aluminum production.

Some in favor of Trumps tariffs

Despite concerns about an increase in the price of cars, some are in favor of the initiative.United Auto Workers Union president Shawn Fain told ABC News that tariffs will benefit his colleagues greatly.

Lara Trump: US should be kissing the feet of Elon Musk, Trump

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Tariffs are an attempt to stop the bleeding from the hemorrhaging of jobs in America for the last 33 years, Fain said, referencing the North American Free Trade Agreement, which began in 1992. Tariffs arent the end solution, but they are a huge factor in creating, fixing the problem.

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SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO)  A Beresford man has been sentenced to more than 33 years in federal prison for child pornography.

Iowa child care provider accused of assaulting 5 children

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier sentenced Theodore Jungbauer, 61, of Beresford, to 33 years and four months of federal prison for a guilty plea to receiving and distributing child pornography over the dark web from December 13, 2021, through August 24, 2023.

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According to the U.S. Attorneys Office in South Dakota, Jungbauers illegal online activity, while living in South Dakota, came to the attention of law enforcement in Australia.

Australian officials contacted Homeland Security Investigations when they discovered Jungbauer was trying to share his library of child pornography over the dark web. His library included 3,695 files (images and videos) of child sexual abuse materials.

Jungbauer was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2023. He pleaded guilty on November

12, 2024.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
For months, Democratic leaders have been struggling to develop a strategic response to the problems that Donald Trump has laid at their doorstep: his demographically expanded electoral coalition, his flood-the-zone dismantling of the federal government, and his turbocharged push for authoritarian control. While Democratic electeds have found some collective will on occasionlike their House caucus forcing the GOP to pass their own budget billthe party establishment has, in the main, failed to coalesce around a clear plan to fight this multifront war. Worse, their overall approach has generally lined up with James Carvilles recent call for Democrats to roll over and play dead and allow the Republicans to crumble beneath their own weight.

This was a bad strategy when Biden made it the cornerstone of his 2024 campaign. It was a bad strategy for Germanys opposition parties in the early 1930s. And it is a bad strategy today, especially at a time when Trumps plans are advancing and the American people are increasingly agitated by the administrations encroachmentsand growing more angry with Democrats in Congress for their perceived inaction. Voters, in fact, have already rendered a judgment about Carvilles strategy, with a recent poll finding that 40 percent of voters dont think the Democratic Party has any strategy at all for responding to Trump and 24 percent think they have a strategy that isnt working. By contrast, just 10 percent think they have a good strategy.

Arriving to head off this trend is Bernie Sanders, who has formulated a very different vision. With his Fighting Oligarchy tour, Bernie has begun holding a series of rallies in GOP-represented swing districts to bring attention to Trumps billionaire-boosting, middle classbusting agenda. As hes swung through heartland states such as Nebraska and Iowa, the grassroots response has been electric. Last Friday, 4,000 people came out to hear him in Kenosha, Wisconsin; the next morning he was joined by 2,600 in Altoona, Wisconsin, a town of less than 10,000; and then in a suburb outside Detroit he spoke to a crowd of 9,000 that filled a packed gym, two overflow rooms, and the parking lot outside.

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Sanders seems to understand something that many Democratic elites do not: In todays brutally divided attentional economy, Democrats can never take for granted that their messaging will get through to people without sustained efforts to capture and direct voters attention. Precisely zero swing voters give a crap when Hakeem Jeffries or Chuck Schumer holds a press conference on Capitol Hill to speak in boring generalities about the threat Trump represents (while every other aspect of their business-as-usual demeanor screams, Actually, everything is fine). No one outside of Washington is reading sternly worded Dear Colleague letters or the latest milquetoast op-ed. But when you go into someones small town to hold a rallynot a campaign rally right before an election, which most people understand as somewhat instrumentalizing, but an off-year emergency rally to stop oligarchynow that screams urgency. And it signals that something different, against the grain, or unconventional is happeningthree adjectives with which Democrats could use more of an association.

By rejecting passivity, Sanders is also doing more to actually put Republicanswhove recently been ordered to abandon town halls in the wake of mounting anger from their own votersunder pressure, demonstrating how Democrats locked out of power in Washington can go on offense. What if, rather than simply praying that some swing-district Republican legislators will grow a spine and help Democrats hold the line against irreversible cuts to life-or-death social programs, we instead rallied their constituents to directly demonstrate to them that going along with Trump might cost them their next election?

Finally, Bernies approach is proving to be a far more effective mechanism for delivering new information to targeted communities, and not just through the mega-blast of social media discourse that actions like these produce. Just take a look at a few examples of local coverage from Bernies rallies this weekend.

News Channel 3 (local CBS affiliate in Detroit): CBS News Detroits Jack Springgate spoke with two cancer survivors who attended the rally. Theyre cutting childrens cancer research and the NIH and also interfering with grant funding rules for medical research, said rally attendee Elliot Stephens. I have a daughter with cancer, and that for me is unforgivable. Stephens and his brother are also cancer survivors. They say potential health care cuts could have fatal consequences. If they cut Medicaid, thats going to hurt a lot of people, Elliot Stephens said. Senior citizens, disabled people, single moms, children who rely on Medicaid, its going to hurt them. People are going to die from that.

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News 18 (local ABC affiliate in Eau Claire, Wisconsin): In his speech, Sanders called for Republican Congressman Derrick Van Orden to hold a town hall with constituents. In February Van Ordens staff canceled an Eau Claire meeting between constituents and a member of Van Ordens office. Im here, were doing a town meeting, and I come from Vermont, Sanders said. I think if I come from Vermont doing a town hall meeting here, your own congressman should come here. 18 News reached out to Van Ordens office and asked for an interview. As of Saturday night, they have not responded.

These are exactly the kind of local storiesillustrating the depravity of Trumps actions through the words of regular people and calling out the cowardice of GOP leaders in clear termsthat Democrats need to be generating, particularly in swing districts.

Sanders hasnt always enjoyed a good relationship with Democratic elites, who have done much to scorn him over the past decade. Nevertheless, Bernie hasnt given up on the Democratic Party. On the contrary, at the moment he seems to be the only major figure associated with the party whos out there prosecuting the case against Trumpism in the communities that most need to hear it. Kamala Harris has entered a period of self-exile since her loss. Biden hasnt said a word since wishing Trump a warm welcome home to the White House. Barack Obama seems content to maintain his celebrity dream life rather than put his massive platform to work fighting Trumps authoritarianism.

This failure by the Democratic establishment to meet the moment is particularly self-defeating because, if theres one thing Trumps political success has demonstrated, its that Americans like fighters. Democrats roll over and play dead response to Trumps shock-and-awe misrule communicates a feckless bunker mentality. Rather than bunker down, Sanders is in the arena, communicating that he is a fighter, that hes not cowed, and that hes willing to take on Trump and his kleptocratic regime. Whether they agree with Bernies specific policy views or not, there are tons of Americans who respect these qualities, and the integrity they imply.

Hiding out while the world burns is an untenable look for Democrats. But they may find themselves quickly back in business if they can simply swallow their pride and follow Bernies lead in breaking out of the paralyzing bubble of Capitol Hill and mixing it up with the ordinary people whoif Sanderss success is any indicationare waiting for them to show up.
Flags fly at the Utah State Capitol on Dec. 21, 2023. (Photo by Alex Goodlett for Utah News Dispatch)

In the state of Utah, we typically talk about WalletHubs Best & Worst States for Womens Equality, which we have continuously ranked dead last (50th of 50) for 10 years running. Although some people dismiss and excuse these rankings away, our own in-depth research through the years has confirmed the results. However, I am pleased to say that we do rank much better on WalletHubs Best & Worst State for Women (when we remove the equality factor).

In 2024, we ranked 35th of 50 states plus the District of Columbia and now, in 2025, we are ranked 34th. Although this is not ideal, at least we are in the middle. Of 100 points, states at the top of the pack (from the highest ranked) include Massachusetts, Minnesota, District of Columbia, New York, Maryland, Maine, Vermont, New Jersey, and Washington  all have over 70 points. States at the bottom include (from the worst ranked) Mississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, and Alabama  all below 40 points. Utah has 52.35, which is up from 50.40 points last year.

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For this ranking, WalletHub categorizes their findings into two main categories: Womens Economic & Social Well-Being and Womens Health Care & Safety, with a total of 25 key indicators that are each weighted differently. WalletHub pulls their data from a variety of sources that range from the U.S. Census Bureau to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Education Statistics and the Violence Policy Center. Although not published in their report, I was able to obtain more detailed data directly from WalletHub. Let me share what I found.

Womens Economic & Social Well-Being

First, Utah currently ranks 38th (worse than 36th in 2024) for the Womens Economic & Social Well-Being category. I have included the state rankings for each indicator within this category below (1=Best State and 51=Worst State).

Median Earnings for Female Workers: 45 Unemployment Rate for Women: 1 Job Security for Women: 3 Share of Women Living in Poverty: 2 Unaffordability of Doctors Visit: 37 Share of Women-Owned Businesses: 35 Economic Clout of Women-Owned Firms Rank: 6 High School Graduation Rate for Women: 32 Friendliness Toward Working Moms: 22 Friendliness Toward Womens Equality: 50 Share of Women Who Voted in the 2020 Presidential Election: 33

Womens Health Care & Safety

Secondly, Utah ranks 28th (from 25th in 2023) in Womens Health Care & Safety, which comes from the sum of the following indicators, including our rankings (1=Best State and 51=Worst State):

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Abortion Policies & Access: 32 Quality of Womens Hospitals: 14 Share of Women Ages 18-44 Who Reported Having One or More People They Think of as Their Personal Doctor or Health Care Provider: 39 Female Uninsured Rate: 32 Share of Women with Good or Better Health: 6 Womens Preventive Health Care: 46 Share of Physically Active Women: 2 Share of Women Who Are Obese: 11 Baby-Friendliness: 9 Depression Rate for Women: 45 Suicide Rate for Women: 45 Womens Life Expectancy at Birth: 17 Female Homicide Rate: 9 Prevalence of Rape Victimization Among Women: 46

I appreciate that Utah is doing well in some areas, with low unemployment rates, less women living in poverty than most states, lower homicide rates, higher economic clout of women-owned firms, more physically active women, and more baby-friendliness indicators. However, the ones I continue to be particularly concerned about include Utahs prevalence of rape victimization among women (learn more), the gender pay gap (learn more), friendliness toward womens equality (learn more), womens preventive health care, depression rate for women (learn more), and suicide rate (learn more). I also believe we should be doing much better at voting and high school graduation rates for young women too. There is still much more work to be done in these and other areas.

Of course these rankings only give us certain pieces of the puzzle in better understanding how women are doing in Utah. And it can be easy to be dismissive of reports like this that dont tell the whole story. But with more data and information we can be more strategic in finding ways to ensure that our residents and families can better thrive. To do this, a key effort linking together all partners, affiliates, and individuals interested in improving Utah is A Bolder Way Forward. We welcome all Utahns into this work. The research is clear: we can help more families, workplaces, and society at large when we improve womens health care and safety, along with womens economic and social well-being. As I say often, helping women helps Utah  and that includes boys and men!
President Donald Trump has officially revoked access to the President's Daily Brief, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard posted on Monday.

Former President Joe Biden -- who barred Trump from receiving classified briefings after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by a pro-Trump mob -- will no longer receive the top-secret intelligence information according to Trump's directive, a process he first ordered begun in February.

PHOTO: Tulsi Gabbard is sworn in as Director of National Intelligence at the White House, Feb. 12, 2025. (Nathan Howard/Reuters, FILE)

The moves are the latest in Trump's retribution campaign against what he claims was "weaponization" of the justice and intelligence segments of the federal government under Biden and Democrats.

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MORE: Trump has moved quickly to exact 'retribution.' More revenge could come: ANALYSIS

PHOTO: President Joe Biden looks on after he delivered his farewell address to the nation from the Oval Office of the White House, Jan. 15, 2025. (Mandel Ngan/Pool/Getty Images)

Trump also ordered revoked the security clearances of former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, former national security adviser Jake Sullivan, former Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, New York Attorney General Letitia James, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and attorneys Mark Zaid, Norman Eisen, and Andrew Weissman.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump waves as he boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, on March 7, 2025. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images)

MORE: John Bolton says Trump removed his Secret Service detail

Gabbard confirmed the decision on X, writing: "Per @POTUS directive, I have revoked security clearances and barred access to classified information for Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Lisa Monaco, Mark Zaid, Norman Eisen, Letitia James, Alvin Bragg, and Andrew Weissman, along with the 51 signers of the Hunter Biden "disinformation" letter. The President's Daily Brief is no longer being provided to former President Biden."

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Andrew Weissman, who has most recently been a commentator on MSNBC, served as the chief prosecutor in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Trump and Russian interference in the 2016 election. Mark Zaid is a national security lawyer who represented the whistleblower at the heart of the Trump first impeachment inquiry involving Ukraine. Eisen is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, an attorney and a CNN legal analyst and co-founder of the States United Democracy Center.

In February, Trump issued an executive order to start the process of revoking security clearances held by dozens of intelligence officials he says falsely claimed in a letter during the 2020 election season that Hunter Bidens laptop contained Russian disinformation.

Biden's intelligence access to President's Daily Brief revoked, DNI Gabbard says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The Syrian Democratic Forces, the Kurdish-led coalition that joined with U.S. troops to fight the Islamic State terrorist group, has agreed to integrate with the same interim Syrian government forces that were previously affiliated with Al Qaeda, officials said.

The two groups struck the deal Monday after days of deadly sectarian violence between government forces and those loyal to the deposed Assad regime rocked Syria and killed hundreds of civilians.

While the SDF was largely uninvolved with those clashes, it has long been opposed to both the old and the new Syrian leadership. The new truce will see two of Syria's largest warring groups join forces despite the apparently contradictory allies both previously kept.

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The agreement, which was reached following a meeting in Damascus on Monday between interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF leader Mazloum Abdi, will see the SDF cede control of the civil and military institutions it controls in northeastern Syria, including an airport and oil and gas fields, the Syrian government said in a statement.

The entrance to the city of Latakia in northwestern Syria on Monday, following a wave of violence in recent days.

The deal also outlines the guarantee for the rights of all Syrians to "representation and participation in the political process" regardless of "religious and ethnic backgrounds," a statement from the Syrian government said.

The SDF's Abdi on Monday hailed the agreement as a "real opportunity to build a new Syria."

"We are committed to building a better future that guarantees the rights of all Syrians and fulfils their aspirations for peace and dignity," he said in a post on X.

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The deal marks a significant step for Sharaa, who has vowed to lead a more unified and inclusive Syria representative of the country's myriad ethnic and religious groups.

It could also help assuage mounting fears on the international stage that Sharaa may backslide into his former identity as a jihadist leader with links to ISIS and Al Qaeda.

Those concerns had risen in recent days, with a deadly outbreak of violence across Syria killing hundreds of civilians, mostly from the Alawite community  the small Islamic sect to which the Assad family belongs  according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The pact is "the right step forward and its giving reassurance to Syrians and it symbolizes unity," said Rahaf Aldoughli, a lecturer in Middle East and North African studies at Lancaster University in England.

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"Still, there are so many challenges," she said in a phone interview Tuesday.

Sharaa has vowed to hold to account those responsible for the violence, in which attacks on security forces by Assad loyalists appeared to trigger a wave of retaliation.

The eruption of the worst violence since the Assad regime was swept from power late last year highlighted the many complex challenges Sharaa faces in seeking to unify and ensure the security of a nation fractured and scarred by more than a decade of civil war.

Syria's Kurds, who were denied basic rights under the Assad regime, have been among the minority groups anxiously awaiting clarity on what the future will hold under Sharaa's leadership.

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The deal between the SDF and the Syrian government could also help de-escalate the militia alliance's ongoing conflict with Turkey and Turkish-backed Syrian rebel groups connected to the government, though the SDF on Tuesday reported an "unprecedented escalation of attacks" in parts of northern and eastern Syria.

Turkey did not appear to immediately comment on the deal struck between the SDF and the Syrian government. In a statement Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country condemned "all kinds of attacks targeting Syria's unity, prosperity and social peace in the strongest way."

Meanwhile, Arab neighbors welcomed news of the deal, with the Qatari Foreign Affairs Ministry calling it an "important step towards consolidating civil peace, enhancing security and stability, and building a state of institutions and law."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
BEIRUT, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A person was killed on Tuesday in an Israeli drone strike targeting a vehicle in the Nabatieh district of southern Lebanon.

"An Israeli enemy drone strike targeted a vehicle on the Deir al-Zahrani road, resulting in the death of a citizen," read a statement from the Public Health Emergency Operations Center of the Ministry of Public Health.

The Lebanese Civil Defense reported that its teams extinguished a fire that erupted in the targeted vehicle and transported the body of the victim to a hospital in Nabatieh.

Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) reported that Israeli drones have been flying intensively at low altitudes over villages in the Tyre and Marjayoun districts, as well as the western sector, since early Tuesday.

Since Nov. 27, a ceasefire agreement brokered by the U.S. and France between Israel and Lebanon has been in place, ending over a year of clashes between Hezbollah and Israel amid the Gaza war.

Despite the agreement, the Israeli military occasionally carries out strikes in Lebanon, claiming to target "threats" posed by Hezbollah. Israeli forces also remain stationed in five key positions along the Lebanese border well past the Feb. 18 deadline for complete withdrawal.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Tuesday called for increased pressure on Israel to implement the November agreement by withdrawing from the five hilltops it still occupies, and returning Lebanese detainees. He made the remarks during a meeting with Jasper Jeffers, head of the committee overseeing the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, according to a statement released by Lebanon's presidency. 
Restricting students use of cellphones is one of Gov. Phil Murphys priorities during his last year in office. (Daniella Heminghaus for New Jersey Monitor)

A plan to require school boards to adopt policies aimed at limiting the use of cellphones during school hours marched toward passage in the Legislature Monday.

After hearing nearly an hour of testimony from school leaders and teachers, the Assemblys education committee advanced a bill Monday that supporters say would give local school officials the flexibility to ban students from using cellphones during critical instruction periods.

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Restricting students use of cellphones is one of Gov. Phil Murphys priorities during his last year in office.

Olga Polites, a former English teacher who now leads the New Jersey chapter of nonprofit Media Literacy Now, said phones became a major distraction in her own classroom, especially after classrooms reopened following pandemic-related shutdowns. She implemented a policy requiring students to put their phones in plastic pouches near the classroom door, and once academic time was over, theyd have access to them.

At least they could see it and understand, I need your attention for these 57 minutes, but Im not going to deny you access to it when you want it, she said.

Bill sponsors Assemblywoman Rosy Bagolie (D-Essex) and Assemblyman Cody Miller (D-Gloucester) visited a Woodbury school where phone restrictions are in place last month. Miller said students told him they couldnt believe how much they are learning without their phones as a distraction.

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This legislation is critically important, especially as weve seen the effects of learning loss for the pandemic, and we know that this will improve educational outcomes for students. It will cut down on cyberbullying, and its just good bipartisan policy, he said.

Under the bill, the states education commissioner would develop a policy for K-12 students regarding cellphone and social media use in school, on buses, or during school-sanctioned events. The policy would at a minimum ban the non-academic use of a cell phone or social media during classroom instruction. School boards would be required to adopt their own policies reflecting the states policy. The education commissioner could approve waivers for districts that ask to be exempt.

A growing number of states are considering legislation to ban or restrict cellphones in classrooms, citing concerns over students mental health and distractions during the school day. The Arkansas governor signed a law last month limiting phone use during the day, Californias law will largely prohibit smartphone use by the 2026-2027 school year, and Ohio required every school district to create and implement official policies on cellphone use.

Its not a novel idea in New Jersey. Several districts, including some Jersey City schools, require students to lock their phones in pouches at the start of the school day. Cherry Hill Public Schools banned wireless communication devices during classroom periods.

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Murphy has proposed spending $3 million to help districts establish phone-free schools.

The bill, which was unanimously approved by the Senate in January, was amended Monday to make the requirement for schools to adopt the states policy more flexible, like by permitting students to use their phones in case of an emergency.

Miller noted that teachers would still have access to phones and that students phones locked in pouches are still in the classroom in case of emergencies. Most schools also have school resource officers or law enforcement on campus, and students can go to the office to call their parents if they need to reach them, he added.

Republicans on the committee abstained from voting on the bill, citing concerns over the costs of pouches for school districts  roughly $25 per pouch  and parents needing to contact their children. Assemblyman Greg Myhre (R-Ocean) said hes concerned about enforcement that districts face if they dont implement a policy, and Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia (R-Sussex) said she believes in the spirit behind the bill but wont support it absent more changes.

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Parents need a little more assurance or reassurance that their child will not be in any kind of danger during an emergency, she said.

Its not clear when the full Assembly will take up the bill.

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State Sen. Mike Cierpiot, a Republican from Lee's Summit, on Monday presents his bill allowing utilities to charge customers for power plants while they are under construction to the House Utilities Committee. (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)

A bill changing how utility rates are set won overwhelming approval in a Missouri House committee Monday after a hearing where backers said it is vital to the states economy and opponents said it would soak consumers with higher costs.

The proposal to repeal a 1976 law passed by initiative petition that prohibits companies from charging for power plants under construction but not yet operating has already passed the state Senate. Following the 17-4 vote Monday in the House Utilities Committee, it could go directly to Gov. Mike Kehoe if nothing is changed during the upcoming debate in the full House.

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The legislation would allow companies to seek rate increases for construction work in progress, or CWIP, with a specific allowance for new generating plants that burn natural gas and an allowance in another section for any generating plant that is an approved resource plan.

The initiative that passed the 1976 law was launched by people upset over rate hikes allowed for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Callaway County.

The bill repeals the ban for 10 years and allows the Public Service Commission to extend it for another 10. State Sen. Mike Cierpiot, the Republican from Lees Summit who is sponsoring the bill, said he doubts the new CWIP allowance would be used for a new nuclear power plant.

I was asked to have nuclear CWIP this bill, and I actually dont think thats a horrible idea, but I think its kind of 15 years off before we actually start deploying those, Cierpiot said.

In the Monday vote, two of the committees seven Democratic members supported the legislation along with 15 of 16 Republicans, while three Democrats and one Republican were opposed.

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During two hours of testimony, opponents argued the CWIP provisions, when coupled with other allowances for utilities to seek more from customers, would add as much as $1,100 a year to residential electric bills.

This bill is not designed to benefit Missourians, said Gretchen Barwick, director of the Missouri chapter of the Sierra Club. Its designed to provide corporate welfare to monopoly utilities.

Representatives of utilities and the Public Service Commission said growing power demands mean new generation plants will be built in the Midwest. Passing the law allowing the charge for construction of new plants will be an incentive to build in Missouri, they said.

Large industrial users of electricity will locate plants where power is plentiful, said Jason Klindt, senior director of external affairs at Evergy. The bill includes requirements that large users pay a rate that is not subsidized by residential users, he said, arguing that will spread the cost out and result in lower overall rates for everyone.

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Evergy is the major power provider for western Missouri. It is building two new gas-fired power plants in Kansas. The company would like to build in Missouri as well, Klindt said.

We look forward, frankly, to announcing new power plants if we can get this bill across the finish line, he said.

The bill would apply to investor-owned utilities regulated by the PSC. The commission has no control over rates for municipal power companies or rural electric cooperatives.

The bill would also allow all utilities regulated by the commission  water, gas and sewer along with electricity  to seek rates based on what the bill calls a future test year.

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Currently, rates are set after the PSC examines the actual costs incurred to deliver service and determines if each expense was prudent and necessary. In a future test year scenario, the utility would outline what it expects to spend and the costs would be pre-approved by the PSC.

There are some aspects of the bill intended to benefit consumers. The Office of Public Counsel, which represents the interests of ratepayers in utility cases, would receive dedicated funding for the first time from an assessment on utility revenues.

There are changes to the rule blocking shutoffs for non-payment during hot and cold months as well as provisions requiring the commission to account for any federal tax savings by adjusting rates.

The bill would also allow the PSC to order electric utilities to repay customers for construction work in progress charges if the plant does not go into service.

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The time is now for CWIP because of a rapidly escalating demand for power, said Rich Germinder, policy and strategic initiatives advisor to the PSC. The rapid increase in the number of electric vehicles and the construction of power-hungry data centers is helping drive up demand.

Everyone was caught unprepared for the demands of the increased load growth that were seeing, Germinder said.

Opponents of the bill said the items intended to help consumers wont offset the additional costs.

Two of Missouris three major electric suppliers are before the commission seeking rate increases. Ameren, which serves eastern Missouri, is seeking a rate increase of nearly 16% and the Empire District Electric Company, which serves many smaller communities doing business as Liberty, wants regulators to increase its revenue by nearly 30%.

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The CWIP and future test year provisions will just add to the additional costs consumers already face, opponents said.

If this legislation passes, it will be the most costly and expensive legislation ever passed by the Missouri legislature, said Diana Plescia, attorney for the Missouri Industrial Energy Consumers, a consortium of 14 major manufacturers.

The legislation will increase rates by an additional 40- to 80%, she said, making it too expensive to attract new investment.

The damage to our economic base in Missouri will be real, Plescia said And I say this in terms of both the jobs that will be lost and the jobs that will never come.

This article has been updated to correct which utilities are currently seeking rate increases.

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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.  The Missouri Senate gave its final approval to a public safety measure that would give control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department to a governor-appointed board of police commissioners. The proposal now awaits likely approval from the Missouri House.

After a string of amendments and changes to appeal to more legislators, House Bill 495 was truly passed out of the Senate late Monday afternoon. Procedural rules also forced the Senate to vote on the measure twice, once last Thursday and then again today after having to go through the fiscal oversight process.

The final vote in the Senate was 27 to 5.

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Senators also voted on an emergency clause for the bill that will expedite its implementation as early as August. The vote for the emergency clause was 25 to 7.

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Last week, Gov. Mike Kehoe said he was looking forward to signing the bill this week.

The GOP governor, who is from north St. Louis, says the model in place before the 2013 swapping of power worked for the citizens and the police officers of St. Louis.

We think its a good model to have happen, he said. Were taking politics out of that.

When asked about the future of St. Louis Police Chief Robert Tracy, Kehoe signaled support for the chief, saying Tracy is moving the department in the right direction.

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St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones also issued a statement regarding the takeover bill.

This effort to take away St. Louisans control of their own police department is in line with the cowardly attempts at autocracy we are seeing at the national level, Jones said. I cannot and will not sit down and allow this complete disregard for democracy to compromise the safety of our residents for political gain. This fight is far from over.

The Missouri House is currently in session and could vote on the measure at any time.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE)  Governor Michelle Lujan Grishams Public Education Department (PED) has tried to force New Mexico schools onto a 180-day school calendar, but after a judge rejected their plan, Republican lawmakers are now looking to give power back to the schools. This debate has been two years in the making after lawmakers upped the number of instructional hours required in New Mexico schools, but how the state is trying to enforce those school hours is whats causing push back.

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People dont want this, we are saying we want 1,140 hours, let school districts decide how many days, said Representative Gail Armstrong, (R-Magdalena) Minority Floor Leader.

Republican Rep. Gail Armstrong said her bill, HB 65, allows for either four or five days school weeks and would require 1,140 instructional hours with no requirement for the number of days. The bill came in response to the states Public Education Departments rule back in 2023 that declared districts would have to have 180 days of school.

That would have forced some districts to switch from a four-day week to five. That ruling then led to a lawsuit from more than 55 school districts, many from rural communities. What happens in reserve New Mexico is not what happens in Belen New Mexico, theyre very, very different. So one size fits all never works, so leave it to local control, said Rep. Armstrong.

The bill was heard in committee on Monday and received support. We really believe in local control, and we believe that when districts follow the laws that were set by the statute by this legislature, it shouldnt have any interference from the administration through rule making, said John Dyrcz, American Federation of Teachers New Mexico.

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Although a judge recently sided with the school districts filing the lawsuit, Rep. Armstrong said its still important to pass this bill. She said PED is already preparing an appeal and expects the governor to push back.

Theres a lot of people that support this and if the governor doesnt listen thats on her, said Rep. Armstrong.

The bill passed Mondays committee with unanimous support. Its now headed to the House floor. If it passes, it would then it would go to the Senate, which has only 12 days left in the session. Court records show PED is now appealing the district courts ruling against their proposed school rules.

The Public Education Department sent this statement:

With two weeks remaining in the session, its premature to say which bills the governor will or wont veto. Its important to recognize that more than 60% of New Mexico school districts already mandate 180 days of instruction. While additional time in the classroom is a priority for the PED, we must also ensure this extra time is used in a way that maximizes student engagement and success. The PED is committed to supporting educators, providing professional development, and ensuring that our schools have the resources they need to thrive. Janelle Taylor Garcia, Ph.D, Communications Director/PIO, New Mexico Public Education Department

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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(Bloomberg) -- Billionaire philanthropists and foundations are reeling from US President Donald Trumps decision to gut Americas foreign aid agency and slash tens of billions of dollars in assistance, leaving recipient organizations  fighting everything from HIV to malnutrition  anxiously waiting for a white knight.

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For non-governmental organizations, the silence is deafening, with increasing concerns about funding for 2026 and beyond for programs that support millions of the poorest people on earth. Philanthropists and global-health focused charitable foundations privately describe a state of shock over the magnitude of the cuts  the greatest drop in funding since the US created the current foreign aid model in the 1960s  and the difficult decisions they face, given the lives at stake.

How do donors pick which NGO survives? said Michael Jarvis, executive director at TAI Collaborative, a donor network that includes some of the worlds biggest charities, including the MacArthur Foundation and the Ford Foundation.

On Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said hed cancelled 83% of USAIDs programs. Donors are racing to assess which areas they care most about and which grantees theyll continue funding. For some groups, its a life-or-death choice, Jarvis said.

Who are the key groups under threat who might go under? That question is very sensitive, Jarvis added, noting that triaging the needs is even more urgent than during the pandemic.

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The void created by the US pullback is so vast even the worlds biggest charity couldnt come close to filling it.

The Gates Foundation, founded by Bill Gates  the sixth-richest person on Earth with a net worth of $163.4 billion  pays out nearly $9 billion annually, the most of any charity. USAID had about $43 billion worth of projects in 2023.

Theres a huge gap that I dont see anybody filling, said Remy Rioux, chief executive officer of Agence Francaise de Developpement.

Permanent Change

Many donors are hurrying to form coalitions to pool resources to assess need. They also want to frame their giving carefully, given Trumps retributive politics, said a person familiar with philanthropists thinking. That may mean sticking to causes theyre known for, and having a clear rationale behind significant donations to avoid extra scrutiny from officials.

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The way its been done has been quite cruel and quite callous because what youve had is people in the middle of HIV/AIDS treatment, people are in the middle of war situations, people in refugee camps being hurt, said Binaifer Nowrojee, president of the Open Society Foundations, which was founded by billionaire George Soros. You can see a kind of an inhumanity in the manner in which its been done and the way it has left people in the lurch.

Talks are being held between philanthropies and development finance institutions. Rioux said he has spoken to Mark Suzman, CEO of the Gates Foundation, about possibly providing concessional loans for healthcare programs.

Both charities and development finance groups are seeing this less as a moment in politics and more as a permanent change.

Its not just the US thats curbing foreign aid. The UK, Belgium and the Netherlands are among countries that recently announced plans to reduce development funding, indicative of a widespread tilt toward nationalism and higher defense spending.

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Most of the governments told us that we have to prioritize among the institutions, said Alvaro Lario, president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development. Overall official development assistance is being questioned.

Thats prompting a wholesale rethink of the nature of international development aid among ultra-wealthy donors, particularly next-generation inheritors, according to Jarvis.

Theres growing interest in funding initiatives aimed at strengthening economic systems, by improving revenue generation and debt management.

Anxiety and Resolve

The assault on foreign aid has stirred anxiety but also resolve among nonprofits that are reckoning with the need to swiftly prove their value.

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Its made us look at everything we do and make sure were extremely efficient in how we work and how we budget and what we can and cannot do, said Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO of the United Nations Sustainable Energy for All. You step up your game a bit and just show the value you add at the country level.

One way private donors are choosing to prioritize is by favoring NGOs that serve as a central pillar of broader networks. Their failure could cause a domino effect among smaller, more localized groups. Another is immediacy  for example, focusing on nonprofits that distribute medicine soon to expire.

To be sure, a few foundations have announced specific ways theyre addressing the Trump administrations pullbacks.

Bloomberg Philanthropies, the foundation of Michael Bloomberg, founder and majority owner of Bloomberg News parent company Bloomberg LP, committed along with others to fulfilling Americas obligations to the Paris climate accords, following its withdrawal in January.

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The MacArthur Foundation said last month its boosting its charitable payout from the legal minimum of 5% of its assets to at least 6%, which the foundation estimates will amount to at least $120 million in additional funding over the next two years.

The need for a surge of funding is plain, MacArthur President John Palfrey said in a statement announcing the change. Philanthropy needs to step up.

Sign up for the twice-weekly Next Africa newsletter for the latest business and economic news from the continent.

--With assistance from Prinesha Naidoo.

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Sen. Rich Draheim, R-Madison Lake, comments on housing bills during a Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention meeting on March 11, 2025. Draheim is one of the authors of the Transforming Main Street Act. Photo by Madison McVan/Minnesota Reformer.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers, including leaders of the House and Senate housing committees, introduced a package of bills aimed at increasing the supply of housing in Minnesota.

The state, like the rest of the country, is facing a massive housing shortage, which is driving up home prices and rents.

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Housing developers say strict city zoning rules, exhaustive public hearings and aesthetic requirements make construction more expensive and reduce the number of units built.

Local governments  which successfully blocked the passage of similar legislation last year  want to retain control over zoning, and worry that sudden increases in housing density will strain local water and sewer infrastructure.

The Yes to Homes coalition is backing a group of bills that would legalize the construction of small single-family homes, duplexes, accessory dwelling units like mother-in-law suites, and apartments across the state.

With a split Legislature, bills will need bipartisan support to reach the governors desk.

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Here are the key provisions in the bills backed by housing leaders on both sides of the aisle. They are likely to be amended and wrapped together into a larger bill in the coming weeks. Some of the bills contain duplicate language.

Minnesota Starter Homes Act

This bill (SF2229/HF1987) would legalize duplexes and accessory dwelling units on residential lots statewide, and would allow townhomes on vacant lots and new developments.

Cities could still restrict development if the public infrastructure is inadequate.

It also would also block cities from setting minimum lot sizes larger than one-eighth of an acre for homes connected to city water and sewer services.

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Municipalities could not require the use of certain building materials or construction methods beyond the requirements in the state building code.

The bill would also require cities to create an administrative review process  i.e. sidestepping city councils  for the approval of housing development permits.

Cities could not impose any more restrictive standards and procedures for multifamily developments than those used for the review of single-family home construction.

Local governments could only use a conditional use permit or planned unit development agreement  a process developers describe as time-intensive negotiations between cities and developers that result in higher costs and fewer units  when the development poses health and safety concerns.

Transforming Main Street Act

This bill (SF2286/HF2018) would require local governments to allow apartment construction in areas currently zoned for commercial use, with some exceptions.

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It also provides a bonus for affordable housing developments, allowing more units than city zoning standards allow.

Cities could require developers to maintain the first floor of the building as commercial space if businesses already exist in the area.

The bill contains provisions that would limit cities ability to set height limits on apartment buildings. Large cities would have to allow buildings up to 75 feet tall.

More Homes, Right Places Act

This bill (SF2231/HF2140) is the successor to last years Missing Middle bill, aimed at increasing residential density along transit corridors.

It would direct cities to designate zones along main roads  the location would largely be up to the city  and allow higher-density development there.

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In those zones, cities would have a limited ability to impose setbacks, square footage minimums, parking mandates and other requirements.

Odds and ends

Lawmakers have also introduced standalone bills barring aesthetic mandates (HF2013) and parking minimums (SF1268/HF1309)
After a fifth-grade teacher at an elite private school in suburban New York conducted a mock slave auction  in which Black students were sold to their white classmates  as part of her social studies class, a state investigation determined the wildly misguided reenactment had had a profoundly negative effect on all of the children involved.

As a result, the Chapel School, a Lutheran institution that says its mission is to know, live, and share the love of Christ, fired the teacher involved and agreed to address issues of racial insensitivity within its walls, which included hiring a chief diversity officer to oversee the initiative.

We accept responsibility for the overall findings [of the state investigation], and we are committed to implementing all items outlined by the attorney general to help us deepen our cultural competence, Principal Michael Schultz said in a statement at the time.

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But, according to a harrowing $3 million lawsuit obtained by The Independent, the Ivy League-educated Black woman selected for the job now says school administrators lied to the AG about diversifying the faculty, forced her to submit falsified documentation to Jamess office, and subjected her to unchecked bigotry by faculty and pupils alike.

New York State Attorney General ordered the Chapel School to change its ways, but a whistleblower says they intentionally misled her (Getty Images)

In one particularly troubling instance, Treda Collier Dickenmans complaint says students doctored her official portrait in the Chapel School directory by turning the photo into a grotesque racial caricature, depicting her as a so-called ghetto rapper adorned with stereotypical artifacts like a gold chain around her neck, gold teeth, and a cigarette hanging from her mouth.

As for the administration, Collier Dickenman alleges in her complaint that she was set up to fail, while being used merely as an unknowing decoy, a token representative to mislead the Attorney General, falsely signaling compliance while secretly maintaining the same exclusionary practices they had always upheld.

Broadly speaking, Collier Dickenmans complaint, which was filed in Manhattan federal court on Friday and assigned to a US District Court judge and magistrate on Monday, contends the Chapel Schools conduct was not just evasion, it was fraud.

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On Monday evening, Senior Pastor Robert Hartwell of the Chapel School, who is named as a defendant in Collier Dickenmans suit, told The Independent, We dont provide comment on pending litigation... We care deeply for our community and when possible we would love to talk more about our programs and services that characterize our mission to congregation, children and community.

Collier Dickenmans attorney, Rebecca Brazzano, also declined to comment in detail, but told The Independent, I can offer that Ms. Collier Dickenman is both resilient and extraordinary in her courageousness.

Messages sent to AG Jamess office went unanswered.

Treda Collier Dickenman says parents fought her plan to introduce students to a book about Ruby Bridges, who desegregated a Louisiana school, saying they didnt want their kids exposed to such information (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

When Collier Dickenman applied in July 2019 for the newly created chief diversity officer position, she was excited about this new potential new role, her complaint states. It says she believed the Chapel School understood the severity of what was at stake and were fully invested in the serious work ahead, and that she was eager to forge ahead to share her talent in what appeared to be a committed, community-focused, professional, self-reflective, responsive, motivated, and cooperative team.

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However, when Collier Dickenman began working at the Chapel School that November, the complaint says she started seeing red flags immediately.

Rather than accepting responsibility for making things right after the mock slave auction was exposed, school administrators blamed everyone else for having reported it to the Attorney Generals Office, the complaint states. It says Collier Dickenman was utilized as, simply, a token Black marionette figure while ensuring real power remained in the hands of White male Lutheran leadership.

From the moment [Collier Dickenman] assumed the role of Chief Diversity Officer, [the school] launched a relentless campaign to diminish, isolate, and impede her, according to the complaint.

She was not given an office or dedicated workstation, but rather, was forced to carry her computer and necessary supplies from classroom to conference room like a transient visitor, the complaint alleges. When she was finally granted a temporary office, Collier Dickenman was moved into what the complaint describes as a makeshift storage room cluttered with fundraising boxes and discarded materials.

Administrators at the Chapel School were entirely uninterested in mandated diversity efforts, a new lawsuit claims (Getty Images)

The school repeatedly excluded Collier Dickenman from decision-making processes, flatly rejected her contributions, and forbade her from making recommendations to the Attorney Generals office, according to the complaint, which says she was instead forced to submit falsified responses to Jamess office as if they were her own. Citing unbearable pressure by the school and its attorney, Collier Dickenman says she eventually refused to go along with the ruse, calling the attempts at altering her reports both unethical and an abuse of power.

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A month after Collier Dickenman was hired, Schultz allegedly deceived the AGs office in an update about having hired seven new teachers, five of whom he claimed were minority faculty of color. Yet, according to Collier Dickenmans complaint, only two of the five were actually people of color.

The school also blatantly disregarded the AGs requirement to commit new financial aid to diverse applicants, describing the mandate as a legal obligation they openly resented.

Rather than honoring this decree, [school administrators] were insulted and outraged that the Attorney General dared to tell them how to allocate their funds, the complaint states. Instead of investing in balanced financial distribution, as they were required to do, [the school] redirected institutional funds to gratify their wealthy White parent base, ensuring that their resources were used to reinforce privilege, not fairness.

When she presented ideas to parents about ways of teaching students about systemic racism in American society following the murder of George Floyd by a white police officer, Collier Dickenman was met with a barrage of resistance, according to the complaint, which says she was told to instead teach the kids that all white police officers are not bad.

A lesson on George Floyd was also off-limits in classrooms at the Chapel School, Treda Collier Dickenman contends (Getty Images)

And when Collier Dickenman tried to introduce a book to students about Ruby Bridges, a six-year-old Black girl who was the first child to integrate a previously segregated school in Louisiana, white parents vehemently objected, insisting they did not want their children exposed to such stories, the complaint continues.

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For its part, the school unfailingly sided with the parents, according to the complaint.

In March 2024, Collier Dickenman finally reached her breaking point, the complaint goes on. She submitted her resignation under protest, explicitly citing the schools inequitable systems, abusive power dynamics, devious resistance to cultural equity and rank discrimination against [her], the complaint states.

This was not a departure, it was an expulsion, carefully disguised by [the school] as resignation, it contends, alleging Collier Dickenman has suffered mental anguish and emotional distress.

Defendants were never serious about compliance, equity or cultural awareness for all students, or Cultural Growth, according to the complaint, which calls the school out for what it terms a brazen endeavor to obstruct and obscure any lawful scrutiny by the attorney general.

Collier Dickenman is demanding economic, compensatory, and punitive damages of no less than $3 million, plus attorneys fees.
In the two weeks since the White House reversed course on the 1890 National Scholars Program and lifted its suspension, Kendall Strickland still feels a sense of unease about the programs future.

Created in 1992, the program covers full tuition and room and board for underserved or rural students interested in studying food, agriculture, natural resources, and other sciences at historically Black land-grant institutions, also referred to as 1890 universities because they were established that year.

The news hit close to home for Strickland, a rural Georgia-based farmer who benefitted from the program nearly a decade ago when he graduated from Florida A&M University where he studied agribusiness. Sad and disappointed, he said he immediately thought about the potential opportunities that could be snatched away and how the the brightest of the bright are becoming casualties in a political climate that questions equity efforts for Black Americans and other marginalized groups.

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President Donald Trumps administration has been on a rampage to cut initiatives, programs, and funding tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion, which is often conflated with race and civil rights protections. Farmers and education experts worry the crusade will result in possible cuts to student support programs, struggles to attract diverse staff, and fewer resources, which could force these universities  which are owed billions of dollars from their states  to face closure or reduction in services. Just last month, Tennessee State University, a Black land-grant school, announced that its steep financial challenges could cause the school to run out of money by May, and asked for state lawmakers to intervene.

Ive understood what the agenda of this new administration is, and part of it includes doing away with programs that were pretty traditional to the federal government, Strickland said. It was enraging. It stung a lot. Of course, Im happy that they reinstated the program, but I am skeptical about what even the program and other initiatives around diversity are going to look like going forward.

Yet, while farmers like Strickland remain uncertain about the programs future  in addition to funding for HBCUs more broadly  their resolve to mobilize is growing. In response, farmers and education experts are finding ways to organize within  and outside  their communities to ensure the 1890 program and HBCUs are sustainable in the future.

What sparked the public outcry

On Feb. 20, the USDA halted the program pending review to ensure that the program, its mission and its metrics ensure the most efficient use of taxpayer resources, the USDAs Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement, which oversees the program, wrote in a statement.

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It took public outrage for the program to be restored just days after the initial announcement.

Several congressional leaders  including U.S. Reps. Jonathan Jackson of Illinois, Yvette Clark of New York and Alma Adams of North Carolina  criticized Trump and his administration and urged them to reinstate the program. Adams, who serves as a senior member of the House Committee on Agriculture and founding chairwoman of the Bipartisan Historically Black Colleges and Universities Caucus, said the suspension was a clear attack on an invaluable program that makes higher education accessible for everybody.

This program is a correction to a long history of racial discrimination within the land-grant system, not an example of it, she wrote in a statement.

By Feb. 25, the programs application period had reopened, and applications from rising college juniors, sophomores, and high school seniors entering their freshman year of college will be accepted through March 15. Scholarship recipients will be notified by July, according to the USDA.

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Yet, people like Denise Smith, deputy director of higher education policy and a senior fellow at The Century Foundation, said they remain on high alert and are calling for more support to ensure the sustainability of programs aimed at helping Black students.

This is an unfortunate series of events that weve been seeing happen to our Black colleges, but at this moment, we also need additional support from every angle, legislative as well as philanthropic as well as alumni, she said. This is the moment where everybody is going to have to step up to really ensure that we can support and protect our institutions.

Young farmers like Strickland, whos in his early 30s, credit the 1890 scholars program for his success.

As a recipient of the scholarship, Strickland moved from his home in Illinois to attend FAMU. He graduated in 2015, a journey that included three internships and a post-graduation job at the USDA, aligning with the programs mission to create a pipeline for students to work at the agency.

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Hes been farming in rural Georgia for the past six years, and last year he opened a grocery store in Crawford, a majority-Black, rural town, after closing his food stand off the highway in Lexington, about 3 miles away from his storefront.

His growth is due to his beginnings at FAMU as an 1890s scholar, he said.

It was a life changer for me, he told Capital B. That really helped my foundation and my current occupation  not to mention just being so grateful that Im not in any type of college debt because of that. Me and so many other people have had the chance to serve in different roles as a result of the program.

The history behind the program and funding roadblocks

Historically Black land-grant universities are an invaluable part of American higher education as they provide access to under-resourced populations and contribute to the economic growth of their states and the nation, said Felecia Commodore, associate professor of education policy, organization, and leadership at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Collectively, the universities have contributed $5.5 billion in economic impact and generate more than $52 billion in lifetime earnings for each graduating class.

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The institutions play a critical role in research and in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. If you look at the requirements, none of the criteria from the scholarship is based on race or gender, she added, but for those who otherwise wouldnt have had access to higher education and receive top-notch agricultural education training.

The USDA scholarship is a really great example of what happens when we get focused on rhetoric. What things look like as opposed to what they are, Commodore said. This isnt, Oh, were just investing in Black schools. Were investing in agricultural education opportunities for students from communities that keep our foodways safe, that keep our foodways robust, and ensure that we have a thriving agricultural industry in this country.

Despite their significant contributions, 1890 land-grant universities have not received their equitable share of resources since their inception, and theyve had to fight for their due, resulting in a $577 million settlement for HBCUs in Maryland, for example.

More than a century ago, the Morrill Act of 1862 established land-grant institutions by giving states 30,000 acres of land and funding to establish schools focused on teaching, research, and extension services in agriculture, military sciences, and mechanical arts disciplines. Over time, over 100 million acres of land were allocated to states. However, states prevented Black students, who were newly freed slaves, from enrolling at the predominantly white 1862 land-grant universities.

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Nearly 30 years later, the second Morrill Act of 1890 prohibited racial discrimination in admissions while creating the 19 Black land-grant institutions. Unlike their counterparts, Black institutions didnt receive land. States determined the funding, which resulted in HBCUs receiving only a single-digit percentage of the funding allowed under the Morrill Act.

This allowed 1862 institutions to get a head start, said Smith at The Century Foundation, a progressive think tank. She explained how 1890 schools were located in places with undesirable land, making it difficult to cultivate crops or the ability to sell it to create revenue or endowments like 1862 institutions. Smith conducted a comparative analysis of the funding disparities between 1862 and 1890 land-grant institutions, while highlighting the importance of 1890 schools.

Under federal law, states are required to provide a dollar-for-dollar match for federal funds. While every state exceeded or met their matching fund requirement for 1862 institutions, a research brief published by Purdue University estimates that from 2010 to 2012, 61% of Black land-grant schools did not receive one-to-one matching funds from their home states. The analysis Smith published through The Century Foundation found that Black land-grant universities lost nearly $195 million in state matching funds between fiscal years 2011 to 2021.

The USDA estimates Black land-grant schools could have received between $172 million to $2.1 billion in funding if their states had provided the required funds over the past three decades. In the fall of 2023, the Biden administration urged states to allocate funding to their land-grant HBCUs in a manner thats equitable to their white counterparts.

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U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and Tom Vilsack, secretary of Agriculture, sent letters to 16 governors to address the funding challenges. Letters were sent to Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Two other states  Delaware and Ohio  have equitably funded their universities. Some leaders in Republican states pushed back, stating how theyve continued to support their HBCUs.

1862s have no problem getting their money.  Many of them have a hefty budget that they receive because so many people in the state  legislators in the state might be alumni  want those institutions to succeed, and we should want the same type of resources and support for all the public universities in their state, not just a few, Smith said.

A chance to step it up and get more involved

Kesha Cobb addresses a panel of USDA officials at the National Black Growers Council annual meeting in 2024. (Aallyah Wright/Capital B)

Kesha Cobb, farmer and founder of BlackAg Inc. who helped promote the 1890s scholars program last year, encouraged students to not let the hiccup in the road affect them from receiving a quality education. Cobb, a self-taught farmer from Arkansas, advocates on behalf of new and beginning farmers who have been locked out of federal resources.

This is the time for everyone to get involved whether its alumni creating an endowment, hosting fundraising efforts, or connecting with foundations and wealthy people, no matter the demographics, who are willing to support.

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With the assault on diversity by the White House and Black farmers getting older, there needs to be a strategy to ensure Black communities arent left out, she said. Her organization is one of the many feeling the effects of the funding freeze, despite multiple injunctions stopping the Trump administration from doing so.

I am encouraging everyone to understand our power, understand our influence.  [These students are] the future politicians. Theyre the future leaders at the USDA, she said. We took that blow, and were resilient, and were moving forward either way. We want to educate each other, not just Black people, but white people, too. Hey, obviously this is affecting you, so how can we prevent this from happening in the future? Lets mobilize and take some action.

Smith and Commodore called on the government to make good on the promises they made to these institutions.

From a legislative standpoint, Smith points to the Farm Bill, which is the largest investment in food, farming and agriculture, as an avenue to help remedy some of these issues. It supports farmers and agriculture programs, food assistance programs for low-income families, conservation initiatives, and rural housing, broadband, and workforce development.

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For Strickland, hes been in conversations with others about organizing, but remains skeptical about the Trump administration.

I still feel like there are some looming budget cuts coming our way, he said. I still feel like the relationship between the federal government and historically Black colleges, its going to be fractured.

Are you a current student or alum of an 1862 or 1890 land-grant institution? (View the list of universities here.) Email me at aallyah.wright@capitalbnews.org! Id love to talk to you.

The post Black Farmers Mobilize to Protect Vital HBCU Scholarship appeared first on Capital B News.
Shanequa Smith, one of the founders of Black Policy Day, speaks during the fourth annual event at the state Capitol Monday, March 10, 2025, in Charleston, W.Va. Black Policy Day draws people from around the state to advocate for policies that affect the Black community. (Will Price | West Virginia Legislative Photography)

As West Virginia leaders move forward with a plan to eliminate state-funded diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, some visitors to the state Capitol on Monday would like them to reconsider.

I really would like them to look into why they are wanting to rid diversity, equity and inclusion in a state thats not as diverse as others, said Shante Ellis, the community enrichment executive director for the YWCA of Charleston and a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Its a really good time to stay inclusive, especially if were wanting to bring big businesses here to the state.

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Ellis was one of the dozens of people who participated in Black Policy Day at the West Virginia Legislature Monday. In its fourth year, the event draws people from around the state to advocate for policies that affect the Black community.

Incentivizing diversity and inclusion is just one part of a long list of policies community members would like to see this year. That seems unlikely after Gov. Patrick Morrisey, following the lead of President Donald Trump, signed an executive order ending state funding for DEI initiatives. Legislation that would prohibit DEI programs was approved recently by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Ellis said ending DEI would probably have a huge effect on businesses considering locating in the state.

Some of the larger businesses want to be diverse, and probably already are diverse, Ellis said. And when I talk about diversity, its not just race. Its about the veterans, its about women, its about people with disabilities. Its about all of those things that encompass being a diverse company. And usually bigger companies like that want to be in a place where they can still be as diverse as they want.

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Shanequa Smith, one of the founders of Black Policy Day, said ending DEI would hurt a lot of people.

We call this Black Policy Day because we have to make a bold statement, to let people know a lot of spaces are not created for us, and this is not exclusive to Black people, Smith said We do deserve space, just like women deserve space. Kids deserve space. Men deserve space. Black people deserve space. And its sad that until this day, we still have to create space, because its not automatically given to us.

Other policies on the list of priorities this year include creating a state child tax credit, investments in re-entry support for people leaving jail and prison, and policies that improve Black infant and maternal health, among others.

Smith said its important for lawmakers to know what the Black community needs from them.

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I think its very important for people to feel comfortable [here], she said. Some people said this is the first time theyve ever stepped foot in this building, so this is awesome for them.

Smith said shed like to see lawmakers give more support for child care and children.

When you take care of the children, you take care of the people. she said.

Martec Washington, a resident of Charlestons West Side, said hed like to see lawmakers focus on what he sees as the real issues facing West Virginia.

We have kids that are missing, we have tons of stuff going on with [Child Protective Services]. They still dont have clean water in Southern West Virginia, Washington said. Theyre still reeling from flood issues, and the first piece of legislation this organization wants to send out is changing a mountains name to Trump Mountain, Washington said, referencing a resolution introduced last month that has since stalled.

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That shows me that youre not focused on any of the people or the real things that are going on in West Virginia, he said. So I wanted to be sure to come out so that these people could actually face me. So you could give me a real answer of why you think worrying about everything other than health care, education, finances or the future of West Virginia isnt important, but naming the mountain is.

Washington said hes been disgusted by the backward thinking behind the efforts to end diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

DEI does more than just protecting Black and brown people, he said. Its really to make sure that people have access to come up here to the second floor with the elevator. Thats what DEI is. Its making sure that people who are blind have some way of reading when they come to the Legislature or when theyre in school. Its to make sure that people like my grandmother, who is a deaf, mute person, has somebody signing so that way shes not missing anything because shes still paying taxes.

So do you not care about the disabled? he said. I mean are we going backwards or forwards?

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Washington said hed like to see lawmakers pass the Crown Act, a bill that would prohibit discrimination based on hairstyle. The bill is introduced yearly and usually sits dormant. Last year the Senate judiciary passed the bill but the legislation died after Senate Finance Chair Eric Tarr referred it to his committee and declined to take it up over potential costs.

To Washington, the legislation is simple. He doesnt understand why lawmakers havent passed it.

That is something that not only protects Black and brown people, but people of all colors, he said. White people have dreads. White people color their hair. They like to get braids. But they dont fear getting evicted or kicked out or having to be kicked out of a whole entire event because you have dreads. Im competing in a sport. What does my hair have to do with it? Its not giving me some sort of advantage.

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SYDNEY, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The spread of the deadly varroa mite across Australia poses a major threat to both honeybee populations and native ecosystems, according to a study published on Tuesday.

While much of the concern has focused on the impact on agriculture and beekeeping, researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney warn that the decline of feral European honeybees could have complex consequences for native plants and pollinators, creating both risks and opportunities.

First detected in 2022, the varroa mite devastates honeybee colonies by feeding on their bodily fluids and spreading disease. Once established, it typically leads to the collapse of feral honeybee populations within a few years, said the study published in the Australian Journal of Botany.

With Australia home to some of the world's highest densities of feral honeybees, their decline could reshape pollination networks across the country, the researchers said.

While honeybees play a role in pollinating native plants, they also compete with native pollinators and contribute to the spread of invasive weeds. As their numbers dwindle, some native species that have struggled against honeybee dominance may thrive, according to the study's lead author, Tom Le Breton, at the UNSW School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES).

Australia's 1,200 native bee species, which are not affected by the mite, could reclaim their ecological roles. Some, such as the Reed bee, use "buzz pollination," a highly efficient method that benefits certain plants more than honeybee pollination, said co-author Chantelle Doyle, also from the UNSW School of BEES.

However, the loss of honeybees could harm species that have come to rely on them, such as mangroves and post-bushfire recovering plant, the authors said, calling for monitoring changes in plant-pollinator interactions and developing conservation strategies.

"As Australia is the last honey-producing country to become infected with the varroa mite, we are in a unique position where we can review global experiences," Le Breton said. 
The Russian sea resort town of Anapa is suing to cover its cleanup bill from a huge oil spill.

It's seeking 211 million rubles from the owner and operator of two tankers that breached last year.

The resulting massive spill has underscored concerns about aging ships carrying oil and gas for Russia.

The Russian summer resort town of Anapa is suing two shipping companies for $2.4 million after an oil spill devastated its local beaches.

The office of the town's mayor, Vasiliy Shvets, announced on Monday that it was seeking 211 million rubles from Volgatransneft and Kama Shipping, citing clean-up costs.

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These firms owned and operated two tankers that breached near Anapa during a heavy storm in December.

State media reported that the Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239 carried 9,000 metric tons of low-grade fuel, more than half of which emptied into the Kerch Strait. The Black Sea area sits between Russia and the occupied Crimean peninsula.

Anapa, a popular holiday town of some 80,000 people, was hard hit by the spill, which contaminated over 30 miles of beach.

Authorities said the cleanup involved 10,000 people shoveling and scooping blackened sand and polluted water.

Anapa, a popular holiday town in the Black Sea, said it plans to increase its claims against the shipping companies soon. Sergey Pivovarov/Reuters

Moscow declared a federal state of emergency in mid-January, as the oil continued to spread nearly a month after the tankers were breached.

Oil spill feeds fears of Russia's dark fleet

The spill drew international attention amid concerns that Russia's sanctioned energy industry is using a "shadow fleet" of commercial ships to ferry oil and gas to foreign customers.

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Many such vessels are aging tankers pulled back into service that often prove difficult to track, prompting fears of further spillage and a lack of mechanisms to contain the damage.

The Volgoneft 212  which split into two  and the Volgoneft 239 were both over 50 years old. Most major Western oil companies typically use tankers that have seen 15 years of service or fewer.

The grey-area status of Russia's dark vessels also underscores concern that they might not be properly insured to cover oil spills, leaving communities hit by such disasters to shoulder cleaning costs.

For Anapa, a popular holiday town of some 80,000 people, the $2.4 million is an incomplete tally of the money "already paid under contracts" to deal with the December spill, the mayor's office said.

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"This amount is not final, and in the future, the administration intends to increase the claims," it added.

Per Russia's federal statistics agency, the average monthly salary in the Russian economy was 87,952 rubles, or about $1,000, in 2024.

Municipal filings for the arbitration court of the Krasnodar region show that Anapa submitted its lawsuit on Friday. Judge Irina Bondarenko is listed as overseeing the case.

Meanwhile, the town said on Saturday that it had begun testing its beaches for contamination, publishing footage of excavators and bulldozers cleaning up the seaside.

The long-term environmental impact of the spill remains to be seen.

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In January, environmental advocacy group Greenpeace said the oil could sink to the bottom of the deep sea, poisoning fish and vegetation there.

"The impact of the ecological disaster could persist for decades," it wrote in a statement about the spill.

Volgatransneft did not respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside regular business hours, and Kama Shipping did not return calls from BI.

Read the original article on Business Insider
ASHEVILLE - Despite a natural disaster, two Western North Carolina national park sites remained among the most visited in the country in 2024, though a March 5 National Park Service memo indicated the Trump administration wishes to obscure information relevant to the number of visitors.

While major sections of the roadway were devastated by Tropical Storm Helene in late September, the Blue Ridge Parkway, a skinny park that stretches 469 miles across the Blue Ridge Mountains from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Cherokee, remained among the most popular national park units, with more than 16.7 million visitors in 2024.

Only decreasing from 2023 by around 24,000 visits, the parkway was only second to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, which had more than 17 million visitors in 2024.

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The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which sprawls across a half-million acres of rugged, forested terrain in Western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, was also among the most visited, with 12.1 million visitors. It was the most visited national park in the country.

The Blue Ridge Mountains, seen from a viewing area off the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina Nov. 3, 2024. Sections of the parkway were reopened after being closed due to damage caused by Tropical Storm Helene.

More: After DOGE firing, Carl Sandburg National Park Service ranger hopes to be reinstated

In a March 5 memo, National Park Service administrators told staff that they would not be allowed to actively publicize the information, even though the federal agency had a record 331 million visitors in 2024, according to NPS data published March 5. It comes after roughly 1,000 park service employees were fired in February by the Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE, under the direction of billionaire Elon Musk as ordered by President Donald Trump.

The memo read that there would be "no external communications rollout" for 2024's visitation data and that parks can publish final data online if "that is the park's standard process," but that no press release or "proactive communications, including social media posts" should be made. The memo was published publicly by Resistance Rangers, a group of current and former park service employees who have organized protests against recent firings across the country.

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The memo also came with a format for how to respond to visitation-related inquiries that begins with "Thanks for reaching out. You can access service wide and park data at irma.nps.gov/stats." A park service spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment from the Citizen Times.

Photos provided by the National Park Service show landslide damage near Milepost 401 south of Asheville along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Damage from Tropical Storm Helene is estimated to cost over $1 billion to repair.

Phil Francis, chair of the executive committee for the Coalition to Protect Americas National Parks, said that the visitation statistics typically reflect "good news" and opined that the lack of information about 2024's visitation was a product of what the current administration doesn't "want people to see." Francis previously served as the superintendent  the top job  for both the Smokies and the parkway.

"One of the concerns is that the staffing levels of the parks are in decline. With the DOGE cuts to the parks, there's going to be even fewer people to manage record numbers of visitation," Francis said. "I'm just guessing that's probably what they don't want people to see."

The release of visitation information typically comes with a reminder: a park's impact on the local economy. The 2023 park service economic impact report set the Smokies and the parkway among the top three national park units in the country. Together, the parks generated an estimated $5.1 billion economic output in 2023 and supported over 52,000 jobs, in surrounding communities, including Asheville, where the parkway is headquartered, according to the park service estimates.

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Francis called the park's economic impact "critical," and noted that with extended closures the Blue Ridge Parkway, which suffered damages that will cost over $1 billion to repair, should indicate that the park needs to be repaired to benefit the region. At least 57 known landslides were recorded after the storm and some major sections of the parkway remain entirely closed.

The parkway's busiest months tend to be during the summer and fall, particularly when the leaves are changing. However, 2024 saw higher-than-usual use throughout the first eight months, with visitation peaking during June, July and August, but staying above usual use in February, March, April and May. August had the highest number of visitors, with over 2.1 million visiting the parkway, a 16% increase from 2023.

Only 739,523 visited in October, a decline of nearly 66% compared to October 2023, when 2.2 million visited the parkway.

Parkway closures can be monitored at nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm.

Blue Ridge Parkway by the numbers

Last year was the second time since 2017 that the parkway reached over 16 million visitors, having steadily increased in visitation since the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Updated visitor tracking efforts led to the monthly increases in visitation, parkway spokesperson Leesa Brandon said.

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"In 2024, the National Park Service made changes to improve the accuracy of Blue Ridge Parkway visitation data. Outdated visitation estimates were replaced with a new statistical model. The updated statistical model and new traffic counters led to an overall increase in reported recreation visits for the Parkway from January through September. Portions of the Parkway remain closed due to damage from Hurricane Helene and visitation statistics are unavailable for that time," Brandon wrote in an email to the Citizen Times.

2014 13,941,749 2015 15,054,603 2016 15,175,578 2017 16,093,765 2018 14,690,418 2019 14,976,085 2020 14,099,485 2021 15,948,148 2022 15,711,004 2023 16,757,635 2024 16,733,639

Great Smoky Mountains by the numbers

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was the most visited national park in 2024, but its reported 1.1 million visitor decrease from 2023 to 2024 was not due to a decrease in actual visitation, Smokies spokesperson Katie Liming told the Citizen Times. The decrease was "anticipated due to substantial statistical changes made to improve the accuracy of GSMNPs visitation data," where some changes include improvements in accounting for vehicles that re-enter the park and a more accurate representation of how many people are in each vehicle across seasons.

"When we applied the new statistical procedures to the finalized 2023 visitation data for testing purposes, we observed an average decrease in monthly visitation of 8%. It's important to note that these statistical adjustments were only tested on the 2023 data and are not reflected in any public reports for that year. The 2023 data was solely used as a testing baseline to understand the potential implications of the new procedures," Liming told the Citizen Times.

2014 10,099,276 2015 10,712,674 2016 11,312,786 2017 11,338,893 2018 11,421,200 2019 12,547,743 2020 12,095,720 2021 14,161,548 2022 12,937,633 2023 13,297,647 2024 12,191,834

More: Blue Ridge Parkway Helene repairs to cost more than $1 billion; What to know

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More: Blue Ridge Parkway 'critical' land in Balsam Mountains conserved after decades-long deal

Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at WHofmann@citizentimes.com. Consider supporting this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: NPS: Blue Ridge Parkway visitation statistics should not be publicized
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn) believes the proposed tariffs by the Trump Administration, especially on gas and electricity, are going to hurt people in Connecticut calling on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to block President Trumps tariffs and protect consumers.

Blumenthal noted Monday how gas and electricity prices will increase, citing how 11% of New Englands power supply is imported from Canada.

Republicans worry Trumps tariffs could harm economy

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Donald Trump says its paid by the exporter in Canada, Blumenthal said. No, its paid by consumers, because its added to the price of electricity.

Blumenthal said the average kilowatt per-hour is approximately 26 cents, which is 10 cents higher than the national average. The proposed 25% tariff would cause the prices to skyrocket even further.

The increased cost on the tariff on electricity alone will be as much as 165 million dollars to Connecticut consumers, Blumenthal said.

The Trump tariffs would also impact the residents of New England at the gas pump, as much of the gasoline is imported from Canada. The tariffs could cause gas prices to increase by 20-30 cents.

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Its all about the billionaires and millionaires who want lower taxes, and this revenue will finance those tax cuts, Blumenthal said.

Meanwhile, some Connecticut Republicans are not willing to condemn the tariffs. State Rep. David Rutigliano (R-Trumbull), is in no rush to judgement.

Theres a lot of exceptions to the tariffs, Rutigliano said. Its not a blanket. We just need to see how they shake out.

Something has to be done to fix the trade imbalance, and if it ultimately gets to the place where we are getting tariffs and not the income tax, I think its a conversation worth having.

Connecticut State Senate minority leader Stephen Harding (R-Brookfield) said that in the state, only one party is working to lower electricity costs.

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While the concern over tariffs is bipartisan, the only solutions to lowering electricity costs here at the State Capitol are coming from Republicans, Harding said. Republicans want to get rid of the hidden public benefits tax on our bills.

Opponents of the tariffs maintain they will be bad for all Americans.

Theyre going to be bad for customers, Consumer Counsel Claire Coleman said. And we are standing here with Senator Blumenthal asking for the Trump administration to consider reversing course.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The Oglethorpe County Sheriffs Office has identified a body found in the woods last month.

Deputies say their investigators and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said they identified David J. Stewart, 69, through medical and dental records.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Investigators say they are treating Stewarts death as a homicide.

A person of interest has been detained in another state.

TRENDING STORIES:

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On Feb. 25, the Oglethorpe County Sheriffs Office got a 911 call from someone who found a body off Double Bridges Road.

The sheriffs office is asking for anyone who had contact with Stewart as a neighbor, friend or delivery person or may have went by his house to reach out to them at 706-743-8101 or by clicking here.

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NAIROBI, Kenya (AP)  The body of a Kenyan police officer who died in Haitis U.N.-backed multinational mission to combat violent gangs has been returned home.

The body of Samuel Tompoi Kaetuai was on Monday night received by his family and senior police officers in the capital, Nairobi. The officer died on Feb. 23 after he was fatally shot by gangs in a western region of Haiti. He was the first Kenyan to be killed during the mission, which began deploying in June.

No date has been announced for his funeral.

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A contingent of around 800 Kenyan police is leading the mission that includes soldiers and police from countries such as Jamaica, Guatemala and El Salvador who are working alongside Haitis National Police.

Last week, Kenyas police inspector general Douglas Kanja described the death of the Kenyan officer as a great loss and disputed reports that Kenyan officers were ill-equipped to deal with violent gangs in Haiti.

Kanja said the well-being of the officers was Kenya's priority and that they are well-trained for the mission.

Last year Haiti and the U.S. warned that the mission that began in June lacks personnel and resources and called for a U.N. peacekeeping mission to replace the current deployment.

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Last month, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he would request that the U.N assumes funding for the structural and logistical expenses of the multinational force.

More than 5,600 people were reported killed in Haiti last year, with gang violence displacing more than 1 million Haitians in recent years, according to the U.N.
MIAMI TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WDTN)  An investigation is underway near a business in southern Montgomery County.

Montgomery County Regional Dispatch confirmed that first responders were dispatched at 12:35 p.m. to the area of the 2900 block of Martins Drive in Miamisburg. Officials were sent to the location in reference to a possible body.

A spokesperson for the Miami Township Police Department said the individual found had reportedly been living in a tent in the woods behind the store, which is Miami Township.

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The Montgomery County Coroner identified the body as 60-year-old Timothy Siney.

The cause and manner of Sineys death have not yet been determined.

The investigation remains 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 WDTN.com.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The City of Bonner Springs has begun clearing the way to bring residents to downtown.

The city announced on Monday, March 10, that site clearing work has begun at Front Street and Oak Street for an apartment complex that will add 93 units of housing to the downtown area.

Kansas City anthem for FIFA World Cup events released Tuesday morning

The project will add 43 market-rate apartments and 50 moderate-income apartments to downtown in one 4-story building, according to the city. There will be 92 parking spaces on-site and overflow parking has been approved at the parking lot on Elm Street between 2nd and 3rd Street.

The development was approved by the city and the State for the Revitalization Housing Incentive Program (RHID).

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According to the city, units will be mostly studios and one-bedrooms with a few two-bedrooms. The construction timeline is approximately 18 months.

The apartments are at the site of the former Bonner Springs Thriftway and Dollar General that was demolished in May 2023.

Kansas Rep. Sharice Davids announced in 2023 that the project received a Moderate Income Housing (MIH) grant for $1.7 million from the Kansas Housing resources Corporation.

See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri

This is the first time Bonner Springs has received a grant for housing.

For more information on the Moderate Income Housing Program, see here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Panic erupted at a recent Boosie Badazz concert, as gunfire left multiple concertgoers in critical condition.

The incident took place on Monday (March 10) during Boosies show at the Field House Lounge in Akron, Ohio. Around 2 a.m., a violent altercation broke out within the venue, leading to a gunman opening fire.

As the shots rang out, chaos ensued, with concertgoers fleeing the venue, and Boosie, who was performing on stage at the time, being swiftly removed from the stage for his safety.

Boosie Badazz onstage during A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop at YouTube Theater on November 08, 2023 in Inglewood, California.

Three men were wounded in the attack, with two of them, an 18-year-old and a 36-year-old, being rushed to a local hospital in critical condition. A third victim, a 25-year-old male, sustained a minor graze wound.

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Authorities have yet to release the names of the victims, as the investigation into the incident remains ongoing. No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting at this time.

Boosie Badazz attends the BET Awards 2023 at Microsoft Theater on June 25, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

This latest shooting marks the second time in less than a year that violence has disrupted at one of Boosie Badazzs concerts. In August 2024, a shooting at a concert in Iowa led to the deaths of two men, further adding to concerns about safety at his shows.

As police continue to search for answers, they are urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward. Witnesses are encouraged to contact the Akron Police Department Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490, or to reach out anonymously to Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-COPS.

See footage of the Boosie Badazz concert shooting below.

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A five-year-old boy died after being incinerated inside a pressurised oxygen chamber while undergoing alternative treatment for ADHD and sleep apnoea.

Thomas Cooper was pronounced dead at the scene on Jan 31 at the Oxford Center in Detroit.

Five people have been charged in connection with the boys death, Michigan police said on Monday.

The centers founder and chief executive, Tamela Peterson, 58, is charged with second-degree murder.

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The facilitys manager Gary Marken, 65, and safety manager Gary Mosteller, 64, are charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter.

The operator of the chamber when it exploded, Aleta Moffitt, 60, is charged with involuntary manslaughter and intentionally placing false medical information on a medical records chart.

Thomas was undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurised chamber, for sleep apnoea and ADHD, according to NBC.

A hyperbaric chamber at the Oxford Center - David Guralnick

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers are not cleared for marketing to treat ADHD or sleep apnoea by the Food and Drug Administration.

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Some studies have suggested that the treatment can alleviate symptoms.

A single spark it appears ignited into a fully involved fire that claimed Thomass life within seconds, Dana Nessel, Michigans Attorney General, said at a news conference on Tuesday.

Fires inside a hyperbaric chamber are considered a terminal event. Every such fire is almost certainly fatal and this is why many procedures and essential safety practices have been developed to keep a fire from ever occurring, she added.

Thomas had been undergoing unapproved treatment for ADHD and sleep apnoea

Ms Nessel accused those charged of of putting childrens bodies at risk through unaccredited and debunked treatments for profit.

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Raymond Cassar, the attorney for centre manager Mr Marken, said the second-degree murder charge comes as a total shock.

Mr Cassar continued: This was a tragic accident and our thoughts and our prayers go out to the family of this little boy.

I want to remind everyone that this was an accident, not an intentional act. Were going to have to leave this up to the experts to find out what was the cause of this.

His mother was injured during the incident

Thomass family have not commented on the charges.

James Harrington, managing partner of Fieger Law in Southfield, Michigan, told NBC last month the boys parents were absolutely devastated.

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The boys mother was injured trying to save him in the accident, Mr Harrington said.

The Oxford Center said in an email following the explosion that the safety and wellbeing of the children we serve is our highest priority.

Nothing like this has happened in our more than 15 years of providing this type of therapy. We do not know why or how this happened and will participate in all of the investigations that now need to take place, the centers statement said.

Ms Nessel said her office extensively consulted experts on hyperbaric chambers and treatments before filing the charges.

Horrifying and simple conclusions were reached, she said. The Oxford Center routinely operated sensitive and lethally dangerous hyperbaric chambers beyond their expected service lifetime and in complete disregard of vital safety measures and practices considered essential by medical and technical professionals.

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Ms Moffitts lawyer, Ellen Michaels, declined to comment before Tuesdays arraignment.

Ms Petersons attorney was contacted by the AP for comment. An attorney was not listed for Mosteller.

A voicemail was left seeking comment from an attorney representing the Oxford Center. The AP also left a message seeking comment from the center.

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VIENTIANE, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The Lao government has been working to boost its presence in the global cassava market through increased crop yields, upgraded processing facilities and expanded export opportunities.

The government emphasized the importance of infrastructure development, investment incentives, and streamlined trade facilitation to unlock the full potential of the cassava sector, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on Tuesday.

Cassava has been becoming more popular among Lao farmers due to its higher yields and strong market demand. In 2024, Laos cultivated over 295,000 hectares of cassava, producing 7.4 million tons.

Laos currently has 22 cassava processing factories with an annual production capacity of 1 million tons of tapioca.

Laos exported 2.4 million tons of cassava in 2024, generating over 440 million U.S. dollars in revenue. 
MILPITAS, Calif. (KRON)  In the South Bay, cameras captured terrifying images of a brazen armed robbery at a Milpitas massage parlor over the weekend. Several people were hurt when two gunmen stormed the business on Saturday.

The Milpitas Police Department is looking for the two suspects. Surveillance video was provided to KRON4 by the owner of Footlax Massage (Watch in the player above).

According to the business owner, on Saturday evening, one suspect came in demanding cash out of the register. A second suspect suddenly appeared and began targeting unsuspecting customers.

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Two Pleasanton teens stabbed in brawl, third teen arrested

It was terrifying for the victims, said Milpitas PD officer Michelle Sanchez.

Officer Sanchez said first responders were called in to help and one person was injured and required attending. An employee at the business told KRON4 that this is the second robbery there in the last three months.

Now, a reward sign is posted on the front door. Police say they are interviewing people who were at the massage business Saturday.

According to the owner, a large amount of cash and personal items were taken in the brazen robbery.

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BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil will eventually need to resume discussions on requiring financial technology companies to report transaction values to the tax revenue service, the agency's head said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a Senate hearing, Robinson Barreirinhas cited strong indications that lesser-known payment institutions are being used for money laundering.

Barreirinhas said the tax revenue service has intelligence capabilities for tracking transactions that the government still intends to extend to fintechs. It suspended such plans announced last year following a strong public backlash.

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"I don't want to demonize fintechs ... but the truth is that many end up being used (for illicit transactions) due to the ease of opening accounts," he said, noting that stricter controls should be required to open accounts.

In September, Brazil's tax revenue service issued a rule requiring fintechs to report transactions, including those made through the widely used Pix instant payment system, to tax authorities starting in January, aligning them with banks.

Opposition to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government framed the measure as a deliberate attempt to tax workers, prompting the administration to suspend the rule in mid-January amid a sharp decline in the leftist leader's popularity in opinion polls.

Barreirinhas said the revenue service is concerned about the financing of organized crime in Latin America's largest economy through smuggled cigarettes and e-cigarettes, cryptocurrencies and online betting.

(Reporting by Marcela Ayres; Editing by Richard Chang)
SAO PAULO (AP)  Brazil's aviation agency on Tuesday suspended the operating license for local airline Voepass, citing security risks as an investigation continues into a crash in August that killed all 62 people on board.

One of the company's six planes crashed outside Sao Paulo as signs of ice buildup mounted on its wings. Brazilian authorities in October ordered Voepass to make changes including increasing ground time for maintenance and changing administrators. Four months later, an update showed the situation had not improved.

The aviation agency noted "Voepass inability to solve irregularities identified during the supervision, as well as the violation of previously established conditions for the continuity of the operation within the required safety standards.

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It said the suspension will continue until the airline conforms with regulations.

The company did not comment on the decision. Voepass offers regional flights in 15 cities in Brazil.

Investigators say the pilots of the plane that crashed in August reported failure in the system to remove ice from the plane. They were careful to avoid calling that the cause of the accident and stressed that more investigation was needed.

____

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
Ukrainian and U.S. delegates are starting their talks in Jeddah on March 11 in a meeting that will likely have a major impact on Washington's future support for Kyiv and any effort to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

"The meeting with the U.S. team started very constructively; we are working towards a just and lasting peace," said President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak.

The Ukrainian delegation is said to include Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and Zelensky's Deputy Chief of Staff Pavlo Palisa. The U.S. delegation is led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

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Fourth hour into the meeting, Waltz and Rubio were seen walking in the Ritz-Carlton hotel's lobby during a break in the meeting. When asked about the progress of the talks, Waltz responded, "Getting there."

The expectations are high as the meeting presents a chance to mend the relations between Kyiv and Washington after a heated exchange between Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Feb. 28.

Zelensky visited Saudi Arabia on March 10 to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman but will not participate in the talks with U.S. delegates.

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The televised spat in the White House led to the U.S. suspending all military aid and restricting intelligence support for Ukraine, endangering its ability to resist Russia's all-out war.

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Ukrainian officials aim to push for the resumption of U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing at the Jeddah talks, the Financial Times reported on March 9. Ukraine will also reportedly propose a ceasefire in the air and at sea as the first step toward a peaceful settlement.

While traveling to the meeting, Rubio said that Ukraine would need to make territorial concessions as part of any peaceful settlement. The meeting could also see progress on the minerals deal that has been on hold since the White House clash.

"The most important thing that we have to leave here with is a strong sense that Ukraine is prepared to do difficult things, like the Russians are going to have to do difficult things to end this conflict or at least pause it in some way, shape or form," Rubio told reporters on March 10, according to the New York Times.

U.S. officials had previously met with Russian representatives in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18 and in Istanbul on Feb. 27 to discuss restoring bilateral relations and holding preliminary peace talks without Ukraine's involvement.

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Read also: Were ready  Ukraine heads into US peace talks with everything at stake

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A recent study on the drivers that help sharks and rays thrive and survive shows how these creatures adapt to climate shifts.

What's happening?

Sharks have existed for some 450 million years. Rays have been around for about 150 million years. Both species have endured drastic climate changes. Specifically, the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods were significant times of environmental shifts.

An international research team led by Manuel A. Staggl analyzed fossilized teeth against climate records to determine how environmental conditions affect these animals. According to Earth.com, they found three key factors. Higher global temperatures, increased shallow water areas, and rising carbon dioxide levels impacted the species. The two former factors benefit sharks and rays, resulting in increased species and population.

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"The resulting habitats in shallow seas that cover large continental areas are real biodiversity hotspots; sharks and rays were able to colonize them very quickly and efficiently thanks to their adaptability," explained Staggl.

But the last factor poses challenges. Higher carbon dioxide levels compromise the animals' sensory abilities, making navigation and hunting difficult.

Why is shark evolution important?

Jurgen Kriwet, professor of palaeobiology at the University of Vienna, explains the importance of sharks. Their evolution matters, "Because without the top predators, the ecosystems would collapse."

He continued, "By protecting sharks and rays, we are investing directly in the health of our oceans [and] the people and industries that benefit from these ecosystems."

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Sharks are apex predators that keep ecosystems balanced. This makes them an essential part of their ecosystem. Without them, prey populations could grow out of control. They also prevent diseases from spreading by preying on old, sick fish. These creatures even indirectly boost coral reef health.

As an indicator species, the presence or absence of sharks reflects the ocean's overall health. Certain industries even rely on them, like tourism and fisheries. If they weren't around to manage ocean populations, humans would suffer. According to Planet Wild, food shortages, widespread disease, and climate change acceleration could occur.

What's being done about climate change's impact on sharks?

These kinds of studies are crucial to understanding climate change's impact. Sharks and rays are amazingly adaptable but not invincible.

Slowly rising temperatures and expanding coastal regions may help sharks and rays. But current environmental changes are happening too rapidly. Combined with overfishing, habitat loss, and increased carbon dioxide levels, these animals are in danger. Conservation efforts must address all these issues.

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Conservation organizations implementing marine protected areas, overfishing management, and species-monitoring are helping protect these animals. Efforts to cool the planet can ensure these species are around for another 100 million-plus years.

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.




PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The Oregon Health Authority is warning families to not host a Measles Party to intentionally expose their children to the contagious disease.

Similar to the concept of a Pox Party, a measles party brings a group of children together to intentionally expose them to infectious diseases like chickenpox. However, OHA says measles parties are dangerous.

Oregon sees highest unemployment rate since 2021

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Measles can be extremely dangerous, especially for children younger than 5  at worst, the virus can cause brain swelling, pneumonia and even death, health officials said. Theres even evidence that measles parties  combined with low vaccination rates  helped fuel a measles outbreak in New York City in 2019.

The concept has recently gained traction after Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican representative from Georgia, put out a message about measles parties on X.

They used to have measles parties, basically get all the kids together so that all catch it and develop immunity. Then when I was a kid, they did the same thing with chickenpox, she said. Now, they demonize parents who refuse to vaccinate their kids.

But the OHA says kids should instead build immunity by getting vaccinated.

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The best way to build immunity against measles is to prevent transmission of the virus in the first place, and thats by getting vaccinated with the MMR vaccine, officials said. The vaccine is safe and effective, and it can help communities avoid the wave of measles cases that Oregon saw in mid-2024 and 2019.

Body found in Fern Ridge Reservoir in Lane County

According to OHA, Oregon saw a total of 31 measles cases across several counties in 2024  marking the largest outbreak in the state since 2019. Officials said all the recorded cases last year were among unvaccinated adults and children.

Before 2019, youd have to go all the way back to the early 1990s to see case counts this high, OHA said. The reason is we maintained very high vaccination rates and very high population levels of immunity, but unfortunately, weve seen an erosion in the percentage of people who are getting vaccinated against measles.

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Oregon state law requires any unvaccinated person who has been exposed to the virus to isolate at home for roughly 21 days after the initial exposure. This time period can also be extended if the case is tied to other cases.

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A British tourist has been detained in southern Thailand for allegedly trying to smuggle 38kg of cannabis onto a London-bound plane.

Daniel James Hallett, a 38-year-old from Hull, could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted, after he was detained while boarding a flight from Krabi International Airport at the weekend.

Customs officials flagged his bags as suspicious during routine security checks and allegedly found 35 vacuum-sealed packages of cannabis inside. The drugs were wrapped in double-layered bags to prevent any smell from escaping, according to media reports.

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The Telegraph confirmed that Mr Hallett, who runs a haulage company, is being held in a cell at Nuea Khlong District police station while the case is investigated.

The drugs were wrapped in double-layered bags to prevent smells escaping - ViralPress

Cannabis was decriminalised in Thailand in 2022  a move that surprised many international onlookers, who saw the country as being tough on drugs. Thousands of dispensaries and farms have proliferated across the kingdom in the years since.

While many support the legalisation, some locals say it has created new forms of drug tourism and encouraged harmful recreational use among Thailands youth.

Importing or exporting the plant remains illegal, and is punishable with hefty sentences. Mr Hallet has been charged both with violating the Thai customs act and breaking laws on controlled substances, and could face a decade in jail if convicted.

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Apichat Jinaphen, the superintendent of the Nuea Khlong District police station, told local media: In this case, [Mr Hallett] was arrested for attempting to export goods that had not undergone customs clearance, in violation of the customs act, as well as the traditional Thai medicine protection and promotion act regarding controlled herbs (cannabis) for commercial purposes.

Mr Hallet has been charged with violating the Thai Customs Act and breaking laws on controlled herbs - ViralPress

He was held at the police station for two days before being taken to court. The legal penalty includes imprisonment for up to 10 years, a fine, or both, in addition to the confiscation of the seized items. The final decision will be made by the court.

The police officer added that the force was encouraging tourists to be aware of the regulations around cannabis when they travel to Thailand amid a series of cases where holidaymakers have tried to smuggle cannabis out of the country.

They include that of another British tourist  19-year-old Luziela Aaliyah Carvalho  who was reportedly caught last week with 35kg of cannabis when boarding a flight in the northern city of Chiang Mai.

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A tourist from the United Kingdom has reportedly been detained at Tacomas immigration detention center for at least 11 days after being denied entry to Canada.

Becky Burke of Wales was on a monthslong trip that began Jan. 7 and brought her from New York to Portland to Seattle, according to the BBC, which spoke with Burke and her father, Paul. Burke was in Seattle at the end of February, and she planned to travel to Vancouver, B.C., to stay with a host family.

At the northern border, Canadian officials denied Burke entry, her father told the BBC, because they were concerned she might try to work illegally. Burke reportedly works as an artist. She was then questioned by American officials, Burke told the BBC, and she was told she had violated her travel visa.

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Burke was then detained at the Northwest ICE Processing Center on the Tacoma Tideflats, a privately-run detention center that holds people who are suspected of being in the country illegally or are awaiting deportation. Its the only such detention center in the state.

A spokesperson for Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed Tuesday that a citizen of the United Kingdom, Rebecca Burke, 28, was detained in Tacoma related to the violation of the terms and conditions of her admission.

The womans travel nightmare has raised questions. Why cant she voluntarily return home on the next flight out of Sea-Tac Airport? Is her detainment related to President Donald Trumps promise to ramp up immigration enforcement? Or has her attempt to leave the United States been delayed by the Trump administrations recent firings of more than two dozen immigration judges?

Northwest ICE Processing Center holds and processes detainees, on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Tacoma, Wash.

An immigration attorney who spoke to The News Tribune explained that her long wait to get back to the U.K. might be related to the way voluntary departure works for noncitizens who arrive in the United States at a port of entry such as a U.S.-Canadian border crossing station.

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Because she is an arriving alien, a voluntary departure is not available to her prior to the beginning of removal proceedings, said Carlos Whetten, an immigration attorney with Jaime Barron Immigration Law Group, which has an office in Renton.

So that means that she cant simply request voluntary departure with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, like someone whos been here maybe 10 years, Whetten, 39, said.

Burke would first need to go before a judge, according to Whetten, and he said there is a huge backlog of immigration cases across the country. According to Syracuse Universitys Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, U.S. immigration courts have more than 3.7 million pending cases.

Whetten said theres less of a wait time for people who are actively detained by ICE, and usually people wait a couple of weeks before going before an immigration judge.

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Im not sure how it is right now, but you know, in the Seattle Immigration Court for someone whos in removal proceedings, it could be three, four years before they have a hearing before an immigration judge, Whetten said.

The only way it would get better is if we hire more immigration judges, he added.

About 40 immigration judges in the United States have been fired or agreed to leave their positions since Trump took office this year, according to The New York Times, and dozens more employees have accepted government payout offers to leave the Justice Departments Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR).

Its unclear whether any of the workforce reductions have hit the Seattle or Tacoma immigration courts. In response to questions, Kathryn Mattingly, press secretary for The EOIR, said the office declines to comment on personnel matters. She said there are eight immigration judges assigned to the Seattle Immigration Court and three immigration judges assigned to the Tacoma Immigration Court. Both are also assigned a supervisory immigration judge who can adjudicate cases.

Becky Burke of Book Island (a picture book publisher in the UK founded by my fellow Tokarczuk translator Greet Pauwelijn) was "detained" by ICE at the Canadian border on 2/28. Her father asked that her story be shared in case someone can help her. He writes: pic.twitter.com/emYyZH2M8V  Jenny Croft (@jenniferlcroft) March 9, 2025

Why was UK tourist detained?

A spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Jason Givens, couldnt discuss Burkes specific case due to privacy concerns, but he said anyone arriving at a U.S. port-of-entry is subject to inspection.

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In the event a foreign national is found inadmissible to the United States, CBP will provide the foreign national an opportunity to procure travel to his or her home country, Givens said in an email. If the foreign national is unable to do so, he or she will be turned over to the custody of ICE, Enforcement Removal Operations for repatriation.

Burke told the BBC that she stayed with a host family in Portland during her trip, and she helped with household chores in return for accommodation, but she was not paid.

According to CBP, people who travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program arent allowed to work for any type of compensation, including work in exchange for room and board.

Whetten said Customs and Border Patrol officers could have decided to deport Burke under expedited removal, which wouldnt have required her to go before an immigration judge, but that would have also gotten her a five-year ban on traveling to the United States. Even after those five years are up, Whetten said, a person still might not be admitted due to that previous removal order.

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Seattle, Wash (WLAX/WEUX)  A British woman on a North American backpacking trip, was detained by ICE agents as she was re-entering the US. Her VISA was denied because of a mishap reading her green card. She has been detained for two weeks in an ICE center. She is the second instance of a tourist being detained in the US since the increased deportations under the current United States Administration

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Entrusted by Zhao Leji, executive chairman of the presidium of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), Li Hongzhong, executive chairman of the presidium, presides over the third meeting of the presidium at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The presidium of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, held its third meeting Monday.

Entrusted by Zhao Leji, executive chairman of the presidium, Li Hongzhong presided over the meeting.

The meeting decided to submit the draft decision on amending the Law on Deputies to the National People's Congress and to the Local People's Congresses at Various Levels to the NPC session for vote.

The meeting decided to submit three documents to the session for deliberation. They were draft resolutions on the work reports of the NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

The meeting also heard and passed a report on handling proposals put forward by NPC deputies during the session.

The presidium's executive chairpersons met before the meeting to prepare the documents. 

Entrusted by Zhao Leji, executive chairman of the presidium of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) and chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, Li Hongzhong, executive chairman of the presidium and vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presides over the second meeting of executive chairpersons of the presidium at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch leveled criticism Tuesday at what she dubbed a revolving door in the citys criminal justice system. But Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, for one, angrily retorted that now is not the time to return to broken windows policing.

Clark came out swinging Tuesday, blasting her critics, including Tisch, and insisting that the path to public safety lies in identifying the root cause of crime  not in stepping up broken windows policing.

Regardless of what the police commissioner, defense attorneys, legislators or professors say or believe  I am the chief law enforcement officer in the Bronx, Clark testified at a City Council budget hearing. Public safety is my responsibility to deliver to the people of the Bronx. They elected me three times to perform this duty.

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I am unapologetic about who I am and the work I do.

Tisch, who testified earlier in the day and was not present when Clark spoke, has repeatedly said police officers do their job, only to be let down by the rest of the criminal justice system, including prosecutors who she believes have not pursued certain cases, such as repeat shoplifters, as vigorously as she would like.

In her testimony, in fact, Tisch called the citys five district attorneys our most important partners, but said that any blanket policy that makes the revolving door spin faster must be reevaluated, and we have seen the effect of these policies for a while now.

She has not criticized Clark by name. Clark in her testimony referenced the commissioner, though without naming her.

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Tisch is also a strong proponent of broken windows policing  enforcing violations and minor misdemeanors with the belief that not doing so creates a sense of disorder that can lead to more serious crimes.

Such enforcement was reemphasized at the start of the Adams administration, and Tisch, who was sworn in almost four months ago, has increased those efforts, announcing on Jan. 30 that police would more consistently enforce transit rules.

Thats not the answer, Clark testified.

Now is not the time to retreat to broken windows policing, Clark said. Now is the time to look ahead to 21st century solutions aimed at keeping the Bronx safe. We start by identifying the root causes of crime and addressing the underlying conditions that lead to a cycle of violence and recidivism.

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It takes prevention, intervention, prosecution and reentry [into society after incarceration].

Tisch earlier had described what she called quality-of-life enforcement as responsive to community complaints, though noting that its done with an emphasis on correcting conditions, plus giving officers discretion on whether to make an arrest or issue a summons.

Both Clark and Tisch, however, are in lockstep in their push to have the 2020 discovery laws tweaked, both saying that too many cases have been dismissed on technicalities, rather than prosecutors intentionally withholding evidence from defense lawyers.

More than 80 law professors last month implored legislators to reject Gov. Hochuls proposed discovery laws rollback.

In response to Clarks criticism of broken windows quality-of-life policing, a police spokeswoman shared statistics showing that 311 complaints in the Bronx were up 140% in 2024 compared with 2018, the steepest increase by far of any of the five boroughs.
BROWNVILLE, N.Y. (WWTI)  A Tuesday morning in the town of Brownville fire has claimed the life of one person.

Just before 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, the New York State Police and multiple fire departments responded to a reported residential structure fire at 16215 Witt Road in the town of Brownville.

Canton apartment complex evacuated due to faulty sprinkler

While trying to put out the blaze, firefighters discovered a deceased individual inside the residence. The victims identity is being withheld pending positive identification by the Medical Examiners Office.

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The cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation at this time.

A number of agencies responded to the fire including the New York State Police in Watertown, Town of Brownville Fire Department, Three Mile Bay Fire Department, Clayton Fire Department, Chaumont Fire Department, Glen Park Fire Department, Northpole Fire Department, Town of Watertown Fire Department, Guilfoyle Ambulance Service, Jefferson County Office of Fire and Emergency Management, New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control, and the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office.

(Courtesy of New York State Police)

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The defense attorneys for Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger want a list of words banned in court, including "psychopath" and "murder."

"The use of the word 'psychopath' or 'sociopath' during the course of the trial is unfairly prejudicial," the defense wrote in a motion.

Kohberger is accused of brutally murdering Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin on Nov. 13, 2022, in their off-campus house at the University of Idaho. His trial won't be held until August 2025.

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The motion to strike the words came in a spate of new filings in the case in recent weeks.

Bryan Kohberger, accused of murder, arrives for a hearing on cameras in the courtroom in Latah County District Court on September 13, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho. Pool/Getty Images

In addition, the defense is asking the court to ban the use of the words "murder," "murderer," "murdered," "murder weapon," and "similar forms of the word 'murder'" applied to Bryan Kohberger during the trial.

The defense also wants the judge to ban surviving roommate Dylan Mortensen from describing a figure she saw in the hall that night as having "bushy eyebrows."

The defense attorneys argue that the use of the words is prejudicial and that eyewitness testimony like Mortensen's is unreliable.

"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," they wrote in the court filing.

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The state of Idaho has a website with recent court filings in the high-profile case. It shows that the prosecutors have also filed recent motions, including one asking the judge to ban the defense from telling the jury that prosecutors were "attempting to kill" Kohberger due their efforts to get him the death penalty.

A recent court filing by the prosecution shows they want to introduce the two surviving roommates' text messages into evidence. Those texts were publicly revealeld for the first time in the filing. They are:

Mortensen to Bethany Funke: "No one is answering."

Mortensen to Funke: "I'm rlly confused m."

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Mortensen to Goncalves: "Kaylee."

Mortensen to Goncalves: "What's going on 3."

Funke to Mortensen: "Ya dude wtf."

Funke to Mortensen: "Xana was wearing all black."

Mortensen to Funke: "I'm freaking out rm."

Mortensen to Funke: "No it's like ski mask almost."

Funke to Mortensen: "Stfu."

Funke to Mortensen: "Actually."

Mortensen to Funke: "Like he had soemtbinf over is for head and little nd mouth."

Mortensen to Funke: "B.F I'm not kidding o am so freaked out."

Funke to Mortensen: "So am I."

Mortensen to Funke: "My phone is going to die (expletive)."

Funke to Mortensen: "Come to my room."

Funke to Mortensen: "Run."

Funke to Mortensen: "Down here."
A "clarification" bill to the state's law enforcement buffer zone encountered bipartisan opposition in the Senate. Senators unanimously supported a bill to expunge red flag records. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

A clarification to the states existing law establishing a 25-foot protective buffer zone around law enforcement officers moved to the governors desk Tuesday, passing the Senate on a bipartisan 39-10 vote.

Senators unanimously supported another bill, which would allow courts to expunge red flag records.

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House Bill 1122, as explained by sponsor Sen. Scott Baldwin, followed contradictory court rulings over the 2023 encroachment law, under which police can tell members of the public to stand back while they perform their duties. Someone violating the order could be charged with a Class C misdemeanor.

Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton, noted that the two podiums at the front of the Senate chamber stood at a distance of roughly 10 feet. Should someone at the other podium be arrested, Pol said the bill wouldnt require him to retreat.

Under the bill, the way that its written currently  I could not be asked to leave the 25 feet because Im not approaching, Ive just been here the whole time, Pol said. I would have to be approaching in order to be told to stop.

Testimony on the bill focused on people interfering with police rather than standing back and recording, such as media members.

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Pol and Sen. David Niezgodski, D-South Bend, joined 37 other Republicans to advance the measure to Gov. Mike Brauns desk.

Two Republicans, meanwhile, joined with the remaining eight Democrats to oppose the clarification bill, including Indianapolis Sen. Mike Young, who had concerns about how one could measure such a distance in the heat of the moment.

When we get into these distances, how does one know  ? What if Im at 30 feet but I approach until Im at 25 feet? Young asked. Theres no way to prove I was 25 feet away.

Sen. Jim Tomes, R-Wadesville, also voted against the bill.

Another bill will need to get House approval  again  before it can become law.

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House Bill 1137 would create a method to expunge red flags from a persons public record. The Hoosier States red flag law allows police to temporarily remove firearms from people considered dangerous, with an aim to curb gun violence.

Indianapolis Republican Sen. Aaron Freeman, the Senate sponsor, outlined two situations in which someone might receive an expungement: someone who was alleged to be dangerous and later found not to be or someone found to be dangerous by the courts but later got help and went back through the court process to be deemed safe.

Committee testimony revealed that Hoosiers had lost jobs and volunteer opportunities because of old red flag notices. An amendment from Freeman clarified that law enforcement would still have access.

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UTICA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY)  After a plea from Mayor Mike Galime that resulted in a special meeting adjourning before it even began on Monday, two Utica Common Council members have brought forth a response on Tuesday.

Councilmembers Robert Burmaster and Katie Aiello sent Mayor Mike Galime a letter on Tuesday, March 11 requesting a collaborative discussion on several budget amendments. These amendments would tamp down what would be a 9.77 percent tax increase.

New York State law requires a waiver for any tax increase above 2 percent. However, the deadline to request that waiver has since passed. Now, the Common Council is looking to reduce just under $2.7 million of tax burden on residents.

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Over the past year, members of the Common Council have worked diligently to propose budget improvements aimed at balancing fiscal responsibility with the needs of our residents. However, as was the case last year, amendments designed to reduce the tax burden were ultimately vetoed  undoing the Councils efforts to lower the tax levy and resulting in a 13.95% tax increase that fell squarely on the shoulders of Utica taxpayers, Burmaster and Aiello said in a letter to Mayor Galime. To avoid repeating this situation, we will not waste time or resources on amendments that may be dismissed outright. For the Common Council to proceed, there must be a renewed commitment from your administration to meaningfully consider proposed amendments in good faith, rather than allowing them to be erased through the veto process.

According to the letter, the Common Council has identified over $4 million in potential savings. For the tax increase to fall below the state cap, reductions in the citys budget would have to total at least $2.7 million. Some of the savings found by the Common Council include:

A bipartisan proposal to reduce the Mayors salary by just over $6,000, as well as the city comptroller by almost $8,000 and the Common Council by just over $11,000,

A Democratic proposal to reallocate over $1 million of CHIPS funding to the general fund,

A Democratic proposal to freeze non-union employee raises for six months, saving the city approximately $78,000, and

A Republican proposal to reduce overtime pay for the DPW Central Garage, Fire Line, and Parks and Maintenance, at a savings of $60,000.

In their letter, Burmaster and Aiello have requested that Mayor Galime review their proposed amendments and respond via certified letter by 2 pm on Friday, March 14. Those responses must include:

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Clear acceptance or rejection of each amendment, with a statement on each.

Supporting rationale and data for any proposal the Mayor declines.

Alternative solutions for any recommendations the Mayor disagrees with.

The Common Council has called a special meeting to introduce amendments to the citys budget for Wednesday, March 12 at 5:30 pm. A meeting of the Committee of the Whole will follow for discussion of the amendments. Eyewitness News will have coverage of tomorrows meeting during our newscasts.

This process is not intended to be adversarial but is a necessary step to ensure the budget

reflects the best interests of taxpayers, not just the administrations priorities, Burmaster and Aiello said in their joint letter. We stand ready to clarify specific amendments and engage in meaningful discussions to achieve a fiscally responsible budget.

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The deadline for the city to bring forth a budget is Thursday, March 20. The full letter to Mayor Galime from Councilmembers Aiello and Burmaster can be found below:

BudgetLetter_FinalDownload

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Since 2015, Penelope Love and her fellow neighbors of the Aetna Manor Revitalization Program have worked to restore the neighborhood through various cleanup projects. But eliminating blighted structures would take more than they could muster alone.

Now, an ongoing city initiative fueled largely by volunteer efforts gives Aetna the boost Love sought.

Its a good feeling when someone comes alongside to support consistent efforts or to do what you could not do, Love said.

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We thank everyone as we, the Aetna Manor community, continue to say bye bye to blight, hello to beauty.

Shortly after sunrise Monday morning, a sea of elected officials, company heads, city workers, and volunteers gathered in Aetna for what they hope will be the dawn of a new day for the neighborhood and the entire city.

With spring on the horizon, Gary is ramping up efforts to tackle blight and revitalize the city one neighborhood at a time. Mayor Eddie Melton and U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan joined volunteers as crews demolished abandoned properties  one of many initiatives, including Love Your Block, aimed at restoring the city, reinforcing a sense of hope among residents, and signaling a renewed commitment to cleaner, safer communities.

This initiative isnt just about tearing down buildings  its about building up our community, Melton said.

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By eliminating these hazardous structures, were creating safer neighborhoods today and laying the foundation for new homes tomorrow. And were just getting started. Garys revival continues with more targeted demolitions coming to Midtown and Emerson this year.

The city of Gary plans to demolish 20 homes in the coming weeks, adding to the 35 Aetna structures demolished in 2024. (Javonte Anderson/Capital B)

Demolitions are typically costly, but on Monday, crews from local construction firms  including Hasse Construction, Actin Inc., RMD Construction, Superior Construction, the Lake County Highway Department, and Rieth-Riley Construction  stepped up, volunteering their time and resources to clear Aetnas blighted properties.

This gets a little emotional for me because this is where I grew up, said Jim Wiseman, a marketing specialist with Rieth-Riley.

Im very fortunate that my company, Rieth-Riley, shares my vision of a better tomorrow for Gary. When I say a better tomorrow, its all about the children. Children are our future, and were giving back to them, our residents, our people, and all Northwest Indiana. Gary was, is, and always will be the economic force of Northwest Indiana.

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The city plans to demolish 20 homes in the coming weeks, adding to the 35 Aetna structures demolished in 2024. Structures are selected for demolition by the Department of Redevelopment, which under Indiana statute requires assessing the condition of each structure and notifying

When you tear down blight, its not just the demolition and moving the trucks, said Mrvan. What you are doing is creating a new tomorrow for affordable housing, for community parks, for business attraction.

As a member of Congress representing Gary, Indiana, I commit fully and wholeheartedly to continue to bring resources back to Northwest Indiana so that we can have more great days like this, he continued.

As the city continues its efforts to bring down abandoned structures in Aetna, the Gary Parks Department is working alongside them to restore green spaces for community use.

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During the first week of demolition, multiple city departments provided additional support to the Aetna neighborhood. The Gary Fire Department is implementing the Red Cross smoke alarm program, while the Police Department is providing enhanced patrol presence and drone documentation. The Health Department is conducting rodent abatement, and Public Works crews are addressing infrastructure needs, including road patching and sign installation.

Meanwhile, the Environmental, Park, and General Services departments are collaborating on cleanup efforts, debris removal, and public space improvements throughout the area.

On Monday morning, just a few blocks from ongoing demolitions, crews were at LaBroi Park at East 13th Avenue and Fayette Street, clearing trash, tires, and debris while also removing hazardous trees to make the park more inviting.

Gary Parks Department crews clear debris during a project to restore LaBroi Park in Aetna Manor. (Javonte Anderson/Capital B)

The cleanup is part of the Parks Departments work alongside the citys blight removal efforts, making sure that as vacant homes come down, parks and green spaces in Aetna are cleaned up and revitalized.

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Were here to bring parks back to life, said Parks Director Mattiee Fitzgerald. Parks are for people, and if we can make each park in our city more welcoming, families will come back and use them.

The post Bye Bye to Blight: Garys Aetna Residents See Hope as Demolitions Continue appeared first on Capital B Gary.
NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. (WFLA)  A gas station shootout occurring in Pasco County on Saturday led to the arrest of two suspects after an innocent bystander was shot.

According to an affidavit, at 3:36 p.m. police responded to reports of a shooting at a Chevron located at 6444 Massachusetts Avenue.

There, officers said they reviewed surveillance video from the gas station in which they observed a Toyota Camry drive into the parking lot and circle a man at the gas pump.

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The officer said they watched as the driver of the vehicle shot at the individual standing next to the gas pumps before the person reciprocated by firing shots from a black semi-automatic rifle back at the Camry as it fled the scene.

According to officers, during the exchange, an uninvolved man who was walking into a bar nearby realized he had been shot in the back.

Had this been later in the day at these busy shopping centers, this is a major intersection in the city, it is by the grace of God that more people were not injured and no one was killed, said Major Crime Detective David Crowell, of New Port Richey Police.

Police said the victim is still in the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

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Hes in stable condition, which were happy to hear, especially an innocent bystander. He was shot in the lower back with a large caliber rifle round, Crowell said.

Forensics were able to locate several puncture holes in the bar, known as the Home Saloon, which were consistent with the sequence of events.

Officers identified the men involved as Eugene Grady Jr., 38, and Santos Gonzalez, 44.

After interviewing both suspects, police said the suspects had been involved in an altercation at the gas station a month or two prior to the shootout before re-encountering each other at the Chevron the day of the incident.

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Grady told detectives that he saw Santos return to the parking lot and circle his vehicle before proceeding to fire several rounds at him. Grady then admitted to removing his rifle and shooting back at Santoss vehicle, during which a bullet struck the uninvolved victim.

During his interview with the detectives, Santos stated that he was leaving the gas station when he saw Grady. Officers said he confirmed firing at Grady first before Grady shot back at his vehicle striking it multiple times.

Christian Santiago, a barber at Infamous Styles was cutting someones hair when his car was hit by a bullet.

It sounded like fireworks. You could hear them. It was like, you could feel like if as if it was like right next to you too. It was really loud, said Santiago.

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The bullets hit his car and shattered two windows. The reality of the situation hit him later that night

I sat down in my car for a minute and realized, thank God that I was alive that I was still here. I had nothing to do with this. So just the fact that something like that could have happened if I would have been in my car, it couldve been a lot worse, Santiago said.

New Port Richey Police arrested both men and charged them both with attempted murder in the second degree. Santos received an additional charge for shooting from a vehicle, and Grady received one for shooting into an occupied structure.

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Cal Coast News reporter Karen Velie is facing a new lawsuit accusing her of defamation.

Its the second time she has been sued for defamation, after she lost a $1.1 million verdict in 2017.

The new lawsuit was filed on Feb. 14 by Jody Bernat, the ex-wife of San Luis Obispo County attorney John Belsher, who accuses Velie of defaming her in a Dec. 30 Cal Coast News article. Belsher is her lawyer, according to court documents.

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In the article titled Is San Luis Obispo Attorney John Belsher using an alias? Velie accused Bernat of using an alias while living as husband and wife in Surprise, Arizona.

In fact, however, she had legally changed her surname from Belsher to Bernat when she moved to Arizona in August.

She told The Tribune she changed her name because she and her husband divorced and she had a violent stalker in San Luis Obispo she wanted to protect herself from.

Despite their divorce, Bernat said she and Belsher have remained on good terms, to the extent they still play pickleball together, and they participated in a tournament in Arizona in December.

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When registering, she used her new legal name, Jody Bernat, and she asked Belsher to use a family name, Bailey, so that her former name was protected from the stalker. Belsher said he only used the surname Bailey for pickleball club and tournaments.

For me, to have to get my name out there all over again is upsetting, Bernat said. But at the same time, I have to fight back and I have to do something, because its just too much already, and I cant take another minute of it.

Bernat filed an identical lawsuit against Steve Cable, the man who gave Cal Coast News the information and is quoted as her neighbor. Bernat said she and Belsher have played pickleball against Cable once or twice and do not know where he lives or whether he was actually her neighbor.

Bernat accused Velie of publishing false information or with reckless disregard for the truth in an intentional attempt to tarnish her reputation, the lawsuit said.

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The new lawsuit comes eight years after a jury unanimously found Velie and Cal Coast News defamed and libeled local hazardous waste contractor Charles Tenborg in a 2012 article and ordered her and Cal Coast News to pay Tenborg a $1.1 million judgment.

Velie did not respond to The Tribunes request for comment or to specific questions sent via email.

Jody Bernat, formerly Jody Belsher, sued Cal Coast News reporter Karen Velie for defamation on Feb. 14, 2025, after Velie published an alleged false news article about her on Dec. 30, 2024.

Woman says she changed her name to protect her identity from violent stalker

Bernat told The Tribune that Velie revealing her new name was the straw that broke the camels back in what she said has been years-long attacks and harassment from Velie and Cal Coast News.

In her lawsuit, she claims she is a private citizen, which affords her a lower legal bar to argue for defamation.

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Bernat said she first encountered Velie when her husbands company, PB Companies, began having legal trouble around 2018.

Belshers business partner in the company, Ryan Wright, was found guilty of bribing late San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Adam Hill to approve real estate development projects. Wright is currently serving a five-year sentence in federal prison.

I had nothing to do with the business, and Ive never had any legal issues, Bernat told The Tribune.

She said she decided to move to Arizona because she could no longer afford to live in San Luis Obispo due to the costs associated with her former husbands legal issues, which include several lawsuits.

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Bernat lives full-time in Arizona, she said, while Belsher said his full-time residence is in Michigan. He added that he spends time in San Luis Obispo, Arizona and Northern California.

According to the lawsuit, Steve Cable contacted Cal Coast News on Dec. 29, alleging Bernat was using a false name in a December pickleball tournament. He sent Cal Coast News a photo of her homeowners association membership and a photo of her on the pickleball tournament roster to back up his assertion.

The assertion, however, was false, the lawsuit said.

Bernat legally changed her surname from Belsher in Maricopa County, Arizona, on Oct. 9, 2024, the lawsuit said.

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Without following even the most rudimentary requirements for ethical news reporting, CCN recklessly assumed the information received about Jodys identity was correct in order to promulgate a falsehood about Jody Bernat and sell news circulation and advertising revenue based on gossip, the lawsuit said.

Bernat told The Tribune she changed her name because the violent man who used to date her friend would stalk and confront her after he found out her friend had moved out-of-state while he was in jail.

Because of the article, Bernat said she has been shunned by her local pickleball league leaders and was forced to abandon her software startup company, TreasureSave, the lawsuit said.

The allegedly false article also negatively impacted Bernats other business ventures, including movies and books shes authored and produced, the lawsuit said.

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Her identity and location were also exposed to her stalker, she said, which caused additional emotional distress.

Bernat claims Velies article was intended to expose Bernat to hatred, contempt and shunning from her pickleball club and other Arizona pickleball circles.

This impact and injury was intended by Karen Velie as part of her years long campaign to enrich her business by disparaging reputations of community members at the expense of the truth, the lawsuit said.

Bernat sent a retraction demand to Velie on Jan. 10, which caused Velie to add a correction to the top of the article.

Jodi Belsher (sic) legally changed her name to Jody Bernat after moving to Arizona, according to John Belsher, the correction said.

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The lawsuit claimed Velies false assertions in the article were made with actual malice to further harm her reputation, and it asked for $70,000 in damages, the financial loss Belsher said suffered because of the article.

Husband was a business partner of SLO County developer who bribed Adam Hill

Velies article on Bernats name was tied to a $3.6 million judgment her ex-husband, Belsher, was ordered to pay to his former business partner.

Belshers longtime friend, Jeffrey Chase, and Chases wife, Deborah, sued Belsher and Wright in 2018 alleging fraud, contract violations and breach of fiduciary duty after the Chases invested $2.9 million in four real estate development projects with PB Companies, the now defunct company owned by Wright and Belsher, and saw little from their returns.

They also named Belsher and Bernat as defendants in respect to their family trust.

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San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Michael Kelley found Belsher was liable for fraud and breaching his fiduciary duty as Chases attorney. Kelley ordered Belsher, Wright and PB Companies to pay $3.6 million.

Belsher told The Tribune he has appealed the judgment and said he already promised to pay the Chases $1 million prior to and during the lawsuit.

Belsher told The Tribune he was not aware of Wright bribing Hill to approve their real estate projects. He did help Hill and Wright set up Hills consulting company, which was ultimately used by Wright to make payments to Hill.

Federal court documents in Wrights case said Belsher, Hill and Wright created the consulting company to protect all three of them. Wright said Belsher believed put(ing) a gag order on all three of us (is a) good idea, because loose lips sink ships, the documents said.

When questioned by The Tribune, Belsher said setting up the consulting company was legitimate and public record. He added that it is common business practice to practice confidentiality, especially with large real estate projects.

Belsher said he did not participate in any of the actions that brought criminal charges against Wright. He said he cooperated with the federal investigation and has not been charged with any crimes.

The U.S. Department of Justice declined to comment on Belshers involvement with the federal investigation.

His ex-wife, Bernat, did not have anything to do with his businesses or law practice, was not named in Wrights federal case and was not found liable in the Chase lawsuit, he added.

The judge ruled she did not do anything wrong and specifically found that there was no fraud action by her with respect to our family trust, Belsher said. Jody was completely 100% absolved.

Cal Coast News, Karen Velie ordered to pay $1.1 million for previous defamation case

Velie was sued for defamation for the first time in 2013 because of a 2012 article that accused hazardous waste contractor Charles Tenborg of illegal activity.

Velie lost the lawsuit in 2017, when a jury unanimously found she did in fact defame and libel Tenborg.

She and Cal Coast News were ordered to pay him $1.1 million in damages. Velie was declared personally responsible for $500,000.

Velie attempted to appeal the verdict, but the Court of Appeal denied her appeal and reaffirmed the verdict in 2019, records show.

Velie has claimed on her radio show and in articles that she did not pay the full judgment because she countersued for fraud. Court documents show the fraud lawsuit was dismissed.

A 2021 San Luis Obispo District Attorneys report, which investigated claims by Velie and her private investigator Carl Knudson that Tenborg had committed perjury and fraud as well as the general allegations in the 2012 article, found most of her claims were unsubstantiated or taken out of context. None of Velies nor Knudsons claims rose to criminal conduct, according to the report.

Tenborg told The Tribune that he found Velie could not afford her part of the $1.1 million judgment after she attended 17 judgment debtors exams, so he agreed to settle for $25,000.

It wasnt cutting losses, Tenborg said. It was just being done with her.

According to a court document that opposed Velie paying the $1.1 million judgment filed on June 12, 2019, Velie argued she was hopelessly impecunious, meaning she had little to no money.

Velie cannot and, likely, will never be able to pay any portion of the judgment due to her loss of her business, damage to her reputation as a journalist in the community and loss of advertisers, the document said.

Nevertheless, Velies website has remained active and operational with ads from advertisers.

The $25,000 Velie actually paid came from her settlement of a malpractice lawsuit against the attorney who represented her, David Vogel, Tenborg said. Court records show Velie settled the malpractice lawsuit for $50,000 in 2021.

For Tenborg, he said, the case was never about the money.

He said it was about his reputation and holding Velie accountable for what he called her unethical conduct.

The reason why we won $1.1 million was because she lied throughout the trial and she was caught at the end in a big lie, Tenborg said.

Tenborg said Velie testified that she had never spoken with him before publishing the article, but evidence showed the two had a roughly eight-minute-long conversation the day before the article went live.

He said he was not surprised that Velie was being sued for defamation again, alleging she purposefully writes salacious articles in order to gain viewership.

She is a cockroach, an absolute cockroach, Tenborg said. You try to deal with them and they keep coming back.
NEWMAN, Calif. (AP)  California almond growers are used to dealing with swings in the weather and water supply. Now they must also grapple with the uncertainty of trade battles as the Trump administration levies tariffs on goods from several countries and weighs adding more to the list.

With more than three-quarters of California's almond crop headed for export, tariffs could impact where the nut is headed and send ripple effects throughout the state's economy, experts said. The state is the biggest producer of the world's almonds, accounting for about 80 percent of the global supply.

Already, China has responded to Trump's move by raising tariffs on U.S. almonds  and that's on top of tariffs levied on the nut in the last Trump administration.

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If we start a trade war with, you know, India, the European Union, parts of the Middle East, then the almond industry in California is going to suffer dramatically, said Colin Carter, agricultural economist and professor emeritus at University of California, Davis. The price will fall even further and youll see orchards being ripped out, farms being lost. There'd be farms for sale up and down the Valley.

Just weeks into his second term, President Donald Trump has slapped 10% tariffs on China and threatened, then delayed for 30 days, 25% taxes on goods from Canada and Mexico. He has also threatened to expand the trade war by levying reciprocal tariffs on a number of products to match what other countries charge on U.S. goods, which economists say is creating a tough environment for already-challenged farmers trying to plan ahead.

Meanwhile, Trump's moves have drawn retaliation from U.S. trading partners. China, for example, has said U.S.-grown chicken, wheat, corn and cotton will face an extra 15% tariff while sorghum, soybeans, pork, beef, seafood, fruit, vegetables and dairy products will face an additional 10%  and so will almonds.

Almonds are California's biggest agricultural export, and the state reeled in $4.7 billion from almond exports in 2022 with about half going to the European Union and India, state farm data shows.

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Almond experts said the key for California will be continuing to pursue a range of export markets. While China continues to be an important market, California almonds are shipped to more than 100 destinations, therefore maintaining a diverse export program is essential, said Rick Kushman, spokesperson for the Almond Board of California.

Many California farmers in the crop-rich Central Valley have welcomed some of Trump's other policies, specifically aimed at getting more water to their fields. The area  which grows much of the country's fresh produce including citrus fruit and almonds  is largely Republican in a widely Democratic state.

But California's almonds will now face a total tariff of 35% in China. That's because Beijing placed tariffs on almonds during Trump's first administration in response to tariffs he levied on Chinese products. The move made California's almonds relatively more expensive to nuts from Australia, which as a result gained market share in China while California's almond experts to China declined, experts said.

Since then, many California almond exporters have shifted their focus to other markets, said Zachary Williams, sales director for Stewart & Jasper Orchards in Newman, Calif. He said Canadian buyers currently are scooping up California almonds ahead of tariffs potentially taking effect since the state grows so much of the world's supply. He said any attempt by India to raise tariffs could spark concern the nut might grow too pricey for consumers there.

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The tariffs are a challenge, he said, but an even bigger one is the lack of certainty for almond growers who don't expect to harvest a new orchard for at least three years and then plan to grow it for two decades.

The uncertainty is probably more of a problem than the tariff itself, Williams said. Uncertainty about whether there will be, or won't be, is a little harder to plan around.



Taxin reported from Santa Ana, Calif.
UNITED NATIONS, March 10 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is alarmed by the violent escalation in the coastal areas of Syria, that has seen widespread summary killings, including a UN staffer, a UN spokesman said on Monday.

The UN chief expresses his condolences to Syrians mourning the loss of loved ones and wishes a speedy recovery for the injured, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for Guterres, at a daily briefing.

"The secretary-general calls on all parties to protect civilians and stop inflammatory rhetoric and actions," as Syria contends with the legacy of 14 years of conflict, Dujarric said. "He reiterates his concern over escalating tensions among communities in Syria."

The spokesman said Guterres seeks the cessation of bloodshed immediately and perpetrators held to account. The concerns of Syria's communities must be addressed in a meaningful manner.

"The secretary-general takes note of the announcement by the caretaker authorities of an investigative committee as well as a committee for the preservation of civil peace," Dujarric said. "He underlines the importance and urgency of inclusive and transparent transitional justice and reconciliation processes for sustainable peace in Syria."

The statement comes amid reports of mass casualties and alleged extrajudicial executions in Syria's coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartous, where security forces are conducting operations against suspected remnants of the former government.

On Thursday, the remnants launched a series of attacks in Latakia, killing 16 security personnel. Government officials described the ambushes as premeditated.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the death toll from ongoing clashes had surpassed 1,000, including 830 civilians, as per the toll updated on Sunday.

"The escalation of violence in Syria is severely impacting civilians and civilian infrastructure," Dujarric said. "As of yesterday (Sunday), hundreds of people, including women, children, and some medical personnel, had reportedly been killed. Thousands have reportedly been displaced in the area, and thousands have crossed into Lebanon."

He said power outages in Latakia Governorate disrupted water pumping, and schools in Latakia and Tartous were suspended on Sunday and Monday.

The Homs-Latakia highway remains blocked, further limiting humanitarian access. Humanitarian operations remain severely disrupted, with insecurity halting all movements to and within coastal areas.

Civilian infrastructure was severely impacted, including six referral hospitals and several ambulances. Other medical facilities in the area urgently need medical supplies and support.

The spokesman said that with widespread disinformation and heightened tensions, the UN chief also highlighted the need to ensure and protect the space for independent media and human rights organizations to carry out monitoring and verification to shed light in a transparent manner on the reports and allegations.

The UN secretary-general's special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Monday morning briefed the Security Council in closed consultations on developments and is ready to support efforts towards an inclusive Syrian-owned and -led political transition, Dujarric said.

The UN resident humanitarian coordinator for Syria, Adam Abdelmoula, and the regional humanitarian coordinator for the Syria crisis, Ramanathan Balakrishnan, in a statement last week jointly urged all parties to protect people and infrastructure and to allow safe, unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid.

They said a staff member of the UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, was among those killed in Jableh on Thursday.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Sunday called for a prompt, transparent and impartial investigation into all the killings and other violations, and said those responsible must be held to account, in line with international law norms and standards. 
FRESNO, Calif.  A Fresno, California, man appeared in federal court on Monday and admitted engaging in sexually-explicit conversation with a Missouri teen, and discussing a possible sexual encounter in the victims hometown.

Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of California said Peter Yang, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor.

Legislature passes bill for state control of SLMPD

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According to court documents, between November 2021 and March 2022, Yang communicated with a 15-year-old from Christian County, Missouri, on the gaming platform Among Us. Those conversations eventually moved to the Discord app and to FaceTime calls.

Yang admitted to coercing the teen to take sexually-explicit photos of themselves and send those pictures to him. Prosecutors said Yang also discussed traveling to southwest Missouri to meet the victim in person at a motel near the teens home.

Yang will be sentenced on July 14. He faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  The Bakersfield Californian newspaper has returned to Bakersfield.

After occupying offices near the Meadows Field airport north of Oildale for six years, the newspaper has moved back into the heart of Bakersfield.

The new location, on the first floor of the Cal Twin Towers, is at 4900 California Avenue, Suite 100-A.

Driver dead after crash on 7th Standard Rd: Shafter PD

The newspaper, which traces its origin to 1866, has been published as The Californian since 1907. It moved out of its iconic downtown home at 17th and Eye streets in 2018, and the Harrell-Fritts family sold the business the following year.

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No date has been set, but a ribbon cutting is planned for the papers new headquarters, a couple of blocks east of the Stockdale Tower.

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Cameras that likely would have shown an altercation between inmates and deputies at the Los Angeles Mens Central Jail over the weekend were unavailable due to maintenance issues, officials announced Tuesday.

The incident, which authorities said started as an attack by inmates on a deputy, took place Sunday while the deputy was assisting with the movement of inmates from their housing location.

Three additional deputies responded to assist and were also assaulted, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department stated on Tuesday.

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All four deputies were taken to a local hospital, including one said to have a puncture wound, for medical treatment and have since been released.

The inmates were also medically evaluated and have remained in custody at the jail.

However, surveillance video of the incident is unavailable. The cameras were temporarily unavailable due to maintenance issues, but those issues have been resolved, and the cameras are now fully operational, the Sheriffs Department said.

The Departments homicide investigators have assumed the investigation and will present it to the L.A. District Attorneys Office for consideration.

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The assault on our custody deputies is absolutely unacceptable, and we will take swift action to ensure those responsible are held fully accountable, the Sheriffs Department said. Our employees work hard under challenging conditions to maintain a safe environment for everyone in our care and custody.

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By Jarrett Renshaw and Arathy Somasekhar

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Canada could impose non-tariff measures such as restricting its oil exports to the United States or levying export duties on products if a trade dispute with the U.S. escalates further, Canada's energy minister Jonathan Wilkinson said on Tuesday.

"When we are talking about non-tariff retaliation, it could be about restricting supply, it could be putting our own export duties on products. It could be energy and minerals, it could be broader than that," Wilkinson said in an interview with Reuters.

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He also raised the possibility of using non-tariff measures on critical minerals, which could force the U.S. to rely even more heavily on China.

"Everything is on the table," he said.

Canada is the top supplier of imported oil to the United States, providing around 4 million barrels per day mainly to refineries in the Midwest that are largely engineered to run its grades.

Any attempts to restrict exports would face resistance from the province of Alberta, where most of Canada's oil is produced.

"It's not on the table. Zero," said Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on the sidelines of the CERAWeek conference in Houston, Texas, on Wednesday.

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"Alberta owns the oil and gas and the bulk of it is coming into the United States. We would never do that to our friends and allies," she said.

"The temperature has come down a bit, it has de-escalated," Smith added, referring to the trade war.

U.S. President Donald Trump's increased tariffs on steel and aluminum imports took effect on Wednesday, rising to 25% as exemptions ended. Canada announced 25% retaliatory tariffs on those metals along with computers, sports equipment and other products worth $20 billion in total.

Canada has already imposed tariffs worth a similar amount on U.S. goods in response to broader tariffs by Trump.

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Any restrictions on Canada's oil exports to the United States would hurt Canadian producers as Canada is limited in its options to send oil to other markets.

"By and large, you couldn't displace the 4 million barrels that we send to the United States in pipelines, but I would say it works on the other side of the bucket too," Wilkinson said, citing some additional capacity on the Trans Mountain pipeline and rail as alternatives to move some Canadian oil.

"I actually think the oil coming down here (to the United States) is pretty sticky and I don't think it's displaceable and in that regard I don't think the threat to Canada's producers in the oil sector is as significant as perhaps in other sectors," he added.

Restricting oil exports to the United States would be "an unwise move", said Greg Ebel, CEO of Canadian pipeline operator Enbridge.

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Wilkinson told Reuters that Canada is considering imposing tariffs on U.S. ethanol as part of a second tranche of trade penalties if Trump continues to escalate the trade war.

U.S. ethanol, a crucial trade product for U.S. farmers, is "absolutely on the list of things" that could be included if Trump, for example, moves forward with plans to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian goods in April, Wilkinson said.

U.S. ethanol exports to Canada hit record highs in recent months to help Canada meet its clean fuel program. It is cheaper than Canadian ethanol, Wilkinson said, due to subsidies in the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard.

U.S. farmers sent a record 1.54 million gallons of ethanol to Canada in September of last year, roughly double the figure three years prior, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

(Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw and Arathy Somasekhar in Houston; Editing by Nia Williams and Lincoln Feast)
TORONTO (AP)  The premier of Canada's most populous province said Tuesday he was suspending the 25% surcharge that Ontario imposed earlier this week on electricity exports to the United States after speaking with the U.S. Commerce Secretary and agreeing to meet with him in Washington.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick have agreed to meet on Thursday to "discuss a renewed" United States-Mexico-Canada-Agreement ahead of U.S. President Donald Trumps April 2 reciprocal tariff deadline.

They call you and they hand over an olive branch, the worst thing I could do as premier of Ontario is ignore him and hang up the phone on him, Ford said.

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As a result, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said later Tuesday that Trump pulled back on his doubling tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, even as the federal government still plans to place a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports starting Wednesday.

Trump said he appreciated Ford suspending the surcharge on electricity exports.

Theres a very strong man in Canada who said he was going to charge a surcharge, or a tariff, on electricity coming into our country. He has called and said hes not going to do that, Trump said. It would have been a very bad thing if he did. And hes not going to do that. And I respect that.

Trump continued to call for Canada to become the 51st state, a position that has infuriated Canadians. Trump suggested he does not respect the border, saying it is an artificial line that looks like it was done with a ruler.

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Trump said earlier Tuesday that he would double his planned tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50% for Canada, escalating a trade war with the United States northern neighbor and showing an indifference to recent stock market turmoil and rising recession risks.

Trump said on social media that the increase of the tariffs set to take effect on Wednesday is a response to the price increases that the provincial government of Ontario put on electricity sold to the United States.

The U.S. president condemned the use of electricity as a bargaining chip and threat, saying in a separate social media post on Tuesday that Canada will pay a financial price for this so big that it will be read about in History Books for many years to come!

Ford said Trump started this economic war against Canada.

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"It was unprovoked, Ford said. If a recession does happen its a self made recession made by one person. And one person only.

Ford had announced on Monday that his government was charging 25% more for electricity to 1.5 million American homes and businesses in response to Trumps trade war.

Incoming Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday that his government will keep the federal government's unrelated first tranche of tariffs in place until Americans show respect and commit to free trade.

A senior official in Carneys camp said Carney will not be joining Ford in Washington for talks. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

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Carney, who will be sworn in as Justin Trudeaus replacement in the coming days, said Trumps latest steel and aluminum tariff threats are an attack on Canadian workers, families, and businesses.

My government will keep our tariffs on until the Americans show us respect and make credible, reliable commitments to free and fair trade," Carney said.

Carney is referring to Canadas initial $30 billion Canadian (US$21 billion) worth of retaliatory tariffs that have already been applied on items like American orange juice, peanut butter, coffee, appliances, footwear, cosmetics, motorcycles and certain pulp and paper products. They were applied last week.

Canadian officials are also planning retaliatory tariffs in response to Trumps specific steel and aluminum tariffs if Trump goes ahead with those tariffs.

You cant attack your number one customer, Canada, and not expect a response, Ford said. We responded and they came back. Im a business person. I want to sit down and negotiate this and stop the bleeding.
(NewsNation)  Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he is suspending the 25% tariff on electricity from Canada on Michigan, New York and Minnesota, on Tuesday.

This comes after what Ford said was a productive conversation with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. In a joint statement, the two said they talked about the economic relationship between the United States and Canada. Previously, Ford had threatened to cut off electricity imports to the U.S.

NTSB makes urgent safety recommendations after DC plane crash

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More than 1.5 million American homes and businesses had been affected by the energy price hikes, according to the Associated Press.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday, before Fords announcement, threatened to double his tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50% for Canada. A White House spokesperson said, after Lutnick and Ford spoke, that this is no longer happening, but the 25% tariff will still go into effect at midnight on Wednesday.

Trump said he appreciated the call between Ford and Lutnick.

Trumps spate of tax increases on imports has made the stock market fall and stirred up recession risks. When asked by a reporter whether his tariff policy has anything to do with the economic turmoil seen this week, Trump said no, and blamed his predecessor, former president Joe Biden.

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Wafa Hakim Orman, associate dean of The University of Alabama in Huntsvilles college of business, says all this back and forth is whats creating a lot of volatility in the markets.

Its creating uncertainty for businesses who arent quite sure how they should make their investment plans going forward, Orman said.

This story is developing. Refresh for more updates.

NewsNations Sierra Campbell and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Investing.com - The Canadian province of Ontario on Tuesday said it would suspend its 25% hike on electricity exports to the United States after the two countries agreed to meet later this week to discuss a pathway to renew the North American trade agreement ahead of an April 2 reciprocal tariff deadline.

"Ontario agreed to suspend its 25 per cent surcharge on exports of electricity to Michigan, New York and Minnesota," Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in a joint statement issued with Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick posted on X.

Ford said he and Lutnick would now be meeting Thursday together with the United States Trade Representative to discuss a renewal of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade act, or USMCA.

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The announcement followed a "productive conversation" with Lutnick about the economic relationship between United States and Canada, Ford said.

Many hope the meeting on Thursday will pave the way for the two countries to avoid a trade war following an escalation in tensions this week.

In response to Ontario's 25% duty on electricity exported into the U.S., Trump had threatened to double a planned tariff on all steel and aluminum imports into the U.S. from Canada, which would be taking effect tomorrow, pushing the total import duties up to 50%.

White House senior counselor for trade and manufacturing Peter Navarro said, however, that Trump's threat to double the tariffs he previously announced on Canadian steel and aluminium imports into the U.S. will no longer be going into effect tomorrow.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  As the trade war between the U.S. and Canada plays out, were taking a look at how much more you could pay if you buy goods here in the Buffalo area and cross into Canada.

President Donald Trump has put a pause on many imports from Canada. However, Canada is still moving forward with its 25% retaliatory tariff on goods from the states.

Heres an example, from one of us here at WIVB News 4, of how much more you could be paying.

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This employee lives in Canada, went to Wegmans over the weekend and bought $50 in groceries, nothing crazy. What was a surprise was how much more Canada charged when those groceries were declared at the border.

The WIVB News 4 employee in this circumstance was sent to secondary inspection and was hit with a tariff bill.

A tariff bill comes with the importers name and address at the top, the date and time that they crossed, and at which bridge.

Under normal circumstances, groceries are non-taxable. Things have changed with the ongoing trade war.

Canada converted the $50 spent at Wegmans to $70.73.

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The 25 percent tariff was put on that amount coming out to about $17. Then, Canada charges an additional sales tax, bringing the total tax to $20. To pay the tariff bill, the station employee paid in American currency, which came out to about $15 since the American dollar is still stronger than the Canadian dollar.

So, for that $50 bag of groceries, it ended up costing $65 American because these groceries crossed into Canada.

The 25% tariff is on $30 billion worth of goods, alcohol, appliances and clothing. Heres a full list of whats being taxed if you cross the border.

Latest Local News

Jeff Preval is an award-winning anchor and reporter who joined the News 4 team in December 2021. See more of his work here.

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WARWICK  A hearing Monday night was supposed to be about proposals that would see a net decrease in energy bills for most Rhode Islanders, but it sure didnt feel like it.

Beforehand, protesters rallied outside the offices of state utilities regulators to complain about Rhode Island Energys prices, and during the standing-room-only hearing, speaker after speaker aimed criticism at the states largest gas and electric utility.

Joyce Fiore was one of several customers who brought their bills up to the podium to read off the skyrocketing numbers. Her electric bill jumped from $164 in December to $580 in February, she said.

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Ive lived in Cranston for close to 50 years now, and Ive never seen bills like this, she told the two members of the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission who were present at the hearing.

Cold weather and high energy prices drive up bills in RI

While electric rates have been abnormally high in Rhode Island for a while now, the bill impact has been greater this winter because its been colder than the mild winters of the past couple of years. Thats not only pushed up energy usage but also put pressure on wholesale electric prices on the spot market.

Natural gas rates have also increased in recent years, pushing up the cost of heating.

The General Assembly session that opened in January has been marked by an unusual number of pieces of legislation that aim to rein in Rhode Island Energys costs.

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For its part, Rhode Island Energy says it can do little about the energy rates that it passes on to ratepayers without a mark-up. Theyre largely determined by regional market forces, the company says.

We understand the burden of high bills, and we know you feel it even more when temperatures drop, and supply prices continue to be high, as they have this winter, Brian Schuster, director of external affairs at the company, said at the hearing. We feel it, too.

But the 180 people in attendance were unconvinced, booing and heckling Schuster throughout his presentation.

Rhode Island proposes lower electric rates and slightly higher gas rates

The complaints come as Rhode Island Energy is planning to lower electric rates, as usual, for the spring and summer. For residential customers, starting April 1, the default energy rate would drop from 16.4 cents per kilowatt hour to 10.1 cents.

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After accounting for a small increase in delivery charges, the bill for a typical customer that uses 500 kilowatt hours a month would go down by 17%, from $161.85 to $141.73.

But even though thats a steep reduction from the winter rate for whats known as last-resort service, its still significantly higher than the rates of summers past.

Electric rates in Rhode Island spiked nearly three years ago as the war in Ukraine drove up European demand for natural gas, the primary fuel for power generation in New England. Even though prices have eased, theyve yet to come down to previous levels.

There are also structural problems that inflate New Englands wholesale electric prices. While the use of natural gas for power production has increased significantly in the region over the last two decades to become the dominant fuel source, pipeline capacity has failed to keep up.

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Opposition from environmental groups has stymied new pipeline projects, so as demand for the fossil fuel has increased, the pipelines that bring gas from Pennsylvania shale fields and beyond have become more and more constrained.

A recent study from S&P Global, supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, found that wholesale natural gas prices in Boston during periods of peak demand in the winter were 166% higher than the national benchmark.

The pipeline constraints also help explain why New Englanders pay more for natural gas for heating.

Under a second proposal that Rhode Island Energy filed with the utilities commission, gas rates would go up slightly on April 1. For a typical customer that uses 845 therms a year, the bill would edge up by 4.4%, from $1,785.11 to $1,863.68.

'I can't afford it anymore'

State lawmakers are proposing to bring relief to ratepayers in a number of ways.

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Rep. Megan Cotter, who was at the hearing, has proposed slashing the cap on Rhode Island Energys return on investment. Shes introduced a second measure to look into turning the private, investor-owned company into a public entity.

Rep. Charlene Lima has introduced legislation that delays by a decade Rhode Islands obligation to offset all energy usage with renewables by 2033.

Sen. Dawn Euer is sponsoring a bill that would prohibit Rhode Island Energy from recovering from ratepayers the costs, among others, of marketing, lobbying or investor relations.

And Rep. Scott Slater has brought back his perennial bill to cap energy bills for the poorest Rhode Islanders.

Speakers at a Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission hearing on Monday complained about the high price of energy in the state.

But speakers at the utilities commission hearing argued that there are deeper structural problems with the states energy system.

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They contend that even though customers can sign on with third-party suppliers or, in certain communities, with municipal aggregation plans, Rhode Island Energy acts as a monopoly. And that the state utilities commission doesnt do enough to regulate the company.

Give these people hope, Aseem Rastogi, chair of Indivisible RI, said to the commission members. Give us all hope that youll do the right thing for people over profits.

State Sen. Elaine Morgan, one of several lawmakers in attendance, said something similar.

You were commissioned by the General Assembly to protect us, the ratepayers, the Hopkinton Republican said. We're asking for your protection right now.

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Kathleen Giroux, a former resident of Florida, said her heating bill for her 900-square-foot apartment in Smithfield went from $98 in November to $404 this month.

I cant afford it anymore, she said. Im ready to pack it up and move back to Florida.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: More than 180 people come out to complain of high energy costs in RI
ISLAMABAD, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has launched the country's first dematerialized digital identity card, marking a major leap in the national identity system, said a statement from the authority.

In a statement posted on its website Tuesday, NADRA said the digital identity card is expected to transform how citizens access government services. The feature will soon be integrated into a special mobile application called Pak ID, allowing citizens to store their identity cards on their smartphones.

"With the launch of this feature in the Pak ID app, citizens will no longer need to carry physical ID cards. Moreover, digital verification systems will soon be implemented to facilitate authentication for various services," the statement said.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described the digital identity card as a crucial step toward digital transformation, highlighting the upcoming digital verification system to be implemented under the Digital Economy Project.

The minister also emphasized NADRA's role in extending identity services to remote areas and overseas Pakistanis while supporting law enforcement agencies in national security efforts.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised NADRA's pivotal role in empowering citizens.

Acknowledging NADRA's achievements in data integration and AI modeling, the prime minister underscored the significance of digital solutions in driving economic growth and promoting inclusiveness. 
Last month, the sad news broke that beloved actor Gene Hackman, his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, and one of their pet dogs had been found dead in their Santa Fe home. Gene was 95 years old, and Betsy was 65. The two had been married since 1991.

Two people in formal attire smiling at an event. Gene Hackman wears a suit and colorful tie; Betsy Arakawa wears a blazer with a patterned shirt

At the time, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said that authorities did not believe foul play was a factor in the deaths, and initially, it was widely speculated that the couple may have died due to carbon monoxide poisoning. However, it was later confirmed that Santa Fe City Fire Department had not found any evidence of a leak in the property.

The search warrant affidavit also revealed that Hackman and Arakawas bodies were found after two maintenance workers for the gated community where they lived called 911, and that nobody had seen the couple for two weeks. When officers arrived, the door to the residence was ajar but there were no signs of forced entry.

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Arakawas body was found on the floor of a bathroom on the ground floor of the residence, and an orange prescription bottle was close by with pills scattered on the countertop. The affidavit added that her body showed obvious signs of death, body decomposition, bloating in her face, and mummification in both hands and feet. Hackmans body was found in a similar condition to his wifes in what is thought to have been a mud room close to the kitchen. The deputies on the scene suspected that he had suddenly fallen, and sunglasses and a walking cane were located close to his body.

Gene Hackman and Classical musician Betsy Arakawa pose on a golf course. Both are dressed casually in sporty attire

It was later confirmed that the dead dog was found in a crate in the bathroom closet, and two healthy dogs were also on the property  one inside the home and another outside.

The affidavit requested a thorough search and investigation into Hackman and Arakawas deaths, and on Friday, the tragic details of Hackmans final days were shared in a press conference with the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator's chief medical examiner, Dr. Heather Jarrell.

While Hackman and Arakawas bodies were found on Feb. 26, it was previously reported that Hackman had likely died on Feb. 18, as this was the last day any heart activity was recorded by his pacemaker. Arakawa, on the other hand, is thought to have died on Feb. 11, with Dr. Jarrell saying that her cause of death was hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare infectious disease carried by rodents that can cause flulike symptoms and affect the lungs and heart.

Betsy Arakawa and Gene Hackman posing together at an event; Betsy is wearing a sparkling, embellished dress, and Gene is in a classic tuxedo

Authorities also identified the deceased dog as Zinna, and said that the pet had been picked up from a veterinary hospital on Feb. 9 following a procedure, which could be why it was being kept in a crate in the couples home.

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Dr. Jarrell also shed some light on Hackmans heartbreaking final week of life, saying that due to his advanced Alzheimers, it is "quite possible that he was not aware that she [his wife] was deceased.

Officials have found no evidence that Hackman had communicated with anybody after Arakawas death, and could not determine if he would have been able to care for himself. Neurologist Dr. Brendan Kelley added that Alzheimer's disease can leave patients unable to act on their own emotional discomfort, including eating, sleeping, and bathing themselves.

Gene Hackman smiling, wearing a light-colored blazer over a dark shirt, against a plain background

"A person might feel worried or frightened, but at the same time, they might not be capable to take the actions that you or I might normally think to do in order to alleviate that worry or concern, such as calling somebody else, or going to speak to a neighbor, he explained.

Needless to say, many were left devastated by this update as they reflected on the fear, confusion, and discomfort that Hackman must have felt before he died.

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And now, Bruce Williss wife, Emma Heming Willis, has issued an emotional statement calling for people to look out for caregivers like Arakawa.

For reference, Bruce was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2023, which is the most common form of dementia for people under 60. It came one year after the Emmy-winning actor was diagnosed with aphasia, which impacts somebodys ability to understand or produce speech.

Bruce Willis smiling in a suit at a public event, facing slightly to the side

Bruces family previously explained that the dementia impacts his ability to communicate, and in October, his ex-wife, Demi Moore, shared an update on how he is doing.

The couple split in 2000 but have maintained a close friendship, in part due to their shared children.

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The disease is what the disease is. And I think you have to be in real deep acceptance of what that is. But for where he's at, he is stable," she said at the 2024 Hamptons International Film Festival. What I always encourage is to just meet them where they're at. When we're holding on to what was, I think it's a losing game.

Rumer Willis, Demi Moore, Bruce Willis, Scout Willis, Emma Heming Willis and Tallulah Willis attend Demi Moore's 'Inside Out' Book Party

And in a new Instagram video, Emma has reflected on the fact that caring for somebody with dementia requires a lot of support. This is not something I would normally comment on, she began. But I do really believe that there is some learning in this story in regards to the tragic passing of Mr. and Mrs. Hackman. Its just made me think of this broader story, and that is that caregivers need care, too.

Bruce Willis and his wife Emma smiling at an event, both wearing elegant black suits, standing against a dark backdrop

They are vital, and it is so important that we show up for them so that they can continue to show up for their person, Emma continued. I think that there's this common misconception that caregivers, theyve got it figured out, theyve got it covered, they're good  I don't subscribe to that.

Emma Heming Willis with long hair and glasses speaking in front of a bookshelf, wearing a white top and necklace

I think that we need to be showing up for them so that they can continue to show up for their person, she concluded, adding in the posts caption: Caregivers need care too. Period. Full stop.

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Emma was widely praised for her statement, and Bruce and Demis daughter Tallulah Willis was among the people to show their support in the videos comments, where she simply wrote: I love you so much.

You can watch Emmas full video below:

More on this
A cargo ship struck a tanker Monday in a fiery crash in the North Sea off the coast of eastern England, causing fuel to stream into local waters.

MV Stena Immaculate, the tanker, carries oil and chemicals and features the U.S.s flag. It had been close to the port of Grimsby and at anchor early Monday, The Associated Press reported. Solong, a cargo ship featuring Portugals flag, had been on its way to Scotlands Grangemouth when it hit the side of the Stena Immaculate.

The Stena Immaculate had also been involved in a group of commercial vessels that have the ability, if required, to be contracted for fuel carrying on the U.S. militarys behalf, the AP reported.

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Most of the crew for both ships made it safely to shore, according to the AP, but one of Solongs crew members was missing, according to a statement from the ships owner. Twelve hours after the crash, the ships continued to be on fire, according to British coast guards.

Heidi Alexander, head of the U.K.s Department for Transport, said in a post on the social platform X that she was concerned to hear of the collision between two vessels in the North Sea this morning and am liaising with officials and HM Coastguard as the situation develops.

I want to thank all emergency service workers involved for their continued efforts in responding to the incident, she added.

Crowley, a U.S company and the Stena Immaculates manager, said in a Monday release that it is working closely with response agencies including the HM Coastguard to secure the vessel in a restricted safety area and initiate spill containment response.

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The Hill has reached out to the Department of Defense for comment.

Solongs owner, Ernst Russ, said in a statement emailed Tuesday to The Hill that it continue[s] to follow the situation closely surrounding this collision incident involving our vessel, SOLONG in the North Sea, off Hull, UK.

Our focus remains the well-being of our 13 crew members that were evacuated from the containership, it added.

The Associated Press contributed.

Updated at 3:06 p.m. EDT

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CARLSBAD, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  The City of Carlsbad is moving forward with its plan to put five new traffic circles at several key intersections in the Barrio neighborhood in an effort to improve traffic safety and walkability for residents in that area.

The plan is moving forward after the Carlsbad City Council approved at their meeting on March 4 the plans, specifications and authorization to bid for the Barrio traffic circle project.

Trail from Escondido to Oceanside beaches: Your input is wanted

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The five locations of the new traffic circles will be:

Oak Avenue and Jefferson Street  traffic circle

Pine Avenue and Madison Street  traffic circle

Pine Avenue and Harding Street  traffic circle with public art

Chestnut Avenue and Roosevelt Street  traffic circle

Chestnut Avenue and Madison Street  traffic circle

Construction on the new traffic circles is expected to begin in 2026.

Carlsbad moving forward with planned traffic circles in the Barrio neighborhood (City of Carlsbad)

The traffic circle at Harding Street and Pine Avenue will feature public artwork by Mario Torero, who was selected in 2024 by a public art advisory subcommittee. Torero and his team will gather more community input to help shape the public art design concept in early 2025.

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Humphreys Concerts By the Bay 2025 lineup announced

The City will also be installing curb extensions and crosswalks at Palm Avenue and Harding Street, and at Magnolia Avenue and Madison Street.

Crosswalk striping improvements at the existing 4-way stop will be taking place at Oak Avenue and Roosevelt Street.

After phase 1 was approved last week by the City Council, the next steps for the project include relocating and replacing aging water and sewer utilities to comply with current standards before construction on the traffic circles begins.

The project is part of the Village and Barrio Master Plan, which was approved in 2019, and aims to discourage speeding and improve safety in the residential neighborhood.

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New upscale restaurant coming to Solana Beach this spring

Traffic circles were chosen over roundabouts in those areas as traffic circles tend to be used in residential neighborhoods while roundabouts are for larger, more heavily traveled intersections, according to the City.

The City also noted that based on parking studies that were conducted, the traffic circles are not expected to impact parking availability in those areas.

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CARTERVILLE, Mo.  A state audit is underway for a small southwest Missouri town.

Representatives with the Missouri State Auditors Office are meeting tonight with the Carterville City Council.

Audit work will officially begin Wednesday morning.

A citizen petition collected 200 signatures requesting the audit.

Carterville Mayor Alan Griffin says the investigation will cover the last three years of finances, and he doesnt expect it to find any wrongdoing.

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Gavino Macias, 23.

JASPER COUNTY, Mo.  A Carthage man pleads guilty in a 2024 murder case.

Late last month, Gavino McJunkins-Macias, 24, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in a Miami County, Kansas courtroom. Hes scheduled to be sentenced next month.

The charges are connected to the death of his wife, Kenia Lopez, 24, of Carthage. Police found her body in a camper in the 600 block of North Main in Carthage.

According to court papers, Macias killed Lopez in rural Louisburg, Kansas, and then drove the camperwith Lopezs body insideback to Carthage.

FOUR STATES CRIME

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Macias is also charged in Jasper County with abandonment of a corpse. Hes scheduled to be in court on that charge later this month.

His mother, Heather McJunkins was charged with obstructing justice in Miami County, Kansas early on in the case. That charge has since been dropped.

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More than 100 Catholic priests, nuns and clergy are to gather at President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club next week.

The event, Catholic Prayer for America, is hosted by Catholics for Catholics. The group's president and CEO, John Yep, and board member Cameron Moore predict it will be the "largest" prayer and faith-based event to be held at the Palm Beach club that is the center of conservative politics in America.

"We are going to Mar-a-Lago," said Yep. "It's significant because it is the house, the personal house, of the president of the United States. We are going to his house to pray, to pray for America."

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Yep said the gala is being held March 19 to mark the Feast of St. Joseph, a day of solemnity for Catholics.

Inside Mar-a-Lago: Trump's private club is ground zero for a disruption-themed second term

The affair will be the second such event at the Winter White House. Catholics for Catholics held a gala at Mar-a-Lago last year with actor James Caviezel, who played Jesus in the film "The Passion of the Christ." Also speaking at the 2024 event were longtime Trump confidant Roger Stone and retired Lt. general Michael Flynn.

Moore, founder of the American Heroes Association, is sponsoring the more than 100 Catholic clergy attending.

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"A lot of high-powered, high-level meetings happen at Mar-a-Lago," said Moore, a non-Catholic Christian. "We believe this is the hub of politics in our country, outside of Washington, D.C. And praying for the president of the United States will be powerful, as well as blessing the property and praying for safety."

The organization, which was founded in 2022, has been labeled a "new combative faith group" by "opposition media," according to Yep's LinkedIn profile. Two years ago, Yep said, the organization rallied 5,000 people to protest the appearance of the satirical drag group The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence at a Los Angeles Dodgers' LGBTQ event at Dodger Stadium.

In last year's election, Yep said the work of Catholics for Catholics and other like-minded groups proved pivotal in Trump's recapturing the White House.

Exit polling by NBC News and CNN from the Nov. 5 contest showed Trump trouncing Vice President Kamala Harris by 18 percentage points, 58% to 40%, among Catholics. Another survey showed that Trump's margins among white and Hispanic Catholics was pivotal in winning six decisive swing states.

Attendees at the 2024 Catholics for Catholics gala at Mar-a-Lago.

Catholics for Catholics opposed Biden, unhappy with pope

The political backdrop is a motivating factor in other ways.

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In addition to opposing the policies of former President Joe Biden (the second Catholic elected to the White House after John F. Kennedy), Catholics for Catholics is also unhappy with Pope Francis, the 88-year-old pontiff who has been hospitalized since mid-February with a respiratory infection.

Yep, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, said the group is "not in the business of judging people's souls," and instead focuses on how faith is applied to policy and government actions matters.

"There was a void in clarity about Catholic teaching as it translates into public events," he said. "We knew we had to be there to remind people what it really means to be Catholic."

John Yep, president and CEO of Catholics for Catholics

Who will speak at this year's Mar-a-Lago gala?

Speakers at this year's event include Jean Marshall, a Massachusetts resident who was sentenced last year to 24 months in prison after being found guilty by a jury of civil rights conspiracy and violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, according to a statement issued by the U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C.

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Among those also taking the podium will be Joe Thomas, who was pardoned by Trump for offenses during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, and Bishop Joseph Strickland, who was removed from his post in Tyler, Texas, by Pope Francis in 2023.

Yep said several of the clergy attending will be from Florida.

Cameron Moore, board member of Catholics for Catholics, with President Donald Trump.

"That's big for local people to know that their faith leaders are gathering there," he said.

Moore said his objective is for all who attend to return and speak about what they saw and heard at the gala, and be "rejuvenated and inspired to carry out the message of Jesus Christ" throughout the United States.

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"My goal is to, ultimately, have these priests go back to their congregations  some are very notable, they have podcasts or various channels they communicate with  so we can reach millions of people with a message they are receiving here at this event," he said.

Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Why Catholics for Catholics chose Mar-a-Lago for their prayer gala
Ukraine can achieve lasting peace with U.S. leadership, but this requires increased pressure on Russia and credible security guarantees, Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak wrote in an opinion article published by the Guardian on March 11.

"As I arrive in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a ceasefire in the three-year war the Russian Federation has waged on my country has never seemed closer," Yermak wrote.

Yermak nevertheless stressed that diplomacy alone will not bring about a ceasefire  stronger political and financial pressure on Russia is essential to prevent a future resurgence of aggression.

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"No one wants the current war to end more than our people  but a peace must be found that is both just and sustainable," he added.

Yermak outlined key conditions necessary for a sustainable peace, including security guarantees for Ukraine, tougher European sanctions against Russia, and the seizure of Russian frozen assets to support Ukraine.

"Europe cannot allow a ceasefire that serves only to allow Russia to rearm, rebuild its forces, and come back for more Ukrainian lands and resources," he warned.

Despite Yermak's calls for U.S. involvement in security guarantees, President Donald Trump has refused to offer such assurances, saying during his Feb. 28 meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky that Europe should take responsibility for Ukraine's security.

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Yermak welcomed Europe's ReArm Europe initiative, which includes up to 150 billion euros ($163 billion) for collective defense spending and an additional 20 billion euros ($21 billion) for Ukraine's military needs.

The official also highlighted the importance of the EU's recently approved 16th sanctions package of sanctions, which expands export restrictions and targets Russian aluminum imports.

The column was published as Ukrainian and U.S. delegates began talks in Jeddah on March 11. The meeting could shape Washington's future support for Kyiv and efforts to end the war.

The Ukrainian delegation includes Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and Zelensky's Deputy Chief of Staff Pavlo Palisa.

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The U.S. delegation is led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

Read also: Were ready  Ukraine heads into US peace talks with everything at stake

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
CADDO PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  The suspect in a 2021 murder in the Cedar Grove neighborhood pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter on Monday just as his trial was set to begin.

According to the Caddo Parish District Attorneys office, Datavious Simmons, 23, will spend the next 18 years in prison at hard labor after pleading guilty to manslaughter in Keshun Coles death.

Simmons was the passenger in a car when several shots were fired at Cole at the intersection of Union Avenue and 62nd Street in June of 2021.

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Cole died at Ochsner LSU Health hospital shortly after.

According to the District Attorneys office, the driver of the vehicle is currently serving a 10-year sentence for manslaughter for his role in the crime.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A drone photo shows farmers picking tea leaves in Xiayanbei Village of Xinchang County, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang)

An aerial drone photo shows the scenery at Jiulong Waterfalls in Luoping County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 10, 2025. (Photo by Peng Yikai/Xinhua)

This photo taken on March 10, 2025 shows power lines leading from Sir Adam Beck Generating Stations of Canada in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.

Canada's Ontario government on Monday officially applied a 25 percent surcharge on all electricity exports to three U.S. states. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)

Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) attend a group interview ahead of the closing meeting of the third session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

A passenger walks past screens showing flight information at the departure hall of the Frankfurt Airport in Frankfurt, Germany, March 10, 2025.

Over 1,000 flights at the Frankfurt Airport have been affected as airport workers went on strike on Monday. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

A yellow-bellied tragopan is pictured in Xiaoqiao Township of Jian'ou City, southeast China's Fujian Province, March 9, 2025.

A cluster of 22 yellow-bellied tragopans, a species under first-class national protection, was recently spotted in Xiaoqiao Township. (Xinhua/Mei Yongcun)

Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) leave the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting of the third session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

This photo taken on March 8, 2025 shows a firework performance during the International Fireworks Festival held in Tultepec, a town in the State of Mexico, Mexico.

The event features dazzling fireworks displays and the traditional "Fire Bull" parade, where bull-shaped structures are decorated with fireworks, showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship and cultural charm of pyrotechnics. (Photo by Francisco Canedo/Xinhua)
A Cedarville University student was one of the people injured after a private plane headed to Springfield crashed in Pennsylvania on Sunday.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Judah White, a sophomore, is from Manheim, Pennsylvania. He was traveling back to campus after spring break, according to a spokesperson from the university.

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>>PHOTOS: Small plane headed to Springfield crashes in Pennsylvania

The small plane crashed in a parking lot of a retirement community in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, shortly after taking off from the nearby airport.

As previously reported by News Center 7, the pilot and all four passengers were hospitalized with minor injuries.

A preliminary report from the FAA reveals that the crash was an accident and described the flight as personal.

Flight records show the plane was supposed to land at Springfield Beckley Municipal Airport.

Two people have been released from the hospital, and the other three are getting treatment at a burn center, according to a previous News Center 7 report.

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Please join me in lifting up Judah, his family, and everyone involved in this accident to the Lord. We are praying for full recoveries and for Gods peace and strength to surround them, Cedarville University President Thomas White said.

First responders work the scene after a plane crashed in a parking lot of a retirement community Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Manheim Township, Pa. (Zach Gleiter/The Patriot-News via AP)

Debris is seen after a plane crashed in a parking lot of a retirement community Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Manheim Township, Pa. (Zach Gleiter/The Patriot-News via AP)

First responders work the scene after a plane crashed in a parking lot of a retirement community Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Manheim Township, Pa. (Zach Gleiter/The Patriot-News via AP)

A police officer walks past debris after a plane crashed in a parking lot of a retirement community Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Manheim Township, Pa. (Zach Gleiter/The Patriot-News via AP)

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First responders work the scene after a plane crashed in a parking lot of a retirement community Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Manheim Township, Pa. (Zach Gleiter/The Patriot-News via AP)

First responders work the scene after a plane crashed in the parking lot of a retirement community in Manheim Township, Pa., Sunday, March 9, 2025. (Logan Gehman/LNP/LancasterOnline via AP)

First responders work the scene after a plane crashed in the parking lot of a retirement community in Manheim Township, Pa., Sunday, March 9, 2025. (Suzette Wenger/LNP/LancasterOnline via AP)

First responders work the scene after a plane crashed in the parking lot of a retirement community in Manheim Township, Pa., Sunday, March 9, 2025. (Suzette Wenger/LNP/LancasterOnline via AP)

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First responders work the scene after a plane crashed in the parking lot of a retirement community in Manheim Township, Pa., Sunday, March 9, 2025. (Logan Gehman/LNP/LancasterOnline via AP)

First responders work the scene after a plane crashed in the parking lot of a retirement community in Manheim Township, Pa., Sunday, March 9, 2025. (Logan Gehman/LNP/LancasterOnline via AP)

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  The city of Centerville is inviting people to learn more about both sextortion and dating violence.

A free presentation will be held at 6:30 p.m. tonight in the Centerville High School Central Theatre. It will teach effective strategies for prevention and intervention.

Centerville Safe and Centerville City Schools will host this event as a part of its community safety series.

Sextortion: What is it and how to protect yourself

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The president of Centerville Safe Emily Denlinger spoke on the importance of awareness.

Dating violence and sextortion are not subjects that many parents or teenagers want to think about, said Denlinger. But after having discussions with our school resource officers, we felt like this was an important topic for people to become informed about so we are better equipped to protect the teens in our lives.

Montgomery County Sheriffs Office Deputy Brandon Baker will lead the discussion on sextortion and the growing number of children and teens affected by it. Then CHS health teacher Erin Geyer will share how dating violence is covered in class.

Instagram rolls out new features to prevent sextortion scams targeting teens

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Superintendent Jon Wesney stressed how learning about topics like this helps empower youth.

As educators and parents, we want our children to be informed and equipped to navigate the complexities of their digital lives, said Superintendent Wesney. Understanding issues like sextortion and dating violence relates directly to our Portrait of an Elk competency of tech literacy, as it empowers our youth to make informed decisions, recognize harmful situations, and seek help when needed.

Centerville Safe was founded in 2019 by a group of parents. The organization works alongside the school to promote safety and security education.

To learn more about Centerville Safe, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  After a freeze in United States Department of Health and Human Services funding, some Central Texas organizations have been forced to suspend long-standing refugee programs.

Catholic Charities of Central Texas, or CCCTX, one of the largest social services non-profit organizations in Central Texas, announced Monday that due to the federal funding freeze that began in January, it had to stop its Refugee Resettlement program, laying off 30 employees with it.

The reality is, we have not received these federal funds since the funding freeze was announced by the federal government in late January, said Allison Cavazos, CCCTXs interim executive director.

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We cant do this work without a guarantee of those funds, she continued.

CCCTXs Refugee Resettlement program helped refugees legally in Texas navigate employment, obtain health insurance, gain job skills and access other services essential to succeed in their new home.

[It] provides a holistic wraparound support for refugee families, Cavazos said. Our hearts go out to those families who have had some of their options limited now.

Cavazos said her organization has a half dozen additional programs that are still running. Refugees are still able to access those, she said.

At Catholic Charities, we say, Were providing help, creating hope. So we absolutely have hope that the funding will be reinstated, Cavazos said. People can support the organization by visiting its website.

Fender funding freeze

The Catholic Charities for Fort Worth is Texas designee for refugee resettlement services. It stepped up to be in charge of the states refugee resettlement programs after the state dropped out of the program in 2016, according to reporting from Texas Tribune.

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Since the funding freeze, CCFW reported that its partners, which include CCCTX, have laid off 750 staff. This number was reported before CCCTX announced it laid off 30 of its employees.

On March 3, CCFW filed a lawsuit against DHHS and Health and new Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Despite four attempts by CCFW on January 29 and 30 to obtain payment of obligated grant funds through Defendants Payment Management Services system (PMS), and another ten requests in the following four weeks, Defendants have persisted in unlawfully preventing CCFW from obtaining over $36 million under its open grant agreementsan amount owing that continues to mount with the services CCFW continues to provide, unfunded, with each passing day, the lawsuit read.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)  The Champaign Police Department is inviting members of the community to meet its officers and enjoy coffee with them during another Coffee with a Cop event.

The Champaign Police Department has hosted several of these events over the years and it is hosting the next one on Tuesday. It will take place from 8 to 10 a.m. at Mad Goat Coffee in downtown Champaign.

The City of Champaign wants your input on downtown improvements

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There will be no agenda and no speeches, the department said. Its just a chance to chat with officers, ask questions and voice concerns.

This is the first Coffee with a Cop event for the Champaign Police Department in 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 WCIA.com.
CHAMPION, Ohio (WKBN)  There have been a few unique animal rescues in Trumbull County lately.

On Sunday, Braceville Fire rescued a deer stuck in a fence and Monday just before 5 p.m., Champion Township firefighters rescued a dog in a well.

This six-month-old Pug named Tater fell seven feet down into a well next to a house. The wells cover had fallen in before Tater.

Luckily, the firefighters were able to reunite Tater with his best friend who was anxiously waiting for him.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
A St. Clair Shores district court judge dismissed all charges against a city election worker and a voter after the Michigan Attorney General's Office charged them and others in a double voting case in the August primary election.

Charges were dismissed against Molly Brasure, one of three election workers accused in the case, and Geneva O'Day, one of four voters accused in the matter, during a preliminary exam Friday in 40th District Court.

Brasure had been charged with two counts each of voting absentee and in-person; offering to vote more than once, and falsifying returns/records, according to online court records. O'Day had been charged with one count each of voting absentee and in-person and offering to vote more than once. All of the charges are felonies.

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Brasure's attorney, Stephen Rabaut, told the Free Press on Monday that he thinks "it's a travesty the Attorney General's Office is pursuing charges on any of these seven people. ... It's a total abuse of power by the Attorney General's Office."

A hand casting a vote in a ballot box for an election in Michigan.

Messages seeking comment were left for O'Day's attorney and a spokesperson for the Attorney General's Office.

A pretrial conference was held Monday for Stacey Kramer, an accused voter, in Macomb County Circuit Court, where a trial is set for July 29 before Judge James Maceroni. Kramer, Donald Kempkens Jr., and Frank Prezzato, also voters, are charged with one count each of voting absentee and in-person, and offering to vote more than once.

Rabaut is representing Kempkens, whose case was bound over to the Circuit Court. Rabaut filed a motion to quash with Circuit Judge Joseph Toia to issue a written opinion. A pretrial conference is scheduled for May 12, according to online court records.

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Circuit Judge Anthony Servitto denied a motion to quash the bind-over filed by Prezzato's attorney; and a pretrial conference is set for May 14 for Prezzato, according to online court records.

In December, all charges were dismissed against the other city election workers, Emily McClintock and Patricia Guciardo, during a preliminary examination in 40th District Court. The Attorney General's Office filed appeals with the Circuit Court, where oral arguments are scheduled in April, according to online court records.

The voters committed election fraud when they sent in an absentee ballot and still voted in person at the polls, Attorney General Dana Nessel said at a news conference announcing the charges in October. The election workers were accused of knowing of the voters' absentee ballots  an electronic voter information tracking system informed them  and letting them vote anyway.

The AG's Office identified the election workers as assistant clerks, but St. Clair Shores Mayor Kip Walby previously told the Free Press they were seasonal workers, not assistant clerks.

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The charges by the Attorney General's Office were filed after County Prosecutor Peter Lucido declined to charge the voters, stating in an August news release that a review of the evidence concluded probable cause did not exist to believe a crime occurred. The alleged election fraud occurred at three different voting precincts.

An electronic poll book at each precinct shows whether voters have already cast a ballot. In the case of the four voters, the system indicated their ballots were already received by the local clerk, Nessel previously said.

She said volunteer poll workers informed the three assistant clerks and were instructed to override the system and issue in-person ballots. She said the assistant clerks then illegally changed the status of the four voters' absentee ballots in the electronic poll book from "received" to "rejected."

The voters cast their in-person ballots, which still were counted alongside their absentee ballots. The election workers were accused of not making any effort to ensure the corresponding ballot was rejected from the absentee voter counting board.

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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: Charges against election worker, voter dismissed in double voting case
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Charges were dismissed Tuesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court against a city woman accused of running over another woman with her car.

Two charges of felonious assault, a second-degree felony, were dismissed against Curteesha Bevly, 28.

A reason for the dismissal is not listed in court records.

She was accused of running over a woman Oct. 27 at a 1907 South Ave. gas station during an argument and indicted in December by a grand jury.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)  Some Charleston County voters will head to the polls later this month to cast ballots in special state and municipal races.

Voters in the North Charleston area will vote to replace former Democratic state Rep. Marvin Pendarvis in the South Carolina House, representing District 113. Former Charleston County School Board Trustee Courtney Waters, a Democrat, is running unopposed.

In Mount Pleasant, voters will decide who will serve the remaining seven months of Republican Carl Ritchies term. 10 candidates are vying to replace Ritchie, who resigned his seat before being sworn in as the new Charleston County Sheriff.

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Both special elections are scheduled for Tuesday, March 25.

Early voting underway for several upcoming special elections

Ahead of Election Day, officials are urging voters to check their precincts, as some polling locations have been temporarily changed.

The following changes will be in effect for the Mount Pleasant town council race:

Christ Church, previously located at Berkeley Electric Awendaw, moved to Wando Mout Pleasant Library (1400 Carolina Park Boulevard)

Mt. Pleasant 18 and 19, previously located at Trident Academy, moved to James B. Edwards Elementary School (855 Von Kolnitz Road)

The following change will be in effect for the SC House District 113 race:

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North Charleston 5, previously located at Azalea Drive Church of Christ, moved to Mary Ford Early Learning and Family Center (3180 Thomasina McPherson Boulevard)

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Election Day.

A valid photo ID is required to vote in South Carolina. Acceptable forms of identification include a S.C. drivers license, S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles ID card, S.C. voter registration card with photo, federal military ID, and U.S. Passport.

State law requires a person to be registered to vote at least 30 days before an election. You can check your registration status, verify your precinct, and obtain a sample ballot by visiting scvotes.gov.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
CAIRO, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi reaffirmed on Tuesday that the establishment of a Palestinian state is the only solution to the ongoing conflict, rejecting any attempts to displace Palestinians from their land.

"There is no resolution to this issue except through working towards upholding justice, establishing a Palestinian state, and rejecting the displacement of the Palestinian people from their land under any pretext," Sisi said during a televised speech in Cairo.

He emphasized Egypt's continued diplomatic efforts to achieve regional security and peace, highlighting the country's role as "a pivotal actor in this issue."

The Egyptian president also voiced his country's support for the Palestinian people "in their battle for survival and destiny."

Last week, Egypt hosted an emergency Arab summit on Palestine, during which Cairo proposed a three-phase, five-year, 53-billion-dollar reconstruction plan for the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, which has suffered months of conflict between Hamas and Israel.

The first phase of a fragile ceasefire agreement, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, expired on March 1. Negotiations for the next phase, which should secure a permanent ceasefire, remain stalled. 
CHICAGO  Last month, Ed Campbell woke up to move his Tesla parked on Lake Shore Drive, only to discover that the passenger side door had been vandalized instead.

Its not a great way to make a statement, he said. I saw in big huge white spray painted letters F Elon. Im sure you can fill in the blank for the rest.

The damage left Campbell shocked and upset and he reported the incident to Chicago police.

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Campbell said he had the vehicle for less than a year and added this was the first time hed ever been targeted just for owning this particular make of vehicle.

Fire that damaged four Tesla Cybertrucks in Seattle under investigation

Ive loved it. Its the best Ive ever had. Its so safe and the reason why I got it is just to, you know, have a better eco footprint and be good for the environment. You know, I didnt buy it because, you know, I thought one way or another about the CEO, Campbell said.

Richards Body Shop in Albany Park has handled about three cases involving these specific electric vehicles being vandalized. The body shops staff helped Campbell with his issue, but shop owner Eddie Zipperstein said in another case, the damage was much more severe than just spray paint.

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One customer got rammed, back bumper, and rammed into him, Zipperstein said. He actually had a sticker that wasnt pro Tesla. He liked the car for itself, not a political statement.

Since President Trumps inauguration, Tesla has been under increased pressure.

Over the weekend in downtown Chicago, demonstrators gathered outside a showroom on Rush Street to protest Tesla CEO Elon Musks involvement in federal cuts through the Department of Government Efficiency.

Bullet holes, shattered windows discovered at Oregon Tesla dealership

While the protest remained peaceful, it was a different story in Seattle, where several cybertrucks were set on fire Sunday night.

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On Wednesday, March 5, a dealership in Tigard, Oregon also experienced vandalism, this time involving gunfire.

Campbell told WGN News theres no need for people to turn to extreme measures to express their opinions.

Hop on social media. Be active in your community. Dont hurt an innocent bystander you dont know, he said.

Tesla tumbles again as investors bail on Elon Musks suddenly struggling electric vehicle company

While Campbell hasnt dealt with any additional vandalism since the spray paint incident, he encourages other Tesla owners to make sure their sentry mode is activated as the cars cameras can record suspicious activity.

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Its unclear how many vandals are facing consequences, but those who participated in violent protests or were caught damaging vehicles or property have been arrested and are now facing 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 WGN-TV.
A new chief financial officer for OSU was named Tuesday, a week after an audit revealed millions of dollars in mismanaged funds at the university. The Edmon Low Library is pictured at the Oklahoma State University's campus in Stillwater on Dec. 6. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice)

A week after the release of a scathing audit that found millions of dollars of misappropriated funds, Oklahoma State Universitys interim president named a new chief financial officer Tuesday.

Chris Kuwitzky will serve as OSUs senior vice president and chief financial and administrative officer for the university system, effective Monday. His salary was not provided Tuesday afternoon.

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Kuwitzky most recently worked at Langston University where he served as the schools CFO beginning September 2023. He previously spent 31 years working at OSU in the schools financial department.

Chris Kuwitzky was named the new chief financial officer for Oklahoma State University. (Photo provided by OSU)

Im honored to join Oklahoma State University during this important time, Kuwitzky said in a statement. I look forward to working with President Hess and the OSU team to ensure strong fiscal management that supports the universitys land-grant mission and strategic priorities while keeping students at the center of our decision-making.

Following the abrupt resignation of former OSU President Kayse Shrum in February, the university released Wednesday an audit that revealed $41 million in misappropriated legislatively appropriated funds during the time she was president.

The audit found $11.5 million of the funds were wrongly sent to the Innovation Foundation, which aims to expand OSUs footprint in aerospace and advanced mobility, energy and agriculture. The organization was a crucial pillar of Shrums strategic plan for the university.

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The university has not said the audit is the reason for Shrums departure and did not place blame on any specific individuals.

The audit recommended the mismanaged funds be repaid to their intended source within the university. Interim President Jim Hess and Kuwitzky, as CFO, will be responsible for implementing the recommendations of the audit.

On Monday, Hess announced the university would no longer fund the Innovation Foundation, according to The OColly, the campus news outlet, which first reported the news.

As part of our work to address issues raised in the audit, we have made the difficult decision to discontinue funding for the The Innovation Foundation at OSU and the shared services and facilities positions within it, Hess said in a statement to the publication. This decision was necessary as the financial structure of The Innovation Foundation is simply not sustainable. We are working closely with affected employees to provide transition support during this challenging time.

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At OSU, Kuwitzky will oversee all financial, budget and accounting operations, long-range planning, facilities management, parking and transportation services, the OSU Police Department and public safety, and human resources.

He will continue providing fiscal affairs support to Langston University.

Chriss extensive background in higher education finance and his deep understanding of Oklahomas fiscal landscape make him an ideal addition to the OSU team, Hess said in a statement. His proven track record of sound financial management and strategic thinking will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen OSUs financial foundation and enhance our service to students. Chris shares our commitment to putting students first in everything we do, ensuring our financial decisions support their success and experience.

Erik Polak had been serving as OSUs interim CFO since July, an OSU spokesperson said.

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WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  Child Advocates of Wichita Falls will launch a new campaign and fundraiser in 2025, and they need the publics participation.

Their new campaign, dubbed the CASA Effect, highlights the small moments today that can significantly impact the lives of children in foster care. Their fundraiser, the Butterly Release Fundraiser, is a testament to that.

i.d.e.a. WF names 2025 semi-finalists

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On Saturday, May 31, at 2 p.m., at 808 Austin St., attendees will have the opportunity to release butterflies into the sky.

Butterflies can be purchased for $10 each or five for $40. To ensure availability, they must be purchased in advance. They can be purchased online or by calling the CASA offices at (940) 766-0552.

Guests will also have the chance to learn more about what CASA does and how the public can get involved.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A child is fighting for their life after being struck by a vehicle in north Columbus on Monday evening.

According to Columbus police, a collision occurred just before 6 p.m. Monday at the intersection of Linworth Road and Bluffview Drive in the Antrim area. Police said a 2017 Ford Taurus was traveling southbound on Linworth Rd., after having turned from Hard Road, when a child pedestrian attempted to cross Linworth Rd. and Bluffview Dr., towards the west side of the intersection.

The Ford struck the child, who was taken to a hospital in life-threatening condition. The driver stayed at the scene and as of Tuesday morning no charges have been filed.

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No one else was injured during the incident, which remains under investigation.

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The Trump administration is waging a war against the legal community in the United States with a target list growing by the day.

Thus far, President Donald Trump has issued executive orders that have targeted two law firms representing his perceived enemies, and his administration has attacked firms and law schools it says may be violating presidential initiatives against diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

The executive order Trump signed restricting Perkins Coies access to classified information and federal buildings and thus hurting its ability to work for some clients is sending shockwaves through the legal establishment nationwide.

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Weve never seen a president put out a specific order about a law firm, Ellen Podgor, a Stetson University law professor and legal ethicist, told CNN.

Youre taking away the ability of an attorney to act in their role as a lawyer, Podgor added. The order to me is  depriving our whole right to counsel. This is a major amendment to our Constitution.

The White Houses retaliation has been boldly a political response aimed at a group of lawyers and businesses that are known very little in public life outside of Washington. But the implications may be profound, with Trumps administration positioning itself in direct opposition to major institutions, using its power to quell the work of experienced and influential attorneys.

The moves also encroach on what the legal community views as a fundamental right for people needing lawyers to have the freedom to choose who represents them  an ability even Trump had as a criminal defendant being prosecuted by the Justice Department.

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The executive order about Perkins Coie suspends the national security clearances of attorneys at the firm, because it was part of the effort to commission the now-infamous Russia dossier about Trump and his advisers during the 2016 election. The White House says it also may limit the firms lawyers from visiting federal buildings and instructed agencies not to hire into government jobs employees from the firm.

Perkins Coie sued on Tuesday, asking the federal court in Washington for emergency help to block Trumps order against it, and has enlisted another large private law firm to represent it.

A White House aide said Thursday the administration plans to review other law firms practices, saying there may be more retribution to come. Trumps order on Perkins Coie included a call for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to review other large, influential, or industry leading law firms in case they offer preferential hiring based on applicants races.

In all, the steps the administration has taken have sent a chilling tone across the legal industry, said Cari Brunelle, the founder of a legal advisory firm that works with several large American law firms.

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This is unprecedented in our country.  The message is: Watch where you step, she said.

In recent history, the closest comparison to the Trump White House blacklisting some in the legal industry is the approach then-President Richard Nixon took when he made an enemies list, Brunelle added.

Law firms in fear

So far, law firms have reacted out of fear, Brunelle said. Many want to avoid becoming a target, while others are looking at and rewriting what their websites say, especially regarding their diversity, equity and inclusion policies, which the administration says it is taking into consideration as it considers restricting more firms.

Other lawyers security clearances were stripped too in recent weeks by White House order, including those at Washingtons largest private law firm, Covington & Burling, who have been involved in representing former special counsel Jack Smith, now a private citizen.

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American law firms have always represented interests adverse to the US government, without worrying if there would be retribution or sanctions until now, Brunelle said. Its created just an incredible amount of fear. (Brunelles company doesnt have Perkins Coie or Covington & Burling as its clients.)

Brunelle said there could be safety in numbers, if many large law firm leaders, law schools and others in the legal industry publicly criticized Trumps approach. But so far, the response has been muted from law firms themselves.

Marc Elias, a lawyer to the Democrats who until 2021 was Perkins Coies primary political law attorney, critiqued the lack of large law firms rallying behind those who lost security clearances in an email newsletter Monday. That has not happened, he wrote.

Law schools and independent groups that represent the legal community have been bolder in pushing back.

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Georgetown University Law Center responded, for instance, to a letter from the interim US attorney for Washington, DC, threatening not to hire its students if the schools curriculum wasnt in line with Trumps DEI policies.

Graduates attend the Georgetown University Law Center commencement ceremony in Washington, DC, on May 19, 2024. - Al Drago/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The First Amendment, however, guarantees that the government cannot direct what Georgetown and its faculty teach and how to teach it, Georgetown Law Dean William Treanor wrote last week to Ed Martin.

Several prominent national groups have called the Trump administrations actions hurtful to the rule of law in the US.

The American College of Trial Lawyers condemned recent statements from Trumps close adviser Elon Musk that called for the impeachment of some judges.

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We call upon our Fellows and all lawyers, judges, legislators, executive officials, historians, political scientists, and citizens who value our democracy to speak out and condemn threats to impeach judges because of disagreement with the judges lawful orders, the group said.

The elite, invitation-only group also responded to the executive orders retaliating against Perkins Coie and Covington & Burling by calling them escalating threats and an undermining of the justice system.

Lawyers throughout the country should unite in condemning these actions in the strongest possible terms, the group said.

The American Bar Association, a voluntary organization with a large number of Americas lawyers as members, also has been deeply critical of the Trump administrations actions in recent weeks, with its president, William Bay, saying the approaches are an attack on the rule of law.

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The group has been in the crosshairs of conservatives for years. The Federal Trade Commission last month banned its political appointees from taking leadership positions in the ABA or participating in its events, Bay pointed out. FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson, in a letter to staff in mid-February, called the group beholden to the interests of Big Tech and a radical left-wing organization guided by the principles of the Democrat Party.

In a move with similar results, more than two dozen Justice Department employees who were set to speak at the ABAs White Collar conference in Miami canceled their plans to attend, the groups organizer, Raymond Banoun, told CNN.

When the ethics panel spoke at the conference Friday, about some of the most political moves by the administration, there were essentially no Justice Department staffers there to hear them.

This story has been updated with additional developments.

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TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  China, Iran and Russia conducted joint naval drills Tuesday in the Middle East, offering a show of force in a region still uneasy over Tehran's rapidly expanding nuclear program and as Yemen's Houthi rebels threaten new attacks on ships.

The joint drills, called the Maritime Security Belt 2025, took place in the Gulf of Oman near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all crude oil traded worldwide passes. The area around the strait in the past has seen Iran seize commercial ships and launch suspected attacks in the time since President Donald Trump first unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers.

The drill marked the fifth year the three countries took part in the drills.

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This years drill likely sparked a warning late Monday from the British militarys United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, which said there was GPS interference in the strait, with disruptions lasting for several hours and forcing crews to rely on backup navigation methods.

This was likely GPS jamming to reduce the targeting capability of drones and missiles, wrote Shaun Robertson, an intelligence analyst at the EOS Risk Group. However, electronic navigation system interference has been reported in this region previously during periods of increased tension and military exercises.

China and Russia in Mideast waters patrolled by U.S. Navy

Russia's Defense Ministry identified the vessels it sent to the drill as the corvettes Rezky and the Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov, as well as the tanker Pechenega. China's Defense Ministry said it sent the guided-missile destroyer Baotou and the comprehensive supply ship Gaoyouhu. Neither offered a count of the personnel involved.

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Neither China nor Russia actively patrol the wider Middle East, whose waterways remain crucial for global energy supplies. Instead they broadly cede that to Western nations largely led by the U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet. Observers for the drill included Azerbaijan, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates  with the Americans likely keeping watch as well.

However, both China and Russia have deep interests in Iran. For China, it has continued to purchase Iranian crude oil despite facing Western sanctions, likely at a discount compared to global prices. Beijing also remains one of the top markets for Iranian imports.

Russia, meanwhile, has relied on Iran for the supply of bomb-carrying drones it uses in its war on Ukraine.

Iran highlights drills to boost public support after Israeli attack

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The drills marked a major moment for Iran's state-run television network. It's aired segments showing live-fire during a night drill and sailors manning deck guns on a vessel. The exercises come after an Iranian monthslong drill that followed a direct Israeli attack on the country, targeting its air defenses and sites associated with its ballistic missile program.

While Tehran sought to downplay the assault, it shook the wider populace and came as a campaign of Israeli assassinations and attacks have decimated Iran's self-described Axis of Resistance  a series of militant groups allied with the Islamic Republic. Syrian President Bashar Assad was also overthrown in December, further weakening Iran's grip on the wider region.

All the while, Iran has increasingly stockpiled more uranium enriched at near weapons-grade levels, something only done by atomic-armed nations. Tehran has long maintained its program is for peaceful purposes, even as its officials increasingly threaten to pursue the bomb.

Iran's nuclear program has drawn warnings from both Israel and the U.S. that it won't allow Tehran to obtain a bomb, signaling military action against the program could happen. But just last week, Trump sent a letter to Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, seeking a new nuclear deal with Tehran. Iran says it hasn't received any letter, but still issued a flurry of pronouncements over it.

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Yemen's Houthis renew threats to Mideast waterways

As a shaky ceasefire holds in Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Yemen's Houthi rebels said they were resuming attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that connect the two waterways.

The rebels' secretive leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi warned Friday that attacks against Israel-linked vessels would resume within four days if Israel didn't let aid into Gaza. As the deadline passed Tuesday, the Houthis said they were again banning Israeli vessels from the waters off Yemen. Although no attacks were reported, it has put shippers on edge. The rebels had targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors.

___

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
(Bloomberg) -- Chinas No. 3 official and former anti-corruption chief missed the closing ceremony of his countrys top legislative body for health reasons, according to authorities.

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Zhao Leji, chairman of the National Peoples Congress, failed to host the event Tuesday in Beijing, with his deputy Li Hongzhong assuming his duties. Chairman Zhao Leji has asked for a sick leave this afternoon due to respiratory infections, Li said.

His absence marks the first time in decades the Communist Party controlled parliaments closing meeting took place without the full attendance of the seven-man Politburo Standing Committee thats led by President Xi Jinping.

Zhao, 68, was last seen in public Saturday at an earlier NPC meeting. He also missed Mondays closing of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, which was attended by Xi and the partys five other top leaders.

Its unusual for China to reveal the health condition of its senior officials. Zhao served as secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection until 2022, when he was elevated to the third most senior role in the Communist Party.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  In only two decades, China has grown to be the dominant player in shipbuilding, claiming more than half of the world's commercial shipbuilding market, while the U.S. share has fallen to just 0.1%, posing serious economic and national security challenges for the U.S. and its allies, according to a report released Tuesday by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

In 2024 alone, one Chinese shipbuilder constructed more commercial vessels by tonnage than the entire U.S. shipbuilding industry has built since the end of World War II. China already has the world's largest naval fleet, the Washington-based bipartisan think tank said in its 75-page report.

The erosion of U.S. and allied shipbuilding capabilities poses an urgent threat to military readiness, reduces economic opportunities, and contributes to China's global power-projection ambitions, the report said.

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Concerns about the poor state of U.S. shipbuilding have been growing in recent years, as the country faces rising challenges from China, which has the world's second largest economy and has ambitions to reshape the world order. At a congressional hearing in December, senior officials and lawmakers urged action.

Last week, President Donald Trump told Congress that his Republican administration would resurrect" the American shipbuilding industry, for commercial and military vessels, and he would create "a new office of shipbuilding in the White House.

We used to make so many ships," Trump said. "We dont make them anymore very much, but were going to make them very fast, very soon. It will have a huge impact."

In February, the heads of four major labor unions called on Trump to boost American shipbuilding and enforce tariffs and other strong penalties against China for its increasing dominance in that sector.

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What we are seeing now is a recognition of the strategic significance of shipbuilding and port security, and the related challenges posed by China, said Matthew Funaiole, a senior fellow in the China Power Project at CSIS and a co-author of the report. Funaiole said concerns over shipbuilding are a fairly bipartisan issue."

The report said that China's shipbuilding sector went through a striking metamorphosis in the past two decades, transforming from a peripheral player to the dominant player on the global market, with efforts centered on one state-owned enterprise: China State Shipbuilding Corporation, or CSSC.

At the same time, China has greatly expanded its navy. Last year, a CSIS assessment found that China was operating 234 warships, compared with the U.S. Navy's 219, although the U.S. continued to hold an advantage in guided missile cruisers and destroyers.

In developing recommendations for the U.S. to compete with China, the researchers zoomed in on the Chinese company's use of Beijing's military-civil fusion strategy, which blurs the lines between the country's defense and commercial sectors.

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They found that CSSC, which builds both commercial and military ships, sells three-quarters of its commercial production to buyers outside China, including to the U.S.-allied Denmark, France, Greece, Japan and South Korea. These foreign firms are thus funneling billions of dollars to Chinese shipyards that also make warships, advancing China's modernization of its navy and providing Chinese defense contractors with key dual-use technology, the report said.

The CSIS researchers suggested that, as a long-term fix, the U.S. should invest in rebuilding its shipbuilding industry and work with allies to expand shipbuilding capacities outside China. For the near term, they recommended actions to level the playing field and disrupt Chinas murky dual-use ecosystem, such as by charging docking fees on Chinese-made vessels and cutting U.S. financial and business ties with CSSC and its subsidiaries.

The Trump administration has proposed new fees on China-linked vessels calling on U.S. ports. A BlackRock-led consortium last week agreed to acquire stakes in 43 ports across the globe, including the two ports on either side of the Panama Canal, from a Hong Kong-based conglomerate.
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Several Chinese labour unions, including in central Hunan province and the southern hub of Shenzhen, issued official notices to companies to stop requiring prospective female employees to disclose their marital and childbearing status.

The notices, posted on the Shenzhen, Hunan and Qinghai state-backed unions' official Wechat pages in the past week, were among the most widely circulated items on social media on Monday with many netizens saying it was a step in the right direction to address widespread gender inequality.

It has become increasingly common in China for companies to quiz female job seekers about their marriage or childbearing plans during job interviews.

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Fear of having to give up their career or be side lined if they start a family has been a growing concern for many young Chinese women who opt not to give birth as a result.

Chinese authorities, worried about the country's declining population growth, have pledged a series of measures to try to incentivise births, including subsidies, but have not successfully addressed entrenched gender stereotypes where women are seen as the chief care givers.

During the recruitment process, employers should not give priority to men, said the notice from the Hunan Federation of Trade Unions.

"Employers shall not further inquire or investigate the marital and childbearing status of female job seekers" while contracts should "not stipulate restrictions on marriage and childbearing of female employees," it said.

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Female employees cannot be dismissed or see their salaries cut due to marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, it said.

Many netizens welcomed the move while some were sceptical and said it may make employers stop hiring women altogether.

"Discrimination still exists and they will still refuse to hire you because of concerns about your marriage and childbearing," said one netizen.

Another pointed out the societal ironies.

"In the workplace, women are required not to have children but society requires women to have more children. After having children, women are required to take care of children and the family while earning money in society. Isn't this contradictory?"

(Reporting by Farah Master and the Beijing newsroom; Editing by Michael Perry)
By Akbar Novruz



A witness testified at the review session of the criminal case against Ruben Vardanyan, an Armenian citizen accused of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, and financing terrorism, among other serious offenses under Azerbaijans Criminal Code.

According to Azernews, the witness, an Armenian of Karabakh origin, stated that Vardanyan arrived in Khankendi sometime after the 44-day war but was uncertain whether he came from Russia or elsewhere.

He sponsored and created groups of people aged 45-50 to fight against Azerbaijan and financed them, the witness testified, adding, Many young people joined those groups. What was interesting to me was that Ruben Vardanyan, a world-renowned businessman and oligarchIm not saying that he is my enemy, nobut he left his business and came to Karabakh?

The witness further revealed that individuals were recruited for $700 to $2,000 and underwent military training.

The court also heard the witnesss statement from the preliminary investigation conducted by the State Security Service, which he fully confirmed.

The trial will resume after a break.
BERLIN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Operations at 13 major German airports resumed on Tuesday following a large-scale strike that had disrupted air travel across the country. While flights have restarted, terminals remain crowded as airlines work to clear backlogs caused by Monday's walkout.

A spokesperson at the Berlin Brandenburg Airport said that around 15,000 additional passengers, whose flights were canceled the previous day, are expected to travel throughout Tuesday. A total of 214 departures and 219 arrivals are scheduled, with passenger volume peaking before midday.

At the Frankfurt Airport, Germany's largest aviation hub, more than 1,100 take-offs and landings are planned for Tuesday, accommodating over 140,000 passengers. However, the airport has warned of potential delays, longer waiting time, and flight cancellations due to the increased number of flights and passengers.

In Hanover, flight operations have largely returned to normal, though some connections were still canceled on Tuesday morning because aircraft were not ready, according to a spokesperson.

The warning strike at 13 German airports on Monday brought much of the country's air traffic to a standstill amid two separate wage disputes involving public sector workers and aviation security personnel.

According to the airport association ADV, more than 3,500 flights were estimated to be canceled nationwide on Monday, affecting approximately 560,000 passengers.

The trade union Verdi has announced that further strikes across federal and municipal institutions are expected throughout the week. 
CHIPPEWA FALLS  The Chippewa County Board will vote tonight to approve hiring Andrew Albarado as the next county administrator.

Albarado, 49, has served as the Sawyer County administrator since 2022. He was previously the Rusk County administrative coordinator.

A contract has been reached, calling for Albarado to begin April 28 with a 2025 prorated salary of $150,000 plus benefits. The contract calls for 3% annual wage increases, bringing his salary to $154,500 in 2026, then to $159,135 in 2027.

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The pay is similar to what the county board approved in May 2023 for then-County Administrator Randy Scholz. Under the terms of that contract, Scholz earned $154,000 in 2024, and was set to earn $158,700 in 2025, $163,400 in 2026 and $168,300 in 2027. Scholz retired Friday. However, he is set to become the city administrator in Ishpeming, Mich., this week.

The county board will vote on what is essentially a 32-month contract that would expire at the end of 2027. If both parties agree, a new contract extension should be reached by Aug. 1, 2027. The countys Executive Committee recommended the hire on a unanimous vote last week.

Albarado also will start with 80 hours (two weeks) of PTO/vacation time.

Chippewa County Board Chairman Chuck Hull wrote a letter to the board, praising Albarado and asking for support to approve the hire.

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During his career he has successfully led organizations, managed large projects, developed and maintained budgets, and provided leadership during challenging times, Hull wrote. He prides himself on taking a collaborative approach and building relationships within the organization and within the community. In addition to working in economic development and county administration, he has also worked directly in tourism promotion, airport management, comprehensive planning, and buildings and grounds supervision.

In addition, Albarado has served as vice-chair of the Rusk County Community Foundation, past president of the Wisconsin Economic Development Association, and is currently a member of the Wisconsin County Executives and Administrators Association and the Northwood Technical College Board of Trustees, Hull wrote.

Albarado grew up in Cadott and graduated from Cadott High School in 1993. His father, Anson Albarado, served on the Cadott Village Board and Chippewa County Board, including a stint as board chairman. In an interview with area media on Tuesday, Albarado noted he has now worked in county government for more than 20 years.

The county administrator oversees about 435 full- and part-time employees across all departments, and is responsible for compiling the annual budget, which this year totaled $124 million. About $21.7 million of the budget is from local property taxes.

The county board will meet at 6:30 p.m. today in room 302 of the Chippewa County Courthouse at 711 N. Bridge St. in Chippewa Falls.
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY)  Although the largest cicada brood in West Virginia wont return until 2033, some counties will see cicadas from Brood XIV, which emerges in 2025.

Brood XIV is more spread out than some others, meaning there could be large gaps between the affected areas, much like Brood XIX which emerged across much of the eastern U.S. in 2024. West Virginia is one of 13 states that will be impacted by Brood XIV in 2025, but only sections of the state will seeand hearthe large insects, which only emerge every 17 or 13 years, depending on the brood.

In 2025, Jackson, Mason, Putnam, Wayne, Cabell, Lincoln, Mingo, Logan, Boone and McDowell counties in the southwestern part of the state and Jefferson, Berkeley, Morgan, Hampshire and Hardy counties in the Eastern Panhandle will see cicadas.

Periodical cicada broods of the United States (Courtesy: USDA Forest Service)

Some, including University of Connecticut biodiversity research information pages, estimate based on historical sources that places as far west as near Morgantown could see some emergence from Brood XIV, but it would be more sparse than in the counties above.

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This bug found in West Virginia can only be seen in winter

Cicadas usually emerge in late spring when the ground temperature reached 64 degrees. After that, they will stick around for about 4-6 weeks.

Other states that will be impacted by Brood XIV are Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland along with small patches in Georgia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Indiana.

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  The San Diego City Council on Monday voted on a contract with a nonprofit to overhaul the old Serra Mesa Library, transforming it into an apartment complex entirely consisting of deed-restricted affordable units.

The future 60-unit Serra Mesa Apartments will be reserved for households earning between 30% and 60% the citys average income, focusing on those considered most at risk of experiencing homelessness, city officials say.

Of the units, all but four of the apartments will be one-bedroom  the remaining homes, including one unrestricted manager unit, will be two-bedroom. About half will be set aside specifically for veterans.

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San Diego City Council raises cannabis tax, expects $4M revenue boost

The grounds will also have 22 parking spaces, laundry facilities on-site, a case management and resident services area, bike parking, and common areas like a community room, computer lab and second-story courtyard.

Community HousingWorks will convert and operate the affordable housing complex through a 65-year ground lease. This allows the city to retain ownership of the 0.34-acre lot, but shift costs over to the developer while the contract is in place.

However, the city council did approve a $4 million loan through San Diegos Bridge to Home program to get the project off the ground. The projects full cost is an estimated $42.4 million.

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Serra Mesa Apartments is precisely the type of project my policies are designed to incentivize  affordable housing on underused public land, in high-resource neighborhoods with easy access to quality jobs, transit, schools, and essential services, Mayor Todd Gloria said in a release.

The old Serra Mesa Library has sat vacant for almost two decades, following the branchs closure in 2006 with the opening of the new Serra Mesa-Kearny Mesa Library branch on Aero Drive. Up until 2019, the building was used as storage.

Paid parking could soon be implemented at Balboa Park, Mission Bay

San Diego officials began soliciting proposals to convert the site into permanent supportive housing  or permanent accommodations using some form of rental assistance and supportive services  back in 2020 as part of a bigger effort to expand the citys affordable housing stock.

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The old Serra Mesa Library had also been in discussion as a possible shelter site for chronically homeless youth and young adults, but that proposal was ditched in favor of the affordable housing complex.

According to city officials, Community HousingWorks anticipates construction to take about 26 months to complete, beginning sometime in the next year and a half depending on when the nonprofit finalizes additional financing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
L.A. City Controller Kenneth Mejia posted his take on the wildly popular Kendrick Lamar "They Not Like Us" Super Bowl performance, dancing with his dogs and staff while suggesting his office was prevented from conducting a proper audit of the city's homeless spending.



Mejia, as he dances in front of City Hall holding his two dogs on leashes, claims that the City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto blocked his attempts to audit "a mayoral program unless the mayor consents." To the tune of Lamar's lyrics he dances with staffers with the words, "We Tried. We Tried. We Tried." Watch below or by clicking here.

Related: Trump Claims "Rigged Election" During FIFA World Cup Announcement

The bizarre response to a draft of a court-ordered report released Thursday by global consulting firm Alvarez & Marsal that analyzed four years of homeless services managed by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) found staggering levels of mismanagement and unaccounted for taxpayer monies.



The audit claims that information gaps and incomplete data stymied investigators from accessing the results of approximately $2.4 billion in homeless spending over that time period, a staggering sum.



U.S. District Judge David O. Carter mandated the audit as part of a 2020 lawsuit filed by the L.A. Alliance for Human Rights, a coalition of local business owners and residents who accused the city of failing to address homelessness, and as a result put public health and safety at risk.



Mayor Karen Bass has made homelessness a centerpiece of her administration, but did not immediately address concerns about the spending raised by the audit. Last week she posted photos of workers from her Inside Safe program on social media.

Dozens of unhoused Angelenos living in a large encampment in South LA were moved inside this week.



So far this year, Inside Safe has brought more than 200 Angelenos indoors and is providing the supportive services they need to end the cycle of homelessness. pic.twitter.com/Ne7k1XhoeN  Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) March 7, 2025

Mejia has posted a tracker of homeless spending on his website.

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CHICAGO  City Councils finance committee approved a $280,000 settlement Monday for protester Miracle Boyd, who was injured by a Chicago police officer during a violent confrontation at a demonstration in 2020.

This officer shouldnt have done this, Boyd said.

Boyd was among the crowd protesting the Christopher Columbus statue in Grant Park. Some protesters threw objects at police officers trying to defend the statue against others who were trying to remove it.

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While Boyd filmed an arrest, a police officer slapped her phone, causing it to hit her face while knocking out a tooth.

Activist who says she was struck by officer during Fridays protest calls for reform, defends posts

Prior to Mondays vote, Boyd and her supporters voiced their passionate pleas.

This officer has lied in his report about what took place. He quit his job to avoid accountability, Boyd said.

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) determined the now-former police officer, identified as Nicholas Jovanovich, used excessive force and included false information in his report about the incident.

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Jovanovich resigned before COPAs recommendation for his dismissal.

During Mondays meeting, council members were divided on the settlement.

I think the young people and Miracle said enough, but 280,000 aint enough to fix what was broken that way. Its not, Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20th Ward) said.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

Wed be a bunch of fools to support this money. I certainly am not supporting this. Im a solid no, Ald. Nick Sposato (38th Ward) countered.

Boyd was 18 years old at the time of the incident. Shes now 23 and has a plan for how the money will be used.

She will put toward schooling her new baby she is about to welcome into the world and the healing she so rightfully deserves, Boyds supporter Matt Palmer said.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  The city of Youngstown is officially looking to close a South Side restaurant after three homicides have occurred at the location since 2021.

According to filings in the Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas, lawyers for the city are requesting a temporary restraining order against Vibez Restaurant and Event Center on Midlothian Boulevard because the premises constitute a nuisance and continuing hazard to the life and property of the citizens.

Last week, officers found 30-year-old Deandre Stores fatally shot in the restaurants parking lot.

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Officers with the Code Enforcement Department inspected Vibez last Wednesday. They say the building 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.

The city said in filings that other criminal and nuisance activity that has destroyed the peace

and quiet enjoyment of the community, such as large crowds, mass fighting, reckless driving, and loud noises, claiming Vibez negatively affects the health and safety of the local community.

The motion also states that the property has been issued three violations by the city since September 2024 for accumulating garbage and poor property maintenance.

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No attempts have been made to notify Vibez owners, as the city says this could pose a danger to police officers and wants to immediately padlock the restaurant.

The city is also requesting a preliminary and permanent injunction against Vibez, which would close the restaurant for one year until a final judgment is issued in the case.

Vibez owners would be required to cover costs for cleaning and boarding up the property, attorney fees and a $300 tax for alleged nuisances against the city, according to the motion.

A judge must approve the temporary restraining order as well as any injunctions.

Council member Amber White tells First News this order is needed.

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And obviously I dont just see it, the residences see it, the businesses see it, White said. And now the city of Youngstown has stepped up and said that okay, enough is enough. Its time that we take action and address this.'

A hearing on the citys request is set for Friday morning.

The motions can be viewed in the document below:

Vibez-Court-MotionsDownload

Youngstown Councilwoman Amber White has called for the closing of Vibez as well.

Calvin Moore, 27, died on Christmas Day in 2021, and another homicide happened on the premises in July of 2022 that left three other people injured.

Gerry Ricciutti contributed to this report.

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ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)  The Odessa Homeless Coalition held a press conference today to speak on the number of homeless there so far in 2025. According to their statistics, there are currently 212 people who have experienced homelessness.

We are rolling up our sleeves, and were working, says Odessa Links Executive Director Andrea Quiroz. We want to end homelessness in our community, and were going to go that direction. Thats what its about is networking with other resources, all of us working together as a community for these families to stop the cycle of poverty.

Shining a light on homelessness: Odessa Links gathers crucial data to tackle growing crisis

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The City of Odessa, along with multiple organizations such as Odessa Links, Crisis Center, Jesus House, Door of Hope, Family Promise of Odessa, and Salvation Army of Odessa, have teamed up to end homelessness in the area.

The city does what the city can, but we are mainly focused on medical services and police services and zoning and everything it takes to run a city, says Councilman Greg Connell. Im really thankful for the Odessa Homeless Coalition that we have been putting together because that is something thats workable that we can do.

If you would like to donate or volunteer to help fight against homelessness, you can reach out to any of the organizations listed above.

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PALESTINE, Texas (KETK)  The City of Palestine is holding their spring cleaning event on March 15, to help residents begin the new season with a little less clutter.

Microtransit now available in Palestine

The event will take place at the Anderson County Transfer station where residents can drop off particular items to dispose including:

Solid waste (household garbage, furniture, lumber, shingles and dried paint)

Metal items (sheet metal, pipe, scrap iron and cast iron)

Large appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers, A/C units and televisions)

Car and light truck tires (no rims, limited to 4 per household; tractor and large truck tires not accepted)

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Items that are not acceptable:

Household chemicals (drain cleaners, liquid paint and cleaning supplies)

Herbicides, pesticides, automotive fluids or acids

Courtesy of City of Palestine

To participate in the event, individuals must reside in Palestine. Residents must show identification matching their current water bill. Free disposal is available only for one 16-inch trailer or up to 2 regular truck-sized loads per household.

Gooseneck trailers and box trucks will not be allowed. Curbside pick up is available on March 15, and to make arrangements, residents can contact Public Works. Cut off for signing up for curbside pick up will be March 13.

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KILGORE, Texas (KETK) The City of Kilgore is seeking the publics help in locating their missing Kilgore letters.

Kilgore designated as Music Friendly Texas certified community

The normally blue Kilgore sign located on HWY 31 N is now left bare with lights and wiring exposed.

Before

After

Photos courtesy of City of Kilgore

Someone took Welcome a little too literally and walked off with the letters from our Kilgore sign, City of Kilgore said. While we appreciate your enthusiasm for Kilgore we`d really like to have our missing letters back

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Kilgore recognized as a Purple Heart City

If anyone has any information about the missing letter, they can call the City of Kilgore at 903-984-5081.

Lets keep our town looking its best, one letter at a time, the city said.

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CLAY CO. (KFDX/KJTL)  County officials in Clay County have restricted outdoor burning due to current conditions.

Clay County Judge Mike Campbell issued the burn ban due to the current forecast of high winds, drought conditions, and low humidity.

This bans the burning of trash and domestic waste, maintenance or land clearing, brush, campfires and trees.

It limits but does not prohibit, outdoor burning activities related to public health and safety authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for firefighter training, public utility, natural gas pipeline or mining operations, and crop harvest.

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Welding is permitted, but only with at least two people, one acting as the spotter, and 100 gallons of water or more with a sprayer.

Outdoor cooking is permitted only in an enclosed cooking container with no open fires.

Failure to comply with this burn ban could result in a ticket and a monetary fine.

This is a developing story. Stick with Texomas Homepage for updates as more information becomes available.

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WASHINGTON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, plans to visit Moscow for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Bloomberg reported Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Witkoff planned to travel this week for what would be his second trip to Russia as Trump's envoy, said the report, which did not specify the exact time of his trip but noted that it would coincide with the talks between Ukrainian and U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia.

According to previous reports, after Witkoff made an unannounced visit to Russia in February, Russia released a U.S. citizen who had been detained for three years. 
A cleaner has been accused of stealing watches and gems worth 1 million from a princesss mansion.

Maria Taborda Henao, 69, allegedly stole diamond rings, bracelets, watches and earrings while working for princess Firyal of Jordan at her 6 million Belgravia home.

Taborda Henao, from Colombia, is alleged to have stolen the jewellery belonging to the 80-year-old princess before a male relative sold the items through an auction house in Kent.

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She appeared at Westminster magistrates court charged with theft by employee between Feb 1 2020 and Nov 26 the same year.

The case could not go ahead as a Spanish interpreter was not present and Ms Henao, of Fulham, was bailed to return to the court on April 14.

Princess Firyal, a humanitarian and philanthropist, is the former wife of prince Muhammad bin Talal, the second son of the late king Talal of Jordan.

She is the daughter of Farid Mahmoud Irshaid, a political leader who served in the government and as a parliamentarian in the senate in Jordan. Her mother, Farida, chaired the Red Crescent Society in the West Bank.

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After studying in America, she married prince Muhammad bin Talal in 1964. The prince is the second son of Talal bin Abdullah, who was king of Jordan from 1951 until his abdication a year later in 1952.

Princess Firyal, a Unesco goodwill ambassador since 1992, holds several philanthropic positions, including as a member of the International Council of the Tate Modern in London.

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STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - The security situation in Sweden is serious and there are clear risks that it can get worse, Sweden's security police (SAPO) said on Tuesday in an annual report into threats facing the country.

Foreign powers are operating in ways that threaten security and they are using hybrid activities to destabilise Sweden and Europe, the report said.

Swedish authorities have fretted in recent years about increasing threats from both foreign powers like Russia, China and Iran and extremists groups engaging in actions ranging from violent attacks and hybrid warfare to corporate espionage.

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"There is a tangible risk that the security situation can deteriorate further and that can occur in a way that is hard to predict," Charlotte von Essen, the head of the security police, said in a statement.

(Reporting by Simon Johnson, editing by Louise Rasmussen and Stine Jacobsen)
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Climate United Fund on Saturday sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Citibank over the non-profits lack of access to its $6.97 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grant, alleging that the freeze violates the Administrative Procedure Act.

The lawsuit, filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia by the Climate United Funds representation at law firm Jenner & Block, asked the court to order the funds be unfrozen and disbursed.

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The total $20 billion in GGRF grant funding held by Citibank has been frozen since Feb. 18, according to grantees.

In a March 3 release, EPA alleged financial mismanagement, conflicts of interest, and oversight failures with the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund that necessitate the fund undergo a comprehensive review alongside concurrent investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation.

It is my pledge to be accountable for every penny the EPA spends, EPA administrator Lee Zeldin said in the release. This marks a stark turn from the waste and self-dealing of the Biden-Harris Administration intentionally tossing gold bars off the Titanic.

However, the suit alleged that Citibank doesnt have the right to withhold the GGRF funding under the banks financial agent agreement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

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Unless EPA takes exclusive control of the funds, Citibank must disburse funds to Climate United at Climate Uniteds request, the attorneys said. EPA has never attempted to exercise its right to take exclusive control of the funds through legal means  nor could it, because the preconditions for exercising that right have not occurred.

The lawsuit said that EPA has the legal right to terminate the agreement for waste, fraud or abuse but said a termination requires credible evidence of the commission of a violation of Federal criminal law involving fraud, conflict of interest, bribery, or gratuity violations found in Title 18 of the United States Code or a violation of the civil False Claims Act.

In addition, EPA is obligated by regulation to take certain procedural steps to terminate the grant agreement, the attorneys said. Among other things, EPA must . provide written notice of termination to the recipient that includes the reasons for termination, the effective date, and the portion of the federal award to be terminated, if applicable.

EPA has not publicly made any specific allegations against the Climate United Fund, but in a March 2 letter to Acting Inspector General Nicole Murley, Acting Deputy EPA Administrator Chad McIntosh listed allegations against GGRF grant recipients including Power Forward Communities, Young, Gifted & Green and the Coalition For Green Capital.

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In a Monday release, EPA said, Administrator Zeldin has been working with other agencies to establish accountability and oversight regarding $20 billion parked at a financial institution by the Biden-Harris Administration in a rushed effort to obligate money with reduced oversight. The Justice Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating and the money is currently frozen by the financial institution.

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For most U.S. homes, heat pumps are a no-brainer: They can lower energy bills and eventually pay for themselves all while slashing carbon emissions. But the economics dont work in favor of heat pumps for every home  and particularly not for those in states that have high electricity prices relative to those of fossil gas.

Adjusting the structure of customer electricity rates could turn the tables, according to a report out today from the nonprofit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, or ACEEE.

The ratio of average electricity prices to gas prices (both measured in dollars per kilowatt-hour) is known as the spark gap  and it's one of the biggest hurdles to nationwide electrification. A heat pump that is two to three times as efficient as a gas furnace can cancel out a spark gap of two to three, ensuring energy bills dont rise with the switch to electric heat. But in some states, the gulf is so big that heat pumps cant close it under the existing rate structures.

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Worse, heat pump performance can decrease significantly when its extremely cold (like below 5 degrees Fahrenheit), so without incentives, the economic case is harder in states with both harsh winters and electricity thats much more expensive than gas, like Connecticut and Minnesota. In these places, heat pump adoption is hit by double whammy, said Matt Malinowski, ACEEE buildings director.

The weather might be hard to change, but the spark gap is malleable: Utilities, regulators, and policymakers can shape electricity rates. By modeling rates for four large utilities in different cold-climate states, ACEEE found that particular structures can keep energy bills from rising for residents who switch to heat pumps, without causing others bills to go up.

Flat rates punish heat pump owners

Flat electricity rates are a common practice. Theyre also the worst structure for heat pumps, Malinowski said.

When utilities charge the same per-kilowatt-hour rates at all hours of the day, they ignore the fact that it costs more to produce and deliver electricity during certain hours. Thats because, like a water pipe, the power grid needs to be sized for the maximum flow of electrons  even if that peak is brief. Meeting it requires the construction and operation of expensive grid infrastructure.

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Flat rates spread the cost of these peaks evenly across the day rather than charging customers more during the high-demand hours that cause a disproportionate amount of grid costs.

But heat pumps arent typically driving peak demand  at least, not for now while their numbers are low. Demand usually maxes out in the afternoon to evening, when people arrive home from work, cook, do laundry, and watch TV. Households with heat pumps actually use more of their electricity during off-peak hours, like just before dawn when its coldest, than customers with gas, oil, or propane heaters.

Heat pumps provide the utility a lot of revenue, and they do that at a time when there isn't that much electricity consumption, Malinowski said.

Under a flat-rate design, cold-climate heat pump owners are basically overpaying, he added. Adjusting the rates to better reflect their load on the system  and the benefits to the system that they provide  is only fair.

Alternative rate designs can improve heat pump economics

A rate design that bases charges on when electricity is used would help course-correct. Known as time-of-use, this structure charges more for power consumed during periods of peak demand and less for power consumed at other times, or off-peak, coinciding with heat pumps prime time.

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Utility ComEd serving the Chicago area is working to finalize time-of-use rates for households, joining the ranks of several other U.S. providers that already offer this structure, like Xcel Energy in Colorado, Pacific Gas and Electric in California, and Eversource in Connecticut.

Demand-based rates are another way of accounting for a customer's peak demand profile and can help reduce a heat pump owners energy bills. This approach tacks on fees scaled to a customers peak demand that month. If its 3 kilowatts, and the demand charge is $10 per kilowatt, the fee will be $30. But importantly, this structure also lowers the rates charged for the total volume of electricity.

Even though households switching from gas to heat pumps under such a program would see higher charges for peak demand than before, Malinowski said they'll be using so much more electricity overall that they end up benefiting much more from that lower volumetric [per-kilowatt-hour] charge. As a result, their energy bills can be lower than with a flat-rate program, the report finds.

Winter discounts also help heat pumps make financial sense. In most states, electricity usage waxes in the summer  when people blast their air conditioners  and wanes in the winter, when many residents switch to fossil-fuel heating.

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Some utilities offer reduced electricity prices in winter to drum up business, a structure that benefits households who heat their homes with electrons. Xcel in Minnesota drops its June-through-September summer rate of 13 cents per kilowatt-hour to 11 cents per kilowatt-hour during the rest of the year for all customers. For those with electric space heating, including heat pumps, the rate is lower still: 8 cents per kilowatt-hour  a discount of 39% from the summer rate.

According to ACEEEs modeling, the winter discount alone can save Minnesota Xcel customers in single-family homes on average more than $350 annually once they swap a gas furnace for a heat pump. Combining the winter discount with existing time-of-use rates or simulated demand-charge rates (given in the study) can further reduce annual bills by another $70.

In Colorado, another state ACEEE analyzed, Xcel provides both time-of-use rates and a much shallower winter discount of about 10%. Even taken together these structures arent enough to close the spark gap for heat pumps. Pairing that discount with demand-based rates wouldnt do the trick either, the team found. Only when they used the much steeper discount that Xcel deploys in Minnesota were they able to keep customers modeled heating bills from climbing when they switched to heat pumps.

One more option for utilities and regulators: discounts specifically for customers with heat pumps. More than 80 utilities in the U.S. currently offer discounted electric heating rates, with 12 providing them specifically for households with heat pumps, according to a February roundup by climate think tank RMI.

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Massachusetts regulators approved a plan by utility Unitil last June to offer a wintertime heat-pump discount  the first in the state  and directed National Grid to develop one, too. Unitils discount amounts to at least 20% off the regular per-kilowatt-hour rate, depending on the plan customers choose. Colorado policymakers are also requiring investor-owned utilities to propose heat pump rates by August 2027.

The takeaway from ACEEEs results is that in some states, the above rate designs could be promising avenues to ensure switching to heat pumps doesnt raise energy bills for most single-family households.

But in other cases, additional policy might be needed. Connecticuts electricity prices are so high that these rate structures werent enough to close the spark gap, the authors found. They recommend policymakers consider broader changes like putting a price on carbon emissions, implementing clean-heat standards that require utilities to take steps toward decarbonized heating, or investing in grid maintenance and upgrades to make electricity more affordable  for all customers.


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)

An effort to overturn a controversial bill that strips Utahs public unions of the right to collectively bargain got the initial green light on Monday.

According to the Utah Lt. Governors Office, a coalition of union advocates called Protect Utah Workers finalized their documents Monday morning, the first step in putting together a referendum on HB267, which was signed by Utah Gov. Spencer Cox in February.

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On March 15, the coalition will begin the daunting task of collecting enough signatures to meet the threshold for a referendum, where voters can choose whether to overturn the law during a general election. Per Utah Code, once the first signature is collected, organizers have 30 days to gather signatures from 8% of the states total active voters, and in 15 of Utahs 29 Senate districts.

The coalition is shooting to gather about 200,000 signatures, which is above the minimum threshold, but leaves room for error if some of the signatures are deemed invalid by the lieutenant governors office. They plan on submitting the signature packets by April 16. By late June, the coalition says it will know whether the effort was successful.

Collecting 200,000 signatures by April 16 averages out to more than 6,000 signatures each day, a monumental task. But on Monday, members of the coalition said they already have 1,200 volunteers ready to get to work, the latest example of the large-scale opposition to HB267, arguably the most controversial bill to pass this legislative session.

If they are successful, the coalition says a question asking whether HB267 should be overturned will appear on the November ballot.

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The Utah Education Association, which represents about 18,000 teachers in the state and was one of the most vocal opponents to the bill, says the effort is a result of lawmakers not listening to constituents.

Our legislators and the governor did not listen to the huge public outcry against HB267 and we believe that we the people should be able to weigh in and have our voice heard, said Renee Pinkney, president of the association, last week.

The bill restricts public unions, which represent teachers, police officers, firefighters, municipal workers and other public employees, from negotiating terms of employment. For instance, a teachers union would no longer be able to negotiate with a school district.

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Legislative leaders were behind the bill  which prohibits collective bargaining for public employees including teachers, firefighters, police officers, municipal workers and others  despite it receiving broad bipartisan pushback, narrowly clearing the Senate with a 16-13 vote on final approval. Even Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said he didnt like the bill, despite signing it late on Valentines Day.

Didnt love the bill, thought we had a compromise, thought that was done, and then it fell apart at the last minute, Cox told Utah News Dispatch on Friday. Just because I dont love a bill doesnt mean I veto it. Im going to sign 100 bills that I dont love.

And although he voted and advocated for the bill, Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, welcomed the challenge.

Theyre pushing back on us. Thats part of the process, Adams said. We welcome that, even though we may not like it, we actually welcome it as part of the process. Well see how successful it is.

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Members of the Colorado House of Representatives work on the last day of the 2024 Legislative Session May 8, 2024 at the Colorado Capitol. (Lindsey Toomer/Colorado Newsline)

A broad coalition of transparency advocates plans to submit a ballot initiative in 2026 to amend Colorados constitution and strengthen public access to government records.

The initiative is led by Jon Caldara of the Denver-based Independence Institute, a Libertarian think tank. Fifty groups are part of the coalition, some of which have historically held little shared political ground. They include as the Rocky Mountain Voice, League of Women Voters, the Colorado Press Association, the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition, and several others.

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The final draft of the ballot measure is still being worked out. Even so, Jeffrey Roberts, executive director of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition, told Newsline that it will address a range of issues, from the cost of public records to establishing a uniform right to access government records and addressing open meeting law requirements.

Everybody needs to know what their government is doing, Roberts said.

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The group has been meeting monthly, both on Zoom and at the Independence Institute, to discuss how to address the transparency issues at the State Capitol. One law that has united the group is Senate Bill 24-157, which was passed by the Democrat-controlled Legislature in 2024. The bill created exemptions to the state open meetings law for written and electronic communications among lawmakers.

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SB-157 was passed after a judge ordered Democrats to stop using a secret electronic voting system, also known as quadratic voting, to decide which bills to debate. The judge said the system appeared to be set up to abide by the open meetings law but violated its spirit.

Transparency advocates asked lawmakers to repeal the exemptions before the 2025 session convened, but finding the right coalition of lawmakers has been difficult, because they are basically asking lawmakers to police themselves, Tim Regan-Porter, CEO of the Colorado Press Association, told Newsline.

Regan-Porter added that government transparency and the publics ability to access government records has been steadily declining over the last several years. Part of the issue is that bad-faith actors have tried to flood public records offices with requests, he said. The cost of public records  which currently sits at $41.37 per hour  has also become a concern for many media organizations, and has compounded the economic challenges media organizations in Colorado face, Regan-Porter added.

Sometimes things go unreported because we dont have access to the data, and we should be making it easier for reporters and the public to be able to know whats going on, Regan-Porter said.

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Beth Hendrix, executive director of the League of Women Voters, told Newsline that the right to know initiative is about more than protecting journalists and the media. Its also about ensuring voters remain informed about what their elected officials are doing, and making sure the issues voters care about are being addressed.

A democracy works best when everyones involved, when everyone is voting and discussing and debating, Hendrix told Newsline.

Sometimes things go unreported because we don't have access to the data, and we should be making it easier for reporters and the public to be able to know what's going on.

 Tim Regan-Porter, head of the Colorado Press Association

Multiple bills introduced during the 2025 session would further limit government transparency. For instance, HB25-1041 sought to exempt student-athlete name, image and likeness agreements from the Colorado Open Records Act before it was amended to apply only to personally identifiable information.

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Lawmakers have also advanced Senate Bill 25-77, a bill to extend the timeline for responses to open records requests from three days to five. The bill would also require agencies to accept electronic payments for CORA requests and a breakdown of all costs and fees levied as part of a response. It is sponsored by a bipartisan coalition including Democratic Sen. Cathy Kipp of Fort Collins and Republican Sen. Janice Rich of Grand Junction as well as Democratic Rep. Michael Carter of Boulder and Republican Rep. Matt Soper of Delta.

Republican lawmakers Lori Garcia Sander of Eaton and Byron Pelton of Sterling introduced House Bill 25-1242, a bill that would undo the open meeting law exemptions that were passed in 2024. However, the bill had no Democratic co-sponsors and was assigned to the House State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs committee, otherwise known as the kill committee. The committee on Monday voted 8-3 against the bill, and it was postponed indefinitely.

Open records bill

The bills introduced by Kipp, Garcia Sander, and Pelton had their first hearing Monday. During the hearing, Soper said SB-77 seeks to clean up a couple of provisions in CORA that are difficult for smaller public agencies to abide by. He said small organizations like the Delta County Memorial Hospital District  the board of which Soper sits on  often cannot respond to records requests within three days. Also, it also clarifies the procedure for responding to requests when an agency records custodian is out of the office.

Carter said he does not intend for SB-77 to be used to attack legitimate records requests from the news media and Colorado citizens. Soper added that the bill treats news media separate from requesters using the information for pecuniary gain, because records requests from news media tend to be limited in scope and easier to respond to.

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People opposed to the bill pushed back against SB-77s carve-out for news media organizations, arguing that it discourages citizen journalists from submitting records requests. Cory Gaines, who writes a Substack blog called the Colorado Accountability Project, added that it makes some bad assumptions about the responsiveness of records custodians.

I shouldnt be treated as a second-class requester when my taxes pay the bills in this state, Gaines said.

Heather Stauffer, Colorado Municipal League legislative advocacy manager, argued that SB-77 should treat all requesting entities the same, meaning there should be no carve-out for the news media. Stauffer added that the bill would provide some much needed flexibility to governments to respond to records requests.

SB-77 was amended to clarify when custodians can deny records requests, and it passed the committee by a vote of 8-3. It will be heard next by the full House.

Open meeting law changes

Garcia Sander said HB-1242 was needed because lawmakers adopted exemptions for themselves to the states open meeting law in 2024. She cited examples of how the law has been misused to shield lawmakers from scrutiny like when journalists with The Colorado Sun were not allowed to attend a virtual caucus meeting and debates over property taxes before last years special session.

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This is our chance to restore public trust, Garcia Sander said. Transparency is not a Republican or Democrat issue.

Lawmakers on the committee argued that the bill could make their jobs more difficult. Democratic Rep. Chad Clifford argued that the 2024 open meeting law revisions allowed lawmakers to have private conversations that are similar to executive sessions that local governments can have. He added that he has never seen something as open as Colorados 120-day legislative session.

Democratic Rep. Cecelia Espenoza of Denver said the private conversations can be used to compromise on issues.

Caldera said the objections raised were non-issues. He added that the bill is not designed to limit private conversations between lawmakers. It is intended to ensure that meetings between lawmakers that are subject to the open meeting law remain open to the public.

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The public is begging for transparency and accountability, Republican Rep. Brandi Bradley of Littleton said. I dont love getting CORA requests, but it holds me accountable. It keeps me on my toes.

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SALEM, Ohio (WKBN)  A local coffee shop celebrated its new second location Tuesday.

Grizzly Bean Coffee House cut the ribbon on its second location in Salem. Its first is in Austintown. The shop offers your traditional coffee options, as well as other menu items like breakfast sandwiches and a variety of baked items.

Matt and Madison Savon are the husband and wife duo that operate the shop and say theyve seen a surge in people wanting to shop and support local.

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I think theres a huge demand for local, Matt Savon said. People want to support people that are in their community. They go to school with their children, so I think theres a huge demand to support local.

Grizzly Houses third location in Hermitage is expected to open in April.

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A student from the University of Pittsburgh has gone missing while on a spring break trip in the Dominican Republic, according to our sister station WPXI-11 in Pittsburgh and CBS News.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Sudiksha Konaki, 20, was reported missing on Thursday in a resort area of Punta Cana.

Konakis hometown is in Loudoun County, Virginia. She is also a citizen of India, according to WPXI-11.

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The Loudoun County Sheriffs Office has filed for a worldwide police alert, known as a Yellow Notice for missing persons, according to CBS News.

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Konaki traveled to the Riu Republica resort in Punta Cana with five other women who are students at the University of Pittsburgh. She was last seen at the resort around 4 a.m. on March 6.

CBS News reports that Konaki walked to the beach with the five other women and two American men.

She reportedly stayed on the beach with one of the men while the others went back to the hotel.

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Investigators are conducting interviews as well as reviewing telephone records and surveillance video, according to CBS News.

Konankis friends are still in the Dominican Republic, according to the Loudon County Sheriffs Office.

Its my understanding they were supposed to return today, but I think theyre being held longer there for additional questioning, Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman said.

The Civil Defense brought in a search and rescue K9 team to help, according to their Facebook. They describe the team as an exemplary rescue institution.

CBS News reports that authorities said they are using drones to get a better view of the area.

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Several police agencies involved in the search efforts include the Dominican Civil Defense, the Dominican Navy, police and fire crews. Authorities in Virginia and the University of Pittsburgh Police are also part of the investigation, according to CBS News.

The Loudoun County Sheriffs Office spokesperson says, it is our understanding that the US is deploying considerable federal assets to locate Konanki and support the Dominican National Police.

A University of Pittsburgh spokesperson said in a statement that the university has been in contact with Konankis family.

We have offered our full support in their efforts to find her and bring her home safely, the statement reads in part.

The spokesperson suggests anyone with information on Konankis whereabouts call the Loudoun County Sheriffs Office at 703-777-1021.

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Zach Thomas was eager to participate in the Native American Convocation in May, a celebration of his achievements and time at Mesa Community College.

But Thomas and Native American students from MCC and the nine other Maricopa County community colleges got the news that because of actions by President Donald Trump, their Native American Convocation would be canceled and Native American clubs  likely including MCCs Inter-Tribal Student Organization and many others  would be dissolved.

"It really pisses me off," said Thomas, a Navajo student now in his first semester at Arizona State University. "The whole DEI situation, especially with ISO and what we stand for, our foundation is community and bringing in a sense of family, and trying to involve everyone into this group. So it doesn't exclude white students, because that's the letters we are getting, that we are being racist towards white students. But our spaces are open to everyone."

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It's been a rough week for Thomas, who also found out he will be losing his job.

"It was kind of like my peak points of bad news within 24 hours," Thomas said. "It really doesn't make sense to me."

Former Mesa Community College student Zach Thomas attended the Thunderbird Powwow in Mesa, March 8, 2025, and expressed his disappointment in Maricopa Community College District's change of policy to dismantle DEI programs and cancel the Native American Convocation.

Maricopa Community Colleges have in past years held a smaller ceremony to celebrate the academic achievements of its graduating Native American students from all 10 community colleges. Those, with similar convocations for other diverse student groups, will not take place this year.

Neither Maricopa Community Colleges nor the county community collegel district responded to The Arizona Republic's request for comment.

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Native regalia: New Mexico school confiscates a Native student's beaded graduation cap, sparking protests

Why are Native programs being canceled?

Trump has only been in office for a short time, but the effects of his executive orders have already been deeply felt, particularly by people of color. Maricopa Community Colleges have begun taking steps to comply with the president's order to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, programs, including the Native American Convocation.

"I am incredibly disappointed to learn that the 2025 Maricopa County Community College District's American Indian Convocation has been canceled," Gila River Indian Community Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis said in a news release. "This decision concerns me deeply, because it shows fundamental misunderstanding of the federal-tribal relationship which is based on political, not racial status. Today I am calling on MCCCD to immediately correct this error in interpreting the federal Executive Order and to allow the convocation to proceed."

The issue of racial and political classification among Native Americans came into focus after Trump's Education Department issued a memo on Feb. 14 asserting that Supreme Court decisions forbid treating students differently based on race to achieve "vague objectives" such as diversity, racial balancing, social justice, or equity. The memo raised concerns among Navajo leaders and their attorneys.

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"The letter doesn't mention federal funds that are provided to Indian tribes and tribal organizations are not based on race," said Chris Schneider, principal attorney for the Navajo Department of Justice. "It's longstanding, its federal case law, you have Morton v. Mancari, which is a United States Supreme Court case ... that determine that Indian isn't always per se going to be a classification according to race. Instead, based upon the history of the United States and Indian tribes, it's more political classification."

But many legal experts say that, under the Trump administration, legality, precedent, the Constitution and treaties with tribal nations don't seem to stand in the way of a vision reportedly outlined in a document called Project 2025, according to Mel Wilson, Senior Policy Advisor of National Association of Social Workers. The sudden dismantling of DEI efforts is a stark reversal from a time when colleges and institutions attempted to honor the First Peoples through gestures like land acknowledgments.

It also comes at a time when young Native students continue to face institutional barriers that attempt to suppress their culture and heritage, whether through bans on wearing regalia at graduations, prohibitions on beaded graduation caps, or, in some cases, even forcing students to cut their long hair.

Miss Native Mesa Community college Raegen Ellis, Zach Thomas, and Native American royalties from different colleges gather together before the grand entry at the Thunderbird Pow Wow, March 8, 2025.

"This threat by the current U.S. presidential administration to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and 'race-based programs' will hurt all students educational knowledge at all our universities and tribal colleges," Wendy Greyeyes, associate professor of Native American Studies at the University of New Mexico and the chairwoman for the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission, told The Arizona Republic in emailed comments. "DEI and programs that bring representation to historically marginalized peoples are integral to student success and achievement. We must push back against the mindset that DEI or race-based programs are harmful or discriminatory."

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The Maricopa County Community College District is home to 10 colleges, and just last year, Mesa Community College proudly claimed the largest Native American student population of any college in Arizona. Across these colleges, Native American students make up approximately 1.92% of the over 100,000 students enrolled. Notably, Mesa Community College ranks 8th in the nation for Native American student graduation rates among 1,057 two-year colleges, according to MCC.

Arizona State University, University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University have not announced plans to cancel their Native American Convocations.

"We always say American Indian Institution and Inter-trbal Student Organization is how students find home away from home ," said Leora Smith, MCC Inter-Tribal Student Organization Advisor. "So out of all the Maricopa Community Colleges ... Mesa is the largest with the most Native students on campus. We are also one of three community colleges that have the American Indian Institute. South Mountain Community College and Scottsdale Community College are the other two."

At the Thunderbird Pow Wow, disappointment

A day after a much-needed downpour in the Valley, MCCs Inter-Tribal Student Organization hosted its third annual Thunderbird Pow Wow. Thomas, Smith and Raegen Ellis, who serves as Miss Native Mesa Community College, spent their Saturday volunteering and celebrating an event that is entirely student-organized and -led, one they feared might not happen due to the recent Maricopa Community College policy changes.

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Before the Grand Entry, an emotional Smith shared how deeply the end of DEI had impacted not only the student but faculty and staff. She an adviser for for the inter-tribal student organization and also serves as the president of the United Tribal Employee Council, an affinity group for Indigenous staff and faculty within the Maricopa County Community College District, one of many similar groups now facing uncertainty.

Miss Native Mesa Community College Raegen Ellis painted a red handprint on her face to in honor of 14-year-old San Carlos Apache girl, Emily Pike, whose body was found last month near Globe.

"We have affinity groups ... MCBAA (Maricopa Council on Black American Affairs), our LGBTQIA, we have all these different groups," said Smith. "I was president for two years for the United Tribal Employee Council ... and to see that be dismantled overnight it makes me emotional."

Smith, who is Navajo and attended University of Arizona, understands firsthand the importance of organizations like like the Inter-Tribal Student Organization, the American Indian Institute and other support groups for minorities and students of color. She recalled feeling isolated during her time at the UA, which ultimately led her to drop out. Later, she found a fresh start at South Mountain Community College, where her mother served as an adviser for the school's Native American student club, an influence that would shape Smiths own journey.

"When I went to UA, I knew nobody," said Smith. "I felt so alone, and I actually dropped out because of it, because I felt like, 'Nobody cares. Nobody cares if I go to class.'"

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As she grew into herself and realized she wanted to follow in her mothers footsteps by working with Indigenous students, she found a sense of belonging among her Indigenous colleagues and coworkers. But now, she says, "to know that we're not allowed to even have that here on campus ... it's really tragic and horrible."

Trump's attack on DEI, along with Maricopa Community College's swift dismantling of its DEI programs and cancellation of Native American Convocations, comes at an especially devastating time. Fourteen-year-old Emily Pike, a young San Carlos Apache girl, was found dead and dismembered near Globe, nearly three weeks after she was reported missing from her group home in Mesa.

In honor of Emily Pike and to raise awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, Ellis painted a red handprint on her face while representing her school as Miss Native MCC at the pow wow.

Ellis, who is Navajo and from Page, is also a member of the Inter-Tribal Student Organization. Planning for the pow wow had been underway for several months, she said, and when news broke that MCCD would be dismantling DEI programs, they had to prepare an alternative plan in case the powwow was canceled.

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"It was definitely a lot when we first found out," said Ellis about the dismantling of DEI. "It doesn't make any sense. I think everyone is just like 'what the heck is going on?' Many are confused, but it's not unexpected at the same time. We just have to keep pushing what we want to do for our community and what to do for the future."

Arizona students: ASU attracts Arizona's largest Indigenous population as Native students seek community

Finding home among Indigenous peers

For Ellis and Thomas, being involved with the student organization has been incredibly helpful, especially during times when both students faced personal losses. Ellis lost both of her grandparents while away at school, a time when she admitted feeling "pretty lost" herself. When she joined the student organization, she found a supportive community that helped her navigate through the difficult times and continue to thrive in her studies.

Thomas, who identifies as Two-Spirit, served last year as the first Two-Spirit president of the inter-tribal group. The Trump administration has also targeted the LGBTQI community, and Thomas said it's just another attack on him, in addition to being Native American.

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"We are still here. I am here," said Thomas. "As a Two-Spirit person, it's not fair. I'm not a threat to masculinity. I have really strong words for these people."

Thomas recently lost his sister and was the last person to talk to her. She left Thomas with some encouraging words about his pursuit of education.

"She said 'your education is for you. You're not doing it for anyone else, this is for you,'" said Thomas. "With her passing, I was really lost but I had to re-register myself with her words and that's when I found ISO and it was reassuring to find that sense of home and family far from the reservation."

Being one of the first people to graduate college in Thomas' family, he said he was looking forward to celebrating in the Native American Convocation but will most likely take part in the regular graduation ceremony.

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"I worked really hard during those semesters," said Thomas. "Not being able to celebrate it as a Native American or Two-Spirit person, feels like I am being pushed away."

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Mesa Community College Indigenous students not happy with end to DEI
YANGON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- An event to mark World Consumer Rights Day was held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on Monday, the state-run daily The Mirror reported on Tuesday.

Speaking at the event, Union Minister for Commerce U Tun Ohn said this year's theme for World Consumer Rights Day, which falls on March 15, is "A Just Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles."

As a member of the ASEAN Committee on Consumer Protection, the government is collaborating with ASEAN countries to implement the ASEAN Strategic Action Plan for Consumer Protection 2016-2025. It is also carrying out educational programs, market surveillance, and trademark supervision, the report added.

He then urged attendees to work together to ensure a safe, healthy, and supportive community for consumers to achieve sustainable lifestyles, the report said.

Winners of the article and cartoon competitions marking World Consumer Rights Day were also awarded during the event, it said.

Another event to mark World Consumer Rights Day was also held in Yangon on Monday, and was attended by Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein. 
BOGOTA ,Colombia (AP)  Colombias newly appointed defense minister said Tuesday that he will focus on taking back territory lost to rebel groups that have forced thousands to flee their homes this year.

In an address to the nations troops, Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez said that it was time for Colombias military to strengthen national sovereignty and protect the nations population.

The retired general hinted that Colombias military, which had been recently asked to refrain from attacking rebel groups by the nation's government, will now take a more offensive role.

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We cannot continue to allow our police and military to be spat at, attacked and have their throats slit as if they were inanimate objects he said.

The comments by Sanchez come just days after 28 police officers and a soldier were kidnapped by a group of civilians in the western Cauca province amid clashes with the FARC-EMC rebel group. The soldiers were released on Sunday.

Sanchez, a former air force general, was named defense minister in late February as the country faces its worst security crisis in a decade.

In January, more than 36,000 people were displaced from their homes in the northeastern Catatumbo region, following a wave of attacks by the National Liberation Army in which an estimated 80 people were killed.

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The attacks prompted President Gustavo Petro to cancel peace talks with the rebel group that had begun in late 2022.

Petro, who was a member of a rebel group during his youth, has attempted to launch peace negotiations with various armed groups under a strategy known as total peace.

But while the strategy has led to some temporary ceasefires, it has failed to produce lasting results.

Analysts say that groups like the ELN and the FARC-EMC have also taken advantage of ceasefires to recruit more fighters and tighten their grip over remote areas where they extort local businesses and control drug trafficking routes.

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Our president has been very generous in searching for peace, Sanchez said on Tuesday. But that genuine generosity has been betrayed by those who have continued to exert violence against our citizens.

In 2016, Colombia signed a peace deal with the nations largest rebel group, the FARC, in which more than 13,000 fighters laid down their weapons.

But smaller criminal groups have filled the power vacuum left by the rebels, promoting the drug trade and illegal mining.

Petro has accused the ELNs leadership of betraying its revolutionary ideals and of becoming "greedy drug traffickers.

Colombias President said last week that the government would pay farmers in the Catatumbo region to replace coca plantations for legal crops in a bid to boost the regions development and starve ELN fighters in the area of cocaine funding.

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Sanchez is the first retired member of the military to serve as defense minister in Colombia in three decades.

His appointment breaks with a tradition of selecting civilians to lead the defense ministry.

The 52-year-old became a local celebrity in 2023, when he led an effort to rescue four indigenous children who had survived a plane crash in a remote patch of the Amazon rainforest. Sanchez retired from the military in February, shortly after President Petro picked him to lead the defense ministry.

____

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
A view inside the Colorado Capitol toward the entrance to the Senate, Feb. 6, 2024. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline)

Colorado could soon allow governments to take longer to fulfill requests subject to the Colorado Open Records Act under a bill in the state Legislature, but it includes a carve out for journalists.

Senate Bill 25-77 passed a House committee Monday and now heads to the full House chamber for consideration. It passed the Senate on a 27-6 vote in February.

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The bill would give custodians of government records five days, instead of three, to respond to CORA requests. It would extend that timeframe to 10 days from seven if extenuating circumstances exist, such as if a request that encompasses a large quantity of records that could not reasonably be gathered in five days.

It would add an extenuating circumstance if the record custodian is not scheduled to work within the response period.

For a lot of our smaller entities, it is really hard to comply with three days, Rep. Matt Soper, a Delta Republican, said.

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Soper is running the bill with Democratic Rep. Michael Carter of Aurora, Democratic Sen. Cathy Kipp of Fort Collins and Republican Sen. Janice Rich of Grand Junction. It comes after a failed effort last year to amend CORA by labeling some people vexatious requesters.

A high volume of records requests can interfere with the ability of school boards and government offices to perform their core functions, sponsors and supporters say. Karen Wick, a lobbyist for Jefferson County, said that the county saw 217 requests in 2019, but that jumped to 650 in 2024. A recent request sought information about the number of acres affected by a tree removal, resulting in 36 hours of work that yielded over 1,000 emails and 300 documents, she said.

When Colorado law requires us to respond within three to seven days, with this number of requests, we end up having to put our other normal work aside so we can fulfill them, she said.

Media would still be subject to the three-day timeline. Soper said that is because journalists are often very specific about their records requests, making them easier to complete.

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When Colorado law requires us to respond within three to seven days, with this number of requests, we end up having to put our other normal work aside so we can fulfill them.

 Karen Wick, a lobbyist for Jefferson County

But that provision is a sticking point for opponents of the bill, who argue it gives journalists preferential treatment over regular citizens who request records.

Us citizens get to put up with a lot of the policy that the government puts out. But bills like this make citizens second class to the media and I question the fairness of that, said Cory Gaines, who runs the Colorado Accountability Project Substack newsletter.

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Jeffrey Roberts, the executive director of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition, testified that an extended timeline creates another obstacle for records requests. He said that there have been more efforts to restrict, rather than expand, access to records in recent years.

Fees already are a significant barrier to obtaining public records, which is why governments dont need a reason to take longer to process CORA requests, he said.

If a custodian determines that a request is for the direct solicitation of business for pecuniary gain, such as a business wanting to reach out directly to people identified in a records request, governments would be able to charge the reasonable cost of fulfilling the request, other than the $41.37 maximum hourly rate, and take 30 days to complete the request. The bill would not prevent those types of requests.

Other provisions in the bill would let governments treat two similar CORA requests made by the same person within two weeks of one another as one request.

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It also would require that governments put their CORA process and record retention policy online, give a requester a breakdown of the cost for record retrieval if requested, and allow electronic payments for CORA requests if the government accepts electronic payment for other services.

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Inserting a magazine into a handgun

A controversial gun-control bill in Colorado seems more likely to pass now that lawmakers have added a permit-to-purchase amendment. Senate Bill 3 would limit the sale of semi-automatic firearms with detachable magazines. It passed the Colorado Senate in February with a 19-15 vote. Now, the bill heads to the House of Representatives, where it faces its first committee vote.

When first introduced, SB3 would have outlawed the manufacture, sale, purchase, and transfer of semi-auto rifles and shotguns with detachable magazines within Colorado. It would have placed the same prohibitions on gas-operated semi-auto handguns with detachable magazines. The bill would also prohibit the purchase and sale of certain after-market accessories, such as binary triggers, that increase a semi-autos rate of fire.

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The bills current version now requires buyers to undergo vetting by a local sheriff including criminal background checks, and obtain a firearms safety course eligibility card. Buyers would then be required to complete a hunter safety course and a new firearms safety course to be managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Another option would be for the buyer to take an as-yet-undefined 12-hour firearms safety course. The courses must be completed within five years of purchasing the restricted firearm with either path. Individuals will be responsible for paying non-refundable fees for the firearms safety course eligibility card, sheriffs processing fee, and fingerprint processing.

Three Democrats (Nick Hinrichson, Tony Exum, and Mark Snyder) joined Republicans in the chamber to vote against the proposed legislation.

State Sen. Tony Exum from El Paso County initially supported SB3. However, he removed his name as a bill sponsor due to constituent pressure and an effort to recall him.

I couldnt risk the fact of possibly losing my seat through a recall, Exum told ABC Denver7. All the gun legislation that weve had in the past I voted for, even with the threat of recalls, but this had a different, different energy to it.

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Another Democratic senator from El Paso County, Mark Snyder, voted against bill.

This bill became so much more than just trying to get rid of high-capacity magazines that ultimately I could not support, Snyder told KOAA News 5.

Despite several Democratic senators jumping ship, SB3 is expected to pass the House, where Democrats have a supermajority. Although Gov. Jared Polis expressed skepticism toward the original version of SB3, particularly regarding sweeping firearms restrictions, with the new amendments creating a pathway for Coloradans to still obtain the firearms targeted in the bill, he appears likely to sign it once it reaches his desk, according to Colorado Public Radio. Once the bill is signed into law, new restrictions will go into effect on Sept. 1, 2025.

A collection of semi-auto rifles and a handgun that would be affected by the bill. Photo by Alice Jones Webb

Sportsmens groups, including the U.S. Sportsmens Alliance and the Congressional Sportsmens Foundation, have criticized the proposed legislation as an attack on the Second Amendment and warned that it could negatively impact future conservation funding.

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Extremists believe banning the possession of all firearms, including our hunting semiautomatic rifles and shotguns, will reduce crime, the U.S. Sportsmens Alliance said in a statement. We know SB25-003 is not the answer. Criminals are the cause of the Centennial States firearm crime rate, not its sportsmen.

Read Next: Utah Wants to Prevent an Anti-Hunter Takeover by Requiring Wildlife Commissioners to Have a Hunting License

The Congressional Sportsmens Alliance also expressed concerns that the passage of SB3 would have a cooling effect on participation in hunting and shooting sports, which would in turn decrease available funds for conservation and wildlife management projects in Colorado.



Any prohibition on the possession, transfer, and sale of some of the most commonly used firearms will depress participation in hunting and recreational shooting, and eliminate a large portion of the contributions to the Pittman-Robertson fund, together resulting in millions in lost revenue for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Congressional Sportsmens Alliance warned.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  The Supreme Court granted a therapist from Colorado Springs the request to review Colorados conversion therapy ban for minors.

The ban went into effect in 2019 to stop licensed mental health professionals from engaging in conversion therapy to change a minors sexual orientation or gender identity.

I hope the Supreme Court will protect my free speech rights so that I can continue to offer care and support my clients needs without fear of government censorship. Im committed to helping my clients, and I believe the Constitution guarantees my right to do so, said Kayle Chiles, a licensed counselor in Colorado Springs.

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According to Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), Chiles wants to continue helping her clients without being forced to promote the governments gender ideology.

We are eager to defend Kayles First Amendment rights before the Supreme Court, and were hopeful that the high court will affirm a very basic truth in this case that government officials may not impose their ideology on private conversations between counselors and their clients, said Jim Campbell, ADF Chief Legal Counsel.

Fox21 spoke to a representative from Prism Community Collective, a program in Colorado Springs that offers resources to the LGBTQ+ community, and she said kids who participate in conversion therapy become twice as likely to commit suicide.

When were looking at a comprehensive community approach to reduce death by suicide, part of that is supporting the the ban on conversion therapy, said Nichole Johnston, with Suicide Prevention Collaborative.

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Children today are struggling with complex issues, and they need space to explore their feelings and concerns, said Chiles.

ADF says the law allows counseling conversations that direct people towards a gender identity different from their sex, but it prohibits conversations that help them return to comfort with their sex.

Unfortunately, only Colorados law pushes them toward harmful medical interventions like drugs and surgeries by prohibiting supportive conversations that could help them navigate their struggles in a healthier way. This is deeply concerning, said Chiles.

However, Johnston says that is not the case: It is a false narrative to say that doctors are pushing medications on young people and parents. The Academy of Pediatrics has a long-standing history against conversion therapy.

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A Colorado district court judge rejected Chiless suit in 2022 alongside a panel of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled in 2023 that the law regulates professional conduct, not speech.

Colorado has yet to grasp the fundamental truth that the government cannot censor free speech, especially when doing so harms counselors and the clients theyre seeking to help. There is a growing consensus around the world that children experiencing gender dysphoria need love and an opportunity to talk through their feelings and their struggles, said Campbell.

Chiles is facing a five-thousand dollar fine per violation and could even lose her license.

Kayle sees her work as an expression of her faith, and her primary goal is to help her clients get the help that they need. Many of her clients come to her because they share her Christian worldview and her faith-based values. These clients believe that their lives would be more fulfilling if they were aligned with their faith, said Campbell.

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However, some people do not think faith should be brought into the conversation.

They should not be leading by their religion; they should be leading from what their medical school has taught them and also the best standards for being a licensed therapist, added Johnston.

The case is expected to be heard by Justices in October. Currently, more than twenty states, including Colorado, have bans on therapy aimed at minors.

Attorney General Phil Weiser told Fox21 he is committed to defending the state law.

States have long regulated medical practices to protect patients from unsafe, harmful professional conduct. Colorados law protecting young people from unscientific and cruel gay conversion therapy practices is humane, smart, and appropriate. We prevailed at the district court and 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, and were committed to defending the law at the Supreme Court. Attorney General Phil Weiser

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A Columbia University student arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over allegations he led activities aligned to Hamas was under investigation as a potential national security threat, it has been reported.

Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, was presented with intelligence that deemed Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestine activist who led protests on the Ivy League campus, as a threat to national security, according to the New York Post.

Mr Khalil, who faces deportation, is alleged to have led activities aligned to Hamas.

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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been gathering intel on those actively engaging in supporting Hamas since Donald Trump signed an executive order cracking down on anti-Israel demonstrators.

Mr Khalil, 30, a lawful US resident who was a graduate student at Columbia until December, was detained on Saturday by ICE agents in New York and flown to an immigration jail in Louisiana.

Deportation blocked

Theyre staging this guy for removal, but I dont know where theyre gonna send him. We dont have charter flights to send him to Syria, a source told the New York Post.

A woman protests against Mahmoud Khalils arrest in New York on Monday - David Dee Delgado/Getty Images North America

But his deportation was blocked by a judge on Monday who ordered that Mr Khalil not be deported while the court considered a legal challenge brought by his lawyers.

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Mr Khalils detention drew outrage from civil rights groups and free speech advocates, who accused the administration of using its immigration enforcement powers to squelch criticism of Israel.

Protests over the students arrest took place across New York on Tuesday.

There were clashes with NYPD officers as they marched from Washington Square Park to City Hall.

Pictures from the march showed people wearing keffiyehs and waving Palestine flags.

People march in the streets of New York in a demonstration on Tuesday - SARAH YENESEL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Mr Khalil is the first person known to be detained for deportation under Mr Trumps promised crackdown on student protests.

Federal immigration authorities also visited a second international student at Columbia on Friday evening and attempted to take her into custody but were not allowed to enter the apartment, according to a union representing the student.

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Mr Trump warned on Monday that Mr Khalils arrest will be the first of many to come.

Following my previously signed executive orders, ICE proudly apprehended and detained Mahmoud Khalil, a radical foreign pro-Hamas student on the campus of Columbia University, he said.

This is the first arrest of many to come. We know there are more students at Columbia and other universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, and the Trump administration will not tolerate it.

Protesters in New York - David Dee Delgado/Getty Images North America

In their legal filing, Mr Khalils attorneys accused the government of retaliating against him for his constitutionally protected advocacy on behalf of Palestinian human rights.

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Typically, the government has to meet a higher bar to expel a person who has permanent residency in the US like showing someone has been convicted of a serious crime.

Born in Syria to Palestinian parents, Mr Khalil entered the US to attend Columbia in 2022.

He subsequently got married to an American citizen, who is now eight months pregnant.

Mr Khalil emerged as one of the most visible activists in large protests at Columbia last year, serving as a mediator on behalf of pro-Palestinian activists and Muslim students.

Demonstrators demand the release of Mr Khalil - Anadolu

That role put him in direct touch with university leaders and the press  and drew attention from pro-Israel activists, who in recent weeks called on the Trump administration to deport him.

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Tricia McLaughlin, the DHS spokeswoman, said: On March 9, 2025, in support of President Trumps executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism, and in coordination with the Department of State, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student. Khalil led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation.

ICE and the Department of State are committed to enforcing President Trumps executive orders and to protecting US. national security.

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COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  The Columbus Police Department is seeking the publics help in an ongoing case involving a woman who has been missing since 2002.

According to CPD, Wanda Jean Perkins was reported missing from her home near the intersection of 35th Street and 5th Avenue around 1:20 a.m. on May 28, 2002. Police say Perkins has not been seen or heard from since then.

Investigators with CPDs Violent Crimes Unit are continuing to seek information regarding Perkins disappearance and the circumstances leading up to it.

The department is asking anyone with information regarding the case to contact Sgt. M. Dahnke at 706-326-3556 or mdahnke@columbusga.org.

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According to CPD, a reward is available for verifiable information regarding Perkins location or credible details that may lead to an arrest. The department adds 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 WRBL.
Theres a classic episode of The Simpsons in which Homer gets a gun. He thinks his awesome gun is great for everything: home defense, opening beer bottles, whatever. When Marge says she doesnt want a weapon in the house, Homer replies , A gun is not a weapon, Marge, it's a tool. Like a butcher knife or a harpoon, or ... or an alligator. You just need more education on the subject.

How Homer thinks about guns is not all that dissimilar to how Donald Trump thinks about tariffs. Or if you want an even more dated pop culture reference, the Trump administration talks about tariffs the way Chevy Chase did in the old Saturday Night Live parody commercial for New Shimmer: Its a floor wax and a dessert topping.

On one hand, the president believes that tariffs make us rich. Tariffs are the greatest thing ever invented, he said on the campaign trail. Last week in his address to Congress he said, Tariffs are about making America rich again. Indeed, fondness for tariffs as an economic cure-all are one of the very few policy positions hes been consistent on for decades. Even back when he was a pro-abortion rights and anti-gun rights Democrat, he was adamant that tariffs were essential. In his telling, they protect American jobs and create new ones  at no cost to American consumers. And while it is true that consumers dont necessarily absorb 100% of the cost of tariffs in every instance, the overwhelming majority of economists agree that consumers get stuck with the bulk of the inevitable price spikes.

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So one might wonder why Trump would wait at all to impose tariffs. Just do it and make us rich again. But hes not doing it because, as he concedes, tariffs can also cause a  little disturbance  for American businesses. Some car parts cross the Mexican or Canadian border up to eight times before the final product, an American car, is completed. Under pressure from the auto industry, Trump agreed to delay auto tariffs for 30 days, as if whole plants that would make those parts strictly within U.S. borders could be moved here or built in 30 days.

The administration also insists that tariffs are a useful tool for other stuff  strengthening the border, say, or stopping the flow of fentanyl into America. (Never mind that the amount of fentanyl coming into the United States from Canada is close to zero statistically speaking.)

"This is not a trade war. This is a drug war," says Commerce secretary Howard Lutnick. White House economic and trade advisors Peter Navarro and Kevin Hassett sing from the same hymnal.

But if tariffs make us richer and cost us nothing, why are the administrations economic advisors so eager to defend tariffs on non-economic grounds? Does success in the drug war mean self-inflicted impoverishment in the trade war"?

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Drug war is the floor wax; trade war is the dessert topping.

Then theres the push for reciprocal tariffs, which will allegedly go into effect on April 2. The stated justification is that they will force other nations to lower their tariffs. And in response, we will lower ours. The idea seems to be that American businesses will positively respond to the incentives of high tariffs and bring manufacturing home, and foreign businesses will respond to tariffs and lower trade barriers, which will cause us to get rid of tariffs too. Except the Trump administration doesnt want to lower tariffs. It wants more, bigger tariffs: because theyll make us rich, save  Americas soul ,  make our country a fortune  and free us to eliminate the income tax and balance the budget.

Tariffs are a tool, you see, like a butcher knife, harpoon and an alligator all rolled into one glorious U.S. army knife.

I think Trump sincerely believes that tariffs are great economic tools. But I think he likes tariffs for another reason: They generate chaos that allows him to save individual businesses from the very chaos he creates. They keep him at the center of not only politics but also economics. They incentivize businesses to make placating, pleasing or rewarding Trump crucial to their bottom lines.

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This sort of incentive for corruption  in both the literal sense and in terms of policymaking  is one of the main reasons we have an income tax in the first place. So many industries sought special treatment or vigorous enforcement against competition when tariffs funded the government that Congress  traditionally the designer of trade policy  became a hive of corruption. The IRS, then, was in part an antifraud invention.

Now that trade policy is run out of the Oval Office, corruption will be a feature, not a bug.

@JonahDispatch



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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
AUSTIN (Nexstar)  On Tuesday, the Texas House Committee on Public Education met in front of hundreds of public education advocates to discuss their bill to establish an education savings account (ESA) program  commonly referred to as school choice by supporters, or school vouchers by opponents.

Passage in the Texas House remains the last major obstacle for ESA legislation, a legislative priority for Gov. Greg Abbott.

More than 300 people signed up to give testimony to the committee on House Bill 3. Committee members heard testimony throughout the night and into the early morning hours. Testimony wrapped up shortly before 6:30 Wednesday morning. Committee chairman State Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado closed the meeting and left HB 3 pending.

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The committee did not vote on the bill, and a time for another meeting of the committee has yet to be scheduled.

Nexstar Reporter Adam Schwager is covering the hearing today. Follow his updates on X:

https://twitter.com/schwagerTV/status/1899449614673101192

Whats in House Bill 3 (HB 3)?

Authored by State Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, HB 3 primarily creates an ESA program allowing qualified parents to put taxpayer funds towards their childrens education. The bill would give parents 85% of the estimated statewide average amount of state and local funding per student in average daily attendance for the applicable school year.

According to data from the Texas Education Agency (TEA), each family would receive about $11,394.25 based on preliminary estimates. Buckleys office previously estimated students would get slightly over $10,000 each.

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Students with a disability would get the same amount plus the amount a public school wouldve been given for the student if they had attended. The amount can not exceed $30,000.

This can include tuition for private schools, for a higher education provider (the student must be eligible to be in a public high school), an online educational course or for industry-specific training. Families can also use their ESA for corollary education expenses, such as textbooks, school uniforms, academic tests and private school lunches. Unused money would roll over to the following year, provided the child is still eligible.

Are you a parent who would use education savings accounts if available? Are you a parent against state dollars going toward private schools? Or do you fall somewhere in between? We want to hear from you! Send an email to reportit@kxan.com

By comparison, the Senates ESA bill  passed in February  has a flat amount of $10,000 for students using the ESA towards private school, upped to $11,500 for those with a disability. Only $2,000 would be granted towards students using ESA for homeschool services.

How much would the program cost?

About an hour before the hearing, the Texas Legislative Budget Board revealed its five-year estimate for how much HB 3 would cost the state.

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They estimate the program would cost $1 billion in Fiscal Year (FY) 2027, $3.073 billion in FY 2028, $3.172 billion in FY 2029 and $3.981 billion in FY 2030. The estimates factor in the money the state would pay out to families plus the amount the state would save by students leaving public school (as public schools are funded by the state on a per-student basis).

The report estimates 24,500 students would leave the public school system in 2027, increasing to 98,000 fewer public school students in 2030.

Fiscal analysis of HB 3. The top figure represents the estimated net cost of the bill each year. The bottom figures left column represents the estimated money paid out for education savings accounts while the center column represents how much money the state would save by students leaving public schools. (Texas Legislative Budget Board).

Who gets priority to the funds?

The programs funding is limited, meaning parents of eligible children would be put in a tiered-lottery system.

Priority would be granted to students in the following order:

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Students with disabilities whose families make less than five times the federal poverty guidelines (currently $160,750 for a family of four). Students whose families make less than twice the federal poverty guidelines (currently $64,300 for a family of four). Students whose families make more than twice the federal poverty guidelines, but less than five times the federal poverty guidelines (currently between $64,300-$160,750 for a family of four). Students whose families make more than five times the federal poverty guidelines (currently $160,750 for a family of four).

The tier system is a sharp departure from the version of ESA legislation already passed by the Texas Senate, which earmarks 80% of available funds to go towards students with disabilities or families making below five times the federal poverty threshold. The other 20% would be distributed randomly.

Long history of failures

Bills relating to school choice have at least three decades of history in the Texas Legislature, with support for tax dollars going to private schools ramping up in the last decade.

The most high-profile failed attempts at an ESA program came during the 2023 legislative session after Abbott first declared it an emergency item, allowing the legislature to fast-track the measure. The Texas Senate did exactly that, passing a bill to establish school vouchers that April. The House never considered the identical legislation, also killing another ESA bill in committee without a vote from the full House.

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Abbott then called a special session for legislators to pass an ESA program in October 2023, attempting to negotiate with the House by rolling teacher pay raises in with ESA legislation. After two special sessions ended up with no ESA program established, Abbott led a campaign to oust House Republicans who killed the bill, successfully replacing 11 of 15 incumbents he challenged by endorsing their opponents. In addition, Republicans took two seats from Democrats in the 2024 election, bolstering their slim majority support for establishing an ESA program.

This years HB 3 has 75 co-authors along with Buckley. With 150 seats in the Texas House, HB 3 would pass if every author votes yes on their own bill.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  NAMI of Northern Illinois hosted an evening of Hope, Healing and Help in response to the tragic death of Jalyah Thompson, and community members spoke out in support of mental health awareness.

Jalyahs great-uncle Darrell Gregg said he took the night as an opportunity to reflect and honor her life, and how quickly it ended.

She was a fun girl; everybody loved to talk to her, Gregg said. They said shed like to joke around. Sometimes we just dont know. Even though you have a smile on your face, you really just dont know.

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Jalyahs family said she took her own life after being bullied. Gregg said Jalyahs family has dealt with extreme loss over the years.

Her mother passed away when she was probably about two or three months old, so seeing my nephew deal with another loss in his life, it hurts me to see that, Gregg said.

Lots of community members showed their sympathy and support Monday night including New Zion Baptist Church Pastor K. Edward Copeland.

Copeland said he feels heartbroken by Jalyahs death and thinks the entire community can help prevent these tragedies.

Parents can do all they can do, but the rest of the community has to do what its supposed to do, Copeland said, and that is surround our children and make sure that parents are being supported, the children are being supported, and those who are working with them are getting everything they need to help them to thrive.

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Mental health advocates and organizations throughout the area were also at the event, educating attendees on the resources available.

Crisis Intervention Specialist with the National Youth Advocate Program Logan White offered advice to those personally struggling and those who may know someone struggling.

See the individual that is going through that trauma, walk through that process with them, make them feel like theyre not alone in that process, White said.

Copeland said he encourages community members to find more ways to support one another.

We all need to take responsibility for one another because either were going to live together and thrive, or were going to stay separated and live in trauma and tragedy, Copeland said. We dont have to live that way. We can come together as a community, and this is an effort to get that started.

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If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, dial 988.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.
Most compounded versions of popular drugs used for weight loss including Wegovy and Zepbound may soon no longer be available after a U.S. judge declined an initial injunction to allow compounding pharmacies to continue making versions.

Compound drugs are copies of U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved medications. They are made by licensed pharmacies, but not approved or inspected by the FDA.

Drug compounding is allowed when drugs are on the FDA's shortage list, or in circumstances when a patient can't take a version of a drug made by a pharmaceutical company and they need an alternative.

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In recent months, Eli Lilly, the maker of Zepbound and Mounjaro, and Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, have each said that they are able to meet the demand for the medications after facing shortages since 2022 due to the drugs' growing popularity.

The FDA has declared the shortages as resolved," removing the drugs from its shortage list.

PHOTO: Boxes of Ozempic and Wegovy made by Novo Nordisk are seen at a pharmacy in London, March 8, 2024. (Hollie Adams/Reuters)

In October, a compounding industry group, the Outsourcing Facility Association, filed a lawsuit against the FDA's decision that there was no longer a shortage of tirzepatide, the active ingredient fin Zepbound and Mounjaro. The FDA said it would not take enforcement action against compounders before the court ruled.

Now, the FDA has announced a timeline for when most compounded versions may no longer be made.

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The agency in October ended the tirzepatide injection shortage prematurely based on representations from drugmakers and incomplete data on demand for the compounded versions of the drug, Scott Brunner, CEO of Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding, another compounding industry group, said in a statement to ABC News. That premature decision resulted in unnecessary patient angst and interruptions of therapy when pharmacies could not access the FDA-approved drugs for those patients. When pharmacies consistently can't obtain the FDA-approved drug in quantities they need to meet patient demand, that drug is not commercially available  the very definition of a shortage.

Here are five questions answered about the FDA's decision to halt compounded versions of GLP-1 drugs.

1. Did the FDA set deadlines for compounding pharmacies?

The FDA says state-licensed compounding pharmacies must immediately stop making most compound versions of GLP-1 drugs based on tirzepatide.

Larger outsourcing pharmacies making compound versions of Zepbound have until March 19 to stop, according to the FDA.

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State-licensed pharmacies must stop making most compounded semaglutide (copies of Novo Nordisks Wegovy and Ozempic) by April 22, and larger outsourcing pharmacies by May 22, or when district court rules on a pending injuction  whichever is first.

2. What do I do if I'm currently taking a compounded version of a weight loss medication?

ABC News chief medical correspondent Dr. Tara Narula said Tuesday on "Good Morning America" that the FDA's decision to halt the making of compound versions of GLP-1 drugs will impact many people who have found the compound versions of the drugs easier to access and lower in price.

PHOTO: Semaglutide (GLP-1) weight-loss drug Wegovy, made by pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk is seen on Oct. 16, 2024. (James Manning/PA Images via Getty Images, FILE)

Narula said people currently taking compound versions of GLP-1 medications should reach out now to their health care provider to ask for a prescription for the branded version of the medication.

3. Are there any other options for cost savings?

Yes, there are some ways to help lower the price of GLP-1 medications, which can cost upward of $1,000 per month without insurance coverage.

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If insurance coverage is not an option, people can look for outside coupons, often found on drug manufacturers' websites, to help lower the cost, according to Narula.

Woman says she got less expensive drug for weight loss after being denied by insurance

Both Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk now also offer consumers who lack insurance coverage the option to buy Zepbound and Wegovy, respectively, on direct-to-consumer platforms at a lower cost.

4. What has the FDA said previously about compounded versions of GLP-1 drugs?

The FDA has previously warned consumers about using compounded versions of FDA-approved medications.

"Compounded drugs pose a higher risk to patient than FDA-approved drugs because compounded drugs do not undergo FDA premarket review for safety, effectiveness, or quality," the agency said in a statement to ABC News in 2023. "The FDA's compounding program aims to protect patients from poor quality compounded drugs, while preserving access to lawfully marketed compounded drugs for patients."

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Compound versions of drugs -- made for individual patients using raw ingredients -- are not required to go through the FDA's rigorous approval process.

5. What are the differences between different types of weight loss medications?

Zepbound is approved by the FDA as a weight loss management treatment for people with obesity or those who are overweight with at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure.

Zepbound contains the same active ingredient, tirzepatide, as Mounjaro, which is also made by Lilly and is FDA-approved to treat Type 2 diabetes. Some doctors also prescribe Mounjaro "off-label" for weight loss, as is permissible by the FDA.

PHOTO: A box of Mounjaro, a tirzepatide injection drug used for treating type 2 diabetes made by Lilly is seen at Rock Canyon Pharmacy in Provo, Utah, March 29, 2023. (George Frey/Reuters, FILE)

Tirzepatide works by helping the pancreas increase the production of insulin to move sugar from the blood into body tissues.

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It also slows down the movement of food through the stomach and curbs appetite, thereby causing weight loss.

Some people are overdosing on semaglutide, FDA warns

Ozempic is approved by the FDA to treat Type 2 diabetes, but some doctors prescribe the medication "off-label" for weight loss, as is permissible by the FDA.

Wegovy contains the same main ingredient as Ozempic, semaglutide, and is FDA-approved for weight loss in people with obesity or who are overweight with at least one weight-related condition. It is also approved to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with obesity or who are overweight with established cardiovascular disease.

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Semaglutide also works by slowing down movement of food through the stomach and curbing appetite, thereby causing weight loss.

Editors note: This story has been updated to clarify that a U.S. judge has denied an injunction that prompted the FDA to update their guidance.

Compound versions of some weight loss drugs to be restricted originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
GAZA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Hamas said on Tuesday that Egyptian and Qatari mediators are continuing efforts to finalize the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and initiate the second phase of negotiations.

In a press statement, Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif Al-Qanou said that Egyptian and Qatari mediators have been working to complete the ceasefire agreement and move forward with the second phase of negotiations.

"There are positive signs in this regard," said Al-Qanou, adding that Hamas is prepared to engage in upcoming negotiations in a manner that meets the demands of the Palestinian people.

He also called for increased efforts to provide humanitarian relief to the Gaza Strip and lift the ongoing blockade.

According to Al-Qanou, a Hamas leadership delegation arrived in Cairo on Monday and discussed mechanisms for initiating the second phase of negotiations.

Meanwhile, senior Hamas leader Abdul Rahman Shadid stated in a televised conference that Israel continues its "criminal policies" against Palestinians in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Gaza.

He accused Israel of killings, displacement, mass arrests, blocking food and medical aid, and closing border crossings -- worsening the humanitarian crisis in the Strip.

Shadid highlighted that Israel's military operation in Jenin and its refugee camp has entered its 51st day, while similar actions in Tulkarm and its camps, Nour Shams and Tulkarm, have continued for 43 days.

He described these operations as part of Israel's broader strategy to expand settlements and impose a new reality on Palestinian territories. 
MITI MURHESA, Congo (AP)  Hospitals across eastern Congo that were once at the forefront of the countrys response to the mpox outbreak are facing a setback in detecting the disease and offering treatment following the advance of Rwanda-backed rebels in the region.

The mpox global health emergency is worsening as the fighting between the M23 rebel group and Congolese troops escalates in eastern Congo, which has been the epicenter of the health crisis. Many patients have fled and cant be found. Recently arrived vaccines are running short as supplies cant reach combat zones. Hospitals have been under attack.

The Associated Press visited one of the mpox hot spots, which is now under control of M23 rebels backed by neighboring Rwanda. Health workers and remaining patients described a growing disaster.

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The situation has been very difficult. Insecurity has disrupted everything, said Dr. Serge Munyahu Cikuru, medical officer in charge of the Miti Murhesa health zone in South Kivu provinces Kabare territory.

The country, meanwhile, continues to battle other diseases in the east, including cholera and measles, in addition to mysterious outbreaks that recently started in the northwestern region.

Cases are not being reported as before

Congo saw a 31% weekly increase in mpox cases last week, bringing the total to 16,255, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

However, that is only one side of the story: Only seven out of the 26 provinces reported cases last week, the public health agency said at its last briefing, partly blaming the security crisis.

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Although Congo has seen a surge in the current vaccination phase as compared to the previous one, much of that success is in other regions while eastern Congo remains cut off.

The Miti Murhesa treatment center is fast running out of supplies.

Mubake Buroko Patrick, an mpox patient at the facility, said it was difficult to get drugs in the weeks following the fighting.

The war has complicated our access to medicines, he said. "Im feeling a little better, but the treatment needs to be improved.

Africa CDCs mpox incident manager Dr. Ngashi Ngongo told reporters last week that authorities have started negotiations for a humanitarian corridor, which would require the suspension of hostilities to allow for humanitarian access in conflict zones.

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Patients are fleeing in fear

More than 600 mpox patients fled different hospitals in eastern Congo as the fighting escalated, the Africa CDC said.

Many of the fleeing patients were in the Miti Murhesa health zone, one of the hardest hit in the mpox outbreak. At least 4,700 cases were reported there as of the end of 2024, according to the zone's chief medical officer Dr. Cikuru.

Only two of the four treatment centers in the zone are currently functional while others are among numerous health facilities affected by the fighting between government forces and M23, he said.

As M23 seized Goma and Bukavu, their fighters were expanding their presence in the region, including in other parts of North Kivu and South Kivu provinces where they had been present for years.

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Many patients in Miti Murhe have had to choose between staying under fire or fleeing the rebels, Dr. Cikuru said.

Tracing patients to prevent spread of mpox has become more difficult and health workers are running out of options on how to make the best of remaining medical supplies, he said.

Our fear is an increase in the number of cases due to the current situation, the doctor said. Patient care in the treatment centers continues, but the shortage of medicines is a major concern.



Asadu reported from Abuja, Nigeria. Associated Press writer Evelyne Musambi in Nairobi, Kenya contributed to this report.

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For more on Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse

___

The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The 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.
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP)  The clock is ticking as Congress races to avert a government shutdown this week.

22News learned whats in the bill, the house republicans are proposing, and raising concerns from Massachusetts lawmakers.

When aspects of government close, getting them going again could be an expensive endeavor, says Political Consultant Anthony Cignoli. A government shutdown is looming once again, leaving only days for Congress to stop it from happening.

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The house and senate are republican-controlled. But bipartisan support is needed to pass the spending bill. However, top democrats argue that theyve been cut out of negotiations, as they warn that the bill will not protect the future of social security or Medicare.

Congressman Jim McGovern told 22News, If the government shuts down, there is no mystery on who is to blameit will be because of republican dysfunction and republican extremism got in the way.

If passed, the house republicans spending bill would:

Keep federal agencies funded until September

It will also include a moderate increase in defense spending

As well as a moderate decrease in non-defense spending

Theres also no language limiting executive discretion on the appropriate funds

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Political experts say if both sides of the aisle cant come to an agreement, resulting in a shutdown, there could be some serious economic fallout.

With this particular closeif it should happenall the financial chaos over tariffs being on, being off, says Cignoli. The massive hit that we have seen on Wall Street. Because of that, there will be an impact to main street largely in the lack of confidence of the American people and American businessthat all is well.

A congressional vote is slated for Tuesday, as Congress has only four days to avoid a shutdown, and we will continue our coverage of this story as we await the result of that vote.

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.

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Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., and three other leading Democrats in Congress wrote in a letter to the White House on Tuesday that President Donald Trumps Inauguration Day proclamation declaring that illegal immigration is an invasion of the U.S. is a troubling and misguided interpretation of the Constitution, which could be a precursor to legal action if Trump goes further.

The congressional Democrats who signed the letter  Sens. Durbin and Alex Padilla, along with Reps. Jamie Raskin and Pramila Jayapal  were joined in it by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Brennan Center, a liberal law and democracy think tank.

Since you came into office, you have attempted to expand the scope of presidential power beyond that which is permitted by the United States Constitution and applicable federal laws. This proclamation is no different, the letter said.

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Trump has used the proclamation to effectively end access to asylum for immigrants crossing the border, both legally and illegally.

Before he was inaugurated, several officials with his transition team suggested he would use a declaration that illegal immigration across the southern border is an invasion to trigger the Alien Enemies Act, which could allow him to target immigrants and use wartime powers to deport them without a hearing. He has not triggered the act thus far; doing so could lead to legal action from the groups behind this letter.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The members asked Trump to rescind the proclamation and work with Congress on immigration reform.

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Last week, in his address to a joint session of Congress, Trump touted his accomplishments on the border, including an historic low in border crossings. The Trump administration has pushed for more money to continue deporting immigrants and policing the border but has made no push for new legislation on immigration.

The letter says that Trumps declaring an alien invasion at the border misuses the term invasion as defined by the Constitution.

It also argues that the term invasion is used in Article IV of the Constitution to mean an armed attack by a foreign power. And it asserts that Trump is raising novel legal claims, meaning his theories have not been tested in court, by using invasion in reference to immigrants crossing the border and by claiming such an invasion triggers unilateral presidential power over immigration, including the power to suspend or disregard laws that Congress has duly enacted.

These claims are not only legally and factually unfounded, they also threaten civil liberties and the constitutional separation of powers, the letter says.

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It adds, as a legal matter, migration is not an invasion. As courts have consistently held, an invasion under the Constitution requires armed hostility from another political entity, such as another state or foreign country that is intending to over through the government.

The ACLU has challenged the Trump administrations asylum policy in federal court.

Campaign rhetoric that immigrants seeking asylum are invading the country does not suffice as a legal matter. Under no legitimate constitutional theory are immigrants invading our country, said Lee Gelernt, a lawyer with the ACLU who is the lead attorney on its challenge to Trumps asylum policies.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
WASHINGTON, D.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Several North Carolina congressmen are part of bipartisan group in Washington requesting faster disaster relief for farmers.

Two-dozen lawmakers from across the Southeast, including Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, and Rep. Tim Moore, were among the signatures on the letter sent Monday to the secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They want more straightforward guidelines on how relief is administered by the department.

Trump has begun another trade war. Heres a timeline of how we got here

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Producers from vulnerable agriculture communities that were hit hard by these recent natural disasters are at risk of greatly downsizing or having to shut down their operations if the agricultural disaster relief funding is not fully accessible in the upcoming months, the letter reads. Clear direction and quick action from the USDA on disaster payment structure would provide certainty and, in many cases, a lifeline for farmers to continue their operations.

The letter comes after the Trump administration placed a spending freeze on the department.

The letters leaders are Budd, Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC), and Rep. Don Davis (D-NC).

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HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  Lawmakers in Hartford are looking to lower the cost of prescription drugs.

Last year, a bipartisan legislative task force started holding hearings on drug prices. Another hearing was held on Tuesday and that task force is now out with its recommendations.

Gov. Ned Lamont unveils proposals to tackle prescription drug costs

I see more hardworking people and families and retirees not able to afford the cost of their drugs, State Sen. Jeff Gordon (R-Woodstock) said. He is also a doctor.

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High costs lead people who need those drugs to make some tough choices.

That expense of prescription drugs is causing people to take half their medication, to try to take their medication over the course of a week, even though they should be taking it daily, State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest (D-West Hartford) said.

A lot of the blame for the high prices is pointed at what are called Pharmaceutical Benefit Managers, or PBMs. Those are companies that work as middlemen between the drug manufacturers, insurance companies and consumers.

A recent federal investigation by the Federal Trade Commission showed PBMs marking up drugs by as much as 1,000 percent.

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Blumenthal says Trump tariff proposal will drive up Connecticut energy costs

A PBM will demand a rebate from a drug company, and so theyre going to steer folks sometimes to the most expensive drugs because they get the most rebates there, State Sen. Matt Lesser (D-Middletown) said.

Lowering out-of-pocket costs requires that we continue to focus on the list prices set by drug manufacturers, which are always the starting point for questions on cost and affordability, wrote JC Scott, the president & CEO of the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, a group representing PBMs, in a recent Op-Ed. Thats why PBMs support and are calling for drug manufacturers to lower the list prices on all prescription drugs.

The legislative task force is recommending doing that by making more drugs in Connecticut. That could also help with drug shortages. They also want to classify PBMs as fiduciaries and require them to disclose any conflicts of interest.

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Hartford suspects found guilty in 2021 triple shooting that left 1 dead, 1 paralyzed

Im not saying get rid of PBMs, but we really need to make certain theyre transparent, make certain its clear who theyre working for, Gordon said.

One of the largest PBMs in the nation is CVS Caremark. News 8 contacted CVS about the task force recommendations and the bills currently making their way through the general assembly.

Any state policy regulating the pharmaceutical supply chain should be evaluated through a simple test: will this increase or decrease the cost of prescription drugs? wrote Shelly Bendit, a spokesperson for CVS Health. Unfortunately, HB7192 and SB11 would only increase drug costs for the state of Connecticut, its employers, and its unions, and its consumers  while serving as a handout to Big Pharma.

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FOLEY, Ala. (WKRG)  Construction began last week in downtown Foley as officials look to improve the east side of Heritage Park and Jessamine Avenue.

According to a news release from the city, construction of a new wall and gate on the east side of Heritage Park began on Friday, March 7.

Orange Beach police issue stern warning for spring breakers

Photo courtesy: City of Foley

Photo courtesy: City of Foley

The completed project will provide columns, walkways and access linking the pedestrian bridge over Alabama 59 to City Hall across the park, according to the release.

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That is starting at the clock tower with a walkway that crosses the park with a gateway entrance on the east side. This will complete the park on all four sides, Foley Mayor Ralph Hellmich said. We will carry that project to pave Jessamine eastward over to City Hall. This will provide a nice walkway all the way to City Hall.

Once complete, a wall and gate section will stand at the parks east side at the intersection of Jessamine Avenue. There will also be pavers placed between the gate and the Centennial Clock on the parks west side.

(Graphics courtesy of the City of Foley)

The foundation of the wall is about 70% complete, and the next phase includes pouring the lower section and placing bricks.

Milton welcomes their next police chief, Jennifer Frank

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Foley officials said the work on the walkway and pavers will avoid conflicts with park activities.

City officials also plan to replace the existing wooden light poles with decorative black poles with LED lights.

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Last month, close to 1,000 National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration workers, including weather forecasters, were fired . The Trump administration has now told agency leaders to fire another 1,000 people. Along with 300 resignations to date this will approach 20% of its workforce.

The White Houses Department of Government Efficiency also informed NOAA that its lease on the Center for Weather and Climate Prediction in College Park, Md., will soon be canceled. The center is essential in creating accurate computer models for everything from the next severe weather front to hit farmers in the Midwest to the long-term costs of extreme weather events linked to climate change.

NOAA was also ordered to cut off $4.5 million in funding to Maine Sea Grant, one of 34 state-based university sea grant programs that support research on marine and Great Lakes issues to help local economies. The University of Maine was told its efforts (unlike the other 33 programs, so far) were no longer relevant to the focus of the Administrations priorities. Among the first to object was the Maine Lobstermens Assn., saying the loss would have a negative effect on both our economy and our environment.

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Just days before, at a gathering at the White House, President Trump publicly told the governor of Maine that if the state did not enforce an executive order aimed at trans college athletes,  youre not going to get federal funding . Then came the sea grant cancellation, and Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) said:  Its pretty clear the president has a personal vendetta against our state. 

Perhaps, but its also clear that the entire right-wing network of policymakers, think tanks and MAGA influencers setting the second Trump administrations agenda have a vendetta against NOAA. The agencys climate science and assessments, considered preeminent sources for U.S. and global planning, are anathema to the oil industry and the right-wing think tanks it helps fund.

The Heritage Foundations Project 2025  the script written for Trump that he insisted he knew nothing about during the 2024 campaign, but which he seems to be implementing now  calls for NOAA to be broken up and downsized so that it stops contributing to the climate change alarm industry.

Project 2025 also revives an idea from the first Trump administration to privatize the National Weather Service  which would be a gift for a few private forecasting companies, but would deprive millions of Americans of information when their lives are threatened by tornadoes or floods.

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When I first began reporting on the organization more than 25 years ago, there was an internal joke that NOAA stood for No Organization at All, but many of the bureaucratic problems from the last century have long since been resolved. One example: The federal Magnuson-Stevens fisheries act that NOAAs National Marine Fisheries Service oversees (and enforces along with the U.S. Coast Guard), has made the U.S. commercial fishing fleet the most sustainable in the world. At the same time, NOAA Fisheries has been working to support the growth of U.S. aquaculture , as more than half the worlds seafood including fish and edible seaweeds now comes from ocean farming, mostly in China and other parts of Asia. The American rights vendetta against NOAA is a handout to China and a blow to U.S. food security.

Over the years Ive witnessed the organizations maturing with more integration of purpose between its fisheries and marine sanctuary functions, its science and operational side (its ship-based NOAA Corps is one of the eight uniformed government services ), even its wet side and weather side with its vessels, radars, satellites and hurricane hunter aircraft. These technologies not only support American businesses and national security but also can be credited with saving thousands of lives a year by predicting disasters such as hurricanes and floods.

Trumps grudge against NOAA is not new. It got an unfortunate spotlight in 2019: Remember Sharpiegate ? Trump had been wrong about the trajectory of Hurricane Dorian, and then someone used a marker to alter an official map so it would appear to back up the presidents claim that the storm had been headed for Alabama.

Craig McLean, a former NOAA Corps uniformed service member and NOAAs chief scientist at the time, stood up for scientific ethics, officially reprimanding Neil Jacobs, NOAAs acting director, who sided with Trump against the Birmingham, Ala., weather service office (and against the facts). Under Trumps second reign, Jacobs has been reinstated as head of NOAA .

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McLean, meanwhile, has gotten eloquent in his retirement, telling fellow scientists at Americas leading ocean agency: You are ocean and meteorology people. You know storms. Well get through this and lets hope the ship looks the same when we do. (McLean is an advisory board member at Blue Frontier, the policy group I direct.)

Unfortunately, without a loud and immediate outcry from the public including fishermen, mariners, scientists and anyone who needs an accurate weather forecast, this ship increasingly looks like its in the process of being torpedoed.

David Helvarg, a writer, is the executive director of Blue Frontier , an ocean policy group. He co-hosts  Rising Tide: The Ocean Podcast .

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Members of the Kansas Board of Education (KBOE) cast their votes Tuesday to remove a controversial high school graduation requirement.

The KBOE met in Topeka on March 11 as part of its regular monthly session to discuss the latest issues related to education in the Sunflower State. The 10-member board voted 8-2 in favor of removing the requirement that high school graduates in 2028 must fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.

I was concerned about this at the very beginning and I only voted yes at the very beginning because we added so many safeguards, but since that time, Im going to vote no and I dont expect any and Im not trying to lobby for that, I expect this to pass and I hope it sorta does, but the fact is we have people that believe that we are emphasizing non-college over college and its not a zero-sum game, said KBOE member Jim Porter, District 9, who voted no on Tuesday. I believe that were emphasizing both and I think that removing the FAFSA sorta plays into that scenario.

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I think its important that we continue to recognize that there are many pathways to success, said KBOE member Melanie Haas, District 2, who voted yes in favor of removing the requirement on Tuesday. However, I do not want to put a family in a position where they have to fill out the FAFSA if college is not where theyre headed. At the same time, I do want to make sure that were not sending the wrong message to our schools and that they need to continue to hold the workshops theyre having in the evenings and guiding parents and students through the process.

Bats, sex offenders and dangerous area prompt KBI to search for new home in Topeka

The KBOE approved the FAFSA requirement for graduating high school seniors in Kansas in 2024 where a majority of the board gave their approval for the change to K.A.R. 91-31-35. High school seniors would have needed to either complete a FAFSA form or get a waiver to avoid having to complete one starting with graduates in 2028.

Parents, students and school administrators criticized this addition to the list of requirements for graduating seniors in 2028. Members of the KBOE reviewed the FAFSA requirement and began the process of eliminating it by holding public hearings and meetings on the matter.

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Property tax reform bill up for debate in Kansas

The Kansas State Department of Educations (KSDE) Graduation Task Force, created in 2021, and the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) recommended the addition of the FAFSA requirement to help encourage high school students to apply for financial aid and take advantage of millions in unused federal cash, according to the KSDE. KBOE board members also made some other changes to the minimum high school graduation requirements in 2024 that swapped out some of the required credits:

A STEM elective.

Half credit of P.E. and a half credit for health instead of one P.E. credit.

Half credit for financial literacy and 4.5 electives aligned with students Individual Plans of Study (IPS) instead of six electives.

Three-and-a-half credits of English Language Arts and a half credit of communication instead of four credits of ELA.

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) states that students need to complete a FAFSA form to be eligible for federal student aid such as federal grants, loans and work-study funds. Students can then use these federal dollars to complete their journeys through higher education after graduating from high school.

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MTAA looks to bring commercial flights back to Topeka

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  An 18-year-old man was recently added to the Texas 10 Most Wanted fugitives list for capital murder, and Crime Stoppers is now offering a cash reward of up to $3,000 for information leading to his arrest, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) said in a news release.

DPS said Joseph Joshua Harris, 18, from Converse, has been wanted out of Bexar County since Feb. 24 for capital murder by terror threat and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Harris criminal history consists of past arrests and charges as an adult for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, theft of a firearm, evading arrest/detention, unlawful carrying of a weapon, burglary of vehicles, and engaging in organized criminal activity, DPS said.

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DPS said Harris is described as 5-foot-11 and weighs about 150 pounds. More information about him or updates on his case can be found here.

To be eligible for cash rewards, tipsters must provide information to authorities using one of the following three methods, according to DPS:

Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477).

Submit a web tip through the DPS website by selecting the fugitive you have information about then clicking on the link under their picture.

Submit a Facebook tip by clicking the SUBMIT A TIP link (under the About section).

DPS said all tips are anonymous  regardless of how they are submitted  and tipsters will be provided a tip number instead of using a name.

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Do not attempt to apprehend these fugitives; they are considered armed and dangerous, DPS said.

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CONWAY, Ark.  Conway police arrested a couple allegedly involved in a large-scale retail theft operation in Walmart stores across multiple states, including Arkansas.

Police say Taylor Lynn Ferguson and Christina Audrey Ferguson are accused of more than 120 thefts. Authorities said they worked with Walmart Asset Protection to make the arrests.

Couple arrested in Conway accused of multi-state retail theft operation, drug trafficking

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Logan Settle works at a vape shop in town. She said she remembers the couple coming in the store.

So, it was really kind of shocking to see that picture once my husband tagged me in it, Settle said. I thought they looked familiar.

Authorities said they do believe the thefts have been going on for possibly more than a year, with hundreds of dollars of merchandise being stolen from multiple different locations per day.

That was completely out of left field. I was definitely surprised, Settle said.

Pine Bluff police arrest woman accused of robbing bank

This investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Conway Police Department.

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GAZA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Israeli forces have killed at least 137 Palestinians since the ceasefire agreement with Hamas took effect in Gaza, Salama Maarouf, head of the Hamas-run government media office, said on Tuesday.

Maarouf said in a press statement that "in the past ten days, Israeli forces have intensified their violations of the ceasefire, including today's killing of five people south of Gaza City."

Among them were two brothers targeted by drones, bringing the total number of Palestinians killed since the peace agreement took effect on January 19 to 137, including about 52 in the city of Rafah, according to the official.

Maarouf accused Israel of escalating pressure on the Palestinian population through a combination of military action and economic blockade.

"Israel is tightening the siege and denying people access to basic necessities while continuing to kill civilians in cold blood," he said.

"The victims include women and children who posed no threat to Israeli forces. Most were killed while inspecting their homes near occupation positions," he added.

Maarouf called on international mediators to intervene and hold Israel accountable for its actions.

The Gaza ceasefire, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, began on January 19 after 15 months of devastating war in Gaza. 
COOK COUNTY, Ill. (WGN)  New efforts are being made to protect immigrant families in Cook County, as County Clerk Monica Gordan stressed what she sees as fallout from President Donald Trumps widespread effort to crack down on undocumented migrants.

On Monday, Gordan said her office has received a surge in requests for birth certificates and marriage licenses, likely due to fears of mass deportations.

We know this is not just a coincidence, Gordan said. In fact, our staffing supervisors have spoken to many of our customers, who say they are feeling anxious and concerned about their security and want to obtain these vital records as quickly as possible.

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According to the Cook County Clerks Office, nearly 11,000 more birth records were issued the first two months of this year compared to last January and February. About 1,300 more marriage and civil union licenses were issued in January and February year over year.

Gordana Democratsought to remind residents that local officials protect the privacy of vital documents regardless of an individuals immigration status.

We will not share records with outside influences, Gordan said. We will never allow fear to dictate who can obtain a marriage license or birth certificate.

Gordons messages came as the Trump administration continues to roll out a new app that will allow undocumented immigrants to self deport rather than face arrest and detention. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection app is called CBP Home.

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On top of growing immigration policy implementationas the Trump administration ends federal government Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiativesGordon is strengthening DEI in her office, adding a deputy clerk to handle diversity.

Moving forward, local municipalities are bracing for the Trumps requirement that all undocumented immigrants 14 and older register and provide fingerprints to the U.S. government. Those who fail to comply could face fines or prosecution, according to Trump administration officials.

Fingerprinting requirements in the United States and Illinois

Where the current United States political system stands, fingerprinting requirements vary depending on the context across the country. Generally, they are mandated for specific purposes like visa applications, background checks for certain professions, and immigration processes.

When it comes to visa applications, the U.S. Department of State mandates fingerprinting for most visa applicants seeking to enter the United States, including those applying for non-immigrant (NIV) and immigrant (IV) visas.

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Applicants ages 14-79 must be fingerprinted for NIV, and all IV applicants 14 years old and above must be fingerprinted, according to state department records. In some cases, children aged 7 or over applying for an IV or NIV may be subject to fingerprinting.

As it pertains to the immigration process, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) collects fingerprint records as part of the background check process for applicants for naturalization, or in laymans terms, gaining U.S. citizenship.

An applicant may qualify for a waiver of the fingerprint requirement if they are unable to provide fingerprints due to a medical condition or other circumstances. According to the Justia Immigration Law Center, Fingerprints are collected at application support centers in the applicants area.

In Illinois, fingerprinting is generally required for licensures through background checks. A number of professions (law enforcement, child care and education, just to name a few) require criminal background checks, where fingerprinting is typically a part of the process.

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This pols endorsement could pack some bite.

Brooklyn Councilwoman Susan Zhuang, who was charged with chomping on a cop at a raucous anti-homeless shelter rally in July, has announced she is endorsing Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine in the Democratic primary for city comptroller.

Zhuang has begun raising money for Levines campaign in the Chinese American community.

Brooklyn Councilwoman Susan Zhuang, who was charged with chomping on a cop at a raucous anti-homeless shelter rally in July, has announced she is endorsing Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine in the Democratic primary for city comptroller. James Keivom

Levines rival is Brooklyn Councilman Justin Brannan.

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Zhuangs endorsement of Levine isnt without controversy.

I wouldnt seek or accept her endorsement, said a Brooklyn Democrat, who requested anonymity to avoid getting in the middle of a party spat.

But Zhuang, 39, brushed off any baggage tied to her criminal case.

I do stand up for people I care about. My influence is not only in my district but all over the city, said Zhuang, 39.

Zhuang has begun raising money for Levins campaign in the Chinese American community. Ron Adar/Shutterstock

The pol is popular in her heavily Asian southern Brooklyn district that encompasses Bensonhurst, Sunset Park, Dyker Heights and a sliver of Borough Park.

Zhuang told The Post she is well-known among Chinese-American activists and residents across the city and is leaning into citywide politics despite her pending case.

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She said she is helping coordinate a Lunar New Year Celebration for a Levine fundraiser Friday in Manhattans Chinatown. Tickets run from $100 to $500, and 250 people have already signed up to attend, the councilwoman said.

Levines rival is Brooklyn Councilman Justin Brannan. John McCarten/NYC Council

The pol attended a prior endorsement event for Levine in southern Brooklyn on Feb. 27.

She said Levine told her he backs the current single-test admissions policy for the citys special high schools such as Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Technical and the Bronx School of Science, a huge issue among Asian-American parents.

But when Levine was a councilman, he co-sponsored a resolution that backed state legislation to scrap the single-test admissions policy in favor of multiple criteria because few black and Latino students were getting admitted.

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He supported legislation to establish procedures and standards for admission to the special high schools of New York City which will consist of multiple objective measures of student merit including grade point averages, school attendance records, school admission test scores and state test scores.

Zhuang was arrested on a slew of charges July 17, including second-degree and third-degree assault and resisting arrest at a demonstration with Residents Against Homeless Shelters in Bensonhurst.

She allegedly tried to prevent officers from arresting another woman at the protest who was grabbing and pushing police barricades into cops  then bit Deputy Chief of Patrol Borough Brooklyn South Frank DiGiacomo on the arm when he attempted to pull the councilwoman away from the barriers, law-enforcement sources said.

Levines campaign stood by the endorsement from Zhuang.

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Mark is proud to have built the largest coalition of Democratic support in any race in New York City  with nearly 100 endorsements and counting. His diverse range of support reflects the trust leaders from all corners of the city have in his vision for a safer, more affordable New York, said Levine campaign spokesperson Annabel Lassally.

His campaign said the 2014 resolution he backed did not call for scrapping the test, but called for adding additional metrics. He removed his name from the resolution in 2017.

Mark has been a long time defender of specialized high schools and rigorous school academics and has never called for scrapping the test. His position today is clear: specialized high schools are essential pillars of NYCs educational landscape, Lasally said.

The test is the best admissions option currently available but more must be done to expand access to the admissions process and improve our high schools all across the city.

Brannan and Zhuang belong to separate Democratic club factions that have been feuding for years.
A judge has ruled that a defamation lawsuit filed by Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago  alleging that his reputation was damaged by on-air comments made about an ethics inquiry  can move forward.

On Friday, Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Joseph Perkins denied a motion to dismiss from Actualidad Media Group, the LLC that puts out the Spanish-language radio show Actualidad 1040 AM.

Lago initially filed the lawsuit in December 2023. Last summer, Perkins dismissed Lagos lawsuit, saying it was legally insufficient. The mayor then re-filed an amended lawsuit, on which Perkins ruled on Friday.

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At this point in the legal process, Perkins wrote that the question was not whether Plaintiffs allegations are true or false. The question is whether Plaintiffs allegations, if true, are legally sufficient to state a cause of action. Focusing strictly on the contents of Lagos amended complaint, Perkins said Lagos allegations are legally sufficient to move forward to further proceedings.

Lagos lawsuit alleges that Actualidad 1040 AM radio host Roberto Rodriguez Tejera and City Commissioner Ariel Fernandez, who was then a candidate, falsely claimed during an on-air segment in 2023 that Lago was the subject of a Miami-Dade Ethics Commission investigation involving a potential conflict of interest. At the time, Lago was under a preliminary review, which the agency does not consider to be an investigation.

The Ethics Commission closed out the matter later that year, writing that the preliminary information gathered does not support further investigation.

Perkins latest ruling lands one month before the Coral Gables election, where Lago is vying for his third term as mayor. At a meeting in October 2023, the City Commission voted to censure Lago for comments he made to Spanish-language media about his colleagues.

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In a statement, Lagos attorney Mason Pertnoy said his client is a strong believer in the First Amendment and the right to free speech, but that does not give people free license to make false and defamatory statements that baselessly attack his reputation and character.

Mayor Lago is very happy with the Courts ruling and looks forward to litigating the merits of the lawsuit, Pertnoy said. ... In reporting, words and accuracy matter. Mr. Lago remains confident that through this lawsuit the truth will come to light and Defendant Actualidad Media Group will be held accountable.

Antonio Castro, an attorney for Actualidad, said Lago has merely survived a second dismissal of his lawsuit and that after Perkins dismissal last year, Lago has finally made it to the starting line of the case.

The Courts order simply allows the case to move forward at this preliminary stage and is not a ruling on the merits of the case, Castro added, saying his client will continue to vigorously defend against these claims and uphold the fundamental principles of the First Amendment.

At the time of the radio segment, the Ethics Commission was probing whether Lago made a false statement when he voluntarily signed a sworn affidavit in 2022 proclaiming that neither he nor any of his immediate family members had a business interest in annexing Little Gables, an unincorporated enclave on the citys northern border.

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At the time, the mayors brother, Carlos Lago, was registered to lobby in the city of Miami for a company that owned a Little Gables trailer park that had been a sticking point in past efforts to annex the enclave. A representative from Carlos Lagos law firm previously told the Herald that the mayors brother only represented the company for one project back in 2015 in Miami and that his registration became effectively inoperative thereafter. He withdrew his lobbyist registration for the company in early 2023, days after the Actualidad segment aired.

The Ethics Commission concluded in October 2023 that Lago did not knowingly make a false statement and that the preliminary fact-finding did not merit further scrutiny, effectively closing out the matter.

In his defamation complaint, the mayor claimed the comments on Actualidad caused a deterioration of Lagos personal and business reputation in the community, humiliation, embarrassment and ridicule.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  One person was killed in a Baton Rouge shooting Monday night.

The East Baton Rouge Parish Coroners Office was called to the scene of a shooting around 9 p.m. in the 3300 block of Canonicus Street near Plank Road. The shooting victim was identified as Jorquisha Rose, 39.

Emergency medical services officials confirmed they were sent to the scene just before 8:50 p.m. Monday. Multiple Baton Rouge Police Department units, police tape and investigators were observed at the scene.

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BRPD said, homicide detectives believe a domestic incident occurred between Rose and another known individual that led to the shooting.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information about this shooting is asked to call the Violent Crimes Unit at 225-389-4869 or Crime Stoppers at 225-344-7867.

1 hurt in Baton Rouge shooting Monday afternoon, officials say

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Justin Jones wiped clean his phone of all text messages related to a lawsuit against Clark County in April 2019 for two specific, dishonest reasons: corruption and cover-up, the states bar counsel told a hearing panel Monday.

In his own defense, Jones testified he does not remember whatever the act of deleting was or why I deleted the text messages.

Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones faces disciplinary hearing

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He knows the importance of text messages, Dan Hooge, the bar counsel, said in an opening statement at Jones disciplinary hearing, as part of his attempt to suspend or revoke Jones license to practice law in Nevada, which he earned in 2003.

Jones represented a group of residents that opposed a real estate development planned near Red Rock Canyon on Blue Diamond Hill prior to and around the time of his election to the Clark County Commission in 2018. The developer, Jim Rhodes, ultimately won an $80 million lawsuit against the county.

Everything that you do, you need to be honest, Hooge told a three-attorney panel hearing Jones case. And also you need to avoid criminal acts. It is a criminal act to bribe an elected official.

Las Vegas politician Jones scores legal victory ahead of state disbarment hearing

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Hooge said Jones was attempting to convince then-commissioner  and eventual Democratic governor  Steve Sisolak to vote to deny the developers request for the county to waive certain restrictions the county placed on the project. Sisolak is not a party nor a witness in the Jones matter before the state bar.

Rhodes and his company, Gypsum Resources, battled with the county for the better part of a decade before the county settled Rhodes lawsuit. The countys attorney, at the time, advised settling with Rhodes to avoid a potential $2 million verdict and because the city of Las Vegas had recently lost a costly legal battle with a different developer.

State bar counsel filed 2 complaints against Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones

You cannot destroy evidence if your intent is to keep that from the opposing party, Hooge said.

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On behalf of Jones, his attorney, former Clark County District Court Judge Rob Bare, said that Jones did not intentionally delete his phones text messages for any other reason than a political cleansing after commissioners voted against Rhodes request to waive a condition the county imposed on his project.

Their job is to do whats right for the public, Bare said of the county commissioners. To do whats right for their constituencies.

Bare, who emphasized to the hearing panel the importance of taking Jones character into consideration in deciding whether to revoke his law license, said Joness actions were, in large part, aimed at representing the group of neighbors who were vocal in their opposition to the Blue Diamond development.

What is the matter with that? Bare asked. Welcome to America.

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The hearing is scheduled to last through Wednesday evening. A decision on Jones law license will come at some point after that.

Jones colleague, District B commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick, and Las Vegas City Councilman of Ward 1 Brian Knudsen, are expected to testify voluntarily on Jones behalf, Bare said.

Jones, the sitting county commissioner for District F, was elected to a second four-year term in 2022.

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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.

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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.

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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.

New Mexico a case study on child care costs challenges

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.

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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.

Stateline, like Idaho Capital Sun, 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.

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Could pepper-spraying, flash-bang-deploying drones stop a school shooter?

AUSTIN (KXAN)  A program in the works called Campus Guardian Angel uses drones as the first line of response against an active threat on a school campus.

The group behind the program is spending the week in Austin demonstrating how it works.

We are putting drones with less lethal affects in schools ahead of time so they can respond instantly to active shooter threats, CEO Justin Marston explained.

Drones deploy flash bangs near dummy as part of demonstration. The CEO of Campus Guardian Angel explains the program to local law enforcement. As part of a demonstration, drones chase a man posing as an active shooter into a classroom. Split screen shows camera view from four different drones. Body camera video shows law enforcement demonstrating how they would work in conjunction with Campus Guardian Angel.

How does this work?

Activated via mobile app, 911 system or AI threat-prevention technology

Professional pilots operate the drones remotely

The drones cameras can track a subject and lead law enforcement to them

Drones also have ability to deploy pepper spray and flash bangs

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Theyre meant to activate immediately to get a head start on neutralizing a campus threat, as well as supply additional help for law enforcement when officers do get there.

[Our team] is looking for secondary confirmation this is real, and the moment they see something that says, oh, this is really happening, our goal is to have to drones in the air and our goal is to be at that location within 15 seconds, Marston said.

Currently, schools in Boerne ISD are the first to use this technology on a pilot basis.

So initially, I was like, this is some science fiction shenanigans, said Sgt. Bo Patton with the Boerne Police Department. But the situational awareness, and all of the stuff that you can start to get earlier, its massive.

Human-operated machines

Marston emphasized the human element involved with the drones.

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We have human pilots, he said.

Those humans are some of the best drone pilots in the world.

Ive been drone racing for the last eight years, five of those have been on a professional level, said Christian Van Sloun, the head of Campus Guardian Angels pilots. He said the drones can often move through the hallways more quickly than officers because theyre just machines  so there isnt a fear for their safety.

Ive loved the opportunity to take my drone racing skills and translate them into the project that could help save the lives of our children, Van Sloun said.

The human element is one of the reasons the students KXAN spoke with feel comfortable with  and support  this program, even if the idea of the drones made them uneasy at times.

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The drones were kind of loud, but I think in the context of there being a school shooter, thats the least of my worries, said Tvisha Jindal, 18.

The programs future?

The current goal is to get the drones into schools across Texas, but Campus Guardian Angel is in the very early stages of introducing the program to schools.

Marston said the company could cover schools across the entire state with the use of four command centers.

He also said this legislative session could impact the implementation of the technology because some education elements up for discussion are working to clarify whether drone safety technology could be funding with state money given to school districts.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has drawn attention to Russias continuing human rights violations in occupied Crimea and urged Russia to stop breaching international humanitarian law.

Source: European Pravda, citing the press service for the Council of Europe, as stated in a decision by the Committee on the inter-state case Ukraine v. Russia concerning Crimea, adopted at the last quarterly meeting on the supervision of the implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)

Details: The Committee of Ministers called on the Russian Federation to restore the application of Ukrainian law in Crimea, to cease practices that violate the European Convention on Human Rights, and to release all Crimean political prisoners.

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The Committee condemned Russia's violations of the Convention and international humanitarian law, such as ill-treatment and torture, arbitrary detention, incommunicado detention and enforced disappearances. Moscow is urged to stop these actions, to ensure that prisoners have access to independent legal advice and medical treatment, and to allow communication with their families.

Russia is urged to allow independent international bodies to monitor the health and conditions of detainees and to submit a list of detainees so that the Committee can monitor the progress of their release.

Moscow is urged to cease the practice of transferring prisoners from Crimea to the Russian Federation and to bring those who have been moved to Russian territory back to the peninsula.

The Committee called on Russia to end discrimination against and the persecution of Crimean Tatars, to ensure the right to education in Crimea in the Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian languages, to stop the persecution of Ukrainian-speaking children and teachers, to lift the illegal restriction on freedom of movement between Crimea and mainland Ukraine, to cease and reverse the expropriation of property, and to ensure the legal possibility and adequate facilities for opting out of Russian citizenship.

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"The Committee of Ministers invited the authorities of the 46 Council of Europe member states to explore all possible means to ensure the execution of this judgment, to ensure accountability for the serious breaches of international law established in it," the statement said.

The Committee of Ministers noted that Moscow remains obliged to execute ECHR judgments despite its expulsion from the Council of Europe.

Background:

The president of the ECHR has stated that the consideration of interstate cases against Russia is a priority for the court. Currently, there are five such cases  four involving Ukraine and one concerning Georgia.

In the case of Ukraine v Russia (regarding Crimea), a judgment has been delivered on the merits.

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GREENSBURG  Decatur Countys Comprehensive Plan was a topic of discussion at the most recent meeting of the Decatur County Board of Commissioners.

Area Plan Director Doug Westerfeld spoke, asking for the board's approval to put together a steering committee to begin the process of reviewing and updating the existing plan.

This will also begin the timeline for the county to apply for grants to offset the cost of updating the plan, Westerfeld said.

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The committee will consist of seven individuals who will work with the Southeastern Indiana Regional Planning Commission in applying for that grant. The committee will also be part of the interviewing process when an organization is chosen to write the new plan.

Westerfeld said the timeline will allow the plan to be updated before the end of the two year moratorium the Commissioners placed on solar projects in the county.

When asked about the cost of the new plan, Westerfeld indicated that the grant being applied for is $60,000.

We dont have an estimated cost (for the plan), but were thinking this plan might cost around $100,000, he said.

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Commissioner Brian Wenning asked Westerfeld if a new plan would be written, to which Westerfeld responded with, We are reviewing and updating it.

Wenning continued, asking if perhaps an individual who wrote comprehensive plan could be hired to speed up the process, but Westerfeld suggested a grant for an individual might not be available.

Westerfeld proposed the members of the committee would be himself, Commissioner Jeremy Pasel, Tim Ortman, Bryan Robbins, Rick Hoeing, Todd Mauer and Rick Nobbe.

Pasel asked when the last plan was written, to which Westerfeld responded with, 2017, and its recommended they be updated every five years.

A vote was taken to allow the steering committee selection to commence.
UNITED NATIONS, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations welcomed an agreement reached by the Syrian interim government and the Kurdish-led forces after the violent escalation in the country's coastal region last week, a UN spokesman said on Tuesday.

"We welcome the agreement signed by the leaderships of the Caretaker Authorities in Syria and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that took place on Monday," Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said at the daily briefing.

Geir Pedersen, UN special envoy for Syria, expressed his hope in a statement that the agreement can support and feed into a broader, credible and inclusive political transition process, in line with the key principles of Security Council resolution 2254, that leads to a new constitution and free and fair elections.

Pedersen also encouraged key international stakeholders, including the United States, Turkiye, and regional partners, to support their Syrian partners. "That includes supporting a nationwide ceasefire and ensuring genuine compromises that enable peace and stability to take hold in the northeast part of Syria," he added.

The Syrian interim government and the Kurdish-led SDF on Monday reached a deal on merging all civil and military institutions in the Kurdish-controlled region under state institutions, state news agency SANA reported.

The accord also included provisions to guarantee the rights of all Syrians, the official recognition of the Kurdish community as an integral part of Syria, a nationwide ceasefire, and the protection for returning displaced Syrians, the report said. 
Tyler Smays child advocacy role at Beginnings Inc. is a behind-the-scenes position, he said, which made it a humbling surprise when he received the Pennsylvania Blue Ribbon Champions for Safe Kids award this year.

Smay, 32, is Beginnings Inc.s program director for Court Appointed Special Advocates of the Laurel Highlands. A court-appointed special advocate, or CASA, is a volunteer appointed by a judge to advocate for an abused or neglected childs best interests during court proceedings.

The CASA volunteers do the real work, Smay said. To me, its just an honor to be here to support them and help them out.

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He is one of four people from across Pennsylvania to get the Blue Ribbon award from the Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance this year. The honor aims to recognize people who go above and beyond the call to protect children from neglect and abuse.

Smay was nominated for the award by Beginnings Inc. Executive Director Jessica Phillippi and United Way of the Southern Alleghenies Early Childhood Systems Coordinator Lauren Lazzari, who is a CASA volunteer and 2021 Blue Ribbon award recipient.

Phillippi said of Smay: His role as director ... is unique. He is not only focused on keeping his team of two advocate supervisors apprised of changes, challenges, new resources, contacts, legality, custody and safety updates for the children and families appointed to their volunteers, but he is also the behind-the-scenes contact to the courts, children and youth service providers and the community overall.

She added that Smay has remained in his position for nearly five years and has supported the department for longer. He has worked at Beginnings Inc. for about eight years and was a supervisor before becoming the director.

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His efforts to build trusting relationships as we expand and solidify our commitment to children and families in both Cambria and Somerset counties have been invaluable, Phillippi said.

Lazzari said Smays CASA revitalization efforts in Somerset County have led to the Laurel Highlands branch achieving one of the highest volunteer retention rates in the state network, at 95% for five years.

As the CASA program grows, so does Tylers compassion for serving the most vulnerable children in our community, Lazzari wrote in her recommendation letter.

He is a guiding light and steadfast support for the volunteers of the Laurel Highlands CASA program. Since the programs inception in 1997, which has advocated for over 2,000 children and their families, Tyler has been instrumental in ensuring its continued success.

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Lazzari wrote that although Smay does not seek recognition, without his tireless efforts local children would not be able to live life free from abuse and neglect. She added that he goes above and beyond without hesitation, taking CASA cases, organizing donation drives and training others.

Smay is a Johnstown native and Greater Johnstown High School graduate who holds a bachelors degree in history and political science from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. He is also the vice chair of the Stackhouse Park board.

Smays passion for lending a hand began in high school when he joined Greater Johnstowns Key Club, which provides service projects to the community.

Participating in the club provided perspective that helped shape his life, he said.

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He began working at Beginnings Inc. in 2016 as an AmeriCorps member assisting in a variety of departments, but focusing on marketing and social media. When his AmeriCorps term ended about a year later, he was recommended by staff to work in the CASA field.

Although he was hesitant, he said, he found his passion in the work.

Our mission is basically to recruit, train and support community volunteers who advocate in the courtroom for children who have experienced abuse or neglect, Smay said.

He said its challenging work, but knowing it makes a difference makes the job worth it. He joked that he doesnt enjoy being in the spotlight, but is willing to bear it if that means the CASA program will receive more attention.

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It can be difficult to get CASA volunteers, he said. Beginnings Inc. has 35 active participants, and 26 have at least one case. And theres a need for more volunteers due to abuse and neglect reports increasing since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Smay said he hopes that winning the award will raise awareness about child abuse. That perspective is what makes him a true champion, Phillippi said.

He and the other award recipients will be honored April 2 at the state Capitol in Harrisburg.

Joshua Byers can be reached at 814-532-5054. Follow him on Twitter @Journo_Josh.
WASHINGTON (AP)  A union for U.S. Agency for International Development contractors asked a federal judge Tuesday to intervene in any destruction of classified documents after an email ordered staffers to help burn and shred agency records.

Judge Carl Nichols set a Wednesday morning deadline for the plaintiffs and the government to brief him on the issue. A person familiar with the email who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal verified that it was sent to at least some essential personnel.

It comes as the Trump administration has been dismantling USAID, cutting off most federal funding and terminating 83% of humanitarian and development programs abroad, pulling all but a few hundred staffers off the job, and shutting down the agency's Washington headquarters.

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Lawsuits are mounting over the abrupt shutdown of most U.S. foreign assistance and the targeting of the aid agency. In the latest court challenge, Personal Services Contractor Association, representing thousands of contractors now furloughed or fired from USAID, asked the judge to stop any document destruction to preserve evidence.

The email was sent under the name of Erica Carr  the acting executive secretary at USAID  and bears a USAID logo.

Thank you for your assistance in clearing our classified safes and personnel documents at USAID headquarters in Washington, it begins.

It directed staffers to report to work starting Tuesday. Shred as many documents first, then stuff remaining classified material into designated bags for burning if the demand on the shredder becomes too great, the email instructed.

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Staffers were told to write secret on the bag with a marker.

The State Department did not immediately respond to questions about the email, including whether officials were following the legally required procedures in any destruction of documents.

The collection, retention and disposal of classified material and federal records are closely regulated by federal law. Improper handling or disposal can be charged as a crime.

Rep. Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, accused the Trump administration of not complying with federal records law.

Haphazardly shredding and burning USAID documents and personnel files seems like a great way to get rid of evidence of wrongdoing when youre illegally dismantling the agency, Meeks said in a statement.

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A group representing USAID workers, the American Foreign Service Association, said in a statement that it feared documents being destroyed could be relevant to the ongoing lawsuits over USAID's firings and program terminations.

The classified documents at USAID emerged last month when the Trump administration put the agency's top two security officials on leave after they refused to grant members of Elon Musk's government-cutting teams access to classified material.

The Associated Press reported that the classified material included intelligence reports. Kate Miller, who serves on an advisory board for DOGE, said at the time that no classified material was accessed without proper security clearances.

The wide firings at USAID have left relatively few staffers with access to agency systems.

___

Amiri reported from the United Nations. Associated Press writer Lindsay Whitehurst contributed from Washington.
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP)  Court records say a passenger on a small regional flight to Miami attacked a flight attendant, kicked and punched the seat of the person in front of him and swallowed rosary beads as pilots returned to the airport in Savannah, Georgia.

The passenger was traveling with his sister, who said her brother told her before the violent outburst to close her eyes and pray because Satan's disciple(s) had followed them onto the plane, according to an FBI agent's affidavit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court.

No one was seriously hurt on the Monday night flight operated by Envoy Air, a regional carrier for American Airlines. The 31-year-old passenger was jailed on charges including misdemeanor battery, misdemeanor obstruction of police and a felony count of criminal property damage.

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FBI Agent Savannah Solomon described the violent episode in her affidavit, saying there was probable cause to charge the man with a federal crime of interfering with a flight crew.

Solomon wrote that eight passengers were on the plane and flight attendants became concerned immediately after takeoff when they noticed one of them appearing to have a fit of epilepsy that included stomping, incoherent yelling, and shaking.

When a flight attendant approached the man, he turned in his seat and kicked the attendant in the chest, sending the worker flying into a window across the aisle, the agent wrote. The passenger then started kicking and punching the seat of the person in front of him, who moved before the back of the seat collapsed.

The pilots returned to the Savannah airport. After the plane landed, the man who had kicked the flight attendant charged toward the exit and threw punches at another flight attendant before being subdued by other passengers, the affidavit says.

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He was apprehended by airport police and taken to a local hospital for ingestion of rosary beads, the affidavit says. Then the passenger was booked into the Chatham County jail.

Federal court records and online jail records did not list an attorney for the arrested passenger.

His sister told the FBI agent that they were traveling to Haiti to flee religious attacks of a spiritual nature. According to the affidavit, the woman said her brother had swallowed the rosary beads because they are a weapon of strength in the spiritual warfare.

The woman told the agent her brother was not suffering from mental health problems or medical issues.
The U.S. COVID-19 pandemic began five years ago Tuesday, arriving in a country that already had a partisan divide that would continue to shape the reaction to restrictions.

Pew Research Center recently reported that was one of three major social trends happening at the time: Distrust in many institutions was growing and there was massive splintering of the information environment. America had stepped into a pick-your-own-truth period that the viral illness just complicated. In the Pew survey, 72% of U.S. adults said that the pandemic did more to drive the country apart than to bring it together.

The U.S. deaths have been easier to count than some of the diseases impact. Worldometer, which stopped updating last April as case counts slowed way down  but didnt stop, as COVID-19 still kills more than influenza  notes that the U.S. had 111,820,082 COVID-19 cases and 1,219,487 deaths. Utah was No. 28 in terms of deaths, at 5,719. California had the most, at just over 112,000, while Vermont had the least, at just over 1,100.

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Millions of Americans still struggle with the lingering effects of long COVID.

Clearly, then the long-lasting and perhaps most profound impact varied from family to family, but there were societal changes, as well.

Of note in the Pew survey, About half of U.S. adults or fewer now say their state elected officials (49%), Joe Biden (40%) and Donald Trump (38%) did an excellent or good job responding to the pandemic. A slim majority (56%) give positive ratings to public health officials, like those at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The report adds that only local hospitals get a full-throated approval from Americans: Looking back, 78% say medical centers in their area responded well to the pandemic. And most of those surveyed say they are no longer afraid of the illness.

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Slightly over half say the news media exaggerated the risks of COVID-19 at least slightly, including 80% of Republicans and 30% of Democrats.

The World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. Lots of things changed after the virus arrived. Here are five areas where the impact is still felt.

Dr. Angela Dunn, state epidemiologist, speaks with reporters following a press conference at the Utah Department of Health in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, where officials discussed new developments with the novel coronavirus COVID-19 and how the states health systems and hospitals are working together to prepare for possible community spread of the illness. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Gov. Gary Herbert speaks during a press conference addressing preparations for a potential outbreak of the coronavirus in Utah at the state Capitol in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 2, 2020. | Ivy Ceballo, Deseret News

Cecilia Ochoa walks out of the Lehi Costco pushing a cart with water, toilet tissue and other items on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. Shoppers are being told that they can only buy up to five cases of water and up to three cases of toilet tissue from that store, as they prepare themselves during the coronavirus scare. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Matt Rascon, left, Lori Prichard and Jed Boal, all of KSL-TV, Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, who is spearheading the Utah COVID-19 Community Task Force, and Carolyn Gonot, executive director at the Utah Transit Authority, far right, listen to Dr. Angela Dunn, state epidemiologist, fifth from left, during a KSL-TV roundtable discussion on the communitys response and preparedness for the coronavirus at the Triad Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 5, 2020. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

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Registered nurse Aly Speak puts up an informational sign at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray for people exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms on Monday, March 9, 2020. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Visitors to the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City walk past signs offering information about masks for those who are experiencing fever, cough or difficulty breathing on Monday, March 9, 2020. The hospital is preparing for potential COVID-19 patients. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Transportable hospital tents that have been set up for potential COVID-19 patients are pictured at the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 9, 2020. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Alison Flynn Gaffney, executive director of service lines, ancillary and support services at University of Utah Health, left, and Philip Chaffee, senior director of emergency management at University of Utah Health, talk as they walk inside one of the two transportable hospital tents that have been set up for potential COVID-19 patients at the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 9, 2020. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

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Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) looks to make a pass around Toronto Raptors center Serge Ibaka (9) during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 9, 2020. Gobert tested positive for COVID-19 March 11, shutting down the NBA. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Debbie Farka, marketing manager for Intermountain TeleHealth Services, demonstrates what a virtual visit with a doctor would be like at the Intermountain TeleHealth Center in Murray on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Intermountain Healthcare is expanding its TeleHealth and Connect Care Services to help combat COVID-19. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Dan Curtis, Salt Lake County budget analyst and fiscal manager, left, Shanell Beecher, Salt Lake County director of accounting, and Darrin Casper, Salt Lake County deputy mayor and chief financial officer, practice working remotely at the Salt Lake County Emergency Management building in South Salt Lake on Wednesday, March 11, 2020. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

People enter and exit The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 11, 2020. The church announced Wednesday that April's general conference sessions will be held virtually, some incoming missionaries will train remotely, and gatherings of multiple congregations in some areas will be postponed due to the spread of COVID-19. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

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Sister Katie Clark, a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Newport Beach, Calif., hugs her crying mother, Jeannie Clark, as they walk near the Provo Temple and the Missionary Training Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 11, 2020. The church announced Wednesday that April's general conference sessions will be held virtually, some incoming missionaries will train remotely, and gatherings of multiple congregations in some areas will be postponed due to the spread of COVID-19. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints walk between buildings at the Missionary Training Center in Provo on Wednesday, March 11, 2020. The church announced Wednesday that April's general conference sessions will be held virtually, some incoming missionaries will train remotely, and gatherings of multiple congregations in some areas will be postponed due to the spread of COVID-19. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Elder Chase Steuer greets his family as hundreds of missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints return from the Philippines to Salt Lake City International Airport on Sunday, March 22, 2020. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

A map showing the spread of COVID-19 cases is pictured in the Emergency Operations Center at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 12, 2020. | Deseret News

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Dr. Kurt Hegmann, director of the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, left, Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, Gov. Gary Herbert and Dr. Joseph Miner, executive director of the Utah Department of Health, confer after a press conference in the Gold Room at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 13, 2020, where officials announced that Utahs K-12 schools will experience a soft closure for two weeks, effective Monday, as the state deals with the spread of COVID-19. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

Sophomores Zoe Scott and Oakleigh Harman wait for their bus to leave Murray High School on Thursday, March 12, 2020. Murray City School District announced Thursday it is closing its schools until further notice amid spread of the novel coronavirus in Utah. Most students and teachers left school after the announcement was made earlier in the day. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Alex Haslam, assistant facilities manager for Midvale Middle School, uses an electrostatic sprayer to disinfect lockers in the school on Monday, March 16, 2020. On Friday, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert and state health and education officials closed schools for two weeks to help stop the spread of COVID-19. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

A student picks up a laptop at West High School in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 19, 2020. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

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A security guard turns people away at an entrance to City Creek Center in Salt Lake City after the shopping center closed for the day on Thursday, March 12, 2020. City Creek officials said they were closing to clean and disinfect after discovering that a shopper with a confirmed case of COVID-19 entered the mall on Tuesday. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

Rep. Norm Thurston, R-Provo, watches the board in the House chamber after voting at the Capitol in Salt Lake City during the last night of the 2020 legislative session on Thursday, March 12, 2020. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Gov. Gary Herbert, second from right, speaks about the spread of COVID-19 during a press conference in the Emergency Operations Center at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 12, 2020. Also appearing are, from left to right, Noelle Cockett, president of Utah State University, Dr. Michael L. Good, CEO of University of Utah Health, Ruth Watkins, president of the University of Utah, Dr. Angela Dunn, state epidemiologist, and Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox. | Deseret News

Heather McCartin works from her home in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 13, 2020, amid growing fears over COVID-19. McCartin is a research assistant at the Utah Composites Lab at the University of Utah and is self-isolating as much as possible because she has cystic fibrosis, a chronic lung disease that makes her more vulnerable to the coronavirus. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

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An appointment-only drive-thru COVID-19 testing facility set up outside University of Utah Health's South Jordan Health Center is pictured on Friday, March 13, 2020. The facility will be operational Monday. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Hospital employees take swabs from people at an appointment-only drive-thru COVID-19 testing facility set up outside University of Utah Health's South Jordan Health Center on Friday, March 13, 2020. Although the testing facility wasn't open to the public on Friday, the people were tested anyway. The facility will be operational Monday. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

McKenzie Horrocks cleans the seats and food trays between movies at the Megaplex Theatres at Jordan Commons in Sandy on Friday, March 13, 2020. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

People participate in a group workout at Tekton Fitness in Murray on Friday, March 13, 2020. Gym patrons began cleaning equipment with Clorox and were instructed to clean their hands before and after classes as part of the precautions the gym is taking during the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of signing in on tablets when they arrive, they were also instructed to sign in on their personal devices before arriving to class. | Ivy Ceballo, Deseret News

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Kylee Porter cleans a mat after a group workout at Tekton Fitness in Murray on Friday, March 13, 2020. Gym patrons began cleaning equipment with Clorox and were instructed to clean their hands before and after classes as part of the precautions the gym is taking during the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of signing in on tablets when they arrive, they were also instructed to sign in on their personal devices before arriving to class. | Ivy Ceballo, Deseret News

Michael Kaleel, owner of a family operated restaurant, remains optimistic as the coronavirus pandemic affects his catering business and product supply at Wriggles in Murray on Friday, March 13, 2020. Ive shopped all day and I cant find anything, thats the problem that Im having, Kaleel told an employee, who called to check how business was going. | Ivy Ceballo, Deseret News

A few people are spotted on what would normally be a more crowded downtown Salt Lake street on Saturday, March 14, 2020. Coronavirus concerns are keeping more people home. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Hospital employees work at a drive-thru COVID-19 testing facility tent outside University of Utah Healths South Jordan Health Center on Monday, March 16, 2020. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

A family drives by to see and photograph Big Betsy, a 150-foot by 78-foot American flag, draped over Intermountain Medical Center in Murray on Thursday, May 21, 2020. | Ivy Ceballo, Deseret News

Cedarwood at Sandy resident Yvonne Bolingbroke holds a sign for caregivers as community volunteers wave signs for the associates at the senior living community in Sandy on Saturday, April 4, 2020. The idea was to show the community's appreciation for the caregivers. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Michael Kaleel delivers a catering order of 50 breakfast wraps to Intermountain Healthcare offices in Murray on Saturday, March 14, 2020. An Intermountain Healthcare employee said that the company ordered catering for employees who are staffing a call center for the coronavirus among others who are also working. Kaleel lost 15 catering clients since Wednesday due to events canceling. I knew it wasnt just a fun event because Im not getting calls right now, Kaleel said. Im catering to the coronavirus. | Ivy Ceballo, Deseret News

Jack Kaleel takes a pack of paper towels to the back of the restaurant at Wriggles in Murray on Saturday, March 14, 2020. Kaleel waited outside of Sams Club before the store opened at 7 a.m. to try and secure the supply of paper towels his son Michael Kaleel needed to continue operating the family restaurant the day after President Donald Trump declared a national emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic. | Ivy Ceballo, Deseret News

Chad Prichard, owner of Fat Daddy's Pizzeria in Provo, chats with Gisel Arredonado, 5, on Monday, March 16, 2020, as he gives away grab-and-go lunches for children who are out of school due to COVID-19 precautions. Gisels mom said they were unable to get lunch at the school her daughter attends because they arrived too late. | Ivy Ceballo, Deseret News

Gina Nicole Line, owner of Advanced Deep Clean, and employee Shawn Whittington clean an office in a new building in Farmington on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Aaron Lloyd, manager at Richs Burgers-N-Grub in Salt Lake City, carries food to customers on Monday, March 16, 2020. Salt Lake County announced it would shut down all dine-in options for restaurants, taverns, bars, entertainment venues and clubs at 11 p.m. Monday in hopes of slowing the spread of the global coronavirus pandemic. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Stephanie Feller prepares for a Facebook Live yoga class at 21st Yoga in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 19, 2020. Businesses are adapting to the restrictions placed on them as the government tries to control the coronavirus outbreak. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Signage instructs visitors to wait outside at the Liberty Senior Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Senior centers are not allowing people to congregate for meals due to concerns over spreading COVID-19 but are instead letting seniors pick up their meals. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

Creekside Assisted Living and Senior Center resident Judy Taylor talks by cellphone to granddaughter Sally Taylor in Bountiful on Friday, March 27, 2020. Family of residents come to the window to see and talk to them via a cellphone due to COVID-19 restrictions. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Ryan Kirby shows his family a video message from President Russell M. Nelson during their gospel study at home using Come, Follow Me  For Individuals and Families: Book of Mormon 2020, a manual for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Lehi on Sunday, March 15, 2020. The church temporarily canceled all meetings and activities worldwide to limit public gatherings in response to the coronavirus pandemic. | Ivy Ceballo, Deseret News

The Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple and the Jordan River Utah Temple are pictured on Wednesday, March 25, 2020. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that all temples worldwide will close due to COVID-19. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

The Rowe family, Natalie, 9, left; Judy; Mariella,13; and Dave Rowe participate in a Seventh-day Adventist church service from their home in Park City to comply with coronavirus precautions limiting gatherings in the state on Saturday, March 21, 2020. | Ivy Ceballo, Deseret News

The Rev. Stephen Tilley, of St. John the Baptist Parish, meets Cary Winberg while sitting in his Jeep for a drive-up confession at a roundabout outside the Skaggs Catholic Center in Draper on Sunday, March 22, 2020. Hes a good guy, hes awesome. Were meeting Jeep to Jeep today, Winberg said. | Ivy Ceballo, Deseret News

An employee works at the Associated Foods Stores distribution warehouse in Farr West, Weber County, on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

A Co-Diagnostics COVID-19 testing kit is pictured in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Co-Diagnostics lab analyst Madison Stark works with samples as the company produces COVID-19 testing kits in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

A sign tells visitors that Alta Ski Area is closed on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Utahs ski resorts are now closed due to the spread of COVID-19. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Shelves that once contained toilet paper are empty at a Smiths grocery store in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

Dairy products run low in a cooler at a Smiths grocery store in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

Verena Eyre, Maria Morales and Mariela Miranda distribute emergency food and hygiene kits outside of the Liberty Community Learning Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 20, 2020. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Signature Healthcare certified nursing assistant Stephanie Kinder wears and shows some of her homemade protective masks at her home in Sandy on Saturday, March 21, 2020. Kinder made masks for her colleagues because her company can no longer order them. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Kayla Farley uses a napkin to hold a gas nozzle to protect herself from the coronavirus at a Speedway in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 23, 2020. | Ivy Ceballo, Deseret News

Maya Holcomb takes her prescription from Suzy Curley, a pharmacy technician, at the drive-thru window at Jolley's Compounding Pharmacy in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 24, 2020. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Lee Cherie Booth, a nurse with the Salt Lake County Health Department, tests an individual for COVID-19 outside of the Salt Lake City Public Health Center on Friday, April 10, 2020. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Matt Lemmon decorated his face mask to surprise his daughter, who he was picking up at the Salt Lake City International Airport on Wednesday, April 8, 2020. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Salt Lake City Justice Courts Judge Clemens Landau, right, speaks with a defendant outside a borrowed Salt Lake police mobile command center being used for a courtroom in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 27, 2020. Utah's criminal justice system is trying several new things in order to keep the courts running amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Zach Sharp, of Carlson Distributing, waits outside Murphy's Bar & Grill in Salt Lake City to remove beer kegs on Thursday, March 26, 2020. Sharp and his co-workers estimate that 124 million pints of beer will go down the drain while bars and restaurants are closed. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Jade Irwin and Mason Taylor watch "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" outside of Water Gardens Cinema 6, where two drive-in movie theaters are set up to accommodate social distancing due to COVID-19, in Pleasant Grove on Friday, March 27, 2020. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

People watch "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" from their vehicles outside of Water Gardens Cinema 6, where two drive-in movie theaters are set up to accommodate social distancing due to COVID-19, in Pleasant Grove on Friday, March 27, 2020. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

People play on the pickleball and tennis courts at the 11th Avenue Park in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, April 8, 2020. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert puts on a face mask during the daily COVID-19 media briefing at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday, April 9, 2020. | Rick Bowmer

Groom Alyson Sa and bride Erin Welter communicate with friends and family following their bilingual wedding ceremony that was conducted via Zoom at Sas uncle's home in South Jordan on Saturday, March 28, 2020. The bride and groom's families joined the video union from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Apopka, Fla., along with their local Latter-day Saint bishop, who officiated their wedding from his home while in quarantine due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. I mean, I always said that I wanted a crazy love story and I guess Im getting one, Welter said. | Ivy Ceballo, Deseret News

Guests cheer and wave to newlyweds Michael and Stephanie Chaus during a drive-by wedding reception outside of Stephanie's parents' home in Cottonwood Heights on Saturday, March 28, 2020. The couple were to marry April 3 in the Jordan River Utah Temple, but their plans changed due to the spread of novel coronavirus. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Teachers at Farr West Elementary in Farr West, Weber County, line the street in front of the school and wave scarves at students driving past with their parents on the last day of classes on Friday, May 15, 2020. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Bodee Brown, Boston Brown, Dax Christensen, Baylor Karras and Nash Christensen wave to Hooper Elementary teachers parading around Hooper, Weber County, on Tuesday, March 24, 2020. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Teresa Riter, a fourth grade teacher at Farr West Elementary in Farr West, Weber County, waves a scarf at students during a drive-by parade in front of the school on the last day of classes on Friday, May 15, 2020. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

The windows at The Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City are illuminated in the shape of a heart on Tuesday, April 14, 2020. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

Education deficit

More young adults lived with their parents during the early pandemic days than at any point since the Great Depression, per a different Pew report.

And as Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported, Social isolation during the pandemic has had a lasting impact on mental health, particularly among children and adolescents.

School closures have had a lasting impact on the students who experienced them, from diminished social engagement to challenges with actual classes. Online learning was a beast for many students, according to the Education Recovery Scorecard, a joint project of Harvard, Stanford and Dartmouth universities. The scorecard shows that as of last spring, the average U.S. student remained nearly half a grade level behind pre-pandemic achievement in math and reading.

Sophomore Zoe Scott waits for her bus to leave Murray High School on Thursday, March 12, 2020. Murray City School District announced Thursday it is closing its schools until further notice amid spread of the novel coronavirus in Utah. Most students and teachers left school after the announcement was made earlier in the day. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

It notes that socioeconomic and racial/ethnic disparities in math achievement have grown since the start of the pandemic.

Absenteeism is beginning to recover, per the report. But its not there yet.

Remote work

About 6 in 10 U.S. jobs had to be done in person. But nearly everyone else went home during the pandemic and remote work is still a staple for many people. One-third of those who were remote during the pandemic told Pew they still work remotely all the time. Forty-three percent say they are remote some or most of the time.

Sixty percent of those with teleworkable jobs say it has helped them improve their work-life balance, while still letting them do their jobs and meet deadlines. About half of those working remotely said theyd likely look for another job if the boss said they have to physically return to work.

But the pandemic caused unemployment to spike. Before COVID-19, it was 3.8%. Pew said by April 2020, the rate had risen to 14.4%, though by the end of 2021, it had dropped almost to pre-COVID levels.

More women left the workforce than men, Pew reported. And some who left have never returned. Meanwhile, a number of businesses simply could not hold on and closed during the pandemic.

Tyson Oldham works in his home office as his son Carson, 7, rattles his chair in Highland on Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Online church

Many church services went online during the heart of the pandemic and 36% of Americans said they watched religious services online or on TV in the last month. But the pandemic did not shake American religion: The share participating in services in some way has been steady and the share who say COVID-19 had a big impact on their spiritual life is small, per the Pew report.

Tyler and Sheree Godfrey watch the 190th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with their children Boston, Maddy, Gracie, Noah and T.J. from their home in Holladay on Saturday, April 4, 2020. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Distrust of science

The Pew study found that people were very frustrated during COVID-19 by changing advice. Early on, masking was actively discouraged as not very effective, for instance. Then it was mandated.

Today, just 1 in 5 Americans say they still mask in stores and businesses; for 80%, the answer is rarely or never.

As distrust of authority and so-called expertise grew, people started tuning out some resources and finding their own.

As the Journal Sentinel reported, quoting Sedona Chinn, an assistant professor and researcher in the Department of Life Sciences Communication at University of Wisconsin-Madison, folks who were frustrated started doing their own research, but it also led to more misinformation and more anti-expert bias, making it all the much harder for solid science to break through.

Brendan Bowen holds up a sign as he and other protesters gather in the City Center Park of Orem in opposition to mask mandates on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Some people did good research, getting information from many sources. Others went to sources that confirmed what they were already thinking, even if it was wrong.

Early mistakes as public health was learning about the novel coronavirus didnt help that. Scientific American points out that U.S. officials botched initial testing and results were often inconclusive or slow. The whole issue of whether to mask or not and the changing advice amplified distrust.

Per the article, we are now more ready  and less ready  for another pandemic. We know we can make vaccines fast and develop tests, for instance. Thats helpful for the next event.

But, per the article, Current threats to the institution of science itself are exacerbating the problem. It points out that some overtly anti-science and anti-vaccine people  most notably Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., have been assigned to lead federal health agencies. He has made sweeping cuts to the CDC, the NIH and other science agencies," among other moves that may change how things would play out in a future pandemic.

Health care delivery

Masks are now readily available in health care facilities and use is encouraged for those who might have a contagious illness and those looking to avoid it. Seeing someone on a plane wearing a mask is not an uncommon sight.

Post-COVID, telemedicine is here to stay, experts say, potentially greatly improving access. As the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported, Patients getting behavioral health services across the (local health) network are just as likely to do so virtually as they are to visit a doctor or therapist in person. Online access has also made therapy more efficient to deliver across a large health system, eliminating the need for patients and therapists to physically be in the same place, said Anil Singh, executive medical director for population health at Highmark Health.

Telemedicine is growing in many areas of medicine, where it was once almost unheard of. Now people with mobility, transportation and timing issues can access care of many different types, including in the neurosciences.

Debbie Farka, marketing manager for Intermountain TeleHealth Services, demonstrates what a virtual visit with a doctor would be like at the Intermountain TeleHealth Center in Murray on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Intermountain Healthcare is expanding its TeleHealth and Connect Care Services to help combat COVID-19. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Thats just one of the changes that hospitalist Dr. Russell Vinik, chief medical operations officer at University of Utah Healthcare and associate professor of medicine at the University of Utah, told Deseret News last year that he believes will last.

Vaccine skepticism has grown since COVID-19.

Routine screenings, which basically stopped during COVID-19, have not fully recovered. As Vinik noted, One of the tragedies still impacting health is delayed screening. At the height of the pandemic, mammography dropped by over 50%, while colonoscopies fell as much as 80%. The cancers themselves werent suspended, just the search for them. So cancers were detected at later stages, Vinik said. Patients suffered because of that.
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, on March 11, 2020, declared a state of emergency over a new respiratory virus. At the time there had been nine cases reported in Arizona.

The same day that Ducey issued his declaration, the World Health Organization said that novel coronavirus was a worldwide pandemic.

Since that time, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, became known as COVID-19. The federal tally of COVID-19 deaths in Arizona since 2020, as reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is 31,333. Nationally, the tally is 1.2 million, the CDC says.

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Worldwide, the death count is 7.1 million and the U.S. has had more COVID-19 deaths than any other country, followed by Brazil and India.

Here are five facts about COVID-19 in Arizona:

Arizona's first COVID-19 case was in January, 2020

The first Arizona case  the fifth in the U.S.  was confirmed in a 26-year-old Maricopa County man on Jan. 26, 2020.

Back then, the virus did not have a name and was often being referred to as the new coronavirus or novel coronavirus. The advice from public health officials at the time was to take precautions similar to preventing the flu.

Arizona's first serious outbreak of COVID-19 hit the Navajo Nation

Not long after a March 7 religious rally in the Navajo community of Chilchinbeto in Northern Arizona, patients with low oxygen saturation rates, fever and trouble breathing began seeking care at tribal health facilities.

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State health officials called the surge in tribal cases a "significant outbreak" and the case numbers made headlines across the country as a hotspot for infections.

By April 16, the Navajo Nation, which has reservation land in Arizona, Utah and New Mexico and about 180,000 residents, had reported 838 positive cases and 33 known deaths. Most of the positive cases  543  were in Arizona, the tribe reported.

Also, by mid-April, the Arizona Department of Heath Services reported Native Americans comprised 21% of COVID-19 deaths where race and ethnicity was known, even though about 4.6% of Arizonans are American Indian or Alaska Native.

Arizona's first COVID-19 death was March 17, 2020

In a joint statement, Maricopa County and the Arizona Department of Health Services on March 20, 2020, announced that a man in his 50s who had underlying health conditions had died of COVID-19.

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The Arizona Republic confirmed through an autopsy report that the man who died was Trevor Bui, a 50-year-old deputy Phoenix aviation director.

Bui died at his Chandler home March 17, 2020, Maricopa County Medical Examiner records say, and never knew he was positive for COVID-19.

Viruses: It's been a severe flu season in Arizona. How much longer will it linger?

The COVID-19 vaccine saved lives but became political

When the COVID-19 vaccine first became widely available in 2021, there was a huge rush to get appointments. Demand constantly exceeded supply. But by June of that year, interest in getting vaccinated had waned and deaths continued.

"It's very clear that the serious cases, the ones that become hospitalized, or worse, death  those are the ones that are unvaccinated," David Engelthaler, director of the infectious disease branch of the Arizona-based Translational Genomics Research Institute said in July 2021.

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There are well-documented cases of deaths connected with the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, as well as cases of serious side effects from all of the COVID-19 vaccines. But taken as a whole, the COVID-19 vaccine is extremely effective at preventing infection, hospitalization and death.

Misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine proliferated in Arizona and across the U.S. and Arizona's COVID-19 vaccination rate lagged the rest of the country throughout the pandemic. Many Republicans argued that mitigation measures impinged on individual freedoms.

"I was really surprised at how political all this got," said Will Humble, executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association. "When the COVID-19 vaccine first came out and people were rushing to get it, I thought the anti-vax movement would be gone for sure. My jaw dropped when I saw it made it worse."

Arizonans continue to die from COVID-19

During the past three months, 206 Arizonans have died from COVID-19, the CDC says.

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Those at highest risk are people with weakened immune systems, including elderly people.

Reach health care reporter Stephanie Innes at Stephanie.Innes@gannett.com or follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @stephanieinnes.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Overview of Arizona's handling of COVID-19 pandemic 5 years later
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  Despite the Covington Drive fire being at 60% containment as of Monday, The South Carolina Forestry Commission said that layers of ground can continue to smolder for an extended period of time.

The commission said in a news release on Tuesday that even though surface fire activity has diminished in parts of the fire, the underground peat layers that are primarily made up of decomposed plant material can continue to smolder.

The news release also mentioned that there are still 64 personnel working to fully contain the wildfire.

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These personnel are patrolling and monitoring fire lines around all areas of the fire as smoldering layers pose an ongoing risk and can reignite as conditions warm up and dry out, the news release said.

It was also mentioned that helicopters will be available for targeted water drops as needed, and that the Georgia National Guard will relieve the South Carolina National Guard in aerial support this week.

* * *

Jordan White is a Digital Producer at News13. She joined the News13 team in August 2024. Jordan, a Myrtle Beach native, graduated from St. James High School in Murrells Inlet and is a graduate of Coker University. Follow Jordan on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of her work here.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
London  An American man who said he was among the crew on the MV Stena Immaculate tanker when it was hit Monday by a cargo ship, causing both vessels to burst into flames off England's east coast, told CBS News the other ship "came from out of the blue" and rammed the Stena.

The man, who asked to remain anonymous because he wasn't permitted to speak with media about the crash, said the Stena had been anchored on the spot where the collision occurred and had relayed its coordinates, meaning all other vessels in the area should have known its position.

He said he was near to the part of the Stena Immaculate where the Portugal-flagged container ship Solong made its impact, and that he had only seconds to react when he heard shouts to brace before impact. Then, all of a sudden, he said "a massive ship came from out of the blue."

This image provided by Bartek Smiaek shows smoke billowing from a vessel after a cargo ship hit a tanker carrying jet fuel off eastern England on March 10, 2025, setting both ablaze. / Credit: Bartek Smiaek via AP

The man said the Solong didn't immediately stop after smashing into the Stena, and that it felt like it continued to drive into the ship for about 10 minutes after the initial impact. The man said other crew members on the Stena, which was apparently carrying jet fuel for the U.S. military, described how it appeared as though nobody was on the bridge of the Solong at the moment of the crash.

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Flames erupted from the Stena and the crew immediately jumped into action, the man said. He said they put on protective gear and tried to fight the fire, but quickly determined it wouldn't be possible and decided to abandon ship.

Crew members went to their rooms to gather essential belongings, also grabbing life jackets and emergency gear. They then went to the mustering point and sounded off. When all had been accounted for, they entered the lifeboat, and mustered again. When it was verified that everyone was onboard the lifeboat, they launched. The captain was the last person to leave the Stena, he said.

A map shows the path of the MV Stena Immaculate tanker and Solong cargo ship that collided off the coast of England in the North Sea, March 10, 2025. / Credit: Yann Schreiber and Paz Pizarro/AFP/Getty

The man described flames lapping at the crew as they boarded the lifeboat, and said some of the sailors even had singed hair because the fire was so close. He said they couldn't have waited any longer to get off the vessel, and the whole incident from impact to evacuation lasted about 30 minutes.

The man said the crew had been trained for disasters like this, and that everything from the moment of impact to the evacuation had been "textbook" and carried out according to procedure.

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A U.S. official confirmed to CBS News national defense correspondent Charlie D'Agata on Monday that the Stena was carrying cargo in support of the U.S. Department of Defense, but they said the incident would not impact U.S. military operations or combat readiness.

What is the latest on the cargo ship crash?

CBS News' partner network BBC News said it had received a statement from a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office Tuesday, saying they "understand there doesn't appear to be any suggestions of foul play at this time" related to the collision of the two vessels about 10 miles off the East Yorkshire coast.

Later in the day, the captain of the Solong was detained "on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision," the Associated Press reported. The 59-year-old captain wasn't named, and he hasn't been charged, Humberside police said.

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There were ongoing concerns Tuesday, as the Solong continued to burn, about the potential environmental impact of the incident, but one of the worst fears  that the Portuguese-flagged vessel could have been carrying a highly toxic chemical  appeared to be put to rest.

"We are able to confirm that there are no containers on board ladened with sodium cyanide, as has been misreported," the Solong's operator, international shipping firm Ernst Russ, told CBS News in a statement.

The company said there were "four empty containers that have previously contained the hazardous chemical, and these containers will continue to be monitored."

British Chief Coastguard Pat O'Callaghan said in a statement Tuesday that while the Solong was still burning, it had separated from the Stena, and the fire on the U.S.-contracted vessel "has greatly diminished."

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"The Counter Pollution and Salvage Team is assessing the situation and is developing a plan ready for implementation as soon as the situation allows," OCallaghan said, adding that Britain's environmental agency was "monitoring the situation closely and has confirmed that air quality at ground level is currently within normal levels for the weather conditions."

He said the U.K. Health Security Agency was also "assisting in the response, and has advised that any public health risk on shore is currently deemed to be very low."

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Crews responded to a house fire in Ballantyne Tuesday morning, officials said.

Just after 5 a.m., the Charlotte Fire Department confirmed they were at the scene near Lancaster Highway and the North-South Carolina border.

When they arrived, firefighters said they could see smoke coming from a two-story house in the 15900 block of Prescott Hill Avenue.

ALSO READ: Fire at south Charlotte Harris Teeter intentionally set, firefighters say

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Around 5:30 a.m., MEDIC said they were on the scene and no injuries were reported.

CFD said 30 firefighters were able to quickly control the blaze.

Investigators said the fire was accidental and started after an electrical failure with a power strip, causing $10,000 in damages.

WATCH BELOW: Firefighters battle fully involved garage fire in south Charlotte
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)  Crews are responding Tuesday afternoon to a structure fire at an apartment complex in West Ashley.

The Charleston Police Department said it is assisting the Charleston Fire Department with a fire at 1800 Willliam Kennerty Drive.

The roadway remained closed to traffic at Highway 61 as of 2:10 p.m.

The public is asked to avoid the area.

This story is developing and may be updated.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A man visits a stall at a street art market in Windhoek, Namibia, on March 8, 2025. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)

WINDHOEK, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Street markets in Windhoek, Namibia's capital, are fueling a significant boom in the creative industry amid limited commercialization opportunities for local artists.

In Windhoek's central business district, Christina Omole has transformed a public space into an open-air gallery, showcasing jewelry, handicrafts, and textiles at her makeshift stall.

"This is where the creative arts pulse with life, creating entrepreneurial opportunities for local artists," said the veteran artist in her 70s.

Omole has been trading in this space since 1990, which remains her primary means of generating income from her artwork. "For 35 years, this space has been my way out. If I were to leave, I wouldn't know where to sell because there are limited platforms for trading artworks in Namibia. So I stay," she told Xinhua.

When Omole started, she mainly sold handmade crafts. But the supply value chain evolved as time went by. "At first, I only offered jewelry, but customers also wanted wood carvings. I developed a network of local carvers," she said.

The Namibian elder is not alone in making a living from creativity. At another bustling street market along Independence Avenue, Windhoek's longest street, Denzel Oshondili carries on a family tradition of selling art.

"My grandmother started selling art products in town 35 years ago. Now that she's older and focusing on production, I oversee the sales," said Oshondili, who is in his 30s.

Like Omole's, some of the products at Oshondili's stall are home-made, while others are sourced from abroad. The artists have forged partnerships with creators from countries, such as Botswana, South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, and Zimbabwe, to offer in-demand items that they cannot yet craft themselves.

The items sold are usually small for convenience in carrying and use. "Most of our clients are tourists looking for souvenirs. We consider size and items that people can easily buy," Oshondili said.

Income generated from these sales can vary widely. Some days' earnings exceed 3,000 Namibian dollars (about 164 U.S. dollars), while other days' earnings are less. "But whatever the amount, it still sustains our livelihood," Oshondili added.

While street art markets have long been a lifeline for established artists, newcomers like Selma David, who began trading at the art market in 2022, have also reaped benefits. "Before coming here to sell, I struggled to build a clientele for my creations. But now it's better. My situation is stable," she said.

Beyond financial gains, the artists have diversified their offerings and employed various marketing strategies to attract clients. For Oshondili, "orders for those who want customized items" has made a difference for his thriving business.

The vendors also show clients and tourists how products like jewelry are made. "This gives visitors a firsthand experience of the production process and deepens their appreciation for Namibian art," Omole said.

The Tourist Statistical Report 2023, published by the Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, indicates a recovery in tourism after the COVID-19 outbreak. International tourist arrivals increased from 461,027 in 2022 to 863,872 in 2023.

Isobel Manuel, a senior lecturer in hospitality and tourism at the Namibia University of Science and Technology, highlighted a shift from passive tourism, which has led to a thriving art and creative business sector.

"Tourists are increasingly eager to engage with locals and delve deeper into the cultural fabric of their destinations, prompting Namibians to explore the potential of art to revitalize the tourism industry and stimulate economic growth," Manuel said.

Despite these achievements, local artists still face challenges.

"Income can be inconsistent, and the art field is often undervalued in our country. But I guess I will do this for a lifetime. I must re-strategize to align with clients' preferences," Omole said.

The artists expressed hope of exporting their artwork, planning to leverage social media marketing to expand their reach and increase sales. 

An artist makes jewelry at a street art market in Windhoek, Namibia, on March 8, 2025. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)

An artist shows an artwork at a street art market in Windhoek, Namibia, on March 8, 2025. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)

An artist arranges his artworks at a street art market in Windhoek, Namibia, on March 8, 2025. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)

A woman visits a street art market in Windhoek, Namibia, on March 8, 2025. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)
LONDON (AP)  A former British soldier who used a crossbow and a knife to murder his ex-girlfriend, her sister and their mother at their family home north of London was sentenced Tuesday to a whole-life order, meaning that he would never be released from prison.

Kyle Clifford, 26, had pleaded guilty in January to murdering Louise Hunt, 25, and her 28-year-old sister Hannah Hunt with a crossbow and their mother, Carol Hunt, 61, with a knife on July 9, 2024. He was convicted of three counts of murder, one of false imprisonment and two counts of possession of offensive weapons.

He was also found guilty of raping Louise during the "carefully planned" attack on the family.

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Sentencing Clifford, Justice Joel Bennathan said he was a jealous man soaked in self-pity  a man who holds women in utter contempt."

Clifford refused to turn up for the sentencing.

Prosecutors said he planned the murders for days, ordering the crossbow, knife, an air pistol and other items after becoming enraged when an increasingly concerned Louise ended their 18-month relationship.

During the case, the jury was shown evidence that Clifford gained access to the family home in the quiet residential neighborhood of Bushey, northeast of the capital, by deceiving the mother on the pretext he was returning Louises belongings, before brutally stabbing her to death.

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Clifford lay in wait for an hour for Louise to enter the house, before restraining, raping and ultimately murdering her with a crossbow. He then fatally shot her sister, Hannah, when she returned to the property after work.

Prosecutors said that less than 24 hours before he carried out the attacks, Clifford had searched for the podcast of the self-styled misogynist influencer Andrew Tate. They said the violent misogyny" promoted by Tate fueled Cliffords attacks.

Following the murders, police launched a manhunt for the suspect before he was found injured the following day in a cemetery in Enfield, north London. Clifford had shot himself in the chest with the crossbow. He remains in a wheelchair, having been paralyzed from the chest downwards.

The three women were the wife and two of the daughters of BBC horse racing commentator John Hunt, who was in court throughout the trial and the verdict, along with his one remaining daughter, 31-year-old Amy.

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Reading an emotional statement in court Tuesday, John called Clifford a psychopath who disguised himself as an ordinary human being.

He said Louise had left Clifford after saying enough is enough.

I hope women round the world will take Louises bravery as a shining beacon for their lives, he said. If you feel enough is enough, then it is.
State Sen. Greg Goode honored Terre Haute resident Crystal Reynolds Thursday for her decades of service as a historian, storyteller, community mental health advocate and mentor.

Senate Resolution 38 recognizes Reynolds for her decades of advocacy and research of Black history in the Wabash Valley. The senate adopted the resolution by voice vote.

Dr. Reynolds has pioneered the study of African American history throughout her time as an educator in the Wabash Valley, said Goode, R-Terre Haute. She has led groundbreaking research on the impacts of people of color in Vigo County, and I have personally learned a great deal of important local history through her writing and lectures.

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During her time in Terre Haute, Reynolds has conducted Hidden History Tours to school-aged children; volunteered for countless organizations and events; conducted the first Juneteenth celebration at the Vigo County Historical Society; and petitioned for a street to be named after Vigo County native Cynthia Shepard Perry.

Perry was an American diplomat who served as the ambassador to Sierra Leone during the Ronald Reagan administration and ambassador to Burundi during the George H. W. Bush administration.

I am honored to recognize Dr. Reynolds for her work and dedication to telling the stories that previously went overlooked, Goode said. Through her teachings, I have learned more about Terre Haute than I ever could have imagined. Moreover, her passion for our Terre Haute community and her countless hours of service to others makes her so deserving of this recognition.
Two firearms and several narcotics were reportedly seized during an investigation into drug sales at businesses in Hamden that netted two arrests.

The investigation was conducted in February and in part of March after authorities received complaints about illegal marijuana sales, according to Lt. Raymond Quinn of the Hamden Police Department.

The investigation was carried out by the police departments Intelligence Unit, Crime Intervention Unit and Major Crimes Unit. It culminated in search and seizure warrants being conducted on Monday at the Made in Greenwood Smoke Shop, at 1164 Dixwell Ave., and Connecticut Business Institute, at 1160 Dixwell Ave., according to Quinn.

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Quinn alleged that investigators seized two illegal guns, illegal marijuana products, psilocybin products, fentanyl, bags of crack cocaine, bags of powder cocaine, bags of fentanyl pills, suboxone packages, two glass bottles of hashish as well as bags containing Ibuprofen, Gabapentin and Cyclobenzaprine pills.

Quinn said two people were arrested on drug charges during the investigation. They have been identified as 34-year-old Bennie Murphy and 32-year-old Michael Beverley.

Murphy faces two counts each of possession of narcotics and possession of narcotics with intent to sell and a single count each of criminal possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit, altering/obliterating firearm serial number and failure to keep prescription pills in original container. He was held on a $150,000 bond.

Beverley was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of narcotics with intent to sell. He was held on a $75,000 bond.

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The Hamden Police Department would like to thank The State of Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection and The Connecticut Department of Revenue Services for their participation and assistance in this investigation, Quinn said in a statement.

With the involvement of community members and the hard work of my officers this investigation has removed illegal firearms and narcotics from Hamden, Hamden Police Chief Edward Page Reynolds said in a statement. Through this type of cooperation, we can all live in a safer community. I wish to commend my investigative team on a job well done.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Hamden Police Department at 203-230-4000.
About 100 people got to hear from Liberty officials and others about problems the Joplin-based utility admitted having with billing statements and service at a town hall held Friday at Missouri Southern State University.

The event was hosted by state Sen. Jill Carter, R-Granby, who represents Jasper and Newton counties.

She said afterward she thought the meeting was a success and gave customers a chance to get help and make their concerns known.

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I think people were civil. They were able to, you know, talk about their concerns, Carter said. That gave Liberty an opportunity to talk about what was going on behind the scenes. It also gave us an opportunity to introduce people to the Office of Public Counsel, which is the consumer advocacy group, and so they should have their contact information. I think Tim (Wilson, president of Liberty Central Region Electric) was generous with his contact information. That was the goal, was to bring everybody together, help people understand the situation that were in and hopefully be able to move forward.

Charis Seaton, of Joplin, said she believes people were heard in the meeting.

Everybody wants to know that their concerns are being heard, not just because theyre angry and they want lower prices, but they want their monthly bill taken care of and they dont want all this stress in their lives, Seaton said. Moving forward, we need to know we have confidence in both our state for consumer protection and in our services. It shouldnt have come to this.

Ive been dealing with this since last June, and I know people have been dealing with things for even longer, she said, but I appreciate Sen. Carter for helping to be the liaison between Liberty and the Office of Public Counsel. She is concerned about her constituents and thats what I really needed.

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Wilson and Charlotte Emery, senior director of regulatory and rates, did most of the talking for Liberty at the meeting. Also on the podium was Mike Beatty, president of Liberty Central Region Natural Gas.

Geoff Marke, chief economist at the Missouri Office of the Public Counsel, which represents ratepayers before the Missouri Public Service Commission, also explained the role of his office.

The PSC regulates investor-owned utilities in Missouri and approves rate changes and other activities of electric, water and natural gas utilities.

Issues with Liberty billing and service had caused so many complaints across Missouri that the PSC opened an investigation into the matter Feb. 26.

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Customers spoke at the town hall about receiving inaccurate bills and about not receiving bills for months at a time and getting no help over the phone or in person from Libertys customer service representatives.

Some also asked questions about short electrical outages they said they had been experiencing at their homes, which damaged electronic equipment. Others asked about a current rate case Liberty has filed before the Missouri Public Service Commission that, if approved in full, will increase rates by about $31 a month for a typical electric customer in Joplin.

Wilson said he was at the town hall because of the problems and complaints about Libertys billing and customer service.

I stand here before you tonight to own those, Wilson said. And thats not been good for our customers. ... We operate multiple utilities and in multiple states across the United States and all of them were on different operating systems. And so you can imagine the inefficiencies that come about whenever you have multiple operating systems over multiple companies.

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He said Liberty, formerly Empire District Electric Co., has had billing problems since April 2024.

As you can imagine the inefficiencies that come about whenever you have multiple operating systems over multiple companies, theoretically getting everybody on the same platform was the right decision to make, Wilson said. Unfortunately, its a herculean effort when you go about undertaking something of that size and nature and complexity. It touched every single one of the systems that we use, whether its our outage management system, our billing system, our customer service systems, our internal personnel and files  every single system possibly imaginable that we touch got upgraded.

Wilson said 90% of customers across the country had no billing issues after the change happened but that 10% did have issues.

Some customers didnt get bills for several months, and those customers will get twice the number of months they didnt get bills to pay past due bills.

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Marke said the town hall organized by Carter was a rare event and that it was helpful to his office to hear directly from customers.

We have public hearings, but the mere fact that Sen. Carter opened up a town hall like this and invited this office, like honestly, this is great, I appreciate it. Your voice does matter; thats what I can stress.
It wasnt long after landing in Bangkok, Thailand, in the summer of 2023 that Jalil Muyeke realized that something was terribly wrong.

He knew that the city  where he was planning to start a new data entry and online marketing job  was a short drive from the airport. But the man who picked him up drove for hours into the countryside.

Without cellphone service, and fearing that his driver might have a weapon, the then 32-year-old Ugandan felt powerless to escape. He says that eventually, he was bundled into a canoe and taken across the Moei River into Myanmar, where he was dropped off at a scam compound.

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Today, more than more than 220,000 people from across the world are estimated to have been trafficked to Myanmar and Cambodia and forced to con people around the globe out of their savings.

Muyeke was told by his overseers, who he said were Chinese, to assume the identity of a female fashion designer living in San Francisco, and to reach out to men on dating apps like Bumble and Happn. His job was to get the phone numbers of two men a day.

He would pass on the numbers to others trained in so-called pig butchering scams  referring to the way farmers fatten up pigs before killing them  who would form close, often romantic relationships with the unwitting targets, without ever meeting them, before convincing them to invest in cryptocurrency schemes.

We were told to exclusively target Americans and Canadians, he said. That it was easier to get money from Americans because they have money, and those who didnt have a lot of it wanted to make a lot of it.

Jalil Muyeke in Kampala, Uganda, in October 2024. - Jalil Muyeke

Similar operations, run mostly by Chinese criminal syndicates, are proving lucrative. Cyber scams run out of Southeast Asia generate more than $43 billion a year, according to the US Congress-founded United States Institute of Peace. The FBI estimates that in 2023, tens of thousands of Americans lost almost $4 billion in pig butchering scams  a 53% increase from 2022.

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Now, anti-trafficking groups say the problem could get worse after vital funding that helped combat scam centers, and helped those forced to work at them, was lost due to sweeping cuts to foreign aid by the Trump administration.

NGOs at a standstill

Between 2001 and 2020, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded $164 million for counter-trafficking programs in Asia  roughly 50% of its global total. In late February, every USAID counter-trafficking project across the globe was terminated, an official who worked on counter-trafficking at USAID until March 5 told CNN.

Theyve been given four weeks to close out, and there has been zero conversations on transferring any of the work that weve been doing, said the former official, who asked to remain anonymous due to concern over possible retribution. USAID did not respond to a request for comment.

A US Department of State website details anti-trafficking projects in 78 countries, worth more than $272 million, as of October 2024. Some sources told CNN that after having their State Department funding frozen early in the year, part of it was recently unfrozen. A spokesperson for the State Departments Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons told CNN via email that all U.S. foreign assistance is currently undergoing a Foreign Assistance Review.

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The US government was one of the larger contributors to address this issue, Matt Friedman, the CEO of the Hong Kong-based anti-trafficking non-profit The Mekong Club, told CNN. Friedman previously designed and managed programs to fight human trafficking for USAID in Thailand, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

In Mae Sot, a city on Thailands western border, Australian not-for-profit Global Alms supports trafficking victims, including people who have been forced to work in scam compounds across the river in Myanmar. They come from countries including the Philippines, Indonesia, Uganda, Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan, said Global Alms CEO Mechelle Moore. Some pay ransom to be freed, others escape and swim across the river. But nearly all of them arrive traumatized, she added.

You see varying degrees of mutilation and torture and injury, said Moore. Lots of scars, bruising; sometimes they have broken bones. One girl arrived unconscious and later died.

Scam compounds in Myanmar can be seen in this picture taken across the border in Mae Sot, Thailand, in February 2025. - Mark Phillips/CNN

A few weeks ago, Global Alms lost its State Department lifeline, according to Moore, which made up 60% of its funding. She dipped into her own savings to help the people flowing across the border, providing them with emergency kits and accommodation, and helping guide them through the bureaucracy required to get home.

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The funding was recently unfrozen, but she said, theres a lot of other NGOs out there that are just at a standstill right now.

A growing global scamdemic

Interpol says that what began as a regional threat to Southeast Asia has now turned into a global human trafficking crisis impacting millions of victims, both in the cyber scam centers and as targets.

Officials across Southeast Asia and China have made periodic efforts to combat the scourge, and thousands were reportedly awaiting repatriation in Mae Sot after a recent crackdown.

The mass repatriation didnt happen in a vacuum, says Mina Chiang, the founder of the UK-based social enterprise Humanity Research Consultancy (HRC), adding that organizations like hers have spent years providing intelligence on human trafficking to national authorities and Interpol, and advocating for action.

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Its work is now at risk. HRC, which has historically relied on USAID funding for most of its income, has had to put team members on leave, said Chiang.

The former USAID official said that criminal organizations are likely to be emboldened by the abrupt termination of USAID programs, which in many countries were the main source of financing for shelters assisting victims. Providing a safe haven was crucial in convincing victims to work with law enforcement to help prosecute the perpetrators, the official said.

What is now widely referred to as a scamdemic is no longer confined to Southeast Asia. Friedman says that the model of human trafficking into scam centers, which originated in Southeast Asia, has spread to places including Bangladesh, Nepal, India, and Dubai. This issue, if left unchecked, is going to get even more out of hand, he said.

Muyeke was lucky to have escaped when he did. After seven months at the scam compound  during which he says he often warned targets that they were being scammed in messages he quickly deleted so his bosses wouldnt see them  he negotiated with his captors to release him in exchange for taking a sick Ugandan woman with him, taking her off their hands.

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He says he was left at a bus stop in Mae Sot, with barely any money and an expired visa, before handing himself in to immigration authorities, who he says fined and detained him. He doubts that many others would make the journey unsupported.

Today, Muyeke, is back in Uganda, working as a project coordinator for the Freedom Collaborative, a network of around 3,000 partners focused on fighting human trafficking, which introduced him to CNN.

This aerial view of scam compound buildings in Myanmar was taken from the Phop Phra district in Thailand last month. The Moei River divides Thailand and Myanmar. - Mechelle Moore/Global Alms

When hes contacted by victims in the scam compounds who have been passed his number, he refers them to Global Alms, whom he knows through his work at the Freedom Collaborative. But the Freedom Collaborative too has been impacted by US funding cuts. Its CEO told CNN that it lost $200,000 in funding from USAID, or 85% of its budget for this year. It has halted major projects, like an initiative to collect data and evidence about human trafficking routes and trends.

On Monday, the Trump administration officially cancelled 83% of the programs at USAID. The 5200 contracts that are now cancelled spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, (and in some cases even harmed), the core national interests of the United States, Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed in a post on X from his personal account.

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Meanwhile, there is an ongoing legal battle over foreign aid contracts. Counter-trafficking groups say that in some cases, the damage has already been done, with staff laid off and offices shuttered.

Muyeke is following the developments closely. I know people who are still inside who want to come back home, but they cant right now, because the people who would have helped them get back are being funded by US aid, he says.

He is also worried about the wider implications of the US moves. Most of the people cheering this thing on are people who are just thinking about themselves and America right now, says Muyeke. They are digging a grave for themselves  its Americans who are the predominant targets.

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Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) sounded alarm Monday over what she described as a $1.1 billion problem in a plan rolled out by House Republicans to keep the government funded beyond a Friday shutdown deadline and into September.

In remarks outside of Congress on Monday afternoon, Bowser called on lawmakers to change the language in the stopgap plan, also known as a continuing resolution (CR), to prevent the District from being forced to revert to the previous fiscal years funding levels.

Bowser said the plan would immediately have the effect of cutting $1 billion out of D.C.s budget.

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In the most recent continuing resolution language, it ignores our already congressionally approved fiscal 2025 budget, she said. Instead, it would peg us at FY24 levels  the levels that federal agencies are [at] because they do not have an approved FY 25 budget.

But we are not a federal agency, she said. We are a city, county, state all at once, and we provide direct services to the people of the District of Columbia, visitors to the District of Columbia, businesses in the District of Columbia, diplomats and visiting heads of state and everyone who works here in the Congress.

In previous stopgap legislation, Congress included language that would allow the District to spend at the levels set as part of its fiscal 2025 budget.

The CR omitted a longstanding provision that would allow D.C. to continue spending its local fiscal year 2025 budget and instead treats D.C. as a federal agency forcing the district to revert to spending at fiscal year 2024 levels for the remainder of the year, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) said Monday.

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The comments come as Republicans move quickly to pass the legislation ahead of the looming Friday deadline.

In lieu of a bipartisan agreement from Congress to update government funding levels, Republicans are pushing to pass a stopgap that would freeze government funding at fiscal 2024 levels, with some increases for defense programs and cuts to some nondefense programs.

The bill also includes some add-ons in line with requested anomalies from the White House.

During the press conference Monday, Bowser said she had been in touch with the White House on the matter. But it remains unclear if the move was intentional.

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They are aware of whats happening at the Congress, and weve asked for their help, she said. But when asked if the White House indicated it would help on D.C.s behalf, the mayor added, I think theyve indicated that it didnt come from them.

In remarks Monday, House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.), when pressed on the matter, said, A lot of that stuff, again, was inaugural stuff, like extra police.

I mean, I have to go through and look at it in more detail than I have, he told The Hill, noting its not a huge part of ongoing conversations. He also said the overall spending levels being discussed run north of $1 trillion, adding, Im sorry if everything wasnt perfect, and Im sorry the Democrats werent on the table to talk to us, but it just is what it is.

A Democratic-backed effort for consideration of an amendment to allow D.C. to continue to spend under the fiscal 2025 levels was blocked in a party-line vote as the House Rules Committee considered the funding bill Monday.

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The amendment also sought to prevent D.C. from shutting down in fiscal 2026, which begins in October, if Congress misses its next expected, self-imposed shutdown deadline and triggers a funding lapse.

The September CR, introduced by Chairman Cole, allowed D.C. to spend at the levels of their proposed fiscal year 2025 budget. The December CR, introduced by Chairman Cole, allowed D.C. to spend at those same levels, Rep. Jim McGovern (Mass.), top Democrat on the Rules Committee, said as he made the case for the amendment pushed by Norton. Now, after telling D.C. their spending at these levels has been fine for six months, this Republican CR is telling them to go back to fiscal year 2024 spending levels.

This will result in a cut to the District spending by more than $940 million, close to a billion dollars. Law enforcement, cops and safety will be cut by nearly $240 million, education by nearly $400 million. These cuts will be devastating and through no fault of the District, McGovern said. And let me remind you that this is D.C.s money. Its not federally funded.

Its funded by D.C. businesses and residents, he continued. Residents who do not have a vote in the Congress, I might add.

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(COLORADO SPRINGS)  Harrison School District 2 (D2) announced that Superintendent Dr. Wendy Birhanzel was recognized for her dedication to public education with the Women in School Leadership Award on Friday, March 7.

The award was presented to Birhanzel at the yearly American Association of School Administrators (AASA) National Conference on Education held in New Orleans, Louisiana. Students and staff welcomed her back to D2 on Monday, March 10 with a celebratory lineup.

This honor is a testament to our incredible students, dedicated staff, and invaluable community partners in D2, said Birhanzel. It reaffirms that our achievements are being recognized and that our district continues to defy expectations. While some may see obstacles, we see opportunitiesI believe were just getting started.

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Birhanzel has over 20 years of experience in public education and has served in her current role at D2 since 2019. She earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership in Urban School Settings from the University of Southern California.

Courtesy: Harrison School District 2 Courtesy: Harrison School District 2 Courtesy: Harrison School District 2 Courtesy: Harrison School District 2

The AASA Women in School Leadership Awards were created for amazing leaders like our honorees today, said David R. Schuler, executive director, AASA. They have a wealth of knowledge and a deep commitment to student success, staff development, and innovation in education.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A man pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the shooting death of a 35-year-old man back in 2022, El Paso District Attorneys Office announced on Tuesday, March 11.

Woman arrested in connection to murder in east El Paso

The DAs Office said Alexander Diaz, 29, accepted a plea agreement on Thursday, March 6, resulting in him being sentenced to 50 years in state prison for murder. He also waived all of his appellate rights under the plea deal. Two charges of tampering with evidence were dismissed as part of the plea, the DAs Office added.

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Diaz pleaded guilty to murder for intentionally and knowingly causing the death of Christopher Correa, 35, in September 2022, the DAs Office said.

The DAs Office said that on Sept.18, 2022, surveillance camera footage showed Correa and his friend leaving an East El Paso bar through the back exit, where they encountered Diaz and got into a conversation.

The conversation seemed to escalate into an argument, and Diaz walked away. The footage showed Diaz return with a firearm, walk up to Correa, and shoot him multiple times, the DAs Office said.

The Das Office said Diaz then walked back to the car, put the firearm in the trunk, and walked back to the crime scene to retrieve the shell casings off the ground before driving away. An eyewitness identified Diaz as the shooter, and he was arrested later that same day.

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I want to extend my deepest sympathy to the Correa Family for the loss of Christopher. I also want to thank the El Paso Police Department, including the patrol officers and investigators, who worked on this case as well as the witnesses who came forward to ensure that the defendant was caught and held accountable for committing this completely senseless act of violence, said District Attorney James Montoya.

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The California Board of Parole Hearings denied release to a convicted sex offender for three years, the Kern County District Attorney's Office said Monday.

Leon Romine, 73, was found to pose a current and unreasonable risk to public safety during a Feb. 4 hearing, the DA's office said in Monday's news release, adding that commissioners focused on his current physical condition and a recent psychological evaluation rating him a high moderate risk of reoffense. The DA's office asked the board to keep Romine in prison, where he has served nearly 22 years for his latest conviction.

Law enforcement went to Romine's residence on Roberts Lane in Bakersfield on Jan. 25, 2003, to check if he had complied with his duty to register as a sex offender. Officers found he had not registered his correct address since July 1997, the news release said.

A Kern County jury found him guilty on April 9, 2003, of failing to register as a sex offender. The court also found he had two prior strike sex convictions, one in 1984 for lewd or lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14 and the second in 1990 for rape by means of force or fear. Romine was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison under the Three Strikes Law.
ADDIS ABABA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A memorial monument for the 157 Ethiopian Airlines crash victims was erected as Ethiopia marked the sixth anniversary of the tragic incident.

The deadly incident on March 10, 2019, the worst air disaster in the history of Africa's fastest-growing airline, killed all 157 people aboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, including eight crew members, shortly after taking off en route to Nairobi, Kenya.

On Monday, a special commemorative event was held at the crash site to mark the sixth anniversary of the tragedy, with victims' families joining senior Ethiopian government officials, Ethiopian Airlines executives and staff members, as well as members of the diplomatic community based in Ethiopia's capital of Addis Ababa.

During the event, a monument was erected around Bishoftu town, some 45 km from Addis Ababa, where the crash occurred a few minutes after the aircraft took off from the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport en route to Nairobi.

Speaking at the commemorative event, Ethiopia's Minister of Transport and Logistics Alemu Sime emphasized the country's ongoing commitment to ensuring air transport safety. He stressed that the "tragic and devastating" incident has pushed the global aviation industry to take significant steps to enhance safety, improve aircraft design, and strengthen oversight.

According to Ethiopian Airlines, the 157 victims included 32 from Kenya, 18 from Canada, nine from Ethiopia, eight each from China, Italy and the United States, seven each from Britain and France, six from Egypt, and five from the Netherlands, along with passengers from more than 25 other countries.

A final report on Ethiopia's investigation into the deadly Boeing 737 MAX 8 crash, released in December 2022, blamed a failure in the aircraft's safety features as the primary cause of the disaster.

The crash prompted Ethiopian Airlines and many other airlines worldwide to ground their Boeing 737 MAX jets. Nearly three years after the disaster, in February 2022, the Ethiopian flag carrier flew its Boeing 737 MAX jet for the first time since the tragic incident. 
The Los Angeles County District Attorney has asked the court to withdraw the resentencing motion for Lyle and Erik Menendez, stating that their self-defense claims for murdering their parents are a litany of lies.

We are prepared to go forward with the hearing about their resentencing case, Nathan Hochman announced at a news conference on Monday.

However, we are asking the court to withdraw the previous district attorneys motion for resentencing, because we believe there are legitimate reasons and the interests of justice justifies that withdrawal, he said.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 21: Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman provides an update on the Lyle and Erik Menendez case at the Hall of Justice on February 21, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. / Araya Doheny/Getty Images

Hochmans request is based on the current state of the record and the Menendez brothers current and continual failure to show full insight and accept full responsibility for their murders, ABC News reported .

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The DA explained that circumstances would have been different if the Menendez brothers were more forthright about what happened in August 1989 when they killed their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez.

Since the incident, both Lyle and Erik Menendez, now aged 57 and 54 respectively, are each serving two life sentences without parole.

If they were to finally come forward and unequivocally and sincerely admit and completely accept responsibility for their lies of self-defense and the attempted suborning of perjury they engaged in, then the Court should weigh such new insight into the analysis of rehabilitation and resentencingas will the People, Hochman said.

He claimed that his decision is based on a number of factors, such as reviewing the transcripts from both trials, prison records and videotaped trial testimony. He also met with Menendez family members, defense attorneys and past prosecutors.

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF. - NOV. 30, 1989 - Menendez brothers, Erik, left, and Lyle on the steps of their Beverly Hills home in November, 1989. / Ronald L. Soble / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Emphasizing the careful planning that went into the murders, Hochman noted the degree of premeditation on part of Lyle Menendez, then 21, and Erik Menendez, then 18 despite their defense that they had no choice but to kill their parents.

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Indeed, the brothers drove to San Diego days prior to the incident to buy guns with a fake ID and planned their alibi by buying movie tickets on the night of the murders.

Not just that. After they killed their parents, the brothers allegedly shot them in the kneecaps to make it seem like a gang shooting, Hochman argued.

They also had the presence of mind to pick up all the shotgun shells, hide their fingerprints and then thought as far ahead as to ditch their bloody clothes and the weapons.

Brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez are serving life terms for the 1989 shotgun murders of their parents. Erik is pictured above in an August 2002 California Department of Corrections mug shot. His older brother Lyle (whose given name is Joseph) is seen in a July 2003 shot taken at the Mule Creek State Prison. / Donaldson Collection / Bureau of Prisons/Getty Images

All in all, the Los Angeles DA claimed that the brothers have changed their stories multiple times and in doing so have told 20 lies while admitting to only fourleaving 16 lies unacknowledged.

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Pointing out that the brothers initially tried to make the crime seem like a Mafia hit, and that the truth only came out when Erik Menendez confessed to his therapist, Hochman added: They convinced, not just the media, not just the police, but their family and their friends that they were 100 percent innocent of these crimes, until eventually these tapes came out.

The storys first iteration changed when Lyle Menendez allegedly tried to get his girlfriend to claim that his father had drugged and raped her. Later, Erik Menendez insisted that he was raped by their father and Lyle Menendez by their mother, Hochman said.

The resentencing hearing is set for March 20 and 21.

The resentencing motion is largely irrelevant however because if a judge approves it then it would still have to go before the parole board, which is already evaluating the case at the behest of California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

If the parole board deems that the Menendez brothers are not a danger to society then it will be up to Newsom to decide if they are released from prison.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Tuesday on the Daily 8, were looking at a new candidate running for Michigan governor, a 132-year-old shipwreck in Lake Superior, changes coming to Rockford Public Schools and more.

You can watch the full Daily 8 for March 11, 2025, in the video player above or check out any of the stories mentioned below:

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Each weekday, the Daily 8 brings you the top eight stories we are keeping an eye on in and around West Michigan.

Join us again on Wednesday for the Daily 8.

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Morton County deputies respond Aug. 31, 2016, to a Dakota Access Pipeline construction site where two protesters used devices to attach themselves to equipment. (Morton County Sheriff's Office photo)

The $300 million trial between Dakota Access Pipeline developer and Greenpeace reached the halfway mark on Monday as the company wrapped up its side of the case.

Energy Transfer claims Greenpeace aided and abetted criminal behavior by protesters during demonstrations against the pipeline in 2016 and 2017, and deliberately defamed the company to pressure banks to pull their financing for the project.

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Greenpeace denies all of Energy Transfers claims and has called the lawsuit a veiled effort to chill environmental advocacy.

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Among the slew of witnesses called by Energy Transfer were three experts who testified the company incurred up to about $265 million in additional expenses as a result of the anti-Dakota Access Pipeline movement. The experts said they werent on the stand to prove Greenpeace caused those losses, but to provide an analysis of the companys own financial records.

Energy Transfer traces about $75.7 million of that back to direct damages from the demonstrations, one consultant who testified for the energy company said last week.

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The majority of that money  roughly $60.1 million  was spent on security, said Robert Trout, a California-based forensic economist.

Another $7 million went toward public relations consultants. Additional PR services were necessary to counter negative publicity surrounding the pipeline, Trout said.

Records indicated that Energy Transfer first retained the PR consultants for this purpose in July 2016. This was several months before Greenpeace made any of the statements about the pipeline that Energy Transfer claims were defamatory, attorneys for the environmental group pointed out.

The $75.7 million also included $8.5 million for the Cannonball Ranch  a plot of land along the pipeline route near Lake Oahe, a reservoir on the Missouri River that was a major focal point of the protests. Energy Transfer has claimed previously it paid roughly double market value for the property.

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Greenpeace attorneys argued that Trouts claim that Energy Transfer lost $8.5 million buying the ranch isnt reliable because he does not have experience appraising property.

Another expert called to the stand last week, construction consultant Chris Sullivan, testified that Energy Transfer indirectly suffered an additional $14.6 million in unplanned expenses through two of its contractors, Michels and Precision Pipeline. That money was spent on additional security, repairing or replacing vandalized equipment as well as higher labor expenses due to construction delays, Sullivan said.

A third expert witness, energy and technology consultant David Leathers, testified that Energy Transfer lost out on $80 million in revenue because the Dakota Access Pipeline started commercial operations roughly five months later than originally planned. Energy Transfer also delayed refinancing its construction loan for the pipeline by roughly two years, which Leathers says cost it another $68.3 million to $96.4 million.

Steven Caplow, an attorney representing Greenpeace, said that Greenpeace cannot be held accountable for the refinancing costs because Energy Transfers own internal records indicate that the company chose to delay refinancing the loan because of a lawsuit between Standing Rock and the Army Corps of Engineers.

Greenpeace asks judge for early ruling

Before Greenpeace opened its case Monday, attorneys for the environmental group asked Southwest Judicial District Judge James Gion to rule in their favor and end the trial early.

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Everett Jack, who represents Greenpeaces United States affiliate in the lawsuit, said that Energy Transfer has presented no evidence directly linking Greenpeaces actions to damages suffered by the company.

Energy Transfer did not offer any proof that any employee from Greenpeace ever trespassed on the companys property, harmed its equipment or obstructed construction of the pipeline, Jack said.

He said the company likewise showed no meaningful evidence Greenpeace aided and abetted others in harming the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Jack also addressed Energy Transfers defamation claims, which are based on nine statements Greenpeace made about the pipeline during and after the demonstrations.

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Current and former Greenpeace employees who testified in the case said that they believed all of those statements to be true at the time they were made, he said. Many witnesses openly said they still stood by the statements.

Trey Cox, lead attorney representing Energy Transfer in the lawsuit, pushed back against Jacks allegations that the plaintiffs had offered no evidence to support its claims.

We spent seven days putting hundreds of pages and hundreds of documents in the record, Cox said.

Gion denied the motion. He told the parties from the bench that its generally frowned on in North Dakota for judges to render a verdict in the middle of a trial

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The trial, which started in Morton County District Court on Feb. 24, is being tried before a nine-person jury. Its scheduled for a total of five weeks.

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By Krishna N. Das

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -The Dalai Lama's successor will be born outside China, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism says in a new book, raising the stakes in a dispute with Beijing over control of the Himalayan region he fled more than six decades ago.

Tibetans worldwide want the institution of the Dalai Lama to continue after the 89-year-old's death, he writes in "Voice for the Voiceless", which was reviewed by Reuters and is being released on Tuesday.

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He had previously said the line of spiritual leaders might end with him.

His book marks the first time the Dalai Lama has specified that his successor would be born in the "free world", which he describes as outside China. He has previously said only that he could reincarnate outside Tibet, possibly in India where he lives in exile.

"Since the purpose of a reincarnation is to carry on the work of the predecessor, the new Dalai Lama will be born in the free world so that the traditional mission of the Dalai Lama - that is, to be the voice for universal compassion, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, and the symbol of Tibet embodying the aspirations of the Tibetan people - will continue," the Dalai Lama writes.

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, fled at the age of 23 to India with thousands of other Tibetans in 1959 after a failed uprising against the rule of Mao Zedong's Communists.

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China brands the Dalai Lama, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for keeping alive the Tibetan cause, as a "separatist".

The Dalai Lama is a political exile who has "no right to represent the Tibetan people at all," said a spokesperson at China's foreign ministry when asked about the book at a regular news conference in Beijing on Tuesday.

Beijing insists it will choose his successor, but the Dalai Lama has said any successor named by China would not be respected.

"The lineage of the Dalai Lama living Buddha was formed and developed in China's Tibet, and his religious status and name were also determined by (China's) central government," said Mao Ning, the Chinese spokesperson.

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"The 14th Dalai Lama himself was identified in accordance with religious rituals and historical conventions, and this was submitted to the then central government to approve the succession."

'REPRESSIVE COMMUNIST CHINESE RULE'

Beijing said last month it hoped the Dalai Lama would "return to the right path" and that it was open to discussing his future if he met such conditions as recognising that Tibet and Taiwan are inalienable parts of China, whose sole legal government is that of the People's Republic of China. That proposal has been rejected by the Tibetan parliament-in-exile in India.

Supporters of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan cause include Richard Gere, a follower of Tibetan Buddhism, and Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

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His followers have been worried about his health, especially after knee surgery last year. He told Reuters in December that he might live to be 110.

In his book, the Dalai Lama says he has received numerous petitions for more than a decade from a wide spectrum of Tibetan people, including senior monks and Tibetans living in Tibet and outside, "uniformly asking me to ensure that the Dalai Lama lineage be continued".

Tibetan tradition holds that the soul of a senior Buddhist monk is reincarnated in the body of a child on his death. The current Dalai Lama was identified as the reincarnation of his predecessor when he was two.

The book, which the Dalai Lama calls an account of his dealings with Chinese leaders over seven decades, is being published on Tuesday in the U.S. by William Morrow and in Britain by HarperNonFiction, with HarperCollins publications to follow in India and other countries.

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The Dalai Lama, who has said he will release details about his succession around his 90th birthday in July, writes that his homeland remains "in the grip of repressive Communist Chinese rule" and that the campaign for the freedom of the Tibetan people will continue "no matter what", even after his death.

He expressed faith in the Tibetan government and parliament-in-exile, based with him in India's Himalayan city of Dharamshala, to carry on the political work for the Tibetan cause.

"The right of the Tibetan people to be the custodians of their own homeland cannot be indefinitely denied, nor can their aspiration for freedom be crushed forever through oppression," he writes. "One clear lesson we know from history is this: if you keep people permanently unhappy, you cannot have a stable society."

Given his advanced age, he writes, his hopes of going back to Tibet look "increasingly unlikely".

(Reporting by Krishna N. Das in New Delhi; additional reporting by Colleen Howe in Beijing; Editing by William Mallard)
Mel Gibson Getty/Andreas Rentz

A former pardons attorney for the Department of Justice says she was dismissed from her role after she opposed the restoration of actor Mel Gibson's gun rights.

Gibson, a prominent Tinseltown conservative who was recently nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as an ambassador to Hollywood, lost the ability to legally own firearms following a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction.

Elizabeth Oyer told the New York Times that Gibson's case came up as part of a wider effort to restore gun rights to people who had been convicted of crimes. Felons are barred from purchasing or owning handguns under federal law. Oyer told the outlet that she helped craft a list of nine people who could potentially have their rights restored, basing it on the age of their convictions and likelihood of committing another crime. Oyer said she was approached directly and asked to add Gibson's name to the list.

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"This is dangerous. This isnt political  this is a safety issue," Oyer shared.

Gibson pleaded no contest to battery of his ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva in 2011. If that name rings a bell, it's likely because of an infamous tape where Gibson hurled sexist and racist remarks at the mother of one of his children. That leaked audio, along with an antisemitic rant the actor went on while being arrested for driving under the influence, dimmed the star of the one-time blockbuster draw. Oyer felt that Gibson was not a strong candidate for restoration.

"Giving guns back to domestic abusers is a serious matter that, in my view, is not something that I could recommend lightly, because there are real consequences that flow from people who have a history of domestic violence being in possession of firearms," Oyer told the Times.

Oyer added that she was pressured to make the recommendation by a senior official, who noted that Gibson had "a personal relationship with President Trump." She refused a second time and was fired on Friday. No announcement of the restoration of Gibson's gun rights has been made as of this writing.

In recent years, Gibson has made a slow and steady return to theater marquees while touting conservative views and conspiracy theories. The major supporter of Trump said that former Vice President Kamala Harris had "the IQ of a fence post" during the campaign season and floated the idea that recent Los Angeles wildfires were one piece of a sinister land grab.
Mary Christ has been regent of the Joseph Spencer Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution for three years and is wrapping up her term. This comes with a decade as a member of the organization that has participated in parades, honored veterans and more.

Christ and her friends with the DAR are ready to honor Vietnam veterans in coming weeks as they prepare for a ceremony in Tracy Park.

We want to honor our Vietnam veterans. Post 23 will be there to fire their weapons, Christ said. We have a little program and lay a little wreath and pass out commemorative coins to the veterans who come, which is sad because there are fewer and fewer of them every year.

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Anyone is welcome to attend, and Christ said that any veteran will be recognized, but the highlight of this particular event will be on Vietnam veterans.

Any veteran is welcome to come, because we want to honor all of our veterans, but we put special emphasis on Vietnam veterans, because I think this is the 52nd anniversary for them, Christ said. These guys left their families and made the ultimate sacrifice. Some of them dont get to come home and some came home a changed person. I remember being in junior high and seeing that Vietnam veterans didnt come home to a welcome and werent well honored for their service. This doesnt make up for that, but we should always honor them.

Christ said she can remember watching Walter Conkrite on the news discussing the return of veterans from Vietnam and it left her deeply impacted.

She also has four ancestors who were involved in the Revolutionary War, a great-great-grandfather who fought in the Civil War, and a father who fought in World War II.

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I like the fact that we honor our veterans, not just Revolutionary veterans, Christ said. Our chapter does a lot for veterans. We collect gift bags in November for a December distribution, we host the upcoming ceremony, we collect items for the VA, we give out scholarships, adopt a classroom to help with school supplies, and we try our best to give back to our community in these ways.

The Joseph Spencer Chapter of the DAR meets the third Saturday of each month at the Community Action Organization of Scioto County Welcome Center at 1 p.m. Anyone is welcome to visit and join.

We can try to find you a patriot so you can join in on the fun, Christ said.

The Annual Vietnam Veterans Recognition will be March 29 at 11 a.m. in Tracy Park.
TEXARKANA, Texas (KTAL/KMSS)  Dove and Grammy-award winning vocalist will Speak of Love when his national tour stops in Texarkana.

Ahead of his new recording, which will be released on August 30, 2025, David Phelps will perform at the Perot Theatre in Texarkana on Sunday, March 30, at 7 p.m. The concert was postponed from a preview date and tickets purchased for the January 25 show will be honored for the March show.

Source: David Phelps.com

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Phelps is a Texas native who was a musical prodigy as a child. He is a Baylor University graduate and has become a celebrated vocalist. He is known for his powerful tenor as a member of the award-winning Gaither Vocal Band.

Since then, he has emerged as a leading Christian vocalist, singing songs of praise and winning the adoration of audiences around the world. He has graced stages at the White House, Carnegie Hall in New York City, and the Sydney Opera House in Australia.

To purchase tickets for this special evening of worship and celebration, visit davidphelps.com or the Perot Theatre website.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Chad Bradley

High Country News



Days after President Joe Biden gave his farewell address to the nation on Jan. 15, the Bureau of Land Management approved oil and gas leases on thousands of acres of public and tribal land around New Mexicos Chaco Culture National Historical Park  all of them parcels the agency had sold at auction in 2019, during the first Trump administration.



One site is just over half a mile from the 10-mile buffer zone the Biden administration created to protect Chacos fragile cultural and environmental landscape.



The BLMs announcement came with a 206-page environmental assessment acknowledging that the oil and gas activity will impact cultural sites in and around Chaco that are foundational to the regions Indigenous people. At the same time, it encouraged land developers to work with the new administration, which is already sprinting to reform federal land management to meet industry demands.



Before the recently confirmed Interior secretary, Doug Burgum, announced his first six secretarys orders  which are designed to fulfill President Donald Trumps own Day 1 executive orders directed at achieving energy dominance  his agency was already preparing to expand drilling on 14 different land parcels totaling 5,859 acres around Chaco, despite long opposition from some nearby sovereign Indigenous nations.



We anticipated in this administration  based off the Project 2025 mandate  this push for domestic natural resource cultivation and ultimately recognizing that the majority of existing resources are either on or near tribal lands, said Julia Bernal, a member of the Pueblo of Sandia/Yuchi and executive director of Pueblo Action Alliance, a grassroots organization that has spent over eight years working on issues concerning Chaco Canyon.



Not all tribes are opposed to the drilling, though: The Navajo Nation is eager to encourage oil and gas development in the area, even working with congressional allies to remove the 10-mile buffer zone. Indications are that the Trump administration could successfully leverage Indigenous sovereignty in order to boost energy economies, even as it also accelerates pollution and climate change.



The land in question falls outside the 10-mile federal buffer zone created to halt drilling on federal lands around Chaco, but all 14 parcels could still be delayed as the Interior Department reviews the sites possible eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places, BLM Director of Minerals Michael Gibson wrote in his environmental assessment.



The buffer zone lies in the checkerboard area on the eastern borders of the Navajo Nation, a patchwork of reservation and non-reservation land that was divvied up under the Dawes Act of 1887. The land was allotted to individual Navajo households, who can sell the mineral rights for their land and collect royalties from energy production.



Gibson said that only 20 percent of the 370 historic properties located within the 14 parcels appear to be ineligible for National Register of Historic Places status, while 140 would qualify, and another 196 are undetermined or lack data.



He acknowledged that the probability of identifying previously unrecorded historic properties in this area is high. In addition to the recorded historic properties there are 25 known Navajo Nation (traditional cultural properties); potentially eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, if evaluated. At this time, the BLM (Farmington Field Office) determined that there would be no adverse effect on historic properties as a result of the undertaking.



Gibson said that the Navajo Nation Tribal Historic Preservation Office agreed, noting that determining possible adverse impacts to historic properties was not part of this stage of the process. The lease sale itself does not directly authorize surface disturbance. Rather, leaseholders are granted future right of development to the leased mineral estate that is subject to site-specific analysis under (the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969).



Any objections would go to the Interior, which is currently under order by Burgum to review historic protections that could impede potential development.



The current leaseholder of the land around Chaco is a Santa Fe-based company called Federal Abstract Co. Co-owner Preston Miles would not comment on the land purchase, which took place during the 2019 auction, stating that the leases were taken on behalf of a client, and I am bound by confidentiality. The leases are located on the Navajo Nation and are part of the checkerboard oil and gas leasing allotments.



Allison Sandoval, BLM spokesperson for the New Mexico region, said the office was preparing a response to HCNs questions about the environmental assessments timeline and whether Federal Abstract Co. or any other companies have sent development plans to the BLM. She added that there could be a delay while Interior staff reviewed the response.



The 10-mile buffer zone around Chaco remains a point of controversy. On Jan. 17, the Navajo Nation filed a lawsuit against the Interior Department and BLM to revoke the 2023 public order that established it.



The suit alleges that the federal government failed to properly consult with the Navajo Nation and complete reports required by the National Environmental Policy Act, analyzing the economic impacts on those residents, or allottees, who own land in the area. Allottees receive royalties from oil and gas production, and the suit alleges that they could lose up to $200 million in revenue.



Soon after the suit was filed, on Jan. 28, Arizona Rep. Eli Crane, R, reintroduced the 2023 Energy Opportunities for All Act, which would nullify Bidens public order creating the buffer zone, denouncing it as an obstructive violation of tribal sovereignty.



Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren has not commented on the activity around Chaco, though he praised Burgum on social media and said he was optimistic that his appointment would strengthen our partnerships, protect our resources, and improve the lives of Native peoples across the nation.



Meanwhile, another site in the Navajo community of Counselor Chapter is also up for review for a lease. Back in 2023, local residents joined with environmentalists and sued New Mexico for allegedly failing to prevent pollution from oil and gas production in the southeastern and northwestern areas of the state.



Its important even for folks that voted for (Trump) to take a really hard look at how systemic and strategic these actions have been; theyre all connected in some way or another, Bernal said.



Burgums six secretarial orders have a clear goal in mind: to increase energy development and production on public lands and waters while removing programs and regulations that the administration considers too costly. His orders seek to address what he calls a national inadequate energy supply by reversing previous regulations and red tape, despite the fact that the United States is already producing more oil and gas than ever before and is in the midst of a growing  and profitable  transition to alternative sources of energy.



Burgums orders also call for revisions to the U.S. Code law that falls under the Antiquities Act of 1906. The act authorizes U.S. presidents to designate federal lands as national monuments, including the nine monuments Biden established during his presidency, and as it stands it would exempt the land from future oil and gas production.



Conservation groups, petroleum trade associations and various tribal nations hold differing views on Secretary Burgums goals for Interior and their possible impacts on public lands, especially given the Trump administrations push for more and more American oil and gas.



IPAA appreciates Sec. Burgums early efforts toward returning Interior and BLM to following the law through the multiple-use mandate in the Federal Lands Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) which requires the balance the resources and uses of public lands to the benefit of the people, said Mallori Miller, vice president of government relations at the Independent Petroleum Association of America.



Other Indigenous leaders announced their approval of Burgums appointment. Mark N. Fox, chairman of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation of North Dakota, said, I know from direct experience that Secretary Burgum is a no-nonsense leader. He brings strong business experience and successful solutions to obstacles that impede good development. I believe that mindset will help tribal nations realize strategic development and economic prosperity.



And Stephen Roe Lewis, governor of the Gila River Indian Community of Arizona, spoke in support of Burgums nomination at a Jan. 29 press conference when he urged the Office of Management and Budget to rescind the budget freeze, which would affect many tribal programs. We look forward to starting our relationship with him on the right foot as soon as he is confirmed, Lewis said.



In contrast, the conservation and advocacy group Center for Western Priorities was critical of Burgums appointment. In a statement on the groups website, Executive Director Jennifer Rokala said: Secretary Burgum has to decide if he will be a force for chaos or consistency on Americas public lands. When Donald Trump invariably orders him to illegally revoke existing permits for renewable energy, will he have the spine to tell the president no? If oil and gas billionaires tell Burgum to ignore the bedrock laws that protect Americas lands, water, and wildlife, will Burgum tell the oligarchs no?

Secretary Burgum has to decide if he will be a force for chaos or consistency on Americas public lands.

Bernal said that she expects that other oil and gas leases that were paused during the Biden administration will be resumed. She noted that Pueblo Action Alliance has also been monitoring the price of uranium and the possible re-opening of some uranium mines. The organization encourages New Mexico to seek greater regulatory control over the state energy industry, especially given the change in federal administration.



A lot of us that are involved in an Indigenous rights movement are also recognizing that this is big government, Bernal said, noting the intersectionality of this issue and others surrounding the environment, climate and even birthright citizenship. Indigenous people as well as migrants are already being affected by raids from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).



Were all just in this mindset of: The work has to continue, and well continue resisting just like how we always have, Bernal said.

The six orders:



1. Addressing the National Energy Emergency." Following up to Pres. Trumps declaration, a two-fold effort to identify potential domestic energy sources and expedite the completion of approved projects through all emergency and legal authorities available.



2. Unleashing American Energy." The goal: Solidify the United States as a global energy leader and achieve energy dominance through resources available on federal lands and waters.



3. Delivering Emergency Price Relief for American Families and Defeating the Cost-of-Living-Crisis." A department-wide review of programs and coercive climate policies that could be eliminated to lower the costs of energy that would be of to benefit American citizens.



4. Announcing President Trumps revocation of former Outer Continental Shelf Withdrawals." A removal of Biden-era policies that excluded the Outer Continental Shelf from oil and gas leasing.



5. Achieving Prosperity through Deregulation." Efforts to remove regulations and implement new ones that would seek to be more cost effective.



6. Unleashing Alaskas Extraordinary Resource Potential." An order for the department to take all necessary steps to unleash the State of Alaskas abundant and largely untapped supply of natural resources, and review prior restrictions on resource development in Alaska.

This story was originally published at High Country News and has been republished with permission.
A man was rushed to the hospital following a shooting in Roxbury on Tuesday afternoon.

Boston Police say officers responding to a report of a person shot in the area of 62 Warren Street just before 5 p.m. found a man with a gunshot wound.

The victim was transported by Boston EMS to a local hospital. His injuries are not considered to be life threatening, according to authorities.

No arrests have been made.

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The shooting remains under investigation by district detectives.

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CAPE TOWN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube announced on Tuesday that over 93 percent of identified pit toilets in public schools have been eradicated.

Addressing the National Council of Provinces in Cape Town, the country's legislative capital, Gwarube described the achievement as "a critical step toward ensuring that all learners have access to safe and dignified sanitation facilities."

Since 2018, 3,372 pit toilets have been identified in schools across the country. Through the Sanitation Appropriate for Education (SAFE) initiative, over 93 percent have been eliminated, with the remaining cases set to be addressed in the coming weeks.

"Despite the severe fiscal constraints facing the basic education sector, the department has remained resolute in its commitment to meeting the deadline set by President Cyril Ramaphosa to eradicate unsafe sanitation in schools by March 31, 2025," said Gwarube.

While acknowledging challenges such as budget constraints, infrastructure backlogs, and rising construction costs, Gwarube emphasized that eliminating school pit toilets was a non-negotiable priority.

"Since 1994, we have made significant strides in eradicating mud schools, unsafe structures, and inadequate sanitation facilities. Yet, we are still faced with schools that lack proper classrooms, electricity, water, and functional toilets," Gwarube said.

Pit toilets have long caused concern in South African schools, particularly in rural areas. Over the years, several children have died after falling into these unsafe structures.

According to local media, in 2021, the Limpopo High Court ordered the provincial Department of Education to replace all pit toilets in public schools following the tragic death of a five-year-old boy in 2014. In another incident in 2023, a four-year-old girl drowned after falling into a pit toilet at her school in the Eastern Cape.

Launched in 2018, the SAFE initiative was introduced as a targeted intervention to address inadequate sanitation in schools, with a focus on eliminating reliance on pit toilets. 
Organizers are leaning on the Dayton regions business community for support as the NATO Parliamentary Assembly gets ready for its historic return to Dayton.

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It was a packed house at the Dayton Convention Center as Dayton area chamber members heard from former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison and Representative Mike Turner.

The assembly will return to the region again to help honor the Dayton Peace Accords that were signed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base 30 years ago.

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Turner said the idea is to celebrate the efforts of the past with a focus on restoring global peace in the present.

As the Dayton community, were going to join with them, with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, and do a retrospective and prospective on the Dayton Peace Accords and discuss and wars start and how to bring them to an end, he said.

In her keynote speech, Hutchison spoke of the importance of maintaining alliances. She urged those on hand to support the NATO efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine and strengthen the bonds we have with other countries that are looking to keep the peace. an effort that will be on display in the Gem City.

Its keeping our way of life, our freedom, that we value and we have to protect. That means we have to have that strong security umbrella with our allies and our willing partners, She said.

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The NATO Parliamentary Assembly Spring Session goes from May 22-26.

With hundreds of delegates expected to come for the gathering, downtown Dayton restrictions will begin on May 21.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A man was convicted Monday for fatally shooting a woman nearly five years ago in Southeast D.C.

Just after 3:15 a.m. on March 25, 2020, 57-year-old Guy Johnson shot multiple times into a white Kia forte, the U.S. Attorneys Office (USAO) said.

At the time, 28-year-old Kriston Robinson and one other person were inside.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: DC man arrested for shooting, killing woman in 2020

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One of the shots struck Robinson in the head, killing her almost instantly. The surviving victim fled from the car unharmed.

Johnson was arrested in connection with the crime in October 2023.

On March 10, 2025, he was found guilty of second-degree murder while armed, assault with the intent to kill while armed and other related 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.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Education leaders say the Trump administrations plan to shut down the U.S. Department of Education would significantly impact D.C. Schools and programs.

I dont even know how our school system would function without the funds and the support that we receive from the U.S. Department of Education, said Jacquelyn Pougue-Lyons, president of the Washington Teachers Union (WTU).

The union represents thousands of teachers across the District, many of whom, Pougue-Lyons said, are also concerned about the potential shutdown.

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Were all very nervous and worried about our families because we know that the U.S. Department of Education offers opportunities for all kids, whether theyre urban, suburban, rural, and it particularly offers opportunities for our low-income students, said Pougue-Lyons.

Proposed federal bill would cut DC budget by roughly $1 billion, city officials say

Pougue-Lyons says several programs depend on funding from the Department of Education, and all of them could be affected.

According to a sheet created by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) based on 2024 disbursements from the Department of Education budget, programs for children with special needs use about $142 million in funding, before- and after-school care programs use another 6.5 million, and billions of dollars are used to help students get into college and CTE programs.

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Many of these programs fall under the categories of services supporting kids, continuing students, workers and communities.

If we dont have the funding, say, for our special needs, our ELL, after care, before care programs, career development, career technical education, what are we supposed to do to support our students? Lots of programs will just have to stop and close down because we just dont have the funding, said Pougue-Lyons.

She says the union will continue to use its voice to advocate for a change of heart.

Were going to have to use, as teachers say, our outside voices because we cant let this happen. This is something that could change, changes for generation after generation, she said.

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There has been harsh criticism of Trumps proposal from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

The president could make a decision as soon as this week.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
COURTESY PHOTO Adoptive mother Sina Pumehana Pili, 39, is seen in this mugshot.

COURTESY PHOTO Adoptive mother Sina Pumehana Pili, 39, is seen in this mugshot.

The torture and killing of an 11-year-old Laie girl with learning disabilities, allegedly at the hands of her adoptive mother, was flagged by the state Department of Human Services in its 2024 Child Fatality Report.

The state report does not name Azaeliyah Pili-Ah You, but multiple sources told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that the girl, who was adopted two months before her death on Dec. 22, 2023, was one of the five child fatalities determined to be due to child maltreatment, according to the report covering the states 2024 fiscal year.

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The girl was in the custody of another family two months before she was adopted and allegedly beaten, neglected and killed by Sina Pumehana Pili, 39, a behavioral health specialist and senior class adviser at Kahuku High and Intermediate School. Pili was arrested on campus Friday and charged with manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a minor and persistent nonsupport.

Every child deserves to be safe, and protecting the well-being of children is at the core of everything we do at Child Welfare Services. We are heartbroken over the tragic loss of this child and join the community in mourning, read a statement to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser from the DHS Child Welfare Services Branch. CWS works with its law enforcement partners and respects the need for confidentiality as the investigation in the case continues. Please know that CWS is fully committed to protecting children and taking appropriate action when concerns arise. Keeping children safe is a shared responsibility, and we encourage everyone to report any suspected abuse or neglect.

Honolulu police said Pili-Ah You had multiple injuries from child abuse, including deep bruising all over her body, bite marks, two broken ribs, a scalp hemorrhage and evidence of strangulation, and tested positive for COVID-19, flu and pneumonia.

The Child Fatality Report noted confirmed physical abuse and that the 11-year-olds death was an intrafamilial harm case.

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Pili-Ah You was found unresponsive at home with suspicious injuries consistent with non-accidental trauma, and the states Child Welfare Services Branch had no prior reports of suspected abuse, the report said. The adoptive family did not receive any services from the state in the two months they had the girl because there were no prior reports for caretakers.

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Four other children in Pili and her husbands care, ages 12, 9, 8, 7, have been placed in protective custody by CWS. Pilis husband has not been arrested, but is under investigation by Honolulu Police Department detectives.

The state Department of Education said that following her arrest Friday, Pili was placed on leave pending investigation, effective March 7, which is unpaid for the first 30 days.

Kahuku High and Intermediate School Principal Donna Lindsey sent a note to parents Friday letting them know that the school administration is aware of an ongoing law enforcement investigation involving a non-classroom employee.

While we understand that this news may be concerning, we want to emphasize that the alleged incident does not involve our school or students. Please be assured that the Hawaii State Department of Education follows strict policies, including comprehensive background checks for all applicants prior to employment, wrote Lindsey in her message, obtained by the Star-Advertiser.

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We understand that these situations can raise questions and concerns. However, we are unable to discuss any confidential personnel matters, said Lindsey, who urged parents trying to help their child through the moment to call school officials.

Like many other parents who adopt children in foster care, Pili and her husband received money every month from the state to help pay expenses for the children they are supposed to protect and nurture. DHS officials are barred by federal law from disclosing any information about the adoption and custody history of Pili-Ah Yous four siblings.

Payments to foster parents are based on the childs age, and the rate of pay is the same for adoption assistance or guardianship support : $649 monthly for children up to age 5, $742 monthly for children age 6 to 11 and $776 monthly for children age 12 and older.

If a child has special needs, due to a physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral problem, additional funds to support the care of the child are available to request, according to DHS.

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This additional difficulty of care stipend of up to $570 a month is determined on a case-by-case basis by a team that includes a DHS social worker and treating medical professional, depending on the childs needs and the additional time the caregiver spends to meet the childs needs.

REPORT CHILD ABUSE Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.Child abuse and neglect : Call 808-832-5300 on Oahu or toll-free 888-380-3088 on Hawaii island, Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kauai.Child trafficking : Call 808-832-1999 on Oahu or toll-free 888-398-1188 on Hawaii island, Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kauai.
OREGON, Ill. (WTVO)  Police in Ogle County are investigating the death of an Oregon Elementary School employee.

On Monday night, Oregon School Superintendent PJ Caposey sent a letter to parents, saying, It is with a heavy heart that I share the tragic news that Jill Bier, a staff member at Oregon Elementary School, has passed away. We have been working closely with the Ogle County Sheriffs Department since Friday, and earlier today we received confirmation that we could share this information with our staff and families.

We know this loss will impact many of our students, and we are focused on providing support for them at school tomorrow. Counselors and staff will be available to help students process their emotions, whether they need a quiet space, someone to talk to, or just extra reassurance throughout the day, Caposey said.

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Counselors were made available for students and staff on Tuesday.

On Friday, the Ogle County Sheriffs Office reported finding a deceased person in the 4000 block of E. IL Route 64, at a home owned by Bier, around 9:59 a.m.

The Illinois State Police Crime Scene, the Office of the Illinois Fire Marshal, the Ogle County Coroners Office, and the Peoria County Medical Examiner assisted with the investigation.

While the investigation remains ongoing, search warrants, interviews, and an autopsy have taken place since the initial call, which leads us to believe no danger to the public exists, the sheriffs office said.

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MOSCOW (Reuters) - Five people were killed in a Ukrainian strike on Monday on a shopping centre in a village of Russia's Kursk region, local governor Alexander Khinshtein said on Tuesday.

Khinshtein had previously said three people were killed and nine wounded in the village of Belaya.

On Tuesday Russia said that its troops had made major new gains in its western region of Kursk, accelerating their push to drive out Ukrainian forces who have been clinging on to a slice of Russian territory since last August.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Mark Trevelyan; Writing by Maxim Rodionov; Editing by Mark Porter)
It was May 2022 when psychiatric and gynecological teams first began visiting the liberated regions of Kyiv and Kherson oblasts. Even just three months post-full-scale invasion, mass cases of war crime rape were ubiquitous. Primary targets were women and teenage girls; the mean age was fifteen. But survivors were also identified in men, the elderly, even children and toddlers. By autumn 2022, the first UN commission report on mass Russian conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) crimes was released, detailing how "women have been gang-raped, men castrated, children sexually abused, and civilians forced to parade naked in the streets".

Often, the plethora of undeniable evidence comes not just from the Ukrainian capturing of war crimes; frequently, Russians record their own atrocities. Since 2022, there have been instances of Russian soldiers filming sexual assaults of children, in part to create content for child pornography sites and make money. In one case of an infant raped on video, the Russian soldier-offenders were active in sharing the videos in Telegram groups.

Illustration: John Sarastro

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In 2022, numerous phone calls were intercepted between Russian soldiers and wives and girlfriends about raping Ukrainian women. Roman Bykovsky and wife Olga Bykovska went viral on one such call, in which the wife laughingly encouraged her husband to rape Ukrainian women as long as he used a condom.

From the first year of the war into the second and third, the greatest site of sexual war crimes has moved from civilian young women to male POWs. One of the favorite "games" of the occupying Russians has involved spinning the wheel of the field telephone then making a call, electrocuting the prisoner connected to its wire. It has varied genital electrocution, known as "Zelenskys Call", with anal electrocution, known as "Bidens Call".

Another common thread in accounts of CRSV is a consistent level of Russian cruelty via sociopathic enjoyment while committing sexual torture. As one psychologist explained, many former POWs report of their sexual assaults hearing the abusing soldier get a call from commanders, saying "okay, come back now, stop with the fun". Such sadism is also in line with that of early 2022, when the world was horrified by graffiti found in homes recently occupied by Russians in liberated Kharkiv oblast. On inner walls was scribbled the lines, "Its not considered a war crime if you had fun".

I first became involved with writing about mass rape in Ukraine due to my background as both academic and journalist. I hold a doctorate as a feminist cultural historian, with specialisation on women in abusive systems. Beginning in February 2022 with Russias full-scale invasion, I began writing for The Kyiv Post  with an international focus on women, art and culture, protest, embassies, and diplomacy. Covering everything from anti-rape art and performance protests at Russian embassy gates to body-painted protesters at the Cannes Film Festival, I wrote the first piece to document the emerging global protest phenomenon around Russian rape war crimes in summer 2022: "Stop Raping Us".

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In 2024, I was asked to contribute one of the first chapters of international scholarly writing on Russias use of CRSV in Ukraine. In the chapter, I maintained an academic focus on data, media analysis, and the international response.

That left plenty of leftover research about Russian culture, sociology, mass psychology, and history. What I wanted to get to the bottom of was a burning question: what precisely is wrong with Russia and Russians, that this is habitually and continuously the way they conduct wars and occupations? Where do we have to look  not to the nonsensical "mysterious Russian soul", or to Pushkin, Tolstoy, and the ballet, but to the dark heart of Russia  to get at the pathologies that make the most perverse mass rape war crimes commonplace?

To begin with national identity, start with the persona of the dictator. Within this sort of psycho-political reading, we can situate Putin in line with his worldview. Russian political life  both traditionally and in this current iteration  is marked by use of machismo, force, and brutality; the state itself is designed to be ruthless and cruel.

Indeed there is a direct link between Russias behavior, Putins rhetoric, and the concept of rape culture itself. As Bonnie Stabile has noted, "those who enact state violence also often employ rape rhetoric". Slavoj Zizek drew attention for some time pre-February 2022 to Putins use of specifically sexually violent language to refer to Ukraine. Two weeks before the full-scale invasion, Putin appeared at a press conference in which he made a joke in reference to a 1970s Russian song about rape  "Whether you like it or dont like it, bear with it, my beauty".

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Fast forward to autumn 2022: a pattern was already beginning to emerge around toxic masculinity, abuse, failure, and the widespread use of CRSV. In Estonian playwright and documenter of Soviet crimes Sofi Oksanens estimation, one part of the answer was simple: the Russian Army lacks professional combat skills. "Committing rape needs no fighting techniques. A soldier capable of such atrocities reflects a whole ecosystem of violence behind such an act".

A Russian rape culture also emerges from the ground upthe social conditions present in everyday Russian life. From the perspective of group psychology, Russia remains a humiliation society. Teachers are known to beat students, and child abuse and overall interpersonal violence are rampant.

Many survivors have testified that Russian troops told them their rape was a "punishment". Prosecutor Anna Myktenko explained that "[i]n several villages in the south we heard witnesses and survivors say the Russian servicemen looked specifically for wives of Ukrainian soldiers, or mothers or sisters".

But it is equally easy to find the roots of widespread sexual violence of men upon other men. Looking to history leads one to dedovshchina as a Russian phenomenon. This is the bullying gang system found in prison as originated under Stalinism, then carried into Russian military and police life. Literally meaning "heritage of the grandfathers", it was the creation of a hierarchy that began with placing violent convicts in charge of political prisoners in camps  anointing a gangster "king of prisoners". In Russian prisons, officials dont prevent rampant violence and rape it; they condone it. In seeking mercenaries to kill abroad, the Russian military thus often turns to those in prisons "looking for men who are used to torture and rape as a part of everyday life [and are in fact] used to doing it".

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As former Ukrainian government official Anton Geraschenko explained on social media, next to a 2024 picture of Russian rapist smiling in a courtroom: "[a] clear pattern has already emerged in Russia: murderers and rapists are not afraid of prison, because they go straight to war and then come back with honors".

Yet another inescapable factor in an invading militarys rape culture is misogynistic violence at home. "Weaponizing rape is more likely in conflicts where the aggressor comes from a country where the level of gender equality is very low or non-existent". In 2017, life became significantly more perilous for Russian women when domestic violence was reduced from a crime to an administrative offense. Between 2011 and 2019, more than 12,000 Russian women died from it. As Agata Wlodkwska has argued, the "high level of violence against Russian women is an important factor at play it makes the use of sexual violence outside of state borders easier as a weapon of war".

Finally, to be honest about Russias current endemic sexual war crimes in Ukraine also means connecting the horrifying parallels of past and present. One driver is the obsession with a glorious nostalgicised past, in Putins creation of a cult of World War II as remade into a singular Russian Soviet triumph. Oksanen believes that "Homo putinicus only knows the necessity to return to the past and the mythology of the Great Patriotic War, which Putins rule has turned into a new religion and has become one of the main enabling narratives of war crimes in Ukraine".

How, specifically, would a "cult of the grandfathers" continue to drive current war crimes in 2020s Ukraine? Because vast historical evidence proves that the generation most venerated in Russia  like those who make up the "Immortal Regiment", the Red Army ancestors whose photos Russians parade with every May 9th  were also themselves mass systemic rapists.

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Rape has been a Russian weapon of war for centuries, but nowhere was it more pervasive and documented than in 1945. Millions of civilian women and girls were raped fleeing the Red Army. Russian soldiers were encouraged to "enjoy their victory"; the Soviet army issued a leaflet urging soldiers to "take [enemy civilian women] as your rightful spoils". Hospital records show that 5% of children born in Berlin from the end of 1945 to beginning of 1946 had Russian fathers listed on birth certificates: "Russian" with "rape" underneath in parentheses.

Oksanen has explained: "The rape, marauding and other war crimes of the Soviet Red Army were never condemned by Russia. As Russia was never held accountable for the crimes, this culture of impunity was grounds for further crimes, and facilitated what is happening in Ukraine today Russia has a long history soaked with the stains of war crimes; it is that history that enables repetition".

This is all, simply, a mass Russian problem. If a nation is specifically known an all-against-all bullying culture at home of men, women, and children, and for a culture of hazing and rape in their own army: why should we be surprised that when it goes next door, it employs sexual violence and torture in its military operations? When a country is sickened within its own history and ideology, it may first poison its own people. But today, it is  once again  a neighbour of Russia who is bearing the brunt of its pathologies.

To close with a powerful 2024 quote on national culpability from Lithuanian minister Gabrielius Landsbergis: "I hear about the innocence of ordinary Russians, but then. I see ordinary Russian mothers saying goodbye to their ordinary Russian sons and wishing them success in their ordinary Russian war crimes. Ordinary Russia is sick. Healing will be a long and arduous process that will only begin when Russia, not just Putin, is defeated".

Dr. Kerry McElroy
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA)  A Decatur drug dealer pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in a case where police said he beat a customer to death over a $400 debt.

Eric Hardy, age 34, was facing multiple counts of first-degree murder for the death of 53-year-old Marvin Meyer on Sept. 1, 2023. Court records show that a jury trial was scheduled to begin on Monday, but he reached a plea deal with prosecutors last week.

Hardy was charged with a new count of second-degree murder, which alleges that he acted under a sudden and intense passion resulting from serious provocation by Meyer and killed him accidentally or negligently, or that he unreasonably believed the circumstances would justify his killing of Meyer. He pleaded guilty to this count.

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In exchange, all other charges against Hardy  three counts of first-degree murder and one of aggravated battery  were dismissed.

The Decatur Police Department filed a complaint against Hardy on the day of Meyers murder to explain why they requested a warrant for his arrest. The complaint was acquired by WCIA.

Decatur man accused of stealing furnace from public housing to provide heat for girlfriend

Detective Jeremy Appenzeller explained that investigators spoke with Meyers roommate, who said that Hardy was a drug dealer who sold crack cocaine to Meyer each week. However, Meyer fell behind on his payments and owed Hardy approximately $400.

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On Sept. 1, 2023, Hardy arrived at Meyers home on Wood Street at around 1 p.m. and entered the living room. Meyer and his two roommates were there, and Appenzeller said Hardy told the roommates to leave the living room. They complied.

While they were out of the room, Hardy and Meyer got into a fistfight over the debt. One of the roommates ran back into the living room and saw Meyer on the floor, with Hardy repeatedly punching and kicking him. Hardy left the home as Meyers roommates helped him up and into his bedroom.

Thats where Decatur Police found Meyer when officers responded at 2:42 p.m. Appenzeller said Meyer had bleeding injuries to his face consistent with being punched. Meyer also identified Hardy as his attacker and said why Hardy attacked him.

Meyer was taken to Decatur Memorial Hospital for treatment of his injuries. Doctors discovered that he had suffered a hemothorax, a collapsed lung and a lacerated liver. They took him into emergency surgery but were unable to save his life. Meyer died in the operating room at 6:56 p.m.

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Decatur teenager accused of pointing stolen, loaded gun at friend during argument

Appenzeller said Meyers roommate had Hardys wallet, which he left behind at the home, and provided it to officers. After putting Hardy in a photo lineup, the roommate confirmed he was the one who beat Meyer up.

Armed with this evidence, Appenzeller asked for a warrant to arrest Hardy and a judge granted it. A week later, the U.S. Marshals Service found Hardy in Tennessee. Hes been in custody since his arrest and extradition to Illinois.

Following Hardys guilty plea, Judge Thomas Griffith scheduled sentencing for April 17. Court records show the sentencing is open, meaning prosecutors did not agree to recommend a sentence and the decision is up to the judge on how long the sentence will be.

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Second-degree murder is punishable in Illinois by up to 20 years in prison but is also eligible for probation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
The former CEO and two other high-ranking executives for Massachusetts-based Magellan Diagnostics have pleaded guilty to criminal charges related to the companys lead-testing devices that produced inaccurately low results for tens of thousands of patients, the U.S. Attorney said Tuesday.

Amy Winslow, 53, of Needham Heights, Magellans former CEO, pleaded guilty to one felony count of introduction of misbranded medical devices into interstate commerce, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement. U.S. District Court Judge Patti Saris scheduled her sentencing for July 23.

Hossein Maleknia, 66, of Bonita Springs, Florida, Magellans former chief operating officer, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of introduction of misbranded medical devices into interstate commerce. Saris scheduled his sentencing is scheduled for June 26.

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Reba Daoust, 68, of Amesbury, Magellans former Director of Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs, pleaded guilty to one felony count of making false statements. She is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24.

Winslow, Maleknia and Daoust were indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2023.

Prosecutors said the three former executives misled regulators and customers about lead-testing devices manufactured by Magellan, a medical device company headquartered in Billerica.

The companys LeadCare II and LeadCare Ultra devices detected lead levels and lead poisoning in the blood of children and adults using either venous, i.e., blood draws through the arm, or fingerstick samples. LeadCare II, which was predominantly used to test fingerstick samples, accounted for more than half of all blood lead tests conducted in the United States from 2013 through 2017. LeadCare Ultra was predominantly used to test venous samples.

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By hiding the malfunction and later misleading customers and the FDA about when they discovered the malfunction, and the risks associated with the malfunction, Winslow, Maleknia and Daoust caused an estimated thousands of children and other patients to receive inaccurately low lead test results, Foley said.

We trust that medical devices provide accurate results. We trust that when doctors give us information, its based on reliable science. These defendants eroded that trust by misleading regulators and customers about devices they knew could provide inaccurate results, and thereby knowingly endangered the health of children and other patients across the country, Foley said.

These convictions should make one thing clear: corporate fraud that puts public health at risk will not go unpunished. Individuals who choose to mislead rather than uphold the integrity of our healthcare system will be held accountable, Foley said.

The FDA ultimately found that the LeadCare devices could not accurately test venous samples, leading to a recall of all LeadCare devices using venous samples and a warning to the public not to use the devices for venous blood samples because of the malfunction, Foley said.

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What these three senior executives did was downright deceitful and dangerous, Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, said in a statement. They concealed a medical device malfunction that resulted in inaccurate lead test results for thousands of children and other vulnerable patients in order to boost Magellans bottom line. The public should know the FBI and our partners are working hard every day to ensure those who put profits over patient safety wont get away with it.

According to court documents, as referenced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no safe level of lead in the blood. Lead exposure may cause irreversible lifelong physical and mental health problems.

Young children and pregnant women are most vulnerable to lead exposure, especially those from low-income households and those who live in housing built before 1978 because those homes are more likely to contain lead-based paint and have fixtures containing lead.

These corporate executives knew about a serious flaw in Magellans lead testing devices that produced inaccurate reporting of lead levels in the blood. They chose to conceal that flaw, completely disregarding the well-being of patients, in their corrupt effort to benefit the corporate bottom line, Special Agent in Charge Roberto Coviello of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, said in a statement. These convictions serve as a strong reminder that we will continue to work tirelessly to investigate and bring to justice those who engage in dangerous schemes that put patient safety at risk.

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If you or a family member believe you received an inaccurate blood lead test result from a LeadCare device between 2013-2017, federal officials are asking you to complete the questionnaire located on the FBIs website. Information about the status of the case is located on the U.S. Attorneys Office website.

For the charges of introduction of misbranded medical devices, Winslow and Maleknia face a sentence of up to three years in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

For the charge of making false statements, Daoust faces a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up $250,000 or twice the gross gain from the offense, whichever is greater.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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CAIRO, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and his Tunisian counterpart Kais Saied on Monday reiterated their firm opposition to any efforts aimed at displacing Palestinians from their land or undermining their cause.

In a phone conversation, the leaders discussed the situation in the Gaza Strip, reviewing Egypt's initiatives to uphold the ceasefire and facilitate humanitarian aid delivery, according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency.

The statement also said that Saied praised Egypt's reconstruction plan for Gaza, adopted at a recent emergency Arab summit with unanimous support. The Tunisian leader emphasized his country's backing for the plan, highlighting its goal to rebuild Gaza without displacing its residents.

Both presidents underscored that establishing a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, remains the sole path to lasting regional peace.

The conversation also addressed developments in Libya and Syria, with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to the stability, unity, and sovereignty of these nations over their entire territories, according to the statement. 
(Bloomberg) -- For some years now, Chinas annual gathering of its national legislature has been an increasingly disciplined and choreographed affair  its muted vibes practically an echo of deepening concern about domestic stagnation.

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Not this time. The National Peoples Congress seven-day gathering, which concluded Tuesday in Beijing, came on the heels of a breakthrough in artificial intelligence by Chinas home-grown startup DeepSeek thats fired up investors, politicians and even regulators. It also followed President Xi Jinpings high-profile meeting with business chiefs including Jack Ma.

Chinese shares posted their best performance during the annual huddle since 2018, with the MSCI China Index trading 4.3% up over the weeklong event and posting a modest gain on Tuesday when most Asian stocks fell.

Communist Party cadres from different regions competed to market their locales as Chinas next AI hub. Lawmakers made a raft of proposals  from promoting AI-related education and scaling up the technologys applications to boosting research and regulating the social impact  according to group discussions that were open to the media and records of closed-door sessions reviewed by Bloomberg News.

Dynamism was also on display in rare debates over policy, as at least one delegate complained about limited access to bank funding for smaller tech firms.

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At a two-hour-long press briefing with Chinas top five economic and financial officials last week, AI was a hot topic alongside queries over boosting domestic consumption  an economic priority this year  and the newfound angst over US tariff hikes.

This presser is almost becoming a tech-themed one, quipped Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, at the briefing. Tech is taking a more prominent role here, he said, highlighting how DeepSeek has propelled a revaluation of Chinese assets.

Things are looking better for the long-downtrodden tech sector than it has in years, with Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. staging a comeback after Xis crackdown on private enterprise in 2020.

The emergence of DeepSeek, which trained a top-notch AI model for apparently a fraction of the usual cost, trained a spotlight on Chinese AI advances and drew investors back to the Hong Kong and mainland stock markets. And most recently, local press have gone ga-ga over a little-known startup whose Manus AI agent can reportedly perform complex real-world tasks.

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Wu and his fellow policymakers, including the finance minister and central bank governor, each spent some time talking about tech and innovation.

The unveiling of a state-backed startup guidance fund of 1 trillion yuan ($138 billion) by Zheng Shanjie, who heads the National Development and Reform Commission, spurred fresh discussion over Chinas push to develop AI and quantum technology.

In one session attended by nearly 200 reporters, Yuan Jiajun, the Communist Party chief of Chongqing, explained how his megacity will translate its high-end manufacturing capacity into new success in producing connected vehicles, smart equipment and new materials. And, he said, Chongqing will be deploying AI+ citywide.

Yuan, who sits on the partys elite 24-member Politburo, pledged to support the private sector and build an entire ecosystem with bigger companies as pillars and small and mid-sized companies ubiquitous.

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Solar, EV Parallel

Lawmakers from Shanghai and Guangdong similarly aim to identify areas their constituencies could excel at in AI, such as scientific research and industrial applications, records of closed-door meetings showed.

Meantime, the governments of Beijing and Shenzhen in recent days set up their own funds, at 10 billion yuan, to nurture AI and robotics development. On Monday, the southern province of Guangdong, where Shenzhen is located, became the latest to unveil subsidies. And Wuhan, capital of the central province of Hubei, announced a plan to develop AI products in areas including health care, education and law.

The fervor bore some resemblance to surging interest in solar energy and electric vehicles in past years, when regional governments scrambled to build capacity in those sectors. That led to overcapacity and a rat-race competition among companies that undermined profitability  but at the same time secured Chinas position as an industry leader in both sectors.

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After years when the economic narrative has often turned to deflation risks and local officials who prefer to lie flat than take on new endeavors, AI offers a new story. For some, it also sparked some soul-searching.

Regional Rivalry

The provincial mouthpiece of Jiangsu, a powerhouse coastal province north of Shanghai, ran three articles last month asking why its neighbor to the south, Zhejiang, had become the base for DeepSeek and five other firms now known as the six little AI dragons.

Zhejiangs tech megapolis Hangzhou is known for a more hands-off regulatory approach toward companies, a model that might have helped spur discussion at the gathering.

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The government should avoid setting up hidden barriers for private companies, especially in areas that involve new technologies and business models, said NPC deputy Zhou Tongyu, vice president of the Shanghai Federation of Industry and Commerce, at a session open to journalists.

She also lamented that nearly 80% of small and medium-sized tech companies struggle to get bank loans for lack of physical assets to offer as collateral. That could be addressed if business-operation data were accepted as a basis for security credit, she said.

State Model

National regulators, too, may be taking on board lessons. The new tech guidance fund announced last week emphasized the role of the market.

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That suggests the state is evolving from identifying favored sectors to modeling the role of a patient, long-term investor focused on early-stage investments in small companies working on challenging technologies, according to Tilly Zhang, an analyst at Gavekal Dragonomics.

Still, challenges remain for a state-led approach, she wrote in a recent note. While Beijing is idealizing small-scale, decentralized development, the methods it prefers are often large-scale, centralized and tightly directed, Zhang wrote.

--With assistance from Charlie Zhu and Sangmi Cha.

(Updates with closing prices.)

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Russian forces continue to exert pressure on Ukrainian positions in Russia's Kursk Oblast and have made progress. Russian troops are consolidating their positions in the eastern part of the town of Sudzha and are building up forces.

Source: DeepState, a Ukrainian group of military analysts

Quote: "The heaviest enemy activity is currently on the eastern front, where the katsaps [Russians] have made advances near Mirnoye and Zazulevka [in Kursk Oblast]. The enemy is also consolidating their positions and building up forces in the eastern part of Sudzha. The [Ukrainian] defence forces are holding the appropriate lines to counter the pressure from Muscovites in an effort to stabilise the situation, but it's incredibly challenging.

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On the right flank, in the Guyevo area, we have managed to slow down the advance of the North Korean troops, who are doing all the grunt work for the Muscovites. Time will tell if this hold will last."

Details: On the left flank of the Kursk front, the Russians are making huge efforts to push towards Basivka in Ukraines Sumy Oblast.

"Meanwhile, the defence forces are working to stop these attempts by targeting clusters of enemy personnel and disrupting their movements," DeepState writes.

Background:

On 10 March, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reported that the situation on the Kursk front remains under the control of Ukrainian defence forces.

On 9 March, DeepState reported that Russian forces had regained control of the settlements of Martynovka and Malaya Loknya in Kursk Oblast.

On 7 March, it was reported that Russian troops had breached the Ukrainian defence line south of Sudzha in Kursk Oblast. The defence forces are working to stabilise the situation.

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DEKALB COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT)  The defense attorney for a man on trial for murder filed a motion for a juror to be removed for ties to the District Attorneys Office Monday.

Keith Duane Sullivan is on trial for the murder of his neighbor, Gregory Bagwell, in 2023, but he was not indicted for murder until 2024.

According to court documents, the murder trial began on March 3. However, on March 10, Sullivans attorney filed a motion for the immediate dismissal of [a] juror.

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Sheffield City Schools to introduce phone-free classroom spaces in upcoming school year

Court records say the defense learned, in the courts recess, that the DAs office is prosecuting a manslaughter case regarding the death of Juror #0171s son.

In the document asking for the dismissal, the defense claims that, despite being questioned, this juror did not provide any information regarding their connections with or knowledge of the District Attorneys office.

The defense said neither the DAs office nor the juror disclosed this relationship, which would have possibly caused the juror to be struck from the case entirely.

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Sullivans attorney also stated that they learned that this specific juror made some Facebook posts on Saturday morning that indirectly referenced the deliberation process.

The defense also said that It is readily apparent from those Facebook posts that Juror #0171 may have been expressing frustration that [they] were unable to guide other jurors to [their] biased perspective that is aligned with the States interest.

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In the motion, the defense said that Sullivan reserves the right to a mistrial and/or a directed verdict due to this incident.

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Sullivan was indicted in February 2024, and following that indictment, the defense filed a motion for a pre-trial determination of immunity from prosecution in March. Court documents filed by the defense say Sullivan was using his right to self-defense.

The defense claims that Sullivan was justified in his actions because Bagwell was trespassing on [his] property at the time of the shooting by standing on Sullivans porch around 2 a.m.

After evidence was presented by both sides, a DeKalb County judge denied the motion of immunity on July 16, 2024.

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Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif.) is defending his controversial vote to censure his Democratic colleague Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) following Greens protest that disrupted President Donald Trumps recent address to a joint session of Congress.

During an interview with NewsNation on Sunday, Bera told anchor Chris Stirewalt that Greens demonstration was a distraction from the Democratic Partys overall strategy. And when asked about those who argue that Trump himself doesnt play by the rules, Bera told the cable news network that we need radical civility.

We need to stand up for the American people, he added.

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Shortly after Trump began his remarks in the House chamber last week, Green rose from his seat, pointed his cane at the president and protested the GOPs budget plan by yelling: You have no mandate to cut Medicaid.

Green was eventually escorted from the chamber after he refused to sit, despite several warnings from House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) that he would be removed. Other Democratic lawmakers in attendance protested Trump more subtly  i.e. holding up signs in acts of dissent or wearing coordinating shades of pink.

The House of Representatives adopted a censure resolution by Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) to formally reprimand Green days later. The resolution, which has no practical effect beyond a public rebuke that goes on the record, was approved with a 224-198 vote, and two lawmakers, one of whom was Green, voted present.

People have since expressed outrage that Green, who became just the 28th House member in history to get cited, was censured for his conduct, considering Republican lawmakers have notably heckled and caused various disturbances during presidential addresses in recent years.

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Many were also especially dismayed that the following 10 Democrats joined Republicans to rebuke Green: Bera, Reps. 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.

[Ten] Democrats voted to censure Al Green. They dont seem to understand how much their own base wants to see his kind of action, one person on X, formerly Twitter, wrote.

The Democratic Party is weak and feckless, another X user wrote, adding, Democratic Leaders continue to play nice when the entire party is screaming to fight back.

Democrats: Trump is Hitler. Also Democrats: Lets censure the only guy who actually stood up to Hitler and called him out in the House chamber, wrote another.

Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, photographed before he was escorted out the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol during President Donald Trump's address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Tom Williams via Getty Images

When Bera invoked the term radical civility to defend his vote to censure Green, he mightve been communicating the idea that given this time of political polarization, its important to elevate civility as a central tenet of policy-making and politics, said Chandler James, assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Oregon.

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Read on to hear more from experts in American politics on the censure resolution  and the backlash to Dems voting for it.

Some Dem lawmakers think radical civility will help to distinguish them from the Republican Party.

James told HuffPost that he believes many Democratic lawmakers feel as though they want to be the party of civility ... the party of decency.

He said that Dems voting to censure Green may reflect their attempts to be consistent. To apply the same standard to their own team as they would apply to the other side.

But this is complicated by the fact that thats not how a majority of people in Congress are acting, he continued. When a Democrat does it, the Republicans decry it, but when a Republican does it, theres mostly silence on [the Republican Partys] part.

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David Hopkins, an associate professor in the Political Science Department at Boston College, said that he suspects that Beras mention of radical civility means that the congressman is addressing a question of what the appropriate response is to Trumps election.

Trump himself is famous for not respecting a lot of the traditional norms of politics and of public behavior, and so then I think the dilemma is, as an opposition party, do you respond in a like manner to him? Hopkins said. Or is your response, Well were not going to get into a mud fight. Were going to take the high road.

Many have criticized methods like Beras call for radical civility as a way to oppose the Trump administration.

MSNBC host Chris Hayes said during a segment of All in with Chris Hayes last week that he applauded Green for trying something and that now is the time for trying things.

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We are dealing with Trumps assault on the Constitution, so it is ridiculous to think that this strategy of playing it safe is the solution to that assault, he said later in the program.

Qasim Rashid, a human rights lawyer, wrote in an opinion piece last week: Democrats cannot afford to play by outdated rules while Republicans wage an all-out assault on democracy. The censure of Rep Al Green is more than just a betrayal  its a symptom of a party that refuses to recognize the urgency of this moment.

Speaking about the difference in behavior between Democrats and Republicans during Trumps second term, Kari J. Winter, professor of American studies at the University at Buffalo, previously told HuffPost: Were living in a moment where aggression from MAGA folks is so extreme and constant ... and a lot of times Democrats look like deer caught in the headlights.

Democrats have different views on how to oppose the Trump administration.

Hopkins said  noting that some Democratic lawmakers represent more closely contested districts  theres tension within the Democratic Party about whats the optimal strategic response to oppose Trump.

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Theres going to be probably differences of opinion within the party about what to do, he said. If Trump is doing all these unprecedented things, do you find unprecedented ways to respond?

Or do you say... youre never going to compete with Trump for that, and really the way to respond to Trump is to let Trump be the one who is wallowing in the mud, and you want take the more civil, respectful stylistic route, he continued.

As for the Democrats who voted to censure Green, Hopkins said that some Democrats, perhaps even some of those who didnt vote to censure him, might have felt frustrated that his protest was not done with coordination or approval from his peers.

Overall, Hopkins said he thinks people can put too much emphasis on what the opposition party is doing.

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Whats much more important is what voters think about what Trump is doing; do they approve or disapprove of what is Trump doing? he said. If they approve, theres only so much Democrats can do to fight that.

Hopkins said that if voters disapprove of Trump, the Democrats will benefit politically regardless of what their precise message is or precise strategy is.

James also emphasized that he believes the censure resolution vote had a lot to do with the fact that some of those Democratic lawmakers represent contested districts.

He said a demonstration like Greens maybe has some benefits but also comes with some costs.

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Theres something about Green standing up for what he believes in and standing up to the president that demonstrates his character, what he believes in, his values, his tenacity, he said, pointing out that any protest, like the protests during the Civil Rights Movement, can face backlash and criticism over its tactics.

While James said he wouldnt necessarily diminish or uplift Greens demonstration, he would describe the moment as bold.

I think thats why it resonated with a lot of people who are searching for someone to contest the Trump administration, he said.

He later added: Democrats are going through a necessary period of reflection and re-tooling trying to figure out whats the best path forward.

Related...
WASHINGTON  Rebecca Cooke is hoping the third time really is the charm.

The Eau Claire Democrat will launch another campaign to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden in the states 3rd Congressional District after losing her previous bid by just under three points this past November. It will be her third consecutive run for the western Wisconsin House seat.

I think there needs to be a check on this administrations worst instincts, and Derrick Van Orden is somebody that is like a talking head for those folks, Cooke told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel this week. I think that we need to hold people accountable and really put their feet to the fire.

Rebecca Cooke

She plans to formally announce her campaign at a farm in Chippewa Falls on Tuesday morning.

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The move officially kicks off the 2026 race for Wisconsins tightest battleground district. Cooke, who fell to Van Orden by about 2.8 points last cycle but ran ahead of the top of her ticket in the process, is the only Democrat to announce a run so far. She first ran for the seat in 2022 but placed second in the Democratic primary that year.

Cooke, 37, told the Journal Sentinel this week that she believes key issues like health care costs and womens reproductive rights only are going to get exemplified under the first two years of the Trump administration. She pointed to recent cuts to agencies like the U.S. Agency for International Development and the new administration's tariffs on top trading partners as developments that will significantly impact Wisconsin farmers and businesses.

More: Tony Evers slams congressional Republicans for not pushing back on Trump tariffs

Last year, Cooke campaigned as a moderate Democrat seeking to take on Big Ag and make health care more accessible. Those issues are still prominent, she said.

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I think theres just a finer point to that, and I know theyre not going to get better, she said of her top campaign issues. In fact, they will probably get worse.

Cooke outperformed Kamala Harris, Tammy Baldwin

Another factor motivating Cooke is her performance this past November.

She gained about 9,000 more raw votes in the district than former Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost the 3rd District to President Donald Trump by 7.4 points, and about 5,000 more votes than Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who lost the region to Republican Senate candidate Eric Hovde by about 4 points, though won statewide.

Van Orden and Republicans, for their part, have noted Van Orden defeated Cooke in 2024 by a nearly identical margin to his victory over Democratic state Sen. Brad Pfaff in 2022  about 11,000 votes  despite a higher turnout last year.

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A spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee this week called Cooke a deeply radical and sleazy political activist who remains out-of-touch with Western Wisconsin.

Wisconsinites rejected proven loser Rebecca Cooke last year and will do the same in 2026, said Zach Bannon, the NRCC spokesman.

Still, some Democrats have pointed to Cookes November performance as evidence the district is in play for the party in 2026. Top national Democratic groups like House Majority PAC have signaled theyll continue to focus on the 3rd Congressional District after spending millions more than their Republican counterparts there in 2024.

Will other Democrats run in the 3rd District?

The looming question now is whether other Democrats plan to jump into the race.

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Eau Claire City Council President Emily Berge told the Journal Sentinel this week she is seriously considering a run, but no other Wisconsin Democrat has publicly expressed interest in running for the seat.

A source close to Pfaff, who defeated Cooke in the 2022 Democratic primary, told the Journal Sentinel that the Onalaska Democrat initially ruled out another run for the district but has since received encouragement to mount a new campaign from others in the party.

Stevens Point state Rep. Katrina Shankland, who lost to Cooke in last years heated Democratic primary, said she will not run again this cycle.

Regardless, Cooke is seen as a front-runner in the race.

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When someone comes off of a strong race and is able to raise a lot of money and get a lot of endorsements, they clearly are in the lead position to run, said Democratic U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, one of Van Ordens loudest detractors who initially supported Shankland last cycle.

I understand people want to have their strongest candidate forward, Pocan said. I think Becca proved to be a strong candidate.

Cooke raised more than $6.3 million last cycle to Van Ordens $7.6 million, according to Federal Election Commission reports, and she gained the support of members of Congress like the congressional moderate Blue Dog Coalition. A number of top Democrats in both Wisconsin and Washington, including those in leadership positions, encouraged her to consider another run following her loss.

This week, Cooke said Democratic unity will be critically important in 2026, noting she spent millions in last year's bitter Democratic primary that saw Cooke and Shankland trade public jabs.

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She slammed Van Orden for not scheduling in-person town halls to hear from constituents and said getting into the race early allows us to check him and to check this administration.

It takes time to build a movement, Cooke said. And its something that weve been doing for some time.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Democrat Rebecca Cooke launches bid to unseat Derrick Van Orden
WASHINGTONDuring his first term, Republican President Donald Trump often boasted about the outsized number of conservative judges he placed on the U.S. Supreme Court and federal benches around the country.

His successor, Democrat Joe Biden, managed late in his only term to surpass  by one judge  Trumps near-record mark of 234 people confirmed to federal courts. Biden, who emphasized appointing more women and people of color, had particular success placing judges on Marylands U.S. District Court and the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which oversees Maryland cases.

Thats significant because state Democrats have been banking on those courts to block Trump policies, such as proposals to remove restrictions on ICE raids and end gender-affirming health care for young transgender people and birthright citizenship. Every judge on the 10-member, Maryland-based court was originally selected by a Democratic president.

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With Trump-aligned Republicans controlling the U.S. House and Senate, Democrats really cant do very much, so they have to rely on the courts, said University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias.

The federal courts are the first line of defense, and its true many of these cases have been brought in Maryland, said Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat who has accused Trumps administration of repeatedly overstepping its authority in its efforts to downsize the federal government and rewrite its priorities.

When confirmed by the Senate in 2024, former magistrate Adam Abelson became Bidens sixth nominee on the federal court whose judges are split between courthouses in Baltimore and Greenbelt. Three other judges were named by former Democratic President Barack Obama. The remaining judge, Stephanie Gallagher, was also nominated by Obama and renominated by Trump in 2019 because she was not confirmed during Obamas administration.

Since Trump began his second term on Jan. 20, Bidens or Obamas Maryland-based nominees have:

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Approved a request for a preliminary injunction preventing immigration authorities from conducting raids in certain houses of worship.

Ordered a second nationwide pause on Trumps executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship for anyone born in the U.S. to someone in the country illegally.

Extended a nationwide block on Trumps executive orders halting federal funding for providers of gender-affirming health care for transgender people under age 19.

Blocked an executive order that sought to end government support for programs promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.

Last week, Maryland joined other states in a federal suit filed in the Maryland-based court against a host of U.S. government agencies accusing the Trump administration of illegally laying off federal probationary workers.

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While judges decisions cant be foretold based on which president selected them, it can offer hints. Its a crude measure, Tobias said.

In Bidens first year as president, the White House said in a statement that the federal bench should reflect the full diversity of the American people  both in background and in professional experience. His administrations initial nominees included three Black women picked for U.S. Circuit Court vacancies. More than other presidents, Biden sought to appoint public defenders, legal aid and civil rights attorneys who had been traditionally underrepresented on the federal bench.

Trumps advocates have publicly called out the judiciary, including a Maryland judge, accusing them of overreaching.

Another judge for impeachment consideration? Arizona Republican Rep. Eli Crane posted on X after the DEI decision by Abelson last month.

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Impeach! posted Elon Musk, the owner of X, a top Trump advisor and advocate who heads the Department of Government Efficiency.

Abelson ruled in the DEI case that Trumps orders were too vague and contradicted free speech.

I think it shows incredible disrespect for the rule of law when members of Congress talk about impeaching a judge simply because they disagree with a particular decision, Van Hollen said. It shows actually a total disregard for our system of checks and balances.

Many current Maryland-based federal judges were recommended by Van Hollen and fellow Democrat Ben Cardin, the now-retired former Maryland senator. Under the process, Marylands senators typically send lists of potential nominees to the White House, which makes the final call.

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We ask them very straightforward questions about whether or not they would uphold the rule of law, Van Hollen said

All federal judge nominees require Senate confirmation.

The recent spate of court orders represent only temporary victories for Democrats and others arguing that many of Trumps moves are illegal.

These are only very preliminary, temporary steps and say nothing ultimately about the legality, or anything like this, of any of these Trump policies, said Thomas Jipping, a senior legal fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, which has often been aligned with Trump on issues.

Jipping said Trump opponents are counting on misperception  the notion that Trump policies have been reviewed and are being struck down when, in reality, the process is barely underway.

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Marylands federal court appeals move next to the 4th U.S Circuit Court of Appeals. The court is based in Richmond, Virginia, and hears appeals from federal district courts in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

That court has nine judges nominated by Democrats and six by Republicans.

The final appellate venue is the Supreme Court, which accepts a limited number of cases. Six of the nine justices were appointed by Republican presidents, including three by Trump.

In 2017, the Maryland General Assembly granted then-Attorney General Brian Frosh unilateral authority to sue the federal government. Frosh joined multiple lawsuits against the first Trump administration, which ended in January 2021, and led litigation on others.

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The office of Anthony Brown, the current attorney general, said in a statement after Trumps 2024 election that he would use his authority to hold the federal government accountable and is prepared to act against any federal actions that threaten Marylanders rights.

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Democrats are eager to see former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) jump into the Tar Heel States Senate race next year, seeing him as the most formidable challenger to Sen. Thom Tillis (R).

Cooper said at the conclusion of his second term as governor that he would look at running for Senate as one of several options ahead of him, and speculation of him getting into the race has only risen since then, with the head of Senate Democrats campaign arm reportedly praising him to donors.

A popular two-term governor of the purple state, Cooper would bring name ID to a race in a state where Democrats havent held a Senate seat in a decade and that President Trump won by 3 points in 2024.

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If Roy Cooper decides to run, it would really make the race one of the most competitive races in the country next year, could be the most of any Senate race in the country, said Democratic strategist Doug Wilson.

Tillis won reelection in 2020 with a less than 2-point edge in what was the most expensive Senate race in the country that year. Higher up on the ballot, Trump narrowly beat former President Biden in the battleground.

This cycle, Tillis is on track to be one of the most vulnerable Senate incumbents, facing potentially tough competition from both sides of the aisle. He was among several Republican incumbents who faced pressure from the right over Trumps controversial Cabinet nominees  and, now that hes voted to confirm them, Democrats see a more promising pickup opportunity.

A March report from the left-leaning Public Policy Polling found Tillis with a dismal approval rating of 25 percent, compared to a 48 percent approval rating for Trump. And the Republican was trailing Cooper in a hypothetical Senate match-up, 47 percent to 43 percent.

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A December poll from the Florida-based firm Victory Insights found Lara Trump, the presidents daughter-in-law, would likely crush Tillis in a GOP primary, though she hasnt expressed formal interest in the role. In a head-to-head with Cooper, Tillis trailed by 1 point.

The map of Senate seats up for grabs in 2026 also will send more eyes to Tillis. Democrats have relatively few serious pickup opportunities next year, making the North Carolina race, along with the one in Maine for Sen. Susan Collinss (R) seat, key to Democratic hopes of cutting into the 53-seat Republican Senate majority.

The Cook Political Report rates the race as lean Republican but notes Cooper is Democrats dream candidate to challenge Sen. Thom Tillis, and were he to run, Tillis would immediately become the most endangered GOP incumbent of the cycle.

Democrats acknowledged the difficulty Cooper could face in the race. Wilson noted voters in the state recently have tended to vote Republican for federal offices and Democratic for state-level offices.

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The Tar Heel State has gone red in every presidential race since 2012, and both its Senate seats have been held by the GOP since Tillis won his first term in 2014.

But Cooper narrowly ousted then-incumbent Gov. Pat McCrory (R) in a tight 2016 race that took a month to call and has become a bright spot for Democrats in the battleground. He bested his Trump-endorsed Republican challenger in 2020 by more than 4 points and, in a sign of his potency in the party, he was floated in the veepstakes to join former Vice President Kamala Harris on the 2024 White House ticket.

He withdrew himself from consideration, though, contending it was just not the right time for me or my state. Now that hes left office, Cooper is set to start an eight-week teaching job at the Harvard School of Public Health in late March.

Wilson pointed to former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogans (R) unsuccessful run for Senate against Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D) last year despite being a widely popular governor in a blue state. But North Carolina is a much more competitive state.

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If anybody could do it, I think [Cooper] would have a good shot, he said.

Aimy Steele, a former Democratic North Carolina state House candidate who runs the New North Carolina Project, which works to drive Black and brown voter turnout, said she would expect boosted turnout from minority voters based on Coopers record as governor.

Hes someone that everyone can see themselves supporting not only Black and brown people, but also white people, people who are just a diverse background, regardless of their race, she said.

Cooper performed particularly well with Black voters in his 2020 reelection campaign, winning 92 percent of their votes, according to a CNN exit poll.

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Cynthia Wallace, who leads a nonprofit working to boost rural turnout called the New Rural Project, noted that Cooper is originally from a rural area and demonstrated an authentic connection to rural voters despite Democrats base of support typically being in cities.

I dont hear a lot of negative commentary about him out in the countryside, she said.

North Carolina Republican strategist Jim Blaine took issue with the recent PPP polling showing Cooper ahead of the incumbent, pointing out past criticism of the pollster.

Tillis numbers arent great but, considering the source, are far from fatal, Blaine said on the social platform X.

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The race would be tied if Tillis had the level of support with the GOP that Cooper is getting from Dems, he added, arguing the Republican could get there with another endorsement from Trump, who backed Tillis in the 2020 cycle.

If Cooper doesnt run, Democrats could have another option in former Rep. Wiley Nickel (D-N.C.), who won his House seat in a tight 2022 race.

But after new congressional maps threatened a handful of the states House Democrats, Nickel decided against seeking reelection and floated a future Senate run.

Sabatos Crystal Ball said in an analysis last month that Nickel would seem to have a head start in a Cooper-less Democratic primary. The election handicapper rated the race as one of just three 2026 Senate toss-ups.

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But if the former governor does get in, he likely clears the field, said Jason Roberts, a professor of political science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. And while Cooper isnt necessarily Democrats only chance of a flip, Roberts added, he could be their best.

Hes a very formidable candidate if he decides to run. It seems like hes going to run, and I think that sets up a blockbuster race.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SALEM, Mo.  First responders in Salem made a new furry friend after rescuing a dog on Monday night.

According to a Facebook post from the Salem Police Department, officers were dispatched to a location on South Warfel on March 10 for an animal rescue.

Ozarks First digital desk: Valley womens basketball tournament preview

When police arrived, officers found a German shepherd trapped under a shed. SPD officers began digging in an attempt to free the dog.

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SPD said they requested assistance from the Dent County Fire Protection District, who arrived along with the Dent County Sheriffs Office and the Missouri Division of Fire Safety. Responders were able to lift the shed off the distressed dog and free 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 KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
By Akbar Novruz



Ukrainian and U.S. delegates are starting their talks in Jeddah on March 11 in a meeting that will likely have a major impact on Washington's future support for Kyiv and any effort to end the Russia-Ukraine war, Azernews reports via Ukrainian media.

"A meeting of the Ukrainian and American delegations begins in Jeddah," Ukraine's Foreign Ministry announced.

The Ukrainian delegation is said to include President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and Zelensky's Deputy Chief of Staff Pavlo Palisa.

The U.S. delegation is led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

The expectations are high as the meeting presents a chance to mend the relations between Kyiv and Washington after a heated exchange between Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Feb. 28.

Zelensky visited Saudi Arabia on March 10 to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman but will not participate in the talks with U.S. delegates.

The televised spat in the White House led to the U.S. suspending all military aid and restricting intelligence support for Ukraine, endangering its ability to resist Russia's all-out war.

Ukrainian officials aim to push for the resumption of U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing at the Jeddah talks, the Financial Times reported on March 9. Ukraine will also reportedly propose a ceasefire in the air and at sea as the first step toward a peaceful settlement.

While traveling to the meeting, Rubio said that Ukraine would need to make territorial concessions as part of any peaceful settlement. The meeting could also see progress on the minerals deal that has been on hold since the White House clash.

"The most important thing that we have to leave here with is a strong sense that Ukraine is prepared to do difficult things, like the Russians are going to have to do difficult things to end this conflict or at least pause it in some way, shape or form," Rubio told reporters on March 10, according to the New York Times.

U.S. officials had previously met with Russian representatives in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18 and in Istanbul on Feb. 27 to discuss restoring bilateral relations and holding preliminary peace talks without Ukraine's involvement.
JUBA, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Experts have warned that escalating conflict in South Sudan threatens to unravel the fragile peace agreement, urging warring parties to cease hostilities immediately to rebuild trust.

Tensions flared up in Upper Nile State following violent clashes between the South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF) and opposition fighters.

The recent attack in Nasir County resulted in the deaths of a senior SSPDF general, dozens of soldiers, and a United Nations personnel during an evacuation mission involving government troops besieged by the White Army, a militia linked to the opposition Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO).

Abraham Kuol Nyuon, dean of the School for Social and Economic Studies at the University of Juba, warned that instability could spread without immediate de-escalation by President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar.

"As things stand, the president can act as he pleases because the peace agreement has already been violated and Machar can do the same. There is no cohesion within the government currently," Nyuon told Xinhua.

Fighting erupted in mid-February when the transitional government redeployed SSPDF troops and allied Agwelek forces led by former rebel commander Johnson Olony. Olony, who split from Machar's party in 2021, returned to Juba under the 2022 peace deal.

Nyuon warned that tensions in Upper Nile could escalate nationwide, calling for interventions from the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). "The best way forward is for IGAD to send a delegation to Juba to engage both leaders and facilitate negotiations," he said, stressing that resolving disputes at the leadership level could restore government cohesion.

The attack in Nasir has further deepened mistrust. Following the clashes, several senior military officers and ministers aligned with Machar were arrested by the National Security Services, further straining the transitional unity government.

"It will be difficult for the cabinet to function smoothly because uncertainty looms over their meetings due to the heightened tension," Nyuon said.

Ter Manyang Gatwech, executive director of the Juba-based Center for Peace and Advocacy, put the blame on Kiir's unilateral dismissal of Western Equatoria State Governor Alfred Futuyo Karaba and Health Minister Yolanda Awel Deng. Under the 2018 peace deal, such changes require consultation among signatory parties, a step Kiir did not take with the SPLM-IO.

Gatwech also pointed to delays in training and deploying the unified forces stipulated in the agreement.

"The White Army's concern was not about government redeployment but the lack of dialogue over their grievances," he said. "The forces sent to Nasir included Agwelek fighters, who are not yet integrated into the SSPDF, which raised genuine concerns."

The first batch of 52,000 unified forces graduated in August 2022 but has yet to be fully deployed, while training for the second batch is pending. The transitional government is mandated to train and deploy 83,000 unified forces.

The People's Coalition for Civil Action, a civil society group involved in peace talks in Kenya's capital of Nairobi, blamed both parties for the escalation.

"If both sides had acted in good faith, unilateral decisions would not have been made without prior notification, nor would there have been threats of armed resistance," the coalition said in a statement. 
The Tennessee Department of Correction has settled a five-year-old lawsuit that alleged the states treatment of deaf inmates violated federal law. (Photo: Getty Images.)

The Tennessee Department of Correction has agreed to provide videophones, sign language interpreters and other accommodations to deaf people inside Tennessee prisons, settling a five-year-old lawsuit that alleged the states treatment of deaf inmates violated federal law.

The legal settlement also bars the department from punishing or penalizing a deaf inmate for using sign language or failing to obey an order he or she cannot hear or understand. The department additionally agreed to provide hearing tests every three years for all inmates over the age of 65.

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The settlement, entered just ahead of a scheduled trial in the case, came six months after a federal judge ruled in favor of deaf inmates on many of their legal claims. U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger in July issued a partial ruling that held the state had violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by failing to provide videophones and sign language interpreters for medical appointments, religious services, and parole and prison discipline processes.

Attorneys who brought the suit said the settlement will ensure deaf inmates in Tennessee prisons will be guaranteed equal access to communication going forward.

This settlement means that deaf prisoners in state facilities will have an equal opportunity to get their education, attend religious services, and access their medical care, which is critical to their rehabilitation and success once they return to society, said Stacie Price, Legal Director of Disability Rights Tennessee, a nonprofit law firm that filed suit on behalf of deaf prisoners.

The legal team also included Denver-based Fox & Robertson, Disability Rights Advocates and Disability Law United.

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As part of the settlement, the Tennessee Department of Correction agreed to pay $7,000 in damages to each of three inmates who joined the lawsuit. The department also agreed to pay out $3.25 million in legal fees.

The department does not admit to any violation of the law and does not admit to any wrongdoing, the settlement said.

Trivette-Settlement-Agreement-w-Exhibits
The Department of Education initiated mass layoffs on Tuesday night, reducing its workforce by nearly 50%, sources told ABC News.

The "reduction in force" notices began to go out at about 6 p.m.

Some 1,315 employees were affected by the RIFs, leaving 2,183 employed by the department, according to senior officials at the DOE.

Impacted staff will be placed on administrative leave starting March 21, a statement from the Education Department said. They will receive full pay and benefits through June 9, senior officials added.

PHOTO: Civil servants and supporters of the Department of Education rally outside the department in Washington, Mar. 11, 2025. (Jim Lo Scalzo/epa-efe/shuttersto/JIM LO SCALZO/EPA-EFE/Shuttersto)

The statement also said that the DOE will "continue to deliver on all statutory programs that fall under the agency's purview, including formula funding, student loans, Pell Grants, funding for special needs students, and competitive grantmaking."

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"Today's reduction in force reflects the Department of Education's commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers," said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon shortly after the notifications went out on Tuesday.

"I appreciate the work of the dedicated public servants and their contributions to the Department," she said. "This is a significant step toward restoring the greatness of the United States education system."

The downsizing impacts every sector of the department in some way, according to senior department of education officials.

This is primarily a streamlining effort for internal facing roles and not external facing roles, senior officials said.

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Following the flurry of layoff notifications, those who remained employed by the DOE received their own email. ABC News obtained a copy, which said, in part: "As we move forward, our mission and responsibilities will remain, but there will need to be significant changes to the way that we work. What we choose to prioritize, and in turn, not prioritize, will be critical in this transition."

"Please know that these decisions were not made lightly, and in no way reflect on the dedication and hard work of those who are leaving," it said, before referring to this moment as the DOE's "final mission" and suggesting: "Let's continue to move forward as a team."

In next steps, six communications offices are going to be consolidated, officials explained, and leases will end in major cities including San Francisco, New York, Cleveland, Boston, Chicago and Dallas.

The three DOE buildings in Washington, D.C., will also eventually be consolidated, according to the senior officials.

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MORE: Trump 2nd term live updates: Trump on whether there will be a recession: 'I don't see it at all'

The announcement came shortly after DOE employees were told that their offices -- including those in the National Capital Region, along with regional locations -- would be closed for the day on Wednesday.

Citing "security reasons," an email went out saying that the buildings would be inaccessible starting at 6 p.m., a source within the department told ABC News.

"You must vacate the building by that time," a department email to employees reads in part, adding "All ED offices in the NCR and the regions will be closed to employees and contractor employees on Wednesday, March 12th."

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Senior officials later elaborated that the safety precautions were meant to protect the remaining employees who retained their positions with the DOE.

MORE: Did a top Trump administration official lie about mass firings? A federal judge wants to know

The email also instructed employees to take their laptops home with them after work on Tuesday.

"Please take your laptop with you when you depart on Tuesday. Employees will not be permitted in any ED facility on Wednesday March 12th for any reason. All offices will reopen on Thursday, March 13th, at which time in-person presence will resume," the email said.

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The email also said that employees with approved telework agreements may work from home; however, such telework agreements are largely no longer in place, an employee told ABC News. The DOE called for its total workforce to return to its offices late last month.

The closure notification comes as President Donald Trump weighs an executive order to shutter the agency and transfer education oversight to the states. The decision to sign that order was delayed due to concerns over questions the administration might get about vital programs that could potentially be gutted by it.

MORE: Top public school teachers fear looming Department of Education changes

Inside the department, employees are bracing for uncertain futures.

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"People are petrified to do their jobs," an Education Department employee told ABC News recently. "People are worried about like, if I push back on something that somebody wants to do, right, and I say, that's not really what the law says or is legal, am I going to get a bad performance and now they use a bad performance to kick me out?"

"Everyone here is holding their breath," the DOE employee added.

National Education Association President Becky Pringle released a statement in response to the layoffs on Tuesday, saying: "Firing -- without cause -- nearly half of the Department of Education staff means they are getting rid of the dedicated public servants who help ensure our nation's students have access to the programs and resources to keep class sizes down and expand learning opportunities for students so they can grow into their full brilliance. The Trump administration has abandoned students, parents, and educators across the nation."

Department of Education lays off nearly 50% of its workforce originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The US Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights on Monday sent letters to 60 colleges and universities it says are under investigation for alleged violations relating to antisemitic harassment and discrimination, warning institutions of possible consequences if they dont take adequate steps to protect Jewish students.

The Office for Civil Rights said that it sent letters under its authority to enforce Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which bans any institution receiving federal funds from discriminating based on race, color, and national origin.

The announcement comes amid mounting pressure on university administrators to rein in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, which have erupted periodically on college campuses across the country over the past year and led to the arrest of hundreds of demonstrators.

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President Donald Trumps administration has made combating what it considers anti-Israel and antisemitic movements on college campuses a priority.

He signed an executive order during his second week in office to combat antisemitism in schools and on university campuses, and on February 3 announced the creation of a multiagency task force to carry out the mandate.

Trump also vowed to cut federal funding to colleges accused of tolerating antisemitism, announcing last week that Columbia would be the first target.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon described the protests as attacks on Jewish students and faculty in an interview on CNBC on Tuesday, adding that Trump has been incredibly clear that he is not going to tolerate that kind of attacks on campuses and that he will defund those universities.

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The Trump administration announced Friday the cancellation of $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia  citing what it described as the schools failure to quash antisemitism on campus. Its unclear which parts of the universitys research and activities will be affected.

McMahon told CNBC she spoke with Columbia University Interim President Katrina Armstrong last week. In that conversation, McMahon said she noted the issue seemed to be systemic and advised the university to look at faculty and what they were teaching to see whether they were encouraging unrest, and vet international students.

Are these students who are going to be looking to participate in riots? Are there outside agitators that come on campus? McMahon said. This is not a freedom of speech issue. This is a safety and civil rights issue.

Before Mondays announcement, the Department of Education had said in early February that it was investigating five of the 60 universities on the list: Columbia; Northwestern University; Portland State University; the University of California, Berkeley; and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.

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The fifty-five other universities are now under investigation or are being monitored in response to complaints filed with OCR, according to Mondays statement.

Six of the eight Ivy League universities received letters, including Columbia University and Harvard University.

The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better, McMahon said in a statement last week.

Columbia has been at the forefront of US campus protests against the war in Gaza since last spring, with protesters rallying against Israels military action in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks and calling for universities to sell investments in companies tied to Israel or the war.

Protestors wave Palestinian flags on the West Lawn of Columbia University in New York on April 29, 2024. - Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images/File

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators at Columbia set up a weekslong encampment on college grounds last April and went on to occupy a campus building before riot police cleared the building and arrested dozens of students. Some of those cases were later dismissed in court.

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Pro-Palestinian protesters have repeatedly said theres nothing antisemitic about criticizing Israel over its actions in Gaza or expressing solidarity with Palestinians and calling for a ceasefire.

Last week, Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist who helped lead Columbias student protest movement, was arrested by federal immigration officers who said they were acting on a State Department order to revoke his green card, according to his attorney.

He was among those under investigation by a new university committee that brought disciplinary charges against dozens of students for their pro-Palestinian activism, according to The Associated Press.

Trump, in a post on Truth Social, described Khalils detainment as the first arrest of many to come amid a wider crackdown on foreign students who participated in what the president said were illegal protests against the war in Gaza.

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On Monday, a federal judge in New York blocked efforts by the Trump administration to deport Khalil until a hearing Wednesday so the court can consider the lawsuit challenging his detention.

ICEs arrest and detention of Mahmoud follows the US governments open repression of student activism and political speech, specifically targeting students at Columbia University for criticism of Israels assault on Gaza, Khalils attorney Amy Greer said.

The US government has made clear that they will use immigration enforcement as a tool to suppress that speech.

Its unclear how long many of the institutions have been under investigation, but the Office for Civil Rights on Friday directed its personnel to prioritize addressing a backlog of complaints alleging antisemitic violence and harassment.

CNNs Michelle Watson, Alaa Elassar, Priscilla Alvarez, Gloria Pazmino and Artemis Moshtaghian contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection said it is monitoring the cleanup of Sundays aircraft crash in Lancaster County.

A six-seater private plane crashed into a parking lot of the Brethren Village, a retirement community, shortly after taking off from Lancaster Airport on Sunday, March 9.

Pilot from Pennsylvania plane crash identified as executive board member of local aviation company

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The crash caused several cars to ignite into flames. According to the Department of Environmental Protection, 1 of the 12 vehicles involved was a hybrid that had a lithium battery.

The DEP said it responded to the scene on Monday, and staff have remained on site, continuing to monitor the fuel run-off. The plane, a Beechcraft Bonanza, had a maximum capacity of 120 gallons of fuel, 30 of which was recovered from one of the wings.

The DEP says it suspects that while most of the fuel burned in the fire, an unknown amount was swept into a nearby storm drain when firefighters were fighting the blaze.

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The discharged fuel traveled through stormwater pipes before reaching a stormwater basin, where the DEP says an environmental contractor is stationed for cleanup.

Firefighters said they used an estimated 2,000 gallons of water to fight the blaze.

The DEP said that once investigators clear the scene, the contractor at the scene of the crash will begin working on long-term cleanup efforts.

The five people aboard the flight were taken to the hospital and three were taken to a burn center.

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(FOX40.COM)  A man who was wanted for a Stockton murder was recently arrested in Nevada.

Around 8:20 p.m. on Dec. 20, 2024, officers responded to the 400 block of E. Bianchi Road in Stockton for a report of a person shot. When they arrived at the scene, they found a a 52-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital where he died from his injuries, according to police.

California prisons increase security measures amid surge in violence behind bars

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Detectives were able to identify the suspect in the case as Meccaion Fields, 26.

On February 1, deputies from Washoe County Sheriffs Office in Nevada arrested Fields. On March 10, he was extradited back to San Joaquin County, where he was booked into jail for alleged homicide.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Multiple suspects led authorities on a high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle across Rowan County Monday, deputies said.

The Rowan County Sheriffs Office said the chase began when deputies spotted a stolen vehicle, possibly linked to a robbery in Salisbury, near Highway 601 and East Ridge Road.

The suspects in the vehicle sped away, exceeding 100 mph, and prompted a chase through multiple counties.

ALSO READ: Chase ends with rollover crash in Rowan County

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At one point during the pursuit, deputies said the suspects drove through a front yard before returning to the road.

They eventually abandoned the vehicle near a church just outside of Spencer, deputies said.

The Salisbury Police Department, Spencer Police Department, a K-9 officer, and the North Carolina Highway Patrol joined in the search for what deputies said could be three or four suspects.

According to RCSO, a black minivan may have picked them up near 7th Street after they abandoned their car.

The suspects remain at large and authorities are continuing their investigation into the robbery and stolen vehicle. The Salisbury Police Department is asking the public to contact them with any new information related to the case.

WATCH BELOW: Rowan County mother charged after child injures himself with gun, deputies say
Rep. James Tipton speaks to students after chairing a Mach 4 meeting of the House Committee on Postsecondary Education which is now the subject of an open meetings challenge. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley)

FRANKFORT  A bill that would bar diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at Kentuckys public universities and colleges is facing an open meetings challenge. However, the General Assemblys top Republicans say the bill will still move forward in the days to come.

James Orlick, a graduate student at the University of Louisville who has spoken against House Bill 4 in recent committee hearings, filed a complaint with House Speaker David Osborne and Rep. James Tipton, the chairman of the House Postsecondary Education Committee, regarding a vote on a title amendment that Tipton took after the committee meeting adjourned.

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The student alleges the vote violated Kentuckys open meeting laws.

Orlicks complaint references a Kentucky Lantern video of the proceeding, which took place last week. After adjourning the meeting, Tipton can be heard calling for approval of a title amendment; then lawmakers vote in favor of the amendment.

Title amendments are required to ensure the title of a bill approved by a committee accurately reflects the contents of the legislation.

Orlick cites past attorney general opinions that determined that a post-adjournment discussion of public business or vote of a quorum of the members of a public agency contravenes the fundamental mandate of the open meetings law found at KRS 61.810(1).

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The House committee meeting was no exception to the open meeting laws, Orlick argues.

The complaint, shared with the Kentucky Lantern, was also given to the Legislative Research Commissions general counsel, Greg Woosley, in addition to Osborne and Tipton.

After the House adjourned Tuesday, Osborne told reporters that he wished somebody had caught it before it happened when asked about the complaint.

It was a hectic meeting, so the chair didnt realize that he needed to not just reconvene members, and should have reconvened the whole thing, Osborne said.

The bill is now before the Senate and the title amendment can be added there, Osborne said. The House will be able to concur with the addition when the bill returns.

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HB 4 was on the Senates orders of the day, or the list of bills that the lawmakers may vote on for the day. Yet, Senate Republican leaders passed over the bill because of the question raised about the amendment.

Stivers told reporters Tuesday HB 4 will be dealt with in the Senate on Wednesday.

There was a question about a title amendment, so we wanted to make sure we did the best to respond to a question, Stivers said.

Orlick, who filed the complaint, told the Lantern: The public deserves transparency, not backroom politics. The House Committee on Postsecondary Education violated open meetings law by conducting business after adjourning, shutting out voices opposing House Bill 4. This disregard for accountability undermines the democratic process and erodes trust in our institutions.

Lawmakers in the Republican supermajority have until the end of the week to approve the bill if they want to be able to override an expected veto from Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, who has repeatedly defended DEI policies.
Missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki's clothes were found on the Dominican Republic beach where authorities believe she was last seen going for a swim, two police sources with knowledge of the investigation told ABC News.

The 20-year-old Konanki, a legal permanent U.S. resident and an Indian citizen, vanished early Thursday while she and a group of students were on a spring break trip to a resort in Punta Cana, according to the Loudoun County, Virginia, Sheriff's office.

Konanki and one of her traveling companions were Loudoun County residents, the sheriff's office said.

PHOTO: Sudiksha Konanki is seen in this undated photo shared to Meta. (Sudiksha Konanki via Meta)

The search for Konaki continued on Tuesday, authorities said.

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Konanki's clothes were discovered on a portable beach bed close to the beach where she went missing, the sources told ABC News. Police have found no evidence of violence, according to the sources.

After going to a nightclub on Wednesday night, Konanki and a group of people went to the beach about 4 a.m. local time on Thursday, the sources said. The other women traveling with Konanki went back to their hotel about 5:55 a.m. and were captured on security camera returning to their rooms, the sources noted.

PHOTO: A member of civil defense canine unit searches for Sudiksha Konanki, a university student from the U.S. who disappeared on a beach in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, March. 10, 2025. (Francesco Spotorno/AP)

A man stayed behind with Konanki on the beach, according to a Dominican Republic investigative police report. The man, whose name was not released, told police that he and Konanki went for a swim and got caught by a big wave, the police report said.

MORE: Mother of 2 dies mysteriously while on flight back from Dominican Republic

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The man, according to sources, told police that when he got back to the beach he threw up and went to sleep on a beach bed. When he woke up, Konanki was nowhere to be seen, the sources said.

Security video showed the man coming back to his hotel room at 9:55 a.m., according to the sources.

PHOTO: Civil defense boats search for Sudiksha Konanki, a university student from the U.S. who disappeared on a beach in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, March. 10, 2025. (Francesco Spotorno/AP)

The man is not considered a suspect in Konanki's death, the chief of the Civil Defense in the Dominican Republic told ABC News on Monday.

Right now, the investigation is being treated as an accident, the chief said.

MORE: 2 bodies found confirmed as New York couple missing in Dominican Republic

Law enforcement authorities are increasing the perimeter of the search area of beaches and water in the ongoing operation to find Konanki, according to the chief.

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Three Dominican officials involved in the investigation told ABC News over the weekend that Konanki is believed to have drowned in the ocean.

PHOTO: A drone pilot searches for Sudiksha Konanki, a university student from the U.S. who disappeared on a beach in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, March. 10, 2025. (Francesco Spotorno/AP)

The last time Konanki was seen on the beach on security camera footage was around 4:15 a.m. Thursday, the Dominican Republic Public Ministry told ABC News.

The Public Ministry was first contacted by the U.S. embassy in the Dominican Republic on Friday, the Ministry said.

Officials said Konanki's friends who were with her around the time of her disappearance were questioned by police and have not been charged with crimes.

A joint investigation into Konankis disappearance is being conducted by the FBI, the US Embassy in the Dominican Republic, the Dominican National Police and the Dominican Prosecutors office, sources close to the investigation told ABC News.

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The investigators will question everyone involved in the incident again, including hotel employees and the man Konankis friends say she was with before she disappeared, the sources said.

All security camera footage since the day Konanki and her five friends arrived on the island is now being analyzed, sources said.

New details emerge in search for missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki in the Dominican Republic originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Dominican Republic (WLAX/WEUX)  There are new details in the case of the missing University of Pittsburgh student. US Officials have called on Interpol to issue a Yellow Warning in the case, as 20-year-old Sudisha Konanki has now been missing for 5 days. She was last seen with a group of college students on Spring Break in the Dominican Republic.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX2548 & WIProud.
MANILA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was taken into police custody after he returned to Manila from abroad on Tuesday, local media said.

According to the Presidential Communications Office, Interpol in Manila received the official copy of the warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday morning.

The Philippines officially withdrew from the ICC in 2019.

During his presidency, Duterte carried out the "war on drugs," which drew wide attention both domestically and internationally. 
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Top military officials from across Europe and beyond joined talks in Paris on Tuesday on the possible contours of an international security force for Ukraine  an idea that France and Britain are pushing to deter any future Russian aggression on its neighbor if Moscow and Kyiv agree to stop fighting.

Participants said they expected the closed-door discussions to be big-picture and broad-brush, providing a gauge of which nations might be ready to join a coalition for Ukraine but not, at this stage, committing them to providing specific numbers of troops, equipment or other assistance.

The French- and British-led effort to reassure Ukraine and help protect it from any renewed Russian aggression if it agrees to a ceasefire comes as Kyiv is under intense pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to engage in peace talks. Senior officials from Ukraine and the United States opened separate talks in the Saudi city of Jeddah on Tuesday focused on halting the full-scale invasion that Russia launched in 2022.

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French President Emmanuel Macron attended part of he Paris meeting of army chiefs of 34 countries and other military representatives, including some who were scheduled to dial-in remotely from Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Macron said it was time to move from concept to plan to define credible security guarantees and insisted the French-British blueprint should come along with the NATO alliance and its capabilities, Macron's office said, yet without offering detailed specifics.

Slovenias army chief at the meeting, Lt. Gen. Robert Glavas, said his NATO and European Union country is willing to be part of the effort. But he said he was hoping for a clearer picture of how a post-ceasefire international force for Ukraine might work, what its missions might be, which countries want be part of it, and whether it would have a mandate from the United Nations or another body.

The question is: What next?" he said in an interview with The Associated Press. Who will go there? As we know in Europe, many countries, especially small countries, don't have a lot of troops.

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Western and Ukrainian officials said there is no definitive plan for military options yet. The AP spoke to Western and Ukrainian officials in Kyiv, as well as French officials in Paris and British officials in London. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to speak openly about sensitive matters.

The United States  NATOs most militarily powerful member  wasn't invited to the Paris talks because European nations wanted to show that they are able to shoulder a large part of the job of safeguarding Ukraine once a truce is in effect, a French military official said.

For Ukrainian officials, key questions are how such a coalition would react if Russia violates a future ceasefire, whether it would respond militarily to a large Russian offensive and how quickly.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has welcomed the proposal but expressed skepticism, telling The AP in an interview in February that foreign troops alone would not be a sufficient guarantee of security for his country, and that such a plan should be backed up by weapons from the U.S. and Europe, and support for Kyiv to develop its own defense industry.

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Diplomats are discussing, military officials are discussing, but we still dont have real proposals, said a senior Ukrainian official. The talks are not in the first stage, we did a lot in the first stage, but we still dont have a real solid approach.

What means of deterrence?

As Trump has appeared to nix the idea of U.S. security guarantees and other U.S. officials said this will fall on Europe to enforce, the French-British plan looks to create a force equipped with enough military might to dissuade Russia from attacking Ukraine again. That is the crux of it, said a Western official in Kyiv.

A French military official said the force could include heavy weaponry and weapons stockpiles that could be rushed within hours or days to aid in Ukraines defense.

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The Western official in Kyiv, offering another idea on the table, said they could incorporate direct and immediate strikes on Russian assets in the event of a violation.

Details have emerged piecemeal in recent weeks as technical discussions have been ongoing between Western diplomatic and military officials in Ukraine and other European capitals.

The contours of a plan

Last month, some Western officials described a small Europe-dominated reassurance force of less than 30,000 troops, rather than an ambitious army of peacekeepers posted along the 600-mile (1,000 kilometer) front line.

But other officials have said the numbers were under discussion. According to one version, troops would be posted away from the front line at key infrastructure sites such as nuclear power plants and backed by Western air and sea power. The front line would largely be monitored remotely, with drones and other technology. Air power, including U.S. air power based outside Ukraine, perhaps in Poland or Romania, would be in reserve to deter breaches and reopen Ukrainian airspace to commercial flights.

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Allied navies could also play a role in the Black Sea clearing mines and patrolling to keep international waters safe.

The idea is to aggregate the capabilities those countries are ready to provide in order to be able to offer security guarantees to make sure the peace deal is robust and verifiable, with the aim to get some U.S. backstop, another French official said.

To get signals on the U.S. backstop, the able and willing European countries must be able to aggregate their capabilities and demands, he said.

Cautious Ukrainian optimism

Some Western officials cautioned that there will be several stages to a peace plan and a broader range of countries could join the coalition later on. The first step could be a one-month freeze, as proposed by Zelenskyy and European leaders, as a confidence building measure.

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The Ukrainian officials said they were optimistic about the coalition of the willing, conceding they have few other options with NATO off the table.

I fully believe its very possible, said one senior Ukrainian official. Trump is comfortable with the idea, the idea is very positive for us, and if Europe wants to be a real player, they should do this.

If they lose this opportunity, we will be in a very difficult situation, he added.

___

Leicester reported from Paris. Associated Press writers Jill Lawless and Emma Burrows in London, and Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed to this report.
Mar. 11Editor's note: Mni Wakan is spelled differently across sources. Some of the variations include Mne Wakan, Mni Waukan and Miniwakan. The Grand Forks Herald uses the "Mni Wakan" spelling in this story because that is how it is spelled by the Spirit Lake Tribe online.

SPIRIT LAKE RESERVATION  Whether intentionally or by mistake, it seems white settler misinterpretation of an Indigenous story is behind the "devils" named throughout eastern North Dakota, including the name of a city, the lake that borders it and, up until the 1990s, an Indigenous tribe whose reservation includes much of the lake.

The lake was named "Mni Wakan," which is Sacred Water in the Dakota language, because of the Unktehi (Water Spirits) said to be found in all bodies of water, according to Louis Garcia, designated historian for the Spirit Lake Nation, who wrote a piece about the subject that was

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published in 2023 in the Devils Lake Journal.

"The Water Spirit wants to keep the water, and the Thunderbird wants to bring it up into the clouds and make rain," Garcia told the Grand Forks Herald. "It's just their Indian way of explaining the hydrological cycle  how fog and rain and ice and snow work, but they use this story and they make it so that it's sacred."

The Unktehi are said to be protective of the water, drowning those who try to take it. This is why they are sometimes referred to as water "monsters," or "the Terrible One," rather than the more neutral term of "spirits."

So when the Dakota people tried to explain to French explorers why the lake was sacred, the Frenchmen listened to the story and concluded instead that these Unktehi were monsters, and subsequently named the lake Lac du Diable, or Lake of the Devils, Garcia wrote in his Journal piece.

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"There was a translation problem," he said.

The tribe later became known as the Devils Lake Sioux, though their Dakota name is Mni Wakan Oyate  which translates to something along the lines of "people of the Spirit Lake."

Pauline Graywater, a woman whose obituary says she lived on the reservation throughout her life before dying in 2020, was interviewed by a Grand Forks Herald reporter in the early 1990s. She said that when the white people came to the area, they twisted things around and, after naming Devils Lake, "they started naming everything about the devil."

Standing outside her then-place of work, St. Jude's Retirement Home, located outside of Fort Totten, Graywater told the reporter there was a 'Devil's Tooth' right down the road.

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"They named it that, I don't know why," she said. "It's just a big rock  they say it looks like a tooth."

Graywater had been told by elders in the community that the story of the rock had to do with a young maiden who, with a baby on her back, left the camp where her group was having a gathering because she was angry with her husband. When he and another man followed after her, they didn't find her, but instead found what was later named the Devil's Tooth.

"They believe that she turned into a rock," Graywater said.

In Garcia's work gathering and preserving Indigenous history and stories such as the one Graywater shared, he said he didn't get the idea that most people were sitting down and analyzing the name of Devils Lake, questioning why it was that way  much like one wouldn't be expected to do so for any other location.

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"Pick any town anywhere, they just pass off the name," he said. "(They say,) 'That's what we've always called it.'"

In 1996, tribal members voted to change their name to the Spirit Lake Nation, a decision that seemed natural  returning to a more accurate translation of the Dakota name, Myra Pearson, former tribal chairwoman and current executive director of Spirit Lake Tribal Housing, told the Grand Forks Herald.

An archival article written by Kris Halvorson, a staff writer at the Journal  presumably the Devils Lake Journal  says the vote for the name change was 265 to 125.

Pearson recalls working in the financial department at that time.

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"We had to change everything  all the check blanks," she said. "Back then we didn't have all the technology we have today. It was quite a job back then, but they got it done."

It was a long time coming, though, and she remembers strong support for the change.

At the same time that then Chairman Elmer White brought the matter to a vote, a much more controversial matter was also being voted on.

"That was also the third time they brought the issue to the people to open up the reservation for alcohol," Pearson said.

Alcohol had been banned from the reservation since the 1960s,

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as previously reported by WDAY.

Elders were angry with White, asking why he would allow the issue to be put to a vote for a third time when there was such strong opposition to it, Pearson said.

"The crazy thing was, there weren't a whole lot of elders, but somehow they always had that thing voted down," she said with a chuckle.

It seemed support for the change came largely from the reservation's younger population.

"I remember people saying, 'Well, it'll bring in more money,'" Pearson said. "But I also remember one of the chairmen saying, 'Money isn't the answer.'"

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At the time, theirs was the only dry reservation, she said; this was something outlined in their treaty, and she couldn't imagine it changing.

"It's kind of the root of all evil that goes on here," Pearson said.

The subject was dropped for quite some time afterwards, but in 2019, the tribe ultimately voted in favor of allowing the sale of alcohol at its casino in St. Michael.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security skipped a fully competitive bidding process to give two Republican-linked firms the first part of a $200-million television ad campaign that lauds President Trump for his crackdown on illegal immigration.

The department told news outlets last month that it had undergone a competitive procurement process for the campaign. But in a document posted Friday on a federal database, the department said Trumps declaration of a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border constitutes an unusual and compelling urgency, a circumstance that allows federal agencies to bypass the usual competitive process.

The ads feature Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in a blue suit standing with a backdrop of American flags and thanking Trump. The ads have caught some attention as they mix campaign-style images of Trump signing executive orders and flying on Air Force One with clips of large groups of migrants crossing the Rio Grande and police cars with sirens blaring.

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Noem warns immigrants to leave the U.S. or not to come. If you are here illegally, we will find you and deport you. You will never return, she says in one of the ads.

One of the winning firms is People Who Think, LLC, which is owned by Jay Connaughton, a Louisiana-based political consultant who served as media advisor for Trumps 2016 campaign. Connaughton appeared to have worked as recently as October 2023 with former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski in the campaign of Jeff Landry, for governor of Louisiana. Lewandowski, a longtime Noem advisor going back to her tenure as South Dakota governor, mentioned him in a post on X as part of the team that helped elect Landry.

The other firm selected for the contract was Safe America Media, LLC, which was incorporated in Delaware a few days before the solicitation with an address to a property owned by Republican consultant Mike McElwain. Safe America Media has already been awarded $16 million for the ad buy.

Connaughton and McElwain did not respond to messages and calls seeking comment. The Department of Homeland Security still called it a competitive process in a statement provided to the Associated Press.

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Following a competitive process with multiple companies competing to deliver the best service, product, and price for American taxpayers, Safe America Media and People Who Think both earned a shared contract for this targeted national and international campaign, it said. Multiple career government officials oversaw this competitive procurement process.

The document posted on a federal contracting database reads in part: DHS requires an immediate domestic and international campaign to direct illegal aliens within the U.S. and its territories to leave immediately, and to discourage illegal immigration into the country.

Homeland Security reviewed industry publications and vendors specializing on hyper-targeted media and advertising services and narrowed its search down to four companies that were able to work immediately.

Any delay in providing these critical communications to the public will increase the spread of misinformation, the document says.

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Noem shared the story behind the ad campaign at the Conservative Political Action Conference last month. She said she had suggested conducting more news conferences to keep the public posted on its immigration actions, but Trump asked for those ads to make sure the American people know the truth of what youre doing.

But he said, I want the first ad, I want you to thank me. I want you to thank me for closing the border. I said, Yes, sir. I will thank you for closing the border.

Most of the money spent so far in airing the ads has been on English-language TV stations with more than $2 million, compared to the $360,000 spent to air them in Spanish-language stations around the country, data from ad-tracking firm AdImpact shows.

The data show it has aired the most in TV stations in Phoenix, Boston, Los Angeles, New York and Dallas. It has also been tracked running on Fox News in larger markets, with most airings captured in the Washington and Philadelphia areas.

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Licon writes for the Associated Press. AP writer Byron Tau in Washington contributed to this report.



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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security skipped a fully competitive bidding process to give two Republican-linked firms the first part of a $200 million television ad campaign that lauds President Donald Trump for his crackdown on illegal immigration.

DHS told news outlets last month that it had undergone a competitive procurement process for the campaign. But in a document posted Friday on a federal database, the department said Trumps declaration of a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border constitutes an unusual and compelling urgency, a circumstance that allows federal agencies to bypass the usual competitive process.

The ads feature Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in a blue suit standing with a backdrop of American flags thanking Trump. The ads have caught some attention as they mix campaign-style images of Trump signing executive orders and flying on Air Force One with clips of large groups of migrants crossing the Rio Grande and police cars with sirens blaring.

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Noem warns immigrants to leave the U.S. or not to come. If you are here illegally, we will find you and deport you. You will never return, she says in one of the videos.

One of the winning firms is People Who Think, LLC, which is owned by Jay Connaughton, a Louisiana-based political consultant who served as media adviser for Trumps 2016 campaign. Connaughton appeared to have worked as recently as October 2023 with former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski in the campaign of Jeff Landry, for governor of Louisiana. Lewandowski, a longtime Noem adviser going back to her tenure as South Dakota governor, mentioned him in a post on X as part of the team that helped elect Landry.

The other firm selected for the contract was Safe America Media, LLC, which was incorporated in Delaware a few days before the solicitation with an address to a property owned by Republican consultant Mike McElwain. Safe America Media has already been awarded $16 million for the ad buy.

Connaughton and McElwain did not respond to messages and calls seeking comment. DHS still called it a competitive process in a statement provided to The Associated Press.

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Following a competitive process with multiple companies competing to deliver the best service, product, and price for American taxpayers, Safe America Media and People Who Think both earned a shared contract for this targeted national and international campaign, it said. Multiple career government officials oversaw this competitive procurement process.

The document posted on a federal contracting database reads in part: DHS requires an immediate domestic and international campaign to direct illegal aliens within the U.S. and its territories to leave immediately, and to discourage illegal immigration into the country.

DHS reviewed industry publications and vendors specializing on hyper-targeted media and advertising services and narrowed its search down to four companies that were able to work immediately.

Any delay in providing these critical communications to the public will increase the spread of misinformation, the document says.

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Noem shared the story behind the ad campaign at the Conservative Political Action Conference last month. She said she had suggested conducting more news conferences to keep the public posted on its immigration actions, but Trump asked for those ads to make sure the American people know the truth of what youre doing.

But he said, I want the first ad, I want you to thank me. I want you to thank me for closing the border. I said, Yes, sir. I will thank you for closing the border.

Most of the money spent so far in airing the ads has been on English-language TV stations with more than $2 million, compared to the $360,000 spent to air them in Spanish-language stations around the country, data from ad-tracking firm AdImpact shows.

The data shows it has aired the most in TV stations in Phoenix, Boston, Los Angeles, New York and Dallas. It has also been tracked running on Fox News in larger markets, with most airings captured in the Washington and Philadelphia areas.

___ Associated Press writer Byron Tau in Washington contributed to this report.
There are many issues that have dominated conversation in Wisconsins Supreme Court election  Act 10, voter ID, abortion laws and the candidates handling of past criminal cases.

But theres a topic that has rarely come up thats the subject of a Facebook ad from A Better Wisconsin Together, a liberal group that has run ads critical of Brad Schimel, the conservative candidate in the race.

71 out of 72 Wisconsin counties filed lawsuits against Purdue Pharma. Brad Schimel refused to join them, the ad states.

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That refers to litigation launched around 2017 in Wisconsin and nationwide that sought to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for the opioid crisis.

The ad began running on Feb. 24, 2025, according to Metas Ad Library. Metas data indicates the ad has been seen at least half a million times.

The ad caught PolitiFact Wisconsins attention, because we havent seen many mentions of the opioid epidemic in the Supreme Court race.

And money from lawsuit settlements is expected to flow to Wisconsin through 2038. In recent months, $21 million has gone to treatment and recovery programs, the overdose-reversing drug Narcan and more.

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So, as the April 1 election approaches, lets look at Schimels involvement on the issue and whether the claim is correct.

Ad refers to Schimels decision as state attorney general, rather than Waukesha County DA

On first glance, a voter may assume the ad refers to Schimels time as Waukesha Countys district attorney. Was Waukesha the only county that didnt join the litigation?

But the ad isnt referencing Schimels time working at the county level, said Mike Browne, deputy director for A Better Wisconsin Together.

Rather, it refers to Schimels decision not to sue Purdue Pharma and others as state attorney general, a position he held from 2015 to 2019. He was county DA between 2006 and 2015.

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Lets back up, because the timeline is important here. In 2017, many counties, cities, towns and tribes filed lawsuits against opioid manufacturers. Many Wisconsin counties filed in November of that year.

About 200 pending cases were eventually consolidated in federal court in Ohio in December 2017.

If a voter remembers that rough timeline, it makes sense that the ad is referring to Schimel choosing to not sue on behalf of Wisconsin and join the counties in that effort.

But thats a pretty long time ago for the average voter to remember, and the ad does make it sound like he was the only one out of step at the county level.

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As an aside, Waukesha was one of the 71 counties that sued Purdue Pharma. Polk County in northwestern Wisconsin was the one county that did not, according to a WPR report.

Schimel joined a multi-state investigation, which vast majority of attorneys general were part of

PolitiFact Wisconsin reached out to Schimels campaign, and they sent back a statement from Schimels former chief deputy attorney general and senior counsel, Paul Connell.

Under Schimel, the Department of Justice worked in a bipartisan coalition with dozens of other state attorneys general investigating Purdue Pharma, other opioid manufacturers and the primary opioid distributors, Connell said.

Susan Crawford and her allies misunderstand how attorneys general operate when they work across party lines in a complex multi-state context, he added.

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In the past, Schimel has argued a lawsuit would be a longer, less effective way of getting financial settlements from companies to people in the state, the Cap Times reported.

He preferred Wisconsins involvement in a multi-state investigation, which also began in 2017. At one time, 41 state attorneys general were in the group, so Schimel wasnt an outlier there.

Schimel argued counties would have to use part of the settlement money for private attorney fees, while Wisconsin could get a larger payout if the investigation resulted in a settlement.

Even Pennsylvania's Gov. Josh Shapiro, a leader of the investigation and now a rising Democratic figure, said working as a coalition would be more effective than taking legal action as individual states.

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Membership declined when some attorneys general left the investigation to file lawsuits, including Shapiro, who said Purdue Pharma was not working in good faith on a settlement, according to a CBS News report.

Schimel was not one of them. But Wisconsin did file a lawsuit against Purdue Pharma in 2019 after Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, took office after narrowly defeating Schimel.

Connell, Schimels deputy, said evidence uncovered in the investigation was used by Kaul to file the lawsuit.

Finally, the ad also claims Purdue Pharmas PAC donated to Schimel during his run for reelection in 2018, and gave money to a Republican group, which then donated nearly $3 million to Schimel.

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Analyzing those donations is beyond the scope of this fact-check, but a quick look at campaign finance records show the PAC donated $250 directly to Schimel in November 2016.

Schimel has said previously he did not know he received a donation from Purdue Pharma until he read about it in the newspaper.

Half true

Our ruling

An ad from A Better Wisconsin Together claims state Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel did not join in when 71 out of 72 Wisconsin counties filed lawsuits against Purdue Pharma.

Waukesha County, where Schimel was a district attorney and now a judge, was involved in that lawsuit. By 2017, Schimel was state attorney general, but thats a hard detail for the average voter to recall.

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Other claims about campaign donations make clear the ad is talking about Schimel as attorney general. Still, the ad is misleading if voters read it as Schimel being the odd one out at the county level.

But thats not the case. And the ad doesnt mention Schimels decision to join a multi-state investigation, which many attorneys general did initially. He ultimately didnt sue, like other states did.

Our definition of Half True is the statement is partially accurate but leaves out important details or takes things out of context." That fits here.

Sources

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin Democrats to counter Elon Musk's spending in Supreme Court race with seven-figure initiative, March 4, 2025.

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Johns Hopkins University, The Opioid Crisis: A Timeline.

Meta Ad Library, A Better Wisconsin Together, Feb. 24, 2025.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, More than $21 million goes to combat opioid crisis in Wisconsin, from latest round of opioid settlement funding, Jan. 10, 2025.

Email exchange and phone call, Mike Browne, deputy director for A Better Wisconsin Together, March 4, 2025.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Who is Brad Schimel? Where Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate stands on voter ID, abortion, redistricting and more, March 6, 2025.

Waukesha Circuit Court, Judge Brad D. Schimel.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Two-thirds of Wisconsin counties have now sued opioid-makers in federal court, Nov. 29, 2017.

University of California San Francisco, National Prescription Opiate Litigation Documents, Overview and Background.

Wisconsin Public Radio, County Officials: Possible Opioid Settlement Funds Must Be Spent On Epidemics Fallout, Sept. 12, 2019.

Email exchange, Schimel for Wisconsin, March 6, 2025.

Cap Times, Brad Schimel critics push for a federal lawsuit against opioid makers, June 30, 2018.

Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, National Investigation into Opioid Manufacturers and Distributors Expands, Sept. 19, 2017.

CBS News, U.S. OxyContin maker denies "stunningly overbroad" claims from states, May 16, 2019.

Wisconsin Department of Justice, AG Kaul Announces Wisconsin, Four Other States, File Lawsuits Against Purdue Pharma, May 16, 2019.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Josh Kaul declares victory; Brad Schimel promises smooth transition if final tally reflects a loss, Nov. 7, 2018.

Wisconsin Campaign Finance Information System, Schimel for Attorney General, January Continuing Report 2017, Jan. 16, 2017.

WisPolitics, Schimel defends decision not to join lawsuit targeting drug manufacturers, July 2, 2018.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Did Brad Schimel not join Purdue Pharma lawsuits filed in Wisconsin?
The Trump administration could be sanctioned by a federal judge later this week after lawyers with the Department of Justice advised a federal judge Tuesday evening that they will not make a top administration official available for sworn testimony.

U.S. District Judge Charles Alsup had sought to have the acting head of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Charles Ezell, testify on Thursday about the mass firing of probationary employees.

But the DOJ said Tuesday that they would not make Ezell available for testimony.

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MORE: DOGE's secrecy to be tested in court with sworn testimony, depositions

By making Ezell unavailable, DOJ attorneys also withdrew his sworn affidavit, a move that Judge Charles Alsup suggested would heavily increase the odds that the Trump administration loses the case, which involves the legality of firing thousands of probationary employees.

"Live testimony of Mr. Ezell is also not necessary, as a factual matter, because existing documentary evidence and briefing demonstrates that OPM is not directing agencies to terminate probationary employees," DOJ lawyers argued.

A group of federal unions has alleged that Ezell lied in a sworn declaration that his office did not order the firing of probationary employees based on "performance or misconduct," prompting Judge Alsup to order Ezell to testify in person and under oath in San Francisco on Thursday.

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The Trump administration attempted to push back on the order -- arguing in a filing Monday that the testimony raises "fundamental constitutional concerns."

PHOTO: A view shows the logo of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), after probationary staff at the OPM were fired in a conference call and given less than an hour to leave the building, outside OPM in Washington, D.C., Feb. 13, 2025. (Tierney L. Cross/Reuters)

Judge Alsup late Monday denied their request to cancel the hearing.

"The problem here is that Acting Director Ezell submitted a sworn declaration in support of the defendant's position but now refuses to appear to be cross examined or to be deposed," Judge Alsup wrote in an order Monday night.

The plaintiffs allege that on Feb. 13, Ezell convened a phone call with the heads of federal agencies to direct them to terminate thousands of federal employees and "falsely state that the terminations are for performance reasons."

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In a sworn declaration last month, Ezell denied directing the terminations based on performance reasons, instead arguing that OPM only issued guidance to individual agencies about the need for probationary workers to "demonstrate why it is in the public interest" for the government to continue to employ them.

"OPM did not direct agencies to terminate any particular probationary employees based on performance or misconduct, and did not create a 'mass termination program,' as the plaintiffs in this matter described it," Ezell wrote.

The groups challenging the firings in court say that was a lie, and Judge Alsup appeared inclined to agree during a court hearing last month.

MORE: 'What's going to break?' DOGE staffers 'scorching the earth' as they reshape federal government

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"How could so much of the work force be amputated suddenly overnight? It's so irregular and so widespread and so aberrant from the history of our country," Judge Alsup said. "How could that all happen with each agency deciding on its own to do something so aberrational?"

"I don't believe it," said the judge. "I believe they were directed or ordered to do so by OPM in that telephone call. That's the way the evidence points."

The allegations about the mass firings comes as the Trump administration faces increased scrutiny about the role of the Department of Government Efficiency in reducing the size of the federal government. During a cabinet meeting last week, Trump told the heads of the federal agencies that they are in charge of making cuts to their own departments, rather than Elon Musk and DOGE.

DOJ lawyers decline to let OMP's acting director testify about mass firings originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Jack Greiner, partner of Faruki PLL

A New York based federal judge recently decided that "Jane Doe," one of the women accusing Sean Combs  also known as Puff Daddy, P. Diddy and Diddy (let me know if I'm missing any)  may not proceed with the lawsuit anonymously.

This leaves her with a tough choice: reveal herself publicly or drop the lawsuit. Thus far, the suit remains pending.

Jane Doe is one of many alleged victims (according to Vulture, there are 62 cases currently pending) who have sued Sean Combs for sexual assault.

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And to avoid confusion, the plaintiff in a separate Jane Doe lawsuit recently dismissed her claim. But that dismissal has nothing to do with this case.

Rule 10 of the federal rules of civil procedure requires that the title to a complaint name all the parties to the litigation. Courts have held that this requirement "serves the vital purpose of facilitating public scrutiny of judicial proceedings and therefore cannot be set aside lightly."

In ruling on Doe's motion, the court posed a series of questions designed to balance Doe's privacy interests against the public's right to know what goes on in a public courtroom.

The court's first question was whether the litigation involves a highly sensitive or personal matter. The court noted that the claims did involve a sensitive matter but "allegations of sexual assault, by themselves, are not sufficient to entitle a plaintiff to proceed under a pseudonym."

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The court's next two questions asked about the harm Doe could face if her identity was revealed. The court found that Doe did not satisfy these factors, as her claims of potential physical and mental harms were too speculative.

The court found that Doe's age (she's an adult) mitigated against allowing her to proceed anonymously. The court also noted that because Doe was not a whistle blower proceeding against the government, her interest in privacy was reduced.

The court found that the sixth factor  the harm to the defendant in allowing Doe to proceed anonymously  favored Combs. As the court noted, "[i]f plaintiff's name is kept from the public, information about only one side may thus come to light. In particular, 'persons with information about [plaintiff] or [her] allegations that would be helpful to the defense but were unknown to the defendant might not come forward.'"

The court also noted that the fact that Doe had consistently maintained confidentiality favored her claim. And it found that the eighth factor, the public interest, was neutral.

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According to the court, "[t]he public has an interest in knowing who has made an allegation against a public figure for, as the case comes before the court, it may be that the allegation is untrue. . . However, '[t]his interest is weighed against the public's competing 'interest in protecting the identities of sexual assault victims so that other victims will not be deterred from reporting such crimes.'" The competing interests cancelled each other out.

The last two factors weighed against Doe. The case did not involve "purely legal matters," and the court could impose targeted protective orders to guard against disclosure of particularly sensitive matters.

So, was Judge Lewis Liman particularly callous or a careful jurist? I can see both arguments, but I am a fan of transparency.

Jack Greiner is a partner at Faruki PLL law firm in Cincinnati. He represents Enquirer Media in First Amendment and media issues.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Should Diddy's accuser remain anonymous? | Strictly Legal
U.S. Vice President JD Vance did not talk publicly about his cousin Nate's service in Ukraine because he "didn't want to endanger his life more than it already was," he told Fox News on March 11.

Nate Vance, a former U.S. Marine, defended Ukraine from 2022 to January 2025 as a member of the Da Vinci Wolves First Motorized Battalion, a volunteer unit.

Nate Vance harshly criticized U.S. policy regarding Ukraine and condemned the behavior of his cousin and U.S. President Donald Trump during a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Feb. 28, after which U.S. leaders berated the Ukrainian president for not being "ready for peace" and supposed lack of gratitude.

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"As far as his criticisms, I have no interest in arguing with him in public, but I do feel the need to address one issue in particular: his failed effort to contact me. I am unsure why Nate felt the need to reach out to my Senate office, rather than to his mom, dad, or sister, all of whom I am in contact with regularly," JD Vance told Fox News.

The vice president added that he "always considered Nate the toughest guy (he) knew" and that he was "always happy to talk to him."

Nate Vance volunteered to fight in Ukraine following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, but left shortly before the U.S. presidential inauguration out of fear of being captured by the Russian army.

"It had become complicated to stay. I couldn't take the risk of being captured," he said.

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JD Vance has repeatedly criticized Ukraine and Zelensky in the past, at times repeating Kremlin talking points.

Read also: There will still be war  Ukraines soldiers on ceasefire proposal, Russia, and Putin

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The state flags hangs from the rotunda of the Idaho State Capitol Building in Boise on Jan. 7, 2025. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

The Idaho House of Representatives on Tuesday narrowly passed a bill to let Idahoans have digital identification cards.

House Bill 78, sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen, R-Idaho Falls, would allow the Idaho Transportation Department to issue electronic drivers licenses and ID cards that people could access on their mobile phones wallet application.

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If the bill becomes law, the new digital drivers licenses would be optional, not required, and people with a mobile drivers license would still be required to have a physical drivers license.

Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen, R-Idaho Falls, reads a newspaper on the Idaho House floor on March 25, 2024. (Kyle Pfannenstiel/Idaho Capital Sun)

Mickelsen said almost three-forths of states either offer an electronic drivers license, or are developing one.

By moving to a mobile drivers license system, it actually is more secure than the current system in which your drivers license exists, because it moves it into a  trusted vault that protects your data, Mickelsen told the House.

She added that digital drivers licenses would be an immigration security strategy, and hopefully help stop fraud in Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as we build out Idahos digital wallet.

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Under the bill, digital drivers licenses or identification cards would not be allowed as proof of identification at election polls.

The Idaho House passed the bill Tuesday on a 37-33 vote. In the half-hour debate on the bill, several lawmakers raised privacy and security concerns.

The bill now heads to the Idaho Senate. To become law, Idaho bills must pass the House and Senate, and avoid the governors veto.

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Several lawmakers raised privacy, security concerns. Debate would be different if lawmakers were younger, one lawmaker says.

Rep. Joe Alfieri, R-Coeur dAlene, who voted against the bill, raised several privacy concerns.

We have a much further area to be concerned about, besides our being hacked, our individual information being hacked  the possibility of creating digital citizens who can collect benefits or, by the way, vote, he argued.

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Rep. Rod Furniss, R-Rigby, who voted for the bill, called the bill a logical step in the right direction and said the Houses debate on the bill would be different if lawmakers were younger.

If we had a room full of 25 year olds in this room, they would think we are old fuddy-duddies for not putting this on our phone and not making it legal and not being a step in the right direction, Furniss told the House. This is going to come in the future, whether you want it or not.

Rep. Brandon Mitchell, R, Moscow, at the Idaho Capitol on April 6, 2021. (Otto Kitsinger for Idaho Capital Sun)

Rep. Brandon Mitchell, RMoscow, who voted against the bill, said sheriffs in his district opposed the bill, along with several university security department heads he talked to.

No, this is a bad idea. My students could hack into that in minutes, is what they were telling me, Mitchell said.

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Mickelsen said the bill is supported by many sheriffs, and several cybersecurity experts at Idaho National Laboratory she consulted assured her about possible security risks.

They all told me that these are some of the highest keys that exist out there in the cyber world.  That its a very safe, very reliable system, she said.

The bills fiscal note estimates it will have no fiscal impact, since ITD has already been allocated money for similar projects.

The bill would also not automatically let law enforcement officers search peoples phones if people present their digital ID cards.

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NEW DELHI, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Byrnihat in India's northeastern state of Meghalaya has been identified as the most polluted place in the world, according to the World Air Quality Report 2024 by Swiss air monitoring company IQAir on Tuesday.

The town has a PM2.5 concentration of 128.2 micrograms per cubic meter, surpassing Delhi, which ranks second with PM2.5 levels of 108.3 micrograms per cubic meter.

Byrnihat, located on the Assam-Meghalaya border, has rapidly industrialized, housing cement factories, distilleries, and steel plants, leading to severe pollution.

The report highlighted that India is home to six of the nine most polluted cities globally. 
President Donald Trumps moves to expand the use of pardons have white-collar defendants jolting to attention  and many are responding with creative maneuvers designed to appeal less to judges or juries than to the ultimate arbiter in the Oval Office.

High-profile convicts including Sam Bankman-Fried and Bob Menendez are among those reportedly seeking relief while framing their case in a way Trump could relate to: by casting themselves as victims of a crooked justice system.

Meanwhile, a Democratic District of Columbia Council member facing federal bribery charges has lavished public praise on Trumps pick to lead the FBI; a Bitcoin entrepreneur fighting extradition from Spain on tax charges has sat down with Tucker Carlson to plead his case; and, in an interview with POLITICO, a Turkish businessman under federal indictment has offered to share details of a meeting with former President Joe Bidens brother with investigators  but he wants the case against him dropped.



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Trumps late-February appointment of a White House pardon czar, Alice Johnson, and the Friday announcement by the Justice Department lawyer who oversaw pardons during Bidens term that she has been fired, signal that Trump is not done exercising his clemency powers.

Potential petitioners have taken notice. Everybody that is in prison now is keenly aware of the environment, and its become a very hot topic within the low- and minimum-security inmate communities, said Sam Mangel, a consultant to white-collar convicts who has advised Steve Bannon, Bankman-Fried and George Santos on the criminal justice process.

Their maneuvers offer a glimpse of a legal landscape shifting in real time to a chief executive undeterred by the informal constraints that previously limited presidential interventions in the criminal justice system. Increasingly, defendants and convicts are acting accordingly.



But Mangel, citing conversations with people intimately familiar with the current parameters, said there are limits on who will be considered eligible for Trumps clemency: Undocumented immigrants and people convicted of sexual, drug-related or violent crimes, he said, need not apply. A White House spokesperson, Elizabeth Huston, declined to comment.

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That still leaves plenty of candidates.

In the three years before Trump was elected, Mangel said he received a total of two inquiries from convicts seeking presidential clemency. Now, Mangel said, he is receiving two to four inquiries a day and has had to hire extra paralegals to handle the surge.

The level of interest, he said, is unheard of.

Crypto defendants "FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT" for clemency

Trumps week-one pardon of Ross Ulbricht, the founder of an illicit online marketplace enabled by Bitcoin transactions, has lifted the hopes of one class of defendant in particular: Crypto entrepreneurs.

One of them is Bitcoin miner Joby Weeks. In 2020, Weeks pleaded guilty to tax evasion and an unregistered securities offering related to his crypto activities, and he has been awaiting sentencing ever since, as the Justice Department continues to pursue a broader conspiracy case against other defendants.



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As Trump entered office earlier this year, Weeks revamped his legal strategy and dropped Washington super lawyer David Boies from his legal team. Soon after, Weeks filed a self-authored motion to dismiss his case that cites an unusual authority.

President Trump said to FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT! And so, I am, Weeks wrote in his unorthodox motion, which he prefaced, From the Desk of: Jobadiah from the House of Weeks.

The motion is unlikely to ingratiate Weeks, who is due for sentencing later this month, with the judge or prosecutors. It accuses them, as well as FBI agents and others, of colluding in a litany of misdeeds, including torture, human trafficking, and treason.

Trump, who himself has a history of attacking judges and the FBI, is less likely to be offended. Weeks filing indicates that copies have been mailed to both the president and his attorney general, Pam Bondi.

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It would be great to have Trump step in, Weeks, 43, said by phone from Denver, where he is living with his parents under house arrest, and say, Enough is enough.



Weeks' fellow Bitcoin evangelist, Roger Ver, is pursuing a slightly more conventional bid for clemency as he fights tax charges.

Along with Weeks, Ver was among a cohort of libertarians who became early Bitcoin adopters and profited massively.

And like many defendants courting Trumps intervention, Ver has portrayed himself as a victim of persecution. To be honest I think they're not really angry about taxes at all, he said during a December sit-down with Tucker Carlson in which he pleaded his case. I think theyre just angry about my lack of obedience and lack of kissing their ring.

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In 2014, after amassing a fortune in the cryptocurrency and earning the nickname Bitcoin Jesus, Ver renounced his U.S. citizenship and became a national of St. Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean.

A decade later, in April 2024, the Justice Department unsealed an indictment that accused Ver of evading $50 million worth of taxes. He was arrested in Spain, where he remains, fighting extradition to the U.S.

Following Trumps promise last summer to pardon Ulbricht, Ver and his supporters have imitated the public-facing campaign that made Ulbricht a cause celebre among libertarians.

In November, a Free Roger Ver account was registered on X and began promoting a FREEROGER crypto memecoin, minted to raise awareness of the pardon campaign.

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A website hosting a Free Roger petition prominently displays messages of support from Trump allies like Alex Jones and Roger Stone, who posted on social media, What they did to me. What they did to General Mike Flynn. What they tried to do to Donald Trump. They are now trying to do it to Roger Ver.

In January, four days after Ulbrichts pardon, Ver appealed directly to Trump in a video posted to X. "If there's anybody that knows what it's like to be the victim of lawfare for spreading American ideals, it's Donald Trump," he said.



Even supporters of Sam Bankman-Fried, the Democratic megadonor and crypto entrepreneur serving 25 years in prison on a fraud conviction, are holding out hope for clemency.

Bloomberg reported in January that Bankman-Frieds parents have been exploring the potential for a clemency deal. Bankman-Frieds mother, Barbara Fried, and a lawyer who has represented him, Marc Mukasey, did not respond to requests for comment.

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But from a prison in Brooklyn, Bankman-Fried himself has reemerged into the public arena, including with a Carlson sit-down of his own.

And last month, Bankman-Fried gave an interview to the New York Sun in which he dumped on Lewis Kaplan, the Southern District of New York judge who presided over his criminal trial. Kaplan earned Trumps ire while presiding over E. Jean Carrolls civil sexual assault and defamation case against the president.



I know President Trump had a lot of frustrations with Judge Kaplan, Bankman-Fried told the Sun. I certainly did as well.

Ill settle for a pardon

As Trump has returned to power, a forgotten figure of the foreign influence cases that marked his first term has reemerged with a story about the Biden family.

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In 2016, Turkish businessman Ekim Alptekin struck up a working relationship with Mike Flynn, a former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency who was then advising Trumps presidential campaign.

In December 2018, federal prosecutors in Virginia charged Alptekin over the collaboration, alleging that he lied to the FBI about it and was acting as an unregistered agent of Turkeys government.

Since then, Alptekin has remained outside the U.S. and avoided facing trial.

Then in January, on the fourth day of Trumps term, Alptekin appeared on a Spaces audio broadcast on X. The broadcast was hosted by Hans Mahncke, a critic of the Mueller probe and related investigations that scrutinized the foreign ties of Trump and his allies, including Flynn.

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In the course of recounting his version of the events surrounding his indictment, Alptekin described an early 2019 visit he allegedly received from Jim Biden and his wife, Sara Biden, in Turkey.

Alptekin said that Jim and Sara Biden contacted him through his lawyer shortly after his indictment and came to stay with him in Turkey. While hosting them, Alptekin said, his guests proposed that he hire former Attorney General Eric Holder as his defense counsel for $3 million.



Alptekin said he understood their proposal to require him to implicate Flynn in misconduct. Alptekin discussed the alleged approach only briefly. I don't want to talk too much about it, he said, because I think at some point that I might be formally asked to testify.

Representatives for Covington & Burling, where Holder is a partner, and for Jim and Sara Biden did not respond to requests for comment.

In a follow-up interview with POLITICO, Alptekin suggested that, in addition to making money by brokering the representation, Jim and Sara Biden were running a political errand.

They visited someone who was under criminal indictment, who was technically a fugitive in the U.S., on the eve of his brother announcing his candidacy, Alptekin said, arguing that the approach made sense only if it was designed to get him to implicate Flynn  who briefly served as White House national security adviser in 2017  in behavior that would discredit Trump.

Me changing my statement would give them ammunition, he said.

Alptekin said he was willing to share documentation of the alleged approach with investigators, but that he wants his criminal case to come to an end. I would prefer the case to be dismissed, he said. Ill settle for a pardon for the sake of my family.

"FBI set me up"

Politicians facing corruption charges are also angling to be among the next beneficiaries of Trumps legal interventions.

The president's pardon last month of former Illinois Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his Justice Departments move to end the ongoing case against New York City Democratic Mayor Eric Adams, have only bolstered the hopes of other elected officials seeking leniency.



Among those pointing the finger back at the justice system are former Washington D.C. Council Member Trayon White.

White was indicted on corruption charges last summer after the Justice Department said he accepted cash payments from an FBI source in exchange for help securing municipal contracts. White, who was expelled from the council in February, is set to face trial next year.

Last month, as White unsuccessfully fought expulsion from the city council, a truck sat outside the Councils headquarters covered with a picture of White and the message, FBI set me up.

White also made a surprise appearance on Capitol Hill last month at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to consider Kash Patels nomination to head the FBI.

White, a Democrat, went on to praise Patels performance. Im glad to hear the potential director say he will be fair and just, White wrote in an Instagram post. This is what America wants.

Neither White, nor his lawyer, Fred Cooke, responded to requests for comment.



Former Senate Foreign Relations Chair Bob Menendez, reportedly among those angling for a Trump pardon, has also taken to slamming the justice system.

President Trump is right, Menendez, convicted last year on corruption charges, said outside the Manhattan courthouse where he was sentenced to 11 years in prison last month, This process is political and its corrupted to the core. When posting the remarks on X, Menendez, a Democrat, concluded by tagging @RealDonaldTrump.

A lawyer for Menendez, Bob Luskin, did not respond to requests for comment.

It seems that about the only high-profile defendant not publicly courting Trumps mercy is former New York Republican Rep. George Santos.



Asked about a pardon last month, Santos, who is awaiting sentencing in April on fraud and identity theft charges, told a podcast host that he would welcome a pardon but that he has not sought one.

Reached via text message, Santos declined to comment further. Im the worst advocate for myself, so I have no words for your article, he wrote. Im sorry.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  If someone comes to your door with a bottle of dish soap, police say they might be trying to rob your house.

Over the weekend in Pewamo, the Ionia County Sheriffs Office reports that a group of college-age males driving a grey Honda Odyssey minivan were visiting different homes in the area.

The group would go up to houses and attempt to give residents a gifta bottle of dish soap.

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They would then become insistent on coming into the home to talk with the residents furtherbut the Ionia County Sheriffs Office says this is a sign of a common scheme to rob houses while the homeowner is distracted.

The goal is to hold the homeowners attention in one room while someone else steals valuables from another part of the home. If these people show up to your home, police say do not let them in. Ask them to leave, and if they refuse, call the police. If possible, get a license plate and vehicle description.

If you have fallen victim to this type of situation and have been robbed, contact your 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 WLNS 6 News.
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In December 2024, a masked gunman shot and killed UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson in the streets of New York City. The murder roiled the internet. Although most social media users agreed that nothing could justify murder, the crime ignited a furious public debate about health insurance companies like United. For most Americans, private health insurance is a fact of life. You go to the doctor, and someone asks you for your insurance information before anyone takes a look at you. You go to the hospital and its the same story. Insurance companies have great power over a persons life. They can  and do  deny necessary care, or saddle people with medical bills that they cant afford to pay. Most people wont take matters into their own hands the way Thompsons alleged killer, Luigi Mangione, did last year. But the rage simmers. (Mangione has pleaded not guilty).

Beneath that rage lies a much older story about inequality in the United States. Good healthcare is a luxury good here, not a human right. Care depends on where you live, and how much money you make; it depends on your employer or even the whims of state legislators. The system is propped up by a political economy that creates a class of disposable person: people on the margins, deprived of power over their own lives. Thompsons killing briefly forced that reality back out into the open. The fifth anniversary of COVID should extend the conversation. When I began to report and research my book, Disposable: America's Contempt for the Underclass, I knew that it would not be a meaningful retrospective on the pandemic if I didnt scrutinize the role our patchwork healthcare system played in making people vulnerable to the virus.

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To be disposable in America is to be tired, struggling, and often sick. As frontline medical workers tried to save lives from the virus, they had to operate within a political economy that was working against them at every turn. People told me that their loved ones delayed emergency care because they feared the cost  sometimes with deadly consequences. Others said their problems began long before COVID. Their stories tell us that disposability is a flexible state. Anyone can fall into it, dragged down by job loss or rising rents or a medical crisis. No one is immune, not even the young. Five years after COVID reached the U.S., were still reckoning with a political failure to guarantee healthcare to everyone.

A single act of reckless violence wont end disposability. We owe something more to the COVID dead, and to the living, who are still subject to a healthcare system that prioritizes profit over human life.

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Such is the care America provides its disposable, who survive on the nations scraps. From Americas inception, wealth has flowed upward, whether from slave to master or from worker to boss. The disposable person stands in a chasm cut by centuries of movement. With great effort she can scale the walls: the victory of emancipation, and the gains won by the labor movement, have forced America to embody more of its self-professed democratic ideals. Yet those walls are still unacceptably high, and the disposable have far to reach before they know security. To get there, they must battle a political economy that sees them not as a people but as a site of extraction. When they are healthy, the system will siphon wealth from their labor. In sickness, their bodies are all that is left. Here at the end, the system sucks up its last profits until she is spent.

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The Affordable Care Act reduced the ranks of the uninsured and kept people alive, but its still possible to slip through the cracks in the law. As a market-based attempt at reform, the ACA was never that radical; it did not remove the profit motive from health care. Yet it, too, had enemies. The ACA provoked ludicrous hostility when first introduced: On her popular Facebook page, former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin accused President Obama of creating death panels to exterminate seniors and the sick. Palins precise scenario never came to be, but the ex-governor hadnt quite invented the dynamic she allegedly feared. Death panels do exist. They predated the Affordable Care Act and survived its implementation. All countries ration health care to some extent, but the U.S. is unique because of the complex, sometimes hidden, and frequently unintended ways it rations care, wrote Beatrix Hoffman in the introduction to her 2012 book, Health Care for Some: Rights and Rationing in the United States Since 1930.

The U.S. recognizes no universal right to health care, Hoffman observed; instead, it is only guaranteed for some groups, like veterans who are eligible to enroll in the VA system. Citing the scholar David Mechanic, Hoffman distinguished between explicit rationing, where official rules govern the distribution or denial of care, and implicit rationing, which is broader, and encompasses different access to care depending on a persons insurance status and ability to pay. Though Americans fear explicit rationing, the consequences of implicit rationing rarely make headlines, Hoffman wrote. Thats beginning to change, due to public outcry and the rising popularity of proposals like Medicare for All.

Though a mythology of personal liberty can obscure the extent to which the U.S. rations care, news outlets and some politicians are pulling back the veil. Reality is becoming difficult to ignore, although power lies, still, with the entities like private health insurance companies. Every day, insurance companies ration or deny care, and they dont yet fear the consequences of their actions. In 2023, the news website ProPublica obtained a damning recording: in it, a nurse employed by UnitedHealthcare told her colleague that a doctor under contract had decided that a patients ulcerative colitis treatment was no longer necessary. The colleague laughed. I knew that was coming, he said.

The Affordable Care Act softened the cruelty of the American health-care system, but it did not subvert the system itself. To the bills defenders it is monumental legislation, and perhaps in some sense it is. At its core, however, the law further binds Americans to the market and to their employers, a form of mass labor discipline. To it we are not people first but rather consumers, and the distinction matters.

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Because the American health-care system is driven by profit, it generates conditions that may cause a person to fall into insecurity or even outright poverty. The line that separates a middle-class life from that of the disposable can look especially thin with the arrival of a large medical bill or significant medical debt.

E.L., who asks to go by her initials only, can recall a bodily relief when she traveled to the UK on a student visa and could use the NHS, just as I once did. We didnt have tons of money growing up. My dad was a special ed teacher and my mom worked in a warehouse, she explains. This idea that you could get a bill out of nowhere that would put you in bankruptcy or make it impossible for you to live in a kind of normal way, meaning to not have to worry about going to a grocery store, that was so sharp in my mind, she adds. When she left the U.S. for England, the knowledge that she would never be surprised by a massive medical bill made life viable. Nevertheless, old habits lingered. She says that at first she avoided the doctor, a legacy of her time in the U.S. You just wait till things are bad and then you try to triage it, she continues. In the UK, she had to learn a new way of thinking about health care because it wasnt something reserved for emergencies and rich people. In the U.S., she says, poor people dont get to have dignity in health care. You just have to beg.

In addition to her time in the United Kingdom, E.L. spent a significant period of time elsewhere in Europe before returning to the U.S. to work for a campus of the University of Maine. Almost by luck, she chose a good health insurance plan that covered most of her needs, but her position ended during the first year of the pandemic and she lost her plan. She managed to get onto her partners insurance, and says it wasnt as good. I was having a chronic health issue, and I had to go to get ultrasounds. I would go because my fear of getting really sick was greater than my fear of paying the bill, or getting the bill and not being able to pay it, she tells me. But every time I would go, I would just get sick to my stomach because I would be so anxious about what it was going to cost. One day she received a medical bill for $6,000 in a year when shed made less than $14,000. She and her partner had moved from rural Maine to the more expensive city of Portland, where an apartment cost them $1,700 a month. Everything went to the landlord, and there was nothing left over to cover their health care. During the pandemic, she rationed her visits to the doctor because the bills cost too much money on top of insurance and rent. A disposable person can be anywhere, even in the world of higher education; degrees are often no bulwark against the cold.

She and her partner have since relocated to Ireland for work. As immigrants, we have to have private health insurance, she explains, but costs are more tightly regulated than they are in the U.S. Instead, they pay a certain amount per year, and their health-care costs are capped. The contrast with the U.S. remains jarring. One of my moms bills just for the anesthesiologist to check on hernot for the anesthetic, but just for the check from the guy beforehandwas $10,000. That was the part we were supposed to pay, she says. My dad, I think he made $44,000 a year when he retired. How could you pay that? Few can.

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The nations disposable know they cant count on the health-care system. Thats to the clear detriment of the disposable person, but it also sets up a difficult situation for health-care providers, who must operate within an inhumane system. The emergency room has come to function as a social safety net in an era where few such safeguards exist. Within the hospital itself, providers confront not only the failures of the health-care system but the broader capitalist system of which it is a part. An occupational therapist, who asked to remain anonymous for professional reasons, struggled with proper protective gear at her rural hospital. We had forty beds, she explains. We ended up, because no one really knew how this virus was transmitted at that point, walking in full lead gowns and face shields and any kind of respirator we could find because we didnt have the equipment that bigger hospitals had.

At the same time, she struggled with her own health-care costs. Advanced degrees have become an industry-wide expectation for people in her field, she tells me, which meant that many leave graduate school with high student loan debt. You have these Medicare and Medicaid cuts, which are primarily providing funds for you as a therapist to be reimbursed, she adds. So the money that you actually make coming out of school is very limited. In a lot of places, to save money, they are going to put you on an hourly schedule, and if you dont have a patient they send you home. She estimated that she made $1,300 per paycheck, as her health insurance siphoned $500 of her salary per month.

Though that wasnt a poverty wage, she had little left over to cover whatever insurance did not. Ive had abscesses in my mouth and things that need to be taken care of medically that Ive put off, and had infections, she says. An incident at work required stitches, which she couldnt afford. She had to ask family members for financial help. The big emotion for me is hopelessness because I see this system from two different lenses, from a patients perspective, as well as my own perspective, she continues. I in some ways live some of those realities with them, and I sympathize with them. I think if its bad for myself, how much worse is it for someone who maybe doesnt have the privilege of being able to go and get an education, or the privilege of being able to have some of the safety nets that Ive had. And that is something that I struggle with.

The pandemic and its consequences argue for a transformation. The need to ration health care, or to avoid it altogether, was too common before the pandemic, and the consequences were just as potentially fatal. COVID merely raised the stakes.

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In America, excess death has become ordinary. Our health-care system is too often a slender lifeline in a time of crisis. Too fragmented and expensive to meet the needs of the many, the system reserves the best care only for those with the means to pay for it. For some others theres GoFundMe, but for most theres nothing. The safety net is too weak to catch us all. The dogma of personal responsibility poisons health care in America, and transforms even basic care into luxuries. Our broken health-care system is no impediment to national wealth, we can see that much clearly; America is a rich country. Equality is another matter. Not only does our health-care system contribute to inequality, industry opposition to health-care reform reflects a ruling class commitment to maintaining inequality at all costs. Before COVID, transformative health-care reform had few champions among the powerful. Politicians like Bernie Sanders and Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington have helped keep Medicare for All alive as an idea, but although they have committed supporters, these voters havent yet coalesced into a mass movement. Theres still time, though, for COVID to change that. For unnecessary death to feel extraordinary, for outrage to generate real change. Theres too many people out there that are having these problems like I am, the occupational therapist says. Its just a matter of time before something gives."

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue

Want to read more Teen Vogue health coverage?
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  A board-certified gynecologist will host a one-day womens health empowerment conference called The Foreplay.

According to organizers, Dr. Mia Cowan will hold the conference on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hilton Birmingham Downtown at UAB.

The Foreplay will provide women aging from 30 to 60-plus with knowledge and resources to educate, empower and encourage women to invest in their overall health to improve their quality of life. For more information, click here.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Rancor among the staff at the Civilian Office of Police Accountability was the driving force behind the recent effort to remove the agencys former chief administrator, Andrea Kersten, records obtained by the Tribune show.

The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability  the city body overseeing the leaders of COPA, the Chicago Police Department and the Police Board  wrote Kersten on Jan. 28 to tell her of a planned no-confidence vote regarding her overseeing COPA.

Persistent complaints and concerns about oversight within COPA, the agencys workplace culture, the quality of investigations, as well as Kerstens own public statements and appearances were chief among the reasons highlighted by CCPSA.

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If the police accountability system is or is reasonably perceived to be ineffective or unfair, it will erode public confidence in policing and police oversight, CCPSA President Anthony Driver and Vice President Remel Terry wrote to Kersten on Jan. 28.

The letter, too, noted several alleged incidents in high-profile COPA cases that only fueled CCPSAs concerns. Among them, CCPSA claimed that COPA failed to properly document evidence and witness statements in the 2023 investigation of alleged sexual misconduct involving a CPD officer and an underage migrant who was sheltered at the time in a West Side police station.

Multiple people with first-hand knowledge report that off-the-record interviews were held with witnesses, including a desk sergeant, and leadership requested that case notes not be filed in the Case Management system, Driver and Terry wrote.

The accused officers name was never made public, and Kersten told the Tribune that year that no witnesses were located before that investigation was closed.

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Over the past year, the Commission has had growing concerns about your leadership and judgment and the impact they have had on COPA, Driver and Terry added.

The Commission has also received a substantial number of serious complaints about COPA and your leadership, the document states. Most complaints came from current and former COPA employees, including high-ranking COPA staff members. Complainants have first-hand knowledge of specific incidents that raise serious concerns about your leadership.

Records show Kerstens written response to Driver and Terry came Feb. 13  the same day she announced her resignation.

In the letter, Kersten told the CCPSA leaders that the effort to remove her was inherently unfair, failed to afford me adequate Due Process and lacked any objective investigation.

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Kersten protested that CCPSA refused to identify the complainants and provide even the most minimal information or documents supporting these allegations.

Equally important, the claims lack any factual basis; they are conclusory generalizations based on self-serving characterizations of what unknown individuals said about purported incidents, Kersten added.

Kersten led COPA for about four years, after previously serving as the agencys deputy chief administrator. She announced her resignation last month on the same day that several other city agency leaders left their posts.

In a recent interview with the Tribune, Kersten said leaving COPA was on (her) mind and heart for quite some time, and she knew 2025 would be her last year with the agency.

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The politics and the noise around my work in particular certainly set in motion a timeline by which I needed to make a decision, she said.

Kersten led COPA for roughly half of the agencys existence, and she said she leaves the oversight body in better shape than when she took over.

I can honestly look back at the last almost four years of being at the helm of COPA and say I did what I came here to do, and I leave behind an agency that is much better positioned operationally, caseload-wise, (in) consent decree compliance (and with) a national profile, Kersten told the Tribune. Looking around the country, I can name off all of the major cities that look to COPA and what we do here in Chicago at COPA as the standard for what civilian investigatory oversight of police can look like.

Meanwhile, a whistleblower lawsuit filed by a former COPA supervisor  containing similar substantial allegations as the CCPSA letter  remains pending in Cook County Circuit Court. The Fraternal Order of Police, the union representing rank-and-file CPD officers, has also filed several still-pending lawsuits against COPA and Kersten in recent years.

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Since May 2021, the month Kersten was named interim chief administrator, the agency has opened more than 2,400 investigations based on complaints of police misconduct, according to figures made publicly available by COPA.

Since the start of 2021, COPA has called for the Chicago Police Department to suspend 1,074 officers, though the lengths of those proposed suspensions were not known. Meanwhile, the agency has recommended CPD fire 188 officers in the past four years, according to agency data.

COPA was created in 2017 to replace the Independent Police Review Authority after the U.S. Department of Justice investigated CPD following the killing of Laquan McDonald by then-Officer Jason Van Dyke three years earlier.
Indiana University is among 60 higher education institutions to receive a letter from the U.S. Department of Education demanding they fulfill their obligation to protect Jewish students on campus, according to a statement from the DOE.

Schools that received letters currently are under investigation under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which protects U.S. citizens from being excluded from "any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance" on the basis of their race, color or background.

The Office for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Education warned the institutions of "potential enforcement actions if they do not fulfill their obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to protect Jewish students on campus, including uninterrupted access to campus facilities and educational opportunities."

Why is Indiana University under investigation?

On the education department's list of pending investigations, a case against Indiana University-Bloomington is listed as being opened on Feb. 5. The type of discrimination is listed as "Title VI - National Origin Discrimination Involving Religion."

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The Indiana Daily Student reported last month that the civil rights investigation was opened based on a complaint from a conservative media organization, Campus Reform, and involved statements made during pro-Palestinian protests on IU's Bloomington campus.

 Read more about this from our partners at the Herald-Times.

What colleges and universities received the Title VI letter from the DOE?

Here's the full list:

American University Arizona State University Boston University Brown University California State University, Sacramento Chapman University Columbia University Cornell University Drexel University Eastern Washington University Emerson College George Mason University Harvard University Illinois Wesleyan University Indiana University, Bloomington Johns Hopkins University Lafayette College Lehigh University Middlebury College Muhlenberg College Northwestern University Ohio State University Pacific Lutheran University Pomona College Portland State University Princeton University Rutgers University Rutgers University-Newark Santa Monica College Sarah Lawrence College Stanford University State University of New York Binghamton State University of New York Rockland State University of New York, Purchase Swarthmore College Temple University The New School Tufts University Tulane University Union College University of California Davis University of California San Diego University of California Santa Barbara University of California, Berkeley University of Cincinnati University of Hawaii at Manoa University of Massachusetts Amherst University of Michigan University of Minnesota, Twin Cities University of North Carolina University of South Florida University of Southern California University of Tampa University of Tennessee University of Virginia University of Washington-Seattle University of Wisconsin, Madison Wellesley College Whitman College Yale University

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: DOE warns IU Bloomington, other schools with open Title VI investigations
Monday night, the two talked about all things related to the Russia-Ukraine war and other topics.

(NewsNation)  As the war between Russia and Ukraine enters its fourth year, Tucker Carlson acknowledges he is more sympathetic to Russian President Vladimir Putin than he is to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Carlson said he thinks this for one reason.

Cuomo & Carlson: The Conversation continues

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Im not sympathetic to Putin in the sense that I want to move to Russia, Carlson told NewsNations Chris Cuomo. I dont see Russia as a close friend of mine at all  or as a free country or anything like that. Im just saying I just think its fair to judge leaders on how they do for their country. They have one job: Do a good job for your country. Make it better.

Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump engaged in a heated argument in the Oval Office last month in which Trump told the Ukrainian president he was not in a good position in the ongoing war.

Immigration needs to be shut down until unity restored: Carlson

Carlson maintains that the United States has funded the worst war since World War II for three years and that the countrys stance on the war has made it weaker on the world stage.

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Cuomo said, however, that since Trump took office in January, the line has shifted, and Ukraine is now the bad guy while Putin has garnered more sympathy from U.S. lawmakers.

Yet when it comes to Zelenskyy, whom Carlson refers to as a complicated person, the Ukrainian leader has become a pawn among bigger powers, he said.

Why havent the JFK and Jeffrey Epstein files been released?

I feel bad for Zelenskyy, but we were required to pretend that (Zelenskyy) was Jesus and that Vladimir Putin was Satan, Carlson told Cuomo, adding that he was fired from Fox News for his stance. My only point is, thats not true, actually. Its way more complicated than that. Both of them have good and bad qualities. And moreover, its not our fight. What are we doing there?

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
MANILA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A chartered plane that will transport former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague in The Netherlands took off on Tuesday night.

The aircraft RP-C5219 took off at 11:03 p.m. local time (1503 GMT), Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos confirmed in a press briefing.

On Tuesday night, Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte arrived at the Villamor Air Base in the Philippine capital but failed to see her father.

Sara Duterte earlier said in a statement that her detained father was "forcibly taken to The Hague," hours after the former Philippine leader was detained at Manila airport after the ICC issued a warrant for his arrest related to his "war on drugs" campaign.

Sara's younger sister, Veronica, said in a social media post that "They took my dad from us, put him on a plane, and wouldn't say where to." 
COVENTRY, R.I. (WPRI)  Six residents were forced from their home after a fire broke out in Coventry Tuesday morning.

Firefighters were called to Town Farm Road just after 8:30 a.m. to investigate reports of a garage fire. Coventry Fire Chief Frank Brown said by the time firefighters arrived, the flames had spread from the attached garage to the home.

Brown said the six adults who lived there were able to escape after their dogs barking woke them up. He added that one resident suffered minor injuries and was treated by first responders.

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The home was deemed uninhabitable, and the American Red Cross is assisting the impacted residents, some of which Brown said moved in just two weeks ago.

Brown said one of the residents built the house 60 years ago, and a former volunteer firefighter was among those living there.

A woman here was a volunteer here in Coventry. Being the incident commander in chief, I know her personally, Brown said. That doesnt make it any easier when you know these people  its always sad.

Firefighters faced challenges due to the lack of hydrants in the neighborhood and had to wait for tanker trucks to supply water, according to Brown.

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Our town is 64 square miles and 32 square miles of it have hydrants, the other 32 do not. So, you have to establish a water supply, Brown explained.

Brown said firefighters used approximately 750 gallons of water per minute to battle the flames at the fires peak.

You go through it [the water] pretty quick, but these people that do this tanker task force are well versed in supplying water, he added. Theres a system to what they do and theyre very good at it  in this part of Coventry, we rely on them.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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Congress is voting to avert a shutdown, and DOGE is scrambling the calculus for both sides.

Democrats are voting against the bill, arguing DOGE is already shutting down the government.

Meanwhile, Republicans who usually hate voting for funding bills are changing tack because of DOGE.

As lawmakers vote this week to fund the government and avert a shutdown before March 14, things are different in the halls of Congress  and DOGE is at the center of it.

For years, government funding has played out as such: Almost every Democrat votes for the bill  even if it contains some cuts or provisions that they oppose  because they tend to be the temperamentally pro-government party. Somewhere around half of Republicans vote against it, even when their party controls the House, complaining of runaway government spending.

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That pattern is now being turned on its head.

House Republicans have drafted a bill to extend current levels of government funding for another year, plus some cuts that Democrats oppose. Hardline conservatives who are typically weary of voting for these types of bills are expected to get behind it. House Democrats, meanwhile, are expected to near-unanimously oppose it.

"It will enable Donald Trump and Elon Musk to continue to cut the federal government," Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, the chairman of the House Democratic caucus, said of the GOP-drafted bill to fund the government for the next year. "House Democrats are voting no."

On both sides of the aisle, it's DOGE  and President Donald Trump's empowerment of the cost-cutting initiative  that's helping to change lawmakers' calculus.

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Republicans argue that even if they're unhappy with the level of spending dictated by the bill, Trump can assert the power of impoundment, essentially refusing to spend money that Congress approves. The administration is already doing some of this as part of DOGE, though those efforts might violate the law and are being challenged in court. More broadly, they're also arguing that funding the government is important to keep the lights on for DOGE to do its work.

Rep. Eric Burlison of Missouri told BI there's "no way" he would have supported the bill "without DOGE or Trump." Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina told BI that DOGE is a "huge" part of the reason he's getting behind the legislation. Both are Republicans who typically oppose these kinds of funding extensions.

While those arguments reassure Republicans, they've become fodder for Democrats to oppose the bill, given their objections to DOGE.

"They're being told that this allows them to do even more stealing from funds that Congress approved," Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin said of Republicans. "Every Democrat knows that this is just a chance to lose even more programs for our constituents."

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Furthermore, Democrats have argued that Musk and his lieutenants' blitz across the federal government  including shuttering agencies, choking off streams of federal funding, accessing sensitive systems, and firing federal workers  has amounted to a "partial government shutdown" already. By voting to fund the government under these conditions, Democrats would be giving up leverage.

The bill also doesn't include detailed instructions about how to spend the money, which would typically be the case if Congress were passing regular funding bills. Democrats argue the absence of those instructions will grant Trump even further latitude to reshape the federal government  and punish his opponents.

"It's just a handoff of power to President Trump to punish localities that he doesn't like and reward those he does," Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia told BI. "He is showing a willingness to use any tool at his disposal to go after those that he doesn't think are his friends or supporters. Virginia voted against him three times in presidential elections. I'm not going to give him a cudgel to beat us up."

Despite Democratic opposition, the bill may still become law. House Republicans are optimistic that they'll be able to pass the year-long funding patch before leaving town on Tuesday.

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That would leave the Senate little choice but to pass the bill or risk a shutdown. Due to the 60-vote filibuster rule, it will take the agreement of at least 7 Democrats to get it done.

"I think they've got enough senators to do this," Republican Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas told BI on Tuesday. "We're throwing it in their lap this evening. It's gonna pass there too."

Read the original article on Business Insider
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Amid efforts by the Trump administration to purge the federal workforce, a group of Democratic lawmakers in Washington state are voicing concerns that recent firings are devastating ahead of wildfire season in the Pacific Northwest.

According to the lawmakers, nearly 10% of the United States Forest Service workforce was impacted by recent federal firings, including roughly 260 workers across Washington and Oregon.

With many of those staffers holding wildland firefighting certifications, the lawmakers sent a letter on March 7, asking United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and United States Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz to reinstate federal employees who were part of the cuts, led by the Department of Government Efficiency.

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DONT MISS: Oregon USDA scientist fears chilling effect after Trump admin layoffs hit Hood River research facility

Amidst increasingly common extreme weather in the region, now is not the time to gut a workforce charged with wildland firefighting and mitigation for a quarter of the states lands, the lawmakers wrote. Without dedicated support staff, USFS risks losing critical functions like coordinating resources, managing incident command, and providing medical assistance. This compromises both the safety of those on the frontlines and their ability to defend nearby communities.

Members of the Democratic delegation behind the letter include, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Reps. Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Rick Larsen (WA-02), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), Emily Randall (WA-06), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Jim Schrier (WA-08), Adam Smith (WA-09) and Marilyn Strickland (WA-10).

The coalition said even though the Trump administration previously noted public safety positions would be exempt from the firings, the lawmakers are seeing reports that Forest Service staffers supporting wildfire mitigation and response were still terminated.

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Locals share mixed feelings on latest development in Oswego Lake access

Some USFS stations in Washington state are also seeing higher proportions of firings, the lawmakers said, including the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, where 46 USFS employees were terminated, along with at least 15 staffers working in the Gifford-Pinchot National Forest.

The lawmakers furthered that protecting Forest Service land is critical for Washington, noting, Outdoor recreation is the largest single use of National Forest lands, and USFS in Washington State maintains nearly 12,000 miles of trails and field over 7 million visits per year. Nearly $1 billion is spent annually in communities around the National Forests in Washington, benefiting local businesses as an economic driver of the region.

Two days before the lawmakers sent the letter, the Merit System Protection Board  which reviews firings of federal workers  ordered the USDA to reinstate thousands of employees who were cut by the Trump administration, as reported by Reuters.

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Oregon sees highest unemployment rate since 2021

The letter comes after Oregon Congresswoman Janelle Bynum led her House Democratic colleagues in a late February letter, warning the mass firings could cause catastrophic consequences ahead of wildfire season.

Concerns from lawmakers in the Pacific Northwest come after the USDA and the USFS published their annual wildfire summary of 2024, stating, In 2024, Oregon and Washington faced one of the most intense fire seasons on record, a testament to the compounded effects of extreme drought, severe lightning effects, and prolonged hot weather across the Pacific Northwest.

According to the summary, more than two million acres of land were scorched during the 2024 wildfire season, including more than 700,000 acres of national forest land.

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Officials with the USDA and USFS were not immediately available for comment. This story will be updated if we receive a response.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A federal judge has rejected the Trump administrations argument that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) does not have to respond to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Chief Legal Analyst Khalif Rhodes discusses the decision.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Former Olympian Ryan Wedding, a fugitive with a $10 million bounty on his head after he was charged in a federal indictment as the leader of a "sophisticated drug-trafficking organization," is capable of killing witnesses and informants who helped take down his empire, the government argued in a motion for a protective order.



Wedding, 43, has been on the run from the law since his operation's consiglieri Andrew Clark was busted in a coordinated raid by Mexican Navy Seals last fall and is believed to be living under the protective arm of the ultra-violent Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico. Last week the U.S. State Department announced it was offering a $10 million reward for information that could lead to his arrest.

Related: Rams Sign Veteran Free Agents Davante Adams and Poona Ford Ahead of 2025 Season

 The #FBI has named Ryan James Wedding to its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List. Wedding is wanted for his alleged involvement in a large-scale transnational drug trafficking operation and orchestrating multiple murders linked to his criminal enterprise: https://t.co/VD2Z9BLu5F pic.twitter.com/jV1796iMGu  FBI (@FBI) March 6, 2025

In a recent court filing in California's Central District, federal prosecutors argue that Wedding operated his underworld drug trafficking conspiracy while tied to some of the world's most dangerous co-conspirators, Hezbollah, ex-KGB agents, and associates of Joaquin "el Chapo" Guzman, the notorious cartel leader who was found guilty in the U.S. on a plethora of charges related to his own murderous network. Guzman famously used sicarios, or hit men was found guilty in a Brooklyn federal courtroom to what prosecutors called "hundreds of acts of violence in Mexico to enforce Sinaloas control of territories and to eliminate those who posed a threat to the Sinaloa Cartel."



Like Guzman, California prosecutors say, the one-time snowboarder for Team Canada and his buddy Clark also used hitmen to eliminate his competition in the drug trade and to wipe out anyone who crossed him, according to a motion for a protective order to protect the identities of anyone who worked with the government to take down "Operation Giant Shalom," the codename the Drug Enforcement Agent gave to the case that targeted Wedding and more than a dozen of his criminal compatriots.

Authorities dismantle the $1 billion cocaine empire led by former Olympian Ryan Wedding, with multiple arrests across the U.S., Mexico, and Colombia during Operation Giant Slalom.Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Justice

This is a complex case involving a sophisticated drug-trafficking organization, whose leaders have shown a callous disregard for human life...deploying hitmen to execute perceived rivals or enemies," prosecutors argued in a motion for a protective order.



Wedding and Clark, prosecutors say, are charged with four murders and one attempted murder between them. And while "Wedding is at large, presumably with the same access to encrypted means of communication and network of hitmen that enabled the charged murders," it is crucial to ensure the safety of cooperators by protecting their identities, prosecutors argued.

Related: Trump Claims "Rigged Election" During FIFA World Cup Announcement

The court agreed with prosecutors and issued an order that lays out a litany of rules designed to make sure Wedding and his codefendants do not gain access to "CI" or Confidential Informant, materials. "Each defendants defense counsel shall ensure that the defendant is never left alone with any CI Materials," the court ruled.



The court agreed with prosecutors and issued an order that lays out a litany of rules designed to make sure Wedding and his codefendants do not gain access to "CI" or Confidential Informant, materials. "Each defendants defense counsel shall ensure that the defendant is never left alone with any CI Materials," the court ruled.



Wedding's transnational drug trafficking operation, law enforcement officials say, "routinely shipped hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia, through Mexico and Southern California, to Canada, and other locations in the United States." The drugs were often secreted in stash houses in and around Los Angeles for shipment by long haul truckers to Canada.
While the avian flu has unquestionably driven up egg prices nationwide, the Justice Department is pondering whether anything else is at play.

ABC News reported the department is in the early stages of investigating major egg producers over soaring egg prices, based on the news organizations conversations with sources familiar with the issue.

The article added that the investigation is being run out of the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department and wont necessarily lead to any legal action.

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The New York Times also reported that the department is in early stages of an investigation over possible antitrust violations, quoting sources familiar with the issue.

The departments lawyers are preparing to send civil investigative demands  effectively subpoenas for civil investigations  to several producers, including CalMaine Foods and Rose Acre Farms, one of the people said, per the article. Investigators are looking at whether the companies are sharing sensitive information about pricing and supply, contributing to a spike in prices."

The Times said the DOJs spokeswoman declined to comment, as did the two egg producers.

According to The Wall Street Journal , The department sent a letter to some egg companies that instructed them to preserve documents about their pricing conversations with customers and competitors, as well as communications with Urner Barry  which is now called Expana and tracks wholesale egg-price information, some of the people familiar with the matter said. The letter also signaled the department was interested in company communications about egg production and bird flu.

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The Capitol Forum , an antitrust trade publication, broke the story of the probe.

The U.S. Department of Justice building is seen in Washington, Dec. 7, 2024. | Jose Luis Magana

Prices up, up and away

As Deseret News has reported, egg prices have blown up over the last year, with some shoppers paying close to $10 a dozen.

A market report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported last Friday that prices have dropped some recently: Prices for national trading of trucklot quantities of graded, loose, white large shell eggs decreased $1.20 to $6.85 per dozen with a sharply lower undertone.

The USDA report noted that demand for shell eggs continues to fade into the new month as no significant outbreaks of (highly pathogenic avian influenza) have been detected in nearly two weeks.

Egg industry refutes claims

Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board, told ABC News that price gouging suspicion is a misreading of facts and reality. She said the market is responding to the uncertainty and chaos bird flu is causing. Eggs are subject to the economic laws of supply and demand.

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Since avian influenza outbreaks have hit poultry farms and production plants, millions of hens have been culled, severely reducing the supply of eggs being laid. United Egg Producers, the industrys trade association, reported that more than 50 million egg-laying hens were killed in 2024 and another 31 million were killed in January and February of this year as the virus spread.

Group CEO Chad Gregory, the groups chief executive, said in a statement that the legally required recovery process could exceed a year.

Calls for an investigation

In late January, a group of Democratic lawmakers wrote to President Donald Trump to ask about plans to lower the price of food, something he promised on the campaign trail to make more affordable.

The letter asked that he look at dominant food and grocery companies that make record profits on the backs of working families who have had to pay higher prices. These companies often exploit crises like pandemics and avian flu outbreaks as an opportunity to raise prices beyond what is needed to cover rising costs.

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The letter suggested that egg producers and grocery stores could leverage the current avian flu outbreak as an opportunity to further constrain supply or hike up egg prices to increase profits.

The Times article noted that advocacy groups had also called for an investigation, noting that while 15% of egg-laying chickens have been killed in the last four months, wholesale egg prices rose 255%, based on data from Expana, which tracks the price of eggs.

The five largest producers, including Cal-Maine and Rose Acre, control roughly half of the egg market in the United States. Cal-Maine, which is publicly traded and controls about a fifth of the market, reported an 82% jump in revenues for the quarter that ended in late November, to $954 million from $523 million a year earlier. The surge was primarily driven by an increase in the net average selling price of shell eggs as well as an increase in total dozens sold, the company said. But others say the industry may be limiting supplies, forcing prices higher.

Farm Action, an antitrust trade group, is among those calling for a look at whats driving prices and lauded news the DOJ is looking into the issue.

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We applaud the Department of Justices action to address the skyrocketing price of eggs. Every American has felt the financial pain caused by the power of the monopolistic egg industry, Farm Action president and CEO Joe Maxwell said in a statement. While avian flu is real, it is no excuse for the price being charged at the grocery store for one of the countrys staples.

But as the Times reported, its not the first time questions have been raised about egg producers. In 2011, major food companies sued the biggest egg producers, claiming they teamed up to increase prices  and a jury agreed, ordering $17.7 million in damages.
The Trump administration dismissed a Justice Department lawyer after she refused a request to restore gun rights to Hollywood actor and Donald Trump ally Mel Gibson, according to a report.

DOJ pardon attorney Elizabeth G. Oyer said she was tapped two weeks ago to join a working group reviewing cases of individuals with past convictions who could be eligible to have their gun rights restored.

After narrowing down the candidates to nine people with old convictions and a low risk of recidivism, Oyer said senior Justice Department officials asked her to add Gibson to the list, despite his 2011 misdemeanor conviction for domestic violence.

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Giving guns back to domestic abusers is a serious matter that, in my view, is not something that I could recommend lightly, because there are real consequences that flow from people who have a history of domestic violence being in possession of firearms, Oyer told The New York Times.

He then essentially explained to me that Mel Gibson has a personal relationship with President Trump and that should be sufficient basis for me to make a recommendation and that I would be wise to make the recommendation, she said a senior official told her about the recommendation.

Gibson, along with actors Sylvester Stallone and Jon Voight, was tapped by the Trump administration in January to serve as a special ambassador to Hollywood.

Elizabeth Oyer (Department of Justice)

Oyer continued to insist that Gibson, who had faced a previous scandal in 2006 for being pulled over on suspicion of a DUI and berating a police officer with antisemitic comments, was a poor fit for firearms access under regular DOJ standards.

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By Friday, she said she was dismissed from the department, along with other career employees.

A State Department official told The Independent the Gibson case had no bearing on the dismissal.

The Trump administration has fired numerous Justice Department personnel since taking office, including officials who worked on the federal criminal investigations into Trump.

It has also punished law firms that assisted special counsel Jack Smith in his investigation of Trump, stripping their security clearances.
A Justice Department official says she was fired for not letting convicted domestic abuser Mel Gibson have a gun, according to The New York Times.

Pardon attorney Liz Oyer told the Times that two weeks ago she was placed on a team working to restore gun rights to individuals with criminal convictions, as many on the right argue that the ban is too restrictive and not specific enough toward each case. Oyer did the work, culling 95 eligible candidates down to nine, and turned her list in. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told her to add one more name to the list: Mel Gibson.

They sent it back to me saying, We would like you to add Mel Gibson to this memo, she said. She also noted a letter from Gibsons lawyer to acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove that noted Donald Trumps recent appointment of Gibson as a Hollywood ambassador, as well as his general fame.

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Federal law prohibits people convicted of crimes like misdemeanor state domestic violence from buying or owning a handgun.

Giving guns back to domestic abusers is a serious matter that, in my view, is not something that I could recommend lightly, because there are real consequences that flow from people who have a history of domestic violence being in possession of firearms, Oyer said.

Oyer was also aware of the antisemitic outburst Gibson allegedly spewed toward a cop who pulled him over for a suspected DUI in 2006. Gibson denies he used any discriminatory language.

Oyer refused to add Gibson to the list, and was then asked if her position was flexible. She said it was not.

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He then essentially explained to me that Mel Gibson has a personal relationship with President Trump and that should be sufficient basis for me to make a recommendation and that I would be wise to make the recommendation, she said. I literally did not sleep a wink that night because I understood that the position I was in was one that was going to either require me to compromise my strongly held views and ethics or would likely result in me losing my ability to participate in these conversations going forward.

The next morning, Oyer was called to her office and met with security guards instructing her to leave the premises. She was fired for upholding her principles instead of doing a skeevy favor for one of the presidents buddies.

There has been no update from the Justice Department on the gun rights restoration list.


On Saturday night, actor and Donald Trump Hollywood ambassador Mel Gibson sat next to FBI Director Kash Patel at a UFC event in Las Vegas. The pair fist bumped and posed together for photographs. Just a day before the encounter, a Justice Department pardon attorney was summarily fired after refusing to restore Gibsons gun rights, which the actor lost in 2011 after being convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence.

According to a Tuesday report from The New York Times, Elizabeth G. Oyer was dismissed without explanation on Friday alongside several other high-ranking DOJ officials. The notice came hours after Oyer declined to add Gibsons name to a memo listing individuals the DOJ would consider as candidates to have their gun rights restored.

Oyer said she had been pressured to include Gibson in the memo despite the actor not having undergone reviews other candidates had been subjected to. She recounted to the Times that an official in Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanches office called her and essentially explained to me that Mel Gibson has a personal relationship with President Trump and that should be sufficient basis for me to make a recommendation and that I would be wise to make the recommendation.

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The conversation, which Oyer says turned condescending as she explained her position, led her to agonize over the decision. On Friday morning, she reaffirmed her opposition to the restoration of Gibsons gun rights in a DOJ memo. Within hours, Oyer says she was called into her office, where two security officers handed her a termination notice and escorted her out of the building.

Giving guns back to domestic abusers is a serious matter that, in my view, is not something that I could recommend lightly, because there are real consequences that flow from people who have a history of domestic violence being in possession of firearms, Oyer told the Times.

Oyer is not the only DOJ official who has found themselves holding a pink slip  or resigning themselves  after refusing to acquiesce to loyalty tests from Trumps underlings. In one of the first acts of his administration, the president ordered the dismissal of dozens of prosecutors who worked cases against Jan. 6 rioters. In February, U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon chose to resign rather than acquiesce to an order that she drop criminal charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who has developed a cozy relationship with Trump.

Its clear at this point that under the Trump administration, a refusal to pull strings for the presidents friends and political allies is a fast track to unemployment, laws and ethics be damned.

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A top official leading the Justice Department's Office of the Pardon Attorney said she was fired from her post one day after refusing to recommend that actor Mel Gibson's access to firearms be restored, according to a new interview and a statement provided to ABC News on Tuesday.

In an interview with the New York Times, pardon attorney Elizabeth Oyer said the request to add Gibson's name to a memo of people who should have their gun rights restored came at the last minute, after attorneys for Gibson had written directly to senior DOJ officials citing a recent special appointment he had received from President Donald Trump.

After she refused, Oyer said she received a call from a senior official in Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche's office who repeatedly pressed her to reconsider, citing Gibson's close personal relationship with Trump.

PHOTO: Mel Gibson attends the Los Angeles Special Preview Screening of 'Monster Summer' at Directors Guild Of America on September 24, 2024 in Los Angeles. (Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)

MORE: Supreme Court battle spotlights guns trafficked from US into Mexico

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On Friday, Oyer posted on LinkedIn a termination letter from Blanche, which did not include any justification for her firing.

"Unfortunately, experienced professionals throughout the Department are afraid to voice their opinions because dissent is being punished," Oyer said in a statement to ABC News. "Decisions are being made based on relationships and loyalty, not based on facts or expertise or sound analysis, which is very alarming given what is at stake is our public safety."

A DOJ official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, disputed Oyer's account, telling ABC News the spat over Gibson's gun rights was not a factor in removal.

Gibson's access to guns is prohibited due to a 2011 "no contest" plea he entered to a misdemeanor charge of battering his former girlfriend.

PHOTO: The logo for the Justice Department is seen before a news conference at the Department of Justice, Aug. 23, 2024, in Washington. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

MORE: Federal prosecutors who investigated Eric Adams put on leave by Justice Department: Sources

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Oyer, who has led the Office of the Pardon Attorney since 2022, told the New York Times she was recently put on a working group tasked with assembling a list of candidates who could have their gun rights restored. After assembling a list that was then circulated to Blanche's office, she was instructed to add Gibson's name, a development that she said was troubling.

"Giving guns back to domestic abusers is a serious matter that, in my view, is not something that I could recommend lightly because there are real consequences that flow from people who have a history of domestic violence being in possession of firearms," Oyer said.

It is not clear whether the recommendation will move forward now that Oyer has been removed. Gibson notably was seen just this weekend alongside FBI Director Kash Patel attending a UFC fight in Las Vegas.

A representative for Gibson did not respond to a request for comment.

DOJ pardon attorney says she was removed after dispute over Mel Gibson's gun rights originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
MANILA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte arrived at the Villamor Air Base in the Philippine capital on Tuesday night but failed to see her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who has been aboard a jet bound for the Netherlands.

The vice president spoke to reporters at the air base while the plane was waiting to take off more than one hour after the ex-president boarded the chartered plane.

Sara Duterte earlier said in a statement that her detained father was "forcibly taken to The Hague," hours after the former Philippine leader was detained at Manila airport after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest related to his "war on drugs" campaign.

Sara's younger sister, Veronica, also said in a social media post that "They took my dad from us, put him on a plane, and wouldn't say where to." 
DLani Sweeney joins NewsNation to discuss the disappearance of 20-year-old Sudiksha Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh student who vanished nearly five days ago while on spring break in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Konanki was last seen leaving a hotel bar with friends before heading to the beach. While most of the group later left, she stayed behind with a man  who eventually left without her. Sweeney, who was at the same resort that day, says the waves were dangerously high and has video evidence to support her claim.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
LEESBURG, Va. (DC News Now)  The search for a Loudoun County woman missing in the Dominican Republic intensified Monday, with the Loudoun County Sheriffs Office (LCSO) encouraging anyone with information to come forward.

Sudiksha Konanki has not been seen since Thursday morning after walking along a hotel beach in Punta Cana.

The 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student had been there on vacation with friends.

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LCSO issued a statement Monday afternoon, saying in part:

The ongoing investigation includes wide-ranging search efforts, along with a review of surveillance video and telephone records. Interviews are also continuing with anyone who may have seen or been with Konanki before she went missing. The LCSO has filed for a Yellow Notice (worldwide police alert for a missing person) to be issued by INTERPOL.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Authorities search for Virginia woman reported missing in Dominican Republic

As theories swirl around online about her disappearance, the sheriffs office is encouraging the community to wait for the results of the investigation.

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There has been considerable public speculation about what may have happened to Konanki and who may be involved. We caution anyone from drawing any unsubstantiated conclusions and are committed to ensuring that a thorough investigation is conducted before any conclusions are reached, said LCSO in a statement.

Konankis neighbors told DC News Now that she grew up in the quiet community of South Riding. Several neighbors described her as a sweet young lady.

As a parent, I was really really, shocked, I put myself in their shoes. I dont know what they must be going through, said neighbor Neelesh Sahay. I hope they find her. If they need anything, they can always knock. We dont know each other, but were still neighbors.

Snout or never: Stafford County deputy helps 400-pound pig give birth

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Meanwhile, new updates and photos from Dominican search crews on Monday showed them using a K-9 to look for the 20-year-old.

Everybody has been out there. The civil defense people, helicopters, boats, drones, you name it. Theyre out there searching like crazy, said LCSO Sheriff Mike Chapman in an interview with DC News Now Monday afternoon.

Chapman says his office is helping from afar and federal authorities are helping, too.

Theyre working with the Dominican authorities to try to get to the bottom of this, helping with the interviews. Were trying to work and see what we can do to get the technology and information that we need for phone calls, phone messages, text messages, just different numbers and stuff like that, said Chapman.

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Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.) is also in touch with her family and friends, saying hes pushing for even more resources for her case.

Everyones involved and engaged because the more people that are engaged, the more thorough the investigation, the better the outcome, said Subramanyam in an interview.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BELGRADE (Reuters) - Donald Trump Jr, the eldest son of the U.S. president, met Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade on Tuesday, Vucic said in a post on Instagram.

In the post, Vucic, who has repeatedly backed the policies of the current U.S. administration, said he and Trump Jr discussed relations between Serbia and the United States.

"I emphasized the importance of economic and political relations between Serbia and the U.S. and the importance of strategic cooperation between the two countries and joint projects in the coming years," Vucic said.

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The visit comes as Serbia tries to balance seeking support from the United States and other Western powers to join the EU with its ties with Russia, its historical ally, and China, a major investor in infrastructure, mining and energy.

The visit follows a deal last year between the Serbian government and Jared Kushners U.S.-based investment firm, Affinity Global Development, to build a hotel on the site of the former headquarters of the Yugoslav Peoples Army that was damaged during a 1999 NATO bombing campaign against the former Yugoslavia.

Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and a senior aide to him during his first term, founded the investment firm after leaving his White House role in 2021.

(Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic; Editing by Alison Williams)
Donald Trump  once a fierce critic of electric vehicles  claimed in a late-night Truth Social post on Monday that hes going to buy a brand-new Tesla on Tuesday morning.

It will be a show of solidarity with top ally Elon Musk, who owns the electric vehicle manufacturer, the president said.

Teslas stock price has plunged, sales have fallen, and its stores and vehicles have been attacked amid growing anger over billionaire Musks role in the chaotic gutting of federal spending and jobs via the so-called Department of Government Efficiency since Trumps return to the White House.

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Musk is putting it on the line in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! claimed Trump.

But the Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the Worlds great automakers, and Elons baby, in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for, he added.

Truth Social

Trump did not explain exactly how not buying Teslas is illegal.

They tried to do it to me at the 2024 Presidential Ballot Box, but how did that work out? Trump asked, using a weird turn of phrase to boast about his narrow election victory over Democratic rival Kamala Harris.

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In any event, Im going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American, the president promised. Why should he be punished for putting his tremendous skills to work in order to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN???

Also on Monday night, Fox News Sean Hannity  another top ally of Trump  revealed hed picked out a model of Tesla to buy after test-driving one owned by a friend. Maybe its just a gesture on my part, the anchor admitted.

Fox News' Sean Hannity just bought a @Tesla Model S Plaid.



While a single person buying an EV typically wouldn't be news, this is coming from a guy on a network that has historically talked negatively about EVs. An average of 3.5 million people watch Hannity every night. He pic.twitter.com/AgN3jrVeFN  Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) March 11, 2025

Related...
DOTHAN, Ala. (WDHN)  Dothan City Schools is looking for its next district superintendent.

Dr. Dennis Coe, the current superintendent, will not be coming back at the end of the school year.

As the district looks for its next leading face, there could be changes in the requirements for applicants.

Board members have tossed the idea around of requiring applicants to have a doctorate degree, which would make the district the only one in Alabama to have this requirement.

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A few board members think that we need to add a doctorate, and I believe experience in another system. Some of us dont see that as being necessary, said DCS Chairman Scott Childers.

In the state of Alabama, a superintendent must have a four-year college degree and no less than five years in public school work, three of those being a teacher, principal, or administrator.

Childers says the wishes of some board members will make for a tough conversation during Tuesdays special called meeting.

If we narrow down our search, we are eliminating someone who could be the best superintendent ever. We are going to get a pool of candidates, why cant we just narrow it down then, said Childers.

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While all seven board members may not agree on the possible new job requirements, Childers says they do have an idea of what they are looking for.

What you need in education is someone who cares about schools, teachers, and kids. We dont need a politician or too much experience where you have been disconnected from the classroom. The purity of education needs the purity of a person.

In order for the DCS board to make changes to the job requirements, four of the seven members will have to vote yes.

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The Commission on Salaries on Thursday will consider finalizing recommendations that would give the governor a series of pay raises totaling 27 % until mid-2030, in addition to 44 % overall pay increases for state legislators over the next five years.

State judges would see their salaries jump a total of 32 % through 2030.

The commissions consideration of raises for state officials follows earlier salary recommendations for city officials that set off a political firestorm, followed by overwhelming pushback from Honolulu voters.

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In 2023 the City Council received 64 % pay raises, as recommended by the citys Salary Commission, that increased Council salaries to $113, 304, up from $68, 904. Three Council members refused their raises.

The commission is chaired by Colleen Hana busa, a former state Senate president, former member of Congress and current chair of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation.

The commissions much smaller raise of nearly 12.6 % for Mayor Rick Blangiardi in 2023 gave Blangiardi a larger salary than Gov. Josh Green, who earns $189, 480.

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In January the commission had been considering that Hawaiis governor receive a 61 % pay raise over six years, in part to put the governors salary on par with the Honolulu mayors.

On Jan. 30, however, Greens Chief of Staff Brooke Wilson testified before the commission that Green was not concerned with catching up to the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu,  according to a summary of the commissions salary recommendations presented to the commission last week.

Wilson, the commission was told at its March 3 meeting, said Green believed that a raise of 35 % to 40 % may be appropriate for the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor. The Governor referenced a value package that they receive. The Lieutenant Governor has a driver ; and the Governor has a home, driver and food allowance.

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In a text to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Monday, Green wrote, Initial proposals for large salary increases over 6 years didnt seem right and didnt sit well with me, so I thank the commission for considering my input and reducing the proposed raises, given the everyday struggles of our working people to make ends meet. Still, given any significant increases in salary for the Office of the Governor, Jaime and I plan to increase our charitable giving to childrens hunger programs, programs for the homeless and other nonprofits that serve our most vulnerable residents.

The proposed raises for Hawaiis executive and legislative branchesalong with the judicial branchcome as both Green and state legislators maintain that they are committed to lowering the cost of living, especially for Hawaiis working-and lower-class families, who continue to relocate to states with lower costs of living.

In 2024 the state Legislature passedand Green signed into lawhistoric tax breaks over the next six years that began in January, among ongoing efforts to lower costs and leave more money in residents pockets.

The commissions latest state salary recommendations also include raises for the governors Cabinet members, who lead state departments, and their deputies.

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Tier 1  directors are paid $188, 400, and their deputies earn $173, 316. Tier 2  directors earn $179, 436 and their deputies make $165, 048.

According to the Salary Commissions pay recommendations for Hawaiis executive branch, Executives in the public service invariably work extended hours ; participate in community service events, forums and meetings ; be accessible on a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week basis for emergency situations ; and exercise effective leadership in addressing emergency and crisis situations. Many could easily secure higher paying jobs in the private sector but instead chose to take on these high impact, high profile, demanding and time-limited jobs because of their commitment to public service. It was also noted by the Commission that directors and deputy directors are generally at the top of their professions, often with graduate degrees (including JDs, MDs, Masters, PhDs in various fields ) and several years of specialized experience qualifying them for the positions. Because of these reasons, it can be very difficult to attract and recruit for director and deputy director positions.

For the executive branch the biggest pay raise15 %would kick in July 1 for Green, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, state directors and their deputies.

For each of the next three years, their salaries would jump 4 % through 2030 for total raises of 27 % over five years.

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State legislators would not receive raises for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

In 2026, Green, Luke, all 51 House members and 13 of the 25-member state Senate seats are up for election.

But legislators would then see a 32 % pay hike beginning Jan. 1 2027.

They would also get 4 % annual raises for each of 2028, 2029 and 2030 for a total of 44 % over three years.

The House speaker and Senate president would see their salaries jump to $128, 052 by 2030. Legislators would earn $114, 348 in 2030.

In a statement to the Star-Advertiser, House Speaker Nadine Nakamura said, The House appreciated the opportunity to provide testimony to the Salary Commission and recognize its members for their dedication and thorough work in developing their recommendations. Once their recommendations are finalized, we will carefully review them. While the legislative session lasts 60 days, lawmakers serve their communities year-round in a full-time capacity. The Salary Commissions review is critical to ensuring that salaries of the Legislature, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Department Heads, and Judges appropriately reflect the scope and demands of their responsibilities.

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In 2023, after six of the nine Honolulu Council members accepted their 64 % pay increases, the Council rejected a subsequent 3 % raise in 2024, an election year.

Honolulu voters responded at the ballot box anyway in 2024 by capping future Council pay raises at 5 % annually through a City Charter amendment.

The amendment also requires any future Council salary increases to equal the average of the most recent annual salary changes for the citys various collective bargaining units.

And voters stripped the Councils authority to vote on its own raises.

An astounding 90.3 % of voters approved the amendments to the City Charter.

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Should the commission adopt its proposed raises for all three branches of state government Thursday, as expected, legislators still have the ability to reject them.

By law the Legislature can turn down the Salary Commissions annual pay recommendations before the end of each legislative session by a simple majority vote in both the House and Senate.

The first opportunity will come this year if the Legislature decides to hold a voteand votebefore it adjourns May 2.

If not, the commissions recommendations go into effect when each new fiscal year begins, starting July 1.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford fired back at President Trump following his latest vow to double tariffs on steel and aluminum, saying during an interview that Canada will not back down and called on the commander in chief to shift his focus on China instead of the U.S.s northern neighbor.

We will not back down. We will be relentless. I apologize to the American people that President Trump decided to have an unprovoked attack on our country, on families, on jobs, and its unacceptable. Lets work together. Lets get to the table if he has issues, and lets sort this out, Ford said during his Tuesday appearance on MSNBC.

Ford warned that if the tariff war between Washington and Ottawa continues, factories in the U.S. could face shutdowns. The Ontario premier also urged Americans and business executives to speak out against the recent levies.

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You see the market tumbling. Consumer confidence is down, and if it continues on with this, the assembly plants in Michigan will shut down, and around the country, whoever makes autos as well as businesses, they are going to hurt and these pensions  when the market goes down, its going to affect peoples pensions, so I am not too sure why he continues to attack his closest friends and allies, Ford said Tuesday.

But we need the American people to speak up, we need the CEOs to actually get a backbone and stand in front of him and tell him that this is going to be a disaster, the premier added.

Trump said Tuesday that he was doubling planned tariffs on Canadas steel and aluminum  from 25 percent to 50 percent  after Ontarios government imposed an electricity surcharge a day earlier, affecting three U.S. states.

The commander in chief threatened to slap more levies against Ottawa, with his administration planning to implement reciprocal tariffs starting on April 2 on all nations that have a tax on U.S. goods. That would include an additional levy on cars, which the president said will essentially, permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada.

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Ontario said that a 25 percent surcharge on electricity exports will start Monday, affecting Michigan, New York and Minnesota. The additional tax will impact about 1.5 million homes and businesses and cost up to $400,000 per day.

Ford said Tuesday that the tariff back-and-forth will hurt U.S. manufacturing.

You need the aluminum. You need our high-grade nickel, and I want to send more high-grade nickel. You need our electricity. You need the 4.3 million barrels of oil that gets shipped down. I want to  I want to make sure we build an Am-Can fortress, Ford stated, adding that fighting like this does not make sense, but I will respond appropriately.  Stay tuned.

Trump appeared to dismiss Ontarios recent electricity surcharge, contending Canada is a tariff abuser and that Washington will get its money back once the reciprocal levies kick into effect on April 2.

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Because our Tariffs are reciprocal, well just get it all back on April 2. Canada is a Tariff abuser, and always has been, but the United States is not going to be subsidizing Canada any longer, Trump wrote Monday night on Truth Social. We dont need your Cars, we dont need your Lumber, we dont your Energy, and very soon, you will find that out. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!

If both North American countries plunge into a recession, only Trump should be blamed, Ford said. He also said the two sides should resolve the trade seesaw through talks, as the prolonged fight will end up harming both American and Canadian families.

And its not just American and Canadian. Its going to affect the whole world. While China is ramping up for the last 10 years, as weve all been sleeping, theyre taking over the critical mineral sector in the entire world, Ford told MSNBCs Ana Cabrera.

But theres one area that has more critical minerals than anywhere in the world  thats Ontario, and I want to make sure it goes to our closest friends and allies and protect America and Canada, he added.

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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  A bill that would give Johnson City the power to set its own alcohol sales times in the downtown district progressed toward becoming law on Tuesday.

The Tennessee Department and Agencies Subcommittee met on Tuesday morning and heard from state Rep. Rebecca Alexander, who filed a caption bill with state Sen. Rusty Crowe. After the Johnson City Commission unanimously approved a resolution asking for state lawmakers to file the legislation in February, the bill was amended.

Amended bill would give Johnson City power to set alcohol sale hours

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The amended bill would give the Johnson City Commission the ability to set its own hours of alcohol sales in the downtown district separate from the states standard last call time of 3 a.m.

Alexander echoed the safety concerns of city leaders on Tuesday with Johnson City City Manager Cathy Ball and Mayor John Hunter in attendance. She told the subcommittee the bill would designate downtown Johnson City as a premiere tourist location, allowing the city to control the drink sale hours.

There has been an increase in criminal activity and public disturbances, including shootings, in the downtown district over the last few years related to alcohol consumption and late hours, Alexander said. The city is looking for a way to protect public safety and have more local control.

JC Commission asks for state legislation that would allow alcohol sale hours change

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According to Alexander, data shows higher rates of crime between 1-4 a.m. in downtown Johnson City. Echoing statistics used by Ball at a February commission meeting, Alexander said Johnson Citys police resources are being disproportionately assigned to the downtown district and leaving much of the city improperly patrolled.

Johnson City is the ninth-fastest growing city in the State of Tennessee, Alexander said. Keeping the downtown area thriving is essential to long-term city planning to allow more residents and neighborhood environments downtown. Violence and crimes in the middle of the night are detrimental to our goal.

Alexander pointed to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge as other successful tourist destinations with different alcohol sale hours than the states standard.

Johnson City mayor talks next steps for alcohol sale hours resolution

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None of the eight members of the subcommittee had any questions for Alexander regarding the amended bill. It passed the subcommittee with a unanimous vote and will be taken up by the House Local Government Committee.

When the Johnson City Commission took up the matter in February, multiple downtown business owners and employees attended the meeting to voice their opposition.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A safety report highlights Nashvilles plan to improve safety along the Cumberland River just over a year after the disappearance of Missouri University student Riley Strain.

Since Strains disappearance, there has been an emphasis by Metro Councilmembers and Nashvilles mayor to improve safety both downtown and along the riverfront.

Read the safety report here

[The report] talks about security and lighting and fencing and riverfront safety and cleanliness, Metro Councilmember Jacob Kupin, whose district covers both sides of the downtown riverfront, told News 2.

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Strain, 22, accidentally fell into the Cumberland River in March 2024. He drowned after a night of drinking on Broadway with his fraternity brothers. The report added that between January and December 2024, the Nashville Fire Department responded to 47 water and ice-related rescue calls in the area.

Riley really caught the hearts of the nation, Kupin said. He was someone that could have been anybody  downtown with some buddies in the evening, drinking [and] having a good time. The ending, obviously, was fatal.

Kupin said Metro Council has already allocated $1.5 million toward riverfront safety improvements as part of the Capital Spending Plan. The report breaks down four primary focus areas  safety infrastructure, litter management, unhoused population support and security coverage  and provides policy recommendations to make the riverfront safer.

Planning is underway for type of fencing and locations and cutting back vegetation  things like that, Kupin said. Theres additional trash cleanup and remediation thats going on.

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However, the report highlighted the additional long-term work that needs to be done. The installation of a consistent, permanent barrier along the riverbank, the installation of advanced camera systems and the implementation of a comprehensive vegetation management plan to address yearly maintenance and prevent trees from falling onto the barriers.

Riley Strain Continuing Coverage | The latest in the case of the Missouri student

The recommendations presented in this report provide a roadmap for both immediate and long-term improvements, ensuring that the riverfront will be a safer, more accessible, and cleaner space for residents and visitors alike, the report said.

As part of those longer-term efforts, the report highlighted partnerships between agencies like the Nashville Department of Transportation and Nashville Electric Service to install new LED streetlights and pedestrian lighting fixtures along the riverfront. As for camera system improvements, the report noted that any implementation of advanced video analytics for real-time security monitoring may require Council approval and a public hearing.

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A woman watches the news about former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in Quezon City, the Philippines, March 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)

MANILA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos confirmed that a chartered jet carrying former President Rodrigo Duterte to the Netherlands took off on Tuesday night.

The plane is en route to The Hague in the Netherlands, Marcos told a press conference shortly after the plane exited Philippine airspace.

Marcos said that Duterte was earlier placed in government custody at Villamor Air Base in the Philippine capital after Duterte returned to Manila on Tuesday morning.

Duterte was detained on Tuesday morning on an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over his "war on drugs" campaign, a move that Duterte questioned.

On Tuesday night, Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte arrived at the Villamor Air Base but failed to see her father. 
At least 60 colleges and universities received warnings from the Department of Education to follow their obligation to protect Jewish students on campus or face repercussions, just days after the Trump administration revoked $400 million in grants and contracts to Columbia University for what they call a failure to combat antisemitism on campus.

Newly appointed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon sent a letter to 60 schools on Monday, some being the site of contentious pro-Palestinian protests last year, warning them of financial actions should they fail to follow President Donald Trumps executive order to combat antisemitism.

U.S. colleges and universities benefit from enormous public investments funded by U.S. taxpayers, McMahon wrote in a statement. That support is a privilege, and it is contingent on scrupulous adherence to federal anti-discrimination laws.

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Six of the eight Ivy League Universities, including Columbia University, were mentioned on the list. Trumps alma matter, the University of Pennsylvania, was not.

Colleges and universities that became the site of pro-Palestinian protests last year have been warned to protect Jewish students or face repercussions from the Department of Education (Getty Images)

The letter to the schools arrived after immigration enforcement agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate who led a Palestinian advocacy group at the school last year. Khalil, a Palestinian refugee, is a green card holder who studied at Columbia on a student visa. Khalil and other members of the Columbia University Apartheid Divest rejected claims of anti-Semitism. However, the group at times has voiced support for the leaders of terrorist-designated Hamas and Hezbollah.

Trumps executive order, issued in January, directs the Department of Justice to prosecute what it considers to be threatening actions against American Jews and calls for the removal of aliens who carry out the activity.

It was enacted following the surge of pro-Palestinian protests on campuses last year as Israel carried out a war in Gaza in retaliation for the October 7 Hamas attack that left 1,200 dead.

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Student protesters across the nation called for the U.S. government to withdraw its military support for Israel and demanded their schools divest from investments tied to support for Israel. But the movement sparked concerns for the safety of Jewish students as reports emerged of antisemitic behavior.

Linda McMahon, the Department of Education Secretary, warned 60 colleges and universities of the repercussions of failing to protect Jewish students on campus (Getty Images)

The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year, McMahon wrote in her letter. University leaders must do better.

Since taking office, the Trump administration has taken more aggressive action to hold campuses accountable for antisemitism.

So far, theyve launched investigations into at least five universities and revoked $400 million in grants and loans from Columbia University, where pro-Palestinian protests resulted in mass arrests after protestors refused to vacate part of the campus.
(KRON)  The Bay Area health official who issued the first COVID-19 stay-at-home order in the nation is stepping down next month. Dr. Sara Cody, the County of Santa Claras Health Officer and Director of Public Health, will retire in April, after more than 25 years in public health.

Cody issued the first stay-at-home order in the U.S. in March of 2020. The announcement of her retirement comes on the five-year anniversary of COVID-19 being declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization.

Waymo rolls out service to parts of Silicon Valley through Waymo One

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Serving the community in this role has been an extraordinary privilege, and I am grateful for the support and guidance Ive received along the way, from community members, staff, and county leaders, Cody said. Now is the right time to pass the baton to the next set of public health leaders. I know the Department and the County will continue to make thoughtful public health decisions and support the critical work that so many across the county rely on every day.

When Cody issued Santa Claras stay-at-home order nearly five years ago, Santa Clara was the hardest hit county by the virus in the Bay Area with 20 deaths.

Codys early action, along with those of her Bay Area peers, helped the region maintain one of the nations lowest death rates during the pandemic, according to a statement from the county. When the COVID-19 crisis reached 1 million deaths nationally, the COVID-19 death rate in the Bay Area ranked lower than all but two U.S. states, the county said. Under Dr. Codys leadership, Santa Clara County also became the second most vaccinated large county in the country.

Cody first joined the Santa Clara County Public Health Department in 1998.

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A fundraiser will be held later in March for a Kern County firefighter who is battling cancer.

In December 2023, 22-year-old Randy Raymond was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

A year later, doctors said it had spread to the lymph nodes in his abdomen and neck. Raymond is undergoing chemotherapy and is receiving a lot of support from other firefighters.

Kern County Supervisors were not informed of ongoing EBT theft by District Attorneys office

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On March 21, a drive-thru pancake fundraiser will be held in downtown Bakersfield, with 100% of the proceeds going to Randy Raymond. The fundraiser is set to run from 6 a.m. until 10 a.m., at 2020 G St.

You can reserve a plate for $5 using the groups Venmo. All check donations can be made payable to Kern County Firefighters Welfare & Benefit Association or KCFFWBA. For large orders, you can call 661-241-3889.

Donate to Randy Raymond by clicking here.

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Mar. 10A Bellbrook woman was found guilty of causing a crash in May 2023 that killed two young Springboro High School graduates, Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell announced Monday.

Mary Ellen Huelsman, 59, was convicted by Warren County Common Pleas Judge Timothy Tepe of two counts each of aggravated vehicular homicide and vehicular homicide following a four-day bench trial, or trial by judge.

The crash victims were identified as 20-year-old Michael Todd Barch Jr. of Clearcreek Twp. and 19-year-old Karys Rose Seipel of Springboro. Barch was a 2021 Springboro grad who had just completed his second year at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, and Seipel was a 2022 Springboro grad who just finished her freshman year at Miami University in Oxford, according to their obituaries and the prosecutor's office.

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The crash happened around 11:35 p.m. May 20, 2023, at the intersection of Ohio 48 and Lytle-Five Points Road.

Huelsman was traveling at 107 mph when she ran a red light in a 2022 Kia Telluride and struck a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu driven by Barch that was headed west on Lytle-Five Points Road. The impact forced both vehicles to go off the side of the road. The Chevrolet was pushed 250 feet into a telephone pole, where it caught fire, according to a report filed by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Barch and his passenger, Seipel, were pronounced dead at the scene.

"Our office handles many homicide cases, but as a parent of children basically the same age, this tragedy hits particularly close to home," said Fornshell. "It's infuriating that because of Huelsman's reckless decision that night, a young man and a young woman with tremendously bright futures did not return home to the families that loved them so much."

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Huelsman suffered serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to Kettering Health Main Campus, the report stated.

In convicting Huelsman of the charges, Tepe rejected the defense's claim that Huelsman was not guilty by reason of insanity, the prosecutor's office said.

She faces up to 10 years in prison when she is sentenced April 4.

Plans call for a single-lane roundabout to be built in 2028 at the Ohio 48 and Lytle-Five Points Road intersection at an estimated cost of $3.66 million, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation.

When roundabouts replace an intersection with traffic signals, Federal Highway Administration studies show a reduction in crashes overall by 48% and a nearly 80% drop in serious injury and deadly crashes.
A Ukrainian drone attacked a Druzhba oil pipeline metering station on the night of 10-11 March, causing a temporary stop in oil supplies to Hungary.

Source: Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto

Quote from Szijjarto: "In fact, due to a nighttime drone attack, oil transport through the Druzhba pipeline towards Hungary had to be temporarily stopped."

Details: Szijjarto stated that he had discussed the situation with a deputy Russian energy minister, who assured him that repairs were underway and supplies would resume soon.

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The Hungarian foreign minister criticised the attacks on energy infrastructure: "We've stayed out of this war so far and we want to stay out of it. The energy supply to Hungary is a matter of sovereignty and we expect everyone to respect that."

He also stated that the European Commission had guaranteed supply security but that this promise had been broken.

Background:

On the night of 10-11 March, Ukrainian troops struck a number of strategic Russian facilities involved in supporting armed aggression against Ukraine.

Hungary will only approve further EU sanctions against Moscow if an agreement is reached with US President Donald Trump.

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UAVs have attacked the Oka-Centre oil depot in the city of Serpukhov, Moscow Oblast, Russia, as reported by Russian Telegram channels.

Source: Russian Telegram channels Astra and Mash

Details: Astra reported a drone strike on the Oka-Centre oil depot, while Mash reported that the depots tanks were allegedly damaged by debris from a downed drone.

Serpukhov Mayor Alexei Shymko did not provide information on the consequences of the strike or any casualties. However, Moscow Oblast Governor Alexei Vorobyov had previously mentioned Serpukhov among the cities that were targeted.

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Photos and videos confirm that the oil depot sustained damage.

Photo: Russian Telegram channels Astra

The Oka-Centre facility specialises in storing and distributing various types of fuel, including petrol and diesel.

Earlier, reports emerged of a large-scale drone attack on Moscow. Russian authorities claimed that 74 drones were shot down over the capital. Russias Ministry of Defence stated that a total of hundreds of drones attacked the country on the night of 10-11 March, with 337 allegedly intercepted.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the UAV attack "could significantly harm the emerging trend in contacts" regarding Russias war against Ukraine.

Background:

Russia claims to be open to negotiations to end its war against Ukraine but insists on doing so on its own terms, which include maintaining control over four Ukrainian oblasts that are currently only partially occupied by Russian forces.

At the same time, Russia continues to launch daily missile and drone attacks on civilian areas across Ukraine, destroying residential districts and energy infrastructure while killing civilians.

Ukraine has previously identified its military targets inside Russia as arms production facilities and fuel depots supplying the Russian military. Photos and videos from Russian Telegram channels confirm that Ukrainian forces are striking only military-industrial sites in Russia.

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Ukrainian drones pummeled Moscow overnight, only hours before high-stakes talks began in Saudi Arabia between officials from Ukraine and the United States. The attack on the Russian capital, using long-range one-way attack drones, was the biggest of the conflict so far, local officials claimed.

https://www.twitter.com/maria_avdv/status/1899336415818711198

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Ukraine launched 337 drones at Russia overnight, with 91 of these targeting the Moscow region. The attacks on the capital region killed at least three people, set buildings ablaze, and forced the suspension of flights at all four of Moscows airports, as well as rail services.

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Two other airports, in the Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod regions east of Moscow, were also closed.

https://www.twitter.com/JayinKyiv/status/1899386180803711445

Photos and videos posted to social media showed scenes of destruction in the Ramenskoye district, around 30 miles southeast of the Kremlin, and in Domodedovo, in Moscows southern suburbs, where a supermarket and adjacent parking lot were struck. This killed three security guards and damaged about 40 vehicles, Russian authorities said.

A video capture shows destroyed vehicles after a massive drone attack at the Leninsky urban district (Vidnoye) and Domodedovo (Yam village) at 4:00 a.m. in Moscow on March 11, 2025. Photo by Moscow Governorship / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images Anadolu

Witnesses said that the drone strikes began around 3:00 a.m. this morning, local time. Some Russian citizens took to the Telegram messaging app to complain about the apparent lack of early warning from Russias emergency services.

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https://www.twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1899302276092612733

According to the Russian news outlet Kommersant, Ukraine mainly used its homegrown Liutyi (Fierce) drones for the latest strikes on Moscow.

However, at least one unverified video shows what appears to be a Ukrainian version of the Shahed/Geran series, which is the primary long-range one-way attack drone used by Russia to strike targets across Ukraine.

https://www.twitter.com/PolymarketIntel/status/1899438249342284122

Its unclear how many of the Ukrainian drones were successfully intercepted by Russian air defenses, although exorbitant claims have been made regularly in the past.

Air defense rockets all over Moscow those morning. pic.twitter.com/CCTg8TUmxb  Jay in Kyiv (@JayinKyiv) March 11, 2025

On this occasion, Shot, a Telegram channel with links to the security services, cited a former Russian serviceman who reportedly shot down one of the drones with a hunting rifle in a small village outside Moscow.

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While Ukrainian drone strikes on targets deep inside Russia, including the capital, have been a feature of the conflict for many months, the overnight raids were clearly timed to send a message ahead of todays talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

A communal worker clears debris, including an apparent fragment of a downed drone, in the yard of a damaged apartment building following a drone attack in the village of Misaylovo in the Moscow region on March 11, 2025. Photo by TATYANA MAKEYEVA / AFP TATYANA MAKEYEVA

A senior Ukrainian official said the drone attack should encourage Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept the terms of an aerial ceasefire proposed by Kyiv.

The largest drone attack in history was carried out on Moscow and the Moscow region, said Andriy Kovalenko, a Ukrainian national security council official responsible for countering disinformation. He added, This is an additional signal to Putin that he should also be interested in a ceasefire in the air.

A view shows a damaged apartment building in a residential complex following a drone attack in the village of Sapronovo in the Moscow region on March 11, 2025. Photo by TATYANA MAKEYEVA / AFP TATYANA MAKEYEVA

The large-scale  apparently unprecedented  Ukrainian drone strikes are intended to signal clearly to Moscow and Washington that Kyiv wont accept an unfavorable peace deal and remains committed to repulsing the full-scale Russian invasion.

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This is a reality that has also been picked up by Russian sources.

The meaning behind this largest drone attack on the Moscow region is clear  it coincides with the start of negotiations in Saudi Arabia, where Ukraine will try to push for an air and naval ceasefire that is entirely unfavorable to Russia, wrote the popular pro-Kremlin channel MIG Russia on Telegram.

The raid is meant to suggest that such a decision would supposedly benefit all parties  But it wont work, the channel added.

There has not yet been a formal statement from the Kremlin about Kyivs proposal for a partial ceasefire, which is expected to include, among others, an end to aerial drone and missile strikes and a suspension of military activity in the Black Sea. However, previous similar suggestions have been rejected by Moscow, which has accused Ukraine of looking to find ways for a pause in the fighting that will allow it to rebuild its military for a future counteroffensive.

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Ukraines position is made more complicated by the strained relationship with the United States, which has now hit pause on military support for Ukraine, as well as access to intelligence and satellite feeds.

In an effort to try to rebuild the relationship after a disastrous meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington at the end of last month, which you can read about here, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Saudi Arabia yesterday.

In addition to pushing for a partial ceasefire on its terms, Ukraine also aims to persuade the Trump administration to restart intelligence-sharing and military aid. There are also the issues of hostage exchanges and the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. These are also likely to figure prominently in the talks.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (right) attends the meeting between the Ukrainian and U.S. delegations in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to discuss issues related to ending the war in Ukraine on March 11, 2025. Photo by Ukrainian Presidency / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images Anadolu

For Kyiv, the talks with officials from the United States are far from the only critical aspect of the conflict right now.

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There is also the increasing difficulty of holding territory in the Kursk region of western Russia, where Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale incursion last August. While you can read more about the current situation on the ground in Kursk here, its notable that the overnight drone raids also apparently struck multiple targets in this region. Russian authorities said that more than 100 drones were launched toward the Kursk region.

Today, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed its troops had regained more than 100 square kilometers (38.6 square miles) of territory and 12 settlements in Kursk in recent days.

Its also worth noting that heavy airstrikes have not been all one-way traffic.

An especially heavy Russian attack using long-range one-way attack drones and cruise missiles was prosecuted against Ukraine on the night of March 6-7. According to an assessment from the U.K. Ministry of Defense, up to 35 Kh-101 air-launched cruise missiles were launched, together with sea-launched Kalibr cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles, and as many as 100 aerial drones. The main targets appear to have been related to Ukrainian energy infrastructure, which Russia repeatedly strikes, especially in the winter months.

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https://www.twitter.com/DefenceHQ/status/1898313169023463813

As for the meeting in Jeddah, its widely expected that U.S. demands for some kind of minerals deal with Ukraine will be at the center of the discussions, which involve U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Ukrainian counterparts.

Asked on Fox News if he thought Ukraine could sign the minerals deal this week, Trump Middle East aide Steve Witkoff said: I am really hopeful. All the signs are very, very positive.

U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad al-Aiban, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Ukrainian Head of Presidential Office Andriy Yermak and Ukrainian Minister of Defense Rustem Umerovto attend a meeting between the United States and Ukraine hosted by the Saudis on March 11, 2025, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Photo by Salah Malkawi/Getty Images Salah Malkawi

If the parties are able to hammer out some kind of a peace proposal, the big question is what the military terms and conditions will look like.

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Rubio has previously said that both sides need to come to an understanding that theres no military solution to this situation.

Im not going to set any conditions on what they have to or need to do. I think we want to listen to see how far theyre willing to go and then compare that to what the Russians want and see how far apart we truly are, Rubio added.

For Russia, Washingtons new approach toward Ukraine has been celebrated. After three years of a steadfast U.S.-led bulwark against Russian aggression in Ukraine, Trumps decision to try and extend his rapport with the Russian leader has altered the dynamics of the conflict and geopolitical relations.

Russian officials are now indicating that behind-the-scenes discussions between officials in Washington and the Kremlin have been stepped up. Reports today indicate that Trumps special envoy, Witkoff, plans to visit Moscow to meet Putin for talks.

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While the United States will likely continue to take a hard line with Ukraine in the Saudi talks, there are still plenty more challenges ahead if a ceasefire is to be negotiated, not least Russian willingness to accept whatever kind of deal emerges from todays meeting.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
This article was originally published in West Virginia Watch.

The phrase say the hard part out loud has had a moment in the national spotlight recently. And within West Virginia, youll hear it repeatedly when you talk to education professionals in the Eastern Panhandle about teacher pay.

Something else youll hear with regularity is the word crisis.

Michelle Barnhart, a social studies teacher at Martinsburgs South Middle School in Berkeley County, has seen the teacher shortage turn from a growing problem into something much more serious.

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When I started teaching in 2017, you had to be actively working on your degree to even be considered for a position. Now, theyre putting people with associate degrees  or no degree at all  into classrooms as full-time teachers, she said. They arent supposed to, but they have no choice.

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The state, added Barnhart, is ignoring the problem.

Charleston doesnt see it, or chooses not to. People downstate dont understand that many of the adults in these kids classrooms up here arent actually teachers  because the teachers have gone elsewhere for better pay.

Imagine, she said, if hospitals started hiring people with no medical background to be doctors. Just pulling people off the street, handing them a clipboard, and saying, Here, practice medicine. Thats whats happening here in education.

Barnhart said that many of her colleagues and fellow educators feel powerless at the end of the day.

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The cost of living in the panhandle is nowhere near the rest of West Virginia, but teachers, state workers  anyone whose salary is coded into law  get the same base pay. If you live elsewhere, thats not a big deal. But if you move here, you suddenly realize this is a crisis.

Parents, she said, are often unaware of just how bad the situation has become.

Theyll see the bus driver shortage on the news and get outraged about routes being cut. But they dont know whats happening inside the classrooms. They dont see how many positions go unfilled all year, or how often classes are just split up when a teacher calls out  overcrowding the ones that are already at their limit.

Even for those who stay, Barnhart said, burnout is inevitable.

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You have algebra teachers covering trigonometry. English teachers covering history. Some days, they still cant find someone to cover, she said. When that happens, learning just stops.

Andrew Fincham, a health and physical education teacher at Martinsburg High School in Berkeley County, has seen the pattern repeat itself year after year.

Its only getting worse, he said. And with the population growth in the panhandle, were running out of room. Classrooms are overflowing, and were sticking kids in trailers to make it work  but the turnover rate with teachers is staggering.

Currently, Berkeley Countys student population alone  at nearly 20,000  exceeds the total population of 26 entire counties in West Virginia. As of the start of the current school year in August 2024, Berkeley County had nearly 200 permanent substitutes hired.

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Were losing an alarming number of teachers every year throughout the county  whether its retirement or leaving for more money, Fincham said. And the impact on students is undeniable  all schools, all grade levels.

Fincham doesnt see the revolving door getting any better without major policy changes.

All the nearby states  Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania  adjust salaries based on cost of living. West Virginia doesnt. Its easy to see where this is headed. If the state doesnt start thinking about this in a new way, in five years, itll be catastrophic.

The impact on retention, added Barnhart, cant be overstated.

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Berkeley and Jefferson counties, especially, have become steppingstones. Teachers come here, get a few years of experience, and then leave for better pay  often nearby.

For Barnhart, the predicament is both personal and professional. I have kids in this school system; I see it as a parent and as an educator, she said. Its frustrating because I dont want to leave, but at some point, I might not have a choice.

Considering almost all those choices are within 30 minutes or less, Barnhart admitted its hard to ignore the disparity.

If I left for Frederick County Schools [Virginia], Id make over $6,400 more per year, she said. In Washington County [Maryland], over $11,500 more. And Loudoun County [Northern Virginia], almost $25,000 more.

The numbers dont lie

At the end of the day, however, this isnt a new conversation for people like Barnhart, Fincham, and thousands of others within the region. In recent decades, West Virginias education landscape has been punctuated by significant teacher strikes, notably in 1990 and 2018  both primarily driven by concerns over inadequate compensation and escalating health care costs.

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The 2018 strike, in particular, saw approximately 20,000 educators and school personnel shutting down schools across all 55 counties, culminating in a 5% pay raise for all state workers.

And yet, in 2025  as in most years previous  West Virginia sits either dead last nationally or perilously close to dead last on just about any average teacher salary list you come across  jostling for position between Florida, South Dakota and Missouri year after year. Be that as it may, according to the most recent data available from the National Education Association, the estimated national average annual salary for teachers sits at $71,699  while West Virginia shuffles in at $53,336.

That said, the Eastern Panhandles three core counties  Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan  are the fastest-growing in the state, and closest to the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, making them highly susceptible to issues like cost-of-living disparities and teacher-pay inequities.

According to the most recent data from the West Virginia Department of Education, the average annual teacher salary in Berkeley County lands at $55,412; the average for Jefferson County comes in at $54,153; and Morgan County sits at $55,624.

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Compare that to West Virginias poorest county, McDowell, where the average teacher salary is $53,296. However, the average home value in McDowell County hovers around $35,000  with the median home sale price standing at approximately $41,000. Accordingly, almost all cost-of-living data is lower or significantly lower in McDowell County. To that end, $53,296 goes a long way there, as it does in numerous other counties in West Virginia that boast similar cost-of-living data.

By contrast, average home values in Berkeley County climb into the $335,000-plus range. In Jefferson County, its even higher, with values exceeding $380,000. In Morgan County, values can exceed $350,000. The cost of living within these three counties is commensurate with those values. But the average teacher salary within the Eastern Panhandle comes in at $55,063  not even $2,000 more annually than West Virginias poorest county.

Talk to anyone close to this issue, and they will tell you in no uncertain terms  its becoming all but impossible to work as a teacher or education service worker in the Eastern Panhandle and pay the bills. And when extra money does arrive, its in the form of a statewide raise  without consideration for locality pay  which keeps that allotment relatively small in proportion to the ever-widening economic gap between the Eastern Panhandle and the rest of the state.

Bargaining power

Its economics 101, said John Deskins, director of West Virginia Universitys Bureau of Business and Economic Research. If salaries remain the same across the state, schools in more competitive job markets like the Eastern Panhandle will struggle to attract and retain teachers. Its a matter of supply and demand  higher costs and a stronger labor market require higher pay.

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Berkeley County Schools Superintendent Ryan Saxe, formerly superintendent in Cabell County, echoed the sentiment  and admitted to not fully grasping the depth of the problem until taking his current job.

In my previous county, we competed with Ohio and Kentucky for teachers, but the disparity wasnt nearly as severe as what we see here with Maryland and Virginia, he said.

Saxe doesnt believe West Virginia needs to match those salaries dollar for dollar,  but we must close the gap, he said. Right now, we have around 200 permanent substitute positions because we cant fill them with certified staff. That depletes our substitute pool and leaves us constantly reposting vacancies for high-need areas.

Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, believes part of the issue is Charlestons reluctance to even acknowledge cost-of-living disparities.

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The federal government has already done the research to determine appropriate salary increases for employees based on regional economic conditions, she said. A similar approach for public employees in high-cost areas in our state makes sense.

But the push for locality pay has failed repeatedly, she said, primarily due to opposition from lawmakers outside the Eastern Panhandle.

The Senate has passed similar measures three times, only for them to fail in the House, Rucker said, The last time, we were 14 votes short. Thats a big gap.

The resistance comes from a long-standing belief in uniform pay across all 55 counties, said Dale Lee, president of the West Virginia Education Association.

But that resistance mindset ignores an economic reality, Lee said. A few years ago, an attempt to secure locality pay for state police was soundly defeated. The challenge is that while it would benefit a few counties, the majority wouldnt see any advantage  so their delegates arent inclined to support it.

Instead of direct locality pay, some legislators are exploring alternatives, like reducing the local share, which would allow high-growth counties to keep more of their tax revenue to fund education salaries.

If that money is earmarked for salaries and benefits, it could be a real solution, Lee said.

As Lee indicated, the shortage isnt limited to teachers  state police, social workers and other public employees face the same problem in high-cost areas.

Former West Virginia delegate John Doyle has been advocating for locality pay for over 30 years, first proposing a housing allowance in the early 2000s as a way to soften opposition.

The state would provide a housing allowance based on cost-of-living data, he said. Every county would be ranked from 1 to 55, with the median county serving as the baseline. Any county ranked above the median would receive some level of housing allowance  smaller for those just above, larger for the highest-cost counties.

He recalled that when cost-of-living data was first released to legislators, some were stunned by the housing prices in the Eastern Panhandle. They assumed we all lived in large homes. I had to explain that I lived in a 1,000-square-foot FHA rancher, and it was worth almost double the state average.

Doyle also warned against the idea that raising salaries in border counties would simply cause a ripple effect of teacher migration.

Salaries dont need to match Maryland and Virginia  just get close enough. If the gap is $20,000, theyll leave. If its $10,000 or less, they might stay.

But the state has spent decades failing to act. Doyle pointed out that in 1990, West Virginia was ranked 26th in teacher pay after a major statewide raise under former Gov. Gaston Caperton. By the late 1990s, Maryland and Virginia had surged past it once again.

Every few years, the issue reaches a boiling point, like the 2018 teacher strike, which resulted in a 5% statewide raise  but failed to address the Eastern Panhandles unique economic challenges, he underscored.

With legislative momentum reliably sluggish, greater political action might be required, said Rucker  who also chairs the Government Organization Committee.

If we dont have enough qualified teachers, we are failing to meet our constitutional obligation to provide an efficient education system. A class action lawsuit could force the states hand, she said.

On the economic side, Deskins sees another consequence of inaction: economic decline.

If schools decline due to this crisis, the region becomes far less appealing. People dont want to move to areas with struggling schools, which would ultimately slow economic growth, Deskins said.

Essentially, explained Deskins, West Virginias fastest-growing region  the only part of the state successfully attracting new residents  is being left to fend for itself.

From a broad economic-development perspective, were making one of the states most promising regions less attractive  ultimately working against ourselves, Deskins said.

The political fight will only continue, and will hopefully play a prominent role in the current legislative session, said Doyle  who believes the Eastern Panhandle finally has strength in numbers.

The Eastern Panhandle now has more than 10% of the legislature, Doyle said. That gives our delegation real bargaining power. If they unify and make this a non-negotiable priority, they can trade support on other bills to get it passed.

Rucker agreed.

The delegates from this region have better strength in numbers, and are working hard to educate their colleagues and emphasize that this benefits the entire state, not just the Panhandle, she said.

Nonetheless, Lee remains skeptical.

In my experience, when the legislature makes something a priority, they find the money for it, he said. If this becomes a priority, a solution will follow. But that remains to be seen.

Doyle, however, was more blunt: At the heart of it all is the fact that the state doesnt want to give money to teachers because they want to be able to give a giant tax break to corporations.

Repeated requests for comment from State Superintendent of Schools Michele Blatt went unanswered.

The cost of inaction

Imagine a moment in the near future in the Eastern Panhandle  likely Berkeley or Jefferson Counties  when a brand-new high school opens with all the pomp and circumstance that comes with such occasions. And on day one, as the doors open and the students pour through them en route to homeroom and the new year ahead, not a single certified teacher is there to greet them. Rather, every room, and every subject, is being covered by a substitute.

Sounds crazy? Many education professionals in the Eastern Panhandle are calling it something else: inevitable.

I can easily see that happening  were drowning, said Jana Woofter, a chemistry and physical science teacher at Spring Mills High School in Martinsburg. Woofter also serves as president of the Berkeley County Education Association.

Bills are often triple what they are in other parts of the state, she said. Housing costs are through the roof. Berkeley County tries to help with a housing allowance, but Jefferson and Morgan counties dont have those same benefits. Even with the assistance, my members are struggling  especially with PEIA [West Virginias Public Employees Insurance Agency] costs rising.

The struggle isnt just with the state. Clay Anders, a physical education teacher at C.W. Shipley Elementary in Jefferson Countys Harpers Ferry, is frustrated that even as property values have doubled, teachers havent seen a county-based raise in over a decade.

The local levy passed again, and theres millions in additional revenue coming in  but none of it has gone to us in quite a while, he said. Meanwhile, the board office has added new positions and given themselves raises every year.

As of Nov. 6, 2024, the Jefferson County School Excess levy passed with ease  totaling $25,427,656. According to Jefferson County Schools, the bulk of the levy  $19,376,035  will go to salary assistance for teachers and service personnel.

At the same time, Anders pointed out, extra-pay options that once existed for Jefferson County educators have disappeared.

The county cut a program that allowed teachers to earn up to 3,000 extra dollars per year. That was real money that made a difference. But then they phased it down to $1,500, and now its gone completely.

The level of participation in that program told him everything he needed to know.

Nearly 98% of eligible teachers took part in it, Anders said. That should tell you how much we need the money.

He believes that if the county wont act, teachers may have to take matters into their own hands.

Maryland and Virginia have county-based unions that fight for local pay, Anders said. West Virginia doesnt. We only have state-level unions, and they arent fighting county battles.

Additionally, Anders and a group of teachers are preparing a Freedom of Information Act request to uncover exactly where the money is going.

The board claims theres no money for teacher raises, yet theyre increasing salaries at the top. If every million dollars in new revenue could mean an $800 to $900 raise per teacher, then where is that money going?

The answer, at least in Berkeley County, according to Board of Education member Damon Wright, is complicated.

Most of our budget already goes to salaries, Wright said. And weve denied requests for new administrative positions to keep costs down. But we continue to have growth needs  especially when it comes to mental health services for students, which require more funding.

That said, every time we dip into reserves, we run the risk of the state stepping in and questioning our financial management. Weve increased the housing allowance, and well keep looking for ways to supplement pay, but we cant solve this alone.

The challenges only get more complex, he said, when Charleston refuses to act.

The state doesnt believe in cost-of-living adjustments. They think if we raise salaries in high-cost areas like the panhandle, teachers from rural counties will flood the region. But thats not realistic. Most teachers in McDowell and similar counties are among the highest-paid professionals in their communities. Here, teachers need roommates just to afford rent.

Michelle Pereschuk, a special education teacher at South Middle School, called the system broken and confessed that teachers are running out of reasons to stay  including herself.

Ive been at the tipping point for years, she said. I was born and raised in Berkeley County. My kids are in the school system. I want to stay  but I cant afford it much longer.

Like many in the county, Pereschuks mortgage swallows her paycheck. She once considered a position in nearby Washington County, Maryland, that would have paid her $11,000 more in the first year and up to $17,000 more over time. She ultimately stayed due to personal reasons, but the pull to leave grows stronger every day.

Winchester City Schools and Frederick County, [both in Virginia], are 20 minutes from my house. Maryland and Virginia also allow out-of-state teachers to send their kids to school there. For the first three years, you pay a small tuition fee, then your kids attend for free. If I move, I could take my youngest with me and give him a better-funded education while making a lot more money.

Such decisions arent just being measured in Pereschuks household, she assured, but rather, in many homes across the region.

Off the top of my head, I can name at least 10 people in my school alone who are seriously considering leaving, she said.

Woofter, who works multiple jobs to make ends meet, added that, even for those who choose to stay, survival requires sacrifices.

I run the science fair for my school and the county, coordinate academic competitions, tutor, sell tickets at events  anything to make extra money. If I moved across the border, I wouldnt have to do all that. But I stay because I love it here.

As for rising insurance costs, Wright said, whatever raises the state offers at this point are quickly wiped out by PEIA increases.

The misconception is that a raise actually means more money, he said. It doesnt. When insurance premiums jump 40%, and co-pays triple, as theyre set to do, its actually a pay cut. Later this summer, when those PEIA increases hit, I think well see a mass exodus  not just teachers, but public employees across the board.

Without action, warned Woofter, the situation will only deteriorate. Shes already seeing it play out at her own school.

Spring Mills High School opened in 2013. In just over a decade, fewer than 20 original staff members remain. That kind of turnover is devastating.

Moreover, Wright said, Charlestons inaction is feeding into another, larger movement  the privatization of education.

Rather than addressing the crisis in public schools, the state is using the decline as an excuse to push private schools, charter schools and voucher programs, he said. The problem is, 25% of Berkeley Countys students have special needs, and public schools are required to serve them  private schools are not.

West Virginia doesnt fully fund those services so counties cover the gap.

If lawmakers shift funding away from public schools to private options, that burden grows, Wright said. Theyre letting the system fail so they can justify alternatives.

At the end of the day, he said the community is the last line of defense.

Were already in crisis mode  whether the state chooses to address it or not. The public needs to understand just how bad this is getting. And the only way any of this changes is if the public demands it  loudly. If people in the panhandle make enough noise, Charleston cant ignore it forever.

West Virginia Watch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. West Virginia Watch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Leann Ray for questions: info@westvirginiawatch.com.
welch  Firearms, a large amount of money, a quantity of crack cocaine and a large amount of fentanyl were seized when the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Task Force executed search warrants in McDowell, Mercer and Cabell Counties, the West Virginia State Police announced Monday.

An ongoing drug investigation conducted by the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force resulted in eight search warrants being executed Feb. 13 in McDowell, Mercer and Cabell Counties, said Capt. L.T. Goldie Jr., deputy chief of staff with the West Virginia State Police.

The task force was assisted with their search warrants by the McDowell County Sheriffs Department, Mercer County Sheriffs Department, Wyoming County Sheriffs Department, West Virginia State Police and the Huntington Task Force, Goldie said.

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One of the main benefits of having the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force is being able to work with multiple law enforcement agencies on addressing drug rings, said Mercer County Prosecuting Attorney Brian Cochran.

Drug dealers in the area dont limit themselves to county lines, Cochran said Monday.

The task force allows law enforcement agencies in southern West Virginia, Southwest Virginia and the northern part of West Virginia cooperate when dealing with criminal drug enterprises, Cochran said.

The continuing investigation and executing the eight search warrants led to the seizure of the following items:

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 Around 12 pounds of fentanyl

 Around 2 pounds of crystal methamphetamine

 Two fentanyl brick presses

 105 grams of marijuana

 19 grams of crack cocaine

 Three firearms

 Three seized vehicles

 A large amount of U.S. currency

Antonio Padgett, 26, of Huntington was arrested in Cabell County and charged with nine counts of drug conspiracy, Goldie said. Cordero Hayes, 34, of Gary was charged with nine counts of drug conspiracy and nine (9) counts of delivery of a controlled substance, Goldie said.

The investigation is ongoing and the arrest of additional co-conspirators is anticipated, Goldie said.

Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com
People wait to get information at a railway station in Quetta, Balochistan province, Pakistan, on March 11, 2025. (Str/Xinhua)

ISLAMABAD, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani security forces have killed at least 16 terrorists during an operation to rescue hostages following a train attack in the Kacchi district of the country's southwest Balochistan province on Tuesday, security sources said.

The security sources told Xinhua at the wee hours of Wednesday that the military operation divided the terrorists into small groups, and an intense exchange of gunfire continued between the security forces and the attackers.

According to the sources, the security forces successfully freed 104 hostages from the terrorists, including 58 men, 31 women, and 15 children. At least 17 injured passengers have been shifted to a nearby hospital, said the sources, adding that efforts are going on to ensure the safe release of remaining passengers.

"Additional security personnel are participating in the ongoing operation. The noose around the terrorists has been tightened, and the operation will continue until the last terrorist is eliminated," the sources added.

Earlier, official sources reported that a group of armed men opened fire on the Jaffar Express passenger train, which had about 450 passengers onboard, with several injured.

Senior Pakistan Railways official Muhammad Kashif told Xinhua that the train was running from the southwestern city of Quetta to the northwestern city of Peshawar when militants launched the attack.

"The attack occurred in a mountainous region where communication is severely restricted due to the lack of mobile service. In the last contact with the train, the driver reported that an explosion hit the railway track, forcing the train to stop. Immediately after, the militants opened heavy fire, injuring the driver and several passengers," Kashif said.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack on the train, praising the security forces for their bravery and professional expertise in confronting the terrorists.

"Despite the difficult terrain, the morale of the security forces involved in the operation remains high. We will continue this war against terrorism until this menace is completely eradicated from the country," the prime minister said.

Sharif added that every conspiracy aimed at spreading unrest and chaos in Pakistan would be foiled, and "we will never allow the evil intentions of anti-state elements to succeed."

The proscribed terrorist outfit Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on a social media platform. 

People gather at a railway station in Quetta, Balochistan province, Pakistan, on March 11, 2025. (Str/Xinhua)

Photo taken with a mobile phone shows an injured man getting treatment near Quetta, Balochistan province, Pakistan, on March 11, 2025. (Str/Xinhua)

A policeman stands guard at a railway station in Quetta, Balochistan province, Pakistan, on March 11, 2025. (Str/Xinhua)

Policemen work at a railway station in Quetta, Balochistan province, Pakistan, on March 11, 2025. (Str/Xinhua)
Its been a damp start to March as a series of weather systems have moved through Arizona, carried by a jet stream moving across the Pacific Ocean and bringing rain to much of the Southwest.

While rainy skies may feel unusual after several months of severe short-term drought, March tends to be a wetter month in Phoenix. It is the fifth-wettest month of the year in Americas hottest, and sometimes driest, city.

We typically see systems like this come through during March, said Mark OMalley, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service Phoenix. We dont always see this number of systems coming through, but its not unheard of to see systems like this.

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March averages 0.83 of an inch of rain in Phoenix, and Sky Harbor Airport has already recorded 0.39 inches this month so far according to the National Weather Service. That's more rain than Phoenix received between August 2024 and February 2025  which was just 0.38 inches.

March trails August, July, January and February as the wettest months in Phoenix.

Rain is forecast again this week as storm systems will move through Arizona. Showers could arrive in Phoenix as early as Tuesday afternoon with slight thunderstorm chances. Accumulations could be up to a third of an inch in some areas.

A colder, more intense system should arrive on Thursday with breezy, wet conditions and more thunderstorm chances. OMalley said rainfall totals could be between a quarter to a half an inch. Temperatures will drop, with a high of 65 degrees, and could get as low as 44 degrees overnight.

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New accumulations could bring this months rain total to above average for the first time in months.

Theres been a very strong jet stream across the Pacific Ocean, OMalley said. The pattern has been very progressive, which has brought a series of storms inland across the Southwest.

But residents should enjoy the rain while it lasts. Phoenix tends to dry out by mid-April and stays dry until the onset of the monsoon around July 1.

Five wettest Marches on record

1941  4.82 inches 1983  3.17 inches 2000  2.98 inches 1992  2.49 inches 1905  2.38 inches

Five wettest months in Phoenix

August  Average 0.93 of an inch July  Average 0.91 of an inch January  Average 0.87 of an inch February  Average 0.87 of an inch March  Average 0.83 of an inch

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Hayleigh Evans writes about extreme weather and related topics for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Email her with story tips at hayleigh.evans@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Series of wet storms push March toward above-average rain totals
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?
FAIR GROVE, Mo.  Dry conditions, high temperatures, and high winds contribute to the increased risk for fires to start and spread quickly. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning until 8 p.m. Tuesday for multiple Missouri counties, including Jasper, Dade, Greene, Webster, Newton, Lawrence, Christian, McDonald, Barry, and Stone.

In Greene County, the Fair Grove Fire Protection District says this time of year is the busiest for wildfires. Fire Chief Randall Hoskins says that even though the ground may seem wet, the fuel, such as grasses and leaves, is dry, so even a small spark can easily spread.

Springfield St. Patricks Day Parade details announced

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A lot of times right now people are getting their fields ready to be planted. So when theyre plowing a field they strike a rock, that cause a spark, which causes a fire, Chief Hoskins said. Some other unintentional things might be not properly disposing of their fireplace ashes that is another cause that we tend to see a lot around this time.

Chief Hoskins says his crews have been busy over the past couple weeks responding to fire calls in their area and helping other agencies. He says this busy season typically wont slow down until spring brings in new growth and frequent showers.

If you are planning a controlled burn at any time, Chief Hoskins recommends calling your local fire department and asking if it is a good day to burn before doing so.

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During the night of March 7, Russian forces carried out a concerted bombing campaign against Ukraines energy facilities. The acts were widely condemned by the international community, including U.S. President Donald Trump, who wrote on social media that he was strongly considering large scale sanctions based on the attack and urged both parties to the negotiating table. At the same time, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Ukraines energy infrastructure is a legitimate target because it is linked with Ukraines military industrial complex and weapons production.

Trump was right to call out Russias attack and threaten sanctions, for several reasons. First, in diplomatic terms it created at least a slight veneer of even-handedness after his dressing down of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House last week, as well as his seeming alignment with Russian President Vladimir Putin in what is clearly a war of aggression in which Putin has committed the majority of war crimes. But second, international law demands calling out this particular conduct as worthy of reproach, because contrary to what Peskov claimed, a countrys energy infrastructure does not become a legitimate military target just because it supports both civilian and military uses.

International humanitarian law draws a clear distinction between civilian objects such as schools and hospitals, and military objectives that are meant to make an effective contribution to military action. While the law is ambiguous in situations where a civilian object is being used in such a way as to make a direct military contribution to war, even then targeting of that object is subject to the principle of proportionality, by which harm to civilians must be weighed against military necessity. Moreover, targeting civilian objects for the purpose of terrorizing civilians is a war crime.

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While an argument could be made that attacks on energy infrastructure that result in power outages for a limited period of time are not comparable to collateral damage from kinetic attacks, this is clearly not the case during winter, when civilians are heavily dependent on that infrastructure for indoor heating. Moreover, such arguments generally dont take into account the knock-on effects of such strikes for the civilian population, such as the health implications of household refrigerators, municipal water sanitation systems and hospital medical equipment all losing access to power. In short, even if the language of humanitarian law makes occasional exceptions for military necessity that clearly outweighs the harm to civilians, such cases are rare. And those loopholes do not easily cover the kind of massive attacks on civilian infrastructure carried out by Russia, which would appear to instead be calculated to spread terror among the civilian population.

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These rules were developed after World War II, when entire cities were burned to the ground based on the logic that they contained factories used to build munitions, thereby making them and all the civilians in them a military target. But as the postwar push to expand international humanitarian law recognized, if the fact that a civilian mobilization or infrastructure also supports a war effort transforms it into a target, the military-civilian distinction itself begins to break down. Rather, the International Committee of the Red Cross has postulated a more specific standard on the definition of direct participation in hostilities as applied to civilians, in which the burden of proof is on belligerents to prove beyond a doubt that any such instance meets that standard. When in doubt, under Article 52(3) of Additional Protocol 1 to the Geneva Convention, an object shall be assumed to be of a civilian character.

The argument that dual use infrastructure constitutes a legitimate military target is often used as justification by states claiming the legal right to engage in such attacks.

Its worth underscoring that these norms would also protect U.S. civilians if the U.S. ever found itself in another interstate war in which U.S. territory was threatened. Imagine a potential war with China for example, in which the U.S. electrical grid is targeted, whether by kinetic strikes or a cyber attack, simply because it is also used by the U.S. military; or U.S. communication satellites are targeted, causing a breakdown in emergency medical response and civilian communication, just because the military can also use them for intelligence-gathering. Even if the weather were hospitable and no one was on life support in hospitals, such a strike would quickly render food supplies inedible. Water would quickly become polluted, spreading deadly communicable diseases that are often the biggest killers of civilians in war. Within days social order could fray, with civilians disoriented by the inability to use cellphones or know when help was coming.

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Despite these rules, the argument that dual use infrastructure constitutes a legitimate military target is often used as justification by states claiming the legal right to engage in such attacks. After Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, for instance, Israel targeted al-Shifa hospital in Gaza, killing hundreds of patients and staff, based on the claimlater shown to be unsubstantiated by independent investigationsthat Hamas militants had established a headquarters there. In 2020, Syrian government forces used similar justifications to target schools, markets and hospitals to force civilians out of Idlib during that countrys civil war. And in Ukraine, last weeks strikes are only the latest in a series of over 1,000 attacks on energy infrastructure since Russias all-out invasion three years ago.

Notably, Oona Hathaway, Mara Revkin and Asmat Khan argue in a forthcoming co-authored paper, the rise of dual use arguments to justify targeting civilian architecture, particularly electric stations, has not been limited to U.S. adversaries. It has also been driven by the U.S. militarys own actions in armed conflicts, and its justifications for them, dating at least as far back as the 1991 Gulf War.

To these scholars and several other observers, the dual use justification for targeting civilian infrastructure is one of many examples under both Democratic and Republican administrations of the U.S. seeking to redefine rules or carve out exceptions for itself. Early in the war on terror, the administration of then-President George W. Bush tried to claim that the protections of the Geneva Conventions only applied to formal militaries, not suspected terrorists, and that certain interrogation techniquesmost notoriously waterboardingsomehow fell short of the legal definition of torture. Under former President Barack Obama, the Office of Legal Counsel attempted to redefine targeted killings of suspected terrorists with drones so as to impart them with more legitimacy than other forms of extrajudicial execution outside regular battlefields. And both Trumps first administration and the administration of former President Joe Biden have tried to reinterpret refugee law so as to duck the prohibition against returning asylum-seekers to countries where they might face persecution or violence.

In each case, observers have often raised the specter that these sorts of carve-outs will undermine the rules themselves, much as Hathaway and her co-authors suggest that the dual-use language risks undermining the distinction between civilian and military objectives entirely. Thats usually not exactly true. Norms often remain robust despite violations or creative reinterpretations by powerful states, as evidenced by continued statements condemning those violations from third-party states, human rights groups and international lawyers, in addition to jurisprudence from courts and tribunals. As documented by political scientist Jamal Barnes, few bought the Bush administrations creative reinterpretation of the torture rules, for example.

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Similarly, when it comes to the permissive deployment of dual-use rhetoric, the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia criticized the destruction of a Croatian bridge for the failure to account for and minimize the impact on the civilian population. During the war in Afghanistan, NATO members of the International Security Assistance Force pointed to international law to push back against U.S. efforts to target Afghan poppy farms. And in the case of Russias attacks on Ukraines energy grid, they have been condemned repeatedly by both the U.N. and human rights groups.

But the evidence does suggest that when the U.S. breaks, violates or bends international norms, it becomes even easier for its adversaries to do the same thing and harder for the U.S. to credibly call them out without the appearance of hypocrisy that undermines U.S. moral authority and influence. This is exacerbated by U.S. actions that make it easier for an aggressor state to engage in willful attacks against civilians, such as cutting off intelligence-sharing with Ukraine and confounding statements from Trumpin the wake of his sanctions threatdescribing Putin as doing what anyone would do.

All of this should be a cautionary tale about the second Trump administration and its supporters. Its not just that the U.S. is most effective abroad when it leads by example. Those standards are guardrails that also protect U.S. civilians and civilian infrastructure should war come to U.S. territory. At a time when there are increasing signs that armed clashes with U.S. adversaries and even territorial neighbors could be looming, commitment to these fundamental rules could make all the difference.

Charli Carpenter is a professor of political science and legal studies at University of Massachusetts-Amherst, specializing in human security and international law. She tweets at @charlicarpenter.

The post Dual Use Cant Justify Russias Attacks on Ukraines Energy Grid appeared first on World Politics Review.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Republicans are proposing more severe punishment for driving under the influence with two new bills introduced Monday in the Nevada Senate.

Senate Bill 304 (SB304) is simple, opening the possibility of a vehicular homicide charge in any DUI case resulting in death. Current law does not allow the vehicular homicide charge unless the driver has been previously convicted three times.

Vehicular homicide is a charge that is rarely filed because prosecutors typically pursue a charge of DUI resulting in death.

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SB309 is much broader, with provisions that:

Adds fentanyl and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or Molly) to the list of prohibited substances.

Sets tiered sentencing requirements that increase for second and subsequent offenses.

Triples the amount of the fine for a DUI from $1,000 to $3,000.

Lowers the threshold for the highest DUIs from 0.18% blood alcohol level to 0.16.%

If the person is in the treatment diversion program, it will still count as a prior offense.

Adjusts the threshold for intoxication from 0.08% blood alcohol level to a new standard of 0.10% for a vehicular homicide charge.

The changes in sentencing requirements also apply to boat operators.

This is a significant bill that strengthens Nevadas DUI laws, according to the SB309s sponsor, Republican Sen. John Steinbeck.

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Driving under the influence is entirely unacceptable, and we need to enact stronger laws to protect our citizens throughout Nevada. For nearly 35 years, I served with the Clark County Fire Department, and many of the worst calls I have ever been on are a result of someone driving under the influence. I have seen entire families killed by this reckless and 100% preventable behavior, Steinbeck said.

We have also seen a trend of more people driving under the influence of marijuana than ever before. Since the legalization, some drivers have wrongly interpreted that it is ok to drive a vehicle after or while using marijuana. SB 309 addresses this, along with many other deficiencies in our current DUI laws, that make it more difficult to hold offenders accountable, he said.

SB304 has five primary sponsors and three co-sponsors, all Republicans: Sens. Jeff Stone, Ira Hansen, Carrie Buck, Lisa Krasner and Robin Titus are the primary sponsors; co-sponsors are Sens. John Ellison, John Steinbeck and Assem. Danielle Gallant.

SB309 is sponsored by Republican Sen. John Steinbeck.

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AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - A narrow majority in the Dutch parliament on Tuesday urged the government not to join recently agreed EU plans to strengthen European defence through laxer fiscal rules and joint borrowing.

European leaders including Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof last week hailed proposals to give EU member states 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.

But three of the Dutch government coalition's four parties backed a motion by a conservative opposition group that objected to the financing arrangements.

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The motion is non-binding and it is unclear how the government will respond.

The European Commission is currently detailing the plans, which could be decided with a qualified majority of EU governments - so no single country could block them.

(Reporting by Bart Meijer, editing by Ed Osmond)
Students and staff at Crossett Brook Middle School in Duxbury will return to class Tuesday, after flooding damaged parts of the first floor last week, forcing the school to close.

In an message to the school community, Superintendent Mike Leichliter of Harwood Unified Union School District, said the state fire marshal gave approval for students to occupy the building Monday afternoon.

While there is still work that will continue over the next few months, we are in a position that we can safely resume educational activities for students, Leichliter said.

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Underground water seeped through the middle schools electrical conduit system Thursday when rain and snow melt overwhelmed the Crossett Brook, which surrounds most of the school.

Leichliter said the schools custodial and maintenance staff, as well as flood remediation crews, have been working around the clock and have made significant progress on the cleanup efforts.

The damage and cleanup has forced the school to relocate some classrooms, Leichliter said. Parents of those children would be brought up to date on the changes in a separate email, he said.

.

Duxbury school to remain closed Friday due to flooding

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wont reopen this Friday, .

As stated last week, this was an unexpected and very significant flooding incident involving multiple classrooms and building systems.

Additionally, environmental equipment to ensure a safe environment is operating in impacted areas and ongoing testing will occur to ensure good air quality.

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ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  After more than six months overseas, the 39th Airlift Squadron finally made it home Sunday night to a heros welcome at Dyess Air Force Base. Families and friends lined the flight line, signs in hand and emotions running high, as they reunited with their loved ones.

West Texas Veteran receives Bronze Star 34 years after Gulf War heroics

Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Adam, the commander of the 39th Airlift Squadron, expressed his joy at witnessing these reunions, especially considering the challenging wait they had endured.

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Theyve been counting down the days. Every time they got delayed by weather or aircraft maintenance, was another day that they were away from their loved ones. So, tonight is a really special night for both our active-duty members and their families, Adams said.

Adam has completed three deployments, and each time, the emotional experience remains the same.

Seeing the kids run it up to hug Dads leg. Its a really, really unique emotion. Its a really, really unique experience, Adam said. Theres a lot of kind of nervous smiles seeing your wife or your husband for the first time after six months. My wife describes it as butterflies in her stomach. Everyone is really excited.

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Dyess Air Force Base names APD Chief as Honorary Commander of the 7th Security Forces Squadron

He said his advice for those reintegrating back into their normal lives is to give each other grace.

Have a soft heart and give each other grace as you learn to do that again, and then also get away. Go away even just for a night to a hotel or an Airbnb to go reestablish those bonds, Adam said.

The 39th Airlift Squadron was stationed in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, which spans 21 countries and 4 million square miles, including the Middle East, Central Asia, the Persian Gulf region, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

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An easyJet pilot has been suspended after a jet carrying up to 190 people flew too close to a mountain as it descended into Egypt.

Captain Paul Elsworth was operating an easyJet flight travelling from Manchester airport to the popular Red Sea resort town of Hurghada, Egypt last month.

As the Airbus A320 started to descend on 2 February, the ground proximity warning system (GPWS), a safety feature which warns of a potential collision with terrain, was triggered in the cockpit.

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As a result, the jet was pulled up and levelled. Passengers remained unaware that the plane had just flown much closer to a mountain than it should have.

A review found that the plane came within 770ft of the peak of a mountain while flying over the range at an altitude of 3,100ft. Pilots normally fly over this mountain range at around 6,000ft.

Sources told The Sun the jet had been descending at 4,928ft per minute before the GPWS sounded the alarm.

An official investigation is underway after Mr Elsworth is said to have reported the incident himself the next day before he was due to head back to Hurghada airport and pilot the plane back.

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In line with protocol, easyJet banned the captain from flying the plane back to the UK and was flown back to Manchester as a passenger, The Sun reports.

The Suns source said: Within moments of the flight drama being raised, officials stepped in and Paul Elsworth was forbidden from piloting the plane. Another flight crew brought the jet home.

"The pilot will be asked detailed questions. The GPWS only sounds when a plane is heading into terrain - in this instance a mountain.

Passengers on board are understood to have been oblivious to the scare, and unaware of just how close they came to the mountain range as the plane descended into Egypt.

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After returning to the UK, Mr Elsworth was officially suspended while the investigations continue.

As part of the investigation, Mr Elsworth and the First Officers account will aid the understanding of what happened.

The suspended captain said it would be inappropriate for him to comment while there is an ongoing investigation, according to The Sun.

In a statement to The Independent, easyJet said: Safety is the number one priority for all our pilots, they are trained to the highest industry standards, subject to rigorous testing and monitored closely.

The flight landed normally and as we have an ongoing investigation, the pilot remains stood down from duty in line with procedures.

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LONDON, March 10 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump by phone ahead of the U.S.-Ukraine meeting in Saudi Arabia's port city of Jeddah, Downing Street said in a statement.

Starmer said British officials had been speaking to Ukrainian officials over the weekend and they remained committed to a lasting peace, said the statement.

The prime minister voiced hope that there would be a positive outcome to the talks that would enable U.S. aid and intelligence sharing for Ukraine to be restored.

The two leaders also spoke about the economic deal they had discussed at the White House, and Starmer welcomed the detailed conversations that had already happened to move this forward, according to the statement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. State Secretary Marco Rubio arrived in Saudi Arabia before the high-stakes talks expected between delegations.

The upcoming Ukraine-U.S. meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, came about two weeks after a rare shouting match at the White House between Trump and Zelensky in late February, leading to the cancellation of a bilateral minerals agreement and suspension of U.S. military assistance to Ukraine. 
A Doctors Without Borders health worker carries a child suspected of having Ebola on Oct. 5, 2014, in Paynesville, Liberia. - Credit: John Moore/Getty Images

On Jan. 29, 2025, the Ministry of Health of Uganda officially declared an Ebola outbreak in Kampala, with 10 confirmed cases reported as of March. This marks the eighth Ebola outbreak in Uganda since 2000. The hemorrhagic virus is highly infectious and fatal, prompting public health officials to seek containment. During the 2022 Ebola outbreak, the country received $34 million in aid to implement infection surveillance and prevention protocols. This time, cuts to U.S. foreign aid have strained the countrys health budget, leaving medical professionals worried about whether the government can effectively combat this epidemic. The pandemic has permanently shaped and transformed humanity. However, our ability to address such challenges during the initial and painful moments of uncertainty relies on a global response that ensures everyone receives free treatment and care.

My new book, A History of the World in Six Plagues: How Contagion, Class, and Captivity Shaped Us, from Cholera to COVID-1s, out March 11, examines how human rights diminish in service to capital, leaving people to suffer the consequences of pandemic disease. When we ignore the negative impacts of outbreaks, we miss opportunities to heal our wounds and prepare ourselves for the next pandemic. Bird flu, measles, Ebola, or even something we have yet to confront could present our next crisis due to a detrimental mix of bad luck and poor governance. In just a few days, we will commemorate the fifth anniversary of the U.S. acknowledgment of the Covid-19 pandemic, and we must remember the importance of preparing for epidemics both in the United States and abroad. In this excerpt, I look at the 2014 Ebola outbreak and the intense lockdowns that came with it. As always, what has happened serves as a prologue.

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***

After a lull in Ebola cases in West Africa in the early summer of 2014, the virus began to spread in the Liberian capital of Monrovia in July, which meant that public health measures came to a stand-still. But that did not come with political stability. On August 7, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, then-president of Liberia, declared a state of emergency, proclaiming extraordinary measures for the very survival of our state and the protection of the lives of our people. In practice, this meant that she rescinded civil liberties, saying that ignorance and poverty, as well as entrenched religious and cultural practices, continue to exacerbate the spread of the disease. She closed the borders and asked the Liberian army to monitor and occupy parts of the country. President Sirleaf surmised, at the time, that the health of the nation would come at a cost. Instead of increasing the number of doctors, which she believed was impossible, or giving out more protective medical gear, which the Ministry of Health did not have, she believed in circumscribing a subclass of people in the capital city.

The way a leader responds to a health crisis has a lot to do with how much that person trusts their population. There is something profound about how a ruler responds, as it holds a mirror up to society. Capital is reckless of the health or length of life of the laborer, contended Karl Marx, unless under the compulsion of society. When he wrote this, Marx reflected on the state of industrial workers who churned through ten-hour workdays, occasionally slipping into states of bodily fatigue and occupational injury. Yet his introspection about the fragile condition of health under capitalism emphasizes something relevant about people, whether in Liberia or elsewhere, if society could be gentler to the worker  and the poor. There are things that public health measures afford, the ability to address mass infection and death through a simple fix, given that the field is constantly changing. In the face of technological and medical innovation, and social pressures, politicians have to work through ways to heal the nation from the microbes that invade a population. Nevertheless, the delicate balance between health and civil liberties shows how intractable health problems can be. President Sirleafs plans to lock down a country rested on a belief that Liberians had to be contained, given the material failures of the state. The contagion cut through the fault lines of Liberian society.

Brimming with an uptick of cases, the Ministry of Health built more clinics during the middle of the outbreak, which to their surprise were challenging to sustain, given the death toll of health workers. Medical centers were hastily constructed to compensate for the lack of space available at the three leading hospitals in Monrovia. Nevertheless, there were fearless healthcare workers within the health system, notably Dr. Mosoka Fallah, a Liberian infectious dis- ease researcher, who worked to mobilize contact tracers in Monrovia. As a public health expert, he took a holistic approach to work with low-income communities, not only attending to the sick  without infecting the healthy  but also finding ways to bury the dead with less risk. But this work took a toll on Dr. Fallah and others. Slowly, they built Ebola treatment centers that became an anchor for isolation, yet scarcity, he told TIME magazine in 2014, caused a real strain:

history of the world in six plagues

August and July were quite tough for us. People would die, and we would be helpless. We just couldnt do anything. I would have a contact tracer follow a family. The mother died. The sister died. The maid died. The wife died. The father died. And she [the contact tracer] would go there every day to do contact tracing on the symptomatic people.

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His account brings the horror close to home that, even with intervention, people could lose everything.

Throughout West Africa, Ebola isolation centers were established early during the outbreak in 2014. Doctors Without Borders  which had long-standing ties to the communities in the region  used their connections to establish Ebola isolation centers near Monrovia. As public health officials tried to close the gap between resources and facilities in the ensuing months, they drew plans to construct more ad hoc centers. Without informing the residents, the Liberian Ministry of Health converted a primary school into a holding center for Ebola patients in West Point, a working poor community in Monrovia. Initially, this was meant to supplement the well-worn establishments that could not isolate every Ebola patient. Still, the centers presence led to a deep divide between health authorities and the community. Bewildered, the residents were distraught that they had little input into these decisions or knowledge about who was being put into the facility and were upset that the government was importing Ebola into their community. One resident, Christiana Williams, then fifty-two, recalled hearing cries from Ebola patients at the makeshift clinic. Other residents were frustrated about this novel disease  because they did not understand the potential threat. Instead of harboring trust, the policy cradled skepticism in West Point.

When I spoke to Tolbert Nyenswah, who was then the Assistant Minister of Health in Liberia, he reflected on the positive aspects of their work.

We had a unit for psychosocial support, media engagement, and laboratory work. Our somewhat decentralized to Ebola response was initially a top-down approach. This meant we had a team that was working with community based organizations and civil society organizations before the international support started coming to Liberia.

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Nevertheless, the quarantine of West Point did not bode well. The community was agitated by the Ebola treatment center being placed near their homes. Some protesters targeted the Ebola isolation station and others believed the Ebola virus was a fabrication.

The word lockdown, in all of its variations, has been laden with heavy meaning since 2020  still, the essence of the term is to be bludgeoned with captivity. During the 2014 Ebola outbreak, containment became a central theme of how Liberians referenced Ebola abroad. Successful public health measures rely on cooperation. Though for those who can move, remaining still can be unbearable. When one is forced to quarantine, one has to believe that confinement will aid them and that they can survive persistent immobility, especially when they havent been infected with a microbe. When Ebola became an international concern, President Barack Obama insisted that the illness can be controlled and contained very effectively if we use the right protocols. With over six hundred confirmed Ebola-related deaths in Liberia by August 2014, politicians on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean were trying to work through how to prevent a surge in cases and mortality.

On August 20, 2014, President Sirleaf imposed a twenty-one-day quarantine on West Point, which left many people unable to work or leave the community. Residents, objecting to the presidents measures, believed they were in an open-air prison. This decision to quarantine a neighborhood and create a state of emergency was particularly unsettling, leaving some humanitarian workers to refer to the cordon sanitaire as a plague village. While the politics of health and care do not always map onto war and its metaphors, public health is messy when new and virulent diseases take over a country in bereavement.

Lockdown City

At a cursory look, videos of West Point during the lockdown were damning. In one clip, my eyes fixated on the weather: the gray sky and heavy rain. Except for armed police, the streets were mostly empty. Some fruit stands were overturned. In another film, a young man stood behind green bars with several people near him. Solemn, he stared straight at the camera remarking: We expect the government to come out with awareness; thats what we expected. But at four oclock in the morning, they deployed police, army, and immigration. They beat people, and thats not right. Disillusionment arises when the state turns against its citizens.

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As West Point residents were pottering about their errands, their lives were halted by a public health system that wanted to contain the disease. For some, the lockdown was sprinkled with physical terror as questions arose about where to place Ebola victims. The Liberian governments blockade began when the military prevented people from the western regions of Grand Cape Mount from entering the capital city. For many, the military siege meant street vendors could not sell their produce at the markets or provide people with staple goods. An alternative to this approach, one that would have greatly benefited this community, would have been a nuanced public health response that financially supported the people who were unable to work because of lockdown measures. Alternatively, providing free mental health services would have eliminated the isolation that some citizens felt.

Bordering the Atlantic Ocean, the West Point neighborhood is home to over seventy thousand people. During an epidemic that otherwise made life hectic and clamorous, the militarized languor of the residents was glaring precisely because Liberians who were already displaced from the recent Civil War felt abandoned by the government. They were reminded, once again, how little control they had.

The quarantine was not based on an honor system; instead, the Ebola Task Force was responsible for enforcing a quarantine as well as a curfew. The forced lockdown, for which the police constructed roadblocks and barricades, briefly tempered the population but as time went on they grew agitated. Soldiers and police officers in riot gear blocked the roads, and the waterfront was cordoned off, with the coast guard stopping residents from setting out in canoes.

For a fruit seller, the twenty-one-day incubation period would mean twenty-one days without wages and without government financial support. Loss of income poses a danger to a familys survival. By late 2014, Ebola had wreaked havoc on all sectors of society, according to the World Bank, leaving half of the Liberian workers without a job. The effect was ubiquitous  impacting food, dignity, and mobility.

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Residents of West Point were shrouded with an active military occupation; they spoke of the ways they were made vulnerable, by being made subject to physical violence and food shortages. In the days that followed, some inhabitants were cut off from food and other essential subsistence. Davidette Wilson, a twenty-seven-year-old man, remarked, There is nowhere to go for our daily bread. He pointed to his exasperation about the lack of sustenance. Bread, a basic necessity for life, was scant. Wilsons account showed the atrocious side of a lockdown, the close-ordered approach that left some residents in a situation where food was sacrificed for the possibility of spreading contagion. Beyond that, he also contended with the cruelty and inherent violence of being unable to subsist in a state of militarized quarantine.

Another chilling report revealed peoples severed connections with their networks who lived outside of West Point. Patrick Wesseh, another West Point resident, asserted in a critique of the forced lockdown: It is inhumane. They cant suddenly lock us up without any warning. How are our children going to eat? For people, including Wilson and Wesseh, the quarantine was an unsettling experience that not only set up a physical barrier between the neighborhood and the rest of the city but outlined how they could easily be cut from essential services  the military could circumscribe the poor.

Among the people living in this neighborhood was David Anan. Then thirty-four, he asked gun-carrying Liberian soldiers, You fight Ebola with arms? For many Africans, living in a postcolonial con- text, militarization has been prioritized over care or harm reduction methods. Liberians, like Anan, were profoundly disturbed by the deluge of arms.

Knowing the physical and mental cost of confinement, the consensus was that the quarantine caused more harm than good. When the Liberian army met residents, the West Point community navigated in the best way they could  they revolted. Some people hurled rocks and stormed barbed-wire barricades, trying to break out, and others shouted as much as they could. For days, they filled the streets, which felt worthwhile given that very little autonomy or community discussion had been organized by the government. Unable or unwilling to address their concerns in a humane way, the government decided to take action.

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On August 20, 2014, a barrage of military men, mainly from the Liberian army, entered West Point and shot live ammunition at a crowd protesting the lockdown. In the carnage, there were grim images, clearly indicating the explicit hostility of state repression. These snapshots confront the viewer with a fiery if not existential crisis. The armed men invaded the neighborhood, expecting coercion.

They intuited that punishment  through ordnance and terror  would calm the populace. What they witnessed was tumult.

Author Edna Bonhomme

After ten days of violence, a teenager was killed, leading community members to mourn. Grotesque as it was, the quarantine cast a shadow on how West Point residents were seen. Among the most powerless in the country, they were confined to this space, while white and non-African people who contracted Ebola were evacuated from Liberia. This was an indication that the public health assessment and the response were predicated not only on science but on what scholar Adia Benton has described as an assessment about the value of life. That governments response is an indication of how little working poor Africans are valued.

Lockdowns, such as the one at West Point, are not evidence-based. They are an institutional means of controlling a group that has little dominion. When the quarantine ended, it was not merely about this neighborhood, or Liberia, or West Africa  but the fiction that poor African lives can be confined and disrupted without fair compensation. This wasnt unique to Liberia; the lockdown was ap- plied to other nations in the region. Eventually, several Global North countries restricted travelers from Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone, which led to political isolation.

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The quarantine became the central point of dissent, not just because it restricted African travel but because there was a difference between how low-income West Africans were managed in the outbreak. Journalist Clair MacDougall contended, The government exodus contributes to a sense among citizens that Liberias wealthy and powerful have left the countrys poor to fend for them- selves. Many expatriates who work for non-governmental organizations and international companies have been evacuated, and their lavish apartments with 24-hour electricity and running water are now empty. MacDougall questioned the wayward politics and the double standard that exist in Liberia but on a global scale. Who is afforded quality healthcare and the ability to move and who is told to isolate, without funds, travel, or a livelihood?

The 2014 outbreak in Liberia showed that quarantine was not enough. Infectious disease specialist Amesh Adalja wrote, While decisive action is needed to combat Ebola and other diseases, the quarantine of a geographic location applied to a people without evidence of infection functions not to control but to promote its further development. Besides lacking scientific credibility or moral standing, quarantining West Point assumed that all seventy thousand residents at West Point were incubating Ebola. To understand the outrage and the stakes of the matter, one has to consider how pre-existing social structures amplify inequities.

The lockdown was not just an inward event that trapped a com- munity into a hostile environment; it was heavy, overwhelming, an example of what the late philosopher Lauren Berlant called slow death. The lives of poor Liberians were temporarily suspended, bracketed by confinement, while those with far more resources could transcend it.

By August 2014, the WHO considered West Africa  not Ebola  a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. That is to say, the region, rather than the disease itself, was considered a public health risk, even though, by that time, there were cases in Italy, Spain, the UK, and the United States. The preliminary mismanagement of the Ebola virus outbreak and cordoning of West Point conflated militarization with health but did little to salve the cuts that wounded Liberian society. During the brief stretch of time that they were enacted, the policies had little to do with the life cycle of the microbe. If public health officials had looked at historical examples, they might have been able to provide more pointed and effective measures.

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Copyright  2025 by Edna Bonhomme. From the forthcoming book A HISTORY OF THE WORLD IN SIX PLAGUES: How Contagion, Class, and Captivity Shaped Us, from Cholera to COVID-19 by Edna Bonhomme to be published by One Signal Publishers, a Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. Printed by permission.

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(Bloomberg) -- Ecuador President Daniel Noboas plan to revitalize the nations biggest oil field is crumbling as he scrambles to secure re-election weeks before a runoff vote.

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Since striking a deal last year to hand Ecuadors Sacha field to Sinopetrol, an obscure consortium of foreign oil companies, Noboa has faced mounting criticism over his handling of the deal. His finance minister, Juan Carlos Vega, resigned over it, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named discussing private matters. And his rival for the presidency, socialist candidate Luisa Gonzalez, has said she would revoke the arrangement if elected in the April 13 runoff.

Although Sachas revival, which is critical for Ecuadors ailing economy, depends on foreign investment, critics spanning party lines have blasted Noboas approach to finding an operator for the asset and questioned whether the consortium  consisting of Amodaimi, a subsidiary of Chinas Sinopec, and Petrolia, a unit of Canadas New Stratus Energy Inc.  has the cash and expertise to boost production.

Amid the controversy, Noboa last week threatened to cancel the contract unless Sinopetrol pays a $1.5 billion entry bonus by March 11, about a month earlier than agreed. The accelerated deadline sets a practically insurmountable challenge for the consortium, leading analysts to speculate that Noboa is deliberately trying to scuttle the deal in an attempt to save his candidacy after edging out Gonzalez by just 15,000 votes in the first round of the election.

The damage has already been done, but hes limiting his losses said Sebastian Hurtado, head of political risk consultancy Profitas in Quito. Former Oil Minister Fernando Santos separately characterized Noboas ultimatum as a pretext to end the negotiations elegantly.

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Noboas office didnt immediately return a request for comment, but the president affirmed the deadline during an event in Guayaquil Monday. We are going to keep our word, he said of the deal, according to newspaper El Universo. If the bonus isnt paid tomorrow, then it wont go ahead.

Raising Sachas output would provide revenue for whichever candidate wins the election, but the promised $1.5 billion would have given Noboa an immediate fiscal shot in the arm, regardless of the deals long-term benefits.

Ecuadorian officials have long aimed to boost Ecuadors output to 1 million barrels a day but financial instability, bureaucratic dysfunction and disputes with foreign oil companies have all hampered progress. Production from the nations top field has fallen 15% from a 2014 peak of 560,000 barrels a day. Petroecuador produces 80% of the nations output with the rest pumped by a dozen mostly foreign companies.

Critics of the Sinopetrol deal argue Noboa should have held an open bidding process for the field rather than hand-picking the consortium. They also take issue with the production sharing agreement, which would allow Sinopetrol to profit from all production rather than just new production. Lastly, theyve raised questions about whether New Stratus  which is registered in Canada by a handful of Venezuelan executives and produces just 1,131 barrels of oil equivalent a day  can feasibly enhance the Sacha field.

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As recently as 2022, Ecuador blocked New Stratus from taking over a much smaller field from Repsol SA. Santos, the oil minister at the time, characterized the producer as a minuscule company unable to prove any capacity. Two years earlier, the nation blocked Sinopec from acquiring Sacha itself in a tender. Ecuadorian law requires that the buyer of a field must demonstrate the same or better technical and economic capabilities as the seller.

Petrolia has pledged to raise funds from third parties to put up its $600 million for the bonus, even going as far as planning to sell shares. While the company declined to comment on Noboas ultimatum, its general manager, Ramiro Paez told Teleamazonas Monday the consortium is making all efforts to obtain the funds as requested, adding that Noboa was putting them in a very urgent situation.

Representatives of Amodaimi and the Chinese embassys trade attache in Quito didnt respond to messages.

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Key provisions of a plan to overhaul New Mexico's per-student formula for financing public K-12 education are raising concerns even as the proposal nears the finish line.

State lawmakers already have allocated $4.4 billion for education spending  the single biggest piece of New Mexico's proposed budget for fiscal year 2026.

House Bill 63, the result of two years of inquiry by the Legislative Education Study Committee, would make some changes to how the state divvies that money by student, offering up targeted funds for English learners and altering the state's method for identifying students in poverty.

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It also lays out extra funding for most middle and high school students; while, the proposal sailed through the Senate Education Committee with unanimous support Monday, whether it will secure the additional money for secondary students remains uncertain.

In House Appropriations and Finance, in the budget-making process, the increase to the secondary factor  the large increase that we had  didnt make it into the budget, the bill's sponsor, Rep. Andres Romero, D-Albuquerque, told the committee.

Charter schools also voiced concerns about a potential loss of funds because of the bill's changes.

New Mexicos education funding formula, known as the State Equalization Guarantee, provides money to schools based on the number of students they serve, with each student currently worth about $6,000 per year.

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But the formula also factors in certain student attributes  such as grade level, special education services, family income level and participation in fine arts or other specialty programs  in calculating the total dollar amount a student will bring to their school as a way to account for additional and sometimes more expensive needs.

House Bill 63 proposes a few big changes to the State Equalization Guarantee.

First, it would calculate schools "at-risk" funding  a special pot of money intended to address the needs of students in groups considered at risk of failing  based on the Family Income Index, a measure established by the Legislature in 2021 to better estimate the number of students living in poverty at each public school.

That change, Romero said, would provide a better way to really pinpoint which schools generated those funds and how they're using them to better support students.

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Second, HB 63 would create a new financial factor in the funding formula, creating a stand-alone credit to support identified services to assist English learners to attain English language proficiency.

English learners were previously included as one of several factors in the at-risk category.

The original version of the bill proposed a third major change: An increase in state spending for middle and high schools, intended to target the downturn in proficiency and attendance that typically comes during those years.

Changes in the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, however, struck those increases for all but sixth grade. Additional dollars for seventh through 12th graders did not make it into the committee's budget proposal.

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Lawmakers haven't given up on extra funding for secondary students, though.

"Were working with the [Senate] Finance Committee about putting that funding back into the budget over on this side," said Sen. Bill Soules, D-Las Cruces.

Another sticking point for the bill: Charter schools worry about proposed technical changes that would allow them to generate their own at-risk index based on their number of students in poverty, rather than using figures from their home school district.

On the whole, that's not a bad thing, said Matt Pahl, executive director of Public Charter Schools of New Mexico.

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"This has been something charter schools have been wanting for a number of years  the ability to generate our own at-risk index," Pahl told the committee.

However, the change could provide a charter school with more or less at-risk funding  depending on how different it is from its home district.

The bill currently includes an extra $5 million cushion, intended to keep state education funds for charter schools steady for one year, even if the updated funding formula would call for decreases.

Romero, who represents much of Albuquerque's South Valley, noted some charter schools in his area could benefit from the change because they serve a higher population of at-risk students than Albuquerque Public Schools overall.

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Jason Morgan, principal of the Academy for Technology and the Classics in Santa Fe, said the district-chartered school would see a drop of about $200,000. Morgan asked lawmakers to consider extending what's known as the "hold harmless" period  when current funding levels would be maintained  to three years.

"A one-year hold harmless means we're going to be preparing for that now. A three-year hold harmless gives us a minute to breathe," Morgan said.

Romero said he's open to making that change and plans to prioritize it throughout the interim period between legislative sessions, though it ultimately will depend on the will of the state's financial committees.
The energy efficiency of Ed Milibands home was only fractionally improved by installing a heat pump, online records reveal.

Energy performance certificates (EPCs) are at the heart of the energy secretarys net zero drive, but they have been heavily criticised for inconsistencies and guesswork.

EPCs for Mr Milibands north London home, which were done before and after renovations, show he lost two bedrooms worth of floor space in a year.

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Labours energy secretary is forcing landlords to achieve an adequate EPC rating within five years, or be banned from letting to tenants. The Government is also encouraging households to install heat pumps in order to hit its net zero goals, and wants 600,000 installed each year by 2028.

However, critics have pointed out that EPC assessments are often based on guesswork that can lead to inconsistencies, and Mr Milibands own rating appears to be an example of this very problem.

It comes as Mr Miliband faces a Cabinet backlash led by Rachel Reeves, amid concerns the energy secretarys net zero drive risks hampering growth and will threaten thousands of industrial jobs.

It has been suggested that Sir Keir Starmer will sideline net zero in a dash for growth, putting Mr Miliband at risk of losing his job in an upcoming Cabinet reshuffle.

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EPCs assign a grade of A to G based on a propertys perceived efficiency, and suggest how homeowners can renovate a home to improve its score. All certificates are published online.

Mr Milibands home barely scraped a D grade with 57 points, when it was assessed in 2023. The assessor said it had a potential energy rating of 74  a C grade.

The energy secretarys home was assessed a year later by Elmhurst Energy, during which time EPC documents show he had switched from a gas boiler to a heat pump as part of considerable work done to the property.

The green heating system lowered the homes carbon emission from 12 tonnes to 4.5 tonnes, but the propertys energy rating only rose to a C grade as a result.

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Chris Norris, of the National Residential Landlords Association, said he was unsurprised a heat pump had little impact on Mr Milibands EPC.

He said: At present, the metrics used are focused on cost of heating, and gas is significantly cheaper per unit than electricity.

It is perfectly possible, as things stand, for an EPC score to deteriorate if switching from gas to electricity as the primary heating fuel. Changing this is one of the policies being consulted on by the Government.

Installing a heat pump can reduce your homes energy efficiency because electricity costs more than gas in Britain due to higher taxes.

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Furthermore, the recorded floorspace of Mr Milibands property was assessed as being 252 square metres  30 square metres less than had been recorded in the previous assessment only a year before.

Elmhurst Energy, which carried out the second assessment, said the more recent floor measurement was consistent with a much older EPC assessment carried out in 2009 by the company. The 2023 assessment was done by a different company, a spokesman said.

One explanation for the change in recorded floor space is that the home no longer makes use of a basement or roof space as a habitable area, the Building Services Research and Information Association said.

The assessor responsible for the new grade is a former hypnotherapist who retrained to be an assessor five years ago. He told The Telegraph that the training took only around a week to complete.

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He said: A lot of the time its low-paid  estate agents just use you. Were the lowest of the low, really. EPCs dont have a very good reputation.

Dr Toby Gledhill, who led a PhD study into the flaws in EPCs, said of the energy ministers assessments: The floor area has shrunk quite substantially, by more than 10pc between these two EPCs which are only a year apart.

The smaller floor area means a reduced volume of space to heat, which leads to greater economy and this is reflected in the improved energy rating of the more recent EPC.

Domestic energy assessors (DEAs) use a methodology called reduced data standard assessment, which does not require extensive measurements and relies on some assumptions  and the discrepancy may just be a result of inaccuracy.

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A Telegraph investigation revealed in February that EPC assessments are often plagued by inconsistencies in floor measurements as a result of poorly trained assessors. In the case of Mr Milibands home, there are inconsistencies in the way the floor insulation is recorded.

In the first, the floor was recorded as being solid with no insulation, while a year later it was insulated.

Tom Garrigan, of the Building Services Research and Information Association, said of Mr Milibands two EPCs: If you took the address off both certificates, you would have no idea they were the same house.

Its difficult to say whether any remedial works have been done, or whether they were able to physically check insulation when they couldnt before.

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It does beg the question around the policing of EPCs because surely if a house goes from 287 square metres to 225, I would expect something in the EPC to explain why that is.

Stuart Fairlie, managing director of Elmhurst Energy, said: We have long called for EPC assessments to be carried out each time significant work on a property is completed, or when energy efficiency improvements are made.

This is currently being considered as part of the Governments major EPC reforms. More up-to-date EPCs will help us gather a much better picture of every homes energy efficiency, running costs and carbon emissions.

The Government was contacted for comment.

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Donald Trump is doing everything he can to help his friend Vladimir Putin prevail in Russias three-year long invasion of Ukraine and unfortunately its working on the battlefield.

Following the infamous Oval Office ambush by Trump and Vice President JD Vance of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the U.S. suspended military and intelligence assistance to Ukraine, followed in short order by even commercial satellite support, a decision one Ukrainian officer has said already led to hundreds of dead as Russia uses the opportunity to pummel them.

This certainly does make an imminent end to the war likelier, but with Moscows victory, not in a negotiated settlement way. These actions have hampered Ukraines capabilities to the point that it has weakened Kyivs leverage and negotiating position and made it more likely to essentially lose outright, which is an outcome that Trump increasingly seems to be publicly open to, or at least indifferent about. There are a few potential explanations for this, none of which are good.

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Perhaps Trump genuinely wants to aid Putin, either because the Kremlin leader really has some direct sway over him or Trump simply admires the despot and his consolidation of power.

Perhaps its exclusively because Zelenskyy just did not prostrate himself sufficiently enough at Trumps feet, and in the only language Trump understands he has to be the winner or the dominant party in any exchange.

Perhaps Trump quite simply does not care or even understand why supporting Ukraine in its efforts to defend itself from the unprovoked invasion is both a correct moral and practical choice.

What seems to have most set Trump off during his Oval Office tantrum was Zelenskyys suggestion that the U.S. might be sitting pretty now but would feel the impact of an emboldened and aggressive Russia later on. Trump interrupted him, yelling you dont know that and dont tell us what were going to feel. He seems to believe, for whatever reason, that Putin could prevail in Ukraine, surely supercharging his designs against the rest of Europe  our longtime allies as well  and that none of this is going to blow back on the United States.

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Already, irreparable harm has been done. In addition to the lives lost and at risk in Ukraine as the U.S. pulls back on critical military and intelligence supports, even if Ukraine receives an outpouring of support from the rest of Europe and continues to hold its own and eventually prevail, the trust and cooperation painstakingly built in the decades of the post-WWII order will have collapsed, torpedoed by Trump in less than two months.

We are pleased to see that wiser leaders in France, Germany, the U.K. and elsewhere are waking up to the reality that theres no U.S. cavalry over the hill and they must beef up their own intelligence and military capabilities, though they will have to do so fast.

In this version of the future, though, it is not all of us together, like it was in the aftermath of 9/11, the only time that NATOs Article 5 was invoked and our allies came to our assistance when we were attacked. In this version, the U.S. is an adversary, and well all be worse off for it.

___
A bill in Springfield could land parents in jail if they dont fill out paperwork properly.

It sounds outlandish, but thats one of the components of House Bill 2827, referred to as the Homeschool Act.

Proponents sell it as legislation to properly regulate homeschooling in Illinois. Homeschooling is currently the fastest growing form of education in the United States. The true number of homeschooled children is likely to remain unknown without adequate notification and oversight, legislation authors wrote.

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Sponsored by Democratic Rep. Terra Costa Howard, D-Lombard, the bill is in response to an investigation by ProPublica and Capitol News Illinois that spotlighted Illinois lack of homeschool oversight compared with most other states. Nearly 4,500 Illinois children were recorded as withdrawn from public school for homeschooling in 2022, according to that investigation.

Aspects of this measure make sense to us. It would be helpful to see basic enrollment information in order to understand how many kids are in public vs. private school, as well as homeschools. This data would be instructive for education policymakers and families alike.

If that were all the bill required, we dont think it would be controversial. But theres much more to the measure, provisions that make it unreasonable and overly intrusive.

If parents failed to fill out homeschool paperwork properly or give local education authorities timely notice of their intent to homeschool, they could be charged with a Class C misdemeanor, an offense punishable by up to 30 days in jail. That paperwork would include a yet-to-be-created form including detailed personal information on homeschool students.

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The bill outlines a minimum set of information requirements  things like student date of birth, address and names of parents and guardians  but there are no restrictions on what additional data could be mandated, meaning its scope could easily expand. We dislike the open-ended nature of this information-collection regimen.

State bureaucrats also could demand that parents provide information on what theyre teaching, as well as detailed information on student progress, and theres little in the bill on what would prompt such a review. Its understandable to want to combat neglect, but its unclear from the legislation what would prompt a curriculum and progress review, making this provision prone to misunderstandings and allowing bureaucrats to substitute their judgment for parents. The cure in this case easily could be worse than the problem.

Making matters worse, the Homeschool Act isnt just about homeschooling. It also creates new rules and information-sharing requirements for private schools.

Why are private schools getting roped into the Homeschool Act? If passed, the act would give the state vastly more oversight not just for homeschooling families, but also private school families, mandating that private schools would be subject to these same information-sharing requirements, which violates a basic trust between the school and the family, as the Catholic Conference of Illinois put it. It would be much more reasonable to simply ask private schools to give enrollment numbers and test scores. Most private schools across the state operate on tight budgets, with limited staffing to handle administrative tasks. New bureaucratic requirements are an unfunded state mandate that would strain these schools.

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Is that unintentional? Maybe, but this wouldnt be the first time state legislation has taken aim at non-public education. A 2021 bill sought to impose tougher standards and penalties on private schools during the COVID lockdown period when those schools opened back up well before their public counterparts, a point of contention with public-school teacher unions. Like now, parents revolted against this proposal, seeing it as an attempt to weaken private schools and impede their ability to operate.

Why, we ask, are politicians focusing so much attention on homeschooling and private school accountability when, statewide, only 30% of fourth-graders in the public school system can read at grade level?

Whats the sales pitch? Come to public school, where theres a 30% chance you might learn to read? We wish our lawmakers were spending more of their time pursuing ideas to improve our public schools instead of impeding private ones.

One of the reasons more students are opting out of public school is that COVID and remote learning forced many parents to be more hands-on with their childrens educational instruction  and they chose to stick with that arrangement because it worked for them.

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The bottom line is this: Instead of asking why so many people are leaving public schools and seeking to address those issues, some politicians instead want to make it more difficult to leave in the first place.

No wonder the Homeschool Act has stiff opposition. Over 1,000 people joined a protest against the measure last week. More than 21,000 people filed witness slips in opposition to the bill, with fewer than 500 slipping in support as of writing. Were not surprised by this reaction. The Homeschool Act is scheduled for a committee hearing soon. We hope it does not advance.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
At the Illinois Holocaust Museum, soon to undergo a major renovation, a heart-tugging special exhibit in Skokie explores the internment of Japanese Americans in U.S. prison camps during World War II.

Front and center as visitors enter the exhibit? An executive order from the desk of then-President Franklin Roosevelt.

The notorious Order 9066 paved the way for imprisoning citizens, declaring the West Coast a war zone and thus permitting it to be cleared of anyone with Japanese heritage after the Pearl Harbor attack. Shamefully, more than 120,000 people were rounded up under threat of arrest and moved to harsh makeshift camps under armed guard.

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Americans have been hearing a lot about executive orders since President Donald Trump took office in January. During his speech to a joint session of Congress, Trump bragged about already having signed more than 100 executive orders (some in front of cameras) and taking more than 400 executive actions  piling them up at a much faster pace than he did during his first term.

Courts across the country are considering challenges, upholding some of Trumps orders for now and temporarily blocking others. People losing their minds over this spectacle need to remember that executive orders numbering in the hundreds are part of every modern administration, as are the court challenges.

Presidential orders and actions shaped American history long before Trump, for good and bad.

Illinois Republican Abraham Lincoln authored the Emancipation Proclamation, leaving no doubt the Civil War was being fought for civil rights. And before his terrible wartime order locking up blameless citizens, Roosevelt used executive orders to push through his New Deal.

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Those who oppose a presidents orders typically demonize them, as Democrats have done with Trump. His disrespect for the rule of law was unprecedented, the Heritage Foundation once wrote. That judgment wasnt about Trump, but rather President Bill Clinton, whose orders expanding federal regulations and environmental protections aggravated the conservative group, which went on to publish the Project 2025 playbook that featured so prominently at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Through executive action, Trump has launched jarring attacks on civil servants, immigrants in the country without legal permission, LGTBQ people and anyone involved in diversity initiatives. He pardoned felons who attacked police in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, while also targeting government watchdogs. He canceled predecessor Joe Bidens executive orders addressing climate change, among others.

With Congress in the hands of Trumps GOP, the pressure very much is on the judiciary to call balls and strikes.

Executive orders are unlawful if they override federal laws and statutes, and the president cannot use them to sidestep checks and balances, such as the power vested in Congress to make new laws or vested in the courts to determine if an executive action is constitutional.

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Trump already has run afoul of the Constitution with his order meant to curb birthright citizenship. It has become ever more apparent that to our president, the rule of law is but an impediment to his policy goals, wrote U.S. District Judge John Coughenour, a Ronald Reagan appointee who has blocked Trumps order  which we hope was a bit of political theater rather than a serious effort to overturn the 14th Amendments explicit guarantee.

While we expect similar court decisions to follow as the president tests the limits of his executive power, we also expect that much of Trumps agenda will survive court challenges. For better or worse.

As history demonstrates, even lawful orders can still cause harm. Trumps decision to rescind President Lyndon Johnsons order setting civil rights obligations for federal contractors does not conflict with any statute, for instance, but his action still undermines civil liberties. Trumps pardons of the Jan. 6 criminals also are firmly within his legal purview under the Constitution although they shocked many Americans and understandably so.

Plus, Americans cant always count on the courts to get it right. In the case of Roosevelts Order 9066, the Supreme Court, by a 6-3 vote, upheld the internment of Japanese Americans. The consequences were awful, and the Holocaust Museum exhibit does a good job showing how awful: Japanese Americans lost their homes, family heirlooms and treasured possessions, pets, properties, farms, jobs and businesses.

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Most importantly, they lost their personal liberty for years.

The exhibit goes on to document how being treated as enemies took a traumatic toll on those incarcerated, who faced barriers to resettlement after the war ended and the camps finally were closed. There were no silver linings, though the exhibit documents how many Japanese Americans anticipating a hostile reception on the West Coast instead sought a fresh start in Chicago, forming mutual aid groups and making a new home in a new city they helped grow and flourish through their remarkable efforts that impacted multiple generations of Chicagoans.

One lesson to be learned? Humility.

Some of the presidents most devoted followers like to think of the U.S. as uniquely virtuous and their hero as practically infallible. But to avoid repeating Americas past sins, its critical to acknowledge them when they occur and that includes Order 9066. Believing presidents can do no wrong exposes our great country to the risk of committing more wrongs in the future.

_____
The Education Department will begin cutting more than 1,300 people from its workforce and terminating some of its office leases across the country this week, as part of the Trump administration's broader effort to cull the size of the U.S. governments smallest Cabinet agency.

An agency official told reporters Tuesday that the job cuts being finalized over the coming weeks are expected to affect roughly half of the agency's workforce.

The official said the department, which employs about 4,130 people, focused on cutting teams whose operations are redundant or not necessary to serve its core functions. But they also cast the announcement as another step in remaking the agency ahead of the president's still-unreleased executive order to dismantle it .

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Todays RIF reflects our commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement about the reduction in force posted to social media.

I appreciate the work of the dedicated public servants and their contributions to the Department, she said. This is a significant step toward restoring the greatness of the United States education system.

The agency said the cuts would not affect the work of its Federal Student Aid office and civil rights investigators, or how the department distributes federal funding for low-income and disabled students.

"We have a department now that exists largely to oversee contractors, add strings, and in many cases, do duplicative efforts across the department," the official said.

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Employees affected by Tuesday's announced force reduction will have 90 days until they are actually terminated and will receive full pay and benefits during this time, in addition to severance pay.

Tuesday's announced job cuts come atop approximately 259 employees who have already accepted a "deferred resignation" from the Trump administration that's intended to cover their pay and benefits through September. An additional 313 workers accepted a buyout offer that promised the equivalent of severance pay or $25,000, whichever was less.

The department said approximately 2,200 employees will be left once Tuesday's force reduction take effect atop the resignations and buyouts.

Earlier on Tuesday, the agency closed its Washington-area offices for "security reasons related to the mass firing plan, according to a department official and a notice sent to agency employees.

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Department employees were told to vacate the building by 6 p.m., according to the Tuesday notice, and have been allowed to work from home on Wednesday if they have approved telework agreements.

"Employees will not be permitted in any ED facility on Wednesday, March 12th, for any reason," the message said.

All offices were set to reopen to in-person work on March 13th, according to the notice.

The department official said the 1,315 employees affected by Tuesday's job cuts will work remotely until next week, when they will be placed on administrative leave until their formal termination in 90 days. The department also plans to consolidate its Washington operations into one building  instead of three  in the capital, the official said.

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Tuesday's telework plans sparked significant confusion ahead of the planned staff cuts.

The American Federation of Government Employees, the union representing the agency's rank and file, told staffers that supervisors have likely already terminated remote and telework arrangements for many employees when complying with Trumps return-to-work order from earlier this year.

If you are within the commuting area and not on an active telework agreement, we recommend informing your supervisor that you do not have an active telework agreement and requesting clarification on how to code your administrative leave for tomorrow, the union said in an email.

Tuesdays announcement also arrived hours after a group of former agency employees, union and political leaders assembled outside the departments headquarters to protest staff cuts and Trumps pending executive order.

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Every student will feel the impact of a decision to dismantle the department, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), a member of the House education and workforce committee, said during Tuesdays protest. Rural students will feel it. Students in poor communities will feel it. LGBTQ+ students and students of color will feel it. College students who rely on Pell Grants and Federal Student Aid will feel it. And students in special education all will be locked out.

Hand-written signs could be seen in the agency headquarters building windows above Tuesday's demonstration as officials spoke. We miss you, read one. SOS, said another. Save ED.

But Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said Trump's education agenda aligns with "where we conservatives and most of America have always been."

The Department of Education has got a bunch of bureaucrats here in DC. Do they really make a difference for a sixth-grader in Champaign County going to a local school? No, Jordan told POLITICO on Tuesday. They probably make life more difficult for the teacher who's actually interacting with the kid on a daily basis. You'll see buy-in from Republicans on his goals with the department.

Rebecca Carballo and Amanda Friedman contributed to this report.
Editors note: This report has been updated to specify the justification used by the Department of Education for the investigations.

(The Hill)  The Department of Educations Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is investigating 60 universities for antisemitism, according to letters sent on Monday.

The department said the 60 institutions are receiving warnings due to allegedly not complying with Title IX obligations to protect Jewish students.

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The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better, said Education Secretary Linda McMahon.

U.S. colleges and universities benefit from enormous public investments funded by U.S. taxpayers. That support is a privilege and it is contingent on scrupulous adherence to federal antidiscrimination laws, she added.

The list includes Ivy League schools such as Harvard and smaller schools such as Middlebury College.

The letters come after the federal government cut off $400 million in funding to Columbia University over alleged inaction in handling antisemitism complaints and OCR announced prioritization in addressing the backlog of antisemitism allegations at schools with its office.

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The action also comes days after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested a Columbia University graduate student with a green card who led pro-Palestinian protests.

The escalation in investigations and threats has had some effect on schools.

Harvard University said Monday it was implementing a hiring freeze due to uncertainties around federal policy and funding concerns and the University of California, Los Angeles, announced it is starting a new initiative to combat antisemitism on campus.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL)  A Tennessee bill that would let public school systems charge tuition to undocumented students  and require all systems to check all students legal status  could sow anxiety in immigrant communities if it became law, a local school official said Monday.

I think most of them would cooperate because they are very cooperative, law abiding, Unicoi County Schools Federal Programs Director Mike Riddell told News Channel 11. He was speaking of the rural systems sizeable Hispanic community that does include some families that havent been in the area for very long  and almost certainly at least a few with family members who arent in the United States legally.

More area flood victims say their FEMA checks have been stolen

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I do think there would be some maybe trepidation and fear on the part of (students) initially enrolling, Riddell said. That would be my biggest fear is, on the front end they just wouldnt enroll them in school because they would know that that was going to be required of them upon enrollment.

The bill, which heads to a House committee Tuesday after narrowly passing the Senate Education Committee last week (three of eight Republicans voted no), would mandate that systems document the status of students who enroll. School systems would also have the option of charging tuition to students whose paperwork doesnt prove they are either citizens, legally in the country on some other status, or in the process of obtaining citizenship.

Thats a marked departure from how school systems interpret federal law when it comes to educating K-12 students.

We dont ask for citizenship status, Riddell said. We dont ask for Social Security number, any of that. When a student enrolls here, we ask for proof of residence that they reside in our county because thats required.

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A 1982 Supreme Court decision, Plyler v Doe, found that the nations public school systems must provide what Riddell referred to as  free and appropriate education regardless of legal residency status.

That means any student or child, 18 or under, that comes into our school system, we enroll them and we educate them. Thats based upon federal law  as interpreted by the court system up to this point in time.

Riddell said Unicoi County employs four English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers.

Weve had a little bit of an uptick in the number of students, but not enough that we cant fund it or take care of it, he said of the cost of providing ESL services.

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Missy Testerman teaches ESL and directs the program for the Rogersville City Schools and is the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO)s National Teacher of the Year. She said funding ESL programs hasnt stressed most school systems budgets, as various federal income streams and state TISA funds leave little for local districts to cover.

The most expensive students to educate are actually those students who are enrolled in career technical education programs, which are so important, Testerman said. But I have a concern if we begin to use the excuse that we cannot educate students because theyre costly, will that then trickle down to disabled students that require additional service?

Documentation piece raises additional concerns

Testerman said shes concerned that mandated gathering of information may be as much of an impetus for the bill as any desire to help systems save or recoup some money.

Thats a place thats difficult for my heart to go, because honestly, it just does not make sense to choose to not educate every student whos in your state, Testerman said. So when were thinking along those lines, that makes it very uncomfortable for me. But yes, those thoughts do enter my mind.

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Testerman said she was surprised to see the bill nearly die in the education committee. Republicans Ferrell Haile (Gallatin), Mark Pody (Lebanon) and Kerry Roberts (Springfield) joined Memphis Democrat Raumesh Akbari in opposing the bill, which passed 5-4.

Im really, really thankful for the courageous leadership, Testerman said, referring to the Republicans who voted against.

Its just bad practice for our students, its bad practice for our state, she said. When we have companies moving into our state to establish industry, theyre doing so because they feel as though they can locate workers within our state.

Moves like this are just going to demonstrate that were not serious about educating all of our students and on down the road that will affect the types of industry that move into Tennessee, and it is that industry that allows us to be prosperous.

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McKenna Cox, a local attorney, said she believes the bill is intended at least as much to challenge federal precedent as it is to offer school systems a chance to recoup some money.

I think they want to have that bill passed, certain members of the legislature, have that bill go up and eventually, hopefully make it to the Supreme Court on a writ of certiorari and be heard and reexamine that entire precedential decision, Cox said.

Testerman said if that is the case, as a taxpayer, I find that a waste of taxpayer funds to pass legislation solely with the intent of being able to litigate it.

If the bill were to pass and become law in Tennessee or another state, Cox said she believes groups like the Southern Poverty Law Center or American Civil Liberties Union are poised to challenge it  provided they can find plaintiffs.

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Do they want to come forward and and put themselves in the spotlight that way, especially in light of the current attitude towards immigrants in this country at the moment, she said.

While Riddell said he didnt foresee great difficulty in setting up a vetting system for new enrollees if it came to it, Testerman and Cox both expressed concern about that as well.

How are we going to determine what is a valid immigration document and what is not? Cox said.

Its a challenge for most judges. Its a challenge for most folks who are not involved and steeped in this immigrant and immigration milieu. And so to put that burden on schools, I mean, they have enough to do as it is, seems like an additional stretch, an additional burden and an additional cost.

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Even Testerman, whos worked with a number of immigrant families, said she expects compliance would be difficult.

Theyre not experts on the authenticity of paperwork, and its going to put another burden on school systems to comply with regulatory things when our focus needs to be on educating our students, the veteran of more than three decades in the classroom said.

Cox said the Plyler v Doe decision found that all children present in the U.S. are protected by the Constitutions 14th Amendment, and particularly the Equal Protection Clause, when it comes to public education. Reversing that, she said, could not only jeopardize childrens education  it could potentially subject families to a greater risk of deportation.

The bill shields any lists of student legal status from public information requests, but Cox isnt sure that would apply to authorities.

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Theyll be in Tennessee Department of Education records, and those records might be accessible to Tennessee agencies that then can share with a federal government agency or an immigration enforcement agency or local and state law enforcement, she said.

News Channel 11 reached out to Sen. Rusty Crowe (R-Johnson City), a co-sponsor who voted for the bill in last weeks education committee meeting, asking several questions about his hopes for what the bill would accomplish. The station repeated questions asked last week but has not received a response.

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KIEV, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Kiev aims to discuss the launch of a peace process during talks with the United States, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported Tuesday, quoting Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine's presidential office.

"We believe that it is necessary to discuss the most important thing -- how to start this process. We are very open, and want to have a constructive, deep, friendly, partnership conversation with our American partners," said Yermak, also a member of the Ukrainian delegation participating in negotiations with the United States in Saudi Arabia.

He stressed the need to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine during the negotiations.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, another member of the Ukrainian delegation, wrote on the social media platform X, "We see this meeting as a great opportunity to advance peace and develop the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership."

Describing the atmosphere at the meeting as "constructive," he emphasized that Ukraine seeks peace "as no one else."

The meeting between Ukrainian and U.S. delegations started on Tuesday in the Saudi city of Jeddah. 
Millions of American women have a different last name than whats on their birth certificates, and House Republicans have prioritized a bill that voting rights groups say could make it harder for them to vote.

Several voting rights groups warn the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act  which purportedly aims to block non-citizens from voting, something that is already illegal  will pose a barrier for millions of American women and others who have changed their legal name because of marriage, assimilation or to better align with their gender identity. They also worry it will disenfranchise others from marginalized communities who are less likely to have the necessary documentation readily available. While the SAVE Act faces longer odds in the Senate, it may have a better chance than when it was debated last year.

It will make it so that people in this country who have every right to vote cant vote, and for no good reason, said Hannah Fried, co-founder and executive director of All Voting is Local, a voting rights organization. We dont need this hurdle. Only citizens are voting in this country. We have other checks and balances, and this is just a demonstrably unnecessary piece of legislation.

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Lauren Kunis, the CEO and executive director of VoteRiders, an organization that helps Americans obtain identification, said that getting the underlying documentation needed to register to vote can be a bureaucratic nightmare for many as is.

We have lots of experience in helping people track down and order vital documents that are increasingly being proposed as required for voter registration, she said. So were watching with a lot of concern.

A key Republican lawmaker who is sponsoring the bill in the House and the GOP majority on the House committee overseeing election administration dispute that characterization and claim there will be a way for American citizens to address issues they may face with identification.

The legislation provides a myriad ways for people to prove citizenship and explicitly directs States to establish a process for individuals to register to vote if there are discrepancies in their proof of citizenship documents due to something like a name change, said Rep. Chip Roy of Texas in a statement.

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Roy and other Republicans have followed the lead of President Donald Trump in spreading the false narrative that ineligible immigrants vote or could be able to vote in large numbers. States have also attempted legislation to ban something that is already illegal. Laws similar to the SAVE Act in Kansas and Arizona have been struck down by judges who said they were unconstitutional and disenfranchised Americans.

This is giving oxygen to a misleading narrative, to an outright lie that noncitizens are voting in federal elections, Kunis said. We know that is not happening, and its really disappointing to see this narrative being given such a prominent spot in the public discourse.

The bill would require an individual to present in person a passport, birth certificate or other citizenship document when registering to vote or updating their voter registration information.

Such a requirement could pose barriers for large swaths of Americans: More than 9 percent of citizens of voting age  or 21.3 million people  do not have documents readily available that prove their citizenship, per a study from VoteRiders, Public Wise, the Brennan Center for Justice and the Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement at the University of Maryland. People of color are more likely than White Americans to lack documentary proof of citizenship, the study found.

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Christina Harvey, executive director of Stand Up America, a voting rights organization, noted the impact of such a bill on rural voters who may not have access to proof of citizenship.

In pushing this legislation, House Republicans  between poor and rural voters and married women  ironically seem to be attacking the voting rights of many of their own folks who are voting for them in their states, she said.

An estimated 69 million American women and 4 million men do not have a birth certificate that matches their current legal name, according to the liberal Center for American Progress.

Roy, a sponsor of the bill, said the legislation directs states to create a process so people can prove their citizenship if their name doesnt match their birth certificate.

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Roy called questions about the bills impact on Americans absurd armchair speculation.

This bill isnt being attacked because itll exclude citizens from voting  it wont, Roy said in his statement. Its being attacked because the policy is wildly popular with the American people, its opponents want and need illegals to vote, and theyll use anything they can to attack it.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Republican majority on the House Committee on Administration also called claims that the bill would disenfranchise married women voters false.

As long as documentation can be provided that shows citizenship and married status, there should not be any issues when registering to vote, the spokesperson said. Providing proof of citizenship is not a new concept.

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House Democrats, for their part, are reintroducing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, a bill to restore provisions of the landmark voting rights law that the Supreme Court struck down in 2013. The bill has little to no chance of passing in a Republican-controlled Congress, but Democratic leaders are centering voting rights in their messaging.

At a news conference Wednesday, House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark called the SAVE Act an effort to trick and mislead the American people.

It is built on a false premise that there are noncitizens voting in large numbers that are swaying elections. That is a complete lie, and they know it, she said. And what is the answer to that? Make it harder for women in this country to vote, who changed their names because they got married? That is voter suppression wrapped up in some sort of immigration argument.

Eliza Sweren-Becker, senior counsel for the voting rights program at the Brennan Center for Justice, said that text does not establish clear rules for people who have changed their names, particularly married women.

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It would eliminate popular methods of voter registration, such as online, mail, and registration drives  forcing people to come into election offices that are already facing staffing shortages, according to Sweren-Becker.

That would be an extraordinary burden and absolute chaos for election officials, reshaping who is able to participate in the democratic process, she said.

It would make new voter registration so difficult, it would make updating your voter registration so difficult  that is why we absolutely need to raise awareness of the disastrous implications of this bill, Kunis said.

Harvey added that the bill includes penalties for election workers  a predominantly women-led workforce that has already experienced years of harassment and threats due in part to election denialism pushed by Trump and others  who must administer and enforce the law and any rules spelled out on discrepancies in paperwork.

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So any thought that, Oh, well, my local election workers know me, or If I just go in to change my address, it would be fine because Ive been voting in this state or county for years  thats not going to happen when our election workers are actually facing jail time if they get it wrong and dont impose this law, she said.

Kunis said the discussion over the SAVE Act, and similar bills filed in state legislatures, strikes at the heart of key questions of who belongs in American democracy.

The 2026 midterms may seem very far away, but these legislative debates taking place right now will shape how and if eligible voters are able to make their voices heard, Kunis said. This is not just moving the goal posts  this is like ripping the goal post out of the field and throwing it to the next town over.

The post An effort to block non-citizens from voting could impact married women, too appeared first on The 19th.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 58-year-old El Paso man was killed over the weekend when he tried to make a left turn, failed to yield the right of way and was T-boned by another vehicle, El Paso Police said.

Police say 58-year-old Javier Camacho Armendariz was killed in a crash late Friday night, March 7 in South-Central El Paso near the Chamizal National Memorial.

1 person seriously hurt in crash in South-Central El Paso

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The crash happened shortly before midnight at the intersection of Delta Drive and San Marcial Street.

Police say Armendariz was traveling south on San Marcial and tried to make a left turn onto Delta.

He failed to yield the right of way and was T-boned by another vehicle, police said.

Armendariz was transported to a local hospital where he later died, police said.

Police continue to investigate the crash.

This is the 10th traffic fatility in the El Paso city limits compared to 12 at the same time last year.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  An El Paso woman was arrested for allegedly defrauding a federal Covid-19 relief program, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas said.

According to court documents, Araceli Benitez, 46, was the owner of an insurance and tax services company and a home health services company.

Between April 2020 and Dec. 31, 2022, she allegedly submitted fraudulent loan applications and requests for fund disbursement to the Paycheck Protection Program. The PPP is a federal Covid-19 pandemic relief program administered by the Small Business Administration.

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Benitez allegedly submitted 156 loan applications totaling more than $2.3 million, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

The indictment, filed Jan. 22, alleges Benitez attracted and induced clients to hire her to apply for PPP loans through paid radio commercials and social media  usually in Spanish, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

She allegedly sent and caused to be sent to a credit union PPP loan applications that contained misrepresentations and omissions, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

Without her clients knowledge, Benitez allegedly included false federal income tax documentation, false information about her clients businesses, and false information about her clients need and qualifications, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

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Benitez was arrested March 7 and is charged with seven counts of wire fraud; eight counts of bank fraud; two counts of money laundering; one count of structuring transactions to evade reporting requirement; two counts of aggravated identity theft; and one count of false or fictitious claims, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

If convicted, she faces up to 30 years in prison, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

The FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigations are investigating the case.

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PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  An elderly Woodbridge woman was conned out of over $100,000 over the course of a year, leading to two peoples arrest in February, police in Prince William County said.

The Prince Wiliam County Police Department (PWCPD) said a year-long investigation into the money scheme concluded on Feb. 28.

The investigation revealed that a 77-year-old woman was contacted by a man who said she had won a large amount of money and a vehicle, and that she needed to pay the fees to collect the prize winnings.

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WATCH: NTSB shares update on deadly January collision near Reagan National Airport

Over the next several months, the woman had multiple conversations with the suspects, later identified as 31-year-old Darien Deventon Smith and 32-year-old Sheniece Elaine Smith, both of whom are from Connecticut.

PWCPD said the woman opened multiple bank accounts and gave debit cards to the Smiths. She also purchased money orders and tried to buy a car.

Detectives said the suspects took over $130,000 from the woman over several months.

Darien and Sheneice Smith were arrested in Connecticut on Feb. 28 and charged with obtaining money by false pretenses and conspiracy to commit a felony.

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Massachusetts is at an elevated risk for fires.

The state is experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions, meaning theres a danger for brush and wildfires.

The Chief Fire Warden of DCR Dave Celino said Tuesday that the state started seeing fires as early as January this year.

Celino said 76 wildfires have already scorched the state since the beginning of 2025.

Our concern is that the drought conditions from the Fall of 24 never really let up, he said.

Back in October and November 2024, thousands of acres of land burned because of brush fires.

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Celino said all the fuels were drying out, including large, dead logs which are all susceptible to burning. October started seeing an uptick in fires with 220 burned by the end of the month.

In total, Celino said there were almost 663 fires across the state with 4,000 acres burned by the end of the year.

It was an unprecedented event for us in modern terms. Its not like New England hasnt been here before, he said.

Typically, Massachusetts averages 15 to 20 wildfires in the months of October and November.

Now the concern for fires is back. Celino said, the fuels that were a problem for us in the fall are now free of snow pack and have not really absorbed a lot of moisture, weve not had a lot of rain. And so were seeing these fuels as the temperatures warm, were getting these drying days with some drying winds, and now were starting to see fire activity pick up for what is our traditional fire season in the Spring.

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In Massachusetts local fire departments have jurisdiction over these fires even on state land.

DCR Forest Fire Control provides a specialized wildland fire mutual aid asset for them.

They are made up 13 District Fire Wardens and 48 seasonal firefighters in the spring who started this week.

One of the big boosts in horsepower that they bring is that we get our fire towers manned out there and that really helps us in early detection to get eyes on smoke that is popping up, said Celino.

Celino also said awareness of surroundings is key to avoid these fires from sparking.

Temperatures, humidity, and the winds that were expecting today are all elements that are going to strongly influence wildfire behavior today.

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Celino reminds to be very aware during open burning season.

Even if a permit is issues, he said, make sure you have water at the ready and separate your brush pile from your burn pile.

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Elon Musks social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter, faced significant outages on Monday. It affected thousands of users in the US and the UK. They were unable to access the service. The disruption, which lasted for several hours, was later attributed to a massive cyberattack by Musk himself.

Heres what happened and how Musk responded.

What did Elon Musk say about the X outage?

On Monday afternoon, Elon Musk took to X to address the outage, aka the widespread technical issues that plagued the platform throughout the day. In a post, Musk revealed, There was (still is) a massive cyberattack against X. We get attacked every day, but this was done with a lot of resources. Either a large, coordinated group and/or a country is involved. Tracing.

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During an interview with Fox Business, Musk elaborated further, stating that the attack appeared to originate from IP addresses linked to the Ukraine region. Furthermore, he added, But there was a massive cyber-attack to try and bring down the X system with [Internet Protocol] addresses originating in the Ukraine area.

The outage began early Monday morning, with users first reporting issues around 5:30 a.m. ET. After a brief period of stability, another wave of disruptions hit at 9:30 a.m. ET, followed by a third spike in Twitter going down around 11 a.m. ET.

The Elon Musks X outages were likely caused by a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack, according to Alp Toker, director of Netblocks, a cybersecurity organization specializing in monitoring internet connectivity. The patterns we observed align with previous DDoS incidents, where a platform is flooded with traffic to overwhelm its servers, Toker explained. He added that the outage, which lasted over six hours, was one of the longest disruptions ever recorded for X/Twitter. (Via BBC)

The post Elon Musk Addresses X Outage, Calls It Massive Cyberattack appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Elon Musk did an enormous favor for the loyal opposition.

He gave the Democrats a leader to rally around and to push back against the shock and awe of the Trump White House.

Just when it seemed the Democrats had fallen and could not get up, Mark Kelly went to Kiev and told the world that Ukraines people and brave soldiers deserve our moral and material support.

For this, Musk called Kelly a traitor.

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We tolerate a lot of blue language on our social media channels and even from the mouths of national leaders.

But the word traitor used against Kelly is an obscenity that no American should tolerate.

Kellys demonstration of patriotism

Kelly is a former Navy pilot who flew 39 combat missions. Hes a former astronaut who clocked more than 50 days in space. He proved his patriotism by putting his life on the line over decades.

Today that has steeled him with the moral authority to stand up to the Republican wrecking crew that is playing masters of the universe from the Oval Office.

No doubt Musk was appalled at Kellys tweets in which he criticized the administration for its disjointed and madcap policy on the Ukraine war.

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"The world will become a very cold and lonely place if we continue this ridiculous screw you, go it alone foreign policy, wrote Kelly. "Its dumb and it wont age well and puts you and your kids and your grandkids at risk. America is the strongest, richest country in the world.

Kelly assured Americans that the Ukrainians are fighting for democratic values and did not start this war, as our president has falsely said.

It appears that Musk, who has entree to the Trump inner circle, is upset that Kelly is pushing back against the presidents strategy to pressure Ukraine  more than it has the aggressor, Russia -- to get to the peace table.

Kelly violates a foreign policy tradition

He appears to be calling out Kelly for violating an American tradition that Politics stops at the waters edge.

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Those are the words of Arthur Vandenberg, a Republican senator from a very different time in America when this country came to the rescue of our Democratic allies in World War II and helped rebuild war-torn Europe.

In the eyes of many, the Trump White House is taking a wrecking ball to the Atlantic alliance that Vandenbergs generation built through the Marshall Plan and NATO.

In seven weeks, this White House has practiced chainsaw diplomacy, turning our closest neighbors  Canada and Mexico  into seething rivals, sowing hatred and disgust among our European allies, giving succor to the Russian strongman Vladimir Putin, who invaded Ukraine.

Our president has hit the kill switch on Ukraine funding, told its president he is a dictator and warmonger, and cut off vital intelligence to Ukrainian soldiers in the field.

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That last action so shocked senior figures in the British Ministry of Defense that one of them told The Times of London, it shows that Trump and his administration "are prepared to have civilian blood on their hands.

If Kelly is a traitor because he breached protocol, then the people running our government should be indicted for high treason.

This is a White House that smashes guardrails

They blow through so many red lines on any given morning that our allies are holding their breath waiting for the next.

Kelly and the Democrats have a duty to stand up to the Trump White House and demand answers for a foreign policy that is wreaking more destruction than producing peace.

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Even our most sympathetic allies in Great Britain, who have been trying to guide U.S. policy on the war to a more reasonable place, are challenged daily by Trump.

A political ally of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told The Times that the Americans have become a psychic burden. Honestly the mood changes with every news cycle. Take Article 5 (in which an attack on one NATO member is an attack on all). The big win from the PMs trip to Washington was to get Trump to publicly recommit to mutual defense. And yet look what he did yesterday  hes opened it all up again.

Ultimately its the hope that kills you.

If the Republicans are going to wing it on American foreign policy, the Democrats have more than a right to challenge them. They have a duty.

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Traitors dont show up for duty.

Mark Kelly just did with a wrench. And hes holding it defiantly against the chainsaw.

Phil Boas is an editorial columnist with The Arizona Republic. Email him at phil.boas@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sen. Kelly is no traitor. US must not tolerate Musk's insult | Opinion
Donald Trumps administration claims Elon Musks so-called Department of Government Efficiency is shielded from public records searches.

But a federal judge says the U.S. DOGE Service is wielding so much unprecedented authority with unusual secrecy that the agency must comply with public records requests.

DOGE wields the requisite substantial independent authority to be subject to requests under the Freedom of Information Act, according to a late-night filing from District Judge Christopher Cooper in Washington, D.C., referring to federal law that allows members of the public to seek federal records.

Elon Musks work with the U.S. DOGE Service is subject to public records searches, according to a ruling from a federal judge in Washington, D.C. (AP)

Musks project to gut federal agencies and purge the workforce is not subject to FOIA, government lawyers wrote last month.

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Cooper argued that the administration appears to be making a strategic decision to dodge questions about DOGEs operations and management, qualifying itself as an agency subject to federal law only when it is convenient, he wrote.

The authority exercised by [DOGE] across the federal government and the dramatic cuts it has apparently made with no congressional input appear to be unprecedented, Cooper wrote Monday.

The judges decision opens DOGE to requests for range of documents, including emails, memos, notes and other records that detail how the agency works and who runs it.

DOGE  formerly the U.S. Digital Service, which operated as a government-wide IT agency before Trump renamed it by executive order  should be insulated from public records requests until at least 2034, according to the White House.

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The office was reorganized under the Executive Office of the President and was now subject to Presidential Records, DOGE official Katie Miller said last month.

The Presidential Records Act shields most documents and communication involving the president, advisers and staff from the public for until five years after leaving office.

In his ruling, Cooper pointed to Musk and Trump publicly taking credit for drastic cuts to federal spending, including Musks X post boasting about feeding the U.S. Agency for International Development into the wood chipper.

The rapid pace of [DOGEs] actions, in turn, requires the quick release of information about its structure and activities, Cooper wrote. That is especially so given the secrecy with which DOGE has operated.

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Cooper also noted the Department of Justices apparent failure to provide formal assurance that the office is properly maintaining records, as well as news reports that DOGE staff is using the encrypted messaging app Signal to communicate, arguing that the mostly young employees who do not have government experience to put it charitably, may not fully appreciate their obligations to preserve federal records.

Musk has stated that DOGE  and all aspects of the government  should be fully transparent and accountable to the people, with no exceptions.

The White House continues to insist hes not the one running it, nor does he have authority to make any decisions himself. Trump, however, has repeatedly said Musk is in charge. The White House only recently named the acting administrator of DOGE after weeks of attempts from attorneys and members of the press to find out who is allegedly running the agency. The appointment of Amy Gleason to the role appeared to catch her and USDS staff by surprise.

Protesters gather outside a Tesla dealership in Manhattan to demonstrate against Elon Musk on March 8 (Getty Images)

Mondays ruling follows a lawsuit from nonprofit watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which called on the judge to enforce time-sensitive records requests and to grant a court order that would require DOGE to preserve them.

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Cooper stopped short of granting CREWs request to make materials public before Congress reconvened this week but agreed there was an urgent need to release them.

He called on the government to submit a report by March 20 with an estimate for the number of documents that apply to CREWs requests.

Were grateful for Judge Coopers decision. Now more than ever, Americans deserve transparency in their government, CREW executive director and chief counsel Donald Sherman said in a statement. Despite efforts and claims to the contrary, the government cannot hide the actions of the US DOGE Service. We look forward to the expedited processing of our requests and making all the DOGE documents public.
Elon Musks partnership with Donald Trump has turned the technology mogul into a folk hero inside the Republican Party, with a political platform and relationship with grassroots voters all his ownsecond in popularity and stature only to the president.

Musk recently dazzled a packed ballroom of Trumps Make America Great Again activists at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference near Washington, D.C. A Republican operative and regular CPAC attendee described the crowd as transfixed by him. Trump, the GOPs most effective grassroots fundraiser, has even started featuring Musk in appeals targeting donors who contribute in small amounts, sending out emails with subject lines like Elon Musk is Dark MAGA! and Im hoping to share your response with Elon Musk!

The worlds richest man is leading Trumps high-profile initiative to slash the federal workforce and find budget savings via the Department of Government Efficiency, a temporary executive branch agency, making him perhaps the most prominent figure in the administration underneath the president. But veteran Republican insiders say Musks stock on the right has been on the rise since at least October 2022 when he purchased Twitter. His image skyrocketed after he endorsed Trump last July and poured nearly $300 million of his personal fortune into the campaign.

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That both Musk and DOGE are under fire from Democrats and facing intense media scrutiny makes the Republican base love him more. Its the same dynamic that helped Trump cultivate a loyal following on the right during his initial years as a politician.

Elon has become something of a folk hero amongst based Republicans, Gregg Keller, a Republican strategist in St. Louis, told The Dispatch. Hes the richest man in the world, brilliant, aggressive, confident and quirky in an endearing wayand its clear to all of us that the president loves the guy, which makes us love him all the more.

The 53-year-olds exalted business success is certainly an aspect of his appeal on the right. Musk is the CEO of Tesla, the founder of space exploration group SpaceX and satellite communications company Starlink. And, as of Monday, is estimated by Forbes to be worth well north of $300 billion.

But the linchpins of Musks popularity are his makeover of the social media platform Twitter (now X) and his quasi-religious devotion to Trump.

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Conservatives believenot without some meritthat Twitter was hostile to Republican politicians and policies alike, along with center-right influencers and opinions. Indeed, they accuse the platform under previous ownership of willful and systematic censorship, while promoting Democrats and liberal thought. The changes Musk made, conservatives argue, reestablished principles of free speech on the platform. Musks subsequent decision to back Trumps quest to return to the White House, especially the way he threw himself into the endeavor, skyrocketed and sealed the goodwill Republicans have come to feel for him.

Musk did not just write a big check, although he did. He did not just underwrite a super PACAmerica PACfunding critical voter turnout operations in key battleground states, although he did.

Musk practically lived in Pennsylvania during the homestretch of the 2024 campaign, traveling the commonwealth to headline town hall-style events during which, as The Dispatch witnessed firsthand in suburban Philadelphia, he would field audience questions for hours in a bid to boost voter registration and turnout for Trump. Musk became a political celebrity with a fanatical following as well, by harnessing his political popularity and his ubiquity on X, interacting with rank-and-file platform users and chastising Republican officials he deems insufficiently supportive of the president.

In the history of Republican politics, there has never been a figure quite like Musk, explained Matthew Continetti, author of The Right: The Hundred-Year War for American Conservatism and director of domestic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank in Washington, D.C.

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I cant think of a precedent, Continetti told The Dispatch in an email. Musk is J.P. Morgan, Harry Hopkins, and Rush Limbaugh rolled into one.

How popular is Musk? Last month, his favorable rating with Republican voters reached 75 percent, including 44 percent who had a very favorable opinion of Musk, according to the GOP polling firm Echelon Insights, which has been tracking the billionaires image for the last three years. Meanwhile, among independents, Musk last month registered a favorability of just 36 percent. Democrats gave him an abysmal, although hardly surprising, 13 percent.

A Republican pollster unaffiliated with Echelon Insights told The Dispatch that Musk is, without exception in his private surveys for clients, more well known than Vice President J.D. Vance and just slightly less known than Trump. Elon is the second-most well known public figure among Republican primary voters, this GOP strategist said, requesting anonymity to discuss Vances standing in the party.

This helps explain why Republicans in Congress have avoided criticizing Musk publicly, even as they grew frustrated with the cuts and firings at federal departments he has spearheaded via the Department of Government Efficiency. (Steve Bannon is among the few Trump allies willing to speak ill of Musk to reporters, telling The Dispatch in late January that DOGEs leader considers American workers to be useless human beings that get in the way  and hes profited off their exploitation.)

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Congressional Republicans have been plenty critical privately, however, as have members of Trumps Cabinet, with complaints revolving around Musks haphazard approach to axing government programs and workers. House and Senate Republicans are worried about political blowback at home ahead of the 2026 midterm elections; Trumps Cabinet secretaries dont appreciate having their power diminished inside their own departments and complain its undermining their ability to effectively carry out their jobs.

Perhaps thats why Trump has somewhat reined in Musk, declaring in a social media post that the DOGE team will recommend spending and personnel cuts but cabinet secretaries will have final authority going forward. I have instructed the Secretaries and Leadership to work with DOGE on Cost Cutting measures and Staffing, Trump said. 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.

But as The Dispatch reported in late January, Musks close working relationship with Trump remains intact, say knowledgeable Republican operatives, who requested anonymity to discuss both the president and Musk.

The Trump-Elon relationship is only growing stronger, a GOP strategist said Monday. The way to understand the presidents move to curtail DOGEs independence, added a Trumpworld Republican insider, is that hes bringing order and precision to the cost-cutting process. Thats not the same as Trump losing his affection for him. Musk is surviving, the Trumpworld insider said, as is DOGEs White House mandate.

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Its institutionalizing itself, this source said. The week-by-week thermometer-check on how your relationship is with the presidentif I were the DOGE team, Id be feeling pretty confident.

Musks staying power with Trump might also rest on the unique political benefits the partnership gives the president. Besides Musks bank account and the wide reach of his social media platform X, the businessman is a worldwide celebrity who lends Trump, 79, a trendy, youthful vigor and future-oriented optimism.

In politics, second acts can be difficult to pull off. Voters get bored, or leadership styles and legislative agendas wear thin. Musk, Republican insiders say, helped make Trump new again despite having dominated American politics for nearly a decade.

It doesnt hurt that Musk is so admired among technology executives and manosphere influencers so eminent with the young male voters and who, in tandem, helped seal Trumps return to the White House after four years out of power. Joe Rogan, who endorsed Trump over then-Vice President Kamala Harris and whose The Joe Rogan Experience might be the most listened to podcast of this politically important genre, had Musk back on his show in late February.

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Musk was an actual value-add in the campaignespecially with young men. Hes this Tony Stark-like figure and I think it helped Trump, an old baby boomer, bridge a generational gap, Brad Todd, a Republican strategist in Washington, D.C., told The Dispatch. One of things with having Elon in the administration is adding an element of newness that Trump couldnt come up with himself.

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Publicly insulting one of your biggest customers is not taught in business school, but Elon Musk is not one to let convention get in the way of a good flame war.

Over the weekend, Musk and Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, fresh off their own reported cabinet room spat, ganged up on Radosaw Sikorski, the Polish foreign minister, after he dared to challenge Musks view of the war in Ukraine.

Musk asserted that his Starlink satellite internet system was the backbone of the Ukrainian army and that their entire front line would collapse if I turned it off. Sikorski then pointed out that Poland was paying for much of the service, and indicated the country could look for alternatives.

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The mere suggestion prompted a spiky response from Rubio, who channelled JD Vance by demanding that Poland say thank you for a service it was paying for, and insisted that nobody had threatened to cut off Starlink. Musk, less diplomatically, called Sikorski a small man, and declared that there was no alternative to the internet satellite system he has spent billions building.

Rubio may be correct that nobody has threatened to cut off Starlink. But the idea that it might be does not seem entirely implausible, given that the US has already cut Ukraines access to satellite imagery, Western intelligence and military aid.

The US military has partly funded Ukraines access to Starlink, and Musk is a central part of a US administration that believes it can bring Ukraine to the negotiating table by cutting off support.

At this point, it would be negligent for Ukraines allies not to consider the possibility that the thousands of Starlink receivers the country has employed at the front line over the past three years could cease to function overnight.

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Musk is right that Ukraines front line is hugely dependent on the high-speed, low latency connections that Starlink offers. Unlike conventional broadband and mobile networks, which are vulnerable to infrastructure bombardment and cyber warfare, Starlink is resilient and secure, allowing fast communication as well as advanced drone warfare.

Failing to anticipate its usefulness was perhaps one of Putins big strategic blunders; if Russia had invaded a year or two earlier, when Starlinks satellite constellation was a fraction of its 2022 size, resistance may have been far less capable. This is not to mention the thousands of terminals that have kept schools and hospitals online.

Ukraines front line is hugely dependent on the high-speed, low latency connections that Starlink offers - Clodagh Kilcoyne/REUTERS

Musk is also correct that the system is, as things stand, irreplaceable. In recent days, European tech circles have been frenetic with excitement about the possibility of a home-grown alternative to Starlink. Shares in Eutelsat, the French owner of the London-based Starlink rival OneWeb, have risen by 500pc since Trumps Oval Office shouting match with Volodymyr Zelensky.

The company said last week it was ready to swiftly deploy equipment to Ukraine, and that it was already operating in the country. Eva Berneke, Eutelsats chief executive, told Bloomberg that the company could replace Starlink in a couple of months, a timeline that nobody seriously believes.

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Other alternatives including Viasat, the owner of British network Inmarsat, has enthusiastically offered to step up, and says it is in talks with European governments about replacing Musks operation.

This is wishful thinking. The truth is that none of these networks is remotely close to matching Starlink, which has a gaping advantage in both performance and cost.

Musks rocket power means the company has built up a tremendous lead. Starlink has a constellation of some 7,000 satellites in lower-Earth orbit beaming internet down to the surface, more than 10 times the 630 OneWeb has put up. Each OneWeb satellite can cover more ground, but few would argue the two networks are on a par. It would be like comparing dial-up to fibre-optic broadband.

Each Starlink ground receiver costs a few hundred dollars and is small enough to fit in a bag  a happy consequence of the companys attempt to drive down costs to serve millions of consumers. In comparison, each OneWeb receiver costs thousands of dollars.

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That does not mean ceding the skies to Musk, though, and Starlinks lead is hardly unassailable. Strange though it may sound, it is not prohibitively difficult, or expensive, to set up a satellite internet network. Ofcom has licensed seven in the UK alone, including Amazons upcoming Kuiper system and Canadas Telesat. The cost of launching satellites, once astronomical, has collapsed, largely because of Musks own SpaceX, which for now, at least, remains content to ferry rivals into orbit.

It is very possible that Starlink is in a similar position today to Tesla several years ago  enjoying a clear technical lead, but vulnerable to the inevitable rise of fast followers. It turned out that plenty of carmakers, new and old, were capable of building electric vehicles, leading Teslas share of the market to steadily slip.

Technological advantages are difficult to maintain and Musks increasing attention on politics, rather than his business interests, could mean rivals spy an opening. The lengthy outages on Musks social media site X on Monday only seemed to serve as the latest evidence that the billionaire may have taken his eye off the ball.

Starlink is also not immune to the political backlash that has seen many Tesla owners rethink whether they want to be seen driving a Musk motor. True, subscribing to satellite internet does not come with the same social peril as driving around a Maga hat on wheels, but plenty of governments might think twice.

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Last week, Ontario cancelled a C$100m (54m) contract with the company in response to Trumps tariffs. Italian prime minister Giorgia Melonis $1.5bn (1.2bn) deal with Starlink is also under increasing scrutiny after Musks outbursts.

Musks challengers may not arrive quickly enough for the people of Ukraine  but his monopoly over the skies will not last forever.

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This photo taken on March 11, 2025 shows posters of Greenland's parliamentary election candidates in Aasiaat, Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. (Photo by Zhang Quanwei/Xinhua)

OSLO, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, held its parliamentary election on Tuesday.

Over 40,420 eligible voters were able to cast their ballots at 72 polling stations across the territory. Polling stations opened at 9 a.m. local time (1100 GMT) and will close at 8 p.m. local time.

A total of 31 members will be elected to the Inatsisartut, Greenland's parliament, from among 213 candidates representing six political parties.

The composition of the new autonomous government will be determined based on the election results. Mute Egede, Greenlandic prime minister and leader of the Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA) party, described the election as a "decisive moment" for the island's future.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen sent her greetings via social media, saying, "I wish everyone in Greenland a very good election day."

In an interview published on Monday with Danish broadcaster DR, Egede said his immediate priority following the election, should he remain in power, will be to reaffirm Greenland's sovereignty.

"Greenland belongs to Greenlanders, no matter how many times the U.S. president claims he wants control over it," Egede asserted.

Since early this year, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated his desire to obtain Greenland, even suggesting the possibility of using force. 

People are seen at a poll station in Aasiaat, Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, March 11, 2025. (Photo by Zhang Quanwei/Xinhua)

This photo taken on March 11, 2025 shows posters of Greenland's parliamentary election candidates in Aasiaat, Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. (Photo by Zhang Quanwei/Xinhua)
Elon Musk, the worlds richest man and the head of Donald Trumps so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), wants massive cuts to Americas core safety-net programs.

Reports dont mean anything, youve got to actually take action, Musk said in an interview today on Fox Business Network, explaining that his goal is to slash up to $700 billion from entitlement programs  essential services and programs like Social Security, Medicaid, Medicaid, unemployment insurance, and food stamps.

Since Trump took office, DOGE and Musk have initiated mass firings across the government, while calling for numerous contracts and leases to be terminated. Trumps hatchet men have also specifically honed in on Social Security. Already, theyve closed 10 Social Security Administration field offices, with plans to close dozens more, while also eliminating workers who were meant to help seniors access their benefits. Social Security experts and insiders warn these cuts  and the DOGE teams access to data and operations they dont understand  threaten the programs ability to function, and could lead to checks not going out to seniors who rely on them.

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Trump and Musk have also repeatedly, falsely suggested that Social Security payments could be going out to dead people who are over 100 years old  or even 300 years old, as Trump claimed in his address to Congress last week. Musk has also asserted, with absolutely no basis, that Social Security is the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.

Musks slash-and-burn role in Trumps administration appears to be generating real blowback: Teslas stock has been plunging as vehicle sales decline, activists protest outside the companys showrooms, and vandals tag Cybertrucks with graffiti and dog feces.

Despite reporting from The Washington Post on today suggesting that DOGE officials are starting to worry about bad PR, Musk suggested later in the day he could push for big cuts to Social Security, Medicaid, and other safety-net programs.

The waste and fraud in entitlement spending  most of the federal spending is entitlements  thats the big one to eliminate, he said. Thats sort of half trillion, maybe $600-700 billion a year.

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There is no expert on the planet who thinks there is $700 billion worth of annual fraud in Americas safety net programs. Musk at one point in the interview cited a Government Accountability Office report that estimated that the government may lose between $233 billion and $521 billion annually to fraud, but that report covered the whole of the federal government  not just those programs. (The sizable frauds occurring in programs like Medicare and Medicaid are typically carried out by scam businesses, not recipients.)

Musks threat to safety net programs comes as Republican lawmakers prepare to slash $880 billion from Medicaid, the governments health insurance program for the poor, specifically so that Trump can give Americas wealthiest and big corporations another round of tax cuts.

Its easy to picture Trump and Musks repeated attacks on Social Security, Medicaid, and other safety net programs being a political liability for Republicans in 2026  especially if Trumps repeated tariff threats and Musks mass firings succeed in tanking the economy.

Today, Musk made clear whom he plans to scapegoat if his safety-net cuts enrage voters: undocumented immigrants.

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He let out a smile as he claimed the supposed $700 billion worth of fraud in entitlement programs is a mechanism by which the Democrats attract and retain illegal immigrants, by essentially paying them to come here and then turning them into voters. (It is illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, which is why it very rarely happens.)

This is why the Democrats are so upset about the situation, because theyre losing  if we turn off this gigantic money magnet for illegal immigrants, then they will leave and they will lose voters, Musk continued.

Musk, whos still worth an estimated $320 billion, more than anyone else on the planet, will surely continue to attack the most vulnerable members of our society. But if Musk and DOGE harm the safety net programs that Americans rely on, the public will suffer  and Republicans could very well lose actual voters.

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When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Elon Musk was hailed as one of Kyivs staunchest allies. A Russian malware attack crippled satellite communications across Ukraine, and officials frantically pleaded with the SpaceX founder to help.

Three years later, Musk has warned that Ukraines entire front line would collapse without SpaceXs satellite terminals, highlighting their critical role in the countrys defence against Russia. He has also used his platform X to repeatedly attack Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky, sharing false claims and calling for elections to replace him.

Its a sharp turnaround for the tech billionaire, who has joined the recent pile-on against the wartime leader, led by Donald Trump. This week, after X was targeted by a cyber attack, Musk blamed Ukraine. He then accused a US Democrat senator who visited Kyiv in a show of support of being a traitor.

Elon Musk has moved from supporting Ukraine to openly criticising its leader (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Looking back to the first day of Russias invasion, Mykhailo Fedorov, deputy prime minister of Ukraine, used Twitter to urge Musk to send the country SpaceX satellite terminals. We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations and to address sane Russians to stand, he posted.

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The billionaire obliged. Starlink service is now active in Ukraine, he replied. More terminals en route. On 26 February 2022, 500 Starlink terminals arrived in Ukraine.

Starlink's system is part of SpaceX's venture to provide high-speed internet to remote areas. It has been used extensively by the Ukrainian military throughout the war.

However, relations soon turned sour when the Tesla owner took it upon himself to help find an end to the war, suggesting Ukraine should cede some of its territory and hold new elections in areas annexed by Russia.

This is highly likely to be the outcome in the end  just a question of how many die before then, Musk wrote on Twitter, adding that another possible outcome would be nuclear war.

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Russia has >3 times population of Ukraine, so victory for Ukraine is unlikely in total war. If you care about the people of Ukraine, seek peace, the billionaire tweeted hours later.

Ukrainian officials, including President Zelensky hit back at Musk, with Ukrainian diplomat Andriy Melnyk saying: F*** off is my very diplomatic reply to you @elonmusk.

Musk soon backed down. SpaceXs out of pocket cost to enable and support Starlink in Ukraine is ~$80M so far, he tweeted. Our support for Russia is $0. Obviously, we are pro-Ukraine.

The X owner declared: The hell with it. Even though Starlink is still losing money & other companies are getting billions of taxpayer $, well just keep funding Ukraine govt for free.

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According to federal data analysed by The Independent, Musk's own companies have been promised or awarded nearly $21 billion by the US government since 2008.

The billionaire has continued to voice his criticisms of Ukraine and targeted American aid to Ukraine, questioning its accountability and purpose. His sharpest barbs have been aimed at Zelensky, scoffing at the Ukrainian presidents pleas for more support and mocking his insistence that Kyiv should not be forced into negotiations.

Previously, Musk focused the majority of his posts on the war in Ukraine more broadly, but in the past few months he has turned his attention to Ukraines president - at the same time as Trump began to publicly lambast him.

Since February alone, Musk has posted dozens of times taking shots at Zelensky, with many of these posts urging him to call an election, or accusing him of destroying his reputation.

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These posts since February alone have garnered over 600 million views, according to analysis from The Independent, and his posts on Ukraine and Zelensky overall have been viewed some 883 million times.

Musk has become an important figurehead in the second Trump administration, where he heads the US Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE. He has also used this position to wade into European politics and back far-right politicians across the continent. Musk often makes these remarks to his 219 million followers on X  the social media platform he purchased for $44bn in 2022.

Musk has followed Donald Trumps lead in taking a more aggressive stance against Voldymyr Zelensky (AFP/Getty)

Musk has been heavily criticised for allowing, and in some cases promoting, misinformation on the platform. An analysis published by the nonprofit Center for Countering Digital Hate found that nearly three-quarters of a sample of false or misleading posts about the 2024 US elections did not display accurate notes correcting the record.

The billionaire has himself backed the far-right, pro-Russian, anti-Muslim party in Germany and called Sir Keir Starmer an evil tyrant who runs a police state.

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In his most recent comments about the conflict, the X owner posted on his social media site: Ukraine needs to hold an election. Zelensky would lose by a landslide. The post has been viewed over 50 million times, with 250,000 likes, 45,000 reposts and 35,000 comments. As with many of Musks posts, the comments often repeat his talking points without challenge and spread the misinformation further.

Ukraine is unable to hold elections under the current martial law, imposed since Russia's invasion. Ukrainian opposition leaders have dismissed the idea of holding a wartime election too. Xs fact-checking tool, community notes, has yet to correct the record over this misinformation.

On 3 March, Musk accused the embattled Ukrainian president of wanting a forever war with Russia. This is evil, he added. In a separate post, he said Zelensky had a choice to seek peace with Moscow but was opting for bloodshed. This is cruel and inhumane. His posts about Ukraine on 2-3 March have garnered over 260 million views on X.

In February, he repeated an unsubstantiated claim from Trump that Zelenskys approval rating is 4 per cent. This time, his own fact-checking tool corrected him. In response so he vowed to fix it and claimed the fact-checking system he generally celebrates was being gamed by governments and the media.

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Mitali Mukherjee, acting director at the Reuters Institute, warned misinformation has become a useful tool by those in positions of power to disabuse news reportage that is critical of their actions.

Research from the institute found that 72 per cent of US online news users are concerned about distinguishing real from fake content. Platforms like X and TikTok are seen as the most challenging for finding trustworthy information.

X has seen declining user numbers in the last year. Last April, X had a reported 611 million global users, which dropped to 588 million users in September. The losses have been greatest in the US and UK.

While the idea of regulating the problem is tempting, this is neither an online only nor an X only challenge, Ms Mukherjee told The Independent. Media, and social media, are often blamed for polarization even though much of that narrative is pushed by powerful actors.

The Independent has contacted Elon Musk and X for comment.
Hayden Haynes, the chief of staff to Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson who was arrested for DUI after Donald Trumps speech to a joint session of Congress last week, couldnt complete a field sobriety test because he was so unstable, and in his jail cell dropped a full urine sample cup into the toilet.

Those are among the details in an affidavit from the arresting officer, which Politico published Monday.

According to the affidavit, Haynes, who was driving his white Tesla sedan, twice hit a black Chevy Suburban.

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The responding officer, after making Haynes park the car, noticed he was unsteady when he got out. After asking for Haynes' license and registration, the officer said he had an unsteady walk and fell into the passenger seat of his car.

Haynes had difficulty trying to get his registration of his vehicle and was slurring his words when voice activating his vehicle to open the glove compartment, according to the document.

Haynes, who told the officer he had had four drinks in four hours, needed assistance when keeping his balance to stand still and had a strong odor consistent of alcohol emanating from his breath.

Prior to the field sobriety test, Haynes needed help putting his glasses in his pocket, the affidavit states. And during the test, he was reminded multiple times to follow the pen light with his eyes.

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That test couldnt be completed, it goes on, due to Haynes constant swaying left to right, and leaning forward.

After being arrested and brought in for processing, Haynes was in his cell providing a urine sample when he dropped the full cup into the toilet, the affidavit continues. He ultimately wasnt able to provide any urine sample.

After learning of Haynes arrest, Johnson has publicly supported him.

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 last Wednesday to NBC News.

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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, he 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.

Haynes has been Johnsons chief of staff since Johnson took on the role in October 2023. In 2016, Haynes was Johnsons campaign manager when he ran for Congress in Louisiana.
A first grade student at the Green Mountain School waits to leave class at the end of the day on February 18, 2021 in Woodland, Washington amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Ordering schools closed was among the actions that Gov. Jay Inslee took in response to the virus at a time when vaccines were not available. Washington loosened guidelines to allow for a return to some in-person learning in December 2020. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

Bob Ferguson had only been Washingtons governor a few minutes when he said he could accept reasonable limits on the powers he could exercise in statewide emergencies.

A few weeks later, when a Republican state senators bill to add new guardrails stalled, he made a phone call to a key Democratic senator to get it moving.

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Now, the legislation is poised to lapse. That Democratic senator said if Ferguson had discussed desired wording changes with Senate Democrats, the bill might be on a different trajectory.

He didnt work with us on any changes, said Sen. Javier Valdez, D-Seattle, chair of the State Government, Tribal Affairs & Election Committee. If this was going to be a truly bipartisan bill, the governors office needed to be talking to not only one side but needed to be talking to both sides.

Senate Bill 5434 isnt dead, yet. It passed out of the Valdez-led committee on a party-line vote last month and was sent to the Rules Committee. It faces a deadline of 5 p.m. Wednesday to be brought out and voted on by the full Senate.

Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro-Woolley, the bills sponsor, said it is unlikely to advance because revisions made by Democrats on the state government committee would leave lawmakers with less influence than they have now and could allow some directives to stay in force longer than permitted under existing law.

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Wagoner said he would not push to pull an ineffective bill to the floor so we can say we did something.

Ferguson and his staff did not respond to a request for comment.

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Under Washington law, when a governor declares a state of emergency, they can prohibit a wide range of activities to preserve and maintain life, health, property and public safety. They also can waive enforcement of rules and legal obligations affecting all walks, public and private. An emergency declaration remains in effect until the governor cancels it.

Waivers or suspensions of limits or obligations in state law are restricted to 30 days unless extended by resolution by the Legislature, if it is in session, or in writing by leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives, if it is out of session.

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State lawmakers last updated provisions in the emergency powers law in 2019. The issue incited much debate throughout the pandemic as the emergency declaration issued by former Gov. Jay Inslee lasted nearly two-and-a-half years.

Wagoners original bill authorized the Legislature, if it is in session, to end a state of emergency by passage of a resolution in each chamber on a simple majority vote.

If the Legislature is not in session, and if more than 90 days have passed since a governor declared a state of emergency, the majority and minority leaders of the Senate and the speaker and minority leader of the House of Representatives can end it with a written agreement.

And the legislation also sets a 30-day limit on prohibited activities during a declared emergency, unless the Legislature agrees to extend the ban.

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Last month, the committee approved an amendment from Valdez to allow orders banning activities to stay in effect longer unless ended by the Legislature.

Before passing the Valdez amendment, the Democrat-led panel rejected changes proposed by Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview.

One provision sought to make it easier for lawmakers to be brought back into special session to consider ending orders that prohibit certain activities or ones that waive or suspend rules.

It said if the Legislature is not in session, two of the four members of House and Senate leadership could ask the governor in writing to convene a special session. In other words, the minority party could reach out, even if the majority party opposed.

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The governor would have 15 days to consider the request and call a special session. If one is not called, orders would automatically end.

Wagner said he worked on the language in Wilsons amendment with advisors for Ferguson, whose well-timed phone call earned the bill a hearing and a vote in committee.

I reached out to the governors team to see if they can help educate [Democrats] or influence them, Wagoner said following the committee vote. Otherwise we cant support the bill.

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Sen. Keith Wagoner serves on the Rules Committee.
The annual Cass County College & Career Expo is currently looking for area employers who would like to host a booth at the event.

Logansport High School will once again host the annual job fair from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22 at the Berry Bowl.

Local employers will have the opportunity to promote current job openings and share internship opportunities. They may also talk with students about the needed skill to work in their business or organization.

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High school students in attendance may also participate in small group Career Discovery Meetings with college representatives and employers.

The Career Discovery Meetings are set up for five students to meet in a small group for 30 minutes. These meetings will be conducted at the beginning of the Expo, giving business leaders an opportunity to meet with these students.

Indiana House Bill HEA-1002 requires each entity that wants to participate in the Career Discovery Meetings to complete a brief interest form to meet with the students. More information on the bill and how to prepare for the meetings can be found on the Indiana Commission for Higher Education website.

Under the bill, starting this school year, all junior and senior students in Indiana are required to meet with employers or college admission representatives to cover future career and educational opportunities.

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Employers interested in participating should contact Suzanne Dillman, associate director of enrollment services and admissions for Ivy Techs Kokomo service area, by email at sdillman@ivytech.edu or by telephone at 574-398-6090.

Representatives from colleges and universities across the state also will be on hand to discuss the career and educational opportunities they offer.

Event sponsors include the Logansport/Cass County Chamber of Commerce, Logansport High School and Ivy Tech Community College.

The event will be targeted at 10th- to 12th-grade students from Logansport High School and the Century Career Center and students and alumni from Ivy Tech as well as the general public. Chamber members have been invited to participate along with employers who work with Ivy Tech in recruiting new employees.
Steven Lovett, an Emporia State University attorney and author of the bill undermining faculty tenure at 32 Kansas public higher education institutions, outlined reasons for introducing the bill in the Kansas House. He said property rights tied to tenure were unnecessary to preserve academic freedom. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  The Emporia State University Faculty Senate passed an unscheduled, secret-ballot vote of no confidence in ESUs general counsel in the wake of his advocacy for legislation that would undermine tenure at state universities.

The no confidence vote in general counsel Steven Lovett is the latest development in turmoil over ESUs decision to terminate tenured faculty in the fall of 2022.

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Some of the fired professors in 2023 filed a federal lawsuit in which they argue that tenure is a property right that was unduly taken away from them. Earlier this year, Lovett, a defendant in the lawsuit, proposed a legislative solution that would retroactively abolish property rights inherent in tenure.

ESU spokeswoman Gwen Larson didnt answer questions for this story but previously said Lovett acted as a private citizen when he introduced House Bill 2348.

A House committee is poised to take action on the bill, which received support from Lovett, his wife and one other academic. The University of Kansas chancellor and Kansas State University president were among three dozen opponents who warned in a hearing last month that the proposal would harm state universities and jeopardize academic freedom.

ESU Faculty Senate president Mallory Bishop made a motion for a vote of no confidence in Lovett during a Faculty Senate meeting last week. Bishop, an untenured director of ethnic and gender studies at ESU, declined to comment for this story but outlined proceedings in an email she sent to all faculty March 6.

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This motion did not appear on the agenda, as my intention was to have an opportunity for Senators to vote without interference or undue influence, Bishop wrote in the email. This is not conventional, but our policies and procedures do not explicitly convey how to conduct a vote of no confidence.

Bishop may have violated the Kansas Open Meetings Act by not disclosing the motion on the agenda. She also conducted the vote by anonymous ballot, which would be unlawful for a vote on binding action. As she wrote in her email, the no confidence vote stands as an expression of Faculty Senate views.

The result, according to her email: 10 voted in favor, zero against, eight abstained, and two unnamed faculty members walked out of the meeting without voting.

Larson, the ESU spokeswoman, didnt respond to questions, including whether Bishops concerns about interference were reasonable, if the process undermines the credibility of the vote, and what significance, if any, ESU administration places on the vote.

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Nicholas Fleisher, associate professor and chair of linguistics at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, was the primary author of an American Association of University Professors report on ESU in 2023 that warned of the universitys attacks on academic freedom. He said in an interview for this story that the situation at ESU just sounds utterly dysfunctional.

Fleisher said it was utterly bizarre that Lovett was allowed to keep his job as general counsel after bringing a bill a that affects the entire university.

When we were interviewing people from ESU in the course of preparing the report, many people talked about precisely this kind of climate of fear and intimidation, Fleisher said. There were a number of people who made allegations that some of the folks who were chosen for termination were chosen because they had clashed with either the president or the dean or another administrator at some point.

He advised concerned faculty members to speak up.

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Staying silent doesnt really buy you much safety in the long term, Fleisher said. In this kind of situation, if youve got an administration that is behaving egregiously, its generally better to call it out, draw attention to it, try to oppose it, as early as possible.

The House Judiciary Committee could take action on Lovetts bill any day, but its fate remains uncertain.

During a hearing last month, Lovett said he wrote the two-page bill without direction from ESU president Ken Hush or anyone else. He argued the First Amendment protection of free speech should be sufficient to protect academic freedom at colleges and universities.

He also proclaimed that he was voluntarily surrendering his own tenure at ESU.

As the Legislature is examining government inefficiencies and costs, while demanding fiscal accountability and the elimination of waste, it is time to address the long-standing myth about tenure, Lovett wrote in testimony provided to the committee. The taxpayers of Kansas, and the higher education system of Kansas, should no longer be burdened by the unnecessary expense or operational paralysis of any state employees entitlement to his or her job.
As a proud American of Mexican heritage and the first Latino elected county commissioner in Tennessee, I value and appreciate our countrys diversity.

I am convinced that it is one of the pillars that has made our country the freest and most prosperous in the world.

Unfortunately, diversity has become corrupted in recent years.

Quotas are replacing meritocracy.

Instead of further embracing the Rev. Martin Luther Kings dream of living in a country where we are not defined by the color of our skin but by the content of our character  some want to make ones skin color one of the most important characteristics.

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This is wrong, and we must reject this corrosive way of thinking.

State law creating diversity hiring goals was unfair

The good news is that Americans are beginning to push back on this trend.

A change in Washington has supercharged these efforts at the federal level, but considerable work remains.

Closer to home, this is playing out in our local public schools  including in Rutherford County.

In 2019, state lawmakers passed legislation requiring school districts to adopt policies promoting educator diversity.

Opinion: Tennessee immigration bill pits public school educators against their students

While the intent behind diversity and quota initiatives sounds good, they ultimately raise serious concerns about fairness, effectiveness, and the true purpose of education.

Hire the best teachers regardless of their background

The primary flaw in diversity hiring mandates is that they place race and ethnicity above qualifications and experience.

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The argument that students need teachers who "look like them" ignores the fundamental purpose of education: academic excellence.

A great teacher is defined by their skill, dedication, and ability to inspire  not by their racial background.

School districts should focus on attracting and retaining the best teachers, regardless of race, to ensure students receive the highest quality education.

Consider effect of Supreme Court's affirmative action ruling

Although advocates argue that the 2019 law was not about quotas, the policy required local education agencies to set diversity goals and monitor progress.

Such measures, even when framed as aspirational, create pressure to hire candidates based on racial identity rather than merit.

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History has shown that when governments intervene in hiring practices with racial benchmarks, the outcome often mirrors affirmative action-style quotas, which the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled were unconstitutional in a decision concerning admissions at institutions of higher education..

The real issue in education is a shortage of teachers in general

The disparities in teacher demographics highlighted in the original essay are often framed as a crisis, but they overlook the real issue: a shortage of qualified teachers across the board.

Rather than focusing on increasing the number of teachers of a specific race, Tennessee should be working to recruit and retain the most skilled educators regardless of race. Period.

Moreover, the claim that students need teachers of their own race to succeed is not supported by definitive evidence.

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Many students excel under teachers of different backgrounds as long as they are competent and dedicated.

Cultivate a diverse workforce through pay and incentives

If Tennessee truly wants to improve diversity in education, the solution is not race-based hiring.

Instead, efforts should focus on ensuring equal access to high-quality education for all students, particularly in underserved communities.

Improving teacher pay, strengthening mentorship programs, and expanding scholarship opportunities for all aspiring teachers  regardless of race  would help organically cultivate a more diverse workforce.

Rather than rolling back standards in the name of representation, Tennessee should invest in strengthening the pipeline of highly qualified educators across racial and ethnic lines.

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Lets focus on what truly matters: ensuring every child has access to excellent teachers who can provide the best education, regardless of skin color.

Rev. Tommy Vallejos is the chairman of Latinos for Tennessee, an organization committed to promoting faith, family, and freedom among Tennessees Latino community.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee race-based education hiring policies are unfair | Opinion
ENFIELD, CT. (WWLP)  Enfield is expected to get $10 million from the State of Connecticut to help with redevelopment plans at the Enfield Square Mall.

Overnight emergency work on Route 190 bridge over I-91 in Enfield

NBC Connecticut states that the money is expected to be approved when the Community Investment Fund meets on Tuesday. A Nebraska-based estate company presented their plans to the town council.

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Redevelopment of the mall will include 300,000 square feet of new retail space and 400 additional units of affordable housing. The project is expected to create hundreds of jobs as well. The plan would begin with tearing down the current mall to make way for new buildings.

The town has committed about $16 million in tax concessions to make the project work.

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BRUSSELS (AP)  European Union countries must purchase military equipment made in Europe under a new loan program meant to help the continent provide for its own security, a top EU official said Tuesday, even though most of its defense materiel currently comes from U.S. suppliers.

At a summit last week, the EUs 27 leaders weighed a European Commission proposal for a new loan plan worth 150 billion euros ($163 billion). It would be used to buy air defense systems, drones and strategic enablers like air transport, as well as to boost cybersecurity.

These loans should finance purchases from European producers, to help boost our own defense industry, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told EU lawmakers.

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Von der Leyen said the contracts should be multiannual, to give the industry the predictability they need and that the priority should be for countries to buy equipment together in groups because we have seen how powerful this can be.

European NATO members have placed about two-thirds of their orders with U.S. companies in recent years, but they are being spurred into action by the Trump administrations warnings that they will have to provide for their own security, and Ukraines, in future.

France wants the commission to put more money into the loan plan and has also insisted that it should only be spent in Europe. Spain, one of five countries using the euro single currency with a debt level of over 100%, wants free grants rather than loans.

EU leaders are due to endorse the loan plan, which the commission believes would benefit around 20 countries whose borrowing costs would be higher than that of the executive branch, at another summit late next week.

Its part of a package of measures  including an easing of budget rules for defense spending and a reshuffling of EU money  that the commission hopes could generate up to 800 billion euros ($874 billion) for security priorities.
Rwanda-style schemes to send failed asylum seekers to offshore deportation camps are set to be made legal by the EU, just months after Labour cancelled the plan to send Channel migrants to Africa.

The new legal framework will allow Rwanda plan-style arrangements with non-EU countries to host migrants who are slated for deportation.

The legislation marks a shift on migration for Brussels, which in 2018 ruled out deals with non-EU countries to process asylum seekers amid ethical and legal concerns.

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It will leave the UK out of step with much of Western Europe, which has swung right on illegal migration. Sir Keir Starmer killed the Rwanda plan in June last year within days of Labour winning the 2024 election.

Unlike the EU offshore plan for return hubs, which will only be for migrants who have exhausted all asylum appeals, the Rwanda plan envisaged sending migrants to the African country before their asylum claims were heard and processing them there.

Attitudes towards immigration have hardened in Europe, which has suffered a string of terror attacks blamed on migrants and seen a series of electoral successes for hard-Right, anti-migrant parties.

The European Commission proposal came after more than half of the EUs 27 leaders urged stricter return rules in October.

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It is seen as a victory for a model pioneered by Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, whose coalition government has built two migrant centres in Albania, a non-EU nation, through which it hopes tens of thousands of migrants can be processed.

In October, Ms Meloni said that almost the whole of Europe [is discussing] our initiatives to curb irregular immigration and stop human trafficking, [with] some nations considering them as models.

The project has, however, been dogged by court challenges.

Giorgia Melonis government has built two migrant centres in Albania - CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Data show that less than 20 per cent of unauthorised migrants who are ordered to leave Europe do so.

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On the return hubs, we are creating the scope for member states to explore new solutions for return, Magnus Brunner, the EU commissioner for migration, told a press conference in Strasbourg.

We are creating the legal frame, were not creating the content, he added of the reforms, which drew inspiration from Italys deal with Albania.

Under EU rules, migrants can only be sent back to their countries of origin or a country they transited through, unless they agree otherwise.

The new proposal would allow the creation of return hubs outside the EU, where failed asylum seekers could be sent pending transfer home.

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It will be up to individual EU governments to strike deals with the non-EU countries.

Member states have called for innovative solutions for migration management. This proposal introduces the legal possibility to return individuals who are illegally staying in the EU and have received a final return decision, to a third country, the commission said.

Agreements will be possible only with countries where human rights are respected, and minors and families with children will be exempt. The agreements must be subject to monitoring.

The EU reforms also allow more conditions under which irregular migrants can be detained, which was previously a last resort.

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Authorities will be authorised to hold those considered at risk of absconding or who pose a security risk, as well as people who do not co-operate with return procedures.

Detention is also possible to determine or verify someones identity or nationality, according to the plan, which needs backing from parliament and member states to become law.

EU member states backing the camps included Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Finland, Denmark, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Malta and the Baltic states. Spain was among those opposing the proposal.

Friedrich Merz, Germanys chancellor in waiting, has vowed to take back control of German borders and expressed support for the now-ditched British Rwanda Plan before his election.

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The Rwanda plan was deemed unlawful by the UK Supreme Court in 2023, before the Prime Minister announced it was dead in July 2024.

Unlike the return hubs, the Rwanda plan envisaged sending migrants to Africa before their asylum claims were heard. The British Rwanda plan was deemed unlawful by the UK Supreme Court.

EU member Denmark has been in discussions with Rwanda over a similar plan but it has been on hold, amid legal difficulties.

No countries have agreed to host the deportation camps. In October, there were reports that western Balkans countries hoping to join the EU could be approached.

Albania has ruled out making any deals additional to the one already struck with Italy. Moldova has ruled out hosting any camps.

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Kosovo, which already hosts Dutch prisoners, and Bosnia and Serbia were also mentioned in reports, but any hubs would face stiff domestic opposition.

A new low for Europe

Jacob Kirkegaard, of the Bruegel think tank, said that Ursula von der Leyen, the commission president, had chosen the path of least resistance at a time when Brussels was dealing with a crisis in Ukraine and the threat of a trade war with the US.

This is simply about political bandwidth, he said, adding that Mrs von der Leyen would let the member states do what they want.

The European Commission has caved to the unworkable, expensive and inhumane demands of a few shrill anti-human rights and anti-migration governments, said Eve Geddie, director of Amnesty Internationals European Institutions Office.

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Frankly, this is a new low for Europe. Across Australias offshore detention scheme, Italys agreement with Albania, or the UKs aborted Rwanda scheme, we have seen these tried-and-failed policies before.

Marta Welander, of the International Rescue Committee, said: Without extremely robust safeguards in place, the EUs new proposals are likely to result in individuals being uprooted from their communities, families being torn apart, people being held in prison-like conditions, and the grave risk of increased human rights violations.

The European Commission said its proposal did not break the European Convention on Human Rights, although that is likely to be challenged in the courts if individual governments put the plan into practice.

Agreements or arrangements with a non-EU country hosting a return hub will have to include strong protection conditions, the commission said.

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The new legislation stipulates that only when migrants have exhausted all appeals can they be sent to the centres in countries that respect international human rights law, including non-refoulement, which prevents people being sent to countries where their rights could be at risk from, for example, torture.

Only people who have exhausted all appeals can be sent to the camps. The centres have to be in countries that respect international human rights law, including non-refoulement, which prevents people being sent to countries where their rights could be at risk from, for example, torture.

The commission added: A clear number of safeguards would have to be part of the agreements or arrangements, such as the existence of an independent body or mechanism to monitor the application of the agreement or arrangement. Unaccompanied minors and families with children are excluded from returns to return hubs.

The EU executive also argues that effective returns protect the human right to security for other citizens.

Italys plan to send single, male migrants to Albania and then back to their home countries has been challenged by the European Court of Justice as well as by courts in Italy, which argue it is illegal and violates migrants rights.

Based in Luxembourg, the European Court of Justice is the EUs top court and the final arbiter of EU law. It is different to the European Court of Human Rights, which is not an EU body and part of the older, bigger Council of Europe in Strasbourg, which includes the UK and other non-EU countries like Turkey.

Ms Meloni has expressed deep frustration with the court decisions and insists that the scheme will one day work.

The 670 million (565 million) deal signed with Albania in 2023 envisaged up to 3,000 male migrants being processed in the centres in northern Albania each month.

So far, a few dozen migrants have been taken by ship to the Albanian centres and none has stayed for more than a day or two.

All had to be brought to Italy as a result of court rulings.

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By Alimat Aliyeva

The Republic of Korea and the United States have conducted helicopter airstrikes at a training ground near the border with the DPRK as part of the large-scale Freedom Shield exercises, Azernews reports.

According to the Yonhap news agency, the exercises took place at a training ground near the city of Paju, approximately 30 kilometers from the border with North Korea. Around 400 military personnel participated in the drills, along with about 10 pieces of military equipment, including six South Korean Surion helicopters.

The Freedom Shield exercises, a joint effort between the armed forces of the Republic of Korea and the United States, will continue until March 20. A total of around 19,000 military personnel are involved in the maneuvers.

At the same time, the South Korean Navy conducted exercises aimed at countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction near Kagodo Island in the Yellow Sea. Three ships, special forces, and the coast guard participated in these drills.

Additionally, the Republic of Korea's Second Fleet has begun separate exercises in the port of Pyeongtaek. In collaboration with police, coast guard, and army representatives, the exercises focused on measures to be taken in the event of an "air attack, chemical, biological, and radiation threat."

The North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the Freedom Shield exercises, calling them "provocative and aggressive."

These exercises occur amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, with both military and diplomatic responses from the North. The Freedom Shield drills are part of an ongoing series of maneuvers designed to improve coordination between the U.S. and South Korean forces and strengthen defense capabilities in the region. The inclusion of specialized exercises for chemical, biological, and radiation threats signals the growing emphasis on preparedness for unconventional warfare scenarios.
MOSCOW, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Moscow Region Governor Andrey Vorobyov said that one person was killed, and three others injured in a massive Ukrainian drone attack on the Moscow region on Tuesday.

In a Telegram post, Vorobyov said drone debris fell on an apartment building in the urban district of Ramenskoye, damaging at least seven apartments from the 19th to the 22nd floors. As a result, 12 residents, including three children, were evacuated.

Meanwhile, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on his Telegram channel that Russian air defense forces shot down 69 Ukrainian drones in the Moscow region Tuesday morning amid the large scale drone attack.

Evgeniya Khrustaleva, head of the Domodedovo urban district in the Moscow region, said earlier Tuesday that train traffic between Domodedovo and Moscow, which had been stopped, was beginning to resume.

Meanwhile, the Federal Air Transport Agency announced temporary flight restrictions at Moscow's Domodedovo, Zhukovsky, Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo airports to ensure flight safety. 
The News

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday that the blocs governments must spend a proposed 150 billion defense fund on weapons from European manufacturers, as Europe attempts to insulate itself from a US pullback.

These loans should finance purchases from European producers to help boost our own defense industry, von der Leyen said.

France and Germany  the EUs largest economies  have disagreed over how the defense fund should be spent: Paris wants to limit US weapons purchases. Berlin, perhaps in acknowledgement of the deep connections between European and US defense firms, has demanded more flexibility.

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The announcement comes as Europe scrambles to rearm itself and retain influence over the outcome of Russias war in Ukraine. Frances president is meeting with heads of 30 EU and NATO nations militaries Tuesday, while the UK prime minister will host a virtual conference of world leaders on Saturday.

SIGNALS

Trump is driving progress on European defense...

Sources: Financial Times, Unherd, Chatham House

Analysts are divided over whether Europes rearmament campaign will have a tangible effect: US President Donald Trumps rapprochement with Russia, uncertainty over NATO, and criticism of Ukraine has had a galvanising effect on European defense and diplomacy, the Financial Times chief foreign affairs commentator Gideon Rachman wrote. But writing in Unherd, Wolfgang Munchau countered that Europeans still lacked strategic foresight, and appear to be deploying ostentatious symbolism instead. Europe requires sustained unity, a Chatham House analyst wrote: So far, only the UK and France have committed to sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine.

But Europe will still struggle to fill the US defense void

Sources: BBC, The Economist, Center for Strategic and International Studies

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Even if Europeans agreed to send troops to Ukraine, they would struggle to recruit enough of them, the BBC noted: Europe, on its own, would not be able to provide a force of 100-200,000 international troops that Ukraine has said it needs to deter Russia. Money is not the only problem, The Economist wrote: Europe emptied its military stockpiles early in the war, and it doesnt have the production capacity to rapidly replace US weapons supplies. European nuclear power, too, is lacking: The current French and British deterrent would not constitute a viable solution in the event of an abrupt withdrawal of US nuclear forces, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies said.





Defense surge could boost Europes flagging economy

Sources: The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Goldman Sachs, Reuters

European defense firms have emerged as one of the biggest winners in global markets this year, The Wall Street Journal wrote. Buoyed by Germanys recent defense spending announcement, shares in the countrys Rheinmetall  which manufactures tanks and munitions  have surged in value by more than 90% this year. Higher defense spending could boost the European Unions GDP by 0.5% over the next two years, Goldman Sachs economists wrote in a recent report, although its very important that this extra spending is deployed consistently over time, one economist told Reuters.
Brussels is informally preparing for a scenario in which Hungary may block the extension of EU sanctions against Russia, leading to the expiry of the sanctions packages on 16 March.

Source: European Pravda

Details: The measures in question include individual restrictive actions, such as travel bans for specific individuals and asset freezes for Russian citizens and businesses. The current sanctions are set to expire on 15 March 2025. If they are not extended, the restrictions will legally cease to apply from 16 March 2025.

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Failure to extend the sanctions could result in the unfreezing of up to 30% of all Russian assets currently held under EU restrictions. Estimates suggest that around 60 billion or more could be affected.

Even in this worst-case scenario, there will be a time lag before Russia can regain access to frozen assets, as Brussels' bureaucratic procedures and numerous formal steps must be completed.

If Hungary continues to block the sanctions extension until 15 March, the issue will be placed on the agenda of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 17 March. At that point, foreign ministers from 26 EU states will seek ways to pressure Hungary into agreeing to the sanctions renewal.

Some EU officials view this scenario as the most likely.

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One European diplomat stated that individual sanctions against Russia would be extended on Monday 17 March during the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, which is responsible for renewing sanctions regimes and approving such decisions. The diplomat added that there was still time for negotiations and discussions.

EU negotiators are currently exploring non-public means of persuading Hungary to agree to the extension in time.

The next meeting of EU ambassadors is scheduled for Wednesday 12 March, with another on Friday 14 March  the day before the deadline for renewing the sanctions against Russian individuals and businesses.

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(Bloomberg) -- The European Union plans to allow countries to return people without the right to stay in the EU to so-called return hubs in third countries, as the rise of anti-immigration parties is pushing the bloc to take an increasingly tough stance.

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The European Commission, the EUs executive arm, is proposing to permit governments to remove unauthorized migrants and asylum-seekers to third-countries subject to specific conditions to ensure the respect of the fundamental rights of the persons concerned, according to a draft of the proposal seen by Bloomberg. The text is still subject to change before its approved.

The regulation would also create a European Return Order, which would enable the mutual recognition and enforcement between EU countries of decisions that a non-EU citizen must leave the bloc. Currently, decisions made in one member state that a person must leave arent automatically recognized in other EU member states and require a new process.

The commission plan would need to be approved by EU member states and the European Parliament. Commission spokespeople didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

The idea of return hubs has been controversial and efforts to use third countries as part of the asylum process in the UK and Italy have been bogged down in legal complaints.

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A new policy on returns has been a key demand from EU countries, following the agreement last year of the EUs pact on asylum and migration, a far-reaching package of policies, which include digitalization, border security, and so-called solidarity measures to spread the cost or numbers of asylum seekers. The pact is only due to be fully implemented in mid-2026.

Data from the third quarter of 2024 shows the challenge the EU has faced in enforcing orders to leave the EU. Some 112,335 non-EU citizens were ordered to leave the territory of an EU country, but only 27,740 were actually returned to third countries.

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(Bloomberg) -- The European Unions tax chief said that the blocs use of value-added taxes shouldnt be part of the trade tensions with the Trump administration.

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VAT is clearly not a tariff, Wopke Hoekstra said Tuesday in an interview. He invited US officials to compare notes and truly look into the facts.

President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly accused the EU of treating the US unfairly, has said he plans to penalize countries for non-tariff barriers as part of his broader plans for reciprocal tariffs on wide swaths of US imports, citing VAT as an example.

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 last month in a post on the X platform.

Trumps global tariffs on steel and aluminum imports are set to kick in at midnight New York time, while hes said his broader reciprocal tariffs are due next month.

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The EU, which has said it will respond firmly to any new US tariffs, is trying to calibrate a response in a way that allows for negotiations to continue between Brussels and Washington.

Trumps determination to target the VAT is a significant complication for the bloc. All 27 EU member states use the value-added tax, with each setting its own levels. The tax applies equally to all goods, whether they originate from inside or outside the bloc.

But Trump and his advisers have argued that the ability to claim a VAT rebate when products are exported gives European companies an unfair advantage as imports from the US are charged VAT of 15-20% or higher depending on the member country.

Hoekstra said the tax is passed on through the value chain, and in the end its the consumer that pays there. If the cycle works, there isnt a single company that actually pays.

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Trump has targeted other global tax arrangements as well. On his first day in office, Trump pulled the US out of a global tax agreement that imposes a 15% minimum corporate tax on large companies, and promised to retaliate against countries who unfairly tax US companies.

Hoekstra, who is also the EUs climate commissioner, reiterated his support for the minimum tax agreement, which the EU has already implemented.

The economic logic from our perspective has not changed, he said. What were currently doing with member states and with international partners from across the globe is to see how we can diligently continue with these trajectories.

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has welcomed the outcome of the Ukrainian-American talks in Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed the EU's readiness for "upcoming peace negotiations".

Source: von der Leyen on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: Von der Leyen noted that Kyiv and Washington have agreed on a proposal for a ceasefire agreement and the resumption of intelligence sharing and security assistance from the United States.

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"This is a positive development that can be a step towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine. The ball is now in Russias court," she added.

"The EU is ready to play its full part, together with its partners, in the upcoming peace negotiations," von der Leyen stressed.

Background:

Following the talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 11 March, Ukraine said it is willing to implement a 30-day ceasefire, provided that Russia also adheres to it.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the ceasefire will apply "not only with regard to missiles, drones and bombs, not only in the Black Sea but also along the entire front line".

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Washington will submit a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine to Russia and said he hopes Russia will accept it.

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UNITED NATIONS (AP)  The European Union has a message for the Trump administration: It will continue supporting Ukraine against Russias illegal invasion, step up humanitarian aid when others pull back, and boost global teamwork to address the worlds challenges.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas never mentioned the United States in her speech to the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday. But her points were clearly aimed at President Donald Trump s dismissive language about Europe, his massive cutbacks in aid to poor and conflict-torn countries, and his administration's reluctance to acknowledge that Russia invaded Ukraine.

Following talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, the Trump administration said it was lifting its suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing for Ukraine, and Kyiv signaled that it was open to a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Russia. The U.S.-Ukraine deal is now pending Moscows agreement.

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Looking at the world 80 years after the U.N. was founded on the ashes of World War II, Kallas said its foundations are facing unprecedented pressure. She cited blatant violations of the U.N. Charter, attempts to replace the rule of law by the rule of force, and universal principles promoting peace, human rights and development under heavy fire.

At a news conference afterward, she said, The world is more dangerous now than it has ever been since the Cold War.

Kallas told the council, The EU will remain the U.N.s reliable partner of choice and will defend the U.N. Charter, which says every country must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations.

Thats why it has supported Ukraines right to self-defense and stands with Kyiv for a just and lasting peace in line with the Charter, she said, stressing that Russia must lose its colonial war.

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The EU will always support rising humanitarian needs, with almost 2 billion euros this year, she said, a dig at the Trump administration, which dismantled the U.S. aid agency and is eliminating 83% of its programs.

Kallas also stressed the need to boost multilateralism and engage with partners, which is the only way forward in solving issues.

She was asked afterward about a Trump comment that the EU was created to destroy the U.S. when it comes to trade and was asked whether the 27-nation bloc could overcome that antagonism.

Surrounded by diplomats from all EU member nations, Kallas replied that the EU is a peace project created to ensure there would be no more wars among its members.

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Right now, our relations with third parties around the world show that everybody is looking at us because we are the reliable, predictable partner, she said. So, I really see the possibility to grow Europes geopolitical presence.

The EU came under attack from Russia during the Security Council meeting.

After Kallas pledged to continue EU support to Ukraine, Russias U.N. ambassador blasted the European bloc for what it called a long history of anti-Russian sentiment.

This sensible club aimed at integration, which used to promote cooperation with Russia, has today definitively turned into a fossilized, aggressive Russophobia bloc, which has staked its energy, economic, social and financial wellbeing on a pointless confrontation with its eastern neighbor, Vassily Nebenzia said.

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Today, more than ever, its clear that the EU is seriously losing in this confrontation, he said.

Kallas retorted that Nebenzias comments were a good example of rewriting history and how misinformation and disinformation and lies must be fought.

She said countries are afraid of Russia because of the countries it has attacked, and these fears are not ungrounded.

___
LONDON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The captain of the cargo ship involved in the deadly collision in the North Sea has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter, local media reported on Tuesday.

The ship's owner, international shipping company Ernst Russ, confirmed in a statement that the master of the containership Solong has been detained by Humberside police in Britain. "The master and our entire team are actively assisting with the investigations. Out of respect for the investigation and all involved, we will not comment further at this time."

The master of the ship is the same as the captain, as reported by local media.

A criminal investigation was launched to determine the cause of the collision soon after the U.S.-registered oil tanker Stena Immaculate collided with the Portuguese-flagged cargo vessel Solong near the coastal city of Hull on Monday.

Police said earlier Tuesday that a 59-year-old man had been arrested following the collision.

"Extensive work has already been carried out, and we are working closely with our partners to understand what happened and to provide support to all those affected," Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Nicholson said in a statement.

One crew member remains missing and is presumed dead after the collision on Monday. The search operation has now been called off, and the arrest followed, police said.

"The man arrested remains in custody while inquiries continue, and we are speaking with all those involved to establish the full circumstances of the incident," the statement added.

A total of 36 people were rescued, with one person taken to hospital, according to Coastguard Divisional Commander Matthew Atkinson.

When the accident occurred, the Stena Immaculate had traveled from the Greek port of Agioi Theodoroi and was anchored outside Hull while the Solong was en route from Scotland's Grangemouth to Rotterdam, in the Netherlands.

Authorities are working to assess potential environmental damage after confirming that jet fuel leaked into the sea.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution previously reported that several people had abandoned the vessels following the collision. 
Gov. Tony Evers said Monday the state needs to approve projects as costs could rise due to President Donald Trump's tariffs. Here, Evers is shown speaking to reporters last week. (Photo by Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)

Gov. Tony Evers announced a $4.1 billion capital budget proposal on Monday that would include new buildings at University of Wisconsin campuses and for prison building overhaul.

Evers said in a statement the investment would be critical to addressing Wisconsins aging infrastructure and to build for our states future.

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We cant afford to kick the can down the road on key infrastructure projects across our state, most especially as the cost of building materials may only get more expensive with each day of delay due to potential tariff taxes and trade wars, Evers said.

President Donald Trumps plans of implementing tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada and China, which have been delayed multiple times, are expected to put added stress on the construction industry as the costs of raw materials, including steel, aluminum and cement could grow.

We must take the important steps necessary to invest in building a 21st-century infrastructure, workforce, and economy, Evers said. I am hopeful that these recommendations will receive bipartisan support to get these projects done that communities across our state are depending on.

The State Building Commission  which is made up of eight members including Evers, four Republican lawmakers, two Democratic lawmakers and one citizen member  will meet on March 25 to vote on the capital budget recommendations. Its likely his proposal will be blocked by Republican lawmakers, who have done so in previous budgets, to allow the Republican lawmakers who are a majority on the Joint Finance Committee to create their own proposal.

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During the last budget session, Evers proposed a $3.8 billion proposal that was cut down to $2.69 billion.

In a joint statement Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) and Rep. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam) called Evers plan another example of his irresponsible spending. They said Republicans would craft a responsible capital budget that Wisconsin can afford.

It will balance the needs of our state with sound fiscal responsibility. We must ensure that our operating budget and capital budget will work together to fund the priorities of the state. Legislative Republicans will work to right-size these proposals and craft a budget Wisconsin can be proud of, the lawmakers said.

One of the largest parts of Evers plan  nearly $1.6 billion  would be for the University of Wisconsin System. His recommendation is 90% of the $1.78 billion that was requested from UW and would go towards an array of projects across UW campuses.

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UW System President Jay Rothman said in a statement the plan would provide key funding necessary for building repairs and renovations as well as critical new projects that modernize classroom and research facilities and ensure the state is continuing to build opportunities for future generations of students.

One large project includes $292 million for the demolition and replacement of the Mosse Humanities Building at UW-Madison by February 2031. The building was constructed in 1966 and opened in 1968 and has recently suffered from structural and environmental deficiencies, including asbestos, putting students at risk.

The building is well past its expected useful life, with a significantly deteriorated building envelope and exterior window/wall system, uncorrectable humidification conditions and insufficient environmental controls, the proposal states.

The plan would also include $293 million for new residence halls at UW-Madison.

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UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin said in a statement that the proposal recognizes the infrastructure improvements that are critical to maintaining UWMadisons competitive edge in education and research.

We are grateful for the governors commitment to investing in essential projects that will ensure the states flagship will continue to meet the needs of our state and its workforce. We also deeply appreciate the continued advocacy on our behalf from the Universities of Wisconsin and the Board of Regents, Mnookin said.

Evers proposal would also dedicate $194 million for UW-La Crosse to complete its Prairie Springs Science Center and demolishing Cowley Hall, which lacks fire suppression, has failing mechanical systems and doesnt meet modern science and research needs.

The first phase of this project was completed in the summer of 2018, but the second part needs to be approved. New building additions would include instructional and research laboratories with associated support spaces, classrooms, greenhouse, observatory, specimen museum and animal care facility, which is meant to help support STEM education and workforce development.

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The plan also includes $189 million for UW-Milwaukee to renovate the Northwest Quadrant complex for its College of Health Sciences. The project, which has been needed for years, was not included in Evers budget last session.

UW-Oshkosh would get $137 million for the Polk Learning Commons  a project that would include the demolition of its library facility, which was constructed in 1962, and replacing it with a new facility.

Whether lawmakers will be supportive of projects for UW system schools is unclear. During the last budget cycle, Republican lawmakers withheld funding for building projects to use in negotiations over diversity, equity and inclusion on campus. Major projects, including an engineering building at UW-Madison, were only approved after the UW system agreed to change certain policies related to DEI.

Evers plan would also dedicate $634 million to the Department of Corrections for his proposed domino prison reform plan and other projects. This would include infrastructure upgrades and capital improvements to Waupun Correctional Institution, Lincoln Hills School, Stanley Correctional Institution, Sanger B. Powers Correctional Center and John C. Burke Correctional Center. In addition, the improvements would enable the final part of the proposal, which is closing the Green Bay Correctional Institution.

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Other projects in the proposal include:

$195 million for health facilities, including $44 million for renovating the food service building at Central Wisconsin Center, $55 million for upgrading utility infrastructure at the Mendota Mental Health Institute and $61 million for similar upgrades at Winnebago Mental Health Institute.

$170 million for Department of Veterans Affairs projects, including $101 million for food service and laundry facilities at Wisconsin Veterans Home at King.

$164 million in projects requested for the Department of Natural Resources to invest in Wisconsins state parks and forests and fund bridge replacements, trail upgrades and fire response ranger stations upgrades.

$40 million for elevator and fiber and cable upgrades at the Wisconsin State Capitol

$36.6 million, which is only about 20% of the requested funds, for the Department of Military Affairs.

Nearly $22 million for State Fair Park.

$25 million for planning, design, and sitework at the Milwaukee County Courthouse Complex. County Executive David Crowley said in a statement that the public safety building is crumbling, inefficient and poses significant risks to community safety and that it must be removed and replaced.

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  Advocates are pushing for change after 361 cases were on the docket for Knox County eviction court on Tuesday.

John Fletcher was evicted last month after he withheld his rent, due to what he called an insect infestation at his apartment. In some states, tenants have the right to withhold rent if landlords fail to repair major problems. Tennessee is not one of them.

I have been couch surfing, I have had a couple of friends help me out, I bought a storage unit, but right now the priority is just graduating, so Ive been trying to keep my head down, I dont have a permanent place right now, he said.

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Fletcher is set to graduate college in a few weeks. He is a disabled veteran and a father of a 4-year-old girl.

End of USDA funding for fresh local produce hits Grainger County Schools

Despite the ruling on his eviction happening last month, he found himself back in eviction court on Tuesday. He said his now former landlord is suing him for damages. This time in court was different though, as he was surrounded by hundreds of people in the same boat.

Its nauseating. Thats a symptom of a much, much deeper problem. And Im begging our lawmakers, I know they want the stadium and I know they want Knoxville to grow, this isnt the way to do it. This is, to me, gentrification, he said.

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Legal Aids Eviction Prevention Office provides free legal assistance to those facing eviction.

We try to get to the highest priority cases that we can to prevent an eviction judgement on somebody, because if they have that judgment, it makes it extremely hard for them to rent the next apartment that they need. Its a huge hit to their credit, it may cause them to be homeless, Michael Davis, managing attorney with the office, said.

DOGE terminates two leases in Knoxville, claims it saved U.S. $318K

The office has taken on 577 cases over the past year. Of the 338 eviction cases already resolved, 91% have successfully avoided a judgement on the tenants record. In total, 275 children have lived in those households.

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However, funding for the office is set to run out in May.

Adam Hughes, with Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment or SOCM, helped advocate for the creation of the office, and hopes local government will step up to provide the needed funding.

They have been so helpful in streamlining the court process, helping tenants find new houses, so were hoping that the city and the county can find $600,000 to keep this office open, to keep lawyers being able to have a presence in court. We think the entire court process for landlords, judges, tenants, everyone, gets easier when you have this support in court, Hughes said.

The University of Tennessees Appalachian Justice Research Center (AJRC) estimates that every dollar spent on funding the office, returns $6.14 in downstream education, medical, and housing costs to the city and county.

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Currently, the office is funded by Knox County, through the American Rescue Plan Act.

Sevierville Police lieutenant dedicated to building trust one person at a time

Eviction filings began increasing after the pandemic, but Davis says thats not the sole reason behind the spike.

I think the way a lot of people thought about it, whether this was true or not, was that these were people that just choose not to pay their rent or that theres some failing on their part, but with the situation that we got now, were seeing people with two incomes, with full time jobs on a single income because theyre maybe a single parent, that are not able to keep up with something like rent doubling in a month. Weve seen cases of that. Its not always 50%, sometimes its 100% rent increase. No one can plan for that, he said.

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According to the AJRC, eviction filings increased by 53% between 2022 and 2023 in Knox County, and that trend is expected to continue.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
Jes Staley lobbied the worlds biggest bank to keep Jeffrey Epstein as a client even after the disgraced financier was handed a prison sentence for soliciting underage girls.

The former Barclays boss, who is battling to overturn a lifetime ban from the City, told senior leaders at JP Morgan to hear Epstein out when they were considering closing his account, a court heard.

At the time, Mr Staley was running JP Morgans investment bank and had been Epsteins banker for a number of years.

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His ties to Epstein led to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) handing Mr Staley a lifetime ban from the UKs financial services sector in 2023, a decision he is now trying to overturn in the High Court.

The court heard on Tuesday that JP Morgans compliance team had raised concerns over Epsteins account in 2011, which came after he served 13 months in a Florida prison for soliciting prostitution from a minor.

According to internal emails presented in court, JP Morgans compliance team held a meeting to determine how to approach the issue with Jes Staley, who is friends with Epstein.

The email added that Mr Staley needs to understand the potential backlash to the firm given all the work done to root out clients involved in human trafficking.

The case revolves around Mr Staleys ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the paedophile financier - Reuters

Mr Staley subsequently asked JP Morgans lawyer to hear [Epstein] out, the court heard.

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On Tuesday, Mr Staley denied that he had been pushing JP Morgan to retain Epstein as a client.

I dont think thats fair, he said, adding that he had no control over whether Epstein would be cut off.

He said if JP Morgans lawyer had wanted to let Epstein go then they had full latitude to do that and he would never have stood in their way.

Warm and effusive language

As part of Tuesdays hearing, Mr Staley was also pressed on messages he had sent to Epstein, which the FCA claims show they had a close relationship

My approach is to use warm and effusive language with business colleagues and business clients, Mr Staley said.

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The overarching case centres on a letter Barclays previously sent to the FCA that denied Mr Staley was close to Epstein, claiming he had cut ties before he was made Barclays chief executive in Oct 2015.

During his evidence on Tuesday, Mr Staley admitted that the letter could have been written better.

He said: If the FCA had been more explicit in what they were asking for, we wouldnt be in the position we are in today.

Barclays couldve done a better job to make sure we responded in a more detailed and laid out way. I regret that I did not push the bank harder at the time.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A former assistant principal at a CCSD high school faces charges related to sexual misconduct for allegedly paying to touch a teenagers genitals in a school office nearly a dozen times, according to documents obtained by 8 News Now.

On Feb. 25, officers with the Clark County School District Police Department responded to Canyon Springs High School after a report of possible inappropriate contact between a staff member and a student.

An administrative assistant at the school told police that starting in October 2024, she noticed the victim excessively visiting the assistant principal of the school, Hearley Smith, 54. Smith was employed with CCSD since 2004.

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The employee told police she was new to the position and did not want unwanted attention, so she did not say anything to Smith or anyone else at the school, according to an arrest report.

In December 2024, she noticed Smith would close the door to his office when he was alone with the victim and said the victim did not have an individual education plan and did not know why he was in the office with Smith, documents said.

In the incident, the woman reported in February, she opened the door to Smiths office and Smith rushed to the door to block her from seeing inside. She told police she saw the victim frantically attempting to fix his pants and saw him tucking his penis back into his pants, according to the report.

The victim told police he met Smith while Smith was assisting the wrestling team and referred to Smith as a best friend. He said he would often do school work in Smiths office and said Smiths office door would remain open but would be closed during important talks, the report stated.

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The victims family told police Smith appeared to be overtly invested in the victim, but would not talk with his parents. The victims mother said Smith dropped the victim off at home after school several times, and she told the victim she was not okay with Smith driving him, the report stated.

She said she later saw Smith drop the victim off away from the house so she would not see them. Smith gave the victim Christmas gifts, including a beanie, pants, a wallet, and socks, according to the report.

The victims mom said she found money in her sons pants, and he told her Smith asked him to do pushups in front of him and gave him $20 in return, the report stated. She said she was concerned about the victim because he was no longer interested in wrestling and his grades were deteriorating.

Another school employee said Smith asked other secretaries to change the victims attendance record and would pay the secretaries for the changes. A report showed Smith changed the victims attendance 131 times between August and February.

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On Monday, March 3, Smith resigned from his position at the school.

On March 5, police conducted a follow-up interview with the victim. The victim told police that he was never forced to do anything sexual with Smith, but said he sometimes freezes when he is nervous and other people tend to take that as consent, and said that happened between him and Smith, the report said.

He told police he began a relationship with Smith in an attempt to manipulate him in exchange for money and said Smith would look at and touch his genitals while in the school office. He said this occurred more than 10 times.

The victim added that the encounters did not feel good and he received a little less than $500 from Smith. He also mentioned that he had been to Smiths house, but the sexual encounters only occurred in the school office.

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Police arrested Smith at the Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport on March 7 as Smith was waiting to board a flight to Canada.

Smith told police he would never do anything to hurt or injure any kids and retired from the CCSD after talking to a union member about accusations involving a student. He said he believed the victim was out to get him and created the accusations with the new secretary, according to the report.

Court records show Smith faces the following charges:

Two counts of kidnapping in the first degree

10 counts of lewdness by a person older than 18 in the presence of a child or vulnerable person

10 counts of school employee engaging in a sexual act with a pupil 16 or older

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Smith was held at the Clark County Detention Center on a $130,000 bail. His next court appearance was scheduled for 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 KLAS.
(Bloomberg) -- Former Credit Suisse Chief Executive Officer Tidjane Thiam has been chosen to lead a broad coalition of Ivory Coast opposition parties ahead of presidential elections in October.

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The 62-year olds party, known by its French acronym PDCI-RDA, is aligning with more than a dozen others to form the Coalition for Peaceful Change in Ivory Coast.

We are determined to do our utmost to ensure that peace reigns in Cote dIvoire, so that we can have inclusive elections, he said.

Tensions in the worlds largest cocoa producer are building ahead of the vote, in which 83-year old President Alassane Ouattara is expected to seek a fourth term.

The opposition wants reforms to ensure that all those who wish to run can do so, and that at the end of the day Ivorians are free to decide who should lead them, Thiam said.

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The alliance also includes Simone Gbagbo, the ex-wife of former President Laurent Gbagbo. He was ousted after refusing to accept defeat by Ouattara in 2010 elections, triggering widespread violence.

Gbagbo, who Ouattara pardoned in 2022 while withholding his civil rights, is not eligible to take part in the vote unless they are restored. He has not yet joined the new coalition, which also includes his former lieutenant Charles Ble Goude.

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(Bloomberg) -- Last weekend, Rodrigo Duterte rallied thousands of cheering Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong on his first overseas trip in years. Upon his return to Manila on Tuesday, he joined a rare club of ex-leaders arrested for breaching international law.

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Police greeted the former Philippine president at the airport to execute a warrant from Interpol after the International Criminal Court ordered his arrest following a probe into the deadly drug war that defined his rule. Video showed officers escorting the 79-year-old politician as he walked with a cane through the terminal.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said a plane carrying Duterte has left the country for The Hague, where the ex-leader will face charges of crimes against humanity. He defended the governments action, saying it was in compliance with Manilas commitments to Interpol.

We followed all the legal procedures that are necessary so I am confident that if in further examination you will find that it is proper and correct, Marcos told a briefing late Tuesday. He denied that the move was a case of political persecution amid an ongoing feud with the Duterte family.

The dramatic scenes, which sent stocks tumbling, marked the end of a yearslong quest by human-rights campaigners to hold Duterte to account for an anti-narcotics campaign during his presidency from 2016 to 2022 that killed more than 6,000 people.

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The ICC said in a statement that one of its pre-trial chambers issued an arrest warrant for Duterte for charges of the crime of murder as a crime against humanity allegedly committed in the Philippines between Nov. 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019, which covers parts of his presidency and his time as mayor and vice mayor of Davao.

The court added that an initial appearance hearing will be scheduled once hes in custody, without providing further information.

The timing of his arrest coincides with increased political tensions with Marcos and comes shortly before legislative elections in May.

Last month, his daughter Sara Duterte was impeached as vice president by Marcos allies in the House of Representatives on charges she plotted to kill the president and misused public funds  accusations she has denied. A Senate trial, which would determine if she will be removed from office, is scheduled to begin in July.

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Since ICC has no enforcement power and would rely on the cooperation of the member state, if the two clans were in good terms, the administration would never allow the enforcement of the arrest warrant within Philippine soil, said Leo Camacho, a constitutional expert and lecturer at the Ateneo School of Law in Manila. Things changed when the alliance broke apart.

Its a stunning blow to Duterte, once frequently referred to as the Donald Trump of Asia for his radical leadership style. He is now the first former Asian leader to be served an arrest warrant over charges filed at the ICC.

The Philippines benchmark stock index fell more than 2% on Tuesday, the most among Asian equity gauges and its biggest drop since Jan. 31. The peso was up 0.3% against the dollar.

Duterte petitioned the Supreme Court on Tuesday to halt enforcement of the ICC arrest order, saying it has no automatic legal effect in the country.

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The Philippines under Duterte withdrew from the ICC in 2019. The decision was affirmed by Marcos shortly after he assumed office in 2022, saying the nation had no intention of rejoining The Hague-based court.

Yet in a change of tone last year as the Marcos-Duterte feud deepened, the government said it would cooperate if the ICC refers the process to Interpol and seeks the Philippines help.

Duterte questioned the legal basis of his arrest. I was brought here not of my own volition, he said in a video posted on daughter Veronica Dutertes Facebook page. Its somebody elses. What is the law and what is the crime that I committed?

Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs also weighed in on the arrest, with a spokesman telling reporters Tuesday that the ICC should follow the law and avoid politicization and double standards.

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The ICC holds accountable those who commit acts of mass inhumanity. It can pursue cases when a country asks for an investigation within its territory or of its citizens, when the UN Security Council requests a probe, or when an ICC panel of judges authorizes an inquiry initiated by the courts prosecutor.

The ICC issued a warrant of arrest for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in November for what it called crimes against humanity and war crimes in Israels military operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

While the arrest warrant is likely to limit the countries to which Netanyahu can travel without fear of arrest, its unlikely hell ever face trial. Israel has said it will appeal the ICC ruling. US President Donald Trump called the warrant baseless and authorized sanctions on ICC officials who investigate the US and its allies.

More than a dozen Rodrigo Duterte supporters were at the airbases gate on Tuesday, some livestreaming the event, while political allies including two senatorial candidates arrived to show support. At least four truckloads of anti-riot police guarded a gate of the airbase.

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Duterte had planned to run again for mayor of his hometown Davao City in the May midterm election. Duterte said this week hes ready to go to jail if the ICC orders his arrest. He has also defended his legacy-defining drug war, telling supporters at a Hong Kong stadium that he did it for them and their children.

If thats my fate, thats fine I will accept it, Duterte told supporters on Sunday in Hong Kong, according to a video posted on Facebook by broadcaster Bombo Radyo. We cant do anything if Im arrested or imprisoned.

--With assistance from Cecilia Yap, Philip J. Heijmans, Manolo Serapio Jr., Ditas Lopez and Sarah Jacob.

(Updates with Duterte leaving for The Hague and Marcos comments in third and fourth paragraphs, ICC statement from sixth paragraph.)

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Philippine police on Tuesday arrested former president Rodrigo Duterte as requested by Interpol after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant against him for crimes against humanity amid the "war on drugs" during his time in power.

The Philippine Presidential Communication Office said in a statement that Interpol Manila received a copy of the arrest warrant on Tuesday morning.

"The former president and his entourage are in good health and have been examined by government doctors," the statement said. "They [government doctors] have assured that he [Duterte] is in good condition."

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"He is currently in the custody of the authorities," it added.

A Facebook video said to have been taken from inside the plane showed Duterte talking with police officials, saying, "You will just have to kill me. I will not allow it if you will side with the foreigners."

The police officer is heard telling Duterte that they were just following procedure.

A second video is purportedly showing Duterte, walking with a cane, following the police officials after disembarking from the plane.

Duterte was president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022, during which time he implemented a "war on drugs" that left thousands of suspects dead in police operations. He has said in the past he was prepared to go to jail for the controversial campaign.
Philippine police on Tuesday arrested former president Rodrigo Duterte as requested by Interpol after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant against him for crimes against humanity amid the "war on drugs" during his time in power.

The Philippine Presidential Communication Office said in a statement that Interpol Manila received a copy of the arrest warrant on Tuesday morning.

"The former president and his entourage are in good health and have been examined by government doctors," the statement said. "They [government doctors] have assured that he [Duterte] is in good condition."

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"He is currently in the custody of the authorities," it added.

A Facebook video said to have been taken from inside the plane showed Duterte talking with police officials, saying, "You will just have to kill me. I will not allow it if you will side with the foreigners."

The police officer is heard telling Duterte that they were just following procedure.

A second video is purportedly showing Duterte, walking with a cane, following the police officials after disembarking from the plane.

Duterte was taken from the airport to the Villamor Air Base, where reports suggest a plane is on standby to take the former president directly to The Hague, Netherlands.

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However, no official statement has been made regarding the potential flight to The Hague.

Kristina Conti, one of the lawyers in the case against Duterte, posted on Facebook: "When a person is arrested under a warrant of arrest from the ICC, he should be turned over to law enforcement officer of a member state, and is to be flown to The Hague, The Netherlands ASAP."

Duterte was president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022, during which time he implemented a "war on drugs" that left thousands of suspects dead in police operations. He has said in the past he was prepared to go to jail for the controversial campaign.

The ICC launched in 2018 an investigation into the "war on drugs" after complaints were filed by opposition politicians and families of the victims. The Philippines withdrew from the ICC a month after the preliminary investigation started.

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Llore Pasco, mother of two victims of the drug war whose killings were among the cases included in the ICC investigation, said Duterte's arrest was the first step towards justice for them.

"I cried when I heard of what happened," she said in a radio interview. "This is it! Finally what we have been waiting for could happen, for Duterte to be arrested, jailed and be held accountable for his crimes."

Pasco said that even if Duterte now asks for forgiveness for the killings, it would not be enough.

"He needs to be held accountable," she said. "Even if he says sorry now, it is not enough because we lost our loved ones  fathers, children and parents. It is not enough because families are still suffering. We are still enduring the pain."

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According to official records from the national police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, at least 6,252 people were killed in anti-drug operations from July 1, 2016, to May 31, 2022. Local and international human rights groups have estimated the death toll to be three times higher.

Human Rights Watch (HRW), which has been campaigning against the "war on drugs," urged the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to "swiftly surrender" Duterte to the ICC.

"The arrest of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte is a critical step for accountability in the Philippines," said Bryony Lau, HRW's deputy Asia director. "His arrest could bring victims and their families closer to justice and sends the clear message that no one is above the law."
Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte is being flown to The Hague after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against him for crimes against humanity amid the "war on drugs" during his time in power.

Duterte, who is turning 80 on March 28, was arrested upon arrival from a trip to Hong Kong, the Philippine Presidential Communications Office said in a statement.

He was flown out of the country aboard a chartered plane 12 hours later.

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"The plane carrying former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte took off at 11.03 pm (1503 GMT) this evening and exited Philippine airspace," said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

"The plane is en route to The Hague, the Netherlands, allowing the former president to face charges of crimes against humanity in relation to his bloody war on drugs," he added.
KIEV, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the U.S. proposal for an immediate interim 30-day ceasefire, according to the joint statement issued by the Ukrainian and U.S. delegations following their meeting in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

The ceasefire, which is also due to be accepted by Russia simultaneously, could be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, said the statement published on the Ukrainian presidential website.

It also noted that the United States would immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine.

During the talks, the U.S. and Ukrainian teams also discussed humanitarian efforts during a possible ceasefire, including the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of Ukrainian children from Russia.

The delegations agreed to appoint their negotiating teams and begin negotiations toward an enduring peace.

The statement also mentioned that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump had agreed to conclude a mineral resources deal between their countries as soon as possible. 
Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte was being flown to The Hague on Tuesday after he was arrested on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity amid the "war on drugs" during his time in power.

Duterte, who is turning 80 on March 28, was taken into police custody upon arrival in Manila from a trip to Hong Kong as requested by Interpol, the Philippine Presidential Communications Office said in a statement.

He was flown out of the country aboard a chartered plane 12 hours later.

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"The plane carrying former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte took off at 11.03 pm (1503 GMT) this evening and exited Philippine airspace," said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

"The plane is en route to The Hague, the Netherlands, allowing the former president to face charges of crimes against humanity in relation to his bloody war on drugs."

Duterte was president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022, during which time he implemented a "war on drugs" that left thousands of suspects dead in police operations. He has said in the past he was prepared to go to jail for the controversial campaign.

Marcos Jr said the request to arrest Duterte, who would be the first Asian former head of state to go on trial at the ICC, came from Interpol and not the ICC, stressing that his administration was consistent in its stand not to cooperate with the tribunal.

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Mr Duterte was arrested in compliance with our commitments to Interpol, he said. Interpol asked for help, and we obliged because we have commitments to Interpol, which we have to fulfil. If we don't do that, they will no longer help us with other cases involving Filipino fugitives abroad.

Attorney Martin Delgra III, Dutertes counsel, said the former president was accompanied by his nurse and personal assistant inside the plane.

Vice President Sara Duterte, who was impeached in February and will face trial at the Senate, tried to see her father before the plane took off, but she was not allowed to enter the air base.

Im telling you all, Filipinos, don't let a Filipino be taken away by foreigners, especially if it has no legal basis, she told reporters as supporters of her father gathered outside, some crying and others shouting.

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This is actually some sort of state kidnapping. That's seems to be whats going on.

The vice president alleged that the swift action was meant to boost the administrations standing in upcoming mid-term elections in May.

All because it looks like they will lose the mid-term election, she said.

Marcos Jr rejected allegations that the arrest and immediate departure for The Hague was politically motivated, saying: This case started in 2017 ... I dont see how that can be political persecution on my part, because (the case) was initiated before I even came into the picture.

This is the evolution of his case and this is where we end up, he added.

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When asked for a message to the former presidents supporters, Marcos Jr said, The government is just doing its job ... The politics doesnt enter into it.

Families and HRW hope for 'accountability'

The ICC launched an investigation in 2018 into the "war on drugs" after complaints were filed by opposition politicians and families of the victims. The Philippines withdrew from the ICC a month after the preliminary investigation started.

Llore Pasco, mother of two victims of the drug war whose killings were among the cases included in the ICC investigation, said Duterte's arrest was the first step towards justice for them.

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"I cried when I heard of what happened," she said in a radio interview. "This is it. Finally what we have been waiting for could happen, for Duterte to be arrested, jailed and be held accountable for his crimes."

Pasco said that even if Duterte now asks for forgiveness for the killings, it would not be enough.

"He needs to be held accountable," she said. "Even if he says sorry now, it is not enough because we lost our loved ones  fathers, children and parents. It is not enough because families are still suffering. We are still enduring the pain."

According to official records from the national police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, at least 6,252 people were killed in anti-drug operations from July 1, 2016, to May 31, 2022.

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Local and international human rights groups have estimated the death toll to be three times higher. Questions have also arisen about whether the suspects were extrajudicially killed by police and whether some of those killed actually had any role in drug sales.

Human Rights Watch (HRW), which has been campaigning against the "war on drugs," said the arrest was a "critical step for accountability in the Philippines."

"His arrest could bring victims and their families closer to justice and sends the clear message that no one is above the law," said Bryony Lau, HRW's deputy Asia director.
March 11 (UPI) -- Former congresswoman Katie Porter on Tuesday announced her 2026 candidacy for governor of California.

"What California needs now is a little bit of hope and a whole lot of grit. Fresh blood and new ideas. Leaders with the backbone to fight for what's right," Porter said in a video.

"That's why I am running for governor," she added.

Porter, 51, was a consumer protection attorney prior to entering Congress in 2019, representing California's swing 47th district. She lost a 2024 primary election race to now-Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.

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"In Congress, I held the Trump administration's feet to the fire when they hurt Americans," she said. "As governor, I won't ever back down when Trump hurts Californians -- whether he's holding up disaster relief, attacking our rights or our communities, or screwing over working families to benefit himself and his cronies."

Katie Porter (seen at the U.S. Capitol, March 2022) was a consumer protection attorney prior to entering Congress in 2019 representing California's swing 47th district. She lost a 2024 Democratic primary election race to now-Sen. Adam Schiff, her former House colleague. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

Porter, a law professor, is well-known as an often fiery orator, particularly when officials sat center stage for her legendary public grillings on Capitol Hill during which she used large props and displays to make her points.

On Tuesday, her campaign also released a poll suggesting that Porter is the "clear frontrunner" by 28 points among the likely and currently declared gubernatorial candidates.

Meanwhile, there has been speculation that former Vice President Kamala Harris may be eyeing the state's top job in Sacramento.

The campaign noted that as a UCI professor before entering the U.S. House of Representatives, Porter had been appointed by then-California Attorney General Kamala Harris as the state's independent monitor of banks in a nationwide $25 billion mortgage settlement.
By Ernest Scheyder and Jarrett Renshaw

(Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump aims to build metals refining facilities on Pentagon military bases as part of his plan to boost domestic production of critical minerals and offset China's control of the sector, two senior administration officials told Reuters.

The move is one of several planned for an executive order Trump could sign as soon as Wednesday after he told the U.S. Congress last week he would "take historic action to dramatically expand production of critical minerals and rare earths here in the USA."

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As part of the order, the Pentagon would work with other federal agencies to install processing facilities on its bases, according to the sources, who were not authorized to publicly discuss the administration's deliberations.

Using military bases for processing would underscore the importance Trump is placing on critical minerals for national security. Fighter jets, submarines, bullets and other weaponry used by the U.S. military are built with minerals processed by Beijing.

Trump also plans to name a critical minerals czar, similar to steps previous presidents have taken to coordinate Washington's focus on other areas, according to one of the sources. The plans are under discussion and could change before Trump signs the order, the sources added.

Some Trump administration officials were spooked by initial signs that China might restrict critical minerals exports as part of its retaliation for Trump's tariffs or for other reasons, according to a person familiar with their thinking.

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The U.S. National Security Council did not respond to requests for comment.

With the Pentagon controlling about 30 million acres of land, the plan would ensure there is available land for the refining facilities, avoiding the controversy that sometimes occurs in host local communities. It would also avoid the need to buy land and avoid using land controlled by other federal departments.

A plan that prioritizes metals processing - rather than an overhaul of U.S. mine permitting - could irk U.S. miners but address a longstanding concern from manufacturers that China controls too much of the global metals processing sector.

China is a top global producer of 30 of the 50 minerals considered critical by the U.S. Geological Survey, for example.

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It's not clear how Trump's plan for processing facilities on Pentagon bases could work from a regulatory perspective, as the U.S. Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act would still apply to Pentagon bases and those regulations have hindered private development of processing projects in the past.

Trump previously signaled a willingness for alternative uses of lands controlled by Washington. As a presidential candidate, he pledged to open up portions of federal land for large-scale housing construction, with zones that would be "ultra-low tax and ultra-low regulation."

Trump does not plan in the order to establish a U.S. critical minerals stockpile that would mimic the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the sources said, a step that some in the administration and mining industry had sought. China stockpiles some critical minerals, including cobalt, and the U.S. government last year considered stockpiling the metal, which is used in missiles, aerospace parts, magnets for communication, and radar and guidance systems.

Trump also does not plan to order the Pentagon or other U.S. agencies to require vendors to use only U.S. minerals, what is known as a "Buy American" mandate, and one that junior miners especially have said is needed to offset China's market manipulations.

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Nor would the order try to alter the federal mine permitting process, which was set by the 1970 National Environmental Policy Act, largely because such a move would require an act of Congress.

However, it would aim to expand the FAST-41 permitting process for mines, building on a step Trump took in his first term, according to the sources.

South32's Hermosa zinc-manganese project in Arizona was fast-tracked by former President Joe Biden, the first mine to receive that treatment.

The order would also seek to reclassify mine waste on federal land, mimicking a step that Rio Tinto, Freeport-McMoRan and others have taken to tap piles of old waste rock at U.S. mines previously thought to be worthless.

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Such a reclassification could help produce copper and other minerals cheaper and faster than building new mines.

It was not immediately clear if Trump plans to declare copper as a strategic mineral, which would allow U.S. miners of the widely used metal tap into a 10% production tax credit. Phoenix-based Freeport, the largest U.S. copper miner, told Reuters on Monday it hopes Trump takes that step, which would save it $500 million annually.

(Reporting by Ernest Scheyder and Jarrett Renshaw; additional reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; editing by Veronica Brown and Leslie Adler)
BROOME COUNTY, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  Exit signs along Interstate 81 in Broome County are being updated to a milage-based number system.

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez announced on Tuesday that work on the project will begin on March 12.

During the project, existing, sequentially numbered exit signs will be updated with new panels that represent the exit by its mileage location along the highway. This will give motorists a better indication of how many miles they need to travel to reach their destinations.

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The first exit signs switched will be on the southern end in Kirkwood, with crews gradually working their way north through Broome County. Eventually all exit signs along Interstate 81 in New York will be switched.

The New York State Department of Transportation continually strives to enhance the safety and convenience of the traveling public and these new exit numbers will allow drivers and emergency responders to make better-informed decisions as they travel along the southern tiers busiest highway, said Dominguez. Mile-based exit signs give drivers a better sense of where they are located on a highway and makes it easier for them to determine how far they need to go to reach their destinations, enabling more efficient travel planning and enhanced safety for all who use our highways.

The new exit numbers along I-81 are based on the distance in miles moving from south to north from the Pennsylvania border to the Canadian border. The new mile-based exit numbers will be added to the upper panel on the existing signs.

To reduce driver confusion, panel signs with the old sequential exit number (OLD EXIT 7) will be added to the bottom of the first approaching existing exit sign.

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According to Dominguez, the system is not practicable for all highways however, mileage-based systems are in use in nearly all 50 states and are widely viewed as more efficient than sequential numbering schemes.

In addition to assisting motorists in determining their location and the distance to their preferred exit, mile-based systems also aid emergency responders in reaching drivers who are experiencing an emergency.

The new system will ensure Interstate 81 conforms to current national standards.

The upgrade to mile-based exit numbers on I-81 is a strong improvement, making travel easier to navigate for drivers and ensuring faster emergency response when seconds matter. Thank you to NYSDOT for its efforts in making travel safer and more efficient for everyone in Broome County, said Broome County Executive Jason Garnar.

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Multiple short-term lane closures will be needed to complete the sign work. Motorists should anticipate travel delays and build extra travel time into their schedules. In addition, ramp closures may be necessary to replace overhead signs in the Binghamton area.

Motorists are urged to slow down and drive responsibly in work zones.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  South Koreas Constitutional Court could soon rule on whether to dismiss or reinstate impeached conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol. That doesn't mean the political crisis caused by Yoons short-lived imposition of martial law is over.

South Korea's already-severe political divide between conservatives and liberals will likely intensify as Seoul grapples with major foreign policy challenges like U.S. President Donald Trumps America First foreign policy platform and North Koreas increasing military cooperation with Russia.

Heres what to expect about the courts likely impending verdict on Yoon's Dec. 3 martial law decree that is testing South Korea's democracy.

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What might the court do?

The Constitutional Court has been deliberating whether to formally end Yoons presidency since the liberal opposition-controlled National Assembly in December voted to suspend him. Yoon is also facing a separate criminal trial after his arrest and indictment by prosecutors in January for alleged rebellion in connection with his martial law decree.

If the Constitutional Court rules against him, he will be officially thrown out of office and a national election will be held for a successor within two months.

If the court rules for Yoon, he would return to presidential duties. It was earlier unclear whether or how soon he might return to work, because he had been in jail until Saturday.

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Yoon is South Koreas first president who has been arrested while in office, and there are no clear laws or past rulings that could guarantee his immediate return to office, analysts say. But he was eventually released from prison, after a Seoul court canceled his arrest and allowed him to stand his criminal trial without being detained.

After hearing 16 witnesses, the court ended arguments on Feb. 25, but it hasnt announced when it will announce a verdict. Observers say it could come as early as this week or next week, citing past cases where the court ruled on former presidents.

The biggest issue is why Yoon sent hundreds of troops and police officers to the assembly after declaring martial law. Yoon says he wanted to maintain order, but some top military and police officers sent there have said that Yoon ordered them to drag out lawmakers to block an assembly vote about his decree or detain his political rivals.

Lawmakers eventually managed to get in and vote down his decree. No violence and no arrests of politicians actually happened.

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What fallout is expected?

Hundreds of thousands of people had earlier rallied near the assembly, calling for Yoons ouster. But those protests have since been scaled down after Yoon's impeachment. Yoon supporters have also regularly staged major rallies to denounce Yoons impeachment.

Ousting Yoon from office would prompt his supporters to ramp up protests before a presidential byelection to boost prospects for a new conservative president. Reinstating him would rekindle huge liberal demonstrations demanding Yoons resignation, according to Choi Jin, director of the Seoul-based Institute of Presidential Leadership.

No matter what decision the Constitutional Court comes up with, South Koreans division and extremely polarized politics cant help but to deepen, Choi said.

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Acting President Choi Sang-mok said Tuesday the government wont tolerate any illegal, violent protests, saying concerns about physical clashes between pro- and anti-Yoon forces are growing ahead of the court's verdict on Yoon.

Pro-Yoon rallies turned violent in January when protesters stormed the Seoul Western District Court after it approved Yoons formal arrest warrant. The protesters attacked police officers with bricks, steel pipes and other objects. The attack injured 17 police officers.

What about Yoon's rebellion trial?

Investigative authorities have alleged that Yoons martial law enforcement amounted to rebellion, describing it as riots with the purpose of undermining the constitution. If he's convicted of rebellion, he could face the death penalty or life imprisonment.

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Results of Yoons criminal trial will likely be affected by the Constitutional Court ruling.

The Constitutional Court's endorsement of Yoon's impeachment would confirm his violation of the constitution and could help increase prospects for Yoon's conviction of rebellion, said Park SungBae, a lawyer specializing in criminal law.

But a rejection would mean that the Constitutional Court believed Yoon's martial law decree wasn't serious enough to warrant dismissal, or maybe wasn't even illegal. Prosecutors would subsequently find it burdensome to raise Yoon's alleged rebellion at the criminal trial, Park said.

Prosecutors indicted Yoon only on charges of rebellion, because he has presidential immunity from most criminal prosecution. Some could question whether his criminal trial should continue if his impeachment is overturned at the Constitutional Court.

Even if the Constitutional Court reinstates Yoon, Choi said that Yoon's authority has already been badly hurt, so South Korea's leadership vacuum will likely continue.
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP)  We are hearing from financial experts as concerns of a recession here in the U.S. continue to grow.

This comes as the stock market dropped by several hundred points earlier today, following a dismal last week.

President Trump said over the weekend that he would not rule out the possibility of a recession, adding that the economy will experience a period of transition because of the administrations tariff policies.

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Financial experts say to remain cautious during this time of uncertainty and if you are investingConsider diversifying your portfolio. Senior VP at Saint Germain Investments Matt Farkas, told 22News, For investors and to some extent consumersdont overreact to this. That is where people typically get in trouble. They make a rash decision with their 401k, go to all cash, get out of the markets completely. Rarely does that work out. You need to develop an intermediate to long-term plan. Stick to that plan, and realize there will be bumps along the way.

The potential tariff impact as well as the labor market slowing are also contributing factors to fears over a possible recession.

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.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Twenty years before the Titanic changed maritime history, another ship touted as the next great technological feat set sail on the Great Lakes.

The Western Reserve was one of the first all-steel cargo ships to traverse the lakes. Built to break speed records, the 300-foot (91-meter) freighter dubbed the inland greyhound by newspapers was supposed to be one of the safest ships afloat. Owner Peter Minch was so proud of her that he brought his wife and young children aboard for a summer joyride in August 1892.

As the ship entered Lake Superior's Whitefish Bay between Michigan and Canada on Aug. 30, a gale came up. With no cargo, the ship was floating high in the water. The storm battered it until it cracked in half. Twenty-seven people perished, including the Minch family. The only survivor was wheelsman Harry W. Stewart, who swam a mile (1.6 kilometers) to shore after his lifeboat capsized.

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For almost 132 years, the lake hid the wreckage. In July, explorers from the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society pinpointed the Western Reserve off Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The society announced the discovery Saturday at the annual Ghost Ships Festival in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

There's a number of concurrent stories that make this important, the society's executive director, Bruce Lynn, said in a telephone interview. Most ships were still wooden. It was a technologically advanced ship. They were kind of a famous family at the time. You have this new ship, considered one of the safest on the lake, new tech, a big, big ship. (The discovery) is another way for us to keep this history alive.

Search lasted more than two years

Darryl Ertel, the society's marine operations director, and his brother, Dan Ertel, spent more than two years looking for the Western Reserve. On July 22, they set out on the David Boyd, the society's research vessel. Heavy ship traffic that day forced them to alter their course, though, and search an area adjacent to their original search grid, Lynn said.

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The brothers towed a side-scanning sonar array behind their ship. Side sonar scans starboard and port, providing a more expansive picture of the bottom than sonar mounted beneath a ship. About 60 miles (97 kilometers) northwest of Whitefish Point on the Upper Peninsula, they picked up a line with a shadow behind it in 600 feet (182 meters) of water. They dialed up the resolution and spotted a large ship broken in two with the bow resting on the stern.

Confirmation day

Eight days later, the brothers returned to the site along with Lynn and other researchers. They deployed a submersible drone that returned clear images of a portside running light that matched a Western Reserves starboard running light that had washed ashore in Canada after the ship went down. That light was the only artifact recovered from the ship.

That was confirmation day, said Lynn, the society's executive director.

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Darryl Ertel said that discovery gave him chills  and not in a good way. Knowing how the 300-foot Western Reserve was caught in a storm this far from shore made a uneasy feeling in the back of my neck," he said in a society news release. "A squall can come up unexpectedlyanywhere, and anytime.

Lynn said that the ship was pretty torn up but the wreckage appeared well-preserved in the frigid fresh water.

The Great Lakes can be more dangerous than the oceans

The Great Lakes have claimed thousands of ships since the 1700s. Perhaps the most famous is the Edmund Fitzgerald, an ore carrier that got caught in a storm in November 1975 and went down off Whitefish Point within 100 miles (160 kilometers) of the Western Reserve. All hands were killed. The incident was immortalized in the Gordon Lightfoot song, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald."

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Assistant Wisconsin State Climatologist Ed Hopkins said that storm season on the lakes begins in November, when warm water meets cold air and winds blow unimpeded across open water, generating waves as high as 30 feet (9 meters). The lakes at that time can be more dangerous than the oceans because they're smaller, making it harder for ships to out-maneuver the storms, he said.

Brittle steel may have played a role in sinking

But it's rare to see such gales form in August, Hopkins said. A National Weather Service report called the storm that sank the Western Reserve a relatively minor gale," he noted.

A Wisconsin Marine Historical Society summary of the Western Reserve sinking noted that the maritime steel age had just begun and the Western Reserve's hull might have been weak and couldn't handle the bending and twisting in the storm. The steel also becomes brittle in low temperatures like those of Great Lakes waters. The average water temperature in Lake Superior in late August is about 60 degrees (16 degrees Celsius), according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The summary notes the Titanic used the same type of steel as the Western Reserve and that it may have played a role in speeding up the luxury liner's sinking.
People are reported to have been injured and killed following explosions near a railway station in the city of Ivano-Frankivsk in Ukraines west on the evening of 11 March.

Source: Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne; Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia); Halka, an Ivano-Frankivsk local news outlet; Svitlana Onyshchuk, Head of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast Military Administration

Quote: "There has been an explosion near a railway station in Ivano-Frankivsk. Police and emergency workers are at the scene."

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Details: Ukrzaliznytsia said the explosions in Ivano-Frankivsk had happened outside the railway station. The explosion could be heard at the station, but no passengers or staff were injured. Trains are running on schedule.

Local media outlet Halka reports that the explosions are believed to have occurred under and inside an apartment block. A man in the street was killed. Another man has lost both legs and doctors are battling to save his life.

Update: Onyshchuk said there were several explosions. Casualties have been reported. One of the explosions caused a fire to break out on the roof of an apartment block which is being extinguished by firefighters.

Suspilne later reported, citing the police, that three people had been injured in two explosions in Ivano-Frankivsk.

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The city's mayor has confirmed that there were fatalities near the railway station as a result of the explosions, with explosives presumed to have been involved. Another explosion occurred in a nearby apartment, causing a fire to break out.

Later, emergency workers provided further details, saying that an unidentified object had exploded near a residential building on Pryvokzalna Street in Ivano-Frankivsk on the evening of 11 March. One person has reportedly been killed and three others injured.

Emergency workers took those injured in the incident to ambulances.

Shortly afterwards, a fire covering an area of 400 sq m broke out on the roof of a nine-storey apartment block on Zaliznychna Street. Early reports suggest the fire was caused by an explosion on the attic floor. Emergency workers evacuated 15 residents from this section of the building and four people were rescued. The fire has since been extinguished.

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The F-16 fighter jets provided to Ukraine cannot fully compete with Russias Su-35s in aerial combat; ensuring air superiority for Ukraines defence forces requires a comprehensive approach.

Source: Colonel Yurii Ihnat, Head of the Communications Department of the Ukrainian Air Force Command, in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda

Quote: "The aircraft modifications Ukraine has cannot engage in one-on-one air battles. A comprehensive approach is needed, involving ground-based air defence, aviation and electronic warfare systems to achieve results  air superiority and countering the carriers of guided bombs used by the enemy on a large scale."

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Details: Ihnat noted that within the coalition framework, Ukraine provides international partners with information on the need for specific air defence assets.

Ihnat also gave a reminder that Ukraine is constantly facing a shortage of surface-to-air missiles for foreign systems, as the Russians regularly launch large-scale attacks with all available weapons. Meanwhile, Russia continues to ramp up production of all means of aerial attack, including missiles, guided bombs and drones.

Background: Ihnat previously reported that Russia dropped almost 40,000 guided bombs on Ukrainian territory in 2024 alone.

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PARIS  The partner countries involved in the Lockheed Martin F-35 remain fully committed to the fighter jet, and theres no sign the United States is changing course on the Joint Strike Fighter program, Dutch Minister of Defence Ruben Brekelmans said.

Its in the interest of all of us to make sure that the F-35 program remains operational, that it remains as successful as it is right now, and I dont see any signs of the United States backtracking, Brekelmans said in a press briefing at the Paris Defence and Strategy Forum on Tuesday, in response to a question citing concerns the U.S. could remotely ground aircraft operated by allies.

So, I dont think we should speculate on this, he added.

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Some European researchers and lawmakers expressed concern in recent weeks that America might block allies from using their F-35s, as U.S. President Donald Trump appears to increasingly align with Russia and has threatened to annex Canada and Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark.

European F-35 operators collaborate with the U.S. to prepare the mission data files critical to operating the jet, and many rely on a U.S.-hosted cloud-based software system for maintenance and updates.

The Netherlands as of September had received 40 F-35s out of 52 ordered. That same month, the Dutch announced plans to buy another six of the jets and officially retired their fleet of F-16s.

Defense bill for 2025 would delay F-35 deliveries

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Brekelmans pointed out that the F-35 program relies on parts from partner countries, echoing an argument made by Belgian Minister of Defence Theo Francken in a television interview Monday.

Francken dismissed comments about a hypothetical F-35 kill switch as scaremongering stories, also saying that if the U.S. would stop supplying parts, that would immediately completely shut down the business of the entire U.S. defense industry in Europe.

The U.S. is the biggest partner, and we need to have them on board in order to have a successful F-35 program, but other countries also play a key role, Brekelmans said, noting the stealth jet has some essential parts that only we produce.

In the end, it is good also for the strength of the United States and for NATO and all of us that we have the most modern air force in the world, the Dutch minister said. That means we should all be fully committed. And so far, thats what I also see from the partners in the F-35 program.

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Lockheed Martin said in a statement last week that the company delivers all system infrastructure and data required for all F-35 customers to sustain the aircraft.

The F-35 capabilities against Russian air defenses cannot currently be replaced or replicated with other platforms, Justin Bronk, senior research fellow for air power at the U.K.s Royal United Services Institute, wrote in a social media post on Monday.

On the F-35 fears, I get it  there is real dependency, Bronk said. He added, however, that if countries rely on the U.S. for targeting capacity  beyond line-of-sight communications, ISR and munitions to fight a war  then dependency on the U.S. for mission data files and software isnt your main problem.

Norway earlier this month received three more F-35 aircraft, bringing its fleet to 49 jets out of 52 the country has ordered. Denmark has received 17 fighters out of 27 ordered. Belgium has been less advanced in building up its fleet, receiving its first F-35 in December, with a total of 34 on order. Poland, meanwhile, started training on its first F-35s in February.

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The Netherlands continues to see the U.S. as a reliable NATO ally, but the Americans expect European countries to step up and do much more on defense, according to Brekelmans.

They do not expect burden sharing, they do expect burden shifting, Brekelmans said. We should take that message seriously, but we should not speculate on any further steps that the United States is taking because we simply cannot guarantee our security without the U.S. at this moment. That is the reality that we have to work with.

Brekelmans added that the Netherlands is prepared to seriously talk about sending troops to Ukraine to safeguard any peace agreement with Russia. The minister said he doesnt believe a U.S. backstop is off the table, even if there will be no American boots on the ground.

There are also other ways in which you can provide a backstop, Brekelmans said. And its not only nuclear. In this escalation ladder, there are many steps in between, and we need to make sure that we create those steps.

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Any mission in Ukraine would need to be clearly defined and have robust military capabilities to realize the defined goal, Brekelmans added.

The Dutch minister said its very good that French President Emmanuel Macron last week floated the idea of expanding the French nuclear deterrent to European allies. With China investing in nuclear capabilities and Russia issuing nuclear threats, we also need to have this conversation, he said.

These conversations are very much in early phases and exchange of statements and ideas, Brekelmans added. Its not [like] right now ... with ministers of defense, that we have sessions about nuclear capabilities or something.

As part of this years bigger budget discussion, the Dutch government will assess whether to raise defense spending above 2% of its GDP, according to Brekelmans. An additional percentage point would mean an additional 10 billion to 12 billion of spending, which for the Netherlands is a serious amount of money.

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The biggest capacity shortages for the Netherlands are in the land forces, and while the Dutch government is planning to buy tanks, the number we invest is relatively low, Brekelmans said. We need to make sure that our land forces become bigger and stronger, with more heavy equipment and heavier weapon systems.

The war in Ukraine has shown that Dutch Army battalions and brigades need to be able to keep up the fight longer than three months, which means investing in enablers such as supply chain, logistics and medical equipment will be a priority, the minister said. Air defense will be another focus.

We need to make sure we have more air defense systems, more missiles, more of everything.

Defense News reporter Stephen Losey contributed to this report.
by Xinhua writer Liu Yanan

NEW YORK, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Progress driven by technology has become an important highlight of the Chinese economy, as the country continues making strides in fourth-industrial revolution technologies, a U.S. scholar has said.

China, with advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, automation, electric vehicles, high-speed rail and advanced materials, is now transforming to a more technology-focused model, and it's been very successful, said Mitchell Presnick, visiting fellow at Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies at Harvard University.

Saying that he has tried Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek and social media platform rednote and the experience was impressive, Presnick described it as "a wakeup call to people in the West who didn't realize that China was so advanced in AI."

"I never believed that only one model could work. I always knew that China would use its own way to innovate," said Presnick, adding that he is impressed by China's capacity to commercialize technology innovations.

Presnick also sees potential for Chinese and U.S. companies to collaborate in joint ventures in many parts of the world.

He said China and the United States have the opportunity to create a new bilateral relationship in the 21st century, which could help build global stability and prosperity for years to come.

Presnick said that the United States and China need each other, and "the reality is the United States and China are two halves of a symbiotic relationship." 
In this January file photo, recovery crews search the Potomac River for victims of the Jan. 29 collision of an American Airlines jetliner and a Blackhawk helicopter. (Giuseppe LoPiccolo/Capital News Service)

By Mennatalla Ibrahim

WASHINGTON  The National Transportation Safety Board issued urgent safety recommendations Tuesday, warning that helicopter flights near the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport pose serious safety risks and that one helicopter route should be closed during airport operations.

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Hours later, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy accepted the recommendations on behalf of the Federal Aviation Administration, promising long-term changes.

Urgent recommendations require immediate action to prevent similar accidents or incidents when we issue them, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said at an NTSB media briefing Tuesday. We believe a critical safety issue must be addressed without delay.

The recommendations were released alongside a preliminary investigative report into the Jan. 29 midair collision of an American Airlines jetliner and a military helicopter near Reagan National that killed 67 people.

The NTSB urged the FAA to ban helicopters from a four-mile stretch over the Potomac River when airport runway 15/33 is in use and to designate an alternative route when the area is closed, according to the published recommendations. The American jet was on final approach to runway 15/33 when the collision occurred.

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Homendy said that there were warning signs before the January collision, citing data detailing more than 15,000 occurrences from October 2021 to December 2024 when commercial aircraft and helicopters at Reagan National were less than a mile apart and separated vertically by less than 400 feet. In 85 of those incidents, the aircraft were less than 1,500 feet apart and separated vertically by less than 200 feet.

The majority occurred during plane landings and at night, according to the NTSBs report.

Were in a situation where were threading the needle, allowing helicopters to fly down the same airspace as landing aircraft, Duffy said. And why this information wasnt studied and known before January 29 is an important question.

Following the crash, Duffy restricted helicopter traffic around the airport through the end of March. He said those restrictions will continue in accordance with NTSB recommendations. Duffy said he also spoke with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about alternative military flight routes, with exceptions for presidential travel, life-saving operations and law enforcement.

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The preliminary report does not identify any probable causes of the collision, as the NTSB is still in the fact-finding phase of its investigation, according to Homendy.

We still have a lot of work to do in this investigation, so the report contains only the facts that were able to validate and release at this time, Homendy said. The easiest and quickest part of the investigation is determining what happened. The part that takes longer is the how and why.

Tuesdays NTSB media briefing was the fifth since the collision.

At a Feb. 14 briefing, Homendy told reporters that investigators believe that the helicopter crew was wearing night-vision goggles that would have limited their peripheral vision. She also said that cockpit conversations suggest that the helicopter crew may not have heard key instructions from air traffic controllers and had inaccurate altitude readings in the moments before the crash.

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Duffy criticized the air traffic control system as outdated, relying on 25- to 30-year-old technology, including floppy disks and plug-in headphones, at a separate press conference Tuesday. He pledged to propose a plan in the coming weeks that would revolutionize the antiquated technology, seeking congressional approval and funding.

Were at a point where we can do this fast  three-and-a-half to four years for a brand-new air traffic control system. Gold-plated. Envy of the world, he said. It will greatly improve our safety  but its also going to improve the efficiency that we have in American air travel, which I think will mean less delays, less cancellations, and again, better safety.

Despite concerns, Homendy reassured travelers.

I just flew with my daughter out of DCA  aviation is incredibly safe, she said. However, there are safety issues and areas where we need to improve to make sure that we are at zero [incidents].

 Capital News Service is a student-staffed reporting service operated by the University of Marylands Phillip Merrill College of Journalism. Stories are available at the CNS site and may be reprinted as long as credit is given to Capital News Service and, most importantly, to the students who produced the work.
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration said on Tuesday it was extending prohibitions barring U.S. flights to the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince through September 8, citing risks from armed gangs to civil aviation.

In November, the FAA temporarily halted all flights to Haiti but later allowed U.S. flights to resume to six airports in northern Haiti after three U.S. commercial jetliners were struck by gunfire. The restrictions had been set to expire Wednesday.

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The agency last year allowed American carriers and general aviation pilots to resume flights to six airports in Haiti: Port-de-Paix, Cap-Haitien, Pignon, Jeremie, Antoine-Simon and Jacmel.

The FAA said on Tuesday that armed gangs continue to control large portions of the capital and have used small arms to fire on civilian aircraft, helicopters and airports that damaged multiple aircraft and injured an air crew member.

The FAA said Haitian gangs "possess small arms, including high-caliber rifles and machine guns, posing risks primarily to aircraft on the ground, during low-altitude flight operations

and during the approach/departure phases of flight."

U.S. planes can transit over Port-au-Prince above 10,000 feet (3,048 m).

(Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
It appears President Donald Trump will return to Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach this weekend.

The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday afternoon, March 11, issued a notice of temporary flight restrictions for VIP movement for the airspace over Palm Beach County from 6:45 p.m. Friday through 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

While the notice does not specifically mention Trump, such notices are early indicators of when the president will arrive and leave Palm Beach.

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The White House has not officially shared the president's weekend plans.

President Trump's seventh visit to Florida and sixth visit to Palm Beach since inauguration

This will be Trump's seventh visit to Florida and sixth to Palm Beach since his Jan. 20 inauguration.

Ahead of Trump's expected arrival, South Ocean Boulevard next to his Mar-a-Lago Club will shut down between South County Road and the Southern Boulevard traffic circle. The town sends an alert 24 hours before the road closes to give drivers time to plan alternate routes.

Palm Beach County is no stranger to presidential-level flight restrictions, which took effect each time Trump visited Palm Beach during his first term.

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Pilots who violate the restrictions may be intercepted by fighter jets with the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

Since Trump took office in January, NORAD responded to more than 20 airspace breaches over Palm Beach during presidential visits, the agency said in a recent news release.

The FAA investigates all reported temporary flight restriction violations. Pilots who violate TFRs can face sanctions ranging from warnings or fines to certificate suspensions or revocations. The sanction depends on the circumstances of the violation.

NORAD reminded pilots to check and verify all flight restrictions or other notices posted by the FAA, particularly around Mar-a-Lago.

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Kristina Webb is a reporter for Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at kwebb@pbdailynews.com. Subscribe today to support our journalism.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: FAA: Trump to make 6th visit to West Palm Beach since inauguration
In a new tell-all book, a former senior Facebook employee claims, among other things, that employees used to let founder Mark Zuckerberg win at Settlers of Catan.

As former Facebook executive Sarah Wynn-Williams told NBC News ahead of the release of her new memoir, titled "Careless People," Zuckerberg insisted that his underlings weren't losing on purpose.

"You dont want to win that way?" Wynn-Williams, a former diplomat from New Zealand who worked as Facebook's director of global public policy from 2011 until 2017, recalled asking the CEO and founder.

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"I'm not winning that way," he insisted.

That insight into what makes Zuck tick, alongside other telling details  including his belief that Andrew Jackson, the architect of the genocidal "Trail of Tears," was the best American president  paint the portrait of an out-of-touch tech founder who oversaw a toxic work culture that ultimately led to Wynn-Williams' departure.

The thrust of the book reportedly centers around the sexual harassment she suffered at the hands of Joel Kaplan, who was at the time Facebook's vice president for global public policy and Wynn-Williams' boss. In an email exchange about her US citizenship test viewed by NBC, Kaplan asked the NZ native if she would be quizzed on the racist and sexually-charged term "dirty sanchez." In another instance, the executive asked Wynn-Williams after she'd given birth "where are you bleeding from?" and later told her she looked "sultry" at a work event.

Ultimately, Wynn-Williams was fired in 2017 after filing a workplace harassment claim against Kaplan that she believes was unfairly turned against her. In her interview with NBC, the ex-Facebook executive said she thinks her termination was retaliatory, though Meta insisted when reached by the outlet for comment that she was let go for "poor performance and toxic behavior."

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Along with accusing her direct supervisor of harassment, Wynn-Williams also said in her interview that she was uncomfortable with interactions she had with former chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg when the two were working together.

In 2016, the ex-employee alleges, the "Lean In" author repeatedly asked Wynn-Williams to share a bed with her on a flight from Davos, Switzerland back to California. After refusing, Sandberg reportedly told Wynn-Williams that she "should have got into bed," and later seemed to marginalize her at work.

On another unsettling occasion, which Wynn-Williams also detailed in a whistleblower complaint she filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Sandberg allegedly instructed another employee to spend $13,000 on lingerie for the COO and staffer. This demand came over email, which NBC reviewed. Through her family foundation, Sandberg declined to comment on the claims.

Though Meta is insisting the former exec's book is a "mix of out-of-date and previously reported claims about the company and false accusations about our executives," it also attempted to persuade a judge to hold an emergency hearing ahead of the book's publication this week as the company sought to halt its publication and make its own edits.

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In a statement, Flatiron Books, Wynn-Williams publisher, said that Meta was trying to "institute a gag order to silence our author" and that it has no responsibility to provide the company with "the opportunity to shut down her story."

This behind-the-scenes look at Facebook's inner workings are especially fascinating now that the company is essentially operating without content moderation  and looking to get into bed with President Donald Trump while doing so.

More on Meta: Zuckerbergs Instagram Is Hosting AI Fetish Videos of "Asian Amputees"
Claim:

The government of Canada charges 250% tariffs on U.S. dairy products imported into Canada.

Rating:

Rating: Mixture

What's True:

Canada can charge high tariffs  up to 298.5%  on U.S. dairy products.

What's False:

However, this tariff rate does not apply to all dairy products imported into Canada from the U.S. Rather, the higher rate only applies when imports exceed a pre-agreed-upon quota.

On March 7, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that Canada had been "ripping us off for years" with high tariffs, including 250% on U.S. dairy products imported into Canada. Social media users on Facebook (archived) and X (archived) repeated the claim.

(Facebook user Ernie Brown)

One Facebook user wrote: "Canada has been charging us 250% tariffs for many years on dairy products." Snopes readers also searched our site for information about Canada and tariffs.

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However, while it is true that Canada can place high tariffs on some products imported from the U.S., including dairy, online claims lacked context. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a trade agreement negotiated by the former Trump administration in 2018, set out tariff rate quotas (TRQs) for U.S. dairy products imported into Canada. The higher tariff rates for dairy mentioned by Trump and in online claims apply only to goods imported "over access commitment," meaning above the quota agreed to by the U.S. and Canada. According to one U.S. dairy industry professional, these quotas have never been exceeded, which would trigger the higher tariff rate. Therefore, we rate this claim a mixture of truth and falsehood.

Tariffs take center stage following Trump executive orders

Tariffs are taxes imposed by a government on a person or company importing goods. Percentages are typically tied to a product's value, so a 25% tariff on a $10 product, for example, would mean a $2.50 tax for the person or company importing the product.

In practice, high tariffs could lead to high shelf prices for consumers, as importers often raise their prices to make up for the increased cost of tariffs. This is known as "price pass-through," according to the Economic Policy Institute, a nonprofit think tank that carries out economic research and analyzes the economic impact of policies and proposals.

In March 2025, tariffs were at the forefront of political discussions in the U.S. and Canada following Trump's announcement of blanket 25% tariffs on imports from countries including Canada, his subsequent amendments to that plan and then Canada's reciprocal action. On March 11, 2025, Trump announced on Truth Social that he would be placing an additional 25% tariff, totaling 50%, on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, further escalating the trade conflict between the two countries.

USMCA, Canadian supply management, tariff rate quotas and the price of dairy

The USMCA went into force on July 1, 2020, during the first Trump administration, and replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) from 1994. Both agreements essentially created a trade bloc consisting of the U.S., Mexico and Canada with favorable market conditions between the three.

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Following the enactment of USMCA (known as CUSMA in Canada), Canada created new preferential tariff codes to apply to products covered by the agreement: code UST for the U.S. part of the agreement and code MXT for the Mexican part. The codes appeared in Canadian customs tariff schedules to indicate when USMCA meant those countries got "preferential" tariff treatment.

For example: UST preferential tariff codes meant that under the 2025 Canadian Customs Tariff Schedule, importing butter "within access commitment" (within quota) was free, or not tariffed. However, for exports "over access commitment," a 298.5% tariff applied, and the tariff paid may not be less than $4 per kilogram.

However, despite the eye-watering tariffs for "over access commitment" dairy products, like butter, according to one U.S. industry expert, these higher tariff rates have effectively never been applied.

On March 7, the same day that Trump made his 250% tariff claim, Becky Rasdall Vargas, senior vice president of trade and workforce policy at the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), which represents the U.S. dairy manufacturing and marketing industry, said (our emphasis):

It is accurate that Canada imposes a tariff of approximately 250% on U.S. exports of certain dairy products into Canada, and even more with Canada's 25% retaliatory tariffs in place. However, that tariff would only apply if we were able to reach and exceed the quota on U.S. dairy exports agreed to under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Frustratingly, the U.S. has never gotten close to exceeding our USMCA quotas because Canada has erected various protectionist measures that fly in the face of their trade obligations made under USMCA.

The "protectionist measures" mentioned by Vargas likely referred to Canada's supply-management system.

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Under this system, provincial marketing boards overseen by the Farm Products Council of Canada control production, pricing and imports of certain goods, including dairy, to ensure enough products on the shelves and fair prices for Canadian farmers, free from potential undercutting by cheaper imported goods.

The way the Canadian government controls imports is through tariff rate quotas (TRQs). According to the National Farmer's Union of Canada: TRQs "allow a limited amount of imports to Canada at low or zero tariff rates, but above the TRQ threshold, very high tariffs are applied, making further imports uneconomic."

The supply-management system was evident in the 2025 Canadian Customs Tariff Schedule: "within access commitment" imports were often not subject to tariffs while "over access commitment" imports were.

Canada's supply-management system has previously caused issues within the USMCA. In 2022, a USMCA panel agreed that Canada breached its commitments under the agreement by reserving part of the tariff rate quotas for certain types of businesses.

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The U.S., Canada and Mexico will meet to review the USMCA in 2026.

Sources:

13, KRCG. "President Donald Trump Spoke from the Oval Office on Friday, March 7." YouTube, 7 Mar. 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3_vrof6k20&t=582s.

"Amendment to Duties to Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs Across Our Northern Border." The White House, 6 Mar. 2025, https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/amendment-to-duties-to-address-the-flow-of-illicit-drugs-across-our-northern-border-0c3c/.

Boyajian, Chris. "This Is the Reality and Why Trump Is Right. ." Facebook, 10 Mar. 2025, https://www.facebook.com/cboyajian2/posts/pfbid0mardsW5Nn1CfK319aAyE62CsKXwXCaqXjzWbHNFfq9i7yDiCXHz9YuhNXm8Zbjnxl.

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Brown, Ernie. "Canada Has Been Charging Us 250% Tariffs for Many Years on Dairy Products." Facebook, 9 Mar. 2025, https://www.facebook.com/groups/518675716246332?multi_permalinks=1143742397072991&hoisted_section_header_type=recently_seen.

Busch, Sophia. "Trump Has an Advantage in Upcoming USMCA Trade Talks. Here's How His Team Can Use It." Atlantic Council, 16 Jan. 2025, https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/trump-has-the-advantage-in-upcoming-usmca-trade-talks-heres-how-his-team-can-use-it/.

Department of Finance Canada. "List of Products from the United States Subject to 25 per Cent Tariffs Effective March 4, 2025." Government of Canada, https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2025/03/list-of-products-from-the-united-states-subject-to-25-per-cent-tariffs-effective-march-4-2025.html.

"Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Imposes Tariffs on Imports from Canada, Mexico and China." The White House, 2 Feb. 2025, https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/02/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-imposes-tariffs-on-imports-from-canada-mexico-and-china/.

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Government of Canada. "Supply Management." Government of Canada, https://www.canada.ca/en/farm-products-council/services/supply-management.html.

Government of Canada, Canada Border Services Agency. Chapter 4 - T2020. 15 June 2020, https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/2020/html/02/ch04-eng.html.

---. Chapter 4 : T2025. 1 Jan. 2025, https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/2025/html/00/ch04-eng.html.

---. Overview of Key Changes Affecting Imports. 5 May 2020, https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/cusma-aceum/overview-survol-eng.html.

"IDFA Statement on Potential U.S. Tariff on Canadian Dairy Products." IDFA, 7 Mar. 2025, https://www.idfa.org/news/idfa-statement-on-potential-u-s-tariff-on-canadian-dairy-products.

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@KatKanada_TM. "Trump Slammed Canada for Unfair Trade, Citing a 250% Dairy Tariff and Restrictions on U.S. Lumber. ." X, 7 Mar. 2025, https://x.com/KatKanada_TM/status/1898062796576681998.

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) | Definition, Purpose, Members, Replacement, & Provisions | Britannica. 6 Mar. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/event/North-American-Free-Trade-Agreement.

Ontario Newsroom. https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1005690/ontario-applies-25-per-cent-surcharge-on-electricity-exports-to-united-states. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.

"Supply Management." National Farmers Union, 6 Mar. 2025, https://nfu.ca/learn/supply-management/.

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"TariffsEverything You Need to Know but Were Afraid to Ask." Economic Policy Institute, https://www.epi.org/publication/tariffs-everything-you-need-to-know-but-were-afraid-to-ask/. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.

Trump, Donald J. "Based on Ontario, Canada, Placing a 25% Tariff on 'Electricity' Coming into the United States, I Have Instructed My Secretary of Commerce to Add an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on All STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. ." Trump's Truth, 11 Mar. 2025, https://trumpstruth.org/statuses/30148.

"United States Prevails in USMCA Dispute on Canadian Dairy Restrictions." United States Trade Representative, https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2022/january/united-states-prevails-usmca-dispute-canadian-dairy-restrictions. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.

"United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement." United States Trade Representative, https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/united-states-mexico-canada-agreement. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.

"UNITED STATESMEXICOCANADA TRADE FACT SHEET Agriculture: Market Access and Dairy Outcomes of the USMC Agreement." United States Trade Representative, https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/united-states-mexico-canada-agreement/fact-sheets/market-access-and-dairy-outcomes. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.


Claim:

In March 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested and detained Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S.

Rating:

Rating: True

On March 8, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested and detained a man named Mahmoud Khalil in New York City. Several social media posts made by accounts associated with U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, including one by Trump himself, claimed that Khalil was arrested and detained for ties to Hamas, a Palestinian militant organization.

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According to a statement from Khalil's lawyer obtained by Snopes, Khalil is a lawful permanent resident (meaning he holds a green card) of the United States. He is a recent graduate of Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, and according to CNN, served as a negotiator for protesters during pro-Palestine demonstrations on Columbia's campus in spring 2024. In the days following his arrest, posts on social media sites went viral sharing Khalil's story, and protesters took to the streets of Manhattan, calling Khalil's detention unlawful and for him to be released.

Mahmoud Khalil isnt an illegal alien.



He isnt a terrorist.



Hes a Columbia graduate student and a legal U.S. resident. He's a husband. And his wife, a US Citizen8 months pregnanthas no idea where he is.



The Department of Homeland Security snatched him off campus, pic.twitter.com/ESDaPDNckQ  Joshua Reed Eakle  (@JoshEakle) March 10, 2025

Snopes readers contacted us asking if the story was true  if ICE agents had arrested and detained Khalil. They had.

On March 10, Trump posted to his social media platform Truth Social announcing that ICE had arrested and detained Khalil, whom he called a "Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas Student." Trump's post said Khalil's arrest was the "first of many to come" and that he expected "every one of America's Colleges and Universities to comply" with ICE's actions.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an X post the day after Khalid was arrested that the department would revoke visas and green cards for "Hamas supporters," and a separate X post from the official Department of Homeland Security account claimed that "Khalil led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization."

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On March 9, Khalil's lawyers filed a petition alleging that his detainment was illegal on the grounds that lawful permanent residents are protected by the First Amendment right to free speech and the Fifth Amendment right to due process.

"ICE's arrest and detention of [Mahmoud] follows the U.S. government's open repression of student activism and political speech, specifically targeting students at Columbia University for criticism of Israel's assault on Gaza. The U.S. government has made clear that they will use immigration enforcement as a tool to suppress that speech.

According to the statements from Khalil's lawyers, ICE officers arrested him in the lobby of his university-owned apartment on March 8. They told him that his student visa had been canceled, despite the fact that Khalil has a green card, not a student visa. His wife, a U.S. citizen who is eight months pregnant, retrieved Khalil's green card, but officers told them that his green card status had been revoked and arrested him anyway. A lawyer not affiliated with the case told NPR that immigration judges can revoke lawful permanent resident status, but it is generally only done in cases of criminal activity.

Searching ICE's online detainee locator system for Khalil's name and country of birth (Syria) revealed he is currently detained at the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center (also known as LaSalle Detention Center) in Jena, Louisiana. The New York Times reported on March 10 that a federal judge temporarily blocked Khalil's deportation so the judge could review the petition claiming his detention was illegal.

According to CNN and The Associated Press from April 2024, Khalil was the lead negotiator for students protesting the Israel-Hamas war and Israeli occupation of Gaza, who set up encampments on the school's campus for just over two weeks. After talks with Columbia University administrators failed, school officials called the New York Police Department to break up the encampment.

Sources:

Bailey, Chelsea. "Who Is Mahmoud Khalil? A Look at the Columbia University Protestor Detained by ICE." CNN, 11 Mar. 2025, https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/11/us/mahmoud-khalil-columbia-ice-green-card-hnk/index.html.

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Banerjee, Isha. "Timeline: The 'Gaza Solidarity Encampment.'" Columbia Daily Spectator, https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2024/05/02/timeline-the-gaza-solidarity-encampment/. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.

Bustillo, Ximena. "Arrest of Pro-Palestinian Protester Shows Escalation in Trump Deportation Efforts." NPR, 10 Mar. 2025. NPR, https://www.npr.org/2025/03/10/nx-s1-5323166/arrest-green-card-palestinian-protest.

Chakravarthy, Apurva. "Mahmoud Khalil, SIPA '24, Is 'Healthy' and 'His Spirits Are Undaunted,' Lawyer Writes in Update on Immigration Case." Columbia Daily Spectator, https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2025/03/10/mahmoud-khalil-sipa-24-is-healthy-and-his-spirits-are-undaunted-lawyer-writes-in-update-on-immigration-case/. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.

News, A. B. C. "Judge Blocks Removal of Palestinian Activist Who Was Detained at Columbia University." ABC News, https://abcnews.go.com/US/ice-arrests-palestinian-activist-green-card-columbia-university/story?id=119616144. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.

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"Protesters Demand Release of Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil as Judge Blocks Deportation." NBC News, 11 Mar. 2025, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/protesters-demand-release-palestinian-activist-mahmoud-khalil-judge-bl-rcna195786.

Quinn, Melissa. Trump Says Arrest of Palestinian Activist Who Helped Lead Columbia Protests Is First of "Many to Come" - CBS News. 10 Mar. 2025, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-mahmoud-khalil-ice-columbia-university/.

Rosenfeld, Arno. "Jewish Groups Targeted Columbia Grad Mahmoud Khalil  Then ICE Arrested Him." The Forward, 10 Mar. 2025, https://forward.com/news/703018/mahmoud-khalil-columbia-cuad-ice/.

"Trump Warns That Arrest of Palestinian Activist at Columbia Will Be 'First of Many.'" AP News, 10 Mar. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-mahmoud-khalil-ice-6964107d218dba43eb995d6dbbe528b1.

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Wong, Edward, et al. "Trump Administration Seeks to Expel a Green-Card Holder Over Student Protests." The New York Times, 10 Mar. 2025, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/10/us/trump-rubio-khalil-columbia-student-protests.html.

Zanger, Jesse, and Lisa Rozner. Protests Grow in NYC over Columbia University Pro-Palestinian Activist's Arrest as Judge Says He Can't Be Deported yet - CBS New York. 10 Mar. 2025, https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/mahmoud-khalil-palestinian-activist-arrested/.


Claim:

U.S. President Donald Trump posted a link on Truth Social that displayed a symbol Nazis used to identify gay men in concentration camps.

Rating:

Rating: True

Context:

Trump posted a link to an article, which displayed a preview of the featured illustration of an upside-down pink triangle with a red slash through it. It was not clear whether he read the article or knew what the illustration depicted or symbolized.

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In March 2025, a rumor spread online that U.S. President Donald Trump posted a symbol Nazis used as a badge to identify gay men to his social media platform Truth Social.

Users shared screenshots of the post to Facebook, Reddit and Instagram, where one account captioned the image: "Trump posted this today on truth social. For those that don't know, the pink triangle was a symbol used during Nazi Germany as a 'badge' to identify gay men or trans women in their concentration camps. Since 1970 the LGBT community reappropriated the symbol to symbolize pride & other queer movements" (archived, archived, archived):

(Instagram @allie4tn)

Snopes readers also wrote in to ask us whether Trump had posted such an image to his Truth Social account.

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In short, Trump did post a link on Truth Social to an article published on the website of the conservative daily newspaper The Washington Times (archived). The article's feature illustration displays in the preview and depicts a television set with a pink upside-down triangle and an overlaid red symbol, usually taken to mean "not allowed."

Several sources confirm that Nazis did indeed use a pink triangle to identify gay men in concentration camps. Therefore, we have rated this claim as true. It is unknown, however, whether Trump read the article he linked to, or whether he knew what the illustration depicted or symbolized. We have contacted the White House for comment and will update this story if we receive a response.

(Truth Social @realDonaldTrump)

On March 9, 2025, Trump posted  without comment  a link to an opinion piece by Army veteran Jeremy Hunt titled "Army recruitment ads look quite different under Trump." It featured an illustration depicting the pink upside-down triangle and a "no" symbol. We reached out to the artist, Linas Garsys, and will update this story if we get a response.

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Hunt's article mentioned the presence of LGBTQ+ people in previous Army recruitment efforts. It compared Biden-era advertisements that showed, for example, an Army officer marching in a pride parade, with an ad from Trump's administration that featured a soldier in the gym lifting weights and "declaring to the camera, 'Stronger people are harder to kill.'" Hunt wrote: "This sea change in advertising style isn't merely about aesthetics; it signals to the world that our military is serious and prepared to fight."



The pink triangle is well-known as a symbol from the Nazi era of World War II. The Arolsen Archives at the International Center on Nazi Persecution, which helps to find missing victims of the Holocaust, acquired a chart from the Dachau concentration camp that detailed which of a range of colored triangles a particular group of prisoners should wear. The archives' website states (archived) homosexual prisoners could be recognized by their pink triangle badges. A blog post (archived) from the Sydney Jewish Museum says prisoners marked with the pink triangle were "systematically ostracised and subject to harsh labour," adding that there is "little survivor testimony" from men who were forced to wear it.

The LGBTQ community began to reclaim the symbol of the pink triangle in the 1970s. The British Holocaust education resource, Holocaust Centre North, says on its blog (archived) that gay rights groups embraced it, adding that in the 1980s, a six-person collective founded a project, Silence = Death, in response to a new threat: the AIDS virus. They inverted the Nazis' symbol, using a pink triangle pointing upward as the logo. This pattern continued at gay rights marches in later decades, as seen below.

Marchers carrying a pink triangle with the words "Never Forget" at the Lesbian and Gay Pride event in London, June 18, 1994. (Getty Images)

Snopes has addressed similar claims about what Trump has posted to his social media platform, including that he called teachers "ugly" on Truth Social and a rumor that a post promised to immediately lower the prices of eggs and gasoline upon his taking office.

Sources:

Arolsen Archives. "Prisoner Groups in the Concentration Camp: How the Nazis Stigmatized Their Victims." Arolsen Archives, 23 Nov. 2023, arolsen-archives.org/en/news/prisoner-groups-in-the-concentration-camp-how-the-nazis-stigmatized-their-victims/. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.

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Dawsey, Jason. "Recounting Terror and Sexual Violence: Josef Kohout's the Men with the Pink Triangle." The National WWII Museum | New Orleans, 30 June 2020, www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/the-men-with-the-pink-triangle-heinz-heger. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.

Eason, Steve. Never Forget, 18 June 1994. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.

Heger, Heinz. The Men with the Pink Triangle. Haymarket Books, 7 Mar. 2023.

Hunt, Jeremy. "Army Recruitment Ads Look Quite Different under Trump." The Washington Times, 19 Feb. 2025, www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/feb/19/army-recruitment-ads-look-quite-different-trump/. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.

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Joseph, Alex. "Reclaiming the Pink Triangle: LGBT+ People and the Holocaust." Holocaust Centre North, 24 Feb. 2021, holocaustcentrenorth.org.uk/blog/reclaiming-the-pink-triangle/. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.

Plant, Richard. The Pink Triangle. Holt Paperbacks, 1 Apr. 2011.

Sydney Jewish Museum. "The Stories behind the Pink Triangle." Sydney Jewish Museum, 15 May 2020, sydneyjewishmuseum.com.au/news/the-stories-behind-the-pink-triangle/. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.

Trump, Donald. Truth Social, 9 Mar. 2025, truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114132787592380677. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. "Classification System in Nazi Concentration Camps." Ushmm.org, 2019, encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/classification-system-in-nazi-concentration-camps. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.
By Stephanie van den Berg

THE HAGUE - Following a request from the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Philippines arrested former President Rodrigo Duterte due to an investigation into thousands of killings in a violent crackdown on drugs that was the hallmark of his rule.

Here are some facts about the ICC:

WHEN WAS THE ICC SET UP AND WHY?

The court was established in 2002 to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression when member states are unwilling or unable to do so themselves. It can prosecute crimes committed by nationals of member states or on the territory of member states by other actors. It has 125 member states. The court's budget for 2025 is about 195 million euros ($202 million).

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WHAT IS THE ICC INVESTIGATING?

The ICC is conducting investigations from the Palestinian territories to Ukraine and African states such as Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya, to Venezuela in Latin America and Myanmar and the Philippines in Asia. It says there have been 32 cases before the court, with some having more than one suspect. ICC judges have issued at least 60 arrest warrants.

HOW MANY PEOPLE HAS THE COURT CONVICTED?

ICC judges have issued 11 convictions and four acquittals. Twenty-one people have been held in the ICC detention centre in The Hague and have appeared before the court, and 31 people remain at large. Charges have been dropped against seven people due to their deaths.

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Of the 11 convictions, only six have been for the court's core crimes of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The others were for crimes such as witness tampering. The six convicted men were all African militia leaders from Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali and Uganda. Terms ranged from nine to 30 years in prison. The maximum possible term is life imprisonment.

WHO IS ON THE COURT'S ARREST WARRANT LIST?

The Philippines authorities have said they have arrested Duterte on a warrant from the ICC, but the court itself has not yet confirmed the warrant. In 2018, Duterte announced he would withdraw from the ICC after the court announced it would look into allegations of systematic murders of drug dealers on his watch. Two years after the withdrawal was finalised, judges allowed the ICC prosecution to open a full investigation into suspected crimes against humanity looking at incidents that took place while the country was still an ICC member.

Other notable ICC suspects are Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is accused of being criminally responsible for acts including murder, persecution and using starvation as a weapon of war in the Gaza conflict and Russian President Vladimir Putin, accused of the war crime of illegally deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine. Both Israel and Russia have repeatedly denied that their forces have committed atrocities in Gaza and Ukraine respectively and have argued the ICC has no jurisdiction over them.

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In recent months the ICC prosecutor has also requested arrest warrants for senior Afghan and Myanmar leaders, but those have not been officially approved by judges.

WHICH COUNTRIES ARE NOT MEMBERS OF THE ICC?

Although the court is supported by many United Nations members and the European Union, other countries such as the United States, China and Russia are not members, arguing the ICC could be used for politically motivated prosecutions.

Myanmar is not a member of the court, but in 2018 and 2019 judges ruled the court had jurisdiction over alleged cross-border crimes that partially took place in neighbouring ICC member Bangladesh, such as deportation and persecution, and said prosecutors could open a formal investigation.

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Israel is not a member of the court and does not recognise its jurisdiction, but the Palestinian territories were admitted as an ICC member state in 2015. This, together with a ruling by judges, means the court can look at potential war crimes carried out by Hamas fighters in Israel and by Israelis in the Gaza Strip.

The Philippines are not currently a member of the ICC but they were members between 2011 and 2019 when the unilateral withdrawal by Duterte became final. Under the court's founding 1998 Rome Statute, even if a state withdraws as a member it retains jurisdiction over crimes within its jurisdiction committed during the membership period.

(Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Separatist militant group the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed that they had taken hostages during an attack on a train carrying hundreds of people, including paramilitary troops, in southwestern Pakistan on Tuesday and threatened to kill them.

The BLA is the strongest of a number of insurgent groups long operating in the area bordering Afghanistan and Iran, a mineral-rich region that is home to Beijing's investment in Gwadar deep water port and other projects.

In what was previously a low-level insurgency, the militants have in recent months stepped up their activities using new tactics to inflict high death and injury tolls and target Pakistan's military.

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Here are facts about the group, which has also targeted Chinese interests.

WHAT ARE THE BLA'S GOALS?

The BLA seeks independence for Balochistan, a province located in Pakistan's southwest and bordering Afghanistan to the north and Iran to the west.

It is the biggest of several ethnic insurgent groups that have battled the federal government for decades, saying it unfairly exploits Balochistan's rich gas and mineral resources.

The insurgents have been fighting to lay a claim to local resources which they say belong to their people.

Balochistan's mountainous border region serves as a safe haven and training ground for the Baloch insurgents and Islamist militants.

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HOW HAS IT BECOME MORE LETHAL?

The BLA shocked the country's security establishment when it stormed army and navy bases in 2022.

It has deployed women suicide bombers, including in an attack on Chinese nationals at a university in Karachi and a bombing in southwest Balochistan.

An umbrella group of several Baloch ethnic groups said last week that it had convened all factions in a bid to unite them under a unified military structure.

A dormant BLA splinter group called BLA (AZAD) became active in recent weeks.

WHAT ARE THE BLA'S TARGETS?

The BLA often targets infrastructure and security forces in Balochistan, but has also truck in other areas - most notably the southern port city of Karachi.

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The insurgents target Pakistan's army and Chinese interests, in particular the strategic port of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea, accusing Beijing of helping Islamabad to exploit the province.

Militants have killed Chinese citizens working in the region and attacked Beijing's consulate in Karachi.

The BLA, separately, was also at the centre of tit-for-tat strikes last year between Iran and Pakistan over what they called militant bases on each other's territory, which brought the neighbours close to war.

BALOCHISTAN'S SIGNIFICANCE

Balochistan is an important part of China's $65 billion investment in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a wing of President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road initiative.

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It is home to key mining projects, including Reko Diq, run by mining giant Barrick Gold (ABX.TO), and believed to be one of the world's largest gold and copper mines.

China also operates a gold and copper mine in the province.

The decades-old insurgency has continued to keep the province of some 15 million people unstable and created security concerns around Pakistan's plans to access untapped resources.

It is Pakistan's largest province by area, but smallest by population. Balochistan also has a long Arabian Sea coastline, not far from the Gulf's Strait of Hormuz oil shipping lane.

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Hundreds of Baloch activists, many of them women, have protested in Islamabad and Balochistan over alleged abuses by security forces - accusations the government denies.

Islamabad accuses India and Afghanistan of backing the militants to damage Pakistan's relations with China, a charge both countries deny.

(Reporting by Asif Shahzad in Islamabad and Saud Mehsud in Dera Ismail Khan; Editing by Aidan Lewis and Ed Osmond)
WASHINGTON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he will impose an additional 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum from Canada, raising the total tariff to 50 percent, in response to tariffs on electricity exports from the Canadian province of Ontario.

"Based on Ontario, Canada, placing a 25 percent Tariff on Electricity coming into the United States, I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25 percent Tariff, to 50 percent, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD," Trump said in a post on social media Truth Social.

"This will go into effect TOMORROW MORNING, March 12th," Trump said.

Canada's Ontario government on Monday officially applied a 25 percent surcharge on all electricity exports to three U.S. states: Michigan, Minnesota and New York, in retaliation to the 25 percent broad tariffs on Canadian goods.

Trump on Thursday granted a one-month exemption from tariffs on Mexico and Canada under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Around 38 percent of goods from Canada would qualify, the NBC News quoted a senior administration official as saying. 
FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI)  An investigation is underway after a Fall River triple-decker was heavily damaged by fire Monday afternoon.

Fall River District Fire Chief Matt Johnson told 12 News firefighters rushed to the Danforth Street apartment building to find flames shooting from the second and third floors.

Johnson said firefighters had to evacuate the building temporarily and battle the flames from the outside due to the significant amount of fire. The firefighters eventually went back inside to finish the job once the bulk of the fire was knocked down, he added.

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It had a really good jump on us, so we had no choice but to get everyone out [of the building], Johnson said.

Everyone who lived there escaped safely and no one was injured.

Its unclear whether the building is a total loss.

Its too early to tell, but theres significant damage to the second and third floors and water damage is always an issue, Johnson explained.

The cause of the fire remains unknown at this time.

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Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app.

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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN)  A family has been displaced after a house caught fire early Tuesday morning in Murfreesboro, officials said.

Rutherford County Fire and Rescue said crews were sent to the home around 3 a.m. on Compton Road.

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When they arrived, heavy fire was reportedly coming from the roof of the home. Officials said firefighters worked quickly to bring the blaze under control.

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According to fire officials, the homeowners were inside at the time of the fire but were able to safely escape.

Several agencies, including Murfreesboro Fire Rescue, Rutherford County Emergency Management Medical Services and the Rutherford County Sheriffs Office, all responded to the home to conduct an investigation.

READ MORE | Latest headlines from Murfreesboro and Rutherford County

Investigators from the Rutherford County Fire Marshals Office reportedly determined that the blaze was accidental.

The American Red Cross is providing support to the displaced residents. No additional information was released.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (WFLA)  The family of a University of Pittsburgh college student who went missing in Punta Cana is asking authorities to broaden their search.

Sudiksha Konanki was last seen on March 6 with a young man that authorities are speaking with.

The Loudoun County Sheriffs Office announced authorities are speaking with a young man and two others who were last seen with Konanki.

Sudiksha Konanki

The sheriff said they are not ruling anything out, from possible drowning to abduction, NBC said.

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The search for Konanki is intensifying in the resort area as her father, mother, and relatives flew from Loudoun County.

So far they have not been able to find my daughter. They are using helicopters, drones, and scuba diving and boats, said Sudikshas father, Subbarayudu Konanki.

According to NBC, the Loudoun Sheriff said Sudiksha was at the beach near the hotel with three people who were not from the University of Pittsburgh.

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The five friends who traveled with Sudiksha returned to their hotel early Thursday morning, but she stayed back.

According to NBC, the man she stayed back with was captured on surveillance footage leaving the beach area before 10 a.m. alone.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  The mother of Shanquella Robinson, Sallamondra Robinson, responds to the defendants Alysse Hyatt and Wenter Donovans motion to dismiss for improper venue.

In February, the defendants claimed that because the incident involving Shanquella and the accused Cabo Six occurred in Mexico, it should have been handled by Mexican law. Since the lawsuit was never filed there, Hyatt and Donovan say the claims made against them should be dismissed.

LATEST | Stomped on: FBI documents reveal new details in Shanquella Robinson case

The plaintiff responded by saying that their argument that this case ought to be decided by a civil court in Mexico is not enough to warrant a dismissal. And that this lawsuit is by an American plaintiff against American defendants for conduct that continued on American soil when the defendants allegedly fled back to North Carolina in order to evade prosecution. Additionally, both the plaintiff and defendants reside in North Carolina.

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Robinson alleges that Hyatt and Donovan conspired to conceal critical information about Shanquellas death in North Carolina, thus making the state the most appropriate venue for the lawsuit.

MORE | One of the Cabo Six denies allegations made in Robinson wrongful death lawsuit

The response goes on to say that the Cabo Six are material witnesses to Shanquellas death and agreed to conceal information from the investigation and promoted the viral video of the violent attack that took Shanquellas life.

In addition, the plaintiff argues that the defendants failed to say how this issue would be resolved if the lawsuit was filed in Mexico, adding that they have no ability to obtain the testimony of the applicable witnesses to present a fair defense for the Court and Jury to determine the issues on the merits.

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Following the State Department and FBIs filing for dismissal, if the claims made against the defendants were dismissed, it would send a frightening message to the American public.

Queen City News

Mystery in Mexico

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
[Watch in the player above: What is fentanyl?]

CLEVELAND (WJW)  Seven people have been indicted in connection to an international drug trafficking conspiracy responsible for distributing fentanyl that caused a womans fatal overdose last year, authorities say.

The seven face charges including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, involuntary manslaughter, trafficking in fentanyl and cocaine and aggravated robbery, according to a Tuesday news release from Cleveland police:

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Police respond to shooting scene in Shaker Square

Demario Jones, 27, of Cleveland

Jasmin Cassandra Fay, 34, of Cleveland

Robert Ferguson, 35, of Cleveland

Gregory S. Johnson Jr., 29, of Cleveland

Kayle McKenzie, 34, of Brooklyn

Brittany M. Weaver, 34, of Cleveland

Joseph Cuevas, 39, of Lorain

Cleveland police spent six months investigating the overdose death of 35-year-old Stephanie Barath, whose body was found in the 4700 block of Broadview Road on July 7, according to the release.

The Cleveland Police Narcotics Unit worked alongside state and local drug trafficking units and seized a large number of drugs, guns and more evidence through warranted searches in several jurisdictions across the city, as well as in North Ridgeville and Lorain, according to the release.

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Overdose death investigations can be difficult and time-consuming, since evidence can be scarce and witnesses are generally uncooperative, police said. In this case, investigators uncovered a criminal hierarchy and traced the drug supply back to an international drug trafficking organization in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, according to the release.

Our CDP Narcotics Unit investigators and law enforcement partners are relentlessly dedicated to uncovering entire networks responsible for distributing the fentanyl that is killing our citizens, police Cmdr. Kevin Kincaid is quoted in the release. Investigations will be pursued from the street level dealers to the highest levels of the organizations to ensure those who profit most from these tragic overdose deaths are held accountable.

Cleveland narcotics officers presented the case to a Cuyahoga County grand jury for possible indictment.

Police: Student injured by knife in fight at Washington High School in Massillon

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Jones, Fay, Ferguson and Johnson appeared in court late last month, each pleading not guilty. A judge set Jones bond at $250,000. The three others were each handed a $150,000 bond.

McKenzie and Weaver were both set for arraignment on Tuesday, March 11, and are now wanted on bench warrants, court records show. Cuevas is due for arraignment on Wednesday, March 12.

The death of any person in our city is always difficult to see, the families of these victims suffer immense emotional pain, Police Chief Dorothy Todd is quoted in the release. Our commitment is to investigate and arrest individuals that cause harm to our community, by selling this poison and preying on those who suffer from addiction.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
STORY: At a childrens home in Kenya's capital Nairobi, children living with HIV/AIDS play.

But the staff here fear for their future, as U.S. aid cuts threaten to disrupt their vital drug supply.

President Donald Trump's 90-day foreign aid freeze has upended the global supply chain for drugs to fight diseases including HIV.

But its also blocked the distribution of drugs that long ago reached their destination countries.

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The manager of Nyumbani Children's Home, Sister Tresa Palakudy, is concerned about access to life-saving HIV meds called antiretrovirals - or ARVs.

What we are most afraid of is immediately they stop ARVs then the worst thing will happen here. Because if you stop ARVs for these children, there is drug resistance, afterwards they will get all kinds of opportunistic infections then we lose them one by one.

The executive director of the home said that if they start purchasing ARVs, a rough estimate is $120 per child per month.

And that's without other drugs including TB medication and food supplements.

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Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the city, millions of doses of ARVs sit on the shelves of a warehouse, unused and unreachable.

A Kenya health official said without U.S. funding, distribution of the $34 million worth of medication sitting there has ceased.

:: File

An ex-USAID executive said this stock, which Washington has not released funds to distribute, includes 2.5 million bottles of ARVs, 750,000 HIV test kits and 500,000 malaria treatments.

In the meantime, Kenya is scrambling to fill the gaps.

We are dependent on treasury to release funds

Kenya's Health Minister Deborah Barasa said she expected her government to mobilize funds to allow the supplies to be released within two to four weeks.

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But it is not yet clear whether the government had allocated the money to do so.

Kenyan Christian charity MEDS that runs the warehouse and the U.S. State Department did not respond to requests for comment.
After the outbreaks of violence in Syria at the weekend, activists said on Tuesday that members of the Alawite religious minority in particular are still afraid of new attacks.

"Everybody is terrified. Some people returned to their homes with the assurances of the security forces on the ground but others are still confined to mountains areas," a resident of Banias told dpa on condition of anonymity.

He added that people in the coastal areas which witnessed violence, especially Banias, Jable and Latakia, are mainly confined to their homes - especially men.

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"Woman are buying the food and necessities for the homes, men are staying indoors with the children," he said.

Around 1,000 people have also sought refuge in the Russian air base of Hmeimim on Syria's Mediterranean coast, Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told dpa.

The New York Times also reported the same, citing satellite images.

Hundreds of people were reportedly on the grounds of the Russian base in Hmeimim and the adjacent Latakia airport.

Russia was one of the closest allies of Syria's deposed long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad.

The clashes began on Thursday. According to the new rulers in Damascus, armed supporters of the deposed al-Assad government attacked security forces in the coastal province of Latakia.

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The transitional government responded with a large-scale military operation.

According to the observatory, a total of around 1,500 people were killed, most of them civilians.

Activists say the religious minority of the Alawites, to which Al-Assad also belongs, was particularly targeted.

The transitional government saw the outbreak of violence as an attempt by Al-Assad loyalists to plunge the country into a new civil war after over a decade of conflict before his December ouster.

Members of the Syrian security forces check vehicles at the entrance to the city of Latakia, following a spate of violence between Syrian security forces and insurgents loyal to deposed president Bashar al-Assad in Syria's coastal region. Syrian authorities say they have halted a military operation along the country's western coastline designed to quell a surge in violence that is reported to have claimed hundreds of lives. Moawia Atrash/dpa
WASHINGTON, March 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Senate on Monday confirmed Lori Chavez-DeRemer, former Republican Representative from Oregon, as the Secretary of Labor.

The upper house approved the nomination by a vote of 67-32, with 17 Democrats in favor, indicating bipartisan support -- which is rare for President Donald Trump's cabinet nominees. Three Republican Senators opposed her confirmation.

In 2022 midterm election, Chavez-DeRemer ran for Oregon's 5th Congressional District, which covers parts of central and southern Oregon, flipping the district for the Republican Party.

Chavez-DeRemer was one of just three Republicans who backed the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act), a piece of legislation introduced in the previous Congress that aims to make it easier for workers to form unions.

The Labor Department is a government agency responsible for overseeing and enforcing federal labor laws and policies that affect the workforce, such as minimum wage, and health and safety standards.

Its Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports important economic data, including the unemployment rate and Consumer Price Index (CPI). 
After the outbreaks of violence in Syria at the weekend, activists said on Tuesday that members of the Alawite religious minority in particular are still afraid of new attacks.

"Everybody is terrified. Some people returned to their homes with the assurances of the security forces on the ground but others are still confined to mountains areas," a resident of Banias told dpa on condition of anonymity.

He added that people in the coastal areas which witnessed violence, especially Banias, Jable and Latakia, are mainly confined to their homes - especially men.

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"Woman are buying the food and necessities for the homes, men are staying indoors with the children," he said.

Around 1,000 people have also sought refuge in the Russian air base of Hmeimim on Syria's Mediterranean coast, Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told dpa.

The New York Times also reported the same, citing satellite images.

Hundreds of people were on the grounds of the Russian base in Hmeimim and the adjacent Latakia airport.

Russia was one of the closest allies of Syria's deposed long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad.

The clashes began on Thursday. According to the new rulers in Damascus, armed supporters of the deposed al-Assad government attacked security forces in the coastal province of Latakia.

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The transitional government responded with a large-scale military operation.

Refugees flee to Lebanon

Meanwhile in northern Lebanon's Akkar region, mainly Alawite Syrians arrived after crossing a river that splits Syria and Lebanon.

Children, the elderly and women crossed with their belongings, according to an eyewitness in the area.

He added that they were met on the other side by Lebanese people from the Alawite religion, who drove them to nearby villages.

"We lived in hell. The killing was frantic," an 80-year-old Syrian named Hussein Ismail from the coastal city of Tartour said weeping as he was carried on a chair by youths.

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Fellow refugee Hussam Al Ali, 46, told dpa they did not dare to venture from our home for five days.

"We fled our village which is located on the edge of the river and then we crossed into Lebanon," he said.

Lisa Abou Khaled, UNHCR spokeswoman in Lebanon, said that according to Lebanese authorities, 6,078 individuals have arrived in around a dozen villages in northern Lebanon alone.

She added that "at the request of the government, the humanitarian community (including UNHCR, WFP, UNICEF and the Lebanese Red Cross) is providing immediate basic assistance to this group in the form of ready-to-eat food, hygiene kits and basic items, including blankets from UNHCR."

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According to the observatory, a total of around 1,500 people were killed in the recent violence, most of them civilians.

Activists say the religious minority of the Alawites, to which Al-Assad also belongs, was particularly targeted.

The transitional government saw the outbreak of violence as an attempt by Al-Assad loyalists to plunge the country into a new civil war after over a decade of conflict before his December ouster.

Members of the Syrian security forces check vehicles at the entrance to the city of Latakia, following a spate of violence between Syrian security forces and insurgents loyal to deposed president Bashar al-Assad in Syria's coastal region. Syrian authorities say they have halted a military operation along the country's western coastline designed to quell a surge in violence that is reported to have claimed hundreds of lives. Moawia Atrash/dpa
The federal government "is not currently accepting orders" for its free COVID-19 test program, according to a message on the program website.

For over three years, the government mailed free COVID-19 testing kits to households across the country, including in Wisconsin. The program most recently re-launched last fall, allowing people to order up to four test kits free of charge.

According to the website, tests ordered before 8 p.m. ET on March 9 will still be shipped. Otherwise, the program directs people to purchase COVID-19 tests from pharmacies, grocery stories and other retailers.

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Here's where you can still get free COVID-19 tests in Wisconsin.

A public health worker administers drive-up COVID tests Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at the Northwest Health Center COVID-19 Vaccination Site, 6431 N. 76th St. in Milwaukee, Wis.

Where can you get free COVID-19 tests in Wisconsin?

As of March 11, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is still providing free testing nationwide for people without health insurance who are symptomatic or exposed to COVID-19. There are about a dozen of these no-cost testing sites in the Milwaukee area, most of them located inside a Walgreens. You can find your nearest free testing site on the CDC's testing locator site.

Some insurance plans also cover free COVID-19 tests, and you can order these through Walgreens or CVS by providing your insurance information.

COVID-19 tests are available for purchase at CVS, Walgreens and other retailers. These kits can run you between $17 and $35 for a two-pack of tests.

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More: COVID changed how we talk, think and interact. Now, how do we go forward?

COVID-19 vaccines in Wisconsin

In addition to getting tested after exposure or symptoms, keeping up to date on COVID-19 shots is a key way to protect from the virus.

For uninsured children and adults, Wisconsin's Vaccines for Adults and Vaccines for Children programs offer COVID-19 shots statewide. You can use the DHS's online locator to find a free adult vaccination clinic near you or a free child vaccination clinic.

The Milwaukee Health Department also has three, walk-in immunization clinics across the city, where anyone older than 6 months, regardless of insurance status, can get free flu and COVID-19 vaccines. Find clinic locations and hours here.

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You can also get flu and COVID-19 shots through your health care provider or at a local pharmacy. Both vaccines are free through almost every health insurance plan. Vaccines.gov locates pharmacies near you that are offering vaccines.

What are COVID-19 symptoms?

Typical COVID-19 symptoms can appear two to 14 days after contact with the COVID-19 virus. People with COVID-19 may only have a few symptoms, and can have none. Some people can have symptoms that progress about seven to 14 days after symptoms start.

According to the Mayo Clinic, COVID-19 symptoms can include:

Dry cough

Shortness of breath

Loss of taste of smell

Extreme tiredness, also known as fatigue

Digestive issues, such as upset stomach, vomiting, or diarrhea

Pain, such as headaches, body or muscle aches

Fever or chills

Cold-like symptoms, such as congestion, runny nose, or sore throat

Alex Groth contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Can you still get free COVID-19 tests in Wisconsin? What to know
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)  A federal judge has halted Louisianas first death row execution using nitrogen gas, which was scheduled to take place next week.

U.S. District Court Judge Shelly Dick issued a preliminary injunction on Tuesday, stopping the state from immediately moving forward with the execution, which would have been Louisiana's first in 15 years. Attorney General Liz Murrill said the state will immediately appeal the decision.

In her ruling, Dick said the court is tasked with answering the question: Is nitrogen hypoxia cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment?

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Dick went on to say that it is in the public's interest to halt the execution until the matter can be resolved at a trial on the merits" and that the injunction is especially of public interest if it prevents the violation of constitutional rights. She added that it is not a question of whether Jessie Hoffman Jr. will be executed, but rather how.

Last month, Hoffman filed a lawsuit against the state and sought to block his March 18 execution date. During a hearing last week, attorneys for Hoffman argued that the execution method of nitrogen hypoxia is cruel and unusual punishment under the U.S. Constitution and infringes on Hoffmans freedom to practice his religion, specifically Buddhist breathing and meditation exercises.

They also said the execution protocol lacks transparency, noting that under the policy, Hoffmans attorneys do not fall under the list of required witnesses to the execution.

Cecelia Kappel, Hoffman's attorney, applauded Dick's ruling and said that she looks forward to presenting the evidence that that nitrogen hypoxia would inflict "torture on Jessie at the time of his death.

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Hoffman, who did not challenge his conviction or sentence during the hearing, asked that he put put to death using a humane method. He asked to be executed by a firing squad or consuming a drug cocktail typically used for physician-assisted death. The only available execution methods for carrying out capital punishment in Louisiana law are nitrogen hypoxia, lethal injection and electrocution.

Attorneys for the state argued that nitrogen hypoxia has proven to be successful in Alabama, saying the method is seemingly painless and an approved method under Louisiana law.

Republican officials including Gov. Jeff Landry and Murrill say the state is long overdue in delivering justice that has been promised to the families of victims.

Hoffman, 46, was convicted of the 1996 murder of Mary Elliott in New Orleans.

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Murrill told The Associated Press last month that she expects at least four people will be executed this year. There are 56 people on Louisianas death row.

Louisiana is following in the footsteps of Alabama, which has executed four people using nitrogen gas. During last weeks hearing, state officials described Louisianas execution protocol using nitrogen gas to be nearly identical to Alabamas.

Under the protocol, the subject is strapped to a gurney, forced to breathe pure nitrogen gas through a mask placed on their face, depriving them of oxygen.
A federal jury in Chicago awarded $120 million in damages Monday to two wrongfully convicted men who spent more than 15 years in prison, a pair who alleged they were railroaded in a bogus investigation at the hands of Chicago Police detectives and Cook County prosecutors.

John Fulton and Anthony Mitchell were teens when they were arrested in the 2003 murder of Christopher Collazo in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. Both were convicted and sentenced to 31 years in prison. In 2019, a Cook County judge vacated both convictions, and the Cook County states attorneys office declined to prosecute the men again.

Both brought a federal lawsuit against the CPD and county prosecutors in 2020.

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Attorney Jon Loevy said Fulton spent more than 100 hours being interrogated, at age 18, and Mitchell more than 40 hours under interrogation, at age 17, and were coerced into false confessions that evidence didnt support. The jury found that both men were innocent and they were framed by the Chicago Police Department, Loevy said.

The city of Chicago continued to insist that they were guilty, continued to insist that they had confessed to a crime that they didnt commit because they were guilty, Loevy added. And theyve had 3, 4 years, 5 years  20 years  to find any evidence that they could find that Fulton and Mitchell were guilty. But theyre not guilty.

No witnesses or physical evidence connected them to the scene, their lawyers said.

On the night of the death, Fulton was with his fiancee at the University of Chicago hospital, then home at their apartment  where security cameras monitored every doorway. Fultons alibi also clears Mitchell, according to the lawsuit, since prosecutors alleged that Fulton was the instigator of the attack and recruited Mitchell for help.

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Fulton, now 40, was an 18-year-old high school student on the bowling team when he was arrested. After the verdict, at a press conference held outside the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, he had his arm around his wife, Dominique, as he spoke in front, introducing friends and family including his sons Camron Fulton and Jamari Williams.

This is what the face of justice looks like like. Justice is finally here. And we got a lot of work to do. We got a lot of people who are just like me that are wrongfully incarcerated in the justice system, and they need to be brought home too. So the day of celebration will be when all the wrongfully incarcerated individuals, thats incarcerated, can step in the free world.

He said he was taken at age 18 to the old Board of Education school building that was temporarily a homicide police station.

Nobody knew where I was. I got there Tuesday at 5:30 in the morning. I didnt see nobody until Friday. I was there all the time, he said, adding: They had their mind made up what they wanted to do. So I knew my time was going to come one day. I just had to keep my head held high, keep God first, and put one foot in front of the next. And this day finally came.

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Mitchell was 17 when he was arrested. He called the verdict unbelievable but remained frustrated that he put myself in this situation by falsely confessing.

That led to an exchange between Loevy and Mitchell in which Mitchell again told reporters he still blamed himself for falsely confessing, with Loevy responding: Its not your fault. Youve got to forgive yourself. You were 17. They were adults. They knew what they were doing.

Mitchell said he wants to donate some of the verdict to help others wrongfully convicted. He said he wants to help shed light on people that might still be locked up for things they didnt do, and they might not necessarily be fortunate enough to afford counsel.

_____
A federal jury in Chicago awarded $120 million in damages Monday to two wrongfully convicted men who spent more than 15 years in prison, a pair who alleged they were railroaded in a bogus investigation at the hands of Chicago Police detectives and Cook County prosecutors.

The $60 million awarded to both John Fulton and Anthony Mitchell are, individually, the largest awards ever in a civil case stemming from misconduct by local law enforcement.

Fulton and Mitchell were teens when they were arrested in the 2003 murder of Christopher Collazo in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. Both were convicted and sentenced to 31 years in prison. In 2019 a Cook County judge vacated both convictions, and the Cook County states attorneys office declined to prosecute the men again.

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Both brought a federal lawsuit against the CPD and county prosecutors in 2020. A spokesperson for the citys Law Department said in a statement, The City will appeal. A representative for Cook County could not be reached Monday evening.

Attorney Jon Loevy said Fulton spent more than 100 hours being interrogated, at age 18, and Mitchell more than 40 hours under interrogation, at age 17, and were coerced into false confessions that evidence didnt support. The jury found that both men were innocent and they were framed by the Chicago Police Department, Loevy said.

The city of Chicago continued to insist that they were guilty, continued to insist that they had confessed to a crime that they didnt commit because they were guilty, Loevy added. And theyve had 3, 4 years, 5 years  20 years  to find any evidence that they could find that Fulton and Mitchell were guilty. But theyre not guilty.

No witnesses or physical evidence connected them to the scene, their lawyers said.

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On the night of the death, Fulton was with his fiancee at the University of Chicago hospital, then home at their apartment  where security cameras monitored every doorway. Fultons alibi also clears Mitchell, according to the lawsuit, since prosecutors alleged that Fulton was the instigator of the attack and recruited Mitchell for help.

Fulton, now 40, was an 18-year-old high school student on the bowling team when he was arrested. After the verdict, at a press conference held outside the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, he had his arm around his wife, Dominique, as he spoke in front, introducing friends and family including his sons Camron Fulton and Jamari Williams.

This is what the face of justice looks like. Justice is finally here. And we got a lot of work to do. We got a lot of people who are just like me that are wrongfully incarcerated in the justice system, and they need to be brought home too. So the day of celebration will be when all the wrongfully incarcerated individuals, thats incarcerated, can step in the free world.

He said he was taken at age 18 to the old Board of Education school building that was temporarily a homicide police station.

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Nobody knew where I was. I got there Tuesday at 5:30 in the morning. I didnt see nobody until Friday. I was there all the time, he said, adding: They had their mind made up what they wanted to do. So I knew my time was going to come one day. I just had to keep my head held high, keep God first, and put one foot in front of the next. And this day finally came.

Mitchell was 17 when he was arrested. He called the verdict unbelievable but remained frustrated that he put myself in this situation by falsely confessing.

That led to an exchange between Loevy and Mitchell in which Mitchell again told reporters he still blamed himself for falsely confessing, with Loevy responding: Its not your fault. Youve got to forgive yourself. You were 17. They were adults. They knew what they were doing.

Mitchell said he wants to donate some of the verdict to help others wrongfully convicted. He said he wants to help shed light on people that might still be locked up for things they didnt do, and they might not necessarily be fortunate enough to afford counsel.
Thousands of federal employees, including in Wisconsin, are being targeted in President Donald Trump's mass layoffs in order to slash the size of the federal workforce across the country.

Federal worker layoffs have targeted probationary employees, who have less than a year employed at their agency, according to USAjobs.gov. Probationary workers may also include those who have been employed for less than two years, according to the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board.

The Trump administration has not provided details on how many federal employees have been laid off, but reports estimate it to be in the tens of thousands nationwide.

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Across Wisconsin, thousands of probationary workers are employed across multiple agencies, such as the Department of Agriculture and Department of Veteran Affairs. On Wednesday, the MSPB ordered the USDA to reinstate around 6,000 probationary employees for 45 days as an investigation continues into firings on or after Feb. 13. Wisconsin had 264 employees working for the agency as of September 2024, federal data shows.

Here's a look at how many federal workers are employed in Wisconsin, and a breakdown of how many of those are probationary workers.

How many federal employees are in Wisconsin?

There are 18,022 federal civilian employees in Wisconsin as of March 2024, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's FedScope online data tool.

FedScope does exclude a number of departments and agencies, including the majority of the legislative and judicial branches and the U.S. Postal Service, per the Congressional Research Service.

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The USPS employs 10,700 people in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metropolitan area, which includes Wisconsin, according to a May 2023 report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

More: Wisconsin has thousands of federal employees. Which agencies do they work for?

How many Wisconsin federal employees have served for one to two years?

There are 2,992 federal employees in Wisconsin that have served for one to two years as of September 2024, according to FedScope. Here are breakdowns by agency:

Cabinet level agencies

Agency name Number of employees Department of the Air Force 54 Department of Agriculture 264 Department of the Army 233 Department of Commerce 90 Department of Defense 15 Department of Justice N/A Department of Energy N/A Department of Labor 16 Department of Education N/A Department of Health and Human Services 30 Department of Homeland Security 21 Department of Housing and Urban Development N/A Department of the Interior 88 Department of the Navy 29 Department of State N/A Department of Transportation 27 Department of the Treasury 26 Department of Veteran Affairs 1,965

Large independent agencies

Agency name Number of employees U.S. Agency for International Development N/A National Credit Union Administration N/A Equal Employment Opportunity Commission N/A Environmental Protection Agency N/A Federal Communications Commission N/A Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 14 Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia N/A Federal Reserve System N/A Federal Trade Commission N/A General Services Administration N/A U.S. Agency for Global Media N/A Government Printing Office N/A National Science Foundation N/A National Labor Relations Board N/A National Aeronautics and Space Administration N/A National Archives and Records Administration N/A Nuclear Regulatory Commission N/A Office of Personnel Management N/A Small Business Administration N/A Securities and Exchange Commission N/A Smithsonian Institution N/A Social Security Administration 61

There is not enough data available for medium and small sized independent agencies, per FedScope.

More: DOGE says it terminated 16 federal real estate contracts in Wisconsin. Where are they?

How many Wisconsin federal employees have served for less than a year?

More than a thousand federal employees have served for less than a year as of September 2024, according to FedScope. Here are breakdowns by agency:

Cabinet level agencies

Agency name Number of employees Department of the Air Force N/A Department of Agriculture N/A Department of the Army 66 Department of Commerce 210 Department of Defense 149 Department of Justice 47 Department of Labor N/A Department of Energy N/A Department of Education N/A Department of Health and Human Services N/A Department of Homeland Security N/A Department of Housing and Urban Development 21 Department of the Interior N/A Department of the Navy N/A Department of State 63 Department of Transportation 20 Department of the Treasury N/A Department of Veterans Affairs 17

Large independent agencies

Agency name Number of employees Agency for International Development N/A National Credit Union Administration N/A Equal Employment Opportunity Commission N/A Environmental Protection Agency N/A Federal Communications Commission N/A Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation N/A Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia N/A Federal Reserve System 16 Federal Trade Commission N/A General Services Administration N/A U.S. Agency for Global Media N/A Government Printing Office N/A National Labor Relations Board N/A National Aeronautics and Space Administration N/A National Archives and Records Administration N/A Nuclear Regulatory Commission N/A Office of Personnel Management N/A Small Business Administration N/A Securities and Exchange Commission N/A Smithsonian Institution N/A Social Security Administration N/A

Can fired federal workers in Wisconsin collect unemployment benefits?

Fired federal workers in Wisconsin may be eligible for unemployment benefits, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development confirmed to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in February.

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For Wisconsin federal workers who have been impacted by the mass layoffs, we put together a guide on what to know about receiving unemployment benefits from the state.

More: Can fired federal workers collect unemployment benefits in Wisconsin?

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Federal worker cuts: How many probationary workers are in Wisconsin?
The U.S. Department of Education on Monday warned Arizona State University that it will face consequences if it does not protect Jewish students on campus.

In a letter sent to ASU and 59 other schools across the country, the federal department said universities must abide by Title VI protections and ensure Jewish students have uninterrupted access to campus and their classes. All schools that received the letter are currently under investigation for allegations of Title VI violations relating to antisemitic harassment or discrimination.

Title VI prohibits discrimination against people on the basis of race, color or national origin among institutions receiving federal funds.

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An ASU spokesperson said the investigations are based on complaints filed in 2023 by the editor of Campus Reform against several schools. The conservative publication focuses on higher education across the country, supported by reporting from students.

"Arizona State University has a long history of opposing antisemitic rhetoric and acts of intimidation whether they occur on our campuses or in the community," the spokesperson said. "The university has been very clear about this position."

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon argued that Jewish students still feel threatened on American campuses.

The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better, she said in a statement threatening "potential enforcement actions."

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Last spring, ASU was among dozens of other universities that saw a pro-Palestinian encampment built on campus. Hundreds of protesters, including students and other community members gathered on the school's Alumni Lawn before dozens were arrested by nightfall. Now, 68 people are facing trespassing charges, including at least 20 students.

ASU wasn't the only university in Arizona with protests. Encampments grew at the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University, leading to arrests in both cases. At UA, police used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse protesters.

The threats are part of a widespread crackdown against universities over allegations of antisemitism, including an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in January titled Additional Measures to Combat Anti-semitism. Under the order, international students who participate in pro-Palestinian protests would be deported. It also asked federal officials to enable schools to "monitor for and report activities by alien students and staff."

Last week, the education department canceled $400 million in federal grants and contracts at Columbia University. saying the school failed to protect Jewish students from discrimination. Over the weekend, federal agents also arrested a Columbia University graduate student who had a significant role in pro-Palestinian protests at the school. The student's lawyer said he had a valid green card and is married to a U.S. citizen.

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Helen Rummel covers higher education for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at hrummel@azcentral.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @helenrummel.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Feds send warning to ASU, other colleges about antisemitism on campus
EAU CLAIRE  The Eau Claire County Department of Human Services presented Feed My People Food Bank with their first ever Friend of Human Services award on March 3.

Were just so excited that they thought of us, said Feed My People Partnership Manager Tammy Syverson. One thing were extra excited about is that this is the inaugural award. Never ever has this award been given out and they want to recognize their relationship with us here, so that feels like a bump up of how exciting that really is.

Syverson said Feed My People has been providing emergency food bags to Human Services since 2020.

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I would say it probably [started] before the pandemic, she said. It was not a result of it.

Prior to that, Feed My People had been providing food bags for a number of years to those who were being released from jail.

If youre in jail for 30 days or longer, you lose your foodshare benefits, so if you dont have a job, its hard to buy groceries, Syverson said. That program fizzled out, but somebody in DHS heard about it and they were like, We dont want this to go away. We want to be able to still offer something here to people. How can we do that?

The food bank then began providing two types of emergency food bags to DHS.

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One we called Ready to Eat with the intention of serving the unhoused, she said. You dont need extra silverware. You dont need a microwave. The other bags we called Family Emergency Bags. You would need a stove or a microwave.

As time went by, the bags were replaced by a shelving and a freezer. The DHS staff now bag requested items, asking about peoples allergies and other needs as well. Syverson mentioned that the DHS staff can use this as an opportunity to ensure those in need are signed up for any other programs the county provides.

Theyre kind of the experts in the overlying picture of the folks that were serving, Syverson said. They can help point them to the resources or refer them to other resources. Its fantastic.

Syverson said the benefit of partnering with DHS is that, unlike many food pantries, the DHS offers more convenient hours of operation.

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People can come Monday through Friday any time during business hours, she said. They close over the lunch hour, but theres extra flexibility.

She said that taking on the role did involve a bit of stretching.

Everybodys maxed out as a rule, she said. We all are. In 2020, when this program started, if I would have said it would be so awesome if you could have a shelf and a freezer, they would have said absolutely no. We dont have the capacity, but when you see the gift that you bring people, all of a sudden it doesnt feel like a heavy lift. It starts to feel like Ive got the time.

Syverson went on to express how appreciative she is for having been able to work for Feed My People for the past ten years.

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Feed My People has more than 250 hunger relief programs and partners throughout 14 counties and was formed in 1982 when six churches worked together to form its program.

Syverson said that the partnership with DHS will continue as long as theres a need and people are accessing it, as long as the community sees the value in it. Feed My People will provide support as long as its needed.

The Eau Claire County Department of Human Resources did not respond to requests for an interview or comment.
WASHINGTON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that "hopefully Russia will agree to" a 30-day ceasefire after a high-level meeting between U.S. and Ukrainian delegations in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port city, U.S. news outlets reported.

Trump briefly addressed the 30-day ceasefire announcement outside the White House, telling reporters that "Ukraine has agreed to it and hopefully Russia will agree to it," NBC News reported.

When asked whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would be invited back to the White House, Trump responded: "Sure, absolutely."

The Politico also reported that Trump said of the ceasefire proposal at an event at the White House to promote Tesla cars.

"I'll talk to Vladimir Putin," Trump said, adding that "It takes two to tango," according to the report.

The Trump administration had announced a suspension of weapon deliveries to Ukraine and halted intelligence sharing after a heated Oval Office meeting with Zelensky more than a week ago.

Washington has agreed to "immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine," according to a joint statement issued after the meeting of the Ukrainian and U.S. delegations in Jeddah. 
On Friday night, Frank Davis, the mayor of Emmitsburg, received a phone call from an employee of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The call was to let Davis know that FEMA was canceling all in-person classes at the National Fire Academy on Seton Drive, effective immediately.

The academy, which opened in 1974, offers free specialized courses and advanced management programs to thousands of people across the country. Its classes are on its Emmitsburg campus, off-campus across the U.S., and online.

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Davis, a retired federal fire chief, said he was told on Friday that students at the campus would be sent home the next day.

Unfortunately, I wasnt totally surprised. With the happenings all across the nation, I figured that we would be affected in some way, he said in a phone interview Monday afternoon. I was hoping theyd forget about us, but they didnt. ... I was just hoping that its very short-lived.

On Friday, FEMA sent an email to instructors and students that all in-person classes are canceled, but some virtual classes would continue, according to The Washington Post.

FEMA sent another email to instructors saying that virtual classes that dont have an instructor and that dont need funds will continue.

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Davis said hes still trying to get a copy of the cancellation email. He said the FEMA employee he spoke to indicated the agency planned on keeping the classes suspended for several weeks.

When The Frederick News-Post called the number listed online for the academys superintendent on Monday, the voicemail message said the suspension of classes is legitimate, any travel plans for those courses should be canceled, and further information will be forthcoming.

On Feb. 20, Firehouse.com reported that an annual Women in Fire training seminar slated for May 17 and 18 in Emmitsburg was canceled.

FEMAs decision to suspend in-person classes comes amidst executive orders from the Trump administration aiming to dramatically cut down the federal workforce and federal spending.

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President Donald Trump has said he wants to get rid of FEMA and ordered in January the creation of a council to evaluate the agency. The executive order alleges the agency is inefficient, and there is political bias.

FEMA did not respond to requests for comment Monday about the cancellations and when the courses may resume.

The National Fire Academys courses cover topics such as fire investigation, hazardous materials, various areas of fire prevention, emergency medical services and emergency responses to terrorism.

In fiscal year 2021, the academy trained over 98,700 students through more than 2,200 courses, according to the academys website.

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As of Monday afternoon, the course catalog website showed that some on-campus and off-campus class sessions had been canceled, but not every course was marked as canceled.

None of the online classes was marked as canceled.

Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services Fire Chief Tom Coe said Monday afternoon that DFRS members registered for courses had not received cancellation emails.

He said they suspect their classes may be scheduled far out enough that they havent been canceled yet.

U.S. Fire Administration spokesperson Teresa Neal did not respond to requests for comment Monday asking how many courses were canceled and how many are continuing.

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Bill Delaney, a spokesperson for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, did not respond to requests for comment on whether the course cancellations would impact the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend events in May.

Marc Bashoor, a former fire chief in Maryland and emergency services director in West Virginia, told The Associated Press that the National Fire Academy isnt a luxury, but a necessity.

He said the academy was about to welcome a new set of fire safety officers for training.

It is the one avenue we have to bring people from all over the country to learn from and with each other, Bashoor said. If we want to continue to have one of the premier fire services in the world, we need to have the National Fire Academy.

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Davis echoed Bashoors sentiments  he said the academys courses are some of the top training for the national fire leaders from all across the country.

He said he was trained through the academy, and that training helped him have a successful fire service career.

He said that if the suspension is short-term, there likely wont be significant consequences, but a long-term suspension could notably impact the nations fire service.

For fire prevention professionals, it could impact their career development and their chances to move into higher professional roles. For volunteers, participating in academy courses may be the only training they receive.

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Davis also said the academy employs so many people, and the business communities would be affected in such a negative way.

Even the town would be affected because the academy is one of our largest water consumers, so that would affect the income to the town itself, he said.

Davis said he reached out to state and federal elected officials asking them to keep the town informed of any updates.

U.S. Rep. April McClain Delaney released a statement on Monday calling on FEMA to reverse the cancellations.

From wildfires in California to residential structure fires in communities across the nation, my constituents and all Americans face an ongoing and dangerous threat to life and property, she said in the statement.

The Trump administrations order to pause lifesaving training in Emmitsburg not only flies in the face of a judges most recent demand to resume all federal spending, but also weakens the level of preparedness for our first responders across the nation.
A state emergency management official said Tuesday around $56 million in federal disaster recovery funding has been placed on hold by the Trump administration in recent weeks, putting a strain on Michigan's ability to respond to and plan for emergencies.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has not reimbursed a state grant program for emergency management since Feb. 11, said Michigan State Police Capt. Kevin Sweeney, who is the deputy state director of emergency management. The typical response time to a request for reimbursement to FEMA had been three-seven business days, he added.

FEMA is the federal organization that helps respond to and prepare for different emergency situations in the U.S., including natural disasters.

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The agency traditionally has provided reimbursements through grant funding to the state of Michigan for disaster relief efforts. The state, in turn, reimburses local agencies responding to emergencies. Without the federal funding, disaster relief services could be disrupted, and agencies may not be able to pay workers, Sweeney said.

An inquiry sent to FEMA's press office by the Detroit Free Press was not immediately returned Tuesday afternoon.

Current disaster relief efforts in Michigan include responding to 2020 flooding in Midland after the collapse of a pair of dams and heavy rain, more flooding in 2021 in Wayne County and tornadoes in northern Michigan in 2023. Sweeney said ongoing efforts for disaster relief and recovery in Michigan date back as far as 2018.

Cars stuck and stalled on I-94 East near Trumbull in Detroit on June 26, 2021. Heavy rains in Metro Detroit caused massive flooding in homes, streets and freeways.

The bulk of the funding currently on hold is around $52 million in disaster recovery grants, according to the State Police. Other grants currently on hold include grants for homeland security, nonprofit security, emergency management performance and hazard mitigation, Sweeney said. The Michigan State Police oversees emergency management in Michigan, although the federal funding hold does not affect the agency's law enforcement operations, Sweeney noted.

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Sweeney said Michigan emergency management officials were notified in late February and again earlier this month by FEMA that the agency would be "conducting additional reviews of allocations before releasing funds for all grants." Sweeney said state officials are still waiting for more information on what FEMA specifically needs from Michigan emergency management officials to conduct the review.

"We're still waiting on that guidance from our federal partners," Sweeney said.

Since taking office in January, Trump's administration has sought to aggressively cut down on government spending, although many of the White House's related moves have faced legal challenges.

One such challenge from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and 22 other state attorneys general resulted in U.S. District Judge John McConnell, of Rhode Island, issuing a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration from freezing federal funding allocations. McConnell gave FEMA until Friday to resume providing reimbursements to states, but Sweeney said Michigan emergency management officials are still preparing for contingencies in the event the payments aren't made.

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"There would have to be some significant change, at least at the state level, with how we fund emergency management, if those funds were to be shut off," Sweeney said during a call with reporters Tuesday morning. "But we're hopeful they don't."

FEMA, in particular, has come under the Trump administration's microscope. In January, Trump signed an executive order establishing a council to evaluate FEMA's operations. In the executive order, White House officials criticized the agency's relief efforts for Hurricane Helene, which battered parts of the southeastern U.S. in September, and took aim at FEMA for other perceived shortcomings, including alleged political bias.

Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@freepress.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: FEMA funding hold threatens Michigan programs, state officials says
Female employees at Meta formed a secret group to address workplace concerns, a new book claims.

The group emerged after what they viewed as Sheryl Sandberg's silence during the 2017 women's protest.

Meta's management introduced a bot to reward male allies, which faced criticism from the FFC.

Some Meta women employees formed a secret Facebook group in 2017 to talk about their workplace, according to a former group member, a new book claims.

Nearly 200 female employees who worked under then-chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg joined the group, called the "Feminist Fight Club," wrote Sarah Wynn-Williams. Meta had 17,048 employees at the end of 2016, according to its annual report.

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Wynn-Williams, a former global public policy director at Meta, then called Facebook, published a memoir Tuesday about her six years at the company, which includes a chapter on the group.

The "Feminist Fight Club" encouraged employees to be more open about "systemic issues" women faced, including sexual harassment from men in leadership, Wynn-Williams wrote.

She wrote that the group was created after women took notice of Sandberg's silence around the Women's March, a large-scale women's protest against Donald Trump and the patriarchy in 2017. Sandberg, the highest-ranking woman at Meta, did not attend any march or post about the subject, the Washington Post wrote at the time. Her absence was notable: Sandberg, who wrote the bestselling book "Lean In" to encourage women to advocate for themselves in the workplace, was viewed as a global advocate for women.

She later told tech journalist Kara Swisher that while an event precluded her attendance, she regretted her lack of posts.

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Wynn-Williams wrote that she was relieved to know that she was not the only one surprised by Sandberg's seeming lack of interest in the Womens's March.

She described an episode on a private jet on their way back from Davos, Switzerland, in which she and Sandberg's assistant repeatedly raise the matter of the Women's March but were ignored. Instead, Sandberg talked about her weekend plans and her boyfriend and showed a keen interest in what first lady Melania Trump wore to the inauguration.

Sandberg left Meta in 2022 and said she would focus on philanthropy.

Meta's response: the #ally bot

The "Feminist Fight Club" eventually made "enough noise" that Meta's management noticed and devised a solution to reward colleagues for being allies to women, Wynn-Williams wrote.

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The company responded with the #ally bot, to be used by men to credit other men supporting women. The bot doled out badges that people could put on their internal Facebook profile and were connected to Meta's performance reviews.

"Men will be receiving a highly visible input to the system that will affect pay, promotions, and stock options and can be easily gamed by any men who decide to hand each other #ally hashtags," Wynn-Williams wrote.

The bot was not received well by the "Feminist Fight Club," who saw it as a way to "incentivize and reward men and not women." One woman posted: "Doesn't it seem like this is an undue amount of credit for men who are hitting the bare minimum of decency?"

It's not clear how widely the bot was used or if it was discontinued.

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Meta and Sandberg did not respond to requests for comment. Meta spokesman Andy Stone called the book "a mix of old claims and false accusations about our executives" and said Wynn-Williams was fired for poor performance and behavior.

Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at shubhangigoel@businessinsider.com or Signal at shuby.85 or Telegram at +1 646-376-6002. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

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The Maryland State House steps. File photo by Bryan Sears.

Marylands Senate president warned of a Maryland recession Tuesday, after a top bond rating agency released a report highlighting the states unique vulnerability to federal budget and employment cuts coming from the Trump administration.

We have to brace for a Maryland recession. That is the news that we are receiving, Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore) told reporters.

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This will be acutely felt by the state of Maryland, and we have to be honest about how hard this is going to be, he said.

State officials have been bracing for a hit to the states finances since President Donald Trump took office and  under the guidance of billionaire Elon Musk and his U.S. DOGE Service  began slashing federal jobs and freezing government spending.

Theres a great uncertainty in our economy right now created by the chaos created by this president, and Maryland is not going to be immune from that, said House Appropriations Chair Del. Ben Barnes (D-Prince Georges and Anne Arundel).

Im not an economic forecaster so Im not going to say that were going to hit a recession. What I am going to do is follow the data and right now the data is concerning to say the least, he said.

The Moodys Ratings report that Ferguson was referencing said Maryland ranks at or near the top for risk from changing federal priorities and policies.

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We are a highly vulnerable state, Ferguson said. It is clear there is an intentional effort to disrupt the federal government with massive cuts, and Maryland will have an outsized role in that, validated by Moodys.

The report, which was released Monday, highlights three factors  federal employment, existing budget deficits and concentrated federal grant funding  that place Maryland at more risk than any other state in the nation.

Its the second report from the rating agency to raise concerns about the state. In May, the agency reaffirmed the states cherished AAA bond rating but moved the states creditworthiness outlook from stable to negative. It was the first time since 2011 that Moodys had issued a negative outlook for Maryland.

Over-reliance on federal employment

Senate Minority Leader Stephen S. Hershey Jr. (R-Upper Shore) said Fergusons comments obscure a more longstanding policy problem, saying economists have been warning us for more than two decades that Marylands economy was too reliant on the federal government.

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Instead of implementing a much-needed culture shift and adopting policies that would help Marylands economy grow independently, Maryland Democrats have doubled down on large spending programs and continue to rely on the federal government to balance our budget, Hershey said. Even now, when our financial situation is dire, Democrats are creating even more tax burdens for our private-sector business community.

Maryland houses headquarters for the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Security Agency, and oter agencies have facilities here. are all within the state.

The number of federal jobs in the state grew from 143,000 in 2014 to 160,000 today, an increase of 13% that was faster than state and local government growth and the 10% rise in federal jobs in Virginia during the same period.

And the Moodys report said that is in addition to the estimated 250,000 Maryland residents who work at federal jobs in Washington, D.C.

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Federal job growth also grew the states per capita personal income. At 7.4%, Marylands share of personal income from federal employment is more than four times higher than the 50-state median.

Share of all federal wages by county. Source: Office of the Comptroller.

Moodys projects that federal layoffs could be concentrated in Charles, Montgomery, Prince Georges and St. Marys counties. All are adjacent to the capital district and also have a very large number of federal facilities.

Donald Trump is intent on testing our federal workforce and destroying our economy, Barnes said. Hes also intent on walking away from our communities that are most vulnerable and need us.Last week, the state Board of Revenue Estimates projected more than 28,000 federal jobs could be lost in Maryland.

Counties in the state generate the overwhelming majority of their operating revenue from property and income taxes, the Moodys report states. Federal contraction will squeeze both revenue streams, potentially pressuring county budgets.

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Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich in November said his county would begin to assess how cuts could affect county finances.

In some counties, federal wages count for as much as 20% of gross income.

There are also concerns about the federal government shrinking the amount of office space it needs. Such a reduction could have a disproportionate impact on Marylands commercial real estate market, according to the report.

Already bad budget outlook gets worse

The report also notes that Maryland was already confronting a large and growing budget gap even before job cuts and other downsizing objectives emerged, but decreased tax revenue caused by federal job cuts will worsen those fiscal challenges.

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Gov. Wes Moore (D) and lawmakers started the 90-day session staring down a projected $3 billion deficit for fiscal 2026. The House Appropriations Committee is expected to finalize its version of that budget late this week, with a vote possible by the full House early next week.

Included in that package may be a controversial 2.5% sales tax on some business-to-business services. More than 400 businesses have signed up to oppose that proposal at a hearing Wednesday, but Ferguson said the tax is being considered very seriously as a way of protecting social safety-net programs that would be affected by Trumps cuts.

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And look, as Ive said over and over again, the last thing in the world we want to do right now is raise revenues, Ferguson said. But the alternative is consequential, and it means kicking kids off of Medicaid. It means shutting down long-term care facilities. It means reducing access to foster care.

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The Moodys report Monday notes that the states fiscal situation was further complicated by the Board of Revenue Estimates write-down of projected revenues for the current and coming fiscal year.

Decreased tax revenue will add to the states projected deficit, which may be exacerbated by other factors, including potential reductions in federal funds for Medicaid, according to the report.

When we look at all of our core priorities, the actions of the Trump administration are causing us to have to rethink everything from public safety to health care to education, Ferguson told reporters. And it is no surprise that its validated by this Moodys report today that everything continues to have to be on the table, because its not just about filling the gap that exists.

Federal grant cuts could also play a role

Finally, Moodys notes that less generous federal grant policies could encourage nonprofit research organizations to scale back, specifically noting Johns Hopkins University.

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Moodys said scientific research, including that done at the university, is an economic cornerstone of the state. Research grants from the National Institutes for Health and National Science Foundation per 1,000 residents is second only to Massachusetts, according to the report. But new federal policies calling for capping some expenses could force retrenchment by the scientific community in the state.

Maryland could also take a hit in federal contracting, which accounts for 8.9% of personal income in the state, a larger share than all but Virginia at 16.5% and New Mexico at 10.6%. The 50-state median 1.8%, according to Moodys.
Two boaters were pulled from the cold waters off Edmonds on Saturday morning after falling from a sailboat during a regatta, officials said.

The ferry Suquamish diverted from its route to assist in the rescue, with passengers witnessing the dramatic efforts to bring the man and woman to safety.

According to Washington State Ferries, the Suquamish was traveling the Edmonds-Kingston route when it received the distress call around 11:10 a.m.

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The ferry changed course toward Possession Point, where a sailboat, the Lodos, was attempting to reach the stranded boaters.

Video taken from the ferry shows the Lodos carefully maneuvering closer to the two people in the water. As the crew reached out to pull them aboard, ferry passengers watched anxiously. When the boaters were finally lifted to safety, cheers erupted from those on board the ferry.

The U.S. Coast Guard said the man and woman fell from their sailboat while participating in a regatta and were showing signs of hypothermia when they were rescued.

Water temperatures in the area were in the mid-40s, making the quick response critical to their survival.

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The key factor in this rescue was that both individuals were wearing life jackets, the Coast Guard stated.

Emergency radio calls from the Coast Guard captured the urgency of the situation as rescue teams coordinated efforts.

The Suquamish resumed its route after ensuring the boaters were safe.

Authorities have not released additional details about the incident, but officials emphasize that life jackets played a crucial role in preventing a tragedy.
Weeks after fires ravaged the region, many Angelenos were dissatisfied with Mayor Karen Bass leadership, a new poll has found.

A little over 40% of registered voters in the city said they thought Bass did a poor or very poor job in responding to the fires, while just 19% characterized her response as excellent or good, according to a new survey from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, co-sponsored by The Times. A little more than 1 in 5 city residents thought she was doing a fair job and the remainder had no opinion.

Bass has "been wounded," said Mark DiCamillo, director of the Institute of Governmental Studies poll and a longtime California pollster. "Clearly, the effect of the fire is damaging her image, and it's drawing all this real strong negativity in certain quarters."

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The fire, unfortunately, is such a major event, I don't think it's going to be easy for voters to push this aside, DiCamillo said. I think it'll linger for many, many months.

Bass bounded into office in 2022, buoyed by a broad coalition and Democratic wall of support that helped her drub billionaire mall mogul Rick Caruso, despite Caruso massively outspending her.

As a candidate, Bass pledged to stem the citys sprawling homelessness crisis, which badly soiled her predecessor Eric Garcettis legacy. And she undoubtedly thought her job performance would be judged on her ability to stanch the exposed suffering on L.A.'s streets.

But two years into her tenure at the helm of the nations second-largest city, fate and ferocious winds have dealt Bass a very different hand.

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The Democratic leader's success  and prospects for a second term  will almost certainly hinge on fire recovery, and the impressions Angelenos have already formed during this city-defining disaster.

The Palisades fire killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes, rendering the coastal enclave virtually unrecognizable. As that fire burned out of control in the city of Los Angeles and western parts of the county, the Eaton fire exploded to the east, devastating the town of Altadena. Bass and the Los Angeles City Council are responsible for the city of L.A., whereas the county Board of Supervisors has jurisdiction over Altadena, which is unincorporated.

Read more: With her city in flames, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass' political future hangs in the balance

After being out of the country when the fires erupted Jan. 7, Bass floundered in her initial response  freezing up when confronted by press, dodging criticism from her since-removed fire chief and straining relations with her own recovery czar and other leaders. Last week, Bass foes launched a campaign to recall her from office with financial support from Nicole Shanahan, a Silicon Valley philanthropist and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s former running mate .

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"The Mayor is focused on recovery which right now is months ahead of expectations and she is going to continue pushing it forward," said Bass spokesperson Zach Seidl, citing a long list of relief and rebuilding efforts for wildfire survivors, the record rate of utility restoration in the Palisades and the rapid pace of debris removal.

Other local officials had similarly anemic performance ratings in the poll, with 21% of city voters describing the 15-member City Councils fire response as excellent or good and 19% of county voters saying the same about the five-member county Board of Supervisors.

But respondents were much more negative about Bass than they were about either of those legislative bodies, with 28% saying the Board of Supervisors was doing a poor or very poor job and 27% saying the same of the City Council, to Bass 41%.

Read more: News Analysis: Newsom, Democrats put aside differences and welcome Trump amid crisis

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Los Angeles County voters surveyed were generally warmer toward Gov. Gavin Newsom, with 35% saying they thought he did a good or excellent job, while 32% thought he did a poor or very poor job. An additional 16% thought he did a fair job, and 16% had no opinion.

The outlook toward the governor, who is also a Democrat, was more affectionate within city limits: 40% of L.A. residents approved of his wildfire response, whereas 26% thought he had done a poor or very poor job.

Given the public scrutiny and negative media attention Bass has weathered, it was unsurprising that her approval ratings had suffered, said Ange-Marie Hancock, a former USC political science and international relations department chair, who now leads Ohio State Universitys Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity.

"The critiques have really focused on her leadership and not the City Council and not the supes," Hancock said, using a colloquial term for the county Board of Supervisors.

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Despite the Los Angeles mayor's comparatively limited powers, Bass has become the face of a fire response that many Angelenos view as flawed, Hancock said.

Read more: 'Doesnt feel very "locked arms" to me': Texts reveal strain between Bass and Horvath

"People who've been through this kind of trauma of the fires can certainly focus on, OK, 'That's the reason this happened,' as opposed to the more complicated truth, which is L.A., like most other cities, is not set up for these kind of climate change-driven fires."

And alongside substantive critiques, race and gender also probably play a role in some of the attacks on Bass, who is the first female and second Black mayor of the city. She has become something of a bugbear to right-wing media in the weeks since the fires and faced explicitly racist and gender-based blitzing on social media.

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But Angelenos also had a muted view of Bass ability to move the city forward in the fires' aftermath.

Just over half of city residents said they had not much or only "a little" confidence in Bass ability to help guide Los Angeles through its recovery, while a little more than 1 in 3 residents had a "great deal" or "some" confidence in her leadership. Just over 1 in 10 said they had no opinion.

Bass' performance was viewed most negatively in the city's northeast and east and on the Westside. Ratings were less negative in South L.A. and the Harbor area.

Demographic data for solely city residents was not available, so countywide data is applied.

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Across Los Angeles County, home to 1 in 4 of California's registered voters, older residents were somewhat more likely to say Bass was doing a good job, with about a quarter of those 50 or older saying she was doing an excellent or good job. She received the lowest marks from younger residents.

There was a gender divide, with women ranking Bass performance less negatively than men did.

Black voters in Los Angeles County viewed her a bit less negatively than others, with 23% saying she was doing an excellent or good job, whereas Asian and Pacific Islander respondents were harshest, with just 12% ranking her performance as good or excellent. White respondents gave her higher marks, with 20% saying she had done an excellent or good job responding to the fires, and Latinos responded similarly, with 18% scoring her fire response as excellent or good.

County voters with college or graduate educations were much more likely than others to think Bass was doing a poor or very poor job.

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There was also a correlation between income level and views on how Bass performed during the fires.

Roughly half of county voters making more than $100,000 a year thought Bass had done a poor or very poor job responding to the fires, whereas those making between $40,000 to $99,999 were less critical, and county residents making less than $40,000 were the least critical of her job performance.

Ratings aligned in the opposite direction for Newsom, with county residents more likely to approve of his fire job performance if they made more money or had higher levels of education.

Unsurprisingly, there was a strong relationship between job performance and party affiliation, with Democrats being far more likely to be less critical of Bass, independents grading her a bit more sternly and Republicans viewing her most negatively. The breakdown of Newsom's ratings was also highly partisan.

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Angelenos gave far higher marks to local fire departments, with 73% of county residents saying they thought the Los Angeles County Fire Department had done an excellent or good job and 71% saying the same for the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The last time The Times polled on Bass favorability was on the eve of her 100th day in office, when half of city residents said they approved of the job she was doing, while just 14% said they disapproved, according to a Suffolk University/Los Angeles Times poll conducted in March 2023.

While hardly an apples-to-apples comparison (the 2023 Suffolk poll asked about overall job performance, versus the fire-specific questions in the new poll), the contrast speaks to the deep reservoir of goodwill Bass had early in her tenure, and the erosion of some of that support.

Bass will be on the ballot again in 2026  a reelection campaign that, before the fires, had looked like a glide path. It remains unclear whether a serious challenger will enter the race, but if one does, Bass could have a real fight on her hands.

Caruso, her 2022 opponent, has fiercely criticized Bass' leadership since the fires and publicly flirted with a second bid for mayor, though he has yet to say whether he will make another run.

The Berkeley IGS poll was conducted online in English and Spanish from Feb. 17 to Feb. 26, more than a month after the fires broke out.

It surveyed 5,184 registered voters in Los Angeles County. This total included oversamples of 272 registered voters living in the Palisades fire zone and 293 registered voters living in the Eaton fire zone. The margin of error may be imprecise; however the surveys estimated margin of error for Los Angeles County voters is 2 percentage points, and the margin of error for voters in the city of Los Angeles is 3 percentage points.

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.
JASONVILLE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) Here in Indiana multiple fire departments responded to a fire in a field near Jasonville.

It happened near the area of County Road 1375 South and County Road 500 West. Our crew on the scene observed Jasonville Fire and Clay City Volunteer Fire Departments on scene. You could see the field charred by the blaze.

Its unclear what caused the fire but weve reached out to the Jasonville Fire Department for more information. Meanwhile, Vigo County has been put on a countywide burn ban due to the uptick in brush and structure fires from the dry conditions and high winds.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com.
Fears are mounting of a potential environmental disaster off the coast of Britain after a cargo ship smashed into an oil tanker transporting jet fuel for the US military.

The crash ignited a huge fire, which is still burning on one of the vessels in the North Sea, about 10 miles off the coast of Hull, a busy port and fishing center.

Dozens of people were rescued from the incident in the North Sea, but one crew member is presumed dead after a search was called off. A day on from the crash, the cargo ship was still burning but could soon sink, Britains maritime minister said.

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Police have since opened a criminal investigation into the collision and arrested a man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.

Meanwhile, environmental groups have warned of potentially harmful consequences for marine life as questions swirl over how the collision could have occurred in broad daylight.

Heres what we know.

What exactly happened?

The alarm was raised by the British coast guard at 9:48 a.m. Monday (5:48 a.m. ET) after the Solong, a Portugal-flagged container ship, careered into the Stena Immaculate, a US military-chartered oil tanker anchored in the North Sea.

Video showed black plumes of smoke billowing high into the air following an explosion caused by the crash.

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Both vessels were engulfed in flames, prompting a dramatic rescue mission involving Britains coast guard and Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

All 23 crew members of the Stena Immaculate are safe and accounted for, but one member of the Solongs 14-person crew is presumed dead by the British government.

Search and rescue operations for the missing sailor continued throughout yesterday, but were called off yesterday evening, at the point of which the chances of their survival had unfortunately significantly diminished, Mike Kane, Britains maritime minister, told parliament on Tuesday.

Our working assumption is, very sadly, that the sailor is deceased, Kane said.

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Maritime experts questioned how the collision could have happened despite the safety and navigation features common to such vessels.

What we need to understand is that there are international regulations that dictate how ships can be maneuvered at sea, said Matthew Schanck, an emergency response expert and founder of consultancy group International Maritime Search and Rescue.

Both ships should have had at least one crew member on duty in their respective control rooms, he said.

Somebody should have been in charge of both vessels. And so, the fact that this has happened in quite a well-known area for traffic and shipping movements is quite extraordinary, Schanck said.

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Humberside Police said on Tuesday that it had arrested a 59-year-old man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter over the incident.

The man arrested remains in custody at this time whilst enquiries are underway, police said.

What were the ships carrying?

Ernst Russ, the owner of the Solong, denied claims that the container ship was carrying sodium cyanide, despite initial reports to the contrary that had heightened fears of a large-scale environmental disaster.

There are no containers on board ladened with sodium cyanide, as has been misreported, Ernst Russ said Tuesday, claiming that the ship was carrying four empty containers that had previously contained the hazardous chemical.

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The Stena Immaculate was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel, which was the source of the fire, according to Kane, the maritime minister.

Counter-pollution measures and assets are already in place, and both vessels are being closely monitored for structural integrity, Kane said.

How hazardous are the chemicals?

Experts say jet fuel spills tend to impact the environment less than crude oil spills.

The jet fuel is light oil and is in stark comparison to the images that we see sometimes of wildlife and the marine environment with thick black, crude oil, said Schanck, who nevertheless warned of an environmental impact.

The fire is burning off this jet fuel, which is highly flammable on the surface of the sea. (This) is good for the marine environment (but) not necessarily for the smoke thats produced, he said.

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Mark Hartl, a marine ecotoxicologist from the Centre for Marine Biodiversity and Biotechnology at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, said most of the jet fuel will evaporate very quickly.

Whilst the images look worrying, from the perspective of the impact to the aquatic environment its less of a concern than if this had been crude oil, he said.

Oceana UK campaigns director Alyx Elliott said they are keeping a close eye on the incident.

The aviation fuel can cause a huge amount of damage to wildlife as well as fish populations  it can impact breeding seal colonies of which there are many nearby, she said. The potential damage is huge.

What happens next?

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has been deployed to the site and has begun its investigation, Kane said Tuesday.

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The fire on the Stena Immaculate appears to be extinguished but the Solong continues to burn, Kane said.

After dislodging from the tanker, the Solong began drifting southwards towards the coastline, Kane said. However, the coastguard judges it is unlikely that the vessel will remain afloat, he added.

Meanwhile, an assessment of counter pollution response is being carried out by the Maritime and Coastguard agency, the coast guard said.

Crowley, the oil tanker manager, and Russ, the container ship owner, said it is supporting British authorities in their investigation of the incident.

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Finnish Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen visited Ukraine on Monday 10 March.

Source: Finlands Ministry of Defence, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Hakkanen held meetings with Ukrainian government officials and military representatives.

Discussions with the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Industry focused on deepening cooperation between Finland and Ukraine were also held.

The minister also visited defence companies and research centres.

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Hakkanen stated that he had been given a detailed overview of the situation in Ukraine and Russias actions, noting that Russia was continuing its full-scale offensive with support from its allies. He emphasised that strengthening Ukraines position was crucial as peace negotiations began, reiterating Finlands long-term commitment to supporting Ukraine and working towards a lasting and just peace.

Finland is expanding defence cooperation with Ukraine, with a new internal funding programme playing a key role.

Hakkanen laid a wreath at the memorial on Mykhailivska Square in honour of fallen Ukrainian soldiers and visited former battle sites near Kyiv.

The Finnish delegation included Lieutenant General Vesa Virtanen, Chief of the General Staff.

Background:

Finland has contributed 4.5 million to the second phase (2025-2027) of the Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine (PFRU).

In late January, Finland announced its 27th military aid package for Ukraine, worth nearly 200 million.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
HARTLAND, Wis. (WFRV)  A fire involving 65 hay bales in Wisconsin was extinguished with the help of a jet siphon.

According to a Hartland Fire Department release, the Ixonia Fire Department requested Mutual Aid Box Alarm System Division 118 for mutual aid assistance to control a fire involving 65 hay bales.

Wisconsin DNR offering $100 reward to anglers who catch walleyes with a red floy tag

Hartland Engine 43 was sent out at the 2nd box level, and arrived to help, setting up a jet siphon at the main pumping site for suppression efforts. These jet siphons move water from one tank to another via the Venturi effect, which is defined as:

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A reduction in fluid pressure caused by the increased speed of a fluid moving from one section of a pipe to a smaller section.

Record warm temperatures in northeast Wisconsin has golfers getting back on the green

The effort was crucial in helping to combat the fire. The Hartland Fire Department also added that the community is entering brush fire season, and with little to no rain in the upcoming forecast, its critical to not perform any recreational burning due to dry grass.

Anybody in the Village of Hartland with questions should contact the Hartland Fire 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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
Despite the economically challenging environment, the logistics provider adhered to its investment strategy. During the 2024 fiscal year, a total of 124 million euros/129 million dollars were devoted to expansion and modernization measures, environmentally friendly power generation, and e-mobility.

The company's equity ratio remained steady at 60 percent, positioning Gebruder Weiss as a crisis-resistant service provider and a dependable employer. The workforce across the group's 180 locations worldwide rose slightly to 8,700 (2023: 8,600).

DPD Austria, which is partly owned by the Gebruder Weiss parcel service, processed more than 63.2 million parcels last year. This translates into an increase of one million parcels compared to 2023. The main growth drivers were exports and private consumers.

Revenues in the Land Transport and Logistics segment rose by five percent to 1.52 billion euros/1.63 million dollars (2023: 1.45 billion euros/1.56 billion dollars). This figure includes sales generated by the Home Delivery service. Cargoes such as refrigerators and furniture are transported to end customers in Austria and several eastern European countries, implementing a two-man handling service.

In the Air & Sea sector, the group reported the highest increase in revenue with 939 million euros/1.01 billion dollars, a gain of 21 percent (2023: 776 million euros/837 million dollars). This growth was powered by various factors, including the expansion of the networks in the United States and Germany, alongside high transport volumes in transpacific trade. Rising sea freight rates for exports from China to Europe provided an additional boost. Attacks in the Red Sea forced container ships to take the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) instead of through the Suez Canal.

Lauterach, Austria--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2025) - The international transport and logistics company Gebruder Weiss closed the 2024 fiscal year with net revenues of 2.71 billion euros/2.92 billion dollars, representing a ten-percent gain over the previous year (2023: 2.46 billion euros/2.65 billion dollars). "We're firmly on track: despite geopolitical and economic tensions, we gained market share and grew, countering the overriding trend. By investing in our network, automation and digital innovation, we succeeded in expanding our range of services and developing the transport solutions our customers need  with the explicit aim of guaranteeing supply chain stability," says Wolfram Senger-Weiss, CEO of Gebruder Weiss.

Story Continues

Investments in logistics locations, automation, and digitalization

Gebruder Weiss commenced construction of a modern logistics and IT center featuring a fully automated high-bay warehouse in the immediate vicinity of its corporate headquarters and the Wolfurt freight terminal (Vorarlberg/Austria). A new logistics facility was opened in the southern German town of Straubing, providing Bavaria's industrial and commercial players with efficient transport links to national and global markets. Gebruder Weiss also expanded its locations in Maria Saal (Austria), Aldingen (Germany), Bratislava (Slovakia) and Tbilisi (Georgia). In Budapest (Hungary), an Autostore warehouse was built as part of the site expansion program; here, inbound cargo handling, material flows, and order picking are largely automated.

In North America, revenues grew by 47%, driven in part by strategic expansion across the U.S. Southwest and Intermountain West. The U.S. business acquired air-and-sea freight forwarder Cargo-Link in Salt Lake City, Utah, and opened new branch office locations in Denver, Colorado, and Phoenix, Arizona. These new additions enhanced regional LTL, FTL, and LCL service capabilities and brought the number of company-owned locations in North America to 17. To combat the rise of freight fraud and double brokering, the U.S. team developed a partnership with Highway, a leading carrier identity company. The logistics leader also partnered with Turvo, utilizing its Collaborative Transportation Management System software for greater transparency and efficiency.

Gebruder Weiss has also charted further progress with its digital service palette: The number of customer-based users registering for the myGW portal has risen to 25,000 since its launch in 2020. The platform provides real-time information on all goods flows and gives customers full transparency on the progress of their orders. In 2024, the application's functions were progressively fine-tuned to better meet customers' needs.

Expanding renewable energy and e-mobility

The company took important steps towards decarbonization and climate-friendly power generation. Additional photovoltaic (PV) systems were installed in Hungary and Slovakia. Gebruder Weiss now operates 34 PV systems, which generated some 13,000 megawatt hours of electricity during the last fiscal year. This equals roughly half of the power requirements of all Gebruder Weiss locations worldwide. The increased use of solar energy has led to overall savings of 2,738 metric tons of CO 2 .

To further reduce CO 2 emissions on a sustainable basis, Gebruder Weiss is also reorganizing its own fleet and progressively deploying vehicles with electric drives. In Austria, Hungary, Croatia, and Romania, the logistics company is already utilizing e-transporters to deliver goods ordered online to private households. In Germany, two electric trucks were introduced in 2024, and a further 13 will follow in Austria this year. As an initial step, the logistics provider has already converted a large part of its truck fleet in Austria to hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO), which can potentially reduce CO 2 emissions by some 90 percent (compared to diesel fuel).

Wolfram Senger-Weiss explains: "Along with the issues of sustainability, infrastructure, and digitalization, the logistics industry faces numerous other hurdles this year. The persistently weak economy in Europe, new tariffs, and the crisis in the automotive industry are intensifying the competition for many companies. Gebruder Weiss will continue to meet these challenges with a solution- and technology-oriented approach while aligning its general business strategy to the needs of its customers."

The logistics company Gebruder Weiss generated net revenues of 2.71 billion euros in fiscal 2024. (Source: Gebruder Weiss / Schlaghuber)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10370/244097_7e80204044f64b8b_003full.jpg

In Air & Sea, Gebruder Weiss generated revenues of 939 million euros (2023: 776 million euros) (Source: Gebruder Weiss / Schlaghuber)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10370/244097_gw.jpg

Wolfram Senger-Weiss, Gebruder Weiss CEO (Source: Gebruder Weiss / Ohligschlager)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10370/244097_7e80204044f64b8b_005full.jpg





New electric trucks from Gebruder Weiss for deliveries in Memmingen and Straubing, southern Germany (Source: Gebruder Weiss / Popp)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10370/244097_7e80204044f64b8b_006full.jpg

About Gebruder Weiss

With its head office in Lauterach (Austria), Gebruder Weiss Holding AG is a global full-service logistics provider with around 8,700 employees and 180 company-owned locations. The business presence in North America includes headquarters in Chicago and offices in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Denver, El Paso, Houston, Laredo, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. The company generated revenues of 2.71 billion euros in 2024. Its portfolio of services includes transport and logistics solutions, digital services, and supply chain management. The combination of digital and real-world expertise enables the Group to respond to customer needs in a swift and flexible way. The family-run organization - with a history going back more than half a millennium  has implemented a wide variety of environmental, economic, and social initiatives. Today, it is also considered a pioneer in sustainable business practices. www.gw-world.com.

North American Media Contact

Karolyn Raphael

Public Relations for Gebruder Weiss

karolyn@wingermarketing.com

312-494-0422

www.gw-world.com/newsroom/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244097
LONGTON, Kan. (KSNW)  Fire destroyed a home in Elk County over the weekend. According to the Elk County Rural Fire Department, it happened Sunday night just before 10 p.m. in Longton.

Crews respond to grass fire northeast of Wichita

When they arrived, crews found flames coming from the home. Additional firefighters and tankers from Moline, Howard and Elk County assisted in battling the fire.

Firefighters made an initial interior attack on the fires source but had to evacuate when the home quickly became structurally unstable. Crews fought the fire defensively from the outside and eventually brought the flames under control.

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However, the home is a complete loss. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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Thousands of federal workers have been fired by the Trump administration and DOGE.

Now, some states are hoping to lure those workers into state governments.

They include New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and others.

If you've been fired by the Trump administration, your next job might be in state government.

That's the bet several governors are making as they launch recruitment drives to scoop up some of the thousands of federal workers affected by job cuts led by the White House DOGE office.

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For workers, it's not without challenges. You may have to move to a new state, and state government jobs may pay less than similar roles in the federal government.

For governors, there's only upside, with the possibility of bolstering state governments while offering a political contrast to President Donald Trump.

Here are the states that have launched recruitment drives for federal workers in recent weeks.

New York

Gov. Kathy Hochul launched the "New York Wants You" campaign earlier this month. John Lamparski/Getty Images

Gov. Kathy Hochul's campaign to lure federal workers to jobs in New York's state government may be the flashiest.

In early March, Hochul launched the "New York Wants You" initiative in a bid to fill what the governor's office says are more than 7,000 open positions.

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The campaign included advertisements in Washington, DC's Union Station featuring a drawing of the Statue of Liberty pointing forward  a reference to the "Uncle Sam" posters used for US Army recruitment during World War I.

"The federal government might say 'you're fired,'" Hochul said in an announcement video. "But here in New York, we say 'you're hired.'"

New York is also touting the benefits of working in state government, including paid parental leave and flexible schedules.

More than 53,000 federal workers live in New York, according to the Congressional Research Service.

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Pennsylvania

Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania signed an executive order to make it easier to hire federal government workers for critical positions. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call

Pennsylvania hopes to capitalize on the skills of federal employees to fill critical roles in its state government.

Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order last week directing state agencies to treat federal government work experience as equivalent to state-level work experience in a bid to fill certain roles  particularly in civil engineering, nursing, corrections, and accounting  more quickly.

"We have an opportunity to recruit federal workers and veterans who have significant experience and expertise in all of these fields because they've held these jobs already at the federal level or in the military," Shapiro said in a statement at the time.

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There are about 5,600 open positions in Pennsylvania state government, the governor's office said.

As part of the initiative, the state also launched a new website that includes a chart comparing state government roles to equivalent federal government roles.

More than 66,000 federal workers live in Pennsylvania, according to the Congressional Research Service.

Maryland

Gov. Wes Moore is also encouraging fired federal workers to consider becoming teachers. Barbara Haddock Taylor/Staff

Maryland, which borders Washington, DC, and is home to 143,000 federal workers, per the Congressional Research Service, is also trying to hire more people to work in state government.

But Gov. Wes Moore isn't just talking about state jobs  he's also encouraging fired federal workers and others who work for organizations that depend on federal funding to consider becoming teachers.

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"Are you a federal employee looking for a meaningful career change? Your commitment to public service makes you an asset in shaping the future of education," reads a state website set up to support the initiative.

Virginia

Gov. Glenn Youngkin has defended DOGE cuts, even as he extended sympathy to fired federal workers. Valerie Plesch for The Washington Post via Getty Images

Gov. Glenn Youngkin has also launched a bid to lure fired federal workers into state government.

There are about 4,500 open positions posted on the Virginia Has Jobs website, which Youngkin announced late last month.

Unlike other governors who've extended help to federal workers, Youngkin is a Republican.

He's expressed general support for DOGE-led cuts to the federal workforce while extending sympathy to those who have been fired.

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"This process that the federal government is going through is one that is needed, because of the inefficiency and bloat of the federal government," Youngkin said at a recent press conference. "With that said, this isn't about the workers, who I know are really, really, really scared."

More than 144,000 federal workers live in Virginia, according to the Congressional Research Service.

Hawaii

Gov. Josh Green is trying to quickly hire federal workers. Mengshin Lin for The Washington Post via Getty Images

The Aloha State is looking to hire federal workers  and quickly.

Gov. Josh Green signed an executive order last month launching Operation Hire Hawaii, an initiative that directs state agencies to prioritize "displaced" federal workers for open positions.

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The order also expedites the hiring process, directing agencies to make a conditional job offer within 14 days of receiving an application.

More than 24,500 federal workers live in Hawaii, according to the Congressional Research Service.

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The National Institutes of Health fired about 1,200 workers as part of what President Donald Trump claimed was a cost-cutting effort. Employees who spoke with Fortune said that for fired public-health workers, there are few private-sector options. The work of many scientists is hyper-specific to their labs and cant be readily applied elsewhere. Others say casting a wider net in a job search would mean applying to positions for which they are overqualified.

As the government purges employees, some federal workers in public health fear they wont have better luck in the private sector.

Since the beginning of President Trumps second term, about 30,000 federal employees have been fired as part of what the president argues is a mass cost-cutting effort, Axios reported. Of those employees, about 2,900 were from the Department of Health and Human Resources, according to Inside Health Policy, citing a call with House committees and staffers. About 1,200 are from the National Institutes of Health, the worlds largest public funder of biomedical research, overseeing nearly $48 billion in research. The NIH has also announced billions of dollars in cuts to biomedical research, saying on social media that slashing funding for indirect research costs would save it $4 billion annually.

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Fired NIH workers, many of whom have a doctoral degree and years of training in specialized fields, are either caught in an appeals process purgatorypetitioning to government watchdogs about the legality of their firingsor are confronted with the weight of the federal hiring freeze. Looking to the private sector for options, some workers arent convinced theres a future there, either.

I spent 20 years getting this job, and now I'm going to have to figure out how to do something else, one fired NIH biologist, who wished to remain anonymous as she tries to get her position reinstated, told Fortune.

The NIH did not respond to Fortunes request for comment.

"This job doesn't exist in the private sector"

U.S. private employers added 77,000 jobs in February, according to ADP, the smallest gain since July of last year and nearly half of the 148,000 jobs expected last month.

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As private-sector job opportunities take a hit, NIH workers arent convinced theyd find a job there anyway. NIH labs are often bespoke to their founding principal investigator (PI), meaning there are not one-to-one equivalent positions in the public and private sectors, according to one anonymous NIH employee, working in a lab developing brain-computer interfaces. The employees identity is known to Fortune.

This job doesn't exist in the private sector, she told Fortune.

Government-funded research is instrumental to the development of corporate technologies: The NIH funded and is assessing the efficacy of Apple Watchs ability to detect atrial fibrillation, a stroke warning sign, for example. However, the employee argued the private sector doesnt have the same appetite for the slow-moving pace of publicly funded research.

The lab does not create a product, the employee said. The lab creates an idea that can be transferred into a product in 20 years. No VC is gonna fund that. We don't have output in that way, but we create something that the private industry should be happy to have.

Overqualified for available jobs

The NIH biologist, who was fired and worked for the agency since 2019, said casting a wider net in her job search to look at openings at universities would mean applying to jobs she was either overqualified for or didnt have expertise in because she spent years pursuing adjacent research.

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They're not going to hire me as an associate scientist because that's for people with maybe a master's degree or something, she said. But they're not going to hire me as a director, which is what my level of experience would lead to, because I don't know how the field works.

Beyond trying alternative ways to get a paycheck, workers fear the impact of the purges on the future of research. Rehiring for labs can take years, the biologist said. She worked with young graduate students or fellows who, beyond losing out on contract renewal, could become jaded with the idea of working in public institutions.

The few new or appealing opportunities in government public health endangers the future of scientific research, according to Nate Brought, former director of the NIHs Office of the Executive Secretariat, who resigned last month because he disagreed with the agencys direction. The consequences of the firings are already apparent, but prolonged staff shortages and lab disruptions could have decades of repercussions.

The NIH does not make advancements in biomedical research for Republicans or for Democrats or for Americans, Brought said. The entire world benefits from what we do.

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We are risking an entire generation of medical professionals, researchers, and scientists for petty political bulls--t, he added. And it's a future disaster waiting to happen.

If you're a federal worker with a tip, or if you'd like to share your experience, please contact Sasha Rogelberg on Signal @sashrogel.13.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
CLOVIS, N.M. (KRQE)  The place where thousands of New Mexico veterans get health and mental care, is bracing for cuts as the Trump Administration considers laying off as many as 80,000 workers from the department, nationwide.

Story continues below

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Its just really disheartening that career federal employees are being treated this way, said former Department of Veterans Affairs employee Arielle Pines.

Pines lives in Clovis with her active-duty husband and family. At the age of 11, she started volunteering for Veterans Affairs and has worked for the VA professionally for more than 15 years. However, she is now among the thousands of workers whose job was just terminated.

Right now, we dont know what to do. I dont know what to do. I dont know where to go. All we can do is just hope I get my job back, but it has been super detrimental for us right now, said Pines.

Calling it her passion, Pines, who worked remotely in human resources, was fired last month. In an internal memo, the VA announced theyre considering cutting enough employees to return to 2019 staffing levels of just under 400,000. It comes after the agency expanded during the Biden administration.

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I have never heard any veteran tell me its too easy to get services. All Ive heard from my veteran constituents, the waits are too long. I need better services. I need improved services. We were trying to respond to this need, said New Mexico Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez (D).

The Elon Musk-led DOGE effort plans to cut the VAs budget. The White House has said it wants to erase $2 billion worth of contracts with the agency. Theyre hurting the employees who have dedicated their life to serving veterans and they are definitely hurting the veterans. Then they are going to hurt the small community where these clinics exist, said Congresswoman Leger Fernandez.

Pines is appealing her firing but is still waiting on a response. She hopes to get back to work soon.

Its something that I would love to continue doING and I just honestly want my job back, said Pines.

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Its unclear exactly how many of the VAs planned 80,000 jobs to be cut could come from New Mexico. The VA has 13 outpatient clinics across New Mexico and its only hospital in the state is in Albuquerque.

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Mar. 10MORGANTOWN  Morgantown Firefighters IAFF Local 313 has weighed in on a potential charter change going before the city's voters next month.

The change in question would allow the city manager to live outside the city with city council's permission.

Currently, the charter says the city manager doesn't have to be a city resident at the time of appointment, but "must reside in the city while in office."

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Under the proposed change, the manager "may reside outside the City while in office only with the approval of Council."

In a message shared via a IAFF Local 313 social media page, the union states its members are "adamantly opposed " to the change.

"The city manager, as a policy maker, should have a vested interest in the community they serve and personally experience both the positives and negatives occurring within the community to better understand the current needs, " the statement reads. "We believe it would be difficult to envision and implement improvements if detriments are never realized."

The union is asking voters to defeat the charter amendment at the ballot box, noting the city manager is the highest attainable position within city administration and, as such, is ultimately responsible for city operations.

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"We, Local 313, believe it has always been and remains the best practice for the city manager to reside within the community affected by these policies and decisions."

Morgantown City Council narrowly supported the proposed amendment. The body voted 6-1 in support of the change on first reading, but split 4-3 when the matter came back for second reading in adoption.

Councilor Brian Butcher voted against the change both times. He was joined by Louise Michael and Danielle Trumble on second reading.

However, because a city resident filed a written objection to the charter change, council was left to either abandon the matter or put it before the city's voters.

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While the majority of council supported the flexibility to allow a manager to live beyond the city's boundaries, members were unanimous in their belief that the city's top executive should not only live within the city but be active in the community.

"I think we all agree we want someone who is an integral part of our community, whether they live beyond the line or not, " Mayor Joe Abu-Ghannam said at the time.

The charter's residency requirement took center stage in September 2022 when council was forced to investigate "concerns " about whether former City Manager Kim Haws was living in Morgantown.

A short time later, it was explained that guidelines had been added to Haws' contract spelling out council's expectations regarding residency.

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Haws retired in December after four years with the city. That same month, council hired North Carolina-based Raftelis to conduct a national recruitment effort to fill the opening.

As of late last week, Communications Director Brad Riffee said the city had no updates to provide regarding the search.

Engineering and Public Works Director Damien Davis is currently serving as interim manager.

Assistant City Manager Emily Muzzarelli, who's been with the city since July 2018 and has served as interim manager in the past, does not live in the city.

Muzzarelli went on family leave around the same time as Haws' retirement.
By Saleem Ahmed

QUETTA, Pakistan (Reuters) - Separatist militants blew up a railway track and opened fire on a passenger train in southwestern Pakistan on Tuesday, taking dozens of hostages and battling security forces conducting a rescue operation, police and the insurgents said.

Police have not specified how many passengers were taken hostage in the remote mountainous area but the insurgents said they were holding 214 people, and have threatened to start executing them.

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"The affected train is still on the spot and the armed men are holding passengers," senior district police officer Rana Dilawar said.

"Security forces launched a massive operation," he said, adding that helicopters and special forces had been deployed.

The train was trapped in a tunnel and the driver was killed after sustaining serious injuries, local authorities, police and railway officials said.

The Baloch Liberation Army, a separatist militant group, said it blew up the tracks and "swiftly took control of the train". The group said it would execute 10 people in response to the ongoing military operation.

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The BLA has demanded the release within 48 hours of Baloch political prisoners, activists and missing persons it said had been abducted by the military.

"BLA is prepared for a prisoner exchange," the group said.

"If our demands are not met within the stipulated period or if the occupying state attempts any military action during this time all prisoners of war will be neutralized and the train will be completely destroyed."

The group, which seeks independence for Balochistan province bordering both Afghanistan and Iran, said the hostages included Pakistan Army members and other security officials travelling on leave.

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Dilawar said some of the militants had taken a group of around 35 hostages into the mountains while others were still holding the locomotive. He had previously said that over 300 hostages were safe but security officials have since announced that 104 people have been rescued so far.

Security forces said an explosion had been heard near the tunnel and that they were exchanging fire with the militants in a mountainous area.

A security source who asked not to be identified said many people had lost their lives in the attack, adding that 80 military personnel were among the 425 passengers aboard the train.

Another security source said 104 passengers had been rescued, 17 wounded taken to hospital and 16 militants had been killed, adding the rest were surrounded.

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"The operation will continue until the last terrorist is eliminated," they said.

The BLA said it has not suffered any casualties. It said it had killed 30 soldiers and shot down a drone. There was no confirmation of that from Pakistani authorities.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, saying security officials were "repelling" the militants.

EXECUTIONS THREATENED

"Civilian passengers, particularly women, children, the elderly, and Baloch citizens, have been released safely and given a secure route," the BLA said in a statement emailed to journalists and posted on Telegram.

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"The BLA further warns that if military intervention continues, all hostages will be executed."

The Jaffar Express had been on its way from Balochistan's capital, Quetta, to the city of Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province when it was fired on.

Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack and praised the military for rescuing more than 100 passengers.

"Those who attack innocent passengers are enemies of the country," he said.

"Enemy forces are conspiring to create instability in the country through terrorism in Balochistan."

The Balochistan government has imposed emergency measures to deal with the situation, spokesperson Shahid Rind said, without giving any more details.

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The BLA is the biggest of several groups that have been battling the government for decades, saying it unfairly exploits Balochistan's rich gas and mineral resources.

The conflict has seen frequent attacks against the government, army and Chinese interests in the region.

(Reporting by Saleem Ahmed in Quetta; Additional reporting by Saud Mehsud in Dera Ismail Khan, Mushtaq Ali in Peshawar, and Asif Shahzad in Islamabad; Writing by Saad Sayeed; Editing by Timothy Heritage, Andrew Cawthorne, David Gregorio and Sandra Maler)
A nurse gives a measles, mumps and rubella virus vaccine, which is over 90% effective at preventing measles, on April 29, 2019 in Provo, Utah. Two cases of measles have been in reported in Oklahoma as of Tuesday. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images) (This photo cannot be republished unless you have a Getty subscription.)

OKLAHOMA CITY  State health officials on Tuesday said theyve confirmed the first two cases of measles in Oklahoma amid an ongoing outbreak in Texas and New Mexico.

But Oklahoma State Health Department officials did not share where in Oklahoma those cases were diagnosed or how old the individuals are. They said they believe the exposures were associated with the outbreak in Texas and New Mexico, which is confirmed to have killed one child and sickened over 250 people.

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Erica Rankin, a spokesperson for the state health department, said Oklahomas two cases present no further risk to public safety. The agency only releases geographic information about measles cases when there is a public health risk and all potential exposures cannot be identified. Three or more related cases is considered an outbreak, she said.

It was unclear Tuesday afternoon whether the individuals were vaccinated against the measles.

Health officials did say the two cases are unrelated to an erroneous report of measles in Bartlesville on March 4. The two confirmed cases have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and are under investigation.

If a measles case is identified, the OSDH team will work with the individual on next steps and guidance to mitigate the spread and protect others, said Kendra Dougherty, the Health Departments director of Infectious Disease Prevention and Response, in a statement. If there is a risk of spread to the public, the OSDH will notify the public and share any information necessary to protect the health of Oklahomans.

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With outbreaks in neighboring states, the Oklahoma Health Department, or OSDH, has been on high alert and monitoring for cases in the state, according to a statement from the department.

These cases highlight the importance of being aware of measles activity as people travel or host visitors, Dougherty said. When people know they have exposure risk and do not have immunity to measles, they can exclude themselves from public settings for the recommended duration to eliminate the risk of transmission in their community.

Measles can be prevented with an MMR vaccine which is recommended for children at 12 to 15 months of age and again at 4 to 6 years old. Receiving two doses of the vaccine is about 97% effective at preventing measles, and one dose is about 93% effective, the Health Department reported in a statement.

Almost 92% of Oklahoma kindergartners were up to date on their MMR vaccines, according to the 2023-24 Oklahoma Kindergarten Immunization Survey.

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The department recommended that individuals with known exposure to measles who are not immune through vaccination or prior infection consult with a health care provider and exclude themselves from public settings for 21 days unless symptoms develop.

To confirm a report of the measles, the case must show symptoms and have a test confirming the diagnosis.

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In his first week in office, Floridas new attorney general was eager to score some headlines. So James Uthmeier announced he was suing Target for espousing LGBTQ-inclusive viewpoints.

It was a move short on legal acumen but big on shock value, scoring Uthmeier the Fox News attention he craved.

Well, now Florida is doubling down. In a follow-up action that was largely ignored, Politico reported that Uthmeier and Gov. Ron DeSantis decided last week to to set aside another $20 million in public money to sue more businesses that espouse values the two politicians dislike.

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Watch out, corporate America, the news site reported. Here comes Florida.

Florida sues Target for leftist agenda that sexualized children, harm to retirement fund

This is the kind of ideological warfare DeSantis has already seen repeatedly rejected by judges  conservative judges who actually believe in the U.S. Constitution and free speech.

In this case, DeSantis and Uthmeier claim they arent suing companies simply over viewpoints the two men dislike (even though Uthmeier described Targets commitment to inclusion as part of a leftist agenda). Instead, the two men say that, as leaders of the Florida Retirement System, which owns a lot of stock, theyre suing over stock value. Their tortured logic is that, if a company takes a social stance that prompts backlash and affects stock value, then Florida has a right to sue that company.

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Their argument is legally flawed, morally deficient and provably inconsistent.

First of all, its not for government to tell private citizens or businesses what values they can espouse. Thats called viewpoint discrimination, and its unconstitutional. If you want government to control speech, you might prefer living in North Korea.

Also, try looking through a historical lens at what it would mean to tell businesses they can never take a stance that might prompt backlash from the public. Segregationists in the Jim Crow South wouldve loved an edict like that.

DeSantis taps D.C. law firm billing $725 an hour to defend culture war laws

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But even if you reject all that, one thing we know is that these politicians dont even really believe the fig-leaf justifications theyre using to sue these companies. Because theres another company in which Florida has been heavily invested and whose stock price has cratered, in part, because of its politics: Tesla. And Florida Republicans havent said a word about that.

As CNBC recently reported, Teslas stock has declined For seven straight weeks, since Elon Musk went to Washington to join the Trump administration . the longest such losing streak for Tesla in its 15 years as a public company.

The piece cited several market analysts, saying: Even the most bullish analysts, and many fans, have had to acknowledge the impact of Musks politics on the desirability of Tesla and its products to a wide swath of customers and investors.

Well, the state of Florida has been heavily invested in Tesla, according to financial reports. And Tesla has lost way more value than Target. So where is Floridas lawsuit against Elon Musk?

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Thats what Jim Colbert wanted to know. Colbert hosts an afternoon radio show on WTKS that Ive appeared on weekly for years. Colbert is conservative and has supported DeSantis many times.

But when Colbert heard that Florida was going after Target, supposedly for diminishing its own stock value, Colbert wanted to know if the state was also going after Tesla.

So he sent an email to Uthmeiers office that said: My question is simple: Does the state of Florida plan to bring a similar lawsuit against Tesla for losses being incurred because of the actions of Elon Musk? As of 2-26-2025, Tesla stock is down 25%, and if my research is accurate, Floridas teachers pensions are also heavily invested in Tesla.

Colbert is a traditional conservative who was looking for consistency. He said he never got a response.

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The reality, of course, is that true conservatives dont want government trying to control speech in the private sector. If you dont like what a private company does, dont buy its stock or its products.

Outside of the courtroom, Uthmeier claims Target was sexualizing children. He seems to be conflating sexual orientation with sexualization when it comes to kids, which is disturbing.

But the states lawsuit against the retail chain never uses that word  even as it plods its way through more than 160 pages of strained arguments. (When you have the facts on your side, you state them quickly and get out. When you dont, you drone on and on.)

Conservative judges  true conservatives appointed by Rick Scott, Donald Trump and even DeSantis himself  have repeatedly struck down the governors laughably unconstitutional arguments in other cases. But the state keeps paying politically connected lawyers as much as $725 an hour to fight losing legal battles.

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DeSantis spends millions on legal bills at $725 an hour. And he just lost again | Commentary

In some cases  like when a judge ruled DeSantis violated the U.S. Constitution with his Stop WOKE act that tried to tell private companies what they could say to their employees in training sessions  the state also had to pay the legal fees of the businesses that sued.

DeSantis has as little concern for the Constitution as he does public money.

Lastly, lets end with a bit of irony. This very week  with Florida already suing Target for supposedly running off customers for embracing diversity  supporters of inclusion are staging a boycott of Target for kowtowing to politicians like DeSantis and backing away from the chains previously stated values.

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Think about that. Try applying the logic that Uthmeier and DeSantis claim to support. If enough pro-LGBTQ forces boycott the store to hurt its stock prices for not being woke enough, will Florida sue the retailer over that as well?

I think you know the answer. Because this isnt about the true principles any more than it is the law. Its about culture-warring and pandering  may the Constitution and publics money be damned.

smaxwell@orlandosentinel.com
The News

Tuesday marks the fifth anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19 a pandemic: Since then, scientists have linked the disease to an estimated 20 million deaths worldwide and $16 trillion in costs.

The pandemic also spurred rapid, unprecedented scientific achievement: As one scientist said in December, 2020, in the last 11 months, probably 10 years work has been done.

Researchers developed and tested mRNA vaccines for the first time, ushering in the possibility of immunizations for conditions, from cancer to heart disease. The consensus understanding of our immune system evolved rapidly, while behavioral and mental health research also flourished.

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Many unanswered questions remain: Public health experts expect that a future pandemic is not only possible but probable, and as the US  the worlds largest national donor  pulls back much of its global health funding, scientists are increasingly worried that another outbreak would not see the same collective response.

SIGNALS

The scientific response to the pandemic resulted in breakthroughs

Sources: Nature, Science News, The Guardian

COVID-19 spread globally at devastating speeds, matched only by the pace of scientific insights, Nature wrote in 2020. Weeks after the first reports of the disease emerged from Wuhan, geneticists had mapped and published the virus genome, enabling the first mass rollout of mRNA vaccines, which harnessed that genetic blueprint to prime the immune system to fight a disease. The urgency of the pandemic spurred an all hands on deck approach, one scientist said at the time, with global collaboration and information sharing crucial to those early breakthroughs. However, as concern over COVID-19 has waned and geopolitical tensions between the US and China have risen, declining scientific collaboration between the two nations has led to concerns that future research breakthroughs could be held back.

Immunology flourished, but so did smaller fields of science

Source: The New York Times

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The unique conditions of a pandemic offered diverse avenues for discovery, The New York Times wrote. The flu receded in the first years of the pandemic as the measures people took to avoid getting COVID-19 also protected them from other respiratory diseases. Researchers also found that, even if both a husband and wife are at home all day, women still do a larger share of the housework. In sports, behavioral scientists found that fans were crucial to the so-called home-field advantage, whereby teams tend to win when they play at their own stadiums  without an audience, the advantage disappeared.

Scientists still have many questions to answer about Long Covid

Sources: MSNBC, Ed Yong in The New York Times

It became clear early in the pandemic that COVID-19 could, in some cases, cause long-lasting, adverse changes to a persons health and immune system function  a collection of symptoms that has since come to be known as Long Covid. Some 3.6% of American adults are estimated to have Long Covid: Often left in a kind of medical limbo, these individuals long-term care costs and needs remain unclear, MSNBC noted. Ed Yong, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his pandemic reporting for The Atlantic, warned recently that the relative neglect of Long Covid leaves societies less prepared for future pandemics: Once the problem abates, so, too does everything else and we lapse into the same level of unpreparedness that led to the panic.
By Stephen Nellis

SANTA CLARA, California (Reuters) - Celestial AI, one of several Silicon Valley chip startups aiming to crack a key speed constraint in artificial intelligence, said on Tuesday it has raised an additional $250 million in venture capital, bringing its total raised to date to $515 million.

Celestial AI is tapping photonics - a technology that uses light, rather than electrical signals - to create speedy links between AI computing chips and memory chips.

The speed of that connection, a measure called memory bandwidth, has become so central to advancing AI systems that it is one of the factors that determine whether a chip is subject to U.S. government export controls such as those designed to limit China's AI advances.

At present, Nvidia reigns supreme in memory bandwidth with proprietary technologies called NVLink and NVSwitch. That has set off a technology race among startups and a flurry of funding to find alternatives that can be used by other chip firms. Celestial AI rivals Lightmatter and Ayar Labs have raised $850 million and $370 million, respectively.

Celestial AI, which is backed by the venture arm of Nvidia rival Advanced Micro Devices, is developing a technology that can sit like a bridge between two or more chips and uses a different kind of photonics technology than its rivals.

The goal of this "photonic fabric," Celestial AI CEO Dave Lazovsky told Reuters, is to provide speed while saving space and power, the two things that are at a premium in every chip's design.

"There are no good answers right outside of Nvidia," Lazovsky said in an interview at the firm's Santa Clara, California headquarters. "What we had created with the photonic fabric does the same thing, but at a different level of energy efficiency and of latency."

Celestial AI said the new round of funding was led by Fidelity Management & Research and joined by BlackRock, Maverick Capital, Tiger Global Management and Lip-Bu Tan, the former CEO of chip design software firm Cadence Design Systems. Also joining were existing investors AMD Ventures, Koch Disruptive Technologies, Singapore state investor Temasek, Temasek's wholly-owned subsidiary Xora Innovation, Porsche Automobil Holding and The Engine Ventures.

(Reporting by Stephen Nellis in Santa Clara, California; Editing by Jamie Freed)
TALLAHASSEE, Florida  Students across Florida could be required to put their cellphones away for essentially the entire school day  not just during instruction time  under a new bill introduced Tuesday.

The legislation, FL HB949 (25R), would build on Floridas 2023 law that was the first in the nation to curb student cellphone use by outlawing the devices while teachers are leading lessons, unless used for educational purposes. This measure would take that further by calling on school districts to ban cellphones from bell-to-bell, outside of specific designated areas on campus.

Since Florida passed the first school cellphone ban, more than a dozen states, red and blue alike, have enacted similar laws aiming to crack down on students being plugged in during school hours. At least four states  Arkansas, Louisiana, Virginia and South Carolina  now have bell-to-bell restrictions like those pursued by the Florida House.

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We're really strengthening this and giving teachers and parents kind of that extra push that they're going to need, said state Rep. Fabian Basabe (R-Miami Beach). Its really hard to tell a kid, Hey, we need to take your phone away. But when you say it's the law, it just kind of ends the conversation there.

State House lawmakers, who unanimously advanced the bill in the Education Administration Subcommittee, contend stiffer school cellphone restrictions will improve student performance by keeping them focused and engaged on lessons. At the same time, they argue it can reduce cases of students being cyberbullied and using social media at school.

At least one Florida school district, Orange County Public Schools, has gone beyond state law by already prohibiting cellphones all day, even during lunch and passing periods. While the idea appeared daunting at first for large campuses, school leaders say the reaction from parents and discipline results have been positive.

At Timber Creek High School, for example, staff confiscated more than 100 cellphones a day when the policy started, compared to taking up roughly 10 to 15 on the average day now, according to principal Marc Wasko.

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We were quite nervous, Wasko told state House lawmakers during a Jan. 15 panel discussion. It was surprisingly and shockingly pretty easy to implement.

Floridas current law leaves it up to school districts and campuses to implement the cellphone ban. In some cases, teachers have cubbies or pouches for students to leave the phones in during instruction, or they can otherwise be instructed to leave the devices in a bag or pocket. The state House proposal wouldnt change that, but it would give school administrators the ability to pick certain areas on campus for students to use cellphones.

While the bill scored bipartisan support, there are some concerns about how parents could contact children during an emergency or otherwise get information to them at school. But for lawmakers, the possible benefit appears to outweigh that issue.

When we were all in school, we didn't have phones, said state Rep. Demi Cabrera (R-Coral Gables), who sponsored the legislation. And our parents managed to get a hold of us by calling the front office and we'd go  and use the phone, or they'd get a message to us. We figured it out and we can continue to do that.

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Despite the initial approval from state House members, the stricter cellphone ban currently lacks a companion bill in the state Senate.

Instead, the Senate has proposed legislation, FL SB1296 (25R), asking the state Department of Education to coordinate with six school districts to study bell-to-bell restrictions. The state would be compelled to develop a model policy for implementing the wide-ranging ban, taking into account how it could be applied to students with disabilities who may need electronic devices for curriculum, and how cellphones may be necessary for health reasons or emergencies.
While Gov. Ron DeSantis was among the first leaders to embrace President Trumps renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, Florida Republican lawmakers now are eager to join the partisan chorus.

Three different bills renaming the water body were debuted Tuesday before committees in the House and Senate. Republican supermajorities are expected to pass a law setting the name change for school instructional material, road signs and more before the Legislature adjourns in early May.

The name is changed. Its now the Gulf of America, Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, told a Senate panel. Listen, we want our kids to have the correct names of everything moving forward, and this is just a way to do that.

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The Gruters bill (SB 1058) was the first of the gulf-renaming bills to clear Republican-dominated legislative committees, winning party-line approval in the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability panel.

Democrats were against the name change.

It just bothers me that were even making this change, that were wasting our time doing this, said Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton. I dont think we have to fall prey to it  I guess its a philosophical difference.

For Florida Republicans, important symbolism

Republican lawmakers said they see it as a simple-to-enact, yet powerful bit of symbolism.

The bill by Gruters, a former Trump campaign co-chair for Florida and endorsed by the president for the Florida Cabinet post of chief financial officer, doesnt order sign removal and replacement.

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Nor does the bill require school districts to replace immediately school books and maps failing to comply with the presidents Jan. 20 executive order that sought to end 400 years of the water body being known as the Gulf of Mexico.

Instead, like the other gulf bills in the House and Senate (HB 575, SB 608) the legislation envisions a gradual adaptation: When they purchase new materials, the name would have to be changed, Gruters said.

Polsky asked, What happens when we have a new president who has the sense to bring us back to the Gulf of Mexico? Do the textbooks have to be replaced?

Basically, yes, Gruters said. But he added that it was necessary to "use the proper name."

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The U.S. Department of the Interior says the Gulf of America name was effective for U.S. federal agencies on Jan. 24, although the change did not apply in an international context.

DeSantis was quick to get on board with the presidents name change, referring to the Gulf of America within two days of the White House order when issuing his own executive order involving a winter storm.

Earlier this month, DeSantis and the Cabinet followed-up with a resolution directing all state agencies to update maps, records and publications to reflect the new designation. Florida has a 770-mile Gulf coast, so theres likely plenty of material that would need updating under the legislation advancing.

DeSantis, early adapter... DeSantis is on board with Gulf of America executive order. Hes already officially used it

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Trump, DeSantis are boundary busters... DeSantis and Trump share political playbook built on boundary-busting, defiance

Analysis: 'Insignificant negative fiscal impact'

In the potential financial impact statement that legislation must carry in Florida, analysts declared that state and local governments would face insignificant, negative fiscal impact from updating official documents, websites, signage, publications, and other materials.

But for Florida Republicans, endorsing the presidents geography lesson appears to be an important piece of symbolism, although one lawmaker acknowledged it can draw criticism.

Its great to see that were being brave to do this stuff when, you know, sometimes we get it from the public, said Rep. Judson Sapp, R-Green Cove Springs. It really is important. It does represent that Americas great and it really does tell the world that we believe that.

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But Rep. Dotie Joseph, D-North Miami, was a no vote in a House hearing on the bill. She explained her opposition with a phrase more commonly used in legislative battles over transgender rights.

I want to point out that the Gulf of Mexico was assigned that name at birth, Joseph said.

John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Networks Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jkennedy2@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @JKennedyReport.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida Republican lawmakers set sail on Gulf of America renaming
Some workers in Florida would be allowed to be paid well below the states current $13 minimum wage if a bill that cleared its first Senate committee Monday becomes law.

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Florida voters agreed to gradually raise that states minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026 when they approved Amendment 2 back in 2020, but under the new legislation some workers could opt out of that constitutional right and make far less in exchange for work experience.

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The exemption would be offered to workers applying for internships, apprenticeships and work-study programs.

Bill sponsor Senator Jonathan Martin (R-Fort Myers) argued opportunities for those looking to enter the job market for the first time are drying up because employers cant afford to hire people without experience.

This gives them that right to get on-the-job training when an employer maybe hesitant to pay far in excess of what that employees skills would be, said Martin.

But committee members raised concerns Martins proposal would violate the state constitution, which currently mandates a $13 minimum wage.

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This proposal is an attempt to circumvent it. Its an attempt to exploit workers of all ages, said State Senator Calros Gillermo Smith (D-Orlando).

Senate Senator Tracie Davis (D-Jacksonville) questioned the lack of safeguards.

How do we stop companies from exploiting this particular idea? Davis asked Martin.

The employee can quit, Martin responded.

Martin argued, like waiving your right to a speedy trial or the right to. remain silent, there are other examples where constitutional rights can be voluntarily given up.

He contended his legislation is no different.

Its giving them that ability to then become competitive. Right now, if they dont get the job, they never have the ability to become compensative, said Martin.

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While the bill managed to clear its first legislative hurdle, some members who voted yes said they want to see age limits or time limits added to the bill, to prevent employers from, as one senator put it, Racing to the bottom.

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Florida students could need to put their phones away for good next school year  even during lunch.

Legislators in the Florida House advanced a bill Tuesday that would ban the use of cell phones throughout the school day, a sweeping measure that aims to curb the distractions caused by students phone use.

The bills restrictions on cell phones in schools mimic those implemented in Orange County Public Schools in 2023. The OCPS rules prohibit students using phones from the first morning bell to the last dismissal bell.

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Current state law bans phone use during instructional time, but the bill (HB 949), filed by Rep. Demi Busatta, R-Coral Gables, would mean students could not use them at all during the school day. If passed, the ban would go into effect for the 2025-26 school year.

Cell phones not only cause constant distractions to a students focus during the school day, which impedes their ability to learn, but it also has shown to increase bullying throughout the school day, Busatta said during a meeting of a House education committee.

The bill unanimously passed 17-0, though some lawmakers said they worried such a law could alarm parents who want to reach their children in emergencies.

Things have changed, and because of school lockdowns and school shootings, I do have concerns, said Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis, D-Ocoee, adding she wouldnt want phones locked away so students could not access them during a campus emergency.

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In Orange, students can keep their phones in backpacks or purses and are allowed to use them in emergencies.

Busatta said the bill would give school districts flexibility to decide where students would store their phones during the school day. If a parent needed to contact their student, she said they could reach out to the front office to pass along a message as was done before students carried cell phones.

Think about it: We are up on this dais and our phone goes off and were distracted by it in a heartbeat. So imagine a kid in that same vein, Susan Valdes, R-Tampa, said in support of the bill.

In a January, OCPS Superintendent Maria Vazquez told lawmakers that her districts data shows decreases in student discipline problems since the phone ban was implemented.

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It has gone very smoothly, she said. Overall, we have not seen any major ask for changes to the policy, specifically to not have it as restrictive as we do.

Data from OCPS shows a 31% decrease in fighting and a 21% decrease serious misconduct in high schools during the first year of the cell phone ban.

Nathan Hoffman, the senior legislative director for the Foundation for Floridas Future, former Gov. Jeb Bushs advocacy group, said OCPSs success means a state law makes sense, calling it a cost-free way to improve education.

Certainly a free way to improve the learning environment, the teaching environment in schools would be to just get rid of these cell phones entirely and allow students to really have six to seven hours a day where they can fully focus on their learning, Hoffman said.

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Hoffman said survey data showed that 97% of students report using their cell phone for an hour and a half throughout the school day, even during instructional time.

A Yale University study showed that teenagers who used social media more than three hours each day faced twice the risk of having anxiety and depression symptoms.

The Florida Senate has proposed a related bill, one that would try out a cell phone ban in six school districts  two small, two medium and two large  with the Florida Department of Education providing a report on the trial to the Legislature by December of 2026.
HOLMES COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  A man who took a bite out of a Holmes County deputys head during SolFest will go to prison.

37-year-old James Anderson of Westville entered a guilty plea Friday to aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer.

The judge adjudicated Anderson guilty and sentenced him to 6-years in prison and another 10-years probation.

GRAPHIC: Florida man bites chunk out of deputys head, sheriff says

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The deputy tried to arrest Anderson during the EDM festival SolFest last May at Vortex Springs in Ponce De Leon. Anderson tried to grab the deputys gun, then bit him in the head.

The bite removed a chunk of flesh and exposed the deputys skull. The deputy has recovered from his 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 mypanhandle.com.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA)  Last years hurricanes displaced thousands of Floridians, turning their lives upside down and making it even harder for some to vote during a crucial election year. Now, a Pinellas County state lawmaker wants to make it easier for people to cast their ballots after a storm.

House Bill 1317: Elections Impacted by Emergencies; aims to give Floridians more opportunities to have their voices heard at the ballot box, especially after tragic natural disasters.



During both hurricanes Helene and Milton, local Supervisor of Elections up and down the coast had to grapple with the aftermath of the back-to-back storms. In October 2024, several counties in the Tampa Bay area were faced with damaged polling sites while ensuring that every displaced voter had the opportunity to cast their vote.

Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer spoke with WFLA during the storms and shared that the county had to relocate an early voting site and lost seven election day sites after Hurricane Helene.

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If the sites are impacted, people are impacted around the site too, said Latimer.

Having to tackle storm related issues is nothing new for the state of Florida or Supervisor of Elections. However, with polling site destruction and voters forced to relocate, state lawmakers are demanding change.

In my District, District 60 in Pinellas County, many of our polling locations were underwater, just like our homes and businesses were. So, our Supervisor of Elections was able to find new places for people to vote, but a lot of those polling locations were combined together, and it led to longer lines in some cases, and there was also confusion from some of the voters about where they would vote, said State Rep. Lindsay Cross.

State Representative Lindsay Cross of Pinellas County says her bill would enforce policies like expanding early voting, allowing for more flexibility with mail in voting, dropping off ballots at different polling locations, utilizing more mobile polling sites, etc.

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This is not something that is red or blue or purple, people all over the state were impacted by this and so just making some of these things automatic will help people to have the confidence that they will be able to vote, that their vote will count, and really just helping to strengthen our democracy, said Cross.



We are less than 100 days from the next hurricane season as lawmakers try to level out the playing field for impacted voters. If passed, the bill would take effect on July 1, 2025, and it currently sits in the Government Operations Subcommittee

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
TALLAHASSEE After Gov. Ron DeSantis used millions of state dollars last year to battle against abortion and marijuana proposals, some Florida lawmakers want to ban the use of public funds to promote or oppose ballot amendments.

The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee on Monday approved such a measure by voice vote, adding it to a controversial bill to further restrict the petition-gathering process citizens groups use to get amendments before voters.

This amendment makes sure taxpayers dont get the bill for political issue campaigns, said Sen. Jennifer Bradley, R-Fleming Island, the measures sponsor.

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The amendment doesnt prohibit the typical public message campaigns state agencies produce, she said, and it doesnt prohibit public officials from speaking out on the issues.

But when they cross over to influence the outcome of a ballot measure it makes me very uncomfortable  as a conservative concerned about our role in a democratic society, Bradley said. Isnt that what good government is about?

DeSantis and the agency heads that report to him spent millions on television, radio and online ads warning voters against approving ballot initiatives supporting abortion rights and legalizing marijuana. Both measures won support from a majority of voters in November but fell just short of the 60% threshold needed to become law.

The DeSantis administration has failed to comply with public records requests for an exact accounting of the cost to the state, but purchasing records indicate the states media blitz cost more than $16 million. Smart & Safe, the marijuana legalization campaign organization, estimated the price tag at more than $50 million, based on an analysis of ad buys.

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The ACLU and Southern Legal Counsel sued the state Agency for HealthCare Administration for running a website spreading false information about the abortion amendment, but a state judge dismissed the lawsuit.

Bradley said it was up to the legislative leadership to demand a full accounting of those expenditures.

While Democrats on the committee voiced their support for the amendment, they voted against the elections bill itself, which passed 6-3. They said the bill imposes new hurdles and expenses on the already expensive signature-gathering process required to get a citizen amendment on the ballot, including imposing a $1 million bond on campaign organizations, raising the fines for violating deadlines and other rules.

It also would make it a felony for someone to file or possess more than two petitions, even for family members.

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The bill would also shorten the deadline for filing signed petitions from 30 days to 10 days. It would impose a fine on the campaign organization up to $50,000 every time a petition gatherer filed late or sent a petition to the wrong county. And it would require people who sign petitions to provide more personal information than currently needed.

Bill sponsor Sen. Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach, said the changes were necessary to maintain the integrity of the process and keep out-of-state corporations from meddling with the states constitution.

Floridas ballot initiatives are popular with the public, even among Republicans. A February poll of likely voters in the 2026 Republican gubernatorial primary showed more than half opposed further limiting the ability to collect signatures. The poll by Fabrizio, Lee and Associates also showed about 72% of GOP voters support citizen-driven ballot initiatives, and 76% support keeping the process the way it is.

Sen. Tina Polksy, D-Boca Raton, said the Legislature has changed the ballot initiative process several times since she became a state senator. And each time those changes have been backed by corporate interests, she said, that were opposed to the ballot measures goals, including raising the minimum wage, restoring the voting rights of felons, and approving the recent marijuana legalization amendment.

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There is a lot of talk about outside corporate interests but it is the corporate interests within this state that are fighting these initiatives, Polsky said. We are only emboldening those corporations to safeguard against citizen initiatives. So its incredibly hypocritical to say its outside corporate interests that are causing this when I believe it is internal interests.

If the bill passed, Floridas county supervisors of elections would be burdened with several extra tasks  including transmitting all signatures to the Secretary of State  that would require software upgrades that could take until the end of this year, said David Ramba, a lobbyist for the supervisors. He asked Grall to consider the time involved in adapting to such massive changes.

We have met with our software providers, and they are losing their ever-loving minds, Ramba testified. The software as written doesnt have capacity for this.

We want to avoid fraud as much as possible but we are struggling operationally how these can be implemented in a short amount of time.
Gov. Ron DeSantis holds up memos deputizing state agents to carry out some of the functions of federal immigration officers. He signed the agreements on Feb. 19, 2025. (Photo by Jackie Llanos/Florida Phoenix)

As Florida gears up its deputization of state troopers to take part in immigration enforcement, the Highway Patrol cant hire enough troopers to meet its workforce target, Dave Kerner, director of the Department of Highway and Motor Safety, told a House committee Tuesday.

Republican lawmakers questioned Kerner about the $10.3 million the agency spends on overtime pay for troopers and its efforts to fill the 729 agency-wide vacancies, 138 of which are for sworn troopers. The agency was the first to enroll in an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, authorizing state troopers to question and detain people living in the country without authorization.

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Now, running a business, if my overtime is $10 million, I think I got a problem, Dade City Republican Randy Maggard said during the House Transportation and Economic Development Budget Subcommittee meeting.

Kerner said the agency has had difficulty hiring troopers, whose starting salary is $54,075, the third lowest in the country for a trooper or state police officer, according to FHMVS budget request for the next fiscal year. The agency is asking lawmakers for $12 million for salary increases.

The genesis of the concern here is that we lose more troopers than we can hire  because of the lack of pay, the lack of a career development plan, Kerner said. It is much more efficient for a trooper to come and work at the Florida Highway Patrol, get trained, and then three years later leave to a better-paying department. We have to supplement that vacancy rate with overtime.

The average length of service for troopers is six years, according to the budget request. Lawmakers in the Joint Legislative Budget Commission gave the agency $7.6 million in September for hiring staff in the Division of Motorist Services, law enforcement dispatchers and support staff, and 70 troopers.

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I dont know that youll see the vacancy rate lower in a meaningful way through the end of this fiscal year given the resources that we currently have, Kerner said.

All sheriffs and several municipalities will also cooperate with ICE through the federal 287(g) task force model program that require the officers to go through 40 hours of training on immigration laws and civil rights as Gov. Ron DeSantis pushes for the state to become a leader in internal immigration enforcement.

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Florida residents were subject to some intense fog in February, and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported on the wide range of social media reactions.

As the news outlet noted, fog is a natural phenomenon that can have different causes. One of which is warm air that radiates from the ground on a cloudless night, causing the ground and air above it to cool and near-ground moisture to condense into water droplets. A National Weather Service source interviewed by the publication pointed to ideal weather conditions  Florida was under an area of high pressure with lighter local winds and clear skies, with enough moisture close to ground level for fog to form.

Many Florida residents complained about the issue causing a lack of visibility, and some postulated about the vapor's composition. But the expert quoted in the story tried to dispel fears some held that the fog was full of bacteria because of swirling patterns seen when exposed to light.

"If you shine, you know, any kind of light in the fog, what you're actually seeing are the very, very small water droplets. They can reflect light," Megan Tollefsen, coastal hazards program leader at the National Weather Service in Melbourne, Florida, explained to the Herald-Tribune. "Similar to when you're out driving and you turn your high beams on in fog. You get that flashback from the light. So that is likely what people are seeing."

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Another complaint was about the fog's smell. Condensation can capture pollutants in the air and slow their usual dispersal in a process sometimes referred to as scavenging. While pollutants in fog can aggravate breathing issues in specific situations, social media reactions included unsupported accusations of an intentional biowarfare attack. At that point, the challenge is less the fog and more the general public's perception of natural phenomena.

Climate misinformation has led to a wide range of interpretations of the natural world. While it's an uphill battle, it's one that can only be won with detailed references to credible sources and kind dialog.

Other social media reactions to the fog in Florida have been more measured.

"I was just in Florida. First, there's always fog in Florida. It's a swamp and humid. Second, the fog looks like regular-ass fog. I have no idea what this is all about but this whole 'fog hysteria' is really bizarre," said one Redditor in response to a TikTok video expressing concerns about the fog.

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"TikTok is a brain rot app that incentivizes lying and sensationalization for fake click numbers," replied another.

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  Valerios Tropical Bakeshop is a renowned bakery located in Waipahu, Hawaii, celebrated for its diverse selection of tropical-inspired pastries, cakes, and breads that capture the essence of Hawaiian flavors and Filipino decadences.

Blangiardi looks forward as State of the City, decision on landfill near

One of their standout offerings is the Totos Special Ube Cheese Pandesal, a delightful combination of sweet and savory tastes. Owner, Jean Valerio, and Master Baker, Justin Delos Reyes, joined Brittni Friedlander on Wake Up 2Day.

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Besides their breads and pastries, Valerios also now offers an array of uniquely flavored ensamadas and cakes along with savory grab and go items.

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Besides their Waipahu location, you can find their products in 7-11 Hawaii stores across the islands and in Foodland Supermarkets for convenience.

The team recently celebrated their 10th anniversary and highlights how they are forever grateful to their loyal customers and the community who has believed in them.

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To order catering or find more information visit their website at Valerios or their Instagram (@valerios_hi).

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
By Mei Mei Chu and Ella Cao

BEIJING (Reuters) - Zhengzhou Exchange on Tuesday raised the trading margin requirements for some rapeseed meal futures contracts to 9% from 7% after Beijing's 100% tariff on Canadian imports triggered a two-day rally that pushed prices to a five-month high.

The most active rapeseed meal futures contract surged 7.23% to close at 2,684 yuan per metric ton, building on a 6% gain in the previous session, to its highest since September 2024.

The new trading margin requirements will be effective from settlement on March 12.

China on Saturday shocked markets with a 100% tariff to just over $1 billion of Canadian rapeseed oil, oil cakes and pea imports, and a 25% duty on $1.6 billion worth of Canadian aquatic products and pork.

The tariff announcement has sparked heightened market volatility, prompting the exchange to implement stricter margin rules to manage risk.

Earlier on Monday, the exchange increased the minimum order size for rapeseed meal futures contracts to curb small investor participation and stabilise prices.

According to Chinese customs data, China imported 2.02 million tons of rapeseed meal from Canada in 2024, accounting for 73% of its total imports. Other major suppliers include the UAE, Russia and Ukraine.

"After tariffs, importers may face losses and contract defaults. Spot supply is sufficient now, but reduced imports could tighten future supply. For rapeseed meal, demand may need to be curbed while monitoring shifts in the global trade chain," a China-based trader said.

"In the short term, this is expected to have minimal impact on the domestic supply of edible vegetable oils. However, the long-term effects of the trade policy implementation will require further attention," the Agriculture Ministry said in a monthly report.

(Reporting by Ella Cao and Mei Mei Chu; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Ed Osmond)
MARSHALL  Ford Motor Co. has taken ownership of 500 acres in Marshall for its BlueOval Battery Park Michigan, according to a community announcement.

The land transfer makes BlueOval Battery Michigan LLC, a subsidiary of Ford, the largest industrial property owner in the city.

The facility is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the area, including more than $2 million annually in new revenue for Marshall, according to the announcement. Marshall Township and other nearby communities are also set to receive substantial revenue gains from the project, which will create approximately 1,700 local jobs and eventually produce batteries for electric vehicles.

Ford recently hosted a "topping out ceremony to mark the completion of steel construction for the 1.8 million-square-foot facility that will be BlueOval Battery Park Michigan in Marshall.

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Ford has been an incredible neighbor and community partner, supporting dozens of programs and services across the region, said James Durian, CEO of the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance, in the announcement. Were excited to see progress on this project that has already created hundreds of local construction jobs in and around the Marshall Area Jobs, Opportunity and Recreation Campus, adding to foot traffic for our local restaurants, area shops and small businesses.

Currently, more than 800 workers are involved in constructing the battery facility and related infrastructure. Local contractors, including Battle Creek-based Hoffman Brothers and Lansing-based Granger Construction, are working on water and wastewater infrastructure improvements. Walbridge employees are also contributing to the construction of the BlueOval Battery Park Michigan facility.

With this project in Marshall, our small business is putting people to work building long-lasting infrastructure that will benefit our families, friends and neighbors for years to come, said Dan Eriksson, CEO of Hoffman Brothers, in the announcement. The MAJOR Campus will attract additional investments for our region, which means higher property values and funding for police, fire, schools and roads.

Ford completed steel construction on the primary facility in December, with production expected to begin in 2026. The automaker marked the milestone with a ceremony, placing the final beam signed by team members along with a U.S. flag and a tree for good luck. Construction continues on other BlueOval Battery Park buildings and inside the plant.

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This is another positive signal that we are on track to begin production in 2026, and we are continuing to hire so that we can build the best possible team to lead this advanced manufacturing facility, said Scott Davis, CEO of BlueOval Battery Michigan LLC and a Marshall resident, in the announcement.

To date, Ford has invested more than $450,000 in Calhoun County organizations and services, including Marshall Public Schools, the Marshall Bucks matching program, the Bohm Theater, the Binder Park Zoo and the City of Marshall for tree planting and repairs to the Brooks Memorial Fountain.

This story was created by Janis Reeser, jreeser@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at https://cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/.

Unemployment claims in Michigan declined last week

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Ford announces progress on Marshall battery plant
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Sunday announced new leadership at the agency tasked with immigration enforcement as she also pledged to step up lie detector tests on employees to identify those who may be leaking information about operations to the media.

The authorities that I have under the Department of Homeland Security are broad and extensive and I plan to use every single one of them to make sure that were following the law, that we are following the procedures in place to keep people safe and that were making sure were following through on what President Trump has promised, Noem told CBS Face the Nation.

FILE - Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks to employees at the Department of Homeland Security, Jan. 28, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, file)

While these polygraph exams are typically not admissible in court proceedings, they are frequently used by federal law enforcement agencies and for national security clearances.

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The Department of Homeland Security is a national security agency, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. We can, should, and will polygraph personnel.

White House officials have previously expressed frustration with the pace of deportations, blaming it in part on recent leaks revealing cities where authorities planned to conduct operations.

Noem announcement of two new leadership appointments within the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement comes less than two months into the Trump administration and demonstrates the importance that the administration places on carrying out the presidents deportation agenda.

Todd Lyons, the former assistant director of field operations for the agencys enforcement arm, will serve as acting ICE director.

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Lyons previously served as ICE Boston Field Officer Director from June 2020 through October 2024. He is also a graduate of Boston College High School and New England College.

Madison Sheahan, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and Noems former aide when she was governor of South Dakota, has been tapped to be the agencys deputy director.

The leadership changes come after ICEs acting director was reassigned on Feb. 21. Two other top immigration enforcement officials were reassigned Feb. 11. Those staffing changes came amid frustrations in the Trump administration about the pace of immigration arrests.

Noem also announced on Friday that the agency has identified and planned to prosecute two leakers of information.

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On Sunday, she said these two people were leaking our enforcement operations that we had planned and were going to conduct in several cities and exposed vulnerabilities. She said they could face up to 10 years in federal prison.

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Mar. 10PRESTON, Minn.  The former mayor of Canton, Minnesota, who faced charges related to child abuse, was sentenced to supervised probation on Monday in Fillmore County District Court.

Joshua Nordsving, who resigned as Canton's mayor in January, was charged with one gross misdemeanor count of malicious punishment of a child and two misdemeanor domestic assault charges. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor domestic assault charge on March 4.

In exchange for his plea, Nordsving received a stay of adjudication, or a delayed conviction, and was placed on supervised probation. The remaining counts were dismissed.

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During the virtual hearing, Nordsving admitted to intentionally hitting a 9-year-old in the face while he was at his home in Canton.

According to a criminal complaint filed against Nordsving, a woman who shares custody of a 9-year-old child with Nordsving contacted the Fillmore County Sheriff's Office the day after she noticed bruising on the child's face when she picked up the child in Chatfield on Oct. 26.

According to court documents, Nordsving told a Fillmore County deputy he struck the child in the face and admitted that he had struck the child too hard. Nordsving demonstrated a back-swing motion with his right hand describing how he struck the child.

Nordsving told the deputy he had been having ongoing behavior issues with the child over the weekend.

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The woman provided the investigating deputy with pictures of the child's face taken Oct. 27 showing distinct bruising on the child's right cheek consistent with a handprint.

Nordsving was re-elected as mayor of Canton in the November 2024 general election. He was unopposed, winning 85% support with 116 votes. He resigned from the position in January.
CLEVELAND (WJW)  A former pharmacy technician was sentenced to prison for possessing fentanyl and oxycodone with the intention of illegally selling it, the Department of Justice said.

U.S. District Judge Donald Nugent sentenced 35-year-old Curtis Green, of Cleveland, to 3 years in prison on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to drug possession charges.

Police: Student injured by knife in fight at Washington High School in Massillon

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Court documents said Green, a certified pharmacy tech at a Mayfield Heights hospital at the time, used his position to order controlled substances between Dec. 30, 2022, and April 9, 2023.

Under the guise of ordering on behalf of the hospital, he ordered them for his own unlawful distribution, the Department of Justice said in a press release.

Investigators learned that Green possessed 103 grams of oxycodone and 77.5 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl, according to court records.

4 charged in death of 5-year-old boy in hyperbaric chamber explosion

Federal agents conducted a search warrant at Greens home in April 2023, where they also found and confiscated more than $72,000 in cash.

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The Mayfield Heights Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration handled 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 Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Editors note: A prior version of this story said Lorinda McCollister was a former Colbert County Schools employee. The statement from CCS does not state McCollister was fired but that she was informed she was not able to return to her school campus or to any Colbert County Schools property.

COLBERT COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT)  A Colbert County woman was charged with child abuse Monday, according to jail records.

According to records, Lorinda McCollister was arrested Monday and charged with torture/willful abuse of a child under the age of 18. Records show that McCollister was indicted on five separate counts of torture/willful abuse of a child under the age of 18.

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She was released from jail roughly 30 minutes after her arrest on a $75,000 bond.

The Colbert County Sheriffs Office told News 19 they assisted the Department of Human Resources.

News 19 reached out to the Colbert County schools, which released the following statement about McCollisters arrest. You can read the full statement below.

I am aware of an indictment of and ongoing investigation into an employee of Colbert County Schools. While I do not comment publicly on personnel matters or ongoing investigations, I can say the employee did not work in a role where she was responsible for supervising students. It is my understanding that the allegations supporting the indictment do not involve any staff or students at the school where she was employed. Even before Colbert County Schools learned of the indictment, the school system informed the employee that she was not able to return to her school campus or to any Colbert County Schools property. I will continue to work with law enforcement if requested, and, as soon as possible, I will take other appropriate, additional actions to ensure that our schools remain safe, consistent with the priorities of the Colbert County Board of Education. Superintendent Nathan Fuller

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Mar. 10GRAND FORKS  A Grand Forks woman previously accused of felony child abuse pleaded guilty Monday, March 10, to a lesser charge and was ordered to complete 70 hours of community service in lieu of a week-long jail stay.

Jarae Arlouine Grad, 22, a former HOPEful Beginnings employee, pleaded guilty to Class A misdemeanor contributing to the deprivation of a minor.

While working at the daycare, Grad "used inappropriate methods to calm juvenile Jane Doe when she was crying, including throwing her in the air and dropping her with greater force than was appropriate," according to statements from the prosecutor  Justine Hesselbart  during sentencing.

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Grad was originally charged

in October

with Class B felony child abuse of someone younger than 6 years of age. That charge carried a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

The prosecution agreed to amend the charge to a Class A misdemeanor, according to Hesselbart, because it could not be proven that Grad's act injured the young child.

Court documents alleged that in the days after the offense, the child displayed irritability, fatigue and decreased appetite, and was experiencing drainage from her right ear. In court Monday, Grad's attorney  Kristen Clow  explained that these changes in behavior could be attributed to an ear infection, as outlined in medical documents, which was not related to the offense.

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"The best news of the whole situation is that it seems that your child was not injured," Judge Jay Knudson addressed Brittany Becker, mother of the child,

who gave a statement in opposition of the plea agreement.

"Ironically, that may be what means that the felony-level charge is not appropriate any longer."

Becker said in her statement that in the months since the crime, it has not gotten any easier for her to let her toddler out of her sight without questioning whether she will be protected. She replays in her mind the images from the video another employee took of Grad's actions that day, which was showed at sentencing.

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"I have constant fear and panic every time both of my children are out of my sight," Becker said. "... Jarae was a provider who worked with my child, specifically on a daily basis. We trusted her, and we weren't even informed of this incident until days later. I've been forced to wonder: what else happened at the hands of this woman that wasn't able to be caught on camera? What other children were potentially harmed that we may never know about?"

The case's

original plea agreement

called for no time in custody whatsoever, however, a new agreement was filed in its place. Grad was ultimately sentenced to 360 days in custody with all but 10 days suspended.

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She has credit for three days served, and will be able to complete the remaining seven days by doing 70 hours of community service. She must complete at least 10 hours of community service per month; if she fails to do so, a bench warrant will be issued for her serve the ordered period of confinement.

Grad also must complete an anger management assessment and follow through with its recommendations as part of her one-year period of unsupervised probation, which started the date of sentencing. During this time, she also cannot be employed anywhere that puts her in a position to care for children.
Former Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny will be guest speaker at the 119th Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Lackawanna County dinner on Saturday.

Kenny, who served as the leader of Ireland from 2011 to 2017, will join other featured guests at the dinner, including Father Dominic McGrattan, the chaplain of Queens University Belfast in Northern Ireland, and toastmaster John OBoyle, an attorney for the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, and a graduate of Scranton Prep, the University of Scranton and Widener University School of Law.

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Former Taoiseach Edna Kenny will visit Scranton ahead of St. Patricks Day to speak at the annual Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick of Lackawanna county dinner. (EUROPEAN UNION / WIKIPEDIA / SUBMITTED)

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Former Taoiseach Edna Kenny will visit Scranton ahead of St. Patricks Day to speak at the annual Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick of Lackawanna county dinner. President Joe Biden was a guest at the dinner in 2015. (EUROPEAN UNION / WIKIPEDIA / SUBMITTED)

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Former Taoiseach Edna Kenny will visit Scranton ahead of St. Patricks Day to speak at the annual Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick of Lackawanna county dinner. (EUROPEAN UNION / WIKIPEDIA / SUBMITTED)

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A press release stated that OBoyle is regaled among the Irish community for his role as past President in 2016 of the Saint Patricks Parade Association of Lackawanna County, and affirmed a promise he made to current Friendly Sons of St. Patrick President Raymond Lynady to be extremely efficient in conducting this years dinner, quippingly illustrating the expectation that he would be the wittiest toastmaster to have ever served our organization in this important role. Well find out.

The steak dinner and annual gathering will take place at the Scranton Cultural Center, for the second year in a row, at 7 p.m. Lynady, of Clarks Summit, announced on the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Lackawanna Countys official website via press release. From 1984 to 2022, the dinner was held at Genetti Manor in Dickson City until that venue closed.

Lynady explained via telephone that it is up to each Friendly Sons of St. Patrick president to plan their guest speakers for the dinner, with presidents changing yearly, but added that the group regularly gets big-name guests to speak. Lynady began planning for this years guest just as the 118th dinner wrapped, he said.

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I reached out (to Kenny) as soon as the dinner was over last year, I started reaching out to some people who I knew were connected to him, Lynady explained, adding that each Friendly Sons president charts his own course in terms of who the speakers will be. Lynady added that he was able to garner the notable speakers through his work in New York City, and his relationship with the many Irish organizations of which he is a member.

Last year, President Bill Clinton served as a guest speaker at the dinner. President Joe Biden attended in 2015.

Tickets to the event cost $110 each, which includes dinner. Lynady said the tickets are almost sold out, and that they are expecting around 700 or so people.

Lynady served as the grand marshal in the Scranton St. Patricks Parade on Saturday, presiding over the 10,000-plus participants and the many thousands of revelers who came to take part in the windy weekends festivities.

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The Irish word taoiseach means leader and was implemented into Irelands Constitution in 1937, to reference the countrys highest office, which had previously been referred to as prime minister.

Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Lackawanna County was founded in 1906. The original organization was created as a charitable organization aimed at helping Irish migrants. Today, the organizations goal is to encourage camaraderie between America and Ireland, as well as sponsoring scholarships and cultural events, such as the Scranton St. Patricks Parade.

The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Lackawanna County is one of at least three branches in Pennsylvania, with additional branches in Philadelphia and Harrisburg. Each branch is independently operated.

The Friendly Sons dinner occurs on the heels of President Donald Trump signing a proclamation declaring March as Irish-American Heritage Month, a tradition started in 1991 by George H.W. Bush that U.S. presidents have continued ever since.

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Irish Americans have played a crucial role in our great American story, Trump said in a press release published on the White House website, adding, courageously overcoming adversity and hardship to embolden our culture, enliven our spirit, and fortify our way of life. The proclamation encourages Americans to commemorate the special bond of friendship between the United States and Ireland, and honor the extraordinary contributions of Irish-American citizens past and present.

Trump called Irish Americans great people, elaborating, They voted for me in heavy numbers, so I like them even more.

Current Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin will meet with Trump at the White House on Wednesday, as communities across the state are in various stages of St. Patricks Day events and parade planning for the Irish holiday, which occurs annually on March 17. This year, the holiday falls on a Monday.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  A former U.S. Marine has pleaded guilty after an investigation found he applied for benefits with false information regarding injuries he received in the line of duty.

According to the U.S. Attorneys office, 54-year-old Paul John Herbert of Shelburne Falls pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements in Springfield Federal Court on Tuesday.

Governor Healey promotes tax cuts in Springfield before deadline

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Investigators say that on October 24, 2018, Herbert filed a false Purple Heart application to the United States Marine Corps through his local Congressman claiming he had been injured by a roadside explosion.

Additionally, beginning on October 13, 2010, Herbert filed false claims to the VA concerning IED-related injuries to get disability compensation. As a result, between January 1, 2010 and March 1, 2023, the VA overpaid Herbert $344,040.

Military veterans deserve the respect of every citizen for their service to our country. Veterans know well that the Purple Heart honors those brave service members who were injured or killed in the line of duty. Mr. Herbert knew that he did not deserve this widely recognized and respected award, but that did not stop him from lying about a traumatic brain injury and stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in disability benefits, intended to take care of veterans truly in need. said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. Claiming valor for a false injury is an affront to all the members of the military who serve our country with courage and honor.

Todays guilty plea holds this defendant accountable for falsifying his service record to steal funds intended for our nations deserving veterans, said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Algieri with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector Generals Northeast Field Office. The VA Office of Inspector General will continue to aggressively investigate those who would represent themselves as something they are not in order to exploit VA programs and services.

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The Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the law enforcement component of the Department of Defenses Office of Inspector General, will continue to partner with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General and the Department of Justice to protect the interests of those who selflessly serve our country, said Patrick J. Hegarty, Special Agent in Charge of the DCIS Northeast Field Office. We are committed to investigating individuals who falsely represent themselves as decorated veterans and steal benefits intended for our nations servicemembers.

Herbert could face 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. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17th.

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.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
FRANKFURT (Reuters) -Ford will inject up to 4.4 billion euros ($4.8 billion) into its struggling German operations as it tries to revive its European business, the U.S. carmaker said on Monday.

Its Ford-Werke German arm, which is burdened with 5.8 billion euros of debt, will continue a strategic transformation, focusing on reducing costs and increasing competitiveness, Ford said in a statement.

The move comes as Europe's car sector is battling high costs, weak demand and rising competition from Asian rivals, forcing plant closures and job cuts at a time when the United States is considering tariffs on auto imports.

Ford is already cutting thousands of jobs in Europe, many of them in Germany, where domestic giant Volkswagen has also been struggling.

"By recapitalising our German operations, we are supporting the transformation of our business in Europe and strengthening our ability to compete with a fresh product portfolio," said John Lawler, vice chair of Ford Motor Company.

"To build a sustainable business in Europe, we also need to continue to simplify our governance, reduce costs and drive efficiencies."

Slower than expected adoption of electric vehicles in Europe prompted Ford last year to be more flexible about a previous goal for all of its European production to be EVs by the end of the decade.

The new funding commitment includes a capital injection to address overborrowing at Ford-Werke and provide funding for a multi-year business plan.

It also replaces an agreement that Ford would cover any losses of the German subsidiary, a deal that had been in place since 2006, drawing protests from the powerful IG Metall labour union.

Without the agreement, Ford's German unit "could become insolvent in the coming years if the economic situation does not improve and the parent company in the USA is no longer able to offset the losses", IG Metall said.

Ford's Lawler called on European policymakers to establish a clear agenda to promote electric vehicles and bring emissions targets in line with consumer demand.

($1 = 0.9249 euros)

(Reporting by Shivansh Tiwary in Bengaluru and Christoph Steitz in Frankfurt; Writing by Rachel More; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala, Miranda Murray, David Goodman and Susan Fenton)
Former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the Philippine government on Tuesday after it said it received an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant accusing him of crimes against humanity.

Duterte has been investigated by the ICC over his brutal anti-drugs crackdown during his time in office that killed more than 6,000 people based on police data, though independent monitors believe the number of extrajudicial killings could be much higher.

Duterte, 79, was taken into custody amid chaotic scenes at the main airport in the capital Manila after returning to the Philippines from Hong Kong on Tuesday.

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Interpols Manila office had received the official copy of the arrest warrant from the ICC on Tuesday morning, according to a statement from the Presidential Communications Office.

Upon his (Dutertes) arrival, the Prosecutor General filed an ICC notification for an arrest warrant against the former President for crimes against humanity, the statement said, adding that Duterte is currently in the custody of authorities.

Duterte questioned the basis for the warrant.

What is the law and what is the crime that I committed? he said in a video posted online by his daughter Veronica Kitty Duterte.

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CNN has reached out to Interpol and the ICC for comment.

Previously labeled Asias Trump by some commentators due to his unorthodox leadership style and bombastic rhetoric, Duterte swept to power in 2016 on a promise to wage war against drugs and drug pushers in the Southeast Asian nation.

The ensuing brutal crackdown killed thousands  many of the victims were young men from impoverished shanty towns, shot by police and rogue gunmen as part of a campaign to target dealers.

Officers patrol the airport after former President Rodrigo Duterte landed in Manila, Philippines, on March 11, 2025. - Aaron Favila/AP

The bloodshed prompted an investigation by the ICC and a monthslong House of Representatives inquiry, as well as a separate Senate inquiry led by the cousin of the current president.

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Duterte has repeatedly denied the extrajudicial killing of alleged drug suspects, although he also openly admitted to ordering police to shoot suspects who resist arrest.

Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC, but under the ICCs withdrawal mechanism, the court keeps jurisdiction over crimes committed during the membership period of a state  in this case, between 2016 and 2019, when the Philippines pullout became official.

Meanwhile, the government of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who was elected in 2022, has indicated that Duterte could be handed over to the court, Reuters reported.

Our law enforcers are ready to follow what law dictates, if the warrant of arrest needs to be served because of a request from Interpol, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told reporters on Monday, according to Reuters.

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At Sundays event in Hong Kong, Duterte lashed out at the ICC amid speculation the global body would issue a warrant for his arrest over his role in the drugs crackdown.

From my own news, I have a warrant  from the ICC or something, Duterte told his supporters in Hong Kong.

What did I do wrong? I did everything that I could in my time, so there is a little bit of quiet and peace for the lives of the Filipinos.

Responding to reports that the former president was in custody, his former spokesperson Harry Roque said: The warrant of arrest has no basis because it was issued at a time when we are no longer a member of the ICC.

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What is happening right now is unlawful detention, Roque said in a livestream on Facebook. We have not seen the warrant of arrest from the police or Interpol.

But rights groups welcomed Dutertes detention and urged the Philippines to hand the former president over to the ICC.

Dutertes detention is a critical step for accountability in the Philippines, said Bryony Lau, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. His arrest could bring victims and their families closer to justice and sends the clear message that no one is above the law.

War on drugs

Before becoming president, Duterte laid the groundwork for his bloody war on drugs that pitted police armed with impunity against drug users, small-time dealers and kingpins.

Police investigators inspect the body of John Estrella, 18, who was allegedly killed by unidentified assailants on June 26, 2017 in Manila, Philippines. As with thousands of others who died in connection with the government's campaign against drugs, the lifeless body of Estrella was allegedly found by policemen in a dark street with a pistol and sachets of illegal drugs in his body. - Jes Aznar/Getty Images

As mayor of Davao City, a metropolis of 1.5 million people on the southern island of Mindanao, Duterte built a national reputation over two decades for his no-nonsense approach to crime.

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He advocated a hardline approach to criminals and claimed to have drastically reduced Davaos previously high rates of violent crime. But along with this reputation came allegations that he was connected to extrajudicial killings by a well coordinated group of vigilantes.

In his last campaign speech before the 2016 election he told a crowd to forget the laws of human rights.

If I make it to the presidential palace, I will do just what I did as mayor. You drug pushers, hold-up men and do-nothings, you better go out. Because as the mayor, Id kill you, Duterte said.

As president, Duterte embraced the same unfiltered rhetorical style he displayed on the campaign trail. Shortly after taking office, he referred to then-US President Barack Obama a son of a bitch  though later apologized and said he was referring to a journalist.

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Despite frail health and the looming threat of an ICC arrest warrant, Duterte in October registered to run for mayor of his southern home city. The move was widely seen as an attempt to to strengthen his scandal-hit political dynasty amid a bitter falling out between his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte and Marcos Jr.

This is a developing story and will be updated. CNNs Isaac Yee and reporter Jinky Jorgio contributed reporting.

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Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte was detained on Tuesday under an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, which accused him of crimes against humanity in connection with the brutal "war on drugs" he led while in office, the Philippines Presidential Communications Office said.

Members of the Philippine National Police met the former president as he arrived in Manila, the capital, on a flight from Hong Kong, the office said.

PHOTO: This handout photo taken and released on March 11, 2025, shows former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, center, inside the Villamor Air Base in Pasay, Metro Manila, after arriving from Hong Kong. (PDP LABAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Duterte carried out an extensive "war on drugs" after taking office in 2016. Independent rights organizations have accused him of overseeing a crusade of extrajudicial killings, many of which were alleged to have been carried out by so-called "death squads."

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More than 12,000 people were thought to have been killed, according to Human Rights Watch.

PHOTO: Policemen gather as they wait for the arrival of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay, metro Manila on March 11, 2025. (Jam Sta Rosa/AFP via Getty Images)

Officials in Manila said they received a copy of an ICC arrest warrant via Interpol on Tuesday morning. Dozens of officers swarmed Ninoy Aquino International Airport to arrest Duterte as he and his aides arrived at about 9:20 a.m., the presidential office said.

"The former President and his entourage are in good health and have been examined by government doctors," the office said in a statement posted on social media in Filipino. "They have assured that he is in good condition."

The ICC began an investigation into Duterte's "war on drugs" in September 2021. The Philippine government that year sought to put an end to the probe, a request that was denied in 2023 by Karim A.A. Khan, the ICC prosecutor, according his office.

PHOTO: Former President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte speaks inside the Southorn Stadium during a thanksgiving gathering organized by Hong Kong-based Filipino workers for the former populist president in Hong Kong on March 9, 2025. (Vernon Yuen/AP)

Khan in rejecting the request pointed to an investigation by the Philippine Commission on Human Rights into police and state activities carried out under the "war on drugs" between 2016 and 2021.

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That investigation found that the government "failed in its obligation to respect and protect the human rights of every citizen, in particular, victims of drug-related killings" and "has encouraged a culture of impunity that shields perpetrators from being held to account," Khan wrote, citing the rights group.

The ICC focused its investigation on Duterte's actions between 2011, when he was a local mayor, and 2019. During those years, Duterte and other high-level government officials "reportedly encouraged, supported, enabled, and excused the killing of drug users and drug dealers," the ICC prosecutor said in a filing.

Duterte, who is now 79, swept into national office from Davao City, where he had been mayor, with a promise to curb crime and corruption.

His methods for fighting illegal drug use had been described as "unorthodox" and on the verge of "the illegal," he said in his inaugural address in 2016.

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"As a lawyer and a former prosecutor, I know the limits of the power and authority of the president. I know what is legal and what is not," he said in that address. "My adherence to due process and the rule of law is uncompromising."

ABC News' Andrew Evans and Karson Yiu contributed to this report.

Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte arrested on ICC warrant, presidential office says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter announced Tuesday morning that she is running for governor, potentially altering the dynamic in an already crowded field of prominent Democrats seeking to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom next year because of her national profile and fundraising prowess.

Highlighting a theme expected to be dominant in next year's gubernatorial contest, Porter expressed her desire to protect California from President Trump's policies, including his threats to hold up disaster relief, attacks on the rights of state residents and cheating "working families to benefit himself and his cronies."

"With Trump in the White House, California needs a fighter, a governor who's going to stand up to him and protect us from the damage he is doing every single day," Porter said in an interview.

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The looming question over California's 2026 race for governor is whether former vice president and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris jumps in the race. Her decision is expected by the end of the summer. Given Harris' name recognition and fundraising prowess, she would probably prompt some Democrats to drop out of the race.

Describing herself as "a big supporter" of Harris, Porter did not say she would definitely drop out of the race if the former vice president decides to run.

"If she chooses to run, everyone including me would need to make a decision," Porter said. "I would have to seriously contemplate what that means for me."

She did appear to scold Harris for the delay in announcing her plans.

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"No one should be waiting to lead. I think we need to make a case right now," Porter said, noting that Californians are struggling with healthcare needs, the price of groceries and the cost of housing. "There's an incredible urgency on the ground that I think stretches across California and across the political spectrum."

Other announced candidates include Democrats Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, state Controller Betty Yee, state schools chief Tony Thurmond, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former state Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins and businessman Stephen Cloobeck, as well as Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.

Dan Schnur, a politics professor at USC, UC Berkeley and Pepperdine, said Porter's decision to enter the race is meaningless until Harris announces her plans.

"If Harris doesn't run, Porter becomes an early front-runner, primarily based on name recognition," he said. "And if Harris does run, then that's the end of the Porter for governor campaign."

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He added that donors are likely to sit on the sidelines until Harris makes a decision.

Read more: Who is running for California governor in 2026? Meet the candidates

Porter, 51, is an Iowa native who went to law school at Harvard, where she was taught by now-Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). Warren became her mentor  a relationship so significant that one of Porter's children is named after her  and she was a fiery Warren supporter in the 2020 presidential race.

After the Great Recession, Porter was appointed by Harris, then California's attorney general, to oversee a $25-billion mortgage settlement with the nations top banks. Porter was elected to Congress in 2018 in a longtime GOP stronghold in Orange County, and was among the most prodigious fundraisers in Congress.

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Porter's national prominence grew when, during congressional hearings, she grilled Trump administration officials and corporate chieftains using her whiteboard to make esoteric policy understandable. Videos of those performances went viral, cheered by Democrats and disaffected voters.

With her sometimes brusque demeanor, Porter also alienated prominent Democrats along the way, notably former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) whom she clashed with in 2021 over committee assignments, and later over Porter's support to ban members of Congress from trading individual stocks.

But she was also embraced by constituents who viewed her as approachable, driving around her congressional district in a forest green Toyota Sienna with personalized license plates that read OVRSITE, and being candid about the struggles of juggling her career and being a single mother of three children. She has little patience for political niceties, as she explained in an interview with Samantha Bee on TBS.

If youre full of b, Im coming for you, she told Bee in 2020. I just dont have time. Im a single mom. The dinners burning. Im late to something. I have 4,000 emails. My hair is frizzy. I havent shaved my legs in a week.

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Porter served in the U.S. House of Representatives for three terms, but did not seek reelection in 2024 because she opted to run for the U.S. Senate seat held by then-Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

She angered some prominent Democrats by announcing her run before Feinstein, aging and ailing, announced she would not seek reelection. Democratic Party leaders lined up behind then-Rep. Adam Schiff of Burbank, who eventually won the Senate seat. Porter finished in a distant third place in the March primary behind Schiff and Republican Steve Garvey.

After her loss, she further angered Democrats by arguing that the race was "rigged." Porter's language irked Democrats because it echoed Trump's false claims about why he lost the 2020 election. She later said she regretted her choice of words.

On Tuesday, Porter argued that the gubernatorial contest is different than the Senate race because Trump is once again president. She said Trump's 2016 victory is what motivated her to run for office the first time, and she had a proven track record of standing up to his administration.

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"I have experience with Trump in office," she said. "I think this race is very different in terms of the environment with Trump."

During Porter's 2022 congressional reelection bid, GOP rivals raised the purchase of her Irvine home through a program established to create affordable housing for professorial recruits by state leaders. (She abided by state and university rules.)

Read more: What to know about Katie Porter's housing situation at UC Irvine

After losing the 2024 Senate race, Porter returned to teaching at UC Irvine's law school. But her vocal political activism strongly hinted that she would once again run for office, notably her "Truth to Power" political action committee, which raised more than $1 million in the two-year period that ended on Dec. 31, according to the Federal Election Commission. Last week, she held a Zoom town hall with Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach).

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"Katie has been a force in Congress, and she'll be a force in the future, and all the things that she will do for us in our state and in our country," Garcia said on Feb. 27. "The first thing I told myself, and this is the honest to God truth ... I want to be Katie Porter when I grow up on the Oversight Committee. And I want to take that same kind of energy and passion and really fearlessness in oversight."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Democratic former Rep. Katie Porter is running for governor of California, injecting another well-known name into the race to succeed Gavin Newsom.

What California needs now is a little bit of hope and a whole lot of grit, fresh blood and new ideas, leaders with the backbone to fight for whats right, Porter said in her announcement video. Thats why I am running for governor.

Porter is well known after an unsuccessful Senate run last year, and she joins a field that includes a number of other Democrats: Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former state Controller Betty Yee, former state legislative leader Tony Atkins, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and businessman Stephen Cloobeck. (Newsom is term-limited.)

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But a bigger name, former Vice President Kamala Harris, is looming over all of them, and Porter's plans could change if Harris decides to jump into the race.

A Porter adviser told NBC News that if Harris decides to run, Porter would back her. But while Harris weighs her options, Porter is launching her own campaign for governor.

Porter flipped a Republican-held district in Southern California in 2018 and held the seat for three terms before her Senate campaign last year. She finished third with 15% of the vote in the states top-two primary, behind the winner, Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff and Republican Steve Garvey.

Porter, a staunch progressive and former student of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., rose to prominence as a member of Congress for her sharp questioning of Trump administration officials at hearings, where she often broke out a whiteboard to make her point.

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I first ran for office to hold Trump accountable. I feel that same call to serve now to stop him from hurting Californians," Porter said in her announcement video, in which she also stood next to a whiteboard in a nod to her current role as a law professor.

Porter had acknowledged that Harris entry into the race could cause other candidates to drop out.

If Vice President Harris were to choose to run, I am certain that that would have a near field-clearing effect on the Democratic side, Porter told The Orange County Register late last year.

Harris, also a former California senator and state attorney general, will decide whether to run for governor by the end of the summer, according to a source familiar with her planning. Harris is also weighing a possible presidential run in 2028, and the source said she is keeping all options open.

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As Porter's campaign launched Tuesday, it touted an internal poll memo showing her popularity among likely Democratic and independent voters, with Porter ahead of the other Democrats and better known than the other contenders. Her high name recognition comes after she spent a whopping $31 million on the Senate primary last year.

The survey tested the Democratic candidates along with potential contender Xavier Becerra, the former health and human services secretary and congressman, but it did not include Harris.

Candidates from all parties compete on the same ballot in California's primary, which is set for June 2, 2026. The top two vote-getters advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.

Democrats would be favored to hold on to the governorship in the deep blue state. Harris carried California by 20 points in November, winning more than 58% of the vote.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
SALUDA COUNTY, S.C. (WJBF)  A former employee of the Saluda County Tax Auditors Office is facing charges, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) announced Tuesday.

Kayla Leigh Berry, 31, was charged with with Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent valued more than $2,000 but less than $10,000 and Misconduct in Office on Monday, March 10, 2025. Berry was booked into the Saluda County Detention Center.

According to SLED, the charges came from when she was acting in her official capacity as an employee of the Saluda County Tax Auditors Office.

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The Saluda County Sheriffs Office requested SLEDs assistance in the investigation.

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MILTON, Fla. (WKRG)  A Milton woman who served as an administrator within Santa Rosa County District Schools was arrested on grand theft for an incident that happened during her time with the school system, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Milton welcomes their next police chief, Jennifer Frank

An FDLE news release said Kelly Rae Short, 57, previously served as the treasurer of the Santa Rosa County Association of School Administrators and the previous director of in-service and instructional technology for the school district.

A mugshot of Kelly Short (Santa Rosa County Jail View).

FDLE officials said an investigation began on Aug. 14, 2024, after SRCDS officials contacted FDLE when their independent financial audit of the SRCASA account showed that Short may have committed criminal activities during her time as treasurer.

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During the investigation, FDLE officials found that Short had altered bank statements and stole $3,498.07 from the account, according to the release.

Milton, Florida volunteers needed to raise puppies

Short wrote eight checks to herself from the SRCASA account, and she added the SRCASA bank account to her personal Venmo to divert monies from the business account to her personal bank account, FDLE officials said in the release.

Short was arrested on Monday, March 10, and booked into the Santa Rosa 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 WKRG News 5.
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC)  Erin Strotman, a former nurse at a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Virginia, has been hit with several new child abuse-related charges in connection with babies injured while under the hospitals care.

Strotman, who had worked at the Henrico Doctors Hospital, was previously charged with one count of malicious wounding and one count of felony child neglect of a 5-month-old baby, called Y.H. in court documents. The baby was found with a fractured left femur at the NICU in November 2024.

According to a criminal complaint detailing surveillance video at the NICU, Strotman was seen taking Y.H. by the legs and pushing them backward to where his feet were at his head.

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Mother speaks out on babys stay in Henrico NICU, says all limbs were fractured

New court records obtained by Nexstars WRIC on Monday now show that Strotman faces a total of eight charges  those relating to Y.H. and also charges relating to two additional babies, identified as L.M-B and A.V. in court documents. All three of these babies were said to be injured in 2024.

Strotmans charges include felony malicious wounding and felony child neglect.

WRIC previously reported that seven babies were found with unexplainable fractures in the hospitals NICU between 2023 and 2024. During a media briefing with reporters, Shannon Taylor, Henrico County Commonwealths Attorney, confirmed that one of the three babies involved in these new charges was not included in the initial seven babies with fractures  meaning, as of now, there are eight babies known to have suffered such fractures.

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Attorneys react to new child abuse charges for former NICU nurse

Taylor also said the case isnt closed yet.

There is still an ongoing investigation regarding the babies who were identified as victims in 2023 as well as any other actions for these events. We continue to work with Henrico Police Division, Henricos Child Protective Services (Department of Social Services) and the Virginia State Police.

We made a promise to these families that we would continue to work on this matter and I intend for us to keep that promise.

Strotmans next court date, a status hearing, will be held on 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 Queen City News.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  A former officer with the West Fork Police Department, who was acquitted after being accused of negligent homicide, has accepted his law enforcement decertification.

Christopher Cordeiro was set to have a hearing with the Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training (CLEST) on March 11, however, the Arkansas Department of Public Safety said he waived his hearing on Monday and accepted his decertification.

A probable cause affidavit said Cordeiro was arrested in July 2023 after a man he tased during a traffic stop died.

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Cordeiro was conducting a stop of Michael Hanna, 49, for driving on a suspended license.

Fort Smith Police Department recommending decertification of 6 former officers

Hanna told Cordeiro he had a heart condition, but Cordeiro reportedly tased him when he didnt put his hands behind his back, according to the affidavit.

An autopsy was performed and the medical examiner determined that a combination of heart disease and methamphetamine intoxication, along with physical exertion, struggle and restraint were all contributing factors to the victims death.

A review of the Taser shows that it was deployed nine times: seven times for a total of five seconds each, one time for six seconds, and one time for two seconds.

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In December 2024, Cordeiro was acquitted after being charged with negligent homicide.

Another former Northwest Arkansas police officer, Michael Anderson, formerly with the Siloam Springs Police Department, has his decertification hearing on March 12 in Little Rock.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  The Fort Smith Police Department is requesting the decertification of six former officers.

Recommendations for those six to be decertified are listed in the agenda requests for Tuesday and Wednesdays hearings at the Arkansas State Police Headquarters in Little Rock.

Danny Nacalaban, Johnne Le, Michael DAgostino, Seth Dominic and Rodrigo Roque were fired in January after an investigation revealed potentially criminal acts, hazardous behavior and harassment, according to a news release from the department.

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Investigators with the FSPD Office of Professional Standards were alerted on Dec. 10 of alleged hazing, belittling, and dangerous horseplay by certain officers assigned to the night shift patrol.

Pair of former Northwest Arkansas police officers facing decertification by state panel

Fort Smith Police Chief Danny Baker released the following statement after the firings were announced:

I am deeply troubled that this was going on and I apologize to those of you who had to endure it. The actions of these former officers do not and will not represent the culture and environment of the Fort Smith Police Department as long as I am the Chief of Police. Dont be afraid to speak up if you witness or experience bad behavior by anyone in this organization. Duty to Intervene doesnt stop on the street. That duty extends to your fellow officers and employees as well.

Dalton Tucker, who was also fired in January, appealed his termination.

However, the Fort Smith Civil Service Commission upheld the decision in February to fire him. The commission asked that Tucker not be decertified by the state.

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Hillary Lawrence, another former Fort Smith police officer, has been recommended to be decertified, according to the agenda requests.

KNWA/FOX24 has reached out to the Fort Smith Police Department for more information about Lawrence but has not heard 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 KNWA FOX24.
Several deputies were attacked on Sunday at Men's Central Jail in Los Angeles. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

Four sheriffs deputies at Mens Central Jail were attacked Sunday by a group of inmates armed with a shank, according to Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department officials and two sources inside the agency.

There is no video of the incident because several hundred cameras in the facility were shut off for maintenance earlier that morning, according to an internal memo shared with The Times.

Late Monday, the Sheriff's Department confirmed in a statement that the cameras were fully operational again.

"The assault on our custody deputies is absolutely unacceptable, and we will take swift action to ensure those responsible are held fully accountable," the statement said. "Our employees work hard under challenging conditions to maintain a safe environment for everyone in our care and custody."

The violence at the downtown Los Angeles jail broke out just after noon, when a deputy was escorting about a dozen men from the 2500 housing area to another part of the jail, the memo said.

Read more:Video of jailer appearing to slam inmate into wall sparks calls for DOJ investigation

The deputy was attacked when he tried to pull aside one of the inmates, according to the memo, which said multiple assailants joined in to punch the jailer and stomp his head until he fell unconscious. The memo described four attackers, but the department's statement said three inmates were involved.

The deputy was stabbed in the head and sustained a 1-inch puncture wound that required staples, according to the memo and the two sources, who asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Three other deputies rushed to his aid and ultimately stopped the attack, though they all were injured in the process.

Afterward, all four deputies were taken to a hospital, where they were treated and released, the department said. The inmates were also medically evaluated and remain in custody at Mens Central Jail.

Officials later recovered a 5-inch shank that was allegedly hidden in an inmates boxer shorts, the memo said.

Even though no one was killed, the Homicide Bureau is investigating the case. Under department policy, the bureau consults and determines investigative jurisdiction on any cases in which an on-duty deputy is injured badly enough to require hospital care.

Based on the severity of the deputys injuries, in this instance the bureau decided to retain the case and handle the investigation.

Once the department completes its investigation, the case will be presented to prosecutors for filing consideration, sheriff's officials said.

In a statement to The Times on Monday, the Assn. for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs  the union representing rank-and-file deputies  condemned the assault and raised other safety concerns.

"This organized attack on deputy sheriffs by armed inmates inside the jail is an outrage and deserves immediate action by the department," said Thomas Ferguson, union vice president. "Los Angeles County is responsible for the world's largest jail system, and the community needs to know the facilities have been neglected to the point where inmates can now 'pop' some of the doors open at will."

Read more:What it's like to sleep in prison: Moldy mattresses, bright lights, nonstop noise

Men's Central Jail, the scene of the attack, has a history of violence by both inmates and staff.

In 2023, The Times obtained several surveillance videos from inside the facility showing a long pattern of unchecked violence. One video dated 2019 showed a group of men punching and stabbing a fellow inmate for nearly 14 minutes before any staff showed up to intervene.

Other videos taken over the course of several years showed inmates attacking their jailers, or jailers using force on inmates, including controversial "head strikes" or punches to the head.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The signing ceremony took place during Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary H.E. To Lams state visit to Indonesia. (Photo: Business Wire)

JAKARTA, Indonesia, March 11, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Global IT firm FPT officially signed a USD 67 million Master Service Agreement with KMP Aryadhana, Indonesia's leading cooperative for innovation. The signing ceremony took place on the occasion of the official state visit of Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary H.E. To Lam to Indonesia, marking a significant milestone in the strategic partnership between the two parties, as well as both nations.

The agreement, spanning five years, focuses on KMP Aryadhanas implementation of ESG (Environmental Social Governance) in critical areas such as waste management, digital education, cooperative education and digital agriculture supporting the Food Security program. This collaboration aims to promote the adoption of advanced technologies, leveraging FPTs competitive strengths in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, IoT, and Cloud, across ESG framework sectors and education.

Digital transformation is pivotal for KMP Aryadhana as it accelerates the Yogyakarta provinces innovation capacity, enhances sustainable development across key sectors, and strengthens its position as a cultural and educational leader in Indonesia. The cooperative is also in discussion with FPT to establish an AI Lab and launch digital transformation initiatives in the education and ESG sectors, not only for Yogyakarta but for the broader Indonesian market and globally.

Mr Nguyen Van Khoa, CEO of FPT Corporation said: "As a dynamic economy with an innovation-driven vision, Indonesia plays a crucial role in FPTs growth strategy in the Asia-Pacific region. Our collaboration with KMP Aryadhana not only strengthens the ties between Vietnam and Indonesia but also reinforces FPTs global competitiveness in emerging technologies, particularly AI. We look forward to working with KMP Aryadhana to accelerate Indonesias digital transformation across key sectors such as waste management, digital education, forest resource management, and smart agriculture."

"KMP Aryadhana is grateful to have FPT attention to support its program, besides FPT expertise and experience in Technology but also FPT has international exposure to bring KMP Aryadhana ESG Programs to the world," said Prof. Dr. Ahmad Subagyo, Chairman of KMP Aryadhana.

Established in 2017, FPT Indonesia has achieved numerous milestones, affirming the companys global expertise. It has partnered with leading Indonesian corporations in sectors such as banking and finance, telecommunications, and energy, with over 200 technology experts and two major offices, with a third one planned for opening in Yogyakarta this year.
France will not accept "any demilitarization of the Ukrainian army," French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on March 11, The Guardian reported.

"Demilitarization" and "denazification" were two insincere excuses that the Kremlin used to invade Ukraine in a war of territorial and ethnocidal aggression in February 2022.

The Ukrainian army is "the main guarantee" of Ukraine's security, Lecornu said in the opening remarks at the Paris Defence and Strategy Forum, which gathered over 30 army chiefs to discuss what Europe and the West can offer in support of Ukraine as part of a peace deal with Russia.

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The French defense minister added that Europe is facing a "new period" in its history, significantly different from the Cold War and the period of "peace dividends" with several powers fighting for influence.

At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia demanded that Ukraine reduce its army to 50,000 personnel. Moscow also sought to ensure that Kyiv "did not develop, produce, purchase, or deploy missile weapons of any kind with a range of over 250 kilometers (156 miles) on its territory."

Ukraine has repeatedly highlighted the need for security guarantees in the event of a ceasefire in the war with Russia.

President Volodymyr Zelensky previously stressed the need for a 1.5 million-strong army if Ukraine is not accepted into NATO. The Ukrainian army currently has 880,000 troops, making it the largest in Europe, according to Zelensky.

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Read also: Ceasefire has never seemed closer, Yermak writes but stresses need for security guarantees

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HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) The Holyoke Public Library is offering several programs to help people seeking information about their ancestry.

Local historian Cliff McCarthy will be presenting Legacy: A Genealogical Journey Through Time, Race &Family Secrets, on Thursday, March 13 at 6 p.m. He will be discussing his 50-year search for his familys story, including learning about his mixed-race family, telling the story of his grandfathers passing over the color line, his accomplished family members, and his enslaved ancestors in Georgia and their enslavers.

22News to broadcast the Holyoke St. Patricks Parade

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On Friday, March 21 at 1 p.m., genealogy consultant Lisa Dougherty will help guide you through how to search for Irish ancestry. Find your Irish Ancestors Online is an opportunity to learn from her 30 years of genealogy expertise. Pre-registration is requested as Doughertys programs are popular and fill to capacity.

Additionally, the library holds a drop-in genealogy lab on the fourth Wednesday of every month in the Holyoke History Room. This month it is being held on March 26, from 2:30-5:30 p.m.

Information on all of these events can be found on the Holyoke Public Library website, or by calling 413-420-8107.

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.

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French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu has said that a well-armed Ukraine will be an important part of Europes future security architecture.

Source: The Guardian with reference to a statement by Lecornu, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Lecornu said that Europe should reject calls for the demilitarisation of Ukraine. He also said that France would "refuse any demilitarisation of the Ukrainian army".

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On Tuesday 11 March, the minister opened the Paris Defence and Strategy Forum, which will bring together more than 30 heads of armies to discuss what Europe and the West can offer in support of Ukraine as part of a peaceful settlement with Russia.

Lecornu said that Europe is living through "a new period" in its history, markedly different from both the Cold War and "the period of peace dividends", when multiple world powers jostled for influence.

Referring pointedly to the new US administration, he said that today's discussions will address how NATO and the West can protect the eastern flank "if tomorrow the contributions of certain countries  or one country in particular  were to decrease".

With regard to Ukraine, Lecornu said that any possible ceasefire in Ukraine should be planned most carefully, given Russia's track record of not respecting such agreements.

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Background:

Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the meeting of the chiefs of staff would focus on the possible "deployment of European forces" in Ukraine, which "would not go to the front line" but would "guarantee full respect" for peace once it is established.

Macron also stressed that the conditions for ending the Russo-Ukrainian war could not be such that they would mean Ukraine's de facto surrender and that a lasting peace is necessary for the security of the entire European continent.

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The French government has welcomed the expected German crackdown on migration signalled by initial post-election talks between Germany's would-be next coalition partners.

German conservative leader Friedrich Merz, who is widely expected to replace Social Democrat (SPD) Olaf Scholz as the country's next chancellor, focused his election campaign on migration and asylum issues.

"The determination shown by the [presumptive] new German chancellor [Friedrich Merz] is good news," declared the French Interior Ministry in Paris.

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Strict control of immigration is a goal shared by French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, the ministry added.

"The minister naturally intends to work with the new German government on a resolute European policy to control migration flows within the framework of European law," according to the ministry.

The conservative Retailleau has been French interior minister since September 2024, and has made stricter regulation of immigration the focus of his policy.

France is focusing in particular on its borders with Italy and Spain, where the majority of migrants enter the country.

France has repeatedly extended officially temporary border checks first introduced in 2015 to monitor migration.

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In addition, a special police unit initially deployed on a trial basis at the French-Italian border in mid-2023 is now to be deployed nationwide, including at the French-German border.

The unit, known as the Force Frontiere (Border Force), consists of police officers, customs officers and soldiers from France's Sentinelle anti-terror unit.

During the recent election campaign, Merz vowed to sharply tighten border controls, deport more migrants from Germany and turn away asylum seekers at Germany's borders.

At least some version of those policies was included in an initial paper outlining agreements between Merz's bloc consisting of the Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU), and the SPD.
Arizona Senator Mark Kelly fired back at Elon Musk for branding him a traitor for visiting Ukraine to meet soldiers wounded in its war with Russia.

During an appearance on MSNBCs Rachel Maddow Show, the Democratic lawmaker and a former U.S. Navy combat pilot said Musk should go back to building rockets.

As I was getting sworn into the United States Navy, I swore an oath to our Constitution, to protect and defend the Constitution. I have lived that oath my entire life, Kelly said Monday.

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And the only oath I can think of that maybe Elon has sworn is an oath to his checking account, to his pocketbook. An oath, maybe, to ruining the lives of veterans.

After elaborating that the unelected billionaire and his Department of Government Efficiency were ruining the lives of federal workers, Kelly added: Elon needs to, you know, go back to making rockets, thats what he should focus on. He shouldn't be focused on this slash-and-burn of the federal government.

Arizona Senator Mark Kelly addressed Elon Musk's comments on MSNBC on Sunday evening (MSNBC)

Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill Monday, Kelly doubled down saying that Musk should go back to building rockets and claimed hes not a serious guy.

Musks comments come after he has shown strong support for President Donald Trumps controversial stance on Ukraine. The spat occurred after Kelly visited Kyiv last week, his third trip to the Ukrainian capital, where he met wounded Ukrainian servicemen, among other officials, military leaders and embassy staff.

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After leaving Ukraine on Sunday, Kelly took to X to share photographs of his trip and a series of posts in a thread, writing: What I saw proved to me we can't give up on the Ukrainian people.

Mark Kelly took to X over the weekend to share photographs of his trip to Ukraine (Mark Kelly/X)

He also challenged Trumps refusal to agree to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys request for U.S. security guarantees in any peace agreement with Russia to prevent further casualties.

Everyone wants this war to end, but any agreement has to protect Ukraines security and can't be a giveaway to Putin, the congressman added.

Responding to Kellys thread, Musk, one of the presidents closest advisors, stated: You are a traitor.

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Traitor?, Kelly replied in a separate X post Monday. Elon, if you don't understand that defending freedom is a basic tenet of what makes America great and keeps us safe, maybe you should leave it to those of us who do.

Elon Musk branded a Democratic Senator Mark Kelly a 'traitor' for his Ukraine visit last week (Getty Images)

The dispute erupted just weeks after Trump and Vice President JD Vance accused Zelensky of gambling with World War III during a contentious Oval Office meeting.

The Ukrainian president left the White House without signing a minerals deal to secure U.S. help in ending the war with Russia. Zelensky initially refused to apologize over the spat but said his relationship with the president is salvageable. He later called the gathering regrettable.

After the meeting, the Trump administration paused military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv. This past Sunday, the president said that he had just about lifted the intelligence pause and was looking at fresh tariffs on Russia.

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Last week, Zelensky softened his stance and said he was ready to work under Trump's strong leadership and that it was time to make things right between the two nations.

Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff claimed that Zelensky apologized to the president in a letter.

Saudi Arabia is set to host talks between Ukraine and the U.S. on Tuesday  nearly a month after a Russian delegations first round of meetings with Trumps team.

Trump said over the weekend that he was optimistic there would be a lot of progress at the talks, but also added that he was unsure whether Ukraine would survive Russias invasion.
FRIENDSVILLE  A Friendsville woman was left homeless Monday after fire destroyed a single-story, manufactured home at 846 First Ave., according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office.

No injuries were reported in the 3:15 p.m. fire that was discovered by the occupant, who reportedly stepped outside and saw flames and smoke at the corner of the home's kitchen.

Forty-five firefighters from the Friendsville Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department and mutual aid companies responded to the scene along with state fire investigators who continue to probe the cause and origin of the blaze.

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Firefighters rescued a dog who was found beneath a bed inside the smoke-filled residence.

The property loss was estimated at $105,000, according to the fire marshal's office.

Smoke alarms failed to activate inside the property owned by Donna Bowser and occupied by Amy Slider, officials said.

The American Red Cross provided emergency assistance to the victim.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Western Regional Office at 301-766-3888.
(Getty Images)

Florida lawmakers voted to take a proposed phone ban in school another step forward on Tuesday.

The House Education Administration Subcommittee unanimously supported Rep. Demi Busattas proposal, HB 949, to ban students from using their phones during the school day, furthering the 2023 law banning students from using phones during instructional time.

Some schools in the state have opted to enforce a full ban on the devices, but the proposed law would take the mandate statewide and give teachers more credibility in enforcing the rule against defiant students.

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Its really hard to tell a kid, Hey we need to take your phone again, but when you say, Its the law, it just kind of ends the conversation there, Rep. Fabian Basabe said during the subcommittee meeting.

School administrators told representatives earlier this year that the phone ban during instructional time has shown positive results, the Phoenix reported. Administrators shared that they observed students socializing more and struggling learners perform better.

The amount of funding invested in these algorithms that have made them so addictive, you see adults have a hard time and imagine kids and its like a psychological manipulation that we cant expect kids to manage on their own, Basabe said. It truly has become an addiction.

Like the 2023 law, the proposal would leave it up to school districts how they want to enforce the law. Some schools provide lockers for students to bank their phones in, others use hanging shoe organizers.

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It would put school boards in charge of designating locations where phone use can be permitted.

Florida was the first state to pass an instructional time ban, and in 2024 several other states followed suit with varying bans.

Busatta said the primary opposition to the bill is from some parents concerned they wont be able to contact their kids during the school day.

To which Ive said, Well, when we were all in school, we didnt have phones except for maybe Porras, because that was yesterday, Busatta said, poking fun at the youngest member of the House, Rep. Juan Porras, at 27. But we didnt have them, and our parents managed to get a hold of us by calling the front office.

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Rep. Marie Woodson said some teachers have told her that students have used phones to cheat, which the law would help mitigate.

Lawmakers raised concerns about students ability to access devices during emergencies.

The bill passed its first committee stop, 17-0. Its next stop is the Education and Employment Committee.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  Several funding issues were addressed by Sioux City council members on Monday.

Lutheran Services in Iowas Nick Wuertz explained how federal cutbacks are impacting services offered locally. Wuertz didnt ask for financial assistance, but rather, for city help petitioning Washington D.C. to reinstate funding in certain areas. Council members appeared to be open to doing that.

Sioux City council approves new solid waste collection fees

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Others came forward again asking that money recently stripped from the Sioux City Human Rights Commissions budget be reinstated. That amount totals over $100,000. Mayor Bob Scott told KCAU 9 that that is unlikely, adding that the city has been handed a cut of over $2 million from the state.

But when they cut the property taxes on buildings on commercial properties and they said well always replenish that, well, guess what? Their promise is what it always is, Scott said. Its not a promise and this is the last year theyve taken it away. We dont get any of that reimbursement that they told us, work with us and we can build industry in this state and well protect you on it.'

Scott also said he is fearful of how the brewing tariff war could impact the city, noting that Sioux City is directly connected to and impacted by the Siouxland agriculture community.

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By Shariq Khan and Nicole Jao

NEW YORK (Reuters) - At least four U.S. gasoline marketers are preparing legal and regulatory challenges to the Colonial Pipeline over proposed changes in fuel shipping terms which the companies say will hurt their margins and drive up fuel prices at the pump, sources familiar with the discussions said.

The Colonial Pipeline is a key artery for shipping fuel from the U.S. Gulf Coast to the East Coast, where refining capacity has shrunk and pipeline shipments are the most cost-effective way to meet regional demand. Changes to the pipeline's operations can have major impacts on markets in the world's largest motor fuel consuming nation.

Colonial last week sought approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to stop shipping different gasoline grades at the same time, and to eliminate shipments of so-called Grade 5 gasoline. A Colonial spokesperson said the changes would streamline its operations and minimize slowdowns.

Two U.S. gasoline traders said their firms were exploring options for court challenges if Colonial follows through with the changes. Two others said they plan to file protest notices asking FERC to block Colonial's proposed changes due to potential harm to shippers and consumers.

Colonial said the changes proposed last week, and those proposed last month for Midwest markets, should add 15,000 to 20,000 barrels per day of capacity to its main gasoline line. Colonial believes this will help shippers and consumers by moving more fuel on a pipeline that ran full throughout last year, a spokesperson said.

However, Colonial shippers that Reuters spoke with said the changes will hurt their margins, and restrict the overall U.S. gasoline supply pool. They said Gulf Coast refiners would have to reduce blending of additives during times when regulators allow sale of gasoline with a higher Reid Vapor Pressure, or RVP.

The traders requested anonymity as the deliberations are confidential and they are not authorized spokespersons for their firms. A number of Gulf Coast refiners contacted by Reuters, including ExxonMobil, BP, and Phillips 66, refused to comment about the proposed changes.

Colonial said it finds it unlikely a direct link could be found between its proposed changes and increased consumer prices, but added it cannot speak to how and whether shippers pass incremental costs to consumers at the pump.

The company said it does not discuss specific volumes shipped of specific products, although it did that last month when it requested changes to gasoline grades traded in the U.S. Midwest. A number of Colonial shippers have filed protests with FERC about those changes too, citing similar arguments.
BELL COUNTY, Texas (FOX 44)  UPDATE: The fundraiser to assist the family of the Killeen ISD fatal stabbing victim has more than exceeded its goal.

Serenity Baker was fatally stabbed at Roy J. Smith Middle School in Killeen on Monday. Her loved ones say she brought joy to everyone around her, and her kindness touched so many lives.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family. Donations will go directly toward Serenitys funeral and memorial expenses. Any additional funds will assist the family. Over $8,000 was raised in five hours, and as of Friday, March 21, total funds are over $26,000  much more than the fundraisers $5,500 goal.

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Serenitys funeral will be taking place on Saturday, March 22nd, according to the fundraiser. The website for the Chisolms Family Funeral Home says the service will be held at 11 a.m. at Rivers of Living Waters Ministries, located at 508 N. Gray Street. A burial will follow at Garden of Memories Cemetery on South Fort Hood Street, next to Calvary Baptist Church.

The Killeen Independent School District says additional details regarding school operations will be communicated directly to Roy J. Smith Middle School families. Counseling and support services are available for students and staff.

The district says its hearts go out to the family, friends, and school community during this time.

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Capt. Vernon Collett, a lifelong resident of the county he served, was with the Johnson County Fire Protection District for more than 29 years at station No. 6 near Valley City. He was 60 years old.
U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego and U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly. Photos by Gage Skidmore | Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

Concerns are growing about President Donald Trumps planned closure of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Phoenix.

Arizona U.S. Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego sent a letter to the General Services Administration expressing their concern about the intended closure, urging them to reconsider this decision and provide clarity.

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The BIA office in Phoenix is located on Central Avenue south of Thomas Road. It serves 53 tribes in the western region, including 20 from Arizona. The offices planned lease termination date is Aug. 31.

Its closure will severely limit access for all of these tribes to essential services ranging from economic development to child social services to water system improvements, the senators wrote in their letter.

It is unclear how Phoenixs Western Regional office was selected for closure and whether the repercussions of this decision have been fully considered, they wrote.

The BIA works with tribal governments and tribal members across the country through the administration of a variety of programs and services, including employment and job training assistance, social services, natural resources management on trust lands, agriculture and economic development, law enforcement and detention services and the administration of tribal courts, implementation of land and water claim settlements.

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Other BIA office spaces in Arizona that are set to close include a law enforcement office in Fredonia and an airport terminal building in Show Low.

As part of the senators letter, they asked the GSA to answer several questions to justify their decision to close the offices and requesting a response by March 21.

A few of those questions include how they plan on ensuring that the BIA continues to provide services to tribes and if they took into account the federal governments trust responsibilities to tribes when making this decision.

We are very concerned that this office closure is the latest in a long string of arbitrary attacks on the fundamental functions of the federal government, they wrote. The federal government is at serious risk of failing at its most basic obligations, including breaking long-held promises to tribes.

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GALLERY: Homeless camp cleanup efforts have cost City of Abilene $100,000

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Homeless camp cleanup efforts have cost the City of Abilene nearly $100,000.

More than 6 different locations have been cleaned by the City in 2024 and 2025 after the Abilene Police Department received 3,300 calls for service related to homelessness in 2024.

Is it easy being homeless in Abilene?

City staff works to disperse encampments at the center of these complaints, which causes homeless individuals to move to other known locations around Abilene.

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Cleanup efforts also take hours, if not days, to complete and cost the City time, money and resources to get rid of property, rubbish, and waste left behind.

The following encampments have been cleared so far in 2024 and 2025, costing the City of Abilene a total of $96,500:

Elm Creek (2024)  $8,500

Hwy 80 (2024/2025)  $15,000

Proctor (2025)  $24,000 (ongoing)

ES 11 th Property (2024)  $21,000

City property behind S Walmart (2024)  $5,000

Other cleanups (2024/2025)  $14,000.

$87,500 of the cleanup costs went toward labor, equipment, and material, and $9,000 went toward admin costs.

TxDOT cleanup crew tackles endless trash buildup at known Abilene homeless encampment

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No trespassing/no camping signs are posted following cleanup efforts if the camps were on City property.

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Mar. 11Dear Answer Man: I am no longer reading about gangs and gang activity in Rochester. Googling turns up nothing recent. This was a huge matter, but now silence. What's going on?  Still Worried.

Dear Worried,

When the national news is all about MS-13 and Tren de Aragua  transnational gangs that have infiltrated the United States from Central and South America  it's natural to wonder if Rochester might have some gang activity of this nature.

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Well, I don't want to tell you to stop worrying, but you might want to breathe a tiny sigh of relief.

Not a member of any gang myself  well, I do belong to the Minnesota Newspaper Association  Answer Man decided to reach out to some folks who know a bit about this topic: Amanda Grayson with the Rochester Police Department and Capt. Tim Parkin with the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office.

"Currently, we are not seeing the typical gang activity that some major cities across the U.S. are seeing," said Grayson. "We do not have territorial-type gangs where they take over certain areas of the city or neighborhoods. We do have individuals involved in drug dealing and sex trafficking. Some of them are organized with other groups, but we wouldn't identify these as gangs."

Grayson said since RPD is not seeing gangs in the area, it focuses its efforts instead on "targeting criminal activity of people involved in violent crime, illegal drug dealing and sex trafficking."

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Parkin, who also serves as commander of the Southeast Minnesota Violent Crimes Enforcement Teams (VCET), said while there likely are "street-level" gangs, they're not seeing the big national or transnational gang activity in Olmsted County.

"The VCET has had success with larger disruptions (busts) of controlled substances in our area," Parkin noted. "Typically, what we see is after a bust, a specific type of controlled substance can be hard to get in our area for a while until another dealer fills in the void. Then our work starts again."

Parkin said both the sheriff's office and RPD are part of VCET, which focuses on narcotics investigations but also lends a hand and investigates violent crimes and offenders when needed.

"We do not focus specifically on gang enforcement but will look into a suspect's background if/when they are tied into a case," Parkin said. "I know there is a lot of talk about MS-13 and Tren De Aragua in the national news. I do not recall seeing any locally at this time."

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Let's hope that continues.

So, while the fight against crime and criminal gangs never ends, right now  thanks, I'm sure, to great work by RPD, the sheriff's office and task forces such as VCET  gangs are not a big threat in Rochester at this time.

Send questions to Answer Man at answerman@postbulletin.com .
LANSING, Mich. (AP)  Garlin Gilchrist II, a Democrat from Detroit who is Michigan's first Black lieutenant governor, announced he's jumping into the crowded 2026 race for governor on Tuesday.

A software engineer by trade, Gilchrist vaulted from relative political obscurity in 2018 to run alongside Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and his profile has been bolstered over the past six years by working closely with one of the nations most high-profile Democrats.

"When you have a problem, an engineer can fix that problem, Gilchrist said in an interview with The Associated Press ahead of his announcement, saying he's built up relationships in each of the state's 83 counties. Thats a story that Im going to tell.

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As governor, he said hell focus on expanding affordable housing and improving access to health care, particularly mental health services.

He recognized that voters sent President Donald Trump back to the White House in part because of frustration with a status quo that wasnt serving them. Trump notched a 1.5-point victory in Michigan last fall.

That anger comes from not having results, from things not working, said Gilchrist. He described moving to Washington state to work for Microsoft after graduating from the University of Michigan, but says that as governor, he'll make sure residents can "be their best self here.

I want us to make good choices today so that the people of Michigan know that they can take their next step here, he said. They can build their careers and their families and their futures here.

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Still, Gilchrist will have to balance that narrative with his role near the top of the Democratic Party, which held full control of state government from 2022 to 2024. Gilchrist in his AP interview did not break from Whitmer, calling her an ally and said they have laid a really good foundation for the future of the state of Michigan.

Gilchrist is seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party. His hometown Detroit is the states largest Democratic stronghold and nearly 80% Black, bolstering his appeal. If elected, Gilchrist would be the first Black governor of the state. However, before joining Whitmer on the Democratic ticket, he ran for Detroit City Clerk in 2017 and narrowly lost to incumbent Janice Winfrey.

Lieutenant governors also don't have a good track record in Michigan when trying to ascend to the governor's office, with the most recent example being Republican Brian Calley, who was trounced in the party's primary in 2018.

Gilchrist joins Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson in the 2026 Democratic primary. Whitmer has said she won't endorse any candidate.

The primary winner could face an uphill battle in the general election. Along with a Republican opponent  Republican Senate Leader Aric Nesbitt is seen as the leading candidate currently  they may also contend with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, a former Democrat now running for governor as an independent.
DEARBORN, MI - SEPTEMBER 08: Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist speaks before Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen gave a speech on the economy at Fords Rouge Electric Vehicle Center on September 8, 2022 in Dearborn, Michigan. (Photo by Sarah Rice/Getty Images)

EXCLUSIVE: The 42-year-old lieutenant governor tells theGrio why hes the right candidate to take on the Trump-Musk administration and lead the Wolverine State to the next level.

Garlin Gilchrist II, the first Black person elected as Michigans lieutenant governor, is throwing his hat in the 2026 race for governor, telling theGrio exclusively that he plans to take the state to the next level.

We are at a generational inflection point, said Gilchrist, a former engineer and tech entrepreneur who left the private sector to be a community organizer and later political aid before he was tapped by Gretchen Whitmer to be her running mate in 2018.

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If elected in 2026, Gilchrist would become Michigans first Black governor and only the fourth Black person elected as a state executive officer. He would follow in the footsteps of the historically elected former Govs. Douglas Wilder in Virginia (1989), Deval Patrick in Massachusetts (2006) and Wes Moore in Maryland (2022). Gilchrist told theGrio he considers all three historic Black governors as mentors and supporters who have helped model what it means to be a public servant at the state level, what it means to be a statewide executive, and what it means to be responsive to people.

The 42-year-old says his unique lens as a young Black man and experience in the tech industry is just what the Wolverine State needs at this moment. Growing up in Detroit, Gilchrist said his community empowered him to see his potential. Reflecting on the historic nature of his candidacy, he shared, I think having a Black governor would further shatter that ceiling to understand that anything is possible.

Gilchrists run for governor comes at a pivotal time as governments grapple with the expansion of technology and its impact on the American economy. The millennial leader and former Microsoft software engineer told theGrio, Technology is changing. The way that people understand and process and receive and interpret information is changing.

He explained, When I took office here, Tiktok was a music app. Nobody knew what a large language model was in 2018. Its important that we have leadership that is able to respond to those times. Gilchrist added, I think having an engineer in his mid-40s whos a two-time entrepreneur who started and sold two technology companies is the appropriate profile for a leader at this moment.

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As lieutenant governor, Gilchrist has traveled to all 83 counties multiple times. During his travels around the state, he talked to constituents and learned what Michiganders say they need most from state government  things like lowering the cost of living, affordable housing, and access to health care. Gilchrist told theGrio, Thats what led me to do the work that Ive done alongside Governor Gretchen Whitmer to lay a really strong foundation for the future.

In a campaign video announcing his campaign on Tuesday, Gilchrist touted his efforts to create Michigans Clean Slate criminal justice program and launch the Michigan Innovation Fund to encourage startup investments in the state. The husband and father of three said, Im committed to building an economy where every family has what they need to succeed.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN  NOVEMBER 09: (L-R) Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer celebrate during an election night watch party at MotorCity Casino Hotel on November 09, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. Gov. Whitmer won her race over Republican challenger Tudor Dixon. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

The gubernatorial hopeful says he wants to build on the work of the Whitmer-Gilchrist administration in laying a foundation to grow Michigans economy, which includes diversifying the technology industry. But his push for diversity and his historic candidate profile comes as President Donald Trumps new administration in Washington, D.C., has rolled back diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. The 47th president of the United States has threatened to withhold federal dollars from governors, schools, and private companies that do not mirror his administrations anti-woke priorities.

Gilchrist told theGrio that he is willing to use the Michigan governorship to go up against what he called the Trump-Musk administration  a reference to the outsized role of billionaire Tesla, X, and Space X owner Elon Musk, who is serving as a senior advisor to Trump and head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency. The executive department has led the Trump administrations efforts (seemingly unilaterally at times) to eliminate federal funding waste or fraud.

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As the son of a father who served as a federal contractor for the Department of Defense and a mother who retired at General Motors, Gilchrist said the Trump administrations arbitrary cuts to thousands of federal jobs and tariff battles with countries like Canada, Mexico and China are deeply personal and offensive.

Had Musk and Trump been in power during my dads 34-year career with the federal government, they could have destroyed my familys livelihood, said Gilchrist. He continued, Those tariffs would have been catastrophic, not just for our family, but for the whole supply chain and value chain that has a huge presence in the state of Michigan.

Gilchrist said the new administration has caused nothing but chaos, confusion and calamity for individuals, for communities and for businesses in the state of Michigan, where our large manufacturers and our growing companies look for stability and competence. He added, Im an engineer; I solve problems  I dont create them.

Reflecting on his six years serving alongside Gov. Whitmer  who is often mentioned as a potential presidential candidate in the 2028 election  Gilchrist said hes gained a tremendous amount. He told theGrio, We think weve set the state of Michigan up for success.

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Shes encouraged me to build on that foundation and to do so in my own way, said the lieutenant governor, who noted that he and Whitmer are different people and hes stepping up at a different time.

The world was different in 2018 than it is here in 2025, said Gilchrist. Shes been encouraging, and I appreciate that, and now Im ready to go and have a different conversation with people in Michigan about how I can work with them going forward.

More must-reads:
Mar. 11CHAMPAIGN  If warm weather has you thinking about taking a vacation, there's good news if you prefer driving.

Gas prices had gone up about 6 cents a gallon over the last month in Champaign, but in the past week they've begun dropping.

Nationally, average gas prices are at their lowest since 2021, when early stages of the pandemic were causing a significant impact on demand.

GasBuddy analyst Patrick DeHaan credits 2025's suppressed prices to caution about the economy and especially possible tariffs.

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The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries also recently announced it would begin restoring oil production after years of cuts, which DeHaan said will add more downward pressure on oil prices.

"As a result, the typical seasonal rise in gas prices has yet to materialize, and if and when it does, it may be considerably smaller than expected," he said.

Champaign's price fluctuations can be expected to reflect the rest of East Central Illinois, but if you need to plan specifically where to tank up, here's where you'll find the cheapest gas:

Prices reflect the latest prices for a regular gallon of gas as of Monday evening.

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Champaign's Meijer is your best bet with gas at $2.89, though Costco and Sam's Club members can get the same rate at each of those stores.

Fuel Mart in Tuscola beats the rest at $2.70; other Tuscola stations are running around $2.84.

Sibley's Zeel Mart consistently proves itself to have the best deals on gas. Currently, it's at $3.09, at least 20 cents cheaper than any other station in the county.

Monticello's Fast Stop gas is going for $3.09, barely beating out Cerro Gordo's Casey's, which has the price set at $3.10.

Any station in Oakwood has you covered: They're all offering the same $2.85 rate.
While there are still many questions lingering about how California will bring its workforce back to primarily in-person work in the coming months, the impact on state workers telework stipend is clearly defined.

After California directed its public employees to work from home to limit the spread of COVID-19, the state paid those public servants stipends beginning October 2021 to help cover expenses workers needed to do their jobs remotely, such as the internet.

The stipend applies to all departments and all employee classifications as long as they work remotely for some part of the week. Those who work primarily from home, known as remote-centered, receive $50 a month. Those primarily in state building, office-centered, get $25 a month.

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With Gov. Gavin Newsom directing departments to increase the number of days state workers are expected to be in offices  from two to four  public employees can expect a change to their telework stipends.

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As it stands, state workers receiving $50 a month to work primarily from home will see that payment cut in half come July, when the governors return-to-office directive takes effect. Those already working at least three days from state buildings will continue to receive $25 a month as long as they work remotely part of the week.

The California Department of Human Resources said individual departments determine which employees are eligible for the stipend based on the telework agreements. CalHR said the pay differential that outlines the stipend already considers changes to departments hybrid work policies, like the transition from two days to four days in office.

Stipend costs to California

The state stands to save millions of dollars in paying only half of the remote-centered telework stipend.

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In January, California paid $5.2 million in telework stipends to its employees. Of the 115,000 employees who received those payments, 81% receive the full $50 payment.

If the state paid the same number of employees in January the $25 payment, instead of the remote-centered stipend, the state would have saved $2.3 million.

But whatever the amount saved by paying a smaller stipend, it would only be a fraction of the states payroll expenses. In 2023, California paid over $22 billion in total wages to state employees.

A challenge to the mandate

Unions representing state employees are hoping to leverage this coming reduction to workers paychecks to block Newsoms return-to-office mandate.

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In challenges filed with the states labor relations board, SEIU Local 1000 and Professional Engineers in California Government claimed that forcing workers back to offices four days a week violated the the Ralph C. Dills Act, which outlines labor regulations between the state and public employees.

The unions argue that the governors order will effectively shift telework employees from remote-centered to office-centered. By making this change, which is subject to negotiation, the union said Newsom infringed on workers rights.

The Governor imposed this order unilaterally, without negotiation, without consideration for its impact on state workers, and without following the law, Anica Walls, president of SEIU Local 1000, said in a statement announcing the unions challenge last week. Were demanding that (the Public Employment Relations Board) rescind this illegal order immediately and return decision-making on telework and return-to-office policies back to individual departments, where it belongs.
George Clinton has filed a $100 million copyright lawsuit against former business partner Armen Boladian and his Bridgeport Music company, alleging that Boladian fraudulently obtained copyrights to approximately 90 percent of his catalog.

In the suit, filed today in Florida District Court and reviewed by Variety, Clinton claims that Boladian and Bridgeport, as well as Westbound Records, Nine Records, Southfield Music and Eastbound Records, unlawfully continue to profit off of his music. Clinton held a press conference outside of the Apollo Theatre to announce the suit along with his attorney Ben Crump and fellow counsel, stating that he intends to reclaim ownership of his catalog to provide generational wealth to his family.

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These songs were talking about is my history, said Clinton. I have to fight for them, I have to make sure that I did not do all of this my whole life and have my family here, not get whats due to them, what they inherit. We dont have a chance to pass down 40 acres and mules to our families. We do not have the copyrights for the songs. So Im here along with Ben and partners to make sure that Armen does not get what we worked so hard for.

The suit claims that Boladian, Clintons longtime business partner, withheld millions of dollars in royalties and engaged in deceptive and fraudulent practices over the years. Clinton alleges that between 1982 and 1985, Boladian fabricated multiple versions of agreements designating additional rights to his catalog and added fake names and pseudonyms to copyright registrations to dilute shares in his royalties.

In the past, Boladian has been litigious over commercial use of Clintons music, filing hundreds of lawsuits in 2001 against musicians who sampled his work. The suit filed today notes that Clinton was not included as a plaintiff in those lawsuits and did not receive any of the millions Boladian got from them.

Boladian did not immediately respond to Varietys request for comment.

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Clinton and Boladian have been locked in legal warfare for years, with Clinton losing a copyright lawsuit against him in 2001 after a Florida judge ruled that music written from 1976-83 belonged to Boladians Bridgeport Music. In 2021, Boladian lost a defamation suit against Clinton over claims that the musician made in his 2014 autobiography Brothas Be, Yo Like George, Aint That Funkin Kinda Hard On You?: A Memoir. In the book, Clinton claimed that Boladian had fabricated documents, robbed him of his songs and fraudulently backdated and altered contracts between them.

I will continue to speak truth to power and to fight against the forces that have separated so many songwriters from their music, Clinton said at his press conference. I encourage all my fellow artists to investigate, interrogate, litigate, unseal, reveal. If we dont get this right, then they win, and I refuse to let them win. This is about my family and the family of the other legacy artists and us being able to give generational wealth to our family from our intellectual property.

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MILAN (Reuters) -Italian yacht maker Ferretti aims to make an acquisition this year, its chief executive said on Monday, without specifying whether the potential target would be a brand, a yard or another asset.

"We have three different files on the table," CEO Alberto Galassi told journalists. "2025 will be the year of opportunities," he added.

The yacht maker, which controls seven different brands including Riva speedboats, had a net cash position of 125 million euros ($135 million) at the end of December, which could be used for M&A, Galassi said.

The executive said that the group was also considering a possible buy-back of shares.

Asked about recurring media speculation over the exit of the group's top shareholder, Chinese conglomerate Weichai, Galassi said he did not know as the issue was never discussed with them.

Weichai currently holds a 37.5% stake in Ferretti, after it cut its stakes following a dual listing in Milan.

Galassi said he was also unaware of French luxury conglomerate LVMH being interested in becoming a shareholder in the group.

Last year Italian newspaper La Verita reported that the French luxury group was looking at the yacht maker and its Riva brand in particular.

Potential U.S. tariffs on European products would hit the global economy and consumer sentiment in general, but they won't directly affect the yacht business since boats usually carry other countries' flags and are bought by non U.S. companies.

($1 = 0.9226 euros)

(Reporting by Elisa Anzolin, writing by Alvise Armellini, editing by Giulia Segreti and Keith Weir)
The Georgia House passed its $37.7 billion budget Tuesday, the only thing constitutionally required of the General Assembly.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The bill now heads to the Senate. House Speaker Jon Burns told Channel 2s Richard Elliot that he is confident it will pass.

Burns talked about what he thinks are some the highlights of that budget: $23 million for literacy initiatives, $25 million for school safety measures, and $20 million for student mental health services.

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In addition, there is $14.7 billion to fully fund Quality Basic Education.

They have done an outstanding job of looking into the needs of Georgians and issues that we need to address, Burns said of his budget team. Im telling you what, they addressed most all of them.

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Mount Augustine is seen on Aug. 17, 2021, from a campsite on the island. The Alaska Division of Oil and Gas has scheduled a lease sale for companies seeking to explore the island's geothermal resources. (Photo by Matthew Loewen/Alaska Volcano Observatory / U.S. Geological Survey)

Companies will soon be able to bid on opportunities to tap a volcanic island in Cook Inlet to generate renewable energy.

Alaska officials have scheduled a geothermal lease sale covering a little more than half of Augustine Island, which consists almost entirely of 4,133-foot Augustine Volcano. The state Division of Oil and Gas will start accepting bids on April 3 for leases, the division said in its sales notice.

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The lease sale is offering 24 tracts spread out over 55,700 onshore and offshore acres. The onshore acreage comprises the north side of the island. The southern side of the island is not available. Anchorage-based GeoAlaska already holds licenses there and has an exploration program underway.

Augustine, about 175 miles southwest of Anchorage and about 70 miles west of Homer, is one of the active, ash-spewing volcanoes that have occasionally disrupted air traffic and communities in the Cook Inlet region.

Its last explosive eruptions came in a series from late 2005 to early 2006 and resulted in diversions of air traffic, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory, the federal-state office that monitors Alaskas numerous active volcanoes. A previous series of explosive eruptions in 1986 sent ash to Anchorage.

Additionally, Augustine has been shaken at various times by swarms of earthquakes that are signs of unrest, most recently in 2016, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory.

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The division scheduled the lease sale after three different companies expressed interest in exploring Augustines geothermal resources.

Geothermal energy is the heat within the ground. It is considered renewable because it is produced continuously by geological processes.

Alaska has abundant geothermal resources. One source is the string of active volcanoes that stretch from Southeast Alaska to the Aleutian Islands, including Augustine and other Cook Inlet volcanoes.

Weve got a lot of potential. We do have a lot of volcanoes, said Sean Clifton, a policy and program specialist at the Division of Oil and Gas.

An aerial view of Augustine, Iliamna and Redoubt volcanoes In Cook Inlet is captured on March 7. 2023, from Mount Douglas, a volcano in Katmai National Park and Preserve. Alaskas volcanoes, including those in the Cook Inlet region, are potential sources of geothermal energy for communities.(Photo by Taryn Lopez/Alaska Volcano Observatory/University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute)

Other sources of geothermal energy are the hot springs that thread through much of the state, from Southeast Alaska to the Bering Strait region.

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It is too early to know whether companies will take the new opportunity to explore Augustine, Clifton said.

More broadly, there are signs of strong interest in geothermal development, he said. That is despite the change in presidential administrations from the pro-renewable policies of former President Joe Biden to the fossil-fuel emphasis of President Donald Trump, he said.

Some federal geothermal incentives remain in place, Clifton noted. There are still federal programs that I dont think are threatened by any of the recent changes in the new administration at the federal level, he said.

And Alaskas terms for this lease sale should be attractive to bidders, he said. He cited the really low royalties paid to the state, set at 1.75% for the first 10 years and 3.5% for the years thereafter, and really low rental rates, set at $3 per acre.

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To date, there has been limited Alaska geothermal energy development.

The best-known site is the Chena Hot Springs Resort near Fairbanks, where all power is generated by the springs heat. Geothermal energy has also been used sporadically since the early 1900s for small-scale farming at Pilgrim Hot Springs near Nome. Farming there was revived in recent years.

Attempts to harness geothermal energy at some Alaska volcanoes have not yet resulted in any energy production for communities.

Along with Augustine, 11,069-foot Mount Spurr, about 80 miles west of Anchorage, and 5,905-foot Makushin Volcano, 16 miles from Unalaska, have been subjects of exploration projects over recent years. Some projects are ongoing.

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BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's political newcomer, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), filed a complaint on Monday with the constitutional court seeking to legally challenge the results of the national election, a spokesperson said.

The leftist populist BSW, which was created last year, scored 4.97% in last month's election, lacking just 13,400 votes to enter parliament in a country where around 60 million people are eligible to cast a ballot.

"Several thousand BSW votes have apparently been incorrectly allocated to other parties or deemed invalid," the party's eponymous leader Sahra Wagenknecht was quoted as saying by paper the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ).

Respect for the voters demanded that "possible errors be scrutinised and corrected", she was cited as saying.

(Reporting by Sarah Marsh; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
The German upstart populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) party, which fell narrowly short of claiming seats in parliament in February's national election, has asked the German Constitutional Court to order a recount.

A BSW spokeswoman confirmed the legal filing on Tuesday.

Official preliminary results from Germany's February 23 election put the BSW at 4.972% of votes, barely under the 5% threshold that parties normally must clear to claim seats in the Bundestag, the lower house of German parliament.

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Since then, individual local recounts in several places have revealed that some votes were apparently incorrectly allocated. However, those recounts have not resulted in any significant shifts in the results.

The official final result is to be announced by the Federal Election Committee as early as next Friday. Objections could then be raised and, if necessary, legal action could be taken.

It remains unclear when the Constitutional Court might hear the BSW request, or when a decision on whether to order a recount might be issued.

If the BSW were to end up in the new Bundestag, it could cause problems for a potential governing coalition between the conservatives and Social Democrats.

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BSW politicians have repeatedly complained about alleged irregularities, and accused the German media of unfair coverage, in the weeks since the vote.

Party founder Sahra Wagenknecht alleged to the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper on Tuesday that "several thousand BSW votes" had apparently been incorrectly allocated to other parties or assessed as invalid.

She argued that a fair treatment of voters is only possible if "a nationwide recount is carried out before the official final result is determined."

Wagenknecht, who began her political career as a member of the former communist East Germany's ruling party and has long been one of the best-known figures on Germany's left-wing political fringe, founded the party just over a year ago.

She had previously been a leader in The Left, but split with the hard-left party over her anti-immigration views and increasingly right-wing stances on social issues such as gender.
The German parliament's commissioner for the armed forces urged a rapid rebuilding of the country's registration system for possible military conscription in an annual report released on Tuesday.

Germany suspended mandatory military service for men in 2011, although the requirement remains in the country's Basic Law, the de facto constitution. At the time, the German government also ended registration and closed the 52 district military offices that had managed the conscription system.

It's now "urgently necessary to reactivate the registration system anchored in the Conscription Act," said the report from the commissioner, Eva Hogl.

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"A country that could respond to a possible attack with an excellently trained and equipped army is a deterrent to potential aggressors," wrote Hogl. "Fundamental to this is data on who can be called upon in the event of tension and defence, how suitable the people are and what qualifications they have."

But as a result of the previous dismantling of the system under former chancellor Angela Merkel, those kind of data are no longer available to the military in case of conflict.

"As a result, there is no longer a comprehensive picture of the situation for the respective age groups subject to compulsory military service and their willingness and ability to perform military service," wrote Hogl.

She added that the gap exists even though "compulsory military service for German men based on Article 12a of the Basic Law and the Conscription Act continues to exist as a potential obligation."
Germany's Greens are open to talks on a massive defence and infrastructure spending package, but are awaiting a negotiating offer from the political parties that put forward the proposal, Green leader Felix Banaszak said on Tuesday.

Last week, the centre-right bloc of the Christian Democrats (CDU) in alliance with their Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) struck a deal to loosen Germany's strict constitutional debt rules to spend 500 billion ($545 billion) on infrastructure and clear the way for a major long-term increase in military spending as well.

But support from the Greens, who were not part of the talks, is essential to pass the package through the Bundestag, the lower house of Germany's parliament. That's because the measures require a two-thirds majority, since the debt rules are written into Germany's Basic Law, or constitution.

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Green lawmakers have complained that priorities like climate change aren't addressed in the deal.

Greens have also raised concerns that preliminary coalition talks between the CDU/CSU and SPD suggest the parties plan to use the debt-backed investment package to make room in the budget for campaign pledges like fuel subsidies for farmers and tax breaks for interest groups.

The CDU/CSU bloc, which placed first in February's election, is widely expected to form the next government with the SPD as the junior partner. The Greens plan on going into the opposition.

There is pressure to push the spending plans through the lame-duck outgoing Bundestag in the coming days, since the results of February's election mean that support from The Left party, from the hard left of German politics, would be needed to build the required majority.
Germany's Greens are open to talks on a massive defence and infrastructure spending package, but are awaiting a negotiating offer from the political parties that put forward the proposal, Green leader Felix Banaszak said on Tuesday.

Last week, the centre-right bloc of the Christian Democrats (CDU) in alliance with their Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) struck a deal to loosen Germany's strict constitutional debt rules to spend 500 billion ($545 billion) on infrastructure and clear the way for a major long-term increase in military spending as well.

But support from the Greens, who were not part of the talks, is essential to pass the package through the Bundestag, the lower house of Germany's parliament. That's because the measures require a two-thirds majority, since the debt rules are written into Germany's Basic Law, or constitution.

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Green lawmakers have complained that priorities like climate change aren't addressed in the deal.

Greens have also raised concerns that preliminary coalition talks between the CDU/CSU and SPD suggest the parties plan to use the debt-backed investment package to make room in the budget for campaign pledges like fuel subsidies for farmers and tax breaks for interest groups.

The CDU/CSU bloc, which placed first in February's election, is widely expected to form the next government with the SPD as the junior partner. The Greens plan on going into the opposition.

There is pressure to push the spending plans through the lame-duck outgoing Bundestag in the coming days, since the results of February's election mean that support from The Left party, from the hard left of German politics, would be needed to build the required majority.

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Banaszak said during a Tuesday morning interview on broadcaster RTL/ntv that the CDU/CSU and SPD coalition talks are being negotiated under the assumption "that the Greens will first provide them with a lot of money."

"That's why I'm looking forward to what we're being offered now," he added.

Banaszak said that, from the point of view of the Greens, what is necessary is a fundamental reform of Germany's strict balanced budget rules, known as the "debt brake," rather than carving out special off-budget funds for the next government.

If the CDU/CSU and SPD don't want to negotiate with the Greens now, they're free to sound out The Left as well about a deal in the coming Bundestag, Banaszak said.

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But he added that the Greens would remain open to approving more money just for defence in the outgoing Bundestag, since winning over The Left on military spending will be extremely difficult.

"If in doubt, we are available to do only what is urgent now," said Banaszak.

Under the deal struck by the CDU/CSU and SPD, all military spending above 1% of Germany's gross domestic product (GDP) would not be counted as part of the budget.

The Greens have countered with an offer to exempt only spending above 1.5%, but also include spending on other defence-related programmes like peacekeeping, intelligence services and civilian support services for the military.

Thorsten Frei, an influential figure in the CDU/CSU, expressed openness to that proposal from the Greens in a Tuesday morning appearance on Deutschlandfunk public radio.

Covering a higher proportion of defence spending in the core budget is "basically conceivable," Frei said. "In any case, it's not the case that we're miles apart, where it would be impossible to come together."
A massive plan to loosen Germany's debt rules and spend hundreds of billions on defence and infrastructure has run into potentially decisive opposition from the Greens, whose votes in parliament would be essential for the legislation to be approved.

The spending deal was struck by the conservative Christian Democrat (CDU)/Christian Social Union (CSU) bloc, which won February's German election, and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), who are expected to become the junior coalition partner in the next government.

Green politicians have been warning for days that the massive spending deal does not do nearly enough to address climate change and might be used as a way to finance tax cuts instead of dramatically higher overall spending.

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Green parliamentary group co-chairwomen Katharina Droge and Britta Hasselmann confirmed on Monday that they would recommend that Green lawmakers vote against the package.

"We are in no way interested in enabling play money, and that is why we will not agree to these proposals," Droge told reporters. "The package will not finance a single euro more in investments in Germany."

Droge said that the CDU/CSU alliance and the SPD wanted to create a massive fund of borrowed money to put towards things like tax breaks and diesel fuel subsidies for farmers.

Counter-proposal by the Greens

The Greens brought forward a counter-proposal on Monday evening, saying current plans by CDU/CSU and SPD define the concept of defence spending too narrowly.

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The Greens want to ensure that it is not just the German Bundeswehr, or army, that benefits from increased funding.

According to the party, a comprehensive security concept should also include expanding intelligence capabilities, supporting states that are illegally attacked in violation of international law and providing foreign aid in crisis situations.

The Greens also want to strengthen international peacekeeping organizations and protect the civilian population.

The party also wants to exempt defence spending above 1.5% of German gross domestic product (GDP) from counting toward debt rules, while the CDU/CSU and SPD want to set this limit at 1% - meaning the Greens want a higher proportion of defence spending to be covered by the regular budget.

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A failure of the spending deal would be a major setback for the CDU/CSU and SPD coalition talks, which are set to formally get under way soon. Any budget agreement between the two parties would be far more difficult without the deal.

Greens to be persuaded?

Senior CDU/CSU and SPD politicians earlier on Monday expressed confidence that a compromise could still be struck to placate the Greens and get the deal through the Bundestag, the lower house of Germany's parliament.

The votes of the Greens are essential to enacting the deal, since Germany's strict balanced-budget rules are anchored in the country's constitution and any changes require a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag.

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The deal between the CDU/CSU and SPD would create a 500 billion ($542 billion) special fund for infrastructure investments to be spent over the next decade, and enable far higher long-term military budgets by permanently exempting any defence spending above 1% of German GDP from counting toward debt rules.

Not long after Droge and Hasselmann made their opposition clear and before the Greens made their own proposal, leaders in the CDU, CSU and SPD signalled their willingness to negotiate with the Greens in order to seal a deal.

Carsten Linnemann, the secretary general of the CDU, said he expects negotiations over the deal to move forward with the Greens and described ideas put forward by the Greens as "constructive proposals."

CSU deputy leader Alexander Dobrindt, meanwhile, believes the Greens will eventually back down and support the plans.

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"This will not be the last word from the Greens," he said. "The security situation requires a different approach. We are prepared to negotiate further."

SPD leader Lars Klingbeil likewise said he expects to find a compromise with the Greens despite their initial rejection of the deal.

"I am not giving up confidence that this can succeed," he said.

Klingbeil said he would seek talks with top Green Party politicians on Monday evening along with conservative leader and prospective chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The parties are hoping to pass the changes through the outgoing Bundestag in the coming days, since the results of Germany's February election mean that assembling the necessary two-thirds majority will become more difficult once newly elected lawmakers are seated.

Alternative deal with The Left party seen as difficult

A deal would then need to be struck with The Left, a hard-left socialist party that has been vehemently opposed to military spending. That would be far more difficult, especially for the conservative CDU/CSU.

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Leaders of The Left on Monday announced that they had filed an emergency application with Germany's Constitutional Court for a temporary restraining order to block a possible vote on the proposal, which they described as an undemocratic attempt to cast aside the will of German voters.

Politicians with The Left said they have long demanded major reforms to Germany's debt rules, and urged the other parties to invite them to talks on spending plans.

But Linnemann said he does not believe that the CDU/CSU could reach an acceptable compromise with The Left.

Felix Banaszak, chairman of Alliance 90/The Greens, Franziska Brantner, party leader of Alliance 90/The Greens, Katharina Droge, parliamentary group leader of Alliance 90/The Greens, and Britta Hasselmann, parliamentary group leader of Alliance 90/The Greens, hold a press conference at the parliamentary group level of the German Bundestag. Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Ghost Adventures star Aaron Goodwins wife, Victoria, has been arrested in Nevada on charges of conspiring to murder her husband.

According to TMZ, who first reported the news, police discovered the plot after seizing a phone from an inmate imprisoned in Florida. The phones contents included texts with Victoria in which she openly discussed  and set aside money for  hiring a hitman to kill her husband.

In one of the texts, Goodwin asked, Am I a bad person? Because I chose to end his existence. Not divorce.

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While her husband was filming new episodes of Ghost Adventures in California, Goodwin gave information about his location and shooting times. According to police, she also put away $11,515 to pay a hitman. The Florida inmate she was communicating with reportedly messaged said hitman on her behalf.

Goodwins plot was meant to be carried out in October 2024. It is unclear what ultimately happened. Goodwins husband, Aaron, is still very much alive  in a statement to TMZ, he confessed that he was blindsided and devastated to learn about his wifes plan, as he believed his marriage with Victoria was a happy one.

The two officially married in August 2022 at the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland. On Instagram, Aaron shared photos of their wedding three years ago, writing at the time, It finally happened we got married. After postponing many times due to COVID we got our day. I couldnt be happier.

Goodwins Ghost Adventures co-host Zak Bagans told TMZ that it is an emotional time for Aaron and that he is simply trying to give him love and support right now.

Victoria, who was arrested in Nevada on March 6 on charges of soliciting to commit murder and conspiring to commit murder, has denied wanting her husband killed and allegedly told police that she was just fantasizing about living without her husband. The 32-year-old claims to have no memory of corresponding with the Florida inmate whose phone was seized, despite she and Aaron apparently experiencing marital problems last year, according to her.

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Regarding her messages about paying a hitman, Victoria asserts that she thought said money was for cell phones. She is currently in police custody. A $100,000 cash bail has been set and she is set to make her initial court appearance on Tuesday.

Warner Bros. Discovery and Travel Channel, which produce and distribute Ghost Adventures, have not yet responded to TheWraps request for comment.

The post Ghost Adventures Star Aaron Goodwins Wife Arrested for Alleged Plot to Have Him Killed appeared first on TheWrap.
Lego hopes its household brand power can overcome the long arm of Trump's tariffs.

"If tariffs would be there and we get to know whatever level they would be at, we will deem whether they will be permanent or more temporary in nature, and then we would sit down and figure out how do we react to that in a way that has the typical long-term perspective of the Lego Group," Lego Group CEO Niels B. Christiansen told me on Yahoo Finance (video above) on Tuesday.

Lego reported today that sales last year increased 13% from the prior year to 74.3 billion Danish kroner. Gains were strongest in the Americas, Europe, and Middle East regions. "The brand is super relevant right now," Christiansen said.

Operating and net profits rose at a slower pace than sales (10% and 5%, respectively) as Lego invested in new stores and manufacturing capacity.

Merlin Entertainments Announces New 4D Film Based on The LEGO Movie From Warner Bros. to Launch Exclusively To LEGOLAND Parks And LEGOLAND Discovery Centers Worldwide (Business Wire)  Business Wire

Lego called out the potential for a slowing 2025 after a solid 2024, likely in part due to macroeconomic uncertainties.

Full-year revenue is projected to grow by a low-single-digit percentage. Net profits are expected to be flat year over year.

Lego has focused on diversifying its supply chain in recent years but may not be totally immune to Trump tariffs.

Read more: What Trump's tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet

The company broke ground on its first US manufacturing site in Virginia last year. A $1 billion investment, the facility is slated to begin production in 2027.

A new $1.3 billion facility will start operations in Vietnam in April.

The company's plants in Mexico and China have been expanded too.

Lego said in its annual report that capacity in Mexico and China rose 13% and 27%, respectively, year over year. The company now has five manufacturing facilities and four regional distribution centers globally.

Christiansen said there are no plans to shutter Mexico operations because of tariffs.

"If there would be tariffs from the US towards Mexico, that would impact us," Christiansen acknowledged.

Trump's tariffs could materially impact consumer companies as a sizable portion of their merchandise is sourced from China due to its low production cost. But tariffs could also stunt demand as consumers balk at price hikes.

The tariffs may reduce American consumers' spending power by $46 billion to $78 billion every year they are in place, the National Retail Federation estimates.

Nearly 80% of US toys are manufactured in China, according to industry trade group the Toy Association.

Hasbro (HAS) CEO Chris Cocks told me last week on Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid podcast that toy prices would go up 50% in some cases if more production is brought back to the US. The cost increases reflect the intricate nature of making many toys and the difficulty of finding the skilled labor to do so.
Mar. 10What's better than a pair of cowboy boots? A pair of Cavender's stores.

Cavender's, a Western-wear retailer based in Texas, is expanding its footprint, or boot print rather, in Albuquerque with a second location on the city's West Side.

Patrons can find cowboy hats, cowboy boots, Western-style shirts, jeans, dresses, leather belts and other accessories at Cavender's stores throughout the country. Entrepreneurs and married couple James and Patricia "Pat" Cavender founded the store in Pittsburg, Texas, in 1965.

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The retailer first opened a store in Albuquerque at 1431-A Mercantile NE in 2014. The second location will be on the corner of Coors and Ellison, in a space formerly occupied by a CVS that closed in 2021.

"We have been impressed by the growth of the Mercantile Ave store, year over year," said Cavender's spokesperson Jennifer Green in a statement to the Journal. "Albuquerque has been a great market for us, (and) we are excited to open another location for our customers."

The 14,375-square-foot West Side store at 3821 Ellison NW will carry about 8,500 pairs of boots and offer personalized services, including boot fitting, hat shaping and boot stretching, Green said.

Green told the Journal the location is expected to open in April, with a grand opening taking place later this spring.

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Cavender's venture started with a single store selling only three styles of Tony Lama boots. In 1977, the business got its big break when James bought 7,500 boots from another big boot store that went out of business. James opened a store in Tyler, Texas  now the Cavender's headquarters  to support the inventory.

Today, Cavender's is in its 60th year of business and is selling brands such as Tony Lama, Lucchese, Laredo, Rocky Mountain and Wrangler in over 100 stores across more than 15 states.

James and Pat, who died in 2018 and 2019, respectively, passed the business on to their sons, who still own and operate it.

"Cavender's success is rooted in our 60-year commitment to providing our customers with the best products and services at affordable prices," Joe Cavender, president of Cavender's, told the Journal in a statement. "We're excited to grow and offer customers an authentic Western experience."

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Roughly 20 people are expected to be hired for full- and part-time positions, said Lynne Haire, a district manager with Cavender's.

Green said the company isn't planning any further New Mexico expansions "at this time."
Democratic U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand wants to know why the countrys new Health Department secretary has cancelled vaccine-related advisory committee meetings that were scheduled to determine influenza vaccine strains in anticipation of the upcoming flu season.

Gillibrand announced Tuesday that she sent a letter to President Trump appointee and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., expressing her concern over the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions decision to postpone an advisory committee meeting on immunization practices that was supposed to be held in February to review, among other things, the safety and effectiveness of the flu vaccine.

Multiple media outlets reported that the February meeting of the CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices was postponed, according to a note on the agencys website, to accommodate public comment. Media repots also noted that the the FDA canceled a March 13 meeting of its Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee with no explanation given.

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The FDA has said in a statement to the media that it intends to weigh in on the makeup of flu shots. The agency has not offered any indication on whether it would seek guidance from advisors or allow for public discussion or debate.

The FDA will make public its recommendations to manufacturers in time for updated vaccines to be available for the 2025-26 influenza season, the agency said in its statement.

While he has maintained that he is not anti-vaccine, Kennedy has in the past cast doubt on the safety and effectiveness of immunizations and has also called into question research and regulations covering their use.

Gillibrand said the cancellations and postponements of the vaccine sessions were announced with no plans to reschedule, a move she said could endanger the lives of older adults and hinder the capacity of New York hospitals to treat patients. She noted that the cancellations come as New York has recorded 432,000 flu cases so far this season, a number that her office said far surpasses the total from last years flu season.

New York states current flu outbreak is its worst in at least 15 years, she said. At one point in January, only 13% of hospital beds in New York were available due to the surge in influenza, along with other seasonal illnesses. This surge in demand not only jeopardizes the quality of care for influenza patients but also impacts the overall capacity of our health care infrastructure, potentially leading to preventable deaths across various medical conditions.
GIRARD, Ohio (WKBN)  There are some bucket list places to enjoy St. Patricks Day. Ireland tops the list, and Chicago is a top place in America.

The Girard marching band is going to march in Chicagos St Patricks Day parade. Forty-five members of the band will make the trip to Illinois. They leave on Thursday for the Saturday performance.

Its a big performance, and the band is excited.

So going to Chicago is a pretty unique thing, said Girard band director Julia Semple. A lot of bands, they go to like Disney World and stuff like that, which is really cool. But Chicago, the parade, this is a giant deal. And then they get to see all of these different things, like you said, the river being dyed green. Thats something unique to Chicago, which I think is a really cool thing that they that they get to experience.

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The parade is Saturday at noon and Girard is unit number 27, up front in the parade.

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HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  Its Girl Scout Day at the State Capitol. Lots of young faces had the opportunity to learn about the importance of local government and civic engagement.

It really starts here with how the power is with them, the people, the girls, the CEO of Girl Scouts of Connecticut Elicia Pegues Spearman said.

New Haven middle schools go cell phone free

Just under 100 Connecticut Girl Scouts from Grades four to twelve were there to celebrate Womens History Month while meeting with state legislators and learning how to advocate for important causes.

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This opportunity allows me to understand our government more and get a chance to know what goes on, eleventh grade Student Victoria Vanterpool said.

The organization says Girl Scout Day at the Capitol has been running since 2010 but was put on pause during the pandemic. Tuesday was the first time the event has been held since then.

The organization says programs like this one go a long way when it comes to enriching the lives of these young girls. Many have gone on to do amazing things and learn how to advocate for themselves.

In one example, COO Kari Kaplan tells News 8 that one former Girl Scout applied to college and was initially denied until she stood up for herself before the Dean.

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In her conversation with the Dean, he made a decision to allow 101 spaces, and she was accepted into that program, Kaplan said. But she said it was Girl Scouts that gave her the confidence to advocate for herself and make a difference.

About 12,000 girls are involved with the Girl Scouts of Connecticut. The organization has provided girls like Vanterpool that they too can have a bright future.

I wanna major in criminology and forensics, so this kind of also helps with that, she said.

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By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters) -The Girl Scouts have been sued by consumers over the alleged presence of "heavy metals" and pesticides in its popular Thin Mints and other cookies.

A proposed class action lawsuit was filed on Monday night in federal court in the New York City borough of Brooklyn against the 113-year-old nonprofit and the cookies' licensed producers, ABC Bakers and Ferrero USA's Little Brownie Bakers.

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It cited a December 2024 study commissioned by GMO Science and Moms Across America that tested samples of 25 cookies from three U.S. states.

The study said Girl Scout cookies contained at least four of five heavy metals - aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury - that can harm people's health or the environment, often at levels exceeding regulators' recommended limits.

It also said all samples contained glyphosate, a pesticide used in some weed killers, with Thin Mints containing the highest levels.

"While the entire sales practice system for Girl Scout Cookies is built on a foundation of ethics and teaching young girls sustainable business practices, defendants failed to uphold this standard themselves," the lawsuit said.

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The defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Girl Scouts, short for Girl Scouts of the United States of America, addressed the study in a February 6 blog post.

It said heavy metals occur naturally in soil, with trace amounts not a safety issue, while glyphosate is found "nearly everywhere" in the food chain. Girl Scouts also said its bakers are committed to complying with all food safety standards.

"The health and safety of Girl Scouts and cookie customers is our top priority," the New York-based nonprofit said. "Rest assured: Girl Scout Cookies are safe to consume."

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Cookies are sold by registered Girl Scouts from January to April, with net proceeds supporting councils and local troops. About 200 million boxes are sold annually, NPR reported in 2023.

The lawsuit is led by Amy Mayo, a resident of Bayside, New York.

Mayo said she bought numerous Girl Scout products such as Adventurefuls, Peanut Butter Patties and Caramel deLites, believing they were "quality and safe cookies."

She said she would not have bought the cookies or "would have paid substantially less" had Girl Scouts disclosed the presence of "dangerous toxins."

The lawsuit seeks at least $5 million in damages for U.S. cookie purchasers, for alleged violations of New York consumer protection laws, and an injunction requiring accurate labeling.

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Blake Yagman, a lawyer for Mayo, in an interview said the government does not adequately regulate many privately sold products such as Girl Scout cookies.

"Lead is our foremost concern, but the presence of the other four heavy metals and pesticides is deeply concerning, especially because these products are marketed to and sold by children," he said.

Several chocolate makers including Hershey faced lawsuits after Consumer Reports in December 2022 found elevated levels of cadmium, lead or both in their products.

The case is Mayo v Girl Scouts of the United States of America et al, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, No. 25-01367.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New YorkEditing by Marguerita Choy and Leslie Adler)
CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA)  Administrators and state leaders alike are reacting to the 2024-2025 Educator Shortage report.

The annual data comes from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools (IARSS). The report shows slight improvements this year compared to last.

For example, this years report noted 3,864 teacher positions were open in Illinois. In 2023, the data showed there were 4,096 unfilled teaching positions.

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The map on page four of this linked report breaks down the openings by school district. No matter where you live, several administrators agree and have the same goal. They want students to be in a quality learning environment with teachers who support them along the way.

No student, no child, should be in a classroom where there isnt a highly qualified teacher, Scott Woods, Rantoul City School Districts superintendent, said.

Spreading the love: how this Rantoul teacher supports her students in and out of school

He is one of many school officials feeling the challenge of job openings in their buildings. Of his 4 openings listed in the 2024-25 report, two of those include a social worker and speech-language therapist.

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Sometimes those more specialized positions are harder to fill, Woods said.

In Livingston County, the latest data shows the Prairie Central School District has 10 unfilled teaching positions, but Paula Crane, the superintendent, said theyve gotten creative to fill most of the spots. She credits the Teacher Vacancy Grant.

We were able to through the grant offer to pay for people to be certified to be a teacher if they had a four-year degree, Crane said. We got really some amazing results from that.

At Woods district in Rantoul, they recently started a new mentoring program in hopes of strengthening the pipeline and retention rate.

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Math teacher by day, 5 sport coach by night: Meet the GCMS teacher balancing it all

Every new teacher is placed with a more experienced teacher, thats their one-on-one mentor whose job is to help them be successful in the district, he explained.

While the new results are encouraging, educators know there is room for improvement.

I think its still a significant problem in Illinois, Woods added.

No matter what, administrators arent stopping until every gap is filled and each student is in the hands of a top-notch teacher.

Its not a Prairie Central problem, its not a State of Illinois problem, its very global, Crane said. Theres going to have to be some things at a higher level that happen that can help us out.

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From a Decatur jail cell, to creating a life changing education program: Courtney Carsons story

The report shows Champaign Schools have 47 openings at this time. Ken Kleber, the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, said the district has recently increased the number of positions to meet the communitys growth. Theyve started a visiting teacher program to bring in educators from other countries. The district also includes new signing bonuses for certain positions.

It takes a special person to go into teaching, Kleber said.

In Urbana, the recent data shows 29 vacancies.

Teacher retention and recruitment are priorities for USD #116 and we continue to problem-solve ways to retain and recruit staff, especially in hard to fill positions. We have several incentive bonuses for incoming teachers as well as for staff who refer new employees to the district. The teacher shortage is not unique to Urbana, which is part of the reason why Illinois introduced the Teacher Vacancy Grant, which we hope will be renewed.

Katherine Tellez, Communications Director

Decatur Public Schools currently has 52 openings. In response, the district has participated in several job recruitment events and hosted two job fairs in hopes of attracting qualified educators. The district was also awarded a Teacher Vacancy Grant to support recruitment efforts.

The district continues to focus on our Teacher Ready program, which assists current staff in becoming certified teachers, yielding twelve successful participants to date. We recognize the challenges posed by this shortage and deeply appreciate our certified teaching staff who continue to dedicate themselves daily to our students. District #61 is committed to working with local and state educational partners to address this issue and ensure our classrooms are led by passionate, skilled teachers. Maria Robertson, Communications Director

If youd like to see where your school or district stands, click this link and visit page 3 and 4. You can also see trends from previous years by scrolling to the hyperlinks below.

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Donald Trump proudly portrays himself as Tariff Man. The vast majority of economists disagree with him and think his views on trade are deeply flawed and a threat to national and global prosperity.

But what if Trump decides that there is another levy  the income tax  that does even more damage to prosperity and proposes to do a revenue swap?

According to his commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, that might be Trumps long-run plan. Speaking on Fox News about the presidents agenda, Lutnick said his goal is very simple: to abolish the Internal Revenue Service and let all the outsiders pay.

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To some degree, the president and his team have history on their side. Prior to 1913, there was no income tax and trade taxes were one of the main sources of revenue for Washington. So why not go back to that system and spare Americans the nightmare of a convoluted and punitive income tax?

Thats an emotionally appealing argument.

However, theres something the Trump people are overlooking. The federal government could finance its budget with trade taxes (as well as some excise taxes and revenue from land sales) before 1913 in large part because the federal government was small.

Or perhaps tiny would be a better word to use. Total federal outlays averaged about 3 per cent of Gross Domestic Product in the decades before 1913. To put that number in perspective, thats a much lower burden of government spending than you find today in supposedly small-state economies such as Hong Kong and Singapore, where the government generally consumes between 15-20 per cent of economic output.

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Unfortunately, the public sector in the United States is now a much bigger burden for the private sector to finance. Total spending (including state and local governments) is now around 37 per cent of GDP, with federal spending in Washington consuming close to 24 per cent of GDP, about two-thirds of the total.

In theory, financing Washingtons share of government spending would require a 220 per cent tax on all imports, according to Jessica Riedl of the Manhattan Institute.

In reality, however, that kind of import tax would not generate much if any revenue for the simple reason that consumers can and would shift to domestically-produced products. Thats an outcome that would please protectionists, but it also blows up the argument that the federal government can be funded with tariffs. In other words, high tax burdens change behaviour and that produces revenue feedback, just as Art Laffer famously noted.

Whats the counter-argument? There are three responses, two of which are weak.

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1. The first weak response is to ignore the maths, which certainly would be consistent with Trumps past behaviour. Just make up numbers, like he did when he claimed in 2016 that he could eliminate the national debt. Or like he did about a week ago when he said he would balance the budget.

2. The second weak response would be to claim that import taxes would be designed to just replace the personal income tax, which means tariffs would only have to raise about 9 per cent of GDP. But even that smaller amount of tax revenue would likely require a tariff rate of about 90 per cent, which is still so high that the vast majority of imports would evaporate. Once again, the protectionists would be happy but the budget geeks would be upset that no revenue was being collected.

I also cant resist pointing out that the IRS would still be around to harass people under this modified approach. Workers would still have to cough up lots of money for payroll taxes. And the corporate tax would still exist, all of which is borne by workers, consumers, and shareholders. And keep in mind that politicians could easily modify those taxes over time to resemble the current personal income tax. When the dust settled, the only winners would be politicians.

3. There is a good response, but its not one that I expect Trump to make. Or if he does make this argument, he would have no credibility. Simply stated, push an agenda to dramatically downside the federal government.

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Get rid of bureaucracies like the Department of Education, Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture, Department of Labour, and Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Rejuvenate federalism and copy Bill Clintons successful welfare reform by shifting all redistribution programmes  including Medicaid and food stamps  down to the state and local level.

Replace Social Security with personal retirement accounts, like those found in various forms in Denmark, Australia, Switzerland, Chile, Iceland, and the Netherlands. And copy Singapore by requiring private saving for health expenses.

This ultra-libertarian agenda would warm my heart. And, over time, it could bring the burden of federal spending considerably below 10 per cent of GDP. And if interest payments dramatically fell, it might even be possible to get Washingtons spending burden down to 5 per cent of GDP.

Once we had an 1800s-sized federal government, it would be plausible to have an 1800s-style revenue system.

But none of this is remotely possible with Trump. He was a big spender during his first term. And he has explicitly rejected entitlement reform, so theres no hope of meaningful spending restraint in his second term.

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The bottom line is that there is zero change of the bold agenda outlined in response number 3. Unless, of course, Americans can somehow convince the Argentinians to trade presidents.

Daniel J Mitchell is president of the Center for Freedom and Prosperity

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) is denying an accusation from conservative pundit Tucker Carlson that he worked to block the release of sensitive government information related to the assassination of former President Kennedy.

Carlson, during a conversation with NewsNation host Chris Cuomo, alleged Cotton tried to stand in the way of one of President Trumps Cabinet nominees, whom he did not name, because the official in question would be certain to push for the release of the JFK files.

Tom Cotton of Arkansas did that, Carlson said.

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Cottons office, in a statement to The Hill on Tuesday, denied the pundits claim.

This is completely made up, Senator Cotton does not oppose releasing the JFK files, and he doesnt have any involvement in how the Executive Branch releases documents, a representative for the Republican said.

In a social media post responding to a clip of Carlsons claims, Cotton said if the commentator would have asked him directly, he would have clarified his views on the JFK files.

I wouldve explained that Ive never spoken to President Trump or his associates or administration officials about the files, never objected to the appointment of any person because of the files, and have complete faith that Tulsi Gabbard, John Ratcliffe, Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, and other officials will release the files as appropriate in accordance with President Trumps directive, Cotton said.

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President Trump in January signed an order directing the release of federal government documents related to the assassinations of Kennedy, former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.

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The Uniper Global Commodities SE (Uniper) dispute highlights geopolitical and legal risks in volatile markets. Uniper, once Germanys top Russian gas importer, was nationalized after it faced financial chaos when Russia cut supplies in 2022. Uniper then sought arbitration against Gazprom Export (Gazprom) to end its contract and claim damages. Despite winning, a Russian court shot back at Uniper with a $14 billion fine, raising doubts about enforcing arbitral awards against Russian state-owned entities, whether penalty judgments are enforceable outside of Russia, and highlighting the risk of potential asset seizures, especially for Unipers liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels operating around the world.

Uncertain Enforcement of Arbitral Awards

The Uniper case shows how political tensions and sanctions can create unanticipated legal risks. Uniper ended its contracts with Gazprom after a Swedish arbitration tribunal awarded them 13 billion for undelivered gas. In return, a Russian court (the Arbitrazh Court of St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region) countered with a 14 billion penalty, claiming foreign restrictions prevented Gazprom from having access to justice, making the arbitration award unenforceable. The decision was based on articles 248.1 and 248.2 of the Russian Arbitration Procedure Code, which allow Russian courts to claim exclusive jurisdiction over disputes involving Russian entities subject to foreign restrictive measures. While the providence of this part of the Russian Arbitration Code may be disputed, it is certainly conceivable that involving sanctioned entities in an arbitration can impose certain obstaclesfor example, attorneys, arbitrators, or other counterparties may need to obtain a specific license, such as from an applicable government agency, before they may proceed with an arbitration involving a sanctioned entity. In the Russian Arbitrazh Court, Gazprom argued that restrictive measures by foreign states rendered the arbitration agreement unenforceable, as it limited the companys access to justice. The court agreed with Gazprom and held that the restrictive measures imposed by foreign states indeed create barriers to justice for Russian entities, which justify the Russian Arbitrazh Court assuming jurisdiction of the dispute in arbitration. The imposition of such a penalty by a court that Uniper did not agree to for resolving this dispute contradicts the express terms of the parties agreement. Uniper may also contest the Russian Arbitrazh Courts subject matter jurisdiction over the dispute and its personal jurisdiction over Uniper, and the applicability of the Russian Arbitration Procedure Code to the dispute between Uniper and Gazprom, among other issues. Nevertheless, even if Uniper successfully overcomes this ruling, enforcing awards against state-linked entities like Gazprom to collect its damages may be complex. In the meantime, Uniper is reportedly working, defensively, to protect its fleet of LNG tankers from seizure by nations friendly to Russia. Yet, other companies have been successful in navigating the use of arbitral awards against state-linked entities, including Gazprom. As one example, in November 2024, Austrian energy company OMV Gas Marketing & Trading GmbH (OMV) secured an arbitral award of more than $230 million from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) due to irregular gas supplies from Gazprom to its German subsidiary. To enforce this award, OMV offset the amount against payments due under its Austrian gas supply contract with Gazprom. This self-enforcement method effectively allowed OMV to recover the awarded sum without initiating separate legal proceedings. Of course, questions remain as to whether Gazprom would challenge such action.
Key Republican lawmakers are working with Veterans Affairs leaders on legislative guardrails to proposed staffing cuts at the department, ensuring those moves are done in a responsible manner with minimal impact on patients and beneficiaries.

Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jerry Moran, R-Kan., said a proposed bill  expected to be unveiled in coming weeks  comes in response to department proposals to cull more than 80,000 jobs within VA in coming months, part of broader efforts by President Donald Trump to dramatically reduce the size of the federal workforce.

Changes which affect VA policy and personnel must be thoughtful, transparent and carried out in close coordination with this committee and with stakeholders, including veterans and the veterans service organizations, Moran said at a committee hearing Tuesday.

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I have personally conveyed this message to [VA Secretary Doug] Collins. The secretary has committed to me that he will testify before this committee about his plans and how he intends to eliminate waste and inefficiency, and refocus resources to improve delivery of healthcare and benefits to veterans.

The enhanced oversight by Moran represents a mild rebuke of the departments handling of the workforce reduction plan thus far. News of the planned staff cuts were made public after a document leak earlier this month, forcing Collins to publicly acknowledge the internal discussions.

In an interview with Military Times on March 5, Collins insisted the employee cuts will not impact health or benefits delivery but will return the department to 2019 workforce levels, before a concerted hiring push by former President Joe Bidens administration.

Ive been given a mandate, and that is just to run the VA in the way that its supposed to be run, putting veterans in our services and putting our health care in the best position it can be, Collins said.

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VA secretary insists massive staff cuts needed to refocus department

Mark Engelbaum, assistant secretary of VAs Office of Human Resources, told committee members at the Tuesday hearing that VA is just beginning to develop the plans for resizing the workforce, and a full analysis will be completed over the next four months before those staff cuts are made.

But he also said the reductions  and other contracting cuts  must be considered to make the department more efficient and effective. An 80,000-worker cut would undo nearly all of the departments workforce additions during the Biden administration.

Democratic members of the committee rejected Engelbaums assertions and said the chairmans plan for legislation doesnt go far enough.

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We cant ignore the ongoing ship sinking right before us, said Senate Veterans Affairs Committee ranking member Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

Im glad to hear [the chairman] is in informal talks with Secretary Collins, but he should be here right now, so we can ask him about the chaos and confusion, the apparent malevolent, cruel and callous actions that have been taken against the VA workforce already.

Blumenthal noted that nearly 2,500 VA employees have already been dismissed this year, as part of probationary employee cuts and the elimination of diversity and inclusion programs within the department.

The committees top Democrat on Tuesday introduced his own bill, which would mandate the rehiring of all veterans and military spouses dismissed from federal service in recent weeks, block future firings and hiring freezes and limit the access of Department of Government Efficiency workers to VA offices and databases.

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Fellow committee member Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., unveiled similar legislation last week, calling for the return of some VA workers and fired federal workers to the office. Several other Democratic lawmakers have offered similar measures in recent weeks.

None of those bills are likely to become law, since Republicans control both chambers of Congress and the White House. But a bill from Moran with significant Republican backing would have a much more likely path to success.

Moran did not announce a specific date for Collins appearance before the committee to testify about his reform plans, or when specifics on the guardrail legislation may be released.
Whoever was running the Murrieta Police Department Instagram page did not shy away from using some humorous hashtags when describing a drug bust involving a wanted felon.

The date of the bust was not disclosed, but the Instagram post  published by the department on Tuesday morning  states it occurred a few weeks ago.

The A Nights crew was out and about looking for one wayward subject known to have a felony warrant for his arrest, the Instagram posts caption reads. Happily, the subject in question thought so little of his court obligations that he decided a jaunt around town was a good idea.

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The caption then bluntly states: #thatwasnotagoodidea.

Watch: Suspects wanted in connection with L.A. County investigation detained after pursuit

When a corporal spotted the suspects vehicle, he attempted a traffic stop, but the subject failed to yield and took off, running a stop sign in the process. The hashtags used for that decision by the department: #thosearentoptionalbro and #whereareyougoing.

Whoever was running the Murrieta Police Department Instagram page did not shy away from using some humorous hashtags when describing a drug bust. (IG/@murrietapd)

Turns out, [the suspect] was headed home, but since this is big kid stuff, running inside and yelling Base! is not sufficient, the Instagram posts caption continued. Exiting his vehicles, he sprinted (#airquotes) into his open garage, only to be caught by a much fitter Cpl. Meadows. #goteem.

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Thousands at risk due to volcanic eruption in Guatemala

After being caught, police discovered that the suspect  who was not named but was referred to as #warrantboi  was not a very tidy dealer and had some of his product in plain view inside his whip.

A search was conducted (as evidenced by the hashtags #probablecause and #wheretheressometheresmore) which led to the discovery of a large cache of drugs that #warrantboi was in possession of:

540.02 grams (1.19 pounds) of cocaine (annotated with #scarfacemuch in reference to the movie Scarface)

45.5 grams of MDMA (annotated with #ecstasy in reference to another term for the drug)

28.6 grams of methamphetamine

179.6 grams (6.3 ounces) of psilocybin mushrooms

295.5 Xanax pills

100.7 grams of hash

50 Adderall pills

1,175 grams (2.6 pounds) of marijuana

40 rounds of 9mm ammunition

1 high-capacity drum magazine

41 bars of THC butter

10 mushroom-infused chocolate bars

6 pieces of parchment paper with cannabis concentrate

$2,592 in cash

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Not exactly personal use quantities, the department said.

Whoever was running the Murrieta Police Department Instagram page did not shy away from using some humorous hashtags when describing a drug bust. (IG/@murrietapd)

In addition to the felony warrant and new felony narcotic sales charges, the man was determined to be driving under the influence.

He was booked into the jail that night, according to police. No further details surrounding his fate, including a day and time for his court appearance and exactly how many counts he is facing, were released.

Lets hope for his sake that he makes his next court date, the post concluded.

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EAU CLAIRE  Gov. Tony Evers stopped on the UW-Eau Claire campus on Monday, where he heard an update on the construction of the new Science and Health Science Building, along with plans to tear down Zorn Arena, and discuss needed upgrades to make some buildings handicap-accessible.

Both Vicki Lord Larson Hall and the McIntyre Library need upgrades that will make it easier for students and staff with physical disabilities to access those buildings. About 8.8% of all students at UW-Eau Claire are registered as having a diagnosed physical disability and need special accommodations.

University officials said many of the buildings were constructed in the 1960s and are simply outdated. Some of the elevators have been out of service.

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Evers said the upgrades should only cost $4 million to $5 million and he told university officials hell work to get the money approved.

I was surprised (at the needs), Evers said at the conclusion of the building tour. Its a big (university) system, and they can only get through so many projects at a time. This should have been dealt with a lot earlier.

The tour began at Zorn Arena, which is set to be torn down this summer, Chancellor James Schmidt told Evers.

Im hoping we have most of it down before the fall school year starts, Schmidt said. It sets up some green space, and a possible future building location. It will really change the shape of campus.

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The $98 million Sonnentag event center was finished last year, with a capacity of about 5,000, making the smaller, 74-year-old Zorn Arena obsolete. Zorn Arena had a capacity of about 2,500.

Evers and Schmidt then walked to the site of the new 330,000-square-foot Science and Health Science Building. Construction of the $340.3 million building began last June. The construction staff told Evers that the mild winter has allowed them to work nearly every day and they are on schedule.

Schmidt said the building should be substantially completed in January 2027, and should be operational in summer or fall 2027. It should be fully enclosed by this October.

The science building is being constructed on the site of two old dormitories. The five-story building will have the different science fields mixed on all floors, and would feature a greenhouse on the top floor. Among the partners who plan to share space in the building is the Mayo Clinic Health System.

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Laboratory spaces, as well as other general spaces, that come with the construction of the new building will accommodate all kinds of sciences and academic programs taught at the university, including biology, chemistry and biochemistry, computer science, geography and anthropology, geology and environmental science, public health and environmental studies, neuroscience, materials science and biomedical engineering, physics and astronomy, and nursing.

The current science building, Phillips Hall, was constructed in 1963 with an addition in 1968, and is considered to be at the end of its useful lifespan. Officials have previously told Evers that rain has leaked from the fifth floor to the third floor. Phillips Hall is slated to be razed after the new facility is constructed.

Federal job losses

Evers, a Democrat, also has sued the federal government in an attempt to halt layoffs of federal employees. When asked how many federal jobs have been cut in Wisconsin, Evers said he doesnt have a clear answer on that yet.

Were working to get that information, Evers said. I know there are many; the (veteran affairs) services are extensive in the state.
ATLANTA (WJBF)  The Georgia Senate has given the green light on three legislative bills to improve school safety in the state.

Georgias Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones said these bills will build on school safety initiatives to keep both students and teachers safe.

Just last week, Governor Brian Kemp signed the FY 2025 amended budget which allocates $50 million dollars for school safety grants.

Senate Bill 17, or Ricky and Alyssas Law, will require all Georgia schools to have mobile panic alarms to alert first responders.

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Senate Bill 61 will strengthen the states law so attempted murders and terror acts towards schools by juveniles will be tried as adults.

Senate Bill 179 will require transferring students to show their academic and disciplinary records to the new school within 10 days, and let the parents or guardian to know about the transfer within 5 days.

Lawmakers are using the school shooting last year at Appalachee High School on how to strengthen safety.

In this situation at Apalachee High School, that was not as appropriate as it could have been. Certainly the security officers limited the mortality related to that shooting, said State Senator Ben Watson.

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State house lawmakers will review the bills in committee and may add changes to the legislation, but will have to do so before session ends up on April 4.

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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  The House is expected to vote on a bill to avoid a government shutdown Tuesday.

The deadline is midnight Friday.

The bill is known as a continuing resolution which would keep the government funded through September 30.

Its not clear whether it has the votes to pass.

Hopefully we dont have a government shutdown this week, said Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa.).

Lawmakers are up against a Friday deadline to keep the government funded.

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We certainly do some things that are good in this bill, said Sen. Tom Cole (R-Okla.).

Republicans are proposing a bill that would increase defense spending and cut some non-defense programs.

Oklahoma Congressman Tom Cole says its better than a shutdown.

Thats going to be a lot worse than any particular item you may disagree with in this, said Cole.

Democrats are expected to oppose the bill.

It is a hurtful bill, said Rep. Jim McGovern. (D-Mass.).

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) cited concerns over cuts to health care and assistance programs.

It is not something we could ever support, said Jeffries.

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There are a few Republicans who have voiced concerns.

Ive got a lot of concerns about it, said Rep. Tim Burchett (D-Tenn.).

Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett says hes concerned it includes too much spending.

Im concerned about the USAID funding, and Im concerned about the uptick in funding for the Pentagon, said Burchett.

Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie posted on X, hes a no.

Assuming everyone is present, and all Democrats vote against the bill Republicans can afford to lose only one vote.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  On Tuesday, Governor Healey came to MGM Springfield to address the 106th annual convention of the Massachusetts Building Trades Unions (MBTU).

Governor Healey to promote tax cuts in Springfield before deadline

During her visit, Governor Healey signed a landmark executive order to promote the use of project labor agreements (PLAs) by state agencies for large public works projects. This agreement supports the construction industry, protects and supports Massachusetts jobs, and ensures that construction projects are successfully completed on-time and on-budget.

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A PLA is a collective bargaining agreement thats executed between contractors and labor organizations. It establishes the terms and conditions of employment for all contractors, subcontractors, and craft labor employees performing work on a specific project. They also help to deliver high-quality jobs for a diverse workforce and maintain competitive costs and project timelines.

The MBTU is a 106-year-old organization dedicated to helping working people improve their quality of life. It represents the interests of over 75,000 union construction workers across the Commonwealth. Union members through the MBTU receive family-sustaining wages, comprehensive healthcare coverage, and the security of pension and annuity benefits.

This order provides a framework for sticking to a section of the Mass Leads economic development bill passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Healey in 2024.

There are so many critical construction projects underway all across the state  upgrading our roads and bridges, improving infrastructure for small businesses and more, said Governor Maura Healey. We know that its really important that these projects are set up for success. This means ensuring that contractors have a trained and ready workforce to turn to and a plan for meeting deadlines, staying within budget and keeping everyone safe. In many cases, PLAs can help make that happen, while promoting good job opportunities for workers of all backgrounds, including veterans, women and minorities.

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Project labor agreements have been proven to result in successful construction projects in the public and private sectors  from the new Holyoke Veterans Home to Gillette Stadium and TD Garden, said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. Were proud to take this action today that will make sure our agencies are paying close attention to ways in which they can maximize the success of their projects while supporting our incredible, diverse workforce in Massachusetts.

Governor Healeys Executive Order signals the use of PLAs for complex, large public construction projects when in the best interest of the Commonwealtha workforce strategy that will generate good wages and benefits for Massachusetts construction industry and workers, said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones. Our administration looks forward to leveraging this as a tool, when applicable, complemented by efforts to build a more diverse pool of apprentices and reduce barriers to attract more women and people of color as we work collaboratively with the industry to grow the workforce.

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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.

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A person walks into the Department of Veterans Affairs headquarters in Washington, D.C. The department, with offices in every state, announced it is cutting about 80,000 jobs, part of a large-scale effort to reduce the federal workforce. States are stepping up to hire laid-off workers. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Among the thousands of federal workers whove been forced out or taken buyouts in the past month, surely some would be perfect fits for the many vacancies in Pennsylvanias state government.

That, at least, is the thinking of Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, who recently directed his state to not only offer aid to laid-off constituents, but also to repost some job openings.

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Hes catching up to governors in other states  from Hawaii to Maryland  who see opportunity, even as theyre scrambling to help panicked residents. The Trump administration and Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency task force have been culling federal workers across agencies while also threatening anyone who doesnt list in an email how theyre making good use of their time.

The number of announced terminations tracked by global data company Statista exceeded 16,000 as of Feb. 25. Thats in addition to the 75,000 federal employees who accepted buyouts offered by the administration in its earliest days. And President Donald Trump has directed Cabinet agencies to continue mass layoffs.

States are looking to hire those workers, though officials face challenges, such as offering lower salaries and having slower hiring processes.

In Maryland alone, Democratic Gov. Wes Moore estimates about 10,000 of his constituents could lose work in the shake-up. There are more than 5,000 openings in state government.

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Pennsylvania has some 5,600 critical openings, from accountants to registered nurses, now described on a newly created website tailored to federal employees.

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, Shapiro said.

Officials in New Mexico, New York and Virginia  among the states with the highest numbers of federal workers  say theyre offering a silver lining for all that displaced talent, providing ways to streamline the transition from federal government to jobs at the state and local level.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, made her recruitment pitch clear, stating, The federal government might say, Youre fired, but here in New York, we say, Youre hired.

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Hawaiis Operation Hire Hawaii is working to fast-track former federal employees into state agency jobs. Washington state lawmakers have introduced legislation to prioritize these displaced workers in hiring processes.

In Virginia, Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, launched the Virginia Has Jobs program  a website designed to help laid-off federal workers quickly connect with available state jobs.

Despite these efforts, states face significant hurdles in matching federal workers to state jobs. There are differing skill sets, mismatches in salaries, and the time it takes for a job application to wind its way through a state bureaucracy.

For workers, though, a lot of the difficulty is about coming to terms with the mind-boggling turn of events.

Emotional turmoil

For Victoria, who asked that she be identified by her middle name out of fear of retaliation, working for the federal government wasnt just a job  it was a commitment to nonpartisan public service.

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She worked for three years as a contractor for the Federal Aviation Administration before being hired last year to a permanent federal position.

The reason I wanted to be a federal employee in the first place is because its supposed to be nonpartisan work, she said. Were supposed to serve the public in pursuit of a mission, and for the FAA, that mission is aerospace safety.

Her probation was to end in April. She didnt make it.

I got a call from our office manager at 6 p.m. on a Friday night, telling me I was being let go, Victoria recalled.

She got her official termination email hours later, minutes before midnight. It included a list of resources she couldnt access because they were, for her, suddenly behind a government firewall.

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For people trying to assist workers such as Victoria, the scale and speed of the firings outpaced even what they figured was coming.

Caitlin Lewis is executive director at Work for America, a nonprofit that runs the new Civic Match initiative to help state governments recruit former federal workers. She foresaw a need for the project following the 2024 election.

When we launched Civic Match in November, we anticipated about 4,000 political appointees and campaign staff seeking new jobs after the election. But what weve seen in the new year is a massive surge in laid-off civil servants looking for work, said Lewis.

One of the biggest obstacles? State hiring is slow.

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The average time to hire in state government is 90 days. In local government, its 136 days. Thats a long process for workers who need jobs now.

If states dont act quickly, they risk losing experienced talent to the private sector, which moves faster in recruitment, she said. Many former federal workers are already transitioning into corporate roles, nonprofits, and consulting firms rather than waiting for state job openings.

Beyond slow hiring, another challenge is that not all laid-off federal employees want to stay in government.

Im not actually 100% sure that every single one of those workers who may be impacted is looking for another job in government, said Nicole Overley, commissioner of Virginia Works, a state agency focused on reemployment. Virginia has over 4,500 open state jobs. But Im not sure every individual who is transitioning from the federal workforce is necessarily looking for a state job.

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Overley added that many federal employees may not even be aware of state job resources available to them.

In the last 48 hours, weve had over 1,000 job seekers register for the March 5th virtual job fair, she said early this month. I dont know if all federal workers who are impacted know about the resources that are out there  and thats where workforce development comes in.

Some states are working to speed up the process. Hawaii, for instance, has expedited its state hiring process through an executive order from Democratic Gov. Josh Green. In Pennsylvania, Shapiro has told the states hiring office to compare federal work favorably to state work for the purposes of notching experience.

Marylands schools desperately need substitute teachers now, Moore said in announcing resources recently, and anyone with an associates degree can apply.

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New Mexico is launching statewide initiatives that include a resource webpage, recruitment events and access to education and training programs.

In Washington, D.C., Mayor Murial Bowser has encouraged laid-off workers to consider district job openings, but she also wants to ensure they have access to unemployment benefits and housing support. The federal government is the districts largest employer, and the layoffs could devastate the citys economy.

Lower salaries

Another key hurdle is pay disparities between federal and state jobs.

In many states, federal workers make, on average, significantly more than state employees. They include Maryland, where federal workers earn 183% of state worker salaries, Virginia (175%), West Virginia (163%) and Idaho (157%), according to a Stateline review of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

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In states where federal workers earn less than state employees, such as New York (77% of state workers salaries) and California (97%), the transitions might be easier, though the costs of living in those states are among the highest in the nation.

For Hawaii, the challenge is particularly stark. The state has one of the highest concentrations of federal employment outside the District of Columbia and Maryland  and federal jobs in Hawaii pay about three times more than state government positions.

To ensure laid-off federal employees can move quickly into state roles, Hawaii has set up an expedited timeline of 14 days from job application to hiring. That means, for example, passing along resumes from human resources to hiring departments on a daily basis and cutting some processes down to hours or days, Brenna Hashimoto, director of the states Department of Human Resources Development, wrote in an email to Stateline.

Its too early to say how the system is going, Hashimoto wrote, but the state will collect data and report to the governors office.

Some success

Despite the hurdles, there are signs of success in transitioning federal employees into state jobs.

Shane Evangelist, CEO of Neogov, which manages hiring software for state and local governments, said the potential scale of transitions is significant.

Evangelist shared examples of successful federal-to-state career transitions, including a former IRS employee to a state internal auditor, a federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention employee to a state epidemiologist, and a Census Bureau employee to an IT support analyst.

However, he warned that states risk losing the most skilled workers to the private sector unless they hire right away.

The most talented workers move first, said Evangelist. The ones who are smart, experienced and articulate  the kind of employees the government needs most  will be the first to go.

There are thousands of potential new job applicants.

On Jan. 19, federal civil servants made up only 8% of Civic Matchs candidate pool. By late February, that skyrocketed to 45.1%. More than 3,300 former federal workers have signed up for Civic Match in just weeks, according to Lewis.

These are not entry-level employees, Lewis said. Many of them have spent over a decade in government roles, gaining deep expertise in policy, finance, environmental management and IT.

Struggles ahead

Despite state efforts, some former federal employees say they are struggling to find equivalent jobs in both government and the private sector.

Ive heard from people with 20 years in government who are being told their experience isnt transferable, said Victoria, the laid-off FAA worker.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

Its a nice gesture that the states are saying all of them want us to work for them, but how many state or private sector jobs actually have an equivalent to what I was doing at the federal level? she said. Its not a one-to-one match.

Some private-sector employers are undervaluing federal work experience, she noted, forcing federal employees to start at lower levels.

Ive heard from people with 20 years in federal government who were told theyd have to start three or four steps behind where they were, she said. These companies know were desperate, and theyre using it to devalue our skills and pay us less.

For Victoria and others like her, the hardest part isnt just losing a job  its the way federal employees have been portrayed.

Were not some faceless deep-state bureaucrats, she said. Were your neighbors, your friends, and the people you see walking down the street. We got into government because we wanted to serve.

And if we were in it for the money, we wouldnt have chosen public service in the first place.

Stateline reporter Tim Henderson contributed to this report. Stateline reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at rsequeira@stateline.org.

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Graham Richards was one of the first academics to spot the potential of computers: I realised perhaps out of laziness that there was this new-fangled thing... which could do integrals numerically

Professor Graham Richards, who has died aged 85, was chairman of the chemistry department of Oxford University, a veteran fellow of Brasenose College and a pioneer in the commercialisation of science who advised would-be entrepreneurs to become millionaires without losing their souls.

In 1988, with his former student Tony Marchington and others, Richards co-founded Oxford Molecular, a drug-design software house, oiling the wheels, as he recalled in a memoir, 50 Years at Oxford (2011), by entertaining investors in the Brasenose Senior Common Room, complete with candelabra, and especially snuff being an excellent public relations boost.

The company thrived, being floated in 1994 and earning 10 million for the university as it acquired the French company Biostructure and built partnerships with companies such as Glaxo Wellcome. Worth 450 million at the height of the biotech boom of the late 1990s, Oxford Molecular was sold for 70 million in 2000 to Pharmacopeia Inc, and is now part of Accelrys.

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In 2006 the Times Higher Education Supplement listed Richards among 12 academic super-earners in the UK. Yet commercial success never went to his head, and as well as maintaining an impressive academic output  with 16 books and more than 350 papers in molecular spectroscopy, theoretical chemistry and biophysics  he remained an institution at Brasenose, where he had arrived in 1958 to read chemistry and never really left.

Described by one college principal as a convivial companion, combining a strong character with high administrative ability and a pleasant personality, Richards served as senior tutor from 1985 to 1990, and for a while as vice-principal. But he never neglected the teaching part of his role; the bioethicist Lady (Ruth) Deech observed that he represented the best of an older, more relaxed Oxford where colleges and tutors could spot potential in candidates and were not too hidebound by grades and scoring grids.

Graham Richards

And he led by example: in 2018 it was reported that six staff in his department had become millionaires without giving up their academic work.

At Brasenose, Richards played a central role in 1974 in the college becoming one of the first five in Oxford to admit women  a huge cultural shift from a few years before, when women were not allowed at high table, and a change that owed much to his skills of advocacy. He died during the celebrations of 50 years of women at the college.

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William Graham Richards was born on October 1 1939 in Hoylake, on the Wirral, to Percy Richards and Gwendoline, nee Evans. Both parents were of Welsh extraction, his mother, one of 14 children, having left school aged 11. Although he contracted polio as a child, Graham won a state scholarship to Birkenhead School.

He originally applied to read physics at Brasenose but accepted an offer to read chemistry. In his memoir he recalled that he was not a particularly diligent student and spent most afternoons involved in some sport or another and much of my evenings at parties. None the less he gained a Senior Hulme Scholarship and graduated with a First in 1961.

After taking a DPhil in 1964, he moved to Balliol as a junior research fellow, but returned to Brasenose with a tutorial fellowship two years later.

Richardss scientific interests included lasers and pharmacology, molecular orbital calculations and spin orbit coupling in diatomic-doubling. He was one of the first academics to spot the potential of computers, recalling in his memoir: I realised perhaps out of laziness that there was this new-fangled thing called a computer which could do integrals numerically.

Problems of Chemistry

There was, though, nothing lazy about Richards, and as well as his academic work, he stood unsuccessfully as a Conservative candidate in local council elections, campaigning in the Blackbird Leys estate in an open-top Triumph Herald. He served on the universitys General Board of Faculties and its successor, the University Council. Appointed professor in 1996, he was chairman of the chemistry department from 1997 to 2006 and raised 64.5 million, some of it from the Wellcome Trust, for a new chemistry building.

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As one of the first advocates for the commercialisation of academic science, Richards chaired the Oxford University Industry Committee and served on the board of Isis Innovation (now Oxford University Innovation) for 20 years. He was a non-executive director of several other Oxford spin-outs and was involved in Oxford Drug Design until just before his death. His publications included Spin-outs: Creating Business from University Intellectual Property (2009).

Richards was a council member of the Royal Society of Chemistry and of the Royal Institution, and was appointed CBE in 2001. He received numerous awards, though he had to wait until 2018 to be elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, some speculating that his candidacy might have been held back by old-fashioned prejudice against the commercialisation of science.

In 1970 Graham Richards married Jessamy Kershaw, who died in 1988, and in 1996 he married Mary Phillips. She survives him with his two sons, and two stepdaughters and a stepson.

Graham Richards, born October 1 1939, died February 11 2025

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Business leaders, policymakers and community stakeholders are meeting Tuesday at the Amway Grand Plaza for the Grand Rapids Policy Conference, an event hosted by the Grand Rapids Chamber.

Discussions will focus on key issues shaping the city, including housing. Grand Rapids Mayor David LaGrand is set to outline his vision for the city, while Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland, will address state policies affecting West Michigan. Sam Cummings of property management firm CWD will present a plan to convert office space into housing, and guest speaker Marc Eichenbaum from Houston will share insights on ending chronic homelessness. He spent 11 years there as the mayors special assistant for homeless initiatives.

The event begins at 7:30 a.m. with networking and breakfast, followed by opening remarks at 8 a.m. Admission costs $200 for chamber members and $250 for non-members. While preregistration has closed, walk-in registration is available.

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(Bloomberg) -- Oracle Corp. reported disappointing quarterly results and gave a sales and profit forecast for the current quarter that fell short of analysts estimates.

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Fiscal third-quarter sales increased 6% to $14.1 billion, the company said Monday in a statement. Analysts, on average, projected $14.4 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Revenue from Oracles cloud infrastructure also missed estimates.

The companys stock fell as much as 7.5% after markets opened in New York on Tuesday, touching their lowest level since Aug. 2024.

Still, Oracle trumpeted a surge in bookings and said its growing cloud infrastructure business will boost revenue over the next two fiscal years. Remaining performance obligations  a measure of bookings  were $130 billion in the period ended Feb. 28, compared with $97.3 billion in the previous quarter. The company projected sales will increase 15% in the fiscal year beginning in June and 20% in fiscal year 2027. Analysts, on average, estimated increases of 13% and 14%, respectively.

Much of the future sales bump was attributed to Oracles growing cloud infrastructure business, which has been fueled by demand for computing power to run artificial intelligence workloads. The companys strategy to become a major player in the competitive industry of renting out computing power and storage was validated in January when it announced a joint venture with OpenAI and Softbank Group Corp. on a $100 billion project to build data centers for the AI startup.

We have now signed cloud agreements with several world leading technology companies including: OpenAI, xAI, Meta, Nvidia and AMD, said Chief Executive Officer Safra Catz in the statement.

While the campus for the joint venture is taking shape in Abilene, Texas, Catz said Oracles $130 billion in remaining performance obligations didnt include any business from the project, dubbed Stargate. Bookings will continue to grow rapidly  as we look forward to signing our first Stargate contract, she said.

Investors are closely tracking data center spending across the industry for any signs of a pullback. Chinese upstart DeepSeek released a new open-source AI model that it claims rivals the abilities of US technology at a fraction of the cost, which triggered concerns that companies are investing too much on building data centers.
By Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Tom Little

NUUK, Greenland (Reuters) -Greenland's pro-business opposition Demokraatit party, which favours a slow approach to independence from Denmark, won Tuesday's parliamentary election that was dominated by U.S. President Donald Trump's pledge to take control of the island.

Demokraatit secured 29.9% of the votes with all ballots counted, up from 9.1% in 2021, ahead of the opposition Naleraq party, which favours rapid independence, at 24.5%.

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Since taking office in January, Donald Trump has vowed to make Greenland - a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark - part of the United States, saying it is vital to U.S. security interests, an idea rejected by most Greenlanders.

The vast island, with a population of just 57,000, has been caught up in a geopolitical race for dominance in the Arctic, where melting ice caps are making its resources more accessible and opening new shipping routes. Both Russia and China have intensified military activity in the region.

"People want change ... We want more business to finance our welfare," said Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Demokraatit's leader and a former minister of industry and minerals.

"We don't want independence tomorrow, we want a good foundation," Nielsen told reporters in Nuuk.

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He will now hold talks with other parties to try and form a governing coalition.

The ruling Inuit Ataqatigiit party and its partner Siumut, which also seek a slow path towards independence, won a combined 36% of votes, down from 66.1% in 2021.

"We respect the election outcome," Prime Minister Mute Egede of the Inuit Ataqatigiit said in a Facebook post, adding that he would listen to any proposals in upcoming coalition talks.

Greenland is a former Danish colony and has been a territory since 1953. It gained some autonomy in 1979 when its first parliament was formed, but Copenhagen still controls foreign affairs, defence and monetary policy and provides just under $1 billion a year to the economy.

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In 2009, it won the right to declare full independence through a referendum, even though it has not done so out of concern living standards would drop without Denmark's economic support.

"I strongly believe that we will very soon start to live a life more based on who we are, based on our culture, based on our own language, and start to make regulations based on us, not based on Denmark," said Qupanuk Olsen, candidate for the main pro-independence party Naleraq.

Inge Olsvig Brandt, a candidate for the ruling Inuit Ataqatigiit party, said:

"We don't need the independence right now. We have too many things to work on. I think we have to work with ourselves, our history, and we are going to have a lot of healing work with us before we can take the next step."

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Voting had been extended by half an hour at some of the 72 polling stations across the Arctic island, where some 40,500 people were eligible to cast their ballot, although the final turnout was not immediately available.

INUIT PRIDE

Trump's vocal interest has shaken up the status quo, and coupled with the growing pride of the Indigenous people in their Inuit culture, put independence front and centre in the election.

In the final debate on Greenland's state broadcaster KNR late on Monday, leaders of the five parties currently in parliament unanimously said they did not trust Trump.

"He is trying to influence us. I can understand if citizens feel insecure," said Erik Jensen, leader of government coalition partner Siumut.

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A January poll suggested a majority of Greenland's inhabitants support independence, but are divided on timing.

Early on, the election campaign focused on the anger and frustration aimed at historical wrongdoings by Denmark, according to Julie Rademacher, a consultant and former adviser to Greenland's government.

"But I think the fear of the U.S. imperialist approach has lately become bigger than the anger towards Denmark," said Rademacher.

Reuters spoke to more than a dozen Greenlanders in Nuuk, all of whom said they favoured independence, although many expressed concern that a swift transition could damage the economy and eliminate Nordic welfare services like universal healthcare and free schooling.

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"We don't want to be part of the U.S. for obvious reasons; healthcare and Trump," said Tuuta Lynge-Larsen, a bank employee and Nuuk resident, adding that this election was especially important. "We don't like the attention, to put it short."

The island holds substantial natural resources, including critical minerals such as rare earths used in high-tech industries, ranging from electric vehicles to missile systems.

However, Greenland has been slow to extract them due to environmental concerns, severe weather, and China's near-total control of the sector, which has made it difficult for companies elsewhere to make a profit or secure buyers.

INVESTMENT PLEDGES

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Trump initially declined to rule out military force to take control of the territory, alarming many Greenlanders, although he later softened his stance, stating he would respect the will of the local people and was "ready to invest billions of dollars" if they joined the U.S..

Egede has stressed the island is not for sale and advocated for a broad coalition government to resist external pressure. In an interview aired on Monday by Danish broadcaster DR, he dismissed Trump's offer as disrespectful, expressing willingness to cooperate with other countries instead.

Denmark's prime minister has said Greenland is not for sale, but made it clear that it is up to the local people to decide their future.

All six main political parties support independence but differ on how and when it could be achieved.

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The pro-independence Naleraq party, the leading opposition force, had gained momentum ahead of the election, bolstered by U.S. interest and fresh accusations of Denmark's historic exploitation of Greenland's mineral wealth.

The party believes the U.S. attention strengthens Greenland's position in secession talks with Denmark and aims to bring a deal with Copenhagen to a vote before the next election in four years.

(Reporting by Tom Little and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; additional reporting by Louise Rasmussen, Johan Ahlander, Stine Jacobsen and Terje Solsvik; Editing by Sharon Singleton, Alexandra Hudson, Gerry Doyle and Kate Mayberry)
Elections in Greenland, an island home to about 57,000 people, are usually a local affair.

There is little opinion polling, with only two newspapers in the Danish autonomous territory. Greenlanders mull over politics in private Facebook groups, with key issues in the past centering on the economy, mining, fishing law and of course, its relationship and history with Denmark.

But as Greenlanders head to the polls on Tuesday, US President Donald Trumps idea to annex the nation has thrown this years elections into the international spotlight.

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Speaking about Greenland in his speech to Congress last week, Trump said, I think were going to get it one way or the other  reigniting fears of the United States attempting to take the island by force or economic coercion.

Greenlands pro-independence Prime Minister Mute Egede responded: We are not for sale and cannot simply be taken.

We dont want to be Americans, nor Danes; We are Kalaallit (Greenlanders), Egede said. The Americans and their leader must understand that.

In fact, all five parties in Greenlands parliament have said they do not want the territory to become part of the United States. Their key divisions center more on economic, social and environmental policy than Trumps pronouncements.

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The dominant parties on Greenlands political spectrum all agree on the desire for independence, with many parties, including Egedes ruling democratic socialist party Inuit Ataqatigiit, viewing it as a long-term project, requiring years of negotiation with Denmark and further economic improvement.

Denmark ruled Greenland as a colony until 1953, when the island achieved greater powers of self-governance. Then, in 2009, it gained more powers pertaining to minerals, policing and courts of law. But Denmark still controls security, defense, foreign and monetary policy. Greenland also benefits from Denmarks European Union and NATO memberships.

It is an open question what Greenlands future security will look like if it votes to break away. Some politicians have floated establishing a post-independence defense treaty with Denmark, Canada, or even the United States, which already has a military base in the Arctic Circle in far northwest Greenland.

The islands future security is especially important as Russia and China vie for greater influence in the Arctic.

Speeding up independence movement

In almost every election in recent years, politicians have promised to take steps to achieve autonomy. None of them have offered a concrete timeline, though.

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But Trumps aggressive stance has actually given the Arctic nation more bargaining power with Denmark, analysts say, and kicked the independence movement into high gear.

Independence isnt on the ballot for Tuesdays election, but the other partner in Greenlands two-party government coalition, the Siumut party, has said it plans to hold a referendum on independence within the next election period. The main opposition party, Naleraq, has campaigned to sever ties with Denmark more quickly and wants to pursue a defense agreement with the US.

Greenland holds elections every four years, with 31 seats in parliament at stake.

Without reliable election polling, analysts hesitate to predict if Egedes ruling left-wing coalition will win again.

Greenland's Prime Minister Mute B. Egede has repeatedly said Greenland is "not for sale." - Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP/Getty Images

Whatever the outcome is going to be, there will be speed, there will be turbo on the issue of independence, Noa Redington, an analyst and former adviser to previous Danish prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, told Reuters news.

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Greenlandic social media influencer and candidate for Naleraq, Qupanuk Olsen, told Reuters: I strongly believe all this interest from Trump and the rest of the world is definitely speeding up our independence process times 100.

Meanwhile, amid the influx of international attention, Greenlands parliament last month outlawed political donations from foreign individuals and anonymous donors.

Danish intelligence services have announced they are actively monitoring attempts by foreign powers to interfere in the elections, citing China, Russia and the United States as potential tampering powers.

With multiple issues at play, it has never been so important to mark a ballot, wrote journalist Tortia Reimer-Johansen for the nations weekly newspaper Sermitsiaq.

Greenlanders have felt trapped

A key issue is how full independence could be achieved and whether its economically viable, given that Greenland receives roughly 20% of its annual GDP from a Danish block grant every year  more than $500 million. Thats about half the islands public budget.

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Greenlanders also have Danish passports, healthcare and other Nordic welfare state benefits.

Analysts say any independence referendum would likely take years to implement and require lengthy exit-deal negotiations.

Greenlanders have felt trapped, not just constitutionally, but also in terms of any kinds of relation, particularly economic relations, said Ulrik Pram Gad, a senior researcher focused on Greenlandic-Danish relations at the Danish Institute for International Studies.

With the current status quo they are dependent unilaterally on income and subsidies from Denmark, Gad told CNN. They want to diversify their dependence, you might say, to have more options.

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While Greenlandic politicians have repeatedly signaled that theyre uninterested in annexation, they are open to deals with the United States for rare earth mining, expanding tourism, stronger diplomatic connections and other investments.

Trump said in a social media post on Sunday: We are ready to INVEST BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to create new jobs and MAKE YOU RICH, he added, inviting Greenland to become a part of the United States.

Speaking about Greenland in his speech to Congress last week, US President Donald Trump said, I think were going to get it one way or the other. - Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

Greenland is rich in oil and gas, as well as the rare earth metals in high demand for electric cars, wind turbines and manufacturing military equipment.

Theyre really eager to get someone digging, but they want to be sure to have a piece of the cake, Gad added.

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Under the current Danish constitution and the self-government act, Greenland is in charge of minerals. They can dig up and export whatever that they want, but Denmark is in charge of security. That is kind of a stalemate, in the sense that, if you dig up something which is a security problem, whos then to decide? he said.

That issue has come to the forefront in recent years, given that China dominates global rare earth production and has already threatened to restrict the export of critical minerals, ahead of Trumps second term. One expert previously told CNN that Trumps desire for Greenland is really about keeping China out.

Security far from the only issue

Beyond security and foreign policy issues, Nuuks relationship with Copenhagen has also been fraught with allegations of historical misconduct and colonial oppression of the indigenous Inuit Greenlandic people.

The nation has been rocked in recent years by a birth control scandal, after it came to light that Denmark fitted many Greenlandic girls with an intrauterine device (IUD) in the 1960s and 70s without girls or their parents permission, as a means of population control. Prime Minister Egede recently called the birth control campaign a genocide.

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And this election cycle has also exposed frustration over allegations that Denmark profited off a large cryolite mine on Greenlands west coast from 1854 until 1987  exploiting the area without benefiting locals.

A University of Greenland opinion survey conducted in spring 2024  months before Trump floated ideas to control the island  found that more people saw the security threat as high compared to 2021. The survey also illuminated views on Greenlands desire for greater international cooperation, with locals saying their preferred partners were Iceland, Canada and the Arctic Council.

Even still, people surveyed in 2024 said the biggest challenges for Greenland were the economic situation, cost of living and unemployment.

Those views have almost assuredly shifted in 2025, as Trump argues that controlling Greenland is vital for US national security and refuses to rule out using military force.

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But the election is inherently unpredictable. The key issues on Greenlanders minds may only become clear when results begin to trickle out of local polling stations in the early hours of Wednesday.

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Greenland goes to the polls on Tuesday under the shadow of moves by US President Donald Trump to incorporate the island into the United States.

More than 40,000 eligible voters will be able to cast their ballots from 9 am local time (1100 GMT). Polling stations are set to close at 8 pm. Provisional results are expected in the early hours of Wednesday.

All 31 seats in the autonomous Danish territory's parliament, the Inatsisartut in Nuuk, are up for election.

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The debate on Greenland's future unleashed by Trump's declaration of interest has overshadowed the electoral campaign, with politicians from both Greenland and Denmark rejecting US claims.

According to an opinion poll, only a small minority would be in favour of becoming part of the US.

Prime Minister Mute B. Egede has stressed repeatedly: "We do not wish to be Danes. We also do not wish to be Americans. We wish to be Greenlanders."

Egede has declared he would be open to greater economic cooperation with the US in exploiting the island's mineral resources.

Greenland is also home to a major US military base, the Pituffik Space Base, on its north-western coast.

While Greenland is largely autonomous, foreign affairs and defence are run by the government in Copenhagen.
On Tuesday, thousands of Greenlanders mailed in ballots or headed to the polls to take part in early parliamentary elections, per The Associated Press.

Unofficial results will be available this evening, and though independence from Denmark is not on this years ballot, results will spell which lawmakers will shape Greenlands future at a moment when some Greenlanders desire independence from Denmark while President Donald Trump says hed like the island to join the United States.

Greenland is a territory of Denmark, although it has home rule. Fewer than 60,000 people live on the island, and most are part of an Indigenous Inuit background, while around 10% are Danish or Nordic. Trump has said he wants the U.S. to have access to the islands rich mineral deposits.

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I think most of us have been scared since the new year because of (Trumps) interest, Pipaluk Lynge, a member of parliament from the ruling United Inuit party, told The Associated Press. So were really, really looking to Europe right now to see if we could establish a stronger bond with them to secure our sovereign nation.

Traffic jams, huge crowds and lots of foreign media characterize Greenlands elections

Voters have turned out in abundance to make their voices heard. According to reports, roads are clogged with those trying to get to the polls. Party volunteers are passing out drinks and Greenlandic treats in an effort to entice voters to stop and talk. Large numbers of foreign reporters, including from places as removed from Greenland as Japan and Croatia, are on the island.

People line up at a polling station to cast their vote in parliamentary elections, in Nuuk, Greenland, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. | Evgeniy Maloletka

All these reporters are frightening to us, said voter Aviaja Sinkbaek. It means that something must be happening soon. I wonder what Trump has up his sleeve.

Some Greenlanders have expressed interest in expanding Greenlands business relationships.

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The populist Naleraq party, led by candidate Qupanuk Olsen, is advocating for independence while also pressing for security agreements with foreign nations like the United States, per Fox News.

Such proposals may not be enough to sway Trump from his dreams of expansion, although 85% of Greenlanders say they do not want to join the United States according to a January poll.

Greenlands current left-leaning ruling party, led by Prime Minister Mute Egede, has indicated staunch opposition to Trump. His party is expected to prevail in the Tuesday election.

Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Bourup Egede, center, lines up to cast his vote at a polling station during parliamentary elections, in Nuuk, Greenland, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. | Evgeniy Maloletka

Trumps interest in Greenland

Trumps interest in Greenland is rooted back to 2019, when he first suggested buying Greenland, per AP News.

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In addition to annexing Greenland, Trump has suggested:

Annexing Canada as the 51st state. Trump has repeated his desire to appropriate Canada multiple times. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has indicated that he is taking Trump seriously and has criticized him fiercely for his remarks.

Taking control of the Panama Canal. A U.S. firm, BlackRock, has already launched a deal to buy ports along the Panama Canal. Trump has lauded this effort.

Concerning Greenland, Trump told Congress in his address last week that: One way or the other, were going to get it.

On Sunday, he posted a slightly different message on Truth Social.

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The United States strongly supports the people of Greenlands right to determine their own future, he wrote. We will continue to KEEP YOU SAFE, as we have since World War II. We are ready to INVEST BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to create new jobs and MAKE YOU RICH.

He then added: If you so choose, we welcome you to be a part of the Greatest Nation anywhere in the World, the United States of America!
The eponymous founder of a successful chain of coffee shops denigrated and mocked Black employees, paid them thousands less than their white colleagues, and in one instance, fired an assistant manager for no reason other than the color of her skin, the companys former human resources director alleges in a new lawsuit.

Jessica Day, the onetime VP of People at Gregorys Coffee, contends she witnessed numerous racist outbursts by CEO Gregory Zamfotis, and claims she warned the 43-year-old father of three that he was going to eventually land himself in serious legal trouble. But when he ignored Days advice, her complaint says she had no choice but to resign, telling Zamfotis, point blank, in writing, that she was leaving because of the overt bias, favoritism and discrimination within the organization as a direct result of you, your conduct, your words, and your actions.

On one occasion, Zamfotis went on a tirade about a Black team member, telling Day that he was incensed [the woman] had been hired because she was missing a tooth, according to the suit, which was filed Tuesday in New York State Supreme Court and obtained by The Independent.

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It says Zamfotis then stood up in the meeting and engaged in an offensive caricature of Black behavior, only cutting short his rant when Day intervened.

In an email on Tuesday, Days attorney Seth Rafkin told The Independent that he does not discuss details of cases out of respect for the judicial process. However, Rafkin said, We recognize that when an individual takes legal action against an employer it requires a great deal of grit and courage. Our client and our firm are hopeful that this case will address not only her claims but also help others dealing with similar circumstances.

Zamfotis, who dubs loyal customers  Gregulars , did not respond to a request for comment.

Gregorys, a New York City-based chain, has 50 locations across multiple states. The stylish Zamfotis went to law school but chose coffee instead, and has appeared in the pages of Esquire , GQ , The New York Times , and, most recently, on the CBS Evening News . The chain opened its first store in 2006, and now has shops as far afield as Texas and Minnesota.

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Day, who had previously been an executive at Starbucks, began her tenure at Gregorys in June 2022, and soon observed blatant violations by Zamfotis of labor and discrimination laws, according to her lawsuit.

Among the first issues she confronted was Zamfotiss refusal to allow a Black assistant manager to return to work following what Days suit describes as a lawful leave of absence.

Zamfotis reasoning was that she was a bad employee, the complaint states. When [Day] pushed Zamfotis for actual information demonstrating poor performance, the most he could muster was that he did not think she smiled enough. Yet, an actual store manager that this employee worked under ranked her as a top employee and described her as amazing. And indeed, there was not a shred of documentation of any performance issues.

Day pushed back, telling Zamfotis that the company had a legal obligation to reinstate the manager, according to the complaint.

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Begrudgingly, the most Zamfotis would allow was for the employee to be sent to a different location under the pretense of her having to be retrained, it says.

Zamfotis later became fixated on the chains only Black executive after she took medical leave for a condition that required a hospital stay, Days complaint continues. He described her as another bad employee, the complaint goes on, and says Zamfotis even wanted to ensure that the employee would not receive any compensation while she was on leave, despite the fact that she was entitled to use paid leave.

Black employees were also subject to significant pay disparities, according to Day, whose complaint points to a white, male barista whose $75,000 salary  which was authorized specially by Zamfotis  was $20,000 more than that of the baristas manager, a Black woman who held that stores top position. As before, Day informed Zamfotis that this almost certainly constituted a legal violation, but, her complaint states, he would not relent.

The white barista was later handpicked by Zamfotis to work as a trainer, denying other employees from competing for a chance at the position, which came with a pay bump, according to Days complaint.

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By this point, this white male barista was being paid more than the black employee in charge of Gregorys entire coffee roasting operation and who had been with the company for more than nine years, the complaint alleges.

Zamfotis also treated women like second-class citizens, ignoring disturbing reports of workplace harassment while protecting the harassers, according to Day. Her complaint says a Gregorys district manager had been the subject of repeated sexual harassment allegations by multiple women, but took no action and stepped in to ensure no documentation about it was placed in the employees file. In another, similar case involving a different male manager, instead of reprimanding the alleged harasser, Zamfotis had him fire the employee who said she had been harassed, according to Days complaint.

By mid-December 2023, Day had seen enough, her complaint states. It says she repeatedly told Zamfotis that he was engaging in textbook examples of what is against the law, and that he was going to get the sh*t sued out [of] you. But, as before, Zamfotis didnt listen, according to the complaint.

Day decided that she could no longer work at a company where her protests were ignored, her department was being used or bypassed to effect unlawful conduct, and where discrimination and sexism permeated the environment, the complaint says.

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Roughly 18 months after Day took the job at Gregorys, she resigned.

Days suit says she has suffered emotional distress, humiliation, and mental anguish, and demands lost back wages and benefits, lost future earnings and benefits, and compensatory damages to be determined by a jury, plus attorneys fees.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Students at several Grossmont Union High School District schools staged a walkout Tuesday to protest a proposal to cut dozens of jobs in the district that has drawn immense blowback from families and school staff alike.

The plan, which was advanced in a 4-1 vote by the districts school board last month, would effectively eliminate 61 jobs across the district, including a number of credentialed teachers as well as support staff, administrators and all nine of its full-time librarians.

GUHSD officials say these cuts are necessary to guarantee its long-term financial health, given a $2.2 million deficit this year, additional structural deficits down the line, declining enrollment and uncertainty around future state funding.

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These challenges require us to take a responsible, long-term approach, with students at the center of our decisions, Acting Superintendent Sandra Huezo said in an email to staff last week.

Grossmont Union teacher calls job cuts great injustice

District families and staff have questioned this rationale, arguing it has plenty of money in reserves to maintain its current spending levels. Cutting the positions, they contend, will worsen student outcomes by expanding class sizes and gutting support outside the classroom.

One librarian in the district described these potential effects as a great injustice following a teacher picket over the cuts before school began Monday morning.

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Students who participated in Tuesdays walkout echoed this concern. At Santana High School, students chanted Save our teachers, as they walked to the front of campus, holding signs that read We need our teachers so we dont end up dumba**es, and No staff, no students.

Students stage a walkout at Santana High School on March 11, 2025, over proposed cuts to jobs. (FOX 5/KUSI)

In a statement on the student-led demonstration Tuesday, the district said it supports students First Amendment rights to protest and express their point of view, but opposed the walkout.

Collin McGlashen, a spokesperson for the district, said they encouraged families to discuss alternative ways for students to advocate for their beliefs without disrupting learning, and noted students departure may be treated as truancy or an unexcused absence.

He further noted students who participated could receive school-related consequences like detention or a loss of privileges.

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The GUHSD school board is expected to take up the matter again at its meeting Tuesday night. In anticipation of a large spectator turnout, the meeting has been moved from district headquarters to Grossmont High School.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
By Rajesh Kumar Singh

CHICAGO (Reuters) -Southwest Airlines said on Tuesday it would start charging some customers for checked bags, ending a unique free policy, as the company's lackluster earnings have fueled pressure to revamp its business model.

The changes mark yet another departure for the Texas-based carrier's passenger-friendly policies. Last year, Southwest announced plans to end open seating, which had been central to its brand image for more than 50 years.

Its "bags fly free" policy has been an outlier in the airline industry. Southwest is the only major U.S. carrier that allows customers to check two bags at no cost, a strategy that company executives have said differentiates it from rivals.

But the policy change, which would take effect on May 28, runs the risk of driving away customers. Delta Air Lines President Glen Hauenstein said on Tuesday some of Southwest's customers are now up for grabs.

Some analysts also expressed concerns about its impact on the airline's brand. "We were not supporters of bag fees," said Savanthi Syth, an analyst at Raymond James.

Southwest had been defending its no-bag fee policy, saying it was the No. 1 reason customers chose it.

Last September, it had warned investors that eliminating the policy would impact its "customer first" brand image. Its analysis showed while charging for bags could bring in $1.5 billion in additional revenue every year, it would cost the airline $1.8 billion in lost market share.

CEO Bob Jordan defended the about-turn on Tuesday, saying Southwest's new booking data did not show that it was getting the same benefit from its free-bags policy.

Baggage fees produced more than $7 billion in revenue in 2023 for major U.S. airlines, but Southwest generated just $73.4 million, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

NEW BAG POLICY

Under the new policy, the airline will continue to offer two free checked bags to loyal customers with the highest status, A-List Preferred, and passengers who pay the most premium fare.

Customers with lower loyalty status, A-List, will get one free checked bag. The carrier will credit one checked bag for passengers who hold its co-branded credit card.

Those who do not qualify for its free bag options will be charged for their first and second checked bags.

Jordan said the new policy is expected to drive up enrollments to Southwest's co-branded credit card program and bring in operational benefits.

"We carry nearly two times the bags as compared to the competition, which is costly on many fronts," he said at a JPMorgan industry conference.
SANTEE, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  On Feb. 27, the Grossmont Union High School District voted to eliminate 61 positions, sparking protests across their campuses on Monday.

Protesters say the districts decision could make learning more difficult for students and ignores the impact of vital staff members like teacher/librarian Jason Balistreri.

Im in education for the kids because I love it, he said.

For him, its been four years of prepping the library for the first day of school and four years of finding new ways to excite students about learning  four years of doing what he loves.

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It really has become my second dream job, Balistreri said.

That passion paid off when Mount Miguel High School awarded Balistreri the Golden Apple Award, naming him the students favorite teacher.

At the same time, the GUHSD voted four to one to eliminate 61 positions, including Balistreris.

I think its just a great injustice, he said.

The decision sparked several protests at schools across the district on Monday.

This is the straw that broke the camels back because for the last two years weve watched our governing board make decision after decision without explaining why, said Kristen LoPrell, a math teacher at Grossmont High School.

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Now, nearly 3,465 people signed a petition to stop the district from cutting all the librarians from their schools.

I mean its pretty embarrassing honestly for the community, said Sheamus OBrien, a West Hills High School alumni. It really just says a lot about how far weve come as far as our elected officials representing the needs of our students and our people.

The district name a projected $2.2 million budget deficit and uncertainty in state funding as the reasons for the cuts.

They have the money to fund all of these positions, said Savanna Clyne, a West Hills High School alumna.

If the district paid for the deficit using their reserves, they still project to have $28.1 million left in savings.

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Still, acting superintendent Sandra Huezo calls that approach unsustainable.

Why not get through this year and then come to the table together, LoPrell said.

Following numerous protests already, students organized a walk-out on Tuesday in support of the faculty members set to lose their jobs, which the district condemned.

I feel terrible because students are gonna walk out tomorrow, and theyre gonna get in trouble, and I dont like that, said West Hills High schooler, Rawaz Rasheed.

In a statement a spokesperson with Grossmont said: We have encouraged our families to discuss alternative ways for students to advocate for their beliefs without disrupting learning. Leaving class or campus without permission is considered truancy and carries the same consequences as an unexcused absence. Additional school-related consequences, such as detention or loss of privileges, may also apply. Most importantly, missing instructional time can impact student learning and academic progress.

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I walk the hallways, and kids that I dont necessarily know by name just give me a high five and, you know, [say] We got you Mr. B, and the entire community is rallying behind it, but it also makes it hurt that much more, Balistreri said.

Protesters say the cuts could leave students with less support and teachers overwhelmed, so theyre asking the board to reconsider.

If they truly do appreciate us, take the time to show us their justification for why theyre choosing to get rid of us, he said.

The board will take final action in May but expect a packed house at their next board meeting on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

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Public comment has been limited to 30 minutes, and Grossmont Union High School District says Interim Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, Pearl Iizuka, will provide a detailed breakdown of our financial position, including the composition of our reserves.

The District has been very clear that this is not a one-year issue. We are facing structural deficits in the coming years, and enrollment declines are projected to continue. Despite the enrollment decline we have experienced, the District currently employs over 200 more full-time equivalent positions than it did a decade ago. While we are not cutting 200 positions this year, addressing this imbalance is essential for maintaining long-term financial stability. Additionally, the California Legislative Analysts Office has warned of growing state budget deficits, further underscoring the need for a long-term approach.

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GROVETOWN, Ga. (WJBF)  Grovetown City Council wants to recommend adopting a State Retirement System for all Georgia Law Enforcement Officers. Mayor Pro Tem Eric Blair was the one to bring this to the councils attention.

South Carolina started theirs in 1952, Alabama started theirs in 1945, Mississippi theyve had one since 1958, and Georgia is one of the few states in the nation that do not have a state retirement plan. And I think that our legislation needs to consider that. So thats the idea of this resolution, said Eric Blair, Mayor Pro Tem, Grovetown City Council.

Right now, the Retirement plan in Georgia is based on various municipalities or county governments one works at, so there are no portable retirements allowing officers to carry over years of service to go from one job to another unless going from one that is a part of the Georgia Municipal Association.

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You have someone that starts at a local department and spends five or six years and then says, well, I want to go to the State patrol. Well, thats five of six years that theyre not even going to get credit for. Theyre going to have to start over again at the state patrol, or the GBI, or vice versa, said Chief Jamey Kitchens, Grovetown Police Department.

Grovetown Chief of Police, Jamey Kitchens, told me the job is not only difficult in nature, but they want to have more incentive to bring in new officers and retain them.

Im just representative of many. I guess Im just the loudmouth that got out here. Nobody should expect anybody to give forty years in this profession. With what it takes on you physically, mentally, said Kitchens.

The motion was passed, and Grovetown will bring the resolution to state officials to show that they support this idea and encourage surrounding counties to do so as well.

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  One person was taken to the hospital and another was taken into custody after a fight in Grand Rapids overnight, police say.

It happened around 1 a.m. Tuesday on the 1300 block of Cesar E. Chavez Avenue SW, near Hall Street.

According to a Grand Rapids Police Department watch commander, the person who was hospitalized suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

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A man was taken into custody, the watch commander told News 8.

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This coverage is made possible through Votebeat, a nonpartisan news organization covering local election administration and voting access. Sign up for Votebeat Texas free newsletters here.

Leonard and Marylou Jones know elections well. They have been poll workers for the past three years in Guadalupe County, and Marylou recently took on a part-time role at the county elections office.

But they had never seen one part of the process up close: how exactly the votes were counted and what steps were taken to ensure accuracy.

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Last week, they got a firsthand look.

I see that it is verified and reverified, Leonard Jones said, adding that hes aware that what he and his wife see on election day as poll workers isnt the full extent of the process. Its quite intense.

The couple was among a small group of Guadalupe County residents who participated in the countys fourth Citizens Elections Academy. Over two evenings, participants got a hands-on introduction to every step of the local election process  from voter registration and roll maintenance to election security and vote tabulation.

The program is the brainchild of Lisa Hayes, the countys elections administrator, who modeled the idea after a similar initiative by local law enforcement. Across the state, counties and cities offer local government citizens academies and local law enforcement agencies run police department academies, but Guadalupe Countys academy  launched in the fall of 2023  is the first to focus solely on elections.

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The goal, Hayes said, is to increase confidence and trust in the election process. Its part of a broader effort by Texas election officials to address rampant spread of misinformation following the November 2020 election. Across the state, election officials have hosted open houses, workshops, and additional public testing of voting equipment beyond whats required by law to try to regain voters trust.

In Guadalupe County  a solidly red, mostly rural area east of San Antonio  more than 20 people, including elected officials, county workers, candidates, election workers, and residents who have been skeptical of the election process, have attended the class.

And so far, Hayes says the program is working.

I have seen peoples attitudes change after completing it, Hayes said. Weve had people who would come in the first night hostile and wanting to push back to what we were sharing. But at the end of it, they were a lot more receptive and wanting to know more.

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Now other cities and counties  including the city of La Porte in Harris County  have followed her lead, creating their own citizens elections academies. Additional jurisdictions, including Collin County, are planning to do so in the future. The program has also been recognized by the Texas Association of Counties and from the International Association of Government Officials.

A closer look at the process

The academy walks participants through each step of the election process: how a voter registers to vote, how the elections department processes applications, and the state law governing both. Attendees tested voting equipment for accuracy and security and followed step-by-step instructions to open and close the polls on Election Day.

Hayes also explains the dozens of state-mandated deadlines election officials have to meet, including for testing and programming voting equipment, designing ballots, mailing absentee ballots, training poll workers, and posting public notices. Participants also learn how staff members use geographic information to make sure each voter receives the correct ballot style based on district boundaries.

Hayes also covers the rules for mail-in ballots, the steps voters must take to return them, and the specific steps elections officials take to process them. That part of the program was of particular interest to Virginia Rotge, a former election clerk who had previously observed the early voting ballot board at work.

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That board  a bipartisan group responsible for reviewing mail-in ballots before theyre counted  plays a crucial role in election security. At the academy last week, Rotge got to step into their shoes, helping process mail-in ballots herself.

She reviewed the carrier envelope to ensure that signatures and identification numbers matched, while also looking for any errors a voter may need to correct. Using a letter opener to carefully access the ballot inside, she and other participants ensured that there were no illegible marks or unclear marks that would require a committee to determine the voters intent.

The staff also showed the steps the office takes to ensure ballot secrecy is kept  separating envelopes with identifiable information from the voted ballots.

Its a good system, Rotge said. A team of two people from each political party have to agree to accept the ballot to be counted or send the voter a notice to make corrections. [The ballot board has] to take the time to carefully go over everything. And I think its good that its done by a team, she said.

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Election officials in the city of La Porte told Votebeat they were inspired by Hayes idea to host their own academy. Although some cities may contract with their county elections department to conduct their elections, La Porte officials run their own city and school district elections.

The citys first Citizens Elections Academy, which followed Guadalupe Countys topics, was held in February and a dozen people completed the course, said Lee Woodward, the La Porte City secretary.

Woodward said residents were surprised to learn the dozens of state law-required deadlines that election officials have to meet year-round and between elections, highlighting a wide misconception that election officials are done working after election day.

When people understand what election workers do in the process, especially one that is as important and as frequently misunderstood as elections, they feel better about it, theres more confidence in it, and then they go share that with other people in the community, Woodward said.

Want to learn more?

Guadalupe County elections administrator Lisa Hayes said that because each county and local jurisdictions processes may vary, the Guadalupe County Citizens Elections Academy is only offered to the countys registered voters. You can learn more about the program here.

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If your county does not offer a similar academy, you can learn more about your local elections by contacting your local election official. You can find a list by county here.

Natalia Contreras covers election administration and voting access for Votebeat in partnership with the Texas Tribune. She is based in Corpus Christi. Contact Natalia at ncontreras@votebeat.org.

Disclosure: City of La Porte and Texas Association of Counties 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.
Guatemala's Fuego volcano, considered by seismologists to be one of the most active volcanoes in the world, is currently erupting. Authorities in the Central American state have already evacuated nearly 300 families but warn that another 30,000 people in the area, located some 60 kilometres from the capital, could be at risk.

The eruption began Sunday night and so far no casualties have been reported. Authorities have closed all schools in the vicinity and a key road connecting several communities in the area.

Volcano El Fuego, Guatemala, 14/04/2024. - Lucy Davalou

Experts say the greatest danger from the volcano is not the eruption itself but the lahars, a 'tsunami' of ash, rock, mud and debris that can bury entire villages. At 3,763 metres high, the last eruption of 'Chi'gag' - which would translate from the native Cachiquel into Spanish as "the place where the fire is" - was in June 2023. A previous eruption in 2018 killed 194 people and left 234 others missing. The Fuego volcano has only been inactive for 50 days, according to the National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (Insivumeh).

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Isaac Garcia, 43, a resident of the town of El Porvenir on the slopes of the volcano, had that tragedy in mind when he and his family decided to heed the warnings of the authorities and flee their home. The Garcia family has gone to the public shelter opened in San Juan Alotenango with his mother, wife and three children, as well as other family members.

Sunrise on Volcano El Fuego, in between eruption, Guatemala, 14/04/2024. - Lucy Davalou

The flow of volcanic material is moderate but is expected to increase, Guatemala's disaster agency said early this morning. Airlines are also operating with restrictions because ash spewing from 'Chi'gag' can reach up to 7,000 metres, according to Insivumeh.
GUATEMALA CITY (AP)  Guatemalas Volcano of Fire appeared calm and nearly 300 families who had evacuated their homes on its slopes as it began erupting returned home, authorities said Tuesday.

The volcano spewed gas and ash far into the sky Monday, leading authorities to close schools in the vicinity and a key road connecting communities.

On Tuesday, Guatemalas disaster agency confirmed that all of the families in shelters had returned to their homes overnight and the Education Ministry said that schools had reopened.

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The government also lifted the ban on climbing the neighboring Alotenango volcano, which is popular with tourists.

The 12,300-foot (3,763-meter) high volcano is one of the most active in Central America. It last erupted in June 2023.

The volcano is 33 miles (53 kilometers) southwest of Guatemalas capital.
According to a poll conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) at the request of the Kyiv Independent, 47.1% of Ukrainians consider it "completely unacceptable" to agree to territorial concessions and give up on NATO membership as a prerequisite to ending the war.

Only 8.2% said they would "easily agree" to this scenario, while 38.1% of respondents called this option difficult but "generally acceptable."

6.2% of respondents found it difficult to answer the question, and 0.4% declined to answer.

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In the age brackets between 18 and 29, over 50% of respondents find territorial concessions and a refusal from NATO membership in exchange for ending the war "completely unacceptable." In Ukraine's east, 49.5% see this option as difficult but "generally acceptable."

The survey, commissioned by the Kyiv Independent, was conducted between Feb. 5 and March 10. 2,029 people took part, and the margin of error is a maximum of 2.1%.

On March 10, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Kyiv would need to make territorial concessions as part of any agreement to end Russia's war against Ukraine. Foreign Ministry said that the country wasn't officially asked by Washington to agree to territorial concessions.

NATO membership has also become increasingly elusive. "You can forget about (NATO membership)," U.S. President Donald Trump previously said.

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Russian forces continue to occupy roughly 20% of Ukraine's territory. The Ukrainian population under Russian occupation has been subjected to systematic repression, torture, and abuse.

President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested that to end the "hot phase of the war," NATO would have to offer membership to Ukrainian territory under government control, with the invitation recognizing the country's internationally recognized borders.

Bloomberg reported on March 10 that Russian President Vladimir Putin remains unwilling to compromise.

Putin has deliberately set "maximalist" demands on territory, peacekeepers, and Ukraine's neutrality, knowing they will likely be unacceptable to Kyiv and European nations, the outlet wrote.

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Read also: Putin unwilling to compromise on Ukraine, sets maximalist demands, Bloomberg reports

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Law enforcement officials say prosecutions of internet crimes against children are ramping up in response to an increase in online predators.

Just last week, Seabrook police officer John Giarrusso III, 48, was charged by the Haverhill, Massachusetts Police Department with possession of child sex abuse images. Police allege uploaded graphic videos on the social media chat app Kik and had explicit conversations with underage girls.

Last month, the Rockingham County Attorneys office indicted 25-year-old Shaun Beckwith of Higganum, Connecticut, on 12 charges alleging he used Snapchat to communicate with a 16-year-old girl in Seabrook. They said he coerced the girl into sharing sexual images and committing sex acts.

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The charges allege he sent a picture of his genitals to the girl, as well as asked her to send photos of her breasts. Police allege he asked the girl to engage in sexual activity for the purpose of creating a visual representation, according to indictments. That included performing oral sex and engaging in sexual penetration, they state.

New Hampshire law enforcement officials from around the state say they are seeing an uptick in internet crimes against children.

Rockingham County Attorney Patricia Conway said technology has long been available to predators looking to meet and abuse children online. Still, she and others in law enforcement say there has been an uptick in those crimes recently.

Just last year, 57-year-old Todd Burnim, a former Kensington EMT, was jailed for 50 years for possession of child sexual abuse images. Prosecutors heard testimony from one alleged victim he met them on a Chatroulette-style website and led her to a chat on the app Kik.

Unfortunately, we are seeing this type of criminal behavior more and more, Conway said.

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More: Seabrook police officer allegedly shared child sex abuse images on Kik, solicted minors

Internet crimes against children on the rise

New Hampshire law enforcement officials from around the state say they are seeing an increase in internet crimes against children.

Portsmouth police Lt. Eric Kinsman, who leads New Hampshires Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, said ICAC received just above 1,900 cyber tips reporting those crimes in 2023. Last year, the task force received more than 2,400.

Portsmouth police Lt. Eric Kinsman, commander of the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, says TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat are the social medial platforms most commonly used to exploit children.

The tips come from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which collects tips from around the country and forwards them to ICACs in each of the 50 states, depending on the location where they occur, according to Kinsman. He said the center for works with close to 2,000 electronic service providers, including popular social media networks like Facebook and Instagram.

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Service providers are bound by law to report any traffic related to child sexual abuse images, Kinsman said. That includes monitoring keywords in chats, which allows authorities to determine if a predator is trying to set up an in-person meeting with a child.

Kinsman said the uptick in cyber crimes against children is in part due to the increased ability to report such crimes through what he called a massive collaborative effort to identify them. He also said that technology in recent years has also improved to allow for increased anonymity online that did not exist in past years.

You can have many different levels of anonymity online than you ever could before, Kinsman said.

Kinsman also said authorities observed a rise in cyber tips after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when more people stayed inside and spent more time online. Last year, he said in an interview with Seacoastonline that ICAC received an average of 35 to 50 cyber tips a month reporting acts of child exploitation. That rose to 150 to 200 per month after the pandemic began.

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Were so flooded with cases that as soon as we finish one, we have to immediately move on to the next, Kinsman said. There are hundreds more.

Theyre just that good: Cryptocurrency scams on the rise in NH

Parents urged to talk to children about the dangers of online predators

Authorities recommend parents talk to their children about the dangers of the internet and the threat of predators. Kinsman said parents sometimes underestimate the dangers of social media. He said he is sympathetic to parents who may not know what age to allow access to social media or use of a cellphone.

I think parents just simply arent aware of all the dangers that are out there for our kids, Kinsman said.

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In York, police Lt. Luke Ernenwein said internet crimes are up involving not only children but also scams against elderly people. While he did not want to comment on how parents should raise their children, he suggested that parents monitor their children's social media activity.

I think you would find, because of the knowledge and seeing it, most police officers children probably get social media accounts at a later date, Ernenwein said.

New Hampshire State Police Lt. Tamara Hester said parents should be aware that most apps contain a messenger feature that lets users communicate across the platform. She said they should check the privacy settings on apps that their children use and limit the information available to people viewing their profile.

They definitely dont want to advertise where their location is, Hester said.

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'Predator in every child's pocket': What NH parents must know about child exploitation

Hampton Police Chief Alex Reno said parents need to realize strangers are not the only people who could be using the internet to communicate with their children.

Sometimes these sorts of events can occur with known people, Reno said. Its making sure you know whats going on with your children and having regular conversations about safety, not only with computers.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH sees spike in online predators targeting children
The good news is that Hamtramck will soon be able to elect a new mayor.

The bad news is that Mayor Amer Ghalib been tapped by his buddy, President Donald Trump, to serve as the U.S. ambassador to Kuwait.

Ghalib, mayor of Hamtramck since 2022, has shown little ability to adequately represent the interests of his own community.

Now, if hes confirmed by the U.S. Senate, the soon-to-be former mayor will represent even more Americans, on an international stage.

Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib speaks at a visit by Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump at a campaign office in Hamtramck, on Oct. 18, 2024.

Theres not a whole lot of difficult diplomatic work to be done with Kuwait, a longtime U.S. ally (though that may mean less these days if you ask Canada and Ukraine).

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Its a cushy gig that will hopefully turn Ghalib away from local politics for good.

A Muslim immigrant from Yemen who became the first non-Polish mayor in the history of Hamtramck, Ghalib could have been an inspiring figure to local Arab Americans who relish seeing their own rising to prominent leadership positions, challenging stereotypes and serving with honor.

Instead, he became an embarrassing symbol of homophobia, quid-pro-quo politics and blind Trump worship.

Ghalib, who leads the town with the heaviest concentration of immigrants in the U.S., is perhaps best known for endorsing Trump during last years presidential race, days after the Republican demagogue tried to stoke the flames of xenophobic frenzy by declaring, of Haitian immigrants in Ohio, Theyre eating the pets! on the debate stage.

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The endorsement came as many in Michigans Arab and Muslim communities were desperately seeking an end to the bombardment of Gaza.

But Ghalib made no mention of Gaza when he endorsed Trump, whom he called a man of principles.

What he did mention was the gay agenda.

Ghalib supported a boisterous movement against books that arose in 2022, targeting school libraries over primarily LGBTQ-focused content.

A series of protests, ostensibly in support of parents rights, devolved into reprehensible anti-LGBTQ+ rallies that accomplished little beyond exacerbating homophobic stereotypes and animosity toward Arab and Muslim communities.

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From his position, Ghalib could have helped turn the dustup into a rational conversation about library curation, censorship, freedom of expression, school curriculum, diversity and parental involvement in education.

Instead, he used the divisive issue to his advantage, courting unsavory electoral strategists and building political capital hed later leverage into a job in the Trump administration.

Many Republicans candidates seized on the book-banning rallies, making unprecedented overtures to Arab American voters, including Tudor Dixon, Matt DePerno and Kristina Karamo, who peddled the same kind of anti-gay rhetoric before each losing their respective races for governor, attorney general and secretary of state.

For Ghalib, who later backed and enforced a ban of the LGBTQ+ flag on Hamtramck property, the visits from Trump-aligned figures kept coming. He met twice in 2023 with Trumps former national security advisor Michael Flynn, who once likened Islam to a malignant cancer.

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Hamtramck, a 2-square-mile Detroit interior suburb, is the ultimate working-class town, with an economy and a culture driven by immigrants and their kids and grandkids. Its also the kind of place that attracts young creatives, with thriving bars and theaters, quirky festivals and cherished traditions.

The last thing that city needs is a president bent on mass deportation, cultural homogeny and regressive tax policy  or a mayor who cheers him on.

Add to that a reputation for hostility to LGBTQ+ Americans and youve got enough evidence of bad leadership to justify a plain, unapologetic reaction to Ghalibs ambassador appointment:

Good riddance.

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Khalil AlHajal is deputy editorial page editor of the Detroit Free Press. Contact: kalhajal@freepress.com. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters, and we may publish it in print or online.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Hamtramck Mayor gets Trump ambassador gig. Good riddance. | Opinion
It seems that nobody is quite sure whats happening with the student loan program right now.

On Friday, a group of 25 Senate Democrats wrote to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon asking for more information about her agencys February decision to remove the online applications for several popular income-driven repayment plans. The move has created mass uncertainty for millions of borrowers, in part because it has prevented many from filling out the annual forms necessary to keep their payments from suddenly ballooning.

Borrowers have relied on many of these plans for decades and this sudden and reckless action means millions of borrowers have fewer repayment options available and are unsure of what to do in order to manage their debt, states the letter, which was led by Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

The Department of Education did not respond to a request for comment from Yahoo Finance. But the letter underscores the extent to which policymakers across Washington remain in the dark about the departments plans. Consumer groups remain equally flummoxed.

Were trying to get the Department of Education to just provide any sort of guidance to borrowers and the people who work with borrowers about what theyre doing, how long its going to go on for, and what borrowers can do in the meantime, Abby Shafroth, director of the Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project at the National Consumer Law Center, told Yahoo Finance. Id say the biggest problem right now is the lack of information.

Late last month, the Department of Education shuttered its online application portal for income-driven repayment plans, which cap what borrowers owe each month at a portion of their earnings. In a short note posted to the top of Studentaid.gov, the agency said it removed the forms in response to a federal appeals court ruling that upheld and expanded a pause on former President Bidens SAVE plan, which several Republican-led states have sued to end.

Read more: What is an income-driven repayment plan?

By closing the online forms, the department also blocked access to all of its other income-driven plans, which use the same application but were not part of the litigation. Shortly after, the Washington Post reported that the Education Department had sent a memo to student loan servicers instructing them to stop accepting or processing any pending IDR applications for 90 days. According to Mondays Senate letter, there are approximately 1 million outstanding applications.

As a result of the pause, former students who are having trouble paying their loans each month do not have access to apply for more manageable repayment options, leaving them at greater risk of default and its financial consequences, such as lower credit scores.
EAU CLAIRE  A Kansas woman charged with making a straw purchase of a firearm reached a plea agreement with prosecutors.

Annelies Ness, 51, Colwich, Kan., pleaded the case down to disorderly conduct

Making a straw purchase is when someone buys a firearm with the intent to turn it over to someone who could not legally make the purchase. Its a Class G felony under Wisconsin law. As such, it carries the potential for a decade behind bars and fines of up to $25,000.

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Disorderly conduct, on the other hand, is a Class B misdemeanor. It carries a jail sentence of up to 90 days and the potential for a $1,000 fine.

The case began in January 2024, when Damon Clark pointed a gun at a person outside Scooters bar. A search of his phone after his arrest led investigators to believe he had firearms. But, due to a prior felony conviction, Clark was prohibited from owning guns.

When investigators arrived at Clarks residence, his roommate said his possessions had been moved to a storage unit on the instructions of Ness, Clarks mother. After police got a warrant to search the unit, they found an upright safe containing three rifles and two pistols.

Ness didnt respond to initial efforts by investigators to make contact. They filed charges against her in April.

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Clark eventually received a two-year prison sentence in Eau Claire for battery by prisoners, but it will run concurrently with a 5.5-year federal sentence. The federal case was filed based on the same incident at Scooters, and accused him of possessing an aftermarket attachment to convert his handguns into what, under federal law, are considered machine guns.

Ness hearing was initially scheduled as an arraignment, but the agreement with prosecutors allowed the court to skip ahead to a plea hearing.
DENVER (KDVR)  After some lengthy closures, one of Colorados most well-known trails to some of the states most photographed scenery is set to begin offering hiking permits for the summer.

Permits for Hanging Lake will be offered to the public beginning March 17, according to Visit Glenwood Springs, at 8 a.m. on visitglenwood.com. The 1.2 mile trail is situated in Glenwood Canyon on the White River National Forest and includes about 1,200 feet of elevation gain.

Butterfly Pavilion data used in study showing 1 in 5 butterflies were lost since 2000

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According to Visit Glenwood Springs, permits cost $12 per person during the summer and $10 per person in the winter. The U.S. Forest Service of the White River National Forest told FOX31 that rangers anticipate the trail reopening on July 1, although some construction will continue through the fall.

The popular hiking spot closed in May last year to allow crews to begin repair and reconstruction work  after the Grizzly Creek fire, the area experienced increased erosion. In November, the U.S. Forest Service for White River National Forest announced it had received the materials to reconstruct the trails bridges.

The bridge replacement was estimated to be the biggest effort in the reconstruction project, as there are seven bridges on the trail, as well as a new boardwalk at Sprouting Rock that officials say will help reduce erosion and wear from tourists.

In addition to reducing erosion and ensuring the trails durability, the $4.5 million project was aimed at improving the trails aesthetics and visitor safety.

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One of those safety measures includes better bridges that can accommodate high water and potential debris flows. Two of those bridges are also going to be slightly relocated to crossing locations that have better clearance over the stream.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  The Dubois County Visitors Center (DCVC) shared in February that back in October 2024 the Hanselman family, owners of Hanselmans Incorporated, Schnitzelbank Restaurant and Catering, Hampton Inn and Klubhaus61, were recipients of the Will Koch Indiana Tourism Leadership Award.

Officials with the Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC) explain the Will Koch Indiana Tourism Leadership Award is presented annually and is the highest tourism honor given by the state. The award is named for the late Will Koch, long-time owner and president of Holiday World and Splashin Safari.

Remarkable Women: Jennifer Parker

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The IDDC explains Betty and Larry Hanselman started out with a tavern and a dance hall in 1960 and laid the foundation for a tourism hub in Jasper. Co-owned by Betty and Larrys children, Hanselmans Incorporated now features the No. 1 Hampton Inn in Indiana and a full service event center in Klubhaus61, with the Schnitzelbank Restaurant and Catering as the centerpiece. Officials with the IDDC say the Hanselmans credit the Koch family for sparking tourism in the area and creating an environment that allowed them to build their business and contribute to Indianas tourism industry to the extent that they do today.

New pilot program at VHS serving veterans

The Hanselman family eats, sleeps, and celebrates tourism in all of their different endeavors and it is truly remarkable, said Whitney Lubbers, Executive Director of Visit Dubois County.

The IDDC says nominations for the Will Koch Indiana Tourism Leadership Award are submitted by community leaders and members of Indianas travel, tourism and hospitality industry. A panel reviews submissions.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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).
The news of the passing of YouTube sensation Alysha Burney has left everyone in shock. Known for her humor and authenticity, Burney built a loyal fan base across social media platforms. However, she reportedly died while she was on vacation in Mexico, leaving fans searching for answers. So, what actually happened to Alysha Burney?

Heres everything we know about the circumstances surrounding her death.

Alysha Burney passes away at 24, claims report

Alysha Burney, the social media content creator, passed away at the age of 24.

After much speculation, Alysha Burneys brother, Charles Burney, confirmed the heartbreaking news. He revealed that the YouTuber died in her sleep after suffering an asthma attack. Burney had traveled to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, to celebrate her 25th birthday, but tragedy died just one day before the milestone.

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News about Alysha Burney broke after her best friend, Jay Lanai, took to Instagram stories to express grief about the same. Lanai wrote, The most genuine, sweet, beautiful and humble human Ive ever come across. Im so happy I was able to embrace you & tell you how much I loved and missed you, seeing you over Christmas break. Life is unexpected. Rest beautifully Alysha, youll be missed so much. (via Sportskeeda)

Additionally, online media outlets reported unverified claims that Burneys death was linked to lacing. However, Charles has since debunked all theories about what happened to Alysha Burney, stating that his sister did not do drugs at all. She was in Mexico to celebrate her birthday. She was a very classy young woman, he explained, as per FOX4KC.com. Theres a spread of misinformation online, stating different things based on speculation. These sources lack credibility and should not be believed. My sister did not engage in environments that would lead to such situations.

Following the tragic news, Alysha Burneys friends and supporters flooded social media with tributes. The unexpected nature of her death has left fans heartbroken, mourning the loss of a rising star in the YouTube community.

The post What Happened to Alysha Burney? YouTuber Passes Away During Vacation appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
MANILA (Reuters) -Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested and taken into custody on Tuesday in Manila on an International Criminal Court warrant for the "war on drugs" that defined his term in office and which killed thousands of Filipinos.

Here are some facts about the drug war during Duterte's presidency from 2016 to 2022:

CAMPAIGN VOWS TO 'KILL'

As longtime mayor of the southern Philippine city of Davao, Rodrigo Duterte was known as "the punisher" for his harsh policies. His profanity-packed speeches and death threats to drug gangs were a feature of his successful campaign for the presidency in 2016.

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Among his statements during the campaign were: "Forget the laws on human rights. If I make it to the presidential palace, I will do just what I did as mayor. You drug pushers, hold-up men and do-nothings, you better go out. Because I'd kill you."

He said his campaign in Davao kept citizens safe from crime. He also reiterated his intentions for a violent crackdown to Reuters reporters during the campaign.

"I say let's kill five criminals every week, so they will be eliminated," he told Reuters.

NATIONWIDE ROLLOUT

It did not take long for the same kind of police crackdowns to be implemented nationwide.

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By the end of 2016, Duterte's war on drugs was well under way across the nation, and the body count was setting records.

Police killed more than 2,000 people in the months after Duterte was inaugurated on June 30 until the end of the year. Most of the deaths were described as shootouts.

The crackdown and death toll did not dent Duterte's popularity.

An opinion poll published by the Social Weather Stations research agency in December 2016 showed 77 percent of Filipinos were satisfied with Duterte's performance.

In 2018, Reuters journalists received a Pulitzer prize for a series of investigative stories on the drug war, including tracking down security camera footage that contradicted official accounts of shootout killings.

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FINAL TOLL

By the time Duterte left office in 2022, the drug war's official toll had at least tripled. Police said 6,200 suspects were killed during anti-drug operations.

The Philippine government has officially acknowledged 6,248 deaths due to the anti-drug campaign.

But activists say the real toll of the crackdown was far greater, with thousands of urban and poor drug users, many placed on official "watch lists", killed in mysterious circumstances.

Duterte was unapologetic in his defence of his campaign and says he told police to kill only in self-defence.

Families of some of those killed and human rights advocates later exhumed bodies, sometimes accompanied by Reuters journalists, and compared the remains with death certificates and official reports.

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Dozens of cases showed violent deaths where the death certificates listed natural causes. In one case, the death certificate listed pneumonia as the cause of death, although the skull of the exhumed body had a bullet hole.

The ICC prosecutor has said as many as 30,000 may have been killed by police or unidentified individuals over the years.

ICC INVESTIGATION AND ARREST WARRANT

In February 2018, the ICC prosecutor's office said it would conduct a preliminary investigation into deaths in the Philippines.

Barely a month later, Duterte said he would withdraw from the ICC. The exit took effect in March 2019.

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But under ICC rules even if a state withdraws as a member it retains jurisdiction over crimes within its jurisdiction committed during the membership period.

The ICC investigation was suspended in 2021 after the Philippines claimed it had a functioning judicial system capable of investigating and prosecuting alleged abuses.

However, in 2023, the ICC investigation was reactivated after the court said it was unsatisfied with Philippine efforts.

The current government of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr initially said it would not cooperate with the ICC, but said in late 2024 it would comply with any arrest warrant.

Its justice minister told Reuters in January the government was open to cooperate with the international body.

(Writing by Kay Johnson; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
In whats been called a Friday night massacre at the Pentagon, President Donald Trump removed six top generals or admirals on Feb. 21, 2025, including Air Force General C.Q. Brown and Navy Admiral Lisa Franchetti. Trump also fired military lawyers who advise senior officers on the legality of their behavior in combat and at home.

Over at the FBI, the president has tapped loyalists Kash Patel and Dan Bongino to direct the executive branchs largest internal security agency. These men have little administrative experience in federal law enforcement but have repeated Trumps lies about the 2020 election.

Trump has reportedly used denialism  about Joe Biden winning the 2020 election and that Jan. 6 entailed pro-Trump protesters violently assaulting police officers  to help vet appointees for senior national security and intelligence posts. Loyalty tests can screen for appointees who will enthusiastically carry out a presidents agenda and follow orders  even if asked to break the law.

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Further, Trump promoted Sean Curran, his personal bodyguard, to lead the Secret Service  the presidential guard unit. Currans appointment meant bypassing senior service members in favor of what one news report called a mostly anonymous U.S. Secret Service agent who had never served in Secret Service headquarters but had a close relationship with Trump.

Such coordinated personnel changes  firing Pentagon lawyers, appointing loyalists to lead the FBI and selecting Trumps personal bodyguard to lead a security service  are consistent with a strategy of personalizing the security forces.

That personalization is a hallmark of strongman rule throughout the world.

President Donald Trump greets members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 4, 2025. AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson

Loyalty to the leader, not the law

Security force personalism happens when leaders reshape the countrys security forces by purging nonpartisan, law-abiding officers and promoting loyal officers who would never rise through the ranks on merit.

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Whereas a professional military in a democracy is loyal to the Constitution, personalist security forces are loyal to their leader.

Sometimes this process entails recruiting personnel from the leaders party or allied ethnic, tribal or extremist groups. It may even include creating a paramilitary force, presidential guard or a new special forces unit staffed with officers and rank-and-file loyal to the leader. These forces then remain outside of the normal military chain of command.

Repressing dissent  and democracy

When leaders put loyalists in charge of the men with guns, it becomes easier to repress opposition from citizens, political figures and any dissenting military leaders.

Thats for three reasons.

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First, personalized security forces are more likely to follow the leaders orders to shoot peaceful anti-government protesters. Security forces loyal to Nicaraguas president, Daniel Ortega, killed roughly 300 protesters in 2018 and 2019 when civil society groups mobilized to protest Ortegas proposed pension cuts. Loyalist military or paramilitary forces in Russia and Belarus have similarly quashed public dissent in recent years.

Second, because citizens often know that personalized security forces are more likely to shoot citizens than to defend them against foreign threats, opposition groups are less likely to organize a protest. This makes it easier for leaders to silence independent media, jail opposition political candidates, stuff ballot boxes and steal votes so they never lose another election.

A few years after Ortegas forces killed protesters in the streets, he jailed seven opposition presidential candidates and claimed to have won the 2021 election.

Third, personalism of security forces weakens the power of other groups that might otherwise constrain the leader, such as elites in the ruling political party and even generals who oppose a leaders power grab.

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If elites fear loyal security agents, they tend to keep their mouths shut when they disagree with the leader  or else, research shows, face a purge. Generals, too: Research finds that loyal security forces reduce the risk of military coup attempts.

Leaders who dont give up power

Our data on security force personalization in autocracies indicates that when leaders put loyalists in charge of security forces, removing these leaders from power peacefully through elections or protest becomes much more difficult.

Take the example of Syria, where President Hafez Assad came to power after a successful military coup in 1971. The country had experienced more than a dozen coup attempts since 1946. The biggest threat to Assads power was another military coup.

To minimize this threat, he created a personalized security force by promoting fellow Alawites, a minority ethno-religious group, to the senior ranks of the Syrian military. Assad subsidized military housing for loyal officers and created an overlapping network of family-controlled security units outside the formal military.

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Security force personalization harmed the Syrian militarys capacity to fight. This is frequently the case because this process often purges competent officers and creates incentives for senior officers to lie to the leader about bad news.

But it was useful for enabling the Assad family to rob the country blind and ensure that the leaders son, Bashar Assad, succeeded his father.

National police officers attack opposition demonstrators in a protest against Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortegas government in Managua on March 30, 2019. Maynor Valenzuela/AFP via Getty Images

Syria did not have free and fair elections under the Assads, and ruling party elites could not check the leaders power. When citizens mobilized peacefully in 2011 to oust the Assad regime, loyal security forces killed and imprisoned tens of thousands of Syrians.

The Assads reign of terror only ended after 12 years of brutal civil war.

Follow the money

Personalized security forces need money  both to ensure loyalty and to acquire the weapons needed when the leader orders violent repression.

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So leaders who personalize their security forces must funnel huge sums of money to the most loyal units, sometimes making them more powerful than the regular army.

Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps, for example, receives revenue from state oil exports and controls sanction-busting smuggling networks. Former Iraqi President Saddam Husseins Special Guard units, though smaller than the regular military, always had better equipment and training.

In 2003, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni assigned his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to lead a new Presidential Guard Brigade and gave this unit the job of fighting terrorism so he could control military aid from the U.S. The longtime leaders son now commands the entire Ugandan Armed Forces. Age 81 and with his son in charge of the men with guns, Museveni looks set to win his eighth term in office next year.

Security forces personalization in the US?

The purges at the Pentagon in late February will not transform the U.S. security apparatus into a personalized force overnight, nor will they likely spur the military to oust Trump. Even though the Constitution establishes civilian control over the military, senior officers can nonetheless resist pressure from Trump to quash protest.

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But the firings do spark concerns about politicizing the military. So do other moves by Trump that signal greater ambitions to personalize the security forces, such as selecting loyalists to lead the FBI and Secret Service and purging the military lawyers who help soldiers abide by the law.

Look at the new faces and follow the money. Will the Trump administration bypass the senior ranks to promote junior officers whose military careers depend on Trump remaining in power? Will the US$50 billion savings that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants to extract from the Defense Department instead fund a new security force?

The most serious sign of security personalization in the U.S. would be the creation of a new force outside the regular military chain of command  think the Department of Government Efficiency, but with guns. Pro-Trump military contractors are already calling for the government to fund a small army of private citizens empowered to make arrests and deport immigrants.

If Trump seeks an unconstitutional third term in 2028, one potential scenario could play out: A loyalist praetorian guard like that would be a threat to kill protesters and fight security units still loyal to the Constitution.

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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: Joe Wright, Penn State and John Joseph Chin, Carnegie Mellon University

Read more:



Joe Wright has received funding from the Charles Koch Foundation.

John Joseph Chin 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.
A thorough study of 429,691 surgeries in Canada has revealed a worrying statistic: you're around 5 percent more likely to die, experience complications, or need to go back to the hospital if you have your operation just before the weekend, rather than just after.

The study, carried out by a team from institutions across the US and Canada, suggests Friday fatigue affects medical professionals as much as the rest of us. However, there are likely to be multiple factors involved in causing the discrepancy.

While the researchers didn't dig too deeply into the reasons behind these statistics, they do have some ideas about what's happening  and they're calling for more work to be done to make sure standards of care are kept constant across the whole week.

Day of the week matters for surgery outcomes. ( 2H Media/Unsplash

"These findings suggest that patients treated before the weekend are at increased risk of complications, emphasizing the need for further investigation into processes of surgical care to ensure consistent high-quality care and patient outcomes," write the researchers in their published paper.

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The surgery data was collected over 12 years, and the researchers compiled statistics for outcomes at 30 days, 90 days, and a year after surgery. The benefits of having surgery after the weekend persisted across all these time periods.

Interestingly, the difference between pre-weekend and post-weekend surgeries was less pronounced if it was an emergency procedure. The researchers think this might be because emergency surgeries are less likely to be put off until the next week  meaning the conditions of patients have less opportunity to worsen.

Further research is going to be needed to figure out exactly what's going on here, but given that previous studies have found similar patterns, the underlying causes are most probably many and varied.

"System-level factors, such as staffing differences, service availability, and obstacles with care coordination, likely play a contributing role," write the researchers.

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One data point the researchers did refer to was that the surgeons on duty tended to have around three years less experience overall on Friday compared to Monday. This could be a starting point for hospitals looking to provide care that's more consistent over the whole week.

This isn't the only factor that may influence your chance of a successful surgery either. Earlier research has suggested that the risk of death for female patients is significantly higher if the surgeon is male  though the reasons why aren't clear.

Ultimately, surgeons and other health professionals are all committed to doing the best possible job they possibly can for their patients, and identifying patterns like this are helpful in making sure that happens.

"Further study is needed to understand differences in care that may underpin these observations and ensure that patients receive high-quality care regardless of the day of the week," write the researchers.

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The research has been published in JAMA Network Open.

Related News
HONOLULU (KHON2)  Greenland experienced post-glacial rebound where the island uplifted several inches out of the ocean after a massive glacier fell from its land and into the ocean. UH found that Hawaii is sinking, and its not because of climate change.

The post-glacial rebound phenomenon made us wonder if the heaviness of massive construction projects is having an impact on Hawaiis islands. Are our islands sinking into the ocean?

Just as we began pondering that, the University of Hawaii (UH) at Manoa made a fascinating discovery.

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Parts of Hawaii are sinking faster than others, and thats a big concern for the future.

A recent study by researchers at the UH have discovered that some areas, especially on the island of Oahu, are sinking much quicker than scientists originally thought.

This sinking, known as subsidence, could cause major flooding in these low-lying areas much sooner than expected, particularly in urban parts of Oahu.

The lead researcher, Kyle Murray, explained that this subsidence is often overlooked when scientists study how sea level rise will affect the islands.

Our findings highlight that subsidence is a major, yet often overlooked, factor in assessments of future flood exposure, said Murray, who is the lead author of the study and researcher with the Climate Resilience Collaborative (CRC) at the UH Manoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST). In rapidly subsiding areas, sea level rise impacts will be felt much sooner than previously estimated, which means that we must prepare for flooding on a shorter timeline.

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Since land in some areas is sinking so quickly, these places will experience the effects of rising sea levels much earlier than we thought. In some parts of Oahu, land is sinking almost 40 times faster than the average rate, which is only about 0.6 millimeters per year on most of the island.

Thats just a tiny bit every year or about the thickness of 10 sheets of paper. But in certain areas on the south shore of Oahu, the land is sinking more than 25 millimeters per year, which is a much faster rate than expected.

Much of the urban development and infrastructure, including parts of the industrial Mapunapuna area, is built on sediments and artificial fill, said Murray. We think the majority of subsidence is related to the compaction of these materials over time.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

So, here are the t op 7 facts about Hawaiis sinking islands problem.

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Parts of Hawaii are sinking faster than others: Some areas of the Hawaiian Islands, especially on Oahu, are sinking much faster than any could have expected. This sinking is known as subsidence. Subsidence could lead to faster flooding: Subsidence is causing certain areas to experience flooding from rising sea levels much sooner than anticipated. Some places on Oahu are sinking up to 40 times faster than the average rate of 0.6 millimeters per year. Urban development plays a role: Many parts of urban Oahu, like the Mapunapuna industrial area, are built on artificial fill and sediments. Over time, the weight of these buildings causes the land to sink more quickly. Faster sinking than sea level rise: In areas where subsidence is happening quickly, the rate of land sinking is faster than the rate of sea level rise in Hawaii. Flood exposure in Mapunapuna could expand by more than 50% by 2050 due to subsidence, while the timeline for flood preparedness may be reduced by up to 50 years. This means impacts will be felt much sooner than previously anticipated. The compaction of materials contributes to subsidence: The sinking in certain areas is mostly due to the compaction of materials like artificial fill and sediment used for construction. This causes the land to settle, leading to faster subsidence. Flooding will happen sooner than expected: The study revealed that areas experiencing subsidence will face chronic flooding much sooner than previously expected. This means cities and communities need to prepare for flooding on a much shorter timeline. Critical data for future planning: The research provides valuable data that can help inform decision-making for flood protection, infrastructure improvements and long-term urban planning in Hawaii to ensure the safety of homes, businesses and cultural areas.

This study is a wake-up call, showing how subsidence could change the future of coastal areas in Hawaii and why immediate action is needed.

This rate of land subsidence is faster than the long-term rate of sea level rise in Hawaii (1.54 millimeters per year since 1905), which means those areas will experience chronic flooding sooner than anticipated, said Phil Thompson, study co-author and director of the UH Sea Level Center in SOEST. In places like the Mapunapuna industrial region, subsidence could increase flood exposure area by over 50% by 2050, while compressing flood preparedness timelines by up to 50 years.

This research is crucial because it gives important information about the future of coastal areas in Hawaii. If subsidence isnt taken into account, city planners might not fully prepare for the flooding and other challenges coming their way.

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Our research provides critical data that can inform state and county decision-making, helping to improve flood exposure assessments, infrastructure resilience, and long-term urban planning, said Chip Fletcher, co-author, director of CRC, and interim dean of SOEST. This work directly serves the people of Hawaii by ensuring that local adaptation strategies are based on the best available science, ultimately helping to protect homes, businesses and cultural areas.

Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHONs morning podcast, every morning at 8

The study provides data to help make decisions on protecting homes, businesses and cultural areas in order to ensure communities in Hawaii are ready for whatever comes next.

So, are we sinking Oahu? You can click here to read more.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters) -New York state sued Allstate on Monday, accusing the insurer's National General unit of failing to report a data breach that exposed drivers' license numbers, and lacking reasonable safeguards to protect drivers' private information.

The lawsuit by New York Attorney General Letitia James was filed in a state court in Manhattan.

James said National General's poor data security led to back-to-back breaches in 2020 and 2021, when hackers targeting its online auto insurance quoting tools accessed license numbers of more than 165,000 New Yorkers and 199,000 people overall.

National General allegedly did not notify drivers or New York state agencies about the first breach, which occurred between August and November 2020, and needed three months to uncover the much larger second breach in January 2021.

James said National General violated the state's Stop Hacks and Improve Electronic Data Security Act for failing to protect customer information, and violated state consumer protection laws by misleading customers about its data security practices.

The lawsuit seeks civil fines of $5,000 per violation, plus other remedies.

"National General's weak cybersecurity emboldened hackers to steal New Yorkers' personal data, not once but twice," James said. "It is crucial that companies take cybersecurity seriously to protect consumers from fraud and identity theft."

In a statement, Allstate defended its response to the breaches.

"We resolved this issue years ago, promptly securing our systems after finding vulnerabilities in online quoting tools that could have exposed drivers' license numbers," it said. "We promptly notified regulators, contacted potentially affected consumers and offered free credit monitoring as a precaution."

The Northbrook, Illinois-based insurer bought National General for about $4 billion in January 2021.

In November, James and New York's Department of Financial Services fined Berkshire Hathaway's Geico unit $9.75 million and Travelers $1.55 million over alleged security lapses that compromised drivers' personal information.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Mark Porter, Deepa Babington, Bill Berkrot and Marguerita Choy)
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP)  The Holyoke Community College (HCC) Foundation surpassed its fundraising goal during its fifth annual Together HCC: Drive to Change Lives campaign.

The one-day giving campaign, held on March 4, brought in $181,285 from 504 donors, including alumni, students, faculty, staff, and community members. The goal was to secure 500 donors, a milestone that was exceeded through widespread support.

Free genealogy programs offered in Holyoke

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For the fifth straight year, our network of alumni, faculty, staff, and friends continue to show how much they care about HCC students, said Julie Phillips, HCCs Director of Development. With so many people giving what they can, it shows our students that we are invested in their success.

The funds raised will directly support six key areas that benefit HCC students:

Academic Excellence and Innovation

Scholarships

The Thrive Student Resource Center and Food Pantry

The Presidents Student Emergency Fund

The Presidents Fund for Opportunity

The HCC Foundations Unrestricted Fund

Alumni accounted for the largest portion of donors at 37%, followed by HCC faculty and staff at 30%, friends of the college at 19%, parents at 5%, and students at 5%.

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Donors collectively unlocked $130,000 in challenge pledges, including a $5,000 contribution from Gary Rome, owner of Gary Rome Hyundai in Holyoke, and a HCC Foundation Board of Directors member.

Every gift to the Together HCC campaign matters, said Phillips. When we remove barriers for one student, were not just changing their life, were transforming their familys future and strengthening our entire region.

The HCC Foundation originally launched the Together HCC: A Campaign for Caring initiative in March 2020 to provide financial relief to students struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2021, with Romes support, the campaign adopted the Drive to Change Lives theme, collectively raising nearly $1 million for student aid programs.

Those who missed this years giving day but still wish to contribute can make a donation online.

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.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Head Start assists roughly 200 children and low-income families across Rock Island and Henry counties.

Were really about eliminating poverty, and so we work with all of our families to help them access healthcare, early intervention services, said Andrea Flannery, Project Nows Head Start director.

For the kids, that means offering social, emotional, and mental developmental screenings before they start kindergarten.

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We really focus with them on learning about their feelings, and being able to self-regulate because we know that will help them be more successful as they transition into kindergarten, Flannery said.

Moving forward, though, Head Starts future is blurry.

Yeah its just the great unknown, Flannery said. It makes me concerned for the future.

Head Start receives federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and could potentially see its funding slashed or cut entirely.

[In total,]$456 million would be taken out of the state of Illinois for early childhood education, Flannery said. That would leave 28,000 students without somewhere to go for early childhood education. You are looking at possibly effecting over 100,000 people when you look at the average size of a family in the state of Illinois.

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Flannery said continued funding is vital.

We rely 100 percent on that Head Start grant to fund our program, Flannery said.

According to Flannery, Head Start funding runs on a 5-year cycle.

We will be up for renewal in the fall for our 5-year grant cycle, Flannery said. It will be really interesting to see what happens to funding as I begin to write for that grant over the summer.

The goal is to open two new classrooms before the next school year, which would open up 80 spots for children to enroll.

This year we are celebrating 60 years of Head Start, Flannery said. What are we going to do in 60 years from now if Head Start fails to exist? Whats going to happen to these family and children?

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BOSTON (WWLP)  The Healey-Driscoll administration announced an energy affordability initiative that is projected to save consumers $5.8 billion in the coming year.

This plan includes auto enrollment and expansion of discounts and savings programs, including a first-of-its-kind savings program for middle class families, getting rid of some line items on your energy bill, and addressing violations of consumer protection laws.

The Bay States energy secretary says these changes and collaboration with energy companies comes as a result of criticism and a call for action from the governor.

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Governor Healey to promote tax cuts in Springfield before deadline

I think that the utilities heard the governor loud and clear, so theyre coming to the table and helping us think about different ways to reduce costs, said Secretary Rebecca Tepper.

Governor Healey says these affordability measures are increasingly important as the federal government imposes tariffs that will affect Massachusetts energy consumers.

Were not being helped by the Trump administration on this. The tariffs that he has announced are taxes on the energy coming into our state, whether its gas, hydro, or anything else, said Healey.

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To provide more immediate relief, the state government is giving out $50 credits on electric bills in April for all customers of Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil.

This will cost the state about $125 million and be taken from funds collected to support clean energy.

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.
Following President Donald Trump's alarming joint address to Congress last week, Representative Jasmine Crockett was asked what she would tell him if she could. She said, "I would tell him to grow a spine and stop being Putin's hoe."

A woman speaks to a man holding a microphone at an event, with U.S. flags in the background. Text overlay: "Stop being Putin's hoe."

Obviously, this caused quite the stir online! Here's how people are reacting across Reddit:

1."My favorite thing about her is how she's so politically incorrect when she speaks. Marjorie Taylor Greene can shout at Biden's State of the Union address the whole way through, but Al Green can't say shit?? It's such a breath of fresh air to see someone have an actual spine and say things how they are. So tired of Democrats essentially bending the knee and downplaying what's currently happening. I hope I get to hear more from her!!!"

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u/Red-little

2."People need to realize that it isn't 2008 or 2012. Barack Obama spoke with moderation and eloquence to convince voters in those elections, but people in 2025 are stupid. Jasmine Crockett's 'fuck off, hoe' is the voice we need right now."

u/Atralis

3."She's the symbol of everything they hate: an empowered, educated Black woman who doesn't bend to bullies."

u/threehundredthousand

Person at a podium wearing a stylish suit with white accents, speaking with expressive gestures

4."Republicans: 'I like politicians who aren't politically correct and tell it like it is!' Crockett: 'Trump is Putin's hoe!' Republicans: 'Not like that.'"

u/sheikhyerbouti

"Fox News had an entire segment where they were all clutching their pearls at Trudeau calling Trump 'Donald' instead of his title. You know, the same Trudeau who Trump has repeatedly called Governor Trudeau.

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The only standards Republicans have are double standards."

u/DouglasHufferton

5."Texas Dems have already seen so much shit back home, they don't hold back."

u/unrealnarwhale

6."Isn't it clear here? She's not going high, but going low and making the Repubs clutch their pearls  never mind the fact that MTG has been scraping the bottom all along. I know I will be contributing to Crockett's campaign and looking for more just like her."

u/awfl

Two women gesturing expressively, one with fur-style clothing and the other in a white coat, appearing animated while interacting

7."She is playing the same game that Trump is  she has an A+ social media game. Unfortunately, these are the types of things that trend and get spread far and wide. The Dems need someone like this, and she is nailing it. Whether we want to admit it or not, politicians win followers in the same way an influencer gets subscribers in today's media landscape. We need people like Crockett who can play the damn game."

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u/CarneyBus

8."She had my heart when she called MTG a 'bleach blonde, bad built, butch body.' She does not miss."

u/bigmike2k3

9."It really says something that three of the five most politically outspoken representatives I see regularly (yes, I know, biases are in play here) are women: Katie Porter, AOC, and Jasmine Crockett. Jamie Raskin and Bernie Sanders are the men I hear the most from."

u/SesameStreetFighter

"Crockett, Maxwell Frost, AOC: These are the young faces that need to be the leaders of the party."

u/Imtired1245

Three individuals speaking into microphones at different events, each appearing to address an audience with focused expressions

10."You can tell how much Republicans hate free speech by how much she triggers them. Trump's planning to deport disrespectful protestors. WTF? Read the Constitution. Even if you don't agree with everything she says, you have to give her credit for being brave enough to speak her mind."

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u/Snakesandrats

11."Black women will always be too loud for a world that never intended on listening to them."

u/donchabot

12."If the Democrats grew a spine, they would start getting behind Crockett."

u/spun_penguin

"She should have presented the Democrats' rebuttal."

u/Fast-Damage2298

A person in glasses speaks passionately at a formal event, gesturing with raised hands. Nameplate in front reads "Ms. Crockett."

13."They buckle like babies whenever theyre confronted. Republicans need their opposition to hold on to decorum because they only know how to win when the other side doesnt fight back. They respond to civility with incivility, and thats how they like it. Its why they cry and start hyperventilating when someone stands up to them, especially in public  which is why we need more Dems to call them out on the spot. They buckle at the slightest pushback."

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u/NK1337

14."It doesnt matter and should not matter (except to Trump and other misogynists), but she is also very beautiful. So, Trump cant go after her for her looks like he normally does with women."

u/whynot4444444

"Thats a really good point. He truly only knows how to fight women by insulting their appearance. The best he could come up with for Kamala was to make fun of her laugh and intentionally mispronounce her name because she was smart and attractive, so he had nothing."

u/Alarmed_Barracuda847

15."Jasmine Crockett saying what EVERYONE is thinking."

u/RoyalChris

" LOL, I always love the energy she brings. "

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u/Narrow-Statement9010

"Love her. Every Democrat needs to be standing up like this."

u/pleasureismylife

A woman speaks passionately at a podium, while two people in the background hold signs protesting "MAGA GOP's Bogus Impeachment."

16."Republicans: 'I like Trump because he tells it like it is!' Also Republicans: 'How dare she insult the president of the United States of America!'"

u/aegenium

"Trump insulted the president on Twitter every day for years before he ever even started running."

u/Jazzlike_Assist1767

17.And finally, "Crockett for president."

u/FantasticPear

Person speaking at an outdoor press conference, wearing a tweed jacket and standing near a person in a suit, with the Capitol building behind

Which Democrats do you think should be the new face of the party? Why? LMK in the comments below or in this anonymous Google form.

Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
CLEVELAND (WJW)  The FOX 8 I-Team found thieves stole high-end vehicles out of a local dealership, and what happened has raised concerns about how long it took for police to get there.

Early Monday morning, thieves stole 3 vehicles from Larchmere Imports in Cleveland. The suspects even drove through a showroom window and a gate.

Police investigating death of married couple in Willoughby Hills: I-Team

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John Negus told us he has been in business there more than 30 years, and hes never had anything like this happen before.

He said, And, they went to where all the keys were stored.

He added, Pretty amazing when somebody blows the front of your building out with a car that you own. Hard to imagine that it could be worse.

A neighborhood resident spoke out to the I-Team concerned about the police response. A neighborhood camera captured a suspect getting into a Range Rover that had been stolen from the lot.

Sheriff: Woman in US illegally had fake ID with dead persons Social Security number

The resident heard the commotion of the crime.

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It was very loud. You could hear the crash, she said.

She also had hoped to see police on scene more quickly than she did.

She added, Anything could happen. Somebody could have been harmed inside. And, being a resident, Im just concerned that it took that long.

How long did it take? We investigated.

The business owner showed us he got an alert about the building alarm going off at 5:47 a.m. Cleveland police tell us they dispatched officers at 6 a.m., and officers arrived at 6:10 a.m.

That resident told us shes very worried about the size of the Cleveland police force. It has been continually shrinking.

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Its very imperative that we stay on top of hiring more people just to protect everybody, she said.



But, at the car dealership, John Negus looked at it like this, I understand police are not everywhere at all times. Couldnt possibly be.



He showed us it seems the suspects came in through the back parking lot. Then, they got into the building.

He said they even started another vehicle and wrecked it, but didnt take that one.

This crime was orchestrated, he said. They knew what they were doing, it appears. And, it happened very quickly.

Police are investigating. The crime was not captured on video at the car dealership.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
A high-ranking Justice Department pardon attorney says she was fired just a day after she noted her lack of a recommendation for Mel Gibsons restoration of his gun rights. The official, Elizabeth G. Oyer, alleged she was explicitly told the reinstatement should come due to Gibsons status as a newly appointed special ambassador to Hollywood, alongside colleagues Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone.

This is dangerous. This isnt political  this is a safety issue, Oyer told the New York Times in an interview.

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The two-time Oscar winner lost his gun rights as a result of a 2011 domestic violence misdemeanor conviction against a former girlfriend. He pleaded no contest as part of a deal to avoid jail time, receiving three years of informal probation, community service, a year of domestic violence counseling and $570 in fines. Later, he described the events as terribly humiliating and painful for my family, adding that he has never treated anyone badly or in a discriminatory way based on their gender, race, religion or sexuality.

Per federal law, those convicted of crimes  including felonies and some domestic violence misdemeanors  are generally prohibited from purchasing or owning firearms.

A Justice Department official said the disagreement over Gibson played no role in the dismissal, per the Gray Lady.

Oyer said she was put on a working group to restore firearm access to individuals convicted of crimes, eventually generating a list of 95 individuals for consideration, which was then whittled down to nine. Then came the request to add Gibson to the ledger, along with a letter from his lawyer arguing for his gun rights to be reinstated as a result of his special appointment and success in the film industry.

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Giving guns back to domestic abusers is a serious matter that, in my view, is not something that I could recommend lightly, because there are real consequences that flow from people who have a history of domestic violence being in possession of firearms, Oyer said of the matter. According to studies, recidivism in domestic abusers is common.

When Oyer told her superiors at the department that she could not recommend the restoration, she got a call from the U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanches office, she said: He then essentially explained to me that Mel Gibson has a personal relationship with President Trump and that should be sufficient basis for me to make a recommendation and that I would be wise to make the recommendation.

After telling a colleague I cant believe this, but I really think Mel Gibson is going to be my downfall, Oyer was fired the following day.

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GEORGE COUNTY, Miss. (WKRG)  George County Sheriffs Office deputies have arrested two people accused of leading a high-speed chase Monday night, News 5 has learned.

Man killed in Wolf Ridge Road house fire identified: Mobile Fire-Rescue

According to a GCSO news release, deputies attempted to pull over a Ford sedan on Highway 98, but the driver refused to stop and began driving over 100 miles per hour.

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While speeding away, the two people in the car allegedly discarded items until deputies could stop the vehicle.

Mugshots of Kaitlyn Smith (left) and Curtis Remley. (Photo courtesy: George County Sheriffs Office)

35-year-old Kaitlyn Smith, of Richton, Mississippi, was driving the car and was arrested on a charge of fleeing and eluding law enforcement in a motor vehicle, according to the release.

The passenger, 26-year-old Curtis Remley, of Leakesville, Mississippi, was also arrested after deputies searched the vehicle and found a large quantity of methamphetamine, a substantial amount of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia, the release said.

Remley was charged with trafficking of a controlled substance.

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Body cam footage of Bay Minette shooting that killed Otis French Jr. leaked online

Smith and Remley are currently in the George County Regional Correctional Facility.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
By Samia Nakhoul, Timour Azhari and Maya Gebeily

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Below are highlights from a Reuters interview with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa conducted on Monday.

ON VIOLENCE ALONG SYRIA'S COAST

"Before carrying our military operation to liberate Syria, we made many contacts with the Alawite, Druze and Christian sects in the country. We built some bridges of trust between us and them. This helped us a lot to enter the battle smoothly. We also instructed our forces before starting the military campaign to take into account entering areas that are somewhat sensitive, and to prevent any cases of revenge and retaliation."

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"Many of the parties that lost in the battle of Syria and benefited from the old state in Syria worked on plans to return to Syria by inciting sectarian strife and conflicts."

"This wasn't the first attempt in the coast. There were several attempts, the last of which was about a month and a half ago, to try to destabilize Syria. We put them down through political means and through relations, and they went without significant harm."

"After we entered areas where we expected this type of massacre to happen, we increased the presence of security forces in them to maintain civil peace."

"Some of the members of the former regime and those who were participating in the regime's large massacres, notably the Fourth Division with its regional affiliations that you know, carried out a large military attack in the coastal region."

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"This led to the killing of many security forces and some civilians, including Alawites."

"We directed the military forces to confront these military complications, but many parties entered the Syrian coast and many violations occurred, some of which were internal and local between those in the coast, and some of which were from groups that came from outside."

"The Syrian coast was liberated about three months ago. A month and a half ago, an agreement was reached between the armed factions to join the army. Joining the army does not mean that the process has ended. There is a long programme."

"There are also loose weapons in Syria. We emphasize that weapons must be controlled inside Syria and we are working on that gradually, but it takes time."

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"We formed a fact-finding committee, which also included legal experts, and we gave them deadlines to investigate the facts and verify the videos we saw, including of random killings. We also sent another committee to preserve peace, meaning reconciliation between people, because blood begets more blood."

"This committee is made up of the people of the region, including those from the two large sects there."

ON COUNTERING GROUPS USING VIOLENCE AGAINST CIVILIANS

"We confirm that Syria is a state of law. The law will take its course on all. We fought to defend the oppressed, and we won't accept that any blood be shed unjustly, or goes without punishment or accountability, even among those closest to us."

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When asked if groups from his defense ministry were involved in the violence, he said: "We need an investigation. There are many ideas, but I do not have specifics or solid proof."

ON THE ROLE OF OUTSIDE PARTIES IN SYRIA

"There were clear statements from some regional countries that they want to destabilize the situation in Syria. There are some parties that lost out from the new reality in Syria and are trying to reestablish themselves and they only have these cheap means. We have seen their presence in more than one state, focusing on sectarian strife, spreading captagon, and political corruption. These are three components that are present in any country they enter. But we do not yet have clear evidence on which to build conclusions or practical steps."

ON MEASURES TO REASSURE ALAWITES AFTER THE VIOLENCE

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"I sent many committees to reassure people and bring them back. A large number of them returned. They were afraid of something, but when we removed the factions and some of those (fighters) who entered randomly, we sent many committees to bring them back to the country. God willing, everyone will return."

ON ISRAEL'S CHARGES AGAINST SYRIA'S GOVERNMENT

"We are trying to use patience and wisdom as much as possible. If there are fears, we have announced from the first moments that Syria will not pose a threat to any state in the region or the world. And if there are expansionist motives, the entire world agreed with Syria to condemn Israel's steps in advancing on Syrian territory."

In response to Israeli accusations that his forces could carry out a cross-border attack into Israel, he said: "I mean, a delusional person can say whatever they want. Every person can imagine that he is suffering from some danger and carry out a preemptive strike and kill. But that is not justifiable."

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THE ROLE OF ALAWITES AND OTHER SECTS IN GOVERNMENT

"We do not want to distribute positions in Syria as gifts to sects, ethnicities, and other parties - rather, we distribute positions according to competence."

ON THE DECISION TO DISBAND THE ARMY AND OFFER AMNESTY

"When I expanded the amnesty, I was taking into account civil peace. And I was worried about the excessive talk about transitional justice in a negative way. Because it needs a definition we can rely on. There are people who say they want transitional justice, but they interpret it in their own way. There is a very fine line between transitional justice and risking civil peace. Syrian unity was helped by giving a broad amnesty. This reassured many people."

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ON CONTACTS WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

"There has not been any direct communication. Via intermediaries, yes."

"First, the administration remains new, and the Syrian file is not on the priority list of the United States of America. I believe this question should be directed to them. Syria's door is open for communication with any state."

ON DISCUSSIONS WITH RUSSIA AND FUTURE RELATIONS

"Russia is a major state and Syria has close, old and deep ties with it. Through the liberation battle, we took this issue into account. We tolerated the bombardment and did not target them directly in order to make room for meetings and dialogue between us after liberation."

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"What has happened until this moment is that we agreed to review the old agreements between Russia and Syria, but we have not had time yet to get into the details of the deal's format."

"We do not want there to be a rift between Syria and Russia, and we do not want the Russian presence in Syria to pose a danger or threat to any country in the world, and we want to preserve these deep strategic relations."

Asked whether Syria had made a request to Russia to hand over Bashar al-Assad, he said: "I would like to refrain from answering this question."

ON SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON SYRIA

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"Syria has the tasks of establishing security after the chaos that has occurred and this is closely linked to building the economy, which cannot be done except with lifting sanctions.

We cannot control security in the country while sanctions are imposed on us."

ON BEING IN THE PALACE ONCE USED BY ASSAD

"To be honest, my chest tightens in this palace. I'm astonished by how much evil against society emanated from every corner. I have a balcony that overlooks Damascus. When I look at Damascus every day, I say: how could the previous regime look at Damascus and feel comfortable with what was happening there."

"I am determined to transform the palace so that it can produce good for Syria."

ON THE TIMETABLE TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT

"Soon, God willing. There is a constitutional declaration that must precede the government formation which will hopefully come soon. Right after that, we will announce the government in a short time."

Asked if that would happen in March as previously stated, he said: "God willing."

(Reporting by Samia Nakhoul, Timour Azhari and Maya Gebeily, Editing by William Maclean)
Claiming dependents on your tax return can save you money. Unfortunately, you cant claim yourself as a dependent. A tax dependent is someone who relies on you for at least 50% of their support, such as a child or another relative.

The rules for claiming dependents can get complicated, so well break down who counts as a dependent and who doesnt. Well also explain how to claim a dependent on your federal tax return, as well as some tax credits and deductions you could qualify for if youre eligible to claim dependents.

What is a qualifying dependent?

A qualifying tax dependent is someone other than you or your spouse you can claim on your tax return. The person must be either a qualifying child or a qualifying relative. (Well explain what each of those terms mean in the next section.)

In the past, claiming a dependent could reduce your tax liability because you could take a personal exemption as well as an exemption for each dependent. In 2017, the last tax year that exemptions were around, each exemption could reduce your tax bill by up to $4,050. However, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) eliminated both the personal exemptions and dependency exemptions beginning in 2018.

Claiming dependents still comes with several tax benefits, though:

If youre single, having dependents can allow you to qualify for head of household filing status, which offers a larger standard deduction than single filers.

You can earn more money and still qualify for the earned income tax credit (EITC).

You may qualify for the child tax credit and additional child tax credit if you have dependent children who were younger than 17 at the end of the year.

You may be eligible for other tax deductions and credits. For example, the child and dependent care credit is available to people who paid for the care of a child younger than 13 or a relative who couldnt care for themself. The other dependent credit is worth $500 and is available if you support dependents of any age who meet certain criteria.

Who can you claim as a dependent on your taxes?

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allows you to claim a tax dependent only in the following circumstances:

No one can claim you or your spouse (if youre married filing jointly) as dependents on their tax returns. There are exceptions if the person whos claiming you is only filing a return to get a tax refund on previously withheld taxes or estimated taxes.

The person youre claiming isnt eligible to file a joint tax return. (Again, an exception applies if the dependent or their spouse is only filing taxes to get a refund on withheld or estimated taxes.)

The person youre claiming must be a U.S. citizen, resident alien or national, or a resident of Canada or Mexico.

The person must meet the IRS criteria for a qualifying child or qualifying relative.

Who counts as a qualifying child?

All of the following must be true if youre claiming a child as your dependent:

1. The child is related to you: The child must be your son or daughter (including an adopted child), stepchild, foster child, sibling, half-sibling, stepsibling, or a descendant of one of these people.

2. The child is younger than a certain age: The IRS imposes the following age restrictions for claiming a child as a dependent:

If the child doesn't meet the IRS definition of a full-time student, they must be 18 or younger at the end of the tax year and younger than you (and younger than your spouse if youre married and file a joint return).

If the child is a full-time student, they must be 23 or younger at the end of the tax year and younger than you (and younger than your spouse if you file a joint tax return).

The child can be any age if theyre totally disabled.

3. The child lived with you for more than half the year: There are exceptions for temporary absences, such as if a qualifying child attends college away from home, as well as for other circumstances, like if the child was born or died during the tax year or if they were adopted midway through the year.

4. The child didnt provide more than half of their financial support for the year: You can still claim your child as a dependent if they have a job, but you cant claim them as a dependent if they provide more than 50% of their own financial support for the year. Financial support can include housing, food, clothing, out-of-pocket medical and dental costs, and education expenses.

Example: You have a 14-year-old daughter who lives at home year-round and relies on you for all of her financial support. Shes clearly your qualifying child. You also have a 21-year-old son who attends college out of state full time, and you pay for more than half of his expenses. He, too, counts as your qualifying child. But if he graduates or drops out of school, hell no longer count as your qualifying child because hes older than 18. Likewise, if he works enough to pay more than half his bills, he isnt your qualifying child under IRS rules.

Who counts as a qualifying relative?

For the IRS to consider someone your qualifying relative for tax purposes, the following must be true:

The person isnt your qualifying child. The person also cant be considered another taxpayers qualifying child. The person is either someone who lived in your household for the entire tax year or is related to you in some way. Examples of people the IRS counts as your relatives include a child (who doesnt meet the qualifying child definition), stepchild, sibling, niece or nephew, parent, stepparent, in-law, grandparent, aunt, or uncle. Note that if the person is considered a relative, they dont necessarily have to live with you to qualify as your dependent. The persons gross income for the year was $5,050 or less in 2024. (The amount increases to $5,200 in 2025.) Theres an exception if the person has disabilities and receives income from a sheltered workshop, which is an organization that provides employment opportunities to people with certain mental or physical impairments. You provide at least half the persons financial support for the year. Exceptions may apply when parents are divorced or separated if the custodial parent has signed an agreement that states they wont claim the child on their own tax return.

Example: You have a boyfriend or girlfriend who doesnt work and lives with you all year. As long as you provide at least half their support and they didnt have more than $5,050 of gross income, theyre considered a qualifying relative even though theyre not related to you because they were a member of your household for the entire year. You also provide most of your elderly mothers financial support. Her only other source of income is Social Security, and none of her benefits are taxable. As long as her gross income didnt exceed $5,050, she still counts as your qualifying relative, even though she doesnt live in your home.

Who cant be claimed as a tax dependent?

With a few exceptions, you generally cant claim the following individuals as tax dependents,:

Yourself

Your spouse

A child 19 or older whos not a full-time student or a child whos 24 or older, unless theyre disabled OR theyre living at home and earning less than $5,050 (2024) or $5,200 (2025), and you provide most of their financial support

Someone whos not a relative  unless they lived with you for the entire year, earned less than $5,050 in 2024, and relied on you for most of their support

A relative who earned more than $5,050 in 2024 or doesnt rely on you for the majority of their support

Someone who can be claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer

Someone whos eligible to file a joint tax return

Anyone whos not a U.S. citizen, resident alien or national, or a resident of Canada or Mexico

Tip: To get all the official rules on claiming dependents, check out IRS Publication 501.

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How to claim a dependent on your taxes

You can claim dependents on your taxes through Form 1040. Youll need to provide the following information about each dependent:

First and last name

Social Security number

Their relationship to you

Youll also be asked whether youre claiming the child tax credit or other dependent credit on their behalf.

If you e-file, the best tax software will make it easy to add dependents. Youll simply provide the information above for each person youre claiming.

If youre not sure whether you can claim someone as your dependent, you can use the IRS Interactive Tax Assistant to determine their eligibility. But due to the complexity of the rules, always consult with a professional tax preparer if you have any questions about whats allowed.

Qualifying dependents frequently asked questions (FAQs)

How long can you claim a child as a dependent?

You can usually claim a child whos not married, lives with you most of the year, and relies on you for the bulk of their support until they reach age 19 if theyre not a student. That age increases to 24 if theyre a full-time student. Theres no age limit if the child has permanent disabilities.

How many dependents should I claim?

You should claim anyone who counts as a qualifying child or qualifying relative under the tax code. There's no limit on the number of dependents you can claim.

What tax credits can I claim if I have dependents?

You may qualify for the child tax credit and additional child tax credit if you have qualifying children who were 16 or younger at the end of the year. You may also receive the child and dependent care credit if you paid for childcare for a dependent child younger than 13 or for the care of a relative who couldnt take care of themselves. The credit for other dependents may be available if you have dependents but cant claim the child tax credit or additional child tax credit on their behalf. You can also qualify for the earned income tax credit at higher income levels if you have dependents.

What happens if I accidentally claimed myself as a dependent?

If you accidentally claimed yourself as a dependent or made a similar error, youll need to file Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. Youll need to do this as soon as possible to minimize the penalties and interest you could face if you owe money due to the mistake.
HILLIARD, Ohio (WCMH)  Hilliard City Councill had its first hearing on whether to approve or deny a new housing development.

Its called Hill Farm Two and its an extension of the current Hill Farm housing area. Dozens of residents showed up to address their concerns, many of them worried about the increase in traffic and potential safety concerns.

A large portion of Monday nights city council meeting was focused on the Hill Farm Two development.

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In March 2024, M/I Homes submitted an application in order to develop 300 single-family lots and 186 acres of open space on 265 total acres.

The Hilliard Planning and Zoning Commission approved the application from the developer last month.

Hill Farm Two would be located in the area of Elliott Road.

A few of the residents who live on Jeffrelyn Drive nearby and a street that may end up connecting with Hill Farm Two, should it be approved, said that while they arent necessarily against the development, they do not want it connecting to Jeffrelyn Drive and are also worried that traffic will increase.

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Stacy budinski, hilliard resident

I think us speaking up and attending the city council meeting has gotten on their radar and were starting to hear some planning for safety measures, resident Stacy Budinski said. Were hoping it continues. Were just here trying to protect our neighbors and the kids in our neighborhood.

City council members had a lot of questions about the proposal, many of them addressing those safety concerns residents had mentioned.

A second reading for this development will happen later this month.

This development would also impact the Big Darby watershed, which also was a concern of the residents.

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City council member Les Carrier believes Hilliard is really the only city that follows the accord standards.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
ST. LOUIS  A Hillsboro, Missouri, man appeared in St. Louis Circuit Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to more than 200 charges for break-ins and thefts in St. Louis City over several months.

In April 2024, the St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office charged Gage Luttman, 37, with five counts of second-degree burglary, three counts of stealing  $750 or more, two counts of first-degree property damage, one count of second-degree property, two counts of first-degree trespassing, and one count of stealing a motor vehicle.

Prosecutors dismissed 11 of those counts as part of a plea agreement with Luttman. He pleaded guilty to the rest of them, approximately 240 in total.

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According to investigators with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Luttman committed the break-ins and thefts between August 2023 and March 2024, mostly in the southwest neighborhoods of the city, targeting dozens of businesses, basements, garages, and storage units. He stole thousands of dollars in tools, firearms, electronics, musical instruments, jewelry, and other assorted property.

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Police said Luttman used stolen vehicles to commit the break-ins, including at least two Hyundais, two Kias, a Honda, a Vespa, a Dodge Ram, and a 1955 Citroen 2CV.

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Surveillance video from numerous crime scenes and Luttmans own home showed him with many of the reported stolen items.

After Luttmans arrest, storage unit and garage unit burglaries plummeted in the citys Second District, police said.

Most of the stolen items were eventually returned to their owners.

A St. Louis Circuit Court judge sentenced Luttman to 14 years in state prison.

Luttman has prior convictions for drug and burglary cases in Jefferson County, as well as pending theft cases in St. Louis and a pending drug possession case in St. Charles 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 FOX 2.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Snoop Dogg is heading to Cincinnati for a summer performance.

FILE  Snoop Dogg performs at the Shaqs Fun House Super Bowl event on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023, at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz. (Photo by Rick Scuteri/Invision/AP, File)

On Aug. 11, Snoop Dogg will perform directly after the 6:10 p.m. Cincinnati Reds game, when the team takes on the Philadelphia Phillies at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati.

Concertgoers must have a game ticket to attend the concert.

If you are interested in seeing Snoop up-close, a Field Pass Package is being offered.

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For ticket purchasing information, 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 WDTN.com.
Surinamese Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin has been named the new secretary-general of the Organization of American States, becoming the first diplomat from the Caribbean Community to lead the hemispheric organization and taking over the role of from Uruguayan diplomat Luis Almagro.

A former assistant secretary general to the organization between 2005-15, during which he made countless trips to Haiti, Ramdin, 66, has served as Surinames minister of foreign affairs, international business and international cooperation since 2020 and will remain in the post until May 25.

Ramdins election to the five-year post came by acclamation at the beginning of the 56th Special Session of the General Assembly of the OAS on Monday in the presence of 25 delegates. Ahead of the race, he had received the unanimous endorsements of the 14 member Caribbean Community, and late last week he secured the support of Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombian and Uruguay.

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Ramdin was running against Paraguay Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez Lezcano, who reportedly pulled out of the race last week after being unable to secure the support of the Trump administration. The new U.S. administration has expressed uncertainty about the OAS and its role in helping resolve conflicts in the hemisphere.

The ongoing debate about the usefulness of the Washington-based OAS, along with its unclear relations with the Trump administration. compounded by the crises in Haiti, Venezuela and Nicaragua, are among some of the immediate challenges Ramdin faces.

A former Dutch colony, Suriname is located at the northern top of South America. However, it enjoys close diplomatic relations with the Caribbean and is part of the Caribbean Community regional bloc known as CARICOM. Made up mostly of former British colonies, CARICOMs full membership also includes Haiti and the only non-independent nation, the British Overseas Territory of Montserrat.

A representative of Suriname said in a statement that Ramdins ascension not only represents a milestone in the history of the OAS, it reflects a reaffirmation of the shared commitments to democracy, human rights, security and development across the Americas. It also adds a new and important element to the diverse political landscape in the Western Hemisphere.

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Today comes into reality the first time the Caribbean Community member states after more than 45 years of membership occupy the highest position in this hemispheric body, said Stanley Raghoebarsing, Surinames minister of finance and planning.

Ramdins unanimous support from the Caribbean Communitys and of other countries in Central and South America, along with the endorsement of his president, Chandrikapersad Chan Santokhi, underscore the confidence placed in his leadership, Raghoebarsing read from prepared remarks

The unity and strong commitment that accompanied this endorsement have laid an important foundation for the election by acclamation today, he said. CARICOM brings rich experience and achievements to this hemisphere in terms of democracy, democratic governance, the rule of law, human rights and in many other areas that go straight to the original goals and purpose of this hemispheric body. We are convinced that the new secretary general will benefit from these important developments and strengthen the inter-American relations to the benefit of all.

In his campaign for the OAS post, Ramdin advocated cross-border collaboration and talked about the OAS doing more to address post-COVID-19 uncertainties and issues like crime, migration and economic development. He wanted to see the agency be very motivated and inspired, he told the Miami Herald.

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In a congratulatory statement, the Caribbean Communitys foreign ministers said Ramdins historic election reflects the confidence of member states in his abilities.

With a career distinguished by extensive experience in foreign policy and diplomacy, including a previous tenure as OAS Assistant Secretary-General, he is well-equipped to guide the organization in addressing critical issues such as peace, security, socioeconomic development, democracy and good governance across the hemisphere, the statement said. The Caribbean Community is confident that Minister Ramdin will serve in his new role with distinction, upholding the OAS Charter and demonstrating the necessary expertise to navigate regional challenges, thereby contributing to the shared vision for a peaceful and prosperous hemisphere.
Eliot Kleinberg, a retired reporter from The Palm Beach Post and a historian, wrote more than 1,000 history columns for The Palm Beach Post published under the name "Post Times."

The column title refers to the "Palm Beach Evening Times," sister publication of "The Palm Beach Post," which was founded in September 1922. "The Post" debuted in January 1916. They merged in May 1987, and the afternoon edition featured both mastheads.

Casino magnate E.R. Bradley bought the papers in February 1934 and the Sunday edition was called the "Palm Beach Post-Times."

The Palm Beach Post-Times on Sunday, Aug. 8, 1976

More: How the Ashley gang, who robbed banks and killed law officers, met their bloody end

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Here are some of the historical facts and trivia that Kleinberg learned over more than two decades of writing. We thought we'd share a few with you, with more coming in the future.

How did Military Trail get its name?

It really was a military trail. During the Second Seminole War, the longest and costliest of the Native American wars and one of the most unpopular in U.S. history, Maj. William Lauderdale was leading troops of Tennessee Volunteers. After the battles of Okeechobee in December 1837 and the battles of Lockahatchee (Loxahatchee), Jan. 15 and Jan. 24, 1838, soldiers went on to build Fort Jupiter. They carved the north-south trail to supply the fort.

Beginning in 1894, the Black community on Palm Beach was moved from the Styx (which was developed into a commercial area) to the Northwest neighborhood, which served as West Palm Beach's segregated African American community from 1929 to 1960.

Did Henry Flagler really burn down the Styx?

It's accepted as gospel by many. But the evidence all but dismisses it. The shantytown known as the Styx sprang up in Palm Beach in the 1890s for more than 2,000 Black workers who built Henry Flagler's nearby hotels. The story is that Flagler was eager to oust the residents so he could develop the land. He hired a circus to set up across the Intracoastal Waterway in West Palm Beach, gave Black residents free passes, and while they enjoyed the show, burned their homes down.

But Flagler didn't own the land. The Bradley brothers, one of whom was the famous casino owner E.R., did, as a member of a pioneer family pointed out to The Post in 1994. The workers were squatters and could be evicted at any time. A former resident told Kleinberg before she died that she didn't remember any fire.

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Post Time: Pioneers photos give glimpse of Palm Beachs mysterious Styx

Does Boca Raton really mean 'Mouth of the Rat?'

It originally was Boca de los Ratones  "mouth of the mice." In this case the translation referred to an inlet  a mouth  full of mice. The Boca Raton Historical Society says there was, in fact, an inlet with sharp rocks that gnawed the ropes of ships rocking at anchor along the shore. But the inlet was not in southern Palm Beach County. It was at Miami Beach. Map makers inadvertently placed it where it is now.

What's the oldest structure in Palm Beach County?

Technically, it's a brick oil house, finished in January 1860, that stands alongside the Jupiter Lighthouse. The lighthouse wasn't officially considered completed until the first lighting on July 10, 1860.

Here are some of Kleinberg's most memorable history stories:

Richard Gordon "Tiny" Sowell played basketball and baseball at Palm Beach High and went to the University of Florida for two years before he enlisted to fight in World War II. He'd been a forward spotter with the 295th Joint Assault Signal Company, 3rd Battalion, 106th Infantry Division during the Battle of Saipan when a Japanese mortar hit him in a foxhole on July 7, 1944. He died at age 21.

'Soldiers don't fear dying. They fear being forgotten'

Tiny Sowell, the beloved Palm Beach High graduate, Class of 1941, had died at 21 in a foxhole on the Japanese-held island of Saipan on July 7, 1944. His remains had laid there for years before authorities could return. When they couldn't make a positive identification, he was buried in a numbered grave in Hawaii for seven decades. In 2015, the military took a DNA swab from his nephew and made a match. And in 2017, he was returned to West Palm Beach and buried the day before Veterans Day, with full military honors. Jeff Garten, ride captain of the Patriot Guard, a veterans group that provides motorcycle escorts, saluted and told nephew Lewis Sowell Jr.: "Soldiers don't fear dying. They fear being forgotten."

Owner of West Palm Beach's oldest house killed at his dining room table

For decades, people talking about what probably is West Palm Beach's oldest home repeated the story  that the original owner, British expatriate Richard Hone, was shot Oct. 20, 1902, by a mystery gunman on horseback who melted into the dark and got away with murder.

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The Post had gone with that version, and since the paper hadn't started until 1916, there was no way to check archives. But there was another way to check the facts. We got into editions of the Weekly Lake Worth News and the Tropical Sun, both predecessors to The Post, which heavily covered the slaying. It turns out one of Hone's employees was caught within days, confessed to shooting him through a window  though not from horseback  and eventually was hanged. "Those articles, at least those in Palm Beach Post archives," we wrote at the time, "now will have to be accompanied by what likely will be the most belated correction in the newspaper's history: 116 years."

Eliot Kleinberg is a noted historian and former reporter for The Palm Beach Post.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County history: Oldest structure, Military Trail's name
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is launching a US-style reward scheme for taxpayers who tell on family members and former employers under plans to claw back billions lost through tax evasion.

James Murray, a Treasury minister, is expected to announce the plans in a speech on Tuesday to mark the 20th anniversary of HMRC, as part of a crackdown on tax fraud.

The radical shake-up means that for the first time, informants will receive compensation linked to the amount of revenue the tax man claws back, as in the US and Canada, The Mail reports.

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It comes after MPs accused the tax authority of underestimating the 5.5bn-a-year cost of tax evasion.

HMRC already asks taxpayers to snitch on individuals or businesses who they suspect are underpaying tax or committing fraud.

James Murray is set to to announce plans in speech as part of a crackdown on tax fraud - David Woolfall

Currently, the authority compensates informers on a discretionary basis, with the amount varying depending on the amount of tax recovered and the time saved in investigations.

The taxman paid out nearly 978,256 to whistleblowers who provided actionable intelligence on tax fraud in 2023-2024. This was up from 508,500 the previous year, and the highest in at least seven years.

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However, experts have warned that HMRC must significantly increase the amounts it pays out if it wants to close the 39.8bn tax gap  the difference between what the revenue should collect in theory and what it is actually paid.

The tax office calculates that 5.5bn is lost to taxpayers and businesses exploiting weaknesses in the system every year, but it has admitted that this figure is uncertain.

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, head of the influential Public Accounts Committee (PAC), said last month that this amount could just be the tip of the iceberg.

Under the US whistleblower system, informers must provide credible information that leads to the collection of taxes, penalties, or interest. It is administered by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Whistleblower Office.

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To qualify for mandatory awards, the tax dispute must exceed $2m and relate to an individual taxpayer with a gross income of over $200,000 for at least one of the tax years in question.

Whistleblowers can receive 15pc to 30pc of the recovered amount. Reduced rewards of up to 10pc apply if the information provided is publicly available. Rewards are issued only after appeals are resolved and whistleblowers remain anonymous.

Andrew Park, tax investigations partner at Price Bailey, said the switch to a US-style system was a very good idea that would lead to more fraud in big businesses being reported.

He added: At the moment HMRC doesnt have a structured programme. They pay out very small amounts, paltry sums.What that means in practice is its not much of an incentive to blow the whistle on major fraud. At present it tends to be vexatious, divorces, people falling out with neighbours.

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The change will inevitably lead to a huge increase in whistleblowing cases, and high-ticket cases blowing the whistle in large organisations.

But its evident that people in the US are victims of their own success. They are swamped with tip-offs.

Mr Murray said: Everyone in Britain should play by the rules. We have zero-tolerance for anyone who commits tax fraud or dodges their responsibilities.

That is why we are pushing ahead with our new US-style whistleblower reward scheme, and our crackdown on anyone abusing company insolvency rules.

By going further and faster in pursuing those who break the rules, we are making the system fairer for everyone else, and we are delivering the Prime Ministers Plan for Change by creating a simple and modern tax system that promotes economic growth.

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In his speech, Mr Murray is also expected to announce a tripling of the self-assessment reporting threshold for trading income from 1,000 to 3,000. The move would slash the administrative burden for hundreds of thousands of people with side hustles, such as influencers and eBay sellers.

The shake-up would mean around 300,000 taxpayers will no longer have to file a tax return.

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Proposed legislation would bar most homeowners associations in Nevada from prohibiting licensed home-based childcare operations within their communities. (Getty Images)

Deetra Stewart provided home-based child care for more than two decades before her homeowners association decided they had a problem with it.

She recalled being shocked and horrified by what felt like an arbitrary decision: My family lost income and the families I serve lost their childcare provider.  (The HOA) had the power to shut down my fully licensed business, so they did.

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Stewart, whose home-based childcare business was insured and licensed by the state, worked with the HOA for several months to address their concerns about traffic, unknown visitors, and legal liability. She got them to reverse the decision and reopened. Now, she is urging state lawmakers to help ensure other home-based childcare providers dont run into similar roadblocks.

Assembly Bill 185, sponsored by Democratic Assemblymember Natha Anderson, would bar most homeowners associations in Nevada from prohibiting licensed home-based childcare operations within their communities. HOAs for age-restricted communities would still be allowed to prohibit them, as would rental agreements signed by tenants.

Anderson and Stewart presented the bill to the Assembly Committee on Government Affairs on Monday.

Republican Assemblymember Danielle Gallant, who joked that as a property manager she cant say that I love HOAs and might even go on the record and say I hate them, drew a parallel to existing state law that stops HOAs from prohibiting rooftop solar panels.

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HOAs, she said, are designed to protect property values, not to micromanage your everyday personal life.

This is not something that will be affecting your property values, she added.

But other committee members expressed reservations.

Republican Assemblymember Heidi Kasama, who works in real estate, said some people seek out HOAs because they dont want any businesses running out of their neighborhoods. She said she worries the bill would change that dynamic.

I think other residents should have the opportunity to know if theyre moving into a community where businesses are allowed before they move in and before they purchase or rent there, she said.

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Stewart said she loves her HOA. She chalked up her associations sudden pushback to her childcare operation as people being misinformed about the requirements placed on home-based care.

The HOAs know nothing about how deep that goes, she said, from our licensing, from the health department, from the fire department.

AB 185 would also change state licensure requirements to allow home-based facilities without dedicated outdoor space by allowing them to be licensed if they are within 1 mile of a public park or accessible outdoor space. Outdoor space requirements set by the state have been a barrier to home-based providers in condos and townhomes, said Denise Tanata, a consultant with The Childrens Cabinet.

Indoor square footage requirements for home-based childcare facilities would remain the same. Tanata said that because of that providers operating out of multi-family dwellings would most likely be restricted to six or fewer children.

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In Nevada, people providing childcare for four or fewer children in a home setting are not required to be licensed. People providing home-based care for between six and 12 children are required to be licensed by the state, either as family child care or group child care providers, depending on how many kids are being watched.

Counties and cities can impose additional requirements, and Anderson emphasized that the bill is not intended to take away those powers.

Clark County and the cities of Reno, Las Vegas and Henderson are currently opposed to the bill. Their respective lobbyists said they are working with Anderson on their concerns, which appear to center on technical definitions and language included within the bill. They also acknowledged the need for more childcare options throughout the state.

Supporters of AB 185, including the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada and the Childrens Advocacy Alliance, characterized the bill as pro-family, saying it supports parents who want their young children cared for in a home setting rather than a larger childcare center.

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They also described the bill as pro-business for removing red tape and barriers for people, particularly women, who want to provide home-based childcare.

Before women were really in the workforce, what were we doing? asked Stewart. We were taking care of children. We are the foundation of childcare. Childcare went out into the community when the community started wanting to start businesses and they realized that money could be made. But family child care providers take care of children because its what we do. We are the foundation. We are the pillars of taking care of children.

A very large elephant

Anderson described the bill as a very, very small bite of a very large elephant, acknowledging that child care issues are complex and require multiple fixes.

Nevada in recent years has attempted to boost the childcare industry, even using American Rescue Plan Act money to support the opening of new centers. But the number of home-based providers has significantly decreased, Anderson said.

Every county in Nevada is considered an early childcare desert, with an estimated

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74% of children 5 or younger lacking access to licensed child care, according to a 2023 report from the Governors Workforce Development Board.

Nevada is one of the 38 states in the United States where childcare is more expensive than in-state college tuition, according to the Economic Policy Institute. The average annual cost of infant care in Nevada is $15,950 and the cost of care for a 4-year-old is $13,268.

Home-based childcare is typically cheaper than center-based care, though that is only one of the reasons families choose them. Some are drawn to the smaller setting. Others find they are able to be more flexible with hours at a home setting.

This is just one thing we can do, said Anderson.
Yanis Tereshchenko was enjoying one of his 15 permitted foreign respite days when he came across a stabbing - Corriere del Veneto

A Ukrainian soldier on holiday in Venice saved the life of a man who had been stabbed in a brawl in the alleyways of the historic city centre.

It is likely that Yanis Tereshchenkos prompt intervention saved the young man, who had been wounded in the leg and was losing a large quantity of blood.

The man, reportedly Tunisian, had allegedly got into a fight with another Tunisian. The motives for the confrontation are unclear.

He sustained a stab wound to the thigh, which reportedly severed his femoral artery.

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Mr Tereshchenko was returning to his hotel on Monday when he saw the victim lying on the ground and bleeding profusely, surrounded by panicked passers-by.

He was able to use the first aid kit he has carried since joining the Ukrainian army three years ago.

Mr Tereshchenko posted pictures of the incident online - X

Lucky for the boy that I had the first aid kit The blood would have leaked out by the time the ambulance arrived, he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

He posted two photos: one showing a large quantity of blood on the flagstones of an alleyway and the other showing Italian paramedics attending to the victim.

I saw he had a deep stab wound to the thigh. I took out a tourniquet to stop the loss of any more blood, the 32-year-old told Corriere del Veneto, a local newspaper.

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I know [the first aid kit] a bit cumbersome, and my family are always telling me to leave it behind. But today, for the first time in three years, it was needed. It was lucky that I had it with me at that moment.

The victim had lost a lot of blood and was losing consciousness, Mr Tereshchenko said.

I tried to keep him awake until the medics arrived. I dont know if he would have made it otherwise, he added.

The people standing around were in shock  no one intervened or knew what to do. Unfortunately in these last few years of war I have seen a lot, so I didnt hesitate to intervene.

Mr Tereshchenko said he had been a teacher before joining the Third Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian military.

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I had a few days of leave and, seeing as how we love Italy, whenever we can, we come here, this time to Venice.

A shopkeeper who witnessed the knife attack said: The attacker was striking with ferocity, first the victims arms and then the leg. It was a violent and continuous attack involving a really big knife.

Police are searching for the knifeman, who fled before medics arrived.

The attack happened in the Salizada San Canzian alleyway, not far from the famous Rialto Bridge which spans the Grand Canal.

Mr Tereshchenko continued his holiday, and on Tuesday posted photos of Venices canals and churches.

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Although Ukrainian men are restricted from leaving the country, soldiers are allowed to go abroad for holidays as long as they obtain permission from their commanders.

Military personnel are entitled to 15 days of foreign holiday each year, according to the Kyiv Post.

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(WSPA)  Every Tuesday in March, we are highlighting Remarkable Women, women making a difference in their communities.

This week, we take you to Spartanburg, where Patty Nodine is leading the fight to support those struggling with mental illness and substance use disorder.

A passion for change

Patty Nodine is a professional counselor with a deep commitment to helping those in the addiction community. She has dedicated her career to breaking the stigma surrounding substance use disorder and mental health.

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Ive worked really hard to destigmatize substance use disorder and mental illness in our community, she said.

Patty understands the negative labels often associated with addiction and mental health challenges.

So many people hear those words and they have the most unkind descriptive language to describe this population. They think addict, alcoholic, drug user. They think theft. They think crime. And its important for them to realize that substance use disorder and mental illness affect the brain. There are evidence-based treatments that prove people can recover and manage very well.

Inspired by her own journey

Pattys decision to become a counselor was influenced by her own experiences seeking help as a teenager.

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There were times in life that I needed a counselor, especially as a teenager. And that made me realize, in the same ways that somebody invested in me and helped me, I could be that for somebody else.

She now owns Pathfinder Counseling and Consulting, where she helps others navigate their own challenges.

The name of my practice is Pathfinder Counseling and Consulting. And so, here you are. Here I am.

Rooted in family and community

For Patty, community service isnt just a profession, its a family value.

I was brought up in a family that values community. It was instilled in me. Its something that I try to instill in my children.

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One of her biggest inspirations was her great aunt, who immigrated from Korea and dedicated her time to serving others.

She was special to me. She came from Korea. I watched her be an active member in her community. She drove women to church. She prepared meals and took them to various families.

She credits both her mother and great aunt for teaching her the importance of giving back.

Korean culture focuses a lot on fellowship and meals and family and community.

Building a circle of Remarkable Women

Over the years, Patty has formed a strong network of women who inspire and uplift one another.

I have formed a great circle of remarkable women. I always looked for people who had something that I wanted or that I admired. If I met someone who appeared to be a great mother whose children seemed to be doing the right thing, I gravitated toward them to see what I could gain from this relationship in a positive wayand what I could give back.

Fighting for change

One of Pattys biggest frustrations is the lack of access to existing programs for those who need them most.

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When there are programs in place, and many people dont have access to those programsthats the hardest part.

Thats why she works tirelessly on every board, council, and commission that tackles addiction and substance abuse.

I try hard to change systems and processes, which is not easy. What Ive learned is to work as a team with other people who are on the same pagebecause together, we can be more effective in our work.

A life of purpose

Patty believes that finding your purpose comes from authenticity.

A lot of it has to do with just being true to yourself and being authentic. Things just fall into place. You end up with the people that you should be with, you do the things you love, and things just feel more natural.

A Remarkable Woman

Though we see Patty Nodine as a Remarkable Woman, she remains humble.

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I dont see myself as a remarkable woman. I see myself as doing a job that needs to be doneand I happen to enjoy it.

Her work, however, speaks for itself. Patty is changing lives, breaking stigmas, and proving that recovery is possible for all.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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In light of the first measles exposure confirmed in Virginia, one Fredericksburg-area public health official reminds people about the diseases potency.

This is more contagious than the flu and COVID-19, said Allison BalmesJohn, population health manager for the Rappahannock Area Health District. I dont want to overly scare everybody  but of those who are unvaccinated and get measles, about 1 in 5 will be hospitalized. Thats a large percentage to be experiencing that severe form of disease.

The Virginia Department of Health was notified of a confirmed case of measles at Washington Dulles International Airport on Wednesday, March 5. Health officials are attempting to identify anyone who may have come in contact with the infected person, who was returning from international travel.

VDH says the potential exposure site was at the airports Terminal A, on transportation to the main terminal and in the baggage claim area between 4 and 9 p.m. on March 5.

If that sounds like a broad window of exposure, keep in mind the description BalmesJohn offered. Measles is transmitted through the air, so one person with measles can contaminate 9 of 10 people who are in a room with him or her at the same time  and others who enter the room up to two hours later.

Measles spreads when a person breathes, sneezes or coughs, and reports about the contagious disease have been on the rise since late January. An outbreak in the South Plains region of Texas has grown to include almost 200 cases.

Tragically, this outbreak has claimed the life of a school-aged child, the first measles-related fatality in the United States in over a decade, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.

With the confirmed exposure in Virginia, measles have been reported in 12 jurisdictions this year, from New York City to Florida, Alaska to Washington and Kentucky to New Mexico.

Most of the 222 cases reported as of Thursday, on the Centers for Disease Control website, are among children who have not been vaccinated.

Measles symptoms usually appear one to two weeks after exposure, but can take up to three weeks to manifest, according to the Virginia Department of Health website. Thats why it cautioned anyone potentially exposed to the Dulles victim to be on the lookout for symptoms until March 26.

Symptoms often appear in two stages. In the first, most people have a fever higher than 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes and a cough. The second stage starts three to five days after symptoms begin, with a rash on the face that spreads to the body.

People in two distinct categories have immunity from measles. They include people who received two doses of vaccine that contained the measles  part of the MMR or measles, mumps and rubella vaccine  as well as anyone who was born before 1957, according to the state health department.

Those who are in their late 60s and above are protected because measles was so widespread before vaccines were introduced in the 1960s, virtually every child in the United States contracted measles, states HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

He issued a call to action about the current outbreak, encouraging people to get their children vaccinated to avoid the potentially deadly disease. His statement also cited the rare but severe complications, including pneumonia, blindness and encephalitis, as well as vitamins that can reduce mortality rates.

The MMR vaccine is given to children in two doses. The first shot is recommended between 12 and 15 months, and the second, between ages 4 and 6 years.

About 95% of Virginia kindergartners are vaccinated against mumps, according to the state health department. That level typically is high enough to provide the herd immunity needed to prevent a population from the kind of outbreak seen in Texas.

While those who were born before 1957 are likely to have immunity because they contracted measles, and those who were vaccinated with double doses of live vaccine from 1968 on, there is a really interesting caveat regarding people who were vaccinated from 1963-1967, BalmesJohn said.

People in that window received the first measles vaccines, which were made from killed viruses and werent as effective. They may require a second dose, according to the CDC.

BalmesJohn suggested anyone with concerns speak to their health-care provider.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  As the St. Patricks Day celebrations are just around the corner, Horizon City announced its Police Department will conduct a Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) Operation from March 14-17 to ensure that everyone has a fun, memorable, and most importantly, safe weekend.

The operation came about because Horizon City has seen a troubling rise in alcohol-related motor-vehicle accidents, some of which ended in serious injuries or death, they said.

The Horizon City Police Department is committed to ensuring the safety of everyone in our community, Horizon Police Chief Marco Vargas said. While we want everyone to have a great time celebrating, we urge you to plan ahead for a safe ride home if you are drinking. Driving under the influence is not only dangerous, but also illegal, and it will not be tolerated.

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Heres what to expect during the operation, according to Horizon City PD:

Impaired driving enforcement: Officers will be actively searching for impaired drivers, working to keep streets safe and holding offenders accountable for dangerous behavior.

DWI arrests: Anyone found driving while intoxicated will be arrested and processed at the El Paso County Jail.

Intoxilyzer and blood samples: Drivers who refuse to submit to breathalyzer testing will be required to provide a blood sample under legal procedures.

Vehicle impoundment: Vehicles of those arrested for DWI will be impounded at the scene.

As always, the HCPD encourages all residents to make safe choices: designate a sober driver, use a taxi, or take advantage of rideshare services if you plan to consume alcohol. By making responsible decisions, we can ensure that Horizon City remains a safe and welcoming place for everyone, Horizon City PD said.

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Ready to take on the subs of death? Jacksonville-based Firehouse Subs and the popular YouTube show Hot Ones have teamed up to create two fiery new subs to test your heat tolerance. And for the truly adventurous, there's the "Last Dab" pickle, soaked in the show's hottest hot sauce.

For 10 years, "Hot Ones" host Sean Evans has fed celebrity guests chicken wings smothered in increasingly spicy hot sauce while asking them incisive questions. The Emmy-nominated show has welcomed celebrities such as Jennifer Lawrence, Bill Murray, Conan O'Brien, Shaquille O'Neal, Pedro Pascal, Jenna Ortega, Lady Gaga and many more while Evans eats and suffers right along with them. Fans buy the hot sauces featured on the show to take the challenge at home.

"I can't tell you how many firefighters over the years have told me that they do the Hot Ones Challenge in the firehouse," Evans told USA TODAY said last week. "Firehouse Subs, they have the hot sauce lineup just like we do, so I think that in a lot of ways, I'm wondering why it took us so long to actually get together and do something."

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On Monday, March 10, Firehouse Subs started offering two new sandwiches inspired by "Hot Ones": the Spicy Dill Hook & Ladder and the Zesty Garlic Hook & Ladder, both featuring official "Hot Ones" hot sauce.

What are the new Hot Ones sandwiches at Firehouse Subs?

Spicy Dill Hook & Ladder : Smoked turkey, honey ham, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, deli mustard, Firehouse Hero Hot Sauce and Hot Ones' The Last Dab Reaper Edition

Zesty Garlic Hook & Ladder: Smoked turkey, honey ham, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, garlic chips, mayo and Hot Ones' The Classic Garlic Fresno

The Last Dab Reaper Edition hot sauce packs some serious heat with Carolina Reaper peppers, distilled vinegar, ginger root, turmeric, coriander, cumin and dry mustard.

The Classic Garlic Fresno hot sauce is a milder heat, made with Fresno chile pepper, water, apple cider vinegar, garlic puree (garlic and water), vinegar, kosher salt, organic dried garlic, organic turmeric and organic black pepper.

Just how hot are the 'Hot Ones' sandwiches?

These subs are not for beginners.

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Evans told USA TODAY the Spicy Dill Hook & Ladder is 10 out of 10 spicy. The Last Dab Reaper Edition hot sauce is the hottest sauce "Hot Ones" has to offer.

"I've had things that are so blown out that you can just take one bite and that's enough, even for me," Evans said about spicy food. "You want something that as much as it pushes you, it's always inviting the next bite. That was really important to us."

As for the Zesty Garlic Hook & Ladder, Evans rated it a two or three out of 10 on the spicy scale. The Classic Garlic Fresno hot sauce is a common favorite among his guests, he said.

Don't forget the pickle

For serious heat-seeking fans who want to push it as far as the celebrities go, Firehouse Subs will be offering a dill pickle marinated in Hot Ones The Last Dab XXX Hot Sauce. This is the 10th hot sauce eaten by Evans and his interviewees during each episode of "Hot Ones," the one they add an extra dab of before biting into.

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"It truly is a pickle that'll challenge even somebody with the kind of city miles that I have," Evans said. "If you're somebody who wants to have a culinary experience where you're just sweating from the eyebrows and really feeling like you're in the throes of the show, you can order the pickle."

When will the Hot Ones subs be available?

The Spicy Dill Hook & Ladder, Zesty Garlic Hook & Ladder and Last Dab Dill Pickle will all be available in restaurants nationwide on Monday, March 10.

"Hot Ones" has also created hotter-than-hot collaborations with Hot Pockets, Pringles, Shake Shack, Panda Express, McDonald's (only in France) and more.

Where can I find a Firehouse Subs near me in Florida?

Firehouse Subs began with two former firefighting brothers in Jacksonville nearly 30 years ago, spreading to 46 states and U.S. territories before it was bought by Restaurant Brands International in a $1 billion sale in November 2021. But there are still more locations here than anywhere else, with around 180 in Florida and 36 in the greater Jacksonville area alone.

Find a store near you at firehousesubs.com/store-locator.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Firehouse Subs and 'Hot Ones' collab on spicy new sandwiches
President Donald Trump salutes as he steps off Marine One upon arrival at the White House on Feb. 22, 2025. Credit - MANDEL NGANAFP via Getty Images

Predictability is the most valuable currency of diplomacy. But it's been in decidedly short supply in Washington since Jan. 20, as the Trump administration meddles in foreign nations domestic politics with abandon.

This has made the job of many of the world's diplomats much harder, as they struggle to calibrate their countrys tone toward Washington while placating the steady churn of anxiety radiating from their bosses. Trade spats and tariff tiffs, reciprocity and revenge all are piling up as President Donald Trump seems hellbent on upending various long-standing alliances, as well as the countrys once solid economy.

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Its all made for a boom for the foreign desks of well-positioned K Street lobbying shops, which have their pick of the litterand seemingly no per-month-cost ceilingfor new clients as embassies are trying to hunt down the best U.S. insiders who can help them decode the signals coming from the new administration Some nations are now shelling over six-figure sums every month to have allies of the White House explain the terrainif they can even find lobbying shops willing to take on yet another client.

Canada and Denmark currently offer a striking contrast in playbooks for responding to a suddenly hostile U.S. While Incoming Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is taking a stiff-arm tactic for the moment, others are like the Danes and trying to accommodate Trumps impulses.

I know that these are dark days, dark days brought on by a country we can no longer trust, said Carney on Sunday after being elected his partys leader in a landslide vote where Trump loomed large. A few months ago, the Liberals were bracing for a resounding defeat among a disaffected Canadian electorate. All that changed in the aftermath of Trumps campaign for Canada to become the 51st state, reminding Canadians that their leaders matter.

Outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was even more direct than Carney in his recent farewell remarks: Democracy is not a given. Freedom is not a given. Even Canada is not a given.

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That pessimism is permeating across Washingtons diplomatic community. Sometimes it emerges as a bit of gallows humoror Freudian slipas was the case recently when the Danish Ambassador to Washington addressed a reception of business leaders, academics, and investors.

I would just like to raise our glasses in a toast to the longstanding friendship between our two great nations, the United States of Denmark, and the Kingdom, Jesper Mller Srensen said, catching himself in a room suddenly full of nervous laughter, given Trumps persistent demands to take Greenland off Denmarks hands.

Can I try that one again? he asked. You know what I mean.

While Denmarks leaders arent adopting the pugnacious stance of Carney and Trudeau, they are seeing their own Trump-related political shift, one thats expected to play out in Tuesdays elections in Greenland, in which the countrys desire for independence is an animating factor.

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More seriously, Denmarks de facto business hype man, Minister of Industry, Business, and Financial Affairs Morten Bdskov, said a day after the bungled toast that the kingdom, which covers more than half of Greenlands budget, was trying to keep an even keel and hold onto historical steadiness.

The ties between Denmark and the U.S. are extremely strong, and out of that comes a friendship and a trust and a straightforward way of doing things, the Danish political insider told me, trying to keep his words understated and avoid any harsh collateral damage by a mercurial U.S. President.

Its a caution thats common these days. Words like partnership, alliance, and friendship bandy about aplenty along Embassy Row, but its no secret that Trump has brought a machete to the diplomatic universe. As hes upending decades of international norms, his own diplomats at the State Department are bracing for widespread slashing and Hill hands, especially those working on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, are trying to get a handle on just how severe the coming cuts will be.

Even Trumps apologists are being blunt to their counterparts in other governments.

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President Trump approaches diplomacy and engages in a very transactional manner, with economics as the foundation and driving force behind international affairs, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, the presidents special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, told a Council on Foreign Relations audience last week.

Put plainly: there will be a winner and a loser, and Trump has no intentions of being the latter.

Foreign diplomats get this and are trying to adjust as necessary without alienating, in many cases, their most significant trading economic ally. For instance, 16% of the Danish export market winds up in the United States to the tune of about $40 billion.

Long-held assumptions about steady U.S. policy are no longer givens. Since Trump has returned to power, he has sided withor at least excusedRussia in its invasion of Ukraine and advocated permanently exiling Palestinians from Gaza. A security guarantee for Taiwan is no longer assumed. And he has even suggested that the United States needs to retake the Panama Canal, maybe even by force.

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Those capricious moves and bold reversals have fueled the anxiety in the diplomatic corps here in Washington even as allies and outcasts alike are trying to make sense of the moment. Take Bdskovs trip last month to the states. Denmarks charm-offensive chief visited Texas before stopping in Washington to promote the long-standing ties between Washington and Copenhagen, including a reception for business leaders and investors to demonstrate a steady environment. Like so many other global leaders, his message was to emphasize the upside for the U.S., noting that Danish companies employ about 200,000 Americans. But with Trump so openly agitating for control of Greenland, its getting more difficult to maintain a friendly posture.

There are new positions in Washington and the rhetoric is new. We, of course, have to handle that, Bdskov says. The bonds between Danish companies and American companies are at the highest level ever.

But so too are the tensions.

Write to Philip Elliott at philip.elliott@time.com.
Rep. Chip Brown, R-Hollinger's Island, casts a vote in the Alabama House of Representatives on April 25, 2024 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. Brown passed legislation on March 6, 2025, that would enhance penalties for people without legal status when the victim of the crime is a minor.(Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

The Alabama House of Representatives passed two immigration-related bills Thursday.

HB 3, sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown, R-Hollingers Island, enhances penalties for people without legal status when they are charged with a felony where the victim is a minor. It passed 76-3, with 24 abstentions.

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Brown said the legislation was inspired by the Laken Riley case in Georgia where a college student was murdered by a person without legal status.

ICE had asked the local jurisdiction to detain the individual, and they didnt. They released him back on the street, he said on the House floor Thursday.

Studies have repeatedly found that immigrants without legal status commit significantly less crime than the U.S. population as a whole.

The legislation received pushback from Democrats. Rep. Napoleon Bracy, D-Mobile, said people should not be convicted differently depending on who they are.

I believe crimes are crimes, Bracy said. I dont believe that based on who you are, you should be punished for a crime.

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Under the legislation, if a person without legal status is charged with a Class C felony, the penalty would be enhanced to a Class B felony. If a person without legal status is charged with a Class B felony, the penalty would be enhanced to a Class A felony. The legislation also requires all crimes committed by a person without legal status where the victim is a minor to be charged with a Class C felony.

The bill goes to the Senate.

HB 302, sponsored by Rep. Ben Robbins, R-Sylacauga, requires companies that hire people without legal status to register their employees with the Department of Workforce. It passed 81-0, with 19 abstentions.

Under existing law, labor brokers in Alabama can recruit citizens of other countries to work in the state through a sponsorship, which can include housing. HB 302 would require labor brokers to register with the Department of Workforce if they recruit five or more people.

It will be an attempt to cut out human trafficking, Robbins said.

There was no discussion on the bill. It now goes to the Senate.

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Hakeem Jeffries and House Democrats are ready to seize on the first big leverage point of President Donald Trumps second term, lining up against a bill to avert a government shutdown this week.

But the partys position is far murkier in the Senate, showcasing stark divisions within the party over how far Democrats are willing to go against Trump.

While House Democrats are preparing to vote in lockstep and force Republican Speaker Mike Johnson to put up the votes on his own, theyve watched with frustration as Senate Democrats have been much more cautious in their deliberations. And if the House successfully passes it on Tuesday, Senate Democrats are saying little about how theyll handle a take-it-or-leave-it option that could lead to a paralyzing  and politically toxic  shutdown.

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It would be a capitulation to the Trump style of democracy, which is the movement of democracy to dictatorship, said Rep. Hank Johnson, a typically mild-mannered Democrat from Georgia, when asked what happened if Senate Democrats allowed the spending bill to become law.

Even with Trump and the GOP in charge of Washington, some Senate Democrats privately worry they could be blamed for a funding lapse. But others believe they risk backlash from their base if Democrats are seen as folding in the fight without a single concession from Trump.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer briefed his leadership team on Monday evening, during which New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker said Schumer did not outline an official position but briefed senators on the outrageous things in the House GOP bill. Schumer has made clear in recent days that he will keep his powder dry until the House vote, with Republicans there still struggling to lock down support.

The House CR is a very bad bill, Sen. Tim Kaine, who represents a large share of federal workers in Virginia, said when asked if he would support the GOPs stopgap bill, known as a continuing resolution.

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Kaine was among many Democratic senators on Monday who repeatedly slammed the House GOP bill, though didnt oppose it outright. When asked about the choice Senate Democrats would have to make  either accept the House bill or risk a shutdown  Kaine cut off a reporters question and then declined to answer: Im not answering if questions. Im answering what do I think of the bill? Its a bad bill.

And Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff, who faces a potentially tough reelection next year, told CNN a shutdown is not in our nations interests and we will see what comes out of the House.

Exasperated Democrats on both sides of the Capitol privately feel like they are operating with little clarity of the others strategy. House Democrats are growing impatient as top Senate Democrats, including Schumer, have yet to lay out their position. Its not just rank and file: Schumer has not briefed Jeffries on his plans, according to a Democratic lawmaker close to Jeffries.

A Schumer spokesperson told CNN that Leader Schumer and Leader Jeffries are in constant communication.

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Many House Democrats said their Senate counterparts need to channel their bases intense anger at the White House for its wide scale federal layoffs, plans to dismantle key agencies and planned cuts to safety net programs  or risk handing Trump even more power while further infuriating their base.

Americans across the board are fed up with what Elon Musk and Donald Trump are doing, added Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts. This is the only leverage that we have. Americans want us to do something.

Already, multiple House Democrats are aiming their frustration at Schumer, who they do not believe is willing to risk a confrontation with Trump over spending, according to multiple lawmakers who were granted anonymity to discuss internal party dynamics.

If Chuck Schumer cant get us a better vote, he should resign, one centrist House Democrat told CNN, who lamented the party was being too cautious even as Trump trampled over Congress powers. Whats the plan? Whats the strategy? There isnt one.

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Senate Republicans would need at least eight Democrats to back the bill, given staunch opposition from GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky. But several battleground Democrats were noncommittal Monday night when asked how they would vote.

Other Democrats, though, were far more critical of the House GOP plan and signaled they would not accept it.

I was stunned to read they were trying to jam through something thats their way or the highway, Booker said of the GOPs plan. They cant get this done without Democratic support.

For now, all attention is on the House, where Johnson and his deputies will attempt to pass the stopgap funding plan with only GOP votes Tuesday afternoon. Three Republicans, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Rich McCormick of Georgia and Tim Burchett of Tennessee, are currently opposed, which is enough to tank the bill. A handful of other Republicans remained undecided on Monday night, signaling a tough fight ahead though GOP leaders insisted they could lock down the votes.

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I feel good, I think well have the votes, Johnson told reporters Monday night, adding that he had spoken with Trump three hours prior.

Trump himself is making calls to potential hold outs ahead of Tuesdays vote, according to multiple people familiar with the outreach. One undecided Republican, Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles, said he recently got a call from Trump, while Burchett said he got a call from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Burchett told CNN that he is seeking an assurance from the president that DOGE will go through the Pentagon like they have the other departments, like USAID, because Ive got a feeling the fraud there and the abuse and the reckless spending is just over the top, and then Ill make a decision after that.

Vice President JD Vance will also huddle with House Republicans Tuesday morning ahead of the vote, according to a person familiar with the matter.

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The ultra conservative House Freedom Caucus also met Monday night to discuss the plan and endorsed the stopgap measure in a statement afterward.

House Democrats, meanwhile, plan to present a unified front during Tuesdays vote. Jeffries and his No. 2, Rep. Katherine Clark, told reporters Monday that Democrats would uniformly oppose the bill, after their leadership team spent the weekend phoning members about reasons to oppose it.

It is not something we could ever support. House Democrats will not be complicit in the Republican effort to hurt the American people, Jeffries told reporters of the spending bill.

Even moderate Blue Dog members do not plan to bail out Johnson on the vote if he cant reach the 217 votes needed on his own, according to a person familiar with the members thinking. Jeffries will meet with a group of battleground Democrats ahead of the vote, but multiple Democrats planning to attend told CNN that they are already planning to oppose the bill.

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Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a top House progressive, said its very important for Schumer and the party to block the bill in the Senate, as well.

This gives them the permission to do all the things that theyre doing now with more, with even more ability to slash Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Jayapal said.

Asked what happens if eight Democrats back the plan in the Senate, Jayapal retorted: Thats not going to happen.

CNNs Annie Grayer, Ted Barret, Samantha Waldenberg, Alison Main contributed to this report.

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House Republicans blocked Democrats from forcing a painful vote on Donald Trumps tariffs as the president amps up the US trade war with Canada.

A vote on the tariffs would have been politically difficult for many Republicans as Trumps tariffs drive volatility in the stock market. Voting against Trumps measures would have put GOP lawmakers at odds with the president, while voting for the tariffs would have forced them to shoulder blame for the economic fallout.

The maneuver to prevent such a vote came just hours after Trump said hes increasing steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada to 50%, rattling markets and further stoking concerns about US relations with its northern neighbor.

The legislative provision, drafted before Trumps Tuesday announcement, was included in the rule governing floor debate on a government funding bill. Tuesdays passage of that rule automatically prevents a vote terminating the Feb. 1 national emergency along the southern border, which Trump has used to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico without congressional approval.

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New York Representative Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, had introduced resolutions to terminate the emergencies and had planned to force a vote on them this month.

Now such a vote is only possible with the approval of Republican House leaders.

Democratic Representative Jim McGovern of Massachusetts assailed the maneuver.

Guess what they tucked into this rule, hoping nobody would notice? McGovern said. A little clause letting them escape from ever having to debate or vote on Trumps tariffs.

House Speaker Mike Johnson backed Trumps move to hike tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, calling it a shakeup of the past administrations trade policies. Johnson brushed off volatility in financial markets, saying Trump knows what hes doing.

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--With assistance from Billy House.

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(Bloomberg) -- House Republicans passed legislation to keep the US government open past a Saturday shutdown deadline, daring moderate Democrats in the Senate to block the measure over objections it fails to constrain Elon Musks cost-cutting crusade.

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GOP congressional leaders didnt negotiate with Democrats on the President Donald Trump-backed funding measure, which runs through Sept. 30. Earlier talks broke down after Democrats demanded language to rein in Musk.

Republican leaders sent House lawmakers home after the vote, seeking to force the Senate to accept the spending package or be blamed for a shutdown. Speaker Mike Johnson said Democrats would be responsible for every negative consequence that comes from shutting down the government.

The House passed the bill, 217-213, with Jared Golden of Maine the only Democrat to support it. Republican Thomas Massie joined Democrats in voting against the measure.

The bill will likely need the support of at least eight Democrats in the Republican-controlled Senate to become law, given opposition from Republican Rand Paul to the bill.

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If the measure fails in the Senate, Republican congressional leaders could try to pass a shorter-term stopgap later in the week and bring House lawmakers back to Washington to cast their votes on it.

Johnson was able to unite fractious House Republicans with help from Trump, who threatened a primary challenge against Massie for opposing it.

To win over Republicans, the measure increases security spending by $4.4 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. It has a $440 million boost for immigration enforcement, while cutting the Internal Revenue Service by $20 billion and blocking the District of Columbia from spending $1 billion of its own tax dollars. It also gives the Pentagon flexibility to buy new weapons, an unusual provision in a stopgap bill demanded by GOP defense hawks.

Johnson argued that passing the 99-page stopgap bill would allow Congress to focus on making deep spending cuts next year. The cuts next year would be informed by the efforts Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency to identify wasteful spending, he said.

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The bill contains no new limits to prevent DOGE and agency heads from firing federal workers or canceling federal grants and contracts. The Musk effort has already effectively shut down the US Agency for International Development and laid off thousands of probationary federal employees across the government.

Those actions are being challenged in the courts, as critics argue they amount to illegal impoundments of money approved by Congress.

Democrats voted against the bill, despite years of condemning government shutdowns, saying it would enable Musks efforts.

Were not going to provide our votes to perpetuate stealing taxpayers money, House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark said.

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Moderate Senate Democrats including Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Jacky Rosen of Nevada, and Mark Kelly of Arizona declined to say how they would vote on the bill when asked. Pennsylvanias John Fetterman said he would support it.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer simply said before the vote he was waiting to see whether the House would pass it.

If a shutdown occurs on Saturday, the White House budget office would have latitude to decide which federal workers are furloughed and which essential staff must continue without pay. Military troops would remain on duty without pay until the end of the shutdown. Under current law, furloughed workers would automatically receive back pay even though they did not work.

(Updates with vote tally)

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WASHINGTON  The House narrowly passed a bill Tuesday to fund the government for the remainder of the fiscal year, marking the first step to avoid a shutdown just days before the deadline.

Lawmakers voted largely along party lines, with nearly all Democrats opposing the measure. However, Republican leaders managed to persuade enough of their own members to support the resolution, even those who are generally opposed to short-term spending bills.

The bill passed 217-213. Only one Democrat voted in favor: Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine.

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The continuing resolution published on Saturday extends current government funding levels through the end of September, relieving lawmakers from finalizing the 2025 fiscal year budget nearly halfway into the fiscal calendar. The funding levels are lower than maximum caps laid out for the FY2025 budget but adheres to the levels agreed to in the FY2024 budget.

The proposal, referred to as a yearlong CR, has the support of President Donald Trump, who played a massive role in getting the resolution through the lower chamber.

Trump puts pressure on Republican lawmakers

At the start of the week, there were a number of Republican lawmakers who remained unconvinced. Because of the partys small majority, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., could only afford to lose one Republicans support, otherwise the CR would fail.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., came out early against the proposal, giving Johnson virtually no room for error on the matter. Massie was the only Republican to vote against the measure.

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That prompted Trump to start making phone calls to holdouts throughout the day on Monday, a source familiar with those efforts told the Deseret News. Those conversations were the make-or-break component for some members.

(Trump) is the difference maker. I would never support this language, but I do trust Donald Trump, Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., said on Tuesday. I think that he is a man of his word, and so I believe him when he says hes going to get it done.

Another initial holdout, Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., said he he spoke in depth with the president ahead of the vote and that Trump did commit to me that we would see reductions in the future.

President Donald Trump leaves the chamber after addressing a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. | Win McNamee

Vance plays role in keeping government open

Vice President JD Vance also spoke with holdouts, appearing at Republicans weekly conference meeting on Tuesday morning. During that meeting, Vance urged Republicans to back the CR, calling it a necessary step to allow Trump to continue his efforts to slash government spending, according to lawmakers inside the room.

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While Vance acknowledged the CR isnt exactly what we want, this doesnt pretend to solve every issue we have but it allows us to get to the real game which is reconciliation, said one Republican lawmaker, who was granted anonymity to discuss a closed-door discussion.

Republican leaders continued whipping support for the CR in the hours leading up to the vote, arguing the measure was the best path forward to ensure Trumps agenda is not stalled.

This allows us to focus on tackling the waste, fraud, and abuse without any poison pills, said Rep. Celeste Maloy, R-Utah, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee. Im going to support the CR and then get to work as a new appropriator on making sure were doing our constitutional duty of controlling the purse strings and appropriating.

Vice President JD Vance arrives for a closed-door meeting as House Republicans push ahead with a with a go-it-alone strategy on an interim GOP spending bill that would keep federal agencies funded through Sept. 30 despite key Republican holdouts and united opposition from Democrats, at the Capitol, in Washington, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. | J. Scott Applewhite

Will senators vote to keep the government open?

The CR now heads to the Senate where it will need at least 60 votes  meaning a handful of Democrats will need to cross party lines to pass. At least one Republican, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said he would vote against the CR, which would require at least eight Democrats to support the measure. One Democrat has said he would vote for the CR, arguing a shutdown will impact and punish millions and millions of Americans.

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If (Democrats) want to do that, thats on them, but Im not going to be a part of it, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said on Tuesday.

However, several Democrats have demanded provisions stating Trump must allocate the funds that are approved by Congress, decrying attempts by the new administration and DOGE to freeze appropriations and block them from going toward federal agencies.

Republicans have balked at these demands, claiming they infringe upon Trumps authority as president to spend government funds as he pleases. Now, GOP leaders are accusing Democrats of seeking to shut down the government  something that could be disastrous for vulnerable Democratic senators seeking reelection next year.

I think the interesting thing will be to see if Democrats filibuster into a shutdown, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters on Tuesday. It is on them if this happens.

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That puts the onus of avoiding a government shutdown on the shoulders of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and the rest of the Senate Democratic caucus.

And the Senate wont have much time to work with. House leadership announced it would cancel previously scheduled votes for Wednesday, leaving town for a weeklong recess on Tuesday evening. That leaves the state of government funding in the hands of the Senate, effectively daring Democrats to vote for a shutdown.

Its not yet clear when the Senate will vote on the measure, but it could be as early as Wednesday. The government is scheduled to enter a shutdown after midnight on Friday.
WASHINGTON  The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a government funding bill that would avert a Friday night shutdown if it clears the Senate by then.

The vote was another victory for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who once again overcame opposition from several Republican lawmakers who initially withheld support for the measure.

The bill passed by a vote of 217-213, with one Republican against and one Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), in support. Its the first time in years Republicans have approved a government funding bill without needing substantial Democratic support, but the second time in two weeks Republicans united among themselves on a high-stakes House vote thanks to help from President Donald Trump.

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The bill cant pass the Senate, however, without support from at least eight Democrats, meaning either Democrats go along with the Republican legislation or risk being blamed for a partial government shutdown.

If congressional Democrats refuse to support this [legislation], they will be responsible for every troop who misses a paycheck, for every flight delay from reduced staffing at TSA, for every negative consequence that comes from shutting down the government, Johnson said Tuesday.

Johnson got his own party to support the resolution thanks to help from Trump and his threats to back primary opponents against disloyal Republicans.

We have to remain UNITED  NO DISSENT  Fight for another day when the timing is right, Trump wrote on Truth Social.

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Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) was the only Republican who voted against the measure, complaining that it doesnt make significant cuts to federal spending. Massie has opposed similar funding resolutions in the past and also voted against a budget resolution last week that starts the process for enacting major tax and spending cuts.

Trump used sweet talk on some members, such as Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.), who said he spoke to Trump and received assurances the president would support cutting spending in the future. I am confident in his ability to lead our country out of the debt crisis that has plagued us for decades, Steube said on X.

But Trump made a high-profile example out of Massie, threatening to back a challenger in a Republican primary against Massie next year.

Thomas Massie is a GRANDSTANDER, and the Great People of Kentucky are going to be watching a very interesting Primary in the not too distant future! Trump wrote Tuesday before the vote. In another post, Trump said he would lead the charge against Massie.

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POTUS is spending his day attacking me and Canada, Massie said on X. The difference is Canada will eventually cave.

The threats didnt sway Massie, who noted that hes previously beaten MAGA primary opponents, but they might have helped the other Republican holdouts get to yes.

A half-dozen GOP lawmakers had said they hadnt made up their minds as of Tuesday morning.

I just dont like the Pentagon always getting the largesse, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) told HuffPost, noting that the bill increased funding for the military even as it slightly pared back discretionary spending overall, which he said was a good thing.

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Vice President JD Vance helped sweeten the deal by telling Republicans in a private meeting on Tuesday morning that the Trump administration would cut spending by itself with help from billionaire Elon Musk and his so-called Department of Government Efficiency. (Democrats opposed the legislation for largely the same reason.)

Republicans who backed the bill all along said it felt like a familiar routine to have a few holdouts on some vote or other ultimately cave under pressure from Trump.

Its Groundhog Day, Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) told HuffPost, referring to the 1993 film in which a TV weatherman wakes up every morning on the same February day.

I cant tell the difference between statesmanship and showmanship sometimes, Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) said.

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Democrats decried the legislations relatively modest spending reductions as well as Republicans refusal to add language disallowing the Trump administration from hacking away at federal agencies.

The House Republican spending bill is an attack on everyday Americans, Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said. It will cut health care, cut veterans benefits and cut nutritional assistance to children and families.

The bills most dramatic cut might be to the Washington, D.C., city budget, which Republicans insisted on reverting to last years levels even though the city doesnt run on federal funds. City leaders said the cut could result in layoffs to city personnel such as teachers and police officers.

Congress technically controls the city government, but lawmakers havent exerted their power over the city in such an aggressive way for a long time. The move seems at least partly motivated by a partisan dislike of the citys local elected leaders, who are almost all Democrats.

I do think the authority of Washington, D.C., needs to be reined in a little bit, Rep. Michael Cloud (R-Texas) told HuffPost. Hopefully this will bring them to the table.
Sally Ganem is a teacher at heart, which shouldnt come as a surprise considering she was an elementary school teacher and then principal for over 30 years.

But her passion has gone beyond the classroom, as evidenced by her role in the Nebraska Virtual Capitol Project, for which she was recently honored with an award from the NEBRASKAland Foundation. The goal of the project was to create a virtual tour of the Nebraska State Capitol and the Governors Residence.

For Ganem, it all comes back to teaching, which she says is just part of me.

Its important to know about our history, what were built on, so we can continue forward and keep adding to that Nebraska history and our Nebraska culture, Ganem said. One thing about Nebraska is, we do. When something needs to be done, we do it. ... Were Nebraska Nice. We do lend a hand to others and its always a hand up to others in need and theres never any hesitation about that.

On March 1, the NEBRASKAland Foundation held its annual Statehood Day Dinner during which several individuals were honored for their service to the state. This years honorees were Ganem and her husband, former Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman; Ken Stinson, chairman emeritus of Peter Kiewit Sons construction firm; and brothers Jerry and William Adams of Adams Land and Cattle.

According to its website, the NEBRASKAland Foundation promote(s) Nebraska through programs and awards that celebrate the states social, historical, cultural, educational and economic heritage.

The nonprofit organization holds its Statehood Day Dinner every year to commemorate the day Nebraska gained statehood, March 1, 1867.

While Ganem was honored for her state capitol project, her husband was honored for promoting Nebraska during his time as governor.

Ganem, who was reelected as one of two Ward 4 representatives on the Fremont City Council in November, earned her bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She taught at Fremont and Gretna public schools, retiring in 2006, when Heineman was elected governor after succeeding his predecessor Mike Johannes when Johannes resigned to become Secretary of Agriculture for President George W. Bush in 2005.

Ganem served as first lady of the State of Nebraska from 2005 to 2015.

Since retiring from public education, and through her time as first lady, Ganem has been active in many local, state and national organizations including MADD, Serve Nebraska, United Way, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Low-Income Ministry. In 2013, she received the distinguished Outstanding Alumni Award from UNO.

That same year, Ganem was recognized by Voices for National Service with their State Leadership Award for her efforts to promote volunteerism.

Ganems Virtual Capitol Project began during her time as first lady, though the website didnt launch until 2017. Always the teacher, Ganem also came up with a curriculum and lesson plans to go along with the tour.

These resources are focused on elementary school kids, but they are for anyone, she said. The curriculum and lesson plans are tied to the state educational standards for Nebraska history and the arts.

The virtual tour can be as short as 20 minutes or visitors can go more in depth in any area where there are links to additional information for items seen on the tour.

Its the second best thing to being there in person, Ganem said.

When it launched, the site was receiving about 14,000 hits per month, but that number skyrocketed to about 45,000 per month during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The tour is available in both English and Spanish and is accessible to anyone who would like to view it. From curious kiddos to homeschool parents, it was important that this be available to everyone, Ganem said.

Its for all ages, anyone can use it, Ganem said. Everyone deserves the same access and to be able to visit our state capitol. Thats why I did it. ... I wanted to do something for everyone so thats why I chose what I did. Because its for all ages, all levels of people, it didnt matter your socioeconomic standing or anything.

Ganem said students in Fremont are lucky because many have the opportunity to visit the state capitol in person, but kids who live in the western part of the state are unable to. Her virtual tour gives them that opportunity.

Not all kids in the state of Nebraska get to see our state capitol, Ganem said. They might read about some of it in a flat book and see some of the pictures, but this offers everyone an opportunity to visit our state capitol. Hopefully it creates an interest if they come to Lincoln, theyll want to see the state capitol (and) theyll want to learn more.

During the tour, the people whose photos are on the walls and whose statues are in the halls arent the only ones recognized, Ganem said. The artists who created those pieces are also highlighted.

The art at the capitol plays a big role, Ganem said, adding the architect of the capitol building wouldnt do the project unless the artists were involved.

Other aspects that are highlighted during the tour include the Ponca Tribe, state parks and much more on Nebraskas history.

This is learning about Nebraska and hopefully it piques the interest of people to learn more about our state, because we have a variety of things in our state to do and see and people to know and its really exciting, Ganem said. Its what the person wants to make of it.

It was important to Ganem that the Nebraska Virtual Capitol Project be sustainable over time. The project cost over half a million dollars to put together and Ganem raised an additional $100,000 so the project would continue.

Some of those funds were used to finish the arts curriculum and to have the tour translated to Spanish. The remainder of the funds will be used to keep the technology up to date.

From raising the funds to coming up with the curriculum, this was a team effort, Ganem said. There was a wide variety of people involved.

I feel very honored, Ganem said of receiving the award. I didnt do the project myself; it took many, many people.

Projects like this models how citizens can contribute to their communities and state, so others can benefit from what you do, Ganem said. She would like people be good, kind and respect each other no matter what, making Nebraska worthy of being known for the Good Life.

Some of that, in my opinion, is a learned behavior, she said. So we need to continue modeling that if we want the next generation to continue that and hopefully we can.

The tour can be accessed at nebraskavirtualcapitol.org.
As nearly a dozen House Republicans remain undecided, Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday urged House Republicans to get on board and support the GOP-led government funding bill, according to several members leaving the 40-minute-long closed-door meeting.

The spending bill, known as a continuing resolution, is slated for a vote in the House Tuesday afternoon, and Vance told Republicans that the bill forces Democrats to take a tough vote, members told ABC News.

Vance also emphasized the importance of not shutting the government down, members said to ABC News.

PHOTO: Vice President JD Vance arrives for a House Republican Conference meeting at the U.S. Capitol on March 11, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Win Mcnamee/Getty Images)

MORE: Trump 2nd term live updates: Trump, Vance lobby GOP as government shutdown looms

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In the absence of Democratic support, the vote represents a major test for Speaker Mike Johnson -- as it remains unclear if the Trump-backed legislation can even pass in the GOP-controlled House.

Johnson needs near-unanimous GOP support and can only afford to lose one Republican before a second defection would defeat the bill if all members are voting and present. Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie said he will vote against the measure and Georgia Rep. Rich McCormick told reporters he's also leaning against voting for the bill. Several others are undecided, including Reps. Tony Gonzales, Andy Ogles, Tim Burchett, Cory Mills, Eli Crane and Brian Fitzpatrick.

Despite the uphill climb, GOP leaders expressed confidence that they'll get the bill across the finish line -- even as Democrats remain united in opposition.

"No, we will have the votes. We're going to pass the CR," Johnson said at the GOP leadership news conference. "We could do it on our own."

PHOTO: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Mar. 11, 2025. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images)

House Republican leaders announced that they are canceling previously scheduled votes on Wednesday, meaning the spending bill vote will be their last vote before leaving town for recess.

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Majority Leader Scalise told ABC News' Jay O'Brien that he's confident the bill will pass, arguing Vance's message will "pull people even further."

"Well, on a big vote like this, you always have members that wait until the very end and then they're going to vote yes, and I'm feeling very confident we're going to get this bill passed," Scalise said.

Missouri Rep. Eric Burlison raised concerns with the language in the bill, but added he will ultimately support the measure because he trusts President Donald Trump.

"Donald Trump, I mean, he is the difference maker. I would never support this language but, I do trust Donald Trump," Burlison said.

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Trump has played an outsize role this time around -- the first shutdown threat of his second term -- practically begging Republicans to support the measure. The president even placed phone calls on Monday to some lawmakers who are on the fence in an attempt to shore up the votes, according to a White House official.

MORE: Government shutdown watch: GOP moves forward with short-term bill as Democrats express opposition

"The House and Senate have put together, under the circumstances, a very good funding Bill ("CR")! All Republicans should vote (Please!) YES next week. Great things are coming for America, and I am asking you all to give us a few months to get us through to September so we can continue to put the Country's "financial house" in order," Trump said on Saturday in a post on Truth Social.

Trump added, "Democrats will do anything they can to shut down our Government."

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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that Trump believes it's "critical" for Republicans to support the bill.

"I think the president has made it very clear that he believes it's critical for conservatives and Republicans and frankly, all members of Congress to get behind this continuing resolution to keep the government funded," Leavitt said. "The president wants to continue the momentum that he has built over the last 51 days."

PHOTO: President Donald Trump arrives on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., March 9, 2025. (Annabelle Gordon/Reuters)

On Monday evening, Trump threatened to lead the charge against Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie in the primaries, after the congressman said he would vote no on the continuing resolution Tuesday.

"Congressman Thomas Massie, of beautiful Kentucky, is an automatic 'NO' vote on just about everything, despite the fact that he has always voted for Continuing Resolutions in the past," Trump wrote on his social media platform. "HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED, and I will lead the charge against him. He's just another GRANDSTANDER, who's too much trouble, and not worth the fight."

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Asked if he agreed with the president's promise to primary Massie, Johnson said he will "vehemently disagree" with Trump.

"Look, I am in the incumbent protection program here, that's what I do as speaker of the House," he joked before adding, "Thomas and I have had disagreements, but I consider Thomas Massie a friend. He's a thoughtful guy. I guess he'll tell you he's doing what he thinks is right on this, I just vehemently disagree with his position. I'll leave it at that."

MORE: Trump adds another 25% to tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum

Across the aisle, House Democrats appear poised to stick together in opposition of the GOP-led government funding bill.

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"We cannot support this bill," Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said walking into a conference meeting Tuesday morning.

"House Republicans put a partisan measure on the floor this week. It will gut veterans' health care. It will enable Donald Trump and Elon Musk to continue to cut the federal government. House Democrats are voting no," Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar later added.

While Johnson has at times benefited from Democrats crossing party lines to push bills through, as of now, it doesn't look like he'll get a life raft from them.

Democratic Reps. Henry Cuellar and Marcy Kaptur, who represent Trump-backed districts, said they aren't going to be voting for the funding bill, arguing there weren't many incentives in the bill to garner their support.

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"I haven't met one yet," Rep. Kaptur said when asked if she knew of any Democrats that would support the bill. "But perhaps there's someone out there, but I'm unaware of it."

The 99-page bill would decrease spending overall from last year's funding levels but increase spending for the military by about $6 billion.

While there is an additional $6 billion for veterans' health care, non-defense spending is about $13 billion lower than fiscal year 2024 levels.

MORE: House GOP releases stopgap bill to avert shutdown

The legislation leaves out emergency funding for disasters but provides a boost in funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation operations.

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It also increases funding for W.I.C. by about $500 million, a program that provides free groceries to low-income women and children.

ABC News' Hannah Demissie and Lalee Ibssa contributed to this report

Vice President JD Vance urges GOP to fall in line as shutdown looms originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Avian Perez looks into his family's flooded trailer for the first time since about 8 feet of water filled it. The Perez family lives at Ramsey Mobile Home Park in Pikeville, one of the Kentucky places hardest hit by flooding in February. (Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images)

FRANKFORT  The Kentucky House on Tuesday rejected Senate changes to a bill originally meant to give relief to Kentucky schools from weather-related closings.

In a voice vote, the House refused to concur in the Senate version of House Bill 241. Last week, the Senate tacked on changes that would prevent the Kentucky Department of Education from limiting enrollment in the controversial Kentucky Virtual School.

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The bills original sponsor, Rep. Timmy Truett, a McKee Republican and an elementary school principal, told the Senate Education Committee before it approved the changes that the addition could mean the bill doesnt pass at all this session.

The original bill would have let districts have up to five required attendance days waived and to lengthen the school day to make up for learning lost to floods, ice, snow and sickness.

It also granted them additional days in which students could be taught at home via virtual learning.

Some school districts reached the limit of their allotted NTI, or non-traditional instruction, days, because of unexpected winter weather. Some Eastern Kentucky schools were closed because of floods last month.

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This bill started off as a really good bill for all the districts in the state of Kentucky, especially the districts in Eastern Kentucky where I live, Truett said. But you can take a good bill and make it bad. And Im afraid that with the amendment that may be on this bill that I would have to encourage my colleagues to be against this bill.

Concerns about the Kentucky Virtual School have been reported by the Louisville Courier Journal and Lexington Herald-Leader, which highlighted numerous accusations and lawsuits raised against Stride, a for-profit company that has a contract to run the virtual academy. While it serves students across the state through online instruction, the academy is attached to Cloverport Independent Schools in Breckinridge County.

Some Senate Republicans joined Democrats in voting against the measure. However, members of Republican leadership urged support for the changes.

Senate President Pro Tem David Givens, of Greensburg, said he was a supporter of the new language and also supports the original provisions for making up school days missed because of weather.

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This door provides relief for those districts, he said. This is vitally important that we do this.

If the Senate refuses to recede from its changes to the bill, the measure will go to a conference committee.

Correction: This story was updated to reflect the correct bill number.
(NewsNation)  Supporters of school choice addressed the Houses Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education at a Tuesday morning hearing.

In opening statements, supporters of school choice lauded the ability of vouchers and school to choice to give parents more influence in education and offer opportunities for students who are in schools with poor performance.

The committees ranking member and the minority witnesses spoke about the harms school choice does to public education, the loss of rights faced by students with special needs under the voucher program and students in rural areas who lack access to options beyond public education,

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Proponents of school choice programs say parents should get to choose where their children are educated and how tax dollars allocated for education are spent, while detractors worry redirecting funds could gut public education.

School choice initiatives, which vary greatly from state to state, are gaining ground across the country as the Trump administration makes school vouchers and parental choice a major focus of its education agenda.

Education Dept. says 60 universities under investigation for antisemitism

Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon told NewsNation last week that students shouldnt be trapped in a failing school, referring to public institutions. Instead, she wants the funding for public schools to go toward relocating students to charter or public schools.

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They should have the ability to do that, McMahon said. Parents know the success of their children is going to depend on where theyre able to get their education.

The hearing, titled Education Without Limits: Exploring the Benefits of School Choice, is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. ET.

What is school choice?

School choice is an umbrella term for educational initiatives allowing parents to enroll their children in schools other than their assigned public school  including charter schools, private institutions and homeschooling  often using public funding.

An executive order signed Jan. 29 gave McMahon, who had not yet been confirmed, 60 days to issue guidance regarding how States can use Federal formula funds to support K-12 educational choice initiatives.

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President Donald Trumps order specified that education freedom should be given priority in discretionary grant programs, which the Department of Education defines as financial assistance in the form of money by the Federal government to an eligible grantee.

Essentially, the Trump administration wants to help students switch schools through taxpayer-funded vouchers, scholarships and grants. How that would happen  and what it would cost  has not yet been outlined.

Is the US headed for a recession? 4 warning signs to keep an eye on

Some Republicans on Capitol Hill believe adopting these methods would help Americas students regain ground on declining national test scores, but opponents say the federal funding switch-up would negatively impact public schools that need the most help.

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In rural America, theres one school in the community. You undercut it, and education just dramatically declines, said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

Without good schools, without the funding to support these schools, children will be hurt, our country will be worse off, and the American dream falls by the wayside, he said.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, roughly nine out of 10 K-12 students in the U.S. attended public schools as of 2021.

Department of Educations future

Tuesdays hearing comes as Trumps White House looks to dissolve the Department of Education altogether. The agencys closure was a cornerstone of his campaign and serves as the so-called final mission for McMahons subordinates.

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Last week, Trump was scheduled to sign an executive order asking McMahon to essentially put herself out of a job, though it was delayed. A White House official told NewsNation the administration would continue to review the department in the meantime.

Senate confirms Lori Chavez-DeRemer as Trumps labor secretary

Hes been crystal clear that he wants to see the Department of Education closed, and hed like to see it done sooner rather than later, McMahon said. But he understands that we need to work with Congress. There are certain things that are in statute.

It would take an act of Congress to shutter the agency.

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I think my job is to convince Congress that the steps that we are taking are in the best interest of the kids, McMahon 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 NewsNation.
WASHINGTON  The Republican-led House voted Tuesday to pass a six-month funding bill that would prevent a government shutdown at the end of the week, overcoming fierce Democratic objections.

The vote was 217-213, with all Republicans but Thomas Massie, of Kentucky, supporting the legislation. One Democrat, Jared Golden, of Maine, voted for it.

The measure now heads to the Senate, where its fate is uncertain. Republicans control 53 seats, and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has made clear hes firmly against it. That means at least eight Democratic senators would have to support the bill to cross the Senates 60-vote threshold and send it to President Donald Trumps desk.

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The government is set to run out of money late Friday.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who shepherded the bill through the House, took a victory lap after the vote, saying that House Republicans "stood together" with one Democrat to keep the government's lights on.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., "is the leader of the Democrats on that side and he must determine whether he wants to fund the government and do the responsible thing or he wants to shut the government down," Johnson told reporters, "and I certainly hope that there are enough Democrats in the Senate who have a conscience, who will do the right thing by the American people and take care of business over there."

Ahead of the vote, Senate Democrats criticized the partisan approach House Republicans took on the funding bill. But a significant number of them kept the door open to supporting it.

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And after an unusually long, private Senate Democratic lunch meeting Tuesday, Schumer declined to say whether hed block the bill  a sign that his members lack consensus on the path forward.

Were going to wait and see what the House does first, Schumer told reporters.

The legislation is not a typical stopgap measure, known as a continuing resolution or CR, that extends funding at current levels. This spending bill includes a slight increase in military spending and a moderate $13 billion cut in domestic nondefense spending. It was crafted by GOP leaders, who took input from the White House and excluded Democrats from the process. House Democratic leaders strongly objected to the bill.

Ahead of the vote, House Republicans also approved a rule that would prohibit a vote in the first session of this Congress to terminate the national emergency Trump declared Feb. 1 to impose tariffs on U.S. imports from Canada, Mexico and China.

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Over the past several days, Trump and his top aides called undecided Republicans, including Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., to urge them to back the funding bill, multiple sources familiar with the calls said. And before the vote Tuesday morning, Vice President JD Vance huddled with House Republicans at the Capitol to rally support for the bill.

Rep. Kat Cammack, of Florida, one of the Republicans who were on the fence Tuesday morning, voted for the bill after, she said, she visited the White House earlier in the day.

A positive sign for Johnson coming into Tuesday was that the far-right House Freedom Caucus, which is frequently a thorn in the side of leadership, had endorsed the stopgap bill.

Im 100% behind this continuing resolution, the caucus chairman, Andy Harris, R-Md., said in a rare appearance at Johnsons leadership news conference Tuesday morning. This is not your grandfathers continuing resolution. This is a different type of spending bill.

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Democratic leaders staunchly opposed the six-month funding patch, blasting Republicans for pushing a bill they had no part in shaping. Democrats also objected to how the bill was structured, saying it gave the Trump administration too much discretion in how to spend certain pots of money.

And Democrats have pushed for guardrails on Trump and billionaire adviser Elon Musks attempts to slash or freeze some federal spending.

The House Republican spending bill is an attack on everyday Americans. It will cut health care, cut veterans benefits and cut nutritional assistance to children and families, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said at a news conference with his leadership team after the vote. It is unacceptable, and that is why there was a strong showing of opposition amongst House Democrats.

It's unclear what will now happen on the other side of the Capitol. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said before Tuesday's House vote that he would vote for the GOP's funding bill.

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"I refuse to burn the village down and to claim to save it," Fetterman said. "I probably won't agree with many facets of that CR, but when the choice is about shutting the government down, I don't want to be involved with that."

Other Democrats said they were watching to see what happens in the House vote before they announce their positions.

I've got to wait to see the impact it has on Arizona, Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said Tuesday.

Sen. Angus King, a Maine independent who caucuses with Democrats, said Tuesday he was concerned that the Trump administration might try to make a shutdown as painful as possible. He is also undecided on the bill.

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"That's one of the things we have to consider. We're dealing with people, many of whom, I suspect, think a shutdown would be a good thing," King said, "and they could prolong it and use it to expand the president's power even beyond what they're already considering. ... This isn't normal."

Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., also kept his powder dry.

"I haven't come out publicly at this point, just because I want to see what the House does," he said, aligning with top Democratic appropriators who want a one-month extension to negotiate a new funding agreement. "I'm still hoping that there's space for the 30-day extension," he said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
House lawmakers are slated to vote Tuesday on a spending bill to fund the government at current levels through September. Political commentator Chris Cillizza discusses why a government shutdown is possible with a slight GOP majority.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
HOWARD COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  A case that went unsolved in Howard County for 50 years has officially been closed.

On March 11, the Howard County Police Department (HCPD) announced that it cleared the 1975 murder case of 20-year-old Roseann Ann Sturtz. This was the second-oldest cold case in Howard County.

On Aug. 24, 1975, Sturtz, who was 20 at the time, was reported missing. Months later, on Dec. 15, her body was discovered in a wooded area off of Route 18 in Columbia.

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We dont know each other, but were still neighbors: Loudoun County community reacts to student missing in Dominican Republic

For decades, the case remained cold until detectives located lost evidence in 2024 that indicated a man, Charles William Davis Jr., was involved in Sturtzs murder. Detectives learned he had been incarcerated since 1978.

He is serving three life sentences with an additional 45 years at the Jessup Correctional Institution for murders he committed in the 1970s.

Detectives also recovered a letter from the states attorney of Howard County, at the time, giving Daivs full immunity from prosecution to discuss the case.

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On Oct. 14, 1981, the United States Attorney William Hymes dropped in a letter directing the police to inform Davis that if he cooperated fully and provided information about Anns murder he would not be prosecuted for any crime related to her death, said Current Howard County States Attorney Rich Gibson.

As investigators went through files, they discovered a tape of Daviss interview with detectives in 1981.

On the tape, Davis could not identify Sturtz based on the picture that police showed him. However, he admitted that he knew about the case.

In 2024, cold case detectives interviewed Davis again and showed him a different picture of Sturtz. During the interview, he recognized Sturtz in the photo. He told detectives he remembered the scar on her face and confessed to killing her.

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According to HCPD, investigators believe Davis and Sturtz met at a bar in Howard County on the night of Aug. 24. After, he assaulted Sturtz and dumped her body in the woods, according to police. She died from trauma to her body.

Despite this, Daviss immunity was reaffirmed in 2024, and he could not be charged with Sturtzs murder.

However, the police department officially cleared the case.

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Today [March 11, 2025] is a day of remembrance, closure, and justice. This moment is not just about solving a case, its about honoring Anns life, providing her family with long-overdue answers, and seeking justice, no matter how much time has passed, said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball.

Roseann Sturtz (Photo Courtesy: Howard County Police Department)

Sturtzs family released a statement saying they could finally put to rest the answers they never had.

Charles Williams Davis Jr. destroyed our family and our childhoods. We were relieved to learn that he has been serving three life sentencing since 1978 for these terrible crimes. Today, in March 2025, we are grateful to have the closure that we have been praying for since 1975. Thank you to the police department for working so deligently on Roseanns cold case and bring our family the peace we deserved. The Strutz family

There are still 24 unsolved homicides in Howard County that trace back to 1971, according to police.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH)  As the Humane Society of Delaware County (HDSC) works on finding forever homes for animals in its care, the non-profit is also looking for a new home for itself. The HSDC has operated out of its current facility off Route 36 just north of Alum Creek Lake for about four decades.

We know as exponentially as the county grows the needs and pressure that is going to put on an animal shelter and a nonprofit is going to go up with it as well, said Jana Cassidy, executive director of HSDC.

The team at HSDC takes in more than 2,000 animals annually. Cassidy said additional services including low-cost spay and neuter bring in another 1,000 animals. That number is not going down. What we find is the public is just screaming for help for low-cost spay neuter, Cassiday said.

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Over the years theres been some additions to the current building. Its about 10,000 square feet. Theres room for about 122 animals between cats and dogs, according to Cassidy. But she said the space is not big enough.

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One of the big things about our building is we are just simply out of space. Everything you look at, every place you go, weve got stuff shoved everywhere, she said. Cassidy said in recent years the number of humane cases theyve dealt with has increased. In 2024, the HSDC took in a total of 394 animals from those cases, according to Cassidy.

What we find is over time we just keep needing to do more for our community and they keep asking for that but we just do not have the space to be able to do that, she said. The size of the facility also limits how many volunteers can be working with dogs at once.

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Debra Leckrone, volunteer coordinator and community outreach manager, said only two volunteers can be working with dogs at any given time.

So not only the animals are impacted but the volunteers wanting to help those animals are impacted, she said.

Cassidy said the growth of Delaware County is also a large factor in the move to a new space being necessary. HSDC has started raising money for what it is calling an Animal Resource Facility. Plans call for it to be more than double the space of the current facility and offer more services. HSDC is not taxpayer funded.

Theres no way were going to be able to keep up with that need of the community without more space. And unfortunately where were at, where were located theres not enough room here to be able to grow the way we need to grow, Cassidy said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
In an effort to send Earth's best, the private space company Intuitive Machines succeeded in some ways  and failed in others.

During its botched mission that saw its Athena lunar lander tip over and die in a crater, the Houston-based company did manage, as Stereogum reports, to deploy one of its payloads: an eight-terabyte data center that's home to a song by the exceedingly generic alt-rock outfit Imagine Dragons.

And no, we're not talking about a smash hit like "Radioactive." Among the material on Athena's storage center, which is operated by the company Lonestar Data Holdings and acts as a backup for data on terra firma, is the band's 2023 single "Children Of The Sky." Recorded for the same year's space-themed video game "Starfield," the track sounds like pretty much everything else Imagine Dragons has put out  not exactly bad, but definitely neither good nor memorable.

According to St. Petersburg, Florida's Fox 13, the data center was built to withstand the Moon's harsh conditions and house data safely away from natural and human-made disasters on Earth. As such, it appears to be the only surviving payload that launched with Athena atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at the end of February.

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Despite the prog-rock-meets-elevator-music vibes the song gives off, people involved with the project are extremely stoked that it was part of the mission.

"Our goal is to inspire the next generation of kids to be excited about the future of space and technology," Lonestar Data Holdings investor Ryan Micheletti said in a statement before the launch, "which is why we chose 'Children of the Sky' as the first song in history to be broadcast from the Moon."

As of now, the logistics of the venture seem kind of iffy given that Athena is now kaputt. All the same, the Imagine Dragons joint is, indeed, sitting in a data center on the Moon, joining legendary singles from such heavyweights as Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, and Bob Marley that were deposited on the lunar surface last year by another tipped-over Intuitive Machines lander. (No, we are not kidding.)

Despite Athena's sad death, video game composer and Imagine Dragons collaborator Inon Zur suggested in an X post that the mission wasn't a total failure because Lonestar had "successfully transmitted 'Children of the Sky' song and lyrics to their data center on the Moon"  a claim we can't verify.

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"The song will now be on the Moon forever!!" the composer enthused.

Clearly "success" is in the eye of the beholder here  but hey, at least someone's happy about Intuitive Machines' second lander flop.

More on the Moon: Elon Musk Trying to Scrap NASA's Moon Program
CHARENTON, La. (KLFY)  A lost hunter was successfully rescued March 1 in the Attakapas Wildlife Management Area in St. Mary Parish after an hours-long search, authorities said.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents, along with the St. Mary Parish Sheriffs Office and the U.S. Coast Guard, responded to a call around 5:30 p.m. March 1 after the unidentified hunter failed to return from a rabbit hunt.

Search teams covered the area on foot, while the USCG deployed a helicopter, locating and extracting the hunter around 8:30 p.m.

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Officials said the hunter was unharmed and had been rabbit hunting when he got turned around and he had forgotten his phone in his vessel.

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Sgt. Jake Darden, Sgt. Lucas Hidalgo, Senior Agent Joel Rubio and Agent Harry Gaines participated in the search, officials said.

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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  The City of Huntsville is warning residents to expect traffic delays as the city readies for the annual St. Patricks Day Parade downtown.

The city said road closures for the parade will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The parade itself will start at 11 a.m.

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The route kicks off at Lot K at the corner of Clinton Avenue West and Holmes Avenue and then ends at the lumberyard parking lot on Meridian Street.

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You can find a full map of the route here:

(City of Huntsville)

The city said the closures will affect Holmes Avenue, Southside Square and Monroe, Jefferson, Washington and Meridian streets.

Officials said Huntsville police will be on hand to help with the road closures and traffic control and ask drivers to be aware of increased foot traffic around the area on Saturday.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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This week marks five years since March 13, 2020, the day President Donald Trump declared a national state of emergency over the novel coronavirus outbreak. The White House issued The President's Coronavirus Guidelines for America three days later. Among other things, the guidelines advised Americans to avoid bars, restaurants, shopping trips, and social visits. They also said that governors in states with evidence of community transmission should close schools, bars, restaurants, food courts, gyms, and other indoor and outdoor venues.

Sticking to recent peer-reviewed science, and setting aside the political question of what the government should do with the information, what do we know now about the ways people tried to protect themselves from the virus? This week, we're looking at several measuresface masking, the vaccinesas well as the matter of how many Americans died of COVID-19 infections. Yesterday, we tackled face coverings. Today, let's probe what researchers have learned about the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin in treating COVID-19.

Six days after declaring a national emergency in 2020, Trump on March 19 hailed using the antimalaria compounds chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine as a potential "game changer" in the treatment of COVID-19. Trump's enthusiasm for the compounds was likely stoked, in part, by a guest earlier that week on Fox News claiming that hydroxychloroquine had a "100 percent cure rate against coronavirus." The guest was citing the unpublished results of a small nonrandomized study by a team led by French researcher Didier Raoult.

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Feeling pressured by the president, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine on March 28 for the treatment of COVID-19.

In early April 2020, a team of Australian researchers reported that the antiparasitic compound ivermectin killed COVID-19 viruses in infected cells in a petri dish. During the pandemic in the U.S. the use of hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin doubled and increased by tenfold, respectively, from January 30, 2020, to May 11, 2023, according to a 2025 Health Affairs analysis.

Citing emerging scientific data, the FDA on June 15, 2020, revoked its EUA after determining that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine were unlikely to be effective in treating COVID-19. Again, the whiplash of confusing and contradictory claims and public health decisions about the efficacy of the compounds for treating COVID-19 ended up politicizing the issue.

Since 2020, there have been thousands of studies of the compounds. Google Scholar finds 32,800 and 15,800 citations of COVID-19 and hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, respectively. Many initial studies came to contrary conclusions about their efficacy in treating COVID-19. So five years after the national emergency was declared, what have researchers determined?

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Hydroxychloroquine

A September 2024 article in the journal Biomedicines reviewing the findings of clinical trials for ivermectin and chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine reported that "most phase III clinical trials" of the compounds "observed no treatment benefit in patients with COVID-19, underscoring the need for robust phase III clinical trials."

On the other hand, another study in PLOS Medicine published in September 2024 reporting the results of a randomized controlled trial found that "there was evidence of moderate protective benefit" for taking the drug to prevent COVID-19 infections. That study did, however, acknowledge that hydroxychloroquine "has proved ineffective in treating patients hospitalised with Coronavirus Disease 2019."

The PLOS Medicine results mirrored that of an earlier meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies in the Journal of Thoracic Disease. The study by Chinese researchers found hydroxychloroquine reduced the risk of severe COVID-19 infections but "showed no effect on hospitalization or mortality." In a January 2024 study published in Social Determinants of Health, 871 healthy participants randomized to receive either hydroxychloroquine or a placebo were followed for 10 weeks. Over that period, 97 became infected with COVID-19, of whom 61 were taking a placebo. "Pre-exposure therapy with hydroxychloroquine appears to prevent moderate and severe illness caused by COVID-19 in asymptomatic persons," concluded the team of Iranian researchers.

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A systematic review of the effectiveness of various pharmacological treatments for COVID-19 published in the February 27, 2025, issue of Frontiers in Pharmacology found that with respect to the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine in treating COVID-19, "there was no effect on mortality in 16 of 18 meta-analyses."

In a March 4, 2025, letter to Frontiers of Medicine, a Chinese research team after parsing retrospective clinical data for hospitalized COVID-19 patients reported that "low-dose [hydroxychloroquine] was associated with lower all-cause mortality." On the other hand, they observed, "No significant difference in all-cause mortality was found between the high-dose group and non-[hydroxychloroquine] group among the mild and critically ill patients."

Ivermectin

An August 2024 meta-analysis of 12 ivermectin randomized controlled trials of nonhospitalized patients in the International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents reported that "ivermectin did not reduce hospitalization, all-cause mortality or adverse events when compared with controls."

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In April 2024, an ivermectin randomized controlled trial in the Journal of Infection concluded, "Ivermectin for COVID-19 is unlikely to provide clinically meaningful improvement in recovery, hospital admissions, or longer-term outcomes. Further trials of ivermectin for SARS-Cov-2 infection in vaccinated community populations appear unwarranted."

A July 2024 report in BMC Infectious Diseases of a randomized controlled trial in Sri Lanka using ivermectin to treat COVID-19 found, "Although ivermectin resulted in statistically significant lower viral load in patients with mild to moderate Covid-19, it had no significant effect on clinical symptoms." A March 2024 meta-analysis of 33 ivermectin randomized controlled trials by a team of Chinese researchers in the journal Heliyon found no significant difference in all-cause mortality rates or viral clearance rates between those treated with ivermectin and controls, although ivermectin did reduce the risk of mechanical ventilation for COVID-19 patients.

A February 2025 review study of ivermectin randomized controlled trials in Annals of Medicine & Surgery concluded that ivermectin showed no significant impact on critical outcomes such as mortality, mechanical ventilation, viral clearance rates, ICU admissions, or hospitalization rates compared to controls. Similarly, a February 2025 review article of randomized controlled trials by a team of Indian pharmaceutical researchers observed that "we consider Ivermectin ineffective in the management of COVID-19 disease, both as treatment and prophylaxis."

Nevertheless, ivermectin evangelists still argue that the medication is effective in treating COVID-19.

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In December 2024, the French study that likely motivated Trump to tout hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19 was retracted based on, among other things, "concerns raised by three of the authors themselves regarding the article's methodology and conclusion." However, other French researchers rejected that retraction as disinformation. It turns out that retractions are now politicized.

After five years of intensive research and debate, the initial hopes that these off-the-shelf compounds might offer significant benefits for the treatment of COVID-19 were not fulfilled. While some data suggest that taking hydroxychloroquine modestly lowers the risk of infection, most recent evidence concludes both compounds are largely ineffective as treatments for COVID-19 infections.

The post Do Hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin Work? appeared first on Reason.com.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Denver arrested an alleged Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang member with the assistance of the El Paso County Sheriffs Office (EPSO).

Suspected Tren de Aragua gang members arrested in El Paso County

On Wednesday, March 5, ICE arrested 30-year-old Pedro Rafael Cartaya-Rojas in Colorado Springs.

According to ICE, Cartaya-Rojas is a Venezuelan national who illegally entered the U.S. in November 2023 and is also a TdA gang member.

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According to Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen of the Drug Enforcement Administrations Rocky Mountain Field Division (DEA RMFD), TdA began as a Venezuelan prison gang and has since spread all across South America and in other countries. Here in the Denver area, they are involved in drug trafficking at large levels, weapons traffickingyou saw the videos from the apartment complex in Auroraprostitution, [and] human trafficking, Pullen previously said.

Invite-only by serious gang members: DEA RMFD on party bust, recent arrests

According to ICE, Cartaya-Rojas escaped from the Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program, which allows immigrants to remain in their communities as they move through immigration proceedings or prepare for departure. In May 2024, an immigration judge ordered him removed.

I will be transparent with the citizens I serve, and the truth is, dangerous illegal immigrant criminals, such as Tren de Aragua gang members, are here in the Pikes Peak region, EPSO Sheriff Joseph Roybal had previously said. My Office is already collaborating with our federal partners at the FBI, DEA, ATF, and ICE to ensure dangerous criminals, regardless of their citizenship status, are removed from the streets and held accountable.

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Iceland has transferred more than 2 million to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, bringing the country's total contribution to the fund to more than 5.6 million.

Source: Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The ministry pointed out that during 2023-2024, Iceland made four tranches of contributions to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund.

These funds were used to purchase equipment needed by fuel and energy sector companies in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts.

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Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko thanked Iceland for its assistance to the Ukrainian energy system.

Background:

Italy will contribute 13 million to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, as per an agreement signed recently.

It also became known that Ukraine and France have approved 19 projects to rebuild Ukraine's critical infrastructure as part of a 200 million agreement.

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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. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

The Idaho House on Tuesday passed a bill to ban Idahoans elected to state or federal offices  including the Idaho Legislature  from simultaneously serving in elected city, school or highway district positions.

Idaho state Rep. Barbara Ehardt, R-Idaho Falls, talks with attendees during the House State Affairs Committee meeting on Jan. 7, 2025, at the State Capitol Building in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

House Bill 362, sponsored by Rep. Barbara Ehardt, R-Idaho Falls, would automatically vacate local elected offices that officials hold when they swear into elected federal, statewide, or legislative offices.

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Several state legislators have served in local offices while in the Idaho Legislature, which is a part-time Legislature that typically only meets during the first few months of the year.

Ehardts bill is a modified version of a similar bill she brought last year, House Bill 497. That bill narrowly passed the House, by one vote, but did not advance in the Senate.

The Idaho House passed the new bill on a wider 43-27 vote on Tuesday, after about 10 minutes of debate.

Ehardt said she and several other lawmakers see the bill as addressing divided loyalty.

We really feel like if youre serving here, you should serve here, Ehardt said. It also ends up creating a consolidation of power. And I dont think any of thats ever really good.

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The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. To become law, Idaho bills must pass the House and Senate, and avoid the governors veto.

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New version of the bill adds exceptions for rural areas

Following concerns from the Idaho Association of Cities about the bills impact on small communities, Ehardt told the House that the new bill offers several exceptions to the automatic vacancy trigger for officials from small communities, such as for elected positions in:

Cities with less than 1,000 population;

School districts with less than 500 students enrolled; and

Highway districts located primarily in a county with less than 10,000 population.

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If passed into law, the bill would take effect July 1, 2026.

Richard Rick Cheatum represents Idahos Legislative District 28 in the House. (Courtesy of the Idaho Legislature)

Rep. Rick Cheatum, R-Pocatello, serves on Pocatello City Council, and voted against the bill.

Serving in both offices has been very advantageous for both the city and my service to the three counties that I serve to have the information and the knowledge that Ive obtained in doing both jobs, he told the House.

This bill would not affect me, unless I seek re-election to City Council this next year. But I think its wrong to carve out small cities and say Its OK, and tell folks in bigger communities that Its not to serve both ways and give part of your life to your community, Cheatum said.

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Echoing concerns he raised in a committee hearing on the bill on Friday, Rep. Todd Achilles, D-Boise, argued the bill violates the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution by treating officials differently based on numbers for small communities that lack an empirical justification.

The thing that gives me the most pause with this bill  is that were canceling a citizens vote. Were overriding the votes of Idahoans who are voting in a school district, highway district or city council because of some arbitrary delineation of the size of those entities, Achilles said. And what that means is that this Legislature is saying We know better than those voters.

As she closed debate on her bill, Ehardt pushed back on that notion.

Theres no voter suppression here. What were actually asking is that we, as with the rest of the options, if you look through that section, we eliminate the ability to serve in different areas all the time, she said. For example, you cannot serve here  and I know its a little more extreme, you cant serve here and also serve federally.

Idaho lawmakers who have held local office

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At least two current Idaho state lawmakers hold local elected offices that could be affected by the bill.

Rep. Cheatum serves on Pocatello City Council. And Rep. Chris Bruce, R-Kuna, serves on the Kuna City Council.

Ehardt was first appointed to the Idaho Legislature in December 2017, after she lost a runoff race for Idaho Falls mayor, Local News 8 reported, and as her first term on Idaho Falls City Council was coming to an end, East Idaho News reported. She won the 2018 general election for the Legislature and is in her fifth legislative term.

Some current and former lawmakers resigned from local elected offices soon after winning state legislative seats.

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Some former lawmakers have also simultaneously held local elected offices while in the Idaho Legislature.

Former Rep. Thyra Stevenson, a Lewiston Republican who died in 2020, served as a city councilor while in the Legislature. Former Sen. Dan Johnson, a Republican, served as Lewistons mayor while in the Legislature.

Former Rep. Colin Nash, D-Boise, had a substitute in the Idaho Legislature in 2024 while he served on the Boise City council.

Idaho House votes on House Bill 362 (Courtesy of Idaho in Session)

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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. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

Idaho Gov. Brad Little has signed into law a bill that lawmakers say is intended to protect free speech by curtailing frivolous lawsuits.

The law is designed to combat frivolous strategic lawsuits against public participation, or SLAPP lawsuits.

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The law  created through Senate Bill 1001  would put lawsuits on hold if a party files an anti-SLAPP motion. The law would let the winning party recover attorney fees.

Little signed the bill Monday afternoon, according to the governors office legislation tracker.

The Idaho anti-SLAPP law takes effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

Anti-SLAPP laws are in place in 35 states and the District of Columbia, according to a 2023 report by the Institute for Free Speech.

Both chambers of the Idaho Legislature passed the bill with bipartisan, nearly unanimous support  with only one vote in opposition.

Under the law, people who are subject to such lawsuits could file a new anti-SLAPP motion in court. The anti-SLAPP motion would freeze the case and allow a judge to quickly dismiss any lawsuit deemed by the judge to be frivolous.

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On the other hand, if a judge decides the lawsuit was not frivolous, the case would resume and the case would play out as normal.

The bill was co-sponsored by Sen. Brian Lenney, R-Nampa, and Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard.

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DENVER (KDVR)  On Monday, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation identified the woman who died after three Clear Creek County Sheriffs Office deputies fired their weapons at her.

Christine Lewis, 36, was pronounced dead at a Denver metro area hospital after she was transported there with life-threatening wounds.

Suspect in custody after shooting with deputy in Fort Collins

According to the sheriffs office, the incident began with Empire police conducting a high-risk arrest on a suspect with a felony warrant out of Oklahoma, which is when the Clear Creek County Sheriffs Office was paged for help. The suspect, now identified as Lewis, was wanted for illegal possession of a firearm.

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She was originally encountered by law enforcement while inside a vehicle parked in an empty lot at Empire Junction, which is near the intersection of Highway 40 and the westbound off-ramp of Interstate 70. Police instructed her to exit the vehicle, but instead she drove west on Junction Loop Road, according to the sheriffs office.

Clear Creek County Sheriffs Office investigate a deadly officer-involved shooting where the suspect died. (KDVR) Clear Creek County Sheriffs Office investigate an officer-involved shooting

She crashed on a curve of County Road 306, ending up in the brush and trees just south of Clear Creek. Law enforcement said that at that point, Lewis was armed with a firearm and was ignoring commands to leave her vehicle.

The agencies said they began using less lethal options to try and get Lewis to leave her vehicle, and when the suspect did exit her car, she refused to drop the firearm and pointed it in the direction of officers/deputies, according to the sheriffs office.

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The sheriffs office said Lewis walked onto the bridge over Clear Creek, still armed, and law enforcement continued to use less lethal techniques to get her compliance.

Tenants at Denver apartment raided by ICE sue property management

The suspect then raised the firearm again and pointed it directly at deputies, the Clear Creek County Sheriffs office said in its release describing the incident. Three deputies fired shots at that time.

CBI was in charge of investigating the officer-involved shooting. The three deputies who fired their weapons were placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation.

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WASHINGTON D.C. (WTVO)  Democratic Illinois Congressman Eric Sorenson has introduced a bill that would keep Social Security offices nationwide open until January 21, 2029, one day after President Donald Trump leaves office.

Certain Social Security Offices, including the one in Rockford, at 502 E Jefferson Street, have been recommended for closure by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk.

Musks team has identified federal real estate that could be axed as part of an effort to reduce taxpayer waste.

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The agency expects to save more than $2.4 million a year by closing additional federal facilities in Illinois, in Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Rock Island, Champaign, Springfield, and OFallon.

Sorensens Keeping Our Field Offices Open Act would impose a moratorium on Social Security closures until the Commissioner of Social Security submits a report to Congress outlining a clear and justified process for office closures.

For so many people in my district, Social Security isnt just a check  its the difference between putting food on the table or going hungry, affording medication or risking their health. Its a lifeline thousands of people depend on every day, said Congressman Eric Sorensen. Closing field offices would place unnecessary hardships on the very people who rely on these services the most  our seniors, individuals with disabilities, and hardworking families.

Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara has voiced his opposition to closing the Rockford Social Security office, adding Shutting down the Rockford office is an unacceptable decision and would create unnecessary barriers especially transportation challenges for thousands of residents, seniors, people with disabilities and working families who rely on these critical services the most. We must ensure that our most vulnerable residents have access to the support they need, not make it harder for them.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.
YATES CITY, Ill. (WMBD)  The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency announced that it has helped fund nine water infrastructure projects around the state in the first half of the fiscal year 2025.

These projects included one in Yates City, which will help the city drill a new public water supply well, The Illinois EPA Acting Director James Jennings announced on Monday.

Yates City is a Village in Knox County located 17 miles northwest of Hanna City.

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Peoria Heights waterworks to be modernized with nearly $1 million federal dollars

The Illinois EPA distributed $112 million in Water Infrastructure Loans and $9.9 million in Loan Forgiveness. Yates City received a $1,407,082 loan to cover their project and were also awarded an equal amount of loan forgiveness to cover the entirety of the loan.

Illinois EPA is proud to operate a robust State Revolving Fund that allows us to partner with local governments in meeting the challenges of aging and deteriorating water infrastructure, Jennings said. Our drinking water and wastewater loan programs provide our communities and water districts with vital funding needed to repair and replace the outdated or failing equipment.

More information on the loans is available here.

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)  The Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) has scheduled an active shooter course in Champaign for this May.

IFSI is holding an Active Shooter Incident Management (ASIM) course from May 6-8 at the First Christian Church at 3601 S Staley Road. This advanced course is a 24-hour performance-level class designed to improve incident management and integration of law enforcement, fire and EMS responders to active shooter events.

Champaign community invited to enjoy coffee with a cop

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The course provides a model framework for use by law enforcement, fire and EMS command staff to manage active shooter event response to improve time to threat neutralization, medical intervention and survivability of victims, an ASIM flyer reads.

This course is being hosted by the Champaign County Emergency Management Agency. ASIM is also providing the statistical profile of a typical Active Shooter Event (ASE), which includes:

A model ASE integrated response process

The Active Shooter Incident Management Checklist(TM)

Organizational building blocks for an integrated response including: Contact Team Rescue Task Force Tactical Perimeter Triage Transport Intelligence Reunification

Progressively challenging full length ASE functional exercise scenarios

Hands-on experience in multiple response roles

Introduction to Complex Coordinated Attacks (CCA)

Experience applying and working with the NIMS Incident Command System

Improvised Explosive Device and Static/Barricade scenarios

CCA Case Studies and capstone exercise scenario

The City of Champaign wants your input on downtown improvements

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The ASIM course provides participants, and enrollment is limited to command and supervisory level personnel, including:

30 Law Enforcement

20 Fire/EMS personnel

Five Emergency Communicators (dispatchers)

Two Public Information Officers (PIOs)

Two Emergency Managers

One Helicopter Pilot

The course is provided by grant funded training, meaning there is no cost to student or agency. The registration deadline is March 21, and the registration pin (case sensitive) is FY25CHMAY. The two ways to register are by visiting the c3pathways website or by scanning the QR code on the flyer.

The local point of contact is John Dwyer, who can be reached at 217-384-3826 or jdwyer@champaigncountyil.gov. For more information on the course, contact David Saitta, NIMS/ICS Program Manager, at 217-333-6952 or dsaitta@illinois.edu.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WTWO/WAWV)  The Illinois State Police are stressing the importance of Scotts Law after a large number of violations last year. However, they say the numbers are looking better now.

Scotts Law, also known as the move over law, requires drivers to slow down and get over to the other lane when driving past a stalled vehicle with flashing lights.

Last year, there were 27 Scotts Law violations resulting in crashes, 10 of those violations coming in the first three months of 2024. So far in 2025, there has been three violations.

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UPDATED: Driver charged with Scotts Law violation in connection with troopers death

An Illinois State Police Trooper said the goal is always to have zero violations, but a downtrend is an encouraging sight.

I like to tell people that when we have to create a website to have a database to track troopers getting hit, it is a problem and it needs to stop. Its also completely preventable, just like distracted driving. Its a choice we make, and that probably is a large contributing factor to these crashes, is people arent putting 100% focus on whats in front of them and theyre not paying attention, said Illinois State Trooper Josh Robinson.

Illinois state trooper survives after being rear-ended by semi-truck on I-70 shoulder

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ILLINOIS (WTVO)  A recruitment effort to fill open teacher positions in Illinois appears to be working, according to new data from the State Board of Education.

In 2023, the state showed nearly 41,000 vacant positions, while the new data shows about 38,000.

Illinois has directed a lot of resources toward shoring up a shortage of teachers, including lowering the barriers to receiving a teaching license and offering alternative ways to get started.

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Dan Montgomery, the president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, said more effort needs to be placed on keeping teachers in the classroom.

I would say, when people do take the job, they pretty quickly learn the pension issue, he said. They look around. The salary issue, they talk to their friends who are making more money outside of public service and things like that. And then the second thing, its an exceedingly difficult job.

The data from both regional superintendents and the State Board of Education showed a large number of school administrators said more state and federal support is needed to address the teacher shortage.

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA)  With tax season underway, the Illinois State Comptroller is urging people to watch out for tax-related scams.

As you prepare to file your state and federal income tax returns, its important to protect your personal information, Comptroller Susana Mendoza said in a news release. Scammers use this time of year as an opportunity to take advantage of people just trying to get their paperwork done.

Macon Co. Sheriffs Office warns of call scams

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The most common scam involves people posing as IRS employees and asking for personal information or even offering a refund. Other scams include smishing where scammers send text messages claiming your account has been put on hold and including a fake solutions link and telephone scams targeting people with limited proficiency in English and threatening deportation.

What Mendoza called even scarier is the use of artificial intelligence to replicate the voice of a trusted accountant or tax preparer. As a counter, she suggested asking a few questions since AI responses are limited in nature.

However, Mendoza said even tax preparers and businesses need to be on alert as well. One scam targeting tax preparers involved scammers posing as potential clients and trying to get them to click on a malicious link.

Mendoza said the IRS preferred method of communication is mail through the United States Postal Service. People should be suspicious of any other contact and if anyone actually owes money to the IRS, the agency will first send a bill.

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Remember, neither the state nor the federal government will call taxpayers, threatening them and demanding payment via a wire transfer, credit, debit or gift card, Mendoza added. Thats a sure sign of a scam.

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA)  Illinois State Police hope to increase the number of female police officers, and to do that, theyre hosting their first ever all-women recruitment event.

The State Police Academy in Springfield will be open to the public on March 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. During the event, Illinois State Police will share employment information and offer opportunities to meet with professionals specializing in forensic science, investigations, telecommunications, crime scene services and patrol.

UIS faculty members authorize strike amidst contract negations with university

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Illinois State Police is also participating in the 30X30 Initiative, which seeks to support and advance the representation,  experiences, and well-being of women in policing agencies, according to State Police. Data from the Department of Justice indicates that only around 14% of full-time sworn officers and 11% of first-line supervisors in local police department are women.

During the event, women are also invited to learn more about civilian career opportunities, including forensic science, computer crimes, criminal intelligence, information technology, human resources, accounting, logistics, evidence technician, firearms eligibility analyst and more.

Click here to learn more about sworn job opportunities and to become an Illinois State Police trooper. For more information about civilian opportunities, visit this website.

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WGN)  Women interested in pursuing a career with the Illinois State Police are encouraged to attend a first-ever recruitment event later this month.

ISP will host its all-women law enforcement recruitment event on Tuesday, March 18, at the ISP Academy at 3700 E Lake Shore Dr. in Springfield.

Potential recruits can learn about career opportunities as troopers and civilians in various law enforcement specialties, including forensic science, investigations, telecommunications, crime scene services, patrol, and more.

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Mechanical issue forces emergency helicopter landing on Chicago golf course

The endeavor is part of ISPs 30X30 Initiative, which bands organizations together to support and advance womens representation, experiences, and well-being in police agencies.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, only about 14% of full-time sworn officers and 11% of first-line supervisors across local police departments were women.

Click here for more information on how to become an ISP trooper. Those interested in civilian opportunities with the agency may also click here.

The March 18 event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is free to the public.

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SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  U.S. immigration and military authorities disclosed Monday that immigrants from 27 countries were being held at Guantanamo Bay Naval Station in Cuba, while revealing new details of conditions of confinement and defending the government's authority to transfer and hold immigrants at the military base.

Court filings on behalf of the Homeland Security and Defense departments indicated that 40 immigrants with final deportation orders were being held at Guantanamo Bay as of Friday  with 23 labelled high risk and held individually in cells. The remainder were held in another area of special housing for migrants, in groups of up to six.

Civil rights attorneys sued the Trump administration this month to prevent it from transferring 10 migrants detained in the U.S. to Guantanamo Bay and filed statements from men held there who said they were mistreated in conditions that of one of them called a living hell.

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Responding to the lawsuit, Justice Department attorneys argued Monday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has broad authority to hold immigrants with final removal orders at Guantanamo Bay for only so long as their removal remains significantly likely to occur in the reasonably foreseeable future.

U.S. immigration and military authorities do not need to show that (Naval Station Guantanamo Bay) is essential to that plan, logistically uncomplicated, or that it is the least expensive option, the Trump administration argued in the court filings.

Administration attorneys also said, the government does not dispute that the mass removal efforts are intended in part to deter illegal migration.

New written testimonials from ICE and military leaders say that Guantanamo Bay detainees are being treated with dignity and and respect," describing access to legal counsel, regular meals, laundry service and medical care as not inconsistent with other ICE detention facilities."

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At the same time, the government testimonials also acknowledge the naval base is not accommodating requests for in-person visits by legal counsel, while some detainees refused to eat and some have been placed in hand and leg restraints after threatening to harm themselves. Strip searches are conducted upon arrival for high-risk detainees, with pat downs searches when immigrants leave certain holding areas.

Personal phone calls of up to five minutes each day are being allowed, with conversations monitored by ICE, authorities said.

Trump has said he will send the worst criminal migrants to Guantanamo Bay, but civil rights attorneys say many detainees transferred to there dont have a serious criminal record or any criminal record.

Lee Gelernt, an ACLU attorney in the case for immigrants aiming to block transfers to Guantanamo, said the ACLU does not have a full list of immigrants detained at the base or their countries of origin. He declined to comment further ahead of a court hearing in the case.

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The 10 men involved in the lawsuit came to the U.S. in 2023 or 2024, seven from from Venezuela, and the others from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Trump in January said he wanted to expand immigrant detention facilities at Guantanamo to hold as many as 30,000 people, and his administration on Feb. 4 began flying immigrants there.

Initially nearly 200 Venezuelans immigrants were transferred to Guantanamo  and later flown to their home country. No Venezuelans were detained at Guantanamo, as of Friday.

While the U.S. naval base in Cuba is best known for the suspects brought in after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, it has a small, separate facility used for decades to hold migrants.

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Tent facilities with the capacity to hold 520 immigrants have been installed but are not yet in use. Migrants also are being held in a medium-security facility modeled after U.S. prisons.

The migrant detention center operates separately from the militarys detention center and courtrooms for foreigners detained under President George W. Bush during what that administration called its war on terror.
Calmer weather continues for most of New Mexico this afternoon. Our next storm system moves in tomorrow.

Wind speeds are beginning to increase of southern New Mexico this afternoon as our next storm system prepares to move in. These southwesterly winds are pulling warm and dry air in southern and southeastern New Mexico. This is leading to warming temperatures, particularly in southeastern New Mexico where temperatures could reach the 80s. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for parts of southern New Mexico. This alert will be in place until 8 p.m. Tuesday March 11th.

This elevated fire risk across southern New Mexico will continue to increase through the end of the week. As a strong spring storm moves in on Thursday increasing winds. Gusts upwards of 70 mph are possible across eastern New Mexico. This leads to increased risks of fires spreading and of blowing dust.

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Strong winds are not the only this our next storm system will be bringing. Semi-widespread rain and snowfall will begin to move into eastern New Mexico tomorrow. Heavier precipitation will move into northern, western, and central New Mexico on Thursday and last through Saturday morning.

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An Indonesian social media influencer who suggested Jesus should cut his hair has been sentenced to two years and 10 months in jail after being found guilty of spreading hate speech against Christianity.

Ratu Thalisa, a Muslim transgender woman who has nearly 450,000 followers on TikTok, was sentenced by a court in North Sumatra province over the comments made to an image of Christ, according to a statement from rights group Amnesty International and local media reports.

Thalisa, who is known online as Ratu Entok, made the comments after a viewer said she should cut her hair to look like a man.

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In a live broadcast on October 2, 2024, Thalisa held up a picture of Jesus Christ and said: You should not look like a woman. You should cut your hair so that you will look like his father.

Five Christian groups filed complaints to Indonesian police alleging blasphemy, leading to Thalisas arrest on October 8.

In addition to jail time, the court ordered Thalisa to pay a fine of around $6,200.

She was sentenced under Indonesias Electronic Information and Transactions (EIT) law after the court ruled that her comments could affect public order and religious harmony.

Amnesty International Indonesias Executive Director Usman Hamid said Monday that the sentence is a shocking attack on Ratu Thalisas freedom of expression, and that the EIT law should not be used to punish people for social media comments.

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While Indonesia should prohibit the advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, Ratu Thalisas speech act does not reach that threshold, Hamid said in a statement.

According to Amnesty, from 2019 to 2024 at least 560 people were charged with alleged violations of the EIT Law under various offenses, including defamation and hate speech.

This sentence highlights the increasingly arbitrary and repressive application of Indonesias EIT law to violate freedom of expression, he added.

The authorities must quash Ratu Thalisas conviction, ensure her immediate and unconditional release and repeal or make substantial revisions of problematic provisions in the EIT Law criminalizing immorality, defamation, and hate speech, said Hamid.

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Thalisa is one of a number of people convicted for blasphemy in recent years, most of them for insults to Islam.

Indonesia is the worlds largest Muslim nation, where 231 million people, at least 93% of its adult population, identify as Muslim.

Religious conservatism has been on the rise in the country in recent years and rights groups have warned that blasphemy laws are being increasingly weaponized against religious minorities and those deemed to have insulted Islam.

In September 2023, Muslim social media influencer Lina Lutfiawati, known as Lina Mukherjee on social media, was sentenced to two years in prison over a video she shared on TikTok which showed her reciting an Islamic prayer before trying pork.

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One of Indonesias most high-profile blasphemy cases was that of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, an ethnic Chinese Indonesian politician widely known as Ahok who served as Jakartas first non-Muslim governor in 50 years.

He went on trial for blasphemy in 2017 after angering hardline Muslims by referencing a verse from the Quran while campaigning for re-election in 2016. He was jailed for two years, despite making a public apology.

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EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah (ABC4)  A 2-month-old infant was found dead at an Eagle Mountain home on Friday. The mother has been booked into jail on negligent homicide, according to the Utah County Sheriffs Office.

On March 7, Utah County deputies responded to a home in the Pioneer Landing area of Eagle Mountain, Utah, on a report of an infant that was not breathing. First responders arrived at the scene and provided life-saving care, but the infant was pronounced deceased on scene.

Deputies observed concerning signs of possible neglect at the scene, a press release from the sheriffs office states. The mother reportedly agreed to speak with police, and upon being interviewed, admitted to drinking a large amount of alcohol before taking a bath on the evening of March 6.

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BYU study examines toxic perfectionism in the LDS church

The woman told police she had a history of falling asleep in the bath for hours, according to the release. She reportedly admitted to bringing the infant child into bathroom with her and placing them on a bouncy chair next to the tub.

She stated that during her bath, she picked up the infant and placed them on her lap in the tub, just above the water line, the release states. The mother then woke up around two hours later by another one of her young children, who was concerned about the victim being face down in the bath water and partially under [the mothers] knee, the release states.

The mother picked up the infant, who was not breathing, while the other child reportedly ran to get help from other family members.

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The woman was booked into Utah County Jail for negligent homicide, among other charges. No further information is available at this time.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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By Antoni Slodkowski and Laurie Chen

BEIJING (Reuters) -The third-ranked leader of China's ruling Communist Party was absent on Tuesday from a key parliamentary session he had been due to open, with his stand-in attributing the absence to a respiratory infection.

Zhao Leji, 68, was not among the senior party leaders in the Great Hall of the People, marking the first time in almost two decades that a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, the party's top echelon, was not at the high-profile event.

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"Chairman Zhao Leji requested leave from this afternoon's meeting due to a respiratory infection," said Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, as he opened the plenary session in the Chinese capital.

"I was entrusted ... to preside," he told more than 2,000 delegates gathered in the hall's main auditorium for the parliamentary meetings, set to conclude on Tuesday.

The announcement was a departure from the Communist Party's customary secrecy regarding the health of senior leaders.

"It's certainly unusual for China's NPC speaker to miss the single most important occasion of the year," said Wen-Ti Sung, an analyst of Chinese politics at the Atlantic Councils Global China Hub. "This kind of occurrence is extremely rare."

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Zhao did not attend either the closing session of China's national political advisory body or the third meeting of the presidium of the National People's Congress (NPC), both on Monday, state media said, with no reason given for his absence.

Until then, Zhao, a trusted confidant of President Xi Jinping who served five years as the head of the Communist Partys anti-corruption watchdog, had attended all his scheduled public meetings, state media summaries showed.

Zhao's portrait still appears on the NPC website.

While there is no official suggestion that Zhao's absence is caused by anything other than illness, China's former foreign minister Qin Gang missed a 2023 diplomatic summit in Indonesia for unspecified "health reasons", a foreign ministry spokesperson said at the time. He was later ousted from his job after a mysterious one-month absence from duties, allegedly due to an extramarital affair.

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Li, Zhao's deputy, was "entrusted" to chair the meeting of the presidium or executive committee on Monday, the official People's Daily newspaper said. Li, 68, sits on the 24-member Politburo, the party's second-highest rung of power.

A member of the Politburo Standing Committee has not missed a major NPC plenary session since 2006, when former Vice Premier Huang Ju missed all the annual parliament sessions because he was ill in hospital, a government spokesperson said at the time.

Huang, who was China's sixth-ranking leader, died in 2007, but authorities gave no cause of death.

The Communist Party almost never divulges details of the health of top leaders or addresses concerns about their age, making it difficult for analysts to track political dynamics.

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All leaders in the Politburo Standing Committee except Xi and Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, 62, are expected to retire in 2027, when the next Communist Party leadership reshuffle is due.

Zhao was absent from a January 2022 study session of the 24-member Politburo chaired by Xi, state media footage showed. No reason was given for his absence and state media did not list those who attended.

In 2022, Xis immediate predecessor, Hu Jintao, was unexpectedly escorted out of the Great Hall of the People by two stewards during the closing ceremony of the previous Communist Party congress.

He was "not feeling well" and had recently taken time to "recuperate", state media said at the time.

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The incident was highly unusual given the meticulous stage management of such events. Video footage was widely shared on Twitter but did not appear on China's heavily censored social media.

PARLIAMENT DUTIES

Besides chairing China's national parliament, Zhao heads its standing committee, which meets every two months to review drafts of new legislation and approve personnel decisions.

On Saturday, Zhao delivered an annual report on legislative work at the second plenary session of the NPC, also held in the Great Hall.

He attended last Wednesday's opening session of parliament and met NPC delegates from the southwestern province of Sichuan, state media said.

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For decades, Zhao climbed the Party ranks in his native province of Qinghai in the northwest before being transferred to Shaanxi province in 2007, where Xi has strong personal and family connections.

He then headed the partys Central Organization Department overseeing personnel appointments and promotions, before taking the role of top disciplinary chief.

In his current role, Zhao meets regularly with visiting foreign lawmakers, including the speaker of South Korea's parliament, Woo Won-shik, last month.

Last year, he led a Chinese delegation to North Korea on a goodwill visit, becoming the most senior Chinese leader to visit the country since 2018.

(Reporting by Laurie Chen, Antoni Slodkowski and Beijing Newsroom; Writing by Laurie Chen; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman, Clarence Fernandez and Kate Mayberry)
Finally Florida is the homebase of the Republican Party, a lobbyist from the Sunshine State, Brian Ballard, told the Wall Street Journal. The publication reported that Trump and his administration made two moves that benefitted Ballard and his clients days after Trump became president.

The Mar-a-Lago to White House pipeline is real, and loyalty matters in Trump 2.0.

Three days before President Donald Trumps inauguration, Florida lobbyist Brian Ballard had a party. According to the Wall Street Journal, it was at a Mastros Steakhouse, close to the White House, where a plaque for Ballard hangs on the wall. Ballard raised more than $50 million for Trump during the election, per the Journal, and his administration did two things that appeared to benefit Ballard and his clients.

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Trump signed an executive order delaying the TikTok ban. TikTok hired Ballard months earlier, and its chief executive Shou Chew attended an inauguration fundraiser dinner Ballard hosted, where Chew spoke to Republican lawmakers, per the Journal.

Then, the Trump administration pulled a proposed ban on menthol cigarettes by its predecessor. Reynolds, an American tobacco company, is a client of Ballards, tooand that was the top lobbying priority for the menthol cigarette maker, people familiar with the matter told the Journal.

The lead-up to the menthol cigarette decision involved Ballard and his firms top lobbyists consistently meeting with Trump for months and donating $10 million, people familiar said. They even presented pollings that showed menthol was popular among Black consumers, a demographic Trump wanted to win over, the people said, according to the Journal.

Carlos Trujillo, another Florida lobbyist and an ambassador in the first Trump administration, also had a party that night where Trumps chief of staff Susie Wiles made an appearance. Since Trumps victory, Trujillo is seeing more clients and had a role in the BlackRock deal to buy Panama Canal ports from CK Hutchison, people familiar with the matter told the outlet. His client list went from 12 to more than 60 since the election, per the Journal. Last month, Politico reported the firm Trujillo founded signed on at least 16 federal lobbying clients since Trumps win. At the time, Trujillo said Trump was the hottest ticket in town.

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White House assistant press secretary Liz Huston in an email statement to Fortune said: "President Trump does whats right for the American people. That is all. Ballard Partners (the lobbying firm founded by Ballard), TikTok, Reynolds, and Carlos Trujillo, did not respond to Fortunes request for comment.

Another Florida lobbyist, Nick Iarossi, extended his reach via a Washington lobbying and public relations firm after reportedly meeting with Trump several times during the campaign and transition. The decision to also lobby D.C. from Florida was seamless because we have deep relationships with many of the key White House and cabinet officials who are also from Florida, Iarossi told the Journal. Iarossi previously told Politico that while sitting in the West Wing, he felt like Florida had just been picked up and placed in the White House.

The elevation of Floridian power players in Washington since the presidents return goes beyond lobbyists. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was once a Florida senator. United States Attorney General Pam Bondi was once Florida attorney general. National-security advisor Mike Waltz used to be a congressman from Florida. Trumps special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff was a prominent real estate developer in Florida. Wiles is a veteran of Florida politics.

Florida was a swing state for many yearsit was blue both times Obama ran, in 2008 and 2012but its recently turned red. Trump won Florida each time he ran. The story of Florida is not just the story of Florida, Raymond Paultre, executive director of the Alliance, a group of Democratic donors in the state, told the New York Times last year. Its the story of a progressive movement thats struggling to make it in the South, thats struggling to compete with younger voters of color, that is struggling to win with younger men.

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In Trumps current administration, he has tapped more Floridians for his inner circle than ever before. Finally Florida is the homebase of the Republican Party, Ballard told the Journal. Its the place where people used to come to fill up their campaign coffers. Now they come for talent.

Justin Sayfie, a partner at Ballards firm, previously told Politico: Its the first time we have had a president elected from the state of Florida That means that there are a number of Floridians who are serving in the administration, and that means that firms with Florida ties can be helpful in the new environment in Washington.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
InfoWars reporter Jamie White was brutally murdered on Sunday night outside of his Austin, Texas, apartment complex, Alex Jones said on Monday.

Jones, during his Monday broadcast, said Whites family had been notified and that he was breaking the news on his show. Austin Police had not confirmed White was the man found dead outside the apartment complex as of Tuesday morning, The Houston Chronicle reported. Representatives for the Austin Police Department did not immediately respond to TheWraps request for comment.

The police department told Fox 7 in Austin, however, that officers had found a man with obvious signs of trauma around midnight on Sunday. He was taken to a hospital, where he died from his injuries. Jones, on his show, said White was killed after returning from work.

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We sent some people over this morning when he didnt answer the phone, because he was always here early, loves to work, loves to fight tyranny, loves to promote freedom, Jones said during his Monday show. When they got to the apartment complex, there was yellow tape everywhere and blood all over the parking lot.

Jones, in a post on his website, added that White was a light we were blessed to experience as much as we did.

White wrote two stories on the day he died, one on the frontrunner in the Romanian presidential election being banned from the ballot, and another on the Secret Service shooting an armed man near the White House.

His last activity on X, where he had more than 21,000 followers, was a re-shared post from Elon Musk that was posted at 11:25 p.m. local time. Yeah, why are liberals so violent? Legacy media propaganda is a major part of the problem, Musk said in his post.

The post InfoWars Reporter Jamie White Brutally Murdered, Alex Jones Says appeared first on TheWrap.
AUSTIN (WGHP)  Embattled InfoWars host Alex Jones has confirmed that a man killed in Austin, Texas, this weekend was his employee.

KXAN initially reported the homicide Monday with officers saying they were called to an apartment complex late Sunday night. They found the victim in the parking lot and he was taken to the hospital where he died just after midnight.

Police are investigating the death as a homicide but have not released any information about the nature of the mans death, other than to say he was found with trauma, according to KXAN.

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On Monday, Alex Jones posted on X that the victim was reporter Jamie White, sharing KXANs broadcast alongside his own reaction video.

D.H. Griffin cited by labor department after employee killed by train in Greensboro

Jones provided the following statement:

We are deeply saddened to inform you that InfoWars Reporter Jamie White was brutally murdered around midnight Sunday night due, in part, to the policies of the Soros Austin, TX D.A. Jose Garza. We pledge that Jamies tragic death will not be in vain, and those responsible for this senseless violence will be brought to justice. Jamies important work will be carried on through InfoWars, our readers, and our cherished listeners.

An article posted on the InfoWars website also describes White as a light we were blessed to experience as much as we did and a one-of-a-kind man.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Police are investigating after an alleged incident at the private prison on Youngstowns East Side.

According to reports, officers responded to the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center on Hubbard Road on Saturday for reports of an incident that occurred the day prior.

Reports state that a coordinator told police an inmate was tied up, robbed and cut with an edged instrument around 4:30 p.m.

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The coordinator told police two other inmates entered the mans cell and told him they would kill him if he did not send them money, reports state.

The inmate told the coordinator that the two other inmates tied his legs and began to kick and punch him while poking him with a knife. It is unclear how long the inmate was tied up.

Inmates also recorded the incident, according to reports.

WKBN 27 First News was sent video of the incident and CoreCivic confirmed its authenticity. We are not sharing that video at this point while we obtain a release for its use.

CoreCivic Public Affairs Manager Brian Todd said all information has been turned over to police.

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Reports state the inmates family members sent over $3,000 to a CashApp account. Then, a welfare check was done on the inmate the next day, and corrections officers found the inmate with reportedly visibly bruised eyes.

Medical staff reported that the inmate also had a possibly fractured right hand and a scratch on his thigh. He was cleared without needing hospital treatment, reports state.

The inmate also reported to officers that he was sexually assaulted, and reports state that he would later be checked by medical staff for additional injuries.

Police said no weapons were recovered.

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BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11)  One Bronx principal turned around a failing school with a new program that included a podcast and TV studio.

At Exploration and Discovery at P.S. 224, the principal and his team created a podcast studio and media hub. Move over Joe Rogan. 14-year-old Miley Roque is one of the hosts of this new podcast. All of the shows are done by students for students.

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Its a weekly podcast called The Best Middle School Podcast.

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Their principal, Uche Njoku, says he always thought if you built it they would come. The students love it. He transformed what used to be an old music room, now a state-of-the-art media hub.

Njoku was a film major in college and never thought 25 years later when he became a principal here that it would be the breakthrough he was looking for for his students. Njoku says the new program is bringing the community and students together, empowering them to learn the ABCs of the future: arts, broadcasting, and communications. Its a great pathway to being their best in high school and then college.

Two years ago, the school was on the closure list. Njoku says with no funding, he reached out to local partners and created a digital communications program. The rest is history. The next dream is converting an upstairs classroom into a TV studio and need partners to make that happen.

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Third part of four-part Diagnosis: Columbus, looking at expansion projects across central Ohios major health systems as they respond to the regions population growth and job expansion. Read the first part  on OhioHealths $1 billion expansion  by clicking here; read the second part  on Nationwide Childrens Hospitals expansion  by clicking here.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  For the past five years, as drivers move along State Route 315 near Ohio States campus, theyve likely wondered about the ever-growing tower under construction right off the highway.

At 26 stories tall and nearly two million square feet, the Wexner Medical Center tower will be the tallest structure on the Ohio State campus. NBC4 recently got an exclusive tour of the construction process, as the building is on pace to open early in 2026.

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Preschool company abruptly closes three of its central Ohio locations

They wanted to make sure we were attracting the best and the brightest and its hard to do that with a 75-year-old building, Wexner Medical Center Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Andrew Thomas said. So, in 2016, a group of us sat down with a blank piece of paper and said, What would we do if we could?'

Thomas and his team spent years gathering intelligence, including several visits to other elite university hospitals across the nation.

The first step, you do whats called programming the hospital, he said. Its a little bit like if you were building a house, its how many beds do you need, etc.

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Thomas said his team uncovered several specific needs, including more natural light throughout the building and in the patient rooms, and the need for modernized space to accommodate modern technology. The new parking garage, also a major priority in the project, was finished before tower construction began in 2020.

OSU built the new tower based largely on the consistent population growth in central Ohio.

Ollies acquires 40 more Big Lots stores; other locations face restructuring hurdles

We were coming out of the ground before Intel was announced, Thomas said. As the community grows, as our relationships and referrals grow, we can really continue to keep meeting the needs of the community.

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This building is not just based on the growth in Columbus or growth in Franklin County; its really meant to be a service for the entire state, Thomas added.

Half of the Wexners patient population comes from Franklin County, while 16% comes from the six surrounding counties. The remaining 34% of patients come from the rest of the state, and OSU considers that state-wide appeal as a major part of the planning for the new tower.

When you think about people coming in from two hours away, they have a loved one here, anything we can do to make it a little bit more of a humanizing experience, thats really, really important, Thomas said.

Preschool company abruptly closes three of its central Ohio locations

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The tower will serve as the home for critical care services at OSU, the neurological service line, liver and kidney transplant teams, and care for women and infants. Ohio State is also partnering with Nationwide Childrens Hospital to build a new neonatal intensive care unit. The new tower will lead to a net gain of approximately 370 beds for the hospital once fully complete.

From the Portuguese limestone exterior to the Buckeye leaves on the interior floors, the Wexner is counting on attention to detail to better focus attention on the people who will rely on the building.

It just extends our brand and thats what we want people to have, that sense of comfort that this is, you know, Im coming to Ohio State. Theyre going to take good care of me,' Thomas said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
The Lincoln Walks at Midnight Statue sits in front of the West Virginia state Capitol building in Charleston, W.Va. (Lexi Browning | West Virginia Watch)

Were almost at the halfway point of the legislative session, so lets take a little look at what our legislators have been doing.

Sen. Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, is proposing with Senate Bill 109 to incentivize residents to report drug activity to police by offering reward money.

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The money from the Narc on Your Neighbor for Money Act  whoops, I mean the Neighborhood Assistance and Rejuvenation Compact Act  would come from a new excise tax on naloxone and drug testing strips.

Tarr has said the state could market the program by posting mugshots of people convicted of drug crimes to billboards in areas with high drug activity. He said his inspiration came after watching the news and seeing bodies hanging off of bridges in a report on cartels in Mexico.

Please dont let this guy watch The Handmaids Tale.

Taxing products designed to prevent people from dying does not seem like the answer here. Narcan, one of the brand names for naloxone, is already prohibitively expensive for some people. And while there are groups that provide both naloxone and drug testing strips for free, why would we want to make it more expensive for them to help people?

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Instead of shaming people convicted of drug crimes and asking their neighbors to spy and tattle on them, maybe the state should consider not banning harm reduction programs? Helping people instead of shaming seems like the more humane option.

Another bill that seems designed to make life harder for West Virginians is House Bill 3016.

The state passed a voter ID law in 2016 and when it went into effect two years later, residents could prove who they were with more than a dozen different forms of identification other than a drivers license, including a hunting or fishing license, a utility bill or their Social Security card.

HB 3016 would do away with most of those forms of identification and whittles it down to six  all of which require a photo: drivers license, state ID, passport, employee ID, student ID and military ID. The lead sponsor on this bill is Del. Erica Moore, R-Roane.

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The bill also adds text that a valid voter registration card that includes the voters photograph issued by a county clerk in the State of West Virginia or the Secretary of State will work. Of course, lawmakers also said during a meeting that this isnt required, and would be up to each county clerk if they wanted to create and issue voter registration cards with photos.

This will just add another layer to confusion to voting. Am I registered? Where is my polling place? Is my registration active? What ID do I need? What kind of voter registration card does my county have?

Absentee ballots arent safe either. House Bill 2117 would make it illegal for anyone  including an election official  to mail or deliver absentee ballot applications unless its been specifically requested by the voter or their family/caregiver.

Six Republicans thought this was such a great idea, they sponsored the bill: Doug Smith (Mercer), Mike Hornby (Berkeley), Geno Chiarelli (Monongalia), Chris Phillips (Barbour), Michael Hite (Berkeley) and Kathie Hess Crouse (Putnam).

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Why is an application for an absentee ballot something that should require consent?

Do they not want us to vote?

Another head scratcher comes from Sen. Mike Stuart, R-Kanawha. His bill would reinstate the death penalty in West Virginia for people convicted of killing a law-enforcement officer or first responder. It has a price tag of $26 million to implement. In the last 45 years, only 21 people would have been eligible for the death penalty. Its odd to me that Stuart, who says he is unapologetically pro-life wants the state to spend about $1.2 million per state-sanctioned killing.

But at least, he knows the monetary cost of his bill. Thats more than we can say for House Bill 2515, which would require counties to create alternative learning centers for chronically disruptive students. The bill from lead sponsor Del. Joe Ellington, R-Mercer, has advanced to the Senate, but it has no proposed funding to build the centers or staff them. Details, details.

Today is day 28 of 60. Will the Legislature do better during the second half of the session? For West Virginians sake, I hope so.

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An international flight was forced to return to Chicagos OHare International Airport last week after the majority of the airplanes toilets became clogged mid-flight.

Air India said a flight from Chicago to Delhi was disrupted when eight of the 12 lavatories on the plane, a Boeing 777, were rendered unserviceable, causing discomfort to all on board. The crew became aware of the initial clogs about two hours into the flight but subsequently found additional issues.

They attempted to continue the trip but, due to restrictions on night operations at many European airports, ultimately decided to turn around near Greenland and fly back to Chicago, after spending about 10 hours in the air, according to BBC News.

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Clothing and other items were later found to have been flushed down a toilet, becoming stuck in the plumbing and making several other bathrooms unusable.

We would like to confirm that as part of our investigation into the incident, our teams found (plastic) bags, rags and clothes that had been flushed down and stuck in the plumbing. This led the lavatories to become unserviceable, an airline spokesperson said. The decision to divert was taken entirely in the interest of passenger comfort and safety.

All passengers were provided hotel rooms and new flight options after returning to Chicago.

_________
Mar. 10OREGON  The investigation into the death of an Oregon woman, found Friday at her residence, is ongoing, but there is no threat to the public, Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said Monday afternoon.

"While the investigation remains ongoing, search warrants, interviews, and an autopsy have taken place since the initial call, which lead us to believe no danger to the public exists," VanVickle said in a news release. "Pending toxicology and continued examination of the evidence, no further information will be released at this time."

Several law enforcement vehicles, the sheriff's office's mobile command center and a vehicle from the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal were among the vehicles seen Friday afternoon along the driveway of the home at 4165 E. Route 64 where Jill Bier, 67, an aide for the Oregon Elementary School, resided.

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Later on Monday, Oregon Schools Superintendent P.J. Caposey said the school district had been working with the sheriff's department as the investigation continues.

"It is with a heavy heart that I share the tragic news that Jill Bier, a staff member at Oregon Elementary School, has passed away. We have been working closely with the Ogle County Sheriff's Department since Friday, and earlier today, we received confirmation that we could share this information with our staff and families," Caposey said.

VanVickle confirmed Bier as the woman found.

Counselors for students and staff will be available at the school on Tuesday, Caposey said.

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"We know this loss will impact many of our students, and we are focused on providing support for them at school tomorrow. Counselors and staff will be available to help students process their emotions, whether they need a quiet space, someone to talk to, or just extra reassurance throughout the day," he said.

The sheriff's office received a call at 9:59 a.m. Friday of a deceased person at the small rural home located about 3 1/2 miles east of Oregon. Officials remained at the home most of the day. An autopsy on Bier's body was conducted Monday.

The Ogle County Sheriff's Office is being assisted by Illinois State Police Crime Scene investigators, the Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office, the Ogle County Coroner's Office and the Peoria County Medical Examiner, VanVickle said.

A cause of death has yet to be released.

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Here is social media post from Caposey:

"It is with a heavy heart that I share the tragic news that Jill Bier, a staff member at Oregon Elementary School, has passed away. We have been working closely with the Ogle County Sheriff's Department since Friday, and earlier today, we received confirmation that we could share this information with our staff and families.

"We know this loss will impact many of our students, and we are focused on providing support for them at school tomorrow. Counselors and staff will be available to help students process their emotions, whether they need a quiet space, someone to talk to, or just extra reassurance throughout the day.

"Every child will handle this differently, and we encourage you to talk with your child tonight about their feelings. If you believe they need additional support, please don't hesitate to reach out to us (Principals and Home Room Teachers) so we can ensure they have what they need.

"This is a heartbreaking moment for our school community, and our priority is helping our students navigate it with care and support. Please know we are here for them  and for you."
INWOOD, IA (KELO)  A northwest Iowa child care provider is accused of assaulting five different children in just an hour and 15 minutes.

Court documents say the victims were all 2-year-olds, and the incidents all happened at Kingdom Kids Daycare in Inwood, Iowa.

Authorities arrested 30-year-old Elizabeth Kainrath on Saturday. She faces one count of felony child endangerment along with 13 counts of misdemeanor child endangerment.

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There may not be a sign outside, but people in Inwood, Iowa know that this church is home to Kingdom Kids Daycare. According to Iowas department of Health and Human Services, its the only licensed center in town.

The Lyon County Sheriffs Office was called there on Friday to investigate reports of abuse.

Together with state investigators, the sheriffs office was able to identify 14 different incidents involving five different toddlers.

Court documents say one child took the brunt of the abuse.

Kainrath is accused of violently grabbing the two year old and dragging the child in the air four times. Shes also accused of kicking that same child three times, forcing the child into a chair and forcefully stepping on the toddler twice.

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The affidavit also says Kainrath violently dragged four other children by either the arm or leg, allegedly leaving marks on the arms of one child.

Investigators say it all happened on the same day.

The Lyon County Sheriffs office also says Kingdom Kids Daycare reported the investigation quickly and communicated and cooperated with parents and officials throughout the investigation.

We reached out to Kingdom Kids Daycare but have not heard back.

Kainrath was brought to the Lyon County Jail on Saturday. Her bond was set at $31,000 cash or surety. According to court records, she was released from jail Monday.

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DES MOINES, Iowa  Colleges across Iowa are navigating potential state and federal mandates that could impact their funding because of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

DEI programs and offices are facing opposition on both a federal and state level.

Nationally, the United States Department of Education sent a letter in February warning academic institutions to remove DEI policies or risk funding cuts.

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Iowa Senate passes fix to last sessions chronic absenteeism policy

The letter was addressed by Craig Trainor, the departments Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. In it, he describes that DEI initiatives are discriminatory. He wrote, [DEI initiatives] frequently preference certain racial groups and teach students that certain racial groups bear unique moral burdens that others do not.

He went on to say, They deny students the ability to participate fully in the life of a school.

The letter indicates that consequential funding cuts would be made within two weeks of that notification, however, no news of budget cuts to any academic institutions in the country has been reported yet.

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On a state level, three bills addressing DEI in academic institutions passed last weeks funnel deadline.

House File 855 addresses DEI in community schools. This bill bars community colleges from funding or maintaining DEI offices. This bill would add community colleges to the law passed last year, which banned DEI offices in state universities.

House File 854 addresses DEI in private universities. This bill would prohibit private universities from opening, funding, or maintaining a DEI office if they want to participate in the Iowa Tuition Grant Program.

House File 269 addresses DEI courses in public universities. This bill would bar any state university from requiring students to take diversity, equity, or inclusion courses for general education requirements.

Despite there not being mandates yet, some colleges are already reacting. Grand View University cancelled its International Womens Day Celebration, which was scheduled to take place on Monday, March 10th. This would have been the third annual celebration.

A spokesperson for the school provided this statement to WHO 13 News:

Protecting our students access to state and federal funding is a priority. The decision to cancel the International Womens Day event was made in light of orders and policy guidance from the federal government threatening to withhold federal funding for noncompliance and/or for any exclusionary programming. There is not yet a clear definition of DEI or DEIA from the federal government. Gender is often included in the definition of DEI/DEIA, so the event was cancelled out of an abundance of caution. A private, non-university sanctioned event is being held instead. Kendall Dillon

Vice President for Marketing and Communications, Grand View University

Earlier this year, the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) sent a letter to employees informing them that they suspended DEI meetings and staff training, a spokesperson for the college confirmed to WHO 13 News.

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Education Department says 60 universities under investigation for antisemitism

However, Grinnell College and Drake University both said there are no new mandates for them to act on yet.

A spokesperson for Grinnell said:

Grinnell College prohibits all unlawful discrimination. As such, the Colleges programs are open to all students, faculty, and staff and none are mandatory. As required by law, our work is focused on creating opportunity for everyone to see themselves reflected in the institution and prohibit unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or any other protected class. The College monitors state and federal law on an ongoing basis and maintains compliance with existing laws. Ellen de Graffenreid

Grinnell College Communications

A spokesperson for Drake said:

While we are paying close attention to the potential implications, at this time there is no established law for us to act on  either from the state or federal government. Sue Mattison

Drake University Provost

As a result of the law previously mentioned that was passed last session banning state universities from maintaining a DEI office, the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Northern Iowa have all eliminated their DEI departments.

One Iowa is a group advocating for LGBTQ Iowans. Its Director of Policy and Advocacy, Keenan Crow, said eliminating DEI departments and initiatives can have a negative impact on students.

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Crow said, Offices that used to provide support and staff for those folks to navigate the college system, those offices have all been deleted or they have been renamed and repurpose to the point where its not apparent thats where those students need to go, and so again and again were just chipping away at infrastructure thats meant to support students and increase their inclusivity in spaces that they have traditionally not been included in.

The second funnel deadline for Iowas 91st General Assembly is April 4th. The three DEI bills will have to pass the Iowa Senate to stay active in this session.

Iowa news

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DES MOINES, Iowa  The Iowa Senate passed through a bill unanimously that would change some issues discovered in a statewide chronic absenteeism policy passed last year.

In the 2023-24 school year, almost 22% of students in public schools were chronically absent, which means missing 20% of a grading period.

By a vote of 47-0, state senators approved a bill that requires the Iowa Department of Education to consult with the Iowa County Attorneys Association to set a standard model policy that county attorneys can reference when filing truancy charges. It also adds exemptions to what is an excused attendance in school, including military programs, and travel to a wedding or a funeral.

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Iowa boys state basketball tournament highlights

Im just going to say that this bill was horrible, said State Senator Mike Zimmer. $10 a pop for certified mailing, talk about an unfunded mandate. It was huge, absolutely devasting. The amount of time central office personnel and building principals and building support staff are spending on trying to determine this bill. I will just say thank you for, and I will vote positive for moving this bill forward as its one step in making a bill better.

It removes the requirement for districts to send a letter by certified mail to a students parent or guardian when a student becomes chronically absent. And lastly, it gives schools more flexibility when a meeting is needed between a parent and school staff.

The Des Moines Public Schools reported in December that they saw 51 other schools experience a decline in absenteeism, and 11 of those declined by at least 10%, said State Senator Lynn Evans (R), District 3 from Aurelia. I think this makes reasonable adjustments to what was passed last year and its all based on feedback weve heard from school districts, parents and community members and school board members.

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The bill now needs to clear through the Iowa House education subcommittee and committee level to be protected from the next legislative deadline on April 4.

Iowa News:

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On Jan. 26, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi became the countrys first top diplomat to visit Kabul in nine years. While there, Araghchi discussed a range of issues with his Afghan counterparts, signaling a more cooperative mode in bilateral relations that could lead to the recognition of Taliban rule by Tehran.

Iran has so far abstained from doing so, but the dynamics on the ground suggest that the two sides have moved beyond the outright animosity that characterized their relations before and during the U.S. military intervention in Afghanistan. They are now entering a new period of cooperation, with both sides touting the idea of signing a comprehensive cooperation agreement.

Indeed, despite their troubled history, Afghanistan and Iran have pursued a pragmatic approach to bilateral relations since the Talibans return to power in 2021, with both Tehran and Kabul moving to build closer ties, while managing tensions to avoid escalation, particularly on their border. For instance, in October 2023 the two sides agreed on the creation of a joint chamber of commerce to facilitate bilateral trade and transit from Afghanistan to Irans port of Chabahar. The following month, Iran granted Kabuls request for unrestricted access to the port, which is crucial for landlocked Afghanistan to escape the limits imposed by its unfavorable geography. In fact, Chabahar is the only route connecting Afghanistan to the Indian market without transiting Pakistan, with which Kabuls relations have suffered under the Taliban.

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Both countries likewise engaged in a test run of the Khawaf-Herat railway connecting western Iran with eastern Afghanistan in May 2023, with the goal of ultimately connecting the line with Chinas rail network. Afghanistan also hopes to get Iranian companies to invest in its mining sector. The country possesses around $1 trillion dollars of minerals such as lithium, uranium, platinum and various rare earth elements, but so far progress on resource extraction has been minimal, with investment constrained by logistical obstacles and a lack of security. That makes Iranian companies a good fit, as the mines are mostly located near the Iranian border. Bringing in Iranian companies is also seen by Kabul as a way to balance the Chinese, Turkish and European outfits that are so far the major investors in the sector.

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As both countries remain heavily sanctioned, barter trade as well as the exchange of goods for local currencies have flourished along their common border. To boost that commerce, Tehran and Kabul agreed to establish a free trade zone in the Khorasan region, building on earlier efforts that saw the construction of roads by Iranian companies in eight Afghan provinces. The two sides also expressed their desire to increase bilateral commerce to $10 billion annually, from its current level of $3.2 billion.

Numerous obstacles to reaching that goal remain, however, and arguably the largest is a largely unprotected border that stretches for more than 550 miles. Its porous nature allows drug trafficking and transnational terrorism to flourish, making it one of the areas where both Iran and Afghanistan are interested in closer cooperation. In particular, Iran is deeply concerned with the presence near the border of the Islamic State Khorasan, or IS-K, and al-Qaida, both of which threaten Iranian territory.

Normalization of relations with the Taliban fits into Irans broader efforts to normalize ties with all of its immediate neighbors.

Another source of tensions is water management. The Helmand River, which flows from Afghanistan into the Islamic Republic, is used by inhabitants on both sides of the border. Yet, dam systems built by Afghanistan have reduced the rivers flow, causing concerns in Tehran over Iranians ability to use its water. From the Iranian perspective, the dam construction is a conscious strategy by the Taliban to elevate Kabuls position vis-a-vis its regional rivals. So far the countries seem to have agreed to share water resources, but it remains a flashpoint between them.

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Then there is the issue of Afghan refugees in Irans eastern provinces, which has caused public outcry among local inhabitants due to the competition for scarce jobs, while raising associated security concerns in Tehran. With almost 5 million Afghans living in Iran, this has become a serious problem for Tehran, which last year signaled its intentions of deporting of up to 2 million Afghans who are in the country illegally. Iran is now deporting up to 3 000 Afghan nationals daily, and the issue of the refugees was one of the topics discussed during Araghchis January visit to Kabul.

The two sides economic motives as well as their shared security concerns are important factors driving the push for closer ties, but the wider geopolitical context is also playing a major role. In the course of 2024, Tehran saw its influence plummet across the Middle East due to the weakening of Hezbollah and Hamas, two leading members of its Axis of Resistance regional network of nonstate political and military groups. The fall of the Assad regime in Syria, long an Iranian ally, further downgraded Tehrans ability to project power beyond its borders. This coincides with a much-emboldened Israel occupying territory in both Lebanon and Syria, and U.S. President Donald Trumps decision to reinstate his first-term maximum pressure approach to Iran. At a time when the Islamic Republic is focused on reconstituting its regional influence, it cannot afford tense relations with the Taliban on its eastern border.

Moreover, normalization of relations with the Taliban also fits into Irans broader efforts to normalize ties with all of its immediate neighbors. It has already fully restored diplomatic contacts with Azerbaijan, and despite generally distrustful relations, the two are working on expanding bilateral trade and cooperation on regional infrastructure. Tehran has also pushed for closer relations with the Gulf states, underscored by high-level diplomatic visits to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar in recent months. Iran has also improved previously tense relations with Tajikistan, including a visit by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in January that saw the two sides sign multiple agreements and pledge wider economic and military cooperation.

There is a similar dynamic toward broader normalization efforts in Afghanistans relations with other actors. Russia for instance has prepared the ground to formally recognize the Taliban. Kazakhstan is close to doing the same, while other Central Asian countries, traditionally fearful of security spillover, are now interested in more formal relations.

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Against this backdrop, although Iran has so far refrained from formally recognizing the Taliban government, all indications point to such a possibility in the near future. Regional geopolitics as well as economic incentives and the security situation along the Iranian-Afghan border are pushing Tehran and Kabul to work more closely on a wide set of complex issues. Diplomatic recognition is in all likelihood not far behind.

Emil Avdaliani is a professor of international relations at the European University in Tbilisi, Georgia, and a scholar of Silk Roads. He can be found on Twitter/X at @emilavdaliani.

The post Iran Is Moving Closer to Recognizing the Taliban appeared first on World Politics Review.
The Iranian government wanted desperately to kidnap and kill dissident journalist Masih Alinejad on the streets of New York City for shining a light on the regimes torturous oppression of women, a Manhattan jury heard in opening statements Tuesday in the murder-for-hire case against two Eastern European gangsters.

They smeared her in state-run news media. They imprisoned her brother. They even attempted to kidnap her and bring her back to Iran. And when they failed, when they couldnt silence her or intimidate her or kidnap her, they hired these men, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Harris Gutwillig said in Manhattan federal court, looking over at Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov.

The government of Iran wanted desperately Masih Alinejad murdered, and you will hear why.

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Rafat Amirov, left, and Polad Omarov. Amirov and Omarov are members of the Thieves in Law enterprise, one of Russias oldest organized crime gangs that originated in Soviet dictator Joseph Stalins gulags.

The men Gutwillig called guns for the government of Iran have pleaded not guilty to murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and possession and use of a firearm in the case alleging they participated in a plot to kill Alinejad, who contributes to Voice of America and other outlets, at her Flatbush, Brooklyn home in July 2022 at the behest of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran.

Their trial is expected to shine a light on the far-reaching tentacles of the Iranian regime.

The journalist, author, and human rights activist, a prolific critic of Irans discriminatory treatment of women and human rights abuses, fled the country for the U.S. in 2009 and has since survived numerous attempts on her life. She became a U.S. citizen in 2019.

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In 2021, an Iranian intelligence official and four accomplices were indicted for spying on her for months and hatching a plan to kidnap her and transport her to the East River, where they planned to ferry her by boat to Venezuela, according to court records.

The regime didnt give up, Gutwillig said Tuesday, noting it was Alinejads encouragement to Iranian women to share pictures and videos on social media refusing to abide by the mandate to wear hijabs in public that particularly enraged the Iranian regime.

Masih Alinejad is one of their main targets  that is because she stood up to the government of Iran by taking aim at one of its core rules, and that core rule is forcing a woman to cover her head  If women in Iran do not comply, they may be arrested or beaten by the morality police, he said.

She shined a light on the governments oppression of women, (and) that enraged the regime.

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In the case on trial, Gutwillig said evidence including a tranche of electronic communications would show Amirov and Omarov accepted $500,000 from the Iranian government to plan Alinejads killing, which included stalking and preparing to murder her.

The feds allege that after a member of Irans Revolutionary Guard enlisted Amirov for help executing the hit, he hired Omarov via Iran. Omarov, who was in Eastern Europe, recruited Yonkers-based Khalid Mehdiyev of Azerbaijan, who was wired $30,000 to secure an AK-47 and surveil Alinejad round-the-clock during a seven-day stakeout outside her home  tracking where and when she bought coffee and what time she watered her flowers.

Mehdiyev, indicted alongside Amirov and Omarov in January 2023, is cooperating with the feds, Gutwillig said Tuesday. He was outside Alinejads home on the cusp of carrying out the killing on July 28, 2022, when she sensed something was off and fled the area. He was pulled over by the NYPD after running a stop sign 15 minutes later and found to have an AK-47 assault rifle, 66 rounds of ammunition, $1,100 in cash, and a black ski mask.

In the defenses opening statement Tuesday, lawyers for Amirov and Omarov said they had no intent of killing Alinehad and that the evidence against them was wholly circumstantial. They framed Mehdiyevs cooperation as an attempt to save himself.

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The evidence will show Mr. Mehdiyev knew he was in serious trouble within hours of his arrest, lawyer Michael Martin said, adding that the trail of electronic evidence held up by the feds had no fingerprints belonging to his client. He called the cooperator a murderer, a kidnapper, an arsonist, a robber, an extortionist, a scammer, a fraudster and a liar.

Attorney Michael Perkins said Omarov, in simple terms, was a scam artist who sought only to screw the Iranian regime out of payment to carry out the hit.

Mr. Omarov did little more than forward some WhatsApp messages, Perkins said, adding the evidence would show he never intended to kill the journalist. Mr. Omarov had no intention  no agreement  with anyone to kill Ms. Alinejad.

_____
Carefree Bar and Grill, which for five years has delighted customers with its casual laid-back atmosphere and its large menu offering standard bar favorites as well as Native American-inspired eats, is closing.

The Indigenous-owned, woman-owned family restaurant, which opened at 3535 N. Carefree Circle near North Academy Boulevard at the height of the pandemic in July 2020, will permanently shutter its doors at the close of business March 17.

"We had every intention to make this our family establishment and have it be something that we could leave for our kids," owner Cynthia Bickal said Monday from the restaurant's kitchen as she prepared orders. "We did everything we could."

It was Bikal's dream to open the business that offered Native American-inspired foods, which she found many restaurants in town weren't doing, Bikal previously told local media outlets.

Like other restaurants that have closed across town in recent months, the rising cost of building rent was a challenge Bikal could not overcome. She and her family  her husband, daughter, brother and mother also help run and manage the restaurant  worked hard to stay in business but recently had to make the difficult and unexpected decision to close, Bikal said.

Since she announced Carefree Bar and Grill's closure on social media last week, love and support from the community has poured in.

"You guys helped normalize life a bit for us with your family meals back during COVID, and we love the atmosphere you have provided," LaNita Thompson commented on the restaurant's Facebook page.

Others praised the great service, friendly staff and Carefree Bar and Grill's unique menu offerings of Indigenous foods like Indian tacos, Indian fry bread and bison burgers, which are interspersed with other standard menu favorites including beef and vegetable burgers, pork and chicken sandwiches, French fries, salads, garlic bread and more.

The traditional Indian foods and Native American-inspired decor throughout the restaurant are points of pride for Bikal, a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation.

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Affordable drinks and live music, karaoke, billiards and darts also made Carefree Bar and Grill a place where people could spend a few hours playing as well as eating.

On Monday, a smattering of poster boards already peppered with photos and handwritten farewell messages from regular patrons and Carefree Bar and Grill employees were pasted onto the row of windows on the restaurant's east side.

"Thank you for bringing my family so much joy over the past five years. We will miss you," a woman named Justine signed.

The colorful Native American-inspired mural painted on the walls surrounding the outside patio, typically easily visible from inside the restaurant, stood hidden Monday behind the line of posters.

"It's been hard to keep a dry eye," Bikal said of the support she and her family have received from the local community since she announced the closure.

Nichole Gould, who has worked as the restaurant's bar manager since it opened in 2020, said she is going to miss the sense of community and family the Bikals and their employees helped build over the years.

"You couldn't pay me to cry any more," Gould said. "I'm really going to miss the people, and the food is also something to really miss."

Bikal said she does not have plans to reopen Carefree Bar and Grill in a new location, and isn't sure exactly what the future holds for her and her family.

Carefree Bar and Grill plans to have a farewell party on its last day open, March 17, which is Saint Patrick's Day. The bar will serve special Irish-inspired dishes of corned beef and cabbage and shepherd's pie that day, alongside the standard full menu.
By Parisa Hafezi

(Reuters) -President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran would not negotiate with the U.S. while being threatened, telling President Donald Trump to "do whatever the hell you want", Iranian state media reported on Tuesday.

"It is unacceptable for us that they (the U.S.) give orders and make threats. I wont even negotiate with you. Do whatever the hell you want", state media quoted Pezeshkian as saying.

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Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Saturday that Tehran would not be bullied into negotiations, a day after Trump said he had sent a letter urging Iran to engage in talks on a new nuclear deal.

While expressing openness to a deal with Tehran, Trump has reinstated the "maximum pressure" campaign he applied in his first term as president to isolate Iran from the global economy and drive its oil exports down towards zero.

In an interview with Fox Business, Trump said last week, "There are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily, or you make a deal" to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Iran has long denied wanting to develop a nuclear weapon. However, it is "dramatically" accelerating enrichment of uranium to up to 60% purity, close to the roughly 90% weapons-grade level, the IAEA has warned.

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Iran has accelerated its nuclear work since 2019, a year after then-President Trump ditched Tehran's 2015 nuclear pact with six world powers and reimposed sanctions that have crippled the country's economy.

(Additional reporting by Jaidaa Ahmad Writing and reporting by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
The Iron Horse Depot Museum, which re-opened in August last year, originally served as a yard office for the Vandalia Railroad on Water Street. It opened around 1853.

The building was moved to 18th Street when Vandalia merged with the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1924. It didnt reach its current location on Melbourne Avenue  where the two-story Penn Station that was demolished in 1968 once sat  until 1981 after the city bought it for $1.

The former yard office has been used as an office for the Chamber of Commerce, Logans Landing and the Cass County Arts Alliance; a bus station; and as the ticket office for the Iron Horse Festival.

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The Depot was also used as the Iron Horse Museum, showing off artifacts from Logansports railroad history. Those items can now be found at the Cass County Museum, 421 E. Broadway.

Carl Simons, a retired train conductor-turned-curator for the Iron Horse Museum, explained in a 2015 interview with the Pharos-Tribune that dozens of artifacts had been donated from past railroaders across the county.

He also explained the Pennsylvania Railroad had been one of the largest employers in Logansport, giving a few thousand residents well-paying jobs. The railroad was the biggest industry in town at that point.

Inside the former yard office, visitors can still see some of those artifacts.

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Past a door marked with a plaque dedicated to Becki Harris, the late director of Logans Landing, sits an office meant to depict what a ticket office would have looked like if the building was ever used as a train depot.

Visitors are able to peer into the office seemingly frozen in time through windows and metal bars that would protect tellers behind the ticket counter.

A copy of Trainman News  a publication for the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen that was published in Cleveland, Ohio  dated March 5, 1962, sits pointed toward the door. The top storys headline reads Five Rail Op Unions Reject Report of RR Commission.

Also scattered about on the dark wooden desk are a stopwatch, stamp, a fine china teacup and saucer set, and a modest tobacco pipe. Mail from The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Co. also sits on the desk, along with a leatherbound book titled The Pennsylvanias Firemans Friend.

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Iron Horse Depot 5

An old lamp on the desk illuminates an October 1917 ledger open to the first page and showing how many hours employees worked.

An old lamp on the desk illuminates an October 1917 ledger open to the first page and showing how many hours employees worked. A Penn Central No. 3 pencil sits in the crook of the books spine  the company took over the Pennsylvania Railroad through a series of mergers starting in 1962. The seat in front of it is pushed back slightly, waiting for staff that will never arrive.

Along the walls of the museum, visitors can learn more about Logansports railroad history.

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A framed Pharos-Tribune article recounts (non-fatal) bombings that took place during a 1922 railroad worker strike. A timeline on another wall informs visitors when different railroads reached Logansport. Two U.S. presidents visited the city via rail, the timeline explains, starting with President Theodore Roosevelt, who spoke to a crowd of more than 5,000 people on Sept. 23, 1902. President Harry S. Truman visited on Oct. 15, 1948, during his Whistle Stop Tour.

Sen. Robert F. Kennedy also visited via rail on April 23, 1964  six weeks before he was assassinated in Los Angeles.

Outside the museum, leading up to its front door from Urban Park, an old signal bridge bearing the phrase Little Turtle Waterway welcomes visitors to the park.

Urban Park, The Depot opening Wednesday with ribbon cutting

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Urban Park, The Depot opening Wednesday with ribbon cutting

Flanked by greenspace, the structure holds four granite medallions with carvings originally designed by Catherine Nagy-Mowry, a member of Miami Nation, which Chief Little Turtle was a member of.

The first medallion depicts plants referred to as the four sacred medicines, according to a guide by The Little Turtle Waterway Corporation.

Iron Horse Depot 8

A prayer along this medallion's edge is copied from the marker on Chief Little Turtles grave in Fort Wayne. Miami translator Daryl Baldwin explained in the Little Turtle Waterway Guidebook that its English translation is In this ancient manner we come here now to give thanks to you.

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Sweetgrass in the top left corner represents good intentions, cedar in the top right corner is used for protection, sage in the bottom left corner is used to prepare for ceremonies and purify items, and tobacco in the bottom right corner is considered a sacred plant and represents honesty.

Four animals are also depicted in the medallion.

Starting in the east, an eagle helps represent birth, creativity and beginnings, according to the publication.

A deer on the southern point represents things like youth, growth, trust and love.

A bear on the medallions western marker represents things like adulthood, maturity, fertility and strength.

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The northern point depicts a buffalo, which represents elders and wisdom.

Finally, a prayer along the wheels edge is copied from the marker on Chief Little Turtles grave in Fort Wayne. Miami translator Daryl Baldwin explained in the Little Turtle Waterway Guidebook that its English translation is In this ancient manner we come here now to give thanks to you.

The second medallion depicts an 1810 map of the Miami Nations homeland based on the Atlas of Great Lakes Indian History.

Iron Horse Depot 10

This medallion depicts an 1810 map of the Miami Nations homeland based on the Atlas of Great Lakes Indian History. The heart-shaped symbol in the center of the medallion shows Chief Little Turtles signature as it appeared on the Treaty of Greenville.

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Lake Michigan can be seen in the upper left corner and Detroit is in the upper right corner. Settlements of nine tribes are shown across the map, marked by different animals. A heart-shaped symbol in the center of the medallion shows Chief Little Turtles signature as it appeared on the Treaty of Greenville.

Portions of Little Turtles address to Gen. Anthony Wayne defining the boundaries of the Miami territory are printed around the medallions circumference.

The third medallion depicts corn, beans and squash  referred to by Iroquois as the three sisters  growing out of planet earth. Theyre surrounded by flowers and a hummingbird stylized to look like Miami bead sewing.

Iron Horse Depot 9

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This medallion depicts corn, beans and squash  referred to by Iroquis as the three sisters  growing out of planet earth. Theyre surrounded by flowers and a hummingbird stylized to look like Miami bead sewing.

The final medallion depicts the Miami flag  which has 12 eagle feathers to represent each clan  and a crane, which is the totem for Miami Nation.

Iron Horse Depot 11

This medallion depicts the Miami flag  which has 12 eagle feathers to represent each clan  and a crane, which is the totem for Miami Nation.

According to the Little Turtle Waterway guide, members of Miami Nation are called the Crane People because of a legend where Miami, fighting against Cherokees, scared a pair of cranes in the process. The sole Cherokee to survive, according to the story, returned to his village and said they werent beat by men, but by cranes who could fly away whenever they wanted to.

$1 million of READI funds was put toward the Urban Park project. The funds were used to renovate The Depot  adding public restrooms and bringing it up to ADA requirements  and add extra outdoor green space according to a press release from North Central Indiana Regional Planning Council.
The Israeli military said on Tuesday that it killed a member of Hezbollah in southern Lebanon who was responsible for an aerial unit.

In a statement published on X and Telegram, the army said that the man "was a significant source of knowledge" in Hezbollah's aerial array, which is a system of multiple antennas used for communication.

The Hezbollah member led the rebuilding efforts of the unit, which had been significantly damaged by Israeli airstrikes, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.

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Lebanon's Health Ministry reported one man had died after being hit by an Israeli drone while travelling in a car.

Separately, the IDF said its air force had attacked several people on a site used by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

Citing army sources The Times of Israel reported that the targets were Hezbollah members who had weapons. The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported one person had died in that attack.

The ceasefire that came into effect at the end of November after a year of war between Israel and Hezbollah has so far largely held, despite many similar incidents.
By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Discrimination and attacks against American Muslims and Arabs rose by 7.4% in 2024 due to heightened Islamophobia caused by U.S. ally Israel's war in Gaza and the resulting college campus protests, a Muslim advocacy group said on Tuesday.

The Council on American Islamic Relations said it recorded the highest number of anti-Muslim and anti-Arab complaints - 8,658 - in 2024 since it began publishing data in 1996.

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Most complaints were in the categories of employment discrimination (15.4%), immigration and asylum (14.8%), education discrimination (9.8%) and hate crimes (7.5%), according to the CAIR report.

Rights advocates have highlighted an increase in Islamophobia, anti-Arab bias and antisemitism since the start of Israel's devastating assault on Gaza following a deadly October 2023 Hamas attack.

The CAIR report also details police and university crackdowns on pro-Palestinian protests and encampments on college campuses.

Demonstrators have for months demanded an end to U.S. support for Israel. At the height of college campus demonstrations in the summer of 2024, classes were canceled, some university administrators resigned, and student protesters were suspended and arrested.

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Human rights and free speech advocates condemned the crackdown on protests which were called disruptive by university administrators. Notable incidents include violent arrests by police of protesters at Columbia University and a mob attack on pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of California, Los Angeles.

"For the second year in a row, the U.S.-backed Gaza genocide drove a wave of Islamophobia in the United States," CAIR said. Israel denies genocide and war crimes accusations.

Last month, an Illinois jury found a man guilty of hate crime in an October 2023 fatal stabbing of a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy.

Other alarming U.S. incidents since late 2023 include the attempted drowning of a 3-year-old Palestinian American girl in Texas, the stabbing of a Palestinian American man in Texas, the beating of a Muslim man in New York and a Florida shooting of two Israeli visitors whom a suspect mistook to be Palestinians.

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In recent days, the U.S. government has faced criticism from rights advocates over the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student who has played a prominent role in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Christopher Cushing)
Just a few years ago, it felt like every college in America was eagerly releasing statements about political controversies. Schools released statements on everything from police brutality to the 2020 presidential election to anti-Asian hate. But after Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel, universities were in a bind, unable to make a statement on the conflict that wouldn't anger either anti-Israel activists or risk getting university leaders hauled before congressional inquiries into on-campus antisemitism. Soon after, some colleges reacted to this pressure by announcing that they would no longer make official statements on political events that do not directly concern the university itself.

"If the university and its leaders become accustomed to issuing official statements about matters beyond the core function of the university, they will inevitably come under intense pressure to do so from multiple, competing sides on nearly every imaginable issue of the day," reads a Harvard facultyled report whose recommendations were accepted by administrators last May. "This is the reality of contemporary public life in an era of social media and political polarization."

"We embrace the guiding principle that the remedy for speech that some may find hurtful, offensive, or even hateful is not the disruption, obstruction, or suppression of the free speech of others, but rather more speech," reads another statement from last spring, this one from Syracuse. "Except under the most extraordinary circumstancesthe University does not make institutional statements or pronouncements on current controversies."

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According to a new report from Heterodox Academy, a higher education organization that promotes viewpoint diversity on campus, they've been joined by dozens of others. By the end of last year, 144 colleges in the U.S. and four in Canada, serving around 2.6 million students combined, had adopted neutrality statements. Essentially all of these statements came after October 7, as only eight colleges had official neutrality policies in place before the attack. The report further notes that the vast majority of announcements cited factors like "community and inclusion," "free speech," and "public trust" for the shift away from official treatments.

"The unprecedented increase in institutional statement neutrality adoptions occurring on campuses across North America is a move that strengthens open inquiry and viewpoint diversity," reads the Heterodox Academy report. "In times of social or political controversy, colleges and universities have a unique chance to elevate public debate when they refrain from taking their own stances and instead empower the varied voices of their communities."

Not everyone supports the shift toward institutional neutrality among U.S. colleges. A recent article in The New York Times framed the change as schools "making it a policy to stay silent as political pressure mounts against higher education," writing that "the universities are adopting such policies at a time when the Trump administration has moved aggressively to punish them for not doing enough to crack down on antisemitism and for embracing diversity, equity and inclusion policies," even though the report exclusively studied neutrality statements that came before Trump's second term began.

When colleges weigh in on controversial political issues, they end up chilling dissenting speech from students and faculty. Instead of allowing a university to fulfill its mission as the site of intellectual exploration and debate, administrators effectively settle controversial questions.

The post The Israel-Hamas Conflict Convinced College Adminstrators To Turn Away From Politics, New Report Shows appeared first on Reason.com.
Israel released five Lebanese prisoners as the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday that Israel and Lebanon plan to hold diplomatic talks on several contentious issues, including their disputed land border.

As a goodwill gesture to newly elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and in coordination with the United States, Israel had agreed to release the five Lebanese inmates.

The announcement came after representatives from Israel, the United States, France and Lebanon met on Tuesday in the Lebanese city of Naqoura. It was agreed that three joint working groups would be set up to tackle the issues.

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US special envoy Morgan Ortagus confirmed the prisoner release in a post on X, saying that "military to military talks concluded" in Naqoura and "subsequently 5 Lebanese prisoners have been released back to Lebanon from Israel."

"Everyone involved remains committed to maintaining the ceasefire agreement and to fully implement all its terms," she added.

The diplomatic discussions will address five strategic points where Israel's army remains stationed in Lebanon, despite a ceasefire deal, as well as Lebanese detainees held by Israel.

The primary goal, according to Netanyahus office, is to stabilize the region.

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A ceasefire has been in place between the Lebanese Hezbollah militia and Israel since November.

However, Lebanons leadership views the continued presence of Israeli troops at the five contested points as a violation of the agreement.

Tensions between the two nations have flared repeatedly in the past, particularly due to disputes over several areas along their shared border.

The ceasefire agreement reportedly also includes provisions for negotiations regarding the contested Blue Line border.
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman said Monday he is against resentencing the Menendez brothers, saying they fall short of showing full insight into their crimes.

Homicide prosecutor Matt Murphy and journalist Robert Rand, who covered the original two trials of the Menendez brothers, join Elizabeth Vargas Reports to discuss the new developments in 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.
Happy Tuesday, and welcome to another edition of Rent Free. This week's stories include:

Minnesota housing reformers are reintroducing a package of zoning and land-use bills, with a few tweaks.

Texas lawmakers consider a blitz of housing reforms during their biennial session.

San Diego starts walking back its successful "ADU bonus" program.

But first, we have our lead item on Vice President J.D. Vance's speech to the National League of Cities.

J.D. Vance Criticizes Zoning, Immigration at National League of Cities Conference

In a Monday speech at the National League of Cities annual conference being held in Washington, D.C., Vance criticized zoning regulations for driving up the costs of housing.

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"Another reason for the elevated [housing] costs comes down to zoning," said Vance, per an emailed transcript of his remarks. Local governments could bring housing costs down by "being a little bit smarter about our local zoning rules."

The vice president made clear he did not think the federal government had a role to play in influencing local and state land-use policies.

He also made clear that he thought immigration was a more serious driver of housing unaffordability than restrictive land-use regimes in recent years.

"While we made it a little bit hard to build homes in this country over the last four years, we've also unfortunately made it way too easy for people to compete against American citizens for the precious homes that are in our country to begin with," he said. A transcript of his remarks notes boos from the audience.

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This a common theme in Vance's comments on housing affordability. On the campaign trail, he frequently criticized immigrants for pushing up housing costs and "massively violating" zoning laws by splitting homes between themselves.

The standard view is that Vance is right and immigrants (at least in the short term) do increase housing costs by pushing up demand for a relatively inelastic supply of homes. There is, however, some research arguing that it's immigration enforcement, and not immigration, that drives up housing costs by reducing the home construction work force.

Regardless of where one falls on that question, there need be no inherent conflict between immigrants' and native-born Americans' demand for affordable housing.

Even in the relatively short term, developers will respond to higher demand by building more units, so long as land-use policy is permissive enough to allow additional supply.

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Vance acknowledges this point himself in his speech in referencing Austin, Texas.

Said Vance, "In Austin, you saw this massive increase of people moving in. The cost of housing skyrocketed. But then, Austin implemented some pretty smart policies, and that brought down the cost of housing, and it's one of the few major American cities where you see the cost of housing leveling off or even coming down."

If new supply can mitigate the upward housing cost pressure created by population growth in Austin, it can do the same for the country as a whole. That's true even if it's immigrants creating the population growth.

Lone Star Land-Use Reforms

Texas' biennial Legislature is back in session this year, and housing is at the top of the agenda.

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The Lone Star State already builds a huge amount of housing. But it's hardly a regulatory free-for-all, and its residents haven't been immune to affordability pressures.

In response, lawmakers have introduced a slate of bills to goose production even more.

That includes Senate Bill (S.B.) 15. It would cap minimum lot sizes at 1,400 square feet in new subdivisions of five acres or more, with the idea of enabling more inherently affordable small-lot development.

(The bill is closely modeled on the Arizona Starter Homes Act that passed the Legislature there last year but was infamously vetoed by Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs.)

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Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, who presides over the state Senate, has listed S.B. 15 as one of his priority bills for the session.

Also in the mix in the Texas Senate are S.B. 840 and S.B. 673, which respectively allow mixed-use, multifamily housing to be built in commercial zones and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to be built in single-family zones.

Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows (RLubbock) has identified two housing bills as priorities as well.

That includes House Bill (H.B.) 23, which would allow builders to have their development applications reviewed and approved by private engineers immediately. Current law requires them to wait 15 days before seeking out third-party reviewers.

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H.B. 24, another speaker priority bill, will pare back the state's "valid petition" law. That law allows property owners to protest zoning changes and imposes additional notice and voting threshold requirements for local governments updating their zoning codes.

A number of states have similar petition rights laws. But a Mercatus Center report from 2023 described Texas as the nation's capital for valid petition rights, given how easy state law makes it for petitioners to stop projects and zoning changes.

"If you want to be boring about it, you can call it petition rights. The real word is a tyrant's veto," says Nicole Nosek of Texans for Reasonable Solutions, a pro-housing advocacy group.

She says H.B. 24 would raise the number of property owners required to protest a zoning change, lower the voting threshold local government bodies would need to reject a protest petition, and ease the notice requirements.

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A handful of similar housing bills failed in the Texas Legislature last session in the face of opposition from local governments and Democrats who (in Republican-dominated Texas) are wary of state-level preemption bills.

The Texas Tribune reports that some Democrats appear to be more open to state-led zoning reform this time around and that a handful of Democratic senators have already signed on to S.B. 15 as co-authors.

In his State of the State address in February, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said, "We must also make housing more affordable. To do that, we need to make it easier to build, slash regulations, and speed up permitting."

Perhaps the stars are aligning in the Lone Star State.

Minnesota Zoning Reformers Try Again

Last year, Minnesota's housing reformers introduced an aggressive slate of bills that almost all failed to become law in the face of opposition from local governments and their allies in the Democratic-controlled Legislature.

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This session, reformers are trying again with the hope that more targeted bills, concessions to localities, and a more evenly divided Legislature with more housing champions on key committees will get more policies over the finish line.

Lawmakers have introduced, or will introduce, bills that will remove local regulations on duplexes and small-lot starter homes, allow residential development in commercial zones, pare back localities' minimum parking requirements, and ban aesthetic mandates on new housing.

"This is trying to put the private market back to work in diversifying our housing stock," says Rep. Spencer Igo (RWabana Township), the current chair of the House's Housing Finance and Policy Committee, who is sponsoring the Minnesota Starter Home Act.

Currently, Republicans have a majority of one in the Minnesota House, although a special election scheduled for today is expected to return it to an even split between Rs and Ds. Democrats have a one-person majority in the Minnesota Senate.

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A consequence of the partisan reshuffle is that more pro-housing legislators will end up being chairs and co-chairs of key committees, says Nick Erickson, the senior director of housing policy at Housing First Minnesota.

"We're seeing many more of our housing reform champions on critical committees," Erickson tells Reason.

Erickson says that housing reformers have made some concessions to localities, including amending their bills to allow for public meetings for state-legalized projects and limiting the applicability of reforms to areas with inadequate infrastructure.

"That was a critical piece" to get legislators sensitive to concerns about local control on board, he says. These bills also give local governments more flexibility to restrict housing development in areas with less infrastructure.

Igo says he's been meeting with city groups on a weekly basis and is optimistic that the infrastructure-related amendments will address a lot of localities' concerns.

"Our local municipalities get their control and ability to make [local zoning] rules from the state of Minnesota," says Igo. Given the state's housing deficit, state intervention is warranted.

San Diego Rolls Back ADU Bonus Program That Was a Little Too Productive

The arc of history is long, and it doesn't necessarily bend toward more housing.

This past week, the San Diego City Council passed a resolution directing planning staff to begin the preliminary work of rolling back the city's productive but controversial ADU Bonus program.

Since 2021, the program has allowed property owners to build two "bonus" ADUs (on top of the two ADUs state law already allows), provided one is deed-restricted to be affordable to people of moderate incomes.

It also allows an unlimited number of ADUs to be built within a mile of transit stops, provided the development complies with existing lot coverage rules, height limits, and floor-to-area ratios.

Estimates of the program's yield vary. The most recent numbers reported by the city show that 239 ADUs have been permitted under the program from 2021 through 2023, per a city memo posted online by KPBS.

That's a small share of overall housing units and even of ADUs permitted in the city. According to the city's permitting dashboard, roughly 5,000 ADUs have been permitted from 2021 through 2024.

Nevertheless, neighborhood activists objected to the way that the program effectively enabled apartment buildings to be built on larger lots in single-family neighborhoods. A local newspaper even ran a "worst ADU" contest to criticize the new developments.

In response, the City Council has been considering a number of ways of paring back the program. In January, it toyed with a full repeal of the ADU Bonus Program, but the city's planning director warned that wholesale repeal would likely violate state law.

Instead, the City Council has directed planning staff to draft an ordinance that would limit the applicability of the ADU Bonus Program in some of the city's single-family zoning districts.

Saad Asad, an activist with YIMBY Democrats of San Diego, says that such an ordinance would still leave the ADU Bonus program in effect in most of the city's single-family areas.

Asad says the greater risk to the program comes from the second provision of the resolution passed by the City Council last week. That directs city staff to propose more sweeping revisions to the program that could see fees increased, off-street parking requirements, and tighter density restrictions.

"The worse-case path is [a law leaves the ADU program alive] on paper, but there's so much red tape added to it that it's functionally dead," he says.

Quick Links

Vox on the Trump administration's move away from a "housing first" approach to homelessness.

An iconic Los Angeles tree house is dismantled by city officials who definitely have their priorities right.

San Francisco homeowners have to cover the costs of a city inspector's fraud, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.

Columbus, Ohio, got a shout-out in Vance's aforementioned speech. It's also streamlining its zoning code.

The Nebraska Legislature is considering a bill to restrict local rent control policies.

The post J.D. Vance Blames Zoning, Immigrants for High Housing Costs appeared first on Reason.com.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  New developments in the ongoing debate of a potential Royals stadium in downtown Kansas City. Theres now more movement to make it happen without the publics vote.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says that Washington Square Park, just east of Union Station, is one of the sites the Royals are considering for their new ballpark.

The Royals and the Chiefs asked the voters of Jackson County for sales tax dollars for their stadium plans in April of 2024, but the vote failed by 16%.

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Washington Square Parks a city parks property not owned by Jackson County. The question becomes whether the Royals would need a vote of the people at that location to get public financing.

If Kansas City Parks & Recreation sells parks land, that requires a vote of the residents of the city. However, if they lease it to somebody else for a certain amount of time, that does not.

Were just trying to figure out what the teams want, and at this point, we dont know a location, Jackson County Democratic Legislative Chairman DaRon McGee said in an interview with FOX4 Monday.

The Royals wouldnt provide comment that day. McGee, who was on the Vote Yes side in April of 2024, talked with FOX4 before the legislative meeting Monday at the Eastern Jackson County Courthouse.

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I think they would have to go back before the voters. I dont know another way around it, McGee said when asked if it makes sense for the Royals to go back before the voters of Jackson County. Either that, or as I told you before, I think that that would involve the ownership costs, keeping up with the costs of maintaining a stadium.

FOX4 also spoke to former City Councilwoman Becky Nace Monday. She was the Chair of the Committee Against New Royals Stadium Taxes in April of 2024. That was the Vote No side for the stadium election.

Nace said if the Royals try building anywhere downtown, that vote would fail countywide in Jackson County.

They have a first-class stadium that everyone enjoys, brags about, visitors and residents alike, that is in good condition, Nace said of Kauffman Stadium Monday. We dont need a new stadium. Its fiscally irresponsible especially in this economic time and considering that the majority of attendees do not pay the Jackson County sales tax.

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McGee added that he doesnt think there will be another county vote of the people later this year, but he also said anything could 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 FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
When Melissa C. Meirink was young and had something to complain about, her grandmother replied, "While you're crying out of one eye, there are people crying out of two."
March 11 (UPI) -- Japanese Trade Minister Yoji Muto said he was unable to ensure exemptions from planned U.S. tariffs on Japanese exports.

The tariffs that Muto hoped to avert in meetings with U.S. officials on Monday include a 25% levy on all Japanese steel and aluminum imports scheduled to kick in Wednesday. U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff plans also included targeting industrial sectors such as pharmaceuticals and semiconductors, as well as a 25% tariff on Japanese cars come April 2. Automobiles make up around 30% of Japan's exports to the U.S., and such a levy could seriously impact the Japanese economy.

Muto said that Tokyo will keep trying to protect Japanese companies from the tariffs proposed by the Trump administration. During a press conference, Muto said that "based on the latest discussions, we will be in close consultation on how we can make the national interests of Japan and the United States a win-win situation."

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He also dismissed the question of whether the Nippon Steel Corp's blocked $14.1 billion bid to take over United States Steel Corp. entered the discussion, saying that while he chose to refrain from going into details, he believes that "the concerned private-sector parties will advance their coordination on a specific plan."

Muto took part in meetings with key figures involved in designing Trump's tariffs, including U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and said he has since gained some understanding regarding how important Japan is to the American economy.

Muto furthermore said he and the U.S. officials with whom he met agreed to work toward improving bilateral economic ties even though no tariff deal was cemented, during which he emphasized how Japanese firms have and continue to invest in the United States.
(Bloomberg) -- Japans trade minister failed to win an immediate exemption from US President Donald Trumps tariff campaign even as he doubled down on the request in his first in-person discussions with US counterparts.

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We have requested that Japan should not be subject to the tariff measures that the US government has announced so far, Japanese Trade Minister Yoji Muto said. We explained Japans position on the impact on Japans industry and with regards to the development of the business environment and expansion of investment and employment in both Japan and the US.

Muto spoke with reporters from the US capital after he earlier met with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett. Muto said that he got the impression during his meetings that Washington takes Japans contribution to its economy seriously, with the US emphasizing that its focus is on reviving the US manufacturing industry.

The talks didnt result in any confirmation to exclude Tokyo from upcoming tariff measures, Muto said, as the two sides decided to keep consulting closely on matters related to trade. Extra levies on steel and aluminum are scheduled to take effect on March 12, with reciprocal tariffs and a proposed 25% tariff on foreign car imports expected to come on April 2.

Muto said he and his counterparts discussed an Alaskan gas project within the framework of US-Japan energy cooperation. He didnt elaborate on the content of those talks. Last week, Trump touted interest from Tokyo and Seoul to invest heavily in the proposed Alaska pipeline to transport natural gas. In February, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pledged to boost investment in the US to $1 trillion. Still, he hasnt mentioned anything specific regarding the Alaska venture.

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New duties on car imports would deal a direct blow to Japans economy. Last year, auto exports accounted for 17% of all outbound shipments from Japan, with more than a third of the total going to the US.

Japan is also bracing for an indirect impact from tariffs that Trump is imposing on other nations. Last week, the president slapped tariffs on Canada and Mexico then delayed some of them, including levies on cars, for one month. Trump also doubled a levy on China. All those developments are likely to affect Japan because Japanese carmakers operate in Mexico and Canada, and Beijing is one of its most important trading partners.

With his visit to Washington, Muto joins the ranks of his global counterparts who have also traveled to the White House to lobby for relief from the various tariffs that Trump has telegraphed. Ahn Duk-geun, South Koreas Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy made a trip to the US last month.

(Updates with more content from Mutos discussions with the US side)

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Japans trade minister said Tuesday that he had failed to win assurances from US officials that his country will be exempt from tariffs, some of which will take effect on Wednesday.

Yoji Muto was in Washington for last ditch negotiations over the tariffs on a range of Japanese exports including cars, steel and aluminum.

Muto said Tuesday that Japan, which contributes to the US economy by heavily investing and creating jobs in the United States, should not be subject to 25% tariffs on steel, aluminum and auto exports to America.

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His meetings with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett on Monday came just two days before the steel and aluminum tariffs are due to take effect.

President Donald Trump has also said a possible 25% tariff on imported foreign autos could take effect in early April.

Related

Muto said the US officials acknowledged Japanese contributions and agreed to continue talks, but did not approve his request for Japan's exemption from the steep import duties.

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We did not receive a response that Japan will be exempt, Muto told reporters. We must continue to assert our position.

Japan depends heavily on exports and the auto tariffs would hurt, because vehicles are its biggest export and the United States is their top destination.

Trump has also criticised Japans contributions to the two countries mutual defence arrangements, adding to tensions with Tokyo.

Muto said the two sides agreed to keep discussing to find ways to establish a win-win relationship that would serve national interests of both countries.

The two sides also discussed energy cooperation, including joint development of a liquefied natural gas pipeline in Alaska, which Trump and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba agreed on during Ishiba's visit to the White House in February.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  On Monday, top performing educators were awarded for their phenomenal work with nearly $170,000 divided up and given to 15 teachers at Jarrell Independent School District campuses, according to the district.

This is all possible through the Texas Education Agencys Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA), which provides those funds to outstanding Texas teachers with a goal of providing them with a six-figure salary, according to the TEA website. The program measures student success to gauge teacher eligibility.

Seven teachers at Jarrell Elementary School were awarded with one teacher receiving a check for $23,000. The funds will be paid out over the next five years, according to the district.

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Whenever you try your best in things like that, it really does pay off, said Ashley Howard, the teacher who received the $23,000 check. Ill be crying on the way home [with] happy tears. Like itll finally hit me later.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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)  Attorney General Todd Rokitas office announced a travel company based in Jasper allegedly engaged in illegal deceptive practices, including identity theft and fraudulent timeshare transactions.

AG Rokita has accused GoGo Travel Consulting LLC of falsely representing itself by using the identity of an Indiana-licensed real estate broker without his knowledge or consent. The lawsuit alleges this was part of a scheme to hoodwink consumers into believing they were engaging with a legitimate travel consulting service attempting to broker timeshare rental or purchase agreements.

Evansville physician accused of sexually touching women will remain without medical license

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As we work to protect Hoosiers, we will continue holding accountable those who engage in these kinds of illegal shakedowns, Attorney General Rokita said. We encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim of timeshare fraud to contact our office immediately.

AG Rokitas office explains older adults are particularly vulnerable to timeshare scams, which often involve high-pressure sales tactics that include claims of having ready buyers for timeshare properties. Victims are typically asked to pay upfront fees for supposed taxes or closing costs, only to find that the promised transactions never occur. AG Rokita filed the lawsuit through his Homeowner Protection Unit (HPU), which is part of the offices Consumer Protection Division.

Officials say HPUs investigation revealed that the phone number utilized by GoGo Travel, which was spoofed to appear as a number originating from southern Indiana, was ultimately linked to two Mexican nationals living in Puerto Vallarta who are alleged to be conspirators in the fraudulent scheme.

Bill punishing businesses knowingly hiring illegal immigrants passes Indiana House

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According to AG Rokita, in conjunction with this legal action, his office is raising awareness about the broader issue of timeshare fraud, which is often linked to organized crime. According to a joint notice by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), timeshare fraud schemes are frequently perpetrated by Mexico-based transnational criminal organizations. These organizations use the proceeds from such fraud to fund other criminal activities, including drug trafficking and human trafficking.

AG Rokitas office says Hoosiers are encouraged to contact the Office of the Attorney General about any suspected scams or scam attempts. Consumers may file a complaint either here or by calling 1-800-382-5516.

Eyewitness News. Everywhere you are.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
Allies of Vice President JD Vance claim he doesnt see Elon Musk as a threat, despite the billionaires constant presence in the White House alongside President Donald Trump.

Since taking office, Trump has given one joint press conference in the Oval Office with the billionaire, along with a joint interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity. Musk and Vance have not yet appeared together for a press conference or sit-down.

Still, associates of Vances insist that he has no issue with the attention Musk receives and the vice president is personally close to him, according to the Washington Post.

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Musk and Vance have their own friendship where they exchange texts and phone calls several times a week, the Post reports, citing people with knowledge of their relationship. The vice president hosted the worlds richest man for dinner at the Naval Observatory residence in February, according to the outlet, and often posts his support for Musk on X.

Vice President J.D. Vance doesnt see Elon Musk as a threat despite his proximity to the president, allies said (Getty Images)

The DOGE mogul, who has been appointed a special government employee, has played a prominent role at Trumps first Cabinet meetings and rubbed some department heads up the wrong way at the second. That is only good news for Vance, his allies told the Post, because it shields him from potential accusations that he might be vying for too much attention.

Vance and Musk reportedly remain close since they were introduced to each other 18 months ago by tech entrepreneur David Sacks. The Tesla boss was reportedly one of Vances biggest cheerleaders to be billed on the Republican ticket. Musk told Trump on multiple occasions that Vance was the smartest and best on TV among the contenders, according to the outlet.

The men frequently back one another on social media.

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After Musk received backlash to widespread federal job cuts by DOGE and critics noted Musk was not elected by the American people to be in office, Vance posted in support: No one voted for Elon Musk. (They did however vote for Donald Trump who promised repeatedly to have Elon Musk root out wasteful spending in our government.)

Vance also shared Musks op-ed published in Germanys Die Welt where he declared his support for the far-right Alternative for Germany party. Vance said it was an interesting article.

Associates of Vances insist that he has no issue with the attention Musk receives and the vice president is personally close to him (Getty Images)

In return, Musk often praises the vice president publicly and once called him the Best VP ever and our future President in a post on X.

The vice president is comfortable operating both in the foreground and behind the scenes of Trumps orbit, the associates told the Post. But the latter was not a tactic he employed during the explosive meeting in the Oval Office with Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

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Vances first cousin, Nate Vance, has told The Independent that the vice president and Trump only attacked Zelensky because they cant bully Putin.

The former U.S. Marine, who volunteered to help defend Ukraine, said the meeting was an ambush.

I was angry, lets be honest I was angry, he said. Even if you removed my connection to the vice president and you removed my connection to Ukraine, and this was just some neutral issue where a president invited a foreign leader to the White House it was a really weird thing to me.
JD Vances ex-Marine cousin revealed that he was surprised to see how the vice president treated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a now-notorious White House meeting last month, adding that there are much, much better ways to handle diplomatic negotiations.

While appearing on CNNs Erin Burnett OutFront Monday night, Nate Vancewho spent summers with the VP as a child and identifies himself as a Republican-leaning independentdisclosed that what surprised him the mos t about his cousins interaction with Zelensky is how regardless of the situation, theres a certain level of decorum that should be reached.

And you know, Im not naive enough to think that, you know, national leaders dont debate behind closed doors, he continued.

Nate Vance, JD Vance's cousin, shares photos of himself fighting in Ukraine. / CNN

But when you do that and you publicly, you know kind of ridicule someone in public that they have to almost defend themselves, it was just really disappointing to see it. For me, I disagreed with that tact, the 45-year-old added, seemingly referring to the vice president hounding Zelensky for what he believed was a lack of gratitude and thank yous toward Americas military support.

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Now theres a much more diplomatic way to say, wait, I think were getting off on the wrong foot here. Maybe we can kind of, you know, readdress what our positions are' and things like that. Theres much, much better ways to handle that, the former Marine concluded.

Nate Vance, JD Vance's cousin, shares photos of himself fighting in Ukraine. / CNN

The cousins share the same grandparents; JDs mother and Nates father are siblings.

Nate, a Texan, says he volunteered on the front lines against Russia for three years since it launched its invasion on Ukraine in 2022. According to CNN, Vance was part of the elite Da Vinci Wolves Battalion which saw some of the wars bloodiest battles.

My experience in Ukraine has given me a unique perspective that most Americans dont have, Nate told CNN.

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If you try to deal with Russia through an American lens it will come back to bite you, they dont necessarily think like we think, he added.

These people as a policy will eat their own, so they will not hesitate to eat an American president or American vice president, they dont care what we think.

This is video of Nate Vance, Vice President JD Vances cousin below, taking incoming from Russian artillery rounds into his trench while on a medical supply run. You can hear how close he is to death. I first met Nate Vance, JD Vance cousin, at a small outpost in Ukraine at the pic.twitter.com/IOM7F8RapZ  Brett Velicovich (@TheDroneWarrior) March 10, 2025

In an interview with Le Figaro published Sunday, Nate described the vice presidents treatment of Zelensky and the Ukrainian conflict in general as an ambush of absolute dishonesty.

Being your family doesnt mean Im going to accept you killing my comrades, he added.

In a separate interview with the BBC Monday, Nate similarly disclosed that although hes pretty Republican he still believes this one issue were doing wrong.

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And if its wrong, I should say something, he continued.

Photograph of American Nate Vance, JD Vances cousin, moving through enemy fire alongside Ukrainian forces as he conducts supply runs to help wounded soldiers and civilians. The world should be indebted to men like Nate Vance, quietly sacrificing themselves for causes greater https://t.co/duw0COTmTx pic.twitter.com/yfaBIJ5U1p  Brett Velicovich (@TheDroneWarrior) March 10, 2025

Asked on CNN what he would say to Vance now, Nate argued that his cousin should consider the human, emotional elements to support Ukraine, but also consider the United States' longterm benefit.

The concept of an imperialistic, aggressive, modernized military Russia who has learned their lessons about modern combat is problematic for our future, he added.

Nate Vance, JD Vance's cousin, shares photos of himself fighting in Ukraine. / CNN

During a late February visit to the White House, a meeting between President Donald Trump, Zelensky, and Vance swiftly erupted into a sparring match. The vice president was particularly heated and clapped back at Zelensky with a question that has since gone viral: Have you said thank you once this entire meeting?

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The president has since halted military aid to Ukraine, though Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Tuesday that that might be lifted depending on how a scheduled negotiation meeting in Saudi Arabia goes this week.
Vice President JD Vance skirmished with a heckler during a speech Monday in which he claimed that expelling undocumented immigrants would bring down housing prices.

Vance was addressing the National League of Cities in Washington, D.C. when a woman in the audience began shouting her objections.

"I see one of our nice representatives out here wants to actually, I guess, continue to flood the country with illegal immigrants, making your communities and citizens unaffordable," Vance snapped back, to a mixture of boos and claps.

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"But ma'am, with all respect, one of the reasons why we're doing what we're doing is because we want to make it more affordable for Americans to live."

The clash erupted as the Trump administration is stepping up its plans to deport "millions of people, roughly doubling daily immigration arrests from their level under Joe Biden.

The round-ups have caught not only undocumented immigrants with no criminal charges but also U.S. citizens, native Americans, and a Palestinian student who protested against Israel, with detainees warehoused in foreign hotels and even, briefly, Guantanamo Bay.

Reports suggest that the administration may also revoke the immigration status of so-called DREAMers  people brought to the country by their parents as babies or children who essentially grew up in America  and roughly 875,000 people from troubled countries such as Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Haiti who are here on humanitarian status.

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Though Vance claimed that deportation efforts were partly motivated by a desire to bring down housing prices for American citizens, the link between immigration and housing costs is disputed by experts.

"Local zoning regulations, the cost of energy. These things are about the supply of housing: how do we get more supply of houses out there to be built?" said Vance, according to footage from the pro-Trump Right Side Broadcasting Network (the heckler's remarks were inaudible).

"But when we talk about housing and why costs are so high, we don't talk enough about demand. And one of the drivers of increased housing demand, we know, is that we've got a lot of people over the last four years who have come into the country illegally ...

He added: "Just think about this: If you allow 20 million people to compete with American citizens for the costs of homes, you are going to have a large and frankly completely preventable spike in the demand for housing. And that is what we of course have seen."

Most estimates put the number of illegal immigrants in the U.S. at around 11 million to 14 million, although one report has claimed it could be as high as 17 million.
JD Vance is desperate to shore up support among House Republicans for a spending bill that will keep the government open for the next seven monthsand to do so, he revealed that Donald Trump doesnt actually intend to allow them to spend all of the money Congress allocates.

During a meeting with House Republicans Tuesday, just hours ahead of the vote on the bill, Vance warned that Republicans would take the blame if the government had to shut down, according to three people in the room who spoke to Politico.

Vance tried to make a desperate plea for unity. We already lost one vote, we cant lose another, he said.

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The holdout Vance is referring to is Republican Representative Thomas Massie from Kentucky.

Massie pledged Sunday that he wouldnt support the continuing resolution. Why would I vote to continue the waste fraud and abuse DOGE has found? he wrote on X.

We were told the CR in December would get us to March when we would fight. Here we are in March, punting again! Massie added.

To be clear, the Department of Government Efficiency has yet to publish any actual evidence of fraud or abuse. Instead the group has claimed that theyve canceled droves of government contractswhile a closer look reveals that many were already canceled or are worth a lot less than DOGE claims. But Massies conviction, even if mistaken, seems unshakeable. He was the only Republican who didnt support a GOP budget resolution in February, which would necessitate massive cuts to social services, including the very popular Medicaid.

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That bill had passed by a very slim margin of 217215. Clearly, Vance is concerned about a repeat performance, this time with new defections. So, the vice president tried to meet concerns such as Massies by downplaying the actual utility of the government spending bill he hoped to rally Republicans behind.

Vance promised that Trump would ensure allocations from Congress are not spent on things that harm the taxpayer, according to Notuss Reese Gorman.

Vance said Trump would do this under Section II, but its likely that he meant Article 2 of the Constitution, which the Trump administration has claimed gives the executive the power of impoundment, or a line-item veto of congressionally-appropriated spending.

But Vances promise is really a pipe dream: Congress legally retains power of the purse, granted by the Constitution, and the presidents purported powers are severely limited by the Impoundment Control Act of 1974.

If it seems a little outrageous that even with control of the House, Senate, and White House, the Republicans must openly admit that they are working to pass laws they have no intention of actually enforcing, thats because it is. Rather than forge actual party unity behind his agenda, Trump wants the power to act unilaterallyleaving Vance to bully party members into saying yes to Trump doing whatever he wants when it comes to federal funding.
The address used by Sen. Mark Baisley has implications for his legislative per diem
Nate Vance slammed his cousin JD Vance on Monday over the vice president leaning into pro-Russia talking points during an Oval Office clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

These people, as a policy, will eat their own, so they will not hesitate to eat an American president or an American vice president, Nate Vance said in an interview with CNNs Erin Burnett. Vance volunteered to fight with Ukraines Da Vinci Wolves Battalion following Russias 2022 invasion of the country,

They dont care what we think. Theyre not our allies and they never will be  not, at least, for a generation, he added.

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Vance, a Texas native who served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps, vacationed with his future VP cousin as a kid and recently described himself to the BBC as pretty Republican.

He told Burnett that he personally witnessed Russia shooting its countrys troops on enough occasions that it wasnt just an isolated incident.

The comments come just days after Vance, in an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro, referred to the fiery Oval Office meeting his cousin and President Donald Trump had with Zelenskyy as an ambush of absolute bad faith and slammed the administration for being Russian President Vladimir Putins useful idiots.

Since the contentious White House meeting that saw the vice president demanding gratitude from Zelenskyy for Americas support of his country, Trump has paused U.S. intelligence sharing and military aid to Ukraine.

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Vance told Burnett that his cousins move surprised him and noted that theres a certain level of decorum that should be reached in such a meeting.

Im not naive enough to think that, you know, national leaders dont debate behind closed doors but when you do that and you publicly ridicule someone in public, they have to almost defend themselves, he said.

So it was just really disappointing to see it for me, he added. I disagreed with that tact.

Related...
If you were a multi-billionaire  or even just a billionaire  would anything that Donald Trump says or does scare you?

Nahme neither.

So, whats with all the billionaire wimps weve got in America?

Some of them, of course, simply relate to him. Thats why Trump has a bakers dozen of billionaires working for his administration, making it the wealthiest in history.

That I understand.

Trump put together an avaricious assemblage of individuals for whom there is no such thing as too much, and who now work in "public service to make sure the government doesnt hinder them from amassing more and more. Just like him.

Among those who have approached on bended knee - Bezos

What I dont get are those billionaires who didnt seem to be that way, but who either have remained silent or who have approached Trump on bended knee.

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They include people like Mark Zuckerberg, who once banned Trump from his Meta platforms but who then dumped $1 million into Trumps inaugural festivities and has gone to Mar-a-Lago to genuflect before Dear Leader.

Billionaire Mark Cuban  who has not supplicated himself to Trump  says the snowflake billionaires are worried about his (Trumps) retribution or his vengeance.

The worst of these, at least to someone in my business, is Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder who owns The Washington Post.

Bezos is said to be worth $216 billion dollars. Two-hundred and sixteen billion. Thats the number 216 followed by nine  count em  zeroes.

A decision to restructure The Post's newsroom

It is an act of bravery for a person of average means and little authority to stand up to someone like Trump, with all his money and all his power.

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But a billionaire 216 times over?

There is nothing that Trump, or the U.S. government, or anyone, could do to such a billionaire that he wouldnt be able to weather. Nothing.

And yet in recent months Bezos has buckled under Trumps bluster, and dragged The Post down with him.

Under a new edict the newsroom is being restructured, with many believing it will water down The Posts political coverage.

This comes after Bezos reportedly prevented the newspaper from endorsing Kamala Harris in the November election.

Resignations and many thousands of lost subscriptions

It comes after the paper changed the scope of its opinion pages, leading the sections editor to resign.

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His editorial cartoonist, Ann Telnaes, quit after her editor rejected a cartoon showing Bezos, Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong, OpenAI billionaire Sam Altman, Metas Mark Zuckerberg, and Mickey Mouse (representing media giant Disney/American Broadcasting Company) either kneeling or bowing face down in front of a statue of the president.

Truth hurts.

Columnist and associate editor Ruth Marcus recently resigned after her editor wouldnt run what she called a column that I wrote respectfully dissenting from Jeff's edict.

Hundreds of thousands of online subscribers have dropped Post subscriptions over these actions.

Not exactly following Katherine Graham's example

The one-time executive editor of The Post, Martin Baron, wrote an essay recently for The Atlantic in which he recalled how Bezos once pledged to honor the legacy of legendary Post publisher Katharine Graham.

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During President Nixon turbulent term, Graham was told by Nixons attorney general that she was gonna get her tit caught in a big fat wringer if The Post published one of its Watergate stories. The Post under Graham did not waver. The paper did its job. It shed light on news Americans needed to know.

Bezos initially promised to keep it that way. He wrote in a memo to his staff in 2013, While I hope no one ever threatens to put one of my body parts through a wringer, if they do, thanks to Mrs. Grahams example, Ill be ready.

Or not.

The Posts former editor put it this way in The Atlantic, Now we know that Bezos is no Katharine Graham.

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In 2017, as Trump began his first term, The Post adopted a slogan meant to reinforce the papers proud journalistic tradition. It reads: Democracy dies in darkness.

And a lot of great journalists at The Post still believe it.

So why does Bezos keep turning out the lights?

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.

For more opinions content, please subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Washington Post, Amazon's Bezos sets billionaire bar so low | Opinion
Mar. 10ST. MARYS  Kera Dorsten is involved with so many in-school activities, after-school organizations and charitable endeavors, it makes one's head spin.

The daughter of Mark and Teresa Dorsten is a senior at St. Marys Memorial High School, where she carries a 4.7 grade point average. The National Honor Society member maintains a 4.0 GPA in dual enrollment classes at Wright State University-Lake Campus and is active in the Roughrider marching band, symphonic band, symphonic choir, jazz band and drama club. She is the treasurer of the Auglaize County Junior Fair Board and chairman of the rabbit department.

Dorsten is also an usher, women's fellowship secretary and choir member at Buckland United Church of Christ. In 2022 she spent a week volunteering at Back Bay Mission on the Mississippi Gulf Coast to improve the lives of others. She is also active with the Lima-based Family Promise organization, providing Christmas presents and meals for needy families around the holidays and throughout the year.

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Dorsten averages more than 200 volunteer hours each month. It's easy to see why she was selected as a 2025 Jefferson Award for Public Service youth winner. Equally simplistic is Dorsten's response when asked why she chooses to so freely donate her time and talents.

"Because I care," the 17-year-old replied. "I want my life to have purpose, and I want to fulfil that purpose."

Part of her time at St. Marys is spent tutoring elementary school students "who have trouble learning and need a little extra guidance." Dorsten hopes to continue that path after graduation and intends to enroll at The Ohio State University-Lima to study special education or become an intervention specialist.

In the mean time, Dorsten admits she's "flying by the seat of my pants" as she travels life's path. A confident but unassuming young woman who doesn't take herself nearly as seriously as she does the charities with which she's involved, Dorsten leans heavily on her faith to guide her through life.

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"My faith kind of steers me in the direction toward positivity," she said. "Just trust in God and trust life's process and hope you do the right thing."

She knew at an early age that helping others was her role.

"My love of volunteer work started when I was in fifth grade. Our church held a fundraiser for hurricane victims, and I started to understand that I can make a difference," she said.

Luann Eeverett nominated Dorsten for the Jefferson Award.

"Kera is the most amazing young lady I have had the privilege to know," Everett said. "She does not know a stranger, is willing to help anyone in need. Her kindness is overwhelming. If she sees a need, she will do whatever it takes to fill that need and to be a friend to anyone who may need someone."

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Dorsten is humbled to be a Jefferson Award recipient, now that she knows the honor even exists.

"I wasn't aware of the award, but it's nice to know someone is watching," she said.

As a youth recipient of a Jefferson Award, Dorsten will receive a $250 donation to go to the charity of her choice.

The 2025 Jefferson Awards for Public Service committee has selected nine winners from throughout the region, including eight adult winners and one youth winner. They will be honored at a banquet March 25 at Veterans Memorial Civic Center in downtown Lima.

Read past Jefferson Awards profiles at LimaOhio.com/jeffersonawards.

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By Gwladys Fouche

OSLO (Reuters) - After Jens Stoltenberg answered questions in a routine session in Norway's parliament, the buzz outside the chamber was anything but normal. A class of visiting teenagers pointed excitedly at him. A cleaner stopped her rounds to take a photo.

One of Norway's most recognisable figures internationally and often known just by his first name at home, Stoltenberg's impact on politics has been immediate since returning to the domestic sphere after leading the NATO alliance for a decade.

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His Labour party gained 10 points in opinion polls within days of his appointment as finance minister on February 4, meaning it could end up winning the country's election in September, an unthinkable prospect only weeks ago with voters disgruntled at the rising cost of living.

The 65-year-old Oslo native was prime minister in 2000-2001 and 2005-2013. He says he does not seek the premiership again, currently held by his close friend and ally Jonas Gahr Stoere.

Norwegian media has dubbed his return "Stoltenback".

"I do think there is a Stoltenberg effect," said Johannes Bergh, head of the national election studies programme at the Oslo-based Institute for Social Research.

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"The reason why he's so popular, and almost revered now, is probably both because of the way he handled the terrorist attacks in 2011, when he was prime minister ... He has earned a lot of respect for that," he said.

Stoltenberg led the nation in grief after far-right fanatic Anders Behring Breivik killed 77 people in twin attacks in Oslo and Utoeya - the worst acts of violence in Norway since World War Two.

Bergh also pointed to Stoltenberg's leadership of NATO during the war in Ukraine and Donald Trump's first term as U.S. president.

At NATO, he was nicknamed the "Trump whisperer" for his ability to convince Trump to stick with the alliance after he complained allies were spending too little on defence and threatened to pull out.

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'NICE TO BE BACK'

He handed over the reins as NATO secretary general in October, to former Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte, before Trump won November's U.S. election to secure a second term.

Stoltenberg's appointment stunned the country as he had said after leaving NATO he was not returning to politics.

Giddy Labour politicians posted social media reactions such as "Daddy is Home!" and "Jens we can" alongside pictures of themselves with him.

His return coincided with the exit from the government in late January of the eurosceptic Centre Party, which had limited Labour's margin of manoeuvre. Bergh said that had contributed to the party's surge in the polls.

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"Their credibility as a governing party had suffered quite a bit. Now they are taking it back," Bergh said.

Policy-wise, should Labour win in September, there would be an emphasis on continuing oil and gas exploration and a focus on close cooperation with the EU. Norway is not a member of the bloc but is part of the European common market.

It would also be a rare example of an incumbent, non-populist, government getting re-elected worldwide.

The man himself is relishing his return to the political fray. "It is very nice to be back in parliament," Stoltenberg told Reuters after speaking in the chamber.

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"Taking part in question time still feels a little unusual. It is my second time now, but I have managed to do it so far without making a formal mistake."

One difference he notes after his time abroad is that Norway's politics is less polarised.

"We are having proper debates, with real political disagreements, but our tone is more conciliatory, less polarised and less hateful as it is in other countries," he said.

"It does not come automatically. We as politicians must show respect for one another ... We must take care of that."

(Reporting by Gwladys Fouche in Oslo; Editing by Alison Williams)
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has deputized a folksy Louisiana lawmaker known for his blunt political observations and creative analogies to take the lead in convincing President Donald Trump to develop a strategy for raising the debt limit later this year.

That Senate envoy, Sen. John Neely Kennedy, says Trump isnt ready to focus just yet  and that attention deficit could have reverberations across the global economy.

Kennedy said in an interview that Thune asked him a few weeks ago to lead shuttle diplomacy with Trump about the GOPs options for preventing the U.S. from defaulting on its $36 trillion-and-counting debt later this year. Since then, Kennedy said, he has asked Trump and Vice President JD Vance point blank to start thinking about a plan for lifting the nation's borrowing cap to head off a default  a breach that top economists predict would irreparably mar Americas reputation as a reliable borrower.

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I've done it publicly and privately, and it's clear to me that the president is not ready to focus that much on the debt limit, Kennedy said about his discussions with Trump.

I think the president is clearly aggravated having to deal with it, Kennedy, a member of the Senate Banking and Budget committees, continued. "And I don't blame him. His attitude is: 'Why didn't yall fix this before I took office?'

Trump asked Congress to include a debt ceiling increase in its year-end government funding package in December, but dozens of House Republicans balked at the idea, leaving the unfinished business for the new president.

Thune, in a brief interview Monday, called Kennedy a good advocate in the debt limit discussions and said that several other Republicans are also involved in trying to unite the White House and GOP lawmakers around a plan.

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A White House official, granted anonymity to speak candidly, called Trump a "master dealmaker" who is "always engaged in negotiations on Capitol Hill."

But Senate Republicans have been pressing Trump since January to back a debt limit strategy, noting that time is of the essence. The day before the president was inaugurated, he sat down with Senate Republicans for a very fulsome discussion and spent 20 minutes talking about the debt limit, according to Kennedy.

Yet Kennedy said he wasnt encouraged by Trumps remarks: I don't have the slightest idea what he said. He was splendid in his evasiveness. And that's when I concluded back then, and in subsequent conversations: I concluded that he's not ready to focus on it yet."

Congress is still waiting for the Treasury Department to issue a prediction for when the U.S. could default on its debt, with top lawmakers operating under the assumption that the so-called X-date is likely to hit sometime between June and August.

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If tax receipts come in lower than expected this spring, Congress could face the fiscal cliff with little warning, as it did in 2023. So Senate GOP leaders are anxious for Trump to endorse some sort of plan  especially as they decide whether to raise the nations borrowing cap as part of the massive domestic policy package they hope to pass along party lines later this year.

If Trump and GOP leaders seek to raise the debt limit through that process, known as reconciliation, they would need to make the hard sell to fiscal conservatives demanding steep spending cuts in return  and then potentially deliver a similarly forceful pitch to more moderate lawmakers who could be spooked by the political ramifications of those reductions.

One of the deficit hawks, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), said the White House is very well aware of his demand for returning to pre-pandemic spending levels as a condition of raising the debt limit.

I know the president doesn't like this issue. But he has to understand: There are those of us who realize that that's the only leverage we have to bring down spending, and we don't want to give up that leverage, Johnson said in an interview.

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House Republicans have already provided for a $4 trillion increase in the U.S. borrowing cap in their budget framework. If that gambit falters, GOP leaders will have to seek Democratic votes to avert a debt default outside the reconciliation process, opening up negotiations that could lead to higher government funding levels or other concessions to the minority party.

Unlike the House Republican budget, the Senates budget framework does not allow for raising the debt limit. But many Senate Republicans now endorse the idea of including such language as they decide their next steps toward actually writing their sweeping package of tax cuts and energy policy, along with border security and defense spending increases.

The only question is whether we can get the votes in both the House and Senate to do it in reconciliation. Right now, thats the plan, Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), who is close with Thune, said in a brief interview.

Asked if Senate Republicans have the support for keeping a debt ceiling increase in the reconciliation plan, Hoeven quipped: If you could find that out and let us know, that would be really helpful, because thats the question.

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Across the Capitol, several senior House Republicans have also privately acknowledged that they will need a backup plan if they cant whip enough support for a party-line package that raises the borrowing limit.

Speaker Mike Johnson, Thune and top congressional tax writers are now meeting weekly with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to discuss the broader reconciliation effort.

There are other potential vehicles  any spending bill is an option, Thune said. Asked about the possibility of pairing it with a disaster aid package  another must-pass item on the 2025 legislative agenda  he added, "We'll see."

One thing is clear: There's no real discussion of including a debt limit increase on the most pressing vehicle  the stopgap spending bill that is expected to move through Congress this week.

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Johnson and senior House Republicans have no other plans for the debt limit right now other than to push for it to stay in the budget plan their chamber narrowly approved two weeks ago  and they are largely miffed the Senate is contemplating anything else.

When billionaire Trump ally Elon Musk lunched with Senate Republicans last week the debt ceiling briefly came up in conversation, but no decision was made on a strategy.

Senate Republicans also discussed the issue during a lunch last month with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. There, Kennedy told Wiles she and Trump ought to be thinking about the best way to handle it. Wiles, Kennedy said, didnt commit to a specific path for dealing with the debt ceiling and instead said she would talk to Trump about it.

I just want to make sure that the president understands that if we do it outside of reconciliation, we've got to pay bribes," Kennedy said about the prospect of having to strike a debt deal with Democrats. "There are two doors: Door No. 1 and door No. 2."
Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena, Jr. holds an engineering concept plan for a new public safety complex to replace the town's police and fire stations. To build it, he wants to use eminent domain to halt construction of an affordable housing complex on Route 44, eliciting fear from housing advocates that other municipalities will start using the same tactic to avoid building more affordable housing. (Photo by Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

Three times over the past two years, Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena, Jr. struck out in his search for a site to build a new public safety complex and town hall to replace the towns aging municipal buildings. Then last fall he saw the agenda for a planning board meeting  and his chance to go to bat again.

The agenda for the meeting on Dec. 3, 2024, listed a pre-application involving 31-acres of undeveloped land off of George Waterman Road, near Route 44.

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I knew the land was available, but I wasnt aware how much land that was over there, Polisena said in a recent interview. So I put two and two together. This would be a perfect site. It is on a main road, it has sewer, water, and all the utilities we need.

There was just one problem: The land is owned by a developer looking to build a 252-unit apartment complex affordable to low and middle-income residents. It was exactly the kind of development state leaders want to see more of to help ease Rhode Islands ongoing housing crisis.

But not Polisena, 35, now halfway through his first term, whose father served four terms as mayor before him. I dont think that would be conducive to a mid-size community like Johnston, he said.

Polisena, who won 69% of the vote during the 2022 election, said he understands the need to build more housing for working families in his town. So whats a mayor dubbed a practical Democrat by the local weekly paper  a mayor who is also a lawyer by occupation  to do?

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Turn to a tool typically reserved by municipalities for road projects.

On Monday night, the Johnston Town Council voted 5-0 to pass a resolution to pursue the legal condemnation of the George Waterman Road site after obtaining an appraisal that determined its fair market value was $775,000. The town will now file an action in Providence County Superior Court.

Polisena is invoking the power of eminent domain to seize the land from the developer in what may be a first for the state in blocking an affordable housing construction project. Its a legal maneuver that would allow the town to acquire the site for public use by providing just compensation to the private owner.

The mayor first announced his decision on Jan. 27, the day before the town council voted 4-0 to approve his plan at a special meeting that drew an overflow crowd to the Johnston Municipal Court on Atwood Avenue. Members of the public spilled out into the parking lot. Only one resident spoke to the council, calling the proposal an extreme amount of housing, the Johnston Sunrise reported.

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Polisena is openly defying statewide Democratic leaders, who despite passing dozens of laws in recent years to cut red tape and incentivize more development, have withheld their disapproval or criticism.

Blindsided

The day before the council voted to authorize the land seizure, the developer for the 252-unit complex was still trying to get a meeting with the mayor to negotiate the size and scope of the project.

Instead, we were notified by reporters about this attempt to condemn, Kelley Morris Salvatore, the Providence lawyer representing project developer Waterman Chenango LLC, said in an interview. It clearly was a knee jerk reaction  they really want to block an affordable housing project, not site a public safety project.

Waterman Chenango was founded by Salvatore Compagnone of Providence, who died on Jan. 5, 2024, at the age of 95. His son, Salvatore Jr., is still involved with the LLC, Morris Salvatore said. The applicant listed on the most recent planning documents is Lucille Santoro.

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The site was assessed at $277,000 in 2022, when Birchwood Manor Associates, an LLC founded by the senior Compagnone transferred the land to Waterman Chenango, according town tax records. Birchwood Manor Associates acquired the land for $250,000 in 2021.

Were living in a world where we dont have enough housing for our sons and daughters who are just coming out of college, our elderly residents who want to downsize, Morris Salvatore said. Were talking about firefighters, teachers, and young professionals.

Morris Salvatore attended Mondays Town Council meeting, but declined to comment on whether the developer plans to fight the land seizure.

He knows we are entitled to build these 252 units, she said of Polisena in a recent interview. But instead he wants to take the property for a sham police department, fire department, and town hall.

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The eminent domain resolution approved in late January notes the fire departments Atwood Avenue headquarters built in 1968 needs new plumbing, electrical system, sprinklers and roof.

The same applies to the police headquarters on Atwood Avenue, built in 1978. A police department report notes the building was initially designed for 34 officers and employees, which has since doubled. The building is also prone to repeated flooding when it rains.

Town Hall, built in 1939, has no handicapped accessibility.

Johnston Town Planner Thomas Deller said local officials have been trying to find a site to build a new municipal complex for at least two and a half years, choosing to operate under the radar while conducting the land search.

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We didnt want to make a big deal of it until we found something that made sense, Deller said. Theres very little land left that we have options at  and George Waterman has potential.

Cost estimates for the new public safety complex range between $40 million to $50 million, Polisena told Rhode Island Current.

Johnston Town Hall was built in 1939 on Hartford Avenue. Mayor Joseph Polisena, Jr. wants to move town operations  along with the headquarters for the towns police and fire departments  to land roughly 2 miles away on George Waterman Road. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)

Under 10% of Johnstons housing stock is affordable

Preliminary plans for Waterman Chenangos proposed development showed five rectangular apartment buildings arranged at the end of a road off George Waterman Road and around connected parking lots. Roughly 18 acres were buildable, Deller said.

The developer planned to use the states Low and Moderate Income Housing law, which limits the ability of municipalities to block projects if less than 10% of their residences qualify as affordable.

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In Johnston, about 7.9% of housing units are considered affordable, according to the 2024 HousingWorksRI factbook. The town needs to add another 261 affordable units to meet the states 10% threshold.

The median sale price of a home in Johnston was $475,500 in January, up 26.3% from $376,500 in January 2024, according to single-family sales data tracked by the Rhode Island Association of Realtors.

To be frank, over the last five years, there has not been much effort by anyone to come in and propose affordable housing, Deller said. This year, weve had one application.

Deller was not referring to the proposed complex off George Waterman Road. He was talking about a 32-unit development in the rural Shun Pike neighborhood off Peck Hill Road, which the planning board gave its preliminary approval on Aug. 20, 2024.

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In a letter to the planning board, Polisena called the proposed apartment complex destructive to the town.

The choice is yours. Bulldoze ahead with your current plan and be prepared to fight a town of 30,000 people in the process, Polisena wrote. Or, withdraw it and work with us to create something the town can and will support.

Can a town just take land?

Under Rhode Island General Law, eminent domain can be used to remove hazardous buildings, revitalize abandoned lots, and clarify land ownership.

Property seizures are most commonly done to expand and build roadways, explained Roger Williams University School of Law Professor Jonathan Gutoff. But authorizing eminent domain is usually done as a last resort.

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Lots of time, they dont need to actually use the power, they simply negotiate a sale with the owner, Gutoff said in an interview.

A property owner can challenge the land seizure in court, but Gutoff said it tends to be an uphill battle  especially if public use is cited.

And Johnstons clearly claiming its providing for public ownership and use, he said.

State and federal courts have struck down pretextual land seizures, including Rhode Islands Supreme Court. The court in 2006 ruled against the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (now the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation) after it tried to seize a parking garage at T.F. Green International Airport.

I could see a similar sort of argument made here, Gutoff said.

Tress surround the boundary of the 31-acre plot of land off George Waterman Road the town of Johnston plans to seize from a developer that sought to build a 252- unit apartment complex on the property. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)

A dangerous precedent

Johnston is not Barrington. Johnston is not East Greenwich. Johnston is not North Kingstown, Polisena said, referring to coastal communities where median household income is in the six figures. I cannot go to my property taxpayers and raise my taxes every year  Johnston is a working-class community.

The average median household income in Johnston is $83,001, according to the 2024 HousingWorksRI factbook.

Polisenas focus on the working class character of Johnston echoes a familiar argument many municipalities have used against multifamily housing. The Dec. 3 planning board meeting drew heated debate from residents, with one calling the proposal a threat to safety.

Melina Lodge, executive director of Housing Network of Rhode Island, said as far as she is aware, Johnstons use of eminent domain is the first time a municipality had done so to halt a housing development.

This sets a very dangerous precedent for other municipalities who may want to think about blocking affordable housing, she said in an interview. How this particular incident is treated will set the tone going forward on whats possible.

So far, the reaction from state officials has been mild disappointment.

Affordable housing remains one of Rhode Islands most pressing needs, and solving this shortage requires a statewide, collaborative approach, Rhode Island Department of Housing spokesperson Emily Marshall said in an emailed statement. We need all cities and towns to work together not only to find solutions that meet local needs, but also to tackle the broader housing challenges across the state.

Even Rhode Islands House speaker, who has made housing his priority, is sidestepping the towns decision to block the proposed apartment complex.

Mayor Polisena and the Johnston Town Council acted in what they believed was in the best interests of the citizens of their community, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi said in a statement. However, I hope Johnston and every community in Rhode Island look to create more affordable housing opportunities to address the ongoing housing crisis.

Randy Rossi, director of Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, was also indifferent to Polisenas decision to block the apartment complex.

The League recognizes and supports the need for housing growth across the state, Rossi said in a statement. We value our municipal leaders and their authority to make decisions in the best interest of their residents.

Attorney Kelley Morris Salvatore, left, talks with Stacy Thomsen, a senior partner at Providence-based law firm Darrow Everrett, following the Johnston Town Councils approval to seize land off George Waterman Road on Monday, March 10, 2025. (Photo by Christopher Shea)

Johnstons state lawmakers seem to want to defer to Polisenas judgment on the issue.

Democratic Rep. Deborah Fellela, whose district includes the 31-acre lot, said she thought Polisena was right to halt the development.

I do see the need for affordable housing, but I think that project was just too overreaching and too big, she told Rhode Island Current. Its too bad they couldnt come to some agreement to make it a smaller project.

Democratic freshman Sen. Andrew Dimitri said he believed the lot could not handle such a large apartment complex.

The two main roads its located on are already over-traveled, Dimitri told Rhode Island Current. That size of a development in Johnston is just not sustainable.

Even freshman Rep. Richard Fascia, a Johnston Republican who has previously worked at the Providence Housing Authority and nonprofit homelessness services provider Crossroads RI, declined to comment on the towns use of eminent domain.

This is an issue that is squarely in the mayors wheelhouse, he said.

Should Johnston officials move forward with their plans for a new public safety complex, Shekarchi said he would like to see the existing fire and police stations repurposed into affordable housing units.

Polisena said that would ultimately be up to any developer who acquires those lots.

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Jonesboro City Councilmembers met for the first time Monday evening since the mayor announced her resignation, then rescinded it.

Some council members thought her original resignation should stand, but the mayor said shes finishing out her term.

People packed the council room at the Jonesboro City Center for the meeting.

Many people showed up to support Mayor Donya Sartor, including the city of South Fultons embattled mayor, Khalid Kamau.

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However, some people said the infighting is making the city look bad.

Frankly, its embarrassing, said former city councilman, Ed Wise. Were tired of seeing the negative press.

In a special meeting on Thursday, Sartor announced she was resigning. However, the next day, she withdrew her resignation.

Being just reminded of how I got in this place, and those things that played a factor in me even considering that, are no longer in play, Sartor said.

Originally, Sartor gave a date of April 19 because she said the city council had called for a forensic audit of Jonesboros finances.

While she said there have been no allegations of wrongdoing, she wanted to cooperate with the audit by stepping down.

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At Mondays meeting, the council voted to proceed with their regular annual audit, and if something comes up during that audit, then theyll move forward with looking into a forensic audit.

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As for the resignation, the council didnt take any action on that.

It was really encouraging for them not to try to, Sartor said. Today would have been a great opportunity for them to do that.

When Channel 2s Eryn Rogers asked what was next, she was told its a game of wait and see.

To me, its very clear what the state law says, a resignation unless rendered to be immediate, you have to vote on it and accept, they did not take that opportunity, Sartor said.

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However, Councilman Don Dixon said they can still call a special meeting to take a vote on accepting her original resignation.

The way I look at it is it was voted on because the way she did that, it was in writing, in a public meeting, and no councilmember said anything, so that can be accepted, Dixon said.

Sartor 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.

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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 is not uncommon when a new mayor takes office.

Rogers also confirmed Monday night another high-level city leader is turning in their resignation this week because of the turmoil.

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For years, Grant T. Sullivan had his name attached to high-profile, high-stakes cases filed against Colorado and its public officials in challenges to the state's election laws, gun safety policies and its non-discrimination directives.
Journalists from the Kyiv Independent, an English-language Ukrainian online newspaper, have posed as a Russian arms manufacturer and have found that chips from Europe and the US are still reaching Russian arms producers through intermediary firms.

Source: a Kyiv Independent investigation

Details: Despite US and European bans on supplying electronic components to Russia, dozens of Russian microelectronics suppliers continue to obtain and resell imported chips to Russian arms manufacturers.

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The Kyiv Independent posed as a Russian defence manufacturer to verify this supply chain and attempted to order US chips from Russian trading companies.

The most challenging part of the experiment was not purchasing the banned chips but simply creating an email account on a Russian service, as these are blocked in Ukraine.

"When that was done, trying to buy banned Western chips in Russia was easy," the newspaper writes.

The Kyiv Independent contacted Russian suppliers with a request for chips, receiving responses from ten companies confirming their ability to provide the required components.

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Russian firms Imotek, AST Components, Elsup, Altex, RTKT and Vneshtekhsnab said they could deliver within one and a half to three months.

Modern Digital Technologies, Electromir and Imotek sent offers specifying the production years of the chips, including those manufactured between 2022 and 2024.

One company provided a list featuring millions of chips from well-known US and European manufacturers, including components used in Russian missiles and loitering munitions.

Western chips reach Russia through third countries that have not imposed restrictions, with China and Hong Kong serving as the main suppliers of American chips.

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These companies are either Chinese suppliers of Western microelectronics with many years of experience or newly established entities without websites or public contact information.

The list of companies that have supplied chips to the Russian Federation contains Hong Kong-based Analog Technology, Icscan Electronic, China's Berton Electronics and about 50 other companies. Some of them are under US sanctions, while others are not.

In turn, the Russian companies Elsup, Modern Digital Technologies, Imotek and other chip traders have been reselling imported components to the Rosselectronics holding company.

In this scheme, Chinese suppliers resell the chips to Russian buyers, who then supply them to the Russian defence sector.

Read also: Russia is importing ASML equipment in parts to produce microchips. Why aren't sanctions working?

It is unclear how many times the chips are sold and resold before reaching the Russian defence company.

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Customs records show that the American chips are manufactured in various countries, including the United States, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and others. In other words, some of these chips were likely produced in US plants located outside the United States.

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(NewsNation)  A federal judge has temporarily blocked the removal of a Columbia University graduate student who led pro-Palestinian protests, ordering that he cannot be deported while the court considers the petition.

U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman of the Southern District of New York issued the order Monday for Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist who helped lead campus protests urging Columbia to cut financial ties with Israel.

The Department of Homeland Security said Khalil was detained Saturday under President Donald Trumps executive order banning antisemitism, though he has not been charged with any crimes.

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Menendez brothers do not meet the standards for rehabilitation: DA

The judge scheduled a conference for Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. after his lawyers filed a lawsuit challenging his detention.

A Palestinian green card holder, Khalil, 30, earned his masters degree in December, and his wife, a U.S. citizen, is eight months pregnant.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the arrest, saying the U.S. will revoke visas and green cards of Hamas supporters, though no evidence has been provided linking Khalil to Hamas.

Trump called Khalil a radical foreign pro-Hamas student on Truth Social, stating that supporters of terrorism are not welcome in the U.S.

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College student vanishes on spring break trip to Dominican Republic

His attorney, Amy Greer, said in a statement that he has been transferred to an ICE detention facility in Louisiana, a move she described as a blatantly improper but familiar tactic designed to frustrate the New York federal courts jurisdiction.

In their legal complaint, Khalils attorneys accused the government of retaliating against him for his constitutionally protected advocacy on behalf of Palestinian human rights.

The habeas corpus petition filed on Khalils behalf alleges his detention is retaliation for his activism regarding Palestinian rights and criticism of Israels actions in Gaza. The petition claims the arrest violates his First Amendment rights.

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According to the petition, when DHS agents arrested him, they initially stated they were detaining him because his student visa had been revoked. When he presented documentation showing he is a lawful permanent resident, the agents claimed his green card had also been revoked but provided no basis for the revocation.

In a statement released through his attorney, Khalils wife pleaded for his release: I need your help to bring [him] home, so he is here beside me, holding my hand in the delivery room as we welcome our first child into this world.

Khalils detention drew outrage from civil rights groups and free speech advocates, who accused the administration of using its immigration enforcement powers to squelch criticism of Israel.

Typically, expelling a person who has permanent residency in the U.S. requires a high bar, such as that person being convicted of certain types of crimes.

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Hes the first person known to be detained for deportation under Trumps promised crackdown on student protests.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
President Donald Trumps pick to lead the U.S. attorneys office in the nations capital got a First Amendment lesson last week, when Georgetowns law school dean reminded the prosecutor that he cant dictate how the school teaches. Another constitutional course came from a federal judge in the nations capital this week, with a refresher on the separation of powers in the case over Trumps foreign aid funds freeze.

The provision and administration of foreign aid has been a joint enterprise between our two political branches, U.S. District Judge Amir Ali wrote Monday. The Biden appointee recounted the basic notion that Congress has the power of the purse and appropriates funds toward certain foreign policy aims, while the president decides how to spend those funds in faithful execution of the law.

He noted that this case involves a departure from that firmly established constitutional partnership, because the executive has unilaterally deemed that funds Congress appropriated for foreign aid will not be spent while offering an unbridled view of Executive power that the Supreme Court has consistently rejected.

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To support his ruling partially granting a preliminary injunction against the government, Ali cited writings from Republican-appointed justices to set the backdrop for his decision affirming the administrations  and Congress  role in our system.

The judge cited rejections of executive overreach in foreign policy from Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Brett Kavanaugh and the late GOP icon Antonin Scalia, in an opinion joined by Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito, which observed that England had given the King exclusive foreign policy control but that the United States had other ideas and adopted a Constitution that divides responsibility for the Nations foreign concerns between the legislative and executive departments.

Using Roberts phrase that this balance is firmly established, Ali wrote that he was reaffirming these firmly established principles of our Constitution. He said the plaintiff groups that brought the lawsuit against the governments blanket freeze will likely succeed on their separation-of-powers claims.

He rejected what he called the administrations unbridled understanding of the Presidents foreign policy power, which would put the Executive above Congress in an area where it is firmly established that the two branches share power, ... where Congress is exercising one of its core powers, and where there is no constitutional objection to the laws it has made.

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This is the case that was at the Supreme Court on an emergency basis last week, when the justices split 5-4 in refusing Trump officials bid to upend an earlier order from Ali. Roberts was in the majority with Justice Amy Coney Barrett and the three Democratic appointees, over dissent from Alito, Kavanaugh and Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch.

Litigation is set to continue in the trial court with a joint report from the parties due by Friday to Ali on the defendants compliance with his order and next steps. But the case may well return to the high court  and if it does, well see how the justices cited in the trial judges ruling come down.

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 the Trump administrations legal cases.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  For the first time in San Francisco since Racial Justice Act became state law in 2021, a judge granted an RJA motion filed by public defenders, attorneys said.

The San Francisco Public Defenders Office said it successfully raised the motion for a Black man, 22-year-old Adonte Bailey.

A police officer who arrested and testified at trial against Bailey exhibited implicit bias during the mans arrest and during trial testimony, SFPDO wrote. Bailey was convicted of gun charges in February.

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Implicit bias plays a huge role in our legal system  from police to prosecutors to judge  and has historically resulted in the over-policing, over-charging, and over-sentencing of people of color, said Deputy Public Defender Diamond Ward, who represented Bailey.

At a RJA hearing, the judge reduced Baileys felony firearms convictions to misdemeanors.

Since the Racial Justice Act went into effect, San Francisco public defenders have filed RJA motions in numerous cases, but few have resulted in judges granting evidentiary hearings. Baileys case was the first RJA motion in San Francisco Superior Court that led to a judge grating a hearing and issuing remedies for the defendant.

Woman wrongly accused of theft at Pilates studio goes viral on TikTok

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Bailey was arrested in late 2023 while a police officer was responding to a report of someone standing on the street with a gun. The officers own words, recorded by his body worn camera, were used at the hearing to show evidence of bias, attorneys said.

The officers racially-coded words and discriminatory language amounted to a violation of the Racial Justice Act, said Deputy Public Defender Lilah Wolf, who argued the RJA motion in court. While our office has always challenged instances of more explicit racial animus toward our clients, the Racial Justice Act now empowers us to address this kind of insidious implicit bias that undercuts due process and perpetuates the unfair treatment of Black and Brown people in the criminal legal system.

Californias Racial Justice Act states that implicit bias, which is often unintentional and unconscious, may inject racism and unfairness.

We hope that this ruling stands as a testament to the power of the California Racial Justice Act that we can win these motions and help challenge unjust convictions and sentences, said San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju.

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SFPDO said the groundbreaking legal victory was achieved by Deputy Public Defender Lilah Wolf, Deputy Public Defender Oliver Kroll, and research director Sujung Kim.

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A federal judge on Monday scheduled a Wednesday court hearing for Mahmoud Khalil, a recent Columbia University graduate who was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), forbidding the government from moving forward with deportation efforts before then.

Lawyers for Khalil, a green card holder and leading pro-Palestinian demonstrator whose arrest was cheered by President Trump, have also filed a motion seeking his return to New York.

To preserve the Courts jurisdiction pending a ruling on the petition, Petitioner shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the Court orders otherwise, U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman, an appointee of former President Obama, said in his order.

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Khalils attorney, Amy Greer, said in a statement to The Hill that it hadnt been immediately clear where ICE took Khalil. His team had originally thought he was New Jersey, but reports, including from The New York Times, indicated he had been taken to Louisiana.

Trump and his administration celebrated Khalils detention Monday and said more foreign students that were involved in the pro-Palestinian protests will be arrested.

ICE proudly apprehended and detained Mahmoud Khalil, a Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas Student on the campus of Columbia University. This is the first arrest of many to come. We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, and the Trump Administration will not tolerate it, the president said on social media.

Since Khalil holds a green card, only an immigration judge would be able to revoke his status.

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Thousands of people have signed a petition for his release, and First Amendment advocates suspect his detention is unconstitutional, although few details are known for why Khalil was targeted besides his involvement in Columbias protest.

Khalil is reportedly married to a U.S. citizen who is eight months pregnant.

Updated at 6:17 p.m. EDT

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A federal judge has ruled that Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency is wielding so much power that its records will likely have to be opened to the public under federal law.



U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper said the vast and unprecedented authority of DOGE, formally known as the U.S. Digital Service, combined with its unusual secrecy warrant the urgent release of its internal documents under the Freedom of Information Act.

The authority exercised by USDS across the federal government and the dramatic cuts it has apparently made with no congressional input appear to be unprecedented, Cooper wrote in a 37-page opinion.

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Its the first significant ruling in a growing legal push to pierce DOGEs secretive veil, a decision that undercuts Musks repeated insistence about the operations transparency  and the White Houses refrain that Musk is simply a run-of-the-mill presidential adviser with limited decision-making authority. Cooper said this representation is undercut by the weight of evidence that has trickled out in court and in the news.

The judge noted that DOGEs speed and the fluidity of its leadership appear to be by design. He is ordering "rolling" productions of DOGE records to begin within weeks.

The rapid pace of [DOGEs] actions, in turn, requires the quick release of information about its structure and activities, Cooper wrote. That is especially so given the secrecy with which DOGE has operated.

Cooper leaned heavily on news reports suggesting that Musks operation had led to the firing of tens of thousands of government employees, the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development, a government-wide deferred resignation program and widespread access to sensitive government databases for relative outsiders.

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However, the judge also noted that the executive order Trump signed creating DOGE, coupled with public statements by the president and Musk, reinforced the notion that the cost-slashing operation was doing much more than simply giving advice.

The Trump administration has housed the DOGE operation within the Executive Office of the President in what appeared to be an attempt to shield it from FOIA. Most divisions within the EOP are exempt from FOIA, but a few deemed to exercise independent authority are subject to the transparency law. The Trump administration has also asserted that Musk himself isnt part of the DOGE apparatus but is serving as a direct adviser to Trump.

Coopers ruling is a win for the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which sued to demand the urgent release of DOGE-related documents. Cooper stopped short of granting the groups demand that the materials to be made public prior to Congress consideration of a spending bill this week that could avoid or precipitate a government shutdown. But he agreed with the need for urgency.

Congress needs the requested information in a timely fashion to use it effectively. The electorate also requires the expeditious production and publication of this information, Cooper said. Voters may seek to influence congressional representatives to take action responsive to USDS at any point along the road. And [t]he dissemination of information sought by CREW would contribute to an informed electorate capable of developing knowledgeable opinions and sharing those knowledgeable opinions with their elected leaders.

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Cooper also offered some criticism of the way the Trump administration litigated the case, noting that its lawyers offered virtually nothing in the way of evidence about DOGEs operations or management.

Indeed, the Court wonders whether this decision was strategic, Cooper said, noting that Trump administration lawyers had taken competing positions  including that DOGE qualifies as an agency under some sections of law but not others  when it suits it.

Thus [DOGE] becomes, on defendants view, a Goldilocks entity, Cooper wrote, not an agency when it is burdensome but an agency when it is convenient.
Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, is so massive that it should likely be subject to laws allowing outsiders to peer into government records, a federal judge ruled Monday.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper said in his ruling that the public could potentially be irreparably harmed by any indefinite delay of records requested of DOGE by the public watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW.

CREW sued the agency last month along with the Office of Management and Budget, arguing that mostly unidentified actors at DOGE were improperly taking the reins of government operations and firing people without any meaningful oversight or transparency into their day-to-day conduct or decision-making.

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This, CREW alleged, violated provisions in the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) as well as the Federal Records Act. While OMB had agreed to start producing records to CREW, DOGE had flat-out refused, saying that as an entity, it simply wasnt subject to FOIA laws.

Government attorneys have argued that DOGE is a free-standing component that acts in an advisory capacity and reports to the White House Chief of Staff, therefore making it not subject to FOIA.

Cooper disagreed, writing that reports of the unprecedented access to sensitive personal and classified data and payment systems across federal agencies by DOGE would very much suggest the organization should be subject to transparency laws.

Reports that DOGE employees have refused to identify themselves when requested to do so by career officials, further suggest[s] that the agency is operating with unusual secrecy, Cooper wrote. All of this and more gives rise to the possibility that representatives of DOGE may not fully appreciate their obligations to preserve federal records, the ruling states.

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DOGE staffers may not, to put it charitably, the judge wrote, be steeped in its document retention policies for the government.

That being said, the Court need not make a finding of bad faith in order to enter a document preservation order, Cooper wrote, adding that DOGE would need to start producing some of the records requested by CREW on a rolling basis.

The order to preserve records is also critical because of the rapid pace of DOGEs actions in over the last month, the judge wrote. Agencies siloed inside of the Executive Office of the President, or EOP  as government lawyers suggest DOGE now is  are typically not subject to FOIA laws. Trump administration lawyers fending off CREWs lawsuit have argued that Musk and DOGE serve in something like an advisory capacity for the president.

This murky line was not one Cooper was ready to toe in his ruling.

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Both Musk and Trump have made public statements indicating that DOGE is exercising substantial independent authority, Cooper wrote.

In fact, from its inception, Trump envisioned that DOGE would have the power to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures and restructure federal agencies, the judge noted, citing a post Trump made to X last November.

Musk has also told the press he has the power to decide what regulations will be chopped and he has said openly that the federal budget would be reduced by $2 trillion thanks to DOGE.

Presumably, such a staggering result would require more than mere advice, Cooper wrote before citing Musks own words from just weeks ago.

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We spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper, Musk wrote on X on Feb. 3.

Trumps praise of Musk publicly for finding fake contracts and Trumps reported orders to his Cabinet secretaries to cooperate with DOGE on mass firings and staffing were also flagged by the judge.

These statements and reports suggest that the President and [DOGE] leadership view the department as wielding decision-making authority to make cuts across the federal government, the ruling states.

The swirling mystery of DOGE operations and the way it appears to pick and choose when it is a federal agency and when it is not struck the judge so significantly that, tucked away in a footnote of his ruling, he openly considered what strategy may be at play.

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In other briefing before courts in this district, [DOGE] has argued that it qualifies as an agency  for instance, for purposes of the Economy Act  when it suits it, Cooper wrote, pointing to a lawsuit brought against DOGE and the Department of Labor by the AFL-CIO.

In that case, DOGE argued it was an agency.

DOGE, in its view, then becomes a Goldilocks entity, Cooper noted, not an agency when it is burdensome but an agency when it is convenient.

It is expected that lawyers for the government will appeal Coopers ruling. A request for comment from the White House was not immediately returned Tuesday.

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Meanwhile on Tuesday, The New York Times reported that the acting executive secretary at USAID, Erica Carr, allegedly sent an email to employees telling them to get rid of classified documents and other personnel records by shredding them or putting them into bags to be burned.

Shred as many documents first and reserve the burn bags for when the shredder becomes unavailable or needs a break, Carr wrote, according to the Times.

Whether Carr had permission to destroy the records is unclear. A representative from the National Archives and Records Administration did not immediately return a request for comment. Existing preservation laws for federal records require U.S. officials to ask for permission before destroying items.

USAID did not immediately respond to request for comment.
When San Diego-based Shield AI employees arrived in Ukraine initially, their aircraft flew for an hour in the wrong direction.

"We're chasing this thing over highways and through cornfields," said Ryan Tseng, the company's CEO, likening it to the scene from "Interstellar." He shared the story during the recent Air and Space Forces Association's Warfare Symposium in Aurora. Tseng was among the experts on a panel discussing the lessons learned in Ukraine, where drones are responsible for 70% to 80% of the casualties, according to recent New York Times reporting. The aircraft themselves face intense electromagnetic defense aimed at disrupting their flight.

The Shield AI drone took off in the wrong direction because the company engineers had been told they would have GPS up to 200 feet. But the drone lost GPS at 3 feet because the Ukrainians were jamming GPS signals to protect themselves, Tseng said.

Once the problem was understood, he said, the company was able to develop software to fix the problem in 24 hours so the drone would not rely on GPS.

"The idea of pushing software from nothing to combat operations in 24 hours is something that really breaks the way a lot of programs operate in the United States," Tseng said. "We need to think about how we achieve that level of agility in software to be competitive in environments that might be similar to Ukraine."

In a March 6 memo, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged that the slow acquisitions process for software is a problem and directed the military to use the Software Acquisition Pathway, which was set up during the first Trump administration to obtain software in a more expedited fashion.

"The Department of Defense has been slow to recognize that software-defined warfare is not a future construct, but the reality we find ourselves operating in today," the memo said.

A defense official said in a news release the acquisitions pathway will shorten the process to less than a year from allocation of funds to minimum viable product.

When it comes to drones, better software could help keep far more of them on the battlefield, Tseng said, and help cut down on the number that need to be built.

"You put the right software on these vehicles, your attrition rate can be cut by a factor of 10," he said.

Investing in software can also help companies stand apart, Tseng said.

"Those companies that disrupted the incumbents, were the ones that over invested in software compared to the hardware," he said.

The company said in a news release that during January it was training with Ukrainian forces to operate its V-BAT, a 9-foot-long surveillance drone that can take off and land vertically. It's also opened an office in Kyiv.

The high cost of purchasing drones for the U.S. military was also a point of discussion with panel moderator, retired Maj. Gen. Charles Corcoran, pointing out the Army plans to pay $260 million for 11,000 short-range reconnaissance drones. The drones are $20,000 each, Corcoran said, while Ukraine has manufactured similar drones for a fraction  1/120th  of the price.

Purchasing drones in higher volumes and lowering the overhead costs of production could help bring down costs, the experts said, in addition to diversifying the market.

"I think that competitiveness will eventually drive down the cost," said panel member Kyle Woo, counter-unmanned aerial systems program manager for Zone 5 Technologies.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  A man who was driving 50 mph over the speed limit causing a fatal crash was sentenced to one-and-a-half years behind bars Tuesday.

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Isaiah Sena previously pleaded no contest to a charge of homicide by vehicle. In March 2024, police say Sena was street racing when he ran a red light and crashed into an SUV at Coors and Sevilla in Albuquerque. The crash killed the driver of the SUV, Philip Garcia. Judge Lucy Solimon sentenced Sena to one-and-a-half years at MDC, followed by more than four years of supervised probation.

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Some $2 billion in foreign aid that the Trump administration had frozen must be paid out to humanitarian groups, a federal judge ruled Monday, adding that the freezing of those funds may have violated the separation of powers between the executive branch and Congress.

U.S. District Judge Amir Ali wrote in a lengthy order that the Trump administrations bid to withhold payment of funds already approved by Congress for humanitarian efforts around the world invoked an unbridled view of Executive power that the Supreme Court has consistently rejected.

It flouts the Constitution and usurps Congresss exclusive authority to dictate whether the funds should be spent in the first place, the judge wrote.

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The order is relatively narrow, however: It only directs the Trump administration to begin paying on bills for work that humanitarian groups had completed through the middle of February. The judge said he could not order the administration to make payments for future work or to restore contracts that had been completely canceled.

In short, Ali said funds must be directed where Congress had already allocated money for the U.S. Agency for International Development.

The way foreign aid is administered in the United States is a joint enterprise between our two political branches, the judge wrote. That partnership is not built out of convenience, but out of constitutional necessity.

The judges ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition and the Global Health Council. The groups said the Trump administrations freeze in January on foreign aid for work that had already been done majorly disrupted key services like the delivery of vaccines and medicine for diseases including HIV, AIDS and malaria.

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Nonprofit groups were forced to quickly shutter and lay off staff when their contracts were abruptly frozen. Hundreds of people working at agencies around the world, including in places like Africa and India, were suddenly unable to continue care, conduct clinical trials or provide lifesaving medication, court records show.

Sworn statements and declarations from the humanitarian groups  which Ali drew attention to in his ruling  pointed out that staff who were left stranded and unable to meet financial obligations were placed in situations of great harassment, intimidation and potential physical harm.

Although Ali tore into the administrations ham-fisted approach to the separation of powers, the judge acknowledged that he could not invalidate the State Departments decision to cancel contracts it had already flagged in a line-by-line assessment.

Before the ruling was issued Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on social media that 83% of USAID programs had been cut.

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Rubio said 5,200 contracts that were canceled accounted for tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, (and in some cases even harmed,) the core national interests of the United States. He offered a thank you to the so-called Department of Government Efficiency  a government cost-slashing outfit operating under the guidance of Elon Musk  and the hardworking staff who worked very long hours to achieve this overdue and historic reform.

Alis ruling appeared to anticipate a challenge from Trump administration lawyers and pointed out that when courts have confronted executive overreach of the foreign policy power in the past, they have stood prepared to reaffirm Congress role.

In fact, the judge wrote, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts had found in another case that for our first 225 years, no president prevailed when contradicting a statute in the field of foreign affairs and that the only time a problem would arise is if the spending itself conflicted with some other constitutional obligation vested in the president.

Attorneys for the government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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The Supreme Court ruled last week that the administration could no longer delay compliance with an order to release the funds. Should the government challenge Alis latest ruling and send the case back to the Supreme Court, it is expected that Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh will side with the administration. Last week, Thomas, Gorsuch and Kavanaugh joined Alitos dissent in the 5-4 ruling.

In his dissent, Alito bristled: 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? The answer to that question should be an emphatic No, but a majority of this court apparently thinks otherwise. I am stunned.

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NYC (WLAX/WEUX)  A judge has temporarily blocked the deportation of Mahmoud Kahlil, the college student who was detained for engaging in Pro-Palestinian protests on the Columbia University campus. The block could be lifted as early as March 12th, after a scheduled hearing.

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ST. LOUIS  A basement floor soaked with water from a sewer backup. More than a dozen Green Park residents would like to forget the grease and feces-filled remnants of a Friday afternoon.

There was three inches of just sludge and grease and just feces everywhere, said Greg Lico.

While cleanup and restoration crews have been diligently working in Denise Asher-Snyders basement on Marbob Drive, signs of destruction are easily visible.

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This happened on a beautiful day. It was, what? 70 degrees, Friday, blue skies (and) sunny. It was perfect, Asher-Snyder said.

Denise said the fact an act of God wasnt responsible for this damage makes it all the worse.

Up and down Marbob Drive, FOX 2 saw cleanup crews parked in driveways.

More than a dozen residents of this Green Park neighborhood were impacted by a sewer backup. MSD says it was caused by grease getting into the wastewater line.

An extensive amount of grease would be a good way to put it. There was a lot. We pulled about three buckets out of the 400-foot reach of the eight-inch line. That is far more than it would take to block up a line that size, said Sean Stone, who was with MSD Project Clear.

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Stone said the exact source of the grease is still unclear, but he noted that the neighborhood is just east of a stretch of South Lindbergh Road lined with restaurants.

Were going to be going into all those restaurants and looking at their grease systems and traps and making sure theyre clean and operating as theyre supposed to so this sort of thing doesnt happen again, Stone said.

Stone added that MSD will help out the residents who were impacted by the incident.

This historic $1.8 million church is for sale in St. Louis

I dont want to get ahead of the investigation and say what thats going to look like right now; our focus is on making sure the system is operating as it should be, Stone said. We took care of that when we cleared that blockage. Finding the source of this, making sure there arent any other blockages around there. If we can find out whos responsible for this, were going to hold them accountable in any way that we can.

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According to Stone, the insurance company MSD works with is reaching out to residents directly.

Residents, however, want this issue to be fixed as soon as possible.

Hopefully they will, because they need to. This is their problem. I pay my bill on time every month. Never had a problem. You know, paying my bills. I pay my bills. This is totally unacceptable, Asher-Snyder said.

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A poll by the non-partisan health research organization KFF released March 7, 2025, found 82% of those surveyed said Congress should keep spending on Medicaid about the same or increase it. (Photo by Ariel Skelley/Getty Images)

One of the most egregious actions taken by our state legislators in the past few years was dropping Medicaid coverage for thousands of Montanans, a process called disenrollment. Its a fact weve heard over and over again, but the impact of actions like this sometimes dont register unless we hear the actual stories of people affected.

A few weeks ago, Medellee Antonioli, the owner of two businesses in Montana, entered the offices of Montana Public Services. Medellee, who is the single mother of two young children since her husband died a few years ago, had been informed by her dentist that she was no longer covered by Medicaid. This was the second time her dentist had informed her about this, with the first time being when Montana unceremoniously dropped more than 100,000 people. Neither time was Medellee informed by the state that she had been disenrolled. The dentist informed her that this has become standard practice in Montana. They dont inform anyone.

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Medellee is in a unique position when it comes to dealing with issues like this because she has long been interested in data collection, and she took several classes about data entry, including a government documents class, while she was in graduate school. So when she found out the first time that she had been disenrolled, she assumed it would just be a simple matter of filling out the proper paperwork. She researched what she needed to do and submitted her form.

She found out later that she was one of many Montanans who were pointed in the wrong direction in order to become reinstated. Instead of having these people fill out a reinstatement form, the Medicaid offices led them to the form for people who were enrolling for the first time, which meant that everyone who filled out that form was rejected. And it wasnt as if their information was automatically transferred to a reinstatement application. Instead they were asked to fill out the new form. In Medellees case, by the time all of this was accomplished, she and her children had gone several months without health care. As she is quick to point out, she was among the lucky ones because nothing tragic happened to anyone in her family during that time. But if something had, they would not have been covered.

The other confusing thing to Medellee on her most recent visit was that she had just submitted a form to renew her eligibility in December, before the Dec. 15 deadline. So this visit was her effort to find out what happened to that application.

While she was waiting to speak to an official, the lights went out. In a space where dozens of people were sitting at tables trying to fill out paperwork, and she watched a young man get up to open the front door, which turned the lights back on. After this happened a couple more times, the young man approached the front desk and asked whether they could just turn the lights on permanently, and he was told no, which is when Medellee realized that the lights in the office were on a timer so that they automatically shut down every few minutes, despite the fact that people were trying to fill out paperwork.

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In the half hour that Medellee waited in line, she heard several stories that left her gutted. She and her mother cried when they left the office later.

One of them was from a woman who had been fired from her job at a government agency in the great government cutback a few weeks ago. Her husband also worked for the same agency, and although he had not lost his job, his hours had been cut to a third of what they were before. The woman wanted to apply for Medicaid, but was told that she would have to provide pay stubs to show when her job had ended. But she had been shut out of her work computer so she no longer had access to that information. So they told her they would need a letter from her boss telling them when her employment had been terminated, but of course all of her bosses had also been fired, so she is not allowed to contact anyone at the office where she once worked. She was told that there was nothing they could do unless they had this paperwork.

The next woman in line had lost her job, and had tried several times to upload her application online, but it wouldnt work. So the woman had come in to submit her application personally, and while she was in the process of submitting that, the official told her that they now had a program to opt in for reproductive health care. So they asked if she wanted that, and when she said yes, they told her she needed to answer some questions first. The first question was whether she was able to have children.

The woman told them she was very uncomfortable answering that question, and thought it might even violate the rules of HIPPA, to which the employee said that she realized it was a violation, but that she couldnt fill in the form without an answer to that question. So the woman told them that she didnt want children, which led the employee to check the NO box for being capable of having children, which meant she would not be eligible for reproductive health care.

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Months before, when Medellee was there for her previous efforts to get her paperwork straightened out, she stood behind a woman who fell into the category of having filled out the newly enrolled member rather than being reinstated. She was told that they were working overtime to manually transfer the data from the newly enrolled forms to the reinstated forms, but that it would be a four-month wait before her data would be transferred.

But you dont understand. I am undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer, the woman told them.

She had already been waiting for several months. Their reply was that there was nothing they could do for her. She would have to wait like everyone else.

By this time, Medellee found herself feeling some empathy for the woman behind the counter, who was in the unenviable position of giving person after person some form of bad news.

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When it was finally Medellees turn, she explained that she had filled out the paperwork before the Dec. 15 deadline, so the woman looked her up in the computer and said that yes, she could see that her paperwork had been submitted on time. She went on to explain that they were required to process this paperwork within 45 days of receiving it, but that they had been so overwhelmed by these requests that this wasnt happening. So she told Medellee that the best way to deal with the issue was to come to the office every day until she was sure that she had been approved. In the meantime, the woman processed the form, which Medellee said took about two minutes. So she was understandably confused about why it hadnt been completed within the 45-day window. She was also told that, in order to confirm that shes in the tax bracket she claims to be in, she would need to provide her tax returns for 2024 even though its only March, and those forms arent due till April 15.

And I kept thinking, they have my tax returns in the system! Why cant they just access them there? she said.

So if Medellee observed this amount of bureaucracy in just two visits to the office, its impossible to imagine how many other people, people who are not as well versed in this world, and dont have time to leave work or their kids and visit the office every day, must be getting lost in the shuffle of paperwork.

Medellee pointed out that we have a governor who made millions creating a company that specializes in data entry, so if they wanted to put the manpower into upgrading the system to make it more efficient, and create a situation where less people would be left out in the cold, they could easily do that. The amount of hours that these employees spend trying to correct the mistakes and misdirected forms is overwhelming.

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It gives the impression that this system has been deliberately muddled in order to discourage people from doing what they need to do to get the coverage they deserve. Which is.whats the word? Oh yes, evil!

The worst part of this is that its just one more example of an issue that could have been addressed with the vast surplus of federal funds that Montana acquired from COVID relief. Instead, they decided to drop one-in-every-10 Montana citizens from their Medicaid coverage. Do they consider this trimming the fat, because I dont think theyre considering the amount of money its going to cost the taxpayers when these people who arent covered need medical coverage anyway? We all end up paying for it in the long run.

But even worse than that, rather than trimming fat, it feels much more like a deliberate strategy to reach into the chests of Montana residents and extract their hearts.
Former Justice Department pardon attorney Elizabeth G. Oyer says she was fired one day after she refused to recommend that actor Mel Gibson have his gun rights restored, according to the New York Times.

This is dangerous. This isnt political  this is a safety issue, Oyer told the New York Times.

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Oyer said that about two weeks ago, she sent a memo recommending that nine candidates who had previously committed crimes have their gun rights restored after careful consideration. After sending her approval, she received the memo back with a request to add Mel Gibson to this memo, per the Times. The message included a letter from Gibsons lawyer to senior Justice Department officials asking for Gibsons gun rights to be restored.

Oyer claims that she was wary of restoring Gibsons access to guns. He had not been subject to background checks like the other candidates. In 2011, the Oscar winner pleaded no contest in Los Angeles Superior Court to a misdemeanor charge of battering his then-girlfriend. A representative for Gibson could not immediately be reached for comment.

Giving guns back to domestic abusers is a serious matter that, in my view, is not something that I could recommend lightly, because there are real consequences that flow from people who have a history of domestic violence being in possession of firearms, Oyer explained.

Oyer said she sent an email to her superiors saying that she could not recommend Gibsons gun rights be restored. She reportedly received a phone call hours later from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, saying it would be wise to make the recommendation because of the actors personal relationship with President Trump, according to the Times report.

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In January, days before Donald Trump was inaugurated as president, he named Gibson, Sylvester Stallone and Jon Voight as special ambassadors tasked with helping restore business in Hollywood lost to overseas filming locations.

I literally did not sleep a wink that night because I understood that the position I was in was one that was going to either require me to compromise my strongly held views and ethics or would likely result in me losing my ability to participate in these conversations going forward, Oyer said.

Oyer said she sent another memo Friday morning, stating that she still couldnt give her recommendation. A few hours later, she was called out of a meeting back to her office, where two security officers were waiting with a letter notifying her she had been fired.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Kansas City police detectives have identified a woman who was killed in a hit-and-run crash off Interstate 70 Monday afternoon.

Police responded to the incident just after 3 p.m. in the area of eastbound I-70 and the exit ramp to The Paseo.

The exit to I-670 was closed while police investigated the scene.

KCPD said the victim, identified as 35-year-old Megan L. Aldridge, was standing or walking on the outside shoulder of eastbound I-70 near the exit ramp when she was struck by an unknown car that left the area without stopping.

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Funeral set for captain who died fighting fire in Johnson County, Missouri

According to police, the investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is encouraged to call the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-8477.

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Rep. Nikki McDonald, an Olathe Democrat, accuses legislation proposing expanded authority for the Kansas Medicaid inspector general of giving too much power to the attorney general during debate March 11, 2025, on the House floor. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  A bill expanding the authority of the office responsible for investigating Kansas Medicaid program was regarded Tuesday by some Democrats as a power grab from Attorney General Kris Kobach.

The legislation would authorize the Kansas Medicaid inspector general to go beyond Medicaid and audit and investigate all state cash, food or health assistance programs. The inspector also would have the power to subpoena, administer oaths and carry out search warrants.

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Republicans say its a way to crack down on fraud, waste and abuse.

Traditionally, the inspector general, which is housed under the Attorney Generals Office, reviews allegations relating to the states Medicaid program, the MediKan program that covers adults with disabilities who dont qualify for Medicaid, and the states Childrens Health Insurance Program, also known as CHIP. Current inspector general Steven Anderson, who has been in the post since his appointment in 2021, was supportive in February testimony to the House Health and Human Services Committee.

House Bill 2217 would create nine new full-time positions in the office, adding around $1 million in costs each year so new staff could conduct at least five additional audits, two reviews and 80 investigations per year. The inspector general had the equivalent of about nine full-time employees in fiscal year 2024.

During debate Tuesday in the House, Rep. Nikki McDonald, an Olathe Democrat, called the legislation unnecessary, wasteful and duplicative. She said the bill was a big power grab and pointed out that the Kansas Attorney Generals Office currently has nine vacant positions.

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McDonald proposed an amendment to limit the number of additional staff the attorney general could hire in future years, but the amendment failed.

Rep. Carl Turner, a Leawood Republican, supported the legislation Tuesday on the House floor.

How much fraud do we want to accept? he asked legislators.

The House advanced the bill on a voice vote. Final action is pending.

Rep. John Carmichael, a Wichita Democrat, said the bill is really about expanding the power of our attorney general.

He harkened back to previous requests from Kobach when he was secretary of state to attempt to prosecute election crimes, as well as his role as chair of the federal voter fraud commission in 2017, which was dissolved in 2018.

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Carmichael also alluded to the vacancies in the office.

He has open positions because decent lawyers  excuse me, good lawyers  dont go to work there, Carmichael said.

He continued: And so what do we propose to do here today? Give him more responsibilities for more witch hunts and more jousting at windmills?

Republican Rep. Ron Bryce, a physician from Coffeyville, said he supported the bill because Kansas public assistance programs, including Medicaid, havent had meaningful oversight.

Marc Altenbernt, general counsel for the Kansas Department for Children and Families, said in February testimony that federal law already requires DCF to conduct audits and investigations of the cash and food assistance programs it administers, including the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance programs. About 30 positions within DCFs general counsel department make up existing fraud investigation and audit groups.

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Neither DCF nor its clients would benefit from the proposed legislation as it would only result in a costly duplication of efforts, Altenbernt wrote.

Inspector general investigations typically focus on specific programs or components of programs, said Andy Brown, the deputy secretary for programs for the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, which oversees certain Medicaid programs, including substance use and nursing facilities.

Brown wrote in February testimony that those investigations can veer off into other programs, agency operations, or unrelated topics that use up valuable time of cash strapped providers.

In response to the attorney general for a request for comment, Sen. J.R. Claeys, a Salina Republican acting as a senior adviser to the Attorney General, wrote in a statement: The inspector general is a bloodhound  the original DOGE  and he needs to be given the ability to investigate state agencies that pretend to investigate themselves. Listen to the absurdity of that? DCF has oversight because DCF investigates DCF. Surprise surprise, DCF has never found DCF to be engaged in waste or fraud. What a spectacular example DCF is of government efficiency. There must not be one instance of a citizen complaint with that type of track record. Eyeroll emoji.

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Tension in the House

Before the House vote, in an exchange between Rep. Melissa Oropeza, a Democrat from Kansas City, and Rep. Patrick Penn, a Republican from Wichita, intensity of the debate escalated after Penn criticized Oropezas intent behind her second of two proposed amendments to the bill.

Oropeza wanted to add provisions that would exempt violations of federal immigration law from being included in the bills catch-all term other illegal acts. The bill would permit the inspector general to report findings of significant levels of fraud, waste, abuse or other illegal acts, to the attorney general.

She said she wanted to ensure that in the future the expanded authority within the bill is applied appropriately and not in a fashion outside of the bills purpose.

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I am truly just thinking of the future, Oropeza said.

Penn questioned whether the amendment would prohibit state-level funding or operations related to immigration enforcement, to which Oropeza said that was outside of her intent.

Her intent is unclear. Our intent is clear. Lets vote this down, Penn said.

Oropeza said, I think I made it very clear what my intent was, and to have my motives impugned  is ridiculous. Her amendment failed 35-82.

At the end of the days floor session, House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, lectured legislators to be mindful of their words. He acknowledged the 2025 legislative session has been different than those of recent years.

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But all of a sudden tensions are high, Hawkins said.

In the remaining three weeks of the session, Hawkins said legislators must be careful to avoid aggressive language to minimize tension.

He acknowledged Penns word choice was probably not the most appropriate. He implored legislators to get along. Typically they do, he said.

Right now were just in a funk, for whatever reason that is, whether its a cultural thing or whatever it is, he said.

Caustic commentary shouldnt undermine House deliberations, Hawkins said.

So Im asking you just to step back, he said. Have some grace. Have some love. And lets not go through these constant little bickerings back and forth.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  On Monday, the Kansas House of Representatives passed a bill that would add and increase penalties on drivers for certain infractions. The bill now goes to Governor Laura Kellys desk.

On Monday, the Kansas House of Representatives passed SB 8, a bill that adds requirements for drivers when approaching stopped, standing or parked vehicles that display hazard lights. The bill includes a $75 fine for violations.

Under the bill, drivers will need to approach stationary vehicles with hazard lights with caution, on multi-lane highways drivers must change lanes away from the stationary vehicle and on single-lane roads if one lane is unsafe drivers must slow down and proceed with caution.

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Under the bill, drivers who are convicted of a traffic infraction will have their fines doubled. Drivers will also face increased fines for committing a second violation within two years of a prior conviction.

Cats with bird flu reported in Manhattan

In a fiscal note on the bill, the Office of Judicial Administration said the bill could increase the number of cases filed in the district court and result in more processing time for court employees and judges. The Office of Judicial Administration said the financial impact of the bill cant be estimated.

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) said the agencys Traffic Record Enhancement Fund currently receives 2.23% of all district court fines, penalties, and forfeitures, while the agencys Seat Belt Safety Fund receives 2.20 %. KDOT said it was unable to estimate the fiscal impact of the bill.

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Crash causes highway traffic jam in north Topeka

AAA Kansas commended the bills passing in the House. AAA Kansas said 994 empty vehicles were struck on the side of the road from 2018 to 2023 in Kansas. The crashes resulted in 8 deaths and 25 suspected serious injuries. In that same time period, 82 crashes happened while someone was inside the vehicle on the side of the road.

AAA Kansas thanks Senate Transportation Committee chair Sen. Mike Peterson, House Transportation Committee chair Rep. Shannon Francis, members of both committees, and ultimately the full Senate and House membership for passing this important road safety bill on to the final step toward it becoming law. Adding motorists dealing with disabled vehicles to Kansas Move Over law will provide drivers, as well as emergency personnel, who may be aiding them with additional protections when they are on the side of the road. Shawn Steward, Public and Government Affairs Manager for AAA Kansas

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A bright shine rises behind the Kansas Statehouse dome on March 5, 2025. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Humans regularly confuse words and actions.

I understand why. We communicate mostly through words, written and spoken. Language describes what we believe and what we plan to do. We pay close attention to what others say.

Yet words themselves do not act. We can tell our spouse that we love them. But that doesnt buy them chicken soup when they get sick, or take them out for dinner on their birthday, or hold them close through a long winters night.

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Voters claim to understand this. We know the politicians use eloquent verbiage but dont always follow through on their promises.

When it comes time to judge lawmakers whose beliefs or party membership aligns with ours, though, such wariness breaks down. We begin to think of words as actions, to disassociate the choices people make from what they say about them. Words become tools of manipulation and distraction, while actions whir away under the surface, undermining our state and nation.

This is exceptionally dangerous. Indeed, it puts all of government at risk in profound ways.

Take the anti-trans legislation that the House and Senate passed first thing this session. Leaders called it the Help Not Harm Act, perhaps the most innocuous name one could imagine for a piece of legislation. They might as well have named it the Sunshine and Puppies Act. However, the actual law they passed means that trans kids will not be able to receive proven health care that their parents and doctors agree upon. The state has stepped in to harm these children.

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Or take how lawmakers running in 2024 acknowledged that voters had made their stance clear on abortion and claimed they respected that decision. That is, until the time came to vote for a new constitutional amendment clearing the way for a conservative takeover of the state Supreme Court. The only reason Republicans want to do that is to allow themselves to ban abortion. Well, that and enfeebling public education.

Finally, youve heard rhetoric from Republicans about how they treasure free speech. The most notable example came from Senate President Ty Masterson after his chamber passed Senate Bill 29, a kneejerk reaction to COVID-19 closings. His press release blared: Senate protects First Amendment Right to Assemble. However, it must be noted that both Masterson and his counterpart, House Speaker Dan Hawkins, have both barred journalists from press boxes in their chambers. Neither House nor Senate passed any sort of resolution decrying the unconstitutional police raid on the Marion County Record.

In each one of these cases, what lawmakers say means next to nothing.

What they do matters. And what they do harms Kansans  particularly the young, women and those in need.

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This works in a different way when it comes to the news media. Politicians understand that reporters look for coherence  if nothing else  when covering politics. A cause creates an effect. Reporters want to understand why bills pass or fail, and they want to tell compelling stories. It can be exhausting to write repeatedly that big money gets everything, while everyone else gets bupkis.

So in private conversations, in text messages, in emails, in phone calls, legislators tell journalists little white lies. They say they didnt want to vote one way or the other, but leadership insisted upon it. They say they sympathize with the concerns brought up by advocates and during committee hearings, but they really had to toe the line.

That might be true. But what does it matter? These people still made the choices they did and voted the way they voted. It doesnt matter whether they thought the vote was wrong. They still took the action.

Nationally, weve received regular reports that Republicans in Washington, D.C., dont actually support Donald Trump and Elon Musks authoritarian revamp of the federal government. Weve heard they dont actually want to approve his hilariously unqualified nominees. But, theyve repeatedly told reporters off the record, they have to take these votes. Theyre scared of what Trump or Musk might say about them online. Theyre afraid for their safety and that of their families.

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So they vote the way Trump and Musk and the MAGA faithful want.

I ask you then, who cares what these gutless wonders say? Who cares if they really want to do the right thing but cannot summon the courage to do so?

I dont want to suggest that speaking out doesnt have value. It absolutely does, when on the record and unapologetic. But theres a difference between an everyday person or community activist or policy advocate raising their voice and a politician covering their ample hindquarters. Of all these individuals, the politician actually can cast votes to change peoples lives right away.

Even at the grass roots, speech only goes so far. Imagine the good that could be done if everyone posting about various shortcomings in Kansas government or the Trump administration decide to volunteer for the homeless or donate to a womens shelter.

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Action matters. Cash matters. Community matters.

As a longtime writer and editor, I understand the value of language. But over the past two decades I have become aware of its profound limitations. I have watched sterling reporting and gripping commentary fill newspapers and websites, but fail to sway the general public. Why? Because those articles havent been followed up with actions. The words have been left to fend for themselves, and the words only go so far.

That pains me. But it has left my eyes open wide and left me acutely aware of the difference between words and actions. The more that everyone builds that understanding and applies it to their mental models of the world, the healthier government in Kansas and the U.S. will become.

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.
The U.S. Supreme Court's decision on Monday to accept an appeal out of Colorado questioning the constitutionality of a law restricting "conversion therapy" for minors turns the spotlight toward two relatively new federal judges who previously sided with the state.

In the case of Chiles v. Salazar, Colorado Springs counselor Kaley Chiles alleged Colorado's 2019 ban violated her First Amendment rights and sought a preliminary injunction. A trial judge denied that request in 2022, determining the law regulated conduct, not speech, and did not target religion.

That judge was Charlotte N. Sweeney, who had been on the bench for just five months. Deeming such therapy medical treatment, she emphatically rejected the argument that the law affected Chiles' ability to "talk to her clients."

"In the case of children who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, cisgender, transgender, or gender nonconforming, they are entitled to treatment  regardless of its outcome  that does not take a cavalier approach to their 'dignity and worth,'" wrote Sweeney. "And at the bare minimum, they are also entitled to a states protection from therapeutic modalities that have been shown to cause longstanding psychological and physical damage."

Nearly two years later, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit affirmed Sweeney's order by 2-1. The judge who authored the majority opinion, Veronica S. Rossman of Colorado, wrote that Sweeney was not clearly wrong to find conversion therapy "ineffective and harmful to minors" and that the state's ban "comports with prevailing medical consensus."

Both Sweeney and Rossman were appointees of Joe Biden, after consultation with Colorado's Democratic senators. They were members of a wave of judicial appointments focused on professional and demographic diversity  with Sweeney being a longtime employment discrimination attorney and the first openly gay federal judge for Colorado, and Rossman being an immigrant and the first public defender on the 10th Circuit.

The Chiles case marks the first time the nation's highest court will review an opinion by Rossman and an order by Sweeney.

It is the second-high profile case challenging Colorado's LGBTQ non-discrimination laws in recent years, following the Supreme Court's 2023 decision in 303 Creative v. Elenis. There, the court narrowed the scope of Colorado's public accommodations protections in the context of a Christian graphic designer who objected to creating websites for same-sex weddings.

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That case, like Chiles, was brought by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a group that has litigated on behalf of Christians challenging Colorado's LGBTQ non-discrimination laws.

House Bill 1129, the 2019 law that gave rise to the latest Supreme Court appeal, prohibits state-licensed psychiatrists and mental health providers from attempting to change a minor patient's gender identity, sexual orientation or to otherwise eliminate feelings of same-sex attraction. Chiles, however, characterized the law as "censorship," claiming all she desires to do is talk freely with her patients.

Sweeney concluded Chiles was unlikely to succeed with her constitutional challenge because the law was a public health measure legitimately regulating professional conduct. Rossman's majority opinion agreed with that conclusion, and traded extensive barbs with the dissent over how much weight to give the scientific consensus against conversion therapy.

"What if the shoe were on the other foot? It was not terribly long ago that the mental-health establishment declared homosexuality to be a mental disorder," wrote Judge Harris L Hartz, a George W. Bush appointee, in dissent. "A therapist who told a homosexual that he was psychologically sound and should take pride in his being different could presumably have been accused of professional malpractice."

If the Supreme Court rules in favor of Chiles and returns to the case to the trial court for further proceedings, Sweeney will not be the one to implement the directive.

Shortly after the 10th Circuit's decision last September, Sweeney issued a brief order citing the requirement that a judge must "disqualify herself in certain circumstances in which her impartiality might be reasonably questioned." Without elaboration, she recused from the lawsuit.

Coincidentally, Sweeney was also reassigned the 303 Creative case after it returned from the Supreme Court, from which she recused due to an unspecified appearance of partiality, as well.
Kate Middleton made her return to the annual Commonwealth Day service yesterday, clad in a red Catherine Walker re-wear and tribute jewelry to both Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth.

The March 10 event at Westminster Abbeywhere she and husband Prince William were married nearly 14 years agois the latest step in the Princess of Wales continual return to royal duty after her cancer battle last year. (The Commonwealth Day service is one of the yearly events she missed in 2024, as she remained out of the limelight most of the year.)

Getty Images Kate Middleton on March 10, 2025 Kate Middleton on March 10, 2025

As she announced earlier this year she is in remission, It certainly seems to me that she has got her mojo back, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told OK. Catherine is looking fantastic and looks as if she is enjoying every engagement.

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After being out of public duty so much last year, we are seeing more of her than many of us expected so early in the year, Bond added, making note that the welcome shes getting wherever she goes must make her realize that she is the star of the royal family.

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Last year saw not only Kates cancer diagnosis but also King Charles; while Kates cancer treatment has concluded, his continues. While William and Kate are still the Prince and Princess of Walesand not on the throne, as they will eventually bethe couple are taking every chance they can get to be with kids Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, including skipping the BAFTAs last month in favor of a family vacation in the Caribbean.

She knows perfectly well that many parents dont have the luxury of choosing to be with their young children all the time, Bond recently told The Mirror. And she, too, is returning to her royal rolebut she is lucky enough to be able to do it on her own terms, and she is sticking to that.

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Last years health battle realigned Kates priorities, as well as those of her husband, Bond said. I dont think anyone is ever the same after an experience with cancer, she said. William and Catherine must now cherish even more every single day that they spend together and with their children.

Read the original article on InStyle
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  The Kern County Sheriffs Office is asking for the communitys help in searching for a 16-year-old girl.

Sheriff officials say Sakai Gilford, 16, was last seen on March 6 and it is not known what she was wearing.

Sheriff officials describe Gilford as 5 feet, 2 inches tall and weighs 110 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information regarding Gilfords whereabouts is asked to contact the sheriffs office at 661-861-3110.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. delivered a stark ultimatum to major food company CEOs in a closed-door meeting this week: Ban certain artificial dyes from your products or the government will do it for you.

Kennedy on Monday pressed leaders of companies like PepsiCo, General Mills, Tyson Foods, Smuckers, Kraft Heinz and Kelloggs for commitments to reduce food additives, according to a readout of the meeting sent to industry stakeholders and viewed by POLITICO. It was the Health and Human Services secretarys first major meeting with the very executives he'd spent months accusing of making Americans sick.

[Kennedy] expressed the strong desire and urgent priority of the administration to remove FD&C colors from the food supply  and he wants this done before he leaves office, wrote Consumer Brands Association President Melissa Hockstad in the readout sent to industry, referring to color additives used in foods, drugs and cosmetics.

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He expects real and transformative change by getting the worst ingredients out of food, she added, quoting the secretary.

Kennedys demands show that hes prioritizing using his office as a bully pulpit to implement the Make America Healthy Again agenda he pushed on the campaign trail  even if that puts him at odds with the powerful food lobby. While he may have to rely on Congress to help ban some additives and chemicals outright, lawmakers from both parties have indicated their willingness to join him in a food crackdown.

Kennedy posted on X late Monday that he had a great discussion  on advancing food safety and radical transparency to protect the health of all Americans, especially our children. We will strengthen consumer trust by getting toxins out of our food.

Just hours after the meeting concluded, Kennedy announced he was directing the Food and Drug Administration to explore ways to eliminate a loophole that lets food and beverage companies bring new ingredients to market without agency oversight.

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The FDA already banned Red Dye No. 3, a change that takes effect in 2027. But Jim Jones, who was helming that push as the agency's deputy commissioner for human foods, abruptly resigned after the Trump administration fired thousands of probationary workers, including FDA employees.

Kennedy on Tuesday is set to host a roundtable at the White House with a group of influencers from the MAHA movement, many of whom have advocated for crackdowns on additives and ultra-processed food, said three people familiar with the matter, who were granted anonymity because the meeting is not yet public.

HHS declined to comment. Food Fix first reported the message sent to industry.

Hockstad also noted in the letter that FDA acting deputy commissioner for human foods Kyle Diamantas, who attended the meeting, recognized the industry cant do this alone and that the FDA will step up and work with us to reinforce the need for a federal framework and avoid state patchworks.

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California has passed laws banning certain food additives like Red Dye No. 3 and brominated vegetable oil. At least a dozen other states including West Virginia and New York are pressing ahead with legislation to institute similar bans.

The meeting also included acting FDA Commissioner Sara Brenner and HHS Chief of Staff Heather Flick Melanson, Hockstads email noted.

After Monday's meeting, Hockstad sent a separate letter to HHS, thanking Kennedy for a constructive conversation and pointing to industrys progress on reducing saturated fat, sugar, sodium and certain colors, according to a copy shared with POLITICO.

We will engage with you and the administration on solutions to improve transparency, ensure ingredient evaluations are grounded in a science and risk-based process and increase healthier options for consumers, she wrote.
HENDERSON, Ky.  Kentucky labor officials directed the Henderson County jail to pay corrections officers and employees more than $215,000 in back wages after a state investigation determined the jail underpaid staff over a span of years.

Henderson County Judge Executive Brad Schneider publicly revealed the directive during a morning news conference, telling reporters that his office first requested the Kentucky Department of Workplace Standards conduct the investigation into unpaid wages at the jail in 2018.

After delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and additional requests for assistance from the county's human resources department, the investigation wrapped up late last year and found that the jail "violated state statutes regarding the proper recording of hours worked and payment for overtime," Schneider, the county's highest-ranking elected official, said.

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Specifically, the Department of Workplace Standards determined jail deputies were not paid for pre-shift briefings, time spent filing reports after their shifts or during shift changes.

In his remarks, Schneider primarily attributed blame for the unpaid wages to former Henderson County Jailer Amy Brady, who led the county detention center from 2017 until she retired in August 2022.

Brady could not immediately be reached for comment. In a statement announcing her retirement in 2022, Brady said she worked to make the Henderson County jail "one of the best" and noted that under her leadership, the jail managed to pay off all of its remaining bonds.

According to Schneider's account, County Human Resources Manager Angela Comer fielded multiple complaints from jail staff regarding unpaid labor in 2018, leading Comer to promptly inform Brady that the jail's wage policies could violate state law.

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"When (Comer) continued to hear stories of unpaid time and received no indication from jailer Brady the practice would change, Comer reached out to Workplace Standards and asked the state to look into the complaints," Schneider said.

When asked why Brady would have chosen to continue the unlawful pay practices even after alerts from the county HR department that employees had complained, Schneider said he did not know.

"We never received any kind of expansive reasoning for it," Schneider said.

Officer Jarrod Rice keeps his eyes on the many camera feeds from the Control Tower at the Henderson County Detention Center Friday, May 14, 2021. Besides being able to view the inmates, Rice can also open and close doors throughout the 566-bed jail.

The Department of Workplace Standards order directs the jail to compensate 223 current and former jail employees for unpaid hours worked between Jan. 1, 2020, through Dec. 31, 2023, which extends beyond Brady's term as jailer. Schneider chalks that up to the fact the investigation suffered from repeated delays.

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"Neither I nor my HR manager have any evidence the practice of not paying deputies for all time worked continued after Jailer Brady retired in late 2022," Schneider said. "We believe interim Jailer Ed Vaught and current Jailer Bruce Todd have complied with wage-and-hour laws and treated their employees fairly."

County voters tapped Todd, a Democrat, to serve as jailer in the 2022 general election.

In early 2024, Todd installed biometric time punches at the jail "to once and for all be certain jail employeees are paid for every single minute they work," Schneider added.

The complaints mostly stemmed from corrections deputies, though all of the jail's hourly employees who worked under-compensated shifts between 2020 and 2023 are slated to receive compensation.

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The state did not provide the county with "any specific examples of violations in 2023," according to Schneider, who said he believes the state extended the order through 2023 "as a means of assuring as many negatively impacted jail personnel as possible received payouts."

Law Enforcement News: How the Vanderburgh County jail refers potential immigration violations to ICE

The county must provide the Department of Workplace Standards with checks payable to each of the 223 impacted jail employees, who will in turn have to sign a "release" before they can receive their back wages, the department's order states.

Should the county fail to pay the approximately $215,581 owed to the employees, the state could pursue legal action to collect the wages.

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Schneider concluded his remarks Monday by thanking current and former jail staff "who have been patiently waiting for a resolution."

The judge executive also thanked the Department of Workplace Standards for "looking into our concerns and helping us make certain our team members are paid what they are truly owed for the very important work they do for our community."

Houston Harwood can be contacted at houston.harwood@courierpress.com.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Henderson County jail ordered to pay more than $200k in back wages
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP)  Technology workers in Kenya have held a vigil for a colleague who died in unclear circumstances after she was unable to travel to her home in Nigeria for two years.

Ladi Anzaki Olubunmi, a content moderator for TikTok employed by the subcontractor Teleperformance Kenya, died last week and her decomposing body was discovered in her house after three days.

It was unclear what caused her death, but colleagues say she had complained of fatigue and was desperate to go back home.

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Teleperformance Kenya told The Associated Press on Wednesday that they didn't deny Olubunmi her leave to go home. Her family in Nigeria says she only traveled once since coming to Kenya three years ago.

Content moderators working for subcontracted firms based in Kenya have in the past described working conditions that they say include lower than average pay, lack of mental health support, long working hours and intimidation.

More than 100 former Facebook content moderators have sued the social media company over what they say is poor pay, horrible working conditions and unfair termination of employment by Facebooks subcontracted Kenya-based firm, Samasource.

Dozens of content moderators and data labelers working for various global tech companies met during Tuesdays vigil and said that poor working conditions may have contributed to their colleagues death.

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There are more than 100 Nigerians working under Teleperformance company who havent had work permits for the last two years and so they have not been able to travel home despite having an annual return ticket benefit, said Kauna Malgwi, a friend of the deceased.

Olubunmis family was informed of her death a day after her body was discovered by a neighbor.

Teleperformance emailed Olubunmis brother notifying him of her death and gave him contacts of Kenyan investigating officers who he could call for information, autopsy and burial arrangements.

The family cannot afford to take her body home, so they are considering asking her church in Nairobi to bury her, Malgwi said.
By Aaron Ross, Tim Cocks and Vivianne Wandera

NAIROBI (Reuters) - The health clinic where Alice Okwirry collects her HIV medication in Kenya's capital Nairobi has been rationing supplies of antiretrovirals to one-month refills since the U.S. government froze foreign aid.

On the outskirts of the city, meanwhile, millions of life-saving doses sit on the shelves of a warehouse, unused and unreachable.

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The clinic is a half hour's drive from the warehouse, but for Okwirry, they may as well be an ocean apart.

Without U.S. funding, distribution from the warehouse, which stocks all U.S. government-donated HIV medicine to Kenya, has ceased, leaving supplies of some drugs worryingly low, according to a former USAID official and a health official in Kenya.

The 90-day foreign aid freeze, ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump after taking office on January 20, has upended the global supply chain for medical products to fight HIV and other diseases. It is also blocking the distribution of drugs that long ago reached their destination countries.

"I was just seeing death now coming," said 50-year-old Okwirry who was diagnosed with HIV in 2008 and has a 15-year-old daughter, Chichi, who is also HIV-positive.

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Okwirry used to receive six-month supplies of ARVs from the clinic but now can only get one month.

"I told Chichi: what about if you hear the drugs are doomed?" Okwirry said, growing emotional. "She told me: Mom, I'll be leaning on you."

The State Department issued a waiver last month exempting funding for HIV treatment from the freeze.

But the USAID payments system in Kenya is down after the cuts, meaning contractors who implement the programmes cannot be paid, said Mackenzie Knowles-Coursin, who was the deputy head of communications for USAID, East Africa, until resigning on Feb. 3 in protest at the dismantling of the agency.

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"Projects are left wondering: 'Well, how am I going to resume activities if you're not paying me money?" he said. "The waivers that have been given are really waivers on paper."

In Kenya, officials in Washington have not authorised the release of money required to distribute the $34 million worth of medicine and equipment at the warehouse, he added.

According to a Kenyan government document seen by Reuters, about $10 million is needed for that distribution. The Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies, the Christian charity that runs the warehouse, supplies drugs to some 2,000 clinics nationwide, its website says.

Knowles-Coursin told Reuters the commodities at the warehouse include 2.5 million bottles of ARVs, 750,000 HIV test kits and 500,000 malaria treatments.

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USAID referred a request for comment to the State Department, which did not respond. The Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies did not respond to requests for comment.

Kenya's Health Minister, Deborah Barasa, said she expected her government to mobilise funds to allow the supplies at MEDS to be released within two to four weeks.

"We have identified the resources that are required," she said in an interview.

'FEAR AND ANXIETY'

Kenya has the seventh-largest number of people living with HIV in the world, at around 1.4 million, according to World Health Organization data. The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the main U.S. vehicle for funding HIV treatment, supplies some 40% of Kenya's HIV drugs and supplies.

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A health official in Kenya, who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter, said stocks of two critical HIV treatments, Dolutegravir and Nevirapine, were low but did not know exactly how much remained nationwide.

Dolutegravir is often used to treat coinfections of HIV and tuberculosis. Nevirapine is often used to prevent mother-to-child transmission.

Barasa, the health minister, said there would be enough Dolutegravir to last five months and Nevirapine to last eight months once the MEDS stocks were released.

For the time being, some patients can only get refills of their ARVS for one week at a time, said Nelson Otwoma, director of the National Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya.

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Lawsuits aiming to compel the Trump administration to restore funding for humanitarian programmes and reinstate thousands of fired or furloughed USAID workers are working their way through U.S. courts.

On Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration has cancelled more than 80% of all USAID programmes.

The Kenyan government's council on syndemic diseases estimated in an internal brief last month, seen by the Reuters, that the U.S. cuts had created funding gaps of around $80 million.

Finance Minister John Mbadi told senators last week that the government was reviewing whether to allocate emergency funding to compensate for U.S. aid cuts before it delivers the 2025/26 budget in the coming months.

($1 = 128.9000 Kenyan shillings)

(Reporting by Aaron Ross and Vivianne Wandera in Nairobi and Tim Cocks in Johannesburg; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
On this episode of Kern County In Depth, 17 News reporter Cecilia Trevino and Alex Fisher discuss her reporting on an ongoing multi-million dollar scam hitting EBT recipients in Kern County.

Millions have been stolen from EBT cash benefit accounts. Nearly $7 million last year the District Attorneys office said.

Kern County District Attorney warns of EBT fraud after millions in benefits lost

The more vulnerable you are, the more likely you are to be a victim: Steps to prevent EBT fraud

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California to issue new EBT chip/tap cards as millions stolen from Kern County residents

Watch the full episode in the 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 KGET 17 News.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A month after discovering Kern County EBT beneficiaries had been losing millions to theft, 17 News and the community, had yet to hear from county supervisors on this topic until District 3 Supervisor Jeff Flores confirmed supervisors were not made aware of the thefts.

I have been notified actually through the press, in the great work of [17 News] covering these stories, said Flores.

Kern County In Depth: Millions in EBT cash benefits stolen

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The thefts have been going on for years with millions being stolen, but law enforcement had not mentioned it to members of the Kern County Board of Supervisors.

Ive not been notified by the DA on this specific amounts in Kern County, or EBT fraud, Flores said. I am periodically updated by the DA on a number of crime issues, enforcement issues, things in my district, but not on EBT yet.

Flores assumed office on January 2, 2023. EBT theft ramped up years before that, during the pandemic.

Since July 2021, over $439 million in benefits were stolen statewide. In the last two years, around 22,000 theft reports were made in Kern County, but arrests started being made only this November, resulting in three cases involving five Romanian nationals.

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Kern County District Attorney warns of EBT fraud after millions in benefits lost

Supervisor Flores says there are things the county can do.

In terms of strengthening the sanctions, thats one way my serve on the Legislative Committee for the county along with my colleagues, and were tasked with improving, managing our legislative platform, weighing in on bills in Sacramento, Flores said.

Though county supervisors do not manage state programs like CalWORKs or CalFresh, Flores says its important to talk about this.

These people are living check to check, card to card, for basic needs, he said. For food, for medicine, for gasoline, and so it hurts the most vulnerable.

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Flores also wants to bring the EBT thieves and scammers to justice.

Im all for the maximum amount of sanction to prosecute these people to the fullest extent to the law, he said. If those need to be changed and strengthened, Im also for that as well.

To learn more about how to keep your EBT benefits safe, 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 KGET 17 News.
Residents of the Kern River Valley expressed concern about proposed cuts to the federal government at a Kernville Chamber of Commerce meeting at which a staff member of Rep. Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, was present to hear them out.

"The community's concerned about having a repeat of COVID when toilets and trash cans were not available," said Greg Ananian, president of the chamber.

Trash piled up and toilets weren't cleaned during the COVID-19 pandemic when many services were shut down, Ananian said, and with massive cuts being proposed at the federal level, residents are concerned that could happen again.

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"People are going to come up regardless; they're not going to stop if theres no money," Ananian said Monday. "Politics and budget is going to stop them from coming up."

The chamber's guest at the Feb. 24 meeting was a field representative for Fong, and attendees at the meeting raised concerns about the new Department of Government Efficiency, which is making significant cuts to the federal budget.

Tense meetings between Republican members of Congress and angry constituents have been happening all over the country as Elon Musk and DOGE have been given wide latitude by President Trump to cut the federal budget.

Among the concerns raised at the Kern River Valley meeting are funding for federally managed recreation areas, firefighting and Medicare and Medicaid.

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Ananian said the quick pace of announced cuts, reversals and court orders is making it difficult to track what's happening.

"Before the meeting was held they fired a bunch of people, the day after they announced theyre rehiring. It's such a fluid situation," Ananian said. "Everything kept changing every day. Its like all over the place."

Ananian was referring to the mass firing and rehiring of more than 6,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture workers starting last month. Many of those employees worked for the U.S. Forest Service, housed within USDA, and were on temporary or probationary status.

The Kern River Valley has a robust network of volunteers, Ananian said, including his own organization, the Kern River Conservancy, and the worst-case scenario would likely be holding private fundraisers to raise money for services such as trash removal.

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In a statement, the Forest Service said it was committed to balancing access and public safety.

"Recreation services and public access are vital to local economies. It is our intent to maintain access to recreation opportunities to the greatest degree possible. We do not have additional information to share at this time," the Forest Service said.

Residents also voiced concerns about proposed cuts to certain social services, particularly Medicare and Medicaid, on which many residents rely.

In a statement, Fong said he is working to protect essential programs while tackling fraud and waste.

"Im working to strengthen programs like Medicaid by eliminating waste and fraud, ensuring resources go to those who truly need them  seniors, low-income families, and individuals with disabilities  while making sure these programs remain sustainable for future generations," Fong said. "We will continue to make needed investments as we provide full budget transparency. The Central Valley is the backbone of California  our farmers, small businesses, and working families embody the American Dream."
Mar. 11As part of its effort to raise awareness about fentanyl abuse, the county will be screening a documentary focusing on the drug this week.

San Joaquin County Public Health Services, along with the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office, San Joaquin County Behavioral Health Services, San Joaquin County Office of Education, and the Reinvent South Stockton Coalition, are hosting free screenings of "Fentanyl High."

The film will be shown at the Lodi Stadium 12, 109 S. School St., on Wednesday, March 12 at 6 p.m.

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Told from the perspectives of real high school students and their families in Northern California, the documentary explores how today's teenagers are dealing with their emotional pain in school and at home, and how they can get to the point of buying fake Adderall, OxyContin, Percocet, or Xanax from a stranger on social media.

"We are hoping that this documentary opens the door for important conversations between parents and teens about mental health and drug use," Dr. Maggie Park, San Joaquin County Public Health Officer, said.

This will be the third time the film will be screened in the county. County Public Health said the first two showings in Stockton and Manteca were very popular.

Another screening will be held in Tracy on March 18.

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The movie will be followed by a panel discussion on mental health and substance use disorder treatment resources available locally. Free popcorn and drinks will be provided, and participants can take home a Narcan kit to reverse opioid overdose.

Last year, the Lodi Police Department received 177 calls for drug overdoses, and officers used Narcan 21 times to assist with life-saving measures. However, four deaths were suspected to be related to overdose.

The county established the Fentanyl Intervention and Response Safety Team, or FIRST unit, in 2023.

The FIRST unit will operate under the purview of the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office and is comprised of 11 members.

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More than $2.2 million will be used to support the FIRST unit's three-pronged approach toward combating fentanyl.

The first prong is community outreach efforts such as addressing schools at special events, creating advertisements and mailers, as well as a social media campaign.

The second prong is focused on response and safety, and involves prosecutors investigating from where the drugs originated, as well as a dedicated crime analyst tasked with examining evidence and data recovered from electronic and digital devices.

The analyst will also work to identify specific target-areas of overdose occurrences. The third prong will focus on cooperating with as many agencies as possible. during investigations.

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The unit will consist of three deputy district attorneys; two DA investigators; a paralegal; a crime analyst; a public information specialist; a victim witness advocate; and two legal technicians.

"Fentanyl High" is appropriate for audiences 12 and older. There will also be a raffle for high school students. For free tickets, visit tinyurl.com/SJCFentanyl.
Return to Nature Co-Owner Carie Hallford had her trial rescheduled to Sept. 8 after withdrawing her guilty plea in federal court last week.

Carie Hallford, who along with her husband, Jon Hallford, was originally headed to prison after taking a plea deal for crimes involving nearly 190 bodies at a southern Colorado funeral home.

As part of the deal, the Hallfords would plead guilty to one count of wire fraud, with the remaining 14 counts dismissed. Both were expected to receive prison sentences of six to 15 years.

However, Carie Hallford withdrew her plea two weeks ago after Judge Nina Wang found the agreements to be "not in the public's best interest" and informed the Hallfords that there may be new terms, according to court documents. Jon Hallford decided to keep his guilty plea.

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Carie Hallford's trial will now take place over two months after Jon Hallford's sentencing, scheduled for June 27. Court records show that Jon Hallford's attorney filed a motion to reschedule the June 27 sentencing, but the court denied it after finding that at least one victim had already made travel plans to attend the hearing.

The federal charges come in addition to ones issued by the state. In November, the Hallfords accepted guilty pleas from the state, admitting to 190 counts of abuse on a corpse. As part of each agreement the remaining charges of forgery, theft and money laundering would be dropped if the plea were to be accepted by Judge Eric Bentley.

If the agreements are accepted by Bentley, Jon Hallford would receive a sentence of 20 years in prison, while Carie Hallford would receive 15-20 years.

The Hallfords' state-level sentencing is set for April 18.
King Charles III has purchased a $3.8 million property adjacent to Queen Camilla's Ray Mill House in Wiltshire, England.

The monarch's move is reportedly to help his wife prevent its conversion into a wedding venue, thereby safeguarding her privacy and security.

Queen Camilla acquired her vacation home, the Ray Mill House, in 1996 following her divorce and uses it as a personal retreat.

King Charles Purchases Neighboring Property To Ensure Queen Camilla's Privacy

MEGA

According to the Daily Mail, the king personally funded the $3.8 million purchase after learning the estate, known as the Old Mill, was set to be converted into a wedding venue.

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Sources close to Camilla revealed that Charles, 76, grew increasingly uneasy upon hearing that the property's new owners intended to "maximize commercial use of the property as a short-term holiday rental and wedding venue."

Concerned about potential security issues and disruptions, he acted swiftly to secure the estate. One insider noted that the prospect of lively wedding parties taking place right next door every weekend left Charles with "great anxiety."

"Think of it  dozens of wedding guests carousing every weekend just the other side of her fence," another insider said.

King Charles Will Reportedly Lease Ray Mill House To 'Security-Vetted Tenant'

MEGA

According to reports, Charles intends to lease the property to a "security-vetted tenant" who will use it in a way that aligns with royal standards.

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A royal source described the arrangement as "a pragmatic solution, being both a sound financial investment and a way of maintaining Her Majesty's privacy, protection and continued enjoyment of her much-loved home, without any public funds being used."

Meanwhile, Camilla, 77, is said to be "grateful and relieved," especially given the challenges she has faced over the past year.

Friends say the situation had become "intolerable" for the queen as the Ray Mill House serves as a sanctuary for her.

"She has her horses, she walks her dogs, and [Camilla] loves spending time with her family," one insider said, adding, "This business with her neighbor was frankly the last thing she needed."

Property Developer Previously Listed Ray Mill House On Airbnb, Raising Security Concerns

MEGA

The Old Mill estate has been a longstanding source of frustration for Charles III and Camilla.

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In 2018, property developer Phil Clayton purchased the home and quickly began extensive renovations, causing disruptions in the neighborhood.

According to Page Six, one of his most controversial changes was converting a garage into a rental unit called Pear Tree Loft, listed on Airbnb, just 200 feet from Camilla's front door.

Camilla's security team raised concerns, and she personally objected to Clayton's repeated expansion proposals, even submitting formal complaints on HRH-headed stationery.

However, her efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. Friends say the situation had become "intolerable" for the queen.

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Now, with the Old Mill estate secured, Camilla's long-term plans are more certain. It is believed that if she outlives Charles, she intends to make Ray Mill House her permanent residence rather than move into the palace.

Queen Camilla Reportedly Feels More At Ease At Ray Mill House

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Camilla, who wed Charles in 2005, has owned Ray Mill House since 1996, purchasing it a year after her divorce from Andrew Parker Bowles.

The property, a blend of 19th-century Italianate architecture with 20th-century Neo-Georgian updates, is a two-story mansion that famously hosted the wedding reception of her daughter, Laura Lopes, in 2006.

Friends say Ray Mill House is where Camilla feels most at ease when distressed.

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She sought refuge there after Queen Elizabeth's passing in 2022 and continues to spend as much time as possible at the countryside retreat when not fulfilling royal duties at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire or Clarence House in London, the official residences she shares with Charles.

Queen Camilla's Feud With The Old Mill's Previous Owner

MEGA

Camilla's issues with The Old Mill date back to its previous owner, Ralph Adams, who passed away in 2017.

At one point, she raised concerns about her dressing room being visible from his property. However, tensions between the neighbors escalated in 2006 when Adams filed a complaint about her overgrown hedge.

Garbage collectors refused to drive down their shared access road, citing that the hedge was "out of control." As a result, Adams was forced to haul his bin to the nearest main road, a task he found difficult.

Frustrated by the situation, the retired sand merchant remarked, "Walking 400 yards is tough for me, but she can always have a flunky do it."
KILLEEN, Texas (FOX 44)  It was a sad day in the Killeen Independent School District on Monday, where a student was stabbed and killed at Roy J. Smith Middle School.

The district held a press conference for media at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Our own Zoria Goodley was in attendance.

SEE ALSO: Killeen ISD parents voiced their concerns during an emergency board meeting

Goodley was informed about the press conference shortly before 1 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. Upon arrival KISD Marketing & Communication officials informed reporters that Superintendent Dr. Jo Ann Fey would be open to answering questions. However, once reporters arrived at the press conference, KISD Director of Communications and Marketing Karen Rudolph informed them that Fey would not be taking questions, and there was miscommunication.

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I miscommunicated earlier, shes not going to take questions today, so I apologize for that, Rudolph said.

Killeen ISD Chief of Police Erik Hydorn started the press conference with facts about the incident.

On March 10th, at approximately 11:25 a.m., an altercation between two students at Roy J. Smith Middle School escalated into a stabbing, he explained. The suspect was quickly apprehended by officers with the cleaned independent School District police department near the campus as they were responding. Emergency medical services was immediately requested by the campus officer and began patient care within 7 minutes of the request.

Before reporters could ask any questions, Chief Hydorn explained he was unable to provide details. Please understand that this is still an active criminal investigation, and many details will not be provided, he said.

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Despite not being able to provide any questions, reporters still asked in hopes of receiving an answer.

Superintendent Fey then proceeded to give her opening statement to the reporters, and discussing how the district plans to move forward.

While this was an isolated incident, we recognize the deep concern that it has caused. And I want you to know that we are taking this matter very, very, very seriously, she said. Moving forward, we are carefully reviewing and reflecting on our policies, our procedures and our training protocols to reinforce the safest and most secure learning environment possible,.

As Fey finished her statement Fox 44s Zoria Goodley proceeded to ask her a question about transparency with Killeen ISD parents, but she was met with no response.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP)  Greensboro students were evacuated on Tuesday due to a cut line, according to a Guilford County Schools news release.

The construction team at the new Kiser Middle School told GCS officials that a contractor came in contact with a gas line.

Following established safety protocols, KMS students and staff were evacuated while the Greensboro Fire Department and Piedmont Natural Gas assessed the scene.

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Students who were at nearby Grimsley High School were told to stay inside.

After about an hour, emergency officials cleared the school for students and staff to return.

43 people were assessed by first responders on site.

Two received minor medical treatment, and the rest were released back to school or their parents, GCS says.

The GFD reports there were no hazardous gases in the school, but there was a smell of an additive to the natural gas.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  An organization that helps families who have kids receiving hospital care is getting an upgrade at one of its Sioux Falls locations.

The kitchen at the Ronald McDonald House near Sanfords main campus is getting a new look.

Broadways longest-running musical Chicago hits Sioux Falls

Its going to look really nice, really bright. The old one was dark wood work. This one is light wood work, Hjellming Construction President Scott Hjellming said.

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Hjellming is also a board member of of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Dakota.

His business is one of several donating time, products, and materials for the remodeling project.

Hjelling says the other businesses are Sioux Falls Kitchen and Bath, Karls, Montgomerys, and Cambria/Creative Surfaces.

Supporters have also helped raise over $100,000 for the new kitchen.

Its just more efficiently laid out, so its going to be easier for them to prepare meals, Hjellming said.

The Ronald McDonald House serves over 1,000 families each year between its two Sioux Falls locations.

This house is something really special, but I will tell you what, it is used, and when you have 1,000 families coming through every single year, the wear and tear is 20 times more than what our own houses wear and tear is, said Jessica Arend, Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Dakota Chief Development Officer.

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Because the main kitchen is under construction, the Ronald McDonald House has set up a makeshift kitchen for families to use.

Donors and restaurants are also providing meals.

Were still making sure that families are eating nutritious, healthy meals, Arend said.

The project should be wrapped up in about five weeks.

These families are here because their children are in the childrens hospital. They really need somewhere to come back and cook a good meal and have good food to eat and stuff like that in place to relax, so something new and better and easier to use will make their day a lot better, Hjellming said.

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If youd like to help provide meals for the Ronald McDonald Houses, 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 KELOLAND.com.
A Blood Moon rises behind the Camlica Mosque on Jan. 31, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Credit - Chris McGrathGetty Images

Space is theater. Perhaps the most dramatic spectacles human beings will ever observe are the result of the eternal dance among the cosmoss moons, planets, stars, and more. A close-to-home sky show will be put on late in the evening of Thursday, March 13 and into the early morning hours of March 14. This is when a so-called blood moon lunar eclipse plays out, visible in North and South America, parts of Africa, the Pacific, and Europe. So what causes a lunar eclipse, when is the best time to view this oneand how did it get that striking blood moon moniker?

As the moon orbits the Earth and the Earth orbits the sun, the three bodies are forever getting in one anothers way, periodically blocking the view from one to the other. When the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, as happened last April 8, a solar eclipse occurs, with the disk of the moon blocking the disk of the sun, casting a shadow on our planet. The moon is 400 times smaller than the sun, meaning it should not have much of an effect on how much sunlight reaches us. But in a wonderful bit of cosmic serendipity, the moon is also 400 times closer to us, which results in the solar and lunar disks appearing to be exactly the same size in our sky, making for a perfect fit, with only the suns coronaor firesflaring out from behind the moon during totality.

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Lunar eclipses rely on a different sun-moon-Earth lineup, occurring when the Earth moves between the sun and the moon, blocking the solar light that typically reflects off the lunar surface and casting a shadow in its place. Lunar eclipses can either be partial, with only some of the moons surface covered, or total, with the entire face of the moon darkened. The type of lunar eclipse depends on how precise the alignment of the three bodies is.

The moon does not orbit the Earth in a perfectly flat plane around our planets equator. Rather, its orbit is slightly cockeyed, tilted at an angle of 5.145 degrees. That means that sometimes the moon will pass in front of the Earth slightly above or below the planets midline, allowing some solar light to reach a portion of the lunar surface. Only when the three bodies are perfectly lined upas they will be this weekwill a total lunar eclipse occur.

Unlike a total solar eclipse, when the disk of the sun is completely blackened, an eclipsed moon does not vanish completely from the sky. Rather it is still bathed in some sunlight streaming past the Earth and, significantly, through its atmosphere. That has a dramatic effect on the color of the moon. Solar light contains all of the colors of the visible spectrum, but as it reaches our atmosphere, the higher frequency blue wavelengths are scattered outwhich is what gives our sky its characteristic color. Red and orange wavelengths pass right through. In the case of a lunar eclipse, that means the moon is bathed in a reddish glowhence the blood moon handle.

There are other names for a full moon at this time of year when a lunar eclipse is not taking place. According to the Old Farmers Almanac, a March full moon is also called a worm moona name attributed to the earthworms that typically emerge from the ground in early spring, or to the beetle larvae that also emerge from the branches of trees in the post-winter thaw. Indigenous American tribes have also dubbed the March full moon the Eagle Moon, the Goose Moon, or the Crow Comes Back Moon, heralding the reappearance of these animals in the Spring.

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Whatever name the moon goes by, watching it fall into shadow this week will likely cause you to lose some sleep. According to NASA, the moon will first begin to move into shadow at 11:57 p.m. EDT (8:57 p.m. PDT) on March 13. Totality begins at 2:26 a.m. on March 14 on the east coast (11:26 p.m. on March 13 out west) and lasts just over an hour. If you sleep through this one, youll get other chances. About two lunar eclipses occur each year on average. The next one will happen on Sept. 7, 2025though it will give the Americas a pass, while being visible over most of the rest of the world. The next lunar eclipse to bathe our continent will play out on June 26, 2029. The nighttime sky will, as is its wont, continue to put on its pageants.

Write to Jeffrey Kluger at jeffrey.kluger@time.com.
On March 6, 2025, Reuters reported that U.S. President Donald Trump planned to revoke the legal status of 240,000 Ukrainians in the U.S., with the news story citing four anonymous sources, including one senior official.

According to the anonymous sources, the Trump administration was planning to strip the legal status of 1.8 million migrants  240,000 of them Ukrainians  who came to the U.S. during the Biden administration under "temporary humanitarian parole programs."

Following the report, social media users on Facebook (archived), X (archived), Threads (archived), Reddit (archived) and Bluesky (archived) repeated versions of the Reuters story headline. Snopes readers also asked us to look into the claim.

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However, on March 6, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took to X (archived) to call the Reuters report "fake news" based on sources "who have no idea what they are talking about."

(X user @PressSec)

"No decision has been made at this time," Leavitt said.

Snopes does not rely on anonymous sources in its reporting and has not independently verified the sources used in the Reuters report. However, Trump administration policy, as laid out in a Jan. 20 executive order, did call for the termination of "categorical parole programs" that consider parole for entire groups of individuals based on pre-set criteria. Parole in immigration terms means an individual was not "formally admitted into the United States" under immigration law, but nonetheless given access to the country. Immigration parole is typically given for a specific reason, like, for example, helping Ukrainian civilians flee war.

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Trump's order specifically called for the termination of a humanitarian parole program for nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela (CHNV). Pausing the CHNV program also paused Uniting for Ukraine (U4U), a program allowing access to the U.S. for Ukrainians fleeing the war, because the two programs use the same form for financial supporter applications (more on that below). Abolishing U4U, should the Trump administration choose to do so, could potentially make some Ukrainians in the U.S. deportable that weren't before, and lead to a review of existing cases where officials granted parole to Ukrainains.

Ukrainians in US left in limbo as agencies pause status applications

Following the Jan. 20 executive order "Securing Our Borders," the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said on Jan. 28 it was pausing acceptance of Form I-134A. Immigration officials used this form in two programs: CHNV, the program named in Trump's Jan. 20 executive order, and U4U.

Form I-134A allowed Americans to apply to be financial supporters of Ukrainian migrants through U4U or Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan migrants through CHNV. Pausing acceptance of the form meant that no new financial supporters could be accepted, and no travel documents could be issued under the programs, according to the Ukraine Immigration Task Force, a nonprofit helping Ukrainians fleeing war to come to the U.S

Both programs allowed nationals of specific countries to obtain short-term (usually around two years) lawful status in the U.S. and the ability to apply for work permits if they had a financial supporter and passed a vetting process.

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At the time of this writing, it was unclear what would happen to Ukrainians who only held U.S. legal status under the U4U program should it be fully abolished.

A Jan. 23 DHS memo titled "Guidance Regarding How to Exercise Enforcement Discretion" instructed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and USCIS staff to review immigration cases for people who border officials previously paroled under programs like CHNV and U4U that were "paused, modified, or terminated" under Trump's Jan. 20 executive order. The memo asked staff to determine whether parole remained "appropriate" or whether the migrant should be placed in "removal proceedings."

According to an internal USCIS memo dated Feb. 14, 2025, and cited in reporting from CBS and the National Law Review, USCIS Acting Deputy Director Andrew Davidson asked staff to pause "pending benefit requests" from applicants who came to the U.S. under humanitarian parole programs, including U4U.

This pause would effectively mean that migrants with legal status under U4U could not transfer to a different legal status because officials would not process their applications. As U4U did not provide protection against removal, that meant that, for example, Ukrainians in the U.S. who only held U4U legal status would be subject to removal and have no way to apply for another legal status.

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We have reached out to USCIS to confirm the existence and wording of this memo and await its reply.

Trump reply on TPS protections for Ukrainians in the US further muddied the waters

Confusingly, Trump on March 6 appeared to bring another, separate program into the discussion about the legal rights of Ukrainians in the U.S. While signing executive orders in the Oval Office, a journalist asked Trump whether he was "considering revoking the TPS [temporary protected] status for the more than 200,000 Ukrainians who live here in the U.S."

In his reply to the question, Trump said: "I'll be making a decision pretty soon." It was unclear whether Trump was referring to the TPS program, which did not feature in the Reuters report, or the U4U program, which appeared to be what the journalist was actually asking about. We have asked the White House for clarification on Trump's answer and await a reply.

TPS is a legal status that nationals of certain designated countries can apply for. Countries can be TPS designated for a number of reasons, including ongoing armed conflict. The TPS program is more extensive than programs like CHNV or U4U, as people with TPS status may work in the country, apply for citizenship when eligible and remain protected from removal while holding the status. U4U (and CHNV) and TPS are separate programs with separate application processes.

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Ukraine has been a TPS-designated country since April 2022. In January 2025, Biden's Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas extended the designation through October 2026.

Should Ukraine's TPS designation end, Ukrainian TPS beneficiaries would once again be eligible for removal unless they held a prior legal status allowing them to stay in the U.S.

Sources:

colin0reilly.bsky.social. "Terrorist Trump Wants to Deport Ukrainians from America but Removing War Refugees Is against International Law and a War Crime.  ." Bluesky, 6 Mar. 2025, https://bsky.app/profile/colin0reilly.bsky.social/post/3ljq2unswas25.

Fox News. "Trump Signs Executive Orders from Oval Office." YouTube, 6 Mar. 2025, https://www.youtube.com/live/oy6mN7Cvjmw?t=532s.

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Gazunis, Carol Maxey. "The Trump Administration Is Preparing to Deport 240,000 Ukrainians Who Fled Russia's Attacks on Ukraine and Have Temporary Legal Status in the US." Facebook, 7 Mar. 2025, https://www.facebook.com/carol.gazunis/posts/pfbid02Pc9rZoMN4DmSt3nS4GsjuiL2arUMf29VsWMBf7v9a9QzxYCfsfpRtwq4pAnLdfZQl.

Guidance Regarding How to Exercise Enforcement Discretion | Homeland Security. https://www.dhs.gov/publication/guidance-regarding-how-exercise-enforcement-discretion. Accessed 7 Mar. 2025.

Hagearty, Elizabeth. "Form I-134A, Explained." Boundless, 7 Mar. 2025, https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/form-i-134a-explained/.

Hesson, Ted, and Kristina Cooke. "Trump to Revoke Legal Status for 240,000 Ukrainians as US Steps up Deportations." Reuters, 6 Mar. 2025, https://archive.ph/1uKEL.

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@itsmemaudeholly. "I DONT CARE ABOUT TARIFFS TODAY, TRUMP ANNOUNCED THEY ARE CANCELLING THE LEGAL STATUS OF 240,000 UKRANIANS AND DEPORTING THEM!!!! PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THEYRE BURYING TODAY!!!!" Threads, 6 Mar. 2025, https://www.threads.net/@itsmemaudeholly/post/DG32SdNSIK8.

@jimomics. "Trump Administration Plans to Revoke Legal Status for 240.000 Ukrainians Who Fled the War Leaving Their Countrymen behind to Die." X, 6 Mar. 2025, https://x.com/jimomics/status/1897613014796275911.

Montoya-Galvez, Camilo. U.S. Pauses Immigration Applications for Certain Migrants Welcomed under Biden - CBS News. 19 Feb. 2025, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-pauses-immigration-applications-for-certain-migrants-welcomed-under-biden/.

@PressSec. "This Is More Fake News from Reuters Based on Anonymous Sources Who Have No Idea What They Are Talking About. ." X, 6 Mar. 2025, https://x.com/PressSec/status/1897667362897219916.

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"Securing Our Borders." The White House, 21 Jan. 2025, https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/securing-our-borders/.

Temporary Protected Status | USCIS. 26 Feb. 2025, https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status.

"Temporary Protected Status: An Overview." American Immigration Council, 24 Aug. 2017, https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/temporary-protected-status-overview.

Temporary Protected Status Designated Country: Ukraine | USCIS. 17 Jan. 2025, https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status/TPS-Ukraine.

Update on Form I-134A | USCIS. 28 Jan. 2025, https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/update-on-form-i-134a.

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USCIS Halts Immigration Applications for Paroled Migrants. https://natlawreview.com/article/uscis-memo-pauses-tps-asylum-ead-other-applications-parolees. Accessed 7 Mar. 2025.

USCIS Officially Pauses Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) Applications and Ukrainian Re-Parole until Further Notice  Ukraine Immigration Task Force. https://ukrainetaskforce.org/uscis-officially-pauses-new-uniting-for-ukraine-u4u-applications-until-further-notice/. Accessed 7 Mar. 2025.


In March 2025, following U.S. President Donald Trump's orders to remove all diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives from federal agencies, The Associated Press reported the Pentagon was purging images from its sites that violated the order.

In particular, Snopes readers asked us about claims that photos of the World War II aircraft Enola Gay were removed because of the word "gay."

One social media post making the claim said: "They purged pictures of the Enola Gay from the DOD websites because they thought it had to do with LGBTQ. You can't make up how dumb they are."

They purged pictures of the Enola Gay from the DOD websites because they thought it had to do with LGBTQ. You cant make up how dumb they are. https://t.co/ywOazcxOHL pic.twitter.com/vS5mN4XtrQ  austerity is theft (@wideofthepost) March 7, 2025

While some pictures of the Enola Gay aircraft were removed from the U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense website, other photographs remained on the sites, though reports state they were "flagged" for removal. The original source for such a claim was an AP story that relied on anonymous officials to confirm the details. As such, we cannot independently confirm that the AP's database is entirely correct.

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However, a spokesperson for the Air Force confirmed to Snopes that information was removed from its website based on a keyword search as part of its effort to curb DEI. The Air Force did not respond to our query about whether "gay" was one such keyword.

It is possible that any anti-DEI purge would flag the word "gay" in a database and that Enola Gay images were removed for that reason. The Air Force spokesperson said:

In response to President Trump's Executive Orders and Secretary Hegseth's priorities, all Military Departments received guidance from the Department of Defense to review and remove DoD news and feature articles, photos, videos, and social media posts that promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Some information was removed based on a keyword search. If we validate the content does not meet the EO requirement for removal, we will repost it. Individuals are encouraged to bring content they believe was erroneously removed to Public Affairs' attention for review.

The spokesperson would not specify on the record what categories or keywords violated the anti-DEI order. Soon after this article was published, the spokesperson added, "I was able to confirm that the content related to Enola Gay was identified for review, but not removed. The Enola Gay content remains on the website."

Trump's executive order criticized how institutions including the federal government have allegedly "adopted and actively use dangerous, demeaning, and immoral race- and sex-based preferences under the guise of so-called 'diversity, equity, and inclusion'" and required federal agencies to stop hiring on the basis of "race, color, sex, sexual preference, religion, or national origin."

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Enola Gay was the name of the B-29 aircraft that dropped the world's first atomic bomb used in war on Hiroshima, Japan, during World War II. The pilot handpicked the name, honoring his mother, the night before the mission.

The DOD flagged numerous posts on archival websites for removal on military websites, some of which were already deleted because they violated the administration's order to stop DEI programming, according to the AP. The AP report included a database that highlighted a number of images of the Enola Gay aircraft, some of which were no longer available on military websites, and others that are still available but "flagged" for removal across all military websites.

Some deletions took place not because of any LGBTQ+ content, but simply due to use of the word "gay." According to the AP, some Army Corps of Engineers photos were flagged for deletion because one of the engineers had the last name "Gay."

As of this writing, this image (archived) of the aircraft is still not visible on the Air Force website. Per the AP's database, the image in question showed U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III touring a bomb pit loading area where the Enola Gay aircraft was loaded with the atomic bomb used on Hiroshima.

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But many other photographs on the air force and National Defense University websites (seen here, here, here, and here) still show the Enola Gay aircraft as of this writing.

While the Air Force confirmed it was removing imagery that violated Trump's order, it did not specify which images and only anonymous officials confirmed the ones that were flagged for removal to the AP. However, based on our examination of military webpages, a few images of Enola Gay have been removed while others remain.

Sources:

"Atomic Bomb "Little Boy" Hoisted into Bomb Bay of B-29 Superfortress, Enola Gay, Tinian Island, August 1945." U.S. Navy National Museum. https://ndupress.ndu.edu/Media/Images/igphoto/2002060253/. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

"B-29 Super Fortress 'Enola Gay.'" U.S. Air Force, https://www.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2000533198/. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

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"Boeing B-29 'Enola Gay.'" National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Upcoming/Photos/igphoto/2000548758/. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

"Col. Paul Tibbetts in Front of the Enola Gay." U.S. Air Force, https://www.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2000593150/. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

"Ending Illegal Discrimination And Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity." The White House, 22 Jan. 2025, https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-illegal-discrimination-and-restoring-merit-based-opportunity/. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

"The Enola Gay's History Lives On." U.S. Department of Defense, https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/article/2279986/the-enola-gays-history-lives-on/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.defense.gov%2FNews%2FFeature-Stories%2FStory%2FArticle%2F2279986%2Fthe-enola-gays-history-lives-on%2F. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

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"US Military Firsts among the 26,000 Images Flagged for Deletion in Trump DEI Purge." The Guardian, 7 Mar. 2025. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/07/military-images-trump-dei. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

"War Heroes and Military Firsts Are among 26,000 Images Flagged for Removal in Pentagon's DEI Purge." AP News, 7 Mar. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/dei-purge-images-pentagon-diversity-women-black-8efcfaec909954f4a24bad0d49c78074. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

Updates:

March 11, 2025: This article was updated to include an additional statement from the U.S. Air Force.
A 20-year-old college student has gone missing while on vacation in the Dominican Republic, sparking a search that spans land, air and sea.

Sudiksha Konanki, a junior at the University of Pittsburgh, was last seen on surveillance camera with seven other people entering the beach at the Riu Republica Hotel in Punta Cana after 4:15 a.m. Thursday, the Dominican Republic National Police said in a statement.

She was reported missing after she failed to return from the beach.

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The search includes authorities from the Dominican Republic, the United States and India, with search dogs, drones and helicopters being deployed in the effort to find Konanki.

Heres what we know about Konanki and the ongoing search.

Ambitious student

Family members describe Konanki as a bright, ambitious student who plans to become a doctor.

My daughter is a very nice girl, her father, Subbarayudu Konanki, told CNN. Shes ambitious. She wanted to pursue a career in medicine.

She was visiting Punta Cana for spring break ahead of premed studies, her father said.

Originally from India, the Konanki family has been in the US since 2006 and are permanent residents living in Loudoun County, Virginia.

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Those in her hometown are praying for her safe return.

Its already four days and everybodys so worried, family friend Shekar Pendem, who has known Konanki since she was 3, said in an interview with CNN affiliate WUSA.

US Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, whose district includes Loudoun County, described Konankis disappearance as the worst nightmare.

Ive got two daughters, and I just think about a scenario like this happening to them, he said in an interview with WUSA. Its, you know, really heartbreaking.

Konanki arrived in the Dominican Republic on March 3 with five other female students from the University of Pittsburgh, according to the Loudoun County Sheriffs Office.

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The sheriffs office said her father filed a missing person report around 5:43 p.m. Thursday, after which the office immediately engaged with the State Department and federal law enforcement to reach out to the Dominican Republic National Police.

In a statement, the FBI said it is assisting its international partners but directed questions to the Dominican Republic authorities, who are leading the investigation.

Last hours before disappearance

In the last hours before she was reported missing, Konanki was seen drinking and going to the beach with friends, who later returned to their hotel without her.

Early Thursday morning, Konanki was seen on surveillance footage drinking with five women and two men in the Riu Republica Hotel lobby, according to a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation.

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Then, around 4:15 a.m., the group was seen entering the beach at the hotel, police said.

Her friends came back after some time and my daughter did not come back, did not show up from the beach, Konankis father told CNN.

Around 4:55 a.m. Thursday, surveillance cameras captured five women and one man leaving the beach, two sources close to the investigation told CNN. Konanki was not among them.

The screenshot is believed to be from the last known video of missing US college student Sudiksha Konanki among a group of friends at 4:16 a.m. before she disappeared on Thursday morning. CNN blurred portions of this image. - EXCLUSIVE: Noticias SIN

Surveillance video shows the man leaving the beach area at 8:55 a.m., the two sources close to the investigation said, with no sign of Konanki. A source initially said the surveillance video times were one hour later than 4:55 a.m. and 8:55 a.m., based on time stamps from the video. But hotel staff eventually told investigators the time stamp was an hour ahead of actual time, the two sources said.

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When Konanki didnt come back to her room, her companions searched for her, according to the law enforcement source. The group reported her missing to hotel staff around 4 p.m. Thursday, the Riu hotel chain said in a statement.

Konankis sarong-style cover-up was found on a lounge chair on the beach. There were no signs of violence, a Dominican Republic law enforcement source familiar with the investigation told CNN.

Authorities have been interviewing a man in his 20s who they believe was the last person to see Konanki last week, though he is not considered to be a suspect at this time, the law enforcement source said.

He was being kept in a hotel room under police watch as the probe continues, but he is not officially detained, a source familiar with the investigation told CNN.

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He told authorities they both went into the ocean but he felt sick, got out of the water and fell asleep on a lounge chair, according to the source.

Another law enforcement source briefed on the investigation said the man was interviewed by police several times and provided different details but there were no significant inconsistencies in his recounting of the events that night.

A source familiar with the investigation had earlier told CNN the man had given them different accounts of what happened the last time he saw her. The law enforcement source who said there were no significant inconsistencies in the mans recounting said translation issues may have been a reason for the differences.

No stone unturned

Konankis disappearance has commenced an intensive search effort, with authorities from the US, the Dominican Republic, and India contributing to the hunt for the missing student.

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The Dominican Republic National Police said in a Monday post on X that they were re-interviewing people who had been with Konanki and employees of the hotel where they were staying, and are working on an exhaustive analysis of surveillance footage.

Police have also reinforced personnel and technological tools, including specialized marine equipment, to continue the search efforts, reads the post.

Military personnel search for Sudiksha Konanki in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on Monday. - Francesco Spotorno/AP

The Dominican National Emergency System is coordinating search efforts on the island, which took place throughout the weekend and continued Monday. Their search efforts include four teams of drones equipped with advanced technology, the system said in a statement Sunday.

Video footage from the search efforts Tuesday shows military personnel searching for Konanki in Punta Cana on the beach, by boat and flying drones.

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Authorities in the Dominican Republica said they are intensifying the intensive operation by land, air and sea. Since early Tuesday, more than 300 agents, specialists, tactical units and aquatic search teams have been deployed in the coastal area and surrounding areas of the hotel, authorities said on X.

The government has made available all the necessary resources to find Konanki, including teams of forensic technicians who are analyzing images from video surveillance cameras in the area.

Konankis father told CNN that authorities have used multiple methods to search for his daughter. So far, the authorities, multiple authorities here in the Dominican Republic have searched in the waters. They searched using helicopters and other tools. They also searched in the near bay, bushes, trees. They went multiple times around the same areas, he said.

We want to make sure that we dont leave any stone unturned, Loudoun County Sheriff Michael Chapman said Monday, adding that his office is working closely with Dominican authorities as well as the US Embassy and the FBI to assist in the search.

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The Embassy of India is extending all assistance in coordination with government authorities of the Dominican Republic, according to a post on Facebook.

Hotel staff from the Riu are also helping authorities in their search, the hotel chain said in a statement.

Konankis parents and two family friends have also traveled to Punta Cana, according to the Associated Press.

Whats next

The Dominican Republic National Police said Monday it formed a high-level commission to work on the investigation, alongside the Attorney Generals Office, the FBI and the International Liaison of the US embassy.

Konankis father said he wants local authorities to also investigate other possibilities including whether this is a case of kidnapping or human trafficking.

We dont think she would be able to survive for more than three days in the water and I think something else mightve happened to her, he told CNN on Sunday.

Chapman told CNN he was unable to rule out the possibility of foul play. Were pursuing every possible lead, he said. Were hoping and praying that we have a very positive outcome.

Its an extensive amount of searching that theyve done, and yet they still havent found her, so in a way, that may be a good sign, he said.

The Loudoun County Sheriffs Office had urged caution around public speculation about Konankis disappearance in a Monday news release.

There has been considerable public speculation about what may have happened to Konanki and who may be involved, the sheriffs office said. We caution anyone from drawing any unsubstantiated conclusions and are committed to ensuring that a thorough investigation is conducted before any conclusions are reached.

This story has been updated with additional reporting.

CNNs Susannah Cullinane, Jose Alvarez, Chris Boyette, Ana Melgar and Michael Rios contributed to this report.

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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has stated that there should be no illusions about the cessation of US military support for Ukraine, adding that even without it, Russia is capable of achieving its objectives.

Source: Russian media outlet Kommersant, citing Peskovs statement at a conference at the Higher School of Economics, as reported by European Pravda

Quote: "Many are now rushing to put on rose-tinted glasses, saying that the Americans will stop supplying weapons or that they have already stopped, or that Musk will turn off his communication systems, and everything will work out for us. Everything is already working out for us."

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Details: Peskov added that even if Western supplies were halted, Ukraine would still have plenty of weapons at its disposal.

Background:

The day before, Peskov stated that Russias leadership and the new US administration were only beginning to restore bilateral relations.

Earlier, Bloomberg reported that Steve Witkoff, Trump's Special Envoy for the Middle East, was planning to visit Moscow for a second time to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova neither confirmed nor denied media reports about Witkoffs planned visit.

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By Andrew Osborn and Anton Kolodyazhnyy

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin on Tuesday warned Russians not to get carried away by what the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is doing over Ukraine even though its actions may sometimes look hopeful for Moscow and to always "prepare for the worst".

Washington has paused military aid to Ukraine and put some intelligence sharing on hold after Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy clashed in the Oval Office last month, and Moscow's forces have since had significant success in pushing Ukrainian forces out of Russia's western Kursk region.

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Senior Russian politicians reacted with glee to what they saw as Zelenskiy's White House humiliation, saying the Ukrainian leader got what he deserved in an encounter seen as helpful to Moscow at a time when it is working to build ties with Trump's new administration while trying to discredit Zelenskiy.

Trump adviser Elon Musk also caused a stir in Russia on Sunday by saying on X that the entire Ukrainian frontline would collapse if he turned off his Starlink communications terminals, even though he later said it was something he would never do.

"Don't rush to put on rose-tinted spectacles," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told an audience at Moscow's Higher School of Economics on Tuesday, delivering a reality check to Russians excited by Trump's apparently friendlier behaviour towards them, which has completely upended the policy of the previous U.S. administration.

"We always need to hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. And we must always be ready to defend our interests," said Peskov.

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His warning came as U.S. and Ukrainian officials held talks in Saudi Arabia that are partly designed to determine whether Ukraine is willing to make material concessions to Russia to end the war. If the talks go well, Kyiv hopes Trump may resume military aid and full intelligence sharing.

'EVERYTHING IS WORKING OUT FOR US'

Peskov said Russia was achieving its aims on the battlefield in Ukraine, regardless of any past or future decisions taken by the U.S. administration.

"Many (Russians) are... saying that the Americans will now stop delivering weapons (to Ukraine) or have already stopped, and that Musk will now turn off his communications system and that everything will work out for us," said Peskov.

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"(But) everything is working out for us without these things. And so many weapons have been brought into Ukraine that even after a halt in deliveries the Ukrainians will have stuff to fight with and on for many, many months ahead.

"If Musk turns off his system then something else will immediately be switched on. But things are working out for our guys (fighting in Ukraine) without any switch-offs, without any halts (in deliveries), and they are moving forward," he said.

(Reporting by Andrew Osborn in London and Anton Kolodyazhnyy in Moscow; Writing by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Gareth Jones)
The person accused of killing two in Colorado last year before fleeing the state made his first appearance in court on Monday, months after his arrest.

Johnny Rankin Morris, 46, faces homicide charges in both El Paso County and Park County for the deaths of Stephen Walker, 37, and Timmy Huston, 65, respectively.

According to previous Gazette reporting, on Dec. 19 Walker and Morris were both reported as missing after law enforcement discovered pools of blood at the residence the pair lived at together on the 1800 block of Pima Drive in unincorporated El Paso County just east of Colorado Springs.

After several days the investigation led authorities to a wooded location outside of El Paso County, where Walkers body was found.

Huston was found dead prior to Walker in a residence in Park County. Evidence showed that the known occupant of that residence had at least indirect ties to Morris and/or Walker, officials said at the time.

Morris was arrested in Pear River County Mississippi in December along with another person of interest, 43-year-old Hailey Cole, after a call came in about an attempted car break-in.

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In El Paso County Morris faces 11 total charges including first-degree murder, second-degree murder, tampering with a human body, aggravated robbery and more. At Morris first appearance on Monday morning, where he appeared from the custody of the El Paso County jail on a $5 million cash-only bond, his attorney requested to set for a hearing next week.

The hearing, according to defense attorney Savannah Fox, is to speak on a series of motions she intends to file but could not on Monday because she had yet to be confirmed as Morris attorney.

Morris and his attorney will return to court on March 21 for the status conference. A preliminary hearing date will be set for Morris at that time.

Morris and Cole are expected to appear in Park County on charges related to the death of Huston later this month on March 24; Morris for an appearance on bond and Cole for a filing of charges hearing. The full list of charges has yet to be filed for either in Park County.

Cole is currently in custody in the Park County jail on a $5 million cash-only bond, according to jail records.
Kurtis Ming, who hosted his eponymous segment on CBS 13 for more than a decade, made his debut Monday with competitor TV station KCRA.

Ming hosted the popular segment Call Kurtis in which callers across the state requested investigations into companies consumer relations. The nearly 22-year CBS 13 employee stepped down in January. A reason was not given.

Ming will co-anchor Channel 3s 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. newscasts. He will also join the 10 p.m. newscast on My58, which is a separate TV station but shares offices with KCRA.

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Its like showing up to the rival high school, said Ming, alongside anchors Andrea Flores and Lisa Gonzales, while announcing his role at the station.

Ming, an 11-time Emmy winner who has been nominated 42 times, worked at news stations across California starting from 1996. His first job was at Channel 7 (KRCR) in Redding with Gonzales and NBCs chief White House correspondent Kristen Welker.

I am happy to be here, he said.
Kentucky Senate Democratic Leader Gerald Neal of Louisville presents alternatives to Republican-sponsored anti-DEI legislation and a bill that faculty say will erode tenure rights. He was speaking to the Senate Education Committee, March 10, 2025. (LRC Public Information)

FRANKFORT  Backed by United Campus Workers of Kentucky, Senate Democratic Floor Leader Gerald Neal attempted to get the Senate Education Committee to adopt substitute versions of two Republican higher education bills Monday afternoon.

The Louisville Democrat wasnt successful in either case.

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The Senate Education Committee forwarded both House Bill 424, which Kentucky professors have warned would erode academic tenure at the states public universities, and House Bill 4, which would eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in public universities.

Rep. Jennifer Decker, R-Waddy, presents her anti-DEI House Bill 4 to the Senate Education Committee. (LRC Public Information)

Neals changes to HB 424 would have ensured that faculty would be evaluated on criteria related to their academic discipline. His proposed changes to the anti-DEI bill were more substantial; he said they would address unintended consequences of the bill, should it become law. He presented his proposals with Ray Horton, a professor at Murray State University and member of United Campus Workers (UCW).

The Republican sponsors of both bills, Rep. James Tipton, of Taylorsville, for HB 424 and Rep. Jennifer Decker, of Waddy, for HB 4, said Neals committee substitutes would weaken their legislation. Both committee substitutes failed in voice votes.

Were saying a whole lot about ourselves here, Neal said while voting no on House Bill 4. Im hoping we can reclaim ourselves, because I know there are good people here, and I will continue to reach out to you.

Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Reggie Thomas said HB 4 will take Kentucky back to our ugly past. (LRC Public Information)

Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Reggie Thomas of Lexington also spoke and voted against the anti-DEI bill, noting that until less than 80 years ago Black Kentuckians were barred by law from most of the states public universities. He said HB 4 would turn back the clock.

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Today, we seek to reverse history and go back to our ugly past. Lets make no doubt about it, this bill is about race and about its intention to really change the course of history, Thomas said. We want to put on the front door of these public universities, You are not welcome. Application denied.

Thomas went on to say, Despite the shameful actions that are going to be taken by this legislation, as has been said earlier, we are not going to retrench. We are not going to go back and whatever happens, we will push for a better day and a better tomorrow.

Neal and Thomas are the only Black members of the committee.

Paper copies of Neals proposals were given to members of the committee during the meeting. During debate on Tiptons bill, Senate President Pro Tem David Givens, of Greensburg, repeated something he said hes heard from Democrats upon seeing committee substitutes for the first time during a meeting.

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To use a phrase that we often hear around this place, this is sure at the last second; if we could have seen this sooner, we could have had time to chew on this and think about this, Givens said. This would have been really good for us to have seen sooner than this. But Ive never had the chance to use that phrase before, so I get the chance to use it now.

I think you have a good point, but you know how it is up here, Neal said in response. Things evolve, things come to your attention, and we are here and we do have the ability to make this happen. I think if we slow down just a moment and deliberate on exactly whats been presented here, we have an opportunity. So thats why I came forward.

The committee also heard from about 10 speakers who opposed HB 4, the anti-DEI bill. They argued it could undermine resources on Kentucky campuses that protect diversity among students and faculty. After the meeting adjourned, advocates with UCW continued sharing their concerns with the legislation in a livestream outside of the Capitol Annex.

House Bill 4 is far too imprecise, self-contradictory and frankly dangerous to become law in this commonwealth, said Savannah Dowell, a student from the University of Louisville.

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In order to protect both bills from Democratic Gov. Andy Beshears veto, Senate Republicans must pass them by the end of this week. The legislature recesses Friday, giving Beshear almost two weeks to consider possible vetoes. Lawmakers return March 27 for the final two days of this session, when they can easily override any vetoes. Republicans hold a veto-proof supermajority in the House and Senate.

HB 4 has two readings in the Senate, making it eligible for a floor vote as early as Tuesday. Neal has filed 15 floor amendments to the bill. Sen. Keturah Herron, D-Louisville, has filed her own amendment as well.

HB 424 has no floor readings in the Senate and no new amendments filed.

Advocates with the United Campus Workers of Kentucky speak outside the Capitol Annex. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley)

Read Sen. Gerald Neals committee substitutes that were not adopted

Neal substitute for House Bill 4

HB 4  PSS 4

Neal substitute for House Bill 424

25RS HB 424 PSS 1
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia  As American and Ukrainian officials met Tuesday in Saudi Arabia for talks on ending Russias invasion, Kyiv and Moscow were counting the costs from a night of firing hundreds of missiles and drones at each other.

Russia resumed its almost nightly strikes on Ukraine, whose defenses shot down 114 drones, Ukrainian officials said. But less familiar was the massive wave of drones Kyiv launched on Moscow, which Russian authorities said was the largest such attack on the capital and surrounding area.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it downed 337 Ukrainian drones, 91 of which came down in the Moscow region. Two people were killed and 18 were injured, while air and rail travel faced huge disruptions. Ukraine said among its targets were oil production and pipeline control facilities.

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Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine's presidential office.

"We have to understand the Ukrainian position and just have a general idea of what concessions they would be willing to make," Rubio told reporters on the plane to Saudi Arabia on Monday. "You're not going to get a ceasefire and an end to this war unless both sides make concessions."

A Russian soldier fires a Grad multiple rocket launcher towards Ukrainian positions in the Kursk region last week.

During the talks themselves, none of the officials responded to questions from the media, with Rubio and Waltz smiling for the cameras, while their Ukrainian counterparts remained stony faced.

A few hours earlier Yermak told reporters, "we are very open, very open" and that Ukraine wanted a "very constructive, deep, friendly partnership conversation with our American partners."

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The meeting was an attempt to salvage relations between Kyiv and Washington following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's high-profile Oval Office argument with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

Zelenskyy himself traveled to Saudi Arabia on Monday to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, but left before Rubio's talks started.

We hope for practical outcomes, Zelenskyy said Monday of the upcoming summit. Ukraines position in these talks will be fully constructive.

Trump last week threatened Moscow with large scale sanctions to force it into negotiations. But his administration has received widespread criticism from leaders across Europe for demanding concessions from Ukraine while asking little from Russia in return.

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Trump cut off military aid and intelligence following the Oval Office shouting match, which Rubio said Monday "broadly is something I hope we can resolve" in Tuesday's talks.

Ukraine has attempted to push Russia back militarily, both on the frontlines and in the air.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin called the drone strike on his city as the largest such attack on the Russian capital.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine said in a Telegram post that their drones successfully struck the Moscow Oil Refinery, on the southeastern edge of the capital, which it said provides up to half of the city's gas and diesel needs.

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It blamed Russian air defense for damage to civilian infrastructure facilities."

American podcaster Lex Fridman posted to X on Tuesday that he was in Moscow and that the "mass drone attack hit very close to where I am located." He added that "when I traveled to Ukraine there were a few close calls. And same in Moscow now. These are not actions of two sides that are pushing for peace."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaking in Brussels last week.

Ukrainian officials had yet to respond to NBC News requests for comment on the Moscow strikes.

With peace on the agenda in Jeddah, Ukraine's attack was likely intended to show the Kremlin what will happen if it doesn't agree to a ceasefire while also sending the message that they still have such capacities despite the U.S. military and intel-sharing pause, said Michael Horowitz, head of intelligence at Le Beck, a Bahrain-based security consultancy.

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Ukraine had likewise hoped to score a similar bargaining chip by launching a counter invasion into Russia's Kursk region in November, analysts say.

But Russian forces have pared back some of Ukraine's territorial gains following several days of intensified Russian activity in the area, the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank that tracks the conflict daily, said Sunday.

"Moscow knows they will be in a much better position to demand additional territories in Ukraine if the Kursk pocket is back under their control once talks start," Horowitz added.

A damaged apartment outside Moscow after Ukrainian drone strikes Tuesday.

In Kyiv, there was some hope that the Saudi talks might produce a resolution. But also the informed realization that it will not be easy.

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In the last week, Europe and Ukraine have ceased to perceive the U.S. as a reliable ally, said Slobodian Liliya, 29, who works for a nongovernmental organization. These negotiations will show how much this perception corresponds to the position of the new U.S. administration.

There is still much disbelief at why Washington, in their view, appears to be rewarding the aggressor by favoring negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Serhiy Myroshnichenko, 35, a photographer from Kyiv, questioned why Washington and Moscow are still making decisions about what will happen to Ukraine, considering Russia started this all and must bear responsibility for everything it has done?

This raises a lot of questions, he added, specifically for President Trump rather than for the country of the United States as a whole.

Keir Simmons reported from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Alexander Smith reported from London. Artem Grudinin reported from Kyiv.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Ukraine has said it is willing to implement a 30-day ceasefire provided that Russia agrees to the same terms. The declaration came during discussions between Ukrainian and US officials in Saudi Arabia.

Source: a joint statement following the meeting of the Ukrainian and US delegations in Jeddah

Quote: "Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the US proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, and which is subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation.

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The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace."

Details: The statement indicates that the delegations discussed the importance of the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees and the return of forcibly displaced Ukrainian children during such ceasefire.

The delegations also agreed to name the members of their negotiating teams and immediately begin negotiations to establish a lasting peace that guarantees Ukraine's long-term security.

"The United States committed to discussing these specific proposals with representatives from Russia. The Ukrainian delegation reiterated that European partners shall be involved in the peace process," the statement said.

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The US and Ukrainian presidents have also "agreed to conclude as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraines critical mineral resources to expand Ukraines economy, offset the cost of American assistance, and guarantee Ukraines long-term prosperity and security".

Previously: The statement also indicates that the US is lifting its pause in military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

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The Los Angeles Civil Rights Department is investigating claims that big banks are continuing to show bias against Armenian customers.

Two years ago, Citibank agreed to pay $25.9 million to settle federal claims that it discriminated against customers with Armenian surnames. But the Los Angeles Civil Rights Department says the problem has persisted at several national banks with operations in the Los Angeles area.

That has prompted the department to reach out to members of the region's large Armenian community who think they have suffered discrimination so the cases can be investigated for possible civil prosecution by the department, the city attorney's office and the state attorney general.

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"We know that discriminatory practices, particularly with banking, have been a challenge for many communities when you think about African Americans, Latinos, women and disabled populations and others," said attorney Capri Maddox, executive director of the department, also known as LA Civil Rights. "We initiated this call for complaints because we knew we had some folks come forward to tell our investigators that this was a problem."

Read more: Citibank employees called them 'Armenian bad guys' and canceled their accounts. Now they're suing

In the Citibank case, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau alleged that a bank unit that issued store-branded credit cards for Home Depot, Best Buy and other retailers discriminated against applicants whose surnames ended with ian or yan"  particularly those who lived in and near Glendale, suspecting they would be more likely to commit fraud.

Applicants were turned down, approved for credit on less favorable terms or subject to account freezes and closures. Some employees referred to them as Armenian bad guys or the Southern California Armenian Mafia. Citigroup did not admit or deny wrongdoing but said that in trying to thwart a well-documented Armenian fraud ring, a few employees took "impermissible actions."

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Maddox said that despite Citibank's November 2023 consent order, the department has received complaints from Armenian Americans of continued discrimination at the hands of multiple large retail banks operating in the Los Angeles area, such as abrupt and unexplained account closures. The department did not identify the banks.

It enforces the Los Angeles Civil and Human Rights Ordinance, but the maximum penalty under the law is $250,000. The department is working with the city attorney's office, which enforces the California Business and Professions Code, violations of which can lead to multimillion-dollar fines. It also could refer cases to the state attorney general.

The Armenian Bar Assn. is working with the department to publicize the issue and gather cases. Lucy Varpetian, the group's chairperson, said that the association's outreach through its membership and Armenian media contacts is essential.

"Most of the time, when you have an immigrant group, they think that either the government isn't going to take them seriously, or they aren't going to be heard. It's just a big bureaucracy," said Varpetian, a city of Glendale attorney. "Our goal is to make sure that the community understands that it's trustworthy, that this is something that you should participate in."

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In January 2024, Rohit Chopra, then chief of the CFPB, spoke about the issue at the group's annual meeting in Glendale, she said.

Read more: Consumer agency drops Zelle lawsuit against big banks in latest legal pullback

Chopra was recently fired by President Trump and replaced by acting chief Russell Vought, who has reined in the agency, seeking to halt its activity and cut its funding while withdrawing from a number of lawsuits. That includes one that accused Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America of allowing unchecked fraud on the Zelle payments app, which the banks denied.

Maddox said she is aware of what she called "the complexities of what's happening with the federal government at this time," but said the city retains substantial regulatory authority under the Business and Professions Code, which was exercised against Wells Fargo. The bank paid $50 million for violations of the code in 2016 in the first major settlement arising out of the San Francisco bank's fake-accounts scandal, which ultimately cost it billions.

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Citibank has been the subject of multiple lawsuits since it reached the settlement with the CFPB, including several proposed class-action cases in federal court and mass tort cases in state court involving hundreds of customers. Those lawsuits are still winding their way through the courts, with Citibank seeking to move them to arbitration, which it has succeeded in doing in one federal case.

The bank declined to comment on the litigation.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A woman who lost her home in the devastating firestorm that engulfed the Palisades experienced a tearful reunion over the weekend with her beloved cat, lost in the charred remains of the neighborhood for some two months.

Katherine Kiefer had continued to grieve the loss of her 5-year-old Maine Coon cat named Aggie, who disappeared in the flames that destroyed her home on Jan. 7.

I was distraught about Aggie, fearing the worst, Kiefer told KTLAs Sandra Mitchell. I just thought she was gone.

Katherine Kiefer seen with her 5-year-old Maine Coon cat, Aggie, after the animal was lost during the Palisades Fire on Jan. 7, 2025. (photo via GoFundMe) Katherine Kiefer seen with her 5-year-old Maine Coon cat, Aggie, after the animal was lost during the Palisades Fire on Jan. 7, 2025. (photo via GoFundMe) Katherine Kiefer seen with her 5-year-old Maine Coon cat, Aggie, after the animal was lost during the Palisades Fire on Jan. 7, 2025. (photo via GoFundMe)

After nearly 60 days alone in the burnt-out rubble of the Palisades, volunteers found Aggie in bad shape, near starvation and very scared, but alive. The cat was rushed to an emergency veterinary hospital, which is ultimately how Kiefer was able to reunite with the animal.

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In photos obtained by KTLA, Kiefer is seen cradling her beloved cat at the vets office.

It was Aggie, skin and bones, she explained. I just dont know how anyone could survive.

A GoFundMe has been organized to help with the cost of veterinary bills while Aggie recovers.

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Government plans to weaken copyright laws for the benefit of AI companies are a cultural act of suicide, according to Britains leading literary agent.

Jonny Geller, chief executive of the Curtis Brown agency, said that the publication of an AI-generated bestseller was inevitable and would spell catastrophe for the creative industries.

Under new proposals, big tech companies would be allowed to use copyrighted material to train AI software unless the rights holder explicitly opted out.

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Mr Geller, whose authors include Marian Keyes, Anthony Horowitz and William Boyd, and who manages the estate of John le Carre, said the publishing industry must fight the plans.

Writing in The Bookseller, he said: The publishing and agency world may be sleepwalking into its own dangerous and dark period. Not so much a democratic threat as a cultural act of suicide.

Under the banner of how can you stop progress?, we are being invited to reward the companies who stole our authors work by doing deals with those very same companies.

AI-labelled content

Mr Geller said that no organisation should have the right to take image, creative talent or copyright without permission and that permission should not be obscured by an opt-out only option.

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He also argued that AI-generated fiction and non-fiction should be labelled as such, and AI content must provide attribution and pay for its sources.

Of course, there will be a number one, bestselling novel that is purely AI-generated and we will talk about it and bewail (again) the death of the novel, he said.

But it will herald a period of disruption so catastrophic for the creative industry that we will forget this simple, inalienable truth: that all creativity comes from humans who have either lived or imagined extraordinary worlds, not a programme that has recycled older ideas and juggled words around, Geller said.

His intervention on behalf of the publishing industry follows last months release of a silent album by more than 1,000 musicians, including Kate Bush, Damon Albarn and Hans Zimmer, in protest at the Governments planned changes.

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Sir Paul McCartney has also sent a message to the Government, saying: Youre supposed to protect us. Thats your job. So if youre putting through a Bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artist, or youre not going to have them.

The Make it Fair campaign, backed by a coalition of creatives, artists and businesses including The Telegraph, also opposes the proposals.

Dame Caroline Dinenage, chairman of the culture, media and sport select committee, likened the opt-out rule to burglars being allowed into your house unless theres a big sign on your front door expressly telling them that thievery isnt allowed.

According to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the UKs current regime for copyright and AI is holding back the creative industries, media and AI sector from realising their full potential  and that cannot continue.

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Last month an Ipsos poll found that the top three priorities for US voters were the economy, healthcare and immigration. But when respondents were asked to name what they believed to be the leading priorities for the Democratic Party, the three top answers given were abortion, LGBT rights and climate change.

The poll, conducted three months after their crushing US election defeat, provides a clue to why the Democrats lost last November. It also serves as a warning to Keir Starmer. Will Labour govern in line with what voters care about or will it give the British public the impression it is the party of extreme social causes?

The early signs are not promising. One of the first pieces of legislation in the new Parliament was the contentious assisted suicide Bill. While nominally a private members Bill, Labour cannot easily dissociate from legislation brought forward by a Labour MP seemingly in response to a promise that Starmer had made to Esther Rantzen.

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In light of the significant challenges awaiting Labour after the 2024 General Election, the decision to allow Kim Leadbeater to table her Bill raised eyebrows. A poll last summer listed legalising assisted dying as 22nd out of 23 policy priorities for the public. As in the US, voters were more interested in elected officials getting to grips with core issues.

New Labour MPs could scarcely have faced a more divisive Bill so early in their parliamentary careers. This guaranteed an immediate loss of goodwill from constituents on a deeply emotive issue and cemented the impression of a party obsessed with progressive issues over the public good.

Leadbeaters Bill continues to create problems and alienate new groups every week: from palliative care doctors and psychiatrists to Downs syndrome charities and eating disorder campaigners. It is unlikely the Government will come out unscathed from a rushed and flawed Bill. In light of this, for Starmer to allow his MPs to push further similarly controversial legislation would be political folly. And yet, this is exactly what we face.

In January, a new campaign was launched to fully decriminalise abortion for women in relation to their own pregnancies  this would any threat of prosecution for women performing their own abortions even up to the moment of birth.

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It would be a grave mistake for Starmer to allow his MPs to support such a proposal. First, it would be distracting. It will clog up parliamentary time, media oxygen and MPs inboxes  they would not welcome an amendment provoking hundreds more impassioned constituent emails.

After similar amendments were tabled to the previous governments Criminal Justice Bill last year, the issue became such a distraction that the Bill was delayed for months and eventually fell at the Election. A repeat situation would jeopardise the criminal justice reforms the Government wishes to introduce.

Secondly, the basis of such an amendment is dishonest. In reality, decriminalising abortion up to birth is a means for the abortion lobby to cover up the effects of its own disastrous pills by post policy. This allows women to bypass the legal abortion limit by obtaining abortion pills without an in-person consultation that assesses health risks and gestational age.

The result has been a small number of prosecutions for illegal abortions, including the case of Carla Foster, who knowingly aborted her baby at over 30 weeks of gestation after misleading abortion providers over the phone.

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The decriminalisation campaigns press release laments that six women have appeared in court over the past two years charged with ending their own pregnancy. Prior to this, only three convictions have been reported of an illegal abortion since the current law was introduced in 1861.

The fact that double the number of women appeared in court in the last two years than the previous 160 is not the result of draconian laws or policing. It is because of the abortion lobbys own policy of placing women at risk of prosecution.

Not content with a quarter of a million abortions a year and our already extreme 24-week abortion limit  which is double the average in EU countries  abortion providers now want MPs to allow abortions up to full term for any reason.

Such an amendment would not only be distracting and dishonest, it would be widely disliked. Polling last year found only 16 per cent of people support decriminalisation, while just 9 per cent of women favour continuing the pills by post scheme. Only 1 per cent, according to a poll from 2017, support abortion up to birth.

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If the Government allows an amendment for abortion to full term, it will be ignoring public priorities and following the same path to defeat as the Democrats in America.

Expending political resources to legislate because, out of the half a million abortions over the last two years, there have only been six prosecutions for breaking the law would be madness! The Prime Minister should bring his party into line and ensure no such attempt succeeds.

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A 33-year-old man was arrested March 6, accused of communicating with an undercover detective posing as a 16-year-old girl about engaging in sex, according to El Paso County court records.

According to the arrest affidavit obtained by The Gazette, Brandan Jester friend-requested the detective posing as the 16-year-old named "Kylie" on Facebook and asked her to "hook up."

Jester was on parole for multiple felony-level theft convictions dating back to 2010. As of March 5, 2025, he was on work release status.

Investigators allege Jester was aware the girl was age 16 and continuously messaged her every day asking when they could "hook up." He sent her explicit pictures of himself and asked her for nude photos. He also offered to give her money if she agreed to have sex with him.

Detective Buckner under the name "Kylie" told Jester she would meet up with him to engage in sexual acts March 6. When he arrived at the address in Colorado Springs he was arrested and taken into custody by police.

Jester was booked into the El Paso County Jail on March 6. He remained in custody Monday on a $10,000 bond. He is facing felony charges for soliciting child prostitution, patronizing a prostituted child, inducement of child prostitution, and attempted sexual exploitation of a child. His next court appearance is scheduled 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.
CHICAGO (WGN)  A Lakeview man declared a fugitive after removing his electronic monitoring device following a sexual assault charge against a minor is now behind bars.

The Cook County Sheriffs Office announced in January that deputies were actively searching for Jorge Mondragion-Bahena, 48, after he removed his GPS tracking device in March 2023. Mondragion-Bahena was charged with predatory criminal sexual assault of a minor under the age of 13 in October of 2022.

In January of this year, authorities learned that Mondragion-Bahena may be residing in

Chicago under multiple aliases and working as a cook at an unknown local restaurant.

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According to the Cook County Sheriffs Office, additional information revealed that Mondragion-Bahena lived in the 4500 block of S. Talman Avenue.

Photo shows the arrest of Jorge Mondragon-Bahena (Photo: Cook County Sheriffs Office)

Booking photo of Jorge Mondragon-Bahena (Photo: Cook County Sheriffs Office)

Upon their arrival at the location, authorities located Mondragion-Bahena and took him into their custody.

On Friday, March 7, the Cook County States Attorneys Office approved felony escape charges.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

A Cook County judge denied Mondragon-Bahena pre-trial release following a court hearing on Saturday, March 8, and will remain at Cook County Jail.

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HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  In one weeks time, Gov. Ned Lamont went from vetoing nearly $3 million in funding for nonprofit organizations to signing a revised bill that provided the exact same funding  only by a slightly different mechanism.

The $3 million in funding that the governor vetoed and then ultimately signed will go to an array of nonprofit organizations including Planned Parenthood, various LGBTQ+ groups around the state and agencies providing services for immigrants and refugees.

Street takeovers, traffic stops focus of legislation

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Democratic proponents say the funds are intended to backstop expected losses of federal dollars and to bolster support for immigrant communities, LGBTQ+ people and women.

When he vetoed the initial funding bill last week, Lamont cited concerns that additional spending would exceed the states legal spending limit known as the spending cap. He also questioned the process through which Democratic leaders in the legislature chose the recipients of the $3 million.

The arbitrary nature of these allocations not only raises questions about fairness but also about effectiveness, Lamont wrote last week.

20 groups  including the Bridgeport Pride Center and the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants  were set to receive identical grants of $62,500 in the vetoed bill. Planned Parenthood of Southern New England was set to receive $800,000.

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Lamont zeroed in on that funding, writing that the bill directs $800,000 to a single organization without explanation as to why this entity is prioritized over others providing similar services.

Taxpayer dollars should be allocated based on demonstrable need and measurable outcomes, Lamonts statement continued, not on political considerations or geographic distribution.

Two days later, Lamont had changed his course. He signalled support for an identical spending bill which clarified that the funds would be drawn from a new, off-budget account  meaning the spending would not technically exceed the states budget caps.

Were looking out for you, Lamont told the recipients of the funds when he formally signed-off on the spending on Monday. Thats why were doing this on behalf of some of the organizations you represent. Saying, Were looking out for you, were counseling you, youve got a friend, youve got love.'

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The whole saga of the vetoed-then-approved funds for nonprofits frustrated Republicans every step of the way. They opposed the original bill, criticized the governors reversal and opposed the revised bill  objecting to both the recipients of the funds and the creation of an off-budget account to pay them.

5 charged in Bridgeport absentee ballot fraud arraigned

It is overtly political, State Sen. Rob Sampson (R-16th District) said on the floor of the State Senate last week. It is virtue signaling to two, maybe three very, very distinct groups.

None of these organizations were vetted, State Rep. Vincent Candelora, the House minority leader, said last week. None of these people submit their budgets to us. So, its a giveaway.

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Republicans in both chambers of the legislature attempted to divert the funds to other causes, with Sampson and his State Senate colleagues arguing the funds should go toward energy bill assistance and Meals on Wheels. The Republican amendment was shot down along party lines, with Democratic leaders saying those priorities could be addressed later in the legislative session, which ends in June.

Anybody who is opposed to elderly nutrition or low-income heating assistance needs to get their head examined, State Sen. Bob Duff, the Democratic majority leader, said. Were all for those things.

But Duff said that funding the selected nonprofit groups took priority last week because the federal administration represents a clear and present danger to various communities in Connecticut.

Republicans werent buying the Democratic line.

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I think theyre just trying to show off their opposition to President Trump, Sampson said.

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LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A West Earl Township woman was sentenced to 9-20 years in state prison after selling data; fentanyl-laced heroin to a Millersville man in 2022.

Amy H. Keperling, 44, will also pay $1,868 in restitution after pleading guilty to drug delivery resulting in death, criminal conspiracy to drug delivery resulting in death, and criminal use of a communication facility, according to the Lancaster County District Attorneys Office.

The 36-year-old victim died after ingesting fentanyl-laced heroin sold to him by Kerperling and her husband, John Morris, in August 2022, the DAs office said. They were found dead inside a residence in the 100 block of East Cottage Avenue two days after he was sold the drugs outside a Millersville Borough Bank, per the DAs office.

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During Kerperlings trial, Judge Dennis Reinaker said that although Kerperling had tragic circumstances in life, she had a lengthy criminal record dealing drugs and should have known the consequences of her actions.

The DAs office said Kerperling called the victim a dear friend and said she made a horrible mistake.

The case against Morris is still pending.

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LANCASTER, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  State investigators continue to look into a deadly officer-involved shooting in Lancaster County.

Jacob Tyler Sobieraj, 24, died in a shootout with police Sunday along Mosteller Drive in Lancaster. Deputies said he had called 911 and reported he had shot and killed a woman and child.

In reality, deputies later said the woman and child were shot, though the child, a 6-year-old, died of their injuries Monday. The childs name has not been released, and the woman remains in the hospital as of Tuesday.

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The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, or SLED, said Tuesday that Sobieraj did not have a past arrest history in the state.

Queen City News returned to the area of Mosteller Drive where the incident happened and made contact with family members connected with the home that was the site of the shooting. Family did not wish to make a statement at this time.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Nevada state lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow tenants to take a property owner to court for failing to make timely repairs before the property owner may try to evict them.

Assembly Bill 223, introduced Monday at the Committee on Commerce and Labor by Assembly Member Venicia Considine, would allow tenants to pay reduced rent and file a verified complaint for unhabitable conditions.

Renters rights and 13 more bills to watch at the 2025 Nevada Legislature

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Tenants can currently withhold rent in Nevada for unhabitable conditions, but they must deposit the money with the justice court. That rarely happens, according to supporters of the bill, and the end result is eviction.



What you often see is how habitability presents itself as a tenant Is there on the eviction, Jonathan Norman of Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada told legislators. They have their phone and they say, Judge, I have pictures, and it can be, you know, sewage backing up in their bathtub. It can be, you know, really horrific stuff, and the judge looks at them and then asks if they escrowed the rent, and the answer is almost always no because people dont understand how theyre supposed to do that, how they can take advantage of that and then the judicial officer orders the eviction.



Assembly Bill 223 would allow the tenant to turn to court first.



Numerous groups and individuals testified in support of the bill.



I have stared into the eyes of cockroaches. I have sweated in the broken air conditioner night. I have breathed the dangerous poles of mold. I have felt trapped. I have felt meaningless. I have felt like I did not matter, Noah Cicero testified. I have felt like that I too have become a cockroach, a pest that doesnt matter to anyone. Cockroaches can be evicted just as quickly as I can in the state of Nevada. What the landlord wants, the landlord gets.



Opponents of the bill, including the Nevada Realtors Legislative Committee, testified laws are already in place to address landlord and tenant issues.

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Lara Trump said Americans ought to be kissing the feet of Elon Musk and President Donald Trump for their chainsaw approach to slashing federal spending that has wreaked havoc across government.

During an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Monday, the former Republican National Committee co-chairwho recently launched her own show on the networksaid it was laughable that progressives claim that Musks work with her father-in-law is enriching himself and his friends.

Instead, she said, Americans should show gratitude to the president and his billionaire lieutenant for their mass purges of the federal workforce and nascent efforts to cut spending, which have already resulted in the mistaken firing of nuclear safety workers and experts working on a response to the avian flu outbreak.

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People ought to be kissing the feet of Elon Musk and Donald Trump for being the two people to actually do this, Trump told Hannity.

She also insisted that Musk, who is not paid for his role as a senior White House adviser, is making a financial sacrifice.

This guy is losing money because of what hes doing, but he understands the importance of this moment, she said. We cannot continue in perpetuity spending the way we are. We cannot survive as a country.

President Trump has promised to implement a number of measures that would benefit the wealthy like Musk and the corporations he leads.

Namely, he has promised to extend tax cuts passed during his first administrationwhich the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found benefited the wealthyand to trim the corporate tax rate from 21 percent to 15 percent, leaving more money in the coffers of private firms and which the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget found would cost the federal government $200 billion in annual revenue.

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On the other hand, Musks companies have had a rough few weeks, raising questions about his attention being divided between politics and firms hes supposed to be leadingas well as concerns about the reputational risks of his association with a figure as polarizing as the president.

On Monday, shares in Musk-led electric vehicle maker Tesla crashed 15 percent to their worst day in five years. Data in recent weeks has suggested Tesla sales are plummeting in Europe, Australia, and China as competitors are claiming a larger share of the EV market.

On Monday, his social media platform X was subject to widespread outages, which Musk claimed without offering evidence was the result of cyberattacks originating in Ukraine.

Last week, a rocket made by his aerospace firm SpaceX exploded during a launch in Florida, with the resulting debris disrupting hundreds of flights.

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Rockets are hard, he later wrote on X.

Musks authority in the Trump administration was also humbled last week at a meeting of the presidents Cabinet, according to multiple reports.

Trump told his top officials that they are in charge of their departments and that his billionaire adviser could offer recommendations to them but not make unilateral staffing decisions.
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Paleobiologist Dr. Kenshu Shimada has been fascinated by fossil sharks, including the giant Otodus megalodon, since childhood  he found his first megalodon tooth at 13 years old. So when he saw the 2018 blockbuster The Meg, he thought something was fishy. Not only did the movie depict the long-extinct megalodon surviving to modern times, but the 75-foot-long (23-meter-long) Hollywood version of the predator seemed way too big.

Exactly how large megalodon was in real life is a long-standing mystery  no complete fossils have ever been discovered. But now, to Shimadas own surprise, his most recent research suggests megalodon could have reached a whopping length of 80 feet (24 meters).

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Whats more, he and his coauthors posit that megalodon was slenderer than previously thought, closer in build to a sleek lemon shark than a chunky great white, according to the study published Sunday in the journal Palaeontologia Electronica.

Megalodon is not a simple, gigantic version of great white shark. I think that we really have to move away from that concept, said Shimada, a professor of biological and environmental sciences at DePaul University in Chicago who served as lead author.

The findings could help reshape how scientists and popular science fiction depict the enormous creature  and has possibly shed light on what lets some marine vertebrates evolve extraordinarily huge proportions, according to Shimada.

Megalodon fossil record: Plenty of teeth but not much else

Unlike in The Meg, the prehistoric megalodon never coexisted with humans, but between 15 million and 3.6 million years ago, the apex predator dominated oceans around the world, according to various megalodon fossils scientists have unearthed.

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As a shark, megalodon is part of the family of cartilaginous fishes. They have a very poorly mineralized skeleton. There are no true bones that make the skeleton hard, Shimada said. On the other hand, teeth are very hard, so theyre durable. Megalodon produced new teeth throughout its life, helping make these fossils a fairly common find.

Along with teeth, the existing fossil record includes parts of giant shark skeletons from the same period, including a 36-foot-long (11-meter-long) section of a fossilized spinal column from Belgium, a news release stated.

The vertebrae of this shark are up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) in diameter; another fossil shark specimen from Denmark has vertebrae that are 9 inches (23 centimeters) across. For context, adult human vertebrae are roughly 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) in diameter.

Neither shark backbone specimens were found with the massive, serrated teeth associated with megalodon, but scientists have presumed they belong to the same species.

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Megalodons teeth resemble those of a modern great white shark, so some scientists previously concluded that the two sharks had a similar stout body shape. Shimada followed this hypothesis when he published a paper in September 2019, arguing that the maximum size for megalodon was just 50 feet (15.3 meters) long.

Paleobiologist and lead study author Dr. Kenshu Shimada holds a megalodon tooth. He has been interested in the extinct shark since he was 13. - Jeff Carrion/DePaul University

However, several years ago, Shimada and some of his colleagues began to question the underlying assumption that megalodon looked like a huge great white shark. In reviewing a August 2022 paper, in which scientists built a digital 3D model of megalodon, Shimada found some of the math behind the sharks proportions didnt seem to add up.

We kind of realized  click that (the) great white shark is not a good model, Shimada said. So, he began searching for a better match for megalodons modern analogue.

Megalodon may have had a long, sleek body

Shimada and his team compared 145 species of living sharks and 20 species of extinct sharks and built a database of the proportions of their heads, bodies and tails. The researchers then compared these proportions with the parts of megalodons body that have been found.

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We have a vertebral column thats known, and if we assume that thats the complete trunk length, then why cant we estimate the head length and a tail length based on modern day? Shimada said.

The researchers calculated that the likeliest body plan for megalodon wouldnt have been that of a stout, tanklike great white but rather a more streamlined fish, such as a lemon shark. In this discovery, Shimada said, his team also stumbled upon a larger pattern in marine biology.

Scientists have long thought the megalodon resembled a supersize version of the modern-day great white shark. - Reinhard Dirscherl/ullstein bild/Getty Images

However, Otodus megalodon likely had sleeker proportions instead, more in line with those of a lemon shark, new research suggests. - Rolf von Riedmatten/imageBROKER/Shutterstock

Inadvertently, we discovered the mystery of why some vertebrates can get large, but some cannot, Shimada said. Great white sharks, with their thick bodies that grow to about 20 feet long (6 meters), seem to be about as big as a stocky animal can be and still move efficiently through the water. Meanwhile, sleeker animals such as blue whales, which can grow up to about 100 feet (30 meters) long, can attain enormous lengths while still swimming well.

If you stay in a skinnier body, there is a better chance of being able to grow larger, Shimada said. This principle applies to megalodon, which according to Shimadas new study could have been up to 80 feet (24 meters) long, but thinner than previous models.

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Dr. Stephen Godfrey, the curator of paleontology at the Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons, Maryland, who was not involved with the study, said he was surprised by both megalodons proposed similarity to a lemon shark and by the giant size proposed by Shimada and his team.

The argument that they make, that a long, slender animal that size is more hydrodynamically efficient than if theyre really kind of fat and chunky, like if you scale up a living great white  that argument is a good one, he said. But still, Im not saying it gets stuck in my craw, but wow. I mean, thats twice the size, Godfrey said, referring to the estimated megalodon length increasing from 50 to 80 feet.

Ultimately, theres just one way to know for certain how long megalodon was and what it looked like. What we really need is the discovery of the complete skeleton, Shimada said. The real test comes when we really have the complete skeleton, and then it will support or refute whether it was really skinny or stocky.

Kate Golembiewski is a freelance science writer based in Chicago who geeks out about zoology, thermodynamics and death.

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March 11 (UPI) -- Russian authorities said at least two people in Moscow were killed and 18 injured, including three children, after Ukraine attacked western Russia with hundreds of drones hours before high-level talks between U.S. and Ukrainian officials on ending the war were due to get underway in Saudi Arabia.

A 38-year-old security guard was killed after a drone struck the parking lot of an agribusiness in Domodedovksy 30 miles south of downtown Moscow and a 50-year-old-man died from his injuries in a hospital in nearby Vidnoye, just outside the Moscow city limits, according to a social media post by Moscow Region Governor Andrey Vorobyov.

Calling it the "largest-ever" drone attack on the Russian capital, damaging residential and other buildings and torching vehicles, Vorobyov claimed air defenses had repelled the airborne assault, downing 91 drones targeting more than a dozen communities across the Moscow region.

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He said most of the damage was caused by debris from destroyed drones.

"The drone attack affected 20 people in the Moscow Region, including three kids. Two adults were killed, unfortunately," Russian Assistant Health Minister Alexey Kuznetsov told the state-run TASS news agency.

Kuznetsov said six others remained hospitalized, including a child, with one person a critical condition and a second listed as "serious."

"The other injured people, including a child, are in fair condition. Twelve people, among them a child, are receiving outpatient care," he added.

Industrial facilities in Leninksy, just south of Moscow, were also hit, including warehouses of the Moscow Coke and Gas Plant and Santechkomplect, a large building and plumbing supplies company.

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One man was reported injured in a drone strike in the Lipetsk region, 250 miles north of Kharkiv, Ukraine, in the attacks that saw Ukrainian forces launch 337 UAVs against seven other Russian regions, including Kursk, part of which is occupied by Ukrainian troops, Bryansk, Ryazan, Kaluga, Oryol, Voronezh and Nizhny Novgorod.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova condemned the attack saying it should be seen as a warning of the danger to all posed by a barbarous regime created and nurtured by the West.

"This is a signal to the international community, to the collective West, which is collective only on its surface and utterly fragmented in practice, that now it will deal with the unleashed madness of the monster they raised, fed, equipped, provided with weapons without control and showered with money," she told reporters.

Russia launched its own attacks in the other direction overnight using an Iskander-M ballistic missile and more than 70 drones, injuring two people in Kharkiv and Sumy regions and igniting major blazes in the southwestern port city of Odessa after drones struck fuel tanks, a house and a warehouse full of children's toys.

The exchanges came as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was due to sit down for talks Tuesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's head of office, Andriy Yermak, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to hammer out a framework for a peace deal and cease-fire they hope will lead to an end to the three-year-long Ukraine-Russia war.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A man was arrested after allegedly hitting his wife with a mini sledgehammer, setting their central valley apartment on fire and causing a dogs death, according to documents obtained by 8 News Now.

On March 6, officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department responded to a disturbance call at an apartment near West Desert Inn Road and Arville Street.

When officers arrived, the victim told police her husband, Christopher Ubaldo, 34, hit her on the head with a mini sledgehammer, according to an arrest report.

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The victim explained that she and Ubaldo were in the living room getting ready for bed when he brought up an affair she had seven years earlier, which led to an argument. She said she asked Ubaldo if she could use the restroom, and he told her she had five minutes to return to the bedroom, the report said.

The victim told police she locked the bathroom door to prevent him from getting in because he was getting angry. Shortly afterward, she heard Ubaldo pounding on the door, demanding that she come out.

Ubaldos brother and his husband, who also lived in the apartment, heard the commotion and came to see what was happening. They told police they tried to stop Ubaldo from breaking down the bathroom door, but he succeeded. The victim was crouched behind the door when, as she turned her head, she suddenly felt a sharp blow to the top of her head from what felt like a hammer, according to the report.

LVMPD said she immediately felt pain and blood flowing down her scalp. One of the other men slammed into Ubaldo and shouted for the victim to run. She then ran to her sons girlfriends residence to get help, the report said.

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Ubaldo then walked towards his brother and brother-in-law with the sledgehammer. They both ran out of the apartment, and Ubaldo locked the door behind them to prevent them from re-entering, police said.

The men realized they left their small dog inside and called the police. Moments later, Ubaldo set the apartment on fire from within by igniting paper towels in the bedroom, according to the report.

Ubaldo later told police he wanted to commit suicide and stay inside the apartment, but the fire became too hot inside his apartment, causing him to leave, the report stated.

Officers then arrived at the scene and arrested Ubaldo.

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When police spoke with Ubaldo, he explained that he could not get over the affair, and that is why he continued to argue with his wife.

At times, he said he remembered the attack, while other times, he insisted he could not recall it, police said. When asked if drugs had been involved, the victim told police that Ubaldo had been using meth.

The report mentioned that the dog, which had been inside the bedroom where the fire started, died inside the apartment.

Court records show Ubaldo is facing the following charges: domestic battery with the use of a deadly weapon, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, arson in the first degree, and willful/malicious torture/maim/kill dog.

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He was held at the Clark County Detention Center without bail. Records show his next court appearance was scheduled for March 26.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Despite the free appointments at the Mexican Consulate of Las Vegas, citizens have been conned into paying their way into the consulate amid rising uncertainty.

Scammers impersonating lawyers have been selling appointments to visitors to the consulate in Downtown Las Vegas, according to Consul General Patricia Cortes Guadarrama.

Weve seen scams, and its unfortunate that people take advantage of vulnerable people, she said. People that pass as lawyers charging a lot of money for papers that have no value at all and no legal value.

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Guadarrama said she is asking for citizens to check and verify the sources for their appointments and consulate resources, pointing to their website.

Its kind of a vicious circle, because when they sell them, then theres no appointments available, she said. And then people are stressed and really need to come, and then they fall into that, and they buy them.

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford has also jumped in to help bring awareness to the issue along with the consulate in a series of public service announcements.

Were here to help, were here to listen, were here to partner up, and, yeah, to serve both the Mexican community, the Hispanic community, and also the local community, Guadarrama said. I think theres a lot of things that we have done together, and we look forward to doing many more.

More than pushing papers

Although paperwork is the consulates specialty, staff said they are on hand to respond to concerns about immigrationa topic which has seen a renewed surge.

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Adriana Villarreal, council for the consulates protection department, said events like sale, which invite attorneys to bring information to the Mexican community, are an important consulate resource.

The good thing is that everybody speaks Spanish, and they can provide this free legal assistance to any person that comes to the consulate, she said.

Labor, criminal, and administrative cases all pass through the consulate. Sometimes staff assist with the process for transporting a body back to Mexico and provide visas for transit.

Las Vegas is one of 53 Mexican consulate locations in the United States which offer options and even advice for citizen, including to avoid misinformation.

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What we really want and ask them is not to believe all the news that they hear, Villarreal said. Because a lot is fake news.

Citizens with questions regarding immigration, or assistance locating a family or friend, are directed to call the Center for Information and Assistance for Mexicans (CIAM) at 520-623-7874.

Citizen empowerment

Consul General Guadarrama, who has been in the Las Vegas position since June 2024, said Mexicans are a dynamic part of the community. During a recent visit to Carson City she voiced support for Mexicans statewide.

I shared the our communitys concern because, of course, you know that a vast part of of our community does have voting rights, she said. They are documented citizens of the US, some are not. So we have a vulnerable community but a community that contributes quite a lot to the state economy, especially in the construction and service areas.

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Guadarrama said the consulate has a great relationship with local law enforcement and elected leadership, a bond forged to help remind citizens its okay to help when neededlike as a witness to a crime.

One more category which staff have witnessed a rise in has put a spotlight on the influence of Mexicodual citizenship.

Many people are reaching out to look for dual citizenship, which is interesting, Guadarrama said. I think people are realizing the importance of it, so that has increased twofold.

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested an alleged Tren de Aragua gang member in Colorado Springs on Wednesday, according to a post on X.

According to law enforcement, Pedro Rafael Cartaya-Rojas, 30, is a Venezuelan national who allegedly entered the country illegally on Nov. 20, 2023.

According to Gazette coverage, Tren de Aragua, or TDA, is a Venezuelan prison gang turned transnational criminal organization operating in Denver and Aurora.

Federal authorities have said TdA gang members have been involved in several criminal activities that include drug trafficking, kidnapping, money laundering, extortion and human trafficking.

The first appearance of gang members in Aurora dates back to 2023. Other Gazette coverage says gang members came into the country with other Venezuelans who fled President Nicolas Maduros oppressive regime.

Cartaya-Rojas was a part of ICE's Alternatives to Detention program  which exists to increase compliance rates regarding court appearances as well as assisting in case management for non-detained aliens.

The program allows the aliens to stay in the community, under supervision, as they progress through legal proceedings or make plans to leave the country, according to the ICE website.

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According to the social media post Tuesday, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office assisted in the arrest. The news swiftly follows an announcement by the Sheriff's Office Friday that ICE recently arrested several other Venezuelan gang members in El Paso County.

The El Paso County Sheriff's Office referred all requests for additional details such as names, charges and the location of the arrests to U.S. immigration officials. ICE did not immediately respond to a media inquiry.

Since President Donald Trump's inauguration, ICE raids hit the streets of Denver, Aurora, Denver, Thornton and Arapahoe County

In response, several protests have followed the harder-line approach to immigration enforcement. Feb. 5 protests shut down major roadways in the state capital as thousands gathered to speak up against the roads and several other executive orders signed by Trump.

Protests and rallies even made their way down to Colorado Springs. Hundreds protested Trump administration in downtown Colorado Springs on Presidents Day. Another protest in support in immigrants on Feb. 8 outside City Hall drew nearly 100.
Fire survivors including small business owners who were affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires have until Wednesday evening to apply for financial relief.

The Los Angeles Region Small Business and Worker Relief Funds provide direct support to businesses, nonprofits and workers affected by the windstorm and wildfires that occurred in January.

These cash assistance grants are meant to provide immediate relief, "while the County and City of Los Angeles, along with federal, state, local and community partners, plan for the long-term economic recovery and resiliency of those impacted," officials said.

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The deadline to fill out an online application is March 12 at 5 p.m.

Small businesses and workers can find the application and more information here.

Homeowners and renters looking for relief can find more information and apply online here.

"This is a critical opportunity for those impacted by the devastating wildfires to access much-needed financial support," said Kathryn Barger, Los Angeles County's 5th District supervisor. "I strongly encourage anyone eligible to apply before tomorrow's deadline."

Small business owners and nonprofits

Small business and nonprofit owners whose bricks-and-mortar facilities were fully destroyed may qualify for up to $25,000 grants.

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Here's the breakdown for what small businesses and nonprofits are eligible for:



Small businesses and nonprofits operating from a commercial space can receive $25,000 for completely destroyed bricks-and-mortar

If either was partially destroyed they can receive up to $20,000.

Either reporting loss of revenue can apply for up to $15,000.

Home-based businesses and independent contractors (this includes nonprofits operating from home) are eligible for $5,000 grants for equipment loss and $2,000 for revenue loss.

Applicants are eligible if:



They were financially impacted by the Los Angeles-area fires and windstorm that took place starting Jan. 7.

They were headquartered within the boundaries of Los Angeles County and operating within either a Fire Zone, Evacuation Order Level 3 Zone or Evacuation Warning Level 2 Zone during the disaster period.

Businesses, including affiliates, must have 100 or fewer employees and average annual gross receipts of $6 million or less.

Nonprofits and social service providers with a 501(c)(3), 501(c)(6) or 501(c)(19) designation must serve low-income to moderate income communities and have annual gross revenue of $6 million or less.

The applicant independently owns the business or nonprofit that sells or provides services and/or products.

The business owner applying for the grant must be the majority owner and manager of the qualified business and the owners primary means of income in the 2024 taxable year. Person applying on behalf of a nonprofit must be its executive officer or president.

Applicants must be active businesses currently in operation and in good standing with all local, state and federal taxing and licensing authorities.

Workers

Workers who lost their homes or jobs due to fire zone impacts may qualify for up to $2,000 in assistance.

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In order to be eligible for the assistance the applicant must be:



18 years of age or older

A resident of Los Angeles County

Employed or self-employed (for example, a domestic worker) in Los Angeles County at the time of the Los Angeles-area fires.

Experienced income loss, temporary or permanent, due to place of work location in the emergency zones (Fire Zone, Evacuation Order Level 3 Zone or Evacuation Warning Level 2 Zone during disaster period) or due to loss of their home.

A right-to-work status is not required to apply for this grant.

The required documents for the application include:



Acceptable form of government-issued (USA or foreign) photo identification

Proof of residency in Los Angeles County (This can be a government-issued photo ID with home address, utility bill, mortgage or lease documents.)

Proof of income or employment at a physical address in emergency zones as of Jan. 7 (This can be a pay stub, invoice, employer or validation.)

Proof of permanent disruption including structural loss, damage or temporary disruption (closure of the worksite) to work location or residence due to the windstorm and wildfires. (This can be the FEMA Determination Letter, publicly available data on photos for structures in emergency zones or received evacuation order mandates.)

Residents and renters

Immediate cash grants ranging from $6,000 to $18,000 are available for homeowners and tenants who were displaced by the fires, so their home had to be damaged or destroyed to the point of it being uninhabitable.

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Applicants also may be eligible for assistance if they experienced a death in their household related to the Los Angeles-area fires.

Grant amounts are determined by household size.

Here's the breakdown:



A household of one or two people, including individuals living alone or couples without dependents, may be eligible for $6,000.

A household of three or more people, where at least one person is a dependent minor or a dependent adult, may be eligible for $12,000.

A multigenerational household with at least four people that includes dependent minors and/or dependent adults and consists of at least three separate generations may be eligible for $18,000.

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The program and application guide is available in Armenian, Chinese, English, Persian, Russian, Spanish and Tagalog.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The House passed legislation Tuesday to avert a partial government shutdown and fund federal agencies through September.

In the Senate, the bill will need support from at least eight Democrats to get it to President Donald Trumps desk. Its one of the biggest legislative tests so far of the Republican presidents second term.

In moving the bill ahead despite the lack of buy-in from Democrats, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is essentially daring them to oppose it and risk a shutdown that would begin Saturday if lawmakers fail to act.

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Here's the latest:

Trump elated over House passage of bill to avoid partial government shutdown

Big WIN for Republicans, and America, tonight. Congratulations to ALL!!! Trump posted on his social media platform.

The Republican-controlled House voted 217-213 to pass the bill to fund federal agencies through the end of the budget year in September. It now goes to the Senate, where bipartisan support will be needed to send it to Trumps desk for his signature by late Friday.

House Republicans grumble after spending bill passes

While House Republicans unanimously supported a continuing resolution to fund the government through September, many GOP lawmakers bristled that spending was not slashed enough.

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Its a bad bill now, but we were painted in the corner, Rep. Rich McCormick of Georgia said. We dont have a better option right now. Thats the horrible thing about that.

Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, an outspoken member of Freedom Caucus, said that he expects the White House will come in with a relatively conservative number on future budget proposals that would be more satisfying to fiscal hawks.

Republican senators warn the US cannot get played by Russia as Trump pushes Ukraine to end the war

Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the former Republican leader, said on Tuesday that Ukraines victory and stability in Europe is squarely in the interest of the United States.

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Europe is our largest trading partner, McConnell said. Russia is a thuggish autocracy with an economy smaller than Italys. There is simply no equivalence.

The remarks came as the Trump administration lifted its suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing for Ukraine, and Ukraine said it was open to a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Russia.

McConnell and Republican Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined Democrats to stress the consequences of abandoning Ukraine.

People need to understand that Ukraine is a doormat to Europe, Tillis said. We have to step up and make sure that the American people know that its in our national interest to support Ukraine.

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Court asked to intervene after email tells USAID workers to destroy classified documents

A union for U.S. Agency for International Development contractors asked a federal judge Tuesday to intervene in any destruction of classified documents after an email ordered staffers to help burn and shred agency records.

A person familiar with the email who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal verified that it was sent to at least some essential personnel.

The email directed staffers to report to work starting Tuesday. Shred as many documents first, then stuff remaining classified material into designated bags for burning if the demand on the shredder becomes too great, the email instructed.

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It was sent under the name of Erica Carr  the acting executive secretary at USAID  and bears a USAID logo.

 Read more about the email telling USAID staff to destroy classified documents

___

Associated Press reporters Ellen Knickmeyer and Farnoush Amiri contributed reporting.

Trump announces US ambassador choices for Singapore and Tunisia

For Singapore, he has selected Anji Sinha.

Trump says Sinha is a highly respected entrepreneur, with an incredible family who will strongly represent our Nations Interests, and put America First.

For Tunisia, he has tapped Bill Bazzi, mayor of Dearborn Heights, Michigan.

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Bazzi worked hard during the 2024 Presidential Election to help us secure our Historic Victory, and I look forward to seeing the great things he will accomplish for our Nation, Trump said. Bazzi is a former Marine who also held positions at Boeing Co. and Ford Motor Co. before he became mayor in January 2021.

The posts require U.S. Senate approval. Trump made the announcements on his social media platform.

Trump acknowledges Musks effort to slash federal spending has encountered little hiccups

We had some little hiccups, not big hiccups, but weve saved a tremendous amount of money for the future, Trump said at a business roundtable event in Washington.

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Trump also continued to lower expectations for what Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency would ultimately save, a figure Musk first set at $2 trillion then later scaled back to $1 trillion.

We saved a tremendous amount of money, Trump says, referring to savings he credits Musk with identifying. I dont know if its going to reach a trillion, but its going to reach a lot.

He also denounced escalating blowback that Musk has received for his work for Trump, including slumping sales and stock prices at Tesla.

He shouldnt be sacrificed or have to suffer because he wants to help government, Trump said of the worlds richest man.

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Education Department plans to lay off over 1,300 employees

The Education Department plans to lay off over 1,300 of its more than 4,000 employees as part of a reorganization thats seen as a prelude to Trumps plan to dismantle the agency.

The cuts announced by department officials raise questions about the agencys ability to continue usual operations.

The department is also terminating leases on buildings in cities including New York, Boston, Chicago and Cleveland, said Rachel Oglesby, the departments chief of staff. She said the changes would not affect the agencys Office for Civil Rights or its functions mandated by Congress, such as the distribution of federal aid to schools.

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The layoffs are part of a dramatic downsizing directed by Trump as he moves to reduce the footprint of the federal government.

 Read more about the planned Education Department layoffs

House passes bill to fund federal agencies through September, though prospects unclear in Senate

The House has passed legislation to avert a partial government shutdown and fund federal agencies through September, providing critical momentum as the measure now moves to the Senate, where bipartisan support will be needed to get it over the finish line.

Republicans needed overwhelming support from their members to pass the funding measure, and they got it in the 217-213 House vote.

The bill will need support from at least eight Democratic senators to get it to Trumps desk.

 Read more about the funding measure

Another nonprofit sues over frozen green bank funds

Power Forward Communities became the third nonprofit to sue Citibank in recent days, alleging the bank had improperly frozen its $2 billion award to finance climate-friendly housing projects.

The Biden administration awarded $14 billion to three nonprofits through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, commonly called a green bank. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has criticized the program as rife with waste and Democratic self-dealing. The nonprofits have said their programs were closely vetted, congressionally authorized and are transparent.

Top Democrat on House Intelligence Committee hails resumption of intel sharing with Ukraine

U.S. Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut said the suspension by the Trump administration had been unnecessary and unjust.

I am relieved that it was at least brief, Himes said in a statement. The Ukrainians did not start this war, so it comes as no surprise that they are willing to agree to a 30-day ceasefire.

Judge wont block Trump administration from ending payments for contracts with refugee resettlement program

A federal judge refused Tuesday to block the Trump administration from canceling or pausing payments for government contracts with the nations largest private refugee resettlement program.

Last month, U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden declined to order the administration to restore funding for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. In Tuesdays ruling, the judge denied the conferences request for a preliminary injunction.

McFadden said he cant order the government to pay money due on a contract. The group is seeking a purely contractual remedy that must be resolved by the Court of Federal Claims, the judge concluded.

The bishops asked the judge to prohibit the U.S. State Department from enforcing a Jan. 24 suspension of millions of dollars in aid, saying it has affected nearly 7,000 newly arrived refugees. The conference is one of 10 national agencies that received program funds for refugee resettlement services.

Trump to honor Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles at White House in April

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the team enthusiastically accepted an invitation to visit on April 28.

Trump attended the first half of the Super Bowl in February, where the Eagles routed the Chiefs 40-22 to win Philadelphias second championship.

Law firm sues over Trumps order seeking to strip its attorneys of security clearances

Lawyers for Perkins Coie, which represented Democrat Hillary Clintons campaign in the 2016 presidential election, called the executive order signed by Trump an affront to the Constitution and our adversarial system of justice.

The firm is asking for a judge to strike down the presidents order as unconstitutional and prevent it from being implemented.

The firm made headlines over its hiring of a private investigative firm to research any ties between Trump and Russia.

In its lawsuit, lawyers for Perkins Coie noted the attorney who brokered that arrangement left the firm years ago. They call the order an act of retaliation that threatens to harm the law firms reputation and business and that illegally discriminates against the firm.

Trump buys a red Tesla after showroom comes to the White House

Trump bought a red Model S Tesla, fulfilling a pledge he made overnight on social media.

The president said he planned to pay for the vehicle by check instead of whipping out a credit card because he likes doing things the old-fashioned way.

Trump said he hopes the purchase will boost sales for Elon Musks company.

And will he take it for a test drive? Maybe Ill do it some other time, Trump said.

House Democrats urge the Trump administration to investigate rising prices

U.S. Rep. Gerald Connolly of Virginia and some fellow Democrats are asking the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to uphold their duty to protect American consumers from entities that may prey on them financially.

In a letter to the bureau, the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice, Connolly asked the agencies to investigate price gouging and anticompetitive behavior on essential goods and services.

Connolly is the highest ranking Democrat on the Oversight Committee on Government Reform. U.S. Rep. Gerald Connolly of Virginia and some fellow Democrats are asking the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to uphold their duty to protect American consumers from entities that may prey on them financially.

In a letter to the bureau, the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice, Connolly asked the agencies to investigate price gouging and anticompetitive behavior on essential goods and services.

Connolly is the highest ranking Democrat on the Oversight Committee on Government Reform.

Trump ready to speak directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but says it takes two to tango

Trump also said he hopes the Russia-Ukraine ceasefire proposal can be solidified over the next few days.

I know we have a big meeting with Russia tomorrow, and some great conversations hopefully will ensue, Trump added.

Education Department buildings to shut down for security reasons

Employees are being ordered not to come to the office Wednesday.

A memo sent to staff Tuesday ordered them to be out of the Washington headquarters and regional offices by 6 p.m., and not to return until Thursday. Workers wont be allowed in offices for any reason, the memo said.

It came from the departments office of security, facilities and logistics.

The only explanation given for the closure was unspecified security reasons. A department spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions.

President Trump campaigned on a promise to shut down the department and turn over its power to states. New Education Secretary Linda McMahon told workers last week to prepare for cuts that will profoundly impact staff, budgets and agency operations.

Trump says hes buying a Tesla for staff use since hes not allowed to drive

Five Tesla vehicles, including a cybertruck, were lined up on the White House driveway after Trump said hes buying one to show support for Elon Musk.

Musk owns Tesla and the company has taken a beating over his work through the Department of Government Efficiency to drastically cut federal spending and the workforce.

Musk showed up for the presidents appearance, though Trump said he had no idea that would happen.

Trump lavished praise on Musk, referring to the billionaires cost-cutting efforts when he told reporters, we have to celebrate somebody that has the courage to do this.

Trump said he would pay full price for the vehicle.

Trump cheers Ukraine agreeing to US ceasefire proposal

The president offered his first comments after his team and Ukrainian officials announced theyve come to terms on a 30-day ceasefire agreement between Moscow and Kyiv.

The U.S. now needs to get the Kremlin to sign off.

Now we have to go to Russia and ... hopefully President Putin, will agree to that also, Trump said. And we can get this show on the road.

Ontarios premier: By no means are we just going to roll over

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Tuesday afternoon that U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called him and Ford agreed to remove the surcharge on electricity sold to the United States.

He said he was confident the U.S. president would also stand down on his own plans for 50% tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum.

He has to bounce it off the president but Im pretty confident he will pull back, Ford said on Trumps steel and aluminum tariff threat. By no means are we just going to roll over. What we are going to do is have a constructive conversation.

After a brutal stock market selloff Monday and further jitters Tuesday, Trump faces increased pressure to show he has a solid plan to grow the economy.

US national security adviser: Talks with Ukraine got into substantive details of permanent peace deal

U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz spoke to reporters Tuesday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, after talks the U.S. said saw Ukraine agree to immediate negotiations with Russia and a 30-day ceasefire, contingent on Russia also stopping attacks.

Besides immediate steps, the talks addressed substantive details on how this war is going to permanently end, what type of, guarantees theyre going to have for their long term security and prosperity, Waltz said.

The Trump administration also agreed to end what had been a weeklong suspension of military aid to Ukraine.

Ukraine is ready to negotiate for a broader peace, Rubio says

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Ukraine agreed to enter immediate negotiations for an enduring and sustainable end to the war with Russia.

Ukrainians are ready to stop the fighting, theyre ready to stop the shooting, theyre ready to get to the table, Rubio told reporters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The secretary had just finished several hours of talks that included U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and a Ukrainian delegation. The U.S. now takes the offer to Russia, Rubio said.

Trump administration to resume military aid to Ukraine and intelligence sharing

The Trump administration said Tuesday that it would immediately lift its suspension of military aid to Ukraine and its intelligence sharing with Kyiv, more than a week after imposing the measures to push Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to enter talks to end the war with invading Russian forces.

The announcement came at talks between Ukraine and the United States in Saudi Arabia. Ukraine also said it was open to a 30-day cease-fire in the war with Russia, subject to Kremlin agreement.

 Read more about the Russia-Ukraine war

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stops short of calling Canada a close ally of the US

I think Canada is a neighbor. They are a partner. They have always been an ally, Leavitt told the White House press corps during a briefing.

Perhaps they are becoming a competitor now, she said, especially in light of Trumps announcement Tuesday to double his planned tariffs on steel and aluminum for Canada in an escalation of the trade war with the U.S.s northern neighbor.

Leavitt continued to press Trumps suggestion that Canada would be well served becoming the 51st state in the United States.

He believes Canadians would benefit greatly from becoming the 51st state of the United States of America, she said.

White House press secretary calls market volatility a snapshot'

We are in a period of economic transition  from the mess that was created by Joe Biden, Leavitt said while speaking to reporters in the White House briefing room.

She was touting increases in the automotive industry while pointing to the high inflation that occurred during the early part of Democratic President Joe Bidens administration.

When it comes to the stock market, the numbers we see today, the numbers we saw yesterday, the numbers we will see tomorrow, are a snapshot in a moment in time, she said, repeating Trumps claim that the U.S. is entering a golden age in American manufacturing.

Leavitt did not mention that markets were higher in September, when Biden was nearing the end of his term in office.

University of Maine says USDA has paused funding during investigation into Title IX compliance

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said last month it initiated the compliance review in the wake of a disagreement between President Trump and Maine Democratic Gov. Janet Mills over the role of transgender girls in sports.

Trump signed an executive order designed to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls and womens sports. Trump characterized Maine as out of line with the order and told Mills youre not getting any federal funding during a meeting with governors during the disagreement.

University of Maine officials said in a statement that federal funding is critical to its work supporting farmers, fishermen and foresters in the state. They said the university has complied with the USDA investigation and has been informed the funding pause is temporary until further notice.

Judge blocks federal cuts to a teacher training program

U.S. District Judge Myong Joun sided with eight states that sued to keep federal funding in place for a pair of teacher-training grants the Trump administration wants to slash.

The grants largely help bring teachers to rural districts, but California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Wisconsin had argued that cutting the programs was illegal.

The Education Department had said the grants supported divisive ideologies.

Trump answers backlash against Musk by buying a Tesla

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said a Tesla is being brought to the White House for Trump.

The president announced in an overnight social media post that he was going to buy a car from Elon Musks company, which has faced sagging sales and declining stock prices as Musk slashes government jobs, programs and funding throughout the federal bureaucracy.

Leavitt said getting the new vehicle would be a very exciting moment, and that Trump would pay full market price.

House Speaker Mike Johnson says to give Trumps economic policies a chance

Johnson suggested President Trumps economic policies amounted to a shake-up in the short term that would eventually result in repairing and restoring the American economy.

Johnson was fielding reporters questions at the U.S. Capitol.

Give the president a chance to have these policies play out, he said.

Wall Street scrapes 10% below its record after Trumps latest tariff threat worsens its sell-off

The S&P 500 earlier sank as much as 1.5% Tuesday before paring its loss to 1.4%, which put it 9.9% below its record. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 711 points, or 1.7%, as of 1:32 p.m. ET, and the Nasdaq composite was 1.2% lower.

The drops came after Trump said he would raise tariffs on steel and aluminum coming from Canada, doubling their planned increase to 50%. The president said it was a response to moves a Canadian province made after Trump began threatening tariffs on one of the United States most important trading partners.

Canada incoming PM says hell keep tariffs in place until US shows respect and commit to free trade

Incoming Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday his government will keep tariffs in place until Americans show respect and commit to free trade after President Trump threatened historic financial devastation for Canada.

Carney, wholl be sworn in as Justin Trudeaus replacement in the coming days, said Trumps latest tariffs are an attack on Canadian workers, families, and businesses.

My government will ensure our response has maximum impact in the US and minimal impact here in Canada, while supporting the workers impacted, Carney said.

Trump said Tuesday that hell double his planned tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50% for Canada, escalating a trade war with the United States northern neighbor and showing an indifference to recent stock market turmoil and rising recession risks.

 Read more about tariffs between the U.S. and Canada

Trump says a TikTok deal is in the works

In less than a month, TikTok could have one or a few new owners, be banned again, or simply receive another reprieve to continue operating in the United States.

Questions about the fate of the popular video sharing app have continued to linger since a law requiring its China-based parent company to divest or face a ban took effect Jan. 19. After taking office, President Trump gave TikTok a 75-day reprieve by signing an executive order that delayed enforcement of the statute until April 5.

As he returned to Washington from his Florida home Sunday, Trump told reporters a deal could come soon. He didnt offer any details on the interested buyers, but said the administration was in talks with four different groups about TikTok.

A lot of people want it and its up to me, Trump said aboard Air Force One.

A TikTok spokesperson declined to comment.

 Read more about a possible deal on TikTok

Johnson is pleased with Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalils arrest

House Speaker Mike Johnson is making his views clear about the arrest of the Palestinian activist, a former Columbia University graduate student who helped lead last springs protests against Israel.

Johnson said he was glad the United States has a president whos strong enough to lay down the law.

Were going to arrest your tail, Johnson said, referring to deporting certain international students in the U.S. on visas. This is just getting started.

More than 1.1 million people have unclaimed tax refunds from 2021

The Internal Revenue Service says more than $1 billion in refunds remain unclaimed by taxpayers who havent filed their 1040 forms for the 2021 tax year.

The IRS estimates the median refund amount to be about $781. In all, it estimates about 1.1 million people may have money owed to them.

Taxpayers who havent claimed their refunds for 2021 have until April 15 to submit their returns, the service says.

The EU says it will keep supporting Ukraine against Russias illegal invasion

The European Union plans to step up humanitarian aid to Ukraine when others pull back.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas speech at the U.N. on Tuesday was clearly aimed at Trumps dismissive language about Europe, his massive cutbacks in aid to poor and conflict-torn countries, and his refusal to acknowledge that Russia invaded Ukraine.

The EU will remain the U.N.s reliable partner of choice, Kallas said in defending the U.N.s commitment to respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations.

While the Trump administration is eliminating 83% of the programs of its former aid agency  including to the U.N.  she said the EU will always support rising humanitarian needs, with almost 2 billion euros (about $2.16 billion) this year.

A White House official says they plan to appeal ruling that DOGE is subject to FOIA

The official says the Monday ruling finding DOGE is likely subject to public record law was based on a misunderstanding of DOGEs placement in the federal government.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the case.

 Chris Megerian

A judge finds DOGE is subject to FOIA requests

Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency is likely covered by public records law and must begin complying with requests from a watchdog group, a federal judge found.

Judge Christopher Cooper rejected the Trump administrations assertion that DOGE isnt an agency subject to public-records requests because it's part of the White House.

In his ruling late Monday, Cooper cited social-media statements from Musk and President Trump as he found that DOGE likely does wield independent authority that makes it legally subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

The White House did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

Judge Cooper ordered DOGE to start responding to requests about the teams role in mass firings and disruptions to federal programs filed by the group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

US hasnt determined who was behind attack that caused outage on Trump adviser Musks social site X

Thats according to a Trump administration official familiar with the ongoing investigation into the matter.

Mondays outage was described as a cyberattack by the official, who wasnt authorized to comment publicly on the matter and spoke Tuesday on the condition of anonymity. The official added that the Republican administration takes all cyberattacks against American companies seriously but underscored that the U.S. government had not gleaned any specific intelligence about who might have been behind the attack.

The comments came after Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X and a top adviser to Trump, claimed in an appearance on Fox Business Networks Kudlow show that the cyberattackers had IP addresses originating in the Ukraine area without going into detail on what that might mean.

Cybersecurity experts quickly pointed out, however, that this doesnt necessarily mean the attack originated in Ukraine.

 Read more about the apparent cyber attack against X

 Aamer Madhani and Zeke Miller

Trump doubles planned tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50% as trade war intensifies

Trump says the increase of the tariffs set to take effect Wednesday is a response to the price increases the provincial government of Ontario put on electricity sold to the United States.

I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, Trump posted Tuesday on Truth Social.

The U.S. stock market promptly fell following the social media post.

Trump slump: Can the president restore trust in his economic plans after his tariffs create fear?

After a brutal stock market selloff because of his tariff threats, President Trump faces pressure Tuesday to show he has a legitimate plan to grow the economy instead of perhaps pushing it into a recession.

Trump was set to deliver an afternoon address to the Business Roundtable, a trade association of CEOs that during the 2024 campaign he wooed with the promise of lower corporate tax rates for domestic manufacturers. But his plans for tariffs on Canada, Mexico, China, steel and aluminum  with more to possibly come on Europe, Brazil, South Korea, pharmaceutical drugs, copper, lumber and computer chips  would amount to a massive tax hike.

The stock markets vote of no confidence over the past two weeks puts the president in a bind between his enthusiasm for taxing imports and his brand as a politician who understands business based on his own experiences in real estate, media and marketing.

 Read more about Trumps effect on the economy

Wall Streets sell-off is slowing, for now at least

That follows a scary stretch where worries about the economy and tariffs sent it close to 9% below its all-time high.

The S&P 500 was down 0.3% in early trading. While still a loss, such a modest move would be a respite after the main measure of Wall Streets health swung by at least 1%, up or down, seven times in the last eight days.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 202 points, or 0.5%, as of 9:35 a.m. ET. A day earlier, it had been down more than 1,100 points at one point. The Nasdaq composite was virtually unchanged.

Several Big Tech stocks held steadier after getting walloped in recent months. Elon Musks Tesla rose 1.1%, for example. President Trump even said he would buy a Tesla in a show of support for Elons baby. 

 Read more about the financial markets

Polls open in Greenland for parliamentary elections as Trump seeks control of the strategic island

The self-governing region of Denmark is home to 56,000 people, most from Indigenous Inuit backgrounds, and occupies a strategic North Atlantic location. It also contains rare earth minerals key to driving the global economy.

Unofficial election results should be available soon after polls close at 2200 GMT Tuesday, but they wont be certified for weeks as ballot papers make their way to the capital from remote settlements by boat, plane and helicopter.

While the Arctic island has been on a path toward independence since at least 2009, a break from Denmark isnt on the ballot even though its on everyones mind. Voters on Tuesday will instead elect 31 lawmakers wholl shape the islands debate on when and if to declare independence in the future.

 Read more about Greenlands elections

White House cautious about what's ahead in Syria after clashes

The White House is circumspect about the prospects for a peaceful Syria after clashes erupted last week that left hundreds dead.

Monitoring groups say hundreds of civilians were killed in the clashes that broke out last week. Revenge attacks primarily targeted members of the Alawite religious minority to which the ousted Syrian leader Basher Assad belongs.

White House National Security Council spokesperson James Hewitt said Tuesday that the attacks on religious minorities has raised concerns in the administration about whether Syrias interim governing authorities are ready to include a religiously and ethnically diverse population, and whether the interim authorities even have the legitimacy to do so.

Syrias interim government signed a deal Monday with the Kurdish-led authority that controls the countrys northeast, including a ceasefire and the merging of the main U.S.-backed force there into the Syrian army.

Republicans are marching ahead with a government funding bill despite Democratic opposition

Republicans will face a critical test of their unity when the spending bill that would avoid a partial government shutdown and keep federal agencies funded through September comes up for a vote.

Speaker Mike Johnson is teeing up the bill for a vote as soon as Tuesday despite the lack of buy-in from Democrats, essentially daring them to oppose it and risk a shutdown that would begin Saturday if lawmakers fail to act.

Republicans will need overwhelming support from their members in both chambers  and some help from Senate Democrats  to get the bill to President Trumps desk. Its one of the biggest legislative tests so far of the Republican presidents second term.

The CR will pass, Johnson told reporters Monday, using Washington shorthand to describe the continuing resolution. No one wants to shut the government down. We are governing, doing the responsible thing as Republicans. Its going to be up to Chuck Schumer and the Senate Democrats to do the right thing.

 Read more about the spending bill in Congress

Trump to speak to business leaders amid market turmoil over tariffs

The president stayed away from the cameras during Mondays sell-off on Wall Street, driven by concerns over his trade war and the reverberations it will cause the global economy.

Trump will get a chance to say his piece when he visits with the Business Roundtable, a group of CEOs from leading American companies, later Tuesday.

Homeland Security overhauls its asylum phone app. Now its for self-deportation

The Trump administration has unveiled an overhauled cellphone app once used to let migrants apply for asylum, turning it into a system that allows people living illegally in the U.S. to say they want to leave the country voluntarily.

The renamed app, announced Monday and now called CBP Home, is part of the administrations campaign to encourage self-deportations,  touted as an easy and cost-effective way to nudge along Trumps push to deport millions of immigrants without legal status.

Moments after Trump took office, the earlier version of the app, CBP One, stopped allowing migrants to apply for asylum, and tens of thousands of border appointments were canceled.

More than 900,000 people were allowed in the country on immigration parole under CBP One, generally for two years, starting in January 2023.

The Trump administration has repeatedly urged migrants in the country illegally to leave.

 Read more about the new CPB app

Trump calls on Republicans to primary Rep. Thomas Massie

Massie, the hardline conservative from Kentucky, has raised Trumps ire by opposing a Republican push for a spending bill that would avoid a partial government shutdown and keep federal agencies funded through September.

Trump went after Massie on social media, calling him a GRANDSTANDER, whos too much trouble.

HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED, and I will lead the charge against him, Trump says.

Massie said he opposes the short-term spending bill because it maintains federal funding without considering budget cuts that reflect the waste fraud and abuse in government spending DOGE has uncovered.

Someone thinks they can control my voting card by threatening my re-election, Massie added on X. Guess what? Doesnt work on me.
WASHINGTON (AP)  A law firm targeted by President Donald Trump over its legal services during the 2016 presidential campaign sued the federal government Tuesday over an executive order that seeks to strip its attorneys of security clearances.

The order, which Trump signed last week, was designed to punish Perkins Coie by suspending the security clearances of the firm's lawyers as well as denying firm employees access to federal buildings and terminating their federal contracts.

It was the latest retributive action taken by Trump against the legal community, coming soon after an earlier order that targeted security clearances of lawyers at a separate law firm who have provided legal services to special counsel Jack Smith, who led criminal investigations into the Republican before his second term.

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Perkins Coie represented the 2016 presidential campaign of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, Trump's opponent, and also represented Democrats in a variety of voting rights challenges during the 2020 election. The firm made headlines in 2017 when it was revealed to have hired a private investigative research firm during the 2016 campaign to conduct opposition research on Trump. That firm, Fusion GPS, subsequently retained a former British spy, Christopher Steele, who researched whether Trump and Russia had suspicious ties.

Lawyers representing Perkins Coie said in their lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington, that the executive order was an illegal act of retaliation. They called on a judge to block it from being implemented. A hearing was set for Wednesday afternoon.

The lawsuit notes that the two primary attorneys whose work appears to have most angered Trump left the firm years ago and accounted for a tiny fraction of the firm's more than 1,200 attorneys. They said the order had already hurt the firm's revenue and bottom line, noting that some clients of clients have terminated their engagements" over the last week, and illegally discriminated against the firm based on viewpoint.

The Order is an affront to the Constitution and our adversarial system of justice. Its plain purpose is to bully those who advocate points of view that the President perceives as adverse to the views of his Administration, whether those views are presented on behalf of paying or pro bono clients, the lawsuit states.

Trump had sued the law firm in 2022, along with Clinton, FBI officials and other defendants, as a part of a sprawling complaint alleging a massive conspiracy to concoct the Russia investigation that shadowed much of his administration. The suit was dismissed.
By Mike Scarcella

(Reuters) -U.S. law firm Perkins Coie sued President Donald Trumps administration on Tuesday, claiming Trump illegally retaliated against the firm over its work for his former opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton, and its policies promoting diversity and inclusion.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., asked a U.S. judge to declare Trumps March 6 executive order unlawful and to bar its enforcement.

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"Perkins Coies ability to represent the interests of its clients  and its ability to operate as a legal-services business at all  are under direct and imminent threat" by the administration's order, the lawsuit said.

A White House spokesperson declined to comment.

Trump, a Republican, directed federal agencies in his order to review any contracts between the firm and the government, and to temporarily suspend security clearances that lawyers at the firm use to access and handle some sensitive information.

The order also said agencies should consider limiting Perkins Coie lawyers' access to government buildings and officials and ending any contractual work with the firm's clients.

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Seattle-founded Perkins Coie said in its lawsuit that at least seven of its clients, including a major government contractor, had withdrawn legal work from the firm due to the executive order.

The lawsuit marked an escalation of a growing feud between Trump and law firms that he has accused of being aligned against his administrations interests.

Trump in February issued a similar but narrower order against law firm Covington & Burling, which is representing the special counsel who led now-dismissed criminal prosecutions of Trump over his handling of classified information and his effort to reverse his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.

Perkins Coie and Covington are among more than a dozen prominent law firms representing clients in lawsuits challenging Trump administration policies and priorities, including its efforts to curtail immigration, agency grants and transgender rights.

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Trump's order against Perkins Coie criticized the firm over its work for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential run against Trump.

Perkins Coie has long been criticized by some on the American right over its work with the Washington research firm Fusion GPS. Fusion paid a former British spy's company to assemble a dossier outlining alleged Russian financial and personal links to Trump's 2016 election campaign.

Trump has denied the claims in the dossier, and he has more broadly disputed that his campaign then had any ties to Russia.

Perkins Coie has also faced criticism over the work of one of its former partners, Michael Sussmann, who advised the 2016 Clinton presidential campaign.

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Sussmann was acquitted in 2022 at trial on a charge that he lied to the FBI when he met with the bureau in 2016 to share a tip about a possible link between Trump's business and a Russian bank.

(Reporting by Mike Scarcella; Editing by David Bario, Rod Nickel and Howard Goller)
A Florida lawmaker has a plan that could dramatically raise the average pay for Florida workers.

Sen. Keith Truenow, R-Tavares, seeks to boost the manufacturing sector with a Fresh from Florida approach, referring the 30-year-old state managed entity that partners with farmers and growers in advertising and to promote agriculture at retail trade shows and to export markets.

The average wage of workers in manufacturing was $28.55 in January, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ziprecruiter.com finds the average hourly wage in Florida is about $15.55.

Sen. Keith Truenow stands for the pledge of allegiance during opening day of the Florida legislative session on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.

Truenows bills (SB 600, SB 602) would create an Office of Manufacturing within the Department of Commerce to support workforce development through grants, and a state managed promotional campaign for manufacturers.

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The number of Florida manufacturing jobs has boomed in the past decade, increasing by 23% since 2014 with the state emerging as a leader in making metals, aerospace components and furniture, along with computer and electronic products.

According to Florida Makes, a federal mechanical extension program, there are 72,000 manufacturing companies in Florida, with two-thirds employing 20 people or less.

Chris Dawson, who lobbies for the group, said Truenows proposal seeks to boost the market exposure for those small companies.

We want to maintain and home grow Floridas massive manufacturing businesses of tomorrow, and were starting with the small folks, Dawson said Tuesday during a Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development.

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The bill creates the Florida Manufacturers Workforce Development Grant Program to provide workforce training, subject to appropriation by the Legislature.

And for a fee, manufacturers would be included in a Florida Manufacturing Promotional Campaign. Those funds would be used to develop a logo and other materials to promote products and Florida manufacturing in media campaigns, trade shows and in export markets.

A view of part of the audience from inside the mock-up of one of the HOLON autonomous vehicles planned to be built at the planned Jacksonville factory. An event was held at JTA's Armsdale Road facility to announce that global manufacturer HOLON will be building a plant in Jacksonville to manufacture self-driving shuttles that will be used by organizations like JEA for autonomous vehicle transportation systems Wednesday, September 4, 2024. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]

Florida currently has more than 400,000 workers in the manufacturing sector but that represents a small fraction of the states job opportunities.

Manufacturing makes up just 4% of Florida jobs, far behind the nations leader, Indiana with 17%, less than half of Texas at 8.2%, and below the U.S. as a whole at 7.7%, according to the National Association of Manufacturers.

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With the number of people living here it just makes sense to be manufacturing here, Truenow told the USA TODAY Network  Florida during a break in a committee meeting.

Truenow later amended the bill to establish a $100 registration and renewal fee to participate in the promotional campaign. The committee approved the measure unanimously. Its next and final committee stop is the Appropriations Committee; the House companion has yet to be heard in committee.

James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@tallahassee.com and is on X as @CallTallahassee.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Plan to boost manufacturing could transform Florida's workforce
A bipartisan group of federal lawmakers is calling on the Trump administration to cancel a controversial plan to kill up to nearly half a million barred owls to protect the vulnerable northern spotted owl.

Last year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved a plan to shoot the owls in California, Oregon and Washington over three decades. In a March 7 letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, 19 U.S. representatives  including Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles)  say the strategy will cost about $1.35 billion to implement.

"In the spirit of fiscal responsibility and ethical conservation, we urge you to halt all spending on this plan to mass kill a native, range-expanding North American owl species," states the letter co-led by Kamlager-Dove and Rep. Troy E. Nehls (R-Texas).

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Supporters of the strategy  including federal wildlife officials and prominent scientists  believe scrapping it will have disastrous consequences for northern spotted owls, which have suffered precipitous declines as barred owls have muscled them out of their territory. A recent study also estimated the cost of the plan to be far lower than the lofty figure cited by the legislators.

"We're at risk of losing one of the signature species of Pacific Northwest old-growth forests," said Noah Greenwald, endangered species director for the Center for Biological Diversity, a conservation group.

Read more: The federal government plans to kill half a million West Coast owls

A spokesperson for the Department of the Interior said that the agency doesn't comment on congressional correspondence but that it would carefully review the letter.

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Barred owls and spotted owls are similar in appearance and the birds can even interbreed. But barred owls  which originally hail from the eastern U.S.  are more aggressive, less picky about food and reproduce faster, allowing them to outcompete their fellow raptors.

Barred owls are considered a top threat to northern spotted owls, which are scarce but widely distributed in Northern California, Oregon and Washington. If barred owls expansion is left unchecked, some experts believe theyll go on to decimate California spotted owls  which inhabit Californias central and southern mature forests.

But some animal welfare groups and legislators say shooting thousands of barred owls is not the solution, citing moral reasons in addition to the potential cost.

As a conservationist, I believe it is contradictory to kill one species in order to preserve another," Kamlager-Dove said in a statement. "And as an animal lover, I cannot support the widespread slaughter of these beautiful creatures."

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Other legislators who signed the letter to the Interior secretary include Rep. Josh Harder (D-Stockton) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).

Lawmakers in the letter also questioned the workability of the plan. They said the government "has conducted wildlife control programs with limited success" and there was no precedent for the vast scale of the plan that was approved.

Greenwald, however, said there have been extensive pilot studies on barred owl removal that worked. He pointed to other examples of successful animal control programs, including trapping brown-headed cowbirds to benefit the least bells vireo, a small endangered bird.

Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy have sued in U.S. District Court in Seattle to stop the owl-killing plan. Another animal welfare group initiated a similar suit in Oregon.

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The more than $1-billion cost for the plan cited by legislators is extrapolated from a $4.5-million contract awarded to a Northern California Native American tribe last year to hunt about 1,500 barred owls over four years.

The "price tag in this political environment is a big fat target," said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. Pacelle has appealed to the so-called Department of Government Efficiency  headed by Elon Musk, who has led much of the Trump administration's cost-cutting efforts  to nix the plan.

However, a 2024 research paper concluded that barred owl removal in the range of the northern spotted owl would cost from $4.5 million to $12 million a year during the initial stages, and was likely to decrease over time. At $12 million a year, the 30-year plan would run $360 million.

Read more: Spotted owls are disappearing fast, and federal cuts could mean no one's left to count them

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Tom Wheeler, executive director of the Environmental Protection Information Center, which supports tamping down the barred owl population, said it wouldnt just be the federal government footing the bill.

"It is a collaborative process between multiple private, state, federal and tribal entities so that the costs are going to be spread across multiple different entities," he said. His group has intervened in the two lawsuits against the federal government in defense of the plan.

In recent weeks, federal job cuts have upended surveys for the northern and California spotted owls. Conservationists say the data are needed to protect the raptors.

There are as few as 3,000 northern spotted owls left on federal lands. The brown raptors with white spots are listed as threatened under the California and federal Endangered Species Act.

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California spotted owls are also in decline. In 2023, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed that a distinct Southern California population be listed as endangered under federal law. A Sierra Nevada population was recommended for threatened status.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
State Sen. Lincoln Hough, a Springfield Republican, is sponsoring a bill seeking to remove the University of Missouri System's exclusivity over some degree programs (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).

A Missouri Senate committee approved legislation that would remove the University of Missouri Systems exclusive rights to certain degree programs.

State law currently bars other public colleges from offering research doctorates and first-professional degrees, which includes areas like dentistry and veterinary medicine. Public universities also are only allowed to offer degrees in podiatry, chiropractic, osteopathic medicine and engineering if they have a partnership with the University of Missouri in those programs.

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A bill sponsored by state Sen. Lincoln Hough, a Republican from Springfield, seeks to remove these restrictions.

This is about keeping, retaining and building the workforce this state needs over the next few generations, Hough told the Senate Education Committee Tuesday morning.

Those speaking in favor argued the the bill would have a positive effect on workforce development.

Removing the statutory restrictions allows us to be responsive to the marketplace, said Richard Williams, president of Missouri State University.

He said a recently enrolled student asked about doctoral programs for after she finishes her undergraduate studies. The university said shed have to go elsewhere because it is illegal for them to offer that PhD program.

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Williams couldnt answer questions about which degrees the university would add if the bill passed. He spoke from prior experience, saying he would not anticipate adding a medical school to the roster.

Peter Herschend, a former member of the State Board of Education, said not offering certain degree programs statewide would push students out of state.

Missouri needs to be more competitive, not less, he said. We need the spirit of private enterprise to drive our education system just as much as it drives our business.

Opponents said there would be a cost to spreading out the programs.

Jim Spain, vice provost for undergraduate studies at the University of Missouri, said degree partnerships with the university have saved taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.

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The passage of this bill will require additional financial resources from the state or from the student, he said.

The bills fiscal note estimates that there will be no impact on the states general revenue, but universities would sustain administrative costs when they add programs. State funding might be partially redirected from the University of Missouri System to other institutions, the fiscal analysis notes as a concern of the system.

Carson Howe, a University of Missouri St. Louis student and legislative director of the Associated Students of the University of Missouri, said he fears students would be the ones to cover new expenses.

Were paying for that either directly through our tuition being increased, or were paying for it indirectly through our programs being cut or watered down, he said.

CORRECTION: This story was updated on March 12 to note that the legislation was approved by the Senate Education Committee.

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Three U.S. senators are urging Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to disclose details about several private dinners he attended with Donald Trump and healthcare executives at Mar-a-Lago.

It is unclear why you attended private dinners with Big Pharma executives at President Trumps Mar-a-Lago club following your promises to clean up corruption and stop the revolving door between industry and government, Elizabeth Warren, Ron Wyden, and Bernie Sanders wrote in a letter to Kennedy dated March 10.

Although the reports suggest that you largely stayed quiet as Trump and others talked, the dinners may have served as an opportunity for Big Pharma to gain insider access to both you and President Trump, the senators wrote, referring a Wall Street Journal story.

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The letter requested details of the dinners, including dates, locations, attendees, topics discussed, payments, and on any commitments made. They also want to know whether Kennedy  a vocal critic of Big Pharma  has received any financial contributions from the healthcare industry.

Pfizer (PFE) CEO Albert Bourla and Eli Lilly (LLY) CEO David Ricks were among among the executives who attended the dinners, the WSJ wrote.

Bourla told investors in February that Trump introduced him to Kennedy at one such dinner, where Bourla sought to understand Kennedys views. While he acknowledged differences in their perspectives, Bourla said there are areas where they can collaborate to address chronic diseases.

Pfizer has since indicated it may shift some of its overseas manufacturing to U.S. plants if needed, as the Trump administration considers imposing tariffs on pharmaceuticals.

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Additionally, Eli Lilly announced plans to invest $27 billion in four new U.S. manufacturing sites. However, the company emphasized that those plans depend on tax cuts for the industry being extended.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act legislation passed in 2017 during President Trumps first term in office has been foundational to Lillys domestic manufacturing investments, and it is essential that these policies are extended this year, Ricks said in the companys press release.

HHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Quartz.

For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
An embattled behavioral health company behind a pair of shuttered youth treatment facilities in Detroit is facing a lawsuit over a former supervisors alleged sexual abuse of three teenage girls who were housed there.

Workers at the Detroit Behavioral Institute, a subsidiary of Acadia Healthcare, promoted a culture that protected staff from complaints of sexual abuse and celebrated and/or mocked the exploitation of children, the lawsuit filed Tuesday in Wayne County Circuit Court said.

DBI provided mental health, substance abuse and behavioral treatment to youths placed there through foster care or the courts. Its two Detroit locations were closed by the state in 2022 over a series of abuse allegations against employees, including that a young patient was bitten, choked and taunted to kill herself.

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I felt like I was trapped in a jail of horrors, Daejia Roberts, the now 22-year-old Jane Doe 1 listed among the suit's plaintiffs, said at a Tuesday news conference. After reporting the abuse, she said, I was intimidated by others because people were brainwashed and groomed.

Daejia Roberts, 22, alleges she was sexually abused at 15 by a supervisor at the Detroit Behavioral Institute at a Tuesday March 11, 2025, news conference announcing a lawsuit filed on behalf of her and two other former residents.

Martin Gould, an attorney on the case, said Tuesday that they represent about three dozen other people who say they were physically or sexually abused at DBI. Additional suits are forthcoming, he said.

DBI was in operation since at least 2008, when state health officials said it was originally licensed as a child care institution. A second Detroit facility was licensed in 2016. Both were acquired by Acadia Healthcare in 2011 as part of a merger, the suit said.

A spokesperson for Acadia sent a statement to the Free Press on Tuesday afternoon addressing the lawsuit, saying the company couldn't comment on specific allegations.

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The well-being of all patients is of the utmost importance to Acadia Healthcare and its affiliated facilities," the statement said. "We take these allegations seriously. While we cant comment on specific allegations and patient situations due to privacy regulations, the picture being painted of Acadia and the quality of care provided by our facilities is inaccurate. We intend to defend this case vigorously.

The suit is the latest legal challenge for the company that operates more than 200 behavioral health facilities across the country. In January, Acadia agreed to pay a $20 million civil settlement over false Medicare and Medicaid billings for patients who were not in need of care, including in Michigan, after a New York Times expose found the company holding psychiatric patients against their will in apparent violation of state laws. In 2023, it settled three cases alleging sexual abuse at a New Mexico facility for $400 million. A class action lawsuit has also been filed on behalf of the companys shareholders.

At the center of the suit's allegations is former girls' unit supervisor Michael Flaniken, who allegedly groomed and sexually abused the three plaintiffs when they were 15 and 16 in 2017 through 2018, as colleagues condoned or covered up for his behavior.

Reached by phone, Flaniken denied the allegations, saying, I dont play those sexually abused type of games. Wayne County Circuit Court records show no criminal charges against him.

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I think its unfortunate that people get tied up in this kind of stuff, said the now-37-year-old of Novi. These claims can damage your reputation.

Detroit Behavioral Institute on 3500 John R in Detroit on Thursday, July 21, 2022.

The allegations against Flaniken range from grooming to rape. Victims who asked him to stop were threatened with extra time at DBI or visits to their home address, the suit said. Those who reported the abuse were allegedly attacked by other patients Flaniken bribed with favors to serve as his enforcers," according to the suit.

The lawsuit alleges Roberts was groomed by Flaniken over a period of months, receiving special privileges like more comfortable underwear or day passes to eat out or go to the movies. Eventually, he allegedly sexually abused her in her bedroom, and threatened to send somebody to her house if she told on him.

Roberts reported the abuse to her mother by phone under the watch of a female staff member, the suit said. Children's Protective Services allegedly investigated, but Flaniken accompanied Jane Doe 1 to the interview, seeking to intimidate her into silence."

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Flaniken was moved to another unit of the facility after the CPS visit, the suit said and he confirmed. Roberts, however, remained in the girls' unit, where she said she faced retaliation for making the report, including additional citations that extended her stay at DBI.

She was also allegedly targeted by the unit's new female supervisor, who called her "fast" and a "snitch" and sent residents to physically attack her as punishment for reporting Flaniken. In one altercation, Roberts was stabbed in the shoulder with the female supervisors car keys, then placed in a restraining room, pinned by staff, and told she deserved what happened, the suit said.

Jane Doe 2 was sexually assaulted by Flaniken as he restrained her for an altercation with another resident, the suit said. When she reported the assault to a DBI staffer in front of another employee described as Flanikens partner in crime, she was told she was lying and called a snitch and rat. Jane Doe 2 was allegedly later jumped by two patients/residents at Flanikens direction and as punishment for reporting the abuse, suffering cuts and bruises to her face and a black eye."

Jane Doe 3 was pregnant when abused by Flaniken in encounters that ranged from his touching her with his underwear pulled down to rape, the suit said. She never reported the abuse because she did not want to risk extending her time at DBI and giving birth while there, the suit said.

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None of the three plaintiffs' allegations have been reported to the Detroit Police Department, the attorneys told the Free Press on Tuesday. One is in the process of filing a complaint, and CPS would have been responsible for reporting Roberts allegations to authorities, the attorneys said.

Numerous abuse allegations involving former DBI residents were reported to Detroit police, however, as per a 2020 report by the Chicago Tribune and ProPublica. One out-of-state resident, from Chicago, reportedly alleged she'd been pulled into a bathroom by a staffer who prevented her from escaping and digitally penetrated her. She also reportedly said DBI staff kept order by encouraging residents to attack peers who misbehaved in exchange for rewards and restrained juveniles by bending arms, choking and punching them.

Detroit police investigated her claims, but no charges were filed as a result of what authorities called the girls illness and inconsistencies in her statements, ProPublica reported. In all, Detroit police were called for 12 reports of rape or sexual abuse and assault and battery at the facility in 2017 and 2018, according to the report.

The attorneys who filed Tuesday's lawsuit said the Detroit Police Department and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services closed all pending investigations into the facility when it was shuttered by the state.

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DPD and state officials did not immediately reply to a request for comment Tuesday. DBI told the Free Press in 2022 that as a result of an agreement with MDHHS, "all state investigations will end shortly."

Flaniken acknowledged hed been investigated by CPS for numerous reports of abuse while a supervisor at the facility, but said none found wrongdoing.

Such allegations, Flaniken said, are kind of common working in abuse and neglect facilities, particularly when a kid gets in trouble or if theres some kind of financial reward.

It literally happens every day," he said. "This is what children in the system do because they know the system.

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Roberts, now a mother, said she would continue to pursue justice.

Its not just about us, its about other kids right now being abused who dont have a voice, she said, growing emotional. Michael Flaniken  who touches kids and is walking around in Detroit right now, free  you are not going to get away with your crimes. Im grown now, Im not scared to speak.

Violet Ikonomova is an investigative reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at vikonomova@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lawsuit: 3 teens sexually abused at shuttered Detroit juvenile center
ALAMANCE COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP)  A lawsuit filed in federal court last year is accusing a Piedmont Triad sheriffs office is a wrongful death and inflicting emotional distress upon the mother of the victim.

The lawsuit centers on a deputy-involved shooting that left Warren Kent Davis dead on May 8, 2023. Davis mother, Kathy Fujiwara, filed the wrongful death suit against Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson and multiple unnamed deputies last fall. They will be set for a pre-trial hearing in April, if the parties are unable to reach agreement on a discovery plan, the pretrial hearing will take place, according to court documents.

Fujiwara alleges that deputies shot Davis, who was mentally ill and suffered from substance abuse issues, in the arm while he was wielding a knife at his girlfriends home.

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Davis girlfriend had taken out a protective order against Davis some months prior, However, on May 8, the lawsuit alleges that she picked Davis up and brought him to her home. At some point, she called both 911 and Daviss twin brother to remove Davis from the home. Chuck Fujiwara was also called.

Numerous deputies, as well as Sheriff Terry Johnson, arrived at the home after they were called. Johnson knew Davis by name, calling him Kent, and spoke with him. At some point, Davis was shot in the arm.

D.H. Griffin cited by labor department after employee killed by train in Greensboro

The lawsuit alleges that 10 deputies surrounded Davis and he hid underneath a truck, lying prone on his stomach. Deputies then deployed a nonlethal flashbang.

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Immediately after the deployment of the flashbang, several, if not all of the deputies, opened fire on Kent while he was lying prone on his stomach.

The lawsuit alleges that the deputies were reacting to the sound of the flashbang, but all knew that Davis did not have a gun on him at the time.

Kent was struck numerous times and killed by a lethal shot to his head while lying prone

under the truck, according to the suit.

Fujiwara claims that the Alamance County Sheriffs Office lied about the nature of the event, quoting a contemporaneous media release where they state that a deputy offered Davis a cigarette, shot him after he lunged with a knife and then after a second lunge fatally shot him. She says they used various types of guns including AR-style rifles to shoot Davis while he hid on the ground.

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Deputies at the scene were wearing body-worn cameras, and the footage has not been publicly shared. The lawsuit states that the camera footage contradicts the narrative that the sheriffs office released to the public and that the SBI did not investigate the shooting, as is standard procedure in officer or deputy involved shootings.

The lawsuit goes on to state that the sheriffs office failed to train the deputies properly, accusing them of failing to de-escalate and stand down until Sheriff Johnson had concluded his attempts to get Kent to surrender and subjecting Kent to unnecessary, extreme, excessive, and deadly force in attempting to effectuate his detainment.

Fujiwara also states that the use of deadly force was malicious, reckless, and deliberately indifferent to Kents federally protected rights.

The lawsuit states that Fujiwara, as the plaintiff, is entitled to recover compensatory, consequential, and punitive damages from Defendants, in an amount determined by the trier of fact, for both Daviss wrongful death and the emotional distress inflicted upon her.

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The lawsuit is seeking damages and a trial by jury.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP.
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP)  The Trump administration lifted its suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing for Ukraine, and Kyiv signaled that it was open to a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Russia, pending Moscows agreement, American and Ukrainian officials said Tuesday following talks in Saudi Arabia.

The administration's decision marked a sharp shift from only a week ago, when it imposed the measures in an apparent effort to push Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to enter talks to end the war with invading Russian forces. The suspension of U.S. assistance came days after Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump argued about the conflict in a tense White House meeting.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who led the U.S. delegation to the talks in Jeddah, said Washington would present the ceasefire offer to the Kremlin, which has so far opposed anything short of a permanent end to the conflict without accepting any concessions.

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Were going to tell them this is whats on the table. Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking. And now itll be up to them to say yes or no," Rubio told reporters after the talks. If they say no, then well unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here.

Trump's national security adviser, Mike Waltz, added: "The Ukrainian delegation today made something very clear, that they share President Trumps vision for peace.

Tuesday's discussions, which lasted for nearly eight hours, appeared to put to rest  for the moment at least  the animosity between Trump and Zelenskyy that erupted during the Oval Office meeting last month.

Waltz said the negotiators got into substantive details on how this war is going to permanently end, including long-term security guarantees. And, he said, Trump agreed to immediately lift the pause in the supply of billions of dollars of U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing.

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Seeking a deal with Russia

Trump said he hoped that an agreement could be solidified over the next few days.

Ive been saying that Russias been easier to deal with so far than Ukraine, which is not supposed to be the way it is," Trump said later Tuesday. "But it is, and we hope to get Russia. But we have a full ceasefire from Ukraine. Thats good.

The Kremlin had no immediate comment on the U.S. and Ukrainian statements. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said only that negotiations with U.S. officials could take place this week.

Trump 's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to travel later this week to Moscow, where he could meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a person familiar with the matter but not authorized to comment publicly. The person cautioned that scheduling could change.

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Officials met in Saudi Arabia only hours after Russia shot down over 300 Ukrainian drones in Ukraines biggest attack since the Kremlin's full-scale invasion. Neither U.S. nor Ukrainian officials offered any comment on the barrage.

Russia also launched 126 drones and a ballistic missile at Ukraine, the Ukrainian air force said, as part of Moscows relentless pounding of civilian areas.

Zelenskyy renews calls for lasting peace

In an address posted shortly after Tuesday's talks ended, Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraines commitment to a lasting peace, emphasizing that the country has sought an end to the war since its outset.

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Our position is absolutely clear: Ukraine has strived for peace from the very first second of this war, and we want to do everything possible to achieve it as soon as possible  securely and in a way that ensures war does not return, Zelenskyy said.

Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak, who led the Ukrainian delegation, described the negotiations as positive. He said the two countries share the same vision, and that we are moving in the same direction toward the just peace long awaited by all Ukrainians.

In Kyiv, Lena Herasymenko, a psychologist, accepts that compromises will be necessary to end the war, but she said they must be reasonable.

We had massive losses during this war, and we dont know yet how much more well have, she told The Associated Press. We are suffering every day. Our kids are suffering, and we dont know how the future generation will be affected.

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Oleksandr, a Ukrainian soldier who could give only his first name because of security restrictions, warned that Ukraine cannot let down its guard.

If there is a ceasefire, it would only give Russia time to increase its firepower, manpower, missiles and other arms. Then they would attack Ukraine again, he said.

Hawkish Russians push back against a ceasefire

In Moscow, hawkish politicians and military bloggers spoke strongly against a prospective ceasefire, arguing that it would play into Kyivs hands and damage Moscows interests at a time when the Russian military has the advantage.

A ceasefire isnt what we need, wrote hardline ideologue Alexander Dugin.

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Viktor Sobolev, a retired general who is a member of the Russian parliaments lower house, warned that a 30-day truce would allow Ukraine to beef up arms supplies and regroup its troops before resuming hostilities.

Sergei Markov, a pro-Kremlin political commentator, suggested that Moscow could demand a halt on Western arms supplies to Ukraine as part of a ceasefire. An embargo on arms supplies to Ukraine could be a condition for a truce, he wrote.

The Kremlin sticks to its conditions for peace

Russia has not publicly offered any concessions. Putin has repeatedly declared that Moscow wants a comprehensive settlement, not a temporary truce.

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Russia has said its ready to cease hostilities on the condition that Ukraine drops its bid to join NATO and recognizes regions that Moscow occupies as Russian. Russia has captured nearly a fifth of Ukraine's territory.

Russian forces have held the battlefield momentum for more than a year, though at a high cost in infantry and armor, and are pushing at selected points along the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line, especially in the eastern Donetsk region.

Ukraine has invested heavily in developing its arms industry, especially high-tech drones that have reached deep into Russia.

___

Associated Press writers Baraa Anwer in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Hanna Arhirova and Dmytro Zhyhinas in Kyiv, Ukraine; and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this report.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
LEBANON, Tenn. (WKRN)  The city of Lebanon is making it harder for smoke and vape shops to open up shop in their city altogether.

When you think of Lebanon, the historic downtown square often comes to mind. Now, city leaders said liquor stores and vape shops are becoming an eyesore.

We have other people that want to open businesses here, but these seem to be the ones that take the empty spaces. Wed rather reserve those empty spaces for something that everyone wants to buy stuff from, said Lebanon Mayor Rick Bell.

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Recently, Lebanon city leaders passed an ordinance regulating vape shops. One of those rules requires shops to be zoned for heavy industrial areas.

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They must be at least 500 feet from a church, a school or daycare and also have been a quarter a mile away from each other, Mayor Bell said.

Bell said, currently, there are over 20 vape shops in the city, which causes several reasons for concern. At the top of my list is public health. We know a lot of youth get caught up in vape and its something that is statistically becoming more widespread.

The city isnt only taking a hard stance on vaping and smoking. Recently, the city approved an ordinance to also limit liquor stores from opening. Currently, there is a liquor store every two square miles in the city, which also impacts business.

Its just hard to make it successful after too many liquor stores in the area, Andrea Ross, the owner of Cheers Wine and Liquor, said.

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Mayor Bell said both of these new ordinances are part of a larger goal, to beautify the city. The city also passed an ordinance on distracting neon and LED signs in business windows. Businesses will be asked to take them down if they are not essential to the business.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

When you ride down the road and see a bunch of bright lights in the window enough to blind you, that doesnt lead to a beautiful city. So, all of this is really centered around that, Mayor Bell said.

All of these ordinances are now in effect.

Currently, state lawmakers are working on a bill that aims to regulate the vape industry and protect children in Tennessee.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
LEBANON, Ill.  Tearful residents in Lebanon, Illinois, are expressing outrage over a recent cleaning at College Hill Cemetery that they say went too far, resulting in the removal of gravesite tributes that had remained on some gravesites for years.

In the parking lot outside City Hall, a dumpster held flowers, wreaths and mementos cleared during the recent cemetery cleaning. The city oversees the cemeterys maintenance.

Residents addressed the city council, sharing the pain of losing loved ones and the heartache they felt upon visiting gravesites, only to find heartfelt tributes removed.

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There was a little matchbox car my grandson had put there 15 years ago when he was two, said Connie Alvey, a grandmother who frequently visits College Hill Cemetery.

She expressed her distress over the cleaning, which stripped away memorials to her loved ones, including her granddaughter.

Today would have been my granddaughters sixth birthday, so it was very hard for me. We dont have her, Alvey said. We dont have anything else to give her other than honoring her by putting things on her grave.

City leaders said notices were published in a local newspaper prior to the cleaning, which was intended to prepare the cemetery for Easter.

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Some officials apologized on Monday, acknowledging they did not realize the full extent of the heartache the cleanup would cause.

One alderman said this was the first year the cleanup work was not outsourced. Another alderman noted the city was following an old ordinance in need of revision. He said the existing ordinance leaves some confusion over what is allowed at gravesites and needs to be updated.

Janet Carthy, another heartbroken resident, is devastated over the loss of long-standing tributes from her husbands gravesite.

I have changed out his flowers for every season for the last six years, and to see them gone is devastating, Carthy said.

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Determined to retrieve some of the removed items, Carthy went dumpster diving. She said that those items hold far more than just material value.

This historic $1.8 million church is for sale in St. Louis

They mean everything to me, Carthy said. Its the only way that I have to give something to my husband, to be able to talk to him, to give myself a little peace and comfort.

Elected officials have stated that they will work to amend the old ordinance, which they believe is outdated.

Residents, however, expressed frustration over what they called a lack of communication.

Alvey said the cleanup resulted in a great deal of pain for those already suffering from the loss of a loved one.

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It just feels like theyre being desecrated, and their memories are being dishonored, and its very hard, Alvey 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 2.
Get busy living or get busy driving.

Morgan Freeman will lend his voice to the most famous words in motorsports at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Freeman, an Academy Award winning actor, producer, director and narrator, will be the grand marshal of the Pennzoil 400 NASCAR Las Vegas race.

Im absolutely thrilled to be chosen as the grand marshal for this NASCAR race, Freeman said in a press release from LVMS. Its a true honor to be part of such an incredible tradition, and I cant wait to see the energy, passion, and excitement that fills the track. Lets rev up those engines and make this race unforgettable."

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Shop Las Vegas NASCAR tickets

Freemans career has been both extraordinary and illustrious. In 2004, Freeman won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for "Million Dollar Baby." He also has won numerous Golden Globe Awards, BAFTA Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards.

His iconic voice has made him a sought-after narrator for countless documentaries and films. His versatile dramatic and narrational roles have solidified him as a cultural icon.

Freeman has a deep passion for NASCAR. He's narrated several documentaries about NASCAR, capturing the sports drama and passion while highlighting the legendary figures and memorable moments that have defined it.

When is NASCAR Las Vegas race

The Pennzoil 400 is set for 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 16 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Follow sports writer Austin Chastain on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ChastainAJ or reach him via email at achastain@gannett.com.

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesnt influence our coverage.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NASCAR Las Vegas race: Morgan Freeman to give command as grand marshal
A Coca-Cola distributor is enhancing its operations in central Pennsylvania with a new, state-of-the-art sales and distribution center.

ABARTA Coca-Cola Beverages announced plans to construct a 240,000-square-foot facility in South Lebanon Township, Lebanon County, with an investment exceeding $100 million, according to PennLive. Construction will begin in the summer of 2025, with project completion expected by the end of 2026.

The sales and distribution center will use advanced tech that helps sort and stack products more efficiently. The goal of the center is to speed up operations for distribution efforts across the wider area.

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The facility is expected to help the local economy and create jobs. All this said, plastic bottling operations are not good for human health or the planet. Studies have shown plastic leaches into drinks and gets into the human body, and plastic can generally only be recycled one or two times before it becomes too weak, at which point it goes into a landfill or gets burned as fuel at a waste-to-energy plant.

Coca-Cola is the world's biggest producer of branded plastic waste. Glass bottles and aluminum cans are still far more environmentally friendly than recycled plastic bottles, as they are infinitely recyclable with no loss of strength, so if the facility can focus more on those products, its operations will be a lot less problematic.

However, a review of products handled by ABARTA shows they are primarily plastic  most notably with the entire Vitamin Water and Powerade lines exclusively sold in plastic bottles, though Smartwater has started to become available in aluminum even at taller 18-ounce sizes. Traditional Coke soda products generally only come in aluminum cans at smaller sizes, so the Smartwater change could lead to further experiments in this area.

ABARTA did at least mention a commitment to sustainability as part of this expansion. The company said it is prioritizing sustainability and preparing to give back all the water used in its drinks by 2035 while also making all its packaging fully recyclable by 2025  better than not recyclable, but since most consumers do not recycle and plastic is not infinitely recyclable, it's not something that moves the needle much on pollution reduction.

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The company indicated it expects the new stacking system will also help cut down on waste by making warehouse operations more efficient and reducing unnecessary packaging.

Coca-Cola has also stepped up its sustainability efforts by investing in plant-based bottles to cut plastic waste and rolling out refillable packaging programs in several markets. While Coca-Cola still has a long way to go to reduce its negative impact on plastic pollution, the moves are an encouraging part of a growing push from brands to reduce their environmental impact.

Should the government continue to give tax incentives for energy-efficient home upgrades? Absolutely No Depends on the upgrade I don't know Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

"Our business has always been rooted in family, service, and community," said Jim Dinderman, chief operating officer of ABARTA, in a press release. "By expanding our footprint and putting down roots in Harrisburg, this project showcases our optimism and commitment to our customers and our market."

The situation is a reminder that investment in more efficient and sustainable business practices can benefit a business while also benefiting consumers and the environment.

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.
Rep. Adam Bowling, R-Middlesboro, presents legislation aimed at containing Medicaid costs in Kentucky, which he told the House are "just not sustainable," March 4, 2025. (LRC Public Information)

FRANKFORT  Medicaid  the federal-state program that provides health care to almost 1.5 million Kentuckians  is on the chopping block in Washington and could soon come under examination in Frankfort.

The House has approved creating a 21-member Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board to look for ways to rein in Kentucky Medicaid cost increases.

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Meanwhile, the Beshear administration would be barred from making any changes to Medicaid eligibility, coverage or benefits in Kentucky without first getting a green light from the General Assembly unless the changes are required by federal law.

The House also voted to reinstate prior authorization requirements for Medicaid behavioral health benefits which include treatment for substance use disorder.

Rep. Adam Bowling, R-Middlesboro, the sponsor of House Bill 695, said the legislation is necessary because of unsustainable growth in Medicaids cost.

Roughly one out of three Kentuckians is currently enrolled in Medicaid.  Its the second largest general fund unit within our state budget. And the growth we are seeing currently is at a rate  its just not sustainable, Bowling said. So all we are trying to do with House Bill 695 is just stabilize the program, hold it where it is today.

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The House approved HB 695 by an 80-19 party line vote on March 4 while Bowlings House Bill 9 creating the oversight board was approved 99-0.

Prior authorization requirements

Rep. Lindsey Burke, D-Lexington. (LRC Public Information)

Democrats opposed the requirement for prior authorizations to receive mental health care. Rep. Lindsey Burke, D-Lexington, called it a bridge too far.

HB 695 gives the Cabinet for Health and Family Services 90 days after the bill becomes law to reinstate all prior authorization requirements for behavioral health services in the Medicaid program that were in place and required on Jan. 1, 2020.

During the House debate, Burke said, When someone has made the brave and courageous decision to come to seek mental health treatment, they are often in a position where they need immediate service. And it troubles me to think that weve asked someone who has made that courageous decision to wait and see if their insurance will cover it. Our citizens are already experiencing a mental health epidemic, and we know that prior authorization slows down essential treatment for Kentuckians.

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Emily Beauregard, the executive director for Kentucky Voices for Health, opposed the prior authorization requirement during a Feb. 25 committee meeting, saying quick access to mental health care can avert costlier medical crises.

We know from years of experience that prior authorizations can delay access to behavioral health services for individuals facing an acute need and for conditions like depression, anxiety and substance use disorder, early intervention is crucial to improving health outcomes and reducing the need for higher cost services such as emergency room visits or inpatient hospitalization. she said.

However a group of independent treatment providers supports the reinstatement of prior authorizations, saying they will help ensure that available funds go to help those most in need.

John Wilson, president of the Kentucky Association of Independent Recovery Organizations, told the Lantern that bad actors during the COVID-19 pandemic exploited the system. That, he said, led to unnecessary services and payments  with little to no respect given to patient care or outcomes.

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We recognize the additional burden prior authorizations bring to providers, but this important tool to control waste, fraud and abuse has already been reinstituted in other areas of health care, Wilson said. KAIROS believes that reinstituting prior authorizations will ensure that the available funds are spent on those who need it most. In fact, many KAIROS members did not change their own policies and procedures regarding prior authorizations during the suspension and continued to function as though authorizations were still required.

Kentucky Medicaid already has restored some mental prior authorization requirements which were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kendra Steele, a spokeswoman for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, said changes were made to specific services and additional changes are on track to be implemented in the near future following the COVID-induced pause for those prior authorizations.

When the policy is reinstated, (the Department for Medicaid Services) will work to ensure Medicaid members continue to receive the appropriate level of care needed in a timely manner, Steele said, adding that the state is committed to ensuring health care access for Kentuckians, including access to behavioral health services, counseling and treatment for addiction.

Budgetary triage

Rep. Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, is chairman of the House budget committee. (LRC Public Information)

During the Feb. 25 meeting, Rep. Jason Petrie, chairman of the House budget committee, likened HB 695 to a type of triage to put a stasis on the program so that it doesnt grow uncontrollably, ineffectively and inefficiently in the very, very short term, until the Medicaid Oversight Advisory Board can get on its feet and start making better make informed policy decisions, along with executive branch and participants in this big program.

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The advisory board would be made up of 10 lawmakers (five from the Senate and five from the House) and 11 non lawmakers including the states chief medical officer, the state auditor, the chair of the Advisory Council for Medical Assistance and others. Its job would be to review, analyze, study, evaluate, provide legislative oversight, and make recommendations to the General Assembly regarding any aspect of the Kentucky Medicaid program.

Bowling told the committee that HB 9 is a good way to get the executive branch, the legislative branch and then stakeholders as well, all at the table, to be able to go through all these issues that have come up surrounding Medicaid.

Bowling pointed out the legislature must figure out how to piece the funding for Medicaid changes made by the administration.

We want to come together with the executive branch to make sure we have a better idea and we can make more educated decisions about which changes we want to implement and which changes are not in Kentuckys best interest, as we see it, he said.

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Medicaid in Kentucky costs taxpayers about $15 billion a year. Most of that money  70% to 90%  comes from the federal government. Medicaid pays for medical and nursing home care for low income people and people who have disabilities, including 4 in 9 Kentucky children, according to KFF, a nonprofit research organization focused on health care.

In Washington, Rep. Brett Guthrie of Kentucky is chairman of a U.S. House committee thats looking for ways to cut $880 billion from the federal budget to pay for extending tax cuts enacted in 2017  a task that is considered impossible without cutting Medicaid which costs the federal government more than $600 billion a year.

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A newly hatched sea turtle is stuck in a plastic tab on a Florida beach. (Photo by Gumbo Limbo Nature Center)

Due in part to an outpouring of opposition, a proposal that would have banned local governments from imposing regulations against single-use items like plastic bags, bottles, cups and cardboard died during the 2024 legislative session.

But its a new year and a new legislative session, and nearly the exact same proposal won approval in the Florida House Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee on Tuesday in its first committee stop of the 2025 legislative session on a party-line vote.

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The measure, sponsored by Miami-Dade Republican Omar Blanco (HB 565), is the latest move from Tallahassee to preempt cities and counties from enforcing local environmental laws.

HB 565 ensures regulatory clarity, statewide uniformity, and consumer convenience, Blanco told the committee.

His measure would ban regulating any auxiliary container made of cloth, paper, or plastic, including (but not limited to) foamed plastic; expanded plastic or polystyrene cardboard, corrugated materials, molded fiber, aluminum, glass, postconsumer recycled matter or similar material or substrates, including coated, laminated, or multilayer substrates.

Since 2008, state law has barred local governments from reducing or eliminating many of the sources of plastic that clog sandy beaches, harm waterways, and impair the states tourism economy. At least 16 states similarly forbid the banning of plastic bags, according to the Retail Industry Leaders Association.

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Local governments are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of plastic that we produce and generate, said Katie Bauman, Florida policy director for the Surfrider Foundation.

Were running out of space. This is due large part to differing governing bodies and municipalities that have been preempted and paralyzed in taking action for the greater part of the last decade. The result of this preemption is that it compounds local governments difficulty in dealing with the mess that we make. We are burying trash. We are shipping it to other parts of the state. Were thinking about shipping it to other states  and yet the root problem will not go away unless we address it. Floridians and local governments want a solution.

Documented harm

Opponents of the proposal cite reports produced by the states Department of Environmental Protection in 2010 and again in 2022 regarding the need for and efficacy of both statewide and local regulation of bags used by consumers from retail establishments. The 2022 report showed that a substantial majority of respondents support the need for regulation.

Nowhere did it show or suggest that further expanding or entrenching this preemption would be a positive benefit. That is what is being contemplated in this bill today, Bauman said about that report.

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The bill also removes a provision requiring the DEP to update that reporting.

Michele Drucker of the Florida PTA legislative committee discussed the harms that chemicals in plastics can cause to health.

We have now learned that there are 100 times more microplastics in bottled products than previously understood, and it is affecting our reproductive capacity, she said. Its affecting our endocrine system.

More than 16,000 chemicals are used in plastics manufacturing, and over 1,000 industrial chemicals used today are suspected endocrine disruptors, according to a 2024 report by an international team of scientists with the PlastChem Project.

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Representatives of the Florida Retail Federation, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce attended the committee meeting and indicated support.

Party lines

All five Democrats on the committee opposed the measure.

We have very, very environmentally sensitive lands and the people who live there want to protect those areas and why wouldnt we let them? said South Florida Rep. Kelly Skidmore. Why would we say we know best in Tallahassee  landlocked Tallahassee. That were going to tell everybody else what to do?

All 19 Republicans on the committee voted yes, but Rep. Jim Mooney, who represents the Florida Keys in the House, said he was a soft yes and urged Blanco to read a recent report published by Florida International University.

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That report says that the tourism and food service industries have been identified as major contributors to plastic waste and that the increase in those outlets has resulted in the proliferation of plastic litter. It estimated the cost of plastic beach debris to Floridas tourism economy to be about $7 billion per year.

Blancos bill has two more stop in the House before getting to the floor. There is Senate companion bill filed by Lee County Republican Jonathan Martin (SB 1822) that has yet to be heard in that chamber.

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Sen. David Wheeler, R-Huron, speaks on the South Dakota Senate floor on March 4, 2025. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

PIERRE  After a tumultuous year of government corruption scandals, legislation expanding the authority of the South Dakota Legislatures investigative oversight committee is headed to the governors desk.

The Government Operations and Audit Committee, known by the acronym GOAC, is tasked with investigating potential fraud and abuses in state government.

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The committee issued subpoenas last year and earlier this year ordering state department leaders to answer questions about alleged crimes by former state employees, after a string of corruption cases announced by the Attorney Generals Office last year. Under current law, the subpoenas required an extra sign-off from the Legislatures Executive Board before they could be issued.

The legislation would remove that extra sign-off requirement and allow the committee to conduct investigations outside of its public meetings.

Permission granted: Legislature approves subpoena power for committee

Yankton Republican Rep. Julie Auch, who introduced House Bill 1204, said that for most of its history GOAC could make subpoena requests without the Executive Boards blessing.

Rep. Tim Reisch, R-Howard, spoke against the bill on the House floor.

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1204 feels like a power grab to me, Reisch said, adding that more lawmakers involved in the investigative process and deciding to issue a subpoena is beneficial.

Senate President Pro Tempore Chris Karr, R-Sioux Falls, told lawmakers during the bills Senate State Affairs hearing that the investigative committee is the most important thing the Legislature has created. He added that he doesnt have concerns about the committee abusing subpoena powers, because its a joint committee of the House and Senate that inherently requires consensus among members of both bodies.

Huron Republican Sen. David Wheeler agreed.

I think GOAC recently has shown that it is responsible with that authority, he said.

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The bill passed the House in a 36-34 vote but was tabled in the Senate because the concept was amended into Senate Bill 176, which passed both chambers.

Lawmakers expand committees investigative authority

Senate Bill 176, introduced by Wheeler, would expand the authority of GOAC to conduct investigations before the committee meets or have a third party conduct the investigation and issue a report to the committee. Currently, the committee has to meet to conduct any interviews or investigations.

Its hard to do that at one time with 10 people there, Wheeler told lawmakers.

The bill passed unanimously out of the Senate and 58-12 from the House.

Rep. Will Mortenson, R-Fort Pierre, was one of the dozen lawmakers to challenge the expansion. He called the bill unnecessary in a text message to South Dakota Searchlight after the vote.

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I dont like the trend of turning our interim Legislature into the gotcha politics and constant witch hunts that they do in Congress, Mortenson said. GOAC has an important role, but I worry that we may be getting a little carried away.

If signed by Gov. Larry Rhoden, the bills will become law on July 1.

Crimes and other responses

Attorney General Marty Jackley filed at least five 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.

In response, Jackley supported a package of four bills that would expand the investigatory authority of the state auditor, strengthen the Board of Internal Controls, institute mandatory reporting requirements for state employees and penalties for failing to report, and establish protections for whistleblowers. All of the bills have been delivered to the governor for his consideration.

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Colorado Springs is looking to make code changes that would allow police in the city to impound vehicles that are abandoned or have expired licenses.

The first discussion on the new ordinance took place during the Colorado Springs City Council work session on Monday morning. The proposal would rewrite the citys illegal parking code to simplify some areas and expand the impounding ability, which city staff said would encourage compliance with the state vehicle registration laws.

The new ordinance would allow vehicles to be impounded if they are inoperable and left in a public right of way or if they are parked in public with invalid license plates.

The current city rules allow Colorado Springs police to issue citations for missing and expired plates, but the department cannot impound a vehicle solely for a license issue. During a recent campaign to crack down on expired tags, the department issued 175 citations in one day.

City Chief of Staff Jamie Fabos said that one of the common complaints the city heard from residents was about vehicles that never faced a ticket or a penalty for traveling with expired plates. Fabos told the council the city had received 14,500 complaints about abandoned vehicles since 2022.

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The ordinance changes would increase the threshold for an officer to initiate an impound for missing plates or a driver operating without a license, requiring the officer to have probable cause for a violation.

The proposed changes would provide the ability for Code Enforcement officers and Parking Enforcement Officers to initiate an impound when authorized by the police chief, which staff said could free up time for police to take other calls.

I think we would all agree its maybe not the highest priority for our sworn police officers, Fabos said.

Another proposed rule would prevent people from moving their car a few inches or feet at a time to get around enforcement to parking time limits. The new definition would say that the vehicle must move at least 100 feet away to avoid being impounded.

The impounding rules will be up for a City Council vote on March 25 and April 8. Shantel Withrow, the citys chief of prosecution, said the rules would take effect as soon as possible after the final vote.
Senate President Mattie Daughtry and Minority Leader Trey Stewart talk ahead of the vote on the supplemental budget on March 11, 2025. (Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star)

This story was updated.

After initial passage in both chambers and an enactment vote in the Maine House of Representatives, Republicans in the Senate revoked their support for the budget change package Tuesday night, leaving the imminent funding shortfall for MaineCare, the states Medicaid program, still unaddressed.

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The Maine Department of Health and Human Services said it would start withholding Medicaid payments to certain providers starting Wednesday if the budget was not enacted as an emergency measure by then.

An amendment from Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Brunswick) introduced Tuesday afternoon incorporated enough of Republicans demands to gain the initial support of the minority party, including limits to General Assistance that Democratic Gov. Janet Mills had initially proposed, cost-of-living adjustments for certain essential support workers withheld by the Mills administration, and a review of MaineCare for fraud, waste and abuse.

The Democratic majority ultimately caved on some of those measures in order to try to secure the support of two-thirds of each chamber needed for the legislation to be enacted as an emergency measure, which would make the funding available immediately upon the governors signature.

However, Senate Republicans back-pedaled on their willingness to compromise after demonstrating initial support for the amended plan on Tuesday.

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After several floor speeches in the Senate praising the bipartisan work, the upper chamber initially voted 31-2, with two members excused, to pass the amended plan, and the House then voted 129-10. Then the House voted 113-27 to enact the measure, sending it back to the Senate for final approval. But all Republicans aside from Rick Bennett of Oxford and Marianne Moore of Washington voted against enactment, uprooting the nearly finalized measure.

I know theres some concern in my caucus, Moore said before the Senate enactment vote. MaineCare needs reform. We can all agree on that but we need to pay our providers what we owe them. We need to pay our direct care workers the salaries that we promised them. We need to get this passed so we can roll up our sleeves and get to work.

Assistant Senate Republican Minority Leader Matt Harrington (R-York) followed with a different perspective, that the compromise was not enough.

Regrettably, here we are today with an amendment that we passed earlier that made a bad bill somewhat better, Harrington said, and we did get some reforms that were moving the ball in a positive direction for Maine, but unfortunately, it did nothing to address the Medicaid system in this state.

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Last month, Republicans attempted to amend the supplemental budget to add work requirements for childless, able-bodied adults to be eligible for Medicaid benefits, which was not entertained in Daughtrys amendment.

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Daughtrys amendment did add a review of MaineCare to the plan, which she said would make sure that we are centering data at the center of these conversations, and not hearsay, not anecdotes. The $250,000 appropriation for the report  which is to be conducted by a third-party, independent entity  draws down a $250,000 federal match, according to the amendment language.

This is something I was very passionate about, Daughtry said, to claw back those funds if the report does not adhere to the specifications ensuring that this work is done with extreme fiscal responsibility.

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While the main purpose of the supplemental budget is to shore up Medicaid funding, the package also aims to address other pressing issues  such as funding to prevent spruce budworm from damaging forests. Overall, however, the plan considered includes far fewer initiatives than Mills initially hoped as leaders of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, which sets the budget, had tried to move any non-emergency measures to consideration in the two-year budget.

In a social media video following the failed enactment vote, Daughtry said every moment the Legislature is not able to pass a supplemental budget, theres more than political bickering at stake.

The House was able to do it, Daughtry said, also commending Moore and Bennett. They said that we can find common ground and put aside our partisan differences and come together for Maine people.

While stating she was frustrated, Daughtry added, Im hopeful when we call the Senate back in we can finally stop playing games and do our jobs, also urging viewers to call their senators.

A good compromise

Between passage and enactment votes, the collegial atmosphere about bipartisan cooperation fell apart.

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Before the initial vote, Daughtry said there are aspects of the amended supplemental budget that she would not have imagined supporting when she first entered the Legislature at 25 years old. But, quoting Larry David of Curb Your Enthusiasm fame, Daughtry said, A good compromise is when both parties are dissatisfied.

Sen. Anne Carney (D-Cumberland) said that while she was not supportive of some aspects of the amendment, notably the limits to General Assistance, she knew her community would not be able to get by if Medicaid payments were withheld.

Even before Senate Republicans reversed their support, they made clear that they were looking to make further changes outside the budget process.

Moore, who originally proposed an amendment to include modest cost-of-living adjustments for the current fiscal year, commended Daughtrys amendment for doing so. However, she said the limits to General Assistance should be a starting point, noting other bills being considered this session that propose further changes.

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Specifically, the amended budget proposal limits housing assistance under the program to a maximum of 12 months in a 36-month period, with an exemption for temporary housing and emergency shelters.

In the process of budget negotiations, Daughtry said she and others discovered that the people who administer this assistance in municipalities dont have annual updates or training on the rules, requirements and compliance expectations. Therefore, Daughtrys amendment also requires annual trainings.

Republicans and Democrats both expressed support for the cost-of-living adjustments, which the amendment provided at a rate of 1.95% in the current fiscal year for certain essential support workers. These adjustments are still up for debate in the budget for the next biennium.

Several lawmakers used floor speeches ahead of the initial Senate vote Tuesday to speak about the work that comes next, both the two-year budget and standalone legislation.

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Bennett expressed his disappointment about the budget negotiations showing a lack of trust among legislators, but added, I see this amendment as a good faith and a heartfelt effort to restore that trust, and to begin conversations that are going to be needed for us to dig into lots of issues beyond the budget this important year.

A late-night budget committee vote in early February had initially signaled bipartisan support for the supplemental, but that apparent harmony fell apart quickly after Rep. Kenneth Fredette (R-Newport) tried to cast a late vote in opposition but came up against a restriction in the joint rules that prevented him from doing so.

Earlier this month, the Legislature amended that rule, which prevented a lawmaker not present for voting from later filing a different report outside public view, to now allow for a late vote but only one against a proposal.

Sen. Jeff Timberlake (R-Androscoggin) directly asked the million-dollar question on the Senate floor: Will leadership say on the record that they will also commit to a two-thirds biennial budget?

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If leadership were to make such a statement, Timberlake said, they might find that there is more trust built within this arena.

Timberlake did not receive a response.

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From the Boiling Frogs on The Dispatch

Im embarrassed to say that my first thought when catching up on the Mahmoud Khalil saga thats playing out in New York City and certain undisclosed locations was This is great politics.

Khalil is a recent graduate of Columbia University who served as negotiator and spokesman for pro-Palestinian protesters during last years notorious campus tantrum. He received his masters degree in December but stuck around, turning up last month as a leader of the demonstrations at Columbia-affiliated Barnard College that erupted after two students were expelled for disrupting a class on Israels history.

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Importantly, hes not a U.S. citizen. (Although he is married to one.) Hes a lawful permanent resident, i.e. a green card holder.

On Saturday a group of federal immigration agents showed up at his door and arrested him, allegedly informing his lawyer in a phone call that the State Department had revoked his student visa. He doesnt have a student visa, she told them. Hes a legal resident! Thats been revoked too, an agent supposedly replied. She claims that when she asked to see the arrest warrant, he hung up.

What happened to Khalil after that isnt clear. Although the arrest took place in Manhattan, he wasnt at the detention center in New Jersey when his wife came to visit. As of Sunday his lawyer had lost track of his precise whereabouts but had reason to believe hed been moved to Louisiana. The next day a federal judge in New York ordered the Trump administration not to deport Khalil pending a hearing in the matter on Wednesday.

The president took a victory lap afterward anyway. This is the first arrest of many to come, Donald Trump crowed on Truth Social. We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, antisemitic, anti-American activity, and the Trump Administration will not tolerate it. Many are not students, they are paid agitators.

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Great politics, I thought, leaning all the way into nihilism.

Am I wrong, though? If youre going to ask the public to support you in a matter as dodgy as disappearing an undesirable immigrant, youll want to find one of the most undesirable immigrants possible. Thats Khalil. The movement with which hes associated is rancid with cultural pathologies that most Americans despisecampus radicalism, Hamas hagiography, antisemitic slop. Hes exactly the sort of figure youd target if you were a nationalist demagogue keen to earn a free hand from Americans in removing foreign-born troublemakers with dispatch.

At the heart of the Khalil matter is a simple intuition: Guests of the United States should demonstrate respect for our countrys values. If you show up here and start running interference for genocidal from the river to the sea Hamasniks, youve failed to show that respect and deserve to be treated the way any unwelcome guest would be. My guess is that a large majority of us, including plenty of Democrats, share that intuition.

The Khalil matter is great politics for Trump, then. Or so I assumed until I saw a tweet from, of all people, Ann Coulter.

Unsettled law.

Coulter is very much a restrictionist on immigration but shes also a lawyer by training and broke years ago with the mindless Trump apologists who now dominate the right. Theres almost no one I dont want to deport, she wrote as news of Khalils ordeal circulated, but, unless theyve committed a crime, isnt this a violation of the First Amendment?

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Isnt it?

Its a crime under U.S. law to supply terrorist groups like Hamas with material support but supplying them with rhetorical support is just a fancy way of saying free speech. (Khalil led activities aligned to Hamas, in the clumsy phrasing of the Department of Homeland Security.) If the feds are looking to revoke his green card for nothing worse than stating obnoxious political opinions, thats as clear a case of the government targeting someone for wrongthink as were ever likely to see. And that has to violate the First Amendment. Doesnt it?

Actually, no one knows. Various heavy hitters among the legal commentariat have weighed in on Khalils case in the last 72 hours, including our own Sarah Isgur and David French, and the consensus on whether he can lawfully be expelled for his political views is Uh, maybe. Probably?

Two federal statutes arguably provide authority to do so. One says that an alien whose presence or activities in the United States the Secretary of State has reasonable ground to believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States is deportable. The other authorizes the removal of an alien who endorses or espouses terrorist activity or persuades others to endorse or espouse terrorist activity or support a terrorist organization. Put those two together and the feds have a wide berth to oust impolite guests. Pretty simple, no?

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Well, not really. For one thing, theres wiggle room in that text. Is it reasonable to believe that agitation against Israel by some campus cosplay jihadist is creating serious foreign policy consequences for the United States? Might the answer depend on how much influence Khalil has within the pro-Hamas movement or is merely being part of the movement enough? Should it matter whether hes refrained from violent incitement in his own rhetoric? Does it matter if the war in Gaza is ongoing or over?

Theres actually a specific exception in the statute (flagged by National Reviews Andy McCarthy) that prevents the feds from deporting an immigrant on foreign policy grounds due to his past, current, or expected beliefs, statements, or associations, if such beliefs, statements, or associations would be lawful within the United States, unless the Secretary of State personally determines that the aliens admission would compromise a compelling United States foreign policy interest. In other words, the law errs on the side of not letting the government oust foreigners for their politics. Only a compelling reason will entitle it to do so.

The second statute looks like a slam dunk by comparison, as presumably Khalil is guilty of having persuaded others to  support a terrorist organization at some point in his agitation about Israel and Hamas. But heres where we run into Coulters question: Even if he is, does the First Amendment override that statute and prevent the government from deporting him for what would surely be protected speech if an American citizen engaged in it?

Eugene Volokh, an eminent First Amendment scholar, sifted through the case law and concluded, Uh, maybe?

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The tricky thing about Khalils case is that, as a green card holder, hes in a legal gray zone. He doesnt enjoy the same privileges as a citizen but he certainly enjoys more than a tourist with a visa. Unlike a foreigner whos seeking entry to the United States, hes already a resident and has built a life here. (His American-citizen wife is pregnant, in fact.) Think of him as a tenant, possessing fewer rights than a landowner but a lot more than a guest. Hence the uncertainty in the case law on non-citizens speech rights: When exploring a hazy gray zone, different courts are destined to reach different conclusions about its precise constitutional parameters.

Without legal clarity to guide ones thinking about Khalils rights, reactions to his arrest are destined to function like a political Rorschach test. The test is this: Who is the lesser evil at this point, campus Hamasniksor the president of the United States?

Shalom Mahmoud.

Liberals whove spent the past three days screeching about Khalils First Amendment rights may (or may not!) be wrong on the law but theyre right on the politics. The facts of this case feel clammy because theyre another reminder of how blatantly Trumps administration discriminates based on viewpoint.

If youve criticized the president in the past, he might rescind your federal security detail even if doing so places you at risk of death. If your law firm has opposed him in court, he might yank your security clearances and seek to bar you from federal buildings. If you use colorful rhetoric about him in an interview, one of his attack-dog prosecutors might threaten you with baseless criminal charges to shut you up. If you dont adopt his preferred patriotically correct terminology in your news coverage, your access to the White House might be reduced.

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Most viewpoint discrimination in Trump 2.0 has happened below the surface of policy, though. After two years of retribution rhetoric from the president on the campaign trail, for instance, Americas titans of industry realized early that their businesses would be harassed by the federal government if they took a hostile stance toward him and acted accordingly. In a culture of fear, the state doesnt need to actually discriminate against dissenting viewpoints very often; once everyone understands whats expected of them, most will take care not to dissent in the first place.

In isolation, the Khalil case is a bog-standard matter of evicting an apologist for terrorism. But in the wider context of Trumps postliberal project to silence enemies, its another slip down a slope that hes working day by day to make as slick as possible. In particular, law professor Steve Vladeck noted, the presidents warning that Khalils arrest is the first of many to come suggests that the government intends to use these rarely invoked removal authorities in enough cases to seek to deter non-citizens of any immigration status from speaking out about sensitive political issues, even in contexts in which the First Amendment does, or at least should, clearly protect their right to do so.

At the rate were going, with the second-most powerful man in the government now calling supporters of Ukraine traitors, a green card holder agitating for the Ukrainian military to target Moscow might also potentially be targeted for removal on grounds of espousing terrorism. If you dont think Trumps capable of that, why not?

Another clammy aspect of Khalils case is the procedural irregularity involved.

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Thats been another hallmark of the presidents first seven weeks. The bureaucratic upheaval created by DOGE, the on-again off-again trade wars with Canada and Mexico, the weapons and intelligence ebb-and-flow to Ukrainethe chaos seems deliberate, as if to prove that you can do big things if only youre willing to ignore procedural niceties and let Men of Action like Trump and Elon Musk work their will.

The detention of Mahmoud Khalil is in line with that attitude. Experts in immigration law told the New York Times that revoking a green card is actually quite rare, involves a lengthy process, and typically only happens when the holder has been accused and convicted of criminal offenses, all of which makes Khalils case a notable outlier. Another immigration attorney told journalist Jesse Singal that its unusual for a lawful permanent resident to be placed in detention pending a hearing on rescinding his green card and very unusual for him to be sent from New York to the American South before that hearing occurs.

Two days after Khalil was arrested, the specific grounds on which the feds hoped to deport him were still unclear. The whole thing stinks of the White House wanting to make a spectacle of Trumps toughness on Hamasniks by treating Khalil like a terrorist, snatching him without the normal legal process thats due and whisking him off to parts unknown.

As if to prove the point, in response to the outcry the official White House Twitter account offered nothing but bravado, posting a stark black-and-white photo of Khalil with the snide caption Shalom Mahmoud. If you werent worried already about the Trump administration flouting procedural rules to find out what sort of lawbreaking it can get away with, watching them disappear a guy off the street and then taunt him in a public communique should do the trick.

Hypocrisy.

A third reason to feel clammy about Khalils detention, though, is that the Trump administration isnt as serious about antisemitism as it likes to pretend.

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And it does like to pretend. Sources told the Times that the governments case against Khalil will be based on the fact that the protests he helped lead were antisemitic and created a hostile environment for Jewish students at Columbia and that his continued residency in the U.S. undermines the Trump administrations foreign policy goal of combating antisemitism across the globe. Thats a noble policy aim and a smart political justification for picking a fight with campus Hamasniks. And lord knows, its a real problem.

But the White House doesnt care about antisemitism in the abstract. It cares about delegitimizing the left. It cares about animosity toward Jews when doing so focuses public contempt on progressives, as in Khalils case, and not at all when it comes from the right.

Take Andrew Tate. In addition to his many other fine qualities, Tate is a Hamas apologist known to babble about the groups masculine spirit of resistance and the heroic death of its leader. Per the Anti-Defamation League, hes not above using the word Jew as a pejorative, has engaged in some light Holocaust revisionism, and gave the Nazi salute in at least one of his online videos. Why did the White House, given its supposedly very serious concerns about antisemitism, intervene to save Tate from Romanian justice and allow him to return to the United States?

Why havent the president or his aides objected publicly to some of his favorite podcast bros hosting notorious antisemites, taking postliberal contrarian populist media to its logical conclusion?

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Why is his administration hiring people who are prone to antisemitic rhetoric and known to attend antisemitic events?

Why did his clemency for the January 6 defendants not make exceptions for some brazen antisemites?

Why did he host two of Americas most well-known Jew-haters for dinner at Mar-a-Lago around the time he launched his most recent presidential campaign?

If we broaden the question to racism generally, the double standard is even more absurd. It was just a few weeks ago, Jonathan Last remembered, that one of Elon Musks DOGE apparatchiks briefly left the job after he was found to have posted things on social media like Normalize Indian hate and I just want a eugenic immigration policy. Not only was he quickly rehired, the vice president himself intervened publicly on his behalf by whining about how unfair it seemed to punish a kidwhos in his mid-20s, mind youfor some crass edgelord-ing.

Mahmoud Khalils mistake wasnt agitating against Israel, it was agitating against Israel from the left. If he had framed his critique instead as an America First lament about greedy Jews siphoning off precious U.S. taxpayer dollars to advance globalism, hed have a successful podcast, a million-plus followers on social media, and possibly a job in the Trump administration.

So you see, targeting the pro-Palestinian protest movement for deportations isnt a matter of the White House advancing some high-minded goal. Its an exercise of raw power inflicted by one illiberal entity with an unnervingly high degree of antisemitic support upon another. I can understand being ambivalent in that conflict given the sleaziness of Khalils cause, but I cant understand concluding that the side with state authority, unlimited resources, and autocratic ambitions is the lesser evil. If youre willing to assume the administrations good intentions in this matter simply because you despise the Hamasniks, youre still missing the forest for the trees.

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To the editor: Complaining about the price of eggs is not enough ("Why should America worry about Trump? Try the price of eggs, some Democrats say," March 3). Neither is pointing to President Trumps lies, cruelty or his appointment of people to run our country based on loyalty rather than experience or skill.

Democrats should focus on two things: the economy and national security, both of which this administration has put in peril. Lurching from imposing tariffs to no tariffs to imposing them again has destabilized our economy and discouraged domestic and international investment.

Trumps reckless insults to our elected officials, as well as foreign political and economic partners, do not make us look strong. They make us look amateur, alone and vulnerable.

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Kathryn Russell, Long Beach

..

To the editor: The price of eggs is higher, the stock market is way down, our position in the world order is compromised, we are voting in the United Nations with North Korea and Russia. Empathy, truth and character no longer matter. Please wake me up; this is an awful nightmare.

William Morris, Pasadena



This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Mar. 11LEWISTON  Police released more information Tuesday afternoon on a shooting that occurred Friday at a local mosque on Bartlett Street, including the name of the victim.

Liban Hassan, 19, of Lewiston was identified as the only victim at Masjidu Salaam Mosque at 243 Bartlett St., according to a Lewiston Police Department Facebook post.

Police responded to the mosque around 9:45 p.m. Friday after reports of gunshots flooded dispatch.

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When police arrived, they spoke with a person who was able to confirm a shooting took place in the mosque's parking lot during the congregation's celebration of Ramadan.

Hassan, who received an injury that was not life-threatening, was dropped off at St. Mary's Regional Medical Center around 10 p.m. He was uncooperative with police, the post said, but "all indications suggest he was shot during the shooting incident ..."

Police returned to the scene Saturday morning to search for evidence and discovered more than a dozen shell casings consistent with several caliber weapons. This indicates the incident involved several shooters, the post said.

Hassan's vehicle was later found abandoned with extensive damage from bullet holes. The vehicle was impounded by police and searched after a warrant was granted.

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"Hassan has been released from the hospital, and he continues to be uncooperative with police," the post said.

In the Facebook post, Lewiston police said "there not a lot of cooperation from the numerous Mosque members who were attending prayer."

Rilwan Osman, director of Maine Immigrant and Refugee Services, took to the comments to refute the post's claim that people at the mosque were uncooperative with police.

"This is not true," Osman said. "Many people cooperated and answered questions and provided information to the responding officers. It's sad to see Lewiston Maine Police Department saying not a lot of people cooperated with them. Wrong Messages like this is why people don't want to cooperate!"

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In an interview, Osman said that members the mosque were inside praying as part of the Ramadan services for about two hours prior to the shooting. In fact, the service ended about 9:30 and most of the congregation left to go home before the shots were fired, he said. Hassan, the victim, at some point left the mosque, got into a car then the another car approached and started shooting.

Osman said he and several others were still inside the mosque when they heard the gunshots.

"The shooting was not between the people who were in the mosque," Osman said. "We don't even know who (the shooters) are or why they were waiting outside the mosque."

Police spokesperson Lt. Derrick St. Laurent said it is difficult to determine whether cooperation is being given when everyone reports that they heard gunshots, but did not see anything and don't know anything about those involved.

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"I mean, over 100 people at a Ramadan service and someone is shot outside in the parking lot somebody's got to know something," he said.

St. Laurent said the lack of cooperation has become an immense issue and is extremely frustrating for officers who put their lives on the line responding to calls for reported shootings.

"We respond to these like it's a mass casualty event," St. Laurent said. "On the way to these, officers are already going through their minds thinking about where they are going and how they can effectively respond. It's emotionally draining."

On the other hand, Osman said his community is eager to help police.

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"We definitely want to work with police," he said. "What the police posted on Facebook just isn't true. We want to work with them to stop (the crime in our community)."

Police ask for anyone with information to contact the department's anonymous tip line at 1-207-513-3194.

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Franco-American history on display in Lewiston during 'Heart of Maine' performance
Mar. 10LIMA  A Lima woman who admitted to possessing cocaine and a firearm  but said those acts were committed only to get the contraband away from her young son  was sentenced Monday to three years in prison.

Shantelle Hicks, 37, pleaded guilty in January to an amended first-degree felony count of possession of cocaine. Other charges returned against Hicks by a grand jury, including a major drug offender specification, were dismissed by prosecutors in exchange for her plea. A specification for the forfeiture of a Taurus 9mm handgun to the Lima Police Department was left intact.

Allen County Common Pleas Court Judge Jeffrey Reed said a mandatory prison term was required as outlined by state lawmakers.

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A narrative from Lima Police Detective Chad Kunkleman said he was investigating a suspected sex offense in the 1000 block of North West Street on May 18, 2021, when he observed Hicks carrying a black bag and looking around, appearing nervous. She threw the bag into some bushes.

"Inside the bag were white pills, a firearm, ammunition and numerous large bags of suspected crack cocaine," Kunkleman wrote. The indictment said Hicks possessed more than 100 grams of cocaine.

Assistant Allen County Pubic Defender Steve Chamberlain said a random set of circumstances collided to put Hicks in harm's way with the legal system.

"My client has one misdemeanor charge on her record, and that's all," Chamberlain said. "We know that the guns and the drugs were not hers and that she just wanted to get them away from her son. It was simply happenstance that police were called to an unrelated incident in her neighborhood."

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Chamberlain said Hicks threw the drugs and weapon on the ground as soon as she saw officers.

"This situation has been heartbreaking for my family members ... especially my son," Hicks told the judge.

"I ask you to see the good in me," the woman said while asking for a minimum prison sentence.

In handing out the sentence, Reed said that while "not a defense, there are mitigating grounds surrounding (Hicks') conduct."

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The Lisbon Volunteer Fire Department will host weekly fish fry meals every Friday during the Lenten season through April 18.

The meals will cost $15 for adults and $10 for kids. The dinner will go from 4:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. and can served via dine-in or take-out. The phone lines will open up at 4 p.m. for takeout orders at 315-393-5531.

The menu consists of fried haddock fillet, fresh cut French fries or homemade mac & cheese or half and half, coleslaw, and a roll. Hot dogs meals are also available instead of fish for $5.

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The auxiliary will be selling baked goods for dessert.

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MANHATTAN (KSNT)  Severe storm season is here, and the Little Apple is helping to make sure youre prepared for whats ahead.

Riley County Emergency Management hosted a free Storm Spotter class on Monday, March 10. Discussions included the types of thunderstorms Kansas sees and storm prep and safety.

A meteorologist with the National Weather Service, Chad Omitt, explained why the class is a major benefit to the public.

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Why one Topeka brewery isnt worried about tariffs

One of the reasons that we do this is to talk about the risks that severe weather brings each season, each spring season here in Kansas, Omitt said. And we talk about ways to reduce that risk by having a plan and having multiple ways to receive information so that your situational awareness is high.

Its important to create and practice a plan and having ways to receive warnings.

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.

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CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN)  Police in Cedar Park said a live bat has tested positive for rabies.

At this time, we believe there is multiple direct human and/or animal contact with the bat, the police department said in a post on social media Tuesday.

The bat was found Saturday in the 1100 block of Camden Cove, in a neighborhood near U.S. 183A and Brushy Creek Road.

If you or someone you know came into contact with the bat, youre asked to call the Cedar Park Animal Control Unit at 512-260-4600 ext. 0.

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Police urge people to make sure that rabies vaccinations for pets are up to date. You should never touch stray or unknown animals.

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(NewsNation)  The National Transportation Safety Board is still in a fact-finding phase regarding the deadly midair collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines aircraft near Washington, D.C.

Sixty-seven people were killed on Jan. 29 when the aircraft collided over the Potomac River.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy addressed the media, noting that it is a process to gather the requisite details. A preliminary report was issued on Tuesday but did not include probable cause of the accident.

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Is it time to update hiring requirements for air traffic controllers?

I often say that the easiest and quickest part of the investigation is determining what happened. The part that takes longer is the how and why, Homendy said.

The NTSB is, however, making urgent safety recommendations, per Homendy, regarding helicopter routes near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Urgent recommendations require immediate action to prevent similar accidents or incidents when we issue them, Homendy said. We believe a critical safety issue must be addressed without delay.

The recommendation itself reads: Prohibit operations on helicopter Route 4 between Hains Point and the Wilson Bridge when runways 15 and 33 are being used for departures and arrivals, respectively, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

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NTSB investigators said there have been 15,214 near-miss events at DCA from Oct. 2021 to Dec. 2024.

Without a change in helicopter routes, Homendy and NTSB remain concerned about the significant potential for future mid-air collision at DCA, she said.

Southwest Airlines breaks with another tradition, and checked bags will cost you now

Investigators previously said the helicopter may have had inaccurate altitude readings in the moments before the crash and that the crew may not have heard key instructions from air traffic controllers.

Some have suggested a lack of air traffic control staffing could have played a role in the crash, but Homendy did not confirm nor deny on Tuesday.

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US travel advisory for Turks and Caicos Islands updated, a year after arrests

That is part of our investigation and is part of the analysis phase of our investigation. Right now, we are collecting facts on air traffic control. In our preliminary report today, we will mention that there were five controllers on position.

The collision was the deadliest plane crash in the United States since 2001, when a jet slammed into a New York City neighborhood just after takeoff, killing all 260 people on board and five more on the ground.

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KIRTLAND, Ohio (WJW)  A Northeast Ohio community college is working to close a $2.5 million deficit for its upcoming fiscal year, affecting jobs and programs along the way.

$150,000 lottery winner sold at local store

Last week, Lakeland Community College President Sunil Ahuja sent out a letter to faculty updating them on the situation. In the letter he said 14 full-time faculty agreed to voluntarily retire and that 10 faculty members were being laid off.

(FOX 8 photo)

Several health programs, which were not named, are also being closed due to enrollment numbers and small classroom sizes.

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These decisions have been very difficult, the president wrote. They are made in light of the colleges enrollment and financial realities and positioning the college for a financially sustainable future.

While some are being let go, the Kirtland-based college plans to hire three full-time faculty for its manufacturing, welding and electrical engineering programs.

Meijer to start construction along Geauga Lake, a major redevelopment milestone

Ahuja said one of the colleges top priorities is to balance its budget. He said the hope is that by making these moves this is the last round of layoffs the college will be making.

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About 6,000 students were enrolled during the 2022-2023 academic year, according to the colleges annual report.

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Mar. 10dbeard @domininonpost.com MORGANTOWN  The years-long effort to repeal the Certificate of Need process for healthcare facilities and equipment took a blow on Feb. 24, but not a fatal blow, according to Gov. Patrick Morrisey.

As Morrisey continues his push for repeal, the Dominion Post talked with Mon Health, WVU Medicine and the West Virginia Hospital Association for some local perspective on CON.

But first, some background on what CON is. The state Health Care Authority oversees the CON process.

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All healthcare providers, the HCA explains, unless otherwise exempt, must obtain a CON before adding or expanding health care services ; exceeding the capital expenditure threshold of $5, 803, 788 ; obtaining major medical equipment valued at $5, 803, 788 or more ; or developing or acquiring new health care facilities.

The CON program was enacted in 1977 and put under the HCA in 1983. The HCA says its goals are to control health care costs, improve the quality and efficiency of the healthcare system, encourage collaboration and develop a system of health care delivery that makes health services available to all residents of the state.

The CON process, HCA says, is often associated with cost containment measures. It also, by legislative intent, allows for health services to be provided in an orderly, economical manner that discourages unnecessary duplication.

HCA says some states have repealed their CON statutes, but 36 states and the District of Columbia retain some form of review. Three states limit their review to long-term care.

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CON review includes the determination of need, determined using CON Standards, which generally include population-based quantifiable need methodologies ; consistency with the State Health Plan ; and financial feasibility, which includes the evaluation of the reasonableness of proposed charges to patients and the determination if the expense and revenue projections demonstrate fiscal viability for the proposed project. Other review criteria include quality, accessibility, and continuum of care.

HCA says, "The advantage of CON programs to the public is that they encourage accountability by providing an avenue for public comment, discourage or limit unnecessary services, and promote community planning. In West Virginia, the CON program offers some protection for small, often financially fragile, rural hospitals and the underinsured population they serve by promoting the availability and accessibility of services and, to some extent, the financial viability of the facility."

The repeal effort This is not the first year that a CON repeal bill has been introduced, but it is the first year it was introduced on behalf of the governor. Morrisey's bill took form in twin Senate and House bills: SB 453, which is sitting idle, and HB 2007, which died in a procedural move in House Health on Feb. 24.

Morrisey said later that week that he believes the majority of lawmakers agree with him that CON needs to be repealed. As Ogden News' Steven Adams reported, Morrisey said, "I want to protect citizens that are in need, and I want there to be a viable private health care marketplace. Right now, we're going in a direction where that's not happening. That's going to change. We're going to continue to push for policies that make a difference that put the people first, not the special interest. That's what we're working on."

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The Dominion Post contacted Morrisey's office for an update on his plans and they passed along his statement, "The fight to repeal Certificate of Need is not over. West Virginia currently pays more for hospital services than all but one state  while experiencing the worst healthcare outcomes. We must reduce the unaffordable price of healthcare and increase consumers' access to the services they depend on."

His office said to expect future announcements on this front.

A conservative coalition of the Cardinal Institute, Institute for Justice and AFP West Virginia backs Morrisey, saying CON laws hinders healthcare access, increase healthcare costs, lengthen wait times and lower quality of care, especially in rural areas. States that have repealed CON have seen no negative effects.

The coalition says, "In short, CON laws are holding every West Virginian back from better access to more quality healthcare."

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But the healthcare professionals disagree. To some extent, they offer the same reasons for supporting CON, but we give each their own voice here.

Mon Health System David Goldberg is president and CEO of Mon Health System and Davis Health System  Vandalia Health Northern Region, and executive vice president of Vandalia Health. He testified in favor of CON before the House Health Committee.

He told The Dominion Post that he's worked in CON and non-CON environments, and it's a complex issue.

About 75 % of West Virginians are covered by Medicare, Medicaid or PEIA, he said. "Certificate of Need covers the ability for us and our health systems and providers to be balanced, where we build things to be able to generate the revenue that's appropriate to invest in our healthcare system in balance."

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Without CON protections, he said, we could see providers putting everything in the more economically focused markets  such as the panhandles and the Morgantown-Clarksburg corridor. "You have health systems in Kentucky who would love to come over the border to reach into the southern quadrant of the state and be able to expand their reach. Will they have this in focus ? We do, on taking care of our own in West Virginia."

Goldberg noted that there are no CON prohibitions from opening private practices. For instance, UPMC recently bought some MedExpress assets in order to build some urgent care centers. So there is competition, but CON prevents organizations from coming in with freestanding radiology centers that could harm small neighboring hospitals by draining their revenues.

"For example, I have something that comes right into Monongalia County, that starts to negatively impact my ability to generate revenue. How do I support the Preston Memorials, the Webster hospitals and Webster Springs, the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital that are predominantly Medicare Medicaid, then don't cover costs to begin with. So I think we have to be balanced."

Goldberg said they've shared with Morrisey and the Legislature, "We think there's ways to modernize. We think there's ways to collaborate. We all want to improve our outcomes and improve the affordability and the cost structure, but Certificate of Need in a state like West Virginia, it maintains the ability of balance, and we need to have that, because the northern part of the state is not the same as the east, the west or the south."

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Goldberg said health systems across the state are planning more than $1 billion in healthcare infrastructure across the next five to 10 years. So there is competition already. "I think that competition makes us that much better for the communities we serve, but we want to be balanced in how we compete."

Goldberg concluded, "I am mandated by the federal government, the state government and some locals how I operate. My reimbursement is set by contracts with payers, Medicare, Medicaid and PEIA. We are mandated and rightfully take care of our patients, regardless of their ability to pay, so it is not a free market. ... And I think let's modernize Certificate and Need, let's find ways to collaborate and do that."

WVU Medicine We reached out to WVU Medicine for its views and were connected with Candace Miller, president and CEO of WVU Medicine Jackson General Hospital.

A native West Virginian, Miller said she worked her whole career in Ohio, coming to WVU Medicine last June from a large system based out of Columbus.

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And when she got here, "The first thing I started scratching my head on was Certificate of Need. I was like, well, this is crazy. Why in the world do we do this ? This is, this is nothing but red tape, stupid, bureaucracy kind of thing."

But it didn't take long for her to figure out, she said, that West Virginia is very different from other states. Without CON, her rural, critical access hospital would be at risk.

Critical access hospitals must meet criteria set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Among the criteria, they must be located in a rural area either more than 35 miles from the nearest hospital or more than 15 miles in areas with mountainous terrain or only secondary roads ; maintain no more than 25 inpatient beds that can be used for either inpatient or swing-bed services ; and furnish 24-hour emergency care services seven days a week.

Critical access hospitals receive higher federal reimbursements than other hospitals, though still less than the cost of delivering care.

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Miller explained, "Let's say a small hospital was built right beside me, and it's defined by five beds or more. I would lose my critical access hospital designation. ... If I lose my designation, I immediately start running in the negative."

And operating margins here are slim, she said: 14 % where she previously worked, 2 % in West Virginia.

Ohio has 250 hospitals of which 33 are critical access, she said. West Virginia has 72 hospitals total, with 21 of them critical access. And Ohio has 11.8 million people, compared to West Virginia's 1.7 million.

"So, why does all that matter ? It matters because when you have a limited amount of people to serve, like we have in West Virginia, when you have these rural areas, like we have in West Virginia, you can pretty much, if you're big healthcare, big system, deep pockets, you can bully other providers out. And that limits access."

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Without CON, she said, a company could come in and set up a surgery or imaging center  two of the biggest-profit operations  and put a critical access hospital that has to provide more services out of business. "No one's going to come in and set up a business, a health care service line that's not going to make money. You just can't."

Miller takes issue with repeal proponents who cite West Virginia's poor health statistics as a reason for repeal. West Virginia tops the nation proportionally for obesity and smoking  issues not tied to proximity to a healthcare facility. "And so it's not fair to say the limited access to care equals poor health outcomes when you're not taking into consideration other facts that play into poor health outcomes for our state."

West Virginia Hospital Association Jim Kaufman is president and CEO of the WVHA.

CON, he said, is a valuable tool used by states for appropriate health care planning, such as a sufficient population to support that program, and the overall impact on the delivery system in the state.

Setting up a facility next to another one may simply drain the resources of the first one, he said, reducing access to care instead of increasing it. But a CON review can take into consideration location, and economic and healthcare impacts.

"Now you have an understanding and you're making an informed decision because it has an impact on another hospital that will change their financial status and potentially threaten or weaken that facility, " he said. "So now, from a statewide planning perspective, you're making an informed, rational decision. That's appropriate planning."

Kaufman said he appreciates that the Legislature is looking at this and gaining an understanding that healthcare is unique and unlike other sectors of the economy. "But we also applaud the governor because he recognizes that two of the biggest challenges with the West Virginia healthcare delivery system is workforce and our payer mix. We applaud the governor and his efforts to expand the state's economy and to get creative in trying to attract more people to the workforce.

Which raised another issue: a healthcare professionals shortage, he said. It's national, but West Virginia's challenges include the high proportion of residents  75 %  relying on government-backed insurance that pays less than the cost of care. The national average is 40.5 %.

"So that's going to be a challenge right there when offering competitive salaries and keeping those professionals in the state, " he said.

Another is the state's rural nature. "You actually need patient populations to support programs, which is part of the Certificate of Need discussion."

Commercial insurance pays above cost, which allows institutions to support other programs, community needs, and cross subsidize the underpayment on the governmental side, he said. But if you have a high proportion on government programs, you have fewer resources to offer competitive salaries, to reinvest in capital.

Kaufman concluded, "The hospitals all across West Virginia are really working hard and getting very creative to expand services. They're working together  you're seeing hospitals sharing certain specialists because there may not be enough volume in one community.

Collectively, he said, the hospitals have invested more than $3 billion in new construction, new facilities, and new services. "I think they're really trying to address the real issue of how do you expand access.

Touching on an issue Miller raised, tacking obesity, he said obesity efforts and hospital efforts are not the same.

"Hospitals are working to improve the health of their community with the whole goal that they won't need healthcare services, because they get healthy. I think that's another piece that people forget, that is part of the delivery system that you could lose if you allow these cherry picking of services that the elimination of CON can bring."
BEDFORD HEIGHTS, Ohio (WJW)  A late night police chase ended in a fiery crash.

The chase started in Bedford Heights shortly after 11 p.m. on Monday and ended when the car being pursued crashed in Cleveland near E. 49th Street and Chard Avenue.

Meijer to start construction along Geauga Lake, a major redevelopment milestone

According to officials, several people fled on foot from the vehicle which caught on fire.

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Officers from the Cleveland Division of Police and Cuyahoga Heights Police Department helped search the area.

Sheriff: Illegal immigrant used dead persons SSN

Its not clear if anyone was taken into custody or what started the chase.

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ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Ashley Sikora, a dedicated special education teacher, is in the running for the Americas Favorite Teacher award, an honor that could bring her a $25,000 prize, a feature in Readers Digest, a trip to Hawaii, and a special school assembly with Bill Nye.

For Sikora, teaching isnt just a job Its a calling. She works with special needs high school students, a role that presents unique challenges but also extraordinary rewards.

Some days are trying, Sikora admits. But when these kids accomplish a goal, its a wow moment.

A Passion for Making a Difference

Sikoras passion for teaching stems from her desire to change lives.

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I became a teacher so I could help make a difference in someones life. I wake up every day hoping that I will make a difference in one of my students lives, their parents lives, or even just a kid walking down the hall, she shares.

She emphasizes the importance of connection, always striving to be a source of positivity for her students.

I try my best to have a smile on my face no matter what, because those kids come to school to see me, to make their day better in some way. Even if its just to ask them if theyre doing okay today.

A Heartfelt Impact

Among her most memorable teaching experiences, Sikora recalls working with a nonverbal student who required assistance with mobility and eating. His parents had previously faced difficulties with educators and were hesitant to trust another teacher.

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But Sikora was determined to change that.

Honestly, we did not get off on the best foot, she admits. But I worked very hard to gain their trust and to understand their sons needsand theirs.

Her dedication paid off.

At his most recent ARD meeting, his mother was in tears. She told me, We have never had such an amazing teacher who has put so much effort into our son. He has grown so muchwe didnt even think it was possible.

For Sikora, that moment was priceless.

How She Would Use the Prize Money

If she wins the Americas Favorite Teacher award, Sikora plans to use the $25,000 to support both her family and her classroom.

I would help my family get back on our feet after some tough times this past year. I would also set some aside for a nice vacation with my husband he has been my rock through the last six years of teaching and deserves some recognition for that.

You can vote for Ashley Sikora by clicking this link: VOTE HERE

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LONG COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV)  A former Long County Commission Chairman and local businessman have been released from jail.

Robert Donald Parker, 38, and Tony Pee Wee Edward Fowler, 30, owner of Fowler Services, were booked at the Tattnall County jail in late February.

Tony Pee Wee Edward Fowler (left), Robert Parker (right), Tattnall County Jail

As a condition of their bond, both men are to turn in their passports and cant allowed to leave the state of Georgia, the Long County Sheriffs Office Chief Deputy told WSAV.

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They were seen by a Savannah judge since most Long County judges have recused themselves from the case.

Fowler is also a former deputy with the Long County Sheriffs Office and the son of Long County Tax Commissioner Becky Fowler.

The Long County Commissioners Office has been under investigation by the GBI since Sept. 10, 2024, over misappropriation of county funds.

The GBI, Department of Natural Resources, Georgia State Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Georgia Attorney Generals Office executed three search warrants at Parker, Fowler, and a third persons homes Feb. 27.

Parker is charged with three counts of theft by taking, one count of violation of oath of office, one count of aggravated assault and a violation of the Georgia Racketeering Act (RICO).

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Parker was also accused of putting a gun in the mouth of a county employee.

Fowler is charged with two counts of theft by taking.

They were denied bond in their first hearing. Parker was granted a $20,000 cash bond. Fowler was granted a $50,000 cash.

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NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  Its been five years since the pandemic, but for the 17 million Americans who currently suffer from long COVID-19, including Rachel Beale, its never-ending.

It was a very emotional time for me, cause Ive never been sick like that before and I just wanted to get back to work, said Beale, who first came down with COVID-19 in March 2021. I wanted to get back to who I was before and have the energy and be able to be the mom and do everything with my kids.

She experienced fatigue, high fever and body aches for two weeks. When she continued to suffer three months later, her doctor diagnosed her with long COVID.

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It has been devastating as a mom to have this chronic illness because I cant be the mom that I want to be, Beale said. There are lots and lots of times where my husband and my children have to take care of me. Everything we do as a family revolves around how Im feeling on any particular day.

Long COVID is a chronic illness with more than 200 symptoms that can come and go at any time. To say its frustrating is an understatement. On top of the symptoms, Beale encountered numerous external challenges.

In the beginning, there were a lot of doctors that didnt know what long COVID is, Beale said. And I even had a doctor tell me long COVID isnt real.

Beale has also applied for disability and has been denied twice. Shes now trying again.

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But weve come a long way in five years. There are now more than 400 clinics nationwide that specialize in treating long COVID patients, with 10 of those in Virginia, including one at Sentara Heart Hospital in Norfolk.

I have a place to go and see a doctor who is incredibly patient with me, Beale said.

But still, there is no cure.

Were trying to raise awareness and bring attention because we need a cure, Beale said. Weve been sick for years.

She said that the more you get COVID, the more your chances increase for developing long COVID.

Beale will find out soon if she is eligible to participate in trials as doctors search for a cure.

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NEW JERSEY (PIX11)  Joe Spicciatie says he and his wife were in their home Monday evening  in a quiet neighborhood about a block away from the beach on the Jersey Shore when he heard the unmistakable sound of gunshots.

I dont know what brought it to that pointseveral loud bangs. Im a retired police officer. So I knew they were gunshots, said Spicciatie.

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Investigators say it was the culmination of a toxic dispute between two of his neighbors.

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In fact, both homeowners installed permanently mounted surveillance cameras  and aimed them at each other.

Things came to a head when police say 54-year-old John Adamo shot Mr. Kawatkoski while Mr Kwatkoski was standing in his own front yard.

Mr. Adamo is then accused of firing into the Kwatkoskis home, where at least one bullet struck his wife.

I told my wife to stay in the house, not to come outside. Because the police were here, like instantly, said Spicciatie.

Police say Adamo then went back into his home and locked the door, the start of a 2-and-a-half-hour standoff with a SWAT team.

Officers ultimately blew the front door open and found Adamo dead in an upstairs bedroom, with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

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Mr. and Mrs. Kwatkosski  are both in critical condition.

None of the neighbors who spoke with PIX11 News would go into specific details about what led Adamo  who lives here, to leave his home and open fire on his next-door neighbors.

But one of those neighbors, who says hes a mutual friend of both the Kwatkoskis and the Adamos, says these dueling surveillance cameras are no coincidence and references a long-running dispute that involved loud music.

I knew there was friction. Always friction, but never anything serious like this. He put cameras to watch them. He would play his music loud or something, thats all I know, said Louie Pascalli, a mutual friend.

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Another neighbor, Debora Nowakowski, added, I do hear of disputes concerning the waterways  were all on lagoons here with boats. But Ive never heard of anything like this.

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Lori Chavez-DeRemer was confirmed Monday as secretary of labor, taking the reins of an agency already struggling to enforce employee rights  and grappling with new outside attempts to access confidential data about the nations workers.

The Senate voted 67 to 32 to confirm the one-term Republican House member from Oregon among the stronger showings of bipartisan support for one of President Donald Trumps Cabinet nominees. She is one of eight women out of 22 Cabinet nominees in this administration.

Chavez-DeRemer was one of the presidents more unconventional picks because of her pro-labor voting record. Some fellow Republicans criticized her for previously supporting the PRO Act, a bill that would have repealed state laws that allow workers to choose whether to opt into a union and pay dues. She faced questioning from Democrats over issues like the minimum wage and paid leave, as well as her potential willingness to break with Trumps demands.

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Despite doubts about her nomination, she moved out of committee 14-9 after three Democrats voted to support her.

The labor secretary oversees a department in charge of setting workplace regulations and policies, including those on unemployment and retirement plans, as well as creating standards for wages and overtime. The agency has been hit hard in recent years with staff shortages and investigation backlogs, and has functioned without an official leader since 2023  Julie Su, Bidens pick for labor secretary, worked in an acting capacity after facing Senate nomination challenges from both sides of the aisle.

DOL has recently come under review from the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is primarily a cost-cutting effort that has also edged into sensitive data collection, including information housed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

DOGE leader and tech billionaire Elon Musk says he wants to access the bureaus data, which includes statistics about national employment and the Consumer Price Index. Experts say interference with BLS data would jeopardize the governments ability to produce accurate, transparent and confidential reports that are crucial to domestic and global economic health.

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Last month, a judge declined to block Musks attempts to access Labor Department systems in a temporary ruling against the AFL-CIO  and DOGE had previously received approval to use software that could be used to export the agencys data, though it is unclear if Musks subordinates have already accessed sensitive information. The department is supposed to operate under a strict confidentiality standard, allowing potentially vulnerable workers to file complaints without fear of retaliation.

DOL also houses the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which is meant to protect workers from hazardous conditions through investigations and accountability measures. Should Musks group further slash an already depleted workforce within these branches or further open up sensitive data, the departments ability to investigate and create new rules would plummet.

During her confirmation hearing in February, Chavez-DeRemer deferred on specifics about how she would deal with DOGE and other attempts to view private data, saying she had not yet been confirmed and fully briefed on the situation.

If confirmed, I will support the Department of Labor, she told Sen. Patty Murray, the Washington Democrat who pushed her on her willingness to break with Trumps administrative orders. I would protect the private information. On this issue, I have not been privy to those conversations with the president.

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The post Lori Chavez-DeRemer to lead Labor Department that faces DOGE challenges, investigation backlog appeared first on The 19th.

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Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochmans office announced Monday that he will not support resentencing the Menendez brothers, a reversal from his predecessor's position, telling reporters he believes that the siblings have consistently lied about the 1989 sensational murders of their parents at the family's Beverly Hills mansion.



"Our position is that they shouldn't get out of jail," Hochman said at a news conference Monday. "We bring that position to the court. The court can agree with it, the court can disagree with it or modify it in some respect."



Hochman said his office is "prepared to go forward" with the hearing regarding their resentencing case, and filed a list of documents his office will use to make their argument to keep the brothers behind bars at hearings currently set for March 20 and 21. Erik and Lyle Menendez have been in prison for nearly 35 years for killing their parents, Kitty and Jose Menendez.

Related: Trump Admin Launches 'Self-Deportation' App for Undocumented Migrants

In a statement, Hochman said the brothers have not owned up to the brutality of the crime, describing the murders as "shotgun blasts through the back of their fathers head, a point-blank blast through their mothers face, and shots to their kneecaps to stage it as a Mafia killing.



Hochman's announcement was blasted by members of the Menendez clan who have steadfastly argued that the brothers "are not the same young boys they were more than 30 years ago," and added that they have indeed taken responsibility for the crimes they insisted "were the results of Joses sexual abuse and Kittys enablement."



"They have apologized for the horrific actions they took. They have apologized to us. And, they have demonstrated their atonement through actions that have helped improve countless lives. Yet, DA Hochman is effectively asking for them to publicly apologize to a checklist of actions they took in a state of shock and fear," the family said in a statement. Hochman, they added,"sent a message to every young boy who's the victim of abuse that they should not come forward," the family said.

Related: Trump Claims "Rigged Election" During FIFA World Cup Announcement

Mark Geragos, the brothers' longtime attorney, said Hochman's argument was a rehash of the 1990s prosecution argument that they siblings were using "the abuse excuse." Geragos also pointed out there is not a single victim of Menendez family member who is advocating for the brothers' to remain imprisoned, and points to the repeated pleas their loved ones have made for their release. [Geragos is the owner of Engine Vision Media, Los Angeles magazine's parent company.]



California Governor Gavin Newsom could issue a pardon for the brothers, a process that would supersede Hochman's recommendation. He recently ordered the states parole board to conduct a risk assessment to determine whether the brothers would be a public safety threat if they were released.



On Monday, Newsoms office made tweaks to the state parole process which would allow the parole board to make recommendations to the governor on commutations, as was already being done in the Menendez case.

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When Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School in Los Angeles went up in flames on January 8, Armenian families living in the tight-knit neighborhood of Altadena also lost a lifeline to their homeland.

Located in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles. Sahag-Mesrob was one of about a dozen Armenian schools in L.A. offering a faith-based education. Founded in 1980 by the Altadenas Armenian evangelical community, the school serves more than 180 students from preschool through middle school.

It was one of the L.A. schools that burned across the city over three-weeks in what experts said could be the costliest disaster in U.S. history.

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Hovhannes Halladjian, a local pastor, said when the school burned it was like losing a member of the family. But, he said, the community is determined to rebuild in a new location.

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Sahag-Mesrob Christian School was one of those schools that tried to do its best to teach the Christian and Armenian tradition and Christian values, he said.

On the day the Sahag-Mesrob burned, Halladjian said he was in the area helping friends and relatives evacuate when he saw the school engulfed in flames.

Before he knew it, everything was gone.

Students in preschool through first grade have relocated to a nearby church, while second through eighth graders are temporarily holding classes at an Armenian cultural center in Pasadena.

GoFundMe campaigns and fundraisers have been launched to support the schools relocation effort, but rebuilding will be a long, difficult road.

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Ed Haroutonian, whose children attend Sahag-Mesrob, called the loss of the school heartbreaking.

Haroutonian, who serves on the schools board of directors, said Sahag-Mesrob was a center of culture and religious faith for Altadenas Armenian community.

Having two kids in private school is a big sacrifice for us, but its worth every penny to have our kids in, a place, Haroutonian said, where students learn what our faith is about and our culture.

Although it is Christian, Sahag-Mesrob is a non-denominational school with no affiliation to any church. Its mission is to provide an education within an Armenian heritage and cultural setting.

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Vania Agojian, whose daughter Zoey attends Sahag-Mesrob, said she decided to send her daughter to the school because of its legacy, community, and religious foundation.

A lot of these public schools, when theres like so many students, sometimes they lose touch with the kids, Agojian said.

She said Sahag-Mesrob is more than just a school, but a place where generations of Armenians have built a community.

In Zoeys class right nowI knew their parents when (they) were that young, Agojian said. Its just really neat to see generations of students that have come through.

She said the fact that Armenians have experienced genocide because of their religious beliefs has strengthened their commitment to preserving their faith, traditions and religious-based education.

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The community has suffered more than just the loss of its school. The wildfires destroyed vast swaths of Altadena, including residential blocks where many Armenian families lived, Agojian said.

I know at least a dozen families at Sahag-Mesrob, if not more, [that] have lost their homes, she said. We have students who have lost not only their school, but their homes, their safe havens.

This article is part of a collaboration between The 74 and the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  A coalition of lottery couriers released a statement Monday in support of a Texas Senate bill that aims to prevent bulk sales of lotto tickets.

The courier coalition of Jackpocket, Jackpot.com and Lotto.com said in a press release it supports SB 1346, introduced by Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola. The bill calls for the prohibition of sales of Texas Lottery tickets to those attempting to purchase all possible tickets for a drawing, the release said.

Couriers are mobile and online applications that buy lottery tickets on peoples behalf for a service fee.

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The release said bulk purchases cant be done through a lottery courier.

In late February, the Texas Lottery Commission said it planned to ban courier services after state lawmaker scrutiny. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is among a contingent of state leaders expressing concerns that couriers could be used for money laundering or allow underage players to buy lotto tickets.

Texas Lottery Commission moves to ban courier services

Despite the ban, Nexstars Adam Schwager reported on March 4 that couriers Lotto.com and Jackpot.com are still taking orders in Texas.

The ban could be enacted at an April meeting after a 30-day public comment period, according to a previous Texas Lottery release

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The courier group also said it is continuing to encourage a regulatory solution. The coalition mentioned Texas HB 3201, which it says would allow millions of Texas customers to continue to safely and conveniently order lottery tickets, by licensing and regulating couriers in the state.

We have for years advocated for statewide regulatory standards, including a prohibition on bulk purchases, and have been consistently told by the Texas Lottery Commission that it did not have the authority to regulate lottery couriers, the release 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.
BATON ROUGE, La. (WGNO)  Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill is warning residents about toll text message scams.

According to Murrills office, the scam is happening nationwide and involves text messages that appear to be from a toll system stating that you have an outstanding balance and need to pay before additional charges are applied with a link attached.

New Orleans Council President expresses dismay, concern for mayors travel

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Murrill and the Louisiana Department of Transportation said Louisianas statewide toll system, GeauxPass, will never ask for personal information through a text message.

Murrill also shared the following tips for identifying and receiving these scam text messages:

Do not click if the message looks suspicious.

Do not give any personal information, as government agencies will not ask for this information through email, text or phone.

No legit government agency will call you about an outstanding warrant and ask for money. No government agency will ever ask for you to withdraw cash from the bank and deposit into a crypto ATM.

Louisiana does not collect toll fees through text.

Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO.
A Louisiana district attorney is prosecuting a New York doctor and West Baton Rouge Parish mother who allegedly provided abortion pills to her minor daughter. (Phil Walter/Getty Images)

A mother from Port Allen caught up in a landmark abortion pills case pleaded not guilty Tuesday to felony criminal charges for allegedly providing her minor daughter with medication to end her pregnancy.

The woman was indicted Jan. 31 for allegedly giving her teen daughter pills she had obtained through the mail. Dr. Margaret Carpenter, the New York physician who allegedly prescribed and sent the pills to Louisiana, was also indicted on felony charges. Its the first criminal case of its kind in the country since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

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The Illuminator is not identifying the mother in order to protect her daughters privacy. The case involves a 2022 Louisiana law that makes it a crime to knowingly cause an abortion with medication. It carries penalties of one to five years in prison and a fine ranging from $5,000-$50,000.

The mother was taken into custody the same day as her indictment and posted bond that evening. West Baton Rouge District Attorney Tony Clayton is prosecuting this case with Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill.

Im charging the mother because she ordered the pill, and she paid for the pill with her credit card and she gave the pill to a minor, Clayton told the Illuminator. Thats illegal in the state of Louisiana.

Brusly attorney Victor Woods is representing the mother, his office confirmed Tuesday. He is not currently accepting interview requests.

Clayton and Murrill allege the Port Allen mother gave her pregnant teen daughter an ultimatum to take the medication or move out of the house.

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The child took the pill and was home by herself, Clayton said, adding that she later started bleeding, called 911 and was taken to a hospital in an ambulance.

A police officer who responded to the call initially thought the teen was experiencing a miscarriage but found out she had taken abortion pills provided from an out-of-state clinic, the district attorney said.

Murrill has repeatedly claimed the crime is about coercion and forcing somebody to have an abortion who didnt want one. However, no charges of coerced abortion have been brought against the teens mother or Carpenter, the doctor.

The case has received national attention because Louisiana officials have sought to extradite Carpenter, testing New Yorks shield laws protecting providers who prescribe abortion medication to patients out of state.

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Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York said she will never extradite Carpenter after Republican Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry filed paperwork requesting it. Murrill, also a GOP member, warned Carpenter to be careful with her travel plans, suggesting other states might cooperate with Louisianas extradition request.

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Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist is entering the field for governor, seeking to distinguish himself in an emerging field as a problem solver with close ties to both the popular Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the states largest city.

Gilcrhist, who would be the states first Black governor, launched his candidacy on Tuesday morning, with a formal announcement slated for the evening in Detroit.

Gilchrist had little political experience when Whitmer selected him as her running mate in 2018, but he added a progressive bona fides to the ticket and grew up in Detroit, long considered the engine of Michigan Democrats voter base. A former software engineer at Microsoft, Gilchrist leaned into his problem-solving background as part of his case for why hes best suited to succeed Whitmer.

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When youve got problems, you get an engineer to come fix them, Gilchrist told POLITICO. When systems are broken you get an engineer to get those systems to work better for people and this is a moment to do that.

His candidacy sets him on a collision course with another member of Whitmers administration: Jocelyn Benson, Michigans secretary of state, who launched her candidacy for governor in January . And Detroits longtime mayor Mike Duggan announced he was seeking to replace Whitmer back in December and plans to run as an independent . Other candidates may still enter the race.

A recent poll from Target Insight for MIRS News found Benson trouncing a hypothetical Democratic primary matchup that also includes Gilchrist as well as the states Attorney General Dana Nessel and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, who launched his candidacy last month . Benson lapped the field, garnering 55 percent of the survey's Democratic primary voters, while Gilchrist was tied for second at 12 percent along with Nessel  who has not made any formal plans to run for governor.

Whitmer has so far declined to make an endorsement.

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The field of Republicans vying for the gubernatorial nomination is also expected to be a crowded one. Michigans Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt announced earlier this year , while Michigans former attorney general Mike Cox has formed a candidate committee , but has not formally launched his candidacy. Rep. John James (R-Mich.), the only Black elected official in Michigans congressional delegation, is also eyeing a statewide run, but has not decided if he wants to run for governor or the states open Senate seat.

Gilchrist said hes visited all 83 of the states counties during his two terms as lieutenant governor and served as a surrogate in the closing stretch of the Kamala Harriss presidential campaign in Michigan conducting outreach to Black men.

But Michigan Democrats lost their governing trifecta in the 2024 election, and Republicans now control the Michigan House of Representatives.

Folks were frustrated in 2024 because they haven't gotten the results, he said, then rattled off a list of accomplishments from Whitmer's administration, including luring more tech industry jobs to Michigan .

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Gilchrist has already secured a pledge for financial backing from the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association  a group that is looking to grow its influence by backing preferred candidates in primary elections. The group last month confirmed to POLITICO it was ready to spend roughly $1.5 million to support Gilchrist in his race.

Democratic lieutenant governors are the Democratic Partys bench, and with these types of investments, we look forward to helping to elect the next generation of Governors and Senators across the country, said Pennsylvania's Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, who heads the organization.
Michigan voters have another option to consider for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's replacement with Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II entering the 2026 gubernatorial race.

Before his career in public service, Gilchrist worked as a software engineer and it's the pitch he said he plans to make to voters during his campaign. "I am about results. And engineers get things done. Engineers are not worried about the politics. They're worried about the problem and the solution and that's where my head will always be and I will be ready and willing, eager frankly, to solve problems alongside anyone who has that same mentality," he told the Detroit Free Press in a phone interview.

Whitmer cannot seek another term as governor under the Michigan Constitution. The next governor will be sworn into office on Jan. 1, 2027.

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Gilchrist isn't the only Detroit Democrat running for governor, with Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson also in the race. Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson has also joined the Democratic field. On the Republican side, Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, R-Porter Township has kicked off his campaign and so has Anthony Hudson, who describes himself on his campaign website as a Texas native who fell in love with Michigan. Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox expressed interest in running late last year.

Meanwhile, longtime Democrat Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has decided to run as an independent candidate for governor, skipping the primary election.

At a campaign launch event at the Jam Handy venue in Detroit, Gilchrist again reiterated how his engineering background uniquely positions him to tackle Michigan's most pressing challenges. Show me a problem and I'll show you a solution, Gilchrist said. "And if I can't find one, Ill build one," he said.

Before he spoke, supporters measured their height on a poster board that asked, "How tall do you stand?" Gilchrist is 6 feet and nine inches tall, according to his social media posts.

People cheer on Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist as he makes his announcement to run for Michigans Governor on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at Jam Handy in Detroit.

Michele Burrell, 65, of Southfield, said she first met Gilchrist as a two-year-old when he was a bit smaller. In a field of Democratic candidates, Gilchrist has the opportunity to make history as the state's first Black governor, the family friend of Gilchrist said. "And I think it's time," Burrell said.

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Whitmer tapped Gilchrist as her running mate in 2018 after he narrowly lost his race to serve as Detroit's City Clerk the previous year. As lieutenant governor, Gilchrist has led policy task forces on a range of issues from juvenile justice to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on communities of color.

Gilchrist grew up in Detroit and Farmington. He studied computer engineering and computer science at the University of Michigan. He worked as a software engineer at Microsoft in Washington state, where he also took on political work as social media manager for former President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign. He moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked for MoveOn.org, a liberal advocacy group. When he returned to Detroit, he worked for the city as its Director of Innovation & Emerging Technology. Gilchrist told supporters Tuesday night that he never wanted to leave Michigan and he felt an emotional pull to come back home. With the right investments, Michigan parents can grow old with their children nearby, Gilchrist told supporters Tuesday night.

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist is joined on stage by his wife and children after making his announcement to run for Michigans Governor on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at Jam Handy in Detroit.

In his current role as lieutenant governor, Gilchrist often talks about making Michigan an attractive state for entrepreneurs, drawing on his own personal experience.

"I wanted to be a software engineer and I didn't see a path for that in the State of Michigan and so I left and I came home nine years later," he told the Free Press. Gilchrist touted his work to create a new innovation fund aimed at providing early-stage capital to startups in hopes that, moving forward, Michigan entrepreneurs won't feel like they have to leave the state.

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Michigan Politics: Legal experts say judge's ruling falls short of ordering stalled bills to be presented

Gilchrist declined to specify any issues on which he has a different view than Whitmer. He said that he's proud of their partnership. "And the thing that's different honestly is the times," he said. He said this moment requires an "engineer's sensibility" and a leader who can ensure Michigan workers can adjust to rapid changes in technology.

In addition to his professional background, Gilchrist talked about how his personal experience would shape how he approaches the job as governor, if elected. Raising three school-age children attending Detroit Public Schools Community District schools brings a sense of urgency to improving education in Michigan, Gilchrist said. "Like I want these systems to work for families like mine. Not now but right now," he said.

Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II enters Michigan governor's race
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  Hundreds of refugees have resettled in the Siouxland area over the past three years thanks to a program that will soon close down.

Since 1939, Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI) has helped and served the Sioux City community with a variety of resources. This includes its refugee resettlement services, which are closing down at the end of next month.

7 more students expelled from Sioux City Community School District

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Unfortunately, the new administration has halted initial refugee resettlement services, and then they have also stopped reimbursing us, reimbursing LSI and many other organizations for other workforce services and other services we provide here in the local community, said Nick Wuertz, Director of Immigrant & Refugee Community Services with LSI.

As a result, LSI has had to let go of many workers across 20 locations.

Our Immigrant and Refugee Community Services has about a hundred team members across our Des Moines, Sioux City and Waterloo locations, Wuertz said. Unfortunately, we had to give notice to 28 team members across our three sites last week, and seven of them are here in Sioux City.

In the past three years, Lutheran Services in Iowa has welcomed 500 people to the Hawkeye State. Soliezer Ribas was one of them.

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Ribas and her son arrived in Iowa almost eight months ago after living in Colombia for seven years. Thanks to LSI, they both have a place to call home.

Believe it or not, I have really liked this city, so Im going to stay here, Ribas told KCAU 9 through a translator. Im planning to probably buy a house later on. And then because all the things that I served for when I was in Columbia, being here is just really great for even those really calm. I really like it, being here.

Ribas says shes sad to see the refugee settlement services close down but is thankful for everything they did.

Just for the fact that they were able to come here in the U.S., just because of that, thats enough for them, the translator said of Ribas and her son. She said shes really, really, really grateful for the program and for Lutheran Services in Iowa because they really help her to be self-sufficient.

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While some of LSIs employees were given a four-week notice, others have until the program shuts down at the end of April to find a new job.

North Sioux Citys Union Crossing development breaks ground

In the meantime, LSI will continue to help refugees find housing and jobs until the last day. However, Wuertz says the end of their program will impact families.

We have a family that actually had an older son that was a separate case and he was supposed to join them here, he said. And because of the pause on refugee resettlement, its not sure now if they will have their son be able to come here to Iowa.

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Wuertz wanted to emphasize that LSI and many of its other services will remain operational.

LSI is holding a virtual town hall for citizens and shareholders who would like more information on March 13.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR)  The Lynchburg Police Department (LPD) has released new details after an infant was found dead in a home and a girl arrived at Lynchburg General Hospital last month.

According to police, the girl, under the age of 18, showed up at the hospital on Feb. 27 in need of medical attention. Hospital staff and officers learned that she had given birth at home in the 00 block of Federal Street.

Officers went to the home and found evidence that a birth had taken place, but were not able to locate the newborn.

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After obtaining a search warrant, police searched the home where they found the infant dead, according to LPD.

Lynchburg Police investigating death of newborn

Police charged 38-year-old Malike Stewart with the following:

Prohibition against concealment of a dead body

Possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

As the investigation developed, Stewart was also charged with additional offenses including:

Rape  Code of Virginia: 18.2-61

Rape Under 13  Code of Virginia: 18.2-61

Forcible Sodomy  Code of Virginia: 18.2-67.1

Object Sexual Penetration  Code of Virginia: 18.2-67.2

Stewart is being held without bond at the Blue Regional Jail.

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This case remains under investigation.

WFXR News will release new information once details become 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 WFXRtv.
DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH)  M/I Homes plan to build a couple hundred single-family homes as part of a 230-acre Delaware development is moving forward.

Delawares planning commission recommended approval on March 5 for M/Is development plan for parts of Subarea B within Northwood, a new neighborhood by Metro Development that will include more than 1,100 homes across 230.67 acres at the northwest corner of State Route 521 and the Byxbe Parkway roundabout.

See the top home sales for Delaware and Franklin counties in February 2025

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The planning commission approved a subdivision plat in July to split Northwood into three separate properties given the development will be home to three subareas with different development teams, including M/Is Subarea B.

During the March meeting, the planning commission approved three sections within Subarea B: section one with 53 single-family lots on 13.7 acres, section four with 32 lots on seven acres, and section five with 21 lots on 4.7 acres. In total, these three M/I sections will yield 106 homes once completed.

A rendering of M/I Homes sections one, four and five within Northwoods Subarea B. (Courtesy Photo/City of Delaware)

Were really excited to be back in the city of Delaware, delivering more single-family homes and are excited to get this project underway, said Max Block, a land acquisition lead at M/I, during the meeting.

M/I is likely to return to the planning commission for approval of other sections, as previous Northwood plans call for the homebuilder to construct 257 homes within Subarea B on a total of 124 acres.

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Subarea B will include access from a planned extension of Byxbe Parkway, which is a separate construction project but is expected to be built concurrently. However, the Byxbe extension was the focus of pushback from some Delaware residents who spoke against Northwood during a December 2023 planning commission meeting.

M/I to kick off construction on Powell neighborhood with nearly 400 homes

One resident was Philip Taraska who argued then that State Route 521 is insufficient to support Northwood, and that an extension of Byxbe will only add to the traffic congestion and make things worse. Sylvia DiGuilio, a resident of the neighborhood to the west, also said the development would worsen traffic and likened it to adding fuel to the fire.

No residents submitted feedback or showed up in person to voice these concerns during the March meeting.

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Metro Developments other plans for Northwood call for Subarea A to contain up to 260 multi-family units in three-story walkup buildings on 22.9 acres. Subarea C would include up to 451 multi-family units in either single-story buildings or two-story townhomes across 83.4 acres.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The St. Johns Airport Authority Board voted against launching an internal investigation into allegations of Sunshine Law violations facing two of its members Monday.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Action News Jax told you in February when the boards former law firm withdrew its representation citing the allegations against the Board Chair and another member.

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The motion to discuss a potential internal investigation was brought by Board Member Jennifer Liotta.

St. Johns Aviation Authority Board Member Len Tucker recused himself from voting on the motion, noting he and Board Chair Reba Ludlow are the members facing the Sunshine Law violation allegations.

Ludlow refused to do the same.

No, I dont have to recuse myself because thats a rumor. So, Im not recusing myself, said Ludlow.

With her no vote, the motion died on a 2-2 vote.

Aviation Counsel Chad Roberts stepped in to help the board out after its previous law firm withdrew its representation and lobbed the allegations against Ludlow and Tucker.

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Roberts acknowledged the state attorneys office has likely already launched a criminal investigation and encouraged everyone involved with the airport to cooperate.

There is no subject matter that any person should feel any reservation about discussing with any law enforcement agency, said Roberts.

Board member Dennis Clarke, who was the other no vote on the motion to discuss a potential internal investigation, argued the board should allow the state attorneys office do its work and questioned the validity of the law firms claims.

But Board Member Liotta argued an internal investigation would be in the publics best interest.

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So, if we are not willing to hold ourselves accountable to do an investigation, then I question whether we deserve to be an independent body at all, said Liotta.

Chair Ludlow repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and at one point, even questioned whether its necessary for the board to hire new legal counsel.

Ultimately, she did vote in favor of putting out an RFP to hire new counsel.

Ludlow said multiple times throughout the meeting, Just because you call somebody a pink elephant, doesnt make them a pink elephant.

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MacArthur Park has changed, says L.A. Mayor Karen Bass.

The troubled public square in Westlake has seen gang shootings, rampant drug use, discarded syringes, homelessness, people experiencing mental health crises, and an "open air market" of stolen goods.

But after a crackdown by the city, Bass said Monday, "I don't know if anybody can drive around there and not see a significant difference."

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In recent months, the city has increased police foot patrols in the neighborhood and deployed mental health outreach workers and teams to help those overdosing on drugs. Fencing was installed along Alvarado Street, officials said, in an effort to impede the sale of stolen goods by some street vendors.

The vendors are a staple among immigrant communities, selling goods in and around the park. But officials say some of them sold stolen property, drugs and even guns.

Read more: Lopez: MacArthur Park vendors are shut down to quell violence. What's next?

"Many of those vending stands provided an open air market for illegal activity," Bass said during a news conference outlining the city's efforts to address the problems around the park. "Now, after collaborative and comprehensive efforts, including actions by the council office and community groups, the results are beginning to show."

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Those police efforts have extended beyond the sidewalk vendors to adjacent businesses and what the city claims is an organized retail theft chain.

Police served a search warrant at a storefront on West 6th Street, just across from MacArthur Park, and arrested a woman on suspicion of receiving stolen property. Officers found cases of pharmaceuticals, makeup and other items believed to have been taken from CVS, Walgreens, Ross, TJ Maxx and Target. (Los Angeles Police Department)

Police say they recovered more than $350,000 in stolen merchandise from a storefront on West 6th Street, just across from the park. The goods were tied to organized retail theft, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said.

Officers served a search warrant at the business and arrested Blanca Escobar on suspicion of receiving stolen property there. They found cases of pharmaceuticals, makeup and other items believed to have been taken from stores including CVS, Walgreens, TJ Maxx and Target, according to the LAPD.

There was no immediate information on whether charges had been brought against Escobar.

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"The LAPD is committed to maintaining and expanding these crime reduction efforts and will continue increasing our community outreach, targeted enforcement and investigative efforts to ensure MacArthur Park remains a safer place for all," McDonnell said.

Amid the crackdown, permitted street vendors said they are being stopped by police.

Capt. Manny Chavez with the LAPD's Rampart Patrol said the city had taken a measured approach to addressing illegal street vending and conducted outreach with vendors. Officers notified vendors about what they could sell with their permits and warned vendors if they were selling illegal goods.

"We took a very, very high tolerance level on that," Chavez said during the news briefing.

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John Alle, who manages a number of properties in the Westlake neighborhood and interrupted the news conference, was not satisfied with Bass' remarks Monday, calling the event a "PR stunt."

The park remains unsafe, and gang members continue to pose a threat to the neighborhood's businesses, he said.

"We don't see any progress," Alle added.

Bass compared the situation to a game of "whack-a-mole" as the city goes after illegal street vendors and tries to ensure the area is safe for residents and businesses.

Yet she said there had been progress, and McDonnell said crime statistics backed that up. In all categories of crime, including property crimes, the police chief said there had been a 42% overall reduction since December.

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"It doesn't mean the job is done," the mayor said. "We have a long way to go, and we have to deal with the people who are suffering from addiction."

Read more: Lopez: 'I can't deal with life sober': Response to the MacArthur Park drug epidemic just isn't enough

Along with the increased police presence, the city has mobilized outreach teams armed with naloxone, the drug that can reverse opioid overdoses. The city is also utilizing a cleanup program to remove trash and hazardous materials from the park, such as syringes.

"This is about saving lives so that people can access treatment and resources, come off the streets and into housing," City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez said during the news briefing.

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Hernandez, who represents the district, said peace ambassadors went out into the neighborhood following a gang shooting in January in an effort to de-escalate gang tensions, as well as make contact with people living on the street, street vendors and business owners.

"We also know there's more work to be done, and that's why my office is working to open a drop-in center near the park that will provide restrooms, showers, access to food," Hernandez said.

"There are multiple fires happening in MacArthur Park," she noted, "but we can all work together to find a strategy that will put out all those fires at the same time."

Times staff writers David Zahniser and Richard Winton contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
French President Emmanuel Macron urged European and NATO military leaders on March 11 to develop a concrete plan for "credible security guarantees" for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.

Speaking at a closed-door meeting in Paris with military chiefs from more than 30 allied nations, Macron emphasized that Europe must "throw its full weight behind Ukraine, and itself," according to Le Monde.

His appeal followed Ukraines endorsement of a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire and agreement to negotiations with Russia in Jeddah. The meeting included representatives from 34 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, but no U.S. officials were present.

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Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer have taken the lead in forming a "coalition of the willing" to enforce an eventual ceasefire in Ukraine. The French presidency reported that military leaders from European and NATO countries, including the U.K. and Turkey, agreed that security guarantees for Ukraine "should not be separated from NATO and its capabilities."

These guarantees must be "credible and long-term" and should be paired with "unfailing support for the Ukrainian army." French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu underscored the importance of planning for Ukraine's future military needs, adding that: "We will reject any form of demilitarisation of Ukraine."

Read also: Ukraine agrees to 30-day ceasefire if Russia abides by it, Kyiv says

Concerns over Washington's shifting stance on Russia and Ukraine have fueled Europe's push to strengthen its own defenses.

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Trumps earlier decision to suspend military aid and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv, along with his renewed negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has raised fears that the U.S. may pressure Ukraine into a settlement favoring Russia.

European leaders are scrambling to ensure that Ukraines security does not become a bargaining chip in U.S.-Russia talks. "It is simply a question of looking ahead and thinking about what the Ukrainian army should be in the future," Lecornu said.

Following the military chiefs meeting, defense ministers from Europes five largest military powersFrance, the U.K., Germany, Italy, and Polandare set to gather in Paris on March 12. EU and NATO representatives, as well as Ukraines defense minister, will also take part in discussions focused on "the necessary rearmament of Europe" and continued military support for Kyiv.

Macron has also scheduled talks with defense manufacturers later this week to push for increased weapons production, aligning with his call for France to switch to "war economy mode." Starmer, meanwhile, will host virtual talks on March 15 with leaders of nations willing to back Ukraines defense.

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EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently announced a plan to mobilize approximately 800 billion euro ($843 billion) to strengthen European defense and provide "immediate" military support for Ukraine.

France has also pledged to raise its defense spending to around 100 billion annually, doubling the planned 50.5 billion euro for 2025. Turkey, which has NATOs second-largest army, is positioning itself as a key player in regional security. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has backed Ukraines calls for an aerial and naval truce, signaling his countrys readiness to play a leading role in Europe's evolving security strategy.

Read also: Investigation: We tried to buy American chips as a Russian defense manufacturer  and it worked

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the progress made in the talks between the United States and Ukraine on a possible end to Russia's more than three-year war against its neighbour.

Ukraine has agreed to a 30-day ceasefire, as long as Russia also agrees, and the US has agreed to resume military and intelligence aid, following talks on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia.

"The ball is now clearly in Russia's court," Macron posted on X, echoing comments from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who negotiated the agreement in Jeddah with others. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also used that expression in a post on X expressing her support for the deal.

Macron emphasized the possibility of a 30-day ceasefire but also noted that France and its partners don't just want any peace but one that is "supported by robust security guarantees for Ukraine."
Elon Musk at the right-wing CPAC conference. (Photo by Gage Skidmore for States Newsroom).

The fury is building. From the bottom up. It is palpable. People who never joined any protest before are showing up angry. At the Ohio Statehouse. At townhalls. At lawmakers offices. Wherever J.D. Vance goes.

Somebody has to bring the heat. Demonstrators with handmade signs and simmering rage are standing up and speaking out. Everyday Americans fear their country is on the brink of no return  because it is.

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At a small-town Ohio meeting recently, I listened as a roomful of anxious community members spoke with sobering urgency about how to meet this break-the-glass moment for a nation conceived in liberty and spiraling toward subjugation. It is happening fast while elected leaders sit on their hands and rationalize restraint. As the Trump-Musk (Musk-Trump?) administration unleashed an avalanche to bury the beating heart of a barely functioning democracy, Republicans obsessed over transgender athletes while Democrats donned pink and waved paddles.

This is what insanity looks like. U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, voted to censure a fellow Democrat for speaking truth to power because etiquette was breached. Ohio Republican U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno declared that inflicting unnecessary hardships on working families was worth the short-term pain and then proposed a ban on flag-flying (or free speech) in the U.S. Capitol.

No wonder citizens are taking to the streets. Hardly anyone in Washington is amplifying the alarm coursing through mainstream America. U.S. House Republicans decided to stop holding in-person town halls to avoid the optics of outraged constituents while Democrats dither over decorum as Rome burns.

But the madness gripping leadership in Congress and the White House is mobilizing the silent majority to get loud. The hapless demolition of government institutions, that serve vital public interests from national security to food safety and environmental protections, has real-life ramifications.

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Wholesale eliminations of federal agencies and employees undercuts stability and strength across society.

Ohio farmers, who strongly supported Trump, are seeing their livelihoods teeter with his slapdash actions on senseless tariffs, frozen agricultural subsidies, and billions in lost government revenue for tons of American-grown crops going nowhere with cancelled foreign food aid programs.

Ohio veterans are losing care because an unelected tech billionaire fired thousands of veterans and public servants working at the VA.

Job cuts scrapped services, appointments, and even gutted the suicide prevention hotline.

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Ohios nearly 100,000 auto and related industry workers fret that Trumps on-again, off-again tariffs with Americas biggest, cross-border trading partners will hurt the competitiveness of American automakers, close plants, and cause the price of vehicles to skyrocket.

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Hundreds of thousands of Ohio Medicaid recipients  especially in rural Republican districts like Jim Jordans 4th  face steep medical bills without health insurance after Jordan and his GOP colleagues in the House voted for the largest Medicaid cuts in U.S. history to hand the ultra-wealth another $4.5 trillion in tax cuts.

More than 1 in 5 Ohioans who depend on Social Security to survive worry that an unchecked, unauthorized private citizen is accessing their personal data and attacking their social safety net as the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time (he means cryptocurrency) as a predicate to arbitrarily slashing earned benefits and crippling the Social Security Administration (serving more than 70 million Americans) with across-the-board cuts.

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Look, Ohioans voted overwhelmingly for Trump in 2024, but nobody bargained for nonstop chaos, incompetence, and international realignment with the bad guys. Nobody expected a hostile takeover of the government by an unaccountable, unauthorized Trump donor holding tens of billions in federal contracts!

Exactly what business does Elon Musk have pouring through classified databases, purging independent agencies, downloading private info on millions of Americans and ordering federal employees to do his bidding or else? The answer is none. Absolutely none.

But the oligarchic co-president nobody elected has commandeered our government and is running roughshod over the rule of law without pushback from the Republican-led Congress or clueless Democrats.

We the people cannot forsake what generations of Americans fought and died to preserve. In less than two months the convicted felon-in-chief has done irreparable harm to our nation.

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He has managed to tank the stock market, threaten a recession  Trump wouldnt rule it out as his chaotic trade tariffs provoke market turbulence and uncertainty  jack up prices for groceries, gasoline, cars, electricity and more with his insane yo-yo tariffs on our closest friends.

But worse, few could ever imagine that the leader of the free world would go to the dark side so quickly as a fanboy of a bloodthirsty dictator and ruthless adversary bent on obliterating Ukraine and western civilization. There are no words.

Trump gave Vladimir Putin a green light to bomb the hell out of a besieged U.S. ally fighting for its life. Putins puppet not only stopped all shipments of U.S. weapons to Ukraine but sadistically suspended all U.S. intelligence sharing with Kyiv suffocating Ukrainian hope of holding out against Russian aggression.

Now Trump wants to deport more than 240,000 Ukrainians who came to America to escape the Russian invasion of their country.

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It is beyond enraging and profoundly un-American. But an important movement is building from the bottom up in the U.S. You can feel it. Furious citizens are channeling their fire into action. (Doomscrolling doesnt count.)

Ohioans and Americans are showing up and getting loud.

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At first blush, the ad might resemble a slick campaign commercial from the 2024 race. The 30-second spot features Donald Trump walking in slow motion, saluting military personnel, speaking in the White House behind a presidential podium and waving to supporters, among other things.

The ad, however, wasnt from the campaign. Rather, the taxpayer-financed commercial was recently unveiled by the Department of Homeland Security, which budgeted up to $200 million to run anti-immigrant ads  which just happen to thank the president for how awesome his awesomeness is.

That DHS launched such a messaging campaign wasnt controversial; other modern administrations have taken similar steps as part of a broader effort to discourage illegal border crossings. What made this specific effort controversial, however, is that the ad looks like pro-Trump propaganda, which, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, includes messaging that the president personally requested.

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The story took an unfortunate turn last week when The Bulwark  relying on data from AdImpact, a tech company that monitors on-air advertising  reported that DHS spent $30,000 to air the ads in West Palm Beach from February 25 through March 5.

It was the sort of taxpayer-financed expenditure that suggests the Department of Homeland Security wanted Trump to see the agencys pro-Trump commercial.

But just when it seemed the story couldnt get much worse, The Associated Press reported:

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security skipped a fully competitive bidding process to give two Republican-linked firms the first part of a $200 million television ad campaign that lauds President Donald Trump for his crackdown on illegal immigration. DHS told news outlets last month that it had undergone a competitive procurement process for the campaign. But in a document posted Friday on a federal database, the department said Trumps declaration of a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border constitutes an unusual and compelling urgency, a circumstance that allows federal agencies to bypass the usual competitive process.

According to the APs account, which hasnt been independently verified by MSNBC or NBC News, DHS still maintains the ad was the result of a competitive process.

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I dont imagine the Republican majorities on Capitol Hill will even bat an eyelash, but in the recent past, this is the sort of story that would spark a congressional hearing or two, with lawmakers at least asking about whether public funds were handled responsibly.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Last month, over the objections of multiple career prosecutors, President Donald Trumps Justice Department sought to dismiss the criminal case against New York Mayor Eric Adams without prejudice, meaning the Justice Department would retain the option to charge Adams again with the same crimes and on the same facts.

Within days, seven prosecutors in New York and Washington resigned in protest. And as of Monday afternoon, at least three others  all of whom were part of the core case team in Manhattan  have been placed on administrative leave by the Justice Department.

Unsurprisingly, U.S. District Judge Dale Ho, who is overseeing the case, has some questions, notably including the scope of his own authority to reject the governments request and the breadth of the inquiry he can conduct.

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And on Friday night, former Solicitor General Paul Clement, who was appointed by Ho to provide independent advice on whether and how to dismiss the Adams case, suggested Ho has limited latitude. While allowing that Ho can consider evidence outside the Justice Departments motion, Clements brief nonetheless concludes Ho ultimately has two choices: accede to the Justice Departments deeply troubling desire to preserve the prospect of re-indictment or dismiss the case with prejudice, even when some public information suggests the decision to dismiss the indictment was undertaken in bad faith.

Ho has tentatively scheduled a hearing in the Adams matter for Friday. And if he heeds Clements advice, the case could be over as early as that evening.

But that doesnt mean the story will end there. On the contrary, the brief that the Justice Department filed  signed only by two of Trumps former criminal defense lawyers-turned-senior DOJ leaders, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and his deputy, Emil Bove  quotes from a handful of emails, drafts and text messages sent or received by the core case team and/or by Danielle Sassoon, then the acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, to support the Justice Departments narrative of why the case must be dismissed.

Specifically, Blanche and Bove cite these internal communications and documents to show career prosecutors had serious doubts about the legitimacy of the Adams indictment and concerns about the political motives of their then-boss, former U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. And in so doing, they have impugned the integrity and credibility of each of them, disparaging two in particular as aggressive and careerist while warning Ho that any additional inquiry will not reflect well on SDNY.

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You might be wondering: Is it normal for Justice Department leaders to attack current and former employees publicly? No. Was it foreseeable Justice Department would do so with cherry-picked sentences from their own pre- and post-indictment electronic footprints? Not before last week.

First, none of these documents are now, much less were ever intended to be, public. (As of publication, they remain under seal while The New York Times and others press for their release.) In fact, it is axiomatic that internal communications about Justice Department investigations and prosecutions are confidential and, barring limited circumstances, never revealed to criminal defendants, much less to us, the general public.

As the Justice Manual  often described by former prosecutors as the bible of federal prosecution  explains, DOJ personnel should presume that non-public, sensitive information obtained in connection with work is protected from disclosure, except as needed to fulfill official duties of DOJ personnel, and as allowed by court order, statutory or regulatory prescription, or case law and rules governing criminal and civil discovery. Other than as necessary to fulfill DOJ official duties, disclosure of such information to anyone, including to family members, friends, or even colleagues, is prohibited and could lead to disciplinary action.

Second, its true that Blanche, as the deputy attorney general, may be entitled to determine what revelations of otherwise confidential case materials or communications are or are not needed to fulfill [his or others] official duties. But it doesnt change the fact that with one or two exceptions (e.g., a joking text about one former prosecutors judicial nomination prospects and a draft press release), the documents Blanche and Bove quote might ordinarily be covered by certain privileges and protections, including the deliberative process privilege, which shields prosecutorial deliberations from public view. And therefore, even accepting Blanche was empowered to release the communications and drafts quoted in the brief, in doing so, he also might have waived the Justice Departments privilege as to a raft of other drafts, emails, texts and additional documents created from July, months before Adams was indicted, to February, when Bove, facing a wave of internal refusal, first sought to dismiss the case. (The Justice Department did not respond to MSNBC's request for comment.)

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But dont take my word for it. You might recall that during the first Trump administration, when senior Justice Department leadership intervened in the sentencing recommendation for longtime Trump ally Roger Stone, all four members of the trial team withdrew from the case and one resigned from the Justice Department entirely, only to be roundly criticized by then-Attorney General William Barr.

When one of those prosecutors, Aaron Zelinsky, appeared months later before the House Judiciary Committee, he submitted a draft written statement to the Justice Department for review. In response, a senior Justice Department official instructed Zelinsky in a letter that his internal discussions about the Stone sentencing submissions were pre-decisional and covered by privilege, but that official also insisted, The Department does not waive its important confidentiality interests in prosecutorial deliberations simply because someone alleges that a particular decision was political in nature.

Some even have suggested communications between and among Justice Department lawyers are attorney-client privileged, even though there is no discernible, named client beyond the federal government itself. The Stone prosecutor who resigned, Jonathan Kravis, bemoaned the fact that the others couldnt defend themselves from Barrs broadsides because Justice Department employees cant talk to the media "about criminal cases without high-level approval. Why? Because each has an ethical obligation to protect the confidences of their client, aka the United States.

Of course, no one implicated in the Adams mess is arguing waiver, at least yet. But at least two important constituencies could harness that waiver in search of a broader truth  and most likely will.

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First, there are the former and current prosecutors involved in the Adams case, who most likely lack any access to their Justice Department phones, laptops and/or paper records and who are, according to Bove, under investigation by two Justice Department offices. One would expect securing proof of their good faith and professionalism will matter to each of them.

Second, journalists frequently ask for  and seldom get  internal communications through Freedom of Information Act requests, often because there is a clear FOIA exemption for materials covered by the deliberative process privilege. But where that privilege has been waived to some degree? Theres a story to be unearthed, no matter when and how the Eric Adams case itself ends.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
This is an adapted excerpt from the March 10 episode of "The Rachel Maddow Show."

It started with an advertisement in The New York Times. On March 29, 1960, the paper ran a full-page ad soliciting donations for Martin Luther King Jr. and for the college students in the South who were fighting segregation.

The fundraising appeal, entitled Heed Their Rising Voice, listed numerous ways in which the students were allegedly being harassed and terrorized. It also accused Southern officials of committing acts of violence and intimidation and violating the U.S. Constitution.

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Soon, L.B. Sullivan, a city commissioner in Montgomery, Alabama, one of the cities mentioned in the ad, filed a lawsuit against The New York Times, accusing the paper of libel. Although he was not named in the ad, Sullivan claimed the Times had defamed him  a Southern official  because, he said, some details in the ad were exaggerated or incorrect. At the time, a headline in the local Montgomery paper summed it up this way: State Finds Formidable Legal Club To Swing at Out-of-State Press.

In his new book, Murder the Truth: Fear, the First Amendment and a Secret Campaign to Protect the Powerful, New York Times reporter David Enrich describes what happened next:

Sullivans lawsuit went to trial in the Montgomery courtroom of Judge Walter Jones, who maintained segregated seating, was a devout promoter of all things Confederacy, and believed in what he called white mans justice. ... As the Sullivan trial was about to get underway, some prospective jurors showed up to court in Confederate costumes, toting pistols  It took the jurors barely two hours to return a verdict against the Times. The newspaper was ordered to pay Sullivan $500,000. It was the largest libel judgment in the states history.

For racist Southerners, this was the equivalent of a green light, Enrich writes. The courts could be used to scare the press into silent submission  The Times, fearing a tidal wave of litigation, barred its reporters from setting foot in Alabama, and its lawyers urged staff members not to write articles about the states racism.

But that was not the end. The Times eventually got its case with Sullivan before the United States Supreme Court. And in 1964, the Supreme Court surprised everybody with a landmark, unanimous decision that would change journalism in this country forever.

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In the simplest terms, the court ruled that there cannot be free speech and a free press if news outlets can be sued into oblivion over mistakes or good-faith errors. The court established a new standard: A public figure suing a media outlet for libel would have to prove that the outlet knowingly lied, or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.

As Enrich describes, the Sullivan decision helped usher in a new age of American journalism devoted to exposing malfeasance, questioning authority and promoting the public interest. He writes that shortly after the courts ruling:

Reporters uncovered wrongdoing in Vietnam, the White House, and the Pentagon. It was not a coincidence that the Washington Post cracked open Watergate in the years after Sullivan; if the burden of proof in a defamation case had still rested with the defendant, and if even honest mistakes had remained punishable under the law, the costs of publishing such a series of investigations might have been prohibitive. (As his presidency circled the drain, Richard Nixon blamed Sullivan and had his administration craft legislation that he hoped would supersede the precedent and put the media back in a pen.)

Nixon did not succeed at putting the media back in a pen. But he would not be the last to try.

More than six decades after the Supreme Courts landmark decision in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, Enrich makes a compelling and alarming case that the legal protections that undergird the free press in this country are on much shakier ground than we may realize.

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The attack on this foundational protection for the free press in this country has been a long time coming. But it looks like it may have finally arrived.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
What began as a deadly measles outbreak in Texas is starting to spread. Common sense suggests the Cabinet secretary who leads the Department of Health and Human Services would take the matter seriously and make every effort to respond effectively.

Thats clearly not happening.

At a White House Cabinet meeting nearly two weeks ago, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addressed the public health threat, and over the course of roughly a minute, he misstated the number of deaths, mischaracterized the nature of the quarantine and downplayed the significance of the outbreak in ways that didnt make a lot of sense. He soon after left for a hiking trip.

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Politico reported last week, To his critics and even some increasingly concerned allies, the episode epitomized the worryingly casual attitude that Kennedy has taken in public toward managing the first major health crisis on his watch, according to a half-dozen current and former administration officials, outside advisers and other public health officials.

Kennedy also spoke to Fox Nation for a fairly long interview, and as The New York Times noted, the HHS secretary outlined a strategy for containing the measles outbreak in West Texas that strayed far from mainstream science, relying heavily on fringe theories about prevention and treatments.

He issued a muffled call for vaccinations in the affected community, but said the choice was a personal one. He suggested that measles vaccine injuries were more common than known, contrary to extensive research. He asserted that natural immunity to measles, gained through infection, somehow also protected against cancer and heart disease, a claim not supported by research. He cheered on questionable treatments like cod liver oil, and said that local doctors had achieved almost miraculous and instantaneous recoveries with steroids or antibiotics.

Writing for MSNBC, Dr. Kavita Patel, a teaching professor of medicine at Stanford University, added that Kennedy, as part of his Fox interview, abandoned any pretense of scientific rigor. She added that the HHS secretary promoted pseudoscientific alternatives.

This follows a report in The Washington Post about Kennedy focusing on vitamin A to combat the growing measles outbreak, raising concerns among public health experts, who fear he is sending the wrong message about preventing the highly contagious disease and distracting from the critical importance of vaccination.

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All of this is, of course, dreadful. But it is not surprising. Kennedy wrote just four years ago that he believed measles outbreaks have been fabricated to create fear. He added that, as far hes concerned, Americans had been misled ... into believing that measles is a deadly disease.

Kennedy is also on record suggesting there might be some health benefits to getting the dangerous contagion.

Obviously, the HHS secretary has earned reproach for his reckless and anti-scientific approach to this growing public health threat. Its equally obvious that qualified physicians, scientists and public health officials are right to ring the alarm about Kennedys dangerous irresponsibility.

But when assigning blame, spare a thought for the 52 Republican senators who decided to put aside everything they learned about Kennedy and voted to confirm him anyway.

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That an unqualified, anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist is behaving like an unqualified, anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist is painfully predictable. The fact remains, however, that 52 GOP senators were given an opportunity to protect Americans from RFK Jr. and they failed spectacularly.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Todays edition of quick hits.

* Ukrainian officials agreed to accept the Trump administrations proposal for a 30-day interim ceasefire with Russia: Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the U.S. proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, according to a joint statement issued Tuesday after meetings in Saudi Arabia. Russia has not, however, agreed to the same terms.

* On a related note: The United States will immediately lift a pause on intelligence sharing and resume providing security assistance to Ukraine after delegates from Kyiv agreed to accept the Trump administrations proposal for a 30-day interim ceasefire with Russia.

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* On Wall Street: Markets whipsawed on Tuesday, as investors puzzled through President Trumps commitment to tariffs, with stocks dropping in early trading before recovering late in the day.

* As for why the markets had another tumultuous day: Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he had agreed to suspend a 25% surcharge on electricity imports into the U.S. after conversing with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in the wake of President Donald Trumps threats to hike steel and aluminum tariffs on the nation by 50%.

* Incidentally, Trumps statement on steel and aluminum tariffs ran 336 words. It did not mention fentanyl or drugs, which ostensibly is the focus of the White Houses policy.

* One of the many cases related to the White House worth watching: A federal judge found on Monday that Elon Musks government-cutting unit is likely subject to public disclosure laws and must promptly turn over documents to a group that had sued for access to its internal emails.

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* The obvious call: Ever since Donald Trump granted blanket clemency to more than a thousand Jan. 6 defendants, an open legal question has been how far that executive grace extends beyond offenses committed that day in 2021. For example, does it cover a defendants conviction for subsequently plotting to kill law enforcement who investigated him? No, a federal judge in Tennessee ruled Monday.

* This would be a four-week deal: Top Democratic appropriators released a short-term funding bill Monday night meant to serve as an alternative to the House Republican plan to fund the government through September as the two parties face off ahead of a Friday midnight shutdown deadline.

* The war on science is ongoing: NASA is eliminating its chief scientist and other roles as part of efforts by the Trump administration to pare back staff at the agencys Washington headquarters. The cuts affect about 20 employees at NASA, including Katherine Calvin, the chief scientist and a climate science expert. The last day of work for Dr. Calvin and the other staff members will be April 10.

* Remember when Trump cozied up to Duterte? Things arent going well for him now: Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was on Tuesday on his way to The Hague, the Netherlands, to face International Criminal Court accusations that he committed crimes against humanity during his deadly war on drugs. Duterte, 79, who left office in 2022, was arrested earlier on an Interpol warrant at the international airport in Manila after his arrival from Hong Kong.

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* A regressive new day in the nations capital: Local government crews in Washington began on Monday morning to remove the Black Lives Matter mural that was painted near the White House nearly five years ago. The mural, spelling BLACK LIVES MATTER in bright yellow letters, covered two blocks of 16th Street Northwest. It was painted in June 2020, turning the pavement into a pedestrian zone called Black Lives Matter Plaza.

See you tomorrow.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
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The federal government has provided no evidence that Mahmoud Khalil has committed a criminal offense, and yet on Saturday night, he was taken by agents of the state from his home and renditioned to a detention facility where neither his pregnant wife nor his lawyer have had access to him.

Khalil, a legal permanent resident of the United States and Palestinian activist who helped lead the protests at Columbia University over the Israel-Hamas war last spring, seems to have been disappeared by the U.S. government because of his political views. Khalil was among the students urging the university to cut financial and educational ties with Israel. (Unlike with other categories of immigrants, revoking the status of legal permanent residents generally requires evidence of wrongdoing.)

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Yesterday, President Donald Trump announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement had proudly apprehended Khalil, describing him as a Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas Student. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson described Khalil as having led activities aligned to Hamas. There is, notably, not even a hint of an allegation of criminal behavior in that description. They do not accuse him of being a member of, fighting for, or providing material support to any terrorist group, all of which are prosecutable crimes. The phrasing aligned to implies that if Trump-administration officials think the views of a green-card holder are unacceptable, they can deprive him of his freedom. How does one even prove they are not aligned with Hamas, a subjective and arbitrary judgment that could be thrown at anyone deemed too critical of the Israeli government?

Government officials have told reporters that Khalils green card was revoked under a provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act that authorizes the secretary of state to expel an alien whose presence or activities in the United States the Secretary of State has reasonable ground to believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.

Trump supporters have a remarkable ability to coalesce around whatever explanation they are told to repeat, so the arguments defending the detention are likely to orient around this justification. The idea that Khalils views might have serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States is an obvious pretext for expelling himand a message to others who might hold or express similar beliefs. Trumpists simply do not approve of his politics and have therefore resorted to using the power of the state to deport him. Trump has styled himself a champion of free speech, but this is what Trumpists mean by free speech: You can say what Trumpists want you to say or you can be punished.

[David A. Graham: The free-speech phonies]

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Trump has announced as much, declaring that the administration would not tolerate pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity. That is an admission that Khalils arrest is not about consequences for American foreign policy but about punishing speech. The administration is using the power of the state to silence people who express political views that Trump dislikes. And it is worth noting that Trumpists define any criticism of Trump as anti-American.

Due process is a cornerstone of democracy and the rule of law. Without it, anyone can be arbitrarily deprived of life or liberty. Leaders who aspire to absolute power always begin by demonizing groups that lack the political power to resist, and that might be awkward for the political opposition to defend. They say someone is a criminal, and they dare you to defend the rights of criminals. They say someone is a deviant, and they dare you to defend the rights of deviants. They call someone a terrorist, and they dare you to defend the rights of terrorists. And if you believe none of these apply to you, another category might be traitor, the label that Trump and his advisers, including the far-right billionaire Elon Musk, like to give to anyone who opposes them.

Trumps assault on basic First Amendment principles may begin with Khalil, but it will not end with him. Trumps ultimate target is anyone he finds useful to target. Trump and his advisers simply hope the public is foolish or shortsighted enough to believe that if they are not criminals, or deviants, or terrorists, or foreigners, or traitors, then they have no reason to worry. Eventually no one will have any rights that the state need respect, because the public will have sacrificed them in the name of punishing people it was told did not deserve them.

The Trump administration began its drive for absolute power by ignoring congressional appropriations of foreign aid, which are laws. It calculated that Americans would be callous enough not to care about the catastrophic loss of human life abroad and that the absence of backlash would enable the administration to set a precedent for defying duly passed laws without consequence. Trump began his assault on antidiscrimination law with a vicious campaign against trans peoplebut has already broadened that campaign into a sweeping attempt at a great resegregation of American life. The detention of Mahmoud Khalil begins a dangerous new phase, in which the Trump administration will attempt to assert an authority to deprive people of due process based on their political views.

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The Anti-Defamation League, a pale shadow of its former self, enthusiastically endorsed Khalils detainment absent due process, saying it appreciated the Trump administrations bold set of efforts to counter campus anti-semitism by holding alleged perpetrators responsible for their actions. Although the statement includes the caveat that any deportation action or revocation of a Green Card or visa must be undertaken in alignment with required due process protections, praising the Trump administration for arresting Khalil absent any such process makes clear that the question of Khalils guilt is an afterthought. One source of legal authority that the administration appears to be citing is the 1952 McCarran-Walter Act, whose co-sponsor Senator Patrick McCarran believed that Jews were subversive rats that need to be kept out of the country. If there is one obvious lesson of Jewish history, it is that when governments persecute people based on their political views and ethnic background, it is unlikely to end well for Jews. The ADL learned different lessons from that history, I suppose.

This sort of reaction, where a self-styled civil-rights organization endorses depriving people of their basic rights of speech and due process because they find the target unsympathetic, is what the Trumpists are counting on. Trumpists are counting on as many people as possible shutting off their conscience, because the administration has picked a target it hopes few will defend. They are counting on the public deciding that free speech and due process are optional for this category of people or that one, and that they will be safe, as they have done nothing wrong. The Trump administration wishes to lull people into this complacency until it is too late to react.

This kind of arrogance has a poor track record historically. Despots are always in need of powerful enemies to justify an insatiable drive for absolute power. Where none exist, they will invent them. Mass graves across the world are full of those who believed they had nothing to fear.

This is what is important: It does not matter if you approve of Khalils views. It does not matter if you support the Israelis or the Palestinians. It does not matter if you are a liberal or a conservative. It does not even matter if you voted for Trump or Kamala Harris. If the state can deprive an individual of his freedom just because of his politics, which is what appears to have happened here, then no one is safe. You may believe that Khalil does not deserve free speech or due process. But if he does not have them, then neither do you. Neither do I.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
Shit's getting very real at Columbia: On Saturday evening, federal immigration authorities arrested Columbia University protester/graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder from a refugee camp in Syria (whose family is Palestinian) who technically has Algerian citizenship. (Reason's Matthew Petti actually interviewed Khalil several months ago and has more on his story.)

Khalil has an American wife who is eight months pregnant. It's not clear which specific laws he stands accused of breaking, and immigration authorities were initially confused as to whether he was on a student visa or a green card; as a lawful permanent resident, he has greater due process rights. More on this here, from Reason's Jack Nicastro.

He has been sent to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Louisiana, where he is being detained. "The Trump administration's detention of Mahmoud Khalila green card holder studying in this country legallyis targeted, retaliatory, and an extreme attack on his First Amendment rights," the New York Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Donna Lieberman declared in a statement. "Ripping a student from their home, challenging their immigration status, and detaining them solely based on political viewpoint will chill student speech and advocacy across campus. Political speech should never be a basis of punishment, or lead to deportation."

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The Trump administration, for its part, calls Khalil a "threat to the foreign policy and national security interests of the United States."

"The allegation here is not that he was breaking the law," an official tells The Free Press. "He was mobilizing support for Hamas and spreading antisemitism in a way that is contrary to the foreign policy of the U.S." The Department of Homeland Security says Khalil "led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization," which isextremely vague. Whether they have more remains to be seen.

"This is the first arrest of many to come," wrote President Donald Trump on Truth Social. "We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, and the Trump Administration will not tolerate it.If you support terrorism, including the slaughtering of innocent men, women, and children, your presence is contrary to our national and foreign policy interests, and you are not welcome here."

I for one would probably not choose to spend my time engaged in pro-Palestine protests/sit-ins/marches/blockades if I were imminently expecting a child. And if I were on a green card, I would maybe exert some extra effort to make clear how much I like my new country vs. actively antagonizing it via supporting a raping, murdering terrorist group that not only committed the atrocities of October 7 but has since 2007 denied residents of the Gaza Strip a functioning place to live, choosing to instead invest resources in building tunnels and rockets, not water desalination plants.

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Still, unlike Hamas, the U.S. government tends to allow its vocal critics to build good lives here. I think this is a fundamentally good part of the American project: We provide ideological latitude to all kinds of people, allowing even those with very stupid and odious beliefs to take part in the discourse. ("I despise Khalil. Free him."credit to Scott Greenfieldprobably comes closest to my perspective.) But also, the administration may be within its rights to deport Khalil depending on what he stands accused of and what they can prove he has done. So far, they have not been terribly successful at proving they have grounds to do so: On Monday, a Manhattan federal judge reviewed a motion filed by Khalil's lawyers challenging the legal basis of his detention and ordered the government not to deport the man. ("That's how it works here, or at least how it's supposed to work here," Greenfield adds, outlining roughly the same thing on his blog.)

There's an interesting, more philosophical question raised by the Mahmoud Khalil case: Should people who have come here on visas, who are still awaiting full citizenship, be treated as guests, having their commitment to the American project weighed and judged? It strikes me as intellectually reasonable to want to engage in some amount of gatekeeping when you decide who ought to be granted the great gift of American citizenship; when a guest here indicates they don't value the same things we seek in our newcomers, does that present a problem? Khalil feels like a Rorschach, where people with the same underlying principles look at him and feel a very different moral intuition as to how we ought to greet such behavior. What type of immigrant do we seek? These questions strike me as fundamental, but totally lost in the political ferment surrounding immigration.

Rubio strikes a realist note: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, en route to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for meetings with Ukrainian officials, told reporters yesterday that Ukraine would have to make concessions if they want the war to end. "The most important thing that we have to leave here with is a strong sense that Ukraine is prepared to do difficult things, like the Russians are going to have to do difficult things to end this conflict or at least pause it in some way, shape or form," said Rubio. "I think both sides need to come to an understanding that there's no military solution to this situation," he continued. "The Russians can't conquer all of Ukraine, and obviously it'll be very difficult for Ukraine in any reasonable time period to sort of force the Russians back all the way to where they were in 2014."

These are, of course, not shocking takes for anyone who has followed this even semiclosely. But the Trump administration's focus on finding an actual, realistic deal (following the blowup in the Oval Office a week and a half ago) is a welcome sign that the bloodshed may come to an end, and that we may also be able to stem the flow of U.S. funds to the embattled nation.

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"I think it's pretty clear to the Ukrainians that there is going to be some degree of territorial concession," journalist James Pogue told us on Just Asking Questions last week. "The only people who don't think that at this point are like completely braindead European think tankers. The disconnect would be going back to the start of the war, when I think a lot of people on the right-wing side of things were fairly convinced that this could have been avoided, that there could have been some kind of philosophical deal, some kind of acceptance by the West that actually, particularly America's interests do not lie on the eastern fringes of Europe."

But Ukraine sent a strong signal: Following these comments, Ukraine attacked the crap out of Russia using drones, the largest single-day attack in the last three years of fighting. Much of the bombardment was sent Moscow's way, with 91 drones intercepted there and 240 sent toward other targets elsewhere in the country. Airports in Moscow shut down, with no flights taking off or landing. "Three people were killed and 18 were injured, including three children, in the massive drone attack that spanned 10 Russian regions, officials said," reports the Associated Press.

Later Tuesday, Ukrainian officials met with the U.S. delegation in Saudi Arabia as planned to discuss deals that might be struck and pathways to ending the bloody war that's now raged for three years.

Scenes from New York: I wrote this piece on my city's padlocked playgrounds and my effort to give my son a freedom-oriented childhood full of PLAY. I hope you'll read it.

QUICK HITS

Are we about to enter the era of fluoridation removal and bans on putting fluoride in the water supply? The Wall Street Journal has more.

"Tesla Inc. shares plunged to their worst day in more than four years, extending a slide in 2025 amid growing concerns on Wall Street about demand for the company's electric cars," reports Bloomberg.

"Moldova is facing increasingly blatant Russian attempts aiming at destabilising the country, which shares a border with Ukraine and wants to join the European Union by 2030, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday," reports Reuters. "'Moldova, whose airspace is regularly violated by Russian drones and missiles, also has to contend with increasingly uninhibited Russian attempts at destabilisation, targeting your country's democratic institutions in particular,' he said during a press conference alongside his Moldovan counterpart Maia Sandu."

Incredible Reason headlines: "By Ending Contract, Union Officials Claim, Trump Administration Violated 'Dignity and Rights' of TSA Agents." Courtesy of Christian Britschgi, full article here.

Lol:

"Not one person ever in my office has ever used the word 'Latinx.'" - @GavinNewsom https://t.co/alljuXdFE5  Jim Stanley (@JimStanleyCA) March 10, 2025

The post Mahmoud Khalil, the Great Rorschach Test appeared first on Reason.com.
President Donald Trump has likened Mahmoud Khalil to a terrorist sympathizer. Others portray him as a Palestinian activist, singled out for his outspoken support for his own people.

But long before he was arrested by federal agents Saturday night, Khalil told CNN he felt called to advocate for the liberation of both the Palestinian and Jewish people as a refugee.

As a Palestinian student, I believe that the liberation of the Palestinian people and the Jewish people are intertwined and go hand-by-hand and you cannot achieve one without the other, he told CNN last spring when he was one of the negotiators representing student demonstrators during talks with Columbia Universitys administration.

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Our movement is a movement for social justice and freedom and equality for everyone, he said.

Khalil, who completed work on his masters degree from Columbia University in December and is a legal resident of the US, was arrested and detained by federal agents after his lawyer said his green card was revoked by the Trump administration.

His attorney, Amy Greer, said Khalils wife, who is an American citizen, was also present during his arrest and is eight months pregnant.

A federal judge blocked any immediate effort by the Trump administration to deport Khalil, late Monday afternoon. Judge Jesse Furman ordered a hearing on Khalils case to be held Wednesday morning in New York City.

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Greer said she spoke to Khalil on Monday, and he is healthy and his spirits are undaunted by his predicament.

He was chosen as an example to stifle entirely lawful dissent, in violation of the First Amendment, she said in a statement. The governments objective is as transparent as it is unlawful.

But there are those  including Trump and his administration  who view Khalils pro-Palestinian activism as acts of antisemitism and support for Hamas.

Following my previously signed executive orders, ICE proudly apprehended and detained Mahmoud Khalil, a radical foreign pro-Hamas Student on the campus of Columbia University, Trump posted Monday on Truth Social. This is the first arrest of many to come.

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Khalil is being held at a detention facility in Jena, Louisiana, according to a source with direct knowledge of the case. Heres what we know about him.

We are the lucky ones that made it to the US

In an interview with CNN last spring, Khalil said he was born a Palestinian refugee in Syria, but his family is from Tiberias, an Israeli city that was once known for its mixed Jewish and Arab population.

During the Arab-Israeli War in 1948, Palestinians were forcibly removed from cities like Tiberias in what became known as The Nakba, or catastrophe.

Khalil grew up in Syria and earned his bachelors degree in computer science from Lebanese American University, according to his LinkedIn profile. Before enrolling at Columbia, he held multiple roles in international development, including with the United Kingdoms Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

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In 2023, Khalil began studying to earn his masters degree in public administration at Columbias School of International and Public Affairs. Then, Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.

The Israel-Hamas War thrust Columbia University and its students into the national spotlight as pro-Palestinian demonstrations swept through college campuses.

Building on a tradition of student-led anti-war protests at Columbia, a coalition of students established encampments on campus, held rallies and staged teach-ins. But the movement was also tainted by instances of rampant antisemitism, which Khalil disavowed.

There is, of course, no place for antisemitism, he told CNN in April. What we are witnessing is anti-Palestinian sentiment thats taking different forms and antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism (are) some of these forms.

Mahmoud Khalil speaks to members of media about the Revolt for Rafah encampment at Columbia University in New York City on June 1, 2024. - Jeenah Moon/Reuters

Khalil reportedly suspended, then reinstated as a Columbia student

Khalil added that he chose not to participate directly in the student encampments because he did not want to risk the university revoking his student visa.

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Instead, he gave speeches and was one of the students selected to lead discussions with university administrators on behalf of Columbia University Apartheid Divest, a coalition of student organizations that demanded, among other things, the university to divest from its financial ties to Israel and a ceasefire in Gaza.

I always say that we are the lucky ones that made it here to speak for our people who are under oppression in Palestine and across the refugee camps and the Palestinian cities, Khalil said, adding that at times hes felt survival guilt over his inability to do anything meaningful for the (Palestinian) people other than protest.

I was fearful of actively engaging in protests at some points because of different threats (and) because of the universitys policies regarding this but again, we organized. We prevailed to do something for our people.

Days after Khalil spoke to CNN, the university missed its deadline to reach an agreement on divestment. In response, students, as well as people unaffiliated with the school, entered Columbias Hamilton Hall and barricaded themselves inside. The university ultimately requested police assistance to remove the protesters and more than 280 people were arrested, according to the NYPD.

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After the demonstration at Hamilton Hall, Khalil told the BBC the university moved to suspend him, then abruptly reversed the decision.

[They said] that after reviewing the evidence, they dont have any evidence to suspend (me), he told the BBC. It shows how random the suspension was  they did that randomly, and without due process.

A person holds a sign during a protest following the arrest by U.S. immigration agents of Mahmoud Khalil. - Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

Now, nearly a year later, Khalils attorney, as well as First Amendment advocates, say hes facing a similar denial of due process, following his arrest by federal agents on Saturday.

Ben Wizner, director of the American Civil Liberties Unions Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, called Khalils arrest unprecedented, illegal, and un-American.

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The First Amendment protects everyone in the US. The governments actions are obviously intended to intimidate and chill speech on one side of a public debate, Wizner said in a statement Monday.

More than 1.7 million people have signed a letter to demand Khalils immediate release, according to a petition on Action Network. And in New York City, hundreds gathered outside the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building  ICE has a field office  on Monday to protest Khalils arrest, chanting We want justice, you say how? release Mahmoud Khalil now!

Still, there are those who celebrated the Trump administrations crack down on antisemitism and its so-called ringleaders on college campuses. In a statement posted to X, the Anti-Defamation League praised the administration for its resolve to curb antisemitism.

This action further illustrates that resolve by holding alleged perpetrators responsible for their actions, the ADL said. Obviously, any deportation action or revocation of a Green Card or visa must be undertaken in alignment with required due process protections.

CNNs Jeff Winter, Alaa Elassar and Shimon Prokupecz contributed to this report.

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Palestinian former graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, who is a green-card holder married to an American citizen, was arrested by federal immigration agents in Columbia University housing Saturday, leading to questions about how a legal permanent resident could face deportation  and what it could mean for issues of free speech on college campuses.

Khalil was a public face of the pro-Palestinian protest movement at Columbia University last spring, when large demonstrations against the war in the Gaza Strip swept college campuses around the country.

Immigration law does allow the federal government to deport noncitizens, even people who are green card holders, over certain offenses or certain kinds of behavior, said Adam Cox, a law professor and immigration expert at New York University.

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The big open question is why the government thinks it can deport him, he said.

The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that Khalil was arrested March 9 in support of President Trumps executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism in coordination with the State Department. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in the statement that the administration alleges that Khalil led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.

ICE and the Department of State are committed to enforcing President Trumps executive orders and to protecting U.S. national security, she said in the statement.

The State Department didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Khalils legal team hasnt been made aware of any allegations of criminality or fraud, said Baher Azmy, legal director of the Center for Constitutional Rights in New York, a legal advocacy nonprofit organization involved in Khalils case. Trump and his administration didnt provide evidence of their allegations against him or any other protesters.

Azmy called the arrest a grotesque and chilling invocation of vague and unchecked national security power to target and retaliate on behalf of Palestinian human rights.

Efforts are underway to return Khalil to New York from the immigration detention facility in Louisiana where he is being held, Azmy said. A federal judge in New York said Monday that Khalil is to remain in the United States for now to preserve the courts jurisdiction as the court weighs the filing challenging his arrest and planned deportation.

The habeas corpus case is separate from a potential deportation proceeding Khalil could also face.

Deportation charges are not criminal charges

The Trump administration is intensifying a crackdown on what it calls antisemitic activity on college campuses.

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Khalil recently graduated with a masters degree from Columbia University in New York City. Azmy said that his client has a green card and that his wife, who is eight months pregnant, is an American citizen.

The administration hasnt provided details of the grounds for Khalils arrest and what charges, if any, he could face. If charges are based on his statements in support of Palestinians  which is unclear  Khalil is covered by the First Amendment, Cox said.

Deportation proceedings for a person with a green card are handled in the immigration court system, in which an immigration judge would ultimately decide whether someone can be deported, Cox said, meaning the Trump administration doesnt get to unilaterally decide that he should be deported and then deport him.

A legal permanent resident could be deported after having been convicted of certain criminal offenses, Cox said, but Congress immigration laws also can make you deportable for some other conduct that doesnt itself constitute a crime, and some of those grounds are pretty broad.

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Deportation charges are not criminal charges, he said.

Cox said that if the State Department has reasonable ground to believe that a noncitizens presence or activities in the country would have serious adverse foreign policy consequences, then that person is deportable, and so even a green card holder can be deportable on those grounds.

Trump said on social media that we know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, and the Trump Administration will not tolerate it.

We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country  never to return again, he said.

An immigration court system that favors the government

When green card holders face immigration charges, they still retain certain rights during those proceedings, such as the right to be represented by a lawyer and the right to a hearing before an immigration judge at which the charges have to be proved, Cox said. So theres a long process, and there are legal rights involved.

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But the immigration court system favors the government in all kinds of ways, among them that there is no jury and that the government has to prove its case not beyond reasonable doubt but instead by the lower standard of clear and convincing evidence.

Kathleen Bush-Joseph, a policy analyst with the U.S. Immigration Policy Program at the Migration Policy Institute, said that even with the legal protections granted to green card holders, its really difficult for people to navigate this process, and lawyers can certainly try to push back on the governments arguments that someone is now deportable even though they have this particular benefit.

But theres so much that depends on each individuals case, she said, referring to Khalils case, adding that even granting lawful permanent residency is done at the discretion of the United States government. Someone can meet all of the criteria but still be denied.

Experts said another factor is whether Khalil was arrested lawfully. Columbia said in a statement Monday that, consistent with its protocol, law enforcement must have a judicial warrant to enter non-public University areas, including residential University buildings. Columbia is committed to complying with all legal obligations and supporting our student body and campus community. Columbia didnt say whether ICE presented a warrant to the university before Khalils arrest.

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While details about what Khalil will be charged with are pending, experts say any connection between his arrest and the pro-Palestinian demonstrations on the Columbia campus could have a chilling effect on free speech.

Ron Kuby, a veteran New York civil rights lawyer, said that Khalil was protesting the treatment of Palestinians and that he has a First Amendment right to do so.

This advocacy on behalf of the Palestinian people  an advocacy mirrored by many people  cannot be construed as offering material support for a terrorist organization, Kuby said. Whether youre a green card holder or a citizen, youre allowed to express your view that one country is right and another is wrong in an international conflict.

He added, The message is that ICE can come take you away at any moment.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Mar. 11AUGUSTA  Maine lawmakers reached a compromise budget deal Tuesday, setting new limits on housing assistance to win the bipartisan support needed to avoid cuts in payments to MaineCare providers through the end of June.

The deal was initially approved by the Senate in a 31-2 vote Tuesday evening, followed by a vote in the House of Representatives of 129-10.

Once enacted through a second set of votes, the compromise means the state will resume regular payments to MaineCare providers after a brief curtailment. Both the Senate and House of Representatives needed to approve the deal with a two-thirds majority for the budget adjustments to take effect immediately.

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"This is a responsible supplemental budget that pays our bills for the remainder of the fiscal year and reflects a commitment to finding consensus on issues that are important to all of us," Senate President Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick, said while introducing the compromise proposal on the Senate floor.

The proposal limits how long some Mainers can receive housing assistance through the state's General Assistance program in an effort to win Republican support for a plan to balance the state's budget over the next three months.

It would, among other things, limit housing vouchers to 12 months within a three-year period under the state's General Assistance program, which is designed to be a last-resort safety net program but has grown in recent years to provide ongoing rental support.

Republicans have pushed for such a limit, and it could provide the support needed to pass a supplemental budget as an emergency measure and allow the state to maintain payments to medical providers serving patients through MaineCare, the state's Medicaid program.

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The proposed General Assistance limits, which would not apply to emergency shelters or temporary housing, are not as strict as those originally proposed by Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and supported by House Republicans. Mills originally proposed limiting housing assistance through GA to three months within a 12-month period.

Daughtry's amendment would fund an independent audit to look for "for fraud, waste and abuse" in the MaineCare program, while also requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to seek federal approval for a 1.95% cost of living increase to direct care workers. The audit would be due on Jan. 5.

Senate Minority Leader Trey Stewart, R-Presque Isle, said Tuesday that he supports the proposal.

"I do think this amendment represents improvement in the bill," he said on the Senate floor. "To echo a lot of the remarks the senator from Brunswick mentioned about the various components, I think a lot of them are needed."

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Nearly all of the $121 million supplemental budget is dedicated to closing a $118 million deficit in MaineCare costs through June, the end of the current fiscal year. Another $2 million is proposed to fight spruce budworm infestations threatening Maine forests.

Even if a deal is reached Tuesday, the delay in adopting a supplemental budget means the state will have to reduce payments to medical providers in the short term, according to state officials. Passage of a budget Tuesday would mean reimbursements would be restored going forward.

Beginning Wednesday, the state will only pay 70% of prospective interim payments to critical access hospitals, while withholding payments for all hospital claims greater than $50,000 and payments to large retail pharmacies, large durable medical equipment providers, and out-of-state providers of hospital, ambulance, pharmacy and durable medical equipment services.

Critical access hospitals are smaller, isolated, rural community hospitals designated by the federal government to receive higher reimbursement rates for Medicare and Medicaid, while prospective interim payments provide a steady source of revenue so these facilities can pay fixed expenses throughout the year.

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Maine has about 17 critical access hospitals, all of which are located in rural areas, including Bridgton, Calais, Dover-Foxcroft, Greenville, Houlton, Millinocket and Rumford, according to the Maine Hospital Association.

A DHHS spokesperson said that providers will still see curtailed payments beginning Wednesday even if lawmakers pass the emergency budget, because there's a one week lag time in reimbursements. Enacting an emergency budget would avoid further curtailments, so that providers would receive their full reimbursements beginning next week.

Republicans have also insisted on adding work requirements for MaineCare before they will support the supplemental budget. But Democrats have balked at that proposal since, unlike the GA reforms, work requirements have not been subject to a public hearing.

This story will be updated.

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Mar. 11Several members of Maine's congressional delegation will be in the spotlight this week as lawmakers try to pass a temporary funding bill to avoid a government shutdown.

Lawmakers have until midnight Friday to pass a continuing resolution to keep money flowing to federal agencies Failure to do so will cause the government to shut down nonessential services.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., unveiled a proposal over the weekend that would increase defense spending by $6 billion and cut nonmilitary spending by $13 billion, rather than continuing current spending levels. That proposal would keep the government running through September, giving lawmakers more time to pass broader spending bills.

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The House of Representatives was expected to vote on the proposal Tuesday night and needs a simple majority to advance the plan to the Senate. House Republicans could pass the bill with its razor-thin majority, but any defections would require Democratic votes. And any spending bill passed in the House will need Democratic support in the Senate to reach the 60 votes needed to enact it in the upper chamber.

The dynamic is putting three moderate members of Maine's congressional delegation  Republican Sen. Susan Collins, independent Sen. Angus King and Rep. Jared Golden, D-2nd District  at the center of the action as both sides count votes.

House Democratic leaders are urging their members to oppose the bill, which they describe as a partisan proposal that would empower efforts by President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk to reduce the federal workforce and slash spending without the approval of Congress. They also highlighted cuts to rental assistance, infrastructure and other areas.

"Republicans walked away from bipartisan negotiations to pursue a partisan, full-year continuing resolution (CR), which is a blank check for Elon Musk and President Trump to continue their campaign of destruction," stated a letter circulated among Democrats and obtained by Punchbowl News. "At a time when Republicans are seeking to kick children off health coverage to pay for tax cuts for billionaires, the CR would remove most guardrails that direct where funds should be spent."

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Trump, meanwhile, is helping Johnson corral Republican votes in the House, where they can't afford to lose any votes without needing to pick up Democrats. The White House posted a message on X from Trump on Saturday urging Republicans to remain "UNITED  NO DISSENT."

"The House and the Senate have put together, under the circumstances, a very good funding bill ("CR")!" Trump said. "All Republicans should vote (Please!) YES next week."

Top among the list of House Democrats who could break and join Republicans are those representing districts that went to Trump in November, including Golden, who was narrowly reelected in a district Trump won by 9 points.

Golden spokesperson Mario Moretto said on Monday that the congressman was still reviewing the continuing resolution and had nothing to say about whether he'd support it.

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"Congressman Golden and his team are still reviewing the CR, so we have no comment on the substance until we're done the review," Moretto said. "In general, his preference is for passing budgets through regular order, but that doesn't seem to be the world we're operating in at the moment."

Collins, as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, will undoubtedly be in the center of the action as the deadline approaches. And King, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, could also be an important vote because Republicans will need at least seven other members to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to pass the budget bill in that chamber.

Collins' staff said she was not available for an interview. In a written statement Saturday, Collins stressed the importance of passing a spending bill to keep the federal government open.

"Our focus must be on preventing an unnecessary and costly government shutdown on Friday, March 14th, at midnight," Collins said.

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"Government shutdowns are inherently a failure to govern effectively and have negative consequences all across government. They require certain essential government employees, such as border patrol agents, members of our military and Coast Guard, TSA screeners, and air traffic controllers, to report to work with no certainty on when they will receive their next paycheck. We cannot allow that to occur."

In written responses to questions from the Press Herald on Monday, Collins suggested she would support the House funding bill, saying "my No. 1 priority is to avoid a government shutdown. The continuing resolution released by the House would prevent a government shutdown from occurring this week."

When asked about concerns that extending funding through September would embolden the Trump administration's efforts to slash spending without congressional approval, Collins said the continuing resolution drafted by House Republicans is similar to continuing resolutions passed while Barack Obama was president. She also criticized Democrats for blocking bipartisan budget bills from the Senate floor when they were in the majority last year.

Collins said Democrats' efforts to insert language requiring the president to spend the money in accordance with the wishes of Congress would effectively kill its chances, calling it a "poison pill."

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"When spending bills like this are drafted, the rule in the past has been no poison pills," Collins said. "The restrictions Democrats are demanding would be considered poison pill language."

King spokesperson Matthew Felling said the senator wanted to see what  if anything  gets passed by the House on Tuesday before weighing in.

"Sen. King is reviewing the continuing resolution put together by the Republican House of Representatives and White House, and waiting to see whether it will pass or if wiser spending paths can be considered," Felling said. "Generally speaking, Sen. King believes continuing resolutions 'pass the buck' of Congress's constitutional duty to decide and vote on yearly federal spending, and would prefer that the House and Senate come together to pass the previously approved spending bills that passed out of committee last year on a bipartisan basis."

King's office didn't answer questions sent by email about whether he preferred a shorter funding bill, supported additional language that would require Trump to spend funding as allocated by Congress, or whether he was concerned that the current proposal would empower Trump's and Musk's unilateral attempts to reshape the government  attempts he has criticized.

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King has been vocal in criticizing Trump as acting unconstitutionally in overriding spending approved by Congress. Collins has also been critical, but she also voted to approve Russell Vought, who helped drafted the conservative policy blueprint, Project 2025, as Trump's budget chief, even though Vought has publicly said that presidents have the power to overturn congressional spending.

Back in the House, Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, said she will vote against the continuing resolution because it includes a $6 billion increase in military spending and $13 billion in cuts to nonmilitary spending, which could hurt Maine. She criticized the proposal for not involving Democrats and for eliminating congressional earmarks.

"It's bad," Pingree said in an interview Monday. "It's far more than just a CR. I'm not happy with it. It's not good for governing."

Pingree also said any continuing resolution that lasts through the end of September would give Trump and Musk too much time to continue their "illegal" moves to cut the federal workforce and spending without congressional approval. She also supports language that would force Trump to spend the money as appropriated by Congress, something Republicans have so far rejected.

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"This is a total nightmare," Pingree said. "We're already in a nightmare of illegal activity with Elon Musk and Donald Trump really just deciding where to make cuts ... (and) where to get rid of staff, without any regard to appropriators, Congress or any sense of what they're doing. This will just continue that. It gives them license to do even more."

When asked whether she was prepared to shut down the federal government, Pingree said that's more of a question for the Senate to answer, since Republicans will need Democratic support to reach the 60 votes needed to enact the spending bill.

"Those are questions the senators are going to have to ask," Pingree said. "We have to stop this illegal and unconstitutional activity that's going on between Elon Musk and the president. Our constituents are asking us to do that, so I think we have to stand up and fight on this one."

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A Reform UK candidate has been sacked by one of the worlds top law firms after he posted I hate Islam on social media.

Dan Cooper, a former senior HR business partner at law firm CMS, was axed after he was revealed to have made a series of tweets on controversial topics including Islam, transgender rights and the war in Ukraine.

Mr Cooper, who had worked at CMS for more than 12 years, was poised to stand as a candidate for Reform UK for a seat on Boston borough council in Lincolnshire in elections this May.

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CMS took swift action after learning about offensive remarks Mr Cooper made on social media, according to an email sent to staff by Charles Currier, CMSs chair.

On the social media site X, Mr Cooper described himself as anti Islam, said transgenderism was a mental illness and claimed Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, was a coke addict.

The tweets were brought to CMSs attention by the X account Reform Party UK exposed, which has more than 40,000 followers.

In one post on Twitter, Mr Cooper said: I hate Islam. Its a 7th century barbaric cult. I dont fear it, I loath [sic] it. In another, he said the Muslim Council of Britain should be shut down.

Dan Cooper has since deleted his X account

In response to a tweet from Zarah Sultana, the Labour MP for Coventry South, Mr Cooper said: You are a race baiting, uneducated stain on this country.

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Prior to being deleted, his profile also included a short biography that described Mr Cooper. It said: Family man. Professional. Childrens author, film maker. Anti Islam. Only two genders. Pro UK farming. Reform candidate for Boston Coastal Lincolnshire.

CMS, which is headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, and is the worlds fifth-largest law firm by headcount, says it is committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive culture. The business also has a transgender policy under which it work to promote inclusion, with a gender-neutral dress code and gender-neutral toilets.

On LinkedIn, the HR professional had described himself as a wellbeing ambassador at CMS.

Mr Coopers tweets included a series of posts on transgender rights. In one tweet, Mr Cooper said: If you are over 18 and think you are transgender then you have a mental illness. If you are eight and think you are transgender your parents have a mental illness.

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The internal email sent to CMS staff by the law firms chairman said: We took prompt and decisive action as soon as we learnt about the nature of the offensive remarks, including clarifying that the views do not represent those of the firm and that we are committed to creating an inclusive environment.

Mr Coopers Twitter profile also made a series of posts suggesting that Britain should stop funding Ukraine in its battle to repel Vladimir Putins invasion. In response to one post outlining Rachel Reevess plans to give a 2.3bn loan to Ukraine, Mr Cooper said: Another money laundering exercise in plain site [sic].

CMS ceased operations in Russia in 2022 in response to the invasion of Ukraine in February that year.

A CMS spokesman said: We took prompt and decisive action as soon as we learnt about the nature of the individuals offensive remarks on social media. The views expressed on their personal social media accounts are their own and do not represent those of the firm. At CMS we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all our colleagues and we will be supporting all the individuals affected by this.

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A Reform UK spokesman said: Nominations for Mays local elections have not yet opened therefore no one is officially a candidate for Reform UK yet.

We set and expect the highest standards from our candidates, therefore Mr Cooper will never be a candidate for Reform UK and his membership has been suspended.

Mr Cooper was approached for comment.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A man is accused of kidnapping a woman in Las Vegas and driving her to Utah after he suspected her of cheating, according to the Iron County Sheriffs Office.

Epigmenio Bustillo-Marquez, 53, faces charges of aggravated kidnapping, assault, providing peace officers false personal info, interruption of communication device, prohibited use of identification card and operating a vehicle without a license, ICSO said.

On Saturday around 1:20 p.m., deputies from ICSO responded to the Cedar Bands Travel Plaza after a report of a suspicious situation. When deputies arrived, a customer told them that a woman approached her in that bathroom and handed her a note that said she was in trouble and the man driving the Chevrolet Equinox she was in was taking her to either Salt Lake City or Denver and threatened to harm her, according to ICSO.

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The Chevrolet left the Cedar Bands Travel Plaza, the woman followed it in her car as it traveled northbound on the I-15. Deputies pulled the SUV over once it approached Cedar City. When deputies approached the passengers side of the vehicle, the victim mouthed Help Me, ICSO said.

The woman, who was from Las Vegas and was wearing a Treasure Island uniform, told police that Bustillo-Marquez was supposed to take her to work that day, but instead, he started to drive north. She said that her phone had been taken away and she was being held against her will by Bustillo-Marquez because he suspected her of cheating, ICSO said.

Bustillo-Marquez and the victim had lived with each other for 25 years.

ICSO said Bustillo-Marquez claimed they were traveling to Salt Lake City to visit family, however deputies discovered that his family lived in St. George.

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Bustillo-Marquez was arrested and taken to the Iron County Correctional Facility.

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A day of fun at a lazy river pool turned into a nightmare for a child. Now a man from Rhode Island is facing molestation charges.

Investigators say a 12-year-old girl was allegedly molested by a stranger at a Lake Buena Vista resort, and there may be more victims.

Orange County deputies say it all went down at Club Wyndham Bonnet Creeks lazy river pool on Sunday and Monday.

Deputies arrested 72-year-old William Chatel on a charge of lewd or lascivious molestation.

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He made his first court appearance Tuesday, where the judge assigned a public defender to his case.

According to the arrest report, the victim was swimming in the pool when Chatel touched her.

She tried to avoid him, but according to the report, he approached her again the next day. Thats when she started crying, so her parents called authorities and took videos of him.

According to the girls mother, Chatel groped her daughter and tickled her underwater.

The videos showed the man approach other female children in the lazy river pool, mostly while alone.

The victim told deputies she saw another girl being touched by the same man, but deputies werent able to locate the other child or her parents.

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Deputies say Chatel told them his wife was upstairs in their room and that he didnt remember touching or running into anyone in the pool.

He is being held in the Orange County jail.

Resort visitors and parents said they found the allegations disturbing. One parent, Shaundirec Shine, said, I think its horrible that someone would do that to a child... You think that when you go somewhere that your children will be safe, especially if youre around.

Thats not something you come on vacation to experience, so thats disheartening to hear, said Melisha Wilson, another parent.

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The man accused of shooting and killing his girlfriend in the basement of their home in February faced a judge for the first time Tuesday afternoon.

Robert Chaplin, 34, is charged with criminal homicide in the case. Police say he killed Estela Rivera Vasquez, who he had been dating and living with for several years.

RELATED COVERAGE >>> Child calls 911 after man shoots, kills girlfriend inside Rostraver home, police say

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Only Channel 11s Andrew Havranek was there to question Chaplin as deputies escorted him from his preliminary hearing.

Do you have anything to say? Havranek asked. Did you shoot your girlfriend?

Chaplin remained silent.

Magistrate Judge John Christner sent the criminal homicide charge to county court.

Rostraver Police Detective Raymond Dugan testified that Chaplin told police he woke up that day around 1 p.m. His girlfriend, Vasquez  who went by Aby  got home from work around 4 p.m.

Dugan said the two were bickering, but went to the Shop n Save just a few miles away from their home. There, Dugan said Chaplin hit a pole in the parking lot, damaging his car.

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He said this made Chaplin mad and that Chaplin wanted to shoot his car. While at the Shop n Save, Dugan said Chaplin went to the store to buy alcohol and went back home.

There, Dugan said Chaplin told police he suspected Vasquez was cheating on him, and he wanted to leave her, and then became angry.

Thats when police say Chaplin shot her. According to court documents, Chaplin said it was an accident, but police found several shell casings at the scene and one gunshot wound.

Vasquez was a beloved employee at Sarris Candies in Washington County. Channel 11 spoke with the owner, Bill Sarris, after Vasquez died.

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Its devastating, she was a wonderful person, loved working here, it was all over her social media page, Sarris told Channel 11s Cara Sapida. She brought people in from Guatemala, all great workers and she was their translator. She was the one who did all the connecting with everybody, everybody loved her.

RELATED COVERAGE >>> Sarris Candies workers, community mourning death of beloved mother who was shot, killed in Rostraver

During Tuesdays hearing, police said Chaplin admitted to shooting Vasquez. Her three children from another relationship were home at the time and are being cared for by relatives.

Chaplin remains in the Westmoreland County Prison without bond. Hes due back in court in April.

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BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN)  An 18-year-old man was taken into custody Monday on a felony warrant tied to a police pursuit that led to a crash and subsequent search of a Poland Village neighborhood.

Henry D. Wright Jr., 18, was arrested Monday on a felony warrant for failure to comply. He was arraigned on the charge Tuesday morning.

The charge stems from a Feb. 26 incident where Boardman Police attempted to conduct a traffic stop for a car operating without headlights. However, instead of stopping, the car led police on a pursuit that reached into Poland Village, only ending when the car was involved in a crash with another vehicle. After the crash, the driver, now identified by police as Wright Jr., exited the car and ran away.

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A person with knowledge of the incident told police this all started when Wright Jr. was on his way to Mercy Health because the mother of his unborn child was having labor contractions, according to reports.

Despite numerous agencies searching for him, authorities were unable to locate him that night. However, after some investigation, an officer identified Wright Jr. as the driver who fled from the crash scene.

He is next set to appear in court for a preliminary hearing March 18.

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A suspect was arrested in the 2023 killing of a 54-year-old man on Interstate 5 at State Route 905.

Dwight Rhone, 73, of San Diego, is suspected of fatally shooting and then allegedly setting on fire Bernardo Moreno, Officer Jared Grieshaber with the California Highway Patrol said in a news release Monday.

The incident occurred on Oct. 18, 2023, when officers responded to a homicide on I-5 on SR-905.

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Investigators determined Moreno died from a gunshot wound before being set on fire.

Passenger accused of kidnapping Lyft driver arrested

On Dec. 5, 2024, Rhone was arrested and charged with murder.

Last month, Rhone was taken into federal custody and booked into the San Diego County Jail.

I deeply appreciate the relentless dedication and professionalism of the CHP Major Crimes Unit, FBI, SDPD, and the San Diego District Attorneys Office, said CHP Border Division Investigative Services Unit Captain Mike Vargas. While this arrest wont erase Mr. Morenos familys pain, I hope it brings them some comfort knowing justice will be served.

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Anyone with more information about the case is asked to contact the CHP Border Division Major Crimes Unit at 858-944-6300.

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Mar. 11LIMA  A man who assaulted a female with whom he had a personal relationship will be sentenced in April after pleading guilty Tuesday to reduced charges.

Larece Kelly, 39, of Lima, was indicted by an Allen County grand jury in February on charges of aggravated burglary and strangulation, felonies of the first- and third-degree, respectively.

He entered into an agreement with prosecutors Tuesday morning and agreed to plead guilty to an amended count of burglary, a felony of the second degree. In exchange for that plea, the strangulation charge was dismissed.

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Kelly faces a minimum prison term of two to eight years in prison when he is sentenced April 4.

According to court documents, officers from the Lima Police Department responded to the report of an assault Nov. 22. The female caller said the incident occurred at her residence and identified Kelly, who she said was a friend, as the attacker.

The victim told police Kelly had been drinking and asked her about an ex-boyfriend when the altercation started. Kelly allegedly became angry and grabbed the woman by her throat, causing her to lose consciousness. The woman said she woke up on the floor with Kelly punching her in the head and face.

Investigating officers observed numerous bruises and abrasions on the neck of the alleged victim, court documents show.

Police records show Kelly, by force, stealth or deception, trespassed in the victim's home and inflicted physical harm upon her.

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LAKE CHARLES, La. (KLFY)  A Georgia man was found with with 14.5 pounds of cocaine after officials conducted a traffic search, authorities said.

Devon A. Hubbard, 53, Hephzibah, Georgia, was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and transactions involving proceeds from drugs, officials said.

Authorities came into contact with Hubbard when they conducted a search on his SUV at a traffic stop on I-10 eastbound near mile marker 41 on Friday. Authorities searched Hubbards vehicle and discovered six compressed bricks of suspected powder cocaine weighing about 14.5 pounds with an estimated street value of $657,000, and over $2,400 in cash.

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Hubbard was released Monday on a $175,000 bond.

Devon A. Hubbard, 53, Hephzibah, Georgia

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CHICAGO  A 22-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder of a Chicago police officer after he hit the officer with his vehicle while driving under the influence late Saturday night.

According to police, officers patrolling on foot observed a large crowd in the 100 block of North Lamon Avenue around 11:30 p.m. A 22-year-old, now identified as Jose Ruiz-Crespin, was driving a gray sedan was then attempting to leave the area when he struck an officer, causing the officer to fall to the ground with an ankle injury.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Chicago police officer injured after being hit by car in Austin neighborhood late Saturday night: CPD

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Ruiz-Crespin was arrested at the scene and has been charged with attempted second-degree murder, aggravated DUI resulting in an accident with bodily harm, and multiple misdemeanors.

He has a court hearing set for Tuesday, March 11.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  A Tennessee man is charged with attempted murder of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper after a high-speed chase in Franklin County.

According to the charges filed Monday by State Police, Bobby Wilson, 34, is facing charges including attempted murder of a law enforcement officer of the first degree after a chase overnight Sunday into Monday along State Route 30 Lincoln Way East in Chambersburg.

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State Police say a vehicle driven by Wilson, with his girlfriend Brandi Warren as a passenger, pulled out of the McDonalds parking lot without stopping, causing a patrolling Trooper right by the lot to nearly crash into them.

When the Trooper tried pulling over the 2024 Toyota Corolla, Wilson allegedly made a U-turn and sped off the other way and eventually onto I-81. During the chase, Troopers said Wilson hit speeds over 110mph, slammed on his brakes, and then sped away.

Police searching for masked Box Demon in York County

Wilson then rammed a State Police cruiser twice during the chase, the second of which caused the Troopers vehicle to slide off the road and down an embankment before rolling over, State Police say. The Trooper then had to be freed through the vehicles windshield.

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The Trooper suffered minor injuries from the crash, a State Police spokesperson confirmed.

Wilson proceeded to crash his vehicle and ran with Warren into a nearby house where they tried to hide from Troopers in the attic, but they were taken into custody.

Wilson is locked up in Franklin County Prison with his bail denied. Warren, 31, also of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, faces charges of flight to avoid apprehension/trial/punishment and criminal trespass from the incident, according to court documents. She is locked up in Franklin County prison with her bail set at $75,000.

Each of them awaits their preliminary hearings scheduled for March 18.

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WASHINGTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  The man authorities say is responsible for a traffic crash that killed a mother and her 8-month old daughter is finally being charged.

27-year old Tyler James Baxter is in the Washington County Jail tonight, charged with driving with a suspended, revoked, or cancelled license, causing serious bodily injury or death.

Florida Highway Patrol state troopers say Baxter was driving a red pick-up truck westbound on Highway 20 at Strickland Road, just west of Ebro. There were two cars ahead of him, the first was stopped to turn left onto Strickland Road, the second was stopped for the first.

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Sheriffs offices on high alert for potential spring break events

Baxter hit the second car, a red Ford Focus, knocking it into the car that was turning. Then Baxters truck and the red Ford crossed the center line, and where a 4th car heading east on Highway 20 hit them.

There were two people inside of the Ford, the driver, 25-year old Victoria Anderson of Panama City, and her 8-month-old daughter Gracelynn Lopez. Both were killed.

Three others were seriously injured. The crash happened February 26th last year. Baxter has been free until authorities completed their investigation

He was picked up last week in Walton County and transferred to the Washington County Jail on Monday. Hes currently held on a $75,000 bond.

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DES MOINES, Iowa (KCAU)  A Council Bluffs man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection to the 1989 disappearance of a woman from Woodbine.

Authorities arrested Robert Davis, 61, on Monday in connection to the 1989 disappearance of Barbara Lenz. Lenz was 31 at the time of her disappearance, according to court documents.

The documents state that she was reported missing on May 17, 1989, and was last seen on May 6, 1989.

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Back when the case was originally being investigated, Davis, then 26, told officials that he had last seen Lenz on May 6, 1989, when he had dropped her off at her apartment, documents state. He told officials that he had received a call from her stating that she had gone to Omaha to visit her daughter.

Sioux City man accused of 1983 murder returned to Iowa

On the day she was reported missing, police and family members stopped by Lenzs apartment where they found that her pets had been uncared for and that many of her personal belongings such as her wallet and luggage were left behind. This indicated to officials that she was not expecting to be gone for long.

Officials with the Woodbine Police Department then requested assistance from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation as they believed her disappearance to be involuntary and suspicious.

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Prior to her disappearance, the court documents state that Lenz had told multiple people that she was afraid of Davis and that Davis had assaulted her on multiple occasions. Just a few days before her appearance, she had also allegedly told people that Davis had threatened to kill her.

Investigators learned from multiple witnesses and Davis that he had assaulted Lenz in the past, and had also assaulted Lenzs daughter.

7 more students expelled from Sioux City Community School District

The court documents then state that Lenz would often visit her daughter in Omaha which Davis did not like. On the day of her disappearance, Davis and Lenz reportedly got into an argument over her wanting to go visit her daughter and a witness claimed that Davis had assaulted Lenz during the argument. Lenz was last seen leaving Daviss home with Davis in Daviss vehicle, according to a witness account.

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Prior to her disappearance, Lenz would allegedly often leave for a few days at a time. Witnesses stated that Daviss behavior after May 6 was different than it usually was when she would disappear for long periods of time.

A witness also reported allegedly seeing Davis bury something in a rural area near Daviss home and Daviss brother had shown the witness where they had dug the hole and buried something wrapped in plastic. There have been multiple attempts to locate Lenzs body in the area but her body was never found.

Since Lenzs disappearance, the court documents state that witnesses have reported that Davis has made threats stating that someone would end up like Barbara during arguments.

After reviewing evidence and speaking with witnesses, law enforcement found that they had probable cause to arrest Davis. Davis has since been charged with first-degree murder and is being held on a $3 million bond. Davis will make his first appearance on March 20 at 10 a.m. at the Harrison County Courthouse.

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49 living, 17 dead dogs removed from Washington County breeding facility

This arrest was made with assistance from the Iowa Cold Case unit that was launched by Attorney General Brenna Bird in 2024. This was the units first arrest since it was made, a release from Bird stated.

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CHICAGO (WGN)  A man whose conviction was overturned in connection with the deadly 2013 shooting of a high school student who performed at President Obamas second inauguration will remain in custody as he awaits his new trial.

Michaeil Ward was convicted in 2018 of shooting and killing 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton and sentenced to 84 years in prison, but an Illinois appeals court overturned the conviction in 2023, saying that statements he made to detectives after exercising his right to remain silent should have been inadmissible in trial.

The trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress them, the panel wrote in court documents at the time. The Illinois Supreme Court earlier this year upheld the decision.

April 2023 | Appeals court overturns murder conviction for man accused of killing Hadiya Pendleton

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August 2018 | Jury finds man guilty in fatal shooting of Hadiya Pendleton

August 2018 | Officers recount suspects arrests in Hadiya Pendleton slaying

Its all about political, and my son does not deserve it, Wards mother, April Ward, said after Tuesdays hearing. Shed earlier taken the stand asking Judge Diana Kenworthy to release her son as he awaits trial.

Pendletons parents, also in court, were clearly unhappy with the thought of having to sit through another jury trial.

They are devastated as we can all expect and they are very strong people, said Cook County States Attorney Eileen ONeill Burke, who will become the third states attorney involved in the case against Ward.

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Defense attorney Stephen Richards argued his client should be released, calling the states case unclear and unconvincing.

He is not guilty. Hes innocent, Richards said of his client. Mister Ward should have been released.  The evidence against him frankly is laughable.

Without Wards confession, the states case hinges on the testimony of witnesses, two of Wards friends, and co-defendant Kenneth Williams, who was sentenced to 42 years in prison. There is no physical evidence nor weapon in the case that connects Ward to Pendletons slaying.

Prosecutors say they stand behind the witness and evidence from the first trial and are ready to proceed, even without the confession.

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We feel very confident that the evidence that we will be able to introduce will be sufficient to convict him another time, Cook County Assistant States Attorney Jim Papa said.

Wards attorney said theyll appeal Tuesdays ruling. His next court date was scheduled for May 5.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A man has been charged with 10 additional felonies after investigators said he was connected to a string of burglaries at businesses across the Kansas City metro within the last few weeks.

According to the Jackson County Prosecutors Office, Javaune Tucker was originally facing charges of first-degree property damage; however, it was announced on Tuesday morning that Tucker is now facing two counts of felon in possession, possession of an unlawful machine gun, first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle, and six counts of second-degree burglary.

Man sentenced for murder in 2023 south Kansas City shooting

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Court records said that on Feb. 26, officers with the Kansas City Police Department received reports of a burglary.

Upon further investigation, officers found surveillance footage showing four suspects arrive at a business in a dark-colored Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The individuals reportedly shattered the front glass door and broke into the building before stealing several products throughout the store. Additionally, court documents said the Jeep had been documented as stolen.

Following the initial finding, investigators discovered that the Jeep had been connected to five other burglaries in the Waldo and Brookside neighborhoods on March 1.

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BKS Guitars, Brookside Barkery & Bath, Big Chifes Kush Dispensary, Fiddly Fig Flowers, and Waldo Cafe were all impacted.

(They) broke the glass in the back door. This time, they were in and out. In less than a minute, I went up to the cash register, saw that we didnt have any cash, and then left promptly after that. They got into their car and left, Brookside Barkery & Bath owner Jennifer Murphy said.

The suspects were seen in a Jeep Grand Cherokee on Brookside Barkerys surveillance footage.

Murphy said the store was also broken into in August. Since then, they have stopped keeping cash in the store and posted signs that say  No Cash Kept on Premises outside the building. Still, thieves broke in again in the early morning hours of March 1.

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Murphy is grateful it happened while nobody was there and the store was closed.

Its frustrating that it happened at all. After August, when we never heard any updates on anything, we were disappointed. So were very happy to hear that they have caught someone and linked them to all these crimes because were just small business owners and rely on our customers, community, and neighborhoods. So when our customers and community may feel unsafe because of it, thats a big deal for us, Murphy explained.

According to court records, additional surveillance footage around the area showed Tucker at the scene.

After he was taken into custody, law enforcement reportedly found a key fob to the stolen Jeep, which had a stolen cash register inside. As well as this, officers found stolen firearms, including a Glock that was converted from semiautomatic to fully automatic using a switch.

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As we continue to work to protect Jackson Countys business community from those who repeatedly break the law, I am proud to announce additional charges in a burglary spree that has affected multiple businesses in our community, said Johnson.

Former Mizzou basketball player, brother arrested in Kansas City for armed robbery

Unfortunately, a small number of repeat offenders cause the majority of the harm in our community, causing trauma, financial hardships, and inconveniences for far too many. We expanded our Crime Strategies Unit to stop incidents just like this one, identifying patterns of criminal behavior and ensuring repeat offenders face appropriate charges to prevent them from continuing to victimize our community.

Murphy says the most recent break-in on March 1 impacted her business in multiple ways.

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It affects our business financially. It affects the safety of our customers and our team members. And it affected the livelihood of one of our groomers as well that day, Murphy explained.

Tucker is set to arrive in court for a preliminary hearing on Monday, March 31, at 1 p.m. He is currently being held in a Jackson County jail on a $50,000 cash bond.

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Milam County, TX (FOX 44)  Cameron Police said they had dealt with a man who was evicted from a motel on Monday morning.

The man had been asked to leave after smoking in a non-smoking room. Police then moved him to the Quality Inn, where an incident involving an ambulance began.

The man, identified as Grant Saline, called 9-1-1 seeking assistance for mental health issues. While being treated, he said he needed air then walked around and locked himself in the front of the ambulance and began to drive off with lights and sirens running.

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Cameron Police say one attendant was still in the back of the ambulance when Saline took off.

There was one person still inside, says Milam County Sheriffs Office PIO Brett Eberhart. One of the technicians for the ambulance company was still inside and jumped out as the vehicle drove away.

A deputy with the Milam County Sheriffs Office chased after Saline.

During the pursuit, Saline drove on to a private dirt road where he crashed into a tree. He was checked out at the scene for injuries before being taken to the Milam County Jail.

Hes charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon against a Peace Officer, Evading Arrest and Criminal Mischief, Eberhart said. Hes also facing additional charges that will be from Cameron Police, as well.

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Allegiance Mobile Health said they were also delivering a spare ambulance for use until repairs on the wrecked ambulance are complete.

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CHRISTIAN COUNTY, Ky. (WKRN)  A man was flown to a Nashville hospital after his tractor-trailer carrying live chickens overturned in Kentucky.

According to WKDZ Radio, the crash occurred Monday night on McFarland Creek Road in northern Christian County.

Speed limit change coming to stretch of Whites Creek Pike in North Nashville

The Christian County Sheriffs Office told WKDZ the tractor-trailer tipped over after the driver attempted to turn the vehicle around in a gravel driveway. The truck went off the road and fell onto its side, spilling part of its load of chickens.

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WKDZ said the driver was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Nashville for treatment. No additional details were released.

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 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.

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A man has been forced out after a fire caused an estimated $175,000 in damages to a Huber Heights home.

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Huber Heights firefighters responded around 5 p.m. to a house fire on Shull Road, according to a social media post.

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Personnel arrived to find a significant fire from the garage. Firefighters started attacking the fire with hose lines while firefighters from Ladder 23 performed a vertical vent (hole cut in the roof) above the fire in the garage, the department said in a Facebook post. Personnel in the garage and house immediately saw the benefits of the vertical vent, with relief of heat and smoke through the roof.

Huber Heights Fire Captain Brandon Deere told News Center 7 that smoke, heat, and water damaged parts of the house. He added that the total damages to the property and contents were approximately $175,000.

Photos from the scene show heavy damage to the garage as the fire extended into the attic.

Butler Township, Dayton, and Vandalia Fire Departments assisted, as did Huber Heights Police.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the exploitation of children whom he met on social media messaging apps and then coerced them to make and send him child sexual abuse material.

Todd Maxson, 55, began a conversation with a 14-year-old girl in Nevada via Telegram, an internet-based social media app that allows users to message each other privately, according to court documents.

Almost daily between September 25, 2023, and October 19, 2023, Maxson ordered, received, and paid for sexually explicit images and videos of the victim via Cash App. Additionally, Maxson sought out females expressing suicidal or depressive tendencies and encouraged the behavior by requesting sexual content depicting self-harm, cutting, and bleeding. He would send knives to the children to help them make the videos, according to court documents.

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In October 2024, Maxson pleaded guilty to one count each of sexual exploitation of children, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. In addition to imprisonment, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Maxson must register as a sex offender and keep the registration current.

Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by calling 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).

If one is experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm or knows someone who is, contact the National Suicide and Crisis Hotline at 9-8-8.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
TAMPA, Fla (WFLA)  A man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for stealing houses in Hillsborough County. Victor Rodriguez pleaded guilty in court, moments before jury selection was set to begin in his trial.

His charges include organized fraud, fraudulent use of personal information, and filing false documents.

Dreama and Larry Bilby were victim to Rodriguezs crimes. They watched him be sentenced in court Monday.

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We wouldve thought it wouldve been a little bit longer, only because these cases are very, very rare to come to trial. Its extremely rare to catch this kind of economic bandit, said Larry. I wouldve liked to have a longer sentence quite frankly, just to send a message.

Dreama said the sentence frustrated her, as she still feels like her home is not hers.

I mean 15 years? This last year has been a nightmare. It has taken years off my life, said Dreama.

I feel like they dont care: Woman says deed to her house is under a name she does not know

Charles Sauer drove to court from Miami to speak. He said Rodriguez stole his fathers property, and for him, this case is personal.

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Victor was once my brother in law. Hes the father to my three nieces, said Sauer. A month and a half later after dealing with the loss of my father, he committed deed fraud on my dads property and transferred it to third parties.

Sauer told the court he hopes this time will allow Rodriguez to reflect on the frustration and pain hes caused. Though Sauer feels at peace, he said its a lot to take it.

The Bilbys said they arent too hopeful, because this can still happen to anyone.

Its almost dehumanizing: Man who won case against company that stole his home speaks out

Your own family, you dont know and you dont know if your house is your own, said Dreama.

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The Bilbys said they want legislation to change to increase penalties and prevent this from happening to begin with.

Rodriguezs wife, Michelle Cherry, committed the scams with him. In January she accepted a plea to testify against her husband if he were to stand trial. Cherry will be sentenced at a later date and faces a minimum of 10 years in prison.

Hillsborough woman gets mothers home back after suspecting fraud on quitclaim deed

Homeowners can protect themselves from property title theft by through the Hillsborough County Clerks Property Fraud Alert System.

If you want to send Marilyn Parker a news tip about this story or other newsworthy events, fill out the form below!

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A 41-year-old man with an ice pick died late Monday night after what Warren police called an "officer-involved shooting" that is now under investigation as residents turn to social media to both praise and question authorities.

Some said Tuesday they are grateful officers kept them safe.

Others  with the memory of police killings like George Floyd's in Minnesota in mind  want to know if, in this case, lethal force to stop a man with an ice pick was excessive, and wondered if mental illness played a role in the suspect's actions.

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Police said the Warren man was wanted for arrest and a suspect in a domestic violence incident in which a woman called 911 and reported being threatened with a knife in the 27000 block of Railroad Street.

But he ran away before officers arrived.

Authorities did not say what prompted the dispute or whether the woman was injured.

In addition, police said, the woman told them the man also threatened to harm officers "with a weapon." The initial report did not indicate whether the weapon was the knife  or a gun or something else.

The man's name was not released, but officials said he had a history of run-ins with the law, including a record of domestic violence, disorderly and police assault. There also were warrants for his arrest in connection with domestic violence and law enforcement.

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Pending the investigation results, four officers were placed on administrative leave.

According to the police account: After the suspect ran, officers then began looking for the suspect  who may have been armed and a danger to officers and others  and then eventually spotted him near George Merrelli Drive and Lorna Avenue.

"Officers then encountered this male suspect who produced an ice pick and at which time an officer-involved shooting occurred," police said. "The Warren Fire Department was contacted immediately."

He was taken to a hospital where "he ultimately succumbed to his injuries."

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No officers were injured.

As part of the investigation, detectives and technicians combed the scene for evidence. They will likely try to piece together what happened at the scene and review procedures. Police said they also are looking at whether the man had mental health problems.

More: As spring approaches, expect a few days of warmer weather  then torrential rain

Last year, an 18-year-old who may have been in mental distress was shot by police three times and died near Ryan Road north of 11 Mile Road. In that case, police said they were notified that the suspect hadn't slept for days and was threatening his family.

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Police later released graphic video of the shooting in which the young man pointed a handgun at officers and the officers shot him. The teen was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

But some residents Tuesday were already calling for the release of more information about the incident and body camera recordings and questioning whether lethal force was called for  or even necessary.

Police did not address whether the suspect Monday had threatened officers directly  or whether using a device, such as a Taser, that emits an electric shock to overwhelm and immobilize but not kill him, was a realistic option.

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.

This story was updated to add new information.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Police fatally shoot man with an ice pick in Warren
AUSTIN (KXAN)  A man was shot and killed in a road rage incident near the University of Texas campus on Saturday, Austin police said.

The shooting happened around 4:08 p.m. on the southbound Interstate 35 service road at Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.

Mugshot of Jacob Gonzalez, 21. (Courtesy Austin Police Department)

54-year-old Adan Marez was involved in a road rage incident that spanned for miles with the occupants of a gold sedan. According to court records, the people in the Sedan believed a Jeep cut them off as they exited I-35. Marez was a passenger in the Jeep.

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When both vehicles stopped at a red light, Marez got out of his vehicle.

The driver of the sedan, who police identified as Jacob Gonzalez, 21, then shot and killed Marez, according to an APD press release Tuesday. Marez was not armed at the time.

Gonzalez, was arrested and charged with murder, a first-degree felony. He was booked into the Travis County Jail on a $1 million bond.

Gonzalez admits to shooting Marez, says he didnt mean to kill him

According to the arrest affidavit, Gonzalez and another person in the sedan told police they honked and threw trash at the Jeep Marez was in. Gonzalez stayed on scene and told the officer he shot Marez, but claimed it was supposed to be just a warning shot. I didnt mean for it to be fatal.

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Multiple witnesses  both involved and not involved in the road rage incident  said Marez approached Gonzalezs car unarmed, and the two got into an argument. Two witnesses who were cited in the affidavit said Gonzalez shot Marez as Marez walked away.

Gonzalez told police Marez got within about a foot of his car and acted like he was going to swing on me.

The arrest affidavit closes with this summary by APD:

Adan Marez, while unarmed, approached Jacobs vehicle and engaged in a verbal argument. Jacob was untouched by Adan. Jacob admitted to shooting Adan, and failed to articulate any threat capable of causing serious bodily injury or death that Adan posed. APD statement in Gonzalez arrest affidavit.

Attorney information wasnt available for Gonzalez as of Tuesday.

Could this be a self defense case?

According to defense attorney Benjamin Gergen, who is unaffiliated with this case, a jury would have to believe Marez posed a threat of death or serious bodily injury to Gonzalez for the suspect to win the self-defense argument.

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The affidavit doesnt say anything about Marez physically opening the door to Gonzalez car, and Gergen said thats a key factor.

If youre the driver of that car, that person is pulling on the passenger door and is actually able to enter your vehicle, youre presumed to be a reasonable person because they have entered your vehicle, Gergen said.

He said road rage cases often add another legal layer to this process.

The issue on any sort of self defense claim, is that you as the actor claiming self defense, you cannot have initiated the incident that youre then claiming self defense in, he said.

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This is Austins seventh homicide of the year, according to APD.

Due to the nature of this offense and the large amount of people in the area at the time of the shooting, it is believed privately-filmed video of this incident may exist, police said.

MAP: Where have Austins homicides occurred in 2025?

Anyone with footage of the incident is asked to submit to Detective Mendall Edwards with APDs homicide unit at mendall.edwards@austintexas.gov. Anyone with information can also contact detectives at 512-974-TIPS or submit an anonymous tip by calling 512-472-8477 or visiting austincrimestoppers.org.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
TEMPLE, Texas (FOX 44)  A felony warrant was served for an individual with multiple warrants out of Temple.

Police officers went to the 1500 block of Caddo around 2:23 p.m. Monday for a warrant service for 39-year-old William Corey Cook, of Belton, who has warrants out of Temple for Assault Causing Bodily Injury, Strangulation, and Aggravated Kidnapping. As officers arrived, Cook was outside the residence, saw the patrol units, and ran inside. It was previously reported that Cook had firearms in the residence.

Officers set a perimeter, placed an Unmanned Aerial System in the air, and put SWAT on standby. Members of the Crisis Negotiation Team were able to make contact by phone and convince Cook to come out peacefully and surrender. Officers took him into custody without incident and transported him to the Bell County Jail. No injuries have been reported.

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Belton teacher accused of Sexual Assault of a Child

This case is under investigation. If you have any information on this case, you can contact the Temple Police Department at 254-298-5500 or the Bell County Crime Stoppers at 254-526-8477.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44.
LISBON, Ohio (WKBN)  A Tennessee man entered a felony plea agreement just a week before his case was set to go before a jury.

Allen Owens of Riceville, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to two third-degree felony charges of gross sexual imposition. Owens was secretly indicted by a Columbiana County grand jury in December.

The indictment stated Owens, age 60, had sexual contact with a child from April 2018 through December 2023 in Columbiana County.

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As part of the plea agreement, Owens was sentenced to a 3-year term in a state correctional facility. He was also required to register as a Tier II sex offender.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A man pleaded guilty on Monday to stealing homes from Hillsborough County homeowners along with his wife in a title fraud scheme from 2024.

Back in January, Victor Rodriguez and his wife, Michelle Cherry, admitted to filing fake deeds in order to steal several houses from their rightful owners.

According to the Office of Hillsborough Countys State Attorney, the couple forged the deeds and placed the titles of the homes into companies that were owned by Cherry. They then attempted to strip the equity from the homes by selling the properties to unsuspecting buyers or taking out loans against the properties.

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The couple even changed the utilities for one house into the name of one of Cherrys companies and the state attorney said she even changed the address on her drivers license to further legitimize her ownership.

At the time of the scheme, one of the homes was being renovated, which lead to the homeowners witnessing the couple on surveillance collecting mail and even having food delivered to the residence.

An investigation revealed the scheme and alerted police to two other instances where the couple had been scamming homeowners.

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According to the State Attorneys Office, as part of his plea deal Rodriguez has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. His charges include: organized fraud of over $50,000, conspiracy to commit organized fraud of over $50,000, fraudulent use of personal information, and unlawfully filing a false document.

Cherry, who plead guilty to similar charges in January, will be sentenced at a later date. She faces a minimum of ten years behind bars in exchange for testifying against her husband.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  An Austin man was sentenced on March 6 in connection with a deadly shooting that took place in southeast Austin in September 2023.

A Travis County District Attorneys press release said a jury found Moses Mohinga, 23, guilty of murder. He was sentenced to 65 years in prison.

Mohinga was indicted in connection with the death of 40-year-old Keith Bedford, the release said.

Our office is grateful to our dedicated staff and law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to hold the defendant accountable and seek justice for the victims family, said Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza. We hope this verdict continues to help the victims family with their healing process.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  A Shawnee County judge sentenced a local man to almost 20 years in prison for his part in a deadly shooting at a Topeka food plant.

Eddie Holmes, 66, was sentenced to 233 months in prison for shooting and killing 39-year-old Reginald D. Privette Jr. of Topeka in 2024. He pleaded guilty in January to a reduced sentence of voluntary manslaughter.

The Topeka Police Department (TPD) was called around 4:30 p.m. on April 11, 2024 to the 3100 block of Southeast 10th Street for a shooting at Resers Fine Foods. Police found a man, later identified as Privette, suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound who later died.

Woman dead after being hit by vehicle in north Topeka store parking lot

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Police identified Holmes as a person of interest in the shooting and arrested him on April 13, 2024. The Shawnee County District Attorneys Office later charged him with murder in the second degree and criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

(Photo Courtesy/Drew Gill) (Photo Courtesy/Drew Gill) Eddie Holmes mugshot (Photo Courtesy/Shawnee County Department of Corrections)

Bats, sex offenders and dangerous area prompt KBI to search for new home in Topeka

27 News later obtained court documents for this case that showed Privette had been shot multiple times at the food plant. Surveillance video showed Privette working on a trash compactor before collapsing out of view of the camera with Holmes walking away from the area a minute later.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A 26-year-old Kansas City man who shot and killed another man in front of his child in 2023, has been sentenced.

Derek Jones was sentenced Monday in Jackson County Court to 22 years in prison for the killing of 24-year-old Darryl Brown.

Kansas City social media star dies while on vacation in Mexico

Jones plead guilty back in November of 2024 to second-degree murder, armed criminal action, and to violating a protection order that prohibited Jones from being within 1,000 feet of the Jackson County home where the shooting took place.

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The sentencing comes almost two years after the shooting where police were dispatched to a home in the area of 83rd Street and Highland Avenue after receiving a report of shots fired.

Upon arrival, police reported they found Brown on the floor near the front door of the home suffering from a gunshot wound.

Multiple Olathe convenience stores raided

Court records report Jones knocked on the door before managing to get one foot inside and shooting several times at Brown before fleeing the scene.

Jones was located and arrested by investigators just hours later at a home in the 6300 block of South Benton Avenue. Officers say they saw a vehicle matching the witness description park at an address they were watching, and saw Jones get out of the SUV.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
A Kansas City man has been sentenced in Jackson County Court after breaking into the home of his ex-girlfriend and fatally shooting her boyfriend in front of six children.

Derek C. Jones, 25, was sentenced to 22 years in prison  the maximum permitted under the plea deal he signed  in the murder of Darryl B. Brown III, 24. Jones pleaded guilty in November to second-degree murder, along with armed criminal action, child endangerment and violating an order of protection against him, according to court records.

Brown was shot on March 12, 2023, in his home in the 8300 block of Highland Avenue in Kansas City. Officers responded to the house around 8:15 p.m. following reports of gunfire, according to court records.

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Witnesses told investigators that Jones had knocked on the door and Brown had answered, holding a firearm, according to court documents. Jones, also armed, forced his way into the home and started firing a handgun at Brown, court documents read.

The woman who was Jones ex-partner and Browns current partner was standing next to Brown as Jones shot him and had tried to intervene by closing the door on Jones, according to court documents. Jones fired at least three rounds of shots at Brown, court documents read, before fleeing in a car registered to his grandmother. Brown was pronounced dead at the scene.

Six children witnessed the shooting from inside the home, two from a front room and four from their bedrooms, according to court records. One of the children was Browns son and four were Browns girlfriends children, including two she shared with Jones.

About 30 minutes after the shooting, Jones was arrested at a gas station near his home in the Swope Park Campus neighborhood of Kansas City, according to court documents.

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After Jones shot up her home the previous August, the woman had gotten an order of protection, which prohibited him from visiting the house on Highland Avenue, according to court documents.

This sentence sends a strong message that domestic violence or violence in any form will never be tolerated in Jackson County, Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson said in a statement Monday night.

Darryl Brown III, known to loved ones as Deerock, was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, according to an obituary shared online. He graduated from Central High School and had previously worked at Palmentere Brothers Distributing in North Kansas City, and as a security guard, according to the obituary.

Brown enjoyed spending time with family and close friends, according to the obituary. He is survived by three children.

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Deerock accomplished many great things throughout his time here on earth & in life, Browns obituary reads.

Browns death was the 27th homicide reported in Kansas City in 2023, according to data collected by The Star.
OXFORD, Miss. (WJTV)  A man, who was in the country illegally, was sentenced to five years in prison for committing wire fraud in connection with scamming victims.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office in Mississippi, Nooruddin Bhai Nasruddin, 52, of India, was also sentenced to five years of supervised release and ordered to pay more than $104,000 in restitution.

Trio arrested for trying to smuggle contraband into Hinds County jail

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Court documents stated that Nasruddin was involved in a wire fraud conspiracy where the callers contacted victims and notified them that their bank accounts and/or social security numbers were compromised. The callers instructed the victims to withdraw the cash, which would be picked up by an alleged federal agent, which was in realty Nasruddin.

One victim was located in North Carolina, and the second victim was located in Oxford, Mississippi. However when Nasruddin showed up to pick up the money in Oxford, he was arrested by Lafayette County deputies.

The Department of Homeland Security and the Lafayette County Sheriffs Department investigated the case.

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The man previously convicted of murdering a bouncer outside of a nightclub in 2019 has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.

Houston County prosecutors said Morgan Baker shot and killed Tamarco Head, who worked as a bouncer at Club Boss, in 2019. He was found guilty in 2022 and sentenced to life in prison.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

But last year, the Supreme Court of Georgia overturned his conviction, saying a jury should not have been shown video of Baker in a rap music video, even to establish his identity.

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According to Houston County court records, Baker was preparing to go back to trial for Heads murder, but instead pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.

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Baker was sentenced to 15 years in prison and five years of probation.

WGXA-TV reported that Baker was part of the entourage for rapper NoCap and got into an argument with security at the club after the rappers performance.

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MANITOWOC, Wis. (WFRV)  The Manitowoc Police Department is asking for the publics assistance in identifying a dog and locating its owner after a biting incident in the city.

The incident occurred near Lower Schuette Park, 3800 Broadway St., between 1:30 and 2:00 p.m. on Monday. According to police, the victim was walking a dog when another unsupervised dog approached. The victim attempted to read the collar tags on the dog when they were bitten.

Former Wisconsin correctional officer charged with child exploitation and trafficking

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The attacking dog is described as brown and black with long hair, resembling a German Shepherd. The dog was wearing a collar with tags, though the collars color or type is unknown.

Former Wisconsin correctional guard charged with inmate abuse

The dog has not been located, and its vaccination status is unknown.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information is encouraged to contact the Manitowoc Police Department. 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.
Another unusually intense March storm is coming this week, and it may cause a bit of deja vu, with severe thunderstorms, heavy rain, powerful wind gusts, wildfire risks and blizzard conditions possible across the country.

But this powerhouse storm wont be an exact copy of last weeks. One big difference: Its first going to soak the West Coast before tracking east and strengthening to its full fury.

Heres what to expect each day:

Wednesday: Storm arrives with drenching rain, debris flow threat in Southern California

The atmospheric river-fueled storm will crash into the West Coast on Wednesday with widespread, drenching rain at low elevations and heavy snow higher up.

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Steady rain will begin in the Pacific Northwest in the earliest hours of the morning and the storms heaviest rain will reach Northern California by the afternoon. Heavy rain and mountain snow will spread south from there.

California is desperate to make up the rain necessary to tamp down its lingering wildfire threat. Los Angeles and San Diego, which have missed out on more than 5 inches of typical rain since October, should see soaking rain after dark.

This batch of rain will follow showers from a separate storm. Tuesdays wet weather was on the lighter side, which caused minor flooding, but the heavier rain to follow on Wednesday will increase the risk of flooding in areas where the ground doesnt get enough time to soak up the moisture.

A level 2 of 4 risk of flooding rainfall is in place from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles, including areas scorched by the Palisades and Eaton fires, according to the Weather Prediction Center. The storms relatively quick pace could help limit widespread flooding in California but recently burned areas remain at a higher risk for flooding and debris flows.

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At the direction of Gov. Gavin Newsom, state agencies have deployed more than 400 personnel to prepare to respond to the storm.

Evacuation orders go into effect Wednesday morning for about 120 homes deemed to be vulnerable properties, mostly near the Palisades burn scar, though a handful of people in the Hurst fire area will be affected, according to a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson. City police will knock on residents doors to alert them of the order.

Evacuation warnings were issued for parts of Los Angeles County Tuesday due to the risk of debris flows from the Palisades, Eaton, Franklin and Kenneth burn scars, according to the countys emergency alert service. Deputies were out notifying residents of local risks, the alerts said.

The warnings urge people in and near these burned areas to prepare to evacuate at a moments notice.

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A span of the Pacific Coast Highway will close from eastern Malibu to just east of Will Rogers Beach beginning noon Wednesday due to the risk of debris flows and flooding. Only emergency vehicles may navigate the roadway, the California Department of Transportation said.

Heavy snow and strong winds will also make travel very difficult or impossible in Californias Sierra Nevada, especially by Wednesday night.

Thursday: Snow and rain expand over the West

The storm will push east, with rain and snow spreading into more of the West and reaching much of the Rockies by the evening.

Places in the mountains could see half a foot or more of snow, with a few inches also falling at lower elevations and potentially in some valleys.

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By late afternoon, widespread strong winds will begin from Nevada and Arizona to the Rockies with wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph possible  especially in mountainous terrain  as the storm starts to strengthen. These wind gusts, combined with rain and snow, could create hazardous travel conditions.

Wet weather will continue in California and the Pacific Northwest for much of the day, easing up over time. The snow in Californias highest elevations will be the slowest to end, with multiple feet falling in the peaks of the Sierra Nevada by the time the storm moves on.

A few feet of additional snow will be highly beneficial for the Sierra Nevada snowpack, which is hovering at 81% of normal, according to data from Californias Department of Natural Resources.

Snowmelt from a robust snowpack is critical for filling reservoirs that feed the states water supply during the dry season, which typically stretches from May to September. Californias snowpack reached above average levels the past two years after very stormy winters and this upcoming storm could move the states total closer to clinching a three-peat.

Friday: The storm intensifies

The storm will strengthen quickly and become quite intense while it tracks into the Plains, setting up a repeat of last weeks severe thunderstorm threat, widespread strong winds and increased fire danger.

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Severe thunderstorms could roar to life by the late afternoon in parts of the southern Plains and Mississippi Valley as the powerful storms potent cold front clashes with a surge of warm, moist air from the Gulf.

The thunderstorms will become more ferocious and expand by the late evening to pound potentially more than 800 miles of the Mississippi Valley  from Louisiana through Iowa  into the overnight hours. Damaging wind gusts, hail and tornadoes will all be possible.

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Strong winds that could disrupt travel and damage power lines will also whip across the central US ahead of any thunderstorms. Winds will quickly go from quite breezy early in the morning to fierce by the end of the day.

Widespread gusts of 40 to 50 mph are likely by late afternoon, with stronger gusts up to 65 mph in parts of Texas and New Mexico.

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The winds will also ramp up fire danger in eastern New Mexico and the Southern Plains to the extreme. Dozens of fires flared up in Texas last week under similar conditions.

Saturday: Severe thunderstorms, blizzard conditions hit the eastern US

The intense cross-country storm will expand into more of the eastern US with severe thunderstorms and blizzard conditions.

Severe thunderstorms could be ongoing in the early morning, especially in parts of the Ohio Valley.

Some of these storms could become less intense by the afternoon but the threat wont end there  another round of dangerous storms will surge to life in the afternoon along the Gulf Coast and in the Southeast.

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Damaging wind gusts, hail and tornadoes will all be possible, especially into the overnight hours.

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These hazards take on another layer of danger when its dark and difficult to see: Nighttime tornadoes are nearly twice as likely to be deadly as those occurring during the day, a 2022 study found.

Snow, ice, rain and strong winds will slam the north-central US starting in the earliest hours of Saturday morning. The combination could cause periods of blizzard conditions  blowing snow that makes it difficult or impossible to see more than a few feet.

Last weeks storm created a blizzard that shut down highways, stranded vehicles and caused crashes across multiple states.

The storms widespread, powerful winds will ease up over the Plains through Saturday and move farther east.

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Sunday will likely be a wet and stormy day for much of the East Coast. Some severe thunderstorms with strong winds could linger into Sunday, but will likely be less intense than Friday and Saturdays storms.

CNN meteorologists Allison Chinchar and Robert Shackelford contributed to this report.

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(Bloomberg) -- Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said a plane carrying former President Rodrigo Duterte has left the country for The Hague to allow the ex-leader to face charges of crimes against humanity committed during his deadly drug war.

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The move was in compliance with Manilas commitments to the Interpol. This is what the international community expects of us, Marcos said in a televised address late on Tuesday.

Duterte was arrested by police at the Manila airport upon his arrival on Tuesday morning from Hong Kong after the International Criminal Court ordered it following a probe into his anti-drug campaign. The arrest was not a violation of the Philippines sovereignty, Marcos said.

Hundreds of Dutertes supporters held a rally and prayer vigil on Tuesday night beside the airport where the former Philippine leader was arrested.

--With assistance from Ditas Lopez and Cecilia Yap.

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Maricopa County saw its first decrease in heat-related deaths in a decade last year, according to new data from the countys public health department.

While officials are still finalizing the numbers, preliminary data shows 602 confirmed heat-related deaths in 2024, down from the record-setting 645 in the previous year. The Arizona Republic first reported in October that county officials expected fewer heat fatalities.

Heat deaths dropped even as record temperatures cooked central Arizona last year, with the Phoenix metro region enduring 113 straight days at or above 100 F.

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The reversal in a decade-long series of rising deaths arrived at the same time as a massive increase in funding for heat response programs, largely from federal grants. Before last year, the annual budget for those programs was less than $100,000, according to a county presentation.

The decrease paused an explosion in heat-related deaths over the last decade. Since 2014, heat-related fatalities in Maricopa County increased by roughly 900%. The increase happened alongside an uptick in homelessness and a train of record-setting hot years (nine of Phoenixs top-10 hottest recorded years occurred since 2010).

Officials say methods of counting heat-related deaths in that time have not changed enough to account for the rise in that time.

Deadly heat: Phoenix and Maricopa County on track to count fewer heat deaths for first time in a decade

Homelessness, drug use lead to more heat deaths

Over the last 20 years, local governments have beefed up their response to extreme heat. Municipalities in Maricopa County began coordinating to monitor and prevent heat deaths in 2005. They have since established more than 130 public cooling and rest stations around metro Phoenix.

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Heat-related deaths include deaths where heat was a contributing factor and deaths where heat was a primary cause. Heat can interact with other issues like chronic conditions and drug use to cause death. It is up to county officials to determine which factor is the dominant one.

In 2023, heat was the primary cause of death for most heat-related fatalities (the county has not yet released its breakdown of the 2024 numbers).

As usual, heat was hardest on people experiencing homelessness, drug users and the elderly in 2024.

Drug use is one of the largest contributors to heat-related deaths. Stimulants like meth worsen the effects of heat by decreasing thirst awareness, increasing heart rate and raising body temperature. In 2024, roughly 52% of all heat-related deaths were connected with the use of stimulant substances.

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Broken or shut-off air conditioning systems were another major factor in heat deaths during 2024. The county reported that more than 75% of indoor heat-related deaths occurred where residents had A/C units that werent functioning.

Adapt and survive: Living and dying in Americas hottest big city: One week in the Phoenix heat

'Heat deaths are preventable'

Maricopa County has special programs to help residents fix their A/C units or pay their power bills during hot months.

We encourage residents to take proactive steps, such as checking on vulnerable neighbors, staying hydrated, and knowing how to access heat relief resources, Nick Staab, chief medical officer for the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, said in a press release.

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County officials have said that while 2024 was still a deadly hot year, the decrease might mean that efforts to prevent heat deaths are working.

Heat deaths are preventable, and with strategic interventions, we can continue to drive down these numbers, Staab said.

The county plans to release its final data report in the spring. More resources on how to prevent heat-related deaths and volunteer at cooling centers are available online.

Construction workers endure triple-digit heat as they lay asphalt at Desert Sky Mall in Phoenix on July 25, 2024.

Austin Corona covers environmental issues for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send tips or questions to austin.corona@arizonarepublic.com

Environmental coverage on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

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Sign up for AZ Climate, our weekly environment newsletter, and follow The Republic environmental reporting team at environment.azcentral.com and @azcenvironment on Facebook and Instagram.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Maricopa County heat-related deaths drop in 2024 despite record temps
Marion County Public Schools announced that Superintendent Diane Gullett will step down after the school year.

Gullett submitted her letter of resignation to the school board Monday evening.

It has been a true honor to work with you and I have been humbled and blessed to serve our students together, Gullett wrote in her email to employees.

Thank you for your support, your hard work, and your dedication to the success of our students, she added. With your collective efforts I am certain our students will continue to thrive in the future.

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The reason for her departure was not specified.

She indicted the last day will be on July 11 at the end of her contract.

I am committed to ensuring a smooth transition and will support the Board and my successor during this time, Gullett wrote in her resignation letter.

Gullett joined the school district in July 2020 as the districts first appointed superintendent.

The school board says it will now begin searching for her replacement.

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FAIRMONT  Out of the 36 bills Del. Phil Mallow, R-75, on which he serves as lead sponsor, three focus on the taxes the county collects from the elderly and disabled.

Mallow did not respond to a request for comment for this article. Three bills directly impact the homestead exemption.

HJR 28 and 32 both increase the Homestead exemption, while HB 3064 gives an additional $20,000 exemption on the property tax of any West Virginia citizen farmer that produces more than 50% of his or her income from their farm. Both House Joint Resolutions are constitutional amendments, which would require voter approval in a general election.

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HB 28 and 32 are highly similar to each other. Both bills increase the homestead tax exemption to be increased in $20,000 increments every five years for people with an annual income that does not exceed $20,000. HB 28 sets a maximum exemption of $100,000 at age 85. HB 32 does the same, but caps it at $80,000 at age 80. HB 3058 amends existing code, limiting property tax increases for individuals who are over the age of 65, or are permanently disabled, widowed and earn less than $20,000 a year.

A representative from the Marion County Assessors office said the purpose of the homestead exemption is to help seniors or people with disabilities get a break on their taxes. People who fit into one of two categories, age or disability, can qualify for an exemption.

Its $20,000 off the assessed value [of their property,] the representative said. What that equals out to be is approximately $250 off of their taxes.

There are currently somewhere around 7,000 residents in Marion County with a homestead exemption, according to the Assessors office. Currently, homestead exemptions cost the County roughly $1.7 million to maintain. The total cost of adopting the additional homestead exemptions would depend highly on the distribution of age for residents within each age bracket the bill establishes.

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Its is kind of hard to nail that down, County Administrator Kris Cinalli said, referring to the final cost to the county. Usually, they try to offset the costs or pay for it with revenue from somewhere else. Thats the problem with cuts, they have to paid for somehow.

Mallows colleague, Mike DeVault, R-74, has been lead sponsor for one bill. Rick Garcia, D-76, has no bills currently sponsored. Mallow is the senior Marion County Delegate and chair of the Courts Subcommittee. Garcia is the newest member, elected after his nephew and previous district 76 seat holder, Joey Garcia, won election to the State Senate.

Mallow by and far leads in number of bills sponsored among the three of Marion Countys delegates. Of the 36 bills Mallow proposed, 17 have been assigned to either the House Finance or House Judiciary committee. Mallows proposals that have made it to committee focus on expanding homestead benefits for qualifying residents, as well as laws related to law enforcement and taxation.
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) slammed Elon Musk for calling him a traitor for visiting Ukraine, comparing his track record to the billionaires, who Kelly said has only sworn an oath to his own checking account.

I served in the United States Navy for 25 years. I spent 15 years at NASA, risking my life flying the space shuttle, Kelly said during a Monday appearance on MSNBCs The Rachel Maddow Show.

And the only oath I can think of that maybe Elon has sworn is an oath to his own checking account, to his pocketbook, an oath, maybe, to ruining the lives of veterans, he added.

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Musk has come under growing criticism for his efforts to slash staffing and spending within the federal bureaucracy, under the authority of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

DOGE has overseen mass firings at USAID, the countrys foreign aid arm, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and health agencies. But perhaps its most divisive move yet is cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs, where Secretary Doug Collins announced last week plans to cut 80,000 jobs, adding to the removal of probationary employees in recent weeks.

I had veterans in my office last week who, after really good performance reports, found out that Elon Musk fired them for poor performance. He has ruined these peoples lives, Kelly told Maddow.

They were serving our country again in very valuable roles, and they did not deserve to get fired by an email from an unelected billionaire, he added.

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Musk drew the ire of Kelly and other Democrats when he responded to a post from the senator reflecting on his weekend trip to Ukraine.

You are a traitor, Musk wrote under the post from Kelly.

In that post, Kelly said the trip had proved to him that the U.S. cant give up on Ukraine.

Everyone wants this war to end, but any agreement has to protect Ukraines security and cant be a giveaway to Putin, he wrote in the post.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) was among the Democrats who jumped to Kellys defense.

It is really unspeakable. It really is, Sanders said of Musks criticism. I think the American people are sick and tired of the wealthiest guy in the world running the United States government and calling, in this case, a guy who put his life on the line to defend us a traitor. Thats beyond the pale.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  Building trade unions across Massachusetts met on Monday at the MGM Springfield for the annual convention.



The industry plans to move forward during this transition of government. Senator Ed Markey was at the convention, advocating for the union workers rights during the new administration. Markey said he is concerned that President Trump may resort to layoffs.

Senator Markey sponsors act for permanent daylight savings

We projected a massive expansion of offshore winds and a massive expansion of of PLAs which guaranteed that those projects were going to be solid, permitted, union projects, Markey said.

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Partnerships like the offshore wind industry and building trade unions create thousands of jobs in construction. President of the Massachusetts Building Trade Union Frank Callahan told 22News the industry is not stepping back.

Were still moving forward, Callahan said. Were going to hear about the Holyoke Veterans Home right up the street thats built under a project labor agreement to make sure people earn good wages and benefits.



President Trump has expressed his desire to cut down the size of government, but Senator Markey expressed Monday that he will be in Washington fighting for union rights.

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.

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NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)  Police in North Charleston are searching for a suspect who burned Tesla charging stations near the Tanger Outlets last Friday.

Officers were called to the Mellow Mushroom on Tanger Outlet Boulevard for a report of an arson in progress on Mar. 7 at 7:13 p.m., according to a North Charleston Police Department report.

When they arrived, witnesses explained a White man in a grey jacket/hoodie with a black face mask spray painted F*** Trump, long live Ukraine in red next to the Tesla charging stations near the area.

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The man then made homemade Molotov cocktails out of beer bottles and threw them at the charging stations. People began calling 911, and the suspect fled on foot by the Zaxbys and toward the hotels behind it.

Witnesses advised that the suspect had accidentally caught their own back on fire while throwing the devices, the report states.

Fire crews arrived shortly after and cut the power to the charging stations. No injuries were reported.

Law enforcement took the glass from the homemade devices to use and test for fingerprints. According to the report, the damage is estimated to be about $60,000.

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Tesla dealerships and charging stations have been the target of suspected arson attacks nationwide in recent weeks as Tesla CEO Elon Musk faces backlash over his efforts to slash government spending and drastically cut the federal workforce.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is the lead investigative agency on this case.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
BOSTON (WWLP)  Every few weeks, the states top officials meet behind closed doors. Heres what they discussed in a Monday afternoon conference.

Governor Healey, Senate President Spilka, and House Speaker Mariano discussed the state of affairs in Massachusetts, and added challenges to formulating this years budget.

As Washington continues to cut down on federal funding, the governor says it would be impossible for the Bay State to fill the gaps.

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Are you kidding? said Governor Healey. The numbers are so huge that there is no way the state can begin to fill the void.

Governor Healey to promote tax cuts in Springfield before deadline

Complicating the budget process are rising costs for consumers as a direct result of the Trump administration tariffs. The governor named Ontario as an example, as the province just imposed a 25% increase on energy exports in response to President Trump.

It seems to me hes doing everything he can to drive up costs for all of us, said Healey.

Also, after the meeting, House and Senate leadership defended their lack of cooperation with a state auditors audit. The House speaker insisted he had no intention of contacting the states highest court for an analysis of the potential audits constitutionality.

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22News will inform you on leadership priorities as the legislative session progresses, on air and online.

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.

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BOSTON (WWLP)  A Quincy man was sentenced to federal court on Tuesday in connection with the obstruction of a federal hate crimes investigation in 2019.

Alexander Giannakakis, 37, went to Sweden following the crimes he had been charged with, and he was captured and extradited to the United States before his sentencing. Charging documents state that around February 2020, Giannakakis younger brother was the prime suspect connected to four fires set at Jewish institutions in the Boston area.

Southwick police looking to find driver who hit a bicyclist on North Loomis Street

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The first fire was set on May 11, 2019, at a Chabad Center in Arlington, and the same location was targeted on May 16, 2019. A third fire was set at a Chabad Center in Needham, and on May 26, 2019, a fire was started at a Jewish-affiliated business in Chelsea.

When Giannakakis brother was identified as a suspect, he was hospitalized in a coma and remained comatose until passing away later in the year. During the time his brother was suspected, Giannakakis left the U.S. for Sweden where he was residing at the time, and took with him his brothers documents and electronic devices.

Upon his return to the United States in March 2020, Giannakakis was questioned by investigators about his brothers connection to the fires and was alleged to have made false and misleading statements. He later hid and destroyed evidence that would implicate his brother in the arsons.

Within hours of destroying the evidence, Giannakakis flew to Sweden and remained there until he was arrested by Swedish authorities in February 2022.

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In November 2024, Giannakakis pleaded guilty to concealing records in a federal investigation, tampering with documents and objects, and tampering with an official proceeding. On Tuesday, he was sentenced to 42 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

Local News Headlines

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Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) issued a defiant response on Monday to former Trump co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita, signaling he would not be pressured to back a measure funding the government that President Trump supports and the House will consider on Tuesday.

Someone thinks they can control my voting card by threatening my re-election. Guess what? Doesnt work on me, Massie wrote in a Monday post on the social platform X in response to LaCivita, who had written tick tock Tommie about the bill.

Three times Ive had a challenger who tried to be more MAGA than me. None busted 25 percent because my constituents prefer transparency and principles over blind allegiance, Massie added.

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Massie is the only House Republican to say definitively that he will vote against a continuing resolution that would keep the government funded through the end of September.

Trump has threatened to oust him for his opposition.

Congressman Thomas Massie, of beautiful Kentucky, is an automatic NO vote on just about everything, despite the fact that he has always voted for Continuing Resolutions in the past, Trump wrote in a Monday Truth Social post, comparing Massie to former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.).

HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED, and I will lead the charge against him. Hes just another GRANDSTANDER, whos too much trouble, and not worth the fight.

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The Kentucky Republican has frequently shown opposition to Trumps agenda. He has also frustrated Republicans in Congress at various times by voting against their funding measures.

Im not voting for the Continuing Resolution budget (cut-copy-paste omnibus) this week. Why would I vote to continue the waste fraud and abuse DOGE has found, the Kentucky representative wrote on X.

Massie has used the backlash to raise campaign funds for his re-election bid, lauding himself as the one person in Congress who wont cave.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has remained supportive of Massie despite the anger from Trump and his allies.

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Look, Im in the incumbent protection program here. Thats what I do, Johnson said when asked about Trumps threat to primary Massie.

I bless those who persecute me, right? So, Thomas and I have had disagreements, but I consider Thomas Massie a friend, Johnson added.

Hes a thoughtful guy. I guess hell tell you hes doing what he thinks is right on this. I just vehemently disagree with his position. But Ill leave it at that.

Updated: 1:56 p.m.

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For much of the war being pro-Zelensky and pro-Ukraine have been the same thing. It was Zelenskys refusal to flee Russian invaders that steeled his people for fight, not capitulation. And it was Zelensky who personally shamed and inspired Western governments to send tanks and missiles at a time when many were more inclined to send helmets and medical kits.

But Zelenskys moment is quickly passing into history. A growing constituency of his own people and of Ukraines political elite are calling for new elections and a swift end to the war. And the imminent collapse of the Kursk incursion  widely seen as Zelenskys brainchild  will focus those calls into a clamour.

It will be convenient to blame the coming massacre and capture of Ukrainian soldiers on Trumps cutoff of military aid and intelligence sharing. But in truth things have been bleak well before the recent Trump-Zelensky meltdown.

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Yesterday prominent Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Honcharenko called for peace with Russia after three years of passionate defiance. He called on Zelensky to stop claiming to be saving Europe and concentrate on saving Ukraine. Indeed, for all the recent talk of Ukraine standing as a shield to Putins aggression, Honcharenko pointed out the simple geographical truth that it is not Ukraine that stands between Russia and Poland but the close Kremlin ally Belarus.

Some claim that Zelensky reaped an electoral boost after his Oval Office humiliation by Donald Trump and JD Vance. With polling in wartime patchy and unreliable, that is hard to prove either way. But what is in no doubt is that in the wake of the Oval Office row Ukraines parliament came out with a joint statement strongly supporting the US and implicitly condemning Zelensky.

The leaders of the Radas parties wrote the following statement: The Ukrainian people desire peace more than anyone else in the world and believe that the personal role of President Donald Trump and his peacekeeping efforts will be decisive in the swift cessation of hostilities.

And the polls? It depends on what question you ask. Zelensky supporters point to recent polls that show a healthy 61 per cent trust rating. But when it comes to future voting intentions, the answers are very different. Just 16 per cent of Ukrainian voters said that they would vote Zelensky back into power in a survey conducted by Socis, a major Kyiv-based market research company, last month.

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There is also a major vibe shift under way in the Ukrainian elite  including among Zelenskys former senior colleagues and allies. I distrust leaders eager to prolong [war], wrote Iuliia Mendel, Zelenskys former press secretary. The West, she added, should unite to halt this horrific devastation of Ukrainians. I stand with the Ukrainian people who live in Ukraine and who want someone smart to finish this war and save the nation.

According to one cabinet-level former official who worked closely with Zelensky until 2023: Ukraine cannot have a president who does not have the confidence of our most powerful ally [the United States]  There is only one serious question in [Kyiv] politics today, who will replace Zelensky and how quickly?

Zelenskys diehard supporters  including many European leaders  see the hand of the Trump White House behind talk of regime change in Kyiv. Trump wants to please Putin at any cost, the conspiracy theory runs, and throwing Zelensky under the bus is a small price to pay.

By this logic the Oval Office meeting was a calculated ambush. And we now know that top White House officials met Ukraines former president Petro Poroshenko and former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko in the days before the Zelensky visit. Both Ukrainians denied that the meeting was a plot to oust Zelensky. But they have admitted they discussed with Trump the mechanics of holding early elections.

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Is Trump gunning for Zelensky personally? The truth seems to lie somewhere in the murky middle. Trumps personal beef with Zelensky goes all the way back to 2019 with a phone call in which the American president allegedly threatened to withdraw US military aid unless Zelensky dished dirt on Hunter Biden. That incident became the basis for Trumps second impeachment in Congress (though it was vetoed in the Senate).

But at the same time Trump was absolutely serious about signing a deal for Ukraines strategic minerals in the Oval Office last month. Lunch was waiting on trolleys for the Ukrainian delegation, and a lengthy meeting between Zelensky and a group of 16 senators indicated that the signing would proceed without a hitch.

Instead, it went wrong in the room. Watch the first 42 minutes of the 53 minute Oval Office press conference and all was perfectly cordial  until Zelensky, in Vances words, was disrespectful. Cue Trump and Vances unseemly two-on-one pile on. And Zelensky, whose English is frankly poor, made things worse by being blunt to the point of rudeness.

Leaving the blame game to historians, what is tangible is that power is ebbing from Ukraines president by the day. Zelensky has gone to Riyadh for talks with Mohammed bin Salman, whose government has played a mediating role between Ukraine and Russia. But it will be Andriy Yermak, Zelenskys chief of staff, who will meet the US secretary of state Marco Rubio later this week to thrash out details of a possible ceasefire that Trump will put to Putin.

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For different reasons both Trump and Putin want Zelensky gone  they both speak of him as an illegitimate president.

Can there be fair elections in wartime? There is a provision in Ukraines constitution for the speaker of the Rada  Zelensky party member Ruslan Stefanchuk  to temporarily take over from a President who resigns. Some argue that should in fact have happened when Zelenskys term expired in May 2024.

Is there any way Zelensky would acquiesce to his own defenestration? He told reporters last week that he would be willing to step down in exchange for Nato membership. That was hardly realistic  but the principle is noble. He has shown himself willing resign for the good of his country.

For all of Europes bold talk of stepping up to fill Americas absent place as the arsenal of democracy and leader of the free world, the proposals thrashed out last week by Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Zelensky last week in London will be presented not directly to Putin but to Washington.

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And the 672.82 billion for defence that Brussels has announced are magicked out of thin air and wholly based on raising new debt.

Ultimately, Trump is running this show. Zelensky needs to make one fundamental choice  whether a Trump-brokered ceasefire will be good for his country or not, and whether he will support or oppose it. In other words, is he part of the problem or part of the solution?

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The Office of Mayor Donna Deegan and Meridian Waste have announced a mutually agreeable resolution and compensation agreement after proposed legal actions.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Action News Jaxs Ben Becker has been keeping you informed about this deal, with the latest update coming after the deadline for compromise was passed.

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The amended contract will finally give Meridian Waste the 29% increase they had been requesting from the city, upping payments to $4 million per year.

Council President Randy White is introducing the proposed contract amendment as a one-cycle emergency bill at a City Council meeting on Tuesday night. The City of Jacksonville provided the following goals of the amendment, which are ensuring quality solid waste services for the Northside, minimizing the financial impact on the fiscal year 2024-2025 budget and reserve funds, avoiding lengthy and costly litigation for both parties, and streamlining the archaic and cumbersome rate review process moving forward.

I appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with Meridian Waste on a solution that works for the city and the company. Together, we have made this process more efficient for future administrations and councils, delivered long-term financial stability for all parties, and ensured that Meridian Waste will continue providing the same high-quality service that our citizens have come to expect for many years to come, said Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan.

According to a release by the COJ, the amended contract will:

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Extends the term of the contract by six additional years (expiring September 30, 2033) with a locked in base rate and an annual CPI adjustment capped at 5% for the remainder of the contract. This brings long-term stability to budgeting and planning.

Eliminates the Rate Review process in all following years, which will save hundreds of staff hours across multiple city departments and make way for a more efficient process in the future.

Establishes the FY 2024/2025 base rate at $22.39; however, defers payment of a portion of the Base Rate ($1.03/unit) for a 12-month period (Oct. 1, 2024 - Sept. 30, 2025) until October 31, 2025. This allows for proper budgeting for FY 2025/2026 and minimizes the impact to Reserve Funds withdrawals. Meridian Waste will receive a retroactive payment for services rendered from Oct. 1, 2024 - Mar. 31, 2025, by April 30, 2025.

Includes a new commitment by Meridian Waste to provide an in-kind or cash Community Partnership Investment valued at $150,000 divided equally over the next three years, starting with the Citys FY 2025-2026 fiscal year, to benefit City economic development, health, human services, environmental and/or beautification initiatives.

Meridian Waste has always approached this contract with the City of Jacksonville as a partnership, and we believe the proposed amendment achieves the overriding goals of the Mayor, the Council and the Company to ensure the long-term cleanliness and health of the Northside while being fiscally responsible to their constituents and our valued customers, said Dave Shepler, Meridian Wastes Area President for the state of Florida.

Changes will only affect the Northside, the Westside and Southside will not be affected.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Years after the City of Portland implemented the Portland Street Response program to help those having mental health crises on the streets, Mayor Keith Wilson is expanding it.

The new policies will now allow PSR to shuttle people to homeless shelters and addiction treatment centers, respond to calls inside commercial and government buildings and join police officers and firefighters at emergencies.

PHOTO: Car engulfed in flames on Highway 30 in Northwest Portland

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Once these changes have been fully implemented, PSR personnel will be able to respond to more call types, connect more individuals to the help they need most, and create better outcomes for those they serve, Wilson said in a statement.

Portland City Council members who spoke with KOIN 6 News said before these new policies, PSR teams would respond to a person in crisis but would eventually have to leave them where they found them. With this expansion, PSR teams can shuttle those in crisis to get help.

Its very important to meet people where theyre at, Councilor Dan Ryan said. But you dont want to leave them where theyre at.

Ryan added he thinks theyll see a more responsive Portland Street Response.

Portland City Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney, March 10, 2025 (KOIN)

The administration is not able to spend more money on this work without coming to council and asking us for the authority to spend that money, Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney said. So our understanding right now is that they will be doing this work within the resources Portland Street Response already has. 

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Aaron Schmautz, the president of the Portland Police Union, said the PSR expansion is an exciting continuation of a conversation which has been ongoing since 2021. The City and the PPA have long valued integrating PSR with Police to ensure that we have the right resources to serve our community.

He said the full integration is designed to keep PSR staff safe and sent to the spots where they are most needed.

Wilson has the ability to make these changes, council members said. But at least one councilor wished they were informed before the announcement was made public.

I think the ideal for me, Councilor Mitch Green said, would be for something like this to have a little more engagement, you know, if theres an idea to kind of change, change a contract, to expand the scope of any bureau.

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But it didnt bother Ryan.

When theres good news, Ill take it any way I receive it. So I was fine with the process, 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 KOIN.com.
**Related Video Above: Hudson job fairs were set for laid-off JOANN workers

CLEVELAND (WJW)  McDonalds plans to hire a slew of new employees in Ohio as spring approaches, the fast food franchise recently announced.

A total of 1,500 jobs are opening to potential workers across the state. The company is hosting hiring events Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at locations across Ohio for anyone interested.

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Are McDonalds french fries OK for vegans and vegetarians?

Restaurants are looking to fill service team, kitchen team, guest experience and shift leader positions.

We know that many in our local communities are looking for jobs to help them meet their immediate goals, or lasting careers. We are proud to provide opportunities in our local communities, Megan Brumfield, who owns five McDonalds Restaurants in Chillicothe, Circleville, and Greenfield, said in a statement.

Your 2025 Cleveland-area fish fry guide

Those interested in applying can also head here or text apply to 38000 to receive an application.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
(WJET/WFXP)  Local students opened up their hearts and veins as a way to make a positive impact on their community.

On Monday, March 3, the Community Blood Bank (CBB) hosted a blood drive at McDowell High School in hopes of teaching students the importance of blood donations.

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According to a representative with the Millcreek Township School District, 24 students participated in the blood drive. Their total blood donated could potentially save 72 lives.

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Several students detailed how they felt following the event.

It makes me honestly feel great. I have family history with younger cousins needing it and I love to know that Im making a difference, said Carmella Leone, a senior at McDowell.

It makes me feel really happy that I can actually help someone who really needs it and just make them have an even better life, added Asia Simons, another senior at McDowell.

LECOM hosts annual drug take back event to ensure safe disposal of medications

The CBB stated that roughly 20% of their donations come from high schools or colleges. As a way to honor those who donate, they have set up a scholarship program for students who donate.

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Two more blood drives are scheduled to happen this month  one at the AMVETS Thrift Store on Monday, March 17, from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m., as well as one at UPMC Hamot on Wednesday, March 19, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

If you still wish to donate blood but are unable to attend the upcoming blood drives, the CBBs hours can be found on their 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 WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
March 11 was a day of reckoning. Fresh off a plane at the Manila international airport, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was flanked and detained under an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity.

This is deeply personal for me, said former Philippine senator Leila de Lima, a Duterte critic since cleared of drug-related charges that jailed her for nearly seven years, in a statement. Randy delos Santos, the uncle of a teen killed in police anti-drug operations in Manila in August 2017, told the Associated Press that it was a big, long-awaited day for justice.

Duterte had overseen a crackdown on illicit drugs for over two decades, first as mayor of Davao City and then as Philippine President from 2016 to 2022. The campaign led to as many as 30,000 deaths, most of them poor Filipinos.

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Dutertes arrestand the incumbent Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Administrations cooperation in italso marks a turning point in the countrys politics.

In the short term, this is the beginning of the end of the Duterte political dynasty, says Jean Encinas-Franco, a political science professor at the University of the Philippines.

Dubbed Asias Trump for his rhetoric and unorthodox governance, Duterte was elected as President by a landslide almost a decade ago on the promise of a no-holds-barred crackdown on criminality.

Upon taking office, he made true to his promise with his war on drugs. He also launched misogynistic tirades and clamped down on critics and press freedom.

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While his crackdowns provoked outrage around the globe, Duterte and his brand of politics remained popular at home even after he left office. His daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio, riding on her family name, was elected Vice President in 2022 in a landslide victory alongside President Marcos Jr., himself the son of a former dictator who ruled the Philippines from 1965 to 1986.

But the two families fell out over a power struggle. A poll by WR Numero Research shows Duterte-Carpio as among the preferred candidates in presidential elections due in 2028, and the elder Duterte is seeking to reclaim his post as mayor of Davao City in midterm elections in May.

Meanwhile, the Duterte patriarch and President Marcos have traded drug use allegations. The former President has also accused his successor of veering the Philippines toward a dictatorship. Last November, Vice President Duterte-Carpio even publicly threatened to have Marcos assassinated.

The comments, as well as other allegations against Duterte-Carpio, prompted the House of Representatives, many of whom are Marcos allies, to impeach her last month.

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Marcos had previously been vocal about refusing to cooperate with the ICC on its probe against Duterte. But in January, the Marcos Administration said it will respond favorably if the ICC seeks an Interpol arrest warrant.

Richard Heydarian, a Manila-based political analyst and senior lecturer at the University of the Philippines, tells TIME that the Marcos Administration has cut off the head of the snake with the arrest, after months of taking a less confrontational approach with the family. He adds that if Duterte is sent to The Hague, it would signal to Marcos allies in the Senate to expedite the impeachment proceedings against Duterte-Carpio.

For political analyst Antonio Contreras, its too early to say how Dutertes arrest will affect the upcoming local elections or the looming presidential contest in 2028. But the feeling of invincibility before that [Duterte] can no longer be held accountable, he says, is now being reversed.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
(NEXSTAR)  More than 250 cases of measles have been reported in the U.S., nearly all of which have been associated with three outbreaks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In light of the rise in cases, the CDC has warned that everyone should be up to date on their vaccinations.

But how do you know if you are? And how do you know if its time to get a booster?

Most have likely already been vaccinated against measles.

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The current CDC vaccination recommendations say children should receive two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine: the first when theyre between the ages of 1 year and 15 months, and the second when they are between the ages of 4 and 6 years old but before they start school. If a child is receiving the MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella) vaccine, the second dose can be given three months after the first dose up until they turn 12. The first dose, according to CDC recommendations, should be separate MMR and varicella vaccines.

Former Virginia NICU nurse faces new charges over babies with unexplained fractures

Some people may have presumptive evidence of immunity if they were born before 1957 or have laboratory evidence or confirmation of immunity or disease.

Do you need a measles booster?

Those who live in areas experiencing measles outbreaks, are at high risk for infection, and received the vaccine many years ago may want to consider getting a booster, said Scott Weaver with the Global Virus Network, an international coalition.

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If you are considered to have immunity, either with the vaccine or an accepted piece of presumptive evidence, you may not need a booster, according to Dr. Scott Roberts, a Yale Medicine infectious diseases specialist.

You may want to seek out another dose if you received the vaccine before 1968, Dr. Alex Dresden of SSM Health says, as the newer one is more effective.

USDA halts more than $1B in funding for local food banks, schools

It is recommended that anyone who has not received a vaccine and never had measles get at least one MMR shot, Roberts explains. If you fall into this category and are also at a high risk for exposure  because you are a student in a post-secondary institution, are a health care worker, travel internationally, or may become pregnant  a second dose is suggested at least 28 days after the first, he adds.

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If you fall into any of those groups, or have concerns about measles, its recommended that you speak with your healthcare provider. Getting another MMR shot is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says.

What is measles?

Measles is an airborne and extremely infectious illness known for causing a potentially severe rash. While not seasonal, cases have spread when there is increased travel or unvaccinated people in close quarters, like summer camps, according to the CDC.

Before the vaccine was available, roughly 48,000 people in the U.S. would be hospitalized for measles annually, the CDC says, with hundreds dying. Now, two doses of the MMR vaccine (the standard amount recommended in the U.S.) have been found to be 97% effective at preventing measles. A single dose is 93% effective, according to the CDC.

Physical effects of space life include dizziness and baby feet

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The U.S. determined measles had been eliminated in 2000 because of high vaccination rates, but those have been slipping in recent years. Fewer than 95% of kindergartners are up to date on their MMR vaccines, with rates continuing to drop. CDC data shows that in only 11 states  California, New Mexico, Mississippi, Tennessee, West Virginia, Maryland, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Maine  was the kindergarten vaccine coverage at 95% or higher in 2024.

Meanwhile, fewer than 90% of young children in 15 states  Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Georgia, Florida, Ohio, and New Hampshire  are vaccinated.

Whats the latest on the 2025 measles outbreak?

Most of this years cases have been reported in Texas. As of Tuesday, state health officials reported 223 cases. Twenty-nine people in the state are hospitalized. Neighboring New Mexico reported three additional cases, bringing the state total to 33.

Deaths have occurred in both states  in Texas, a school-age child died last month while New Mexico reported its first adult death last week.

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Top US health agency makes $25,000 buyout offer to most of its 80,000 employees

Oklahomas state health department reported two probable cases of measles Tuesday, saying they are associated with the West Texas and New Mexico outbreaks.

Measles cases have been reported in Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.

Theres no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.

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.
Public health officials have confirmed the first case of measles in a Los Angeles County resident this year  the second infected person known to have passed through Los Angeles International Airport in 2025.

A county resident who traveled while infectious arrived at LAX in the Tom Bradley International Terminal (Terminal B) on a China Airlines flight March 5, the L.A. County Department of Public Health announced Tuesday.

Measles is a viral infection that spreads through the air and via droplets. It can potentially lead to serious health complications, including death. The virus can spread when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes, or a person can contract it by touching an infected surface, according to the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

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The disease is so contagious, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, you can get measles just by being in a room where an infected person has been  even up to two hours after that person has left the room.

This is the second recent case of a measles-infected person exposing others at LAX. Last month, an infected infant returning home to Orange County arrived at the airport on a Korean Air flight in Terminal B.

Health officials listed the following locations the infected person visited after their flight.

People who are at risk of exposure to the recent measles case include:



Travelers who were at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX the evening of March 5 between 7 and 10:40 p.m.

People who visited Cloud 9 Nail Salon in North Hollywood on March 7 between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. The salon is at 5142 N. Lankershim Blvd.

Customers of Superior Grocers at 10683 Valley Blvd. in El Monte who visited on March 10 between 8:15 and 10:30 a.m.

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California now has five reported cases of measles as of March 11 amid an expanding measles outbreak in the U.S.

That total includes Fresno County's first reported case, announced Tuesday. The person had recently traveled internationally and became infectious days later, but public health officials are not disclosing where the person traveled to and at what airport he arrived.

Fresno's interim health officer said the person's travel history isn't relevant because he became infectious unknowingly on March 2 and had attended a religious convention in Madera County where hundreds of people were in attendance. The man checked into a local hospital on March 7 where he was diagnosed. The infectious Fresno County resident was not immunized for measles.

Overall, there are 222 cases across the nation in states that include Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and Washington, according to the CDC.

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All measles cases diagnosed in California thus far were of infected people who traveled internationally, the county health department stated.

At least 17% of cases nationwide have required hospitalization for management of measles complications or for the purpose of isolation, and two people have died from complications of the disease; most of the cases have been among individuals who were not immunized.

Health officials say the best way to protect against the measles is with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles; one dose is about 93% effective. The CDC recommends getting the first dose of the MMR vaccine at ages 12 to 15 months and the second dose at 4 to 6 years of age.

Read more: Should babies get a 'bonus dose' of the measles vaccine? Doctors say it depends

What to do if you've been exposed to measles

If you were on the flight or at the terminal, nail salon or grocery store where the infected traveler visited, you should:



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Review your immunization and medical records to determine if youre protected against measles. If you have not had measles in the past or have not yet obtained the measles vaccine, you are at risk of contracting the disease.

Contact and notify your healthcare provider as soon as possible about a potential exposure if you are pregnant, have a weakened immune system or haven't been immunized against the disease. Parents or guardians of infants who were possibly exposed should contact their pediatrician.

Monitor yourself for symptoms, specifically a fever or unexpected rash from seven to 21 days after the potential exposure.

If symptoms develop, stay home and do not enter a healthcare facility before calling first to make them aware of your exposure and symptoms.

How long it takes for measles symptoms to appear

Symptoms can develop from seven to 21 days after exposure.

Exposed individuals who have been free of symptoms for more than 21 days are no longer at risk.

The symptoms of measles

Between seven and 14 days after exposure, your symptoms could include high fever, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes, and rash.

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From seven to 18 days after exposure, you may develop a rash on your face and upper neck. The rash can spread to your hands and feet over the course of three days. Health officials say the rash should last for five or six days before fading.

The infection can result in severe complications, including blindness, encephalitis (an infection causing brain swelling and, potentially, brain damage), severe diarrhea and related dehydration, ear infection, trouble breathing due to pneumonia and, in some cases, death, according to the World Health Organization

Its most common for complications to occur in children younger than 5 and adults over the age of 30, according to public health experts.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
As Congress considers cuts to Medicaid, advocates warn that proposals will hike state costs or reduce services for people with no other resources. (Getty Images)

As Congress cuts spending, Medicaid is looking like a potential target. A three-part series on how the health insurance plan for the poor touches Wisconsin residents.

Of the laundry list of proposed Medicaid cuts circulating on Capitol Hill, policy watchers say some stand out as the most likely to be implemented because theyve either been tried before, frequently embraced, or both.

Advocates argue that none of the ideas will actually help the program do a better job of its central mission: make it possible for poor and low-income people to get either primary or long-term health care. Instead, they contend, the outcome would be to transfer the costs to states unwilling to cut services or kick people off the rolls who have no other health care resources.

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Broad outlines of the proposed Medicaid wish list for Congressional Republicans were outlined in a U.S. House memo that Politico published in mid-January, along with 50 pages of details. The memo is the basis for a summary of those proposed cuts from policy analysts and advocates at the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families.

Among the proposals that have garnered the most attention and concern are:

Instituting work requirements for Medicaid recipients.

Capping the current federal contribution to a states Medicaid budget, also known as turning Medicaid funds into a state block grant.

Lowering the federal governments minimum share of the cost of Medicaid, currently 50%.

Ending the increased federal government match for states that have adopted Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA)

Additional proposals would make other changes to how the federal matching rate is calculated or applied and reverse several Biden administration rules that made Medicaid enrollment easier and broadened access to benefits, according to the Georgetown summary.

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Medicaid is funded by a combination of federal and state money. Proposals that lower the federal share would require states to pick up a larger share of the cost to avoid reducing coverage.

The scale of the cuts Congress is contemplating is so large it really will cause fiscal peril for the state, says Tamara Jackson of the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities.

Medicaid work requirements

The congressional proposals include imposing work requirements for able-bodied people as a condition of receiving Medicaid.

The congressional memo specifies that work requirements would not include pregnant women, primary caregivers of dependents, individuals with disabilities or health-related barriers to employment, and full-time students. It pegs the savings from a work requirement at $100 billion over 10 years.

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According to KFF, a nonpartisan, nonprofit health policy research organization, however, more than two-thirds of Medicaid recipients are working, and those who arent would largely fall into the groups the memo says would be exempt.

The first Trump administration approved state Medicaid program waivers that included work requirements, while the Biden administration withdrew its approval. Among them was a requirement in Wisconsin dating from the administration of former Gov. Scott Walker.

The GOP majority in the Wisconsin Legislature passed a bill in 2022 that included a Medicaid work-requirement variation, but it was vetoed by Gov. Tony Evers.

According to KFF, a Congressional Budget Office analysis of a 2023 U.S. House proposal to institute Medicaid work requirements found that while it would save the federal government $109 billion, it would also increase the number of uninsured people by 600,000 without increasing employment. An Arkansas work requirement instituted in 2018 but later found unlawful by a federal court led 18,000 people to lose coverage.

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What we know is, even though people are working or would be technically subject to exemptions, there are very significant administrative burdens on enrollees to prove that or be found ineligible, says Richelle Andrae, associate director of government relations for the Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association. The organization represents federally qualified health centers that serve low-income patients, including those on BadgerCare Plus and those who are uninsured.

More time-sensitive paperwork and steps that are hard for people to understand or do and lots of people trying to complete administrative tasks at the same time are a recipe for mistakes, by individuals and government agencies that must do the work, says Jackson. That is how policies like work requirements and more frequent eligibility checks save money. Eligible people lose coverage or struggle to get in.

Block grants

Currently Medicaid pays states at least 50% of all Medicaid costs, with states paying the balance.

In President Donald Trumps first term, his administration attempted to replace that long-standing guarantee with a block grant  a fixed amount of money per Medicaid beneficiary in the state, regardless of the actual cost.

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That per-patient cap on federal funds would instead radically restructure Medicaid financing, according to the Georgetown summary.

The cost would be felt across the board, from long-term care in nursing homes or in the community home care to primary health care through BadgerCare Plus, health care providers say, to the detriment of patients.

Whatever the proposals are that are at the federal level  changing the formula, [per-patient] caps, at the end of the day they theyre all aimed at reducing funding for the Medicaid program, and it really is a vital lifeline for long-term care services and support, says Lisa Davison, executive director of LeadingAge Wisconsin. The organization represents nursing homes and assisted living providers in the nonprofit, publicly owned and for profit sectors.

Reducing support would send some patients who now have Medicaid coverage back into the pool of uninsured people, says Patricia Sarvela, chief development officer for Partnership Community Health Center, a federally qualified health center in the Fox Valley that serves uninsured people as well as BadgerCare recipients.

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Lacking health insurance, people are likely to put off addressing symptoms until their condition worsens enough for them to go to the emergency room, Sarvela says.

Directly or indirectly, taxpayers will likely wind up having to cover the cost of that care, however. There might be short-term federal savings but ultimately at the end of the day its going to cost the taxpayers a lot more because patients will then not have health insurance, Sarvela says.

Changes to federal match

Several proposed changes relate to the amount of the federal Medicaid match or how its calculated.

A proposal published by the Paragon Institute in July 2024 calls for reducing the federal match below 50% of the costs. The Paragon Institute has close ties to the Heritage Foundation, which produced Project 2025, the 900-page document that, although disavowed by Trump last year, has been echoed in numerous actions since he took office.

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In 10 states the federal match is at the minimum and would likely be lowered, the Georgetown summary says, adding: These states would likely have to make deep cuts to their Medicaid programs in response.

The states are California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Washington and Wyoming.

Other states receive a higher federal match; Wisconsin gets 60% of its costs covered. Its not clear whether those states matches would also be reduced under the proposal or other Medicaid reduction proposals.

Medicaid expansion

Another likely cut would be to reduce the additional federal match for Medicaid recipients whose incomes are between 100% and 138% of the federal poverty line.

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The additional match was included in the Affordable Care Act, enacted in 2010. Originally Medicaid expansion was mandatory under the act, but a subsequent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that upheld the ACA made Medicaid expansion voluntary.

States that have accepted the expansion got a 90% federal match for the added beneficiaries. The Congressional memo proposes ending the higher match, and some states that have expanded are already considering ending expansion if that happens.

Wisconsin never accepted Medicaid expansion, however, so that change would not directly affect the state. Although Evers first ran in 2018 on a vow to accept Medicaid expansion after Walker rejected it, hes been blocked from doing so by the GOP majority in the Legislature.

As he has with every budget hes proposed since taking office, Evers has included accepting Medicaid expansion in his 2025-27 budget proposal.

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In an interview with the Wisconsin Examiner last month after a visit with constituents in Port Washington to promote his budget, Evers said he didnt consider leaving out Medicaid expansion, despite predictions that it would be pulled back by Republicans.

First of all, we dont know if its going to go away, Evers said. Under the current 90% match, he said, Wisconsin would get about $2 billion in additional federal money every two years and the additional people covered in the state would get better health insurance, so its a win-win-win.

Evers acknowledged that in the current Congress, theres a risk for sharp reductions in Medicaid.

If that happens, it would be disastrous, Evers said. We have lots of people on Medicaid in the state of Wisconsin.

Among states, Wisconsins Medicaid profile is pretty average, he added.

There are places in the country where Medicaid is a huge, huge player, and if they would get rid of Medicaid, our health care system would implode. Theres just no question about that. Thats the thing that concerns me.

Advocate: Combatting waste, fraud and abuse wont make a big dent in Medicaid costs

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has been quoted as saying that, as Republicans in Congress take aim at Medicaid, their only target is eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in the federal-state program that provides health insurance for the poor.

Richard Redman, whose adult son, Phillip, has been able to live at home and remain occupied under a Wisconsin Medicaid long-term care program called IRIS, says he and his wife, Harriet, are closely watched as their sons home caregivers.

Its almost impossible for us to abuse or defraud the system, Redman says.

He lists regularly scheduled meetings with professionals whose job it is to monitor Phillips care and establish that the money being spent on his care is spent carefully.

There are visits to screen Phillip to see whether he still qualifies as functionally disabled; a consultant who meets to plan, based on that screening, how the funds under the state Medicaid waiver should be allocated; and quarterly visits with a nurse whose job it is to verify that as Phillips guardians the Redmans are addressing his needs

The program consultant visits in person four times a year and, in the other nine months, is in long-distance contact with them, Redman says.

At times it seems like people are checking to see if their son  who has never spoken a word, and was deemed in our 2010 guardianship hearing as incompetent (we dont care for that word, but thats the legal term in guardianship proceedings) and always needing 24-hour care  is still disabled, Redman says in an email message. But we understand the need to prevent waste, fraud and abuse, and we are glad this system does that.

That system works, Redman says. And we are grateful for the quality of life that Medicaid/IRIS money provides for Phillip.

This story is Part Three in a series.

Read Part One: Wisconsin patients, families are wary as Congress prepares for Medicaid surgery

Read Part Two: How Medicaid fuels an economic engine for caregivers, family members and patients

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Rep. Jordan Redman, R-Coeur d'Alene, speaks from the Idaho House floor on March 10, 2025, at the Idaho Capitol Building in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

The Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee on Monday advanced a bill that proposes sweeping policy changes to control Medicaid costs.

House Bill 345 calls for Idaho to seek work requirements for able-bodied Idahoans on Medicaid, and to give Idahoans eligible for Medicaid expansion access to tax credits to buy insurance on Idahos health care exchange.

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The bills proposal for Medicaid work requirements  which requires federal approval to implement  has drawn the bulk of opposition.

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This bill truly does offer immediate savings for the taxpayers, as well as substantial long-term savings and stability to the Medicaid budget. And it deals with the entire budget itself, said Rep. Jordan Redman, R-Coeur dAlene, who is cosponsoring the bill along with the chairs of the Idaho Legislatures health committees, and Sen. Carl Bjerke, R-Coeur dAlene.

Despite largely negative opposition, the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on Monday advanced the bill to the full Senate  which could be one of the bills last legislative hurdles before potentially becoming law.

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The new bill had unanimous support from House Republicans when the Idaho House passed it last week  a significant shift from another bill by Redman that wouldve likely repealed Medicaid expansion and narrowly passed the Idaho House last month.

To become law, Idaho bills must pass the House and Senate, and avoid the governors veto.

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Bill proposes broader Medicaid changes

Beyond Medicaid expansion, the bill proposes broader policy changes for the entire Medicaid program  a health care assistance program that covers about 262,000 Idahoans, including low-income earners, people with disabilities, pregnant women, and some older people.

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Almost 89,400 Idahoans are enrolled in Medicaid expansion, a voter-approved policy that raised the income eligibility cap.

But in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee hearing Monday, several members of the public said they worried about the bills provision to repeal agency administrative rules for Medicaid.

Idaho Medicaid administrator Juliet Charron testified before the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on House Bill 345 on March 10, 2025, at the Idaho Capitol Building in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Deputy Director Juliet Charron, who oversees Idaho Medicaid, said the agency plans to stand up temporary rules if the bill passes.

Rules serve a purpose. They provide a lot of important information for providers, for participants and stakeholders we work with. And so we certainly dont want to disrupt that important structure thats there, but we will need to make some updates coming from this bill, Charron told the committee.

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The new bill would also call for Idaho to plan to shift to management of Medicaid benefits to private companies, which is called managed care and is used by most states Medicaid programs. And the bill directs the state to end Idahos use of doctor-managed care, called value care, a unique model that has existed for a few years.

The bill could save Idaho $15.9 million in fiscal year 2026 and even more in the future, the bills fiscal note estimates. But the timing depends on federal approval, the fiscal note says.

Sen. Brandon Shippy, R-New Plymouth, said he was reluctantly supporting the bill, saying he had reservations about managed care.

We may be creating a monster that  will live on perpetually here. And we might regret that, he said in committee.

Idaho state Sen. Carl Bjerke, R-Coeur dAlene, (right) listens to proceedings during the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee meeting on Jan. 7, 2025, at the State Capitol Building in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

Bjerke, who is cosponsoring the new Medicaid cost bill, said I hope its not a monster. I wouldnt be part of it if I thought for a second that that was the case.

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Bjerke also said the testimony he heard against both major Medicaid bills this year was almost identical.

Theres a sense I have that really theres nothing short of keeping what we have right now, for some folks, that is going to be worth moving forward on. And I disagree with that, he told the committee. I think we have an obligation to the state. Who we have an obligation to are the least of us  the most vulnerable. That if we dont get a handle on these programs, (its) those people that will be affected the most.

Bill estimates millions in savings. But critics say Medicaid work requirements will be expensive.

Other states experiences and a federal watchdog report suggest costs for Medicaid work requirements are high, the Idaho Capital Sun previously reported.

Some advocates say Medicaid work requirements are costly and are effectively just administrative barriers to access the program  since almost half of Idahoans on Medicaid are already working. And many other Idahoans on Medicaid, advocates say, would be exempt from work requirements under exceptions the bill spells out, such as for parents of children age 6 and under, people with disabilities, college students, volunteers and caretakers.

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The bills proposed work requirements are nearly identical to Arkansass work requirements, which saw one in four people lose coverage even though 95% of them met work requirements or were exempt, Idaho Voices for Children Senior Policy Associate Hillarie Hagen testified.

We should learn from other states and recognize: These just dont work as intended, Hagen said.

Idaho state Sen. Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, listens to proceedings during the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee meeting on Jan. 7, 2025, at the State Capitol Building in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

Under the Trump administration, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved work requirements in 13 states  for the first time in Medicaids history, according to KFF. The Biden administration rescinded the approvals. Several courts struck down states work requirement policies, according to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities.

Idaho Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, was the only lawmaker on the Senate Health and Welfare Committee who voted against the bill.

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The work requirement causes me a little concern, a lot of concern. Only because I think the cost-containment could come is if people cant get the paperwork filled out, or we dont have the right software, or somebody misses up, then were going to miss somebodys coverage, she said. And I would hope that thats not what our intent is.

Idaho hasnt gotten federal approval for work requirements, exchange tax credit option

Many of the bills proposals require federal approval, and would likely take years to implement.

In 2019, Idaho failed to receive federal approval  then by the Trump administration  for Medicaid work requirements and an exchange tax credit option, which are similar to the new bills provisions.

If passed into law, the bill would take effect immediately through an emergency clause.

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Republican Idaho lawmakers have long worried about the federal government reducing its high match rate for Medicaid expansion.

If the federal government cuts down on covering 90% of Medicaid expansion costs while the Idaho Legislature isnt in session, the new Medicaid cost bill would give the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare director broad power to enact cuts to the program  until the Legislature reconvenes.

Congressional House Republicans recently approved a budget plan that calls for steep spending cuts that policy experts anticipate will require deep cuts to Medicaid.

The bill calls for Idaho to seek federal approval for patient cost-sharing, which would require Medicaid enrollees to essentially pay copayments for services they receive.

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The bill also calls for Idaho to seek federal approval to no longer allow state health officials to automatically renew Medicaid for people based on publicly available information, or to use pre-populated forms. And the bill calls for Idaho to implement twice-yearly Medicaid expansion eligibility checks, up from the once-a-year eligibility checks Idaho Medicaid currently does.

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(NewsNation)  It was fun while it lasted. Meghan Markle (sorry, Meghan Sussex) basked in being on Netflixs Top 10 last week  where her show With Love, Meghan peaked at No. 5 on Thursday. Sadly, her reign lasted a mere six days.

Netflix claims to have renewed the show for a second season, although the extra shows were already shot, paid for and will debut in the fall so she can plug her As Ever line of crepe mix, shortbread cookies, jams, teas and dried edible flowers.

With Love, Meghan, labeled vain by critics, fans

The show debuted at No. 6 on Netflixs most watched list but was panned as vain, narcissistic and pointless by critics and fans alike in the U.S. and England and garnered a mere 20% like rate on Rotten Tomatoes.

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As my insider told me last week: Its necessary for a second season because Netflix has sunk so much money into As Ever  and she can promote the products in the second season she couldnt promote in this one due to all the trademark hassle. But yeah, (Netflix) is still done  theyre trying to recoup the investment.

Comedian of Trump rally fame gets Netflix deal

The six days on the Top 10 list can be chalked up to intense media coverage of the show, which garnered public interest, my sources added. But what would be really interesting  and something Netflix will never release  is the drop-off rate, as in how long people actually watched and how many shows they consumed.

Meghan Markles Netflix show garners 526K views in first 6 days

What we do know is that the eight-part series was watched by 526,000 households in the first six days it was available on Netflix since its release March 4, according to data gathered by Samba TV.

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Because Netflix released all episodes at once and didnt space them out one per week, we will never know how many of the shows were actually watched.

Meghan Markle arrives at the Paley Honors Fall Gala on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

According to the Daily Mail, Netflix bosses are worried about the poor reviews  especially as they are a business partner in her lifestyle brand: Netflix bosses are all worried now because they have invested a lot in the product line. They dont know when and how to roll it all out.

One things for sure: Markle wont be signing another $100 million deal anytime soon.

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.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  A public memorial will be held at Southern University in honor of student Caleb Wilson.

A service celebrating the life of Wilson is set for Friday, March 14, at the F.G. Clark Activity Center on Southern Universitys campus. A viewing is scheduled from noon to 5 p.m., with a celebration of life service following immediately after.

Wilsons family and loved ones, state and local officials and community members will be in attendance.

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He was a bright light in Jaguar Nation, a dedicated scholar, and a proud member of the world-renowned Human Jukebox, Chancellor John K. Pierre said. Caleb Wilsons kindness, passion, and unwavering spirit left a lasting impact on all who had the privilege of knowing him. As we mourn this tremendous loss, we also come together to celebrate his life and legacy with his family.

The F.G. Clark Activity Center is located at 801 Harding Blvd.

Wilsons funeral will be held in Kenner on Saturday.

Three suspects have been arrested in connection to Wilsons hazing death. A hazing investigation and student judiciary process continues at Southern University.

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Understanding Louisianas hazing laws: Penalties, reporting rules, and more

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.
One Memphis man's morning took a bizarre and painful turn when he claimed his dog accidentally shot him while in bed.

While dogs are known for their loyalty, this bizarre incident shows that even man's best friend can have an off day, especially when firearms are involved.

In another story about dogs, science is working on ways to ensure our furry friends stick around longer. In 2023, a groundbreaking drug designed to extend canine lifespans hit a major milestone with FDA approval.

Memphis Man Claims His Dog Pulled The Trigger In Bizarre Bedside Shooting

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

The peculiar incident unfolded just before 4 a.m. on Whitney Avenue when police responded to reports of an accidental shooting. Jerald Kirkwood, the victim, told officers that he was lying in bed with a female companion when his 1-year-old pit bull, Oreo, suddenly jumped onto the bed.

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In a freak accident, the dog allegedly got his paw stuck in the trigger guard of a firearm, causing it to discharge. The bullet grazed Kirkwood's left thigh, leaving him with a non-life-threatening injury.

WREG reports that Kirkwood was transported to Regional One in non-critical condition. Meanwhile, a friend of the victim insisted that Oreo is a friendly dog and that the whole situation was nothing more than an unfortunate mishap.

Adding another twist to the already strange case, Kirkwood's female companion reportedly fled the scene after the shooting, taking the gun with her.

Anti-Aging Drug For Dogs Moves Closer To Reality

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Despite the risks of pet ownership, dog lovers may soon have a way to extend their furry companions' lives as a groundbreaking anti-aging drug moves closer to approval.

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Loyal, a biotech company focused on extending pet lifespans, announced in 2023 that its conditional approval application for LOY-001 has passed a significant regulatory milestone with the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine.

The Blast reported that the FDA's conditional approval was based on data provided by Loyal, which demonstrated the drug's ability to lower levels of IGF-1, a key biomarker linked to aging, and its potential to improve functional outcomes in dogs.

Though still in development at the time, LOY-001 is designed specifically for large breeds, which tend to have shorter lifespans than smaller dogs.

New Longevity Drug Targets Large, Aging Dogs

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The new drug, designed for healthy dogs aged seven and older who weigh over 40 pounds, would be administered by veterinarians every three to six months.

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While it has yet to undergo clinical trials, its approval also marks a significant milestone, signaling the FDA's first potential endorsement of a longevity drug.

Loyal, the biotech company behind the drug, sees this as a step toward revolutionizing pet health. Speaking on the achievement, CEO Celine Haliou told Business Wire:

"Loyal was founded with the ambitious goal of developing the first drugs to extend healthy lifespan in dogs. This milestone is the result of years of careful work by the team. We'll continue to work just as diligently to bring this and our other longevity programs through to FDA approval."

Expert Hails Longevity Drug As 'Impressive'

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The groundbreaking drug is making waves in the veterinary world, with industry experts hailing it as a historic achievement. A respected animal health figure and seasoned drug development expert, Linda Rhodes, praised the milestone. In her words:

"Loyal's achievement is impressive. Developing a treatment that will increase longevity by reducing age-associated disease is a new indication. No drug has ever been approved with such a claim, and pioneering a new indication through regulatory agencies requires enormous rigor and persistence. Being the first to bring a treatment for such a challenging indication will be truly historic."

The recognition follows years of dedicated research and a significant financial boost. Loyal reportedly secured $27 million in a Series A funding round led by Khosla Ventures.

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The investment also saw contributions from Box Group, First Round Capital, The Longevity Fund, Collaborative Fund, and Lachy Groom, many of whom had previously backed Loyal's $11 million seed round in 2020.

Breakthrough Drug Emerged Amid Mysterious Canine Illness

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As dog owners celebrated the potential breakthrough, another pressing concern surfaced: a highly contagious and potentially fatal illness sweeping through the canine community.

Veterinarians issued urgent warnings about the unidentified respiratory disease affecting pets. They noted that affected dogs displayed alarming symptoms, including persistent coughing, nasal or eye discharge, and lethargy.

Amanda Cavanagh, head of the urgent care service at Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, described the shift in symptoms, stating, "Instead of that dry cough where the dog felt good, it was now this wet cough where the dog felt sick."

The dog shooting incident is a strange reminder that pet ownership while rewarding, can come with some genuinely unexpected risks.
Following a report on the Memphis Police Department by the U.S. Department of Justice, city officials have refused to accept a federal consent decree. (Photo by Karen Pulfer Focht )

In the wake of the Department of Justices (DOJ) scathing report on the Memphis Police Department (MPD), city officials have pledged reform. A task force has been assembled, and retired federal Judge Bernice Donald has been appointed as an independent monitor. Mayor Paul Young and city leadership want us to believe they are taking meaningful steps toward accountability.

And I believe them . . . kind of.

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I believe Mayor Young, City Attorney Tannera George, and their administration genuinely want to improve public safety and rebuild trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. But wanting to do right is not the same as doing right.

And right now, Memphiss approach to police reform is starting to resemble a familiar pattern: delayed justice disguised as progress.

For those of us who have spent years pushing for justice in Memphis, this moment feels eerily familiar. After the police killing of Darrius Stewart in 2015 and the Bridge Demonstration in 2016, we heard promises of reform. Nothing changed. After the violent 2022 traffic stop that led to the death of Tyre Nichols, we were told that the city would take accountability seriously. Yet, the same system remains intact. The DOJ investigation only confirmed what Black communities in Memphis have known for years  that the MPD engages in unconstitutional policing, particularly against Black residents.

So why should we believe that this time will be any different?

Rather than entering into a federal consent decree  which would have provided court-enforced oversight and clear accountability mechanisms  the City of Memphis decided to police itself. This is not real reform. This is a strategic decision to avoid federal oversight, one that places the burden of progress on the very communities that have suffered under police misconduct. Its a longstanding playbook used by local governments to delay meaningful change.

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Announce a new initiative.

Appoint a commission or task force.

Hold a few public meetings to signal transparency.

Wait until public attention fades.

This method allows city officials to claim theyre doing something without actually changing the system that allows abuse to persist.

The newly-formed police reform task force has already been met with skepticism. Community organizers and activists who have long fought for police accountability were not meaningfully engaged in the formation of this group. The process for selecting task force members was not transparent. There is no clear mandate for what the task force will achieve, let alone how it will enforce recommendations.

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Who is this task force truly serving  the people of Memphis or the institutions that benefit from the status quo?

Weve seen task forces and commissions come and go, producing reports that gather dust while systemic injustices persist. The real test of this initiative is whether it forces accountability onto MPD or simply extends the timeline until public pressure dies down.

Despite the DOJs detailed report outlining egregious misconduct within the MPD, Memphis officials have not provided any proof that those responsible have been held accountable. How many officers named in the DOJ report have been fired? How many have faced meaningful disciplinary action? How many are still patrolling Memphis streets?

Memphis Mayor Paul Young (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

The silence on these questions is telling.

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Meanwhile, community members are asked to be patient while a task force deliberates for two years before even presenting a reform plan. Two years. Two more years of unchecked police power. Two more years of systemic neglect. Two more years of Memphis prioritizing institutional stability over community safety.

And by then, the national political landscape may have shifted, making reform even more difficult  if not impossible.

I fear that police-community relations will not improve in the coming years, but worsen  especially given the broader political climate. We are moving into an era where the federal government may not be an ally in police reform, but an obstacle. If Memphis officials fail to act decisively now, they may soon find themselves in a national environment even less inclined to police accountability than the one we have today.

Memphis does not need another commission, another study, another delayed promise.

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What it needs is actionswift, uncompromising, and unflinching.

Judge Donald and the task force must increase transparency and expedite their deliverablesor they will be left to explain the next tragedy when police violence inevitably happens again.

The mayor and city leadership have a choice: Do what is politically safe or do what is morally right.

Memphis is watching. And history will not forget.

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March 2025 brings about a benchmark for the Menendez brothers

Attorney Leslie Abramson puts her arm around her client, Erik Menendez, August 18 during court session. Menendez is on trial with his brother for the 1989 shotgun murder of their parents

The Menendez brothers, Erik and Kyle, who were convicted of murdering their parents in 1989, have been back in the legal limelight recently as calls escalated for a resentencing hearing and landed on the doorstep of the Los Angeles district attorney.

Heading into April, it seemed like progress was materializing toward an actual court date, but then talks of withdrawing the resentencing petitionunder a new DApainted a different picture.

However, that roadblock has been cleared by a Los Angeles judge.

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Here's the rundown...

What's was the original Menendez brothers' case about?

Erik Menendez (C) and his brother Lyle (L) are pictured, on August 12, 1991 in Beverly Hills. They are accused of killing their parents, Jose and Mary Louise Menendez of Beverly Hills, Calif. AFP PHOTO MIKE NELSON (Photo by MIKE NELSON / AFP) (Photo by MIKE NELSON/AFP via Getty Images)

The two brothers, both of whom lived in Beverly Hills, murdered their parents with a shotgun.

A coverup was unraveled as the investigation progressed, a spiraling maze of fabrications that included possible gang ties and even a Mafia hit on Jose and Kitty Menendez.

Eventually, the brothers' responsibility for the act came after Erik confessed to his therapist, and that tape was given to the police.

When did the Menendez brothers' trial begin?

Erik Menendez and brother Lyle listen tocourt proceedings during an appearance in the case of the shotgun murder of their parents in 1989. May 17, 1991 REUTERS/Lee Celano 91204106 BEVERLY HILLS BROTHER CA HEADSHOULDERS LAW COURT MURDER PARENT TRIAL; Menendez, Lyle; Menendez, Erik Erik Menendez Lyle Menendez DISCLAIMER: The image is presented in its original, uncropped, and untoned state. Due to the age and historical nature of the image, we recommend verifying all associated metadata, which was transferred from the index stored by the Bettmann Archives, and may be truncated.

Both brothers were arrested in March of 1990. Lyle Menendez was 21, and Erik, who turned himself in after his brother's arrest, was 18.

They are accused of first-degree murder, and the trial began in July 1993.

What was the defense during the Menendez brothers' trials?

Lyle Menendez, one of two brothers on trial for the shotgun murder of their wealthy parents, breaks down in tears September 10, 1993 as he recalls incidents of sexual abuse by his father during court testimony. At left are photographs, some showing the genitals of Lyle and brother Erik as children, which the defense claims their father took. Reuters/Lee Celano

Once the trials beganthey were tried separately in the original casethe brothers claimed self-defense, turning the attention to a history of sexual abuse from their father and believing their parents were going to kill them.

What was the original sentence handed down to Menendez brothers?

Erik Menendez testifies under cross examination by Deputy District Attorney Lester Kuriyama during a court session October 1, 1993. Kuriyama questioned Menendez's truthfulness in the questioning of the defendant. Menendez and his brother Lyle are on trial for the shotgun murder of their parents. REUTERS/Sam Mircovich

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Both juries were deadlocked on the first-degree murder charge.

When did the Menendez brothers' second trial begin?

LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES: This 02 February 1995 file photo shows Erik (L) and Lyle (R) Menendez talking in a Los Angeles courtroom. The brothers were convicted by a jury 20 March of murdering their parents. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read KIM KULISH/AFP via Getty Images)

In October 1995, the brothers were retried for the murder of their parents. This time, the case was presented in front of a single jury.

A significant part of the defense's evidence about the sexual abuse was excluded during the trial.

What was the final sentence handed down to Menendez brothers?

Double-murder defendant Lyle Menendez (R) listens to his public defender, Teri Towery, February 27 during closing arguments in his and his brother Erik's second murder trial. The previous trial in the murder of their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez ended in a mistrial

In March 1996, six years after the brothers were first arrested, the jury found them guilty of first-degree murder.

Erick and Klye Menendez were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

When did a possible resentencing of the Menendez brothers begin?

Erik Menendez (L) and his brother Lyle (R) listen during a pre-trial hearing, on December 29, 1992 in Los Angeles after the two pleaded innocent in the August 1989 shotgun deaths of their wealthy parents, Jose and Mary Louise Menendez of Beverly Hills, Calif. It took 40 months for the Superior Court arraignment after prosecutors and defense attorneys battled over the admissibility of taped confessions the brothers allegedly made to their psychotherapist. AFP PHOTO VINCE BUCCI (Photo by VINCE BUCCI / AFP) (Photo by VINCE BUCCI/AFP via Getty Images)

After the convictions were upheld and a slew of habeas corpus petitions were denied, the case returned to the public eye in March of 2023.

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The Attorneys presented new evidence for the Menendez brothers, which included a former member of the boy band Menudo, who alleged that Jose Menendez sexually abused him.

When did the Netflix series about the Menendez brothers come out?

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 12: (L-R) Ryan Murphy, Javier Bardem, Chloe Sevigny, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Cooper Koch, Nathan Lane, Ari Graynor, and Ian Brennan speak onstage during the Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story | NY Tastemaker at Crosby Hotel on September 12, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Netflix)

"Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" first aired on Netflix in September 2024.

When did the court begin reviewing evidence in the Menendez brothers' case?

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon extends a hand to shake hands with Joan Andersen VanderMolen, sister of Kitty Menendez, at the end of a news conference on a decision in the case of brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez, who have spent 34 years in prison for the shotgun murder of their parents, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., October 24, 2024. REUTERS/Mike Blake

In early October 2024, then-Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon and his office began reviewing the new evidence.

Family members of the Menendez brothers also held a press conference, pleading for their release from prison.

When did the Los Angeles DA change from Gascon to Nathan Hochman?

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman speaks during a news conference about the case of Erik and Lyle Menendez, in Los Angeles, California on March 10, 2025. The brothers were jailed for life after a blockbuster legal drama in the 1990s detailing the gruesome 1989 slayings of Jose and Kitty Menendez at the family's luxury Beverly Hills mansion. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)

Hochman defeated Gascon and was named the new Los Angeles DA in December 2024. His views on the case are vastly different from Gascon:

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The "brothers have never come clean and admitted that they lied about their self-defense as well as suborned perjury and attempted to suborn perjury by their friends for the lies, among others, of their father violently raping Lyle's girlfriend, their mother poisoning the family, and their attempt to get a handgun the day before the murders," the DA said in a statement via ABC.

What is the latest with the Menendez brothers' resentencing case?

MONTEREY PARK, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 26: California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks at East Los Angeles College on February 26, 2025 in Monterey Park, California. Newsom announced the California Jobs First Economic Blueprint along with additional funding for Los Angeles communities impacted by wildfires today. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Although he has not intervened in the past, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has gone to the state parole board and asked for a "risk assessment" test. The purpose will be to determine whether the others have been rehabilitated and would no longer pose a danger to the public if released.

When will Menendez brothers appear before parole board?

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 16: A supporter holds a sign at a press conference with Menendez family members outside the Criminal Courts Building on October 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Members of the Menendez family held the news conference to call for the release of brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez from prison nearly thirty years after their conviction in 1996 for killing their parents in Beverly Hills. The district attorneys office is looking at new evidence which supports the brothers claim they were sexually abused by their father. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Originally, the Los Angeles wildfires pushed the resentencing case back to March 20 and 21, 2025. The district attorney's office has stated it will not support the resentencing of the Menendez brothers.

Now, a Los Angeles judge has denied Nathan Hochman's motion to withdraw, and the hearing will proceed as planned for April 17 and 18.

This article originally appeared on The List Wire: Menendez brothers updates: A timeline of the infamous case
A Met Police training officer called anti-transgender women a bunch of lesbians, a tribunal has heard.

Sgt Karl Eccott, an LGBT+ training officer, allegedly made the comments in a session with trainee Melanie Newman, who is now bringing harassment and direct discrimination claims against the Met.

Ms Newman claimed in her witness statement to the tribunal, held in Croydon, south London, that the Met Police was a hostile environment for anyone with gender-critical opinions.

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The former journalist added she was suing because she had no other choice.

Ms Newman is now a detective constable with the Met, based in the child abuse investigation team in Croydon, the tribunal heard.

She listed several symptoms of what she called an anti-gender-critical narrative at the Met, including the invitation of trans activists to speak whom she said were extremely hostile to gender-critical people.

Eva Echo, a transgender activist, told a 2023 Trans Day of Visibility (TDOV) seminar that trans people needed to be saved from gender-critical people, who had warped, twisted views, Ms Newman claimed.

A poster advertising the Trans Day of Visibility in 2023

She added: I saw it not as an isolated offensive incident but as a reflection of institutional discrimination against gender-critical people.

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Ms Newman  who describes herself as gender-critical, having a belief in only two sexes  claimed speakers at the event delivered a one-sided invective and she couldnt believe what she was hearing.

She added: The impression I had was of someone who deeply loathed [gender-critical] women. I did not perceive Echo as a woman but as an angry man.

She later complained internally but was told no further action would be taken because the transgender activist was not an employee.

Later, screenshots of the ticket page for the event were posted on Twitter, now X, provoking mainly critical reactions.

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Many comments complained of a lack of policing at a recent event organised by gender-critical activist Posie Parker, founder of Let Women Speak.

Ms Newman added that at one point, the audience at New Scotland Yard hissed when Miss Parkers name was mentioned.

She claimed one of the planned speakers at the TDOV event, trans woman and Kent Police hate crime adviser Shea Coffey, had previously reposted a video of Miss Parker being assaulted at an event in New Zealand the day before, with a caption saying it was hilarious.

Ms Newman said she did not challenge New Scotland Yards TDOV event at the time because senior officers had effectively endorsed it.

A social media post from transgender activist Eva Echo

On why she was now suing the Met, she added: I feel only a public ruling that TDOV was discriminatory and an act of harassment in the context of all these facts will persuade the MPS that its reaction to my complaint to this date has been inadequate and that more decisive management action in support of [gender critical] staff is needed.

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Det Chief Insp Charlotte Cadden, who is a lesbian, agreed the event was discriminatory.

She said: The homophobic terminology used by two of the speakers is classed as offensive by many gay people and felt specifically oppressive to me as a lesbian officer.

Aileen McColgan KC, acting on behalf of the Met, told Ms Cadden the purpose of the TDOV event was to celebrate trans identity. The five-day tribunal continues.

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Meta's chief AI scientist accused the Trump administration of starting a "witch hunt" in academia.

Yann LeCun said Monday that academics were at risk of losing their green cards "based on their speech."

LeCun previously warned of US brain drain because of research funding cuts.

Meta's chief AI scientist has ramped up his criticism of the Trump administration, accusing it of starting a "witch hunt in academia" that could undermine the US's position in AI research.



"The Trump administration has started a witch hunt in academia, moving to cancel the green card of some folks and expel them based on their speech (so much for free speech!)," Yann LeCun wrote in a Monday LinkedIn post.



LeCun, a Nobel Prize-winning scientist and one of the godfathers of modern AI, compared the situation to the Cold War-era Red Scare, referencing Qian Xuesen, a Chinese scientist accused of being a communist in the 1950s and deported to China.



Qian later led China's nuclear missile program. Dan A. Kimball, the then-United States Undersecretary of the Navy, later called Qian's deportation "the stupidest thing this country ever did," LeCun noted.

His remarks come as AI industry leaders warn that President Donald Trump's policies could weaken America's standing in the field. On Monday, a coalition of AI and tech groups sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, cautioning that Trump administration cuts to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST, could hamper US AI leadership.

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While Trump supported AI research at NIST during his first term, his administration is now scaling back funding and public-private collaboration.

"We caution that downsizing NIST or eliminating these initiatives will have ramifications for the ability of the American AI industry to continue to lead globally," the groups wrote.

LeCun has previously echoed these warnings. In February, he said that Trump's cuts to research funding could push US-based scientists abroad.

"The US seems set on destroying its public research funding system. Many US-based scientists are looking for a Plan B," he wrote on LinkedIn last month.



However, LeCun's most recent comments appear to escalate his warnings, pointing to government pressure on the tech industry itself.

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While he noted the tech industry as a whole is not aligned with authoritarianism, "it has to survive in an environment where the government demands total submission under the threat of harassment into oblivion."

LeCun also took aim at Elon Musk, writing that the billionaire is "aligned with authoritarianism, conspiracy theories, and the erosion of reliable sources of information."



His remarks come as Meta and Mark Zuckerberg have taken steps that appear to strengthen ties with Trump and his allies  including Musk.

In the past seven months, Zuckerberg has praised Trump as a "badass" after an assassination attempt, met with him at Mar-a-Lago, donated $1 million to his inaugural committee via Meta, and attended Trump's inauguration.

Meta also cut back on fact-checking efforts in January. Trump-supporting Republicans, such as Brendan Carr, have previously attacked what they see as the censorship of conservative viewpoints on social media platforms.

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LeCun did not address Meta's political stance directly, but his criticism of the Trump administration could be seen as at odds with the company's recent moves.

LeCun, who has been at Meta for over 11 years, clarified in a LinkedIn comment that his influence at the company is "largely intellectual."

Meta, LeCun, Musk, and the White House did not immediately respond to a Business Insider request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
ST. LOUIS  A mother is speaking out following the announcement of federal charges in a case involving her juvenile daughter, who investigators say is the victim of sexual abuse.

Federal agents arrested a Mexican national in the St. Louis area on Monday approximately two weeks after he was indicted on child sex crimes.

The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Missouri announced that Giovanni Falcon, 40, was indicted on Feb. 26 for transferring obscene material to a minor and coercion and enticement of a minor. The suspect, Giovanni Falcon, does not have legal U.S. citizenship, according to authorities.

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Prosecutors filed a motion to have Falcon detained until trial, saying he poses a flight risk since hes not in the country legally.

The indictment alleges that from July 26, 2024, to Aug. 12, 2024, Falcon exposed his genitals to a minor on the internet. It also alleged that Falcon coerced a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity between Jan. 1, 2024, and Aug. 12, 2024.

Legislature passes bill for state control of SLMPD

The mother, who requested to remain anonymous to protect her daughters identity, warned other parents to be cautious about whom they trust. She believes misplaced trust in this case is what led to disturbing criminal charges against Falcon. Authorities said Falcon was a friend of the family.

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With the assistance of bilingual St. Ann Police Captain Monica Ruelas, the lead investigator in the case, expressed the mothers appreciation for the charges and the heartache her family has endured.

She prays every single night that their family continues to be strong and that her daughter finds the closure she deserves, Ruelas said, translating for the juveniles mother.

Translating for the juveniles mother, Ruelas said, she trusted somebody, and it completely tore her and her family apart.

Captain Ruelas believes breaking down language barriers aided the juvenile and her family in coming forward.

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Were here for any child victim, regardless of age, gender, or race; were here to protect all of our children, Ruelas said.

Jillian Anderson, an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Missouri assigned to Project Safe Childhood, praised the minors parents for alerting law enforcement when they discovered suspicious communications.

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Its a difficult decision, but when parents notify law enforcement, it gives us the opportunity to ensure that this offender does not continue to perpetrate against other children, particularly in cases where theres a component of online exploitation, Anderson said.

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Anderson added that the prosecution of the allegations of sexual exploitation is the immediate priority.

The first step is ensuring that our local St. Louis child receives justice in this case, she said. After that, he will be deported back to Mexico.

If convicted, the coercion charge is punishable by 10 years to life imprisonment, along with a possible $250,000 fine. The transfer of obscene material charge carries a 10-year prison term and a similar fine.

Falcon, who has a University City address, appeared in court on March 10 and pleaded not guilty.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A 36-year-old Mexican man has been charged for immigration and firearms offenses by federal authorities for reportedly shooting a man in front of his daughter.

A federal indictment unsealed Tuesday charged Jose Guadalupe Vazquez-Delgado with possession of ammunition by an illegal alien and unlawful reentry into the United States, according to Robert E. McGuire, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.

Multi-state coalition led by TN Attorney General submits final proposed remedies for illegal monopoly by Google

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According to court documents, Vazquez was drinking heavily in an Antioch house when he started arguing with the victim. The argument continued outside of the house and the victims 7-year-old daughter followed the men outside. Moments later, Vazquez shot the victim numerous times before running away from the house. The victim was transported to the hospital where he received life-saving emergency surgery.

Vazquez left 14 shell casings, his truck, his Mexican passport and other items at the house, according to court documents. Before this shooting incident, immigration officials had previously deported Vazquez from the country to Mexico on at least two prior occasions.

Maryville mans bid to dismiss FBI kill list plot conviction rejected by judge

If convicted, Vazquez faces up to 15 years in federal prison for the firearms offense and up to two years in prison for the immigration offense.

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Operations like this underscore the FBIs commitment to working with our partners to keep dangerous people and weapons from infecting our communities said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. The FBI in Tennessee is committed to actively investigating and apprehending individuals wanted for federal violations and those unlawfully present in the United States and remains steadfast in its mission to uphold the Constitution.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Two parents are facing child abuse charges after eight children were found living in filthy conditions last month in Luna County, according to the Deming District Attorneys Office.

New Mexico State Police: Deming couple arrested for child abuse, sex crimes

Melvin Cordell and Valerie Cordell were arrested on Friday, Feb. 21, after New Mexico State Police investigators discovered the eight children living in deplorable conditions at the 200 block of Opatah Road in Luna County.

Photos courtesy of New Mexico State Police

Valerie Cordell, 41, was charged with 16 counts of child abuse and one count of conspiracy to commit child abuse. Melvin Cordell, 50, was charged with 16 counts of child abuse, two counts of criminal sexual penetration, one count of criminal sexual contact of a minor, and one count of conspiracy to commit child abuse.

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Valerie Cordell was held without bond on Monday, March 3 and Melvin Cordell was held without bond on Monday, March 10.

Authorities were originally alerted in October 2024 about a child who was allegedly sexually assaulted over the course of four years. During the investigation, authorities learned that all eight children were living in filthy conditions, according to the Deming District Attorneys Office.

Investigating officers described it as an inhumane, squalid scene. A dilapidated trailer, several unlivable camping trailers, broken-down vehicles, boxes of rotting food, bags of trash, along with buckets located all around the property filled with human feces. The children were found in filthy conditions. They lived outside, year-round, sleeping on a mattress in a semi-underground cave, with tunnels from four to six feet in length or took shelter in the broken-down vehicles, the District Attorneys 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 KTSM 9 News.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  A New Mexico refugee student trafficked by her sponsor family. Young women with no family support, taken advantage of on the streets of Albuquerque. It was personal stories like those and unforeseen encounters with human trafficking victims that led Shelley Repp to an unexpected calling  now leading the New Mexico Dream Center, a nonprofit in Albuquerque focused on outreach, services, and prevention for trafficking victims.

Repp was recently recognized for Nexstar Media Groups 2025 Remarkable Women contest. This week on the New Mexico News Insiders Podcast, she joins Chris and Gabby to discuss what led her to this work and how prevalent the issue of human trafficking is in New Mexico. She also offers insight into a part of society online that she claims parents need to know about.

Repp debunks some misconceptions about human trafficking, including the idea that it only happens to kidnapping victims. We see traffickers who operate in some very specific models, and there are four models that are super common here in New Mexico.

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She explains the main methods victims are trafficked are through a romantic-relationship-based model, something often predicated online, familial trafficking, gang trafficking, and homeless youth exploitation. Repp also offers advice for parents on how to lean into uncomfortable, but important conversations with their children about safe relationships.

Those topics and more are discussed at length in the full discussion above.

Stay informed with the latest news by subscribing to the New Mexico News Insiders Podcast wherever you listen. Download new episodes of the New Mexico News Insiders every Tuesday, starting around 5:30 a.m., Mountain time. Episodes are available on most podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Podbean, among others.

You can also watch our podcasts in video form both on-air or online. Tune in to an abbreviated version of the New Mexico News Insiders podcast on broadcast television every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. on Fox New Mexico. Full video episodes are posted on KRQEs YouTube page at youtube.com/krqenews13.

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Having trouble finding the show? Try searching your favorite podcast player with the term KRQE or New Mexico News Insiders (without the quotes). You can also use the links above to find the podcast on each service or listen to the audio player at the top of this post.

If you have a question, comment, or suggestion for who should be interviewed on the podcast, let us know! Email your hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.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 KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
The Oxford Center's Brighton location. March 11, 2025. Photo by Jon King.

The CEO of a therapy treatment center was among three employees charged with second degree murder and involuntary manslaughter after a young boy burned to death inside a hyperbaric oxygen chamber in Troy, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Tuesday.

Tamela Peterson, 58, of Brighton, the CEO of Oxford Center, was charged with second-degree murder, which carries a potential life sentence, and involuntary manslaughter, a 15-year felony. Also facing those charges was Jeffrey Alan Mosteller, 64, of Clinton Township, Oxford Centers safety director, and Gary Marken, 65, of Spring Arbor, the primary management assistant at the facility.

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A fourth employee, Aleta Moffitt, 60, of Rochester Hills, the operator of the hyperbaric chamber, was charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter and one count of medical records  intentionally placing false information on chart, a four-year felony.

All four were charged by the Michigan Attorney Generals Office in Oakland Countys 52-4 District Court in relation to the Jan. 31 death of 5-year-old Thomas Cooper of Royal Oak, who was killed after the hyperbaric oxygen chamber he was being treated in burst into flames at the centers Troy facility. His mother, Annie Cooper, ran in from an adjacent waiting area to try and free her son, but was unable to do so, suffering third-degree burns to her arms in the process.

The attorney generals office alleges that Oxford Center officials deliberately discarded safety standards for treatment published by both the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Sechrist, the manufacturer of the hyperbaric chamber.

This tragedy could have been prevented if proper safety protocols were followed, said Dana Nessel. Instead, deliberate negligence and a blatant disregard for safety cost a child his life. I appreciate the investigatory efforts of the Troy Police Department. My office remains committed to seeking justice for Thomas and holding those responsible accountable.

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The criminal investigation was conducted by the Troy Police Department, which noted all four defendants are in custody and awaiting arraignment.

After an extensive and difficult investigation, these arrests reflect the dedication and commitment of our investigators through this process, said Troy Police Chief Josh Jones. We appreciate the partnership with the Michigan Attorney Generals Office leading up to the arrests yesterday and as we move forward.

However, a statement from the Oxford Center sent to Michigan Advance, said the timing of the charges was surprising and indicated the investigation had yet to be completed.

After cooperating with multiple investigations starting immediately after the tragic accident in January, we are disappointed to see charges filed, read the statement. The timing of these charges is surprising, as the typical protocol after a fire-related accident has not yet been completed. There are still outstanding questions about how this occurred. Yet, the Attorney Generals office proceeded to pursue charges without those answers. Our highest priority every day is the safety and wellbeing of the children and families we serve, which continues during this process.

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The boys family is being represented by James Harrington, managing partner at Fieger Law.

Under no circumstances should anything like this ever happen  everwhen we met with the family, it was one of the most heartbreaking things Ive ever seen, he told reporters in February.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Cooper was undergoing his 36th treatment in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber for ADHD and sleep apnea when it caught fire.

Neither of those conditions has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for hyperbaric chamber use, which is best known for treating deep-sea divers affected by the rapid change in pressure, but is also commonly used to treat burn victims as well as those suffering from anemia, carbon monoxide poisoning and skin or bone infections.

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The increased air pressure in the chamber helps the lungs collect more oxygen. Getting more oxygen to the tissues that need it can help the body heal and fight certain infections, states the FDA website.

While not FDA approved, the Oxford Center touts the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or HBOT, for a variety of conditions, including Alzheimers disease. autism spectrum disorder, cancer, depression, lupus, spider bites and traumatic brain injuries.

While it is not illegal to use HBOT for non-approved conditions, the FDA does note the therapy is not without risk.

High concentrations of oxygen also pose the risk of fire, which is one reason why the FDA recommends treatment at an accredited facility. Explosions and fires have occurred in HBOT chambers that have not been reviewed by the FDA and are located at unaccredited facilities, states the agencys website.

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This is not the first time Oxford Center officials have been charged by the AGs office. In 2022, Kimberly Casey Coden-Diskin, who worked as a therapist at the Oxford Centers Brighton location, was charged with 16 counts of unauthorized practice of a health profession and two counts of identity theft after being accused of falsely representing herself as a Board-Certified Behavioral Analyst by using the identity of another state certified individual. She was later sentenced to a minimum of four years in prison after entering a guilty plea.

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LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced charges against the four people who were arrested in the case that led to the death of a 5-year-old boy from Royal Oak, who was killed in a hyperbaric chamber explosion.

The attorney generals office has charged the following three defendants with second-degree murder: the owner of the Oxford Center, Tamala Peterson, 58, of Brighton. Safety Manager Jeffery Mosteller, 64, of Clinton Township, and Gary Marken, 65, of Spring Arbor, the primary management assistant at the facility.

Each faces one count of second-degree murder and one count of involuntary manslaughter.

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Aleta Moffitt, 60, of Rochester Hills, who was operating the hyperbaric chamber, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and one count of intentionally placing false medical information on a medical records chart.

Due to many failures by men and women who would call themselves medical professionals and wanton or willful disregard for the likelihood that their actions would cause the death of a patient, 5-year-old Thomas Cooper was killed when a fire erupted inside the pressurized, pure oxygen environment inside the chamber. A single spark, it appears, ignited into a fully involved fire that claimed Thomass life within seconds, said Nessel.

We intend to demonstrate in court a series of actions undertaken by these defendants that satisfy these charges and tragically led to this childs death, said Nessel.

CBS Detroit reports that Thomas Cooper was in the chamber when it exploded on January 31, 2025. The boys mother was also in the room at the time and was injured in the explosion.

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The Troy Police Department confirmed that four people were arrested Monday morning and will be arraigned 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 WLNS 6 News.
China Buzz: DeepSeek and the thriving Chinese AI industry bring convenience to its users

People's Daily Online) 08:23, March 11, 2025

The surge of DeepSeek has brought AI into the spotlight for Chinese society. AI has been one of the most hotly discussed topics during this year's "two sessions," the annual gathering of China's top legislature and top political advisory body.

On the sidelines of the ongoing "two sessions," Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a press conference that from "two bombs and one satellite", to the Shenzhou crewed space missions, Chang'e lunar exploration program, 5G, quantum computing and DeepSeek, China's technological successes have constantly broken through people's imagination. Wang said science and technology should not be used to put up an iron curtain, but should be the wealth that benefits all and is shared by all.

People's Daily Online interviewed several Chinese citizens to hear their thoughts on DeepSeek and the AI industry, and to learn how AI has benefited and changed their lives.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chengliang)
The Michigan Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Heres a look at March 10, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Daily 3 numbers from March 10 drawing

Midday: 3-9-0

Evening: 8-8-8

Check Daily 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily 4 numbers from March 10 drawing

Midday: 1-2-2-7

Evening: 9-6-3-6

Check Daily 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from March 10 drawing

07-08-13-21-42, Lucky Ball: 08

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Poker Lotto numbers from March 10 drawing

JD-2C-3C-5C-9C

Check Poker Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from March 10 drawing

10-13-19-26-38

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07-10-16-19-35

Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily Keno numbers from March 10 drawing

05-07-10-15-20-25-36-38-40-44-45-52-55-58-60-63-71-73-75-77-78-79

Check Daily Keno payouts and previous drawings here.

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:

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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:

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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 10, 2025
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) Oakland County Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald has charged 34-year-old Kelli Bryant with three counts of welfare fraud, adding to the three counts of first-degree child abuse.

According to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, reviewed payments by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) revealed an alleged overpayment obtained by fraud of $29,397 from January 2022 through February 2025.

Kelli Marie Bryans booking photograph. (Photo: Oakland County Sheriff)

The defendant appears to have effectively abandoned her children while collecting their public assistance, said Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald. This crime is, first and foremost, a theft from Kelli Bryants children. These resources were intended to ensure they had the basic necessities denied to them. The children deserved better.

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On Feb. 14, 2025, the Oakland County Sheriffs Office deputies arrested Byrant after she abandoned her three children for years, leaving them in horrendous living conditions.

Deputies found a 15-year-old boy, a 13-year-old girl, and a 12-year-old girl inside a home on the 600 block of Lydia Lane in Pontiac. The boy told deputies he and his sisters were abandoned in 2020 or 2021, left to live alone.

Throughout my extensive career in this field, I have never encountered a scenario as dire and

prolonged as this one, involving abandonment, neglect, and abuse of the highest order, said Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard.

Welfare fraud over $500 is punishable by up to four years in prison or a $5000 fine.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Neighbors in a Midtown neighborhood are on edge after a shooting led to a bullet flying through an innocent womans window.

Neighbors say they heard a loud party at the house on Ashlawn, near the Poplar and Hollywood intersection, around 11 p.m. A witness told police he had been there earlier shooting a rap video.

The City of Memphis has the house registered as a short-term rental. It had a permit and was renewed in November 2024.

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MPD calls Midtown Airbnb a nuisance property after shots fired

Bullet came through womans window. WREG photo

One woman, who didnt want to be identified, heard three rounds of gunfire before a bullet pierced a living room window, ricocheted off a glass cabinet, and hit a picture hanging on another wall.

I didnt even have time to process what was going on and call 911, but he was already there, said another neighbor.

An Airbnb Spokesperson made a statement:

Airbnb bans parties, and the vast majority of Hosts and guests on Airbnb are responsible neighbors  issues like this are rare. Our specialized Safety team immediately removed the guest who booked this reservation, and we are in contact with the neighbors as we investigate further. We deploy a number of measures and resources to promote safe and responsible travel on Airbnb, including a 24/7 Neighborhood Support Line for neighbors to report urgent concerns directly to us.

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Man points gun at Wingstop employee: MPD

If you are using it for a family party or get-together, thats fine. Its the renting out for parties and throwing a big bash that creates a zoning violation, said Public Works Director Robert Knech.

In July, one person was killed and another injured when someone open-fired at an Overton High School graduation party on Felix in the Cooper-Young neighborhood.

Over the last two years, police responded to at least a half dozen shootings at vacation rentals in the Midtown area, including four that were fatal.

We are working closely with the Shelby County DAs Office to address this nuisance property, said MPD Chief CJ Davis.

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No one was hurt in the shooting. If you have any information that can help police with their investigation, call CrimeStoppers at (901)528-CASH.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
WASHINGTON  House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) was unable to say what crimes had been committed by a student protester arrested and set for deportation by the Donald Trump administration.

Federal immigration agents on Sunday arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a legal permanent resident of the U.S. and recent graduate student at Columbia University, and sent him to a detention facility in Louisiana because he helped organize protests against Israels war in Gaza.

Asked at a press conference what crime he believed Khalil committed, Johnson said Khalil had been the mastermind of dangerous protests that the speaker personally witnessed when he visited Columbias campus last April. He said Jewish students feared for their physical safety and that school administrators failed to control the situation.

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This guy apparently was a mastermind of those very things when the gnashing of teeth and the ripping of clothes and the people screaming at me, wanting to rip me limb from limb because I was there talking about moral clarity and how theres a right and a wrong, Johnson said. They were threatening physical violence of their fellow students. (Johnson and several other Republicans were heckled from a distance, according to a HuffPost reporter on the scene that day.)

Khalil hasnt been charged with a crime, but experts say the U.S. has leeway to deport green card holders if officials have reasonable grounds to suspect they could engage in terroristic activities.

Khalil led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, the Department of Homeland Security said Sunday.

Civil liberties groups, free speech advocates and congressional Democrats have raised alarms about Khalils arrest representing an assault on First Amendment rights.

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The governments actions are obviously intended to intimidate and chill speech on one side of a public debate, the American Civil Liberties Unions Ben Wizner said Monday in a press release.

The detention of Mahmoud Khalil is ripped straight from the authoritarian playbook. His arrest sets an extremely dangerous and chilling precedent from an administration that is hellbent on wielding fear and intimidation as weapons to crush political dissent, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, said Tuesday.

Mahmoud Khalil is a legal permanent resident whose wife, an American citizen, is eight months pregnant, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said Monday. To the extent his actions were inconsistent with Columbia University policy and created an unacceptable hostile academic environment for Jewish students and others, there is a serious university disciplinary process that can handle the matter.

Not all Democrats disagreed with the arrest. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) told HuffPost that Columbia protesters broke the law when they took over and occupied campus buildings.

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Taking over a campus is not free speech, Fetterman said.

In a statement over the weekend, Trump pointed to executive orders he signed in January amid vows to deport Hamas sympathizers on student visas.

Following my previously signed Executive Orders, ICE proudly apprehended and detained Mahmoud Khalil, a Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas Student on the campus of Columbia University, Trump said on TruthSocial on Monday. This is the first arrest of many to come. We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, and the Trump Administration will not tolerate it.

A wrinkle in Khalils case is that hes a lawful permanent resident with more legal protection than a student visa holder would have, according to immigration policy experts. The officers who arrested Khalil initially told his lawyers they were revoking his student visa; Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested Sunday that his legal status didnt make a difference.

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We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported, Rubio said.

Johnson echoed Trumps vow to deport student visa holders.

If you are on a student visa and youre in America and youre an aspiring young terrorist who wants to prey upon your Jewish classmates, youre going home. Were going to arrest your tail and were going to send you home where you belong, Johnson said.

Igor Bobic contributed reporting.
Speaker Mike Johnson plans to roll the dice Tuesday on a GOP bill to stop the federal government from shutting down this weekend.

The top House leader is putting his partys short-term funding measure to a vote on the floor not knowing if he has the votes to pass it and facing opposition from within his own ranks.

I feel good. I think well have the votes, he told reporters Monday evening, saying he has talked to President Donald Trump but hasnt asked him to assist in whipping efforts.

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I hope that he doesnt have to do that, Johnson said. We should be able to do our business, but look he has always been very helpful, willing to help as needed.

Still, Vice President JD Vance is slated to attend the House Republican weekly conference meeting ahead of the vote early Tuesday morning, which could help change some minds.

Vance will attend the House Republicans' weekly meeting Tuesday morning to remind them what Trump wants. / Stephen Maturen / Getty Images

At least a handful of Republicans in the very narrowly divided chamber have declared themselves undecided on whether to back the legislation, which includes funding to help carry out Trumps mass deportations.

Rep. Thomas Massie, the fiscal conservative firebrand from Kentucky, flat out says hes a hard no on the spending bill.

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One GOP lawmaker predicted others will be joining Massie. It looks like five no [votes], the lawmaker told the Daily Beast.

But GOP leaders say theyre optimistic theyll hold the line on defections.

I think were going to get this [bill] done, one senior GOP lawmaker told the Daily Beast. No one wants to stop DJTs agenda.

Trump has called on Republicans to rally around the bill, posting on Truth Social : All Republicans should vote (Please!) YES next week. NO DISSENT.

However, Johnson is threading a needle in rallying support with his razor-thin majority, and Republicans are not expected to receive much backing from Democrats.

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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has railed against the legislation, alleging it dramatically cuts health care, nutritional assistance for children and families, and veterans benefits.

It is not something we could ever support. House Democrats will not be complicit in the Republican effort to hurt the American people, Jeffries told reporters on Monday evening.

Johnson said he hasnt talked to Jeffries in an attempt to attract bipartisan support, but called on members across the aisle to back the measure.

We have not [spoken] since the text dropped, but I look forward to talking with them about it, he said. I cant imagine that they would just tell everyone to vote against funding the government, when they are all on video 1,000 times saying and that would be a great calamity for the country.

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Republicans deny that the bill will negatively impact key programs.

It remains unclear whether some moderate Democrats will break party lines to support the House funding bill. (Ten Democrats broke ranks to join Republicans in censuring their fellow Democratic colleague Al Green last week.)

Passing the legislation through the Senate could be an even heavier lift than in the House, with a sizable number of Senate Democrats blasting the bill. Plus, the legislation would require 60 votes to pass the Senate, with the support of at least seven Democrats to break a filibuster.

This is a shutdown bill thats bad for the economylet Trump shut down whatever he wants, hurting everyday folks to use money for tax breaks for the uber-rich. Hell no! Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) said on social media .

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Some centrist Democrats, however, have voiced concerns about taking political heat for a government shutdown. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) recently cautioned on X: Never, never, never vote for a shutdownever.

And Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) told Punchbowl News shes not satisfied with the bill. But she didnt say whether she would vote against it.
WASHINGTON  House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has set up a high-stakes vote Tuesday afternoon on a bill to head off a partial government shutdown Friday night.

Vice President JD Vance pitched the bill to Republicans in a morning meeting by saying it would empower Donald Trumps administration to continue slashing federal agencies as Elon Musk has been doing through the so-called Department of Government Efficiency.

This is how the president has asked us to fight now so that they can do what theyre doing with DOGE, Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) told reporters after the meeting.

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Davidson is one of several conservative Republicans who sometimes threatens to vote against spending bills, especially continuing resolutions like the one the House will vote on later Tuesday. Trump has urged Republicans to back the bill and already called out a lawmaker who pledged a no vote, saying he should face a Republican primary challenger.

Republicans have cheered the DOGE efforts to fire federal workers and shutter entire bureaucracies within the federal government even as it represents a clear affront to their own power as stewards of federal spending under the Constitution.

Johnson told reporters he expects the Trump administration not to spend some of the money they are directing it to spend.

Some of the things that are being appropriated, the executive branch has the authority not to spend, Johnson said. We just do a top-line basic authorization and the president always has a lot of discretion through his administration, through his Cabinet secretaries, to determine how its spent.

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The DOGE efforts have been the subject of several lawsuits accusing the administration of overstepping its constitutional authority. A federal judge last month said the administration had acted illegally in firing probationary federal workers, for instance.

Johnson and other Republicans said they expect the Trump administration to follow a statutory process for getting Congress to bless its impoundment of federal funds by sending a rescission message to set up a vote in the House and Senate.

It would be right for them to send a rescission package to Congress, for us to unwind that. We expect that that will be part of this process, Johnson said.

Republican lawmakers negotiated for weeks with Democrats who wanted the continuing resolution to include language forbidding the Trump administration from unilaterally trying to shutter federal agencies and programs. Republicans balked at the request, and top Democrats have pushed their colleagues to vote against the measure.

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The House Republican so-called spending bill does nothing to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) said Monday.

The bill would trim nondefense spending by $13 billion (out of $1.7 trillion overall) and would block the D.C. city government from spending a portion of its own funds. City leaders said the change would potentially force layoffs of teachers and police officers.

Because Republicans have a small majority in the House, if all Democrats oppose the funding plan, with full attendance, Johnson can lose only one Republican and still pass the bill. Senate Democrats would then have a chance to block the measure, though they have not said they would do so.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has joined the attacks on Mahmoud Khalil, the pro-Palestine Columbia University activist detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but cant name any crimes allegedly committed by Khalil.

At a press conference Tuesday morning, Johnson was directly asked what crimes Khalil committed to warrant his arrest, and gave a meandering answer calling the protest organizer a terrorist and attacking university officials for refusing to take control of the campus.

If you are on a student visa and youre an American, and youre an aspiring young terrorist who wants to prey upon your Jewish classmates, youre going home. Were gonna arrest yourtail, and were gonna send you home where you belong, Johnson said.

Q: What crime did Mahmoud Khalil commit to warrant his arrest?



MIKE JOHNSON: Let me tell you something. I went and faced down the angry mob at Columbia at the height of that stuff ... if you are on a student visa and you're an aspiring young terrorist who wants to prey upon your pic.twitter.com/wIS55W9At9  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 11, 2025

Theres just one big problem with that explanation: Khalil doesnt have a student visa, he has a green card. Its telling that Johnson couldnt name a law that was broken but gave a full-throated defense of ICEs detention of Khalil and President Trumps decision to target a legal permanent resident of the United States (with a pregnant, U.S. citizen wife) for deportation. Its an attack on the First Amendment to the Constitution and the right to free speech.

Only a select few Democrats have come out to condemn Khalils detention, such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York Attorney General Letitia James, Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and some members of the House Progressive Caucus. Considering that Trump promises to conduct more arrests and further infringe on a basic American right, with the full support of his fellow Republicans, the entire Democratic Party should be sounding the alarm and pulling out all of the stops.


When it comes to the subject of combat casualty care, without urgent intervention, the Military Health System will continue to slide into medical obsolescence, a retired Air Force trauma surgeon told senators on March 11.

The consequence of a military medical system that remains unprepared to handle a high volume of casualties in any future major conflict is that many will have survivable injuries, yet one in four will die at the hands of an unprepared system, said Dr. Jeremy W. Cannon, a professor of surgery at the University of Pennsylvanias Perelman School of Medicine and a surgeon in the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Only about 10 percent of military general surgeons experience the patient volume, level of acute cases and variety of cases needed to remain designated as combat ready. According to Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the percentage of military general surgeons meeting the necessary readiness standards dropped from 17 percent in 2015 to 10 percent in 2019.

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Were actively falling into the trap of the peacetime effect, Cannon, a retired Air Force colonel, told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

That 10 percent is caused by grossly inadequate patient volume, Cannon said. Theyre not doing the cases, not doing the procedures. Theyre not doing what they were trained to do. Thats because they dont have the patients in the facilities.

He and two other military retirees who rose to high-ranking positions in the military medical establishment testified on March 11 about various initiatives the community should be taking to prepare the militarys surge capacity, including the need to invest in Level 1 trauma centers for military medical facilities.

Weve de-scoped our facilities to the point where they take care of low-acuity community hospital patients, not trauma patients, said retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Paul A. Friedrichs, the former Joint Staff Surgeon.

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We need our key hospitals to be Level 1 trauma centers in partnership with the American College of Surgeons in the communities where theyre located.

To do so, there must be an adequate funding supply, he said.

Theres no way to fix the problems without the funding to meet these unique challenges, the witnesses said. Its a mistake to think military medical care could be provided at a lower cost than in the civilian sector and still be adequately prepared for conflict, Friedrichs added.

Costs of medical care nationwide, meanwhile, have risen about 5.1 percent per year, on average, since 1938, Friedrichs said. But since 2015, the budget for military hospitals has decreased by nearly 12 percent, according to Wicker, the committee chair.

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The military medical system has been working to attract patients back to the military treatment facilities after forcing many military beneficiaries to seek outside care in the private sector.

Pentagon plans to fix chronically understaffed medical facilities

We need our military medics taking care of sick patients, Friedrichs said.

Theres a comparison, for example, between taking care of a bladder cancer patient who needs a procedure to have their bladder removed, and someone who suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen and needs to have the bladder reconstructed as a result, he explained.

Meanwhile, military facilities must be fully staffed, said retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Douglas J. Robb, who served as the first director of the Defense Health Agency.

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That includes the full spectrum of support for critical care hospitals. Robb suggested the military also increase its collaborative workload with Veterans Affairs and civilian medical facilities, so military surgeons could experience a broader scope of cases that would bolster their combat readiness.

Instead of duplicating efforts, the Military Health System needs to work with Veterans Affairs facilities, said Friedrichs, who commanded a DOD-VA joint venture in Anchorage, Alaska.

There, he said patients were taken care of by a joint team. It was far more efficient than building duplicative adjacent facilities. Instead, we built integrated adjacent facilities.

Friedrichs noted there is $10 billion of unfunded facility needs in DOD and $100 billion in VA. There are opportunities to bring patients with acute care needs from the VA into DOD facilities, or bring DOD medical personnel into VA medical facilities, he said, so that we are not wasting money on duplicative buildings and instead focusing our resources on the patients who need our care.

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Its critical, Friedrichs added, that medics are clearly defined as being part of the joint military. As long as we preserve this false narrative that the Military Health System is separate and not covered by the same expectation of jointness as the rest of the military, were going to continue to have these fruitless bureaucratic buffoonery actions that distract us from taking care of patients, he said.

A root problem, Cannon said, is that no one within the Defense Department truly owns combat casualty care. He recommended that Congress establish clear leadership on that front.

Wicker acknowledged the importance to troops of there being enough combat-ready surgeons.

We know that troops in combat are more comfortable taking the risks necessary to accomplish their mission if they have confidence in military doctors, Wicker said.
Eric Sondermann is a Colorado-based independent political commentator. He writes regularly for ColoradoPolitics and the Gazette newspapers. Reach him at EWS@EricSondermann.com; follow him at @EricSondermann
MILTON, Fla. (WKRG)  Jennifer Frank will become the City of Miltons first female police chief.

Originally from Florida, the Windsor, Vermont Police Chiefs next role will be to lead the Milton Police Department.

Orange Beach police issue stern warning for spring breakers

Im so excited to come back, and weve got an incredible department fully staffed, Frank said.

Frank said her goal is to prepare her officers in the best way she can to protect the city.

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That tells you a lot about a department when you can bring in that level of employee or officer to join your agency, she said. Were going to capitalize on those skills.

Frank stressed the importance of communication in getting the job done.

It is through that teamwork, through that collaboration that were going to continue to reduce crime and to introduce all these preventative strategies, Frank said. We cant do that alone.

Mobile City Council to vote on beaver removal contract

Building off relationships that MPD officers already have with our county partners, with our regional areas, with our faith-based organizations, thats where were going to just continue to strive and move forward, she added.

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Frank looks forward to making the move down from Vermont with her husband. Shell take the reins of the department in late April.

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The Milwaukee County Jail. (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner)

A potential uprising in the Milwaukee County Jail in mid-February, reportedly sparked by conditions in the facility, was quelled by guards before it occurred, according to Milwaukee County Sheriffs Office emails obtained by Wisconsin Examiner.

Jail staff transported 42-year-old Keenan Brown to a segregation unit after Brown allegedly threatened to incite a riot in one of the jails housing units, according to sheriffs department records.

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One incident report states that Brown was shouting to the entire housing unit that the inmates needed to stick up for themselves and that they would not be taken seriously until they started assaulting staff. Brown, according to the report, was placed on administrative segregation as a result.

Another email, sent by a sergeant in the Milwaukee County Sheriffs Detention Services Bureau to other jail supervisors on Feb. 12, mentions that jail supervisors learned that Brown had used a tablet to message his mother with information about a potential riot and encouraged her to post the information on social media and contact Fox6 News. The email states that when jail staff spoke to Brown, he expressed concerns about jail occupants not being let out of their cells all day and his feelings that the guards were violating their rights.

The Wisconsin Examiners Criminal Justice Reporting Project shines a light on incarceration, law enforcement and criminal justice issues with support from the Public Welfare Foundation

Staff questioned Brown about possible threats made about inciting a riot, according to the sergeants email, and Brown replied that several people housed in the jail were making such comments. Emails note that Brown was moved to segregation in the jails POD 4D. At least 20 people were removed from POD 5D. While it appears from the emails that Brown was one of them, the sheriffs office has not confirmed that was his previous housing. The sheriffs office has not said whether Brown remains in the segregation unit.

When Brown was removed from his cell, according to a major incident summary obtained by Wisconsin Examiner through open records requests, he was in a wheelchair. The report says that he stood up and got into a defensive stance and became violently aggressive with staff. The report lists four jail guards as victims, and refers to photos and body camera footage that was captured of the cell extraction. Jail Staff used a type of pepper spray called Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) and a taser, according to the summary.

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The Milwaukee County Sheriffs Office didnt respond to a request for comment for this story. Court records and online booking information show that Brown was booked into the jail on April 1, 2024. He was charged with two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety with use of a dangerous weapon, using a vehicle to flee an officer, resisting an officer, and one count of second-degree recklessly endangering safety. His next court date is set for March 27, 2025.

There have been previous incidents of unrest in the jail in recent years. During the summer of 2023, over two dozen men housed in the jail barricaded themselves in a library area. The jails Correctional Emergency Response Team (CERT) was activated, and the jail was locked down.

That standoff began as a protest over conditions in the jail. It ended after correctional staff used OC spray to remove the men from the library. The unrest wasnt made public for weeks, until the district attorneys office filed a complaint charging the 27 men with disorderly conduct.

After the 2023 unrest was made public Sylvester Jackson, a Milwaukee-area incarceration activist, told Wisconsin Examiner that incarcerated people have turned to fomenting unrest when they dont see other options to raise their concerns. When you get to a point where you cant take no more, you go to the extreme to do what you got to do to literally draw attention, said Jackson.

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The Milwaukee County Jail has been the object of growing controversy. Over a 14-month period from 2022 to 2023, six people died in custody in the jail.

Among the first to raise attention in the community was 21-year-old Brieon Green, who the sheriffs department said died by suicide in his cell. Another death involved Cilivea Thyrion, a 20-year-old woman who died after eating pieces of an adult diaper while on suicide watch. In the days and weeks leading up to her death, Thryion made repeated attempts to inform jail staff of harassment and maltreatment shed received from certain guards.

In 2024, an audit of the jail found that the facility faces a complex web of challenges that jeopardize the safety and well-being of its occupant population and staff. The audit found unsafe restraining of occupants who are on suicide watch, lack of supervision of people in segregation and suicide watch units, occupants who reported difficulty accessing mental health services, problems with use of force procedures, and and other issues.

On Thursday, Milwaukee County Sheriff Denita Ball held a highly structured town hall, attended by jail command staff and with the only questions being asked by Ken Harris, a former Milwaukee police officer and host of the radio show The Truth on 101.7. Urban Milwaukee reported that Milwaukee County supervisors criticized how the town hall was conducted.

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Jail command staff said during the town hall that plans are underway to retrofit existing booking rooms with individual suicide cells. The Sheriffs Office, however, has continued to oppose implementing an expedited video release policy for critical incidents, which has been active in the City of Milwaukee for the police department. A more transparent video release policy has been a key policy demand of local activists and the families of people whove died in the jail.

Ball said that she hoped the town hall was an opportunity for [the public] to express themselves. To address issues like replacing the suicide watch areas of the booking room Ball said, were going to need resources, and as a result, we will be requesting those resourcesIts going to cost a lot of money.

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Southwest Airlines, the largest carrier serving Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, will soon end its tradition of offering two free checked bags to all passengers.

Beginning May 28, only Southwest Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred Members and Business Select fare passengers will get two free checked bags.

A-List Members and select customers will receive one free checked bag, while Rapid Rewards Credit Card members will receive a credit for one checked bag. All other passengers will have to pay for their first and second checked bags, with weight and size restrictions still in place.

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"We recognize these changes may be a disappointment to some, but know we're committed to building a Southwest that will continue to offer you low fares, convenient flights to destinations you want, and a travel experience that is rewarding," Southwest said in an email sent to customers Tuesday morning.

In addition to baggage fees, Southwest is adjusting its Southwest Rapid Rewards loyalty program, offering more points for Business Select fares while decreasing rewards for lower-tier Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus tickets. In a news release Tuesday, the airline said these moves aim to "deepen and reward loyalty between Southwest and its most engaged Customers."

Southwest will also introduce a new Basic fare for the most budget-conscious travelers, along with assigned seating and extra legroom options, for tickets purchased on or after May 28.

Tuesday's announcements are the latest in a series of changes for Southwest. Last month, the airline, which previously required customers to book directly through its channels, began allowing travelers to book tickets on the travel booking site Expedia.

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According to the Milwaukee airport, Southwest offers 18 nonstop flight destinations from MKE, including service between Milwaukee and Austin, which launched March 6. Southwest is also adding service between MKE and San Diego this fall.

More: Frontier Airlines launches new nonstop flight starting today to Tampa from Milwaukee

More: What's being built near Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport?

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Southwest ends free checked bags for most people; what it means at MKE
MINDEN, La. (KTAL/KMSS)A family-owned business headquartered in Minden, La., announced it agreed to an acquisition by a long-time partner.

Fibrebond, which has been headquartered and operating in Minden for nearly a half-century, announced on Tuesday, March 11, that it has agreed to be acquired by Eaton Corporation.

Fibrebond manufactures and integrates electrical modules that power the data center, and the utility sectors.

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We stand firmly at the intersection of massive technological shifts. Our accelerating digital infrastructure work now drives industrial and utility growth, said Graham Walker, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fibrebond. Our customers build at a scale we did not foresee even a few years ago. Our team has kept up with the growth while retooling for even greater scale. Today more than ever, our customers value the delivery and cost certainty Fibrebond brings to their sophisticated projects.

Over $2M raised for St. Judes Childrens Research during Minden, La. annual event

Fibrebond transports its modules to infrastructure projects across the country and is set to complete a $150 million expansion on its Louisiana campus later this year.

As a private, family-owned business for 43 years, we understand that credibility and trust empower our relationships with our customers, our employee team, and our supplier partners. Not every company shares our values, but since 2015, Eaton has been a customer that honored their commitments. We are confident that Eaton will carry our vision forward and create new opportunities for the Fibrebond team and our community, said Walker.

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Fibrebond will continue operating and expanding in Minden, and the Fibrebond leadership team will remain with the business after the closing.

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WASHINGTON, D.C.  Two women lawmakers appear to have gotten enough support from fellow House members to force a vote on a resolution to make it easier for new parents to vote and serve in Congress.

Rep. Brittany Pettersen of Colorado, a Democrat, and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, a Republican, teamed up on a measure to allow new parents to represent their constituents by designating another member to vote for them, commonly known as proxy voting, for 12 weeks after welcoming a child.

House Speaker Mike Johnson did not include the measure in the rules package for the new Congress in January and later released a statement stating he believes proxy voting is unconstitutional. Pettersen and Luna are aiming to circumvent House leaders with a procedural maneuver known as a discharge petition, filed by Luna on Monday, to put it to a vote. Historically, discharge petitions have rarely been successful, but as of Tuesday evening, the proxy voting petition had the support of 218 members, including 12 Republicans.

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Luna said the proposal currently meets constitutional standards.

The Republican Party is pro-family, Im simply reminding them of that, Luna told The 19th outside the Capitol. Not to mention, were at the slimmest majority in U.S. history, so we need to be able to give access to parents to actually allow them to vote.

House leadership, specifically the House Rules Committee, controls what legislation makes it to the House floor. Luna and Pettersen are invoking the procedural maneuver to get their resolution out of the Rules panel and straight to the House floor for a vote.

Theres a lot of support for this  it makes sense, Pettersen told The 19th on Monday. The discharge petition exists [because] if the speaker stops something thats very popular from coming to the floor, we have the opportunity to force a vote. Im hopeful that theres a path.

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Pettersen had to stop traveling to Washington in mid-January due to her pregnancy. She gave birth in late January and returned to Congress a month later with her newborn son, Sam, to vote against a Republican blueprint for a sweeping tax, energy and spending package.

Unfortunately, I wasnt given the opportunity to vote remotely after giving birth, she said on the House floor, holding Sam. But I wasnt going to let that stop me from being here to represent my constituents and vote no on this disastrous Republican budget proposal.

Off the House floor, Pettersen told The 19th that she didnt want to miss a moment that I could make a difference.

There was a point at which I didnt know if I was going to be showing up in my pajamas with a suit jacket, because he wanted to be held, she said. I made, literally the night before I left, the final decision to bring him. I just couldnt leave him.

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Luna in 2023 was advised by doctors not to travel while she was recovering from a difficult birth. In a January video statement, she called not being allowed to vote by proxy while recovering a slap in the face to every constituent who elected her to Congress.

Democratic Rep. Sara Jacobs of California and Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York have signed on to the measure as cosponsors, lending it bipartisan support.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, House members could designate another member to vote on their behalf. Members of both parties made regular use of proxy voting, but some Republicans, led by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, sued to end its use, calling it unconstitutional. Federal courts rejected those arguments, but McCarthy formally ended the practice when Republicans won back control of the House in 2022.

I have great sympathy, empathy for all of our young women legislators who are of birthing age. Its a real quandary, Johnson said in a January statement. But Im afraid it doesnt fit with the language of the Constitution, and thats the inescapable truth that we have.

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When asked about Johnsons stance, Luna said that while she believes the speaker supports families, his earlier argument no longer holds weight after they modified the petition.

He knows that, I know that. Im right, hes not right. So, were getting it passed, Luna said.

It was nearly 130 years after the drafting of the Constitution that Jeannette Rankin became the first woman to serve in Congress in 1916, three years before the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote, a right that was still restricted for many women of color. It wasnt until 1973 that Yvonne Brathwaite Burke became the first member of Congress to give birth in office.

In an interview in January, Pettersen said the lack of accommodations for new parents reflects a lack of willingness on the part of institutions to evolve with the times. Pettersen gave birth to her first child while she was serving in the Colorado legislature and needed to get permission from leadership to go on leave and classify her leave as being for a chronic illness to get paid. She introduced legislation granting Colorado lawmakers 12 weeks of paid parental leave that passed in 2022.

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The post They missed votes after giving birth. Now theyre pushing to change Congress rules. appeared first on The 19th.

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The United States is sending federal personnel to the Dominican Republic to locate missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki. Former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer discusses why she doesnt believe a witnesss story about Konankis alleged drowning.

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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Police are looking for a Wisconsin woman who may have been on her way to Tampa.

Authorities say Rebecca Osmond, 47, was last heard from on Feb. 22 and may have been on a train bound for Tampa.

Friends say Osmond last spoke to her son from a train station in New York.

Its nothing for her to go around and visit family and do things and go to the beach. Thats why she loved Florida so much. She called Florida home for 20-plus years, said friend Jason Brown.

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He says there is some evidence she made it as far as Orlando.

We do know that her ticket was scanned in Washington, D.C. And her bus ticket was scanned in Orlando to come to Tampa, said Brown, but unlike commercial airlines, Brown says Amtrak does not require I.D. to be presented along with a ticket.

Her friend Cheyenne Lopez says Osmond was outgoing.

She never meets a stranger. Shes smart though. She would not get in a car with a bunch of people she did not know, said Lopez.

Now the group We Are The Essentials is helping with the effort to find her.

We need to know, did she get on that bus in Orlando? Did she leave Orlando? Did she arrive in Tampa? Did she get off the bus in Tampa? I think the most important evidence of that is going to be video, said Billy Lane with We Are The Essentials.

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Police in Beloit, Wisconsin issued a statement about their efforts to find Osmond: We are looking to make contact with Rebecca L. Osmond, 47, of Beloit, who has been reported missing by her family members.

Rebeccas family last had contact with her on Feb. 22, 2025. Rebeccas phone is off and hasnt been in contact with her family, which is unusual. It is believed she arrived in Tampa, via an Amtrak train on Feb. 24, 2025.

She is currently classified as missing by our department. We are looking to check her welfare and have also alerted authorities in the Florida area.

If you have information about Rebeccas whereabouts, call the non-emergency at 608-757-2244.

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Secretary of State Denny Hoskins speaks to reporters at the conclusion of the 2024 legislative session. Hoskins announced Monday that he is withdrawing funding for a digital library catalog provider(Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).

Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins is pausing funding to the digital library catalog company Overdrive until it can prove that it has as safeguards barring children from accessing inappropriate content.

The action comes after a Missouri Senate committee heard a bill last week seeking regulation of digital library catalogs, alleging Overdrive-run app Sora allows minors to access explicit sexual material.

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Rachael Dunn, spokeswoman for the secretary of state, said the move was in direct response to the bill and agency investigations involving digital library catalogs.

Overdrive and its other apps like Sora and Libby allow library patrons to check out digital copies of books and audiobooks online.

The Secretary of States Office, which runs the state library, helps fund access to Overdrive and its applications for a network of schools and libraries called the Missouri Research and Education Network, or MOREnet.

The offices $3.1 million appropriation to MOREnet, of which $30,000 is directed to Overdrive, funds access to databases and discounts for services like Overdrive.

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Our priority is protecting Missouris children while holding taxpayer-funded vendors accountable, Hoskins said in a press release. We expect Overdrive to clarify its policies and demonstrate how it is ensuring appropriate access to content.

Overdrive did not respond to a request for comment.
ST. LOUIS  State lawmakers in Jefferson City could give final approval to a state takeover of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department as soon as Wednesday.

The Missouri Senate overwhelmingly passed the state takeover bill Monday. Now, the bill goes back to the house for a final vote. The vote will likely come Wednesday, and the house is expected to pass the bill as well. However, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, who has been outspoken against the takeover, is vowing to continue the fight against it.

Senators approved the bill on a decisive bipartisan vote of 27 to 5. All Republicans voted for the bill except for one and only four of the ten democrats in the senate voted against it.

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Legislature passes bill for state control of SLMPD

Among the Senate Democrats voting for the takeover bill was minority leader Doug Beck of south St. Louis County. The legislation calls for a six-member board of police commissioners to oversee the city police department. The six members would include five appointed by the governor along with the mayor of the City of St. Louis.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department had been controlled by the state since the Civil War until a statewide campaign and vote in 2012 put it under local control but many have wanted state control to return for some time. State Senator Nick Schorer from St. Charles County has been among those pushing for a return to state control.

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MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  The trial of Adonis Smith, one of three men accused in the 2019 fatal shooting of an innocent Charlotte mother of two, has ended in a mistrial after the jury could not reach a unanimous decision.

Smith, who was 17 years old at the time of the shooting, stands accused of being involved in a deadly shootout that took the life of Kendal Crank, a mother of two who was caught in the crossfire. The incident occurred along East 28th Street and North Tryon Street in March 2019 while Crank was on her way to nursing school.

In the first two days of the trial, the prosecution presented its case, with emotional testimony from Porchia Jordan, a close friend of Cranks. Jordan recalled seeing Crank slump over in the passenger seat of her car, covered in blood, after being struck by a bullet in the head.

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Tychius Dobie and Marquis Smith are also facing charges in Cranks death, but all three men have been spared the death penalty following a ruling by the judge.

The case has now been declared a mistrial, and legal proceedings will continue as the prosecution decides how to move forward.

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Crime & Public Safety

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PARIS (AP)  At Miu Miu, the little sister brand of Miuccia Prada, the feminine wasnt just celebrated  it was deconstructed, reconfigured and worn with a wink.

The starry Paris Fashion Week collection on Tuesday took the very idea of womanhood and turned it into a conversation starter, one silk-knit bias cut at a time.

And what a crowd to witness it.

A$AP Rocky, perched in the front row in a nonchalant slouch, soaked in the scene, while Sydney Sweeney, swathed in Miu Mius latest ode to femininity, radiated old Hollywood meets modern mischief.

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Prada, known for casting both models and Hollywood stars, sent a mix of familiar faces and first-time muses down the runway  Gigi Hadid, Raffey Cassidy, and Sarah Paulson  blurring the line between fashion and film with every step.

Silhouettes floated around the body rather than adhering to it, sculpted through folds, drapes, and engineered curves. Bras, no longer hidden, became garments in their own right, while bias-cut satin skirts and pointelle knits nodded to the intimacy of lingerie.

Tailoring slouched off the shoulders, and fur stoles, brooches and heavy bracelets turned the everyday into something significant, a reminder that femininity  soft or sharp  is always a force.

The show unfolded within the Palais dIena, wrapped in yellow moire, a study in controlled boldness. As the final look exited the runway, the message was clear: Miu Miu knows that reinvention isnt about discarding the past  its about twisting it into something unexpected, something thrillingly new.
MENASHA, Wis. (WFRV)  Some community members are pushing back on a Menasha Joint School District plan to potentially buy the soon-to-be-closed UWO Fox Cities campus and turn it into childcare services.

On Monday night, Superintendent Matt Zimmerman debriefed the districts Board of Education about the potential plan, saying theyre currently negotiating terms with Winnebago and Outagamie County officials.

The UWO Fox Cities campus will close at the end of June.

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We want to make Menasha the No. 1 place to raise a family and I think this goes a long way in that direction, Superintendent Zimmerman said. We really see this as an opportunity for us to meet a community need.

He said the childcare services would help Menasha retain and attract families to move to the area. Declining enrollment has been an issue at many public school districts in Northeast Wisconsin.

Wisconsin AG blasts conservative state Supreme Court candidate for being too slow to test rape kits

Zimmerman said that because they were negotiating terms with county officials, he couldnt reveal the cost of buying the campus facilities from the county or operating daycare services there. He also wouldnt say if doing this project would raise taxes for people in the county.

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I think again were early on in the discussion and any talk of costs would be premature and (discussing) how we would pay for that would be premature, Zimmerman told Local 5 News ahead of the meeting. Any tax increase we would ever do for anything there would be a long conversation with the community before we engage in that.

Residents who spoke during the public comment section of the meeting said they were highly skeptical that the school district would be able to pull off a project like this without tax payer help.

I think its a problem the counties have that they want to dump on you (figuring out what to do with and how to pay for the building), said Stan Sevenich who is also on Menashas city council.

I thought they were out of their mind (when I heard about the project), said Fox Crossing resident Steve Krueger. The school district just closed Jefferson (Elementary School) they had a budget deficit they said they were going to use it (Jefferson Elementary School) as a daycare and now they want to take on a huge campus?

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Resurrection Food Pantry helps hundreds become self-sufficient

Just over a year ago, Menashas school board chose to shutter Jefferson Elementary School to help close a $3.5 million budget deficit. There have been talks about using elementary schools for childcare.

Zimmerman said that Jefferson Elementary School wasnt big enough to provide the volume of childcare services they could offer on the UWO Fox Cities campus. He also addressed questions about why they are now potentially doing a huge daycare project after having to shut down an elementary school to save money just a year earlier.

How can you close Jefferson and then do this, the reality of it is its two different pots (of funding for the two projects), Zimmerman said.

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In a press release, district officials said that they remained committed to preserving the community assets housed on the UWO Fox Cities campus. A Winnebago County official told Local 5 News that the Barlow Planetarium will remain operational and will stay on campus. He said the Outagamie County Historical Society will operate the Weis Earth Science Museum at a new location.

Kathy Ceman lives in Fox Crossing near the UWO Fox Cities campus. She said three of her children attended the university and that shes excited to see a potential plan that would continue to allow the campus to benefit the community.

I see it as a win-win for the Menasha school district and Winnebago and Outagamie Counties, she told Local 5 News. I think that childcare is a huge need right now, accessible and lower cost childcare. I think it would be an asset not just to the Menasha community but to all our surrounding communities as well.

She said shes also glad that the Barlow Planetarium and Weis Earth Science Center will remain operational.

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Superintendent Zimmerman said they would take into consideration feedback from community members before implementing this daycare project. Winnebago County supervisors, Outagamie County supervisors, and the Menasha Joint School District Board of Education must all approve any daycare plan before it can be finalized.

I think were early on in the discussion and I reject the notion that were spending significantly, Zimmerman said. We have to have all options on the table and work with private and public partners.

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war  Mobile FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are scheduled to open in two McDowell County locations Tuesday to assist residents still working to recovery from the devastating Feb. 15 flood.

The mobile FEMA centers are scheduled to be open today in the community of Panther and the city of War to help flood victims apply for federal assistance, according to the McDowell County Commission.

A FEMA mobile unit will be set up today at Grants Supermarket in War from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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A second FEMA mobile unit will be open today at the Panther Missionary Baptist Church at 362 Greenbrier Mountain Road from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Bradshaw Town Hall, according to a FEMA announcement.

Nate Custer, media relations specialist with FEMA, said the McDowell County center in Bradshaw will be open until further notice.

Offering the opportunity to speak with FEMA representatives in person, the Bradshaw center will be open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed on Sunday.

McDowell County is one of four counties including Mercer, Mingo and Wyoming included in a federal disaster declaration from President Donald Trump. FEMA assistance for nine other counties including Raleigh, Greenbrier, Summers, Wayne, Boone, Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln and Logan is still being evaluated by FEMA.

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A FEMA Disaster Recovery Center also opened Monday at the Wyoming County Courthouse at 25 Main Avenue in Pineville. The center is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed on Sundays.

Flood survivors are encouraged to bring documentation, especially if they have not yet applied for FEMA assistance. This documentation can be things like a deed, apartment lease or a utility bill showing that the home or apartment is the applicants primary address, said Nate Custer said, media relations specialist for FEMA. People seeking FEMA assistance can visit the Disaster Recovery Center more than once if they have questions about their applications.

Some applicants are more comfortable speaking with FEMA representatives in person, Custer said. They are not limited to one visit.

Flood survivors also are not limited to visiting the FEMA center in their home county. They can go to any FEMA center that is open, Custer said. For example, flood survivors that live in one county but work in another can visit the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center closer to their workplace if that is more convenient.

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A representative of the U.S. Small Business Administration will be at the McDowell County Disaster Recovery Center as well as FEMA.

FEMA also has opened a Disaster Recovery Center at the Lifeline Princeton Church of God at 250 Oakvale Road near Princeton. FEMA operated out of the church until Feb. 14 when the agency was helping residents impacted by Tropical Storm Helene in September 2024 apply for assistance. The most recent flood occurred the day after it closed.

The Mercer County Disaster Recovery Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will be closed on Sunday, according to FEMAs announcement. The center will also be closed on March 15, March 22 and April 19 for the churchs previously scheduled events.

Disaster Recovery Centers are open to all, including survivors with mobility issues, impaired vision and those who are who are deaf or hard of hearing.

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Flood survivors do not have to visit a recovery center to register with FEMA. People can call 800-621-FEMA (3362). The toll-free telephone line operates seven days a week.

Flood survivors seeking assistance can also register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or through the FEMA app on their cellphone.

For more information on West Virginias disaster recovery, visit emd.wv.gov, West Virginia Emergency Management Division Facebook page, www.fema.gov/disaster/4861, and www.facebook.com/FEMA.

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced Monday that additional SBA Recovery Centers are opening in Mercer County and McDowell County.

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The Mercer County Business Recovery Center opens today from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. After today, it will be open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m to 6 p.m. and closed on Sundays.

The McDowell County Business Recovery Center will open Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the National Guard Armory at 600 Stewart Street in Welch. After this coming Wednesday, it will be open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will be closed Sundays.

SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the Business Recovery Centers to answer questions about the federal agencys disaster loan program, explain the application process and help

individuals complete their application. Walk-ins are accepted, but people can schedule an in-person appointment in advance at appointment.sba.gov.

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The U.S. Small Business Administration also has opened a Business Recovery Center at the Princeton Public Library at 920 Mercer Street. This center will be remaining open.

The center is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., then Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will be closed on Sunday.

Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  An Infirmary Health doctor is the first person to perform a TriClip G4 procedure in Mobile successfully and one of the first to perform it in the region, News 5 has learned.

Local Mobile sorority visits Selma for Bloody Sunday 60th Anniversary march

Dr. Mina Jacob, an interventional and structural cardiologist, performed the minimally invasive surgery to treat patients with tricuspid regurgitation.

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According to an Infirmary Health news release, patients with TR experience symptoms of fatigue, swelling, and shortness of breath due to blood leaking backward into the heart.

The tricuspid valve is sometimes referred to as the forgotten valve because historically, it has

received less attention compared to the mitral and aortic valves, said Dr. Jacob. Until

recently, tricuspid regurgitation could only be treated surgically with open-heart surgery.

The release said the TriClip G4 procedure allows doctors to repair the valve by inserting a device through a vein in the leg and guiding it through the vein to the faulty valve, where it will clip together sections of the valve, helping to restore blood flow.

Saraland Elementarys Dr. Stan Stokley wins national principal award

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Our structural heart team coordinated and worked hard together to bring this new technology

to Mobile Infirmary, Dr. Jacob said.

We are proud to be leading the way in expanding treatment options for patients with tricuspid regurgitation.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
AKRON, Ohio (WKBN)  An Akron mom was found guilty of the 2016 murder of her 2-year-old son on Monday.

Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich announced that Amanda Bunner, 35, was found guilty of the murder of Jaxon Bunner. According to court records, Bunner is formerly of Salem.

Summit County Medical Examiners Office Gary Guenther said the boy died April 13, 2016, at Akron Childrens Hospital from subdural hemorrhage with traumatic brain swelling and herniation due to blunt force trauma to the head.

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Kolkovich said in the announcement on Monday that the boy suffered a massive subdural hematoma, and his treating doctor and the medical examiner at Akron Childrens Hospital concluded that Jaxons brain injuries, malnourished body, and excessive bruises indicated that his death was a result of child abuse.

Kolkovich released the following statement:

The death of Jaxon Bunner was a preventable tragedy, and my sympathies go out to his family. There is no tolerance for child abuse in Akron, and it breaks my heart every time a case like this comes to our office. I want to thank the vigilant employees at Akron Childrens Hospital for recognizing the signs of abuse, and the efforts of the Akron Police Department and my assistant prosecutors for their work in this case.

Bunner is scheduled to be sentenced on March 27 at 10 a.m.

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A woman raped and tortured for six years by a Manhattan superintendent who hired her to clean apartments in a building he managed slammed the ex-boss as a horrible monster ahead of his sentencing Monday to 22 years in prison.

He broke me into a thousand pieces. He abused me sexually, the victim said during an emotional impact statement in Manhattan Criminal Court. I was tortured. I suffered alone in silence for a long time. This is my worst nightmare.

Officials said Jose Espinoza, 63, coerced the woman into having sex for money  sometimes in front of her special needs daughter  if she agreed to clean apartments in the Flatiron building where he was the super.

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Within a year, prosecutors said, Espinoza began beating the woman, tracking her phone and ripping up her passports in a terrorizing bid to control her movements.

He made me suffer for no reason at all, this bastard, she said. He hit me so hard. He left me almost dead. Bleeding, naked. And I thought, Thank God he left me alone. This torture would go on for hours, days, weeks or months. He would just look at me and laugh. He messed with my family and my daughter, my little innocent girl, and my sister, just out of pure evil.

Espinoza was also accused of blackmailing the woman into silence by demanding nude photographs of her daughter, and threatening to share the images if the woman ever defied his orders, officials said.

The torture finally ended in the spring of 2022 when the victim, who was undergoing treatment for breast cancer at a Manhattan hospital, confided in a social worker, who then alerted authorities.

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Espinoza was arrested by the NYPD Human Trafficking Squad. He was convicted last month by a Manhattan jury.

The victim, an illegal migrant from Paraguay, thanked prosecutors and jurors, but was too overcome with emotion to finish her statement.

An assistant district attorney picked up where the victim left off after she collapsed in the courtroom.

He destroyed my life, she said in the letter read by the prosecutor. Dont be fooled by this monster. He isnt a human being. He is evil, a demon with a lot of evil inside. He likes to make people suffer, and he enjoys it, and I assure you that he will never change your honor and now your honor because of this bastard, Im struggling to continue with my life.

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The woman said she was receiving psychiatric treatment for trauma and abuse.

He stole everything from me, absolutely everything, your honor, she wrote. I will never forgive this horrible monster and evil narcissist. Never.

Judge Felicia Mennin also sentenced Espinoza to five-to-seven years for labor trafficking. She called the torture virtual enslavement both for labor purposes and your own sexual gratification.

On one occasion, Mennin said, Espinoza forced the victim to have oral and anal sex in front of her autistic daughter. He also abused the woman in the apartment he shared with his wife of 39 years and one of his own daughters, the judge said.

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Espinoza stared at the ceiling while the victim spoke. He gave his own statement, and made reference to his little difficulties.

I recognize that I wasnt always good to her, she trusted me, Espinoza said. Thats why Im really, really sorry. I understand the gravity of these charges. But also I feel bad for the suffering that this situation has caused to my family. They are going through a difficult time because of my little difficulties.

In a statement, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, condemned the horrific acts of Espinoza, and heaped praise on the victim, whom he stated made the incredibly brave decision to come forward, testify at trial, and speak at Espinozas sentencing.
A nonprofit organization can start a new Montessori charter school in northeast Oklahoma City after its application was approved Monday by the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board.

Legacy Learning Inc.'s approval for the charter school comes after two failed attempts to open an early childhood center after the school boards of both Oklahoma City Public Schools and Millwood Public Schools voted in 2023 to reject applications to establish the charter school.

Standing for play, process and progress, the P3 Urban Montessori will serve students from age 3 through kindergarten who live in the 73111 ZIP code, a majority Black and low-income area in northeast Oklahoma City.

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More: Oklahoma Supreme Court pauses Ryan Walters' attempt to buy Bibles, Bible-infused curriculum

Montessori schools emphasize hands-on learning, practical life activities and flexible learning styles. The Montessori model offers a modified dedication method that strives for independence and self-discipline.

The P3 Urban Montessori appealed to the charter school board and sought to open for the 2025-26 academic year. However, the board approved the charter to open in the 2026-27 academic year with the condition that it takes action to resolve weaknesses in its application.

According to a presentation by Jaycie Smith, SCSB academic compliance officer, the areas of weakness in the application include its special education services, a lack of mention of norm-referenced measures of academic growth, organizational misalignments and budgetary inconsistencies.

Cecilia Robinson-Woods is one of the leading founders of P3 Urban Montessori and its executive director. Robinson-Woods is currently Millwood schools' superintendent. She'll remain the district's leader as she guides the P3.

To open its Montessori school, Legacy Learning Inc. must resolve its analyzed weaknesses by August 31, according to the motion made by the board.

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One board member, David Rutkauskas, said the bureaucratic system has been unfair to the P3 founders, adding that there's a high need for something like the Montessori school in the community.

The board's chairman, Brian Shellem, said if P3 wanted to open in 2025, "They should have their stuff together."

"I will tell you that in another circumstance that our recommendation today would probably have been to you to reject the application, allow them the opportunity to go back and revise the application, bring it back for reconsideration," said Rebecca Wilkinson, the board's executive director.

After discussing the charter school's application for about an hour, the board approved it in a unanimous vote.

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"We'll make you proud," said Cecilia Robinson-Woods, one of the leading founders of P3 and its executive director. Robinson-Woods is currently Millwood schools' superintendent. She'll remain the district's leader as she guides the P3.

During her presentation, Smith also presented several strengths in P3's application, including "a sound curriculum and instruction program," a "strong mission and vision," community partnerships and a year-round calendar.

"If you have a student that lives in the northeast part of Oklahoma City, they do not have this as a choice for schooling from age 3 to 5," Smith said.

The school will partner with Oklahoma City University's Montessori teacher certificate program to develop educators and "support their staff through professional learning opportunities," Smith said. The charter currently has three churches that have shown interest in housing the school.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Public Montessori school to open in northeast Oklahoma City
Jimmy Sengenberger is an investigative journalist, public speaker, and longtime local talk-radio host. Reach Jimmy online at Jimmysengenberger.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @SengCenter.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL)  News Channel 11 has learned of at least five flood victims who say their checks for flood assistance from FEMA have been stolen and cashed by someone else who also stole their identity.

Two weeks ago, News Channel 11 spoke to a victim in Unicoi County. Now Investigators in Johnson, Carter and Washington counties say theyve been made aware of similar cases in their territories, as well.

David Davis lived in Bumpus Cove in Washington County. He and his wife barely escaped their home on Sept. 27 before it was swept away by floodwaters. They thought an assistance check from FEMA could help them rebuild. But, that check never came. Davis says getting closure from the federal agency has been frustrating and a nightmare because of the way his situation has been handled.

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Federal assistance checks stolen, Unicoi County investigators say

So when you call (FEMA), youre on hold for four and a half hours. And then when you finally get a hold of somebody, evidently you get a hold of a person that takes the messages and then the transfer to the person that carries the messages. Just ridiculous, said Davis.

After not receiving his checks when promised, Davis said he was told in October that FEMA would issue a stop-payment on his missing checks. The agency said it could take up to three months to reissue payment while they investigate what happened.

But Davis told News Channel 11 that he now knows what happened before even getting a new check from FEMA.

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He believes his check and identity were both stolen. He said his check was cashed in Knoxville at First Horizon Bank. He was notified by the bank that an account in his name, started by someone else, was opened in December. One of his FEMA checks was deposited into that account two months after payment was to be stopped.

Theres a big deposit on December the 20th. On January 8th, they pulled a big amount out in cash and then they just used the debit card like they were me all over Knoxville, said a frustrated Davis.

Davis first tried to make a report with the Washington County Sheriffs Office (WCSO) but was told the crime wasnt in its jurisdiction. Davis then called Knoxville police who initially said hed need to file a report in person. Finally, Davis said a deputy with Washington County called Knoxville PD on his behalf and he was able to make a report over the phone.

Davis also reported to FEMA what hed learned after being made aware of the fraudulent bank account.

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FEMA told me that there was nothing more they could do, that it was in the hands of the treasury, that Id have to call the Treasury Department, said Davis.

Daviss story is all too similar to a neighbor Russell Rogers. His daughter Tina Presnell says his check was stolen and they believed it to have been deposited in a bank out of state.

I want to know how they got an account opened up in my dads name and how that check got deposited, she told News Channel 11.

Like Davis, Presnell says her dad is still waiting for a new check to be issued to repair their flooded home. Also like Davis, she says getting help from FEMA for this situation has been difficult and time-consumingtime they dont have.

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Ive kept up with FEMA. Ive tortured them, Ive called them and called them and called them, Presnell said. If they say they like me after this is over, theyre going to be lying. I have nagged and I told them I aint stopping.

FEMA said in an email to News Channel 11 that it cannot discuss individual cases, and added that victims who believe their disaster relief check(s) may have been stolen and cashed are urged to contact its fraud division in Washington, D.C. at the following address:

FEMA Fraud and Internal Investigation Division: 400 C Street SW; Mail Stop 3005, Washington, DC 20472-3005

Presnell said she worries about those who arent able to be as diligent with FEMA calls.

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Theyre busy. I understand that. But still, when youre looking to get back in a home or youve got children and, you know youve got to get back in your home, we got a problem, you know.

Some victims say theyve reached out to U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburns office for help. In a statement, her office said the following:

Senator Blackburn is fighting to ensure all Tennesseans impacted by Hurricane Helene receive the assistance they are entitled to.

Blackburns office encouraged victims to call her Johnson City office at 423-753-4009 to report FEMA fraud.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A person holds a Sig Sauer P320 handgun at a Delray Beach, Fla., gun store in 2023. Since at least 2017, several law enforcement agencies in Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Texas and Wisconsin have pulled the P320 from their arsenals due to concerns over misfirings. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

This story originally appeared on Stateline.

As safety concerns over the Sig Sauer P320 handgun continue to mount, a growing number of police departments across the United States are rethinking their use of the popular semiautomatic firearm.

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Released in 2014, Sig Sauers P320 model has become one of the most popular guns in America, with more than 2.5 million units sold. The P320 also has been the standard sidearm for the U.S. military since 2017.

But the firearm has been linked to a series of unintentional discharges.

The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission is now the latest to permanently ban the P320 from its training facilities. The agency offers training to police and correctional officers in the state.

The agencys decision came after a four-month investigation prompted by an incident last year in which a police recruits P320 discharged while being drawn, injuring both an instructor and another recruit.

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The WSCJTCs only concern in this process is preserving the safe learning and working environment for its recruits and instructors, the agencys report states.

This incident is part of a larger pattern of complaints from more than 100 people who have reported similar issues with the firearm since its release, with at least 80 injuries linked to accidental discharges, according to a 2023 joint investigation by The Trace, a news outlet dedicated to covering gun violence, and The Washington Post.

Following the 2023 investigation, Sig Sauer has faced lawsuits from at least 15 more plaintiffs, and new evidence has surfaced linking the firearm to at least one death and 20 additional injuries, The Trace reported in December.

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Since at least 2017, several law enforcement agencies, including the Milwaukee Police Department, the Dallas Police Department and the SEPTA transit police in Philadelphia, as well as other agencies in Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin, have pulled the P320 from their arsenals due to concerns over misfirings.

A Georgia jury in June found Sig Sauer liable for a defect in its P320 pistol, awarding $2.35 million to the plaintiff whose gun fired while holstered. The bullet tore through the plantiffs right upper thigh and ripped out just above his knee, according to court records.

The verdict marked the first time a jury has ruled that the handgun was defectively designed, The Trace reported in June.

In November, a Philadelphia jury awarded $11 million to an Army veteran who was injured when his P320 discharged while in his pocket. Jurors concluded that Sig Sauer was liable for the veterans injury because the firearm did not have an external safety, like those used on Glocks and other pistols.

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External safeties generally prevent a guns trigger from moving backward when dropped or when indirect pressure, such as from a holster, is applied.

An Oklahoma civilian in December also asked the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to revive his suit against Sig Sauer after his P320 discharged in 2018 while in a holster he was wearing.

In 2018  a year after the U.S. Army announced its 10-year, $580 million contract with Sig Sauer  a U.S. Department of Defense report revealed that during testing, the military found the P320 could discharge without a trigger pull if dropped at certain angles. Sig Sauer in 2017 modified the guns trigger mechanism. The company also redesigned the civilian version of the P320 and offered owners of older models the opportunity to voluntarily return their guns for upgraded components.

Despite the rise in reported incidents, Sig Sauer has steadfastly maintained that the P320 is safe for use. The company has denied claims that the gun is defective and insists that the reported discharges are due to improper handling.

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The P320 is trusted by the U.S. Military, law enforcement professionals, and responsible citizens worldwide. SIG SAUER is extremely proud of our outstanding safety record and quality firearms, Samantha Piatt, the companys director of communications, said in a statement posted to its website last year.

Stateline reporter Amanda Hernandez can be reached at ahernandez@stateline.org.

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.
WASHINGTON (WKBN)  Monday night in Washington, newly-elected Senator Bernie Moreno took to the podium. The Republican Senator was looking for unanimous consent for the Refugees Using Legal Entry Safely (RULES) Act.

If youre an asylum seeker you must file a request for asylum at a legal port entry, Moreno said while explaining the act.

The act wouldnt allow the release of asylum applicants into the United States.

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Were going to have them wait in the prior country and 180 days, which is currently the law which is being violated. Sometimes its five or six years, but they wait until their asylum claim is heard, Moreno said.

The RULES Act wouldnt allow for second chances after an asylum application is rejected. It also doesnt allow people whove entered the U.S. illegally to claim asylum.

While referencing his democrat colleagues, he said there were two people in the entire chamber who are naturalized U.S. citizens, himself and Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii.

We know firsthand what it means to be able to be accepted by this country, Moreno said. Lets come together one time and show the American people we dont have to fight about everything.

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Senator Moreno said its a disgrace to those who want to come to America to have to do it illegally.

Pay a drug cartel to smuggle them across Mexico. Raped along the way, beaten along the way, every last cent they have robbed from them and their families, Moreno said.

In the end, the Democrats objected to the bill.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces shot down 343 Ukrainian drones overnight, in what appeared to be Kyiv's largest cross-border aerial attack on Russia since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.

The ministry reported downing UAVs over 10 Russian regions. Moscow air defenses were firing through the night while facing multiple waves of attack drones, according to Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. The Defense Ministry said it shot down 91 drones over the capital.

Six drones were shot down near the Kursk nuclear power plant, the ministry said, close to fierce fighting as Moscow's forces seek to eject Ukrainian troops from the western Russian region.

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The attack on Moscow was "massive," Sobyanin wrote on Telegram. Gov. Andrei Vorobyov said at least two people were killed. Alexei Kuznetsov, an aide to the head of the Russian Health Ministry, confirmed the fatalities and said that 20 more people were injured, among them three children.

Several high-rise residential buildings, houses and businesses were damaged by drones or falling debris, Vorobyov said.

PHOTO: This picture shows a damaged apartment building in a residential complex following a drone attack in the village of Sapronovo in the Moscow region on March 11, 2025. (Tatyana Makeyeva/AFP via Getty Images)

Russia's federal air agency said flights were suspended at all four of Moscow's airports, with flights at airports in the Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod regions to the east of Moscow also grounded.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova denounced the barrage as "a terrorist attack" in a statement posted on Telegram.

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Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said details of the attack were "naturally" reported to President Vladimir Putin and suggested Ukraine had targeted civilian facilities, in comments reported by the state-run TASS news agency.

Asked if the Ukrainian strikes were intended to disrupt nascent ceasefire talks, Peskov responded, "There are no negotiations yet. So far the Americans, in their own words, are trying to understand how ready Ukraine is for peace talks. There are no negotiations yet, so there is nothing to disrupt here yet."

"But the fact that it is possible to spoil the emerging trend, yes," Peskov added.

The Ukrainian military did not immediately comment on the strikes.

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The drone barrage came as U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators prepared to open ceasefire talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday after weeks of tensions and public disagreements.

President Donald Trump's administration is pushing Kyiv to make concessions in pursuit of a peace deal to end Russia's three-year-old invasion of the country. The White House also wants Ukraine to sign off on a controversial minerals sharing agreement Trump has framed as a way to recoup tens of billions of U.S. aid sent to Ukraine since 2022.

Kyiv has repeatedly said it will not accept any deal that does not include concrete security guarantees to prevent repeat Russian aggression in the future.

Trump has framed Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the main impediment to peace, falsely blaming Ukraine for starting the war, seeking to undermine Zelenskyy's legitimacy and publicly aligning with Moscow's false narratives around the conflict. The U.S. has sought to push Ukraine to the negotiating table by putting a freeze on military aid and some intelligence sharing.

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MORE: US 'just about' ready to lift Ukraine intel freeze, Trump says ahead of Saudi meet

"The most important thing that we have to leave here with is a strong sense that Ukraine is prepared to do difficult things," Secretary of State Marco Rubio -- who will take part in Tuesday's talks -- said on Monday.

Rubio said the Russians "are going to have to do difficult things" too, though Trump and his top officials have not said what concessions Moscow may be asked to make. U.S. and Russian negotiators first met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last month.

Zelenskyy traveled to Saudi Arabia on Monday to meet with Crown Prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman. Zelenskyy will not take part in Tuesday's talks with the American delegation.

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Zelenskyy said he had a "detailed discussion" with Salman on "the steps and conditions needed to end the war and secure a reliable and lasting peace," in a social media post after the two leaders met.

"I specifically emphasized the issue of the release of prisoners and the return of our children, which could become a key step in building trust in diplomatic efforts. A significant part of the discussion was dedicated to the formats of security guarantees," Zelenskyy said.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One on his return to Washington, Mar. 9, 2025. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images)

Zelenskyy said a Ukrainian delegation will "remain" in the country to "work with the U.S. team" on Tuesday. Zelenskyy said he hopes for "practical outcomes" from the U.S.-Ukraine meeting.

"Ukraine's position in these talks will be fully constructive," he added.

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A source close to Zelenskyy confirmed to ABC News that Ukraine will propose a partial ceasefire in its talks with the U.S. The partial ceasefire would apply to long-range air strikes and attacks at sea, the source said.

The timeframe for the truce remains unclear.

"We want to propose a partial ceasefire that can be monitored and then see how the Russians respond to determine the next steps," the source added.

MORE: Ukraine reports 264 Russian drone attacks in 48 hours amid Trump aid freeze

Rubio told reporters on Monday he saw some promise in Ukraine's partial ceasefire proposal.

"I'm not saying that alone is enough, but it's the kind of concession you would need to see in order to end this conflict," he said.

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Rubio said finalizing the minerals deal with Ukraine was "an important topic, but it's not the main topic on the agenda."

"It's certainly a deal the president wants to see done but it doesn't necessarily have to happen tomorrow," he said Monday. "There's still more details to work out."

In the meantime, nightly exchanges of drones and missiles appear set to continue.

Ukraine's air force said its forces tracked one Iskander ballistic missile and 126 drones fired into the country overnight. The missile and 79 drones were shot down, the air force said, with another 35 UAVs lost in flight without effect.

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Donetsk, Odesa, Kharkiv, Sumy and Kyiv were impacted, the statement said.

PHOTO: Flags of Saudi Arabia and Ukraine line the King Abdulaziz Road in the Saudi Red Sea port city of Jeddah ahead of a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mar. 10, 2025. (Amer Hilabi/AFP via Getty Images)

Nataliia Popova, Ellie Kaufman, Oleskiy Pshemyskiy, Joe Simonetti and Will Gretsky contributed to this report.

Ukraine bombards Russia with largest drone barrage of war, Moscow says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The Russian Defence Ministry has claimed that the country was attacked by hundreds of Ukrainian drones on the night of 10-11 March and that 337 of them were reportedly downed.

Source: Russian Defence Ministry on Telegram

Details: The drones allegedly attacked 10 Russian oblasts.

Damaged high-rise building

Photo: Astra Telegram channel

It was reported that 91 UAVs had been allegedly downed over Moscow Oblast, 126 over Kursk Oblast, 38 over Bryansk Oblast, 25 over Belgorod Oblast, 22 over Ryazan Oblast, 10 over Kaluga Oblast, 8 over Lipetsk Oblast, 8 over Oryol Oblast, 6 over Voronezh Oblast and 3 over Nizhny Novgorod Oblast.

The scene

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Photo: Astra Telegram channel

The Russian Defence Ministry as usual is withholding information about strikes on Russian targets and about how many drones were not downed.

Damaged house

Photo: Astra Telegram channel

Background: Earlier, Russian officials stated that Moscow had been attacked by dozens of drones on the night of 10-11 March, claiming that 69 had been downed by the morning. Airports in the city are not operating, damage has been caused and one fatality has been reported.

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Luis Andres Henao

Associated Press

NUUK, Greenland (AP)  Most Greenlanders are proudly Inuit, having survived and thrived in one of most remote and climatically inhospitable places on Earth.

And they're Lutheran.

About 90% of the 57,000 Greenlanders identify as Inuit and the vast majority of them belong to the Lutheran Church today, more than 300 years after a Danish missionary brought that branch of Christianity to the world's largest island.

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For many, their devotion to ritual and tradition is as much a part of what it means to be a Greenlander as is their fierce deference to the homeland. The one so many want U.S. President Donald Trump to understand is not for sale despite his threats to seize it.

Greenland is huge  about three times the size of Texas; most of it covered in ice. Still, its 17 parishes are located across many settlements in the icy land and people endure the frigid Arctic climate to fill up church pews on Sundays.

Some even tune in to radio-transmitted services on their phones on a break from fishing and hunting for seals, whales and polar bears, as their ancestors have done for generations.

That rugged yet vulnerable lifestyle helps fuel people's devotion, said Bishop Paneeraq Siegstad Munk, leader of Greenland's Evangelical Lutheran Church.

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"If you see outside, nature is enormous, huge, and man is so little," she told The Associated Press after a recent Sunday service in the capital city, Nuuk, where slippery ice covered the city's streets.

"You know you won't be able to survive by yourself," she said.

That is, unless "you have faith," she added. "God is not only in the building of the church but everywhere where he has created."

Religiosity levels vary in Greenland as it does elsewhere. Sometimes being a member of the Lutheran Church here doesn't mean one believes fully  or at all  in the church's teachings, or even the presence of God.

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Recently, Salik Schmidt, 35, and Malu Schmidt, 33, celebrated their wedding with family members, who joyously threw rice on them to wish them good fortune outside the red-painted wooden Church of Our Savior. Built in 1849, it is known as the Nuuk Cathedral.

Malu is spiritual but not religious; Salik is an atheist. Both said they'll proudly belong to the Lutheran Church for life.

"Traditions are important to me because they pass on from my grandparents to my parents, and it's been my way of honoring them," Malu said later in their home while her sister babysat their daughter.

It also provides a sense of safety and permanence among change, Salik said.

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"It's something that is always there," he said. "It brings joy to us."

There are two Lutheran churches in Nuuk.

The Hans Egede Church is named for the Danish-Norwegian missionary who came to Greenland in 1721 with the aim of spreading Christianity, and who founded the capital city seven years later.

A short distance away stands the cathedral, and next to it, a statue of Egede remains on a hill in the Old District. In recent years, the statue was vandalized, doused with red paint and marked with the word "decolonize."

Egede's legacy is divisive. Some credit him for helping educate the local population and spreading Lutheranism, which continues to unite many Greenlanders under rituals and tradition.

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"The positive side is that the church made people literate in less than a hundred years after the mission started," said Flemming Nielsen, head of the University of Greenland's theology department.

"When you can read, you use your skill for anything," he said. "We have a rich Greenlandic literature starting at the middle of the 19th century.  It was the missionaries who invented a written language. And that is an important legacy."

But for some, Egede symbolizes the arrival of colonialism and the suppression of rich Inuit traditions and culture by Lutheran missionaries and Denmark's rule.

"His statue should be taken down," wrote Juno Berthelsen, a co-founder of the Greenlandic organization Nalik, in a widely shared social media post in 2020.

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"The reason is simple," said Berthelsen, who is a candidate in next week's parliamentary election for the Naleraq party. "These statues symbolize colonial violence and stand as an insult and an institutionalized daily slap-in-the face of people who have suffered and still suffer from the consequences of colonial violence and legacies."

Greenland is now a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, and Greenlanders are increasingly in favor of getting full independence  a crucial issue in the election on March 11.

Some say Greenland's independence movement has received a boost after Trump pushed their Arctic homeland into the spotlight by threatening to take it over.

At a time of uncertainty, "it's important for us to have faith," said the Rev. John Johansen after a service at the Hans Egede Church, where an American couple visiting Greenland attended wearing pins that read: "I didn't vote for him."

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Greenlanders "always have faith, no matter what," Johansen said. "Of course they worry about Trump because they can lose their independence, their freedom. They don't want to be American; they don't want to be Danes. They only wish for their own independence."

The Church of Greenland separated from Denmark's Evangelical Lutheran Church in 2009 and is funded by Greenland's government. Although the Lutheran Church comes from Denmark, the leader of the church in Greenland is proud that it remains uniquely Greenlandic.

Salik Schmidt and Malu Schmidt hold their 8-month daughter as they pose for a photo during their wedding at the Church of our Savior in Nuuk, Greenland, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

"It was translated often from Danish rituals, but since the beginning we have always used our language and it goes directly to our heart," Siegstad Munk said. "When I see other Indigenous people, most go to their church in the state's language. But here in Greenland, everything goes from Greenlandic. It's good for us to have our own religious language."

In recent years, young people have increasingly demanded the revival of pre-Christian shamanistic traditions like drum dancing; some have been getting Inuit tattoos to proudly reclaim their ancestral roots. For some, it's a way to publicly and permanently reject the legacy of Danish colonialism and European influence.

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Still, the Lutheran Church, Nielsen said, remains for many an important part of the national identity.

"People wear the national costumes when children are present or at funerals and weddings and the religious holidays," he said.

Greenland was a colony under Denmark's crown until 1953, when it became a province in the Scandinavian country. In 1979, the island was granted home rule, and 30 years later Greenland became a self-governing entity. But Denmark retains control over foreign and defense affairs.

Until 1953, no other denominations were allowed to register and work in Greenland other than the Lutheran Church, said Gimmi Olsen, an assistant professor in the theology department at the University of Greenland.

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Since then, Pentecostal and Catholic churches  mostly serving immigrants from the Philippines  have settled in Greenland. Other Christians include Baptists and Jehovah's Witnesses.

As in other parts of the world, younger people tend to go to church less, and more are joining the ranks of the religiously unaffiliated  even when, at least on paper, they remain part of the Greenlandic Lutheran Church.

"People are not always 'belonging' to the church, in the sense, that they do not go there every Sunday," said Olsen.

"For the vast majority of the Greenlandic Society, being a member of the Lutheran Folk-Church is the normal," he said, even if it is normal to only go to church a few times a year, for baptisms, weddings, funerals, or on Christmas and Easter.

That kind of solemnity and joy coexist through ritual and tradition. On the same day, even in the same service, there can be contrasting emotions.

In Nuuk, a pastor dressed in black robes and white ruff collar faces the altar with the rest of the congregation to somberly speak to God. In nearly full wooden pews, congregants follow the service in silence.

But then, the quiet, prayerful service goes from what seems like a black-and-white silent film to a technicolor talkie. Pastor and congregants will sing hymns and beam with a smile and cheer on the couple about to get married, or the baby about to be christened. The men are in white anoraks and women in the traditional national dress of shawls stitched with colorful beads and boots made of sealskin reserved for formal occasions.

"I'm not worried about the church," said the Rev. Aviaja Rohmann Hansen, a pastor of the Hans Egede Church.

"If we saw few people like in Denmark, I'd be worried. But we have people at the church every Sunday. We have a lot of baptisms, we have a lot of confirmations, we have a lot of marriages. So, I'm not worried about the church. I hope this will continue because it makes Greenlanders come together."

On a recent day, she baptized Marie Louise Nissen's grandson at the Nuuk Cathedral.

"Baptism is important," Nissen said, smiling as she was briefly interrupted when one of her young family members had to be rescued from slippery ice outside the church.

"It's important to us to invite the kids into the Christian faith," she said. "This is a good day to celebrate and give a name  that's what is important to us."

Her daughter, Malou Nissen, then chimed in: "I think it's more a tradition thing for me. It's a day you'll remember forever." When asked what the Lutheran Church means to her, she said: "Everybody is welcome. It's a place for tears and for happiness."

Her mother agreed: "Today is a celebration; maybe next month it's a funeral, and it's the same place we go  it's the same place to make memories."

___

Associated Press journalist Emilio Morenatti contributed to this report.

__

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
COURTESY PHOTO According to the Honolulu Medical Examiners autopsy report, Sarai Perez-Rivera, a month short of her fourth birthday when she died, weighed 20.5 pounds, the average weight of an 11-month-old infant, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or that of a 14-month-old child, according to the World Health Organization. She stood 35 inches, the height of an average girl age 2 years, 4 months, according to the two health agencies.

1 /2 COURTESY PHOTO According to the Honolulu Medical Examiners autopsy report, Sarai Perez-Rivera, a month short of her fourth birthday when she died, weighed 20.5 pounds, the average weight of an 11-month-old infant, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or that of a 14-month-old child, according to the World Health Organization. She stood 35 inches, the height of an average girl age 2 years, 4 months, according to the two health agencies.

COURTESY PHOTOS Janae Perez, left, and Ashleigh Utley.

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2 /2 COURTESY PHOTOS Janae Perez, left, and Ashleigh Utley.

COURTESY PHOTO According to the Honolulu Medical Examiners autopsy report, Sarai Perez-Rivera, a month short of her fourth birthday when she died, weighed 20.5 pounds, the average weight of an 11-month-old infant, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or that of a 14-month-old child, according to the World Health Organization. She stood 35 inches, the height of an average girl age 2 years, 4 months, according to the two health agencies.

COURTESY PHOTOS Janae Perez, left, and Ashleigh Utley.

The two women accused of murder in the June 13 dehydration and starvation death of 3-year-old Sarai Perez-Rivera pleaded not guilty Monday to charges in a nine-count indictment.

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The childs mother, Janae Perez, 25, and Perezs girlfriend, Ashleigh Utley, 34, wearing white paper jumpsuits, were arraigned before Oahu Circuit Judge Ronald Johnson, who affirmed they will continue to be held without bail, in part, he said, because of the danger they pose to Perezs three surviving children.

According to an autopsy report by the Honolulu Medical Examiner, Perez-Rivera was a month shy of her fourth birthday when she died, but at 20.5 pounds she was the average weight of an 11-month-old infant, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or that of a 14-month-old child, according to the World Health Organization.

She stood 35 inches, the height of an average girl age 2 years, 4 months, according to the two health agencies.

Her cause of death was the combined effects of dehydration and starvation, the autopsy report said. She also had numerous blunt-force injuries to her head, face, back, buttocks and extremities.

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At the arraignment, Utleys court-appointed attorney, Keith Shigetomi, requested that a bail amount be set for her, referencing the initial $1 million bail set for each of the defendants in District Court. A deputy public defender joined in the request on Perezs behalf.

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However, according to the grand jury bench warrant issued March 4, the pair are to be held without bail.

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No-contact court orders also were issued to the two women March 4, naming Perezs family, including her three surviving children, her mother and her sister, Utleys teenage daughter and others.

In affirming their no-bail status, Johnson noted there is a high risk that someone charged with such serious crimes might flee or pose a serious danger to others.

In this particular case, the court is particularly concerned,  Johnson said. The court believes there is a serious risk that there may be some obstruction or there may be some attempt to intimidate or affect or influence the testimony and perceptions of prospective witnesses.

There are other children who were in the home,  he explained. Those children are obviously witnesses to what transpired, and the court does not believe, at their age, that theyre able to separate out and not be affected by potential contact with the defendants.

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Johnson was referring to Perez-Riveras siblings, who at the time of the girls death were ages 6, 5 and 2, and lived in the Kapolei home shared by Perez and Utley. The two older brothers are now 7 and 6, and her younger sister is 3.

Perez-Rivera and the youngest boy have the same father, while the other two children have different fathers, according to an attorney representing the victims grandmother Leah Schnabel, who is suing the state Department of Human Services on behalf of the surviving children for its alleged negligence in handling complaints about abuse in the household.

The court believes the defendants pose a significant danger to the other children, though those children have probably been removed at this time,  Johnson said.

In fact, DHS Children Welfare Services did remove the other three children from the defendants care.

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Some of the charges against the two women include kidnapping involving Perez-Rivera and her two brothers, who were allegedly barricaded inside their room. They were allegedly denied food, water and use of the bathroom, court records show.

Perez told police the children were sometimes punished by feeding them tinned fish and sauerkraut. They were also fed military-style MREs (an acronym for meal, ready to eat ) because they liked it, she told police.

Johnson said he does not believe the defendants can be safely released. Both women continue to be held at the Womens Community Correctional Center. A jury trial for the pair is set for May 12 before Circuit Judge Kevin Souza.

According to Perez-Riveras autopsy report, Emergency Medical Services personnel arrived at the girls side at 7 p.m. June 13 in response to a 6 :54 p.m. call. She was not breathing and had no pulse. Perez-Rivera was taken to The Queens Medical Center-West, where she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

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The report says the girl had recently exhibited abnormal weight loss and had been sick before her death, apparently from severe malnutrition, ketoacidosis and dehydration.

According to the medical examiner, the acetone and betahydroxybutyric acid in her femoral blood are signs of dehydration. She also had acetaminophen, an over-the-counter analgesic, in her blood. The report said acetone can cause a slowing of the central nervous system, resulting in lethargy, nausea and, in severe cases, stupor and coma, among other symptoms.

The girls grandmother told police she noticed Perez-Rivera seemed very tired on some occasions when she saw her.

The autopsy report also says Perez-Rivera had thymic atrophy, a reduction in the size of the thymus gland, and fatty liver disease, which are consistent with chronic starvation.
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11)  Authorities are searching for the mother of a 3-year-old boy who was pronounced dead after she allegedly dropped off the child at a Brooklyn hospital and fled Sunday, police said.

Kanyatta Foster spoke about her 3-year-old grandson, Kyng Royal Foster, as she stood early Monday afternoon in front of SUNY Downstate Hospital in Flatbush, Brooklyn.

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I dont have any more grandkids. Its hurting me. I dont know what to do right now, said Foster.

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She and the boys godmother are managing an overwhelming wave of emotions; shock, anger, and grief, after police say Kyngs mother, who they identified as 24-year-old Sunshine Davis, dropped off the boys lifeless body at the hospital Sunday morning and took off.

I just want to say, Sunshine, if youre seeing this baby, turn yourself in. Its easier for you to turn yourself in and explain yourself, versus them finding you. Its a sad situation that the life of a 3-year-old is gone. And were going to miss him, said godmother Sabrina Johnson.

More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State

Investigators said the emergency room staff noted what could be bruising on little Kyngs body.

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The mother took off in a vehicle in front of several witnesses.

My girlfriend works in there. She called me and be like, Somebody dropped off a baby and the baby died. But we running up the block trying to find the person, said Brooklyn resident Makeba Green.

Police said a man was also inside that vehicle. Relatives identified him as the mothers boyfriend.

His Facebook name, he goes by Ron da Goat. We dont know anything about this man, said Johnson.

Under New Yorks Abandoned Infant Protection Act, people can anonymously abandon a newborn baby up to 30 days old  but there are some stipulations. The baby must be left at a safe place, like a hospital or firehouse, and the parent has to notify someone of the babys location. For more information on the states Abandoned Infant Protection Act, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
A motorcyclist fatally crashed into a pickup truck while fleeing police in Sherburne County late Monday night.

The Minnesota State Patrol says the crash happened just before 11:20 p.m. near Highway 10 and 165th Avenue in Becker Township.

A Sherburne County Sheriff's deputy was attempting to stop a motorcycle for a traffic violation when it crashed into a Chevrolet Silverado that was heading eastbound on Highway 10.

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The motorcyclist died at the scene. The rider's identity and official cause of death will be released at a later time.

The driver of the pickup truck, a 75-year-old Minneapolis man, survived the crash.

Bring Me The News reached out to the sheriff's office for more information.

The crash remains under investigation.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcements latest version of events, and may be subject to change.
The emergency ordinance and special meeting come following a leaked agenda item for Woodland Park RE-2s upcoming board regarding the possible sale of the Merit Academy building meeting this week.
OREM, Utah (ABC4)  Southbound traffic on I-15 was brought to a halt on Tuesday morning after a motorhome towing a vehicle rolled onto its side, blocking four of the five lanes.

Lt. Cameron Roden with the Utah Highway Patrol told ABC4.com that the motorhome was traveling south on I-15 near University Parkway when it swerved to the right and hit a concrete barrier.

The collision caused the motorhome to roll onto its side and send the car it was pulling up over the barrier.

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Two people inside the motorhome were taken to a local area hospital in serious condition. Their identities, including name, age and gender, have not been publicly released.

Roden said Utah Highway Patrol is currently investigating what caused the motorhome to veer to the right and collide with the barricade.

(Courtesy: UDOT)

The Utah Department of Transportation warned drivers to expect heavy delays and use an alternate route, such as US-89, if possible.

According to UDOTs online traffic monitor, traffic on southbound I-15 has backed up from the crash site for several miles, with traffic slowing past 800 North.

This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available.

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MSNBCs Lawrence ODonnell said Monday that Donald Trump now has the unwelcome honor of having a feared recession named after him.

The idea of a Trump Recession is gaining attention amid uncertainty over tariffs and the gutting of the federal government, said ODonnell, who pointed out how getting a recession named after you as president is not easy because usually theres not an absolute straight line of causation from presidential policies to a recession.

No recent recessions in living memory have been named after presidents, the anchor noted.

Watch ODonnells commentary here:

ODonnell criticized Trumps attempts to pin the blame on what could become an economic downturn on his predecessor, former President Joe Biden.

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Biden handed Donald Trump the highest-performing American economy in history and the highest-performing stock market in history, said the host. During the Trump presidency, just these last few weeks, consumer prices have gone up and stock prices have gone down, way down.

Trumps recent evasive answers when asked about the possibility of a recession also drew ODonnells ire.

When a president is asked if hes expecting a recession, the correct answer is no. Its always been no, he said. There was plenty of talk of a possible recession during President Bidens term, with some economists actually predicting a recession because of President Bidens policies. ... Not only were those economists predictions very wrong, but Joe Biden always said they were wrong.

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EAST LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) Many students are anxious after President Trump threatened to cut funding for schools that allow illegal protests. Michigan State University has a history of protests on campus, including pro-Palestinian rallies, that the Trump administration is cracking down on.

Students from MSU told 6 News that no protest is illegal, especially on college campuses.

This is our right to free speech, said a sophomore at MSU. A right to come together, and he is directly attacking that.

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Tyler Pintea, a senior, says Trump is attempting to violate the First Amendment.

And thats just kind of a violation of our constitutional right to protest the government and to let them know how were feeling, said Pintea.

Pintea believes that President Trump is taking things too far.

Trying to threaten people from protesting is step one in the dictator handbook. The whole fundamental of protesting is that we the right to do it, said Pintea. We can do any protest as long as its peaceful, and all the protests that Ive seen, and mostly likely everyone else has seen, have been peaceful.

Students at the university have held pro-Palestinian rallies since 2023, and they believe the administration is trying to intimidate people.

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It makes people scared, and thats what hes trying to do. Is hes trying to scare people and hes trying to scare people into submission, said a student who asked to be anonymous.

Three days ago, Trump pulled $400 million from Columbia University.

Sophia Ramirez, a first-generation freshman, says that action hits close to home.

I rely on that funding, especially because Im a minority. So, that really goes into the student grants that I get, and the student loans, said Ramirez. We have a right to express that, and if he does pull funding, I feel like its very eye-opening for students here.

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Pintea says hes fearful MSU could be affected.

Its very likely that Trump will hit our college eventually, said Pintea. especially considering our President has been very vocal about his support for DEI.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ)  A police stakeout of an Altoona house led to multiple arrests for drugs less than two months after another stakeout at the same residence.

Matthew Richard Loibl, 42 (Blair County Prison)

Matthew Richard Loibl, 42, was arrested March 10, along with Darien Alexis Green, 25, March 5, stemming from a stakeout where Altoona police allegedly saw a woman passing out on the back porch of the home on the 2300 block of 5th Avenue.

According to the criminal complaints, police conducted surveillance on Loibls home in January after numerous complaints from neighboring homes. The stakeout led to the arrest of a Philadelphia man who was seen outside of the home for about 30 minutes before leaving and coming back. Upon returning, Loibl allegedly came out to talk to the man, went back inside, and then came back and did a handoff to the driver.

Darien Alexis Green, 25 (Blair County Prison)

On March 5, police began to watch Loibls house again, this time saying they spotted a woman on the back porch nodding off and passing out. According to charging documents, police approached the woman who allegedly admitted to taking heroin that day supplied by Green.

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Loibl agreed to let officers in the home, the complaint reads. From there, they were able to locate Green, another man who gave a fake name to officers, and a third man, Robert Jones, who was confirmed to have a warrant for his arrest through the Blair County Sheriffs Office. Police noted there were empty blue stamp baggies throughout the house.

Everyone was taken into custody and taken to the Altoona Police Department while a search warrant was approved. A search of the home turned up numerous paraphernalia including zip-top baggies and digital scales.

Green allegedly admitted to investigators that she facilitated the sale of heroin that she brought with her.

A previous search of the home stemming from Januarys incident allegedly found a slue of drug paraphernalia, a bowl with suspected crack cocaine, a bottle of methadone pills, and a syringe that had blood in it, another criminal complaint shows.

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As of this writing, only Loibl and Greens names show up in recent court dockets. Its unknown at this time if anyone else in the house that was detained or if the man from Philadelphia will face charges.

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Both Green and Loibl were placed in Blair County Prison. Greens bail was set at $35,000 and Loibls at $75,000.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  Multiple bills aimed at addressing housing in New Mexico are moving forward in the Roundhouse.

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House Bill 253 would seal eviction records in old or incomplete cases. It would also seal all eviction records after a three year period.

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House Bill 453 would create a Housing Credit Worthiness Assistance Program within the state Mortgage Finance Authority. It would also reimburse landlords for any unpaid rent or property damages from program participants within the first year of their lease.

House Bill 448 would establish a state office of Housing, Planning and Production. That would align state, local and private resources to help New Mexicans find stable affordable housing. All three bill passed the House and are headed to the Senate.

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McDUFFIE COUNTY, Ga. (WJBF)  A total of nine cows and calves were killed in a hit-and-run in McDuffie County on Sunday, according to the Georgia State Patrol.

Officials state that approximately 1:05 a.m. on March 9, a 2004 Ford Mustang was traveling west on Hobbs Mill Road as a group of cows that left a nearby pasture stood in the roadway. The front end of the vehicle then struck the cattle.

The driver of the vehicle reportedly fled the area on foot before contacting law enforcement.

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Georgia State Patrol is investigating.

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OLATHE, Kan.  FOX4 has learned several Snaps stores in Olathe were raided Friday.

We dont know any of the products was illegal, otherwise we wont put it out at the store, right? the owner of the Ridgeview and Kansas City Road shop, who did not want to be identified, shared with FOX4 Monday.

Snaps Food Mart, at Ridgeview and Kansas City Road, has flags out-front advertising it sells e-juice, vapes and accessories, along with Kratom.

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The store, at Ridgeview and Kansas City Road, had some product pulled from its shelves Friday. Its unclear what was taken and exactly how much.

One of my employees called me and they said: We got raided. They came and they took all these products, put them in these boxes and they left, the owner said. Items off the shelf.

The owner, of that specific store, claims he didnt know any of the products he sold might have been illegal.

Add to that, everybody in the state of Kansas, from border to border, they sell (the) same thing, he added. Same wholesalers. Same suppliers. Same companies.

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He said education surrounding what can be sold and what cant  is lacking.

They (companies who sell the product) come running around the vape shop and gas station and sell them the same stuff. Show them lab result is good for Kansas and according to Kansas law and we buy it. We put it on the display (in) front of everybody. Nothing hidden, the owner said. Everybody (is) confused, should I carry it or not?

Another store in Olathe, classified as a vape shop, confirmed to FOX4, it too had product taken, this store is under different ownership.

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You go see different places, youll find the same products, so my question, why dont you go bust everybody then?

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The owner at Ridgeview and Kansas City Road says officers took product for lab testing. He doesnt know when he will get items back, if at all.

FOX4 tried several times throughout the day Monday to reach out to the Olathe Police Department, to understand why the raid happened and what was seized.

We were unable to get information from the department Monday. We are hoping to have answers from them Tuesday.

You can learn more about Kansas Cannabis Laws here.

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Four months after filling out a trust and her will, widow Gerthie Carolina was attacked in her home near the small town of Sasakwa, Oklahoma, early Aug. 11, 1997.

She would perish at age 81 on her kitchen floor. She had been hit in the abdomen and repeatedly stabbed and cut, an autopsy report shows.

Her violent death would become another cold case, one of hundreds at the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

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Agents revisited the case in 2023, coming up with new evidence  a bloodstain on the side of a shoe, the OSBI said in court affidavits. That discovery led this month to two arrests and criminal charges.

The victim's niece, Carolyn Foreman, 81, and her great-niece, Dakota Davis, 45, were charged Friday with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Seminole County District Attorney Erik Johnson said in a news release the motive was to obtain an inheritance.

"This case is a testament to the relentless dedication of these investigators and our unwavering pursuit of justice, even decades after a crime is committed," the prosecutor said. "We hope this brings some measure of peace to Gerthie Carolina's family after all these years."

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Neither defendant has an attorney listed for them yet in online court records. Both were arrested March 4  Foreman in Midwest City and Davis in Sacramento, California, the OSBI said.

On April 9, 1997, the victim had completed a living trust and transferred a $40,000 certificate of deposit to it, court records show. She also signed her will, declaring she had no children.

"Carolina left her estate to Foreman, who would then be responsible for dividing the estate up amongst the family," the OSBI reported in court affidavits.

sasakwa_oklahoma_map

The two claimed to have found the victim dead when they arrived about 3:15 a.m. Aug. 11, 1997. Investigators were told Foreman had planned to take Carolina to a doctor in Ada because she wasn't feeling well, according to the affidavits.

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Foreman was then 53. Davis was only 17.

In the years after, according to the affidavits, OSBI agents were told Davis had admitted to the killing. In some accounts, she said she used a machete, the OSBI reported. In another, she said she used an axe.

Her father recalled she told him in 2001 that she "chopped up" the victim while Foreman was telling her to "hit her again, hit her again," according to the affidavits.

The father also told agents that Davis said the victim had been upset because Foreman had been taking money from her bank account to pay bills.

The break in the case came last year when an OSBI criminalist found a bloodstain that is believed to be from the victim on a shoe of Davis. OSBI agents had taken the shoes on the day of the crime in 1997.

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An OSBI lieutenant, David Gatlin, stressed in the affidavits that the bloodstain was found on the side of the shoe, not the bottom.

Foreman has been charged with first-degree murder before in a cold case. She and a son were blamed in 2005 for the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old in 1999.

The charge against her was dismissed later that year. Her son, Billy Earl Parker, now 60, was found guilty in 2007 of first-degree murder and is serving life in prison.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: 1997 Oklahoma cold case solved, and the motive was money, DA says
The social media platform X experienced waves of outages on March 10, which X owner and billionaire CEO Elon Musk attributed to a "massive cyberattack" linked to IP addresses originating in Ukraine.

"(W)e're not sure exactly what happened, but there was a massive cyberattack to try to bring down the ecosystem with IP addresses originating in the Ukraine area," Musk told Fox Business.

Musk claimed in a post on X that the attack was carried out "with a lot of resources."

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"Either a large, coordinated group and/or a country is involved," he said.

Cybersecurity experts have expressed skepticism of Musk's claims. Cyberattacks of this type, known as denial of service (DDoS) attacks, can be carried out by small groups or individual hackers. DDoS attacks direct excessive amounts of traffic at a website in order to overload its servers, often causing disruptions to service.

An industry source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Reuters that much of the traffic targeting X could be traced to IP addresses in the U.S., Vietnam, Brazil, and other countries.

The amount of traffic coming from Ukraine was "insignificant," the source said.

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Musk, who purchased X (then Twitter) in 2022, has a history of attributing technical glitches to cyberattacks. He also has a history of making inflammatory remarks and amplifying disinformation about Ukraine.

On the same day as the alleged cyberattack, Musk called U.S. Senator Mark Kelly a "traitor" for sharing details of his visit to wartime Ukraine. In his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), established by U.S. President Donald Trump, Musk has spearheaded the slashing of humanitarian aid to Kyiv and called to shut down U.S.-funded media outlets in Ukraine.

These outlets are a waste of "taxpayer money," responsible for "torching" up to a billion dollars in U.S. funds, Musk said.

Musk is currently listed as the world's richest man alive.

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Read also: Investigation: We tried to buy American chips as a Russian defense manufacturer  and it worked

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(Bloomberg) -- Billionaire presidential adviser Elon Musk called entitlement spending  including Social Security and Medicare  a key target for cuts, arguing the federal programs are plagued by fraud.

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Musk, who is guiding President Donald Trumps government downsizing effort, said Monday that entitlements with annual budgets of hundreds of billions of dollars were ripe for steep reductions. He made unproven claims about benefits, including that Democrats use them to attract and retain illegal immigrants by essentially paying them to come here and then turning them into voters. He also said there are widespread payments to dead people.

The waste report in entitlement spending, you know, which is all of the, which is most of the federal spending is entitlements, Musk said in an interview with Fox Business Larry Kudlow. So thats like the big one to eliminate, thats the sort of half trillion maybe $600, $700 billion a year.

Musks remarks about popular safety net programs could run into opposition on Capitol Hill from lawmakers who have already faced backlash about the Tesla Inc. chief executive officers rapid approach to slashing agencies and cutting the federal workforce.

Broad cuts to entitlements could also run up against Trumps 2024 campaign promise not to reduce Social Security and Medicare benefits. Trump repeated that pledge on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures, saying that he wouldnt reduce legitimate entitlement benefits but would go after improper payments.

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Musks estimate of the amount of fraud is far more than is believed to exist. Social Securitys internal watchdog found last year that $71.8 billion in improper payments occurred between 2015 and 2022, less than 1% of all benefits.

Earlier: DOGEs Push for Americans Data Meets Mixed Response From Judges

Trump and Musk have claimed that millions of people listed over age 100 in the Social Security database, and presumed dead, are receiving benefits, but the Social Security Administrations leader has said that is not the case.

Many Republicans have been adamant that entitlement benefits will not be part of Musks cuts through his Department of Government Efficiency.

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Democrats, for their part, have raised concerns that DOGEs targets for spending reductions will mean that retirement and health care programs will be in the cross-hairs. Those worries have sparked a wave of angry constituents at town hall meetings, prompting some Republicans to cancel in-person events with voters.

Co-President Musk announces his desire to cut entitlements. To be very clear, the only things he could be talking about are Social Security and Medicare, Rhode Island Democratic Representative Gabe Amo posted on X.

The billionaires comments come at a critical moment for DOGE, the cost-cutting initiative that Trump asked him to run.

Musks high-profile role as the public face of DOGE is taking a toll on businesses owned and run by the worlds richest man.

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Musk told Kudlow that he has been running his six businesses with great difficulty, but said he would remain in his role for the foreseeable future.

I cant believe Im here doing this. Its kind of bizarre, Musk said, adding that the $2 trillion deficit was the real wake up call for me.

Shares in Tesla took their biggest hit since 2020 on Monday, as analysts cut their projections for vehicle deliveries for the year. The electric vehicle brand is facing blowback from its base of climate-conscious consumers who associate it with Musks more conservative politics. Musk personal fortune is down $148 billion since the last trading day before the inauguration, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

And an apparent cyberattack Monday against X, temporarily took down the Musk-owned social media site for many users. Musk attributed the outage to a large, coordinated group and or a country.

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For weeks, DOGE has shaken up the federal government by canceling contracts, backing out of leases and pushing for federal employees to quit or be fired en masse.

Earlier: Musk Taps Private Equity Veterans to Aid DOGE at Social Security

Musk told Fox Business he has about 100 people working for DOGE, a figure he plans to expand to 200 people. He mentioned he was hiring mainly people with experience in finance, software and information technology.

Musk has received criticism for deputizing people with little knowledge of government to make cuts at agencies, which then had to be reversed after critical personnel  such as the employees managing the nuclear weapons stockpile  were terminated.

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His powers were tested after a Musk-inspired government-wide email asked 2.4 million civilian employees to recount their top five accomplishments of the previous weeks. Agencies that deal with sensitive and classified information  like the Justice, Defense and Homeland Security departments  pushed back.

And after Musk squared off with cabinet members in a meeting last week, Trump directed his cabinet secretaries to use a scalpel rather than a hatchet  suggesting that control over downsizing efforts was shifting from Musks DOGE back to the Senate-confirmed officials leading departments and agencies.

--With assistance from Stephanie Lai and Akayla Gardner.

(Updates with additional Musk remarks)

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Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), called Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly a "traitor" in a post on X after the senator shared details of his visit to Ukraine.

In a thread on March 9, Kelly posted photos from the trip, emphasizing that while everyone wants the war to end, any agreement must protect Ukraines security and not serve as a concession to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Musk responded directly to the post, accusing Kelly of betrayal.

Kelly, a former Navy pilot and astronaut, swiftly replied, criticizing Musks stance.

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"Traitor? Elon, if you don't understand that defending freedom is a basic tenet of what makes America great and keeps us safe, maybe you should leave it to those of us who do," he wrote on March 10.

Speaking to reporters later, Kelly dismissed Musk as "not a serious guy" and suggested he should go back to building rockets rather than engaging in political matters. The senator also accused Musk of prioritizing the interests of billionaires over the American people, pointing to his influence in government policies, including budget cuts affecting veterans services.

During his visit to Ukraine, Kelly met with government officials, embassy staff, and military leaders. He described the trip as emotional, stressing the urgency of delivering munitions and intelligence support to Ukrainian forces.

"This is existential for them, and again, over the past week or so, we've made it harder for them," he said, referring to recent U.S. policy shifts. Kelly warned that delays in providing military aid would lead to more Ukrainian casualties, adding, "They will stick with us. We stick with them. They will be there for us in the future, no matter what we need."

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Musks comments come amid heightened tensions in U.S.-Ukraine relations, following a contentious Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The discussion escalated into a heated exchange, with Trump and Vice President JD Vance blaming Zelensky for the war, despite Russias full-scale invasion. The meeting ended without an agreement that would have granted the U.S. access to Ukraines mineral resourcesan arrangement Kyiv had hoped would secure continued American military support.

Kelly, along with other Democratic lawmakers, has been vocal in opposing the Trump administrations shift away from strong U.S. backing for Ukraine.

"If we abandon our ally Ukraine, we will be viewed by other countries including our other allies as untrustworthy and in the future we shouldn't expect their help," he posted on X.

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Read also: US, Ukraine charities see surge in donations after Trumps attacks  but stress this doesnt fill the void

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Trump adviser and tech billionaire Elon Musk said Monday that he plans to double the size of his staff in the Department of Government Efficiency, which he noted is already working inside nearly every federal agency.

Musk's comments about DOGE came in an interview on Fox Business as his budget-cutting team has faced growing pushback not only from the courts and congressional Democrats but also from members of President Donald Trump's Cabinet.

Musk said that DOGE has about 100 staff members and that he planned to increase it to about 200.

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"We're trying to act broadly across all departments, so it's not just one department at a time," he told Larry Kudlow, a Fox Business host who worked in the first Trump administration.

Kudlow asked whether DOGE was in all federal departments. Musk responded, "Pretty much, yeah."

Musk's team initially focused its cuts on a few government offices, such as the U.S. Agency for International Development, but it has since expanded widely. That has prompted lawsuits from state attorneys general and other plaintiffs arguing that Musk and DOGE have exceeded their authority under the law and the Constitution.

Musk spoke about DOGE's direction Monday despite not having the title of DOGE administrator. The White House has said another administration employee, Amy Gleason, is DOGE's acting administrator, though it has also said Musk is overseeing the office. Trump has said Musk is in charge.

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In the interview, Musk kept up his attacks on Social Security, repeating claims about fraud that have been debunked by The Associated Press. Musk alleged that 10% of Social Security expenditures are fraud, although a report last year from the Social Security inspector general estimated improper payments at less than 1%.

Musk indicated on Fox Business that he did not plan to leave government any time soon, even though he serves in a time-limited type of position known as "special government employee."

"You gonna go another year?" Kudlow asked.

"Yeah, I think so," Musk responded.

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A special government employee is expected to perform temporary duties for no more than 130 days during any period of 365 consecutive days. Musk did not say whether he expects a change in his appointment status.

Musk acknowledged that his sprawling business empire has come under strain since he joined the Trump administration. Shares in Tesla, where Musk is CEO, have declined every week since he went to Washington, and they fell more than 15% Monday. Several Tesla locations have been the sites of anti-Musk demonstrations in recent weeks, and fires have damaged Tesla Cybertrucks in Seattle and Tesla charging stations near Boston.

"How are you running your other businesses?" Kudlow asked.

"With great difficulty," Musk responded. He then laughed briefly, sighed and took a long pause.

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"But there's no turning back, you're saying?" Kudlow asked.

Musk pivoted the conversation back to his government role, saying, "I'm just here trying to make government more efficient."

In another part of the interview, Musk said he believed disruptions on his social media app, X, earlier Monday were caused by a cyberattack tied to Ukraine-based IP addresses, though he provided no evidence.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Myrtle Beach is hosting a week-long celebration for Canadian visitors amid ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Canada due to a trade war.

The celebration, known as the Can-Am Days, aims to foster goodwill and strengthen ties with Canadian tourists, who have been hesitant to visit the U.S. because of the trade dispute.

Its a great spot for families, and theres always something to do, said Bonnie Beitz, a Canadian tourist from Ontario who has been visiting Myrtle Beach for two decades.

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A lot of people at home are thinking of staying at home and supporting Canadians, said Amy Merrill, another tourist from Ontario, reflecting on the calls to boycott American trips.

ALSO READ: Everyday items may see price hikes as tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China begin

According to WPDE, Beitz and Merrill expressed initial concerns about their trips to the U.S. due to the trade tensions but were reassured by the welcoming atmosphere in Myrtle Beach.

The Can-Am Days have been a tradition for 64 years, and this years events are seen as particularly important given the current political climate.

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Tracy Conner, the interim CEO of the Myrtle Beach Chamber, emphasized the importance of hosting the event this year to maintain the strong relationship with Canadian visitors.

Despite the trade tensions, the celebration aims to remind both Canadians and Americans of their longstanding friendship and alliance.

The Can-Am Days serve as a reminder of the enduring friendship between the U.S. and Canada, even as political tensions pose challenges to tourism.

VIDEO: Everyday items may see price hikes as tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China begin
Centrist Democrats are keeping them guessing.

Heading into Tuesdays vote to fund the federal government, almost a dozen House Democrats in Trump-won districts have yet to reveal if theyll join Democratic leaders to oppose the GOP bill, or hop over the aisle to help Republicans send the package to the Senate.

Where they land  and in what numbers  could decide the bills fate in the lower chamber, where Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is scrambling at the eleventh hour to ease the concerns of on-the-fence Republicans, particularly conservative spending hawks, who have yet to commit their support. Just two GOP defections would sink the bill if Democrats are united against it, and already Republican Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.) is a sturdy no.

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The razor-thin margins have put a spotlight on the battleground-district Democrats, who are under pressure to stick with their party in opposition to the package  which Democrats say is a threat to basic public services around the country  but also dont want to expose themselves to GOP attacks that they supported a government shutdown. Already, GOP campaign operatives are honing their messaging barrage.

The vote presents the first real challenge of the new Congress for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and his leadership team, who are racing to rally their troops, maximize the opposition and force Johnson to get his divided conference in line.

Heading into the vote, Democratic leaders are formally whipping rank-and-file Democrats to reject the measure, according to the office of Rep. Katherine Clark (Mass.), the Democratic whip. And Jeffries on Monday hammered the GOP bill for slashing federal benefits programs and suggested an overwhelming majority of Democrats will vote no.

The House Republican so-called spending bill does nothing to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Quite the opposite. The Republican bill dramatically cuts health care, nutritional assistance for children and families, and veterans benefits, Jeffries said Monday evening in the Capitol.

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It is not something we could ever support, he continued. House Democrats will not be complicit in the Republican effort to hurt the American people.

To be sure, Republicans face an uphill battle in blaming Democrats for a potential shutdown, since Republicans control all levers of power in Washington and the funding bill was drafted by GOP leaders without any Democratic input.

Still, GOP leaders are charging ahead with their go-it-alone strategy, daring Democrats to oppose the funding bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), and gambling that voters will blame Democrats, not Republicans, for the impasse.

The centrist Democrats in battleground districts will face the most pressure to cross the aisle.

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The one time House Democrats decide to wake up and do some work, its to shut down the government just to score political points, Mike Marinella, spokesperson for the Republicans campaign arm, said Monday in a statement. Theyre working overtime to make our country less safe and less prosperous  putting politics over people.

Heading into the vote, at least three of the 13 Democrats who represent districts won by President Trump in November  Reps. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas) and Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.)  are vowing to oppose the CR when it hits the floor on Tuesday afternoon.

Gonzales cited over $30 billion in cuts to the Veterans Administration.

That gives everybody a lot of cover, I think, he said. I have more than 40,000 veterans in my district.

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I would support a bill that protects the middle class, seniors, veterans, small businesses, emergency responders, farmers, growers, and producers, and our Northwest Ohio communities, Kaptur said in an email. I cannot in good conscience vote for legislation that puts Northwest Ohio and our people on the chopping block to pay for tax cuts for Billionaires.

But most of those 13 lawmakers have declined to show their hands.

Rep. Don Davis (D-N.C.) said Monday evening he was still going through the bill.

And Rep. Henry Cuellar (D), whose Texas border district also went to Trump, appeared to leave the door open to crossing the aisle.

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I do not support government shutdowns, Cuellar said in an email. As an appropriator, it has always been my top priority to ensure American taxpayer dollars are used efficiently and effectively. I am also focused on ensuring our vital services are protected.

It is time to get a bipartisan agreement.

Jeffries and other Democratic leaders declined to say how many defections, if any, theyre expecting.

The coming showdown puts moderates in a bind between voting for spending cuts to nondefense programs or risking what could be the first government shutdown in years.

Republicans say the stopgap measure would increase funding for veterans health care and housing, and it funds the federal supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children, or WIC. However, they say the bill would reduce funding for nondefense programs by about $13 billion below fiscal 2024 levels.

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By contrast, leadership aides say the bill would allow for a roughly $6 billion increase for defense programs above fiscal 2024, though below levels previously agreed to for fiscal 2025 under a bipartisan spending-limits deal struck almost two years ago.

Top Democratic appropriators in the House and Senate have accused Republicans of shortchanging programs such as the National Institutes of Health, nuclear weapons proliferation programs, agricultural research efforts and some farmer assistance at the United States Department of Agriculture.

They also say it falls short of putting what they see as necessary guardrails on Trump officials to administer funds as Congress intended.

This bill is a blank check for Elon Musk and President Trump, and  as the White House has said  it creates more flexibility for this administration to steal from the middle class, seniors, veterans, working people, small businesses, and farmers to pay for tax breaks for billionaires, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (Conn.), top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said during a hearing on Monday.

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The answer should not be a full-year continuing resolution that cuts nondefense investments by $15 billion and defense by $3 billion compared to the Fiscal Responsibility Act agreement for 2025, which was reaffirmed by Leader Schumer and Speaker Johnson, she said.

Democratic criticisms have even extended beyond Congress, as D.C. officials have also made calls for changes to the recent legislation, which they say could force the district to run at lower levels.

It would peg us at [fiscal 2024] levels, the levels that federal agencies are because they do not have an approved [fiscal 2025] budget, but we are not a federal agency, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) said from outside the Capitol on Monday.

Bowser called the move a $1.1 billion problem, saying if the stopgap is not changed, the district would be forced to reduce spending by $1.1 billion in only six months.

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Mar. 11Editor's note: Spokesman-Review reporter Nick Gibson is in Florida, this week to report on Anne McClain's and NASA's SpaceX launch from the Kennedy Space Center. Follow along in print and online at spokesman.com/sections/return-to-space.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.  After a weeklong trip turned into a nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station, NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally coming home.

The pair may leave the station as early as Sunday, weather permitting, and if their replacements arrive as scheduled.

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Crew-10, composed of Spokane's Anne McClain, fellow NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers, Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov and Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi, will relieve the pair of their duties. The space agency is targeting a Wednesday launch at 4:48 p.m. Pacific.

"This is a huge mission for us on Crew-10," said Steve Stitch, manager of the commercial crew program. "They're all big, but it started all the way back to Crew-9, when we launched that mission with two empty seats. We had those seats reserved for Butch and Suni."

Wilmore and Williams arrived on the space station last June on the first crewed test flight aboard the Boeing Starliner expecting to stay between eight to 10 days.

But concerns around the craft's safety led space agency officials to make the decision to roll the two into regular operations aboard the orbiting laboratory. They became full-fledged members of Crew-9, joined by NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov in September.

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Hague will return with Wilmore and Williams.

As their extended stay has dragged on, the narrative the pair were "stranded," "stuck" and "abandoned" grew. Wilmore and Williams found themselves in the middle of political disputes taking place 250 miles below their feet, as SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and President Donald Trump claimed former President Joe Biden's administration denied Musk's offers to return the astronauts "for political reasons," while Trump claimed his predecessor was going to abandon them in space.

Musk has also claimed the launch of Crew-10, scheduled for late March, was moved up a few weeks at Trump's request. Stitch said that's not the case.

Crew-10 was planning to arrive in February aboard a new SpaceX Dragon capsule, but technical concerns with the craft led the space agency to decide to delay the mission and swap the top of the rocket for a previously flown capsule, "Endurance."

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"I can verify that Steve has been talking about how we might need to juggle the flights and switch capsules a good month before there was any discussion outside of NASA," said Ken Bowersox, associate administrator of NASA's space operations mission directorate.

"But the president's interest sure added energy to the conversation," he added.

He said the decision to roll Williams and Wilmore into Crew-9 was made by the subject matter experts at the commercial crew and ISS program level, not at a higher level like the White House.

"That's typically the way our decisions work," Bowersox said.

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Since entering the political realm, Musk has shown a pension for conflict.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO called European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen a derogatory slur and an "idiot" on his social media platform X, after Mogensen posted in response to Musk reiterating his claims of political abandonment in an interview with Fox News.

"What a lie," Mogensen wrote. "And from someone who complains about lack of honesty from the mainstream media."

Mogensen, and several space explorers from around the world, highlighted that the plan for Williams and Wilmore to return with Crew-9 has been in place since September  during the Biden administration.

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Musk publicly doubled down by going after decorated, retired NASA astronaut Scott Kelly after he criticized Musk for attacking Mogensen.

"I was Commander of the @ISS when Andy, @Astro_Andreas flew his first space mission," Kelly posted. "He is one of the most competent, trustworthy, and honest people I've ever met. This rhetoric is beyond the pale but, sadly, not surprising. He does not deserve this kind of disrespect."

Musk responded by going after Scott Kelly, as well as his twin brother and fellow astronaut, U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, a Democrat of Arizona.

"He is an idiot who publicly attacked me, despite having no idea what ACTUALLY happened," Musk said on X. "Btw, your brother claims to be independent, but is just a Dem donor shill."

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Mark Kelly responded "Hey @ElonMusk, when you finally get the nerve to climb into a rocket ship, come talk to the three of us."

In a news conference from the ISS last week, Williams and Wilmore did their best to avoid the political fracas.

Wilmore said he believes Musk made an offer to retrieve them sooner, but acknowledged those decisions are made well above them, and that they were not privy to those conversations. He expressed his appreciation to Musk and Trump for "all that they do for us, for human space flight, for our nation."

"We know what we've lived up here," Wilmore said. "We know the ins and outs and the specifics that they may not be privy to, and I'm sure that they have some issues that they are dealing with, information that they have that we are not privy to."

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Wilmore said he does not believe politics played into the decision to have them stay aboard the station "at all."

"We came up prepared to stay long, even though we plan to stay short," Wilmore said. "That's what we do in human space flight. That's what your human space flight program is all about, planning for unknown, unexpected contingencies."

Williams pushed back against some of Musk's statements, reiterating as she has for months that the two never felt "stranded." She expressed disappointment in Musk's calls to ground the ISS within two years instead of its expected retirement in 2030.

The station has transformed from a few modules to a large hub for innovative research in the 12 years since she was last aboard, and Williams believes abandoning the work prematurely wouldn't make much sense. This is the third visit for both Wilmore and Williams, who have played instrumental roles in the assembly, operation and maintenance of the ISS.

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"We should make the most of this space station for our taxpayers and for all of our international partners, and hold our obligations and do that world -class science that this laboratory is capable of," Williams said.

For Williams, the hardest part of the experience has been feeling for her loved ones back home, who didn't have a clear idea of when they might see her again.

"It's been a roller coaster for them, probably a little bit more so than for us," Williams said. "You know, we're here, we have a mission. We're just doing what we do every day, and every day is interesting because we're up in space."

Wilmore said his faith has helped put the extended stay in perspective.

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"Some things look to us to be not so good, but it's all working out for His good, for those that will believe," he said.

With their return imminent, following two full days of crossover with Crew-10, the veteran astronauts expressed their pleasure in being able to contribute to innovative research, advancing human space flight and the lessons they're bringing back with them.

Williams said she gets a bit sad when she thinks about how this might be her last voyage, so she tries not to. It's been "an incredible opportunity," she said, before teasing that she may leave a personal effect behind so there's "some hide-and-go-seek for the next guys."

"Maybe they'll never find something, I'm not going to tell," she said with a grin.

"We're living up here in this very unique place; it gives you an amazing perspective," Williams said. "Not only out the window, obviously, but also just on how to solve problems. I don't want to lose that spark of inspiration and that perspective when I leave. So I'm going to have to remodel it somehow."

Wilmore said he's looking forward to seeing his family and returning the mementos they gave him. Astronauts wear aviator wings just like other members of the military with a responsibility to the skies, and after a prior mission, he had several sets turned into rings for his father, brother, wife and two daughters.

"A lot of trial and effort, not just me, but by my whole family and others, put a lot into getting those wings, and so they mean a lot," Wilmore said. "Being able to give those gifts back when we get back is a special thing."
Welcome back! NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are home at last. They spent nine months orbiting Earth on the International Space Station. Long-term ISS missions aren't unusual, except these particular astronauts weren't planning on an extended stay.

Williams and Wilmore rode to the station on a crewed Boeing Starliner test mission in June. The crew capsule encountered technical issues and was sent back to Earth without the astronauts. Their eight-day stay became a months-long stay. The pair hitched a ride back on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The capsule made a picture-perfect splashdown off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida on Tuesday afternoon.

The SpaceX Dragon Freedom spacecraft is seen after it splashed down off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, on Tuesday, returning Crew-9 to Earth.

Crew-9 makes successful splashdown

Crew-9's SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is named Freedom. Dragon's parachutes gently lowered the capsule into the calm water after a fiery reentry process where temperatures reached up to 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit. A SpaceX recovery ship is tasked with bringing the capsule on board. The crew will catch a helicopter back to land.

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NASA's live coverage of the return started at 4:45 p.m. ET, with splashdown occurring at about 5:57 p.m. NASA scheduled a return-to-Earth media conference for 7:30 p.m. Watch on the NASA app, on streaming service NASA Plus or on YouTube.

Crew-9 to the rescue

Crew-9 launched in late September with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov on board. NASA reserved two empty seats for Williams and Wilmore to come home.

Both Williams and Wilmore have insisted they didn't feel stranded, though that term has been widely applied to them in news stories and social media.

"Butch and Suni each have previously completed two long-duration stays aboard the station," NASA said in an explainer. "NASA astronauts embark on missions fully aware of the various scenarios that may become reality."

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The astronauts integrated with the existing crew, kept busy with research and even went on a spacewalk together in January.

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft with four Crew-9 members aboard departs the International Space Station.

Crew-10 handover

Crew-10 had a bit more riding on it than a typical crew rotation mission. The Crew-10 handover cleared Crew-9 for its long-awaited return to Earth.

The three astronauts and one cosmonaut of the SpaceX Crew-10 mission docked with the International Space Station just after midnight ET Sunday, and at 1:35 a.m., opened the hatches between the Space Dragon spacecraft and the ISS, meeting up with the crew already there.

NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov were welcomed by the Expedition 72 crew, including Williams, Wilmore and Hague, NASA astronaut Don Petitt, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Gorbunov, Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner. That made for a crowded house on the space station until Crew-9 left.

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Crew-9's return will mark the end of a space saga that has fascinated the public. It's a complex story involving Boeing's Starliner woes, SpaceX's dominance in human spaceflight and the seeming plight of two space travelers who couldn't come home.

Williams and Wilmore put in years of training to spend time in space on this mission. It just ended up being a lot more time than they expected.
A group of people living in an area of Yulee that FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, says is already at risk of flooding says development planned across the road will make the problem worse.

Nassau Countys Planning and Zoning Board recently voted yes on allowing development on more than 55 acres of land south of Clyde Higginbotham Road, between Lumber Creek and the CSX railroad track. It stretches down to the St. Johns River, just before the Duval County line.

This is the same area where Action News Jax told you in September homeowners were working to pump chest-deep water away from their homes after the First Alert Weather Team reported around 10 straight days of rain in northeast Florida.

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Skyler Swisher is one of those homeowners, who has lived along Clyde Higginbotham Road in the same home since 1995. Hes worried the possible new development will make it impossible for future rainwater to have anywhere else to go.

Im scared about the path forward, Im not sure, Swisher said.

Swisher showed Action News Jaxs Finn Carlin a ditch next to his home hes been working on for months as a way of making his own drainage for rain. Last falls heavy showers flooded the area around his home, making it look like a lake in his and his neighbors yards.

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We had never seen this problem before, we asked anyone for anything we thought we could do, said Swisher, referencing the ditch, we tried doing something with this, it didnt do anything.

Swisher tells Action News Jax he is still working on recovering from the showers last fall, both with repairs to his home, trying to find drainage solutions for future rain and dealing with a flood of stress rather than water.

Read: Well-known Glynn County dentist arrested, accused of murdering partner at their home

Every time its a heavy, hard rain or its raining long, [my wife and I] cant sleep, Swisher said, weve literally cried worrying, wondering whether wed be under water.

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Swisher and his neighbors are worried the land across the street, being considered for construction, will be used for more homes.

WRC Cook Yulee, LLC is the Jacksonville-based company listed as the owner of the property. Were still working to learn what exact plans the company has for the land, should it get a final approval to be rezoned for development, but some of the options listed through county documents include homes, hotels, health and fitness establishments, restaurants and more.

Its now up to the Nassau County Board of Commissioners to give final approval. The boards next meeting is on March 19th.

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The rubber-stamp National People's Congress has given the green light to the plans of the Chinese government with overwhelming majorities.

The approximately 2,900 delegates of the unelected parliament in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing endorsed the work reports and budget plans of the ruling Communist Party nearly unanimously on Tuesday.

For the first time in decades, China will increase its budget deficit to 4% of its gross domestic product (GDP) in a year marked by trade disputes with the United States.

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Beijing intends to allocate funds to support the troubled real estate sector, provide banks with capital, and encourage people to spend more. It is hoped that this will help achieve the self-imposed economic growth target of "around 5%."

In addition, defence spending will rise significantly by 7.2% to about 1.78 trillion yuan ($246 billion). The government also plans to strengthen the area of artificial intelligence (AI) with funds and create more educational, childcare and care services, as well as job opportunities.

China's President Xi Jinping (C) applauds next to Prime Minister Li Qiang (R) and Chairman of the Consultative Conference Wang Huning (L) during the Chinese People's Congress annual session in the plenary hall of the Great Hall. Johannes Neudecker/dpa

Chinese ex-basketball star Yao Ming (R) attends the Chinese People's Congress annual session in the plenary hall of the Great Hall. Johannes Neudecker/dpa
PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP)  In his first trip to the once-volatile Western Balkans, NATOs secretary general Tuesday underscored the alliances steadfast commitment to its security and urged Kosovo and Serbia to be flexible in their normalization talks.

Mark Rutte came to Kosovo after his first stop in Bosnia a day earlier, which he reassured of the military alliances unwavering support for its territorial integrity after a series of Bosnian Serb separatist moves raised tensions nearly 30 years after the end of a bloody war.

A secure Western Balkans region means more security across the whole Euro-Atlantic area, said Rutte. He added: We must be clear eyed on what lies ahead. Decades of hard-won peace must not be jeopardized.

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Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a decade since the end of the 1998-1999 war between Serbian government forces and ethnic Albanian separatists that pushed Serbian forces out following a 78-day NATO air campaign.

Serbia doesnt recognize Kosovos independence.

NATO leads the Kosovo Force, or KFOR, a peacekeeping mission of some 4,700 troops from 29 countries. It has increased its presence in Kosovo after tensions in the last two years.

KFOR is fully postured to respond to any relevant security developments, said Rutte.

The normalization talks with Serbia are the only way to solve pending issues and secure a stable future, according to the alliances head.

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The European Union-facilitated Kosovo-Serbia normalization talks, which started in 2011, have yielded little result and they remain stalled.

Both the EU and the United States have been urging both sides to implement agreements reached two years ago that include a commitment by Kosovo to establish an Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities. Serbia was also expected to deliver on the de facto recognition of Kosovo.

Brussels has made it clear that normalization of their ties is indispensable for their integration into the bloc.

To move this dialogue forward, both sides must show flexibility, make the necessary compromises, and focus on the long term gains, said Rutte.

Normalization brings greater stability, more investment opportunities, and also lasting security across the whole region for the benefit of all.

___

Semini reported from Tirana, Albania.
PRISTINA (Reuters) - NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said on Tuesday the alliance is committed to its peacemaking mission in Kosovo and urged political leaders in Belgrade and Pristina to speed up dialogue to settle unresolved issues and pave the way to lasting peace.

"NATO has supported peace and stability in the Western Balkan region for 30 years now. Our commitment remains strong today, spearheaded by KFOR," Rutte said, referring to NATO's Kosovo Force peacekeeping mission.

"NATO will continue to fully support the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina, led by the European Union."

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Rutte spoke in Pristina during a visit to KFOR's 4,686 military personnel.

Kosovo declared independence in 2008, almost a decade after NATO bombed Serb forces to halt the killing and expulsion of ethnic Albanians from the region during a 1998-99 counter-insurgency war.

But, in its constitution, Serbia still regards Kosovo as an integral part of its territory.

Rutte said the dialogue, "is the only way to solve pending issues and secure a stable future, ensuring that the rights of all communities are respected and safeguarded."

He urged parties to show flexibility and compromise.

Both Kosovo and Serbia aim to join the European Union, but in order to make progress they need to normalise ties and establish diplomatic relations. In 2013 the parties agreed to an EU sponsored dialogue, but little progress has been made.

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"Normalization brings greater stability, more investment opportunities, and also lasting security across the whole region, for the benefit of all," Rutte said.

(Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; Writing by Ivana Sekularac, Editing by William Maclean)
Owensboro-Daviess County 911 Director Paul Nave said Monday that businesses that rely on Microsoft Teams for communication are not having 911 calls go to the dispatch center.

Rather, Nave said, the calls are going to a Microsoft call center, which has to field the call and transfer it to the 911 center.

Nave discussed the issue with the 911 advisory board last month.

Nave said the issue has existed with other internet-based phone providers.

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We have had several of those, where a 911 call from Teams went to a call center elsewhere, Nave said. Several businesses have switched to Teams.

The same is true of other voice operated internet protocol (VOIP) phone systems, Nave said.

Weve made huge strides in working with VOIP phone services so calls transfer to 911, Nave said.

Ive been able to work with the providers, Nave said.

But there is no fix emergency calls centers can make themselves so calls from Teams go to their local 911 dispatch, he said.

The 911 professionals cant regulate what businesses do, Nave said, and said Microsoft is meeting the federal standards by having 911 calls go to a call center.

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If a call is transferred to a call center, it will take time for the center to screen the call, and transfer it to the appropriate location.

Theres a delay, and I want people to know there is a delay, Nave said.

According to the Microsoft website, an emergency address for 911 calls can be provided by the businesses network administrator to Microsoft. Microsoft can also obtain the address through the businesses operating system that is confirmed by the user. In those instances, 911 calls will go directly to the local dispatch center. Calls to 911 with no emergency address on file, with or without a way to get the address through the operating system, will be screened by a call center and then transferred.

The website says a location can be set for a businesses office, and that employees working remotely can also set locations so their calls will go directly to 911. The information can be found on Microsoft Teams website under Manage Emergency Calling.

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In cases of businesses using Teams that called 911 in Daviess County, the calls Im receiving ... are coming from a call center, Nave said.

Nave, who is also on the state 911 Services Board, said the issue is new to us.

Nave said 911 can test businesses with internet based phone services to make sure they are connecting with the local 911 dispatch center.

If a company wants to test it, they can call on the non-emergency line 270-687-8888 to have 911 run a test, Nave said. Dispatch has tested businesses using internet phones that werent reaching 911 through the tests, he said.
Sen. Mark Kelly said he thinks Elon Musk should go back to his old job after President Donald Trumps billionaire henchman called him a traitor in response to a post about Kellys support for Ukraine.

Arizona Democrat Kelly tweeted Sunday on Musks X platform that he had returned from a visit to the war-torn country, where he visited a military hospital and met with wounded soldiers. What I saw proved to me we cant give up on the Ukrainian people, he said.

Musk replied: You are a traitor.

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Kelly, who flew combat missions during the Gulf War as a naval pilot before becoming a NASA astronaut, shot back: If you dont understand that defending freedom is a basic tenet of what makes America great and keeps us safe, maybe you should leave it to those of us who do.

Traitor?



Elon, if you dont understand that defending freedom is a basic tenet of what makes America great and keeps us safe, maybe you should leave it to those of us who do. pic.twitter.com/9dgmQfg7HZ  Senator Mark Kelly (@SenMarkKelly) March 10, 2025

Kellys wife, the former congresswoman Gabby Giffords who was almost killed in a 2011 mass shooting, stepped in to back him up. My husband is an American hero, she tweeted.

Kelly expanded on his response during an appearance on MSNBC Monday in a withering address aimed at Musk that questioned the patriotism of the White House senior adviser, who Trump has tasked with leading the administrations efforts to purge thousands of federal workers.

When I was 22 years old, as I was getting sworn in to the United States Navy, I swore an oath to our Constitution, to protect and defend the Constitution, he told Rachel Maddow. I have lived that oath my entire life.

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The only oath I can think of that maybe Elon has sworn is an oath to his own checking account, to his pocketbookan oath, maybe, to ruining the lives of veterans. I had veterans in my office last week who, after really good performance reports, found out that Elon Musk fired them for poor performance. He has ruined these peoples lives.

Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and her husband, Sen. Mark Kelly. / PATRICK T. FALLON / AFP via Getty Images

Democrats estimate that the Musk-led firings of federal workers has impacted thousands of veterans, ABC News reported, and Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Andy Kim (D-NJ) plan to introduce a bill that would require their reinstatement.

Kelly added that he believes Musks slash-and-burn of the federal government is being carried out to create a little space so the big, giant tax cuts that theyre going to give for millionaires and billionaires do not look as bad, does not add as much to the debt and deficit.

He suggested Musk will cut Medicaid, impacting children and seniors, before suggesting the billionaire resume his prior career: I would prefer if Elon went back to his old job. You know, its SpaceX and Tesla.

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Meanwhile, a GOP lawmaker sided with Kelly, calling Musks traitor remark wholly inappropriate.

Its not decent, its not right, House Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) told CNN. I dont agree with Senator Kelly on some things, but we dont call each other a traitor, and I think it reflects bad on the White House.

Kellys exchange with Musk comes as relations between Washington and Kyiv are in disarray, following an Oval Office meeting where Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Trumps administration has also opened up communications with autocratic Russian President Vladimir Putin, who ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago. Trump claimed last week that the Kremlin may be easier dealing with.

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Following the heated Oval Office meeting, Trump suspended military aid to Ukraine and cut off some intelligence sharing with the country.

Kelly told reporters on Monday that he saw firsthand how Trumps actions had harmed Kyivs defenses against Russian forces.

If theres stuff they dont get, that they need, that changes their ability to defend against attacks, he told media, according to a Reuters report. And those attacks happened on Friday night, on Saturday, when I was there.
The North Carolina Legislative Building (Photo: Clayton Henkel)

A North Carolina House committee advanced two bills that would increase the punishment for exposing minors to sexually explicit material and threatening or assaulting public officials in a Tuesday meeting.

Lawmakers in the House Judiciary 2 Committee voiced concerns that the language in the bills  House Bill 83 and House Bill 95  could be overly broad and used to punish conduct outside their intended scope  including criticisms of lawmakers not intended to be real threats and sexually explicit performances aimed at adult audiences only.

Rep. John Torbett (R-Gaston) (Photo: NCGA)

HB 83, introduced to the committee by Rep. John Torbett (R-Gaston), raises the class of several crimes related to the dissemination of obscene and harmful material to minors and exhibition of harmful performances and allowing courts to require those found guilty to register as sex offenders. The bill would also create a new felony offense described as habitual indecent exposure for individuals found to have committed indecent exposure on three or more occasions.

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The largest change in the bill involves raising the dissemination of material or exhibition of performances that are harmful to minors  defined as including sexually explicit nudity or sexual activity in violation of a prevailing community standard  from a misdemeanor to a Class H felony, punishable by up to 39 months in prison.

Torbett said the bill was prompted by a case in which a 16-year-old was sent harmful, vile, nasty material by an adult man in South Carolina, but extradition was denied because the offense is classified only as a misdemeanor in North Carolina even though he was just across the border. The minors mother contacted Torbett, he said, and shared her outrage over what had happened.

Rep. Yao Liu introduced an amendment to make explicit that the bill does not seek to punish performers themselves, if a parent brings a child to a show without their knowledge. My bill has nothing to do with strippers or exotic dancers, Torbett said in response.

The committee voted down the proposed amendment but approved a separate limiting felonies to ones in which sexual material is exchanged between individuals four or more years apart in age, mirroring statutory rape laws to avoid inadvertently punishing teen couples.

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While civil rights groups have opposed similar laws around content legislators define as harmful to minors in other states out of concern they could be used to target drag and cabaret performers, no advocates attended Tuesdays committee meeting to speak out against the bill. Other states have used similar statutes to target librarians for criminal prosecution for checking out books considered by some as explicit  though North Carolinas law lists schools, libraries, churches, and other public institutions as well as their employees as exempt from prosecution so long as they are carrying out a legitimate function.

Rep. Deb Butler asked, Who defines harmful? and suggested that reliance on community standards could lead to subjective judgments about offending material, but ultimately conceded, Well just have to let the court define it when they see it.

Rep. Keith Kidwell (R-Beaufort) (Photo: NCGA)

HB 95, which was sponsored and explained by Rep. Keith Kidwell (R-Beaufort), stems in part from his own experience of being threatened at a Beaufort County polling place last year, when a constituent allegedly told him Im just going to shoot you. Kidwell said he did not understand why threats made by the same individual against locally elected Democratic officials were not also considered felonies as they are for state lawmakers. This bill would address that concern by classifying serious threats against local elected officials as felonies.

The bill additionally heightens penalties around this conduct, raising the class of felonies around threats and attacks to public officials and granting judges greater latitude in imposing pretrial release restrictions on defendants in these cases. Even if officials do not directly receive or believe the threats being made, they can still rise to the level of felony offenses.

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In todays climate, I think most of us are going to agree when youre threatening an elected official, we need to take that serious, Kidwell said.

Rep. Charles Smith raised the possibility of including language that requires the threat to be imminent or create reasonable belief that it will actually occur, but ultimately did not propose an amendment to that effect.

Im not as concerned about how do I feel as to whether the threat was realistic, Kidwell said, adding that the courts can make that determination. Ive seen it where they threaten school board members, county commissioners, city council members  and to me, you know, Ive always taken threats as real.

Also approved by the committee Tuesday was House Bill 188, by unanimous vote. The bill seeks to introduce new requirements for companies whose subscriptions or contracts automatically renew to protect consumers, on the grounds that many do not read the lengthy user agreements that mention them. Kidwell said he was moved to propose the bill when a constituent told her their lease automatically renewed without their knowledge, requiring them to continue living somewhere they did not wish to for an additional year.
The North Carolina Legislative Building (Photo: Clayton Henkel)

The North Carolina House and Senate are out of step on the legislatures newest Hurricane Helene relief package, sending the bill to joint negotiations as it sits one step away from the governors desk.

House Bill 47, the legislatures $535 million aid deal, will head to a conference committee. The House voted to reject the Senates changes to the bill on Tuesday, forcing members from both chambers to sit down and hammer out a compromise.

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When the bill came back  we feel like theres some additional language added, some things taken away that we need to discuss further, said Rep. Dudley Greene (R-Avery).

North Carolina Rep. Dudley Greene (R-Avery) urges the House to support a bill sending $500 million in aid to western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene on Feb. 25, 2025. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)

The House originally passed the bill in late February. By the time it made it through the Senate, several major changes had been made.

Among those changes: the addition of homebuilding money for eastern North Carolina; removal of money for state park repairs; and an extension of relaxed building codes.

House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) said he and his members preferred to address several of those issues  particularly money for eastern North Carolina  in separate bills.

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Rep. Eric Ager (D-Buncombe) said he supported the move to reject Senate changes, but urged lawmakers to move swiftly.

I think the most important thing is that we get this money out there quickly, Ager said.

Republican members said Tuesday they hoped to have a final agreement in the coming days.

I dont know that were that far apart on those things, Hall told reporters Tuesday. My intention is to act quickly, get a conference report and pass it.

The bill lays out $535 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.

After passing the Senate, the bill included $192 million in agricultural relief, $140 million for a homebuilding program, and $100 million for private road and bridge repairs, among a number of other line-items.
Critics say Senate Bill 261 will relieve pressure on Duke Energy to move rapidly away from generating electricity from fossil fuels as is done in this Indiana coal-fired facility. (Photo: Robert Zullo for States Newsroom)

A North Carolina Senate committee advanced a bill Tuesday morning that would remove a state mandate on Duke Energy to meet carbon reduction goals by 2030.

Senate Bill 261  the Energy Security and Affordability Act  is co-sponsored by more than a dozen Republican lawmakers, including Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) and Senate Majority Leader Paul Newton (R-Cabarrus).

Sen. Paul Newton (R-Cabarrus) (Photo: NCGA)

The bill was approved on a voice vote by the Senate Agriculture, Energy, and Environment Committee, despite pleas from Democratic lawmakers that the measure be delayed until it could receive a more thorough vetting  it was only introduced Monday afternoon  and opposition from environmental advocates and concerned citizens. The bill now goes to the Senate Rules Committee.

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Newton, a retired Duke Energy executive, presented the bill.

Current state law, following a measure enacted with bipartisan support in 2021, provides two deadlines for Duke Energy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions  the utility company must cut emissions by 70% of 2005 levels by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2050.

Newtons bill would remove the first deadline while still requiring carbon neutrality by 2050. He called the date an arbitrary goal.

It just simply opens up other possibilities for the commission to choose from, and it will lower cost and more reliability for North Carolinians, Newton said.

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Duke Energy revealed late last year in the latest iteration of its carbon plan that it could not meet the 2030 deadline due to unprecedented growth leading to increased energy demands, according to WUNC.

The North Carolina Utilities Commission waived the deadline in November 2024 and requested Duke Energy take all reasonable steps to meet the 70% reduction by the earliest possible date.

With SB 261, Duke Energy would no longer need to meet the 70% reduction by any specified date.

North Carolina League of Conservation Voters Director of Governmental Relations Dan Crawford (Photo: nclcv.org)

Environmental advocates condemned the legislation as a giveaway to Duke. In a statement, Dan Crawford, director of Governmental Relations for the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters said the measure rolls back cheaper, more reliable clean energy goals in favor of dirty coal and fossil gas, while allowing Duke to line its pockets on the backs of ratepayers.

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North Carolinians want to make the transition to cheap, clean, reliable energy, and this bill takes us in the opposite direction, while simultaneously enriching Duke Energys investors. Yesterday [the day the bill was introduced] was a dark day for North Carolina voters and ratepayers, Crawford said.

Will Scott, director of the Southeast Climate and Clean Energy for the Environmental Defense Fund, issued a similar statement. Citing a November 2024 study, Scott said, At a time of rising energy costs, this bill is a bad deal for ratepayers. Our recent analysis showed that North Carolina does not need any more baseload gas power plants, yet this bill fast-tracks those plants costs on to North Carolinians power bills. Lets stick to our goals to reduce harmful power plant pollution and minimize customer exposure to volatile gas prices.

Sen. DeAndrea Salvador (D-Mecklenburg) proposed pushing back the committees vote on the bill to revise its language.

Sen. DeAndrea Salvador (D-Mecklenburg) (Photo: NCGA)

One thing in which you keep referencing the point at which that this will only be for interest. However, if you read the bill language, it does not appear that way, she said. Would you be willing to accept an amendment to specify that the [construction work in progress] process would be only for interest related costs?

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Committee co-chair Sen. Norm Sanderson, a Republican who represents several eastern counties, declined to delay the vote.

Newton also argued the bill would have positive financial impacts, saying it could bring more business to the state.

We work so hard to attract job creators to North Carolina, he said. The last thing we want to do in our energy policy is overcome all the good tax reductions, all the good regulatory improvements weve made, and they look at us and say, youre too expensive, I cant put my manufacturing plant there.'

Yarn manufacturer Parkdale Mills closed its Sanford location in September 2024, citing a rapid increase in energy costs, according to Business North Carolina. The shutdown led to 74 job cuts.

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During the meeting, some lawmakers suggested the 2021 law was responsible for a spike in Duke Energy costs for customers. A study by the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association in July 2024 cited the global rise in natural gas prices for this increase.

After senators asked questions, witnesses had the opportunity to testify.

Mark Swallow, a North Carolina resident, shared his dismay with the proposal.

Duke Energy has been stonewalling meeting the requirements of 2030 since the original version of this bill and the Honorable Phil Berger is gonna let them off the hook, he said. This bill lets them off the hook from doing the work to meet the goals that they knew were coming and theyve been ignoring. They need to be forced to do the hard work, the right work.

Last updated at 1:35 p.m., on March 11. 2025.
The vast majority of Ukrainians believe that Russia intends to destroy Ukraine and is not planning to stop at the territories it has already occupied.

Source: a survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) from 14 February to 4 March.

Quote: "A total of 87% of Ukrainians believe that Russia does not want to stop at the already occupied territories."

Details: Sociologists note that in all regions of Ukraine, the absolute majority, ranging from 80% in the east and south to 89-90% in the west and centre, believe that Russia will continue its territorial expansion.

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In addition, 66% of respondents are convinced that Russia's goal is to destroy Ukraine and its people. Specifically, 28% believe Russia seeks to physically exterminate Ukrainians, while 38% think Russia wants to seize all or most of Ukraines territory and eliminate Ukrainian statehood and national identity.

Quote: "Also, 70% in the west, 68% in the centre and 62% in the south believe that Russia wants to commit physical genocide or destroy Ukrainian statehood and the nation. In the east, the indicator is also high - 46%."

Details: Another 14% think Russia aims to seize most of Ukraine and install a puppet government, while 7% believe Russia wants to occupy the entire Donbas, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

Only 4% believe that Russia simply wants to maintain control over already occupied territories, while just 3% think Russias goal is merely to "de-Nazify" and demilitarise Ukraine. The remaining 7% of respondents were unsure how to answer.

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Anton Hrushetskyi, Deputy Executive Director of KIIS, stated that the survey results indicate that while Ukrainians are very tired, they still categorically reject peace "on any terms".

Quote from Hrushetskyi: "Ukrainians are quite flexible and ready to discuss even painful options for ending the war. At the same time, Ukrainians are ready to continue to defend their red lines (which consist of the survival of the Ukrainian nation, preservation of sovereignty and guarantees of security) and are definitely not going to simply lay down their arms and surrender to the mercy of the enemy."

More details: The survey was conducted using computer-assisted telephone interviews based on a random sample of mobile phone numbers. A total of 1,029 respondents aged 18 and older, residing in all government-controlled regions of Ukraine, participated.

The sample did not include residents of temporarily occupied territories, although some respondents were internally displaced persons who had fled occupied areas. The survey also did not cover Ukrainians who had left the country since 24 February 2022.

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Under normal circumstances, the statistical margin of error for this sample, with a probability of 0.95 and considering a design effect of 1.3, would not exceed 4.1% for figures around 50%, 3.5% for figures around 25%, 2.5% for figures around 10%, and 1.8% for figures around 5%. Given the ongoing war, additional systematic deviations may exist, but sociologists believe the results remain highly representative and provide a reliable analysis of public sentiment.

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PAYSON, Utah (ABC4)  A threat made by a Mt. Nebo Middle School student late last week led to an increased police presence at the school out of an abundance of caution.

Nebo School District officials told ABC4.com the threat was non-credible but law enforcement was immediately notified and an investigation was started. Details of the threat were not made available but officials confirmed police will be more prevalent at the school over the next week.

This action is being taken to ensure the safety and well-being of all students and staff and alleviate parental concerns, The Nebo School District said in a statement.

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The school district has recently received reports of bullying at the school on social media  a matter officials say they take very seriously. School district officials told ABC4.com that the bullying allegations had been thoroughly addressed both at the school and district levels in accordance with policy and procedure.

BYU study examines toxic perfectionism in the LDS church

The district declined to comment on what, if any, disciplinary actions were taken in order to protect information regarding minors. However, district officials said Mt. Nebo Middle School always takes proactive measures.

Administrators and teachers are actively present in hallways during breaks, lunch periods, and before and after school, the school district said. Classroom discussions are being held to reinforce anti-bullying messages and encourage students to report any bullying incidents immediately. All reported incidents are addressed promptly and thoroughly.

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In spring 2024, Mt. Nebo Middle School was the target of several threats, including bomb threats, after the school garnered national attention for a student-led protest against furries. None of those threats were found to be credible, though it did lead to an increased police presence at the time as a precaution.

In 2024, Utah lawmakers approved a bill that imposes harsher penalties on students and adults who make threats against schools or falsely report emergencies. Students found to be responsible for threats face being suspended or expelled from school.

Is Trader Joes really coming to Riverdale? Its complicated

Under the new law, adults convicted of making school threats can now be charged with a second-degree felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and as much as $10,000 in fines. Some hoax threats, depending on their severity, could even be charged as a federal crime. According to the FBI, perpetrators could receive up to five years in federal prison.

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The Nebo School District and Mt. Nebo Middle School said they remain committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for all students.

We appreciate the cooperation and understanding of our community as we work to address these matters, said the school district.

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A series of bills in Nebraska are aiming to change how the state handles changing clocks twice a year in 2025. (Getty Images)

LINCOLN  State lawmakers again punted Tuesday on making a final decision on how to end Nebraskas twice-a-year changing of the clocks back and forth, leaving it up to one more debate.

Lawmakers again advanced Legislative Bill 34, from State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha for permanent daylight saving time (the current position of the clocks as of this past Sunday through early November), and LB 302, from State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil for permanent standard time (in the winter months between November and early March), this time to the third and final round of debate.

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Unlike the first round of debate three weeks ago, more lawmakers picked only one of the options:

14 senators supported only permanent standard time.

14 senators supported only permanent daylight saving time.

13 senators supported both bills.

5 senators voted against both bills.

2 senators did not take a position on either bill.

State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha. Aug. 8, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston voted against permanent daylight saving time (LB 34) and was present, not voting on permanent standard time (LB 302). He confirmed to the Nebraska Examiner that he supports permanent standard time.

Speaker John Arch of La Vista is in charge of scheduling and told the Examiner that, should both bills pass during the final round of debate, the decision goes to Gov. Jim Pillen.

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If Pillen also signs both bills, the final bill he signs would become law.

A spokesperson for Pillen did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the bills.

Both bills would require surrounding states to adopt similar laws before taking effect:

For Hunts bill, three adjacent states to Nebraska would need to adopt a single year-round time.

For Murmans bill, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and Wyoming would all need to adopt legislation for year-round standard time. Multiple senators have said the list should include Colorado, to prevent a southwest Nebraska time-zone island.

State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil, right, talks with State Sen.-elect Victor Rountree of Bellevue at a legislative retreat in Kearney on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Hunt has advocated for year-round daylight time to have the sun later in the evening, particularly in summer months, to help businesses and economic development.

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Murman has received support from the Nebraska Medical Association and other major medical organizations for year-round standard time, for purported health benefits better aligned with natural circadian rhythms.

Year-round daylight saving time, from Hunt, would require federal approval, either through Congress or a rule change from the U.S. secretary of transportation. The United States briefly had year-round daylight saving time between Jan. 6, 1974, and April 27, 1975, in response to the 1973 oil crisis.

States can choose to adopt year-round standard time, which Hawaii and Arizona (excluding the Navajo Nation) observe.

How lawmakers voted during the second round of 2025 debate on changing clocks

Advance BOTH permanent daylight saving AND standard time (13): Christy Armendariz, John Cavanaugh, Stan Clouse, Danielle Conrad, George Dungan, Jana Hughes, Teresa Ibach, Margo Juarez, Jane Raybould, Victor Rountree, Rita Sanders, Ashlei Spivey, Paul Strommen

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OPPOSE both bills (5): John Arch, Carolyn Bosn, Rob Clements, Rob Dover, Rick Holdcroft

Advance ONLY permanent DAYLIGHT SAVING time (14): Bob Andersen, Eliot Bostar, Machaela Cavanaugh, Wendy DeBoer, Myron Dorn, John Fredrickson, Dunixi Guereca, Bob Hallstrom, Megan Hunt, Terrelll McKinney, Jason Prokop, Dan Quick, Tony Sorrentino, Brad von Gillern

Advance ONLY permanent STANDARD time (14*): Tom Brandt, Barry DeKay, Ben Hansen, Mike Jacobson, Kathleen Kauth, Loren Lippincott, Dan Lonowski, Dan McKeon, Glen Meyer, Mike Moser, Dave Murman, Tanya Storer, Jared Storm, Dave Wordekemper

DID NOT VOTE on both bills (2): Beau Ballard, Brian Hardin

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*State Sen. Merv Riepe opposed daylight saving time and was present, not voting on standard time. He confirmed he supports permanent standard time after the votes.

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Col. John Bolduc, superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, and Gov. Jim Pillen. Pillen on Tuesday announced that Bolduc will retire May 4, when he reaches the NSP mandatory retirement age of 60. (Courtesy of Governor's Office)

LINCOLN  Col. John Bolduc is set to retire as superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol on May 4, when he reaches the agencys mandatory retirement age of 60.

Gov. Jim Pillen announced Bolducs retirement and an application process for his successor in a news release Tuesday.

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Bolduc served eight years as the superintendent of the Patrol and had a law enforcement career that stretched 38 years.

His dedication to the agency and those who work at NSP is evident, Pillen said in the statement. Col. Bolduc has been a steady leader, and I appreciate that he chose to devote nearly a decade of public service to Nebraska.

Bolduc called it a great honor to serve the people of Nebraska and the men and women of the Patrol. I am proud of our shared mission and confident that this team will continue its exemplary work to keep Nebraska safe.

Prior to his tenure in Nebraska, Bolduc was police chief for the Port of San Diego as well as for the departments of Brainerd and Mora in Minnesota.

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The Governors Office said it would receive applications from candidates interested in serving as the next Patrol superintendent through the close of business on April 1.

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Rep. Brenden Jones expresses his frustrations during a recent Helene recovery hearing. (Photo: NCGA video stream)

North Carolina Republican lawmakers have rightfully complained in recent years about the states deeply flawed recovery response to Hurricanes Matthew and Florence  two storms that wreaked havoc years ago. Its outrageous that many eastern North Carolina homes still remain unrepaired.

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That said, their recent partisan grandstanding about the post-Hurricane Helene situation in western North Carolina is all wet.

Last week, a GOP lawmaker tried to blast Stein administration officials for failing to rebuild businesses damaged by the storm, even though the legislature has refused to appropriate any funds for that purpose.

A similar complaint about rebuilding homes  money for which was only just recently appropriated by the legislature  was equally absurd.

The bottom line: Governor Stein and western lawmakers have been begging for funds to help devastated businesses and homeowners and its the cheapskate refusal of Republican legislators to help (along with crazy Trump administration funding cuts) that are the problem. The disingenuous grandstanding is an embarrassment.

For NC Newsline, Im Rob Schofield.
A neighbors security camera showed three suspects attempting to break into vehicles last weekend.

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The Englewood Police Department posted on social media a neighbors Ring camera footage that shows a suspect trying to break into a car.

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Early Saturday morning, three criminals were visiting one of our neighborhoods looking for their next easy victim - an unlocked car, and preferably one with the keys left in it, they said in a Facebook post.

The video shows a person wearing a hoodie running from a vehicle to a driveway. The suspect attempted to break into another vehicle but could not because it was locked. The suspect ran away.

That same resident called the police about the suspicious activity. Officers responded and found three suspects leaving the neighborhood in another stolen vehicle, Englewood Police said.

We pursued the suspects into Harrison Township where they abandoned the stolen vehicle and fled on foot. With the assistance of our colleagues at the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office and Trotwood Police Department, we were able to apprehend all three suspects after they fled into a home on Detroit Avenue, the department stated.

All three suspects, an 18-year-old and two 16-year-olds, were arrested on charges related to the incident.

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I am horrified and disgusted by the way President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance treated President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine on Feb. 28 in their Oval Office meeting.

Most of all, I am overwhelmed with shame. The meeting was filled with the pure bullying we have grown too used to hearing from the highest officials of our nation. Is this really what America stands for now?

For generations, many of my family members, including my father and my son, have served in combat in our country's armed forces. My father's tiny destroyer escort plied the North Atlantic on submarine duty all through World War II. After the war, my father was called to be command historian with the United States European Command in France at the height of the Cold War.

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Letters: Ukraine minerals deal shameful. Russia is the nation that started war.

We grew up in Paris, where not only were we surrounded by the scars of World War II, but the threat of Russian aggression was omnipresent. All our neighbors had lost family members in the war or French Resistance, and you couldn't pass down the streets of Paris without encountering war-wounded individuals or refugees from Iron Curtain countries.

Some of our elected officials seem to have forgotten this recent history. Instead, they are giving in to the un-American characteristics of commitment-breaking and intentional disorder coming from the White House. Where is their courage? Where is their own commitment to honor and serve all that is best in the United Sates of America?

Their loss of integrity is hardly Making American Great Again.

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Mary Henderson Eagan, Thiensville

Never have I been so ashamed to be an American

Watching as our President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance badgered and bullied President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, I was stunned as my feelings moved from shock to fear and to anger  extreme anger.

I could not believe that the leader of one of our allies would be treated with such disrespect. Both our president and vice president claim to be Christians. After today, I am not convinced. One of the primary tenets of Christianity is hospitality. They were anything but hospitable. They were out and out hostile.

Opinion: Backlash to Musk isn't imagined. When they slash Medicaid it will be worse.

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I always understood that the White House was to be a place of hospitality where guests, both international and domestic, were to be welcomed and treated with care and respect. This president and his vice president have proved me wrong.

If I could apologize to President Zelenskyy, I would. I pray that wiser and more diplomatic leaders in Washington will somehow right this wrong.

Rev. Alexander M. Jacobs, Milwaukee

Trump and Vance arrogant bullies. Zelenskyy wronged.

I watched President Donald Trumps meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and was disappointed and embarrassed by the arrogant and bullying behavior of both Trump and Vice President JD Vance (Trump berates Zelenskyy at White House meeting, March 1).

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If anyone is deserving of an apology it is Zelenskyy.

I hardly recognize the Republican party any more. It is embarrassing to see the United States siding with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the face of Russias invasion of Ukraine  distancing us from our long-term allies in Europe.

Opinion: On Wisconsins glacial lakes, wake-enhanced boating damaging and dangerous

Following World War II, U.S. Secretary of State, George Marshall, said, It is logical that the United States should do whatever it is able to do to assist in the return of normal economic health to the world, without which there can be no political stability and no assured peace.

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There was no discussion of a quid pro quo or mineral rights. This is a sharp contrast to Trumps negotiations over aid to Ukraine and the assault on USAID programs to combat poverty, hunger and disease in the developing world.

Trump and Vances behavior in the meeting with Zelenskyy was embarrassing and disgraceful. We are becoming increasingly isolated from our friends and allies. Hopefully, America can rise from the ashes.

Charles Uphoff, Fitchburg

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Trump and Vance bullying on center stage in Oval Office | Letters
Crews will be back out across Seminole County on Tuesday to assess damage after a powerful EF2 tornado touched down in parts of Lake Mary and Longwood on Monday.

The winds were strong enough to rip through houses, brick walls, and fences.

I lived through many hurricanes ... I never experienced something like this, one resident of the Whispering Winds subdivision in Longwood told Eyewitness News.

The winds peaked at 115 miles per hour, and the few minutes that the system traveled on or near the ground was enough to destroy a home near Markham Woods Road.

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It was wham, bam!, Longwood resident Dan Hunnel said. It hit up there and it bounced, and it hit over here and bounced, and hit here and bounced, and moved on down the road, Hunnel motioned to explain the twisters path.

From above, Drone 9 showed the devastating images of the neighborhood.

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Scattered about the ground were Christmas decorations, furniture, a checkbook and other personal items like pictures. My daughter lives here, her home was destroyed. Shes devastated, a neighbor in tears told Channel 9s Geovany Dias.

According to the National Weather Service, tornadoes in general are not uncommon in Central Florida. However, a tornado this strong was unusual.

An EF2 this time of year is considered a rare Florida tornado. In total, generally speaking, 90% of all tornadoes that the State of Florida sees are EF 0 or EF1 tornadoes which are still potentially damaging, National Weather Service meteorologist William Ulrich said.

To see winds of up to 115 miles per hour or greater is a rare phenomenon for us in Central Florida, he added.

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The Seminole County Emergency Management team has been fanning out across the area since the storm hit, ensuring the community has the resources it needs to rebuild.

Officials are also reminding residents about the value of potentially life-saving tools.

Thats the importance of quick alerts, having a weather radio, having some type of system where you can get a weather warning, and going into that safe location, Emergency Manager Alan Harris said.

To activate your alert service from Seminole County, go to AlertSeminole.org, or simply text SEMINOLE to 888-777.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
NEWPORT, Tenn. (WATE)  Between rescuing people from Hurricane Helene, assisting the community in the aftermath, and helping their neighbors evacuate from the fires in Sevier County last week, the last six months have been busy for the Newport Rescue Squad.

With the squad ramping up search and rescue training for the incoming hiking season, they are asking for more volunteers.

Let me tell you, its one of the best things when youre able to say all that hard work paid off and youre able to bring someones loved one home, said Search and Rescue Team member Summer Kimmel.

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After retiring from the Navy, Kimmel said being a part of the search and rescue team is one of the most rewarding jobs she has had.

Its what I do. I love helping people and I love being part of this team because there are some amazing people on this team that are all here for the same purpose to help protect our county.

Having started just six months ago herself, Kimmel joined the team when people like her were needed the most in the aftermath of Helene, and now she said they are needed again.

We go out into the woods and look for missing kids, missing elderly, anyone who just goes off into the wilderness and cant get home safe. And thats who were really needing right now, is the search and rescue team, said Kimmel.

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As the weather is getting nicer, and people are setting out to hike the trails. She said they have been doing extra training to stay prepared. But with the entire squad being made of volunteers, she says they need more people to step up to the plate.

Whether its for flooding, fires, things like that, when you dont have anyone to rely on, its very scary. And so I like to be one of those people that can help out and the team likes to be right there, said Kimmel. We get donations. We go hand out door to door, do whatever we can because thats what were here for, we want to make sure that everyone knows that we are here to do whatever we can to help.

According to squad captain Pud Valentine, they are in need of volunteers for all positions. However, right now they are emphasizing the need for help in their search and rescue team.

For those interested in joining they can apply here, all other questions or inquires are asked to be directed to their Facebook, or in-person at their rescue squad building on Tuesday nights at 7pm.

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KENTUCKY (FOX 56)  In a pretrial hearing on Monday, 32-year-old Torilena Fields was granted a psychiatric evaluation, leaving questions as to where this case stands.

Fields faces several charges stemming from the October 2024 death of her mother, Trudy, including murder, torture of a dog or cat, and abuse of a corpse.

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Kentucky State Police troopers discovered the grisly scene on Brierly Ridge Road after two men came to do some work for Trudy, and instead found body parts and a bloody mattress behind the home. Court documents elaborate on the scene inside, where authorities found the dogs body and parts of Trudys in a large pot inside the still warm oven.

You kind of hope its something that where shes not in her right mind, something you want her to be out of her mind and to explain what caused this, Olivia Brock, Fields cousin, said.

As of a Monday order, court proceedings have been halted depending on the results of a psychiatric evaluation.

Her defense, Laura Fitzer, filed a motion for a psychiatric competency evaluation on Sunday stating that her client cannot appreciate the nature and consequences of the proceedings or to participate in her defense.

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Fitzer alluded to the day of and before Fields arrest as evidence of her mental state.

The day prior to the incident, witnesses saw the defendant attempting to cast spells on them, she wrote. When the police came on the scene after the body was found, the Commonwealth alleges the Defendant did not exit the home voluntarily, was seen speaking gibberish and attempting to cast spells on the robot deployed by the special response team.

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The evaluation will be held in person by a psychiatrist. Fitzer noted the evaluation being in person is important as some of the ways in which the Defendants possible mental illness manifests, requires the evaluator to see the Defendants conduct and mannerisms.

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Family members told FOX 56 in October 2024 that Fields was involved in a motorcycle accident while she lived in California that potentially caused brain damage. Shed only been home in Robertson County for a few months.

It was a surprise to all of us that she was back here, and we think that Trudy was trying to help her with whatever she had going on mentally, Olivia said.

Further, Fitzer noted that Fields had been found incompetent to stand trial for charges in California at some point in 2024. Court documents note that these records are confidential.

Though the Defendant does not wish for this evaluation, Counsel is required to request this evaluation, Fitzer wrote.

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However, the final decision lies in the court.

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A court can find incompetency, even if the experts find someone competent, she emphasized.

According to Kentucky law, depending on the results, the case may never go to trial.

No defendant who is incompetent to stand trial shall be tried, convicted, or sentenced so long as the incompetency continues, the statute reads.

Therefore, if the court finds Fields incompetent to stand trial but there is a substantial probability of improvement, the court can commit her to a treatment facility for 10 days. At that time, another competency hearing will be held, per Kentucky law.

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If shes found incompetent to stand trial without the possibility of improvement, the court can initiate involuntary commitment.

A hearing has been scheduled for July 14, but for now, the trial is on hold.

If Fields is found competent, court proceedings will continue as scheduled.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Anyone interested in the history of healthcare in Britain will be familiar with the somewhat apocryphal quote from Nye Bevan upon the founding of the NHS, if a bed pan is dropped on a hospital floor in Tredegar, its noise should resound in the Palace of Westminster.

This quote reflects one of the perennial debates in our health service: the role of central government in a nationalised health system. This debate has again reared its head following recent shake up in NHS England and the Department for Health and Social Care.

Up until yesterday, the perpetual problem in the NHS was that the Government precariously balanced a thinly veiled command and control approach with a weak devolution agenda, failing to properly understand what the role of central government should be in a modern health system.

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Weve historically failed to reconcile the desire for consistent, homogenous health outcomes with the policy reality: highly diverse, heterogenous local populations who each respond very differently to the same policy intervention.

Confronting this tension has led to decades of reform, creating haphazard local autonomy in pockets of the NHS. This in turn has created a highly fragmented national health system. GPs are independent, private businesses. Hospital trusts are their own independent organisations, each operating and performing differently. Social care and community services are organised by the local commissioner who will select the organisation (often a small private company or charity) that is the best value for money for their specific areas needs.

But these systems are all funded by the taxpayer and their income managed by the Treasury, so the centre has always retained arguably the most important means of influence by reserving control over the money. When the health system comes up against nation-wide problems  such as poor availability of GP appointments, A&E waiting times or the elective backlog  it wants a way to step in and correct this, and it is no surprise that the usual intervention is to inject cash into the system.

The worst example of this system is the setting of an overwhelming litany of targets, leaving little money or flexibility to do anything else.There is no indication that the reduction in NHS Englands head count will move the centre away from the govern-by-target approach. These targets can still be set, but just by the Secretary of State instead.

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Structurally, significant tensions can be expected between an NHS actually operated by a cacophony of independent organisations and funding streams, and a Government which wants to standardise both process and outcomes within these organisations. This dissonance often leads central policymakers to complain that pulling a lever in the NHS can lead to no result, precisely because we have now designed a system that is half decentralised, and half centralised, and which produces the full benefits of neither approach.

Many of the powers to influence health outcomes sit more within the remit of local government than central government. Prevention  a policy that is also best executed at a hyper local level given that it speaks closely to living conditions and lifestyle  is supposed to be the modus operandi of the health system.

Health demand is growing both in volume and complexity, varying extensively based on the locality. Some areas have a particularly bad chronic obstructive pulmonary disease problem while others have a disproportionately frail population or an especially bad cancer backlog.

Collectively these trends suggest this shake up should trigger something more profound than simply a rationalisation of NHS England, or whether the Chief Executive has a desk in the department or not.

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The radical opportunity here is for an NHS that finally leans into the devolution agenda and accepts that to do so it must relinquish control. A new chief executive, with strengthened ministerial oversight of the powers which must necessarily sit in Whitehall, will be an important start  but it cannot be the end.

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The NHS falsely claimed there was evidence to support the use and expansion of physician associates, according to the doctors union.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has written to NHS England questioning its failure to share evidence it claimed showed physician associates (PAs) were safe and effective.

It comes a week after a review by academics at the University of Oxford, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), concluded there was limited evidence to support the use of PAs.

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The doctors union has repeatedly called on NHS England to pause the recruitment of associates amid a series of patients dying or coming to harm.

In 2023, NHS England officials told the BMA that there were case studies, clinical and professional engagement and literature reviews to support their use and planned expansion.

Dr Navina Evans, the NHS chief workforce officer, and Prof Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director, co-wrote and published an open letter which said: Evidence tells us [associates] are safe, increase the breadth of skill, capacity and flexibility of teams, positively contribute to patient experience and flow, and reduce workload pressure on other clinicians.

In a letter to NHS England seen by The Telegraph, the BMA has now said it requested the evidence to back up these claims in November 2023 but never received a response.

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Prof Phillip Banfield, chairman of the BMA council, said the rapid review of available evidence published in the BMJ last week suggests that NHS Englands reliance on the absence of evidence of safety incidents in a small number of research studies is an error of logic that is likely to cost lives.

The review, led by Prof Trisha Greenhalgh, of the University of Oxford, looked at 29 separate research studies that examined PAs and anaesthetic associates (AAs) but were found to be scant on data.

The total number of physician associates studied was very small, especially in GP surgeries, researchers said, and no studies reported direct assessment of AAs.

Only one study, of four PAs, involved any assessment by a doctor of their clinical competence by direct observation, and no studies examined safety incidents.

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The experts also found no evidence that deploying PAs or AAs improved efficiency or saved money.

Many patients were also unaware they were seeing a PA, raising concerns about transparency and informed consent.

It concluded: In this context, the absence of evidence of safety incidents should not be misinterpreted as evidence that deployment of physician associates and anaesthetic associates is safe.

More than 3,500 associates are employed in the NHS and the health service plans to treble their number over the next decade.

Last month, a coroner said the PA who treated Pamela Marking before she died at East Surrey Hospital in 2024 had a lack of understanding of the significance of abdominal pain and vomiting and had undertaken an incomplete abdominal examination.

A coroner voiced concern how Pamela Marking died at East Surrey Hospital in 2024 after seeing a PA

Mrs Marking was seen by the PA and told she had a nosebleed before she was sent home, with her family believing she had been cared for by a doctor.

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Another high-profile death involved Emily Chesterton, 30, in 2022 from a pulmonary embolism. She was misdiagnosed by a PA on two occasions who thought she had a sprained ankle.

Prof Banfields letter to NHS England said it was deeply concerning that the organisation continues to ignore concerns raised by patients, doctors and now an increasing number of coroners.

By maintaining a postcode lottery in which different hospitals can decide what physician and anaesthesia associates can and cant do in the absence of any agreed scope of practice, I fear that the NHS has created a patient safety scandal, he added.

He called for interim safety measures to be implemented immediately.

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PAs are graduates  usually with a health or life sciences degree  who have undertaken two years of postgraduate training but have no formal medical qualifications.

According to the NHS, they should work under the supervision of a doctor and can diagnose people, take medical histories, perform physical examinations, see patients with long-term conditions, analyse test results and develop management plans.

Most associates work in GP surgeries, acute medicine and emergency medicine.

In November, the Government launched a review of the role of PAs and AAs led by Prof Gillian Leng, president of the Royal Society of Medicine, which is expected to be published in spring.

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An NHS England spokesman said: Physician associates are trained practitioners that play an important role in supporting the NHS to provide high-quality care for patients, but this should always be with the appropriate supervision and within the scope of their practice.

The Leng Review will gather insight from across the NHS to ensure that these roles are being used appropriately to deliver safe care for patients and we are listening carefully to legitimate concerns about these roles and we are taking action to address this.

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NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56)  A decade ago, the Nicholasville Police Department faced the tragic death of fellow officer Burke Rhoads. All these years later, the team hasnt forgotten.

Nicholasville police joined other first responders at the police headquarters to honor the life of Officer Burke Rhoads, who passed away on March 11, 2015. The Nicholasville Police Department knew Officer Rhoads well, but Melissa Mason had the chance to call him husband. She and the family came out to join the department to honor the fallen hero.

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Today means honor, remembrance, and celebration. Celebration of life, celebration of this department, and celebration of his legacy, Mason said.

Officer Rhoads was known for his passion for fitness, something that will live on through the departments fitness center dedicated to him. With badge number 574 presented proudly, friends and family say its like he never left.

It was wonderful to see the kids and their expressions. Being able to see them in the fitness center knowing that was their dad and his legacy that he has left for them has been heartwarming, Mason said.

More than just his drive to stay fit and healthy, fellow officers like NPD public information officer Sam Wade said hell also miss his guidance and leadership.

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He never hesitated to double-check what was being done to make sure the right things were being done. I called him our perfect north, our compass arrow, because he was just always making sure the right thing was being done at the right time, Wade said.

Year after year, the department still feels this loss. At the same time, they say they feel the positive impact he left on the community every day they serve. Something his wife and children would agree.

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He did so much good for so many people and served with his whole heart. That spirit lives on in his children, as theyve all served their communities and their country, Mason said.

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In memory of Officer Rhoads, the Nicholasville Police Department started the Burke 5.74K, a run honoring his badge number 574. This run will be on May 3. More information on the 5.74K can be found here.

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NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56)  Tuesday is the 10th anniversary of the death of Nicholasville police officer Burke Rhoads.

Each year, the department continues to remember him as his loss still impacts the community.

In 2015, Rhoads was on his way to police training when he was hit and killed by a car. His death left his family, friends, and the department in shock. Each year on March 11, those same people gather outside the police department in honor of his life and service.

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So, Burke was a one-of-a-kind individual; he was the example that officers should seek to be. You could joke that integrity was his middle name; he was true north; he was the golden compass; he had that kind of heart and soul. He always wanted to make sure he was doing the right thing and always had a heart for service. He spent many years in the United States Army before he came to Nicholasville PD, and he fell in love with his town and gave it his all every day, said Officer Sam Wade.

Read more of the latest Lexington & central Kentucky news

Rhoads was a father of three and his life of service now lives on through his kids. His daughter and his two sons joined the military. Wade said since Rhoads passing, the department has done everything it can to stand behind the family.

So, as a department, we knew the moment that he passed that we needed to be there for his family and support them and so we made it a point to attend graduations and attend birthdays and special events for them because we knew that Burke wasnt going to be here for those; although Burkes always going to be around in spirit, said Wade.

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Nicholasville police officers said one way the department gathers to remember Rhoads is with a memorial run.

To continue Rhoads legacy, the department founded The Burke, a 5.74-kilometer race, which also pays tribute to his badge number, 574. This year will be the sixth year of the race that will begin at East Jessamine Middle School.

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Burke saw the value in physical fitness, and so he always did his best to make sure that he was working out or staying fit. He always encouraged other officers to do so as well and so we decided that a proper way to memorialize him would be to have a memorial run, said Officer Wade.

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The annual race raises money for other fallen officers families in Kentucky. This years race will be held on May 3, so there is still plenty of time to sign up.

At 11 a.m. on Tuesday, a short prayer service will be held in front of the departments fallen officer memorial. Community members are welcome 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 56 News.
President Donald Trump is going electric.

In a flurry of late-night posts Monday on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump announced he will purchase a brand new Tesla in a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, who is leading his efforts to slash the federal government.

Musk is putting it on the line in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! Trump wrote, accusing Radical Left Lunatics of trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the Worlds great automakers.

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Tesla's stock price, which rose sharply after Election Day, has plummeted amid falling sales and increasing criticism surrounding Musks role as Trumps main hatchet man as the two look to pare down the government.

In recent weeks, Tesla vehicles and storefronts have been vandalized, with shots fired at an Oregon dealership and hundreds of protesters storming a showroom in Manhattan.

Trump said he would purchase the Tesla on Tuesday morning. Musk, for his part, thanked Trump in a post on X.

In a separate post on Truth Social, Trump sounded a defiant note in the face of Ontario, Canada, imposing a 25 percent surcharge on electricity exports to the United States, saying your [sic] not even allowed to do that.

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Because our Tariffs are reciprocal, well just get it all back on April 2, he added. We dont need your Cars, we dont need your Lumber, we dont [need] your Energy, and very soon, you will find that out.

And in a third missive, he hit out at Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie for refusing to support Republicans government funding bill, vowing to lead the charge to unseat him and comparing him to Liz Cheney.

Congressman Thomas Massie, of beautiful Kentucky, is an automatic "NO" vote on just about everything, Trump fumed. HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED  DO I HAVE ANY TAKERS???


A husband and wife were gunned down outside their New Jersey home by a neighbor, who later died by suicide following an hours-long standoff with law enforcement, according to authorities.

The violence unfolded early Monday evening in the sleepy Jersey Shore community of Bayville in Berkeley Township, near Amherst Beach, according to the Ocean County Prosecutors Office. Police were called around 4:45 p.m. to a home in the area along Drake Drive and discovered two people each suffering from a gunshot wound.

Both victims were airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center where they were listed in critical but stable condition as of Tuesday afternoon, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said. Their names have not yet been released, but officials have confirmed theyre married couple.

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During a subsequent investigation into the bloodshed, authorities were able to identify the gunman as the victims neighbor, 54-year-old John Adamo. Police said he first shot his male neighbor, who was outside at the time, before he fired into the couples home, wounding the mans wife.

Adamo then fled and camped out inside his own house while law enforcement, including the Ocean County SWAT team, descended on the scene. They spent hours trying to coax the him outside, but to no avail. After nearly three hours, they forced entry and found Adamo dead in the upstairs bedroom, Billhimer said.

The prosecutors office said he suffered from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

While a motive has not been released, there had been a history disputes between the neighbors, as documented by the Berkeley police, the Asbury Park Press reported.

An investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
NJ Transit plans to increase fares by up to 3% in the next two fiscal years to balance its budget, drawing affordability concerns. (Fran Baltzer for New Jersey Monitor)

NJ Transits board took the latest step Tuesday in adopting a $3.2 billion operating budget that includes a 3% fare hike and hundreds of millions of dollars from a business tax surcharge meant to keep the agency afloat.

Board commissioners unanimously voted to release their budget proposal, which the board has not yet adopted, to lawmakers despite scattered public concerns about how higher fares might impact low-income riders.

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NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri wrote in budget documents that the budget represents another step toward rebuilding the agencys foundation, prioritizes customers and their safety, and restores NJ Transit as an exemplary transportation agency of the nation.

The $3.2 billion spending plan marks a roughly 5% increase from the $3 billion NJ Transit intends to spend in the current July-to-June fiscal year and is the second in as many years to call for higher fares, though those will rise by far less than the 15% increase approved last year.

NJ Transit expects to collect $980 million in farebox revenue in the coming fiscal year, a 3.5% increase driven almost entirely by the fare hike allowed under a plan the board approved last year. Another 3% hike is planned for the subsequent fiscal year.

Even though it doesnt seem like a lot  its up to a buck for a roundtrip on a longer train trip  eventually New Jersey Transit riders are like the proverbial frog in the boiling pot of water. How hot can it get in the pot? said Doug OMalley, director of Environment New Jersey.

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The $980 million collection target marks a postpandemic high for the agency, which has struggled to bring ridership back to prepandemic levels amid the rise of remote work. If met, it would bring NJ Transits fare revenue to above levels reached in fiscal year 2019 for the first time since the COVID-19 crisis.

Ridership has yet to recover. In December, ridership was roughly 80% of what it was before the pandemic, where it has hovered for the prior four quarters. Ridership for the current fiscal year is expected to average to 80% of prepandemic levels.

Bus ridership has seen a greater recovery, reaching 87% of prepandemic levels in December, while rail commuters have been relatively slow to return. In December, rail ridership was at 67% of prepandemic levels.

Assemblywoman Barbara McCann Stamato (D-Hudson), who testified before the committee Tuesday, suggested service improvements and expansions would help boost ridership.

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When service is unreliable, it forces more people into cars, increasing congestion, pollution, and strain on our roadways, she said. We have already seen that when New Jersey expands service, like with the 119 and the 10 bus routes, ridership increases. This proves that when people have access to frequent and dependable transit, they use it.

NJ Transit will receive $815.5 million in its first tranche of revenue from a new business surtax  called the corporate transit fee  that lawmakers enacted in the current state budget.

The fee, a 2.5% surcharge on businesses with more than $10 million in net income, will fill a $767 million budget gap the agency faces after federal pandemic relief funds run dry in the current fiscal year.

Absent a renewal, the surtax is due to expire at the start of 2029. Business groups have railed against the fee, noting it leaves New Jersey with the highest state corporate tax rate in the nation for high-earning firms.

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The corporate transit fee is forecast to bring in $868 million in the coming fiscal year, but 6% of revenue created by the states corporate tax is constitutionally dedicated to open space.

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The driver of the truck that crashed into heavy brush off the Massachusetts Turnpike early Monday has died, according to state police.

Jose Parzdes Almonte, 29, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, was at the wheel of the tractor-trailer that went off the eastbound side of the highway near the Westborough-Grafton line about 1 a.m., state police said. The rig went down an embankment.

The first state troopers on the scene did not immediately locate Almonte. He was not in the cab of the truck. He was located nearby a short time later and rushed to a hospital.

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The driver of a second vehicle was also brought to a hospital. That person's condition was not shared by authorities.

The crash caused backups into the morning, with the removal of the crashed rig delayed until after the morning commute.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Driver in crash on Mass. Pike identified as Jose Parzdes Almonte of NJ
Taos High School Mariachi El Tigre performed on March 10, 2025 in the Rotunda at the New Mexico Legislature for Taos County Day. (Photo by Austin Fisher / Source NM)

During Taos County Day at the Legislature on Monday, Source NM asked three Taosenos about what they love  and what they would change  about their part of Northern New Mexico.

Michelle Montez

Michelle Montez is from the Town of Taos and the interim director of Mariachi El Tigre at Taos High School. Her students performed on Monday in the Rotunda.

What is one thing you love about Taos County?

I love that it is a very tight-knit community and you dont get that in a bigger city.

What is one thing you would change about Taos County?

More open-mindedness to change and growing.

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Estrella Casias

Estrella Casias is from the Town of Taos and a student at Taos Municipal Schools.

What is one thing you love about Taos County?

One thing that I love about Taos County is how everybody contributes to the community, all of the events. They provide a whole lot of stuff for everybody to go and enjoy like Movies on the Green in the park, the Youth and Family Center, and Workforce Connections allowing teenagers to have jobs and helping those who need it.

What is one thing you would change about Taos County?

One thing I would change about Taos County is offering more opportunities for the youth, and providing more places for the youth to hang out. I mentioned the Youth and Family Center, and there is also a bowling alley, but I feel like most teenagers dont necessarily have a place to hang out as a group or together in Taos.

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Celina Shropshire

Celina Shropshire is from Arroyo Seco and a student at Taos Municipal Schools.

What is one thing you love about Taos County?

I love that Taos County is really safe, and they provide a sense of security. I feel safe in my school district, I feel safe going to parks and the grocery store. I really like the safety that it surrounds you with in your teenage years.

What is one thing you would change about Taos County?

One thing I would change about Taos County is youth encouragement. Sometimes, youth struggle with substance abuse and things like that, and its not really talked about. So I feel like things that can encourage students to have a healthier lifestyle would be really beneficial, like providing them a place to stay if they dont feel comfortable going to the house.

House gives OK to slate of housing bills

The House of Representatives today passed House Bill 448, which would create the Office of Housing Planning and Production;

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The new Office of Housing has been a priority of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham since last year. Its an effort to collect better data and coordinate many of the state agencies that have a hand in housing, amid record housing shortages across the state. Last session, the governors proposal failed to clear a committee in the 2024 session amid concerns from the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority that it was duplicating the authoritys efforts.

This time around, its cleared two committees and, today, the House Floor. Several Republicans said they were concerned the governor was creating a new layer of government with little oversight, but sponsor Meredith Dixon (D-Albuquerque) said the office was vital to create a cohesive housing strategy.

This legislation will consolidate our resources to make sure were effectively utilizing all available tools and programs to expand access to affordable, safe, stable housing across our state, she said in a news release.

Cleared the floors

The House also passed House Bill 253, which would allow eviction court records to be sealed if the tenant wins; House Bill 330, which would create a trust fund to help land grants and acequias pay for infrastructure projects like water, sewer and power lines; and House Bill 453, which would create a creditworthiness assistance program that would provide property managers with assistance for unpaid rent or rental property damages.

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The House passed House Memorial 27, which would create an interim committee to come up with recommended rules next year to implement an exception to the anti-donation clause in the state Constitution, approved by voters in 2022, which allows public funds to be spent connecting homes to essential residential services including internet, electricity, natural gas, water and sewer.

The House, without debate, unanimously passed House Bill 209, which would require the Department of Information Technology to add links to the states Sunshine Portal that direct users to the state law creating each fund, and their purpose, listed under the New Mexico Compilation Commissions website; House Bill 298, which would clarify procedures for mayoral vacancies, appointments and the roles of local governing bodies; House Bill 357, which would require the Health Care Authority to establish rules for excluding sales taxes for Mi Via Waiver recipients; House Bill 340, which would allow the DNA of dead people who were arrested for a felony, but passed away before being charged, to be entered into the federal Combined DNA Index System; House Bill 427, which would allow the Water Trust Board to make grants or loans for real-time water quality monitoring; House Bill 192, which would set aside $2.8 million to cover public safety radio subscription fees; House Bill 269, which would require the Health Care Authority to implement an open electronic visit verification system; and House Bill 519, which would move the African American Arts Center from the New Mexico State Fair to a governing board attached to the Cultural Affairs Department.

The Senate unanimously confirmed Elizabeth Anderson to head the Office of the State Engineer and Melanie Kenderdine as the secretary of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals Natural Resources Department on Monday.

Source NM interviewed Anderson after the governor appointed her to the position in August.

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The Senate voted 27-15 on Senate Joint Resolution 15, which would send a proposal to voters to decide on a constitutional amendment to create a state education board. If approved by voters, the constitutional amendment would transfer control of the New Mexico Public Education Department to a Board-appointed superintendent of public instruction, rather than the current secretary appointed by the governor. Former Gov. Bill Richardson dissolved the states school board in 2003, and created the states education authority.

Sens. William Soules (D-Las Cruces) and Sen. William Sharer (R-Farmington) sponsored SJR 15.

As I said, this is not going to suddenly move us to the top of the rankings, Soules said about school rankings on the floor. But if this were to pass, I think it gives us an opportunity to do right by our kids.

Fifteen Democratic senators cast a vote against the proposed constitutional amendment.



Bill watch

The Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee passed Senate Bill 203, which would require oversight and licensing of massage therapy establishments; Senate Bill 217, which would clarify the Department of Information Technologys procurement under the General Services Department; Senate Bill 158, which would require the Economic Development Department to present annual reports; Senate Bill 278, which would eliminate copayments for coronary artery calcium screening health insurance coverage; Senate Bill 356 to create a State Diversity Office and hire a director; Senate Bill 443, which would enact an interstate agreement to license dentists and dental hygienists; and House Bill 12, which would make it easier and faster for police to seize guns belonging to a person deemed a risk to themselves or others.

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The Senate Judiciary Committee passed Senate Bill 78, which would create a certificate for a registered nurse anesthetist; Senate Bill 105, which would allow for licensing social workers from other states to practice in New Mexico under an agreement; Senate Bill 302, which would increase the states Gaming Control Board power to perform background checks; Senate Bill 303, which would clarify gaming machine regulations; Senate Bill 375, which would amend probation and parole laws and remove the requirements that inmates pay for parole services; and Senate Bill 457, which would appropriate $20 million for civil legal services for low-income people.

The Senate Rules Committee passed Senate Bill 40, which would revise the penalty for someone caught driving with a revoked license to install an ignition interlock device within 10 days of conviction; and House Bill 143, which would increase lobbyists and their employers to increase reporting requirements and better document spending during the legislative session.

The House Education Committee passed Senate Bill 8, which would establish a loan repayment program for licensed veterinarians in underserved areas of the state; Senate Bill 133, which would allow a retired teacher to return to work and make up to $25,000 per year, without suspending their retirement benefits; and Senate Bill 343, which would ensure an equal minimum salary for all teachers at each licensure level.

The House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee passed House Bill 65, which would make local school boards and charter school governing bodies responsible for determining the total number of instructional days per year and per week; House Bill 304, which would provide up to $25,000 in student loan repayment to police officers; House Bill 412, which would allow emergency services personnel to join a licensing compact with 24 other states; House Bill 414, which would pay back sheriffs deputies and jail guards for the costs of transporting incarcerated people; House Bill 443, which would allow people over the age of 18 to deliver and stock packaged liquor in some circumstances; House Bill 487, which would integrate community-based organizations into Higher Education Department initiatives to improve education outcomes for Hispanic students; and a substitute version of House Memorial 35, which would require a group of state agencies to come up with mobile home park regulation recommendations by Sept. 1, 2025.

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The House Health and Human Services Committee passed House Bill 551, which would direct the Gaming Control Board and the Health Care Authority to intercept gambling winnings by people who owe child support; House Bill 555, which would require massage therapy licenses to include a photograph; House Bill 570, which would prohibit prior authorization for chemotherapy, dialysis, elder care, and home health care services; Senate Bill 199, which would move more liquor excise tax revenues to the Department of Finance and Administration and less to local governments; and Senate Bill 249, which would direct managed care organizations to fully reimburse health providers for sales taxes on their services.

Reporter Patrick Lohmann contributed reporting to this story.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The New Mexico State Polices South Zone Crime Suppression Bureau agents arrested 20 fugitives in February, New Mexico State Police said.

Included in those arrests was a man who was wanted for murder. On Feb. 6, NMSP agents, in collaboration with the Las Cruces Police Department, Texas Rangers and U.S. Marshals Service, located and apprehended Jesse Antillon in Las Cruces.

Antillon was wanted for murder, NM State Police said.

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This is all part of ongoing efforts to enhance public safety and hold those accountable for the crimes theyve committed, NMSP said.

These arrests underscore our unwavering commitment to keeping New Mexico safe. By working closely with our state and federal partners, we can target and apprehend dangerous individuals and protect our communities. This collaborative approach ensures offenders are held accountable and helps prevent further harm to the public. The New Mexico State Police remain dedicated to proactive law enforcement strategies that enhance safety across the state, NM State 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 KTSM 9 News.
Democrats are in the middle of an internal battle over how to react to Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and their depredations. That Democrats are divided is nothing new. But the stakes are higher than ever.

On the one side, we have old bulls like James Carville and David Axelrod, with allies inside Congress like Virginia Senator Mark Warner, cautioning Democrats not to confront Republicans. For Carville, it is a belief that the Republican Party will destroy itself with its own divisions and destructive policies. With Axelrod, Warner, et al., it is a distaste for confrontation, a belief that Americans will reward a responsible party still committed to norms of civility and bipartisanship.

On the other side are those who see the battle as unlike anything we have faced in our lifetimes: an existential threat to the country and its democracy, requiring a very different and much more aggressive response.

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We are in a headlong rush toward autocracyand that requires a full-fledged counterreaction. Donald Trump said during the campaign that he would be a dictator only on day one. More than 30 days later, the dictatorship is steaming ahead, fueled in part by the Supreme Courts reckless immunity decision and in part by the out-of-control Department of Government Efficiency and its leader, Elon Musk. Eviscerating government across the board, using the threat of government power to intimidate businesses, individuals, the press, and our allies, blowing up our alliances and siding with the worlds worst dictatorsand so much more.

Despite the protestations during the campaign by Trump and JD Vance that they had no connection to the radical Project 2025, Trumps actions and that of his administration prove that they are using it as their core blueprint, driven by its architect, Russell Vought, now the confirmed head of the Office of Management and Budget.

The narrowness of his popular vote victory margin and the slim majority of Republicans in Congress notwithstanding, Trump is both claiming a giant mandate and acting in a headlong rush to secure absolute power. There has been some pushback from the judiciary, with an army of lawyers and a set of state attorneys general challenging the illegal acts and the wholesale axing of appropriated programs and mass firings, but each time a judge rules against DOGE, Musk, and Trump, Musk and his followers, including powerful legislators like Utah Senator Mike Lee, call for their impeachment and directly challenge their legitimacy and authority. And Trump and his allies hint at their capacity to defy judges when it suits them.

The other guardrails of our democracy are, at best, problematic. Republicans in the Senate bent to Trumps will, confirming every top nominee despite their lack of qualifications, moral failings, and extreme views. House Republicans have shown even less willingness to protect their institutions own prerogatives, much less show any sensitivity to the damage done to their own constituents and the fabric of democracy and the rule of law.

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Then there is the press. First Paramount and Disney caved to Trumps threats, then the owners of the Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post joined the Trump amen chorus. When Trump barred the Associated Press from most White House press events because it refused to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, the White House Correspondents Association did nothingand the weakness shown there led to Trumps next step, taking the power to choose which outlets would be involved in White House press coverage away from the WHCA and handing it to himself directly, a move out of the dictatorial playbook.

What is left? The answer is congressional Democrats, even with their minority status. Commendably, we have seen House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries bring his entire caucus together to vote against the radical, deficit-busting House budget and hold a press conference showcasing real people devastated by the policies. Voting in unison against reckless actions should be a givenincluding when House Republicans cant find the votes on their own to keep the government from shutting down and ask for Democrats to bail them out. But that is only one clear step to resist.

Lacking the majority means not prevailing on blocking horrific actions. But the ability of the minority to delay and deter, in both houses, is significant. And the ability to use their megaphones to highlight the damage, focused on individuals and families and not just abstract policies or personnel moves, can help to counter the power of the Trumpist wind machine that includes Fox News, talk radio, podcasts, and social media like X and Facebook.

Here is what congressional Democrats should do:

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Create a congressionally driven Democratic communications infrastructure. The danger of sitting back and letting Republicans destroy themselves is that the Republican P.R. effort, from the White House to Fox News to X, will blame any failures on George Soros, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and Barack Obama. Democrats should start each day with a unified message of a particular outrage or theme, keyed as much as possible to examples of individual Americans, including Trump voters, damaged or destroyed by the actions of Trump and Republicans, crafted by a leadership-designated message group. It should be pursued and coordinated on the House and Senate floors, in morning sessions, during the day, and in special orders in the evening, and pursued by lawmakers on every available media outlet. And most important, there should be a high-profile Democrat holding a daily press briefing to hammer home the point. Many observers have suggested Pete Buttigieg would be perfect for this role. No one has been more effective, on Fox News and elsewhere, at taking on the criminality and fecklessness of Trump and his cronies. Jamie Raskin, Chris Murphy, Madeleine Dean, Brian Schatz, Jasmine Crockett, and Sean Casten are among the lawmakers who could do the job.



Do town meetings and office hoursin Republican districts and states. The first town halls conducted by Republicans in deep red districts did not go well. Overflow crowds, with both Democrats and Republicans, peppered their representatives with tough questions, and the responses were often risible. So it is no surprise that Republican leaders have told their members not to do them anymore. What an opening for House Democrats! A mix of House Dems, from the same or adjacent states, using their communications tools, should fan out to Republican districts and red states, especially those with Senate races in 2026, and hold town halls showcasing voters, including Trump ones, damaged or destroyed by Trump, Musk, and congressional Republicans policies and actions. They would be guaranteed to get a lot of coverage, including locally. And they will spotlight the cowardice of those representatives and senators hiding from their own constituents.



Add field hearings to the town halls. You dont need to be in the majority to go into red districts and states to hold your own field hearings. Go to rural hospitals and hold field hearings on their dependence on Medicaid, including hospitals already shuttered from the stresses. Go to Texas and hold field hearings on the measles outbreak and the damage and deaths ahead due to Trump and Rober F. Kennedy Jr., and their conspiracy-driven anti-vax moves. Go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and hold a field hearing nearby on the bizarre ploy to cancel work on research to prepare a vaccine for next years deadly flu epidemic. Hold hearings on the damage to families who have kids with special needs when federal funding through the Department of Education dries up. Go to farms where the cancellation of aid programs has eviscerated their markets. Go to the Central Valley in California to look at the disaster ahead for farmers after Trump recklessly emptied their water supplies before they are needed in the summer season. There are endless opportunities to put a spotlight on the damage to the country and its citizens.



Use every tool in the rule box to delay, obstruct, and showcase the deeply destructive TrumpMuskcongressional Republican policies. While those tools are limited in the House, the most significant is unified opposition to put the pressure on the razor-thin majority Republicans have in that body. Democrats need unity, especially on key votes like slashing Medicaid and food stamps while implementing debt-busting tax cuts for billionaires, moving to expand the debt ceiling by a staggering $4 trillion, and keeping the government open. This will put the onus where it belongs. And a full-court press, using the House floor in morning hours, during regular debate, and in the evening special orders to hammer this idea home, might pry a few Republican votes to block the destruction. If not, it will make clear who is doing it.



In the Senate, the weapons of the minority are much more expansiveand many were used to the hilt by the Mitch McConnell-led Republicans when Barack Obama and Joe Biden were in office. That starts with holds and filibusters on every Trump nominee for an executive post or judicial vacancy. While the threshold for cloture on these has been reduced from 60 to 50, there are lots of places to slow down the confirmation train. And every Trump nominee, whether Cabinet level or lower posts, will be chosen for radical views and willingness to bend the knee and break rules and laws to do what Trump and Musk want. Moreover, Senate Democrats should make clear that they will filibuster every legislative step Republicans take, raising the bar to 60which was standard policy by McConnell.



Beyond that, the Senate operates through unanimous consent. Denying unanimous consentrequiring that the journal of the previous days proceedings be read in its entirety, that committees cannot meet when the Senate is doing business on the floor, and more, can make it much harder for Republicans to act. Of course, they will still prevail, ultimately, on much of their radical agenda. But big speed bumps will make doing so more onerous and will head off at least some of the awful nominations and actions.

The pushback I have gotten on these ideas from some in House and Senate leadership is that this approach could endanger their most vulnerable incumbents in 2026. My reaction to them has been that if they do not rise to the occasion, there may not be elections in 2026! Moreover, to prevail in 2026, Democrats will need an energized base and a demoralized group of Trump voters who will sit it out. These steps can help with both.

To be frank, many Senate Democrats simply dont want to discombobulate their own lives by having nighttime and weekend sessions. But beyond those concerns, this is no time for timidity. The threat we faceto the economy, the world order, and our democracyis greater than it has been in our lifetimes. If congressional Democrats treat this largely as business as usual, the media will do the same, and we will rush headlong into autocracy. Perilous times demand bold action.
(The Hill)  Staffing levels at the nations already hobbled weather, climate and oceans agency could take a further nosedive in the days ahead.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will cut 1,029 more staffers as part of its Trump-mandated reduction in force, said JoAnn Becker, national president of the union that represents national weather service employees.

Another source confirmed the 1,029 cuts to The Hill. They come after hundreds of other employees were recently fired. The agency had a total of about 13,000 staffers before the firings, meaning the total cuts could be about 15 percent of its staff.

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That source said that offices within NOAA have been asked to cut entire agency functions rather than slash a portion of the people who do similar work. Managers will have until midday Tuesday to propose the cuts, which will later be reviewed by NOAA leadership and the Department of Commerce.

The job cuts were first reported by The New York Times.

Meanwhile, several sources tell The Hill that at least some of those who were previously fired have been recalled to the National Weather Service (NWS), which falls under NOAA.

One source said the returns are not particularly widespread and only applied to a small group of people. Its not immediately clear how many.

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NOAA declined to comment on the matter.

NOAA firings spark fears about long-term damage

Per long-standing practice, we are not discussing internal personnel and management matters, spokesperson Monica Allen said via email.

NOAA remains dedicated to its mission, providing timely information, research, and resources that serve the American public and ensure our nations environmental and economic resilience.

In addition to weather service, NOAAs other work includes research on oceans and climate and managing fisheries and other ocean ecosystems.

When he was facing confirmation, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said he did not support conservative proposals to dismantle NOAA. But both sets of cuts could together leave the agency without significant chunks of its staff members.

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They come as the Trump administration and the new Department of Government Efficiency say they want to cut down on government waste. However, critics warn that essential functions could be going to the wayside, and have particularly raised concerns about losing weather forecasters.

Becker told The Hill last week that the National Weather Service Employees Organization is very concerned about the operational readiness of 122 Weather Forecast Offices due to this the already extreme staffing shortage.

All that NWS employees want to do is to best serve and protect the American public and their communities, 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 Queen City News.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced in February 2025 that it intends to contract with a private prison firm to house as many as 1,000 immigrant detainees at Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by New Jersey Monitor)

I always look forward to South Dakota Searchlights daily email of state and national news. The editor who puts that email together probably didnt mean for it to happen, but one day recently there was quite a juxtaposition of two stories about prisons.

In the state news there was reporting about Gov. Larry Rhoden doing the right thing by suspending legislative action on the new prison and appointing a committee to seek a way forward on the project. In the national news there was another story about a $1 billion contract the federal government was signing with GEO Group, a private prison company, for detaining up to 1,000 immigrants in New Jersey.

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The story about the appointment of Rhodens committee to work on the prison project was good news for South Dakota. That project has been lamented by various groups ever since its inception. Rhodens call for a reset was the right one after the Legislature proved that it was unwilling to release the funding for the 1,500-bed mens prison that would be located about 15 miles south of Sioux Falls.

The reset work group, made up of legislators and various law enforcement types, will meet four times starting on April 2, culminating in a special legislative session on July 22. In announcing the reset, Rhoden kept talking about a new prison. Dont be surprised, however, if the work group finds that the easiest way forward is to bulk up existing prison facilities or use current Corrections Department locations rather than pick another fight with a new set of neighbors who dont want a prison in their backyard.

As for the New Jersey prison story, that one was full of dollar signs. George Zoley, the founder and executive chairman of GEO Group, talked about how increasing the bed capacity at the companys prisons, due to the need to detain more immigrants, could result in annual revenues up to $600 million.

One of the elements that connects the two stories is their similar price tags  the billion dollar cost of the federal contract and the $825 million price tag on South Dakotas prison project. Former Gov. Kristi Noem and the Legislature worked for years to save enough for a new prison. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, run now by Noem as secretary of Homeland Security, agreed to a billion-dollar prison contract with the stroke of a pen.

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After six years as South Dakotas governor, leading a federal agency must seem like heaven for Noem when it comes to getting the prison space that she needs:

No Lincoln County neighbors who got cranky and vocal when they were surprised by the states plan to plop down a new prison next door.

No litigation over the states failure to apply for a county zoning permit.

No recalcitrant new-age Republican lawmakers who refuse to go along with the governors plan for a new prison.

No worries that the $62 million allocated for prison design and site prep work on her watch  much of which has already been spent  might be wasted if the reset work group decides to go in another direction.

South Dakota finds itself having to reset its prison project largely because of Noems management style. With her penchant for secrecy and her my-way-or-the-highway style of negotiations, she poisoned the project since its inception. If Noem had been open about the process, willing to follow local rules and welcoming of other ideas and opinions, the state would be well on its way to building a new mens prison rather than being forced to start over.

Rhoden made a difficult choice when he made the right call to give the states prison project more study. Too bad that kind of clear-headed leadership has not been on display in Pierre since the start of the project.

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(NEXSTAR/WWLP)  No foul play is suspected in the case of the wrapped deceased body that was pulled from the ocean by a fishing crew off the coast of Massachusetts last week, according to the Suffolk County District Attorneys office.

Authorities in Massachusetts had initially launched an investigation into the incident on Friday after a fishing vessel about 40 miles off the states coast reported finding the body in its fishing nets. The remains were discovered to be wrapped and in a state of decomposition and later transferred to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Boston.

What is hantavirus, the infection that killed Gene Hackmans wife, Betsy Arakawa?

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A representative for the medical examiners office told Nexstar on Monday that it could take 90 days to determine any cause of death. But by Tuesday, the DAs office had gotten word from the medical examiner that the case was likely not as suspicious as it may have seemed.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner informed our office today that the body caught Thursday in a fishing boats nets 40 miles off the Massachusetts coast is a female in the 60-year age range with numerous cancerous tumors, no indications of foul play, and unlikely to be identified, the DAs office said in a statement shared with Nexstar.

The body had been embalmed and appeared consistent with a burial at sea. We consider this matter non-suspicious and closed.

Burial at sea in Massachusetts is subject to strict regulations, which stipulate how the body must be prepared and where it may be buried. Non-cremated remains must be buried at least three miles from shore, according to Mass.gov, the states official government website. But the body must also be buried in waters at least 600 feet deep, which are typically found much farther out  between 25 and 75 miles, the website says.

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The body must also be weighted down to sink quickly and permanently, the site explains.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  An occasional ride, a mechanic who can fix their car  those are the some of the less obvious, but not less important needs for James Moore and his wife, Brenda.

Moore, 70, was rocked about a year ago by his diagnosis of Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Worse yet, it was inoperable and it had already begun spreading to his bones.

10 On Your Side had helped Moore get coverage from the VA for hernia surgery four years ago when it had to be done on an emergency basis at DePaul Medical Center. But this latest diagnosis was something entirely different

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Norfolk veteran: Emergency surgery might have been avoided if doctor was available at Hampton VA hospital

It was a shock to me, James Moore said.

It floored us, Brenda Moore said. He takes about 15 medicines a day.

They are hoping someone can help get James Moore to his appointments. They have a car, but it broke down and needs work. If someone could fix it for them, Brenda could drive him to the Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

And in this time of government cutbacks, both are concerned about the already strained caseload at the hospital.

The vets are already not getting the quality care they need, and now its going to make it harder with him, Brenda Moore said. Unfortunately, his cancer was not caught in time.

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The Moores are looking for someone to fix their car, or in the meantime, provide transportation for Jamess medical appointments. If you think you can help, contact 10 On Your Side at reportit@wavy.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 WAVY.com.
WHITTLES  Dave and Amy Davis had an opportunity to sell their property and cash in to what could have been a bonanza of bucks.

Doing so would have put their land in the middle of a planned data center and power generation campus.

They turned it down.

The Davises were among about 20 people interviewed by the Register & Bee ahead of a March 18 vote on a rezoning request that they say could forever change their lives and ruin the place they call home.

In the current proposal  its scaled back from an original one that came to public view in October  Balico Technology Campus would use 13 parcels amounting to a little less than 750 acres for a data center and power-generating units. The rezoning request would change it from a residential suburban subdivision and agricultural district to a heavy-use industrial district.

The area is along Chalk Level Road, but spirals out to encompass many smaller communities that make up the land just a little north of Chatham.

Plopping an industrial site into rural farmland is one reason many residents are upset. The scale is another.

Although smaller in size, Irfan Ali, the owner and founder of Balico, acknowledged to the Register & Bee that should the initial phase of the project go well, it could grow.

There is plenty of land to expand to, Ali told the newspaper prior to a December meeting in Hurt.

Well see how the first phase goes, he said. If it goes well and its successful, there certainly is always the possibility of expanding.

The original proposal sought to rezone more than 2,200 acres and included a 3,500-megawatt natural gas power plant for 84 data center structures.

That power plant is still part of the plans submitted to the county, although smaller mobile gas turbines would get the project running in the initial phase, company officials have said.

Ali told the Register & Bee via email Friday that the decision has not been made at this early stage in the process when asked if the temporary turbines would be replaced by the full power plant at some point.

The proposal is drawing a divide in the community. People residing where it is planned dont want it there. Residents in other parts of the county see potential tax revenue  one company flyer pegs it at $40 million to $100 million over 10 years  to the county.

I believe Balico has made a strong, well-reasoned case for why the rezoning makes sense for Pittsylvania County, Ali said in a response to the Register & Bee on Friday.

The Supervisors have asked thoughtful questions about the project and understand the benefits to the community from a revenue and economic development perspective, he continued. Were hopeful they understand this project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fund improvements which benefit everyone in Pittsylvania County.

In Hurt, Balico has inked a letter of intent to fund building a new water treatment facility, something thats needed there. Balico would pipe the water to the data centers, a critical part of cooling the power-hungry facilities.

With an influx of hundreds of new six-figure jobs into Pittsylvania County and revenues available to improve schools, roads, infrastructure and public services countywide, the county could reduce the tax burden on individual homeowners, making the county an even more desirable place to live, Ali told the newspaper Friday of the benefits to the project.

Although the Pittsylvania County Planning Commission unanimously recommended in January that the project be denied, the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors holds the final say.

It was originally set to go before the boards Feb. 18 meeting, but Balico requested it be pushed back to March 18.

Steven Gould, an attorney representing Balico, wrote in an email to the county that the company was still tweaking the plans.

We are continuing to refine the proposal based on feedback from your office and the community, and we believe this additional time will allow for the most helpful discussion and review of the proposal, Gould said in the letter.

Diana McFarland, a spokesperson for Pittsylvania County government, confirmed to the Register & Bee that an updated proffer list was submitted Thursday. Gould did not return an email seeking a copy of the updates.

Fear and anxiety engulfed many of the neighbors who talked to the newspaper recently. All said they planned to attend the March 18 meeting.

Not selling

I was cutting grass when they came down the road, Amy Davis told the newspaper.

That was in 2024.

Her husband, Dave, said thats when someone approached him about the project.

They wanted to buy his land. To find out what it was about, hed have to sign a non-disclosure agreement, which is a legally binding document forbidding someone from discussing details on a project.

In this case, that agreement lasted until the public rezoning phase.

They wouldnt tell me a thing, he said inside their farmhouse that dates back to 1846. Just said it was a great deal.

He really didnt fully understand what the project would entail. He knew it would be a data center, but hes never seen one.

He did consider it. Briefly.

But after that, my wife and I talked, he said.

This is home, Amy said.

Where else would I go and get another farm like this, Dave explained. Weve worked hard on it.

Calling the offer a real good price for his 278 acres, they turned it down.

I told him I wasnt interested, he said of the person who approached him. And then they came back to me two more times.

It wasnt until the first community meeting in Chatham for the original large-scale project that the couple fully realized the scope seeing the large buildings on handouts provided.

The couple again knew they had made the right choice to not sell, they indicated to the newspaper.

Leading the charge

They resisted, but they came back to them, Amanda Sink Wydner, the most vocal opponent and leader of the opposition to the Balico project, said. Because this land would have been very variable to have connected the dots and remove concerns of spot zoning going that way.

Wydner escorted the Register & Bee on a four-hour tour of the small communities.

When asked why she was the one drafted to lead the charge, she simply said, willing and able.

Someone was needed to step forward.

A lot of folks are not comfortable speaking in front of groups, Everybody knows me for being unabashed in my convictions.

Wydner is convinced the data center and power plant are wrong for the region.

If we dont handle it properly  it could lead to our downfall of our county because we are just going to have money sitting in the bank and a bunch of people not wanting to be here, she told the newspaper standing outside Payneton Community Church on Payneton Road.

Whittles is an old railroad community, she explained.

Her grandfather got off a train at Whittles Depot as an orphan after his mother died.

A family right here in the Whittles community took him in and raised him, she said of her grandfather, who became a sharecropper.

Our roots here go very deep, Wydner went on to say, explaining that her children are a fourth generation who have lived there.

Our family has always stood for faith, family, land stewardship, she explained. We represent true grit, hard work and sacrifice.

Signs against Balico  no power plants, no data center in rural neighborhoods  line Payneton Road. The simplistic black text appears under a red circle with a slash against a yellow background.

A friend made Wydner a shirt modeled after those signs that she wore when providing the newspaper a tour of the area.

A stronger bond

Since late October, when residents learned of the rezoning request, an already tight-knit community grew closer with a special bond.

One of the best parts of this movement is that no one could box us in to one kind of citizen, she explained of the neighbors who bridge all races and age spectrums.

You have folks who are financially blessed, you have folks who are living paycheck to paycheck, she continued. None of that matters because we have bonded together through the respect that we have for each other as neighbors.

Elizabeth Cabello is one of those neighbors who lives just up the road from the church.

Her children are the fifth generation to grow up there. In 1930, her grandfather bought the Victorian-style home she and her husband had recently purchased.

Her dad raised tobacco on the farm. Now, they have beef cattle.

She got married 15 years ago, moved away  to Dry Fork  but missed it.

Not too far, but far enough that I wanted to come back home, she said. They purchased the family farm from her brother in October.

I love living here, she said. Everybody knows everybody.

Wydner said Cabellos story mirrors many in the area who could have lived elsewhere but decided to come back to raise a family.

It scares me, honestly, on everything that you hear, and the devastation that it would do to the area, Cabello said of the data center plans.

An artists rendering on Balicos Facebook page shows the at-least two-story buildings rising above tree lines at the intersection of Motley and Chalk Level Roads.

The entire region is pushing back hard because the entire region is going to be the victim of parasitic infestation-style development, Wydner said. That is inevitable.

Shes worried that the peace and solitude the neighbors have enjoyed will be gone.

Those against the project point to noise from the data center and power facility. Others who report theyve visited similar sites say the noise isnt a factor.

Ready to move

For Justin and Lexi McKay, a young couple with three children who moved to the area five years ago, if the project is passed, they no longer want to live there.

Absolutely, Lexi said when asked if they would consider moving if the campus is built. Dont want to be anywhere near it.

Justin, who is originally from Detroit, Michigan, said he understands how the industrial aspect will impact the way of living.

His reaction when he first heard about it was disbelief.

Its insane to think they are going to take this much natural farmland and just butcher it, he said.

We wanted the kids to be able to run around the yard without having to worry, he continued. With data centers and everything, thats going to change things.

Even though he would move if a data center came, he feels trapped, explaining that property values will drop.

Ali counted that claim and pointed to significant evidence that data centers have a positive impact on property values.

This is about as important as it gets, Justin said of the March 18 vote. Its lifetime.

Louis and Gloria Sink are Wydners parents. Louis taught agriculture at Gretna High School for 39 years.

He takes issue with people who claim landowners are no longer farming in Pittsylvania County.

He pointed to recent census figures that show an increase in the value of agricultural products.

We have seven new neighbors within a 2-mile radius of where we are standing that have come to our area in the last three to five years, he said at the end of a field with a large sign opposing the project.

And all them came here basically running from the land development that Balico represents, he continued. They came here for the rural area, the forest, the fields, the type of life we have here.

Thats the life he wants his grandchildren, like Preston Wydner, to have.

The 12-year-old has addressed the board of supervisors on behalf of Payneton Community Church, reading a resolution the congregation passed against it.

I am just as much opposition as my mother, he told the Register & Bee.

Preston explained that as a child, he was the future of Pittsylvania County.

It is going to destroy this community totally, and people are going to not want to be here, he said.

Wydners husband, Freddie, believes that if the so-called scaled-back measure is approved on March 18, it will set in motion plans to grow it again.

Once something like this gets started, you get the camels nose under the tent, it will never stop, he explained.

Look at Northern Virginia, he said. They might say we are limiting how big it will be in scale, but once the rezoning goes through  its all she wrote.

Northern Virginia

At least two couples who live in the area where the campus is planned left Northern Virginia to get away from growth.

Mary and Mike Frette moved to Pittsylvania County in 2021.

Because Northern Virginia is terrible, Mike told the newspaper when asked why he left.

I spent 50 years up there, he said. I watched it turn into something thats no longer resembling what it was.

Although the couple lives in the Whittles area, they are against the plans for the data center campus.

The air is fresher here than in Northern Virginia, Mary, who is also worried about the wildlife being displaced by the project, said.

Asked about her emotions on March 1, she said she was fearful, with anxiety and anger mixed in.

This stuff was going on before we had any knowledge of it, she said. The minute we got word of it, we all scrambled.

The project had been in the works for at least months before the rezoning issue brought it to public light.

Tim and Gergie Stuart moved from Northern Virginia two decades ago, searching for a more rural lifestyle.

Anger, anticipation, stress and anxiety top the emotions for the couple.

You just never know how the vote is going to sway, and thats what holds everybody in, Gerogie said.

Legacy neighborhood

The sprawling project also would impact Ella Robertson, who lives in a traditionally Black area near the Robins Court community.

Robertson also has been vocal at meetings, explaining to county leaders why she doesnt want the Balico project to proceed.

She told the newspapers her neighbors are aware, but arent as willing to step behind a microphone as she is.

They just dont really speak out, but theyve been there, she said of people at the meetings.

I think its too much, she said of the data center, explaining the Mountain Valley Pipeline is also nearby.

With the help of her sister, Robertson authored a book about growing up in the county.

After Sunday dinners, she likes to ride through the countryside with her sister, snapping photos.

We actually love it, she said in an interview at her home. And I really dont want to see it destroyed.

While worried, shes also hopeful that supervisors will make the right decision and vote down the rezoning.

Im being hopeful right now that the supervisors will vote no and just knock it out of the way, she said.

Otherwise, she feels like theres not much else that can be done besides waiting for the vote to happen.

Its at the point now, what else can we do? she asked. Right now, just pray and put it in the Lords hand.
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)  A celebrated local chef is bringing his culinary talent to the national stage this month by appearing on season 22 of Bravos Top Chef.

Chef Shuai Wang, owner of two Charleston area favorites, Jackrabbit Filly, and King BBQ, will compete against 14 other cooking pros from around the country while on location in Canada.

The first episode of Top Chef: Destination Canada will air March 13 at 9 p.m. Eastern on Bravo.

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This years winner will be rewarded $250,000, an appearance at Aspens Food & Wine Classic, and the opportunity to host an exclusive dinner at the James Beard House, among other things.

Initially, Shuai was invited to apply for a role in the long-running competition, but he hesitated at first.

I was unsure because Im not a competitive person in nature, so I was like, Oh, do I want to do this, Shuai explained. But then I thought about all the different opportunities Top Chef would bring to me personally and our businesses and I thought this is such a great opportunity and cannot be missed.

Despite Shuai not being naturally competitive, he has become a decorated chef, being named an Eater Young Gun in 2016 and Best New Chef the same year.

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Short Grain, a food truck formerly run by Shuai and his wife Corrie, was designated by Bon Appetit as one of Americas Top 50 Best New Restaurants in 2016.

The following year, Shuai was nominated for a prestigious James Beard Award in the Rising Star Chef category.

Shuais success led him to open Jackrabbit Filly, a place that blends heritage drive Chinese cuisine with American fare, and later King BBQ, self-described as Chinatown BBQ with Southern smoke.

The BBQ fusion spot was designated as one of the Top 10 Best New BBQ Restaurants of 2024 by Southern Living Magazine and one of the 2024 Top 20 Best New Restaurants by Bon Appetit.

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Top Chef season 22 was filmed last year, with the team traveling to places like Toronto, Calgary, Montreal, Canmore, and Prince Edward Island.

(Photo by: David Moir/Bravo)

Pictured: Shuai Wang  (Photo by: Marcus Nilsson/Bravo)

(Photo by: David Moir/Bravo)

Before joining the show, Shuai said he had grown stale as a chef, cooking the same food daily. But the idea of winning a hugely popular cooking competition was reinvigorating.

I just felt like I was rejuvenated and just like my brain was turning again, he explained. Afterwards, I felt so inspired coming back, and I wanted to cook new things.

As soon as Shuai arrived home, it was back to business. Jackrabbit Filly was opening at a new location with a new menu.

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With his mind spinning, Shuai added dishes to the new menu that he previously thought he couldnt pull off.

Instead of the same old thing wed been cooking for the past, I dont know, five years, we came up with all these new menu items that, you know, I didnt think I was able to do, he said.

Some Jackrabbit menu items include the krab rangoon cheese ball, soy garlic karaage-don with Japanese fried chicken, soft egg, and honey garlic soy sauce, and the Sichuan seafood wonton soup.

Who wouldnt be inspired when learning from eight-time James Beard Award winner Tom Colicchio, season 10 Top Chef winner Kristen Kish, and culinary expert Gail Simmons?

Pictured: Kristen Kish  (Photo by: David Moir/Bravo)

Pictured: (l-r) Kristen Kish, Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons  (Photo by: David Moir/Bravo)

Kristen was probably who I was most intimidated by because you know shes been on Top Chef, shes went to the bottom, she fought her way, back all the way to the top, Shuai said.

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The culinary industry has been known to be a cut-throat and challenging environment, as seen in popular television shows like The Bear and Hells Kitchen which highlight how intense the food world can be. Having that spotlight on the industry has led to change throughout the years, though.

Going into Top Chef, I had that mindset of Oh, everyones going to be butting heads, everyones going to be competing, but you know, I think because the industry has changed so much that it wasnt so much that, Shuai explained. Theres still a competition; were still competing, and were still going against each other, but I just feel like, as chefs now, we get along much better than we used to.

(Photo by: David Moir/Bravo)

(Photo by: David Moir/Bravo)

(Photo by: David Moir/Bravo)

That often ruthless environment is part of the reason Shuai decided to make the move to Charleston. He grew up in Queens and spent a large chunk of his adult life cooking in Brooklyn.

Once Shuai graduated high school, he went straight to culinary school and has been in the kitchen ever since.

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The number of restaurants throughout the city, not to mention the diversity of those spots and the intensity of the competition in New York, is part of the reason Shuai believes he made it to where he is in his career. He was challenged at an elite level.

But that high pressure, day in and day out, led Shuai to something many of us experience: burnout.

I was just very unhappy. It was too much work and my work and life balance, there was no balance, Shuai explained. So I looked into moving away because I felt like if I kept working like the way I was working in New York, I was going to get super burned out and just leave the industry completely.

During that time, Shuais friend was trying to open a restaurant in Charleston, and he reached out to Shuai for help with the opening.

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Shuai decided to make the jump and move, thinking he would be here only for a short time to help his friend.

As with most things in life, the plan did not go accordingly.

The friends restaurant was delayed indefinitely, so Shuai and Corrie returned to square one and decided to invest in themselves.

From there, the idea for Short Grain was born. The business exploded and turned into continued success with Jackrabbit and King BBQ.

You know, now Im in the South. Ive been here for almost eleven years now, and I love love North Charleston, Shuai said. It just feels like home.

A large part of the continued success is due to Corrie, who Shuai called the backbone of their restaurants.

Corrie and Shuai Wang via StarChefs

When Shuai decided to take on the Top Chef contestant role, he had to commit to a minimum of four to six weeks of filming in Canada. Of course, the farther you make it in the competition, the longer you stay and are away from home.

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I left for Top Chef for a very long time for filmingthroughout that time, she [Corrie] was here running both restaurants by herself while building out this new space [the new Jackrabbit location], Shuai said.

It takes two really hard-working people to run these things, and shes pretty amazing, he continued.

Not only do the Wangs love the area and its food scene, but they also support it.

More than 25% of both restaurants menus are sourced locally, including vegetables, seafood, grains, dairy, and proteins from local farms.

Its very important for me to do that, Shuai said. You know, living in a small community, its important for me to support the small families that are farmers that are here.

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Also, when I first moved down, the first time I had a local shrimp, I have never wanted to eat any other shrimp ever again, he added.

As a 2025 South Carolina chef ambassador, a large part of Shuais ambassadorship involves promoting local food while representing the state at events like the recent Charleston Food and Wine Festival, where Shuai hosted Sunday hangover brunch at Jackrabbit.

Another way Shuai supports the local food industry is by eating local! Some of his favorite restaurants in the area are Verns, The Glass Onion and Bintu Atelier.

You can support Shuai by watching him on Bravos Top Chef every Thursday or streaming it the next day on Peacock.

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NORTH HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH)  A North Haven father and young son were killed over the weekend in a Vermont crash.

Vermont State Police provided pictures of the snowy highway Saturday morning.

Father and son from North Haven killed in Vermont crash

Police say 39-year-old Taylor Binnington and his family were driving north on I-91 in Rockingham, Vermont shortly before 10 a.m. when a snow squall hit. Binnington was unable to stop in the slippery conditions and rear ended a fuel tanker truck.

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Binnington and his 4-month-old son Perry Lake were killed. His wife Evelyn Lake and their 3-year-old son suffered non-life threatening injuries.

We are as a community totally devastated over this news. Taylor served our community on the Clean Energy Task Force and he served very faithfully, First Selectman Michael Freda (R) said. When we heard the news this morning, when I heard the news it was total devastation. Such sadness in our community here today and our thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

Residents from North Haven and surrounding communities echoed the remarks of the first selectman.

The chair of the North Haven Clean Energy Task Force Kenny Foscue said that he knew Binnington and his wife well, and had met both their 3-year-old and 4-month-old sons.

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This is really a devastating loss for me and our task force members, Foscue said. Taylor was not only a colleague on the task force but a good friend and neighbor. Our hearts go out to his family. He was a very nice young man. We will miss him greatly.

News 8 did speak with some of the neighbors who live near the North Haven couple and they say they just want to give the family the privacy to be able to mourn and they will be there to support them. Everyone is just heartbroken.

The first selectman was thankful for Binningtons willingness to serve on the task force, which is where he was able to meet him.

The towns Clean Energy Task Force was set to meet tonight for its monthly meeting. That meeting has been cancelled.

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NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. (KCAU)  A North Sioux City project called Union Crossing is expected to bring new homes, businesses, and other opportunities to the community. But some residents say theyre not sure how a workforce housing grant might impact the project.

North Sioux City and PBR Capital Group, LLC were awarded a workforce housing grant, making sure that there will be affordable homes throughout the community.

Pair of community cleanup events coming in April

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This is an exciting development, but to some residents in this community that were devastated by the flood, they feel like moneys being diverted to this project versus taking care of [them], and thats not true at all, Dakota Valley Business Council member Chris Bogenrief said. This project is not costing the city a dime. This project is generating new taxes which could help offset the loans that the city is going to have to take out to help rebuild from the flood.

The project will help with North Sioux Citys need for housing and attract more businesses.

Right now, theres thousands of workers coming into North Sioux City to work, and then they all go home to Iowa or Nebraska because thats where the housing is, Kyle Peters with A1 Development Solutions said. So North Sioux City is losing that opportunity at sales tax, which funds the city, which helps with infrastructure.

It does expand the tax base, Andrew Nilges with North Sioux City Economic Development said. More homes, more construction, more businesses, thats going to add to the property tax base and expand that to relieve people on the property tax side of things. Its going to generate significant sales tax, not just with the construction of the new homes, but the new businesses.

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Additionally, Nilges hopes Union Crossing will grow the areas education.

The enrollment over at Dakota Valley, its kind of leveled off over the past several years, Nilges said. So this will be a really nice opportunity to bring more families, more kids into the school district. We have a healthy district.

7 more students expelled from Sioux City Community School District

The project will not use tax dollars from North Sioux City residents, but will instead be funded by a tax increment financing (TIF) grant.

Without a TIF, without a grant, its incredibly hard to build new single family and even duplexes and townhomes that are affordably priced, Ryan Callaghan with PBR Capital Group said.

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Phase 1 of the Union Crossing development includes single family homes, multi-family units, and proposed apartments, with a total of 185 units.

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Koosah Falls, pictured in September 2022, is in the Willamette National Forest. The federal government is disbanding the advisory committee for millions of acres of national forests in the Pacific Northwest. (Julia Shumway/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Federal officials are preparing to disband an advisory committee tasked with guiding policies for millions of acres of national forests in the Pacific Northwest, according to two committee members.

Tribal leaders, environmental advocates, timber representatives and local government officials were among the 21 members of the Northwest Forest Plan federal advisory committee. Theyve been meeting in person over dayslong meetings since summer 2023, hashing out how to tackle wildfires, pests and diseases across nearly 25 million acres of national forests in Oregon, Washington and Northern California.

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On Thursday, officials with the U.S. Forest Service told committee members the agency was likely to dissolve the group in the coming weeks. Some members said they had been expecting this news, given President Donald Trumps goal of eradicating most of the Biden administrations efforts.

We all knew that this was a possibility, environmental attorney and committee member Susan Jane Brown said. So everyones disappointed, but not terribly surprised.

The Forest Service pulled the committee together during the Biden administration to help amend the decades-old Northwest Forest Plan, a set of policies that came out of the timber wars of the 1980s and 90s.

The committees primary task was to create a set of recommendations on how the forest plan should be amended, like how much logging could happen and where, and how to protect endangered species from logging impacts. The committee also focused on how the federal government should work alongside tribes in managing millions of acres of their ancestral lands, something that wasnt done in the initial plan .

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The committee delivered its recommendations to the Forest Service last year .

Its always disappointing when a process like this comes to an end, Travis Joseph, president of the timber association American Forest Resource Council, said. That said, we did our job. We did what was asked of us.

The committee still had other tasks on the table. One of them was considering restrictions on commercial huckleberry harvesting in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, the only national forest with a large-scale commercial huckleberry program.

As reported by High Country News , huckleberries are considered an essential first food for the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and the Yakama Nation, but tribal members have had to compete with commercial pickers for the few productive bushes they could find. Commercially picked berries often end up in soaps, syrups and candies sold in tourist shops around the Pacific Northwest.

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Federal forest policies that forced tribes to stop setting fire to the land  a cultural practice that helped foods like huckleberries grow  and decades of aggressive fire suppression have also hindered huckleberry growth, making the berries difficult to come by.

Even when the committee is officially dissolved, Brown and Joseph said members will likely continue to advocate for forest policies.

We are now just ordinary members of the public again, and we can submit comments and we can meet with the Forest Service just like other members of the public do, Brown said. Many of us have that desire to continue forward.

The Forest Service included many of the committees recommendations in its draft amendment, and the agency is accepting public input on that draft through March 17. Many environmental groups oppose the draft , saying it doesnt include strong enough protections for old growth forests.

This story was originally published by Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Thirteen months ago, a 16-year-old girl disappeared after she was seen running from her home with no shoes on. Channel 2 Action News checked with police and learned Asata Amun still hasnt been found.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Channel 2s Tom Jones has been following this case since Gwinnett County police shared a news release about the case in June last year.

Jones spoke to Asata Amuns mother, Jasmine Dominique, about it being more than a year since her daughter was last seen.

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Its not something easy for me. Its hard, Dominique said.

Dominique says the last 13 months of not knowing where Asata Amun is is tearing her apart. Shes trying to stay positive, but then reality sets in.

I feel like its not common not to hear something at all, Dominique said.

Gwinnett County police say the 16-year-old was last seen on her familys video doorbell, running from her home in Sugar Hill last year in February with no shoes on.

Police say her father, Kwabena Amun, screamed to Asanta Amun: So you are just going to run like a coward. Asata.

RELATED STORIES:

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Kwabena Amun told Jones in an exclusive interview last year that his daughter ran away after he threatened to send her to military school if she kept getting in trouble.

A year later, police say they have no updates on her whereabouts.

That is baffling to her mother, who lives in Connecticut. Dominique says the last time her daughter ran away, she called her. But not this time.

She knows my number. She could have sent me a message, Dominique explained.

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Police searched Kwabena Asatas home, looking for clues to the 16-year-old disappearance. Childrens Protective Services removed Asata Amuns two sisters from the home after complaints that their father was physically abusing them.

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Thank God. Theyre not with him, Dominique said.

When Jones spoke to the 16-year-olds father last year, he said he never abused his children and wanted Asata home.

I just want to make sure my baby girl is OK. That she is alright, Kwabena Amun said.

Dominique wants anyone who has information about her disappearance to contact the police.

I just want to make sure that wherever she is, shes OK. You know, shes alive.

Jones called Kwabena Amun to get his response to this story. Jones left a message and is waiting to hear back.

Police said early in their investigation he was not being cooperative.

Kwabena Amun said he was trying to protect the privacy of his family.
Supporters of LGBTQ+ rights gather in the Capitol of the 2025 Fairness Rally, March 11, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)

FRANKFORT  Gov. Andy Beshear plans to veto a bill that would undo his executive order restricting conversion therapy in Kentucky, should it pass the legislature and reach his desk.

He made the promise at the 2025 Fairness Rally, held in the Capitol rotunda Tuesday. Beshear, who made history in 2020 as the first sitting governor to attend a fairness rally, called conversion therapy torture.

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It has been discredited, and it should not be happening in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Beshear said, to cheers from the crowd gathered. The Republican-controlled legislature has the votes to easily overturn any veto.

Conversion therapy is a discredited practice that attempts to alter a persons sexuality. Specifically, it attempts to alter gender expression and sexual attraction that diverges from heterosexual normativity with the specific aim to promote heterosexuality as a preferable outcome, according to the The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

In 2024, Beshear signed an executive order aimed at ending the practice on Kentucky minors. Speaking Tuesday, he touted his record on LGBTQ+ issues, including vetoing the 2023 Senate Bill 150, which banned gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors. He called the legislation, which became law despite his veto, the nastiest piece of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation that this state had ever seen.

Gov. Andy Beshear speaks at the 2025 Fairness Rally. Chris Hartman, the executive director for the Fairness Campaign, is behind him to his left. March 11, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)

I know a lot of people are scared right now about what the president is going to do next, and your rights being in danger, Beshear said. To our LGBTQ Kentuckians, were here for you. We see you, we love you and we support you.

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When introducing Beshear, Chris Hartman, the executive director for the Fairness Campaign, praised him for appearing at every Fairness Rally since becoming governor.

Hes the most pro-equality governor in the history of the commonwealth of Kentucky and if we are lucky, he just might be the most pro-equality president, Hartman said.

The crowd cheered and chanted Andy, Andy, Andy to this.

Beshear was joined by a slate of Democratic politicians, lawmakers and advocates who criticized other bills they said are discriminatory toward the LGBTQ+ community and called on more LGBTQ+ people to run for office. Speakers included Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, Senate Minority Leader Gerald Neal, Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reggie Thomas, Lexington Councilwoman Emma Curtis, Rep. Lisa Willner, D-Louisville, and others.

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In addition to the conversion therapy bill, the Fairness Campaign opposes Senate Bill 2, a high-priority bill that would bar the use of public funds to offer gender-affirming care to transgender inmates in Kentucky, affecting about 67 people.

They are bigots

Sen. Karen Berg, D-Louisville, said those in support of legislation to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs in public institutions are trying to figure out who they do not want in their society and trying to legislate a way to keep you out.

Sen. Karen Berg, D-Louisville, speaks at the 2025 Fairness Rally. March 11, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)

These people who are writing  these bills, trying to get them passed through our Senate, are bigots. They are racists, they are homophobic and they are misogynists, said Berg, who lost her transgender son in 2022 to suicide. The National Sucide Prevention Lifeline is 988.

But we do not give up. We do not give in. We keep marching. We keep showing up, we keep being proud of who we are, because that is what God wants us to do, Berg added.

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Sen. Keturah Herron, D-Louisville, lamented the anti-DEI bill making its way through the legislature, saying a few hours after the rally she would have to go debate something that should not even be on the table.

This work is difficult. Its hard, added Herron, Kentuckys first openly LGBTQ+ female senator. This is our civil rights movement. This is our time to show up. This is our time to organize. This is our time to stand together.

Rep. Adrielle Camuel, D-Lexington, said the DEI and conversion therapy bills are designed to be cruel and to inflict harm and to put people in a box or to put them back in their place.

These measures dont just threaten policies. They threaten people  real lives, real families, said Camuel. The anti-diversity, equity and inclusion bill isnt just an attack on programs. Its an attempt to erase the beautiful diversity that makes our community strong. And the conversion therapy bill, it is an attempt to make you hide your true self, the very thing that makes you and our commonwealth so very special.

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Carma Bell Marshall, who ran an unsuccessful campaign for the Kentucky House of Representatives in 2024 and was the first Black openly transgender person to run, said change is slow, but it is inevitable, because the truth is on our side and humanity is on our side.

Right now, in Kentucky and across this country, we are witnessing attacks on trans lives in the form of cruel legislation, policies designed to erase, to silence, to make us feel small, said Marshall. But let me tell you something: we are not small, we are not weak and we will not be erased.

The 2025 Fairness Rally. March 11, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  By the start of next month, Oregon Health and Science University patients using UnitedHealthcare could no longer be covered by the insurer.

OHSU, along with its partners at the Hillsboro Medical Center and Adventist Health Portland, will terminate its contract with the insurance network on March 31  unless both parties can reach an agreement in their ongoing negotiations.

DOE: Antisemitism probe at Portland State University could put federal funding at risk

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In a statement, a spokesperson for the insurer claimed the hospital systems proposal to increase commercial plans by 36% and Medicare Advantage plans by 15% within the next two years is not sustainable. The company claimed the price hike would make OHSU the most costly healthcare system in its Portland Medicare Advantage network.

Agreeing to OHSUs proposal would also significantly drive-up premiums and out-of-pocket costs for consumers, as well as the cost of doing business for employers, impacting their ability to offer affordable health care coverage for their employees, UnitedHealthcare said on its website.

The proposal would hike up the cost of caesarean sections by more than $9,000 and the average cost of outpatient surgeries by more than $3,700, according to the insurance network.

About 74,000 patients would be affected by the terminated contract. The hospital said it has already notified the impacted individuals, and advised them to reach out to UnitedHealthcare with any questions on the potential changes.

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OHSU finds the current UnitedHealthcare contracts make it hard to offer the level of care we want to provide, OHSU said on its website. This will not be a decision made lightly.

Two women charged after dogs left mother seriously injured in Portland mauling

In a statement, the company added that both parties would continue negotiations through the expiration of their contract. Meanwhile, the healthcare system is also awaiting a decision on its proposed merger with Legacy Health.

OHSU argued the merger would help improve the cost and quality of its service.

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AUBURN. N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  The state-wide prison strike is over, but the court battle might just be getting started.

On Tuesday, March 11, the governor said the 2,000 correction officers who didnt go back to work by Mondays, March 10, deadline, the ones now being fired, will never be able to apply for a state job again.

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It has been all consuming. It has been wildly expensive for taxpayers, approaching $100 million. It created a very dangerous situation, which I called out from the second day, Gov. Kathy Hochul said. Individuals walked off their job and left the incarcerated population alone, left fellow union members from PEF and CSEA who work in healthcare and food support area, left them alone. Thank God we were able to get this done. And there are consequences for people who break the law, and that means youre not working in our state workforce ever.

Years before the strike, a leader of a local state prison saw the writing on the wall, worried about changes to the correction system. After working 27 years in corrections, Stephen Woodward, a former deputy superintendent at Five Points Prison in Seneca County, retired the same month Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the HALT Act.

There is nothing good in that bill, Woodward said. The discipline of the inmates was going to go out the door.

That new law is blamed for allowing violent inmates to be put into special housing and then leave 15 days later.

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They could come out, punch an officer in the face, break their eye socket, get 15 days in a special housing unit or rehabilitation unit, come right out and do it over again, Woodward explained.

What Woodward saw early is why thousands of officers skipped their shifts the past three weeks.

As part of a deal to end that strike, parts of the HALT Act are paused for 90 days. Woodward believes it should be suspended forever.

They can recruit all they want, but no one is going to take this job, he said. Even if you had 100 officers in an academy right now to start coming in refilling the system, its not going to help any.

The governor announced on Tuesday that 10,000 officers are back at work and will be supported by over 6,000 national guard service members.

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LAST THURSDAY NIGHT, I GAVE AN AWARD to Satya Rhodes-Conway. Shes the mayor of the liberal bastion of Madison, Wisconsin, where I live. It was received on her behalf by Dylan Brogan, the citys spokesperson, who, as I explained to an audience of several dozen people in a hotel conference room in downtown Madison, had told me he had come to listen and not speak.

Thats partly because it was not the kind of award that a person might brag about. Rather, it was the Nopee, which stands for No Friend of Openness. Its one of six Openness in Government Awards, or Opees, that the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council has given out annually since 2007. The council, for which I have served as president since 2004, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, all-volunteer group that seeks to protect Wisconsins tradition of transparent government. Similar organizations operate in other states.

The Wisconsin Newspaper Association, a trade group representing the states newspapers, hosted the event, which included a sitdown meal and two other presentations dealing with open-government issues in Wisconsin. The five awards besides the Nopee are the Popee (Public Openness Advocate), the Copee (Citizen Openness Advocate), the Mopee (Media Openness Advocate), the Scoopee (Open Records Scoop of the Year), and the Whoopee (Whistleblower of the year).

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One by one, I went through this list of winners. The Popee went to the Milwaukee Police Department for helping a UW-Milwaukee journalism class obtain records of old missing-persons cases. The Copee went to American Oversight, a liberal watchdog group that fought for years to get records from a disastrously failed Trump-instigated probe into alleged fraud in the 2020 election. The probe was conducted by former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, who was recently charged by the states Office of Lawyer Regulation with ten counts of alleged misconduct, several dealing with his disregard for the states transparency laws.

The Whoopee winner was Todd Heath, a Wisconsin man who has fought since 2008 to blow the whistle on a telecommunications company he says has been overcharging schools and libraries millions of dollars for internet access and other services. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that his case can proceed. The Wisconsin Examiner news outlet won the Mopee for successfully suing over high costs and long delays in obtaining public records. And Milwaukee television station TMJ4 clinched the Scoopee for uncovering serious problems with the county district attorneys offices list of law-enforcement officers with credibility problems. The winners all came to the podium and made remarks.

Next came the Nopee, our award for the mayor. Bear with methis may seem like a story about a local politician, but its really about our need for a nationwide defense of the press.

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ON DECEMBER 17, THE DAY AFTER a mass shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison claimed the lives of three peoplea student, a teacher, and the student shooter, who took her own lifeand injured several others, two critically, a press conference was held. At one point, Mayor Rhodes-Conway, frustrated by questions for which she had no answers or patience, delivered a tongue-lashing to the press. This is what she had to say:

It is absolutely none of yalls business who was harmed in this incident. Please have some human decency and respect for the people who lost loved ones, or were injured themselves, or whose children were injured. Just have some human decency, folks. Leave them alone. Let them grieve. Let them recover. Let them heal. Dont feed off their pain.

An AP story that included these words appeared in papers across the country, and the mayors office, Im told, received tremendous positive attention. The media, meanwhile, became the recipients of fresh scorn.

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One reader of the AP story, in which I was also quoted (arguing that the authorities were being too tight-lipped), sent me an email that piggybacked off of the mayors remarks. He accused the press of being vultures who pound on the doors of the home[s] and ring the phones of the victims families, all in order to sensationalize the stories increasing their personal importance in driving up readership of the papers and viewership of the TV news to satisfy the public's unquenchable appetite for unnecessary personal details of the gore.

Of course, that is not what reporters do. As I was quoted saying in a fine column on this brouhaha by Judith Davidoff, the editor of the local paper Isthmus, Reporters seek information on victims not to exploit them but to honor their memory as unique human beings. Davidoff also quoted from an open letter to the mayor from Vincent Filak, a professor of journalism at UW-Oshkosh, who explained the process of reaching out to crime victims and their families, based on his two decades of experience as a reporter, editor, and newsroom adviser. In some cases, people decline or even express anger, in which case Id apologize and back away, Filak wrote. But often, the people contacted welcomed the opportunity: All they want to do is talk about how great their kid was, or how amazing their parent was or whatever stories make them feel less hurt.

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At the Opee Awards event, I challenged Rhodes-Conways harsh suggestion that reporters were lacking human decency and trying to feed off the suffering of others: The fact is, the media whose job it is to cover such horrible stories are hurting, too. Their compassion for victims and their families is just as real as the mayors. I suggested that the reason she did not apologize when her remarks drew criticism is because she liked the attention her media-bashing brought.

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And since spokesperson Brogan was not there to speak, I used the time allocated to reflect on why the Opee judges, myself included, felt that Rhodes-Conway deserved negative recognition over other contenders. (Other candidates for this years Nopee included a state representative who forced a small news outlet to incur hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal expenses and nearly go out of business defending itself against his specious defamation lawsuit, which was eventually thrown out of court.) Heres how I put it:

I think its because the press is tired of getting kicked around. Were tired of being used by politicians seeking to score cheap political points. Tired of being called the enemy of the people, or derided for an alleged lack of fairness or accuracy, often by people who have absolutely no regard for either. Theres not a reporter I know who is not more conscientious about getting things right than most politicians. Over the years, I think our default position, as journalists, has been to take it on the chin. To absorb the attacks, put our heads down, and keep doing our jobs. And I think its time for that to end. I for one am never going to let someone put the press down for no good reason without pushing back. I am not going to allow other journalists to be disparaged because its fashionable to do so. Its true that those of us in the press sometimes offend people in power, and make a nuisance of ourselves by demanding openness and accountability. But we are not the enemy of the people. We are not the enemy of the police. We are not even the enemy of Mayor Rhodes-Conway. We are professionals who deserve to be treated with respect. And its time that we started insisting on it.

MAKING THESE REMARKS, LETS BE CLEAR, required absolutely no courage. This was, after all, a roomful of journalists and supporters of their craft. (Afterward, Brogan, himself a former longtime Isthmus reporter, let me know that he discussed the speech with Mayor Rhodes-Conway, and shes taking your words seriously.)

But I am bringing this matter to your attention because I think such exertions in defense of the Fourth Estate are important, and they need to start coming from every quarter. Donald Trump has treated the press with thundering contempt, seeking to blunt its ability to be a check on his abuse of power, just as he intends with his similar denigration of the judicial branch.

This has created real risks for reporters throughout the land. Last year, the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, a project of the Freedom of the Press Foundation, recorded eighty physical attacks on journalists while they were doing their jobs. It also documented forty-eight arrests, detainment, or criminal charges against journalists, more than the previous two years combined.

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Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has been waging open warfare on members of the media who report things he does not like. Hes threatened to revoke the broadcast licenses of major networks. Hes filed a defamation lawsuit against the board that awards Pulitzer Prizes for honoring the New York Times and the Washington Post for their entirely accurate coverage of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Hes suing CBS News over its editing of a 60 Minutes interview with Vice President Kamala Harris during last years campaign, claiming he is owed $10 billion in damages for its deceptive manipulation of news.

Trump is even suing the Des Moines Register for running a poll of Iowa voters shortly before the 2024 election that showed him trailing Harris. He says this amounts to brazen election interference, which makes no sense, given that, if this report had any impact at all, it was to energize his supporters to turn out and help him win, which is what they did.

Its clear that Trump is waging war on the press, Samantha Barbas, a professor at the University of Iowa College of Law, told the New York Times. Trump and his lawyers are going to use any legal claim that they think has a chance of sticking. Theyll cast a wide net to carry out this vendetta.

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The media needs to take the lead in fighting back, and to some extent has done so. The AP, for instance, is suing the White House for denying it customary press access in retaliation for the news services choice to continue referring to the Gulf of Mexico. And while there had been rumblings that CBS News might seek some sort of a settlement over the 60 Minutes interview, causing some alarm among CBS staff, the networks lawyers filed a motion last Friday to dismiss Trumps lawsuit, calling it an affront to the First Amendment . . . without basis in law or fact.

But there was a troubling capitulation on the part of ABC News, which Trump sued because of a slightly incorrect statement made by one of its anchors, George Stephanopoulos. He said Trump had been found liable for rape in the successful civil case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll. In fact, Trump was found liable for sexual abuse under New York State law, although the judge noted that it was for conduct that met the commonly understood definition of rape.

Trumps lawyers would have had a monumental task to prove Stephanopouloss mistake met the high standard for defamation of a public official, set by the U.S. Supreme Courts 1964 ruling in New York Times Company v. Sullivan, of actual malice. But in December, ABC News agreed to apologize and give $15 million to Trumps future presidential foundation and museum (plus another million to cover his legal fees).

Now is not the time for appeasementnot toward the president of the United States, not toward the liberal mayor of a famously progressive town. Rather, it is a time to fight, and it should be a fight in which the allegiance of the American public to a free and fair press is clear.

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Dont let them get away with it. Stand up for and with the journalistic profession. Subscribe (seriously). And when others try to tear the press down to build themselves up, just say no. Or Nopee.

Well, you heard the man:

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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Tuesday announced a ban on helicopter operations along the route that led to the deadly January midair collision over Washington, D.C., in which dozens of people were killed, would continue after the National Transportation Safety Board recommended it stay in place.

The NTSB earlier in the day announced a number of recommendations to address a "serious safety risk" in the wake of the deadly crash.

The collision between a military helicopter and an American Airlines plane left 67 people dead . It was the first major commercial airline crash in the United States since 2009. The American Airlines flight, which was coming from Wichita, Kansas, was preparing to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when it was struck by an Army Black Hawk helicopter on a training mission. Both fell into the Potomac River after the collision.

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NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy began a news conference Tuesday with an urgent recommendation to ban helicopter operations on a specific route near the airport when runways 15 and 33 are in use. When helicopters are flying that route at the maximum authorized altitude of 200 feet, they may have just 75 feet of vertical separation from an airplane on landing approach to runway 33.

Homendy said she and other NTSB members determined that posed an "intolerable risk to aviation safety." The vertical separation could be even less, depending on the helicopter's lateral distance from the Potomac River shoreline or if an approaching airplane was below its designated visual glidepath, Homendy said.

At a press conference later in the day, Duffy confirmed, "We are going to continue with our restrictions."

Duffy had temporarily banned the route after the disaster, but that ban had been set to expire at the end of the month.

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"As that deadline nears we remain concerned about the significant potential for future midair collision at DCA, which is why we are recommending a permanent solution today," Homendy said.

Duffy noted there would be exceptions for travel for the president and vice president and for life-saving or law enforcement missions.

Homendy said that the NTSB is also recommending that the Federal Aviation Administration designate an alternative helicopter route that can be used when those runways are in use. She said the NTSB will not prescribe a particular route.

Homendy said the NTSB developed the recommendations after looking at nearly 15 years' worth of incidents at DCA. Between 2011 and 2024, at least one traffic alert and collision avoidance system was triggered per month due to the proximity of a helicopter to a plane, Homendy said. In over half of the reviewed encounters, the helicopters may have been above the route altitude restriction of 200 feet, Homendy said. The Black Hawk helicopter in the January crash was above the altitude restriction. About two-thirds of the events occurred at night.

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Between October 2021 and December 2024, there were 15,214 close proximity events between commercial airplanes and helicopters, where there was lateral separation of less than 1 nautical mile, or around 6,000 feet, and vertical separation of less than 400 feet. There were 85 events that involved a lateral separation of less than 1,500 feet and vertical separation of less than 200 feet, Homendy said.

"The NTSB report provides ample data that this helicopter route and the commercial aviation landing route never should have been allowed to co-exist," Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, the top Democrat on the Senate commerce committee, which oversees civil aviation, said in a statement. "A permanent restriction of this helicopter route needs to be urgently implemented by the FAA today. The data also raises serious questions as to how such a route was allowed to continue when alarm bells were literally going off."

American Airlines said Tuesday in a statement it was "grateful for the National Transportation Safety Board's urgent safety recommendations to restrict helicopter traffic near DCA and for its thorough investigation."

Duffy said the Transportation Department has "deployed AI tools" to help find other hotspots with similar military and commercial cross-traffic at airports across the country. He said that effort began several weeks ago and has been used at 12 airports.

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Duffy also said the entire country's air traffic control system should be updated.

"I want to be clear, our system is safe. It's old. But it's safe," he said.

Duffy said he believed a full system overhaul could be completed within three-and-a-half to four years, but noted it would cost "tens of billions of dollars," and said he wants to present his plan to Congress soon. He said part of the plan is to move from copper wire to a combination of "fiber, wireless and satellite." Duffy said the system would also use brand new radar and new terminals for air traffic controllers. He also said the Transportation Department would "deploy resources for runway safety" so air traffic controllers would have more accurate data on where various planes are as they land, take off and taxi.

Verizon had already been contracted to lay the fiber cables, and Duffy said that contract was "still in play. How we move forward is a question we're gonna grapple with," saying the effort would require multiple companies.

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Homendy said the NTSB's preliminary report will include information about the crew of both aircraft and the history of the flights, much of which has already been made public. Full NTSB investigations typically take at least a year.

"I often say that the easiest and quickest part of the investigation is determining what happened," Homendy said. "The part that takes longer is the how and why."

Federal investigators have been working to piece together the events that led to the crash. Investigator in charge Brice Banning previously described it as "a complex investigation" with "a lot of pieces" that NTSB members were working to gather.

A crane retrieves a wing from the wreckage of American Eagle Flight 5342 in the Potomac River following the deadly midair collision with a Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, on Feb. 3, 2025. / Credit: Reuters/Eduardo Munoz

Wreckage from the plane and helicopter has been recovered. Investigators also recovered black boxes from both aircraft. Black boxes record flight data, including altitude and speed, as well as audio from the flight.

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Investigators said in mid-February that it's possible the helicopter crew did not hear instructions from an air traffic controller to pass behind the plane. Seventeen seconds before the collision, a radio transmission from the air traffic control tower directed the helicopter to pass behind the airliner, but because the helicopter's microphone key was pressed down during part of the transmission, they may have not heard the words "pass behind the," NTSB chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said.

The NTSB has determined that the collision likely occurred at an altitude of about 325 feet, which would have put the Black Hawk above its 200-foot limit for the area. Cockpit conversations from a few minutes before the crash indicate conflicting altitude data. The type of Black Hawk helicopter involved in the crash typically has two systems for measuring altitude, which may explain the discrepancy.

Investigators believe that the helicopter crew , who the Army has described as highly experienced, were wearing night-vision goggles at the time of the incident.

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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW/AP)  The crash between a plane from Wichita and an Army Black Hawk helicopter in January has sparked two urgent recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The National Transportation Safety Board discussed the recommendations on Tuesday as part of its preliminary report on the deadly collision involving American Airlines Flight 5342 en route from Wichita to Washington, D.C.s Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) and the Army helicopter.

Urgent safety recommendations

Jennifer Homendy, NTSB chair, said the NTSBs two urgent safety recommendations for the FAA are regarding helicopters flying near Reagan National Airport.

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She said the board determined that the existing separation distance between planes and helicopters at Reagan National Airport is insufficient and poses an intolerable risk to aviation safety.

Homendy said investigators have identified 15,214 instances of Reagan National Airport planes getting alerts about helicopters being in close proximity between October 2021 and December 2024.

There is a serious safety issue here, which is why we are issuing these urgent safety recommendations, she said.

She said the FAA could have noticed the problem earlier.

That data from October 2021 through December 2024, they could have used that information anytime to determine that we have a trend here and a problem here and looked at that route, Homendy said. It shouldnt take tragedy to require immediate action.

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She said the first recommendation is that the FAA permanently prohibit operations on Helicopter Route 4 between Hains Point and the Wilson Bridge when runways 15 and 33 are being used for departures and arrivals at DCA.

Homendy said she realizes that will cause inconveniences for helicopter traffic, so the second recommendation is that the FAA designate an alternative helicopter route that can be used to facilitate travel between Hains Point and the Wilson Bridge when that segment of Route 4 is closed.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy held a news conference after Homendy made her remarks. He commended her for her work and agreed that something needs to be done.

Duffy said he spoke with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about military helicopters taking a different route.

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We will have exclusions for presidential air travel, vice presidential air travel, if theres a life saving mission for law enforcement, well have exclusions for that and well take appropriate action at DCA (Reagan National) to shut down air travel to make sure we dont have again helicopters and airplanes crossing paths, Duffy said.

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran is also concerned about what the NTSB learned. The senator from Kansas has announced a Senate subcommittee hearing to be held on March 27 to review the NTSB report and to work to determine policy changes.

While this report provides some clarity, I know that nothing will take away the pain felt by the families of the victims, and I continue to pray for the Kansans, and all Americans, who are grieving this loss, he said.

Wichita Mayor Lily Wu posted a message on social media, saying she appreciates Kansas Congressional leaders for ensuring the investigation is a top priority.

Latest NTSB preliminary report:

DCA25MA108 PrelimDownload

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On Jan. 29, American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita and an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided as the plane prepared to land at DCA. All 60 passengers and four flight crew members were killed, along with the three crew members in the Army helicopter.

The preliminary report released on Tuesday details how many flight hours each crew member had on the plane and on the helicopter. The plane pilot had about 3,950 total hours of flight experience. The first officer had about 2,469.

On the Black Hawk, the instructor pilot had about 968 total hours. The pilot had about 450, and the crew chief had about 1,149.

The report, on pages 3-8, gives a timeline of each flight, starting with the departure of the American flight from Wichita.

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According to the NTSB, the Reagan National Airport tower was staffed with five controllers at the time of the crash, and they were working five open positions. The plane and the helicopter could not hear each others transmissions because they were on different frequencies, but the controllers transmissions to each aircraft would be audible to both flight crews.

Investigators previously said the helicopter may have had inaccurate altitude readings in the moments before the crash, and the crew may not have heard key instructions from air traffic controllers.

It will take more than a year to get the final NTSB report, but officials have provided regular updates as investigators learn more.

Lawmakers react:

Wichita Mayor Lily Wu

Since our meetings in DC this week with Congressional leaders and the mayor of DC, this afternoon, the NTSB issued a preliminary report that provides additional details and recommendations to avoid future tragedies, said Mayor Wu on Facebook. Among their recommendations is the continued suspension of helicopter operations around Reagan National Airport, which we will fly out of tomorrow. We appreciate our Congressional leaders for ensuring the investigation is a top priority.

Representative Sharice Davids (D-Kan.)

I commend the NTSB and its dedicated team for their ongoing investigation into this devastating collision, which involved a flight taking off from Kansas. While this is an important step, there is still more to uncover, and its critical that the NTSB has every resource needed to continue its investigation moving forward, said Rep. Davids in an official statement. In the immediate term, the FAA must act to implement the NTSBs initial recommendations to prevent future disasters. As more details emerge, my colleagues on the U.S. House Aviation Subcommittee and I will continue working to ensure the highest safety standards are upheld. My thoughts remain with everyone affected by this tragedy.

Representative Ron Estes (R-Kan.)

Our state and nation continue mourning the 67 lives lost in the tragedy of the Jan. 29 collision over the Potomac River, said Rep. Estes in an official statement. The NTSBs preliminary report contains many of the critical facts that have been reported throughout the past month, including details into what happened in both cockpits on that tragic night, as well as two urgent safety recommendations to prevent a future incident at Reagan National Airport. I fully support the NTSB, FAA, Army, and all other involved agencies and parties as they work to investigate the collision, especially the Department of Transportations support and implementation of safety recommendations and improvements. While nothing can ever replace the lives lost on Flight 5342 and PAT 25, my prayer is that these insights, recommendations and changes help bring healing and closure to the families of those grieving.

Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.)

The NTSBs preliminary report lays the foundation for understanding what circumstances led to the deadly accident over the Potomac that claimed 67 lives, said Sen. Moran in an official statement. I appreciate the NTSB, FAA, DoD and other parties collaborating on this investigation and expect their continued cooperation as I lead a subcommittee hearing on March 27th to review the report and work to determine policy changes that may be necessary to prevent future tragedies. While this report provides some clarity, I know that nothing will take away the pain felt by the families of the victims, and I continue to pray for the Kansans, and all Americans, who are grieving this loss.

Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kan.)

We must take all actions to prevent the events of January 29th from happening again, said Sen. Marshall on X. Im grateful to @SecDuffy for taking swift action at our request to temporarily suspend helicopter operations around DCA immediately following the crash. Now, the FAA must take a step further. I urge them to implement NTSBs recommendation to permanently suspend helicopter operations when DCA runways are in use.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  Federal investigators looking into the cause of the January collision between a passenger jet and an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people recommended a ban on some helicopter flights Tuesday, saying the current setup poses an intolerable risk.

National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy laid out frightening statistics about near misses to underscore the danger that has existed for years near Ronald Reagan National Airport and expressed anger that it took a midair collision for it to come to light.

In just over three years, she said, there were 85 close calls when a few feet (meters) in the wrong direction could have resulted in the same kind of accident that happened Jan. 29 when the military helicopter collided with an American Airlines jet over the Potomac River as the plane was approaching the airport.

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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he'll adopt the NTSB's recommendations for the route where the midair collision occurred. He noted there will be some modifications in the guidelines to be released Wednesday, including allowing presidential flights and lifesaving missions.

Helicopters no longer will be threading the needle flying under landing planes, he said.

The Federal Aviation Administration also will use artificial intelligence to analyze data from every airport to make sure there arent similar dangers elsewhere, he said, adding that there are other airports with cross-traffic.

Homendy and Duffy both said the hazards at Reagan airport should have been recognized earlier by the FAA.

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The data was there. It wasnt effectively analyzed to see we had this risk, Duffy said.

The NTSB determined that the existing separation distance between planes and helicopters at Reagan airport is insufficient and poses an intolerable risk to aviation safety, Homendy said.

She said she was devastated for families that are grieving because they lost loved ones. Among the victims were 28 members of the figure skating community.

It shouldnt take tragedy to require immediate action, she said.

Members of several families who lost loved ones said in a statement that the NTSBs preliminary report showed this was not an isolated incident.

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It also reinforces what we, as the families of the victims, already suspected: serious, systemic failures in air travel safety cost our loved ones their lives and continues to threaten public safety, the statement said.

Aviation lawyer Robert Clifford, who represents at least six families, said the airline had a responsibility to address known problems.

Those charged in transportation with the highest duty of care cant run yellow lights, and theyve been running flashing red lights for years, it sounds like, and its just pathetic, he said.

Proposed changes aimed at improving safety

Under current practice helicopters and planes can be as close as 75 feet (23 meters) apart from each other during landing, Homendy said. Investigators have identified 15,000 instances of planes getting alerts about helicopters being in close proximity between October 2021 and December 2024, she said.

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Investigators determined that planes got serious alerts to take evasive action because they were too close to a helicopter at least once a month between October 2011 and December 2024, Homendy said. In over half those instances, the helicopter may have been above its established altitude restriction for the route.

Safety advocate Mary Schiavo, a former Inspector General of the U.S. Transportation Department, called it a shocking dereliction of duty for the FAA to have failed to act on data the NTSB gathered in just a few weeks since the crash. She noted that the FAA had pledged to warn pilots about places with higher collision risk.

They were going to really be proactive to warn pilots about these hotspots. I mean, this is beyond a hotspot, Schiavo said. This is absolutely radioactive, to have 15,214 close proximity events in three years, its unbelievable.

Following the midair collision, the FAA took steps to restrict helicopter flights around the airport to ensure that planes and helicopters are no longer sharing the same airspace. Now flights are put on hold temporarily when helicopters need to pass by.

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The NTSBs proposal would close a vital route for law enforcement, Coast Guard patrols and government operations flights at times, but only when the runways in question are in use, and they account for only about 5% of flights at Reagan.

Homendy said the NTSB is recommending that the FAA find a permanent solution for alternate routes farther away for helicopter traffic.

Searching for a cause of the crash

Investigators have said the helicopter may have had inaccurate altitude readings in the moments before the crash, and the crew may not have heard key instructions from air traffic controllers. The radio altitude of the helicopter was 278 feet (85 meters), which would put it above its 200-foot (61-meter) limit for the location.

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The helicopter pilots may have also missed part of another communication, when the tower said the jet was turning toward a different runway, Homendy said last month. And the crew was wearing night-vision goggles that would have limited their peripheral vision.

The Black Hawk crew was made up of an instructor pilot with 968 hours of flight experience, a pilot with about 450 and a crew chief with nearly 1,150. Army officials have said the crew was familiar with the crowded skies around Washington.

The NTSB in its ongoing investigation will look at the amount of traffic at Reagan and the staffing in the control tower to determine if either of those factors played a role. It will take more than a year to get the final NTSB report.

Aviation safety expert John Cox said he piloted in and out of Reagan in all different kinds of planes since the late 1970s and sometimes received collision alerts about helicopters, but it was usually easy to see that they were going to pass behind him.

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Thats just something that occurred going in and out of there, and it worked successfully for decades, said Cox, who is CEO of aviation safety consulting firm Safety Operating Systems in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Multiple things had to go wrong for this collision to happen, he added.

A spate of recent aviation disasters

Within just a months time earlier this year, there were four major aviation disasters in North America, most recently in mid-February when a Delta flight flipped and landed on its roof at Torontos Pearson Airport, injuring 21 people.

Those accidents and close calls left some worried about the safety of flying, though fatal crashes are rare and U.S. airlines' track record is remarkably sound.

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President Donald Trump blamed the midair collision on what he called an obsolete air traffic control system and promised to replace it. He also faulted the helicopter for flying too high.

Federal officials have been raising concerns about an overtaxed and understaffed air traffic control system for years, especially after a series of close calls at airports.

Doug Lane, whose wife Christine Conrad Lane, and their 16-year-old son Spencer, died in the crash, said Tuesday he hopes the way the near-misses are reported gets a closer look and that NTSB recommendations will be implemented.

If were going to invest in an organization like this, it needs to be outfitted with state of the art technology and given staffing at a level thats going to set them up for success, Lane said.

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Duffy said Tuesday that he will present an expensive plan to Congress within the next few weeks to overhaul the system with new technology. He hopes to complete it within four years.

___

Associated Press writer Maryclaire Dale in Philadelphia contributed to this report. Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio; Funk reported from Omaha, Nebraska.
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP)  Nurses picketed in front of a Baystate facility in Hampshire County Monday morning, demanding higher pay and benefits.

Baystate Visiting Nurses based in Springfield have been in talks for over a year with no clear end in sight.

Members of the Massachusetts Nurses Association held signs in front of the Baystate Health and Wellness center in Northampton. Theyre demanding increased pay and benefits, stating these nurses often treat low-income communities with black and brown patients. Rose Bookbinder with the union told 22News why she thinks there hasnt been a compromise between the two parties.

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Its on a smaller unit of workers and they think that they can kind of push us around, but that just makes us stronger, Rose says. So were just building our coalitions, building our strength to get what these nurses deserve.

Baystate Health told 22News they are committed to negotiating in good faith to reach a fair agreement. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service was present during recent negotiations. This comes as Baystate Health cut over 100 corporate positions last month.

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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.

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BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  NorthWest Arkansas Community College and Missouri Southern State University in Joplin will allow students to transfer credits between schools in the future.

The two colleges held a ceremony March 10 at the NWACC campus in Bentonville to formalize the agreement.

NWACC sees largest enrollment in schools history

In this agreement, it allows for a lot of seamless transfers so the college credits  nothing gets lost. Its a smooth transition, and in many cases, there are scholarships attached so the generosity of Missouri Southern has allowed for additional financial incentives for the students, said Dennis Rittle, president of NWACC.

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The agreement aims to give students a way to achieve their goals and have options when it comes to furthering their education.

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More than two dozen elected officials, including mayoral candidates Brad Lander and Zohran Mamdani, are sending a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem demanding Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University student detained by ICE, be released.

The letter, being sent Tuesday, also called on Columbia to stop any and all cooperation with immigration officials and for President Trumps administration to remove ICE and DHS from campuses.

The treatment of Mahmoud Khalil by the Department of Homeland Security is not only inhumane, it is a blatant violation of his legal rights, the letter reads. He has been separated illegally from his pregnant wife, who is a United States citizen, and detained without due process thousands of miles from home. We see these actions by the Trump administration for what they are  a flagrantly unconstitutional attempt to suppress free speech and incite fear.

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Several other 2025 mayoral candidates, including Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Brooklyn state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, Queens state Sen. Jessica Ramos and ex-Comptroller Scott Stringer, have separately spoken out against Khalils detention. They are not among those signing the letter.

ICE has no right to detain a green card holder who has not been convicted of, or even charged with, any crime. This is profoundly un-American, and Khalil must be released, Myrie wrote on social media on Monday.

Speaker Adams wrote on Monday that the incident cannot be allowed to stand, calling it blatant authoritarianism.

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Adams have both remained largely silent on the issue, with Adams saying on Tuesday he didnt want to opine on the deportation because the federal government was in charge.

In total, 28 local officials signed Tuesdays letter to Noem, including Councilwomen Alexa Aviles and Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.
A New York City-based actor who has appeared in Law Order: SVU, Power and Boardwalk Empire is awaiting his fate after he was found guilty of a 2021 fatal shooting. According to Qns.com, 45-year-old Isaiah Stokes was convicted of shooting 37-year-old Tyrone Jones in St. Albans, Queens, as he waited in his car for a friend to show up for lunch.

A jury convicted Stokes on charges of second-degree murder and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon. Prosecutors say Stokes shot Jones in an attempt to get revenge after the two had a run-in during Jones October 2020 birthday party.

According to witnesses, Stokes was behaving inappropriately, which caused Jones to ask him to leave the Queens club where his party was being held. But when Stokes said no, he was injured by some of the other guests. Prosecutors said Stokes put a GPS tracker underneath Jones car in late January 2021, which allowed him to keep tabs on his whereabouts. The prosecutions case included surveillance footage which shows Stokes approaching the victims Jeep Grand Cherokee on the afternoon of February 7, 2021 and firing 11 shots into the drivers side window. Jones, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds, was pronounced dead on the scene, according to the New York Post.

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After the shooting, Stokes drove back to his Queens apartment, as Qns.com reported. Days later, on February 16, he returned the Audi SUV he drove to the crime scene to a New Jersey rental location.

This was a calculated murder, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement. The defendant, a part-time actor, stewed for months after being thrown out of a birthday party for his own inappropriate behavior.

According to the New York Post, a judge has scheduled Stokes sentencing for March 21, where he could face 25 years to life in prison.

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A Manhattan maid who was repeatedly raped by a sicko building superintendent fainted in court Monday as a prosecutor read her excruciating victim-impact statement about the monster.

The victim  who was blackmailed at one point with naked photos of her special-needs child  crashed to the floor while standing at a lectern in Manhattan Supreme Court as the prosecutor read her statement.

In her letter to the court, the woman, an illegal migrant from Paraguay, detailed the torture she suffered from Jose Espinoza, a dad of three who ended up sentenced to 22 years in prison Monday after being found guilty of rape for his years-long campaign of terror.

Jose Espinoza was sentenced to 22 years in state prison with 5 years of post-release supervision for raping, sexually assaulting, and labor trafficking a cleaner in the building where he worked as a superintendent. Steven Hirsch

Because of this bastard, Im struggling to continue with my life normally, the middle-aged mom said in her statement, which was read by Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Jonathon Junig.

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The victims eyes then suddenly rolled back, and she lost her balance before collapsing to the floor.

The chaotic scene, which lasted nearly 10 minutes, unfolded just before Espinoza, 62, was sentenced after being convicted at trial in December of rape, labor trafficking and other charges in the case.

The victim eventually came around from her fainting spell and sat in the first row as the prosecutor finished reading her letter, which revealed her mental struggles from the attacks that had broke [her] into a thousand pieces.

For many years, I suffered hell for no reason at all. He destroyed my life and my innocent family, the woman said in her letter to Judge Felicia Mennin, begging her to show no mercy when sentencing the rapist.

The chaotic scene, which lasted nearly 10 minutes, unfolded just before Espinoza, 62, was sentenced after being convicted at trial in December of rape, labor trafficking and other charges in the case. Steven Hirsch

Espinoza met his victim, a mother of an autistic child, in August 2017 and offered her money in exchange for sex if she agreed to clean apartments in the Flatiron apartment building where he served as the super.

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But when the woman wanted to stop the arrangement a year later, Espinoza grew irate and started physically beating her, took her passport and tracked her whereabouts as his power trip escalated, prosecutors have said.

He also blackmailed her into silence by demanding naked photographs of her special needs child  and then threatened to share the images if the woman ever spoke out.

Espinoza went as far as forcing the victim to have sex with him in front of her daughter at least once, prosecutors have said.

Espinoza met his victim, a mother of an autistic child, in August 2017 and offered her money in exchange for sex if she agreed to clean apartments in the Flatiron apartment building where he served as the super. Steven Hirsch

Dont be fooled by this monster, your Honor, the victim warned in her statement. He isnt a human being.  He likes to make people suffer, and he enjoys it. And I assure you, he will never change.

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Espinozas deviant scheme  which included having the victim live with his wife and one of his daughters  was foiled by the spring of 2022 when the woman was diagnosed with breast cancer and told a social worker at Bellevue Hospital about her years of abuse.

His six-year sex terror plot came to an end when he was arrested in December 2023.

Espinoza denied being a rapist while admitting he made some very bad, terrible mistakes as he apologized to his family in the courtroom.

His six-year sex terror plot came to an end when he was arrested in December 2023. Steven Hirsch

The judge, who received more than a dozen letters from Espinozas family and friends on his behalf, said she believed that his family was clearly deluded into believing the father was a good man  and that his wifes continued support was baffling.

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Good family men do not cheat on their wives, enslave other women, install them in their homes where they can exercise ultimate control over them and rape them, the judge seethed.

Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement, Jose Espinoza committed horrific acts of rape and sexual abuse all while forcing this survivor to clean apartments in his building.

I thank this survivor for her incredibly brave decision to come forward, testify at trial, and speak at Espinozas sentencing today.
NEW YORK  Mayor Eric Adams, asked Monday for his views on the the politically explosive issue of former Columbia grad student Mahmoud Khalil being detained by federal immigration authorities for his pro-Palestinian activism, offered a perplexing response:

If he has a gun, he needs to go, Adams said at the news conference, which was called to tout the number of weapons taken off the streets in 2025.

A reporter asked for clarification. Was Adams suggesting Khalil might have had a weapon? There has been no evidence or information coming out of ICE or the Trump administration indicating anything of the sort.

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The mayor didnt respond, laughing in response to one follow-up, though spokesperson Liz Garcia later said the mayor was not trying to suggest Khalil had a gun, nor does he have any information to that effect.

Garcia said it was possible Adams had not clearly heard the reporters question and that he wasnt talking specifically about Khalil.

He wasnt actually speaking to the situation, he was making an off-the-cuff comment about a question that he had heard, Garcia said, adding that Adams made the question about guns to align with the topic of the press conference.

Since Khalils case is a federal civil enforcement matter, the city has not received much information about the case, she said.

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Khalil, a green card holder, was arrested by federal immigration agents for his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests and is now being detained in Louisiana. Hes believed to be the first person singled out by the Trump administration in its promise to deport international students who protested against Israels actions in Gaza.

His arrest has set off intense outrage, with protesters gathering outside the ICE New York City Field Office on Monday afternoon to demand his release from custody.

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In what may be a first for a big-city teachers union, the United Federation of Teachers is requiring New York City mayoral candidates to spend a day teaching to be considered for an endorsement.

We want our mayor to actually have an understanding of what the school is trying to accomplish every day and what the challenges are, union President Michael Mulgrew said. That is the best way for them to make decisions.

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Mayoral candidates in the nations largest school district would have to spend at least seven periods in a school assisting teachers with lessons and classroom management. Mulgrew said candidates will also visit classrooms with special education students and English learners.

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The union has invited mayoral candidates to classrooms before, but this is the first time it has been mandatory.

Invitations were sent out March 7. City Comptroller Brad Lander, former Assembly Member Michael Blake, Assembly member Zohran Mamdani, state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, state Sen. Jessica Ramos, former city Comptroller Scott Stringer, Teach for America founder Whitney Tilson and Curtis Sliwa told The 74 they are willing to participate. All are Democrats except for Sliwa, who is running as a Republican. Democratic City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams will also participate, according to Chalkbeat New York.

Mayor Eric Adams, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, both Democrats, and Independent Jim Walden did not respond to a request for comment.

Related

Could New York Become the First Major City to Offer Universal Child Care?

UFT represents nearly 200,000 members, including teachers, paraprofessionals and counselors. In previous elections its endorsement has been highly sought after, partly due to the unions size and because a large percentage of members vote, Mulgrew said.

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A spokesman for the American Federation of Teachers, which used a similar endorsement tactic in the 2020 presidential election, said it is not aware of any other local union requiring candidates to spend a full day in a school. An online search found no large city union making this an endorsement requirement.

Several candidates have public school ties. Myrie is the son of a special education teacher and UFT member. Lander is the son of a guidance counselor.

The union will work with the New York State Education Department to schedule school visits in April.
New Yorkers may see a hike in their utility bills from President Trumps ongoing tariff spat with Canada  but Empire State officials were unclear on how much, with Dems warning of Doomsday without proof.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford followed through on his threats last week by slapping a 25% surcharge Monday on energy exports to the Canadian provinces three US state customers: New York, Michigan and Minnesota. Ford has also threatened to cut off the exports entirely.

His response comes after Trump threatened, then postponed, sweeping 25% tariffs on all Canadian goods and 10% tariffs on energy imports last week.

Power lines stretch across the St. Clair River between Canada and Michigan. Getty Images

New Yorks grid operator appeared to brush off the Canadian power play.

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The New York Independent System Operator, said the state imports a relatively paltry roughly 3% of its power supply from Ontario  and has enough generating capacity to make up for a cut-off or pricier Canadian exports.

The NYISO is analyzing the impacts of the order by the Ontario Premier and working closely with the Independent Electricity Operator of Ontario to ensure a reliable grid and stable flows of electricity across interregional transmission lines, the NYISO wrote in a statement Monday.

The NYISO expects to have adequate reserves to meet reliability criteria and forecasted demand for New York, it said.

According to a recent NYISO report, the grid used 3,976 gigawatt hours of imported energy from Ontario in 2023. Thats less than 3% of the 149,518 gigawatt hours New York used over the same year.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Monday levied tariffs on the provinces energy exports to US states including New York. REUTERS

Still, tampering with New Yorks imported Canadian supply could have ripple effects on its complex grid system and utility pricing process.

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In a letter addressed to her own Department of Public Service and Energy Research and Development Authority on Monday, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) urge an analysis of the tariffs potential impact on New York.

We will not allow President Trump and Congressional Republicans to play politics with our energy security while hardworking New Yorkers foot the bill, the leaders wrote.

Hochul and Schumer warned that the tariff war will ultimately lead to higher energy prices.

These tariffs will drive up utility bills, disrupt energy markets, and create uncertainty for businesses and families alike, the pols said. They are not only economically harmful but also dangerously short-sighted.

Only about 4% of the energy used in New York in 2023 was derived from imports from Ontario, but some Empire State officials still warned the new tariff could still pack a financial wallop. AP

Hochul had said just last week that she was not concerned about Fords threats.

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I feel positive that anything within his power that he can control, that we do not have a target on our backs, Hochul told reporters.

Reps for power providers Con Edison, National Grid and NYSEG all referred questions about the impacts of the tariffs to the NYISO.

A representative for the Department of Public Service, which is responsible for regulating the utilities, forwarded Hochul and Schumers letter to The Post when asked for comment.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Two people have been arrested this month with multiple license suspensions, according to the Ontario County Sheriffs Office.

On March 6, 2025, the Ontario County Sheriffs Office responded to a crash on State Rt. 5 & 20. Deputies said 45-year-old Summer Brink, of Brockport, drove one of the vehicles in the crash and left the scene.

Investigators revealed Brink had her driving privileges suspended in New York, had 18 suspensions in total, and failed to answer seven tickets on seven different dates.

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Brink was arrested and charged with first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of a property damage accident.

The second incident happened on Tuesday when deputies stopped 40-year-old Stephen Youngs on Rt. 5 & 20 in Canandaigua. They said his vehicle has a suspended registration and his license was suspended 16 times.

Youngs was charged with first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, he also had an outstanding warrant for second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation. He is being held at the Ontario County Jail.

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Mar. 10Since last year, the number of homeless people in Odessa has increased, according to the annual Point in Time Count conducted by trained volunteers Jan. 23.

Odessa Links, in association with the Texas Homeless Network, Odessa Homeless Coalition and volunteers from the community, conducted Odessa's 2025 Point-in-Time (PIT) Homeless Count. On Monday, they presented their findings at the City of Odessa Municipal Plaza.

The volunteers conducted a count and survey of people in the community staying in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and unsheltered locations such as outdoor encampments, streets, cars, and other places not meant for habitation. The count provides a 24-hour "snapshot" for the number of people experiencing homelessness and the key characteristics of individuals and families, a news release detailed.

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The PIT Count results indicate the minimum number of people experiencing homelessness in the community on any given night. However, other forms of homelessness, such as temporarily staying with friends or having enough funds for a hotel or motel, are not included in the PIT Count, under United States Department of Housing and Urban Development guidelines. As a result, the PIT Count data only represents a fraction of the homeless population in Odessa, the release stated.

The count found that the total number of unsheltered people in Odessa was 212 compared to 135 in 2024. In 2023, it was 68 and in 2022, 60.

Of the 212, 126 were sheltered homeless and 86 were unsheltered. The increased count was likely due to the frigid weather that came through the area during the count time period, Jesus Gomez, Homeless Community Coordinator, said.

Sheltered homelessness are people or families staying at the Salvation Army, Jesus House, Door of Hope or Crisis Center of West Texas, for example, and are receiving support or case management services.

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Unsheltered people are living in uninhabitable circumstances, like an abandoned building, or their car, and not having access to water and other services, Gomez said.

Andrea Quiroz, executive director of Odessa Links, acknowledged key partners in the count.

"The City of Odessa has partnered up with us this year, Community Development, code enforcers (and the) Odessa Police Department. We had officers go out to the encampments. The geointelligence, they helped out tremendously, because they actually mapped out those encampments that were given to us by the code enforcers and police department, which made it very simple and easy for our volunteers to know the actual location of where they were at," Quiroz said.

She expressed appreciation to city leadership and Councilman Greg Connell who connected Odessa Links with the other city departments.

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"We couldn't have done this without our community organizations  our shelters, Jesus House, Crisis Center, Family Promise of Odessa, Door of Hope, and, of course, the Salvation Army of Odessa and several community volunteers," Quiroz said.

She added that they collaborated this year with the Midland Homeless Coalition.

The Texas Homeless Network also spoke to a city-wide Homeless Coalition meeting and has been working hard to make sure they don't have duplication or services or a duplicated count.

"But most importantly, as I always say, those are just numbers. There's a person behind that number," Quiroz said.

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The PIT Count tells what the impact of homelessness is on the community. It also helps people understand what the needs are, how people are impacted and what can be done as a community help those that are impacted by homelessness.

Before and after the PIT Count, they tried to prevent duplication by preparing bags with different kinds of snacks, survival guides, blankets, gloves and hand warmers, Gomez said. The bags and their colors were an identifier to the team so they knew by the bag or backpack that they had already been approached.

The Salvation Army also used wrist bands for that purpose, Gomez said.

Odessa Links also distributed bus passes for homeless people so they could have access to transportation.

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The goal is to survey all of Ector County working with other organizations and coalitions such as West Odessa Water Warriors and the West Odessa Coalition to include that area in next year's count, Gomez said.

Connell said there were two groups  one that counted at shelters and one, that he went with, went to the tents.

"It was a cold morning that morning, we were taking hot coffee and sandwich food, that type of thing to them. I slept in a warm, comfortable bed and these individuals, were out in a tent with a ground surface floor, with no heating. It's just amazing. But, homeless in general, people say that they're somewhere. Well, actually, they're here; they're all around us ... Every homeless situation affects me, but the the two that really affect me personally as a veteran would be our veterans that are out there. Second would be children that are involved. We just have to have a safety net for (these) individuals.

"I've told a story one time, and I think it's very applicable that life, as we all can experience individually, is a juggling act. Those balls are car payments, rent, mortgage, health issues that come up. If too many of those balls drop at the same time ... we're homeless," Connell said.

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He added that this was depicted in the movie "No Address" where normal, everyday families found themselves homeless because too many balls dropped.

"From the city aspect, we have some development people here that are doing some beautiful things with building homes for those that qualify for it. The city does what the city can, but we are mainly focused on medical services, police services and zoning and everything it takes to run a city. I'm really thankful for the Odessa Homeless Coalition that we have been putting together, because that is something that's workable, that we can do. That is a coalition of the nonprofits, the churches, organizations, all the resources and tools," Connell said.

He added that he has visited the Door of Hope and Salvation Army shelters.

"We do have ongoing shelters, and we do also have programs set to help people that are low income with groceries and food and things like that. We have a lot of things going, but this needs to be a continued push and an effort to strengthen that coalition, to bring those services where they're effective, for our homeless," Connell said.

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On March 12, Gomez, Connell and Oscar Romo, Odessa Links case manager, are going to Austin for Texas Capitol Day for Homelessness.

"We will be before the legislators and state representatives. We will be talking to them about the impact (of homelessness) in our community, what the needs are in our community, how can we improve in that aspect (and) how they can support us. ... Following that meeting, we will have a scheduled steering committee (meeting).

"The steering committee is the members that are part of the Odessa Homeless Coalition that helps us determine the direction of how and what we need to do to improve the homeless situation in Odessa," Gomez said.

Gomez added that he wants to make legislators aware of what's going on in the community.

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"I think that, because we're a hub for oil, there's this thought process that nobody's suffering and everybody's raking in the cash. But that's not the reality. There are real people having real circumstances, dealing with real difficult issues. One of the families that we were able to assist was a gentleman, a single father with two kids. ... When they came into our program, (we were) able to connect them to training. ... From that training, they were able to escalate in their organization, the workforce, to the point where they didn't need our services anymore, so that was great. That's a success story. We do still do follow-ups accordingly, as Andrea mentioned, just to check in, making sure that they're continuing to exercise the principles that we teach them through case management," he added.

Working at Odessa Links and the Homeless Coalition has given Gomez a different perspective on what homelessness is.

"It's (given) me the perspective that ... some people are not addicts; they just had a rough situation. They went through divorce, medical issues, loss of a job, different things that sometimes don't prepare us for what comes in the next season," Gomez said.

Odessa Point in Time count

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Total: 212

 Number of children (under age 18): 42

 Number of youth (18-24): 6

 Number of adults (25-34): 35

 Number of adults (35-44): 54

 Number of adults (45-54): 31

 Number of adults (55-64): 31

 Number of adults (age 65 or older): 13

 Observed age 25 or older: 0

 Unknown Age: 0

 Chronically Homeless: 24

 Veterans: 10
SHANKSVILLE, Pa.  White-tailed deer are a common sight at Flight 93 National Memorial. Sometimes, theyre even seen grazing near the spot where hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 crashed on Sept. 11, 2001.

The surging deer population is threatening the native vegetation at the 2,200-acre national memorial near Shanksville, National Park Service officials said.

A deer management plan is being studied to manage the animals numbers at Flight 93 and two other NPS sites, Fort Necessity National Battlefield and Friendship Hill National Historic Site, both in Fayette County.

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Historically, Pennsylvanias deer population was regulated by larger predators, but the absence of these species and a regional decline in hunting by people has led to unchecked population growth, said Brenda Wasler, the NPS western Pennsylvania region natural resource manager.

Some western Pennsylvania parks today have more than 70 deer per square mile, Wasler said. And Flight 93 has the highest density of deer of the three western Pennsylvania parks being monitored, she said.

The NPS is planning to contract with professionals to thin out the population, she said. Studies are being conducted to determine the target number and when the culling would occur. It would likely be a year or more from now.

Hunting is prohibited at national parks, but federal officials have turned to professional contractors to reduce the herds at other parks, Wasler said. Traditionally, the contractors work after hours, she added.

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The goal isnt to eliminate deer from the properties, Wasler said. Rather, the NPS wants to reduce their numbers to a level that will support regeneration over a one- to three-year timeframe.

Two public meetings are scheduled to discuss current plans. The first will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Flight 93 National Memorial Learning Center. The second meeting is set from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Fort Necessity National Battlefield Visitor Center. For more information or to attend a meeting, visit parkplanning.nps.gov/wepa-deer.

Public comments are also being accepted on the proposal until March 23, NPS officials said. The goal is to use information collected in the coming months to have a preliminary plan in place by early next year.

Comments can be submitted through the website or by addressing: Superintendent, Fort Necessity National Battlefield, 1 Washington Parkway, Farmington, Pa. 15437.

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Cutbacks, questions

Flight 93s daily hours havent been impacted so far by the Trump administrations recent move eliminating 1,000 park service jobs nationwide. That represents 5% of the nearly 20,000 workers at the nations 433 national parks, battlefields and historic sites that hosted more than 330 million visitors in 2024.

The Trump administration days later announced that the NPS would ramp up its seasonal workforce from 6,300 annually to more than 7,000 for the summer season.

Park advocates including the National Parks Conservation Association have voiced concerns that additional cuts may be looming. The organization, which launched a petition drive, fears the parks will fall into disrepair, see trash pile up and have fewer storytellers to educate visitors about the sites.

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The NPS Flight 93 employees have declined comment on the nationwide cuts, indicating in a statement that they were awaiting more information.

Park hours also appear to be unchanged at other regional NPS sites, including Johnstown Flood National Memorial, where the visitor center operates on limited hours during winter months, and Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WKBN)- AARP Ohio announced that it supports the reintroduction of the Credit for Caring Act.

The legislation would provide financial relief to eligible working family caregivers in Ohio and throughout the United States, according to a news release from the organization.

Reports said that this offers up to a $5,000 nonrefundable federal tax credit to help offset family caregiving-related expenses, such as home care aides, adult day services, home modifications, and respite care.

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U.S. Representative Mike Carey released a statement:

We know that families want to support their loved ones through illness, disability and aging in place. The Credit for Caring Act offers relief to caregivers, allowing them to prioritize their loved ones and worry less about the effects on their family budget. This tax credit would offset costs American families have to bear to care for their loved ones and provides flexibility to care for them in the way that works best for their familys situation. I hope my colleagues join me in the effort to pass it. U.S. Representative Mike Carey

Reports said that Ohios family caregivers provide 1.4 billion hours of care and up to $21 billion in unpaid labor per year caring for aging parents, spouses, and others in need so that they can remain in their homes and 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 WKBN.com.
An Ohio Muslim civil rights leader condemned the government's crackdown on anti-Israel protests, including at Ohio State University, as a new report raises concerns about a nationwide rise in anti-Muslim discrimination and attacks.

"Mistreating the weakest, the littlest, the least has become almost a national sport and some people even take pride in targeting immigrants, targeting people of color," said Khalid Turaani, executive director of the Ohio office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

He said Americans must speak out against the use of tax dollars going to Israel to attack Gazans. However, in light of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arresting a Columbia University graduate student, Turaani warned noncitizen students in the U.S. not to participate in protests as it is not safe.

Pro-Palestinian protests in May 2024, like this one on Ohio State Univeristy's campus, coincided with a rise in clashes with law enforcement and anti-Muslim discrimination last year, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Turaani made these comments at a press conference as the national Council on American-Islamic Relations released its annual report Tuesday saying they received more than 8,650 complaints in 2024, the highest number since the organization began publishing its annual civil rights report in 1996. Complaints rose more than 7%, breaking the previous record set in 2023.

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The number of incidents is likely an undercount as many do not report incidents to CAIR, Turaani said.

Turaani said clashes with law enforcement in May 2024, at the height of pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses, drove some of the nationwide increase in reports.

CAIR called this year's report "Unconstitutional Crackdowns" because all levels of government in 2024 attacked first amendment rights by arresting and regulating anti-Israel protesters, Turaani said.

This comes as President Donald Trump's administration sent letters this week to 60 universities nationwide telling them to address antisemitism on campus or risk losing federal funding. Letters were sent to Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati.

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Turaani said CAIR condemns antisemitism and all types of hate but supports students and others protesting the genocide in Gaza perpetrated by Israel.

"We believe that all of us should separate hatred of Jews because they are Jews and legitimate criticism of a foreign state, that is the state of Israel, that is accused and there's so much evidence of it committing genocide and war crimes," Turaani said.

USA TODAY reporter N'dea Yancey-Bragg contributed to this report.

jlaird@dispatch.com

@LairdWrites

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: CAIR Ohio decries unconstitutional crackdown on anti-Israel protests
The Gavel outside the Supreme Court of the State of Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original article.)

The Ohio Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on whether the City of Columbus should be allowed to implement its gun safety regulations while the ordinance is making its way through the court system.

Columbus passed a safe storage law, requiring owners to lock their firearms up if they arent using them, but a lower court has blocked it from going into effect.

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For some gun owners, like state Rep. Josh Williams, R-Sylvania, having their weapons easily accessible is essential:

It had rabies and was attacking me  a pit bull  and I shot and killed that dog, Williams said. It was like a few inches away from me when I fired my weapon.

After what he calls a wild dog tried destroying the screen on his front door, the lawmaker said he is grateful he was able to grab his firearm.

Your gun is not gonna be in your hand, loaded, ready, every time a threat produces itself, he said.

According to the Republican, the dog was on his porch, trying to get into his home. As he got it to run away, he went outside to go to his car. The pitbull, one that seemed rabid and was not a neighbors pet, came sprinting back, he said. Due to the proximity and aggression, he fired three shots at it. We have requested the incident report from the Toledo Police.

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That wasnt the only time he had to use his gun, he said. He had a knife pulled on him outside of a tavern in Toledo, and fired a shot that went past the individuals head, he added. We also requested this police report. The man ran away and to this day, was not caught, he added.

Being in the public eye, Williams said he has to make sure to protect himself and his family. He was one of several GOP lawmakers and politicians who were targeted by death threats and letters with white powder in them.

There are about four firearms spread out across my house and residence; none of them are locked away, he said. My wife and I are the only ones that live there, so were always prepared no matter what part of the house that were in if we need to defend ourselves because there are people here that do want to do harm.

This is why he opposes the City of Columbus gun safety regulations. One of their ordinances requires owners to lock up their firearms when they arent using them, in an effort to curb the growing number of accidental child shooting deaths. The city also banned magazines that can hold 30 or more rounds of ammunition.

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This law is currently blocked from going into effect.

Ohios Fifth District Court of Appeals dismissed the citys request to overturn a Delaware County judges decision, which granted conservative think-tank The Buckeye Institute a preliminary injunction against the municipalitys ordinance.

Back in 2024, we were the first to report that City Attorney Zach Klein was asking the Ohio Supreme Court to step in and pause the block while the case goes through the courts.

On Tuesday, oral arguments will begin at the Supreme Court on whether or not a city can appeal a preliminary injunction while the final judgment is being decided.

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Columbus argues that they have a right to appeal any injunction that prevents a law from being enforced.

The Ohio Attorney Generals Office is backing Columbus on this argument, arguing that governments can appeal when there is irreparable harm caused by a pause in the enforcement of laws.

This is the same argument that the attorney generals team has made on several high-profile occasions, such as when a Cincinnati judge temporarily blocked  which then led to permanently  the six-week abortion ban from going into effect.

The Buckeye Institute, which is helping six anonymous gun owners, has argued that this ordinance is unconstitutional and that a preliminary injunction only stops something illegal from going into effect.

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The AGs office agrees that Columbus put forward an unconstitutional ordinance, but does back them on the ability to get the injunction dropped.

This whole debate should be common sense, gun violence survivor Erick Bellomy said.

The state should step away and allow the city to implement their own laws that protect its citizens, Bellomy, the Ohio lead for Brady United Against Gun Violence, said.

Safe storage laws save lives, he said, and retrieving your gun from a safety lockbox is quick. There are many different types of safe storage, such as numerical codes, key locks, and even fingerprint devices.

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Safes wont prevent people from protecting themselves from an intruder, he added, but what it will do is keep everyone in the home safe.

A lot of the families that have had this happen to them, they did not expect this to happen to them and once it happened to them, thats when they started advocating for similar safe storage laws, Bellomy said.

According to state data, at least 16 people died in 2024 from accidentally discharging a firearm. Everytown for Gun Safety found that dozens of Ohio accidental shootings led to injuries as well.

Keeping weapons locked up could also help to prevent the rise in teenage gun violence, he added.

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Nobodys trying to take your gun rights away, nobodys trying to do that, he said. But were just trying to make it safer for kids and people that are at risk of harming themselves or other people.

This could be a trend that catches on, and it should, he said.

I think [Columbus safe storage law] sets up other cities to do the same thing, Bellomy said. All eyes are on Columbus when it comes to this type of law, then other cities may follow suit, and if other cities follow suit, thats hundreds of lives that can be saved.

The City of Cleveland has previously told us that they are waiting on what happens with Columbus and Cincinnatis cases before they pass their own legislation.

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Williams argued that the government shouldnt be getting involved in his Second Amendment rights, but he does say that parents need to choose to be more responsible with their guns.

We asked how to balance his gun rights concerns versus keeping kids safe from accidental shootings.

Those are always gonna be possible as long as we have firearms in our communities, and I believe firearms have to be there, he replied.

Thats not to say that the state wont help at all, he added.

Parents should be charged if their child accesses their gun and shoots someone or themselves, he said. He also wants to put forward incentives on gun classes.

This article was originally published on News5Cleveland.com and is published in the Ohio Capital Journal under a content-sharing agreement. Unlike other OCJ articles, it is not available for free republication by other news outlets as it is owned by WEWS in Cleveland.

Follow WEWS statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on X and Facebook.

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Video: Previous coverage of the case

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  The lawsuit by a Haitian group in Springfield alleging three Clark County judges gave preferential treatment to President Trump was dismissed late last month.

Haitian Bridge Alliance claimed Municipal Court Judges Valeri Wilt, Daniel Carey and Stephen Schumaker unfairly treated the group when it originally submitted its complaint against the president and Vice President JD Vance for their repeated claims about the Haitian migrants in Springfield.

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Springfield provides update on criminal complaint against Trump, Vance

The judges referred the case to the Clark County prosecutors office, which declined to press charges.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  An Ohio woman who served prison time for allegedly failing to disclose her HIV status to her ex-fiance is sharing her story as part of an effort calling for the modernization of state laws criminalizing HIV.

Equality Ohio and the Ohio Health Modernization Movement released an update in late February to their report outlining six state laws that yielded at least 214 HIV-related criminal prosecutions from 2014 to 2020. The revamped report features interviews with Ohioans who have been impacted by these laws, to highlight the human cost of outdated laws and the necessity for policies that reflect current scientific knowledge about HIV transmission.

One interview details the story of Kelley Bean, an Akron woman who was arrested in 2010 and charged with felonious assault for failure to disclose her HIV status to her ex-fiance. While Bean asserts that the accusation is untrue, she went on to serve five years in prison before being released in 2018.

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Ohio Statehouse revives bill to ban anti-LGBTQ+ conversion therapy, as cities take action

Despite her charge being centered on her HIV status, Bean claims that the prison didnt test her for HIV during the first five months of her incarceration. In the report, she recalls when officers made discriminatory comments about her, including statements like, This is the infected one, and Make sure you put gloves on when you take the cuffs off.

People would say stuff like they didnt want to use the toilet or the shower right after me, Bean said. People wouldnt even want to or try to help me when Id get injured or need help with anything.

Seventy-seven of the more than 200 HIV-related prosecutions were litigated under the same felonious assault charge Bean faced, penalizing those with HIV for engaging in sexual conduct without divulging their medical history. More than half, 120 cases, charged the defendants for exposing others to their bodily fluid, like by spitting or biting.

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All 214 charges originate under six Ohio laws that were passed to reduce transmission and end the AIDS epidemic. However, the statutes have not been reviewed by the legislature since the 1990s and are outdated given they do not reflect current scientific understanding of HIV, the report argues.

Ohio predicted to be key cannabis market if state law does not change

Thats why former Ohio House Rep. Sara Carruthers (R-Hamilton) introduced a bill last fall to repeal Ohios revised code penalizing individuals with HIV who attempt to donate blood, and another bill altering the five other HIV laws. However, both proposals only received one hearing. Watch a previous NBC4 report on Carruthers bills in the video player above.

More than 30 years of HIV research and biomedical advancements to treat and prevent transmission show that the laws are now outdated and do not reflect our current understanding of HIV, Carruthers said. Instead, these laws have been shown to increase stigma, exacerbate disparities, and may discourage HIV testing.

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[Both bills] would remove stigmatizing and inaccurate language from several laws and would provide protections against non-consensual HIV testing and HIV information disclosure, Carruthers said. The lawmaker told NBC4 at the time she was looking for a representative to continue advocating for the bills after her term ended last year. Since the new General Assembly began in January, similar bills have not been introduced.

Carruthers claims are backed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which states HIV is not spread through saliva or unbroken skin and there are no documented cases of the virus spreading through spitting. Those living with HIV also cannot pass the virus through sex when they have reached an undetectable level of HIV in their blood, achieved through medication estimated to be 100% effective.

The remaining 17 cases from 2014 to 2020 were related to sex work, under solicitation and prostitution laws that can penalize HIV-positive Ohioans for activities that dont lead to the transmission of the virus.

Marysvilles LGBTQ-friendly Walking Distance Brewing permanently closes

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Most recently, a Marietta sex worker was charged with engaging in solicitation after a positive HIV test, leading police to issue a public health notice. The woman was indicted in Washington County for allegedly engaging in sex acts with at least 211 individuals from early 2022 through May of last year.

Equality Ohio and OHMMs report also told the story of a transgender woman under the pseudonym Anna, who was arrested in Cleveland in 1998 by an undercover detective for solicitation. The report says that Annas charge traditionally wouldve been a misdemeanor, but because she confessed to being HIV positive it was elevated to a felony.

Once they find out that you have that disease, they try to put it to the forefront, she said. Thats all they want to talk about is your status.  They dont really want to talk about the charge; they want to talk about your status.

Anna took a plea deal and was sentenced to 18 months in a mens prison, during which she didnt receive trans healthcare known as gender-affirming care, the report states. After her incarceration, she was required to register as a sex offender for 10 years, which she said prevented her from getting a stable job.

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Read more from Beans and Annas stories, in addition to a third interview with an Ohio man who lived with HIV for more than 42 years, in the report below.

The-Enforcement-of-HIV-Criminalization-in-OhioDownload

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS)  An Ohio woman was sentenced for a federal drug crime.

According to a press release, 20-year-old Emariel Kanay Tyler, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced to one year and six months in prison, followed by one year of probation, for the use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense on March 5, 2025.

The release stated that according to court documents, on March 29, 2023, Tyler traveled by rideshare from a Charleston residence to a home in Wyoming County with methamphetamine and fentanyl.

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She confessed that she used her cell phone to arrange the sale of fentanyl to a person at the residence, and spoke to them about the meeting place and price of the fentanyl. Tyler later exchanged the drug for payment at the meeting place, but further admitted that she came back to Charleston with the money and the fentanyl.

Bluefield West Virginia Police Department releases bench warrant list

The rideshare service dropped Tyler off at the Charleston apartment upon returning from Wyoming County. Tyler discovered that officers were executing a search warrant at the residence, where her boyfriend, Terric Zaire Williams, was staying, the release stated. Law enforcement noticed the outline of a firearm in Tylers pants and a large sum of cash, as well as a baggie of suspected drugs hanging out of the pockets of her jacket. Tyler was then arrested.

Law enforcement also seized three-quarters of a pound of methamphetamine from a trash can in the dining room, as well as from a living room closet found during the search. 25-year-old Williams, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced to six years in prison, followed by three years of probation, on February 27, 2025, after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a substance containing methamphetamine.

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The announcement came from the office of Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston, who thanked the Charleston Police Department for their work in the investigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR)  A Seminole County woman handed a prison sentence last year in connection to her boyfriends death in a 2019 crash is asking for a new trial and for a second look at her case.

Natasha Long was sentenced to spend four years in prison and six years in probation in March of 2024 in connection to Trayvon Millers death after entering a Nolo Contendere plea and waiving her right to a trial. The incident happened the summer of 2019 when Long, Miller and a group of friends were driving back from Lake Wewoka. Long admitted to being behind the wheel of a car Miller was a passenger in.

Seminole County woman sentenced after passenger killed in fiery crash

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Witnesses told News 4 at the time Long was driving more than 100 milers per hour when she lost control of her convertible. The car crashed into a concrete block, bursting into flames and trapping Miller inside.

News 4 was there for Longs sentencing last year. A judge said he considered several factors in the case including including previous testimony and Longs business ownership before handing down his decision. The state originally recommended a 15-year deferred sentence.

As Long was led out of court a News 4 employee asked her at the time if she was sorry for what she did.

Yes, Im sorry, Long said.

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A News 4 employee also asked Long if she thought the judges decision was fair.

No, I dont, Long said.

Longs legal team doubled down on that assertion in a December 2024 application for post-conviction relief claiming that she did not receive effective assistance from her trial counsel that she says should have explained potential defenses to the charge of manslaughter. The application further says she feels that she was denied the right to a fair trial and the right to seek to withdraw her guilty plea. The application notes that she missed the deadline for making a direct appeal to her conviction because she did not have competent legal advice. The application says that justice demands that [Longs] conviction be overturned, and a new trial be granted.

In January 2025, another part of Longs legal team filed a motion to conduct a judicial review of her sentence, seeking that the court modify it. A February response from a Seminole County District Judge denied the matter because Long was not present.

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When a judge has imposed sentence, you have the right to go back to that same judge and ask, judge, would you take another look at this, said Lloyd Palmer, with Palmer Law, whose firm represents Millers family.

Palmer said he took no issue with Long proceeding with her legal options and that she has every right to do such. He said he had an issue with Millers family and his firm not receiving notice of two upcoming March 11 and March 25 hearings until March 7.

We had almost no notice, said Palmer. My client knew this before I did, which is the wrong answer for a lawyer. Why should the lawyer know first? Because the lawyers are required to give each other notice. You cant file something in court in secret.

Palmer says a virtual hearing was held Monday in order for a judge to hear from both sides on the issue. Palmers team filed an objection to Longs post-conviction relief application and motion for judicial review. Court documents say that neither Millers family nor Palmer Law were notified about either of the filings.

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Defendant [Long] has retained two respected law firms to undo the Courts already lenient and merciful sentence, the filing notes. But she has never offered one cent to the family for funeral expenses, much less the loss of their priceless loved one.

The Seminole County judge published his ruling Monday evening as well. It notes, in fairness to Longs defense, they were not attached to the case when Palmers firm filed an entry of appearance and request for notice in all proceedings on Millers familys behalf in 2023. However, the judge did note that neither the application or motion for a judicial review were mailed to Millers family.

While there is a question whether notice is required under the judicial review statute, the Oklahoma Constitution Governs, Article 2, Section 34 states that a victim is entitled to reasonable and timely notice and an opportunity to appear at all proceedings concerning the defendant, the judge wrote in the ruling. The court does not find any ill-intent of counsel or parties. There is not much guidance under the constitution on which partys duty it is to notify the victim. In some cases, it may be the state.

The ruling states that because the victim did not receive timely notice the current hearing dates would be stricken. It also states that parties will meet again Wednesday virtually for scheduling.

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News 4 reached out to both of the law firms representing Long for comment Monday, but did not hear back. In July of 2023 a judge awarded Millers family a more than $11 million settlement in a civil lawsuit filed against Long. To date, Palmer Law says Millers family has not received a single cent.

What would be nice is some sort of offer, said Palmer. Lets pay for the coffin. Lets pay for the burial plot.

Palmer said even as an attorney who has seen both sides of Longs case its been hard to explain to Millers family. He says the process has been terrible, offensive and hurtful.

Theyre saying, why dont we all just do what the court has already decided, said Palmer.

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Palmer said that, while no one wants to spend any time in prison, he believes the judge understood how gravely serious the sentencing was; adding that the punishment has to be proportionate to the crime.

To say that four years is too long, that upsets the family of this young man, said Palmer. I wonder what is the right amount of time to serve on that? Would it be, would it be 30 days? Would it be time served? Would it be a weekend in jail? I wonder what shes asking for, actually.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Students walk in a line before entering the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City on Feb. 25. House lawmakers approved two bills on Tuesday regarding student absenteeism and college entrance exams. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  Education policies that passed the Oklahoma House on Tuesday would remove chronic absenteeism from school evaluations and permit scores from a lesser-known college entrance exam to qualify for state-funded scholarships.

Both measures now advance to the state Senate for consideration. Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, who leads the chambers Education Committee, is the Senate author of both bills.

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House lawmakers spent almost an hour discussing legislation that would allow students to use scores from the Classic Learning Test when applying for the Oklahomas Promise scholarship or the State Regents for Higher Education Academic Scholars Program. House Bill 1096 ultimately passed 74-15 along party lines.

State law currently requires students who attend a non-state-accredited school or who are homeschooled to make at least a 22 on the ACT to qualify for Oklahomas Promise. Those attending a state-accredited school dont face a test score requirement, but they must earn at least a 2.5 grade point average.

The regents Academic Scholars Program awards applicants who are National Merit Scholars, Presidential Scholars or who scored at least in the 95th percentile on the ACT. House Bill 1096 would change the ACT requirement to allow top performers on any nationally norm-referenced college entrance exam.

Multiple House Democrats debated against the bill, contending the Classic Learning Test doesnt meet the same academic rigor and anti-cheating measures as the ACT. Only six small private universities in Oklahoma accept the test, which places an emphasis on classical literature and historic texts.

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The bills author, Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin, said HB 1096 would expand access to college scholarships. The legislation specifies students would have to take the Classic Learning Test in person at a testing center, which eliminates the exams at-home option.

This is not harming anybody, Hasenbeck said while debating on the House floor. It is only giving more students more opportunities.

Another measure would delete the student absenteeism metric from the Oklahoma School Report Cards, which assign an A-F grade to each public school. The bill would replace chronic absenteeism with an opportunity for bonus points for giving students more time in the classroom.

HB 1412 passed with bipartisan support in a 74-15 vote.

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The instructional time metric would award a school more points on the report cards if it exceeds the state-mandated minimums of 165 school days or 1,080 classroom hours.

Chronic absenteeism grades the number of students who have missed 10% or more of the school year. Republican and Democrat authors of the bill said it was unfair to evaluate schools based on whether parents make sure their children have good attendance.

We can all agree that chronic absenteeism has not been a good measure for accountability of schools, one of the authors, Rep. Ronny Johns, R-Ada, said in a statement. We have worked to find a new measurement that is something within the districts control and can provide an incentive for schools to get students in front of our states amazing teachers even more.

If the bill is signed into law, the U.S. Department of Education would have to approve the change to the state report cards. The measure would take effect for the 2025-26 school year if the federal government agrees.

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OKLAHOMA (KSNF/KODE)  This week, Oklahoma House members will vote on Lauria and Ashleys Law.

The bill aims to keep felons convicted of accessory to murder from getting out of prison early.

Its named for Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman.

Lauria and Ashleys Law Passes Second Hurdle

The 16-year-old girls were abducted from Ashleys home in Welch, Oklahoma, back in 1999.

They were murdered a few days later, and their remains have never been found.

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The only person convicted in the case was Ronnie Busick.

Busick pleaded guilty to a charge of accessory to murder.

He only served three years of a 10-year sentence before he got out of prison early for good behavior.

The search for Ashley Freeman and Lauria Bible continues, 25 years later

Lauria and Ashleys Law would add the crime of accessory to murder to the list of crimes that require an offender to serve 85 percent of the sentence before they are eligible for parole.

House members in Oklahoma will vote on the bill on Wednesday.

Laurias mom, Lorene, tells KSN she will be at the Capitol for the vote.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KFOR)  An Oklahoma mans plea for help after spending more than $120,000 on a luxury SUV says his purchase is now one big headache.

According to Kyle Brotherton, his luxury vehicle has been in the shop more than 40 days since purchase and is now insisting the dealership take it back.

Dad takes over after coachs death, leads Durant to state tournament appearance

I remember as a kid, I, I went to see my moms family in Germany, and I got to see the Mercedes factory. And I said, you know, one day Im going to Im going to be able to afford a Mercedes. And so finally, you know, 35, 40 years later, I was able to do that, said Brotherton.

Oklahoma mans luxury purchase turns into nightmare, Image KFOR

Scam Alert: Beware of unfamiliar callers with these area codes

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Brotherton says, it was supposed to be a lifelong desire fulfilled but currently faces a daily disappointment after deliver of the vehicle at the end of July of 2023 came with a few issues

turned into problem after problem with multiple trips to the shop and word it was finally fixed.

There were several issues, and the car was in the shop, uh, October, November and December.

And it, they, they werent able to fix the car. And so, we had toI took the car back and took possession of the car again. And the car went back in the shop in February of 2024. So, since that time, the cars been in the shop over 365 days and for numerous reasons, says, Brotherton.

After no longer feeling safe in the vehicle, Brotherton said, I think that Mercedes probably needs to consider the buyback a little bit differently now. Days later Brotherton filed suit asking Mercedes to refund his money and take the car back, telling KFOR hed asked Mercedes to do the same thing months earlier without legal representation in hopes Oklahomas Lemon Law passed in 2009 would be on his side, but according to the lawsuit obtained by KFOR Mercedes-Benz U.S.A. denied that request, saying the SUV did not qualify under the States Lemon Law citing they would not participate in the informal dispute resolution process because thats only available to residents in certain states and Oklahoma residents are not included.

News 4 reached out several times to Mercedes-Benz U.S.A, with no response. News 4 reached out to the dealership in Tulsa, where the vehicle was bought and were hung up on. News 4 also

contacted the dealership in Oklahoma City where the car was serviced and refused comment due to ongoing litigation. News 4 reached out to the State Attorney Generals Office regarding Oklahomas Lemon Law and was told they are not responsible for enforcing the Lemon Law and discovered neither is any other state agency.

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Joe Dorman, one of the authors of the Lemon Law told KFOR the enforcement falls on the Governor.

Its up to the chief executive of the state, the governor, to make sure the agencies are following the law and complying with those things that are passed by the legislature and signed by the governor. So, when an agency is not listed specifically, the governor, and his team are charged with making sure an agency has that oversight and follows the law, says Dorman.

Logan County landowner says pipeline project left groundwater contaminated with dangerous chemicals

KFOR reached out to the Governors Office and confirmed whats posted on the AGs website no state agency has enforcement authority of the Lemon Law and the Governors Office responded stating, If an Oklahoman feels like their rights have been violated under the Lemon Law, we encourage them to reach out to a private attorney.

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Brotherton says, he filed a complaint with the consumer protection unit of the Attorney Generals Office and as of last Thursday, he and his attorney, along with attorneys for Mercedes, were in court looking to go to trial when attorneys for Mercedes reached out with a settlement offer proposing a full buyback of the vehicle. KFOR is told the details of the exact settlement are still in the works.

This story is developing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
TULSA, Okla.  A Delaware County man was sentenced on Monday to 40 years in prison for sexually assaulting three juvenile girls.

Sequoyah Hinzo, 29, a United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians Tribe member, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor under 12 years of age, aggravated sexual abuse of a minor by force and threat, and coercion of enticement of a minor.

Court records show Hinzo listed two home addresses  Jay and Kansas, Oklahoma.

Court records show the first victim was between 6 and 8 years old, the second victim was 9 years old, and the third victim was 13 years old.

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Hinzo confessed to using physical force to hold down the oldest teen and putting his hand over the victims mouth to keep her from making a noise. Hinzo said he used force, threats or fear, which made the victim fear for her life during the rape, court records show.

The Jay man also created fake Snapchat accounts, pretending to be someone else, and pressured the teen to send him child pornography photographs.

Should Hinzo be released from prison, he will be on supervised release for life and have to register as a sex offender, court records show.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
The Scene

The Democratic Partys reckoning over age and gerontocracy appears to be on hold: The key figures in the anti-Trump resistance, right now, were born in the 1940s.

Texas Rep. Al Green, a 10-term progressive from Houston whos never sought a leadership role in the party, won an instant online following for protesting the presidents joint address to Congress. In five Fight Oligarchy rallies in Republican-held House seats, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders built the biggest crowds for any non-Donald Trump politician since the 2024 election, delivering hour-long speeches against the GOPs tax and spending plans.

None of this was endorsed by national Democrats. The Sanders tour is run through his political PAC, and ten of Greens Democratic colleagues joined Republicans to censure him last week. But both Green, 77, and Sanders, 83, have tapped into frustration at the fizzling political efforts to slow Trump down  a few defeats in court, no obstacles to his agenda in the GOP-led Congress.

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Not am I not going there to run my own campaign, Im not going there to support any candidates, Sanders told Semafor shortly before the tour began. I am going there to try to educate the people in those communities about what Trumps agenda is about. People can tell their Republican members of Congress, who won by relatively small margins, not to vote for legislation to give tax breaks to billionaires in order to cut Medicaid, cut veterans programs, cut education, and cut environmental programs. That is the message of this trip.

Greens protest was focused on Medicaid, too. Waving the walking cane hes used since a surgery three years ago, Green shouted that Trump had no mandate to cut the 60-year old health care program for the poor; the GOPs budget resolution assumed $880 billion in Medicaid savings, with no details.

We have to meet incivility with incivility, Green explained on Friday, in an interview with . (The black and gold cane, he told Semafor, was a gift from a friend, and has no weapon in it.)

No Democrats stood with Green, who had made national news before for introducing Trump impeachment resolutions that went nowhere. Ken Klippenstein, an investigative reporter whos been closely and critically covering the Democrats age issues in his Substack, mocked Green for waving [his] walking cane around during last months Democratic rally against DOGEs federal workforce layoffs. Last week, he cited Green as an exception to wimpy Democrats who didnt want to challenge the symbolism and sanctity of the formal occasion in the House.

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I think it says less about Green than peoples desperation for someone, anyone, in the party to respond assertively, Klippenstein said. Green has been doing this for months, and people didnt care. What changed is that the rest of the party is in opossum mode, so what hes doing suddenly contrasts.

The View From Democrats

The second Trump resistance has proven more challenging for Democrats than the first, when most of their voters supported their ad hoc fightback. Polling has found widespread dissatisfaction with their leaders, and confusion about what theyre doing to stop Trump.

People are pissed off, and they want to see fighters, said David Hogg, the 24-year-old gun safety activist who was elected as a DNC vice chair last month. With Bernie and Al Green, were seeing people stand up, and we need a hell of a lot more of it.

Sanders, who campaigned for the Biden and Harris tickets in 2024, frustrated Democrats after their defeat by saying that the party had abandoned working-class people. At his anti-oligarchy tour stops, some of his messaging has overlapped with that of party leadership, denouncing the Trump Cabinet and GOP for voting to extend tax cuts while cutting social services.

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Some of his messaging was more critical of the party. We are not a democracy when billionaires like Musk, in both political parties, can buy elections, Sanders said in Kenosha, Wisconsin. That evoked the 2022 and 2024 primaries, when super PACs helped beat or unseat progressive House candidates  but Sanders spoke in a state where the Democratic Party has courted wealthy donors like George Soros and Reid Hoffman to overcome pro-Republican campaign spending by Musk.

Still, the speech was a balm for voters whod wondered where the Democrats had gone.

You need to drag this out and make it as difficult as possible for Republicans, said Randy Bryce, a 2018 congressional candidate in southeast Wisconsin who introduced Sanders at his Friday rally in Kenosha. People need to know that somebodys standing up for them to fight. Some people there were hopeless and needed a reason to get cheered up. Some of them were pissed off, and they had a reason to be. We need more Democrats doing this, everywhere.

At the end of his speeches, Sanders revisited a theme from his two presidential campaigns  that real change seemed impossible to previous generations until they won it. Thats also been a theme of Greens post-censure media tour, too, as the congressman has invoked the good trouble of Civil Rights activists as a model for what he did.

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Youve survived Jim Crow, where decorum was seen as a way to dampen protest, Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman told Green on Friday. What message do you have for all of those who censured you and said you broke the decorum of the legislature?

On , asked to name the partys current leader or strongest voice, Green cited 86-year old California Rep. Maxine Waters. In Trumps first term, Waters acid tongue earned her the sort of following among liberals that Green is building now.

Shes an OG, said co-host Charlamagne tha God. But the Bible says: Old men for counsel, young men for war. When he asked who the young stars of the party might be, citing fellow Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Green gently pushed back on behalf of Waters.

Her mentality is not old, said Green. Maxine is younger than most 25-year-olds. Yes, shes an OG. But thank God for an OG.

The View From Republicans

Wisconsin Republicans, who are trying to drive up turnout ahead of the April 1 supreme court election, derided the Sanders visit as socialist fear mongering. House Republicans may take up a motion to remove Green from his committees. They see the protest last week as an embarrassment that will hurt Democrats, and have enjoyed how it muddled the partys plan to respond to the Trump speech.

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Al Greens unserious approach to public policy and government has been well known in Houston and Texas for years, but now its nationally known with his absurd performance theater at the Joint Address, said Texas GOP consultant Matt Mackowiak. Hes been legislatively irrelevant his entire career.





Davids view

For all their disagreements about strategy, Democrats are hanging together on one big theme: Trump is letting right-wing billionaires slash jobs and benefits. Theyve listened to activists who wanted them to elevate ordinary people hurt by the cuts, rallying with them at town halls and protests.

They just havent figured out how to sell this, and even anti-Trump media has had fun trashing their optics. (Stop trying to make Chuck Schumer happen, Jon Stewart sighed after one uninspiring anti-tariff press conference.) The Sanders rallies broke through because they got crowds in the thousands; Greens protest broke through because the image of an elderly Black man pointing his cane at the president was indelible. His colleagues couldnt convincingly explain why they upheld House decorum instead of joining him.

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How exactly does a party in the wilderness score a win  something big enough to inspire the base  without winning? It typically involves making enough noise to make the president, and the media, angry. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz spent his first year in office failing to block Barack Obamas nominees, then failing to kill the Affordable Care Act. But he tried, he got denounced by GOP leaders, and this made him a credible presidential candidate.

The modern Democratic Party doesnt have the same mindset or incentives as the GOP base. But it has watched that base humiliate them. Its also constantly looking back to history, and other resistances  to fascism, to Jim Crow, etc.  for inspiration. All of that is feeding into the current enthusiasm for the way Green and Sanders fight Trump.





Room for Disagreement

In the left-wing magazine Current Affairs, Lily Sanchez argues that the left should move on from Sanders and Democrats, focusing on mutual aid organizations and independent political parties to build power.

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What hes doing is simply an exercise in helping the Democrats with their messaging and branding, she writes. Hes identifying problems but not offering solutions beyond more of the same electoralism. Not once does he say to stop supporting Democrats who fail to fight back against oligarchy or to primary them with progressives!





Notable
ONARGA, Ill. (WCIA)  Safety concerns took center stage within one Iroquois County village Monday night.

The Village of Onarga held a regular town hall meeting. However, during public comment, many expressed safety concerns following a crime that involved a resident from a youth mental health center in town.

Last week, a teenager from the Nexus-Onarga Family Healing Center was arrested on charges of aggravated battery.

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READ MORE: 18-year-old arrested for aggravated battery after fight at Caseys in Onarga

It came after a fight broke out at the Onarga Caseys, which sent an employee to the hospital. Then Monday night, a room filled with close to 40 people expressed their concerns about that incident and prior ones. Many also talked about previous cases of Nexus residents running away and damaging property.

Multiple representatives from the company were in attendance and answered questions.

One of the public speakers witnessed the Caseys altercation and watched as her husband broke it up.

Its changed a lot in the last few years. You think twice about making sure doors are locked and not letting our 14-year-old, whos not allowed to walk up there anymore. It just seems like theres too much going on. So you just have to think a little bit more about, you know, whats going on up there and if theyll be safe, said Kristina Rhodes.

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The Executive Director with Nexus-Onarga, Jamie Kozma, also spoke up.

Weve been in this community for 35 years, and as far as I am aware, this is the first time theres been a physical altercation between a youth and a community member  and we would definitely like to keep it that way. That does not in any way excuse or dismiss or diminish this, and its very concerning to us as well. But I do want to say that this is not typical at all, Kozma said.

Onarga doesnt have a police department, so all law enforcement comes directly from the county. Many called on the village board to put a police officer back in town to improve safety and response times.

WCIA reached out to the Iroquois County Sheriffs Department for comment about prior instances involving calls relating to Nexus residents. The sheriff confirmed calls involving the center tend to ebb and flow but also said calls have increased over the last two years.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  One person has died after a fatal two-vehicle crash Tuesday morning on Highway 75 just outside of Sioux City.

According to a release from the Sioux City Police Department, officers were dispatched at about 8:39 a.m. on March 11 for a report of an accident in the 5300 block of Highway 75N. There, they found a Dodge pickup truck that was flipped upside down, with an unconscious driver found inside.

7 more students expelled from Sioux City Community School District

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The pickup was headed south on Highway 75 while pulling a trailer, officials say. A Jeep Commander then pulled out in front of the pickup from county road C80. The pickup hit the side of the Commander, causing the pickup to go into a ditch and flip over.

The collision also caused the trailer to hit a third vehicle that was stopped at the intersection.

According to the release, the pickups driver died at the scene. Meanwhile, the Commanders driver was taken to a hospital with minor injuries and cited for failure to obey a stop/yield sign.

Highway 75s southbound lanes had to be shut down for about three hours while police investigated the crash.

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The name of the deceased driver has not yet been released.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
One person was killed and three others were injured when a pickup truck collided with a group of dirt bike riders in Voluntown on Monday.

The crash occurred just after 7:30 p.m. on Route 49 near the intersection of Route 138, according to Connecticut State Police.

A 64-year-old man from the Jewett City area of Griswold was driving a 2011 Ford F-150 south on Route 49 when the pickup truck collided with three dirt bike riders in the southbound lane, state police said. A fourth rider was able to avoid being struck.

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One of the riders, 28-year-old Michael Davis of Norwich, was taken to William W. Backus Hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to state police. Another rider, a 26-year-old man from the Niantic section of East Lyme, was flown via LifeStar to Hartford Hospital and treated for serious injuries.

The third rider who was struck, a 20-year-old man from the Taftville area of Norwich, suffered minor injuries and was taken to Backus Hospital in an ambulance, state police said. The rider who was able to avoid being struck, a 25-year-old Voluntown man, did not report any injuries, according to state police.

The driver of the pickup truck was taken in an ambulance to the Backus Plainfield Emergency Care Center for minor injuries, state police said.

The crash is being investigated by state police troopers.

Anyone with information has been asked to contact Trooper Timothy Wengloski at 860-848-6500.
The King County Sheriffs Office says one person is in the hospital after being shot in Seattles White Center neighborhood.

No word on their condition.

Deputies say that just before midnight, several people reportedly tried to get into a local cannabis store.

A witness said the owner went to the shop at some point to fix a door and then was possibly chased by the people attempting to rob the store.

People who live in the area told KIRO 7 there was a chase between a truck and a car that ended in a front yard.

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I just heard a couple of loud crashes and I was in the living room at the time so I peaked outside and thats why I see the yellow flashes and heard pops, said a resident who wanted to remain anonymous.

The neighbor KIRO 7 spoke with says his parked car was damaged and his fence was destroyed.

 [The] truck was the one that was filled up with bullet holes, even though it was the one that crashed into the sedan, he said.

Deputies say there was a shooting that injured one person, but investigators did not explain when the shots were fired or what led up to the chase between the two cars.

Another resident told KIRO 7 that she saw the victim.

I saw another person walking stumbling in front of my house in my driveway. He fell flat on his face, she said.

There are no suspects currently, and the case is under review.
One person was seriously injured after being ejected from their vehicle during a serious crash in Milton Tuesday.

The vehicle was driving on I-93 north around 2:15 p.m. around Mile Marker 11 when the car hit the median barrier, throwing the driver from the vehicle, a Massachusetts State Police spokesperson told Boston 25 News.

The driver suffered serious injuries and was rushed to Boston Medical Center.

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Their passenger was also taken to the hospital to be evaluated for minor injuries.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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Only 14 Democratic representatives signed a letter calling for the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestine activist and green card holder disappeared by the Trump administration for his organizing at Columbia University.

We are horrified by the recent illegal abduction and now indefinite detention of Mahmoud Khalila U.S. legal permanent residentby Department of Homeland Security agents, and we unequivocally demand his immediate release from DHS custody, the letter reads, addressed to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

Khalil has not been charged or convicted of any crime, the letter continues. As the Trump administration proudly admits, he was targeted solely for his activism and organizing.... We must be extremely clear: this is an attempt to criminalize political protest and is a direct assault on the freedom of speech of everyone in this country.

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Representatives Rashida Tlaib, Mark Pocan, Nydia Velazquez, Delia Ramirez, lhan Omar, Jasmine Crockett, Summer Lee, Ayanna Pressley, Lateefah Simon, Al Green, Gwen Moore, Andre Carson, Nikema Williams, and James McGovern signed the letter.

The absence of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was noted given her previous criticism of Khalils arrest, but her chief of staff said she was waiting on one detail from Khalils legal team, when signing for the letter was closed. He added that she would sign the letter if it was still open.*



In the end, only 14 congressional Democrats felt compelled enough to publicly support Khalil.



*This piece was updated to reflect Ocasio-Cortezs stance on the letter.
Only one House Democrat voted in the US House of Representatives for a spending bill that Republicans passed to keep the US government open.

The House passed a stopgap spending bill, known as a continuing resolution or CR, to keep the government open until September on Tuesday. Only one Republican, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, voted against the legislation.

Rep. Jared Golden of Maine was the only Democrat to join Republicans.

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President Donald Trump had urged Republicans to support the resolution and called for a primary challenge to Massie for his opposition to the legislation.

Maines Jared Golden was the sole Democrat to vote for a Republican resolution to keep the government open (Getty Images for Headstrong)

But House Democrats opposed the legislation because of the fact the bill includes major cuts to programs from everything from education, health care and energy.

This is a deeply partisan spending bill that not only contains completely unnegotiated and unexamined cuts  beyond that, it actually takes away all accountability from the president and strips Congress of their ability to actually review the tariffs that are being put forth by the executive, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York told The Indpendent before the vote.

In the rule Republicans passed to tee up a vote for the spending bill, they included a provision to prevent a vote to terminate the national emergency that Trump invoked to put in place his tariffs on Canada and Mexico.

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Republican members of the House of Representatives typically oppose continuing resolutions on the grounds that they often continue spending levels at previous rates without any significant spending cuts. But many of them said that Trumps presidency reassured them.

You got people in place that are going to watch our money, Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina said, citing Trumps border czar Tom Homan and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who came to the Hill to speak to the Senate Republican conference.

This is Trumps CR, Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina told The Independent.

Rep. Nancy Mace, a Republican from South Carolina, said she would vote for the stop-gap spending bill despite previously opposing them because this is Trumps CR (Getty Images)

Rep. Andy Harris, the chairman of the hardline House Freedom Caucus, typically voted against continuing resolutions but said he would support this one.

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This is not a typical CR, its not a stepping stone to an omnibus, the Maryland Republican told The Independent, in reference to the legislation that typically combines all 12 spending bills needed to fund the government.

Speaker Mike Johnson hit out at the Democrats for opposing the bill, tweeting: Today, House Republicans stood for the American people and voted to maintain funding the paychecks for our troops, the agents who secure our borders, the TSA workers responsible for safe air travel, as well as the healthcare and benefits for veterans, and essential services and programs that keep the government operational.

But House Democrats decided to double down on partisan politics. For years, House Democrats have railed against government shutdowns, but they suddenly changed their tune when President Trump returned to office. Their falsehoods and misinformation campaigns are a desperate attempt to distract from their own failures. Despite these tactics, President Trump and Congressional Republicans will stop at nothing to deliver on the mandate given by the American people.

The move served as the first major test for Democrats about whether they would work with Republicans to keep the government open, as they have in the past, versus actively opposing Republicans policies.

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The vote kicks the resolution to the Senate, where it would need 60 votes to pass. But many Senate Democrats objected to the legislation on the grounds that Republicans crafted a bill without Democratic input.

It doesn't feel like Republicans have actually undertaken their responsibility, which is to reach out and work with Democrats to try to find a path forward, Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut told The Independent. They knew that they were going to have to work with Democrats on budgetary issues, and they haven't, which is real failure of leadership on their, their part.

But almost all Democratic Senators said they would wait to see whether the legislation would pass before making a definitive choice.

Its a pretty bad bill, gonna create a lot of pain for my constituents in Georgia, Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia told The Independent. We have progress that we've made on these 12 bipartisan appropriations bills. I think we ought ourselves time to finish it.

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Republicans in the House and the Senate are seeking to begin the process to pass Trumps domestic policy agenda through a process called budget reconciliation, which would allow for them to sidestep a filibuster as long as legislation remains germane to the budget.

Last month, the House passed the budget resolution to begin the process of crafting the legislation, which they hope to use to beef up spending on the US-Mexico border, the Pentagon and energy exploration. They also hope to extend the tax cuts that Trump signed during his first tenure in the White House.
By David Stanway

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Only seven countries met World Health Organization (WHO) air quality standards last year, data showed on Tuesday, as researchers warned that the war on smog would only get harder after the United States shut down its global monitoring efforts.

Chad and Bangladesh were the world's most polluted countries in 2024, with average smog levels more than 15 times higher than WHO guidelines, according to figures compiled by Swiss air quality monitoring firm IQAir.

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Only Australia, New Zealand, the Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Estonia and Iceland made the grade, IQAir said.

Significant data gaps, especially in Asia and Africa, cloud the worldwide picture, and many developing countries have relied on air quality sensors mounted on U.S. embassy and consulate buildings to track their smog levels.

However, the State Department has recently ended the scheme, citing budget constraints, with more than 17 years of data removed last week from the U.S. government's official air quality monitoring site, airnow.gov, including readings collected in Chad.

"Most countries have a few other data sources, but it's going to impact Africa significantly, because oftentimes these are the only sources of publicly available real-time air quality monitoring data," said Christi Chester-Schroeder, IQAir's air quality science manager.

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Data concerns meant Chad was excluded from IQAir's 2023 list, but it was also ranked the most polluted country in 2022, plagued by Sahara dust as well as uncontrolled crop burning.

Average concentrations of small, hazardous airborne particles known as PM2.5 hit 91.8 micrograms per cubic metre (mg/cu m) last year in the country, slightly higher than 2022.

The WHO recommends levels of no more than 5 mg/cu m, a standard met by only 17% of cities last year.

India, fifth in the smog rankings behind Chad, Bangladesh, Pakistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, saw average PM2.5 fall 7% on the year to 50.6 mg/cu m.

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But it accounted for 12 of the top 20 most polluted cities, with Byrnihat, in a heavily industrialised part of the country's northeast, in first place, registering an average PM2.5 level of 128 mg/cu m.

Climate change is playing an increasing role in driving up pollution, Chester-Schroeder warned, with higher temperatures causing fiercer and lengthier forest fires that swept through parts of South East Asia and South America.

Christa Hasenkopf, director of the Clean Air Program at the University of Chicago's Energy Policy Institute (EPIC), said at least 34 countries will lose access to reliable pollution data after the U.S. programme was closed.

The State Department scheme improved air quality in the cities where the monitors were placed, boosting life expectancy and even reducing hazard allowances for U.S. diplomats, meaning that it paid for itself, Hasenkopf said.

"(It) is a giant blow to air quality efforts worldwide," she said.

(Reporting by David Stanway; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
Ukraines Volodymyr Zelensky is a dictator without elections, with only a 4 percent approval rating. The war in Ukraine is madness and senseless. Although it is true that Russia is currently pounding Ukraine, probably anyone in that position would be doing that right now. Kyiv is more difficult, frankly, to deal with than Moscow.

This Russian propaganda could be easily dismissed, were it not being verbalized by President Donald Trump. I was Trumps national security adviser from 2018 to 2019; I know that his view on Putin has remained constant for years. In saying recently that dealing with Putin is easier than with Zelensky and that Putin would be more generous than he has to be, Trump has simply reprised the sentiments of his first term. In July 2018, when leaving the White House for a NATO summit (where he almost withdrew America from the alliance), then later appointments with Prime Minister Theresa May in England and Putin in Finland (where he seemed to back Putin over U.S. intelligence), Trump said that his meeting with Putin may be the easiest of them all. Who would think? Obviously, only Trump.

But now he has turned U.S. policy on the Russo-Ukraine war 180 degrees. Instead of aiding a victimized country with enormous agricultural, mineral, and industrial resources in the heart of Europe, bordering on key NATO allies, a region whose stability and prosperity have been vital to American national security for eight decades, Trump now sides with the invader. Ukrainians are fighting and dying for their freedom and independence, as near neighbors such as Polands Lech Walesa fully appreciate. For most Americans, freedom and independence resonate, but not for Trump.

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He has gone well beyond rhetoric. In a nationally televised display, he clashed with Zelensky face-to-face in the Oval Office, ironically a very Wilsonian act: open covenants openly destroyed. Trump suspended U.S. military aid to Ukraine, including vital intelligence, to make Zelensky bend his knee. Even when Trump threatened Russia with sanctions and tariffs, the threat was hollow. Russia is already evading a broad array of poorly enforced sanctions, and could evade more. On tariffs, U.S. imports from Russia in 2024 were a mere $3 billion, down almost 90 percent from 2021s level, before Russias invasion, and trivial compared with $4.1 trillion in total 2024 imports.

[Jonathan Chait: The real reason Trump berated Zelensky]

The Kremlin is delighted. Former President Dmitry Medvedev wrote on X: If youd told me just three months ago that these were the words of the US president, I would have laughed out loud.

This is serious, and may be fatal for both Kyiv and NATO. Trump has sought for years to debilitate or destroy the alliance. He doesnt like it; he doesnt understand it; he frowns on its Brussels headquarters building; and, worst of all, it was deeply involved in not only Ukraine but Afghanistan, which he didnt like either. Trump may ultimately want to withdraw from NATO, but in the near term, he can do serious-enough damage simply to render the alliance unworkable. Recent reports that Trump is considering defending only those NATO allies meeting the agreed defense-spending targets mirrors prior suggestions from his aides. This approach is devastating for the alliance.

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What explains Trumps approach to Ukraine and disdain for NATO? Trump does not have a philosophy or a national-security grand strategy. He does not do policy as Washington understands that term. His approach is personal, transactional, ad hoc, episodic, centering on one question: What benefits Donald Trump? In international affairs, Trump has suggested repeatedly that if he has good personal relations with a foreign head of state, then America ought to have good relations with that country. While personal relations have their place, hard men such as Putin, Xi Jinping, and Kim Jong Un are not distracted by emotions. Trump thinks that Putin is his friend. Putin sees Trump as an easy mark, pliable and manipulable.

Trump says he trusts that Putin wants peace and will honor his commitments, despite massive contrary evidence. Notwithstanding considerable efforts, Zelensky has never escaped the perfect phone call precipitating Trumps first impeachment. Of course, that call turned on Trumps now-familiar extortionist threat to withhold security assistance to Ukraine if Zelensky did not produce Hillary Clintons server and investigate other supposed anti-Trump activity in Ukraine aimed at thwarting his 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns.

[Gal Beckerman: The key mismatch between Zelensky and Trump]

The entirely personal nature of Trumps approach also manifests itself domestically. Trump is now reversing what Joe Biden did in Ukraine, just as in his first term, he reflexively reversed Barack Obama. Trump derided Obama for not providing lethal military assistance to Ukraine, so he did just that, sending missiles and more.

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Ronald Reagan knew how to handle nations that might commit unprovoked aggression against U.S. interests. Trump clearly does not. This does not reflect differences in strategy, which Trump lacks. Instead, its another Trump reversal, this time of The Godfathers famous line: Its not business; its strictly personal.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
OTTAWA (Reuters) -The premier of the Canadian province of Ontario said he was suspending plans to impose a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to the United States and would fly to Washington this week for talks with the Trump administration.

Doug Ford made his surprise announcement on Tuesday just hours after telling U.S. networks that he was ready to cut off all electricity exports unless U.S. President Donald Trump dropped his threat to impose tariffs on Canadian imports.

"Both parties are heated and the temperature needs to come down," Ford told reporters, adding that U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had reached out to him.

"When you're negotiating with someone (and) they call you and they hand over an olive branch, the worst thing I think I could do as premier of Ontario is ignore them," he said.

Ford said he would fly to Washington on Thursday with federal Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc for talks with Lutnick and other administration officials.

Ford said the two sides would discuss a renewed trilateral trade deal with the United States and Mexico. Ottawa had earlier indicated it was cool to the idea of reviewing the deal as long as U.S. tariffs lasted.

Trump, citing Ford's threat, had earlier said he would double his planned tariff on all steel and aluminum products coming into the United States from Canada.

"Let's sit down and negotiate," Ford said, adding that talks were in the interest of both parties.

Ontario exports power to 1.5 million homes in New York state, Minnesota and Michigan.

(Reporting by David LjunggrenEditing by Bill Berkrot and Rosalba O'Brien)
Canada's Ontario province slapped a 25% tax on electricity exports to 3 US states, its premier said.

Premier Doug Ford said: "Ontario doesn't want this trade war, but we won't back down until it's over."

President Donald Trump responded on Tuesday by threatening to declare a national emergency on electricity.

Ontario's premier reacted to President Donald Trump's Canadian tariffs threat by imposing a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to three US states  and saw Trump strike back in response.

The surcharge will affect 1.5 million households and companies in Michigan, Minnesota, and New York, according to a statement from the office of Ontario's Premier on Monday. The move is expected to generate as much as $278,000 a day while costing US consumers the same amount.

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"Until the threat of tariffs is gone for good, Ontario won't back down," Doug Ford said. "We'll stand strong, use every tool in our toolkit, and do whatever it takes to protect Ontario."

Ford went further at a press conference in Toronto, warning: "If the United States escalates, I will not hesitate to shut the electricity off completely."

However, the move is somewhat symbolic as New York state obtained less than 5% of its power from Canada in 2023, with Minnesota and Michigan importing even less, Bloomberg reported.

Nevertheless, Trump responded on Tuesday by threatening to declare a national emergency on electricity. In the same Truth Social post he said the US would place an additional 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports from Canada from Wednesday, bringing the rate to 50%.

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Ford told MSNBC shortly after Trump's post that he would not back down: "I apologize to the American people that President Trump decided to have an unprovoked attack on our country, on families, on jobs, and it's unacceptable."

He also called on US CEOs to "get a backbone" and "tell Trump, "'This is going to be a disaster. It's mass chaos right now.'"

Earlier this month Trump announced tariffs of 25% on imports from Canada and Mexico, before delaying their imposition by a month.

Canada retaliated by imposing 25% tariffs on several US products, initially targeting $30 billion worth of US goods. Unless Trump's tariffs are withdrawn, those tariffs are set to expand to $125 billion in 21 days.

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Economic uncertainty has rattled financial markets, with Wall Street plunging on Monday after Trump refused to rule out a recession, saying the US is in "a period of transition" in a Sunday interview on Fox News.

Ford criticized Trump's tariffs as harmful to US consumers and businesses. "President Trump's tariffs are a disaster for the US economy. They're making life more expensive for American families and businesses," he said.

"Ontario doesn't want this trade war, but we won't back down until it's over," Ford said in an X post on Monday.

Ontario's Premier's Office didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Mar. 11MOSES LAKE  On Monday, city officials from Moses Lake, Soap Lake, Warden and Royal City, alongside Grant County Commissioner Rob Jones, met at the Open Doors Sleep Center for a tour of the facility and to discuss the future of the shelter.

Moses Lake Housing and Grants Manager Lizabeth Murillo Busby said she has concerns about the future of the sleep center and the impact on the local community, especially regarding crime, if the shelter went away.

"I think the biggest concern that the City of Moses Lake sees is just sustainability," Busby said. "There are a lot of problems that we see in our community with the unhoused population and we're looking to the future to see what is next. The City of Moses Lake has taken the full responsibility of renting the sleep center since its inception in 2021. Which has been great, but I do think that there is potential for it to be even better and for us to serve the community in better ways."

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Busby said the city spends around $50,000 per month renting the shower and bathroom facility and office. Of that, about $30,000 goes to the city's partner, New Hope, and other expenses to keep the doors open.

"My responsibilities, mainly on behalf of the city, include taking care of the actual facilities on site. So, any maintenance and upkeep, any of that sort really falls on through the city's responsibility," Busby said. "A lot of the actual operations day-to-day falls on the responsibility of New Hope, and that is subcontracted work, and it's a really great partnership. Not to say that it's been perfect. We've had our growing pains, but we're finally there. There's been a lot of good work being done here."

During the July 23, 2024, Moses Lake City Council meeting, members voted 5-2 to accept an emergency housing grant, which will provide funding for the sleep center through July 2025. Council members Dustin Swartz and Victor Lombardi voted no. The $585,000 grant is used to fund the sleep center, located at the intersection of East Broadway Avenue and State Route 17.

The shelter can hold up to 40 people. The doors open at 5 p.m. for check-in. People come in, fill out forms and are then assigned to a dwelling. During a resident's stay, they have access to dinner, donated goods, an opportunity for a 15  20-minute shower and a roof over their heads. The shelters do not have access to electricity or heat but are insulated to protect people from the elements.

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Recently, the shelter upgraded several of the shelters to be ADA accessible, adding a ramp that accesses six shelters with beds with mattresses instead of cots. All of the facilities have a lock for people to secure at night. There are also receptacles with locks for people to secure their belongings in. Staff stay until around 10 p.m. and the city paid security contractor stays all night monitoring the facility.

Busby said many nights, the shelter has to turn people away.

"It's a complex issue," Busby said. "You run into instances from anywhere from housing issues and stability, vacancy rates and affordability to really our community is really poverty ridden. I think this community comes together here in a great way and there are a lot of services that people can access here."

In order for those who use the shelter to reestablish themselves with permanent shelter, jobs and other basic needs, more resources need to be added to the facility and the region, Busby said. In the meantime though, the goal is to keep them safe.

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"It's really substantial to have a place where people can check-in and get a sense of safety, even if it's just for eight hours a night," she said.

Busby explained the current set-up is not going to be effective in the long run, with Moses Lake taking the brunt of the responsibilities, especially because the shelter serves community members from across Grant County. She said she hopes to see other cities join in on the efforts.

The shelter has an intake form for people to fill out prior to staying; although the form isn't required, it helps the shelter keep track of who is using the facility. According to numbers collected by the shelter as of Sept. 30, 2024, they have served 824 different people since opening in 2021. Many of those are repeat users of the sleep center. Moses Lake residents were served the most, with 730 people using the facility at least once.

Ephrata and Soap Lake both had 10 residents use the facility. Quincy had eight residents use the sleep center. Warden had six residents use the facility. There were five residents from Adams County. Chelan County had four residents use the facility. Royal City had three residents use the sleep center. Spokane County had two residents use the facility.

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Spokane, Lake View, East Wenatchee, Seattle, Othello, Coulee City, Kittitas County, Okanogan County, Yakima County, Douglas County, Walla Walla County, Pacific County, Whitman County, Franklin County, King County, Nevada, Montana, Idaho, Florida and Illinois all had one resident stay with the sleep shelter.

Busby said these numbers are data collected based on the intake form, though 24 residents of the facility have refused to answer the residency question.

"Currently, the City of Moses Lake is not interested in expanding the operations of the Open Doors Sleep Center," Busby said. "In fact, that's actually what we're trying to figure out  what's next.

Busby told the officials who attended the tour of the facility that the main reason they were there was to ensure they were aware that Moses Lake sees the current situation as unsustainable in the long term, at least alone.

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"So, we're really looking to partner with other cities and agencies because I can guarantee you, we do serve your residents. We serve all of Grant County residents. Historically, we will serve anyone that comes in here, not just from Moses Lake," she said.

Busby said she has concerns over the future of the Open Doors Sleep Center. Although the city will continue to have the grant until July of this year, she said she is concerned if action isn't taken, the city may not accept the grant again. That refusal would result in the shelter's closing. No official action has been taken on the matter; however, Busby strongly suggests citizens speak with their local city council members to either provide solutions or learn more about the problem of homelessness in the region.

"I think for a lot of us, it's kind of been erased from our memories, but I remember when there were tents everywhere over our bridge," Busby said. "Although the laws have been changed and there is more in favor of enforcement, it would still be really disastrous if we saw the change of the sleep center closing because Moses Lake isn't willing to operate it anymore. On a nightly basis we are housing about 40 individuals, so just imagine 40 more individuals in the streets."

The impact of that change would be significant for area residents and businesses, she said.

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"Crime rates would go up. A lot of the clients who stay here will tell you 'Because I was here, I stayed out of trouble last night' and that is just because they are not out on the streets," she said.

City Council meetings:

To learn more about how area cities are addressing the problem of homelessness, or to suggest solutions to help those who are unsheltered in your community, attend a city council meeting.

Coulee City and Grand Coulee  Second and fourth Wednesday 6:30 p.m. at City Hall (306 Midway Ave.)

Ephrata  First and third Wednesday 6 p.m. at City Hall (121 Alder St. Southwest)

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George  Third Tuesday 7 p.m. at George Community Hall (403 West Montmorency Blvd.)

Mattawa  First and third Thursdays 5:30 p.m. at Mattawa City Hall (521 Government Road)

Moses Lake  Second and fourth Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. at Moses Lake Civic Center (401 South Balsam)

Quincy  First and third Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Quincy City Hall (104 B St. Southwest)

Royal City  First and third Tuesday at 7 p.m. at City Hall (445 Camelia St. Northeast)

Soap Lake  First and third Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Soap Lake Senior Center (121 Second Ave. Southeast)

Warden  Second and fourth Monday at 7 p.m. at Council Chambers (201 South Ash)
As we commemorate the fifth anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring the novel coronavirus a pandemic, this is the second column of a six-part MSNBC Daily series that reflects on the million American lives lost, the political polarization and the declining trust in public health measures that followed the virus spread and assesses the countrys preparedness for the next pandemic.

Panola, Alabama, a poor, unincorporated rural town in a poor, rural county, is not exactly brimming with health care providers. So when Covid-19 vaccines became available in early 2021, Dorothy Oliver, a widowed retiree who owns a general store, decided that somebody had to get everyone in her town of 400 or so people vaccinated. I just felt like I had to do it because the government, nobody does enough in this area, she said. This area here is majority Black. Kind of puts you on the back burner.

Oliver and Sumter County Commissioner Drucilla Russ-Jackson arranged with a nearby hospital to provide a pop-up vaccination center. Then she went door to door to make sure everyone would get vaccinated and that they had a way to get there. Asked how she convinced her neighbors to get vaccinated as skepticism and conspiracy theories about the vaccines were spreading, Oliver said, I just be nice to them. By the time she was done, 94% of Panolas residents  including every senior citizen in town  had been vaccinated.

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Dorothy Olivers successful advocacy was a rare feel-good Covid story from rural America, and even though her hard work reflected the lack of health care access  one of the most pressing problems rural areas face  it still demonstrated some of what rural people pride themselves on: neighborliness, mutual concern and self-reliance.

Unfortunately, there were not enough Dorothy Olivers to go around. The broader story of what Covid did to rural places is a grim one: full of distrust, disinformation and overwhelming human suffering.

When the novel coronavirus first arrived in the U.S., it spread rapidly through major cities. Dense urban areas provided a perfect environment for transmission; a single infected person could potentially come in close contact with hundreds of other potential carriers every day. We saw the terrible result: exploding rates of infection, overwhelmed hospitals and bodies piling up faster than they could be buried.

In rural areas, on the other hand, there were no planes landing from China, no subway cars packed with people breathing on each other, and many people in rural parts of the country lead a lifestyle that involves seeing the same small number of people every day. But that safety was only temporary. When Covid did come to rural America, it found different but equally fruitful pathways to bring infection and death.

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By the pandemics second wave, in the summer of 2020, the death rate in the least dense counties caught up to the rate in the densest counties, then surged ahead. By the fall of 2021, rural Americans were dying from Covid at double the rate of those who lived in urban areas.

Research showed that rural residents were far less likely than other Americans to take precautions against infection such as wearing masks. But the inability or unwillingness to get vaccinated was likely the biggest factor that separated them from their urban and suburban counterparts. In April 2021, when the country was still in the early stages of the vaccine rollout, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data showed that only a slightly higher proportion of urban residents had been vaccinated, 46% compared to 39% among rural residents. By January 2022, that gap had widened significantly: At that point, 75% of urban residents were vaccinated, but only 59% of rural residents were.

Rural vaccine skepticism had many sources: suspicion of outsiders telling people what to do, antipathy toward government, widespread conspiracy theories, and hostility toward the medical establishment and a Democratic government in Washington. Add to that the way the pandemic became so intensely politicized, with Republicans attacking Democratic officials and conservative media filled with tirades against Anthony Fauci, then director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and panic about supposedly disappearing liberty. Its no accident that the rural places where devotion to Donald Trump was strongest were also some of the places where Covid hit the hardest.

By 2024, the cumulative death rate was over twice as high in the most Trump-friendly counties  many of which are rural  as it was in the counties where he did the worst in the 2020 election. In rural America overall, the cumulative death rate exceeded 400 per 100,000 population by the fall of 2022; the rate in metropolitan areas was under 300 per 100,000. At that point, had rural Americans been dying of Covid at the rate of their metropolitan counterparts, then 50,000 more of them would have been alive.

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As one public health researcher explained, the high rate of rural Covid deaths was fed by a combination of social, structural, and policy factors, including a lack of state policies designed to protect communities at greatest risk of COVID-19 death, state disinvestment in rural health care and social programs, and vaccine hesitancy fueled by a toxic mix of partisanship and misinformation.

The blame for the devastation the pandemic caused in rural America is hardly Trumps alone. But given his spectacular popularity among rural white people in particular  he won 72% of their votes in 2020, according to the Pew Research Center  he had a special responsibility for the welfare of the rural voters who put him in office.

Had Trump wanted to improve life for rural people, he could have addressed the challenge of health care access before Covid ever appeared. He could have encouraged holdout Republican states to accept the Affordable Care Acts expansion of Medicaid, which provides a lifeline to rural hospitals, nearly 200 of which have closed or severely restricted services over the last two decades. Had he done that, then rural areas would have been better able to confront the pandemic when it arrived.

Trump could have encouraged all his supporters to get vaccinated, rather than downplaying the pandemic, promoting quack cures and turning himself into perhaps Americas most influential vaccine opponent. He could have discouraged rural Americans from making distrust of science and expertise ever more a part of their identity.

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Most of all, he could have encouraged his devoted supporters to view the pandemic as a challenge we could confront together, by caring for one another  rather than looking for public officials and fellow citizens on whom to pour our anger. Had he been able to find in himself the decency and altruistic spirit that animated Dorothy Oliver  and that many rural Americans share  he could have made the pandemic better instead of worse for all of us.

Instead, we endured a national trauma whose effects will likely linger for decades, especially in the rural communities that are now even more conservative and even more distrustful of public health measures than they were five years ago. And what will happen if we face another, similar pandemic?

Its almost too awful to contemplate.





This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Two FBI officials familiar with the matter told NBC News on Monday that FBI Director Kash Patel has inquired about setting up a direct phone line to the White House and about retaining a private security detail for himself. Those questions, and importantly, the possible motivation behind them, could be significant and disturbing clues as to how Patel views his job and his agents.

As first reported by The Wall Street Journal on March 7, according to people familiar with his inquiry Patel queried officials as to how he might have secure lines installed in his office and home that would go directly to the Oval Office (Ben Williamson, the bureaus assistant director for public affairs, denied the Journals report). If true, this seemingly simple request from Patel points to either an ignorance of how the relationship between an FBI director and the president is supposed to work  and has worked for decades. Theres a reason why a direct line to the president isnt already sitting on Patels desk  let alone in his home or car. Its not supposed to.

Heres what I know based on my 25 years in the FBI, including service as assistant director. Historically, the FBI directors contact with a president is deliberately supposed to go through the U.S. attorney general. In fact, while the director certainly briefs the president on high-profile matters, the attorney general, deputy attorney general and/or the director of national intelligence are almost always present. The point of this healthy distance between the Oval Office and the FBI director is to mitigate the chance that a president might pressure the director for political purposes. This holds true in the other direction as well: We dont want a director prematurely tipping off a president that a political ally or adversary is under investigation.

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Famously, FBI Director Louis Freeh turned in his White House pass which allowed him to come and go as he pleased, so that each of his visits would have to be deemed as official, and to avoid the appearance that he was too close to Clinton. During President Donald Trumps first term, Director James Comey found himself alone at dinner with the president. Thats when Trump, according to Comey, twice demanded loyalty from Comey. Comey, to his credit, declined.

Patels desire for direct communications with President Trump means hes either ignorant of the perils of such an arrangement, or he really wants the presidents ear at all hours. It could also mean that President Trump may have asked Patel to set up such a secure line. Regardless, this doesnt bode well.

Patels second question to FBI officials  how to retain a private security detail for himself  may not sound odd (though Ben Williamson denied this report as well). But, in truth, its deeply troubling.

The FBI protects two people  the attorney general and the FBI director. The bureau has always provided its own agents, who volunteer for the assignment and go through special executive protection training. Why, then, would Patel ask about private security? We dont know his reason. Perhaps he doesnt believe FBI agents can protect him for the assignment. Perhaps he doesnt like the idea of law enforcement agents loyal to the Constitution  not to a president  being so close at hand. Maybe the phone question and the security detail question are linked: If you want to securely talk to the president everywhere you go, just maybe you dont want FBI agents hearing what you tell the president.

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Whatever his reasons, Patels queries are important indicators of how he may conduct himself as director. Whether he intended to or not, his question about a private detail signals his agents that he doesnt trust them. His query about a direct line to Trump is further evidence that Patel may be more interested in being a political lackey than a neutral, nonpartisan law man. That attitude may work for many positions in Washington, but it does not belong at the FBI.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
The much-hyped minerals agreement between the U.S. and Ukraine is a bad idea and should be dropped. But although critics have tended to focus on the deals unseemliness and impracticalities, the real problem has to do with Americas own national security interests.

As it stands, the U.S. has only a limited interest in Ukraines long-term security. This is a basic function of geography and economics. The U.S. is more than 4,000 miles away from Ukraine, and in 2021  the last full year before Russias invasion  its firms held investments there totaling just $98 million.

To be sure, most Americans strongly prefer that Kyiv triumph over Russia. They abhor the war and blame Vladimir Putin for it. But the bottom line is that U.S. national security will probably not be jeopardized one way or the other by what happens in Ukraine.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio put it bluntly: Its not that we dont care about Ukraine, but Ukraine is on another continent. It doesnt directly impact the daily lives of Americans.

For three years, supporters of Ukraine have bitterly lamented this reality, trying hard to contrive reasons for why the U.S. should regard the former Soviet states fate as a core national security issue. But from an American perspective, it is actually a good thing to have only a weak interest in Ukraine: relative disinterest affords Washington the luxury of selective engagement.

Under former President Biden, the U.S. sent vast amounts of military, economic and humanitarian aid to Kyiv. Biden also authorized the sharing of valuable intelligence, which allowed Ukraine to inflict punishing blows upon Russian forces. Without U.S. help, it is highly likely that Ukraine would have capitulated to Russia by now.

This assistance was appropriate given Americas intense preference that Ukraine win its war of self-defense. But preferences are different from interests  there are limits to how far states are willing to go in pursuit of mere preferences. Interests, on the other hand, can be things that states are willing to fight for.

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If there is any U.S. interest at play in Ukraine, it is the overriding interest to avoid a devastating war between NATO and Russia. This is why Biden put sensible limits on his support for Ukraine, from rejecting irresponsible calls to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine to ruling out the deployment of U.S. ground forces. Biden was emphatic that the U.S. must not risk a shooting war with Russia.

This was the right policy. But Bidens restraint was only possible because he recognized that core U.S. interests would not be imperiled even if Ukraine were to lose. If he had believed that Ukraines collapse would compromise vital U.S. interests, Biden would have been forced to consider a direct intervention to prevent such an outcome  which he never did, not even in February 2022 when U.S. intelligence officials assessed that Kyiv could be overrun within days.

Signing a substantial minerals deal with Ukraine (potentially worth billions of dollars) would change this political calculus in the wrong direction. Overnight, Washington would acquire a compelling interest  not just a preference  in ensuring that the government in Kyiv remains free, independent and committed to upholding U.S. firms lucrative mineral rights.

The U.S. government would also come under heavy pressure to bankroll the physical reconstruction of Ukraine, which will be essential before companies can extract untapped natural resources and sell them for profit at market. In other words, any minerals deal would realistically be a public-private partnership, requiring indefinite investments by the U.S. taxpayer.

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If a minerals deal is agreed to, then, what would happen if Russia were to reinvade Ukraine? Would future U.S. leaders feel obliged to protect their countrys commercial interests with military force? It is impossible to say for sure. But having a large economic stake in Ukraine would certainly increase the odds of America choosing to join a war in defense of Kyiv.

Of course, this is exactly how Marco Rubio and Mike Waltz (and French President Emmanuel Macron) have sold the minerals deal in public: as a security guarantee for Ukraine. This should appeal to those who want to fold Kyiv into the Western alliance. But analysts who view it as imprudent to risk World War III over Ukraine (now or in the future) should be aghast.

If President Trump is serious about reducing Americas exposure in Ukraine, he should rethink the minerals deal as a matter of urgency. Even if an agreement once had some superficial appeal  a way to recoup the money that Washington has spent in defense of Ukraine, and then some  the long-term security risks far outweigh any economic benefits that U.S. firms might one day hope to realize.

In the final analysis, giving Americans an economic upside in the future of Ukraine will never be worth the security downsides. Locking the United States into an enduring relationship with Ukraine  a country currently at war with a nuclear-armed adversary  is simply unwise and unnecessary. On this critical issue, the Trump administration should think again.

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Peter Harris is an associate professor of political science at Colorado State University and a non-resident fellow with 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 The Hill.
Mar. 11Well, no one is going to accuse Melanie Stansbury of being a stateswoman after her performance at last week's joint session of Congress.

The second full-term congresswoman from Albuquerque landed a key spot at the March 4 joint session, perched along the center aisle of the U.S. House of Representatives as President Donald Trump entered the chamber, unescorted by any Democrat, as is the tradition.

Stansbury didn't reach out to introduce herself to Trump as he walked by. She didn't pass him a note about an issue affecting New Mexicans. She didn't even make an attempt to shake his hand. Instead, she stood along the center aisle holding a makeshift sign reading, "This is Not Normal."

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Her choice of words was odd and confusing. Was she referring to Trump or was she being self-descriptive?

Stansbury may have raised her profile among fellow Democrats that night, but how did her behavior help New Mexico?

Stiffing the president of the United States has become a troubling and foolish trend among New Mexico's top elected Democrats.

Back in October, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich was gracious to come to the Journal campus for an endorsement interview.

During the interview, I asked our senior U.S. senator if he had ever met Trump. Heinrich responded that he and Trump had been in the same place at the same time. I then asked if he had ever spoken with Trump. Heinrich said he had not, even though Trump had been president for four of the nearly 12 years Heinrich had served in the Senate at that point.

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How does not ever speaking with the president of the United States serve the citizens of New Mexico? Wouldn't it be nice if just one member of our all-Democrat congressional delegation could get Trump on the phone or meet with him at the White House if the need arises? The progressive base may revolt at such validation, but the average New Mexican would have no problem with one of our elected leaders communicating with the leader of the free world and arguably the most influential person in the world.

Heinrich has stayed true to form, not attending Trump's second inauguration in January nor his March 4 address to Congress.

Then, there's Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller.

Keller thought it was funny when he appeared on Comedy Central in April 2021 to poke at Trump over a security bill from the city in connection to a Trump rally in Rio Rancho in 2019. The bogus and unprecedented $211,000 bill for police protection and barricades came up again in October when the Trump campaign sought to rent the Albuquerque Convention Center for a rally.

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The city turned the Trump campaign away, citing scheduled maintenance on a water line that runs to the convention center. But as City Councilor Dan Lewis pointed out, that routine maintenance could have been performed any time.

As a Journal letter writer noted, the political snub ended up actually working to Trump's advantage.

"You see, by doing that, the mayor caused him to hold his rally at the Sunport, which allowed him to have many more people at the rally, which I am sure resulted in many more votes for him," Irene Causey wrote in December. "It was certainly a beautiful sight to see the huge plane come to a soft stop with the Trump name emblazoned across the side of it. Were the rally held Downtown, people would not have been able to witness that awesome sight. So, it would seem that the mayor's little ploy backfired."

Antagonizing the nation's chief executive proved costly for New Mexico in Trump's first term. You may recall that Albuquerque in 2020 was one of five finalist cities for the headquarters of America's new Space Force. The Journal Editorial Board argued hard and repeatedly to have Space Command's HQ located in Albuquerque, noting the opportunity to tie together many of New Mexico's unique technological assets, including military bases, national labs, research universities, private aerospace enterprises and a one-of-a-kind Spaceport. The long-term impact of having the unified combatant command in Albuquerque would have paid huge dividends to our state's economy for decades.

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Most unfortunately, the U.S. Air Force announced in January 2021 in the final days of Trump's first term it had chosen Huntsville, Ala., for headquarters of U.S. Space Command. In an Editorial Board meeting with Keller shortly after the announcement, Keller conceded, "We never really had a chance."

Well, why the hell not? Could it be because of the steady flow of hostility that flows out of our elected leaders toward Trump? Don't antics like those we've too often seen from top Democrats hurt our chances of federal and private investment?

The more New Mexico Democrats disrespect President Trump, the more likely their citizens  46% of whom voted for Trump  will be left out of any Golden Age of prosperity that ensues as Democrats shuffle leadership deckchairs on the lost Titantic of New Mexico.

If there are any statesmen left among our congressional delegation, now would be an opportune time to stand up and achieve some bipartisan results for the sake of New Mexico. Otherwise, it's going to be a long four years in the wilderness if New Mexico Democrats can't learn to stow the hostility and put their state above their party.
Someday presidential historians will have a field day trying to decide what was the biggest lie Donald Trump told during his romp across the American political landscape. Their challenge will be to decide, out of tens of thousands of lies  30,573 in his first term alone, according to the Washington Post  which was the biggest whopper?

Among the front-runners: He would have won the popular vote in 2016 if illegal votes hadnt been counted. He didnt know anything about Russian interference in the 2016 election. He didnt know that fixer Michael Cohen paid Stormy Daniels $130,000 in hush money. The crowd at his first inaugural was the biggest ever. His first-term marked the best economy in history. Haitian immigrants were eating pets in Springfield, Ohio. And, of course, he won the 2020 election.

None of which is true. But none of them tops the lie thats most relevant today: that he knew nothing about Project 2025. That lie alone is worthy of four Pinocchios.

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Project 2025 is the 922-page blueprint for a second Trump administration prepared by the conservative Heritage Foundation and published in April 2023. As soon as it was made public, however, then-candidate Trump tried to distance himself from it. I know nothing about Project 2025, he wrote in a post on his Truth Social network last July. I have no idea who is behind it.

Liar, liar, pants on fire! Trumps professed innocence is manifestly false. He was in on Project 2025 from the start. At a 2022 Heritage Foundation dinner, Trump thanked the organization for preparing the report, saying it was going to lay the groundwork and detail plans for exactly what our movement will dowhen the American people give us a colossal mandate. And he knew well the people behind it.

CNN identified at least 140 authors and contributors to Project 2025 who had worked in the first Trump administration, including six of his Cabinet secretaries. Christopher Miller, acting Defense secretary for the last month of Trumps first term, wrote the reports chapter on defense. Deputy White House Chief of Staff Rick Dearborn, former OMB director Russ Vought and top Homeland Security official Ken Cuccinelli, among others, wrote chapters. In essence, Project 2025 consisted of officials of Trump One, with Trumps full blessing, laying out the road map for Trump Two.

And thats exactly what were seeing today. The moment Trump was sworn in, Project 2025 kicked into high gear. Time magazine reported that two-thirds of the executive orders signed by Trump in his first week mirrored or partially mirrored proposals from Project 2025. Not only that, but Trump has also facilitated Project 2025s implementation by naming scores of its contributors to top positions in his administration, including OMB Director Russell Vought, FCC Chair Brendan Carr, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.

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They wrote Project 2025. Now they and President Trump are carrying it out. In fact, Id bet that somewhere near the Oval Office theres a white board with a list of all the recommendations contained in Project 2025  and every time President Trump signs another executive order, Stephen Miller picks up his Sharpie and adds another checkmark on the board. Hes been busy so far.

In the last month, actions taken or proposed by President Trump right out of the pages of Project 2025 include: Sending troops to the border. Check. Withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement and the World Health Organization. Check. Shutting down the Department of Education. Check. Gutting the Environmental Protection Agency. Check. Getting rid of any program promoting diversity, equality or inclusion. Check. Eliminating the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Check. Imposing tariffs on major trading partners. Check.

Overall, Trumps actions have followed the three most important recommendations of Project 2025. First, that a new president must move fast; in his first month, Trump signed close to 100 executive orders. Second, that a president must expand the powers of the presidency; Trump declared that Article Two of the Constitution gives him the right to do whatever I want as president. Three, that a president must have the boldness to break the bureaucracy by firing career civil servants who are not MAGA loyalists; as of Feb. 25, Trump had already fired about 30,000 federal employees.

Trump hit the ground running  but only because the Project 2025 team wrote it all out for him. And Democrats can only sigh and say: I told you so.

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Bill Press is host of  The Bill Press Pod . He is the author of  From the Left: A Life in the Crossfire . Follow him on BlueSky @BillPress.bsky.social .

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
If the primary goal of the Trump administration is to quickly address issues in the Middle East and prevent further wars and instability, placing additional pressure on Arab countries might actually backfire.

While these regimes may not fear being overthrown through elections, they have unspoken concerns that are deeply rooted in their history and collective psyche. These fears arise from past experiences in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict when tensions escalate beyond their limits. Resuming the war in Gaza, displacing Palestinian people, or annexing land in the West Bank could significantly destabilize these regimes and threaten their hold on power.

Throughout the Arab world, the Palestinian cause has been used to justify governmental failures and domestic repression, particularly while the conflict remains frozen. This narrative enables leaders to attribute their shortcomings to alleged Zionist conspiracies. Notably, brutal dictatorships, such as those led by Saddam Hussein and the Assad dynasty, have positioned themselves as the ultimate defenders of the Palestinian cause and as protectors of the Arab world against perceived Zionist expansionism. Consequently, maintaining a frozen conflict has become convenient for Arab leaders, serving as a foundation for their legitimacy and monopolization of power.

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However, when the conflict intensifies, the dynamics shift, and it can lead to significant instability.

The Oct. 7, 2023 attacks on Israel and the subsequent devastating war in Gaza created a tectonic shift in the region. The Palestinian cause has shifted from being a source of stability for Arab leadership to becoming a significant factor of destabilization. This change was further intensified by President Trumps controversial calls for the permanent displacement of Palestinians. His statements not only undermined the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people but also inadvertently weakened the legitimacy of his regional allies.

Although these leaders are not democratically elected, public opinion plays a significant role in institutional stability, which in turn affects regime stability. Historical events have shown how the Palestinian issue has severely disrupted regional regimes, making these allies particularly cautious in their actions. They recognize that any further displacements or annexations could threaten their authority.

The devastation and loss of life in Gaza and Lebanon have profoundly affected the Arab population, evoking memories of the Nakba in 1948 when many were displaced. The massacres of Deir Yassin and Tantura then seem minor compared to the heavy toll from recent Israeli military actions. While Israelis view their strikes as necessary for deterrence against groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, this has intensified grievances in the Arab world.

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The swift fall of Assad highlights the regions instability. Ziad Daoud, a senior fellow at Harvards Middle East Initiative, warns that the ongoing conflict raises political risks: The conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon are fueling anger in Arab streets. Taking a guide from history, the consequences of the 1948 war only became fully apparent four years later, when a military coup in Egypt cited the defeat in Palestine in the first paragraph of its first communique. The lesson  just because things appear quiet and stable today doesnt mean theres no combustible mix simmering.

The first coup post-1948 occurred in Syria, but the major coup was in Egypt in 1952, led by Gamal Abdel Nasser, whose Free Officers blamed the monarchy and British influence for their defeat in Palestine. Nasser became a symbol of anti-colonialism and challenging Western influence. His ideas still resonate today, especially as anti-Western sentiment rises in the Arab world.

Another significant historical event that raises the threat level for Arab leaders is the assassination of Anwar Sadat. While Sadat is often hailed in the West as a courageous figure for pursuing peace, many in his own country viewed him as a leader who abandoned the Palestinian cause in order to isolate Egypt from the conflict through its peace agreement with Israel. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has already indicated that he does not want to face a similar fate if he moves forward with normalization with Israel without securing a state for the Palestinians.

Arab leaders understand that their influence over the Trump administration is limited, making it difficult to persuade him against his plans. However, Trump maintains a special relationship with bin Salman, which led him to select Saudi Arabia as the venue for his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, to initiate negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. Riyadhs political capital should not solely focus on addressing the more distant conflict; instead, Saudi Arabia should leverage its unique ability to convene and launch a regional initiative that kickstarts the long-awaited process of reconciliation and integration.

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The current circumstances surpass the potential of a limited normalization deal, presenting a larger opportunity. The successful rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran positions the kingdom as a credible broker for peace in the Middle East. Egypt and Jordan are integral pillars of this new regional pact that will extend to include Syria, Lebanon and the rest of the regions countries. Together, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan, with the support of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, can formulate a solid plan that facilitates the transition to Phase Two of the ceasefire and establishes a core regional strategy that ensures security, sovereignty, prosperity and dignity for all.

Donald Trump has expressed a strong desire for a comprehensive plan to achieve regional peace. He has built trust with the Israeli public, positioning himself uniquely to facilitate genuine peace in the region (provided he selects the right partners). Although Trump has stated that he will not impose his displacement plans on the Palestinians or the Arab countries, Arab leaders must still step up and commit to finding a path for reconstruction that will not be torn down in a few years by another war. Although it still requires further work, the Egyptian initiative announced at the Arab Summit can be viewed as a positive step in that direction. Resolving the Palestinian issue must be based on justice and sovereignty while also ensuring Israels security. This is best approached through a wider regional pact.

We are currently at a crossroads: we can either seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for peace or descend into chaos. Pursuing a regional pact aligns with the Trump administrations strategic interests and could put the region on a path to prosperity. Additionally, it helps prevent instability that could lead to unpredictable consequences. Such upheaval could worsen the ongoing turmoil, pushing an already war-torn region further into chaos, which would have global repercussions that could jeopardize economic stability worldwide.

A key aspect of achieving this goal is maintaining the ceasefire in Gaza and rejecting any proposed plans for the annexation of the West Bank. The decisions made now will determine whether the region moves toward prosperity or chaos.

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Shady ElGhazaly Harb is a visiting scholar at the Middle East Initiative at the Belfer Center and a research fellow at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Universitys John F. Kennedy School of Government, and a prominent activist of the Egyptian revolution and Arab Spring.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ORANGE BEACH, Ala. (WKRG)  Spring break season is here, and students from across the country are heading to Alabamas beaches.

The Orange Beach Police Department is reminding all spring breakers and beachgoers that they have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to breaking the law.

Mobile City Council to vote on beaver removal contract

Were not going to tolerate underage drinking. Were not going to tolerate drug use of any kind, zero tolerance, Orange Beach Police Department Lt. Trent Johnson said. If youre caught underage drinking or in your car with drugs, youre going to go to jail.

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Police are increasing patrols up to 50% on busy college weekends. That goes for roads, the beach and the water.

In addition, a small section of Alabama Point under the Perdido Pass Bridge will remain closed during the spring break season.

That was the biggest gathering place for our spring breakers who did want to participate in the underage drinking, Lt. Johnson said.

Police said they block off the portion of the beach to prevent any spring break nonsense before it happens.

Essentially, it moves our troubles into the light. We can see it a little bit better, and if we can see it a little bit better, we can enforce it, Lt. Johnson said. Weve also found that by moving it away from that one area, we dont have to enforce it as much. It kind of regulates itself.

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Police also emphasized the importance of following all traffic laws when driving through Orange Beach especially during heavy traffic times like spring break season.

Thats one of our biggest issues. When weve got this many people walking down the side of the road and crossing. Just slow down. Take your time, youre in a resort town, youre in paradise. Soak it in and enjoy it. Dont be in a hurry, Lt. Johnson said. Other than that, come down here, have fun but do it respectfully for everybody thats down 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 WKRG News 5.
This story was originally published on MyNorthwest.com.

The search for two-year-old Oregon toddler Dane Paulsen, who vanished from his familys yard in Siletz on March 1, remains ongoing as authorities concentrate efforts on the Siletz River.

The Lincoln County Sheriffs Office (LCSO), in coordination with multiple agencies and volunteers, has ramped up water-based search operations utilizing boats, sonar and remotely-operated underwater drones.

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Volunteers and officials alike describe the dense terrain along the river as a significant challenge in the search. Thick blackberry and salmonberry bushes make it difficult to navigate, raising concerns that the child could be hidden from view despite extensive ground searches.

Even with specialized equipment and search K9s, it is possible to miss a small child that may be hidden by thick brush or other visual impairments, LCSO said in a March 5 update.

Authorities have confirmed that the focus of the search remains on the river, as evidence suggests Dane was near the waters edge before disappearing. Search teams, including divers and boats equipped with sonar, have scanned a 14-mile stretch of the Siletz River.

Additional boats with underwater cameras and remotely operated vehicles have been deployed to explore hard-to-reach areas.

Community had joined in search for Dane Paulsen

Community members have also joined the effort, using personal watercraft to expand the search to the lower parts of the river. However, officials have urged volunteers to follow safety precautions, including wearing life jackets and avoiding active search zones designated for emergency responders.

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Authorities continue to ask the public to share official updates from the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office via FlashAlert and Facebook. They are also urging anyone with relevant information to call the designated tip line at (541) 265-0669. Officials stress that tips should be as specific as possible, including exact locations, timestamps and, if available, photo or video evidence.

Although no criminal activity has been confirmed, a vehicle of interest was reportedly seen in the area before Danes disappearance. However, Sheriff Curtis Shanks clarified that there is currently no evidence linking the vehicle to the case, which is why an Amber Alert has not been issued.

Media Release March 8, 2025 - 12:00pm Search for Dane Paulse - Search Remains Ongoing The Lincoln County Sheriffs... Posted by Lincoln County Sheriff's Office - Oregon on Saturday, March 8, 2025

Friendly and fearless

Dane Paulsen was last seen around 4:25 p.m. on March 1 near milepost 21 of Siletz River Highway (Oregon Route 229). He was wearing a gray fuzzy hoodie with ears, black pants and blue-and-white shoes. Described as friendly and fearless, he is comfortable around strangers and has a fascination with water and vehicles but cannot swim.

Despite exhaustive efforts, there has been no confirmed sighting of Dane since his disappearance. The FBI has provided assistance through its Victim Services Division, while the Lincoln County Major Crime Team continues to investigate potential leads.

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As search operations continue, the LCSO remains steadfast in its mission.

We express our deepest empathy for Danes family, the agency stated. Our teams are working tirelessly to bring him home.

Spotted white van not involved in disappearance

Dane Paulsens family posted on Facebook that a white van seen on Siletz River Road might be involved in the childs disappearance, but according to authorities working the case, the van is not currently linked to Paulsen.

We have received information regarding a white van seen in the area two weeks before Danes disappearance, the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office said. At this time, we do not have evidence linking this vehicle to the ongoing search and investigation.

According to evidence on hand, Paulsens disappearance is not related to any crimes, the sheriffs office stated.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield joined a group of 15 attorneys general issuing guidance for K-12 schools, colleges and universities on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility practices amid the Trump administrations efforts to dismantle DEI policies.

The attorneys general issued the guidance in response to an executive order signed by President Trump and documents released by the Department of Education targeting DEI practices.

Now, the attorneys general are reminding schools that diversity initiatives are legal and aim to quell fear inspired by the federal crackdown on DEI practices.

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The guidance by the attorneys general clarifies that recent documents from the Department of Education  including a February 14 Dear Colleague letter, and a frequently asked questions document regarding racial preferences and stereotypes under the Civil Rights Act  do not change the law regarding higher education admissions and cannot restrict schools from pursuing DEIA efforts.

Additionally, the guidance speaks to a January executive order signed by President Trump which claims to ban DEI preferencing in federal contracting and directs the attorney general and the Department of Education to release guidance complying with Students for Fair Admission v. Harvard  a 2023 Supreme Court ruling that found race-conscious admission policies at Harvard and University of North Carolina violate the Constitution, as reported by CBS News.

However, the attorneys general are reminding schools that DEI practices are legal, noting longstanding legal precedents support the DEI programs, which cannot be changed by an executive order or letters from the Department of Education.

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The President cannot change longstanding legal precedent by executive order, and a Dear Colleague letter and FAQ document certainly cannot do so, the attorneys general wrote. The Dear Colleague letter has inspired fear, and the Attorneys General write to mitigate that fear.

Making sure diversity, equity, and inclusion are protected in education is about giving every student a fair chance to succeed, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield added. When efforts are made to roll back DEIA programs, its not just about policy  its about denying students the support they need to thrive.

The attorneys general argue that the Department of Educations letter misconstrues the Supreme Court ruling by implying DEI policies might be unlawful for schools, noting even though the high court limited the ability of colleges and universities to consider an applicants race as a positive factor for admission, schools can still work to diversify applicant pools.

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Eye on Northwest Politics

Educational institutions should continue to foster diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility among student bodies, the attorneys general wrote.

The updated guidance adds that institutions do not have to ignore race when looking for prospective students as long as programs do not give students preference based on race and that all students have the same opportunity to compete for admission.

The guidance also encourages K-12 schools to create environments where all students feel safe, supported, respected and ready to learn, Rayfields office said, noting schools can do this by ensuring districts comply with anti-discrimination, anti-bullying, and civil rights laws.

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The Attorneys General remind all educational institutions that they must themselves abide by the nations civil rights laws, whatever changes they may make to their programming and policies, the attorneys general said. Fear of the Dear Colleague letter or the loss of federal funding is not a justification to impose or reimpose discriminatory practices. The Attorneys General stand ready to enforce their States robust civil rights protectionswhich in many cases exceed federal civil rights protectionswherever discrimination may be found.

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The Oregon Senate passed a bill that would stop hotels from providing plastic-wrapped soap and shampoo. (Photo by Alex Baumhardt/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Since the Oregon Legislature voted to ban single-use plastic grocery bags and limit plastic straws in 2019, most Oregonians have grown used to bringing their own bags to the store and asking for straws.

Now, lawmakers looking to stop plastic from piling up on the states beaches are turning their attention to other plastic utensils, condiment packaging and hotel-issued toiletries. The Oregon Senate voted 22-8 on Tuesday to pass Senate Bill 551, which would expand the states plastic bag ban to cover takeout bags provided by restaurants and the thicker plastic bags some stores have offered since the original ban took effect in 2020.

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The bill would also require customers to explicitly ask for plastic utensils, single-serving plastic packaging for condiments like ketchup, coffee creamer, jelly and soy sauce and plastic-packaged hospitality size shampoos, soaps and lotions, like they already must ask for straws.

Sen. Janeen Sollman, the Hillsboro Democrat behind the bill, said it will be good for the environment and for businesses that will save money by buying fewer plastic goods.

I want to be clear, this is not a ban on all plastic, but a mere drop in the plastic deluge of products we encounter every day, Sollman said. If we can do a bill that saves business dollars along the way, that is a win.

The proposal won support from all Democrats and four Republicans. Three of those Republicans  Sens. David Brock Smith of Port Orford, Dick Anderson of Lincoln City and Suzanne Weber of Tillamook  represent coastal districts, and Brock Smith said his experience on Oregons beaches contributed to his vote for the bill.

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I cant go to Port Orford and walk the beach  as I love to do, because everythings better at the beach  and not find plastic on my beaches, Brock Smith said. I go up the rivers and theres beautiful and amazing camping sites that are free to stay at, and its littered with plastic bags, plastic silverware. I have found the small shampoo and conditioners and soaps in the past, and frankly, that needs to change.

He added that the fishing, pulp and paper industries, all prominent in his district, will support removing plastic because cleaner water helps fish and the paper industry wants to produce more recyclable paper bags and wrapping that can be used instead of plastic.

Sen. Todd Nash, R-Enterprise, lives far from the ocean but said he voted for the bill because of the timber industry.

Other Republicans were less convinced. Sen. Kim Thatcher, a Keizer Republican who voted against the bill, said her dogs would look forward to it because theyd have easier access to saucy Chinese takeout that leaks out of folding boxes and can now be contained by a plastic bag.

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And Sen. Noah Robinson, R-Cave Junction, said he opposes littering but loves plastic. Stores, restaurants and hotels should have the freedom to choose the products they think are best for their customers, he said.

Banning the plastic that is on those beaches is not the solution. Its just teaching people better practices and trying to control littering, he said.

The bill now heads to the House. If it becomes law, it would ban all plastic bags and automatically offering plastic utensils and condiments as of July 2026 and ban plastic packaging on single-use hotel toiletries as of July 2027.

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OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioglu visited Moscow on Tuesday 11 March and met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Source: European Pravda

Details: At a joint press conference in Moscow on Tuesday, Sinirlioglu thanked Lavrov for the invitation and for a "productive and frank conversation".

"I am the OSCE Secretary General, and I am committed to working with all 57 participating states... The Russian Federation is a co-founder of the organisation, so it is a very important partner within the OSCE," he added.

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Sinirlioglu added that he would like to "continue to work with Russia on peace and security in Europe, which is why I am here".

Before that, he was shown the "consequences" of a nighttime attack by Ukrainian drones in the town of Vidne in Moscow Oblast where civilian houses had reportedly been damaged.

He himself evaded the question of whether he would "condemn" Ukraine for these strikes but expressed hope that "the war will end soon".

Background:

In December 2024, the OSCE Ministerial Council reached a compromise on the appointment of its leadership, which had been repeatedly blocked by Russia through the consensus principle of decision-making.

The OSCE Secretary General appointed at the time, Feridun Sinirlioglu, expressed hope that the organisation would contribute to the establishment of peace in Ukraine.

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Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioglu, who visited Moscow on March 11, was shown the aftermath of reported Ukrainian drone attacks.

Russia's Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses intercepted 337 drones across multiple regions, including 74 shot down near Moscow, marking what seems to be Ukraine's largest drone attack during the full-scale war.

Russia itself continues daily attacks on Ukraine with missiles, drones, and guided bombs. Ukraine's Air Force reported intercepting 79 of the 126 Russian drones launched overnight on March 11, along with one Iskander-M ballistic missile.

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Russian officials claimed that three people were killed in Moscow Oblast, including a security guard in Domodedovo and two men who later died in the hospital. Eighteen others, including three children, were injured, according to Russia's Health Ministry.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the OSCE chief witnessed the damage firsthand, writing on Telegram, "It is impossible to deny the obvious, especially what we have seen with our own eyes."

Meanwhile, Andrey Kartapolov, head of Russia's State Duma Defense Committee, called for retaliatory strikes on Ukraine using the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile.

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The strikes occurred just as Ukrainian and U.S. delegations were set to meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss possible peace terms with Russia. Ukrainian officials reportedly plan to propose a partial truce covering aerial and naval operations, hoping to restore U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing.

The OSCE was formed in the 1970s at the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, which provided a platform for dialogue between the Eastern Bloc and Western Bloc during the Cold War.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attended the OSCE Ministerial Meeting in Malta in person, the Foreign Ministry announced on Dec. 5.

Read also: Moscow targeted by largest drone strike in war, over 330 UAVs downed across Russia, authorities claim

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Veterans are speaking out over federal cuts to the Department of Veteran Affairs this week.

Inside Kansas Politics co-hosts Rebekah Chung and Rob Hughes sat down with Retired Major Chase Spears of the U.S. Army to get his take on the recent layoffs and their impact on services for veterans.

Later in the show, political analyst Bob Beatty joined Chung and Hughes to discuss the heated town hall in northwest Kansas, where Senator Roger Marshall was booed after walking out. Beatty also talked about bills to watch at the statehouse during this years session of the Kansas Legislature.

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Mayor weighs in on budget deficit, sales tax and Hotel Topeka | KSNT.com

You can watch Inside Kansas Politics at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings only on KSNT (check your local listings). To get the latest news on Inside Kansas Politics, check out our X account, or follow us on Facebook. If you have a story you think we should cover, email us at ikp@ksnt.com.

For more Capitol Bureau news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Get the latest in weather alerts by downloading our Storm Track Weather App.

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Military officials from over 30 countries will attend discussions in Paris on establishing an international security force for Ukraine, an unnamed French military official told the Associated Press (AP) on March 10.

European officials led by the U.K. and France have been developing a "coalition of the willing" to enforce a potential ceasefire in Ukraine. U.S. officials have repeatedly said Europe must bear responsibility for a ceasefire while refusing to offer concrete security guarantees.

Representatives from Europe, Asia, and Oceania will meet in person and virtually on March 11, coinciding with a meeting between Ukrainian and U.S. officials on the same day in Saudi Arabia.

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Ukraine will be represented by a military official in Paris, the French official told the AP, speaking on the condition of anonymity. The U.S. was not invited to the event in an effort to demonstrate to White House officials that Europe can guarantee peace in Ukraine.

"It's not, 'This is what we need,'" the official said. "Its more, 'What are you bringing to the pot?'"

The force could be backed by heavy weaponry and weapons stockpiles that could be quickly delivered to the front line in the event Russia breaks a ceasefire, the official said.

The talks will consist of two parts, the source said. In the first part, the U.K. and France will introduce their joint initiative. The second part will involve discussions, giving military officials a chance to share how their countries may contribute to the force.

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While talks on security guarantees have largely been based in Europe, officials from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea will participate, the unnamed official said.

Read also: Investigation: We tried to buy American chips as a Russian defense manufacturer  and it worked

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  State Representative Desiree Tims (D-Dayton) announced $4.3M for the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Dayton.

The Ohio Controlling Board approved the funds for the 2025 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Parliamentary Assembly. This assembly will take place from May 21 to May 26.

NATO officials eager to return to Dayton for summit in May

With the approval of these crucial funding measures, Dayton is fully prepared to host the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and ensure the safety and security of both our residents and the international dignitaries attending the event, said Rep. Tims. This is a historic opportunity for our city, and I am proud to support the funding that will provide necessary resources to our local law enforcement, fire services, emergency management teams, and public works.

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Here is the breakdown of how the money will be used:

$2.8M will go to the city of Dayton as a reimbursement for costs of extra policing, fire, public works and equipment expenses.

$1.3M will go to Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) as they are providing security.

$100K for Montgomery County emergency operations center activation costs.

$100K to the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (Ohio EMA).

The funds will be disbursed on a rolling reimbursement basis to cover these expenses during the event.

Over 281 parliamentarians from 32 countries and 88 delegates will come to town for the assembly. It is expected to bring high international interest to Dayton, which is why the event requires such high security.

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2 News will continue to bring you the latest NATO assembly updates.

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According to a poll conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) at the request of the Kyiv Independent, 51.2% of Ukrainians believe that Western countries fear that Russia will lose the all-out war against Ukraine and hold off military aid to Kyiv as a result.

The survey, commissioned by the Kyiv Independent, was conducted between Feb. 5 and March 10. Two thousand twenty-nine people took part, and the margin of error stands at 2.1%.

According to the poll, 17% of respondents completely agreed with this statement, while 34.2% said they would rather agree. Another 21.3% said they would rather disagreed with the statement.

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The number of those who strongly disagreed stands at 17.7%, the survey showed.

The poll was conducted when U.S. President Donald Trump's administration took a number of steps widely seen as friendly toward Russia.

The U.S. froze intelligence sharing and military aid to Ukraine soon after a heated argument broke out between President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House on Feb. 28. U.S. officials have suggested the pause is "temporary," without indicating when aid will resume.

Given Trump's rhetoric and policy shift, European officials are considering stepping up support for Kyiv.

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In 2024, when Russia maintained an initiative on the battlefield, taking advantage of delays in defense aid to Ukraine from Western allies, primarily the U.S., Zelensky said that Western countries "are afraid of Russia losing the war" and would like Kyiv "to win in such a way that Russia does not lose."

Read also: Investigation: We tried to buy American chips as a Russian defense manufacturer  and it worked

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ROME (AP)  Pope Francis has written and spoken at length about sickness, aging and death, and personally directed that his doctors provide the fairly detailed daily updates that have punctuated his own battle with pneumonia.

On Monday, they reported good news: Francis was no longer in imminent danger of death but needed to remain hospitalized for several more days to receive treatment.

The 88-year-old pope is merely responding to the sometimes morbid interest in the health of popes over centuries, and is making his own the somewhat-mixed legacy of St. John Paul II. The Polish pope suffered from Parkinsons disease, and his decline was on public view for years. But the Vatican never admitted he had the disease until after he was dead.

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Francis candor with his own fragility is very much in keeping with a decision he made early on in his papacy to be up front about his health: He granted an unprecedented tell-all interview to an Argentine doctor who published a book in 2021 detailing Francis physical and mental health history. And last week, Francis recorded an audio message from the hospital that laid bare the weakness of his voice, and the labored, breathless effort it took for him to utter just a few words.

Here are a few of Francis past musings on sickness, ageing and death and how they might affect the future of his pontificate.

On growing old:

Francis has long complained about the way society treats old people, saying they are part of todays consumerist throwaway culture when they are deemed no longer productive. For that reason especially, he insisted that Pope Benedict XVI continue to be part of the life of the church during his 10-year retirement.

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Francis views on ageing have been consistent, even as he himself has aged and become dependent on a wheelchair and walker to get around.

In the 2010 book On Heaven and Earth, written alongside his friend the Argentine Rabbi Abraham Skorka, Francis denounced the cruelty that confronts elderly people. He shamed families who shut their grandparents away in nursing homes and neglect to visit them.

The elderly are sources of the transmission of history, the people who give us memories, they are the memory of the people, of a nation, of the family and of the culture, religion, said Francis, who at the time was the archbishop of Buenos Aires.

On death in general:

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In the same book, then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio recalled that his grandmother Rosa, who helped raise him, had the words of an adage framed on her bedside table that stayed with him all his life: See that God sees you, see that he is watching you, see that you will die and you dont know when.

He referred to the saying again in 2018 in a speech to priests, and that his grandmother had instructed him to recite it every day so you will remember that life has an end."

I didnt understand much at the time, but that verse, since I was three years old, has stuck with me, he told the priests. And it helped me. The thing was kind of bleak, but it helped me.

On his own health problems:

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The Argentine journalist and physician, Dr. Nelson Castro, revealed in his 2021 book The Health of Popes, that Francis had reached out to him within a few months of his 2013 election with a suggestion that he write a book about the history of the health of the popes, including his own.

Castro was granted access to the Vatican Secret Archives to research the lives and deaths of past popes and had a sit-down interview with Francis on Feb. 19, 2019, during which the reigning pope spoke at length and in detail about his various ailments over the years: The respiratory infection that resulted in the removal of the upper lobe of his right lung, the gangrenous gallbladder he had removed when he was provincial superior of the Jesuits, the compressed vertebrae, flat feet and fatty liver he has lived with.

The most noteworthy revelation was that Francis said he saw a psychiatrist weekly during six months of Argentinas military dictatorship. He had sought out help to manage his anxiety when he was trying to hide people from the military and ferry them out of Argentina.

In those six months she helped me with respect to how to manage the fears of that time, he told Castro. If you can imagine what it was like to transport someone hidden in the car  covered by a blanket  and pass through military controls.  It created an enormous tension in me.

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He said the therapy also helped him to maintain a sense of equilibrium in making decisions of all kinds, and that in general he believes all priests must understand human psychology.

We should offer a mate to our neuroses, he said, referring to the South American tea. They are our companions for life.

On his own death:

As early as 2014 Francis was already assuming his papacy would be short-lived and that his own death was not far off.

I realize that this is not going to last long, two or three years, and then  off to the house of the Father, he told reporters in 2014 while traveling home from one of his early foreign trips, to South Korea.

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He told Castro later that he thought about death  a lot  but that it didnt scare him one bit.

Francis made plans, too: He decided his tomb will be in St. Mary Major basilica, not in the Vatican, so he can be near his favorite icon of the Madonna, the Salus Populi Romani ("Salvation of the People of Rome"), which is located there.

More recently, he has taken to speaking about upcoming events that he is pretty sure he wont be around for, and indicating who might.

In 2023, speaking to reporters about the Vaticans warming relations with Vietnam, Francis concurred that the country warranted a papal visit.

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If I dont go, surely John XXIV will, he said chuckling, referring to a future pope who might be named for the progressive, Vatican II-era pontiff, John XXIII.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Pine Twp., Mercer County (WJET/WFXP) Pennsylvania State Police are investigating after a Pennsylvania couple was scammed out of $9,500 by at least two fraudsters pretending to be a lawyer and an injured relative.

According to PSP Mercer, the Grove City couple received a call the afternoon of February 21 from the fraudsters posing as a lawyer and their grandson, claiming he had been in a serious crash.

One arrested after pair of search warrants served in Chautauqua Co.

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During the call, the two told the couple theyd be sending someone to their house to collect $9,500 from them in cash with an unknown person driving a red Chevrolet arriving shortly thereafter to pick up the money.

Once the money had been handed over, police said the scammers called back to tell them charges had increased and they wanted another $7,500.

Trial for man accused of murdering Amish woman delayed again

Police said this made the victim realize the whole operation was a scam and when she tried to call the scammers back, the number was out of service.

Police continue to investigate.

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LONDON (AP)  A 16th-century painting stolen more than 50 years ago has been found  and is now at the center of a custody battle between a widow in England and a small Italian museum.

Madonna and Child by Antonio Solario was taken in 1973 from the civic museum in the town of Belluno in the Dolomite mountains of northern Italy. Sometime later it was bought by Baron de Dozsa and taken to his Tudor manor house in eastern England, according to Christopher Marinello, a lawyer who specializes in recovering stolen and looted artworks.

It is now in the possession of Barbara de Dozsa, the late barons ex-wife, though it remains on the database of stolen art maintained by the international police organization Interpol.

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Marinello has vowed to return the painting to Belluno, where his family has roots.

I have a family connection to this region, and I decided I was going to stick my 2 cents in and interfere, said Marinello, whose company Art Recovery International has helped track down works by artists including Henri Matisse and Henry Moore and return them to their rightful owners.

But in this quest, he has so far been frustrated. Marinello said Tuesday that de Dozsa has declined to give up the painting, despite telling him she never really liked it.

She doesnt hang it  it reminds her of her ex-husband, he said.

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De Dozsa did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.

Marinello said the paintings rediscovery began when Barbara de Dozsa tried to sell it through an auction house in England a few years ago, and it was recognized as a stolen artwork.

The local police force, Norfolk Constabulary, was called in but eventually returned the painting to de Dozsa.

The force told the AP it had been advised by U.K. judicial authorities to give the artwork back because several years have passed and there has been no response from Italian authorities in relation to the investigation.

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Norfolk police said they are not currently investigating the case.

Paintings by Solario, who worked across Italy in the early 16th century, have sold at auction for several hundred thousand dollars. Marinello said the Madonna and Child is probably worth less than 100,000 pounds ($128,000).

Its not a Rembrandt, he said, but added: It has a value beyond its monetary value.

Solario was from the area so its very important to the people of Belluno.
By Tom Hals, Luc Cohen and Maria Tsvetkova

NEW YORK (Reuters) -A legal battle over a detained Columbia University student that has become a flashpoint of the Trump administration's immigration policy will play out in federal court, with the U.S. government indicating on Tuesday it would oppose the Palestinian activist's bid for release.

U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman in Manhattan temporarily blocked authorities on Monday from deporting Mahmoud Khalil, 29, and scheduled a hearing for Wednesday.

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Lawyers for the government plan to argue Furman did not have authority to resolve the case, and that the judge should decide on whether he has such authority before considering the merits of Khalil's arguments, according to a joint filing submitted on Tuesday evening by Khalil's lawyers on behalf of both parties.

They said the Wednesday hearing would focus mostly on scheduling.

The case could ultimately test where immigration courts draw the line between protected free speech and alleged support for groups the United States calls terrorists, as U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to fulfill his promise to deport some foreign students involved in the pro-Palestinian protest movement.

While Trump has alleged on social media that Khalil supported Hamas, his administration has not charged Khalil with a crime and not provided any evidence to show the Palestinian's alleged support for the militant group.

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Khalil was a prominent activist at Columbia, which experienced some of the biggest protests against Israel's military assault on Gaza that followed Hamas' October 2023 attack. Washington has designated Hamas a foreign terrorist organization.

The Hamas attack killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies, and Israel's military campaign has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry.

Trump branded Khalil on social media on Monday a "Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas Student" and said more arrests would follow.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt accused Khalil on Tuesday of "siding with terrorists" and said Secretary of State Marco Rubio had the right to revoke permanent residency status for adversaries of U.S. foreign policy and national security interests.

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"This administration is not going to tolerate individuals having the privilege of studying in our country and then siding with pro-terrorist organizations," Leavitt told reporters.

Leavitt said flyers with Hamas' logo were distributed at "group protests" she said Khalil had organized, but did not present evidence of Khalil's involvement.

In court papers, Khalil's lawyers have described him as a "mediator and negotiator" and said his advocacy for Palestinians was protected speech under the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment.

Columbia's administration has said Khalil was one of the lead negotiators with the school on behalf of the protesters about their demands to end investments of Columbia's $14.8 billion endowment in weapons manufacturers and other companies that support Israel.

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PROTESTS IN MANHATTAN

Khalil's lawyers have asserted his arrest on Saturday by Department of Homeland Security agents outside Columbia student housing was illegal.

While Furman has the authority to order Khalil released from detention if he finds his rights were violated, deportation proceedings could nonetheless continue in a separate immigration court, said Daniel Kanstroom, a professor at Boston College Law School.

Demonstrators on the streets of New York City, Democratic lawmakers, and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian territories condemned the arrest.

"This lawless abuse of power and political repression is a threat to all Americans," 14 Democratic members of Congress, including Palestinian American U.S. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, wrote in a letter on Tuesday to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

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A crowd of a few hundred people chanted "Free Palestine" and anti-police slogans at a protest in lower Manhattan. Shortly before the evening rush hour, at least six protesters were arrested after police asked them to get out of the street, a Reuters witness said.

Demonstrators also gathered at college campuses throughout Manhattan.

"(Khalil's) arrest is a very, very alarming escalation in what's already an alarming assault on civil liberties," Danny Katch, an English teacher at City College of New York, told Reuters at a protest at the school's uptown Manhattan campus.

GREEN CARD HOLDER

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Khalil, a Palestinian raised in Syria, arrived in the United States on a student visa in 2022, his lawyers said. He completed his master's degree in public administration at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs in December, and is due to graduate in May, his lawyers said.

He became a lawful permanent U.S. resident with a green card last year, according to his lawyers. His legal status grants him the protections of the U.S. Constitution, including free speech under the First Amendment.

Rubio said on X on Sunday that the government would be revoking visas and green cards of those supporting Hamas so they could be deported from the United States.

Legal experts say the government would need to prove to an immigration judge that Khalil should be deported by clear, convincing and unequivocal evidence - a higher standard than many civil cases but lower than the standard needed to convict someone of a crime.

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It would be up to an immigration judge - not Furman - to determine whether Khalil had engaged in activity that would justify his removal from the United States, said Kevin Johnson, dean of the University of California, Davis School of Law.

Khalil would have the right to appeal an unfavorable ruling, and the case could take years.

(Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware, and Luc Cohen in New York; Additional reporting by Maria Tsvetkova in New York and Kanishka Singh and Ismail Shakil in Washington; Editing by Noeleen Walder, Mark Porter and Richard Chang)
Updated at 4:56 p.m. ET on March 11, 2025

In the early evening of March 7, 2020, I was on my cellphone in an airport terminal, telling a friend that I was afraid to write an article that risked ruining my journalistic reputation. I had been speaking with the small but close-knit aerobiologist community about the possibility that the new coronavirus could travel easily from person to person through the airnot just through large droplets that reach only a short distance from an infected person or through handshakes. The scientists had stressed that the idea of airborne transmission of the new virus was still mostly theoretical, but theyd seemed pretty concerned.

When my story came out the following week, it was, to my knowledge, the first article by a journalist to make the case that the virus causing COVID-19 might travel efficiently through the air, and could potentially cover many meters in a gaseous cloud emitted with a cough or a sneeze. To avoid stoking undue worry, I had argued against calling the virus airborne in the headline, which ran as They Say Coronavirus Isnt AirborneBut Its Definitely Borne by Air. That idea was not immediately accepted: Two weeks later, the World Health Organization tweeted, FACT: #COVID19 is NOT airborne. As the pandemic unfolded, though, it became clear that the coronavirus did indeed spread through airborne transmissioneven if the WHO took more than a year and a half to officially describe the coronavirus as a long-range airborne pathogen.

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By then, amid the loud debate over mask mandates, vaccine boosters, and individuals responsibility for the health of others, a parallel debate had emerged over ventilation. Wearing an N95 or receiving a third COVID shot were ultimately individual choices, but breathing safer air in indoor spaces required buy-in from bigger players such as education departments and transit agencies. Some advocates held up clean air as a kind of public goodone worth investing in for shared safety. If it had succeeded, this way of thinking would have represented one of the most lasting paths for governments to decrease peoples risks from COVID and from airborne diseases more generally.

In the United States, the federal government regulates the quality of air outdoors, but it has relatively little oversight of indoor air. State and local jurisdictions pick up some of the slack, but this creates a patchwork of rules about indoor air. Local investment in better air-quality infrastructure varies widely too. For example, a 2022 survey of COVID-ventilation measures in U.S. public-school districts found that only about a quarter of them used or planned to use HEPA filters, which have a dense mesh for trapping particles, for indoor air. An even smaller fractionabout 8 percenthad installed air-cleansing systems that incorporated ultraviolet light, which can kill germs.

For decades, experts have pushed the idea that the government should pay more attention to the quality of indoor air. In his new book, Air-Borne: The Hidden History of the Life We Breathe, the journalist Carl Zimmer shows the long arc of this argument. He notes that Richard Riley, a giant in the field of aerobiology who helped show that tuberculosis can be airborne, believed that individuals shouldnt have to ensure that the air they breathe is clean. Just as the government regulates the safety of the water that flows into indoor pipes, it should oversee the safety of air in indoor public spaces.

More than half a century before the coronavirus pandemic, Riley positioned this idea as an alternative to requirements for widespread masking, which, he said, call for a kind of benevolent despotism, Zimmer reports. If cleaner air was the one of the best ways to reduce the societal burden of disease, then the two best ways to achieve it were to push people to wear masks in any public space or to install better ventilation. The latter approachpurifying the airwould mean that the individual would be relieved of direct responsibility, Riley reasoned in a 1961 book he co-authored: This is preventive medicine at its best, but it can only be bought at the price of civic responsibility and vigilance.

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Medical breakthroughs in the years that followed may have deflated enthusiasm for this idea. Zimmer writes that the huge advances in vaccines during the 1960s made the world less interested in the details of airborne-disease transmission. Thanks to new vaccines, doctors had a way to prevent measles, the WHO launched a campaign to eradicate smallpox, and polio seemed on its way out. On top of that, researchers had come up with an arsenal of lifesaving antibiotics and antivirals. How viruses reached us mattered less when our defenses against them were so strong.

In the first year or so of the coronavirus pandemic, though, one of the only defenses against COVID was avoiding it. And as a debate raged over how well the virus spread in air, the science of aerobiology was thrust into the spotlight. Some members of the public started fighting for good ventilation. A grassroots effort emerged to put homemade air purifiers and portable HEPA filters in public places. Teachers opened classroom windows when they learned that their schools lacked proper ventilation, travelers started carrying carbon-dioxide monitors to gauge the air quality aboard planes, and restaurants began offering outdoor dining after diagrams were published showing how easily one person eating inside can expose those seated nearby to the virus.

The federal government did take some small steps toward encouraging better ventilation. In mid-2023, the CDC put out new recommendations urging five air changes an hour (essentially replacing all of the air within a room) in all buildings. But it was a recommendation, not a requirement, and local governments and owners of public buildings have been slow to take on the burden of installing or overhauling their ventilation systems. Part of this was surely because of the daunting price tag: In 2020, the Government Accountability Office estimated that approximately 36,000 school buildings had substandard systems for heating, ventilation, and cooling; the estimated cost for upgrading the systems and ensuring safe air quality in all of the countrys schools, some experts calculated, would be about $72 billion. Portable HEPA filters, meanwhile, can be noisy and require space, making them less-than-ideal long-term solutions.

For the most part, momentum for better indoor air quality has dissipated, just as interest in it faded in the 1960s. Five years after COVID-19 precipitated lockdowns in the U.S., the rate of hospitalizations and mortality from the disease are a fraction of what they once were, and public discussion about ventilation has waned. Truly improving indoor air quality on a societal scale would be a long-term investment (and one that the Trump administration seems very unlikely to take on, given that it is slashing other environmental-safety protections). But better ventilation would also limit the cost of diseases other than COVID. Tuberculosis is airborne, and measles is frighteningly good at spreading this way. There is also evidence for airborne dissemination of a range of common pathogens such as influenza, which in the U.S. led to an estimated 28,000 deaths in the 202324 flu season. The same holds true for RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, which each year causes 58,000 to 80,000 hospitalizations of children under age 5 in the United States, and kills as many as 300 of them. Virologists are also now asking whether bird flu could evolve to efficiently transmit through air, too.

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For those of us still concerned about airborne diseases, it feels as though little has changed. Were right where we were at the start of the pandemic. I remember that moment in the airport and how Id later worried about stoking panic in part because, during my flight, I was the only person wearing an N95one that I had purchased months ago to wear in the dusty crawl space beneath my home. On the plane, I felt like a weirdo. These days, I am, once again, almost always the lone masker when I take public transportation. Sometimes I feel ridiculous. But just the other week, while I was seated on the metro, a woman coughed on my head. At that moment, I was glad to have a mask on. But I would have been even more relieved if the enclosed space of the metro car had been designed to cleanse the air of whatever she might have released and keep it from reaching me.

This article originally misstated that travelers used carbon-monoxide monitors to gauge air quality aboard airplanes. In fact, they used carbon-dioxide monitors.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  The events leading up to the Savannah St. Patricks Day Parade continue  as this years parade Grand Marshal and his aides take time to give back to some of our communitys most underserved residents.

It was a true Irish setting at the Grace House this morning  as clients of Union Mission were treated to scrambled eggs, biscuits, bacon, sausage and of course, green grits! The event featured bagpipes from Limerick as well.

The Savannah St. Patricks Day Parade committee served a special green breakfast to Union Mission clients this morning. Officials shared that the event reflects the committees commitment to giving back  honoring both their Irish heritage and faith.

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The breakfast aims to support Union Missions ongoing efforts to provide shelter and services for the homeless in Savannah. Union Missions Grace House offers beds for men experiencing homelessness, as well as transitional housing and support services. The organization helps clients with basic needs, mental health care, employment support, and more, with a goal to end homelessness.

The Grace House serves 110 homeless individuals daily.

I think we give back a lot throughout the whole year, but especially with St Patricks Day, we want to emphasize that, you know, theres a lot of people that may be down on their luck and need a lift up or feel like theyre loved. You know? And this is a way of us trying to help people out that are less fortunate than us, said 2025 Parade Grand Marshal Jay Burke.

The Union Mission was established in 1947. Union Missions president, Michael Traynor, welcomed around ten members of the St. Patricks executive committee early Tuesday morning at 7 a.m. Traynor shared some updated information on Union Missions current achievements, including serving 400 people per night at all their locations all the way up to Statesboro.

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Grace House has 72 beds, and the program has been successful in helping 78% of men working with the program to obtain housing. Union Mission plans to create a transitional program for women as well to help boost the percentage for their demographic.

Traynor shared that the green breakfast is a tradition that will continue for many years to come.

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Gusty winds, low humidity and dry conditions are expected to produce elevated fire danger in parts of the Southwest and Northeast on Tuesday following wildfires that erupted on New York's Long Island over the weekend and in the Carolinas last week.

Red flag alerts were already in effect Tuesday morning for West Texas and southern New Mexico, where wind gusts are forecast to reach 40 mph and relative humidity is expected to plummet to as low as 5%. Combined with critically dry conditions on the ground, forecasters are warning of the potential of fast-moving wildfires.

"Any fires that develop may rapidly increase in size and intensity, move quickly, and be very difficult to control," the National Weather Service office for Austin and San Antonio said in a forecast on Tuesday.

Smoke billows from fires in New York's Long Island, March 8, 2025, seen from Southampton, N.Y. (Andrew Tallon/AP)

In the Northeast, elevated fire danger is forecast Tuesday for Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and parts of southern New York. Winds gusts of up to 30 mph in the high-risk areas of the Northeast and the relative humidity is expected to fall to 30%.

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Mild to above average temperatures are forecast to continue through this week across the eastern half of the country.

Daily record high temperatures are possible in Houston on Thursday and Friday. Temperatures are expected to get up to the mid-80s in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. Memphis, Tennessee, is expected to reach the lower 80s on Friday.

The new fire danger warnings came even as firefighters continue to mop up from a series of brush fires that erupted on Saturday in New York's Long Island.

Fire Danger - Red flag warning in Texas and New Mexico. (ABC News)

The fires in Suffolk County, Long Island, ignited on Saturday amid northwest wind gusts of up to 45 mph and extremely dry vegetation.

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At least four different fires broke out in Suffolk County, officials said. The fires quickly spread embers from Manorville to Eastport and into the publicly protected Pine Barrens region of West Hampton, officials said.

MORE: State of emergency declared as brush fires shut down roads in Long Island, New York

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency and instituted a burn ban for Long Island, New York City and parts of the Hudson Valley.

Fire Danger -- Gusty winds in Northeast. (ABC News)

The Long Island fires burned about 600 acres before officials reported Monday that the blazes were 100% contained. Two commercial structures were damaged in the fires. State and Army National Guard helicopters made water drops on the Long Island fires, which helped prevent the flames from reaching homes, officials said.

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About 600 firefighters from more than 80 volunteer Suffolk County fire departments battled the blazes, officials said.

Fire Danger -- unseasonably warm. (ABC News)

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said Monday that the "operating theory" is that a fire was started at about 9:30 a.m. ET Saturday when a resident used cardboard to start a fire to make s'mores, a confection that includes toasted marshmallows and chocolate sandwiched between graham crackers.

MORE: Evacuations ordered as 175 wildfires erupt across South and North Carolina

The Long Island fires followed a rash of wildfires that ignited last week in South Carolina and North Carolina. Officials said 175 wildfires broke out near the border of both states, fueled by high winds and moderate drought conditions.

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The fires in the Carolinas rapidly spread through the Carolina Forest in Horry County, South Carolina, burning over 2,000 acres and threatening the communities of Walkers Woods and Avalon, and reaching the edge of Myrtle Beach before being extinguished, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission.

Parts of Northeast and Southwest bracing for elevated fire danger originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A Lyft passenger was arrested Sunday after an alleged kidnapping incident in East County.

Shane Capezio, 22, was identified as the suspect, Sgt. Kenneth Seel with the San Diego County Sheriffs Office said in a news release Monday.

According to officials, around 9:30 p.m., authorities received a Text to 9-1-1 message from a woman claiming that she was a driver with Lyft and that she was being held against her will by a passenger she had just picked up in Spring Valley.

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Capezio allegedly threatened the driver that he had a gun and told the driver to take him to a dispensary located in Lemon Grove, according to SDSO.

More rain, snow headed toward San Diego: How much could the region get?

When authorities arrived, they found the Lyft drivers car in the dispensary parking lot with an alleged struggle taking place between the suspect and the driver. Deputies were able to intervene and arrest Capezio, while the driver was uninjured, authorities said.

Investigators determined Capezio did not have a gun and he was booked into the San Diego Central Jail. He faces multiple charges including kidnapping, robbery, false imprisonment, dissuading a victim and preventing a victim from calling 9-1-1.

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Lyft released the following statement on the situation:

The behavior described is reprehensible and has no place in the Lyft community or our society. Our thoughts are with the driver, and we have reached out to offer our support. We have also permanently banned the riders account from the Lyft platform and stand ready to assist law enforcement with any investigation.

Although calling 9-1-1 is the fastest way to reach 9-1-1, texting 9-1-1 is available in San Diego County, according to the sheriffs office.

Texting may be the better option for those who are deaf, hard of hearing, non-verbal, have difficulty speaking, in a situation where its not safe to call 9-1-1 for help, or have a medical emergency and cannot speak on the phone.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Stonington  Two employees at Davis-Standard went to the hospital Monday with allergic-type reactions, and the facility was evacuated for the day, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

DEEP spokesman Will Healey said the cause is under investigation.

Healey said Monday afternoon that DEEPs Emergency Response Unit was ventilating the building, located on Extrusion Drive in Pawcatuck, and the company hired an industrial hygienist to clear it before workers returned to work.

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Davis-Standard confirmed in a statement Monday evening that two employees went to a local hospital  one by ambulance and one drove himself  for observation following two separate incidents at the Pawcatuck manufacturing and support facility.

Out of an abundance of caution, local fire and rescue and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection were notified," the company said. "Our facility was evacuated, testing was performed, and no hazards were identified."

Regular work schedules have resumed, the company said.

"The safety of every Davis-Standard employee is paramount," the company added. "We are committed to fostering a safe and healthy work environment for all.

Davis-Standard designs and develops extrusion technology.

k.drelich@theday.com
PBS and PBS SoCal are using one of their existing properties to educate audiences about the Los Angeles Wildfires that devastated Southern California in January, with the new 1-hour special Weathered: Inside the LA Firestorm.

L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marro, former U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merril, former L.A. County Fire Chief Derek Alkonis and retired U.S. Forest Service Fire Scientist Jack Cohen, Ph.D., will all partake in interviews with host Maiya May in an effort to both explain the recent natural disaster and help prevent future ones.

Weathered started as a series that aimed to educate the public on our most common natural disasters, how theyre changing, and what we can do to prepare, May said in a statement. In the wake of the tragic L.A. fires, Im proud that this show can continue to be a vital resource, providing clarity about the events leading up to the fire and actionable steps that we can all take to prevent disasters like this one in the future. Im grateful to the scientists, fire officials, survivors and everyday heroes for giving their time and sharing their stories. I hope audiences come away with crucial insight into how humanity can thrive in our ever-changing world.

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With Los Angeles forever transformed by these unprecedented fires, this program celebrates the resiliency of our community, PBS SoCal CCO Tamara Gould added. It is times like this, that remind those of us in public media that our commitment to serve Southern Californias people is at the heart of everything we do. From sharing critical resources to providing vital information in order to meet the urgent needs of our viewers, we are here to serve our community, no matter the circumstances.

Weathered: Inside the LA Firestorm taps into one of public medias greatest strengths: our PBS member stations embedded in communities across the country, PBS Multiplatform Programming senior director Adam Dylewski agreed. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with PBS SoCal on this timely special and to provide audiences with authentic stories about the personal impact of extreme weather. We hope that it serves as a resource for those directly impacted by the fires, as well as for anyone interested in learning how disasters like this one can be prevented in the future.

According to CalFire, the Palisades, Eaton and other surrounding urban wildfires burned 57,660 acres, destroyed 16,249 structures and killed at least 29 people. Additionally, AccuWeather estimates the blazes caused more than $250 billion in damages and other economic loss.

Weathered has aired on the PBS Digital Studios page since 2020. The new special was produced by Balance Media with series producer and director Trip Jennings. Diana El-Osta, Maribel Lopez and Dylewski are the executives in charge for PBS.

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Weathered: Inside the LA Firestorm premieres March 19 on PBS.





The post PBS Sets Weathered: Inside the LA Firestorm Special to Explain, Prevent Los Angeles Wildfires appeared first on TheWrap.
Schuylkill County is among many Pennsylvania communities moving in the right direction thanks to a combination of state funding and coordinated planning at the local and commonwealth levels, state Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger said during a visit to Orwigsburg on Tuesday.

But more work needs to be done, said Siger, who presented highlights of the 10-year economic development strategy for Pennsylvania that he recently played a key role in devising. It is Pennsylvanias first such plan in nearly two decades.

The strategy focuses on funding and planning for agriculture, energy, life sciences, manufacturing, and robotics and technology in an effort to support small businesses, spur innovation, and strengthen local communities, he said.

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This is a blueprint for action, Siger said of the plan while speaking at the Orwigsburg Veterans Community Memorial Hall during a Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

Siger was introduced by chamber president and CEO Robert S. Carl Jr., who pointed out that hall they were in was a great example of how the state and local governments can work together to improve communities. More than $700,000 from DCED was among the $2.65 million in grants that helped make the building what it is, combined with almost $900,000 in contributions from local businesses and donations, he said.

This really is a team sport, Siger agreed about economic development.

Recent developments in Schuylkill he highlighted were the ribbon-cutting for the $100 million Hydro Extrusion expansion in Cressona, a $750,000 investment for a 75,000-foot spec building in Highridge Business Park, a $300 million expansion of EMD Electronics near Tamaqua, a $250,000 investment into the Tamaqua historic district and $1.6 million transferred into Tamaquas Community Revitalization and Improvement Zone.

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State Senator David Argall speaks during a Schuylkill County Chamber of Commerce event at the Orwigsburg Veterans Community Memorial Hall, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

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Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger speaks during a Schuylkill County Chamber of Commerce event at the Orwigsburg Veterans Community Memorial Hall, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

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Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger speaks during a Schuylkill County Chamber of Commerce event at the Orwigsburg Veterans Community Memorial Hall, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

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Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger speaks during a Schuylkill County Chamber of Commerce event at the Orwigsburg Veterans Community Memorial Hall, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

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State Representative Jamie Barton speaks during a Schuylkill County Chamber of Commerce event at the Orwigsburg Veterans Community Memorial Hall, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

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State Senator David Argall speaks during a Schuylkill County Chamber of Commerce event at the Orwigsburg Veterans Community Memorial Hall, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

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Gov. Josh Shapiros 2025-26 state budget plan includes proposed funding for the economic development strategy Siger helped create, including:

* A $500 million investment statewide for site development work over three years, including $125 million in the upcoming fiscal year.

* A $20 million investment for the Main Street Matters program to support small businesses and commercial corridors.

* Creation of the $10 million AdvancePA tax credit to create jobs.

* Increased funding for marketing to attract and retain businesses, support companies, train new workers and help veterans establish and grow small businesses.

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* A $50 million investment in the PA Innovation Fund to foster life science and technology-related businesses.

* Funding to help plan and orchestrate the nations 250th anniversary in Pennsylvania.

The plan also includes a housing action to address the states aging housing stock, its varying zoning ordinances and administration of housing programs across the state, Siger said.

Pennsylvania has really old housing, he said, an issue that is critical for the state to address.

Counties like Schuylkill, he said, could therefore benefit from the opportunities the plan provides.

Housing is a moral imperative, he said, calling it an economic necessity in attracting and keeping employers.

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The proposed budget was drafted by Shapiro, a Democrat, and still needs to pass a legislature in which the House has a slight Democrat majority, and the Senate is led by Republicans.

So Siger said he knows the budget could undergo changes before final passage.

But the need for economic development is something both parties agree on, he said, and he is optimistic that the initiatives and funding outlined in his strategy will go through.

They are bipartisan, commonsense solutions, he said.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WTAJ)  A Representative announced the introduction of legislation that would change what voters can bring to polling locations across the Commonwealth.

The bill, authored by Rep. Mary Daley (D  Montgomery), would prohibit the carrying of firearms at all polling places. In Pennsylvania, it is currently legal to carry a firearm at polling locations, unless such locations are buildings in which firearms are already prohibited, such as a courthouse or school.

Over the years, we have heard more and more about voters and election workers being threatened, harassed, or intimidated at polling places, Daley wrote. As a result, many voters have expressed concerns about voting in person at their assigned polling location, and many voting districts have struggled to find or retain volunteers to work at such locations.

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Notably, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas all have legislation prohibiting firearms in polling places. The prohibition would not apply to law enforcement officers and military personnel who are on duty, Daley noted.

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Anyone who is licensed to carry a firearm but does not fall into the aforementioned groups would be required to leave their firearm in a vehicle or at home while voting. Daley added that the prohibition would only apply to the building where votes are cast.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com.
LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56)  People in London are demanding legal action be taken to save the lives of animals they say are living in filth.

This comes after a social media post alleged a local woman is keeping dozens of dogs in unhealthy conditions.

Videos and pictures circulating on social media show a disturbing living space where, allegedly, more than 40 dogs are being housed in London.

A charity organization called Justice for Abused Animals Inc. claimed the woman who owns the dogs is incapable of caring for them and may be putting herself in danger.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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Its not right, said local animal advocate Cassandra Howard. Its not okay. Whether youre desensitized to it or not.

Howard recently made a Facebook post as a call for help after speaking with one of the dog owners friends. Its been shared more than 500 times.

Ive been told that the bigger dogs were killing the little ones and eating them because theyre so starved, said Howard. Apparently, over 15 dogs in the past year have been buried in her backyard. And theyre living, you know, in their own feces and things like that. So, you know, Im sure theyve got parasites and different things like that. So, its definitely not safe.

FOX 56 spoke on the phone with Justice for Abused Animals Inc. Monday afternoon. Organization leaders said a Laurel County sheriffs deputy and a Kentucky state trooper have gone to the home, but that the homeowner was either not there or not willing to answer the door.

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Read more of the latest Kentucky news

They said law enforcement did not have probable cause at that time, which means they were not able to take the next step and execute a search warrant.

I truly just want her and these dogs to get help, said Howard.

Both Howard and Justice for Abused Animals Inc. encourage the woman, whom weve chosen not to name at this point, to speak with the police about the situation. Regardless, they said they plan to continue being a voice for these animals until the issue is resolved.

We need to be their advocate, said Howard. We need to be the ones that step in and say this isnt right. Step up for their care.

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Monday night, state police told us a trooper went inside the home, and while it wasnt the cleanest, all of the dogs did have food and water. The trooper said the owner was cleaning up the home and getting the dogs groomed. So, for now, KSP is not intervening. The dog owner also denies any neglect.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
The law firm Perkins Coie has filed suit against the Trump administration over an executive order signed by President Donald Trump last week that targeted the firm for its work representing Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign.

Attorneys representing Perkins Coie filed the lawsuit on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, along with a request for a temporary restraining order to bar enforcement of the executive order.

"The Order is an affront to the Constitution and our adversarial system of justice," the lawsuit said. "Its plain purpose is to bully those who advocate points of view that the President perceives as adverse to the views of his Administration, whether those views are presented on behalf of paying or pro bono clients."

PHOTO: President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, March 6, 2025. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

MORE: Trump signs executive action targeting law firm representing former special counsel Jack Smith

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It's the first legal challenge in what Trump has previewed will be a wave of executive actions seeking to punish law firms that have represented his perceived political enemies.

The order, signed by Trump on March 6, mandates that lawyers working for Perkins Coie have their security clearances stripped and aims to terminate any government contracts that might exist with the firm or other entities that it represents. It further bars agencies from hiring employees of Perkins Coie and prohibits employees from the firm from accessing government buildings.

"Perkins Coie brings this case reluctantly," the lawsuit said. "The firm is comprised of lawyers who advocate for clients; its attorneys and employees are not activists or partisans. But Perkins Coies ability to represent the interests of its clients -- and its ability to operate as a legal-services business at all -- are under direct and imminent threat. Perkins Coie cannot allow its clients to be bullied."

In his signing of the order, Trump pointed to Perkins Coie's work in the 2016 campaign and ties to the "Steele Dossier," which detailed a series of highly salacious allegations about Trump that were later investigated by the FBI and determined to be unsubstantiated.

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MORE: Trump's record number of executive orders are testing the limits of presidential power

Marc Elias, who left Perkins Coie to start his own firm in 2021, brokered an agreement with the research and intelligence firm Fusion GPS to conduct opposition research on Trump leading up to the 2016 election. Fusion then hired a former British spy, Christopher Steele, who compiled the dossier.

As Perkins Coie's lawsuit noted, however, the two attorneys singled out in the executive order's actual text "have not been with the firm for years."

"The retaliatory aim of the Order is intentionally obvious to the general public and the press because the very goal is to chill future lawyers from representing particular clients," the lawsuit said.

Perkins Coie files suit to block Trump executive order aimed at punishing firm originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Officers have confirmed they located the person shot. They said the person is a male juvenile.

He was transported to a nearby hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

The shooting is still under active investigation.



DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Police are responding to reports of a person shot Tuesday afternoon.

Montgomery County Regional Dispatch reports officers were sent to a shots fired call in the 3600 block of East 2nd Street. Crews were sent out at 3:26 p.m.

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Body reportedly discovered in Miamisburg

Police say one person was reportedly shot in the area near Washington Playground.

It is unknown if anyone was transported to the hospital. Dayton Police are on scene investigating.

Stay with 2 NEWS as this develops.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
The German military is facing severe personnel shortages, and those who do serve are growing older, the German parliament's commissioner for the armed forces warned in her latest annual report released on Tuesday.

Although the size of the German military, known as the Bundeswehr, managed to remain steady at roughly 181,000 people over the past year, the average age of those serving in the forces has grown sharply over the past five years, according to the report.

The commissioner, Eva Hogl, said German lawmakers need to act urgently to rebuild the country's registration system for possible military conscription to bolster Germany's defences.

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"The Bundeswehr is getting older and older. While the average age at the end of 2019 was 32.4 years, it has risen to 34 years by the end of 2024," she wrote in the report.

Debate over mandatory service

Germany suspended mandatory military service for men in 2011, although the proviso remains in the country's Basic Law, the de facto constitution. At the time, the German government also ended registration and closed the 52 district military offices that had managed the conscription system.

It's now "urgently necessary to reactivate the registration system anchored in the Conscription Act," said the report from the commissioner.

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"A country that could respond to a possible attack with an excellently trained and equipped army is a deterrent to potential aggressors," wrote Hogl.

"Fundamental to this is data on who can be called upon in the event of tension and defence, how suitable the people are and what qualifications they have."

But as a result of the previous dismantling of the system under former chancellor Angela Merkel, those sorts of data are no longer available to the military in case of conflict.

She added that a major gap exists even though "compulsory military service for German men based on Article 12a of the Basic Law and the Conscription Act continues to exist as a potential obligation."

Collapsing barracks, big bureaucracy

The Bundeswehr also continues to face "considerable problems" in infrastructure, with barracks and bases having been left to crumble to "a disastrous state," Hogl warned.

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The total investment needed amounts to around 67 billion ($73 billion), and some of the projects officially under way have made little progress. As an example, Hogl cites an armory where construction has been pending since 2017.

Hogl criticized excessive bureaucracy throughout the German military and said little progres has been made on initiatives intended to digitize procedures and cut red tape.

"For example, during a visit to the troops by the parliamentary commissioner for the armed forces, an officer reported that it takes '16,000 sheets of paper' to deploy a company," she wrote.

Little progress on women

Despite the shortage of troops and recruits, the Bundeswehr has made little progress attracting women to the ranks, and those who do serve too often face discrimination and rough treatment, Hogl found.

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In 2024, a total of 24,675 female soldiers served in the Bundeswehr, amounting to just 13.62% of the total forces, and only 9.89% outside the medical services.

Female soldiers often face prejudice, discrimination and sometimes sexual harassment. In the past year, Hogl wrote that she received a total of 48 reports of sexual misconduct.
MANILA (Reuters) - Before he was elected president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte already was nicknamed "The Punisher" and "Duterte Harry" for his years-long and often violent campaign against drug offenders as mayor of his hometown of Davao.

He promised to take his take-no-prisoners style of law and order to the whole of the Philippines, and his rhetoric resonated. He was swept to power with 40% of the vote in the 2016 presidential election.

"Forget the laws on human rights. If I make it to the presidential palace, I will do just what I did as mayor. You drug pushers, hold-up men and do-nothings, you better go out. Because I'd kill you," he said during that campaign.

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"I'll dump all of you (criminals) into Manila Bay, and fatten all the fish there."

Duterte, who turns 80 later this month, was arrested on Tuesday at Manila's main airport on his arrival from Hong Kong at the request of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The ICC has said it would pursue an investigation of suspected crimes against humanity related to Duterte's role in overseeing a bloody "war on drugs" that killed thousands of Filipinos during his 2016-2022 presidency.

Earlier this week, at a rally in Hong Kong, the firebrand Duterte declared he was ready to be arrested and said of his time in office: "What is my sin? I did everything in my time for peace and a peaceful life for the Filipino people."

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During his presidency, a nationwide drug war killed at least 6,284 accused drug dealers and users, by government count. The ICC estimates that somewhere between 12,000 and 30,000 people were killed between July 2016 and March 2019.

Philippine authorities have always denied extrajudicial killings - many of those killed were said to have died in shootouts. But rights groups and others say that Philippine police and vigilantes under their direction murdered unarmed drug suspects on a massive scale on Dutertes watch.

In September 2021, the ICC approved a formal investigation into possible crimes against humanity allegedly committed under Duterte's leadership, but it suspended its probe in November 2021 at the request of Manila, which said it was carrying out its own investigations.

But in January, 2023, the court said it was "not satisfied that the Philippines is undertaking relevant investigations" and prosecutors resumed their inquiry. It later rejected an appeal against that decision by the Philippines government.

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'NO EXCUSES, NO APOLOGIES'

Duterte unilaterally withdrew the Philippines from the ICC's founding treaty in 2019 when it started looking into the allegations of systematic extrajudicial killings. He has always been defiant about the charges against him.

"I have nothing to hide. What I did, I did it for my country and for the young people. No excuses. No apologies. If I go to hell, so be it." he told a congressional hearing on the drug war in 2024.

When he swept to power in 2016, Duterte drew comparisons with Donald Trump and assertive populists around the globe, a provincial city mayor with a brash style but with a common touch who defeated the establishment with pledges to crush crime.

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In office, he turned his back on the country's decades-long ties with the United States while courting China.

During a November 2016 visit to Beijing, he declined to mention an ongoing dispute with China's sweeping territorial claims in the South China Sea, even after an international tribunal backed the Philippines' position.

Four years later, Duterte ended a pact that allowed U.S troops to operate in the Philippines, however, the withdrawal period was extended and in March he said the U.S. must "pay" to keep the deal.

He remained deferential to Chinese claims over the shoals and reefs in the South China Sea, defying public opinion, while negotiating billions of dollars worth of aid, loans and infrastructure investment, much of which did not materialise.

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His successor later re-established strong military ties with the United States.

SEVEN TIMES MAYOR

Duterte was born in 1945 on the island of Leyte. His father was a lawyer and politician and his mother was a teacher and activist. His family later moved to Davao, the Philippines' third-most populous city.

His political star began to rise when he was appointed Davao's vice mayor in 1986 by Corazon Aquino, who had just led the People Power revolution that ended the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. Duterte's mother led the protests that ousted the city leaders associated with Marcos.

He won the first of seven terms as mayor in 1988, with stints in the Philippines House of Representatives in 1998 and as vice mayor in 2010 to avoid term-limit rules.

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Duterte claimed he transformed Davao into one of the safest cities in the country by imposing curfews, enacting city-wide smoking bans and cracking down on crime.

Critics claimed the reduction in crime was the result of vigilante killings. According to human rights groups, death squads have killed at least 1,400 people in Davao since 1998, most of them drug-pushers, addicts, petty criminals and street children.

Duterte denied any involvement in vigilante killings as mayor or as president.

But the people of Davao spoke highly of his accomplishments, including his push for clean governance, a city-wide smoking ban, and the setting up a children's cancer ward, vaccination programmes and a modern 911 emergency services facility.

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In the 2022 elections, Duterte was succeeded as president by Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son of the former dictator, and his daughter Sara Duterte was elected vice president.

But the alliance between the Marcos and the Duterte families crumbled last year and Sara Duterte was impeached last month on accusations such as budget anomalies, amassing unusual wealth and an alleged threat to the life of Marcos. An impeachment trial could start in June.

Sara Duterte has appealed to the Supreme Court against the impeachment and has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, saying the move to remove her from office was politically motivated.

(Reporting by Manila bureau. Writing by Kay Johnson, Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
MANILA (Reuters) - Former Philippine President Rodrigo on Tuesday questioned under what law and for what crime he had been arrested, according to a video posted by local media outlet GMA news.

"You have to answer now for the deprivation of liberty," Duterte said in a video that GMA said had been supplied by his youngest daughter, Veronica Duterte.

It was unclear who the former president was speaking to in the video.

(Reporting by Karen Lema; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by John Mair)
By Karen Lema

MANILA (Reuters) -Former Philippines leader Rodrigo Duterte was sent to The Hague on Tuesday hours after he was arrested in Manila at the request of the International Criminal Court as part of its probe into a "war on drugs" that defined his presidency.

Duterte, a maverick ex-mayor and former prosecutor who led the Philippines from 2016 to 2022, was arrested early on Tuesday, marking the biggest step yet in the ICC's probe into alleged crimes against humanity during an anti-drugs crackdown that killed thousands and drew condemnation around the world.

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Duterte, 79, could become the first Asian former head of state to go on trial at the ICC.

"The plane is en route to the Hague, in the Netherlands, allowing the former president to face charges of crimes against humanity in relation to his bloody war on drugs," Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr told a press conference.

"We did not help the International Criminal Court in any way. The arrest was made in compliance with Interpol."

The war on drugs was the signature campaign platform that swept to power the mercurial crime-buster nicknamed "the punisher", who soon delivered on promises he made during vitriolic speeches that thousands of drug pushers would be killed.

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His detention follows years of him rebuking and taunting the ICC in profanity-laden speeches since he unilaterally withdrew the Philippines from the court's founding treaty in 2019 as it started looking into allegations of systematic murders of drug dealers on his watch.

The ICC, a court of last resort, says it has jurisdiction to investigate alleged crimes that took place while a country was a member.

Duterte has long insisted he instructed police to kill only in self-defence and has always defended the crackdown, repeatedly telling his supporters he was ready to "rot in jail" if it meant ridding the Philippines of illicit drugs.

Human rights groups and families of victims said Duterte's arrest was a decisive step towards accountability for a brutal and chilling campaign that targeted the poorest of Filipinos.

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"This is only the start of our fight. Our justice has not yet been achieved because there's still a lot of things that will happen, but we will not stop fighting," said Llore Pasco, 70, the mother of two drugs war victims.

SLUMLAND KILLINGS

According to police, 6,200 suspects were killed during anti-drug operations under Duterte's presidency that they say ended in shootouts. But activists say the real toll was far greater, with many thousands more slumland drug users gunned down in mysterious circumstances, some of whom were on community "watch lists" having signed up for treatment.

The prosecutor of the ICC has said as many as 30,000 people may have been killed by police or unidentified individuals.

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Police have rejected allegations from rights groups of systematic murders, staged crime scenes and fabricated incident reports.

Duterte, in livestreamed remarks while in custody, told police he should be tried in a court in the Philippines.

"Why will you bring me to an international body when we are no longer a member?" he asked. "Ponder on it seriously, because this will have implications."

The arrest caused outrage among the family, loyalists and supporters of the still popular Duterte, who called it an affront to Philippine sovereignty.

"They took dad from us, put him on a plane and wouldn't say where to. People, wake up," his youngest daughter Veronica Duterte posted on Instagram. She said her father had been "kidnapped".

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Duterte's closest aide, Christopher "Bong" Go, a senator, said: "Long gone are the days when foreigners dictated how we run our internal affairs."

FALL FROM GRACE

The arrest marks a stunning change of fortunes for the influential Duterte family, which formed a formidable alliance with Marcos to help him win a 2022 election by a huge margin, with Duterte's daughter, Sara Duterte as his vice president.

But the two had a bitter fallout, culminating in Sara Duterte's impeachment last month by a lower house led by loyalists of Marcos, and signals from the president that he would comply if an arrest warrant was issued for his predecessor, having previously vowed not to help the ICC.

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Police investigations in the Philippines have moved at a snail's pace, by the administration's own admission, and neither Duterte nor any of his top police commanders have been charged with crimes locally.

The ICC on Tuesday said Duterte was charged with the crime of murder as a crime against humanity and bore criminal responsibility for the alleged murder of at least 43 people between 2011 and 2019.

The warrant said judges were satisfied there were reasonable grounds to conclude Duterte was head of a death squad that operated when he was mayor of southern Davao City and later oversaw Philippine law enforcement when he became president.

Leila de Lima, a former justice minister who was jailed under Duterte, months after she led a Senate investigation into the killings, said the families of victims were courageous in bringing him to justice.

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"Your voices mattered, your courage mattered," she said.

(Reporting by Karen Lema, Adrian Portugal, Mikhail Flores and Peter Blaza; Additional reporting by Stephanie van den Berg; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Alison Williams)
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Volga Fire Department is asking residents to heed the Red Flag Warning parts of the state are under.

Deadline approaching for property tax relief

Photos on their Facebook page show the results of large grass fire.

When we ask you not to burn or start fire pits during a Red Flag Warning this is why. In these conditions the fire spreads so fast. This was from yesterday evening. Please, please respect the Red Flag Warnings this weather will stay this way until we get precipitation at the end of this week, the post says.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Pierce Countys Unified Regional Approach (URA) to homelessness officially kicked off, but it is still unclear how the coalition will be led, what goals it will attempt to achieve and how it will operate.

On March 7, dozens of elected officials from cities in Pierce County, representatives from local government agencies and some nonprofit service providers gathered for the official URA meeting.

The Unified Regional Approach is an attempt to satisfy the first goal identified in Pierce Countys Comprehensive Plan to End Homelessness  established by the Pierce County Council four years ago.

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Attendees included members of the Tacoma City Council, City of Gig Harbor, Lakewood City Council, Puyallup City Council, local fire and police departments, Pierce County Council members and Pierce County Human Services, among others.

The URA is intended to bring together government, community and non-profit partners involved with the regions response to the homelessness crisis. The idea is that better coordination and cooperation is needed between jurisdictions and communities fighting the common problem of homelessness.

The effort to assemble the first URA meeting has been long and costly. Last year, Pierce County offered $1 million to a consulting firm to help organize and implement the URA.

During the March 7 meeting, those consultants facilitated the conversation.

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Brian Scott is the project director from Uncommon Bridges, the consulting firm chosen by the county.

Scott outlined the plan to slowly define the objectives of the URA, the roles each member would have and how it would operate. He said the members of the URA would have to discuss and determine their respective levels of commitment and how decisions about resources would be made.

Even questions around how often the URA would meet have yet to be answered.

That process alone is expected to take a year.

Scott said consultants would speak individually with members of the URA to ask about their thoughts, concerns and expectations for the URA. He said the intention is to collect feedback that members are hesitant to share during meetings.

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Some of the early feedback the consultants received about the homelessness response system was shared March 7. The themes included unequal burden faced by certain jurisdictions that provide the majority of the homeless services, a need for better data tracking and sharing, and cumbersome processes for procuring and distributing contracts and grant funding.

Consultants also identified tensions between jurisdictions due to factors such as smaller communities having fewer resources to contribute, confusion around leadership roles, and regional approaches that could undermine local strategies and priorities.

Sarah Solon works for HR&A, a consulting firm partnering with Uncommon Bridges to help implement the URA.

Solon presented case studies of other regions that improved their response to homelessness through regional coordination.

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According to data she presented, Harris County, Texas, where Houston is located, had the sixth largest homeless population in the nation in 2011. Since 2012, the region has been able to reduce its unhoused population by 60%.

Solon said it found success by creating a unified system where anyone experiencing homelessness was able to access services and support. She said the system focused heavily on reducing wasted and duplicated efforts.

According to her data, the region housed 32,000 people since 2012 and experienced a 90% success rate in housing programs meaning those individuals did not return to homelessness over two years.

She told the attendees some of the key agreements regional coalitions could make include operational coordination, service contract alignments and data-sharing agreements. She also outlined a need for an alignment of financial resources and stronger coordination to request state and federal funding.

What is happening here is not happening in other communities, she encouraged. We are on the wave of innovation.
CANTON, Miss. (AP)  A medical helicopter that crashed in a wooded area in Mississippi reported a flight control problem shortly before a Monday crash that killed all three people on board, federal authorities said.

The pilot was going to attempt to land the helicopter in a field, according to radio traffic from the chopper to its companys communications base. It crashed shortly after that and caught fire, authorities said.

Investigators found marks in trees consistent with the aircraft's rotor striking them, National Transportation Safety Board member J. Todd Inman said at a Tuesday briefing near the crash site.

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Killed were crew members Jakob Kindt, 37, of Tupelo, Mississippi, and Dustin Pope, 35, of Philadelphia, Mississippi, the University of Mississippi Medical Center said in a statement. The pilot, Cal Wesolowski, 62, of Starkville, Mississippi, also died. Wesolowski worked for Med-Trans Corp., which partners with health care systems and agencies to provide medical flights.

The helicopter was returning to its base in Columbus, Mississippi, from a patient transport when it crashed in Madison County around 12:30 p.m. Monday, the University of Mississippi Medical Centers vice chancellor for health affairs, Dr. LouAnn Woodward, said at a news conference.

The entire Medical Center family is heartbroken over this, Woodward said.
Red Bull, that big construction project across from Christs Nursery, tax help and monsters are part of this weeks Friday Five.

I caught up with Samantha Grass with Cabarrus Economic Development on Thursday and picked her brain about some of the projects in the works.

No. 1

The Red Bull/Rauch project is heating up. The $740 million Red Bull/Rauch beverage hub at the Grounds at Concord was announced in the summer of 2021. Grass said that work will begin on the project this year. The Grounds at Concord is the former Philip Morris site.

The Red Bull folks are in the design phase and are working closely with the City of Concord.

Ball Corporation is investing $383.8 million in Concord to work with Red Bull. Ball will make aluminum cans for the energy drink company. Grass said the Ball project will follow the Red Bull project.

Old Dominion Freight Line announced it will build a terminal at the Grounds. The project is expected to be worth $18 million and create 100 jobs.

Grass said Old Dominion has purchased 40 acres for the project, but that is about the extent of its progress.

No. 2

Kroger and Concord Commerce Park. Concord Commerce Park is 156 acres across Concord Parkway from Christys Nursing and Landscaping. Its at the corner of George Liles Parkway.

Many of you have asked about the project. Here is the information Grass shared with us from the companies:

Fortius is partnering with McCraney Property Company to develop a 1.3 million-square-foot master-planned business park that will cater to firms needing 20,000 SF or more.

The park will be built in four phases, serving tenants in the manufacturing, light assembly, distribution, warehousing, research and development, and other sectors. Phase 1 will consist of two buildings, each measuring 199,500 square feet.

Meanwhile, on N.C. 49, the Kroger hi-tech distribution center has finished construction and is expected to go live late this year. Grass said it could be into the first quarter of 2026.

No. 3

Companies are still seeking Cabarrus County. Cabarrus EDCs January Project Report shows 44 active projects, with 13 new ones requesting information about the area and sites available.

Activity remains strong as far as requests for information, Grass said.

Each projects average number of jobs is 160, with a $102 million investment.

No. 4

Need help with your tax return? Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is making tax season easier for students and residents through the free IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The VITA program prepares federal and North Carolina income tax returns and provides free electronic filing to help streamline the process. Information and appointments are available every Thursday through April 15 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC399 Biotechnology Lane, Kannapolis).

At Rowan-Cabarrus, we are dedicated to supporting our students and the community in every aspect of their journey, including financial well-being, said Dr. Carol S. Spalding, president of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. Through the VITA program, we are providing a valuable resource that makes tax filing more accessible and less stressful for our students and community members.

The College is partnering with Rufty Holmes Senior Center, an approved VITA site for Rowan and Cabarrus counties, to bring this valuable service to the community. A team of 40 volunteers at both sites is working to assist taxpayers and ensure they receive accurate and timely tax preparation services.

VITA is a national IRS program that prepares over 3 million tax returns nationally in partnership with community organizations, said David Post, VITA site coordinator. It has provided free tax return preparation services in the United States for over 50 years.

Generally designed for individuals and families with a household income of around $67,000, the VITA program ensures participants can access education tax credits and other financial benefits that can make a meaningful difference.

Financial stability plays a crucial role in student success, and the VITA program is another way we are investing in our students and the broader community, said Dr. Natasha Lipscomb, vice president of Student Success Services. By removing the cost and complexity of tax preparation, we are helping individuals keep more of their hard-earned money while reducing the stresses associated with this process. For college students, education tax credits can generate tax benefits up to $2,500.

Appointments are suggested but not required and can be scheduled by calling 704-216-7719 (VITA1) or 704-216-7721 (VITA2). Additional information about the VITA program at Rowan-Cabarrus is available at www.rccc.edu/taxes.

No. 5

Monsters are coming to Embassy Suites. Horror, sci-fi, and comic fans get ready for Mad Monster Party. Carolina returns bigger and better, Feb. 21-23 at Embassy Suites in Concord. Here is how the organizers are describing the event:

Three full days of thrilling MADness await as Carolinas premier pop-culture and horror convention brings you legendary stars, spine-chilling activities, and immersive experiences that promise an unforgettable weekend! Get up close and personal with the icons of the screen, including Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger himself), Brad Dourif (the voice of Chucky), Meagan Good (Shazam!), Jonathan Majors (Kang), and so many more stars of your favorite movies and shows!

Mad Monster Party Carolina 2025 has a lineup of spooky and spectacular activities for fans of all ages. Attend Q&A panels with your favorite stars, shop an eclectic array of unique horror- and pop-culture-themed merchandise, and belt out your favorite tunes at Scaraoke (scary karaoke). Feeling competitive? Enter the fan-favorite costume contest, where creative cosplayers will compete for cash prizes.

Tickets and professional photo-ops are on sale now at madmonster.com/c25

If you have a Friday Five, story suggestion or something I can rant about, email mplemmons@independenttribune.com or call or text 704-786-0001.
Photo via Division of Blood Disorders and Public Health Genomics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In what advocates believe could put Florida on the map as a leader in genomic medicine, a House Education panel on Tuesday gave the nod to a bill (HB 907) that would create the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases (FIPRD) at Florida State University.

The measure would appropriate $25 million to help get it off the ground and offer families access to have their newborns screened for up to 600 genetic conditions.

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Specifically, the bill requires the FIPRD to establish and administer the Sunshine Genetics Pilot Program, allowing parents to opt in their newborns for genetic screening including whole genome sequencing.

Additionally, the bill, sponsored by Rep. Adam Anderson of Pinellas County, establishes whats called the Sunshine Genetics Consortium to facilitate collaboration among researchers, geneticists, and physicians from Floridas state universities and childrens hospitals.

Anderson said the investment will help put Florida at the center of what he said could prove a $100 billion genomic medicine industry in the coming years.

It gives Florida a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lead the nation in genomic and precision medicine, Anderson said.

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According to the National Cancer Institute, a genome is a complete set of DNA in an organism. In people, almost every cell in the body contains a complete copy of the genome. Studying the genome may help researchers understand how different types of cancer form and respond to treatment.

FSUs Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases was established last year with the help of a $5 million commitment from legislators who included the funding in the state budget. Anderson, whose 4-year-old son Andrew died of Tay Sachs disease, was the impetus behind the institute, located in the FSU College of Medicine.

As many 10,000 rare diseases afflict 30 million people across the United States, Anderson said. Put that in perspective, its more than 10% of the population of our country and more than the population of Florida. So, while we call these diseases rare, when we look at them collectively they are actually pretty common.

Screening newborns

HB 907 codifies into law the FIPRD and creates the pilot program. Anderson on Tuesday said that newborns in Florida are screened for 60 diseases. If tests come back positive, parents then go on what he called a diagnostic odyssey.

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The Sunshine Genetics Pilot Program will allow parents to test their children at no cost.

Its not only the right thing to do for Florida families, it will save money, he said adding that early diagnosis of diseases is a cost-saver and potentially a life saver.

Dr. Pradeep Bhide, director of FIPRD, said that since its establishment last year the institute has awarded 23 research grants to FSU scientists across a number of colleges and disciplines.

SB 1356, filed by Sen. Colleen Burton, is the companion measure. HB 907 heads to the Health & Human Services Committee, the Health Care Budget Subcommittee, and the Education & Employment Committee next.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Praising Pinellas County school district police Chief Luke Williams as an outstanding human being, school board members on Tuesday backed off their criticism of the chiefs unauthorized signing of a federal immigration enforcement agreement.

The board called Williams to its workshop for an explanation of his decision to apply to participate in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement street-level program, referred to as 287(g).

News of his signature caused an outcry in the community, fueled by comments from Superintendent Kevin Hendricks office that the action occurred without the knowledge or authorization of the superintendent or board.

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Williams told the board that he followed his chain of command, informing Assistant Superintendent Clint Herbic and school district lawyer David Koperski that he completed the document after learning in a meeting with Sheriff Bob Gualtieri that there was no other alternative but to comply.

In hindsight, would I have stopped the superintendent when he was passing as I was talking to Mr. Koperski about it? Williams said. I should have.

He stressed that his only intent was to follow state and federal directives that all police agencies provide information saying they would have employees available to learn about the federal immigration database to assist future enforcement. He said he was not committing to anything  particularly using officers for immigration sweeps in schools.

For me to do anything that would be contrary to the safety and well being of our students would be contrary to my grain as a person, Williams said. I am a champion of all our children no matter what they look like and where they come from.

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Board members told Williams they viewed what happened, and the resulting public fallout, as a significant ball drop.

Vice chairperson Caprice Edmond said the district needs specific policies to ensure that all legal documents and agreements, especially politically sensitive ones, go through staff attorneys.

Hendrick said he understood the political nature of the immigration issue. He mentioned the districts procedures for cooperating with federal agents, which had been vetted by lawyers, and said the chiefs agreement did not fall within those parameters.

Still, he told the board he considered the situation a one-off that ultimately caused no harm, while also clarifying the districts role when it comes to immigration enforcement. ICE declined the districts application, saying it did not expect school police to participate.

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I dont think it represents the regular way of work. It doesnt, Hendrick said of the dropped lines of communication on the issue. I dont see the need to create a new process. A mistake was made, and it was corrected.

He would not say whether any employees face additional consequences over the situation.

Board member Stephanie Meyer said she hoped everyone learned lessons from what happened, adding she was glad the situation was handled quickly.

I have full trust in you, and you are more than capable of keeping our students safe, she told Williams. I am glad we have clarity now. ... We are on the other side of it.

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So far, other Florida school district police departments have not applied for the federal program.

The Florida Department of Education said it expected all schools to cooperate with all law enforcement agencies in applying federal immigration laws, but it did not mandate participation in the program.

If school district police agencies believe that a 287(g) agreement is beneficial to the safety of the school district, we encourage them to submit an application, department spokesperson Sydney Booker said via email.
A driver charged with fatally striking an Indianapolis doctor and then a mother of four in crashes that occurred less than a month apart in 2022 has pleaded guilty, according to court records.

Kelli Anderson on Monday entered an agreement to plead guilty to two counts of reckless homicide in connection with the deaths of Franciscan Health physician Brian Dillman, 49, and Kiana Burns, a 28-year-old mother to four young children.

Andersons numerous criminal recklessness charges were dropped as part of the deal, which calls for no more than three years of prison time. Her drivers license will also be suspended for six years.

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Anderson is scheduled to be sentenced April 10.

Fatal crashes less than a month apart

According to court documents, Dillman was walking on a sidewalk near West 49th and Meridian Streets when Anderson is said to have jumped the curb in an SUV and struck him. Police in an arrest affidavit said Anderson continued driving down the sidewalk, slamming into a utility pole and a second vehicle before coming to a stop.

Dillman was taken to IU Health Methodist Hospital and died shortly after arriving. He had worked as an emergency physician in the Franciscan Health network for more than 20 years.

Anderson underwent a blood draw following the crash, per state law following fatal crashes. She told police she suffers from seizures. Doctors had advised her not to drive, according to the arrest affidavit.

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Less than a month later, Anderson was charged in a second fatal crash.

Court records state that on June 9, 2022, Anderson drove across a median near the intersection of North Keystone Avenue and East 52nd Street, causing a chain-reaction collision. Burns, whose car was hit first, suffered critical injuries and died in a hospital two days later.

Data collected from the car Anderson drove indicated the car was traveling 69 mph upon impact. The speed limit along Keystone Avenue is 35 mph.

Indy police find history of dangerous driving

As police investigated the crashes, they discovered Anderson had been involved in five more crashes since August 2019.

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August 3, 2019: Anderson was driving a Saturn Outlook on the 6500 block of North Meridian Street when she veered off the road, drove the car into a ditch and it flipped over. After the crash, Anderson told police officers she possibly had a seizure and did not know what happened.

February 20, 2020: Anderson was driving a silver 2012 GMC Acadia south on Dean Road and rolled through a stop sign at East 79th Street. Police said she crashed into a BMW 528i turning south onto Dean Road. The driver said she had shoulder pains and was transported to Community North Hospital.

March 9, 2021: Anderson was driving a silver 2013 GMC Acadia south on Fall Creek Parkway's North Drive when she struck another vehicle going south, records state.

September 2, 2021: Anderson was driving a silver 2013 GMC Acadia south on Allisonville Road when she hit a black Chevrolet Trax travelling the same direction, causing the Chevrolet to spin out and the GMC to veer off the road and into a fire hydrant. Anderson told police she did not know she was involved in an accident or hit anyone.

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May 2, 2022: Anderson was driving a black 2017 GMC Acadia south in the 3700 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street when she veered off the road and into a light pole. Anderson said a car had stopped suddenly in front of her and she had swerved to avoid it, which she told police caused her to run off the road.

Contact IndyStar reporter Sarah Nelson at sarah.nelson@indystar.com

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Plea reached for driver charged in deaths of ER doctor, mother of four
WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's deputy prime minister vowed on Tuesday to stick with plans to introduce a new tax on big tech, hitting back at a threat of retaliation from the incoming United States ambassador amid a deepening war of words between Warsaw and Washington.

United States President Donald Trump's policies on security and trade have shaken relations between Washington and its traditional allies in Europe, and an extraordinarily public social media spat over Ukraine between Washington and Warsaw's top diplomats over the weekend encapsulated the souring mood.

On Monday evening, the incoming U.S. ambassador to Poland Thomas Rose issued a fresh broadside to Warsaw, writing on X that plans announced by Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski to impose a new tax on big tech companies were "not very smart".

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"A self destructive tax that will only hurt Poland and its relations w/USA," Rose wrote. "President Trump will reciprocate as well he should. Rescind the tax to avoid the consequences!"

Asked during an interview with private broadcaster Radio Zet on Tuesday about Rose's comments, Gawkowski, a member of the Left party, which is a junior partner in Poland's coalition government, said it was "sick" for somebody to tell another country what legislation it can pass.

"This is standing democracy on its head," he added.

Polish Funds Minister Katarzyna Pelczynska-Nalecz, a member of another junior coalition partner, the centre-right Poland2050, questioned Gawkowski's plan to bring in the tax now.

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She told state news channel TVP Info that while she thought that in general taxing big tech was a good idea the timing was "incomprehensible" given the risks of a trade war.

Gawkowski has given few details about the planned tax, but said it could target profits made by big tech firms in Poland and support the development of Polish tech companies.

The comments from Gawkowski, who also serves as minister of digital affairs, came after a dispute on Sunday between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, tech billionaire Elon Musk and Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski.

Rubio accused Sikorski of "making things up" and suggested he was ungrateful, after he suggested that Poland may need to look for a new provider of internet services for Ukraine if Elon Musk's Starlink becomes unreliable.

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Poland pays for Ukraine's Starlink subscription.

On Monday Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also weighed in to the social media skirmish, cautioning Poland's "friends" against "arrogance" in a post on X.

Poland's nationalist opposition party Law and Justice (PiS) has criticised the government's approach, saying it is damaging relations with Poland's most important ally.

(Reporting by Barbara Erling and Pawel Florkiewicz, writing by Alan Charlish, editing by Aidan Lewis)
Mar. 10Police officers seized more than 10,000 controlled anxiety pills, large amounts of marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms, plus multiple guns as part of a drug bust in Xenia, law enforcement announced Monday.

Agents with the Greene County Agencies for Combined Enforcement, Xenia Police Division, and the Ohio Investigative Unit executed a search warrant Feb. 26 at a Xenia address that law enforcement did not disclose.

The search warrant stemmed from a long-term drug trafficking investigation initiated by the Ohio Investigations Unit in 2024, according to a statement from OIU.

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Police seized "a large amount of evidence indicative of drug trafficking," according to the Monday statement, including three pistols, a .22 caliber rifle, an AK-47-style rifle with a drum magazine, and ammunition. Police also seized approximately 10,000 suspected 2 mg Xanax pills, multiple pounds of suspected marijuana, and approximately a pound of suspected psilocybin mushrooms.

The target of the investigation, Dayne Perez-Green, was arrested and booked into the Greene County Jail on several charges, including weapons under disability, felony trafficking in drugs, and felony possession of drugs.

Perez-Green, 26, had previously been convicted of both having weapons under disability and drug possession in 2019.

Law enforcement anticipates that the target will face several additional felony charges, police said in a statement.
Newly released body-worn camera footage shows the moment police in Orange County shot and killed a 45-year-old homicide suspect who had driven his vehicle onto the Newport Beach Pier.

The Feb. 1 incident unfolded when authorities with the Santa Ana Police Department received a 911 call from a dispatch operator with the Menifee Police Department regarding the suspect, now identified as Jose Alfonso Valasquez.

Detectives in Menifee tracked the 45-year-olds cellphone to the 1400 block of North Freeman Street, where his ex-wife reportedly lived. The dispatch operator then informed SAPD that Velasquez was wanted for the fatal shooting of a woman, who may have been his girlfriend, in Menifee and that he was likely armed and behind the wheel of a silver Honda CRV.

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Just after 6:30 a.m., two SAPD officers responded to the location and spotted Velasquezs CRV where he was sitting with a passenger inside the vehicle.

As officers approached, the subject immediately fled the area, prompting a pursuit, SAPD officials said in a video posted online.

The 45-year-old led officers on an approximately 13-mile chase into Newport Beach where he jumped the curb, and maneuvered around several barricades set up to prevent vehicles from getting on the pier.

Police followed Velasquez onto the pier where people scrambled to get out of the way of the vehicles. At the end of the pier, the 45-year-old came to a stop and reportedly exited the CRV.

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In footage released by SAPD, responding officers in two police cruisers stopped a short distance behind the suspect and opened fire on him.

A 45-year-old homicide suspect was shot and killed after leading police on a chase that ended on the Newport Beach Pier on Feb. 1, 2025. (SAPD) A 45-year-old homicide suspect was shot and killed after leading police on a chase that ended on the Newport Beach Pier on Feb. 1, 2025. (SAPD) A 45-year-old homicide suspect was shot and killed after leading police on a chase that ended on the Newport Beach Pier on Feb. 1, 2025. (SAPD) A 45-year-old homicide suspect was shot and killed after leading police on a chase that ended on the Newport Beach Pier on Feb. 1, 2025. (SAPD) A 45-year-old homicide suspect was shot and killed after leading police on a chase that ended on the Newport Beach Pier on Feb. 1, 2025. (SAPD) A 45-year-old homicide suspect was shot and killed after leading police on a chase that ended on the Newport Beach Pier on Feb. 1, 2025. (SAPD) A 45-year-old homicide suspect was shot and killed after leading police on a chase that ended on the Newport Beach Pier on Feb. 1, 2025. (SAPD) Santa Ana police seen on the Newport Beach Pier after officers shot and killed a homicide suspect on Feb. 1, 2025. (SAPD) A 45-year-old homicide suspect was shot and killed after leading police on a chase that ended on the Newport Beach Pier on Feb. 1, 2025. (SAPD)

Footage from the Orange County Sheriffs Department helicopter shows the 45-year-old on the ground beside his vehicle with what appears to be a gun in his right hand. Police said that while Velasquez was on the ground, still armed and breathing, he failed to comply with officers commands.

Crude details emerge in racism, sexism scandal rocking L.A. Police Department

Given the ongoing threat posed by the suspect, who did not respond to officers verbal commands, a 40 millimeter less-lethal launcher was deployed, SAPD officials said. Following the deployment, a police K9 was used to facilitate the officers in handcuffing and arresting the suspect.

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Medical personnel with the Newport Beach Fire Department arrived at the location and declared Velasquez dead at the scene.

A firearm believed to be used in the alleged Menifee homicide was recovered at the scene.

The 45-year-old had previous arrests for driving under the influence, driving on a suspended license and brandishing a firearm in a threatening manner, police said.

An investigation into the lethal use of force remains ongoing.

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HAZLETON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  Its a one-of-its-kind security system in northeastern Pennsylvania, and a Luzerne County Police Department says it continues to pay dividends.

Hazleton Police say it helped lead to the arrest of two suspected gunman after shots rang out in a neighborhood in the middle of the afternoon.

Its called the Flock Safety Raven System. It combines hi-tech cameras and listening devices to help track and possibly prevent crime

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The sound of gunshots in Hazleton last Friday afternoon was picked up by the Flock Safety Raven System.

The officers were already out and about the Flock, the Raven System activated, told them there was a shooting in the area of 17th and Grant Streets in that vicitinty. Officers were able to get there within seconds of the notification and actually catch the vehicle fleeing the scene, said Hazleton City Police Department Chief Brian Schoonmaker.

A hot pursuit ensued with two suspected shooters arrested, Maiqui Diaz and Francisco Montilla.

The system includes 60 cameras and just as many listening devices placed in various parts of the city.

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Chief Schoonmaker says it increases response times for his officers.

You know, in the past, we received a 911 call, Well, I think I heard gunfire here. Then somebody calls, I think they heard them here. You have three or four different locations. Where the Flock and Raven System tries to pinpoint that location as close as it can to you, Chief Schoonmaker explained.

The system was launched about three years ago and continues to be expanded in the city and nearby communities. Cameras and Electronic ears, as they are called, are placed at key entrance and exit points in the city.

Oh, its a game changer for us. Between wanted people coming into the city, notifies us of stolen cars, stolen license plates, Chief Schoonmaker continued.

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Hazleton Mayor Jeff Cusat says the costs the city about $200,000 a year.

Three charged with homicide after deadly party at Airbnb

Its been wonderful. Its proven its worth many, many times over, Mayor Cusat stated.

Longtime Hazleton resident Ron Sharkey would like to see the system expanded.

Its something that is needed. If you have them in three or four different areas, its going to help, that help the whole community, Starkey said.

Chief Schoonmaker says the system has helped lead to the arrest of hundreds of crime suspects that might otherwise not have been arrested.

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TOPEKA (KSNT)  The Topeka Police Department (TPD) has issued an update Tuesday after a woman was killed by a vehicle in front of a major store.

Rosie Nichols with the City of Topeka said the identity of the person who died Monday is Alice J. Thomas, 70, of Topeka. Nichols did not report whether police have made any arrests yet in connection to this incident.

Topeka Zoo animal euthanized Tuesday

Police were called around 3:35 p.m. on March 10 to the 2600 block of Northwest Rochester Road on reports of a vehicle hitting a pedestrian in the parking lot of a store. Medical personnel responding to the incident declared the pedestrian dead at the scene.

People with information related to this incident are asked to contact police by sending an email to telltpd@topeka.org or call 785-368-9400. You can also contact Shawnee County Crime Stoppers to leave an anonymous tip by calling 785-234-0007 or by clicking here.

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Justice was finally served: Shawnee County District Attorney speaks on Dana Chandler trial

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Authorities are probing the disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student who went missing last week in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Sudiksha Konanki/Facebook

More information is coming to light about the hours leading up to the disappearance of a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student who went missing last week during a spring break trip to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.

Sudiksha Konanki, who arrived in the country on March 3, was last spotted early Thursday going to the beach near the hotel she was staying at after a night out with her friends, according to multiplenewsreports.

Konanki and the five women she was traveling with reportedly headed to the beach near their hotel with two men after 4 a.m. local time.

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Her friends and one of the men were captured on security footage returning to the hotel around 6 a.m. Konanki and the other man stayed behind, according to CNNand CBS News.

The man was reportedly spotted leaving the beach and going back to his hotel shortly before 10 a.m. local time.

The unnamed man has spoken to authorities about the last time he saw Konanki alive, but offered police different versions of the story, a law enforcement source told CNN.

Authorities are not treating the man as a suspect in the case, ABC andCNN said.

Sources told CNN and ABC News that clothing belonging to Konanki was found on a beach bed, noting that they found no signs of violence.

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Jensen Sanchez, a Civil Defense spokesperson, told The Associated Press search efforts on the islands east coast have involved the use of drones, helicopters and detection dogs.

The search is underway at sea because its presumed she drowned. According to the boy who was with her, the waves swept her away, but that is under police investigation, Sanchez added.

Mike Chapman, the sheriff of Loudoun County in Virginia, which includes Konankis hometown of Chantilly, said its too early to determine what happened to the student.

I do know that there was some speculation that she may have drowned, Chapman told NewsNation. I think its way too premature to make an assumption like that. There has been no sighting of her in any capacity.

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In a separate statement, the sheriffs office on Monday said it continues to assist and support U.S. federal law enforcement agencies working with the Dominican National Police and others on the investigation around the students disappearance.

Konankis father on Sunday asked authorities to probe not only the possibility of an accidental drowning, but also the possibility of a kidnapping or foul play.

Related...
a. a business, including any parent business, that: i has 50% or more Australian ownership or is principally traded on an Australian equities market; and i i is an Australian resident for tax purposes; and b. is a business that has its principal place of business in Australia.

COMPANY NEWS: The Sovereign Australian Prime Alliance (SAPA) congratulates the Albanese Government on its announcement of much needed reforms to the Commonwealth Procurement Rules to define an Australian business, in the context of the Commonwealth procurement framework as:

SAPA has always maintained that definitions are an essential building block when designing and implementing industry policies. When policies are developed without accurate definitions to guide them, policy failure is almost certain.

Now, armed with a commonsense definition of an Australian business, Government will be able to make accurate assessments of policies affecting Australias industrial base  both local and international  and direct future policies with confidence.

SAPA also welcomes the additional reform to Commonwealth Procurement Rules, introducing the Broader Economic Benefits in Procurement metric when making value judgements in government tendering. This reform will require future government procurement to consider a broader range of weightings, priority outcomes, and contracting considerations when assessing submissions for government contracts.

Along with multiple industry peak bodies, SAPA participated in the Ministerial Working Group (Working Group) to help shape this important bipartisan reform. We look forward to working with Commonwealth government departments as this new reform gets embedded in future procurement and tendering processes, and we encourage state/ territory governments to adopt this commonsense solution which has been led at the Federal level.

SAPA acknowledges the work of everyone involved in the Working Group and pays particular mention to representatives of the Department of Finance, and the Department of Industry, Science & Resources, as well as the offices of Minister for Finance, Sen. the Hon. Katy Gallagher and Minister for Industry, Science & Resources the Hon Ed Husic MP for their commitment to reaching this positive outcome.

We would also like to thank Senator for ACT David Pocock and his office for their advocacy for this important reform.

About SAPA

The Sovereign Australian Prime Alliance (SAPA) is an informal grouping of large Australian prime contractors to the Federal Government. We comprise:

AUSTAL  Australias global shipbuilder;

Gilmour Space  Australia's leading venture-capital-backed space technology company;

DroneShield (ASX:DRO) - Australia's world leader in counter-drone solutions;

Macquarie Technology Group (ASX: MAQ)  Australias data centre, cloud, cyber security and telecom company; and

NIOA  Australias leading weapon system and integrated solider systems provider and supporter.

SAPA formed in 2022 to advocate the important economic and social contributions sovereign Australian prime contractors provide the Australian economy  including to Australian SMEs  and to push for genuine sovereign capability in areas that are critical to Australias national security and defence interests.

Our shared goal is to advocate for Federal Government to cultivate and support Australias sovereign prime contractor companies in the interests of achieving a more self-reliant Australia.
Correction: The story was updated to correct the name of the cemetery. The remains were found at Woodlawn Cemetery. It was also updated for clarity about the nature of the remains found.

ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM)  Police are investigating after human remains were found in an unmarked grave at a cemetery in Elmira on Monday evening.

The Elmira Police Department announced that someone reported that facility staff from Woodlawn Cemetery found what appeared to be human remains in an unmarked grave while going about regular business. The call came in around 4 p.m. on March 10, and investigators from the EPD went to the cemetery after getting the call. The investigators called for additional resources, which included the departments Evidence Response Team.

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Police say the remains were confirmed to be human, and preliminary investigating found that the remains were from an isolated incident from years ago. Authorities didnt specify the type of incident the remains are connected to and said that the incident was newly discovered.

According to the Elmira Police Department, the incident is still under investigation, and the department will not be releasing any more information at this time.

The New York State Police Troop E Forensic Investigation Unit, the Chemung County Medical Examiners Office, and Erway Ambulance assisted the Elmira Police Department at the scene.

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A person was hurt after a shooting in Dayton Monday night.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

As reported on News Center 7 Daybreak, we talked with neighbors about this violence happening close to home.

TRENDING STORIES:

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The shooting was reported in the 600 block of Whitmore Avenue at approximately 10:18 p.m.

Dayton Police Department Sergeant Derek Swiger told News Center 7 that a male sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the shooting.

We have very limited suspect information at this time, Swiger said.

News Center 7 crews saw crime scene tape blocking the intersection and several Dayton police cruisers on the scene.

A person told he was coming home when he saw a police presence in his neighborhood.

I was just returning from work, and then I heard when I was going to, like, a different route here. Theres a lot of, like, blockades around here. Like, wait, what happened here? It was, I thought there was, at first, I thought was an accident, but once I know, parked my car back to my house and saw that it was around this corner here, so I noticed that there was more going on here.

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Another neighbor told News Center 7 that he hopes his security cameras can help investigators.

I may have security cameras at my home that record everything with some you know that links to the authorities, but you know, in case anything you know affects my home and as well as my family, then I will defend myself.

We will continue to follow this story.

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Police officer accused of domestic assault no longer with Miami Police Department

MIAMI, Okla  A Miami police officer charged in a Missouri domestic assault incident has resigned from the Miami Police Department.

City spokeswoman Melinda Stotts confirmed Landon Cole Corbus, 28, of Quapaw, resigned February 28.

Corbus is charged in Lawrence County 39th Judicial Circuit Court with theft and third-degree domestic assault. The Court ordered Corbus not to have any contact with the victim, nor is he allowed in Missouri other than to attend court hearings.

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His next court date is April 14 for a preliminary hearing, court records show.

Court records alleged Corbus was intoxicated when he physically assaulted the woman on Jan. 31.

The woman told police Corbus pulled her around the residence and at one point held her in the laundry room and picked her up and slammed her down, causing her eyeglasses to stab her in her left eye, according to an arrest warrant.

Corbus is also accused of holding the woman in a closet, shaking her, saying, You are going to listen to me, the affidavit states.

Court records show that the woman also told police that Corbus took her cell phone and refused to return it.

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In an unrelated incident, Corbus was the arresting officer of Leah Sanko, whose arrest and incarceration are now under investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

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ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Rockford Police arrested Paris Allen, 29, for allegedly possessing a stolen firearm.

On March 10, around 8 p.m., officers were called to the 3500 block of Elm Street for an armed man. A Metro Enforcement employee for the apartment complex told authorities he saw a firearm by way of a video call between a tenant and the suspect.

Officials went to the tenants apartment and asked if they could check if there was a gun in the residence. The tenant agreed to let them in.

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Police saw Allen going through a cabinet and took him into custody soon after. Officers found the pistol that was in the video in the cabinet, according to court records.

Authorities found that the handgun was stolen out of Indianapolis, Indiana.

Allen told officers he had the gun on him and put it away when they arrived.

Allen is charged with felon possession of a weapon and possession of a stolen firearm.

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After searching for hours, Natick police say they have found a missing 11-year-old child.

We are happy to announce, this young person has been found, safe and sound, Natick police said. We thank our public safety personnel, along with the public, for their cooperation and strong work in locating her and bringing her home.

The search began yesterday afternoon after the young girl was seen leaving Wilson Middle School on Rutledge Road heading toward Ben Hem around 3:10 p.m.

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K9 units and drone teams were deployed to assist in the search efforts that culminated in the girl being found and safely returned home.

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[In the player above, learn more about the Safer School Tip Line]

MASSILLON, Ohio (WJW)  A student was injured by a knife in a fight at a local high school on Monday morning, according to police.

The fight happened in a bathroom at Washington High School. Police responded just before 11 a.m., after one student pulled a knife, according to a Tuesday news release from Massillon police.

Texas man accused of murdering fiance searches, Can I kill an illegal human

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One student suffered a cut to the wrist, according to the release. The other student was arrested, accused of felonious assault, and transported to a juvenile detention center.

The Massillon Police Department remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents, including the students and staff within our schools, wrote Lt. Nicholas Antonides. We continue to work closely with school officials to maintain a safe learning environment for everyone.

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LA CROSSE, Wis. (WFRV)  Police in Wisconsin are investigating a shooting incident that occurred in the late afternoon hours on Sunday.

According to a La Crosse Police Department release, officers were sent to the scene of a shooting in the 1200 block of Logan Street around 4:28 p.m. on Sunday.

Appleton shooting leaves man hurt, investigation ongoing

Police on the scene found one person who had been shot, and the person was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries; additionally, the incident is believed to be isolated.

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Anybody in the area is asked to review video footage should they have any, and contact the La Crosse Police Department if they have any information.

No additional details were provided as the investigation continues.

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FAIRMONT  Despite School Superintendent Donna Hestons fervent wish to avoid the political environment, it nonetheless still overshadowed the annual state of the school district report she delivered to the Board of Education on Monday during a work session.

I wish the public, since this is being broadcast, understands that this is not  well it is dumped on our lap  but some of these decisions we have to deal with come from Charleston, Board Member Thomas Dragich said. It reminds me of when somebody down there had the bright idea of doing away with the recent programs we had sharing, going on among all different schools. And now, theres a bill that wants to consolidate school districts.

Marion County lost 84 students since January, continuing a long trend of decreasing enrollment. Heston placed the blame for that on school choice options such as homeschooling, the Hope Scholarship and what the state legislature has been doing politically to expand those options by diverting money away from public education. As a result, this year the school system will cut 10 professional positions and three service positions for the 2025-26 school year.

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Without the cuts, the district would be overleveraged by 19 professional and 74 service positions next year, she said, costing the district $5.2 million. She said generally speaking, 80% of the districts budget is dedicated to salaries and benefits of employees.

However, that is an improvement over last year, when the district cut 40 positions to bring its spending back in line with how much funding they receive from the state. Heston also showed what facilities improvements they were able to make once personnel spending decreased last year. Rivesville Elementary and the Barnes Learning Center had roughly $744,000 and $836,000 respectively in heating improvements done. The district was also able to address roof projects at Rivesville for their gym and at East Dale Elementary, to the tune of $93,000 and $518,000 respectively.

Dragich places a lot of blame on Charleston for the tough choices the school district has to make because of its funding from the state legislature. He said a lot of the ideas the legislature is pursuing come from out of state. He repeated his call to update the state funding formula, which mandates positions for schools to have but doesnt pay for them.

Enrollment is the bigger issue. The state determines school funding based on how many students attend. West Virginia public education doesnt just face challenges from growing private and home school enrollment, but from residents leaving the state for better opportunities. However, Board President George Boyles had a novel idea for that problem.

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What with all the people who are losing their jobs [in D.C.], and Im so sorry they are, will we have a migration like we had with the FBI moving into this area? With people deciding to get out of the area? he said. Is there any talk about that?

While many federal employees are losing their jobs in Washington D.C., West Virginia federal employees havent been immune to displacement either. Earlier this year, West Virginia House Speaker Roger Hanshaw said the state would not be able to absorb all the employees left behind if federal agencies removed themselves from the state. Heston allowed for the potential of such a situation to occur though.

Board Member Donna Costello also brought up the news that the Trump Administration is working to dissolve the Department of Education. Heston pointed out such a move cannot be done in isolation and requires an act of Congress. Further, even if the Department of Education dissolves, the funds allocated by Congress to the states would still come through, even if the entity responsible for distributing them went away.

However, DOGEs work dismantling federal agencies without congressional approval went on for several weeks before the courts stepped in. Even after federal judges ruled against DOGE, Elon Musks team still ignored federal orders. Musk undertook the work only on President Trumps direction, without congressional approval. Musk and Vice President JD Vance have also questioned the power federal courts have to stay the power of the executive branch. It remains to be seen how United States Secretary of Education Linda McMahon will execute Trumps order to dissolve the Department of Education.

I do have to remind the board we are not a political, uh  I understand what youre saying and your concerns, Heston said in reply to Costello. But we receive our guidance from the state board of education.
A great deal of attention is given these days to societys most vulnerable victims of oppression: people of colour, gender dysphoria sufferers and Muslims are in most peoples Top Five.

But there is another tiny group of people who, until now, have suffered in silence, unable to raise a single word in their defence against the slings and arrows callously thrown against them by an unfeeling world: judges.

These individuals are undeterred by the worlds hostility, determined to continue their service to the country, scraping by on their six-figure salaries and determined to hand down justice, however unhappy the great unwashed  some of them without even a degree from Oxford!  feel about their just and true judgments.

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But recently the worm has turned. Outraged by publicly voiced criticism from politicians of all people, Their Honours have finally decided to hit back and remind the country who is actually in charge. And its not the elected Government.

It started out with an admonition of both the prime minister and the leader of the opposition when, during an exchange in the House of Commons, they criticised an immigration judge who had allowed a Palestinian family to enter Britain under a scheme intended for Ukrainians. Instead of rubber-stamping this decision as she was expected to, Kemi Badenoch said it was completely wrong and should not be allowed to stand.

To make matters even worse, Keir Starmer agreed and promised to close the loophole used to justify the decision.

This was all too much for Englands most senior judge, Lady Chief Justice, Baroness Carr, who gave the two politicians a verbal slap on the wrist for stepping out of line and interfering in the running of the country. Both question and answer were unacceptable, she intoned, sounding like a head teacher lecturing some rowdy pupils for having let down not only themselves but the school and their parents as well. It is for the government visibly to respect and protect the independence of the judiciary.

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Fortunately for them, the miscreants got off lightly with a verbal warning.

But now the judiciary is hitting back at the latest attempt by a politician to exert influence over them. The Sentencing Council aims to introduce new sentencing guidelines, with magistrates advised to assume a blanket approach to certain categories of accused persons based on their minority status. Pre-sentence reports should be normally consider[ed] before passing sentence of ethnic minorities and transgender people, the council has recommended. This privilege is not to be extended to white men.

Now, to most ordinary citizens, this looks like a shabby and unjust attempt to introduce racial equity, a regressive Marxist ideology that is part and parcel of the discredited Critical Race Theory so beloved of western academic institutions. Treating someone differently because of the colour of their skin is, to most sensible observers, a racist enterprise.

The justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, certainly thinks so, and pledged in the Commons to write to the Sentencing Council to recommend reversing this change to sentencing guidelines. There will never be a two-tier sentencing approach under my watch, she announced.

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You can imagine the dismay and outrage this caused judges across the land. And we didnt have long to wait for the Sentencing Council to respond to this democratic outrage. Its chairman, Lord Justice William Davis, rebuked Mahmood: In criminal proceedings, where the offender is prosecuted by the state, the state should not determine the sentence. If sentencing guidelines were influenced by Ministers of the Crown, this fundamental principle would be violated.

Of course, Lord Davis was evoking a straw man. No politician wants to determine sentences; they just want judgments to be handed down fairly.

We may assume that, as with immigration judges who allow dangerous criminals to remain in our country for the most absurd of reasons and on the flimsiest of excuses, ministers  even secretaries of state in charge of the justice system  have no right to pass public comment on the job that unelected judges are doing on our behalf, even when that job is demonstrably poorly performed.

There are literally no other public sector jobs whose holders are exempt from public criticism in the same way that judges imagine themselves to be. Chief constables, civil servants of any rank, NHS leaders  members of the Royal Family, for crying out loud!  are regularly subjected to scrutiny and criticism. The entitlement and the jaw-dropping arrogance is instructive.

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The Sentencing Council wants to introduce a form of two-tier justice (the expression used by the secretary of state) that will fatally undermine public confidence in the justice system at a time when our police are already under suspicion of adopting double standards towards crimes committed by people from different parts of the community. If the Sentencing Council wanted deliberately to sabotage their own work, it could have done no better or effective a job than to produce the guidelines to which it is determined to adhere.

The fact is that judges, like everyone else, make mistakes and should be held accountable for doing so, because the consequences of those mistakes are not felt by them, but by ordinary citizens whose lives are directly impacted by the release into the community of people who should probably have been sent to jail. To make that decision based on skin colour is simply wrong.

And now Shabana Mahmood finds herself in a bit of a pickle. She promised the country, from the despatch box of the Commons, that there would be no two-tier justice on her watch. But the Sentencing Council, luxuriating in its independence from government, is determined to do just that. If Mahmood does not act against the council, she will have lost all authority and credibility.

Every genuine supporter of justice must hope she prevails.

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LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  A new Emerson College Polling survey finds President Trump with a 47% approval and 45% disapproval rating. His disapproval has increased two points since a similar poll last week, and his approval rating decreased one point.

As President Trump reaches his first 50 days in office, his approval rating has declined from 49%-41% to 47%-45%, reflecting a nation deeply divided, Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said. Despite not yet delivering on the economy in voters minds Trumps support remains strong. However, the true challenge will be how voters perceive their financial future. While little has shifted since the election, the initial honeymoon phase seems to be coming to an end.

A slight majority of those polled51%thought Trumps second term in office has been more of a success than a failure, with 49% thinking the opposite. His approval is strongest on his handing of immigration policy, and his disapproval is highest on the economy.

Policy approval and disapproval

(Emerson College Polling)

Trump had higher approval ratings regarding immigration policy and balancing the federal budget. However, he had higher disapproval regarding U.S.-Mexico relations, U.S.-Canada relations, the Russia/Ukraine war, the Israel/Hamas war, the economy, and healthcare. When it came to cryptocurrency, the most common response was neutral, though more of those polled disapproved than approved.

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Voters are most supportive of Trumps immigration policy, but they disapprove of his handling of the economy, believe tariffs will hurt economic growth, and are skeptical of his cryptocurrency policy, Kimball said.

An overall total of 39% of poll respondents think Trump is doing better than expected in his second term, with 36% thinking he is doing worse and 25% believing he is doing about as expected.

Among those who voted for Trump, 75% think he is doing better than expected, 18% about as expected, and 7% worse than expected. Among those who voted for Harris, 67% say Trump is doing worse than expected, 27% about as expected, and 5% better than expected.

The economy

(Emerson College Polling)

46% of those polled say Trumps economic policies are making the economy worse, while 28% think they are making it better. 26% of respondents think they had no effect or it is too soon to tell.

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53% of those polled think increasing tariffs will hurt the economy, while 37% think they will help the economy, and 11% think they will have no impact. Compared to a year ago, 39% say they and their familys finances are worse off, 37% say they are about the same, and 24% say they are better off than a year ago.

Black voters are most likely to report being worse off financially than a year ago, at 52%, compared to 40% of Hispanic voters and 38% of white voters who say the same, Kimball said.

Parties, Congress, and the cabinet

(Emerson College Polling)

39% of those polled have a favorable view of the Republican Party, and 39% have an unfavorable view. The Democratic Party has a 29% favorability rating, with 56% of respondents having an unfavorable view of the party.

The Republican Party holds a narrow favorability edge over Democrats, with 39% viewing it favorably compared to just 29% for the Democratic Party, Kimball said. A concern for Democrats is their standing among Hispanic voterswho view the Republican Party slightly more favorably (29%-58%) than the Democratic Party (26%-58%). This signals a potential shift in a key voting bloc that Democrats have traditionally relied on.

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Vice President JD Vance has a 42% favorable rating and a 46% unfavorable rating. Elon Musk has a 42% job approval rating and a 48% disapproval rating regarding the Department of Government Efficiency.

US Congress is viewed favorably by 29%, while 47% have an unfavorable view of Congress. The Supreme Court has a 36% favorable rating and 42% unfavorable.

The Emerson College Polling national survey was conducted March 8-10, 2025. The sample of US registered voters, n=1,000, has a credibility interval, similar to a polls margin of error (MOE), of +/- 3 percentage points. The data sets were weighted by gender, education, race, age, party registration, and region.

It is important to remember that subsets based on demographics, such as gender, age, education, and race/ethnicity, carry with them higher credibility intervals as the sample size is reduced.

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Survey results should be understood within the polls range of scores and with a confidence interval of 95% a poll will fall outside the range of scores 1 in 20 times.

Data was collected by contacting a voter list of cell phones via MMS-to-web text, of opt-in emails provided by Commonwealth Opinions and an online panel of voters provided by Rep Data. Panel responses were matched to the Aristotle voter file using respondents full name and ZIP code. The survey was offered in English.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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100 years ago,

March 11, 1925

TERRE HAUTE  Damage variously estimated at from $150,00 to $200,000 was caused in Edgar County and the western part of Vigo County, Ind. by a tornado accompanied by severe electrical disturbance and followed by heavy rain and hail storms between 1:45 and 4:30 p.m. yesterday. There was no loss of life, and but three persons were reported injured none seriously. In Edgar County, the damage to property was estimated at $75,000...DANVILLE  Just a month after the disappearance of Thomas Waters, chemical engineer at the pumping station of the Illinois Power and Light Company, search was resumed yesterday in the pools, both above and below the dam, for the body of the missing man. The gates were opened again and an immense volume of water was coursing through Tuesday afternoon. The rain and electrical storm of early Tuesday morning did not raise the river, and it is believed that with the big gates open, now that the river is down somewhat, the upper basin will quickly be emptied so that a closer search may be made.

50 years ago, 1975

MATTOON  "Mass confusion" was the way one participant described Monday night's hearing on the Grant Park rehabilitation proposal. Mattoon City Coordinator George Pendell kicked off the hearing by trying to clear up the misunderstanding surrounding the controversial project. Pendell repeated earlier statements that the city was not planning to move residents out of their homes, force the area to annex to the city or initiate a program that would place a heavy financial burden on Grant Park residents. He said the city didn't want to force the project down the throats of Grant Park residents. He said if 51 percent of the property owners approved annexation, "we get annexation. If we get 51 percent against it, we scrap the whole thing." It appeared that most of the people who attended the hearing were opposed to the project. One woman said she didn't see any advantage in the area being annexed to the city. She noted, for example, that the Mattoon Fire Department answered fire alarms in Grant Park. It was pointed out by Mattoon Fire Chief Roy Sparks, however, that it costs the city $1,000 a trip to send fire trucks out. He said the city only received $200 for each run from residents living outside the city limits. Sparks said Mattoon firemen had responded to calls outside the city limits "as a courtesy."...MATTOON  Specific plans for flood control on the lower Embarras River won't be ready until April. Paul Kramer of the Illinois Division of Waterways said last week his office is still studying the needs of the Embarras River basin. John Guillou, former chief engineer of the waterways division, recommended in February the state construct as many as 10 levies on the lower Embarras to offer residents some form of flood control. The levies proposed would be located south of the Coles-Cumberland county line to the mouth of the Embarras at Lawrenceville.

25 years ago, 2000

SULLIVAN  The Sullivan Singers, a 60-member group of high school singers and dancers, will travel to Chicago on March 24 and 25. They will attend classes at Chicago's Navy Pier and compete at the Terpsichore Performing Arts Workshop and Show Choir competition. The fledgling performers will be trained by guest artists and choreographers who have worked with music artists and dancers such as Janet Jackson and Paula Abdul and on Broadway shows such as "Cats." "It's a pretty big deal," said the group's director, David Moellenkamp. He said the Sullivan Singers' current show ends with a disco medley from the film "Saturday Night Fever."...CHARLESTON  During a vehicle stop on Thursday for a minor traffic violation, officers of the Charleston Police Department recovered more than $10,000 worth of stolen traveler's checks and more than $2,500 in cash. A press release from the police department reported that Officer Chad Reed at 1:30 p.m. stopped a vehicle driven by Torome Fitzpatrick, 30, of Milwaukee, for running a red light near the 1400 block of Lincoln Ave. During the course of the stop, Reed became suspicious of Fitzpatrick's answers and behavior...MATTOON  A Lake Land College instructor is now bald due to a promise he made to his students. "I jokingly told my Network Administration students that if 30 out of the 40 of them passed the Microsoft certification test, I would shave my head. Before I knew it, 37 of them had passed," said Scott Rhine, computer information systems instructor.
Maryland's landmark education reform known as the Blueprint for Maryland's Future comes with budget busting costs. A new poll suggests voters may be wary of higher taxes even for better schools. (File photo by Danielle Gaines/Maryland Matters)

Marylanders support improving public school education, but a poll released Tuesday suggests there might be a limit to what people are willing to pay.

One in every two Maryland voters said they oppose increasing taxes to pay for the education reforms known as the Blueprint for Marylands Future, according to Annapolis-based Gonzales Research & Media.

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Maryland has to balance its budget every year. Thats the law, pollster Patrick Gonzales said. The Blueprint and the budget are at odds with each other right now. Theres no easy out politically.

Gonzales said past polling has shown Maryland voters strongly supportive of funding public education. More recently, the pollster said there is evidence to suggest voters are feeling the pinch of a sluggish economy and high prices. He said there is evidence voters today are suffering from tax fatigue.

Gonzales surveyed 804 registered voters who said they are likely to vote in the next election. The poll, conducted March 5-9 asked voters about their willingness to pay more in taxes for education.

The poll has a margin of error of 3.5%.

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Maryland faces a roughly $3 billion deficit for the fiscal 2026 budget year. And while the costs of the Blueprint for the coming year is fully covered, that isnt so in future years.

The state will soon exhaust the special fund meant to cover the costs. Those costs will be shifted to the states general fund budget. That shift drives projected deficits that explode to $6.2 billion by fiscal 2030.

State government is in a tough spot, Gonzales said. It mandated this spending, and its got to solve this problem somehow.

In response, 45% of those surveyed said they would be willing to pay more in taxes to ensure that $10 billion is spent on public education over the next three years. Of those, 25% said they would strongly favor higher taxes earmarked for K-12 education.

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Democrats represented the most support for the question, at 63%.

But 50% told the pollster they would oppose higher taxes even for education. Among those who oppose higher taxes, 4 voters in 5 said they strongly oppose such a move.

Unsurprisingly, 87% of Republicans said they oppose increases in state and local taxes for education.

Independent voters were more evenly split with 48% opposing higher taxes and 44% saying they would support increased taxes for education.

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POPE COUNTY, Ark.  The Pope County Sheriffs Office issued a statement regarding its investigation into a non-fatal shooting.

Sheriff Shane Jones stated that his department has taken a 13-year-old into custody and that person is facing charges of attempted murder. According to the departments statement, deputies were called at 1:30 a.m. on March 7 to the 1800 Block of Pollard Cemetary Road for a reported shooting.

Little Rock police investigating deadly shooting on Bowman Road

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When deputies arrived, they found a 56-year-old woman with a single gunshot wound. Officials said the woman, who the department did not name, was alert and conscious when deputies found her.

Officials continued that investigators determined the shooter was suspected to be a 13-year-old relative of the woman. The suspect had fled, officials said but was later found on Boyd Road.

Arkansas State Police investigating deadly shooting involving wanted man in Faulkner County

The suspect was not named, nor was a gender given in the departments report, which is typical for police reports involving a juvenile.

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ROME (AP)  Pope Francis participated remotely in the Vatican's spiritual retreat Tuesday after getting good news from his doctors: They upgraded his prognosis and say he is no longer in imminent danger of death as a result of the respiratory infection that has kept him hospitalized for nearly a month in the longest and gravest threat to his 12-year papacy.

The 88-year-old pope isnt out of the woods yet, however. Doctors are still cautious and have decided to keep him hospitalized for several more days to receive treatment, not to mention a period of rehabilitation he will likely need.

Dr. Carmelo DAsero, an infectious diseases specialist and expert in geriatric diseases, said Francis was clearly making slow and gradual progress, but still had not recovered fully. He said it remains to be seen how and when he can return to the Vatican, and whether he will need supplemental oxygen to breathe going forward.

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We must not forget that he has been hospitalized for one month, said DAsero, who is not involved in Francis care. He noted that the arrival of spring in Rome should help. Francis bronchitis typically flares during the winter months.

We are entering a warm seasons, which is surely good for those who suffer of respiratory diseases, he said. I think he will go back to work, but with smaller workloads and with a constantly monitored oxygen therapy.

Francis, who has chronic lung disease, is still using supplemental oxygen during the day and a ventilation mask at night to help him breathe.

The Vatican said Francis resumed physical and respiratory physiotherapy Tuesday, and followed the Vaticans weeklong spiritual retreat via videoconference for a third day.

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It really makes me happy, because we were sad as it looked like he was not recovering," said Sister Maria Letizia Salazar, a nun who was praying for Francis on Tuesday outside the Gemelli hospital. But now that Ive got this news I am very happy."

This week also counts some important anniversaries for Francis: Tuesday is the 67th anniversary of his entry into the Jesuit religious orders novitiate, and Thursday marks the 12th anniversary of his election as pope.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Fans are mourning the loss of a popular social media content creator who passed away in Mexico just one day before her 25th birthday. Alysha Burney died in her sleep on March 2 while on vacation in Cabo San Lucas, according to Fox4KC. But while her followers mourn Burneys untimely passing, her family claims that not all of the details circulating about her death are true.

The Kansas City native, known for her hilarious Bad Girls Club parody skits, was a popular social media content creator, with over 580,000 followers on Instagram and over 2 million on TikTok alone.

Alyshas brother, Charles Burney, who was with her at the time of her death, said she died in her sleep after having an asthma attack. He addressed some of the online speculation that the promising young star died as a result of drug use and warned those spreading disinformation that they would be dealt with in court.

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It is extremely difficult seeing all of the false narratives trying to defame her legacy and we are ready to take legal action for those continuing to spread false information regarding her passing, he wrote in a March 10 Instagram post.

Burney told Fox4KC that his sister did not use drugs and was laser focused on going after her goals.

She was not selfish with her knowledge and was a very open book about her journey. She will always be dearly loved, and her legacy will live on forever, he said. She does not do drugs. She was a self-loving and happy individual who cherished her life and was looking forward to the upcoming years plans. She was in Mexico to celebrate her birthday. She was a very classy young woman.

Charles Burney said his sister, who graduated from the University of Central Missouri with a degree in Digital Media Production, had been living in Los Angeles trying to establish herself as a writer and director. He added that she wanted to use her knowledge and experience to help other aspiring creatives from her hometown.

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Her lifelong goal was to be a writer and a director. Another goal she had was to return to Kansas City, open a production studio, and help other young creatives from Kansas City get to where she was, he told Fox4KC.



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(Bloomberg) -- Portugals parliament toppled Prime Minister Luis Montenegros center-right minority government in a confidence vote Tuesday, likely leading the country to its third early election in just over three years.

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The premier requested the confidence vote last week, saying he wanted to clarify whether his government had all the conditions to carry out its program after struggling to put an end to speculation about potential conflicts of interest related to a company owned by his family.

The Socialists and far-right party Chega, the two biggest opposition groups, voted against the government. Combined, the two political forces have more than half of all lawmakers in the chamber.

The governments ouster may delay key decisions, including a plan to privatize state-owned airline TAP SA this year and investments in infrastructure such as high-speed railway links. Montenegros administration, which took office less than a year ago, also aimed to increase defense spending.

The snap election could take place on May 11 or May 18 at the earliest, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said last week. While the president is mainly a figurehead, he has the authority to appoint the premier, dissolve parliament and decide whether to call early elections. The president will hold meetings with parties on Wednesday, a necessary step before he can formally schedule an election.

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We tried at all costs, until the last minute, to avoid early elections, Montenegro said after the confidence vote was rejected, referring to attempts to negotiate with the Socialists. The country is in a weaker position and I deeply regret that this is the case.

The Socialists, led by Pedro Nuno Santos, had previously let Montenegros 2025 budget pass by abstaining in a vote in November. The prime minister had to compromise on key policies such as corporate tax cuts to get their backing.

Both the Socialist leader and Montenegro say theyre in favor of political stability, and want to avoid being blamed for causing an early election.

Hours before Tuesdays vote in parliament, Montenegro said he was willing to withdraw the confidence motion if the Socialists would agree to limit the duration of a planned inquiry related to his family-owned company. Opposition leader Santos rejected the proposal and called on the premier to withdraw the motion.

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What took place in parliament today was a disgrace, Santos said. There were maneuvers, there were games, there were tricks, this is unacceptable. I really regret that happened.

Montenegro, 52, has led the PSD party since 2022 and says he will seek reelection as premier. It will likely be a close race against Socialist leader Santos.

A poll published by TVI on Sunday showed the ruling AD coalition leading with 34% support, followed by the opposition Socialists with 29% and Chega with 14%. Another opinion poll published by Jornal de Negocios on Tuesday showed the Socialists leading the ruling coalition by 1.5 percentage point.

Portugals last early election was held in March 2024 and Montenegro took office in April. The premiers AD coalition got a narrow win over the Socialists in that election. Far-right party Chega grabbed much of the spotlight in that vote, when it quadrupled its number of seats in parliament.

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Chega leader Andre Ventura has appealed to a growing number of disgruntled voters by blaming successive center-left and center-right governments for what its leader says is systemic corruption in Portugal. Ventura, a former tax inspector, has also focused on issues such as immigration.

Prime Minister Montenegro succeeded Antonio Costa, a Socialist who unexpectedly quit as prime minister in November 2023 after eight years in office amid a probe into alleged influence peddling. Costa, who denied wrongdoing, is now European Council president.

Montenegro has been facing questions since February about a family-owned firm and potential conflicts of interest. The premier 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, and the firm is now totally owned by Montenegros children, he announced earlier in March.

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 over those five decades.

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Fiscal discipline has been a focus for successive Portuguese administrations since the euro-area debt crisis, when the country 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. S&P Global Ratings on Feb. 28 upgraded Portugals government bond rating to A from A-, citing deleveraging.

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%.

--With assistance from Greg Ritchie and Alice Gledhill.

(Updates with president holding meetings on Wednesday in fifth paragraph, prime minister and opposition leaders comments from sixth paragraph.)

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2025 Bloomberg L.P.
(Bloomberg) -- Portugals Socialists, the biggest opposition party, led Prime Minister Luis Montenegros AD coalition by a margin of 1.5 percentage point in an opinion poll, Jornal de Negocios reported on its website.

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Portugals parliament is set to topple Montenegros center-right minority government in a confidence vote on Tuesday, likely leading to the countrys third early election in just over three years. A snap election may take place on May 11 or May 18 at the earliest, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said on Wednesday.

Montenegro says he will seek reelection as premier. The Socialists are led by Pedro Nuno Santos, a former infrastructure minister.

The survey shows 25% support for the Socialists

It indicates 23.5% for the ruling center-right AD alliance, which groups PSD and smaller conservative party CDS Far-right party Chega has 15.2% and the Liberal Initiative has 7% The Communist-Green alliance has 3% support, the Left Bloc has 4.8% support, Livre has 3.9% and PAN has 3%

The survey was carried out by Intercampus on March 4-10. It used 620 interviews, with a margin of error of 3.9 percentage points

Read More: Portugals Government Is Set to Be Toppled in Confidence Vote

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(Bloomberg) -- Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said hes willing to suspend a confidence vote scheduled for Tuesday, trying to blame the opposition Socialists for any move that would lead to the disruption of a snap election.

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The premier is trying to survive after less than one year in office. Montenegro requested the confidence vote last week, saying he wanted to clarify whether his center-right minority government had all the conditions to carry out its program after struggling to put an end to speculation about potential conflicts of interest related to a company owned by his family.

Socialist leader Pedro Nuno Santos and Andre Ventura, the leader of far-right party Chega, have both said previously that the two biggest opposition groups would vote against Montenegro in the confidence vote. That would lead to the governments collapse and likely early elections.

Both the Socialist leader and Prime Minister Montenegro say theyre in favor of political stability, and want to avoid being blamed for causing an early election. If the government falls, the country is set to face its third snap election in just over three years.

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 over those five decades.

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Its in the hands of the Socialist Party to decide whether we will go for an early election or not, Montenegro said in parliament on Tuesday. Im available to suspend this session if Pedro Nuno Santos specifically says what information he wants, in what form he wants it, and within what time frame so that once and for all he can tell the country whether or not he is informed.

In response, Socialist leader Santos called on the prime minister to withdraw the confidence motion. The Socialist Party has already submitted a request for a parliamentary inquiry, he said.

The Socialists have previously let Montenegros minority administrations 2025 budget pass by abstaining in a vote in November. Montenegro has had to compromise on key policies such as corporate tax cuts to get their backing.

The governments ouster could delay key decisions, including a plan to privatize state-owned airline TAP SA this year and investments in infrastructure such as high-speed railway links.

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A snap election could take place on May 11 or May 18 at the earliest if the government loses the confidence vote, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said last week. While the president is mainly a figurehead, he has the authority to appoint the premier, dissolve parliament and decide whether to call early elections.

Montenegro, 52, has said he will seek reelection as premier if theres an early vote. It would likely be a close race against Socialist leader Santos.

A poll published by TVI on Sunday showed the ruling AD coalition leading with 34% support, followed by the opposition Socialists with 29% and Chega with 14%. Another opinion poll published by Jornal de Negocios on Tuesday showed the Socialists leading the ruling coalition by 1.5 percentage point.

Portugals last early election was held in March 2024 and the premiers AD coalition got a narrow win over the Socialists. Far-right party Chega grabbed much of the spotlight in that vote, when it quadrupled its number of seats in parliament.

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(Updates with details on Portugals minority governments in fifth paragraph, government plans in ninth.)

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By Sergio Goncalves and Andrei Khalip

LISBON (Reuters) -Portugal's centre-right minority government collapsed on Tuesday after losing a vote of confidence, with the country now likely to head into its third early general election in as many years.

Lawmakers voted 142-88, with zero abstentions, against the motion of confidence that was presented last Thursday by Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, in his job for 11 months. He called the vote after the opposition questioned his integrity over the dealings of a consultancy firm he founded which is now run by his sons.

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Montenegro has denied wrongdoing or any ethical shortcomings by the firm, which has contracts with private companies.

"The insinuation that I mixed my business and political activity is completely abusive, and even insulting. A repeated falsehood does not become the truth, but it contaminates the political environment... this is what populism feeds on," he told parliament before the vote.

Montenegro's administration now assumes a caretaker role. It is up to President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa whether to call a parliamentary election after he consults the main political parties on Wednesday and his advisory Council of State on Thursday. He has said a new ballot could be held in mid-May.

"We tried everything to avoid a snap election," Montenegro told reporters after the vote. His administration had tried to convince the main opposition Socialists to abstain from the vote, or to agree on terms for the government to withdraw the motion.

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Montenegro said he had proposed that he face a parliamentary committee inquiry into his family's company that would last up to two months, something he had previously ruled out, but the Socialists refused to negotiate setting a time limit.

Any lengthier investigation would have worn out the government, Montenegro said.

Socialist leader Pedro Nuno Santos labelled the attempts to negotiate just minutes before the vote "desperate and shameful", saying that Montenegro was the only one to blame for the crisis and "unfit to govern".

STABILITY SEEN ELUSIVE, VOTERS WEARY

An early ballot is all but inevitable but analysts see no strong mandate for any political force emerging from it.

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Voters are already showing election fatigue and disillusionment with politicians.

"This seems like a joke, no one understands why there's a new election so soon. Politicians blame each other, but all of them are being irresponsible," said Joao Brito, a 70-year-old retired civil servant in downtown Lisbon.

Political scientist Adelino Maltez of Lisbon University said opinion polls showed very little change in voter preferences from the March 2024 election, which Montenegro's Democratic Alliance (AD) won by a slender margin, securing 80 seats in the 230-seat house.

The AD and the Socialists, who now have 78 seats, are neck-and-neck in most surveys.

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"The problem is that the new election will not be conclusive... The AD and the Socialists are tied. It is a situation that will be difficult for them to navigate," Maltez said. A centrist pact between Montenegro's Social Democrats and the Socialists was the only solution, despite the differences in their policy proposals, he said.

The two main rivals only had such an accord in parliament once, in 1983-1985.

"If they don't do it, it will be more of the same instability," Maltez said.

(Reporting by Sergio Goncalves, Writing by Andrei Khalip, editing by Aislinn Laing, David Latona and Rosalba O'Brien)
EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA (WNCT)  A possible limit of harvesting female crabs in North Carolina is leaving some fisherman concerned.

The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries has a few options they are weighing, but according to the decision document, their recommended course of action is to limit harvesting to a 10 bushel limit from June to December.

The goal of their plan is to rebuild the blue crab population over 10 years. If they were to move forward with this plan, fishermen say it would be detrimental to the industry.

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Theres no way we can pass you you own a business that no matter what kind of business you have, even if its farming, if its industry, anything, and they could cut your business back by 70 or 80%. No business can make it, said Reggie Bishop III, commercial fishermen.

This could also have an effect on the economy. Click on the video above for more.

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GOSHEN  As fights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo escalate, Elkhart County residents are protesting for peace.

Alma and Evra Tshisola, of Elkhart, put together a small protest at the Elkhart County Courthouse in Goshen on Saturday afternoon, with the crowd in attendance sharing information and hymns asking the American people for mercy and support.

Congo is not in the news as they should be, Alma said. They are facing a genocide for more than 30-plus years. Violence has escalated in the past couple of months and this needs to be known by everybody. We need to stand as fellow humans against this genocide and occupation.

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Since January, Congos government said that at least 7,000 people have died in the fighting and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says at least 600,000 have been displaced. Armies across Africa have fought with Congo since the 1990s, but mostly withdrew in 2003 after a peace deal was made.

Small rebel groups continued to clash in North Kivu but M23 remained inactive until 2022 when the full-blown conflict began. Evra said the M23 rebels took control of Goma, a Congo-Rwanda border town of mixed nationalities back in January. Since then, M23 has taken Bukavu in Sout Kivu and expanded to North Kivu, expressing intent to seize power of DRCs capitol, Kinshasa in a coup.

Evra moved to the United States around 10 years ago and most of his family still resides in Congo.

Its just scary because you dont know where this things going to go, he said. Right now, the rebels are just taking city-by-city and approaching the capitol. Its scary having family there because we dont know whats going to happen. They live in fear. Today they can be fine, but they dont know whats going to happen tomorrow.

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Eastern Congo is home to resources including coltan, cobalt, copper and lithium, and according to the Tshisola, the resources are a primary cause of the war and the lack of support the country is receiving.

Congo has a lot of resources that contribute to the making of phones, computers, electrocars  cobalt is the main one, Alma said. This issue is very complex, because Congo is hugely rich in these resources, everybody wants a piece of it, so Rwanda is carrying out this genocide in Congo so they can get a piece of these resources and they can sell it to all the U.S., the European nations. Its founded in the the baseline of the resources, funding this genocide because everybody wants a piece of it.

You know, when theres more resources taken from a country we try to hide it so that other people dont hear about it, Evra said. They try to put it under the table.

Alma reminded Evra that the governments supporting Rwanda also impact the situation surrounding Congo and its minerals.

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The European countries, America, (are) supporting Rwanda, Evra explained. They are supplying them and making this war going on. When you tell people about this they are just surprised because they dont know about it.

The M23 rebel group has claimed it has hopes to take over the Congolese government, but Evra said the truth is that the rebel group is also being exploited for its passion.

I think the other piece of it is because Congo cannot give in an easy way, thats why theyre going through, to the Rwandan government, so they can get it easily, Evra added. Since they cannot come straight to Congo to get the resources, they are using Rwanda.

Alma said the goal is to end the genocide.

We know that the natural resources, theyre going to be used no matter what, she said. But we want the resources to be used in a just and respectable way so the people of Congo can flourish and succeed and be in peace. This genocide it makes no sense.
Saige Dahmen was eager to learn the basics of hair cutting and coloring in cosmetology school in Beaverton, Oregon, in 2023. There was just one hiccup: She needed a 20-minute break during her five-hour school day to express milk for her nearly 1-year-old daughter, and the school only allowed 15 minutes.

Dahmen, 24, was told to submit a request under the Americans with Disabilities Act to the schools Title IX coordinator, but it was denied, according to interviews and correspondence reviewed by NBC News, on the grounds that it did not meet the requirements for an ADA accommodation.

Instead, the coordinator said shed have to clock out and make up the time. The cosmetology school declined to comment other than to say Dahmens account was inaccurate.

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Dahmen said she tried for roughly two months to keep up her pumping schedule but grew frustrated and stopped expressing at school. She ultimately completed her program but worries that other parents in similar situations might not.

I cant imagine how many mothers drop out, Dahmen said.

Last April, the Biden administration issued updates to Title IX aimed at helping students like Dahmen. Rather than rely on schools to interpret the law, the Biden-era rules explicitly outlined certain accommodations, including the right to eat and drink water in class, adjust exam dates and receive excused absences for prenatal care and breaks to breastfeed or express milk.

But those new rules were reversed in January after nearly two dozen states sued the Biden administration to block separate parts of the measure aimed at protecting LGBTQ students from discrimination. In January, a federal judge struck down the changes, which tossed out the expanded protections for pregnant and parenting students, too.

"I can't imagine how many mothers drop out," Dahmen said about the struggle to attend school while parenting.

Now advocates are hoping to restore them. In late February, Public Justice and two other legal organizations filed a motion to intervene in the case on behalf of A Better Balance, a national nonprofit that advises student parents on their rights under Title IX. "If the new regulations were in effect, there would have been no argument to be had because Saige could have directly pointed to the provision in the rule that says that students have this right," said Alexandra Brodsky, a senior attorney at Public Justice. "That would have been the end of the conversation."

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A spokesperson for the Tennessee Attorney Generals Office, which led the suit, declined to comment. The White House and U.S. Department of Education did not respond to requests for comment.

In the motion, Katherine Greenberg, director of strategic litigation for A Better Balance, describes some of the situations callers to the group's hotline had reported.

One said she had to log in for an exam-related call from her hospital bed after giving birth, according to an affidavit from Greenberg.

Another said she was told she couldnt reschedule an exam that was on the same day as her due date.

Really what it comes down to is that students deserve to go to school, and they shouldnt need a lawyer to help them stay in school, Samantha Hunt, a legal fellow with A Better Balance told NBC News. Only 37 percent of student parents finish a degree within six years compared with roughly 60 percent of students without children, according to the Institute for Womens Policy and Research.

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Similar examples of parents struggles have cropped up nationwide both before and since the new regulations were enacted.

Last year, the Department of Education found that a Mississippi community college violated Title IX when it failed to provide a young mother with "necessary adjustments" during her pregnancy and early parenthood. Among other issues, she reported being offered a glass-walled room to express milk in, leading her to pump in a bathroom stall for privacy.

Last fall, Georgetown Law School denied a students request to take an in-person final remotely or move up an exam to accommodate her due date, before relenting amid a public outcry.

The federal ruling came as schools are navigating a new administration hostile to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Jessica Lee, director of the Pregnant Scholar Initiative, a nonprofit that advises students and school staff on Title IX protections, said some administrators shes spoken with have wondered if running inclusion programs for pregnant and parenting students could threaten their funding.

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We were seeing such great progress last year, which I think is part of why this is so gutting, Lee said.

Legal experts interviewed by NBC News emphasized that Title IX is still intact and pregnant and parenting students still have rights. Theyve just lost the rules that made them more explicit.

In February, the U.S. Department of Education sent out a memo saying it would adhere to 2020 Title IX guidelines from Trumps first term, rejecting the Biden-era changes. In the wake of that directive, The Guardian reported that CUNYs Graduate Center sent an email stating that employees no longer have to make students aware of their rights under Title IX.

In a statement, a CUNY spokesperson statement defended the move. CUNY works to protect all its students, including its pregnant students," a CUNY spokesperson said in a statement to NBC News, noting that work would continue. "We wanted our community to know there had been a change in law."

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The Department of Education did not respond to questions about its plans.

My worst fear is that we are going to see a mass exodus of pregnant and parenting students from higher ed, Lee said. People are hearing that regulations have been pulled back. Thats really, really scary when you are not only caring for yourself but also trying to support a family.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A pregnant woman was beaten in her own apartment after a group of people broke into her home, Memphis Police say.

On Feb. 25 officers responded to the assault at the Whispering Pines Apartments at 2326 Dwight Road at 11 p.m. The victim told police she heard a knock at her door, then five people came into her apartment through an unlocked door.

The woman said the group began asking for her cousin, but when she told them he was not at the apartment, one of the women in the group allegedly stated, Since we cant get to him, well get you.

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Man fires shot during robbery of Parkway Village store

Police say the group then began assaulting the woman by hitting her in the head as Herbert Howard, 35, stood by and threatened her. Once they were done assaulting her, the group left the apartment.

Herbert Howard (Photo courtesy of the SCSO)

The victim told police she was 36 weeks pregnant at the time of the assault and identified Howard as one of the people involved.

Howard was taken into custody on Monday and charged with Aggravated Burglary and Assault. His bond has not been set but he is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday morning.

Court records also show Jamia Howard, 19, was taken into custody on Feb. 26 and released on a $5,000 bond. She is facing the same charges as Herbert Howard. Her mugshot is not available.

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MILFORD, PIKE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  People in Pike County are getting ready for its Second Annual Saint Patricks Parade.

Organizers said last years parade was immensely popular and brought out around 3,000 people to the Milford Borough.

A local realtor, Jenny Gagnon, came up with the idea and, along with Milford Borough Council President Joseph Dooley, organized the event to celebrate Irish culture and heritage in the area.

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Sabatelles reopens after next door fire

Having a parade like this brings our community together. Last year, like I said, we were shocked by the turnout, thousands of people that were here, and it was one of the biggest unifying events for our community in years, Dooley explained.

The parade will be on Sunday at 2:00 p.m., starting at Ann Street Memorial Park and ending at Saint Patricks Church.

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The end of a presidential administration always brings with it a last-minute pardon spree. In recent years the practice has led pundits and politicians to worry that the men occupying the Oval Office don't have the ethics to handle such broad power.

Outgoing President Joe Biden ignited controversy this time around when he pardoned his son Hunter, even though Biden previously promised the American public that he wouldn't interfere in the prosecution.

Under pressure from a coalition of criminal justice advocacy and religious groups, Biden also commuted the sentences of all but three of the 40 inmates on federal death row, reducing their punishment to life in prison. In this case, the pardon power was a substitute (or autocratic workaround, Biden's critics charged) for death penalty abolition legislation that Biden promised during the 2020 campaign but that he and Democratic leadership never had any real stomach for.

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Controversy over the pardon power will certainly continue. Before Biden left office, he preemptively pardoned more of his family and several members of his administration under the justification that they were potential targets of the Trump administration, which has vowed revenge on its many political enemies. Meanwhile, Donald Trump pardoned roughly 1,500 of his supporters who were convicted for participating in the January 6 Capitol riot, including many who assaulted police.

In recent years, lawmakers in Congress have proposed constitutional amendments to stop presidents from pardoning themselves, family members, and cronies. But while it's been amply demonstrated over the past two administrations that pardons can be used for self-serving endsnepotism, buying loyalty, shielding unrepentant lackeysthey are still a crucial check on judicial and legislative excess.

The U.S. justice system heavily values finality in sentencing, and overturning sentences through courts or reform legislation, even when everyone agrees there's been a mistake, can take years, even decades. A grant of clemency is instantaneous and unchallengeable.

Trump's last-minute pardon spree during his first term included commuting the sentence of Chris Young. Young was sentenced to life in prison for his role in a drug trafficking ring. After he refused a plea deal and exercised his right to trial, prosecutors used a federal "three strikes" law to enhance his sentence to life. None of his co-defendants, including the alleged ringleader, received life.

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Among the people granted clemency by Biden were more than a dozen nonviolent drug offenders who received significantly longer sentences than they would have if they had been convicted today. Their draconian sentences were the result of legislation championed by then-Sen. Joe Biden in the 1980s.

The pardon power is a rare instance where our government has enshrined the quality of mercy. That's a virtue we should value and preserve in our leaders.

The post Preserve the Mercy of Pardon Power, Even If Presidents Misuse It appeared first on Reason.com.
(WTVO)  Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker will deliver the keynote address at the New Hampshire Democratic Party fundraiser, a move that has sparked speculation about the 2028 presidential race.

Pritzker will speak at the New Hampshire Democrats McIntyre-Shaheen 100 Club Dinner on April 27 in Manchester.

Pritzker is known for his ability to provide strong leadership in tough times, something we need now more than ever, the organization said in a press release.

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According to FOX News, New Hampshire holds the first primary race for the White House, and politicians traditionally make trips there as an early indication of their political aspirations.

Pritzker has repeatedly tamped down talk of his presidential aspirations, Last month, he said he had not made a decision on whether he would seek a third term as governor.

DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick announced he was going to run for the Republican nomination in the March 2026 primary.

New Hampshire Democratic Party chair Ray Buckley said Pritzkers record in Illinois is an example of why Democrats should govern all across this country  because they deliver.

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Pritzker has emerged as one of the Democrats most vocal opponents of President Donald Trump. He was under consideration to be former Vice President Kamala Harris running mate in 2024.

Pritzker has also done numerous interviews on national broadcasts since Trump was sworn in, increasing his visibility as one of Trumps most vocal critics.

The billionaire heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune also launched a pro-abortion organization, Think Big America, that provides funding for ballot measures in other states seeking to codify abortion access.

In his State of the State budget address, Pritzker drew comparisons between the Trump administration and the rise of the Nazis in pre-World War II Germany, but then told The View co-host Joy Behar, Im not suggesting that were heading all the way down that path, but I am suggesting that it should be like red alert everybody. We should all wake up.

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Everything that he has done has been tearing down constitutional democracy and thats what happened in Nazi Germany, he added.

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A warm Tuesday in store. Break out the sunscreen.

Melanie Smith McCarthy didnt much feel like talking. At least in the traditional sense.

Id call you, she wrote in an exchange of online messages, but not so great on live conversations right now.

Which is completely understandable.

Her daughter, 34-year-old Miles Austin McCarthy, was reported missing Feb. 28 from the 400 block of Sunset Drive. A family member, police said, told investigators that shed last been heard from mid-afternoon Feb. 27.

Winston-Salem police and deputies with the Forsyth County Sheriffs Office zeroed in on Belews Lake after being told that McCarthy might have been headed there. Investigators found her shoes and her car near the Piney Bluff boat ramp on the southern end of the 3,000-acre lake.

K-9 teams, drones and boats from law-enforcement agencies in four counties combed the area for days.

But with some 88 miles of shoreline to search - and time working against them - finding her alive and well was going to be difficult.

And that knowledge is what prompted her mom to post a devastating message on social media thanking the people who offered help, good thoughts and prayers.

The past week has been, at minimum, surreal and heartbreaking, Smith McCarthy wrote. She called me every morning, like clockwork, for so long and now, nothing.

Given Miles history with severe, debilitating mental illness, and the information that I have received from the police and others, I no longer expect to find her alive. The police, rescue personnel, and volunteers have searched for Miles, and will continue to do so for as long as feasible. I cannot thank them enough.

Its tough for a parent - or anyone with an ounce of compassion for that matter - to read.

But for all the negatives associated with social media, most of which are well-earned, in this case its only fair to note a benefit.

Social media, Facebook, gave a devastated mother a platform for providing an update and being able to express her gratitude to law enforcement and the community for its support while sparing her from having to repeat the same words over and over.

Be thankful for small mercies, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote a century before anyone ever dreamed of Twitter, TikTok or Instagram.

A photo circulated by police during their search showed Miles and one of her dogs on a kayak.

She was smiling, clearly in a happy place with a beloved companion. And Smith McCarthy wanted to offer an update about her pets, too.

Miles dogs are safe and being cared for by family, she wrote. We are seeking perfect homes, so that they continue to receive the great degree of love that Miles always showered upon them. If you or someone you know could provide that home, please PM me.

Smith McCarthy shared a little bit of what made her daughter special as well her own wishes for what may come.

My hope is twofold right at this moment: that they recover my daughters body, and that Miles has found the peace that eluded her in life, she wrote. Miles was wholly compassionate, intensely fierce, highly intelligent, with a wondering mind and a wandering spirit. A beautiful human, inside and out. She struggled and she fought.

Peace now, little Mouse, peace.

Labor Department fines D.H. Griffin Cos.

GREENSBORO - Anticlimactic though it may be - fines and lawsuits do precious little to assuage real grief - the N.C. Department of Labor announced Monday that it was fining a Greensboro company $16,131 for violating occupational and safety laws in connection with a workplace death last September.

Margarito Alfonso-Cruz, a 51-year-old employee of the D.H. Griffin Co., was killed Sept. 4 when an Amtrak passenger train crashed into a boom lift he was operating at a railroad crossing on Hilltop Road.

The citation issued by the Labor Department faulted the company for asking employees to move heavy equipment across an active railroad crossing with two sets of tracks and (having) no procedures or control methods in place to prevent them from being struck by a train.

Instead of driving a boom lift across the tracks, the Labor Department recommended that the company should move such equipment on a trailer or a rollback truck.

The Labor Departments findings, as one might expect, were sterile and matter-of-fact. The day after Alfonso-Cruzs death, his son told a colleague at the News & Record a gut-wrenching account.

Co-workers, said Francisco Dominguez, were directing traffic on Hilltop Road during the move and saw a safety arm at the rail crossing hit the boom lift, which caused it to shut down.

Seeing the train approach, Alfonso-Cruzs co-workers yelled for him to jump.

But nerves must have kicked in and he didnt make it out in time, Dominguez said.

Alfonso-Cruz worked for D.H. Griffin for 20 years and was known to his family as Lalo. Relatives described him as being gregarious and full of good-natured mischief. He always made the party go on, his sister-in-law Anayley Osorio told the News & Record.

The findings released Monday wont do much, if anything, to provide solace to the family. But they might help prevent similar tragedies in the future.

The penalties are in no way designed to make up for the loss of life, the Department of Labor stated. By law, civil money penalties collected by the N.C. Department of Labor are not receipts of the department but rather must be remitted to the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund, which then distributes the monies to the public school system.

D.H. Griffin Cos. have 15 days to pay the fine or appeal.
Sir Keir Starmer is not the first Labour Prime Minister to lament the inertia of the Civil Service. In 1966 Harold Wilson set up the Fulton committee because he feared officials were blocking the reforms he wanted to make even though his government was largely welcomed by many mandarins after 13 years of Conservative rule.

He was guided by his adviser, the Oxford don Thomas Balogh, who said the Civil Service encouraged a purposefully useless, somewhat dilettante, erudition. The Fulton recommendations sought to end the emphasis on Oxbridge generalists and bring in more specialists and skilled managers, but largely ignored the machinery of Whitehall where the real problems lay.

When Tony Blair arrived in No 10 after 18 years of Tory rule he was suspicious of the political proclivities of the Civil Service and two years later talked of the scars on my back inflicted by trying to reform the public sector. A quarter of a century on Sir Keir accuses many in Whitehall of being comfortable in the tepid bath of managed decline. Has anything changed?

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On Thursday, the Prime Minister will make a keynote speech demanding reform, backed by the threat of removing officials who do not come up to snuff. Numbers in the Civil Service, which were coming down, have swelled since the pandemic and have stayed high ever since at above 500,000.

Pat McFadden, the Cabinet Office minister, is overseeing a plan to cut the complement, improve performance management and drive efficiency in Whitehall. Good luck with that. Fans of the timeless sitcom Yes Minister will recall how Sir Humphrey Appleby thwarted efforts of his minister Jim Hacker to reduce the size of the Civil Service, ending up with even more officials than before. It may have been fiction but was firmly rooted in fact.

New administrations always have an uneasy relationship with the Civil Service because officials have more power over how decisions are put into practice than inexperienced Ministers appreciate. They see reluctance to implement policies as deliberate sabotage when the real problem lies with what they are being asked to do by their political masters.

The politicians invariably under-estimate the time, costs and risks involved in what they are proposing, set impossible deadlines and exaggerate the benefits likely to accrue, if any. Pledges are devised in order to make them feel and look good with too little consideration given to their feasibility.

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Few Ministers have ever run anything. They have little expertise beyond the narrow confines of internal political machinations and make the cynical calculation that by the time failure is exposed they will have moved on to a different department or another party will be in power.

Over-promising and misplaced optimism are key factors in policy failure. How many times in the past few weeks have ministers told us how their reforms are ground-breaking, epoch-making, world-beating and unprecedented when we all know they are doomed to crash and burn, not because the officials overseeing them are poor but because the policies themselves are wrong-headed.

It is not officials who introduce unattainable targets purely for window-dressing and then expect them to be implemented. They are not responsible for net zero introduced by Ed Miliband and burnished by Boris Johnson and Theresa May with hardly any opposition in parliament.

It is not officials promulgating a raft of rental reforms that everyone knows will harm the sector, reduce the availability of homes to let and push up costs. They did not allow welfare payments to burgeon to such an extent that they must be reined in before bankrupting the country. It is not Whitehalls fault that dozens of schools are shutting because of the removal of the VAT exemption on education, or that employers are about to lay off staff because of an increase in NICs and the minimum wage.

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These are all political decisions that will cause untold damage as the political weather-vane swings around once more. Again, I am indebted to Sir Humphrey Appleby for the view from Whitehall: I have served eleven governments in the past thirty years. If I had believed in all their policies, I would have been passionately committed to keeping out of the Common Market, and passionately committed to going into it. I would have been utterly convinced of the rightness of nationalising steel. And of denationalising it and renationalising it. On capital punishment, Id have been a fervent retentionist and an ardent abolitionist. I wouldve been a Keynesian and a Friedmanite, a grammar school preserver and destroyer; but above all, I would have been a stark, staring, raving schizophrenic.

Politicians need to pass fewer laws and regulate less. If officials are being asked to deliver too much, with unrealistic deadlines and impossible expectations, it is hardly surprising that things go awry. Yet if they call out policies that have significant implementation challenges they are accused of being risk-averse and obstacles to change.

Partly this is a function of what is supposedly a strength of the British constitution, namely its decisiveness underpinned by the first-past-the-post electoral system. Big majority UK governments, unencumbered by the continental need to forge coalitions, can ram their programme through without having to negotiate with others or give serious thought to what they are doing.

They whip an abundance of laws and rules through parliament, ascribing any objections to the ideological bleatings of political opponents or the uselessness of the Civil Service. It is no coincidence that the five-year term of the Tory/Lib Dem Coalition was one of the quieter and more reflective periods of modern British governance.

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If Labour is now to focus purely on performance delivery in Whitehall it will not avoid policy failure if the basic approach is flawed. Sir Keir has told officials worried that they are about to face an Elon Musk-style cull that he will unshackle them from bureaucracy whatever that means. In reality, he is yet another Prime Minister preparing to scapegoat Whitehall for his Governments own shortcomings.

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Florida Department of Juvenile Justice HQ in Tallahassee. (Photo by Michael Moline/Florida Phoenix)

The DeSantis administration is correcting oversight and equipment growing pains that allowed incarcerated juvenile offenders to watch movies and pornography on state-issued laptops as part of a new education program, according to the systems top administrator.

Eric Hall, secretary of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, has told state lawmakers and administrative overseers that the problems emerged as the system struggled to create an entirely new way, melding classroom and internet instruction, to educate incarcerated kids.

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Well over 100 classrooms, from Pensacola all the way down to South Miami, is a big lift, Hall told the trustees of the new system last month.

And, with that  not excusing anything  I know that we had some students that tested the parameters of the security and got onto sites that they shouldnt have. And in many cases, and like any school out there, the district, the providers, worked hand-in-hand to make sure that just like any school that has a student do something they shouldnt do, you hold the student accountable and you tighten up your systems and your network to continue to make sure that you have security protocols that you need to ensure a good quality learning environment.

The Phoenix reported in November about misuse of computers by students under the departments custody and that some students needing special assistance may not have access to up-to-date individual education plans, or any plan at all.

The education model, operated on a contract basis by the Florida Virtual School (FLVS), started in July under the name Florida Scholars Academy via a statewide hybrid of online and in-person instruction that inspired high hopes compared to the old system, which varied from county to county. FLVS is an accredited remote-learning program, operating as a school district, for grades kindergarten through 12.

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Really, you know, recognize that, again, theres growing pains and things that none of us want to see happen. But, at the same time, I want to thank the team at FLVS for working quickly and troubleshooting, and night-and-day difference from where we were to where we are today by a long shot with what weve been able to do and accomplish, Hall said.

Department of Juvenile Justice Secretary Eric Hall. (Photo via Department of Juvenile Justice)

Hall and the superintendent of the Florida Scholars Academy, Julian Cazanas, have said that administrators now have minimized student access to inappropriate content. The department, though, has not fulfilled repeated public-records requests from the Phoenix for records of student-conduct violations to confirm these assertions.

Legislative interest

House and Senate budget committees have pressed Hall about the program and his assertions that things are improving.

During a House Justice Budget subcommittee meeting in February, Miami-Dade Republican Rep. Juan Porras questioned Halls description of the problems as growing pains.

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Obviously, a lot of members of our committee are aware of the incident with kids using pornographic material instead of schoolwork, so Im a little concerned when you just refer to these things as growing pains when were on seven to eight months of the program, Porras told Hall. I ask, at what point is that really kind of an administrative failure?

According to Hall, the incidents have diminished over time.

Access to the adult content that youre referencing, that happened in the first couple months of operations. I can tell you that over the last several months we have not had those same types of issues, Hall replied. I think the concerns that youre hearing are concerns of the initial few days, and I do not minimize that one bit. I want for my kids in our facilities just like I want for my own kids.

Rep. Juan Porras, a Miami-Dade Republican. (Photo via Florida House)

Porras said incarcerated students and their parents have reached out to tell him that they arent getting proper education, and have complained their children are being given packets of work to keep them busy when the internet is down or when computers are not available.

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Those packets fill gaps and ensure continuity when internet is not available, Hall said. As of February, one facility was still awaiting access to high-speed internet and using a Starlink device in the meantime.

Porras asked Hall about Cazanas reprimand for gross immorality after he grabbed [a student] by the shirt and struck him in the face at Miami Lakes Middle School in 2002, according to state documents.

Cazanas came with very high recommendations from individuals that continued to supervise him after he was disciplined, Hall said. There otherwise were no significant findings against Cazanas, he added.

What they settled on is up to them, he said, adding that the Miami district kept Cazanas employed and on a path to leadership. FLVS previously told the Phoenix Cazanas had passed a level 2 background check, a requirement to work in DJJ residential facilities. That entails checking fingerprints against state and national criminal records and often is required to work with vulnerable people.

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Earlier, Hall faced questions in January from members of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Civil and Criminal Justice, including Sen. Ileana Garcia, who pressed him about the students access to pornography.

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Finances

The Phoenix reported in November that the education program was running over its $23.4 million budget by about $7 million. The school attributed the overage to unexpectedly higher costs of equipment and setting up education plans. At that time, behavioral analyst Alyssa Richardson, who is contracted to work in some of the residential facilities, raised concerns about the cost of replacing or fixing laptops damaged or destroyed by students.

During a Florida Scholars Academy board meeting in February, FLVS said it has bought insurance to mitigate the cost of damaged computers. Lenovo had 100 of the states warranted laptops awaiting repair at that time, Cazanas said. The program enrolls about 1,400 students statewide.

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The department plans to use $6 million in unused funds from its first-year budget to supplement the current years $23.4 million appropriation. That, paired with federal grants, would put the expected budget at $32.1 million for this fiscal year.

According to a staff vacancy report from December, the school had three teacher vacancies out of approximately 112 positions and 12 paraprofessional vacancies (such as teacher assistants) out of 52 positions.

Gov. Ron DeSantis recommended the Legislature appropriate $7.1 million for the Florida Scholars Academy for the coming fiscal year. The would be the final year of the contract.

Special education accommodations

Most of the about students are enrolled in high school courses. As of Feb. 13, FLVS reported the program had awarded 27 high school diplomas and 36 GED diplomas since July 10. Twelve of the graduates have diagnosed disabilities, according to the school.

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As of February, 32.5% of the DJJ student population were identified as students who needed special education accommodations. Identifying those students is part of the big lift Hall referenced.

According to FLVS, students with disabilities may not possess completed individual education plan paperwork before entering the DJJ system, either because they transferred schools, were chronically absent, were not going to school, or missed evaluations, leaving FLVS to identify students with those needs.

According to the DOE, 30.7% of students in DJJ facilities had the education plans in March 2024. According to FLVS, that number was 33% in January this year.

Nikki Callaghan, exceptional student education director for FLVS, told trustees all plans are up to date except for new enrollees.

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Monitoring computers

The school told the Phoenix in October it was constantly monitoring our systems, but declined to comment further, citing cybersecurity concerns.

A team of 15 to 20 IT employees began work in January monitoring computer use across the system, Cazanas said. Thats six months after the programs inception and one month after the Phoenixs reports.

I myself have learned a little bit more than I think most folks know about cybersecurity, Cazanas told the FSA trustees. The first thing I want to identify is the wonderful work our cybersecurity team is doing, and little did I realize that cybersecurity has many tentacles, if thats the terminology were going to use.

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Each morning the IT team meets in a swarm, in a room, and are monitoring what is happening through the firewalls, he said.

It really has proven to help us, Number One, identify how the things are happening and, Number Two, documenting the corrective measures that were taking and helping understand how to just simply get to a point where we could lock everything down, Cazanas said.

So, for example, some of the things that weve done, is the access of inappropriate content has been diminished if not eliminated at this point by implementing several layers of security.

Cazanas said the team is online from 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. monitoring and spends the rest of the day trying to identify how to improve and how to better our system in order to be able to curtail any and all inappropriate activity.

The access of inappropriate content has been diminished if not eliminated at this point.

 FSA Superintendent Julian Cazanas

He added: We are continuously looking at the firewalls and seeing any inappropriate traffic, whether its trying to access an outside resource, whether its any form of communication within themselves, we immediately jump on that, curtail it, and stop that.

Some students were hiding computers in their rooms outside of school hours, Cazanas said. The computers now are inaccessible and offline after school hours to mitigate that problem, he said.

The year-round school program operates in about 40 residential facilities across the state, run by private providers.

Across the board, theres a lot of great things happening, but some of you have heard me say before: Good is only good when betters not expected, and weve got to continue to expect better, because our kids deserve the best, and were gonna keep working on that, Hall said during the meeting.

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The second Trump administrations opening blitz  of reactionary executive orders, extravagant corruption, mass firings of federal workers, and a plan to slash social services to pay for another tax cut for the wealthiest  is generating a progressive backlash, and creating boom times for those who recruit young people to seek elective office.

Run For Something is a progressive advocacy group, launched at the beginning of Donald Trumps first administration, that encourages Americans under 40 to launch careers in public service. Through its recruiting and endorsements, Run for Something is geared to help progressives win their first office  think: school board, city council, or state legislature.

The organization seeks to change the local politics where its candidates run, but also to develop a pipeline of young talent that will influence national politics for years to come. Already, some RFS alumni are making a mark nationally on Capitol Hill  including rising Democratic stars like Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett and Delaware Rep. Sarah McBride, the first trans member of Congress.

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Rolling Stone spoke to Amanda Litman, the president and co-founder of Run for Something, about the groups surge in potential candidates, the opportunity to recruit laid-off federal workers, and the need to challenge not only the Trump administration, but also old-line Democrats who are unwilling or unable to rise to the demands of this dangerous moment.

The transcript that follows has been edited for length and clarity.

Last we talked  a few weeks before Trump took office  your recruitment numbers were taking off. Has that trend continued?

Yes! As of this morning, we are at over 27,000 people who signed up since Election Day. To add some context: Between the election and inauguration, we had about 13,000 people raise their hands. Its more than doubled in the seven weeks since. We are imminently going to be exceeding the numbers of people we had sign up in all of 2017 and 2018, combined.

Do you have breakdowns for what level of office, and where?

Most of these people are coming to us for local office. We have people in every state. Were seeing people from urban, rural, suburban, exurban areas  everywhere. Its about 70 percent people under the age of 40. Its been a little more women than men.

I just saw that Run For Something posted a training for federal workers whove been ousted in this Trump/DOGE purge. Tell me about that opportunity.

We have seen organic interest from laid-off federal employees. We know this based on where the web traffic is coming from  Reddit or social media conversations about federal employees getting laid off and wanting to run for office. Basically every time theres been another agency that has cut workers, weve seen more people signing up.

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We wanted to put together programming specifically for them. So the next candidate intro call were hosting will have a track specifically for laid-off federal employees. And that will be March 25, in a couple weeks.

What about this population makes a good fit?

Theyre people who are interested in public service. And we think they have a compelling campaign message: Donald Trump fired me for trying to fight for the American people. Im not going to let that stop me. They can speak to the impact that these cuts will have on the community, because they know the impact of their work. And a lot of them have been subject to restrictions previously. Theyd tell us: I would love to run, but my employer does not allow it for conflict of interest. So this is your time. Were really glad we can serve in this moment.

Run for Something also had a big surge in 2017 and 2018. What has that original pipeline developed that makes you excited for whats happening now?

We already have five alum who are serving in Congress: Jasmine Crockett, Emily Randall, Yasmin Ansari, Sarah McBride, and Suhas Subramanyam. We already have two alum who are running for statewide office in Colorado, Brianna Titone and Amanda Gonzalez, who are, respectively, running for treasurer and secretary of state.

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My expectation is that we will have many, many more of our alum running for either Congress or statewide office in 2026, as these races start kicking off. I have also personally  outside of Run for Somethings work  heard from at least a half dozen twenty-somethings and thirty-somethings who are going to be challenging older members of Congress, in part inspired by the work Run for Something does and the discourse that weve been having.

Weve already seen many of our elected officials do really good shit when they get elected. The work is working. That is the best part of this. Its taken us eight years to get to this point. Thank God that Run for Something has made it through some of the harder times over the last couple years. Because imagine if we didnt exist this past November, December, January. What would folks do? Where would this energy go? It would be lost. Thats why it is so important to build infrastructure for moments like this  when you need it.

What does the local focus of Run for Something enable in a time when the national tides are so challenging?

Local offices are the only places where you are seeing meaningful progress. In the last couple of months, weve seen a bunch of Run for Something alum across the country push forward meaningful gun safety legislation. Cambridge, outside Boston, just passed huge zoning reform thats going to make housing more affordable in the area, which will have downstream effects across the greater Boston area. These are the only kinds of places were going to get good governance in the next four years.

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More broadly: We have already seen local leaders push back on Trump: The sheriff in Washtenaw County in Michigan, the mayor of Alexandria, Virginia, and others say, Were not going to let our local law enforcement work with ICE. Were not going to cooperate. Weve seen the New Mexico State legislature push forward legislation around not allowing them to enter schools or places of worship. That really matters in terms of fighting back.

I also think over the next 18 months, every local election, is a chance to show the Republican Party that their bullshit has electoral consequences. Democrats flipped an Iowa state Senate seat where Trump won by 21 points. Thats big. Thats the kind of thing that can help build momentum for winning bigger next year.

Theres a debate about how to message against what Trump and Elon Musk are doing. Some top Democratic leaders these days sound like they trained on a large language model of John Kerry speeches or something  robotic and very inorganic. The couple times that weve spoken Ive been impressed with your willingness to literally call bullshit, when appropriate. How does Run for Something approach the challenge of how to communicate in this era.

One of the things I love about working with younger candidates is they dont have to be taught this. Theyre comfortable and fluent with using online social media channels to communicate, because thats how we live. Its not like teaching grandma how to use Instagram.

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We encourage people to tap into what theyre genuinely thinking and feeling. If you are mad about something that the government is doing, or something that Trump is doing, say it. If you have a concrete solution, propose it. Speak genuinely, communicate authentically. Our candidates and our elected officials, the alumni weve helped elect over the years, they are not being shy about acknowledging that this modern Republican Party is not on the level. Theyre not good-faith partners in governance. We should not treat them as such. And that calling them out, holding them accountable, creating a little spectacle when possible, serves our larger goals of ultimately winning elections, which helps us win power and then do good things with that power.

You mentioned people running against older members of Congress. Does that include primarying Jurassic Democrats?

Sure does. Were going to see some really fun, interesting candidates and compelling campaigns. Again  this is all in my personal capacity. Run for Something doesnt work on congressional races. But since I run my mouth about this stuff online a lot, I hear from people. Its something Im really excited about, too  to force some generational turnover and a generational shift in power. That will be a net good for the Democratic Party. Primaries are good. Primaries are how we decide who we are and what we believe. And if the incumbents are doing a good job, they should have nothing to worry about.

So Run for Something doesnt shy away from challenging incumbent Democrats either?

No, we have had a number of our candidates take on incumbent Democrats in red states, blue states, purple states. When they win, it is almost always because the incumbent was not fully reflecting or serving the community. If the incumbent was doing a good job, they wouldnt lose the primary.

Are there other pathways or other pipelines that youre trying to develop?

One of our bigger priorities is Gen Z, writ large  18- to 28-year-olds  making sure were bringing them in. Were also thinking about how we get more renters to run for office, as we think about how we can tackle the housing crisis. Im really excited about that.

But mission-wise, your focus is under 40?

We exclusively target  especially with our endorsement program  folks 40 and under. Once youve signed up with us and youre in the pipeline, we have a lot of research resources that are available to folks of all ages and all backgrounds, but we do focus our endorsement work on millennials and Gen Z.

Explain the process for someone getting started.

When you sign up with Run for Something  go to our website to say, Im thinking about running for office  youll get invited to an introduction conference call, which we host every month. We talk about the same questions that every first time candidate has: How do I know what office to run for? How much money do I need to raise? What if I win? What if I lose?

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Then you might have a one-on-one with one of our volunteers, where we help you figure out how to navigate Run for Somethings resources. Youll start getting emails and text messages from our team, which will include trainings that either we or our partners are hosting; stories about alumni that weve worked with who are running or serving; new guides that we put together, that kind of thing.

And how does a candidate earn an endorsement?

Once you have filed to get on the ballot  and we have materials to help you do that  you can apply for our endorsement. And thats where we do a rigorous deep-dive screen. Our endorsement application is public, so anyone can access it. We want to know your campaign plan, your budget, your win number, how youre going to get from A to Z, the vision that youre advocating for your community.

We have a set of value statements we want you to align with and tell us how they show up in your campaign. Thats where we really look at background checks. We want to make sure that youre being honest with us about what were going to find. Were looking for the best of the best. And we endorse about half of the people who apply.

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And then endorsements are when our campaigns team will work closely with your team as a candidate. That might look like helping you get access to the voter file. It might look like prepping you for a forum or a debate. Well review plans. Well make vendor recommendations.

Endorsed candidates are who we recommend to press for interviews, who we promote on social media. We connect them to people weve endorsed in previous cycles, whove run in similar races to help build some community. And then endorsed candidates are the people who we track through to election day. So when we talk about the nearly 1,500 people weve helped elect, thats of our endorsed candidates.

We know that many, many more have come through the Run for Something pipeline and ultimately run for office. We just focus our staff time and resources on those endorsed folks.

How long does it take for someone to go from signing up to getting on the ballot?

The median person spends about 310 days in our pipeline  between signing up and actually filing for an endorsement, which is the next point at which we can really know that theyre running. So people signing up this year, theyre going to be the people running in 2026, for the most part. And I think that is good, because I think were gonna be able to win really big next year if we cultivate good talent and help give them the resources to succeed.

Can you tell me a bit more about how you resource people, what the team that you connect them to looks like?

Its really, what does the candidate need? And how can we help find it or provide it ourselves? So over the years, thats looked like things like guides on how to file to get on the ballot in every state. One of the big things we put together is candidate safety support  so working with experts on how to help candidates set up their campaigns so that their home address is not on the internet. Put together stuff for parents of young kids running for office. We wanted to make sure we could support people in that stage of life, with materials and support services.

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Anything else that you want readers to know about Run for Something right now?

One of the best things that people can do to support our work is to make a donation. The candidate demand is so high, and we are trying to make sure we can meet it. Every dollar goes to that kind of work, and monthly money goes a long way for us right now.

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Mar. 10One person was hospitalized and two firefighters injured after a fire tore through a condemned single-family home in Bangor Monday morning, state officials say.

Crews with the Bangor fire and police departments responded to 75 4th St. shortly before 6 a.m. Monday, Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss said in a written statement.

A preliminary investigation found that the blaze was likely started by a propane gas explosion.

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"The building, a condemned single-family home that had been boarded up by the city, was initially reported to have people trapped inside," Moss said.

While no one was found in the building when crews arrived, one person who had been inside the home sustained "serious burn injuries" and was transported to a local hospital. The man, who has not been publicly identified, will be treated further at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Moss said.

Two firefighters also suffered minor injuries, which were treated on-site, she said.

An investigation continues, and the Maine Fuel Board has been called to assist, Moss said.

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A Nebraska legislative proposal would require creating a public online or hard-copy catalog of all books in the districts libraries, categorized by school building. (Stock photo by Johner Images/Getty Images)

LINCOLN  A bill requiring all public school districts to adopt a policy so parents can see what materials are in school libraries advanced with a vote Tuesday after a roughly 90-minute debate.

State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil, who filed Legislative Bill 390, said during its hearing that the bill is an important next step after the Legislature updated parental access to curriculum content and training last year. The proposed law would require creating a public online or hard-copy catalog of all books in the districts libraries, categorized by school building.

State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil. Aug. 7, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Under the bill, parents also could opt in for automatic email notification or another form of electronic notification when their student checks out a book. The book title, author and due date to return the book would be included in the notice.

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This is important so parents can be fully informed and make knowledgeable and family-specific decisions on the content their children are reading, Murman said on the floor Tuesday.

Murman said different families have different values and should have oversight over what their children read. The Republican is one of three lawmakers who proposed bills that could infuse more religion into public schools and test the legal limits of the separation of church and state.

State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha called the bill a watered down book ban and said it doesnt solve any actual issue. Hunt left the Nebraska Democratic Party in 2023 and is currently registered as a nonpartisan but typically votes with the Democrats in the Legislature.

Instead of focusing on teacher shortages, on cuts to funding, on whatever nonsense is happening at the federal level that is freaking teachers out right now in Nebraska, Hunt said. Schools will now have to waste resources on redundant bureaucracy.

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State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln defended the bill, though she agreed it might be unnecessary. Conrad is a registered Democrat and a former executive director of ACLU Nebraska.

State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln. Jan. 28, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

It is not a book ban. It is not the weaponization of the criminal law against libraries, Conrad said. It restates and reaffirms parental rights that already exist.

Hunt was the only vote against moving Murmans bill out of the Education Committee. Last year, the Nebraska State Board of Education rejected a push to define and ban sexually explicit books and materials from school libraries. Much of the floor debate alluded to that failed book ban.

Book bans have drastically increased in recent years from school boards and local and state governments nationally. Six states have enacted some type of book ban laws.

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LB 390 moved forward with a 25-2 vote. Hunt said giving conservative Republicans what they want wont make them willing to work with more liberal lawmakers.

I got a fell for it again award for you, Hunt said.

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Search engine giant Google would be barred from paying to make its product the default on popular mobile devices, under a legal settlement proposed in a lawsuit by the Department of Justice and dozens of states, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced.

The proposed resolutions follow a federal judges ruling in August that Google maintains an unlawful monopoly on internet searches. The company would also be required to sell off its Chrome internet browser. It could also be mandated to divest its Android operating system, which underlies many smartphones and mobile computing devices, if the initial solutions are unsuccessful.

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To Google is used synonymously with searching for something online, and this coalition strongly believes that is due to monopolistic practices that have gone on for far too long, Sunday said in a statement Monday. Monopolies are bad for consumers, and in this case, the current search engine configuration allows Google to dictate search results, instead of the consumer controlling what they see.

Sunday added the DOJ and attorneys general hope the resolutions will foster more diverse search options for consumers. Google did not respond to a request for comment Monday.

Pennsylvania joined the suit in 2021 when now-Gov. Josh Shapiro was attorney general.

The lawsuit alleges Google illegally maintains its monopoly power over general search engines and related advertising markets through a series of anticompetitive exclusionary contracts and conduct. As a result, consumers are deprived of competition that could provide more choice, innovation and privacy protection, the suit claimed.

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Furthermore, Google has exploited its market position to accumulate and leverage data to the detriment of consumers, Shapiros office said in 2021.

U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta of the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia found Google holds monopoly power in the general internet search and search text advertising markets.

Drawing on the 2001 decision that Microsoft had used exclusive agreements to obtain monopoly power over the web browser marketplace, Mehta found Googles agreements with Apple and Android distributors, among others, established Google as the out-of-the-box search engine, and constituted exclusive dealing.

The proposed resolutions would give the DOJ and state attorneys general the ability to review Googles financial positions in general search and generative artificial intelligence competitors to ensure Google cannot use the same anticompetitive strategies with future technologies. It would also require Google to share some of its data with competitors for a limited time.

The coalition of Attorneys General was co-led by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti.
The Pontiac mother accused of abandoning her kids and forcing them to live alone in squalor is now also facing three counts of welfare fraud  one count for each child who authorities say lived in a house of horrors for four years.

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald announced the charges on Tuesday, alleging 34-year-old Kelli Bryant, of Pontiac, pocketed more than $29,000 in government aid that was meant to help her kids.

The Oakland County Sheriff's Office arrested a Pontiac woman and accused her of abandoning her children years ago, leaving them to live in alone as their house accumulated garbage and waste.

According to McDonald, a review of Bryants support payments by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services shows there was an overpayment of $29,397 over three years, from January 2022 through February 2025. Those are the years, authorities say, that the children were fending for themselves in a feces and garbage ridden condo on Lilac Lane in Pontiac, where two of the children slept on pizza boxes.

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The defendant appears to have effectively abandoned her children while collecting their public assistance, McDonald said in a statement. This crime is, first and foremost, a theft from Kelli Bryants children. These resources were intended to ensure they had the basic necessities denied to them. The children deserved better.

According to McDonald, the children lived off food that was dropped off at their house about once a week  sometimes longer  by their mother or a food delivery service company. She said the two youngest children, both girls, never left the house in four years because their mother allegedly told them never to leave or answer the door. The 15-year-old boy left the house only a handful of times: to check the mail and to touch the grass, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office said.

The welfare charges come almost a month after Bryant was charged with three counts of first-degree child abuse, which is punishable by up to life in prison.

Bryant was arrested the same day that sheriff's deputies rescued her three children  ages 12, 13 and 15  from a condo on Lydia Lane after the landlord requested a welfare check. According to the sheriff's office, the landlord contacted their office on Feb. 14 and said that he had not received rent since October (2024), nor had he heard from the children's mother since December. So, the deputies and the landlord went together to the condo where they found a horrifying scene: no working toilet; feces in the tub and throughout the house, and garbage piled 4 feet high in some rooms.

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The children's bodies and clothes also were covered in feces, authorities said, and their toenails were so long they struggled to walk.

Bryant currently is jailed on a $50,000 cash bond. She was initially detained on a $250 million bond, though a new judge reviewed her case and concluded that amount was excessive, noting the purpose of bond is not to "punish" but to make sure that the community is safe, and that a defendant doesn't flee.

Bryant, though, is not likely to get out if her lawyer's comments at a recent bond hearing are any indication.

"Nobody has the money to post bond for her," defense attorney Cecilia Quirindongo-Baunsoe told the judge, adding the mother can't afford it, either  not given the $800 a month she allegedly made working for the state before her arrest.

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Quirindongo-Baunsoe was not readily available for comment Tuesday to address the latest charges.

Welfare fraud over $500 is punishable by up to four years in prison, and/or a $5,000 fine.

Contact Tresa baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pontiac mom in squalor and abandonment case charged with welfare fraud
Mahmoud Khalil is a lawful permanent resident of the United States. But that has not stopped Donald Trumps administration from threatening to remove him from the country, after federal law enforcement agents arrested him in New York and sent him to a detention facility in Louisiana, raising critical questions about First Amendment protections for green card holders.

Khalil, who was born in Syria, is a Palestinian graduate of Columbia University, and a green card holder married to a U.S. citizen who is eight months pregnant.

He became the face of student-led pro-Palestine demonstrations at the New York campus and is accused by the Trump administration  and the president himself  of being a Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas Student.

Demonstrators rally in support of Mahmoud Khalil in Manhattan on March 11 (AP)

Trump said his arrest is the first of many. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has threatened to revoke visas  as well as green cards  for Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported.

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Khalils arrest has been widely condemned by Democratic officials and civil rights groups, questioning how a legal permanent resident could be deported, without facing any criminal charges, and without any evidence from the government of the allegations against him or any other demonstrators.

Green card holders ostensibly have the most protections among lawful permanent residents short of a U.S. citizen, Cornell Law School immigration law professor Jaclyn Kelley-Widmer told PBS.

But immigration law does allow the federal government to deport noncitizens, even people who are green card holders, over certain allegations, according to New York University law professor Adam Cox.

The big open question is why the government thinks it can deport him, he told NBC News.

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Immigration law in the United States does not necessarily protect against deporting green card holders, and the government does not need evidence of criminality to remove them on allegations of fraud or for providing material support for terrorist groups, among other accusations  none of which the administration has provided any evidence Khalil committed.

Material support for terrorism under immigration law is so broad that it can include cooking for a member of [a foreign terrorist organization], even at gunpoint, according to Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow with the American Immigration Council.

Attorneys for Khalil and civil rights groups argue he was targeted for protected speech in support of Palestinians, which is covered by the First Amendment.

If our society remains attached to the rule of law, and if speech in the United States remains free, then no one should accept what happened to Mahmoud, according to Ramzi Kassem, co-director of the Creating Law Enforcement Accountability & Responsibility project, which is supporting Khalils case.

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The arrest, detention, and attempted deportation of a prominent Palestinian human rights activist for his constitutionally protected activity that the administration disagrees with is not only patently unlawful, it is a further dangerous step into modern-day McCarthyist repression, said Baher Azmy, legal director with the Center for Constitutional Rights, which is also supporting Khalil.

Khalil, pictured at Columbia University in 2024, helped organize campus-wide demonstrations against Israels war in Gaza calling for the universitys divestment and disclosure of financial stakes in Israel (REUTERS)

Rubio also appears to have invoked broad authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act that states that an alien whose presence or activities in the United States the Secretary of State has reasonable ground to believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States is deportable.

Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that Khalils arrest is pursuant to Trumps executive orders prohibiting antisemitism, which the administration is broadly conflating with support for Palestinians while Israel, backed by the United States, leads an assault that, according to local health authorities, has killed more than 60,000 people in Gaza in the wake of Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.

Khalil led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, McLaughlin claimed.

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Veteran New York civil rights lawyer Ron Kuby told NBC News that advocacy for Palestinians cannot be construed as offering material support for a terrorist organization.

Whether youre a green card holder or a citizen, youre allowed to express your view that one country is right and another is wrong in an international conflict, he said.The message is that ICE can come take you away at any moment.

Deportation proceedings for green card holders are carried out in immigration courts, not criminal ones. A judge, not the administration, will ultimately decide whether he can be removed.

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the administration from deporting Khalil while his legal challenge plays out.

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In court documents, Khalil accused the government of open repression of student activism and political speech, specifically targeting students at Columbia University for criticism of Israels assault on Gaza.

The U.S. government has made clear that they will use immigration enforcement as a tool to suppress that speech, attorneys for Khalil wrote.
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP)  Several hundred student protesters have blocked Serbia's public television station building in Belgrade as tensions soar in the Balkan country, days ahead of a large rally planned for the weekend and billed as an endgame in months of anti-government demonstrations.

The students first blocked the TV building in central Belgrade, Serbia's capital, late on Monday and several hundred gathered again on Tuesday, after announcing that their blockade will last for at least 22 hours. A similar blockade was organized in the country's second-largest city of Novi Sad.

University students in Serbia are behind almost daily rallies that started after a concrete canopy crashed down in November at a railway station in Novi Sad, killing 15 people. The protests have rocked the populist rule of President Aleksandar Vucic and his firm grip on power.

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During the blockade late Monday, riot police briefly intervened with batons as the crowd tried to block one of the entrances to the TV building with metal security fences. At least one plainclothes police officer was injured in skirmishes after apparently being struck in the head by a uniformed officer, according to a video released on social media.

The students blame public TV for biased reporting and for siding with Vucic and the government during the demonstrations. The Serbian president was the guest of the main TV news bulletin on Monday evening.

During the interview, Vucic insulted the student-led protests, warning that security forces will use force against participants of the big rally planned for Saturday. He pledged never to step down because of the massive nationwide demonstrations.

You will have to kill me if you want to replace me, he said,

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The TV reporter who interviewed Vucic called the protesting students a mob," which the president appeared to approve of. The station, RTS, issued a statement, denouncing the blockade.

Forcibly preventing RTS employees from coming to their workplaces represents a dangerous step into open conflicts with unpredictable consequences, it said.

Some of the TV station's employees apparently managed to enter the building through a side entrance that's not publicly known, allowing the program to continue uninterrupted.

Meanwhile, Vucic met with U.S. President Donald Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who arrived in Belgrade on Tuesday. The purpose of his visit was not immediately known. Pro-Russian Vucic is a vocal supporter of the U.S. president.

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Many in Serbia believe that the huge concrete construction fell down because of poor renovation work fueled by government corruption. The students have insisted on full accountability in the tragedy, a call that has garnered widespread support among citizens who are largely disillusioned with politicians and have lost trust in state institutions.

Student-led rallies have drawn tens of thousands of people, becoming among the biggest ever in Serbia, which has a long history of anti-government protests. Vucic has described the rallies as a Western-orchestrated ploy to oust him from power.

The next big rally is planned on Saturday in Belgrade and Vucic has alleged the protesters will try to achieve something with violence and that will be the end. Many demonstrators "will end up behind bars accused of criminal acts, he added.

All student-led protests in the past months have mostly been peaceful, while incidents were recorded when opponents drove their cars into protest blockades or attacked the protesters.

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Vucic and his right-wing Serbian Progressive Party have held a firm grip on power in Serbia for over a decade, facing accusations of stifling democratic freedoms despite formally seeking European Union entry for Serbia.

Authorities have indicted 16 people over the canopy collapse, but many doubt that the actual culprits will face justice.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  Following a wave of confrontational political town hall events across the Midwest, U.S. Representative Eric Burlison is facing backlash over his decision not to hold an in-person town hall.

Protesters are planning to gather outside the Republicans Springfield office this Thursday, March 13 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Protesters chose to gather on Thursday because Burlison is scheduled to be in town that day. However, event organizer John Jennings said someone on Burlisons staff told organizers the lawmaker likely will not be available to meet with the group.

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Ozarks First talked to Jennings about the decision to protest.

Many of us within the district are feeling unheard, said Jennings, a constituent in Burlisons 7th Congressional District. Just from my own personal experience when I originally called a couple weeks ago and spoke on the phone to staff, I did feel like my concerns were brushed off.

Map of Missouris U.S. House District 7

Jennings said his concerns include cuts that are happening within the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. He believes some of the departments actions may be government overreach. Burlison is a member of the subcommittee on DOGE.

Burlison is planning a tele-town hall

Burlisons staff did not answer our questions about what went into the decision to hold a virtual event, as opposed to an in-person event.

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A staff member on his team did tell Ozarks First they are finalizing plans for a virtual town hall at the end of March and will share plans once they have a date and time.

The lawmakers social media also shows he hosted a virtual town hall last year. Commenters back then took issue with the possibility that Burlisons team could potentially filter incoming questions and comments in an online setting.

Jennings shares the same concerns.

I have major concerns when it comes to tele-town halls, said Jennings. The biggest is it creates an artificial atmosphere where they control every aspect of the event.

Confrontational town hall events

It follows a trend happening around the Midwest in which constituents in Missouri and Kansas are showing up in large numbers to talk to their lawmakers.

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Coverage from our affiliate station shows a town hall meeting hosted by Republican Sen. Roger Marshall in rural Northwest Kansas included questions and answers, shouting, applause, and boos. Video shows Sen. Marshall left the event when questioned about veterans being laid off.

The March 1 meeting lasted around 40 minutes, ending about 20 minutes early. Marshalls team later told reporters the event was sabotaged by Democrat operatives.

East of that encounter in Belton, MO, so many people showed up to Republican Rep. Mark Alfords town hall meeting that attendees said they had a hard time deciphering what Alford was saying between all the shouting.

When was the last time Congressional District 7 had an in-person town hall?

This is not a new concern or concept in Southwest Missouri. Coverage from Joplin shows people protested former Republican Congressman Billy Long not holding a town hall in 2017. He held that office before Burlison from 2011 to 2023.

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During his decade in office, some reports indicate Long may have held just one in-person town hall in 2011 after he was first elected to that role.

If thats the case, that means there hasnt been a public in-person town hall by the representative for Missouris Congressional District 7 in 14 years.

Engaging face-to-face with your community literally is part of the job, said Jennings.

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LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56)  Monday evenings London City Council meeting was long awaited yet uneventful, as much of the action took place on the sidewalk outside of the London Community Center.

I hate it because it took the life of my brother to start exposing things that was happening, Angie Martin, Harlesss sister, said. Everything is tried to be deflected or diverted or the attention wants to be, you know, put somewheres else, when the family just wants to know what happened.

Symbols of love and shared memories are what Martin and several others rely on. Many folks protested while the meeting was happening. Sounds from voices and honks were so loud that they could be heard inside the meeting.

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Martin and others wore bunny ears, which hold great memory of Harless.

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My brother, you know, that was one of my core memories. He liked to raise rabbits and so, you know, we thought that would kind of be a fun way, you know, to incorporate the kids too; thats standing with us and let them enjoy it as well, Martin said.

Its been almost three months since London police shot and killed Harless after apparently serving a search warrant at the wrong home.

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And there needs to be justice nowsomething done about it before anymore people are hurt by the people in this building, Trent Osborne said.

Martin said all her family and others have wanted is for leaders to be transparent.

Read more of the latest Kentucky news

I support whatever makes the family feel better at this timetheir expression of what happened to their loved ones, Greene said.

The family was hoping that at this meeting, they would get some answers, but there was no discussion of the shooting and no time allowed for public comment.

They want to know what measures the city has taken to make sure something like this does not happen again and an update on the police departments body camera policy.

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A lot of things that they can answer that will not hurt the investigation. That is, the answers we get every time we ask the questions is that its still under investigation. The questions were asking will not interrupt that, Martin added.

Family members of officer-involved shooting victim organize march in London

I cant comment; its under litigation, and as a city council member, I cannot comment at this time, Greene said after the meeting.

Protesters said they will continue to be vocal, waiting for the day leaders say what happened at 11:51 p.m. on Dec. 23 at the Laurel County home.

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Rallies are planned for Tuesday in at least two major cities as protesters continue to demand the release of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, whose arrest President Donald Trump said is the first of many.

A "Free Mahmoud Khalil" walkout was scheduled to take place at 11:30 a.m. at Columbia University in New York City, but a person with knowledge of the situation said efforts were being made to shift it to off-campus spaces. An event is currently scheduled for noon at City Hall and a march at 2 p.m. is planned at Washington Square Park.

Another rally is planned for 5:30 p.m. at Federal Plaza in Chicago. Protesters are also expected to gather at 5 p.m. at Stanford University in California.

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Khalil, a Columbia graduate, was arrested Saturday at his apartment by federal immigration agents who told him that his student visa was being revoked, his attorney Amy Greer has said. He's being held at an immigration detention facility in Louisiana.

Greer said Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were told that Khalil has a green card and is a permanent resident, but he was arrested anyway.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman temporarily blocked Khalil from being deported, saying he will remain in the United States as the court weighs challenges to his arrest and planned deportation.

A detention hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, but Khalil won't be present, his legal team said.

Thousands gathered in New York City's Foley Square Monday, to protest the detention of Mahmoud Khalil.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said his arrest was in coordination with ICE and the State Department in support of Trump's "executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism" and because Khalil "led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization." Trump and his administration did not provide evidence of the allegations against Khalil.

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Last spring, he helped organize protests at the university about the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.

Trump said on Truth Social that Khalils arrest was the first of many to come. In a post Sunday on X, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the administration would revoke the visas and green cards "of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported."

Greer said the comments made by Trump and government officials show the illegality of Khalils arrest.

"He was chosen as an example to stifle entirely lawful dissent in violation of the First Amendment," she said in a statement Monday night. "

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"While tomorrow or thereafter the government may cite the law or process, that toothpaste is out of the tube and irreversibly so," Greer added. "The governments objective is as transparent as it is unlawful, and our role as Mahmouds lawyers is to ensure it does not prevail."

Hundreds of protesters rallied Monday at Federal Plaza in Manhattan, with some holding signs that read "Release Mahmoud Khalil." One protester, a 71-year-old resident from Brooklyn, said the arrest was an attack on free speech.

"Its getting ridiculous," the protester said.

Greer said she talked to Khalil, and he was in good spirits and appreciative of the support. His wife, who is eight months pregnant, pleaded to have him by her side before the birth of their baby.

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"For everyone reading this, I urge you to see Mahmoud through my eyes as a loving husband and the future father to our baby," she said in a statement released by Greer.

She called him her "rock," and said everyone who has met him "can attest to his incredible character, humbleness, selflessness, and his love for helping others."

"I need your help to bring Mahmoud home, so he is here beside me, holding my hand in the delivery room as we welcome our first child into this world," she said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
LANSING, (Mich.) WLNS  Protesters of the demolition of the old Eastern High School building are expected to make their voices heard at the city council meeting Monday night. They also protested outside the school earlier in the day.

The group is making last efforts to save the west wing and the auditorium of the school, though parts of it have already been taken down.

(WLNS)

The building was bought by Sparrow Health in 2016, which is now owned by the University of Michigan Health-Sparrow. Sparrow has said the building has black mold, water leakage, and a lot of asbestos.

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Protesters say they have an emotional connection to the building, which has hosted students for nearly 100 years. They know the odds are slim, but they are willing to fight to save it.

Emily Banner, an Eastern High School alumni, said theyre fighting to preserve history.

The historical part that is in the auditorium, you know, just a historical building itself. The auditorium is what were trying to fight to, absolutely. Theres so much history in there, and it hasnt been touched since 1928. Now, thats pretty amazing, said Banner.

Sparrow plans to build a mental health facility on the site, and they have the final say as the owners of the property.

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Mar. 10Kathy Emdresz stood on Spokane Falls Boulevard on Monday evening in protest of the Trump administration, but also in honor of her relatives who fought in World War II  because if they were alive today, they'd "be heartbroken."

Her father, Mike Bowen, was shot while serving in the U.S. Army, and her husband's dad was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces.

"This is not what they fought for," Emdresz said as she held her sign, along with a couple hundred others, that read, "This isn't what our dads defeated Hitler for" below a picture of Elon Musk, President Donald Trump's right-hand of the nongovernmental Department of Government Efficiency, raising a straight arm in salute during a January Trump rally. Many have questioned the gesture for its seeming likeness to a Nazi salute, though Musk has denied the accusations.

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Since the creation of DOGE to analyze how efficient each sector of the government is, the agency has directed thousands of firings of federal employees in the name of eliminating "wasteful spending" across the U.S. In Eastern Washington. The firings spanned the Grand Coulee Dam, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, positions like scientists, park rangers, people at the Centers for Disease Control's mining research lab in Spokane and more.

The protest, which spanned both sides of the street outside the local office of Rep. Michael Baumgartner, R-Spokane, included many people who were there to raise objections to his little time in congress.

"He is bowing down to Trump's wants," said David McKinney, who held a sign pleading with Baumgartner to do his job.

Baumgartner generally has supported Trump's policies but sometimes has criticized Trump's rhetoric or tone. He has, however, been opposed to Trump's efforts to impose tariffs.

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Baumgartner called for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to resign in February, according to prior reporting from The Spokesman-Review, hours after a diplomatic meltdown in the White House over a mineral agreement as President Donald Trump claimed the Ukrainian president was "ungrateful."

"For the good of his country, he should step down and allow an interim leader before new elections can be held," Baumgartner wrote on social media last month.

McKinney called Baumgartner's response to the heated White House exchange "totally out of line," and said that instead of Zelenskyy resigning at the call of Baumgartner, Baumgartner should instead be the one to resign.

While the congressman criticized Zelenskyy, he also criticized the decision to suspend military intelligence for Ukraine.

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McKinney, 71, likened the protests to that of the Vietnam War.

"Republicans are not doing their jobs," he said. "People must stand up against it. It's Congress' job to make appropriations, and they're not doing their job  they're letting DOGE do it."

Jefferson Workman, who was holding a sign that said "Don't be a Bum-Gartner" called Baumgartner's actions a deviation from the "true needs of the people."

He called Baumgartner's criticism of Zelenskyy "gross" and Zelenskyy a hero.

Baumgartner, Workman believes, is caving to the wants of the Trump administration since being in D.C.

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"He works for us," Workman said. "And our government isn't doing anything. This is a people's movement."

Responding to the protests on the social media platform X, which Musk owns, Baumgartner wrote that "it's always a good thing when People express their first amendment rights."

"I'm pleased that the demonstration was peaceful and didn't interfere with folks trying to get service from our office. I represent everyone in the 5th Congressional district, both the 61% who voted for me and the 39% who did not. We've already done more Town Halls than anyone else in Congress and we're looking forward to doing more next week. I want to here from folks impacted by what's going on in DC," the post reads.
CHICAGO (WGN)  A small group of activists gathered Monday evening in protest outside a northwest side aldermans office, upset about the citys actions in moving people facing homelessness from Gompers Park.

Holding signs with messages including, no displacement, no sweeps, and yes to housing, no to harassment close to two dozen people stood at the corner of West Lawrence and North Keeler avenues around 6 p.m. Monday night.

The members of the independent political organization 39th Ward Neighbors United say actions at the park are criminalizing the unhoused, while the city says its helping dozens find a path to permanent housing.

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The protest follow last weeks outreach effort called an Accelerated Moving Event, which the city hails a success with 100 percent of participants continuing the optional process to find stable housing. In total, 29 people living at the encampment opted to work with secure free support services to obtain more stable, permanent housing. The city is making it clear nobody is being forced to leave.

The group protesting Monday night acknowledged the progress of the event, but argued the actions taken against those living in Gompers Park in the month prior were cruel and counterproductive to the goal of housing the residents.

Nearly 30 at Gompers Park homeless encampment enroll with housing providers

Agencies dismantle smoke stacks, propane tanks at Gompers Park encampment

While the group argues people moved from tents into newly installed, warmer yurts, and that the Park District, along with Chicago police, confiscated the newly unoccupied tents, those working to clean up the park said the city gave ample notice and posted signs warning any abandoned yurts would be confiscated.

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City spokespeople cited fire hazards to justify the removals, yet fire extinguishers were also confiscated. These actions increased the risk of frostbite, hypothermia, and freezing, which claim the lives of multiple unhoused Chicagoans every year, the group said in a statement.

The city and Ald. Samantha Nugents (39th Ward) office both emphasize that no one was forced to leave the park during the AME.

The group argued that on the morning of the AME on March 5, an aggressive police presence created an atmosphere of chaos. It said while it celebrates the success of the event and the efforts to provide supportive services and housing to those in placement, it believes until solutions are ample, and as the number of people facing homeless continues to grow, public parks should remain free and available to all.

For months, neighbors raised concerns about the growing encampment at the park on the 4200 block of West Foster Avenue, saying it creates an unsafe environment. Residents and officials say used needles, weapons and drug paraphernalia have been found. There have also been reports of alcohol use and fires, including two in six-day span last month. The fire department has been called to the park at least 36 times since January 2024.

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One resident who lives in the area told WGN Monday night that her son is in the baseball program unable to play at the park due to the ongoing issues. She said she has grown increasingly concerned over the items found at the park. She also said she has. Firsthand, seen fecal matter lining certain areas of the park.

A group working to help improve safety and cleanliness at Gompers Park, Restore Gompers Park, shared a statement Monday night:

The Restore Gompers Park Coalition has worked tirelessly for months to push for an Accelerated Moving Event; we are glad that 100 percent of AME participants are moving forward with the housing process, per the press release issued by the Mayors Press Office on March 7. We have heard from numerous local residents who are happy to hear about this win-win solution for everyone. However, many in the local community have expressed their disdain for this protest today. Protesting the aldermans office does not help the unhoused. Spewing extreme rhetoric is a distraction and an affront to the efforts underway to provide housing and wraparound services to those in Gompers Park. We denounce the continued attempts to create chaos and disruption by this vocal minority of individuals.

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Hundreds of protesters marched in Manhattan Monday following the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian Columbia University graduate student and activist taken into custody by federal immigration authorities.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, acting on orders from the State Department, took Khalil, 30, into custody Saturday night at his university-owned residence near Columbias Morningside Heights campus, revoking both his student visa and permanent green card, according to his attorney, Amy Greer.

While Khalil  who has not been charged with a crime  was held by immigration authorities in Jena, La., a crowd of about 1,000 gathered at Foley Square and marched to Union Square.

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One protester labeled the arrest as a form of political oppression  and went as far as alleging Khalil was kidnapped from his home while his pregnant wife watched.

This is a shift by our government toward fascism, said Jay Saper, 34. New Yorkers will have to take to the street. This is not about addressing antisemitism, this is about political oppression and anti-Palestinian racism.

This is about instituting fear, Saper added.

Earlier Monday, Manhattan Federal Judge Jesse Furman scheduled a hearing for Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. in response to a petition filed by Khalils lawyers challenging the legality of his detention.

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The judge halted Khalils deportation, stating he shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the court orders otherwise.

As news of Furmans order trickled through the protest, a cheer rang out. Meanwhile, a press conference was held outside Columbia University, where academics and activists railed at the arrest.

Lets be clear, Mahmoud was detained for his political speech, said professor Nadia Abu El-Hajj, co-director of Columbias Center for Palestine Studies.

Another Columbia professor, Marianne Hirsch, the daughter of Holocaust survivors who grew up in communist Romania, said the arrest brought back my most tormenting childhood memories.

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Ive spent my career, or a good part of my career, teaching about fascism and the memory of the Holocaust so that what is happening now should never happen to anyone, said Hirsch, a professor emerita of English literature. My committed Jewish faculty colleagues and I have warned that the false characterization of Columbia as a hotbed of antisemitism would be used as an alibi for whats actually happening.

Khalil is thought to be the first person targeted by the Trump administration as part of its pledge to deport international students involved in protests against the war in Gaza.
Hundreds of protesters marched in Manhattan Monday following the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian Columbia University graduate student and activist taken into custody by federal immigration authorities.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, acting on orders from the State Department, took Khalil, 30, into custody Saturday night at his university-owned residence near Columbias Morningside Heights campus, revoking both his student visa and permanent green card, according to his attorney, Amy Greer.

While Khalil  who has not been charged with a crime  was held by immigration authorities in Jena, La., a crowd of about 1,000 gathered near Union Square.

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One protester labeled the arrest as a form of political oppression  and went as far as alleging Khalil was kidnapped from his home while his pregnant wife watched.

This is a shift by our government towards fascism, said Jay Saper, 34. New Yorkers will have to take to the street. This is not about addressing antisemitism, this is about political oppression and anti-Palestinian racism.

This is about instituting fear, Saper added.

Earlier Monday, Manhattan Federal Judge Jesse Furman scheduled a hearing for Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. in response to a petition filed by Khalils lawyers challenging the legality of his detention.

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The judge halted Khalils deportation, stating he shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the Court orders otherwise.

As news of Furmans order trickled through the protest, a cheer rang out. Meanwhile, a press conference was held outside Columbia University, where academics and activists railed at the arrest.

Lets be clear, Mahmoud was detained for his political speech, said professor Nadia Abu El-Hajj, co-director of Columbias Center for Palestine Studies.

Another Columbia professor, Marianne Hirsch, the daughter of Holocaust survivors who grew up in communist Romania, said the arrest brought back my most tormenting childhood memories.

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Ive spent my career, or a good part of my career, teaching about fascism and the memory of the Holocaust so that what is happening now should never happen to anyone, said Hirsch, a professor emerita of English literature. My committed Jewish faculty colleagues and I have warned that the false characterization of Columbia as a hotbed of antisemitism would be used as an alibi for whats actually happening.

Khalil is thought to be the first person targeted by the Trump administration as part of its pledge to deport international students involved in protests against the war in Gaza.

_____
Information in this article might be disturbing for some audiences, reader discretion is advised.

Editors note: A previous version of this article contained graphic details that did not add to the overall story, those details have since been removed.

MONTROSE, Pa. (WIVT/WBGH)  A Susquehanna County man has been charged with a dozen counts of rape of a child after being accused of, and admitting to, sexually abusing his victim on multiple occasions, Pennsylvania State Police announced Tuesday.

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The 64-year-old is facing 48 counts of felony charges: 12 counts of Rape of a Child, 12 counts of Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse (IDSI) with a Person Less Than 16 Years Old, 12 counts of Statutory Sexual Assault, and 12 counts of Aggravated Indecent Assault of a Child.

The accusations and charges stem from PSP investigators interviews with the suspect and the victim.

In October 2024, PSP interviewed the victim, who explained what had happened most recently but noted that the abuse had happened many times before, according to the criminal complaint document.

The instance noted in the interview happened on Oct. 5, 2024, when the suspect took his the victim hunting on the first day of archery deer season. She said they hunted in a hunting blind or hunting hut outside of a Meshoppen Stone property.

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Police investigate human remains found in unmarked grave at Woodlawn Cemetery

While she laid down for a nap during the day, she says the suspect laid next to her and touched her inappropriately.

The report claims the victim escaped the suspect for a short period, but had to go back inside the hut since it was too cold.

Once she returned to the hut, she said the suspect pinned her against the hut and began touching her inappropriately again.

As mentioned previously, this was not the first time, according to the granddaughter. She said the suspect would do this many times when shed be at the suspects home and his wife was not home.

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The suspect, according to PSP, admitted to the allegations in an interview on Saturday, March 8, 2025.

He says the assaults happened about 12 times over the last year.

Along with the felony charges, the suspect is also facing misdemeanor charges: 12 counts of Indecent Assault, and 12 counts of Indecent Exposure.

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ROGERS, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Central Arkansas-based The Purple Cow Restaurant will soon add a location in Northwest Arkansas.

The restaurant chain announced on Tuesday that it finalized the lease for a location in Rogers in the Pinnacle Hills area.

Were beyond excited to bring The Purple Cow to Northwest Arkansas, The Purple Cow President Ken Vaughan said in a news release. This location in Rogers is the perfect fit for our brand, with fantastic neighbors and a central location. Were grateful to Colliers Arkansas for their key role in securing this space, and we cant wait to be a part of this wonderful community.

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The Rogers location will be the seventh in the chain. The restaurant says it is known for its retro decor and purple milkshakes.

NWACC, Missouri Southern announce credit transfer between schools

We opened almost 36 years ago in Central Arkansas, and were excited to finally expand into Northwest Arkansas. This new location gives us the opportunity to connect more closely with our loyal fans and introduce The Purple Cow to those who havent had the chance to experience us yet. Vaughan said.

The Purple Cow has locations in Little Rock, Hot Springs, North Little Rock, Benton and Conway.

The restaurant is slated to open in late summer or early fall of this year.

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Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) joins Chris Jansing to discuss Ukraine agreeing to a U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia. He also weighs in on the looming House vote to avert a government shutdown at the end of the week.
Russian President Vladimir Putin remains unwilling to compromise in peace talks, complicating U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to secure a settlement, Bloomberg reported on March 10, citing undisclosed Western security officials.

Putin has deliberately set "maximalist" demands on territory, peacekeepers, and Ukraine's neutrality, knowing they will likely be unacceptable to Kyiv and European nations, the outlet wrote.

In June 2024, Putin insisted Ukraine must withdraw from the four partially occupied regions  Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia  as a precondition for negotiations.

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Despite Trump's claim on Feb. 24 that Putin would allow European peacekeepers in Ukraine as part of a deal, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has rejected the idea.

Putin, according to Western officials, is prepared to continue the war if his conditions are not met, raising doubts about his seriousness regarding a settlement.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the claims in a comment for Bloomberg, insisting that Russia remains open to diplomatic negotiations.

"Russia is open for peace efforts and prefers to reach our goals through peaceful and diplomatic means," he told Bloomberg.

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Trump has repeatedly promised a swift end to the war, but efforts toward a deal were derailed after his Feb. 28 confrontation with President Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House.

Following the meeting, Trump halted U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine to pressure Kyiv into negotiations.

Ukrainian and U.S. delegations are meeting in Jeddah on March 11 for key discussions that could shape Washington's future support for Kyiv.

Ukrainian officials are reportedly expected to push for the resumption of U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing while proposing a ceasefire in the air and at sea as a potential first step toward a peace agreement.

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Read also: Russian lawmaker proposes Oreshnik strike following Ukraines mass drone attack

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The Queen of the Warri Kingdom in Nigeria is paying a visit to Atlanta and meeting with city and state leaders in an effort to open the lines of communication.

Queen Olori Atuwatse III came to the WSB-TV studio in midtown Atlanta to speak with Channel 2s Karyn Greer.

On Monday, the queen consort spoke to legislators under the Gold Dome of the Capitol to discuss opportunities to connect the crown jewel of the Civil Rights Movement with the most populous Black nation of Nigeria.

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Im really honored to be here because I know that Atlanta has very deep roots, cultural roots with the Civil Rights Movement and a huge African diaspora community, she told Greer. And so Im really excited to be here to explore those cultural and economic opportunities.

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The 38-year-old is the youngest-serving queen in the country.

Her visit to Atlanta is just the beginning of her mini world tour.

So far, her favorite part of the Peach States capital has been The King Center.

Wow. That is all I can say. I was absolutely taken away. Like the tour of his life and just experiencing...Just getting a chance to experience everything that he did and he represented. I mean, his legacy still lives on, she said.

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Her Majesty Atuwatse III is fully aware of the current state of affairs in the United States and hopes city and state leaders will see what her country has to offer.

Were actually looking to form bridges as opposed to burn bridges. Were looking to build alliances, she said.

Nigerias Nollywood is the second-largest global producer of movies in the world, after India. And the U.S. is one of their main export destinations for things like crude petroleum, gas, gold and cocoa beans.

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Warmer weather has returned to start the week. Active weather will return starting Tuesday with a high fire danger. Rain and snow will return this week as well.

Its a warmer day all across New Mexico Monday with high temperatures around 5 to 15 warmer compared to Sunday. This quiet weather will come to an end though Tuesday with the return of a breezy southwest wind. This will bring a critical fire danger across southern and eastern parts of New Mexico Tuesday afternoon. A weak storm system will send in spotty rain and snow showers to western, northern and central New Mexico late Tuesday night through early Wednesday afternoon. Accumulations of rain and snow will be light. Winds will pick up again Wednesday afternoon, bringing another critical fire danger to southeast New Mexico.

A strong spring storm system will move into New Mexico Thursday and Friday. Gusty winds will continue Thursday afternoon, bringing yet another day of critical fire danger to southern and eastern New Mexico. Rain and snow will move in from the west by Thursday evening, spreading east through the overnight into Friday morning and afternoon. Temperatures will be cold enough Friday morning where snow levels could drop down to 6,000. This would mean a chance for light snow in the Albuquerque Metro again. Elsewhere, snow will fall in the mountains of New Mexico with scattered showers elsewhere. The driest areas will be in eastern New Mexico where up to 80 mph wind gusts will be possible Friday afternoon. Areas of blowing dust will be likely along with potential wind damage. There will also be a critical fire danger once again. Temperatures will also be much cooler Friday afternoon.

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Quieter weather returns for the weekend, but lingering rain and snow showers will be possible Saturday. Warmer weather will also return starting Saturday. A warming trend will continue into early next week.

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Rafael Cruz, the right-wing pastor and father of U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, told a Texas Senate committee that public schools must be required to teach anti-communist lessons in order to reaffirm what he said is Americas true, Christian heritage.

Communism needs to undermine the construct of god because government must become your god, he said on the March 11 hearing, later arguing that atheism and evolution are inherently un-American because they contradict his belief that the United States is a Christian country.

Cruz, 85, has been a vocal opponent of communism for decades. He fled Cuba in the 1950s after he was imprisoned and tortured for fighting Fulgencio Batista, a dictator who was once allied with Cubas communist party but later oversaw the brutal repression of communists, with aid from the CIA. According to a 2015 book authored by his son, Rafael Cruz initially supported Fidel Castro, but changed his mind after Castro seized power in 1959 and declared to the world that he was a communist. Cruzs role in the Cuban resistance has been disputed by some Cubans who knew him at the time.

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In the decades since immigrating, Cruz has been a leading advocate for Christian dominionism, which argues that the Bible commands Christians to have dominion over all parts of society in order to bring about the apocalypse. Dominionists and their allies have focused heavily on public schools, arguing that church-state separation is a myth that has been used to obscure the nations true, Christian roots  often, they claim, at the behest of godless communists intent on destroying America and its churches.

Cruz reiterated many of those arguments in his March 11 testimony for Senate Bill 24, which would require public schools in the state to teach students in fourth through 12th grade about communist movements and their victims, both in and outside the U.S. The Senate advanced the bill on March 26, which will now head to the House.

According to the bill, students would learn about the tactics used by communist movements in the U.S., as well as historical events and atrocities attributable to communist regimes, like those in Cuba, Latin American nations, and the former Soviet Union. As part of these lessons, instruction must include first-person accounts from victims of communist regimes.

Cruz, who was invited by lawmakers to testify in favor of the bill, said that young people are being brainwashed on the virtues of socialism through Critical Race Theory (CRT), Diversity or Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and other initiatives that have already been banned in some Texas public institutions by Republican lawmakers. He also argued that communist professors have infiltrated colleges across the country, and suggested deporting people who dont like it here.

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In many instances our classrooms are failing us, because theyre following an agenda, Cruz said. It is not our agenda. It is a communist agenda that has, like tentacles, immersed itself into our education system. So we need to retrieve our educational system from that evil agenda.

Cruzs testimony is the latest push by conservative Christians to infuse more of their religion into public life and codify into law their belief that church-state separation is a false doctrine. In recent years, state Republicans have required classrooms to hang donated In God We Trust signs; allowed unlicensed religious chaplains to replace mental health counselors in public schools; and approved new curriculum materials that teach the Bible and other religious texts alongside grade-school curriculum.

Those efforts have continued this legislative session, which began with some lawmakers calling for spiritual warfare against demonic forces that they say control the Legislature. Last month, Texas Senators approved a major bill that would allow public tax dollars to be redirected to religious and other private schools. And last week, a Texas Senate committee advanced bills that would require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public classrooms and allow districts to set aside optional time for prayer during school hours.

Animated by rising secularism and emboldened by recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, conservative Christians have argued that such legislation is crucial to stemming what they see as a moral decline in America that they trace back to at least the 1960s, when courts began to limit the role of Christianity in public life and schools. Those court decisions came amid broader Red Scare fears in America, and prompted major backlash by Christians who argued that their religion was a bulwark against communist influence in the country.

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Those fears continue today. SB 24 is one of Lt. Gov. Dan Patricks priority bills this session. Its author, Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, said in the March 11 hearing that the bill aims to educate students on the deceptive methods used to spread communistic ideology and highlight the ongoing threats posed by Communism.

Texas efforts come close to a year after Florida passed its own law requiring that public schools teach students about the history of communism in the U.S. and atrocities committed in foreign countries under the guidance of communism. That bill easily passed the Florida House and Senate, with bipartisan support. Some of the Florida Democrats who opposed the legislation said it was ironic to require schools teach anti-communist lessons at a time when the state was passing laws leading to book bans and restricting lessons on slavery and Black studies.

Lawmakers have also taken action at the federal level. In December, the U.S. House passed legislation that would provide optional educational materials to high schools from the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation to warn about the dangers of communism and totalitarianism, according to a U.S. House education committee news release.

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 Palestinian bookshop in the Arab-dominated eastern part of Jerusalem has been raided by police again.

The owner, Imad Muna, has been arrested, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on Tuesday. In February, Muna said his sons Ahmed and Mahmoud were temporarily detained in the bookshop.

Citing the family, several Israeli media outlets reported that the police did not present a court-issued search warrant during their latest raid on the Educational Bookshop. According to eyewitnesses and the Palestinian media, the police confiscated dozens of books.

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As in February, there was criticism of the latest incident from Germany.

"What are the legal grounds for this new raid? And what purpose does it serve to keep detaining Palestinian booksellers who are the embodiment of peaceful dialogue?" the German ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, wrote on the X platform.

The head of the German representative office in Ramallah, Oliver Owcza, also expressed concern about "another police raid" in the bookstore. This had also led to "the confiscation of international literature."

After the search in February, a police spokesperson said that the booksellers were suspected of "selling books with inflammatory content and supporting terrorism."

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According to Israeli media reports, the two booksellers were released after two days.

The bookshop specializes in Palestinian culture and history, as well as the Palestinian perspective on the conflict with Israel.
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS)  The city of Beckley is proud to announce a ceremony to honor a famous West Virginia songwriter.

The city announced they will hold an unveiling of the Bill Withers Statue at the Beckley Intermodal Gateway on Friday, March 28, 2025.

They also announced they will unveil the Bill Withers Plaza at the ceremony. Bill Withers was born in Slab Fork but raised in the Beckley area.

Officials tell 59News several speakers and musicians will be in attendance including Withers wife, Marcia.

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WVU Princeton Community Hospital announces re-accreditation from the DNV

Beckley-Stratton Middle School students and staff will also conduct a live performance of Withers famous song Lean On Me.

Director of Beckley Events, Jill Moorefield said she is proud to unveil the statue after several years of development.

It will be a sense of pride. It will be like another attraction down here. People can come and get their pictures taken and kids can play the musical equipment. They can realize that hey, you can be from this area and you can do big things.' Director of Beckley Events Jill Moorefield

The ceremony will be from noon to 1 p.m. to honor the life and legacy of one of West Virginias own.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCT)  Avelo Airlines will be launching nonstop flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Nassau, Bahamas.

With the addition of this new destination, RDU now offers nonstop flights to 15 international cities. They are also adding new domestic destinations when it begins nonstop service such as Grand Rapids, Michigan and Wilmington, Delaware.

We are proud to welcome three new destinations to our route map as Avelo grows along with RDU and the Triangle region, said Michael Landguth according to a press release, president and CEO of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority. The addition of Nassau service sets a new record for the number of international cities RDU serves and provides more options than ever before for travel outside the U.S.

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Nonstop flights to Nassau will begin June 11 and fly seasonally on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Service to Wilmington starts May 22 and will operate twice a week. Grand Rapids route begins May 23 and will also fly twice weekly.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By Elizabeth Pineau and John Irish

PARIS/QUEBEC (Reuters) - More than 30 army chiefs among Washington's closest allies met in Paris on Tuesday without their U.S. counterparts, seeking to take on more responsibility over the Ukraine war given President Donald Trump's unpredictability and rapprochement with Moscow.

The closed-door gathering of 34 army chiefs, including NATO alliance and EU members as well as Japan and Australia, was a rare - and possibly unprecedented - convening without the U.S.

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The talks aimed in part to assess options and capabilities to guarantee Ukraine's security in the event of a ceasefire, including potential European peacekeepers, and to maintain Kyiv's long-term military strength.

"The political message is we can do it together and without the United States, but it's clear there are things we can't do and the problem with Russia is we need to have deterrence," said a European diplomat involved in the talks, adding that the meeting was largely pre-planning.

A military official said the U.S. was not invited, in an intended signal that Europe and other partners could take their responsibilities given Trump has distanced himself from allies.

Officials said the presence of countries like Japan and Australia, both of whom have also faced uncertainty from the new U.S. administration, showed a deeper malaise among Washington's traditional allies.

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NO DEMILITARISATION OF UKRAINE

Trump has been exerting huge pressure on Ukraine to agree to peace. He has endorsed, even before talks, many of Russia's demands, such as denying Ukraine NATO membership.

Ahead of the talks, French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu stressed how important a strong Ukrainian army was to security guarantees.

Demilitarisation is one of the few Russian demands that Trump has not pressed Ukraine on, a senior European official said, adding that Europe wanted to keep it that way.

"The priority is to think about what the Ukrainian army should be like in the future, based on the principle that the first security guarantee remains the Ukrainian army," Lecornu told a security conference in Paris.

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"We will refuse any form of demilitarisation of Ukraine," Lecornu said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said he wants Ukraine to be demilitarised but Kyiv says that would expose it to further attacks.

(Additional reporting by Dominique Vidalon and Charlotte Van Campenhout; Writing by Ingrid Melander and John Irish; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  With the REAL ID deadline approaching on May 7, PennDOT and the Shapiro administration are hosting a REAL ID Day across the commonwealth.

On Monday, March 17 the Wilkes-Barre Drivers License Center will host a REAL ID Day from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Search underway for escaped state hospital patient

Getting a REAL ID is optional in Pennsylvania, but starting on May 7, 2025, you will need a REAL ID to:

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Board domestic commercial flights.

Enter a military base.

Enter certain federal facilities that require a federally acceptable form of ID.

It is important to have the right documents when you go for your REAL ID.

Federal REAL ID regulations require that PennDOT must verify the following documents:

Proof of Identity: Examples include an original or certified copy of a birth certificate filed with the State Office of Vital Records/Statistics with a raised/embossed seal, or a valid, unexpired U.S. Passport.

Proof of Social Security Number (proof must display current legal name and full nine digits of the Social Security Number): examples include a Social Security card, a W-2 form, a SSA-1099 form, a non-SSA-1099 form, or a pay stub.

Two Proofs of Current, Physical PA Address: examples include a current, unexpired PA drivers license or identification card, vehicle registration, or a utility bill with the same name and address.

Proof of all Legal Name Changes (if the current legal name is different than what is reflected on proof of identity document): examples include certified marriage certificate(s) issued by the County Court for each marriage, court order(s) approving a change in legal name, or adoption decree issued by your countys family court. Note: If the current name is the same as what is reflected on the proof of identity document (usually birth certificate or passport), proof of legal name change does not need to be shown.



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To get your REAL ID you will need to pay a one-time $30 fee.

To find out if REAL ID is right for you, you can go to the REAL ID online wizard and answer a few questions to learn more.

The Wilkes-Barre Drivers License Center is located at 1085 Hanover Street, Wilkes-Barre.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The Illinois secretary of states office on Wednesday is opening a Real ID supercenter in Chicagos Loop to meet a growing demand for the document ahead of a federal May 7 deadline.

The office earlier this month added Saturday hours at 12 DMVs around the state, and last Saturday more than 10,000 Real ID applications were processed, according to Deputy Secretary of State Scott Burnham.

The eleventh-hour rush has overwhelmed DMVs across the state, slowing the process for others services such as drivers license and vehicle plate renewals, and Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said hes treating the situation like a mini emergency.

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Were seeing appointments that are opening up and theyre gone in like milliseconds, and at our walk-in facilities, were seeing unprecedented lines, Giannoulias said. Were trying to attack this problem, which actually has nothing to do with us. This is a federally mandated program that were being tasked with overseeing.

Beginning Wednesday, the Real ID supercenter, with 30 service counters, will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 191 N. Clark St.

Giannoulias continues to emphasize that people should consider their need for a Real ID before rushing in to apply for one,. The documents will not be required either for driving nor to prove citizenship. For people who have no plans to get on a plane anytime soon, he said theres no hurry on Real ID.

Even after May 7, we will continue to issue Real IDs, Giannoulias said in an interview. As well go on, we will be issuing them forever, so folks would not need to worry about, I didnt get in. I missed my chance.

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The Real ID Act, passed in 2005 as a security measure following a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission, aimed to set national standards for identification such as drivers licenses. Under the initial plan, the ID would be required for boarding flights in the U.S and entering some federal facilities by 2008, but that deadline has been continuously extended amid opposition from states.

Under a January ruling, federal agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration, are set to lead a phased-in Real ID enforcement approach due to fears some states could be overwhelmed by the high number of residents still needing the document. Initially, people without a Real ID would be issued a warning but would still be allowed to get on a plane.

Giannoulias said TSA hasnt been clear, yet, about what the enforcement period would look like.

Were hoping TSA moves with a little bit more of a sense of urgency on getting us and other states answers, Giannoulias said. For the last couple of weeks and months or so, you know, everythings been up in the air. So thats super frustrating to everyone in our office.

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TSAs Great Lakes regional spokesperson Jessica Mayle said in February that the agency has not released the full enforcement plan because they want citizens to treat the deadline as final. The process of issuing warnings at airports for people without the IDs could also cause delays, Mayle said.

If we have many hundreds or thousands of passengers without that, that could really stack up, Mayle said. I want people to keep in mind that the Real ID verifies your identity. If you dont have a Real ID, or something to verify your identity in other ways, that could increase the delay to the passenger process.

Mayle said TSA administration will clarify its enforcement plan closer to the May 7 deadline.

Burnham says the office intends to staff the downtown Chicago supercenter with current employees at no additional costs. The office is leasing the supercenter property, which was previously used as an early voting site.

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Its absolutely unfunded, and were pulling it within our budget, said Giannoulias. Were asking our employees to do more. Were taking resources that we would put into other things and doing whatever we can to handle this demand.

The supercenter will remain open until May 7, and Burnham says the office will make a determination on how long it stays open after the deadline based on demand when the enforcement period begins.

After residents apply for a Real ID, they will receive a temporary paper drivers license or state ID, which Mayle said will not be accepted at airports. An actual Real ID will be mailed within 15 days after the application is made. Giannoulias recommends residents apply for a Real ID 30 days before any scheduled flight plans after May 7.

More information on Real ID requirements can be found on the secretary of state offices website.
During a Fox News interview earlier this week, multi-hypenate billionaire and X-formerly-Twitter owner Elon Musk blamed a "massive cyberattack" that repeatedly took down the site yesterday as coming from Ukraine.

But, as Wired reports, his evidence is flimsy at best. Musk claimed that "IP addresses" behind the attack originated in the embattled European nation. But as experts told the publication, that's far from actual proof.

"What we can conclude from the IP data is the geographic distribution of traffic sources, which may provide insights into botnet composition or infrastructure used," connectivity firm Zayo chief security officer Shawn Edwards told Wired. "What we cant conclude with certainty is the actual perpetrators identity or intent."

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One researcher claimed in an interview with Wired that Ukraine wasn't even in the top 20 IP addresses involved in the attack.

Since then, a pro-Palestine hacking group called Dark Storm Team claimed responsibility for the attacks in now-deleted Telegram posts.

And considering some glaring technical oversights, the hackers seem to have had a surprisingly easy time taking down the social media platform. Security researchers told Wired that several X origin servers, which are designated to respond to web requests, weren't secured by the company's Cloudflare protection.

Cloudflare offers services allowing websites to automatically detect and mitigate distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, like the most recent cyberattack targeting X.

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"The botnet was directly attacking the IP and a bunch more on that X subnet yesterday," independent security researcher Kevin Beaumont told Wired. "It's a botnet of cameras and DVRs."

Put simply, X was ill-prepared, despite DDoS attacks being an extremely common threat to virtually all services on the internet. The company's loose protections may have even allowed the incident to be far worse than it would've been otherwise.

It'd be far from the first time X has been thrown into chaos due to questionable decision-making and a bevy of bugs.

Whether state actors were indeed behind the attack, as Musk strongly suggests, remains dubious at best. Experts suggest it's unlikely, considering the crudeness of the attack.

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"There are kind of two types of cyber attacks  there are ones that are designed to be very loud and there are ones that are designed to be very quiet," cyber operations Nicholas Reese told the Associated Press. "And the ones that are usually the most valuable are the ones that are very quiet."

"Something like this was designed to be discovered," he added. "So to me that almost certainly eliminates state actors. And the value that they would have gained from it is pretty low."

Musk has certainly made plenty of enemies with his embracing of extreme-right ideologies and plundering of the US government. The dealerships of his car company Tesla have been targeted with protests and vandalism across the country, indicating a massive flare-up in anti-Musk sentiment.

In other words, a DDoS attack against Musk's social media mouthpiece isn't exactly surprising, regardless of who was behind it.

More on Elon Musk: Elon Musk Has a Major Problem: Tesla Investors Are Absolutely Disgusted With Him
Groups of mourners gather for a prayer vigil after a mass shooting at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis in 2021. Indiana is one of 21 states that have a red flag law, which allow police and family members to petition a civil court to remove a firearm from someone who may be a danger to themselves or others. (Jon Cherry/Getty Images)

Adriana Pentzs brother could be alive today.

If you or someone you know may be experiencing a mental health crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing or texting 988.

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In 2017, Luc-John Pentz was 30 years old and starting to struggle, burdened by lifes stressors and trying to cope by leaning heavily on alcohol. Adriana soon found out he had purchased a gun months earlier.

Of her three siblings, she had the most in common with Luc growing up  they were both academically driven and competitive swimmers. They remained close into adulthood, with Luc supporting her when she became a mother. So, when she noticed his behavior starting to shift, she was immediately troubled.

I was scared when I found out that he had a gun, she said. I know that it offered him a sense of security, a sense of protection, which he felt like he needed at that particular point. But my siblings and my mom didnt feel comfortable that he was not in a good place, and we knew he had something at home that was dangerous.

Her brother died by suicide May 23, 2017, in the woods near his home in Wallingford, Connecticut.

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What Adriana Pentz didnt know at the time was that Connecticut had a law that would have allowed her, her family or police officers to petition a civil court to seize his gun when it was clear he was a potential harm to himself or others.

In 1999, Connecticut became the first state in the country to pass what is commonly known as a red flag law, which allows family members, law enforcement and sometimes health care workers, friends and co-workers to file what is often called an extreme risk protection order.

After considering evidence and hearing from both the petitioner and the gun owner, a judge may temporarily take a persons weapon if they deem the gun owner to be a potential danger to themselves or the community. Orders usually last one year.

Now, 21 states and the District of Columbia have such laws. Voters in Maine will decide in November whether to join that list. The use of extreme risk protection orders has surged in recent years, with petitions filed across states that have such laws jumping by 59% in 2023 over the previous year, according to data collected by Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun control research and advocacy group.

Luc-John Pentz, seen here with his sister Adriana on her wedding day, died by suicide in 2017. (Courtesy of Adriana Pentz)

But the laws effectiveness relies on their implementation, supporters say: Law enforcement and judges must be trained properly and the public needs to be aware that the law exists.

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The challenge in this is that too many people, too many law enforcement people, too many families, are not aware that there is an extreme risk law in their state, Sarah Burd-Sharps, the senior director of research at Everytown, told Stateline.

A Stateline analysis shows the usage rates rose from six petitions filed per 100,000 residents in 2022, to 10 per 100,000 in 2023. The analysis used Everytowns petition data and U.S. Census Bureau population estimates for the District of Columbia and the 19 states with active red flag laws in 2023.

In 2023, there were 46,728 gun-related deaths in the United States, including suicides, murders and accidents, with a national rate of 14 gun deaths per 100,000 people, according to the latest data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Suicides accounted for nearly 6 in 10 of the gun deaths. Recent research on the protection orders impact estimates that one suicide is prevented for every 17 to 23 petitions filed. Based on this estimate, nearly 990 lives could have been saved in 2023 for every 17 petitions filed.

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Pentz feels her brothers death every day. It was a horrible, horrible, horrible moment in our lives to have lost him, she said.

I know for sure that if it was something that I was aware of in 2017, I would have petitioned to have my brothers gun taken from him in that moment of crisis. I do believe it could have saved his life.

Training the police

As retired detective Christopher Carita travels around the country to meet with law enforcement agencies on how to better use their states red flag laws, he consistently hears one concern: Is this a gun grab?

Law enforcement, were gun folks, said Carita, who worked for the Fort Lauderdale Police Department in Florida. Theres always this hesitancy when it comes to risk protection orders and removing firearms that needs to be overcome.

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So, when he designed his training, he emphasized due process protections embedded in these laws: Gun owners get ample notice about the petition, and they have the right to defend themselves in court through multiple hearings. The laws are based off long-held domestic violence and other civil orders and are backed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

More often than not, the respondent understands, said Carita, who works with 97Percent, a gun safety organization focused on including gun owners and non-gun owners in the conversation around policy solutions for gun violence.

Even if theyre hesitant at first, he said, ultimately theyre appreciative that their family member cared enough to intervene, and that that intervention is something that is temporary and affords them some time and space away from the most lethal means to get the help they need.

Carita encourages officers to build better relationships with their local Department of Veterans Affairs agency and area nonprofits, so they have someone they can refer the gunowner to when theyre removing a firearm for suicide risk.

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Even before New Mexico imposed a red flag law in 2020, some law enforcement officials opposed it, citing concerns over Second Amendment rights and potential government overreach. In its first two years, police in the state filed only 23 petitions. Then in 2022, Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham established a task force to raise awareness and improve enforcement of the law.

The number of petitions has increased significantly, rising from 47 in 2023 to 96 in 2024, according to court data. More than half of last years petitions were in Bernalillo County, the states most populous jurisdiction and home to Albuquerque, the capital.

In February, the New Mexico House passed a bill to streamline the process. The bill would clarify more clearly that police officers can directly file petitions and would remove the 48-hour waiting period for firearm relinquishment, addressing concerns that the delay could pose unnecessary risks. The legislation is now in the Senate.

Gun violence experts say the goal of red flag laws isnt necessarily to increase their use for the sake of numbers, but to ensure they are applied in the most dangerous situations.

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We have to be realistic about expectations that [extreme risk protection orders] arent going to prevent all forms of firearm violence and lead to huge decreases in gun violence, said Stephen Oliphant, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention at the University of Michigan.

After Maryland adopted its red flag law in 2018, Darrin Popkin, the executive director of both the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association and the Maryland Sheriffs Association, traveled the state to educate 17,000 law enforcement officers from 160 agencies on what he calls another tool in the belt for officers to save lives.

In the first six months of having the law, Popkin said, law enforcement prevented several potential school shootings. Hes received phone calls from people who said that if they didnt have the gun-removal order, their family member would no longer be alive.

In recent years, the state police academies took over that training, teaching officers how to apply for a petition, testify in court and carry out the gun-removal order. The state also is investing in media and advertising outreach for the public, along with training health care workers.

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According to data from Everytown, Maryland is a national leader in issuing extreme risk protection orders. In 2023, there were approximately 11 petitions filed per 100,000 Maryland residents.

Popkin, who until 2022 served as Montgomery County sheriff across the border from Washington, D.C., attributes the high numbers to how the legislation was crafted, a process that included perspectives from law enforcement officers, health care workers and gun rights advocates. He also points to how the people granting the orders, Maryland District Court commissioners, are available 24 hours a day.

There will always be people in crisis, Popkin said. There will always be a need for people to get help.

The next step, he said, is to increase the laws usage among health care providers.

The treatment and care approach

Whenever The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore treats someone who might be a danger to themselves or others and may own or be about to buy a weapon, the hospital contacts Quinita Garrett.

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Garrett, the director of call center and system coordination for Baltimore Crisis Response Inc., a nonprofit crisis center known as BCRI, is leading a pilot program to test a partnership between a local hospital and social workers.

Shell go to the hospital and visit the patient at their bed, asking about their mental health, whether they have access to a gun at home or through others, their intent on purchasing a weapon, and their history of aggression, violence, homicidal thoughts, suicidal thoughts or any attempts. Shell also ask questions about their impulse control, if they want to hurt anyone and if they have a support system.

Sometimes, a person is just having a bad day, and they have support in their life and dont own a weapon or plan on buying one. But other times, a person might have a history of aggressive or abusive behavior and may own a weapon, and shell quickly petition the Eastside District Court. Shell see the process through until the end, testifying before a judge shortly after filing the petition.

It doesnt happen often; over the past year and a half, shes gone to the hospital around 15 times. But the number has been increasing recently to one or two requests a week, which she attributes to the hospital educating its staff.

Garrett also might be referred to cases through calls coming into BCRIs local suicide prevention hotline.

She recalled talking with one mother in 2023 who was scared to live in her own house, worried that her son was going to kill himself or someone else. Garrett walked her through the process, and the mother eventually petitioned the court. Although her son was mad at her, at least she knew he and those around him were safe, Garrett remembers her saying.

It can really save lives, Garrett said. I definitely think that is good as a temporary option, so people can actually be linked to treatment and care.

Combining a law enforcement response with one centered on behavioral specialists, social service workers and medical professionals has led to a paradigm shift in Maryland and New York, the only two states that allow health care workers to file extreme risk protection orders, said Shannon Frattaroli, the director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy. Shes led the nationwide effort for better implementation of red flag laws, training law enforcement or other government agencies that seek to further use extreme risk protection orders.

When we think about how to make this accessible and less threatening, more therapeutic, starting the process with clinicians just makes a whole lot of sense, she said.

In surveys that reached thousands of physicians, psychologists and clinicians, Frattaroli found that there is broad support for the idea of extreme risk protection orders. However, many think it is challenging to complete the paperwork and to get to court to see the process through on top of their full-time work.

Thats where partnerships with people like Garrett come in, she said. Court data that Frattaroli has collected shows that less than 1% of petitions are filed by clinicians; theres vast room for improvement, she said.

Tightening judicial procedures

Indianas red flag law  passed in 2005  came under scrutiny in 2021 following the mass shooting at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis, where a gunman killed eight people and wounded several others.

Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears declined to file a red flag case against the shooter, even after Indianapolis police had seized a shotgun from him a year earlier. Police criticized that choice, but at the time, Mears said loopholes in the law could have led to the shotgun being returned to the shooter.

Without a court ruling barring the shooter from future gun purchases, he legally bought the Ruger AR-556 and the HM Defense HM15F rifles used in the attack.

Marion County Superior Judge Amy Jones then issued new guidance requiring all red flag cases filed by law enforcement agencies in the county to go directly to the court rather than the prosecutors office.

Under the revised process, police must file a case within 48 hours of seizing a firearm, and a judge then determines within 14 days whether a hearing should be held.

Cases are now being filed and resolved much more quickly, Jones told Stateline, and respondents are ensured due process. Lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow some red flag records to be sealed and expunged, while still ensuring that people later found to pose a danger can still have their firearms seized.

Maybe itll be seized or taken away for a period of time, but following these proceedings, it may not be all that long in the grand scheme of things, Jones said. You do have that protection to the public and the people that this individual is around.

I know for sure that if it was something that I was aware of in 2017, I would have petitioned to have my brothers gun taken from him in that moment of crisis. I do believe it could have saved his life.

 Adriana Pentz

Adriana Pentz, who lost her brother, knows family members often see troubling signs before anyone else. But whether they know extreme risk protection orders are available is another story.

Average people need to know how to create a petition, she said, and states and communities must do a better job of promoting red flag laws.

Love and support just isnt enough, she said. You absolutely need something that can help keep an individual and their surrounding community safe in a moment of crisis.

Stateline reporter Matt Vasilogambros can be reached at mvasilogambros@stateline.org. Stateline reporter Amanda Hernandez can be reached at ahernandez@stateline.org.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Mar. 11Adriana Pentz's brother could be alive today.

If you or someone you know may be experiencing a mental health crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing or texting "988."

In 2017, Luc-John Pentz was 30 years old and starting to struggle, burdened by life's stressors and trying to cope by leaning heavily on alcohol. Adriana soon found out he had purchased a gun months earlier.

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Of her three siblings, she had the most in common with Luc growing up  they were both academically driven and competitive swimmers. They remained close into adulthood, with Luc supporting her when she became a mother. So, when she noticed his behavior starting to shift, she was immediately troubled.

"I was scared when I found out that he had a gun," she said. "I know that it offered him a sense of security, a sense of protection, which he felt like he needed at that particular point. But my siblings and my mom didn't feel comfortable that he was not in a good place, and we knew he had something at home that was dangerous."

Her brother died by suicide May 23, 2017, in the woods near his home in Wallingford, Connecticut.

What Adriana Pentz didn't know at the time was that Connecticut had a law that would have allowed her, her family or police officers to petition a civil court to seize his gun when it was clear he was a potential harm to himself or others.

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In 1999, Connecticut became the first state in the country to pass what is commonly known as a red flag law, which allows family members, law enforcement and sometimes health care workers, friends and co-workers to file what is often called an extreme risk protection order.

After considering evidence and hearing from both the petitioner and the gun owner, a judge may temporarily take a person's weapon if they deem the gun owner to be a potential danger to themselves or the community. Orders usually last one year.

Now, 21 states and the District of Columbia have such laws. Voters in Maine will decide in November whether to join that list. The use of extreme risk protection orders has surged in recent years, with petitions filed across states that have such laws jumping by 59% in 2023 over the previous year, according to data collected by Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun control research and advocacy group.

A sister and brother celebrate her wedding day. Luc-John Pentz, seen here with his sister Adriana on her wedding day, died by suicide in 2017. (Courtesy of Adriana Pentz)

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But the laws' effectiveness relies on their implementation, supporters say: Law enforcement and judges must be trained properly and the public needs to be aware that the law exists.

"The challenge in this is that too many people, too many law enforcement people, too many families, are not aware that there is an extreme risk law in their state," Sarah Burd-Sharps, the senior director of research at Everytown, told Stateline.

A Stateline analysis shows the usage rates rose from six petitions filed per 100,000 residents in 2022, to 10 per 100,000 in 2023. The analysis used Everytown's petition data and U.S. Census Bureau population estimates for the District of Columbia and the 19 states with active red flag laws in 2023.

In 2023, there were 46,728 gun-related deaths in the United States, including suicides, murders and accidents, with a national rate of 14 gun deaths per 100,000 people, according to the latest data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Suicides accounted for nearly 6 in 10 of the gun deaths. Recent research on the protection orders' impact estimates that one suicide is prevented for every 17 to 23 petitions filed. Based on this estimate, nearly 990 lives could have been saved in 2023 for every 17 petitions filed.

Pentz feels her brother's death every day. "It was a horrible, horrible, horrible moment in our lives to have lost him," she said.

"I know for sure that if it was something that I was aware of in 2017, I would have petitioned to have my brother's gun taken from him in that moment of crisis. I do believe it could have saved his life."

Training the police

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As retired detective Christopher Carita travels around the country to meet with law enforcement agencies on how to better use their state's red flag laws, he consistently hears one concern: Is this a gun grab?

"Law enforcement, we're gun folks," said Carita, who worked for the Fort Lauderdale Police Department in Florida. "There's always this hesitancy when it comes to risk protection orders and removing firearms that needs to be overcome."

So, when he designed his training, he emphasized due process protections embedded in these laws: Gun owners get ample notice about the petition, and they have the right to defend themselves in court through multiple hearings. The laws are based off long-held domestic violence and other civil orders and are backed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

"More often than not, the respondent understands," said Carita, who works with 97Percent, a gun safety organization focused on including gun owners and non-gun owners in the conversation around policy solutions for gun violence.

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"Even if they're hesitant at first," he said, "ultimately they're appreciative that their family member cared enough to intervene, and that that intervention is something that is temporary and affords them some time and space away from the most lethal means to get the help they need."

Carita encourages officers to build better relationships with their local Department of Veterans Affairs agency and area nonprofits, so they have someone they can refer the gunowner to when they're removing a firearm for suicide risk.

Even before New Mexico imposed a red flag law in 2020, some law enforcement officials opposed it, citing concerns over Second Amendment rights and potential government overreach. In its first two years, police in the state filed only 23 petitions. Then in 2022, Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham established a task force to raise awareness and improve enforcement of the law.

The number of petitions has increased significantly, rising from 47 in 2023 to 96 in 2024, according to court data. More than half of last year's petitions were in Bernalillo County, the state's most populous jurisdiction and home to Albuquerque, the capital.

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In February, the New Mexico House passed a bill to streamline the process. The bill would clarify more clearly that police officers can directly file petitions and would remove the 48-hour waiting period for firearm relinquishment, addressing concerns that the delay could pose unnecessary risks. The legislation is now in the Senate.

Gun violence experts say the goal of red flag laws isn't necessarily to increase their use for the sake of numbers, but to ensure they are applied in the most dangerous situations.

"We have to be realistic about expectations that [extreme risk protection orders] aren't going to prevent all forms of firearm violence and lead to huge decreases in gun violence," said Stephen Oliphant, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention at the University of Michigan.

After Maryland adopted its red flag law in 2018, Darrin Popkin, the executive director of both the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association and the Maryland Sheriffs' Association, traveled the state to educate 17,000 law enforcement officers from 160 agencies on what he calls "another tool in the belt" for officers to save lives.

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In the first six months of having the law, Popkin said, law enforcement prevented several potential school shootings. He's received phone calls from people who said that if they didn't have the gun-removal order, their family member would no longer be alive.

In recent years, the state police academies took over that training, teaching officers how to apply for a petition, testify in court and carry out the gun-removal order. The state also is investing in media and advertising outreach for the public, along with training health care workers.

According to data from Everytown, Maryland is a national leader in issuing extreme risk protection orders. In 2023, there were approximately 11 petitions filed per 100,000 Maryland residents.

Popkin, who until 2022 served as Montgomery County sheriff across the border from Washington, D.C., attributes the high numbers to how the legislation was crafted, a process that included perspectives from law enforcement officers, health care workers and gun rights advocates. He also points to how the people granting the orders, Maryland District Court commissioners, are available 24 hours a day.

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"There will always be people in crisis," Popkin said. "There will always be a need for people to get help."

The next step, he said, is to increase the law's usage among health care providers.

The 'treatment and care' approach

Whenever The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore treats someone who might be a danger to themselves or others and may own or be about to buy a weapon, the hospital contacts Quinita Garrett.

Garrett, the director of call center and system coordination for Baltimore Crisis Response Inc., a nonprofit crisis center known as BCRI, is leading a pilot program to test a partnership between a local hospital and social workers.

She'll go to the hospital and visit the patient at their bed, asking about their mental health, whether they have access to a gun at home or through others, their intent on purchasing a weapon, and their history of aggression, violence, homicidal thoughts, suicidal thoughts or any attempts. She'll also ask questions about their impulse control, if they want to hurt anyone and if they have a support system.

Sometimes, a person is just having a bad day, and they have support in their life and don't own a weapon or plan on buying one. But other times, a person might have a history of aggressive or abusive behavior and may own a weapon, and she'll quickly petition the Eastside District Court. She'll see the process through until the end, testifying before a judge shortly after filing the petition.

It doesn't happen often; over the past year and a half, she's gone to the hospital around 15 times. But the number has been increasing recently to one or two requests a week, which she attributes to the hospital educating its staff.

Garrett also might be referred to cases through calls coming into BCRI's local suicide prevention hotline.

She recalled talking with one mother in 2023 who was scared to live in her own house, worried that her son was going to kill himself or someone else. Garrett walked her through the process, and the mother eventually petitioned the court. Although her son was mad at her, at least she knew he and those around him were safe, Garrett remembers her saying.

"It can really save lives," Garrett said. "I definitely think that is good as a temporary option, so people can actually be linked to treatment and care."

Combining a law enforcement response with one centered on behavioral specialists, social service workers and medical professionals has led to a paradigm shift in Maryland and New York, the only two states that allow health care workers to file extreme risk protection orders, said Shannon Frattaroli, the director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy. She's led the nationwide effort for better implementation of red flag laws, training law enforcement or other government agencies that seek to further use extreme risk protection orders.

"When we think about how to make this accessible and less threatening, more therapeutic, starting the process with clinicians just makes a whole lot of sense," she said.

In surveys that reached thousands of physicians, psychologists and clinicians, Frattaroli found that there is broad support for the idea of extreme risk protection orders. However, many think it is challenging to complete the paperwork and to get to court to see the process through on top of their full-time work.

That's where partnerships with people like Garrett come in, she said. Court data that Frattaroli has collected shows that less than 1% of petitions are filed by clinicians; there's vast room for improvement, she said.

Tightening judicial procedures

Indiana's red flag law  passed in 2005  came under scrutiny in 2021 following the mass shooting at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis, where a gunman killed eight people and wounded several others.

Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears declined to file a red flag case against the shooter, even after Indianapolis police had seized a shotgun from him a year earlier. Police criticized that choice, but at the time, Mears said loopholes in the law could have led to the shotgun being returned to the shooter.

Without a court ruling barring the shooter from future gun purchases, he legally bought the Ruger AR-556 and the HM Defense HM15F rifles used in the attack.

Marion County Superior Judge Amy Jones then issued new guidance requiring all red flag cases filed by law enforcement agencies in the county to go directly to the court rather than the prosecutor's office.

Under the revised process, police must file a case within 48 hours of seizing a firearm, and a judge then determines within 14 days whether a hearing should be held.

Cases are now being filed and resolved much more quickly, Jones told Stateline, and respondents are ensured due process. Lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow some red flag records to be sealed and expunged, while still ensuring that people later found to pose a danger can still have their firearms seized.

"Maybe it'll be seized or taken away for a period of time, but following these proceedings, it may not be all that long in the grand scheme of things," Jones said. "You do have that protection to the public and the people that this individual is around."

I know for sure that if it was something that I was aware of in 2017, I would have petitioned to have my brother's gun taken from him in that moment of crisis. I do believe it could have saved his life.  Adriana Pentz

Adriana Pentz, who lost her brother, knows family members often see troubling signs before anyone else. But whether they know extreme risk protection orders are available is another story.

Average people need to know how to create a petition, she said, and states and communities must do a better job of promoting red flag laws.

"Love and support just isn't enough," she said. "You absolutely need something that can help keep an individual and their surrounding community safe in a moment of crisis."

Stateline reporter Matt Vasilogambros can be reached at [email protected]. Stateline reporter Amanda Hernandez can be reached at [email protected].

YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE.
REEVES COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- The Reeves County Sheriffs Office has arrested one person in connection with the disappearance of a 14-year-old child who left home as a runaway in late February. Trent Michael Furry has been charged with Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, a first-degree felony, Injury to a Child, a first-degree felony, and Aggravated Kidnapping Sexual Abuse, a first-degree felony.

According to RCSO, on March 1, deputies received a call about a 14-year-old runaway who went missing in late February. Investigators conducted a welfare check at the teens home in Pecos and learned from her legal guardian that the girl had been picked up by an unknown man shed met online in the early morning hours of February 24. The Reeves SO Criminal Investigation Division assisted in the investigation and utilize forensic tools to execute exigent phone pings, which placed the teen in a motel in San Antonio.

RCSO said the San Antonio Police Department was contacted, and SAPD officers conducted a welfare check at a Motel 6 Six Flags in San Antonio but were unable to locate the juvenile or the suspect, whod been identified as Furry, 36, of Vista, California.

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Reeves SO CID then filed an exigent request for the suspects social media accounts which showed other locations near Motel 6 Six Flags in San Antonio. Once more phone pings in same area were confirmed, investigators requested assistance from Texas Department of Public Safety CID to assist in locating the juvenile, and they executed a secondary welfare check at Motel 6 Six Flags in San Antonio, where they found the suspects vehicle.

Investigators eventually found Furry, and the teen, and the suspect was taken into custody without incident. The defendant was initially taken to the Bexar County Jail in San Antonio but has since been extradited to Reeves County and is currently being held in Reeves County Jail on three First-Degree Felony charges with a combined Bond amount of $300,000.

Thanks to the networking and cooperation between Law Enforcement agencies mainly San Antonio PD and Texas DPS CID, the juvenile was located and taken to safety. The Flock camera system approved through Commissioners Court last year and purchased by the Sheriffs Office was instrumental in tracking the suspect from California into Pecos, Texas and then on to San Antonio once a license plate was obtained by Investigators, RCSO said in a statement. The Sheriffs Office did not receive the report of the missing juvenile until five days after the juvenile went missing or the suspect and missing juvenile may have been found sooner by using the Flock Camera System and investigative techniques from Reeves SO CID. The Sheriffs Office would like to remind parents to monitor their childs social media traffic to avoid incidents like these involving kidnapping and possible human trafficking.

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REEVES COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Investigators have released more information on the cause of a giant tank battery fire in Reeves County last week and have identified the cause of the fire as a criminal one. The fire broke out following an explosion on March 5 near Highway 285 and County Road 436, near Orla.

According to investigators, based on the preliminary criminal investigation, the drivers of two vacuum trucks appeared to be attempting to steal petroleum product from a station designed for pipeline maintenance. Evidence recovered from the scene indicates that the suspects violated safety protocols, and the buildup of static electricity combined with the high pressure of the pipeline caused a fire and subsequent detonation.

A multi-agency investigation was launched with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, Texas Department of Public Safety, State of Texas Emergency Management, and a number of other local, state, and federal agencies assisting. Upon completion of the criminal investigation, the scene was released to Western Midstream who provided assistance to the criminal investigation.

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The Reeves Sheriffs Office said these types of thefts remain a primary concern for public safety.

We were extremely fortunate that this fire was contained before it could spread to a more populated area or before it could make contact with a natural gas pipeline. We urge the oilfield community to call and report any suspicious activity in order to prevent these types of dangerous incidents. Reeves SO would also like to thank everyone who assisted in maintaining safety and security during the incident preventing further damages, RCSO said in a statement.

No arrests have been made, and the criminal investigation is ongoing. Those involved will be prosecuted for multiple criminal charges, investigators 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 Yourbasin.
Why has the ugly bust-up in Reform UK made so many people feel bitterly disappointed and let down? Just as the insurgent party was regularly topping the opinion polls and managing to cause alarm in both Conservative and Labour ranks, to the delight of its supporters, Rupert Lowe, the MP for Great Yarmouth, appears to have been the latest victim of a Nigel Farage team drive-by shooting.

It takes a certain kind of genius to orchestrate a civil war between five MPs (now four since Lowe lost the whip) and one chairman. Early diagnosis suggests an excess of testosterone (possibly Viagra, given the age group) and preposterous willy waving.

Men with large egos, confirms someone who is close to all the warring parties, I put it at six of one and half a dozen of the other. That party desperately needs women in it, she adds drily.

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It also desperately needs the common sense which is supposed to be Reforms stock in trade. How is reporting the 67-year-old businessman, worth an estimated 30 million, to the Metropolitan Police for verbal threats so serious that some took three months to surface, supposed to sit with a party that deplores cancel culture?

I thought they left that kind of vindictive petulance to the thin-skinned lefties? As for insinuating he has early-onset dementia: what an appalling Lowe blow.

We will delve into the motives and characters behind this storm in a pint-glass in a moment, but first I want to say why I find the spectacle so abysmal. This should not be about whether you are Team Nigel or Team Rupert or other public-schoolboy skirmishes.

Its about the future of our country, which is ailing, possibly terminal, and about the obliteration of a way of life, a way of thinking and being that we instinctively call British and which millions now sense is draining a G&T in the last-chance saloon.

The Reform row has come after Rupert Lowe publicly criticised Nigel Farages leadership style - Maja Smiejkowska/PA

A few weeks ago, a delightful, touching email landed in the Planet Normal inbox from someone who described herself simply as a frustrated teenager from a small town in Kent.

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Ellie (not her real name) was writing to tell Liam Halligan and me about a new concept her dad had recently coined: the Woke Cloak.

Said garment, similar to Harry Potters cloak of invisibility, has become a key weapon in our family survival against the progressive left, Ellie said. We now don our Woke Cloaks when leaving our home. This allows us to navigate life amongst the wokerati and is particularly useful for me at school.

Ellies Woke Cloak performs a protective function. It allows me to observe comments from friends (and believe it or not teachers!) knowing that I am free from cancellation. But, sometimes, I think are there others also wearing Woke Cloaks like me, or are they just so brain-washed they dont understand or even see what their comments represent?

I now poke my head out from under my cloak more and more when talking to my friends, the teenager continued, always retreating under its safety before I say something that could be considered controversial. I could be cancelled just for sharing views I am perfectly entitled to have on topics such as immigration and womens rights to private spaces. I feel I should be proud of my country, but what I see makes me wince and cringe at the absurdity of some things that are going on at the moment.

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It should strike us as very sad, indeed deeply worrying, that a clearly bright and thoughtful girl should be too intimidated to speak her mind. Ellie and her family are not alone in believing that the only way they can navigate our society without getting in hot water is by hiding their authentic selves under a Woke Cloak.

Other examples began to land in our inbox after we read out Ellies letter on the podcast. Last week, Laura wrote: Dear Allison and Liam, the Woke Cloak perfectly sums up how I get through my days. I am one of those dreaded public sector workers and in perhaps one of the most stereotypical woke professions, meaning I cant always say what I really think at work and have to hide behind my Woke Cloak.

I enjoy occasionally putting my head above the parapet when exercised by some particularly crazy new diktat from upper management as they fall over themselves to appear progressive and avoid offending any minority group. However, I have no doubt my job would be at risk if I really spoke my mind  so much for free speech!

I enjoy small acts of rebellion, Laura continued, such as resisting adding pronouns to my email signature and listening to Planet Normal on my commute. I am sure there are many colleagues in my organisation who feel the same as me but we have no safe way to reveal it to each other  very 1984!

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I just want to assure you that not every public sector worker is a fully paid-up member of the wokerati, some of us are just Planet Normal citizens who need to provide for our families. So please dont hate on us too much.

If you had to sum up the hope that Reform offers you might say it was to relieve Ellie, Laura and all the others of their fears; to put the Woke Cloak in the bin where it belongs. As Nigel Farage promises at the end of his ecstatic rallies, To give you your country back.

I could weep when I hear Laura talk of small acts of rebellion against the prevailing ideology, as if we were under occupation by some enemy force. Which, when you come to think of it, we pretty much are. Just consider the list of pernicious progressive nonsense this week so far:

The NHS pushes forward on a trial of puberty blockers for vulnerable children only months after the drugs were banned over concerns about their safety

Joanne and Adrian Fenton are fined 1,500 after an illegal migrant entered the UK by hiding in their motorhome. Do you reckon we can fine Border Force officials who wave in several hundred undocumented young males in a single day?

Crossbow killer Kyle Clifford was not required to attend sentencing for the savage murder of his ex-girlfriend Louise Hunt, her mum Carol and sister Hannah. The foul fiend refused to attend court in person or by video link and the judge declined to order restraints on the basis that the idea of a man in a wheelchair being put in restraints and potentially disrupting these proceedings ... is simply not appropriate or suitable. Many will think holding a young woman for two and a half hours then raping her and massacring her, along with her beautiful family, was neither appropriate or suitable and Clifford is only in a wheelchair because he shot himself with the murder weapon, a crossbow.

The Sentencing Council, an unelected quango, rejected demands by the Justice Secretary to reverse appalling guidance which means that white criminals may well receive harsher sentences than ethnic minority or trans offenders. No shame at all about the fact this confirms we have a two-tier legal system.

Katie Amess has her petition for a full inquiry into the murder of her beloved father Sir David Amess rejected.

The Employment Rights Bill, now going through Parliament, forces businesses to monitor the banter, jokes and political views of their customers or risk being sued for third-party harassment. A death warrant for the British tradition of avin a laugh.

Horrifying data obtained by the Centre for Migration revealed how up to a quarter of all sexual offences in the UK are committed by foreign nationals  a rate 70 per cent higher than the British population. Individuals from nations with the highest conviction rates for sex crimes were awarded over 50,000 long-term visas last year alone. Clearly, the Home Office believes that the increased danger to British women and girls is acceptable collateral damage for their idealistic open-borders policy.

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I could go on, and on and on until every last hair on my head was torn out and my forehead was bloody from banging it against the brick wall. Who agrees with any of this stuff? Other than Keir Starmers human rights legal mates and those in the metropolitan liberal echo chamber, hardly anyone. Yet still they impose it on an unwilling, frequently incredulous population.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why the alpha males of Reform need to stop clashing antlers, shut up and get on with the job.

Hang on, you say, cant we rely on the Conservatives to get our country back? Kemi Badenoch did announce this week that the Human Rights Act should not apply to immigration decisions  a change in the law that would stop people challenging their deportation on human rights grounds in the UK courts.

A welcome move, although the Leader of the Opposition stopped short of pledging to leave the ECHR, and migrants could still appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg  more vexatious delay, more lawyers milking legal aid, more finding against the interests of the British people.

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Make no mistake, it is the electoral threat from Reform that is keeping the Conservative Party honest, forcing them to talk tough on immigration, and even obliging the Government to release videos of deportations for the benefit of Labour voters who have had enough.

It is odd, to say the least, that Nigel Farage, who with characteristic shrewdness made the small boats issue his personal crusade, is, according to Rupert Lowe, dialling down on the subject of deportations when the latest figures show record numbers of illegal migrants crossing the Channel  4,131 between 1 January and 9 March, many now put up in hotels at our expense. Friends fret Farage is being badly advised by people with ulterior motives.

Lowe grew frustrated with the lack of policies, adopting a fierce mass deportations stance on X, which played well with many Reform supporters, while allegedly displeasing the leadership, which is trying to appeal to a wider audience it hopes will propel it into Number 10.

Im told that the weekly meeting of Reform MPs became so heated, with Lowe throwing his weight around and shouting at Richard Tice, that it was cancelled. Nigels team started freezing out Rupert, says one insider. Things deteriorated in January after Elon Musk posted that Farage doesnt have what it takes and the party needs a new leader.

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Lowe was so puffed up by Musks flattering retweets of his own posts that he made the mistake of offering a less than ringing vote of confidence in Farage. Had Lowe not himself been a big boss, a multimillionaire used to 350 employees doing his bidding, he could have used that opportunity to show some humility and get closer to Reforms top dog instead of picking fleas.

He could also have have dialled down his more extreme pronouncements, as colleagues requested, until the party had the luxury of government to deliver them. Farage, a far more sensitive man than many realise, dislikes confrontation. He pulled down the shutters, refusing Lowes requests to have dinner.

In a recent interview with the Daily Mail, Lowe took it upon himself to announce, We have to change from being a protest party led by the Messiah. It was an act of extreme political naivety as well as disloyalty. No leader would put up with it. Arrogantly he underestimated Farages huge box-office appeal as well as the sacrifice and hard yards he has put in for 20 years, turning lost causes into proven winners.

There is some doubt, however, as to whether Farage approved the extremely harsh statement Reform put out about Lowe on Friday, including bullying allegations which Lowe has since said related to another person entirely. However angry Nigel is, thats not him, a friend says, he reads the room too well.

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Fingers are pointing at party chairman, Zia Yusuf, a former Left-wing globalist, who has been given the job of professionalising the party but is causing widespread dismay by decimating the branches where perfectly good, albeit occasionally eccentric, volunteers are discarded without explanation.

Reform have been expecting to perform well in the local elections in May, even taking some councils, and have a chance of beating Labour in the forthcoming by-election in Runcorn and Helsby. A huge swell of support in Wales points to a remarkable breakthrough in next years Senedd election, potentially breaching that impregnable Socialist citadel and foreshadowing a well-deserved Labour wipe-out at the general in 2029.

Everything was set fair. Now, because of a giant clash of egos between a businessman and a politician, Keir Starmer sits in Downing Street rubbing his hands, scarcely able to believe his luck. At the time of writing, Musk was said to be considering backing Lowe if he forms a new party. Nooo! Please dont waste your money, Mr Musk.

Nothing could be worse for the future of our nation. An enthusiastic following on social media would not translate into millions of votes for Lowe; his name is hardly known around the country and wounded feelings and vanity should not persuade him otherwise. A new party of the right could not be more wrong for this moment.

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Over four million people did not vote to see Reform implode, nor did 220,000 who have signed up to help. Instead of trying to micromanage everything, Farage should have been the leader, a role he fulfils superbly, and told Lowe to go away and work on policies. The vast majority of Britons want all illegal migrants removed because, as President Trumps spokeswoman pointed out, people who enter the country illegally are criminals . There is no point in Reform if that policy is disavowed, and every one of its members believes that.

I came into this for one reason  to change the way our country is governed  that is it, Lowe tweeted on Tuesday afternoon. I believe him. A decent, impressive man, he has been badly wronged, no question, but trying to bring down the party that can bring about that change is terrible also. That is what is at stake here. It will only give comfort to the enemy.

At this point, a woman  boy, could Reform could do with some of those  would recommend apologies, eating some humble pie (Greggs does one) and uniting around a common good. Set aside ambition, if you can, and sort out your differences in private, chaps. Think of all those longing to cast off the Woke Cloak and get their country back.

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Regarding Her, an organization dedicated to growing the economic mobility of women leaders in the food and beverage industry in L.A., returns this March with their 5th Annual Women's History Month Festival. The month-long celebration features specialized dining experiences, exclusive pop-ups, and culinary collaborations across the city.

Many events throughout March will contribute funds to support recent L.A. wildlife recovery efforts. With recent changes in DEI legislation, Regarding Her is also contributing funds to combat the reduction of DEI program funding. The organization aims to bring awareness to the wage gap and bolster women-owned businesses, while raising money for programs such as the Regarding Her Academy.

In partnership with OpenTable and Dine L.A., the festival showcases these standout events:

Moo'Amore: From Our Kitchens, With Love

When: March 16, 2025

Where: Amiga Amore

Who: Amiga Amore x Moo's Craft Barbecue

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Two powerhouse kitchens come together to honor Women's Month with bold flavors and culinary creativity. Led by James Beard Best Chef California nominees Danielle Duran Zecca and Michelle Munoz, this brunch celebrates the women redefining L.A.'s food scene.

Tamales con Corazon

When: March 23, 2025

Where: Casa Vega

Who: James Beard Award-winning chefs Christy Vega (Casa Vega), Paulina Lopez (Guelaguetza), and Dora Herrera (Yuca's)

Three James Beard America's Classic Award winners host a vibrant celebration of Mexican cuisine. Guests will discover the art of making tamales from the North, South and Oaxacan regions of Mexico.

One-Night-Only Pizza Night

When: March 26, 2025

Where: Quarter Sheets

Who: Hannah Ziskin of Quarter Sheets and Nancy Silverton of Mozza

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A celebration of pizza and dessert featuring two culinary powerhouses. Ziskin brings her inventive dessert approach while Silverton showcases her legendary pizza techniques for an evening of culinary innovation.

n/soto Sunday Collab Dinner

When: March 30, 2025

Where: n/soto

Who: Niki Nakayama (n/naka, n/soto) and Mei Lin (Daybird), plus special guests

This 5-6 course dinner combines Nakayama's modern interpretation of Japanese kaiseki with Lin's bold takes on Chinese-American dishes, highlighting their unique culinary styles in an intimate setting.

Rory's Place Takes Over Holy Basil

When: TBD

Where: Holy Basil

Who: Chefs Rory and Meave McAuliffe, Wedchayan "Deau" Arpapornnopparat and Tongkamal "Joy" Yuon

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For one night only, Thai flavors meet Ojai's seasonal bounty as the McAuliffes craft a menu blending Thai traditions with peak-season ingredients from the Central Coast.

More Must-Try Events

Italian Women's Day: La Festa Della Donna

When: March 9, 2025

Where: Smorgasburg at ROW DTLA

Details: Presented by San Pellegrino in partnership with Smorgasburg x Regarding Her

The Regarding Her Mini Mart joins Smorgasburg's celebration with women-owned vendors featuring Italian-inspired dishes and products.

Rossoblu Female Chef Dinner

When: March 11, 2025

Where: Rossoblu

Details: The Annual Chef Collab Dinner showcases four talented female chefs in a night of culinary excellence.

Modern Soul Food at Socalo

When: March 23, 2025

Where: Socalo

Who: Mary Sue Milliken, Susan Feniger, Tiana Gee and James Beard nominee Rashida Holmes (The Bridgetown Roti)

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Legendary chefs Milliken and Feniger host two trailblazers redefining modern soul food with Caribbean and Southern influences.

Nashville Hot Chicken Master Class

When: March 24, 2025

Where: Howlin Ray's

Who: Howlin Ray's x Hotville Chicken

An exclusive master class where participants learn the secrets behind Nashville's fiery classic dish.

Coming Soon

Look for additional events throughout March from Alchemy Craft, Ayara Thai, BeBright Coffee, Benny Boy Brewing, Cuernavaca's Grill, Found Coffee, Godmother Salt, Guelaguetza, Here's Looking at You, Joselito's Tujunga, Lavender and Truffles, Love & Salt, Mouthfeel, Neighbors & Friends, oooey studios, Obet & Del's, Qusqo Bistro, Ronan, Rossoblu, Shift Our Ways Collective, The Very Best Cookie, Tuk Tuk Thai, Vinovore, Xuntos and more.

New events are being added daily. For the full lineup and participation details, visit www.regardingherfood.org or follow @regardingherfood on Instagram
(KRON)  A registered sex offender was arrested last month in connection to two sexual assaults that took place a day apart from one another, the San Jose Police Department said. On Thursday, Feb. 27, SJPD officers responded to a report of an attempted sexual assault in the 5200 block of Hellyer Avenue.

The survivor, according to the police, voluntarily got into the suspects vehicle. They had a stop to retrieve something from her home and continued to the area of Hellyer Avenue near Embedded Away.

The suspect reportedly told the survivor he had a firearm but did not brandish it. When they arrived at the destination, the suspect consumed what police believe was a controlled suspect. When the survivor attempted to leave, the suspect violently attacked and sexually assaulted her, police said.

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Brazen armed robbery of Milpitas massage parlor caught on camera

The survivor was able to get away and flag someone down who called the police.

SJPD Sexual Assault Investigations Unit (SAIU) detectives launched an investigation which revealed that a similar incident had occurred a day prior. The suspect in both cases was identified as Lamont Carter, a registered sex offender.

In the first incident on Feb. 26 at around 5:28 p.m., officers responded to a reported sexual assault in the 300 block of North Fifth Street involving Carter and a different victim. The suspect met the victim who agreed to get in the car with him to talk.

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Carter, police said, then attempted to kiss the victim several times. She refused and wanted to leave, but when she attempted to, he kept the vehicle doors locked. He then battered and sexually assaulted survivor and threatened her with a firearm, police said.

The survivor was eventually able to escape and get help.

On Friday, Feb. 28, SAIU detectives with the assistance of SJPD Special Operations Covert Response Unit personnel apprehended Carter in San Jose. He was later booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail for multiple crimes that included sexual battery, criminal threats, and false imprisonment.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Wilberforce University invites students to register for its highly anticipated summer drone camp.

The Summer Drone Camp will be held from June 2 to June 6 at Wilberforce University. Participants in the program will get hands-on training and real-world experience with cutting-edge drone technology.

How drone technology is improving farming in Ohio

Students will learn about all things drones, from the coding and programming behind the scenes to real-world applications like search and rescue missions, art and photography and mapping and surveying.

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The university says this camp serves as a stepping stone to Wilberforces upcoming aviation program, set to launch in 2026.

The program is free and open to rising high school seniors, first-year college students, sophomores and transfer students. No prior experience is necessary.

Click here to learn more and register for the camp.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Democratic lawmakers are condemning the arrest of a former Columbia University student by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the revocation of his legal status in the United States, including Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) warning it should scare everyone.

This should scare everyone. The Trump admin revoked Mahmouds legal status, kidnapped him, and is now holding him in an ICE detention facility without any due process, Frost wrote Monday on the social platform X.

Trump is an authoritarian, testing the limits to see how much he can get away with. He wont stop here, Frost continued.

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Earlier Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Mahmoud Khalil, a green card-holding Columbia University graduate and pro-Palestinian activist, was detained by ICE.

We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported, Rubio wrote on X, sharing a news report regarding Khalil.

Other House Democrats have also condemned the arrest. Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) said Khalils arrest is a violation of his First Amendment rights.

If they can target Mahmoud Khalils First Amendment rights, they can target yours. The whole point of the First Amendment is that it protects speech  even if its unpopular or you dont like what they have to say, she said Monday in a post on X.

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Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) also took to X to condemn the arrest, calling it a McCarthyesque action in response to the exercise of first amendment rights to free speech.

Nadler said he was monitoring the details of the case.

I am monitoring the situation regarding the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil and look forward to receiving additional information regarding the specifics of this case, he said on X.

Such action is a frightening violation of immigration law that will not make Jewish students safer on campus and will only feed the Trump Administrations political war on education and hollow lip service on discrimination against minorities, Nadler added.

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said, If the federal government can disappear a legal US permanent resident without reason or warrant, then they can disappear US citizens too.

Anyone  left, right, or center  who has highlighted the importance of constitutional rights + free speech should be sounding the alarm now, she said in an X post.

A post from the Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats official X account shared a picture of Khalil on Monday and demanded his release.

Replying to the post, the White House account wrote, This is the first arrest of many to come. President Trump.

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Khalil was reportedly arrested at his university residence Saturday. He has been described by the Student Workers of Columbia labor union as a lead negotiator during pro-Palestinian protests held on the campus last year.

He had called on Columbia to reinstate its Sanctuary Campus Policy following reports that ICE accessed multiple buildings at the school Friday and Saturday.

Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, told The Associated Press that Khalils arrest was in support of President Trumps executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 YORK  Republican Rep. Tom Massie is daring allies of President Donald Trump to primary him as he refuses to support a GOP-backed stopgap spending plan.

The right-wing fiscal hawk insisted he wont back down to pressure from the White House to get on board with a short-term spending bill that would avert a government shutdown as soon as Friday.

Someone thinks they can control (me) by threatening my re-election. Guess what? Doesnt work on me, Massie posted on X. My constituents prefer transparency and principles over blind allegiance.

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The Kentucky conservative insists he wont drop his opposition to spending bills that he says simply raise the national debt, whether they are put forward by Democrats or Republicans.

Massie already voted against Trumps bigger budget plan to lay the groundwork for big tax cuts, saying that plan too would just kick the nations debt problem down the road.

Trump himself slammed Massie, calling him an automatic NO vote on just about everything.

He should be primaried, and I will lead the charge against him. Trump tweeted. Hes just another grandstander, whos too much trouble, and not worth the fight.

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The people of Kentucky wont stand for it, just watch, Trump added. Do I have any takers?

Trump campaign manager Chris LaCivita picked up the fight, tweeting that Massie never faced me.

Stand by, LaCivita warned.

Republicans hold just a four-vote majority in the House of Representatives, meaning the GOP can afford to lose no more than one GOP vote if Democrats vote in lockstep against the spending bill.

That means if Massie sticks to his guns, every other Republican would need to support the bill to allow it to pass.

Massie, who represents a deep-red western Kentucky district, is a staunch fiscal conservative who objects on principle to stopgap spending bills and other bills that he derides as fiscal gimmicks.

A handful of other Republicans usually join him in opposing the bills, even those fronted by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson. But nearly all of the others have caved to MAGA pressure and say they will vote for Trumps plan this time.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  It started with a shocking report revealing Florida insurers were shifting millions to their executives, shareholders, and out-of-state operations all while claiming to be losing money.

Now, the nations largest watchdog organization for insurance policy holders is asking: how could Floridas insurance regulators allow it to happen?

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8 on Your Side

Were watching from the doorbell camera, and we see the water start coming up in the road in the driveway on the porch. We saw fish swimming around on our porch, said Byron Simpson, a South Tampa homeowner.

When Simpson returned to his Westshore home following Hurricane Helene, a foot of water had flooded his home. Simpson quickly contacted his insurer and filed a claim. Then, the waiting game began.

I got an initial small payment, he said. But that was only enough to get the drywall started and the door repair started.

Simpson said he was forced to take out a line of credit from his retirement fund to continue the repairs.

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Im still fighting with the insurance company, Simpson said.

Simpson has new reason to feel frustrated. An internal analysis by Floridas Office of Insurance Regulation, that became public just weeks ago, found that top insurance companies have been ripping off Floridians.

The report reveals that from 2017-2019, after hurricanes Irma and Michael, Florida insurers paid $680 million to shareholders and transferred billions in profits to affiliate companies, all while claiming to be broke.

Where did all that money go? questioned Doug Quinn, American Policyholder Associations Executive Director. Now this report is the smoking gun that shows it its been shifted over to affiliates up through the holding companies and to the investor holders.

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The American Policyholder Association advocates for insurance customers.

Last October, after an investigative report revealed some florida policy holders may have been denied payouts on legitimate claims after Hurricane Ian, Quinn said the APA contacted Florida regulators to demand a criminal investigation of insurance companies doing business in the state.

Two years later, Quinn said there have been no fines, no arrests and no explanation why.



How are they allowed to do that? Quinn questioned. Where are the Florida regulators and law-enforcement who are supposed to be protecting the citizens of Florida?

As for Floridas Office of Insurance Regulation, a spokesperson told 8 On Your Side the agency continues to advocate for more oversight of insurers, despite not sharing their own report with state lawmakers.

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For homeowners like Byron Simpson, who paid premiums year after year only to feel abandoned by their insurance company when they needed them most, its just not enough.



I think theres a lot to be done investigating whats happening with insurance company because we need to maintain a level of insurance in Florida and have them held responsible for the money is that theyre given to be honest brokers with that, and when the need arises to pay those monies back out, said Simpson.

Following the release of the study, lawmakers are now calling on Gov. Ron DeSantis for accountability and an investigation into Florida insurance companies.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Five people have been killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) meanwhile announced: "Several terrorists engaged in suspicious activity posing a threat to IDF troops were identified in central Gaza." An aircraft then struck the group.

More than a week ago, the first phase of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Islamist militants Hamas came to an end. So far, the two sides have been unable to agree on the conditions for an extension. Since the ceasefire began on January 19, there have been repeated deadly incidents.

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The Gaza war was triggered by the attack on Israel by Hamas and other extremist groups on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 Israelis were taken hostage.

According to the Hamas-controlled health authority in the Gaza Strip, more than 48,500 people have been killed since, including many women and children.
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's military is ageing and shrinking, the parliamentary commissioner for the armed forces warned on Tuesday, against the backdrop of a bid to overhaul borrowing rules to massively boost defence spending.

In an annual report released on Tuesday, Eva Hoegl said that despite a recruitment drive launched in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, personnel numbers in the armed forces had dipped to 181,200 in 2024 from 181,540 a year prior, while the average age had risen to 34 from 32.

That pushes the Bundeswehr's goal of increasing the number of personnel to over 200,000, a target postponed from 2025 to 2031 two years ago, further out of reach.

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Increased spending allowed Germany to reach the NATO defence spending target of 2% of gross domestic product for the first time in 2024, but around 82% of a 100-billion-euro special defence fund agreed in 2022 to overhaul the country's creaky military has already been spent, according to the report.

Friedrich Merz's conservatives and the Social Democrats (SPD) - in negotiations to form a coalition after a snap election last month - are seeking to overhaul borrowing rules in order to revamp the military and revive economic growth.

But they face resistance in parliament, where they require a two-thirds majority for the change to the Basic Law, or constitution.

According to the parliamentary commissioner, who acts as an advocate for service personnel and exercises parliamentary oversight, the Bundeswehr's equipment, weapons and infrastructure also leave much to be desired.

"Some of the barracks and properties are still in a disastrous state," the report says.

(Reporting by Markus Wacket, Writing by Friederike Heine, Editing by Rachel More, Aidan Lewis)
WASHINGTON (AP)  Republicans, particularly those in Congress, have been overwhelmingly supportive of broad cuts across the federal government at the hands of Elon Musk s Department of Government Efficiency. But some have had words of caution.

Facing blowback from constituents fearful of job reductions, some Republicans have begun voicing public concerns about Musk  one of President Trump's most influential advisers  and the swift spending slashes hes made in an effort to downsize the federal workforce.

With more reductions anticipated, here is a look at what some of those Republican members of Congress have had to say about the reductions in the federal civilian workforce, 80% of which is located outside Washington, D.C., and in their states and districts:

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Rep. Bill Huizenga, Michigan

I will fully admit, I think Elon Musk has tweeted first and thought second sometimes, Huizenga said last week during a virtual meeting with constituents.

He has plunged ahead without necessarily knowing and understanding what he legally has to do or what he is going to be doing.

Rep. Mike Bost, Illinois

The Department of Veterans Affairs is planning a reorganization that includes cutting over 80,000 jobs from the sprawling agency that provides health care and other services for millions of veterans, according to an internal memo obtained March 5 by The Associated Press.

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Bost, who chairs the House Veterans Affairs Committee, said following that reporting that he had questions about the impact these reductions and discussions could have on the delivery of services, especially following the implementation of the PACT Act and would work to ultimately put veterans back at the core of VAs mission.

Rep. Derrick Van Orden, Wisconsin

Saying that he found Musk highly receptive when the two spoke last week, Van Orden said in a news release that the billionaire had assured him that "DOGE will be more refined in their recommendations to ensure our vets and farmers are not hurt in the process of eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in federal spending.

Van Orden said he shared with Musk what he had heard from constituents, urging him to look at veterans and farmers with a different lens.

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Rep. Jennifer Kiggans, Virginia

Virginia's 2nd District, which Kiggans represents, is home to Virginia Beach and its large U.S. Navy presence. It has the highest concentration of civilian federal workers, at 8.1%, of all congressional districts represented by Republicans. Earlier this month, Kiggans wrote to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, asking him to limit layoffs for veterans. She expressed concern that eliminating waste could mean unintentional harm for a key GOP constituency.

We all understand the overarching goal, where were going to: again, downsizing, cutting spending. But how are we getting there? And I think theres just some places to provide a gentle reminder along the way that, please look out for our veterans, Kiggans said.

Rep. Don Bacon, Nebraska

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Bacon, who represents a swing district, has said the administration should be more careful in how it carries out its cuts, likening his desire to the need to measure twice and cut once.

Last month, as the Agriculture Department scrambled to rehire several workers who were involved in the governments response to the ongoing bird flu outbreak that has devastated egg and poultry farms over the past three years, Bacon commended Trump for fulfilling his promise to shed light on waste, fraud, and abuse in government but told AP that downsizing decisions must be narrowly tailored to preserve critical missions.

Rep. Mike Simpson, Idaho

Simpson has warned that national parks could be impaired by cutbacks at the start of summer hiring in preparation for the onslaught of visitors.

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We need to have a conversation with DOGE and the administration about exactly what theyve done here, Simpson, a seasoned lawmaker who sits on the powerful Appropriations Committee, said last month. Its a concern to all of us.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina

In reaction to the VA cuts memo, the chair of the Senate Budget Committee said he was displeased that the VA had not given lawmakers an advance notification of the changes, saying it was political malpractice not to consult Congress.

Maybe youve got a good reason to do it, Graham said last week, leaving a lunch with Musk. But we dont need to be reading memos in the paper about a 20% cut at the VA.

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Sen. Katie Britt, Alabama

Last month, Britt put out a statement calling for a targeted approach in ensuring that proposed caps on the National Institutes of Health don't hit what she called life-saving, groundbreaking research at high-achieving institutions, including her states beloved University of Alabama.

While the administration works to achieve this goal at NIH, a smart, targeted approach is needed, Britt said.

Sen. Jerry Moran, Kansas

Moran has expressed concern that food from heartland farmers would spoil rather than be sent around the world as the U.S. Agency for International Development shutters.

___

Kinnard can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP
Residents of a Massachusetts city are on edge after a woman was violently attacked at a cemetery over the weekend, authorities said.

Police launched an investigation after Jessica Blanchard told officers that she was assaulted by a man at St. Johns Cemetery in New Bedford just after noon on Sunday.

Blanchard told WPRI-TV that she was visiting her grandparents grave when a man struck her in the face and demanded her wallet. Blanched claims the man punched her multiple times and tore her shirt after she refused to comply. She

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Thankfully, I was able to fight back and kick him off of me, Blanchard explained.

The man then took off running.

News of the incident left neighborhood residents rattled.

There are always people there visiting their loved ones. People walk dogs there, Charlene Hochman said.

Michael Hochman added, Were out in the neighborhood all the time. There are a lot of kids living in this neighborhood. To think something like this could happen is pretty unsettling.

No arrests have been made in connection with the incident.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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WASHINGTON  The House of Representatives passed legislation Tuesday to avert a partial government shutdown and fund federal agencies through September, providing critical momentum as the measure now moves to the Senate, where bipartisan support will be needed to get it over the finish line.

Republicans needed overwhelming support from their members to pass the funding measure, and they got it in the 217-213 House vote. Just one Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, voted against the measure. And just one Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, voted for it.

We did our job today," Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said moments after the vote.

In the Senate, they'll need support from at least eight Democrats to get the bill to President Donald Trumps desk. It's one of the biggest legislative tests so far of the Republican president's second term, prompting Vice President JD Vance to visit Capitol Hill to rally support Tuesday morning.

Johnson moved ahead on the bill, essentially daring Democrats to oppose it and risk a shutdown that would begin Saturday if lawmakers failed to act on the continuing resolution, often referred to by lawmakers as a CR.

Heres the bottom line. If congressional Democrats refuse to support this clean CR, they will be responsible for every troop who misses a paycheck, for every flight delay from reduced staffing at TSA, for every negative consequence that comes from shutting down the government, Johnson said before the vote.

His strategy had the backing of Trump, who called on Republicans to remain UNITED  NO DISSENT  Fight for another day when the timing is right.

Lawmakers said the bill would trim $13 billion in nondefense spending from the levels in the 2024 budget year and increase defense spending by $6 billion, which are rather flat changes for both categories when compared with an overall topline of nearly $1.7 trillion in discretionary spending.

The bill does not cover the majority of government spending, including Social Security and Medicare. Funding for those two programs is on autopilot and not regularly reviewed by Congress.

Democrats are mostly worried about the discretion the bill gives the Trump administration on spending decisions. They already are alarmed by the administration's efforts to make major cuts through the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, run by billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk. They say the spending bill would fuel the effort.

Spending bills typically come with specific funding directives for key programs, but hundreds of those directives fall away under the legislation, so the administration will have more leeway to reshape priorities.

For example, a Democratic memo said the bill would allow the administration to steer money away from combating fentanyl and instead use it on mass deportation initiatives.

This is not a clean CR. This bill is a blank check, said Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee. Its a blank check for Elon Musk and President Trump.

Rep. Tom Cole, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, acknowledged the continuing resolution was not the outcome he sought but said it was time to end the cycle of short-term funding extensions. This will be the third in recent months. He blamed Democrats for trying to rein in Trumps authority on spending.

Were not going to have a Republican Senate and a Republican House restrict a Republican president from the legitimate exercise of executive authority," Cole said. "And then, oh, by the way, ask him to sign the bill.

Normally, when it comes to keeping the government fully open for business, Republicans had to work with Democrats to craft a bipartisan measure that both sides can support. Thats because Republicans almost always lack the votes to pass spending bills on their own.

Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., and chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, said he supported this one because it would not lead to a massive, catch-all spending bill and would reduce spending.

"This is not your grandfathers continuing resolution," Harris said.

Massie, R-Ky., was still a holdout, though. He was the only Republican to vote no on the procedural vote, and said he would vote against the bill, too.

Trump went after Massie on social media, calling him a GRANDSTANDER, whos too much trouble.

"HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED, and I will lead the charge against him," Trump posted online.

Massie responded by saying Trump was attacking me and Canada today. The difference is: Canada will eventually cave.

House Democratic leaders came out strongly against the legislation. Less clear was how strongly they would push members in competitive battleground districts to follow their lead.

This Republican shutdown bill does nothing to enhance the American dream. It undermines it, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said ahead of the vote.

Democratic leaders in the Senate generally seemed to be emphasizing patience at this stage and were waiting to see if Republicans can muscle the bill through the House before taking a stand.

We're going to see what the House does first, said top Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York.

Still, several rank-and-file Democrats criticized the measure. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said he was stunned that Republicans were trying to jam through something that is their way or the highway.

Democrats also introduced an alternative bill Monday night funding the government through April 11. The bill could serve as a Plan B if the GOP-led effort falters.

Both parties prepared to blame the other if the bill fails.

It looks like they're going to try to shut down the government, Johnson said of Democrats.

If the government shuts down with a Republican House, Republican Senate and Republican president, it will be solely because the Republicans have moved forward with a terrible, partisan, take-it-or-leave-it bill, said Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y.

The spending bill could also have major ramifications for the District of Columbia's government.

Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, said the proposal would require the district to cut $1.1 billion in spending in the next six months since it has already passed a balanced budget and is midway through its fiscal year. That means, officials said, cuts to critical services such as education and public safety.

___

Associated Press writers Leah Askarinam, Gary Fields and Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.
Mar. 11The second phase of a plan to conserve wildlife habitat and secure public access in the Cabinet Mountains is gaining widespread support from Flathead Valley residents.

The state completed the first phase of the plan in February by purchasing rights to 32,821 acres of land roughly north of the Thompson chain of lakes from Green Diamond Resource Company, creating the Montana Great Outdoors Conservation Easement. Now, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is seeking approval to add another 52,930 acres to the perpetual easement.

At a March 5 public meeting, long-time Happy's Inn resident Mark Maskill praised the plan as a "common sense solution" to combat the subdivision and development of Montana forestlands.

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"I've seen a great amount of development as timber companies have come and gone," said Maskill. "I hate to see all the land kind of be developed like the surrounding area of Kalispell is."

Wildlife officials as of last week had received about 30 comments on the project, mostly in support of the purchase.

While Green Diamond would retain primary ownership of the land located between Kalispell and Libby, the terms of the conservation easement grant the state rights to manage certain aspects of the land for the benefit of wildlife and outdoor recreation. If the land is later sold, these terms carry on to the next owner, creating "de facto public lands."

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Habitat Conservation Biologist Leah Breidinger characterized the strategy as a mutual win for wildlife, outdoor recreationists and the timber industry.

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"This easement really is a working forest easement," said Breidinger at the public meeting held in Kalispell.

According to the project's environmental assessment, the proposed nearly 53,000-acre addition to the easement produces about three million board feet of timber each year, contributing about $12 million to the local economy. If the easement is purchased, Green Diamond could continue to harvest timber, but the company would have to follow guidelines to ensure ample wildlife habitat remains.

"This property is unique because animals really seem to migrate through this area," said Breidinger.

About 53,000 of private timberland would be placed under the conservation easement, if the second phase is approved.

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Threatened species like grizzly bears, Canada lynx and wolverines have all been observed on the property, and some 1,500 deer, elk and moose roam the woods. The abundance of wildlife has long enticed hunters and other outdoor recreationalists to visit the property.

Green Diamond and its predecessor, Weyerhaeuser, have historically allowed recreational use on their property, but the terms of the conservation easement would ensure public access remains even if the land is sold.

According to a report from Headwaters Economics, 49,120 acres of undeveloped land in Flathead County was converted to housing between 2000 and 2021, and the project's environmental assessment claims that landowners like Green Diamond have received upwards of 16 unsolicited offers per month to sell parcels of land in the Cabinet Mountains.

"Without a conservation easement, residential subdivision would likely occur over portions of the property," reads the environmental assessment.

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The conservation easement was appraised for a purchase price of $57.5 million, but Green Diamond is contributing an in-kind donation of $20 million. About $35.8 million is expected to come from the United States Forest Legacy Program, and $1.7 million will be contributed from state funds.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is accepting public comments on the project through March 15. Comments can be emailed to Leah Breidinger at lbreidinger@mt.gov.

Following the public comment period, both the state Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Land Board will review the project and issue a decision. If the purchase is approved, the state wildlife agency will likely finalize a contract with Green Diamond in October.

To learn more, visit https://fwp.mt.gov/news/public-notices.

Reporter Hailey Smalley can be reached at hsmalley@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4433.
Sen. Jeff Raatz, R-Richmond, introduces a resolution honoring pregnancy care centers on March 10, 2025. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

A legislative resolution recognizing pregnancy care centers attracted little attention on Monday, despite the controversial history surrounding the anti-abortion practices of some organizations.

Author Sen. Jeff Raatz, R-Richmond, characterized the facilities as staffed by volunteers that help guide women in the direction  they need to go.

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Due to the unregulated space, these non-medical entities go by many names, including: pregnancy care centers, crisis pregnancy centers and pregnancy resource centers.

Just one person, licensed OBGYN Amy Caldwell, testified on the measure. She opposed the supporting language, alleging deceptive practices, harassment and misinformation  dubbing them coercive pregnancy centers.

They not only break confidentiality and have no reason to actually protect womens privacy, they also dont provide comprehensive or accurate information when it comes to pregnancy, said Caldwell, who provides reproductive health care procedures like abortion. They propagate misinformation, which is an ethical violation of medical standards.

Only Sen. J.D. Ford, an Indianapolis Democrat, spoke on the bill  urging the committee to adopt language that would instead regulate these centers and questioning whether the organizations abide by medical privacy laws.

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After just over 13 minutes, during which Caldwell and Ford spoke the majority of the time, the Senate Family and Children Services Committee advanced the resolution on a 6-2 vote along party lines.

What are pregnancy care centers?

Senate Concurrent Resolution 24 asserts that the Indiana General Assembly strongly supports pregnancy care centers in their unique, positive contributions to the individual lives of women, men, and babies  both born and unborn.

The recognition also included an appeal to federal and state agencies to support these organizations, which largely run on donations and volunteers, in a manner that does not compromise the mission or religious integrity of these organizations.

Amy Caldwell, a licensed OBGYN, testifies in opposition to a resolution recognizing pregnancy care centers on March 10, 2025. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Raatzs resolution claims there are more than 2,500 such centers nationwide, offering resources such as pregnancy tests, peer counseling, parenting classes, prenatal information, ultrasounds and referrals to other services. However, some centers have been criticized for misrepresenting themselves as medical facilities, despite offering little-to-no health services.

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Caldwells testimony on such centers contradicted the resolution, which said that the organizations provided complete and accurate information regarding (a womans) pregnancy options

They spread lies about sexual health, including sexually transmitted infections, and  pregnancy versus abortion care, Caldwell said. Ive had several patients who have come to me presenting with an ultrasound where they think that they received actual medical care and they did not. Theyre well into their second trimester (but) they havent been taking the appropriate medications and they havent had the appropriate screenings. Theyre not plugged into those resources.

So despite what the centers may or may not be doing to try to inform patients, they are not actually receiving care, Caldwell continued.

Several studies have found that patients at some centers nationwide have been told untrue information, as detailed by The 19th*, such as false claims about abortions side effects.

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Though Raatz assured the committee that the non-medical institutions honored confidentiality, Caldwell said that wasnt her experience.

Several of her patients, she said, have had  spouses or friends contacted by these centers to harass (the women) into making certain decisions about their pregnancy.

Real Alternatives

The Crisis Pregnancy Center Map estimates that Indiana has 96 such centers, but one pass-through entity stood out in testimony.

In conjunction with its 2022 near-total abortion ban, Indiana increased state funds for Real Alternatives, an anti-abortion organization which offers the state potential savings of $210 million by referring clients to prenatal care.

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While the lack of access to prenatal care is a troubling indicator of maternal mortality, the current Republican-supported version of the budget cuts funding for the local public health departments that offer such services.

The current fiscal year has a $4 million appropriation for Real Alternatives. Gov. Mike Brauns proposed budget maintained the taxpayer dollars despite moves to cut other programs and agency budgets and the House-passed budget followed suit. Brauns office didnt respond to a Friday email seeking comment.

In her testimony, Caldwell criticized tax dollars dedicated to Real Alternatives by pointing to its fall ultimate tailgate fundraiser, which was advertised as having ice cold Jack Daniels and ladies from Twin Peaks, an adult restaurant.

Caldwell said issues for Real Alternatives werent limited to ethics but also widespread misuse of funds. Both Pennsylvania and Michigan have scrutinized the organizations funding, including millions of taxpayer dollars that were used to fund operations in other states. Michigan no longer spends dollars with Real Alternatives.

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An early 2024 report from Equity Forward, a longtime critic of Real Alternatives, analyzed more than 400 pages of state contracts with the organization and questioned their spending, which is paid through the states federal allotment of dollars from its Temporary Assistance to Needy Families fund.

In particular, Equity Forward criticized the organization for reporting that over half of its visits were spent on health counseling, such as fetal and pregnancy development, despite almost never being staffed by medical professionals.

Lawmakers updated TANF guidelines in 2023 for the first time since 1988. Prior to that, just 5% of funds went directly to families in poverty.

Taxpayer funding supporting this dynamic  which has little to no regulation due to lacking medical provider status  should be of great concern, the organization concludes.

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Indianas Planned Parenthood chapter shared a May 2024 Our Choice Coalition survey that found 72% of respondents opposed taxpayer dollars going to anti-abortion pregnancy resource centers, even though 56% of those surveyed supported the organizations.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 24 isnt what Hoosiers need or want. We urge lawmakers to heed the majority who oppose using tax dollars for anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers. With every dollar crucialespecially for families with low incomesits unconscionable to fund organizations plagued by financial and ethical concerns and arent often staffed by trained medical providers, Planned Parenthood said in a statement.

The millions funneled into anti-abortion propaganda machines should instead fund genuine, comprehensive health carelike community clinics, hospitals, and reproductive health centersoffering high-quality, medically accurate care. By supporting legitimate providers, Indiana ensures every dollar is used ethically and effectively to protect the health of all Hoosiers.

But not all Hoosiers oppose state spending with pregnancy care centers.

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Indiana Right to Life launched an Amazon-backed baby registry in December, encouraging residents to directly donate items and funding to the more than 100 centers in Indiana.

Too often we wait for government to be the solution, and until programs like Real Alternatives came along to walk beside our (pregnancy resource centers), many of these centers relied fully on the good will and generosity of their communities and churches for decades to be the resources to support moms and babies, said Mike Fichter, the organizations president and CEO, in a December release.

Fichter didnt expand on Real Alternatives further in the release, nor did he mention the states funding for the organization.

Real Alternatives didnt respond to a Monday request for comment.

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New York City's congestion pricing has been controversial from the beginning  but opponents may soon be changing their tune.

Designed to reduce traffic, the initiative established a fee that all passenger vehicles entering certain parts of the city during peak hours would automatically be charged. Cars are charged $9, while buses and trucks pay up to $21.60, and the fee is reduced by 75% at night.

The program was unpopular with many politicians, leading to several delays as they attempted to strike it down in the courts. But congestion pricing was approved, and after launching on Jan. 5, the initial results are in  and they're positive.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority shared that inbound commute times on all Hudson and East River crossings are now 10-30% faster than before the initiative was passed, Reuters reported. The dramatic reduction in cars  an estimated 1 million fewer vehicles in that part of Manhattan since the pricing was put in place  has also improved bus service, allowing for smoother commutes. Prior to the congestion pricing, the MTA reported that the average commute day in Manhattan saw traffic crawling at approximately 7 miles per hour.

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Already, subway ridership has grown, increasing 7.3% on weekdays and 12% on weekends in its first several weeks. For environmental enthusiasts, this is a major step in the right direction.

Transportation is the single largest category of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., responsible for nearly one-third of all emissions in 2024, per the EPA. The more people use consolidated and low-emission transit, like trains, buses, and bicycles, the lower those emissions will be  a key step in reaching emission goals laid out in international pacts like the Paris Agreement. (Despite the United States' withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, many environmental advocates hope to continue pursuing the same goals, even without the support of the federal government.)

As for NYC, not only will this initiative enable faster commutes, but it will raise funds for the city. Officials estimate that the program will generate $500 million in 2025, and Governor Kathy Hochul explained that these funds will be used to secure $15 billion in debt financing. In turn, that financing will go toward sustainable and affordable transit, with 80% supporting subway and bus systems and the remaining 20% supporting the commuter rail.

As Reuters shared, several other places around the globe have implemented congestion pricing and seen similar success, including London, Singapore, and Sweden.

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Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was reportedly part of a phone call last week with an activist in Texas helping distribute holistic and unproven remedies to families affected by the measles outbreak along the states border with New Mexico.

The activist and historian, Tina Siemens, spoke to Mother Jones in an interview published Monday, where she revealed that she had a phone call with Kennedy and a doctor from a clinic she is working with to distribute the remedies, Dr. Ben Edwards of Veritas Wellness, to discuss the health challenges affecting the Mennonite community amid the measles outbreak.

Siemens claimed the topic of the phone call was to understand the Mennonite culture, which she deemed important because Mennonites have typically gotten the blame for spreading the illnesswhich has so far affected 228 people across West Texas and New Mexico.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is acknowledged as U.S. President Donald Trump address a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. / Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

The media is spinning it as its all the unvaccinated, uneducated Mennonites, and thats just not the truth, Siemens told Mother Jones.

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She additionally claimed that she and Veritas have helped distribute medications like Vitamin C, cod liver oil, and the inhaled steroid budesonide to 150 to 200 families. Siemens noted that she was appreciative of living in a community where people get to decide whether or not they receive the measles vaccine.

Im very, very grateful that we live in a community that has that choice, Siemens told the outlet. We live in a state that has that choice, for the parents to make that choice for their family.

The Department of Health and Human Services and Veritas did not immediately respond to the Daily Beasts request for comment.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during a campaign rally for Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump at Macomb Community College on November 01, 2024 in Warren, Michigan. / Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

According to its website , Veritas offers online consultations for meal plans, supplement intake, and exercise routines, among other wellness recommendations. It was founded by Dr. Edwards, who had a divine appointment in 2011 that opened his eyes to the fact that U.S. medical schools only teach a very narrow way of disease and symptom management with pharmaceuticals instead of disease and symptom resolution by addressing root causes.

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In an op-ed published for Fox News earlier this month, Kennedy, a renowned vaccine skeptic, seemed to endorse the measles jabs by writing that the shots not only protect individual children from measles but also contribute to community immunity, protecting those who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasonsthough he still said it was a personal choice.

Robert Kennedy Jr. sits in a meeting with Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) on Capitol Hill on January 9, 2025 in Washington, DC. / Jon Cherry / Jon Cherry/Getty Images

Despite the health secretarys recognition of the measles vaccines efficiency, he also has vouched for other treatments like steroids, antibiotics, and cod liver oil. In an interview with Fox News last week, Kennedy claimed that doctors in Texas have seen very, very good results from these unconventional treatments.

Although physicians will sometimes administer doses of Vitamin A to treat children with severe measles symptoms, cod liver has no evidence backing its efficacy.

The measles outbreak across the Texas-New Mexico border has continued to intensify over the past few weeks, and has claimed two lives: a child and an adult.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  The Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission held a public hearing Monday night to discuss a proposal to decrease supply prices for summer rates.

That proposal would decrease the Rhode Island Energy supply price by about $30 per month for the average customer.

Many Rhode Islanders have complained to 12 News about higher costs for their gas and electric bills.

During Monday nights meeting, dozens of customers filled the room to voice their concerns and listen to the companys proposal.

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RELATED: Expensive electric bills put RI clean energy policies into spotlight

Rhode Island Energy said the average customers bill will be nearly 17% lower than what they paid during the winter.

We understand the burden of high bills, and we know you feel it even more when temperatures drop and supply prices continue to be high as they have this winter, said Brian Schuster with Rhode Island Energy.

The largest component of the adjustments discussed this evening pertains to supply prices, which are completely driven by the market, he continued. We procure the best mix and price and supply resources we can, consistent with the obligations we have under the Act on Climate. And we pass those supply resources on to our customers, dollar for dollar. Theres no markup. There is no profit.

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If the proposal is approved, it will go into effect next month.

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By Rodrigo Viga Gaier

RIO DE JANEIRO - Rio de Janeiro police demolished on Tuesday a facility they dubbed a "drug trafficking resort," which they said was used as a meeting point for drug traffickers in the Brazilian city.

Featuring an artificial lake, swimming pool, gym, barbecue area, and leisure space, the property was located inside a group of Rio favelas known as the Israel Complex.

It had been built by Alvaro Malaquias, known as "Peixao" (Big Fish), one of Rio de Janeiro state's most dangerous and wanted criminals, according to a police statement.

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Arrest warrants were served against members of the criminal organization led by Peixao, who remains at large, and three suspects were arrested, the police said.

Police had arrived at the Israel Complex early in the morning and confronted suspected criminals, who had fired at security forces, the statement added.

Avenida Brasil, one of the city's main expressways, was closed, and nearby bus and train lines were temporarily suspended as a security measure.

Police agents used heavy machinery to destroy the facility housing the "resort," which was built in an environmental preservation area and had allegedly altered the course of a local river, according to a source familiar with the operation.

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Peixao, an evangelical Christian, commands organized crime in the Israel Complex and requires his allies to profess the same religion, according to the police investigation. His group, known as Terceiro Comando Puro, uses a Star of David as their symbol.

(Reporting by Rodrigo Viga Gaier; Writing by Isabel Teles; Editing by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez and Rosalba O'Brien)
Members of the Alaska Senate vote on Senate Bill 47 on Monday, March 10, 2025. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

A bill intended to fix potholes in a popular road within Chugach State Park has also exposed rocky relationships between two leaders of the Alaska State Senate.

The Senate voted 18-1 on Monday to pass Senate Bill 47, which would allow the municipality of Anchorage to repair Canyon Road, within the park.

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Normally, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is responsible for road maintenance within the park, but Anchorage voters, dissatisfied with the states work, approved a $4 million bond in 2024 that puts local money into road maintenance. SB 47 is necessary for that money to be spent legally.

The bill was sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, and the lone vote against it came from Senate Minority Leader Mike Shower, R-Wasilla.

Shower said after the vote that his opposition wasnt due to the bill itself, but because of disagreements with its author.

Its a matter of personal respect, Shower said.

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Giessel refuses to look him in the eyes on the Senate floor, he said. In a recent Senate Transportation Committee meeting, she didnt acknowledge his presence. When Showers granddaughter was introduced as a guest on the Senate floor, Giessel didnt applaud along with the rest of the senators.

If Giessel isnt willing to show common courtesy, Shower said, she shouldnt expect his support for personal legislation.

Theres a certain level of decorum and respect thats expected, he said.

I dont even know what to say, Giessel said when asked about Showers comments. I dont have a comment.

Shower said hes spoken privately to Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, about the disagreement.

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For several years, Republicans in the state Senate have been split between those who follow a strict party line and those willing to serve in a coalition majority that includes Democrats in leadership positions.

Republican Party officials have repeatedly criticized Stevens, Giessel and other senators for their willingness to work across party lines.

Shower regularly appears on talk radio and has criticized those coalition Republicans by name.

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Col. John Bolduc, who has led the Nebraska State Patrol since 2017, will retire in May after a long career in law enforcement that included stints in three states across nearly four decades, Gov. Jim Pillen announced Tuesday.

Bolduc will retire May 4, the day he turns 60 years old, which is the mandatory retirement age at the State Patrol.

In a news release announcing Bolduc's retirement, Pillen said his "dedication to the agency and those who work at" the State Patrol is evidence, calling Bolduc "a steady leader."

"I appreciate that he chose to devote nearly a decade of public service to Nebraska, Pillen said.

In his own statement, Bolduc said it has "been my great honor to serve the people of Nebraska, alongside the dedicated men and women of the Nebraska State Patrol.

I am proud of our shared mission and confident that this team will continue its exemplary work to keep Nebraska safe," he wrote.

Bolduc  who began his law enforcement career in his home state of Minnesota, where he served as police chief in the cities of Brainerd and Mora  took over an agency in turmoil.

Ricketts had fired Rice after a review found that he interfered with internal affairs investigations at least four times and violated the agency's workplace harassment and equal opportunity policies, and that Rice was thought to be too friendly with the State Patrol union.

The full scope of the review's findings was never made public, but Ricketts said they had been turned over to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office for further investigation. No one was indicted as a result of those investigations.

When Bolduc arrived in Nebraska and faced a confirmation hearing before a legislative committee in 2018, he told lawmakers "those events are not only behind us, they are the exception."

Lawmakers confirmed his appointment in February 2018 but raised questions over why seven patrol members were fired, disciplined or allowed to resign or retire by Bolduc in his initial months on the job.

Then-Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon told colleagues he believed Bolduc was a good man with a good heart, but was put into a "horrible" position with the patrol.

Bolduc's eight-year tenure atop the agency has brought with it change  but also more controversy.

The State Patrol in 2020 moved into the 113,000-square-foot former Verizon Wireless call center in northwest Lincoln, bringing most of the agency's Lincoln-based troopers and civilian staff under one roof, rather than spread out in six offices throughout the city.

The patrol broke ground on a $26 million expansion of its crime lab last year, a move meant to relieve the workload for the lab that examines evidence for about 5,000 cases per year for law enforcement agencies across Nebraska.

And the agency made progress diversifying its ranks under Bolduc, hiring its first Hispanic female trooper in the late 2010s and expanding the number of troopers of color on its payroll following law enforcement's broader racial reckoning in 2020.

Were improving," Bolduc said in 2023. "But we still have work to do.

In 2021, Bolduc and his agency's evidence-storage practices came under public scrutiny when Lincoln police linked fentanyl-laced cocaine that led to multiple overdoses to the State Patrols own evidence storage facility.

Two people  including Anna Idigima, the State Patrol's evidence technician  were sent to federal prison for stealing $1.2 million worth of narcotics from the facility, including 19 pounds of cocaine and 6 pounds of fentanyl.

Police uncovered the plot amid an unprecedented spate of overdoses in Lincoln in the summer of 2021, when fentanyl-laced cocaine led to 35 overdoses across a three-week stretch in late July and mid-August.

It remains unclear how many of the overdoses  which killed nine people and one unborn child  were linked directly to the cocaine stolen from the State Patrol.

The theft also prompted prosecutors to drop criminal charges in dozens of cases where evidence no longer existed or where Idigima had been part of the chain of custody.

Bolduc pinned the unprecedented breach of public trust solely on Idigima, who he said "was a competent, trusted employee for 14 years  until she wasn't."

"Literally, there's only one person in the organization that could do this," he said then.

The State Patrol has also faced lawsuits alleging discrimination and retaliation under Bolduc.

In December, a 25-year veteran of the agency sued the state, alleging he'd been discriminated against for, among other things, reporting two troopers for using anti-LGBTQ slurs in instant messages on their state-owned computers.

That suit followed another brought by Gerald Krolikowski Jr., a longtime State Patrol captain who alleged he was retaliated against after reporting his belief that the agency was using carrier enforcement funds for things like SWAT and hazardous device technicians, contrary to state law.

Lawmakers are set to approve a $185,000 settlement between the state and Krolikowski later this year.
Robots will be used to look after the elderly instead of nurses under new plans to improve social care.

The droid-like machines will act as live-in carers for elderly and vulnerable people who require regular check-ins from a nursing team, including for those receiving NHS care.

The robots design is yet to be finalised, but they will be knee-high and come fitted with artificial intelligence so they can learn more about their patients over time.

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The machines, which are being rolled out by healthcare technology provider Cera, will stay at home with a patient who would otherwise be receiving routine house visits from a nurse.

A team of carers will still be responsible for the patient, conduct remote check-ins and use the data fed back via the robot to monitor the patient.

But the innovation will increase capacity among an understaffed workforce and reduce costs, as well as allowing those most in need or with more complex health issues to be prioritised for a human visit.

The robots, which have already begun to be rolled out by Cera, provide prompts to their patients about when to eat, drink and take their medication, and collect data on their wider health and wellbeing. They could also reduce loneliness and isolation, and send alerts to staff if a patient is unresponsive.

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Cera also said the robots could act as a lifeline for patients with dementia or short-term memory challenges because they are also programmed to remind patients about family events and any scheduled visits from loved ones or neighbours and friends.

A care team will monitor a patients health and assess whether they need any further intervention, such as if they are not engaging with the care.

AI to track risk of falling and vital signs

Cera, which employs about 10,000 human carers and nurses, delivers about two million home visits per month  nine out of 10 of which are on behalf of the NHS or the Government.

The radical and futuristic change to how social care is delivered will boost the number of visits by 20 per cent, while saving up to 80 per cent on costs amid a backdrop of huge staff and funding pressures, the provider said.

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There are not yet any public details on the cost of the robots, how many will be deployed, or what the final design will look like.

Social care faces a shortfall of 500,000 workers over the next 15 years amid an ageing and sicker population.

Some 2 million Britons are living without the help they need for care, according to charity Age UK.

Meanwhile, NHS hospital beds are occupied with about 13,000 to 14,000 patients each day who are medically fit to be discharged but have nowhere to go because of issues in social care.

The AI robots will have access to 200 billion patient health datapoints across every possible metric to train the robots to be more effective.

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Ceras AI tools include an ability to predict patients at risk of a fall, with up to 97 per cent accuracy, as well as tracking vital signs, and detecting the presence of respiratory illnesses that may require extra support such as flu.

Earlier this year, Sir Keir Starmer pledged to make the UK a world leader in AI technology while also making public services more efficient as part of an AI Opportunities Action Plan.

Dr Ben Maruthappu, Ceras chief executive, said the country urgently needs new solutions to deliver high-quality care, at scale.

Human carers will always have a vital role to play in society, but robots can enhance and complement their impact, tackling patient loneliness and boosting wellbeing, while supporting the sector through its staffing and funding pressures, he said.

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We believe robots have an important role to play in the future of care and, given our scale, our sector-leading technology and dataset, Cera is well positioned to lead this movement.

Robots are being trialled to support workforces in other industries around the world, including Elon Musks electric car manufacturer Tesla.

Its Optimus robot has been designed to help complete factory tasks, but will also help with shopping, dog-walking, cooking and housework.

Meanwhile, the Government is also looking at how to overhaul the UKs struggling social care system.

An independent commission into adult social care would be chaired by Baroness Louise Casey but a final report and proposed plan to fix the sector will not be finished until 2028.

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Mar. 11ROCHESTER  A Rochester man is accused of transferring more than $46,000 to his bank account from a woman who had dementia.

Jesse Koran Lequia, 50, appeared virtually on Tuesday, March 11, in Olmsted County District Court.

Lequia was charged in November 2024 with five felony counts of theft after an adult abuse report revealed that a Rochester woman, diagnosed with dementia and aphasia, was missing more than $40,000.

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During Tuesday's hearing, Lequia asked the court for a continuance as he continues searching for an attorney. His next hearing is scheduled for April 9.

According to the criminal complaint, the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office was assigned an Adult Protection Investigation case on April 3, 2024.

The investigation revealed that the missing money was transferred into an account owned by Lequia, the complaint said.

Law enforcement interviewed Lequia on April 16, 2024. He said because the woman's medical conditions were "getting bad," she needed assistance with everyday tasks, like making dinner and doing laundry. Lequia lived with the woman but did not pay rent to her.

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Lequia told police he did not manage her money. Lequia said he was trying to help the woman pay seven years of unpaid taxes.

He then admitted to taking money from the woman by using her online banking app on her phone. He said he spent the money at the Treasure Island Casino and in Las Vegas.

In total, Lequia transferred $46,400 to his account from November 27, 2023, through March 24, 2024.
(Stock photo Mint Images/Getty Images)

Alarms in Ohio and beyond went up Thursday when pharmacy retailer Walgreens announced that it was selling itself to the private equity firm Sycamore Partners.

The nations second-largest pharmacy chain was already in the process of closing thousands of underperforming stores, adding to mass closures in Ohio and nationwide.

Private equity firms are known for buying distressed companies, selling off the valuable pieces and walking away from the rest. So whats to keep Sycamore Partners from selling profitable Walgreens stores in wealthy areas and closing those in poorer, underserved ones, some observers asked.

But an Ohio pharmacy leader who last year warned that Walgreens struggles had dire implications for public health on Friday said its sale to a private equity firm might actually be a good sign.

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Dave Burke, a pharmacist, former state senator, and executive director of the Ohio Pharmacists Association, said Walgreens draconian actions are likely to push through federal reforms for which momentum has been building for months.

I think the regulatory environment around (pharmacy benefit managers) is going to change completely in the next 12 months, which is as long as its going to make this transaction go through, Burke said. As a national company, Walgreens became not the canary in the coal mine, but the sentinel moment for Washington, D.C. to actually realize that this is a broken system, not a bad company, not a bad store, not a bad manager, but a broken system. Theyre going to fix it. You cant allow this to continue.

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Declining retail pharmacy numbers is a public health concern because unlike mail-order, they are places where you can quickly get your medicine and vaccines, for instance, when a child has an earache or a bad rash, and waiting for the medicine to show up at the mailbox is impractical.

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Also, experts have noted, in medically underserved places, the pharmacy can provide the rare chance to talk to a medical professional about chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes.

Pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, are drug middlemen that represent insurers in drug transactions. For most of the past decade, theyve been accused of driving pharmacies out of business.

The biggest three PBMs handle nearly 80% of insured transactions and each is part of a Fortune 15 health conglomerate  UnitedHealth Group, CVS Health and Cigna-Express Scripts. Each of those companies owns a top-10 health insurer, and their PBMs represent those insurers as well as others in drug transactions.

The companies also own mail-order pharmacies and CVS owns the nations largest retail chain. Critics say that the conglomerates dominance in so many different areas is rife with conflicts and anticompetitive practices have forced up the price of drugs  and forced pharmacies out of business.

The big PBMs decide which drugs are covered by insurance and which have the smallest or no copayments. That gives drugmakers great incentive to pay the middlemen ever-growing rebates fees to get their products on lists of covered drugs.

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Academic research has shown that drugmakers raise list prices as they raise rebates. And the Federal Trade Commission has accused the PBMs of in some cases refusing to cover cheaper medicines as they chase bigger rebates.

On the pharmacy side, PBMs control access to so many patients that pharmacies not owned by those companies say they have no real choice about signing whatever deals the PBMs put forward. That means agreeing to opaque reimbursement systems under which pharmacies often lose money, they say.

As the middlemen have gained greater control over the marketplace, the number of Ohio pharmacies has dwindled.

The big-three PBMs have gone from controlling just under half of the national marketplace in 2010 to nearly 80% in 2023.

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Meanwhile, the number of retail pharmacies in Ohio has dropped from 2,219 in 2015 to 1,869 last year, according to a data tool launched last month by the Ohio Board of Pharmacy. Thats the first time in recent memory that Ohio has had fewer than 2,000 pharmacies, and it comes despite modest population growth.

The news that Walgreens is selling out to private equity in a $10 billion deal could mean even fewer pharmacies in Ohio.

Most private equity companies dont do things for the long run, Burke said. Is this going to be a hatchet job  a turnaround evaluation where they sell? Or do they want to turn Walgreens around as a long-term investment and then sell it?

Despite private equitys reputation, the pharmacy leader said he suspects the latter.

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Ohio and other states have been trying for nearly a decade to enact reforms of their own. But because of the PBMs national footprint, any effective reforms must come at the federal level, the industrys critics have said. In recent months, sweeping reforms have been gaining steam.

The U.S. House of Representatives in December nearly passed the most sweeping federal PBM reforms yet as part of a deal to keep the government open. With then-President-elect Trump expressing support, the reforms made it into what seemed like the final funding deal.

But then billionaires Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy tanked it by claiming it spent too much. Despite their expected savings, the PBM reforms didnt make their way into the massive spending plan that passed with Trumps backing.

But the bipartisan push for the reforms continues. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost last month led a bipartisan group of 39 state attorneys general in urging Congress to pass three reform bills pending before it.

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One would delink PBM charges from drug prices, thereby removing any incentive to favor more expensive drugs over cheaper ones. Another would require that PBMs serving Medicare Part D only charge flat fees set forth in a written agreement, and that arent related to drug prices or rebates.

The third, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act, is intended to shine a light into all manner of health transactions, including hospitalization. For drugs, it would require disclosure of what drugs are dispensed, what their net prices are and patients out-of-pocket costs.

Burke said theres a consensus to rein in the middlemen.

Ive spoken to folks in our congressional delegation, he said. Theyre asking the right questions. Here in Ohio, freshman legislators dont have to be taught what a PBM is anymore, and I guess thats whats happening in Washington, D.C. This is a trainwreck you cant turn away from. People are going to have to fix it.

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He added that Walgreens private-equity suitors appear see the same thing as they look into the future.

Even if you strip (a better-performing pharmacy) out, whos going to buy it? he asked.

Viewed through that lens, Burke said he thinks the Walgreens sale is actually good news.

Probably one of the best things that happened in pharmacy was Walgreens saying, We just cant take it anymore,' he said. I think were at a point of inflection. Its slow-moving, but I think were there. If I were (part of the private equity group) I would probably buy Walgreens as well because we are at rock bottom. If this goes any lower, I dont know where people get their prescriptions. We have a health crisis at that point.

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The former president of the Philippines is understood to be on a plane bound for The Hague after he was arrested by Interpol over the bloody war on drugs waged during his time in office.

Rodrigo Duterte, 79, was taken into custody on Tuesday after he landed at Manilas main airport on his way home from a political rally in Hong Kong.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued a warrant for his arrest following an investigation into thousands of killings while he was in power.

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Photographs published by the Philippine Star purported to show a plane due to take the former president out of the country late on Tuesday. The newspaper said the jet was scheduled to fly to The Hague, where the ICC is located.

The court has alleged Mr Duterte committed crimes against humanity between 2011  when he was still the mayor of the southern city of Davao  and 2019, when the then president withdrew his country from the Rome Statute, a move critics suspected was an attempt to escape accountability for his actions.

Officially, around 6,000 people died during his so-called war on drugs, but data cited by the ICC estimates between 12,000 and 30,000 civilians were killed.

A plane reportedly due to take Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague sits on the tarmac at an air base in Manila hours after his arrest - Ezra Acayan/Getty Images AsiaPac

The Duterte administration moved to suspend the ICCs investigation in late 2021, arguing Philippine authorities were already looking into the same allegations and the international court  a court of last resort  did not have jurisdiction.

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In recent years the former president appeared to benefit from impunity at home. But last November, Ferdinand Marcos, the current president, changed course, indicating his government was willing to hand him over.

The shift came amid a spectacular fallout between the archipelagos two major political dynasties. Mr Marcos, the son of the countrys former dictator, was elected president in 2022, while his vice-president was Sara Duterte, the former leaders daughter.

Yet the relationship quickly deteriorated into a feud, with Ms Duterte suggesting late last year she had hired a hitman to kill Mr Marcos. She also faces separate impeachment charges over alleged misuse of millions in public funds.

The Interpol arrest has been welcomed by many activists and victims. Leila de Lima, a former senator and one of Mr Dutertes fiercest critics, who was jailed for almost seven years on baseless charges, said it was the first step towards justice.

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Today, Duterte is being made to answer  not to me, but to the victims, to their families, to a world that refuses to forget. This is not about vengeance. This is about justice finally taking its course, she said.

You will just have to kill me

However, Mr Duterte, who still has strong support in parts of the country, remained bullish on Tuesday.

In a video from the broadcaster GMA, taken as he was stopped in Manila, he said: You will just have to kill me. I wont allow you to take the side of the white foreigners.

He justified the brutal efforts to tackle illegal drugs when he appeared alongside his daughter at a rally in Hong Kong on Monday.

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Why did I do it? For myself? For my family? For you and your children, and for our nation, he said.

If this is truly my fate in life, its OK, I will accept it. They can arrest me, imprison me. What is my sin? I did everything in my time for peace and a peaceful life for the Filipino people.

He previously declared the ICC does not scare me one bit.

Large numbers of police were seen waiting at Manilas Ninoy Aquino International Airport for Mr Duterte to return from Hong Kong - Jam Sta Rosa/AFP

The court, based in The Hague, can step in when countries are unwilling or unable to prosecute suspects in the most heinous international crimes, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. It is backed by 125 member states.

In this case, it is unclear what exactly happens next. The high-profile arrest could be seen as a test for a court that has also issued warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels prime minister, and Min Aung Hlaing, who leads Myanmars military junta.

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A lawyer in the Philippines said he had already filed a petition with the Supreme Court on behalf of Mr Duterte to compel authorities to stop co-operating with the ICC.

Peter Mumford, director of the Eurasia Group in Southeast Asia, said: There is speculation that Duterte is being held at the air base to make it easier to deport him to The Hague, though the former president, who turns 80 this month and suffers from various ailments, may seek to delay [or] prevent this on medical grounds.

This latest development raises the temperature further in the bitter spat between the Duterte and Marcos dynasties, but it does not fundamentally change the political outlook in the Philippines.

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By Luiza Ilie

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romanian far-right politician Calin Georgescu on Tuesday stopped short of endorsing any other potential candidate after being definitively barred from standing in May's presidential election rerun, adding to uncertainty over who would replace him.

Whether another far right candidate succeeds in swaying Georgescu's voters will determine whether another central European country swings closer to Moscow beside Hungary and Slovakia in the election scheduled on May 4 and May 18.

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The 62-year-old pro-Russian contender ran as an independent in last year's presidential election which was annulled in December by the country's top court due to undeclared funding and suspicion of Russian meddling in his favour, denied by Moscow and Georgescu.

"Today, the masters have decided: no equality, no freedom, no fraternity for Romanians," Georgescu wrote on social media platform x in English and French.

"Long live France and Brussels, long live their colony named Romania. While America is becoming great again, Europe and Romania have become petty, corrupt, and under dictatorship."

In a separate message on Facebook addressing his supporters he struck a conciliatory tone and urged them to follow their conscience when supporting another candidate, while not immediately endorsing anyone.

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DISPUTE

Romania, a NATO and EU member, has found itself at the centre of a dispute between Europe and the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump over the nature of democracy due to the election. U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Romania's annulment of the vote meant it did not share American values.

Georgescu submitted his candidacy on Friday but the central election authority rejected it two days later, prompting a small but violent clash between his supporters and police.

The top court's decision to reject Georgescu's appeal is final and cannot be challenged. It was unanimous, the court said. Several hundred protesters gathered outside the top court to support Georgescu, shouting "Thieves" and "Freedom."

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"What a disgrace!", George Simion, leader of the opposition Alliance for Uniting Romanians (AUR) wrote on X. "Once again, the Constitutional Court is mocking the Romanian people, is attacking our democracy and our essential rights and freedoms."

The ultranationalist parties which backed Georgescu saw a surge in support in parliamentary elections and won 35% of seats, forming a powerful opposition to the pro-NATO European government.

However, they have no clear alternative to Georgescu and political analysts said they had backed his candidacy even though they knew it would be refused in order to stoke unrest and paint last year's ballot cancellation as a coup by mainstream parties beholden to foreign interests.

"It was almost a certainty that Georgescu's candidacy will be rejected," said Cristian Pirvulescu, a political scientist. "The far right parties were aware and they bid on increasing negative emotion."

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The parties have said they are backing him to protect democracy after Georgescu won the most votes in the initial first round ballot.

'BEAUTY CONTEST'

The deadline to submit presidential bids ahead of the May election is March 15, giving the hard-right opposition parties, including the AUR and the Young People Party (POT) little time to put forward a viable replacement.

"There is a beauty contest in the ultranationalist camp right now," said political commentator Radu Magdin.

"They need a name and once that is announced a candidacy can be submitted before the deadline even if it is tight."

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Simion, who ranked fourth in the first round of the voided presidential election, is a likely replacement. On Monday he said all options were on the table and that Georgescu would decide on future steps.

Prosecutors said they opened a criminal investigation against Simion for inciting violence after Georgescu was barred.

Even with Georgescu out of the running, voters were expected to lean towards anti-establishment parties.

"I am disappointed, we are overwhelmed," said Ionel Gherghina, 54. "I still believe our president Calin will come up with a solution favourable for us, we hope he will not give up."

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Gabriel Teodorescu, a 76-year-old pensioner, took a different view, saying people wanted change, but "not through chaos and without putting anything in place."

"Russians are behind these (ultranationalist) movements which want to distance us from the EU and NATO," he added.

(Reporting by Luiza Ilie, additional reporting by Janis Laizans, Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk and Alan Charlish; Editing by Alexandra Hudson and Nick Zieminski)
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The country's 'prevailing pro-EU, pro-American political culture is at risk'. | Credit: Andrei Pungovschi / Getty Images

Just months after a shocking first-round victory in Romania's presidential elections, ultra-nationalist extremist candidate Calin Georgescu has been barred from participating in an upcoming electoral redo, the Romanian election commission announced Sunday. The decision to block Georgescu was met with violent protests in Romania's capital city of Bucharest, where supporters clashed in the streets with law enforcement.

Dubbed the "TikTok Messiah" for his seemingly spontaneous social media-fueled populist support, Georgescu was a relative unknown before his surprise victory in November. After investigators alleged that Georgescu benefitted from a Russian influence campaign to boost his candidacy, Romanian authorities postponed December's run-off elections until this coming May, prompting an outcry from figures like U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Elon Musk, who called Sunday's decision "crazy."

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Georgescu condemned his blockage as a sign of "dictatorship" and appealed the ruling. Despite denying the allegations against him, he has also built much of his political capital on rejecting institutions such as NATO and the EU, positioning himself largely in alignment with Russian President Vladimir Putin's anti-democratic efforts.

'Everything has changed'

Georgescu's surprise victory, and the controversies thereafter have sparked Romania's "biggest political crisis since the collapse of communism," Bloomberg said. While his being barred from running in May could lead to a "mainstream, pro-European candidate" winning the presidency, it could also "harm ties" with the United States  particularly after the Trump administration made a point of encouraging his candidacy.

Georgescu has become a "cause celebre among the far right," The Associated Press said. Romania's "unprecedented" decision to bar his campaign has "plunged the European Union and NATO member country into a protracted political crisis." While internally, Romania's NATO membership and "pro-Western outlook" is considered "non-negotiable," the Trump-era means "everything has changed," said Politico. After decades of Romania's cooperation during the Cold War  and lately, as a major hub for aid to Ukraine  the country's "prevailing pro-EU, pro-American political culture is at risk."

'They tried it with Trump'

Although many of Romania's fellow NATO members "supported the decision" to bar Georgescu from the May elections, the decision has "incensed some European and American conservatives," said The New York Times. As perhaps the single largest animating force in the ongoing global realignment taking place across Europe, it's little surprise that Romania's electoral upheaval has been "criticized by the administration of President Donald Trump and his allies such as Elon Musk," said Bloomberg.

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"Do you love your country & want to put it first?" White House adviser Kari Lake said on X. "Then, the Globalists want you removed from the ballot & silenced." They "tried it with Trump here in America," continued Lake, who runs the federal Voice of America news service. "They did it to Bolsanaro in Brazil. Now, they're doing it to Georgescu in Romania. The people should dictate their country's future. Not the international order & their captured court."

In the "short to medium term," the result of Georgescu's now-banned candidacy will be the casting of a "further pall on EU-U.S. relations" that "key figures" in the Trump administration will see as a "reification of their concerns and suspicions toward Europe" at large, said Research Fellow Mark Episkopos at Responsible Statecraft. Long term, however, America's post-1991, post-Soviet attitudes toward Europe, based on national ambition and a sense of shared ideology, seem to be fading in relevance. "That genie is now out of the bottle in ways that cannot be reversed."
Rome police has welcomed a new K9 officer to their department.

K9 Cas made his debut at the Rome City Commission meeting on Monday night.

Cas is a one-and-a-half-year-old Belgian Malinois originally from the Netherlands and recently joined the department, coming from Pennsylvania.

He was traveled alongside K9 officer Anthony Banks since November.

The department says Cas is a skilled dual-purpose canine, specializing in narcotics detection, evidence and article recovery, tracking, and apprehension.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Finding a job can be difficult.

Just ask Madelyn Dias. She said shes been looking for one since 2022.

Pretty much hopeless, said Dias. You keep trying, and then nothing happens Ive been applying and doing as best I can. But like, nothings been sticking.

Thats why she decided to check out Rose State Colleges career support event on Monday.

I thought Id talk to a professional who might tell me what Im doing wrong so I can do it right and finally get the result, said Dias.

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At the event, job seekers could meet with professionals to update their resumes, do mock interviews and learn tailored job search strategies.

February layoffs up 245% from January; highest since 2020, outplacement firm says

The career fair also had resources specifically for Oklahomas federal employees impacted by recent layoffs.

Theres a lot of uncertainty and a lot of anxiety that comes when you know things happen out of your control, said Travis Lightsey Jr., Rose State College Career Development Director. A lot of federal employees, for example, theyve been on the job for decades, but they havent had to go into a job search and know what private sector hiring practices are like.

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Lightsey Jr. said hes also already met with current federal employees who are fearing the worst.

Ive met with individuals that have been affected, or even know that, okay, this is something thats coming, said Lightsey Jr. We have these resources that are free that anybody can take advantage of to be able to put their best foot forward and have that confidence going into a job search.

Rose State College is hosting another career support event in May.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Rosie ODonnell has revealed that she has moved from the United States to Ireland, where she is applying for citizenship in the wake of President Trumps second term.

When you know it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, thats when we will consider coming back, ODonnell said in a nine-minute video shared on TikTok. She said she is very grateful to have found a new home in Ireland, adding that the people here are so loving, kind and welcoming.

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While ODonnell made it obvious her relocation was due to the state of politics in the U.S., the Emmy winner never mentioned President Trump by name. She said of the current state of American politics, It has been heartbreaking to see what is happening over there politically and hard for me personally as well.

ODonnell also cited her nerves around TikTok potentially going away and the state of media outlets under the news administration hostility toward them as reasons to leave the States.

The mainstream media has been letting us all down in America, where the fourth estate is required to maintain a democracy, she said. They havent been doing their job.

She continued, I encourage everyone to stand up, to use their voice, to protest, to demand that we follow the constitution in our country, and not a king and not a man and we dont have cruelty as part of our governing style.

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ODonnell closed her message by encouraging her followers to not get wrapped up in the constant, and often chaotic, coverage of politics.

Protect your sanity as much as you can, and try not to swim in the chaos, if possible, ODonnell said. But I know its nearly impossible when youre there in the middle of it.

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Federal crash investigators have said a helicopter route used by an Army Black Hawk for training when it crashed midair with a passenger aircraft over Washington, D.C., in late January, killing all aboard, poses a major aviation risk and called for immediate changes.

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy told reporters Tuesday afternoon that the path the three-person Army Black Hawk crew was on, called Route 4, offered only 75 feet of separation from an airplane approaching runway 33 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, known as DCA -- the same approach that American Eagle Flight 5342 was on prior to the deadly crash that killed the soldiers and all aboard the airplane.

"We've determined that the existing separation distances between helicopter traffic operating on Route 4 and aircraft landing on runway 33 are insufficient and pose an intolerable risk to aviation safety by increasing the chances of a midair collision at DCA," Homendy said.

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Read Next: Hegseth Ban on Travel Forces Closures, Reduced Hours at Military Entrance Exam Sites

A preliminary report on the crash issued Tuesday said the NTSB is recommending that helicopter Route 4 between Hains Point and the Wilson Bridge on the Potomac River should be closed for operations when runways 15 and 33 at DCA are in use. Additionally, crash investigators called on the Federal Aviation Administration to create an alternate route when that path is shut down.

The NTSB's report showed that there have been numerous close calls between helicopters and planes at DCA in recent years. Between October 2021 and December 2024 alone, there were "15,214 occurrences between commercial airplanes and helicopters in which there was a lateral separation distance of less than 1 [nautical mile] and vertical separation of less than 400 ft," the report on preliminary findings showed.

More alarmingly, the report said there were 85 instances of close calls that involved "a lateral separation less than 1,500 feet and vertical separation less than 200 feet."

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Between 2011 and 2014, a traffic collision avoidance system resolution advisory -- a warning used to prevent midair collisions -- was triggered once a month due to the proximity of a helicopter, according to the findings. In half of those instances, a helicopter may have been above the altitude flight restriction, and two-thirds of the advisories happened at night.

Video of the collision showing a fireball over the Potomac began circulating online and on major TV networks throughout the world. The crash between the plane and the Black Hawk helicopter marked the first major U.S. commercial aircraft crash in nearly 16 years.

The revelation of the close proximity between helicopters on Route 4 and planes landing on DCA's runway 33 also underscores a key revelation made known during last month's NTSB press conference: The Army crew's altimeter may have been malfunctioning.

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"We still have a lot of work to do in this area as the Black Hawk's combined cockpit voice and flight data recorder does not record date information, time information or helicopter position information," Homendy said. "As I mentioned in the last press conference, there is inconsistency in the data, which led us to declare the pressure altitude parameter on the Black Hawk as invalid."

Capt. Rebecca Lobach, 28, of Durham, North Carolina; Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland; and Staff Sgt. Ryan O'Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia, were all killed when the Black Hawk crashed with American Eagle Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ, which had 64 aboard.

American Airlines in a statement Tuesday praised the NTSB's findings and recommendations.

"We continue to mourn the lives lost in the tragic accident involving Flight 5342," American Airlines said in a statement. "We're grateful for the National Transportation Safety Board's urgent safety recommendations to restrict helicopter traffic near DCA and for its thorough investigation."

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The Black Hawk helicopter was from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The crew was on a training qualification flight.

Both Lobach and Eaves were "current and qualified" when it came to flying the Black Hawk, the preliminary report said. Eaves had accumulated about 968 total hours of flight experience, and Lobach had about 450 flight hours, according to details in the report. O'Hara, who was the crew chief, had about 1,149 total flight hours.

The large number of flight hours the crew had, as well as the new information on prior close calls with helicopters at DCA, is seemingly at odds with claims by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump immediately following the crash that somehow diversity, equity and inclusion policies were connected to the incident.

Conspiracy theories began spreading immediately after the crash, fueled by those comments. That led some to misidentify one of the pilots and even discouraged Lobach's family from immediately releasing her name to the public amid the misinformation, Military.com previously reported.

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Previously, there were several other factors revealed about the Army Black Hawk helicopter's flight, including that the crew members were likely wearing night vision goggles.

Sean Payne, the branch chief of the NTSB's vehicle recorder division, also told reporters last month that it's not clear what the Black Hawk's internal gauges read prior to the crash and that investigators were reaching out to the Army as well as Sikorsky Aircraft and Collins Aviation, the companies that build and manufacture parts for the helicopter.

"We are working to determine if this bad data for pressure altitude only affected the [flight data record], or if it was more pervasive throughout the helicopter's other systems. We will have an answer to what altitude the pilots saw in their gauges as they were flying," Payne said last month.

A portion of a transmission from the air traffic control flight tower directing the Black Hawk to pass behind the CRJ may not have been heard by the crew just 17 seconds before the crash, Military.com previously reported.

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Homendy said the 75-foot clearance between helicopters on that route and planes approaching runway 33 is too close and changes should have been made prior to the crash.

"It does make me angry, but it also makes me feel incredibly devastated for families that are grieving because they lost loved ones," Homendy said. "It shouldn't take a tragedy like this to occur. Unfortunately, one did, and so we are calling on action."

Related: Investigators Say Black Hawk Altitude Gauges May Have Been Inaccurate Prior to Deadly DC Airplane Collision
(This story was updated to add new information and because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.)

ROYAL PALM BEACH  Six-term council member Jeff Hmara won his first term as Royal Palm Beach mayor Tuesday, according to preliminary results from the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office.

Hmara received nearly 60% of the vote in defeating Selena Samios, another longtime council member, and political newcomer Justin Plaza.

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In Seat 3, Sylvia Sharps appeared to have won the Village Council seat that Samios left to run for mayor, according to the preliminary results.

Sharps, a former County Commission candidate, led Steve Avila 40% to 39%. Royal Palm Beach election code only calls for runoff elections when the top two candidates receive the same amount of votes. Other communities have them when no candidate receives at least 50% of the ballots cast.

The elections office will certify the vote in the coming days.

Jeff Hmara

Hmara, a retired colonel from the U.S. Army and a village resident for over 20 years, is the first person elected mayor in Royal Palm Beach since Fred Pinto won the job more than 12 years ago. Pinto died in September, and the council appointed Hmara to fill the mayor's role.

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Donielle Pinto, the former mayors widow, ran for the Village Council seat and got 20% of the vote, according to preliminary results.

The election comes at a time when Royal Palm Beach is facing growth pressures with new developments like Tuttle Royale and an increase in traffic congestion. The village is also in the process of renovating its Recreation Center.

Council members Richard Valuntas and Jan Rodusky ran unopposed to serve two-year terms. Adam Miller, who was appointed to the council when Hmara became mayor, also was unopposed and will retain his seat until 2026.

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: Royal Palm Beach election: Voters select Jeff Hmara as mayor
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it is dependent on Russia to accept a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine for immediate negotiations toward an end of the war to begin.

Rubio made his remarks following a meeting with senior Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, that served to repair U.S. and Ukrainian relations, with the Trump administration restarting military and intelligence assistance that was paused in the aftermath of an Oval Office argument late last month.

The Ukrainians expressed a readiness to accept the ceasefire, Rubio said, adding the U.S. will deliver the offer to Russia through multiple diplomatic channels.

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Our hope is that the Russians will say yes, that they will also agree, so the shooting will stop, the killing will stop, the dying will stop, and the talks can begin about how to end this war permanently, in a way thats acceptable and enduring for both sides.

Russia launched heavy attacks against Ukraine, including a large-scale drone assault, on the third-anniversary of the war  Feb. 24  and firing cruise and ballistic missiles earlier this week amid the pause in U.S. military assistance.

Ukraine responded with its largest drone attack against Russia, with at least 91 drones shot down over Moscow and more than 240 drones targeting other areas across Russia.

Bloomberg reported that sources close to Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled he is willing to discuss a temporary truce in Ukraine.

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President Trump said he believes Putin wants peace and said, I think were doing very well with Russia, in remarks to reporters in the Oval Office on Friday.

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday expressed optimism ahead of talks between the US and Ukraine on ending the war started by Russia more than three years ago.

Rubio said he was feeling "optimistic" ahead of talks planned for Tuesday in the coastal Saudi city of Jeddah on the Red Sea.

"I feel optimistic about it," Rubio told pool reporters while enroute to Jeddah. "I mean, we wouldn't [be] coming if we weren't."

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The decisive factor in the meeting would be to see to what extent the Ukrainians were prepared "to do difficult things," just as the Russians would have to, to end the war.

Rubio also hinted that Ukraine could again rely on more US aid if the talks went well. They were already receiving intelligence for defensive purposes again.

The US diplomat did not rule out an informal meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is also visiting Saudi Arabia, but has said he is not taking part in Rubio's talks.

"Potentially," he said when asked whether an unofficial meeting with Zelensky was on the table. That was not the plan, but it was "possible."

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Rubio said that both Moscow and Kiev "need to come to an understanding that there is no military solution to this situation."

The Russians could not conquer the whole of Ukraine and it would be very difficult for Ukraine to push the Russians back to where they were in 2014.

"So the only solution to this war is diplomacy and getting them to a table where that's possible," Rubio said. "I think the French and the British have been very supportive along the way over the last week as well and very helpful, so we're hopeful we'll have good meetings tomorrow."
Soldiers and civilians exchanging gun fire on May 10, 1861, near Fifth and Walnut streets in St. Louis as the prisoners from Camp Jackson are marched to the Federal Arsenal (From the New York Illustrated News).

In the spring of 1861, St. Louis was seething.

Seven slave states had seceded by the time Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as president on March 4, 1861, but Missouri and seven others hadnt decided whether to stay in the Union or join the nascent Confederate States of America.

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Missouri sympathizers to the Southern cause of preserving slavery organized companies of Minute Men. The large and recently arrived German population of the city  many with military experience in European conscript armies or the revolutionary forces of 1848  was stridently abolitionist, organized as Wide Awakes and drilling for possible action at Turnverein halls.

In this installment of Rudi splains it, I hope to help readers understand how Missouri became the only state with a major metropolitan police department under the direction of a board appointed by the governor.

Thats Kansas City.

But the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners  four members appointed by the governor plus the mayor  wasnt Missouris first. And if Republicans running the General Assembly have their way, it wont be the only one.

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Legislation awaiting a final House vote and a signature from Gov. Mike Kehoe would put the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department under a similar board, as it was from 1861 to 2012.

Kansas Citys police force was originally put under a state-run board in 1874, and lawmakers at that time modeled it on the St. Louis police board.

For the 1861 law, the model, but not the motive, came from Maryland, where it was used in Baltimore to overcome political violence directed by anti-Catholic Know-Nothing politicians.

The motive in Missouri  in 1861 and 1874  was raw political power. Both cities had recently elected Republican city leadership while the state legislature and executive was firmly in the hands of Democrats.

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Democrats lost control of St. Louis City Hall in the 1858 election. In Kansas City, a reform ticket swept Democrats out of office in 1873.

Securing St. Louis for the Union

The potential dissolution of the Union in the spring of 1861 added a new layer of tension to the competition between the Democratic Party and the growing Republican Party. And secession-minded Democratic Gov. Claiborne Fox Jackson didnt want the only organized group legally empowered to use force to fall into hostile hands.

Not only were the new German-born citizens the most reliably pro-Union population, they were also responsible for giving Lincoln a plurality of the votes in the states largest county and more than half of the votes the Republican received statewide as he ran fourth among major candidates.

Their votes were also essential to the 1858 election of Oliver Filley as the first Republican St. Louis mayor.

Gov. Claiborne Fox Jackson, Confederate Governor of Missouri. Elected August 1860, took office in January 1861. He fled Jefferson City with the state archives, seal and treasury in June 1861 (Courtesy State Historical Society of Missouri).

Jacksons other plans to push Missouri into the Confederacy werent going well.

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Delegate elections on Feb. 18, 1861, to a state convention to consider secession hadnt gone as expected, with a majority of Unionists, even if most also supported continuance of slavery. When delegates convened on Feb. 28, they voted to move to St. Louis rather than remain in Jefferson City, where Jackson and secessionist lawmakers could pressure members.

So with uncertain municipal elections approaching, the bill establishing a state-run Board of Police Commissioners was introduced in the state Senate on Feb. 26, 1861, and passed on March 2, 1861. The Missouri House approved the bill on March 25, 1861.

The Missouri Democrat newspaper, the Republican Party organ in St. Louis, denounced the bill and made sure opponents were well represented in its reporting.

This bill is, in my opinion, nothing else but an odious and pernicious crusade against the rights and the true welfare of the city of St. Louis  a city that pays more than two-fifths of the whole revenue of the State., state Rep. Randolph Doehn of St. Louis said. Pretending to be friends of both, they poison, in reality, the good feelings of the state against the city.

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The main purpose of the bill, Doehn said, is submission and coercion of the Union-loving citizens of St. Louis.it deprives the people of St. Louis the sacred rights that are presumed to be the fundamental franchises of freemen, by rendering the control over their municipal rights into the hands of individuals who have never obtained a position by the free will and fair choice of the independent voters themselves.

The Daily Missouri Republican, the major St. Louis newspaper supporting the Democratic Party, wrote an editorial that rhapsodized gleefully over the political advantage lost to Republicans.

The Black Republicans are in agony  they have a cold sweat upon them  some of them rave as if afflicted with delirium tremens, the papers editorial began. The passage of the Police Bill through the House yesterday, and the certainty of it becoming law, has completely paralyzed them. The lopping off of so large a share of the patronage of the Mayor, and the putting of it in the hands where it cannot be used for political purposes, is a death-blow to their plans for a perpetuation of Black Republicanism forever.

Black Republican was a political insult intended to keep the anti-slavery position of the party foremost in the minds of voters.

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The police bill victory was short-lived, for Jackson at least.

On March 19, 1861, the State Convention voted 89-1 that there was no adequate cause for Missouri to secede. It adjourned on March 22, 1861, empowering a committee to call it back into session if circumstances changed.

The war came on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces opened fire on Fort Sumter, the island fortress in the Charleston, South Carolina, harbor. Lincoln issued a call on states to supply 75,000 men.

Your requisition, in my judgment, is illegal, unconstitutional, and revolutionary in its object, inhuman and diabolical, and cannot be complied with, Jackson wrote to Lincoln in response to the requisition for Missouri soldiers. Not one man will the State of Missouri furnish to carry on any such unholy crusade.

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At the same time, Jackson was writing to Jefferson Davis, president of the rebellious states, for siege guns and mortars to batter down the walls, and drive out our enemies from the Arsenal at St. Louis, now under the command of an Abolition officer

In his letter to Davis, Jackson apologized because Missouri has been exceedingly slow and tardy in movements hereto, but I am not without hope that she will promptly take her stand with her Southern sister States.

Jackson organized a state army called the Missouri State Guard and named Sterling Price, a former governor and Mexican war hero, as commander. The siege guns he requested arrived in St. Louis on May 8, 1861, and were moved under cover of darkness to Camp Jackson at Lindells Grove on the western outskirts of the city.

Missouri State Guard soldiers drill in May 1861 at Camp Jackson on Lindells Grove in St. Louis (Via Library of Congress).

About 900 members of the Missouri State Guard were gathered at the site now home to St. Louis University.

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In a pre-emptive strike, Capt. Nathaniel Lyon had marched 6,500 to 7,000 troops  regular Army units augmented by mainly German volunteers organized into regiments  six miles from the Federal Arsenal to Camp Jackson, surrounded the camp and took 689 men prisoner.

But as the federal troops were escorting captured Missouri militiamen away from Camp Jackson, a shot was heard and the troops opened fire on unarmed civilians, killing 28 and wounding 50 to 75 more.

Former army officer William Tecumseh Sherman, president of the St. Louis street railway company, witnessed the surrender and subsequent firing on civilians.

I heard the balls cutting the leaves above our heads, and saw several men and women running in all directions, some of whom were wounded, Sherman wrote. Of course, there was a general stampede.

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The Camp Jackson Affair, as it came to be known, ended any chance of Jackson securing St. Louis for the Confederacy. By mid-June, Jackson had abandoned Jefferson City to federal troops and in July, the State Convention, sitting in Jefferson City under federal protection, voted to remove Jackson and the entire General Assembly from office.

Control of St. Louis had a strategic advantage the Union would exploit throughout the war. By August 1861, James B. Eads had a contract to build the ironclad warships that proved essential to wresting control of the Mississippi River valley from the rebellious states.

The removal of officers elected in 1860 put Missouri under Republican control until the election of 1872. It also put the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners under Republican control, leaving no motivation to change the law.

Kansas City after the war

A wood-cut engraving showing Kansas Citys stockyards in 1874 from Joseph G. McCoys Historic Sketches of the Cattle Trade of the West and Southwest (Via Library of Congress).

The 1872 election was the first to occur after the General Assembly restored the voting rights of former Confederates, who had been disenfranchised by the state Constitution of 1865.

Their votes helped Democrats regain control in Jefferson City, overwhelming the votes from men formerly held in slavery who backed Republicans. Black votes, however, helped the reform ticket, endorsed by the Republican Party, gain control of Kansas Citys government in 1873.

On Feb. 4, 1874, Democratic state Rep. James McDaniels of Jackson County introduced the bill creating the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners. The Kansas City Journal, the citys Republican newspaper, denounced the measure.

In the first place the people of this city are not aware of having committed any crime for which the right to govern themselves should be taken away, the Journal stated.

The law-and-order problems facing Kansas City revolved around the violence and prostitution associated with gambling, saloons and vagrancy. As the April 1874 election approached, Democrats were trying to blame the crime on the Republican city leadership.

The main purpose of the bill, the newspaper stated, was to put Democrats back on the city payroll. But the pay mandated by the bill, ostensibly to allow cuts of as much as 25% to the police budget, were inadequate.

Men working on the salaries proposed must steal or starve, and as men will be found venal enough to take the positions, with the prospect of perquisites, our police force will become an institution more to be dreaded than the thieves themselves, the Journal wrote.

The bill passed the Missouri House with only 10 votes in opposition and no votes against it in the state Senate.

Voters returned Democrats to power in Kansas City in the 1874 election, but only by 73 votes in the mayors race and, by the Journals account, only by supplying copious amounts of liquor to working class voters, both Black and white. The Journal also accused Democrats of bribing voters to support their ticket.

With the close vote, there was no incentive to repeal the law giving the state control of the local police. And except for a brief period in the 1930s, Kansas City police have been directed by the state-controlled board ever since.

As the 1874 bill was being finalized, the Journal warned its supporters that they would be blamed if crime wasnt brought under control by taking away local responsibility.

We would call the attention of the law and order party to the fact that a metropolitan police bill has passed the house and is now pending in the senate, and will undoubtedly pass that body and become a law, the Journal stated. This will wipe out the issue they are making in the present city contest; the reform they seek will then rest entirely with the police commissioners.

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There is a new U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, which covers the Charlotte area.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has appointed Russ Ferguson to the role. He replaces Dena King.

It is the honor of a lifetime to serve as United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, Ferguson said in a news release. I am fortunate to be coming into a well-regarded office with some of the best lawyers in North Carolina.

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Tremendous honor: U.S. Attorney for Western District of North Carolina steps down

He added, I am ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work for the people of my home state. I thank Attorney General Bondi for trusting me to lead this office, and I pledge to serve with utmost integrity and dedication.

Ferguson comes to the U.S. Attorneys office from Womble Bond Dickinson where he served as a partner. He started his career as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorneys Office in the District of Columbia, where he tried 28 cases to verdict.

After law school, U.S. Attorney Ferguson clerked for the Honorable Frank D. Whitney in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.

VIDEO: Local attorneys partner with Bank of America to support first responders
Fuel tanks, a house and a warehouse containing children's toys have caught fire in the city of Odesa as a result of a Russian drone attack.

Source: Oleh Kiper, Head of Odesa Oblast Military Administration; State Emergency Service of Ukraine; Odesa Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov

Quote from Kiper: "The enemy has once again conducted a large-scale drone attack on Odesa. A house, a warehouse containing children's toys and a fuel tank caught fire as a result of the attack."

Firefighters extinguishing fire

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Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Details: The State Emergency Service published photos and videos from the scenes and reported that over a hundred emergency workers, volunteers, National Guard soldiers and local fire brigades were working to deal with the aftermath.

Firefighters wearing fire PPE

Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

"Early reports indicate that there are no casualties," the State Emergency Service concluded.

Trukhanov said several outbuildings and warehouses in different parts of the city had been damaged in the Russian attack on the city on the evening of 10 March. A total area of 2,780 square metres has sustained damage.

Fire raging

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Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Background: Earlier, Ukraines Air Force reported that the Russians had attacked Ukraine with an Iskander-M ballistic missile and 126 Shahed attack UAVs and decoy drones of various types since the evening of 10 March. The missile and 79 drones were downed.

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Russian forces have recaptured 12 settlements and 100 square kilometers (40 square miles) in Kursk Oblast previously held by Ukrainian troops, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed on March 11.

The Ukrainian military has not commented on the claims, which could not be independently verified.

The statement comes after Moscow launched a new offensive in the Russian border region, reportedly achieving a breakthrough south of the key town of Sudzha in an effort to encircle the Ukrainian salient.

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Russia recaptured the settlements of Agronom, Bogdanovka, Bondarevka, Dmitryukov, Zazulevka, Ivashkovsky, Kolmakov, Kubatkin, Martynovka, Mikhailovka, Pravda, and Yuzhny in recent military operations, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed.

The DeepState monitoring group confirmed significant territorial losses on Ukraine's part in Kursk Oblast since Russia launched its offensive last week.

The extent of the Ukrainian salient in Russia's Kursk Oblast as of March 10, 2025, according to the DeepState monitoring group. (DeepState/OpenStreet Maps)

Russian troops and their North Korean allies have also reportedly begun launching attacks in the Sudzha area. Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, claimed that there is currently no threat of encirclement as Ukrainian troops are moving to "favorable defense lines."

Syrskyi added that some of the settlements Russia claims to have retaken "no longer exist" as they have been destroyed by Russian fire.

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Ukraine's commander-in-chief added that he had decided to reinforce Ukrainian troops in Kursk Oblast with "the necessary forces and means," including electronic warfare and drones.

Concerns about the Ukrainian operation in Kursk Oblast, ongoing since August 2024, have mounted over the weekend amid reports of Russian advances. The development came shortly after the U.S. cut off military and intelligence support for Ukraine, allegedly to push Kyiv to the negotiating table.

Read also: Moscow targeted by largest drone strike in war, over 330 UAVs downed across Russia, authorities claim

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(Reuters) - A Russian military court sentenced a man from Moscow-annexed Crimea to 24 years in prison on Tuesday for attempting to kill a former pro-Russian member of the Ukrainian parliament as part of a network of Ukrainian agents operating in the peninsula.

The court in the southern city of Rostov found Pyotr Zhitsky, a resident of Yalta, guilty of high treason, attempted murder of a public figure and a slew of other charges, the office of Russia's prosecutor general said in a statement.

The former lawmaker, Oleg Tsaryov, survived despite being shot twice in October 2023 in Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula which Russia forcibly annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

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A source in Ukraine's SBU intelligence agency told Reuters at the time that the shooting was an SBU operation.

The prosecutor's office said the court found Zhitsky had established contact with the SBU in 2022 and "expressed a desire to assist in activities against the Russian Federation".

It said Zhitsky had trained in the use of explosives and tracked Tsaryov's travel routes for several months, passing the information on to the SBU, who paid him roughly 15,000 roubles ($175) per month for a year until he shot Tsaryov in Yalta.

In 2022, three sources familiar with the Kremlin's thinking told Reuters that Moscow had been lining up Tsaryov to lead a puppet government in Kyiv if Russia had succeeded in ousting President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in the first days of the war in February 2022.

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Tsaryov dismissed Reuters' account as having "very little to do with reality".

The 54-year-old hotelier was previously a member of the Ukrainian parliament and then speaker of the parliament of "Novorossiya", an entity formed after Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine began fighting Ukrainian forces in 2014.

Tsaryov has been placed under sanctions by Ukraine, the United States and a number of other Western countries.

Ukraine has taken responsibility for some assassinations in Russia since the start of the war - most recently for the killing of Igor Kirillov, the head of Russia's Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops, in December.

($1 = 85.9000 roubles)

(Writing by Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Gareth Jones)
Moscow (dpa) - At least three people have been killed in massive Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow and the surrounding area, authorities have said.

The victims were employees of a company in Domodedovo, around 30 kilometres south of the Russian capital, the governor of the Moscow region, Andrey Vorobyov, announced on Telegram.

The drone attack hit the company's car park shortly after 5 am (0200 GMT) as the men were about to start their shift, Vorobyov said.

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As a result of the attacks in the Moscow region, 14 people also required medical assistance, the governor added.

The Kremlin strongly condemned the drone attacks.

President Vladimir Putin had been informed, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

He accused Ukraine of deliberately firing on civilian targets.

"Our soldiers continue to attack military and military-related targets," he added.

Ukraine, which has been fending off a full-scale Russian invasion for over three years, has seen the death of civilians and the destruction of civilian infrastructure following Russian attacks.
Russias Foreign Ministry has neither confirmed nor denied media reports about a planned visit to Moscow this week by Steve Witkoff, Trumps Special Envoy to the Middle East, to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Source: RIA Novosti, as reported by European Pravda

Quote from Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova: "Bilateral contacts with the US are quite intensive at this stage. Their level and formats are often coordinated quite quickly in working mode."

Background:

Earlier, Bloomberg reported that Witkoff was planning a second visit to Moscow to meet with Putin.

The day before, CNN reported that the US would meet not only with Ukrainian officials but also with Russian representatives in Saudi Arabia this week.

However, Russias Foreign Ministry has stated that a new round of Russia-US negotiations in Saudi Arabia is not planned for this week.

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By Guy Faulconbridge and Mark Trevelyan

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia said on Tuesday that its troops had made major new gains in its western region of Kursk, accelerating their push to drive out Ukrainian forces who have been clinging on to a slice of Russian territory since last August.

The defence ministry said Russia had recaptured a dozen settlements and more than 100 square km (38.6 square miles) of territory in its latest thrust, which follows a sharp worsening of Ukraine's position in the past few days.

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Yuri Podolyaka, a pro-Moscow military blogger whose Telegram channel has more than 3 million followers, reported that Russian forces had taken control of the outskirts of the town of Sudzha, near the border with Ukraine, and Ukrainian troops were pulling back into their own territory.

Losing its hard-won foothold in Kursk would deal a major blow to Ukraine at a critical moment, as U.S. President Donald Trump piles heavy pressure on Kyiv to agree to end the war quickly.

Ukraine's shock seizure of a chunk of Russian land last August - the first invasion of Russian soil since Nazi Germany attacked in 1941 - provided its forces with a huge morale boost at the time and dealt an embarrassing blow to President Vladimir Putin and his commanders. Kyiv had hoped to use Kursk as a bargaining chip to get back some of its own captured territory.

Reuters could not independently confirm the latest battlefield accounts because of reporting restrictions at the frontlines.

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Ukraine's top general on Monday denied that Ukrainian troops fighting in Kursk were at risk of encirclement. General Oleksandr Syrskyi said that the situation was under control, but indicated that Ukrainian forces have been pulling back.

"The units are taking timely measures to manoeuvre to advantageous positions for defence," he said.

SURPRISE INCURSION

Ukrainian troops seized at least 1,300 sq km (500 square miles) of the Kursk region in August, bursting across the border in one of the biggest surprises of the war. In late October, North Korean troops began arriving to join the fighting on Russia's side.

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By mid-February, Russia had taken back at least 800 sq km (300 sq miles) of territory in Kursk. In recent days it launched a major paratrooper offensive from multiple directions that threatens to cut off Ukraine's supply lines and potential routes of withdrawal.

Russian advances in Kursk and inside Ukraine, combined with Trump's upending of U.S. policy on Ukraine and Russia, have raised fears among European leaders that Ukraine will lose the war and that Trump is turning his back on Europe.

Ukraine on Tuesday launched its biggest drone attack yet on Moscow and the surrounding region, and top Ukrainian diplomats were meeting their U.S. counterparts in Saudi Arabia to discuss a path towards ending the war.

Trump last week suspended military aid and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine, but its position in Kursk was already deteriorating as of late February.

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Russian special forces crept for miles through a gas pipeline near the town of Sudzha at the weekend in an attempt to surprise Ukrainian forces.

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge in Moscow and Mark Trevelyan in London; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia wants to see a united and friendly Syria because instability there could affect the whole of the Middle East, the Kremlin said on Tuesday.

Clashes between supporters of former president Bashar al-Assad and the country's new Islamist rulers have killed more than 1,000 people, mostly civilians. Moscow was a major backer of Assad, who fled to Russia in December after his ouster.

Russia has two strategically important military bases in Syria, which it is hoping to retain in the wake of Assad's fall.

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"This is too explosive a region and, of course... the destabilisation or disintegration of one of the countries in the region can have disastrous consequences for the region as a whole. Therefore, we want to see Syria united, prosperous, developing, predictable and friendly," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

He said Russia was in contact with other countries about the situation in Syria.

On Monday, Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, was cited by state-run TASS news agency as saying that Russia is coordinating with the United States in connection with the escalating violence in Syria.

(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Filipp Lebedev and Maxim Rodionov; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
Russia should strike Ukraine using the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile, said Andrey Kartapolov, head of Russias State Duma Defense Committee, on March 11.

The call for action comes in response to what seems to be the largest Ukrainian drone attack since the start of the full-scale war.

"The decision is up to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief (Russian President Vladimir Putin), but I think it would not be unreasonable (to launch the Oreshnik), better even more than one, Kartapolov said, as quoted by Russian state-owned news agency TASS.

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Kartapolovs comments follow reports from Russias Defense Ministry that its air defenses intercepted a wave of 337 drones across multiple regions, with 74 reportedly shot down on approach to Moscow.

Read also: There will still be war  Ukrainian soldiers on ceasefire proposal, Russia, and Putin

In turn, Ukraines Air Force reported intercepting 79 of the 126 Russian drones and one Iskander-M ballistic missile launched the same night. Russia conducts daily strikes on Ukraine using missiles, drones, and guided bombs.

Russia has launched the Oreshnik missile against Ukraine once before, striking Dnipro in November 2024 after Kyiv successfully used U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles to hit a military target on Russian soil.

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Putin described the Oreshnik strike as a response to Ukraines use of Western long-range weapons to strike inside Russia.

While Putin announced plans for mass production of the Oreshnik, a U.S. official told the Kyiv Independent that Russia likely possessed only a small number of these experimental missiles.

Following the November strike, the Moscow Times reported that the Kremlin staged a media blitz around the attack, citing Russian officials who said the campaign was designed to intimidate the West and deter further arms deliveries to Ukraine.

Read also: Moscow targeted by largest drone strike in war, over 330 UAVs downed across Russia, authorities claim

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Russian spymaster Jan Marsalek was involved in a plot to take control of the Austrian intelligence services, The Telegraph can reveal.

Marsalek planned to discredit the countrys intelligence agency, it is alleged, and replace it with a new service with a head who he said would be loyal.

Taking over an EU secret service could have given Vladimir Putin direct access to the intelligence shared by Britain and its allies.

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However, a planned restructuring, which involved the countrys far-Right Freedom Party (FPO), failed after it was forced out of coalition by a corruption scandal known in Austria as Ibiza-gate, which saw its leader accused of offering government contracts in return for support from Russia.

The plot is the latest revelation to emerge from The Telegraphs investigation into Marsalek, who was working for Russia while running Wirecard, one of the worlds biggest tech companies, when it collapsed in 2020 with a 1.9 billion hole in its books.

Last week, a team of Bulgarian agents Marsalek had been running in the UK, was found guilty of conspiracy to spy at the Old Bailey. They had been running surveillance operations, disinformation campaigns and plotting to kidnap enemies of Putin.

Marsalek is currently on the run, having fled Europe in 2020. He is on Interpols most wanted list for his alleged part in the fraud and is believed to be in Moscow.

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Before he fled, Marsalek was also co-operating with rival secret services around the world, including the Americans and MI6, security sources have told The Telegraph.

Katrin Ivanova, Tihomir Ivanchev and Vanya Gaberova were found guilty of conspiracy to spy last week - Metropolitan Police

However, his work was not limited to spying. The Telegraph has revealed that he also plotted to use private armies to control migration into Europe and was in talks with officials over payment cards that would have allowed him to track refugees.

Julian Hessenthaler, a security consultant whose work helped expose Marsaleks involvement, said that the Austria plot would have been a ballsy plan.

Austria is seen as an intelligence partner by Britain and is a member of the Club de Berne, a secretive network of European spy agencies through which they share information.

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Usually you try to place a mole inside the service of a foreign country, and thats already considered high tradecraft, Mr Hessenthaler said.

Now if youre able to rebuild a complete service with your own people in a foreign country, thats next level. I dont think thats ever been done before.

Security sources believe that the plot against the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterrorism Secret Service (BVT) began with a raid in 2018.

At the time, the FPO was the minority party in a coalition government and the then-interior minister, Herbert Kickl, ordered a raid on the countrys intelligence agency amid corruption claims at the BVT.

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The raid by armed police discredited the agency in the eyes of its intelligence partners as officers seized confidential data and took the files that had been left lying on the desks overnight.

It emerged later that one of the key witnesses against the BVT was Martin Weiss, who had been one of the agencys most powerful officials as chief of Austrian intelligence operations.

By then, Weiss was working with Marsalek.

At the time, Marsalek was chief operating officer of the German payments processing company Wirecard. It has since emerged he was also working with the Russian security services.

In the wake of the 2018 raid, the FPO began planning a new service, with Marsalek involved behind the scenes.

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Messages seen by The Telegraph show that Jan was repeatedly mentioned in chats between Florian Stermann, then the secretary general of the influential Austrian Russian Friendship society and Johann Gudenus, the one-time deputy leader of the FPO.

He was named alongside information he had been passed from the BVT.

In March 2018, Marsalek is said to have suggested a new head for the service, whom he said was interested and loyal to us.

Mr Stermann also passed on messages from Jan that background checks on his suggested spy boss with the main foreign services were generally positive.

The messages were uncovered by Austrian corruption investigators looking into Ibiza-gate, in which Mr Gudenus was present at a meeting between the FPOs then leader Heinz-Christian Strache and a woman posing as the niece of an oligarch.

Government contracts for political support

An undercover video filmed by Mr Hessenthaler, who was present under the guise of security, appears to show Strache offering government contracts in exchange for political support.

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The video, named after the island where it was filmed, led to the downfall of the coalition government and therefore any plans for the FPO to restructure the security service.

Weiss, who is wanted on an international arrest warrant and is believed to be in Dubai, could not be reached for comment.

In an earlier police interview, he said that he was not the source of the information that Marsalek passed to the FPO and had no knowledge of it.

When asked why Marsalek was interested in reorganising the BVT, Weiss said that he often portrayed himself as a secret service agent and thought there was potential in the agency but a lot of things needed to be changed, including structural changes.

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Egisto Ott, a former spy who worked under Weiss and stands accused of corruption for allegedly providing information to Marsalek, had also been promised a role in the new agency as someone who helped.

Egisto Otto stands accused of corruption for allegedly providing information to Marsalek - Lisa Leutner/Reuters

Thomas Riegler, an Austrian intelligence historian and political scientist, said: It looks like the plan was to set up a new intelligence structure upon the ashes of the BVT.

Marsalek is said to have put forward his own ideas on that and even named a former official as a possible new director. All of this could have been part of a general Kremlin-inspired plot to change the security architecture of Austria and weaken its defences.

The raid on the BVT, which was based on corruption allegations, was declared partially unlawful later in 2018 and the accused spies were either cleared or the case against them collapsed.

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In late 2021, following criticism over their handling of a terror attack in Vienna in which four people were shot, the agency was dissolved and replaced with the new State Security and Intelligence Directorate (DSN).

Mr Kickl is now the leader of the FPO, which won the largest share of the votes at last years election. However, talks for a coalition failed and they have been shut out of power by an agreement between three other parties.

Neither the FPO, Mr Gudenus nor Mr Stermann responded to a request for comment.

Mr Ott has denied working for or providing information to Marsalek or the Russian security services.

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A Russian spymaster was in talks with a UN official and European leaders over payment cards which would have allowed him to track refugees.

Jan Marsalek was involved in plans to develop a card for the payment of benefits or aid which would have provided a treasure trove of data on the movements of people fleeing their home countries.

At the time of discussion in 2019, Marsalek was chief operating officer of Wirecard, the Germany payments processor. It has since emerged that he was also working for the Kremlin and running surveillance operations on enemies of the Russian state.

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The information available on the card would be invaluable to the intelligence services and could allow hostile states such as Iran and Russia to track dissidents, security experts have said.

The plans never materialised and Marsalek went on the run in June 2020, when Wirecard collapsed with a 1.9 billion (1.6 billion) hole in its books.

An investigation by The Telegraph has revealed the extraordinary double life of the businessman, who has been working for Russia for at least a decade.

Last week, a team of Bulgarian agents he had been running in the UK were found guilty of conspiracy to spy at the Old Bailey. They had been running surveillance operations, disinformation campaigns and plotting to kidnap enemies of Vladimir Putin.

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Police investigations into Marsaleks actions have also been taking place in his native Austria.

They reveal that before he went on the run, Marsalek had been involved in plans for a digital refugee card also known as payment cards for asylum seekers.

In one police interview, a transcript of which has been obtained by the Telegraph, one of his associates revealed that they were planning to launch a mega project immigration card which would cover a number of countries including Austria, Slovakia and Russia.

One of those involved was the boss of an intergovernmental organisation set up by the UN who wanted the card for a UN project, detectives were told. The official refused to comment when approached by The Telegraph.

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In November 2019, Marsalek also commissioned a 950,000 study to identify the opportunities to introduce a refugee card in Ukraine, his emails show.

A number of governments have explored using such cards, which can be used to load money paid in benefits with the aim of ensuring the money does not end up in the hands of criminals.

One project which Marsalek was linked to said the card could include biometric data and can be expanded to allow cardholder data to be accessed directly using official/police terminals/equipment, according to documents obtained using Freedom of Information laws by the German NGO FragDenStaat.

Marsalek was kept informed about meetings on the card with the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior. He also met senior Austrian politicians to discuss similar plans.

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Both governments have said that the plans for the cards were not taken forward with Wirecard.

One security source said that any such card could have provided a treasure trove of data which could have allowed Marsalek and his Russian paymasters to track people on the run.

Sources have told The Telegraph that whilst Marsalek was not originally recruited for his work at Wirecard its value was clear.

The payments processing company could be used to move money around the world in defiance of sanctions as well as to monitor the movements and provide kompromat  compromising information  on its customers, which included the German secret police.

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Fabio De Massi, a German MEP who took part in the government inquiry into Wirecard, said that there is a legitimate case for refugee cards to manage migration and payments for refugees and fight the risks of any benefit payments funding crime of terrorism.

He added that there is big interest of intelligence services to create profiles of movement and he was concerned that the way Marsalek could have used them may have gone beyond the responsible use of the data.

Payment cards have been used in a number of refugee camps to provide aid to asylum seekers. Germany is rolling out a similar card this year in a project that it says will reduce the risk of benefits ending up in the pockets of traffickers.

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Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans has stated that Ukraine and its president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, should not agree to a settlement of the Russo-Ukrainian war that could push the country into an interwar period, as Russias ambitions for the Russian world are a nightmare for Europe. [The "Russian world" or "Russkyi Mir" is the general idea of the superiority of Russian Orthodoxy, culture, language, etc., widely promoted by pro-Kremlin figures  ed.]

Source: The Guardian, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Brekelmans stressed that Zelenskyy must negotiate from a position of strength.

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"President Zelensky should not have to agree to a deal that would result in some sort of interbellum, with aggression constantly looming on the horizon," Brekelmans emphasised.

He also added that Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin "has made very clear that Ukraine is not his final stop on his campaign to the imperial past".

Quote from Brekelmans: "He will continue his aggressive, aggressive efforts to increase the influence and the territory of the Russian Empire towards his dream to reestablish a Russkiy Mir, or a Russian world. Its a dream for Putin, and its a nightmare for the rest of Europe.

Its time we let Putin wake up to the fact that his dreams do not match reality.

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No matter how brutal this war has become, Ukrainians cannot be silenced. They can be forced into submission. Ukrainians are fighting at the front line of our freedom and security against Russian tyranny and aggression. Its the front line of the freedom and security of Europe."

Background:

On 11 March, negotiations between the Ukrainian and US delegations on resolving the Russo-Ukrainian war began in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Earlier, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry noted that the discussions between Ukraine and the US in Saudi Arabia would focus on bilateral relations and the path to peace.

On 10 March, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Ukraine would have to make concessions regarding the territories Russia has occupied since 2014 as part of any agreement to end the war.

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(Bloomberg) -- The US moved closer to auctioning off sanctioned Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimovs superyacht, one of the most glittering prizes in its asset seizure efforts, after a judge ruled that a second Russian who claims ownership has no legal standing in the case.

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Mondays ruling that the US has won forfeiture of the boat comes after a legal fight over the 348-foot (106-meter) Amadea, following a Biden administration program to target wealthy Russians linked to President Vladimir Putins war on Ukraine.

The yacht was seized in Fiji in 2022 at the request of the US, which claimed that Kerimov is the owner. But a wealthy Russian who isnt under US sanctions, former Rosneft head Eduard Khudainatov, said it really belonged to him. The government contended that Khudainatov was just a straw owner masking Kerimovs true role to help him dodge the sanctions.

The Amadea is one of the most visible trophies for the Joe Biden-era Justice Departments KleptoCapture task force, established in March 2022 to go after overseas assets linked to Russian tycoons in Putins circle. But the fate of the governments efforts to enforce Russian sanctions through such asset seizures is now unclear, after President Donald Trumps attorney general, Pam Bondi, disbanded the group shortly after Trump took office.

Straw Owner

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In the meantime, government lawyers continued to pursue the case. A Justice Department spokesperson said on Monday that the US continues to litigate existing forfeiture cases and that a law permitting money seized under the sanctions to be provided as aid to Ukraine expires in May and is at the discretion of the attorney general.

In his ruling, US District Judge Dale Ho in Manhattan said the evidence showed the Amadeas ownership was transferred to a company tied to Kerimov following a payment of 225 million ($244 million). Thats enough to conclude that Khudainatov isnt the yachts true owner but just held title to it for another party, and therefore lacks standing to contest forfeiture, Ho said. He also dismissed Khudainatovs claim for his repeated failure to provide pretrial testimony in the case.

The judge ruled in the governments favor on forfeiture.

Adam Ford, a lawyer for Khudainatov, said the judge got it wrong and that his client plans to appeal.

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The court misapplied the law governing standing in forfeiture proceedings, disregarding well-established principles that protect the rights of claimants in such cases, Ford said in a statement. Moreover, the court improperly relied on speculative and unreliable assertions from the government while failing to give due weight to the extensive evidence we presented in support of our claim.

High Maintenance

The German-built yacht has cost US taxpayers almost $750,000 a month to maintain and insure as it remains in custody in San Diego pending the conclusion of the legal battle. It has a beauty salon, a swimming pool, eight suites and a VIP cabin complete with study and dressing rooms, according to yachtcharterfleet.com. One estimate valued it at $300 million or more, while an independent appraiser later put its fair market value at $230 million.

Kerimov is the 17th-richest person in Russia, with a net worth of $8.9 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

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During a hearing, Justice Department lawyer Rachael Doud told the judge that evidence showed Kerimov had bought the yacht through intermediaries in 2021, after which his family used it exclusively. Ford argued that the government had no evidence that his client is a straw owner, calling the seizure unlawful and a failed political stunt.

The case is US v. M/Y Amadea, 23-cv-09304, US District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan).

(An AI summary previously at the top of this story was removed because it misstated the year the yacht was seized.)

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Russian troops dropped a FAB-250 bomb on Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast on 11 March at around 04:20, injuring a 52-year-old mother and her 30-year-old son, a 54-year-old local resident, and a 23-year-old girl.

Source: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office

Quote: "The investigators revealed that on 11 March 2025, at 04:20, the occupiers dropped a FAB-250 with a UMPK module. Residential buildings were hit once again." [A UMPK module effectively converts an unguided bomb into a guided one  ed.]

Aftermath of Russian attack on Kostiantynivka

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Photo: Telegram channel of Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office

Details: The prosecutors office reported that all casualties had been diagnosed with injuries of varying severity and fractures. The bomb damaged multi-storey buildings, a car, a power line and a gas pipeline.

Background:

On 26 February, Russian strikes on Kostiantynivka killed six people and injured eleven.

On 27 February, Russians attacked Kostiantynivka, killing one person and injuring four others.

Russian troops dropped 108 bombs on Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast during the first week of March, killing 16 people and injuring 38.

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Russian troops have attacked Sumy Oblast using artillery, mortars, guided aerial bombs and drones. The attack has killed a civilian and injured six other people, including police officers.

Source: Sumy Oblast Military Administration with reference to its head, Volodymyr Artiukh

Quote: "The enemy attacked the territory of Sumy Oblast with practically all types of weapons  multiple-launch rocket systems, artillery systems and mortars, guided aerial bombs and drones. FPV drones and UAVs with fragmentation grenades were used the most, which sadly resulted in a fatality, as one civilian was killed. The person was hit by an FPV drone. Doctors were unable to save their life, and the person died in an ambulance."

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Details: Artiukh also said that six people were injured, including police officers. In addition, the Russians destroyed a car.

Background: As a result of the Russian drone attack, residential buildings in Kyiv Oblast, as well as warehouses and agricultural machinery in Kharkiv Oblast, were damaged. Two people were injured.

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Russian forces are attempting to enter Sumy Oblast near the settlements of Novenke and Zhuravka with assault groups but are being destroyed by Ukraines defence forces.

Source: Colonel Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for Ukraines State Border Guard Service, in an interview with Media Center Ukraine

Quote: "All attention regarding Sumy Oblast is now focused on the area where Ukraines defence forces are conducting operations in Russias Kursk Oblast. There have been reports that the Russians broke through the border and advanced deep into our territory This is not true. Of course, the enemy has previously tried, and continues to try, to enter Ukraine to improve its position The enemy may be planning to encircle our grouping in Kursk Oblast or cut off logistical routes. Two of these areas  Novenke and Zhuravka in Sumy Oblast  are essentially forming the left flank along the border in the Kursk operation.

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Some time ago, the enemy even used columns of equipment near Zhuravka, moving towards our border in an attempt to break through. Those columns were destroyed by Ukraines defence forces. The enemy failed there. However, it continues trying to infiltrate our territory with small assault groups."

Details: Demchenko said that the Russian troops have recently intensified the use of such assault groups near Novenke.

Demchenko explained that the primary task of these assault units is to infiltrate Ukrainian territory as deeply as possible, accumulate forces and later expand the combat zone once reinforcements arrive.

Meanwhile, Demchenko stressed that all Russian assault groups that cross into Ukraine are being destroyed.

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"We are using artillery and drones to prevent the enemy from gaining a foothold on our territory. This is essentially a kill zone where Russians die," Demchenko added.

In response to a question requesting clarification, Demchenko reiterated that, according to General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, there are currently no preconditions for Ukrainian defence forces' logistical routes to be completely cut off.

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Russian forces have been consolidating their positions in Kursk Oblast and preparing for an offensive on the town of Sudzha in the coming days.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Details: In its assessment, analysts from ISW stated that, according to geolocation footage from 10 March, Russian units had advanced into the central part of the village of Martynovka, northeast of Sudzha, and are likely preparing for an offensive.

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Units from the 44th Army Corps and the 1434th Akhmat-Chechnya Regiment are actively participating in the offensive on Sudzha.

Russian military bloggers claimed that Russian forces had captured several settlements to the east and north of Sudzha, including Agronom, Kolmakov, Mikhaylovka, Bogdanovka, Mirnyi and Kazachya Loknya, although ISW has found no confirmation of these claims.

The military bloggers also reported that the Russian army is attacking the outskirts of Sudzha, including Ivashkovskiy, Dmitryukov, Melovoi and Guyevo, with support from marine infantry units and up to two battalions of North Korean forces.

Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reported that Ukraine is actively strengthening its positions in Kursk and Sumy oblasts by deploying additional drone system units and electronic warfare equipment.

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Colonel Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service, said Ukrainian forces are engaged in repelling Russian attacks near Novenke and Zhuravka, both located northeast of Sumy. He highlighted that Russian troops are trying to sever Ukraines key ground line of communication along the SumySudzha H-07 road.

Demchenko also noted that, at present, Russian forces lack the capability to launch a large-scale cross-border offensive into other parts of Ukraine's north.

To quote the ISW's Key Takeaways on 10 March:

Russia continues to publicly claim that it wants peace while offering no concessions of its own in sharp contrast with the concessions Ukraine has already offered.

Russian officials continue to capitalise on the Trump administration's statements and actions in an attempt to divide the United States and Europe.

Russian forces are consolidating their gains in Kursk Oblast and likely preparing to attack Sudzha in the coming days.

Ukraine continues to expand its domestic production of drones and air defence systems to support its war effort.

Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Toretsk and Pokrovsk and Russian forces recently advanced in Kursk Oblast and near Toretsk and Pokrovsk.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin approved a list on 10 March of instructions for the Russian government and the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation aimed at increasing social benefits to Russian veterans, which will likely put further strain on the Russian budget and economy.

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European energy firms have filed lawsuits against Russian energy giant Gazprom totaling 18 billion euros ($19.6 billion) over gas supply cuts, the Moscow Times reported on March 10.

The claims stem from Gazprom's decision to drastically reduce gas deliveries to Europe in 2022 after Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded that payments be made in rubles.

When European customers refused, Gazprom significantly cut supplies, including through the Nord Stream pipeline.

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The total amount of claims against Gazprom is nearly equal to its net revenues from gas exports, which include $10 billion from sales to Europe and Turkey, $7 billion from China, and $2 billion from Central Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

The largest lawsuit was filed by German energy company Uniper, formerly Gazprom's biggest client in Germany and a co-investor in the Nord Stream 2 project.

The company imported 20 billion cubic meters of Russian gas annually and is seeking 14.3 billion euros ($15.5 billion) in damages over losses incurred after Russian supplies were halted.

Gazprom has responded with counterclaims in Russian courts, seeking to block legal proceedings outside Russia.

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The Financial Times reported on March 2 that Matthias Warnig, a former Stasi officer and longtime ally of Putin, has been lobbying the U.S. to support a potential restart of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

The pipeline, which was co-financed by five European energy firms, was severely damaged in an apparent sabotage attack in September 2022.

Read also: Moscow reportedly attacked by largest drone strike in full-scale war

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- These students are a part of the United Methodist group at Virginia Tech.

Their efforts align with The Ryan Clark Scholarship fund.

Clark was a Lakeside High School graduate attending V-T when he was killed during the campus shooting in 2007.

This is their first time volunteering here in Augusta.

The founder of this scholarship and the mother of Ryan Clark says how she feels about the students being here.

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It does a Mamas Heart. In 2005, Ryan went to New Orleans to help with Hurricane Katrina clean up. It was the first Thanksgiving he did not come home. So this is like a full circle event for me to have them come and help his moms hometown, come out and clean up and get us back to normal, said Letitie Clark.

She will speak to the student volunteers at the worksites.

Photojournalist: Dania Alawir

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PITTSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  A popular Italian meat and specialty market is open again after being closed for nearly three months. A massive fire next door to the shop forced them to close its doors just days before Christmas.

We went out to the front door, and we saw the flames and the smoke. We walked in to gather our belongings and then the police chief came in and said Get out, get out. We had 30 seconds to get out of here, Sabatelles Market co-owner Jane Sabatelle explained.

On December 23, Sabatelles Market on South Main Street in Pittston had to close due to a massive fire at the Ann Lee Frocks building, just three feet away from their family-owned business.

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Jane and her son Jason were in the building when it sparked.

We kind of had to resign ourselves to whatever happens, but they had a wonderful ladder truck up the front, and they kept that water between the two buildings to save our building, Jane continued.

Sabatelles was spared from catching fire but not from any damage.

So many people were dependent on us for the holiday, and there was nothing we could do cause the whole place was filled with smoke, and then the water started to come in, Sabatelles Market co-owner Jason Sabatelle stated.

Good samaritan reflects on rescuing man in deadly fire

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The damage from the smoke and water forced the shop to close on its busiest day of the year.

It was just terrible. I was more concerned with the people that were having filets, filet minions, and rib roasts that were counting on us, and we couldnt go back in our building, Jason added.

After months of repairs, including cleaning, a ceiling replacement, and repainting, Sabatelles Market is reopening.

Now its the Easter pizzas and the ricotta and all the goodies the nut and the poppyseed, Jane added.

The Sabatelles say through it all, they are grateful for the support of their community.

Weve got such a great community here, and they wanna help out businesses like ours. Ive been in business for 50 years, and its a good feeling to know that the communitys on your side. Thats awesome, Jason said.

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Pittston Mayor Michael Lombardo says crews are doing demolition on the Ann Lee Frocks building and cleaning out debris.

Since it is so close to Sabatelles, they are taking down the adjacent wall by hand. A decision on what to do with the building will be made soon.

He says the lot will not sit vacant, and there will be a new project there soon.

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(FOX40.COM) A 20-year-old gang member was arrested and charged with possession of multiple illegal firearms, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff Gang Suppression Unit.

The sheriffs office said detectives learned that a member of a gang had numerous guns and was supplying them to other active gang members.

Video Above: Violent crime statistics

The suspect had been previously arrested in 2022 for shooting at gang rivals, prohibiting him from owning guns.

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The GSU said the man had even posted pictures of himself with the illegal guns on social media.

In December of 2024, GSU detectives and the sheriffs SWAT team executed a multi-location residential search warrant.

Coach in Northern California arrested for alleged sex crimes with a minor

They found fentanyl, multiple illegal weapons, stolen firearms, and a machine gun, the sheriffs office said.

The man was not there when the warrant was served, and attempted to evade capture for over a month.

GSU Detectives eventually arrested him when he attempted to hide in the back seat of a car during a stop.

The sheriffs office said during the arrest, they found a loaded gun.

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The suspect was taken to the Sacramento County Main Jail and is ineligible for bail.

He is scheduled to next appear in court on April 24.

The GSU said the gang the man is affiliated with is engaged in an active gang conflict with rival criminal gangs, resulting in at least seven homicides since 2019.

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The song from the Broadway musical Hamilton, (Yorktown) The World Turned Upside Down, is stuck in my head. Indeed, these are no ordinary times. We have a measles outbreak in the U.S. that has resulted in numerous hospitalizations and now deaths. With censorship at the CDC, disruption of vaccine-related meetings, cancellation of active research grants, health impacts due to global aid interruptions, universities freezing hiring and graduate student admissions, and more, we are witnessing attempts to dismantle the crown jewels of the U.S. (and the worlds) biomedical research and public health infrastructure, the likes of which we have not seen before.

All of this raises many questions, of course. My thoughts turn to our graduating medical students and Match Day, this year scheduled for March 21, 2025. This is a day filled with anticipation and excitement, and emotions range from disappointment to over-the-top joy. What is our responsibility as physicians to these graduating students? Indeed, what is our responsibility to ensure that these students contributions to advancing medicine and providing the best possible care for patients will be encouraged, supported, and embraced?

The answer is that we all have a responsibility. This means that in addition to caring about our younger colleagues futures, we also care about their north startheir future patients. We took this pledge when we took our oath upon graduating from medical school. We are compassionate, empathetic physicians who do our best for patients.

So, what is being done to protect our students future, our profession, patients, and the advancement of science? Here are three examples of actions taken by medical journal editors, professional societies, and colleagues.

Medical journal editors have sounded the alarm. The editorial team of Annals of Internal Medicine published Damage Control in the Wake of Political Action Which Threatens the Integrity of Medical Research. They state, The integrity of U.S. government-funded medical research, perhaps its very existence, is uncertain in the wake of a torrent of executive orders that have flowed from the White House since Inauguration Day 2025. They go on to describe the onslaught of daily issues the editorial team faces, from government employees requesting that their names be removed as authors on papers to email communications with authors being returned as undeliverable. I urge you to read this article.

What are professional societies doing in this milieu? Many have been criticized for a lack of action, not enough action, or not the right kind of action. Here is the ACPs site, which shares recent advocacy efforts undertaken to address concerns. This recent Ideas and Opinion piece in Annals of Internal Medicine, International Medical Graduates Are Integral to the Delivery of Patient Care in the United States, describes the critical role international medical graduates play in the U.S. health care system. Any looming travel restrictions or deportation threats must not impact this vital group that comprises our physician workforce.

And what about our many colleagues? What actions are they taking? Colleagues at the American Association of Medical Colleges successfully obtained a temporary restraining order to block the proposed cuts at the National Institutes of Health. Some colleagues are writing informative pieces or letters to the editor, others are doing podcasts and attending pro-science rallies. Social media is abuzz with concerns. Many colleagues are regularly calling their congressional representatives. Others are learning about how to discuss health issues more effectively with our patients and the public, and some are serving as allies to biomedical researchers, who have been hit hard by the instability and threats of lost funding. Many are doing these things while tending to the tasks at hand, which include, first and foremost, taking care of patients.

This Match Day 2025, we will celebrate with our students, as we usually do. What the future holds for them, of course, no one knows. The current environment continues to change rapidly. Just like Alexander Hamilton, though, we possess the power of the pen, and we have a voice. It is our responsibility to use them.

Janet A. Jokela, MD, MPH, ACPs Treasurer 2022-2025, served as the Regional Dean of the University of Illinois College of Medicine-Urbana, and currently serves as Professor and Senior Associate Dean of Engagement at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, Urbana, IL.

The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States, boasting members in over 145 countries worldwide. ACPs membership encompasses 161,000 internal medicine physicians, related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who utilize scientific knowledge and clinical expertise for diagnosing, treating, and providing compassionate care to adults, spanning from those in good health to individuals with complex illnesses. Stay connected with ACP on X @ACPIMPhysicians, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram @acpimphysicians.
Tourist numbers have rapidly dwindled in the Unesco World Heritage site destination of Hampi in India following the gang rape of two women and the death of a male tourist on Thursday night.

The two women, a 27-year-old Israeli tourist and a 29-year-old Indian homestay operator, were stargazing with three male tourists near Sanapur Lake in Hampi, Karnataka, when a group of men attacked them. A male tourist from Odisha was later found dead, police said.

The attack has increased concerns about safety in Hampi, known for its group of spectacular remnants of monuments and temple complexes from the Vijayanagara Empire that attract thousands of domestic and international tourists.

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Since the incident on Thursday, there appears to be a sharp decline in tourists making their way to the ancient village.

More than 25 homestays in and around Hampi saw travel agencies cancel bookings over the weekend, and local media is reporting that several tourists have cut their stays short and left the region.

Virupakshi V Hampi, secretary of the State Tourist Guides Association, confirmed there was a decline in homestay bookings.

Even tourists from other states are cancelling or postponing their visit to Hampi, he told The New Indian Express. The entire nation condemned the Sanapur rape incident. Hope police increase patrolling in Hampi and surroundings."

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Vijayanagara police superintendent Shrihari Babu B L said his force was ready to take care of visitors to Hampi and that they would issue guidelines for homestay owners.

Foreign visitors in Hampi said they had been instructed to travel in groups and return to their homestays by 8.30pm.

The attack comes after similar incidents last year, including the gang-rape of a tourist from Spain in Jharkhand and the rape and murder of a 28-year-old Irish tourist in Goa.

Sexual assault reports in India have become more frequent in the country, as police recorded 31,516 rape cases in 2022, a 20 per cent increase from 2021, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. Yet the actual figure is believed to be much higher dueto lack of reporting caused by the stigma surrounding sexual violence in the country.

Government advice on travel in India

The UK Governments Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has not issued any specific travel advice relating to the attacks in Hampi.

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The FCDO does give advice on sexual assault cases in general in India: There is a risk of sexual assault, including attacks on female foreign national visitors in tourist areas and cities.

Female travellers often experience verbal and physical harassment by individuals or groups of men. Serious sexual attacks involving both Indian and foreign nationals have been reported. British women have been victims of sexual assault, including rape, in multiple states in India. Avoid isolated areas, including beaches, when alone at any time of day, the FCDO writes.

The FCDO does also share advice on the state of Goa: Many opportunistic criminals operate in Goa because of the high number of tourists.

There have been some serious incidents involving British nationals in recent years, including sexual assaults and the murder of a young female traveller.

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If youre the victim of crime in India, call:

police helpline: 100

national emergency number: 112

women helpline: 1091

The FCDO advises against all travel within 10km of the India-Pakistan border and the region Jammu and Kashmir, as well as all but essential travel to the state of Manipur.

FCDO advice for women travelling abroad to any country

The FCDO says that when planning travel, it is worth researching the local culture of a country and whether women travelling have received unwanted attention or difficulties because of their gender.

It warns that violence towards women and girls is a risk in many countries, but could take different forms depending on the local context, laws, history and culture in the country.

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Rape and sexual assault are risks to people of all genders worldwide, it adds, and local services and attitudes towards it can vary by country.

The FCDO says they take any report of rape and sexual assault seriously.

Guidance on rape and sexual assault abroad

If you have been sexually assaulted it is important to remember that it was not your fault, the FCDO writes on its guidance page for British nationals who have been raped and sexually assaulted abroad.

Rape and sexual assault is always wrong  no matter who commits it or where it happens. It is traumatic and it can affect you both physically and emotionally. Do not be afraid to get help.

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When reporting rape or sexual assault to the FCDO, it says you will be provided with immediate support on the telephone at any time of the day or night, staff will try to see you in person as soon as possible, and will be empathetic, patient, sensitive and non-judgemental.

They will also try their best to provide you with a female consular official if you prefer to talk to a woman.

In most countries, you must report the crime before returning to the UK if you want it to be investigated. UK police do not have jurisdiction to investigate an attack that has taken place abroad and cannot direct something to be investigated.

You can report the crime to your local UK police who should send the information you provide to the country where the crime happened. However, it is up to the police forces in that country to decide whether to investigate a crime.

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It may be possible to report an assault from the UK to a foreign police force via a third party, such as a local lawyer to make representations on your behalf to the local police.

The FCDO adds that in a very small number of countries, being the victim of rape or sexual assault could be considered illegal and could lead to local authorities questioning you. If you have concerns about this, contact the FCDO for advice.

Rape Crisis offers support for those affected by rape and sexual abuse. You can call them on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland, or visit their website at www.rapecrisis.org.uk. If you are in the US, you can call Rainn on 800-656-HOPE (4673)
The National Transportation and Safety Board has concluded that the separation distances allowed between helicopter and airplane traffic on the route where an Army helicopter and a commercial passenger jet collided midair on Jan. 29 near Washington pose an intolerable risk to aviation safety, according to its preliminary investigation report released Tuesday.

As a result, the NTSB is recommending helicopter flights be immediately prohibited on Route 4  where the fatal crash occurred  between Hains Point and the Wilson Bridge along the Potomac River when planes are landing or taking off on runways 15 and 33 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

The board is also recommending an alternative helicopter route between Hains Point and the Wilson Bridge when that segment of Route 4 is not open to rotary-wing traffic.

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The on-scene investigation of the collision between the American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas, and a UH-60 Black Hawk over the Potomac River concluded Feb. 14

When the aircraft collided, the fuselage of the commercial jet broke apart in three places and was discovered inverted in waist-deep water in the Potomac. The helicopter wreckage was found nearby. All 64 people aboard the passenger jet and all three Army crew members aboard the Black Hawk  Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, Cpt. Rebecca M. Lobach and Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin OHara  were killed.

Meanwhile, the investigation continues off-site in various labs and other secure locations, according to Jennifer Homendy, NTSB chair. The preliminary report lays out what happened but not how or why the crash happened, Homendy said in a briefing Tuesday.

For this investigation, were reviewing airport operations and prior incidents, including near midair collision events, Homendy said, using information from voluntary safety reporting programs and the Federal Aviation Administration.

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That data shows that from 2011 through 2024, a vast majority of reported incidents occurred on approach to landing, and initial analysis found that at least one Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System, or TCAS, Resolution Advisory was triggered per month at DCA due to a helicopters proximity, Homendy said.

Unlike traffic advisories, which are issued when an intruding aircraft is about 20 seconds or 0.3 nautical miles from the closest point of approach, TCAS resolution advisories signal a collision threat and require immediate action, Homendy said.

In over half of the encounters from 2011 to 2024, the helicopter may have been flying above the route altitude restriction, which is limited to a ceiling of 200 feet above the ground, Homendy said. Two-thirds of the events happened at night.

From October 2021 through December 2024, there were 944,179 commercial operations at DCA with 15,214 close proximity events between commercial planes and helicopters in which there was a lateral separation distance of less than one nautical mile and vertical separation of less than 400 feet, Homendy said.

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Of those 15,214 events, there were 85 very close calls involving lateral separations of less than 1,500 feet and less than 200 feet of vertical separation, according to Homendy.

Through evaluation of the crash, the NTSB found that the Black Hawk was not flying in the very limited area it should have been flying near DCA.

At the maximum altitude here of just 200 feet, a helicopter operating over the eastern shoreline of the Potomac River would have just 75 feet of vertical separation from an airplane approaching runway 33, Homendy said.

Following the accident, the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy immediately restricted helicopter traffic from operating over the Potomac River at DCA until March 31.

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As that deadline nears, we remain concerned about the significant potential for a future midair collision at DCA, which is why we are recommending a permanent solution today, Homendy noted.

Homendy acknowledged that fully closing Route 4 between Hains Point and the Wilson Bridge when runways 15 and 33 are in use would restrict a key aviation corridor for Coast Guard patrols, law enforcement and government operations.

However, she noted that requiring controllers to hold helicopters north or south of DCA during those times could also add to controllers workload and increase risk. To that end, NTSB is recommending the FAA establish an alternative helicopter route between Hains Point and the Wilson Bridge when that segment of Route 4 is closed.

Although the preliminary report is out, Homendy said her team has a lot of work to do, including simulations, visibility studies and additional interviews related to helicopter operations and air traffic control.

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When asked in the briefing whether the NTSB would call the resulting crash an oversight, Homendy said, I mean, its stronger than an oversight, right?  The data we have pulled is from a voluntary safety reporting system that FAA could have used anytime. That data from October 2021 through December 2024, they could have used that information any time to determine that we have a trend here and a problem here and looked at that route.

That didnt occur, which is why were taking action today, but unfortunately, people lost lives and loved ones are grieving.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Tuesday issued two urgent safety recommendations after discovering thousands of close calls between helicopters and planes near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport following a midair collision in January.

The board recommended that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) permanently ban certain helicopter routes around the airport, also known as DCA, when specific runways are in use following the Jan. 29 crash between an Army helicopter and a commercial jet that killed 67 people.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy called the existing separation distances between helicopter traffic and aircraft landing at certain runways at the airport insufficient and an intolerable risk to aviation safety.

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Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy later said the FAA will adopt certain restrictions on helicopter routes around DCA, with details on the route changes to be given to pilots on Wednesday.

At best, were in a situation where were threading the needle allowing helicopters to fly down the same airspace as landing aircraft, Duffy told reporters. And why this information wasnt studied and known before January 29 is an important question.

The recommended ban is a direct result of the devastating accident between Black Hawk pilots who collided with an American Airlines plane, killing all those on board both aircraft.

The initial investigation found the helicopter was flying at 278 feet  above the 200-foot limit for that location  when it crashed into Flight 5342 just before 9 p.m. as the jet was en route to DCA from Wichita, Kan. The collision sent both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River, the deadliest such accident since 2001.

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By Homendys telling, the incident was poised to happen after years of thousands of close calls around the airport, located in Arlington, Va., across the Potomac River from the U.S. Capitol. Military helicopters regularly conduct exercises, local law enforcement patrol the area, and government officials are ferried to and from certain locations in the area.

She pointed to 15,214 reported occurrences of close proximity events between commercial airplanes and helicopters near the airport between October 2021 and December 2024  including 85 near misses or close calls.

Whats more, at least one traffic alert and collision avoidance system was triggered per month from 2011 to 2024 due to a planes proximity to a helicopter.

It does make me angry, but it also makes me feel incredibly devastated for families that are grieving because they lost loved ones, she told reporters at a press conference to unveil a preliminary investigation report.

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It shouldnt take a tragedy like this to occur. Unfortunately, one did, and so we are calling on action, but there clearly were indicators where safety trending could have occurred, she added.

In a separate press conference, Duffy said that while the data was there, it wasnt effectively analyzed to see the risks at DCA.

It makes me angry, he said. Maybe there was too much data coming in, and its easy, maybe, to look back and say, you should have seen it. Looking forward, it can be more challenging, but it seems pretty clear someone should have seen because pilots were talking about . . . these near misses, its not like it was hidden in the data somewhere. If someone was paying attention, someone wa on the job, they would have seen this.

Duffy also said he spoke with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth earlier Tuesday about giving the military and Defense Department a route around the restricted airspace. He added that there will be exclusions for presidential air travel, vice presidential air travel, life-saving missions or law enforcement.

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The NTSB is specifically recommending that the FAA permanently prohibit operations on helicopter Route 4, a four-mile stretch between Hains Point and the Wilson Bridge along the Potomac River, while runways 15 and 33 are being used for departures and arrivals at DCA.

Because a total closure of the route would restrict a vital aviation corridor used for law enforcement activity, Coast Guard patrols and government operations, the board also recommended that the FAA designate an alternative helicopter route that can be used when that specific segment of Route 4 is closed.

The FAA had already temporarily barred most helicopters near the airport until it could review the NTSBs initial findings.

The NTSB preliminary report released Tuesday details the boards fact-finding efforts, but does not offer analysis on what caused the collision.

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Initial findings on the crash, released last month , suggested that the Black Hawk pilots may have had bad data on the altitude they were flying at and may not have heard vital information given by air traffic control to fly behind the passenger jet seconds before the crash.

Homendy also stressed that despite the new recommendations, aviation is incredibly safe, even in and out of the nations capital.

I just flew with my daughter out of DCA, she said. Aviation is incredibly safe. DCA is where I always fly out of. I say often that your biggest risk is in your personal vehicle when youre going to and from the aircraft at the airport. Aviation is safe.

Following th NTSB announcement, American Airlines expressed support for the recommendations, as did the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the largest pilot union in the world.

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We continue to mourn the lives lost in the tragic accident involving Flight 5342. Were grateful for the National Transportation Safety Boards urgent safety recommendations to restrict helicopter traffic near DCA and for its thorough investigation, American Airlines said in a statement .

And ALPA President Capt. Jason Ambrosi said that as the airline industry processes recent accidents, its more important than ever for all operators in our national airspace to remain vigilant and return to fundamentals, according to a Tuesday statement .

This story was updated at 5:22 p.m.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(KRON)  San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has proposed a new pay for performance model that ties pay raises to work accomplishments, aiming to address the citys biggest challenges. The proposal, unveiled ahead of the mayors annual budget report, seeks to enhance accountability and transparency by linking pay directly to measurable progress in city-wide issues such as homelessness, crime, and job creation.

Im asking that we hold ourselves at city hall accountable for results, results that matter most to our residents because if we arent making progress, we shouldnt be getting pay raises, said Mayor Mahan.

Tesla tumbles again as investors bail on Elon Musks suddenly struggling electric vehicle company

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The initiative is designed to motivate elected officials and senior administration employees to increase work revenue and achieve goals more rapidly. Mayor Mahan emphasized the need for departments to report on factual progress, such as expanding interim housing, with commitments to add over 1,000 new safe indoor places for people.

The city has recently banned RV campers from parking in public spaces, moving them to a safe parking site in Berryessa, which has sparked outrage among homeless advocates.

San Jose is also doubling its homeless shelter capacity in response to increased homelessness and public safety concerns.

Mayor Mahan cited a successful precedent in California where legislators were not paid if the state budget was late, leading to timely budget deliveries since the reform. The San Jose City Council will vote on the pay for performance proposal on March 18, and if passed, it will be added to the 2026 ballot for voters to decide.

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All facts from this article were gathered by KRON4 journalists. The article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by KRON4 staff.

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(KRON)  A man accused of stabbing and killing a woman in San Jose in 2013 was arrested in Mexico and extradited back to the United States, the San Jose Police Department announced Tuesday. Authorities had searched for more than a decade for 37-year-old Juan Ramirez.

On the afternoon of March 22, 2013, San Jose police responded to a report of a stabbing in the 900 block of North First Street. Arriving officers found a woman suffering from multiple stab wounds. The victim was rushed to an area hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries.

The killing was the citys 10th homicide of 2013.

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Ramirez, a San Jose resident, was identified as the suspect following an investigation by the SJPD Homicide Unit, police said. Authorities learned that Ramirez fled to Mexico, leaving his whereabouts unknown for over a decade.

Registered sex offender arrested in separate San Jose sexual assaults

The manhunt for Ramirez came to an end in Mexico on July 16, 2024, where the INTERPOL investigation led law enforcement to apprehend the wanted man.

Ramirez was extradited from Mexico to the U.S. on Friday before being booked into the Santa Clara County Jail for murder.

Our victim passed away twelve years ago, but she was never forgotten, San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph said in a statement announcing the developments in the case. Since the day she was murdered, our Homicide Detectives worked relentlessly to find the suspect. Now we have Suspect Ramirez back in San Jose, ready to be held accountable for this atrocious killing.

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Despite the arrest being made, SJPD is asking anyone with information on the case to contact Lieutenant Barg at 3640@sanjoseca.gov or 408-277-5283.

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Mar. 11MEIRE GROVE  A teenage driver suffered significant injuries after his vehicle went off road Sunday in Getty Township.

According to a news release from the

Isaac Hokanson, 16, of

was identified as the only occupant and driver of a 2005 Buick LeSabre that struck a field approach and vaulted 350 feet before coming to a rest in plowed field.

The Sheriff's Office said Hokanson was treated at the scene, then airlifted to a hospital in the Twin Cities for further treatment.

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The crash was initially reported around 12:50 p.m. Sunday near the intersection of Stearns County Road 29 and 375th Avenue in Getty Township. According to the news release, Hokanson was driving southbound on County Road 29 before the vehicle left the roadway.

The crash remains under investigation.

The Stearns County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Sauk Centre Police Department, Sauk Centre Ambulance,

Fire Department, the

and LifeLink Air Ambulance.
UPDATE (3/12)  As of Wednesday morning, the SC House passed their proposal for the budget. The proposal is now off to the Senate.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA)  The South Carolina House of Representatives continued their debate about the state budget, which consists of $14 billion from the general fund.

The House Representatives spent more than two hours on just one section of the budget.

A conservative group of Representatives, called the Freedom Caucus, said that certain agencies should be eliminated to lower income taxes and cut one billion dollars from the state budget.



What we need to be talking about is the real thing. The real thing is cutting the budget, said Rep. April Cromer (R  District 6).

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One agency that the group wants to cut is the Sea Grant Consortium, a group formed to support the states conservation of the states coastal resources. They said the budget currently will receive $1.3 million from the General Assembly this year.

Immediately the Freedom Caucus opposed that plan and said this is one of the many sections of the budget that needs to be removed.

I dont know how it helps anyone throughout the state Ive heard a lot of arguments up here and complaining and whining whatever about being here today, Cromer said. This is very serious. We are here to talk about taxpayer money.

Representative Jordan Pace (R  District 117) said government agencies should not be overlapping on their duties, and we shouldnt be pushing agendas like climate change.

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We shouldnt be spending 1.3 million dollars of their money to promote that to facilitate 4.3 million dollars of federal money to push those agendas.

More than ten Republicans and Democrats spoke out against the Freedom Caucuss ideas.

Representative David Martin (R  District 26) said they need to think about peoples livelihoods and these ideas are not thought out.

Provides coastal research, research fisheries, and conservation projects across South Carolina, it allows South Carolinians to create their own coastal management projects.

Democratic Representative Guilda Cobb-Hunter (D  District 95) said there is a clear disagreement in the House about the core values of how the state government should function, and thats a problem.

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The University of South Carolina campus on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, in Columbia. (Mary Ann Chastain/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

COLUMBIA  As the college enrollment cliff arrives, applications to South Carolinas four largest universities continue to rise, with heavy interest from students living outside the state.

The University of South Carolina, Clemson University, the College of Charleston and Coastal Carolina University all received a record number of applications from students seeking admission to the four public colleges this coming fall.

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That milestone bucks a national trend affecting many colleges and universities across the country facing enrollment shortfalls, College of Charleston President Andrew Hsu told a House education panel last week.

Three-quarters of those students are from out of state.

Application numbers 2025

USC: 59,000, up 13%

Clemson: 63,500, up 5.7%

College of Charleston: 32,000, up slightly from just under 32,000 last year

Coastal Carolina: 24,100, up 16.4%

Source: Data reported by individual colleges

The record applications come as universities across the country compete over a shrinking number of college-age students amid a falling national birth rate and rising costs for a college degree.

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A decrease of 15%, or 650,000 fewer potential college students, is projected over the next 15 years, according to an analysis of Census data by the higher education consulting firm Ruffalo Noel Levitz.

The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education made a similar projection in December  a 13% decrease by 2041  though it notes some Southern states, including South Carolina, are likely to fare far better.

Demographers predicted the so-called cliff would begin to strike college recruiting offices in the fall of this year. High school seniors scheduled to graduate this spring mark the start of a decline in the number of 18-year-olds preparing to enter college.

We are in a period of turmoil in higher education across the country, but USC during this period is thriving, President Michael Amiridis told the same House panel last month.

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The states research universities and coastal schools continue to see a boost from out-of-state students, particularly from Northern states.

Freshman enrollment numbers Fall 2024

USC: 7,290

Clemson: 5031

College of Charleston: 2,300

Coastal Carolina: 3,100

Source: Data reported by individual colleges

The students and the parents, they vote with their SUVs, Amiridis said, referring to the out-of-state plates on the back of vehicles on move-in day each year.

You see them coming and thats the best vote of confidence, Amiridis added.

Last school year, all of South Carolinas public four-year colleges enrolled a combined 2,300 freshmen from New York and New Jersey, 1,375 total from Virginia and Maryland, nearly 800 from Pennsylvania, and 600 from Massachusetts, according to the latest data from states higher education agency.

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Palmetto State colleges also saw nearly 1,000 North Carolinians and 800 Georgians cross state lines for school, according to data from the state Commission on Higher Education.

We need to continue to be even more aggressive, Amiridis said. Some of our out-of-state students come to us from states that will really have a big problem and the local flagships will try to keep those students there.

Still, while out-of-state students make up the bulk of applicants, most of the students who actually enroll in the fall are typically South Carolinians.

Over the past decade, the ratio of in-state versus out-of-state students at Clemson has grown tighter. South Carolina natives used to make up about 70% of the Upstate schools student body. Today, its about 60%, according to the state Commission on Higher Education.

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But President Jim Clements was quick to tell House members that even when South Carolina students dont have the grades to be admitted to Clemson on their first try, the university works to get them in at a later date.

In the past three years, 93% of applicants from South Carolina were admitted either through early admission the summer before starting their degree, during standard fall admission or through Bridge to Clemson program, which allows students to start their degree at nearby Tri-County Technical College and then transfer to Clemson starting in their second year.

USC, too, has a 60/40 split.

Coastal Carolinas mix trends the opposite direction with more coming from outside the state than in, while the College of Charleston is split down the middle.
SOUTH CAROLINA (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A South Carolina man is facing federal charges after allegedly threatening to kill President Donald Trump, according to Fox News.

Travis Keith Lang, 47, from Irmo, South Carolina, was arrested and arraigned on federal charges in a Columbia courthouse. He pleaded not guilty and was denied bond.

Authorities were holding him at the Lexington County Detention Center.

Langs indictment, filed last week, accuses him of threatening to harm, kidnap, or kill the President of the United States. The U.S. Secret Service is investigating the matter, and officials are urging the public to report any threats against public figures to local law enforcement.

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Lang, who previously filed to run for president as a Republican in 2024, was not on the ballot, but his campaign reportedly received a self-donation of $6,000. His social media profiles still list him as Travis Lang for President.

In 2023, he also reportedly posted critical remarks about President Joe Biden.

The threats against Trump come after two assassination attempts on the former president last year. Lang is scheduled to appear in court again on March 14 for a bond hearing and could face up to five years in prison if convicted.

The Associated Press and Fox News contributed to this report.

MORE FROM QCNEWS.COM

Crime & Public Safety

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STAR-ADVERTISER / 2012 There are approximately 100, 000 veterans on Oahu and 30, 000 veterans on the neighbor islands served by the Oahu-based VA Pacific Islands Healthcare System. The Trump administration announced significant cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and its unclear what is going to be eliminated. Above, a Hawaii Mobile Veteran Center truck parked at the Department of Veterans Affairs building in Tripler Army Medical Center is part of an outreach program to assist veterans in rural areas statewide.

STAR-ADVERTISER / 2012 There are approximately 100, 000 veterans on Oahu and 30, 000 veterans on the neighbor islands served by the Oahu-based VA Pacific Islands Healthcare System. The Trump administration announced significant cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and its unclear what is going to be eliminated. Above, a Hawaii Mobile Veteran Center truck parked at the Department of Veterans Affairs building in Tripler Army Medical Center is part of an outreach program to assist veterans in rural areas statewide.

With significant proposed cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs by the administration of President Donald Trump, its not yet clear what that will mean for veterans in Hawaii and across the Pacific.

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The agency has confirmed to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that it has terminated a small number  of probationary employees in Hawaii, and additional cuts to personnel and contracts are expected at the VAbut details remain slim as leadership in Washington promises sweeping changes.

Hawaii is home to an estimated 100, 000 veterans on Oahu and 30, 000 veterans on the neighbor islands. All are served by the Oahu-based VA Pacific Islands Healthcare System, which is also responsible for providing care to veterans across the U.S. Pacific island territories of American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

That gives the VAPIHS an area of responsibility of approximately 2.6 million square miles, making it unique within the VAs national network as it works to serve veterans across remote, far-flung islands. In recent years the VA has sought to expand operations in Hawaiis rural areas, neighbor islands and U.S. Pacific territories to serve veterans who live in those areas in their communities and cut down on long journeys to VAPIHS headquarters at Tripler Army Medical Center.

Late on the night of Feb. 13, the VA fired over 1, 000 employees in what was meant to be a first step in a large series of cuts. An internal memo obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press showed plans to remove more than 80, 000 staffers, instructing senior staff to prepare for an agencywide reorganization in August to resize and tailor the workforce to the mission and revised structure.

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A VA spokesman based in California told the Star-Advertiser in an email that the VAPIHS has dismissed a small number of probationary staff. This decision will have no negative effect on Veteran health care, benefits or other services and will allow VA to focus more effectively on its core mission of serving Veterans, families, caregivers and survivors. We cannot discuss specific personnel matters due to privacy concerns.

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But a government official in Hawaii, who requested to not be named, told the Star-Advertiser that impacts from personnel and funding cuts to the VA are just beginning  in Hawaii, with initial cuts affecting neighbor island support and clinical staff. More are expected, but the extentand where the cuts will be maderemains unclear.

The cuts are part of a larger push to fire large swaths of the federal workforce being overseen by the Department of Government Efficiency, a newly formed White House office created by billionaire Elon Muskthe worlds richest personand staffed mainly by junior programmers and engineers who previously worked at Musks various technology companies.

In February after the initial firings, U.S. Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, joined fellow lawmakers in sending a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins. During his Senate confirmation hearing, Collins told lawmakers, I want to strengthen VA so it works better for Americas heroes, and I will embrace your oversight and seek your counsel as we work together to do just that.

In their letter, Case and fellow co-authors accused Collins of contradicting his testimony, writing that rather than seeking the counsel of Congress, you took unilateral action to abruptly dismiss service-disabled veterans, military spouses, medical researchers, and countless others without any apparent justificationundermining the very mission of VA. There is nothing strengthening about gutting the workforce with the sacred mission to serve veterans, caregivers, and survivors.

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The letter noted that when congressional staff requested justifications from the VAs Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs, a VA staffer claimed no one in that office had knowledge of the firings until the news release announcing them was issued Friday night. The lawmakers wrote that this admission underscores the reckless, ill-planned nature of these firings, as well as a complete lack of transparency in how they were executed.

This Administration may believe it can run government agencies the way Elon Musk gutted Twitterby arbitrarily slashing staff and expecting operations to somehow function seamlesslybut VA is not a tech startup, and veterans are not an experiment. We will not allow reckless political games to undermine the care and benefits our veterans have earned.

The letter called for Collins to brief Congress on the cuts by Feb. 26. To date, the lawmakers have received no formal response.

Staffers with the Hawaiis congressional offices also told the Star-Advertiser that a separate scheduled meeting between VA officials and congressional staffers from Hawaii, Guam, CNMI and American Samoa to get updates on the operations of the VAPIHS was abruptly canceled last month and that since then there has been little information coming out of the agency.

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Case said hes concerned about the silence, and what staff and contracts could be on the chopping block here in the islands.

These concerns are especially high throughout Hawaii and the Pacific as the VA already struggles to service veterans in our isolated areas,  said Case. The VA has not responded in any detail to our letter or any other from Congress, and we have not been able to obtain detailed information on specific Hawaii /Pacific impacts.

Collins has defended the cuts in public. In an op-ed published at The Hill on Thursday, he declared that we owe Americas veteransand hundreds of thousands of excellent VA employeessolutions.

Our goal is to reduce VA employment levels to 2019 numbers of roughly 398, 000 employees from our current level of approximately 470, 000 employeesa nearly 15 percent decrease,  Collins wrote. We will accomplish this without making cuts to health care or benefits to veterans and VA beneficiaries.

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But according to reporting by The New York Times, at a door session of Trumps Cabinet leadership on Thursday, Collins expressed concerns about how cuts have been handled, suggesting the administration should avoid treating cuts as a blunt instrument  and that a more strategic approach was needed going forward.

Residents of the Pacific islands served in the military in particularly high numbers during the post-9 /11 wars in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. A study of 2003 recruiting data by the conservative Heritage Foundation found Pacific Islandersincluding Native Hawaiiansjoined the Army at a rate 249 % higher than that of other ethnic groups.

But the places they call home have long been underserved. Hawaii veterans routinely travel long distances to get services, sometimes traveling inter island for appointments, and have contended with long wait times. Veterans in Guam, CNMI and American Samoa have even more hurdles to accessing care and benefits.

The Pacific islands system has few dedicated facilities of its own, with some of its operations at Tripler Army Medical Center. It relies largely relies on partnerships and contracts with other hospitals and clinics across the Pacifics far-flung islands to provide for patients. As it stands, island health care for the general public has already been strained as hospitals and clinics struggle with low staffing, high turnover and the logistical challenges of operating in remote island chains.

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Recently, the VA managed to secure funding from Congress to build the long-planned Daniel K. Akaka VA Clinic in Kalaeloa and opened April 8, aimed at serving Leeward Oahu veterans. The VA has also sought to bolster its island staff. On Friday the VAPIHS announced it is opening a new urgent care clinic at the facility this month. But with the VAs planned cuts, the future of the new facilities and their staffs is uncertain.

Case said that to get answers on what veterans can expect from the VA, it appears the only effective response will be a fully bipartisan demand from Congress, which requires my majority Republican colleagues throughout the country to stand up to the administration.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Lawmakers on Capitol Hill debated the pros and cons of school choice during a House subcommittee hearing on Tuesday.

Advocates of school choice argue parents should be able to choose where their kids go to school and how tax dollars are distributed for education. Critics say allocating funds in this way could dismantle public education.

Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) said he believes parents should have more of a say in their childrens education.

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Generally, research shows that students in school choice programs do better academically, their parents are more satisfied and the students are more likely to graduate, he said.

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) argued that school choice can harm schools in rural communities where there are very few or even no other schools in the area.

Theres very little chance of bridging that funding gap, leaving them to either make cuts, increase class sizes or both. And thats the main reason why several states including Nebraska, Kentucky, Colorado, theyve all rejected voucher schemes, Bonamici said.

Members of the House subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education heard from both advocates and critics of school choice. Walter Blanks, Jr., a spokesperson for the American Federation for Children, testified that school choice changed his life when he was awarded the opportunity to go to private school.

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I went from a student who struggled, to a student who was finding great success in his academic journey, Blanks, Jr. said.

Jessica Levin with the Education Law Center told lawmakers that private school vouchers do not benefit students or families.

Data from multiple states shows the majority of vouchers are used by more affluent families who are already sending their children to private schools and not the low-income families they purport to target, Levin said.

President Donald Trump has made school choice a focus of his administration. In January, President Trump signed an executive order to free up some federal money to be used on school choice. The majority of school funding comes from the state and local level.

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School choice allows families to use public money to access schools outside of their zoned public school. This includes private schools, public charters, magnet schools, online schools and homeschooling.

Right now, dozens of states and Washington, D.C. offer some type of school choice program. Arizona became the first state to adopt universal school choice in 2022 and several Republican-states have followed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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In 1971, a British doctor was trying to puzzle out a mystery: How can a child with no signs of external trauma or injury present with bleeding between the skull and brain? That doctor, A. Norman Guthkelch, was part of a wave of physicians and researchers newly concerned that an epidemic of severe child abuse had been passing, undetected, beneath doctors noses.

As one law-review article recounts, Prior to the 1960s, medical schools provided little or no training on child abuse, and medical texts were largely silent on the issue. A turning point was the publication of the 1962 article The Battered-Child Syndrome, which urged physicians to consider that severe child abuse may be at play when children came in with injuries such as bone fractures, subdural hematomas, and bruising.

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The article goes beyond offering medical advice to prescribing an ethical framework that would take hold: The bias should be in favor of the childs safety; everything should be done to prevent repeated trauma, and the physician should not be satisfied to return the child to an environment where even a moderate risk of repetition exists.

Armed with these new insights, Guthkelch hypothesized that the children showing up to his hospital were being abusively shaken. Although they did not show up with the usual fractures or visible forms of physical trauma, the presence of a subdural hematoma could indicate what would come to be widely known as shaken baby syndrome.

Decades later, Guthkelch would publicly worry that his hypothesis had been taken too far. After reviewing the trial record and medical reports from one case in Arizona, NPR reported that he was troubled that the conclusion was abusive shaking when there were other potential causes. I wouldnt hang a cat on the evidence of shaking, as presented, Guthkelch quipped.

The narrow claim that shaking a baby abusively can result in certain internal injuries morphed into the claim that if a set of internal injuries were present, then shaking must be the cause. On todays episode of Good on Paper, I talk with a neuroscientist who found himself personally embroiled in this scientific and legal controversy when a caretaker was accused of shaking his child.

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Cyrille Rossant is a researcher and software engineer at the International Brain Laboratory and University College London whose Ph.D. in neuroscience came in handy when he delved into the research behind shaken baby syndrome and published a textbook with Cambridge University Press on the scientific controversy that embroiled his family.

The following is a transcript of the episode:

Jerusalem Demsas: Many forms of scientific expertise in criminal-justice proceedings have been debunked or come under scrutiny in recent years. Things like bite-mark analysis and blood-spatter analysis used to be commonly understood as rigorous empirical analysis. But these questionable theories often fall apart on closer inspection.

This is how science is supposed to work. Experts observe, they hypothesize, they test, and they revise their previous understandings of the world. And in academia and in scientific journals, thats all well and goodbut what happens when evolving science is brought into the courtroom? In a courtroom, no one is well positioned to rigorously evaluate a scientific debate: not judges, not jurors, and not even the people calling expert witnesses.

[Music]

Demsas: My names Jerusalem Demsas. Im a staff writer at The Atlantic, and this is Good on Paper. Todays episode is about abusive head trauma, but you probably know it by its older name: shaken baby syndrome.

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Babies cannot speak for themselves. As a result, when doctors or prosecutors accuse a parent or caregiver of having violently and abusively shaken their baby, they are often relying on something that has come to be known as the triad.

The triad refers to three medical findings: subdural hemorrhage, or bleeding in the area between the brain and the skull; retinal hemorrhage, or bleeding in the retina; and brain swelling. If these findings are present, according to shaken-baby-syndrome adherents, that would mean a baby has been abusively shaken. Shaken baby syndrome also indicates that since these symptoms arise rather quickly, the child must have been shaken by the last person he or she was with.

Its important to understand that for many years, the presence of all three of these medical events was not indicative of child abuse; it was dispositive. In 2015, Kentuckys former chief medical examiner, who had personally diagnosed SBS, told The Washington Post that doctors, myself included, have accepted as true an unproven theory about a potential cause of brain injury in children.

My guest today is Cyrille Rossant. Hes a researcher with a Ph.D. in neuroscience who plunged into the world of SBS when a caregiver was accused of shaking his child, an allegation she denied.

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This is a very serious topic, and I want to be clearchild abuse is very real, and our public and private tools for addressing and helping children at risk are distressingly insufficient. But in their zeal to help children, many doctors, prosecutors, and scientists have allowed what one New Jersey appellate court has called junk science to tear apart the lives of thousands.

Lets dive in. Cyrille, welcome to the show.

Cyrille Rossant: Thank you for having me.

Demsas: So you have a very personal connection to this issue. Can you tell us about how you first learned about shaken baby syndrome?

Rossant: Yeah, sure. So I actually lived a situation myself. So nine years ago, I had a baby who was being cared for by a caregiver. And when my baby was, like, five months old, he was sick. He was vomiting, and his head was getting bigger and bigger. So we brought him to the hospital, and they did a CT scan. And they found so-called subdural hematoma, which is blood around the brain.

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And from that, they told me that it was shaken baby syndrome. It could be nothing else. So that meant that my baby had been violently shaken. So obviously, it was a very difficult thing to hear, and I was really distressed by the health of my baby. So he was taken care of. He had surgery, and fortunately he was fine after that.

So now hes a healthy 9-year-old boy. But at the time, it was very hard. And obviously, since it was a situation of suspicion of child abuse, the hospital had to report the case to authorities and to call the police. And thats how it all started.

Demsas: When that determination was made about your son, they didnt leave you any doubt. When they saw the subdural hematoma, they said, Without a doubt, this is shaken baby syndrome?

Rossant: Yeah, exactly. So at the time at the hospital, most doctors were really sure that it was shaken baby syndrome, that it could be nothing else. So the thing is that we had a nanny. And my son had symptoms when he was being cared for by the nanny. So she was, like, the prime suspect. But still, it was very hard for us to believe that it was possible at the time.

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That being said, there was one doctor who was less certain about the diagnosis. It was actually the only doctor who was a specialist of child neurology. And he was telling us that it could be shaken baby syndrome, but it could also be something else, namely a medical condition where theres an excess of fluid around the brain. He told us it could be a risk factor for subdural hematoma and that he was not really sure that my son had been violently shaken.

So it was a bit confusing for me, to have, like, most doctors who are really 100 percent sure that it was shaken baby syndrome and another one who is supposed to know more about these issues to be less certain. So I was really confused, and I couldnt really live with this uncertainty, and I needed to know what had happened to my baby.

Demsas: And what happened with the caregiver? Did they arrest her?

Rossant: So yeah, basically, it took them maybe six months or something. But yeah, after six months, she was put in custody because, in the meantime, there was a medical expert who looked at the case and said, Well, yes. Its a shaken baby. So it happened when my baby was being cared for by the caregiver, so it had to be her. So she was put under custody. She was interrogated by the police. And then she was being prosecuted for four years.

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Demsas: Oh my God.

Rossant: And in this longer legal process, another expert looked at the case, and he did not really agree with the first one.

He said, like the child-neurology specialist at the hospital, that it could be a medical condition and that maybe it was not shaken baby syndrome. So there were two different opinions in terms of medical experts. And on this uncertainty, the judge decided to drop all charges, and the nanny was cleared after four years.

Demsas: This, I think, really underscores how serious of an issue this is. I mean, when a doctor or a scientific expert tells a court or a public-policy official or a policy maker that theyre certain about what something means, it sounds like theyre talking about a natural law or theyre talking about physics. And theres often not the ability for public-policy makers or lawyers or judges to independently evaluate the research.

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So as a result of your experience, you dove headfirst into the research here and have even written a book about the finding of SBS. Im gonna just refer to it as shaken baby syndrome, even though theres some controversy about whether it should be called that or abusive head trauma, just because I think most people know the term shaken baby syndrome, but I want to note for listeners that theres some controversy over the use of that term.

But there are basically three areas of controversy I want us to explore: the mechanism of injury, the diagnostic reliability, and the evidence quality. Lets start with the mechanism of injury. The fundamental question here is whether shaking your baby is the only way to cause the classic findings of SBS. Can you lay out the scientific debate here over that question?

Rossant: Yeah, so actually, I think you can say there are two different questions here. First is: Can shaking cause the injuries that are typically associated with SBS? And second: Are these medical findings always caused by shaking? So its kind of two inverse relationshipsthe causal link, and is it the only cause? If its a cause, is it the only one, right?

Demsas: Yeah. The way Ive been thinking about it is: Can punching a wall create a hole? Versus: If we find a hole in the wall, does that prove that someone punched it?

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Rossant: Yeah, exactly.

Demsas: I think we can start with, like, can punching a wall create a hole? Can shaking a baby lead to the injuries of the classic findings of SBS?

Rossant: So the short answer for this is: We dont know. We cannot shake babies for science, right? Its not working like that. So we dont know today. I really looked a lot for that question in the literature, and I could not find good, reliable scientific evidence linking shaking without impactand thats importantto the medical findings associated with SBS: so typically, subdural hemorrhage, retinal hemorrhage, and brain swelling.

Whats for sure is that babies are shaken. It exists. Theres no doubt about it. We know that many babies who are shakenthey are shaken not in the most violent possible way. Theres a whole spectrum in the degree of violence you can inflict to a baby. And when its not so much violence, its still child abuse, obviously, but it might not be enough for the baby to be injured. Okay?

So we have some interesting data from a lot of countries who asked a lot of parents and caregivers, Well, do you shake your baby? Do you hit your baby? Do you slap your baby? A lot of types of child abuse. And so its really just, like, self-admitted abuse, right? And parents actually say yes. And a proportion of them admit doing these kinds of things to their babies, including shaking.

So its something that exists. And still, we can think that 2 percent is not that much, but its still, like, 100 times more than the number of shaken baby syndrome diagnoses. So it means that we miss most babies who are really shaken, but maybe they are not shaken that violently, because they dont appear to be injured. They dont go to the hospital, and they are not detected. That being said, sometimes the babies are shaken so violently that they are being injured, and its hard to imagine how a baby could be shaken in the most violent possible way without the brain being injured.

Now, the exact type of injury you are going to find around the brain, etcetera, we dont really know. We dont know. We can imagine that its going to harm the brain, but we dont know how, exactly. There is some data that was obtained on animals. So theres a whole literature on animal studies, like mice, rats, piglets, lambs, who are shaken for scienceits horrific when you think about it, but these are things that are done by researchers. So animals are shaken, and they are injured. And we find some injuries in the brain, but they do not really look like what you find in shaken baby syndrome. Its not exactly the same kind of findings. It doesnt really match.

Demsas: Whats the difference?

Rossant: Its really technical, but you will find some injuries in the brain itself, like traumatic lesions to the neurons and to the cables between the neurons. You might find some bleeding, but again, its not the type of bleeding you find in shaken baby syndrome, which is really specific.

Same for the retinal hemorrhageyou will find very severe retinal hemorrhaging in shaken baby syndrome. And this is not typically what you find in animals who are shaken. It doesnt really match. So the way researchers are interpreting this typically is to say, Well, these animals are not good animal models for human babies, and human babies seem to have specificities for the kind of injuries we find. So far, we are not able to prove the causal link between violent shaking and the classic medical findings of shaken baby syndrome.

Demsas: So models have failed to show that shaking can generate enough force to cause those injuries, and studies that are on animals havent been able to reproduce the classic findings through shaking alone. But theres still a lot of uncertainty, right? So its still possible that shaking your baby could result in the classic presentation of shaken baby syndrome. But its also possible that it might be something else.

So weve talked about, can punching a wall create a hole? Now I want to ask you about, if you find a hole in the wall, does that prove someone punched it? Because I think one of the core parts of this controversy is that its not just that when a baby presents with these injuries that doctors will say, Its possible this baby was abused. Theres been a training of doctors to indicate certainty, that if you find thisits often called the triadif you find this triad of injuries, then you should presume that the baby was shaken and that the baby was shaken abusively by the last person who was with the child when it began presenting with those symptoms. So why was that the medical consensus? Why did that training happen?

Rossant: Yeah. I think youre right to say that its not just a cause; its the only cause. Thats the theory, right? Shaking is a possible explanation for the findings. Its the only possible explanation, and it occurred just before the baby showed symptoms. So its a really, really strong theory that has been taught to doctors. Now, why has that been the case? I dont know.

What I know is that historically, and you really need to dig down into the history of shaken baby syndrome to understand how it was bornit was born in the 70s with this hypothesis that maybe shaking was one of the possible causes of subdural hematoma, but at the time it was just a hypothesis. And today its still a hypothesis. And that was in the beginning of the 70s. And a few years later, doctors in the U.S. started to presume abuse whenever they found subdural and retinal hemorrhage in infants. Why that has been the case, why this mere hypothesis, Maybe its shaking, was transformed into, It is shaking, and we need to call the police, that I dont know. But by the 80s, you start to see prosecutions based on this theory.

So somehowI dont knowsome doctors in the U.S. started to do this. Its important, also, to say that there was the context of reporting any suspicion of child abuse to authorities. That started in the 60s. There was a big subject here in pediatrics at the time, because before the 60s, it was not really obvious for doctors to think about abuse. They didnt really think about it. And it suddenly changed in the 60s. And they really realized that it was important for the medical community, and especially pediatricians, who see children all the time, to think about abuse whenever they find suspicious findings, like fractures, bruises, and subdural hematoma. That came in the 70s.

So there was this big push for doctors to really report as many children as possible to the authorities whenever they have the slightest doubt on abuse. And since there was this hypothesis that maybe subdural hematoma is one of the signs that should make doctors suspicious of abuse, well, they started to call the police and to report these cases to authorities.

That being said, I think theres a difference between being just aware that maybe children are abused and calling the police, and going to court and saying, This is abuse, and this is nothing else, and this is certain. This is a big difference to me. And this is really what I dont understand, because, to me, doctors should treat patients and report possible child-abuse cases to authorities. But going beyond that and saying to the courts, Im a doctor, and I know that this child was abused, even though theres no other piece of evidence apart from the medical findings, this is the thing that is going too far for me.

Demsas: What other things can happen that can cause these symptoms to present in babies? Are there other potential explanations that you found when researching this?

Rossant: Yeah. So actually, now we know a lot of possible causes of subdural and retinal hemorrhage. First, theres everything involving accidental trauma, like short falls and domestic accidents. Whenever theres an impact to the head, even what appears to be a small impact, it can really cause severe injuries, including what we see in shaken baby syndrome. Theres also biomechanical data about this. Impact is really dangerous for the skull and for the brain in a child.

Then you have many rare diseases, like a genetic, metabolic, neurological conditions that can all cause subdural hematoma or be a risk factor for the development of subdural hematoma after a minor impact, which really happens in most babies. Once they start to sit down, they can fall, and when they try to get up, to stand up, they can also fall. So its really, really common for babies to hit their head. Most of the time, its not going to cause anything, but if there is a medical condition, if there is a risk factor, then it might cause the findings of shaken baby syndrome.

There are infections that can cause blood-clotting disorders. Theres really a lot of things. Its really complicated. Its really not possible to say that only shaking is the only cause of the SBS findings. There are also risk factorsagain, it can be medical conditions.

But it can be just a prematurity. Its a big risk factor. These babies are much more fragile. Babies who have a low birth weight, babies who have a large headthere are many little things like this that can increase the risk of a subdural retinal hemorrhage after minor impact. So yeah, its really complicated.

Demsas: I want to talk about some of the pushback that people like you have received from other scientists who stand by the shaken-baby-syndrome diagnosis and say that it is perfectly reasonable for doctors to presume, and for the courts to presume, that when these injuries present in babies, that we should assume a caregiver has shaken the child. What they often point to is the fact that numerous perpetrators have confessed and admitted to shaking their babies, and that the confessions often will provide detailed accounts that match the medical findings of shaken baby syndromes, and that they have these consistent patterns.

Why is that not convincing to you that, perhaps, maybe its the case that science hasnt figured out exactly how shaking will cause these symptoms, but if people are admitting to having shaken their baby and then their baby is presenting with these symptoms, thats a reasonable cause and effect to presume?

Rossant: Yeah, its true that confessionstoday, its the main piece of evidence for shaken baby syndrome. The question is not whether confessions exist or not; its how reliable they are, and what you can learn from the confessions. So confessions do exist. And I also want to stress that, obviously, some of these confessions are true, and that some parents do abuse the babies, and they end up confessing when they are being interrogated by the police.

So yeah, you cannot possibly say that all confessions are false. Its not working like this. That being said, Ive studied this question a lot in the scientific literature, and its true to say that they are really unreliable scientifically. They are not scientific evidence. And its not obvious to realize that, because when you dont know the subject, you think, Well, if the person admits something that horrible, it must be true. Theres no reason for an innocent person to say they did it if they did not.

But its much more complicated than that. The topic of false confessions in generalnot just for a shaken baby, but for any type of crimehas been known for decades. You know the Innocence Project that was able to exonerate a lot of people based on DNA evidence? Well, it turns out that between 25 and 30 percent of all the DNA exonerations had falsely confessed, and they were factually innocent, because that was proved by DNA, which could point to someone else. So its something that exists.

Now, you wonder why innocent people confess. So there are many reasons. Theres even a classification that was done by a psychologist and scientist. Theres a psychologist called Saul Kassin, who is an expert of this, and he has devised a classification of false confessions.

So for example, one of the reasons is just plea deals. So they plead guilty, and they might not go to jail, and they can walk free, but they have to say they did it. But even without that, even in the police interrogation room, innocent people can be led to confess what they did not do, in this context.

For example, the police can say, Well, if you confess, the child, who is in foster care, can go back to you. You can get back your child if you confess. Or maybe, If you confess, your child can go back to the other parent. There are many incentives that are given by the police to the persons to confess. And the reason for that is that the police are being taught, like medical doctors, that shaking is the only possible cause and that it has to be that last person with the baby at the time of the collapse, right?

Theres also the whole thing of internalized false confessions. Its really mysterious. Its really a psychological effect that can lead innocent people who deny having harmed their child while being interrogated to slowly, in the course of hours or even days of interrogation in a very stressful context, to believe that maybe they did something that they did not think was harmful but was actually harmful, or at least thats what they are led to believe. And it really happens a lot in this particular type of case. The police can make a lot of scenarios: Okay, maybe you didnt want to harm your child, but you took the child from the bed a bit quickly, or maybe the head hit something, or you were not careful enough.

Theres a lot of scenarios that are being fed to the suspect. And in this specific stressful context, innocent parents who are reallythey have this guilt of maybe they think they did not do everything they could to save their children. Maybe they tried to resuscitate their child with cardiac massage or something, or maybe they tried to slowly shake the baby, but its a very mild type of shaking. Its really not a violent shaking. So you can always find something.

And this really happens, and Ive seen it a lot, and its been documented on videotaped police interrogation. You can see it in some transcripts. So when you really dig into the details of what has been confessed exactly and how it has been confessed, and when you look at all the context of the interrogation, you realize that its really not, Okay. Well, okay. I admit it. I just lost my nerves and violently shook my baby. This is very rare. This is not the type of confession you see in shaken baby syndrome. Its: Oh my God. Okay. Maybe I did it. I didnt realize my baby was collapsing. And yeah, I tried to revive my child. And maybe in the process, I harmed my child, and Ioh my God.

Its a really complex phenomenon. But its been documented, and I think it happens a lot. So you cannot just say, Okay, confessions exist, so it must be true, right? That being said, most confessions are obtained after the diagnosisso typically, after the police have been called, and its most often in the police interrogation room, right?

So theres this big contamination, and its more than that. Its really a pressure, because the police think they know that the baby was shaken and that this person is guilty, so theres a whole bias, right? What would be interesting would be to see if confessions can be obtained beforebefore the police interrogation and even before the medical exam that will show the medical findings that are associated with SBS. Because if its obtained before, then theres no way the diagnosis could influence the confession. Obviously, this kind of confession is very rare, but there is at least one study that was able to find something like 36 cases where the confessions were obtained before any kind of medical exam.

So theres a lot of reason to believe that these kinds of confessions are genuine, true, right? And whats interesting is that, in those cases, you are not going to find the medical findings of SBS. So yeah, there are many reasons to be skeptical of this theory.

[Music]

Demsas: After the break: Shaken baby syndrome goes by a different name now, but the same problems persist.

[Break]

Demsas: Im hoping you can explain why the term shaken baby syndrome has fallen out of use. Now were more likely to hear the term abusive head trauma, and Id assumed that was due to the criticisms levied by folks like you whove become skeptical of the SBS diagnosis. But in a policy statement about the diagnosis, the American Academy of Pediatrics said that the name change to abusive head trauma was misinterpreted by some in the legal and medical communities as an indication of some doubt in or invalidation of the diagnosis and the mechanism of shaking as a cause of injury. And then they say that the AAP, continues to embrace the shaken baby syndrome diagnosis as a valid subset of the AHT diagnosis.

So whats your interpretation of whats going on there?

Rossant: Yeah, so its true that in 2009, the AAP published a position paper stating that from now on, abusive head trauma should be used instead of shaken baby syndrome. And the way they justify this was because it was to encompass a broader source of abuse inflicted to babiesnot just shaking, but also impact to the head. Thats the justification.

And there was one big study in 87 by [A. C.] Duhaime and a few biomechanicians who really showed, first, that there were very often signs of impact, which was not really compatible with the idea that these babies were just shaken, right? And also, they did a biomechanical study to show that the forces involved with shaking are much lower than when theres any kind of impact to the head. So impact to the head is really, really severe and implies very big forces to the head and big deformation and big energy. So its much more dangerous.

And there was some controversy in scientific articles about this that partly led to, I think, this decision to change the name from shaken baby syndrome to abusive head trauma, because it was not just shaking very frequently; theres also impact.

Now, its true that before 2009, especially since the Louise Woodward trial in Boston in 1997, there was a lot of controversy in the media and the scientific articles on specifically shaken baby syndrome, the hypothesis that you could infer abuse just with the triad, without any sign of impact. And yeah, some people believe that this change of name is a consequence of this controversy. Obviously, the AAP, the medical institutions do not really acknowledge this, because their position has always been to say that there is no controversy at all, right?

So here we are. I mean, we have this change of name that has been more or less accepted by everyone, even though the term shaken baby syndrome is still quite widely known in the public.

Theres something else that should be pointed out. Its that the term shaken baby syndrome was criticizedthe very termin particular by Norman Guthkelch, who first identified shaken baby syndrome, or at least the link between shaking and subdural hematoma, in 1971. He criticized the fact that the same term is used to describe both an actshakingand a set of injuries. So it conflates a unique hypothetical cause to objective findings. And its a real problem because you cant talk about what you see without accepting that there might be other causes than shaking.

So thats why he recommended to use another term, which was, I think, retinal-dural hemorrhage of infancy. That really just describes the fact that you find subdural and retinal hemorrhage in an infant without presuming anything about the cause. Unfortunately, that was not the choice that was made, and now we have abusive head trauma, which is also problematic because it also implies that, well, its abuse. So its a medical diagnosis that comes after you discover specific medical findings in an infant, and you give the term abusive head trauma, which implies that it was caused by abuse.

So theres this whole thing of intent that is really not the job of medicine. Its for the police and the justice to determine what happened and what the intent was. So the previous term was a problem with this respect, and the new one is still problematic in this respect.

Demsas: Yeah. It was really interesting when I was reading about the controversy with Norman Guthkelch, who you just mentioned. I mean, hes called, like, the father of shaken baby syndrome because of his 1971 paper. NPR reported that he reviewed a case in Arizona, and they wrote that he was troubled to see that the medical examiners autopsy had concluded that the baby died of shaken baby syndrome while discounting other possible causes.

So, you know, given that, why do you think its been difficult for the medical community to become more agnostic about whether these injuries that show up in children are necessarily the result of abuse or of some other thing going on? Like, why is the AAP still saying this? I mean, I know you cant speak about them specifically, but why do you think theres just been such reticence from the medical community?

Rossant: Oh, thats a very good question, and I am wondering this. I mean, its been almost 10 years that I ask myself this very question, and I dont really know.

I think theresI mean, its more general than that. Its, you know, in the human psychology, the fact that its very hard to recognize that you were wrong before. Its very hard to change ones own mind, especially when doctors have made a lot of diagnoses with very severe consequences: with removal, going into foster care, and, you know, criminal prosecutions, etcetera.

Its very hard to accept that, as a doctor, you were wrong and you maybe did some misanalysis and you were responsible for, you know, miscarriages of justice, etcetera. I think its really the No. 1 thing that is blocking everything, this psychological aspects of doctors, who are humans, like everyone else.

Some doctors do change their minds with the new science, the new articles, new data, their new experience, new cases. They realize that maybe it was not as easy as we thought before, and they start to change their minds. They start to work for the defense, and then they are being targeted and bullied, attacked, especially by the establishments, and its always the same. So yeah, its really in human nature.

I think its also the scale. I think its not just a few errors here and there. Its really, really massive. I think there are many, many cases which are misdiagnosed and that the so-called shaken babies were not really shaken. I mean, obviously, it exists, and there are many cases where the diagnosis was true, but many where it was not the case. So thats also why its so hard to accept ones own mistakes, because it's a really massive mistake that was done.

Demsas: Something you just said about how much they react to public censure here: There was a quote from this Milwaukee prosecutor. I believe this is from a ProPublica article, but hes a deputy district attorney in Milwaukee, and he said it was, providing reasonable doubt for sale.

Essentially, theres some criticisms of people who will provide reasonable doubt or arguments that provide reasonable doubt to accused criminals, whether its forensic evidence, like fingerprint analysis or DNA analysis or things like the SBS. But theres been a real backlash from within the law-enforcement community to scientific evidence being muddled in courtrooms. And I wonder: Have you come across people who react to your work and believe youre giving cover to child abusers? What do you say to them?

Rossant: Yeah, I think I kind of understand because theres always this tension between, you know, being too safe on the safe sideI mean, is it better to put an innocent person in jail, or to let a guilty person walk free and potentially harm children, right?

And personally as someone who believes in democracy and, you know, les lumieres, which is a really French thing. I think its really important not to harm innocent people. So its really kind of philosophical attitude, I think. But yeah, I can understand why some people believe that its not possible to take this risk of letting potentially dangerous people walk free.

But you know, in the end, I think we should all try to do our best and try to be as accurate and scientific as possible. Try to look at all the evidence on the one side or the other side, and then let the criminal-justice system do its work. And thats why we have this notion of beyond a reasonable doubt, you know, the burden of proof, all of these things. They were designed precisely to avoid, as much as possible, putting innocents behind bars, which is a very terrible thing to do as a democracy, I think.

Demsas: Do you have thoughts on how you wouldve preferred to have things play out in your case? When a doctor is concerned about SBS with your child, what do you wish had happened?

Rossant: I think most parents, most families would accept something, some kind of measure that is not removing the child. So, you know, a follow-up with the psychologists, social workers, people that go to your place and that look at the room, how you handle your child, that follow you from a few months, maybe one year, I dont know. It depends on the situation, but that is fine.

And we actually had that. Even though the nanny was being prosecuted after the first month, we did have a follow-up with a psychologist and social workers for, like, two years, I think. It was very light. It could have been, you know, more intrusive, and it wouldve been fine. I mean, theres no problem as long as you have the freedom to have your child with you, right?

Its really the fact that to remove a child from its environment, its a really big cost, so that should really be done in the most extreme cases. And typically, some judges do say that it only happens in the most extreme cases, and that they tried to do their best not to go that far and to find all possible solutions before resorting, as a last solution, to foster care.

But in practice, in the cases I knowand especially in the abusive-head-trauma casesfor very, very small children, babies who dont speak, its very often removal into a foster family in a nursery. And thats really, really hard for the child, and for the parents to know that the child is suffering from being suddenly put into a different place and without parents, without siblings, without the teddy bears and, you know.

Demsas: Yeah, I guess it depends on where you are and how the authorities function. But, you know, I could imagine that most parents would be okay with having an interview with Child Protective Services if, you know, it was respectful and theres a clear protocol for what was being followed.

And I think there are a lot of civil servants who take their jobs seriously and want to make families better. But I think its very variable, especially in the United States, where this is not a federalized system. Theres very many different administrations of child protective services. And where you are can vary very differently, how youre treated and how you interact with and how the state interacts with you.

And so, I agreewe would want to create a system where parents felt fine and open and welcome to that kind of surveillance and interaction, but I worry that we dont actually have that in the entire world.

Rossant: Yeah. And its actually the same in France. Today theres no centralized child-protection system. Its each department, each region of France that has its own system. So there are great disparities between the different regions, and we do see very, very different treatments of similar situations, depending on where you are in the same country. So yeah, its a very difficult problem, and some families do not understand why its worse in their own case compared to other families.

Demsas: This was obviously a very serious episode, but I always like to end on a question that draws people to think about and reflect on a time when they themselves have believed something that didnt turn out to be true. So in your life, is there a time where you believed something that ended up being only good on paper?

Rossant: Wow. Good question. I really never thought about this. But maybe I can say that initiallyand sorry; its still about shaken baby syndrome, but initiallyI believed that shaken baby syndrome was a thing.

Why? Because my own father was a pediatrician and an expert in court, and he told me many times about shaken baby syndrome, and he did testify for the prosecution in shaken-baby cases. So I knew it.

Demsas: Wow.

Rossant: Yeah, its really a crazy coincidence, right? Sadly, he passed away one month before the symptoms of my child. So just before that. He could have been very helpful, obviously. But thats why I had this bias at the beginning, when I was starting to look into the literature. I was sure that shaken baby syndrome was entirely legitimate, and I thought there was no controversy.

So when I started looking into it, I really didnt think that I would change my mind, but I actually changed my mind. It was really hard for me to do it, because I was so convinced that the scientific consensus was right. And even my own father was testifying in court that this theory was correct. So it was not easy for me to change my mind, but I had to, because thats what the evidence was telling me.

Demsas: Well, thats a model for what were trying to do on this show. Cyrille, thank you so much for coming on.

Rossant: Thank you. Thank you a lot.

[Music]

Demsas: Good on Paper is produced by Rosie Hughes. It was edited by Dave Shaw and fact-checked by Ena Alvarado. Erica Huang and Rob Smierciak engineered this episode. Rob Smierciak also composed our theme music. Claudine Ebeid is the executive producer of Atlantic audio. Andrea Valdez is our managing editor.

And hey, if you like what youre hearing, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

Im Jerusalem Demsas, and well see you next week.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
Detecting radiation is a fundamental necessity for national security, but doing so effectively and at a distance is a tall order.

A new technique pioneered by scientists at the University of Maryland uses lasers to create a little ball of lightning than can help detect radiation at least up to 10 meters from the source.

The scientists estimate that the effective distance could be as high as 100 meters, and theyre working to create long-distance sensors for detecting potentially hazardous radioactive materials.

Considering what radioactive materials can do to the human bodyboth in a passive and more explosive formits a good idea to have hyper-sensitive detectors capable of picking up on this material from a distance. Unfortunately, typical detectors require particles produced by radioactive decay to interact with a sensor, which means they have to be pretty close to the source.

But a new technique, pioneered by physicists at the University of Maryland, instead used a laser (specifically, an infrared pulsed carbon laser) to detect alpha particles emanating from a source of highly radioactive polonium-210. Although the length of the laboratory used for the proof-of-principle experiment limited detection to a maximum of 10 meters from the radiation source, the researchers expect that the method is scalable to at least 100 metersa huge increase from typical standoff radiation detectors, or SRDs, used today. The results of the study were published last week in the journal Physical Review Applied.

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This more active fissile-sensing technique relies on the physics of the interaction between lasers and free electrons. According to Chemical and Engineering News, when radiation produced by radionucleotides comes into contact with air molecules, they generate free electrons. A laser then adds energy to those free electrons, causing them to collide with more air molecules, which in turn knocks more electrons loose.



It's almost like a little lightning ball right where it happens, Howard Milchberg, a co-author of the study from the University of Maryland, told Chemical and Engineering News. The more of those little plasma balls there are, the more backscattering you get. That tells you something about the activity of the radioactive source.

Milchberg and his team have pondered this laser-based approach for more than a decade , once even suggesting that such a laser could be loaded on a truck for inspecting city streets and shipping containers in ports (as long as the air wasnt too turbulent or filled with aerosols). In 2019, Milchberg and his team released a paper detailing a mid-infrared laser capable of creating an electron avalanche for radiation detectiona similar method to the one employed in this carbon-based laser.

An electron avalanche can start with a single seed electron, Milchberg said in a press statement from 2019 . Electron avalanches were among the first demonstrations after the laser was invented. This is not a new phenomenon, but we are the first to use an infrared laser to seed an avalanche breakdown for radiation detection.

Of course, its hard to detect a single electron, so the laser induces an event thats macroscopically detectable. According to this new paper, the new carbon pulsed lasers avalanche-based remote detection of radiation at 10 meters is around 10 times longer than our previous results using a mid-IR laser, and its likely only the beginning of how far this technique can reach.

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The ultimate goal is for far-range detection, but to find out just how far this laser can sense radiation, were going to need a bigger lab.



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Researchers have made some huge insights thanks to a tiny transmitter on a tiny migratory shorebird that was once near extinction.

Last year, the International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC) put the world's smallest solar-powered transmitter on a spoon-billed sandpiper named K9 and uncovered new data on the species' breeding habits.

"K9 led us to a newly discovered breeding location and habitat, which could be a game-changer for Spoon-billed Sandpiper (SBS) conservation and research in the breeding grounds," Sayam Chowdhury, co-director of the SBS task force, told Mongabay.

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In 2016, the spoon-billed sandpiper was expected to go extinct in the next 10 years, but conservation efforts helped slow the population decline. The species breed in the Russian Far East along coastal tundra and travel 5,000 miles to Myanmar (also known as Burma), Bangladesh, and a few other sites in Southeast Asia, per the National Audubon Society.

With the data from K9's transmitter, scientists can further refine efforts to safeguard their habitats and prevent poaching.

"The hope was that K9's journey would reveal new nesting areas in northeastern Russia, helping efforts to prevent this unique species  with its distinctive spoon-shaped bill  from going extinct," ICFC director of bird conservation Scott Hecker shared on the organization's website.

The protection of the spoon-billed sandpiper will inform efforts to conserve all sorts of migratory birds from shoreline ecosystems. According to the International Conservation Fund (ICF), this makes it an "umbrella species," just like the Northern bald ibis.

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"The sandpiper's conservation is not only a strategy for its survival but a powerful catalyst for strengthening biodiversity protection and environmental cooperation across borders in Asia," the ICF said on its website.

Healthy ecosystems support human food supply and ensure clean air and water, and they also improve international economies and support cultural histories, as Conservation International explained.

If we protect animal and plant species  endangered or not  we can help ensure the future of every living being on Earth. The discovery of new spoon-billed sandpiper habitats can make a huge difference in achieving this goal.

"The entire journey, including the use of stopover sites, highlights the critical importance of protecting key locations, such as those in North Korea," Chowdhury told Mongabay.

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Millions of gallons of water are moved from lakes, reservoirs, and rivers via canals, pipelines, and tunnels. These huge transfers of water take place around the world every day to meet agricultural, business, and personal needs.

However, scientists have uncovered a hidden cost to moving vast quantities of untreated water across great distances: invasive species coming along for the ride.

What's happening?

Transferring water from one locale to another is nothing new; it has happened for thousands of years. The only thing that has changed is the scale of the practice. In Britain, raw water transfers (RWT) move 45-150 liters of water daily. The problem is that RWTs lack proper regulation and surveillance against the risk of invasive species.

Lead researcher Ava Waine of Newcastle University's School of Natural and Environmental Sciences explained: "Raw water transfers move invasive species around between different environments, but researchers in the invasion ecology field are only now becoming mindful of the extent of their impact, and industry and regulators aren't yet fully aware of the invasion risk or how to manage it."

Why is preventing invasive species important?

Invasive species pose a major threat to local biodiversity. They can overuse resources and destroy habitats, causing native populations to decline or even go extinct. Because of an ecosystem's delicate balance, an invasive species endangers the rest of the environment when even one plant or animal is removed from it.

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The study found that two particularly problematic species could be spread: the zander fish and the zebra mussel. Both are included in what British Waterways describes as "the dirty dozen" species most likely to harm local wildlife. Zebra mussels, native to southern Russia and Ukraine, are among the most invasive aquatic species in the world.

What's being done about it?

The researchers have called for further study and a proper recognition of the risks posed by RWTs.

The study's co-author, Dr Zarah Pattison, Senior Lecturer in Plant Sciences at the University of Stirling, said: "This is a call to action. We need to take the risk of invasive and non-native species spread through raw water transfers seriously and invest in research to determine the severity of this risk for all taxonomic groups of species."

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Scientists across the Middle East are defying divisions of war and teaming up to protect the barn owl, an essential predator that farmers throughout the region rely on.

According to Euronews, conservationists from Israel, Jordan, Palestine, Cyprus, and Morocco have partnered on an important mission to save barn owls. As a key predator, barn owls play a vital role in pest control for farmers by keeping rodent populations at bay.

"A pair of barn owls eats between 2,000 and 6,000 rodents every year, allowing farmers to stop using pesticides," Yossi Leshem, Professor Emeritus at Tel Aviv University's School of Zoology, told Euronews.

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Due to its geographical location, the Middle East serves as a key junction for birds on long-distance migration routes, making it a high-profile area for bird conservation. In the case of barn owl conservation, scientists have been creating artificial nests out of plywood boxes as part of a larger nesting project.

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The conservation initiative dates back to the early 1980s when professor Leshem started the project on a community farm.

In its early stages, the project had just 14 nesting boxes in a single neighborhood in Israel. Now, the endeavor is a national project with 5,000 boxes in Israel alone, as well as partnerships with countries throughout the Middle East.

By protecting the barn owl, the project is not only helping preserve this species  it is also ensuring the survival of the entire food chain that relies on this bird. When one species is threatened, it creates a domino effect that impacts the entire ecosystem. As a result, the conservationists working to help the barn owl are also helping keep other prey and predator populations in check.

Despite the tension and conflicts throughout the Middle East, the scientists have continued to work together, meeting online when necessary. During these times, the barn owl has taken on a more meaningful role for the conservationists. It's become a symbol of hope.

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"Barn owls know no boundaries; they fly between Jordan, Palestine, and Israel," professor Leshem told Euronews. "They symbolize cooperation."

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Scrantons mayor council have asked Penn States leadership to preserve its presence in the greater Scranton area, the mayor announced Tuesday.

Penn State President Dr. Neeli Bendapudi announced on Feb. 25 that 12 of the universitys satellite campuses, including four of the commonwealth campuses in Northeast Pennsylvania named Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton and Schuylkill, are under review for closure at the end of the 2026-27 academic year.

Penn State Worthingston Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFFPHOTO)

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Scranton loves Penn State. It is a critical part of the network of colleges and universities that are easily accessible to Scranton residents, Scranton Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti said in a statement. The closure of the Penn State Scranton campus would remove an important option for local students and would have a negative impact on multiple other areas of the surrounding community.

Cognetti and all five members of council  President Gerald Smurl, Bill King, Tom Schuster, Mark McAndrew and Jessica Rothchild  sent a letter March 3 to PSU leadership saying 54 % of Penn State Scrantons 827 students are from Lackawanna County; and many of those students are first-generation college students who can achieve the dream of higher education because of nearby campuses and affordable tuition.

Beyond education, the University contributes to our local economy, the letter said. Students, faculty, and staff support our small business, housing, and other services in Scranton and Dunmore. The loss of the campus would not only impact the students, faculty, and staff but would also impact the broader community.

The letter noted that the local campus in Dunmore is a point of pride.

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We strongly urge you and the Penn State leadership to consider the impacts of this campus closing before you come to any decision, the Scranton officials said in their joint letter.

Previously, last month Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan called on the university to keep the Penn State Scranton campus in Dunmore open and for Penn State administrators to meet with local economic development officials and educators before making a decision this spring about which campuses to close.

Bendapudi had said the universitys seven largest Commonwealth Campuses  Abington, Altoona, Behrend, Berks, Brandywine, Harrisburg and Lehigh Valley  along with the graduate education-focused campus at Great Valley, will remain open. A group co-led by university administrators will make a final recommendation on campus closures to her by the end of the spring semester in early May, and Bendapudi will make the final decision.

Meanwhile, on Friday, Bendapudi asked a committee studying whether to close campuses to keep a continued presence in Northeast Pennsylvania, and for Penn State to remain in the Pittsburgh region.

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Of the campuses in the Northeast Pennsylvania, Scranton had the largest enrollment this fall with 827 students followed by Schuylkill with 698 students, Hazleton with 515 students and Wilkes-Barre with 329 students.

At the 12 campuses unprotected from closing, enrollment has dropped 39% in a decade while Penn State and colleges nationwide are bracing for a significant decrease in traditional-age students in the upcoming school year, the committees update said.

Times-Tribune Staff Writer Christine Lee and Standard-Speaker Staff Writer Kent Jackson contributed to this report.
SCRANTON  The city plans a $1.1million upgrade next year to 16-acre Connell Park in South Side, the mayor recently announced.

Improvements to the park at 800 Gibbons St. and South Webster Avenue would include a new wellness loop trail, biking and hiking trails, a new playground, upgrades to the dog park there and various accessibility improvements.

Scranton City Council on March 4 unanimously introduced a resolution authorizing the city to contract with Greenman-Pedersen Inc. of Moosic for up to $105,590 for engineering and design of improvements to Connell Park. The contract covers design and construction oversight, and the city expects work on upgrades to begin in 2026.

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The resolution is on councils agenda for its meeting Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall for a vote on adoption.

Meanwhile, renovations to Connell Parks swimming pool area that began last year, funded by federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars, remain ongoing and should be completed in time for the 2025 summer swim season, Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti said in the March 4 announcement.

Our investment into our parks continues and we are excited about the potential Connell Park holds through our planned renovation project, Cognetti said. As we prepare to reopen the Connell Park pool this summer, were updating features that will make this a multigenerational attraction in South Scranton.

The Connell Park rehabilitation project is funded in part by a $381,594 grant from the U.S. Department of the Interiors Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program and a $149,400 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Community Conservation Partnerships Program. The city will match the total $530,994 in grant awards with federal Community Development Block Grant funds.

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While the city describes Connell Park as nearly 16 acres, a site development report from 2021 says the park encompasses 20.4 acres. One section of the park contains a sloped woodsy area.

Situated on higher ground, Connell Park offers views of West Mountain across the city.

Some of Connell Parks facets are unique in the citys park system.

Connell Park currently has Scrantons only dog park. This canine run area has two separate fenced-in sections, including one for larger dogs over 30 pounds and an adjacent one for smaller dogs under 30 pounds. The city plans to eventually put the citys second dog park on a lot at Albright Avenue and Marion Street, next to the redeveloped Lace Village at the former Scranton Lace factory complex.

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Connell Park also has the citys only bicycle pump track, built in 2021. Pump tracks feature a series of small hills in a loop for bicycle riders to generate momentum with body movements, by pushing down and pulling up on their bikes.

The Anthracite Bicycle Coalition also uses the former concession stand building at Connell Park for the first bicycle cooperative in the city, called Cycle Kitchen. It provides used bikes to new owners and provides space, tools and guidance for recipients to fix their bikes.

The coalition in May held a grand opening of the Cycle Kitchen, which overlooks the pump track. The city last year put a new roof on the Cycle Kitchen building, said Anthracite Bicycle Coalition board President Gene McDonough. He looks forward to the citys revitalization of Connell Park.

It is a great thing. It ties into everything we are doing at Connell Park, McDonough said.

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A plaque dated 2006 on a stone at Connell Park in South Scranton on Monday, March 10, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)

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The small dog park area at Connell Park in South Scranton on Monday, March 10, 2025. The dog park area has two fenced-in sections, including one for larger dogs over 30 pounds and one for smaller dogs under 30 pounds. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)

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Dogs mingle at the dog park at Connell Park in South Scranton on Monday, March 10, 2025. The dog park area has two fenced-in sections, including one for larger dogs over 30 pounds and one for smaller dogs under 30 pounds. The dogs here are separated by a fence between the two sections. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)

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The swimming pool area under renovation at Connell Park in South Scranton on Monday, March 10, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)

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A plaque on a flagpole base dated 1949 at Connell Park in South Scranton on Monday, March 10, 2025. A fenced dog park section is in the background. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)

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The swimming pool area under renovation at Connell Park in South Scranton on Monday, March 10, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)

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The Anthracite Bicycle Coalitions Cycle Kitchen bike workshop at a former concession stand at Connell Park in Scranton on Monday, March 10, 2025.

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A plaque dated 2006 on a stone at Connell Park in South Scranton on Monday, March 10, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)

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An aerial view of Connell Park in Scranton Monday, March 10, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)Mark Dryden, of Moosic, plays fetch with his dogs Huckleberry and Liam at the dog park located in Connell Park in Scranton Monday, March 10, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)Claudio Robles, of Scranton, pushes his children Cameron, 3, and Camila, 6, on the swings at Connell Park in Scranton Monday, March 10, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)Jaelyn Munoz, 9 , of Scranton, hangs from the monkey bars at the Connell Park playground in Scranton Monday, March 10, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)A slide is broken in the center at Connell Park in Scranton Monday, March 10, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
South Dakota librarians watch a debate from the gallery of the state Senate in Pierre on March 10, 2025. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

PIERRE  The South Dakota Senate gutted a bill Monday at the Capitol that would have subjected librarians to criminal prosecution for disseminating obscene material to children, and replaced that language with a requirement that school and public libraries allow for appeals of their determinations on obscene material.

The bill will now go back to the House for consideration of the amendment, and could go to a conference committee if the House does not concur.

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Sen. David Wheeler, R-Huron, introduced the amendment. It strikes the original bill language and replaces it with new language building on a law passed last year that requires libraries to publish their policies for restricting minors from accessing obscene materials.

Wheelers amendment says determinations about whats obscene can be appealed to the school board or a public librarys governing board. It also says the decisions of those boards can be appealed to court.

With this amendment, we actually get to the heart of what this is about, Wheeler said. Its about, How do we make decisions about when books are or are not appropriate or legal to have on a shelf?

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The motion to amend the bill passed 18-16, and the amended version of the bill passed 32-2.

The original version of the bill would have repealed a legal exemption that shields librarians from prosecution under laws regulating obscenity and prohibiting the dissemination of material deemed harmful to minors. Although the debate focused mostly on librarians, the original version of the bill also would have repealed the exemption for schools, universities and museums.

Supporters of the original version said it would prevent explicit content from reaching children, while opponents said it could result in locking up librarians. Some supporters distributed excerpts of books they consider obscene to lawmakers.

If someone had knowingly given that to my children when they were little, I would want them strung up from the nearest tree, said Sen. Taffy Howard, R-Rapid City. There is more that I would want than a simple slap on the wrist.

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Sen. Lauren Nelson, R-Yankton, sponsored the original version in the Senate. She described it as a necessary step to ensure that public institutions are held accountable for making explicit materials accessible to minors.

Dozens of opposing librarians were in the gallery of the Senate watching the debate. In opposition to the original bill, Sen. Stephanie Sauder, R-Bryant, challenged her colleagues to look in the eyes of the librarians up there and tell them, I dont trust you.

Sen. Jamie Smith, D-Sioux Falls, rejected the premise that the legislation addresses a real problem. He said its an unnecessary attempt to inject national culture wars into South Dakota politics.

This bill has no purpose in the state of South Dakota, he said.
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP)  Law enforcement is continuing its search for a missing East Windsor man who was last seen leaving a party in Chicopee on Saturday night.

The East Windsor Police Department stated on Monday that family and friends reported seeing 26-year-old Daniel Callahan of East Windsor, Connecticut leaving a party on Saturday night in Chicopee. His father reported him missing at around 9:51 a.m. on Sunday in East Windsor.

At approximately 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, officers and detectives discovered what appeared to be signs of a possible car crash at the end of Walter Street. They found evidence that led detectives to believe a person may have driven their vehicle into the Connecticut River.

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Chicopee Police recover vehicle of missing Daniel Callahan from Connecticut River

The Massachusetts State Police Dive Team located an unoccupied black Toyota Camry submerged in the river. At around 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, the vehicle was removed and was later revealed to be registered to Callahans father. Authorities cant confirm if Daniel was the operator of the vehicle at the time it entered the river.

(East Windsor Police Department)

Search resumes in the Connecticut River

The search continued on Tuesday, with the Hampden County Sheriffs Office Marine Patrol Unit assisting in the efforts. The Sheriffs Office deployed two of its boats, and the Chicopee and Springfield Fire Departments each launched a boat to search the Connecticut River. Dive team crews searched the area where the vehicle was found and the shoreline.

In addition, drones from the Sheriffs Office and Chicopee Police searched the area along with 14 search and rescue personnel.

Hampden County Sheriffs Office Marine Patrol Unit assists in search effort on the Connecticut River. (Hampden County Sheriffs Office)

After receiving several calls from the community, we activated our Marine Patrol Unit and Search and Rescue teams to utilize all available resources in the search for anyone who may have been inside the recovered vehicle, said Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi. We are focusing on the area where the car was found, as well as locations downriver. The river is volatile at the moment, but we are committed to this effort because a distraught family is looking for their loved one.

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This investigation will continue and will be conducted by the Chicopee Police Crash Reconstruction Team, Hampden County District Attorneys Office, Massachusetts State Police, and the East Windsor Police Department.

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.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Dane Paulsen, the 2-year-old boy whose recent disappearance from his Oregon home prompted a massive search effort, was found dead in the Siletz River on Tuesday, according to deputies.

Paulsen was last seen in the yard of his Siletz home on March 1 around 4:30 p.m. About 10 days later, the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office confirmed that his body was found approximately three miles downstream from his home on March 11.

TIMELINE: What we know about Dane Paulsen, the missing Siletz child

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Our thoughts are with the family, who are facing an unbearable sorrow, Sheriff Adam Shanks said. We are deeply grateful for the support and dedication shown by the search teams and our communities throughout this difficult time, though we wish it was under different circumstances.

The childs body was discovered by Juan Heredia with Angels Recovery Dive Team while he joined a volunteer search effort on behalf of the family.

Heredia told KOIN 6 News he was on a vacation in Mexico when he heard about Danes disappearance. He got in his truck and drove 12 hours to start the search and said he was only in the water for two hours before he found the boys body.

Danes discovery marks Heredias 7th recovered body  and also his youngest.

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I saw his shoes; that was about it, he said. Every single one is heartbreaking, but its a boy, 2 years, 3 years old  hard to believe.

Diver Juan Heredia found the body of 2-year-old Dane Paulsen in the Siletz River, March 11, 2025 (KOIN)

Details of what led to Danes death will remain unclear until a medical examiner can determine the official cause.

Before finding Dane, search and rescue efforts covered hundreds of miles on the ground and in the air  eventually shifting their focus to the Siletz River.

As search efforts intensified, law enforcement said there was no evidence to suggest criminal actions are involved. Rather, evidence indicated that Dane had been at the Siletz Rivers edge before he vanished, according to investigators.

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The Lincoln County Sheriffs Office previously described Dane as comfortable around strangers and water, but added that he cannot swim.

Lincoln County searchers on the Siletz River looking for 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 4, 2025 (Lincoln County Sheriffs Office) 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) The Lincoln County Sheriffs Office command unit at the scene of the search for Dane Paulsen, 2, of Siletz, March 2, 2025 (KOIN) Some of the hundreds of Lincoln County searchers 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) Searchers checked the Siletz River looking for missing 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 3, 2025 (KOIN) A boat searches the Siletz River for missing 2-year-old Dane Paulsen. (Lincoln County Sheriffs Office) 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)

By Tuesday evening, the community in Depoe Bay was still reeling as the missing signs for Dane remained in the windows of some local businesses along Highway 101.

Loved ones and locals who didnt know the toddler came together for a vigil. Community members said while it isnt the outcome they were hoping for, theyre glad the family has some closure.

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.
This story was originally published on MyNorthwest.com

A 50-year-old Seattle man has been sentenced to 7-and-a-half years in prison for drug trafficking and carrying a firearm as part of the crime, acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller announced.

Phuong Nguyen Le was arrested after a drive-by shooting in Seattles International District in February 2023 and was indicted in May 2023. Le was arrested with a loaded firearm and had fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine on him. He fired several shots from his car in the Little Saigon neighborhood at the intersection of 10th Avenue South and South King Street. The presiding judge said Les actions posed a significant risk to the community.

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Local and federal law enforcement continue to work to increase safety in the International District. This case exemplifies our collaboration with the King County Prosecutors Office and the Seattle Police to pursue federal prosecution where it has the most impact, said acting U.S. Attorney Miller.

More from MyNorthwest: Tesla Cybertrucks burn overnight in Seattle, KIRO Newsradio reporter threatened with knife while covering

Drug trafficking were among the charges stemming from the 2023 shooting

Seattle Police officers responded to reports of shots fired in the Little Saigon neighborhood on February 24, 2023. Witnesses reported seeing a man in a white Mercedes firing a handgun into the air. Police located the vehicle nearby with Le driving and his girlfriend in the passenger seat.

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Prosecutors emphasized the danger posed by Les combination of drug distribution and firearm possession, stating, Les actions placed the community at significant risk and warrant a substantial custodial sentence.

Le will also serve five years of supervised release following his prison term. He has prior convictions, including a 2012 conviction for cocaine distribution and a 2020 sentence for illegal firearm and drug possession.

The Seattle Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case.

More from MyNorthwest: Washington House passes divisive bill to ease misdemeanor dismissals




Mar. 10A second Albuquerque attorney has come under disciplinary scrutiny by the state Supreme Court for his alleged role in a long-running racketeering and bribery conspiracy in which New Mexico law enforcement officers accepted bribes to ensure drunken driving offenders they arrested were never convicted, and in some instances, never formally charged.

The state Supreme Court on Monday filed a notice requiring Albuquerque criminal defense attorney Rudolph B. Chavez to respond by March 17 to a petition asking that he be suspended from the practice of law until further notice of the court.

The petition was filed by Anne L. Taylor, the chief disciplinary counsel for the Office of Disciplinary Counsel of the New Mexico Supreme Court Disciplinary Board. The board oversees investigations of misconduct by attorneys and the unauthorized practice of law.

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Chavez, whose website notes his more than 40 years of practicing law in New Mexico, didn't return phone calls on Monday.

Chavez has not been criminally charged as part of the federal prosecution, which has so far resulted in guilty pleas from three former Albuquerque police officers and a former Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office deputy. Also pleading guilty were the two leaders of the conspiracy, longtime Albuquerque criminal defense attorney Thomas Clear III, and his investigator Ricardo "Rick" Mendez.

After Clear pleaded guilty to five federal charges, including conspiracy, racketeering, bribery and extortion on Feb. 12, the state Supreme Court began proceedings to formally disbar him from the practice of law. On Feb. 28, he agreed that the Supreme Court should disbar him.

The petition states that "upon information and belief," Chavez is the party identified as a co-conspirator in both Mendez's plea agreement filing, and that of former Albuquerque DWI officer Honorio Alba Jr.

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Alba, who pleaded guilty to racketeering among other federal charges, stated in his plea agreement filed Feb. 7, that he worked "in concert" with Mendez, Clear and "another Albuquerque defense attorney" to ensure a man he arrested in April 2023 avoided criminal and administrative consequences related to his offense.

In that case, the suspect, identified as Z.W. said he knew nothing about any criminal conspiracy and told the Journal, "Rudy Chavez did nothing to make me question his integrity. He never told me anything that didn't sit well with me."

Mendez, in his plea agreement, also mentioned the case of Z.W.

The disciplinary counsel petition states that Chavez represented client Zachary Williams in that case and noted that Alba was the arresting officer.

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Alba also stated that he relied on "attorney co-conspirators" to handle "any aspect of the scheme and the enterprise that required an attorney present in court or at administrative hearings" such as those conducted by the state Motor Vehicle Department, which oversees driver's license privileges.

"Given the length and nature of the enterprise and the allegations against (Chavez), as well as the hundreds of dismissed DWI criminal cases as a result of the enterprise, the continued practice of law by (Chavez) will result in the substantial probability of harm, loss or damage to the public," the petition states.

Chavez, who served as an assistant county attorney from 1989 to 1993, started his own firm in 1993. He practices criminal and civil law. Most recently, Chavez appeared as the lawyer for a suspect arrested Feb. 22 for driving without a license. The suspect's license was revoked due to a DWI, according to court records.

To date, more than 200 DWI cases have been dismissed because they were filed by the Albuquerque Police Department, State Police and BCSO officers under investigation as part of the FBI's continuing investigation of the criminal scheme.
Second New Mexico defense attorney implicated in DWI scheme

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  A second New Mexico defense attorney has been publicly identified and accused of taking part in a scheme to get accused drunk drivers off the hook.

A New Mexico board that disciplines attorneys said Rudolph Rudy Chavez was part of a public corruption scandal that dates back to 1995.

According to state law, an attorneys law license may be suspended when the disciplinary counsel is investigating that attorney for an alleged violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct. On March 6, the states chief disciplinary counsel filed a petition for summary suspension saying Rudy Chavez is under investigation, so it wants the NM Supreme Court to suspend him. In the document, the Disciplinary Board claimed Chavez worked with former Albuquerque Police officer Honorio Alba, Jr. and paralegal Ricardo Rick Mendez to get an accused drunk drivers case dismissed.

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Both Alba and Mendez admitted in plea agreements that they worked with an unnamed Albuquerque criminal defense attorney, who the states chief disciplinary counsel recently identified as Chavez, to get the case dismissed.

KRQE Investigates obtained video from the DWI case in question, where Alba conducted a DWI stop on a Sunday night in April 2023. In the video, Alba is seen conducting a field sobriety test on a driver he pulled over on I-25 north near the Jefferson exit.

Alba claimed the driver swerved in and out of lanes and almost hit other cars while traveling 90 miles per hour. Alba then arrested the driver, who later blew a 0.14 and 0.15 on the alcohol breath test, nearly twice the legal limit.

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At that time, the driver already had two DWI convictions on his record. From that arrest, he was facing a 3rd DWI offense, along with reckless driving, no proof of insurance, and possession of open container charges.

According to the petition submitted to the New Mexico Supreme Court, the driver then hired defense attorney Rudy Chavez to represent him in the casea move that caught the attention of federal investigators.

Driver says he had no idea

The driver told KRQE Investigative Reporter Ann Pierret that he found Chavez from a Google search. He reiterated several times that Chavez didnt make any promises, or do anything that raised red flags, or would make him question the attorneys integrity.

The driver told KRQE Investigates that he paid Chavez $8,000 to represent him, which he claimed was lower than other attorneys he spoke with. The driver added that Chavez told him the price was that high because it was his third DWI.

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The drivers case was dismissed in January 2024, and according to court documents, the decision was in the interest of justice.

The driver explained to KRQE Investigates that he had his suit on and was ready to go to his court hearing when Chavez told him the news of his case getting dismissed. The driver said he thought he was just lucky, until the FBI called him last year.

He said he told investigators that he didnt know anything about a scheme.

The federal investigation had shown some clients were left in the dark, but KRQE Investigates learned one way Alba carried out the scheme was by taking their drivers license and/or email and giving those items to Mendez. Mendez, who worked with Defense Attorney Thomas Clear III, would later contact the driver and in exchange for payment, help get their case dismissed by making sure officers missed their court appearances.

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In this case, the driver said Alba took both his license and email, but he said he never heard from Clears law office.

Request for suspension

The petition for summary suspension submitted to the New Mexico Supreme Court requests that Chavez be suspended from practicing law.

KRQE Investigates called and emailed attorney Chavez for a comment on the petition and did not hear back.

The court previously revoked Clears law license for being the mastermind of the DWI dismissal scheme.

In February, Clear took a plea deal, admitting that he worked with DWI officers from around the metro to funnel drunk drivers to his office and convince them to pay him thousands of dollars to get them off the hook.

A history of working together

While looking through court records, KRQE Investigates noticed Chavez took over a number of Clears cases after the feds raided Clears law office in January 2024. The two also worked on several cases together going back to June 2006.

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The State Bar of New Mexico shows Chavez joined in 1981 and practices in Bernalillo, Sandoval, and Taos counties. Chavezs website mentioned The National Advocacy for DUI Defense, LLC recognized him as one of the Top 50 DWI Attorneys in New Mexico.

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Originally appeared on E! Online

Kate Middleton is paying homage to her royal predecessors.

The Princess of Wales attended the annual Commonwealth Day service alongside husband Prince William at Westminster Abbey in London, England, March 10, where she included nods to both Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth II in her wardrobe.

To mark the occasion, which celebrates the 56 countries in the Commonwealth of Nations, Kate stepped out wearing head-to-toe red as she paired a Catherine Walker coatdress with a Gina Foster hat. She completed her ensemble with Gianvito Rossi pointed toe pumps and a Miu Miu shoulder bag.

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As for her accessories, the 43-year-old arrived at the churchwhere she wed the Prince of Wales in April 2011sporting the Collingwood teardrop earrings which previously belonged to her late mother-in-law. The pieces were given to Princess Diana by the London-based jeweler ahead of her wedding to King Charles in 1981, and Kate has gone on to wear them on numerous occasions, including in one of her 40th birthday portraits in 2022.

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The princess similarly honored Queen Elizabeth II by donning the Japanese pearl choker once owned by the late monarch. The four-strand necklace features pearls which were gifted to the Queen by the government of Japan during a state visit to the country in the 1970s, and is an item Diana occasionally wore as well during her marriage.

Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images

The Commonwealth Day outing marked Kates first appearance at the event in two years after she skipped the 2024 proceedings amid her cancer treatments. Fortunately, she recently shared a positive update on her health journey after completing chemotherapy.

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It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focused on recovery, she wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) in January. As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal. I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead.

For more of the latest royal news, keep reading.

Luxembourg's Prince Fredrik Dies at 22

Prince Frederikthe son of Prince Robert and his wife Princess Juliedied March 1 at 22 years old after a battle with PolG mitochondrial disease, a rare genetic disorder. "Frederik knows that he is my Superhero, as he is to all of our family, and to so very many good friends and now in great part thanks to his PolG Foundation, to so very many people the world over," Robert said in a statement. "Part of his superpower was his ability to inspire and to lead by example."





Prince Harry Reaches Settlement in U.K. Tabloids Lawsuit

The Duke of Sussex reached a settlement with News Group Newspaperswhich is responsible for The Sun as well as the now defunct News of the Worldon Jan. 22 after suing the organization in 2019 over alleged unlawful actions on the part of journalists and private investigators working for the newspapers to obtain information on the royal family. The deal included the company paying "substantial damages," as well as issuing a "full and unequivocal apology" to Harry and public acknowledgement of "the extensive coverage and serious intrusion into his private life as well as the private life of Diana, Princess of Wales, per NBC News.





Kate Middleton Is in Remission After Finishing Chemotherapy for Cancer

The Princess of Wales announced on Jan. 14 that she's in remission after complete cancer treatments. "It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focused on recovery," she wrote in a message on X, formerly Twitter, Jan. 14. "As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal." "I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead," she continued. "There is much to look forward to."





Meghan Markle's Longtime Dog Guy Dies

The Duchess of Sussex mourned the death of her beloved rescue beagle, who she adopted in 2015 before meeting husband Prince Harry. She wrote on Instagram Jan. 7, "I have cried too many tears to count - the type of tears that make you get in the shower with the absurd hope that the running water on your face will somehow make you not feel them, or pretend theyre not there. But they are. And thats okay too." "Thank you for so many years of unconditional love, my sweet Guy," Meghan added. "You filled my life in ways youll never know."

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Prince William Mourns Death of Former Nanny's Stepson

Edward "Ed" Pettiferstepson of Prince William and Prince Harry's former nanny Alexandra Pettifer, also known as Tiggy Legge-Bourkewas one of the victims of the New Year's Day terrorist attack in New Orleans. "Catherine and I have been shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Ed Pettifer," William said in a message posted on Kate Middleton's Instagram Stories Jan. 4. "Our thoughts and prayers remain with the Pettifer family and all those innocent people who have been tragically impacted by this horrific attack."





Meghan Markle Rejoins Instagram to Reveal New Netflix Show

The Suits alumwho shut down her personal social media accounts shortly before her 2018 wedding to Prince Harrydebuted a solo Instagram page on Jan. 1. A day later, she announced a new Netflix series titled With Love, Meghan, which "reimagines the genre of lifestyle programming, blending practical how-tos and candid conversation with friends, new and old," according to a press release.



For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
Voting rights advocates march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge into Selma on Saturday, March 10, 2025. The marchers highlighted the need for more voting rights for people with a criminal conviction. (Ralph Chapoco/Alabama Reflector)

SELMA  Voting rights advocates on a panel Saturday highlighted the difficulties those who have completed prison sentences have in trying to regain the right to vote.

Those released from prison can face several obstacles to voting after release. Depending on the severity of the crime for which they were convicted, the formerly incarcerated may have to get a pardon from the Alabama Board of Pardons and Parole and certify that they have received it.

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We know that folks who are behind the wall (and) who reenter society, voting is central to who they are, because they have been liberated from the inside out for doing the time behind the wall, said Chelsey Cartwright, program manager for the Democracy Truth Project with the national chapter of the League of Women Voters. Understanding restorative justice is not just a buzzword, but is actual people doing work, educating voters and being in community.

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The panel was one in a series of democracy-focused seminars commemorating the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, when law enforcement beat civil rights protestors on Selmas Edmund Pettus Bridge as they began a planned march to Montgomery.

Saturdays festivities also included seminars hosted by the Transformative Justice Coalition concerning the youth vote and a second that focused on the current challenges to civil rights.

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The day began with a Backwards March led by the Rev. Kenneth Sharpton Glasgow, founder of the Formerly Incarcerated People Movement. The march started on the Montgomery side of the Edmund Pettus Bridge toward Selma.

Expanding voting rights to people who are formerly incarcerated is one of the key issues that Glasgow continues to advocate for as someone who is formerly incarcerated.

We left people behind, he said. In the Voting Rights Act, formerly incarcerated people were not part of the Voting Rights Act.

Glasgow said the formerly incarcerated are citizens who need to be able to speak with their own voices.When people get convicted of a felony, they take away their citizenship, he said. They dont have full citizenship. That should remind you of something. That should remind you of slavery.

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The panel of speakers compared the states rules to other parts of the country that either make it easier to have their voting rights restored or allow people to retain their right to vote even with a criminal record.

In Pennsylvania, for example, judges in the state must explain to defendants how agreeing to a plea bargain with a prosecutor will affect their right to vote.

They have to explain to them exactly what their voting rights are before they accept the plea, said Omar Sabir, chair of the Philadelphia City Commissioners and a member of Saturdays panel. To my knowledge, the judges didnt know what their voting rights were. I am talking all the way up to the state Supreme Court. It was very shocking.

By comparison, southern states like Alabama tend to make it difficult for those who have been in prison to vote. Members on the panel spoke to rules in Mississippi that require actions by the Legislature for individuals to regain their voting rights because of a criminal conviction.

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It is important to know that they have these draconian laws that continue to govern the way that we should be able to vote, said Rodreshia Russaw Glasgow, the executive director of The Ordinary People Society, a nonprofit organization that advocates on behalf of criminal justice reform, and the spouse of Kenneth Sharpton Glasgow. It really diminishes and takes away the power that people have.

Crimes like treason and impeachment can permanently abolish a persons right to vote, according to the ACLU of Alabama.

Other crimes, from murder and rape to sexual abuse and possession of obscene materials, require a pardon from the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles, before people can have their voting rights restored.

Manslaughter, assault, bigamy and aggravated child abuse require those convicted of those crimes to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote. People may apply to have their voting rights restored if they have no pending criminal charges, have completed their sentences and paid all their fines, fees and restitution.

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If people have not been convicted of those offenses, crimes labeled as crimes of moral turpitude, then they have not lost their right to vote.

Alabama passed a law in 2017 formally defining crimes of moral turpitude. The measure was intended to make clear which crimes can deprive a person of their right to vote.

Last year, Republican legislators added language to HB 100, sponsored by Rep. Adline Clarke, D-Mobile, originally meant to enhance criminal penalties for people who committed crimes against those who worked at polling places, to expand the offenses considered crimes of moral turpitude to include domestic violence, membership in a street gang and aggravated stalking. In total, the Campaign Legal Center estimated that the list of offenses went from 40 to 120.

Now we have bills that are expanding the crimes of moral turpitude, Rodreshia Russaw Glasgow said. What they are doing is trying to reverse the work of the lawsuits that allow people to vote in the state in the first place.

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A crash Tuesday morning on I-70 in western Vigo County involving a semi and an Indiana Department of Transportation truck closed one westbound lane of traffic for two hours, according to Indiana State Police.

Two drivers were taken to the hospital with complaints of pain, but no serious injuries, said Sgt. Matt Ames, ISP Putnamville Post public information officer.

The accident occurred at 11:20 a.m. near the 7 1/2 mile marker.

The semi-driver told police he was drowsy at the time of the accident, when he failed to see the arrow board on the INDOT truck and ran into it.
HOUSTON COUNTY, Ala. (WDHN)  A semi truck tipped over Tuesday afternoon, blocking traffic on a Houston County road.

The semi lost control in the 1100 block of North Beverlye Road near Columbia Highway.

That intersection is currently blocked to through traffic.

Crews are on the scene to clear the scene, WDHN was told on the scene that the driver is being checked out but was not trapped inside the cab.

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John Munson, a member of the Minneapolis-based rock band Semisonic, is recovering from a stroke he suffered in late February, and a fundraiser has since been launched to help with medical costs.

A GoFundMe states Munson suffered a stroke on Feb. 23. Thebassist, keyboardist, and guitarist previously suffered a stroke in November 2020.

"Although his prognosis is positive, he will be in acute rehabilitation for a length undetermined," Victoria Norvell Levy wrote in the GoFundMe post.

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"This puts a huge strain on a family, especially self employed artists."

John Munson.GoFundMe

As of Tuesday morning, the fundraiser has raised nearly $90,000 of its $100,000 goal.

"We have benefited over the years listening to John, maybe we can return the love," the GoFundMe states.

The Minneapolis band  consisting of Dan Wilson, Munson and Jacob Slichter  evolved from Wilson's and Munson's band Trip Shakespeare. During their rise in the late 1990s and 2000s, Semisonic produced Billboard Top 100 hits such as "Closing Time," "Singing in My Sleep," "Secret Smile," and "Chemistry."

Although Semisonic never announced a break-up, they went their separate ways after touring for around 10 years.

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In 2005, Munson former The New Standards along with fellow Twin Cities musicians Chan Poling (The Suburbs) and Steve Roehm (Billy Goat), releasing four albums between 2005-15.

Munson and Semisonic then picked up where they left off in 2017, releasing new music and going back on tour, with their most recent album released in 2023.

The band is slated to perform at the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival this year in July at Harriet Island in St. Paul.

Related: Green Day, Hozier, Fall Out Boy headliners for 2025 Minnesota Yacht Club Festival
Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., talks with reporters as he arrives at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

COLUMBIA  South Carolinas senior senator said Monday that Congress should require people to work longer in the future to collect full Social Security retirement benefits, though he offered no specific age suggestions.

Why is that? U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham asked rhetorically at the Columbia Rotary Clubs monthly meeting.

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There are less people working and people living longer, the South Carolina Republican said to answer his own question.

Something must be done to keep the program solvent and ensure payments continue well into the future, he told a room full of constituents mostly 60 and above, according to a show of hands by age group.

Americans can start receiving monthly retirement benefits as early as age 62. But under a deal struck during the Reagan administration, anyone born after Jan. 1, 1960, cant collect full benefits unless they wait until they turn 67.

But that 42-year-old deal didnt solve the problem indefinitely.

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The federal governments Social Security reserves for retirement benefits will be depleted in 2033, according to an annual report last May to the Social Security Board of Trustees.

Graham stressed Monday he believes the program that aids almost 1.3 million South Carolinians must continue.

Social Security really matters for a lot of people, and I dont want to lose it, said the Senate Budget Committee chairman. So, lets sit down together and  save it.

More than 73 million people nationwide received Social Security benefits in January 2025. Not all of them are retired. About 4.9 million people received payments due solely to a disability. Recipients also include young survivors, according to figures from the Social Security Administration.

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In 2021, the program began paying out more in benefits than it collected from workers. With officials predicting that benefit reductions of some sort will be necessary in less than a decade, Graham proposed looking at the past for inspiration to fix the future.

The agreement that raised the age to 67 was negotiated by President Ronald Reagan and Democrat House Speaker Tip ONeill in 1983. The two hammered out a deal that was praised for solving short-term issues but also allowed long-term security.

That really helped Social Security. We probably have to do that one more time, Graham said Monday.

Graham said he hopes President Donald Trump will entertain that thought before he leaves office.

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The 69-year-old senator from Seneca lost both his parents by the time he was 22 and had a sister nine years younger who needed support.

In the wake of his parents deaths, Graham moved in with his aunt and uncle and said he was helped tremendously by Social Security benefits given to family members after somebody dies.

If it werent for Social Security survivor benefits, wed have had a hard time making it, Graham told the audience.

In 2023, during her unsuccessful run for president, former Gov. Nikki Haley proposed raising the retirement age for younger generations and limiting benefits for the wealthy in order to prevent Social Security from going bankrupt. She never gave specifics on those ideas, but some South Carolina voters held even the suggestion of raising the age against her.

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Conversations about the future of Social Security and other government programs like Medicare and Medicaid come at a time when Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency are flexing their cost-reducing muscles.

The Social Security Administration announced Feb. 27 it would soon implement significant workforce reductions. The next day, the agency clarified that the goal is to reduce its workforce from 57,000 to 50,000. Rumors of a 50% reduction are false, reads the Feb. 28 release.

At a time when Republicans are publicizing their efforts to cut spending, the future of Social Security and other assistant programs could be a potential campaign issue.

Graham is seeking a fifth term in 2026 to the U.S. Senate.

According to his last quarterly campaign filing, he has $15.6 million in the bank available for his campaign. His reelection bid is co-led by fellow U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and Gov. Henry McMaster.
Mar. 11Sen. Angus King is demanding answers about the Department of Veterans Affairs' move to cut 585 contracted employees nationwide, and whether those contracts include critical jobs at the Togus VA Medical Center in Augusta.

Among other questions, King said he has been unable to find out if the cuts include a key radiation safety officer position at Togus. Cutting that position "may force Togus to close their radiology department," King said in the March 6 letter to Doug Collins, secretary of Veterans Affairs.

The topic is expected to come up during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs in Washington Tuesday. King, I-Maine, is a member of the VA committee, and several top VA administrators will be testifying.

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In addition to the contract cuts, the VA secretary has called for widespread layoffs, with 80,000 job cuts expected by June among the 470,000 employees at the agency. The VA reductions are part of the Trump administration's sweeping efforts to reduce the size of the federal workforce.

The decision to trim 585 contracted employees nationwide is separate from the seven firings of probationary employees that occurred at Togus in February. The elimination of seven positions  including a police dispatcher and a logistics worker  were part of an earlier round in the ongoing nationwide cutbacks at VA.

The VA initially announced in February that a total of 875 contracted positions would be eliminated. That list included Togus' radiation safety officer.

While the number of cuts has been reduced to 585 positions, the VA has not yet shared a list of the affected jobs. It's unknown whether the new list of 585 positions also includes the Augusta medical center's sole radiation safety officer,

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"Hospitals like Togus are required by multiple state and federal regulations to have an RSO," King wrote. "The RSO is responsible for overseeing radiation safety programs."

King said the VA is not being forthcoming with information about cutbacks that could hamper the operations of VA services.

"Despite committing to transparency to Congress in your nomination process, your department has refused to answer even the most basic questions," King wrote to Collins.

The VA did not respond to the Press Herald's questions on Monday afternoon.

King and other members of Maine's congressional delegation, as well as some leaders of Maine veterans' groups, condemned the firings of seven employees at Togus last month.

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The firings were "arbitrary and (made) without any strategic thinking," King said in a written statement at the time.

The seven included five military veterans, King said. They included at least one police dispatcher, a member of the veterans experience office and members of the logistics team, King said.

Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, said the VA firings, like others by the federal government, were "reckless" and "without clear justification."

Sen. Susan Collins said the people operating Togus know their needs better than those in Washington and should have been consulted before the cuts were announced.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Republican South Dakota Senator Lauren Nelson lead the charge in the Senate for House Bill 1239, a bill which some argued was a threat to librarians.

Debate on the measure was spirited, including arguments about responsibility, culture wars and the hypothetical hanging of librarians.

Troopers find 250lbs of Marijuana in traffic stop

The bill would have removed legal protections for those working at a school, college, university, museum or public library if they were accused of providing obscene or harmful material to minors.

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Nelson said HB1239 was simply providing teeth for the existing law.

Jodi Fick, Director for Siouxland Libraries, which has13 branch locations across Sioux Falls and Minnehaha County provided this statement on the measure prior to the Senate debate.

House Bill 1239 would change the legal standing of professionals, including librarians, and open them up to legal consequences when minors inadvertently access material deemed harmful to minors  even if those materials are in an adult section of the library. Siouxland Libraries currently has established policies and procedures in place that allow community members to challenge materials if they have concerns. Our existing policies respect the right of parents and guardians to determine what materials are suitable for their own families. If the Senate passes House Bill 1239, and Governor Rhoden chooses to sign it into law, Siouxland Libraries would need to make significant changes in operations or policies to ensure the safety and well-being of our staff and guests while complying with the new state law. Jodi Fick, Siouxland Libraries

Opposition came early from Democrat Sen. Jamie Smith, who called this an instance of national politics being brought into South Dakota, and arguing the issue addresses by the bill is not an actual issue in South Dakota.

Smith outlined various measures already in place, including systems to remove books or to flag specific student accounts if their parents wish.

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Instead what were going to do is demonize one more profession, said Smith. Were going to make it possible to actually arrest our librarians.

Much of the proponent debate struck on the themes of accountability for libraries and disgust for the content of certain books.

If somebody had knowingly given that to my children when they were little, Id want them strung up from the nearest tree. Senator Taffy Howard

Republican Sen. Taffy Howard spoke about an excerpt from one of the books she looked at.

I opened it up and right away it was like, oh my goodness, said Howard, saying that the shut the text immediately.

None of our children should be exposed to this garbage. Its absolute garbage, Howard said, arguing that librarians should not be allowed to provide these books to kids.

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I dont care what your job is, no one should be able to hide behind their job and use that as a way to provide this garbage to our children, said Howard, adding that she doesnt know if any librarians actually are providing these books. If somebody had knowingly given that to my children when they were little, Id want them strung up from the nearest tree.

Another theme of opposition was parental rights.

Republican Sen. Tamara Grove spoke of the lack of agency that individual parents have regarding what books library systems have. If a parent wanted to do something  theres nothing that they can do, she said.

Before discussion on the bill could continue, and amendment was brought by Republican Sen. David Wheeler.

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This amendment stripped the language that would result in potential criminal charges from the bill, and instead inserted sections that would allow for judicial review of a school boards decision on a book in the event that a parent disagrees with that decision.

Wheeler argued that while the Senate could probably come to an agreement that a handful of books used as an example should not be available to children, there are hundreds of books out there that may offend different people for different reasons.

How many of those are we going to agree on, said Wheeler, arguing that judicial review would allow for the decision to be made by someone who understands the law, without subjecting librarians and teachers with the threat of criminal prosecution.

Howard was the first to speak against the amendment, though her thoughts were echoed by others.

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Howards opposition to the amendment began with a question about who would pay for the court costs if a parent decided to appeal a districts decision.

Wheeler answered that the cost would be on whoever decided to bring the appeal, and Howard argued that such a process puts too great a burden on parents, using her own mother, who was a single mother as an example, and saying she never could have afforded to take it to court.

Nelson echoed Howards statement and argued that the crux of the bill was the ability to criminally charge people.

This amendment just simply it guts the bill, Nelson said. It would turn the bill into something that says you dont have an affirmative defense or  for something  you cant be charged with anyway. And thats the crux of it.

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Instead, Nelson says the amendment perpetuates the status quo and would leave schools unaccountable.

Speaking in favor of the amendment was Republican Sen. Steve Kolbeck, who argued that this is a local issue, and not one that should be addressed state wide.

Kolbeck, like Smith, noted that there are already systems in place to address material parents find objectional. We already have a process. And thats my issue with the bill, he said.

Instead, Kolbeck advocated for talking to your local librarians.

I know my librarians  Mary and Wilma, said Kolbeck. There isnt a rampant problem with librarians. And if you dont know your local librarian, or if you havent called your local librarian to double check that these [books] are in there, I think that you should vote no on this bill.

I dare everybody who wants to vote for this bill, who thinks we should help hold the librarians accountable to look in the gallery today, look in the eyes of these librarians that are up here and say, I dont trust you. Senator Stephanie Sauder

Republican Sen. Stephanie Sauder also spoke, giving a more forceful statement in support of the amendment.

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No one has been able to tell me  and Ive asked this a lot of times since this all has come up  how many actual incidences have been reported, said Sauder. There havent been any in my district.

Here Sauder issued a challenge to those who preferred the original text of the bill.

I dare everybody who wants to vote for this bill, who thinks we should help hold the librarians accountable to look in the gallery today, look in the eyes of these librarians that are up here and say, I dont trust you.' said Sauder. I dare you to do that. And then vote yes on this.

Wheelers amendment passed 18-16.

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Following this vote, discussion turned to passage of the amended version of the bill, with many of the proponents of the original version expressing their displeasure with the amendment, and the less forceful impact.

Despite that, all of those lawmakers voted to pass the amended version, with the bill passing on a vote of 32-2, with the only opponents being Democrats Smith and Liz Larson, each of whom had opposed the initial bill.

As the bill has been amended, it will need to be re-approved by the House.

Nelson urged senators to vote yes on the amended bill. She implied the fight wasnt over. It will go to conference committee. Well see what happens there.

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Mar. 10dbeard @dominionpost.com MORGANTOWN  Following the lead of President Trump, state senators are considering a bill to exempt overtime pay from personal income tax.

The Senate Workforce Committee OK'd SB 6010 on Monday and sent it to Senate Finance.

The exemption would begin in the 2026 tax year. A Tax & Revenue Department fiscal note with the bill estimates tax revenue loss ranging from $70 million to $100 million.

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Deputy Revenue Secretary Mark Muchow told the committee that Alabama was the first state to try this, with a temporary exemption set to run from January 2024 through June of this year. Alabama had to modify the exemption after actual looses far exceeded the estimates.

News reports from Alabama say the fiscal note with its original bill estimated a loss of $45 million, and supporters foresaw the loss to be made up through increased consumer spending.

Muchow said that after nine months, Alabama's revenue loss topped $230 million, so the law was amended to only apply to workers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act.

The FLSA, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, "establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth employment standards affecting employees in the private sector and in federal, state, and local governments."

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If Congress passes a federal overtime exemption law, Muchow said, the Legislature would need to update state code next year to conform to the federal one. The legislature annually passes legislation to conform state code to federal code.

Sen. Scott Fuller, R-Wayne, raised the issue of workers who receive comp time off instead of overtime and asked Muchow what would happen in those instances.

Muchow said that's one factor that could raise the cost of the bill, along with salaried workers who press their employers to switch them to hourly, and workers who press their employers for more overtime.

Two issues not discussed in committee were the $400 million revenue shortfall projected by the governor for next fiscal year, and a House bill  HB 2139  to exclude income from tips from personal income tax. That bill is sitting in House Finance and is estimated to cost the state about $5 million.
Senate Democrats are leery of blocking a House Republican-drafted six-month government funding bill, fearing a government shutdown may backfire on them politically by giving Elon Musk and the Trump administration more leverage to force federal workers into retirement.

Democratic senators panned the House GOP proposal unveiled over the weekend, arguing it would erode Congresss power of the purse and give President Trump and Musk a blank check to redirect government funding and eliminate long-standing programs.

But Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) stopped short of declaring the House bill dead on arrival in the Senate, reflecting Democratic qualms about killing the measure if it manages to pass the lower chamber later this week.

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In past standoffs, Democrats have felt confident that government shutdown politics played to their advantage, as the media often put scrutiny on Republicans during spending lapses  or Democrats were able to blame conservative agitators for shutdowns.

Now theres growing fear among Democrats that Trump could feel politically emboldened to let a shutdown drag on for many weeks, and that, in turn, could give Musk more leverage to push federal workers to retire, as many might feel financial pressure to look for work in the private sector if they have to endure weeks without a paycheck.

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) said theres growing uncertainty about how long federal departments and agencies would remain shuttered if Congress fails to pass a spending bill by the Friday deadline.

Kelly warned Monday that Trump or Musk could make a government shutdown as painful as possible to federal workers.

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The Arizona senator said hes concerned about Musk, who is shutting down parts of the government already.

Who knows what hes going to want to open back up? he predicted.

That is a huge risk, he warned. Maybe they decide that entire government agencies dont need to exist anymore.

Schumer, uncharacteristically, did not speak on the Senate floor when the chamber opened for the week Monday, holding his cards close to the vest until he had a chance to consult with his leadership team.

Were going to talk about that in a few minutes, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) told reporters as he walked into Schumers office when asked about how he would proceed on the government funding legislation.

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Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), another member of Schumers leadership team, said Democrats will try to press Republicans to instead accept a short-term funding stopgap. That would give Democrats another chance to negotiate a bipartisan spending bill that would avoid cuts to nondefense programs.

We need a short-term CR. The Republicans are already shutting down government. We need a short-term CR so that we can get our funding back on track, she said, referring to a continuing resolution.

If Congress fails to pass all the regular appropriations bills by April 30, under the Fiscal Responsibility Act enacted in 2023, government programs would face an across-the-board 1 percent cut.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) warned Monday, however, that Senate Democrats would own the results of a government shutdown if they vote later this week to block any House-passed stopgap funding proposal.

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Well have an opportunity to act on it here. It will be up to the Democrats on whether they want to deliver the votes and keep the government from shutting down. I hope they will do that, he said.

Thune would need at least eight Senate Democrats to vote for the stopgap to reach the 60-vote threshold required to overcome a filibuster.

Senate Republicans control 53 seats, but Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has said he will vote against the continuing resolution.

Democratic senators are hoping the continuing resolution unveiled this weekend, which would fund the government through September, fails in the House.

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That would give Schumer leverage to negotiate a shorter-term stopgap funding measure that treats defense and nondefense programs more equitably. The House GOP-drafted bill would increase defense spending by $6 billion and cut nondefense programs by $13 billion.

Democrats warn it would also give Trump nearly unfettered authority to shift funding within the bill because it lacks detailed instructions on how to allocate money, something that was traditionally attached to past continuing resolutions.

Senate Democrats are publicly expressing doubt about House Speaker Mike Johnsons (R-La.) ability to pass a spending bill by relying almost entirely on votes from his GOP conference, predicting House Democrats will remain unified in opposition to the House Republican proposal.

Nobody ever knows what the House is going to actually do, so we should just wait until the House takes action. My preference is a short-term [continuing resolution] so we can complete our work, and I still think thats the most adult way forward, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) said.

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The House bill, however, appears to have strong momentum after Trump strongly endorsed it Saturday.

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), an outspoken fiscal conservative who typically votes against funding bills, highlighted Sunday what he saw as the advantages of passing the pending six-month funding proposal.

Why 6 month spending freeze CR? 1) Keep lights on for @elongmusk & DOGE, 2) Dems WANT shutdown to stop Elon, 3) No earmarks  No big omnibus 4) 72 hrs to read, 50 Set up White House to impound & identify waste 6) set up cuts in fy26, &7, Freeze/stop spending increase, he posted on the social platform X.

He is expected to vote for the bill.

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Rep. Thomas Massie, a staunch fiscal conservative from Kentucky, is the only House Republican to state definitively that he will vote against the six-month continuing resolution.

Johnson cannot afford another Republican defection, assuming all Democrats vote against the bill, because the House is divided 218-214.

Warren said House Democrats are expected to vote in unison against the proposal, but it could be a tough vote for the 13 Democrats representing districts that Trump won in the 2024 election.

My understanding is that the House Democrats have made clear they do not support this, she said. Republicans do not yet appear to have a bill that they can pass.

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At least one Democrat, Rep. Henry Cuellar (Texas), hasnt closed the door on voting for the GOP-drafted stopgap.

I do not support government shutdowns, he said in an email to The Hill. As an appropriator, it has always been my top priority to ensure American taxpayer dollars are used efficiently and effectively. I am also focused on ensuring our vital services are protected.

Trump, in a post on Truth Social, urged House Republicans to coalesce behind the measure and admonished rebellious conservatives to stay in line.

The House and Senate have put together, under the circumstances, a very good funding Bill (CR)! All Republicans should vote (Please!) YES next week, Trump posted.

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We have to remain UNITED  NO DISSENT  Fight for another day when the timing is right. VERY IMPORTANT, he warned.

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Department of Human Services Secretary Alex Mayer speaks to the Senate Judiciary Committee March 10, 2025. (Will Price | West Virginia Legislative Photography)

The new leader of the states Department of Human Services, standing in front of state Senators Monday, vowed changes to West Virginias troubled foster care system while children continue to live in hotels and on campgrounds.

I inherited a system thats very broken, a system that needs a lot of systematic change, said DoHS Secretary Alex Mayer, who has been in the role for a little more than a month. I dont need a study to do it.  Were trying to look at places of need as quickly as possible.

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Mayers promise to improve the foster care system prompted Sen. Mike Stuart, R-Kanawha, to pause action on a bill that would have mandated an independent party conduct a study of how DoHS is operating its child welfare system.

He said the accountability with fixing the system now falls on Mayer.

If this system is not fixed, I dont mean tweaks  if this system is not overhauled when this help is being offered to you, you bear and this administration bears sole responsibility for the failures of that to happen, Stuart said. No excuses two years from now or three years from now  when you realize that the challenges are so complex, so weighty, so hard, so resistant but youre not able to to fix it.

West Virginia far outpaces the nation in children coming into foster care, largely due to the states substance abuse crisis. The states foster care system is overburdened, and theres a shortage of foster homes and child protective services (CPS) workers.

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Under previous Gov. Jim Justices administration, lawmakers and reporters struggled to get answers from DoHS about various parts of the system, including whether children are promptly checked on and where they are housed.

Stuarts measure, Senate Bill 727, would mandate that DoHS participate in a comprehensive study, conducted by an outside group, to identify problems and recommendations for improvements. The study would evaluate the performance of judges, attorneys for children, CPS workers and DoHS administrators.

We have no accountability because we werent given the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I just caution you, sometimes with the bureaucracy of your agency, its hard for you to get the truth.

 Sen. Vince Deeds, R-Greenbrier

There are more than 6,000 children in state foster care, and the study would also examine the permanent and temporary child placement system. DoHS would be required to turn over any information requested for the study. The studys findings would be presented to lawmakers September 2026 if lawmakers were to reconsider and advance the measure.

Sen. Vince Deeds, R-Greenbrier

Sen. Vince Deeds, who has spearheaded several foster care-related bills, said the bureaucratic nature of DoHS made it difficult to maintain accountability. Deeds said he would feel confident with a third party agency reviewing the agency.

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We have no accountability because we werent given the whole truth and nothing but the truth, said Deeds, R-Greenbrier. I just caution you, sometimes with the bureaucracy of your agency, its hard for you to get the truth. So, I challenge you, really, to go to the front line.

Because until we have an ownership and drill down and say, Hey, this is a problem here. Lets fix it so it doesnt continue to happen, were just not going to make any progress, he continued. Allow us to help you.

In 2023, Stuart called for an outside investigation into how DoHS handled a case where child protective services failed to check on two teens who were living in a shed. Law enforcement discovered the children in the shed more than a month later. An outside investigation was not conducted.

Stuarts request for a study, follows a federal judge dismissing a 2019 lawsuit brought by children against DoHS for alleged mistreatment while in foster care. West Virginias foster care system has cycled through inaction, bureaucratic indifference, shocking neglect and temporary fixes for years. The blame squarely lies with West Virginia state government, U.S. District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin wrote Feb. 28 in an opinion dismissing the suit.

DoHs leaders said theyve attempted to fill critical CPS positions and changed the child abuse and neglect referral process in hopes of better supporting families who may need assistance but not an investigation.

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But, problems persist, and Mayer said he is currently working to assess the foster care system and implement improvements.

I would hope to be able to provide some steps forward in the next six months, he said. Were talking about a lot of the issues that youre talking about. I think right now, Im just trying to get a handle on what exactly is going on at the agency level.

State judges have recently raised concerns about the lack of child protective services workers, which could potentially leave children in dangerous situations, and the number of children living in hotels. Kanawha County Circuit Court Judge Maryclaire Akers ordered a monitor be put in place to oversee CPS placements in hotels and camps after a child in an abuse and neglect case attempted suicide after being placed in a hotel by state CPS.

Mayer told lawmakers there are roughly 12 foster children currently living in hotels.

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Right now, my team is having weekly two-hour meetings with all providers in the state, so working through all the kids that are in hotels  to then work on how can we systematically move them through the system, Mayer explained.

Sen. Scott Fuller, R-Wayne, urged Mayer to make foster care reform an agency priority.

I pray, honestly, pray that you have the guts and the courage to look at whoever it is you need to look at and tell them, This is a priority,  Fuller said.

If we dont fix this we have failed completely as an administration. Were talking about our children.

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(Bloomberg) -- Serbian protesters blocked offices of the state broadcaster in the capital and second-largest city Novi Sad overnight, in a bid to draw attention to their months-long rallies against the rule of President Aleksandar Vucic.

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A police officer was injured in a skirmish outside the RTS building in Belgrade on Tuesday, as an elite unit arrived on the scene. Demonstrators remain outside the broadcasters offices, blocking entry to RTS staff.

We knew they would try to use violence, this is more than just an attack on a policeman, Vucic said during a visit to the injured officer.

Serbias protests began in November after a train station canopy collapsed in the northern city of Novi Sad, killing 15. University students and opposition activists have accused Vucic and his Serbian Progressive Party of corruption and mismanagement that led to the tragedy.

Vucic, who has dominated the Balkan country for a decade, has repeatedly rejected the protesters demands for a transitional, non-partisan government. A series of high-profile resignations, including that of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic who stepped down in January, have not assuaged protesters anger.

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As long as I live, I wont accept a transitional government, Vucic said on Monday at his party convention. Theyd have to kill me first.

The tensions have also triggered violence inside Serbias national parliament, where opposition lawmakers released pepper spray during a vote on Vucevics resignation.

State broadcaster RTS has drawn intense criticism from opposition activists for its perceived bias in favor of the authorities. Meanwhile, Vucic has accused RTS of devoting too much attention to the protests, which have been held in all Serbias main cities.

Those demonstrations look set to continue, with a major anti-government rally in Belgrade scheduled for Saturday. Vucic has warned that protesters could attempt to seize parliament and other state institutions.

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--With assistance from Piotr Skolimowski.

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CUNNINGHAM, Texas (KETK)  Solar panels that were destroyed by severe weather last week are now scattered across several fields in Lamar County.

REPORT: Texas becomes top solar state, outpacing California

We drove around and it was torn up, Cunningham resident Landon Woodall said. Theres spots where theres so many solar panels where theyre stuck to the side of the chain-link fence to where the fence is actually laying down.

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The small unincorporated community of Cunningham in southeastern Lamar County is home to Samson Solar Energy Center, one of the largest solar facilities in the country. Devastating high winds hit the area last Tuesday causing significant damage to trees, homes, businesses and the solar panels.

The whole entire shop, ripped the roof off, scattered insulation everywhere, Woodall said. There were posts that were mounted off the side of that shop. They were holding that wing up, that were 100 yards out in the pasture behind me.

Are solar panels a scam? Heres what to know before investing

The wreckage can be seen from the road by anyone. Dozens of panels were ripped from their place holders, metal shrapnel is sticking out of the ground and entire rows of solar panels are turned over.

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A representative of Samson Solar Energy Center, which is owned by the Illinois-based company Invenergy, told KETK News no one was injured by the damage and that a response procedure was immediately activated.

On March 4th, a significant weather event impacted parts of the Samson Solar Energy Center. No one on site was injured, and unaffected parts of the facility remain operational and delivering electricity to the grid. Invenergys response procedure was immediately activated to assess and remedy the situation. Invenergys operational energy facilities are monitored in real time to locate, evaluate, and, if necessary, replace damaged equipment to ensure that operations return to full capacity as quickly as possible. Samson Solar Energy Center

People who live in the area want to know exactly whats in these solar panels and if those materials could be harming the surrounding soil, ground and water.

Crews are now surveying the mess left behind and neighbors are waiting to find out what happens next.

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SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  Stopping a driver going the wrong way down a one-way road before an accident happens is how the day began for Lt. Rebecca Cowan, Sevierville Police Departments Community Resource Commander.

She is on a mission to help the people she serves. When shes in her cruiser, shes patrolling with a purpose, making regular visits to Sevier County Food Ministries. At the warehouse, she takes time to bow her head during the morning prayer, thinking of those shes come to help by picking up a grocery cart full of food to take to those in need.

$125K donated to support state-of-the-art healthcare training center in Knoxville

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Rebecca has the biggest heart that you could ever imagine. She looks out for a lot of people and no one realizes how much she knows about our community and who needs help, said Sevier County Food Ministries Director Jim Davis.

Cowan not only hand delivers food to people, like Teresa Branham, she makes sure she knows them and knows their stories.

She takes time out of her real busy day to call me at least twice a day, Branham said. It means the world to me because my family lives in Michigan and my daughter lives in Kentucky and I dont know what Id do without her.

Cowan is building trust in the community one person at a time. Its not always easy.

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What breaks my heart is when Im eating at a restaurant and I hear a family say, you need to act better or that cops going to take you to jail. It just breaks my heart because if that child is in trouble, theyre not going to go to the police.

Making our parks more welcoming and inviting: Tennessee State Parks hires accessibility coordinator

Cowan has received recognition from the state for her work in child safety as a certified car seat instructor, and too many awards to count for other leadership roles inside the department and out.

I want to see a difference, she said. I want to help people.

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Cowans commitment has earned the respect of Chief Joseph Manning and her fellow officers who worked together to nominate her as one of WATEs Remarkable Women of 2025.

She is an outstanding police officer. She is a great communicator for our city. She represents Sevierville in the best way, Manning said.

How one womans efforts helped restore Knoxvilles only national landmark

Cowan was also instrumental in getting a state law passed to increase punishment for shoplifters caught with tools to help them with their crimes; so-called booster bags and tools to remove sensors. She also chairs the Sevier County Relay for Life every year, and organizes other community events to encourage a positive relationship with police.

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A man on South Dakota's sex offender registry accused of loitering near a Sioux Falls elementary school is behind bars Monday night at the Minnehaha County Jail.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  A man on South Dakotas sex offender registry accused of loitering near a Sioux Falls elementary school is behind bars Monday night at the Minnehaha County Jail.

According to court papers, 55-year-old Rodney Reuben Johnson of Sioux Falls stopped his car in the area around Sonia Sotomayor Elementary School on more than one occasion in 2024. Per the states sex offender registry, Johnson lives down the street from Sonia Sotomayor, less than a mile away.

He was convicted of the possession, manufacturing or distribution of child pornography in 2021.

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Court documents say a former probation officer was picking up his kids at Sonia Sotomayor in September 2024 when he spotted Johnson; the former probation officer contacted authorities. Additionally, per court papers, a person who lived across the street from Sonia Sotomayor said he had seen Johnson drive by in the red Chevy Suburban regularly, and he drives on Lake Ave past Sonia Sotomayor very slowly. Johnson had stopped at this home across the street from the school around the same time he stopped at the spot where the former probation officer saw him, according to court papers. The court documents also say Johnsons vehicle was captured on video driving by Christ the King Elementary School in September 2024; this school is located a short distance from Sonia Sotomayor.

Iowa child care provider accused of assaulting five different children

The affidavit detailing the loitering allegation against Johnson refers to a report from 2006, when children were playing in a yard and a van registered to Johnson drove slowly by several times. A parent, per the court documents, also said a neighbor saw Johnsons van parked at a pool at Spellerberg Park in central Sioux Falls several times.

According to court papers, Sonia Sotomayors school resource officer got numerous reports from children and parents about a suspicious man that drove around the school in the morning in 2018. Court documents say a student at the school memorized the license plate, which corresponded with a vehicle registered to Johnson. Checking on surveillance, the school resource officer saw Johnsons vehicle drive past the school on many occasions, per court papers.

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The affidavit also recalls the investigation for child pornography in 2019 and cities Johnsons admission that he had been viewing child pornography almost daily for a decade, with Johnson saying he drove by schools in order to watch kids.

In that case, he was required to abide by the rules of the states sex offender registry. But his alleged proximity to Sonia Sotomayor violates these.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  There are still no charges or new information in the latest homicide investigation in Sioux Falls.

24-year-old dies of injury from fight in Sioux Falls homicide

A man was beaten to death in a fight Saturday night near the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House. 24-year-old Jacob Scott Gallman Ringing Shield died of his injuries in the hospital.

SFPD said Monday his death was ruled as a homicide and they are still looking for a suspect.

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On Tuesday morning, SFPD spokesman Sam Clemens said there were no updates or arrests.

Police are asking people with any information about the fight to call police or Crime Stoppers.

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The video above is from a related story: The vital role of mutual aid for Kansas fire departments.

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Two sheds, a tree row and several brush piles burned in a fire that lasted into the early morning southwest of Hutchinson.

Reno County Emergency Management said Reno County Fire Districts 3, 4, and 8 responded to the 7000 block of W. Illinois to battle the blaze around 11 p.m. on Monday. Crews advised that two sheds were fully involved, and other buildings were threatened.

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A mutual aid request was made for additional trucks to haul water from Reno County Fire District 9, Hutchinson Fire, and Buhler Fire. Brush trucks were also requested from Hutchinson Fire and South Hutchinson Fire.

Shooting in northeast Wichita seriously injures man

Crews were on the scene for about four hours putting out the flames, and no firefighters were injured.

The cause of the fire is believed to have started from a previous fire in a burn barrel.

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.

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SHEFFIELD, Ala. (WHNT)  Sheffield City Schools announced it would be adopting a new program to enhance teaching and learning in the upcoming school year.

Sheffield City Schools said for the 2025-2026 school year, it would be adopting the Yondr Program.

Defense motions for juror in Grove Oak mans murder trial to be dismissed

SCS said the program has been implemented in thousands of schools across 27 counties, including some across Alabama, to facilitate an engaged learning environment.

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In this program, students put their phones in a personally assigned pouch when they arrive at school. SCS said from there, students maintain possession of their phones but will not use them until the pouches are opened at the end of the school day.

We believe that phones have great utility. We have also found that learning and student mental health improve drastically when students are fully present with their teachers and classmates, the school system said.

Students are required to bring their Yondr pouch to and from school each day and are responsible for their pouches at all times.

Huntsville Utilities to close portion of Church Street for water operations Tuesday

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In a news release sent out by SCS, it said that in an annual survey of over 1,200 schools that implemented the Yondr program, the following data was collected:

86% saw a positive impact in student safety and wellness

84% saw a positive change in student engagement

72% saw a positive change in student behavior

68% saw a positive change in academic performance

In an effort to best serve our students, we are adopting the Yondr Program in our district. Each school will release further details later to our families, SCS said.

We have well researched this program and believe it to be effective in removing the distraction of cell phones during learning times. We also understand the concerns of parents and their fears of wanting their students to have cell phone access in the event of emergencies. Teachers may unlock the pouches at any time, and thus certainly if an emergency occurs. Likewise, students with medical issues will be accommodated regarding the use of their Yondr pouches. Sheffield City Schools

A Sheffield City Schools spokesperson told News 19 that the program only included cell phones, not smart watches.

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BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  Bay, Walton, and Okaloosa County Sheriffs deputies became aware of an invitation thats circulating on Instagram and the website Eventbrite.

Its advertising five separate spring break takeover events between this Thursday and next Monday.

Its being called the PCB Spring Break Takeover, but the ads say the events are taking place in Destin.

It does not provide any exact locations.

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Sheriffs officials are on high alert.

Any time we see the takeover terminology being used it brings us back to some events where they really did try to come in and take over our community, and it was the criminal element, said Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford.

Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office investigating reported shots fired on Thornhill Rd

Authorities say they have been monitoring social media for weeks for this exact reason.

In Destin, the Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office says this is the largest potential gathering theyve seen so far this year.

This is the largest one, it is not the first year that weve experienced these kinds of posts, said Captain Jason Fulghum with the Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office. So we take the same type of approach to each one of them.

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Deputies arent sugarcoating what will happen to promoters who dont play by their rules.

There are consequences, both civilly and criminally, for promoting those types of unlawful activities in an area, Fulghum went on to add. Theres also depending on what areas youre promoting them in, theres a lot of permits that you have to have so you can be arrested or charged a large fine.

Officials believe one of the reasons why promoters use terminology including both PCB and Destin is to reach a wider audience.

What typically happens is a promoter will pick a venue that is open to them, advertising an event and then they start advertising those in various areas, Ford went on to add.

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Veteran Panama City Beach officer appointed deputy police chief

Local law enforcement agencies are continuing to encourage people to visit the Panhandle, just as long as they respect the law.

We want people to come here and enjoy themselves, but our expectation is that when you come here to enjoy yourself, you do so lawfully so that everyone can enjoy the beach, Fulghum said.

Okaloosa County deputies say they have made roughly 70 arrests in the first week of spring break, which they say is the average in the area for this time of the year.

They are also continuing to encourage residents to not turn a blind eye if they see illegal activity taking place and to alert your local law enforcement.

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ASHLAND, Ohio (WJW)  Ashland County sheriffs deputies said two people, whom they described as illegal immigrants from Honduras, were held in jail following a crash near Pleasant Hill Lake.

One provided an identification card with the Social Security number of a deceased U.S. citizen.

Apparent murder-suicide investigated in Geauga County

Edwin Lazzsano was arrested on misdemeanor charges after deputies say he resisted arrest and obstructed official business, following a March 4 crash on Township Road 2916. Reports from Ashland County Sheriff deputies said Lazzsano was not cooperative and struggled with deputies as they tried to handcuff him.

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He was here illegally, said Ashland County Sheriff Kurt Schneider. In fact, he admitted to that.

The sheriffs deputies said they towed the vehicle and a few days later a woman, Karla Hernandez, came to the department trying to get the car. The sheriff said she provided deputies with a fake ID.

Yeah, we are still looking into some of those details but we believe that Social Security number belonged to a deceased United States citizen, the sheriff said. So we are still looking into how that happened.

The sheriff said Hernandez told deputies she got the ID after meeting a man at a grocery store.

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Investigation underway after 40-car fire in Lorain

Both Lazzsano and Hernandez are from Honduras, the sheriff said.

Agents with U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement picked up Lazzsano and Hernandez and transported them to a holding facility. The sheriff did not know where the two were taken.

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A pro-Palestinian activist who helped lead the Columbia University protests has been detained by ICE. A judge has blocked the deportation of this Palestinian grad student, who was arrested by ICE despite having a green card.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  Stress can affect many parts of your body, including your eyes. When you feel stressed, your body releases hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.

These hormones prepare you for a fight or flight response.

Though some changes in your eyes due to stress are temporary, its important to understand how stress can impact your vision, especially if you have eye conditions like glaucoma or dry eyes.

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The American Academy of Opthamology released a report on how stress impacts the body and what you can do to help prevent the negative health consequences for elevated hormones.

Before we move into talking about stress and how to identify it, lets take a look at an amazingly easy technique you can do anywhere.

How to stop the stress

Covering your left eye with your left hand has the potential to help you feel less stressed because it can calm your brain.

Your brain has two sides: the left side and the right side. The right side of your brain helps you feel emotions and react to stress. It also controls the left side of your body.

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When you cover your left eye, it makes your brain focus more on the right eye, which is connected to the left side of your brain.

The left side of your brain is better at thinking logically and staying calm. This shift in focus has the potential to help you feel more relaxed.

Also, covering one eye can reduce the amount of visual information your brain has to process. This can make things feel less overwhelming. Some people find this trick helpful when they are feeling anxious or stressed.

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How stress affects your eyes

Elevated eye pressure: Stress can cause a temporary increase in eye pressure. While this may not harm you right away, it could damage your optic nerve over time, especially if you have glaucoma. Regular eye exams are important as you age.

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Light sensitivity (photophobia): When stressed, bright lights can hurt your eyes more than usual. This is known as photophobia. Though it often comes from stress, it can also be a sign of a more serious problem, so tell your eye doctor if it happens often.

Eye twitching: Many people experience eye twitching when stressed, which can be worsened by caffeine and lack of sleep. Though its usually harmless and goes away on its own, its a common sign of stress.

Blurry vision Stress can cause blurry vision, especially when youre anxious. If youre middle-aged, stress may also worsen your difficulty seeing things up close (presbyopia). During very high stress, like a panic attack, blurry vision can be caused by changes in oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in your body.

Eye strain: Prolonged screen time or reading can cause eye strain, and stress can make it worse. The 20-20-20 rule can help: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds to give your eyes a break.

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Tunnel vision: Extreme anxiety can narrow your field of vision. and that can make you feel like you can only see directly in front of you. If this happens often, it could be a sign of a more serious condition like advanced glaucoma; so, its important to see an eye doctor.

Dry or watery eyes: Stress can cause your eyes to become too dry or overly watery. If your eyes feel dry, you can try some simple home remedies to help.

Eye floaters: Stress doesnt cause eye floaters, but it can make you more aware of tiny spots that float in your field of vision.

Stress and glaucoma:

Stress doesnt directly cause glaucoma, but it can affect people with the condition. High stress can lead to skipping medicine or doctor visits, which makes it harder to manage glaucoma.

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Stress can also contribute to optic nerve damage. Practicing stress relief methods can help slow down the progression of eye disease.

In extreme cases, stress can trigger acute angle-closure glaucoma, which requires immediate treatment.

Stress and dry eye disease

If you have dry eyes, stress can make your symptoms worse. Stress can create a cycle where dry eyes cause emotional distress, which in turn worsens your dry eyes. Certain medications used for anxiety, such serotonin reuptake inhibitors, can also cause dry eyes.

Tips for stress relief

If stress is affecting your eyes, its a good idea to schedule an eye exam. Your doctor can help treat eye problems and offer advice.

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In addition, here are a few tips to help reduce stress:

Place the palm of your hand over your left eye. Practice deep breathing. Exercise regularly. Try mindfulness meditation. Limit time on social media. Spend time with family and friends. Seek help from a doctor or therapist if stress is affecting your daily life.

Things to know and do

Regular eye exams: Keep up with eye check-ups, especially if you have glaucoma.

Watch for symptoms: Be aware of stress-related changes like eye twitching, light sensitivity or blurry vision.

Practice stress relief: Use breathing exercises, exercise and meditation to reduce stress.

Stay connected: Spending time with loved ones can help ease anxiety.

Seek professional help: If stress is overwhelming, reach out to a doctor or therapist for support.

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Understanding how stress affects your eyes can help you take better care of your vision and overall health!

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(Bloomberg) -- Singapore released a report setting out its electoral boundaries, a key move signaling that the city-states next vote will be called soon.

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The report to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong recommended having 33 electoral divisions, up from 31; with a total of 97 seats in parliament, from 93 currently, according to a report by the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee released Tuesday.

Singapore must hold a vote by November in what will be Wongs first electoral test since taking over from Lee Hsien Loong in May. Observers say Wong may opt for early elections as the trade-dependent nation navigates global economic uncertainties and seeks to capitalize on celebrations planned for the 60th anniversary of its founding.

Now that the boundaries report is out, the next pivotal step is for parliament to be dissolved.

In the last election in 2020, the ruling Peoples Action Party won 89% of the parliamentary seats in its worst performance ever due in part to concerns about the economy. That year, the boundaries report was issued on March 13 and the election was held July 10.

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--With assistance from Audrey Wan, Aradhana Aravindan, Natalie Choy and Nurin Sofia.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  A Sioux City man charged with murder for a deadly shooting has been charged for allegedly setting an apartment on fire earlier in the same day.

According to court documents filed on March 10, Jonaz Maldonado, 27, was involved in a fire at an apartment complex on 4th Street around 1:49 a.m. on Feb. 20.

Documents state Maldonado and the victim had been arguing consistently through the afternoon of Feb. 19 and into Feb 20.

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Maldonado allegedly assaulted the victim on Feb. 19 leading to the victim trying to hide from Maldonado when he returned later in the evening. The victim then fled the apartment, fearing they would again be assaulted. The two communicated through cell phone with messages showing Maldonado allegedly trying to get the victim to return to the apart at the time of the fire.

Man charged with murder in connection to Woodbine womans 1989 disappearance

The fire was determined to be incendiary and found inside the oven. Documents state that a burnt fabric soaked in an undetermined liquid accelerant was found. Maldonado was also in area of the fire when it started, according to location information from his phone.

At least nine other people lived in the apartment building at the time of the fire.

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Maldonado has been charged with first-degree arson, a class B felony. His next court appearance on the arson charge is set for March 20.

Maldonado is accused of fatally shooting Jamal Bilata, 24, on Feb. 20 and then leading police in a chase. Maldonado pleaded not guilty to the charges in this case on Monday.

Court documents state that Maldonado was driving on 16th Street around 5:20 p.m. on Feb. 20 when he stopped and shot Bilata. Bilata was taken to a local hospital before being flown to a Sioux Falls hospital where he then died on Feb. 23.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  A Sioux City man accused of fatally shooting another man and then leading police on a chase has pleaded not guilty to his charges.

According to court documents, Jonaz Maldonado appeared in the Woodbury County Courthouse Monday and pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, felon in possession of a firearm, going armed with intent, reckless use of a firearm, and eluding. He also waived his right to a speedy trial. Maldonados trial is scheduled to start on Oct. 21.

Sioux City man found guilty of child sexual abuse

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Maldonado is accused of fatally shooting Jamal Bilata, 24, on Feb. 20 and then leading police in a chase. At around 5:10 p.m. that day, Maldonado was driving in the 700 block of 16th Street past Bilata when he allegedly got out of his car, called Bilata a racial slur, and then shot Bilata five times.

Bilata, hit five times by gunfire in the neck and shoulder, tried to run away south before collapsing near the intersection of 15th and Jackson Streets, court documents state. He was taken to a local hospital in critical condition and transferred to a Sioux Falls hospital. He would then die on Feb. 23.

Maldonado was taken into custody on Feb. 20 following a pursuit that went into North Sioux City, court documents say. He was reportedly driving at over 100 mph in a 35 mph zone before eventually hitting a lamp post. During a search of the vehicle, authorities found a Glock 43 handgun under the driver seat.

Maldonado has also been charged with first-degree arson in a separate case. Though the alleged incident took place on the same day as the shooting, its not clear if the two cases are related in any way.

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By Ali Sawafta

RAMALLAH (Reuters) - Five Palestinians, including a 60-year-old woman, were killed by Israeli forces in Jenin over the past 24 hours, the Palestinian Authority said on Tuesday, adding to a growing toll from one of the largest operations seen in the West Bank in years.

Another man, who was wanted over previous incidents, was killed by Palestinian security forces, the PA said in a separate statement.

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The latest incidents bring the number of Palestinians killed since January, when Israeli forces launched a major operation involving thousands of troops in cities and refugee camps in the north of the West Bank, to more than 30.

Many of those killed have been armed fighters from Palestinian militant groups, but numerous uninvolved civilians have also been killed.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians have fled their homes since the West Bank operation began at the start of a ceasefire in Gaza. Troops have swept through refugee camps in Jenin and nearby cities, demolishing houses and infrastructure, including roads and water pipes.

Israel says the West Bank operation is aimed at hitting Iranian-backed militant groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, that have made strongholds of the crowded townships built to house descendants of Palestinians who fled, or were forced from their homes in the 1948 Middle East war.

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Countries including France and Germany and international groups including the United Nations have expressed alarm at the scale of the operation and called for restraint.

On Tuesday, police special forces fought a gun battle with armed Palestinians barricaded in a house in Jenin, killing two and wounding another man, the Israeli military said.

In a separate incident, a man who opened fire on Israeli troops was killed, it said.

The PA said troops firing from a checkpoint also killed a 60-year-old woman. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

The previous evening, a Palestinian man was killed when his motorcycle was hit by an Israeli army vehicle, the PA said.

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The Authority also said its own security forces had killed a man wanted for opening fire on the headquarters of the security forces in Jenin on previous occasions, an incident that was condemned by the militant group Hamas, which warned of "serious repercussions".

On Tuesday, as gun battles were fought around the city, troops detained 10 Palestinians and seized two vehicles filled with weapons, the military said.

In a separate incident on Tuesday, armed Israeli settlers attacked the village of Umm Safa, near the main city of Ramallah, about 100 km (62 miles) south of Jenin, torching three vehicles, the head of the village council said.

(Writing by James Mackenzie; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
Last month, Carolyn Corrigan was fired from her government job amid the Trump administration's efforts to decrease the federal workforce.

While poor performance was the reason cited, the single mom of two says shes been with the government for nearly a decade, having never gotten a poor performance appraisal.

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She was 66 days away from completing her two-year probation at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) when she got the news, which she called a slap in the face.

Fox5 News reported that Corrigan says she wants Elon Musk to know shes not just a number but a human being who now has to turn to public assistance to live.

Homeownership dream dashed

As the 41-year-old struggles to make ends meet, shes turned to food stamps, Medicaid and, for the first time in my life, applied for temporary assistance [to] pay my rent.

Also for the first time, Corrigan was nearly able to purchase a home for her family. I was this close to being able to make a livable wage for me and my daughters, and in one second, that was all taken, she told Fox5 through tears.

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Corrigan started in a janitorial role and worked her way up to earning $67,000 per year as an education technician. She doesnt see how poor performance is justified, stating shes worked hard her whole life and was even promoted at the CDC.

I earned every promotion with dedication and hard work, and now its devastating, she told reporters.

As for whats next, Corrigan is currently exploring a class action lawsuit. Shes appealed the CDCs decision with the Office of Special Counsel, which she told Fox5 News has been helping her navigate this very difficult time.

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

Government jobs shrinking

President Donald Trump and Elon Musk describe the administrations cutting of U.S. government jobs as an effort to reduce spending and make the public workforce more responsive to its directives. Trump has called the federal government bloated, adding its full of people that are unnecessary.

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In a video call to the World Governments Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Musk reportedly stated the need to delete entire agencies as opposed to leaving a lot of them behind. If we dont remove the roots of the weed, then its easy for the weed to grow back, CBS News reports.

Last month, government agencies were ordered to lay off almost all probationary employees, like Corrigan, and potentially hundreds of thousands of others.

Its not a surprise, Republican strategist Brian Robinson points out. He told Fox5 News that American voters elected a president who would shrink the government.

Conservatives in this country believe that the government has to be smaller, that there will be some pain involved. The president and Elon Musk said that there will be some pain in this transition.

What can you do?

Corrigan is appealing her firing to the Office of Special Counsel, as other impacted federal workers can. While there may or may not be recourse for them, here are some steps the nonprofit, nonpartisan Protect Democracy group suggests.

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Download personnel and benefits documents, including your full eOPF file, performance reviews and position description, ideally before employment ends. Remove any personal documents from your work computer and exchange personal contact information with colleagues. Learn about your rights and find resources. Protect Democracy provides overviews of substantive and procedural employee protections, the process for challenging violations of those protections and guides on what probationary employees should know. It also offers information about organizations that support civil servants and finding legal counsel.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Strategic lawsuits against public participation, or SLAPP suits, are civil claims brought against people or organizations who voice opinions publicly. These lawsuits are intended to intimidate opponents and suppress advocacy efforts by forcing critics to spend time and money on expensive litigation.

The term SLAPP suit was coined by law professor George W. Pring and sociologist Penelope Canan in their 1996 book SLAPPS: Getting Sued for Speaking Out. The authors provided examples of SLAPPs filed in response to advocacy on many issues, including civil rights, environmental preservation, consumer protection and womens rights.

SLAPP suits often exploit power and financial imbalances. Responding to lawsuits is expensive. Lawyers are pricey, and so are court costs and litigation expenses, such as collecting evidence, interviewing potential witnesses and purchasing specialized software to manage electronic data.

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Lawsuits also are mentally and emotionally taxing. Requirements such as disclosing documents, making court appearances and being subject to questioning can make heavy demands on participants time and attention. Litigation can last for years.

These burdens, or even the prospect of them, can have a chilling effect on free speech.

SLAPPing Greenpeace

Conflicts between developers and environmental activists are ripe for SLAPP suits, sometimes labeled eco-SLAPPs. For example, a civil trial began in North Dakota on Feb. 26, 2025, in which Energy Transfer, a Texas company that builds pipelines, is suing the environmental organizations Greenpeace USA and Greenpeace International.

Greenpeace was involved in protests in 2016 and 2017 against construction of the Dakota Access pipeline, which connects oil production areas in North Dakota to energy markets in Illinois. Along with other advocacy groups and Native American tribes, Greenpeace opposed plans for the pipeline to cross the Missouri River upstream of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribes reservation. Protesters argued that this design threatened tribal water supplies if the pipeline should spill or leak.

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The Obama administration blocked the disputed section of the pipeline in 2016, but the Trump administration approved it in 2017. The pipeline was completed and entered operation in that year, despite large-scale protests.

Energy Transfer is suing Greenpeace for damages that the company says it incurred because of construction delays on the pipeline. The company argues that protests and demonstrations organized by Greenpeace caused these delays.

Along with claims of trespass and nuisance, Energy Transfer alleges that Greenpeace defamed the company to its financial backers. The company says that Greenpeace included false statements in a letter to the companys banks that asserted construction of the pipeline desecrated tribal burial grounds and important cultural sites.

As a result, Energy Transfer claims that it lost US$68 million in financing and was forced to spend millions of dollars on public relations efforts to remedy the damage. The company is seeking monetary damages in an amount to be proved at trial.

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Greenpeace contends that the lawsuit is an attempt to silence its free speech and protest rights, and that the letter sent to banks was an act of free expression providing information already cited many times by tribes opposing the pipeline.

Protection varies from state to state

Unlike many other states, North Dakota does not have an anti-SLAPP law. Currently, 35 states and Washington have laws designed to reduce the harms caused by SLAPP suits.

These statutes vary greatly, including with regard to the types of speech they protect. Some laws seek to blunt the economic harm of SLAPP suits and require litigants who bring SLAPP suits to pay defendants legal costs and attorney fees if those suits are unsuccessful. Other statutes merely permit such shifts at the judges discretion. These variations mean that cases may fare very differently based on where a lawsuit is filed.

Greenpeace leaders say a verdict ordering the organization to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in damages could drive the group into bankruptcy. Such an outcome would have an obvious chilling effect on other environmental groups  the kind of result that anti-SLAPP laws are designed to prevent.

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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: Jennifer Safstrom, Vanderbilt University and Ryan Riedmueller, Vanderbilt University

Read more:



The Vanderbilt First Amendment Clinic receives funding from the Stanton Foundation to litigate cases related to speech, press, assembly, and petition rights. Jennifer Safstrom has served as counsel on the following cases raising SLAPP/anti-SLAPP issues: Tayloe v. C-Ville Holdings, Goldman v. Reddington, and Tate v. Doe.

Ryan Riedmueller assisted with representation raising SLAPP/anti-SLAPP issues in Tate v. Doe.
ST. LOUIS  Saint Louis Public Schools has reached a tentative wrongful death settlement with the mother of a student killed in the mass shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School.

The shooting happened on Oct. 24, 2022, when a former CVPA shot his way into the building, taking the lives of student Alexzandria Bell, 15, and beloved teacher Jean Kuzcka, 61, and wounding seven others before he was killed by police in a shootout.

Legislature passes bill for state control of SLMPD

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Keisha Acres, Alexs mother, claims the district is liable for her daughters death.

While the SLPS disputes its responsibility on Acres claims, it made a pre-lawsuit offer to resolve the matter. In exchange, Acres would waive her right to a jury trial and be barred from pursuing any future case against the school district.

Court documents do not reveal the settlement amount, which now awaits a judges approval.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
Southern Illinois' "Snake Road" is closing earlier than usual this year, according to officials with the Sawnee National Forest.

The reason? Warmer weather.

Officially, the road is classified as Forest Service Road No. 345, and it closes twice pear year to "help ensure safe crossing for several species of snakes and amphibians" for migration.

Usually, the closure happens March 15. This year, it's starting on Wednesday (March 12) amid warmer temperatures.

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Forest Service Road No. 345 is dubbed "Snake Road"  a 2.5-mile stretch in Union County, Illinois, that runs north to south along the base of towering limestone bluffs, a man-made obstacle between the swampy floodplain of the Big Muddy River and the ancient bedrock. The Big Muddy is itself part of the Mississippi River flood plain, flowing in a channel anciently cut by the bigger river before humans tamed it for navigation.

The road is there because the USDA Forest Service, which manages the area, is tasked with balancing conservation with access to public lands.

Every spring, snakes and amphibians  some of which are considered endangered or threatened species in Illinois and the United States  slither and crawl their way from their winter home in the bluffs to the summer habitat of LaRue Swamp.

The annual migrations attract people from across the country eager to witness the rich diversity of reptile and amphibian species along this single stretch of road. About 66 percent of the amphibians and 59 percent of the reptiles known to occur in Illinois are found there.

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The move back to the swamp sets the creatures up for a spring and summer of feeding in the biologically rich wetlands, storing the fat that will sustain them from roughly November to March.. Because many of the snakes, especially venomous species such as cottonmouths, copperheads and timber rattlers, release scent trails, Ballard said they are able to follow them back and forth.

In the early 1970s the Forest Service began closing Snake Road for three weeks in spring and fall to protect the migrating creatures, Sue Hirsch, a public affairs specialist at Shawnee National Forest, told the Courier & Press in 2017.

Vehicles account for 25 percent of the man-made causes of death for snakes in the area, Ballard said.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Snake Road in Illinois' Shawnee National Forest closed
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  Welcome back to the Social Rundown, where you can learn about the online trends happening globally and in Texoma, too!

Want to get the latest tea or news on whats trending on social media? Tune in daily!

5 years since COVID-19 outbreak

It is hard to believe that exactly five years ago today, COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. The illness began as what was thought to have been a pneumonia outbreak in China about four months earlier, in December 2019. Fast-forward to March 2020, and close to 120,000 COVID-19 cases had been reported in over 114 countries.

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Millions of people globally have since died from the virus, and many can agree that this shook the entire world as it all happened in a matter of days and felt as if it could not be stopped.

Funeral home worker arrested for mutilating corpse

A woman who worked at a funeral home in Houston is being accused of mutilating a sex offenders corpse.

The body of a man who had been charged with sexual assault in 2001 died of natural causes in January. Authorities said the funeral home worker viciously attacked the mans body by stabbing and castrating it. The woman was charged with abuse of a corpse, which is a felony in the state of Texas.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com.
A policy change by Social Security reverses the most significant action taken following our reporting on Social Security overpayments.

This change means instead of defaulting to withholding 10% of a persons monthly check to recoup an overpayment, the SSA will go back to withholding 100% - basically stopping peoples Social Security benefits until the alleged debt is recovered.

9 Investigates, along with COX Media Group and KFF Health News, have been reporting on the SSA for a year and a half, starting with those overpayments and the effects on the most vulnerableour seniors and those with disabilities.

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This change will affect the OASDI programretirement, survivors, and disability benefitswhich, according to our FOIA reporting, is about 1 million people each year. In all, roughly 69 million Americans currently get OASDI, commonly referred to as social security payments.

That includes Patrica Ward. The government agency said she owes more than $49,000 in overpayments, and her situation is very complicated. But she said it wasnt her fault, The whole mistake is on their side, and its because they didnt follow their own procedure. And shes been fighting to make it all right. In the meantime, she said they told her it was just a temporary pause on her checks, and she is waiting to see if and when she will be reinstated, but now, with the new change at SSA, its unclear.

In a press release, the acting commissioner said, We have the significant responsibility to be good stewards of the trust funds for the American people,

Lee Dudek adds, Its our duty to revise the overpayment repayment policy back to full withholding, as it was during the Obama administration and the first Trump administration, to properly safeguard taxpayer funds.

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Attorney Jen Burdick, who works with clients dealing with overpayments, said she is sad to see this reinstated. Burdick said, If you think were not saying you shouldnt collect money that people arent entitled to, but allowing people doing a smaller deduction as a default 10% gives people, you know, puts them on notice there might be a problem, but also allows them to have the space and time to try to resolve it adding, And taking that away is just its alarming. People are going to be hurt. Some people may die. People will lose their houses. I mean, this is a cruel policy.

Congressman Darren Soto said something could be done to change it. Channel 9 asked Soto what Soto how Congress might approach the SSA situation moving forward.

Channel 9: The Social Security Administration made the decision now. Is there anything Congress can do, do you think, to have this conversation and to try to get something done? Soto: So one we could push back in the Ways and Means Committee, which has oversight over Social Security. In addition, I know theyll be multi-member letters coming around, and then a lot is going to come to a head this week with the continuing resolution. You know, well see if the Republicans could get it done by themselves on the floor that historically havent, Channel 9: And so thatll allow Democrats to be able to negotiate certain things? And this might be one of them? Soto: Yeah. Channel 9: Could you use that as a bargaining chip? Soto: It could be especially, you know, we care about the most vulnerable. And when I think of seniors and some folks, you know, their memories are going, theyre not exactly absolutely sure that they owe money back to the government. And so we need to do it in a way that respects a lot of these folks in their golden years and make sure that we dont put them in destitute because of an error of the government.

Channel 9 has reached out to our Republican lawmakers here in Florida, and we are still waiting to hear back.

The SSI program is not part of what was announced Friday so as of now, that will still default to 10% withholding.

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We know from our prior reporting and SSA inspector general reports and audits that theres a very low occurrence of fraud, and overpayments usually result from innocent mistakes on the part of the beneficiary in reporting their financials - or mistakes on the part of the agency in calculating what to pay people.

It often takes years for the agency to catch an overpayment  and many months to resolve them when challenged.

People can file for a waiver or an appeal if they think an overpayment was a mistake on the part of the agency and that should stop the clawback of 100% until its resolved.

On another note, The SSA was already facing an extreme staffing shortage, which caused long wait times at offices and holds times on the 800# phone line.

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Now, SSA is cutting thousands more staff positions, which is expected to make that situation even worse.

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The Social Security Administration changed how it collected overpayments after a series of Channel 2 Action News in Atlanta investigations exposed problems with its policies. Now, the Trump Administration is overturning those changes in how SSA claws back overpayments.

In a statement, SSA said it will increase the default overpayment withholding rate for Social Security beneficiaries to 100% of a persons monthly benefit. That percentage had been cut to 10% last year.

Former SSA Commissioner Martin OMalley blasted the move in an interview with Channel 2 Action News.

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This is a mistake. Youre hurting people. Go back to the policy that it took us years to get them to implement, OMalley said.

In a series of Channel 2 Action News investigations in partnership with KFF Health News and our Cox sister stations, we heard from more than 400 families who have gotten demand letters from the Social Security Administration asking them to pay back thousands - or even tens of thousands of dollars. Often the mistakes were not their fault, but SSAs.

In testimony before Congress last spring, OMalley called it clawback cruelty and announced that SSA would only hold back 10% of recipients monthly checks for repayments.

But the Trump administration says it can save as much as $7 billion over the next decade by withholding 100% of monthly checks instead of 10%.

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We have the significant responsibility to be good stewards of the trust funds for the American people. It is our duty to revise the overpayment repayment policy back to full withholding, as it was during the Obama administration and first Trump administration, to properly safeguard taxpayer funds, said Lee Dudek, Acting Commissioner of Social Security.

OMalley countered that the policy change will unfairly hurt the most vulnerable.

I guess its good for the DOGE bros up there to say, oh, were recovering more money. The money they think theyre recovering is not money that can be recovered. Its from senior citizens usually living on the cusp of poverty. Which is why Democratic and Republican senators heralded, applauded and praised the change, OMalley said.

Advocates for Social Security beneficiaries described the action as cruel and harmful.

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The results are predictable: more unnecessary suffering, said Kathleen Romig, who worked at the Social Security Administration under OMalley and is now director of Social Security and disability policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Kate Lang of the advocacy group Justice in Aging said she was heartbroken.

Those who are most vulnerable, with the fewest resources, are the ones who will feel the harsh impacts of this change, she said.

Many are going to be unable to buy food or keep the roof over their head, she said.

In 2023, after an investigation by Channel 2 Action News, KFF Health News and Cox Media Group cast a spotlight on overpayments and clawbacks, lawmakers from both parties called on the Social Security Administration to change its approach.

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The policy changes a year ago were inspired in part by the plight of people like Denise Woods, who was sleeping in her Chevy in Savannah, Georgia, in December 2023 while contending with lupus and congestive heart failure after the government cut off her disability benefits. The government was demanding she repay almost $58,000.

Many overpayments are the result of government error. It can take the government years to figure out it has been paying someone too much, and by then, the amount the government says it is owed can grow far beyond a beneficiarys ability to repay. It has often demanded that recipients repay the full amount within 30 days.

As of October 2024, the SSA was withholding at least a portion of monthly benefit payments from hundreds of thousands of people, according to data the SSA provided last fall to KFF Health News and Cox Media Group. The agency said it was withholding up to 10% percent or less from 669,903 people to recoup an overpayment. Asked whether those numbers covered all types of benefits administered by the SSA, the agencys press office didnt say.

Under Trumps leadership, Social Security has reinstated a cruel policy of clawing back Social Security overpayments with no regard for an Americans ability to pay or whether the overpayment was an error by the agency, said Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee.

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The new plan to completely withhold monthly benefits from recipients who were allegedly overpaid does not extend to the Supplemental Security Income program, one of two Social Security programs for people with disabilities. SSI, as the agency explains, covers people with disabilities and older adults who have little or no income or resources.

The SSAs March 7 announcement was part of a broader dismantling of Biden-era policies under President Donald Trump. It was also part of a broader upheaval at the Social Security Administration, which announced In February that it would cut its staff from about 57,000 to 50,000.

The staffing cuts will lead to more overpayments than ever and will make it harder for the people affected to clear up mistakes, said Jen Burdick, an attorney at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia.

Weve already seen a huge impact on the ability to get claimants representatives on the phone. People are saying its harder to get into the offices that are open. So, we think its going to make it much harder, Burdick said.

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As KFF Health News and Cox Media Group revealed in 2023, about 2 million people a year were receiving notices from the SSA that they were overpaid and owed money back.

People can appeal overpayment notices, request a lower withholding rate, or ask the SSA to waive collection altogether, the agency said. The SSA does not pursue recoveries while an initial appeal or waiver request is pending, it said.

Shortly before OMalley left the SSA in November, the agency implemented changes that made it easier for beneficiaries to get overpayments waived. The agency spelled out grounds for determining the beneficiary was not at fault. For instance, if the agency continued to issue overpayments after the beneficiary reported a change in their financial circumstances that should have led to a reduction in benefits. Those policy changes remain intact.

Several Republicans who expressed concern about clawbacks in the aftermath of 2023 news coverage did not respond to inquiries for this article or declined to comment. One of them was Sen. Rick Scott, who is now chair of the Senates Special Committee on Aging.

Hardworking American taxpayers pay into Social Security all of their lives so that they can depend on it in the time they need it most, Scott said in a 2023 letter to the agency. The fact that the SSAs actions are leaving some of them worse off, through no fault of their own, is absolutely unacceptable.
HONG KONG (AP)  A social worker who tried to mediate during the height of the 2019 anti-government protests in Hong Kong was convicted of rioting Tuesday in the latest case that signaled the tough stance the authorities have taken toward political cases.

Jackie Chen was part of a group of social workers who often carried a loudspeaker seeking to mediate between police and protesters during the social unrest. She was freed at her first trial in September 2020, but the secretary of justice appealed and a court ordered a retrial by another judge.

In the retrial, the prosecution accused Chen, who used a loudspeaker to ask police officers to calm down and not to use their guns to fire non-lethal bullets, of participating in a riot during a protest in August 2019. Chen pleaded not guilty.

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Judge May Chung wrote in her verdict that Chen had continuously shouted unfounded accusations against the police and suggested the officers' actions involved the use of excessive force or were too rapid. Chen had used her social worker role, claiming to be safeguarding justice," to back the protesters, the judge said.

Chung ruled that the only reasonable inference was that Chen intended to participate in the riot.

Through the aforementioned means to gather together with other rioters, (she) thereby encouraged other rioters to commit acts that disturb social peace, she wrote.

Ahead of the verdict hearing, Chen took group photos with her supporters and hugged some of them outside of the district court building. Chen told reporters that she felt peaceful because she had five years to prepare for this. Regardless of the outcome, she has no regrets, she said.

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I hope all the people I know  they will live healthy, they will live happy because we still have our road to walk along, she said.

After the judge announced the decision, she shouted that she would be OK to her supporters sitting in the public gallery.

Chen is expected to be sentenced in April. The maximum sentence for rioting in Hong Kong is 10 years, but the sentences at the district court are capped at seven years.

Chen could also lose her license. Last year, the government introduced amendments to the law that would allow the removal of a social worker's name from the register if he or she has been convicted of an offense that is punishable with imprisonment and may bring the profession into disrepute.

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Chen's case drew attention because of her mild role in the 2019 movement, which was the biggest challenge to the Hong Kong government since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

The 2019 protests were sparked by a proposed extradition law that would have allowed criminal suspects in Hong Kong to be sent to the mainland for trial. The government withdrew the bill, but the protesters widened their demands to include direct elections for the citys leaders and police accountability.

In response, Beijing imposed a national security law to quell the unrest. Under the law, many of the city's leading activists were prosecuted or convicted. Hong Kong government insists the law has restored the city's stability.
Mar. 10---- With its western border nudged against South Dakota,

is among a tier of western Minnesota counties seeing its population age and decline.

The

projects that Yellow Medicine County will see its current population of 9,088 decline by 12.4 percent to 7,958 in 2035.

Rural sociologist Benjamin Winchester, with the University of Minnesota Extension, sees a different future for the rural county, if it can address a housing shortage that has a lot to do with having an aging population.

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People ages 65 and older are staying in their family-sized homes that would otherwise be available for young working families, Winchester told the Yellow Medicine County Board of Commissioners during a recent meeting.

Rural counties are experiencing a labor shortage because they don't have the housing available for young people to move into, he told the commissioners on Feb. 25. People do want to move to rural areas, he emphasized.

The rural sociologist is well-known for the data he has collected showing a long-term "rural brain gain" of in-migration to rural counties by people ages 30 to 49 and ages 50 to 65.

Historically, when people reach age 67 or over, they move into smaller homes, making their longtime family homes available for young families.

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"This generation today is staying in their homes and not moving out," said Winchester.

He is urging rural counties to work to develop what he terms "move on" housing for older homeowners. He said research shows that many of these older homeowners do want to move on, but do not see options to do so. They are not looking for assisted living-style housing, he explained, but are looking for patio homes and similar options.

Providing "move-on" housing can free up the housing needed for working families and, just as important, retain seniors.

The senior population is an essential source of income in the county: What's termed "transfer" income from Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid accounts for 30 percent of the income coming into the county now, he told the commissioners. As baby boomers retire, the share of income from pensions and retirement accounts is likely to grow in the county.

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There's a public interest in the fate of privately owned housing, said Winchester. The conundrum is that many older homeowners on fixed incomes do not have the resources to invest in the upkeep needed on their homes. A county's housing stock shrinks as blighted properties are eventually razed, he said.

Change is coming. It's already being seen in counties like Yellow Medicine, where death rates exceed birth rates. The Minnesota counties seeing the most significant in-migration of new residents are those where the death rates exceed the birth rates, he told the commissioners.

As the transition occurs, one-person homes become homes to households that average 2.5 to 3.5 people.

With an aging population, Yellow Medicine County could see big changes in the next 15 years. Housing data from 2010 showed that roughly 75 percent of the housing in the county is occupied by people ages 45 and older, he said.

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He emphasized the importance of taking a public interest in how the inevitable transition occurs. Rural counties have an interest in preserving their housing stock.

"We have a huge amount of work to ensure that our housing units are going to be in good enough shape, and right now it is being sacrificed in many ways by the limited choices on fixed income that we have," he explained.

Winchester also emphasized the mobility of today's workforce. Yellow Medicine County sees 1,777 workers commute into the county each day for work, while 2,861 commute to out-of-county jobs and 1,682 county residents stay in the county for their jobs.
Soldiers from the Ground Forces of Ukraines Armed Forces have recorded a video message to thank the American people for their military aid, which allows Ukraine to resist the Russian aggressor and protect the lives of civilians.

Source: press service for the Ground Forces Command on social media

Quote: "The soldiers of the Ground Forces thank the people of the United States for their help in defending our land and our freedom."

Details: The message was recorded in English by representatives of various units of the Ukrainian Army.

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Background:

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.

Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilots have 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 have urged Americans to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukrainians. The operators of a Hawk anti-aircraft missile system also joined this flash mob.

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Its that time again: cicada time.

Billions of the flying bugs are expected to pop out of the ground this spring and hum across the southern and eastern U.S.

The red-eyed group known as Brood XIV is expected to be seen across 13 states, but Kentucky and Tennessee will likely get the most this year, Gene Kritsky, Professor Emeritus of Biology at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, recently USA Today.

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It takes about two full weeks for the great bulk of the cicadas to come out, he said. Once they start coming out at a specific location, that starts the clock. Youll have cicadas at that location for the next six weeks.

Residents from northeast Georgia to southern Ohio, Pennsylvanians, New Yorks Long Island and Massachusetts Cape Cod should also be on alert for the periodical cicadas this year, according to data from the University of Connecticut.

Brood XIV cicadas will emerge across the eastern and southern U.S. this spring. The billions of winged insects can make quite a racket while theyre above ground (Getty Images)

When states can expect the winged creatures depends on the weather. As ground temperatures warm to 64 degrees, the cicadas will emerge for the first time in 17 years. The first states to get cicadas will be in the South, with Tennessee, South Carolina and Georgia possibly seeing them as early as mid-April.

"The trees will just be screaming with all these males singing," Kritsky, told Fox Weather over the weekend.

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The scream of cicadas, a rhythmic and high-pitched sound used to attract mates, is particularly memorable for humans, who have mistakenly called the cops over the alarming buzzing sound.

It was the day before yesterday, early in the morning, and I kept hearing this drone  constant droning this one tone, South Carolinian Mary Petrou told WSOC-TV 9 last year.

The next time Brood XIV will be seen is 2042. While the cicadas arent the prettiest, they are harmless (AFP via Getty Images)

Some cicadas have been recorded at levels as loud as a lawnmower, motorcycle or tractor, according to the National Institutes of Health.

But the cacophony wont last very long. Cicadas live hard and fast, surviving for just over a month after they mate and lay their eggs, with minimal damage to the environment. After that, the adults die and their offspring burrows back into the ground. The brood will vanish again until 2042, according to WTHR 13.

They can be scary because of how loud they are and unexpected, but they are totally harmless, Chris Hayes, a postdoctoral scholar at N.C. State University who specializes in educating the pest management industry on critter habits, told The Charlotte Observer. You could pick one up and hold it in your hand all day, and all it would do is buzz or scream at you to let it go.
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  As the Trump Administration works to shrink the size of government, two of the three prosecutors in the Columbus U.S. Attorneys Office have taken deferred resignations, WRBL has learned.

In late January, the Trump Administration offered all government employees the opportunity to resign from their jobs, leave immediately and stay on the payroll until September.

According to multiple sources, two of the more seasoned assistant U.S. attorneys in the Middle District of Georgia apparently took the government up on its offer.

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Those sources say assistant U.S. Attorneys Crawford Seals and Chris Williams took the deferred resignations. Employees willing to leave their jobs immediately were offered to stay on the payroll for up to eight months.

Seals and Williams were the two most senior prosecutors in the Columbus office. Their departures leave one prosecutor assigned to Columbus. Seals and Williams declined to comment on Monday.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Middle District of Georgia told WRBL the following about the departures.

As a policy, we are not at liberty to discuss personnel or human resources matters, the statement read. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Georgia has the capacity to handle the cases in Columbus.

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The primary workload for the federal prosecutors in the Columbus office consists of cases involving drugs, guns, and crimes against children. A number of the cases involve child pornography. During the first Trump Administration the caseload also included a number of criminal immigration cases.

Seals and Williams worked in the Chattahoochee Circuit District Attorneys Office before moving to the federal side.

Seals and Muscogee County District Attorney Don Kelly have been discussing a possible job in the office where Seals career started.

My understanding is that Crawford has submitted a deferred resignation under the plan that was that was put out there, Kelly said. So, he remains a U.S. attorneys office employee. However, once that completes, if he is available, Crawford and I have been friends for probably 25 years, and its somebody I would absolutely love to have back in our office because he is a good, solid prosecutor and can help with training younger prosecutors and getting them into court, which is a big issue, to have the folks to be able to train younger folks and bring them along.

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There is an additional federal buyout program recently announced that offers qualified government employees a $25,000 severance package.

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HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  As the Covington Drive fire in Carolina Forest reaches Day 11, the South Carolina Forestry Commission told News13 the agency will cover all its costs associated with fighting the blaze but that its too early to know what the actual price will be.

We will cover all our costs associated with the fire  personnel, food, lodging, equipment, etc, the agency said Tuesday in an email. Since the Southeast Compact was activated, we will reimburse the Florida IMT for their costs  personnel, food, lodging, equipment. As with all large incidents of this type, there will be expenses we dont even know about yet that we will have to pay for.

Horry County Government lifts current burn ban

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The forestry commission said since the fire management assistance grant was approved, FEMA will reimburse agencies and fire departments for 75% of approved costs.

If the state is in good shape financially, they usually cover the 25% that FEMA doesnt in the next years appropriations for state agencies, the email reads. That would cover us, National Guard, and EMD.

There is no word, currently, on what projected or actual costs are yet, according to the commission, who said its too early to know. News13 has reached out to Horry County officials for more information about firefighting costs.

The fire remained at 60% containment as of earlier Tuesday. Covington Drive resident Alexandra Bialousow was arrested last week and is accused of starting the 2,059-acre blaze.

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* * *

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.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD)  With more than a year until the 2026 gubernatorial primaries in South Carolina, a new poll found that U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace may have a slight advantage in the race for the Republican nomination.

Mace had the highest name recognition of any potential contender for the GOP nominee mentioned in a recent poll conducted by Winthrop University.

Of all respondents, 52% said they were either very or somewhat familiar with the congresswoman, who has represented South Carolinas First Congressional District since 2021.

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Alan Wilson, South Carolinas attorney general, was the next most well-known with 39% of respondents saying they were familiar with him. Following him were Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette and U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, both at 32%.

The poll showed South Carolinians were least familiar with Josh Kimbrell, a state senator from Spartanburg County, and John Warren, a businessman who unsuccessfully challenged Henry McMaster for the GOP nomination in 2018.

A similar trend can be seen when polling only voters who participated in the June 2024 Republican presidential primary, though each candidate enjoys higher name recognition among that group.

Importantly, both Mace and Wilson, often touted as leading candidates at this early stage, have extremely high name recognition among those respondents who might be perceived as most likely to vote in a Republican primary, said Winthrop Poll Director Scott Huffmon. Among Republicans who reported having voted in the 2024 Republican Presidential Primary, Mace is recognized by more than two-thirds and Wilson is recognized by more than half.

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In fact, several potential candidates have a notable base they can build upon rather than having to spend money to achieve name recognition, he added.

Early voting opens Monday for several upcoming special elections

Filing for the 2026 race wont open for months, but the race has already heated up.

The poll was conducted between February 21 and March 5, less than two weeks after Mace made an explosive speech on the House floor during which she accused Wilson of failing to prosecute heinous crimes committed against her and other women by four Lowcountry men, including sexual assault, domestic abuse, and voyeurism.

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Wilsons office has dismissed her claims as categorically false, maintaining that Wilson was unaware of the allegations prior to Maces Feb. 10 remarks.

Mace has also occasionally taken aim at Evette on social media, saying in a Feb. 5 video that the lieutenant governor was a nice lady but nowhere to be found over the past several years.

At least one other person who was not mentioned in the Winthrop Poll, state Sen. Sean Bennett (R-Dorchester), has publicly expressed interest in joining the governors race.

South Carolinas position as a solidly red state means whoever wins the GOP primary will be heavily favored to succeed McMaster, who could not seek re-election as governor due to term limits.

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The Winthrop Poll surveyed 1,220 adult residents of South Carolina, with an overall margin of error of 2.81%. A higher margin of error was observed for subgroups such as Republican voters only.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
The U.S. Space Forces top officer has provided an unusually detailed description of a vision for future counter-space capabilities and priorities in that regard  as well as the kinds of threats that the service faces. Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzmans comments came during the Air & Space Forces Associations 2025 Warfare Symposium last week.

Saltzman began by categorizing the types of adversary weapons that the United States might expect to encounter in space. These are broken down into six broad categories, three that are space-based and three that are ground-based, but with the same threats in each set. In each of those domains, the three broad threats are directed-energy weapons, such as lasers, radio-frequency capabilities, including electronic warfare jamming, and kinetic threats, which attempt to destroy a target physically.

U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations speaks during a keynote address at the Air and Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colorado, on March 3, 2025. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Emmeline James Staff Sgt. Emmeline James

The latter category includes killer satellites positioned in orbit. As TWZ has explained in the past:

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A killer satellite able to maneuver close to its target could use various means to try to disable, damage, or even destroy it, such as jammers, directed energy weapons, robotic arms, chemical sprays, and small projectiles. It could even deliberately smash into the other satellite in a kinetic attack.

Were seeing in our adversary developmental capabilities that theyre pursuing all of those, Saltzman said.

As for the United States, were not pursuing all of those yet, Saltzman admitted, although he noted that there are good reasons to have all those categories.

A graphic from the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) provides methods that one satellite can use to attack another after it has been able to get in close proximity:

DIA

In particular, a broad range of capabilities is required to potentially counter a proliferation of satellites across low-Earth orbit, as well as in medium/high geo-synchronous orbit.

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These different challenges, Saltzman observed, require different kinds of capabilities. That which is effective in low-Earth orbit is less effective in GEO and vice versa.

A graphic depicting the major different orbits around our planet, from low-Earth orbit (LEO), via medium-Earth orbit (MEO), to geostationary orbit (GEO). Sedrubal via Wikimedia Commons

In terms of the kind of threats that the United States and its allies now have to deal with in space, Saltzman considers that the most concerning aspect is the mix of weapons  they are pursuing the broadest mix of weapons, which means theyre going to hold a vast array of targets at risk.

In this context, Saltzman identifies China as the most dangerous adversary, although Russia is also working on similar capabilities.

Back in 2021, Gen. David Thompson, at that time the Space Forces second in command, pointed out that China and Russia were already launching reversible attacks, meaning ones that dont permanently damage the satellites. These attacks include jamming, temporarily blinding optics with lasers, and cyber-attacks, and they target U.S. satellites every single day.

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Thompson also disclosed that a small Russian satellite used to conduct an on-orbit anti-satellite weapon test back in 2019 had at one point approached so close to a U.S. satellite that there were fears an actual attack was imminent.

Even before then, U.S. satellites were coming under reversible attack.

A graphic giving a general overview of different kinds of anti-satellite electronic warfare jamming, which fall in the category of reversible attacks. DIA

In 2006, for example, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) confirmed that a U.S. spy satellite had been illuminated by a ground-based Chinese laser. On that occasion, it was a test with no impact on the satellites intelligence-gathering capabilities.

Since then, however, there has been an uptick in these kinds of attacks, underscoring the rapid development and fielding by Russia and China of a wide variety of anti-satellite capabilities.

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As for non-reversible attacks, details in this regard are few and far between. In the past, when U.S. officials have been asked to confirm or deny whether any American satellites have actually been damaged in a Russian or Chinese attack, this information has been withheld as classified.

A Defense Intelligence Agency graphic showing a full spectrum of potential attack types in space, ranging from the reversible to the nonreversible. DIA

Nevertheless, with these various threats in mind, the focus out of the gate has been on the resiliency of our architecture, to make the targeting as hard on the adversary as possible, Saltzman said last week. If you can disaggregate your missions from few satellites to many satellites, you change the targeting [requirements]. If you can make things maneuverable, its harder to target, and so that is an initial effort that weve invested heavily over the last few years to make us more resilient against those broad categories.

As well as efforts to field many satellites, the U.S. military has been looking to develop and field new and improved space-based capabilities, as well as explore new concepts, such as distributed constellations of smaller satellites and ways to rapidly deploy new systems into orbit, to help reduce vulnerabilities to anti-satellite attacks, in general.

This kind of resilience is only becoming more critical as the United States and its allies increasingly rely on space-based assets for vital capabilities, including early warning, intelligence-gathering, navigation and weapon guidance, communications and data-sharing, to name just a few.

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Of course, while Saltzmans broad description of these six types of threats was framed around building resilience in space, the very same capabilities can be used, in turn, by the United States against its adversaries.

Typically, Space Force officials are extremely tight-lipped about these so-called counter-space capabilities.

In the military setting, you dont say, Hey, heres all the weapons and heres how Im going to use them, so get ready. Thats not to our advantage, Saltzman said.

While unable to talk specifics, the Space Forces top officer did approach the topic more generally.

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I am far more enamored by systems that deny, disrupt, and degrade, he said, as opposed to ones that destroy. I think theres a lot of room to leverage systems focused on those D-words, if you will.

Saltzman pointed out that although systems that destroy come at a cost in terms of debris, we may get pushed into a corner where we need to execute some of those options.

A painting commissioned for the U.S. Space Force depicts a fictitious reusable spaceplace intercepting a hostile killer satellite threatening another American asset in orbit. U.S. Space Force

Mainly, however, Saltzmans Space Force is really focused on the weapons that deny, disrupt, and degrade. Those can have tremendous mission impacts with far less degradation, in a way that could affect blue systems. Thats just one of the things about the space environment. I tell my air-breathing friends all the time, when you shoot an airplane down, it falls out of your domain.

For the Space Force, using a weapon to destroy a target in space can lead to its own systems being threatened by debris. Saltzman pointed to the examples of the 2007 Chinese anti-satellite test and another by Russia in 2021 as still causing problems in terms of hazardous debris.

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The 2021 Russian anti-satellite weapon test, in particular, involving a ground-launched interceptor, led to widespread condemnation, including from the U.S. government, and prompted renewed discussion about potential future conflicts in space.

The video below shows a past test of Russias A-235 Nudol, a ballistic missile interceptor with anti-satellite capabilities:

This is not the first time that a Space Force or Air Force senior officer has alluded to these kinds of capabilities, but such instances are vanishingly rare.

There may come a point where we demonstrate some of our capabilities so that our adversaries understand they cannot deny us the use of space without consequence, then-Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson said back in 2019.

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That capability needs to be one thats understood by your adversary, she added. They need to know there are certain things we can do, at least at some broad level, and the final element of deterrence is uncertainty. How confident are they that they know everything we can do? Because theres a risk calculation in the mind of an adversary.

Its worth noting, too, that the Biden administration vowed to halt U.S. destructive direct ascent anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons testing back in 2022, raising concerns about Americas ability to target enemy satellites, something you can read more about here.

In recent years, American officials have increasingly pointed to the policy and other problems caused by the extreme secrecy that surrounds U.S. military activities, as well as those conducted by the U.S. Intelligence Community, outside the Earths atmosphere.

Barbara Barrett, Wilsons successor as Secretary of the Air Force, previously argued that The lack of an understanding really does hurt us in doing things that we need to do in space.

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Meanwhile, the challenges the U.S. military and the rest of the U.S. government face in deterring hostile actors or actually responding to acts of aggression in space are by now fairly well established, although specific details remain scarce. Even more secretive are the kinds of capabilities that the United States is able to employ, in turn, to deny, disrupt, and degrade  and even destroy  the systems of its adversaries. While Saltzman wasnt able to provide anything in the way of specifics, his comments may well reflect a growing openness to address these issues in the public arena.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  A Dorman High School freshman is among 10 finalists whose artwork could appear on banners, branded materials and t-shirts at this years Cheerwine Festival in North Carolina.

Every year Cheerwine, a cherry soda which originated in Salisbury more than a century ago, celebrates its history and ties to North Carolina with a cherry soda themed festival.

This year the company invited high school students from across North and South Carolina to submit original designs highlighting Cheerwine and its local ties to the Carolinas.

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Eden Vander Ploeg, a student at Dorman Freshman Campus, was among the more than 150 students to enter the contest, one of 10 finalists to be featured at this years festival.

courtesy of Cheerwine/Hank Sforzini

Ploegs design features a glass Cheerwine bottle being poured out, its contents forming two stems ending in a pair of cherries branded with the date of the Cheerwine Festival, May 17.

The design was nominated as a finalist by a panel of judges which included Salisburys mayor and Joy Ritchie Harper, a fifth-generation member of Cheerwines founding family.

We continue to be amazed by the passion and creativity students bring to this contest, said Harper in a news release. This years finalists brought the regions spirit to life through vibrant and imaginative designs. Were grateful to the teachers, administrators and young artists who make this possible, and we cant wait to see which design will represent this years Festival!

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Cheerwine is letting the public decide which of the 10 designs will be featured on t-shirts and other branding for this years festival.

The winner and runners-up will be honored at the 2025 Cheerwine Festival in May, and the winning design will become the official festival artwork.

You can view all of the designs below, and vote for your favorite by clicking here. You can learn more about the Cheerwine festival. by clicking here.

courtesy of Cheerwine/Hank Sforzini courtesy of Cheerwine/Hank Sforzini courtesy of Cheerwine/Hank Sforzini courtesy of Cheerwine/Hank Sforzini courtesy of Cheerwine/Hank Sforzini courtesy of Cheerwine/Hank Sforzini courtesy of Cheerwine/Hank Sforzini courtesy of Cheerwine/Hank Sforzini

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SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA)  City officials unanimously passed a resolution to honor Lou Sartor with a street name sign.

Sartor, who passed in February, had been the executive director of the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen nearly 25 years. She was 72.

According to the City of Spartanburg, the honorary street name will be on part of South Forest Street, between West Henry Street and West Main Street.

The city will also recognize April 6 as Lou Sartor Day.

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House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D-Baltimore County) leads floor session following the death of her son in late February. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters)

House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D-Baltimore County) returned to lead the House of Delegates in floor session Monday, just days after the funeral for her eldest son, Brandon, who died unexpectedly late last month.

Joness return to the House floor comes 10 days after she was swept out of the chamber on Feb. 27 and told of the death of her son, who was 44 years old when he died. She took a moment Monday to thank the members and other state figures who had reached out to her in the days she was absent from the House to mourn her son.

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Once word got around the State House about Joness loss, committee leaders shared their condolences ahead of bill hearings that day, and Gov. Wes Moore (D) led a moment of silence before getting into budget discussions in Joint House Appropriations and Ways and Means committees.

Before I begin with the work we want to do, she said, I just wanted to thank everyone for their cards, their calls, their prayers.

In her remarks Monday, she thanked Speaker Pro Tem Dana Stein (D-Baltimore) who led floor sessions in her absence. She also thanked the lawmakers, state officials, and political figures who attended the funeral in Randallstown Friday.

It warmed my heart, she said. I lost my son  but just the fact that I saw so many of you, really warmed my heart, so I just wanted to thank you.

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And Im back, she declared. Delegates then stood to give her a standing ovation.

After her comments, the House returned to business, during which Jones was solemn but in good enough spirits to joke with members during the floor session.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)  Voters in a Minnesota House district at the center of post-election drama over chamber control decisively chose Democrat David Gottfried on Tuesday, tying the House and ending a short-lived Republican majority. The Democratic victory will force the two parties to work together on a budget for the next two years.

Gottfried got about 70% of the vote to defeat Republican Paul Wikstrom, who also ran for the seat in November.

The special election in the heavily Democratic district in the northern St. Paul suburbs of Roseville and Shoreview was scheduled after a state court ruled that Democratic winner Curtis Johnson failed to meet residency requirements. That disrupted an expected 67-67 tie in the House and led to the collapse of a power-sharing agreement when Republicans tried to capitalize on their unexpected majority, prompting a three-week Democratic boycott of the chamber.

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The parties reached a new power-sharing agreement in February that assumed Democrats would win the special election and restore the tie. Under the terms of the deal, Republican Lisa Demuth will remain House speaker for the next two years. Once Gottfried is sworn in, the two parties will have even strength on most committees, with cochairs who will take turns holding the gavel, except for an oversight committee that Republicans will control to investigate fraud in government programs.

Democrats hold a one-seat majority in the Minnesota Senate. Given the tie in the House, some degree of bipartisan cooperation will be required to get the 68 votes needed to pass the big budget measures to Democratic Gov. Tim Walz. Updated budget projections released last Thursday suggested difficult negotiations ahead. The projected surplus for the next two-year budget slipped to $456 million, while the projected deficit for the two years after that grew to $6 billion.

Gottfried's 40-point margin of victory exceeded Johnsons 30-point win in November. Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris carried the district with 68% of the vote over President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee.

Gottfried said his win is a victory for the voters in his district, who havent been represented in the House since the session convened in January.

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The President is sowing chaos that is increasing the price of basic needs like food, energy, and healthcare, Gottfried said in a statement. Its never been more urgent that we work together in Saint Paul to shield Minnesotans from the chaos, lower the cost of prescription drugs, and make a smart plan to protect our shared futures in Minnesota.

House Democratic Caucus leader Melissa Hortman said Gottfrieds win confirms that theyll be working under the power-sharing agreement they negotiated with House Republicans.

Democrats have been ready to work in a bipartisan way for months, Hortman said in a statement. Its time for our Republican colleagues to leave the partisan games behind and work with us to craft a budget for the people of Minnesota.

Demuth said it was always going to be an uphill battle for a Republican to win in the district.

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While the House will return to a 67-67 tie after tonight, House Republican priorities remain unchanged: we will continue our effort to stop the fraud, protect Minnesotans from harmful tax increases, and work with our Democrat colleagues to pass a responsible and balanced budget, Demuth said in a statement.

Ken Martin, a Minnesotan who chairs both the Democratic National Committee and the state party organization, congratulated Gottfried for what he called a crucial victory for the party.

Gottfrieds win comes on the heels of special election victories earlier this year in Virginia and Iowa, and it shows that Americans are already rejecting President Donald Trump, the DNC said in a statement.

Since Novembers election, Democrats continue to fight and win in communities across the country, Martin said.
A Tuesday special election will determine whether the Minnesota House is tied between the parties or keeps a Republican majority.

Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidate David Gottfried and GOP candidate Paul Wikstrom are vying for a vacant seat in House District 40B, which includes Roseville and Shoreview.

Republicans have had a one-seat advantage in the House since the legislative session started in January.

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While the November election delivered a 67-67 tie, Curtis Johnson, the DFLer who won in District 40B, didnt take the seat after Wikstrom successfully challenged his residency in court.

That gave the GOP a one-seat majority, though the threshold to pass bills is 68, meaning they cant pass bills without DFL support. Under a power-sharing agreement that ended a weeks-long DFL boycott of the legislative session, Republicans are currently in control of the speakership and committees.

The candidates

If Gottfried wins, a 67-67 tie returns to the House, and the parties are set to enter a power-sharing agreement where theyll split control of committees. Republicans will keep control of the speakership and a new committee they created aimed at addressing fraud in state government.

District 40B, which includes parts of Roseville and Shoreview, strongly leans Democratic. In the November election, Curtis Johnson won 65% of the vote in the district compared to Republican opponent Paul Wikstroms 35%.

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Both candidates live in Shoreview.

Gottfried, who works at a law firm helping low income clients access legal services, said his top issues include lowering the cost of prescription drugs, defending paid family and medical leave and boosting funding for education.

Wikstrom, who has a background in engineering, is campaigning on fighting fraud and waste in state government and boosting public safety.

Republicans have had a one-seat edge for a little longer than originally expected. In late December, Gov. Tim Walz had called for the special election to happen on Jan. 28, but the state Supreme Court said that was too soon.

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The special elections winner could be seated as soon as next Monday.

Polls opened at 7 a.m. Tuesday and close at 8 p.m. Check back for results on twincities.com.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  The city of Springfield and the Department of Public Health are cracking down on plans to combat the opioid crisis.

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno announced several grant awardees on Monday. This is all part of the opioid recovery and remediation fund.

Markey advocates union rights at building trade convention

Over the next 15 years, the Springfield Department of Health and Human Services will use funds from a $7 million settlement to address substance abuse and prevention, along with harm reduction treatment and recovery.

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The city and health department hopes by dedicating these funds to several non-profits that they will be able to directly help the community.

They soon have plans to announce smaller grants for other organizations to continue combating the opioid crisis.

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.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  The Downtown Springfield Association has announced the Springfield St. Patricks Day Parade is returning to downtown and C-Street this year.

On Mar. 15, at 2 p.m., the parade will begin at Benton Avenue and Commercial Street and make its way west through the historic C-Street district, turn on Boonville Avenue heading south towards downtown and end at Park Central Square.

Winners for Best-decorated Auto, Best Contraption on Wheels, Best Irish Group, Best Musical Entry, and Judges Choice will be announced at the square after the parade.

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Spectators can also visit the various food, drink, and live music happening at the Park Central Square.

Ozarks First will be livestreaming the parade from the judges stand at the beginning of the route on Commercial Street.

Applications to be in the parade or volunteer are open and are available here. Applications will remain open until Tuesday, March 11. No entries will be accepted on the day of the parade. It is $25 for a non-commercial entry, $50 for a commercial entry and $75 for an over-sized entry. All entry fees go to cover the cost of putting on the parade.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  The Stafford County Sheriffs Office (SCSO) said a deputy was hurt in an unprovoked attack at Mary Washington Hospital on Monday afternoon.

Just before 12:15 p.m., the SCSO said a deputy was helping someone who voluntarily wanted mental health resources. The deputy brought that person to Mary Washington Hospital and noticed 39-year-old Darrell Jackson, who he knew from previous encounters.

The SCSO noted Jackson was not related to the person receiving mental health resources.

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Cherry blossom bloom watch: Cherry trees along Tidal Basin reach stage one of six

In the lobby, Jackson allegedly advanced toward the deputy and began confronting him.

The incident escalated when Jackson assaulted the deputy, according to the sheriffs office. Hospital security and nursing staff rushed to intervene, during which the deputy was able to activate the emergency button on his radio, prompting law enforcement to respond.

Jackson was eventually detained and the deputy sustained minor injuries.

The SCSO charged Jackson with assault and battery on law enforcement, disorderly conduct and obstruction of justice. He was held without bond.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  Savannah will celebrate its 201st St. Patricks Day in six days. To prepare for the rush, downtown businesses have been preparing for weeks. But its not just businesses  city officials are busy ensuring that both the public and local businesses are ready.

Savannahs historic district has more than 100 restaurants, and all of them will be affected by this weeks St. Patricks Day celebrations. To help prepare for the dramatic increase of visitors, city officials are hosting a stakeholder meeting today, so businesses are ready for anything this weekend.

This evening, the city is holding a stakeholder meeting for all local business owners. Topics such as road closures, parade schedules, food trucks, and alcohol enforcement will be discussed.

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Downtown businesses are offering special menus for the holiday and encouraging reservations to avoid long wait times.

Local businesses, including popular spots like B&D Burgers, are preparing for the massive crowds by increasing inventory and expanding seating this year to accommodate more guests. The restaurant opened its doors 24 years ago and the local business has since expanded to a second location on Congress Street.

We are going to have a staff meeting about safety and what to expect. Were actually doing that on Wednesday and just really doing our best to have them mentally prepared for the influx of people, said Duncan Tonroe, the General Manager of the B&D Burgers Congress Street location.

B&Ds shared with WSAV that they are currently working to open a second floor to their restaurant on Congress Street. This comes after years of successful growth for the burger joint. The manager said it will add 40 more tables upstairs  with a bar.

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Just like many other restaurants in downtown Savannah, B&D Burgers will also be ordering more booze, beer, and food for the influx of business.

Its obviously a big weekend for the city of Savannah. And so just doing the best with what we have and making sure we create and take care of as many customers as physically possible, and everybody leaves happy, explained Tonroe.

The stakeholder meeting for local business owners is today at 5 p.m. at the Coastal Georgia Center. There is another press conference in Forsyth tomorrow at noon to discuss public safety, sanitation, and more.

Businesses along the parade route anticipate their highest foot traffic of the year this weekend and post-parade crowds.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
Nevada Gold Mines, a joint venture between Barrick and Newmont, mines the vast majority of the gold in the state. The Cortez mine is one of the venture's biggest. (Photo: Nevada Gold Mines presentation to investors)

For decades, data on gross and net revenues at individual Nevada mines  and the amount of taxes paid on those revenues  have been at the heart of state mining tax debates and legislation.

And for decades, the data was publicly available.

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A state Department of Taxation webpage linked to years of the Net Proceeds of Minerals Bulletin, as the annual report is called, for public perusal.

Not anymore.

Asked last week where on its website it had stashed NPOM bulletins, the Nevada Department of Taxation said via email it had determined the reports contained confidential taxpayer information that identified tax information for the respective mines and so has been deemed confidential under Nevada statute.

Though asked repeatedly, the department, through its public information office, declined to say who specifically did the deeming, when, or by what process.

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Meanwhile, two Nevada Republican assemblymembers, Bert Gurr, who represents White Pine and parts of four other eastern Nevada counties, and Washoe Countys Rich DeLong, are sponsoring Assembly Bill 277, which would reverse the departments decision.

My understanding is that someone in the Department of Taxation determined that the information was subject to the confidentiality provisions, since the data was not specifically exempted from the state statute cited by the department, DeLong said via email.

AB277 would explicitly exempt the data from the confidentiality statute, thus making it available to the public.

The Nevada Mining Association supports the bill to make NPOM bulletins public again.

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We are asking for your support for AB 277, the net proceeds on minerals transparency bill, Nevada Mining Association President Amanda Hilton mentioned while providing an overview of the industry to the Assembly Natural Resources Committee earlier this month.

This is important to us because we want to make sure that we can continue to have transparency in disclosing to the public what the tax impacts are and what the tax contributions are for our industry, Hilton said.

Like DeLong, the association says it is at a loss as to why the Taxation Department deemed the reports confidential.

The Nevada Mining Association does not have insight into why the Department of Taxation made this report confidential two years ago, the group said in a statement Monday.

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Over the years, the industry and its defenders have pointed to the reports to underscore the millions of dollars they pay in taxes, and to show how expensive it can be to produce gold, copper, and other minerals.

The reports also illustrate how declaring expenses reduces a mining operators tax burden. That system of taxing mining has been singled out by the industry nationally on multiple occasions to argue to Congress that if any federal tax on gold and other hard rock mineral production is ever implemented (none has been), it should be modeled after Nevadas mining tax.

Proponents of higher state mining taxes have pointed to the gross and net revenues data in the annual NPOM reports to decry how the state allows the industry to substantially reduce the taxable value of gold and other minerals by deducting multiple expenses and paying taxes only on net proceeds.

Nevadas main mining tax rate is applied to net proceeds. (Nevada Net Proceeds of Minerals Bulletin, 2021-2022.)

For instance, in any given year, several mines in Nevada deduct enough expenses from the gross value of production that those mines pay no net proceeds on mining taxes at all on hundreds of millions of dollars worth of minerals.

AB277 was referred to the Assembly Revenue Committee. As of Tuesday morning no hearing has been scheduled for the bill.
Students protest at the Florida Capitol in 2018 following the Parkland school shooting tragedy. (Photo by Julie Hauserman/Florida Phoenix)

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas School Safety Commission may see some legislative clarification of a 2024 school safety law that public safety officers have had trouble interpreting.

That law, HB 1473, requires classrooms and the perimeter of a campus to be locked while students are present. HB 1403, heard in the House Education Administration Subcommittee Tuesday, would allow for doors to be unlocked if they are actively being watched.

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The bill, sponsored by Reps. Brad Yeager and Christine Hunschofsky, who was mayor of Parkland at the time of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas school shootings in 2018, would require gates and access points to be closed at least 30 minutes before and after school.

Hunschofsky said she and Yeager made sure to consult with school leaders in crafting the legislation so that whatever were doing up here also makes sense in a school environment, because its about safety but its also about making sure the kids and the teachers have the environment that they need to thrive.

Cafeterias, auditoriums, and media centers would only be covered by the law when they are being used for instruction or student testing. The bill requires at least one locked barrier between classroom and instructional spaces and school grounds.

This bill puts school safety first while protecting the student campus experience for the students across Florida, Yeager said.

Concerned law enforcement

The proposal addresses concerns Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd raised in July, saying his county feels boxed up by the gray areas he said the law presented.

The 2024 law requires gate and access points to be locked unless the school has approval from the state.

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Judd said he supports the purpose of the law, but were having a really hard time.

We need something from the state to come down to these folks, Judd said in July, voicing complaints from his officers. Just give me something to explain what all campus access doors means, because I cant physically keep them locked and I dont want to violate the rules, so we need help with some definitions.

The chair of the safety commission, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, assured Judd at that time that enforcement would not include aggressively trying to find the most obscure situation just so they can have a violation.

Gualtieri said then that exceptions may need to be made for welding, diesel engine, and other shop classes. The proposal approved Tuesday does that, carving out an exemption for career and technical education classrooms to open doors for health and safety reasons.

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The proposal would authorize childcare facilities to participate in the states school guardian program, which provides state funding to sheriffs offices to train security personnel.

Substitute teachers would be required to be informed of school safety procedures before their first day of teaching under the bill.

Representatives on the Education Administration Subcommittee approved the measure 16-0. The bill was referred to the Criminal Justice Subcommittee and the Education and Employment Committee.

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State legislatures craft most of the laws passed in the United States and serve as the main pipeline for higher office. But sexual harassment in state politics remains a systemic and ongoing issue affecting both parties according to a new report from the nonpartisan National Womens Defense League (NWDL), first shared with The 19th.

Our latest research reinforces what we already knew: the problem of sexual harassment in statehouses is pervasive, damaging and covered up, said Emma Davidson Tribbs, the NWDLs co-founder and director. These abuses of power that not only inflict trauma, but impede policy making, waste taxpayer resources, and disproportionately impact the leadership of women and minorities in government.

NWDL published its inaugural report, Abuse of Power: Uncovering a Decade of Sexual Harassment in State Government, which tracked allegations over a 10-year period beginning in 2013, in November 2023. The updated report, released Tuesday, identified 400 allegations of sexual harassment against 145 sitting state lawmakers between 2013 and 2024. The report tracked 11 new public allegations against lawmakers in 10 states in 2024 and included four allegations inadvertently omitted from the 2023 report. The number of actual incidents is likely three times higher due to underreporting, the report said.

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Public allegations of sexual misconduct against state lawmakers peaked at the height of the #MeToo movement in 2017 and 2018, leading to new protections and policy changes in some states. NWDL was founded in 2022 to track, research and develop solutions to the pervasive problem of sexual misconduct in the halls of power.

There are over 7,300 state lawmakers serving in 99 state legislative chambers throughout the United States. State legislatures are largely self-governing bodies, and even after a spate of post-#MeToo reforms, many lawmakers surveyed said the mechanisms for reporting misconduct in their states are lacking.

While the NWDL report did not track allegations against staff, sexual misconduct allegations against high-ranking staff members in the Pennsylvania governors office, Los Angeles mayors and Indianapolis mayors office also shed light on the issue in 2024.

As part of the updated 2024 report, NWDL commissioned a survey of state legislators, designed with perspective and input from other advocacy groups and conducted by Understory, a research and policy consulting firm. Out of the 207 lawmakers who responded, 57 percent were women, 40.6 percent were men and 2.4 percent identified another way. Roughly a third of all state lawmakers are women.

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One in three state lawmakers surveyed said they experienced or witnessed sexual harassment in their state capitol, with 62 percent saying they personally experienced harassment.

The most common kinds of harassment they reported were verbal (88 percent), physical (42 percent) and unwanted sexual advances (40 percent). A little over a third, 35 percent, said they did not report the harassment. Of those who did report, 53 percent said the incident was investigated, a quarter said it was not and 22 percent said they didnt know the outcome.

Of the incidents that were investigated, 42 percent led to consequences for the accused perpetrator, 36 percent said the accused perpetrator faced no consequences and 21 percent said they didnt know the outcome.

About two-thirds of respondents, 64 percent, said their state had an official process for reporting sexual misconduct and 40 percent said they didnt receive sexual harassment training and didnt know if it was required in their state.

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State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Nebraska said in a statement that she experienced various forms of harassment almost from my first day in office.

One particularly notable incident occurred during a live stream of a floor debate when a colleague mentioned my name while reading a scene that described a rape, demanding a sex act, the Democrat said. The response from leadership in the Legislature highlighted how inadequately we have addressed the issue of harassment, failing to protect staff, lobbyists, citizens, and elected officials within our government.

State Rep. Abby Major of Pennsylvania said shed experienced harassment in the very halls where our laws are made.

In Harrisburg, its all too common  the governors top adviser, sitting lawmakers, lobbyists  and its all unacceptable, the Republican said. Thats why Ive continued to sponsor legislation that would help prevent harassment, support survivors, and ensure that we hold everyone in the Commonwealths statehouse accountable.

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Across 88 bills relating to sexual harassment passed in 24 states in 2024, NWDL identified six bills in five states that focused on tackling sexual misconduct, which included state legislatures and other political workspaces. This progress, while important, barely makes a dent in the work needed to address the problem of sexual harassment in legislatures, the report said.

Most legislatures have failed to enact laws, policies, and oversight mechanisms that establish safe workplace standards, protections for employees, and safeguards to prevent political and partisan self-interest from undermining the process, the report found.

In some cases, political party organizations like the Nebraska Senate Republicans, Kentucky House Democrats and Indiana Senate Democrats took action to address reports of sexual misconduct in their ranks, and implemented internal rules and procedures to address sexual misconduct.

In Indiana, several Democratic officials faced public sexual misconduct allegations in 2024, prompting 40 women in Indiana politics to send a letter to the state Democratic Party demanding accountability. The accusations and surrounding outcry led to state Senate Minority Leader Greg Taylors ouster from leadership, the state Democratic Party instituting new ethics reforms and state Democratic Party chair Mike Schmuhl announcing he wouldnt seek another term.

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Elise Shrock, an Indiana political strategist, said in a statement she was appalled by the ongoing pattern of sexual harassment and the lack of appetite to make the substantive, common sense changes necessary to fix it.

A lack of basic professionalism and respect will continue to drain our political bench, she added. We must fix this now.

Sexual harassment in state capitols has a damaging effect of further marginalizing women, and especially women of color, out of political spaces, influencing whose voices are heard and what policies get passed, NWDL said. State legislatures also cultivate the bench of talent for higher offices.

The reports release comes amid a cultural and political backlash to the #MeToo movement with some men who have been accused of sexual misconduct returning to political power.

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President Donald Trump was elected to a second term in November after a jury found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming advice columnist E. Jean Carroll. He subsequently appointed several people accused of sexual misconduct to his Cabinet including former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who began his career in the Florida state legislature. Gaetz withdrew his nomination ahead of the release of a House Ethics Committee report finding substantial evidence he had sex with a minor and paid women for sex. Gaetz was never criminally charged and denied all of the allegations.

And Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat who resigned as governor of New York in 2021 after a damning investigation found he sexually harassed 11 women while in office, is attempting a political comeback with a campaign for mayor of New York City.

Cuomo, a onetime Democratic power player, resigned as governor of New York in 2021 after a five-month investigation commissioned by the New York attorney generals office produced a damning 165-page report outlining evidence he had sexually harassed 11 women while in office. A separate investigation from the Department of Justice found Cuomo harassed 13 women who worked for the state over the course of eight years. Cuomo has denied the allegations of sexual harassment, but he has publicly apologized for overfamiliar contact and off-color jokes that made women uncomfortable.

Addressing sexual harassment in state government could prevent serial sexual harassers  and research shows that most are repeat offenders  from causing more harm from greater positions of influence, the report said. In short, action at the state legislative level is an opportunity to clean up higher levels of government as well.

The post State politics has a sexual misconduct problem appeared first on The 19th.

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Mar. 10MORGANTOWN  West Virginia pharmacists could be granted a limited authority to write prescriptions under a bill working its way through the state Senate.

The Senate Government Organization Committee gave its blessing to SB 526 on Monday morning and it heads to the Senate floor.

The bill is called the Pharmacist Prescribing Authority Act, "to authorize pharmacists to practice the full extent of their education and training to prescribe low-risk medications to patients."

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It would allow prescribing of drugs for conditions that do not require a new diagnosis ; are "minor and generally self limiting "; have a diagnostic test that is waived under federal guidelines as "simple laboratory examinations and procedures that have an insignificant risk of an erroneous result, "' or are patient emergencies in the pharmacist's professonal judgment.

This was the second committee to review the bill and discussion was minimal.

Krista Capehart, state Board of Pharmacy director of professional and regulatory affairs, told the senators that this bill or something similar is in play in 24 states.

In answer to a question about liability, she said pharmacists carry medical malpractice insurance based on the type of pharmacy they work for and the type of services provided.

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The Senate Health Committee previously took up and approved the bill on Feb. 20. Health chair Laura Chapman, R-Ohio, is the bill's lead sponsor.

The bill saw more hashing over in Health, with Capehart fielding a series of questions.

While the bill doesn't define "minor and generally self limiting, " she said it refers to a condition that would heal on its own but a prescription could accelerate healing. If the condition doesn't resolve within a certain period, the patient would be required to see a physician or advanced practice provider.

She cited the recent southern West Virginia floods as an example of a situation where a pharmacist prescription would be helpful for a condition that doesn't require a new diagnosis. The floods washed away half of a pharmacy, and the patients can't get refills at nearby pharmacies because the ruined one has the prescriptions.

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Capehart also cited a coule examples of emergencies. In one case, the patient went into anaphylaxis and she happened to know the patient had a prescription for an epinephrine pen, so she was able to grab one and administer it. West Virginia has no such provision, she said.

In another case, a patient suffered an asthma attack but the pharmacist had no authority to administer an inhaler, and the patient was lost.

On a question about situations where it might be necessary to know a patient's medical history, Capehart said many pharmacies are connected to health system electronic medical records.

Capehart also appreciated a question about potential perks or kickbacks for recommending certain drugs. She said pharmaceutical representatives don't eave samples at pharmacies. They might stop by to let the pharmacist know they visited area providers so the pharmacy can stock new drugs, or to drop off informational brochures.

Provisions already exist, she said, for pharmacies to charge point-of-care fees for providing services of this type.

Both committees approved the bill in voice votes with no audible objections.
In three weeks, well get our first battleground state readout of the post-2024 political landscape.

Wisconsins election on April 1 for a seat on the state Supreme Court is nonpartisan in name only. Prominent Republican donors and activists are squarely behind conservative Brad Schimel, while Democrats are with liberal Susan Crawford.

Turnout will be far lower than in November, and the electorate figures to be skewed toward voters who are more politically engaged and partisan, making this an imperfect test. But the outcome will at least offer clues about how the political winds might be shifting in what is arguably Americas premier swing state.

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There are a few key patterns and trends that enabled President Donald Trump to flip the state in November that will be under the microscope next month.

Vote shifts in Wisconsin were small but crucial. Overall, Trump defeated Kamala Harris by 0.9 points, the narrowest spread of any battleground state. That represented a net shift of just 1.5 points from 2020, when Trump lost Wisconsin to Joe Biden by 0.6 points  again, the smallest shift of any battleground. The biggest county-level movement toward Trump was 6.5 points, while the biggest toward Harris and the Democrats was 1.9 points.

Where Republicans made gains

Against this background of minimal overall movement, some parts of the state did stand out.

On the Republican side, eight of the 10 counties where Trump improved his performance the most from the 2020 elections are in the southwestern part of the state, in what is called the "Driftless Area" (a nod to the unique topography that resulted from the lack of glacial coverage more than 10,000 years ago).

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The Driftless Area encompasses counties along and inland from the Mississippi River and is ethnically and culturally distinct from the rest of the state, originally settled by Scandinavian farmers.

Politically, it represents a significant growth opportunity for the GOP, having remained loyal to Democrats until more recently than other small towns and rural parts of the state. It was Trumps emergence in 2016 that triggered the areas movement toward the GOP.

Does this represent a partisan realignment that is ongoing and that will allow Republicans to build an even bigger advantage here going forward? Or is it more tentative and Trump-specific, offering Democrats a chance to stabilize and improve their performance without Trump on the ballot? Notably, the area did return to its Democratic roots in recent state Supreme Court races.

Where Democrats are in growth mode

The "WOW" counties of Washington, Ozaukee and Waukesha outside Milwaukee have historically been the biggest vote bank in the state for Republican candidates, and all favored Trump by double digits last year. But the GOP's advantage has been receding.

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The GOP's declines here match the national trend of the last generation or so of highly educated, professional-class, white suburbanites shedding their previous Republican allegiance  which accelerated drastically with Trumps emergence.

Even while losing ground statewide, Democrats modestly improved their performance in the WOW counties last November. In Ozaukee and Waukesha, Harris won a higher share of the vote than any Democratic presidential nominee there since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

That the Democratic gains have been particularly stark in Ozaukee is no surprise. Outside of Dane County (home of the University of Wisconsin-Madison), it has the highest concentration of white, college-educated voters in the state.

Zooming in even further, Democrats biggest improvement in Ozaukee in November was a 15-point shift in a precinct in the city of Mequon. In that precinct, the population is overwhelmingly white, with 92% of adults having at least four-year degrees and 35% having graduate degrees  numbers vastly higher than are typically seen  and the average income is over $200,000 annually.

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Last November, Democrats were banking on even bigger gains in the WOW counties, which could have pushed Harris over the top statewide. Still, Democrats see an opportunity to make further strides here and to cement them, with Republicans hoping to arrest their slide without Trump at the top of their ticket.

Wild card: The Hispanic vote

About 8% of Wisconsins population is Hispanic, and Democrats suffered pronounced erosion in the state with this group in November, mirroring the national trend.

This is most evident in and around the city of Milwaukee, where most of the states Hispanic population lives. Overall, Milwaukee County, which includes the city and its inner suburbs, shifted only slightly away from Democrats  from a 40-point Biden margin in 2020 to 39 points for Harris. But in the Hispanic-majority precincts of Milwaukee County, the shift was 10 points, with Harris carrying them by 44 points after Biden did so by 54.

Notably, the party's slippage in these Hispanic-majority precincts didn't extend much to Wisconsin's U.S. Senate race, where Democrats' margin was 51 points. This raises the possibility of a more Trump-specific phenomenon that would allow Democrats to assert their traditional strength going forward.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Five years ago, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak to be a pandemic, leading to stay at-home orders and shutdowns across the U.S. and world.

The nation looks much different since then, and scientists and researchers have learned a lot about the virus, including how it infects people, the best forms of treatment and what puts someone at risk for long COVID.

MORE: 5 years ago, the WHO declared COVID a pandemic. Here's a look at the disease by the numbers

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There are still many questions, however. Health care professionals are working to find answers, such as how many people have truly died, how long the virus spread undetected in the U.S. and its origins.

"We know this emerged in China, around the city Wuhan. That's very clear," Dr. Cameron Wolfe, an infectious diseases specialist and a professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine, told ABC News. "We know when [the] medical community identified it, but we don't know quite how long it was circulating before then. I think it's caused some of the consternation."

How many people have died of COVID-19?

As of March 6, at least 1,222,603 Americans have died of COVID-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The U.S. currently has the highest number of deaths of any country in the world, according to the WHO.

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Experts, however, believe the true death toll is higher.

PHOTO: Weekly COVID-19 Deaths in the U.S. (CDC)

"More than a million people is a tragedy into itself, let's start with that obvious fact," Wolfe said. "I think the numbers are really hard to pin down for one key reason."

Determining the exact cause of death can be complicated, Wolfe explained. Someone could die of COVID pneumonia -- a lung infection caused by the virus -- or die from a heart attack after contracting COVID.

Another example is an older adult who contracts COVID-19. They may become dehydrated, break a bone -- because dehydration negatively impacts bone health -- and suffer fatal complications, Wolfe said.

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"How you count those outcomes is really important because, to me, that person wouldn't have had their heart attack or that person wouldn't have become dehydrated and fallen over and landed in the hospital if not for COVID triggering that event in the first place," he said. "So, I actually think it's really important to count those as COVID-associated mortalities, but they're hard to count. They're hard to track."

Globally, more than 7 million people have died due to COVID-19, WHO data shows, although the agency says the pandemic caused an estimated 14.83 million excess deaths around the world in 2020 and 2021.

Excess deaths are the difference between the recorded number of deaths and the expected number of deaths over a certain period.

What is the mechanism behind long COVID

Scientists are not sure what causes long COVID but have identified certain risk factors such as an underlying health condition. Long-COVID symptoms can last for weeks, months or even years and can include -- but are not limited to -- fever, fatigue, coughing, chest pain, headaches, difficulty concentrating, sleep problems, stomach pain and joint or muscle pain, according to the CDC.

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MORE: Timeline of the global COVID-19 pandemic

Research has found that patients with long COVID tend to have lower cortisol levels and lower testosterone levels.

"There are several questions that we still do not have answers for. What is the mechanism of the disease? Why do some people get more sick than others?" Dr. Fernando Carnavali, an internal medicine physician and a member of the team at Mount Sinai's Center for Post-COVID Care, told ABC News.

Carnavali said scientists are using machine learning to study groups of long COVID patients in an attempt to determine the mechanisms that cause the condition.

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"Do we have a single answer? Not as of yet, and most likely, perhaps we'll have more than one answer," he said.

Carnavali said the mechanism may not be the same for every long COVID patient. Additionally, people may have different symptoms due to different genetic predispositions.

"Some of the deficits that we have five years ago still remain, but I think that we should all understand and be hopeful that ... researchers using machine learning will [provide] us some of the answers that we need as clinicians," he said.

When did COVID enter the United States?

It's still not exactly clear when the virus first entered the U.S. The first confirmed case in the country was Jan. 20, 2020, in a man in his 30s in Washington state, who developed symptoms after a trip to Wuhan.

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However, studies have suggested the virus may have been circulating undetected for months beforehand.

PHOTO: Health care workers administer a COVID-19 test to patients at a drive-in center at ProHealth Care, Mar. 18, 2020 in Jericho, New York. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Although the WHO was first notified on Dec. 31, 2019, about the mysterious pneumonia-like illness that originated in Wuhan, experts say it is likely that in an age of global travel, the virus was in the U.S. before then.

"It's more likely circulated before Jan. 1 [2020]. It doesn't seem unreasonable, November, December," Dr. Lisa Olson-Gugerty, an associate teaching professor for Syracuse University and practicing family nurse practitioner in emergency medicine, told ABC News. "COVID masquerades itself as a flu-like illness, upper respiratory-like illness, like many other viral illnesses. It's not easy to say, 'Hey, I think this must be a new thing, and I'm going to tell everyone.'"

She went on, "I think it takes a bit of collective time to recognize a new viral strain, and it doesn't seem unreasonable [there were] cases that could have been recognized as COVID before the date of release of information."

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MORE: 5 years since COVID declared public health emergency in US, still killing thousands

Where did the virus come from?

There are two theories about where the virus, known as SARS-CoV-2, originated.

At least four U.S. agencies believe the virus was a result of natural transmission and that the virus jumped from animals to humans at a wet market.

The FBI, the CIA and the Department of Energy  the latter with "low confidence" -- believe the COVID-19 pandemic "most likely" was the result of a laboratory leak in China.

Additionally, an April 2023 report from Senate Republicans conceded that "both hypotheses are plausible" but that the evidence points to the virus emerging from an accidental lab leak in Wuhan -- and there may even have been multiple leaks.

PHOTO: Workers disinfect the entrance of a building in the sealed city Wuhan under the threaten of new coronavirus, Jan. 28, 2020 in Wuhan, China. (Tpg/Getty Images)

If the virus did come from an animal, there are questions about which species may have spilled the virus over from animals to humans.

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"I've seen a lot of conflicting information," Olson-Gugerty said. "Did it come from a bat? Did it get into raccoon dogs or civet cats? Or was it a lab-created virus in Wuhan, China? There does seem to be a jury that's out."

Wolfe said we may never know the true origins of SARS-CoV-2, but trying to answer the question helps scientists and public health professionals learn how to mitigate the spread so a pandemic -- or even widespread illness -- doesn't happen again.

"This was the same question that happened during the Ebola pandemic, when we had to say, 'Where did this come from? How can we educate people to minimize this future risk?'" he said. "It was important to examine where COVID-19 came from to try and put things in place that would stop that happening."

He added, "We certainly, I would say, have better safety mechanisms now in place ... so there are some good things that have come out of this."

What we still don't know about COVID 5 years after the WHO declared a pandemic originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
DENVER (KDVR)  Starting late Thursday night, the moon will turn a reddish hue during a celestial phenomenon that can be seen across the country, but in Denver, an incoming storm may have other plans.

According to Pinpoint Weather Meteorologist Travis Michels, a total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is positioned directly between the sun and the moon. The moon moves into the Earths shadow, which is cast by the sun, causing the moon to look red or orange, earning its title as the blood moon.

A total lunar eclipse and blood moon will be visible in March: How and when to watch

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The last time this phenomenon occurred was in 2022, and between the late night hours of Thursday, March 13, and early morning hours of Friday, March 14, everyone in the United States can catch a glimpse of the moon  that is, if the skies are clear.

Storm rolls into Colorado during total lunar eclipse

In Colorado, Michels said clouds will build Thursday afternoon, and light snow will move into the mountains early Friday morning. The rest of the state will have cloudy skies. By the time of the eclipse, which starts just after 11 p.m. Thursday, it will be partly cloudy.

While it will be partly cloudy, it takes over an hour for the entire eclipse to finish, so Michels said that while there might be some clouds, people should still be able to see it. There will be some light rain moving in Friday morning, but Michels said the eclipse will be over by then.

FOX31 Weather: View the latest Denver forecasts, maps and radar

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Heres when Michels said people in Colorado could see the eclipse:

Partial lunar eclipse begins: Thursday at 11:09 p.m.

Total lunar eclipse begins: Friday at 12:26 a.m.

Maximum eclipse: Friday at 12:58 a.m.

Total lunar eclipse ends: Friday at 1:31 a.m.

Partial lunar eclipse ends: Friday at 2:47 a.m.

If youre planning on catching a glimpse of the moon, the forecast will be the only thing to watch out for, as you wont need binoculars to see the reddish color. Be sure to keep up-to-date with the latest forecast heading into the phenomenon.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL)  Tennessee lawmakers further advanced a bill Tuesday that would enable public school systems to check the citizenship or legal status of students and, if passed, could set up a legal showdown over a 43-year-old Supreme Court decision.

The Senate version of the bill, which also allows school systems to deny enrollment to or require tuition from undocumented students who reside in their districts, is co-sponsored by Rusty Crowe (R-Johnson City). The House K-12 subcommittee approved the measure 5-3, with Memphis Republican Mark White joining Democrats Yusuf Hakeem (Chattanooga) and Sam McKenzie (Knoxville) in opposition.

PREVIOUS: TN bill to require checking students legal status advances 5-4

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In a session that saw four members of the public speak against the proposal, subcommittee members heard from the sponsor about the bill and asked a legislative attorney questions about the legality of the proposed legislation.

In addition to criticizing it as inhumane and economically unsound, the bills opponents have pointed to the 1982 Plyler v Doe Supreme Court decision. That ruling found that all students living in the United States have a right to K-12 public education, regardless of whether they are in the country legally.

Prior to the vote, Hakeem asked staff attorney Katie Robertson whether all students have a right to acquiring an education in Tennessee.

The Equal Protection Clause (of the 14th Amendment) establishes that students, regardless of immigration status, have a right to an education, Robertson said.

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Proponents of the bill said the decision is outdated and doesnt take into account rising numbers of undocumented students and the cost of educating them.

All we can do is take on these egregiously wrong decisions that weve received from our Supreme Court over the years and in particular from Plyler versus Doe, committee member Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood) said.

Bulso said the decision invented a standard of review under the Equal Protection Clause that applies only to this issue. He said the decision resulted from liberal activist judges who wanted to pervert the Equal Protection Clause rather than to apply it the way it was written in 1868.

McKenzie responded by calling Bulso out of order for commenting on the Supreme Courts approach to its decisions, saying it was an issue that wasnt germane to this bill.

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Majority Leader Rep. William Lamberth (R-Portland) is the House sponsor and said Congress needs to fix the countrys immigration system  and that states should have the right to make decisions about whether to provide free education to students here illegally in the meantime.

To the children that are here and the parents that are here and to those that are watching, it is false hope to give children the best education available in the world and then tell them they can be licensed professionals, they can be doctors, they can be lawyers, they can be accountants, that they can run for office, because it is not true, Lamberth said.

If theyre illegally present, their dreams at some point will have a ceiling, and that is inappropriate. The federal government must fix the immigration process so that the children and adults that are here that wish to lawfully immigrate into this country can do so and can achieve any dream of any other American.

Photo: Majority Leader Rep. William Lamberth (R-Portland) outlined the bill to enable schools to refuse enrollment based on immigration status on Tuesdays House K-12 Subcommittee meeting.

Lamberth said schools currently require students hoping to enroll to provide a birth certificate, proof of residency and proof of immunization.

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Two out of those three, they can actually enforce, Lamberth said. The third, they cannot. This gives an option to the local districts to require that proof of citizenship just as they require proof of residency or immunizations.

Educators, lawyer speak on TN proposal to require schools to check students legal status

The subcommittees meeting was heavily attended with several in attendance carrying signs opposing the bill and declaring that students had a right to education regardless of their immigration status.

Discussion lasted for roughly an hour with remarks from a teaching assistant, an advocate for undocumented students, a 6th-grade student whose parents are immigrants and an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher. All four of those who spoke during the public remarks implored the subcommittee to vote against the bill.

Photo: Several people spoke in opposition Tuesday to a Tennessee bill that would enable schools to deny enrollment to students based on their immigration status.

News Channel 11 received a comment Tuesday morning from Senator Crowe, who to date is the only co-sponsor from Northeast Tennessee and who voted yes in a 5-4 Senate Education Committee vote on the bill last week.

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This was not a comfortable vote for me because I have met many of our illegal immigrants and they are really fine people looking for a great life for their families, Crowe wrote in a text.

I felt that that the time has come to begin taking the right path on all the immigration problems we are now dealing with, he added.

He said local education agencies will still maintain the option of admitting those students.

The bill does allow the families to comply by going to legal aid or wherever they might access  the citizenship process paperwork and start the process to become legal, show that to the school, etc., Crowe wrote. Obviously this will move to a high court review.

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Crowe said he received a new figure Tuesday for the cost of ESL services statewide and that the total state and local amount is $340 million. He said it was $198 million in 2018 and $94 million in 2016.

In the House, the bill moves next to the Education Committee. The next stop in the Senate is the Finance, Ways, and Means Committee.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
welch  McDowell County students were welcomed back to class Monday as the school system worked to address their emotional needs following the devastating Feb. 15 flood.

All of McDowell Countys school reopened Monday, said Assistant Superintendent Amanda Peyton.

Absolutely. Weve opened our campuses today to students, Peyton said.

The school system has reached out to all its students by making home visits and even taking teddy bears when visiting families facing significant impacts from the flood. Peyton said the school system is working within its resources to help these families overcome barriers between their children and school.

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Peyton said the school system is working on individualized lesson plans for students who have trouble getting to school and students who have been displaced by the flood. Some students are now in other counties and other states. The goal is to help them keep up with their studies.

Weve done a lot of programs that offer focus on recovery, first and foremost focusing on their social and emotional needs, she said.

Students were welcomed back to class Monday with celebrations ranging from dances, bounce houses and ice cream socials, Peyton said. The next step is to help them catch up academically. The school system has a technical support program and distributed Chrome devices last week so students can participate in online lessons. Wifi connections are available in school parking lots.

With summer break in mind, McDowell County Schools has applied to the West Virginia Department of Education to be exempt from the states required 180 days in school. A county plan is being put in place to maximize learning, Peyton said.

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There are school calendar days that can be converted to instructional days, she said. The school system is asking that spring break days be converted to instructional days so students dont have to attend school into the summer.

Peyton said county schools aided students, their families and communities after the flooding.

I just think its been truly amazing to see our staff come together, she said. We ran three shelters. The flood happened on Saturday and we opened our doors to the community and they were run by McDowell County Schools staff and volunteers.

Food was distributed at three schools and three meals a day were prepared, plus flood victims could shower and wash clothes as well as find a safe place to stay, Peyton said.

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Were just really proud of our system, she said. Its been a beautiful thing to see the community come together and support each other.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Sunday that just three weeks after severe floods hit southern West Virginia, all schools will now be open across the state. McDowell County reopening Monday meant that all 55 county school systems are operational.

I am so thankful for the educators, school staff, and state and local officials who worked around the clock to quickly recover and get kids back in school, Morrisey said. This is a significant achievement, and one that was made possible through teamwork and sacrifice. We know the work is not done, and we will continue to support southern West Virginia as they recover.

I am humbled by the outpouring of support and love we have received in McDowell County, said McDowell County Schools Superintendent Dr. Ingrida Barker. Our principals, educators, counselors and staff were committed to the students from the very beginning, even though many of them suffered flood damage to their own homes. We call it McDowell Strong because we work together until the job is done. With our students returning to their schools in person, we will be able to resume instruction while also supporting them as they recover from this traumatic disaster that has touched everyone in our community.

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When disasters hit West Virginia, school superintendents, educators and school personnel are among the first to respond to the needs of children and families, said State Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt.

McDowell County is no exception, Blatt said. From feeding the community to getting clothing and bare necessities collected and distributed, the school system did it all. I am so proud of what they accomplished so quickly to get children back to school and resume some level of normalcy. We will continue to support their recovery because we know there remains much work to do.

West Virginia Department of Education staff have traveled to McDowell County to cover shifts in the emergency shelters, provided support to create a back-to-school plan and calendar adjustments, ensured bus routes had necessary signage where roads were damaged, worked with impacted counties to determine any equipment or financial needs, and allowed parents or guardians to pick up multi-day meal boxes for their children.

Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  The most searched text slang in Ohio was recently revealed.

Texting is more complex than ever before, with slang evolving from the simpler LOL and JK acronyms.

A research study conducted by Unscramblerer (yes, its really spelled like this) revealed that there are a number of slang terms that are Googled more often than others.

The top five on that list include:

PMO  Put me on, which is used when your introducing someone to a new trend, song, product, etc.

ICL  I cant lie.

WDP  Well done partner.

NFS,  New friends.

OTP,  One true pairing.

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So, the question is, have you used any of these before?

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
Sheriff Mike Chapman of Loudoun County, Virginia, where Sudiksha Konankis family lives, joins NewsNation to discuss the 20-year-old pre-med students disappearance in the Dominican Republic. Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh student, arrived for spring break but vanished early Thursday morning after she and five friends were seen on the beach with two men at the RIU Republica Resort.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
SULLIVAN, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)  For the first time in its history, Sullivan Lake is set to be dredged.

Dredging it the process of removing built up sediment caused by erosion and runoff.

Lake Sullivan was created over 50 years ago for the purpose of being a sediment basin. Now that sediment has grown too high, causing an unsafe environment for the ecosystem.

Instead of the typical mechanical dredging, which uses excavators to clear the sediment, this will be hydraulic dredging.

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Chris Egge, one of the leaders of the project, said they are able to use this method because the sediment will be very valuable after it is separated from the water.

Well be doing hydraulic dredging, which is suction off the bottom of the lake and piping it to a containment area where the wet water will de-water, Egge said. All that water will run right back into the lake. Then that soil will be removed from the property. Its actually really great topsoil, so theres nothing harmful with the material. Weve already done all the soil studies and all the surveys, so thats why were able to do the hydraulic dredging process.

Sullivan Park and Lake is holding a community forum on Wednesday, March 12th, at 6 p.m. at the Sullivan Civic Center.

Local city and county leaders will be in attendance to explain the environmental impacts of dredging the lake.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com.
Florida, the Sunshine State, once known as a beacon of government transparency, is growing ever darker, and the clouds are spreading throughout the United States.

From March 16-22, 2025, the nation celebrates the 20th anniversary of national Sunshine Week, which originated in Florida, historically home to the most transparent and accountable governments in the country.

Times have changed.

At the University of Florida Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Project, my colleagues and I have researched and taught about the freedom of information since 1977. We monitor the state of open, accountable government, and our research findings do not bode well for democracy  in Florida and throughout the U.S.

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But first, lets look back to sunnier days.

Sun rises

Florida enacted its first version of a public records law in 1909, the sixth state to do so. The movement was led by Nebraska in 1866 and Montana in 1895. Floridas law was repealed in the 1950s and then returned in 1967 as the Sunshine Law.

Sunshine was equated with the states nickname but also the concept of government transparency  lighting the dark recesses of secrecy. The Sunshine Law also played on a famous quote by former Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis that Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman.

Former Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis was an early proponent of transparent government. HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Something unique happened in Florida then. Transparency took hold.

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Journalists such as Pete Weitzel at the Miami Herald pushed hard for governments to operate more transparently, building momentum through the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors. They and other media groups helped launch, with US$11,000, the Florida Freedom of Information Clearinghouse in 1977 at the University of Florida. The journalism college assigned a professor and grad student to monitor public record denials, open meeting closures and court cases, and to alert newspaper editors to secrecy legislation. This effort created a culture of transparency, including among elected leaders.

Journalists successfully pushed for a constitutional amendment in the early 1990s, which required transparency across the state and required a two-thirds vote from the state Legislature to adopt exemptions to the law.

Several provisions of Florida public records law stood out:

 Attorney fee-shifting is mandatory. If a citizen is denied government information, sues and prevails, the agency is required to pay the persons attorney fees. Our research indicates that this is one of the most important elements in public record laws to encourage compliance.

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 The definition of a public record is broad, even applying to documents created by a private person or contractor acting on behalf of the government. Applying the law to private actors is unique in the U.S., and even in the world.

 Governing bodies face strict requirements to deliberate in public. Just two officials communicating with each other constitutes an official meeting and must be announced ahead of time, allowing for public attendance. Most states require a quorum, or majority, of the governing body to be considered an official meeting.

The nonprofit Florida First Amendment Foundation was launched in 1985 to promote government transparency and hired its first paid employee, Barbara Petersen, in 1995, to monitor secrecy legislation, train public employees and aid people trying to get information. The organization banded with the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors to create Sunshine Sunday each March to promote the right to know. This event went national in 2005 as Sunshine Week.

All these factors led Florida to become known as the most transparent state in the nation.

Increasing clouds

Fast forward to 2025, and we see an entirely different climate in Florida.

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The decline of newspapers has meant fewer reporters pushing for records, fewer editors advocating for transparency, and fewer owners suing government agencies.

Copy charges related to getting public records create barriers for average citizens. Research shows that providing fee waivers would increase accessibility without significant costs.

Through the years, legislators became emboldened to pass more exemptions to the Florida Sunshine Law  more than 1,100 and growing. Some of those exemptions were focused on protecting personal privacy  for example, in reaction to journalists requesting the autopsy file of NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt after his 2001 death.

Fear of terrorists following 9/11 led to a flurry of exemptions, such as hiding records about crop dusters to prevent al-Qaida from hijacking planes to spread anthrax.

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Companies profiting from public records sparked another backlash. For example, some companies acquired public mugshots, posted them online and allowed people to have them removed for a price. Some attorneys gamed the fee-shifting provision, submitting public record requests that would be difficult to fulfill, sued immediately and then settled with agencies for thousands of dollars.

Elected leaders turned against transparency, Petersen, who now directs the Florida Center for Government Accountability, told me recently. One of the prominent examples she points to is Gov. Ron DeSantis refusal to disclose his travel expense records.

I hear it every week  calls from journalists and others stymied by state and local government agencies. They often cite high copy fees for public records, claims of exemptions and outright ghosting by agencies. One reporter encountered Miami city commissioners sworn in at a private ceremony. Another challenged Tallahassee police refusing to provide information about an officer-involved shooting. A college journalism student was told she had to pay $1,665 for records about Florida dams that could fail and ended up pleading with the government to free the dam records.

One of my studies from 2019 indicated that, on average, if you requested a public record in Florida, you would receive it about 39% of the time. That placed the state 31st in the nation, the bottom half.

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More recent data from the nonprofit MuckRock reports Floridas percentage declining  as of February 2025, to 35%.

Bobby Block, current director of the Florida First Amendment Foundation, wrote in February that There was a time when Florida set the gold standard for open government.  Those days are over.

Not just Florida

Florida is reflective of a national trend  a secrecy creep spreading throughout the country, culminating in transparency deserts in cities big and small.

The United States is losing its reputation as a leader in open, accountable government. Its federal Freedom of Information Act, often known as FOIA, ranks 78th in strength out of 140 nations, and continuously drops as new countries adopt better laws. An information commissioner from Africa told me a few months ago that he and his colleagues laugh at the United States weak FOIA law, referring to it as a toothless poodle.

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On average, according to our research, if you asked for a public record in America 10 years ago, you would get it about half the time. Now, its down to about a third of the time, and just 12% at the federal level.

Even the U.S. Department of Justices own statistics show a similar decline in full release of records, and the average response time has nearly doubled over the same period, from 21 to 40 days.

What happens when compliance reaches 0%?

Aside from the ramifications on democracy itself, every American will feel the pain in their pocketbooks and everyday lives.

Studies show that public record laws lead to cleaner drinking water, safer restaurants, better-informed school choice, less corruption, saved tax dollars and a lower chance of sex offenders reoffending.

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According to Stanford economist James Hamilton, for every dollar spent on public-records journalism, society benefits $287 in saved lives and more efficient government.

Some transparency advocates have raised the alarm on actions taken by the new Trump administration, such as the removal of agency websites, the firing of FOIA staff and the dismantling of the Open Government Federal Advisory Committee.

It is likely these efforts will escalate the secrecy creep and allow it to trickle down to the state and local levels. It is important to note, though, that declining transparency is a long-term trend that transcends any one president or political party. The federal government reached its absolute low in full compliance with FOIA last year, under the Biden administration.

Its easy to point fingers at one politician, but perhaps wiser to look at the entire system, which many scholars say is broken and should be reimagined.

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German sociologist Max Weber posited that secrecy is the natural tendency for bureaucracy if left unchecked. For decades, news companies, particularly in Florida, pushed back against that secrecy through public pressure and litigation.

With that opposing force weakened, if not disappearing, what or who will replace it?

Nonprofit groups have filled some of the gap, and independent online news sites are growing and enforcing public record laws.

But will it be enough? Ultimately, it is up to the citizenry. If the people dont cherish and demand transparent government, then the politicians certainly wont, whether in Florida or the rest of the country.

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: David Cuillier, University of Florida

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David Cuillier is affiliated with the nonprofit National Freedom of Information Coalition and is a member of the National Archives and Records Administration Freedom of Information Act Advisory Committee.
The Superintendent of North Carolina Schools will be visiting schools across the state to hear from residents.

According to the Hickory Record, its Mo Greens first term, and hes holding listening sessions with parents, students, and school staff.

ALSO READ: Cabarrus County Schools district faces budget issues, leaders plan next steps

He plans to stop at Hibriten High School in Lenior on March 18 and Harold Winkler Middle School in Concord on March 26.

Both sessions are expected to start at 6 p.m.

VIDEO: Cabarrus County Schools district faces budget issues, leaders plan next steps


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Supersolids are a form of quantum matter that exhibits properties of a superfluid (zero viscosity), but with a spatially ordered structure.

Although usually created from ultracold atoms, scientists have recently successfully observed this quantum state of matter using photons instead.

This could give scientists a greater understanding of both supersolids and the changes that occur to a quantum state of matter during phase transitions.

Around 99.99 percent of the time, a strong understanding of the four basic forms of mattersolids, liquids, gasses, and plasmaswill help us navigate the phase-change properties of our lives. Icy roads form below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, water boils at 100 degrees Celsius, try not to stand near plasma ever. But as you start exploring the deeper reaches of known science, the simple idea of matter gets a little wonky.

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For one, theres a fifth, exotic form of matter known as Bose-Einstein condensates, where bosons get so cold they kind of act like one large particle. But various other types of matter also exist in the quantum realm. One of these head-scratching quantum states of matter is known as a supersolid, which means a material that contains features of a superfluid (specifically, that it experiences zero viscosity) while also containing a spatial arrangement similar to a crystal lattice structure. Typically, quantum supersolids have only been formed via ultracold atoms, but a new studyled by scientists at CNR Nanotec, Institute of Nanotechnology, in Lecce, Italyhave created this quantum state of matter using light for the first time. The results of the study were published in the journal Nature .

Of course, creating this state wasnt easy. Researchers used a piece of gallium arsenide shaped with ridges. When light struck these ridges, they formed a quasiparticle known as polaritons, and due to the pre-designed constraint of the ridges, these particles eventually formed into a supersolid. Antonio Gianfate from CNR Nanotec and Davide Nigro at the University of Pavia describes how photons interact with the gallium arsenide semiconductor platform as a quantum theatre in a research briefing for Nature .

Imagine being in a crowded theatre where all the seats are occupied except for three in the front row: one in the centre and the other two at opposite ends of the row. The central seat has the best view, so thats where people want to sit, but only a single person can sit there. In a quantum theatre, where bosonic particles (particles with integer spin) go, everyone can sit in the central seat, forming what is called a BoseEinstein condensatea superfluid state in which a large fraction of particles simultaneously occupy the lowest-energy quantum state.

However, interactions between particles limit the maximum number of particles that can sit there, and beyond that value, they start pushing pairs of particles to the seats at the left and right ends of the row. As particles accumulate in the quantum theatre, two satellite condensates gradually form in the left and right seats in a manner similar to that of the central one.



The team goes on to explain that by increasing the number of quasiparticles, more condensates form through parametric scattering, eventually creating the supersolid structure. The second part of the experiment was making sure that they really did have a supersolid, considering no one had ever made this quantum state of matter using photons before. And eventually, the team did confirm that the trapped particles exhibited both no viscosity and properties of a solid.

The scientists believe that light-based supersolids may be easier to work with than supersolids made using atoms. In the future, the team hopes to learn more about this quantum matters propertiesparticularly how quantum matter changes through phase transitions.

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The world of matter is a bit more complicated than what you maybe learned about in school.



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The Supreme Court is set to decide whether the creation of a second Black-majority congressional district in Louisiana violates the 14th Amendment. Its decision, coupled with those of similar cases progressing in lower federal courts, could impact the outcome of the 2026 midterms.

The justices will hear oral argument later this month in Louisiana v. Callais, a federal redistricting case challenging the makeup of the 6th congressional district in the Bayou State. The district was drawn by lawmakers in 2024 to strengthen Black Louisianians' voting power, in accordance with the Voting Rights Act. Twelve Louisiana voters challenged the new map in federal court last spring, and the court scrapped the configuration, ruling that the district created an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. The state appealed that ruling to the Supreme Court, which has scheduled a hearing for March 24.

With Democrats and Republicans gearing up for the 2026 midterms and control over a narrowly divided House of Representatives, this case  alongside similar litigation over minority-majority districts in Georgia and Alabama  could play a role in deciding the balance of power in the final two years of President Donald Trump's term. It's also a test of how willing the courts are to ensure American democracy extends to its growing minority populations.

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The razor-thin margin between Democrats and Republicans in the House  214-218, respectively  means the 2026 midterms could come down to a number of factors, including the three congressional seats at issue in these cases, and both political parties are painstakingly aware of that, according to Kareem Crayton, the vice president of the Brennan Center for Justice.

"The courts' decision will have an impact on whether these districts exist, and whether they exist or not makes it more likely that or less likely that African Americans will have an opportunity to elect a candidate," he told Salon in a phone interview. "But also it has an impact on a partisan balance in Congress. So [if] these three seats  all a bunch of elected Democrats  are eliminated, then the road may be tougher for Democrats to get back to a majority. But conversely, it may be easier for Republicans to hang on to it."

Louisiana v. Callais began as Callais v. Landry in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. Twelve non-Black plaintiffs filed suit against the state over the new congressional district lines drawn in 2024's Senate Bill 8. Lawmakers redrew the district map as a result of the 2023 Robinson v. Ardoin decision, which required the creation of a second Black-majority district in the state in order for the congressional map to be compliant with section two of the Voting Rights Act.

In a Sept. 2024 motion in the case before the Supreme Court, lawyers for the twelve voters argued that lawmakers "used racial identity to sift Appellees and thousands of other voters into U.S. House districts," overrepresenting Black voters and discriminating against others ahead of the 2024 election.

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"Republicans are surrendering a vital seat in Congress that could well squander their narrow majority, yet both the previous map and Appellees alternative proposal in the district court protected all five Republican incumbents," they added, calling on the justices to affirm the lower court ruling or dismiss the case.

The district court last year sided with the plaintiffs, ruling that lawmakers predominantly relied on race when redrawing the new congressional map and failed to prove it's lines were narrowly tailored to further the state's interest in complying with the VRA. The map, the court said, violated the equal protection clause's protection against racial gerrymandering.

The state has since appealed that decision to the Supreme Court, which last year placed a stay on the district court's order barring use of the SB8 map. The Black plaintiffs from the Robinson case have joined the now-consolidated suit before the Supreme Court to ensure the second congressional district they fought for remains intact.

In a statement to Salon, Stuart Naifeh, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund's Manager of the Redistricting Project who's representing the Robinson plaintiffs, accused the non-Black Louisianians behind the initial lawsuit of "trying to strip Black voters of a hard-fought victory" and a congressional map that provides them with "equal voice."

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"The outcome of Louisiana v. Callais will not only determine the next steps for Louisiana's map and the application of federal laws to redistricting processes but will forecast the resiliency of our nation's democratic principles of fair and equal representation moving forward," Naifeh added.

A lawyer for the appellees did not respond to an emailed request for comment.

In both the other federal lawsuits that could influence the 2026 midterms, Caster v. Allen in Alabama and Pendergrass v. Raffensperger in Georgia, the plaintiffs have argued that the states' redrawn congressional district maps violate section two of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits vote dilution for voters of color, and seek to defend the Black-majority districts drawn to remedy that violation. The GOP secretaries of state involved in the cases have raised arguments against the desired applications of the VRA for drawing the Black-majority districts at issue, citing the Supreme Court's decision outlawing race-based affirmative action while asserting that such protective measures must eventually end.

At the core of these lawsuits lies a critical challenge to the strength of American democracy, particularly for Black Southerners. As the cases challenge the quantity of Black-majority districts in these states  and in the Georgia and Alabama cases, whether U.S. voting power is still racially disparate enough to require any remedy at all  they pose a threat to the tools of maintaining fair and equal representation for marginalized communities in an already weakened VRA.

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"There's been an attack on the enforcement tools like section five; section two remains a viable tool in the system, even though it's been attacked and narrowed considerably by [the Supreme Court]," Crayton said. "Maintaining the tool means that in these states, the legislatures will understand that they have to respect the population that lives there. So maintaining these two districts in Louisiana, the two districts in Alabama, the cluster of districts in Georgia, will matter. It matters, of course, because we test the court's legitimacy at being consistent with its interpretation of law."

Recent research from the Brennan Center found that the creation of Black-majority districts in Louisiana, Alabama and Georgia increased Black voter participation by up to 6% and reduced the voter turnout gap between Black and white voters by 2-4%.

"In a world where we know that elections can sometimes turn on a dime because of narrow margins, these numbers matter," Crayton said. "So just in terms of who wins and loses, that's a difference. As I say, after the election is over, what issues and communities the elected member is going to prioritize also matters."

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Nick Stephanopoulos, a Harvard election law professor who focuses on the American electoral system, added that Black-majority districts like the ones at issue in these cases are the "vehicle through which Black voters in these states obtain responsive representation in Congress; without them, the states' maps would be biased against the needs and interests of minority voters."

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Stephanopoulos, however, disagreed on the level of impact these cases will have on Black voters' voting power in these states  and whether their decisions will influence the outcome of the midterms. He said that, in principle, these challenges shouldn't have much effect because they don't change the state's "underlying liability" under the VRA. Even if the Supreme Court agrees that the Louisiana congressional map is unconstitutional, there would still be a VRA violation that the state would need to remedy, he said.

"Section 2 litigation this cycle has already recognized the need for these districts, so the issue now is how to design maps that include these districts without violating the separate prohibition of racial gerrymandering," Stephanopoulos told Salon in an email interview.

Democrats maintain, however, that the cases in Louisiana, Georgia and Alabama have the potential to undermine section two of the VRA. Republicans are attempting to revert back to their states' previous "gerrymandered" congressional maps that did not allow for adequate competition for the House majority either, argued Marina Jenkins, the executive director of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee. The NDRC's affiliate, the National Redistricting Foundation, was involved in the litigation for Robinson v. Ardoin.

"If these new, fair maps are dismantled, that would be at risk, and the ability for the American public to have their preferences translated to Congress, would certainly be at risk," Jenkins told Salon in a phone interview.

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Black voters overwhelmingly elect Democratic candidates in their elections and choose candidates based on how strongly they prioritize the community's needs over their own political or personal interests. Maintaining these districts can be important in making sure they have lawmakers who even know how to identify their needs, much less adequately and consciously represent them at the federal level, Jenkins said. Having two Black-majority districts in Louisiana, for example, allowed Black voters to elect their preferred candidates to Congress "for the first time in nearly 30 years," she added.

"They have elected Democrat new members of the Congressional Black Caucus," Jenkins said. "If those districts change, certainly those seats would be at risk."

Crayton's assessment of the case's importance assumes a middleground. Given that the justices preserved the Black-majority district and reaffirmed section two of the VRA in the 2023 Allen v. Milligan case in Alabama, he said he expects the Supreme Court to do the same here. The court's order would be that the states would have to redraw the districts in a different way, he predicted.

The current administration and government's flouting of incremental change for sweeping upheaval, however, makes the Supreme Court's possible decision far more uncertain, he said. That uncertainty increases with what he described as Chief Justice John Roberts' inconsistency on his commitment to only call balls and strikes as a justice. Roberts has been aggressive in cutting back voting rights and "pre-existing understandings of how the law works."

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"I think the real test is whether or not John Roberts is as good as his word," Crayton said.

"If this is their opportunity to surprise us and say, 'Oh yeah, no more Voting Rights Act,' it's an opportunity for them to say it. But it will come at cost," he added. "That's what's at stake here, whether or not this is a new era where we don't see the federal government as a valid force of advancing the right to vote."
The Supreme Court on Monday announced that it would hear an attempt to overturn Colorados ban of conversion therapy for minors.

Conversion therapy attempts to change LGBT patients gender identity or orientation, and leading medical organizations have long criticized the discredited practice as deeply harmful, especially for young people. Dozens of states and Washington D.C. have similar bans.

The Court brushed up against state conversion therapy bans as recently as 2023. Then, Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh said they would have taken up the case, Thomas and Alito arguing that the law infringes on speech rights. That group has now found at least its fourth, as it takes the votes of four justices to hear a case. That shift, in this climate, is ominous.

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The case was brought by Kaley Chiles, a professional counselor, backed by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a now infamous right-wing law firm that has pushed many major culture war cases at the Supreme Court. Chiles claims that the ban infringes on her freedom of speech as a Christian who believes clients can accept the bodies that God has given them and find peace. The right-wing Supreme Court majority has often acted aggressively in defense of supposed Christian persecution.

Colorado Attorney General Philip Weiser (D) called conversion therapy unsafe and ineffective, and defended the states right to protect patients from substandard treatment.

Adding a layer of irony, the right has waged constant battle in recent years against gender affirming care for minors under the auspices of protecting them from activist and ideological health care providers.

This case is a clear outgrowth of the greater anti-trans movement, though; in Chiles brief, her lawyers bemoan that conversion therapy bans leave detransitioners  those who adopted a transgender identity but now identify with their biological sex  with no counseling support whatsoever in much of the United States. While detransitioning is rare, right-wing media often highlights these individuals as proof of the harm of gender affirming care.

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That it only took a year and a half for Thomas, Alito and Kavanaugh to recruit at least one other justice to their side speaks to the pitch of the anti-trans movement, particularly after Donald Trumps reelection on a platform that was particularly fixated on rolling back protections for trans youth.

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The U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jane Norman/States Newsroom)

The U.S. Supreme Court will review a case that challenges the constitutionality of a 2019 Colorado law that bans conversion therapy for minors, the court announced Monday.

The case concerns a Colorado state law that bans conversion therapy, the practice of trying to change a persons sexual orientation, such as to eliminate same-sex attraction, or gender identity. About half of U.S. states and Washington, D.C., ban the practice, and the American Medical Association opposes it. Iowa does not ban the practice but some cities and counties have passed ordinances against it.

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The Human Rights Campaign, a national organization that advocates equality for all LGBTQ+ people, says every mainstream medical and mental health organization has rejected the practice for decades and that it can lead to depression, anxiety, drug use, homelessness, and suicide, particularly for minors.

The 2019 law prohibits licensed psychiatrists and mental health care providers from engaging in conversion therapy with patients under 18 years old. Providers who conduct conversion therapy are subject to disciplinary action from the appropriate licensing board.

According to The Associated Press, the court declined to review a similar challenge in 2023. While the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the Colorado law, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has struck down local bans on conversion therapy in Florida.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, whose office represents the state in the case, said his office is committed to defending the law at the Supreme Court after it won at the district and appeals courts. The named defendant in the case is Patty Salazar, executive director of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies.

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States have long regulated medical practices to protect patients from unsafe, harmful professional conduct, Weiser said in a statement. Colorados law protecting young people from unscientific and cruel gay conversion therapy practices is humane, smart, and appropriate.

Conservative religious law firm Alliance Defending Freedom represents the plaintiff, Kaley Chiles, a Colorado Springs counselor who argues the Colorado law violates a counselors right to free speech by prohibiting certain conversations related to gender and sexuality. Chiles petition to the Supreme Court says she is a practicing Christian who believes that people flourish when they live consistently with Gods design, including their biological sex. It says she views her career as an outgrowth of her faith and that many clients come to her because of her Christianity.

ADF CEO and President Kristen Waggoner said the government has no business censoring private conversations between clients and counselors.

There is a growing consensus around the world that adolescents experiencing gender dysphoria need love and an opportunity to talk through their struggles and feelings. Colorados law prohibits whats best for these children and sends a clear message: the only option for children struggling with these issues is to give them dangerous and experimental drugs and surgery that will make them lifelong patients, Waggoner said in a statement. We are eager to defend Kaleys First Amendment rights and ensure that government officials may not impose their ideology on private conversations between counselors and clients.

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Colorado Senate President Pro Tempore Dafna Michaelson Jenet, a Commerce City Democrat who sponsored the law when she was in the Colorado House of Representatives, said in a statement that she is very worried that the Supreme Court will not rule on the side of children who are being abused.

During debate on the bill, Michaelson Jenet said, We heard gut-wrenching testimony as well as research and data about the lifelong consequences conversion therapy and even stories of suicide. The evidence was overwhelming: conversion therapy is deeply and often permanently harmful to youth.

Former Colorado Senate President Steve Fenberg, a Boulder Democrat, also sponsored the bill.

The state regulates standards for licensed professionals and there is plenty of evidence that forcing so-called conversion therapy on children is not only ineffective, but is harmful and can lead to suicide, Fenberg said in a statement. We passed this law to save lives. I would hope the Supreme Court would agree that even in these polarized political times, saving childrens lives is something that we should all prioritize.

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Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson said the Supreme Court must uphold the 10th Circuit decision backing the Colorado law, which she said exists to protect LGBTQ+ children from harm.

The Supreme Courts decision to take up this case isnt just about so-called conversion therapy  its about whether extremists can use our courts to push their dangerous agenda, in an effort to erase LGBTQ+ people and gut protections that keep our kids safe, Robinson said in a statement. Theres no debate: so-called conversion therapy is a dangerous practice, not therapy, and it has no place in our communities.

Several court cases related to LGBTQ+ discrimination in Colorado have made their way to the nations highest court. That includes one in which the Supreme Court said a Colorado web designer does not have to make websites for same-sex couples, and another in which the court said a cake shop owner could deny a same-sex couple a wedding cake based on religious beliefs.

The court will hear arguments in the case during its next term, which starts in October.

This story was originally published by Colorado Newsline, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Colorado Newsline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Quentin Young for questions: info@coloradonewsline.com.
A surfer who was attacked by a shark off the coast of Australia on Monday is presumed dead, police said Tuesday.

Officials received reports of the attack around 12:10 p.m. local time on Monday, the Western Australia Police Force said. The reported attack took place off Wharton Beach in Esperance, a town in southwestern Australia.

Police have recovered a surfboard with evidence of bite marks, the Western Australia Police Force said. Police, marine rescue and emergency responders searched the area on Monday, paused their efforts overnight, and resumed on Tuesday morning.

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At around 5 p.m. local time Tuesday, police said the surfer was presumed dead.

"Unfortunately, our search has not recovered the surfer's body," said Esperance Police Station senior sergeant Christoper Taylor in a video police shared online. "I can also confirm that our search is a recovery, not a rescue."

Taylor called the situation "heartbreaking." He told local media that police have reviewed drone footage that captured the aftermath of the incident.

Wharton Beach in Western Australia. / Credit: Luke MacKenzie / Getty Images

"There was a lot of blood, the shark, and some other things that I don't think any others need to see," Taylor told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

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Police did not identify the surfer, except to say that he was a man in his 30s. ABC identified him as Steven Jeffrey Payne, who was visiting from Melbourne. He was traveling with his partner and his dog, his brother told the publication. Taylor told ABC Australia that Payne's partner witnessed the attack.

The family "is distraught and trying to come to terms with what happened yesterday," Taylor said in the police video. "It is heartbreaking, obviously, and the whole community of Esperance feels the pain."

Taylor told ABC that the search would likely be called off after Tuesday.

Wharton Beach was closed Monday and Tuesday, but will likely be reopened Wednesday, Taylor told ABC. Police said there have been no further shark sightings in the area. Australian officials recommend beachgoers monitor local shark alerts to stay safe. Swimmers and surfers should also stay inside beach enclosure areas, which include barriers that to deter sharks.

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There are about 100 shark species in Western Australia, according to SharkSmart, a website run by Australian officials that warns about shark activity and gives tips on how to stay safe. Most of the species are capable of injuring humans, but an "overwhelming majority of them are not aggressive under most circumstances." Police did not specify what kind of shark attacked the surfer.

Shark attacks in Australia are rare, with 255 fatal bites recorded since 1791 in the country of 27 million people, according to the Australian Shark Incident Database.

Another surfer was presumed dead after a shark attack in South Australia in early January. A witness who saw the attack rode into the sea and retrieved the man's surfboard, but officials said there was "no sign" of the surfer afterwards.

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Faced with seven homicides in the first nine weeks of the year, California prison authorities announced they have restricted inmate movement and revoked privileges such as visits and phone calls at high-security facilities across the state.

In a statement dated March 8, officials from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation cited a "surge" in violence directed at both inmates and staff as the reason for the crackdown at 11 prisons.

CDCR officials declined an interview request from The Times. Authorities are conducting a "comprehensive investigation" into causes of the violence, said Terri Hardy, a spokeswoman for the department.

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At the current pace, 2025 would nearly double last year's reported total of 24 homicides inside state prisons.

Read more: Inside the alleged Mexican Mafia plot to smuggle heroin with an L.A. jail deputy

Authorities didn't say for how long visiting, phone use and other privileges would be restricted on high-security yards at Calipatria State Prison, Centinela State Prison, California Correctional Institution, High Desert State Prison, Kern Valley State Prison, California State Prison-Los Angeles County, Mule Creek State Prison, Pelican Bay State Prison, California State Prison-Sacramento, Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and Salinas Valley State Prison.

The day before the department announced the "modified program," three inmates were killed in attacks at three different prisons.

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The first homicide was discovered at 6:13 a.m. on March 7, when guards found Jake Kennedy dead in the cell he shared with Tyler Yates at California State Prison, Sacramento, authorities said in a statement.

Two weeks earlier, Kennedy and Yates allegedly stabbed to death Jonathan Rude, a convicted car thief from Butte County, according to officials.

If found guilty of killing Kennedy and Rude, Yates will have been convicted of killing three people in prison. The 30-year-old, who went to prison in 2017 to serve an eight-year term for burglary and assault, was sentenced in 2022 to life without parole for murdering Nathan Marcus at California State Prison, Sacramento.

Read more: Witness says he killed for the Aryan Brotherhood, divulges secrets of L.A.'s underworld

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The Sacramento lockup has become one of the most violent prisons in the state, recording four homicides in 2024 and three this year. On March 5, a melee broke out at the prison between 40 inmates, some armed with knives, officials said. Five prisoners were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

About an hour after Kennedy's body was found, Terrance Shaw killed Joshua Peppers at California State Prison, Los Angeles County in Lancaster, CDCR officials said in a statement.

Peppers, 39, was imprisoned for robbery. Shaw, 42, was sentenced in 2023 to serve 14 years for assault, battery and possessing a weapon as a prisoner in Monterey County.

A third prisoner, German Merino, was killed at 5:47 p.m. at Kern Valley State Prison in Delano. CDCR officials identified Merino's killers as Gilbert Garcia and Rodolfo Cortez. Garcia, 43, is serving 11 years for assault. Cortez, 33, is halfway through a 24-year term for robbery, carjacking and assaulting a police officer.

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A member of the SDK gang, short for "Surenos Do Kill," Merino, 37, was sentenced to life in prison for murdering a man in South Los Angeles in 2009, according to an appellate decision that summarized evidence at his trial.

Read more: California inmate recruited 'wives' to spread fentanyl across Alaska, feds say

The recent homicides continue an enduring problem in the California prison system: Inmates already serving life sentences  and who have nothing to lose by incurring more time  committing killings seemingly with impunity.

Mario Campbell, 36, was imprisoned for sexual assault, assault with a firearm, burglary, robbery, false imprisonment and intimidating a witness when he was killed Jan. 15 at California State Prison, Sacramento.

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His alleged killers, Cody Taylor and David Gomez, are both serving life sentences for murdering inmates, CDCR officials said in a statement.

Taylor stabbed to death a defenseless inmate who was handcuffed to a chair in 2019, according to reporting by KQED radio station.

A convicted rapist, Gomez received a second life term for murder in 2015, according to CDCR officials. He strangled, beat and slashed his cellmate, later telling a psychologist the killing was a "freebie" because he was already serving life, the Monterey County Weekly reported.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
ST. LOUIS  A St. Louis woman has helped write a state bill that would force insurance companies to offer support for people impacted by gun violence just like her.

Precious Jones has seen it multiple times: gunshots hitting her home, and in 2022, her son, Preston Jones, died when a gunshot came through his bedroom window.

Youre weary 24/7. You cant sleep at night and you dont know whats going on. So I was always having to relocate, she said.

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Jones recounted another instance when, she said, her grandchild came within inches of a similar fate.

She said people in those situations need to find a safe place to stay. Now, Jones has helped craft legislation to require insurance companies to help out.

You should be able to relocate while your home is being repaired or if you dont feel safe there anymore and you need to relocate, Jones said.

A Missouri house bill sponsored by Rep. Chanel Mosley (D-Black Jack) would require homeowners and renters insurance to cover more expenses for property damage caused by gun violence.

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Some things included would be temporary housing, increased transportation costs and meals for people forced out of their homes.

Im sure some things will be critiqued but it would basically be around the same as what it would be if your house caught on fire or if the insurance company deemed your home as unsafe for whatever reason, Jones said.

Legislature passes bill for state control of SLMPD

It appears a lot of insurance policies already cover the property damage but not necessarily the extra living expenses.

The bill would allow insurers to specify either a dollar limit or a time limit for those costs.

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FOX 2 reached out to the Missouri Insurance Coalition and Department of Insurance Monday afternoon but did not hear back before publication.

The bill has had its second reading in Jefferson City. It does not have another meeting scheduled for it yet.

But Jones said she will go to Jefferson City to discuss the legislation in committee when a date is set.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  On November 28, a local business reported a burglary of their warehouse where about $52,000 worth of merchandise was stolen.

Jackson County Sheriffs Office identified the suspect vehicle and tag number, which was registered to Anthen Jones. Investigators said they continued working on the case to collect enough probable cause to make an arrest.

On March 8, JCSO received a call that the warehouse had been broken into again. Officials said this time, the suspect stole around $62,000 worth of merchandise.

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Sheriffs offices on high alert for potential spring break events

Investigators determined that Jones would be heading back to North Alabama with the stolen goods, so they allerted the Alabama Highway Patrol and put out a BOLO for Jones vehicle.

Authorities said when Alabama Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, they discovered it was Anthen Jones, and troopers saw the stolen property in the vehicle.

Jones was arrested and taken to Elmore County Jail. When JCSO Investigators spoke with Jones, he admitted to both burglaries.

Jones will be transported back to Jackson County and is being charged with two counts of Burglary of an Unoccupied Structure, two counts of Grand Theft Over $20,000 Under $100,000, and two counts of Dealing in Stolen Property.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  One of the suspects charged in connection to the death of a 22-year-old Murfreesboro woman has pleaded guilty to several charges just a week before a jury trial was set to begin.

Taiyana Tipton reportedly appeared in a Wilson County courtroom Tuesday for a readiness hearing. Instead, officials said Tipton decided to plead guilty to all charges related to Fullers death.

This mornings plea was not something that had been communicated to us whatsoever, said District Attorney Jason Lawson. We were prepared to go to trail next week and achieve this same result at the hands of a jury.

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Tipton is one of three suspects charged in connection to Fullers death after her body was found in a wooded area in Wilson County. Fuller was reported missing by family members on July 29, 2022, and worked an event at Geodis Park in Nashville the next day. She was last seen at the nightclub Island Vibes on Antioch Pike on July 30, 2022.

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In August 2022, Fullers body was found behind a property under development off Trammel Lane. The Medical Examiner later confirmed Fuller died from gunshot wounds.

The Wilson County Sheriffs Office reported 21-year-old Taiyana Tipton, 20-year-old TyShawne Bowles, and 20-year-old LaMyra Pipkins were taken into custody related to Fullers death. Tipton and her brother, Bowles, were charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, and abuse of a corpse. Pipkins, an associate of Tipton and Bowles, was charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping. All three were held without bond.

RELATED: 3 charged in connection with death of Mya Fuller

According to the district attorney, a judge immediately sentenced Tipton to a life sentence on Tuesday for the crime of first-degree premeditated murder, and another life sentence for felony first-degree murder. Since the two life sentences were for the same victim, officials said the sentences will merge into a single life sentence.

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Facts of the case, which was outlined by Assistant District Attorney Tammy Meade, now reveal Tipton had a disagreement with Fuller on the night before the murder. The next day Tipton reportedly contacted her brother, who then invited Fuller to a party. Officials said further investigation indicated Fuller went to the party, where a fight occurred between her and Tipton.

After the fight, Tipton reportedly put Fuller in the trunk of her car and drove to Wilson County. While there, investigators said she shot the 22-year-old seven times. Fullers body was found days later.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Today was about getting justice for Mya, Lawson said. In my law enforcement career, this investigation ranks among the best I have ever seen. I cannot say enough about the work of the Wilson County Sheriffs Department, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the Metro-Davidson County Police Department.

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The remaining codefendants are still expected to go to trial. Officials said the next hearing for them will be held May 6.

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DENVER (KDVR)  A suspect is in custody after a reported shooting with a deputy in Fort Collins, according to the Larimer County Sheriffs Office.

According to the sheriffs office, the shooting took place at about 2 p.m. in Edora Park after two deputies tried to stop an off-road motorcycle (which was described as basically a dirt bike) for traffic violations in Fort Collins. The adult male rider reportedly refused to stop and drove onto the bike path in Edora Park.

Riffenburgh Elementary School is located on the edge of the park.

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The deputies, who were on agency motorcycles, pursued him into the park where the suspect allegedly got off his motorcycle and exchanged gunfire with the deputies.

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The Larimer County Sheriffs Office said that the suspect fell to the ground and did not comply with deputy commands, but because he was still close to his firearm, the deputies deployed a K-9 unit to pull the suspect away from the firearm.

Law enforcement officers said they provided first aid until the suspect was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. A deputy was shot during the incident, the sheriffs office said, and he was transported to an area hospital where he is recovering.

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Marimar Barber told FOX31s Greg Nieto that she usually comes to Edora Park on a daily basis with her two kids.

We were walking and then kinda saw the police cars from afar and then as we got closer, we saw the police tape and were like, well I dont think were gonna be able to play in the park. It kinda looked like everything was closed off, Barber said.

The 8th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team has been activated to investigate the officer-involved shooting. The Loveland Police Department is the lead investigating agency, according to the Larimer County Sheriffs Office. Anyone who witnessed the incident and has not yet spoken to law enforcement is asked to contact Detective Hooper at 970-962-2032.

Anyone who wants to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers of Larimer County at 970-221-6868 or stopcriminals.org.

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A Bronx gunman wanted for killing a 28-year-old father during a dispute the victim had no part in has been nabbed, police said Tuesday.

Anthony Riser, 27, was arrested Monday for murder, manslaughter and gun possession for the Dec. 21 shooting of Richard Spigner Jr., outside the victims apartment building in West Farms.

After his arrest, the handcuffed suspected escaped from police custody, but was caught after a three-and-a-half hour search, the Daily News reported.

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Spigners mother, Kisha Legrand, got a call from an NYPD detective Monday informing her of the arrest.

I was so thankful, Legrand said Tuesday through tears. I was so happy. You dont know how many sleepless nights weve had. We thinking he [the suspect] coming through my window. Its just been crazy. Im so thankful

Now its time for us to heal, get us some therapy, she added. I felt like I was losing hope. When I got that call last night I was so overwhelmed. I was crying, I was laughing, I was crying.

Spigner was in the lobby chatting with a neighbor when the gunman, later identified by cops as Riser, walked in and began asking questions about one of Spigners friends, with whom Riser had a previous argument, the victims sister Tasia Legrand explained at the time.

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Spigner lent Riser his phone so the friend could be called, but the call got heated and after a short while the man Spigner had been talking with in the lobby tried to grab the phone back, Legrand and police said.

Thats when Riser pulled out a gun and fired several shots, two of which hit Spigners face and chest, police said.

Medics rushed Spigner from his building on Rodman Place near West Farms Road to St. Barnabas Hospital, but he could not be saved.

Spigner had two sons, ages 3 and 1, and had just started a new job at a nursing home days before his death, according to his family.

I wish my son was here to raise his kids, Legrand said. He got cheated out of being a father.

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On Feb. 10, the NYPD named Riser as a suspect, released a photo of him and asked the publics help tracking him down. He lives just down the block from where the victim lived.

You dont know what you took from my grandkids, the victims mother said. You stole their father. My grandson thinks that his father is mad at him, that hes ignoring him.  We keep telling him your fathers not mad at you, youre daddy is in heaven. That is so painful.

Risers arraignment was pending in Bronx Criminal Court on Tuesday.

You didnt shoot him once, you shot him again and again. You slaughtered him, Legrand said. He[(the suspect] dont need to walk the streets ever, ever, ever, ever again. Ever. Because hell get out and do it again.
The suspect in a stabbing outside a Massachusetts courthouse on Monday has been arrested, according to officials.

Officers responding to a report of a large fight in front of Cambridge District Court at 4040 Mystic Valley Parkway in Medford around noon Monday discovered a stabbing victim, according to Massachusetts State Police.

The victim was taken to the hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

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Upon arrival, a court officer pointed troopers toward Commercial Street where they found two Medford police officers with five men. Troopers assisted the officers in detaining them, an MSP spokesperson told Boston 25 News. As they searched the men, police discovered and secured a knife in one of the individuals waistband. Police also detained three additional individuals at a restaurant near the courthouse.

Police then identified Kalongie Bradley, 28, as the suspect.

Bradley was at the courthouse for an arraignment on an arrest that occurred at Encore Casino earlier that morning, according to police.

As part of that matter, the suspect engaged in a physical altercation with an apparent relative of the man stabbed Monday outside the Courthouse, MSP said.

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Bradley is expected to be arraigned in Malden District Court on Tuesday on an assault and battery with a dangerous weapon charge.

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The Trump administration must pay approximately $2 billion in foreign aid funding, a federal judge said Monday in an order that blasted the administration over its possible Constitutional violation.

District Judge Amir Ali of Washington, D.C., said in a 48-page order that the administration was required to pay out contracts between the United States and its global humanitarian partners using the funds that Congress already appropriated  the second time he ordered the administration to do so.

The federal judge said the case was a departure from the firmly established constitutional partnership between the two branches of government.

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Two global health groups sued the Trump administration after President Donald Trump issued a sweeping order that paused most foreign aid through the U.S. Agency for International Development and special government employee Elon Musk ordered massive workforce cuts.

A federal judge has re-ordered the Trump administration to pay out its contracts with foreign aid partners  the latest in the USAID legal saga (AFP via Getty Images)

The groups said the administrations efforts to curtail foreign aid made it nearly impossible to administer life-saving medical and food programs.

Trump had argued that as the president, he has the authority to determine how federal tax dollars are spent  an argument he has made as part of a larger effort to restructure the government in his vision. But Ali said that likely violated the separation of powers laid-out in the Constitution.

Article II expressly gives Congress the power of the purse, the constitutionality of which, Ali noted, had not been questioned.

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The latest order arrived less than a week after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up the Trump administrations request to reverse Alis previous order.

Elon Musk and Donald Trump have teamed up to make massive cuts to the federal workforce and government spending (Getty Images)

The Supreme Court had temporarily paused Alis previous order from taking effect while it considered the case but ultimately decided that the lower courts had the authority to direct the administration to pay out the remainder of the contracts.

Ali said the administration had to process roughly 1,200 payments to the plaintiffs over the course of four days. He noted that the pause in payments likely caused irreparable harm by delaying time-sensitive anti-malaria campaigns and distribution of HIV prevention medication in parts of Africa.

Mondays ruling only applies to contracts that have already been executed between the U.S. government and foreign aid partners; it does not apply to future work or call for canceled contracts to be restored.

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Ali said the Trump administrations desire to rapidly cut global assistance was separate from the challenge in this case and had to be handled appropriately.

Citing waste, fraud and abuse in USAID, Musk had suggested Trump begin drastically cutting back funding and staffing  effectively axing the entire federal agency aimed at providing humanitarian aid across the globe.

After carrying out a six-week-long review of USAIDs funding and goals, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday they would cancel approximately 82 percent of the programs that fall under the agency.
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Swedish prosecutors on Tuesday charged the government's former national security adviser with careless handling of secret information after he allegedly forgot documents at a conference hotel in 2023, the indictment showed.

Prosecutors said in the indictment that Henrik Landerholm had through negligence disclosed "information relating to conditions of a secret nature and whose disclosure to a foreign power could cause harm to Sweden's security".

Landerholm, whose lawyer did not immediately reply to a request for comment, left the documents behind in an unlocked safe as he departed the hotel, according to the indictment. The documents were later returned.

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Handpicked for the job by the government of Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in 2022, Landerholm stepped down in January 2025 following the launch of a criminal investigation into the matter.

(Reporting by Anna Ringstrom, Editing by William Maclean)
BEIRUT, Lebanon, March 11 (UPI) -- Syria's fragile transition from decades of the Assad family's brutal rule has been greatly shaken with an outburst of sectarian retribution and killings, posing a serious challenge to the new leadership led by Ahmad Sharaa and raising fears of civil war, disintegration and partition.

The new wave of sectarian violence broke out Thursday when pro-Assad Alawite gunmen ambushed security forces of the transitional government, attacked government institutions and raided several hospitals in the coastal region -- the heartland of the Alawite minority.

While government forces were trying to rush reinforcements to the area, a former general in the Assad's Army, Giath Dalah, issued a statement announcing the formation of the "Military Council for the Liberation of Syria," pledging to overthrow the "new regime" and liberating the country from "all terrorist occupying forces."

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Dalah was a commander in the notorious Fourth Division battalion headed by Maher Assad, the brother of President Bashar Assad, ousted Dec. 8 by the Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, or HTS. It was led by Sharaa, then known as Abu Mohammad al Jolani.

The attacks, which appeared to be well-coordinated and planned, quickly turned into fierce clashes with government security forces and thousands of fighters from loyal groups who rushed from various regions for support.

Soon after, reports of summary executions and revenge killings carried out in predominantly Alawite cities and villages began to surface. Entire families, including women and children, were reportedly killed; houses were raided, looted and set on fire, while thousands managed to flee, seeking refuge at an airbase controlled by Russian forces in the area or by crossing into northern Lebanon.

Brutal videos and images have been circulating on social media, showing bodies in the streets, with weeping women checking them, and gunmen shooting several people at point-blank range and forcing others to crawl on their knees and bark. Some of the videos included atrocities committed in the past few days, while many were fake.

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According to Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor, some 1,225 civilians have been killed so far.

"They include three to four Christians and some 20 Sunni Muslims, and all the rest are Alawites," Abdel Rahman told UPI in a telephone interview. "In some villages, some killed civilians were dressed in military clothes and buried to make it appear as though they were fighters."

Abdel Rahman said 231 people from the government security forces and 250 Alawite insurgent gunmen also were killed during the fighting.

As the clashes stopped Sunday, government forces redeployed in the coastal region and called on the residents to return to their homes.

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But, Abdel Rahman said, the armed groups who carried out the sectarian killings and were ordered to withdraw "remain in most of the areas, and the tens of thousands of inhabitants who fled are afraid to return."

The recent violence has been the worst since Assad's ouster and the rather smooth non-violent takeover by Sharaa in December. But the Syrian Observatory counted some 600 revengeful acts during the past three months that were ignored.

"What led to this [last week's] explosion is the accumulation of violations that some Alawite insurgents exploited," Abdel Rahman said.

Military analyst and retired Army Gen. Mohammad Abbas said Dalah's insurgency plan to overthrow Sharaa and regain control of the country was "a stupid idea," as he gave the "murderers and criminals the pretext" to hit back at the Alawite minority community.

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The Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shia Islam, makes up 10% to 12% of the country's population, which is mostly Sunni Muslim.

The emerging insurgency had apparently little chance of success, regardless of who was behind it or supporting it, not excluding Bashar or Maher Assad.

"Who wants to liberate Syria from the new regime should have behind him forces much bigger than a few hundred gunmen carrying machine guns with no effect in the battlefield," Abbas told UPI in a telephone interview from Damascus.

Dalah could not achieve any strategic or tactical goal, Abbas said. "At the end, he fell into a trap."

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When Assad was overthrown, many expected "rivers of blood" in reaction to decades of oppression under the Baath rule and atrocities committed by the regime during 14 years of civil war.

"If we enter the cycle of revenge and vengeance today, Syria will never be able to recover," Abbas said, emphasizing that only "reconciliation and forgiveness" could save the country.

Sharaa, who adopted a more moderate rhetoric and distanced himself from his jihadist past when he took power, has promised to unite the divided country, lead it to an inclusive political future and consolidate security.

His efforts were marred by the recent sectarian killings, prompting him to quickly form committees to investigate and hold to account those responsible for the emerging violence.

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Sharaa's main challenge was not only to ease the fears of the minorities and protect them, but also to control the radical groups, some of which carried out the fresh revenge killings against the Alawite.

"Sharaa tried to unify all armed forces in the country under the umbrella of the Defense Ministry, but each group still has its own commander," Mohanad Hage Ali, an analyst and fellow at the Beirut-based Carnegie Middle East Center, told UPI.

Hage Ali warned that if Syria's new leader is unable to control his groups, "that would be a catastrophe."

"At the end, when you enter areas where so many massacres were committed, you leave behind lots of grudges, and that could lay the basis for long-term rebellion," he said.

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Hage Ali said that Sharaa failed to "work on a real transitional justice," noting that "it is hard to see today one group entering an Alawite region and not commit violations."

Abdel Kader Azzouz, a professor of International Relations at Damascus University and adviser to the Syrian Prime Minister's Office, emphasized that the most dangerous challenge new authorities face is the fragile security situation and the issue of the state's monopoly on weapons.

Azzouz denounced the crimes committed by "uncontrolled elements who feel that they are above the law and could not be held accountable."

"What could prevent that is to make Syria a state for all regardless of identities and ideologies; to assure all the country's components by taking actions and launching a political process that excludes no one," he told UPI during a telephone interview from Damascus.

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He explained that the fragile security situation, along with the deteriorating living and economic conditions "undoubtedly open the doors for actions by armed groups," with regional and international powers seeking to turn Syria "into an arena of conflict and influence."

Sharaa's efforts to unify his fractured country have apparently started to bear fruit.

In a surprise move Monday, Sharaa signed a breakthrough deal with the U.S.-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces to integrate its military and civilian institutions into the Syrian state and cease all hostilities.

A similar deal was reportedly reached with a Druze delegation from the southern province of Sweida on Tuesday.

"But what Sharaa should do first is criminalize hate speech. ... Otherwise, we would have achieved nothing," Abdel Rahman said.
(Bloomberg) -- Syrias president and the head of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces signed an agreement to integrate the Kurdish-led armed group into state institutions, a boost to the countrys interim authorities whove been embroiled in deadly clashes since last week.

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Under the deal agreed upon by President Ahmed Al-Sharaa and commander Mazloum Abdi, military and civilian institutions and facilities in north and east Syria, where Kurdish groups are located, will come under the Syrian state-control, including border crossings, an airport, and oil and gas fields.

The accord, which should come into effect before year-end, also stipulates that the SDF would support the government in the battle against the remnants of the former regime of President Bashar al-Assad and any threats to the nations security and unity, according to a statement by the Syrian presidency.

A flurry of violence in war-ravaged Syria  the worst since the ouster of Assad in December  erupted last Thursday, when armed men who the authorities said were affiliated with the Assad regime attacked multiple security sites as well as state facilities in cities along the countrys Mediterranean coast.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 1,000 people were killed, mostly civilians. State forces were accused of executing hundreds from the Alawite minority, from which Assad hails, drawing widespread condemnation by the international community.

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Earlier: Syria to Investigate Violence That Killed Hundreds of Civilians

Al-Sharaa, whose Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham group led an Islamist uprising against Assad, has been trying to prevent violence in the chaos-hit country by seizing all weapons and dissolving armed factions. He revealed talks with the SDF in February as part of the states effort to control firepower in the country.

It is not clear if the deal means SDF will be dismantled. In late February, Abdi said the group refused to be disbanded, yet welcomed the idea of being part of the Syrian army. The agreement was reached amid coordination between the US and Russia to address the escalation of violence in Syria.

Qatar, a key backer of Al-Sharaa, hailed the pact as an important step toward sustainable peace and stability, according to a statement by the Qatari foreign ministry.

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Syrias interim government has signed a deal with the Kurdish-led authority that controls the countrys north-east negotiating a ceasefire and the merging of the areas main US-backed forces with the Syrian army.

The agreement is a major breakthrough that would bring most of Syria under the control of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham-led government, an Islamist group that orchestrated the ousting of Bashar Assad, the former president, and the collapse his regime in December.

The deal was signed by Ahmed al-Sharaa, the interim president, and Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.

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It is set to be implemented by the end of the year and would bring all border crossings with Iraq and Turkey, as well as airports and oil fields in the north-east under the central governments control. Prisons holding around 9,000 suspected members of Islamic State are also expected to come under government control.

Civilians celebrate after news of the deal is announced - Khalil Ashawi/via Reuters

Under the deal, Syrias Kurds would be granted their constitutional rights, including using and teaching their language, a practice that was banned for decades under Assad.

It also states that hundreds of thousands of Kurds who were displaced during Syrias nearly 14-year civil war will return to their homes.

The rights of citizenship will also be given to thousands of Kurds living in Syria who have been deprived of nationality for decades under Assad, according to the agreement.

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The deal also declares that all Syrians will be part of the political process, no matter their religion or ethnicity.

Deal comes in wake of surprise attack

Syrias new rulers have so far struggled to exert their authority across the country or reach political settlements with minority communities, notably the Druze in southern Syria.

Earlier on Monday, the Syrian government announced it was ending its military operation against insurgents loyal to Assad and his family amid the worst fighting the country had seen since the civil war.

The defence ministrys announcement came after a surprise attack by Assad loyalists on a police patrol near the port city of Latakia on Thursday.

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The offensive was carried out by gunmen from the Alawite community, the same sect the Assad family belong to, and spiralled into widespread clashes across Syrias coastal region.

Col Hassan Abdel-Ghani, a defence ministry spokesman, said: To the remaining remnants of the defeated regime and its fleeing officers, our message is clear and explicit.

He added: If you return, we will also return, and you will find before you men who do not know how to retreat and who will not have mercy on those whose hands are stained with the blood of the innocent.

Col Abdel-Ghani added that security forces would continue to search for sleeper cells comprised of those loyal to the former president.

The deal marks a major breakthrough for the new administration, which has struggled to assert its political authority - Orhan Qereman/Reuters

While the governments counter-offensive was largely able to contain the insurgency, footage did surface of what appeared to be retaliatory attacks on the broader minority Alawite community, which is an offshoot of Shia Islam and whose adherents mostly reside in Syrias western coastal region.

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Sajid Allah Al-Deek, a security official in the coastal region, said security forces had been deployed in the area  from the Latakia governorate to Jableh  and that the coastal highway was functioning again after being closed for the fighting.

He said: The civilians have begun returning to their homes, adding that authorities have started detaining those blamed for acts of violence.

One such civilian, Imad Baytar, said his father, who worked for a taxi company, was killed at the checkpoint while travelling back to Damascus from Jableh. He blames Assads supporters for the killing.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said 1,130 people had been killed in the clashes, including 830 civilians. These numbers have not been independently verified.

Syrian Alawite families cross the Nahr al-Kabir river, which forms the border between Syria and Lebanon, as they flee sectarian violence, on Tuesday - Fathi al-Masri/AFP via Getty

The interim president has said the retaliatory attacks against Alawite civilians and mistreatment of prisoners are isolated incidents and vowed to crack down on the perpetrators by forming a committee to investigate.

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However, the events have alarmed Western governments, who have been urged to lift economic sanctions on Syria.

Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, urged Syrian authorities to hold the perpetrators of these massacres accountable in a statement on Sunday. Rubio added that the US stands with Syrias religious and ethnic minorities, including its Christian, Druze, Alawite, and Kurdish communities.

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QAMISHLI, Syria (AP)  Residents in northeastern Syria danced in the streets to celebrate a breakthrough pact between local Kurdish-led authorities and the new central government, while thousands of people continued to flee other areas where sectarian violence has targeted Alawites.

The mostly ethnic Kurdish revelers in the northeastern city Qamishli chanted One, one, one  the Syrian people are one, as cars drove by honking in celebration following Monday night's declaration, which includes a ceasefire and integration of Kurdish forces into the national army.

It was in sharp contrast to the grim scenes elsewhere in the aftermath of sectarian violence that broke out following clashes between government-linked forces and groups associated with deposed President Bashar Assad.

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Monitoring groups said hundreds of civilians were killed in revenge attacks in coastal communities, primarily targeting members of the Alawite religious minority to which Assad belongs.

A new wave of refugees in Lebanon

Thousands fled to neighboring Lebanon, mostly through irregular border crossings in the country's north. The U.N. refugee agency reported at least 7,616 people had fled to northern Lebanon where humanitarian organizations were handing out food and blankets.

Lebanon is hosting more than 755,000 registered Syrian refugees, with hundreds of thousands more believed to be unregistered. Since the fall of Assad, the flow had begun to reverse, with the U.N. reporting that nearly 260,000 Syrian refugees have returned home since November, about half of them coming from Lebanon.

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But the outbreak of violence last week has threatened to reverse that flow again.

While a tense calm prevailed over most of the Syrian coast Tuesday, families were still wading across a river marking the border between Syria and northern Lebanon's Akkar province, some carrying children on their backs.

Radwan Alo fled his home in the countryside outside Qardaha, the hometown of the Assad family, and crossed the river into Lebanon. Alo said his twin uncles were killed by armed men, who he believes aimed at a complete extermination of the Alawite sect. He has been unable to reach his wife and children who stayed behind to find out if they are safe.

The U.N. Human Rights Office has documented the killing of 111 civilians so far, saying in a statement Tuesday, the process of verification is ongoing, and the actual number of people killed is believed to be significantly higher. The U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, has reported nearly 1,000 civilians killed. The Associated Press has not been able to independently verify the figure.

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Syrian authorities have formed a committee tasked with investigating the attacks on civilians and in recent days announced a series of arrests of people who allegedly took part in the massacres.

At a news conference Tuesday, Yasser Al-Farhan, spokesman for the committee, promised that no one is above the law and said that the panel will present its findings to the president's office and the judiciary. He said the committee will set up a witness protection program for those who come forward to report crimes.

Russian airbase hosts fleeing families

Some families took refuge in a Russian air base in the coastal province of Latakia.

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At a store in Qamishli, Russian soldiers stationed at a nearby military airbase were buying baby formula, diapers and food to send to the displaced people staying in the Hmeimim airbase on the coast.

At the Hmeimim base, Syrian Arab Red Crescent staff were evacuating wounded people to take them to a hospital in Latakia.

Amjad Sultan, a local official from the nearby town of Jableh, who came with a delegation bringing aid to the base, said they were trying to bring a message to the people in Hmeimim that the situation outside has become safe and the security forces have spread out to control the area." But many of the families remained unconvinced.

In Jableh, people were beginning to return to the streets, although many of the stores remained shuttered.

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We were under siege for three days with no electricity or water, but thank God now life is returning, people are returning to their homes, said resident Mohammad al-Hamoud.

Louay Bogha blamed remnants of the regime for sparking the conflict, which he said reminded him of the fighting that had spurred him to flee Aleppo more than a decade earlier during the countrys civil war.

Militants "didnt distinguish between Alawites and Sunnis, they burned all the stores, he said. People were killed who had nothing to do with anything.

Kurds see hope in agreement with Damascus

Meanwhile, Kurds in northeast Syria were hopeful that the agreement announced Monday, which includes a ceasefire and the merging of the U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces into the Syrian army, would end years of fighting between Kurdish forces and Turkish-backed groups in northern Syria and allow displaced people to return home.

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While the details of its implementation remain to be worked out, the deal signaled a step toward stabilizing Syria and consolidating control of the country under a single central authority in Damascus.

Malak Ibrahim, a Kurdish man who was displaced to Qamishli from the town of Afrin eight years earlier when Turkish-backed forces seized control of his area, said he is now hopeful that the injustice will end, so we all can go back to our homes. The agreement inked Monday promises to protect the rights of the Kurds.

Arab residents of the area also said they hope the deal will bring an end to years of conflict.

We want to end the bloodshed," said Majdal Hamza, an Arab from Qamishli countryside: "We are all brothers in one country.

-

Associated Press journalist Yahya Habchiti in Akkar, Lebanon, contributed to this report. Sewell reported from Beirut and Albam from Jableh, Syria.
By Laila Bassam

MASOUDIYEH, Lebanon (Reuters) - Fearing for their lives, Syrian men, women and children waded through a river to safety in Lebanon on Tuesday, among hundreds of people who have fled to the neighbouring country to escape sectarian killing targeting their Alawite community.

A woman who made the crossing on Sunday said she'd seen the bodies of seven slain people in her village. Another said she'd spent three days trapped at home by heavy gunfire. A man said militants had threatened to kill all the people in his village because they are members of the minority Alawite community.

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Days after the killing began in Syria's coastal region, the steady stream of refugees continued: Reuters reporters saw more than 50 cross the knee-high waters of the Nahr El Kabir River into Lebanon during a half-hour period on Tuesday, carrying children and whatever possessions they could gather.

Nada Mohammed, who crossed into Lebanon on Sunday, said her village near the border, Karto, was woken up by a phone call at 4 a.m. from relatives telling her the militants had arrived in the village and she should pack her things.

"We saw seven people they slaughtered," she said.

Her daughter, Sally Rajab Abboud, described bearded foreigners with long hair who spoke formal Arabic rather than Syrian dialect.

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More than 350 families had made the same journey into Lebanon in recent days, according to local Lebanese authorities, fleeing the violence in which the U.N. human rights office said entire families including women and children had been killed.

Violence began to spread through the coastal region, home to many Alawites, on Thursday, when Syria's Sunni Islamist-led government said its forces were attacked by remnants of the regime of Syria's ousted leader Bashar al-Assad, an Alawite.

Security forces poured into the region to crush the insurrection, while mosques in areas loyal to the government issued calls for jihad, or holy struggle. During violence that followed, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says more than 1,200 civilians were killed, the vast majority of them Alawites.

Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Monday promised to punish those responsible, including his own allies if necessary. Sharaa said he could not yet say whether forces from the defence ministry - which has merged former rebels into one structure - were involved in the sectarian killings.

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Abou Jaafar Sakkour, who fled to Lebanon from the village of Khirbet al-Hamam near the Lebanese border, said militants had threatened to slaughter its residents because they are Alawites, whose faith is an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam.

Some of the militants were Syrian while others were foreign, he said. The attackers had ordered the women to leave the village, and declared that it belonged to them.

"What are we guilty of? We want international protection, whether it's Israel, Russia, from France. Anything that will protect us," Sakkour said.

Lebanese from nearby Alawite villages assisted the Syrian refugees as they crossed the river into Lebanon on Tuesday.

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Lebanon received more than a million Syrian refugees after the eruption of the Syrian conflict in 2011 as people fled Assad's rule.

Crossing the river with her two children on Tuesday, a woman said she had fled her home in the city of Tartous after being trapped indoors for three days by heavy gunfire.

"We didnt go out, we didnt even stand in front of the windows, we shut the curtains, and we didnt go out at all, all the doors were locked, but we havent slept for three nights," she said, declining to give her name.

"Theres fear."

(Additional reporting by Ahmed Kurdi and Mohamed Azakir; Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by William Maclean)
Talks between top Ukrainian and US officials started in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday in an effort to stop Russia's war against Ukraine.

The Foreign Ministry in Kiev published a video on Telegram showing the Ukrainian delegation on its way to the negotiating rooms.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not present, though he was in the Gulf state on Monday to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

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Instead, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, and presidential office chief Andrii Yermak were seen in another video showing the Ukrainian side seated at the negotiating table.

Facing them on the US side were Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the National Security Advisor Michael Waltz.

The Ukrainians have supported an initiative by French President Emmanuel Macron in favour of a partial ceasefire on airstrikes and attacks from the sea, which Russia rejected last week. Kiev also wants an exchange of all prisoners with Russia as a first step.

Washington, on the other hand, wants a quick and comprehensive ceasefire followed by elections in Kiev. Rubio said on Monday that Ukraine would have to make territorial concessions as part any agreement.

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Ukraine has been defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion for more than three years with Western support.

Following a fractious meeting at the Oval Office on February 28, in which US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance castigated Zelensky and called him ungrateful, Washington paused arms deliveries to Ukraine and access to key intelligence information.

Trump has been keen to get a minerals deal signed with Zelensky but the Ukrainian president has demanded security guarantees.
To make a protectionist omelet, youve got to break a few economic eggs.

If you dont like that joke, just know its about as strained as the Trump administrations explanations for how its trade actions are supposed to reverse the rise in the cost of eggs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average cost of a dozen eggs nearly doubled between January 2024 and January 2025.

Donald Trump is going to bring the price of eggs down now, said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on NBCs Meet the Press Sunday. Donald Trumps tariffs areheres the idea. All these other countries, like India, for instance, when Modi was in town, right, 1.4 billion people, and they wont buy a bushel of our corn. Europealways blocking our farmers. As our farmers can sell more and more overseas, youre going to see the price of food in America come down. Its a volume thing.

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Sure, Lutnicks scrambled response doesnt make a whole lot of sense, but at least its consistent. The Trump administrations answer to so many problemsfrom the distribution of fentanyl and the flow of illegal immigrants to the federal budget deficit and national security concernsis to embrace tariffs. Whether these protective actions are intended as a negotiating tactic or a policy end themselves is one of the enduring questions of the second Trump administration so far. But the impulse to go to the tariff well remains strong, even when Americas trade regime has little direct influence on the problem at hand.

That certainly describes our current egg crisis. On Meet the Press, Lutnick did not inspire confidence that he even understands why prices have skyrocketed in the past year. The former financial services executive placed the blame on Joe Biden for just killing chickens trying to worry about things.

The things hes referring to are the outbreaks of the H5N1 type of highly pathogenic avian influenza, otherwise known as bird flu, ravaging the nations commercial chicken flocks since last year. And Bidens supposedly wanton and wasteful killing was actually the U.S. Department of Agricultures requirement to cull hens at infected facilities in order to limit the spread of the disease. Trumps administration, by the way, is so far continuing to implement this stamping-out policy.

The subsequent drop in the supply of eggs (which causes prices to rise) is the predictable but devastating consequence of the bird flu outbreaks, a fact that Trumps agriculture secretary, Brooke Rollins, appears to recognize. In an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal last month, Rollins outlined what she described as her five-step plan to lower egg prices, which includes more preventative measures to stop infections from spreading and research for effective vaccines.

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Notably missing from Rollins list was even a smidgen of lip service to the idea that taking protectionist trade action would help, though the department is in talks to increase egg imports from other countries, building on an effort begun in the Biden administration. Last year, egg imports accounted for a fraction of a percentage of the American market, so without much in the way of established trade partnerships for eggs, bringing in more eggs is proving difficult.

Meanwhile, Trumps threats to implement reciprocal tariffswhich would see the U.S. raising tariffs on goods imported from foreign countries to match the rates those countries charge on imports to their countrycould spell disaster for these efforts to shore up the egg supply with imports. Thats according to Joe Glauber, a three-decade veteran of the USDA who capped his career as the departments chief economist. Turkey has been a major exporter of eggs to the U.S. in recent years (over 6 million dozen in 2024), said Glauber, who is a senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute and a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. Ironically, if the reciprocal tariff proposal were to go into effect, imported eggs from Turkey would become prohibitively expensive. No kidding. Turkeys current tariff rate for eggs is a staggering 76.5 percent.

The true answer to the egg shortage is one no populist politician wants to admit: wait for things to improve. The bird flu outbreaks are akin to a natural disaster, wiping out supply with no obvious way to quickly reverse course. Egg producers will need to replenish their laying flocks in order to meet demand, which could take several months.

Many of the proposed solutions, such as Rollins pledge to deploy 20 epidemiologists to provide actionable and timely advice to producers on how to avoid avian influenza infection, aim to prevent future outbreaks but would fail to address the current crisis. And there are tradeoffs to implementing vaccines.

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Vaccinations are controversial as they are costly, and would likely have to be constantly updated as the H5N1 virus mutates, said Glauber. Trading partners are reluctant to approve imports from countries where H5N1 is present and not controlled through eradication.

But even as Rollins and the USDA tries to manage a difficult and intractable situation that threatens the presidents standing on the economy, Trump is doing his level best to wish the problem away. After tariffs and legal action (another preferred hammer for this administration), complaining about criticism is a tried-and-true Trump strategy. So over the weekend on his Truth Social account, the president shared an article with an apt headline: Shut Up About Egg Prices.

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Federal datasets began disappearing from public view on Jan. 31, 2025, in response to executive orders from President Donald Trump. Among those were the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which asks respondents about their gender identity and sexual orientation and tracks behaviors like smoking and drug use; CDCs HIV dataset; and CDC and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease registrys Environmental Justice Index, which tracks pollution in communities, and Social Vulnerability Index, which identifies communities at high risk for disease and disability.

The collection of public health surveillance data has never been politically neutral. It has always reflected ideas about individual rights. With our colleagues James Colgrove and Daniel Wolfe, we have written about the history and ethics of surveillance. Despite controversy, it remains public healths foundational tool.

Surveillance typically involves tracking individuals with diseases by name for the purpose of direct action, including isolation, quarantine and treatment. It allows health officials to identify environmental threats and evaluate treatments. It allows governments to direct prevention and treatment resources where they are needed most, be that to a region or a group at highest risk. By the early 20th century, public health officials argued that without surveillance, they worked in the darkness of ignorance and might as well hunt birds by shooting into every green bush.

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Three major controversies in the history of public health underscore what is at stake with the collection and maintenance of this information.

Tuberculosis  doctors resist sharing names

The collection of tuberculosis data provided the basic blueprint for public health surveillance.

Debates over tuberculosis reporting began in the late 19th century, when the bacterial infection was reframed not as a disease of the elite but of the urban poor. New York City was the first in the country to require that physicians report the names of TB patients in an effort to address the leading cause of death in both the city and the U.S.

Doctors who treated TB patients were used to having a lot of power and control. Smith Collection/Gado via Getty Images

The medical community bitterly resisted tuberculosis surveillance. A prominent New York City surgeon argued that surveillance represented a dictatorial  encroachment of the health department that threatened to rob physicians of their patients.

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But most people were not under the care of a private physician, and tuberculosis surveillance was a way to ensure that the largely immigrant poor living in the tenement districts got referrals to clinics, nourishment and, if necessary, isolation. Despite physicians attempts to kill these efforts, there was no public outcry about tracking the great white plague despite extensive, sensational coverage of the controversy in the popular press.

HIV/AIDS  resistant patients at the forefront

Debates around TB surveillance unfolded during a period in which both public health and medicine were highly paternalistic and authoritarian: Health department physicians or private physicians made medical decisions, not patients.

That changed with the AIDS epidemic, the first major infectious disease threat in more than a generation. AIDS arrived as American politics took a sharp conservative turn with the election of President Ronald Reagan. When in 1985 it became possible to test for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, the prospect of named surveillance triggered deep fears about stigma and discrimination.

AIDS activists were focused on access to medical care and treatments. Catherine McGann via Getty Images

The prospect of reporting the names of those with HIV prompted one gay activist to declare, First comes the national registry, then come the boxcars, then come the camps for people with AIDS. Gay rights advocates, who prioritized privacy, rejected HIV surveillance as a threat.

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An alliance of gay rights leaders and civil liberties advocates was initially able to prevent health departments from undertaking named HIV surveillance. But by the end of the 1980s, there was growing pressure to return HIV/AIDS to the medical mainstream, meaning that it could be managed therapeutically like other chronic conditions. As effective treatment became available in the 1990s, opposition faded, and all 50 states required named reporting.

Cancer  patients demand to be counted

If TB and HIV/AIDS reporting began as histories of resistance, the story was very different when it came to cancer reporting, which lagged far behind infectious disease surveillance.

In the wake of the environmental and womens movements, citizen activists, mothers of children with birth defects and women with breast cancer became alarmed about the threat of cancer linked to pesticides or industrial pollutants. Women with cancer asserted a right to be counted. Although the National Cancer Act of 1971 directed the National Cancer Institute to collect, analyze, and disseminate all data useful in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer, by the 1980s, 10 states still had no registry.

Vermonts Bernie Sanders, then an independent member of the U.S. House of Representatives, called for a federally funded program to collect data on cancer in every state. Speaking in support of his bill in 1992, Sanders repeatedly invoked communities right to know: We need to know the age of people who are coming down with cancer. We need to know where they live. We need to know the kind of work they do. We need their racial and ethnic backgrounds.

President George H.W. Bush signed the Cancer Registries Amendment Act, which mandated cancer surveillance, into law in 1992. But it was not until 2000 that all states established cancer registries.

Surveillance is foundational for public health

In the broader history of surveillance, two key lessons have emerged.

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First, despite some pitched battles, communities have more often viewed surveillance as serving their interests.

Second, the system of public health surveillance in the U.S. remains an underfunded patchwork. The Pew Environmental Health Commission called birth defects surveillance woefully inadequate. In 1972, the U.S. House Committee on Government Operations described occupational disease surveillance as 70 years behind infectious disease surveillance and counting. In 2010, we ourselves observed that it was now a century behind and counting.

The scope of the changes that the Trump administration has planned for federal data systems and datasets is unclear. Per a federal court order, key public health surveillance systems and datasets are back online. But the landing pages for both the Social Vulnerability Index and the Youth Risk Behavior Survey display a caveat based in politics rather than science that any information on this page promoting gender ideology is extremely inaccurate and disconnected from the immutable biological reality that there are two sexes, male and female.

Systems can be compromised if datasets are scrubbed of key variables that enable public health action with populations at highest risk, are halted, or are removed from the public eye. Communities cannot act on what they cannot count.

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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: Amy Lauren Fairchild, Syracuse University and Ronald Bayer, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health

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Amy Lauren Fairchild has received funding from NIH and the RWJ Foundation. She currently receives funding from the Commonwealth Fund, the Mellon Foundation, and the National Science Foundation.

Ronald Bayer has received funding from the RWJ Foundation and NIH.
Tim Royers, president of the Nebraska State Education Association, center, talks about 2025 priorities for the teachers union. Jan. 28, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  Sydney Jensen had scarcely taken a single day off of teaching in eight years before having her first child in 2020, often coming in sick to teach Nebraska students.

She had saved eight weeks of paid leave, but as she faced postpartum depression, she felt returning would be devastating for her mental health, and the eight weeks werent enough.

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In truth, I felt like I would not survive it, Jensen said Monday.

The federal Family and Medical Leave Act allowed Jensen to extend her leave to a maximum of 12 allowable weeks for significant life events, but the final four weeks came without pay, leading to financial strain, worsening her postpartum depression and creating hardships for her growing family.

I thought I had done everything right, Jensen said. But it still wasnt enough.Jensen, a ninth grade English teacher, in Lincoln was one of many supporters to speak in favor of Legislative Bill 440 on Monday, seeking to establish an additional 0.35% payroll fee on Nebraska teachers, matched by local school districts, to cover long-term substitute costs for the first 6 weeks of teachers leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act.

State Sen. Ashlei Spivey of Omaha. Jan. 8, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

For a teacher making $60,000, thats a monthly fee of about $17.50, according to the Nebraska State Education Association, advocating on behalf of more than 26,000 public school teachers.

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Federal law protects workers for up to 12 work weeks of unpaid leave in a year, such as for birth and bonding, adoption or foster care placement and serious personal or family health conditions. Teachers salaries and benefits are already budgeted for each year, so LB 440 would protect 6 weeks of that federal leave before other accrued paid leave would need to be used.

For less than $20 a month, were gonna give teachers the peace of mind that if they need to take this leave, they wont have to worry about the financial hardship that accompanies it, NSEA President Tim Royers told the Education Committee.

No one testified against the bill.

Most important industry

State Sen. Ashlei Spivey of Omaha, LB 440s sponsor, said she suffered severe postpartum depression but was lucky to have an employer who covered paid leave for three months. But she and many teachers said that isnt the same for frontline teachers who are helping to shape the next generation of students.

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An amendment Spivey offered to the committee would clarify that school districts would still need to pay teachers their full salary and benefits during the covered 6-week leave. Payroll contributions would also be used to cover the operating and administrative costs of the program.

Tim Royers, president of the Nebraska State Education Association, is an invited speaker at the 50th annual Nebraska Ecumenical Legislative Briefing Day at Christ United Methodist Church in Lincoln. Feb. 8, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Thirteen states and Washington, D.C., have mandatory paid family medical leave laws, Spivey said. She modeled her bill off of similar teacher payroll contributions toward state insurance and retirement funds.

Spivey noted that the union for most state employees also has negotiated 6 weeks of paid maternity leave, which takes effect July 1.

She said her bill would promote long-term savings by reducing turnover costs through a sustainable, teacher-led funding model, with no state appropriations needed for the program.

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I would always argue that teachers are some of our most important industry and frontline workers, Spivey said. They need competitive benefits, they need this  in order to be able to stay in the workforce [and] keep educating our future leaders and workforce.

Any surplus in the new leave fund exceeding 20% of projected annual needs would be transferred to a separate fund to focus on teacher retention and professional development.

Committee leaders weigh in

State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil, a former central Nebraska school board member and committee chair, asked Spivey if the bill was still needed after voters approved a minimum level of annual paid sick leave for all employees: at least 40 hours of paid leave, or 56 hours for larger businesses.

State Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward, a substitute teacher and committee vice chair, said she appreciated the program being separate from state dollars. She asked what would happen if contributions werent enough to cover the required substitute costs in a given year.

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Hughes noted LB 440 would increase costs on districts, which Spivey described as an investment that would supplement, not replace, local sick banks to pool leave time.

Advocates for a minimum degree of paid sick leave for Nebraska workers brought boxes of petition signatures to downtown Lincoln before bringing them to the Nebraska Secretary of States Office on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Spivey said the bill was drafted with past leave requests in mind to create the 0.35% payroll but said she would confirm what would happen in the scenario Hughes had described.

Royers, as he did in January, said the legislation is the result of a fall survey of nearly 10,000 Nebraska teachers. The issue encompassed all types of leave, he said, not just maternity or paternity.

We have a crisis of faith right now for teachers in Nebraska, Royers said of the survey. Just 8% of our educators feel that this body takes them into account when it crafts education policy.

Teachers face guilt, regret

Nora Lenz, a Lincoln teacher with more than 30 years experience, said her parents were placed in a nursing home in the summer of 2019, and Lenz was with her mother Friday through Sunday so she wouldnt be alone, 150 miles away from Lincoln.

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In January 2020, Lenzs father fell ill, and Lenz said it was clear he was losing his will to live, and his condition got even more fragile in the face of the looming threat of COVID-19.

Early retirement wasnt an option for Lenz, and she couldnt afford to go without a salary, needing to support her children in high school and college.

Her father was hospitalized, and Lenzs heart ached to be by his side and by her mothers side.

To this day, I regret not being there with them sooner, before he was hospitalized, Lenz said.

State Sens. Dave Murman of Glenvil and Jana Hughes of Seward, chair and vice chair of the Legislatures Education Committee. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Lenz said she held her fathers hand when he took his last breath and was with him in the final days of his life, but told the committee she believes that had she been with him sooner, he might have lived just a little longer. Lenzs mother died 17 days later.

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Sheila Janssen said that she had a stroke in her brainstem on June 6, 2022, at 43 years old, and was in the hospital for nine days. She spent about five weeks in the hospital but, without enough sick leave, returned to school on the first day, on Aug. 10, 2022.

I probably had no business being there, Janssen said. But I was because I couldnt do it financially.

Jake Bogus of Lincoln, an eighth grade U.S. history teacher, said some families are facing scenarios almost like a Margaret Atwood novel, trying to time pregnancies to use as little paid time off as possible or asking for donated time to care for their newborn children.

Other testifiers said they were stuck with a choice: family or financial stability as they or loved ones faced cancer, hip replacements, foster care obligations or loved ones in hospice care. Many current and retired teachers said they felt guilty over the choice they made.

Balancing impossible choices

Now at 32 weeks pregnant with her second child, Jensen has about 30 days of leave saved up from the past few years. However, she noted that one in seven new mothers will face postpartum depression, and her experience increases her future risk.

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Jensen said LB 440 would help address a system that is forcing impossible choices and disproportionately impacting younger teachers and women, contributing to burnout and turnover.

Teachers shouldnt have to choose between their families or financial stability, Jensen said. LB 440 aligns Nebraskas education system with modern workforce needs and demonstrates that we value the well being of those who shape our childrens futures.

The committee took no immediate action on LB 440.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A Raytown teen has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in connection to a 2024 shooting that left a man dead and a woman injured, according to the Jackson County Prosecutors Office.

Jewell Cobbins, 18, was sentenced Monday in Jackson County Circuit Court after pleading guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter, unlawful use of a weapon, second-degree assault, and two counts of armed criminal action.

Equipment failure causes brief flicker of power across Kansas City metro

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The shooting happened around 7:30 p.m. on May 7, 2024, at a home near East 118th Place and Corrington Avenue in south Kansas City.

Kansas City police officers arrived and found a woman and a man who had been shot. The man, later identified as 23-year-old Prophet Thompson, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Initial reports also stated that an injured teen arrived at a hospital a short time later.

Surveillance video showed Cobbins firing multiple shots at the home, according to the prosecutors office.

After the shooting, prosecutors said Cobbins allegedly fled the scene and went to Research Medical Center, where he attempted to hide multiple guns behind a rock wall across the street.

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Cobbins, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, was certified to stand trial as an adult in September.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A 17-year-old was arrested Tuesday for allegedly being in possession of multiple guns, stolen electronics, and money.

On Mar. 10, the Tunica County Sheriffs Office assisted the Town of Tunica Police Department in serving a search warrant on a residence located on Cumberland Street in Tunica County, Mississippi, in connection to a number of residential burglaries.

(Courtesy of Tunica County Sheriffs Office)

The sheriffs office said the items located inside the home were consistent with items that were reported stolen from the burglaries that occurred in the Town of Tunica on Monday.

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Man charged with stalking, assault after crashing car into woman: MPD

(Courtesy of Tunica County Sheriffs Office)

The individual in possession of the stolen items was arrested. The individual has been identified as a 17-year-old male. Due to the age of the individual, his name is not being released.

According to the sheriffs office, they made contact with the teenagers mother. The mother had an outstanding warrant. She was arrested and transported to the Tunica County Jail.

This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information can contact Tunica County CrimeStoppers at (662) 910-0400. Any information leading to an arrest can pay up to $1,000.

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Two teens are now being charged as adults in the shooting death of a man in Hickory.

Hickory Police say they found the victim, 22-year-old Mason Pridemore, in his SUV in the back of the parking lot of Tabernacle Christian School.

Now, two 17-year-olds, Antonio Harris Jr. and Andrew Smith, have been indicted on murder charges for Pridemores death.

Channel 9s Dave Faherty learned through search warrants in the case that surveillance video from the school and a nearby pizza restaurant helped police make the arrests.

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According to court documents, video from the school shows two people getting out of Pridemores SUV and running off wearing similar clothing from the video at Marcos Pizza.

Police also say they found a firearm still in a holster in an open compartment in the drivers side door of the SUV.

The search warrant says a friend of the victim told police Pridemore planned on selling a gun to someone the night he was killed.

Court documents say a school resource officer at Hickory High identified the teenagers after they were spotted on the surveillance video from Marcos Pizza the night of the shooting.

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Pridemores stepmother, Cody Leatherman, spoke to Channel 9 about the two teenagers being tried as adults.

We dont want to have hatred in our hearts. Its gonna be a hard process, she said. I know theyre kids but you made an adult decision so thats kind of the consequence.

The district attorney says one of the factors behind the decision to try the teens as adults was the new law enacted late last year in North Carolina that allows teenagers to be tried as adults for serious offenses.

Pridemores brother says he was hard-working and motivated, and he only wanted people to try and be the best they could be.

VIDEO: Man found shot to death inside car at church parking lot, police say
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A virtual reproductive care clinic that offers abortion pills recently launched in Ohio, drawing backlash from a state nonprofit organization.

Hey Jane, a telehealth company that was founded in 2021 and serves 21 states, began offering its services to Ohio in February. The company offers FDA-approved abortion medication, birth control, emergency contraception, UTI medication and more, shipped to patients doors.

Preschool company abruptly closes three of its central Ohio locations

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Kiki Freedman, co-founder and CEO of Hey Jane, said the companys expansion into Ohio is a pivotal move, as the state is becoming a destination for abortion care after residents voted to protect access to the procedure in 2023.

Our main goal in Ohio is to provide an additional option for people, including those who prefer not to travel to or wait for an appointment at in-person clinics, which are already overwhelmed with demand, Freedman said.

Ohio has nine in-person abortion clinics, which serve the states population of nearly 12 million. People may also come to Ohio from surrounding states that have abortion bans with few exceptions, including Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia.

Telehealth abortions are becoming increasingly common, according to a 2024 report from #WeCount, a research project led by the Society of Family Planning. The organization found that there was a 155% increase of abortions provided via telehealth from the second quarter of 2023 (22,430) with the second quarter of 2024 (57,150).

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Hey Jane is not the only telehealth abortion provider in Ohio, according to AbortionFinder.org. The website says a total of seven online clinics operate in the state.

Ollies acquires 40 more Big Lots stores; other locations face restructuring hurdles

Two days after Hey Janes launch, the nonprofit group Ohio Right To Life filed a complaint with the Ohio Department of Health and State Medical Board, saying the company is violating a state law that requires an in-person visit with a physician before abortion medication is distributed.

This website is putting Ohio womens health at risk, said Emma Martinez, director of legislative affairs at Ohio Right to Life. Hey Jane is breaking Ohios law and throwing womens health to the side, only caring about their agenda to push abortions on women.

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Ohio Right to Life also addressed concern about the safety of telehealth abortions in a news release, stating they reduce physician oversight and screenings for potential complications.

However, Freedman said Ohio Right to Lifes complaint is without merit, since the state law banning the prescription of abortion pills through telehealth was blocked by a Hamilton County judge before it took effect in 2021 and is still on hold.

We are disturbed and disappointed by their intentional effort to misinform and mislead Ohioans about the legality of Hey Janes care in Ohio, Freedman said.

Hey Jane connects patients with its providers, which include licensed doctors, clinicians, nurses and patient care advocates with experience in reproductive services. A user can receive care after filling out a health questionnaire and communicating with a provider over a phone call, video call or email. In 2023, the company became the first telemedicine abortion provider to accept insurance.

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U.S. Department of Education targeting Ohio State University for antisemitism

If Hey Jane determines a patient needs in-person care, they are referred to one of their clinical partners in the state. The company asserts patients information is protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and that treatments are shipped in discrete packaging.

Ohioans should have access to high-quality, evidence-based abortion care without unnecessary delays or financial burdens, Freedman said. Hey Jane is breaking down barriers and ensuring more people get the care they need.

Patients do not need to be a resident of a state where Hey Jane is accessible but need to physically be in the state to have medication shipped to them.

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A joint resolution in Frankfort that would require a monument to the Ten Commandments be returned to the state capitol in Frankfort is heading to the full Senate for consideration.

House Joint Resolution 15 would require the Historic Properties Advisory Commission to bring the Ten Commandments monument back to the capitol and place it in Monument Park. The resolutions primary sponsor is Rep. Shane Baker, a Somerset Republican.

The resolution was approved by the Senate State and Local Government committee Monday, setting it up for a vote in the Senate. The resolution has already passed the House.

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The monument is currently in possession of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 3423. The Eagles originally donated the monument to the state in 1971. According to the resolution, the monument was displayed at the capitol until sometime in the 1980s, when it was put in storage due to a construction project.

The monument was ordered to return to the capitol in 2000, but the joint resolution was ruled unconstitutional. However, in 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled similar Ten Commandments monument could be displayed at the Texas capitol did not violate the Establishment Clause, because the display was not religious, but a display of a document that played a role in the foundations of U.S. law. The Establishment Clause is more commonly known as separation of church and state.

Eric Schmidt, a professor of legal studies and political science at Kentucky Wesleyan College, said the Ten Commandments does have a place in both the formation of English law, and in the legal thinking of the early English settlers in America.

The colonists themselves referred to Judeo-Christian law and to the Ten Commandments in their legal thinking, Schmidt said. It also had a profound effect on the development of English common law, generally.

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The Ten Commandments were one document of many used to create English common law, Schmidt said. Supporters of placing the Ten Commandments at the capitol have an argument, especially if (theyre) saying the Ten Commandments represent the tradition of law in the United States, Schmidt said.

The monument would have be contextualized properly, in a way that didnt indicate lawmakers were endorsing a religion.

The question is, when the intent is (to display) the Ten Commandments  especially if its going to be in isolation  (whether) its going to meet the requirements of the Establishment Clause, Schmidt said. The government cant display the Ten Commandments as a way to wink at religion, Schmidt said.

At Mondays committee hearing, Baker was asked what the legislature would do to give other religions a place on the capitol grounds.

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This is not about religious display, Baker said.

The committee approved sending the resolution to the full Senate on a vote of 8-1, with one member abstaining from voting.

Sen. Robby Mills, a Henderson Republican and the senates majority caucus chair, said he agreed with returning the monument to the capitol.

I think the Ten Commandments are a historical document, Mills said. It has almost become a secular code of conduct.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  The U.S. Department of Education has warned the University of Tennessee and dozens of other colleges that they may face potential enforcement actions due to potentially not complying with federal obligations to protect Jewish students.

The U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights sent letters to 60 colleges and universities on Monday who, according to an official release, are presently under investigation for Title VI violations relating to antisemitic harassment and discrimination.

Last month, the department announced investigations into five schools, including Columbia University and The University of California, Berkeley, over reports of antisemitic harassment. The federal government has since canceled $400 million in grants to Columbia. Tennessee is among 55 additional universities under investigation or monitoring in response to complaints filed with Office for Civil Rights, according to the release.

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A university spokesperson issued the following statement in response to an inquiry by 6 News.

An individual student filed a Title VI complaint in 2023 based on an unrelated set of events in 2023 that they witnessed and/or heard about. The student engaged with a variety of university offices in 2023, and the offices worked to support the student. The U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights reached out with a request for information about the students concerns in 2024. The university has cooperated fully with OCR. The university takes its responsibility to maintain an environment free of illegal discrimination very seriously. Any time we are made aware of any issue, we provide support and resources to any potentially impacted students, and also inform them about their right to file a complaint either with a campus office or OCR, as appropriate. University of Tennessee Director of Media and Internal Relations Kerry Gardner

Like many schools across the country, Tennessee saw Pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus last year with protestors imploring the university to, among other requests, divest from Israeli companies and end recruitment for Israeli weapon manufacturers. Multiple protestors were arrested over potential violations of the states anti-camping law or university rules.

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The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better, said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. U.S. colleges and universities benefit from enormous public investments funded by U.S. taxpayers. That support is a privilege and it is contingent on scrupulous adherence to federal antidiscrimination laws.

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A bill that would allow Tennessee schools to block undocumented children from enrolling advanced out of its first House committee on Tuesday, drawing hundreds of protestors who called for lawmakers to protect equal access to education in the state.

Damian Felipe Jimenez, a 6th grade student from Knoxville, testified against the bill in a packed committee room. The middle school student implored Tennessee lawmakers to show immigrant children "respect and compassion" when considering their vote.

"I am the son of immigrant parents who have shown me to respect and value everyone," Felipe Jimenez said. "Like me and all the kids in this country, we have the right to dream and make those dreams come true. The right to an education should not be taken away from us because of our immigration status."

Hernan Crescencio, with TIRRC, stands with other Tennessee immigrant and education advocates in protest of legislation on school access, HB 793, following a House committee meeting at Cordell Hull State Office building in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, and other GOP supporters hope to use the bill as a mechanism to challenge a longstanding U.S. Supreme Court precedent guaranteeing equal access to public education. If the bill is passed, it will almost certainly trigger a lawsuit against the state.

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"It is false hope to give children the best education available in the world, and then tell them that they can be licensed professionals, they can be doctors, they can be lawyers, they can be accountants, they can run for office. Because it's not true." said Lamberth, who is sponsiring HB 793. "If they are illegally present, their dreams at some point will have a ceiling, and that is inappropriate."

Lamberth called for a federal fix to the immigration system so that undocumented children can "lawfully immigrate" to "acheive any dream of any other American."

The week in politics: How TN's immigrant education bill could threaten federal ed funding

The American Immigration Council estimates tens of thousands of immigrants who entered the country illegally currently live and work in Tennessee, earning more than $4 billion in income and paying nearly $350 million in local and state taxes.

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As Tennessee does not have income tax, opponents of the bill argue immigrants without legal status here are fully contributing to school funding through everyday purchases like groceries, clothes and other purchases.

Gisselle Huerta, a 23-year-old Nashville nursing assistant who co-founded an immigrant rights group, said immigrant families "contribute significantly" to Tennessee's economy and their children shouldn't be barred from an education.

"We will be creating a permanent underclass of uneducated youth denied the tools they need to contribute fully to our society," Huerta said. "Is this the Tennessee we want to be, a state that turns its back on children who pledge allegiance to our flag every morning?"

Senate and House Republicans are now running two separate versions of the bill. Last week, Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, significantly amended SB 836.

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Watson's altered bill now requires every school in Tennessee to check immigration status. Schools could then choose to charge tuition to undocumented students, which Watson said aligns with current state statute allowing schools to charge tuition to out-of-district residents.

Related: Tennessee bill to document citizenship status of students advances in narrow vote

A new fiscal note on the bill last week warned the effort to require Tennessee schools to collect citizenship or legal residency proof could jeopardize the state's $1.1 billion in federal education funding.

Though Watson last week suggested he and Lamberth were collaborating on similar language, Lamberth on Tuesday presented his original bill, which states local schools could block undocumented students from enrolling.

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The Senate version has softened that language somewhat, allowing schools to require tuition rather than outright blocking enrollment, but it also would institute broad new requirements on all Tennessee schools to document immigration status. The House version is still a "permissive" bill, which means any school could choose to enforce it or not.

Rep. William Lamberth R- Portland, sponsor of HB 793, listens as witness testify during a House committee meeting at Cordell Hull State Office building in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

Activists mount opposition to bill

The legislation is shaping up to be one of the more publically controversial of the session, which has been relatively quiet since the January special session on school vouchers. Education and immigrant rights groups have organized large protests for its first two committees, filling committee rooms to capacity and filling up hallways with signs reading, "Education for all" and "Public education is a right."

Ayleem Connolly, an activist and former Memphis school teacher, joined the protest against the bill outside the committee room. Connolly said in her former district, there are thousands of immigrant students  many from mixed-status families, meaning some members of the students families are documented and some are not.

Connolly raised concerns that in her birthplace of the Dominican Republican, children without access education were regularly pushed into dangerous childhood labor.

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This bill will impact hundreds and thousands of students, she said. If the legislature changes this, what are (the families) going to do? This will be a huge step back for education. We will see children in the streets.

Though the legislation is largely backed by Republican leadership in both chambers, it does not appear the bill will receive a straight party line vote in either chamber.

Last week, three Republican senators joined a Democrat to vote against the bill, though it passed out of committee by one vote. On Tuesday, Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis, also voted against the bill.

Rep. Mark White, R- Memphis, greets children in the front row before representatives debate on HB 793 at Cordell Hull State Office building in Nashville , Tenn., Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Rep. White voted against HB 793.

Angele Latham contributed to this report.

This story was updated to add a video.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee immigration student bill advances in House; protests mount
Protesters gathered as a subcommittee was debating a bill that could allow schools to refuse enrollment for undocumented students in Tennessee.
Tennessee decisionmakers are considering universal carding and other policies to curb youth vaping.

Good.

While e-cigarettes represent a viable alternative to traditional smoking, they are still not safe for the states teenage population, 22% of which vape, according to the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR).

Especially when considering that the vast majority of them smoke non-FDA approved vapes in kid-friendly flavored like candy apple and gummy bear, which are illegally imported from China.

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Many of these devices lack any semblance of quality control and contain harmful chemicals that pose severe risks to users. A study from Johns Hopkins University found that some of them contain toxic metals like lead and chromium, likely from poorly constructed heating coils.

Illegally imported vapes are causing harms to Tennesseans

Tennessee has already felt the consequences of these illegal imports in a big way.

In 2019, the Tennessee Department of Health reported the first death of a patient with respiratory disease from using an e-cigarette.

Two weeks later, another person died from a vaping-related injury. A 30-year-old Newport, Tennessee resident disclosed that doctors informed her that she had lungs like an 80-year-old from vaping.

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All told, in 2019, a total of 78 cases of severe lung injury related to vaping were reported to the state health department and plenty have been reported in the years since.

While these Chinese, kid-friendly vapes are illegal under federal law, and all vaping remains illegal for minors, Tennessee does not have enough vetting protocols in place to keep them away from our children.

Late last year, for instance, McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy ran a sting operation that found 34 of the 47 vape stores located in the county sold illegal vaping devices or did not check the IDs of purchasers. Universal carding will solve this problem, and the state should implement it without delay.

Banning FDA-approved vaping products could harm smoking cessation efforts

But theres another concern that could worsen the states vaping crisis.

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A federal agency known as the U.S. International Trade Commission is currently attempting to ban FDA-approved vaping products in the U.S. This would not positively impact the public health.

It would only drive more Tennessee smokers toward unregulated black market of Chinese vaping products or back to cigarettes, both of which carry significant health risks.

As of Jan. 30, a 60-day clock began for President Donald Trump to override the ITCs recommendation.

The Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative should recommend he do so because, for adult smokers trying to quit traditional cigarettes, a leading cause of preventable death in Tennessee, vaping offers a potentially safer alternative.

Make it a priority for adult smokers to have safe alternatives to illicit products

Only three states in the nation vape more than the residents of Tennessee. For these individuals, access to regulated vaping products remains a critical tool to help them quit nicotine.

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Even as illicit and harmful vaping products flood the market, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration acknowledges that vaping can play a legitimate role in smoking cessation programs. The FDA has even gone so far as to approve certain vaping products to help adult smokers transition away from traditional tobacco. Ensuring that adult smokers have access to safe, effective alternatives to cheap, illegal Chinese products should be a priority, not an afterthought.

Tennessee has already seen the devastating impact that illegal vaping has had on our state. Lawmakers and regulators must strike a balance  cracking down on illicit products and youth smoking while preserving access to safe, FDA-approved options. Giving China a blank check to flood the U.S. market with contraband devices would only make things worse.

Monica Farrow

Tennessee Rep. Mark Green, R- Clarksville, is the chairman of the U.S. Homeland Security Committee in Congress. He, a longtime China hawk, needs to act to ensure this doesnt happen. I have every confidence that he will. And I have every confidence that Tennessee will soon pass its measures to curb youth vaping instate, too. With their strong leadership, our communities will become safer and healthier with the stroke of just a couple of pens.

Monica Farrow serves as secretary and treasurer on the Tennessee Polk County Industrial Economic Development Board, is a macroeconomics adjunct professor and political science adjunct professor at Georgia Military College, and is president of Society Hill, which advises companies regarding corporate and policy issues.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee youth use vaping products above national average | Opinion
A group of Nashville women who banded together after they were secretly filmed by an ex-boyfriend secured a legislative win on Monday when a bill aimed at strengthening victims' rights unanimously passed the Tennessee House.

With Monday's vote, the Voyeurism Victims Act now goes to Gov. Bill Lee's desk to be signed into law.

Last November, a Nashville man was arrested and charged with illegally recording sexual encounters with four women without their consent. Though evidence that other victims were recorded was discovered, multiple women were unable to pursue charges in the active criminal case because of the current statute of limitations.

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House Bill 602 will change the statute of limitations to one year past the date of discovery, rather than the date of the original crime, allowing victims more time to pursue justice in their cases. The bill will also make victims of unlawful photography able to petition for an order of protection.

Several victims who were filmed illegally and have been seeking justice, stand together for a portrait at the studio in The Tennessean in Nashville , Tenn., Friday, Dec. 20, 2024.

In November, Matthew Vollmer was arrested and charged with eight counts of unlawful photography after his girlfriend discovered explicit videos, allegedly filmed with a hidden camera, on his computer depicting multiple women.

Vollmer pleaded not guilty to filming four victims and has not returned a Tennessean request for comment. The case is set for trial on March 20.

Christiana Warner testified last week in support of the bill, telling lawmakers about how she found videos of herself and other women on her then-boyfriend's computer last year. Warner said she searched his bedroom and found a hidden camera in his alarm clock, in addition to "thousands" of sexually explicit video files on his computer.

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More: After traumatic secret recordings, these Nashville women seek to change criminal law

"I was incredibly fearful of who this deceitful man really was and what he was capable of. I feared my privacy. I feared my safety. With him facing potential criminal charges and knowing it was me who reported him, I feared he would retaliate," Warner said. "I feared for my life. I was not granted my order of protection because unlawful photography did not meet the criteria for one. I was not protected by the law. I still live in fear today."

The legislation will not apply retroactively, but Warner and other women in the case have said they hoped to change the law to help future victims of similar crimes.

"This is so much bigger than us. This is about everyone who comes after us. This is about justice, true justice, something we should all be afforded when we're wronged," Warner said.

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After the bill passed the House on Monday, lawmakers gave the women a standing ovation.

"They advocated tirelessly for this legislation," said Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Nashville, who with Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, sponsored the bill.

Meanwhile, a separate bill that increase unlawful photography crimes in sexual situations from misdemeanors to Class D felonies has been filed but has yet to signficantly advance through committees.

The House approved the bill in a 93-0 vote. The Senate passed it March 3 in a 32-0 vote.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee strengthens law against recordings: Voyeurism Victims Act
After voting down bill last year to protect access to fertility care and contraceptives amid national tension around in-vitro fertilization, GOP-led legislation in Tennessee to do just that moved forward with bipartisan support Tuesday.

Legal implications of Tennessee's abortion ban on continued access to contraception and IVF care arose following a controversial Alabama Supreme Court ruling last year that offered frozen embryos created through in-vitro fertilization the same rights as fully-developed children. Activists on both sides of the issue have expressed interest in tightening or loosening restrictions on IVF and contraceptive access.

Now, lawmakers are moving to explicitly clarify that abortion laws do not apply to contraception and IVF. The Fertility Treatment and Contraceptive Protection Act passed a first House committee on Tuesday, and is set to be heard in the Senate on Wednesday. It clarifies that nothing in state law prohibits access to fertility treatments or contraception, and individuals have a right to engage in both.

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Republicans voted down similar legislation seeking to codify access to contraception last year, saying at the time it was unnecessary to codify protections because contraceptives are already legal in Tennessee.

While there are several Democratic-led bills this year seeking to protect access to fertility treatments and contraception care, the only proposal moving forward in the House is sponsored by Republican women: Rep. Iris Rudder, R-Winchester, and Sen. Becky Massey, R-Knoxville.

Republicans consider new IVF regulations

Separately, another Republican-led measure seeking to further regulate fertility care in Tennessee was delayed until next week. Sponsor Rep. Ryan Williams, R-Cookeville, said his legislation is aimed at preventing situations that led to the Alabama court ruling.

There is no desire in my heart or in this legislation to prohibit IVF, Williams said Tuesday. My concern is that without state guidance and licensure what happened in Alabama might happen in Tennessee where the courts decide and interpret statutes based on courts and not based on their legislative bodies.

Rep. Ryan Williams R- Cookeville, speaks in the House chamber during the third day of special session at the Tennessee State Capitol building in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.

House Bill 945 would propose a model agreement for patients and providers, suggesting  though not requiring  bans on certain genetic testing. Williams said he feels its inappropriate to do the vast majority of genetic testing, and he wants the legislature to opine on what types of genetic testing are appropriate.

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The model agreement would also suggest  but also not require  limits on the number of embryos that could be frozen at one time based on the number of children desired by the couple.

If we were to say that we think we want two children, then the model agreement opines that at no one time could my wife and I have eight embryos frozen in storage at a time, Williams said.

But IVF physicians dont feel that limitation is wise, said Dr. George Hill, medical director of the Nashville Fertility Center.

Human reproduction is very inefficient to begin with, Hill said. Limiting patients on the number of eggs that you inseminate really, really hurts you at the end, when youre trying to get that normal embryo thats going to give them the best chance for a successful pregnancy. Out of those 20 eggs, women wind up with about two or three normal embryos.

Protesters gather against anti-abortion legislation on the Legislative Plaza in downtown Nashville on May 21, 2019.

The bill would also create a state licensure and inspection process for cryogenic storage facilities housing frozen embryos created through IVF, and a state licensure process for in-vitro fertilization services based on federal guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Rep. Sabi Doc Kumar, R-Springfield, questioned the fine line the state would need to draw on embryo disposal and storage regulation.

In 2022, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti issued an opinion saying disposing of unused IVF embryos does not constitute a criminal abortion under state law because the embryo is not inside a woman's body at the time of disposal.

Its a difficult dilemma, Kumar said. We have claims of personhood for these embryos as well as legal concerns that these are persons and we cant really destroy them. Of course, they can be implanted in another person. They can be donated On the one hand, legal institutions are saying that these are persons. On the other, we are saying that if we destroy them, thats not abortion.

A separate Democratic-led bill seeking similar protections was delayed by the chair to next week.

Bill offers clarity on permissible abortion scenarios

More than two years have passed since Tennessee's abortion ban went into effect following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn its landmark Roe v. Wade ruling. Tennessee law bans abortion from the moment of fertilization onward, except in two specific circumstances of medical complication. There is no exception for rape or incest.

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Lawmakers gave bipartisan first approval to a measure that could offer physicians some limited legal protection in medical decisionmaking around terminating pregnancies that could cause serious and substantial irreversible impairment to the mother.

As the law is currently written, physicians who perform an abortion on a woman in a medical emergency can be charged with a Class C felony and forced to go to court to defend their medical decisionmaking, though the law provides an affirmative defense if the doctor can prove the procedure was medically necessary.

Last year, a panel of judges ruled physicians cannot be punished for providing abortions in life-threatening emergency scenarios.

House Bill 990 would list certain conditions that could cause serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of major bodily function, including: pre-viable, pre-term, premature rupture of membranes, inevitable abortion, severe preeclampsia, mirror syndrome associated with fetal hydrops, or infection that can result in uterine rupture or loss of fertility.

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These arent new exceptions, as the Human Life Protection Act should cover these conditions, however, we want to provide more clarity, bill sponsor Rep. Bryan Terry, R-Murfreesboro, said. Right now since the Human Life Protection Act doesnt have this clarity in there thats one thing [doctors] have to think about before they take that step.

Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, speaks in the House chamber during the third day of special session at the Tennessee State Capitol building in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.

House Minority Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, said the vagueness in current law has put physicians in an impossible situation.

The law ... has created a lot of issues with medical care providers being forced to make legal judgments rather than medical judgments, Clemmons said.

Separately, a bill by Rep. Gabby Salinas, D-Memphis, seeking to create exceptions for pregnancies by rape and incest was taken off notice by the committee chair.

Reproductive Freedom Act voted down

Republicans voted down an aspirational bill that sought to restore full access to abortion, protect health care providers from prosecution and ensure patients have access to contraception and fertility care.

Rep. Aftyn Behn D-Nashville and Former Republican state representative, Scotty Campbell speak to member of the press at Cordell Hull State Office Building in Nashville , Tenn., Tuesday, March 12, 2024.

The Reproductive Freedom Act would serve as a guiding vision of what we are fighting for," sponsor Rep. Aftyn Behn, D-Nashville, said.

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This bill is about more than abortion, Behn said. Its about bodily autonomy, economic freedom, and the right to make health care decisions without politicians standing in the way.

It failed in a party line vote of 2 to 6.

Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee bill to protect IVF, contraception access moves forward
Women's History Month is upon us, and with it, International Women's Day on March 8. For many folks, this just means an email from corporate remembering Amelia Earhart or Sojourner Truth.

But for legions of French women this past weekend, International Women's Day meant taking to the streets and demanding an end to the rise in fascism they're seeing around the world.

Protesters with arms painted red and "FEMEN" written on their backs hold smoke devices during a march in an urban setting

In Paris on Saturday, a staggering 120,000 people joined in the Greve feministe (Feminist Strike), France 24 reported. The organizer estimates that 250,000 people participated in around 150 demonstrations across France.

People at a protest holding a sign reading "La revolution sera feministe" in a busy city street

The feminist activist group FEMEN, which was founded in Ukraine in 2008 and is now based in France, stages topless protests for women's rights and liberation in an approach they call "sextremism." Their blog reads, "You tell the world: Our God is a Woman! Our Mission is Protest! Our Weapon are bare breasts!"

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They go on: "FEMEN female activists are the women with special training, physically and psychologically ready to implement the humanitarian tasks of any degree of complexity and level of provocation. FEMEN activists are ready to withstand repressions against them and are propelled by the ideological cause alone. FEMEN is the special force of feminism, its spearhead militant unit, modern incarnation of fearless and free Amazons."

At the Greve feministe march on Saturday, a FEMEN group went topless, their chests painted with US, EU, and Russian flags with swastikas to represent Nazism on the rise in those places. Written on their chest were the words "FASCIST EPIDEMIC."

People at a protest wearing military-style hats, with arms raised, bodies painted with stars, swastikas, and slogans like "Fascist Epidemic."

They also donned WWII-style military garrison caps, arms painted red, and the word "NO" above their lips resembling Hitler's mustache.

One video of the FEMEN protest by Brut reporter Remy Buisine went particularly viral. In it, the women chant, "Epidemie fasciste, riposte feministe" (fascist epidemic, feminist response). That video has over 1.3 million likes and has been viewed over 43 million times.

Protesters in Paris with painted slogans on their bodies, demonstrating against Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, raising fists in solidarity

The caption translates to, "FEMEN action underway in Paris aimed in particular at Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump." In more clips posted to Instagram by Brut and Buisine, the FEMEN chant, "Pour une Europe feministe, pas fasciste" (For a feminist Europe, not fascist), wield smoke-emitting devices, and march militarily.

Protesters with chest slogans march, wearing shorts and green caps, raising fists in demonstration. French text headline about fascism and feminist response

The video caption translates to: "'Fascist epidemic, feminist response.' FEMEN action targeting Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in particular."

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People, particularly Americans, saw this as a very bold move  and that's just what the FEMEN are after. Many called on Americans to take a stand in the same way, saying that it would have a bigger impact than...whatever we're doing over here. An account that reposted the video wrote: "These women are BOLD and BEAUTIFUL. What would happen if American women were so BOLD?"

Instagram comment: "These women are BOLD and BEAUTIFUL. What would happen if American women were so BOLD?" 2,599 likes

Some comments have been auto-translated from French.

"THIS IS PROTESTING," this person wrote.

rawren.nicole / Instagram / Via instagram.com

Another commented, "This is the most beautiful display of feminine patriotism."

A social media comment reads: "This is the most beautiful display of feminine patriotism" with brown, white, and blue heart emojis

"I tell you what. The French know how to protest. The US needs to take notes," someone said on TikTok.

A comment reads: "I tell you what. The French know how to protest. The US needs to take notes." It has 4,198 likes

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Comments on the videos, unfortunately, got pretty nasty, as you might be able to imagine. Some pointed out that's exactly why these types of protests are needed:

Comment reads: "If the protesters were men, half of these comments would not exist! Courage a toutes les femmes??" with 1,609 likes

Social media post discussing criticisms of women's protest methods, highlighting the symbolic power of their choices and urging reflection

Comment questioning societal norms on women's dress and breastfeeding, highlighting gender double standards

Some argued this approach wouldn't work in the US.

Social media comment: "The men in America would sexualize it and love it. The message would be completely lost. They are too juvenile."

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Instagram comment expressing surprise about cultural differences in modesty and the perception of indecency

But mostly, women were just really damn proud.

A comment reads: "This legitimately makes me so proud to be a woman. You are all so incredible. Sending lots of love to you all." 1,303 likes

Comment reads: "A beautiful display of women for women!!!" with seven red heart emojis. 254 likes

You can watch the FEMEN protest chant here.

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Remy Buisine / Brut / Via tiktok.com

What do you think? Would protests like this in the US spur real change or just have their message distorted? Discuss in the comments!
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)  Job seekers can learn about employment opportunities in the region with an event later this week at the Terre Haute Convention Center.

A regional employment and opportunity expo will take place Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be over 60 employers from a wide variety of industries. Attendees will be able to talk directly with the employers on-site.

The event will also offer professional development workshops and free headshots. There will also be resume reviews, job fair prep and interview tips, information on the Grow Up In West Central Indiana childcare plan, door prizes and giveaways.

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Attendees should bring several copies of their resume and be prepared to meet potential employers.

Weve got manufacturing, so places like Novelis. Union Health will be there and a lot of other community organizations and employers that are looking for employees, said Western Indiana Workforce Development Board Executive Director Greg Lee.

The event is being hosted by the Terre Haute Chamber, West Central Indiana Partnership and Workone Western Indiana. With support from the of Terre Haute and Accelerate West Central Indiana Economic Development.

You can learn more 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 MyWabashValley.com.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTTWO/WAWV) Terre Haute Mayor Brandon Sakbun said late fees for sewage bills will be waived for many Terre Haute customers.

The mayor talked about the situation during a live interview on WAWV. He said issues at the U.S. Postal Service Hub in Indianapolis caused a delay in many residents receiving their bills. The mayor said local postal workers did everything they could to get the mail delivered, but there were still delays.

We basically checked everyone who had a late fee, and if you had no record of getting a late fee the past year and if you normally pay your bills on time, we just went ahead and removed it, thats 2500 customers said Mayor Sakbun.

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The mayor also gave an update of the factory demolition on the north side of Terre Haute, a fundraiser for Coy Park through Azzip Pizza, and a big ridership increase on city buses. To see the entire interview, you can see the video 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 MyWabashValley.com.
Tesla vehicles, dealerships and charging stations have been vandalized, suffered arson attacks and faced protests since the company's CEO Elon Musk began his work with the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, leading to mass layoffs of federal workers, authorities said.

The latest suspicious incident occurred overnight in Dedham, Massachusetts, where three Teslas were vandalized, according to the Dedham Police Department. Officials said "words had been spray-painted" on two Tesla Cyber-trucks, with all four tires of the trucks and a Tesla Model S being "reportedly damaged."

Teslas were also damaged in Seattle on Sunday night, where crews had to extinguish a fire involving four electric vehicles, according to the Seattle Fire Department. Officials said other vehicles were moved away to prevent the spreading of the fire.

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There were no buildings involved in the fire nor any injuries, according to the fire department.

PHOTO: A Tesla Model X car is seen at a showroom March 11, 2025. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

The Seattle Police Department said the cause of the fire and whether or not foul play was a factor has not been determined. Other incidents in the U.S. were deliberately aimed at the company and it's chief executive.

Six Teslas were also vandalized at a Tesla dealership in Lynnwood, Washington, on Saturday, with one black Tesla Cyber-truck graffitied with swastikas, according to the Lynnwood Police Department.

A Tesla charging station in South Carolina was targeted on Friday, where an unknown individual spray-painted an expletive directed at President Donald Trump along with "LONG LIVE UKRAINE" on the ground in red paint and threw homemade Molotov cocktails at the station, according to the North Charleston Police Department.

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The suspect fled on foot before authorities arrived on the scene, police said.

MORE: Tesla shares have plunged while Musk takes on Washington. Is that the reason?

Police "cut the power to the three charging stations that were burned by the homemade Molotov Cocktails," officials said in a statement.

There have been no arrests made for this attack, police said.

Similarly, seven Tesla charging stations sustained heavy fire-related damage in Massachusetts on March 3, according to the Littleton Police Department. Officials determined the fires to be "deliberately" set, and the investigation is still ongoing to find the arsonist.

PHOTO: ATF investigators inspect burned Tesla Cybertrucks at a Tesla lot in Seattle, March 10, 2025. (Lindsey Wasson/AP)

Shots were also fired at at Tesla dealership in Tigard, Oregon, where seven bullets damaged three cars and shattered windows on March 6, according to the Tigard Police Department.

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Police said they are unaware of the motive of this specific incident, but were aware that "other Tesla dealerships have been targeted across Oregon and the nation for political reasons."

On March 2, another Tesla dealership was spray-painted in Owings Mills, Maryland, where "NO MUSK" was written in red spray paint on the windows, followed by a symbol police originally thought was antisemitic.

"The graffiti was instead used against Elon Musk, and the graffiti was an 'X' inside of a circle, which we assume is for Twitter, which Musk owns," Detective Anthony Shelton said in a statement obtained by Baltimore, Maryland, ABC affiliate WMAR.

Another incendiary event occurred in Colorado, where a woman was arrested on Feb. 27 after police caught her with explosives at a Tesla dealership, according to the Loveland Police Department. Lucy Grace Nelson, 40, was arrested after police launched an investigation following a series of vandalizations at the Tesla dealership, police said.

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Nelson was charged with explosives or incendiary devices use during felony, criminal mischief and criminal attempt to commit a Class 3 felony, authorities said.

Protests against Tesla have also occurred at dealerships nationwide. Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs told ABC News the demonstrations and the company's plummeting stocks  which have tumbled nearly 48% this year  can all "be tied to [Musk's] time at DOGE."

"It has been a distraction for the company and it's been a problem for the brand," Frerichs said.

Amid the crime sprees and protests, some Tesla owners have even placed stickers on their vehicles that read, "I bought this before Elon went crazy," ABC News reported.

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Trump said on Truth Social on Monday night that he is in support of Musk and is going to "buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk."

Musk, the owner of X, has reposted some reactions that criticized the attacks and called the incident in Seattle "crazy."

Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene labeled the vandalisms as "domestic terrorism" and urged U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to "prioritize a thorough investigation into these matters" in a letter posted to X on Wednesday.

"These attacks, which seem to involve coordinated acts of vandalism, arson and other acts of violence, seriously threaten public safety," Greene said in a letter posted to X.

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A spokesperson for Tesla did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment.

Tesla vehicles destroyed, vandalized since Musk began role at White House, authorities say originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
TEXARKANA, Texas (KETK)  The Texarkana Police Department is currently searching for a driver who was involved in a hit and run that left a woman critically injured on Friday.

One person detained after Crockett woman found dead inside apartment

Texarkana PD said a woman pedestrian was critically injured after she was hit by a white SUV in the 2300 block of New Boston Road at around 10:20 p.m. on Friday night.

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Officials are searching for the driver and are asking anyone who lives near the hit and run scene to check their security cameras for a white SUV in the area near that time.

Photo courtesy of Texarkana PD.

Weve been working non-stop all weekend to track down the driver, but we still havent been able to identify the vehicle. If you live or work in the area, please check your security cameras! If you see anything that might helpno matter how smallplease reach out to us. It could well be the break that we need. Texarkana PD

Anyone information can contact Texarkana PD by phone at 903-798-3876 and any video can be submitted to the Texarkana Police Department online through their new online evidence portal.

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TEXARKANA, Texas (KETK)  Texarkana police are searching for the suspect involved in a February home burglary where multiple guns were stolen.

Photo of Tavaria Young, courtesy of Texarkana Police Department

According to the Texarkana Police Department, on Feb. 8, while a homeowner was at work, he received a Ring camera alert showing two people kicking in his front door. In less than a minute, the two people grabbed four guns hidden inside and took off.

Man arrested after Longview officer injured in overnight shooting

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Officials said that its clear that this wasnt a random attack and that someone knew exactly where to look for the guns. The victim immediately suspected Tavaria Young and detectives have since found more evidence linking her to the crime, officials said.

Anyone who knows where Young is can call the police department at 903-798-3116 or submit an anonymous tip by calling Texarkana Area Crime stoppers at 903-793-STOP to collect a reward.

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TEXARKANA, Texas (KTAL/KMSS)  Police are asking for the communitys help finding the suspect in a hit-and-run.

According to the Texarkana, Texas Police Department, it happened around 10:20 p.m. on Friday, March 7. They say a white SUV hit a pedestrian in the 2300 block of New Boston Road and drove away, leaving a female victim critically injured.

(Source: Texarkana, TX Police Dept.)

Police have been working to track down the vehicle but need more information. They are asking anyone who lives or works in the area to check their security cameras.

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Residents are encouraged to report video and photo tips using a new tool to streamline the submission process. You may click the link or scan the QR code below.

Anyone with information may call the TTPD at (903)798-3876.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
*Attached video: Homicides in Cleveland in recent years

BAYTOWN, Texas (WJW)  A Texas man has been charged with murder after his fiance was found dead inside an apartment in January.

According to a press release from the Baytown Police Department, officers were called to an apartment complex in the 3500 block of Crosby Cedar Bayou on Jan. 14 after it was reported that a man was found shot at about 5:30 a.m.

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Local community college announces faculty layoffs, program slashing

The caller, 31-year-old Ty Vaughn, told officers that he had found his fiance, 27-year-old Luis Banos, dead from a gunshot wound, the release said.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found a dead man with an apparent gunshot wound to the head. Vaughn was detained for questioning.

Throughout the investigation, Vaughn provided inconsistent statements and detectives later determined the cause of death to be a homicide, reads the release.

On March 7, Vaughn was arrested and charged with murder in connection to Banos death, according to the release. The murder is still under investigation.

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4 charged in death of 5-year-old boy in hyperbaric chamber explosion

Court documents show police found on Vaughns phone that he had searched Google for Can I kill an illegal human? according to local news station ABC13.

Domestic violence can escalate to deadly outcomes. If you are in an abusive relationship, help is available, the release said.

The press release also provided the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233), for 24/7 support.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
A Texas man was arrested for allegedly assaulting a flight attendant and a passenger while on board an American Airlines flight earlier this month, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

At approximately 9:00 p.m. on March 5, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department contacted the FBI regarding a disturbance on American Airlines Flight 5574 traveling from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, D.C.  the same flight path as the plane that collided with a Black Hawk helicopter on Jan. 29, killing 67 people.

The suspect, Asterius Mutayoba Rulamka, had allegedly left his assigned seat during the flight and walked to the rear of the plane, where he "engaged with a flight attendant," according to an FBI affidavit obtained by ABC News.

PHOTO: An American Airlines plane on the tarmac at the Miami International Airport on February 19, 2025 in Miami, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Rulamka then sat down in the back of the plane and began to yell profanities at the flight attendant, with passengers taking videos of the incident on their cellphones, according to the affidavit.

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Upon noticing one passenger filming, Rulamka allegedly started to attack him, grabbing his arms and verbally berating him, the affidavit said. The suspect also removed the passenger's hat and glasses and struck him "in the face near his left eye, causing bruising and a bloodshot eye," the FBI said.

The defendant allegedly attempted to swing at the flight attendant he previously assaulted, but the attendant was able to move out of the way before being struck, sustaining a "small laceration to his finger and a broken fingernail" in the process, the affidavit said.

MORE: 'Combative' man restrained by fellow passengers on Frontier Airlines flight after breaking window

Rulamka then began running up and down the aisles of the cabin, but three passengers and the flight attendants were able to secure the suspect for landing in a seat near his original seat, the affidavit said.

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When the flight was arriving at Ronald Reagan National Airport, Rulamka allegedly made several statements, including that he "had come to D.C. to speak to President Trump," the affidavit said.

Rulamka was asked why he wanted to meet with Trump, and he replied that he was "mad," the affidavit said.

MORE: Passenger charged after threatening flight attendants, banging on cockpit door

The FBI said Rulamka had a Texas driver's license, but a criminal history check revealed that the Department of Homeland Security "encountered the defendant in 2014 as a non-immigrant overstay, and immigration proceedings are pending," the affidavit said.

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"On March 5, law enforcement responded to American Eagle Flight 5574 after its arrival in Washington, D.C. (DCA) due to a disruptive customer. We do not tolerate violence, and thank our team members for their professionalism," American Airlines said in a statement to ABC News.

Rulamka has been charged with "assault by beating, striking and wounding, in violation of the Title 18 United States Code, Section 113(a)(4)," according to the affidavit. A hearing for Rulamka has been scheduled for March 13.

Attorney information was not immediately listed for Rulamka.

Texas man arrested after assaulting 2 people on American Airlines flight, says he wanted to 'speak to Trump': FBI originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A Killeen ISD middle school student died Monday after suffering injuries from a stab wound, according to a Killeen Police Department report.

According to their investigation, two female students were involved in a fight during school hours. The altercation escalated when one student stabbed the other with an object. The specific type of weapon was not reported.

What happened at Roy J. Smith Middle School?

According to the KPD report, officers responded to Roy J. Smith Middle School where they found a 14-year-old female student suffering from a stab wound. She was transported to Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center in critical condition. The victim died from her injuries and was pronounced deceased at 12:21 p.m. by Justice of the Peace Gregory Johnson.

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The report says a 14-year-old suspect was taken into custody by a KISD Police Officer at the scene. Due to their ages, their identities will not be released.

"We recognize the emotional impact of this incident on the victims family, students, staff, and the entire Killeen community. Our thoughts are with everyone affected, and we extend our support to those in need," Killeen Police Department spokesperson Ofelia Miramontez said in the press release.

Where is Roy J. Smith Middle School?

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas middle school student dead after fatal stabbing during fight
Below is a gallery of pictures from Texas Rangers spring training headquarters in Surprise, Arizona:

The Rangers next spring training game is set for Tuesday March 11, 2025 at 3:05 p.m. against the L.A. Angels.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com.
On 10 March Ecuadors Foreign Ministertold the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (UNCND) that drug-related homicides fell by 15.4% between 2023 and 2024.

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SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  Seven firearms, three of which were stolen, were seized and one person was arrested following the execution of a search warrant in San Angelo, according to the Tom Green County Sheriffs Office.

The sheriffs office stated that the warrant was executed on Monday, March 10, in the 200 block of North Bishop Street. During the warrants execution, investigators located and seized 7 firearms, 3 of which were confirmed stolen out of the City of San Angelo.

Steven West, 42, was arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon as a result of the search warrant. The TGSO online jail roster states that West was booked into the Tom Green County Detention Center at 12:44 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11. He has no bond posted as of the time of publication.

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Execution date nears for Desert Killer

The investigation was led by investigators of the TGSO Criminal Investigation Division and assisted by Deputies with the Patrol Division, the Tom Green County Sheriffs Office Special Response Team, Special Agents with the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division (CID), Texas Parks and Wildlife, and the San Angelo Fire Department.

The Tom Green County Sheriffs Office would also like to thank the public for the support and information that contributes to the success of the Sheriffs Offices ongoing efforts to combat crime within San Angelo and the Tom Green County area, TGSO said.

The sheriffs office stated that its investigation remains ongoing and that additional charges and arrests may be forthcoming.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com.
GRAY COURT, S.C. (WSPA)  Army veteran Whitney Gibson was an athlete growing up.

I got, basically recruited to go wrestle and West Point was one of the schools that offered me to go, Gibson told 7NEWS. And so I pursued that and once I got into West Point, then the military kind of followed.

He had his sights on medical school but Gibson said he wasnt in the top percent of his class.

So I chose to go to Air Defense [as an] Artillery Officer and so I was a Hawk Missile Platoon Leader for several years, said Gibson.

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That continued until Gibson got accepted into medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

I got accepted to the Army scholarship program, Gibson explained. Which is a health professional scholarship program.

Gibson took the orthopedics route, because of the injuries he sustained as a high school athlete.

I was an engineer, Gibson shared. My mechanical engineer degree in West Point kind of led toward the mechanics of the body. And so those things kind of were a natural progression for me into orthopedics.

And hed manage his studies all while fighting for his nation.

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I was deployed in Haiti during the invasion, said Gibson.

As a flight surgeon.

And then I got deployed to Bosnia for that for that war, he explained.

As an orthopedic surgeon.

Thats when I applied for my fellowship in pediatric orthopedics, Gibson said. I always wanted to do that. I got accepted to that.

That took Gibson out of the Army and into the civilian sector.

To go to the Shriners here in Greenville, Gibson said. And I did that from 2002 to 2003 and then I got to go back in the military in 2003 and finished my career down at Fort Gordon as the Chief of Pediatric Orthopedics.

After Gibson retired, he came back to the Upstate to work again as an Orthopedic surgeon at Shriners Hospital.

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And that truly was what I always wanted to do and it was a blessing in disguise, he said.

Gibson said helping children at Shriners was almost an extension of his work in the military.

In the military, we did things based on medical need and not worry about the financial aspect, he explained. So going to Shriners Hospital was kind of the same thing.

Helping children get the help to go back to being children.

Because at that hospital, you know, you take care of kids who have major orthopedic issues deformities of the legs, deformities, the hips, scoliosis and things like that, that you really the kids just they need that help.

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With a servants heart, Gibson said she owes it to his faith and the support of his family.

I think that is what God has told us to do, right? he asked. Serve others and do the absolute best you can. So thats been my position in life all the time.

Now retired from his medical work, Gibson said his next big step is enjoying retirement on his new farm down in Gray Court and hoping his Dallas Cowboys get a Super Bowl win someday.

Whitney Gibson, Thank You for Your Service.

To nominate a veteran like Whitney Gibson to be featured in our Thank You for Your Service series, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A third person has died as a result of a Ukrainian drone attack on the Moscow region, Evgeniya Khrustaleva, the head of the town of Domodedovo, said on Tuesday via her channel in Telegram.

Ukraine on Tuesday launched its biggest ever drone attack on Moscow, killing at least two workers at a meat warehouse, injuring 18 others and causing a short shutdown at the Russian capital's four airports, Russian officials said.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
Editors Note: This story has been edited to clarify where the party occurred.

LONG POND, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  Three men are facing homicide charges for their alleged involvement in a deadly shooting that occurred at a party in a rental property in the Poconos.

The following three men have been charged with homicide and attempted homicide in the death of 22-year-old Lionardo Hernandez Zarata;

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Oscar Quilarque Sosa, 31, of New York

Oswaldo Odin Soloranzo Sosa, 37, of New York

Josthin Noel Landaeta Perez, 24, of New York

According to the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department, on January 12, officers were called for multiple people suffering from gunshot wounds at a house on Clover Road in Long Pond.

Once on the scene, detectives say a man was found dead inside the house, later identified as Hernandez Zarata of Venezuela. Police said Hernandez Zarata died from eight gunshots. One to the hand that appeared to be a defensive wound, and several others to the back of the head, the left ear, the chest, and his back.

Officers stated the home was rented out for a party to celebrate Hernandez Zaratas birthday. At some point during the evening, an argument took place between the victim and three suspects, that led to the shooting.

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After interviewing several witnesses from the party, detectives reported that Oscar Quilarque Sosa, his brother Oswaldo Soloranzo Sosa, Josthin Landaeta Perez, and 10 others went to the party to comfort Hernandez Zarata about money he allegedly owed them.

The suspects were kicked out of the party by Hernandez Zarata but later returned leading to an argument that escalated into a gunfight where a witness saw the three suspects shooting at the victim, according to court records.

Surveillance cameras also showed Oscar and Oswaldo showing up to the party with multiple guns including three handguns, and an AR-15-style riffle.

Chief Christopher Wagner of the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department tells 28/22 News that Oscar Quilarque Sosa and Landaeta Perez were arrested in New York and police are awaiting extradition information.

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Oswaldo Soloranzo Sosa has not been arrested on the charges filed against him.

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WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ga. (WJBF)  On March 7th, around 11:48 PM, Washington County Deputies were dispatched to West Brown Drive in Davisboro following reports of several suspicious people. Additional deputies in the area quickly responded and began investigating.

It was soon determined that the subjects were in Davisboro attempting a prison drop at Washington State Prison.

During the investigation, deputies recovered a drone, a drone controller connected to a cellphone, and drawstring bags containing suspected contraband including marijuana, tobacco, and Promethazine.

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Arrested:

Emmarrion Murray, 20 years of age, of Jonesboro, Ga.,

Serpico Evans, 27 years of age, of East Point, GA.,

Alfonso Horton, 23 years of age of Forest Park, GA.

Emmarrion Murray

Serpico Evans

Alfonso Horton

All three are charged with Trading with Inmates(felony), Conspiracy to Commit a Felony(felony), Possession of Marijuana with intent to Distribute(felony), Possession of Schedule V Controlled Substance with intent to Distribute(felony). Evans was also charged with Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a felony(felony).

This is the 4th prison drop attempt since the beginning of 2025. Last year, 16 people were arrested for the same crime.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  Three former remarkable women nominees have built a beautiful friendship.



Joan Quinn, Kathy Picard, and Doris Beauregard-Shecrellah met at the 22News Studios back in 2023 when they were nominated for the Remarkable Women award. Their community giving over the years is what led them to the nomination.



Since then, the three women have become close friends. They frequently go out to dinner and have supported one another through loss and milestones.

2024 Remarkable Woman reflects on her experience one year later

In a sit down interview with 22News, they shared how their friendship came about.

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At the end, we all said to each other, no matter how this turns out were all going to meet and have a cup of coffee or go out to dinner, said Joan Quinn, 2023 Remarkable Women Nominee.



Were there for hours. Well tell the waitress, Dont worry about us, well tell you when we need you, said Doris Beauregard-Shecrellah, 2023 Remarkable Women Nominee.



And you know, sometimes we even share our story, were the remarkable women, we got the award, and we always take a picture when we go out, said Kathy Picard, 2023 Remarkable Women Nominee.



It was the 22News Remarkable Women Nomination that connected the three, but their individual experiences and care for their community that have kept them so close.



Doris lost her husband Alan Beauregard nearly 40 years ago. He was a Springfield Police Officer killed in the line of duty. Since then, Doris has taken her grief and turned it into advocacy.

Shes involved in the organizations Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) Massachusetts chapter. The organization provides resources to assist in rebuilding the lives of surviving law enforcement families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.



Kathy was sexually abused by her stepdad from age seven to 17. Shes now an educator, author and advocate, sharing sexual abuse prevention for over 25 years. Kathy has shared her story at several police academies, colleges, and on Zoom as far as Serbia.



Joan has over 50 years of experience in hair and cosmetology. Over the years she has dedicated her time to the wig boutique at the Cancer House of Hope, assisting men and women who deal with hair loss during treatment.



When we do meet and go out, we just simply say how blessed we were to come across such a beautiful friendship, Quinn said.



The three women recognize that many remarkable women came before them and hope their friendship inspires the others to come together. To learn more about the annual Remarkable Women initiative, visit nexstar.tv.

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.

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ST. LOUIS  One of St. Louis most well-known and favorite spots to visit is the City Museum. But something that may be not-so-known is that the museums creator is in the history books for something other than his work in St. Louis.

Bob Cassilly was a born and raised St. Louisan from the Webster Groves area and an alumni of Vianney High School and Fontbonne University. While working to obtain his bachelors degree in art from Fontbonne, Cassilly met his future wife, Cecelia Davidson, who was also an artist.

Twenty seven years before the City Museum would open, Cassilly and his wife took off on their honeymoon to Rome in May 1972. What they likely expected as a relaxing trip quickly altered into a highly-intense moment while visiting Michelangelos centuries-old sculpture La Pieta on May 21.

Faithful walk past Michelangelos Pieta at the end of a mass celebrated by Pope Francis on the occasion of the World Day of the Poor in St. Peters Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Upon their visit to the artwork that was created in 1499, 33-year-old Hungarian geologist Lazlo Toth was also touring the St. Peters Basilica statue from his new home of Australia, but for different reasons.

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According to Wanted in Rome, Toth announced to the public that he was Jesus Christ, resurrecting from the dead before striking the sculptures marble 15 times with a hammer. The New York Times reported that the sculpture suffered from grave damage which included breaking the statues arm and several features of the face.

While other visitors stood and watched in horror, it was Cassilly who stepped in to pull Toth away from the sculpture, preventing even further damage. Cassilly told People Magazine in 1997 that he leapt up and grabbed Toths beard to bring him down.

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We both fell into the crowd of screaming Italians. It was somewhat of a scene, he told the publication at the time.

While crews worked to restore the damage Toth had done to the sculpture, Italian police deemed Toth as socially dangerous and confined him for two years in a mental hospital, according to the New York Times.

Just a little over 20 years after the incident, Cassilly purchased the building along N. 16th Street that would become the City Museum in 1997.

If youve seen the new movie The Brutalist recently, the name Lazlo Toth may sound familiar as it is the same name of the main character, who was also Hungarian.

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Despite the similarities that sound rare to have, one of the co-writers of the film confirmed to USA Today that it was just a coincidence, noting that the name is common in Hungary like the name John Smith in the U.S. Rather, the character was inspired by architects Paul Rudolph, Louis Kahn, and Marcel Breuer.

Following the incident, the statue was fully restored in less than a year, reopening to the public on Dec. 21, 1972, with a new addition of bulletproof glass surroundingwhich still stands today.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen bid for support for her ambition to rearm Europe in an address to EU lawmakers on Tuesday.

"After the end of the Cold War, some believed that Russia could be integrated in Europe's economic and security architecture. Others hoped that we could rely indefinitely on America's full protection," von der Leyen said in the French city of Strasbourg.

"The time of illusions is over now," she said.

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"Europe is called to take greater charge of its own defence, not in some distant future, but already today, not with incremental steps, but with the courage that the situation requires. We need a surge in European defence, and we need it now."

European Union leaders last week endorsed plans by the European Commission aiming to mobilize staggering amounts for defence investment.

Von der Leyen hopes that a new 150 billion ($163.5 billion) fund paired with temporarily exempting certain defence investments from the bloc's strict debt and deficit limits and other measures could raise up to 800 billion.

The commission president will need the backing of EU lawmakers for some parts of her plans once the legislative proposals are being scrutinized.

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Von der Leyen stressed the investments' "positive spillovers" for the EU's economy and competitiveness in her speech.

"It will include new factories and production lines that will be necessary, creating good jobs right here in Europe," she said, adding that the positive effects will be felt beyond the defence sector.

"Together, we have the size to deter any hostile country. We have

the economic power. And now, finally, we have the political will, too," von der Leyen stated.
On 10 March Chiles defence minister,, resigned along with Presidents top adviser,

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Turn your eyes to the sky! A lunar eclipse will be passing over Tennessee and you don't want to miss it.

Tennessee, along with the rest of the continental U.S. will get a front-row seat for this astrological rarity. The Volunteer State will experience the lunar eclipse in the early hours of Friday, March 14.

That is, if the weather cooperates. A cloudy night sky may inhibit the onlooker's view of the lunar eclipse.

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If you're looking to take advantage of Tennessee's near-perfect vantage point, here's when you should be watching for the eclipse

When will the lunar eclipse be visible?

You'll have to stay up late to see the total eclipse in Tennessee. The phenomenon will begin around 11 p.m. CDT or midnight Eastern and continue until 5 a.m. CDT or 6 a.m. Eastern Here's a breakdown.

11:57 p.m. EDT, 10:57 p.m. CDT: Penumbral eclipse begins. Moon enters the outer part of Earth's shadow.

1:09 a.m. EDT, 12:09 a.m. CDT: Partial eclipse begins . Moon enters Earth's umbra, the innermost and darkest part of the Earth's shadow, causing a partial eclipse.

2:26 a.m. EDT, 1:26 a.m. CDT: Totality begins . The entire moon sits in the Earth's umbra. The moon should appear red.

3:31 a.m. EDT, 2:31 a.m. CDT: Totality ends . The moon will recede back to partial eclipses.

4:47 a.m. EDT, 3:47 a.m. CDT : Partial eclipse ends . The eclipse will dim as the moon is back in the outer part of Earth's shadow.

6 a.m. EDT, 5 a.m. CDT: Penumbral eclipse ends. The eclipse is over.

When is the best time to see the lunar eclipse?

The best time to see the total lunar eclipse is between 2:26 and 3:31 a.m. EDT, 1:26 and 2:31 a.m. CDT. At that time, the moon will appear coppery red to the naked eye. You'll also be able to snap a picture of the "blood moon" with a regular camera.

Do I need special glasses or equipment to see a lunar eclipse?

No. Unlike the solar eclipse of 2024, you don't need special eyewear to protect your eyes. However, NASA recommends binoculars or a telescope for a better view!

What is a lunar eclipse?

A lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth, and noon align so that the moon passes into Earths shadow, according to NASA.

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There are three different types of lunar eclipses: A total lunar eclipse, a partial lunar eclipse and a penumbral eclipse.

In a total lunar eclipse, the event which will happen this week, the moon will move into the inner part of Earths shadow. some of the sunlight passing through Earths atmosphere reaches the moons surface, lighting it dimly in hues of red and orange.

In a partial lunar eclipse, the alignment of the sun, moon and Earth will be imperfect, which will only result in a shadow covering a portion of the moon, according to NASA. A penumbral eclipse is the most subtle  only a faint shadow will be seen.

What is a 'blood moon'?

During the total eclipse, when the moon is fully tucked into the Earth's shadow, it can glow a coppery red because the light waves are stretched out. This is called a blood moon.

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How red the moon may appear depends on factors like pollution rates, cloud coverage and debris, according to Space.com.

When is the next lunar eclipse?

The next total lunar eclipse will be on Sept. 7. However, viewers in America will not be able to see that eclipse, according to NASA. The September eclipse will be for Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Lunar eclipse: When is the best time to see it in Tennessee?
TIVERTON, R.I. (WPRI)  A Tiverton woman pleaded guilty in federal court to her role in a scheme to defraud a Rhode Island bank out of nearly $250,000, according to acting U.S. Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.

Brenda Partin, 54, admitted to attempted bank fraud on Tuesday.

In May 2022, a compromised email account from a Tennessee-based construction company was used to deceive a global snack food company into altering its vendor payment information to a Rhode Island bank. Miron Bloom said it was later revealed that the payment was misdirected to Partins account.

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Between Aug. 15 and Sept. 19 of that year, the Tennessee company sent four $225,000 payments to Partins account for a transaction involving the snack food company.

Miron Bloom said Partin began withdrawing money almost immediately. She reportedly wired over $26,000 from the account to buy a car registered in her name.

Partin also instructed an associate to open a second account at a local bank, transferring $30,000 into it, according to Miron Bloom.

Miron Bloom said over the following months, several withdrawals and purchases were made from the accounts.

In December 2022, the bank closed the second account with a remaining balance of approximately $108,000. For the next nine months, Miron Bloom said Partin attempted to convince bank employees to release the funds.

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Partin falsely claimed the money was a settlement from a car accident, that it came from her fiance, that the co-holder of the account had earned it working in Turkey and had leukemia, and that the money was needed to address his affairs if he passed away. Miron Bloom said in August 2023, Partin told a bank employee that her associate had died and she needed the money to pay for funeral expenses.

Partins sentencing is scheduled for June 10.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Tennessee lawmakers continue to discuss whether or not public school districts should be allowed to deny children who are undocumented.

Debate at the statehouse Tuesday morning surrounded HB 793, by Republican House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland). The bill would allow local education agencies (LEAs) to choose whether or not to enroll students who are unlawfully present in the U.S.

Republicans supporting the measure say the decision should be left to local agencies, not dictated by the federal government.

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PREVIOUS: Bill to let school districts deny undocumented students narrowly passes TN Senate committee

Every district in this state right now primarily asks for three things when the child enrolls in school: a birth certificate, proof of residency, and proof of immunizations, Lamberth said during a House committee hearing. Two out of those three, they can actually enforce. The third they cannot. This gives an option to the local districts to require that proof of citizenship, just as they require proof of residency or immunizations.

Democrats have pushed back against the measure, asking how removing children from school benefits the state. Protestors have been rallying at the state capitol building, including young children holding up signs against the bill. Several even gave testimony to lawmakers, arguing education is a fundamental right, no matter ones immigration background.

One person opposed to the bill was an English as a second language teacher, who called the bill an assault on our childrens rights, saying it would take away their freedom to learn simply because of who they are or where they were born.

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To put it in clear terms, this bill is an attack on our values as Tennesseans and on our children, the woman said. I have dedicated 29 years, more than half of my life, to teaching children. It never mattered their race, religion, socioeconomic or immigration status.

The bill moved out of the House K-12 Subcommittee on a 5-3 vote. It now moves onto the full House Education Committee.

The Senate version of the bill narrowly moved out of a Senate committee last week.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Beer lovers are raising a glass to local brewers during South Dakota Craft Beer Week.

Scott Heckel is in his element at Severance Brewing Company, where hes owner and head brewer, and helping celebrate South Dakota Craft Beer Week.

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe school evacuates for fires

Gives us an opportunity to kind of highlight everything were doing here in South Dakota, all the great beer were making, the economic impact we have with the 40-plus breweries weve got in the state and a couple more on the way, Severance Brewing Company owner Scott Heckel said.

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Severance has been part of the downtown Sioux Falls craft beer scene since 2019.

Over the course of the last three years here, I feel like weve really gotten our feet underneath us. Were really starting to make an impact here in the Sioux Falls community with not just bringing the folks into the brewery but everything weve been doing with different nonprofits and giving back, Heckel said.

Its not all good news on the local beer front, with a number of tap rooms in Sioux Falls moving or closing in recent months, including Obscure Brewing Company.

We had a huge growth of craft beer all at one time and I dont know if there were too many of us at one time or not, but maybe that market is just kind of right sizing itself with where craft beer is going right now, Heckel said.

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A lot of these people that have shut down are our friends, so we definitely take it to heart, Woodgrain Brewing Company owner Steve Hartman said.

Steve Hartman owns Woodgrain Brewing Company, which is part of the South Dakota Craft Brewers Guild, an organization dedicated to supporting the craft beer industry.

We basically promote South Dakota craft beer. Weve got a number of members and we focus on making sure that we have a voice in Pierre, so when legislative issues come up we can fight for ourselves and we have a singular voice, Hartman said.

Closer to home, Hartmans plan for Woodgrain is similar to many local breweries.

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Were going to keep focusing on what we do and what we do well, and try to improve and just hope people like what we do, Hartman said.

Every week of the year.

South Dakota Craft Beer Week continues through Saturday.

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BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  A top Romanian court on Tuesday rejected an appeal by far-right politician Calin Georgescu to lift a ban on his candidacy for the rerun in May of Romania's presidential election, after the same court annulled last year's election in which Georgescu won the first round.

The ruling by the Constitutional Court in the capital Bucharest, which was unanimous, came two days after the Central Election Bureau rejected Georgescus candidacy for the May election. It wasnt immediately clear on what grounds the court made Tuesday's decision, which is final.

Hundreds of Georgescu supporters who had gathered near the court, many waving Romanian flags, responded by chanting Thieves!

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The bureau had cited in its decision on Sunday the Constitutional Courts ruling last year to cancel the elections after allegations that there were electoral violations and that Russia had run a coordinated online campaign to promote Georgescu, who ran as an independent. The decision to cancel the election was made two days before the Dec. 8 runoff.

After the courts decision, Georgescu posted a video online, declaring that the system does not accept outsiders. He went on to criticize Romanias dependance on the EU for financial aid and NATO for defense, and portrayed his campaign as fighting endemic corruption, and the humiliations and injustices we are subjected to."

The Romanian people have awakened their conscience to save themselves, he said. Democracy and freedom are taking their last breath, and that is why, more than ever, we must show, democratically and peacefully, that our choice matters until the very end.

The courts decision on Tuesday is likely to inflame tensions in the European Union and in the NATO member country, which has been gripped by a protracted political crisis since the election was canceled last year.

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The first round of the rerun is scheduled for May 4. If no candidate wins more than 50% of the ballots, a runoff will follow on May 18.

Romania's far-right  which holds about a third of seats in the country's legislature  will likely seek to replace Georgescu's candidacy, the deadline for which is March 15 at midnight. Many observers have speculated that his close political ally, George Simion, could take up the mantle.

We will decide tonight what is happening next because we are facing a huge blow against democracy and the rule of law, Simion, the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, told The Associated Press after the ruling on Tuesday. There is no democracy in Romania, I hope we will restore it.

The court's final decision came after prosecutors launched a criminal investigation against Georgescu last month, accusing him of incitement to actions against the constitutional order, supporting fascist groups and false declarations of electoral campaign funding and asset disclosures.

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Before the Nov. 24 election, Georgescu, who is under judicial control and has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, had polled in the single digits and declared zero campaign spending. Allegations quickly emerged of electoral violations and Russian interference. Moscow denied that it had meddled in the election.

Georgescu has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and questioned Ukraines statehood in the past, but says that hes not pro-Russia. He has also sparked controversy in the past for describing Romanian fascist and nationalist leaders from the 1930s and 1940s as national heroes.

Romanias decision to annul the election, and this weeks ban on Georgescus candidacy in the redo, has been strongly criticized by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Elon Musk and Moscow.

Russian state news agency Tass quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Tuesday that any election without Georgescus participation, Will have no legitimacy. That remark came a day after Musk asked in a post on his X account: How can a judge end democracy in Romania?

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Elena Lasconi, the leader of the Save Romania Union party, who was set to face Georgescu in the scheduled runoff last year, said after the courts decision that Romanians need to regain their confidence in the institutions" and that We are more divided than ever!

I understand that some people are angry and others are happy about this decision, she wrote on Facebook. But we cannot celebrate without thinking that there are still consequences: frustration, deepening divisions and growing distrust in our institutions. ... Our democracy is fragile and such a decision should remain an exception, not a rule.

Incumbent Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan, who is running in the upcoming election as an independent under the campaign slogan Honest Romania, responded to the court's decision by saying Corrupt political parties  are primarily responsible for the chaotic situation we are in today.

The Romanian state is weak and vulnerable. It must change. Romanians are divided and angry. That must also change, he said in a post on Facebook. It is the mission of the future president to restart the fight against corruption and rebuild bridges within society.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  A Topeka business is doing what it can to cut costs as the Trump Administration begins applying new tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico this year.

Many businesses like Tarwater Farm & Home Supply say they understand certain products could cost more, but theyre working hard to keep prices low. This comes after President Donald Trump halted the proposed 25% tariffs to Canada and Mexico for a month.

Some experts say businesses could pay more for these products, which in turn means customers could pay more at the register.

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Tarwater Farm & Home Supply in Topeka says theyve already seen some price increases on certain products. However, they say theyre motivated to find cost-effective solutions for their shoppers.

We have a dedicated purchasing team that focuses on getting the best prices while maintaining great quality products, spokesman Rick Huffman said. So, obviously, were trying to buy more U.S. products all the time. We like the quality of them. Weve got a team thats keeping an eye out to make sure we get the best deals for our customers.

Bats, sex offenders and dangerous area prompt KBI to search for new home in Topeka

Trump recently said he believes these tariffs could inspire more manufacturing domestically. Regardless of this brief tariff pause, Canadian officials say theyre keeping their initial retaliatory tariffs on America.

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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.

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Floridians are days away from witnessing a total lunar eclipse, with the "blood moon" visible for several hours as the Earth casts its shadow across the moon.

Here's what to know about the lunar eclipse and its view from cities around Florida.

When is the March 2025 total lunar eclipse?

The upcoming total lunar eclipse will occur close to midnight on Thursday, March 13, and into the early morning hours of Friday, March 14.

What is a total lunar eclipse? Why does the moon turn red during a total lunar eclipse?

A lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, moon and Earth align, allowing the moon to pass into Earth's shadow, according to NASA.

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During a total solar eclipse, the entire moon falls within the umbra, the darkest part of Earth's shadow, where the moon appears red-orange.

Lunar eclipses are often called "blood moons" because a red hue can be produced when the Earth's shadow covers the moon. The coloration happens because any sunlight not blocked by Earth is filtered through a thick slice of Earths atmosphere as it approaches the lunar surface, according to NASA.

"Its as if all the worlds sunrises and sunsets are projected onto the Moon," NASA explains on its website.

Will the total lunar eclipse be visible from Florida?

Yes.

Weather permitting, the eclipse will be visible not only across Florida but all of North America, but also in South America, western parts of Europe and Africa.

What time can you watch the total lunar eclipse in Florida?

If you live in the U.S., the eclipse should begin around 11:57 p.m. EST on Thursday, March 13, reach totality around 2:30 a.m. EST and complete the process around 6 a.m. EST Friday, March 14.

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For Floridians, the time will differ between the two time zones in the state. The Panhandle can expect to see the lunar eclipse around midnight CDT on March 14. The Florida Peninsula can expect to see the lunar eclipse start about 1 a.m. EDT.

What will the weather be like in Florida during a total lunar eclipse?

AccuWeather meteorologists are predicting Florida  especially along the east coast and southern Florida  will have a good to fair chance of seeing the total lunar eclipse Thursday night.

As of Monday, March 10, here is the current forecast for conditions across Florida on Thursday night:

What will you see during the total lunar eclipse? How long will the lunar eclipse last?

Time and Date predicts the moon will complete all of the eclipse phases in 6 hours, 3 minutes.

How rare is a total lunar eclipse?

According to the National Weather Service, lunar eclipses only occur on average one or two times a year instead of every month.

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"  the Moon's orbit is tilted 5 degrees from Earth's orbit. For an eclipse to occur, the Moon and Earth have to be on the same orbital plane with the Sun, so the Earth's shadow can be cast onto the Moon from the Sun," the NWS reads.

When is North America's next total lunar eclipse?

Mark your calendars for this time next year! The next total lunar eclipse in North America will be March 3, 2026.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Lunar eclipse in Florida: What is the weather on Thursday night?
On 10 March Mexicos Presidentdescribed the discovery of three crematoria and burnt human remains in the municipality of Teuchitlan, in the western state of Jalisco, as obviously terrible during her daily press conference.

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As if theres not already enough going on to disturb your sleep, heres another nighttime distraction to keep you from counting sheep: A blood red moon rises over Maryland later this week. And you wont want to miss it.

A lunar eclipse takes place when Earth lines up between the sun and a full moon. The sun casts the planets shadow onto the surface of moon, turning it a reddish orange color.

What will happen beginning Thursday night is a total lunar eclipse, meaning the entire moon falls within the darkest part of Earths shadow, an area known as the umbra. The last time this was visible from Maryland was in November 2022.

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Here are five things to know about this weeks total lunar eclipse.

Youll need to stay up late Thursday night.

The lunar eclipse is predicted to be visible over Maryland starting around 11:57 p.m. Thursday, according to NASA. A partial eclipse  it appears as if the moon has a bite taken out of it  will commence about 1:09 a.m. Totality will begin at 2:26 a.m. as the moon begins to glow a coppery red and will end around 3:31 a.m. The moon will exit the Earths umbra as the color fades away, and the eclipse will end by 6 a.m. Friday.

The period of totality will be longer than usual.

Expect to be able to observe the blood-red moon for over an hour, about 65 minutes. Take a moment to look west to observe Jupiter and Mars. According to NASA, constellations could also be more apparent to the eye when the moon is in shadow. The moon will be in the constellation Leo, under the lions hind paw, at the beginning of the eclipse; soon afterward, it will cross into the constellation Virgo, NASA said.

You wont be watching alone.

More than a billion people live in the locations where the blood red moon will be visible this week, including in Siberia, West Africa, New Zealand and the majority of North America.

The weather might not cooperate.

According to the National Weather Service, Thursday overnight in the Baltimore region looks party cloudy with a temperature low in the mid-40s. But theres a warm front that is expected to move into the area at the end of the week that could increase cloudiness and up chances of a shower. Still, according to NASA, The more dust or clouds in Earths atmosphere during the eclipse, the redder the Moon appears.

If you miss it, you could still see it one day.

The next total lunar eclipse happens Sept. 7 but will be visible only in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia. Youll have to wait until March 3, 2026, for another shot at viewing from the Americas, but not all of the eclipse will be visible over the continental U.S. as it will be this week. After that, there wont be another chance at seeing a total lunar eclipse in the area until 2029.

If you want to know more details about the total lunar eclipse, go to science.nasa.gov.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  A total lunar eclipse will be visible in Siouxland on Thursday, March 13 into the early morning hours of Friday, March 14!

And its looking like it will be clear enough locally for viewing! Temperatures are expected to be mild as well, only falling back into the upper 40s/low 50s overnight into Friday morning.

Latest Siouxland Weather Conditions

It all begins at 10:57 p.m., although there likely wont initially be much to see as the moon moves into the outer portion of Earths shadow. This is called a penumbral eclipse and is hard to see.

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Then, at 12:09 a.m., a partial eclipse begins as the moon moves into Earths umbra. As this happens, the moon will begin to appear red. Throughout the duration of the partial eclipse, NASA says, to the naked eye, it will look like a bite being taken out of the lunar disc. The portion of the moon inside the umbra will appear very dark. It will reach 50 percent partial totality at 12:47 a.m.

The total eclipse will begin at 1:26 a.m. as the entire moon moves into the Earths umbra. At this point, the moon will have a coppery red tint to it. This is called a blood moon.

At 1:59 a.m., the total eclipse will reach its midway point, and at 2:31 a.m., the total eclipse will come to an end and will enter back into a partial eclipse.

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Then, at 2:10 a.m., the eclipse will return to 50 percent totality as the bite out of the moon appears on the opposite side until the partial eclipse ends at 3:47 a.m., a little less than five hours after the start of the eclipse.

After this, the moon moves back into the penumbra and the most visible portions of the eclipse conclude. The eclipse ends entirely at 5 a.m..

A total lunar eclipse and blood moon will be visible in March: How and when to watch

In addition to the eclipse Thursday night, youll also be able to see Jupiter and Venus. The moon will also cross from Leo to Virgo. NASA adds that during the lunar eclipse, constellations may even be easier to spot thanks to the moons dimmed glow.

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For the best viewing experience, head out away from light pollution. However, the eclipse will be visible regardless of where you are.

The next lunar eclipse will take place on March 3, 2026. However, it will happen during moonset/sunrise, so it may not be as easy to see!

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  At the end of last year, the mayor of Riverdale announced that a Trader Joes store was coming to the city sometime in 2025. Months later, city officials and the company are offering seemingly conflicting details.

After a Weber County resident  who wished to remain anonymous  shared their concerns about whether the store would be opening or not, ABC4.com reached out to the national grocery chain for clarification.

At this time, we do not have a location confirmed in Riverdale, Nakia Rohde, public relations manager for Trader Joes, told ABC4.com.

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While the company has not yet publicly announced or confirmed the location of the new Utah store, Riverdale officials have said the store is still coming  and it is still likely to open in July or August of this year. City officials previously announced the store would be opened near an Ashley Furniture store.

Brandon Cooper, Riverdale Citys Director of Community Development, said the announcement in December was made after a representative for the building owner reportedly confirmed that a lease is in place between Trader Joes and Ashley Furniture.

PREVIOUSLY: Heads up, Riverdale  youre getting a Trader Joes in 2025

Construction on the space has been permitted by the City and is scheduled to start in March, Cooper told ABC4.com. It is our understanding that it is common for corporate Trader Joes to delay formal announcement of new locations until closer to the date of opening.

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The grocery company said all of its stores that are opening soon (15 locations at the time of writing) are listed on its website. Each location that is said to be coming soon has a specific address accompanying it, and a Riverdale location is not on that list  yet.

Riverdale Mayor Braden Mitchell originally announced the arrival of the grocery store chain at an event that was live-streamed and posted by the citys social media account in December 2024. As of March 2025, there had been no further public announcements by the city or Trader Joes, sparking concern from the resident who reached out to ABC4.com.

The mayors announcement was definitely a huge win for the community and has provided much needed excitement and something to look forward to, the anonymous resident said. But, no one wants false promises or to be misled.

Riverdale officials said the city is continuing to work with both developers and retailers to bring quality businesses to Riverdale.

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We understand the communitys enthusiasm for a Trader Joes in Riverdale and will provide updates as soon as any new information becomes available, Cooper said.

How does Trader Joes decide where to open new stores?

Utah currently has Trader Joes stores in Orem, Draper, Cottonwood Heights, and Salt Lake City. Salt Lake is home to the states two northernmost locations, but Weber County residents had expressed excitement about a location closer to home after the mayors initial announcement.

We are actively looking at hundreds of neighborhoods across the country, including a few in Utah, as we hope to open more new neighborhood stores each year, Trader Joes told ABC4.com.

Rhode, the PR manager for Trader Joes, said some stores have taken more than 10 years to open in a certain neighborhood.

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When asked about what goes into opening a new store, Rhode pointed ABC4.com to an October 2024 episode of the official Inside Trader Joes podcast in which the hosts, Tara Miller and Matt Sloan, discuss the topic of opening a Trader Joes store in a specific neighborhood.

The hosts said the company is typically looking to put new stores in areas with lots of people, but also said it takes more than a social media or letter-writing campaign to get a store, with Miller saying, thats really not whats driving the decisions about what brings a Trader Joes.

Sloan said theres a list of criteria for new locations, which includes traffic patterns, parking availability, population density, and more.

Wed like to be in neighborhoods all around the country, but it takes time, Miller said in the podcast. Were not going to rush it because rushing it would result in stores that dont live up to our expectations or, quite honestly, to our customers expectations.

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Riverdale officials encouraged residents to keep up-to-date by following the citys Facebook page, checking its website, and looking at the meeting agendas for the City Council.

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Around one hundred people marched through the streets of downtown San Diego protesting the cuts and layoffs to federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Protesters started outside the federal building downtown and walked to city hall.

While an exact number has yet to be announced, reports indicate that at least 1,000 federal EPA and NOAA workers have been let go under the Trump administration.

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The EPA has cut its spending by $287 million by canceling grants and contracts and theres reportedly talks of deeper cuts to the EPA and NOAA.

Could NOAA layoffs affect San Diego?

Its not clear how this will impact the local San Diego EPA and NOAA offices, but David Fege, who retired from the San Diego Border office of the EPA in 2016, is emotional discussing whats happening to the department.

Its difficultI have many friends and colleagues who are experiencing some frankly traumatic times right now and almost a feeling of guilt I left, Fege said. I was a proud employee of the EPA for 35 years.

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He said he helped open the EPAs San Diego Border Office in 1994, and believes theres going to be local impacts from the federal cuts.

In our regional office we have folks that work on air quality in the San Diego region, in water quality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the impact would be youre going to see just less work as it were, simply because you have less money and fewer people, Fege said.

Ali Dressel, a graduate of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and a climate and ocean activist, said, By destroying, dismantling and potentially even removing these agencies, what we are facing is a world where the are no protections for corporations to pollute the waters, to pollute the air, because weve seen it before, this is why the agencies were started in the first place.

Its not clear how many cuts, if any, were made to the local NOAA and EPA offices in San Diego.

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Im sure there are many employees who feel abandoned and I hope they take heart that the public is behind them, Fege said. The protesters also signed a Thank You card to the federal workers during the protest on Monday morning.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  People have a chance to certify documents for international use during a single-day apostille pop-up event hosted by the San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/Clerks Office Wednesday.

An apostille is used to authenticate signatures on official documents to use for international travel. The process typically involves San Diegans having to drive up to Los Angeles, pay fees and send documents through the mail to Sacramento.

Gaylord Pacific Resort ends job fair registration due to overwhelming demand

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San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/Clerk Jordan Marks said the apostille service is intended for military families, students spending a summer abroad, people who work internationally or residents trying to get dual citizenship.

The problem is, in order for a San Diegan, a Baja business border region, to access the service, you have to drive to Los Angeles, pay your fees there, or mail it to Sacramento and wait a number of weeks, he said. Then, you dont even know if you did it right and they mail it back and you have to do it again.

To make it easier for people to access the service, several other pop-up events are being hosted in other cities as part of a partnership with the California Secretary of States Office.

How is San Diego Countys budget determined?

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This is the third time San Diego County is hosting the apostille pop-up event. Marks said the process is more streamlined this time around, and people can expect to be in and out of the office in less than an hour with certified documents.

The apostille pop-up event takes place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the San Diego County Administration Center located at 1600 Pacific Hwy. in Room 273.

People do not need to make an appointment to attend.

Marks added he is working to convince the Secretary of States Office to bring apostille services to San Diego permanently due to the high demand.

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NEW YORK (AP)  Two members of an Eastern European criminal organization were hired guns for the government of Iran in a plot to assassinate an Iran-born journalist at her New York City residence three years ago, a prosecutor told a federal jury in an opening statement on Tuesday at the start of a trial for the men.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Gutwillig said the plot to assassinate Masih Alinejad was part of Iran's more than decade-long quest to silence a woman who exposed the Iranian regime for human rights abuses and for silencing political expression.

The prosecutor told jurors they will hear the author and contributor to Voice of America explain why the government of Iran wanted to silence her.

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By day's end, though, her accused would-be assassin was testifying for the government, prompting Alinejad to post on social media that she was overwhelmed with mixed emotions.

You might find this hard to believe  but for simply posting videos of myself showing my hair and encouraging women in Iran to do the same, the regime sent a man with an AK-47 to my house in Brooklyn to kill me, she said.

Alinejad wrote that she could not be in the courtroom because she will be a trial witness.

She fled Iran following the countrys disputed 2009 presidential election and became a U.S. citizen in October 2019. She will describe why she stands up to the Iranian regime, Gutwillig said, and why she refuses to back down.

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Masih Alinejad inspires others in Iran and around the world to do the same thing. That is why they want to kill her. And you will hear all of that from Ms. Alinejad herself, he said.

On trial on a murder-for-hire count and other charges are Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov, natives of Azerbaijan, which shares a border and cultural ties with Iran.

The prosecutor told jurors that key testimony will come from the man hired to kill Alinejad: Khalid Mehdiyev of Yonkers.

Later in the day, Mehdiyev, 27, began testifying, telling jurors about his involvement in the Russian mob before and after he came to the United States in 2017 from Azerbaijan after he learned that authorities were looking to arrest him there. His cooperation with the government included pleading guilty to crimes in Manhattan and Brooklyn federal courts. He faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life.

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Detective Daniel Smith, the trial's first witness, said Mehdiyev was arrested in July 2022 when he ran a stop sign in Alinejad's neighborhood and was found to be driving despite a suspended driver's license. A search of his car turned up a loaded AK-47 assault rifle, Smith said.

Defense attorneys for Amirov and Omarov told jurors in opening statements that their clients were not guilty and that prosecutors' evidence was merely circumstantial.

Attorney Michael Martin, representing Amirov, said his client had insisted for the 25 months since his January 2023 arrest that he was not guilty.

He promised to discredit the testimony of Mehdiyev, calling him a murderer, a kidnapper, an arsonist, a robber, an extortionist, a scammer, a fraudster and a liar.

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That, he added, will be undisputed.

Attorney Michael Perkins, representing Omarov, called his client a scam artist who had conned the Iranian government out of a lot of money.

To earn that money, he did as close to nothing as possible, Perkins said. Mr. Omarov had no intention, no agreement, with anyone to kill Ms. Alinejad."

Gutwillig said the government of Iran had long attacked Alinejad, smearing her reputation, imprisoning her brother and trying to kidnap her and bring her back to Iran in 2020. He said Iranian officials then agreed to the $500,000 assassination plot with the two men who wanted to make money and enhance their positions in their organized crime group.

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The defendants were hired guns for the government of Iran, he said.

He said Alinejad became a target of Iran after encouraging women in Iran to share messages and videos of women protesting the regime by refusing to wear head coverings, or hijabs, in public in Iran, subjecting them to arrest or beatings by the country's morality police.

She shared them with millions. She shined a light on the government of Iran's oppression of women, and that enraged the regime Gutwillig said.
This article was originally published in Stateline.

A coalition of tribal nations and students is suing the federal government over major cuts to a pair of colleges and a federal agency serving Native American students.

The staffing cuts, part of President Donald Trumps effort to reduce the federal workforce, have slashed basic services on the campuses of Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, known as SIPI, in New Mexico. The lawsuit says the feds failed to notify or consult with tribal nations prior to making the cuts.

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The lawsuit notes that those schools  as well as the federal Bureau of Indian Education  are part of a system that fulfills the federal governments legal obligation to provide education for Native people. Tribal nations secured that right in a series of treaties in exchange for conceding land.

Related

Native American Leaders Call Again for Action After Boarding Schools Apology

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The United States government has legal obligations to Tribal Nations that they agreed to in treaties and have been written into federal law, Jacqueline De Leon, staff attorney with the Native American Rights Fund, the legal group leading the lawsuit, said in a statement announcing the case. The abrupt and drastic changes that happened since February, without consultation or even pre-notification, are completely illegal.

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Three tribal nations and five Native students have joined the lawsuit. Asked about the case, federal officials told media outlets they do not comment on pending litigation.

According to Haskell student Ella Bowen, cuts to custodial staff have left bathrooms with overflowing trash cans and no toilet paper. SIPI student Kaiya Jade Brown said that schools campus has suffered from power outages because of a lack of maintenance workers.

Both schools lost roughly a quarter of their staff last month after Trump and the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency task force ordered major cuts across a slew of federal agencies. While the schools have since been able to hire back some instructional staff, [i]t is not even close to enough, Native American Rights Fund Deputy Director Matthew Campbell said in the statement.

Thirty-four courses at Haskell lost their instructors in February, according to the statement.

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Some students have reported delays in their financial aid, and SIPI students are dealing with brown, unsafe tap water, with repairs put on hold due to the cuts, the statement said. And the school did not have enough faculty to administer midterm exams.

The Pueblo of Isleta; the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation; and the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes are suing the feds.

Related

Investigation: Nearly 1,000 Native Children Died in Federal Boarding Schools

Despite having a treaty obligation to provide educational opportunities to Tribal students, the federal government has long failed to offer adequate services, Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Lieutenant Governor Hershel Gorham said in the statement. Just when the Bureau of Indian Education was taking steps to fix the situation, these cuts undermined all those efforts. These institutions are precious to our communities, we wont sit by and watch them fail.

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.
SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO)  Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested one person after locating over 250 pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop in northern Nebraska.

Journalism trip of a lifetime for Lincoln HS students

On Friday, March 7, at approximately 7:20 p.m., a trooper performed a traffic stop on Highway 20 on a Chevrolet Silverado with a driver known to have a suspended license. The traffic stop occurred near the intersection of Highway 20 and Highway 81. During the traffic stop, the trooper saw marijuana in plain view in the pickup.

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A search of the vehicle revealed several bags of marijuana in the cab and bed of the pickup. The total weight of the marijuana was 252 pounds.

The driver, Coty Weber, 40, of Saint Peter, Minnesota, was arrested for driving under suspension, possession of marijuana  more than one pound, and possession with intent to deliver. He was lodged in Pierce County Jail.

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Tropicana Project construction affects access to Las Vegas businesses

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  If one is heading to the airport or to the south end of the Las Vegas Strip, one will want to find an alternative route as construction continues on the I-15 Tropicana Project.

It was kind of a pain in the butt to get here, to be honest with you, tourist Steve Koepke said.

The latest closure, which will shut down Tropicana in both directions until Friday, is impacting people getting to and from businesses in the area.

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It was a bit of an adventure trying to get to the In-N-Out, visitor Scott Adler said. I didnt know if it was still open actually because it looked like everything was shut down all the way around it.

The chain of businesses near the intersection at Tropicana and Dean Martin will remain open, although it will require a bit more tenacity to get there.

I think we had to circle around at least 3 times before we finally found the road that actually let us access the restaurant, Koepke said. With the different roads being blocked off, it was a challenge to get here.

The closure is necessary as crews work to transition the Tropicana interchange from its temporary diverging diamond configuration back to a standard interchange.

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East and westbound Tropicana will be fully closed from New York  New York to Dean Martin Drive. The southbound I-15 off-ramp to Tropicana and the Tropicana on-ramp to northbound I-15 will also be closed.

During this time, the following ramps will be closed:

Southbound I-15 off-ramp to eastbound and westbound Tropicana Avenue

Tropicana Avenue on-ramp to northbound I-15

Southbound I-15 flyover ramp to eastbound Tropicana Avenue

Tropicana Avenue on-ramp to southbound I-15

The northbound I-15 off-ramp to Tropicana Avenue

The northbound I-15 off-ramp to Frank Sinatra Drive/Arena Drive

Following the closures, the southbound I-15 to eastbound Tropicana flyover ramp will open to traffic on Friday. The ramp has been closed since 2022.

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The Tropicana closures will be in effect 24 hours a day until 5 a.m. on Friday. Tropicana Avenue will remain two lanes in each direction as construction on the median continues.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
DENVER (KDVR)  An investigation is underway after a truck crashed into the side of a Holiday Inn building in Centennial on Tuesday morning.

According to the South Metro Fire Rescue, a vehicle went off the roadway and into the Holiday Inn located at 6638 S. Nome St. This is in just south of Cherry Creek State Park and nearby the Centennial Airport.

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The fire rescue said two people were in the vehicle. One was transported to a local hospital and one refused medical attention.

Meanwhile, there was no structural damage to the hotel.

Crews responded to the scene where a truck crashed into the side of the Holiday Inn in Centennial on March 11, 2025. (Courtesy of South Metro Fire Response) Crews responded to the scene where a truck crashed into the side of the Holiday Inn in Centennial on March 11, 2025. (Courtesy of South Metro Fire Response) Crews responded to the scene where a truck crashed into the side of the Holiday Inn in Centennial on March 11, 2025. (Courtesy of South Metro Fire Response) Crews responded to the scene where a truck crashed into the side of the Holiday Inn in Centennial on March 11, 2025. (Courtesy of South Metro Fire Response) Crews responded to the scene where a truck crashed into the side of the Holiday Inn in Centennial on March 11, 2025. (Courtesy of South Metro Fire Response)

The Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office is still investigating a crash. At this time, no further information was provided about the cause of the crash.

This story will be updated if 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 FOX31 Denver.
The Trump administration is scrambling to find a legal justification for what legal experts and advocates say is a clear cut violation of arrested pro-Palestine protester Mahmoud Khalils First Amendment rights.

On Saturday, Department of Homeland Security agents followed Khalil  a graduate of Columbia University who helped organize pro-Gaza protests in the spring of last year  and his wife, into their apartment building near Columbias campus. Khalil and his wife who is eight months pregnant, were told that his student visa had been revoked, and that he would be deported. When his wife, a citizen who has not yet been publicly identified, pointed out that her husband was a lawful permanent resident, DHS authorities threatened to arrest her, as well, before whisking Khalil out of New York over 1,300 miles away to a detention facility in Louisiana.

Trump accused Khalil of being a Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas operative that poses a threat to national security. The Trump administration has provided no evidence supporting a link between Khalil and Hamas  which is a U.S.-designated a foreign terrorist group  or documentation of Khalil advocating violence. Khalil has not been charged with any crime. Trump and his administration are nevertheless openly bragging that the activist was being forcibly deported and separated from his pregnant wife because of his pro-Palestinian advocacy, and that more arrests will follow.

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I think we ought to get them all out of the country, Trump said from the White House on Tuesday. Theyre troublemakers. Theyre agitators. They dont love our country.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters earlier on Tuesday that under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the secretary of state has the right to revoke a green card or a visa for individuals who are adversarial to the foreign policy and national security interests of the United States of America.

Leavitt claimed Khalil had abused the privilege of studying at an American university by siding with terrorists, Hamas terrorists who have killed innocent men, women and children, adding that he is an individual who organized group protests that not only disrupted college campus classes and harassed Jewish-American students and made them feel unsafe on their own college campus, but also distributed pro-Hamas propaganda flyers.

Leavitt and the Trump administration have yet to produce evidence to back up their claims, but legal experts say that even if he did, the administration would have a hard time proving their argument in court.

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The administration has been pretty open about the fact that his constitutionally protected speech activities are the basis for him being detained, Esha Bhandari, deputy director of the Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project at the ACLU, tells Rolling Stone. Its not about any unlawful activity, unlawful conduct, not based on any crime, nothing like that. Theyve been very clear, its his speech. Its his constitutionally protected speech, and theyre using that and saying that that poses a threat to the foreign policy interests of the United States.

Bhandari notes that in order to invoke the Immigration and Nationality Act as described by Leavitt, the secretary of state would be required to certify to Congress that the individual whose immigration status was revoked posed a foreign policy threat. Congress has made it clear through amendments to the INA and through its legislative history that this provision is not meant to be used to exclude people on the basis of their speech, she says.

The legal provision is typically wielded against high-level officials of entities known to be adversarial to the United States  not college students. Thats not what the intention of Congress was in placing the foreign policy bar in the INA, Bhandari says. But most importantly, if the administration wants to pursue this theory that they can deport someone on these grounds, then theyre going to run up squarely against the First Amendment.

Conor T. Fitzpatrick, Supervising Senior Attorney at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), feels similarly. To be clear  to the extent that this administration is arresting and attempting to deport a lawful permanent resident for his opinions  that is unconstitutional and that violates the law, he says. In America, the last thing anyone should fear after they voice a controversial opinion, is a midnight knock at the door from federal officials.

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Fitzpatrick notes that even if Trump and his administration feel that Khalils opinions are anti-American, it doesnt mean theyre not protected. What weve seen so far suggests that Mr. Khalils primary crime was his pro-Palestinian advocacy, he says. But pro Palestinian advocacy, even pro-Hamas advocacy, is protected by the First Amendment unless it amounts to whats called material support for terrorism. And the easiest way to think about that dichotomy is that the First Amendment protects your right to give moral support to terrorists. It does not protect your right to give military support to terrorists.

Fitzpatrick continues: The First Amendment and American free speech principles mean that no idea and no opinion is out of bounds. If you dont like an opinion, you can change the channel. You can now offer a counter argument, or you can walk away. You cannot, however, throw the speaker in jail.

On Tuesday, FIRE issued an open letter to the Trump administration demanding the government clarify the factual or legal basis for Mr. Khalils arrest.

The organization warned that the administration must not use immigration enforcement to punish and filter out ideas disfavored by the government or deny due process to anyone facing arrest and detention.

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Maya Berry, Executive Director of the Arab American Institute (AAI), says that for decades there has been a concerted desire to put advocacy for Palestinian human rights  to place Arab Americans, specifically Palestinians  outside of what is deemed acceptable in terms of political opinions and political perspectives.

While the U.S. government has the power to employ ideological exclusion against foreigners seeking legal entry into the United States, there is no carve out in the Constitution that would place green card residents or other visa holders outside of the protections of the First Amendment. We can deny someone entry because we dont like a T-shirt theyre wearing, thats ideological exclusion, Berry says, but its a lot different once youre in the country.

This particular young man has an American citizen wife, and hes a legal permanent resident, which means hes on the trajectory of becoming an American citizen, she adds. And the part that is extraordinary, I would suggest, is if you actually look at what theyre doing here, nobody has yet shown anything to demonstrate that Mahmoud engaged in any unlawful activity.

On Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Jesse Furman issued an order blocking the government from proceeding with Khalils deportation until a court had a chance to review the constitutional issues raised by his detention. Despite the threats against protesters, activists opposing Khalils detention continue to rally at Columbia University.

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The Trump administration has transformed a mobile application originally designed to schedule asylum appointments into a digital pathway for undocumented migrants to "self-deport" from the United States.



As the BBC reports, the app, formerly known as CBP One and now rebranded as CBP Home, enables migrants to submit an 'intent to depart' form, which U.S. Customs and Border Patrol pitches as an opportunity to exit the country without facing "harsher consequences."



The initiative comes as White House officials repeatedly urge undocumented migrants to leave voluntarily rather than risk arrest and formal deportation proceedings.

Related: Trump Claims "Rigged Election" During FIFA World Cup Announcement

First launched in 2020, the application gained prominence during the Biden administration when it was expanded to allow migrants to schedule appointments at ports of entry. Officials at that time praised the technology for reducing border detentions and protecting asylum seekers.



Under its new iteration, undocumented migrants must identify themselves through the app and declare their intention to leave the country. The digital form also asks users whether they have "enough money to depart the United States" and if they possess a "valid, unexpired passport from your original country of citizenship."



Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem framed the option as potentially preserving future immigration opportunities, stating that by using the app to self-deport, migrants "may still have the opportunity to return legally in the future and live the American dream."

The CBP Home app, rebranded from CBP One, now allows undocumented migrants to submit an intent to depart form for voluntary self-deportation, a key part of the U.S. governments new immigration enforcement strategy.Courtesy of U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Her statement took a sharper turn when addressing those who don't comply: "If they don't, we will find them, we will deport them, and they will never return."



Beyond self-deportation features, CBP Home maintains utility for applying and paying for I-94 entry and exit cards, scheduling inspections for perishable cargo, and checking wait times at U.S. border crossings.



The Department of Homeland Security positions the app as just one component of a broader $200 million domestic and international advertising campaign with the blunt message for undocumented migrants to "stay out and leave now."

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"If they don't, we will find them, we will deport them, and they will never return."

The administration's rapid immigration policy shifts have included discontinuing the original CBP One app, pausing parole programs, and increasing Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids nationwide.



In late February, officials announced plans to create a national registry requiring undocumented migrants over age 14 to provide the government with their address and fingerprints, with potential criminal prosecution for those who fail to registerthough experts note such a system faces significant enforcement and logistical challenges.
The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights sent letters to 60 universities saying they are under investigation for potential "antisemitic harassment and discrimination," including the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

A UT student filed a Title VI complaint in 2023 "based on an unrelated set of events" the student "witnessed and/or heard about," UT spokesperson Kerry Gardner told Knox News in an email.

"The student engaged with a variety of university offices in 2023, and the offices worked to support the student. The U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights reached out with a request for information about the students concerns in 2024. The university has cooperated fully with OCR," she said.

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UT takes complaints filed seriously to "maintain an environment free of illegal discrimination" and works to resolve issues brought to the university's attention, Gardner said.

The letters sent from the Department of Education warn the institutions of "potential enforcement actions" if campus leaders don't protect Jewish students, and cite Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The letters follow President Donald Trump's executive order on antisemitism signed Jan. 29, and the appointment of Secretary of Education Linda McMahon on March 3.

Campus protests a factor in Department of Education's letter

On March 4, Trump posted on Truth Social about cutting federal funding to universities and schools allowing "illegal protests" on campuses without defining what made the demonstrations illegal.

A release from the Department of Education sent March 10 did not specify why the universities were singled out, but it does mention the federal government canceled $400 million in federal funding for Columbia University, which became a center for pro-Palestinian protests last year.

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At UT, pro-Palestinian students and community members peacefully demonstrated last spring against the Israel-Hamas war. The demonstrators were active for several weeks and police arrested several people on trespassing charges when they stayed on university property past a deadline imposed by campus leaders. Gardner did not mention the protests in her response.

Five universities previously were singled out for investigation:

Columbia University

Northwestern University

Portland State University

University of California at Berkeley

University of Minnesota

U.S. colleges and universities benefit from enormous public investments funded by U.S. taxpayers," McMahon said. "That support is a privilege and it is contingent on scrupulous adherence to federal antidiscrimination laws.

Why did the University of Tennessee receive a letter?

The letters say they are intended to enforce Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits federally funded institutions from discriminating on the basis of race, color or national origin, including Jewish ancestry, according to the release.

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In his executive order, Trump addressed campus protests surrounding the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, saying investigations would be conducted regarding alleged civil rights violations based on complaints.

Heads of executive departments and agencies had 60 days to submit reports detailing ways to curb or combat antisemitism, including details of these administrative complaints.

While demonstrations occurred on campus, Gardner referred only to the student complaint filed in 2023 in her response about the letter from the Department of Education.

Department of Education notice follows multiple letters

On Feb. 14, UT received a letter from the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights saying affirmative action policies, which consider a student's race during the application process, are discriminatory under the Equal Protection Clause in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

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Two weeks later, the office sent another letter outlining how a 2023 Supreme Court case ruling against the affirmative action policies of Harvard and the University of North Carolina set a precedent now being championed by the Trump administration. The Feb. 28 letter outlined how to report "discriminatory conduct" to the Department of Education.

The Supreme Court's decision had no direct impact on UT, spokesperson Kerry Gardner said in 2023, noting the university wasn't considering an applicant's race during the admissions or institutional scholarship process.

Pro-Palestinian students and community members gather for a Shabbat ceremony led by Jewish Voices For Peace on the lawn in front of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville's Student Union. The university has received a letter from the Department of Education alleging UT has violations related to antisemitism on campus, but the news release doesn't specify exactly why UT has complaints filed against it.

Now, the Office for Civil Rights has created a backlog of complaints filed against institutions "alleging antisemitic violence and harassment."

Other notable universities that received letters include Harvard, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio State, Princeton, Rutgers, Southern California, Stanford, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Yale.

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This story will be updated.

Keenan Thomas reports for the Knox News business growth and development team. You can reach him by email at keenan.thomas@knoxnews.com.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Trump administration adds University of Tennessee to investigation list
Here is something you do not hear every day: The Trump Administration heaping praise on The Washington Post. But that is what happened on Tuesday, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt saying she would like to commend Jeff Bezos paper for overhauling its newsroom.

It appears that the mainstream media, including The Post, is finally learning that having disdain for more than half of the country who supports this president does not help you sell newspapers. Its not a very good business model, Leavitt said.

Her comment, made during a White House press briefing, comes a day after Axios reported The Post was making big changes to its newsroom meant to broaden the outlets coverage and reach a wider audience.

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That includes dividing its national desk into two sections, with one side focused on national reporting and the other focused on politics and government coverage. And moving forward, WaPos business, tech, health, science and climate teams will be combined into a new department focused on how businesses are transforming across the economy. Executive editor Matt Murray told Axios the plan is to broaden WaPos coverage to make it less dependent on political news.

It also follows Bezos recent decision to revamp his papers opinion section to focus on two pillars, personal liberties and free markets.

There was a time when a newspaper, especially one that was a local monopoly, might have seen it as a service to bring to the readers doorstep every morning a broad-based opinion section that sought to cover all views, the WaPo owner said last month. Today, the Internet does that job.

That change was skewered by several WaPo staffers and mainstream journalists. It also led to opinion editor David Shipley quitting the paper; on Monday, veteran WaPo columnist Ruth Marcus quit after she said a column criticizing Bezos decision was spiked. In related news, Marcus was critical of Bezos canceling WaPo editorial boards planned endorsement of Kamala Harris leading up to the 2024 election.

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Bezos, following the election, said it was the right decision to not endorse a candidate. If the editorial board had endorsed Harris, he said, it would have added a perception of bias to the papers coverage.

The post Trump Administration Commends Washington Post for Overhauling Newsroom appeared first on TheWrap.
The arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and legal permanent resident of the U.S. who has played a prominent role in the Gaza protests at Columbia University, has alarmed civil rights groups and reignited concerns about the federal governments dismissal of due process under the guise of fighting terrorism.

In response, 14 House Democrats have publicly called for Khalils release, writing in a letter to the Trump administration that his detention is absolutely unacceptable  and illegal. The Senate Judiciary Democrats also wrote on X: This should terrify everyone.

Now would be a good time for Democrats as a whole to heed the pleas from their constituents to do something.

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A former graduate student at Columbia, Khalil was arrested Saturday by federal immigration officers at his university-owned apartment in New York City. The administration has not provided any allegations of criminality against Khalil; the Department of Homeland Security claimed he led activities aligned to Hamas, seemingly tying his arrest to his participation in the protests at Columbia.

His attorney, Amy Greer, has said that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents initially said they were acting on State Department orders to revoke his student visa but, after being told that he is a permanent U.S. resident, declared they were revoking his green card as well.

Khalil  whose wife is a U.S. citizen and eight months pregnant  has not been charged with any crimes or convicted of any terror-related activity. He has since been located in a notorious immigration detention facility in Louisiana.

On Monday, a federal judge temporarily halted the Trump administrations efforts to deport Khalil. A detention hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

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The Trump administration has cited Khalils involvement in the Columbia protests last year and said his arrest was in support of President Trumps executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism. Trump has warned that Khalils arrest is the first arrest of many to come, and he sweepingly referred to pro-Palestinian campus protests as pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity.

By seeking to expel a legal U.S. resident whose political expression he disagrees with, Trump is threatening the very foundation of American democracy  that should be more than enough reason for Democrats to kick their opposition into high gear.

The Democratic Party has long been plagued by accusations of fecklessness in the face of Trumps brazen actions, and its leaders are particularly prone to contorting themselves in strained statements about pro-Palestinian protests. But the president is not invincible; many of his executive actions have stalled in the courts or been reversed after facing resistance.

Whether or not Democrats agree with Khalils views, his arrest is a flagrant affront to his right to free speech. It should be a no-brainer for Democrats to vigorously challenge this now before the administration becomes more emboldened to do the same to anyone else it sees as the opposition.

I abhor many of the opinions and policies that Mahmoud Khalil holds and supports, and have made my criticism of the antisemitic actions at Columbia loudly known. Mr. Khalil is also legal permanent resident here, and his wife, who is 8-months pregnant, is an American citizen.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) March 11, 2025

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA)  Two historic, federal courthouses in the Upstate are scheduled to be sold off by the Trump administration, part of a list of over 400 other federal buildings deemed non-core, or essential.

Closing federal courthouses in Spartanburg and Anderson means operations would move to the Carroll A. Campbell Federal Courthouse in Greenville.

The General Services Administration said that selling the properties will save taxpayers millions in operating costs. Local officials, including Spartanburg County Councilman David Britt, strongly oppose the sale, saying it goes against their mission.

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We generate a lot of federal taxes, said Britt. If they say well, its more convenient, its more economical, look at what we do. Spartanburg County is the economic engine of South Carolina, and we deserve to get the services for our residents that they deserve.

He said the biggest issue is the inconvenience, it brings residents not only in Spartanburg County but the surrounding counties the courthouse serves.

I cant forget our neighbors in Union County and in Cherokee County, Britt said. They also use this federal courthouse in Spartanburg County. Its not just about, you know, pluses and minuses on a little spreadsheet. Its about people, thats what its all about.

Attorney Ryan James explained how the move could prolong the judicial process for everyone.

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These folks coming in from Anderson and Spartanburg, perhaps they were on the docket to be seen and heard relatively soon. Now youll see them pushed back a distance because you have folks on the docket currently in the Greenville system, said James.

He said with already crowded dockets in Greenville, theres no telling how they will make this efficient.

If I were an attorney on that Greenville docket currently and Im getting bumped now and have a client who has been waiting, you know two years for resolution to his case, James said. I mean its going to create some contention around the building.

The Trump administration has since taken down the list of federal buildings for sale, but that doesnt mean the courthouses are safe.

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(Bloomberg) -- US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the Trump administration is prepared to enforce US sanctions on Iranian oil production.

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When he was president last time, Iranian oil exports shrunk down to very modest levels, Wright said during a Bloomberg Television interview at the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston on Monday.

Biden didnt remove those sanctions, but he stopped enforcing them, he added. That enriched Iran. And now weve seen whats happened with the Houthis, Hezbollah and Hamas. Its been mayhem. So is President Trump looking to stop the mayhem and bring peace to the world? Absolutely. Can we afford the squeezing off of Iranian oil exports? Absolutely.

For more on CERAWeek  Day 1, click here for our TOPLive blog.

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JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP)  The Trump administration lifted its suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing for Ukraine, and Kyiv signaled that it was open to a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Russia, pending Moscows agreement, American and Ukrainian officials said Tuesday following talks in Saudi Arabia.

The administrations decision marked a sharp shift from only a week ago, when it imposed the measures to push Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to enter talks to end the war with invading Russian forces. The suspension of U.S. assistance came days after Zelenskyy and Trump argued about the war in a tense White House meeting.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who led the U.S. delegation to the talks in Jeddah, said Washington would present the ceasefire offer to the Kremlin, which has thus far opposed anything short of a permanent end to the conflict without accepting any concessions.

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Were going to tell them this is whats on the table. Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking. And now itll be up to them to say yes or no, Rubio told reporters after the meeting. If they say no, then well unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here.

President Donald Trumps national security adviser, Mike Waltz, added: The Ukrainian delegation today made something very clear, that they share President Trumps vision for peace.

Tuesdays discussions, which lasted for nearly eight hours, appeared to put rest, for the moment at least, the animosity between Trump and Zelenskyy that erupted during the Oval Office meeting last month.

Waltz said the negotiators got into substantive details on how this war is going to permanently end, including long-term security guarantees. And, he said, Trump agreed to immediately lift the pause in the supply of billions of of dollars of U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing.

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Senior officials began meeting only hours after Russia shot down over 300 Ukrainian drones. It was Ukraines biggest attack since the Kremlin ordered the full-scale invasion of its neighbor. Neither U.S. nor Ukrainian officials offered any comment on the barrage.

Trumps special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to travel later this week to Moscow, where he could meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a person familiar with the matter but not authorized to comment publicly. The person cautioned that scheduling could change.

Meanwhile, in an address posted shortly after Tuesdays talks ended, Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraines commitment to achieving a lasting peace, emphasizing that the country has sought an end to the war since its outset.

Our position is absolutely clear: Ukraine has strived for peace from the very first second of this war, and we want to do everything possible to achieve it as soon as possible  securely and in a way that ensures war does not return, Zelenskyy said.

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Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak told reporters ahead of the talks that the most important thing was how to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. He said security guarantees were important to prevent Russia from invading again in the future.

Elsewhere, Russia launched 126 drones and a ballistic missile at Ukraine, the Ukrainian air force said, as part of Moscows relentless pounding of civilian areas during the war.

On the streets of Kyiv, Ukrainians kept an eye on the Saudi talks.

Lena Herasymenko, a psychologist, said she accepts that compromises will be necessary to end the war, but she said they must be reasonable.

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We had massive losses during this war, and we dont know yet how much more well have, she told The Associated Press. We are suffering every day. Our kids are suffering, and we dont know how the future generation will be affected.

Oleksandr, a Ukrainian soldier who could give only his first name because of security restrictions, warned that Ukraine cannot let down its guard down.

If there is a ceasefire, it would only give Russia time to increase its firepower, manpower, missiles and other arms. Then they would attack Ukraine again, he said.

The meeting in Jeddah offered an opportunity for Kyiv officials to repair Ukraines relationship with the Trump administration after an unprecedented argument erupted during Zelenskyys Feb. 28 visit to the White House.

The Kremlin is sticking to its conditions for peace

The Kremlin has not publicly offered any concessions. Russia has said its ready to cease hostilities on condition that Ukraine drops its bid to join NATO and recognizes regions that Moscow occupies as Russian. Russia has captured nearly a fifth of Ukraines territory.

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Russian forces have held the battlefield momentum for more than a year, though at a high cost in infantry and armor, and are pushing at selected points along the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line, especially in the eastern Donetsk region, against Ukraines understrength and weary army.

Ukraine has invested heavily in developing its arms industry, especially high-tech drones that have reached deep into Russia.

Most of the Ukrainian drones fired overnight  126 of them  were shot down over the Kursk region across the border from Ukraine, parts of which Kyivs forces control, and 91 were shot down over the Moscow region, according to a statement by Russias Defense Ministry.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said over 70 drones targeted the Russian capital and were shot down as they were flying toward it  the biggest single attack on Moscow so far in the war.

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The governor of the Moscow region surrounding the capital, Andrei Vorobyov, said the attack damaged several residential buildings and a number of cars.

Flights were temporarily restricted in and out of six airports, including Domodedovo, Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo and Zhukovsky just outside Moscow, and airports in the Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod regions.

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The U.S. Department of Justice attorney representing President Donald Trump and federal cabinet members filed a notice of appeal Monday in the ongoing legal battle with Democratic attorneys general over a federal funding freeze. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

The Trump administration will again ask an appellate court to intervene in the ongoing legal battle with Democratic attorneys general, including Rhode Islands Peter Neronha, over a federal funding freeze.

The notice of appeal filed Monday by Daniel Schwei, the U.S. Department of Justice attorney representing President Donald Trump and federal cabinet members, marks the administrations latest attempt to bypass a court order mandating the continued flow of federal grants and aid.

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Chief Judge John McConnell Jr. of the U.S. District Court for Rhode Island first ordered federal agencies to free up frozen federal funds on Jan. 31 in the wake of a string of White House orders seeking to pause federal reimbursements already appropriated to state governments, research and academic institutions, and nonprofits, among other recipients. McConnell doubled down on the initial temporary restraining order in a second ruling on March 6, preventing dozens of federal cabinet directors named in the lawsuit from following through on any previous or future executive orders freezing congressionally mandated reimbursements until the case hearings are completed.

The three-page notice of appeal, filed with the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston, does not offer any explanation. The appeal itself has not been filed as of Tuesday morning.

McConnells 45-page ruling had rebuked the executive branch for putting itself above Congress, violating a host of constitutional provisions around separation of powers and spending rules.

In oral arguments to McConnell during a hearing in Providence last month, Schwei described the AGs requested court order as overly broad and too vague, while insisting that the majority of federal funding under a pause had already been reinstated. However, court documents filed by the AGs suggest that federal funding for key state disaster relief, social service, infrastructure and energy programs remains inaccessible.

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In Rhode Island, that has included $125 million for energy efficiency and renewable energy rebate and credit programs, which the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources was still unable to tap into as of mid-February. Robert Beadle, a spokesperson for the agency, did not immediately respond to requests regarding the status of federal funding Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a duo of grants authorized by Congress in 2024 to help pay for the replacement of the westbound Washington Bridge remain in limbo, despite inquiries by Gov. Dan McKee and the states four-member congressional delegation seeking confirmation of the $220 million in funding.

The Boston appellate court has already denied an initial challenge by the Trump administration to McConnells temporary restraining order filed last month.

Tim Rondeau, a spokesperson for Neronhas office, declined to comment on the appeal.

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US President Donald Trump plans to impose additional high tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from Canada, he posted on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday.

"Based on Ontario, Canada, placing a 25% Tariff on 'Electricity' coming into the United States, I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD," Trump posted.

In February, Trump implemented tariffs of 25% on steel and aluminium imports, intended to apply generally to imports from all other countries, which are also expected to come into effect on Wednesday.

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Trump argues that excessive steel and aluminium imports threaten the national security of the US. Furthermore, he accuses China of flooding the global market with cheap metal.

In the Truth Social post, the US president expressed his displeasure with what he views as excessively high tariffs imposed by Canada and criticized the neighbouring country's spending on national security as too low.

He reaffirmed his goal that Canada should become a state of the US, a demand that has sparked strong criticism and protests there for weeks.

According to recent data, around a quarter of the steel used by the industrial sector in the US is imported. For aluminium, that figure is over 40%. The percentage is significantly higher for secondary aluminium, which is derived from recycled material.

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Economists expect that higher import costs will increase production costs for many US industrial firms. Customers are likely to face price increases, and the competitiveness of firms abroad could decline.

Steel and aluminium are actually covered under the United StatesMexicoCanada Agreement (USMCA). For these goods, Trump had granted a one-month tariff deferment last week after imposing blanket tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico. It remains unclear whether this deferment will also continue to apply to steel and aluminium from Canada and Mexico.

Since taking office, Trump's tariff policy has been inconsistent. For instance, he partially suspended tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico shortly after their introduction  while simultaneously threatening new punitive measures.
Investing.com -- U.S. President Donald Trump announced a significant increase in tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada on Tuesday, escalating trade tensions between the two countries. The new tariffs will raise the duty on these imports to 50%, up from the current 25%. This action is set to take effect on March 12th.

The President's decision, disclosed via Truth Social, comes in response to Ontario's imposition of a 25% tariff on electricity entering the United States. Trump has also called for Canada to eliminate what he describes as "Anti-American Farmer Tariff" of 250% to 390% on various U.S. dairy products. He labeled these tariffs as "outrageous" and indicative of Canada being "one of the highest tariffing nations anywhere in the world."

In his statement, Trump also threatened to declare a National Emergency on Electricity within the threatened area, which he believes will empower the U.S. to address what he considers an "abusive threat" from Canada. The President warned that if Canada does not drop other significant tariffs, he will further increase duties on April 2nd on cars imported from Canada, a move he says could "permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada."

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President Trump criticized Canada's contribution to national security costs, suggesting that the United States is subsidizing Canada's defense to the tune of more than $200 billion a year. He questioned the sustainability of this arrangement and proposed a radical solution: for Canada to become the fifty-first state of the United States. Trump argued that this would eliminate tariffs, reduce Canadian taxes, and resolve national security and border issues.

The President concluded his statement with a vision of unity, suggesting that the integration of Canada into the United States would create "the safest and most beautiful Nation anywhere in the World," and that the Canadian national anthem would represent a "GREAT and POWERFUL STATE within the greatest Nation that the World has ever seen."

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(Bloomberg) -- Former US Representative Katie Porter has joined a crowded field of Democrats in the 2026 race to succeed California Governor Gavin Newsom.

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Porter, 51, a former law professor who represented Orange County in the House of Representatives for six years, was elected in the so-called blue wave of 2018. She built a national profile by often challenging Trump administration officials with tough questioning during the presidents first term.

I first ran for office to hold Trump accountable, Porter said in a video announcing her candidacy on Tuesday. I feel that same call to serve now, to stop him from hurting Californians.

Other Democrats who have joined the race for governor include Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis; Antonio Villaraigosa, a former mayor of Los Angeles; Betty Yee, a former state controller; Toni Atkins, a former state legislative leader; and Tony Thurmond, the state schools superintendent. Chad Bianco, the Riverside County sheriff, is the most prominent Republican so far to have entered the race.

A wild card in the California race is former Vice President Kamala Harris, who is said to be considering a possible run. A spokesperson for Porter told the New York Times that she would end her campaign if Harris joins the race.

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An Emerson College Polling survey released last month found that 57% of California primary voters would back Harris if she ran. About 17% were undecided, while Porter was the next closest candidate at 9%. Without Harris in the race, 45% remained undecided, and 21% supported Porter.

Before entering politics, Porter specialized in consumer protection and bankruptcy law and was appointed by then-Attorney General Harris in 2012 to monitor Californias share of the national mortgage settlement. Last year, she finished third in Californias US Senate nonpartisan primary, behind Republican Steve Garvey and Democrat Adam Schiff, who won the race.

Newsom, who is considered a potential candidate for president in 2028, is barred by law from seeking a third term.

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The Scoop

US President Donald Trumps administration has the wrong idea about how to solve the countrys looming power shortage, the CEO of the largest US electricity provider told Semafor.

Speaking at the CERAWeek summit in Houston on Monday, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told a gathered crowd of energy executives that in the Biden administrations approach to energy policy, the cure was far more destructive than the disease, and that beyond the obvious scale and cost problems, there is simply no physical way wind, solar, and batteries could replace the myriad uses of natural gas.

Thats wrong, John Ketchum, CEO of NextEra Energy, said at a Semafor event later that evening. And he should know, as the leader of the company with more experience than any other in building both renewable and gas-fired power generation. The cost of gas turbines and the skilled labor to install them are both up threefold from just two years ago, he said, and new gas infrastructure faces years-long delivery backlogs. Renewables plus batteries, he said, are the cheapest, fastest, and easiest way to meet the surging power demand from data centers driven by the acceleration in artificial intelligence.

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Weve got to be really careful here, from an affordability standpoint, about the choices that were making. What we dont want to do is drive ourselves to only one solution  that being a gas-fired solution  thats now more expensive than it ever has been in its history, he said. It just so happens that the most economic solution comes with clean energy benefits, as well.

Tims view

Ketchum is an outlier at CERAWeek. For the most part, it seems, Big Oil is relieved to have permission from the White House to stop genuflecting to the climate crisis and get back to its roots. In the conference program, energy transition is out, energy security is in. Emissions are missing, hydrogen is hiding, and renewables have been removed. Its not entirely clear that market conditions for a drill, baby, drill renaissance are really here  oil prices dipped this week over concerns that Trumps tariff threats will prompt a recession, which would cut into energy demand  but the industry is tired of apologizing for itself.

We can all feel the winds of history in our industrys sails again, Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser said onstage. It is time to stop reinforcing failure.

The chaotic early days of the second Trump administration did make some people here nervous. Trade wars, a new coziness with Russia, and the rapid-fire gutting of environmental regulations and agencies all make it harder for US fossil fuel companies to operate, not easier, even as the administration lifts a freeze on LNG export permits and takes other steps sought by industry leaders. The only thing oil executives dislike more than climate activists is wildly unpredictable federal policy, and Chevrons Mike Wirth, among others, used his time onstage to beg the administration for more stability.

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But no one Ive spoken to here so far thinks the administration is doing more harm than good, from the perspective of their bottom lines. Multiple people compared the last two months to being inside a shaken snow globe  bewildering at first, but already beginning to settle down. And the fundamental supply and demand conditions that are foremost in the industrys mind havent changed much between administrations. The energy transition is moving more slowly than what some people had hoped for, but that was true before Trump took office; now the rhetoric here is catching up to reality.

The problem, as Ketchum sees it, is that at least when it comes to power demand and the AI boom, clean energy really is the more economical solution, not just some woke nonsense. The administrations anti-climate crusade risks making it guilty of the same quasi-religious energy policymaking that Wright, in his address, accused Biden of.

And for what its worth, even if its unpopular to talk about, the urgency of climate change hasnt gone away, Jason Bordoff, director of the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, told me. But Ive always said that if we ignore affordability, support for the transition will evaporate, and thats exactly what happened.

Room for Disagreement

With a bit of advance planning and vertical integration, gas can in fact compete with renewables as a faster and cheaper power solution for data centers, Austin Knight, vice president of hydrogen at Chevron, said at Semafors event. The company announced in January that it is getting into the power market for the first time, and sees its leading position in the US gas market as a way to compete for Big Techs business with incumbent power companies like NextEra. We hear every day that hyperscalers are looking for power that they can count on from counterparties that are credible, and they want to get moving, he said.

Know More

No matter what, the power crunch isnt going away anytime soon, Ketchum said. Manufacturing facilities, electric vehicles, and even oil and gas companies themselves need a lot more electricity to operate, so a decade from now the race to build more low-cost power generation wont have receded, he said. Data centers get a lot of the attention, and rightfully so, but there are a lot of other parts of the economy that we cant forget.

Notable
President Donald Trump said he will be buying a brand new Tesla on Tuesday to support Elon Musk, the companys CEO and the head of his new Department of Government Efficiency.

To Republicans, Conservatives and all great Americans, Elon Musk is putting it on the line in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! But the Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the Worlds great automakers, and Elons baby, in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for, President Trump posted on Truth Social late Monday night.

He continued: They tried to do it to me at the 2024 Presidential Ballot Box, but how did that work out? In any event, Im going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American. Why should he be punished for putting his tremendous skills to work in order to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN???

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The presidents purchase would come as Teslas share price has taken a beating in recent months, dropping 42% since the start of the year. The electric car company hit an all-time high of $488.54 in December, but is trading for about $225 per share on Tuesday morning. Recently, a number of violent protestors have attacked Tesla stores and vehicles, including one person in Colorado who threw a Molotov cocktail at a Cybertruck; another guy in New York City was caught on camera smacking the windows of a Cybertruck and flipping it off as it drove down the street last weekend.

Musk, who has been the chief executive of Tesla since 2008, has been the target of criticism from many left-leaning Americans and politicians of late for his work with DOGE. Notably, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who called Musk not smart and morally vacant, have been critical of DOGE, which has been on a cost-cutting spree within the federal bureaucracy. Musk has said several times he would like to cut at least $1 trillion in annual government spending, or about 15% of what the 2024 budget was.

Musk, during an interview with Fox Business host Larry Kudlow on Monday, said he plans on spearheading DOGE for another year.







The post Trump to Buy New Tesla to Support Elon Musk, Fight Radical Left Lunatics appeared first on TheWrap.
California was one of President Donald Trump's largest foes during his first term; the state sued his administration over 120 times. Lawsuits from the Golden State impeded several of Trump's deregulatory moves, including attempts to curb regulations regarding methane emissions from landfills and fracking on federal lands.

Then-California Attorney General Xavier Becerra also led a coalition of 22 states in challenging the Trump administration's final rule to modernize the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The first significant overhaul of the law in decades, the rule set hard page and time limits for completing an environmental review and was designed to streamline permitting in the United States. While the lawsuit did not reverse the rule, the NEPA modernization was ultimately rescinded when President Joe Biden took office.

With Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom calling on the state Legislature to create a $25 million reserve account for litigation, California is ready to play spoiler again. This could spell trouble for Trump's goals to increase oil and gas drilling on federal land, roll back Biden-era pollution controls at fossil fuel power plants, and reverse stringent greenhouse gas standards for vehicles.

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Meanwhile, the Trump administration could also hamstring many of Newsom's climate change and clean energy projects by clawing back federal funding for subsidies and slow-walking approval for some of the state's clean air initiatives. California is the only state currently allowed to set its own air pollution standards for new vehicles, but it must first obtain a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In December, the EPA approved two California waiver requests, including its rule mandating that 100 percent of cars sold in the state be zero emission by 2035. The Trump administration could try to reverse this decision, as it did in 2019 when the EPA rescinded a previously approved waiver that allowed California to implement its own vehicle emissions standards for model year 20222025 cars. (Biden reinstated the waiver.)

Repealing California's waiver would have national implications. As of August, 2024, 17 states and the District of Columbia have implemented some subset of California's vehicle emissions standards. These states and California accounted for more than 40 percent of new vehicle sales in 2023, according to the Congressional Research Service.

A second round of Trump vs. California will have significant impacts on taxpayersCalifornians alone paid $42 million for Trump-related litigation from 2017 to 2022and businesses, which have to stay in compliance even as regulatory standards ping-pong from administration to administration. Trump's second term provides Congress an opportunity to stop this chaos by implementing stable regulations that shrink the size of government and allow the private sector to meet the country's economic and environmental needs.

The post Trump and California Are Set To Duke It Out Over Environmental Policy Again appeared first on Reason.com.
Donald Trump will challenge Vladimir Putin to agree to a 30-day ceasefire after securing Ukraines approval for his plan to bring about an end to the war.

The US president is expected to call his Russian counterpart this week and said it takes two to tango after Kyivs offer to lay down its arms in what would be the first negotiated pause in fighting since Moscows invasion three years ago.

Speaking in Riyadh after talks with a Ukrainian delegation lasted more than eight hours, Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, said that the ball is now in Russias court and that he hoped Russia will answer yes as quickly as possible.

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If they say no, he added, then well know unfortunately what is the impediment to peace here.

On Tuesday, massive shelling hit Dnipro, while four people were killed in Odesa, according to local press, as Russia gave no indication it would agree to the truce.

In the Saudi capital, Ukraine expressed its readiness for a ceasefire after the US agreed to immediately restart intelligence-sharing and weapons deliveries.

Volodymyr Zelensky, who was not present at the talks, said the agreement showed that Ukraine is ready for peace.

Russia must show its readiness to end the war or continue the war, the Ukrainian president added. It is time for the full truth.

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Mr Zelensky, who has been at loggerheads with the Trump administration after a disastrous White House summit last month, made sure to personally thank the president for the move towards peace.

I want to thank President Trump for the constructiveness of our teams conversation, he said, adding that the US must now convince Putin to sign up to the deal.

The terms of the ceasefire went further than a joint British-and-French proposal for a halt in the fighting at sea and in the air, Mr Zelensky noted.

The US proposal would not only stop missile, drone, and bomb attacks and the conflict in the Black Sea, but bring an end to fighting along the entire frontline.

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One Ukrainian MP labelled the proposed ceasefire a great result for Ukraine.

Oleksiy Goncharenko, the MP for Odesa, told The Telegraph: We need peace, its a real breakthrough. The most important thing is that we have a real result in military aid and intelligence being resumed.

Mr Goncharenko, whose Peoples Deputy party is in opposition to Mr Zelenskys government, said it provided Putin with a real dilemma but he added he had no confidence that the Russian president would sign a deal.

Now we will see the true face of Putin, I am sure he doesnt want peace. If he starts to play games with Trump, it will be time for Trump to put pressure on him. He only understands force.

Important moment

Sir Keir Starmer said: This is an important moment for peace in Ukraine and we now all need to redouble our efforts to get to a lasting and secure peace as soon as possible.

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As both American and Ukrainian delegations have said, the ball is now in the Russian court. Russia must now agree to a ceasefire and an end to the fighting, too.

In Washington, Mr Trump said hopefully Russia will agree to the ceasefire and he announced that he had invited Mr Zelensky back to the White House.

Appearing to refer to Mr Zelenskys last White House visit, Mr Trump said: I think its a big difference between the last visit you saw in the Oval Office, and this.

A Ukrainian official said the proposed ceasefire was partly designed to call Putins bluff over whether he was genuinely committed to peace talks.

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Lets see what happens, but I give it less than a 50 per cent chance that they [Russia] will agree, the official told The Telegraph.

It came as Emmanuel Macron, the French president, told European military chiefs they had to move from a concept to a plan for creditable security guarantees for Ukraine as peace negotiations were accelerated.

This is the moment when Europe must pull out all the stops, for Ukraine, and for itself, Mr Macron said at the meeting of more than 30 members of the Anglo-French coalition of the willing.

On Wednesday, John Healey, the Defence Secretary, will meet his counterparts from France, Germany, Italy and Poland at the Val-de-Grace chapel in Paris to discuss how to secure a lasting peace in Ukraine and strengthen deterrence through Nato.

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At the close of the Riyadh talks, a joint Ukraine-US statement announced that both countries presidents hoped to sign a mineral resources deal as soon as possible.

Mr Zelensky left Washington on Feb 28 without signing the deal, which would see the US commit to extracting Ukraines natural resources in return for a 50 per cent share in future profits.

Before the ceasefire deal was announced, Kyiv launched its largest drone attack on Russia since the war began, with Moscow claiming it intercepted 337 drones targeted at the mainland.

Russias defence ministry said 91 drones were shot down over Moscow, but three men were killed after some broke through to strike flats, a railway station and an agricultural distribution centre.

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Steve Witkoff, Mr Trumps Middle East Envoy, will travel to the Russian capital later this week for a second personal meeting with Putin.

Western intelligence sources have stated that the Russian leader appears unwilling to bend on his maximalist goals of dismantling the Kyiv regime.

On Tuesday, Bloomberg reported that Putin had no intention of dropping extreme demands on land, Ukrainian neutrality and the rejection of European peacekeepers. He was prepared to continue the war if his demands were not met, Western security officials told the news agency.

Senator Lindsey Graham said that should Moscow refuse to agree to the ceasefire, the US should increase sanctions on Russia.

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Mr Trump said earlier this month that Putin had told him he would accept a European-led peacekeeping force in Ukraine after a ceasefire was agreed. But on Tuesday, Sergei Lavrov, Russias foreign minister, repeated his rejection of the idea in the only official response given to the plans so far.

What will the peacekeepers protect? The remnants of the Kyiv Nazi regime? he said.

Sergei Lavrov, pictured with Mohammed Bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince, suggested there would be no deal - Reuters

Meanwhile, Russias army made new gains in the western region of Kursk on Tuesday, according to the defence ministry, accelerating its push to drive out Ukrainian forces who have been clinging to a slice of Russian territory since last August.

Viktor Sobolev, a former Russian army commander and Duma representative, said he believed the Kremlin would reject the US proposal.

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The US will rearm Ukraine in 30 days of ceasefire and start the war anew  Russia will not go for it, he said. I think that this is completely unacceptable.

However, Maria Zakharova, a spokesman for the Russian foreign ministry, told RIA Novosti: We will not rule out contacts with US representatives over the next few days.

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The Trump administration says its fighting antisemitism. Its really fighting Columbia University.

On Friday, the administration announced that the university, home to some of the most high-profile protests against Israel and its war in Gaza following Hamass October 7 attack, would be losing $400 million in federal funding, due to the schools continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students. Over the weekend, Department of Homeland Security agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian green card holder and graduate student at the university who has been prominently involved in campus protests, and began preparations to deport him. The department alleged online that he led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, a claim repeated by several administration officials, including the president, as they boasted about his arrest.

Posting on his Truth Social platform, President Trump delivered a warning to student activists and university administrators. We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our countrynever to return again, he posted on Monday afternoon. If you support terrorism, including the slaughtering of innocent men, women, and children, your presence is contrary to our national and foreign policy interests, and you are not welcome here. We expect every one of Americas Colleges and Universities to comply. Student activists like Khalil, he wrote, were not protesters but paid actors engaging in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity.

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In actuality, these developments are not about fighting antisemitism or, for that matter, keeping Jews safe. Rather, this appears to me to be a cynical ploy by an administration full of people who promote and enable antisemitic conspiracies, which is fixated on attacking higher education, free speech, free assembly, and immigration and due process norms by using Jews, Jewish fear, and antisemitism as pretense to do that.

I am not alone in this view. Columbias administration has bent over backwards to satisfy the Trump administration, with the creation of a massive new Office of Institutional Equity and new training protocols, among other things, Sheldon Pollock, professor emeritus of South Asian studies at Columbia University, wrote me via email. Nothing has worked because this onslaught has nothing to do with actual antisemitism. Entirely legitimate criticism of Israels massive ethnic cleansing campaign is being used as a pretext to destroy the American university and its core principles of academic freedom and freedom of speech.

There are, of course, Jews in this country who very vocally disagree, and who, by all accounts, sincerely believe that the protests that have raged on college campuses over the last year are hotbeds of antisemitism and that cutting funding from universities and deporting students is indeed the right way to respond.

A Jewish Columbia student told the New York Post the funding freeze was a much needed wake-up call. The Anti-Defamation League said that using the power of the purse can be effective in prompting change when it hits the right targets and We appreciate the Trump Administrations broad, bold set of efforts to counter campus antisemitism. The Columbia Jewish Alumni Association greeted the news of the grant cuts with, It finally happened, and then argued that people shouldnt feel sorry for Khalil because a green card and the opportunity to study at Columbia are privileges that he threw away. (Last I checked, the Columbia Jewish Alumni Association is not affiliated with the University; as a Jewish alumna of the institution, I will here add that they do not represent nor did they consult all Jewish alumni, though in this they are hardly unique among Jewish institutions claiming to speak for Jews.)

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I am not writing this to argue that these individuals and groups are insincere, or not genuinely worried about antisemitism on campus, or that theirs is not a Jewish view. It is. However cynical the administration might be in its use of antisemitism, I know that there are those who are not only genuinely concerned by it but genuinely believe that the approach the administration is currently taking is the right one.

Instead, I am writing this because I think that they are catastrophically wrong; that this judgment flies in the face of history and present politics; and that the approach being taken by the administration will neither combat antisemitism nor make Jews safer. In fact, I believe it puts Jews at greater risk.

This phenomenon is very real, Ilan Goldenberg, former national director of Jewish outreach of the Harris-Walz campaign, told me. American Jews are concerned. Some campuses do have real problems, and there are some students who cross the line into antisemitism. But this is just not going to solve that problem.

For one thing, it immediately takes resources from Jewish students, who are also at these universities. There is no way to bring a university to its knees without taking all of its students, including the Jewish ones, along with you. People are going to suffer as a result of this, said Goldenberg. Including students. You cant browbeat your way out of this problem.

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Goldenberg added that taking resources from a university and saying it is doing so for the good of Jews risks adding fuel to antisemitic fire. As Pollock put it, the grants and contracts are from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and Department of Education, and other federal offices, which is to say that the funding will be cut from scientific and medical research. I do not think that cutting federal research money from the National Institutes of Health and announcing that that research can no longer be carried out because of Jews is particularly good for Jews. Its going to make these students targets, Goldenberg said.

Tying allegations of antisemitism to immigration is also deeply problematic. Antisemitism is not an imported problem, and acting as though it is, and as though the issue is students on visas and not American society, ignores the real work needed to fight it. Further, xenophobia and antisemitism are inextricably intertwined in this country. As the Forward pointed out in a story prior to Khalils arrest, the very law that may serve as the basis for deporting people on visas, the Immigration Nationality Act of 1952, was widely understood at the time to target Eastern European Jewish Holocaust survivors suspected of being Soviet agents. But we dont need to go back decades to see how xenophobia and antisemitism are linked: We remember President Donald Trump musing in 2018 that perhaps Hungarian-born Jewish philanthropist George Soros might have been responsible for the migrant caravan the right was obsessed with in the lead-up to the 2018 midterm elections; we know that the shooter at the Tree of Life synagogue that same year was motivated by the conviction that Jews were flooding the country with immigrants.

Suspending funding and trying to deport a green card holder are not the same, but both cases involve an apparent disregard for due process. That a Jewish group or even groups says that something is good or bad for the fight against antisemitism does not necessarily make it so. But there is, I think, a reason why the numerous Jewish groups that have spoken out against the Trump administrations actions at Columbiafrom the IfNotNow movement for equality, justice, and a thriving future for all Palestinians and Israelis and the anti-Zionist Jewish Voice for Peace to Amy Spitalnick, focused on democracy at the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, to progressive, domestically focused groups like Bend the Arc and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, to Nexus, which works on combating antisemitism and protecting free speech (and with whose task force of academics, in the interest of full disclosure, I work as a fellow)have stressed the threat that these moves pose to the norms that keep ours a liberal, pluralistic democracy, with protections that keep Jews safe.

As Phylisa Wisdom, executive director at New York Jewish Agenda, put it to me, New Yorkers across the political spectrum are concerned about the rise in antisemitism. But at the same time, history shows us this kind of repression will not make Jews safer.

What would make Jews safer? What would it look like to fight against antisemitism? It would involve investing in, not attacking, education. It would mean trying to bring communities together instead of pitting them against one another. It would involve those in the most powerful offices in the country attacking conspiracies instead of elevating them. And, as Goldenberg said, it would mean creating space for discussions around Israel in which people could decouple the discussion on Israel from the discussion on American Jews. The administration is doing the opposite of that and, in fairness, so too are some American Jews and Jewish organizations. But as with cheering on the crackdown at Columbia, that doesnt make it an effective way to fight antisemitism.
President Donald Trump absolutely despises green energy. He regularly boasts that he is killing the green new scam, which means hes terminating as many of his predecessors investments in renewable energy as he can. That could have an immensely detrimental impact, leading to far fewer electric vehicles on our roadsand far fewer factory jobs constructing them.

But after careful deliberation about what truly serves the national interest, Trump has now made one considered exception to his dislike of green technologies. Early Tuesday morning, just after midnight, Trump unleashed a wild rant endorsing Elon Musks signature electric vehicle. Trump pledged to buy a Tesla himself as a show of confidence in Musks so-called Department of Government Efficiency, whose actions have grown ever more destructive and politically toxic.

This bizarre eruption is worth dwelling on, because it opens a window on the perils of what political theorists describe as our national descent into clientelist rule. It attempts to reduce the federal governments actions and functions to instruments for rewarding friends and punishing enemies. This mode of governing is not just diametrically opposed to the ideals of liberal democracy; it may also be producing unexpected political vulnerabilities for Trump.

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He erupted as follows:

To Republicans, Conservatives, and all great Americans, Elon Musk is putting it on the line in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! But the Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the Worlds great automakers, and Elons baby, in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for.

Trump concluded of Musk: Why should he be punished for putting his tremendous skills to work in order to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN???

Why does Trump care about Teslas sales, anyway? Most crudely, Trump doesnt like it when charts and metrics reflecting on his presidency go in the wrong direction. Right now, Trump is contending with charts showing the markets tanking over his tariffs, charts showing his net approval sliding, and now, charts showing Teslas stock plummeting. Charts going down look weak. Charts going up look strong. If Trump can goose Tesla sales upward with a single tweet, that will show he is winning. Charts going up make Trump look very, very powerful!

But beyond this, Trumps endorsement of Teslas should be understood in the context of Trumps assault on former President Joe Bidens efforts to decarbonize our economy. Trump is moving to roll back federal subsidies for electric vehicles, attempting to cripple plans to build charging stations nationwide, and reversing tailpipe pollution regulations meant to encourage the E.V. transition.

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According to a new Repeat Project study, all this could cause E.V. sales to drop by 40 percent in 2030, relative to Bidens policies. That could mean as many as eight million fewer E.V.s and plug-in hybrids on our roads by that date, and a steep drop in the percentage of light vehicles sales that are E.V.smeaning more carbon emissions.

Those policies could perhaps theoretically hurt Tesla as well. But Musk, whose companies enjoy billions of dollars in federal contracts, is already extensively benefiting from Trumps governing: His firings in many cases have hobbled ongoing oversight of Musks business empire.

Now Trump is using the power of the presidential bully pulpit to encourage people to buy electric vehicles that happen to be the leading product of his top billionaire crony and campaign benefactoras a display of loyalty to both of them. This jarring contrastE.V.s are bad, and the federal government must not incentivize them; but buy Teslas because Trumps top ally deserves gratitude and devotionshows that theres no discernible conception of the national interest animating any of this.

Which brings us to whats known as clientelism in government. As Damon Linker and Francis Fukuyama explain, under Trump were seeing a wholesale retreat from the ideal of the impersonal, bureaucratic state that theoretically treats all citizens as equals and operates out of some conception of whats in the public interest. Its founded on the ideal of what Linker calls depersonalized bureaucratic rationality. Even if this is not always achieved, it is nonetheless held up as an ideal to be met. Its a great human accomplishment that underpins high living standards in modern, complex societies.

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Trump is dispensing with all that, including explicitly scrapping the ideal itself. Instead, hes instituting a system based on favoritism and graft, while openly sabotaging procedures designed to safeguard neutrality in public service. Trumps undisguised vow to shape energy and tax policy to benefit wealthy donors, his firing of inspectors general who are insufficiently dutiful to him, his mass purges of civil servants to give way to loyalists, his selection of top law enforcement officials who openly promise to target his enemiesall these reflect this change. As Fukuyama notes, its all characteristic of modern-day authoritarianism, which regards legal institutions as obstacles.

Musks ascension represents a striking twist to all this. Trump has delegated him extraordinary power over the government, yet he is almost entirely unfettered from mechanisms of basic accountability. Trumps rule is often described as personalist as well as clientelistin which Trump is synonymous with the statebut the government is now shaped around the personal interests and whims of not one man but two.

What Trump has discovered is that his own public standing is yoked to Musks. The New York Times Jamelle Bouie has observed that in empowering Musk, Trump is putting his presidency in the hands of a figure who is accountable to no one but himself, and if the consequences of his DOGE cuts strike, Musk can walk away, leaving the mess with Trump and the GOP.

Id add that were already seeing evidence of this dynamic. In a recent Oval Office meeting, Trump agency heads angrily ripped into Musk, complaining that his cuts were imposing undue burdens on their agencies. What this really meant was that Trumps own agency heads were admittingprivately, of coursethat Musks hatchet-wielding is threatening to unleash unforeseen disasters on the public, and they dont want to be the ones held accountable for them.

Trump notoriously does not believe polls. But one metric he pays attention to is business success. The president knows his fortunes are now inextricably entangled with whatever Musk authors, and the stories about Tesla sales tanking are a metric of Musks failings that are clearly cutting deep with Trump. As his angry midnight rant displays, he knows that metric is very much going in the wrong direction.
Elon Musk  the worlds richest man, who for the past two months has been dismantling or threatening to dismantle government services that help the less fortunate  is having a bad week, and Donald Trump feels sorry for him.

The presidents trade wars have been tanking the stock market, and Musks signature company, Tesla, has been along for the ride. The EV behemoths shares fell 15 percent on Monday alone, and are down more than 50 percent since peaking in late December. Musk has been melting down as a result, alleging that rival automakers and anyone who prefers them are Nazis, while accusing liberal interests of fueling the Tesla downturn.

Trump, perhaps the only human on the planet with a greater capacity for whining than Musk, came to the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leaders defense on Tuesday, writing in an early-morning Truth Social post that Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the Worlds great automakers, and Elons baby, in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for.

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Im going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American, the president continued. Why should he be punished for putting his tremendous skills to work in order to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN???

Trump and Musk have taken unprecedented control of the federal government since the former took office in January. Trump has been signing a torrent of ostensibly illegal executive orders, consolidating power around himself and attacking the rights of Americans. Musk and DOGE have been recklessly firing thousands upon thousands of government employees and cutting vital programs, all while rigging various agencies to benefit him personally.

The power couple have tried to support their actions by pushing a steady stream of misinformation about waste and fraud. There is of course no evidence that liberal agitators have anything to do with Teslas plunging share price, although there is a wealth of it pointing to the actions of Trump and Musk. Trumps claim that a supposed boycott of Tesla is illegal is not only false, it is an affront to the First Amendment, toward which the president has grown increasingly hostile since taking office for the second time  most recently in the form of the arrest of pro-Palestine protester Mahmoud Khalil earlier this week.

Trump now appears set to stage a production around purchasing a Tesla to remind Americans that the real victims are not the working class public servants who have been fired, the LGBTQ+ Americans whose rights have been stripped, or the millions of less fortunate who rely on the social safety net that is now under assault. No, the real victims are Trump, the most powerful man in the world, and Musk, the richest. They have been treated so unfairly.

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By Gloria Dickie

LONDON (Reuters) - The Trump administration is considering cancelling the lease of the support office for a renowned Hawaiian climate research station, sources said, raising fears for the future of key work tracking the impact of carbon emissions on global warming.

The office is one of more than 20 rented by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that are proposed to have their leases ended under money-saving efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency led by billionaire Elon Musk.

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The online listing on the DOGE website mentions an NOAA office in Hilo, Hawaii and an estimate of how much would be saved by cancelling its lease - $150,692 a year.

Staff, researchers and other sources gave details on the building's role as the main support office for the Mauna Loa Observatory about 50 km (30 miles) west of the town.

The observatory, established in 1956 on the northern flank of the Mauna Loa volcano, is recognised as the birthplace of global carbon dioxide monitoring and maintains the world's longest record of measurements of atmospheric CO2.

It was not immediately clear how far the lease cancellation plan has gone, and whether the office would be shut or moved. NOAA staff declined to comment publicly and their communications office did not respond to an emailed request for comment.

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DOGE did not respond to an emailed request for comment.

"You need a Hilo office," said Ralph Keeling, a climate scientist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in California who conducts fieldwork at Mauna Loa.

His father, Charles David Keeling, used Mauna Loa measurements to establish the famed Keeling Curve - a graph showing the accumulation of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere from 1958 up to the present, charting an upward trajectory as humans continued to burn fossil fuels.

Station staff in Hilo regularly travel between the town office to the volcanic peaks of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, Ralph Keeling said, collecting air samples in glass flasks which they ferry back to Hilo and ship to a NOAA laboratory in Boulder, Colorado, where scientists analyse greenhouse gas concentrations.

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Some scientists and politicians have accused the Trump administration of launching a wider assault on climate research, with the federal government clawing back climate funding and dismissing hundreds of workers from NOAA, the government agency that provides weather forecasts.

Musk and his DOGE team have been tasked by Trump to slash the size and cost of the federal bureaucracy and have said they have focused on wasteful, unnecessary spending.

"It would be terrible if this office was closed," atmospheric scientist Marc Alessi, a fellow with the Union of Concerned Scientists advocacy group, said.

"Not only does it provide the measurement of CO2 that we so desperately need to track climate change, but it also informs climate model simulations."

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Others said the Trump administration had already made their work harder, after the White House froze credit cards held by agency employees for a 30-day period under DOGE'S "cost efficiency initiative".

"It has already become very difficult to continue our global greenhouse gas monitoring network," an atmospheric scientist involved in NOAA's measurements said, asking not to be named.

"It requires continuous shipping of sampling equipment black and forth all over the world. Suddenly, we cannot use our government-issued credit cards anymore ... It looks like our monitoring program will soon be dead," the scientist said.

A former NOAA official, who asked not to be named, said the lease on the office was due to end on August 31.

(Reporting by Gloria Dickie; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) has slammed President Donald Trumps targeting of several Northern California universities over antisemitism claims as insincere. The Trump Administration issued a list of universities that were subject to investigation and potential defunding.

The list included the University of California Berkeley, University of California Los Angeles, and California State University, Sacramento, supposedly on the basis of antisemitism, Wiener said. The Trump Administration on Friday announced it would be withholding $400 million from Columbia as part of the investigation.

Waymo rolls out service to parts of Silicon Valley through Waymo One

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Wiener, who is co-chair of the Jewish Legislative Caucus, issued a statement condemning Trumps moves.

President Trump and his Administration claim they are investigating UCLA, UC Berkeley, and Sacramento State, in addition to scores of other universities across the county, due to antisemitic targeting of Jews on those campuses, Wiener said. Each of these universities will no doubt be expected to bend the knee to Trump in order to keep their funding, just like Disney, Meta, Amazon, Target, Google, and other corporations have bent the knee. These bullying tactics are drawn straight from the authoritarian playbook.

Wiener admitted that antisemitism had been a problem on the campuses, citing utterly despicable targeting, harassment, intimidation, and even violence against Jewish students and faculty. The situation, however, while not resolved, has improved on the campuses, according to Wiener.

It is extremely clear to me that President Trumps targeting of the UC and CSU has nothing to do with antisemitism and everything to do with an attack on higher education writ large, Wiener said. The Trump Administration is the most antisemitic administration in modern U.S. history, and it has no credibility whatsoever in seeking to root out antisemitism.

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Wiener cited a number of factors in branding the Trump Administration as antisemitic, including Elon Musk doing a Nazi salute during the inauguration and efforts by the administration to support a Nazi-aligned party in Germany.

We need to be very clear-eyed in assessing this federal investigation, Wiener said. The Trump Administration does not care about Jewish students or faculty.

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Mark Carneys crushing victory in the Liberal Party leadership race means he will become Canadas next prime minister. The former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor won 85.9 per cent of the vote, with former deputy prime minister and finance minister Chrystia Freeland finishing a distant second on 8 per cent.

Carney will become the first Canadian PM to have never held elected office. His political inexperience could be a disaster of epic proportions, rivalling that of the inept Justin Trudeau. Yet, as fate would have it, this political novice is in a unique position to resolve one pressing problem.

People in the UK may not appreciate quite how badly Sir Keir Starmers trip to Washington last month went down in Canada. At a press conference in the White House, a reporter asked Starmer whether they had discussed Trumps repeated statements of desire to annex Canada and whether the King was concerned about this apparent desire to remove one of the realms from his control.

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You mentioned Canada. I think youre trying to find a divide between us that doesnt exist, the PM replied. Were the closest of nations, and we had very good discussions today, but we didnt discuss Canada. (Its been suggested that Trump abruptly cut off Starmers response. The White Houses Rapid Response 47 account on X called it fake news and said the president was clearly talking to the reporter trying to goad the leaders into division.)

Many Canadians were beside themselves. Why wouldnt Britain, a long-time ally and Commonwealth partner, come to Canadas defence? Couldnt Starmer have asked Trump to bring the tariff saga between Canada and the US to an end, too?

The answer was simple: Starmer presumably didnt want to get Britain entangled in this mess. For all of his foolish Left-wing ideas, he must have known there was nothing to be gained. He is unlikely to have wanted to get on the presidents bad side by intervening in an issue that doesnt specifically involve Britain. Since he wasnt obliged to join the fray, he evidently decided to stay out of it.

Its hardly surprising that the King hasnt directly involved himself in the subject, either. Those who have called on him to do so misunderstand his constitutional position. He may well have discussed the issue in private, given that he met with Trudeau in the UK earlier in the month.

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But such arguments have struggled to cut through. Such is the anger in Canada at Trumps trade war, and seemingly serious intention to turn my country into the 51st state, the failure of Starmer to publicly come to Canadas aid was bound to hurt. A former Canadian ambassador put it like this: Canadians died for the UK by the tens of thousands. He could have opened his bloody mouth to speak up for us.

The US-Canadian rivalry is also intensifying  with Trump announcing new US tariffs on steel and aluminium on Truth Social today. Will Britain really be able to sit on the sidelines as its Commonwealth partner continues to come under attack?

Canada is not in a strong diplomatic position right now. Trudeau was an embarrassment on the international stage. He ripped apart relationships with allies like India and Israel. He looked like a coward in dealing with Communist China. He had icy relations with two US presidents, Joe Biden and Trump. Carney faces an immense challenge in fixing all this.

His Left-wing views are remarkably similar to Trudeaus with respect to taxes, the role of government, the redistribution of wealth, environmental issues  and more. But he is more competent. Hes also intimately familiar with the UK political situation  particularly with the Left-wing establishment that currently runs the country.

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Will Carney now attempt to forge a new type of alliance with Starmers Left-wing Britain suitable to the challenge of the Trump presidency? Its certainly possible. The White House appears intent on forcing a radical change in the relationship between the United States and Canada. This is having unpredictable and unexpected political consequences  not least the rise in the polls of Carneys Liberal Party.

Its also likely to have unpredictable geopolitical consequences, as well. Starmer, for now, may want to sit on the fence. Carney may be intending to push the British Prime Minister off it.

Michael Taube, a columnist for the National Post, Troy Media and Loonie Politics, was a speechwriter for former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper

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It was another day of instability in Washington thanks to Donald Trump and his announcement of a sudden implementation of across-the-board tariffs on steel and aluminum.

Even more suddenly, the pendulum shifted from Ukraine to Russia, with the mid-afternoon news that Washington would immediately resume sharing intelligence with Ukraine and unpause military aid shipments. US and Ukrainian officials released a joint statement indicating that Ukrainian officials agreed to the terms of a US-concocted plan for a 30-day ceasefire.

The ball is in their court, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said of Russian leaders.

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Except, theres another player involved: western Europe. Tuesdays announcement from Jeddah is unlikely to wipe away the concerns of incensed leaders in the UK, France and Germany who in the wake of Trumps Oval Office blowup with Ukraines Volodymyr Zelensky are now openly talking about reducing strategic reliance on the United States and filling a potential void left by a complete withdrawal of US support for Ukraine.

Donald Trump turned the White House lawn into a car dealership on Tuesday as he urged Americans to buy a car from one of his main political supporters, Elon Musk (AP)

How long until this does permanent damage to the US relationship with western Europe  or has that already happened?

Stock markets fell again on Tuesday as US businesses contend with rapidly shifting US policies and the corresponding responses from US trading partners. Attempting to influence that narrative to a degree, the president unveiled his latest move to turn the White House into a vessel for enriching his allies: his purchase of a Tesla vehicle and usage of the White House lawn to showcase a sampling of the companys fleet  alongside a grinning Elon Musk. Teslas stock has plummeted since late last year amid growing backlash over the EV company owners relationship with Trump.

Trump, in an interview over the weekend, conceded that there would be a disruption to the US economy  while the Atlanta branch of the federal reserve is projecting negative GDP growth for the first quarter of 2025.

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What I have to do is build a strong country, the president said Sunday in an interview with Foxs Maria Bartiromo. You cant really watch the stock market.

How much of that can the US economy take?

Capitol Hill, in a situation no one predicted, is providing an island of stability this week. Speaker Mike Johnson dodged a government funding deadline on Friday; despite threats from the president, at least one Republican, Thomas Massie, was staunchly opposed to a GOP continuing resolution to keep the government open that also cuts nondefense spending.

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries kept his caucus largely in line opposed to the measure, bolstered by strong opposition to the spending cuts and a lack of assurances from Republicans that Elon Musks DOGE effort will not be able to touch approved funding. It didnt matter; the measure passed several days before deadline, with one Democratic vote.

Johnson still may be able to keep command of his caucus in the House if Trumps pressure is enough to keep others besides Massie in line  it was certainly sufficient last month, when the House narrowly passed a budget framework bill thanks to the presidents last-minute vote-whipping. As the conversation turns to fleshing out the GOP budget plan, hell definitely have chances to test how steady that control really is.
Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy to the Middle East, is preparing to visit Moscow this week for talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Source: Bloomberg, citing sources who wished to remain anonymous

Details: Bloomberg reported that Witkoff is planning to meet with Putin this week, his second trip to Russia as Trump's envoy. His visit will coincide with meetings between Ukrainian officials and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz which are set to take place on 11 March in Saudi Arabia.

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"We have big meetings coming up, as you know, in Saudi Arabia. That's going to include Russia. It'll be Ukraine," Trump said on 9 March.

Background:

President Trumps envoy Steve Witkoff may have had a meeting lasting more than three hours with Russian leader Vladimir Putin during his visit to Moscow on 11 February.

Reuters cited sources as saying that US officials are planning to use Tuesday's meeting with the Ukrainian delegation in Saudi Arabia partly to find out whether Ukraine is ready to make material concessions to Russia to end the war.

During a flight to Jeddah, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that any agreement to end the war would require territorial concessions from Ukraine.

President Trumps envoy Steve Witkoff said the United States expects significant progress in the talks with Ukraine this week.

Rubio expressed hope that the issue of military aid to Ukraine, which has been temporarily suspended by Washington, could be "resolved" during negotiations in Saudi Arabia.

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WASHINGTON  Just weeks after turning the strong economy he inherited into one at risk of a recession, President Donald Trump on Tuesday further escalated the dispute with Americas largest trading partner that is underlying much of the present economic anxiety.

I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. This will go into effect TOMORROW MORNING, March 12th, Trump wrote in a rambling social media post Tuesday morning, ending, again, with his desire to take over Canada as the 51st U.S. state.

Then, hours later, the crisis appeared to defuse when Ontario Premier Doug Ford and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick agreed in a joint statement that Canada would not, after all, add a 25% surcharge to electricity being sold to some Northeastern states, and the U.S. would not immediately impose the even higher tariff on imported Canadian steel and aluminum.

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How long this truce lasts is unclear, given how quickly and without apparent provocation Trump has declared he would impose tariffs and then postponed or undone them soon afterward.

This is really bad for whatever manufacturing renaissance hes trying to create, said Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a conservative economist and a top adviser to Republican presidential nominee John McCains 2008 campaign.

He added that it was the on-again, off-again, partially-on-again, fully-on-again whipsaw of tariff pronouncements that are roiling the financial markets and making business planning impossible. I dont think hes learned or much cares about the effect of all this on the markets, he said.

Canada has barely any tariffs on the United States, said Jason Furman, a top economist in former President Barack Obamas White House. And their response to our tariffs has been proportionately on the low side. Any escalation will be shifting from shooting ourselves in the foot to shooting ourselves in the arm.

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Trump, of course, has never exhibited a familiarity with international trade in his adult life. For decades, he slammed Japan and then China for ripping off the United States  conflating the existence of trade deficits with being taken advantage of by those countries.

At some point, he began to claim  and perhaps actually to believe  that tariffs imposed by the United States are collected from the exporting nations. In reality, tariffs are collected at the port of entry from the person or firm importing the goods. Those costs are then passed along to consumers in the form of higher prices.

Trump also appears to have forgotten that the trading relationships with Canada and Mexico that he now disparages as unfair to the United States were codified by Trump himself just seven years ago when he celebrated the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

Its a whole different ballgame, and its going to be great, he said in a Michigan speech in early 2020 of the USMCA trade deal.

Then-presidents Enrique Pena Nieto of Mexico, Donald Trump of the U.S. and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are pictured after signing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in Buenos Aires in 2018. MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP via Getty Images

For years, Trump had disparaged the USMCAs predecessor, the North American Free Trade Agreement, as unfair to the United States. In fact, though, USMCA was largely a renaming of NAFTA, with some minor tweaks to things like the rule defining how much of a car had to be made in the free trade zone to avoid tariffs. Other sections were copied and dropped into USMCA, whole cloth, from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the trade deal negotiated by Obama that Trump also called horrible.

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This history notwithstanding, Trump now claims that the USMCA also somehow cheats the United States  a position that, like his other false statements, his aides and staff must adopt as their own.

In the White House briefing room Tuesday, for example, press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who had said weeks earlier that Trump believed tariffs were paid by the exporting nation, restated that falsehood as fact.

Tariffs are a tax hike on foreign countries that have been ripping us off. Tariffs are a tax cut for the American people, she said, and then berated a reporter who challenged her lie.

Meanwhile, Trump is likely to get tacit approval for his trade war whenever Congress passes a funding bill for the rest of the budget year. House Republicans inserted a provision that strikes the ability of any member of Congress to demand a vote on tariffs that a president has unilaterally imposed.

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Andrew Bates, a spokesperson in President Joe Bidens White House who previously worked in the United States Trade Representatives office, said Trump has done nothing to lower consumer prices as he promised while campaigning and is, in fact, doing the opposite with his trade war.

Trump could turn a lot of this around with a word, but he knows he cant cut taxes for the rich without tariff revenue from everyone else, Bates said.
With President Donald Trump aggressively setting his sights on acquiring Greenland and growing calls in the territory for independence from Denmark, the future status of the Arctic island was firmly at the front of voters' minds as they headed to the polls Tuesday.

Just 31 lawmakers will be elected to Greenlands parliament or Inatsisartut, but the vote, which has drawn little attention in previous years, will be watched the world over.

Its definitely a different election this time around, said Jon Rahbek-Clemmensen, an associate professor at the Royal Danish Defence College, which provides training, research and advice to Denmarks military.

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Politicians in Greenland had previously talked about independence from Denmark as a goal for future generations, he told NBC News in a telephone interview Monday.

"Trumps interest has made it really tangible because voters can see what independence looks like, he said. This could be close collaboration or perhaps even annexation by the U.S. and could happen in a few years, he added.

Fishing vessels are moored amid ice at the harbor in Nuuk, Greenland, on the eve of legislative elections.

While Greenland is the worlds largest island, it is also one of the most sparsely populated, home to just more than 56,000 people.

Controlled by Denmark for almost 300 years, it became a formal territory of the country in 1953 before gaining home rule in 1979, though Copenhagen still controls its foreign and defense policy. It also contributes just under $1 billion to Greenland's economy.

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Denmark has nonetheless benefited from the arrangement too, according to Dwayne Menezes, managing director of the Polar Research and Policy Initiative, a London-based think tank. Menezes said it had profited enormously from Greenland over the decades, not just in terms of significant economic gains, but also the geopolitical advantage it has enjoyed globally as a result.

Still, Trump has repeatedly stated an interest in acquiring the island, which is technically part of North America and two-thirds of which sits above the rapidly melting Arctic Circle, where deposits of rare-earth minerals and potential offshore oil and natural gas remain largely untapped, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Bernhardt Olsen, running for a seat with the Siumut political party, hangs a campaign poster in Ilulissat, Greenland, on Wednesday

Having broached the issue in his first term and on multiple occasions after his return to the White House in January, in last week's lengthy speech to Congress, Trump said the United States would acquire Greenland, which is already home to an American military base, one way or the other.

However, his overtures have been repeatedly rebuffed by both lawmakers in Greenland and Danish politicians.

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Greenlanders deserve to be treated with respect, and I dont think the U.S. president has done that recently since he took office, Prime Minister Mute Egede told the Danish public broadcaster, DR, on Monday.

Egede, whose Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA) party favors a gradual transition to autonomy, added that he thought Trumps actions meant people dont want to get as close to (the U.S.) as they might have wanted in the past.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has also repeatedly ruled out transferring the territory to the U.S.

Greenland's citizens also seemed less than enamored with the idea. A recent poll commissioned by the Danish newspaper Berlingske and Greenlandic daily Sermitsiaq found that 85% of respondents did not wish to become a part of the U.S., with nearly half seeing Trumps interest as a threat.

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In a pre-emptive move to curb U.S. interference, Greenlands parliament last month passed a new law banning foreign contributions to political parties.

A boy walks home from school along a residential road in Nuuk, Greenland, on Monday.

However, some parties, like the left-wing Naleraq and the center-right Demokraatit party, have campaigned for a quick transition to full independence, along with a defense agreement with Washington that would see the island get U.S. support without becoming an American territory.

Others, like the social democratic Siumut party, which has dominated the countrys politics and previously shared power with Egede's IA, have previously called for an independence referendum before backtracking.

Ahead of the results which are expected during the early hours of Wednesday, the big question is whether they see this as staying status quo within the Kingdom of Denmark, or perhaps with slightly more autonomy, or the other option of having a very close relationship with the U.S., said Rahbek-Clemmensen from the Royal Danish Defence College.

Its also very obvious that the choice has to be made right now, he added.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The Trump administration has proposed shuttering USAID and cutting some of the State Departments critical diplomatic programs; it has also announced tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China. As scholar Borja Santos Porras has noted, these measures may lead to modest savings, however, the long-term damage to the reputation of the U.S. abroad will likely outweigh any such gains.

As an expert on how nations manage their reputations, particularly in terms of rebuilding diminished ones, I believe the recent foreign-aid cuts are undermining a critical foreign-policy tool that is often undervalued, if not outright ignored, within the Trump administration: soft power.

Soft power is the ability of nations, in this case the U.S., to use its appeal  and others affinity and often friendship toward it  to induce cooperation. In other words, it is a strategy to get others to do what the U.S. government wants them to do, but without coercion.

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Since the end of World War II, it has been this soft power that has been the heart and soul of American foreign policy.

How nations manage their reputations

The phrase soft power was coined by a professor at Harvard University, Joseph S. Nye Jr., in 1990. It refers to the ability of nations to influence other countries in pursuit of their interests without having to bully them into doing so.

The central idea is that others are likely to be compelled to partake in friendly behaviors, such as taking a more favorable trade stance or investing in your nation, when they understand your needs and have affinity toward you.

The core benefit of soft power lies in its cost to implement. It is lower-risk and lower-cost than hard power strategies, such as tariffs, sanctions or even the threat of military force. Hard power also requires the maintenance of a strong military to coerce or bully others through abrasive interactions and to constantly mitigate threats.

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Soft power is a product of how others perceive the nations culture, including its internal and external economic, social and political values and policies. If others generally have affinity and respect for those characteristics, they are more likely to listen to you, to respect your positions and interests, and to follow your example. The goal is to develop a more sustainable, long-term relationship than one based on coercion and control.

To [wield soft power], the U.S. has since the 1960s used the distribution of foreign aid through USAID as central to the promotion of a positive image of itself to others. Over the past 60 years, USAID has worked to eradicate or combat smallpox, polio and malaria; it has worked to decrease infant and maternal mortality rates and contributed to the overall decrease of global rates of extreme poverty and food insecurity.

Such actions, combined with the broader appeal of the U.S. economy and popular culture, have produced a world where the U.S. government frequently gets what it wants without having to resort to hard power. In contrast with a nation like China that relies much more on coercive economic relationships, the U.S. has been effective at maintaining an extensive network of friends with common values and interests. At this time, the Chinese approach is beginning to make inroads with some African and Asian nations, which, I argue, makes it even more critical for the U.S. to maintain its soft power presence.

Financial costs of reputation

A 2017 study conducted by three professors at Drexel LeBow College of Business found that every spot a nation dropped on a ranking of global reputations produced a 2% decrease in export volume to that nation. They found that a move up the rankings produced an equally positive result.

Experts say that imposing tariffs could harm Americas reputation. shaunl/E+ via Getty Images

In the context of the U.S. trade relationship with a nation like Canada, they noted that this would amount to as much of a decrease as US$5 billion in exports for each spot in the rankings dropped. The tariff threat has produced a deterioration of Canadian perceptions of the U.S., with more than 1 in 4 viewing the U.S. as an enemy and 68% perceiving it less favorably after the threat of American tariffs against Canada.

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The financial costs to the U.S. are likely to be in the billions of dollars. Taking into account other trade partnerships under similar threats, the total costs of this strategy are likely to be substantial.

Limits of soft power

Soft power has limitations as well. For example, during the buildup to the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, the U.S. worked extensively to win over global public support, particularly from France and Germany. Despite the strong affinity and partnership with those nations, the Bush administration found that soft powers influence only goes so far.

In some cases, persuasion and affinity simply arent enough to overcome national security concerns. In these instances, the U.S. can still choose to act unilaterally using its hard power, like the Trump administrations approach to trade. However, such actions often produce significant, long-term reputational damage.

This doesnt imply that diplomatic options are lost. Rather that some combination of soft and hard power, or what Nye coined as smart power, makes diplomacy and engagement possible in even the most difficult cases. In American foreign policy, smart power entails proactively preventing threats and challenges to U.S. interests and security. This is done through diplomatic engagement, development projects through programs like USAID and the State Department, and collaboration with friends and allies.

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The key for the U.S., I argue, is to use soft power when it can and hard power only when it must. It will be this balance that will ensure the U.S. maintains its extensive network of allies and partners. Such alliances have been the backbone of U.S. foreign policy and have distinguished the U.S. from other past global superpowers.

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: Matthew Clary, Auburn University

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Matthew Clary is affiliated with the American Political Science Association (APSA), the International Studies Association (ISA), the Southern Political Science Association (SPSA), the College Board, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), and serves as Secretary to the Board of Directors for the Southern Regional Model United Nations (SRMUN), Inc.
The Department of Agriculture has slashed over $1 billion in funding aimed at helping schools and food banks purchase from local farmers, according to a nonprofit.

Multiple states were recently notified of these cuts, the nonprofit School Nutrition Association said in a statement Tuesday.

An estimated $660 million in funds through the Local Food for Schools program for 2025 will no longer be available to support childcare institutions and schools, the group added.

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This program will strengthen the food system for schools and childcare institutions by helping to build a fair, competitive, and resilient local food chain, and expand local and regional markets with an emphasis on purchasing from historically underserved producers and processors, the USDA website says about the Local Food for Schools program.

The Independent has reached out to the USDA for comment.

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education confirmed it received a notice of termination from the USDA on Friday of the second round of Local Food for Schools grant funding, an award of $12.2 million, claiming that they determined this agreement no longer effectuates agency priorities and that termination of the award is appropriate, the states governor Maura Healy said in a Monday statement.

The governor suggested the cuts were made as part of a Department of Government Efficiency-led effort to reduce spending in the federal government.

Donald Trumps Department of Agriculture has reportedly notified states that it has cut $1 billion in funding aimed at helping schools and food banks (AP)

Donald Trump and Elon Musk have declared that feeding children and supporting local farmers are no longer priorities, and its just the latest terrible cut with real impact on families across Massachusetts, said Governor Healey. There is nothing appropriate about it. Trump and Musk are continuing to withhold essential funding in violation of court orders, and our children, farmers and small businesses are bearing the brunt of it.

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The Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, which provides food to food banks and organizations that reach underserved communities, was also included in the cuts, Politico reported.

The department notified states that it was unfreezing funds for existing agreements for this program but did not plan to carry out a second round of funding for fiscal year 2025, the outlet reported. An estimated $420 million of federal funds were expected to go toward the program in 2025, the USDA website shows.

A USDA spokesperson told the outlet that funding is no longer available and those agreements will be terminated following 60-day notification. The spokesperson added: These programs, created under the former Administration via Executive authority, no longer effectuate the goals of the agency. LFPA and LFPA Plus agreements that were in place prior to LFPA 25, which still have substantial financial resources remaining, will continue to be in effect for the remainder of the period of performance.

Last week, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said this program can no longer operate in the state after the USDA said it was ceasing reimbursements for any costs incurred after January 19. The same applied to the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program, which aims to build resilience in the middle of the food supply chain. Reimbursement claims submitted for costs incurred after January 19 are being returned with no explanation or timeline for reimbursements to resume, the statement read.

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"Cutting funds for these programs is a slap in the face to Illinois farmers and the communities they feed," said Governor Pritzker. "The Trump Administration's refusal to release grant funds doesn't just hurt farmers in the program, it devastates our most vulnerable, food-insecure communities relying on meat, fresh produce and other nutritious donations."

Congress is also weighing cuts to school meal programs, the School Nutrition Association warned in its announcement. The nonprofit urged the public to call on Congress members to oppose these cuts.

With research showing school meals are the healthiest meals Americans eat, Congress needs to invest in underfunded school meal programs rather than cut services critical to student achievement and health, said the groups president Shannon Gleave. These proposals would cause millions of children to lose access to free school meals at a time when working families are struggling with rising food costs. Meanwhile, short-staffed school nutrition teams, striving to improve menus and expand scratch-cooking, would be saddled with time-consuming and costly paperwork created by new government inefficiencies.

Alexis Bylander, interim child nutrition programs and policy director of the D.C.-based nonprofit Food Research & Action Center, said this decision has devastating impacts.

The Trump administrations decision to cut funding for cooperative agreements that support schools and other organizations ability to purchase local foods will have a devastating impact on students, schools, farmers, and local economies, Bylander said in a statement. As food costs continue to rise and schools struggle to stretch their meal budgets, now is the time to bolster efforts that improve access to affordable and healthy local foods, not gut them.
Against federal regulation, Donald Trump is using the influence of the White House to boost Tesla sales.

Several Tesla vehicles were parked in the White House driveway Tuesday while the president practically hosted a commercial for Elon Musks car company. Trump was joined by Musk and his son as the president answered reporters questions about his sudden affinity for the electric vehicle.

Im going to buy because number one, its a great product, Trump told reporters. Its as good as it gets. And number two, because this man has devoted his energy and his life to doing this. I think hes been treated very unfairly by a very small group of people.

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You cant be penalized for being a patriot, Trump said. People should be going wild.

But despite his adoration for the vehicle and the man who owns its factories, Trump wont be driving it.

Im not allowed to drive because I havent driven a car in a long time, Trump said. I love to drive cars. But Im going to have it at the White House, and Im going to let my staff use it, Im going to let people at the place use it.

Im not allowed to use it, the president repeated.

Trump proceeded to ooh and ahh over his new car, including getting inside and announcing, Everythings computer!

But the strange showcase is evidence that the global Tesla boycott is making an impact. Tesla stock is down by 45 percent so far this year, and analysts have faulted Musks reputational shift for the automakers financial woes.

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Tesla historically attracted a more liberal consumer base with its electric vehicles, but since Musk went dark MAGA, that same base has soured on the tech billionaire and his products. Thats proven especially true in some of Europes stronger economies, such as Germany, which has seen sales in the country fall by more than 70 percent over the last two months, reported Bloomberg. Sales in Chinawhere Tesla has two major factorieshave similarly plummeted, falling by 49 percent in February.

On Monday, the automakers stock had its worst day since 2020, as its Musk-induced problems coincided with historic market volatility under Trumps new tariff plans and further instability caused by the Musk-induced mass layoffs across government.

In a Truth Social post Monday, Trump claimed that the boycott was unlawful, writing that radical left lunatics were illegally and collusively attacking the company.

Fact check: Boycotts are not illegal and are protected by the First Amendment in the Constitution. The Supreme Court affirmed Americans rights to protest private businesses in a landmark 1982 case, NAACP v. Claiborne Hardware Co.

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But U.S. regulations do prohibit federal employees from using their public office to benefit themselves, their friends, families, or affiliates for the endorsement of any product, service or enterprise.

Still, its not the first time that Trump has used the prestige of the Oval Office to push product. In the midst of the pandemic, the president and his daughter Ivanka used their federal platform to shill beans for Goya, amid nationwide calls to boycott the company after its CEO said the country was blessed to have Trump as its leader. The stunt came during a push by the Trumps to increase the presidents appeal with Latino voters ahead of the 2020 election.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he hopes Russia will agree to a ceasefire plan drawn up by American and Ukrainian officials and that there will be a U.S. meeting with Russia later Tuesday or Wednesday.

In remarks to reporters, Trump said he would invite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy back to the White House. The two leaders clashed in an Oval Office meeting last month and Zelenskiy left Washington without signing a critical minerals deal with the United States.

Trump said he hopes a total ceasefire can be achieved in the three-year war in the coming days. He said he thinks he will talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin about it this week.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason, Steve Holland and Doina Chiacu, Editing by Franklin Paul)
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials deported fewer people during President Donald Trumps first full month in office than they did over the same period last year under the Biden administration.

According to ICE data obtained by NBC News , more than 11,000 migrants were deported in February compared to just over 12,000 during the same month last year, largely because the number of border crossers has plummeted to record lows after Trump suspended refugee admissions on his first day back in office.

At the end of February, a federal judge ordered the government to restore the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program suspended by Trump while the court considered the merits of a lawsuit. The Trump administration also relaunched the Biden-era CBP One app for booking asylum appointments into a MAGAfied version called CBP Home.

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The latest numbers continue to show that the Trump administration is falling short of the presidents long-promised largest deportation blitz in U.S. history.

One immigration metric where Trump is outperforming Biden, however, is in the number of ICE arrests.

The Department of Homeland Security said over 20,000 migrants were arrested during Trumps first month in office, a 111% increase from the average monthly arrests during the last fiscal year. Hundreds have already been released from ICE detention due to space constraints.

White House Border Czar Tom Homan speaks to reporters outside of the White House on March 07, 2025 in Washington, DC. / Getty Images

Though border czar Tom Homan has said the administrations deportation policy is  worst first , meaning those with a criminal history are the first to go, roughly half of the people deported in February did not have criminal convictions or pending criminal charges, according to NBC.

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The number of migrants without criminal records arrested by ICE and deported also rose slightly to 390 in February from 223 in December, the data reportedly showed. ICE is also holding 10% more detainees under Trump, with 44,000 migrants detained at the end of February.

Former ICE chief of staff Jason Houser told NBC that arrests are just the beginning and do not immediately lead to deportation: Every ICE removal requires a legal case, court rulings, potential arrest, detention space, transport logistics, diplomatic approvals and coordination across agencies.

Homan declared on Monday that even migrants who are in the U.S. legally can absolutely be deported by the Trump administration.

Absolutely we can, Homan told Fox Business Networks Stuart Varney. Did he violate the terms of his visa? Did he violate the terms of his residency here, you know, committing crimes, attacking Israeli students, locking down buildings, destroying property? Absolutely, any resident alien who commits a crime is eligible for deportation.

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Homan issued the statement after Trump confirmed that ICE arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian green card holder who led pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University last year.

We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X.

But Kelli Stump, the president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said only an immigration judge has the power to revoke a green card.
The arrest of a Columbia University graduate marks a significant escalation in President Trumps immigration crackdown, with a lawful permanent resident who has not been charged with any crime now being held in U.S. custody.

The Trump administration is making clear that green card holder Mahmoud Khalil, who has a court appearance set for Wednesday, is being targeted over his participation in pro-Palestinian campus demonstrations.

Trump said Monday that Khalil would be the first of many foreign students deported as terrorist sympathizers.

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Legal experts say the intention is obvious: to frighten other would-be activists and to chill political protests. They also say Khalils detention poses serious constitutional problems.

Particularly for green card holders in the United States, theyre entitled to almost the full scope of First Amendment rights that U.S. citizens are as well. And so, taking action to strip someone of a green card or deport them from this country based solely on their political speech or participation in political protests would almost certainly be unconstitutional, said Carolina DeCell, a senior staff attorney for the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia.

I would say this appears to be part of a broader effort to chill the speech of political opponents, or people with whom this administration disagrees on political issues, and it sets a really terrible precedent, DeCell added.

The case follows a promise Trump made on the campaign trail that he would arrest and deport foreign students who participated in the pro-Palestinian encampments last year.

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The encampments led to more than 2,000 arrests across the nation, with some schools moving classes online or canceling graduation ceremonies.

The president and some of his allies made no distinction between those supporting the Palestinian cause and those backing Hamas, a U.S.-designated terror group.

Many are not students, they are paid agitators. We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country  never to return again. If you support terrorism, including the slaughtering of innocent men, women, and children, your presence is contrary to our national and foreign policy interests, and you are not welcome here, Trump wrote on social media.

But experts say the First Amendment applies to all, even if there is support for terrorist groups involved. In general, it is illegal to give such groups material support, such as cash, but a vocal agreement with their views, as long as there is no call to illegal action, is still permissible.

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The details of the administrations case against Khalil remain unclear, and the Foundation for Individuals Rights and Expression (FIRE) has written a letter to the Trump administration demanding to know the cause for his arrest.

Were concerned in the absence of information justifying the arrest. One can infer that hes been arrested because of his criticism of the United Statess policy toward the conflict in Gaza, and his criticism of the Israeli government, and the First Amendment forbids the government from punishing people for their political viewpoints, said Will Creeley, legal director for FIRE.

If we had some kind of evidence of lawbreaking  lets say, engaging in violence, engaging in destruction of property, some kind of criminal activity, then Mr. Khalil would still be entitled to due process.  The lack of transparency, and the statements from the administration today, which focus on Mr. Khalils political views, are chilling, Creeley said.

While the Trump administration is claiming they can deport even immigrants who are in the country legally, only an immigration judge can revoke someones green card status.

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Many foreign students do not have a green card and are in the U.S. on a student visa, which can be canceled for more reasons, such as criminal concerns, prolonged absence from school, giving incorrect information or changing schools without permission.

Amy Greer, Khalils attorney, told The Hill that when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) came to arrest him Saturday, they claimed his student visa was revoked, and even after he informed the officers of his green card status, they still arrested him.

Greer said the ICE agents also threatened Khalils wife, who is eight months pregnant and a U.S. citizen.

We will vigorously be pursuing Mahmouds rights in court, and will continue our efforts to right this terrible and inexcusable  and calculated  wrong committed against him. ICEs arrest and detention of Mahmoud follows the U.S. governments open repression of student activism and political speech, specifically targeting students at Columbia University for criticism of Israels assault on Gaza, she said.

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Khalil was reportedly moved to a detention center in Louisiana, but Monday, a federal district judge blocked any further efforts to deport him, scheduling a hearing in the case for Wednesday morning.

To preserve the Courts jurisdiction pending a ruling on the petition, Petitioner shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the Court orders otherwise, U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman said in his order.

According to draft memos written by ICE during the first Trump administration and obtained by the Knight First Amendment Institute, removing a foreign national based on speech would be very difficult, even in cases of supporting terrorist groups.

The draft ICE memo said for nonresident aliens, a category that includes most student visa holders, using the Immigration and Nationality Act is most likely to be defensible in circumstances where a nonresident aliens has endorsed or supported not terrorist activity of any kind, but terrorist activities that can reasonably be characterized as posing a threat to the national security of the United States or the security of its nationals.

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The Trump administration is not the only one taking fire for the arrest.

Columbia University has told students it is not allowing ICE into nonpublic parts of campus without a judicial warrant but will continue to follow the law.

The school is clearly set to be a prime target for the Trump administration, which has canceled some $400 million in federal contracts and grants to it due to its alleged inaction against antisemitism on campus.

Its not just the Trump administration here thats at fault. Theres also Columbia, who hasnt yet condemned the arrest or the arbitrary detention of Mahmoud. They have yet to call for him to be released  not that Ive seen, publicly, said Sabiya Ahamed, staff attorney at Palestine Legal.

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And I think if the university is going to make it clear that its there to protect students against anti-Palestinian oppression, Ahamed added, then administrators need to speak out and say theyre not going to collaborate or cooperate with ICE in any sort of way.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Coming less than two weeks after the vicious Trump-Zelensky Oval Office blow-up, todays meeting in Saudi Arabia between their respective teams went as well as can be expected. The US and Ukrainian delegations left the eight-hour talks with an agreement to pause the war for 30 days, and Washington agreed to lift the hold on military and intelligence support in response. The war, of course, didnt let up while the two sides were preparing to talk; on the same day, Ukraine launched its largest ever drone attack against Russia, with nearly 100 entering Moscow and shutting down four of the capital citys airports. The Kremlin claimed gains in the region of Kursk.

With Ukraine conceding to the ceasefire, the White House will now try to get Russia on board. Trump has said that he expects to speak to Vladimir Putin later this week. The Russian leader is in a bind: if he doesnt accept the terms, he cant be sure the unpredictable Trump wont respond by either strengthening the sanctions regime against the Russian economy or doubling down on weapons shipments to Kyiv.

What sounds like a fairly traditional negotiation between two combatants, however, is in reality four separate negotiations rolled into one. The indirect talks being conducted by the US between Ukraine and Russia are undoubtedly the most important, but the three others  between the US and Ukraine, the US and Europe, and between the Europeans themselves  will determine whether the whole house of cards stands or collapses.

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The US and Ukraine, for example, continue to discuss the minerals deal that Trump remains fixated on. He is focused on recouping the roughly $120 billion in military and economic support Washington has provided Kyiv since the war began in February 2022. In the presidents eyes, the most straightforward way to do that is by reaping the profits on Ukraines rare earth deposits.

A previous draft deal pushed by the Trump administration was rejected by the Ukrainians, and a revised version that was supposed to be signed when Zelensky visited Trump at the White House was called off after the two mens histrionics in front of the television cameras. Zelensky has been trying to tie a US security guarantee to the deal in a bid to parlay Trumps obsession with profits into what would in effect be a Nato-style security blanket. The Trump administration, though, continues to refuse the linkage and is likely to grow tired of the Ukrainians for badgering them on the same point.

The second series of talks is occurring between the US and the Europeans  or more specifically between the US, the UK and France. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron, both of whom met with Trump separately last month, have been coordinating with each other for weeks.

Despite some minor differences, Starmer and Macron are singing from the same song sheet: if a settlement to the war is reached, Kyiv will need external security guarantees to ensure that Putin isnt tempted to re-invade. The two men have offered to lead the initiative and deploy their own troops on Ukrainian soil.

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Even so, the UK and France are wary of doing anything on the security front if the US isnt involved. Macron consistently makes the point that a European-led deterrence force in Ukraine wouldnt work if the Americans arent offering to backstop the initiative (a counter-productive message if there ever was one, since it gives the impression to Moscow that Europes armies are paper-tigers, not exactly helpful for deterrence purposes).

Thus far, Starmer and Macron might as well be talking to a wall. Trump views a US security guarantee to a European-led mission in Ukraine as a circular way of giving Ukraine de-facto Nato membership, in effect forcing the US to come to Kyivs defence in the event that Russian aggression resumes. For Starmer and Macron, this is precisely the point; for Trump, its a trap designed to put the Ukraine file on Americas tired shoulders.

Finally, there are the negotiations among the Europeans themselves. As Starmer tries to bring the US into the arrangement, hes also negotiating with Europe to get his so-called coalition of the willing off the ground. Although the PM will host another meeting of the coalition this Saturday, where at least 20 states will attend, few of them have offered their services.

Denmark has said it is open to contributing troops to such a force, as has Ireland. Turkey, which boasts the second-largest army in Nato, seems to be a maybe. Spain will be involved in some way but is cautious about putting its soldiers on the table at this time. Germany, meanwhile, has gone quiet on the whole thing  and given the woeful state of the Bundeswehr, its unlikely Berlin would be able to offer much anyway.

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None of this even begins to account for the biggest negotiating thread of them all, the one between Ukraine and Russia. Due to Trumps pressure tactics, Zelensky has now accepted a cessation of hostilities, which he has shunned in the past. But as Trump has said, it takes two to tango. And Russia, its forces on the move, may not be willing to dance to Washingtons tune right now.

All of this is a negotiators worst nightmare. But unless the US, Europe, Russia and Ukraine want an endless war on their hands, negotiations remain the least bad option.

Daniel DePetris is a fellow at Defense Priorities

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A lawyer who had full security clearances for nearly 30 years and a long history of representing whistleblowers of every political stripe  including the one who in 2019 revealed that President Donald Trump had called Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy for political dirt on Joe Biden  was among the people who had their security clearances revoked on Monday.

The Trump administration has been pushing to revoke security clearances for a number of officials who once worked under Biden.

The Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard  who has faced accusations that she is herself a Russian asset posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday to announce that Mark Zaids security clearance had been revoked.

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She said she had also revoked security clearances, at Trumps direction, from former national security adviser Jake Sullivan, former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco and former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as well as people who had once prosecuted Trump for various civil and criminal offenses, including New York Attorney General Letitia James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

The move to revoke my security clearance, which occurred without any due process as is required by well-established laws, is simply another example of the authoritarian nature of this administration, Zaid said in an email Tuesday. President Trump is clearly following Shakespeares lead in Henry VI in being afraid of the lawyers who would hold him accountable. Unfortunately for him, all this does is embolden me to fight back more.

Zaid co-founded Whistleblower Aid, a nonprofit group that helps whistleblowers gain legal representation.

The director of the group, Libby Liu, said in a statement that they believe the administration yanked Zaids clearance because the president has animus toward Zaid.

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Zaid represented a national security whistleblower who revealed the presidents attempt to blackmail Ukraine, Liu said. He took that case without fear or favor, just like he has taken on many other cases since the Clinton administration, she added.

He has done nothing to betray the trust that comes with the security clearance he has held for decades. Revoking it is the very definition of weaponizing the power of government against its citizens, Liu said.

However, Zaid did not need to access classified materials while representing the whistleblower in 2019. And in 2020, the Trump administration actually increased his level of clearance to allow him access to top secret and sensitive compartmented information.

Removing security clearance in such a way goes against decades of precedent.

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An executive order issued in 1995 by then-President Bill Clinton suggests that revocation or sanctions for officials with security clearances requires review, and can typically only occur if they knowingly and willfully grant eligibility for or allow access to classified information in violation of existing clearance rules. Sanctions can include reprimand, suspension without pay and removal.

Zaid has long expected the move by the administration.

Last November, Republican lawmakers called on the Trump administration to strip security clearances from 51 intelligence officials they deemed dirty because they had signed a letter suggesting that the Hunter Biden laptop story bore the hallmarks of a Russian information operation. Gabbard said Monday she had revoked clearance for those officers.

In a lengthy interview just weeks ago, Zaid told The Record that maintaining security clearances was crucial in his work because it allowed him to better represent his clients, particularly those coming to him from the shadowy world of intelligence.

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Whistleblowing spies, like those who work at the CIA, must keep their identities and affiliations with government agencies secret. They need lawyers who can help them do that, especially if they want to report wrongdoing, Zaid said.

I would be one of the few lawyers who would have the security clearance necessary to be able to know that they work at the CIA and possibly see the classified information that underlies their case that I would review at whatever agency might be involved, he said.

Just last month Trump revoked Bidens security clearance. In an executive order signed last week, he stripped clearances from Perkins Coie, a law firm that worked with Democrats during the 2016 election. A month earlier, Trump stripped clearances for another law firm, Covington & Burling, which had done pro-bono work for former special counsel Jack Smith.

Perkins Coie sued the administration on Tuesday, alleging that Trumps executive order violates its speech and due process rights under the First, Fifth and Sixth Amendments. The order also violates the Constitutions separation of powers, the firm claims.

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Trumps order targeting Perkins Coie not only removed the firms security clearances but also discouraged all federal officials from talking to Perkins Coie attorneys. The firms lawyers were barred from all federal buildings, too.

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As a disabled veteran, I have entrusted my life to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) since 1999. When an ovarian cyst ruptured, the VA was there. When my service-connected migraines made daily life unbearable, the VA was there. And when I suffered a stroke in 2019, the VA was there, managing my care, ensuring I had access to rehabilitation, and literally helping me get back on my feet.

Now the Trump administration, with the full backing of the new VA Secretary Doug Collins, is planning to slash 83,000 jobs from the VA back to levels seen in 2019stripping the very foundation of the care that veterans like me, and millions of others, rely on. This is not just reckless; it is a betrayal of every veteran who served this country.

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The VAs mission, as enshrined in 2023, is "to fulfill President Lincoln's promise to care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors." Cutting these jobs spits in the face of that promise. It is a violation of those who defended our nationon a service that so many people depend upon.

The numbers do not lie. In 2021, 52% of veterans relied on at least one VA benefit or service, and 6.2 million veterans used VA healthcare. And since the passing of the PACT Act in August 2022, nearly 740,000 new veterans have enrolled in VAs benefits, including over 333,000 from the PACT Act populationveterans of Vietnam, the Gulf War, and the Post-9/11 conflicts. In just over two years since the PACT Act was enacted, the VA has provided critical health care and benefits to millions of veterans and survivors affected by toxic exposure.

In fact, the demand for VA healthcare is not decreasing; It is rising at an unprecedented rate. This is why cutting VA staffing to 2019 levels will be catastrophic. Since 2019, the veteran population seeking care has grown, with more veterans aging into the system and requiring specialized treatment for combat-related injuries, PTSD, and toxic exposure illnesses. Rolling back to pre-pandemic staffing levels ignores these realities and sets veterans up for longer wait times, reduced specialized care, and life-saving treatments will likely skyrocket. Veterans will suffer, and some of us will die waiting for care that they were promised. This is not just policyit is negligence, plain and simple.

But the betrayal does not stop there. Thousands of veterans work for the VA, dedicated to serving their fellow service members. These job cuts will not only hurt veterans who need care, but also those who have made it their mission to care for others. The VA was built to support those who have sacrificed for this countrywhy is this administration turning its back on us?

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Read More: Veterans Fired From Federal Government Jobs Feel Betrayed by Trump

I am not just concerned for myselfI am terrified for our senior veterans, those with severe combat injuries, survivors of military sexual trauma (MST), and those battling PTSD. They will bear the brunt of this cruel decision. As veterans already face alarming suicide ratesaccording to a 2024 VA report, an estimated 17 veterans die by suicide every day. Cutting off critical support will only worsen this crisis, leaving our most vulnerable without the care they desperately need and deserve.

When we abandon our veterans, we abandon the very values this nation claims to upholdduty, honor, and commitment. This is not just about policy; it is about peoplethose who have risked everything in service to this country, only to be cast aside when they need help the most. If we let this happen, we are not just failing veterans; we are failing as a nation. The cost of inaction is measured in lives lost, in families shattered, and in the erosion of trust between those who serve and the country they swore to protect. We cannot call ourselves a nation that supports its troops if we turn our backs on them the moment they need us most.

If these cuts happen, how many veterans will suffer? How many will be lost? Consider that more than one-third of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD, and that number is considered too low because it only accounts for veterans who seek assistance through the VA. There are also hundreds of thousands of Vietnam veterans and veterans of other conflicts with PTSD, TBI, and MST.

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We are not fighting this battle alone. Organizations like Common Defense, Indivisible, and VoteVets are leading the charge, mobilizing veterans and allies to push back against these dangerous cuts. These groups understand that defending veterans rights is not about politicsits about keeping a sacred promise to those who served. Their work proves that we can and must take action to stop this betrayal.

We fought for this country, and now we must fight againnot with weapons, but with our voices. We must demand that the VA and the Trump administration honor their obligation to us. We must call, write, and attend town hall meetings hosted by our representatives and let them know we will hold them accountable. We must join with advocacy groups fighting to protect VA resources and veterans rights. We cannot and will not be ignored, forgotten, marginalized, and betrayed. Because slashing VA jobs is not just a policy failure; it is a betrayal of the oath we took to serve and protect this nation.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
President Donald Trumps nominee for United States Attorney for the District of Columbia has made a string of racist and incendiary comments, his online history shows.

Recent tweets show Ed Martin, the current interim U.S. Attorney for D.C. who helped organize the Stop the Steal movement after Trumps 2020 election defeat, has accused former Vice President Kamala Harris of self-identifying as Black, compared DEI policies to Jim Crow laws, and baselessly claimed Planned Parenthood targets Black women. The Guardian first reported the comments.

The Independent has reached out to his office for comment.

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When asked for comment on his online rhetoric, a White House spokesperson told The Independent in a statement: President Trump was given a resounding mandate by the American people to restore law and order. His nomination of Ed Martin underscores his commitment to making America safe again, starting with our nations capital.

The man picked to be the top prosecutor of the nations capital previously worked as chief of staff for former Missouri Governor Matt Blunt, chair of the Missouri Republican Party, and was a member of the RNC Platform Committee. This year, he became the first U.S. attorney for D.C. in at least 50 years to be nominated without experience as a judge or a federal prosecutor, the Washington Post reported.

Martin has repeatedly made racist comments about Harris, Trumps former 2024 Democratic rival, describing her as a self-identified Black woman. At one point, he compared Harris, whose parents are from Jamaica and India, to Rachel Dolezal, who falsely presented herself as a Black woman, sparking nationwide outrage.

Move over, Rachel Dolezal. Why Kamala Harris can never be black, Martin wrote on X last July.

Ed Martin, the interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, has made a string of incendiary remarks online in recent years (AP)

He also repeatedly referred to Harris as a DEI candidate. The DEl answer is, when lndian-American Kamala Harris wanted to be chosen as Biden's VP, she had to self-identify as a black woman. And that's allowed, he remarked last August. Hillary Clinton must be kicking herself that she didn't do it.

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While on the campaign trail, she faced numerous questions about her race and was accused of being a diversity, equity, and inclusion candidate  despite then serving as the vice president and previously serving as a Senator and attorney general of California. Around the same time as Martins comments, Trump went so far as to claim that she happened to turn Black only recently.

He even compared DEI policies to Jim Crow laws, which enforced and legalized racial segregation. Proud to help President Trump to lead on the fight for merit and against racism. Like DEI and Jim Crow laws, lets send these racist laws to the ash bin of history, he wrote Tuesday on his official U.S. Attorney X account.

Martin has also described former presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, the nations first Black president, as racist.

Joe Biden is an absolute and despicable racist, who views people's value by the color of their skin, while rewarding people with bad character, he said last March, adding: You can figure out what Martin Luther King, Jr. would think of Joe Biden. May be why MLKJr was a registered Republican voter.

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Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was not a registered Republican or Democrat. Dr. King never believed in any kind of party identification, Rev. Lewis Baldwin, a religious studies professor, told CNN in 2016. He never allowed himself to become closely aligned with partisan politics. He occasionally said that both the Democratic and Republican Party had betrayed his people.

Last week, Martin wrote: Make DC Safe Again. End [Black Lives Matter] brutality on DC citizens.

Martin, who as a RNC platform committee leader advocated for a nationwide abortion ban and discussed imprisoning women whove received abortions, has also repeatedly perpetrated a false claim that Planned Parenthood targets Black women to get abortions.

Since Planned Parenthood has successfully positioned their abortion services targeting Black Americans, when is it okay to call them white supremacists? he wrote in February 2023.

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Last July, he posted a cartoon comparing slavery to abortion, showing a slave telling a baby in heaven: I know how you feel.

Since being named interim U.S. Attorney for D.C., Martin has ordered his office to internally review its handling of January 6 Capitol riot prosecutions. He wrote in an email: Obviously, the use was a great failure of our office  and we need to get to the bottom of it. He has also fired some staff tied to these investigations.

Democratic Senators last week filed a misconduct complaint to the D.C. bar against Martin, in part for failing to recuse himself related to the Capitol riot. He represented some January 6 defendants in his private practice and then moved to dismiss charges against these clients in his current role, the Senators argued.

They also noted his statements that threaten prosecution with the apparent intent of intimidating government employees and chilling the speech of private citizens, including tweets threatening to pursue legal action against anyone who impedes Elon Musks work.

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When a government lawyer, particularly one entrusted with a leadership role in the nations foremost law enforcement agency, commits serious violations of professional conduct, it undermines the integrity of our justice system and erodes public confidence in it, the Senators wrote.

When nominating Martin, Trump posted on his Truth Social last month: Since Inauguration Day, Ed has been doing a great job as Interim U.S. Attorney, fighting tirelessly to restore Law and Order, and make our Nations Capital Safe and Beautiful Again. He will get the job done.

His nomination was sent to the Senate Tuesday.
President Donald Trump is planning to further escalate his economic war on Canada as part of a push to annex his country's northern neighbor, he announced Tuesday.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he was imposing another 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imported to Canada, above the 25% he announced he previously. He said the increased taxes were a response to Ontario Premier Doug Ford imposing a 25% export tax on electricity to the United States, itself a response to Trump's decision to renege on a U.S.-Canada free trade agreement that he negotiated during his first term in office.

The increased taxes will go into effect on Wednesday, Trump said, adding that he would declare a "National Emergency on Electricity."

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"This will allow the U.S. to quickly do what has to be done to alleviate this abusive threat from Canada," Trump said. "If other egregious, long time Tariffs are not likewise dropped by Canada, I will substantially increase, on April 2nd, the Tariff on Cars coming into the US. which will, essentially, permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada."

Trump made no mention of fentanyl, which he and others in his administration have previously pointed to as a reason for an economic war on Canada, despite the fact that nearly all fentanyl smuggled into the United States comes through the southern border. Instead, Trump claimed that the U.S. subsidizes Canada's defense and that the "only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State."

"The artificial line of separation drawn many years ago will finally disappear," Trump threatened, "and we will have the safest and most beautiful Nation anywhere in the World."
In his first hours back in the White House in January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship. Yet it was immediately clear he was in fact imposing rules on language, ordering the government to recognize only two genders and shut down any diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. In one executive order, he redefined energy to exclude solar and wind power.

Within days, not just diversity but also clean energy and climate change began vanishing from federal websites. Other institutions and organizations started scrubbing their websites. Scientists who receive federal funding were told to end any activities that contradicted Trumps executive orders. Government employees  at least the ones who hadnt been fired  began finding ways to take their climate work underground, worried that even acknowledging the existence of global warming could put their jobs at risk.

The Trump administrations crackdown on words tied to progressive causes reflects the rise of whats been called the woke right, a reactionary movement with its own language rules in opposition to woke terms that have become more prevalent in recent years. Since Trump took office, federal agencies have deleted climate change information from more than 200 government websites, according to the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative, a network that tracks these changes. These shifts in language lay the groundwork for how people understand whats real and true, widening the deepening divide between how Republicans and Democrats understand the world.

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I think that all powerful individuals and all powerful entities are in some sense trying to bend reality to favor them, to play for their own interests, said Norma Mendoza-Denton, an anthropology professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, who coedited a book about Trumps use of language. So its not unique, but definitely the scope at which its happening, the way its happening, the speed of it right now is unprecedented.

Gretchen Gehrke, who monitors federal websites for the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative, says that government sites are one of the few sources the public trusts for authoritative, reliable information, which is why removing facts about climate change from them is such a problem.

It really does alter our ability as a collective society to be able to identify and discuss reality, Gehrke said. If we only are dealing with the information that were receiving via social media, were literally operating in different realities.

Institutions that fail to follow Trumps executive orders have already faced consequences. After Trump rechristened the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, for instance, The Associated Press stood by the original, centuries-old name in its coverage  and its reporters lost access to the White House as a result. The effects of these language mandates have reverberated across society, with university researchers, nonprofits, and business executives searching for MAGA-friendly phrases to stay out of the administrations crosshairs. The solar industry is no longer talking about climate change, for instance, but American energy dominance, echoing Trumps platform.

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The new language rules are expected to limit what many scientists are permitted to research. Its going to make it really hard to do the climate justice work, said Amanda Fencl, director of climate science at the Union of Concerned Scientists, referring to the field that studies how a warming planet affects people unequally. The National Science Foundation, which accounts for about a quarter of federal support to universities, has been flagging studies that might violate Trumps executive orders on gender and diversity initiatives based on a search for words such as female, institutional, biases, marginalized, and trauma. I do think that deleting information and repressing and silencing scientists, it just has a chilling effect, Fencl said. Its really demoralizing.

During Trumps first term, references to climate change disappeared from federal environmental websites, with the use of the term declining by roughly 38 percent between 2016 and 2020, only to reappear under the Biden administration. Trumps second term appears to be taking a much more aggressive stance on wiping out words used by left-leaning organizations, scientists, and the broader public, likely with more to come. Last summer, a leaked video from Project 2025  a policy agenda organized by The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank  revealed a former Trump official declaring that political appointees would have to eradicate climate change references from absolutely everywhere.

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Photo of Ron DeSantis holding a finger up next to a flag

DeSantis says hes restoring sanity by erasing climate change from Florida laws

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Kate Yoder

Some government employees are finding ways to continue their climate work, despite the hostile atmosphere. The Atlantic reported in February that one team of federal workers at an unnamed agency had sealed itself off in a technology-free room to conduct meetings related to climate change, with employees using encrypted Signal messages instead of email. All I have ever wanted to do was help the American people become more resilient to climate change, an anonymous source at the agency reportedly said. Now I am being treated like a criminal.

The last time Trump was in office, federal employees replaced many references to climate change with softer phrases like sustainability and resilience. Now many of those vague, previously safe terms are disappearing from websites too, leaving fewer and fewer options for raising concerns about the environment. You really cannot address a problem that you cant identify, Gehrke said. A study in the journal Ecological Economics in 2022 examined euphemisms for climate change used under the previous Trump administration and argued that the avoidance of clear language could undermine efforts to raise awareness for taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Yet using more palatable synonyms could also be viewed as a way for scientists and government employees to continue doing important work. For example, when the Federal Emergency Management Agency rebranded its Climate Resilience site to Future Conditions in January, it stripped references to climate change from its main landing page while leaving them in subpages. To me, that reads as trying to fly under the radar, Gehrke said.

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Of course, the reality of the changing climate wont disappear, even if the phrase itself goes into hiding. Floridas Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, who last year signed a bill deleting most mentions of climate change from Florida state law, is still dealing with the consequences of a warming planet, continuing to approve funding for coastal communities to adapt to flooding and protect themselves against hurricanes. He just calls it strengthening and fortifying Florida without any mention of climate change.

You can ban a word if you want, Mendoza-Denton said, but the concept still needs to be talked about.

This story was originally published by Grist with the headline In Trumps new purge of climate language, even resilience isnt safe on Mar 11, 2025.
Elon Musk and Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to project unity Monday, following a private clash at a recent Cabinet meeting, with President Trump seeking to play mediator.

Trump brought the two men together for dinner at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday, one day after it was reported Musk and Rubio had an explosive confrontation over Musks efforts to slash the size of the government. Trump has been eager to downplay any kind of infighting among top aides reminiscent of his first term.

Sources said Trump made clear his desire for the two men to work more cohesively when he spoke after the Cabinet meeting about allowing agency leaders to talk more of a leading role in determining staffing and spending cuts. Those comments, sources said, showed Trump was responding to the political and legal pressure around Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and to some internal frustration from his Cabinet picks.

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I think the key thing here is you saw a shift in how the president deals with Elon, when he talks about a scalpel instead of a hatchet, said one Trump ally who is close to the White House. There was really some consternation of, If Im in charge of an agency, why am I not making these decisions?

Rubio on Monday announced he was officially canceling roughly 83 percent of contracts through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), crediting DOGE for helping to facilitate the steep cuts.

The announcement was seen as an olive branch from Rubio to Musk, whose aggressive efforts to get into all corners of the federal government have rankled the secretary of State and other Cabinet officials.

Tough, but necessary. Good working with you, Musk responded to news of the USAID cuts.

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Musk, in a rare television interview, told Fox Business Networks Larry Kudlow on Monday that DOGE works in consultation with the Cabinet secretaries and with the departments. He did not directly address his disagreements with Rubio.

The detente came after a fiery Cabinet meeting on Thursday, with Rubio and Musk at the center of the tensions.

After Musk confronted Rubio, accusing him of not adequately reducing the size of the State Department, Rubio hit back, pointing to hundreds of officials who took buyouts and to broader efforts to reorganize the department. The New York Times first reported on the details of the clash.

Rubio was not the only Cabinet official to take issue with Musks steadily growing influence over their respective agencies, but he was the most prominent. The White House in a statement did not deny the tensions at the meeting but said Trump officials were working as one team to carry out the presidents agenda.

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Some argued that tensions among top-level officials in a White House would not be a new phenomenon.

For those whove worked in the White House, they will tell you that you always have that natural kind of back-and-forth between Cabinet officials and the White House, said Matt Terrill, who served as chief of staff during Rubios 2016 presidential campaign.

Obviously, Elon Musk has been put in place to do certain cuts for DOGE, he added. They had a grown-up discussion, a mature discussion as adults do about the realities of what they want to accomplish.

Sources close to the White House told The Hill that Trump is cognizant that his critics and political opponents would seize on any perceived cracks within his administration, and he moved quickly to squash any lingering squabbles between two of his most high profile officials.

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Elon and Marco have a great relationship. Any statement other than that is fake news!!! Trump posted in all capital letters on Truth Social on Saturday.

That same night, the three men had dinner at Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate. Other guests stopped by the table, including Fox News host Sean Hannity and his fiancee, Fox & Friends co-host Ainsley Earhardt.

The president acknowledged to reporters Sunday that there would be occasional arguments among Musk and other top officials, but he shrugged off the idea that there were lingering resentments.

I dont think the tensions are high, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. Look, Elons a very special person, and these Cabinet people are special people. You know, these are very successful people.

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That doesnt mean they dont have a little bit of an argument here and there about something, or maybe personnel arguments, he added.

Trump is likely to be ultraaware of any personnel fights during his second term that take attention away from him or his broader agenda. His first term was frequently defined by clashes with and among high-level staff.

Trump feuded with former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon clashed with other officials. Former chief of staff John Kelly famously did not get along with senior adviser Jared Kushner. And Trump cycled through Cabinet officials across agencies at a rapid clip.

The president appears determined to avoid similar churn this time around, even as Musk represents a wild card with a massive megaphone who can rock the boat on a moments notice.

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The New York Times reported Trump sough to mediate a separate dispute involving Musk and Bannon that had erupted in the early weeks of his presidency, including by suggesting the two men sit down privately.

[Trump] understands far better how to keep the team moving in the same direction, the Trump ally said. Hes still going to allow some clashes, because thats the way Trump works, but hes not going to allow some of the bloodletting and squabbles that occurred the first 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 The Hill.
(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trumps administration is preparing a new travel rule that could force Canadians planning to stay in the country for more than 30 days to register their information with the US government and submit to fingerprinting.

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The draft rule, which is set to take effect April 11, expands requirements for registration and fingerprinting of foreign nationals who cross the US-Canada land border and stay in the US longer for more than a month. Affected people would have to create an account with US Citizenship and Immigration Services and schedule an appointment for fingerprinting as part of a background check.

The change could impact scores of Canadian snowbirds  retirees who spend winter months in warmer US states  who may now need to either register with the US government or face penalties.

Other forms, including a common I-94 travel document, are accepted in lieu of the registration, according to the notice. That document is routinely issued to non-immigrant visitors to the US who arrive by air or sea.

The move comes as Trump looks to crack down on migration and as he stokes a spiraling trade war with Canada. Hes threatened widespread tariffs on Canada, and on Tuesday moved to double forthcoming steel and aluminum levies on the country. Canada is the top source of US aluminum imports.

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Its unclear if the post to the Federal Register was meant as an additional provocation in that dispute. The Department of Homeland Security announced last month their plans to fully enforce the Immigration and Nationality Act as part of a push to track illegal aliens and compel them to leave the country voluntarily.

That law, which has not previously been fully enforced, mandates that noncitizens over 14 years old must register and be fingerprinted within 30 days of entry and that all registered noncitizens over 18 years old must carry proof of registration at all times. Trump issued an executive order on his first day in office directing DHS to ensure that undocumented individuals register with the government pursuant to the law.

The Trump administration will enforce all our immigration lawswe will not pick and choose which laws we will enforce, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a February statement. We must know who is in our country for the safety and security of our homeland and all Americans.

DHS and the White House did not immediately comment about the push on Canadian registration.

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Under the updated rule, those arriving from Canada by land, remaining in the US for a month, and not otherwise registered with the federal government will be required to fill out a biographic information form, which requires phone number, date of birth, address, family information, criminal records and immigration history.

(Updates throughout with additional detail)

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In less than a month, TikTok could have one or a few new owners, be banned again, or simply receive another reprieve to continue operating in the United States.

Questions about the fate of the popular video sharing app have continued to linger since a law requiring its China-based parent company to divest or face a ban took effect on Jan. 19. After taking office, President Donald Trump gave TikTok a 75-day reprieve by signing an executive order that delayed enforcement of the statute until April 5.

As he returned to Washington from his Florida home on Sunday, Trump told reporters that a deal could come soon. He did not offer any details on the interested buyers, but said the administration was in talks with four different groups about TikTok.

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A lot of people want it and its up to me, Trump said aboard Air Force One.

A TikTok spokesperson declined to comment.

What will happen on April 5?

If TikTok is not sold to an approved buyer by April 5, the original law that bans it nationwide would once again go into effect. However, the deadline for the executive order doesn't appear to be set in stone and the president has reiterated it could be extended further if needed.

Trumps order came a few days after the Supreme Court unanimously upheld a federal law that required TikToks parent company, ByteDance, to divest or be banned in January. The day after the ruling, TikTok went dark for U.S. users and came back online after Trump vowed to stall the ban.

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During his first term, Trump tried to ban TikTok on national security grounds, which was halted by the courts before his administration negotiated a sale of the platform that eventually failed to materialize. He changed his position on the popular app during last year's presidential election and has credited the platform with helping him win more young voters.

The decision to keep TikTok alive through an executive order has received some scrutiny, but it has not faced a legal challenge in court.

Who wants to buy TikTok?

Although its unclear if ByteDance plans to sell TikTok, several potential bidders have come forward in the past few months.

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Aides for Vice President JD Vance, who was tapped to oversee a potential deal, have reached out to some parties, such as the artificial intelligence startup Perplexity AI, to get additional details about their bids, according to a person familiar with the matter. In January, Perplexity AI presented ByteDance with a merger proposal that would combine Perplexitys business with TikToks U.S. operation.

Other potential bidders include a consortium organized by billionaire businessman Frank McCourt, which recently recruited Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian as a strategic advisor. Investors in the consortium say theyve offered ByteDance $20 billion in cash for TikToks U.S. platform. And if successful, they plan to redesign the popular app with blockchain technology they say will provide users with more control over their online data.

Jesse Tinsley, the founder of the payroll firm Employer.com, says he too has organized a consortium, which includes the CEO of the video game platform Roblox, and is offering ByteDance more than $30 billion for TikTok.

Trump said in January that Microsoft was also eyeing the popular app. Other interested parties include Trumps former Treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin and Rumble, the video site popular with some conservatives and far-right groups. In a post on X last March, Rumble said it was ready to join a consortium of parties interested in purchasing TikTok and serving as a tech partner for the company.

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What could happen next?

Trump has said he is looking to have the U.S. government broker a deal for 50% control of TikTok. However, the administration hasn't provided details on what exactly that would entail, or what role the U.S. government could play in the future of the short-form video app.

Some potential bidders have floated proposals that would allow the U.S. to invest or own a stake in the platform. Last month, Trump himself also said the U.S. could own part of TikTok through a new government-owned investment fund.

Chinese officials, who would have to approve the deal, appear to have softened their stance on the issue compared to last year when Beijing called the push for divestment a robbers act.

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Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said in January that business operations and acquisitions should be independently decided by companies in accordance with market principles.

If it involves Chinese companies, Chinas laws and regulations should be observed, Mao said.

If ByteDance sits down to negotiate, the company would likely need to iron out major details with the U.S. over the proprietary algorithm that populates TikTok feeds as well as the flow of content between the U.S. and the rest of the world.

_________

Associated Press reporters Michelle Price and Didi Tang contributed to this story from Washington.
Related: TikToks future uncertain as users regain access

In less than a month, TikTok could have one or a few new owners, be banned again, or simply receive another reprieve to continue operating in the United States.

Questions about the fate of the popular video sharing app have continued to linger since a law requiring its China-based parent company to divest or face a ban took effect on Jan. 19. After taking office, President Donald Trump gave TikTok a 75-day reprieve by signing an executive order that delayed enforcement of the statute until April 5.

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Report: Broke Florida insurance companies moved money; watchdog organization asks how?

As he returned to Washington from his Florida home on Sunday, Trump told reporters that a deal could come soon. He did not offer any details on the interested buyers, but said the administration was in talks with four different groups about TikTok.

A lot of people want it and its up to me, Trump said aboard Air Force One.

A TikTok spokesperson declined to comment.

What will happen on April 5?

If TikTok is not sold to an approved buyer by April 5, the original law that bans it nationwide would once again go into effect. However, the deadline for the executive order doesnt appear to be set in stone and the president has reiterated it could be extended further if needed.

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Trumps order came a few days after the Supreme Court unanimously upheld a federal law that required TikToks parent company, ByteDance, to divest or be banned in January. The day after the ruling, TikTok went dark for U.S. users and came back online after Trump vowed to stall the ban.

During his first term, Trump tried to ban TikTok on national security grounds, which was halted by the courts before his administration negotiated a sale of the platform that eventually failed to materialize. He changed his position on the popular app during last years presidential election and has credited the platform with helping him win more young voters.

The decision to keep TikTok alive through an executive order has received some scrutiny, but it has not faced a legal challenge in court.

Who wants to buy TikTok?

Although its unclear if ByteDance plans to sell TikTok, several potential bidders have come forward in the past few months.

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Aides for Vice President JD Vance, who was tapped to oversee a potential deal, have reached out to some parties, such as the artificial intelligence startup Perplexity AI, to get additional details about their bids, according to a person familiar with the matter. In January, Perplexity AI presented ByteDance with a merger proposal that would combine Perplexitys business with TikToks U.S. operation.

Other potential bidders include a consortium organized by billionaire businessman Frank McCourt, which recently recruited Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian as a strategic advisor. Investors in the consortium say theyve offered ByteDance $20 billion in cash for TikToks U.S. platform. And if successful, they plan to redesign the popular app with blockchain technology they say will provide users with more control over their online data.

Jesse Tinsley, the founder of the payroll firm Employer.com, says he too has organized a consortium, which includes the CEO of the video game platform Roblox, and is offering ByteDance more than $30 billion for TikTok.

Trump said in January that Microsoft was also eyeing the popular app. Other interested parties include Trumps former Treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin and Rumble, the video site popular with some conservatives and far-right groups. In a post on X last March, Rumble said it was ready to join a consortium of parties interested in purchasing TikTok and serving as a tech partner for the company.

What could happen next?

Trump has said he is looking to have the U.S. government broker a deal for 50% control of TikTok. However, the administration hasnt provided details on what exactly that would entail, or what role the U.S. government could play in the future of the short-form video app.

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Some potential bidders have floated proposals that would allow the U.S. to invest or own a stake in the platform. Last month, Trump himself also said the U.S. could own part of TikTok through a new government-owned investment fund.

Chinese officials, who would have to approve the deal, appear to have softened their stance on the issue compared to last year when Beijing called the push for divestment a robbers act.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said in January that business operations and acquisitions should be independently decided by companies in accordance with market principles.

If it involves Chinese companies, Chinas laws and regulations should be observed, Mao said.

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If ByteDance sits down to negotiate, the company would likely need to iron out major details with the U.S. over the proprietary algorithm that populates TikTok feeds as well as the flow of content between the U.S. and the rest of the world.

Associated Press reporters Michelle Price and Didi Tang contributed to this story from Washington.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
US President Donald Trump says that Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could return to the White House following the talks in Saudi Arabia.

Source: Trump speaking to journalists outside the White House on 11 March, as reported by European Pravda

Quote: "Were going to meet with them [the Russians] later on today and tomorrow, and hopefully well be able to wipe out a deal. But I think the ceasefire is very important. If we can get Russia to do it, thatll be great. If we cant, we just keep going on and people are going to get killed."

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Details: Trump mentioned the agreement on a full ceasefire that Ukraine accepted during talks in the Saudi city of Jeddah and said he hopes that Russia will agree to it.

When asked whether this means that Zelenskyy will be invited back to the White House, Trump replied: "Sure, absolutely."

On 11 March, representatives of Ukraine and the US held talks in Jeddah that went on for around eight hours. This was the first official meeting between Ukrainian and American officials since the row between Zelenskyy and Trump at the White House on 28 February.

Background:

Following the meeting, Ukraine agreed to an immediate 30-day ceasefire if Russia also accepted the proposal.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the US would pass on Ukraines 30-day ceasefire proposal to Russia and said he hopes Moscow will accept it.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Happy Tuesday! Heres your Tuesday Tech Drop, a collection of the past weeks top stories at the intersection of technology and politics.

Trump turns CISA upside down

Donald Trump is known for peddling conspiracy theories about election security, yet his administration has cut funding for two key cybersecurity initiatives, including one focused on election security. On Monday, The Associated Press reported the Trump administration slashed millions of dollars for two initiatives, the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center. Both initiatives are part of the nonprofit Center for Internet Security.

The AP highlighted the potential ramifications:

The activities no longer being funded include cyber threat intelligence, cyber incident response and engaging with state and local government officials. In a statement, the agency said ending the funding will help focus CISAs work on mission critical areas, and eliminate redundancies.

Trump and the GOP have had the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in their crosshairs since 2020, when Trump fired its former director, Chris Krebs, who debunked election conspiracy theories Trump was spreading at the time.

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Trump has made several moves at CISA in his second term that have raised eyebrows. His Department of Homeland Security secretary said earlier this year that CISA shouldnt focus on thwarting foreign misinformation efforts that target Americans. Meanwhile, a recent CBS article highlighted worries among lawmakers and federal employees about the dire consequences of gutting CISA, including the recent firing of a top employee responsible for overseeing defense against cyberattacks on critical infrastructure like water pipelines and electrical grids.

And this week, Trump reportedly nominated Sean Plankey, a cybersecurity professional from his previous administration, to be CISAs new director.

CBP One adds a self-deportation feature

The Trump administration has repurposed CBP One, an app originally created to help migrants file asylum requests, into an app to aid his mass deportation plans. USA Today has a report on the administrations addition of a new feature on the app that it says will allow people to declare their intent to voluntarily depart, offering them the chance to leave before facing harsher consequences.

Read more at USA Today.

Censorship hits anti-sexual assault groups

An NBC News report shines a light on how the Trump administrations censorship efforts are affecting groups that combat sexual violence. The report found multiple groups have scrubbed references to transgender people from their websites, fearing their federal funding might be cut due the administrations anti-trans policies and its targeting of science grants for organizations that use keywords like sex, trauma and gender.

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Read more at NBC News.

Whistleblower alleges censorship at Facebook

A former Meta employees whistleblower complaint, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, claims Meta and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, went to extreme lengths to censor users around a decade ago, as the company (then known as Facebook) sought to appease the Chinese government in a bid to expand into the country. In a statement to right-wing outlet Newsmax, a Meta spokesperson dismissed the allegations, claiming theyre being pushed by an employee terminated eight years ago for poor performance.

Read more at The Washington Post.

Mike Johnsons new gospel

House Speaker Mike Johnson has been preaching the gospel of Elon Musk. I recently examined Johnsons disturbing tendency to tout Musks algorithms  and their purported infallibility  as the primary deciders of what government programs should be allowed to exist.

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Give my blog a read here.

Trump allies target Google

The federal government has Google in its investigatory crosshairs. House Oversight Committee Chairman Jim Jordan previously targeted YouTube, a subsidiary of Googles parent company, Alphabet, in an effort to portray social media companies as biased against Republicans. Last week he issued a subpoena to Alphabet, alleging its content moderation efforts run afoul of free expression  which Alphabet, as a private company, has no legal obligation to support on its platforms.

At the same time, Trumps attack dog at the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, said he is investigating a conservative outlets claim that YouTubeTVs decision not to carry its programming amounts to faith-based discrimination.

Read more on Carrs probe at Deadline.

Brazil upholds Rumble ruling

A majority on Brazils Supreme Court voted last week to uphold an earlier ruling that bans video platform Rumble, which is popular among far-right influencers, for failing to comply with court orders.

Read more at Reuters.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Elon Musks DOGE has ripped through huge swathes of the federal government, but no target has been hit like the U.S. Agency for International Development. On Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio thanked Musk and boasted that 83 percent of USAID programs had been canceled.

The political fallout of USAIDs dismantling is still unclear, but the practical consequences of freezing foreign aid and disrupting longstanding programs are starting to add up for the Trump administration.

So, what does it all mean  for America and the world? Here are some answers.

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This transcript has been edited for length and clarity.

1

What role does USAID play in global stability?

The U.S. Agency for International Development has managed more than $40 billion a year in foreign assistance and has programs in more than 120 countries. The money goes toward everything from helping refugees from places like Ukraine to promoting educational systems and good governance in various parts of the world. A huge amount of U.S. foreign assistance goes toward promoting global health, covering everything from mosquito nets to prevent malaria, to vaccinations against measles and polio, to trying to stop the rise of AIDS in African countries.

People who lose this funding are going to become more susceptible to starvation, to disease and possibly to extremist ideology. This is the type of thing where if you lose educational services and you have young people without a school to attend, then they're going to turn to activities that could fuel crime.

People are already literally dying because the U.S. has frozen its assistance. The State Department said it had issued waivers for what it called core life-saving material. This includes medicine and food and things like that, but it hasnt defined this very well, and so there are a lot of organizations that dont know what qualifies for these waivers. In addition, because most of USAIDs staff was put on leave and there have been technical issues with the payment system, getting waivers approved and money flowing has been close to impossible for many groups.

2

How does a weakened USAID affect the United States?

Much of the money the United States spends on foreign assistance actually is spent inside the United States. For instance, the government purchases a tremendous amount of grains and other types of foods from farmers, and it ships it over to feed hungry people overseas.

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Because of this foreign aid freeze, those food stocks are just sitting there, not being used. And many farmers are not getting the money they were promised. Were talking hundreds of millions of dollars, maybe even billions over time. Many health care companies, such as Pfizer and Abbott, receive money from USAID to provide medicines and other materials that can go help people around the world. So when their contracts are not fulfilled, this hurts them and it could hurt the U.S. economy.

3

How could job cuts affect the aid network?

Many of the people who work directly for USAID carry out core functions. Theyre the connectors. Theyre the ones who can push the buttons to get the funding out the door. Theyre the ones who are the managers who know how to write the contracts and who know how to check to see if the money is being spent properly. And now most of these people have been put on leave or have been fired.

Its sort of like ripping out the heart of much of the aid network around the world. The USAID cuts affect other sectors as well. USAID works a great deal with private contractors. So, many organizations that work with USAID have had to lay off their people as well. Theres a reverberation, and ultimately at the end of the day, tens of thousands of jobs could get lost because of whats happened.

4

How does USAIDs contributions compare to that of other countries?

Without U.S. assistance, other countries, international organizations, NGOs, theyre going to have to find other sources of money, or theyre going to have to find ways to network and coordinate without the U.S. there.

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This is really hard because in a lot of ways, its like you have a body without a spine. Some of those countries might be in Europe, places like Norway are big aid funders as well. Many also believe that China could fill these gaps. And that is a concern for many U.S. foreign policy observers because they think that this would make China a more powerful force in the future.

5

What happens when the U.S. abandons its role as the leader in global aid?

The fear is that as U.S. assistance is withdrawn, areas that were stable could become increasingly unstable. Diseases that were held at bay could spread, and when natural disasters take place, we may find that theres far fewer resources to help the people who are affected.

Overall, the challenge here is that if the U.S. leaves a vacuum and then tries to go back to fill it, it's going to have to do even more work than it did before. Its very easy to destroy these networks. It takes a long time to rebuild them. And in that amount of time, lives are at stake.


Republican Representative Don Bacon sharply rebuked Elon Musk for insulting the Polish foreign minister and a Democratic U.S. Senator on social media for to their support of Ukraine.

Bacons comments came after Musk called Arizona Democrat Mark Kelly a traitor for visiting Ukraine and the Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski a small man for defending Ukraines use of Starlink.

Bacon, a Nebraskan who endorsed President Donald Trump in 2020 and 2024, said Musks attacks on U.S. lawmakers and allies were not appropriate and reflected poorly on the White House.

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"It's not decent, its not right," Bacon told CNN. "I don't agree with Senator Kelly on some things, but we dont call each other a traitor, and I think it reflects bad on the White House.

Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska condemned Elon Musk for name-calling a Democratic senator over their support for Ukraine (CNN / YouTube)

Musk blasted Kelly on X after the senator visited Ukraine and urged the U.S. government to continue backing Ukraine in its war with Russia. Kellys comment appeared to be an indirect response to Trump pausing U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine after a contentious meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

He represents the White House when he says that. And also going after the foreign minister of Poland, I dont thinks right either, Bacon added, referring to Musk attacking Sikorski.

Musk told Sikorski to be quiet, small man on X during a tense exchange in which Sikorski defended Poland paying millions to provide Ukraine with Starlink technology and questioned Musks ethics of threatening to turn off the life-saving communication tech for the war-torn country.

Starlinks for Ukraine are paid for by the Polish Digitization Ministry at the cost of about $50 million per year.

The ethics of threatening the victim of aggression apart, if SpaceX proves to be an unreliable provider we will be forced to look for other suppliers. https://t.co/WaJWCklgPE  Radosaw Sikorski  (@sikorskiradek) March 9, 2025

I thought, Why is a White House official  thats not even elected, and its not the president or vice president  Why is that person belittling the Polish foreign minister? Its not appropriate, its not right. We need more discipline in the White House, Bacon told CNN anchor Pamela Brown.

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Bacon, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, criticized Musk and the Trump administration for turning their backs on Ukraine and treating Putin with velvet gloves.

Though the president promised to end the UkraineRussia conflict upon taking office in January, he has struggled to make progress. Trump has walked back much of the relationship that former president Joe Biden built with Zelensky, calling the Ukrainian president a dictator and publicly condemning him during an Oval Office meeting.

Traitor?



Elon, if you dont understand that defending freedom is a basic tenet of what makes America great and keeps us safe, maybe you should leave it to those of us who do. pic.twitter.com/9dgmQfg7HZ  Senator Mark Kelly (@SenMarkKelly) March 10, 2025

The Republican representative said Trump was walking away from the foreign policy legacy left by former presidents Ike Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan and urged the administration to recognize Russia as a foreign adversary and Ukraine as an ally.

Its time that this administration gets this in their brain, Bacon said.

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Part of doing so, according to Bacon, is reigning in the rhetoric used by White House officials such as Musk.

His job was to do an audit of what were spending on, I think we should have more discussion for when we fire people, cut people, know what the consequences are, but it doesnt reflect well on our country when this goes on, Bacon said.
NEW YORK  Mayor Eric Adams declined Tuesday to offer his thoughts on President Trumps trade wars, federal funding cuts or the potential impact on New Yorkers amid criticism that the governments move to dismiss his criminal indictment has left him overly beholden to the Trump administration.

Adams has said he will not publicly disparage Trump and instead bring concerns to the president directly, although at his weekly press briefing Tuesday he said that he hadnt done so regarding the economic issues that have left New Yorkers anxiously wondering about everything from their electric bills to 401(k) plans.

The mayor also declined to offer an opinion on ICEs arrest and detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia grad student targeted because of his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests. Khalils arrest has sparked outrage and protests across the city.

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No, I havent had those conversations with him about these, Adams said on Monday when asked whether he had spoken with Trump on the economic issues.

Anything that affects New Yorkers concerns me, Adams said in response to a question about whether he was concerned about the tariffs at the press conference Monday.

But, he continued, Thats the role of the federal government. I dont control that, and I think that the federal government will just make the determination on what, how that plays out.

Adams is facing allegations that hes been compromised after the Justice Department moved to drop his federal corruption indictment in February on the basis that it held the mayor back from assisting with some of Trumps policy objectives, particularly immigration. The department proposed the case be dismissed without prejudice, meaning it could be reinstated.

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In a filing last week, an independent attorney appointed by the judge in Adams case wrote that to dismiss his case without prejudice  so that it could be brought back at any point  left a sword of Damocles hanging over Adams.

The judge in the case is currently weighing a decision.

The mayor has both denied the charges in the indictment and that there was any quid pro quo between him and the president.

When asked Tuesday if his response to Khalils arrest was further fueling concerns hes overly beholden to Trump, Adams accused his critics of being unwilling to fight for New Yorkers, saying they didnt back him up when the city was dealing with the migrant crisis, which he blames on the Biden administration.

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Listen, I got opinions about a lot of things, but my opinion cannot govern the public safety of the city, the mayor said, adding that the decision to deport is up to the federal government and that the city does not cooperate with ICE on civil enforcement efforts.

The mayor has also faced backlash for not speaking out on other issues involving the Trump administration, including controversial executive orders, and has told other city officials not to speak out against Trump themselves on social media.

Along with the rest of the nation, New York is facing economic uncertainty under the Trump administration on multiple fronts.

After the president escalated a trade war against Canada this week, doubling down on tariffs, the stock market sank. The province of Ontario imposed a 25% electricity surcharge on New York and two other states following similar tariffs from Trump on products imported from Canada on Monday. Its unclear how much New York City would be impacted by Canadas move or the other tariffs.

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The surcharge was suspended Tuesday, allowing the conflict to cool off a bit. Trump backed down on a threat to farther increase the Canadian tariffs.

Budget experts have also flagged potential federal funding cuts that could slash Medicaid, SNAP and immigration funding.

Anytime you look to cut anything, theres an advocacy group who wants to fight against it, Adams said at his press briefing.

_____
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump is threatening to lead the charge against U.S. Rep. Thomas Massies reelection because the Kentucky Republican is opposing a stopgap spending measure to keep the federal government open this week.

Blasting Massie on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump on Monday night said, Congressman Thomas Massie, of beautiful Kentucky, is an automatic NO vote on just about everything, despite the fact that he has always voted for Continuing Resolutions in the past. HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED, and I will lead the charge against him.

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Massie is part of a small group of GOP holdouts on a bill that could be voted on by the House Tuesday, Politico reports. With no Democrats in the narrowly divided chamber expected to support the measure, Speaker Mike Johnson cannot afford to lose many Republicans.

Without a continuing resolution, the government could go into a partial shutdown later this week.

Trump called Massie just another GRANDSTANDER, whos too much trouble, and not worth the fight. He reminds me of Liz Chaney before her historic, record breaking fall (loss!). The people of Kentucky wont stand for it, just watch. DO I HAVE ANY TAKERS???

Earlier Monday the co-manager of Trumps 2024 campaign, Chris LaCivita, threatened Massie with a primary challenge in a post on X that said, Tick tock Tommie.

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In response, Massie posted, Someone thinks they can control my voting card by threatening my re-election. Guess what? Doesnt work on me. Three times Ive had a challenger who tried to be more MAGA than me. None busted 25% because my constituents prefer transparency and principles over blind allegiance.

Massie  an MIT graduate and former Lewis County judge executive elected to Congress in 2012  also said on Monday that Republicans leaders should quit kicking the can down the road by passing stopgap continuing resolutions instead of negotiating full-year appropriations bills. Massie said the continuing resolution would obligate Trump to carrying out Democratic President Joe Bidens spending plan until September.

Unless I get a lobotomy Monday that causes me to forget what Ive witnessed the past 12 years, Ill be a NO on the CR this week, Massie posted on social media. It amazes me that my colleagues and many of the public fall for the lie that we will fight another day.

The argument for CR in September 2024 was to fight in December 2024 after the election. The argument for CR in December 2024 was to fight in March 2025 after the inauguration, Massie wrote. The argument for CR in March 2025 is to fight in September 2025 because were not ready yet ?!?!

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Trump also clashed with Massie in 2020 when the Kentuckian forced Congress back to Washington to vote in person on a $2 trillion COVID-19 relief package.

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky is the only Republican holdout in the Senate against the spending bill. On Monday Paul posted, The bill continues spending at the inflated pandemic levels and will add $2T to the debt this year. Count me as a hell no!
President Donald Trump turned the South Lawn of the White House into a temporary Tesla showroom Tuesday in a conspicuous favor to his adviser Elon Musk, the car companys billionaire CEO.

Tesla delivered five of its vehicles to the White House and parked them on a driveway for Trump to personally inspect, hours after he said on Truth Social that he planned to buy a Tesla to demonstrate his support for Musk and for the slumping company.

With Musk beside him, Trump declared the vehicles beautiful and in particular praised the companys unusually designed Cybertruck.

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As soon as I saw it, I said, That is the coolest design, Trump said.

Though Trump frequently attacked electric vehicles during last years campaign, he told reporters that he had heard good things about Teslas from his friends. He sat in the drivers seat of a sedan, with Musk seated beside him, and said he planned to buy one.

The one I like is that one, and I want the same color, he said, pointing to a red Model S. The vehicle is listed on the Tesla website for $73,490, or $88,490 for the all-wheel-drive Model S Plaid.

He did not take a test drive but said he might another time.

A Tesla Cybertruck parked at the South Portico of the White House on Tuesday.

Because of ethical restraints, it is extremely rare for a senior government official, let alone a sitting president, to endorse a consumer product so explicitly. In 2017, when then-Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway told Americans to buy from Ivanka Trumps clothing line, she received a warning from a government ethics office and promised never to do it again.

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By reviewing the Teslas in public before cameras, Trump ensured that his purchase would get wide attention. Dan Scavino, a White House deputy chief of staff, livestreamed the event on X, the social media app owned by Musk.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the application of ethics rules.

Trump said he would pay for the vehicle by check.

The event drew some criticism, most notably from Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.

President Donald Trump, alongside Tesla CEO Elon Musk, speaks next to a Tesla vehicle at the South Portico of the White House on Tuesday.

Just because the corruption plays out in public doesnt mean its not corruption, Murphy said on X, alongside a video of Trump getting into a Tesla.

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In his first weeks in office, Trump has increasingly moved away from the populist policies and messaging of both his first term and his campaigns, instead embracing the interests and agendas of his billionaire backers. Musk, in particular, has led the administrations push to cut thousands of largely middle-class federal jobs, and people are seeing their retirement savings tank as the stock market plummets amid uncertainty over Trumps policies. Yet it was Musk whom Trump focused on boosting Tuesday.

Tesla, meanwhile, has faced an extended global backlash to Musks increasing role in politics, most notably for his role in slashing government jobs and his recent promotion of far-right parties, including Germanys AfD. Teslas shares have declined every week since Musk went to Washington, and they fell 15% on Monday before they rebounded Tuesday. Tesla facilities have faced a wave of both peaceful demonstrations and vandalism, including fires at charging stations.

Asked whether his purchase might help Teslas stock, Trump said, I hope it does.

Trump held a piece of paper with notes about Tesla features, according to photos of the notes published by Getty Images. The notes appeared to be something of a sales pitch, including details that Teslas could be purchased for $299 a month and that all vehicles have self-driving  a reference to the companys suite of driver-assistance features, which cost extra and still require human supervision.

Trump holds notes on the pricing of Tesla vehicles as he speaks.

Trump condemned the vandalism and heaped praise on the company.

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Theyre harming a great American company, he said. Referring to Musk, he said: Hes built this great company, and he shouldnt be penalized because hes a patriot.

Tuesdays showcase was a sharp contrast with the Biden administration, which in 2021 did not invite Tesla to an event about electric vehicles  a decision that Musk perceived as a snub that helped to turn him away from the Democratic Party. Musk was still steaming about it more than two years later, posting on social media on Christmas Eve 2023 about having gotten a cold shoulder from the White House. Musk and President Joe Biden were on opposite sides of a fight about unionizing Tesla.

Musk, standing next to Trump, said Tesla planned to double vehicle output in the United States.

Musk is at the center of growing tension within the government about his role as a White House adviser and head of Trump's Department of Government Efficiency. The Trump administration is battling lawsuits that say Musk has exceeded his authority under the law and the Constitution, and members of Trump's Cabinet have privately expressed frustrations about Musk's involvement in their agencies.

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Musk was a major financial supporter of Trump's campaign last year, spending more than a quarter of a billion dollars and making personal appearances on his behalf in the swing state Pennsylvania. Musk also turned X into a pro-Trump media platform.

In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday shortly after midnight, Trump was unabashed in his reason for buying a Tesla.

Im going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American, he wrote.

It is not clear when, if ever, Trump would have the chance to drive a car of any kind unless he does so within the White House complex or a similarly secure area. Presidents are driven around in custom limousines with special security features.

I havent bought a new car in a long time, Trump said.

Trump and Musk speak to the media as they sit in a Tesla vehicle at the South Portico of the White House on Tuesday.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Donald Trump vowed to label people who vandalize Tesla vehicles as domestic terrorists on Tuesday, as he gave reporters what appeared to be part-press conference, part car commercial.

The president appeared outside the White House alongside Elon Musk, hailing Tesla as a great American company and said that those who messed with it would be put through hell.

During the photo-op-turned-briefing, which took place in front of several Tesla models and a Cybertruck, Trump addressed reports that vehicles all over the country had been targeted since he and Musk returned to office.

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Tesla facilities and individual owners across the U.S have reported seeing an increase in vandalism and arson attempts against the vehicles. Repeated incidents occurred at a Tesla store and service center in Loveland, Colorado, the most recent of which occurred on Friday, according to CNBC.

President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, along with his son X on the South Lawn of the White House (AP)

Asked about reports that some believed the vandals should be labeled domestic terrorists, the president replied: I'll do it. I'm going to stop them because they're harming a great American company. I've stuck up for a lot of American companies.

He continued: I do favors for all when you heard an American company, especially a company like this, applies so many jobs that others are unable to do, when you do that, those people are going to go through a big problem when we catch them.

Trump had said he would buy a Tesla as the companys stock price has continued to fall in recent weeks (AP)

And we have a lot of you got a lot of cameras up, we already know who some of them are. We're going to catch up and they're bad guys. They're the same guys that screw around with our schools and universities. The same garbage.

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And no, we're going to catch them and let me tell you, you do it to Tesla and you do it to any company. We're going to catch you and you're going to go through hell.

Trump also spoke about his First Buddy Musk, saying the worlds richest man had been treated very unfairly by a very small group of people. I just want people to know that he can't be penalized for being a patriot, he said.

The president said those who vandalize Tesla vehicles would go through hell (AP)

"Markets are going to go up and they're going to go down but, you know what, we have to rebuild our country." He went on to say that he would buy a Tesla, but admitted he would not be driving because, as president, he is not allowed to drive.

I havent driven a car in a long time. And I love to drive cars, he said. But Im gonna have it at the White House, and Im gonna let my staff use it, Im gonna let people at the place use it, and theyre all excited about it.

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For his part, Musk vowed that Tesla would be doubling its vehicle output in the U.S. over the course of the next two years As a function of the great policies of President Trump and his administration, and as an act of faith in America.

Trump said he had recently bought a Tesla for his granddaughter (AP)

The president added that he had bought a Cybertruck for his 17-year-old granddaughter Kai Trump last year. After climbing into a red Tesla Model S, he could not resist returning to familiar territory.

"You think Biden could get into that car? I don't think so, he said.

However, while president, Biden did test drive an electric car, in his case a Ford.

While Trump has not driven for a long time, he is known to love vehicles, famously sitting in a truck outside the White House during his first term, and being driven around in a garbage truck during the 2024 election campaign.
President Trump is vowing to lead the charge to unseat Republican Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.), who has said he will not support the GOPs short-term government funding bill ahead of Fridays shutdown deadline.

Trump began a Truth Social post late Monday night by thanking the House Freedom Caucus for backing the stopgap funding package and supporting Speaker Mike Johnsons (R-La.) efforts to keep the government open, and then called on Massie to be primaried.

Thank you to the House Freedom Caucus for just delivering a big blow to the Radical Left Democrats and their desire to raise Taxes and SHUT OUR COUNTRY DOWN! They hate America and all it stands for. Thats why they allowed MILLIONS of Criminals to invade our Nation. Sometimes it takes great courage to do the right thing. Congressman Thomas Massie, of beautiful Kentucky, is an automatic NO vote on just about everything, despite the fact that he has always voted for Continuing Resolutions in the past. HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED, and I will lead the charge against him, Trump said.

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The president then compared Massie to former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who served on the committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and was censured by the Republican National Committee. Trump endorsed Cheneys successful primary challenger in the 2022 race.

Hes just another GRANDSTANDER, whos too much trouble, and not worth the fight. He reminds me of Liz Chaney before her historic, record breaking fall (loss!). The people of Kentucky wont stand for it, just watch. DO I HAVE ANY TAKERS??? Anyway, thank you again to the House Freedom Caucus for your very important vote. We need to buy some time in order to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE. Unite and Win!!! Trump said.

Massie has frequently bucked his party on fiscal matters and has cast doubt on passing the continuing resolution to keep the government funded until the end of the fiscal year.

Someone thinks they can control my voting card by threatening my re-election. Guess what? Doesnt work on me, Massie said on the social platform X before Trumps post.

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Three times Ive had a challenger who tried to be more MAGA than me, Massie added. None busted 25% because my constituents prefer transparency and principles over blind allegiance.

The president also attacked Massie in 2020, when he called him a third rate Grandstander on X and called on him to be thrown out of the Republican Party.

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US authorities have arrested a Palestinian student who played a leading role in last year's pro-Gaza protests on the campus of Columbia University in New York.

US immigration officials forced their way into Mahmoud Khalil's flat on Sunday and detained him, according to media reports.

He was later taken to a detention centre in the US state of Louisiana, the reports said.

US President Donald Trump labelled Khalil "a radical foreign pro-Hamas student" in a post on his online platform Truth Social on Monday.

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Trump said he would deport him from the United States along with others involved in "pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic and anti-American activity."

According to his lawyer, however, Khalil has an unlimited US residence permit, a so-called green card. Revoking such status is usually a lengthy process.

Khalil intends to take legal action against his deportation, the lawyer added.

The New York Times reported that the Palestinian is married to a woman who is a US citizen and is eight months pregnant.

A court had initially blocked Khalil's deportation to allow time for a ruling, according to media reports.

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Protests against Israel's actions in the Gaza war have taken place at New York's elite Columbia University and many other universities in the US. Camps were set up and buildings occupied.

Khalil played a prominent role as a speaker at the demonstrations in New York.

Columbia is being targeted by the Trump administration, which believes the demonstrators there sympathize with Palestinian Islamist Hamas militants in Gaza and that Jewish students on campus are not sufficiently protected.

The university recently had $400 million in funding cancelled.
US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has stated that the issue of guarantees for Ukraine was discussed during a meeting with the Ukrainian delegation in Saudi Arabia.

Source: Waltz in a comment to reporters following the meeting on 11 March, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Waltz said it was "very clear" that Ukraine shares US President Donald Trump's vision for peace and "his determination to end the fighting".

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He added that the Ukrainian delegation has made "concrete steps and concrete proposals", not only accepting the US proposal for a full ceasefire.

"We also got into substantive details on how this war is going to permanently end, what type of guarantees they [Ukrainians  ed.] are going to have for their long-term security and prosperity, but also really looking at what its going to take to finally end this horrific fighting," Waltz said.

Background:

During the talks in Saudi Arabia, Ukraine said it is willing to implement a 30-day ceasefire, provided that Russia also adheres to it.

A joint Ukraine-US statement has also indicated that Washington is lifting its pause in military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

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Mike Waltz, National Security Advisor to US President Donald Trump, has commented briefly on the progress of the negotiations during a break after the meeting between the Ukrainian and American delegations.

Source: CNN, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Mike Waltz walked through the lobby of a hotel in Jeddah where talks are taking place between US and Ukrainian officials.

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In response to the TV channel's question about how the meeting went, Waltz replied: "Getting there."

Earlier in the day, CNN reported that a senior Ukrainian official said that the talks had "started very constructively".

Background:

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry previously noted that the talks between Ukraine and the US in Saudi Arabia would focus on bilateral relations and the path to peace.

Rubio said on Monday 10 March that Ukraine would have to make concessions on the territories that Russia has seized since 2014 as part of any agreement to end the war.

The Financial Times reported that Ukraine would propose a plan to the US for a temporary ceasefire in the air and at sea, as well as strikes on energy and civilian infrastructure.

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By Ju-min Park

SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea's acting President Choi Sang-mok said on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump's "America First" policies had started targeting his country.

Choi said discussions with the United States over tariff measures and stronger cooperation on energy and shipbuilding were beginning ahead of "reciprocal tariffs" set to take effect on April 2.

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The U.S. President announced a global regime of reciprocal tariffs on all U.S. trading partners from April 2.

Trump has threatened to impose "all-out pressure" on South Korea, Choi said, citing his comments to the U.S. Congress where he singled out the key U.S. Asia ally for applying high tariffs.

Earlier this week, Choi ordered authorities to actively communicate with the Trump administration to resolve any misunderstanding about tariff rates.

"The government will only consider the national interest and respond with 'a cool head and flexibility, and will devote all our efforts to finding a mutual win-win agreement between South Korea and the United States," Choi told a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

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Trump also wants to scrap a bipartisan law that provides subsidies for semiconductor chip manufacturing and production.

In the final weeks of the previous U.S. administration, the Commerce Department finalised more than $33 billion in awards including $4.7 billion to South Korea's Samsung Electronics.

Separately, Choi also noted rising public concerns in South Korea over the risk of physical conflict ahead of an "important ruling" by the Constitutional Court. He said the government would deal sternly with any violent, illegal protests "without any tolerance."

Police are preparing for the "worst-case scenarios" over safety concerns when the Constitutional Court rules on whether to oust or reinstate impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol.

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Yoon supporters and opponents have been taking to the streets to hold rallies, amid a political crisis triggered by the suspended president's brief imposition of martial law last year.

(Reporting by Ju-min Park and Cynthia Kim; Editing by Ed Davies)
By Humeyra Pamuk

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler traveled to Iraq last month to push for the release of Israeli-Russian researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov, who was kidnapped in Iraq nearly two years ago, three sources familiar with the matter said.

Since taking office, Boehler has stepped up efforts to secure the release of Tsurkov, a Princeton University student who went missing in Iraq during a research trip in March 2023, publicly urging the Iraqi government to help her get home.

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"The Trump Administration has done more in just a few weeks than the previous administration did in almost two years," Emma Tsurkov, sister of Elizabeth told Reuters in a statement.

"I am especially grateful to SPEHA (Special Envoy) Boehler for going directly to meet with Prime Minister (Mohammed Shia al-)Sudani in Baghdad. His engagement with Sudani makes it clear that the U.S. holds Sudani responsible for finding a way to get my sister home."

An Iraqi official speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters confirmed Boehler had visited in February to discuss the Tsurkov case but did not provide further details.

Tsurkov is being held in Iraq by the Shiite militia Kataib Hezbollah, a group backed by Iran, according to Israeli officials.

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Boehler is trying to negotiate a deal under which Tsurkov will be released in exchange for six members of Iran-aligned Lebanese militia Hezbollah, one of the sources, adding that there was a whole of government effort to bring her back.

"The United States cannot tolerate hostage-taking of U.S. nationals or those of our partners such as Israel. We have and will continue to underscore with the Iraqi government the urgency of securing Elizabeth Tsurkovs release," a State Department spokesperson at Boehler's office said.

In a February 5 post on social media platform X, Boehler advocated for Tsurkov's release.

"Elizabeth Tsurkov is a Princeton student held hostage in Iraq! The @IraqiPMO consistently made false promises to the prior administration about releasing her. BUT NOW

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@realDonaldTrump IS ON TO YOU," Boehler said, tagging the official handle of Sudani's office.

He said if Tsurkov does not come home, then the Iraqi prime minister's office is "either incapable and should be FiRED or worse COMPLICIT. Bring Elizabeth home now!"

Under the previous administration of former President Joe Biden, Tsurkov's family struggled to get Washington to throw its weight behind the efforts to secure her release. U.S. officials then said there was little they could do because she is not an American citizen.

"March 21 will be the two year anniversary of my sister's kidnapping. Hopefully she will not endure March 21 in their custody," Emma Tsurkov said.

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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke on the phone on February 25 with Sudani. While a State Department statement on the conversation did not mention a discussion on Tsurkov, one of the sources said Rubio pushed the Iraqi prime minister on her case.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Additional reporting by Timour Azhari in Baghdad; Editing by Don Durfee and Marguerita Choy)
Greenlanders are voting for a new parliament on Tuesday under the shadow of threats by President Donald Trump to incorporate the Arctic island into the United States.

More than 40,000 eligible voters were able to cast their ballots from 9 am (1100 GMT). Polling stations are set to close at 8 pm. Provisional results are expected in the early hours of Wednesday.

All 31 seats in the autonomous Danish territory's parliament, the Inatsisartut in Nuuk, are up for election. There are six parties competing.

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The strongest force since the last election in 2021 is the left-wing party Inuit Ataqatigiit (Community of the People, IA) led by Prime Minister Mute B Egede. They initially governed for a year in coalition with the independence-leaning Naleraq (Point of Orientation), but due to controversies in this coalition, they have been partnered with the social democratic party Siumut (Forward) since 2022.

IA and Siumut are generally considered the strongest forces in Greenlandic politics.

Trump's claim versus what the Greenlanders want

The debate on Greenland's future unleashed by Trump's declaration of interest has overshadowed the electoral campaign, with politicians from both Greenland and Denmark rejecting his claims.

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Trump says resource-rich Greenland is of strategic importance for US security.

Most recently, Trump reiterated his annexation idea in a speech before the US Congress and, just before the election, tried to win the favour of Greenlanders with promises of a prosperous future.

"We are ready to INVEST BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to create new jobs and MAKE YOU RICH," Trump wrote on his social network, Truth Social. In the post, he once again invited the island's nearly 57,000 inhabitants to join the US. "And, if you so choose, we welcome you to be a part of the Greatest Nation anywhere in the World, the United States of America!"

However, it's not as simple as Trump envisions: Unlike, for example, the case of Alaska in 1867, the United States cannot just purchase territory from other states nowadays. In addition, a clear majority of Greenlanders, or 85%, are against becoming part of the US, according to a recent opinion poll.

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"Trump is now seen by most as an aggressor, yet even the few who appreciate him still don't wish to become Americans," said German cultural historian Ebbe Volquardsen, a scholar at the University of Greenland in Nuuk.

Unprecedented interest in Greenland

The election is drawing unprecedented international public interest to Greenland because of Trump. "What we are currently experiencing is unique in Greenland's history," said Volquardsen. About half the population is primarily concerned, while the other half views the situation as a window of opportunity.

"The international focus on Greenland helps to raise the country's profile," Volquardsen said. "Perhaps the most important aspect is that the global jostling for Greenland also clearly illustrates the value of being in a union with Greenland."

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This has placed the island in a better position to compel its former colonial power, Denmark, eventually to acknowledge historical wrongs and simultaneously grant the island more equality within the shared kingdom.

Potential impact on the election

What effect Trump's statements will have on the election remains unclear. The editor-in-chief of the Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq, Masaana Egede, anticipates that the independence debate fuelled by Trump could primarily boost parties that prominently push this issue - primarily Naleraq.

Larger parties like IA and Siumut might, however, lose one or two seats, he suspects.

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Prime Minister Egede, who turns 38 on election day, could also benefit, observers suggest, as he has been able to present himself internationally as the face of the island and as a calm, unifying leader in light of the Trump debate.

In an interview with the Danish broadcaster DR, where he accused Trump of disrespect shortly before the election, the IA leader hinted that in the event of another electoral victory and given the external pressure, he intended to pursue a broadly based unity government.

Egede has stressed repeatedly: "We do not wish to be Danes. We also do not wish to be Americans. We wish to be Greenlanders."

Egede has declared he would be open to greater economic cooperation with the US in exploiting the island's mineral resources.

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Greenland is also home to a major US military base, the Pituffik Space Base, on its north-western coast.

And independence from Denmark?

Greenland officially belongs to the kingdom of Denmark but decides on most of its political matters independently. However, the island remains financially heavily dependent on Copenhagen, and foreign affairs and defence are run by the government in Copenhagen.

Nonetheless, independence from Denmark has been debated for decades - a debate that has been significantly accelerated by Trump's claims.

Most Greenlandic parties fundamentally agree that the world's largest island should eventually become independent - but they disagree on when the right time might be.
As someone who has worked within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health care system in Indianapolis, I have seen firsthand the dedication of the medical professionals who serve our veterans.

I have also seen the immense challenges they face, including staffing shortages, long wait times and an ever-growing demand for care. Now, with the decision to slash 80,000 jobs from the VA, those challenges will worsen. Indianas 400,000 veterans will pay the price.

The Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis, the state's largest VA facility, is expected to lose hundreds of essential workers, including doctors, nurses and mental health professionals.

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Opinion: HIP faces deep cuts as Republicans hide behind Medicaid's complexity

Veterans in Indiana already wait an average of 42 days for a primary care appointment. With these cuts, those delays will increase dramatically, leaving many veterans without timely care.

The situation is even worse for those in rural areas, where the VAs community-based outpatient clinics in Terre Haute, Bloomington and South Bend are facing possible staff reductions or closings. This means veterans will have to travel farther for care, assuming they can access it at all.

The American flag and the POW-MIA flag are seen from a patient's room at Roudebush VA Medical Center, Thursday, April 9, 2020.

The impact of these cuts cannot be overstated. Longer wait times for medical appointments will force veterans to delay critical care, leading to worsening health outcomes. Slashing mental health services will only exacerbate Indianas already high veteran suicide rate, stripping away support from those who need it most. Reduced access to specialty care will leave veterans with chronic conditions struggling to receive proper treatment.

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Lets call this what it is  many will be pushed toward for-profit health care, which is often more expensive and less effective than the care provided by the VA. It is a direct attack on those who have risked their lives for this country.

Leaders claim these cuts are about efficiency, but the reality is far different. The VA is a lifeline for millions of veterans. The system has consistently outperformed private hospitals in veteran care, yet these cuts aim to dismantle it in favor of privatization.

A wall medallion shows the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs logo at Roudebush VA Medical Center, Thursday, April 9, 2020.

This is about shifting resources away from veterans  and into the pockets of corporations that see health care as a business rather than a duty.

This is a crisis, not a budget issue. Veterans upheld their promise to serve this nation, and now they are being abandoned. Indiana lawmakers must demand transparency about how many jobs will be lost in our state and how these cuts will impact veteran care.

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Our veterans deserve better.

Dr. Raja Ramaswamy is a first-generation Indian American, an Indianapolis-based physician and the author of "You Are the New Prescription."

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana VA wait times could get longer under budget cuts | Opinion
TRUSSVILLE, Ala. (Trussville Tribune)  The Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce is inviting local professionals and business owners to a networking event at Half Shell Oyster House tomorrow evening.

Business After Hours will offer a relaxed atmosphere for attendees to connect, collaborate, and build relationships with fellow business and community leaders.

There will be light appetizers, and refreshments provided courtesy of Half Shell, and a cash bar will be available for beverages.

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Artsy Studio opens in Trussville

The event will be held on Tuesday, March 11 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and is free to attend, no RSVP is required.

Whether youre a longtime Chamber member, a new business owner, or someone looking to get more involved in the local business community, Business After Hours is the perfect place to connect, the chamber wrote.

For more information, contact the Trussville Chamber at (205) 655-7535, or visit trussvillechamber.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 CBS 42.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  Transportation Security Administration officers intercepted a loaded gun at the security checkpoint at Harrisburg International Airport on Monday.

According to the TSA, on March 10, officers intercepted a 9mm handgun loaded with seven bullets, including one in the chamber, at the security checkpoint.

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Let this be an important reminder to firearm owners that they should not bring their guns to our checkpoints, said Gerardo Spero, TSAs Federal Security Director for Pennsylvania. Dont be that guy.

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The TSA says that when officers detected the gun, the checkpoint lane came to a halt until the police responded, removed the carry-on bag from the X-ray machine, and removed the handgun.

From firearms to samurai swords, why fewer people carrying them through TSA at Harrisburg Intl end up in handcuffs

Police cited the man on a weapons charge and then allowed the man, a resident of Orwigsburg, Pa., to return the firearm to his vehicle.

Courtesy of the TSA at HIA

Spero says the proper way to transport a firearm for a flight is to ensure it is unloaded, packed in a hard-sided locked case, and taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared. The airline will make sure that the firearm is transported in the belly of the aircraft so that nobody has access to it during the flight. TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website.

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This marks the first firearm Harrisburg TSA officers have intercepted at the airport checkpoint this year, as four guns were intercepted at the checkpoint in 2024.

The TSA says they reserve the right to issue a federal civil penalty to travelers who have guns and gun parts with them at a checkpoint. Civil penalties for bringing a weapon into a checkpoint can reach up to $15,000, depending on the specific weapon and the circumstances. This applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits because even though an individual may have a concealed carry permit, it does not allow a firearm to be carried onto an airplane. This also applies to travelers who are enrolled in the TSA PreCheck program, who will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges if they bring a gun to a checkpoint, per the TSA.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Preliminary, unofficial results showed that a ballot measure to create a half-cent sales tax increase in Tucson was losing by a large margin Tuesday night. The tax would have raised some $800 million over 10 years to fund public safety and community investment.

Proposition 414, the Safe & Vibrant City ballot measure, asked Tucsonans to vote on raising the citys sales tax from 2.6% to 3.1%.

City officials tout the measure as an effort to fund critical services following a statewide change in income tax policy that decreased the money the city receives from the state.

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The campaign backing the measure underlined its disappointment after the initial release of results showed voters opposing it by roughly a 2-to-1 margin.

"While we are disappointed in the outcome of Prop. 414, we remain deeply grateful to everyone who stood with us in this fight, said Yes on 414 in a statement on social media. The campaign led by Pat DeConcini was supported by the Tucson Fire Fighters Association, the Tucson Police Officers Association and city officials, among others.

The No on Prop 414 coalition celebrated the success but noted there are still unmet needs in the community.

"The resounding defeat of Prop. 414 is an important victory for all Tucsonans and an important first step in making sure city resources go to where they can do the most good," said the coalition in a news release. "While we celebrate that we wont be directly funding increased surveillance and the harms of policing with every dollar we spend for the next 10 years, we understand that there are still urgent, unmet needs in the community."

What would the tax pay for?

Of the annual revenue projected to be brought in by the tax:

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$52 million would go toward police and fire departments.

$14 million would go to affordable housing programs, shelters, and courts.

$13.4 million would go to community and justice-related programs.

Tucson.

Critics argued that with roughly two-thirds of the tax dollars going to public safety instead of housing and community investment, the allocations of tax dollars do not reflect the values of Tucsonans.

Why do supporters say they like Proposition 414?

Supporters said the $800 million over 10 years would help pay for critical services like housing, police and fire, which have become more expensive to run.

One supporter of the measure is former state Sen. Kristen Engel. The Tucson Democrat lost against U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., in the 6th Congressional District race in November.

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Folks, we need to get off the fence and face the reality that passing Prop. 414 is necessary if we want the level of police, fire and shelter services we expect and which will maintain our reputation as a top destination to live, work, retire and recreate, Engel posted on X.

Speaking on election day near a ballot drop-off location in downtown Tucson, retired journalist Carol Ann Alaimo told The Arizona Republic she supported the ballot measure.

"I don't understand why the business community isn't in favor of this when they are the first to complain about police service. They are the first to complain if they don't get a speedy response ... they are the first to complain about homeless people camping out near their businesses," she said. "If you really want to have even a medium-term solution to all that, it requires money."

Proposition 414 opponents have broad range of concerns

Critics argued that with roughly two-thirds of the tax dollars going to public safety, instead of housing and community investment, the allocations of tax dollars do not reflect the values of Tucsonans.

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The Southern Arizona Leadership Council, a coalition of business leaders and executives, opposed the measure. Although the group said it supports properly funding public safety, it underscored the concern that the measure perpetuates the structural budget challenges that have left our chartered priorities underfunded," the group said in a news release.

Mark Murphy, a Tucson resident, told The Republic on election day that he did not support the ballot measure.

"I voted 'no' because that would make us pay the highest city taxes in all of Arizona. I don't mind paying my fair share ... a lot of times throwing money at stuff doesn't necessarily fix it," Murphy said.

Election spending tops $300,000

Interest groups spent more than $300,000 on campaigns in support of and against Proposition 414, according to filings with Tucson and the Arizona Secretary of State's Office.

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Yes on Prop 414: Safe and Vibrant City, a group backing the measure, reported spending $151,351 from Jan. 1 to Feb. 22. Among the large contributions to Yes on Prop 414 was a $10,000 boost from Fletcher McCusker, the CEO of UAVenture Capital and the chair of Rio Nuevo, a special taxing district focused on urban development. Other contributors included city Councilmember Kevin Dahl and Tucson Electric Power executive Cynthia Garcia, among others.

The Tucson Metro Chamber PAC, which opposed the measure, spent $179,970 on ballot measure expenditures including yard signs, attorney fees, flyers, social media management, and ads, among other expenditures. Some contributors included the Tucson Association of Realtors, which contributed $25,000, and the Pima County Automobile Dealers Association, which contributed $50,000.

Reach the reporter at sarah.lapidus@gannett.com.

The Republics coverage of southern Arizona is funded, in part, with a grant from Report for America. Support Arizona news coverage with a tax-deductible donation at supportjournalism.azcentral.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Proposition 414: Tucson sales tax hike down big in early returns
ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan welcomed an agreement between the Kurdish-led and U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and Syria's new government, saying all Syrians stood to gain from the deal.

"The full implementation of the agreement reached yesterday in Syria will contribute to the countrys security and stability. The beneficiaries of this will be all our Syrian brothers and sisters," Erdogan said on Tuesday.

"We attach great importance to the territorial integrity of our neighbor Syria, the preservation of its unitary structure, and the strengthening of its unity and stability," he said.

(Reporting by Ece Toksabay; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
The father of one of the three Kansas City Chiefs fans found dead in a friend's backyard has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the two men charged in connection with the mysterious deaths.

According to TMZ Sports, Jon Harrington filed the lawsuit against Jordan Willis and Ivory Carson on Friday in Missouri. Willis and Carson were arrested and charged 14 months after the three fans were found dead and frozen in Willis' backyard after attending a watch party for the Los Angeles Chargers-Chiefs game. Officials say the three fans died of a fatal mixture of cocaine and fentanyl. Willis and Carson were arrested last week.

In his lawsuit, Harrington claims Willis and Carson gave his son, David, the lethal drugs and then "failed to render aid or otherwise attempt to recuse" his son when he began suffering from the fatal effects of the drugs.

Related: Kansas City Chiefs Fan Whose Friends Froze to Death in Backyard Reportedly Checks Into Rehab

The bodies of Ricky Johnson, Clayton McGeeney, and David were found on Jan. 9, 2024, two days after the watch party. More than a year later, authorities charged Willis and Carson with "distribution of a controlled substance and three counts of involuntary manslaughter." If convicted, Willis and Carson face up to 10 years in prison.

Willis previously said he didn't notice his friends' bodies on his property for several days, until the fiancee of one of the deceased men discovered his body while searching for him. Willis checked into rehab after the deadly incident.
Rep. Nicole Clowney (center), D-Fayetteville, asks a question about a bill that would change Arkansas' citizen-led ballot measure process on the House floor on Monday, March 10, 2025. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)

Provisions that would let two direct democracy-related bills take immediate effect failed in the Arkansas House on Monday.

The bills won a majority of House members support but did not secure the two-thirds majority vote needed to pass their emergency clauses, which would allow them to go into effect upon Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signature.

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Senate Bill 209 and Senate Bill 210 have faced bipartisan opposition in both chambers. Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, introduced them last month as part of a package of bills related to the states citizen-led initiative petition process.

Hammer announced in January that he will run next year for Secretary of State, the office that oversees elections. He has said bills such as SB 209 and SB 210 will protect the integrity of the initiative petition process and discourage fraudulent behavior.

SB 209 would disqualify signatures collected by canvassers if the secretary of state finds by a preponderance of evidence that they violated state law collecting the signatures.

The proposed law holds the Secretary of States office accountable for the determination of ensuring that there is sufficient proof for disqualifying signatures, and it holds canvassers accountable [by] requiring them to follow the rules, said Rep. Kendon Underwood, R-Cave Springs, the bills House sponsor.

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SB 210 would require potential signers to read the ballot title of a petition or have it read aloud to them in the presence of a canvasser. It would also make it a misdemeanor for a canvasser to accept a signature from people who have not read the ballot title or had it read aloud to them in the presence of a canvasser.

Underwood said this would limit misrepresentation of proposed ballot measures by canvassers to potential signers. At committee hearings this month and last month, supporters of Hammers package of bills alleged fraud and misconduct by canvassers collecting signatures last year for a proposed constitutional amendment that would have created a limited right to abortion. The measure did not make the November ballot after the Secretary of States office disqualified more than 14,000 signatures on a technicality.

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Sixty-two Republicans voted for SB 209 while 57 voted for SB 210. All 19 House Democrats voted against both bills, with 10 Republicans joining them to vote against SB 209 and 14 Republicans voting against SB 210.

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Emergency clauses, however, require 67 votes to pass in the 100-member House. SB 209s emergency clause received 65 votes for it, while SB 210s received 56. House Minority Whip Denise Garner of Fayetteville was the only Democrat not to vote against both emergency clauses, since she voted present on the one for SB 210.

Underwood told the Advocate after the House adjourned that he had not decided what the bills next step would be. When the emergency clauses initially failed in the Senate last month, the chamber passed a motion from Hammer to expunge the votes on both so the chamber could vote again. The bills passed the Senate on Feb. 25.

If the emergency clauses do not pass the House before the legislative session ends next month, the bills will still go to Sanders desk, and if she signs them, they will go into effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns sine die.

Debate

The only House member to speak against either bill was Minority Leader Andrew Collins, D-Little Rock, who voted against both bills in committee last week. He said he believed the intention of the package of bills was to make it harder for everyday Arkansans to have a say in their laws and Constitution.

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SB 209 would put the executive branch office of the Secretary of State in kind of a judicial role by making it the prosecutor, the judge, the jury and the executioner of signatures for proposed ballot measures, Collins said.

House Minority Leader Andrew Collins (right), D-Little Rock, speaks against bills that would alter Arkansas direct democracy process on the House floor while sponsor Rep. Kendon Underwood (left), R-Cave Springs, listens on Monday, March 10, 2025. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)

On SB 210, Collins criticized the possibility that a ballot title would be too long for some potential signers to have the time to stop and listen to.

We have to trust the people of Arkansas to sign things like petitions based on whatever criteria is important to them, Collins said. We dont force someone to read a biography of a candidate before voting for them, [and] we dont force ourselves to read the full text of a bill before signing on to cosponsor it. Why should we force someone who wants to sign a petition to read the petition or have it read aloud to them?

Rep. Nicole Clowney, a Fayetteville Democrat who also voted against both bills in committee, asked Underwood how canvassers would verify under SB 210 that a signer had read the ballot title, since the bill does not require a signer to read it out loud.

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If they indicate that theyve read it, that meets the requirement, Underwood replied. Were not taking a test on this bill. If they say theyve read the ballot title, then theyve read the ballot title.

Clowney noted that signers might already be familiar with a ballot measure if they have read about it online. Earlier in Mondays floor session, the House passed the bipartisan Senate Bill 188, which would require the Secretary of States office to post the certified text, popular name and ballot title of a proposed ballot measure on the agencys website within five days of the sponsors beginning to collect signatures.

During Wednesdays House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs meeting, Collins suggested to Hammer and Underwood that they amend SB 210 to require canvassers to offer the ballot title for potential signers to read instead of requiring them to read it. Hammer and Underwood declined the suggestion.

SB 210 passed the committee on a split voice vote with dissent primarily from the Democratic minority. SB 209 passed narrowly on a roll call vote, with 11 of the 20 committee members voting for it.

Committee debate and public testimony on both bills lasted longer than three and a half hours Wednesday. Opponents of the bills outnumbered supporters and expressed concerns similar to Collins.

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Several speakers said SB 209 lacks due process for signers whose signatures might be discarded by the Secretary of State. Some of the same people, including conservative government transparency advocates Jimmie Cavin and Joey McCutchen, said the same thing about Senate Bill 212, which failed in a Senate committee on Feb. 11 and Feb. 27.

SB 212 would have created an enforcement agency within the secretary of states office that could investigate the validity of submitted documents related to elections and ballot initiatives.

Sanders has signed the other three of Hammers ballot initiative bills into law:

Act 218, formerly Senate Bill 207, requires canvassers for ballot-measure petitions to inform potential signers that petition fraud is a criminal offense. The section of Arkansas code governing initiatives and referenda designates petition fraud a Class A misdemeanor.

Act 240, formerly Senate Bill 208, requires canvassers to request a photo ID from potential signers.

Act 241, formerly Senate Bill 211, requires canvassers to file a true affidavit with the secretary of state certifying they complied with the Arkansas Constitution and state laws related to canvassing, perjury, forgery and fraudulent practices in the procurement of petition signatures. Signatures submitted without the affidavit will not be counted.

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Act 218 received the minimum of 67 votes for its emergency clause to pass the House, and Act 241 required a second vote for its emergency clause to gain enough support.

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Two people have been convicted on conspiracy and murder charges for their role in a triple shooting in Hartford in 2021 that left one man dead, another paralyzed and a third victim injured.

Lamont Fields, 27, and Joshua Rodriguez, 23, both of East Hartford were found guilty last week following a trial in Hartford Superior Court, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice.

A jury handed down its verdict on Friday and found Fields guilty on one count each of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and criminal possession of a firearm and two counts each of first-degree assault involving the discharge of a firearm and conspiracy to commit first-degree assault involving the discharge of a firearm, DCJ officials said.

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Rodriguez was found guilty on one count each of accessory to murder and conspiracy to commit murder and two counts each of accessory to first-degree assault involving the discharge of a firearm and conspiracy to commit first-degree assault involving the discharge of a firearm.

The charges stem from a shooting reported on May 4, 2021, around 6:20 p.m. when officers responded to Norwich Street after receiving a ShotSpotter alert notifying them of six gunshots, according to the DCJ. Investigators found that three men reportedly confronted Rodriguez outside an apartment near Colt Park where he was allegedly assaulting a woman, the Courant previously reported.

The men were standing on the sidewalk when one of them yelled at Rodriguez to chill out and told him to stop hitting the woman, DCJ officials said. Rodriguez told the men You dont want any part of this before phoning Fields, according to the DCJ.

Minutes later, Fields and Rodriguez confronted the group. According to Courant reports, Rodriguez told Fields to hand him a gun, but Fields allegedly opened fire on the group.

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One of the victims, 33-year-old Chaquan Jones of Hartford, was killed in the shooting, according to police. He was found lying in a driveway suffering from a gunshot wound to his chest.

The two other men, both in their 20s, were also shot. One of them was shot in the leg and the other in the back. According to the DCJ, one of the victims was left paralyzed.

Before Fields was charged in connection with the shooting he was arrested on federal charges for allegedly carrying an illegal ghost gun that matched the ballistics of the weapon used in the triple shooting, the Courant reported.

Fields remains in custody on a $3 million bond, while Rodriguez is being held on a $2.5 million bond. They are scheduled to face sentencing on May 8.
The cities of Island and Sacramento will be required to redo their wet-dry vote to allow alcohol sales, which were listed on last Novembers general election ballot, according to the Kentucky Department of Alcohol and Beverage Control (ABC).

Procedures for posing the question of allowing alcohol sales in a particular city located within a dry county are discussed in the Kentucky Revised Statute KRS 242.

KRS 242.020 further defines the process for petitioning to pose the question of allowing an area within McLean County to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages. According to the statute defined in KRS 242.050, the question that should appear on the petition, and subsequent ballot during either a May primary election or November general election, should be written as, Are you in favor of the sale of alcoholic beverages in (name of city or county)?

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County Clerk Carol Eaton stated that when the petitioners came to her for guidance on the process of getting a wet-dry vote placed on the November 2024 general election ballot, she took a look at KRS 242 for the procedure.

KRS 242 suggests that the question posed on the petition would need to include the territory where the petitioner will be gathering signatures for the petition, Eaton explained. I interpreted territory as an area with defined borders, like a precinct, and advised the petitioners that they could proceed to compile signatures from the entire precinct.

The petitioners, Mayor Joe Hamilton from Island and Renee Howell, a business owner from the Sacramento area, then proceeded, according to Eaton, to obtain the proper number of signatures on their petitions in order to have the wet-dry placed on the November ballot.

The petitioner gets all of the signatures needed together and we file the paperwork and then we have a process with the judge-executive that we follow to make sure that all of the signatures are valid so that we can continue the process of placing the question on the ballot, Eaton said.

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Those procedures were followed and the questions allowing the sale of alcoholic beverages in the precincts containing the cities of Island and Sacramento were added to the November 2024 general election ballot designated for those precincts.

Based on the results from Novembers election, voters from the Island and Sacramento precincts chose to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages in those areas. Island results counted 299 Yes votes and 172 No votes, while Sacramento results showed 438 Yes votes and 267 No votes. The election results were then certified by McLean County Judge-Executive Curtis Dame and forwarded to the proper department in Frankfort.

Since the vote passed, I sent the election certification to the Kentucky Department of Alcohol and Beverage Control, Eaton said. I was later notified by them that there was a problem with the wording of the question posed to the voters in the precincts of Island and Sacramento. After many emails back and forth with the ABC and their general counsel, it was determined that state liquor licenses would not be able to be sold to vendors in Island or Sacramento.

Eaton explains that she was told by the ABC, based on details recorded in KRS 241.010, that a territory couldnt be designated as a precinct, but only as a city or county.

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I was unaware that the defined territory to be considered for the vote couldnt be the entire precinct, but that votes could only be considered based on a city-wide or county-wide focused petition and subsequent vote, she said.

So, what does that mean for the petitioners in Island and Sacramento?

Unfortunately, they have to repeat the process in its entirety all over again, Eaton said.

Eaton explained that the petitioners have a couple of options to consider when they decide to restart the process.

First, the petitioners can decide to either create the petition to include only the city of Island or the city of Sacramento or they could petition to allow all of McLean County to be able to sell alcoholic beverages, Eaton said.

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In addition to that decision, the petitioners will also have to decide if they would like to proceed with the process this year or wait until 2026.

The problem with trying to petition this year is that there is no election for 2025, Eaton said. So the petitioners would have to host whats called a local option election which costs additional money.

Island Mayor Joe Hamilton said that he made the decision to postpone the petitioning process until 2026 in order to keep from having to do the local option election.

Obviously, were not thrilled to have to restart the entire process, but we understand that sometimes hiccups can happen, Hamilton said. It is what it is and we just have to do what the state requires in order for us to continue the process and do what we think is best for the city of Island.

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Hamilton also said that, as it currently stands, he is only planning to focus the petition on the city of Island and not McLean County as a whole.

Eaton said that shes been told by the Sacramento petitioner that they would also be holding off on repeating the petition process until 2026.

Eaton also said that an additional complication stemming from the denial by the ABC is that the number of required signatures on the petitions will be different for 2026 than it was in 2024.

KRS 242.020 part one states that a petition for an election shall be signed by a number of constitutionally qualified voters of the territory to be affected, equal to 25%of the votes cast in the territory at the last preceding general election.

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So the percentage of signatures needed on the petitions will be based on the voter turnouts for the 2024 general election, Eaton explained. The 2024 general election included a presidential election which always receives a higher voter turnout, but that number increased even more in 2024 because the presidential race was such a highly contested battle.

Eaton said that she takes full accountability for misinterpreting the KRS statute.

The petitioners, along with the cities and their officials, have no fault in this decision made by the ABC, she said. And I am also the only county official involved in making the mistake and I take full accountability for the situation.

Eaton said that she is available via phone at the County Clerks office, 270-273-3082, or by email, carol.eaton@ky.gov, to explain the mixup and process to any county resident who might have questions or need further clarification on the matter.

At the end of the day, Im an elected official and its important for me to take ownership for mistakes made by the office, she said. But I am dedicated to continuing to serve the residents of McLean County to the best of my ability. I never intended to mislead the petitioners and truly believed a precinct-wide vote was allowable.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  Two people were injured in a Baton Rouge shooting on Monday, March 10.

The Baton Rouge Police Department responded around 3:40 p.m. to a call about shots fired in the 400 block of W. Johnson Street near Highland Road. Two men were found with non-life-threatening injuries. Police said the shooting victims were taken to a hospital by private vehicle.

One of the victims told detectives that he was driving when shots were fired. A second shooting victim said he was walking down the street when he was reportedly struck by gunfire.

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Investigators are still looking for a suspect and motive in connection with this shooting.

Anyone with information that could help investigators is asked to call the Violent Crimes Unit at 225-389-4869 or Crime Stoppers at 225-344-7867.

Coroner called to Baton Rouge shooting Monday night, officials say

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RUSSELL COUNTY, Ala. (WRBL)  Russell County is working to bring padded cells to their jails to serve inmates with mental health challenges or those on drugs.

The Russell County Jail will transform two of their eight holding cells into padded cells for those coming into their custody with mental health issues or under the influence of opioids.

Russell County Sheriff Heath Taylor says there has been an increase in self inflicted traumatic injuries in their facility and jails around the country.

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Its mainly so they dont hurt themselves trying to hit their head on the wall, trying to hit their head on the stainless steel sink, on the bunk beds, which are stainless steel in the holding cells, Taylor explains.

The sheriffs office plans to strip all metal and stainless steel items including toilets, beds and door handle from the holding cells. The cells will be padded wall to wall and ceiling to floor.

The cells will also be equipped with breath and heart rate monitors that will alert officers when a persons breathing or heart rate either slows down or stops.

Click the video player below to hear how these monitors work.

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Russell County Sheriff Heath Taylor says these cells have been needed for years. He says it started 15 years ago when the state was cutting back on in-house treatment for mental health

patients.

Click the video player below to hear Taylor explain how those with mental health issues end up in their facility.

Taylor says this is all in an effort to better serve all who come into their facilities.

We will never be a mental health facility. We will always be a correctional facility,so were not intended to be long term care or mental health care, but thats what its turned into. Taylor says. We do the best we can in situations like this when we have them come into the facility.

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These padded cells will cost nearly $25,000. Taylor says the cells are part of the Opioid Fund which is separate from the offices regular budget and the commission budget according to Taylor.

Learn more about the Opioid Fund in the video player below

Taylor says only one inmate will be in the cells at a time and that after a the department psychiatrist would meet with the inmate shortly after being put in the cell. Their role is to determine if the inmate can remain in the facility safely, be put into the general population, or be sent to a mental facility.

The psychiatrist will also be working with Russell County Probate Judge Belinda Strickland regarding these issues as well.

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Taylor says officers have begun training to identify mental health episodes and how to provide proper care to those in their custody.

Earlier this year, an inmate in Russell Countys custody died. The Sheriffs Office reported the man having trouble in the cell that resulted in the man causing traumatic injuries to himself.

Click the video player below to hear Sheriff Taylors thoughts on the outcome of that incident if the jail had padded cells.

Inmate dies in Russell County Jail after being in custody for less than 24 hours.

Family of inmate who died in Russell County custody speaks out

Sunday Conversation with Russell County Sheriff Heath Taylor talks about staffing jail

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
Two people were taken to the hospital following a house fire in Columbia early Tuesday.

The fire broke out shortly after 3 a.m. when crews responded to a home on West Street and found the kitchen was burning, according to the Columbia Volunteer Fire Department.

The fire was quickly put out.

Two adults and a child were in the home when the fire broke started and were able to get out safely, fire officials said. The adults were taken to an area hospital to be evaluated. The child was believed to be OK.

The fire left the home uninhabitable, according to fire officials. The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents.
Two men were treated for injuries Monday after being shot during an argument in Jacksonvilles Brentwood neighborhood. Police were dispatched to 207 W. 27th St. at about 7:15 p.m. for a report of shots fired.

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Officers arrived at the scene and located several shell casings, a Jacksonville police news release states. A short time later two adult males arrived at a hospital suffering from non life-threatening gunshot wounds.

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The initial investigation has revealed there was an argument between known individuals. The argument led to the individuals exchanging gunfire with one another, the news release states. All parties involved in this incident are detained and speaking with detectives about what happened.

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There is a new man in charge at the Kremlin  Mikhail Gorbachev has taken over following the death of Konstantin Chernenko.

Chernenko, 73, died yesterday after a long illness  but his death was only announced to the Soviet people this morning. Sombre music preceded the news on radio and television and scheduled programmes were cancelled.

The speed of naming of his successor  at 54 the youngest man to take over as general secretary

In another break with tradition, Mr Gorbachev has announced arms talks with the Americans in Geneva will go ahead tomorrow.

Chernenko lasted only 13 months in the top job. He was in poor health when he was appointed and his death was caused by heart failure brought on by problems with his lungs and liver.

He is the third Soviet leader to die in just over two years. Leonid Brezhnev died in 1982 after 18 years in power. He was 75. Yuri Andropov died 18 months later aged 69.

The British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher will attend Chernenkos funeral on Wednesday  but the United States President Ronald Reagan will not be going.

The BBCs Moscow correspondent, Tim Sebastian, says Mr Gorbachevs appointment marks a dramatic change in leadership in Moscow.

He says Mr Gorbachev is a dynamic figure who has moved rapidly through the Soviet hierarchy.

There seems little doubt the Gorbachev administration will look different. More outgoing, more approachable, more concerned with its public image, he reported.

But its aims and its approach seem likely to be familiar. Despite his lively and flexible manner, Gorbachev is still a strict, orthodox Marxist in no sense has he shown himself to be a liberal.

Mr Gorbachevs acceptance speech gave a hint of the changes to come. He spoke of his desire to freeze the deployment of weapons and reduce the international nuclear weapons stockpiles.

Mrs Thatcher has already indicated her approval at his appointment. Following his recent visit to Britain, she said: I like Mr Gorbachev. We can do business together.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

Mikhail Gorbachev radically changed the course of Soviet foreign policy, signing a number of agreements with the United States on nuclear disarmament.

He introduced a policy of openness or glasnost and he was also the architect of perestroika or deep political and economic reforms. But his reforms led to severe economic hardship at home. Growing nationalist movements spearheaded by the Baltic states led him to propose a loose federation of Soviet states.

But this proved the last straw for communist hardliners. In August 1991 he survived a coup attempt  largely thanks to the support of the Russian authorities, under the leadership of Boris Yeltsin.
(COLORADO CITY, Colo.)  The Pueblo County Sheriffs Office (PCSO) is looking for two suspects whom PCSO accuses of criminal mischief at a carwash in Colorado City on March 2.

Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriffs Office

According to PCSO, on March 2, two suspects in a white car with an unknown license plate were seen. PCSO is asking anyone with information or who has seen the vehicle to contact PCSO at (719) 853-6250 and reference case number 5225, or contact Crime Stoppers at (719) 542-7867.

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TOPEKA (KSNT)  A two-vehicle crash in central Topeka is causing minor traffic disruptions Tuesday morning.

Rosie Nichols with the City of Topeka told 27 News the crash happened around 8:35 a.m. at Southwest 17th Street and Southwest Fillmore Street on March 11. Viewer-submitted photos show two vehicles with front-end damage.

Crash causes highway traffic jam in north Topeka

Kandrive.gov is reporting minor traffic disruptions going east and west on 17th Street. The Topeka Police Department told 27 News there was one minor injury as a result of the crash.

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TYBEE ISLAND, Ga (WSAV)  A demolition permit was submitted to the city of Tybee in February for 803 First Street, also known as the Brown House, a home constructed by a Black business owner in the 1950s.

The home is believed to be the first black-owned home built on Tybees main street. The property is listed on the Tybee Black History Trail and is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

At Mondays meeting, community members were worried about the erasure of black and post-war architectural history, as the home only has a less than a month until a final decision is made. More than a dozen showed up in support to hear family members and organization leaders like Julia Pearce speak.

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Its a history of the struggle of black people here in Georgia, Pearce, coordinator of Tybee MLK Human Rights Organization said. Its a struggle, and the struggle should not be erased.

Walter Brown Jr. was in attendance, and WSAV spoke with him before the meeting. His father built the home, and he was raised in the Brown House until he was 18.

He told News 3 that the brick and walls symbolize his familys determination to face segregation and discrimination. As demo day nears, Brown said he has learned that it is less about the house itself and more about the values passed down to his family and other families who lived on the island during that time.

I think things are growing on Tybee Island, Brown said. there could be something symbolizing like with a photo and the history of the houseI realized things have to move on.

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Pearce agreed that if it is the only option, that is what they will take, but she is not going down without a fight. Speakers at the meeting agreed like Dionne Hoskins Brown, Ph.D., Marine Sciences, with the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor.

I think that is the creative option for us is keeping heritage in history in a way that is honoring the desires of the new and the accomplishments of the old, Hoskins said.

The Tybee Island Historic Preservation commission has the opportunity to seek individuals who would be interested in the relocation of the home, but doing so would jeopardize the eligibility of the National Register of Historic Places. The commission said an agreement with the owner must be in place before April 6 for relocation to be possible.

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Missing Nebraska man Tyler Goodrichs remains found after going missing in 2023

(NewsNation) Police say human remains found near a wooded area along a highway belong to Tyler Goodrich, a Nebraska man who had been missing since November 2023.

Goodrich left his home in Lincoln, Nebraska, after an argument with his husband nearly more than a year ago, sparking a massive search for the father of two.

Search ends for 2-year-old Dane Paulsen after volunteer diver recovers body

Authorities said during a news conference Tuesday that they discovered Goodrichs remains near Highway 77 after someone reported a body.

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Based on what we have discovered and details at the scene, the deceased has been identified as Tyler Goodrich, who has been missing since November 3, 2023, Lancaster County Sheriffs Office Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said.

Remains located near Tyler Goodrichs home

Houchin said he believed the body had been there for over a year and that he was not killed.

Preliminary results of our investigation have led us to believe this is not a homicide, and there is no threat to the public, Houchin stated.

Initially, family thought Tyler Goodrich was taking time to cool off after a fight with his husband. (Rachel Barth)

The remains were located about 10 to 15 yards from the road and about 967 yards from Tylers residence.

We are so grateful for everybody  the public, other law enforcement agencies  who have helped us and volunteered in looking for Tyler, the chief said.

Tyler Goodrich fought with husband before he went missing

Goodrichs husband, Marshall Vogel, told investigators he called 911 after the two got into a physical altercation on November 3, 2023, and that Goodrich then ran out of the house, his cell phone going silent shortly after.

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He never returned, and investigators began conducting searches in the area. A canine search about three weeks after Goodrich disappeared revealed a path he may have taken after leaving the house.

Missing woman survives nearly a week after Northwest Indiana crash

That path took him along a wooded area, ending near a road. Houchin said the area Goodrich was found was covered in a search by public volunteers.

Vogel told NBC News that their family is heartbroken.

This is an unimaginable tragedy. Tyler was a husband, a loving father and a friend to so many, he said.

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Goodrichs case had sparked the interest of more than 23,000 people in the community and online. His friends say he gathered people from all different groups as friends, from work, his running group, the military, the LGBTQ+ community and lifelong friends.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  The Trump administration said it is sending a letter to Ohio State University notifying the school that it is under investigation for claims of antisemitic discrimination and harassment.

The letter comes from the United States Department of Education and warns of potential law enforcement action if Ohio State and 59 other universities do not protect Jewish students on campus under Title VI.

NBC4 previously reported on several antisemitic incidents at Ohio State following the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Watch a previous report in the video player above.

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A spokesman for Ohio State said the university has yet to receive any letter and that hate of any kind will not be tolerated on campus.

According to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, the letter is due to President Donald Trumps executive order Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism, signed on Jan. 29.

The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year, McMahon said in a news release announcing the letters. University leaders must do better. U.S. colleges and universities benefit from enormous public investments funded by U.S. taxpayers. That support is a privilege and it is contingent on scrupulous adherence to federal antidiscrimination laws.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination in educational institutions based on race, color, or national origin.

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Besides Ohio State, the University of Cincinnati is the only other Ohio university listed by the department.

The universities being sent the letter, according to the department, are:

American University

Arizona State University

Boston University

Brown University

California State University, Sacramento

Chapman University

Columbia University

Cornell University

Drexel University

Eastern Washington University

Emerson College

George Mason University

Harvard University

Illinois Wesleyan University

Indiana University, Bloomington

Johns Hopkins University

Lafayette College

Lehigh University

Middlebury College

Muhlenberg College

Northwestern University

Ohio State University

Pacific Lutheran University

Pomona College

Portland State University

Princeton University

Rutgers University

Rutgers University-Newark

Santa Monica College

Sarah Lawrence College

Stanford University

State University of New York Binghamton

State University of New York Rockland

State University of New York, Purchase

Swarthmore College

Temple University

The New School

Tufts University

Tulane University

Union College

University of California Davis

University of California San Diego

University of California Santa Barbara

University of California, Berkeley

University of Cincinnati

University of Hawaii at Manoa

University of Massachusetts Amherst

University of Michigan

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

University of North Carolina

University of South Florida

University of Southern California

University of Tampa

University of Tennessee

University of Virginia

University of Washington-Seattle

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Wellesley College

Whitman College

Yale University

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Border Patrol agents collect handcuffs with leg and waist chains as they transfer custody of Guatemalan nationals to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation at the El Paso International Airport, May 10, 2023. (Photo by Corrie Boudreaux for Source NM)

Content warning: This story discusses suicidal ideation.

The United States last month deported three Venezuelan men who had been held in immigration detention in New Mexico back to their home country after they successfully convinced a federal judge to block their transfer to the notorious military prison at Guantanamo Bay.

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Each of the three men fled Venezuela, sought asylum from the U.S. and passed an initial Credible Fear Interview with federal asylum officers by establishing a credible fear of persecution or torture in their home countries. However, they were held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention because of a political dispute between the two countries.

The case began in September 2024 when the men first challenged the legality of their detention at the Otero County Processing center in Chaparral, N.M. with help from the Center for Constitutional Rights and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico.

President Donald Trump on Jan. 29 directed the Secretary of Homeland Security and Secretary of Defense to expand the Migrant Operations Center in the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay to provide additional detention space for high-priority criminal aliens unlawfully present in the United States.

Following Trumps orders, the U.S. diverted hundreds of troops to Guantanamo to start setting up a tent city for detained migrants, according to the New York Times.

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On Feb. 9, the trios attorneys recounted how their clients, upon seeing the news coverage of the first Guantanamo flights, personally recognized several detainees who had also been held at Otero.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Kenneth Gonzales on Feb. 9 blocked the transfer of all three men to Guantanamo, and less than 24 hours later, the U.S. deported them to Venezuela, according to the detained migrants attorneys.

The cases conclusion comes as the New Mexico Legislature debates a proposal to prohibit state agencies and local governments from entering into agreements used to detain people for violations of civil immigration law in Otero and two facilities like it.

All three petitioners on Feb. 14 voluntarily dismissed their case against Otero County Processing Center Warden Dora Castro in light of their deportation to Venezuela.

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Nonetheless, their attorneys wrote that the damage from their unlawfully prolonged detention remains. Each of them were held for more than a year in total, and endured dismal conditions in detention that will leave lasting scars on them and their families.

Detention center officials placed one of the men into solitary confinement in retaliation from a hunger strike in protest of ICEs plans to deport them to Mexico.

Detentions emotional and psychological toll led the men to suffer depression, anxiety, loss of appetite and suicidal ideation, the attorneys wrote. One harmed himself and was admitted into a psychiatric facility in January, they wrote.

Their fears and anxiety were made worse in early February when they began to confront the threat that they could be sent to Guantanamo, the attorneys wrote.

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I fear being taken to Guantanamo because the news is painting it as a black hole I also see that human rights are constantly violated at Guantanamo, so I fear what could happen to me if I get taken there, said petitioner Abrahan Barrios Morales, in an affidavit attached to the petition.

The company running the migrant detention center at Guantanamo has faced critical audits and a civil rights complaint over conditions at three other facilities it runs in the U.S., according to The Guardian newspaper.

Their flight marked the first deportation flight from the U.S. to Venezuela in over a year, according to the Associated Press. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement El Paso Field Office in March 2024 paused deportation flights to Venezuela, apparently stemming from an oil sanctions dispute.

Attorneys for the trio who were held in Otero wrote in the dismissal notice that with thousands of Venezuelans held in the U.S. awaiting removal, its hard to imagine that they would have been put at the front of the line for deportation if they had not filed this habeas action, and courageously challenged the executive branchs reprehensible and legally unsupportable decision to start shipping detained migrants to Guantanamo and holding them there incommunicado.

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Another pending case aims to block the removal of 10 other men who are nationals of Venezuela, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, are held in neighboring Arizona and Texas and fear that theyre at risk of being taken to Guantanamo.

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Wisconsin 7th District Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (left) and 8th District Republican U.S. Rep. Tony Wied held an over-the-phone town hall Monday evening. (Tiffany image: Official congressional photo; Wied image: WisEye screenshot. Wisconsin Examiner photo illustration.)

U.S Rep. Tony Wied defended President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musks work inside the Trump administration Monday evening during his first town hall, which was hosted by phone.

Wied, who represents Green Bay and other parts of northeast Wisconsin, scheduled the call after GOP congressional leaders told members to avoid in-person town halls. The guidance came after several lawmakers, including Wisconsin U.S. Reps. Glenn Grothman and Scott Fitzgerald, were met with backlash at in-person town halls because of Musks so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) project.

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The call lasted a little less than an hour. Wied was joined by U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who helped answer questions from callers.

A few poll questions were asked during the call, with participants answering using their keypad. The first question was Do you believe the federal government spends too much taxpayer money? The results were shared on the call, with 43% of callers answering yes and 57% answering no. Another question asked was, Do you believe men should be allowed to participate in womens sports? No results were shared.

While Wied wasnt met with the pushback his colleagues had, perhaps because of the controlled nature of a telecall, a handful of callers expressed worries about the potential for cuts to a number of federal programs and asked where Wied stood on the issues. He mostly defended the actions of Trump, Republicans and Musk.

A nurse practitioner asked Wied about his position on Medicaid and Medicare. Questions about Medicaid cuts have been circulating and creating anxiety among many Wisconsinites who rely on the program. Trump has said he wont cut the programs  or Social Security  but a recent report from the Congressional Budget Office found that lawmakers cant meet their goal of cutting $880 billion without significant cuts to Medicaid.

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A lot of my patients rely on [Medicaid and Medicare]. My parents are on Medicaid, and Im sure both of your parents are also on Medicare. What are your plans as far as trying to save it? the caller asked. Lots of rumors going around that theres going to be $800 billion that will need to be cut over the next decade, and while Trump says that he wont be touching Medicare or Medicaid, theres serious concerns about where that money will come from.

Wied and Tiffany said they want to protect Medicaid, but lawmakers will be looking for savings, including by potentially establishing work requirements for the program and keeping illegal immigrants from accessing the program.

Tiffany said there are too many able-bodied adults on Medicaid and rhetorically asked if we want them getting help there from the federal government, from you, the taxpayer? He implied that people should get a job so they can get insurance through their employer. The second thing is illegal immigrants.

Medicaid is funded partially with federal funds and partially with state funds, and approximately two-thirds of Medicaid recipients are working. Undocumented immigrants are already not eligible for federal Medicaid, though some states have expanded access using state funds, including California, which recently expanded its Medicaid program to cover all residents regardless of immigration status.

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Tiffany said that if we have too many people that are on the program via waste, fraud and abuse, it jeopardizes the program. What we want to do is protect and save Medicaid for the future so people can count on it.

Wied said the government needs to be prudent and looking at the programs is part of getting rid of bureaucratic waste, fraud and abuse, and said Musk is helping with that.

[Musk is] somebody that has a lot of experience working on big budgets and finding efficiencies, and his job is only to identify, then it comes down to the elected officials to make the decisions and ultimately do what they need to do again, to make sure that we keep these programs, Wied said.

Another caller asked lawmakers whether they have a red line for where their support of Trump and Musk ends.

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Wied said Musk is designated as a special government employee and theres no evidence that he or the team has unlawfully accessed or used any sensitive data.

If there is, I would certainly be concerned and make sure that I push back, but you know, the whole role of the Department of Government Efficiency is to streamline the governments outdated and bloated systems, Wied said.

Musks DOGE team has been seeking access to databases that store personal information of millions of Americans. The administration has also been muddying who is in charge of DOGE and downplaying Musks role by appointing a new acting administrator, though Trump recently said Musk is in charge of DOGE.

Trump is in charge, hes our president. Hes making the decisions. Elon Musk has not fired anybody, Wied said. The comment is in line with what Musk has reportedly told other Republicans.

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A Green Bay caller had concerns about benefits for veterans, given the Trump administrations goal of cutting over 80,000 Department of Veterans Affairs employees, who provide health care and other services for millions of veterans.

My son served in Afghanistan twice and uses the VA insurance. Our clinic here in Green Bay is awesome. Ive been there a couple times with him, and he gets his surgery done there, the caller said. What are you going to do with 83,000 jobs that are cut in the VA, and where are the people that I love when they have their health care?

The caller also added that tax cuts for the rich are not worth it if it means hurting our veterans for they have served our country.

Wied said he would make sure that we continue to fund that at the appropriate level, so that people have the best care possible within the VA system.

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Some callers were supportive of Trump.

Theres a lot of waste in government, said one. We have to cut back. We just have to  on the waste. I see people who are alcoholics, get early Social Security disability. Ive worked with people who are overweight and get out and take early disability. I dont think people realize the numbers of abuse and it takes from our Medicare, Medicaid, it takes from all of us.

The caller added, Im middle class. Ive worked hard all my life. We have to give President Trump a chance.

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The United States will immediately lift a pause on intelligence sharing and resume providing security assistance to Ukraine after delegates from Kyiv agreed to accept the Trump administration's proposal for a 30-day interim ceasefire with Russia.

"Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the U.S. proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties," according to a joint statement issued Tuesday after meetings in Saudi Arabia.

"The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace," the statement added.

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The Kremlin did not immediately comment.

The future of U.S. support for Kyiv has been in grave doubt since an extraordinary on-camera spat between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office on Feb. 28. In the wake of that confrontation, Trump's administration paused intelligence sharing with Kyiv.

National security adviser Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a meeting with Ukrainian officials Monday in Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has made a series of policy moves heralding a more cooperative stance toward Russia, traditionally considered a key geopolitical foe of the West. Trump, for his part, falsely accused Ukraine of starting the war and called Zelenskyy  not Vladimir Putin  a dictator.

Trump briefly addressed the 30-day ceasefire announcement outside the White House on Tuesday, telling reporters: "Ukraine has agreed to it and hopefully Russia will agree to it." Asked whether Zelenskyy would be invited back to the White House, Trump responded: "Sure, absolutely."

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Zelenskyy welcomed the ceasefire proposal as a "positive step," saying in his nightly address to the nation that Ukraine wants to "do everything to achieve peace as quickly and reliably as possible  so that war never returns."

In Tuesday's joint statement, the U.S. and Ukrainian delegations said Trump and Zelenskyy had "agreed to conclude as soon as possible" a deal to develop Ukraine's critical mineral resources, a pact designed to "expand" Ukraine's economy and "guarantee Ukraine's long-term prosperity and security."

The minerals deal was halted after the Trump-Zelenskyy clash.

"The delegations also discussed the importance of humanitarian relief efforts as part of the peace process, particularly during the above-mentioned ceasefire, including the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children," the joint statement said.

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The announcement came hours after Russia said it had shot down more than 330 Ukrainian drones. Two people were killed and 18 were injured in the offensive, which Russian authorities said was the largest attack on Moscow and the surrounding area since Putin launched his full-scale invasion in 2022.

Kyiv said its targets included oil production and pipeline control facilities.

The talks in Saudi Arabia were anchored by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz, Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Sybiha, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Andriy Yermak, the chief of Zelenskyy's presidential office.

"Representatives of both nations praised the bravery of the Ukrainian people in defense of their nation and agreed that now is the time to begin a process toward lasting peace," the joint statement said.

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"The Ukrainian delegation reiterated the Ukrainian peoples strong gratitude to President Trump, the U.S. Congress, and the people of the United States for making possible meaningful progress toward peace," the statement added.

At one point during Tuesday's talks in the coastal city of Jeddah, journalists were ushered in for a briefing with Rubio and Waltz, only to be ushered out when the conversation kept going.

Kyiv's delegation had promised a news conference but scaled down to a briefing with only Ukrainian journalists, highlighting the fraught nature of the discussions.





This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Top U.S. and Ukrainian officials emerged from their high-stakes meeting in Saudi Arabia Tuesday with a ceasefire agreement in Russias war.

Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced after a nearly eight-hour meeting. The only way to end this war is to negotiate out of it.

The announcement of the 30-day ceasefire followed Ukraine launching its largest-ever drone attack inside Russia overnight as Russia continued its own barrage.

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To end the tragic meat grinder of people and national treasure thats happening on the front, said White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.

Waltz said Ukraines openness to a ceasefire also lifts President Donald Trumps ban on security assistance and intelligence sharing to the country.

And thats effective immediately, Waltz said.

Now Russia has to agree to the ceasefire.

The best goodwill gesture the Russians can provide is to say yes, Rubio said.

While President Trumps Middle East envoy plans to meet face-to-face with President Vladimir Putin later this week, Democrats, like U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) warn the U.S. cannot reveal all of its cards before the Russian talks start.

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So far, that hasnt been the case, Schneider said.

Rubio would not say whether Presidents Trump and Putin would discuss the agreement. However, on whether it repairs the relationship between Presidents Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Rubio said, This is not Mean Girls. This is not some episode of some television show. This is very serious.

Later at the White House Tuesday, President Trump said he did plan on speaking with Putin.

It takes two to tango as they say, the president said.

Rubio said the minerals deal between the U.S. and Ukraine is still going to happen after it fell apart when President Trump kicked Zelenskyy out of the White House last month. However, Rubio said that agreement was not the subject of their talks Tuesday.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Every year in early March, Chinas legislature and its advisory body gather to hear speeches and hold discussions in the capital, Beijing.

In contrast to the long and monotonous sessions, a bustling scene unfolds outside the Great Hall of the People in the heart of Beijing, where ethnic minority delegations from far-flung provinces pose for photographs donning their finest traditional costumes.

Jangly silver headdresses and elaborate embroidery work, felt hats and long, layered skirts in a kaleidoscope of colors draw attention in stark contrast to the drab business suits, routinely dark grey with conservative ties or bows.

Its a visual display of one of the purported ruling concepts of the Chinese Communist Party, that all 56 ethnic groups in the nation are equal. Yet, the majority Han group has dominated politics and the economy going back thousands of years and continues to do so, making up about 92% of the population.

The vast majority of minority delegates come from mountainous and border areas, such as Yunnan, Guangxi, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia and Tibet. While some names may be familiar, such as Uyghurs and Tibetans, most are from smaller or less known groups, some with just a few thousand members.

Many have become virtually assimilated with the Han, including the Manchus who, despite their relatively small numbers, swept down from the Great Wall of China and ruled the country for around 300 years before being overthrown by its first republic.

After taking power in 1949, Mao Zedong declared all were members of a single Chinese nation, regardless of ethnicity, and began a steady campaign to impose a single Chinese language on Han and minority peoples alike. MDT/AP
As U.S. sees measles outbreaks, Tennessees vaccination rate has been on the decline

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Though Tennessee has not reported any measles cases in 2025, the states vaccination rates have been decreasing for years.

Measles is not a trivial infection, Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said. It has serious complications.

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According to Maury Regional Health, measles is a highly contagious viral disease with symptoms like high fever, cough, runny nose and a red rash that typically starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. An infected person can spread measles for up to four days before a rash appears and up to four days after it first appears.

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This is a fairly long period of time that a person could spread this disease, Dr. Christina Lannom, Chief Medical Officer at Maury Regional Health, explained. So if you are traveling and you dont know that you are spreading the disease, then of course you are going to put people at risk.

Doctors warn that measles can lead to severe complications like pneumonia, brain inflammation and even death.

Before we had [the] vaccine in the 1960s, 400 to 500 children died in the United States  died  each year due to measles and its complications, Schaffner added.

Its a national concern already because we have areas that are less immunized than others, Lannom said.

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The Tennessee Department of Health has noticed a drop in the MMR  or measles mumps and rubella  vaccination rate for children between two and three years old. For example in Williamson County, 44.3% of children between two and three received their MMR vaccines in December 2019. However, by last December, that had dropped to 33.6%.

Across the state, some parents are expressing hesitancy about administering measles [the] vaccine, Schaffner said. It is safe. I keep saying, Talk to your doctor.

This is based on some previous media and verbal information that the vaccine was unsafe, Lannom said. This has been proven untrue.

The CDC recommends all children get two doses of the MMR vaccine with the first dose given between 12 and 15 months of age and the second given when children are between four and six years old.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

For immunocompromised children who cant get the vaccine, Schaffner and Lannom both told News 2 that if everyone around them gets the vaccine, theyll be safer.

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Those are the vulnerable populations that we need to be protecting, Lannom said.

Doctors said if you have any questions or concerns about you or your childs vaccination status, you should reach out to your pediatrician or family doctor.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Then-U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, listens to Portland business owner Ann Naughton while Portland Police Sgt. Aaron Schmautz looks on during a discussion in Oregon City in October 2024. Chavez-DeRemer was confirmed Monday as the next federal labor secretary. (Photo by Julia Shumway/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

One-term Oregon congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer successfully turned her election loss and closer-than-typical relationship with some unions into a post in President Donald Trumps Cabinet.

The U.S. Senate voted, 67-32, on Monday to confirm Chavez-DeRemer as secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, with 17 Democrats supporting her and three Republicans rejecting her nomination. Its a huge step up for Chavez-DeRemer, whose only political experience before her single term in Congress was losing two state House races and serving as mayor of the small Portland suburb of Happy Valley.

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Chavez-DeRemer tweeted that she was honored to be confirmed.

As promised, Ill work tirelessly to put American Workers First by fighting for good-paying jobs, safe working conditions, and secure retirement benefits, she wrote. Lets get to work.

Chavez-DeRemer, the daughter of a Teamster, actively courted support from unions during her unsuccessful reelection bid. More than 20 unions, most of them small local organizations, ultimately endorsed her, while Oregons largest private sector union, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555, supported both her and her election opponent, Democratic U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum.

Shes got more labor union endorsements than any Republican Ive ever seen in my life, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, said at an October campaign rally with Chavez-DeRemer.

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That wasnt enough for her to beat Bynum in Oregons 5th Congressional District, which stretches from Bend to Portland and voted for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the two most recent presidential elections. But Chavez-DeRemers labor ties  and her politically risky decision to endorse Trump after his last serious opponent dropped out and ahead of Oregons May primary  paid off with a Cabinet promotion.

Another late endorsement, her July 2024 decision to cosponsor the union-backed Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act, or PRO Act, led to scrutiny from Republican senators. Chavez-DeRemer signed onto the bill, which would have weakened state right-to-work laws and allowed unions to collect money from all employees, after it was clear it wouldnt receive a hearing or vote. She disavowed it during a confirmation hearing last month, assuring Republicans that she supported the bill only because she was representing Oregon and that she supported their states laws banning mandatory union membership.

I signed on to the PRO Act because I was representing Oregons 5th District, but I also signed on to the PRO Act because I wanted to be at that table and have those conversations, Chavez-DeRemer said during the hearing. But I fully support states that want to protect their right to work.

Three Republicans  former Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. Rand Paul, both of Kentucky, and Sen. Ted Budd of North Carolina  voted against Chavez-DeRemer. McConnell said in a statement that Chavez-DeRemer had a record of pushing policies that force Americans into union membership and could continue Biden-era policies.

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Secretary Chavez-DeRemer will have a critical opportunity to put the interests of working families ahead of Big Labor bosses by empowering every American worker to join a union on their terms. I hope she takes it, McConnell said.

Oregons two Democratic senators, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, voted against Chavez-DeRemer, but several other Democrats supported her nomination in both the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and on the floor.

Both Democratic senators from Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Virginia voted for her, as did Sens. Amy Klobuchar, of Minnesota, Adam Schiff, of California, and Sheldon Whitehouse, of Rhode Island.

Chavez-DeRemer will be the first Oregonian to serve in a presidential Cabinet since Bonneville Power Administrator Don Hodel, who served as President Ronald Reagans secretary of energy and secretary of the interior. Before Chavez-DeRemer, the most recent Oregon elected official to hold a Cabinet post was former Portland Mayor Neil Goldschmidt, who served as President Jimmy Carters secretary of transportation before becoming Oregons governor.

This story was originally published by Oregon Capital Chronicle, which like the New Hampshire Bulletin is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.
Then-U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, listens to Portland business owner Ann Naughton while Portland Police Sgt. Aaron Schmautz looks on during a discussion in Oregon City in October 2024. Chavez-DeRemer was confirmed Monday as the next federal labor secretary. (Photo by Julia Shumway/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

One-term Oregon congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer successfully turned her election loss and closer-than-typical relationship with some unions into a post in President Donald Trumps cabinet.

The U.S. Senate voted 67-32 on Monday to confirm Chavez-DeRemer as secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, with 17 Democrats supporting her and three Republicans rejecting her nomination. Its a huge step up for Chavez-DeRemer, whose only political experience before her single term in Congress was losing two state House races and serving as mayor of the small Portland suburb of Happy Valley.

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Chavez-DeRemer tweeted that she was honored to be confirmed.

As promised, Ill work tirelessly to put American Workers First by fighting for good-paying jobs, safe working conditions, and secure retirement benefits, she wrote. Lets get to work.

Chavez-DeRemer, the daughter of a Teamster, actively courted support from unions during her unsuccessful reelection bid. More than 20 unions, most of them small local organizations, ultimately endorsed her, while Oregons largest private sector union, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555, supported both her and her election opponent, Democratic U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum.

Shes got more labor union endorsements than any Republican Ive ever seen in my life, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, said at an October campaign rally with Chavez-DeRemer.

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That wasnt enough for her to beat Bynum in Oregons 5th Congressional District, which stretches from Bend to Portland and voted for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the two most recent presidential elections. But Chavez-DeRemers labor ties  and her politically risky decision to endorse Trump after his last serious opponent dropped out and ahead of Oregons May primary  paid off with a Cabinet promotion.

Another late endorsement, her July 2024 decision to cosponsor the union-backed Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act, or PRO Act, led to scrutiny from Republican senators. Chavez-DeRemer signed onto the bill, which would have weakened state right-to-work laws and allowed unions to collect money from all employees, after it was clear it wouldnt receive a hearing or vote. She disavowed it during a confirmation hearing last month, assuring Republicans that she supported the bill only because she was representing Oregon and that she supported their states laws banning mandatory union membership.

I signed on to the PRO Act because I was representing Oregons 5th District, but I also signed on to the PRO Act because I wanted to be at that table and have those conversations, Chavez-DeRemer said during the hearing. But I fully support states that want to protect their right to work.

Three Republicans  former Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. Rand Paul, both of Kentucky, and Sen. Ted Budd of North Carolina  voted against Chavez-DeRemer. McConnell said in a statement that Chavez-DeRemer had a record of pushing policies that force Americans into union membership and could continue Biden-era policies.

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Secretary Chavez-DeRemer will have a critical opportunity to put the interests of working families ahead of Big Labor bosses by empowering every American worker to join a union on their terms. I hope she takes it, McConnell said.

Oregons two Democratic senators, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, voted against Chavez-DeRemer, but several other Democrats supported her nomination in both the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and on the floor.

Both Democratic senators from Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire and Virginia voted for her, as did Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, Adam Schiff, D-California and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island.

Chavez-DeRemer will be the first Oregonian to serve in a presidential cabinet since Bonneville Power Administrator Don Hodel, who served as President Ronald Reagans secretary of energy and secretary of interior. Before Chavez-DeRemer, the most recent Oregon elected official to hold a cabinet post was former Portland Mayor Neil Goldschmidt, who served as President Jimmy Carters secretary of transportation before becoming Oregons governor.

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U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, speaks to reporters on Oct. 9, 2024. (Photo by Julia Shumway/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

One-term Oregon congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer successfully turned her election loss and closer-than-typical relationship with some unions into a post in President Donald Trumps Cabinet.

The U.S. Senate voted 67-32 on Monday to confirm Chavez-DeRemer as secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, with 17 Democrats supporting her and three Republicans rejecting her nomination. Its a huge step up for Chavez-DeRemer, whose only political experience before her single term in Congress was losing two state House races and serving as mayor of the small Portland suburb of Happy Valley.

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Chavez-DeRemer tweeted that she was honored to be confirmed.

As promised, Ill work tirelessly to put American Workers First by fighting for good-paying jobs, safe working conditions, and secure retirement benefits, she wrote. Lets get to work.

North Dakota Republican Sens. John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer supported her confirmation.

Secretary Chavez-DeRemer has committed to advancing the Presidents agenda and ensuring a level playing field for American workers and businesses, Hoeven said in a statement.

Chavez-DeRemer, the daughter of a Teamster, actively courted support from unions during her unsuccessful reelection bid. More than 20 unions, most of them small local organizations, ultimately endorsed her, while Oregons largest private sector union, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555, supported both her and her election opponent, Democratic U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum.

Advertisement Advertisement

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Shes got more labor union endorsements than any Republican Ive ever seen in my life, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, said at an October campaign rally with Chavez-DeRemer.

That wasnt enough for her to beat Bynum in Oregons 5th Congressional District, which stretches from Bend to Portland and voted for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the two most recent presidential elections. But Chavez-DeRemers labor ties  and her politically risky decision to endorse Trump after his last serious opponent dropped out and ahead of Oregons May primary  paid off with a Cabinet promotion.

Another late endorsement, her July 2024 decision to cosponsor the union-backed Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act, or PRO Act, led to scrutiny from Republican senators. Chavez-DeRemer signed onto the bill, which would have weakened state right-to-work laws and allowed unions to collect money from all employees, after it was clear it wouldnt receive a hearing or vote. She disavowed it during a confirmation hearing last month, assuring Republicans that she supported the bill only because she was representing Oregon and that she supported their states laws banning mandatory union membership.

I signed on to the PRO Act because I was representing Oregons 5th District, but I also signed on to the PRO Act because I wanted to be at that table and have those conversations, Chavez-DeRemer said during the hearing. But I fully support states that want to protect their right to work.

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Three Republicans  former Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. Rand Paul, both of Kentucky, and Sen. Ted Budd of North Carolina  voted against Chavez-DeRemer. McConnell said in a statement that Chavez-DeRemer had a record of pushing policies that force Americans into union membership and could continue Biden-era policies.

Secretary Chavez-DeRemer will have a critical opportunity to put the interests of working families ahead of Big Labor bosses by empowering every American worker to join a union on their terms. I hope she takes it, McConnell said.

Oregons two Democratic senators, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, voted against Chavez-DeRemer, but several other Democrats supported her nomination in both the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and on the floor.

Both Democratic senators from Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire and Virginia voted for her, as did Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, Adam Schiff, D-California and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island.

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Chavez-DeRemer will be the first Oregonian to serve in a presidential Cabinet since Bonneville Power Administrator Don Hodel, who served as President Ronald Reagans secretary of energy and secretary of interior. Before Chavez-DeRemer, the most recent Oregon elected official to hold a Cabinet post was former Portland Mayor Neil Goldschmidt, who served as President Jimmy Carters secretary of transportation before becoming Oregons governor.

The North Dakota Monitor contributed to this report.

Oregon 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. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor for questions: info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com.
The U.S. and Ukraine have reached a ceasefire agreement in principle that would pause fighting in the now-three-year-old war and pave the way for the U.S. to obtain mineral rights, according to a joint statement between the two nations that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on his official web account. In return, the U.S. will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine. The U.S. imposed that pause last week, which you can read more about in our in-depth report here.

The peace talks took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia after deteriorating relations between Washington and Kyiv. You can read more about the negotiations in our recent report here.

Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the US proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, and which is subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation, Zelensky stated. The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace.

In a statement on Telegram, Zelensky said that the proposal from the American side was to immediately take the first stepand try to establish a complete ceasefire for 30 days, not only with regard to missiles, drones and bombs, not only in the Black Sea, but also along the entire frontline.

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Both Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to conclude as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraines critical mineral resources to expand Ukraines economy, offset the cost of American assistance, and guarantee Ukraines long-term prosperity and security.

The Ukrainian delegation also reiterated the Ukrainian peoples strong gratitude to President Trump, the U.S. Congress, and the people of the United States for making possible meaningful progress toward peace.

Speaking to reporters after the negotiation session wrapped, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it is now up to Russia to decide if it wants to pursue peace.

Today, we made an offer that the Ukrainians have accepted, which is to enter into a ceasefire and into immediate negotiations to end this conflict in a way thats enduring and sustainable and accounts for their interests, their security, their ability to prosper as a nation, said Rubio. Well take this offer now to the Russians, and we hope that theyll say yes, that theyll say yes to peace. The ball is now in their court.

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The agreement announcement does not specify what conditions Ukraine agreed to, though Rubio had previously said Ukraine would have to give up land in any deal.

This is a developing story and there is still a long way to go before fighting ends.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
The Trump administration on Monday sent letters to 60 colleges and universities  10 of them in California  warning of "potential enforcement" against them, days after canceling $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University and accusing it of ignoring antisemitism allegations.

"We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, antisemitic, anti-American activity, Trump wrote in a social media post. "We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country  never to return again.

Also Monday, UCLA announced a new campuswide initiative to combat antisemitism, with Chancellor Julio Frenk saying the university is at an "inflection point" that compels it to "end hate however it manifests itself." UCLA was not among the California universities that received the Education Department letter, but it is under multiple federal investigations by the Trump administration into alleged anti-Jewish incidents.

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Pro-Palestinian students, staff and faculty accused UCLA of prioritizing efforts to tackle antisemitism while avoiding equal focus on reports of racism and bias against Arab Americans, Palestinian Americans and Muslim Americans, saying the university was overreacting in fear of the Trump administration's threats to cut funding. Roughly $1.1 billion of UCLA's $11 billion budget comes from federal sources.

UCLA officials denied the allegation, saying the university is working to address all reports of discrimination and has been planning its antisemitism initiative since January, but was delayed by the Los Angeles fires, which briefly prompted classes to go online. UCLA has aided in recovery by allowing FEMA to use an expansive Westside property for a disaster recovery center.

U.S. universities, many roiled by protests last spring, are on alert as the Trump administration threatens to yank federal funding and crack down on campus demonstrations against Israel that erupted after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack in southern Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza.

After immigration authorities over the weekend detained a Palestinian activist who helped lead antiwar protests at Columbia, Trump warned Monday that the man's possible deportation was the first of "many to come.

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The detained activist, Mahmoud Khalil, is a lawful U.S. resident and was a Columbia student until December. He is accused of supporting Hamas, which the U.S. labels as a terrorist group. His lawyer said that he was legally protesting U.S. foreign policy and that his client is being used to make a political point against free speech.

A federal judge in New York City ordered Monday that Khalil not be deported while the court considered a legal challenge brought by his lawyers. A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

Read more: Justice Department launches investigation into allegations of antisemitism at UC

The detention has alarmed college administrators across the country, who faced criticism for calling riot police on student protesters last year and generally avoided pressing for criminal charges against pro-Palestinian activists. Demonstrators had called for campuses to divest from weapons companies or connections to Israel, including study abroad programs. Many foreign students, including those at UCLA and USC, took part in protests  although the numbers are not known.

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At UCLA, the Dashew Center, a hub for international students, issued a warning this year during a webinar to avoid protest activities that could be deemed illegal. Similar warnings have been issued at USC.

On Tuesday, Students for Justice in Palestine and Graduate Students for Justice in Palestine  groups that were suspended last month at UCLA for protesting and vandalism at a regent's home  plan to demonstrate on Royce Quad in Westwood.

"Hands off our students. No ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] at UCLA," social media ads for the demonstration said.

The UC system has a policy of complying with federal immigration regulations but not using its police to "undertake other joint efforts with federal, state or local law enforcement agencies, to investigate, detain or arrest individuals for violation of federal immigration law."

California campuses respond to warning letter

The Department of Education letter on Monday singled out several California campuses for financial actions similar to those against Columbia. They included four UCs  San Diego, Santa Barbara, Berkeley and Davis  as well as USC, Pomona College, Stanford, Chapman University, Santa Monica College and Sacramento State.

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A UC spokeswoman said the university system was "aware" of the letters from the Education Department's Office of Civil Rights about antisemitism.

Read more: Trump administration antisemitism task force says it will visit UCLA, USC

"We want to be clear: the University of California is unwavering in its commitment to combating antisemitism and protecting the civil rights of all our students, faculty, staff, and visitors," said Senior Director of Strategic and Critical Communications Rachel Zaentz. "We continue to take specific steps to foster an environment free of antisemitism and other forms of discrimination and harassment for everyone in the university community.

In a statement, USC said that it has "publicly and unequivocally denounced antisemitism in all its forms, and has taken strong actions to protect all of our students  including members of our Jewish community  from illegal discrimination of any kind. USC is proud to enroll one of the largest Jewish student bodies in the country. We look forward to responding to [the] Office for Civil Rights letter and sharing with them everything we have done to create a welcoming and non-discriminatory campus environment for all members of our community.

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Patricia Vest, a Pomona College spokeswoman, said it "will cooperate" with the federal investigation of its campus. "The college is firmly committed to assuring the right of all our students to a Pomona education, including taking every appropriate step to prevent antisemitism and all forms of shared ancestry discrimination and harassment," Vest said.

A spokeswoman for Chapman University said in a statement that it was "fully committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all members of our campus community" and that "we stand by our record."

Santa Monica College said that it had three open cases with the Education Department regarding antisemitism complaints since last year.

"We outlined in great detail the colleges full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. We have not as yet received any determination from the Office of Civil Rights on any of these investigations," the statement said.

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Lanaya Lewis, a spokeswoman for Sacramento State, said it "stands in support of our Jewish community, and we reject antisemitism in all forms."

Stanford did not respond to requests from The Times.

What UCLA is doing

At UCLA  where a vigilante group attacked encampment demonstrators last spring amid the failure of police to quickly stop the violence  the new initiative will build upon recommendations made in October by a task force on antisemitism and anti-Israel bias.

They include "enhancing relevant training and education, improving the complaint system, assuring enforcement of current and new laws and policies, and cooperating with stakeholders," Frenk said in his announcement.

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The effort is led by Stuart Gabriel, a distinguished professor of finance and Arden Realty chair at UCLA Anderson School of Management who chairs the Task Force to Combat Antisemitism and Anti-Israeli Bias.

Gabriel did not respond to a request for an interview.

Some of the newly announced UCLA efforts are similar to University of California agreements made in December to settle several civil rights complaints with the Department of Education. Those complaints centered on campuses in L.A., Santa Barbara, San Diego, Davis and Santa Cruz.

The allegations said UC campuses failed to respond promptly or effectively to the harassment of their students based on their actual or perceived national origin and that some of the UC campuses subjected these students to different treatment in regard to access to university programs, although the Education Department did not find every complaint to have enough evidence.

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Frenk's announcement Monday elicited praise from some members of the Jewish community.

"Chancellor Frenks strong leadership inspires, in our community, a feeling of deep appreciation and hope for the future. We share his vision that UCLA will become a place where all students, faculty and staff can learn and express themselves without fear or discrimination," said Dan Gold, who leads UCLA Hillel. "As we approach the Jewish holiday of Purim, our community remembers and celebrates the lessons of the holiday: that we are stronger united than when we are divided."

Jeffrey Abrams, the Anti-Defamation League's Los Angeles regional director, said in a statement that the efforts were a "step forward" for UCLA. "Now equally strong action must follow this announcement to restore a safe and secure learning environment for the entire Bruin community," Abrams said.

But members of UCLA's Task Force on Anti-Palestinian, Anti-Muslim, and Anti-Arab Racism, formed around the same time as the university's antisemitism task force, said UCLA was not doing enough to address hatred against those communities.

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"We all know why this is being announced today. We know UCLA is looking at Columbia. We know UCLA has already been scrutinized for something we all find ridiculous ... not having a strong enough response [to protests] even though our students were among the most brutalized of all the peaceful protesters across the country," said Gaye Johnson, an associate professor in the Department of Chicana/o and Central American Studies who is co-chair of the Task Force on Anti-Palestinian, Anti-Muslim, and Anti-Arab Racism.

Co-chair Sherene Razack, a distinguished professor and Penny Kanner endowed chair in women's studies, pointed out that her group has published three reports on alleged racist and bias incidents against Arab American, Palestinian American and Muslim American students, staff and faculty at UCLA, including one in February, but has yet to meet with Frenk on the matters.

"Is there going to be a statement about our task force report? As there was today about this other task force report?" Razack asked.

The group is scheduled to have its first sit-down with the chancellor, via Zoom for 30 minutes, on Wednesday.

A UCLA representative said that Frenk planned future actions to address campus climate issues beyond antisemitism concerns, including anti-Palestinian, anti-Muslim and anti-Arab bias, later this year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
STORRS, Conn. (WTNH)  The housing process has become a hassle for some UConn students.

This comes as the university stopped guaranteeing residential housing for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

Students told News 8 that these changes do not align with what they were told when they first came to the school.

Authorities investigating potentially hazardous condition at UConn

They advertised guaranteed housing when we applied and now, they are like we cannot really guarantee that much housing anymore because we keep over admitting, Marco Dias, a student at UConn, said.

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In a statement, UConns spokesperson Stephanie Reitz said, We recognize that increased enrollment translates into increased need for student services, including on-campus housing options, and continue to focus on ways to maximize availability without compromising quality.

Orlando Martinez, a sophomore student at UConn, believes there is a benefit to allowing more students into the university, but sees housing as an issue.

You have to have the housing capacity for those students, and I think that is where the problem is, Martinez said.

Some students said that this change also impacts students and their parents who help them financially.

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But the school stated that it has been working to find solutions for the high demand of housing.

The university said that private developments near the Storrs campus are expected to open soon.

This includes The Standard at Four Corners, which will have about 400 apartments available to lease for the fall 2025 semester.

UConn said it is also increasing the number of off-campus beds it will lease for students use nearby in the Oaks on the Square apartments complex in Downtown Storrs, which will add more than 600 beds in support of enrollment growth.

According to Reitz, this project, and some others in the local town regulatory pipeline, will increase the options available to UConn students as they decide whether they want to live on campus or commute.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP)  Uganda has deployed an unknown number of troops to South Sudan in a bid to protect the fragile government of President Salva Kiir as a tense rivalry with his deputy threatens a return to civil war in the east African nation.

Ugandan special forces have been deployed to Juba, the South Sudanese capital, to support the government of South Sudan" against a possible rebel advance on the city, said Maj. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, a spokesperson for the Ugandan military.

We sent a force there two days ago, he said. We are not there for peacekeeping."

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In deploying Ugandan soldiers to Juba, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni moved as a guarantor of the peace process that keeps Kiir and Machar together in a delicate government of national unity, Kulayigye told The Associated Press Tuesday.

Kiir and Museveni are allies, and Museveni has in the past intervened in the South Sudan conflict to keep Kiir in power.

The deployment of Ugandan troops to South Sudan underscores rising tensions in the oil-producing country that has been plagued by political instability and violence since it gained independence from Sudan in 2011.

The U.S. on Sunday ordered nonemergency government personnel to leave Juba. The U.N. is warning of an alarming regression that could erase years of hard-won progress in South Sudan.

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The latest tensions stem from fighting in the country's north between government troops and a rebel militia, known as the White Army, that's widely believed to be allied with Machar.

Last week a South Sudanese general was among several people killed when a United Nations helicopter on a mission to evacuate government troops from the town of Nasir, the scene of the fighting in Upper Nile state, was shot at. Earlier in the week, after the White Army overran the military garrison in Nasir, government troops surrounded Machars home in Juba and several of his allies were arrested. Deputy army chief Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, who is seen as loyal to Machar, was among those detained.

Kiir had angered Machars group earlier in the year by firing officials seen as loyal to Machar, who has charged that persistent violations through unilateral decisions and decrees threaten the very existence of their peace pact.

Kiir urged calm after last week's helicopter incident, saying in a statement that his government "will handle this crisis and we will remain steadfast in the path of peace.

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Civil war erupted in South Sudan in late 2013 when a rift between Kiir and Machar escalated into fighting along ethnic lines. Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, accused a group of soldiers loyal to Machar, an ethnic Nuer, of trying to take power by force.

Machar escaped Juba, and later rebels loyal to him came close to capturing Juba but were repulsed by a combined force of South Sudanese soldiers loyal to Kiir and Ugandan special forces.

More than 400,000 people were killed in the 5-year civil war that followed.

With the support of regional leaders and the international community, Kiir and Machar signed a peace deal in 2018 and Machar returned to Juba as South Sudan's first vice president.

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But the political rivalry between South Sudan's top two leaders  with Kiir suspicious of his deputys ambitions and Machar calling Kiir a dictator  remains an obstacle to lasting peace. Both men have been accused of violating multiple ceasefires.

Kiir and Machar are under pressure from the U.S. and others to more quickly implement the 2018 peace deal and prepare for elections.

Challenges include the governments failure to implement promised reforms such as completing the unification of the army command.

Presidential elections, repeatedly postponed, are now scheduled for 2026.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)  Since February 21st, there have been three sexual assaults on the University of Illinois campus. Now, police are reminding students of some resources available for them.

The University of Illinois Police Department will work with the affected individual and assess any safety concerns or draft a safety plan. UIPD also has a special victims unit and employs a victim-centered approach throughout the investigation. Other resources for victims include a soft interview room or the ability to send detectives to a neutral location.

RELATED: Student sexually assaulted at fraternity over the weekend: U of I Public Safety

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Its important because it makes the process easier on them, and not only the reporting process, but also that healing process, said UIPD Detective Michelle Kaeding. There are a lot of moving parts throughout both processes, so we want to make it as easy as possible because of all of those. Those are moving parts that are necessary for the reporting process and for their healing process,

As of 2020, Illinois doesnt have a statute of limitations on sexual assault, so you can report it at any 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 WCIA.com.
During the National Top Advisory Bodies Plenary Meeting, Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Standing Committee Member Lao Nga Wong urged Macau to strengthen its role as a platform for connecting China with Portuguese-speaking countries.

His remarks emphasized the importance of advancing Macaus unique status as an international gateway.

In a speech at the 3rd Plenary Meeting of the 3rd Section of the 14th Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, Lao highlighted Macaus potential to serve as a vital bridge for economic and cultural ties. He referenced President Xi Jinpings endorsement of Macaus capabilities during his visit last year, underscoring its relevance in fostering international relations.

Leverage the unique role of Macaus China-Portuguese-speaking countries platform and overseas Chinese businesses to provide multi-level services for mainland enterprises to go global through cooperation, Lao said. He called for collaborative efforts to establish Macau as an additional international hub alongside Hong Kong.

The plenary session featured discussions from 14 CPPCC members, covering a range of issues from improving the business environment to enhancing cross-strait cultural exchanges.

Tu Haiming, deputy director of the CPPCC Committee for Liaison with Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Overseas Chinese, reiterated the importance of shared responsibilities among governments and citizens in advancing Macaus international role.

Govt implement guidelines from Two Sessions

In a concerted effort to advance the One country, two systems principle in Macau, government officials said they are set to implement key strategies derived from the Two Sessions held in Beijing.

According to statements issued by the citys secretaries, these measures aim to foster economic diversification, ensure stability, and improve the well-being of residents.

Additionally, they focus on developing the Macau-Hengqin interconnection, deepening international exchanges, and enhancing the regions integration into the broader national development framework. Victoria Chan
(Bloomberg) -- Supply Lines is a daily newsletter that tracks global trade. Sign up here.

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The UK government is expecting to get hit by President Donald Trumps steel and aluminum tariffs, even as the British side holds out hope that positive trade negotiations with the US could result in an 11th-hour reprieve.

British officials have held promising talks with their American counterparts in recent days, according to one UK official briefed on the matter. Theyve been trying to persuade Trumps administration that the UK should be exempted from the USs 25% levy on the steel and aluminum imports.

While the UKs base case was still that it would be hit by the rise in US tariffs, the official said, negotiators were hopeful that they could secure an exemption for British steel manufacturers after the new levies came into effect in the early hours of Wednesday, if not before.

It comes after UK Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds held a call with his US counterpart Howard Lutnick on Sunday, in which the tariffs were discussed. Prime Minister Keir Starmer also urged Trump not to target British manufacturers in a call with the president on Monday.

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Starmers visit to the White House last month appeared to put the UK on a good footing, as the two leaders agreed to negotiate a new economic deal with advanced technology at its core. Starmers spokesman, Dave Pares, on Tuesday told reporters that UK officials are engaging closely with US counterparts.

Read more:

UKs Reeves Says Deal to Be Done With US on Steel Levies

Britain Seeks Tech and AI Deal With US Rather Than Full FTA

The UK has been making the case for an exemption by pointing out that its trade in goods with the US is broadly balanced, and that UK steel and aluminum is a small fraction of that imported by the US. Around 5% of the UKs steel exports and 6% of its aluminum exports by volume go to the States.

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Speaking to journalists in London last month about the US tariffs, Reynolds said: I do feel that where there are concerns about the global steel and aluminum industries, we have a very strong case that the UK is not a problem within that and I think theres a basis for discussion in that.

Senior UK ministers have said that the UK would not immediately retaliate if the US does push ahead with tariffs. Well take a cool-headed approach to any tariffs, Pares said on Tuesday. We remain prepared to defend the UKs national interests when its right to do so.

The EU, however, has indicated that it would hit back, putting its own tariffs on US items such as bourbon whiskey and Harley Davidson motorbikes. EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic told journalists in Brussels on Monday that the US was doing little to engage with the bloc to avert a trade war.

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Kyiv is ready to accept Washington's proposal to immediately implement a temporary, 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement, the Presidential Office announced on March 11 after the talks with the U.S. in Saudi Arabia.

Ukraine is ready to take such a step only if Russia adheres to the terms of the ceasefire in the same way.

The announcement comes as one of the main conclusions of the U.S.-Ukraine talks in Jeddah, in which the two sides sought a common path toward a peace deal after weeks of tense relations.

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The ties between Kyiv and Washington grew sour after a heated exchange between President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House on Feb. 28, which led to the U.S. halting military and intelligence support.

"Ukrainian proposal for this meeting with the Americans was three things: ceasefire in the sky  missiles, bombs, long-range drones  and ceasefire at sea, as well as measures to establish trust to this process, first of all  the release of prisoners," Zelensky said following the meeting.

"The American side understands our arguments, accepts our proposals, I want to thank President (Donald) Trump for the constructiveness of our teams' conversation," he added.

The president added that as part of the deal, the U.S. agreed to resume intelligence sharing and defense assistance for Ukraine.

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"And today, there was a proposal from the American side to take the first step right away and attempt to establish a complete ceasefire for 30 days, not only regarding missiles, drones, and bombs, not only in the Black Sea but also along the entire front line," Zelensky said.

"Ukraine accepts this proposal." Zelensky added that the U.S. "must convince Russia" to abide by it.

During the talks, the Ukrainian delegation proposed to implement a partial truce in the sky and at sea, while the U.S. side wanted "to try to do more," a source close to the Presidential Office told the Kyiv Independent.

Russia's stance toward a partial ceasefire is unclear, the source added. Moscow has repeatedly rejected freezing hostilities along the current front line, believing it has the upper hand on the battlefield.

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"Within a certain period of time, we will prepare a final agreement on how to end the war. Now, the discussions concern only the first steps," the source said.

Ways to enforce a possible ceasefire also remain uncertain. Kyiv has previously emphasized that firm security guarantees from the U.S. and other partners should be a key part of any cessation of hostilities, arguing that Russia has repeatedly violated multiple ceasefires since the start of its aggression in 2014.

The Trump administration has been reluctant to provide security guarantees to Kyiv and instead urged Europe to take responsibility for Ukraine's post-war stability. According to U.S. officials, the proposed minerals deal agreement could function as a security guarantee itself.

The readout from the Jeddah meeting said that both Zelensky and Trump "agreed to conclude as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraines critical mineral resources to expand Ukraines economy, offset the cost of American assistance, and guarantee Ukraines long-term prosperity and security."

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The Ukrainian delegation included President's Office Head Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and Yermak's deputy, Pavlo Palisa. The U.S. delegation was led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

In the coming days, Trump's envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, is also expected to travel to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Witkoff previously traveled to Moscow in February for the release of U.S. teacher Marc Fogel from a Russian prison and has emerged as a key figure in Washington's effort to negotiate a peace between Russia and Ukraine.

Read also: Ceasefire has never seemed closer, Yermak writes but stresses need for security guarantees

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
After eight hours of peace talks on Tuesday, the United States and Ukraine reached a resolution for a 30-day ceasefire. Russia must still agree to the deal before it would be implemented.

In exchange for Ukraines commitment to peace in the sky, the sea and on the front line, America will resume providing weapons and intelligence to Ukraine, per The Telegraph.

The talks took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, far from where fighting is ongoing in Ukraine and Russia.

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On Monday, Russia had resumed its near-nightly drone strikes on Ukraine, while Ukraine launched its own enormous wave of drones against Russia, per NBC News.

Ukraines defenses downed 114 drones. Russia downed 337 sent its way, many of which targeted Russian transportation and oil production.

Though Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has committed to Americas ceasefire proposal, it is unclear if Russian President Vladimir Putin will agree.

A joint statement released by Ukraine and the United States after the talks, which were facilitated by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Zelenskyy, specified that the U.S will negotiate with Russia on behalf of the ceasefire agreement.

U.S. national security adviser Mike Waltz, left, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio hold a meeting with Ukrainian officials, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. | Saul Loeb

The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace, the joint statement said.

What it will take to achieve peace

Rubio said that the administration believes the Russia-Ukraine conflict has devolved into a war of attrition, meaning neither side can win substantially or swiftly and that, without peace talks, the war will continue to grind on slowly.

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Before the talks, Ukraine had expressed its desire to be fully constructive and compliant with the United States in order to achieve a ceasefire deal.

Were ready to do everything to achieve peace, said Ukrainian delegate Andriy Yermak, per The Washington Post.

I had a good meeting with Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman. I am grateful for his wise perspective on global affairs and support for Ukraine. It was especially important to hear words of confidence in Ukraines future.



We discussed all key issues on the pic.twitter.com/BiBnaKViPl  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) March 10, 2025

Zelenskyy stated his willingness to give up Ukrainian territory, Ukraines claim to NATO membership and even sacrifice his own position as Ukrainian president in order to secure a just and sustainable peace, reported Newsweek.

But what about Russia  is Putin willing to make any concessions?

On March 6, Putin established that he expects large swaths of Ukrainian territory, including Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, and also rejected any plans that involved freezing front-line conflict.

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We must choose for ourselves a peace option that would suit us and that would ensure peace for our country over the long-term historical perspective, he told Russians.

A investigator looks at the damage of an apartment building where a downed Ukrainian drone fell in Sapronovo village outside Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. | Associated Press

Meanwhile, as Americans and Ukrainians conclude negotiations, Russians and Ukrainians continue to sift through destroyed buildings, per media reports.

Ukrainian-American relations

Earlier this month, the United States suspended all military and offensive intelligence support to Ukraine, while maintaining defensive intelligence support.

The White House pulled back resources from Ukraine after President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Zelenskyy engaged in a tense exchange in the Oval Office last week.

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Todays success in Jeddah signifies an improvement in Ukrainian-American relations, answering Rubios hope.

The most important thing that we have to leave here with is a strong sense that Ukraine is prepared to do difficult things, Rubio said about the meeting. (Similarly) the Russians are going to have to do difficult things to end this conflict or at least pause it in some way, shape or form.

U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has also stated that Washington hopes to finally achieve the critical minerals deal with Ukraine at the meeting in Jeddah.

All the signs are very, very positive, Witkoff said about the minerals deal.

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Both Zelenskyy and Trump agreed at the meeting to create, as soon as possible, an agreement to develop Ukraines mineral resources, thereby expanding Ukraines economy while also benefiting the US.

As Trumps ire towards Ukraine seems to fade, so does his goodwill towards Russia.

As the Deseret News previously reported, Trump recently expressed willingness to sanction Russia economically.

Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely pounding Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED. To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late. Thank you!!! Trump posted to Truth Social on March 7.
Ukraine Tuesday backed a U.S. plan for a 30-day ceasefire if Russia agrees, a deal that Secretary of State Marco Rubio said puts the ball in (Putins) court.

In a breakthrough after daylong talks in Saudi Arabia, American officials said the Ukrainian delegation backed the plan for a pause to hostilities in the worst ground war in Europe since World War II.

Ukraine is ready to start talking and stop shooting, Rubio said in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

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American diplomats will now take the proposal to their Russian counterparts.

We hope that theyll say yes, that theyll say yes to peace, Rubio said. The ball is now in their court.

The U.S. agreed to immediately end the pause to weapons shipments and intelligence sharing with Kyiv that was implemented after the disastrous White House meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy issued a statement backing the ceasefire agreement, which calls for a temporary halt to all fighting in the three-year conflict.

He said the response of strongman Vladimir Putin would show the world whether Russia is really ready to end the war it started when it invaded its neighbor in 2022.

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Ukraine is ready for peace, Zelenskyy said. Russia must show its readiness to end the war or continue the war.

Rubio also said the Russians response would clarify whether a viable path to peace exists.

If they say no, then well unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here, Americas top diplomat said.

There was no immediate reaction from Russia. Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to travel later this week to Moscow, where he could meet with Putin.

Ukrainian and U.S. officials also said they would keep discussing a proposed deal on Ukraines mineral wealth, although that was not the main focus of the Saudi talks.

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For Ukraine, the deal marks a major step towards repairing its crucial alliance with the U.S. after Trump signaled a major shift away from strong U.S. support for its embattled ally.

Trump and Zelenskyy traded barbs in a remarkable White House meeting that led the Republican president to suggest Ukraine is more of an obstacle to peace than Russia.

Trump ordered a halt to military aid and intelligence sharing, a move that Moscow hailed as a major diplomatic victory.

Even if the two sides agree to a ceasefire, there is no guarantee they can forge a lasting peace.

Russia is demanding Ukraine hand over several provinces that it annexed in wartime moves that the international community has rejected. It wants Ukraine to agree not to seek to join NATO.

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Ukraine wants its powerful neighbor to retreat to its internationally recognized borders, which would mean giving up historically Russian-dominated regions like Crimea and the mineral-rich Donbas.

Russia mounted a lightning-quick offensive in the first days of the invasion in 2022, nearly reaching Kyiv. But Ukrainian forces quickly recovered big chunks of lost territory.

The war settled into a brutal battle of attrition with limited movement along a frontline stretching for 600 miles through muck of eastern Ukraine.

Russia has recently stepped up attacks in hopes of breaking the long stalemate, especially since it smelled an advantage with Trump pressuring Zelenskyy to compromise to win peace.

_____
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that Ukraine had accepted a 30-day ceasefire proposed by the United States, following critical peace talks between US and Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia.

The ceasefire proposal accepted by Ukraine covers the entire front line of the fighting with Russia, not just the air and sea, Zelensky said after the more than eight-hour long meeting.

Ukraine accepts this proposal, we consider it positive, we are ready to take such a step, and the United States of America must convince Russia to do so, Zelensky said, adding that the ceasefire would start the moment Moscow agrees to it.

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The United States said in a joint statement with Ukraine following the meeting in Jeddah that it would immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine. A Ukrainian official confirmed on Tuesday that US security assistance to Ukraine had resumed.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said immediately after the meeting that the onus is now on Russia to take steps to end the war. We hope that theyll say yes, that theyll say yes to peace. The ball is now in their court, he said of the Russians.

US President Donald Trump later welcomed the news and vowed to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the plan, potentially this week.

On Wednesday, Zelensky said he believes Kyiv can expect the US to take strong steps against Russia if Moscow was to reject the ceasefire proposal.

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I dont know details, but we are talking about respective sanction actions and strengthening of Ukraine, Zelensky told reporters at a news conference in Kyiv. Everything depends on Russia. The US took steps, Ukraine made (its) position clear. Now Russia needs to respond.

Tuesdays talks occurred at a crucial time in the war, as Moscows forces continue to advance in the Kursk region of Russia  where Ukraine launched a shock incursion in August  threatening Kyivs sole territorial bargaining counter.

The US-Ukraine joint statement emphasized that Kyiv had expressed readiness to accept the US proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, and which is subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation.

The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace, it said.

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Zelensky said Ukraines proposals for the ceasefire had included silence in the sky and at sea, the release of Ukrainian prisoners to establish confidence in this whole situation, and the return of Ukrainian children from Russia.

The two sides also agreed to conclude a rare minerals deal as soon as possible to expand Ukraines economy and guarantee the countrys long-term security.

The developments will be a huge relief for Kyiv after the extraordinarily public blowup between Trump and Ukraines leader less than two weeks ago.

The Ukrainian delegation, which did not include Zelensky, met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. Both Rubio and Waltz attended direct talks with Russia last month.

Trump and European allies welcome ceasefire plan

The US president heralded the news, telling reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Hopefully President Putin will agree to that also and we can get this show on the road.

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I think its a very big, I think its a big difference between the last visit you saw in the Oval Office, and thats a total ceasefire, Trump said, referencing last months explosive Oval Office confrontation.

Ukraine has agreed to it, and hopefully Russia will agree to it  were going to meet with them later on today and tomorrow, and hopefully well be able to (work) out a deal, the president said. But I think the ceasefire is very important, if we can get Russia to do it, thatll be great. If we cant, we just keep going on, and people are going to get killed.

Pressed in a follow-up exchange on if hed invite Zelensky back to the White House, he told reporters, Sure, absolutely.

Trump added that he hopes to speak with Putin later this week and that he hopes a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine will take effect over the next few days.

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Ill talk to Vladimir Putin, I want to get  look, thats the other, it takes two to tango, as they say, right? Trump said. So hopefully hell also agree.

A spokesperson for the Russian foreign ministry told CNN Tuesday that it does not rule out contact with US representatives in the next few days.

Asked about another possible meeting with Trump, Zelensky told reporters Wednesday: I have not heard about the invitation. I think that any meeting we have with the president of America should end with a positive outcome for both sides. And I think thats how we should approach any of our meetings.

European leaders were quick to endorse the ceasefire proposal, days after pledges were made to rearm the continent amid fears the US was ripping up 80 years of security guarantees.

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The European Union called the agreement a positive development, while British Prime Minister Keir Starmer congratulated the leaders of both countries on a remarkable breakthrough.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said the talks are an important step toward a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, but added that the responsibility rests solely on Russia.

Other European officials from countries including The Netherlands, Sweden, the Czech Republic and France  whose President Emmanuel Macron proposed a one-month truce earlier this month, a plan backed by the United Kingdom  also welcomed the news.

Specialists work on the facade of a damaged apartment building following a drone attack in Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday. - Tatyana Makeyeva/AFP/Getty Images

The Ukrainian and American officials met in Jeddah just hours after Russia said it was hit by a massive Ukrainian drone attack. Moscows defense ministry said it had downed 337 drones it claimed Ukraine had fired at Russia, of which 91 had targeted the Moscow region. Local officials said three people were killed and at least six wounded.

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If the figure is confirmed, the aerial attacks would represent one of the largest on Russia since its invasion of Ukraine, and a clear attempt to show strength on the part of Kyiv.

Russian forces currently occupy nearly 20% of Ukraines territory, up from the roughly 7% Moscow controlled before it launched its unprovoked full-scale invasion in February 2022. Some 6 million Ukrainians live under Russian occupation.

Putin has made clear that he wants Moscow to gain control over the entirety of Ukraines eastern Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.

According to the Institute for the Study of War, a US-based conflict monitor, Russia currently occupies about 99% of the Luhansk region and 70% of the Donetsk region, as well as roughly 75% of both the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.

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CNNs Billy Stockwell, Daria Tarasova-Markina, Michael Rios, Donald Judd, Catherine Nicholls, James Frater, Mariya Knight and Matthew Chance contributed to this report.

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By Guy Faulconbridge and Anton Kolodyazhnyy

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Ukraine on Tuesday launched its biggest ever drone attack on Moscow and the surrounding region, killing at least three employees of a meat warehouse, injuring 17 others and causing a short shutdown at the Russian capital's four airports, Russian officials said.

A total of 343 drones were downed over Russia, including 91 over Moscow region and 126 over the western region of Kursk where Ukrainian forces have been pulling back, as well as near the Kursk nuclear power plant, the defence ministry said.

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The dawn attack unfurled ahead of talks between U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia on seeking an end of the three-year-war and as Russian forces try to encircle thousands of Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Tuesday's was the biggest Ukrainian drone attack on the city, which along with the surrounding region has a population of at least 21 million and is one of the biggest metropolitan areas in Europe.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that preventative measures had allowed Moscow and other Russian regions to be defended from the attacks which he said had hit residential buildings.

Russia's defence ministry said Ukraine had launched an attack on civilian infrastructure. Ukraine's General Staff said it struck oil facilities in Russia's Moscow and Oryol regions in an overnight drone attack.

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Since President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the war has showcased the devastating power of relatively cheap drones which have been used by both sides to target cities, troops, oil refineries and airfields.

DRONE WAR

Kyiv has suffered repeated mass strikes from Russia throughout the war and said it was targeted by a ballistic missile and 126 drones on Tuesday. It has tried to hit back against its vastly bigger neighbour with repeated drone raids over the past two years.

Colonel General Andrei Kartapolov, head of the Russian parliament's defence committee and a former deputy defence minister, suggested Moscow should retaliate for Tuesday's raid by striking Ukraine with the "Oreshnik" hypersonic missile.

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Miratorg, one of Russia's biggest meat producers, said two employees were killed by falling debris. Russian officials said a third man from Miratorg had died from his injuries.

Russia's aviation watchdog said flights were suspended at all four of Moscow's airports after the attacks, though they were later reopened. Flights were diverted to other cities.

Though U.S. President Donald Trump says he wants to deliver peace in Ukraine, the war is heating up on the battlefield with a major Russian spring offensive in Kursk and a series of Ukrainian drone attacks deep into Russia.

Russia has developed myriad electronic "umbrellas" over Moscow and key installations, with additional advanced internal layers over strategic buildings, and a complex web of air defences to shoot down drones before they reach the Kremlin in the heart of the capital.

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Moscow and Kyiv have both sought to buy and develop new drones, deploy them in innovative ways, and seek new ways to destroy them - from farmers' shotguns to electronic jamming.

Soldiers have reported a visceral fear of drones and both sides have used macabre footage of fatal strikes in their propaganda, with soldiers shown being blown apart in toilets or running from burning vehicles.

Putin, who has sought to insulate Moscow from the war, has called Ukrainian attacks on civilian infrastructure such as nuclear power plants "terrorism" and has vowed a response.

(Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne, Guy Faulconbridge and Anton Kolodyazhnyy in Moscow; Editing by and Gerry Doyle, Andrew Cawthorne, Aidan Lewis)
Ukraine launched its largest-ever drone attack against Russia overnight, hours before the beginning of peace talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia.

Some 337 drones were fired into Russia, including nearly 100 into Moscow, killing at least three workers at a meat warehouse in the capital and injuring 18 others, local officials said.

The strikes caused a short shutdown at Moscows four main airports. Ukraine did not confirm the attack, but Russia said it showed Kyiv was losing on the battlefield.

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It came hours before US and Ukrainian officials were due to meet in Jeddah to discuss bringing the three-year war to an end.

Russia has also stepped up attacks on Ukraine in recent days, carrying out massive ballistic missile and drone strikes and launching a lightning counter-offensive in Kursk that has taken back territory captured by Kyiv last summer.

On Tuesday, Russia said it retaken 100 square kilometres of territory in Kursk. Units of the North group of forces liberated 12 settlements during the offensive... and more than 100 square kilometres of the territory of the Kursk region, its defence ministry said.

Ukraine fired at least 126 drones into Kursk during the overnight attack, according to authorities, while 38 were fired into Russias Belgorod region.

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Pictures and footage showed that several residential buildings were hit, with apartment doors and windows blown out. At least 20 cars were destroyed at a car park belonging to Miratorg, a major food company, according to Russian media. A 38-year-old security guard was killed.

Credit: , /Telegram

Ahead of the peace talks, Andriy Yermak, Volodymyr Zelenskys chief of staff, told reporters Ukraine was ready to do everything to achieve peace.

No one wants peace more than Ukrainians, he said.Ukraine is ready to go for this goal because its what Ukrainians want the most after more than three years of Russias full-scale invasion.

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Mr Zelensky held a meeting with Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Arabian countrys crown prince, on Monday ahead of the US-Ukraine talks.

Ukraine launched dozens of drones in Moscow overnight - Moscow region governor Andrei Vorobyev's official Telegram channel

Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, said the US would seek to determine whether Ukraine was willing to make concessions.

What we want to know is, are they interested in entering some sort of peace conversation and general outlines of the kinds of things they could consider, recognising that it has been a costly and bloody war for the Ukrainians, Mr Rubio told reporters.

Kyiv is hoping the talks could lead to the resumption of military aid and intelligence sharing, which was cut off by Donald Trump last week.

Investigators assess the damage to an apartment building in Sapronovo village, outside Moscow - AP

It came as defence chiefs from at least 30 nations prepared to meet for talks in Paris to discuss the creation of an international security force for Ukraine.

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Before the talks, Ursula von der Leyen called for a surge in European defence spending.

The time of illusions is now over. Europe is called to take greater charge of its own defence, the European Commission president told the EUs parliament. We need a surge in European defence, and we need it now.

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The Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) is focused on the moral education of local students and has been working to strengthen tolerance, open-mindedness, and respect for other cultures through various subjects in the school curriculum.

In response to an inquiry from The Times, the DSEDJ stated, DSEDJ has always attached great importance to students moral education.

Under the Curriculum Framework for Formal Education of the Local Education System and the Requirements of Basic Academic Attainments for Formal Education of the Local Education System, qualities such as understanding and respecting different languages and cultures, treating people equally, and being tolerant and open-minded are fostered.

The bureau noted that these values are instilled in students through lessons on moral and civic education, history, and languages, among others.

This initiative comes amid several recent cases of xenophobia, including verbal and even graphic violence targeting non-Chinese communities in Macau.

Although this issue is not new, there has been an increase in expressions of extreme nationalism and assertions of Chinese superiority over other communities in Macau, particularly in social media posts and online comments.

The Times also questioned the DSEDJ regarding whether the recent emphasis on patriotism and national education in school curricula could lead to misinterpretations and a potential rise in xenophobia and racism. However, the bureau chose not to respond to this specific concern.

In its statement, the DSEDJ emphasized that it would collaborate with schools, families, and communities to implement various educational and promotional initiatives.

These efforts include school and community activities focusing on self-respect, respect for others, and fostering positive interpersonal relationships.

The bureau also stated that these activities are not limited to students, as parents are encouraged to participate alongside their children to jointly create a harmonious environment of mutual respect.

A study conducted by social anthropologist Vicki Igglesden, in collaboration with Londons Global University and based primarily on case studies from South Africa, revealed that people with little formal education are particularly prone to adopting xenophobic nationalism as a strategy for distinguishing between us and them in their efforts to reduce complexity and anxiety. This perspective aligns with a United Nations (UN) study on the matter, as reported by the UNs Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, Mutuma Ruteere.

At the UN Human Rights Council in 2013, Ruteere stated, Education plays a central role in shaping new values and attitudes and provides essential tools for addressing deep-rooted discrimination and the legacy of historical injustices.

He further stressed, States must ensure that school curricula contain balanced information on the contributions of minorities, migrants, and other non-dominant groups, particularly in times of economic and social unrest.

At the same time, Ruteere warned that the rise of extremist political parties, movements, and groups poses major challenges, especially during economic and financial crises.

National education materials introduced

in September

New teaching materials on National Security Education, developed by the DSEDJ in collaboration with several mainland organizations, began arriving at local schools last September and have been implemented in the current academic year.

These materials are intended for all educational levels, from primary to tertiary education.

According to the DSEDJ, the bureau serves as a supporting unit for the Greater Bay Area Chinese Studies Core Curriculum Teacher Development Plan.

This initiative encourages educators to participate in annual themed training courses and organizes activities that promote traditional Chinese culture and relevant national topics.

These activities include parent-child experiences and promotional events centered around the themes of peace and harmonious community.

The DSEDJ stated that these initiatives aim to deepen students understanding of traditional Chinese culture at various levels and cultivate a spirit of patriotism towards both the country and Macau.

Fostering devotion

to the motherland

as key goal

According to a DSEDJ document outlining the goals for the 2024/2025 academic year, published on August 28 last year, the bureau has identified five main objectives, with the first one being Fostering devotion to the motherland and seizing development opportunities.

On this subject, the DSEDJ stated, The teaching of the two laws will be integrated into all bachelors degree programs, and elements of patriotismsuch as affection for Macau and the motherland, as well as national security educationwill continue to be reinforced through various learning activities.

Additionally, In line with the implementation of the Patriotic Education Law of the Peoples Republic of China, a patriotic education camp will be held for Form 1 students in the 2024/2025 academic year, while study tours to the In-Depth Cooperation Zone will be arranged for Form 4 students.
Ukrainian forces successfully attacked the Moscow Oil Refinery and a Druzhba oil pipeline facility in Oryol Oblast overnight on March 11, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported.

The statement comes after Russia claimed to have downed over 330 Ukrainian drones in the Moscow, Oryol, and eight other oblasts in a massive drone strike.

The attack was carried out by Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces in cooperation with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and military intelligence (HUR), the General Staff said.

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The operation "struck a number of Russian strategic objects, enabling armed aggression against Ukraine," the military said. Ukraine has repeatedly targeted industrial and military facilities in Russia's rear to undermine Moscow's ability to wage its war.

Multiple hits were recorded at the Moscow Oil Refinery, which is capable of processing 11 million metric tons of oil per year and covers 40-50% of Moscow's gasoline and diesel supplies, according to the statement.

Read also: Moscow targeted by largest drone strike in war, over 330 UAVs downed across Russia, authorities claim

Explosions were also reported at the Stalnoy Kon fuel facility in Oryol Oblast. This facility is a key part of the Druzhba oil pipeline infrastructure and ensures oil supplies to the Ust-Luga port in Leningrad Oblast.

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The facility lies around 170 kilometers (100 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border.

Russia's Defense Ministry claimed its forces had intercepted a massive strike of 337 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions, including 91 over Moscow Oblast, 126 over Kursk Oblast, 38 over Bryansk Oblast, eight over Oryol Oblast, and others over the Belgorod, Ryazan, Kaluga, Lipetsk, Voronezh, and Nizhny Novgorod regions.

This would mark Ukraine's most extensive drone strike against Moscow and Russia throughout the full-scale war.

Russian officials did not report hits against any strategic targets but claimed that civilian sites were damaged across Moscow Oblast. Three people were allegedly killed by drone debris, while 18 were wounded, Moscow claims.

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The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims.

The Ukrainian military said it has "detailed information about the strategic facilities" enabling Russian aggression and "adheres to the norms of international humanitarian law and takes measures to protect the civilian population as much as possible."

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Kyiv is reinforcing its troops involved in fighting in Russia's Kursk region, where Moscow's forces have been regaining ground, Ukrainian commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky said Monday. The move comes ahead of talks between Ukrainian and U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia, as President Trump pushes for a quick ceasefire in the three-year war launched by Russia.

Ukrainian soldiers launched their audacious offensive into Russia's Kursk region in August, catching even their Western allies off guard and dealing an embarrassing blow to the Kremlin. Ukraine had hoped that controlling the Russian territory would give it leverage during any future talks with Moscow. Recently, however, Ukraine has been losing ground there: Last month, they lost two-thirds of the territory they once controlled in Kursk.

"I made a decision to strengthen our grouping with the necessary forces and means, including electronic warfare and unmanned components," Syrsky wrote in a post on social media on Monday.

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How Trump's pause on Ukraine support has "emboldened Russia"

Moscow has claimed it has taken back control of a number of villages, including in an accelerated advance over recent days. It has also claimed to have captured a village inside Ukraine's Sumy region, Novenke, which is not far from a vital resupply route for the Ukrainian forces still in Kursk.

Those advances have come in the wake of President Trump's decision to pause U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine  a decision the White House has defended as tough, but necessary to pressure President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept a truce along the vague lines Mr. Trump envisions.

Syrsky asserted on Monday that the dynamics of fighting between the Kursk and Sumy regions were "under the control of the Ukrainian Defense Forces."

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He also addressed concerns circulating in Ukrainian media that Ukrainian troops there could be surrounded by Russian fighters, saying: "Currently, there is no threat of encirclement of our units in the Kursk region."

He conceded, however, that Ukrainian forces were buckling under mounting Russian pressure and were having to fall back to positions that are easier to hold.

"The units are taking timely measures to maneuver to favorable defense lines," he said.

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Ukrainian forces are struggling to prevent what could be a significant military setback, as their hold on the area of Russian territory they seized last year is becoming increasingly precarious.

A Russian offensive supported by North Korean troops in the past few days has made a serious advance in Russia's Kursk region northeast of Ukraine, breaking through Ukrainian positions and forcing them to withdraw to new defense lines, according to Ukrainian and Russian military bloggers. Russia is attempting to cut Ukraine's crucial supply road into Kursk, which is already under fire, meaning several thousand Ukrainian troops inside Russia are now at growing risk of encirclement.

Ukraine seized a foothold in the Kursk region with a surprise offensive in August, capturing hundreds of square miles of Russian territory, which it hoped to use as a bargaining chip in any peace negotiations. Russia for months has sought to dislodge the Ukrainians from the region, including with North Korean troops, but until recently had made slow progress while suffering heavy casualties.

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Over the past week, Russian progress has dramatically increased, according to bloggers and Ukrainian troops on the ground, with Ukrainian troops clearly under severe pressure and forced to withdraw largely back toward the main town they control in the region, Sudzha. The Washington, D.C.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assessed Sunday that Russian forces are "collapsing" the northern part of the Ukrainian lines in Kursk.

PHOTO: A Ukrainian serviceman patrols a street next to buildings damaged during recent fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces in the Ukrainian-controlled town of Sudzha in Russia's Kursk region, Aug. 16, 2024. (Yan Dobronosov/Reuters, FILE)

US 'just about' ready to lift Ukraine intel freeze, Trump says ahead of Saudi meet

Russian forces have also succeeded in a flanking attack back across the border into Ukraine, aiming to reach the main supply road to the Ukrainian forces in Sudzha, according to open-source analysts. While Ukraine has, for now, reportedly blunted the Russian push, Russian troops are close to both sides of the route, which has already been under artillery and drone fire.

Over the weekend, Russian forces reached the outskirts of Sudzha itself, entering its industrial zone after launching an attack through a gas pipeline, according to military bloggers. Ukrainian units withdrew from much of their western flank in Kursk after Russian forces crossed the Psel River, allowing Russia to recapture several villages there, according to Clement Molin, a military analyst based in Lyon, France, and co-director of the Atum Mundi think tank.

PHOTO: A Ukrainian serviceman patrols an area in the controlled by Ukrainian army town of Sudzha, Kursk region, Russia, Aug. 16, 2024. (Yan Dobronosov/Reuters, FILE)

The commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, on Monday denied that Ukraine's forces were at risk of encirclement, saying the situation was under control and they were inflicting heavy casualties on Russia.

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Yurii Butusov, a prominent Ukrainian military journalist, confirmed Monday on his Telegram channel that the situation is "very difficult" but said there is currently no threat of Ukrainian troops being encircled, and that reinforcements continue to arrive into Sudzha.

Russia has intensified its efforts to drive Ukraine out of Kursk, as efforts at possible negotiations to end the three-year-old war have intensified under the Trump administration. The Kremlin has repeatedly signalled it will not start meaningful negotiations with Ukraine as long as it occupies parts of Kursk.

The impact 'shocking' halt on US aid to Ukraine could have on war

The ISW and other analysts have suggested the Trump administration's sudden cutoff of U.S. intelligence sharing earlier this month is likely impacting Ukraine's ability to defend in Kursk. The ISW noted that the Russian offensive appears to have intensified around the same time as President Donald Trump announced aid cutoff to Ukraine last week, suggesting Russia is trying to take advantage of it.

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Ukrainian officials who spoke to ABC News last week said the curtailing of intelligence was intended to limit Ukraine's strikes into Russia and warned it would hamper Ukraine's ability to hit forces massing in Kursk.

"This will help Russians to concentrate their forces," the source told ABC News on Thursday. "For example, now we know that North Korean soldiers are concentrating there again. We could have hit them preemptively, but now we can't."

The situation in Kursk, however, was already deteriorating before Trump halted intelligence sharing.

Ukraine's deteriorating position in Kursk comes as it is finally seeing more positive developments on the eastern front in Donbas, where Russian forces' advance appears to be stalling out and Ukraine is now mounting a number of counterattacks, according to independent military analysts.

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For six months, Russia has crept forward toward the city of Pokrovsk, an important defensive hub, but there are signs its advance may now be close to exhausted there after suffering extremely high losses, according to Ukrainian military accounts and independent researchers.

Ukrainian troops in the past two weeks have managed to launch successful counterattacks on Russian positions around Pokrovsk, recapturing some ground. Ukraine has also managed to counterattack in another city, Toretsk, which, despite nine months of intense urban fighting, Russian forces have failed to capture.

Ukraine under pressure in Russia's Kursk region originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Key developments on March 11:

Ukraine agrees to 30-day ceasefire if Russia abides by it, Kyiv says

US to 'immediately' resume security assistance, intelligence sharing to Ukraine

Ukraine targets Russian oil facilities in Moscow, Oryol oblasts in mass strike overnight, military claims

Putin unwilling to compromise on Ukraine, sets maximalist demands, Bloomberg reports

Russia claims to recapture 12 Kursk Oblast settlements amid new offensive

Kyiv is ready to accept Washington's proposal to immediately implement a temporary, 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement, the Presidential Office announced on March 11 after the talks with the U.S. in Saudi Arabia.

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Ukraine is ready to take such a step only if Russia adheres to the terms of the ceasefire in the same way.

"Ukrainian proposal for this meeting with the Americans was three things: ceasefire in the sky  missiles, bombs, long-range drones  and ceasefire at sea, as well as measures to establish trust to this process, first of all  the release of prisoners," President Volodymyr Zelensky said following the meeting.

"The American side understands our arguments, accepts our proposals, I want to thank President (Donald) Trump for the constructiveness of our teams' conversation," he added.

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And today, there was a proposal from the American side to take the first step right away and attempt to establish a complete ceasefire for 30 days, not only regarding missiles, drones, and bombs, not only in the Black Sea but also along the entire front line," Zelensky said.

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"Ukraine accepts this proposal." Zelensky added that the U.S. "must convince Russia" to abide by it. The president added that as part of the deal, the U.S. agreed to resume intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

During the talks, the Ukrainian delegation proposed to implement a partial truce in the sky and at sea, while the U.S. side wanted "to try to do more," a source close to the Presidential Office told the Kyiv Independent.

Russia's stance toward a partial ceasefire is unclear, the source added. Moscow has repeatedly rejected freezing hostilities along the current front line, believing it has the upper hand on the battlefield.

"Within a certain period, we will prepare a final agreement on how to end the war. Now, the discussions concern only the first steps," the source said.

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Read also: Ukraine agrees to 30-day ceasefire if Russia abides by it, Kyiv says

US to 'immediately' resume security assistance, intelligence sharing to Ukraine

The United States will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine, Ukraine's Presidential Office announced on March 11.



The U.S. has suspended military aid and intelligence to Ukraine after a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky, U.S. President Donald Trump, and U.S. Vice President JD Vance in the White House that ended in a heated argument.



The freeze on military aid has drawn criticism even from members of Trump's own party. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said that pulling aid from Ukraine in the midst of Russia's war would "be worse than Afghanistan."

U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz confirmed during a joint press conference in Jeddah that Washington will continue to provide military assistance to Ukraine under the so-called Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) program.



The delegations also discussed the essential role of humanitarian efforts in achieving peace, including the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of detained civilians and the return of forcibly displaced Ukrainian children.



The delegates will determine the composition of their negotiating teams to begin further negotiations to achieve a sustainable peace that will ensure Ukraine's long-term security, the Presidential Office's statement read.

Read also: Do US-Russia talks on Ukraine mark a reappearance of colonial power play?

Ukraine targets Russian oil facilities in Moscow, Oryol oblasts in mass strike overnight, military claims

Ukrainian forces successfully attacked the Moscow Oil Refinery and a Druzhba oil pipeline facility in Oryol Oblast overnight on March 11, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported.

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The statement comes after Russia claimed to have downed over 330 Ukrainian drones in the Moscow, Oryol, and eight other oblasts in a massive drone strike.

The attack was carried out by Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces in cooperation with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and military intelligence (HUR), the General Staff said.

The operation "struck a number of Russian strategic objects, enabling armed aggression against Ukraine," the military said. Ukraine has repeatedly targeted industrial and military facilities in Russia's rear to undermine Moscow's ability to wage its war.

Multiple hits were recorded at the Moscow Oil Refinery, which is capable of processing 11 million metric tons of oil per year and covers 40-50% of Moscow's gasoline and diesel supplies, according to the statement.

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Explosions were also reported at the Stalnoy Kon fuel facility in Oryol Oblast. This facility is a key part of the Druzhba oil pipeline infrastructure and ensures oil supplies to the Ust-Luga port in Leningrad Oblast.

The facility lies around 170 kilometers (100 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border.

Russia's Defense Ministry claimed its forces had intercepted a massive strike of 337 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions, including 91 over Moscow Oblast, 126 over Kursk Oblast, 38 over Bryansk Oblast, eight over Oryol Oblast, and others over the Belgorod, Ryazan, Kaluga, Lipetsk, Voronezh, and Nizhny Novgorod regions.

This would mark Ukraine's most extensive drone strike against Moscow and Russia throughout the full-scale war.

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Russian officials did not report hits against any strategic targets but claimed that civilian sites were damaged across Moscow Oblast. Three people were allegedly killed by drone debris, while 18 were wounded, Moscow claims.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims.

The Ukrainian military said it has "detailed information about the strategic facilities" enabling Russian aggression and "adheres to the norms of international humanitarian law and takes measures to protect the civilian population as much as possible."

Read also: We will adapt  Ukraines soldiers say after US intel cut

Putin unwilling to compromise on Ukraine, sets maximalist demands, Bloomberg reports

Russian President Vladimir Putin remains unwilling to compromise in peace talks, complicating U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to secure a settlement, Bloomberg reported on March 10, citing undisclosed Western security officials.

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Putin has deliberately set "maximalist" demands on territory, peacekeepers, and Ukraine's neutrality, knowing they will likely be unacceptable to Kyiv and European nations, the outlet wrote.

In June 2024, Putin insisted Ukraine must withdraw from the four partially occupied regions  Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia  as a precondition for negotiations.

Despite Trump's claim on Feb. 24 that Putin would allow European peacekeepers in Ukraine as part of a deal, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has rejected the idea.

Putin, according to Western officials, is prepared to continue the war if his conditions are not met, raising doubts about his seriousness regarding a settlement.

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Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the claims in a comment for Bloomberg, insisting that Russia remains open to diplomatic negotiations.

"Russia is open for peace efforts and prefers to reach our goals through peaceful and diplomatic means," he told Bloomberg.

Read also: Trumps increasing support for Russia leaves Zelensky with fewer options to secure US backing

Russia claims to recapture 12 Kursk Oblast settlements amid new offensive

Russian forces have recaptured 12 settlements and 100 square kilometers (40 square miles) in Kursk Oblast previously held by Ukrainian troops, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed on March 11.

The Ukrainian military has not commented on the claims, which could not be independently verified.

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The statement comes after Moscow launched a new offensive in the Russian border region, reportedly achieving a breakthrough south of the key town of Sudzha in an effort to encircle the Ukrainian salient.

Russia recaptured the settlements of Agronom, Bogdanovka, Bondarevka, Dmitryukov, Zazulevka, Ivashkovsky, Kolmakov, Kubatkin, Martynovka, Mikhailovka, Pravda, and Yuzhny in recent military operations, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed.

The DeepState monitoring group confirmed significant territorial losses on Ukraine's part in Kursk Oblast since Russia launched its offensive last week.

The extent of the Ukrainian salient in Russia's Kursk Oblast as of March 10, 2025, according to the DeepState monitoring group. (DeepState/OpenStreet Maps)

Russian troops and their North Korean allies have also reportedly begun launching attacks in the Sudzha area. Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, claimed that there is currently no threat of encirclement as Ukrainian troops are moving to "favorable defense lines."

Syrskyi added that some of the settlements Russia claims to have retaken "no longer exist" as they have been destroyed by Russian fire.

Ukraine's commander-in-chief added that he had decided to reinforce Ukrainian troops in Kursk Oblast with "the necessary forces and means," including electronic warfare and drones.

Concerns about the Ukrainian operation in Kursk Oblast, ongoing since August 2024, have mounted over the weekend amid reports of Russian advances. The development came shortly after the U.S. cut off military and intelligence support for Ukraine, allegedly to push Kyiv to the negotiating table.

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Ukraines mineral wealth has been a key factor in its negotiations with the U.S. as the two countries work out details for a ceasefire agreement in Ukraines war with Russia.

After a rocky start to those negotiations, officials from the U.S. and Ukraine announced an agreement on March 11, 2025. The U.S. would resume support and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, with some conditions, and both agreed to work toward a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraines critical mineral resources to expand Ukraines economy and guarantee Ukraines long-term prosperity and security.

The initial announcement from Ukraines government stated that critical minerals would also offset the cost of American assistance, but that line was removed from the joint statement. Getting Russia to agree to a ceasefire would be the next step.

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Theres no doubt that Ukraine has an abundance of critical minerals, or that these resources will be essential to its postwar reconstruction. But what exactly do those resources include, and how abundant and accessible are they?

The war has severely limited access to data about Ukraines natural resources. However, as a geoscientist with experience in resource evaluation, I have been reading technical reports, many of them behind paywalls, to understand whats at stake. Heres what we know.

Ukraines minerals fuel industries and militaries

Ukraines mineral resources are concentrated in two geologic provinces. The larger of these, known as the Ukrainian Shield, is a wide belt running through the center of the country, from the northwest to the southeast. It consists of very old, metamorphic and granitic rocks.

A multibillion-year history of fault movement and volcanic activity created a diversity of minerals concentrated in local sites and across some larger regions.

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A second province, close to Ukraines border with Russia in the east, includes a rift basin known as the Dnipro-Donets Depression. It is filled with sedimentary rocks containing coal, oil and natural gas.

Before Ukraines independence in 1991, both areas supplied the Soviet Union with materials for its industrialization and military. A massive industrial area centered on steelmaking grew in the southeast, where iron, manganese and coal are especially plentiful.

By the 2000s, Ukraine was a significant producer and exporter of these and other minerals. It also mines uranium, used for nuclear power.

In addition, Soviet and Ukrainian geoscientists identified deposits of lithium and rare earth metals that remain undeveloped.

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However, technical reports suggest that assessments of these and some other critical minerals are based on outdated geologic data, that a significant number of mines are inactive due to the war, and that many employ older, inefficient technology.

That suggests critical mineral production could be increased by peacetime foreign investment, and that these minerals could provide even greater value than they do today to whomever controls them.

Why the US is so interested

Critical minerals are defined as resources that are essential to economic or national security and subject to supply risks. They include minerals used in military equipment, computers, batteries and many other products.

A list of 50 critical minerals, created by the U.S. Geological Survey, shows that more than a dozen relied upon by the U.S. are abundant in Ukraine.

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A majority of those are in the Ukrainian Shield, and roughly 20% of Ukraines total possible reserves are in areas currently occupied by Russias military forces.

Graphite is mined from a quarry that is about 120 meters deep in Zavallya, Ukraine. Arsen Dzodzaiev/Anadolu via Getty Images

Critical minerals Ukraine currently mines

Three critical minerals especially abundant in Ukraine are manganese, titanium and graphite. Between 80% and 100% of U.S. demand for each of these currently comes from foreign imports..

Manganese is an essential element in steelmaking and batteries. Ukraine is estimated to have the largest total reserves in the world at 2.4 billion tons. However, the deposits are of fairly low grade  only about 11% to 35% of the rock mined is manganese. So it tends to require a lot of material and expensive processing, adding to the total cost.

This is also true for graphite, used in battery electrodes and a variety of industrial applications. Graphite occurs in ore bodies located in the south-central and northwestern portion of the Ukrainian Shield. At least six deposits have been identified there, with an estimated total of 343 million tons of ore 18.6 million tons of actual graphite. Its the largest source in Europe and the fifth largest globally.

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Titanium, a key metal for aerospace, ship and missile technology, is present in as many as 28 locations in Ukraine, both in hard rock and sand or gravel deposits. The size of the total reserve is confidential, but estimates are commonly in the hundreds of millions of tons.

Workers operate machinery at an open-pit titanium mine in the Zhytomyr region on Feb. 28, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Roman Pilipey/AFP via Getty Images

A number of other critical minerals that are used in semiconductor and battery technologies are less plentiful in Ukraine but also valuable. Zinc occurs in deposits with other metals such as lead, gold, silver and copper. Gallium and germanium are byproducts of other ores  zinc for gallium, lignite coal for germanium. Nickel and cobalt can be found in ultramafic rock, with nickel more abundant.

No figures for Ukraines reserves of these elements were available in early 2025, with the exception of zinc, whose reserves have been estimated at around 6.1 million tons, putting Ukraine among the top 10 nations for zinc.

Critical minerals that arent being mined  yet

Geologists have identified potentially significant volumes in Ukraine of three other types of critical minerals important for energy, military and other uses: lithium, rare earth metals and scandium.

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None of these had been mined there as of early 2025, though a lithium deposit had been licensed for commercial extraction.

The largest potential lithium reserves exist at three sites in the south-central and southeastern Ukrainian Shield, where the grade of ore is considered moderate to good. How much lithium these reserves hold remains confidential, but technical reports suggest its on the order of 160 million tons of ore and 1.6 million to 3 million tons of lithium oxide. If most of this could be recovered in a profitable way, it would place Ukraine among the top five nations for lithium.

Smaller volumes of tantalum and niobium, also used in steel alloys and technology, have also been identified in these reserves. Most of Ukraines lithium occurs as petalite, which, unlike the other main lithium mineral, spodumene, requires more expensive processing.

Rare earth elements in Ukraine are known to exist in several sites of volcanic origin and in association with uranium in the south-central portion of the Ukrainian Shield. These havent been developed, though sampling has indicated commercial potential in some sites, while other sites appear less viable.

Despite the ongoing war, many mining companies across the country have continued their operations, extracting resources such as titanium, graphite and beryllium. Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images

Rare earth elements in high demand for superior magnets and electronics  neodymium, praseodymium, terbium and dysprosium  are all present in varying amounts in these areas. Other critical minerals are associated with these deposits, especially zirconium, tantalum and niobium, in undetermined but potentially significant amounts.

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Finally, scandium, used in aluminum alloys for aerospace components, has been identified as a byproduct of processing titanium ores. Ukraines scandium does not appear to have been studied in enough detail to evaluate its commercial potential. However, world production, about 30 to 40 tons per year, is forecast to grow rapidly.

Ukraines mineral future

Its clear that Ukraine is endowed with valuable resources. However, extracting them will require roads and railways for access, infrastructure such as electricity and mining and processing technology, investment, technical expertise, environmental considerations and, above all, cessation of military conflict.

Those are the true determinants of Ukraines mining future.

This article, originally published March 11, 2025, has been updated with the announced agreement.

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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: Scott L. Montgomery, University of Washington

Read more:



Scott L. Montgomery 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.
PRESIDENT TRUMPS CAMPAIGN PROMISE to end Russias war against Ukraine was always vagueprobably deliberately so. His special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, retired Gen. Keith Kellogg, admitted as much last week when he pointed out that Trump said he was gonna end the war in 24 hours, but didnt say what day or what year. He might have added that any reference to a war ending obscures the most important information: the end state, or who wins and who loses. So far, the presidents actions have tipped the scale decidedly in one direction.

First, Trump paused all military assistance to Ukraine, even though it was already mandated by Congress. A Department of Defense official even implied that planes carrying weapons and supplies had turned around midair. (Recall that interrupting military aid to Ukraine in defiance of Congress was a central part of the scandal that led to Trumps first impeachment.)

But even more significant than the pause in aid might be the interruption of American intelligence sharing with the Ukrainians. This abrupt policy change has left Ukrainian forces without critical battlefield information, and will radically change battlefield conditions. (Trump said Sunday that he was just about ready to lift the pause, but didnt elaborate on when or under what circumstances he would.)

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On the first night after the announcement, Russia ramped up long-range missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities. The implications were obvious: Not just Ukrainian troops but Ukrainian civilians will bear the cost of American abandonment while Russia will potentially suffer fewer losses, gain more ground, be better able to defend its bases and supplies, and gain an advantage at any upcoming peace talks. In the infamous Oval Office meeting, Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he didnt have the cards, then he began to stack the deck in favor of Vladimir Putin.

Since the earliest days of Russias full-scale invasion, Ukraines battlefield successes have largely depended on its ability to gather and leverage Western intelligence to anticipate and counter Russian maneuvers. The U.S. Armys definition of reconnaissance is information that allows commanders to understand the situation, visualize the battle, and make decisions. Western intelligence has provided critical reconnaissance and the resultant intelligence to the Ukrainian military. Later, as they obtained advanced Western weapons that allow for geolocation of Russian units as well as precision ammunition for targeting of Russian forces and critical nodes, Ukrainian forces generated a distinct advantage against the Russian military, which was still using massed formations and artillery as their doctrinal approach to warfighting dictates. The combination of Western intelligence and precision meant that, for example, even when the Ukrainians could only fire a fraction of the number of artillery rounds that the Russians forces were firing daily, they werent at a battlefield disadvantage because more of their rounds hit their targets. What Ukraine lacked in quantity, they made up for with quality. This is the technological and doctrinal basis on which Western militaries have been based since the 1970s.

For years the United States and other NATO militaries have trained Ukrainian forces in intelligence-based operations based on the ability of a commander and his forces to gain greater situational awareness before striking a target. Before the time of ubiquitous intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, units would conduct missions such as movement to contact, which in effect meant locating the enemy by prompting them to shoot at you; reconnaissance by force, which blurred the lines between information-gathering and attacking; or hasty attacks, in which a unit surprised by an enemys action would react with an unplanned assault.

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The advent of advanced intelligence platformssatellites, signals intelligence, aircraft imagery, and other meanshas made those methods largely obsolete. Now a force can avoid direct contact with an enemy until it has at least rudimentary information about the opposing forces size and location. Ukrainian military units trained in gaining and leveraging this distinct advantage prior to serving alongside U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, and they understand how useful pre-battle intelligence can be, especially to a small force. The ability to maneuver forces while avoiding ambushes and artillery barrages is key for the Ukrainians, and U.S. intelligence has provided Ukraine with real-time satellite data and electronic surveillance of Russian troop movements, allowing Ukrainian units to reposition rapidly and strike where the enemy is weakest.

By cutting off this intelligence, the United States is effectively blinding Ukrainian commanders, forcing them to operate in the dark while Russiafully aware that the United States has ceased intelligence-sharingcan maneuver unchallenged and with greater confidence.

But the significance of intel-based operations extends beyond providing mere tactical advantage for maneuvering units. In the last three years Ukraine has learned how technologically advanced intelligence also helps large forces gain successful operational and strategic outcomes with information that contributes to targeting faraway forces.

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For years, U.S. and Western forces have used and polished a targeting methodology for long-range firesthe deep battleand as with everything in the military, it has an acronym: DDDA (decide, detect, deliver, assess). The approach has been adapted repeatedly for new scenarios and environments, but remains essentially sound. Put simply, the objective is for the commander to decide, based on his planning, what targets are the most important to eliminate based on which are most important for the enemys capability to fight, today and tomorrow. Then, using intelligence resources and capabilities, the commander attempts to find where those targets are located. Then, modern weapons and ammunitions deliver the ordnance, executing precise strikes against those targets (which is why HIMARS, ATACMS, and long-range air and sea drones are important to Ukraine). After striking the target, the commander assesses the effects, determining whether to strike again, move on to the next target set, or adjust the plan. Ukraines advances in precise targeting, compared to Russias continued use of mass area attacks, gives them an advantage in more efficient and effective use of forces and ammunition. And thats critical to overcoming the constraints Ukraine has as a smaller force.

Canada and the European NATO nations, together or separately, face challenges in replacing or even replicating much of the sophisticated intelligence support the United States provides. While European countries are enhancing their defense efforts, they lack the comprehensive and massive intelligence infrastructure the U.S. possesses. While NATO nations have all agreed to a substantial increase in defense spending, the development and integration of advanced intelligence systems within Europe are still in progress and will not compensate for the immediate loss of U.S. intelligence. This is one reason why alliances are so important: The combined force is always greater than the sum of the individual members.

As a former commander of a large force in combat, I know firsthand the advantages gained from intelligence systems in seeing the battlefield and effectively using the targeting process. As he asks Ukraine and Russia to come to the peace table, President Trumps deliberate restriction of intelligence-sharing is hindering Ukraines ability to sustain its bargaining position. But even beyond that, he is advantaging Russias battlefield success while hindering Ukraines current momentum and the defense of its civilian population. This decision blunts Ukraines military effectiveness, puts more Ukrainian civilians at risk, and grants Russian forces a distinct operational advantage.

The ramifications of Trumps decision extend beyond the battlefield. Given Putins well-documented war crimes and Russias continued attacks on civilians, restricting Ukraines access to intelligence raises serious ethical concerns about American complicity. In limiting Ukraines access to intelligence, the United States risks not just strategic miscalculation but moral failurebecoming an enabler of the very war crimes it once sought to prevent.

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Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha will travel to Poland on Wednesday 12 March to meet with his Polish counterpart Radosaw Sikorski.

Source: News agency Ukrinform, citing Sikorski in a comment to journalists in Warsaw, as reported by European Pravda

Details: When journalists asked whether Sikorski was aware of any initial agreements between the parties in Saudi Arabia, he said that Sybiha would brief him on Wednesday 12 March.

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"Not yet, but the Ukrainian foreign minister will be at my office tomorrow morning and will brief me on the matter," the Polish foreign minister said.

Sikorski described the fact that Ukrainian-American talks were taking place in Saudi Arabia as "very good".

When asked about Warsaw's expectations from the talks, Sikorski stated that Polish diplomacy "works for a just peace where the rights of the victim of aggression are upheld".

He also expressed satisfaction that the US had confirmed the continued uninterrupted operation of Starlink terminals in Ukraine, which Poland funds through a commercial agreement with SpaceX.

Background:

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry had previously stated that the talks between Kyiv and Washington in Saudi Arabia would focus on bilateral relations and the path to peace.

On Monday 10 March, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Ukraine would have to make concessions regarding the territories seized by Russia since 2014 as part of any agreement to end the war.

Media reports suggest that Ukraine is planning to propose a temporary ceasefire to the US, covering air and sea operations, as well as strikes on energy and civilian infrastructure.

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The work reports of the Supreme Peoples Court and the Supreme Peoples Procuratorate have sent strong signals that more judicial efforts will be made to equally protect the legitimate rights and interests of all types of businesses and to foster a healthier business environment, in order to further support high-quality development, deputies to Chinas top legislature said.

Both the SPC and the SPP highlighted in their reports the importance of equally protecting the legitimate rights and interests of various business entities. The reports were delivered by SPC President Zhang Jun and Procurator-General Ying Yong, respectively, on Saturday at the second plenary meeting of the third session of the 14th National Peoples Congress for the national lawmakers to deliberate.

In 2024, the use of criminal means to intervene in economic disputes, as well as unauthorized cross-regional law enforcement and profit-driven law enforcement were targeted in particular, according to the reports.

A total of 46 cases involving property rights disputes were reexamined, with the wrongful convictions of 72 individuals overturned and 13 people being acquitted, the SPC said.

Meanwhile, by using the power of the rule of law to stabilize expectations, boost confidence and promote development, 137,000 individuals were prosecuted for crimes that disrupted the socialist market economy order, marking a 13 percent increase year-on-year, the SPP said.

Xue Jiping, a deputy from Jiangsu province and chairman of Jiangsu Zhongtian Technology Co, said, The reports have shown judicial authorities determination to safeguard the high-quality development of different enterprises and optimize the law-based business environment.

He said he hoped that the rule of law will become the core foundation for building a healthy business environment in China.

Yao Kuizhang, a deputy from Hebei province and chairman of Hebei Yangyuan Zhihui Beverage, said the reports both repeatedly emphasized the importance of serving the construction of a unified national market, supporting the development of new quality productive forces, and building a rule-of-law business environment, in response to the concerns of entrepreneurs.

The work reports have sent a strong signal of protecting the legitimate rights and interests of enterprises and entrepreneurs in accordance with the law, said Yao, who last year suggested drafting laws to support the development of private enterprises.

Dong Mingzhu, a deputy from Guangdong province and chairwoman of Gree Electric Appliances, urged judicial authorities to strengthen the comprehensive system to tackle online rumors and cyber violence targeting businesses, and to explicitly include penalty clauses for online rumors and cyber violence in relevant laws.

She said there is a need to severely punish behavior such as spreading false information and maliciously attacking competitors online.

Last year, the SPC enforced efforts to severely punish crimes such as spreading rumors about and defaming enterprises, as well as extortion, it said in its report. In one case, an offender surnamed Huang, together with others, posted negative information related to enterprises online, extorting a total of 556,000 yuan ($76,860) from 21 companies for the removal of posts. Huang was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

According to a white paper released by the SPP on Sunday, prosecutorial authorities nationwide attached great importance last year to combating crimes that disrupt the business environment via the internet. CUI JIA, China Daily, MDT/China Daily
The Ukrainian defence forces targeted several strategic Russian facilities involved in supporting the ongoing military aggression against Ukraine on the night of 10-11 March.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Details: Units from the Ukrainian Armed Forces Unmanned Systems and Special Operations Forces, along with the Security Service of Ukraine and Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, carried out strikes in coordination with other components of the defence forces.

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Among the confirmed targets was the Moscow Oil Refinery, which processes 11 million tonnes of crude oil annually and supplies 40-50% of Moscows diesel and petrol needs.

Explosions were also recorded at the Stalnoy Kon line production dispatch station in Russias Oryol Oblast. This facility is responsible for managing technological processes along the Druzhba oil pipeline and plays a critical role in supplying oil to the Ust-Luga seaport terminal in Leningrad Oblast.

Open-source reports indicate that Russian air defence operations resulted in damage to several civilian infrastructure sites.

Quote: "The Ukrainian defence forces possess detailed intelligence on strategic facilities involved in supporting Russias military aggression against Ukraine, adhere to international humanitarian law and take measures to minimise risks to civilian populations."

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Background: On the night of 10-11 March 2025, reports emerged of a large-scale drone attack on Moscow. Russian authorities claimed that 74 drones were allegedly shot down over the capital. According to Russias Defence Ministry, hundreds of drones targeted various locations across the country, with 337 reportedly intercepted

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The Russians have attacked Ukraine with an Iskander-M ballistic missile and 126 Shahed attack UAVs and decoy drones of various types since the evening of 10 March. The missile and 79 drones have been downed.

Source: Ukraine's Air Force

Quote: "As of 08:00, an Iskander-M ballistic missile and 79 Shahed attack UAVs and other types of drones have been confirmed shot down over Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, Chernihiv, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa and Kherson oblasts.

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In addition, 35 enemy decoy drones disappeared from radar (without causing adverse effects)"

Details: Donetsk, Odesa, Kharkiv, Sumy and Kyiv oblasts came under attack.

The missile was launched from the Russian city of Taganrog, while the drones were launched from the Russian cities of Oryol, Shatalovo, Millerovo, Kursk, Bryansk and Primorsko-Akhtarsk.

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.

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Ukraine must give up some of the territory seized by Russia since 2014 for any agreement to end the war, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday as he headed to Saudi Arabia for peace talks.

Rubio said concessions are "the only way" to end the full-scale invasion that Russia launched in February 2022 that has killed nearly a million people on both sides in the largest war in Europe since World War II.

Theyve [Ukrainians] suffered greatly and their people have suffered greatly, and its hard in the aftermath of something like that to even talk about concessions, he told reporters. But thats the only way this is going to end to prevent more suffering.

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The high-stakes talks in Saudi Arabia are the first between top U.S. officials and Ukraine's leadership since President Volodymyr Zelenskyy clashed with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance in front of journalists at the White House .

Adding that he was not going to pre-negotiate anything, Rubio said the U.S. side would seek to understand what Kyiv is willing to do in order to achieve peace and bring an end to the war.

It may be incompatible with what the Russians are willing to do, he said. Thats what we need to find out."

Ukraine has long ruled out a ceasefire agreement that includes giving up land occupied by Russia, including the Crimean Peninsula, which Russian President Vladimir Putin seized in 2014. The Ukrainian government has instead called for a just peace that sees the Kremlin paying reparations for its grinding three-year war.

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Zelenskyy is in Saudi Arabia to meet with de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, but will not join the talks with Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

Instead, the Ukrainians will be represented by Zelenskyy's chief aide Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

Kyiv and Washingtons relations have been precarious since Zelenskyys televised Oval Office quarrel with Trump and Vance. Trump halted all U.S. military aid for the country shortly afterward in a bid to pressure Ukraine to the negotiating table with Russia.

Rubio hinted that aid could start flowing again depending on the outcome of the upcoming talks, saying the U.S. could have good news to announce on that front.

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All of that came about because we felt that they were not committed to any sort of peace process or not interested in negotiations, he said. If that changes, then obviously our posture can change.

Rubio also addressed his recent clash with the Polish foreign minister on X over the use of tech billionaire Elon Musks Starlink satellite internet system in Ukraine, with Warsaw saying it would "look for other suppliers" if Musk were to turn off the vital service.

After previously sniping that Poland should say say thank you for U.S. assistance for Ukraine, Rubio called the country a great NATO ally.

Theyre a great example for the rest of Europe. I was simply responding to a post by the foreign minister which is just inaccurate, Rubio said.
March 11 (UPI) -- Officials for Ukraine and the United States have proposed a 30-day cease-fire in Ukraine and await a response from Russia following peace talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday.

U.S. officials agreed to immediately end a temporary ban on sharing intelligence with Ukraine while resuming "security assistance," representative of the two nations said Tuesday in a joint statement.

"Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the U.S. proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day cease-fire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, and which is subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation," the joint statement says.

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U.S. officials will communicate to Russia that "Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace," the statement says.

Ukrainian and U.S. officials will name their respective negotiating teams to immediately undertake negotiations to achieve a permanent peace that supports Ukraine's long-term security.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) meets with Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (R) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Monday on March 11, 2025. Photo by Saudi Arabia Foreign Ministry/UPI

U.S. officials will discuss specific proposals with Russian representatives, and Ukrainian officials said its European partners must be involved in the peace process.

The delegations also discussed the need for humanitarian assistance as part of the peace process, including exchanging prisoners of war, releasing civilian detainees and returning children forcibly removed from Ukraine by Russia.

Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (R) welcomes the Ukrainian delegation during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky'svisit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Monday on March 11, 2025. Photo by Saudi Arabia Foreign Ministry/UPI

U.S. and Ukrainian representatives also said the respective presidents of each nation will conclude a minerals deal as soon as possible to expand Ukraine's economy and guarantee its long-term prosperity and security, according to the joint statement.

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Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak said Tuesday that a new round of peace talks with the United States is headed in the right direction.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) meets with Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (R) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on March 11, 2025. Photo by Saudi Arabia Foreign Ministry/UPI

Serving as the chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Yermak attended the talks in Saudi Arabia and said the "the meeting with the U.S. team started very constructively."

He also posted a brief note to X simply stating "Work in progress" with both Ukrainian and American flags, and another post with a hands-shaking emoji over photos of both countries' delegations exiting a room.

Zelensky was not present, but U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz did take part. A question asking about how the meeting was going from a CNN reporter was met from Waltz with a simple "getting there."

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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that Ukraine must surrender some of the territory seized by Russia 11 years ago if it hopes to ever end the ongoing war between the two countries.

Yermak did not publicly express what compromises, if any, Ukraine would make in order to get a peace deal in place, but did say that security guarantees from the U.S. would be "very important" to keep possible future Russian aggression at bay.

"Now we think it's necessary to discuss the most important: how to start this process," he told reporters Tuesday.

The summit took place only hours following a Ukrainian drone strike on Russia that its Ministry of Defense said targeted the Moscow region, killing three people and wounding six.

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Rubio, speaking with reporters Monday, noted that while Ukrainians have "suffered greatly and their people have suffered greatly," and admitting that "it's hard in the aftermath of something like that to even talk about concessions," he said that it's "the only way this is going to end to prevent more suffering."

Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014 and seized lands including the Crimean Peninsula, and Ukraine has long refused any cease-fire agreement that includes permanently surrendering any of its captured lands.

The Tuesday talks in Saudi Arabia are the first between Ukraine's leadership and top U.S. officials since Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office on Feb. 28 in a heated exchange that saw Trump expel Zelensky from the White House.

Trump has since paused all U.S. military aid for Ukraine.

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Zelensky is however in Saudi Arabia and has already met with Saudi leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, posting to X Monday that during their meeting he "specifically emphasized the issue of the release of prisoners and the return of our children, which could become a key step in building trust in diplomatic efforts," but made no mention of any talks in regard to the surrendering or returning of captured land.

Rubio added that he wasn't "going to set any conditions on what they have to or need to do," but the U.S. delegation would be seeking to learn what Kyiv is "willing to do in order to achieve peace" and end the war. He has hinted that the United States could restart providing military assistance, depending on how the talks play out.

"It may be incompatible with what the Russians are willing to do," Rubio said about the concession of Ukrainian land to Russia, but "That's what we need to find out."
A Ukrainian delegation is on-site in Jeddah and preparing for key talks with U.S. officials on how to end Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine on March 11, Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak said.

"Protecting Ukrainian interests, clear vision on how to end the war; we will work effectively with our American partners," Yermak said on Telegram.

President Volodymyr Zelensky previously announced that the Ukrainian delegation would include Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and Deputy Chief of Staff Pavlo Palisa.

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Although Zelensky arrived in Saudi Arabia on March 10 for a separate meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he will not participate in the official negotiations.

The U.S. delegation includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

The meeting follows heightened tensions between Kyiv and Washington after Zelensky clashed with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Feb. 28.

Shortly after, Washington suspended all military aid to Ukraine, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed on March 5 that the U.S. had also halted intelligence sharing, potentially limiting Ukraine's ability to conduct long-range attacks.

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Ukrainian officials aim to push for the resumption of U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing at the Jeddah talks, Financial Times reported on March 9.

According to Suspilne, Ukraine will propose a ceasefire in the air and at sea, along with a ban on long-range strikes, describing it as a step that would be "easy to install and to monitor."

Meanwhile, the U.S. delegation is expected to press Kyiv to accept a partial truce as a foundation for negotiations to end the war, Bloomberg reported on March 10.

U.S. officials had previously met with Russian representatives in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18 and in Istanbul on Feb. 27 to discuss restoring bilateral relations and holding preliminary peace talks without Ukraine's involvement.

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Read also: Moscow reportedly attacked by largest drone strike in full-scale war

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A group of Ukrainian lawmakers has proposed erecting a monument in Kyiv to George Washington, the first president of the United States.

A draft resolution for the monument was published on the website of Ukraines parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, on March 10, under the number 3066. While the full text of the resolution has not been disclosed, it has already been submitted for consideration by parliamentary leadership.

The initiative was put forward by lawmakers from the ruling Servant of the People partyOleksandr Kovalchuk, Mariia Mezentseva-Fedorenko, Yevheniia Kravchuk, and Halyna Yanchenkoas well as independent MP Mykola Tyshchenko, who was expelled from President Volodymyr Zelensky's party in 2023.

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In an interview with the YouTube channel Superposition, Yanchenko emphasized the importance of strengthening ties between Ukraine and the United States rather than damaging them. She suggested that the monument could serve as a symbolic gesture of goodwill.

Potential locations for the statue include sites where monuments to Soviet military figures Mykola Vatutin, a Soviet commander during World War II, and Mykola Shchors, a Bolshevik commander during the Russian Civil War, were previously dismantled.

Read also: Investigation: We tried to buy American chips as a Russian defense manufacturer  and it worked

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GENEVA (AP)  Palestinians described alleged abuses by Israeli forces and settlers  punched in the genitals, held for days while naked, starved  to independent U.N.-backed human rights investigators on Tuesday during hearings on the treatment of detainees during the war in Gaza.

The Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory was created by the U.N.-backed Human Rights Council and is led by former U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay. Its findings can be used as evidence for the International Criminal Court or other bodies that seek to prosecute war crimes and other rights violations in the context of the war.

Israel has refused to cooperate with the commission, accusing it and the council of anti-Israel bias. Israel, which quit the council shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a U.S. pullout last month, has repeatedly denied mistreatment of Palestinian detainees in its custody and said it takes action against any offenses.

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Rights groups have alleged widespread abuse at a military detention facility, Sde Teiman.

The first witness, a male nurse from Gaza who spoke by video from the territory, alleged he was caged, hung up like a punching bag," beaten in the genitals until they bled and subjected with other detainees to attacks by dogs.

Saeed Mohammad Abdel-Fattah Abu Al-Jidyan, 26, said he was detained on Nov. 18, 2023, in the earliest days of the war, while working in Shifa Hospital. Through a translator, he described being ordered to strip naked and being held for three days with no clothes.

Israeli forces launched two major raids on Shifa, Gaza's main hospital, during the war, accusing Hamas of using it for military purposes, allegations denied by hospital staff.

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During questioning by military interrogators, including about tunnels Al-Jidyan said he knew nothing about, he said, the torture affected the genitals.

Another witness from Gaza, Abu Jidyan, said he was held at Sde Teiman and another facility. By the time of his release, he said he had lost nearly 30 kilograms (about 65 pounds). The duration of his custody was not immediately clear.

This is not just my story. Im just one person among many detained by the occupying Israeli power, he said, according to a translator.

The accounts could not be independently verified. The Israeli diplomatic mission in Geneva did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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The Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killed about 1,200 people, most of them civilians. Over 250 people were taken hostage and dozens remain in Gaza. The territory's Health Ministry says over 48,500 Palestinians have been killed in the war. It doesn't say how many were combatants but says over half the dead were women and children.

The commission of inquiry is not considering allegations of sexual, gender-based and other violence committed against Israelis during the Oct. 7 attack or against hostages in Gaza. Israeli authorities, citing eyewitness accounts and other evidence, have accused Hamas-led militants of widespread rape and sexual violence. A U.N. envoy last year reported reasonable grounds to believe such allegations.

The commission says it has always sought to speak directly with Israeli victims but has not been able to do so, citing obstruction by Israel's government and a lack of access, the U.N. rights office said.

The commission's hearings continue Wednesday. It is expected to issue a report Thursday on Israel's alleged systematic use of sexual and other gender-based violence against Palestinians since the Oct. 7 attacks.

The commission, created in May 2021 following other violence between Hamas and Israel, has previously held hearings on issues like the terrorism designation of several Palestinian NGOs and the killing of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
JAKARTA (Reuters) - The United Nations' migration agency has reinstated humanitarian assistance to Rohingya refugees in Indonesia, its chief of mission in Jakarta told Reuters on Tuesday.

The reinstatement follows a Reuters report last week that the agency had been forced to reduce aid to over 900 Rohingya refugees due to massive funding cuts by its biggest donor, the United States.

Jeff Labovitz, chief of mission to Indonesia for the International Organization for Migration, confirmed the reinstatement of services to Rohingya sheltering in the city of Pekanbaru, on the western island of Sumatra.

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"Our largest programme to provide humanitarian assistance has been reinstated. I can confirm there is no current planned reduction in services," he said, providing no further details.

Separately, the agency said in an emailed statement that it "explored various options in response to potential funding challenges" and that necessary resources remain available that would allow it to continue its humanitarian efforts.

The U.S. embassy in Jakarta did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

There are about 2,800 Rohingya in Indonesia, the UN says.

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.

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The plans to reduce aid followed the turmoil surrounding the global humanitarian sector, after U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January vowing to halt most U.S. foreign aid and dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

(Reporting by Stanley Widianto; Editing by Tom Hogue and Lincoln Feast.)
GENEVA (Reuters) -Entire families including women and children were killed in Syria's coastal region as part of a series of sectarian killings by rival groups, the U.N human rights office said on Tuesday.

Pressure has been growing on Syria's Islamist-led government to investigate after reports by a war monitor of the killing of hundreds of civilians in villages where members of Assad's minority Alawite sect lived.

"In a number of extremely disturbing instances, entire families - including women, children and individuals hors de combat - were killed, with predominantly Alawite cities and villages targeted in particular," U.N. human rights office spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said, using a French term for those incapable of fighting.

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He said initial reports indicated that the perpetrators, who have not been identified, were both members of armed groups supporting Syria's interim authorities and those associated with the former government.

"They appear to have been carried out on a sectarian basis, in Tartus, Latakia and Hama governorates - reportedly by unidentified armed individuals, members of armed groups allegedly supporting the caretaker authorities security forces, and by elements associated with the former government."

So far, the U.N. human rights office has documented the killing of 111 civilians and expects the real toll to be significantly higher, Al-Kheetan told a Geneva press briefing. Of those, 90 were men; 18 were women; and three were children, he added.

"Many of the cases documented were of summary executions. They appear to have been carried out on a sectarian basis...," Al-Kheetan told reporters. In some cases, men were shot dead in front of their families, he said, citing testimonies from survivors.

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UN human rights chief Volker Turk welcomed an announcement by Syria's Islamist-led government to create an accountability committee and called for those investigations to be prompt, thorough, independent and impartial, the spokesperson added.

(Reporting by Emma Farge, Editing by Friederike Heine, William Maclean and Hugh Lawson)
Small businesses are feeling the impact of President Trump's tariffs on China. Founder and CEO of Bogg Bag Kim Vaccarella joins Jose Diaz-Balart to explain how her company, which makes many of its products in China, is being affected.
North Korea fired several ballistic missiles into the sea Monday, South Koreas military said, hours after South Korean and U.S. troops kicked off their large annual combined drills, which the North views as an invasion rehearsal.

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile firings, North Koreas fifth missile launch event this year, were detected from the Norths southwestern Hwanghae province. It called the weapons close-range but didnt say how far they flew. The military said South Korea bolstered its surveillance posture and is closely coordinating with the United States.

Earlier Monday, the South Korean and U.S. militaries began their annual Freedom Shield command post exercise, their first major combined training of President Donald Trumps second term. The allies have already been engaging in diverse field training exercises in connection with the Freedom Shield training.

North Koreas Foreign Ministry warned Monday the latest training risks triggering physical conflict on the Korean Peninsula. It called the drills an aggressive and confrontational war rehearsal and reiterated leader Kim Jong Uns stated goals for a radical growth of his nuclear force to counter what he claims as growing threats posed by the U.S. and its Asian allies.

This years training came after the South Korean and U.S. militaries paused live-fire training while Seoul investigates how its fighter jets mistakenly bombed a civilian area during a warm-up drill last week.

About 30 people were injured, two of them seriously, when two South Korean KF-16 fighter jets mistakenly fired eight MK-82 bombs on a civilian area in Pocheon, a town near the North Korean border, on Thursday. The bombing occurred while South Korean and U.S. forces were engaging in a live-fire drill ahead of the Freedom Shield exercise.

The initial assessment from the South Korean air force was that one of the KF-16 pilots entered the wrong coordinates and failed to visually verify the target before proceeding with the bombing. The second pilot had the correct coordinates but focused only on maintaining flight formation and dropped the bombs on the first pilots instructions without recognizing the target was wrong, according to the content of the latest briefing provided to The Associated Press.

Gen. Lee Youngsu, chief of staff of the South Korean air force, bowed and apologized Monday over the injuries and property damage caused by the bombing, which he said should have never happened and must never happen again. MDT/AP
Immigrants who entered the country illegally are a $659.9 million "burden" on the state's health care system, according to a new report.

But the report depends on patients disclosing their own immigration status, something many don't do.

According to the "Hospital Patient Immigration Status Report" released by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), undocumented immigrants' care at local hospitals is "largely uncompensated," meaning it isn't paid back, and "a direct contributor to the strain on Floridas health care system."

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For 2024, the state says $659.9 million was spent on "providing care to illegal aliens across the state." For 2023, the price tag was $566 million for seven months of data, from June to December.

The agency remains dedicated to fulfilling Governor DeSantis commitment to protecting taxpayer dollars from being used on individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States, AHCA Deputy Secretary Kim Smoak said in a statement.

The state's financial estimate, however, does not take into account how many immigrants who have entered the country illegally actually pay their medical bills.

It also does not account for the numbers of those who did not report their legal status to hospitals, meaning the true costs can't be quantified.

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Under Florida law, AHCA by March 1 must submit a report to the governor, the president of the Florida Senate and the speaker of the Florida House of Representatives that includes the number of hospital admissions and emergency department visits for the previous year.

Patients can respond that they are in the United States lawfully, unlawfully or they can decline to answer. The report must "describe information relating to the costs of uncompensated care for aliens who are not lawfully present in the United States."

At some county hospitals, the percent of patients in the emergency department who declined to answer was as high as 63%.

The state's methodology has some policy analysts concerned. Alexis Tsoukalas with the Florida Policy Institute called the process "flawed."

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"It simply multiplies the percentage of all ER visitors and hospital admissions who told hospitals they were undocumented by the total operating expenses of Floridas hospitals," Tsoukalas said in an email. "Although the intent of the dashboard under SB 1718 was to show the amount of uncompensated care, the state  just like last year  has chosen not to provide that estimate. The truth is that undocumented immigrants represent a nominal share of all hospital patients and ER visitors.

Moreover, it is important to consider the myriad contributions that immigrants  including those without a documented status  make to the Sunshine State," she added.

More than 100 protesters, many of them waving flags from Latin American countries, gathered Monday at the Florida Capitol to demonstrate against the Trump administration's immigration policies.

Breaking down the numbers

AHCA's Hospital Patient Immigration Status Dashboard provides county-by-county details. Its methodology for finding 2024's dollar amount was taking the self-reported number of hospital admissions and emergency room visits that were from patients who were not legally in the country in 2024, which was 93,844.

The statewide inpatient and outpatient percentages of care provided to undocumented immigrants were at least 0.76% in aggregate, according to the report. Applying that to the states total cost of care, $77.3 billion, results in the $659.9 million price tag.

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The counties with the highest percentage of hospital visits by people who self-reported being unlawfully present in the U.S. were Miami-Dade County with 2.34%; Lee County, with 1.61%; and Manatee County, with 1.56%.

The counties with the largest expenses, at least approximately, were:

Miami-Dade County: $282.2 million

Broward County: $77 million

Hillsborough County: $64.4 million

Orange County: $37.8 million

Lee County: $37.4 million

The report says there were 67,700 emergency room visits by patients who were illegally in the country, but some hospitals reported over half of their emergency department patients declined to answer the citizenship question.

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At Tampa General Hospital Spring Hill, 63.4% of emergency department patients declined to answer in the first quarter of 2024.

And at Flagler Hospital in St. Johns County, throughout the year about 96% of 36,800 patients in the emergency department declined to answer the citizenship question.

Misspellings of the word "illegal" on the Hospital Immigration Map on the dashboard were being fixed on Monday, AHCA spokesperson Mallory McManus said.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Ana Goni-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network  Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Report: Undocumented immigrants cost Florida taxpayers $660 million
(Bloomberg) -- In a workshop overlooking paddy fields on the eastern edge of Java, Dimas Firmansyah is tinkering away on a large truck engine. A lanky 18-year-old in a hard hat and work shirt, he hopes to find a job repairing coal machinery when he graduates in a few months. Thanks to his schools revamped curriculum and corporate partnerships, he almost certainly will.

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Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto  who has advertised ambitious, industry-heavy growth goals for the coming years  needs many more Firmansyahs. Southeast Asias most populous economy has the worlds fourth-largest workforce, but more than a third of Indonesians over 15 have only a primary school education, or less. Vital vocational training, like this class some 400 miles (roughly 640 km) east of Jakarta, too often falls short because of poor teaching and a dearth of basic equipment.

The result is a pressing shortage of qualified workers and high unemployment among young people who find themselves lacking the skills companies need, even with a diploma in hand. The rate of youth that are out of both a job and education, a good indicator of wasted human resources, is one of Southeast Asias highest, at more than a fifth.

That gap threatens Prabowos ambitions to turn a wealth of natural resources into a thriving electric-vehicle and clean-energy industry. Discontent with paltry education funding is already fueling youth protests on Jakartas streets, the largest demonstrations of popular discontent since the president took office in October.

Indonesia has invested heavily on infrastructure, said Alpha Amirrachman, a director of the climate center of Muhammadiyah, an Islamic organization which runs thousands of schools in the country. Investment in human capital, education and healthcare has not kept pace.

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Inadequate schools, ill-qualified teachers and a poor return on government spending on education are problems familiar to many emerging economies and Indonesia has made some effort to address the problem, including for vocational colleges.

But complications ranging from out-of-date syllabuses to tangled oversight mean it continues to lag, even by the standards of the region. Labor productivity, an indicator linked to growth and competitiveness, sits alongside Venezuela, according to the International Labour Organization. Thats below regional peers like Thailand and Malaysia, which both made earlier bets on manufacturing.

If companies like Apple come here and open big operations, the concern is they wouldnt have enough highly skilled labor  which they do in other countries, like Vietnam, said Martyn Terpilowski, chief executive officer of Jakarta-based software firm PT Bhumi Varta Technology, referring to one of the highest-profile names courted by Indonesia. Yes, we have some good people now, but we dont have the number of good people that we need.

Apple Inc. and its suppliers have invested at least $16 billion in Vietnam since 2019, according to figures provided by the company last year. By contrast, even after bans and threats from Jakarta, Apple will put just at $1 billion into Indonesia. A long courtship of Tesla Inc. boss Elon Musk, meanwhile, has yet to yield a significant manufacturing investment.

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Metal processing has seen significant inbound investment in recent years, but the problem is no less acute there  large Chinese nickel producers bring in skilled industrial workers from China or, in some cases, take Indonesians to China to receive the necessary training.

Reforms to date, designed to ensure Indonesia makes the most of its demographic dividend before a peak around the end of the decade, include increases to compulsory education and skill development programs with incentives, introduced under Prabowos predecessor. But deep changes to curriculums and teaching standards have been far harder to implement. According to the latest Program for International Student Assessment, which tests 15-year-olds in dozens of countries in math, reading and science, most Indonesian children fell below the baseline level of proficiency.

Theres a lack of teachers with expertise in emerging fields, said Amirrachman. Many institutions still lack access to modern technologies such as those needed for EV production.

Prabowo himself came into office with promises for schools, but the most high profile has been a headline-grabbing $30 billion free lunch program, aimed at alleviating malnutrition. The cuts to finance that policy have impacted other budgets including primary, secondary and higher education, at a time when money is also being funneled to Danantara, a new state investment fund  prompting the Dark Indonesia movement and last months large youth demonstrations against what are seen as hasty, inconsistent austerity moves.

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The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology did not respond to requests for comment. Officials have said efforts to improve education will not be affected by the cuts.

Stop Gap Measures

Firmansyahs school  a neatly maintained, low-rise complex of bright blue buildings  is something of an exception, with even a forklift and excavators for students to work on. Thats thanks partly to a partnership with one of the companies seeking just such qualified workers, United Tractors Tbk, the largest distributor of construction equipment in Indonesia.

There was a big lack of supply of certified people, competent people, capable people to fulfil the needs of our industry, said Edhie Sarwono, human capital and sustainability director at the company. We had to solve the problem by ourselves.

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Shortages common to many schools are particularly acute for vocational colleges trying to produce employment-ready mechanics and technicians to operate metal smelters and electric-vehicle factories, creating a wide gap between students capacities and what employers require. Young graduates from technical high schools face unemployment rates almost four times higher than those with only primary education.

Sarwono, speaking in Jakarta, says companies have a role to play. United Tractors works to align teaching at the school with skills needed in the workplace and donates equipment. But he warns this will only be a stop-gap measure for Indonesias wider needs.

For the low- to medium-level technology, we can solve that with the competencies of the vocational schools, he said. For high tech, we do not have specific schools that can anticipate and face those challenges.

Prabowos predecessor Joko Widodo, known popularly as Jokowi, did attempt a revitalization program for vocational schools during his decade as president. But weak political commitment and the decentralized nature of the education system have made change slow at best.

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That stands in sharp contrast to his $800 billion program to expand roads, airports and railways, which left a visible legacy across the archipelago nation.

The risk for Indonesia is that it loses out to neighbors with better trained workforces, including Vietnam. While it has twisted the arms of nickel producers to bring in large-scale investment, its dominance of other metals is less stark  meaning leverage with foreign producers is not as overwhelming.

Former bright-spots, such as steel, textiles and ceramics, are already contracting in the face of brutal competition from Chinese imports.

The policy of pushing some big companies to invest in Indonesia, like they pushed Apple, is a short cut, said Ilimiawan Auwalin, an economics lecturer at Universitas Airlangga in Surabaya. Far better to improve competitiveness.

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In eastern Java, Firmansyah and a handful of fellow students still working on machinery parts at the end of the school day have a more pressing concern: jobs. Most are realistic. They expect to serve the metal and coal industry that has sustained the economy for decades  not clean cars.

My father is a carpenter, but the business is not stable, said Firmansyah. In mining, the salary is large.

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(Photo by Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard)

As an agricultural worker in Wapato, Washington, Sandra D. works with her husband to support her three children.

Like many immigrants, Sandra came to the United States looking for a better life for herself and her family. She grew up in poverty in Michoacan, Mexico and her family couldnt afford to pay for her education past elementary school so Sandra started working in agriculture at age 10.

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Her workdays sometimes start at 4 a.m. to avoid the Yakima Valleys hot temperatures in the summer, Sandra said in an interview in Spanish. The Standard is not identifying her by her full name because of her legal status. She, like many farm workers in the region, is usually paid minimum wage  $16.66 an hour in Wapato  to do labor-intensive work for 40 hours a week.

But agricultural labor is dependent on harvests, which typically fall from March to November. In the winter, its hard for Sandra to find employment in the fields, making it difficult to get by.

During these times, shes turned to food stamps or local food banks to keep her family fed. Non-citizens are not eligible for food stamps but they can claim them on behalf of their children if their kids are U.S. citizens. Theyre also not eligible for unemployment insurance benefits.

Sandra said if unemployment insurance were an option, it would allow her to deal with unexpected emergencies, like when her youngest son broke his foot and they had to drive up to Seattle to get surgery.

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We have to rely on our savings and sometimes we dont have any and we have to ask for help, Sandra said.

A pair of bills in the state Senate and House this year looked at creating an unemployment insurance program for immigrants who are not authorized to work in the U.S. It would have allowed people to receive the benefit when they lose employment through no fault of their own.

But the bills did not pass out of committees ahead of a key deadline, meaning theyve failed for the year.

A long-standing proposal

The proposed program is not a new idea. Advocates have raised it since the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, Washington ran a temporary program that provided one-time payments of $1,000 to individuals who did not qualify for unemployment benefits due to their immigration status.

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Sen. Rebecca Saldana, D-Seattle, and sponsor of the Senate version of the bill, has worked on refining it to address concerns.

One of the biggest issues this year was around implementation and creating regulations for a third-party administrator.

The plan was for a third-party administrator to run the program and for applicants to self-attest how many hours theyd worked, providing written documentation for the administrator to verify their claim.

By not looping in businesses, it would protect the privacy of immigrants and prevent employers from being held liable for knowingly hiring immigrants without legal immigration status.

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According to Saldana, there wasnt enough time this session to add amendments to the bill to create auditing systems for the administrator to help prevent fraud.

The legislation made it further in the legislative process this time around than in past years.

I do think that weve narrowed it and put some more sideboards on to address many of the other historic concerns so Im hopeful that well work on that amendment and have it ready [for next years session], Saldana said.

In Washington, there are more than 156,000 people employed who are not legally authorized to work in the U.S. due to their immigration status, according to estimates from the Migration Policy Institute. Many work in industries such as agriculture, hospitality, construction, and retail.

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Its a policy decision by the federal government to not address the immigration status of people who have long ties to the places where they live, said Antonio Ginatta, policy director at Columbia Legal Services, a nonprofit legal aid group.

Immigrants contribute to the tax system both indirectly and directly by paying sales, property, and payroll taxes, Ginatta noted.

Payroll taxes are withheld by an employer regardless of someones immigration status and go to support Social Security and unemployment insurance, which is jointly financed by the state and federal government.

In Washington, immigrants who are not legally authorized to work in the U.S. contributed nearly $1 billion to state and local taxes in 2022, according to estimates from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

Just not the year

Money to fund the proposed program in Washington would have come from existing tax payments made by employers through an administrative charge collected by the state, with no impact on the states operating budget, said Ginatta.

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But faced with a multibillion-dollar deficit, Democratic leadership indicated that this is not a year for creating new programs.

Unfortunately, that is the case with the [unemployment insurance] proposal for undocumented Washingtonians, House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon, D-Seattle, said recently. I think that the work that has gone into it will bear fruit in future years, but this is just not the year that were going to see a lot of new benefits.

Saldana acknowledged as much. The budget concerns generally are making it much harder for us to do anything thats considered new even if the funding that were trying to allocate to it isnt really general funds, she said.

Advocates plan to keep pressing for the program, saying it would provide a needed safety net for a population that contributes to the states economy.

The idea of employers hiring undocumented workers, its the reality, and its been the reality in the United States for decades and decades, Ginatta said. We want to make sure there are programs to take care of these folks when they are unemployed through no fault of their own.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  A nonprofit helping the homeless is reaching a big milestone this month.

On St. Patricks Day, Union Gospel Mission Sioux Falls will celebrate 125 years.

24-year-old dies of injury from fight in Sioux Falls homicide

The Union Gospel Missions roots travel all the way back to 1900.

The Union Gospel Mission in Sioux Falls was founded by a man named Thomas Morse.

While he was in prison for the shooting death of a man in Sisseton, he met a woman who led him to Jesus Christ, according to UGMs website.

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After receiving a pardon from South Dakota Governor Andrew Lee in the late 1800s, he started the mission.

St. Patricks Day was his opening day. To help men have a place to stay, Union Gospel Mission CEO Eric Weber said.

Back then, the organization only served men.

Decades later, the Union Gospel Mission started housing women and children.

We have anywhere from infants to 18-year-olds to 24-year-olds to 70-year-olds staying here and getting better, Weber said.

Todd Hill is a longtime employee of the Union Gospel Mission.

Hill says his compassion for the homeless has kept him here for 26 years.

One thing that I have always said to people is that homelessness can happen to anybody. Sometimes it happens to people because of wrong choices they made in life and affects their lives and sometimes it happens because of things that are out of their control, Hill said.

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A lot of times, people dont want to work with the homeless because they think theyre dirty, and were finding out that homelessness is just two paychecks away, so it could be anyones situation. Weve had accountants, bankers, lawyers, Weber said.

From shelter to food, Weber says the Mission has seen the need go up over the years.

There are more people in need right now than ever before, and were seeing it financially too as well, Weber said.

But the shelter offers more than just food and a place to sleep.

A lot of people call us an emergency shelter, which we are, but were mostly transitional. We help people transition from homelessness to housed to better, Weber said.

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Ive actually started packing, Guest Peggy Munoz said.

Munoz is hoping to transition to a place of her own soon.

This is everything. This has been everything. Theyve given me safety, a bed, shower, laundry, Munoz said.

Weber says reaching the 125th anniversary of the organization is amazing.

These are people who are coming in through this mission, eating meals, getting a place to sleep, food boxes, counseling services, case management, and 125 years of stability in our community is huge, Weber said.

As for the years ahead, Weber says the focus to help more people.

Were continuously getting better at what we do. Our passion is people, and so we love God and we love people and we want to make people become better people, so we dont have to be the superheroes. We get to make them, Weber said.

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The Union Gospel Mission will celebrate the 125 year anniversary on March 17th.

The day will include tours, dinner, and more.

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At least two Ivy League universities abruptly stopped hiring faculty Monday, partly prompted by fear the Trump administration could move forward with plans to make steep financial cuts in research funding.

Both Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania have informed students and staff of the hiring freezes, which became effective immediately.

Harvard University President Alan M. Garber wrote in a memo that the college must limit new long-term commitments that would increase financial exposure.

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We need to prepare for a wide range of financial circumstances, and strategic adjustments will take time to identify and implement, he wrote to staff members while announcing the temporary pause in hiring.

The hiring freezes come as some of the U.S.' top institutions of higher learning brace for what could be a loss of millions of dollars in grant funding awarded by the National Institutes of Health for research and studies.

The federal agency, an arm of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the largest public funding source for biomedical research in the world, announced last month that it would reduce its federal grant funding in hopes of saving $4 billion.

It said it would cap how much it pays in indirect costs for research, including utilities and administrative staff, at universities and research centers. Multiple lawsuits have been filed since, resulting in a federal judge temporarily blocking the new policy.

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The University of Pennsylvania said it was facing a reduction of about $240 million in research funding from NIH grants.

Changes to federal research funding could significantly reduce our operating budget, John L. Jackson Jr., the universitys provost, wrote to faculty.

He said policies under consideration in Congress and additional federal proposals could also affect the schools finances, including reductions in student loan programs and eligibility, and an increase in the excise tax on university endowments.

Several other schools with national prominence, such as the University of Notre Dame and the University of Vermont, have placed a hold on hiring, citing uncertainty with the federal government.

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As we seek to understand the executive orders, federal agency directives and other policy changes announced over the past several weeks, our decision-making will continue to be guided by our mission as a global Catholic research university, Erin Blasko, a spokesperson with Notre Dame, said in an email.

The University of Vermont said in a statement last week that it would re-evaluate its hiring freeze in 60 days.

In a separate move last week, the Trump administration said it would cancel about $400 million in federal grants to Columbia University due to the schools continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.

That decision came days after the administrations Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism informed Columbia it was planning a comprehensive review of the university's federal grants and contracts.

A Columbia spokesperson said in a statement that the university is committed to combating antisemitism.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
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Im no fan of the pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University, and they would certainly not be fans of mine. Although I have been outspoken in my opposition to the Trump administrations march to authoritarianism over the past several weeks, I have also publicly opposed the divestment movement, written about my Judaism and connection to Israel, and urged dialogue rather than puerile sloganeering on campuses. Student protesters, Ive made clear, must observe reasonable time and place restrictionsthey cannot disrupt the core university functions without accountability. It should go without saying that these restrictions should be content-neutral. The content of your views (unless they veer into harassment and intimidation) should have no bearing on the restrictions you face. This is fundamental to freedom of speech.

The federal government violated this principle when it sent agents to arrest Columbia University alumnus Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist who was politically engaged on the Columbia campus before graduating last spring. Initially, agents said they were revoking his student visa. But Khalil is not a student; he is a permanent resident of the United States married to an American citizen. The agents apparently changed their story when they learned this and said they were revoking his green card. According to Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, Khalil was arrested in support of President Trumps executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism. How in the world can this be grounds for an arrest?

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio doubled down on this trampling of basic rights in saying that Khalils activities were aligned with Hamas, and therefore illegal. We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported, he added. So, what next? Is everyone protesting the actions of Israel in Gaza going to be subject to arrest? Does having protested U.S. support for the bombing of civilians now put one at risk? Not a few Jewish students have participated in campus protests against the war in Gaza; will they too be deemed to be in violation of the presidents orders prohibiting antisemitism?

University presidents must speak out against this attempt to control the political culture of our campuses from the White House. Just as we should decry antisemitism and other forms of discrimination, we should insist that students and faculty have the right to make their voices heard about the issues of the day. Neutrality here is a betrayal of our academic mission.

I believe that those who see Hamas as an organization of freedom fighters are deeply misguided. I see Hamas as violent terrorists eager to kill Jews and make martyrs of their countrymen. But this doesnt stop me from defending members of the university community who want to protest Israels brutal war or express their outrage at our presidents call for ethnic cleansing. Whats next in this effort to ensure ideological conformity? Will those who speak out in favor of Ukraine be deemed misaligned with the pro-Putin agenda of the White House?

Many academic leaders seem reluctant to defend the basic right to protest for fear of losing federal support for scientific research and financial aid. The loss of federal support would be a huge blow to biomedical research and educational opportunity, among other things. But if we dont defend the right to protest, how will we defend the freedom to teach and learn, the freedom to pursue research? If we just defend the speech or activities we like, on what basis do we resist authoritarianism?

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You dont have to be a fan of Mahmoud Khalils politics to protest this egregious violation of fundamental American rights. On Monday, a federal judge in Manhattan barred the administration from deporting Khalil and scheduled a detention hearing for Wednesday as demonstrators rallied in his support. We shouldnt have to agree in order to offer our fellow citizens respect, due process, and basic human rights. Not in the land of the free. If we are not to find ourselves permanently aligned with tyranny, we must stand up now for those being targeted by a government hell-bent on using anti-terrorism and support for Israel as a cover for its own authoritarian agenda.

Release Mahmoud Khalil! Respect freedom of speech!
By Sarah Morland

(Reuters) - The United Nations' Haiti rights expert on Tuesday said he believed solving a spiraling insecurity crisis in the Caribbean nation was "doable," if law enforcement are properly supplied and neighboring countries do their part.

"We're talking about 2,500, maybe 3,000 well-trained and equipped international police. It's doable," William O'Neill, the U.N. High Commissioner's Designated Expert on Human Rights in Haiti, told a press briefing.

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The U.N. Security Council is set to debate a hybrid security support model that would establish a budgeted office to help supply an existing, voluntary mission after lack of contributions has left it woefully under-manned and under-equipped.

Haiti's government, which has called for urgent international security support since 2022, more recently requested a formal U.N. peacekeeping mission to boost under-staffed police, but this met opposition from Russia and China.

But O'Neill said the support office could help supply key equipment such as spare parts, helicopters and adequate vehicles for navigating Haiti's capital and mountainous rural terrain.

He also called for neighboring countries, particularly the U.S. - the source of most of Haiti's illegal arms - to do more to prevent the flow of illegal guns to criminal groups, noting that Haiti's border police are not equipped to prevent their entry.

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"There's not a gun or bullet that's manufactured in Haiti," he said. "If you stop the flow, the gangs will eventually run out of ammunition. That's a quicker, faster, safer way to dismantle them than having to go in and fight them."

He also urged the United States, Dominican Republic, Bahamas and Turks and Caicos to stop deporting migrants back to Haiti.

"You cannot guarantee a dignified safe return, which is required under international law," he said.

Over 1 million people are internally displaced, food prices are soaring and Haiti's Le Nouvelliste newspaper reported that the wealthy suburb of Petion-Ville, which hosts diplomats via helicopter pads, was one of the capital's last free communes.

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"The risk of the capital falling under gang control is palpable," O'Neill said. "There is not a day to lose."

(Reporting by Sarah Morland and Natalia Siniawski in Mexico City; Editing by Sandra Maler)
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  An Upstate business owner has been arrested for reportedly stealing over $92,000 from a customer.

The Greenville County Sheriffs Office confirmed with 7NEWS that Amanda Felton was charged with breach of trust following an investigation that began in September 2022.

Deputies said Felton is the sole owner of Studio 511, an architectural and design service, located at 20 Draper Street in Greenville. It was reported that the consumer hired the company to provide renovation services for their home.

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The incident continued until October 2024, deputies said.

According to the arrest warrant, Felton was supposed to provide household furnishings such as lighting, wallpaper, carpet and furniture. Deputies mentioned once the owner received the money, she abruptly terminated all of her employees.

The victim provided a list to deputies of missing items & services that were paid in full but never completed by Felton.

The total cost of the list of items paid for was $92,130.31.

Felton was booked into the Greenville County Detention Center.

The incident remains under investigation by the GCSO.

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SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. (WSPA)  A finance professional in the Upstate said hes concerned about an upward trend in people mismanaging their finances. Eric Lahaie, who is the co-owner of JEHM Wealth and Retirement in Simpsonville, said cognitive decline is driving the behavior for many older adults.

Dementia often comes with a lot of confusion, said Lahaie.

He told 7NEWS hes seen people paying the same bills multiple times and making other costly mistakes as a result of cognitive decline.

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The National Institutes of Health said cognitive decline affects one in three adults 65 and older.

Lahaie recommends they have an estate plan giving power of attorney to someone they trust to make financial decisions for them. He also said having a life insurance policy with an accelerated benefits rider can be a big help to cover the costs of long-term health care.

If youre someone who has a million dollar life insurance policy, and youre diagnosed with dementia and you need care, you may be able to borrow against that million dollars or death benefit, maybe you can borrow $500k or up to $700k, depending on the policy, that could be available to you to cover those expenses on a tax-free basis, Lahaie explained.

Lahaie also encourages family members to become trusted contacts on bank, brokerage and IRA accounts for the older adults in their lives. He advises monitoring those accounts and their credit reports for unusual activity.

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If you notice that your loved one is making poor financial decisions, theyre being confused, that gives you the power to step in and start protecting them from themselves essentially, Lahaie added.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Youngstowns Ursuline High School is celebrating a century of heritage and looking to the future.

The original portion of the campus facing Bryson Street opened 100 years ago this month as a 16-room all-girls high school. Today, that part of the building still has the original terracotta flooring and classroom doors.

Over the decades, its undergone extensive renovations to meet the needs of its students  now numbering more than 500.

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They declared to the Mahoning Valley in the midst of the Roaring 20s that the Ursuline Sisters were ready to invest in a project that going to transform educational opportunities for women in the Valley, and they did, said Ursuline High School President Father Richard Murphy.

As the school begins its next 100 years, fundraising efforts are underway to build an $11 million arts and wellness building on the Ursuline campus.

Father Murphy says his goal is to begin clearing land for the project this summer and have the new center finished in 2027.

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An explosives-filled trailer that Australian politicians earlier described as an antisemitic terrorism plot and a foiled mass casualty event was staged by criminals in a complicated hoax  and was never meant to be detonated, police said yesterday.

Law enforcement agencies investigating Januarys discovery of the trailer on the outskirts of Sydney divulged in a news conference that its placement was concocted by criminals who meant to derive personal gain from tipping off authorities to its presence  a bizarre twist in a saga that followed a monthslong wave of antisemitic crimes in Australia.

The cluster of attacks targeting places where Jewish people live, work and study, including a firebombing of a synagogue and a daycare center and several instances of antisemitic vandalism, were committed by a very small group, and potentially one individual behind all those matters, Deputy Police Commissioner for the state of New South Wales David Hudson told reporters yesterday.

Authorities in January made the unusual claim that none of the 12 they had then arrested in relation to the spate of crimes in Australias largest cities Sydney and Melbourne was driven by antisemitic ideology and were instead criminals for hire. Hudson said 14 more arrested Monday were not motivated by hate either.

But he added he has no doubt that antisemitism in Australia - which has dominated news media and the political sphere following the recent spate of crimes  has experienced an escalation over the past 18 months since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel that triggered the war in Gaza.

The revelation  leaked to the public before law enforcement planned to announce it  that a trailer was found in January outside Sydney, packed with explosives used in the mining industry and containing a list of Jewish targets, prompted state and national leaders to say it represented an escalation in potential extremist violence.

But investigators said Monday that they almost immediately believed that the trailers appearance was part of a fabricated terrorist plot, essentially a criminal con job, but kept their suspicions a secret, according to Australian federal police deputy commissioner Krissy Barrett.

The trailer was easily found and the explosives were visibly displayed. Also there was no detonator, Barrett said, adding that it was never going to cause a mass casualty event.

Instead, those who staged the caravan planned to then inform the authorities of an impending attack against Jewish Australians, said Barrett. Why investigators believed they had done so was not simple.

Barrett and Hudson, speaking on behalf of a joint law enforcement effort assembled to arrest the perpetrators of antisemitic crimes, said they believed those who faked the trailer plot meant to attract attention from authorities, divert police resources, create fear and leverage the situation for personal gain. That might have included attempts to use information about an attack to bargain with police for lesser sentences in other criminal proceedings.

We believe the person pulling the strings wanted changes to their criminal status but maintained a distance from their scheme and hired alleged local criminals, Barrett said. That person remains at large, she added.

Authorities have said since January that they believe overseas interests are orchestrating the crimes, although they havent been more specific. They also havent divulged which local criminal groups might have been hired to undertake the attacks, which have included hateful graffiti.

It wasnt the only time this has happened, Barrett added. Too many offenders working in a criminal gig economy are accepting these tasks for money, she said.

The 14 people arrested Monday face charges in relation to the more than a dozen attacks investigators believe were orchestrated.

The strange twist caps a summer where antisemitic crimes roiled Sydney and Melbourne, home to 85% of Australias Jewish population. One person has been physically hurt  a worshipper who suffered burns in a fire that was set at a Melbourne synagogue in December.

There was some comfort to be taken by the Jewish community, in the fact that the worst episodes were not ideological acts of hated, Hudson said. But the crimes have had a chilling effect on the Jewish community and provoked unwarranted suspicion of other groups, Barrett added.

The high profile attacks are not the only ones police are investigating. Nearly 200 more people have been charged since October 2023 in the state of New South Wales, where Sydney is located, with crimes linked to antisemitism, police told The Associated Press in February. CHARLOTTE GRAHAM-McLAY, WELLINGTON, MDT/AP
By Timothy Gardner, Tim Reid, Alexandra Alper and Marisa Taylor

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Department of Education said on Tuesday it would lay off nearly half its staff, a possible precursor to closing altogether, as government agencies scrambled to meet President Donald Trump's deadline to submit plans for a second round of mass layoffs.

The terminations are part of the department's "final mission," it said in a press release, alluding to Trump's vow to eliminate the department, which oversees $1.6 trillion in college loans, enforces civil rights laws in schools and provides federal funding for needy districts.

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Asked on Fox News whether the firings would lead to the department's dismantling, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said "yes," adding that doing so "was the president's mandate." The layoffs would leave the department with 2,183 workers, down from 4,133 when Trump took office in January.

Before announcing the layoffs, the agency ordered offices in the Washington area closed to staff from Tuesday evening through Wednesday, according to an internal notice seen by Reuters. An Education Department spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions about the nature of the security issues prompting the closures.

Similar closures served as a precursor to shuttering the headquarters of the U.S. Agency for International Development, the humanitarian aid agency, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which protects Americans against unscrupulous lenders.

The layoffs are the latest step in Trump's sweeping effort to downsize the government, led by the world's richest person Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency. DOGE has cut more than 100,000 jobs across the 2.3 million-member federal civilian bureaucracy, frozen most foreign aid and canceled thousands of programs and contracts, despite dozens of lawsuits challenging the legality of those moves.

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DOGE's blunt-force approach has frustrated several White House officials and Republican lawmakers, some of whom have confronted angry constituents at town halls. Trump told department heads last week that they, not Musk, have the final say on staffing, his first notable public move to restrain the Tesla CEO.

All U.S. government agencies have been ordered to come up with large-scale layoff plans by Thursday, setting up the next phase of Trump's cost-cutting campaign. Several agencies have offered employees payments to retire early to fulfill Trump's demand.

Affected Education Department employees will be placed on administrative leave starting on March 21, the department said.

The union representing more than 2,800 department workers said it would fight the "draconian cuts."

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"What is clear from the past weeks of mass firings, chaos, and unchecked unprofessionalism is that this regime has no respect for the thousands of workers who have dedicated their careers to serve their fellow Americans," said Sheria Smith, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 252.

Trump and Musk have argued that the government is wasteful and bloated. DOGE claims it has saved $105 billion in cuts, but it has only publicly documented a fraction of those savings, and its accounting has been plagued by errors.

The federal government reported an estimated $162 billion in improper payments in fiscal year 2024, according to a U.S. Government Accountability Office annual report released on Tuesday. The vast majority were overpayments, the report said. Total federal outlays topped $6.75 trillion in that fiscal year, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

The total improper payments figure was down sharply from 2023's $236 billion, the GAO said.

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EARLY RETIREMENT OFFERS

Other agencies have offered lump-sum payments of up to $25,000 before tax to workers who agree to leave their jobs. Among these are the Office of Personnel Management, the Social Security Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services, including its Food and Drug Administration.

The buyout offers, combined with another program that eases eligibility requirements for early retirement, are being embraced as a lower-friction way to help meet the Thursday deadline, human resources specialists at several federal agencies told Reuters.

The Trump administration has been grappling with myriad lawsuits after it fired thousands of probationary workers in a first wave of mass layoffs and essentially dismantled entire departments like USAID and CFPB.

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The General Services Administration, which manages the government's property portfolio, is also seeking approval to offer the buyout payments to workers, according to an email sent by its acting head to staff on Monday and seen by Reuters. The GSA could not be reached for comment outside of U.S. business hours. The Securities and Exchange Commission has already offered bonuses of up to $50,000, Reuters reported.

Human resources and public governance experts said the appeal of the buyout program is that it is voluntary and less vulnerable to legal challenges. It also requires workers who have accepted the offer to repay the money if they take another government job within five years.

"If your strategy is to get as many people out the door voluntarily, that reduces the risk of court orders and opposition to you in the long run," said Don Moynihan, a public policy professor at the University of Michigan.

Only a couple of agencies have telegraphed how many employees they plan to cut in the second phase of layoffs. These include the Department of Veterans Affairs, which is aiming to cut more than 80,000 workers, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is planning to cut 1,029 staff.

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Despite the looming deadline, no agency has yet submitted its job-cutting plan to OPM, the government's human resources department that is collating the data, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters. OPM declined to comment.

OPM itself has offered lump-sum payments to some 650 of its employees, according to another person with knowledge of the matter. Employees were given until March 12 to respond.

On Monday, the HR department of the Food and Drug Administration sent an email to all 19,000 employees announcing a Friday, March 14, deadline for a buyout program. Those who accept would have to retire by April 19.

Late on Monday, HHS sweetened its prior offer by adding two months of full pay in addition to the bonus, according to a copy of the email seen by Reuters. HHS could not be reached for comment outside of normal U.S. business hours.

(Reporting by Timothy Gardner, Alexandra Alper, Tim Reid and Marisa Taylor, additional reporting by Nathan Layne and Kanishka Singh, writing by Nathan Layne and Joseph Ax; Editing by Scott Malone, David Gregorio and Muralikumar Anantharaman)
WASHINGTON (AP)  A federal judge on Tuesday found that removing most grants and most staff from a U.S. federal agency that invests in African small businesses would be legal.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon also refused to extend an order blocking the Trump administration from removing the leaders of the U.S. African Development Foundation, which invests millions of dollars in African small businesses.

USADF is an independent agency created by Congress in 1980 and is controlled by board members who must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

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The case, filed by Ward Brehm, the president of USADF, raised questions about the extent of the presidents authority to remove board members and to reduce the size of the agency, which currently employs around 50 people.

Maintaining USADF's board, a president and one or two grants would comply with the statutory requirements, Leon wrote.

However, he questioned whether the Trump administration had the power to install a board chair on a temporary basis.

USADF last week tried to keep staff from Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency from entering their offices in Washington. DOGE staff managed to gain entry after returning with U.S. Marshals.

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Leon ordered the government to prepare those DOGE staff to explain to the court what steps they had taken to maintain the agency at the minimum presence and function required by law.

The judge said he would consider additional arguments for a block as the case unfolds.

Trump last month in an executive order targeted USADF and three other agencies for closure in an effort to deliver on campaign promises to shrink the size of the federal government.

Attorneys for the Trump administration have argued that USADF's board has done everything possible to avoid complying with the Presidents clear directives, and that the President must be able to designate acting officials to fulfill his duty to enforce the laws.

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Congress in 2023 allocated $46 million to USADF to invest in relatively small agricultural projects and energy infrastructure projects among other economic development initiatives in 22 African countries.

In court filings, USADF describes staff from DOGE demanding access to their systems, which staff denied citing privacy and security requirements. They also said DOGE emailed USADF's staff last month announcing that Pete Marocco, the deputy administrator of USAID who has overseen its dismantling, would chair USADF's board.

Marocco and some of the same DOGE staff have succeeded in shuttering another independent agency, the Inter-American Foundation. On Feb. 28, a White House official told IAF staff that Marocco would chair the agency's board, according to a letter sent to Congress by Eddy Arriola, the chair of IAF's board.

The same day, Marocco held an emergency board meeting outside of IAF's offices because he was not able to gain entry to the building. In notes entered into the Federal Register, Marocco said he designated himself the acting CEO and president of IAF, seemingly firing the sitting president.

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Since, IAF's grants and contracts have been cancelled and most of its 37 staff members have been laid off. In 2024, IAF oversaw almost $350 million in investments in Latin American and the Caribbean, with a little more than half of that coming from outside funds, meaning from countries or private funders.

___

Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and non-profits receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of APs philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.
The U.S. is resuming security and intelligence aid to Ukraine after talks between the two countries in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, ending a weeklong standoff that threatened to strengthen Russias battlefield position.

In a joint statement published soon after the talks ended, the U.S. and Ukraine agreed to an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which could be extended but first hinges on Russias acceptance.

The ball is now in their court, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said of the Kremlin.

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Ukraine-US talks on ending war with Russia start in Saudi Arabia

White House envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Moscow this week to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the second such round of meetings. Rubio said Russia will receive the ceasefire terms through multiple channels for review.

The deadline is we hope to do this as soon as possible, Rubio said.

Last week, the U.S. paused hundreds of millions of dollars in American security assistance to Ukraine and stopped sharing intelligence, with President Donald Trump claiming Kyiv wasnt ready for peace. The drastic step followed a catastrophic meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, which devolved into a shouting match.

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If extended indefinitely, the pause could have sapped Ukraines stocks of ammunition while also hindering its ability to target Russian positions. European officials across the continent reacted to the decision with alarm and have begun multiple rounds of meetings on how they can sustain Ukraines self-defense without U.S. assistance.

Aside from the ceasefire proposal, U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said the U.S and Ukraine also discussed humanitarian concerns and what security guarantees Ukraine is seeking. To this point, Kyiv has sought an American military commitment to enforce any peace deal signed with Russia, which has broken past ceasefires and launched a full-scale invasion three years ago.

The Trump administration has been adamant that any security guarantees must come from Europe, part of an overall pivot away from U.S. military support for the continent. European countries have increased military spending in recent years but would still struggle to take on such an expansive role without American aid.

Meanwhile, Trump told reporters last week that America would question whether countries in NATO spent enough on defense before coming to their aid, a core part of the alliance.

If youre not going to pay your bills, were not going to defend you, Trump said.
A Bakersfield man pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to being a convicted felon in possession of a destructive device and manufacturing a destructive device, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California.

Robert Lawrence Hunt, 40, of Bakersfield, made a destructive device containing metal screws and explosives between July 4 and 5, 2022, which was likely to cause injury if detonated, a U.S. Attorney's news release said.

"The device was found at a community pool in a residential neighborhood. The defendant was residing at a home closest to the pool," the news release said.

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Hunt had previously been convicted in Kern County Superior Court of two robberies and a burglary and is prohibited from possessing or manufacturing firearms, including destructive or explosive devices, the news release said.

Hunt has been detained since September 2024 and is to be sentenced July 14, when he faces up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for being a felon in possession of a destructive device, and up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for manufacturing a destructive device, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)  Attorneys for the daughter of a U.S.-sanctioned Russian billionaire asked a U.S. federal court Tuesday for access to the financial records of officials including the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, whose administration is under scrutiny for seizing and selling the familys 265-foot (81-meter) megayacht and not releasing documents related to the sale.

The filing is the latest development in a global legal saga involving the Alfa Nero megayacht, which remained anchored off the eastern Caribbean island of Antigua for more than two years and whose potential buyers included former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.

The megayacht, abandoned by Andrey Guryev, a Russian businessman who founded a fertilizer company, is being sought by his daughter, Yulia Guryeva-Motlokhov, who claims she is the rightful owner.

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As part of the effort to recover the megayacht, her attorneys stated in the filing that they seek documents and information related to wire transfers and other transactions involving seven people and 12 entities in the past five years.

The disappearance of millions from the sale of the Alfa Nero is just the beginning," said Martin De Luca, with Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, adding that the discovery seeks to uncover whether any alleged backroom deals for personal enrichment took place.

The people targeted include Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne, his wife, their son and Antiguas general accountant and its port manager.

The entities include West Indies Oil Company Ltd., an Antigua-based petroleum storage and distribution company of which the government is a majority shareholder, and Fancy Bridge Ltd., a Hong Kong-based investment firm that owns shares in the oil company, as does Petroleos de Venezuela S.A., known as PDVSA.

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A megayacht sanctioned, then auctioned

Alfa Nero was anchored off Antigua when the war in Ukraine began in February 2022.

The vessel was not sanctioned by the U.S. government at the time, but officials in Antigua prohibited the megayacht from departing for months, according to the filing.

In August 2022, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Guryev, saying he was part of a group of Kremlin-connected elites and a known close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, having previously served in his government. The department also designated Guryevs superyacht as blocked property, and said its location tracking was turned off to avoid seizure.

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As innocent people suffer from Russias illegal war of aggression, Putins allies have enriched themselves and funded opulent lifestyles, said then-Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

In June 2023, the superyacht was removed from the sanctions list so Antigua could liquidate it. By then, the islands government had amended a local act to allow officials to declare vessels as abandoned and sell them at auction, a measure they took with Alfa Nero.

Schmidt, Googles former CEO, won the highest bid at $67 million but later dropped out, as did other bidders.

In July 2024, the government of Antigua and Barbuda sold it to an anonymous buyer for a reported $40 million, according to the filing, which noted that the vessel originally was valued at an estimated $120 million. It noted that private investigators later identified the buyers as Robert Yildirim and Ali Riza Yildirim of the Yildirim Group, a Turkish construction and shipping conglomerate.

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The conglomerate did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

No longer available

Following the sale, Antiguas prime minister came under fire by opposition party members who demanded details of how the proceeds were spent. They have yet to receive any information.

The prime minister does not give information except what he wants people to know, said D. Gisele Isaac, chairperson of the opposition United Progressive Party. Up to now, he has never disclosed to us the name of the person who bought Alfa Nero.

Isaac noted that while Antigua and Barbuda has a Freedom of Information Act, an information commissioner appointed last year has no physical office.

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There is nowhere to request information even if they were inclined to give it, she said of the current administration, adding that she believes proceeds from the yacht sale should go to helping rebuild Ukraine.

Brownes wife, Maria Browne, Antiguas Minister of Housing, told The Antigua Observer newspaper in July 2024 that the proceeds were used to pay off government debt. Days before the report was published, the prime minister had said his administration was considering using the money to build a resort.

The filing noted that nearly $10 million remains unaccounted for and that investigators in the case were told the sale documents were no longer available because they had apparently gone missing.

Gaston Browne did not immediately return a message for comment.

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Legal cases related to Alfa Nero also are ongoing in Russia and the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. One case alleges that the seizure and sale of the megayacht is unconstitutional, with Browne previously claiming that the lawsuit before the regional court filed by Yulia Guryeva-Motlokhov was frivolous.

____

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  The United States on Tuesday extended its ban on flights to Haitis capital until Sept. 8 because of escalating gang violence, which the U.N.s human rights expert on the Caribbean nation said is more dire than ever.

The Federal Aviation Administrations announcement extends a ban on U.S. flights to Port-au-Prince that began in November after gangs opened fire on three commercial planes. The initial ban was set to expire on Wednesday.

William ONeill, the U.N. human rights commissioners expert on Haiti, who just visited the country for the fourth time since his appointment two years ago, told U.N. reporters on Tuesday that the gang violence is worse, as is the pain and despair of an entire population.

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Despite efforts by Haitis national police and a U.N.-backed Kenya-led multinational police force, he said, the risk of the capital falling under gang control is palpable.

These violent criminal groups continue to extend and consolidate their hold even beyond the capital, ONeill said. They kill, rape, terrorize, set fire to homes, orphanages, schools, hospitals, places of worship.

He said the gangs have infiltrated all spheres of society, with the utmost impunity and, sometimes, as many sources point out, with the complicity of powerful actors,

The gangs have grown in power since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise and are now estimated to control up to 85% of the capital.

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ONeill said over 1 million people have been displaced, with nowhere to go. In makeshift camps, he said, hunger and sexual violence are widespread and for many it's a matter of survival.

He urged Haitian authorities to fight the impunity and corruption that he said were the major obstacles to dismantling the gangs. He said they must also beef up the police force, which he said numbered 9,000 to 10,000 in a country of 11 million people, compared with about 50,000 in the neighboring Dominican Republic, which has a similar population.

ONeill called for a substantial reinforcement of the multinational force, which started arriving last June and now numbers about 1,000 police. He said a well-equipped force of 2,500 could have an enormous impact on controlling, dismantling, overpowering the gangs.

He said both the international force and the Haitian police need more mobility  helicopters and better ground vehicles  as well as night vision goggles and body armor.

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U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently proposed to the U.N. Security Council that logistics and equipment for the Kenya-led force, including drones, fuel, ground and air transportation, be funded from the U.N. budget  instead of the current fund that relies on voluntary contributions. That fund would be used to pay the international police.

___
By Elizabeth Piper

FAIRFORD, England (Reuters) - U.S. and British commanders said on Tuesday joint military exercises were vital for providing Europe with a deterrent to Russia, a show of unity after President Donald Trump's overtures to Moscow raised doubt about Washington's commitment to NATO.

Air Marshall Johnny Stringer, the British officer serving as NATO's deputy air commander, and U.S. Eighth Air Force Commander Major General Jason Armagost joined forces to praise the Bomber Task Force which had completed nine missions in Europe since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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Both were keen to leave "politics to politicians" when asked about uncertainty of future U.S. cooperation with NATO under Trump, but were clear they both believed the cooperation between the United States and Europe only strengthened security.

"What I think what you are seeing here is testament to 75 years of the world's most successful alliance," Stringer said in front of a U.S. B-52H bomber at an airfield in southwestern England where most of the missions had started.

"Like all alliances and all relationships over time they have their kind of their ups and their downs but I think a NATO that ... is practising complex but essential deterrence missions across Europe kind of tells its story here on how serious and resolute we are as an alliance."

Trump has often cast doubt over U.S. support for NATO allies regularly complaining about members who spend too little on defence, and so far refusing requests from European allies to provide a "backstop" should they send peacekeepers to Ukraine.

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The two commanders said so far there was no prospect of joint military exercises ending soon.

"We plan together, we fly together, we integrate," said Armagost. "The speed with which we can come together and plan and demonstrate capability I think is a very strong thing regardless of the geopolitics ... the strength of that routine operation speaks for itself."

Stringer said there was "a standing plan" to keep missions going in what he described as "vital messaging" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "And as I said they are essential for our own training and to make sure we are, heaven forbid, ready to go (to war) if necessary."

(Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Peter Graff)
Kirsten Hillman, Canadas ambassador to the U.S., said Monday that 99 percent of products traded between the two nations are tariff-free, as tensions escalate following President Trumps imposition of new tariffs and Ontarios retaliatory measures.

Between Canada and the United States under the [U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement], the deal that we negotiated under President Trump in his first term, Canada and the United States are 99 percent tariff-free, Hillman told NewsNations CUOMO, hours after meeting with Prime Minister-designate Mark Carney.

She added that the remaining tariffed products are primarily in the agricultural sector and are specifically designed to protect small family farms.

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Hillman defended Canadas position, noting that the United States sells three times as much dairy product to Canada as vice versa.

Canada is your No. 1 customer, and you have a trade surplus with Canada in all manufactured goods, Hillman said. We provide affordable, reliable energy that helps fuel the U.S. economy.

She explained that both nations maintain similar protective measures  the U.S. for sugar, dairy, fruits and vegetables, while Canada primarily restricts dairy imports.

These tariffs only activate after agreed-upon import quotas are reached, as negotiated under the USMCA.

What is the trade war between the US and Canada?

The Ontario government announced it implemented a 25 percent surcharge on electricity exports to Michigan, Minnesota and New York, affecting approximately 1.5 million homes and businesses. The measure could cost up to $400,000 per day, according to a statement from the premiers office.

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The Canadian action comes in direct response to the Trump administrations recent imposition of 25 percent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports. Trump has since exempted automakers from the tariffs and delayed implementation for goods covered under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

Carney, who won the Liberal Party leadership with nearly 86 percent of the vote, is expected to be sworn in as prime minister within days.

He has taken a firm stance on the trade dispute, saying Sunday, The Canadian government has rightly retaliated.  My government will keep our tariffs on until the Americans show us respect.

The Hill contributed reporting.

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U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger is retiring in early May after serving more than four decades in law enforcement.

Manger, who was hired after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, will retire May 2, a Capitol Police spokesperson told The Hill.

I am honored to have served with a team that is dedicated to this critical mission. It is time for a new leader to continue the success that we started together, Manger said in a statement.

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Before serving as the Capitol Police chief, Manger worked as the head of the Montgomery County Police in Maryland.

Manger officially became the Capitol Police head in July 2021. More than 100 police officers were injured during the riot. Four died by suicide days and months after the attack. One Capitol Police officer died from a stroke a day after getting injured during the breach.

During his tenure, the Capitol Police experienced a budget increase, resolved all of the 103 recommendations made by the office of inspector general after the Jan. 6 attack and increased hiring.

In early January 2025, Manger questioned the message Jan. 6 rioters pardons would send.

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What message does that send to police officers across this nation, if someone doesnt think that a conviction for an assault or worse against a police officer is something that should be upheld, given what we ask police officers to do every day, Manger said at the time.

Manger did not directly discuss President Trumps promise to issue a pardon to a large number of Jan. 6 defendants once sworn in as commander in chief. Shortly after assuming office, Trump issued around 1,500 full, complete and unconditional pardons to Jan. 6 defendants.

Manger served as a police officer for more than 46 years, and he worked for more than 24 years as a chief of police at Montgomery County Police, Fairfax County Police in Virginia and the U.S. Capitol Police.

When I took the oath of office in the summer of 2021  I could not have imagined the progress a police department of our size could make in just a few years, Manger said. We made these changes to this Department because of the work ethic and dedication of our entire workforce, as well as the support of our Congressional stakeholders.

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Sands China recently organized a special outing for families from the Macau Autism Association as part of its commitment to corporate social responsibility.

The event, held in conjunction with World Autism Awareness Day, took the group on a tour of Sands Chinas Coastal Fantasia art exhibition and a sailing experience with Cotai Water Jets Macau Cruise Tour.

According to a statement from the gaming operartor, around 70 participants began the day by exploring Coastal Fantasia, a maritime-themed outdoor art installation by renowned artist Philip Colbert.

The group admired the iconic Lobster King sculptures and the large inflatable Lobster Submarine along the Macao Science Center waterfront.

Afterward, the group boarded Cotai Water Jets Macau Cruise Tour at the Taipa Ferry Terminal, where they received a guided tour of the ferry and learned about the ships operations, including a visit to the captains bridge.
The Trump administration reversed course on Tuesday in an announcement that the US would resume sharing real-time intelligence with Ukraine while also unpausing shipments of military aid.

In a joint statement with a delegation from Ukraines government, US officials indicated that the shift in focus would be aimed at pressuring Russia to come to the table and agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine within 30 days.

Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the US proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, and which is subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation. The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace, read a joint statement released by the two countries delegations.

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The United States will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine, it continued.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with Ukraine's minister of defense Rustem Umerov in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for talks on a ceasefire agreement that will be presented to Russia (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The statement also noted the gratitude of the Ukrainian government and its people for continued US assistance.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio led the talks with his Ukrainian counterparts in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, after departing Washington a day earlier. He confirmed that the offer would now be presented to Russias government.

"Today, we've made an offer that the Ukrainians have accepted, which is to enter into a ceasefire and into immediate negotiations to end this conflict in a way that's enduring and sustainable, said the secretary.

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President Donald Trump urged Russias head of state, Vladimir Putin, to come to the negotiating table in remarks to reporters shortly after the joint announcement from the US and Ukrainian delegations. In recent days, the US president has expressed confidence (and admonished reporters) in the face of questions regarding whether he had specific guarantees of Russias willingness to negotiate in good faith  but it remains unclear if he plans to leverage any new pressure on Moscow to make that happen.

"Hopefully President Putin will agree to that also and we can get this show on the road, Trump said on Tuesday.

Donald Trumps blowup with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky resulted in the US freezing real-time intelligence sharing and aid shipments to Ukraine. (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Trump paused real-time intelligence sharing to Ukraine and halted all planned aid shipments one week ago after a clash in the Oval Office with Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines president. The confrontation was cheered by his fans but widely mocked and treated with disgust around Europe, as major US allies including the UK and France took the blowup as the latest sign of a significant shift in US-Europe relations.

On Monday, Trump hinted that the talks surrounding a US-brokered ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine were making great progress, but its uncertain how significantly ties between Washington and Kyiv have mended. The status of a rare earth minerals deal which has been on ice since the disastrous Oval Office meeting remains unclear. And on Sunday, the US president once again derided his Ukrainian counterpart as ungrateful in a televised Fox News interview.

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Referring to Zelensky and the military support provided to Ukraine under the Biden administration, the US president said: It was like taking candy from a baby what [Zelensky] did.

Hes a smart guy and hes a tough guy and he took money out of this country under Biden like candy from a baby.
The United States is to lift the pause in intelligence sharing with Ukraine and resume military aid supplies as a result of talks in the Saudi city of Jeddah on Tuesday 11 March.

Source: a joint statement by Ukraine and the United States following the talks, released by the press service for the Ukrainian President's Office, as reported by European Pravda

Details: In the statement, the Ukrainian and US representatives "praised the bravery of the Ukrainian people in defence of their nation and agreed that now is the time to begin a process toward lasting peace".

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"The United States will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine," the statement said.

In addition, it is emphasised that the Ukrainian delegation "reiterated the Ukrainian peoples strong gratitude to President Trump, the US Congress and the people of the United States for making possible meaningful progress toward peace".

Background:

Last week, US President Donald Trump ordered a suspension of all military aid to Ukraine until he sees that the Ukrainian leadership is demonstrating "a good-faith commitment to peace".

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently expressed hope that the issue of Washington's suspension of military aid to Ukraine can be "resolved" during the talks in Saudi Arabia.

On 11 March, Ukrainian and US representatives held talks in Jeddah which went on for about eight hours. This is the first official meeting between Ukrainian and American officials since the spat between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump at the White House on 28 February.

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By David Morgan and Bo Erickson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a stopgap bill to keep federal agencies funded past Friday, averting a partial shutdown beginning this weekend even as President Donald Trump dramatically cuts the government.

The bill passed in a nearly party-line 217-213 vote, with one Republican voting no and one Democrat yes.

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The continuing resolution, which largely keeps the government funded at its current level through September 30, would need to be passed by the Republican-majority Senate and signed by Trump into law by Friday to avoid a shutdown.

Trump has been pressing Republicans to fall into line, and Vice President JD Vance urged them to stay unified at a closed-door meeting on Tuesday morning.

Hardline Republican lawmakers have traditionally opposed the stopgap measures, known as CRs, and Tuesday's vote marked the first time several of them voted in support of one since the party assumed the majority in the chamber in January 2023.

Republican Representative Tim Burchett said he voted for the first time in favor of a CR because it will reduce federal spending.

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Its the first time Ive been here ... that weve actually voted to decrease the size of government, said the Tennessee lawmaker, who entered Congress in January 2019.

Burchett, who spent much of the day saying he was undecided, chose to back the measure after speaking to Trump, adding, "Leaderships never lied to me and Trumps never lied to me."

Democratic Representative Rosa DeLauro criticized the measure. "It is not a simple stop-gap that keeps the lights on and the doors open. This is Republican leadership handing over the keys of the government, and a blank check to Elon Musk and to President Trump," she said.

One Republican, hardline Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, voted no and one Democrat, moderate Jared Golden of Maine, voted yes.

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Senate Republicans will need at least seven Democrats to vote with them to prevent a lapse in funding, which could disrupt everything from financial oversight to scientific research and force hundreds of thousands of federal workers to go without pay.

Many of those workers have already been stressed by Trump's blunt-force campaign to thin the ranks of the U.S. civil service and slash spending.

Senate Democrats have voiced opposition to the bill but also have a history of criticizing government shutdowns as needless chaos that they say hurts their constituents. Several have said they would vote for the measure to avert a shutdown.

At least 100,000 of the government's 2.3 million civilian workers have either been fired or taken a buyout so far, and Trump has effectively shuttered agencies that handle foreign aid and consumer protections. Trump's administration has ordered a second round of layoffs as well, with plans due later this week.

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Democrats say Trump's downsizing effort runs roughshod over Congress' authority over spending matters.

The bill would extend government funding until the end of the fiscal year on September 30. Increases in defense, veterans' care and border security would be offset by cuts to some domestic programs.

(Reporting by David Morgan and Bo Erickson, additional reporting by Richard Cowan and Gabriella Borter; Editing by Andy Sullivan, Scott Malone and Cynthia Osterman)
The United States will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine, Ukraine's Presidential Office announced on March 11.

The statement follows talks between Ukraine and the U.S. in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.



The U.S. has suspended military aid and intelligence to Ukraine after a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky, U.S. President Donald Trump, and U.S. Vice President JD Vance in the White House that ended in a heated argument.



The freeze on military aid has drawn criticism even from members of Trump's own party. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said that pulling aid from Ukraine in the midst of Russia's war would "be worse than Afghanistan."

U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz confirmed during a joint press conference in Jeddah that Washington will continue to provide military assistance to Ukraine under the so-called Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) program.



The delegations also discussed the essential role of humanitarian efforts in achieving peace, including the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of detained civilians and the return of forcibly displaced Ukrainian children.



The delegates will determine the composition of their negotiating teams to begin further negotiations to achieve a sustainable peace that will ensure Ukraine's long-term security, the Presidential Office's statement read.



Kyiv is also ready to accept Washington's proposal to immediately implement a temporary, 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement. Ukraine is ready to take such a step only if Russia adheres to the terms of the ceasefire in the same way.

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Read also: Investigation: We tried to buy American chips as a Russian defense manufacturer  and it worked

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By Nate Raymond

(Reuters) -A federal judge on Monday ordered the government-downsizing team created by U.S. President Donald Trump and spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk to make public records concerning its operations, which he said had been run in "unusual secrecy."

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper in Washington sided with the government watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington in finding that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was likely an agency subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

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The ruling, the first of its kind, marked an early victory for advocates seeking to force DOGE to become more transparent about its role in the mass firings being conducted in the federal workforce and the dismantling of government agencies by the Republican president's administration.

The Trump administration argued DOGE as an arm of the Executive Office of the President was not subject to FOIA, a law that allows the public to seek access to records produced by government agencies.

But Cooper, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama, said DOGE was exercising "substantial independent authority" much greater than the other components of that office that are usually exempt from FOIA.

Cooper said it "appears to have the power not just to evaluate federal programs, but to drastically reshape and even eliminate them wholesale," a fact the judge said the agency declined to refute.

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He said its "operations thus far have been marked by unusual secrecy," citing reports about DOGE's use of an outside server, its employees' refusal to identify themselves to career officials and their use of the encrypted app Signal to communicate.

Donald Sherman, CREW's executive director and chief counsel, welcomed the ruling. "Now more than ever, Americans deserve transparency in their government," he said in a statement.

A White House official in a statement said the judge has a "misunderstanding of how DOGE works." The official said the White House expects Cooper to reverse himself "once he correctly comprehends DOGE's structure."

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

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CREW launched the lawsuit on February 20 after filing requests under FOIA seeking information on DOGE's operations, including communications such as internal government emails and memos.

CREW asked Cooper to order the records released by Monday, arguing that the public and Congress needed the information during the debate over government funding legislation that must pass by Friday to avert a partial government shutdown.

Cooper declined to order the records released by Monday but said they must be produced on an expedited basis, citing a need for timely information on DOGE given the "unprecedented" authority it was exercising.

The judge directed the Trump administration to file a status report by March 20 estimating the number of documents at issue and ordered the parties to propose by March 27 a schedule for rolling production of the documents.

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Cooper also entered an order directing DOGE to preserve records, citing "the possibility that representatives of the Defendant entities may not fully appreciate their obligations to preserve federal records."

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Louise Heavens, Deepa Babington and Nick Zieminski)
The U.S. will immediately restore military aid and intelligence sharing to Ukraine following bilateral talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, with Ukraine expressing readiness to accept a 30-day ceasefire proposal.

Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the U.S. proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, and which is subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation, according to a joint statement after the talks.

The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace, it added.

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The United States will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine.

The talks came less than two weeks after a contentious Oval Office meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky late last month.

The outcome Tuesday marks a major reprieve for Ukraine after Trump and Vice President Vance accused Zelensky of being ungrateful for U.S. support and holding no cards in negotiations to end the war.

Trump had remained vague on what exactly Ukraine needed to do to restore U.S. military and intelligence support, which Trump halted in the wake of Zelenskys explosive White House visit.

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I think its a big difference between the last visit you saw at the Oval office  thats a total ceasefire, Ukraine has agreed to it, and hopefully Russia will agree to it, Trump told reporters in Washington on Tuesday, and suggested meetings with Russian officials could take place today or tomorrow.

If we can get Russia to do it, that will be great, if we cant well just keep going on and people are going to get killed.

The bilateral talks in Jeddah signaled a rapprochement. Among the restored military aid included $4 billion in the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), a fund that allows the U.S. to send Ukraine military materials directly from Department of Defense stocks.

In the joint U.S.-Ukraine statement, the Ukrainians reiterated the Ukrainian peoples strong gratitude to President Trump, the U.S. Congress, and the people of the United States for making possible meaningful progress toward peace.

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The statement also noted that the U.S. and Ukraine agreed to name their negotiating teams and immediately begin talks toward an enduring peace that provides for Ukraines long-term security.

The U.S. committed to discussing these specific proposals with Russia, and the Ukrainian delegation reiterated that European partners shall be involved in the peace process.

The joint statement also referenced a minerals deal between Ukraine and the U.S., though negotiators said it was not a focus of Tuesdays meeting.

Both countries presidents agreed to conclude as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraines critical mineral resources to expand Ukraines economy and guarantee Ukraines long-term prosperity and security, the statement read.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz led the U.S. delegation.

The Ukrainian delegation included Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Zelensky, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

Yermak and Sybiha wore suits, in contrast to Zelensky, who was criticized by Trump allies over his attire in the Oval Office, wearing war-time shirt and pants.

Waltz said after the meeting that the Ukrainians are ready for peace.

Rubio said the U.S. would communicate the ceasefire deal to the Russians and warned that if they refuse, theyll be viewed as the impediment to peace.

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Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking, and now itll be up to them [Russia] to say yes or no, Rubio said.

I hope theyre going to say yes, and if they do, then I think weve made great progress. If they say no, then well, unfortunately, know what the impediment is.

Noticeably absent from the meeting was Steve Witkoff, Trumps point man on talks with Moscow and one of his closest confidantes.

Witkoff, also the presidents special envoy for the Middle East, reportedly traveled to Qatar for ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas at the time of the Jeddah meeting.

He is expected to travel to Moscow later this week, a source familiar told NewsNation, but he cautioned the envoys schedule is fluid.

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Updated at 3:27 p.m. EDT

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The United States will not provide military aid to Russia, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on March 10 in a curious comment ahead of U.S.-Ukraine talks.

Asked whether the Ukrainian delegation would push for renewed military aid during the meeting in Saudi Arabia, Rubio responded, "I can assure you this: We will not be providing military aid to the Russians."

The U.S. has been a key military supporter of Ukraine during the full-scale war. As relations between Kyiv and Washington soured after U.S. President Donald Trump took office, the new administration halted all defense assistance.

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Regarding the possibility of resuming U.S. military aid to Ukraine, Rubio suggested that the freeze could be lifted if Ukraine committed to peace talks.

"I mean, all of that came about because we felt that they were not committed to any sort of peace process or not interested in negotiations," Rubio said.

Ukrainian officials plan to use the Jeddah talks to push for the resumption of U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing, Financial Times reported on March 9.

U.S. delegates previously held meetings with Russian representatives in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18 and in Istanbul on Feb. 27, where they discussed restoring bilateral relations and holding preliminary peace talks without Ukraines participation.

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Read also: US has not discussed Russia sanctions relief with EU, Rubio says

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The United States is opposed to using harsh language in joint G7 statements in order not to hinder its efforts to persuade Russia and Ukraine to come to the negotiating table.

Source: Reuters with reference to statements by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Reuters noted that G7 foreign ministers would meet in Quebec from 12 to 14 March.

According to the agencys sources, Canada initially expected the G7 to agree on a joint statement covering the Russo-Ukrainian war, the situation in the Middle East and relations with China. In addition, Canada had hoped for a separate declaration on the G7's efforts to combat Russia's so-called shadow fleet.

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However, diplomats say it proved extremely difficult this time to agree on the full text of the final communique, and some are not ruling out the possibility that the parties may not reach a compromise.

The sources indicated that the US insists on removing references to sanctions and Russia's war against Ukraine from the text but still demands tougher language regarding China.

The three diplomats said that the United States also opposes a separate statement on Russia's shadow fleet.

Commenting on this, Rubio said that there were always controversial issues, adding that Washington could not sign anything that would prevent Russia and Ukraine from coming to the negotiating table.

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"We feel like antagonistic language sometimes makes it harder to bring parties to the table, especially since we're the only ones right now that seem to be in a position to make talks like that possible," Rubio said.

Rubio expressed confidence that the G7 would eventually agree on a meaningful and unifying document without "undermining our ability to bring both sides to the table".

Background:

In February, the G7 countries failed to approve a joint statement on the third anniversary of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine due to sharp disagreements with Washington's position.

Earlier, it was reported that the US had refused to name Russia as the aggressor in the G7 statement on the third anniversary of the full-scale war.

Bloomberg stated that the United States even threatened to withdraw its support for the joint statement of the G7 states.

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* Education Bureau promotes tolerance

 Amid recent cases of xenophobia in schools, including verbal and visual violence targeting non-Chinese colleagues, DSEDJ is strengthening tolerance across various subjects, the Times has learned

* Gaming | Casino revenue forecast revised amid slower start to 2025

* Welfare | Macau faces an increasing shortage of care facilities for the elderly

* A mainland woman has been arrested for defrauding a female friend of RMB1.37 million in a fake investment scheme, PJ says

* CPPCC committee member Lao Nga Wong urges Macau to boost its platform role

* Nissan tests driverless vehicles on city streets filled with cars and people

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Mourners in Houston paid tribute to the late U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas as he lay in state at city hall Tuesday, part of a week of public events to honor the Democratic lawmaker and former mayor.

Turner, 70, died on March 5, just weeks into his first term in the House and only hours after attending President Donald Trump's address to Congress in Washington. His family said he died at his home following health complications. In 2022, Turner publicly shared that he had undergone surgery and radiation therapy that year for bone cancer in his jaw.

Residents observed a memorial at Houston City Hall, where Turner served as mayor for eight years before being elected to Congress in November. Houston Mayor John Whitmire made brief remarks to mourners and the Houston Symphony performed while visitors paid their respects.

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Sylvester knew each and every community, and he treated everyone with equality and inclusion," Whitmire said. "Thats what made him really special. He brought that public service and that message across not only our great city, but our great state.

Turner had filled the House seat held by longtime Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who died in July. Prior to becoming mayor, Turner served as a legislator in the Texas House of Representatives for 27 years.

Turner is also scheduled to lie in state at the Texas Capitol beginning Thursday. His funeral is scheduled for Saturday in Houston.

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has not yet announced when a special election will be held for Turner's seat.
The Trump administration lifted its suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing for Ukraine, and Kyiv signaled that it was open to a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Russia, pending Moscows agreement, American and Ukrainian officials said Tuesday following talks in Saudi Arabia.

The administrations decision marked a sharp shift from only a week ago, when it imposed the measures to push Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to enter talks to end the war with invading Russian forces. The suspension of U.S. assistance came days after Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump argued about the war in a tense White House meeting.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who led the U.S. delegation to the talks in Jeddah, said Washington would present the ceasefire offer to the Kremlin, which has thus far opposed anything short of a permanent end to the conflict without accepting any concessions.

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Were going to tell them this is whats on the table. Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking. And now itll be up to them to say yes or no, Rubio told reporters after the meeting. If they say no, then well unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here.

Trumps national security adviser, Mike Waltz, added: The Ukrainian delegation today made something very clear, that they share President Trumps vision for peace.

Tuesdays discussions, which lasted for nearly eight hours, appeared to put rest, for the moment at least, the animosity between Trump and Zelenskyy that erupted during the Oval Office meeting last month.

Waltz said the negotiators got into substantive details on how this war is going to permanently end, including long-term security guarantees. And, he said, Trump agreed to immediately lift the pause in the supply of billions of of dollars of U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing.

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Senior officials began meeting only hours after Russia shot down over 300 Ukrainian drones. It was Ukraines biggest attack since the Kremlin ordered the full-scale invasion of its neighbor. Neither U.S. nor Ukrainian officials offered any comment on the barrage.

Trump said he hoped that an agreement can be solidified over the next few days.

I know we have a big meeting with Russia tomorrow, and some great conversations hopefully will ensue, Trump said. He did not elaborate.

Trump s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to travel later this week to Moscow, where he could meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a person familiar with the matter but not authorized to comment publicly. The person cautioned that scheduling could change.

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Meanwhile, in an address posted shortly after Tuesdays talks ended, Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraines commitment to achieving a lasting peace, emphasizing that the country has sought an end to the war since its outset.

Our position is absolutely clear: Ukraine has strived for peace from the very first second of this war, and we want to do everything possible to achieve it as soon as possible  securely and in a way that ensures war does not return, Zelenskyy said.

Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak, who led the Ukrainian delegation, described the negotiations as positive. In a joint statement with the U.S., he said the two countries share the same vision, and that we are moving in the same direction toward the just peace long awaited by all Ukrainians.

Russia hurls drones and a missile as Ukrainians watch the talks

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Elsewhere, Russia launched 126 drones and a ballistic missile at Ukraine, the Ukrainian air force said, as part of Moscows relentless pounding of civilian areas during the war.

On the streets of Kyiv, Ukrainians kept an eye on the Saudi talks.

Lena Herasymenko, a psychologist, said she accepts that compromises will be necessary to end the war, but she said they must be reasonable.

We had massive losses during this war, and we dont know yet how much more well have, she told The Associated Press. We are suffering every day. Our kids are suffering, and we dont know how the future generation will be affected.

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Oleksandr, a Ukrainian soldier who could give only his first name because of security restrictions, warned that Ukraine cannot let down its guard down.

If there is a ceasefire, it would only give Russia time to increase its firepower, manpower, missiles and other arms. Then they would attack Ukraine again, he said.

The meeting in Jeddah offered an opportunity for Kyiv officials to repair Ukraines relationship with the Trump administration after an unprecedented argument erupted during Zelenskyys Feb. 28 visit to the White House.

The Kremlin is sticking to its conditions for peace

The Kremlin has not publicly offered any concessions. Russia has said its ready to cease hostilities on condition that Ukraine drops its bid to join NATO and recognizes regions that Moscow occupies as Russian. Russia has captured nearly a fifth of Ukraines territory.

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Russian forces have held the battlefield momentum for more than a year, though at a high cost in infantry and armor, and are pushing at selected points along the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line, especially in the eastern Donetsk region, against Ukraines understrength and weary army.

Ukraine has invested heavily in developing its arms industry, especially high-tech drones that have reached deep into Russia.

Most of the Ukrainian drones fired overnight  126 of them  were shot down over the Kursk region across the border from Ukraine, parts of which Kyivs forces control, and 91 were shot down over the Moscow region, according to a statement by Russias Defense Ministry.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said over 70 drones targeted the Russian capital and were shot down as they were flying toward it  the biggest single attack on Moscow so far in the war.

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The governor of the Moscow region surrounding the capital, Andrei Vorobyov, said the attack damaged several residential buildings and a number of cars.

Flights were temporarily restricted in and out of six airports, including Domodedovo, Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo and Zhukovsky just outside Moscow, and airports in the Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod regions.

___

Associated Press writers Baraa Anwer in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Hanna Arhirova and Dmytro Zhyhinas in Kyiv, Ukraine; and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this report.

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The United States and Ukraine announced the immediate resumption of military and intelligence aid to Ukraine on Tuesday and that Kiev has agreed to a 30-day ceasefire plan if Moscow is also on board.

The joint announcement came after talks between top Ukrainian and US officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in an effort to stop Russia's more than three-year war against Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not present. Instead, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, and presidential office chief Andrii Yermak were in attendance.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz represented the US, who stopped military aid to Ukraine earlier this month after a spat between US President Donald Trump and Zelensky.

A thawing of relations between the US and Russia had also spooked Europe.

The Jeddah meeting was an attempt at a reset between Kiev and Washington following the disastrous Oval Office meeting between the countries' leaders on February 28.
(Bloomberg) -- Poland will face consequences if it introduces a levy on large technology companies, the incoming US envoy to Warsaw warned, escalating a spat between the two countries.

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The government has no plans to abandon work on the tax, Digitization Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski told Radio Zet on Tuesday, calling the intervention sick. Tom Rose, whom President Donald Trump appointed as the next US ambassador to Poland, called the planned levy not very smart in a post on social media platform X on Monday.

The new tax would hurt relations between the two countries and the US president would reciprocate as well he should, the envoy said.

Gawkowski said the Big Tech levy could bring between 1 billion zloty ($258 million) and 3 billion zloty a year in additional budget revenue. The plan should be ready within months, he said.

Nobody  neither an ambassador, nor a politician, or a big corporate boss  has any right to dictate anything to the Polish government, Gawkowski told Radio Zet, adding that the tax isnt aimed at the US tech sector, but at foreign companies making money in Poland.

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This is sick, he said. This is putting the democracy upside down.

The back-and-forth adds to recent tensions between the government in Warsaw and the Trump administration. On Sunday, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski clashed with Elon Musk on X over Ukraines use of the billionaires Starlink satellite-internet system.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later joined the fray, telling Sikorski that Poland should say thank you because without Starlink Ukraine would have lost this war long ago and Russians would be on the border with Poland right now.

The souring of relations comes after Poland has become a big buyer of US weapons and NATOs biggest defense spender as a percentage of economic output.

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The previous government picked US companies to build Polands first nuclear power plant and the future of the next plant is hanging in balance as France is vying to win the deal.

Last month, the administration of Prime Minister Donald Tusk also unveiled agreements with Alphabet Inc. and Microsoft Corp. to boost their investments in the country.

(Updates with comments from Polish minister starting in the second paragraph.)

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has not ruled out the possibility of informal communication with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Saudi Arabia.

Source: press service for the US Department of State, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Commenting on the possibility of a meeting with Zelenskyy in Jeddah, Rubio said that the Ukrainian president is not part of the negotiations between the Ukrainian and US delegations.

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When asked if informal communication with Zelenskyy was possible, Rubio replied: "Potentially. As I said, his engagements will probably be with the President [Trump] directly, but its possible."

Background:

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry previously noted that the talks between Ukraine and the US in Saudi Arabia would focus on bilateral relations and the path to peace.

On Monday 10 March, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Ukraine would have to make concessions on the territories seized by Russia since 2014 as part of any agreement to end the war.

The Financial Times reported that Ukraine would propose a plan to the US for a temporary ceasefire in the air and at sea, as well as strikes on energy and civilian infrastructure.

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US President Donald Trump announced on 11 March that he would impose a 50% tariff on some Canadian goods in retaliation for the 25% electricity tax levied by the Canadian province of Ontario on the US.

Source: European Pravda, citing Trump on TruthSocial

Details: Trump stated that he had directed his commerce secretary to impose an additional 25% tariff on all steel and aluminium imports from Canada, following Ontario's 25% tariff on electricity entering the US.

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He said the tariff will take effect on 12 March.

"I will shortly be declaring a National Emergency on Electricity within the threatened area. This will allow the US to quickly do what has to be done to alleviate this abusive threat from Canada," the US president said.

He also noted that "if other egregious, long-time Tariffs are not likewise dropped by Canada", he will significantly increase tariffs on cars imported to the US on 2 April, "which will, essentially, permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada".

According to Trump, Canada pays "very little for National Security, relying on the United States for military protection".

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"We are subsidising Canada to the tune of more than 200 Billion Dollars a year. WHY??? This cannot continue. The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty-First State," he said.

According to him, "all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear".

"Canadians taxes will be very substantially reduced, they will be more secure, militarily and otherwise, than ever before, there would no longer be a Northern Border problem, and the greatest and most powerful nation in the World will be bigger, better and stronger than ever  And Canada will be a big part of that," the US president claimed.

Background:

On 4 March, Trump imposed 25% tariffs on most imports from Canada and Mexico.

In response, former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared a 25% tariff on US$155 billion worth of American goods, while the Canadian province of Ontario vowed retaliation to make America "feel the pain".

Eventually Trump suspended the 25% tariffs on a wide range of goods from Canada and Mexico until 2 April.

On 7 March, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a rise in electricity prices for three neighbouring US states as a countermeasure to economic pressure from the Trump administration.

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Washington will submit a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine to Russia and that he hopes Russia will agree to it.

Source: Rubio in a comment to reporters following a meeting in Saudi Arabia on 11 March, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Rubio noted that during the talks, Ukraine supported the US offer to "enter into a ceasefire and into immediate negotiations to end this conflict in a way thats enduring and sustainable and accounts for their interests, their security, their ability to prosper as a nation".

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He added that the US will now pass the proposal on to Russia.

"We hope that they [the Russians] will say yes, that theyll say yes to peace. The ball is now in their court," the secretary of state said.

Rubio also noted that Ukraine had "taken a concrete step" at the meeting and said he hopes Russia will "reciprocate".

Background:

During the talks in Saudi Arabia, Ukraine said it is willing to implement a 30-day ceasefire, provided that Russia also adheres to it.

A joint Ukraine-US statement has also indicated that Washington is lifting its pause in military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

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By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A self-professed member of a Russian organized crime group said on Tuesday he once tried to kill an Iranian-American female journalist and activist, making the admission in testimony at a U.S. trial of two associates.

Khalid Mehdiyev, 27, told jurors he was arrested in July 2022 in his car in Brooklyn, while in possession of an AK-47 rifle and a ski mask.

"I was there to try to kill the journalist," Mehdiyev said in Manhattan federal court.

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Prosecutors say Mehdiyev was hired by the associates Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov to kill Masih Alinejad, a New York-based journalist who left Iran in 2009 and is known for outspoken criticism of the government in Tehran and its treatment of women.

Amirov, 45, and Omarov, 40, have pleaded not guilty to murder for hire and attempted murder in aid of racketeering. They could face decades in prison if convicted.

In his opening statement on Tuesday, federal prosecutor Jacob Gutwillig said Iran's government offered to pay Amirov and Omarov $500,000 to orchestrate Alinejad's murder.

"The defendants were hired guns for the government of Iran," Gutwillig said. "Masih Alinejad was almost gunned down on the streets of New York City by a hitman sent by the defendants."

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Amirov's lawyer, Michael Martin, countered that prosecutors were relying on circumstantial evidence and "the testimony of a murderer and a liar."

Michael Perkins, a lawyer for Omarov, said the evidence would not show his client intended to kill Alinejad.

A representative for Iran's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

On the stand, Mehdiyev testified that he directed murders, kidnappings and extortion plots during a life of crime that began a decade ago in his native Azerbaijan.

He also said he knew the target of the murder plot underlying the case against Amirov and Omarov as "Masih."

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Mehdiyev said he is cooperating with prosecutors after pleading guilty to attempted murder and illegal possession of a firearm, and faces a minimum of 15 years in prison for the attempt on Alinejad's life and separate racketeering charges.

Tehran has called separate allegations that four Iranian intelligence officers sought to kidnap Alinejad in 2021 "baseless."

(Reporting by Luc Cohen; Editing by Sandra Maler)
By Daphne Psaledakis and Pesha Magid

JEDDAH (Reuters) -The United States agreed on Tuesday to resume military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine after Kyiv said it was ready to support Washington's proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia, the countries said in a joint statement.

After more than eight hours of talks with Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. would now take the offer to Russia, and the ball is in Moscow's court.

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"Our hope is that the Russians will answer 'yes' as quickly as possible, so we can get to the second phase of this, which is real negotiations," Rubio told reporters, referring to U.S. President Donald Trump.

The Kremlin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago, and Russia, which has been making advances, now holds around a fifth of Ukraine's territory, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.

Rubio said Washington wanted a full agreement with both Russia and Ukraine "as soon as possible."

"Every day that goes by, this war continues, people die, people are bombed, people are hurt on both sides of this conflict," he said.

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How Moscow would respond was far from certain.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he is open to discussing a peace deal, but he and his diplomats have repeatedly stated they are against a ceasefire and would seek a deal that safeguards Russia's long-term security.

Putin told his Security Council on January 20 that there "should not be a short truce, not some kind of respite for regrouping forces and rearmament with the aim of subsequently continuing the conflict, but a long-term peace."

He has also ruled out territorial concessions and said Ukraine must withdraw fully from four Ukrainian regions claimed and partly controlled by Russia.

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"Any agreements - with all the understanding of the need for compromise - on our terms, not on American," an influential Russian lawmaker said on Wednesday.

The Russian foreign ministry said after the U.S-Ukraine talks on Tuesday only that it did not rule out contacts with U.S. representatives.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who was in Saudi Arabia but did not participate in the talks, said the ceasefire was a "positive proposal," that covers the frontline in the conflict, not just fighting by air and sea.

WILL RUSSIA AGREE?

The Ukrainian leader said the ceasefire would take effect as soon as Russia agreed.

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"When the agreements come into force, during these 30 days of 'silence,' we will have time to prepare with our partners at the level of working documents all the aspects for reliable peace and long-term security," Zelenskiy said.

Rubio said the plan would be delivered to the Russians through multiple channels. Trump's national security adviser, Mike Waltz, was due to meet his Russian counterpart in the coming days and Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff plans to visit Moscow this week to meet Putin.

On Tuesday, Trump said he hoped for a swift ceasefire and thought he would talk to Putin this week. "I hope it'll be over the next few days," he told reporters at a White House event to promote his close adviser Elon Musk's Tesla car company.

The U.S.-Ukraine agreement was a sharp turnaround from an acrimonious White House meeting on February 28 between the new Republican U.S. president, who has long been a Ukraine aid skeptic, and Zelenskiy.

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In Tuesday's joint statement, the two countries said they agreed to conclude as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraines critical mineral resources, which had been in the works and was thrown into limbo by that meeting.

Following that encounter, the United States cut off intelligence sharing and weapons shipments to Ukraine, underlining Trump's willingness to pressure a U.S. ally as he pivots to a more conciliatory approach to Moscow.

Trump said on Tuesday he would invite Zelenskiy back to the White House.

Ukrainian officials said late on Tuesday that both U.S. military assistance and intelligence sharing had resumed.

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EUROPEAN PARTNERS

A top aide to Zelenskiy said options for security guarantees to Ukraine were discussed with U.S. officials. Security guarantees have been one of Kyiv's key aims, and some European countries have expressed willingness to explore sending troops to Ukraine if necessary as part of the guarantees.

In the joint statement, Ukraine reiterated that European partners should be involved in the peace process. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will be at the White House on Thursday.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who took part in the Jeddah talks, said that afterwards he talked to several European foreign ministers "about the outcomes of the milestone meeting."

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On Wednesday, Sybiha travels to Poland, Ukraine's neighbour and a NATO member, that has been a steadfast supporter of Kyiv since the start of the war.

"It seems like the Americans and Ukrainians have taken an important step towards peace. And Europe stands ready to help reach a just and lasting peace," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on X.

Waltz said the initial resumption of military assistance for Ukraine would involve equipment from U.S. stockpiles approved by former U.S. President Joe Biden and stopped by Trump.

As the diplomacy plays out, Ukraine's battlefield positions have been under heavy pressure, particularly in Russia's Kursk region where Moscow's forces have launched a push to flush out Kyiv's troops, which had been trying to hold a patch of land as a bargaining chip.

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Ukraine overnight launched its biggest drone attack on Moscow and the surrounding region yet, showing Kyiv can also land major blows after a steady stream of Russian missile and drone attacks, one of which killed 14 people on Saturday.

The Tuesday attack, in which 337 drones were downed over Russia, killed at least three employees of a meat warehouse and caused a short shutdown at Moscow's four airports.

(Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis and Pesha Magid; Additional reporting by Anastasiia Malenko, Doina Chiacu, Jonathan Landay, Humeyra Pamuk, Steve Holland, Lili Bayer, Lidia Kelly and Yuliia Dysa; Writing by Tom Balmforth and Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Humeyra Pamuk, Cynthia Osterman, Sharon Singleton and Michael Perry)
Top Ukrainian and US officials are set to sit down in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday in an effort to get Russia's war against Ukraine stopped.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will not be there, though he was in the Gulf state on Monday to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Instead Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, presidential office chief Andrii Yermak and his deputy Pavlo Pallisa will represent Ukraine, Zelensky said.

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For the US side, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and special envoy Steve Witkoff, who recently has been working on the Gaza-Israel negotiations, are expected to attend.

The Ukrainians recently supported an initiative by French President Emmanuel Macron in favour of a partial ceasefire on airstrikes and attacks from the sea, which Russia rejected last week. Kiev also wants an exchange of all prisoners with Russia as a first step.

Washington, on the other hand, wants a quick and comprehensive ceasefire followed by elections in Kiev.

Ukraine has been defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion for more than three years with Western support.

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Following a fractious meeting at the Oval Office on February 28, in which US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance castigated Zelensky and called him ungrateful, Washington paused arms deliveries to Ukraine and access to key intelligence information.

Trump has been keen to get a minerals deal signed with Zelensky but the Ukrainian president has demanded security guarantees.
Saudi Arabia is to host talks today between the United States and Ukraine in a new diplomatic push after an argument erupted during President Volodymyr Zelenskyys Feb. 28 visit to the White House.

The oil-rich kingdom may seem like an unusual venue for talks aimed at smoothing over relations after the blowup. But Saudi Arabia under its assertive Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been positioning itself as an ideal location for possible peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow  and even the first face-to-face talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Heres what to know about why this meeting is taking place and Saudi Arabias role:

Why are these talks happening?

U.S. and Ukrainian officials will meet after the Oval Office meeting between Zelenskyy, Trump and U.S. Vice President JD Vance descended into an extraordinary 10-minute argument before journalists.

Trump at one point admonished Zelenskyy by angrily saying: Youre gambling with World War III, and what youre doing is very disrespectful to the country. Zelenskyy ended up leaving the White House without signing a deal that included granting the U.S. access to Ukraines rare earth minerals. Kyiv hoped that deal would ensure the continued flow of U.S. military support that Ukraine urgently needs as it battles Russia in the war that began after Moscows full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Where will these talks take place?

Saudi Arabias Foreign Ministry in a statement on Friday identified the location for the talks as Jeddah, a port city on the Red Sea. Its not clear why the kingdom picked Jeddah as opposed to Riyadh, the Saudi capital where the initial Russia-U.S. talks took place on Feb. 18. However, Jeddah has hosted other diplomatic engagements in the past and is home to royal palaces.

The Foreign Ministry said the kingdom would continue to pursue a lasting peace to end the Ukrainian crisis.

The kingdom has continued these efforts over the past three years by hosting many meetings on this matter, the ministry said.

Who will attend the talks?

Zelenskyy visits Saudi Arabia ahead of the talks. He earlier delayed a trip to the kingdom after traveling to the neighboring United Arab Emirates, which also has been considered as a possible venue for peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow.

Zelenskyy wrote online that a team including his chief of staff Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov traveling with him to Saudi Arabia will take part in the talks. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead the American team for the Ukrainian talks and meet with Prince Mohammed.

Sybiha also spoke on Friday with Rubio ahead of the talks. Sybiha described it as a constructive call.

Trump himself sounded upbeat on Air Force One on Sunday when speaking to journalists.

I think youre gonna have eventually  and maybe not in the distant future  youre gonna have some pretty good results coming out of Saudi Arabia this week, Trump said.

Why are these talks in Saudi Arabia?

Since assuming power in Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed took an aggressive posture both at home and abroad. His public image reached its nadir with the 2018 slaying of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, believed by the United States and others to be at the princes orders.

In the last two years, however, Prince Mohammed instead has reached a detente with Iran, hosted Zelenskyy for an Arab League summit and been involved in negotiations over the wars in Sudan and the Gaza Strip. Riyadh also maintained ties to Russia through the OPEC+ oil cartel while Western nations levied sanctions against it. Thats reasserted the role the kingdom long has perceived itself as having  being the leader of the Sunni Muslim world and a dominant force in the Middle East.

Hosting Russia-U.S. talks, possibly drawing Trump to the kingdom for his first foreign trip in this term through investments and other possible meetings only raise Saudi Arabias profile further as a neutral territory for high-stakes negotiations. Saudi Arabias autocratic government, compliant media and distance from the war also allows for talks to take place in a tightly controlled country with relative privacy.

What does this mean for the war?

Trump remains focused on reaching some kind of peace deal to stop the war. His approach toward Ukraine so far has relied far more on stick than carrot  limiting their access to intelligence and weaponry. While conciliatory toward Putin, Trump recently also threatened new sanctions against Russia over its ceaseless attacks on Ukrainian cities.

If Ukraine and the U.S. reach some sort of understanding acceptable to Trump, that could accelerate his administrations push to talks. However, the rest of Europe remains skeptical as they have been sidelined from the talks. The European Union last week agreed to boost the continents defenses and to free up hundreds of billions of euros for security. MDT/AP
The U.S. and Ukraine will present a joint statement on the talks between the states in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Financial Times (FT) reported on March 11.

The news comes as the Ukraine-U.S. negotiations on a potential ceasefire in the war with Russia, as well as restoring U.S. military aid and intelligence, continue.

The participants also discussed the minerals deal that collapsed on Feb. 28 after a heated argument between President Volodymyr Zelensky, U.S. President Donald Trump, and U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

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The talks are not scheduled to continue for a second day, FT reported.

Ukraine was expected to propose a ceasefire at sea and in the sky and a ban on long-range strikes during the talks with the U.S., according to Suspilne. The official told the media outlet that such a ceasefire would be "easy to install and to monitor."

The Ukrainian delegation includes Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and Zelensky's Deputy Chief of Staff Pavlo Palisa.

The U.S. delegation is led by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

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Read also: Investigation: We tried to buy American chips as a Russian defense manufacturer  and it worked

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(NewsNation)  Officials from Ukraine and the United States have gathered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to discuss diplomatic cooperation and a potential limited ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war, according to officials.

The talks come just hours after Russian air defenses shot down more than 300 Ukrainian drones in what appears to be the nations largest-ever attack on Russia. Moscow has since retaliated, launching more than 100 drones and a ballistic missile at Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials told the Associated Press on Monday that they will propose a ceasefire covering the Black Sea  which would bring safer shipping  as well as long-range missile strikes that have hit civilians in Ukraine and the release of prisoners.

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The Kremlin has not publicly offered any concessions. Russia has said it is ready to cease hostilities on the condition that Ukraine drops its bid to join NATO and recognizes regions that Moscow occupies as Russian.

President Donald Trumps envoy to the Middle East is scheduled to visit Moscow later this week for a potential meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to NewsNation.

Frontlines with Robert Sherman: Aboard Air Force One for NewsNation

The meeting in Saudi Arabia marks the first time the allied diplomats are sitting down face-to-face after an explosive Oval Office meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Feb. 28 left a rare minerals deal unsigned and international tensions on the rise.

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Trump over the weekend was hopeful about the big meetings in Saudi Arabia, telling reporters on Air Force One: A lot of people died this week, as you know, in Ukraine, not only Ukrainians, but Russians. So I think everybody wants to see it get done. Were going to make a lot of progress, I believe, this week.

The two senior Ukrainian officials said Kyiv is also ready to sign an agreement with the U.S. on access to Ukraines rare earth minerals  a deal that Trump is keen to secure.

Ukraine carries out massive drone attack on Russia

Russian officials said overnight its air defenses shot down 337 Ukrainian drones over 10 Russian regions, killing at least three people and injuring another 18. At least three of the injured were children.

Meanwhile, Russia launched more than 120 drones and a ballistic missile at Ukraine on Tuesday, according to the Ukrainian air force said.

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Ukrainian and U.S. officials have not yet commented on the attacks.

Ukraine on its way to negotiated surrender because of Trump: Bolton

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz and other top officials will represent the U.S. at the meetings in Saudi Arabia.

Rubio has previously emphasized there is no military solution to the war, while Waltz has joined a growing chorus of Republicans who suggested Ukraine might be better off finding a new leader altogether.

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.
By John Irish and Daphne Psaledakis

MONTREAL/JEDDAH (Reuters) - The U.S. opposes language that could harm its efforts to bring Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday, as Washington wrangled with G7 allies ahead of a meeting this week, further alarming them.

The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven major democracies - Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States - will meet in the river resort of La Malbaie, Quebec on March 12-14 for the first time since President Donald Trump returned to power in January.

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While the G7 meetings have been consensual since Russia's membership was suspended in March 2014 in response to its annexation of Crimea, underscoring their steadfast backing for Ukraine, Trump has upended Western unity by drawing the U.S. closer to Moscow while heaping criticism on Kyiv.

According to four G7 diplomats, Canada had initially hoped the seven would agree on an overall statement ranging from the war in Ukraine to the Middle East and China and a second declaration that would outline the G7's efforts to curb Russia's so-called shadow fleet.

Shadow fleet refers to vessels used by Russia to move oil, arms and grains around in violation of international sanctions imposed on it over the Ukraine war. The vessels are not regulated or insured by conventional Western providers.

Almost two pages out of eight in the last G7 statement in November were focused entirely on Ukraine, mostly taking aim at Russia.

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However, the diplomats said agreement on the full communique this time was proving very difficult, with some fearing that a compromise may not be found.

Two diplomats said the United States was seeking to remove references to sanctions and Russia's war in Ukraine, while demanding tougher language on China.

Speaking to reporters en route to Saudi Arabia for talks with Ukrainian officials, Rubio said there are always sticking points, adding that Washington cannot sign off on anything that could impede bringing Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table.

"We feel like antagonistic language sometimes makes it harder to bring parties to the table, especially since we're the only ones right now that seem to be in a position to make talks like that possible," he said.

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He said he was "certain" they would eventually arrive at a document that was meaningful and unifying without "undermining our ability to bring both sides to the table."

Three diplomats said the United States also opposed a separate statement on Russia's shadow fleet.

Washington has already broken with allies at the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation at the end of February, refusing to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"The best case scenario is two statements. Plan B is one statement. But the Americans are blocking the maritime statement, so it's not easy. Even what the Canadians thought was going to be easy is not in fact easy," said one G7 diplomat.

The diplomats cautioned that talks were still ongoing to try to find a compromise.

(Writing by John Irish; Editing by Richard Chang)
The United States and Ukraine are calling for a 30-day ceasefire, subject to the acceptance of Russia, following talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

The U.S. will also "immediately lift" its pause on intelligence sharing and "resume security assistance to Ukraine," the countries said in a joint statement.

The U.S. and Ukraine "took important steps toward restoring durable peace for Ukraine," the statement said.

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"Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the U.S. proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, and which is subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation," the statement said. "The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace."

PHOTO: Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz meet with the Head of the Presidential Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Mar. 11, 2025. (Andriy Yermak-Telegram/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

MORE: US 'just about' ready to lift Ukraine intel freeze, Trump says ahead of Saudi meet

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who led the U.S. delegation in Jeddah, said the ceasefire proposal will be delivered to Russia "directly through multiple channels."

"The offer is to stop the shooting. The goal here is, the only way out to end this war is to negotiate out of it. There's no military solution to this war," Rubio said during remarks to reporters in Jeddah following the talks. "Before you can negotiate, you have to stop shooting at each other. And that's what [President Donald Trump] has wanted to see, and that's the commitment we got today from the Ukrainian side, their willingness to do that, obviously."

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"Our hope is that the Russians will say yes," Rubio added, saying, "The ball is now in their court."

If Russia does say no, "then we'll unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here," he said.

During remarks during a press briefing on Tuesday, Trump said he thinks he will talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin this week about the deal.

"It takes two to tango, as they say, right. So hopefully, he'll also agree. And I really think that would be 75% of the way. The rest is getting it documented and negotiating land positions," Trump said.

Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, is expected to travel to Moscow "in the coming days," according to a source familiar with the plans. It's possible Witkoff meets with Putin, per the source familiar, who also cautioned that nothing is set in stone.

PHOTO: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meets with Saudi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Royal Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Mar, 10, 2025. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine "accepts this proposal and considers it a positive step."

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"We are ready to take this step, and the United States must now convince Russia to do the same," he said in a statement. "If Russia agrees, the ceasefire will take effect immediately."

"Ukraine is ready for peace. Now, Russia must decide whether it is ready to end or continue the war. It is time for complete honesty," he added.

Andriy Yermak -- head of the Ukrainian delegation in Saudi Arabia -- said in a statement following the talks, "Protecting Ukraine's interests is our top priority. A just peace is key for us. We want peace. Thank you for a constructive meeting."

Following the talks, Russian Foreign Minister Maria Zakharova told the state-run TASS news agency that Russia does not rule out contacts with U.S. representatives in the next few days.

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"Russia is interested in a settlement in Ukraine but will not allow itself to be deceived," a lawmaker who represents Crimea in Moscow, Mikhail Sheremet, told TASS.

American and Ukrainian officials met in Jeddah for over eight hours with the goal of charting a course toward ending Russia's three-year-old war -- and after weeks of fraying ties between Presidents Trump and Zelenskyy.

The two sides framed Tuesday's talks as a way to reset bilateral relations following last month's explosive Oval Office meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy and Vice President JD Vance. The showdown prompted Trump to denounce Kyiv as the main impediment to peace in Ukraine, as well as placing a freeze on U.S. military aid and some intelligence sharing.

"The most important thing that we have to leave here with is a strong sense that Ukraine is prepared to do difficult things," Rubio said on Monday ahead of the talks.

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Zelenskyy has stressed his readiness for peace, though he has repeatedly warned that any agreement must ensure deterrence against future Russian aggression. On Monday, Zelenskyy -- who did not take part in Tuesday's talks -- traveled to Saudi Arabia to meet with Crown Prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman.

PHOTO: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security advisor Mike Waltz, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Ukrainian presidential office head Andriy Yermak and Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov meet in Jeddah on March 11, 2025. (Saul Loeb/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Zelenskyy said he had a "detailed discussion" with Salman on "the steps and conditions needed to end the war and secure a reliable and lasting peace," in a social media post after the two leaders met.

"I specifically emphasized the issue of the release of prisoners and the return of our children, which could become a key step in building trust in diplomatic efforts. A significant part of the discussion was dedicated to the formats of security guarantees," Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy said a Ukrainian delegation will "remain" in the country to "work with the U.S. team" on Tuesday. Zelenskyy said he hopes for "practical outcomes" from the U.S.-Ukraine meeting. "Ukraine's position in these talks will be fully constructive," he had said ahead of Tuesday's talks.

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The U.S. delegation was led by Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz and Witkoff.

PHOTO: Flags of Saudi Arabia and Ukraine line the King Abdulaziz Road in the Saudi Red Sea port city of Jeddah ahead of a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mar. 10, 2025. (Amer Hilabi/AFP via Getty Images)

MORE: Moscow attacked by 'massive' drone barrage ahead of US-Ukraine talks

Ukraine's negotiating group included Yermak -- the head of Zelenskyy's office -- Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Deputy Chief of Staff Pavlo Palisa.

"The team is on site," Yermak wrote on Telegram on Tuesday morning. "Getting ready to work. Protecting Ukrainian interests, a clear vision of ending the war, we will work effectively with our American partners."

Trump's administration is pushing Kyiv to make concessions in pursuit of a peace deal to end Russia's invasion. The White House also wants Ukraine to sign off on a controversial minerals sharing agreement Trump has framed as a way to recoup tens of billions of U.S. aid sent to Ukraine since 2022.

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Rubio has said the Russians "are going to have to do difficult things" too, though Trump and his top officials have not said what concessions Moscow may be asked to make. U.S. and Russian negotiators first met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last month.

Ahead of the talks on Tuesday, a source close to Zelenskyy confirmed to ABC News that Ukraine was going to propose a partial ceasefire that would apply to long-range air strikes and attacks at sea.

"We want to propose a partial ceasefire that can be monitored and then see how the Russians respond to determine the next steps," the source added.

PHOTO: Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with the media on his military airplane as he flies to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Mar. 10, 2025. (Saul Loeb/Pool via Reuters)

MORE: Ukraine under severe pressure in Russias Kursk region

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Rubio said on Tuesday that the minerals deal with Ukraine "was not the subject of our talks today," but that Trump and Zelenskyy will work "to bring to finality the signature of the deal."

The joint statement on the talks released by the U.S. and Ukraine noted that "both countries' presidents agreed to conclude as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraine's critical mineral resources to expand Ukraine's economy and guarantee Ukraine's long-term prosperity and security."

The talks began hours after Ukraine launched its largest drone attack of the war into Russia. Russian authorities said defense forces downed 337 drones overnight into Tuesday, including 91 over Moscow. At least two people were killed and eight injured in the capital, Gov. Andrei Vorobyov said.

Asked Tuesday morning if the Ukrainian strikes were intended to disrupt nascent ceasefire talks, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told journalists, "There are no negotiations yet. So far the Americans, in their own words, are trying to understand how ready Ukraine is for peace talks. There are no negotiations yet, so there is nothing to disrupt here yet."

PHOTO: Specialists work on the facade of a damaged apartment building following a drone attack in Moscow on March 11, 2025. (Tatyana Makeyeva/AFP via Getty Images)

ABC News' Nataliia Popova, Ellie Kaufman, Oleskiy Pshemyskiy, Michelle Stoddart, Justin Fishel and Will Gretsky contributed to this report.

US and Ukraine call for 30-day ceasefire following Saudi talks originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A senior official with the embattled United States Agency for International Development sent an email Tuesday to remaining bureau leaders with guidance on "clearing our classified safes and personnel documents" at the aid agency's Washington, D.C., headquarters, according to a copy of the email obtained by ABC News.

The message urged officials to "shred as many documents first" and to "reserve the burn bags for when the shredder becomes unavailable or needs a break," according to the email, sent by Erica Carr, the acting executive secretary.

"The only labeling required on the burn bags are the words 'SECRET' and 'USAID/(B/IO)' in dark sharpie, if possible," the email said.

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MORE: 'Radical change': Inside Trump's State Department takeover of USAID

It was not immediately clear why the message was sent, but some current and former USAID officials speculated that it has to do with clearing out office space that is expected to be taken over by Customs and Border Patrol, as Elon Musk, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, announced on X last month.

Musk, who last month said, without evidence, that "USAID is a criminal organization. Time for it to die," has been overseeing the dismantling of the agency.

Proponents of the aid organization said it serves as a crucial partner in combatting deadly disease, famine, and humanitarian relief in some of the poorest parts of the world. The Trump administration has laid off thousands of workers and ordered a spending freeze on programs and grants across the globe

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A person familiar with USAID's work said that "specialized shredding and burn bags are standard procedures to destroy classified printouts and notes." But the person added that this seems to be a "shoddy process" that might run afoul of the Federal Records Act, which dictates that federal agencies must consult the national archivist before destroying documents.

PHOTO: Tributes are placed beneath the covered seal of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) at their headquarters in Washington, DC, on Feb. 7, 2025. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

It also remains unclear whether those ordered to destroy these records have the appropriate clearance to review them before determining whether they should be disposed.

"The event will take place all day" on Tuesday, the email read.

The directive to destroy classified records came a day after Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced plans to cancel 83% of USAID programs and move the remaining work to "be administered more effectively under the State Department."

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Representatives from DOGE, the State Department and USAID did not respond to requests for comment from ABC News.

As news reports about the directive emerged Tuesday, the American Federation of Government Employees, a union that is suing the Trump administration over its cuts to the federal workforce, asked a federal judge to intervene and prevent the agency from "destroying documents with potential pertinence to this litigation."

"This directive suggests a rapid destruction of agency records on a large scale that could not plausibly involve a reasoned assessment of the records retention obligations for the relevant documents under the [Federal Records Act] or in relation to this ongoing litigation," the motion read.

As USAID clears out, official directs employees to use shredders, burn bags on documents originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
By Brendan Pierson

(Reuters) -An official at the U.S. Agency for International Development has ordered employees to shred a large volume of records, according to a court filing on Tuesday by government employee unions asking a judge to block the move.

In a motion filed in Washington, D.C., federal court, the unions cited an email from USAID's acting executive secretary Erica Carr instructing employees to come to the agency's office on Tuesday for "clearing classified safes and personnel documents."

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"Shred as many documents first, and reserve the burn bags for when the shredder becomes unavailable or needs a break," Carr wrote in the email, which was included in the filing. The email did not give details about what documents were to be shredded.

The unions said the directive "suggests a rapid destruction of agency records on a large scale" that both violates federal record-keeping law and could destroy evidence in their case, which seeks to undo the dismantling of USAID under President Donald Trump.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly on X called reports of the shredding "fake news hysteria" and wrote that the documents were "old, mostly courtesy content (content from other agencies), and the originals still exist on classified computer systems."

Kelly also wrote that the USAID building would soon be occupied by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

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The lawsuit was brought by the American Federation of Government Employees and American Foreign Service Association, which represent government employees, as well as by anti-poverty organization Oxfam America. They allege that Trump overstepped his authority in largely shuttering an independent agency established by Congress by firing or putting on leave its employees and cancelling its agreements with third-party partners.

The plaintiffs on Tuesday asked U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols for a temporary restraining order blocking the destruction of records. They said that if they eventually prevail in the case, the loss of vital personnel or other records could prevent USAID from resuming its operations.

In response to Tuesday's motion, the judge ordered both sides to submit a status report by Wednesday morning proposing a schedule for briefs on the motion and noting any disagreements between them.

Nichols, a Trump appointee, last month allowed the administration to go forward with its plan to put more than 2,000 USAID employees on leave. Under Trump, the foreign aid agency has scrapped more than 80% of its programs and fired much of its staff.

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In a separate lawsuit brought by USAID contractors and grant recipients, a federal judge on Monday ruled that the Trump administration cannot refuse to spend foreign aid money appropriated by Congress, although the judge stopped short of restoring canceled contracts. In that case, the Trump administration has repeatedly resisted complying with court orders to release frozen funds.

(Reporting by Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Stephen Coates)
Vaughn Hillyard, NBC News Correspondent joins Nicolle Wallace on Deadline White House with reaction to the breaking news that the Department of Education has mandated all employees out of headquarters by 6pm today, citing security concerns. Along with news that USAID is now instructing staff to shred or burn all classified documents.
A senior official at USAID instructed a number of the agencys remaining staff to convene at the agencys now-former headquarters in Washington on Tuesday for an all day group effort to destroy documents stored there, many of which contain sensitive information.

The materials earmarked for destruction include contents of the agencys classified safes and personnel documents at the Ronald Reagan Building, said an email sent by USAIDs acting executive director, Erica Carr, and obtained by POLITICO.

Shred as many documents first, and reserve the burn bags for when the shredder becomes unavailable or needs a break, the email said. Carr instructed staff to label the burn bags with the words SECRET and USAID/B/IO/ (agency shorthand for bureau or independent office) in dark Sharpie.

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The email didnt provide any reason for the document destruction. The building is being emptied out after mass layoffs, which may have disrupted routine document destruction timetables. Customs and Border Protection is planning to move into the USAID facility, having rented 390,000 square feet of office space in the building last month.

The effort also underscores the tumultuous way in which the Trump administration is dismantling an agency that once managed a $40 billion annual budget and had more than 10,000 staff around the world.



Efforts by Musks Department of Government Efficiency last month to access secure computer systems at USAID  including information about employees security clearances  triggered an uproar at the agency that prompted the administration to place two of the agencys security staff on administrative leave. A DOGE spokesperson subsequently said that there was no improper access to classified material.

The document purge raised questions about whether any of the materials should be archived or otherwise retained for legal and historical reasons.

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Anna Kelly, a spokesperson for the White House, downplayed such concerns in a social media post late Tuesday.

"This was sent to roughly three dozen employees," Kelly wrote. "The documents involved were old, mostly courtesy content (content from other agencies), and the originals still exist on classified computer systems. More fake news hysteria!"

A former USAID staffer confirmed the veracity of the email and described the destruction of agency documents as unprecedented.

Ive never seen something like this  en masse. Everyone with a safe is supposed to keep it up to date and destroy documents when they no longer need to be stored. Sometimes security will check your safe and tell you if you have to clean out old material, said the former staffer, who was granted anonymity due to fear of possible reprisals by the Trump administration.

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USAID has been at the epicenter of Trump and tech mogul Elon Musks visions of a smaller federal workforce. Most of USAIDs personnel have been laid off or placed on administrative leave. USAID staffers are battling the changes in courts, with mixed results.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced this week that more than 80 percent of USAIDs programs have been canceled, and the remaining ones will be administered by the State Department.
On Friday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins bragged on social media platform X about the cancellation of a $600,000 grant for Southern University in Louisiana, touting that her department had revoked funds for a study into menstrual cycles in transgender men. The only problem? According to the departments website, thats not what the grant was intended for.

According to reporting from CBS News, citing the projects publicly filed documentation posted on the USDA website, the goal of the study, titled Farm to Feminine Hygiene, was to examine the potential health risks posed by synthetic feminine hygiene products and to develop alternatives using natural materials.

In her social media post, Rollins thanked the American Principles Project for the tip. The conservative think tank flagged the grant as part of its database of federal spending on what they call the Gender Industrial Complex.

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Critics pointed to a single sentence in the grant document that referenced transgender men and people with masculine gender identities, intersex and non-binary persons. In a statement to CBS News, a USDA spokesperson said the grant was revoked because it prioritized women identifying as men who might menstruate.

This mission certainly does not align with the priorities and policies of the Trump Administration, which maintains that there are two sexes: male and female, the spokesperson said.

But, as a statement from Southern Universitys Agriculture and Research Center made clear, The term transgender men was only used once to state that this project, through the development of safer and healthier [feminine hygiene products], would benefit all biological women.

Throughout the grant document, the authors made repeated references to women and young girls, including explicitly stating that one of the studys major objectives was to educate young women and adolescent girls about menstrual hygiene management through an extension outreach program.

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Southern University is a public, historically Black land-grant institution located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As part of the project, researchers planned to establish the first fiber processing center in the state, according to Dr. Samii Kennedy Benson, who oversaw the program. In July, she told Louisiana First News the center would be especially beneficial for local farmers who often grow fibers on a smaller scale.

USDAs decision to revoke the grant is part of a much wider effort within President Donald Trumps administration to slash government spending, often with little consideration for the actual consequences of those cuts. USDA also recently cut more than $1 billion in funding for programs that help schools and food banks purchase food from local farmers and has fired nearly 10% of the United States Forest Service workforce ahead of wildfire season.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
The Trump administration will cut $1.1 billion in funding for food banks and free school lunches, officials confirmed Monday.

U.S. Department of Agriculture leaders notified state officials of the cuts on Friday, according to Politico. The programs had funded schools and food banks to purchase food from local farmers and other nearby sources.

The USDA was set to give $660 million to schools and $500 million to food banks, The Hill reported. The programs were withdrawn because they no longer effectuate the goals of the agency, a USDA spokesperson said.

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One of President Donald Trumps main goals in his first two months in charge has been dismantling large swaths of the federal government. Elon Musk and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency have taken lead roles in the massive cuts, including firing tens of thousands of government workers.

The USDA programs were instituted in 2021 by then-President Joe Bidens administration. They were designed to help local food banks and schools purchase food from nearby farmers and suppliers.

This program will strengthen the food system for schools and childcare institutions by helping to build a fair, competitive and resilient local food chain, reads a statement still on the USDA website for the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program as of Tuesday.

More than 40 states signed up to participate in the programs during Bidens administration. Several Republican-led states  including Utah, Iowa, South Carolina and Mississippi  praised the federal funding.

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The Utah State Board of Education is excited to expand markets for our states farmers and offer more nutritious, locally-produced foods to our students, state superintendent Sydnee Dickson said in December 2022.

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Photo by Amanda Mills/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is cancelling roughly $1 billion in already-promised spending on local food purchases for schools and food banks nationwide, Politico reported this week.

The Local Food for Schools program provides funding for states to purchase food from local farmers and distribute it to schools and child care programs. A similar initiative, the Local Food Purchase Assistance program, buys and distributes locally-produced food to in-state food banks.

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For fiscal year 2025, Minnesota had been awarded roughly $13.3 million to purchase food for schools, and an additional $4.7 million to cover products for food banks. Those funds will no longer be distributed.

DFL lawmakers characterized the cuts as catastrophic.

The Farm to School program has helped our students receive fresh and nutritious locally sourced food while providing additional revenue streams for our farmers, a win-win for Minnesota, said Senator Heather Gustafson (DFL-Vadnais Heights), who authored legislation to put farm food in local schools. Demand for Farm to School funds has always exceeded what we can afford, while the overall impact on the federal budget is very small. Cutting this funding is not cutting waste, its only hurting our food supply.

The programs were initiated under the Biden administration as a way to help farmers, schools and food banks weather the supply chain disruptions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Minnesota was the first state to be awarded an LFS grant in 2022. More Minnesota schools will have access to reimbursement grants to support local purchasing, which will strengthen our states local and regional markets, support small and emerging farmers, and ensure our kids are eating the freshest, most nutritious food our state can offer, said Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen at the time.

USDA data shows that more than 100 Minnesota farmers and food producers participated in the LFPA program. Those producers will now have to find other markets for their products.

The $13 million reduction in local school food spending is about 5% of what the state spends on school meals annually, which could complicate lawmakers ongoing efforts to pass a budget to fund state government for the next two years.

Compounding the effect of the USDA cuts are efforts by Republican lawmakers in Congress to slash school meal funding to help pay for $4.6 trillion in federal tax cuts that primarily benefit the wealthy.

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Congress needs to invest in underfunded school meal programs rather than cut services critical to student achievement and health, said Shannon Gleave, president of the School Nutrition Association, in a statement. These proposals would cause millions of children to lose access to free school meals at a time when working families are struggling with rising food costs.

This story has been updated.
The Agriculture Department has axed two programs that gave schools and food banks money to buy food from local farms and ranchers, halting more than $1 billion in federal spending.

Roughly $660 million that schools and child care facilities were counting on to purchase food from nearby farms through the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program in 2025 has been canceled, according to the School Nutrition Association.

State officials were notified Friday of USDAs decision to end the LFS program for this year. More than 40 states had signed agreements to participate in previous years, according to SNA and several state agencies.

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The Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, which supports food banks and other feeding organizations, has also been cut. USDA notified states that it was unfreezing funds for existing LFPA agreements but did not plan to carry out a second round of funding for fiscal year 2025.

In a statement, a USDA spokesperson confirmed that funding, previously announced last October, is no longer available and those agreements will be terminated following 60-day notification.

The spokesperson added: These programs, created under the former Administration via Executive authority, no longer effectuate the goals of the agency. LFPA and LFPA Plus agreements that were in place prior to LFPA 25, which still have substantial financial resources remaining, will continue to be in effect for the remainder of the period of performance.

The Biden administration expanded the spending for both programs to build a more resilient food supply chain that didnt just rely on major food companies. Last year, USDA announced more than $1 billion in additional funding for the programs through the Commodity Credit Corporation, a New Deal-era USDA fund for buying agricultural commodities.

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The Trump administrations move to halt the programs comes as school nutrition officials are becoming increasingly anxious about affording healthy food with the current federal reimbursement rate for meals. As food costs have risen in the last few years, more people are turning to food banks and other feeding organizations to supplement their increased grocery bills.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, a Democrat, castigated the administration for the decision, noting that her state would lose $12 million it planned to dole out to school districts.

Donald Trump and Elon Musk have declared that feeding children and supporting local farmers are no longer priorities, and its just the latest terrible cut with real impact on families across Massachusetts, Healey said in a statement.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says it has nixed more than $1 billion in funding for local food banks and schools by terminating two programs that aid state, tribal and territorial government food purchases.

The buy-local programs support the purchase and distribution of goods produced within the state or within 400 miles of the delivery destination.

The move comes amid broader efforts by the Trump administration to reduce the size and scope of the federal government, including some cuts to programs that critics say are mandated by law.

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The Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program have been canceled because they no longer effectuate the goals of the agency, the USDA said in a statement to The Hill.

The first program was set to funnel about $660 million in 2025 to purchase produce from local farms for schools and child care facilities, while the latter program would have allocated $500 million this year to food banks.

With research showing school meals are the healthiest meals Americans eat, Congress needs to invest in underfunded school meal programs rather than cut services critical to student achievement and health, Shannon Gleave, School Nutrition Association (SNA) president, said in a statement.

The organization lobbied against additional cuts for school meal programs at the Capitol on Tuesday, citing a number of reductions listed in House Republicans budget reconciliation package.

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The GOP resolution would require income verification to accompany every free and reduced-price school meal application, ending broad-based categorical eligibility that allows families enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to be automatically approved for free school meals without completing another application.

It also raises the threshold for the Community Eligibility Provision, which allows schools to provide free meals to all students, demanding that 60 percent of the schools students qualify for the provision on their own for the school to make the cut, up from the current 25 percent.

The SNA said that change would take free meals away from 12 million U.S. students.

These proposals would cause millions of children to lose access to free school meals at a time when working families are struggling with rising food costs, Gleave said.

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Meanwhile, short-staffed school nutrition teams, striving to improve menus and expand scratch-cooking, would be saddled with time-consuming and costly paperwork created by new government inefficiencies, she added.

Democratic governors are also objecting to the cuts, saying they will impact students and farmers alike.

Cutting funds for these programs is a slap in the face to Illinois farmers and the communities they feed, Gov. JB Pritzker said.

The Trump Administrations refusal to release grant funds doesnt just hurt farmers in the program, it devastates our most vulnerable, food-insecure communities relying on meat, fresh produce and other nutritious donations.

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Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) spoke out against the new measure citing the $7.1 million partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and State of Georgia launched in 2023 to purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables for schools across the state.

This will hurt Georgia kids and Georgia farmers. We should support our schools providing kids with fresh, nutritious food grown locally by Georgia farmers. Its a win-win for childhood nutrition and Georgia agriculture, Ossoff said in a Tuesday statement.

I urge the Trump Administration to reverse course.

Updated at 1:54 pm ET.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) The University of South Florida announced the new Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing.

The college is set to open in the fall of 2025 and will increase access to AI/cyber education.

The college is something leaders said will make the University and Tampa Bay a leader.

We are looking to form partnerships nationwide and beyond, this college changes everything, said USF President, Rhea Law.

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The Bellini Family donated $40 million to make this college a reality.

Arnie Bellinis wife went to USF and he has made a career in technology and started the well-known cybersecurity firm, ConnectWise.

He said artificial intelligence is something that everyone in the world should use. The technology is just getting started, but in the wrong hands, he said it can be used to harm our country.

Bellini said the past 40 years have been spent digitizing everything and it is an unlimited amount of data that can be stolen, so, it needs to be secured.

Were investing in the next generation of innovators, in Americas security, and in our competitive edge in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. This is how we keep America strong, not by waiting but by leading, he said. The Bellini College of AI, Cybersecurity and Computing is the final piece that transforms Tampa Bay into the epicenter of cybersecurity innovation.

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Leaders said this college will help increase access to AI and cyber education, as well as fill needs in the workplace.

In the United States of America, the Federal Bureau of Investigations estimates that we have 700,000 unfulfilled job openings for cybersecurity professionals. So, this is an opportunity to create immense prosperity and a great career path for all the students to graduate from here, Bellini said.

According to USF, their new college will offer:

Undergraduate and graduate degree programs that fuse AI and cybersecurity into real-world applications.

AI-driven research to develop next-generation cybersecurity solutions.

Strategic partnerships with government agencies, defense contractors, and Fortune 500 companies.

A focus on ethical AI implementation and responsible digital governance.

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The new AI program will open doors for the students that walk through them and is something leaders said will give limitless options.

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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  The University of South Florida and the University of Tampa are among 60 universities across the U.S. being investigated for alleged antisemitism on their campuses.

This comes as the Trump administration cracks down on pro-Palestinian protesters on college campuses, including the high-profile arrest of a protester at Columbia University, which the president promised would be the first of many to come.

Bags fly free no more: Southwest Airlines to end free checked luggage policy

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In a news release Monday, the U.S. Department of Education said its Office for Civil Rights sent letters to the institutions warning them of potential enforcement actions if they do not fulfill their obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to protect Jewish students on campus, including uninterrupted access to campus facilities and educational opportunities.

The enforcement actions could include withholding federal grants. The department announced last week the cancelation of $400 million in grants and contracts to Columbia University due to the schools continued inaction to protect Jewish students from discrimination.

The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement. U.S. colleges and universities benefit from enormous public investments funded by U.S. taxpayers. That support is a privilege and it is contingent on scrupulous adherence to federal antidiscrimination laws.

Students of at least 84 colleges held protests last year amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Pro-Israel organizations and political figures criticized the protests as pro-Hamas and antisemitic, and reported Jewish students feeling unsafe on campuses as a result. According to NBC News, over 3,000 people were arrested, including over 220 at Columbia.

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10 people were arrested as police deployed tear gas on students at one USF protest last April. When reached by WFLA, a spokesperson provided a copy of the letter sent to university president Rhea Law on Monday.

The University of South Florida strives to provide an environment free from discrimination or harassment on any basis, including religious beliefs, a USF spokesperson said in a statement. As we have reaffirmed numerous times, antisemitism has no place in our society and will not be tolerated on our campuses. 

The USF spokesperson noted that the university updated its discrimination and harassment policy last year to prohibit antisemitism and changed its policy on events to avoid disruptions to the learning environment and campus operations. USF is also participating in Hillel Internationals Campus Climate Initiative, a program for higher education administrators designed to address antisemitism on campuses.

The University of Tampa confirmed in a statement that it received the Department of Education letter.

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It stems from an Office of Civil Rights (OCR) review of the University that was in response to a complaint about an incident that occurred in September 2023 between two students. The incident was resolved through the student conduct process. The University has fully complied with the OCR review to date, the statement read. UTampa is committed to being an inclusive learning community, and condemns any form of discrimination, racism or any other form of hate.

Floridas Council on American-Islamic Relations Deputy Executive Director Hiba Rahim said, her concerns revolve around the right to free speech.

Its a constitutional right that we enjoy as Americans, but suddenly there are boundaries to this first amendment right, she said. Suddenly, you cant criticize a foreign government like Israel, and thats hugely problematic because that violates the essence of our constitution.

Department of Education Sec. Linda McMahon told CNBC she agrees that every American has the right to free speech, but she said her department is reacting to violence.

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Peaceful protests, no one is arguing that that is not a right, she said. The first amendment right clearly should be on campus.

Campuses and universities should be about open debate and discussion, McMahon continued What they should not be about is violence, attacking other students, attacking faculty.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  The Utah Attorney Generals office announced charges against 11 people on Monday, accusing them of forgery during the signature-gathering process for Utah candidates.

The Justice Division of the AGs office filed forgery and forgery-related charges in 11 cases, accusing professional signature gatherers  all of whom were independent contractors working on behalf of the company Gather  of forging signatures during the gathering process.

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The companys contractors gathered signatures for several candidates  most notably for Gov. Spencer Cox, Congressman Blake Moore, former senate candidate Brad Wilson, along with state Sen. Don Ipson and other local candidates, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation.

The investigation centered on signatures gathered in southern Utah to get candidates on the ballot. However, the signatures that were allegedly forged were not counted in campaign totals toward any candidates, officials clarified.

Tanner Leatham, the owner of the signature-gathering company Gather, told ABC.com that hundreds of contractors work with the company during an election cycle.

When asked whether Gov. Cox received enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot, Leatham said, One hundred percent, he got enough. There are thousands of signatures that we collected that never even needed to be counted because he had so many.

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Gov. Coxs campaign manager, Matt Lusty, provided a statement to ABC4.com on behalf of the Cox campaign.

The total number of signatures submitted by the Cox campaign far exceeded the state requirement of 28,000. In the verification process, some signatures were disqualified by the Davis County Clerk for various reasons including signature verification, the statement reads.

Lusty continued: The Attorney Generals office should be applauded for its actions today, and those employed by this company or any other that engaged in this behavior should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Charging documents allege that between Jan. 1, 2024, and March 10, 2024, one of the defendants  named Benson Tohikoula Angilau  collected 2,243 voter names and signatures, but only 84 signatures were deemed valid.

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A couple signatures were illegible, and 11 signatures were from unregistered residents, the documents shared by the AGs office claim. The remaining signatures, 2,146, did not match the signature on file with election officials.

Another defendant, Axel John-Anthony Burt, is accused of turning in seven packets with six signatures where their names had been signed by a spouse of the opposite sex or a parent, the complaint reads.

We give them all the tools to do it properly, and to make a difference, and if they choose to do something dishonest, we hate it, and we do everything we can to prevent that, Leatham told ABC4.com.

The people facing charges are included below:

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Benson Tohikoula Angilau Nine counts of forgery (third-degree felonies) One count of communications fraud (third-degree felony)

Axel John-Anthony Burt Six counts of violation of certificate of nomination procedures (class A misdemeanors)

Colton Louis Drake Two counts of forgery (third-degree felonies) Eight counts of violation of certificate of nomination procedures (class A misdemeanor)

Robert Randall Edwards Five counts of forgery (third-degree felonies)

Rocko John Huntsman Eight counts of forgery (third-degree felonies) One count of violation of certificate of nomination procedures (class A misdemeanor) One count of communications fraud (class A misdemeanor)

Kevin W. Jeong Four counts of forgery (third-degree felonies) One count of violation of certificate of nomination procedures (class A misdemeanor)

Sakura Jordan (Sakaria Lynn Hunnicutt) Six counts of forgery (third-degree felonies)

Phyllif D. Karpeh Seven counts of forgery (third-degree felonies)

Arkemi Robinson Ten counts of forgery (third-degree felonies)

Joseph Elias Wilde Four counts of violation of certificate of nomination procedures (class A misdemeanor)

Denton Williams Eight counts of forgery (third-degree felonies)



The full statement from the Cox campaign is included below:

During the 2024 election, the Cox for Governor campaign engaged a signature gathering company to help support its volunteer signature efforts. The company chosen by the campaign was the same one previously hired by several members of Utahs congressional delegation, numerous legislative candidates, and the Governors Republican opponent in the 2020 gubernatorial election. The total number of signatures submitted by the Cox campaign far exceeded the state requirement of 28,000. In the verification process, some signatures were disqualified by the Davis County Clerk for various reasons including signature verification.The Attorney Generals office should be applauded for its actions today, and those employed by this company or any other that engaged in this behavior should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The Governor is also appreciative of recent legislative efforts to further strengthen trust in our elections, including the work done in this years session to increase transparency and enhance protections to the candidate signature-gathering process. Statement from the Cox campaign

The AGs office said it is not providing further statement on the incident.

Peter Prybylski contributed to this report.

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This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post 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 ABC4 Utah.
The Justice Division of the Utah Attorneys Generals Office filed 11 lawsuits related to alleged forgery and forgery-related charges concerning candidate petitions on Monday.

From January to March 2024, the suits allege, the defendants worked for signature-collecting companies that sent employees door-to-door to gather voter signatures for a candidate in the 2024 primary election. According to the filings sent to the Deseret News, several of the defendants operated as independent contractors for Gathering Inc. The incidents occurred in Utah County, Salt Lake County, Washington County, Tooele County and Iron County.

McKelle Jordan, a special agent for the Utah Attorney Generals Offices Special Investigations/Public Corruption Unit, investigated and signed all filings. Attorney General Derek Brown and Assistant Attorney General Heather Waite Grover then reviewed them.

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In some cases, defendants allegedly admitted to having spouses or other family members sign multiple voter signatures. One defendant, in particular, stated that this was done to kill two birds with one stone, according to the filings. In that specific case, Of the 176 signatures in the packets Defendant turned in, only 71 were valid. 36 signatures, approximately twenty percent, did not match the signatures on file with the election officials, the suit alleges.

When Jordan reviewed voters whose signatures appeared on the petitions circulated by the defendants, many did not match the signatures on file with the election officials, and some contacted by Jordan said they had never been approached.

The Attorney Generals office should be applauded for its actions today, and those employed by this company or any other that engaged in this behavior should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, Matt Lusty, Utah Gov. Spencer Coxs campaign spokesperson, told the Deseret News late Monday.

During the 2024 election, the Cox for Governor campaign engaged a signature gathering company to help support its volunteer signature efforts. The company chosen by the campaign was the same one previously hired by several members of Utahs congressional delegation, numerous legislative candidates, and the governors Republican opponent in the 2020 gubernatorial election, he added. The total number of signatures submitted by the Cox campaign far exceeded the state requirement of 28,000. In the verification process, some signatures were disqualified by the Davis County Clerk for various reasons including signature verification.

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One filing alleged that the signature-collecting companys field manager reviewed a training memo with Defendant, which included cautions against committing fraud, enticing voters with false information, or accepting signatures from someone not qualified to sign. That defendant is accused of five counts of forgery.

All 11 defendants were accused of various charges, including:

Forgery  Utah law defines forgery as a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison per count and a fine of up to $5,000.

Communication fraud  Utah law classifies this as a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 354 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.

Breach of certificate of nomination procedures  Utah law makes this a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 354 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.

For 9 years Gather has worked with state and county entities in the signature gathering process. The states process is robust and thorough. Every political cycle we have hundreds and sometimes thousands of independent contractors who help us gather signatures for many different campaigns across the state, Tanner Leatham, Owner of Gathering Inc. told the Deseret News in a statement. We provide tools and training to help these individuals inform voters and successfully gather signatures. When individuals choose to break the rules we do everything we can to help the state go after these people.

Gather has been working with the attorney generals investigation since the incident was found and has done everything possible to help in this process, he added. We are grateful to work with such great people across the state of Utah.
The Capitol in Salt Lake City is pictured at dusk on the last night of the legislative session, Friday, March 7, 2025. (Photo by Alex Goodlett for Utah News Dispatch)

During a session underscored by efforts to assert legislative control, the 2025 Utah Legislature made moves to set new requirements on Utahns ability to enact laws via ballot initiatives  but the most significant proposed change cant take effect without voter approval.

The Republican-controlled Utah legislature passed two pieces of legislation that would set new limits on ballot initiatives, but one will be going on the ballot in 2026 for voters to consider. The question? Should ballot initiatives to enact laws that would require tax increases be required to receive at least 60% of the vote, rather than a simple majority?

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Here are two pieces of legislation impacting ballot initiatives that lawmakers passed:

SJR2 puts a question on the 2026 ballot for voters to either approve or reject: Should ballot initiatives that would require a new tax or a tax hike only be allowed to take effect if at least 60% of voters approve it? Currently, the Utah Constitution only requires a simple majority vote for ballot initiatives to be enacted as new laws.

SB73, if signed by Gov. Spencer Cox, sets new requirements for ballot initiative applications. It would require initiative backers to include in their application for the initiative a detailed description of how the proposed law would be funded and if it would require a tax increase. If they successfully get the initiative on the ballot, it would also require initiative backers to follow the same publication requirements that lawmakers do when they put proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot, which could increase the cost of ballot initiatives by an estimated $1.4 million  though that could change.

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Currently, the Utah Constitution requires that constitutional amendments be published in newspapers statewide for 60 days before the next election. However, lawmakers want voters to consider changing that, which would impact not just proposed constitutional amendments, but also ballot initiatives. Heres why:

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Utah lawmakers also passed a resolution and a companion bill that could remove that newspaper publication requirement from the Utah Constitution and leave it up to lawmakers to decide how voters should be notified before an election. They included:

HJR10 places this question on the November 2026 ballot for voters to consider: Should the Utah Constitution be changed to strike the language requiring that proposed constitutional amendments must be published in at least one newspaper in every county of the state where a newspaper is published, for two months immediately preceding the election, and should the constitution instead say those proposed amendments be published in a manner provided by statute, for 60 calendar days immediately preceding the next general election?

If voters approve the question from HJR10, then another bill  HB481  would take effect, setting a state law that requires proposed constitutional amendments and ballot initiatives be published as a class A notice on the Utah Public Notice website or a governments official website for 60 calendar days immediately preceding the next general election.

Fiscal responsibility or setting an impossibly high bar?

Proponents of setting the new rules for ballot initiatives  including Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan, who sponsored SJR2 and SB73  argued that Utah voters need to know the fiscal impact of proposed ballot initiatives, and that if they come with a price tag that would require a new tax, those initiatives should only be approved with broad voter support.

The question that (SJR2) will pose to the voters  is how easy do you want it to be for your neighbors to raise your taxes? Fillmore said in a House committee on Feb. 26, during the resolutions second public hearing.

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Fillmore added that citizen initiatives are an important part of Utahs government and Utahs constitution, but he argued it should take more than 50.1% of the vote to raise taxes on the other 49.9%.

We really need to have a broad consensus for that kind of policy, Fillmore argued.

As for SB73, Fillmore addressed criticisms that his bill will make running ballot initiatives in Utah unnecessarily harder  when its already hard enough  head on.

There is nothing in here that makes it more or less difficult to run a citizens initiative, he said. However, it does recognize that Utahs constitution requires a balanced budget.

He also argued that voters should change the constitution to take out newspaper publishing requirements because theres no need for either the Legislature using taxpayer money or taxpayer backers using donated money to pay to advertise in newspapers that nobody will read. Digital publication requirements, he said, would be a more efficient way that really can spread the word better and do it for far less money, in fact, for literally $0.

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However, groups including Better Boundaries (which successfully ran the 2018 ballot initiative that sought to enact an independent redistricting commission) and the League of Women Voters of Utah and Mormon Women for Ethical Government (the plaintiffs that sued the Legislature after it repealed and replaced that initiative, turning that commission into an advisory role that lawmakers could  and did  ignore) spoke against the bills.

They argued that together, SB73 and SJR2 would set unnecessarily high and in some cases impossible thresholds for ballot initiatives to succeed.

Katie Wright, executive director of Better Boundaries, urged lawmakers to oppose SB73, saying its part of a yearslong effort to tamp down on ballot initiatives.

We have seen over the past decade a concerted effort to make our constitutional right to ballot initiative near impossible to exercise, she said. This bill is just one more roadblock in peoples ability to exercise that right thats in our constitution and constitutionally protected.

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While speaking against SJR2, Katherine Biele, president of the League of Women Voters of Utah, told lawmakers that voters are much smarter than you think, and they already place enough scrutiny on ballot initiatives, especially costly ones. Additionally, she said lawmakers still have the power to change ballot initiatives.

You are able to revise any initiative that passes, as you have in the past many times, she said.

Dallin Robinson, while arguing against SJR2, said young voters are furious about recent ballot initiatives in Utah. He didnt name them specifically, but after three ballot initiatives were approved in 2018  one for full Medicaid expansion, one to legalize medical marijuana, and one to create Better Boundaries redistricting commission  lawmakers repealed and replaced all of them.

Both the Medicaid expansion and medical marijuana initiatives included tax increases. So if they had been subject to the new thresholds outlined in SJR2, neither would have passed.

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This is an undemocratic bill, Robinson said about SJR2. This bill silences the people of Utah. And the people of Utah are not as dumb as you think. We understand tax policy, and we are absolutely confident enough to speak and vote on our own tax policy.

In that House committee, Rep. Jason Thompson, R-River Heights, argued in favor of SJR2, saying its a question that voters should have a chance to weigh in on.

I too find it ironic that where this Legislature is trying to give the people of this state the opportunity to have their voice heard by having this put on the ballot, that the Legislature could be attacked in the way that its being attacked, saying that its wanting to quiet the voice of the people of this state, he said. I reject that notion.

Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan, works on the last day of the legislative session at the Utah State Capitol, Friday, March 7, 2025. (Photo by Alex Goodlett for Utah News Dispatch)

However, Rep. Andrew Stoddard, D-Sandy, argued against SJR2, saying it would place higher requirements on ballot initiatives than the Legislature when it comes to passing laws that would come with a price tag.

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Its unfair for us to say, Hey citizens, you require a higher threshold when youre raising taxes. Were not imposing the same requirement on us as legislators, Stoddard said.

Both SJR2 and SB73 passed the House and Senate along mostly party line votes, with Democrats voting against.

The other proposals (HB481 and HJR10) to change publication requirements, however, passed with unanimous support from both bodies.

Both SB73 and HB481 now go to the governor for his signature or veto. Cox, however, does not need to weigh in on resolutions, so SJR2 and HJR10 will be enacted without his signature.

Why are lawmakers taking aim at ballot initiatives?

Lawmakers had their crosshairs on ballot initiatives during the 2025 session that ended at midnight on Friday as part of the ongoing fallout from a Utah Supreme Court decision over the summer in the League of Women Voters of Utah and Mormon Women for Ethical Governments redistricting lawsuit. The ruling asserted the Legislature does not have unfettered power when it comes to altering government reform ballot initiatives.

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That unanimous July 11 opinion explicitly said this does not mean that the Legislature cannot amend a government-reform initiative at all, but rather it made clear that lawmakers power to amend certain initiatives has limits and that the Utah Constitution protects government reform initiatives from being overridden by lawmakers without a compelling government interest.

And yet, fearing that ruling will turn ballot initiatives into super laws that lawmakers cant change and that it will open the floodgates to outside money and California-style lawmaking in Utah, Republican legislative leaders set out to do something about it  after their first plan of action, Amendment D, crashed and burned.

The courts voided Amendment D  which would have enshrined the Legislatures power to alter any type of voter-approved ballot initiative  after lawmakers both failed to follow newspaper publication requirements in the Utah Constitution and after characterizing the proposed constitutional amendments effect in a misleading way on the November ballot.

Now, until voters potentially change those publication requirements, Utah lawmakers want ballot initiative backers to adhere to the same constitutional requirements they face for proposed constitutional amendments.

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Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, has repeatedly characterized unchecked ballot initiatives as a threat to Utahs future. He has argued that the current balance of Utahs democratic republic form of government has served the state well and that the Utah Supreme Courts ruling upset that balance.

In his opening speech on the first day of the 45-day session, Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, urged lawmakers to act to preserve the states republic, while promising I will do everything I can to keep it.

We cannot let unelected special interest groups outside of Utah run initiatives and override our republic, destroy our businesses, demean, impugn and cast aside those who are duly elected to represent their neighbors and friends in Utah, Adams said. We cannot let the Utah Dream die. We will not let initiatives driven by out-of-state money turn Utah into California.

Citizen initiative backers, however, argue that setting higher bars for ballot initiatives will have the opposite effect by making it impossible for every-day citizens to exercise their power, leaving only well-resourced groups to have any chance of success.

Together with SJR2, (SB73) really makes it nearly impossible for grassroots efforts to succeed while large, well-funded interests can still navigate the system, said Helen Moser with League of Women Voters of Utah, in a House committee hearing.

Moser argued that Utah already has safeguards to ensure responsible initiatives.

These extra barriers, she said, only silence the people.

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The Utah Legislature wrapped up its 2025 legislative session late Friday, having passed 582 bills. Utah families will be impacted by these laws  lets look at a few that passed and a few that did not.

Creating families

SB242 by Sen. Calvin Musselman, R-West Haven, expanded coverage for infertility treatments, including in vitro fertilization, for anyone covered by the Public Employees Benefit and Insurance Program. According to KSL, the insurance premiums for state employees will increase by about 37 cents per member per month.

Doulas, trained to support and help pregnant, laboring and new mothers, could be covered by Medicaid if approved by the federal government. SB284 by Sen. Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, passed nearly unanimously and requires Utah to apply to the federal government for permission to expand its Medicaid plan to cover doula services by Oct. 1.

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HB129, by Rep. Ray Ward, R-Bountiful, will allow adopted individuals to access their adoption records when they turn 18. All Utah adoptions are currently sealed records.

HB30 by Rep. Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, would have allowed Native American tribes in Utah to establish foster home standards and oversee child custody cases, ensuring community-driven, culturally aligned solutions for Native children. This bill never made it out of the Rules Committee after being introduced the first day of the session.

Education

HB100 by Rep. Tyler Clancy, R-Provo, expands the free school breakfast and lunch program in Utah to families who qualify for reduced school lunch under current federal guidelines. This bill was a priority bill for the Utah Policy Project this year.

The Utah Fits All scholarship has some new funding guidelines and accountability guardrails under HB455 by Rep. Candice Pierucci, R-Herriman. Homeschooled Utah Fits All students 5 to 11 years old will have access to $4,000 a year, while those 12 to 18 years old will get $6,000. Private school students are still eligible for $8,000 a year, the previous amount available to all. The new law also limits extracurricular expenses to 20% of the scholarship amount and limits physical education expenses to an additional 20%. Also  families cant buy furniture with this money.

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HB209, by Rep. Nicholeen Peck, R-Tooele, removes the requirement for homeschooling parents to attest to their own criminal background when choosing to homeschool their children. That means convictions for child abuse, domestic violence committed in the presence of a child, child abuse homicide, sexual exploitation of a minor and other felony offenses no longer need to be disclosed.

No cellphones, smart watches or other devices in schools under SB178 by Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan. This bill will go into effect this summer, impacting the 2025/2026 school year. While local schools and districts can create their own policies that are different, this is now the default policy across the state.

HB104 by Rep. Rex Shipp, R-Cedar City, requires schools to teach firearm safety, beginning as early as kindergarten. The instruction would be required three times during elementary school, at least once in junior high and at least once in high school. Parents can opt out if they choose.

Child care

SB189 by Escamilla and Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, R-Clearfield, would have allowed vacant, state-owned buildings to be retrofitted for licensed child care facilities. Under the bill, 40% of the slots would have been allocated for state workers and military families. However, this bill did not pass the Legislature for a second year in a row. The day after this bill was killed, and 44 minutes before International Womens Day, the Utah Legislature officially eliminated the Women in the Economy Commission, the group that had advocated for this plan.

Health & Safety

HB363 by Pierucci addresses newborn testing via heelstick screen that occurs shortly after birth. This bill requires a privacy consent form, and the destruction of the babys blood sample, following the Department of Healths retention schedule, or immediately following the test if parents do not consent to the retention schedule. It also requires a newborn hearing screening.

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HB81 by Rep. Stephanie Gricius, R-Eagle Mountain, prohibits the use of fluoride in public water systems and prohibits local governments from passing or enforcing any rules or ordinances that would allow or require fluoride to be added to public water systems. Utah will be the first state in the nation to ban fluoride in drinking water once this bill goes into effect on May 7, 2025.

SB24 by Sen. Don Ipson, R-St. George, creates a new criminal offense for child torture and amends definitions of child abuse and aggravated criminal child abuse. This bill was inspired by the Gavin Peterson and Franke-Hildebrandt cases.

There will also be less money to help victims of domestic violence and sexual assault this year, as Utah lawmakers either decreased requests for funding or denied them altogether. Rep. Gay Lynn Bennion, D-Cottonwood Heights, asked for $1.4 million for Utahs 16 domestic violence service providers, in spite of a surge in demand. The Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee prioritized $1.3 million, but the final budget allocated zero dollars. There was also no money for strangulation forensic exam reimbursement, of the $260,000 requested. Rape crisis centers were hoping for $3.25 million in ongoing funding, had $1.625 million prioritized and instead received $600,000 of one-time money. Rep. Angela Romero asked for $300,000 of ongoing funds to staff the 24/7 Statewide Sexual Assault helplines available in both English and Spanish. The helpline received $100,000 of one-time money.

Taxes

HB106 gives Utahns a fifth year of tax cuts, lowering the income tax rate from 4.55% to 4.5%. The average Utah family will see annual savings of about $45. The bill also gives businesses a 20% tax credit for creating new child care options for employees and expands the child tax credit to include children who are 5 years old and under the age of 1.
President Donald Trump did not ease into his second term; no one would describe his first days as lazy celebration. Trump has signed 83 executive orders since his first day in the White House on Jan. 20.

During his address to a joint session of Congress last week, Trump said, I have signed nearly 100 executive orders and taken more than 400 executive actions, a record, to restore common sense, safety, optimism, and wealth all across our wonderful land.

The people elected me to do the job, and Im doing it.

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Utahns appear to be more supportive of the commander in chief than the rest of the country. A recent Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll conducted by HarrisX revealed that 59% (3 in 5) of Utahns approve of Trumps job as president, including 83% of Republicans, 18% of Democrats and 39% of independents.

While Utahns fall roughly in line with the rest of the country on which of Trumps executive orders they like best, Utah Republicans are typically more socially conservative on issues like gender and abortion than other Republicans, and a little less supportive of Trumps moves on immigration, while finding common ground on issues such as tech regulation and declassifying documents.

Where Utahns were opposed to executive intervention was Trumps renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the dismantling of the Department of Education.

Utahns more conservative on social issues

Gender issues, specifically Trumps decision to ban biological males from participating in womens sports, was the most popular executive order nationally and in Utah.

DN-UtahmostEO

Trumps executive order, Keeping Men Out of Womens Sports, garnered 60% overall support and 83% support among Republicans nationally. Utahns showed more substantial support for the ban with a combined 76% approval rating and 90% support from Utah Republicans.

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Utah Sen. Mike Lee has been vocal for years about his opposition to transgender individuals participating in womens sports. On Sunday, he shared statistics on X comparing track and field records between teenage boys and womens world records, arguing that it is unfair to allow biological males in womens sports.

Last week, when U.S. Senate Democrats blocked a vote on a bill seeking to ban transgender women from female sports, he responded on social media, Why do Senate Democrats insist on forcing female athletes to accept hostile, unfair, and abusive conditions in sports?

The polling shows that many of his Republican constituents agree, and not just on the issue of transgender participation in sports. Utah Republicans were also significantly more supportive of Trumps ban on gender medical treatments and gender transition for those under age 19 (88%) and the declaration of federal government recognition of only two genders: male and female (89%), compared to national Republicans (both at 82%).

Utah Republicans less conservative on immigration

On Trumps executive orders related to immigration, Utah Republicans were slightly less supportive than Republicans nationally.

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While 68% of a national sample of Republicans supported ending birthright citizenship, only 57% of Utah Republicans agreed.

On whether the refugee program should have been suspended for 90 days by Trump, 63% of Utah Republicans supported his decision, while 69% nationally said the same.

When asked whether they supported Trumps executive order opening up a detention facility for immigrants at Guantanamo Bay, 77% of Republicans nationally said they support his decision compared to 69% of Utah Republicans.

Utahs interest in tech and crypto

Dubbed the startup state by the Governors Office of Economic Opportunity and home to Silicon Slopes, Utah showed more interest in Trumps executive orders regulating cryptocurrency and reviewing artificial intelligence, with 84% of Republicans, 57% of Democrats and 64% of independents saying they supported this executive order, compared to national polling (77% of Republicans, 41% of Democrats and 49% of independents).

DN-UtahleastEO

But its unclear if they support how Trump is proceeding on cryptocurrency and AI regulations.

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Trump signed an order last week establishing the nations first-ever Bitcoin reserve, as he previously said in a Truth Social post: This will ensure that the U.S. is the Crypto Capital of the World. He also criticized the Biden administration for being too critical of the digital currency.

One argument supporters of such a fund make is it will be used to support good industrial policy, funneling money to worthy projects and away from duds, American hedge fund manager and co-founder of AQR Capital Management, Clifford Scott Asness, said, per The Free Press.

Trumps order suggested that, up to this point, there had been no definitive policy for managing digital currency assets, leading to a lack of accountability and insufficient exploration of options to centralize, secure, or maximize their value.

But Asness argued that it is dangerous hubris in a free market capitalist society, which luckily we still claim to be, to think the central government could or should be responsible for investing the wealth of its citizens rather than those citizens themselves, and similarly arrogant to believe they can choose which industries and firms are to be winners and losers better than the marketplace.

Declassification of assassination documents

The declassification of documents, such as the assassination files of President John F. Kennedy, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, and civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr., was the states second most favored executive order in both national and state polling, with 80% of Utah Republicans, 64% of Democrats, and 71% of independents wanting to see the documents released, compared 81% of U.S. Republicans, 37% of Democrats and 54% of independents.

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On Jan. 20, Trump signed the declassification order to Provide Americans the truth after six decades of secrecy.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the son of Robert F. Kennedy and a close confidant of Trump in his role as the newly appointed United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, expressed his full support for the order.

The 60-year strategy of lies and secrecy, disinformation, censorship, and defamation employed by Intel officials to obscure and suppress troubling facts about JFKs assassination has provided the playbook for a series of subsequent crises  the MLK and RFK assassinations, Vietnam, 9/11, the Iraq war and COVID  that have each accelerated the subversion of our exemplary democracy by the Military/Medical Industrial Complex and pushed us further down the road toward totalitarianism, he posted on X.
Mar. 10SANTA FE  Despite some legislators' fears of increased utility bill costs and a lack of transparency, another bill to ensure New Mexico has development-ready land is moving onto the House.

Senate Bill 170 passed the Senate by a 31-10 vote Monday, and its companion bill Senate Bill 169 passed the floor 37-2 over the weekend. The site readiness measures are ultimately aiming to draw more economic development  private, tribal or public  to New Mexico.

SB170 would allow public utilities to ask the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission for permission to set up power lines, roads and other infrastructure on empty plots of land prime for development  and get money back later for it.

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Currently, utilities have to write off those costs, explained Economic Development Secretary-designate Rob Black. This bill would allow the PRC to approve rate recovery measures instead, via customer base charges or surcharges.

Getting a site set up with all its infrastructure, from public utilities to roads, can take years in New Mexico, something that has dissuaded developers from coming to the state. Senate Minority Whip Michael Padilla, D-Albuquerque, on the floor described his SB170  a bipartisan bill  as a piece of the puzzle that would change that.

A few senators rose with concerns that all utility customers would have to pay for a measure only benefitting some areas.

"This is a statewide economic development program, but it really isn't shared statewide. It's shared only by the people within that particular utility's district area," said Sen. William Soules, D-Las Cruces.

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Black told the Journal the legislation would likely make utility bills cheaper because it would attract large developers that need a lot of energy. In turn, he said, the developers would pay for grid upgrades and attract economic activity.

Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, D-Albuquerque, said she would like to see more guardrails in the bill around what projects are chosen as prime for economic development.

"I'm always queasy when we give these big benefits out," she said.

But Black said public utilities couldn't ask the PRC for permission to set up infrastructure early and recover costs later unless the Economic Development Department labels it as a prime spot for future economic development projects.

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Even then, the PRC would still need to approve it.

The bill doesn't change the normal regulatory processes utilities go through at the PRC, Black added.

"I think there was some confusion about how rates work in the debate," he said.

All ten "no" votes on the bill were cast by Democratic senators. .
Teeangers using their smartphones. (Stock photo by Daniel de la Hoz/Getty Images)

As Virginia moves to limit social media access for minors under 16, a national child safety group is urging Gov. Glenn Youngkin to strengthen protections for families navigating the digital world.

The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) is calling on the governor to make parental controls more accessible and user-friendly as he reviews recently passed legislation aimed at addressing the growing concerns over social medias impact on childrens well-being.

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We really want families to have these conversations about how much time you should be spending on certain apps and engaging the entire family in these online discussions about your digital lives, said Marissa Edmund, policy specialist at FOSI, a non-profit organization focused on making the internet safer for kids and their families.

Edmund said FOSI applauds Virginias efforts to prioritize childrens online safety, emphasizing that policy decisions should be rooted in evidence and research. Among the groups key recommendations: integrating digital media literacy and ensuring that parents can implement uniform safety settings across all devices and apps.

Youngkin has yet to indicate whether he will push for changes to the proposal. Before his departure, spokesman Christian Martinez said the governor is currently reviewing 917 bills passed by the General Assembly, noting that its common that during this time, hundreds of stakeholders write letters seeking action.

Last November, Youngkin launched Reconsidering Childhood, a statewide initiative aimed at reducing excessive screen time and protecting children from social media addiction. The campaign encourages Virginians to pledge a 25% reduction in their time spent on smart devices this year.

The legislation

Senate Bill 854, sponsored by Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, aims to curb excessive screen time by limiting minors to one hour of social media use per service per day while giving parents the ability to adjust that cap. It also includes provisions to ensure that data collected for age verification is used solely for that purpose.

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A separate, stricter measure introduced by Del. Josh Thomas, D-Prince William, sought to require parental consent for minors to access addictive feeds, which generate content recommendations based on user activity. That bill, however, failed in the House General Laws Communications Subcommittee. Thomas said he was concerned that social media algorithms could expose children to content they had not intentionally sought out, making parental involvement necessary.

Social media companies pushed back, arguing that such regulations could reduce the relevance of content for minors while placing an unreasonable burden on parents. Some companies have pointed to existing parental control tools that already allow families to limit what children see online.

VanValkenburgs current bill leaves out addictive feed restrictions, a provision that was included in a similar measure he proposed last year. Instead, it focuses on the responsibilities and prohibitions placed on social media companies, particularly it comes to verifiable parental consent and age verification.

His 2024 bill never made it out of the House General Laws Subcommittee, largely due to concerns from lawmakers and technology industry representatives about how companies would comply with the law without clear guidelines or penalties.

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The Virginia Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOTS) later examined the issue and found that existing age verification laws are ineffective in protecting children from harmful content. A report from the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC) noted that these laws often fail to uphold their intended purpose.

Virginias efforts are part of a growing national debate over online safety for minors, with more than 40 states introducing or passing laws aimed at strengthening protections on social media or adult content websites.

According to the ICMEC study, 19 states now require websites that host a significant amount of mature content to verify the ages of users before granting access, while 27 states have enacted laws requiring social media companies to confirm the ages of users and adjust the online experience for minors.

Some of these laws mandate verifiable parental guardian consent before a child can download an app or place restrictions on content algorithms that promote addictive engagement.

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ICMEC has raised concerns that such laws also create data privacy risks, forcing users to submit personal information across multiple platforms and increasing the likelihood of data breaches and misuse. The organization also cited constitutional challenges related to protected speech and described enforcement on a per-platform basis as infeasible.

Despite these concerns, JCOTS still recommended the proposal to the General Assembly, suggesting that lawmakers define key social media features  such as infinite scrolling and autoplay  to better understand how such policies could impact the Office of the Attorney General.

VanValkenburgs latest bill has incorporated expanded definitions and includes feedback from Virginias chief prosecutor to address some of these concerns. While the final version of the legislation is not exactly what he originally envisioned, VanValkenburg said the revised bill still accomplishes its intended goal.

What we have now is a slightly different bill that I think gets to the same purposes, maybe not exactly like I wanted to, but I think it actually is substantive and does a good job, VanValkenburg said during his return to the House General Laws subcommittee in February.

The bill now awaits Youngkins decision. He has until later this month to either amend or approve the legislation as written.

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Vice President Vance delivered a closing pitch in favor of Speaker Mike Johnsons (R-La.) government funding bill during the House GOPs private conference meeting Tuesday, hours before the lower chamber is scheduled to vote on the measure.

Members said Vance argued that the six-month funding measure would allow the Trump administration and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to continue to slash federal programs and pause spending.

Thats his No. 1 goal, Rep. Tim Burchett (Tenn.), a GOP holdout, said of Vance urging Republicans to support the measure.

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And Vance warned the GOP lawmakers that if the stopgap fails in the House, Republicans will be blamed for the shutdown, a source in the room told The Hill. But, if the bill clears the House and is blocked in the upper chamber, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) will bear the burden of letting the lights turn off in Washington, Vance argued.

If it passes and is signed into law, America will benefit! the vice president added, according to the source.

The message came amid uncertainty about the continuing resolutions (CR) fate in the House. A number of Republicans are still undecided on the measure, at least one GOP lawmaker is promising to vote no, and Democrats are expected to oppose the legislation in droves.

With the midnight Friday shutdown deadline looming and President Trump in favor of the stopgap, Vance urged House Republicans to get the bill over the finish line.

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Live updates: Johnson works to avert shutdown

The House is scheduled to hold a procedural vote on the rule for the measure at 1:30 p.m. EDT Tuesday, marking the first test for Johnson. If that is successful, a final vote is slated for 4 p.m.

Leaving the House GOP conference meeting on Tuesday, a handful of Republicans said they remained undecided despite hearing Vances pitch, including Burchett and Reps. Kat Cammack (Fla.), Beth Van Duyne (Texas) and Rich McCormick (Ga.). Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Cory Mills (R-Fla.) previously said they were undecided, while Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) said he plans to make a game-time decision.

Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.) is the only GOP no vote thus far.

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The indecisiveness among some GOP lawmakers and Massies strong opposition are a concerning sign for Johnson, who is grappling with a razor-thin majority. If all Democrats vote no and there is full attendance, Johnson can only afford to lose one GOP vote.

I wish Congress were doing more of putting together an actual budget, passing appropriations, and cutting government spending, which is what all of us campaigned on, Van Duyne said leaving the meeting with Vance, saying she was still undecided after Vances visit with the GOP conference.

Burchett said I dont know when asked if there is a path to becoming a yes vote on the measure. I just like to talk to him about my issues, and I guess hell get around to me, he added.

Id like verification that in the future that were gonna reduce the spending at the Pentagon, he said.

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Cammack told reporters after the meeting that she wants assurances on a rescissions package and a top-line number for fiscal 2026 funding bills ahead of the vote.

We need to make sure that were including some sort of rescission package, working with the White House, Cammack said. All of us want to make sure that the president and ultimately the country is successful. We have a very short window of time to get this done, but we need to make sure that those lines of communication are staying open.

We can work with the White House on a rescissions package to make sure that were getting all of the things that DOGE has been working on accounted for, she added. We also need to make sure that we are getting a top-line number for FY 26. Thats been a huge problem.

The Florida Republican said she was looking forward to her conversations with the White House later on Tuesday, but she did not disclose whom she was slated to speak with.

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Despite those undecided votes, however, GOP leaders are expressing confidence that the funding patch will pass  with or without help from Democrats.

We will have votes, Johnson said in a press conference Tuesday. Were going to pass the CR. We could do it on our own. But what Im saying is, Democrats ought to do the responsible thing, follow their own advice in every previous scenario and keep the government open.

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(Bloomberg) -- Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday urged all House Republicans to support a stopgap funding package set for a vote later in the day, arguing that its passage was essential to keep President Donald Trumps agenda on schedule.

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The spending bill would avert a government shutdown on Saturday and provide funding for the remainder of the federal fiscal year ending Sept. 30.

Vance made his case to House Republicans in a closed-door meeting at the Capitol, telling them the legislations failure would risk delaying action on Trumps tax-cut plan and other presidential priorities, said Representative Pete Sessions of Texas.

Sessions said no lawmaker in the room openly challenged the vice president, though some House Republicans continue to express opposition or are wavering.

House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed confidence holdouts in the party would ultimately change their minds. All but one GOP opponent to the partys budget dropped their opposition after last-minute calls from Trump.

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He said there will be no need to negotiate with Democrats.

Well have the votes, Johnson said Tuesday morning. We can do it on our own.

Among those Republicans still not convinced are Florida Representative Kat Cammack, typically an ally of House leaders. Cammack said after the meeting with Vance she first wants to know the partys plan for overall spending levels next year.

Republicans Tim Burchett of Tennessee and Beth Van Duyne of Texas also said theyre undecided. Georgias Rich McCormick said he opposes the stopgap funding measure.

The speaker will need to flip some of these holdouts in order to pass the bill if all Democrats remain opposed.

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Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky has said he will vote no. Trump, in a Truth Social post, threatened to back a primary challenger to Massie over his repeated opposition to legislation the president supports, calling the Kentucky Republican a grandstander whos too much trouble, and not worth the fight.

Hours before the vote, Massie remained steadfast in his opposition.

Hes attacking me and Canada, Massie said, referring to Trumps decision to increase steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada to 50%. The difference is Canada will eventually cave.

Ohios Warren Davidson, another hardliner, said he was convinced to cast a rare vote for a stopgap after talking to Trump and White House officials. He said he would like to vote no to make a point on deficits but agrees the Trump agenda needs unity.

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A lot of us want to be Massie, he said. We can only afford one.

The bill would slightly decrease overall discretionary spending through the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. It would boost spending on defense and immigration while cutting spending in other areas.

(Updates with Massie quote)

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Pope Francis has spent another night in hospital without additional complications, the Vatican said on Tuesday morning.

"The night went quietly, the pope woke up around 8 am [0700 GMT]," a short message from the Holy See said. The Vatican initially did not provide further information on the health of the 88-year-old head of the Catholic Church.

After more than three weeks in Rome's Gemelli Hospital, the pontiff is no longer in immediate danger, according to the attending doctors' assessment, the Vatican said on Monday evening.

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The doctors expressed satisfaction with the pope's progress over the past few days, but Francis must remain in the hospital due to his pneumonia.

The doctors from the university hospital remain cautious. Due to the complex nature of the medical condition, they said it is necessary "to continue the pharmacological therapy in a hospital setting for a few more days." They did not specify a possible discharge date.

Double pneumonia at such an advanced age is considered dangerous.
Hundreds of people gathered at Washington Square Park in New Orleans on March 31, 2023, for a march to mark Transgender Day of Visibility. Photo by Greg LaRose | Louisiana Illuminator

These past few months, we have seen an onslaught of legislation introduced in the Arizona Legislature and across the country that directly targets the transgender community. The fight for transgender peoples freedom and equality is not new, nor is the opposition we face to our very existence. But without any end to this deluge of bigotry in sight, Im getting tired of having to constantly beg for my humanity in front of people who seem gleeful to deny it.

I was a junior in high school when I started engaging in political advocacy as a member of the transgender community. I spoke at my local school board, I attended court hearings, I talked to members of Congress.

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As I continued to find and use my voice, I was surrounded by friends and supported by a community of people fighting for a better world for young people like me. And while there was certainly a lot of resistance to the calls of change we were advocating for, we won a lot of important victories. I was optimistic.

Now, almost a decade later, I find myself fighting those same fights in my role at Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona  except everything is so much worse.

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The federal government is becoming increasingly hostile to transgender people. Political and ideological agendas that attack our right to basic medical care, our ability to be authentically identified in government documents, and even our existence are eerily gaining traction  and, disturbingly, even acceptance. Here in Arizona, our state legislature has followed in Donald Trumps footsteps by deciding to make bigotry and discrimination a priority.

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This legislative session, lawmakers are moving forward an agenda that attempts to erode the rights of the transgender community, threatening the fundamental freedoms of people like me. Their initiatives, if successful, would prevent us from being legally recognized as the gender we are, deny us from accessing medically-necessary and routine gender-affirming healthcare, limit our access to public facilities ranging from restrooms to domestic violence shelters, and create a hostile environment for transgender youth by infringing on their privacy and opening them up to misgendering and harassment.

Im alarmed, but not naive. None of these attacks are new. There is a long history  within Arizona, within the United States and globally  of demonizing routine medical care, using bathrooms to divide people and attempting to deny people the basic right to express who they are.

The tides of history ebb and flow, as they always have. But when they do, people get hurt. And I wonder what it will take for the tides to turn again.

Trans people have always existed. We will continue to exist, no matter what. We will bend, but we will not break. And I am proud to be part of that fight.

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These extremists are showing a complete disregard for the fact that Arizonans overwhelmingly voted last election to keep the government out of exam rooms and health care decisions. They havent listened to our attempts to engage in substantive conversation, and I dont have any reason to believe they ever will. Lets be clear: Their intention isnt to pass good policy but to play partisan games.

But in the face of these attacks, the transgender community in Arizona has been fighting back. Organizations and individuals have been talking to lawmakers, writing letters, showing up to committee hearings, and doing everything we can to stand up against these bills. In some ways, the work is familiar. In other ways, it feels entirely new  and entirely more dangerous.

I have seen members of my community advocate against these restrictions and be yelled at by legislators in committee hearings. I have listened to people talk about how they want to speak out, but are afraid of the backlash. I have had difficult conversations with Arizonans grappling with whether its best to stay and fight, or whether its time to seek safety outside the state or even the country.

And as I watch all of this unfold, as I grapple with the current reality of the work Ive been doing since I was a kid, I find myself dealing with a wave of intense emotions. Anger, that these lawmakers just cant seem to see our humanity. Sadness, that trans kids are having to fight the same fight I did years ago, rather than enjoying the childhood they deserve. Dread, at what could be coming next.

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But I also know this: Trans people have always existed. We will continue to exist, no matter what. We deserve the same rights and freedoms as any other Arizonan.

There will always be people fighting for dignity, for autonomy and for freedom. We will bend, but we will not break. And I am proud to be part of that fight.

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WILLISTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44)  Vermonts Agency of Transportation has invited the public to join a meeting about the Industrial Avenue Project and Williston VT 2A.

This public meeting will cover the reconstruction of a 0.7-mile segment on VT 2A from Meadowrun Road to the River Cove Road area. Construction is expected to start mid-April and conclude fall 2026, according to a release from AOT.

A project overview, construction schedule, information on safety additions and more will be provided at the meeting. Anyone in attendance will be able to ask questions to the project team.

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The meeting will be held at Williston Central School on March 17. Individuals can join in person or online using Zoom with meeting ID 838 0868 6657.

This event is set to begin at 6:00 p.m.

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Sen. Peter Welch has invited Vermont and Canadian business leaders to discuss the potential impacts of President Trumps sweeping tariffs at a roundtable in Newport next week.

Welch, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, has harshly criticized Trumps proposed tariffs, which local leaders say will hurt Vermont businesses, farms and families by raising prices.

Last week, Welch questioned Michael Faulkender, Trumps pick for Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, about the proposed tariffs, saying they are creating an enormous amount of anxiety in Vermont.

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Vermont sugar makers brace for Trumps tariffs

So, youre telling me that the President is willing to make Vermonters pay 40 cents a gallon more for gasoline, maybe 10-15% higher for electricity, and 10-15% higher for home heating fuel, he said. For our maple sugar producers to pay 25% more for the equipment they usethat thats okay with the President?

On Tuesday, Trump announced that he will double his planned tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50% for Canada. The president said the increase set to take effect on Wednesday is a response to the price increases that the provincial government of Ontario put on electricity sold to the United States.

What are tariffs and how do they work?

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Welchs roundtable is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 18, at East Side Restaurant & Pub, 47 Landing St, in Newport.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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VESTAL, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  Vestal Police announced Tuesday the arrest of a man during an active investigation into child pornography possession.

In coordination with the New York State Police Computer Crimes Unit, the Vestal Police Department executed a search warrant on Sunday, March 8, where numerous electronics and electronic storage devices were seized, VPD said in a press release. The investigation by the Computer Crimes Unit and VPD led to the discovery of images of children performing sexual acts on the devices.

As a result, 46-year-old Patrick Van-Kuren, of Vestal, was located and arrested at the Greater Binghamton Airport on Monday, March 10. Van-Kuren has been charged with felony possession of a sexual act by a child.

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He was released on an appearance ticket.

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(COLORADO SPRINGS)  The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 101 is inviting all veterans who served during the timeframe of the Vietnam War to attend the Vietnam Veterans Recognition ceremony being held on Saturday, March 29.

The event is being held in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon and to honor the service of those who served in Vietnam. The event is open to all Vietnam Veterans and their families, as well as anyone who wishes to come show appreciation for their service.

Light snacks will be served and a canteen will be open, with social time starting at noon and the ceremony and recognition at 2 p.m. The event will be held at the VFW Post 101 at 702 South Tejon Street. To RSVP, click on the link above.

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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) Terre haute Fire Department said there has been an increase in brush and grass fires recently.

Due to dry conditions, Vigo County Commissioners have declared a county wide burn ban. The Terre Haute Fire Department also reminded city residents of the ordinances, regarding burning, during normal conditions.

We spoke to Public Information Officer Nick Arnold of the Terre Haute Fire Department. Arnold said, if you live in the city, you can only burn dry seasoned wood. That means no rubbish, trash, or leaves. The fire should be no bigger than 3 feet wide and 3 feet tall, and must be contained in a masonry containment center, or fire pit. As Arnold explains, there are also some other requirements.

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You must be at least 20 feet away from any type of structure, there must be a cleared path 5 feet around your burn area so no loose leaves, nothing like that. Obviously you know you should have your hose or some type of extinguishment agent close to you, and a fire has to be supervised at all times by an adult. said Nick Arnold, Public Information Officer with the Terre Haute Fire Department.

He also said, not to burn on a windy day. The ordinace says, sustained winds must be five miles per hour or less. The city has these rules, posted in its city code, which can be found online. The burn ban in Vigo County goes from now until March 17th at noon.

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SEBRING, Ohio (WKBN)  Months after voters gave the green light for a levy in Sebring, village leaders are breathing a sigh of relief. The funding helps ease staffing concerns, and now their focus shifts toward replacing aging equipment.

Right now, when a call comes in to Sebrings dispatch center, theres someone on the other end of the line to answer it.

Thanks to residents last November, its going to stay that way.

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Were definitely better off than we were prior to election day, said Tim Gabrelcik, Sebring Village Manager.

Voters approved a two-mil police levy, generating about $148,000 each year. The money goes toward retaining staff in both the dispatch center and police department, paying for a bump in wages that were below the line.

We were able to give raises to staff to make us more competitive. Staffing has been pretty challenging, Gabrelcik said.

Now the focus shifts towards replacing outdated equipment, some of it going as far back as the 1970s. Its functional, but theyd like to get up to speed with technology for the multiple agencies they dispatch for.

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I think weve kicked the can down the road long enough, so its time to look at that, Gabrelcik said.

Sebring handles calls for the villages police and fire departments as well as Smith Township, Homeworth Fire and EMS, and North Georgetown Fire and EMS.

Replacing the current consoles could cost as much as $500,000, but the village is looking at used options to save money.

Its got some limitations with interconnectivity with other departments. Some challenges: record keeping, recording. And then if it breaks, it can be a challenge to find parts immediately, Gabrelcik said.

Theyre currently in the process of finding ways to fund those upgrades, but its a problem theyre happy to have following the uncertainty of last fall.

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Its a challenge. Were a small community, theres not a lot of grants for that type of things. A lot of communities would most likely use ARPA funds. We used ours for other needs, Gabrelcik said.

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A suspended state trooper was indicted Tuesday for alleged sexual misconduct with a motorist in August 2024.

Massachusetts State Police Trooper Terrence Kent has been indicted by a Middlesex Grand Jury on charges of indecent assault and battery and bribery.

According to Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, a victim was parked near Soldiers Field Road in Bright on August 24, 2024, around 4 p.m. when Kent used his marked State Police cruiser to block the victim from leaving.

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Kent allegedly told the victim his vehicle registration and insurance was expired and that his car had to be towed.

When the victim expressed concern to Kent, he told the victim to meet him at the Department of Transportation office in Lexington. Once there, Kent allegedly asked the victim to perform a sexual act as a favor to him and in return, the victims car would not be towed, according to the DAs office.

Trooper Kent was suspended without pay on Thursday, November 21, 2024.

The defendant in this case allegedly used his position of power as a sworn police officer to commit a sexual assault, District Attorney Ryan said. These allegations, if true, are a blatant violation of the public trust and his obligation to uphold high ethical standards and the values of the community.

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Kent will be arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court at a later date.

In a statement, a Massachusetts State Police spokesperson said the following:

The Massachusetts State Police does not tolerate any form of misconduct, and we hold our members accountable to the highest standards. Trooper Kent remains suspended without pay. The Department remains fully cooperative with investigators from the Lexington Police Department. We will closely monitor the criminal trial as part of our ongoing internal affairs investigation.

Kent graduated from the State Police Academy in August 2017 and has been suspended before.

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In 2023, Kent was suspended 8 days and forfeited 38 days after an internal affairs investigation found that he abandoned his assigned post.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)  Local organizations are teaming up with groups from across the country to help with Hurricane Helene relief efforts.

Its homes like this that the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church is working on with the help of various groups. This time, its a group of college students from Virginia Tech using their spring break vacation to help with hurricane cleanup.

From more than 300 miles away, to right here in Augusta.

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Students will spend the next week, during their spring break, helping storm victims with debris clean up and home damages.

The effort is made possible with the partnership of The Ryan Clark Scholarship whose mission is to honor Virginia Tech shooting victim and Columbia County native Ryan Clark through community service-based scholarships.

Everyone cannot make straight As. Everyone cannot be a super athlete. But everyone can give back to the community without a doubt. Its free, give your heart, give your talents, everyone has one. So, The Ryan Clarke Scholarship embraces that, Ryan Clark Scholarship Founder and mother to Ryan Clark, Letitie Clark said.

Luke Henshaw and Josh Hansell are just two of the many Virginia Tech students who volunteered their time.

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From our understanding, where were standing is where about where the tree, one of the big trees that fell on the house fell. And it came through, I think, this window, Henshaw said.

All the moisture from the storm and the days to come after that, basically caused a lot of mold to form in the house and thats why the entire building had to get stripped down to the bare bones, Hansell said.

You cant drive through this neighborhood without seeing a hole through a roof, and a major hole through a roof, Henshaw said.

Scott Parrish is a part of the North Georgia UMC Disaster Response team. He says this home is just one example of the work they hope to continue doing.

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We identified this home early-on as a home, and a homeowner, that needed extra attention because they were uninsured. Its an old family home that was handed down to the rest of the family and so they just needed extra help.

Organization leaders say they want to help more families whose homes are still heavily impacted from Helene and need help getting back to a livable state. For more on how to help see the following flyer:

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MARYLAND (DC News Now)  Archaeologists with the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) announced Monday that a new virtual museum will showcase the history and artifacts discovered at Harriet Tubmans teenage home.

Over the last four years, the departments archaeologists have been working alongside the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge to locate the remains of Tubmans dads  Ben Rosss  home in Dorchester County.

Ross was enslaved by Anthony Thompson on a large farm on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Historical documents show that Rosss cabin sat on 10 areas and he lived there until Thompson died, according to MDOT.

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Crowd gathered at Black Lives Matter Plaza in DC to show respect to mural before removal

The house is nestled in the wetlands of Black Water National Wildlife Refuge, where Tubman spent her teenage years. Harriet Tubman was an abolitionist known for her bravery and for freeing enslaved people through the Underground Railroad.

Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld said while searching the land, crews dug 1,000 holes along a historic road before finding an 1808 coin and a handful of broken 19th-century ceramic shreds. Archaeologists also discovered pieces of plates and pitcher bowls that help tell the story of how the family lived two centuries ago.

As crews continued to dig, they also located outlined bricks, window glass and nails.

(Photo courtesy: Maryland Department of Transportation) (Photo courtesy: Maryland Department of Transportation)

Even though the home is not open to the public, MDOT created a virtual museum to share their findings.

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This virtual museum is an interactive and educational tool that teaches the public about the archaeological discoveries from Ben Ross homeplace, said Dr. Julie Schablitsky, MDOTs Chief Archaeologist.

According to the department, the museum will feature 3D models and intact examples of certain artifacts, pre-contact artifacts associated with the Nanticoke Indians, stone tools and pottery shreds.

The Maryland Department of Transportation is proud to highlight the states untold stories from Ben Rosss home and share these artifacts with the world through our new virtual museum, said Wiedefeld.

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Volkswagen has said it is willing to consider building equipment for the German military as part of Europes efforts to rearm.

Oliver Blume, the chief executive of Europes biggest car manufacturer, said the company had not yet been approached by potential partners but was willing to look at the concepts.

His comments come as a shift towards German rearmament  prompted by fears that Donald Trumps United States is pulling support away from the Continent  have led manufacturers including Rheinmetall and KNDS Group to retool car parts factories to make weapons.

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According to economists, automotive factories are able to spare the capacity given that Germanys car exports have halved since their pre-Covid pandemic peak.

Oliver Blume, the chief executive of Volkswagen, is facing fierce competition from China - Liesa Johannssen/Reuters

Asked on Tuesday whether VW, which has been running plants at below capacity, was open to making military equipment, Mr Blume said: First off, I think, given the current geopolitical situation, what we are seeing now in Germany and Europe is exactly the right decisions, in the sense that we need to invest more in order to be safe again.

We are not in specific talks about what Volkswagen can do. My take on it is, if there was the option of military vehicles going forward, we would have to look at the concepts.

We did that in the past. Volkswagen Group has automotive competence. We are ready to provide consultancy and advice.

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But where we are, this is just open-ended and initiatives will be brought forward by the defence industry more than anything.

Increased demand caused by the prospect of European rearmament has sent shares in German defence companies surging as they ramp up production.

Against this backdrop, some car factories in Germany are being repurposed to make weapons as European manufacturers battle a market that has failed to recover to its pre-Covid levels.

Since 2019, the number of new cars sold across the European Union has plunged from 15.1m to 10.6m, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association.

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German annual car exports have also fallen by half to about 1.2m, amid fierce competition from China  which is now the worlds biggest exporter of cars.

Sander Tordoir, the chief economist at the Centre for European Reform, said building military equipment could provide a new line of business for struggling carmakers.

Pledges to stoke German consumer demand by easing debt brake budget rules and unleashing government stimulus were unlikely to push factories back up to full capacity, he added.

They can do both. Germany has lost half its net car exports, so there is lots of idle capacity to ramp up electric vehicle and military production, Mr Tordoir said.

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The comments by Mr Blume came as VW reported a 15pc slump in profits and warned that growth was likely to remain flat this year as it geared up to produce more electric cars.

It reported profits of 19.1bn for 2024, down from 22.5bn the previous year.

However, VW is also bracing for the impact of tariffs imposed by Mr Trump on Canada and Mexico, where VW produces some cars.

At the same time, the company is amid a radical transformation to make itself more competitive against Chinese brands  a process that involves cutting 35,000 jobs.

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FOX LAKE, Ill. (WGN)  A Volo man faces felony possession of child pornography following an arrest by Fox Lake police, the department announced Monday.

Authorities responded to the 0-100 block of Terra Springs Dr. in Volo following a call regarding an individual allegedly possessing child pornography on his cellular phone. Arriving officers made contact with 48-year-old Paul Rosenquist and, upon investigating, confirmed his cell phone contained images and videos of child pornography.

Paul Rosenquist (Photo: WGN)

Lakeview man wanted for child sex abuse after removing electronic monitor captured

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Authorities also searched Rosenquists home and confiscated additional electronic devices, including his cell phone.

Concering his arrest, the Lake County States Attorneys office charged Rosenquist with two felony counts of possession of child pornography depicting a child under the age of 13.

Additional charges may be pending as the Lake County States Attorneys Cyber Division analyzes all confiscated items.

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A Lake County judge ordered Rosenquist to remain in police custody following an initial court hearing on Monday.

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A Texas National Guardsman observes as Border Patrol agents pat down migrants who have surrendered themselves for processing, May 10, 2023. (Photo by Corrie Boudreaux for Source NM)

A bill that would give the governor authority to limit other states National Guard troops from deploying in Washington, unless they are mobilized by the president, passed the state House on Monday.

House Bill 1321, sponsored by Rep. Sharlett Mena, D-Tacoma, is intended to protect immigrant communities in the state. It follows a statement released by Republican governors from across the country offering National Guard support for President Donald Trumps hardline immigration policies.

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The bill would prevent other states from sending their National Guard troops into Washington to enforce federal laws. Its backers say the bill would not undermine military readiness or disaster response.

House Democrats approved the bill on a 58-37 party-line vote. Democrats say the bill protects the states sovereignty and autonomy.

Without this bill, there is nothing to prevent other states from sending their National Guards here to carry out their own agendas, Mena said. I, for one, do not want an outside armed force in our state enforcing policies that may not be consistent with what we have.

Republicans raised concerns that the bill could be misused by future governors and took issue with an emergency clause that will allow the restrictions to take effect immediately. They also questioned the need for the legislation.

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Not a bad bill, but kind of pointless bill, said Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen.

Gov. Bob Ferguson highlighted Menas bill during his inaugural address in January as an example of legislation he would support this year.

The National Guard is a state-based military force when not activated for federal service and is under the command of the state governor and the president of the United States. Some states also have State Guards which are under state control.

States like Idaho, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Maine and Indiana have laws in place that are similar to the Washington bill.

Republican lawmakers introduced six amendments. None were adopted.

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These amendments would have allowed for the National Guard from other states to come into Washington without the governors permission for certain reasons, such as combatting drug trafficking across state lines, or providing disaster or emergency assistance. They also would have also removed the bills emergency clause.

Walsh proposed an amendment that wouldve rewritten the bill to, among other things, require a Congressional declaration of war before a governor releases the National Guard for an overseas combat deployment.

He argued that his amendment would prevent the states National Guard units from being deployed in ways inconsistent with federal or state priorities.

Mena said the amendment wouldve altered the underlying bill completely and that it had other major defects.

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Democrats say theyve consulted with the states Military Department, the Office of the Attorney General, the Washington State Narcotics Investigators Association and other groups to ensure the bill doesnt have unintended consequences.

We find it important, as do the AGs office and the Military Department, to keep the language in this legislation as simple and broad as we can, said Rep. Darya Farivar, D-Seattle.

The bill now awaits action in the Senate.
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Walmart and Sams Club are once again stepping up in the fight against hunger with the return of their annual Fight Hunger. Spark Change. Campaign. The initiative directly benefits the West Texas Food Bank and its mission to fight food insecurity in the community.

Now in its 12th year, the nationwide initiative supports local hunger relief efforts, including in Midland and Odessa, helping families facing food insecurity gain access to nutritious meals.

The campaign, which runs from March 1 through March 31, provides multiple ways for customers to contribute, both in stores and online:

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Donating at checkout in Walmart and Sams Club stores or rounding up purchases online at Walmart.com and the Walmart app.

Purchasing participating products, with suppliers donating the monetary equivalent of at least one meal per item sold at Walmart and five meals per item sold at Sams Club.

Directly donating to the campaign at this website.

Since its launch in 2014, the Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign has raised over $206 million and helped provide more than 2 billion meals for communities across the U.S. through the Feeding America network of food banks.

For many families in West Texas, hunger remains a pressing issue. The West Texas Food Bank (WTFB), which serves 19 counties, is a key beneficiary of the campaign, ensuring that donations go directly toward feeding children, seniors, and families in the region.

Food insecurity continues to be a challenge in our community, but initiatives like Fight Hunger. Spark Change. Make a real difference, Libby Stephens, CEO of the West Texas Food Bank said.

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Every donation, no matter how small, helps provide meals for those who need them most. We are grateful for Walmart and Sams Clubs commitment to supporting local hunger relief.

Walmart and Sams Club have partnered with Feeding America for over 20 years to address food insecurity across the country. The involvement of 24 major suppliers, including General Mills, Kraft Heinz, Coca-Cola, and Pepsi, ensures that every participating purchase contributes to the cause.

Walmart and Sams Club are committed to helping people live better, and that starts with ensuring access to food, said Julie Gehrki, President of the Walmart Foundation and Senior Vice President of Philanthropy at Walmart. This campaign allows customers to take simple actions that create meaningful change for their communities.

Residents in Midland and Odessa can participate in the campaign by shopping at local Walmart and Sams Club locations, choosing items marked as participating products, or making direct donations to Feeding America and the West Texas Food Bank.

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For every $5 donated, the West Texas Food Bank can provide 10 nutritious meals to those in need. In 2024 alone, the food bank distributed over 13 million pounds of food across West Texas.

For more information about the Fight Hunger. Spark Change. Campaign and how to contribute, visit this website.

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WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (KRON)  Neighbors in Hillside, a Walnut Creek neighborhood, are testing out a parking pilot project to keep the streets cleared of traffic jams.

Annually, around this time of year, people flock to Shell Ridge Open Space for picturesque views of California poppy super blooms expected later this month. The parking restrictions are upsetting to some visitors.

Tire theft suspect caught with 2 loaded magazines, handgun, meth: Santa Clara PD

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Sandwich boards reading Restricted parking and Residential parking only with placard lay flat on landscapes along Sutherland Drive and Virginia Court in Walnut Creek. But starting this past weekend, through the spring, they will be up every Friday morning through Sunday nights, discouraging visitors to Shell Ridge Open Space from parking near homes.

Video filmed of the area during last years California poppy super bloom season shows the traffic congestion caused by people driving into the community to see the flowers.

One resident named Susan has lived in the neighborhood for 35 years and said the problem has worsened over the years.

It became a safety issue, said Susan. We were fearful of wildfires. One occasion I couldnt get out of my driveway because there was just standing traffic.

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In the past year, Susan and other members of the Sutherland Drive and Virginia Court neighborhood committee worked with the City of Walnut Creek, which manages the open space and Contra Costa County, which regulates the roads, for a solution to the program. The result is a pilot program restricting parking with the signs, fliers and an electronic billboard suggesting drivers find alternative parking.

Last year was absolutely horrible and then they had to live it here, said a neighbor named Lana. I had to live it, but I live three blocks away. But Walnut Boulevard, which is a main thoroughfare, is now blocked off with cars.

Though there are several other ways to reach the open space without parking in the neighborhood, some frequent park visitors are upset about being discouraged from parking on public property.

I dont think its right, said a park visitor named Susan. I mean theres public open space. Were paying tax dollars to be able to use this open space. I mean, if you choose to live here, then thats where you choose to live. But these are county streets. Its maintained by the county, and you know, its public space. It should be used by everyone.

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The County Public Works Department said it will evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program after the spring and hopes getting the word out before the super bloom season will prevent the need for any enforcement.

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  A bill that would make torture a Class A felony offense has strong support from city prosecutors and law enforcement. But critics warn it could lead to prosecutorial overreach.

Two recent child death cases have put the spotlight on horrific acts of extreme, prolonged suffering, leading many to argue that Senate Bill 281 is needed. Honolulu Police echoed the support for the bill after last weeks arrest of Sina Pili for the death of her adopted daughter.

Woman arrested in connection to manslaughter of adopted child

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Passing Senate Bill 281 will equip law enforcement with necessary tools to intervene effectively and hold offenders fully accountable. Right now, without this law, we are failing children like Azaeliyah, said Honolulu Police Lt. Deena Thoemmes.

Senate Bill 281 defines torture as the act of causing serious bodily injury to another person within the actors custody or physical control, suspending the minor or vulnerable person by the wrists, ankles, arms, legs, hair or other parts of the body, and forcing the victim to remain in an area unsuitable for human habitation, such as an area where urine or feces are actively present.

Prosecutors are also looking to amend the bill to include starvation, saying it would give them a stronger legal tool to ensure justice in cases of prolonged abuse.

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There are some sick people out there who starve their kids or foster kids and we want to have every tool available to prosecute them, said Steve Alm, Honolulu prosecuting attorney.

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Those who support the bill say it would enable law enforcement to act sooner rather than later.

When they find kids in this situation they dont have to find a bruise, but if they see theyve lost a tremendous amount of weight theyll know, if this bill gets amended as were hoping, it will give them a reason and probable cause to be able to make arrests, to get the kid out of that situation, Alm said.

But the Office of the Public Defender opposes the bill, arguing that existing laws already allow prosecutors to charge extreme abuse adequately. In testimony, they warn the bills language is too broad and could lead to confusion and possible wrongful convictions.

However, prosecutors say the length of time it takes to bring these types of cases to trial, including Isabella Kalua, Geanna Bradley and Peter Boy Kema, which can sometimes take up to a year, demonstrate the care they would take to ensure the investigation is thorough.

We want to make sure were charging the right person and we have all the evidence we need to successfully prosecute these cases, said Tiffany Kaeo, deputy prosecuting attorney and Family Division chief.

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Senate Bill 281 is scheduled for a hearing on the morning of Feb. 11 before the House Committee on Human Services and Homelessness.

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Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Monday lauded her fellow Democrats for showing up while Republicans are hiding from the American people, referring to the GOPs avoidance of in-person town halls.

Warren, in an interview with MSNBCs Alicia Menendez, weighed in on the large numbers of rallygoers attending fellow Sen. Bernie Sanderss (I-Vt.) gatherings across the country, intended to combat the Trump administrations sweeping efforts to overhaul the federal workforce.

Democrats are actually showing up to listen to people, to rally with people, while Republicans are hiding and being told by their leadership, dont go out in public, dont have any town halls, because you might hear how much people dont like what youre doing, Warren said.

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Her remarks come as House Republicans were encouraged to hold more phone or livestreamed town halls after activists have rocked several in-person events. Constituents and protesters alike have expressed frustration about efforts by Trumps Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and key ally Elon Musk to slash federal spending.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and President Trump have both argued the protesters were paid actors funded by Democrats.

Sanders, who has been speaking out against wealth inequality for decades, has taken his message directly to the American people in recent weeks. Hes hosted town halls and rallies in Midwest states, particularly in what he called unstable Republican Congressional Districts, to criticize the administration and DOGE, arguing they are working against the public.

Sanders has seen great success at the rallies, with thousands in attendance. Warren said on air the Vermont senator is rallying around the energy of the American people who did not vote for what the administration is doing.

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People are showing up because Donald Trump, last Tuesday night, said that hes doing all the things hes doing because thats what the American people voted for. And I think people are showing up to say man, we didnt vote for this, she said. We didnt vote for Elon Musk, and we didnt vote to take away nursing home care from seniors.

We didnt vote to undercut our teachers, our students and our public schools, she continued. We didnt vote to say that little babies were not going to get access to the health care that they need.

The Massachusetts Democrat added, People all over this country are saying we want a government that works for us, not just for a handful of millionaires. Thats what this rally was about.

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The Washington County Board on Tuesday approved a $4.5 million settlement in the case involving a sheriffs deputy who fatally shot a suicidal man in 2018 during a standoff in Lake Elmo.

According to the terms of the settlement, William Evans, acting as trustee and next-of-kin for Benjamin Evans, will receive the payment. Of the $4.5 million, $2 million will come from the Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust while the remaining $2.5 million comes from Washington County.

Benjamin Evans, 23, of Lake Elmo, was killed by Washington County Sheriffs Deputy Brian Krook after a standoff that occurred on April 21, 2018. Evans held a handgun to his head for about 45 minutes at an intersection in Lake Elmo around midnight, officials said.

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At one point, Evans turned his head and pointed the handgun at himself, causing the weapon also to be pointed in the direction of law enforcement officers, according to Washington County.

In a statement on the settlement, Washington County officials said: While (they stand) by the actions of (their) deputy as necessary to protect public safety, both parties recognized that a prolonged and costly trial could yield uncertain outcomes.

Washington Countys statement also noted that the settlement does not constitute admission of liability or wrongdoing by Washington County or Deputy Krook.

The attorney representing Evans family, Elham Haddon of Sandberg Law Firm in Rochester, said Tuesday that the case was slated to go to trial in mid-February, but both sides agreed that settling was the best option.

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All I can say is the family is relieved to put this behind them and to move on with their lives, Haddon said. It was a very, very tough fight, and I think everybody is happy with the result that we got.

Most of the money from the settlement will go to Lydia Rose Evans, Evans 8-year-old daughter, who lives in St. Louis with her mother, Bill Evans said. The rest will be divided between Benjamin Evans parents, who are divorced, and two of his siblings, Evans said.

In some ways, you would like the vindication of having a win in court, but, by the same token, we wanted to make sure that Lydia was taken care of, he said. The biggest part of the whole settlement is, you know, to take care of her.

Constant travel to Minnesota for court hearings also was taking its toll, said Evans, who lives in St. Louis. Its nice to be at the end of it because were not having to travel and come up again and again and again, he said. Every time you come up, youre reliving the loss. Its bad enough just thinking of it daily and missing him.

Public servant

Bill Evans and Kim Porter, Evans mother, said their son was a dedicated public servant  a firefighter and an EMT who had moved to Lake Elmo just a few months before he was killed to take a job as a paid, on-call firefighter with the Lake Elmo Fire Department.

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He was a Certified Firefighter 1 and 2, a Firefighter Instructor 1 and a Fire Officer 1, said Evans, who spent 36 years as a paramedic and a firefighter. He was well on his way to a great fire career.

After studying fire and paramedic science at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo., for three years, Benjamin Evans was making plans to continue his paramedic schooling in Minnesota, Bill Evans said.

His passion in life was to serve, he said. Thats how he signed his emails.

His son, he said, should not have been killed that night.

Before (Krook) started shooting, Ben said, Can I have a phone and call my father? Evans said. If he would have called me, I would have said, Ben, tell them right now that youre going to put the firearm down very gently. Put it down on the ground, and step back away from it. I will come to Minnesota, and well work this all out. Dont worry about it. And he would have. Theres no doubt in my mind that that young man would have listened. Without a doubt, he would have done it. Thats just who he was. But he didnt get that chance.

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Krook, a 15-year veteran of the department, was acquitted of manslaughter in 2020 by a Washington County jury.

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In December 2020, Evans family sued Krook, Washington County Sheriff Dan Starry, the Washington County Sheriffs Office, Sgt. Michelle Folendorf, Deputy Joshua Ramirez and Deputy Michael Ramos. The other defendants in the case were dismissed either by the court or voluntarily by the plaintiff after Krook filed a motion for summary judgment.

In 2023, U.S. District Judge Michael Davis denied Krooks motion for summary judgment. A month later, Washington County officials appealed a portion of Davis order.

Krook has been employed by Washington County since March 15, 2010. He is currently assigned as a patrol deputy and is a canine handler. He also serves as a SWAT officer, county officials said Tuesday.
Gov. Bob Ferguson makes his way through the room prior to being sworn in on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the Washington state Capitol in Olympia, Wash. (Photo by Ryan Berry/Washington State Standard)

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson on Tuesday pledged to restrict his use of emergency powers following the apparent collapse of a Republican-led effort to have the Legislature do so.

Ferguson said if a state of emergency exceeds 60 days while the Legislature is out of session, he would end the declaration, or any order arising from it, upon receiving a written request from three of the four leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives.

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And if an emergency declaration is in force longer than 120 days and the Legislature is not in session, Ferguson said he will call a special session to give lawmakers an opportunity to terminate it.

Reform is necessary to protect Washingtonians in times of emergency while ensuring an appropriate balance between the branches of government, the first-term Democratic governor said in a statement.

Its clear that the Legislature will not adopt bipartisan legislation to place reasonable limits on the Governors emergency powers, he said, adding the policy would be in effect throughout his tenure unless bipartisan legislation amending emergency powers is passed.

Debate over the issue stems from Republican criticism of former Gov. Jay Inslees use of emergency powers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ferguson released his statement hours after the Standard reported that a Republican state senators bill installing new guardrails on a governors emergency powers was unlikely to be voted out of the Senate by a Wednesday deadline.

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A key Democratic senator said Fergusons failure to work on possible wording changes with Senate Democrats, who hold the majority in the chamber, is a reason Senate Bill 5434 has yet to get a vote.

Ferguson and his staff did not provide a comment for the earlier story.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro-Woolley, originally said if the Legislature is not in session, and if more than 90 days have passed since a governor declared a state of emergency, the majority and minority leaders of the Senate and the speaker and minority leader of the House of Representatives can end it with a written agreement.

Changes crafted with Ferguson advisors said if the Legislature is not in session, two of the four members of House and Senate leadership could ask the governor in writing to convene a special session. The governor would have 15 days to consider the request and call a special session. If one is not called, orders would automatically end.

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Wagoner, in a statement, praised Fergusons action but suggested legislation is still needed.

It demonstrates his sincere understanding of the issue of unchecked governors emergency powers and the important role the Legislature plays, he said. This is a win for Washingtons citizens but, it is a perishable win. The Legislature needs to codify similar provisions into law.
The Washington attorney general claims in a new lawsuit that the sheriff in rural Adams County has been breaking state law for at least three years by helping federal immigration officers round up and collect information on suspected undocumented residents.

And since the election of President Donald Trump, Sheriff Dale J. Wagner has taken the position that the Keep Washington Working Act, a state law passed in 2019, is illegal, the lawsuit states.

The law, passed with bipartisan support, restricts the ability of local authorities to participate in the enforcement of federal immigration law.

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The State cannot stand by when elected officials publicly boast that they are breaking state law and putting their own communities at risk, Attorney General Nick Brown said in the lawsuit, which was filed Monday in Spokane County Superior Court.

Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner.

Wagner, however, disagrees.

The states restrictions attempt to tie the hands of law enforcement, making it harder to cooperate with federal agencies that help keep dangerous individuals off our streets, Wagner wrote in a statement posted to Facebook on Monday. Public safety should never be a political issue, yet this lawsuit prioritizes ideology over the safety of our communities.

According to the state in the lawsuit, the law allows law enforcement agencies to focus on their core duties of public safety by protecting all residents fairly and building trust with the community.

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Adams County is in the southeast part of the state, about 80 miles south of Spokane.

The lawsuit sets the stage for another legal showdown as the Trump administration takes aim at sanctuary cities and states that decline to cooperate with large-scale deportation of migrants.

But the Washington case differs from ongoing cases in Louisiana and Indiana where the state attorneys general have gone after sheriffs departments that have refused to cooperate with ICE operations.

Defending the Adams County Sheriffs Office and the county, the other defendant named in the lawsuit, are lawyers from America First Legal, an organization co-founded by Trump aide Stephen Miller.

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Stephen Millers extreme views on immigrants are no secret, the lawsuit states. He has repeated white nationalist talking points and is responsible for shaping some of the Trump Administrations harshest immigration policies.

In 2019, the Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights group, received a trove of emails from before the 2016 election in which Miller cited and promoted white nationalist ideologies of white genocide, immigrants as criminals and other views.

In a statement released on Feb. 26, before the lawsuit was filed, America Legal First confirmed it was already helping Adams County defend itself against the unlawful and abusive effort by Washington state officials to enforce illegal and dangerous sanctuary laws.

Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown speaks outside court in Seattle on Feb. 28.

On Feb. 20, a law firm allied with American Legal First urged Brown not to sue the sheriffs office or Adams County.

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Federal law is supreme over state law, and Adams County cannot discriminate against the federal government and its immigration enforcement efforts, nor can the County impede these efforts, as the Sanctuary State Statute requires, attorney Joel B. Ard wrote in a letter to Brown.

Brown, in the lawsuit, insisted that Washington has the right and the responsibility to decide for itself how to use its own resources to keep residents safe and the economy strong.

The federal government has no authority to coerce or direct local law enforcement for its own purposes, the lawsuit states.

NBC News reached out to Wagner, who has been the Adams County sheriff since 2015, for comment about the lawsuit. He is the top law enforcement officer in a part of the state where agriculture is the main industry and more than half of the 20,000-plus residents are Hispanic.

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Brown, in the lawsuit, charges that Wagners deputies have unlawfully held people in custody based solely on their immigration status.

They have gone out of their way to enable federal immigration agents to interview or question people in custody, including transporting people in county vehicles expressly for that purpose, the suit states.

Also, Wagners deputies have proactively and routinely shared the nonpublic, personal information of hundreds of Washingtonians  including birth dates, home addresses, drivers license numbers, and fingerprints  with federal immigration officials, the suit states. All of this conduct expressly violates state law.

Brown said that the countys refusal to comply with the Keep Washington Working Act (KWW) is an anomaly in the state and that his office has, since last year, been engaged in good faith settlement negotiations in the hopes of resolving the case without costly litigation.

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But the inauguration of President Donald Trump in January 2025 changed things, the suit states. Adams County and the Sheriff took a new approach  rather than comply with KWW, they now claim it is illegal.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
AURORA, Colo. (KDVR)  A dashboard camera captured the moment a road closure gate swung open on Interstate 70, hitting a vehicle driving by.

FOX31 learned the Colorado Department of Transportation wont cover the damages.

Heather Rogges dash camera captured the moment when her husband drove her home from work on I-70 near the Aurora/Watkins line.

That gate just opened right up right in front of him and there was no way that he could stop in time, Rogge said. Hes going 75 miles an hour. Theres a car on his right. So he tries to stop as much as he can. He tries to veer over as much as he can. But it still caught the side and the front of the Silverado all the way down. It just opened us up like a tin can.

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Man caught on camera using a lighter before garage bursts into flames

Pictures show the damage to the truck quoted as an $8,880 repair job back when it happened in December.

We thought for sure that they would take care of it, we didnt have anything to worry about, Rogge said. The CDOT guy that came down and talked to us when we were on the side of the road, he gave us a card and theyre like, Theyll take care of you. So we thought everything was going to be fine.

However, eight weeks later, Rogge received a letter.

Eight weeks later, they sent us a letter in the mail saying that they are not liable because they didnt know it was a problem beforehand, Rogge told FOX31.

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The letter acknowledges the gate that dislodged and swung open during high winds on I-70. It also states our investigation with CDOT does not reveal prior knowledge of an issue with the gate in that location, or that CDOT failed to act within a reasonable amount of time. Therefore, we must respectfully deny this claim.

We didnt have the foresight, we didnt have a crystal ball to see that you were going to get in an accident, so therefore, were not liable, Rogge said. That doesnt sit well for me. And thank God that we were in a Silverado because it saved us. Had we been in a smaller car or a motorcycle, Im sure there would have been some serious injury.

FOX31 sent the video and Rogges predicament to representatives with CDOT in an email shortly before 10:30 a.m. We followed up with a phone call and voicemail at 1:30 p.m. We will share any responses we receive from CDOT 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 FOX31 Denver.
Credit: Facebook/Abu Wadee

An alleged Palestinian militant charged with entering the UK illegally on a small boat has been filmed throwing pipe bombs at Israeli forces.

Footage obtained by The Telegraph shows Abu Wadee, 31, throwing two pipe bombs during night clashes with Israeli forces in the desert in 2021.

Wadee is understood to be a former key member of a militant group who has called for the slaughter of all Jews and posed with AK-47s.

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He was remanded into custody at Manchester magistrates court, charged with illegal entry to the UK after being arrested on Sunday night.

Speaking through an interpreter, he told the court: I will die in prison. The situation in the cell is difficult, especially during Ramadan. He shook his head as he was handcuffed and taken away.

Wadee, whose real name is believed to be Mosab Al Qasas and who is from the city of Khan Younis in Gaza, is thought to have been one of 235 migrants picked up on four small boats in the Channel on Thursday morning.

He triggered a security scare after he posted a video of himself flicking a V for victory sign at the front of a boat packed with migrants in orange life jackets.

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The alleged militant has 170,000 TikTok followers. He also has a YouTube channel followed by 189,000 subscribers, which collects money via PayPal. The video of him throwing pipe bombs was posted on his Facebook page in June 2021.

Abu Wadee (second left) and his unit posing with a shell and pipe bombs

Joe Truzman, a terrorism expert and the editor of the Long War Journal, who has tracked Wadee for more than seven years, said the Palestinian was affiliated with terror groups in Gaza.

Pictures also obtained by The Telegraph show Wadee with Mustafa al-Zaqout, aka Abu Suheib, the leader of a Hamas-aligned terror group called the Al-Qadir al-Husseini Brigades.

Mr Truzman said Wadee came to prominence in 2018 when there were riots and demonstrations on the border with Israel.

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He said he was a part of a group, or unit made up of young men, organised by terror groups who would foment violence at the Gaza-Israel border.

Photos appear to show Wadee travelling in a small boat to the UK with other migrants - X

He is lucky he wasnt killed. These units would set fires and throw IEDs at Israeli soldiers during clashes at the border. There is evidence of Abu Wadih holding a pipe bomb, said Mr Truzman.

Other pictures show him with a group and what appears to be a large shell. The protests were called the Great March of Return, and lasted from 2018 to 2022.

Abu Wadee was openly part of these clashes, and he posted a lot of what he did on Facebook. During this period, he became a minor celebrity in Gaza. He describes himself as a revolutionary for the Palestinian cause.

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There are pictures online of him with known terrorists, and there is a video of him sitting with the leader of a small terrorist organisation called the Abd al-Qadir al-Husseini Brigades, who are allied with Hamas and have been involved in various conflicts over the years, including the most recent war.

I believe Abu Wadee left Gaza around 2021, and he went to Syria and then to Switzerland, and now he has made his way across to England. The UK authorities could not have looked at his social media because it would have raised immediate red flags. They must do their due diligence and look into him.

Joe Truzman, a terrorism expert, says Wadee describes himself as a revolutionary for the Palestinian cause - Facebook

Wadees social media feeds show him at a rally railing against Jews, adding that his loftiest aspiration is to die for the sake of Allah.

He posted an anti-Jew video on his Facebook page last September, ranting: Allah, kill them one by one, and dont leave a single one. Allah, destroy them completely, disperse them completely and make the earth fall from under their feet.

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The Tories have raised concerns that Wadee could use human rights laws to stay in the UK. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said: I am concerned this despicable man will make spurious human rights or other claims to try to stay in the UK  which weak immigration judges are all too likely to accept, based on past form.

I am glad the authorities have tracked him down, but he should never have been able to get here in the first place.

A Government spokesman said: The Government is committed to ending small boat crossings, which undermine our border security, and restoring order to the asylum system to ensure that the rules are respected and enforced.

The British public can be reassured that we take all steps necessary at all times to protect the nations security, including taking action in the Border Security Bill to give the police and immigration officers stronger powers to act where anyone poses a threat.

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The Telegraph revealed on Monday that Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, is to introduce legal changes so that dangerous foreign nationals who use human rights laws to avoid deportation will be tagged like suspected terrorists to protect the public.

She will announce powers in her Border Security Bill this week to impose electronic tags, night-time curfews and exclusion zones on foreign nationals who cannot be removed from the UK. They will face the restrictions if they have committed a crime or are deemed a threat to the British public even if they have no convictions.

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 Trump joined tech billionaire and adviser Elon Musk on Tuesday at the White House, where he bought a Tesla vehicle.

Im gonna buy because number one, its a great product. As good as it gets. Number two, because this man [Elon Musk] has devoted his energy and his life to doing this, and I think he has been treated unfairly, Trump told reporters.

Several vehicles, including a Cybertruck, were parked outside the White House Tuesday. The president also discussed with reporters the war in Ukraine, his tariffs on Canada and Mexico, and Musks role in his administration.

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Watch the video above.

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WAUKESHA - The two candidates for Waukesha County Circuit Court's Branch 6 judge seat can see the problems facing the judiciary, particularly in a political realm in which every decision is questioned for bias.

Fred Strampe and Zach Wittchow also see problems if judges stray from the rule of law or fail to uphold another central tenant of the job: protecting society from lawbreakers.

It's with those elements in mind that they are campaigning to win the seat that will be vacated by Judge Brad Schimel, who is running for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

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The Journal Sentinel interviewed both candidates in an email exchange to solicit their views on particular points and what they feel the issues are. Generally, there was agreement, but each felt their background makes them the better choice.

Fred Strampe

Fred Strampe

Age: 57

Education: 1990 B.S. from the United States Military Academy at West Point; 1997 J.D. from University of Wisconsin-Madison

Profession and previous jobs: Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge (Branch 7), Jan. 1 to July 31, 2023; attorney at Borgelt, Powell, Peterson & Frauen, Milwaukee, 1997 to 2022 and August 2023 to present; U.S. Army infantry officer in Germany, 1991 to 1994

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Years of judicial experience: Seven months

Zach Wittchow

Zach Wittchow

Age: 36

Education: 2011 B.A. from Northwestern University; 2014 J.D. from Marquette Law School

Profession and previous jobs: Assistant District Attorney, Waukesha County, 2019 to present; assistant district attorney, Milwaukee County, 2014 to 2019

Years of judicial experience: None

Strampe and Wittchow share concerns about political strain on judiciary

The candidates acknowledge they have seen and felt the controversies that have engulfed courtrooms in political waves of acrimony, especially during elections. But elected judges, regardless of claims of bias, must stick to the principals of law, deciding on cases fairly in accordance with the laws they are interpreting.

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"Partisanship has become a significant challenge within the judiciary," Strampe said. "The last two State Supreme Court elections clearly illustrate how political agendas are driving judicial races. Waukesha County needs qualified judges who prioritize the facts and the law, not preconceived political ideologies. For judicial candidates, the primary challenge in todays political climate is convincing voters to evaluate their qualifications and experience without attaching a partisan label."

Under the current climate, judges might be judged unfairly as biased, even when their decisions are rooted in law, Strampe acknowledged. The key is to stick to the law.

"The true challenge for sitting judges is to remain steadfast in applying the law and facts, even when their decisions are unpopular," he said.

Wittchow voiced similar sentiments, but he sees the problem escalating to a dangerous level.

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"The biggest challenge that circuit court judges face in the current political climate is the threat to judicial independence," Wittchow said. "That threat is manifested by an uptick in violence and threats of violence directed toward judges. This is true at both the state and federal levels."

He noted that U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts included examples of violence or threats of violence involving judges in his 2024 year-end report. Those examples include the murder of retired Juneau County Circuit Court Judge John Roemer, who was found zip-tied to a chair, a violent reaction to an adverse ruling.

"But the threat to judicial independence doesnt just come from threats and violence," Wittchow added. "It also stems from public officials and media institutions claiming that a judge is politically biased  without providing evidence for their claims  when those officials and institutions dislike a judge's decision."

A judge's role? Candidates stress 'fairness,' but what does it mean?

On the surface, one term that Strampe and Wittchow voice is a standard among all judges: fairness. The problem is that people take that concept and sometimes try to apply it differently based on their own points of view. So the candidates try to make it clear how they view fairness.

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"In daily practice, I will ensure that the parties in my courtroom are treated fairly," Wittchow said. "But its important to keep in mind that fairness cannot be measured in outcomes. Instead, fairness comes from an equal opportunity to pursue justice through a predictable, efficient process, while abiding by predetermined rules that apply evenly to all parties. To that end, I will hold parties accountable to the rules of evidence, the rules of criminal and civil procedure, and to the rules of professional conduct for attorneys."

He said he will also practice "judicial restraint," interpreting and applying law, not trying to legislate, and remain true to constitutional law in the state and nation.

Strampe stressed that fairness depends in part by consistently applying the law, keeping in mind that the courts serve a crucial function.

"The judge's role is to protect the community by enforcing the law," he said. "This requires judges who know the lawand apply it to the facts of each case. A society based on the rule of law must have judges who treat everyone fairly and apply the law evenly. Neither our society nor our government can be effective if the law is applied inconsistently or sporadically. Therefore, judges must consistently enforce the rule of law by applying the law to the facts."

Strampe has some experience as a judge; both have served in key roles

How important is it for a candidate to have previously served as a judge? Or for a candidate to have served in courtrooms in an extensive array of criminal cases as a prosecutor? Those are two questions that reflect the contrast in this race.

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Strampe points to his recent experience, a seven-month stint in 2023 for the county's Branch 7 judicial seat, as giving him an edge in his campaign for the Branch 6 seat. He was appointed by Evers to fill the vacant spot that resulted from Judge Maria Lazar's election to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. Strampe subsequently lost an election for the seat to Cody Horlacher.

"My broad life experiences and legal expertise make me the most qualified candidate," he said. "I am the only candidate who has served as a judge. Ive presided over multiple trials, decided dozens of motions, and sentenced hundreds of defendants."

Strampe also points to his experience as an attorney in private practice, involving countless civil cases over more than 25 years. His background has made him a resource, he added.

"Because of my expertise, I am regularly invited to present to lawyers and law students on trial tactics, the rules of evidence, and other legal issues," he said. "Additionally, my experiences at West Point and as an Infantry Officer in the Army have given me significant experience working with people from diverse backgrounds in a variety of situations."

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For Wittchow, the difference that sets him apart is his role in criminal cases working in district attorney's offices in Waukesha and Milwaukee counties since 2014.

"Ive spent over a decade prosecuting all the types of crime that circuit court judges see on a daily basis," Wittchow said. "Ive locked up drug dealers, rapists, carjackers, and murderers. Ive balanced the need to incarcerate societys most dangerous criminals with the publics desire to efficiently administer their tax dollars. I know how to determine the seriousness of a given case, and I know how to use the tools at my disposal to protect the public in a firm but nuanced manner."

His work in criminal law also makes him well suited for a role as a judge, he said. The proof is others in Waukesha County who moved from prosecutor to gavel holders in recent years, "people like Judge Brad Schimel and Judge Jennifer Dorow, current and former candidates for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Or Judge Ralph Ramirez, who was named 2021 Judge of the Year by the State Bar Associations Bench and Bar Committee."

"These judges prove that prosecutors, tested in the crucible of high-volume trial practice, are well suited to transfer their mastery of the rules of evidence and procedure to other areas of the law," Wittchow said.

Candidates discuss handling high-profile cases, as Bohren and Dorow did

Given the particular seat both are vying for, it seems worthy to question how Strampe and Wittchow view a judge's role in presiding over notorious cases  that is, criminal cases with national and even international attention. It was Judge Michael Bohren who sat behind the bench of the Slender Man attempted murder proceedings involving both Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier for more than a decade and Dorow who navigated the Darrell Brooks trial.

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Both see the importance of balancing public access with defendants' rights.

Wittchow can relate all too well to the courtroom drama spiced by public interest. He was among the prosecutors during the Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy proceedings, in which Brooks was eventually convicted on 76 criminal counts.

"One of the things Im most proud of is how our team handled that balance," Wittchow said. "There isnt a silver bullet to answer this question  every case is going to be different, and decisions will be fact intensive. You have to start with the proposition that the public gains enormous benefit from public court proceedings."

But not at the expense of conducting a fair trial, he said, adding "criminal defendants have a due process right to a fair trial, and each case requires a judge to balance the public's right to openness with a defendant's constitutional rights."

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In Brooks' case, when the question of whether a change of venue was in order outside the county, then-Waukesha District Attorney Sue Opper suggested creating a detailed questionnaire to send to the Waukesha County jury pool in 2022. That enabled Dorow and defense and prosecuting attorneys to weed out prospective jurors who had their minds made up, Wittchow said. That solution allowed the public access locally for a case that mattered to them while not trading off Brooks' rights.

For his part, Strampe also sees the court's ability to do both  in fact, he doesn't see a conflict if a judge understands his job.

"The defendant's right to a fair trial is not inconsistent with the need for public court proceedings," Strampe said. "When a judge consistently applies the facts of the case to the law, there is no need to balance the publics interest with the defendant's right to fair proceedings  they naturally align when the rule of law is followed."

There may be times when a judge must close to the courtroom, he added. Such instances could include confidential conversations, the rights of juveniles in criminal proceedings and other factors. At that point, Strampe said the judge must be transparent to help ensure the public's interest is also in play.

"If any court business must be conducted in closed court, the judge must ensure that the reason for the closed hearing is clearly stated and made part of the record. After the closed session, the judge should explain, as much as possible, what decisions were made and why," Strampe said.

(Editors note, 3/11/25: This story was corrected to specify that the Branch 6 seat is being vacated by Judge Brad Schimel.)

Contact reporter Jim Riccioli at james.riccioli@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Strampe and Wittchow seek Waukesha County Branch 6 judge seat
There is a contradiction deep within American capital punishment, driven by the stubborn fact of the Eighth Amendment: Its licit for the government to kill peoplethe torture of all torturesbut not to subject them to additional pain, a protection from lesser suffering in service of greater suffering. From this confusion arises the necessity of relatively painless executions. The same people who are holding death-row prisoners captive in claustrophobic cells are the ones responsible for ensuring their comfort en route to their destruction. With that mission in mind, states are now pillaging the past for an execution method that will satisfy legal challenges based on undue suffering while still accomplishing the penaltys aim.

On Friday, South Carolina executed Brad Sigmon by firing squad; Sigmon had been convicted of the 2001 murder of his ex-girlfriends parents. This marked the first use of a firing squad in 15 years, the previous instance having taken place in Utah in 2010. Peculiar and violent methods of execution seem to capture the publics imagination in a way that the death penalty itself does not: A person may support capital punishment in theory but balk at the means of actually achieving that end, which requires something more visceral than abstract assent. Accordingly, considerable media attention last week was given to the return of the firing squadthe case was thoroughly covered domestically, and even picked up by the BBCbut the next shooting execution wont garner half as much. Unless the culture changes to reject the death penalty, new techniques, or revived and refurbished old ones, will continue to come and go.

During his execution, Sigmon was strapped into a gray chair in a steel basin with a target fixed over his chest and a hood covering his head. Witnesses watched through an observation window as the gunmen, hidden behind a wall with a cutout for rifle barrels, fired their weapons from 15 feet away and destroyed the target above Sigmons heart. A doctor pronounced Sigmon dead at 6:08 p.m.

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[Elizabeth Bruenig: What it means to forgive the unforgivable]

As in many executing states, Sigmon was permitted to choose among three execution methods to end his life: lethal injection, electrocution, and the firing squad. He elected to be shot, citing concerns about the past several lethal injections in South Carolina, which were characterized by significant mistakes: Of particular note, a prisoner executed last month was found to have been incorrectly dosed with lethal chemicals, and his lungs were determined upon autopsy to be massively swollen with blood and fluids, according to a court filing by Sigmons legal team.

Firing-squad executions of civilians have been historically rarethe first took place in the American colonies in 1608, and since then, only 144 people have been executed by shooting. Drawing data-based conclusions about its merits relative to more widely used execution methods is therefore difficult. But Sigmon was probably right that the firing squad represents a faster and more reliable way to die than both the pseudoscientific methods produced in modernity (electrocution, gas, and lethal injection) and more antique methods such as hanging and old-world burning. In her chapter of the 2024 book The Elgar Companion to Capital Punishment and Society, the professor and legal scholar Deborah Denno points out that an electrocardiogram test conducted during a firing-squad execution in 1938 found that the prisoners heart stopped within seconds of being shot, and that the prisoner was pronounced dead only two minutes later. Denno adds that in one of the most medically exhaustive analyses of various execution methods, the British scientist Harold Hillman concluded that execution by firing squad featured among the lowest levels of potential pain.

Nevertheless, firing-squad executions were eventually superseded by methods thought to be less bloodynamely lethal injection, which arrived in the late 1970s as a medicalized and respectable means of execution analogized by some to putting animals to sleep. But the putative progress of lethal injection belied its propensity for cruel and horrific botches. Consider the 2018 case of Doyle Hamm, whose attempted execution via lethal injection lasted for roughly three hours, during which he was pierced with needles at least 11 times in the legs, feet, and groin; one needle punctured his bladder. As a result, lethal injection has been the subject of fierce litigation, which has culminated in a convincing impeachment of the technique in the publics mind.

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That litigation has also led to a particular legal development involving challenges on the grounds of the executional method: A prisoner protesting a particular method must supply a readily available alternative, which motivates states to develop protocols for additional methods. Thus lethal injection itself may soon be superseded by firing squad or suffocation via nitrogen hypoxia. The churn of old methods and new will continue indefinitely as states fight to continue executions by whatever means necessary.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
A Texas Twp. couple face charges after trying to implicate others, including their son, for posting a vulgar comment about their daughters online in an attempt to cover up their own involvement, police said.

On June 11, Jennifer Ryan obtained a protection-from-intimidation order against Lana Walker, protecting Ryan and her children from harassment and threats from Walker, according to a criminal complaint.

About a month later, Jennifer and Anthony Ryan told detectives that Walker violated the order by posting lewd content about their daughters on Facebook and expressed their desire to press charges against her, police said.

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Walker told investigators she didnt post the message and that the Facebook page where it originated didnt belong to her, detectives wrote in the complaint. Additionally, Walker told detectives she believed Jennifer Ryan created the Facebook page and made the harassing post to try to get her in trouble, investigators said.

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Anthony Ryan (Courtesy Wayne County Detectives)

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Jennifer Ryan (Courtesy Wayne County Detectives)

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Jennifer Ryan (Courtesy Wayne County Detectives)

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Anthony Ryan (Courtesy Wayne County Detectives)

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Anthony Ryan (Courtesy Wayne County Detectives)

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Detectives executed multiple search warrants and learned that the IP address  a numeric designation that identifies its location on the internet  used to post the content online came back to Jennifer and Anthony Ryan.

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Jennifer Ryan denied having any involvement and told detectives that Walker had access to her Wi-Fi account, investigators said.

After being told more search warrants would be executed to see who was responsible, the Ryans asked detectives to stop the investigation and told them they no longer wanted to press charges. But the detectives moved forward, according to the criminal complaint.

When further pressed about the matter, the Ryans said their son was responsible for posting the content, police said.

However, when detectives interviewed him, they discovered Jennifer and Anthony Ryan were implicating their son in a crime he didnt commit in an attempt to conceal their own involvement, investigators said.

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Anthony Ryan later admitted creating the Facebook account in Walkers name and posting the content, according to the criminal complaint.

The Ryans also said it was a 50/50 decision between them to place the blame on their son, police said.

Detectives charged Jennifer Ryan, 40, with endangering the welfare of a child and false reports to law enforcement.

Anthony Ryan, 43, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, identity theft, tampering with physical evidence and false reports to law enforcement.

The Ryans were released on $50,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday at 9 a.m.
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  A local organization is collecting feminine hygiene products to honor Womens History Month and benefit Youngstown and Warren City schools.

For the month of March, the Raymond John Wean Foundation is collecting menstrual products such as pads, tampons and liners.

Donations must be in their original packaging and can be dropped off in the main lobby at the Wean Foundations office at 147 West Market Street in downtown Warren. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

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The items will go to representatives at Warren G. Harding High School, Chaney High School and Inspiring Minds who will distribute them to individuals who need them.

In a press release Monday, Wean Foundation President Jennifer Roller said the inability to afford period products can contribute to missed school days.

From elevating the works of historic women to shopping at women-owned businesses, there is so much one can do to honor Womens History Month. This drive is our way of honoring Womens History Month and supporting menstruating individuals in our community, Roller said.

Any questions about the drive can be emailed to info@weanfoundation.org

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WESTVILLE, Ill. (WCIA)  The warmer weather may be a relief for some, but fire officials, both nationally and locally, have their concerns.

The National Weather Service issued a warning to Central Illinois saying that the dry, windy and warm weather increases the risk for fire.

The Westville Area Fire Protection District saw these dangers come to life as they fought two field fires on Sunday.

As soon as the wind picks up, or the wind changes, you dont know where the embers from that fire are going to go, said Assistant Fire Chief Matt Shuey.

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Taylorville home destroyed by fire, cause under investigation

The first fire from the weekend caused minimal damage, but the second, southeast of the village, burned about five acres before it was extinguished.

Shuey said it was started by an unattended burn that got out of control. He urged people to be cautious in these conditions to make sure they dont start a spark.

The low humidity is a factor, but a bigger factor than that is the wind conditions, Shuey said. Here in the Midwest, we know that the winds can change at any point.

Time of day is also something to be mindful of.

When youre burning at night, youre never going to stay until everything is out, Shuey said. Youre going to think, Well its good, and youre going to walk away.

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Rather than walking away while a fire is still going, he said that there should be no flames, embers or smoke left behind.

If its got something that the heat can latch onto and the wind to help drive it, itll spread and then off it goes, Shuey said.

Chatham Fire Dept. investigating apartment fire

Theres no telling how far, or how fast, a field fire can spread once it starts.

In rural areas, where most firefighters are volunteers, its important to keep in mind how quickly flames can spread before theyre able to get on site.

Depending on the time of day, if its first thing in the morning, mid-afternoon, in the evenings, you dont know who youre going to get, Shuey said. Because, again, were all 100% volunteers.

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Shuey said its best to hold off starting fires until the wind dies down. In the case that someone does need to burn, however, he said they should have water nearby to put out the flames if needed. If it becomes too much to handle, always call 911.

Shuey also said that with daylight savings time beginning, its a perfect time to check smoke alarms. They should be looked at twice a year to ensure that they will alert people in potentially dangerous situations.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Wendy Williams has been rushed to the hospital to undergo cognitive evaluation, days after sparking concerns with her desperate plea for help from fans.

Amid her aphasia and frontotemporal dementia battle, William has been staying at an assisted living facility, which she has often likened to a "prison."

Wendy Williams is looking to end her guardianship, which she has been under for more than two years, and is reportedly keen on securing lawyer Joe Tacopina's services.

Wendy Williams Undergoes Test To Determine Her Mental Capabilities

MEGA

Williams was unexpectedly rushed out of her assisted living facility on Monday to undergo a cognitive evaluation at the Lenox Hill Hospital.

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The former talk show host was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia in 2023 before her care team announced that she'd been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia in 2024 "after undergoing a battery of medical tests."

According to the Daily Mail, she was led out to an ambulance and will be taking a medical exam to determine if she is well enough to end her guardianship.

Around 11:15 am that morning, she seemingly sparked concerns after dropping a note to paparazzi from her fifth floor room, which allegedly read "Help! Wendy!!"

Her Family Believes 'This Is The Beginning Of The End Of This Nightmare'

MEGA

A family source shared that the move is seen as a relief for the former "Wendy Williams Show" host, as she sees the medical intervention as a rescue effort.

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"The family has been waiting for today for many years," a source told the news outlet. "This is the beginning of the end of this nightmare. Wendy is so grateful for her family and friends who have fought so hard to put an end to all of this. Those who are responsible will be held accountable."

Another source told TMZ that "a caregiver not associated with the guardianship" ordered the trip and test for Williams amid concerns over her confined lifestyle.

Wendy Williams' Fight To End Guardianship

Instagram Stories | Kevin Hunter Jr.

The daytime talk show host is seeking to end her years-long court-ordered guardianship and reportedly thinks she has the man for the job in legal wizard Joe Tacopina.

Tacopina confirmed that Williams had contacted him during his appearance as a guest on the 2 Angry Men podcast with Harvey and Mark Geragos.

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He expressed his disdain for her living arrangement, particularly stating that murderers have more freedom than the legendary TV personality.

As the show continued, Harvey got a text from someone in Williams' camp asking him to take a look at a Vanity Fair article in which Williams' guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, spoke out.

The report seemingly annoyed him as he read one of Morrissey's quotes that said, "Nobody's saying that Wendy can't leave a building," noting how she's been able to travel to Florida twice: once for her son's college graduation and a second time for her dad's birthday.

The Former Talk Show Host Claims She's Living In A 'Prison'

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In a recent chat over the phone with "Nightline" co-anchor Byron Pitts, Williams talked about her living condition at the New York care facility where she has been staying, likening it to a "prison."

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"How am I doing? I'm still in prison, so to speak," she told Pitts, per ABC News. "As I said, because it's a fact, this is the memory unit. That's what this floor is called, the memory unit. And it is true that these people who live here don't remember anything."

She added, "Look, I don't belong here at all. This is ridiculous." Elsewhere during their conversation, Williams also slammed reports of her ailing health with dementia.

"Frontotemporal dementia? Uh, how dare you. And I'm not saying you, because I've been accused of having that," Williams said. "And how do you prove it by keeping me locked here so that you can't I can't see, look. I can't go out."

Wendy Williams Disputes Her Legal Guardian's Claims

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Williams has been living under a legal guardianship that oversees her finances and health since 2022.

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She has continually disputed her court-appointed guardian, Morrissey's, claims that suggest she's "cognitively impaired, permanently disabled, and legally incapacitated."

"I am not cognitively impaired, but I feel like I am in prison," Williams said on The Breakfast Club in January. "I'm in this place with people who are in their 90s and their 80s and their 70s. .... These people, there's something wrong with these people here on this floor. I am clearly not."

She also explained that the elevators in the facility are locked, visitors are restricted, and she is unable to come and go as she pleases, while adding that she is unaware of what medications the facility is administering to her.
DOTHAN, Ala. (WDHN)  A Houston County family is mourning the life of their loved one, who was killed in a car crash on March 9.

Reagan Brewer was on her way to work when police say she veered into an 18-wheelers lane on Highway 52, where the semi couldnt stop and hit her head on. They say the truck even dragged her car for about 100 yards.

Family members say that Raegan was driving to work at Panera Bread when the crash happened.

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Her father had spoken with her days before, planning to talk again over the weekend.

I told her, I love you, and Ill talk to you this weekend, and that never happened, said Rick Brewer, Reagans father.

Brewer graduated from Rehobeth High and took classes at Troy before moving to Wallace Community College to earn her Associates degree to chase her dreams of being a veterinarian.

That dream was sidelined while Reagan finished school while working as a manager at Panera.

She never depended on anyone for anything, I mean nothing. She was a sweetheart who wanted to make it on her own, and thats what she did, her father said.

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Reagan was engaged, planning her wedding with her fiance.

They were just as happy as they could be. They had already planned their future out and where they were gonna live and what they were gonna do, Brewer said.

Family members say Reagan had a unique quality that was hard to find, and you could see it in every person she met.

She could never have seen the bad in anybody, Brewer said. She never got mad or frustrated and always had a smile on her face.

The family says they will remember Reagan for her ability to love others and be reliable all the time.

It didnt matter what time of day or what time of night with her friends or anyone else, Brewer said. All you had to do was ask, and she was there. She was that person.

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Reagans family asks that you keep their family, as well as her fiances family, in your thoughts and prayers.

Webb Police is in charge of the investigation.

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Officials working on developing a new transit and pedestrian concept for the West Seventh Street corridor that will connect downtown St. Paul to the Mall of America in Bloomington are asking for public input online and through a series of meetings.

The city of St. Paul, Ramsey County, Metro Transit and the Minnesota Department of Transportation are sharing an updated concept for the 12-miles corridor that is based on a previous analysis led by the county.

Costing an estimated $450 million to $550 million, the new concept centers around bus rapid transit connecting downtown St. Pauls Union Depot to the Mall of America, along with the reconstruction of West Seventh Street and the creation of a new 5-mile multi-use trail on an abandoned railroad spur to the former Ford Motor Co. plant that will connect to the new Highland Bridge development, officials said.

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It replaces a previous plan, abandoned last year by Ramsey County over concerns about the complexity of connecting to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, to install a trolley-like streetcar along the corridor. Critics had also cited the streetcar options $2 billion price tag and impact on West Seventh businesses, including the loss of on-street parking.

Public transportation is the backbone of a thriving, connected city, said Mayor Melvin Carter in a written statement. The need to improve the West 7th Street Corridor remains clear. We are committed to delivering a solution that expands access, enhances surrounding infrastructure, and makes it safer and more reliable for everyone to move through our city.

Metropolitan Council chair Charlie Zelle said his organization was looking forward to improving transit access along the corridor.

The West 7th Street Corridor connects many key regional and community destinations and is a significant part of our transit system, said Zelle in the statement. Investing in transit improvements that are fast, frequent, and reliable will benefit the people who live, work, and play in this area and is essential to advancing our regional transit network.

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St. Paul City Council president Rebecca Noecker said it is important that local businesses, residents and transit users are involved in this stage of planning.

I am excited to act on this opportunity to create a future where our streets are more than just throughways, but are places where businesses thrive, pedestrians feel safe, and people can easily access reliable transit, Noecker said in a statement.

Officials say residents can go to stpaul.gov/West7 to review the concept and provide feedback.

In addition, residents can attend the following meetings for more information. The meetings will include a presentation about the project status, benefits and what to expect. Officials say the meetings will include a roundtable-style conversation where participants can provide feedback and ask questions.

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April 8, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Highland Community Center, 1978 Ford Parkway

April 9, 12 to 1 p.m., virtual (login information at stpaul.gov/west7)

April 10, 5 to 6:30 p.m., Palace Recreation Center, 781 Palace Ave.

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Del. Geno Chiarelli, R-Monongalia, sponsor of House Bill 2382, speaks on the House floor in Charleston, W.Va. on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Perry Bennett | West Virginia Legislative Photography)

The West Virginia House of Delegates signed off Tuesday on a bill that would prohibit homeless people from camping on public property throughout the state.

The House approved House Bill 2382 with a vote of 89-9 and two delegates not voting.

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The bill would impose fines of up to $500 or up to 30 days in jail for homeless people who camp or store personal property on streets, parks, trails or other public property throughout the state.

If the bill becomes law, West Virginia would join dozens of local governments in prohibiting homeless people from sleeping in public areas following the U.S. Supreme Court decision last year upholding a similar ban in Grants Pass, Oregon. In West Virginia, at least four cities  Clarksburg, Morgantown, Bluefield and Princeton  passed camping bans last year.

Opponents of camping bans say they do not help the root causes of homelessness, like a lack of affordable housing and mental illness, and make the problem worse by imposing fines and criminal penalties on unhoused people, making it more difficult for them to get into housing.

In Morgantown, the Morgantown Coalition for Housing Action challenged the camping ban, and voters will decide whether the ordinance will go into effect during the citys election next month.

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Bill sponsor Del. Geno Chiarelli, a Republican representing Monongalia County, said his legislation was in response to the citys camping ban being challenged and possibly overturned.

The coalition is opposed to the statewide ban. A representative from the coalition said the legislation illustrates the illusion of representation that is consistently presented to the working class and blamed Monongalia County commissioner Tom Bloom for supporting it. West Virginia Watch could not find public comments from Bloom where he expressed support of the legislation. Bloom could not be reached for comment.

As an authoritarian regime threatens the entire country, Genos legislation and Toms support have made clear their intent to abandon West Virginians and bend the knee to fascism, all under the guise of economic efficiency, Miles Case, a part of the coalition, said in a written statement. The people of West Virginia have a long history of resisting tyranny in all forms, and we once again refuse to be silent or complicit in its attempted enactment.

Speaking in favor of the bill from the House floor Tuesday, Chiarelli said with the bill, he seeks to create a uniform policy about homeless encampments instead of a patchwork of statutes and ordinances across the state.

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I think when we address the homelessness issue, the drug use issue, the mental health crisis that were facing, I think that consistency and uniformity is something that has to be key, Chiarelli said.

He said the bill is a start of making the West Virginia cities and the state a better place to live.

Our city [Morgantown] is not the same as it was 10 years ago, and this is an issue that takes a lot of people working in sync, he said. Theres a lot of moving parts, a lot of cogs that all have to turn at the same time and in the same way. But this is one small piece that we could do to try and make our cities, our municipalities, a better place to live, somewhere where people arent afraid to take their kids to the public library anymore.

I would encourage you to vote yes. And of course, this is just one piece that we have moving forward, because we are going to make West Virginia a better place, Chiarelli said. And I think this is how it starts.

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Democrats who opposed the bill cited the need to give local government control and concern that it would give homeless people a choice between using a blanket or tent to keep more or breaking the law.

W.Va. House Minority Leader Del. Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell

The bill defines camping as using camping paraphernalia, including backpacks, bags, rucksacks, tarps, cots, beds, sleeping bags, blankets, mattresses, hammocks or portable cooking facilities and similar equipment.

What Im worried about is that someone simply that is just trying to find shelter, thats fallen upon hard times, would have to make that choice, right? said Del. Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell. Someone thats just trying to stay warm. And so again, I ask the question, what are we doing that we cant vet these things a little bit more? Again, great idea, and I truly appreciate it. We have to do something, but the way that is currently written to not provide for safety for our neighbors. They might be going through something, I get that, but they are still our neighbors in our cities. I respectfully will have to oppose this piece of legislation.

Del. John Williams, D-Monongalia

John Williams, D-Monongalia, said the bill would take away Morgantown voters ability to decide on that citys camping ban during its election in April.

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After a lot of discussions with a couple of my colleagues from Morgantown, it seems wrong for me at this juncture to take away their right to address this issue when they have that opportunity just five, six short weeks from now, to be able to give their opinion, Williams said.

Del. Wayne Clark, R-Jefferson

Del. Wayne Clark, R-Jefferson, was the lone Republican to vote against the legislation.

Clark said he agrees with the intent behind the legislation, getting rid of homeless encampments, but suggested the bill be amended so that it doesnt inadvertently affect tourists along the Hatfield and McCoy Trail system.

The bill has carve outs for people lawfully camping in campgrounds or staying in a registered vehicle located in an area where they may be lawfully. Under questioning by Clark, Chiarelli said that side-by-side vehicle operators who are not registered with the Division of Motor Vehicles could be considered unlawfully camping if they pull off of trails and set up a tent.

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Id hate to see individuals that are on our bike trails or on our walking trails or on our side-by-side trails, getting tickets because they decided to pull over in their side-by-side, pitch a tent for the evening, rather than try and drive on unfamiliar terrain at night, Clark said.

The bill next goes to the Senate for consideration.

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DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH)  A 20-year-old man from Westerville has pleaded guilty to a murder charge after being arrested in July for hitting a man with a pickup truck in Delaware County.

The Delaware Countys Prosecutors Office said that Joshua Harper was sentenced by Common Pleas Court Judge James Schuck to a mandatory lifetime prison sentence after he pleaded guilty in court. Harper will be eligible for parole after 15 years.

Child fighting for life after struck by vehicle in north Columbus near Hard Road

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On July 24, Harper was taken into custody after witnesses told police he intentionally ran over 37-year-old Matthew Cox on Fancher Road in Harlem Township around noon.

Following a verbal dispute with Cox, Harper used his vehicle as a weapon and ran over Cox, who was on foot. Cox was pronounced dead at the scene and Harper fled.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
The day he was supposed to go on trial for murdering his father five years ago, a Weymouth man pleaded guilty to the tragic crime.

42-year-old William D. Walling Jr. was sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility after 25 years for fatally beating and strangling his 61-year-old father, William D. Walling Sr. in May 2020. Judge Michael Doolin also sentenced Walling Jr. to a concurrent 19- to 20-year prison term related to the murder.

On May 16, 2020, Walling Jr. was arrested at a home he shared with his father on Lochmere Avenue after a relative called 911 for a medical emergency. Police found Walling Sr. dead on the floor with Walling Jr. in his bedroom.

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His trial was supposed to start Tuesday in Norfolk Superior Court.

I would like to thank the Weymouth Police and Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the Norfolk District Attorneys Office for their investigation into this tragic crime, Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey said.

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A Wheelersburg man has been arrested and charged with attacking a New Boston police officer.

The New Boston Police Department dispatch center contacted the Scioto County Sheriffs Office at 8:34 a.m. on Saturday, March 8, saying one of their officers was being attacked in the parking lot of the police station. Deputies, detectives and two Portsmouth police officers responded to the officer in distress call.

Sheriff David Thoroughman said the officer was taken to Southern Ohio Medical Center where he was treated and released.

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The suspect was also taken to Southern Ohio Medical Center for observation for possible drug usage. The suspect had no visible injuries, nor did he report any injuries.

Thoroughman said once the suspect was released from SOMC, he was transported to the sheriffs office.

Detectives learned the suspect was acting erratic in the parking lot of the New Boston Police Department. According to the report, the suspect then attempted to steal a motor vehicle and the officer attempted to detain him when he knocked the taser from the officers hand. During the attack the suspect punched the officer multiple times in his face and head.

The suspect then attacked a bystander and attempted to steal his vehicle. This person helped the officer fight the suspect until additional law enforcement arrived, according to the criminal complaint.

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Arrested was Kaleb D Ruth, 18, Wheelersburg. Ruth has been charged with:

* Felonious assault on an officer, a felony of the 1st degree

* Robbery, a felony of the 3rd degree

* Two counts of grand theft auto, a felony of the 4th degree

* Retaliation, a felony of the 3rd degree

Ruth appeared in Portsmouth Municipal Court on Monday, March 10. He is being held in the Scioto County Jail on a $120,000 bond.

Thoroughman said this is still an ongoing investigation that will result in more charges being presented to the Scioto County grand jury at a later date.

Anyone with information should contact Detective Sergeant Jodi Conkel @ 740-351-1091
TRENTON, N.J. (PIX11)  Lawmakers in New Jersey are keeping the phone conversation going.

In Mondays Assembly Education Committee meeting, lawmakers held a discussion on the proposed legislation to ban cell phones in classrooms, an effort backed by Governor Phil Murphy.

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Were trying to get back to learning, said Asw. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D-NJ 15th District).

After spending around an hour hearing testimony from experts in education and public safety, supporters of the bill noted that while the bill has been seen in the public as a phone ban, it leaves it up to school districts to adopt their own policies. Lawmakers say there are some instances where cell phones could be used for academic purposes, like Kahoot, a learning game platform.

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Use it when its appropriate but at the same time we need it to a side for a little while as well, said Reynolds-Jackson.

Republican Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia was among a few lawmakers who expressed some concerns, including one that many parents have voiced: the ability for their child to reach them in an emergency, like a lockdown situation.

I dont think anyone is opposed to actually developing a policy that schools can use as guidance to follow, said Fantasia (R-NJ 24th District). The larger concern were dealing with is when it costs money, and also safety concerns Thats a real issue, thats a valid issue, and we really, really have to look into that before we force guidelines on schools.

More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State

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Democratic Assemblyman Cody Miller, who serves as a volunteer first responder, testified that parents flooding a school parking lot in an emergency after their kids contact them could hinder responses.

Wherever the emergency services are that are on that school campus, they dont have the ability to respond to calls effectively, said Miller (D-NJ 4th District).

The committee advanced the bill. Theres no timetable yet on when it could reach the assembly floor for a vote.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Workers hit with recent funding freezes and firings involving the Department of Veterans Affairs said the recent tumult might result in more long-term damage than any short-term financial gains for the federal budget.

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington) noted that the fight was personal, as the daughter of a World War II Purple Heart recipient.

When I say we have a moral obligation to care for our veterans and their families, this is really personal to me, she said Tuesday. And when I hear that they now plan to fire over 80,000 more VA workers, you can bet I will not be quiet about this, because those staffing cuts are a benefit cut for our veterans.

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Murray hosted the virtual call with reporters as part of a continuing series featuring federal workers from the region affected by recent layoffs as part of widespread cuts instigated by the Trump administrations Department of Government Efficiency.

DOGE was created via executive order Jan. 20 by Trump, and the White House has repeatedly defended the teams work. In an interview with Fox News Sean Hannity that aired Feb. 18, both President Trump and DOGE chief Elon Musk pushed back against their critics, with Musk stating, They wouldnt be complaining so much if we werent doing something useful ... .

Christian Helfrich is a former research investigator with VA Puget Sound. He described the cuts as a multi-year setback for the VA.

Whats going on right now isnt a isnt a two-way door where you can tear down the VA and then see what happens and if you dont like it, go back to the way it was, Helfrich said. This is a one-way door. If we tear it down now, it is going to take years or decades to build back.

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A VA memorandum shared by the American Federation of Government Employees dated March 4 noted that the departments initial objective is to return to its 2019 staffing levels, a reduction of more than 80,000 jobs.

Additionally, a portion of the savings garnered will be reinvested in the veterans we serve and the systems required to support our workforce and execute our mission, the memo stated.

During Tuesdays news conference, a question was raised regarding critics charging that disabled workers with the department were not performing at acceptable levels or sometimes not even working.

I myself am a disabled veteran. I was hired under a 10-point veteran preference, and I can speak to my particular logistics team at the VA Puget Sound, said Future Zhou, Army veteran and former inventory-management specialist with VA Puget Sound.

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Veteran preference gets you in the door for an interview (but) does not get you the job, she said. You still have to be fully qualified to complete the tasks given in that position.

Zhou lost her job via an emailed notice in February.

We were almost 90% disabled veterans on our team, Zhou said. The firings directly targeted the probationary employees who are the young workforce coming in to replace our older veterans that are soon to retire, so theres an immediate impact on the transfer of knowledge.

Zhou added, I was only there for seven months and I was already in charge of three critical functions in the hospital, and that speaks to my competence in my ability to do that job. And I was working with an excellent group of people. We were severely short-staffed and we were still completing our mission every single day to serve veterans.

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Murray also defended the veterans work, stating, Anybody who can make a statement that crass and wrong has never taken 5 minutes themselves to walk through any veteran facility, veteran provided care or talk to veterans themselves.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins, in a Fox & Friends interview Monday, stated, I think its really interesting for me to take a look at an organization thats grown rapidly but yet still has issues and still has problems taking care of our veterans.

Collins, nominated by Trump and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, added that reaching the targeted reduction amount would be a deliberative process thats going to take some time, thats going to include career VA employees.

Examples shared Tuesday told of broad cuts and in some cases, complete reversals causing more uncertainty.

Wondering whats next

Shawn Durnen is president of NineLine Veteran Services in Fife, a nonprofit that works with the VA offering mental health and business/employment opportunities. He said that his nonprofit was affected last month by frozen grant funding.

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I had to put in immediate freeze to our suicide-prevention program, he said. It caused an immediate overnight panic. We had people enrolled  we had people that were getting support services, case management ... all these things were compounding, and overnight, I literally had to lay off 60% of my staff just for our mental health division.

Durnen said he then had to work on transferring his veteran client base to other sites.

Then, that following Monday I get a call that says, Yeah, were going to turn the funding stream back on.

He noted that the upheaval his nonprofit experienced last month is now hitting the VA directly.

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Veterans he interacts with now, he said, tell him stories of losing their primary-care physician, seeing pharmacists cut and more.

The reduction of force is going to cause those access points to have less of the services that have been supportive, he said. My question is, where does it stop?

Dan Foster is an Army veteran and was a project manager supporting the Transition Assistance Program for the VA in Olympia.

We were abruptly cut off along with 874 other contracts the week of Feb. 24 as part of DOGE actions, he said. That meant that myself and nearly a hundred others on our contract alone had about 12 hours notice that we were going to be without jobs.

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He noted that a substantial number of his colleagues were also veterans and had taken on the contract work to continue helping veterans and serving their country in a different role.

And that opportunity has now been pretty unceremoniously ended, and were all kind of wondering whats next, he said.
The White House on Tuesday levied new allegations against Columbia graduate student Mahmoud Khalil amid an aggressive effort to deport him, accusing the Palestinian activist of organizing protests where Hamas propaganda was distributed.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt alleged that Khalil had played a role in organizing demonstrations at which flyers were handed out bearing a logo for Hamas, which she did not display.

Mahmoud Khalil was an individual who was given the privilege of coming to this country to study at one of our nations finest universities and colleges, Leavitt said at a press briefing, declining to provide examples of Khalils alleged involvement with the flyers. He took advantage of that opportunity, of that privilege by siding with terrorists.

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The comments came as pressure mounted on federal immigration authorities to release Khalil from custody after more than a thousand New Yorkers took to the streets Monday.

More than 150 protesters led by Jewish students at Columbia had gathered on campus Tuesday, demanding the school prohibit federal immigration agents from campus.

Columbia must commit to protecting its students and their right to free speech. We insist that the university immediately institute a policy prohibiting university officials from sharing information about students or staff to ICE or complying with ICE investigations into Columbia students or staff in the absence of a judicial warrant, one protester who declined to share their name said.

Federal agents must never be allowed to enter campus or university owned buildings under any circumstances without presenting a warrant signed by a judge.

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Khalil, a green card holder, remained detained at a processing center in Jena, La., on Tuesday, three days after his arrest by plainclothes cops for the Department of Homeland Security near his Columbia-owned apartment in Morningside Heights. His wife, a U.S. citizen who is eight months pregnant, was threatened with arrest if she didnt leave the scene, according to Khalils lawyers.

A federal judge on Wednesday is set to consider the Trump administrations aggressive effort to deport him for his involvement in protests against the Israeli government and U.S. involvement in bombings in Gaza and the West Bank.

Manhattan Federal Judge Jesse Furman, handling a habeas corpus petition filed by Khalils lawyers, on Monday temporarily slammed the brakes on the student activists deportation, saying he could not be removed from the country unless and until he orders otherwise. Khalils legal team has asked the judge to rule on the lawfulness of his detention and order his return to New York while his immigration matter separately plays out.

A Palestinian native who grew up in Syria, Khalil, 30, completed his studies at Columbias School of International and Public Affairs in December and had been set to graduate in May. He played a central role in last years student-led demonstrations against Israels war on Gaza, acting as a mediator between university staff and students.

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DHS agents told Khalil on Saturday night that the State Department had revoked his student visa. Informed by his lawyer, Amy Greer, that Khalil wasnt in the U.S. on a student visa but a green card, the agents said that it was being revoked without mention of due process. Green card holders are protected under the First and Fifth Amendments of the Constitution.

Khalil has not been charged with a crime. In an interview with the conservative outlet The Free Press on Monday, an unnamed White House official said, The allegation here is not that he was breaking the law, but that Khalil threatened U.S. foreign policy and national security interests.

President Trump has threatened that Khalil is just the first foreign student activist who will face deportation proceedings, calling them terrorist sympathizers in a Monday Truth Social post. The Trump administration has framed any criticism of the Israeli regime as antisemitic and supportive of Hamas, which the U.S. and many other countries designate as a terrorist group.

The remarks by government officials, including the President, on social media only confirm the purpose  and illegality  of Mahmouds detention, Greer said in a statement Monday.

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He was chosen as an example to stifle entirely lawful dissent in violation of the First Amendment. While tomorrow or thereafter the government may cite the law or process, that toothpaste is out of the tube and irreversibly so.

Khalil has staunchly denied that he has displayed hatred toward Jews or sympathy for Hamas in his protests for a ceasefire of Israels incursion in Gaza and the West Bank, which followed the Oct. 7 terror attacks engineered by Hamas that claimed an estimated 1,200 lives. The Lancet in January reported approximately 64,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict.

Axios last week reported that the State Department, in collaboration with DHS and the Department of Justice, planned to launch a new program reliant on AI called Catch and Revoke that would target foreign nationals who it determines to be pro-Hamas.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is empowered under the Immigration Nationality Act of 1952 to revoke visas from anyone he believes would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States. After Khalils arrest, Rubio shared a social media post by DHS accusing the student activist of leading activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.

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Whether government lawyers will mention the Catch and Revoke program at Wednesdays hearing is unclear. A spokesman for the Manhattan U.S. attorneys office, which will represent the government at Wednesdays hearing, declined to say. DHS spokesmen did not respond to the Daily News related inquiries on Tuesday.

Khalils arrest on ideological grounds has provoked widespread criticism from people on all sides of the political spectrum and concerns about the future of the right to free speech. It came as the Trump administration announced more than $400 million in cuts to aid Columbia, accusing the Ivy League institution of failing to address antisemitism.

In a statement Tuesday, hundreds of former students at Columbias School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) called on the university to ban Immigration and Customs Enforcement from campus, take action to protect student protesters, publicly condemn Khalils detention, and use every available means of securing his release.

SIPA has continually undermined its own curriculum by stifling free speech and remaining silent about the Trump administrations political targeting of a student activist and soon-to-be father, the statement read.

We are witnessing the breakdown of higher education institutions in real time as Columbia and others capitulate to a radical right-wing agenda by sacrificing free speech and critical thinking.
The White House on Tuesday levied new allegations against Columbia graduate student Mahmoud Khalil amid an aggressive effort to deport him, accusing the Palestinian activist of organizing protests where Hamas propaganda was distributed.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt alleged that Khalil had played a role in organizing demonstrations at which flyers were handed out bearing a logo for Hamas, which she did not display.

Mahmoud Khalil was an individual who was given the privilege of coming to this country to study at one of our nations finest universities and colleges, Leavitt said at a press briefing, declining to provide examples of Khalils alleged involvement with the flyers. He took advantage of that opportunity, of that privilege by siding with terrorists.

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The comments came as pressure mounted on federal immigration authorities to release Khalil from custody after more than a thousand New Yorkers took to the streets Monday.

More than 150 protesters led by Jewish students at Columbia had gathered on campus Tuesday, demanding the school prohibit federal immigration agents from campus.

Columbia must commit to protecting its students and their right to free speech. We insist that the university immediately institute a policy prohibiting university officials from sharing information about students or staff to ICE or complying with ICE investigations into Columbia students or staff in the absence of a judicial warrant, one protester who declined to share their name said.

Federal agents must never be allowed to enter campus or university owned buildings under any circumstances without presenting a warrant signed by a judge.

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Khalil, a green card holder, remained detained at a processing center in Jena, La., on Tuesday, three days after his arrest by plainclothes cops for the Department of Homeland Security near his Columbia-owned apartment in Morningside Heights. His wife, a U.S. citizen who is eight months pregnant, was threatened with arrest if she didnt leave the scene, according to Khalils lawyers.

A federal judge on Wednesday is set to consider the Trump administrations aggressive effort to deport him for his involvement in protests against the Israeli government and U.S. involvement in bombings in Gaza and the West Bank.

Manhattan Federal Judge Jesse Furman, handling a habeas corpus petition filed by Khalils lawyers, on Monday temporarily slammed the brakes on the student activists deportation, saying he could not be removed from the country unless and until he orders otherwise. Khalils legal team has asked the judge to rule on the lawfulness of his detention and order his return to New York while his immigration matter separately plays out.

A Palestinian native who grew up in Syria, Khalil, 30, completed his studies at Columbias School of International and Public Affairs in December and had been set to graduate in May. He played a central role in last years student-led demonstrations against Israels war on Gaza, acting as a mediator between university staff and students.

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DHS agents told Khalil on Saturday night that the State Department had revoked his student visa. Informed by his lawyer, Amy Greer, that Khalil wasnt in the U.S. on a student visa but a green card, the agents said that it was being revoked without mention of due process. Green card holders are protected under the First and Fifth Amendments of the Constitution.

Khalil has not been charged with a crime. In an interview with the conservative outlet The Free Press on Monday, an unnamed White House official said, The allegation here is not that he was breaking the law, but that Khalil threatened U.S. foreign policy and national security interests.

President Donald Trump has threatened that Khalil is just the first foreign student activist who will face deportation proceedings, calling them terrorist sympathizers in a Monday Truth Social post. The Trump administration has framed any criticism of the Israeli regime as antisemitic and supportive of Hamas, which the U.S. and many other countries designate as a terrorist group.

The remarks by government officials, including the President, on social media only confirm the purpose  and illegality  of Mahmouds detention, Greer said in a statement Monday.

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He was chosen as an example to stifle entirely lawful dissent in violation of the First Amendment. While tomorrow or thereafter the government may cite the law or process, that toothpaste is out of the tube and irreversibly so.

Khalil has staunchly denied that he has displayed hatred toward Jews or sympathy for Hamas in his protests for a ceasefire of Israels incursion in Gaza and the West Bank, which followed the Oct. 7 terror attacks engineered by Hamas that claimed an estimated 1,200 lives. The Lancet in January reported approximately 64,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict.

Axios last week reported that the State Department, in collaboration with DHS and the Department of Justice, planned to launch a new program reliant on AI called Catch and Revoke that would target foreign nationals who it determines to be pro-Hamas.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is empowered under the Immigration Nationality Act of 1952 to revoke visas from anyone he believes would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States. After Khalils arrest, Rubio shared a social media post by DHS accusing the student activist of leading activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.

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Whether government lawyers will mention the Catch and Revoke program at Wednesdays hearing is unclear. A spokesman for the Manhattan U.S. attorneys office, which will represent the government at Wednesdays hearing, declined to say. DHS spokesmen did not respond to the Daily News related inquiries on Tuesday.

Khalils arrest on ideological grounds has provoked widespread criticism from people on all sides of the political spectrum and concerns about the future of the right to free speech. It came as the Trump administration announced more than $400 million in cuts to aid Columbia, accusing the Ivy League institution of failing to address antisemitism.

In a statement Tuesday, hundreds of former students at Columbias School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) called on the university to ban Immigration and Customs Enforcement from campus, take action to protect student protesters, publicly condemn Khalils detention, and use every available means of securing his release.

SIPA has continually undermined its own curriculum by stifling free speech and remaining silent about the Trump administrations political targeting of a student activist and soon-to-be father, the statement read.

We are witnessing the breakdown of higher education institutions in real time as Columbia and others capitulate to a radical right-wing agenda by sacrificing free speech and critical thinking.

_____
Pro-Palestine activist and legal U.S. resident Mahmoud Khalil wasnt arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for committing an actual crime, but because Secretary of State Marco Rubio had personally determined that he had to go.

Khalil, who is a green card holder, was arrested by ICE last week under the authority of the Immigration and Nationality Act, or INA, two officials at the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security told Zeteo News Tuesday.

Section 237(a)(4)(C)(i) of INA says that any alien is deportable if the secretary of state has a reasonable ground to believe their presence could result in potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.

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Separately, a White House official told conservative rag The Free Press Monday that the government did not believe Khalil had committed an actual crime. The allegation here is not that he was breaking the law, the official said.

The White House official alleged that Khalil was mobilizing support for Hamas and spreading antisemitism in a way that is contrary to the foreign policy of the US, a claim that Khalil has denied and that the government has released no evidence to support.

The INA was originally used to oust those suspected of being Soviet spies. But it has never been used to punish speech, and its unclear what evidence Rubio would need to provide to justify superseding Khalils First Amendment rights.

Despite the shaky constitutional grounds, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Tuesday that the Trump administration fully intended to move forward with more arrests like Khalils, meaning that its crackdown on the free speech of Palestinians and their advocates will likely continue.

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Council for Immigration, posted on X that the application of the INA presented very significant problems with free speech and that the law may well be unconstitutional.

Reichlin-Melnick explained that under the law, Khalil would still be entitled to an immigration hearing where he could challenge the basis of his deportation. His status as a lawful, permanent resident would not be immediately stripped.

Khalil, whose wife is eight months pregnant, was reportedly moved from New York to the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center, much to the surprise of his legal representation. U.S. District Court Judge Jesse Furman ordered a hold on Khalils deportation Monday, unless and until the Court orders otherwise, according to Reuters.

The lack of an actual criminal offense might explain why, at a press conference Tuesday morning, House Speaker Mike Johnson gave a confusing explanation for the arrest of the protest organizer.

In a post on Truth Social Monday, President Donald Trump cheered the arrest of the green cardholding graduate student, writing that the presence of terrorist sympathizers was contrary to our national and foreign policy interests.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Tuesday that it condemns North Korea's recent ballistic missile launches.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason; Writing by Trevor Hunnicutt)
The White House has published a list of 50 "wins" by US President Donald Trump's 50th day in office. These include negotiations in Saudi Arabia to resolve the Russo-Ukrainian war.

Source: European Pravda with the reference to the White House website

Quote: "The winning never stops  and President Trump is just getting started. Here are 50 wins for the American people in President Trumps first 50 days."

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Details: The 16th item on the list of "wins" is about Trump's efforts for world peace. "President Trump has brought Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table through historic peace talks in Saudi Arabia in pursuit of peace," the statement said.

Background:

Negotiations between the delegations of Ukraine and the United States on the settlement of the Russo-Ukrainian war began in Jeddah on 11 March. They followed up on the talks between the US and the Russians held on 18 February in Riyadh.

The Kremlin said that the US would "somehow" inform Russia about the outcome of the US-Ukrainian talks in Saudi Arabia.

Earlier, Bloomberg reported that Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, plans to visit Moscow for a second time to meet with Russian ruler Vladimir Putin.

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The White House has listed the negotiations in Saudi Arabia with Ukraine and Russia as one of U.S. President Donald Trump's key achievements on his 50th day in office on March 10.

"President Trump has brought Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table through historic peace talks in Saudi Arabia in pursuit of peace," the statement reads.

U.S. officials met with Russian representatives in Riyadh on Feb. 18 and in Istanbul on Feb. 27 to discuss restoring bilateral relations and preliminary peace talks, excluding Ukraine. These discussions were followed by a Ukraine-U.S. meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on March 11.

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Trump's overtures to Russia have raised concerns in Kyiv and Europe that the U.S. is sidelining its allies in pursuit of a swift settlement. Tensions between Kyiv and Washington have only escalated after Trump's heated exchange with President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on Feb. 28.

Trump subsequently froze all U.S. military aid and restricted intelligence sharing with Ukraine, aiming to pressure Kyiv into peace talks.

Meeting U.S. delegates in Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian officials are expected to push for the resumption of U.S. support while proposing a ceasefire in the air and at sea as a first step toward a broader peace agreement.

Trump said earlier that he is considering imposing sweeping banking sanctions and tariffs on Russia until a ceasefire and peace deal are reached.

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The U.S. president claimed his position is based on the fact that Russia is "absolutely pounding" Ukraine, likely referring to Russian advances in Kursk Oblast or the large-scale missile and drone attack on March 7.

Read also: Putin unwilling to compromise on Ukraine, sets maximalist demands, Bloomberg reports

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday sparred with an Associated Press reporter who challenged her assertions of who ultimately will pay the price for President Donald Trumps tariffs.

The APs Josh Boak asked about Trumps planned speech later today to the Business Roundtable, where he will speak to a group of CEOs amid increased concerns about the economy.

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Hes going there as he is proposing tax hikes in the form of tariffs, Boak said.

Not true, Leavitt said.

Boak went on, asking, Im curious why he is prioritizing that in with the tax cuts.

Leavitt seemed irritated. Hes actually not implementing tax hikes. Tariffs are a tax hike on foreign countries that again have been ripping us off. Tariffs are a tax cut for the American people. The president is a staunch advocate of tax cuts.

Boak then said, Im sorry, but have you ever paid a tariff? Because I have. They dont get charged on foreign companies. They get charged on the importers.

Leavitt responded, Ultimately, when we have fair and balanced trade which the American people have not seen in decades  revenues will stay here. Wages will go up. And our country will be made wealthy again. And I think its insulting that you are trying to test my knowledge of economics and the decisions this president has made. I now regret giving a question to the Associated Press.

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When tariffs are imposed on imports, U.S. businesses pay the tariffs for those foreign purchases. Many economists, including those at the Tax Foundation, have warned that the costs ultimately will be passed on to the consumer.

Trump has banned the AP from Oval Office press conferences and other White House and presidential events after the news organization declined to switch the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The AP has sued Leavitt and other Trump administration figures, arguing that their First and Fifth amendment rights were violated. A judge will consider their claim later this month.

AP reporters and photographers still are allowed to attend Leavitts press briefings.

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NEW YORK (AP)  The White House complained Tuesday that Columbia University is refusing to help federal agents find people being sought as part of the governments effort to deport participants in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, as the administration continued to punish the school by yanking federal research dollars.

Immigration enforcement agents on Saturday arrested and detained Mahmoud Khalil, a legal U.S. resident and Palestinian activist who played a prominent part in protests at Columbia last year. He is now facing possible deportation.

President Donald Trump has vowed additional arrests. In a briefing with reporters in Washington, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said federal authorities have been using intelligence to identify other people involved in campus demonstrations critical of Israel that the administration considered to be antisemitic and pro-Hamas.

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She said Columbia had been given names and was refusing to help the Department of Homeland Security to identify those individuals on campus.

"As the president said very strongly in his statement yesterday, he is not going to tolerate that, Leavitt said.

A spokesperson for Columbia University did not directly respond to a message seeking comment on the administrations response but referred The Associated Press to a letter sent to students Monday by Interim President Katrina Armstrong.

We will follow the law, as has always been the case, and rumors suggesting that any member of Columbia leadership requested the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on or near campus are false, the letter stated.

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Last week, the Trump administration announced it was pulling $400 million in grants and contracts from Columbia, accusing the school of failing to stop antisemitism on campus. As part of those cuts, the National Institutes of Health late Monday said it was cutting more than $250 million in funding, which included more than 400 grants.

X. Edward Guo, director of Columbias Bone Bioengineering Laboratory, posted a screenshot on X of an email he received notifying him that one of his NIH awards had been canceled. We understand this may be shocking news, the email reads.

The university was wracked last spring by large demonstrations by students calling for an end to Israeli military action in Gaza and a recognition of Palestinians' human rights and territorial claims. The university ultimately called in police to dismantle a protest encampment and end a student takeover of an administration building.

Khalil, 30, had been a spokesperson for the protesters. He hasn't been charged with any crimes, but Leavitt said the administration had moved to deport him under a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act that gives the secretary of state the power to deport a non-citizen if the government has reasonable ground to believe the persons presence could have serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.

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As of Tuesday, Khalil was being held at an immigration detention center in Louisiana.

Civil rights groups and Khalils attorneys say the government is unconstitutionally using its immigration-control powers to stop him from speaking out. A federal judge set a hearing for Wednesday and ordered the government not to deport him in the meantime.

Trump, a Republican, has suggested that some protesters support Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and abducting 251. Israel responded with bombardment and other military offensives that have left over 48,000 Palestinians dead in Hamas-ruled Gaza. Israel says more than 17,000 were militants.

Trump heralded Khalils arrest as the first of many to come, vowing on social media to deport students the president described as engaging in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity.

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Immigration agents also tried to arrest another international student at Columbia, but they werent allowed into an apartment where she was, according to a union representing the student.

Khalil, who finished his requirements for a Columbia master's degree in December, and protest leaders have said they are anti-war, not antisemitic. They note that some Jewish students and groups have joined the demonstrations. A Columbia disciplinary body recently told Khalil it was investigating whether he violated a new harassment policy by calling a school official genocidal.

Leavitt didn't detail specific wrongdoing by Khalil. But she said he had organized protests that disrupted classes, harassed Jewish students and "distributed pro-Hamas propaganda, fliers with the logo of Hamas.

Born in Syria, Khalil is a grandson of Palestinians who were forced to leave their homeland, his lawyers said in a legal filing. It didn't address his citizenship but said his relatives have been displaced anew amid Syria's civil war and are now in other countries.

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Khalil is married to a U.S. citizen, who is expecting their first child.

"For everyone reading this, I urge you to see Mahmoud through my eyes as a loving husband and the future father to our baby, his wife, who has not been publicly identified, wrote in a statement provided by his lawyers. I need your help to bring Mahmoud home, so he is here beside me, holding my hand in the delivery room as we welcome our first child into this world.
The Trump administration said it is using intelligence collected by the Department of Homeland Security to identify international students who participated in protests against the Israel-Hamas war across dozens of college campuses last year, days after a Palestinian activist was detained by federal agents over protests at Columbia University.

They have been using intelligence to identify individuals on our nations colleges and universities who have engaged in such behavior and activity and especially illegal activity, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters during a news briefing Tuesday.

Leavitt did not provide more information about the intelligence she said DHS was using for the targeted arrests.

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According to Leavitt, DHS has also shared a list of student names with Columbia University and accused the school of not cooperating with White House efforts to identify them.

Columbia University has been given the names of other individuals who have engaged in pro-Hamas activity, and they are refusing to help DHS identify those individuals on campus, Leavitt said. As the president said very strongly in his statement yesterday, he is not going to tolerate that and we expect all of Americas colleges and universities to comply with this administrations policy.

Columbia University did not immediately return a request for comment.

Leavitt accused Mahmoud Khalil, the pro-Palestinian student activist arrested by federal agents officers last week, of organizing group protests that not only disrupted college campus classes and harassed Jewish-American students and made them feel unsafe on their own college campus, but also distributed pro-Hamas propaganda, flyers with the logo of Hamas.

Members of the Columbia University Apartheid Divest group, including Mahmoud Khalil, center, are surrounded by members of the media outside the Columbia University campus in New York on April 30, 2024. - Mary Altaffer/AP

Khalil, who completed work on his masters degree from Columbia University in December and is a legal resident of the US, was arrested and detained by federal agents after his lawyer said his green card was revoked by the Trump administration.

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Neither Leavitt, DHS nor ICE has provided evidence to support their accusations against Khalil or other students. It is not clear whether Khalil, who was transferred to an ICE detention facility in Louisiana over the weekend, has been charged with any crime.

Mahmoud Khalil was an individual who was given the privilege of coming to this country to study at one of our nations finest universities and colleges and he took advantage of that opportunity, of that privilege, by siding with terrorists, Leavitt said.

According to court documents, Khalil emailed interim university president Katrina Armstrong the night before his arrest to request her assistance in securing legal support and other protections following what was described as a dehumanizing doxing campaign against him. In the email, according to the document, Khalil claimed people were falsely labeling him a terrorist threat and calling for his deportation.

Khalils attorneys have said he plans to fight the deportation order. CNN has reached out to his attorneys regarding Leavitts comments on Tuesday.

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A federal judge in New York temporarily halted the deportation until Khalils attorneys and the government appear in court. Attorneys for Khalil filed a motion to bring him back to New York on Monday. A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

In a statement on Tuesday, Khalils wife  a US citizen who is eight months pregnant  referred to him as her rock.

US immigration ripped my soul from me when they handcuffed my husband and forced him into an unmarked vehicle, she said, while also noting his arrest came as the couple was returning from an iftar dinner, the meal Muslims eat during Ramadan to break their fast.

Instead of putting together our nursery and washing baby clothes in anticipation of our first child, I am left sitting in our apartment, wondering when Mahmoud will get a chance to call me from a detention center, she added.

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During Tuesdays briefing, Leavitt said the administration is leaning on the Immigration and Nationality Act to detain Khalil and that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has the right to revoke a green card or a visa for individuals adversarial to the foreign policy and national security interest of the United States of America.

Khalils arrest has generated a slew of demonstrations nationwide, with ones in New York attracting hundreds on Monday and Tuesday.

Tuesdays protesters in New York carried signs reading Release Mahmoud Khalil now, and several confronted police officers during the demonstration.

The New York City Police Department arrested at least 13 people on Tuesday when they blocked a city street and refused to leave the roadway, according to a law enforcement official.

CNNs Zenebou Sylla and Mark Morales contributed to this report.

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Katie Porter, the former Democratic congresswoman whose antics could spice up ordinary congressional hearings, announced Tuesday that she has joined the race to replace Gavin Newsom as Californias governor in 2026.

What California needs now is a little bit of hope and a whole lot of grit, fresh blood and new ideas, and leaders with the backbone to fight for whats right, Porter said in a video. Thats why Im running for governor.

Porter served three terms after first winning her seat in 2018 but lost her Senate bid to Adam Schiff last year.

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Newsom, widely seen to have presidential ambitions, is limited by state law to only serving two four-year terms, so he cannot run again.

Porter is the highest-profile Democrat to jump in the ring to date. But former Vice President Kamala Harris has reportedly set an end-of-summer deadline to decide whether she will run, which likely would overshadow the race.

Porter gained prominence in the House when she started using a whiteboard to grill CEOs and other powerful figures brought to testify before House committees she served on, displaying numerical figures and jotting down simple math equations to drive her points home.

In March 2020, as COVID-19 began shuttering public life, Porter successfully pressed the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at the time, Dr. Robert Redfield, into agreeing to have his agency pay for coronavirus testing across the country. She later skewered a pharmaceutical executive for hiking up the price of a cancer drug, telling him he did not make the drug better but rather just refined your skills at price gouging. Her persistent takedown of an oil executive who accused her of misunderstanding the tax code also elicited online applause.

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As governor, Ill bring all voices to the table to hear good ideas, no matter who they come from or what else we may agree or disagree on. Ill work with anybody, and Ill say no to anybody, because Ive never been for sale and I never will be, Porter said in her video.

Ive been a U.S. congresswoman holding powerful interests accountable when they cheated taxpayers, she said. Ive been a consumer protection advocate helping families protect their homes from predatory banks. Ive been a teacher training our next generation of advocates for our rights. And yes, Im a mom whos invested in our kids futures and actually knows the price of groceries.

Porter holds degrees from Yale and Harvard, where she studied bankruptcy law under now-Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).

She sparked controversy in her party last year when she lost the California Senate primary to Schiff and dubbed the process rigged, akin to right-wing electoral conspiracy theories. Porter later expressed regret for the word choice.

Related...
Three months after the scandalous cancellation of the presidential election results, the Romanian establishment remains mired in political turmoil.

Their attacks on anti-establishment demagogue Calin Georgescu reached their highest point on Sunday when he was barred from standing in the rescheduled elections in May. But this will fail to bring a return to politics as usual. Large protests and street clashes have already erupted in Bucharest and other big cities.

The genie is out of the bottle. Everyone can see the real anti-democratic face of the Romanian establishment. Ahead of the rescheduled elections in May, the Romanian ruling class will only see a deepening crisis and simmering anger.

Georgescu and the attacks by the establishment

A lot has happened since the annulment of the presidential elections last December. Having alleged that Russia intervened to promote Georgescus campaign on TikTok (!!) and that this somehow led to his thumping victory in November, the Constitutional Court and President Iohannis have failed to provide any hard evidence to back their decision.

This led to an impeachment vote against Iohannis, which forced him to resign and end his ten-year tenure in disgrace. The interim president replacing him is Ilie Bolojan, the National Liberal Party candidate who only received 7 percent of the vote in the November presidential election, revealing the ruling party's unpopularity in government.

Meanwhile, Georgescus appeal against the cancellation of the results was rejected, and the establishment resorted to all kinds of dirty manoeuvres to block Georgescu from standing in the May elections.

On 26 February, Georgescu was detained on the streets of Bucharest by the police, as he was on his way to register his candidacy / Image: Focus Crestin, Wikimedia Commons

On 26 February, Georgescu was detained on the streets of Bucharest by the police, as he was on his way to register his candidacy. Many accusations were brought against him, including expressing support for fascist groups and figures. This is not false, but it stinks of hypocrisy coming from the Romanian government. They arm and support the Ukrainian government, which openly lauds fascist figures like Stepan Bandera, whilst open neo-Nazis in the Azov battalion are part of its army.

The court ruled that Georgescu could not leave the country and limited his ability to use social media and campaign openly for 60 days. He registered his candidacy on Friday but, only two days later, the Central Election Bureau (CEB) barred him from standing.

However, there is very little cause for celebration among the establishment parties and politicians. The fact that they have had to go through all of this trouble to block a single candidate has boosted Georgescus image, popularity and prestige. Of course, Georgescus personality is secondary in all of this. They are scared of the mass anger that they regard him as recklessly whipping up against the Romanian establishment, and they fear he would lean more towards Russia and away from NATO and the EU.

All of the major polls ahead of the May election place Georgescu ahead of every established candidate, predicting a 40-50 percent sweep for him in the first round. The support he has rallied around himself as a persecuted anti-establishment figure can be seen in the frequent demonstrations around the country calling for his release and reinstatement as a candidate, which have outnumbered the pro-EU, so-called pro-democracy protests.

To have let such a man run for the presidency would have been too dangerous for the Romanian ruling class. But by blocking him, they have poured more petrol onto the fire and have exposed Romanias democracy as a complete facade. Unless your candidate is subservient to NATO and the EU, and questions none of the ruling class decisions, then he is not allowed to run.

The European establishment and the Trump administration

Back in December, the scandalous annulment of the elections was met with much approval by top European figures, such as former European Commissioner Thierry Breton, and mainstream papers like The Guardian and El Pais. They claimed that it was an example to be followed to prevent the rise of populists like Georgescu, and even to safeguard democracy!

A speech by US Vice-President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference dealt a real gut punch to the Romanian and European top brass / Image: public domain

On the other side of the Atlantic, however, some key figures in Donald Trumps administration have spoken out against this blatant manoeuvre and the backing it received from many European leaders. Elon Musk posted several inflammatory statements on X, backing Georgescu and lambasting the Romanian courts.

A speech by US Vice-President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference dealt a real gut punch to the Romanian and European top brass, sharply criticising their frail democratic credentials after cancelling the elections. One statement in particular is worth noting:

You can believe it's wrong for Russia to buy social media advertisements to influence your elections. We certainly do. You can condemn it on the world stage, even. But if your democracy can be destroyed with a few hundred thousand dollars of digital advertising from a foreign country, then it wasn't very strong to begin with. [Our emphasis]

Liberal commentators could only complain about Vances very blunt tone, but they could not address the truth contained in his statement.

After all, the Romanian rulers like to brag that theirs is a pluralist democracy, where many candidates and parties can run in elections. But when you look at the list of candidates running in May, you can see that aside from minor differences, they all stand for the same thing.

All of their programmes read like a copy-and-paste variation of each others, and can be boiled down to three very simple points:

1) Commitment to membership of NATO and the EU.

2) Continued military and financial support for Ukraine.

3) Increased defence spending while continuing cuts to education, transport, healthcare, housing and wages.

In such a situation, it was very easy for Georgescu to come in and sledgehammer everything that was well-known and well-established about Romanian politics. To do this, he only had to tap into the seething, boiling anger lying deep within Romanian society, and bring it to the surface  on the streets and at the ballot box.

What does Georgescu represent?

Liberals have tried to give several explanations for the rise of Georgescu and his shock victory in November. They have blamed disinformation, TikTok algorithms, Russian interference, and even the alleged stupidity of Romanian voters! Of course, they are too scared to admit what lies behind all of this: the crisis of capitalism, and the mass distrust towards the liberal establishment and its institutions.

As we have stated previously, Georgescu is a complete right-wing reactionary. Communists have absolutely nothing in common with him, except for our anti-establishment stance. He is trying to distort this anger and polarisation in a right-wing, ultra-nationalist direction. But what he is exposing is something much deeper than a supposed shift to the right in society.

In reality, he is bringing to light the very real problems that millions of ordinary workers suffer from: poverty and low wages which push many Romanians to emigrate; the lack of adequate housing, hospitals, and schools; and the government supporting war abroad while implementing austerity at home. By tapping into the mass anger against the establishment to propel himself into the presidential race, he has also served to expose the rotten, decrepit nature of capitalist democracy.

We are seeing a pitchfork rebellion by the masses of angry and disgruntled Romanians against the Romanian state and its institutions / Image: Privesc.Eu Romania, Wikimedia Commons

The reason this hatred and anger is finding a temporary expression with Georgescu is because of the non-existence of a significant force on the left. Traditionally, the left in Romania was considered to be the Social Democratic Party (PSD). They are now standing a joint candidate with the National Liberal Party in May. To call this left-wing would be a joke.

But many ordinary workers at Georgescus protests do not necessarily subscribe to his right-wing, xenophobic ideas. As a matter of fact, the main slogans at these supposed far-right protests are for democracy and free elections, i.e. what the so-called democratic establishment trampled upon when it annulled the election results and barred Georgescus candidacy. Other slogans have included Thieves! and Down with the government! In his speeches, Georgescu himself railed against the system and the oligarchs that have blocked him.

In other words, we are seeing a pitchfork rebellion by the masses of angry and disgruntled Romanians against the Romanian state and its institutions. Georgescu has been able to capitalise upon it to his favour, but by stirring this deep-seated anger he is unleashing forces that he will not be able to control.

Now that Georgescu cannot run in the election, the situation is open-ended. What will very likely happen is that George Simion, the leader of Georgescus affiliate party Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), will run in his place, to provide an outlet for Georgescus angry base while watering down his anti-NATO and EU programme.

But regardless of the outcome of the May elections, the instability will only get worse. A boiling, palpable anger is building deep within Romanian society, waiting to explode. Romania is entering a period of sharp turns and sudden changes. Dynamite is being built into the very foundations of Romanian capitalism.

With their every attempt to ensure stability and a return to normalcy, the capitalist establishment is losing its grip on the situation. They will become more discredited as the crisis of capitalism deepens, and the anger in society finds more explosive outlets. Sooner or later, Romanian capitalism will be shaken to its very foundations.

In the Revolutionary Communist International, we are building a revolutionary party that can hasten the overthrow of capitalism in Romania and all over the world. If you want to eliminate this oppressive system once and for all, get in touch with us.
CHICAGO (WGN)  As the third and final phase of Kennedy construction work gets underway next week, Illinois Department of Transportation officials vow to do better after problems cost drivers an extra two months of delays last year.

WGN Investigates previously reported on a series of decisions and problems that led to the Kennedys reversible lanes staying closed longer than drivers were initially promised. They include reopening the lanes for VIP use during the Democratic National Convention and IDOT adding to the scope of the project  all the while an agency spokesperson claimed work was on schedule, despite the contactor saying it wasnt.

You make it out like there was some purposeful misleading of people when the reality is these are complex projects, said Gov. JB Pritzker (D-Illinois) in response to questions from WGN Investigates. I dont know what to say except: Yeah, there were delays. Its unfortunate. It happens.

Final phase of Kennedy rehab project: What you need to know

A top IDOT official said last years problems involved fiber optic cabling, remote controlled gates and cameras on the reversible lanes contrasted with more traditional and predictable bridge work and paving happening this year.

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It was a very complex system and things were changing on an almost daily basis, said IDOT construction chief Jonathan Schumacher.

Asked why IDOT continued to claim the reversible lanes would open in late fall of last year instead of admitting the work was behind schedule, Schumacher said it would have been very disingenuous of us to come out and say were not going to finish in mid-December but we dont know when were going to finish.' The lanes didnt reopen until January 13.

This time IDOT officials are vowing to be more transparent with drivers.

You could always communicate more and thats what youre going to see this year and thats how were going to go about rebuilding the trust is to almost over-communicate details to the public about what work is going on out there, Schumacher said.

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Illinois republicans said theyre encouraged to see Pritzker name an experienced new boss at IDOT after former director Omer Osman retired in December, but theyre critical of delays and cost over-runs.

Its a perfect example of state government not working for the taxpayers of Illinois, said State Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove).

IDOT originally projected the cost of the entire three year Kennedy Expressway construction project would be $150 million, but the agency now predicts it will reach $169M.

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"Play is the work of the child," wrote Maria Montessori, pushing back against the perennial tendency of adults to trivialize the child's constant quest for movement and exploration. "It is work he must do in order to grow up."

Tell that to New York City.

About two weeks ago, we received a rare spring day in the midst of a harsh and brutal February. After Mass, my sona squirmy, active, skateboarding two-and-a-half-year-oldmy husband, and a few of our friends walked a mile or two to the Pier 26 playground along the Hudson River to let Zev run around after he exhibited extraordinary skill at sitting still in church.

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Signs declared the playground closed due to icy conditions. There was a small amount of snow on the ground still, but it was quickly melting. It was 45 degrees outside. And I have the unfortunate quality of being a Texan lady who doesn't like to be told what to do, so I hiked up my skirt, took off my shoes, and scaled the fence. Boom, freedom. My friend boosted my son across the fence before following suit.

Then the most beautiful thing started to happen: Other parents and kids saw how much fun we were having and we offered to help get their kids over the fence too. We liberated maybe two dozen kids.

Naturally, such a good thing cannot last in modern-day New York: I came whooshing down the slide in my fancy church dress to be greeted by the authorities demanding my ID and threatening to fine me. I argued for a while, pointing to the fact that it's 45 degrees outside and there's no ice on the playground and suggesting that maybe, just maybe, children deserve just a morsel of red hot freedom. Then they started threatening arrest.

NYC hates its child population. Encountered ANOTHER padlocked playground (it was 45 degrees out). Hopped the fence w my friend, liberated my son, and 25 other kids took little boosts from us to hop the fence. Joy. Then the city said they'd fine me & they needed to see my ID. https://t.co/xeWclYMzeM pic.twitter.com/YemzCfpBFY  Liz Wolfe (@LizWolfeReason) February 24, 2025

Just a few weeks prior, my son and I had encountered the same thing in Madison Square Park.

Safetyism in New York City has gone WAY too far. My child was wearing wool layers & a Finnish snowsuit, ready for an evening of play at Madison Square Park. The city padlocked the playground due to "snow & ice"as if parents can't judge the safety for themselves! @FreeRangeKids https://t.co/gjkwUBBwWn  Liz Wolfe (@LizWolfeReason) February 13, 2025

One complicating factor for libertarians is that both of these playgrounds are managed by trusts set up as public benefit corporations, governed by boards of directors appointed by the governor, mayor, and borough president. The trust is in charge of designing, building, operating, and maintaining the area, and the funding is a mix of private and public. Though these types of parks are supposed to have their own security, the person patrolling the Hudson River Park/Pier 26 playground was NYC Parks law enforcement. (The Hudson River Park Trust did not respond to repeated requests for comment.)

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Though they're legally within their rights to decide what type of liability they wish to assume, these two incidentsas well as the COVID-era padlocking of public playgrounds by city officials for a virus that was neither especially deadly to children nor easily spreads outdoorsare good reminders of why this city is hemorrhaging its child population (and why Hasidic dads took bolt cutters to playgrounds during the virus days).

Since 2020, the five-and-under population in the city has fallen by 18 percent, and it shouldn't be shocking why: High cost of living, a culture intolerant toward children, and extreme risk aversion have led to an untenable situation for parents.

If the first half of the 20th century was termed "the golden age of child play," the first quarter of the 21st feels like a death rattle. The mid-'80s brought milk carton kids. Amber Alerts, which send out messages about missing or abducted children in suspected danger via cable news, radio, and text message, were invented a decade later. In the early 2000s, certain prosecutors started cracking down on child truancy. Now, in the 2020s, that icon of American ingenuitythe McDonald's PlayPlacehas started to become replaced by screens, with glorious plastic kingdoms torn down all across America. The culture shifted from one of widespread permissiveness to one of extreme scrutiny and worry. And nothing was exempt from this parenting culture shift, not even the playgrounds.

Since 1981, the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission has been publishing the Public Playground Safety Handbook, which contains such dictates as "bare metal slides, platforms, and steps should be shaded or located out of direct sun." If you cannot do so, you must "provide warnings that equipment and surfacing exposed to intense sun can burn." Free-swinging ropes "present a potential strangulation hazard" as they could "fray" or "form a loop." Handrails meant for toddlers "should have a diameter or maximum cross-section between 0.60 and 1.20 inches" and "a diameter or maximum cross-section of 0.90 inches is preferred to achieve maximal grip strength and benefit the weakest children." For toddlers, balance beams are not recommended. For school-age kids, they should be no higher than 16 inches off the ground. And, "because of the complex way children are required to cooperate and combine their actions, fulcrum seesaws are not recommended for toddlers or preschool-age children." What the regulators won't admit is that children have an uncanny ability to turn all kinds of every day (and unsafe!) objects into playthings; that board out in the backyard, with rusty nails poking out, balanced on a tree stump sure looks like a magnificent canoe to the eyes of the enterprising 7-year-old.

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Of course, the federal playground guidelines are used as evidence in court. Take the kindergartener in New Jersey who, in 2014, got injured on a slide that was five degrees steeper than the federal guideline recommendation of 30 degrees; her family won a $170,000 settlement. In New York City, an East Harlem dad scored $75,000 from his kid's fractured forearm after she fell off a spinning wheel. In Brooklyn, five kids fell off a swing in 2013 at Slope Park Playground, leading to complaints; the city removed the swing.

Even structures not meant for child play have been destroyed in the suing craze. In my husband's hometown on nearby Long Island, an older kidlate middle school, early high school, he recallsgot injured on a half-pipe in the yard of the local skate shop; the parents sued. The shop closed a year or so later, possibly from this court-mandated cash hemorrhage; the town's lone half-pipe disappeared with it.

Perhaps most ridiculous was a 2010 scandal over "The Mountain," a metal climbing structure in Union Square Park playground in Manhattan, which the city's Department of Parks and Recreation cordoned off, claiming it got too hot in the summer. This prompted a bill in the state legislature that would have required temperature measurements of different play structures during the summer. "The issue of heat exists in any playground," reminded the snarky landscape architect who had acquired the structure from Germany.

Of course, some spaces meant for play had legitimately been too risky. Amusement parks in the '80s and '90s faced tons of lawsuits, with many shutting down. "People were bleeding all over the place," recalled one now-grown patron of Action Park, in New Jersey, which reported 14 broken bones and 26 head injuries in 1984 and 1985 alone. The growing emphasis on child safety throughout the 20th century led to a two-thirds decline in childhood deaths from accidents between 1900 and 2000. But somewhere near the start of the 21st century, the culture embraced a new goal: Totally eradicating any accidentsand thus any riskfrom childhood.

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This is a goal I can't get behind. As Maria Montessori recognized a hundred years ago, we lose something quite important when we crack down on kids' ability to playand parents' ability to decide for themselves what type of conditions their individual child can handle. Even if the playground had been icy and it had been 30 degrees that day, I would have still allowed my son to play; I would have simply dressed him in more wool layers and maybe watched him more closely (or recognized that that skateboarding child of mine can handle a fall or two). If the trusts that manage these playgrounds (or their insurers) are so afraid of liability, I'd note that the above incidentsthe Slope Park swing, the too-hot Mountainstand out in part because they're relatively rare. Be bold, take heart, and choose to foster a culture of childrearing in which parents accept risk and responsibility.

"Since it is through movement that the will realizes itself, we should assist a child in his attempts to put his will into act," wrote Montessori. I'm happy to assist; the only question is whether modern-day New York City will let me.

The post Why Do I Keep Finding Padlocked Playgrounds in New York City? appeared first on Reason.com.
A Mexican restaurant in northern Minnesota is no longer displaying the name "Tequila Town" following a 3-2 decision by town leaders in Esko who opposed the reference to liquor near a school building.

In a Facebook post, Tequila Town owner Rafael Mata said the restaurant's name will remain the same despite the sign change.

"The name of the restaurant was our fault and we want to respect the rules that exist here," Mata wrote. "We decided to change the name of our sign so as not to have a problem, but it will continue to be called Tequila Town."

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"Thank you all for your help and everyone is welcome to our restaurant," he continued. "My house is your house."

Courtesy of Rafael Mata | Facebook.

The Town of Thomson Board of Supervisors stipulated "the name of the restaurant must not refer to an intoxicating beverage or drink, nor mention 'bar' or similar", when it issued the restaurant's liquor license on Feb. 20.

The liquor license conditions also ban "happy hour" or similar specials and prohibits "neon or other signs advertising pricing or brands or type of any beer, wine or other alcoholic beverages" that could be "readily and prominently seen by the general public from outside the establishment."

Chairperson Tony Compo and Board Supervisor Logan Saline opposed the motion, according to the meeting minutes.

Compo noted 86% of the 79 respondents to a poll he conduced said they didn't care if the sign said Tequila Town, or simply thought the name was fine.
Why one Topeka brewery isnt worried about tariffs

TOPEKA (KSNT)  Tariffs between the US, Canada, Mexico and China are causing quite a stir for some breweries to get the materials they need for producing craft beer. Thats not the case for one local brewery for a simple reason.

For breweries tariffs on steel, aluminum and ingredients could majorly impact business. Thats not stopping some local business from getting supplies though.

There is the ham farm in eastern Shawnee County that we get malt from, Owner and President of Blind Tiger, Jay Ives said. In Morris county west of council grove, we buy substantial amount of malt from the Lane Tischhauser farm, and much malt from the Dakotas, Minnesota, Montana. If the price of the Canadian malt goes up, it probably wont hurt us much.

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The Blind Tiger Brewery and Restaurant has a large focus on keeping business local when possible.

Topeka business tries to save on costs amid rising trade tariffs

We are all about local to the extent that we possibly can be, Ives said. We pay a premium for our malt thats grown here in Shawnee county and here in Kansas. We do buy hops, for our German beers our hops come from Germany, for our English beers they come from England, theres no tariff yet at least on European agricultural products.

Even with living local, the President of Blind Tiger believes theres one reason why tariffs for ingredients, like barley malt and hops, wont take a direct hit.

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Foreign producers, because of the fact that theres production in the United States, they dont have control of the market, Ives said, so they dont have the power to set the price. They may have to eat some of that increased cost, so I dont expect it to effect us a great deal.

Tariffs against our neighboring countries and China would mostly impact breweries using their products, or those in the market for new tanks or kegs.

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President Donald Trump has long been able to bend Republican lawmakers to his will with a single online post. The mere hint of a threat that he might announce a member "SHOULD BE PRIMARIED is enough to bring most GOP members into line.

Not Rep. Thomas Massie.

The 54-year-old former robotics engineer brushed aside that precise threat from Trump Monday night, even with the president vowing to lead the charge against him after Massie made clear that he would not vote for the Trump-blessed spending bill pushed by House Republican leaders.

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Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Massie met the threat with a bemused shrug and a well-practiced joke about the situation: Hes going after Canada and me today. The difference is Canada will eventually cave.

Massie has earned the right to his lighthearted reaction. The president used almost the same language five years ago, after Massie single-handedly forced his House colleagues to return to Washington and vote in person on a Covid-19 response bill at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020.

Trump at the time labeled Massie a third-rate grandstander and said he should be thrown out of the Republican Party. Massie went on to handily win a primary challenge, helped in part by the fact that his opponent had a history of racist posts online.

After the spending bill passed Tuesday evening, Massie said it feels just like the day he opposed the pandemic bill and suggested that the missives directed at me werent to get me to change my vote  I never change my vote.

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I think they were to try and keep the other Republicans in line until they get this over to the Senate, he added.

In a follow-up post Tuesday, Trump again labeled Massie a grandstander, also putting his title of Congressman in quotation marks.

Since rebuffing the last MAGA onslaught, Massie only burnished his maverick credentials. He won a spot on the House Rules Committee as part of a deal hard-right members struck with former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. That gave him considerable sway over what legislation made it to the House floor.

Later he turned against McCarthys successor, Mike Johnson, playing a leading role in trying to get him replaced as speaker when the new Congress met in January. He relinquished his seat on Rules, and amid it all, his high school sweetheart-turned-wife, Rhonda, died.

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"I don't know how to say this without cussing, if they thought I had no Fs to give before, I definitely have no Fs to give now, he told the Wall Street Journal recently.

On Tuesday, Massie responded to Trump online, calling a post attacking him misleading. However, he didn't directly blame the president and instead said it was a tweet from Trumps account. He separately made clear that he thought the House legislation he was opposing was not part of Trumps agenda.

Massie said in an interview that he thrived on the criticism from the most powerful Republican of the 21st century: I had the Trump antibodies for a while  I needed a booster.

Yet its far from clear that he is immune from an all-out political assault from Trump. The president, caught up in his own reelection, never really engaged in Massies 2020 race, and Trump went on to endorse him in 2022 as a conservative warrior.

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This time, the presidential attack was preceded by critical posts from top Trump strategist Chris LaCivita  indicating that there potentially could be more political firepower behind a new effort to oust Massie.

Besides the spending bill apostasy, theres other reasons for Trump and his political orbit to take aim at the Kentuckian: Massie was one of six members of Congress to endorse Ron DeSantis presidential campaign; another, Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), was forced out of Congress after Trump endorsed against Good in a tightly contested primary last year.

Massie has a reservoir of support among the libertarian-oriented, fiercely anti-spending Republicans who came up as part of the tea party movement and now have moved toward MAGA. A handful spoke up in his defense this week, including Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who said Massie has worked harder than perhaps any member of Congress to bring federal spending under control.

Johnson offered mild support for the maverick: Look, I'm in the incumbent protection program here, said Johnson. Thomas and I have had disagreements, but I consider Thomas Massie a friend."

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I just vehemently disagree with his position, he added. But I'll leave it at that.

The question is whether Trump will actually follow through with his political threats this time. Theres reason to be doubtful: Trump recently threatened primary challenges against other dissident Republicans, including Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), without following through with an immediate endorsement. And history has shown that Trump does not have an especially long memory when it comes to Capitol Hill grudges.

Massie seemed well aware when he asked if Trump would hold a lasting grudge. Itll blow over, he said.

Meredith Lee Hill and Jennifer Scholtes contributed to this report.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Springboro drivers might notice tubes sprawled across some roadways this week.

The Ohio Department of Transportation is conducting traffic counts on roads in Springboro, including State Route 73 and 741.

As vehicles drive over the tubes, the tubes record the data to determine how many vehicles travel though certain areas at certain times per day.

On Friday, the tubes will be removed from the roadways, which will allow the data to be analyzed.

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Before yall start, lets just get these five points about Divine Nine Greek hazing out of the way real quick. Just for housekeeping purposes:

1. Violently hazing people to join any organization isnt meaningful, productive, or necessary to showcase the best of anyone involved.

2. Hazing has been a cultural norm in various institutions beyond Greek life for decades  marching bands, political circles, social clubs, gangs, and other various tropes have done such to garner traction.

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3. On American campuses, hazing incidents are more prevalent and outstanding by white fraternities, sororities, and similar institutions than Black ones because they imply outnumber us.

4. Points #2 and #3 doesnt let the Divine Nine off the hook just because white people do it too because Point #1 still remainsand last time I checked: Black people should be leaders, not followers.

5. Not that it should matter (because everyone should be able to publicly condemn violence anywhere), but Im a proud member of a Divine Nine fraternity  not a cult.

Speaking for myself, the untimely and senseless death of Caleb Wilson, a 20-year-old junior at Southern University and A&M College, was devastating. For a young Black man to be killed while pledging a Black Greek-letter organization (BGLO) at an HBCU is a total nightmare.

It has been embarrassing and infuriating to see the mixed responses within the Black Greek community regarding this. Online deflection and/or the silencing of those who speak out against this tragedy resembles the same kind of behavior of police officers when the topic of law enforcement brutality comes up.

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Yes, not all of us do it  but when some of us do, we must address it.

And again, just because white folks have been doing it long before us doesnt give us a pass to replicate such problematic behavior. Because in America, its Black institutions (HBCUs, holidays, museums, programs, historic sites) that are currently under attack right now more than ever.

Tragedies such as what happened in Baton Rouge serves as the perfect lightning rod for President Donald Trumps administration to justify further eliminating our Divine Nine and HBCUs.

The fact that D9 members really telling folks not to talk about Caleb, D9, hazing etc because they arent D9 is wild. They forget they service orgs? And the folks in the communities they are supposed to be serving absolutely have a right to speak about them?  I appreciate you. (@DeeLaSheeArt) March 5, 2025

unfortunately, most of the public would probably stand back and let them do it because of the lack of outward advocacy from Black Greeks to combat such conduct in public. Now is not the time to turn a blind eye or ignore our communitys legitimate outcry when an innocent life is taken away from us.

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If we truly believe Black Lives Matter, it starts in our own backyard. We should be demanding accountability and change when it comes to the necessary protection of Black people  especially our youth  in all things that we represent.

Caleb Wilson deserves justice. His family deserves our unwavering love, support, and action. No one should ever lose their life in this way.



Brutal hazing has claimed yet another young Black life, and we as a community must confront this harsh reality. We proudly proclaim  Watch The Yard (@watchtheyard) March 5, 2025

When I decided to be a part of a BGLO, I chose to be a part of a legacy of trailblazers, innovators, leaders, and changemakers  not a cult that cowardly hides when bad things happen and hypocritically points the finger elsewhere to deflect. Most of my experience has fortunately been the former and not the latter  which is why I implore other Black Greeks to step up, speak out, mobilize, and set the example  rather than the norm  when it comes to combating hazing.

-

Ernest Owens is an award-winning journalist and author of The Case for Cancel Culture. You can check him out at ernestowens.com.

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On Monday March 10, Angolan President Joao Lourenco met with a delegation of religious leaders from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to discuss the ongoing conflict in the region. The delegation, led by Monsignor Fulgence Muteba, President of the National Episcopal Conference of the DRC, sought Lourencos insights on finding peaceful solutions for the escalating violence, which has significantly threatened the stability of the region.

Lourenco, also serving as the Chairperson of the African Union, has played a pivotal role in peace efforts, particularly mediating tensions between the DRC and Rwanda.

The religious leaders expressed their appreciation for Lourencos leadership, acknowledging his potential to influence the peace process and help resolve the humanitarian crisis caused by the violence. Reverend Eric Nsenga, the spokesperson for the delegation, highlighted the importance of Lourencos support in implementing the peace initiatives led by the churches in the DRC. The ongoing conflict, exacerbated by the activities of the M23 rebel group, has led to thousands of deaths and displaced many people, worsening the already dire humanitarian conditions in the DRC.

The situation in the DRC has become increasingly unstable, with the M23 rebels capturing key cities, including Goma and Bukavu, in early 2025. Despite these setbacks, President Lourenco assured the delegation that he would continue working towards peace, offering Angolas assistance in the efforts to restore stability in the region. The meeting underscored the critical role of regional cooperation and the international community in achieving lasting peace and security in the DRC.
Wendy Williams hospitalizedThis headline has left fans deeply concerned. The iconic TV personality was rushed to the hospital following a distressing incident at her New York assisted living facility. She reportedly threw a handwritten note from her fifth-floor window that read, Help! Wendy!! This prompted a wellness check by authorities.

Heres why Wendy Williams was taken to hospital

Wendy Williams, who stepped away from her long-running talk show in 2021 due to health issues, has faced numerous challenges in recent years. In 2023, she was diagnosed with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, conditions that have profoundly affected her life. Since May 2022, she has been under court-ordered guardianship, which oversees her finances and medical care.

The incident that led to Wendy Williams hospitalization occurred on Monday when she tossed the note from her window, immediately drawing attention. Police arrived at the scene around 11:15 AM. Later, Williams was seen waving her arms from the window while speaking on the phone. She was then escorted by officers to an ambulance and taken to a hospital for evaluation.

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Wendy Williams has been vocal about her dissatisfaction with the guardianship arrangement. She has described it as emotional abuse and akin to being in prison. Earlier this year, she called into The Breakfast Club and expressed her frustration, saying, I am not cognitively impaired, you know what Im saying? But I feel like Im in prison.

Despite her objections, the court has deemed Williams legally incapacitated based on medical evaluations and observations conducted over the past two years. Legal representatives for her guardian have denied claims of isolation, stating that Williams is free to leave the facility for outings and is receiving appropriate care.

Fans have also rallied behind the host, flooding social media with messages of support and concern. With Wendy Williams hospitalized, the focus now shifts to her upcoming re-evaluation.

Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on ComingSoon.

The post Why Was Wendy Williams Hospitalized? appeared first on Mandatory.
The wife of a recent Columbia University graduate who was unlawfully arrested by federal agents has made a dire public plea to government officials to release him from detention.

Immigration enforcement officers abducted Mahmoud Khalil over the weekend and threatened to revoke his green card for helping to lead the anti-war student protests on campus last spring.

Khalils wife, who through her attorney said she prefers her name not be used, was walking with her husband to their university-owned apartment Saturday night when several Department of Homeland Security agents took the Palestinian activist without a judicial warrant, despite Khalil being a lawful permanent resident of the United States.

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Khalil is my rock, he is my home and he is my happy place, his wife said Monday in a statement. The two married in November 2023, and he received his green card last year.

For everyone who has met Mahmoud they can attest to his incredible character, humbleness, selflessness and his love for helping others. He is always willing to stand up for the oppressed, she said. It is clear the love that people have for him from the outpour of love I have been receiving from everyone he has crossed paths with.

Members of the Columbia University Apartheid Divest group, including Mahmoud Khalil (center), are surrounded by media outside the university's campus on April 30, 2024, in New York City. Mary Altaffer via Associated Press

The agents also threatened to arrest her  a U.S. citizen who is eight months pregnant with their first child  if she did not leave Khalil and go up to their apartment. Khalil is currently being held at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Louisiana, a facility his wife cannot travel to because shes in the late stage of pregnancy.

A federal judge has temporarily blockedKhalils deportation until at least Wednesday pending a review of the petition his attorney filed, though he remains in detention. Khalils attorney has also requested to bring him back to New York, where he lives.

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For everyone reading this, I urge you to see Mahmoud through my eyes as a loving husband and the future father to our baby, his wife said. I need your help to bring Mahmoud home, so he is here beside me, holding my hand in the delivery room as we welcome our first child into this world. Please release Mahmoud Now.

President Donald Trump celebrated the abductionon Monday, claiming Khalil is the first arrest of many to come. Before Khalils disappearance, the Trump administration pulled $400 million in grantsto Columbia for allegedly not cooperating with the presidents executive order that punishes campus dissent, due to the schools continued inaction to protect Jewish students from discrimination.

Protesters march in support of Khalil on Monday in New York. Immigration enforcement agents unlawfully abducted Khalil over the weekend for peacefully leading the Gaza solidarity encampment at Columbia University last year. Yuki Iwamura via Associated Press

Khalils arrest and detention has sparked widespread public anger. Faculty, community leaders, lawmakers and immigrant rights activists warn of the danger that comes with revoking someones green card status, and how crushing pro-Palestinian speech under the guise of fighting antisemitism is just one step in the Trump administrations efforts to quell dissent and free speech altogether.

Columbia interim President Katrina Armstrong said Monday the university is committed to freedom of speech as a fundamental value that we must uphold as a community  citizens and non-citizens alike. But emails obtained by Zeteo show that Khalil asked Armstrong for protection one day before his abduction, saying hes been subjected to a vicious, coordinated and dehumanizing doxxing campaign led by two Columbia affiliates who have labeled me a security threat and called for my deportation. Armstrong has not confirmed the emails herself.

Protests and walkouts across the country in support of Khalil and of free speech are planned for Tuesday.
Victoria Goodwin, wife of "Ghost Adventures" star Aaron Goodwin, has been arrested in Nevada on suspicion of hiring someone to murder her husband.

Victoria Goodwin was arrested Thursday, according to online inmate records from Nevada's Clark County, and arraigned on charges of solicitation of murder and conspiracy murder. She remains behind bars in lieu of $100,000 bail in cash or bond and has a preliminary hearing set for March 25.

The Times on Wednesday obtained a copy of the arrest report from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The Goodwins live in Las Vegas.

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Back in October, Victoria Goodwin allegedly was sending messages to an inmate in a Florida prison about getting out of her marriage, according to the report. Police said she began corresponding with the inmate after seeing him on a true-crime show.

Read more: The Comedy Store is rumored to be haunted. So we went ghost hunting with the pros

She allegedly set aside $11,515 as payment and provided the inmate with information about when and where her husband could be found while shooting "Ghost Adventures" in California, the police report said; the inmate allegedly contacted someone else regarding the alleged plot. One message from the inmate said, per the report, "He's asleep right now in the hotel room. ... I need to know what's going on. Can I get an update. Was it done?"

In other messages cited in the report, Goodwin asked the inmate if he thought she was a "bad person" because she chose "to end his existence. Not divorce." She also said she was "so anxious" and couldn't believe "it's happening."

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The inmate said he would distract Aaron Goodwin with a phone call when the alleged hit man went to his Barstow, Calif., hotel room, according to the report.

Police recently got wind of the alleged plot, which included messages referencing a $2,500 upfront payment, when the inmate's contraband phone was seized by authorities, the report said. Police said Victoria Goodwin told them that she had only been fantasizing about killing her husband and being with the inmate and did not remember sending the messages.

Read more: 'I don't want to die!' Cal Fire captain begged for mercy during slaying captured on video, officials say

Aaron Goodwin, who apparently talked to TMZ, which first reported the news, said he was blindsided by the arrest and allegations because he thought his marriage was doing fine. The couple got married in August 2022.

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On Feb. 27, Victoria posted a photo showing herself in a "cuddle puddle" on a couch with Aaron and their cat.

The most recent episode of "Ghost Adventures," which has run for 17 seasons on the Travel Channel and is also available on streamer Discovery+, aired last June. However, Goodwin posted a photo Feb. 20 on social media showing himself bundled up at night with co-star Zak Bagans and others in the "Ghost Adventures" crew. Fans asked in comments at the time if the photo meant the show was coming back soon.

A few fans posted comments more recently showing support for Aaron Goodwin in the wake of the allegations against his wife.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  First responders across Wilson County plan to gather next week to participate in an active shooter training and prepare for what could come after: reunifying parents with their children.

Organizers told News 2 that this years drill will rehearse previous tactics and highlight components of parent/student reunification.

Earlier this year, on Jan. 22, a 17-year-old gunman shot and killed a classmate in the cafeteria of Antioch High School before turning the gun on himself. The immediate aftermath was chaotic, with many parents questioning where and when they could reunite with their children.

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Sumner County closes schools to hold active shooter training for staff

Reunification training will be top of mind for Wilson County first responders, who plan to host the drill at Friendship Christian School on March 20.

Reunification is a systematic process where you safely and efficiently reunite the student back to their parent or guardian, explained Captain Scott Moore with the Wilson County Sheriffs Office.

Moore added the exercise will highlight the need for better communication between first responders and parents in what is typically a highly stressful environment.

The training will reportedly take into account where the shooting took place, which will then dictate what roads must be closed, and also determine what areas are suitable for convening parents to reunite with students.

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According to Moore, county leaders will map out a scenario for the schools and then also work on backup plans as part of the working blueprint.

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Weve really focused on a lot of the stuff that happens inside the school, so we want to concentrate now on the process afterwards, while the investigation is going on. Im a parent myself, and if you have a student at a school, I couldnt imagine something critical happening at a school and not knowing whether my child is a victim or if they are safe, Moore told News 2.

Having officers there on the scene telling them, hey, we are working on it but we have got to do it safely. And then communicating with those parents if their child is a victim. Those are tough things to handle and we want to make sure we do it appropriately, and also be very sensitive to the situation, he added.

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Wilson County currently has a school resource officer in every school.

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A powerful storm system that unleashed severe weather for millions of Americans from coast to coast this week is now taking aim at the nations midsection, bringing blizzard conditions to the northern Plains, thunderstorms and the threat of tornadoes to the Midwest and South and an elevated risk of wildfires to the southern Plains.

This storm is packing multiple life-threatening hazards, from fires and dust storms to tornadoes and flooding rainfall," AccuWeather chief meteorologist Jon Porter said Friday. "More than 150 million people are at risk of impacts across 30 states through the weekend.

Timing and impacts

National Weather Service/NOAA

 Friday-Saturday: According to the National Weather Services latest forecast, the storm system will produce showers and severe thunderstorms over the central and southern Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley.

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"Significant tornadoes, widespread damaging winds and large hail are likely," the weather service said.

The system will also continue to produce heavy snow in the Sierra Nevada, where up to three feet of snow has already fallen.

Combined with wind gusts of up to 70 mph, heavy snow developing on the back side of the storm will create blizzard conditions across the northern Plains through Saturday.

 Saturday-Sunday: As the front moves eastward, showers and severe thunderstorms will develop over parts of the Ohio, Tennessee and lower Mississippi valleys and other parts of the Southeast.

"There is an additional threat of EF2-EF5 tornadoes," the weather service warned, with thunderstorms again accompanied by high winds and large hail.

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Severe thunderstorms and the threat of tornadoes will persist across the Southeast through most of the weekend, while heavy rainfall and high winds associated with the storm are expected in parts of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast by Sunday.

Critical fire weather conditions across southern Plains

National Weather Service/NOAA

The weather service issued critical fire weather warnings across much of the southern Plains through the weekend, as high winds combined with low humidity and dry conditions on the back side of the storm will create an elevated risk for wildfires.

"Significant, dangerous wildfire-spread conditions are expected, with a wildfire outbreak possible across parts of the Southern Plains," the NWS said.

Friday: Significant, dangerous wildfire-spread conditions are expected, with a wildfire outbreak possible across parts of the Southern Plains.



This means that if any new fires start, or if there are existing fires, the weather conditions will be able to drive the spread of pic.twitter.com/RRZgiS27Id  National Weather Service (@NWS) March 13, 2025

There were reports Friday of multiple wildfires in north Texas, where the risk of fire weather was considered "extreme."

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According to KFDA-10 in Amarillo, Texas, evacuations were underway in Alanreed and Lake Tanglewood.

In a post on X, the Texas A&M Forest Service said it was responding to a 500-acre wildfire that forced the closure of Highway 70 in Roberts County.

Alert: Texas A&M Forest Service is responding to a request for assistance in Roberts County on the #WindmillFire. The fire is an estimated 500 acres and 0% contained. Highway 70 is closed in both directions near the fire area. #txfire pic.twitter.com/O8xE0z5o0W  Incident Information - Texas A&M Forest Service (@AllHazardsTFS) March 14, 2025

Dust storms are also possible throughout the region.

This is likely to be the worst dust storm so far this year, Randall Hergert, a lead forecaster with the weather service in Albuquerque, N.M., told the Associated Press.

Wild winter weather

The storm is the latest in a series of systems to bring extreme weather to parts of the United States this winter. And this round has produced several tornadoes.

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Early Thursday, a rare tornado touched down in Pico Rivera in East Los Angeles  part of the larger system that brought heavy rainfall to Southern California, triggering evacuation warnings and orders in burn-scar areas. According to the Los Angeles Times, the EF-0 tornado, with peak winds of 85 mph, downed trees and damaged several homes.

On Monday, a tornado touched down near Orlando, Fla., destroying several homes and hitting a local TV station in the middle of a live weather forecast.

This video shows the moment a tornado hit the FOX 35 Orlando studio while they were on the air providing life-saving information. Severe weather has been moving across portions of Central Florida all morning, triggering Tornado Warnings. More: https://t.co/He9myx6P1S pic.twitter.com/LR86MR86C4  FOX Weather (@foxweather) March 10, 2025

WOFL-TV meteorologist Brooks Garner was on the air when he realized and told everyone in the studio to take cover.

"Get to your safe space under your desk. We're catching debris right now on the roof," Garner said. "This is a tornado."

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There was minimal damage to the building, and there were no reports of injuries.

A preliminary survey from the weather service indicated the tornado briefly reached EF-2 strength, with winds estimated at up to 115 mph.

"I've been doing this for a very long time, Garner told viewers after the storm passed. That's the first time a tornado has hit me while I'm doing the weather.
Elon Musk, accompanied by his son X Musk, speaks to reporters in the Oval Office during President Donald Trump's executive order signing at the White House on Feb. 11, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (File photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Over half of all South Carolinians with any opinion approve of the way President Donald Trump is doing his job, but Elon Musk is overall not well liked, according to a Winthrop Poll released Tuesday.

However, their approval ratings in the Palmetto State are bipolar when broken down by party.

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Among respondents who gave an opinion in the online poll, 53% approve of Trumps presidency so far, while only 38% have a very or somewhat favorable view of Musk.

Trumps approval rating shoots up to 81% among self-identified Republicans. But self-identified Democrats gave the reverse answer: 81% of them disapprove of Trump.

(Voters dont register by party in South Carolina, and the poll was not limited to likely voters.)

Republicans and Democrats are deeply divided over President Trumps performance, but his approval is riding high among his base, said Scott Huffmon, a Winthrop University political science professor and the polls director.

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As for Musk and his cost-slashing efforts as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), hes less liked than Trump even among Republicans, with 67% of them viewing him favorably. Among Democrats, 79% view Musk unfavorably.

Asked how much influence they want Musk to have within Trumps administration, more than two-thirds of Republicans answered a lot or a little. That compares to nearly three-quarters of Democrats who said none at all.

The ways in which Musk has influenced the Trump administration has pleased South Carolinas Republicans and seems to deeply concern S.C. Democrats, Huffmon said. We have no way of predicting how the impact of DOGE will solidify or change these numbers as it continues to drastically affect the shape and functions of the executive branch.

More South Carolinians were in agreement on immigration.

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Three-fourths of South Carolinians said they support deporting immigrants who are in the country illegally. Support shoots up to 90% among Republicans, while 61% of Democrats are supportive.

However, South Carolinians dont agree on deporting immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally as children. Among all respondents, 55% somewhat or strongly oppose that. Broken down by party, 67% of Republicans support that idea, while 79% of Democrats oppose.

In November, Trump won South Carolina with more than 58% of 2.55 million votes cast, nearly 18 percentage points over Democrat Kamala Harris.

The latest Winthrop Poll was conducted online between Feb. 5 and March 5 from a sampling of South Carolina adults; 1,220 people responded.

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Results were weighted to align to South Carolinas demographics for sex, race and age based on census data. They have a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points among all respondents. The margin of error rises to plus-or-minus 8 points for answers by party.

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(WDHN)  The Alabama Coroner Training Commission is ensuring that coroners around the state are doing their required continuing education.

The commission says every coroner and deputy coroner in the state must complete 12 hours of training or education every calendar year  Its been a law since 2007 but is now being enforced by new leadership.

The coroner training leadership started sending out emails to 19 coroners around the state, letting them know that if they havent done the training or havent recorded it, they were labeled non-compliant.

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Three Wiregrass coroners made the list: Houston Countys Robert Byrd, Dale Countys John Cawley, and Henry Countys Derek Wright.

Byrd says he received an email in February but saw it last week asking if he had a certificate, but he didnt have one and didnt know what it was or what to do because he never had to have one.

Currently, he is doing continuing education as a funeral home director and for insurance.

Cawley is compliant and said it was an error on their part showing that he wasnt. He didnt get credit for two of the classes he had taken after the first of the year, so he was credited for 6 and a half hours instead of the 12.

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He sent in his certificates Monday and the error has since been corrected, and he has been removed from the list.

For Wright, he said the county probate office has his credits, but it hasnt been sent to the association because he didnt know they asked for them  until now.

Hes been a coroner for 20-plus years and agrees with the training but says it should have been enforced. He goes to the Foley Forensics Seminar in south Alabama, which is 14-16 hours of training over 2 days.

You know this happens sometimes where things are not communicated in Alabama and then they get forgotten but hats off to the new leadership enforcing this as they should, Brandon Shoupe said. However, its a shame they do it in this fashion to make coroners around the state look bad as if they are not fulfilling their obligations which tehnically by their standards they are not but they didnt know and they were doing everything they know to do the right way.

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Shoupe, along with the three coroners, agree there should be continuing education but they say it should have started a long time ago.

For those who have not done the training or reported the paperwook, they have until May to do so or there could be a suspension.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com.
Shake off that election fatigue and lock in! Another consequential election for Wisconsin is around the corner, taking place on April 1. Voters will elect a new member to the Wisconsin Supreme Court to fill the seat being vacated by Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, and the winner will set the balance of the court for years to come.

Several of the important issues from the 2023 Supreme Court election, such as abortion and redistricting, will likely shape this contest, we would argue there are even bigger risks in play for the economic and civic health of our state.

Thats why our coalition of business leaders endorses Judge Susan Crawford, a balanced, nonpartisan jurist, to maintain the impartiality, fairness and trust in our judiciary that is essential for our states economy to thrive.

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Letters: TV ads for Wisconsin Supreme Court seat shameful. Make it a partisan election.

The role of the Supreme Court is far reaching, with implications for business and regulatory rulings, enforcement and administration of the rule of law and protecting business from partisan overreach by other branches of government. In addition, the court plays a critical role in reviewing civil rights matters and is charged with defending the integrity of our state constitution.

Wisconsin needs a centrist, common sense Supreme Court

A balanced court, one that is driven by centrist common sense rather than partisan doctrine, can be an enabler for business and economic growth. A balanced court ensures consistent application of the law, avoiding extreme swings in judicial philosophy that can disrupt business and environmental regulations.

Consistent and predictable rulings also allow businesses to plan long-term investments and create jobs confidently and without fear of abrupt changes. A court that represents impartial views is also less likely to favor excessive government intervention or unchecked corporate power. It also fosters an environment where business owners can trust the judicial system to fairly resolve disputes, whether related to regulations, employment law, or contracts.

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Opinion: Doctors battle misinformation. RFK Jr. is wrong  and measles may only be start.

Conversely, courts characterized by extreme views and overt influence from political forces can be destabilizing. We see this happening in real-time today in the state of North Carolina. There the balance of the court has shifted to the extreme right, and in short order has put a hold on the certification of a statewide election, shifted the balance of power away from the executive branch to the legislature in several areas, and ruled that the legislature can draw their own district maps without judicial oversight, essentially concentrating political power in one party in perpetuity. And North Carolina justices are just getting started.

As pragmatic businesspeople, we believe that past behavior is the best indicator of future actions, and we would ask all voters to consider the two Supreme Court candidates' political histories closely.

Susan Crawford has reputation for upholding the rule of law

Susan Crawford is a circuit court judge with an established reputation of being tough on crime and upholding the rule of law. She has clearly and consistently expressed the view that Supreme Court justices must be impartial and fair, use common sense, and not politicize the Constitution.

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Crawfords career has also been as a public servant and private attorney, rather than as a politician. She previously served as an attorney at the state government level, and had never run for partisan office or been involved in electoral politics until choosing to run for the Wisconsin Supreme Court in this election.

Her opponent, Brad Schimel, is also circuit court judge. He has previously run for elected office twice as a Republican, serving as the state Attorney General for four years after his first run, and subsequently losing his re-election bid. Since running as a GOP candidate in 2015, Schimel has further bolstered his partisan credentials, participating in the RNC convention, traveling to Washington D.C. for the 2025 inauguration, and actively campaigning with Turning Point Action to elect President Trump. He openly supported Trumps pardon of January 6 convicts and was recorded saying that another bloody revolution was needed to reclaim freedom in America.

We believe the contrast between them is clear and only Crawford promises the balance and impartiality that Wisconsins economy needs. While both candidates have ideological leanings, Crawford's emphasis on judicial impartiality will achieve a far better balance for business than Schimel's firmly partisan positions and numerous obligations he has garnered from his overt political ties and affiliations in Washington.

A balanced Wisconsin Supreme Court will ensure stability, predictability, fairness, and trust in the legal system  factors that are crucial for businesses making long-term decisions on investment, hiring, and growth.

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We encourage you to cast your vote for Crawford, which is a vote for our economy and a vote to keep Washington politics out of Wisconsin courts.

Anoop Prakash, Tom Florsheim, and David Lubar, are members of the Wisconsin Business Leaders for Democracy, a bi-partisan group of business leaders focused on civic engagement and strengthening our democracy. Lubar is the president & CEO of Lubar & Company; Prakash is a manufacturing executive and Marine Corps veteran based in Milwaukee, and served in the administration of President George W. Bush; Florsheim is the CEO of WEYCO Group, based in Milwaukee.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: WI Supreme Court needs a judge like Crawford for our economy | Opinion
The St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, school district filed a federal lawsuit against education software behemoth PowerSchool Tuesday, kicking into motion a national campaign to hold the company accountable for what cybersecurity experts predict is among the largest student data breaches in history.

The lawsuit is one in a barrage of legal challenges that have emerged since the company announced in early 2025 it was the target of a December cyberattack that, according to the hacker, led to a global breach of some 62.4 million students and 9.5 million educators personal information. Though the company hasnt acknowledged how many people were affected, exposed sensitive files reportedly include Social Security numbers, special education records and detailed medical information.

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The St. Croix Falls lawsuit alleges breach of contract, unjust enrichment and false advertising, which sets it apart from other class action lawsuits charging negligence against the education technology company whose cloud-based student information system dominates the K-12 market.

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At the end of the day, we believe that there were fraudulent misrepresentations made to the clients to induce them to go and be in these contracts with PowerSchool, attorney William Shinoff, whose firm represents the St. Croix Falls district, told The 74 in an interview.

PowerSchool spokesperson Beth Keebler said in a statement the company acted swiftly and effectively to protect our customers in compliance with the law.

PowerSchool believes the claims are without merit and will defend itself, Keebler said. However, our focus as a business continues to be our customers, ensuring they have the information and support they need while informing them of the steps we have taken to set a higher standard in cybersecurity for the entire industry.

Students and parents nationwide have filed more than 30 federal class action lawsuits against PowerSchool in connection to the December breach. The lawsuits, which could soon be consolidated, collectively allege PowerSchool was negligent when it failed to protect sensitive data and opened victims to potential identity theft.

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But because these center on the data breachs potential for future harms, legal experts said, the cases could be dismissed almost as quickly as they were filed. The lawsuit filed by St. Croix Falls schools, meanwhile, alleges PowerSchool broke contractual obligations to keep data secure  and failed to provide schools the services they were promised.

A cornerstone of the commercial relationship between the school district and the company was educators reliance on PowerSchools representation that it would adequately protect students and educators sensitive information, according to the complaint filed in federal district court in Sacramento. Instead, PowerSchool has done little to help the school district and people whose information was compromised.

Courts nationwide could soon be flooded with similar complaints. Shinoff said his firm, the Frantz Law Group, plans to file thousands of them on behalf of school districts across the country. The precise number of districts affected by the breach is unknown.

What I can tell you is weve already spoken to hundreds of districts, Shinoff said. Our hope is that they will all get involved in this to ensure that PowerSchool is held accountable, that they can ensure that this information moving forward is indeed protected, and to make sure theyre reimbursed these public dollars that were spent for their programs.

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Shinoff represents large groups of school districts in several recent high-profile lawsuits, including against Facebooks and Instagrams parent company Meta and the electronic cigarette company Juul. The lawsuits alleging that the social media giant Meta exacerbated the youth mental health crisis involve nearly 1,000 districts, according to the firm.

Related

Surgeon Generals Social Media Warning May Impact School District Legal Surge

PowerSchool has acknowledged the hacker used a compromised password belonging to an authorized support engineer to breach PowerSource, its customer support portal for school staff seeking help with its software tools. The PowerSource portal reportedly lacked multi-factor authentication, according to a draft cybersecurity audit and other records obtained by NBC News.

The full audit, released by the company last week, found its systems were breached in August  months earlier than previously disclosed  but couldnt say for certain it was by the same threat actors.

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The company failed to implement the bare minimum security measures that are commonly utilized by similarly situated companies, the complaint alleges. Something as simple as providing for a multi-factor authentication log-in method would have been easily accomplished and would have prevented the Data Breach altogether.

The legally binding data privacy agreement that the Wisconsin district is accusing PowerSchool of breaching requires that the company employ multi-factor authentication and data encryption, standard industry security measures. Its reported failure to do so also made PowerSchool one of only a handful of companies to be removed from the Student Privacy Pledge, a self-regulatory effort designed to ensure education technology vendors are ethical stewards of the sensitive information they collect about children. The company was kicked off Feb 13.

Related

Illuminate Ed Pulled from Student Privacy Pledge After Massive Data Breach

In an earlier statement to The 74, Keebler, the PowerSchool spokesperson, said the company has and will continue to implement [multi-factor authentication] across all internal systems as part of its robust and ongoing security protocols.

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PowerSchool is accessed by tens of thousands of customers, posing challenges to MFA management, the statement continued. However, following the incident, PowerSchool has implemented additional hardening efforts, including MFA for any PowerSchool employee and contractor access to customer data on PowerSource.

Devil and the deep blue sea

Despite PowerSchools promise to bolster security measures, its customer districts have lost confidence in the company, attorney Mark Williams, who is assisting school districts in filing suits against the company, told The 74.

But because its student information system plays such a significant role in day-to-day operations  and contains so much information about students  he said that switching to a competitor could become a logistical nightmare.

Many school districts are between the devil and the deep blue sea, Williams said. Many of them dont have confidence in PowerSchool to secure their data but they are very hesitant to change the vendor of their [student information system] because it is extraordinarily expensive and burdensome to do so.

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While the company may not be a household name  save for a flood of recent press following the breach  its student information system is one of the largest ed tech services in the U.S. with teachers nationwide using it every day to track grades, attendance and other performance metrics.

The company claims its software is used to support the learning for 60 million students globally at more than 18,000 institutions, including 90 of Americas 100 largest school districts.

PowerSchool was acquired in October 2024 by the Boston-based private equity firm Bain Capital for $5.6 billion. The company, which also owns the college- and career-readiness platform Naviance, has acquired multiple smaller ed tech ventures, such as Schoology and SchoolMessenger, in recent years, furthering its reach into the nations K-12 classrooms.

Williams is the author of the data privacy agreement central to the Wisconsin districts claims against PowerSchool. Created by the Student Data Privacy Consortium, a collaborative effort between school districts and technology vendors to keep students information secure, the agreement is used by school districts in more than half of states to ensure the tech companies they contract with  including PowerSchool  follow stringent security practices.

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Among its provisions is a requirement for companies to notify school district customers within 72 hours of learning data was accessed or obtained by an unauthorized third-party like a hacker.

PowerSchool was reportedly unaware it had fallen victim to the December attack until the hacker came forward with a ransom demand, according to NBCs reporting. The company then paid the hacker an undisclosed sum to prevent the stolen records from being shared publicly, the outlet reported, and was given a video by the threat actor apparently deleting the stolen files in their possession.

Through the agreements, PowerSchool also vowed to abide by and maintain adequate data security measures, consistent with industry standards for the storage of sensitive records.

Williams accused the company of breaching those requirements  laying the groundwork for a first-of-its-kind legal battle for the data privacy consortium.

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We just felt that at some point you have to police the process, at some point you have to draw a red line, Williams told The 74. Weve got to protect the contract because it protects schools and it protects kids. So thats not negotiable for us.

Given the difficulty school districts face in migrating to different student information services, St. Croix Falls seeks a commitment from PowerSchool  and court-ordered accountability  to ensure the company follows stringent cybersecurity standards in the future, said Shinoff, its attorney.

At this point their word, to us, cant be trusted, Shinoff said. For them to have someone that theyre reporting to for a period of time is something thats essential  especially when were dealing with thousands and thousands of districts across the country.

Data practices under a microscope

Prior to the data breach, PowerSchool positioned itself as a national leader in K-12 education data security  and its CEO appeared at a White House event in 2023 to boast of its efforts to keep students personal information out of the hands of malicious actors.

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As an early adopter of a voluntary federal pledge to design products with security at the forefront, CEO Hardeep Gulati spoke alongside then-First Lady Jill Biden at the first-ever White House summit on K-12 school cybersecurity, where PowerSchool and other technology companies highlighted the need to strengthen digital safeguards at schools nationwide.

Watch: PowerSchool CEO Hardeep Gulati speaks at the first-ever White House summit on K-12 cybersecurity in 2023.

During the event, the company said it would provide free webinars, training videos and other resources to help schools better secure their systems.

In the year prior to the summit, Gulati said, the company successfully fended off 1 billion cyberattacks on its servers while ensuring schools were kept safe through a relentless investment and focus on every element of security.

Now, the company has found itself under scrutiny by the tech industry, lawmakers and other elected officials. In North Carolina, state Attorney General Jeff Jackson opened an investigation into the PowerSchool breach, which exposed the sensitive information of nearly 4 million people in his state, to determine if they broke any laws.

The company is also facing bipartisan federal questioning. In a Feb. 21 letter, senators from New Hampshire, Indiana and Oklahoma blasted PowerSchool for maintaining inadequate cybersecurity measures and accused it of offering delayed notifications and insufficient information to affected individuals.

School district leaders who we have spoken with raised serious concerns about delays in your companys response to the cybersecurity incident, including delayed notifications to impacted schools, wrote Sens. Maggie Hassan, Jim Banks and James Lankford. Sufficient use of basic cybersecurity safeguards like multi-factor authentication, they wrote, could have prevented the breach.

PowerSchool says it will provide two years of identity protection services to students and educators affected by the breach and credit monitoring services to adult students and educators. Keeber, the PowerSchool spokesperson, said in the statement the company has seen no evidence of fraud or further misuse of the information involved to date.

But the senators wrote that PowerSchool has not clearly communicated a date by which impacted individuals will receive the services.

Your delayed and unclear communication is unacceptable, the letter continued, especially given the sensitive nature of the personal data that was stolen.

Information PowerSchool takes is virtually unlimited

Even before the breach, PowerSchool has faced criticism for its data collection, use and security practices. In the last five years, it has been named as a defendant in numerous federal lawsuits related to its data collection and use practices, a review of federal court records shows.

They include complaints accusing the company of subjecting people to persistent and unsolicited robocalls and of failing to properly identify children experiencing homelessness.

One federal lawsuit brought by a Seattle mother and former middle school teacher accuses the company of selling student data collected through Naviance and other services to more than 100 third-party partners with inadequate consent from students or their parents. That lawsuit, filed in May 2024 in San Francisco, also alleges the company has leveraged the data it collects on students to train an AI chatbot.

Emily Cherkin

The information PowerSchool takes from students is virtually unlimited, the complaint alleges. It includes everything from education records and behavioral history to health data and information about a childs family circumstances. PowerSchool collects this highly sensitive information under the guise of educational support, but in fact collects it for its own commercial gain.

In a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, PowerSchools attorneys claimed Cherkins complaint relied on broad, general social critiques condemning surveillance capitalism, cybercrimes and manipulative digital product design, in an apparent attempt to mask that they cannot make specific allegations of wrongdoing by PowerSchool.

Related

Kept in the Dark: Meet the Hired Guns Who Ensure School Cyberattacks Stay Hidden

Keebler, the company spokesperson, denied Cherkins claims that it sells data or uses personal data to train its chatbots.

But Cherkin argues the vast amount of data PowerSchool collects and shares about millions of students have made it an attractive target for cybercriminals  and should have been a red flag all along. She compared Powerschools business model to that of social media companies that are built to amass and monetize user data.

Im truly not at all shocked that this happened, she said of the breach. The only way, really, to keep data safe is to not collect it and stockpile it in the first place.
The United States has called on March 10 for increased international cooperation to address the growing links between the Somali-based terrorist group Al-Shabaab and the Houthi movement from Yemen.

Speaking on the issue, Acting U.S. Alternate Representative to the UN, Ambassador John Kelley, stressed the importance of dialogue between the Yemen and Al-Shabaab sanctions panels, along with collaboration among countries in the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

The aim, he said, is to shed light on these connections and ultimately sever them, highlighting the significance of the Red Sea smuggling routes that facilitate the exchange of resources between the two groups.

Kelleys remarks followed the USs support for a UN Security Council resolution aimed at renewing sanctions on Al-Shabaab. The resolution includes extending arms embargoes, travel bans, and asset freezes on the terrorist group. It also renews the mandate for a Panel of Experts on Somalia to monitor Al-Shabaabs financial activities and report back to the UN Security Council. According to Kelley, these measures are crucial in restricting the groups access to funds and weapons, which are essential for their continued attacks and for fuelling conflict in Somalia.

Ambassador Kelley also reiterated the need for additional measures to target Al-Shabaab operatives and further diminish the groups influence. Al-Shabaab has been responsible for numerous terrorist attacks across Somalia, including bombings, assassinations, and ambushes. The group extorts millions of dollars from local businesses and residents, exacerbating Somalias instability. Kelley called for regional dialogue to tackle related issues like piracy, weapons trafficking, and illicit activities, stressing that the international community must hold those responsible for undermining peace and security accountable. The United States remains committed to addressing the threats posed by Al-Shabaab and other terrorist organisations globally.
U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East Envoy, Steve Witkoff, plans to travel to Moscow for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming days, multiple media outlets reported on March 10, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Witkoff previously traveled to Moscow in February for the release of U.S. teacher Marc Fogel from a Russian prison. Witkoff claimed that he spoke directly with Putin for over three hours during his visit.

Witkoff is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during an upcoming visit to Moscow, an unnamed source told Bloomberg on March 10. Two people briefed on the plans later confirmed the reports in comments to Reuters.

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The reported trip to Moscow will follow the March 11 discussions between Ukrainian and U.S. officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Witkoff will join U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz on the American side.

There is an "expectation" that the two sides will make "substantial progress" during the talks, Witkoff told Fox News in an interview on March 10.

"What's on the table, what's important to discuss are obviously security protocols for the Ukrainians, they care about that," Witkoff said.

The talks carry high stakes for Ukraine, as the U.S. has frozen military aid and stopped intelligence sharing with Kyiv. Officials have said the outcome of the talks may determine whether Washington resumes support.

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Despite being Trump's envoy for the Middle East, Witkoff has emerged as a leading figure in negotiations regarding Russia and Ukraine. He previously took part in talks with Russian representatives in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18, held without Ukraine's participation.

Read also: Were ready  Ukraine heads into US peace talks with everything at stake

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DES MOINES, Iowa  A woman was seriously injured Monday night in a shooting in Des Moines Prospect Park neighborhood.

According to Des Moines Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Paul Parizek, officers were called to the 2600 block of Boston Avenue just after 10:30 p.m. on a report of gunfire. While police were responding, they were notified about a woman with a gunshot wound who had driven herself to Broadlawns Medical Center.

2 injured in rural Polk County crash

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Officers discovered shell casings in the roadway at Boston Avenue and also found a vehicle at the hospital that had damage caused by gunfire.

The 32-year-old victim remains hospitalized with serious injuries

Sgt. Parizek said the evidence in the case indicates the shooting was targeted and there isnt any ongoing danger to the public.

No information about a possible suspect was released. The investigation is continuing and Sgt. Parizek said no arrests have been made in the case.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  The Womans Hospital Labor of Love Campaign countdown to their milestone baby arrival is on.

The medical system is awaiting the arrival of its 400,000th baby. As of Tuesday morning, the birth counter shows 399,883 babies delivered. Medical staff expect the delivery to happen within the next six to 10 days.

We deliver around 8,000 babies per year. Our highest number weve had on a given day is 45 babies, but our average on a typical day is around 20, said Wendy Singleton, Vice President of Nursing.

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The Baton Rouge hospital is a specialty hospital for women and infants. Since opening in 1968, it has welcomed nearly 400,000 babies, making it one of the largest delivery services in the country and the largest in Louisiana.

We have a very large delivery service, said Singleton. We also do a lot of surgeries on women. Our most recent addition is our perinatal mental health unit, which opened in September. Its a specialized unit that takes care of women who are pregnant and in the first year of post-partum who are suffering with mental illness.

Womans Hospital is a nonprofit organization. All money brought into the system is reinvested into hospital programs, community services, and highly qualified staff.

We really take pride in giving the very best, most individualized care to our women, our infants, and our families, said Singleton.

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During the countdown, families are encouraged to engage on their social media pages and participate in trivia questions.

Once the 400,000th baby arrives, the hospital will do something special to honor the family, if consent is given.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A woman told police Monday she was robbed at gunpoint in her driveway while unloading groceries.

Reports said the woman was in the driveway of an East Judson Avenue home about 9:50 p.m. unloading groceries when she saw two men dressed in black walking in the street.

She was getting pet food out of her car when she felt a gun against her side and one of the men told her to give them her wallet, reports said.

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Reports said she gave the men her wallet and they ran away towards East Midlothian Bouelvard. She ran after the men but couldnt find them, and then called police.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Police in D.C. are investigating after a woman was shot in Southeast near the Maryland state line on Monday night.

According to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), minutes before 10:30 p.m. on March 10, officers were called to the intersection of Southern Avenue and South Capitol Street for a reported shooting.

There, police located a woman who had been shot.

Advocates express concern to lawmakers over proposed $1 billion cuts to DC budget

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MPD told DC News Now that she was conscious and breathing, and medics took her to the hospital for treatment.

The shooting remains under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 202-727-9099 or text MPD at 50411.

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SHELBURN, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)  Elementary school students in Shelburn took a short field trip Monday to get hands-on STEM experience.

In 2019, Northeast School Corporation combined their middle and high school students, changing their middle school building to the administration office.

Rather than leave the classrooms sit empty, they created the Wonder Lab.

Wonder Lab Coordinator, Gretchen Brown, said the lab introduces students to STEM concepts at a young age.

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We knew there was still a lot of open space, Brown said. Patty Walters, who is a former teacher at Northeast School Corporation, and a few other teachers came up with an idea of flipping these three rooms into STEM labs for our students to come and do. Now, its six labs and a cafeteria.

Local elementary students visit the Wonder Lab multiple times per school year, learning a different concept each time.

We may be doing robotics one time when they come, Brown said. Today we are doing engineering and electricity. We try to base it on the science, technology, engineering, and math component of it. We may be doing exercises; weve got an exercise room. Each time they come; its something different.

Monday afternoon, third grade students from Northeast East Elementary focused on engineering.

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One student, Bryson Foxworthy, said they created electrical currents with random objects.

We were using food and other stuff to create open and closed circuits, Foxworthy said.

Brown said the best part of the lab is students have fun with the activities, without focusing on the educational aspects.

The best part about it is, they dont even realize theyre learning or that theyre applying those skills because were doing something totally different, Brown said. For them its a field trip.

The Wonder Lab also hosts evening sessions, for both parents and their kids, as well as a summer camp.

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Mar. 11A Woodbridge man has been ordered to pay one of the largest awards to a victim of sexual abuse issued by a San Joaquin County jury.

Pastor Frank James Palmer of Woodbridge Missionary Church was found liable in January of sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress stemming from molesting his niece over the course of eight years.

A jury returned a unanimous verdict of $47,000,700 to be paid to Darleen Patrick, according to Zalkin Law, LLP of San Diego, the firm that represented her.

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The abuse began when Patrick was 5 years old. Palmer was a 21-year-old seminary student when he stopped abusing her, the law firm said.

"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," Patrick said in a statement prepared by the firm. "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."

Zalkin law attorneys Daniel Varon and Tallis Radwick represented Patrick during the trial.

"This is an incredible result for a kind and wonderful woman who had her childhood ripped away from her by someone she trusted," Varon said. "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."

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Palmer is still employed at Missionary Baptist Church, where he has served as head pastor since 2001.

Before coming to Woodbridge, Palmer was a pastor more than nine years in McFarland and more than 13 years in Eureka, according to News-Sentinel archives.

Palmer's attorney Bill McLaughlin said he has field a motion to reduce the amount of the verdict, and if Patrick and her attorneys do not accept the motion, there could be another trial.

McLaughlin said another trial would allow him to present evidence against Patrick's claims that were not allowed. It would also allow his client to testify about the evidence, he said.

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"This was a very difficult case to summarize," he said. "And it was an extremely unique kind of situation."

A judge is expected to rule on the motion on April 8.

Zalkin Law, LLP represents childhood sexual abuse survivors and advocating for justice and accountability through civil litigation.
Nigeria has signed on March 10 a $200 million agreement with WeLight, a pan-African Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) company, to deploy hundreds of renewable mini-grids across rural areas and communities near urban centres.

The initiative aims to provide reliable electricity to millions of Nigerians and is a key part of the countrys efforts to increase its renewable energy share from 22 to 50% of its electricity mix. This deal also aligns with Nigerias goal of securing private investment to expand its renewable energy capacity.

The project, supported by the World Bank and the African Development Bank, will see the development and operation of 400 mini grids and 50 MetroGrids, primarily in rural areas. The initiative is expected to improve electricity access for between 1.5 to 2 million people, helping to foster local economic growth. The partnership with WeLight, which counts international investors like Axian Group, Sagemcom, and Norfund among its backers, is expected to make a significant impact on the countrys energy landscape.

WeLights CEO, Romain de Villeneuve, expressed enthusiasm about the project, stating that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), signed on Monday with Nigerias Rural Electrification Agency (REA), is a major step toward providing clean, sustainable electricity to millions of Nigerians. He also highlighted that the deal would support WeLights ambition to expand its operations across Africa, furthering its vision of becoming a leading pan-African energy provider.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  An apartment complex in Sioux Falls once ran by Tzadik Management is now under new management.

As of Monday, March 10th, Equity Real Estate Management (EREM) has taken over the Woodlake Apartments on South Louise Avenue.

Appropriators reject Noems $3.6 million cut for SDPB

Tessa Frank, EREMs president and managing partner, told KELOLAND News over the phone they are working to bring positive changes to the residents already there. Frank says you can expect to start seeing new signs going up at the buildings as well.

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This is the first property in Sioux Falls for EREM but they manage six in Rapid City. The company also runs properties in Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas. Woodlake Apartments are already listed in the EREM website.

Over the last few years, KELOLAND News has heard of multiple issues from tenants living in apartments ran by Tzadik Management, including just recently when we heard about frustrations with unreliable heat in the Woodlake Apartments. In the past, weve also heard about insect infestations, security issues and mold.

In January, Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken held a news conference in front of a Tzadik property and didnt mince words when explaining how he felt about the problems.

I believe how this specific property management company continues to operate is morally and ethically wrong. And quite frankly, Im tired of it, TenHaken said.

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Tzadik Management owns and operates over 1,000 apartments throughout Sioux Falls. Frank says no one at Tzadik has any ownership affiliation with EREM.

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A family is suing a DeKalb County daycare after they say an employee left a 9-month-old in scalding water for more than three minutes.

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Sharece Besley says her son had to endure months of recovery after being left in scalding water at the Young Mindz Learning Academy.

I had to watch them pop his blisters; no amount of pain medicine could help him, Beasley said.

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Beasley, alongside her attorney, Michael Neff, told Channel 2s Investigative Reporter Ashli Lincoln that theyve filed a lawsuit against the facility.

You put your trust in them, and to see how they took care of Virgil or didnt take care of Virgil is heartbreaking, Neff said.

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In exclusive surveillance video provided to Channel 2 Action News, the employee is seen aggressively removing baby Virgils clothing after he had an accident. Shes then seen placing the baby in a sink filled with hot water. When she removed Virgil, the employee finally realized the baby was in pain. In a state of panic, the employee is seen on video running around the daycare for more than 15 minutes.

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I just never in a million years thought something like this would happen, Beasley told Lincoln.

Beasleys lawsuit says the employee ignored policy and was not supposed to bathe Virgil.

They were supposed to use wet wipes, Neff said.

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The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning launched a three-month investigation after this incident.

The state says the employee engaged in an action that was detrimental to the wellbeing of the child when he was burned with hot water.

The state also reported the facility did not follow child rations by not housing children under 3 in a separate area. At one point in the video, a young child is seen looking over Virgil after he was burned.

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This is a multi-level fail on the business, Neff said.

Lincoln spoke with the owner over the phone. She said she is aware of this incident but declined to comment at this time.

Recent state inspection reports show this facility has made corrections since this incident and is currently in good standing with the state.

The employee was arrested and charged with cruelty to children. She was sentenced to serve probation.

I feel like nobodys done anything to try and make it right for him; he needs justice, Beasley said.
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Kristrun Frostadottir, 36, became Icelands youngest ever leader last year. | Credit: Pool Photo / Ukrainian Presidential Press Office / Alamy Live News

The political leaders of the US, UK and Russia are 78, 62 and 72 years old respectively, but these men are bucking the global trend of younger politicians taking office.

"Across continents," said Times of India, "a fresh wave" of youthful leadership is "surging" and "defying stereotypes", while "injecting new energy" into the political scene. Here are five who are leading the way.

Kristrun Frostadottir, 36

When she was voted in last year at the age of 36, Frostadottir became Icelands youngest ever leader and the world's youngest serving head of government. Her election also meant the country had a female prime minister and a female president  Halla Tomasdottir  at the same time.

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Frostadottir, a "relative newcomer" to politics, was previously an economist and a journalist, said The Observer. When she became PM, she said she wanted to take a different approach to dealing with opponents: rather than "telling them off" she wanted to focus on listening.

Ibrahim Traore, 36

Traore seized power in Burkina Faso in the September 2022 coup d'etat that ousted his fellow military officer Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba and has been the interim leader since then. "I know I'm younger than most of you here," he told government officials as he took office, said the BBC.

His support base is dominated by young people, which "raises significant questions about the sentiments of the youth", said Patrick K. Adu on a West Africa Civil Society Institute blog. Is it "praise" for the "undemocratic regime" he heads, or does it reflect a "quest for more young leaders"?

Daniel Noboa, 37

When he took office at the age of 35, Noboa became the second-youngest president in Ecuador's history and the youngest to be elected. A 25-year-old supporter told Al Jazeera Noboa's election was a "triumph for the youngest".

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The heir to one of Ecuador's richest families, which made its fortune in banana exports, Noboa is another newcomer to national politics. He has only been a member of the National Assembly since 2021.

Milojko Spajic, 37

The Montenegrin prime minister took office in October 2023, having entered politics after the 2020 election when he was appointed minister of finance. The focus of his campaign to become PM was a promise to raise the minimum wage and increase minimum pensions.

The "Europhile who was a political outsider until three years ago" wants his country to join the EU, said Politico. He has described Montenegro as "low-hanging fruit" for an EU "eager to show enlargement isn't just an empty slogan".

Gabriel Boric, 39

A former student protest leader, Boric became Chile's youngest-ever president at the age of 35 when he defeated a far-right candidate in December 2021. He was seen as a youthful moderniser, winning "on a promise to turn Chile into a greener, more egalitarian 'welfare state'", said Agence France-Presse.

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However, his "attempts to replace the country's dictatorship-era constitution with a more progressive text", allowing abortions and strengthening Indigenous rights, were rejected in a referendum.

Who are the youngest leaders ever?

Jean-Claude Duvalier was just 19 when he became president of Haiti in 1971. The youngest president in US history is Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt, who was thrust into the hot seat in 1909 at the comparatively ancient age of 42. As for the UK, in 1783 William Pitt the Younger became the world's youngest ever prime minister at the age of 24.
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  An emotional Tracy Winters told Horry Countys superintendent that he erred in opening schools last Monday as a massive wildfire still was burning out of control nearby several of them.

Myself along with my constituents and several legislators that Ive spoken with said you made the wrong call, Winters, an Horry County Schools board member who represents Carolina Forest, told Cliff Jones. In the end, I do believe that learning was put over safety.

About a half dozen schools lay within the districts Carolina Forest area. Jones said the decision to keep them open rested solely on his shoulders, but added that he sought input from outside experts before making the call.

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That included consulting with a North Dakota superintendent who had experience leading through wildfires and speaking with a local healthcare networks CEO to learn more about health impacts from smoke.

I understand some questioned our decision to keep schools open, and I respect that. Let me be clear: This decision was made in the best interest of our students and families, Jones said. By staying open, we provided certainty in uncertain times.

Officials also installed portable air purifiers, adjusted HVAC systems to recirculate indoor air and used specialized filters to weed out allergens and other pollutants.

Photo courtesy of Horry County Schools

Thanks to the technology and processes in place, our school buildings provided safer indoor air conditions than many of our residential and commercial areas, Jones said.

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Winters said she spoke with multiple principals, teachers, parents and students who all disagreed with Jones.

Mr. Jones, you  emphasize your commitment to safety. How does that align with the actions youve just taken, she said.

Other board members praised Jones for his ongoing communication during the fires peak.

I have never seen so much communication coming from a superintendent on a daily basis, and it continues. It didnt stop just when the wildfires died down, board member Debbie Edmonds said. Thank you for your willingness to stand up and take ownership of decisions made.

Jones and several board members said they expected an after-action report to come out of the incident.

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The West Virginia Democratic Party called on senators to remove an amendment from Del. J.B. Akers, R-Kanawha, that they called a harmful and intrusive Child Genital Inspection Amendment, saying it was an outrageous violation of both privacy and parental rights. (Perry Bennett | West Virginia Legislative Photography)

Gov. Patrick Morriseys priority bill defining men and women will head to his desk for signature, but the Senate first amended it to clarify that it cant be construed as authorization for someone to examine a childs genitals for the purposes of determining the childs biological sex.

The legislation, Senate Bill 456, also restricts transgender individuals access to spaces like bathrooms or locker rooms that align with their gender identity. The House of Delegates amended the legislation March 7, at the request of Del. J.B. Akers, R-Kanawha, to include that only a health care provider could visually or physically examine a minor child for the purpose of verifying their biological sex without the consent of the childs parent, guardian, or custodian.

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The West Virginia Democratic Party called on senators, who needed to approve the Houses changes to the bill, to remove what they called a harmful and intrusive Child Genital Inspection Amendment, saying it was an outrageous violation of both privacy and parental rights.

Senate Majority Leader Patrick Martin introduced an amendment Tuesday that removed much of Akers amendment about examining a minor. The amendment says that nothing in the bill could be construed as authorizing an examination of a minor for purposes of determining the minors biological sex. A minors sex would be verified using their birth certificate, according to the amendment.

Biological sex of a minor would be determined at the time of the minors birth, said Martin, R-Lewis.

The Senate then signed off on the legislation, punting it back to the House, where Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, said he approved Martins amendment.

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I would agree with the Senate. Thats a dangerous amendment that passed out of here, said Pushkin, adding that the Houses version would have permitted a school nurse to examine a childs genitals without a parents permission. Youre passing flawed legislation that puts children at risk when youre trying to score political points.

House Democrats said that the bill is reflective of Republicans misplaced priorities this session. They are more focused on genitals than jobs, said Del. Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio in a news release.

The House approved the Senates changes, and the bill will now go to the governors desk for approval. Morrisey requested the legislation after the Republican-led legislature failed to pass a similar bill last year.

The measure, for the first time, defines men and women in state code by tying the terms to a persons sex; it does not recognize the existence of nonbinary people or those who do not identify as male or female, though it does require that accommodations be made for people who are intersex or who are born with similar conditions. It applies to adults and minors.

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This is the first of Morriseys policy priority bills to pass the House and Senate this session.

I am thrilled that the West Virginia Legislature has definitively stood with women with the passage of this legislation, said Del. Kathie Hess Crouse, R-Putnam, in a news release from Independent Womens Voice, a conservative nonprofit, praising the bills passage. This year, I look forward to celebrating Gov. Morrisey signing this legislation into law quickly, ensuring the sex-based rights of the nearly 900,000 women and girls in West Virginia are finally safeguarded under state law.

Akers added, This is a common sense bill that, until now, was unnecessary. Now, however, activists are forcing judges into the role of policymakers on the question of what is a man and a woman  Some spaces belong to girls and women, and we will make sure it stays that way.

In a statement Tuesday, Andrew Schneider, director of the statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization Fairness West Virginia, said, The fact that our lawmakers have spent so much time debating this bill shows how out of touch the Republican supermajority is with the voters of this state.

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Although the brunt of this bill focuses on bathrooms, I hope we all dont lose sight of the many other harms this bill could cause, he said. This bill explicitly prohibits domestic violence shelters from providing a true safe haven to transgender victims. This bill seeks to force shelters to house transgender women in the mens shelter. And as advocates for these victims have pointed out, denying service to transgender victims could be a death sentence.

When lawmakers police who is and isnt a woman, when they dictate what bodies are acceptable, when they decide who gets to be safe, we all lose. We have seen this before, in every era when those in power tried to control womens bodies and silence their voices. We cannot let them divide us. We cannot let them use fear to weaken our collective power.

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Sen. Tom Takubo, R-Kanawha, attends the Senate Committee on Health and Human Resources meeting on March 4, 2025 in Charleston, W.Va. (Will Price | West Virginia Legislative Photography)

Lawmakers on the West Virginia Senate Health Committee advanced a bill Tuesday that, if made law, will allow pharmacists in the state to sell ivermectin for human use over the counter and without a prescription.

Senate Bill 614 hinges upon the federal Food and Drug Administration approving the drug  which is commonly prescribed for animals to treat some parasites  for human use in wider circumstances than currently allowed.

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Different formulations of ivermectin that are made specifically for humans are, occasionally, prescribed to treat people with topical conditions or infections that stem from parasitic worms, according to the FDA. While some medical providers have prescribed the drug for off-label uses  meaning uses different than what clinical trials have shown it is safe and effective to treat and what its been approved for by the FDA  the federal government does not recommend that they do so.

Interest in and pushes for the wider use of ivermectin became common during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, when people alleged that the drug could help treat infections from the virus. To date, no clinical trials or peer-reviewed evidence have been accepted by the FDA to support such claims.

The drug became a common talking point for COVID-19 conspiracists and, due to this misinformation, health leaders urged the public not to use the drug for off-label purposes, citing concerns over other medications that could be contraindicated and different formulations of it that could be safe for animal consumption but not for humans.

In the Senate Health committee on Tuesday, Sen. Tom Takubo, R-Kanawha, said there could be some risk in taking the drug. Takubo, who is a doctor by trade, continued by saying this could be especially true if people are unaware of how it interacts with other medications and in situations where a patient isnt being monitored by a health care provider.

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So there are some concerns, Takubo said. Ivermectin, for the most part, is a pretty well-tolerated medication when taken in appropriate doses.

Takubo said potential side effects of the drug include changes to the hearts rhythm which could, in serious circumstances, lead to fatal arrhythmia. The drug has also been shown, Takubo said, to potentially increase liver toxicity in patients, especially if taken at the wrong dosages.

During COVID-19  specifically, Takubo said, early on, when we really had nothing to treat the infections  Takubo worked in an intensive care unit where ivermectin was being used on patients admitted with severe coronavirus infections. In those circumstances, however, patients were being closely monitored by physicians. They would receive daily electrocardiograms so providers could survey heart functions and doctors would regularly test liver enzymes to ensure the drug wasnt leading to unintended risks.

So if youre taking any medications that also affect heart rhythm or affect liver function, etc, it can potentiate that and cause that, Takubo said.  My concern is, if a patient doesnt get the proper education there could be some adverse consequences of that.

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SB 614, as it is currently written, says that pharmacists shall provide the patient with the FDA-approved patient information sheet on Ivermectin at the time of sale.

Over-the-counter medications, however, dont necessarily require that a pharmacist be involved when they are purchased. The bill also states that pharmacists will not be held liable for any adverse interactions that come from someone purchasing ivermectin from them.

In committee, a conceptual amendment from Sen. Tom Willis, R-Berkeley, would have made it so the ivermectin would only be available behind the counter, but still without a prescription. That way, he said, the pharmacist could have conversation with the patient and look for possible conflicts that could arise from other prescribed medications.

Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, said that while its clear no one wants anyone to be taking a medication that is contraindicated against their other medications, a risk of such will always exist with over-the-counter medications. Look at Tylenol, she said.

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Willis said that he didnt believe Tylenol and ivermectin are comparable in this circumstance.

Im a freemarket-guy, and Im a big-boy-pants-guy in general, and I want as few restrictions on decisions as possible, but its a question of where this lands on the risk continuum, Willis said. So as I would understand it  and again, Im not an expert  but Tylenol would be lower on the risk continuum than ivermectin when youre talking about confluence with other drugs.

After further discussion, however, Willis pulled his amendment since the bill  as it currently stands  would only be relevant if the FDA took steps to approve the drug and change its labeled use in the first place.

The bill passed the committee via voice vote and will now advance to the Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration before it goes before the whole Senate.

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Mark Zuckerberg wanted to talk to Xi Jinping at the 2016 APEC summit in Lima, Peru.

He had a dressing room next to Xi and back-to-back speeches with the Chinese leader.

But Xi swept past with enough people to create a "wall" between them  and the talk never happened.

Mark Zuckerberg was hoping to meet China's leader, Xi Jinping, at the sidelines of the APEC summit held in Lima, Peru back in 2016.

But Xi didn't seem interested.

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That's according to Sarah Wynn-Williams, a former Facebook executive who said she had tried to engineer a "spontaneous encounter" between Zuckerberg and Xi. She detailed the incident in her memoir, "Careless People," published Tuesday.

Wynn-Williams wrote that she secured a dressing room for Zuckerberg next to Xi's. She also arranged for Zuckerberg's keynote speech at the summit to take place before Xi's, she said.

However, the chance encounter Wynn-Williams and Zuckerberg were hoping for didn't pan out.

Instead, Wynn-Williams said that Zuckerberg was blocked from Xi's view by the Chinese leader's hefty security detail.

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"It's a phalanx of men, in identical gray uniforms, marching in formation past us. Mark stares in disbelief, mouth open. They just keep coming, dozens and dozens of them," Wynn-Williams wrote.

"It's almost comical. Just when you think there could not be any more, more step in," she wrote.

The men ended up forming an "impenetrable dividing line" between Xi's and Zuckerberg's dressing rooms, Wynn-Williams wrote, calling them a "human Chinese wall."

"President Xi is so obscured that he doesn't even have to risk making eye contact with Mark," Wynn-Williams wrote, adding that Xi's men dispersed after he entered his dressing room.

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"Uh, I guess that pull-aside isn't going to happen," Zuckerberg told his staff, according to Wynn-Williams' account.

But Zuckerberg has managed to meet Xi on other occasions.

In September 2015, Zuckerberg spoke to Xi when the Chinese leader visited Seattle for a two-day visit. They conversed briefly, and Zuckerberg later posted an image of himself with Xi on Facebook. Zuckerberg said he spoke to Xi entirely in Chinese and called the moment a "meaningful personal milestone."

And in October 2017, Zuckerberg and Apple's CEO Tim Cook met Xi at Tsinghua University's business school in Beijing.

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Wynn-Williams, an international lawyer and a former New Zealand diplomat, joined Facebook in 2011 and became its director of global public policy.

In the book, Wynn-Williams gives her account of Facebook's efforts to enter the Chinese market. Facebook's leaders considered making major concessions, including letting Beijing control how and what content was displayed on the platform, she wrote.

A spokesperson for Meta told Business Insider that the stories in it came from "an employee terminated eight years ago for poor performance."

"We do not operate our services in China today. It is no secret we were once interested in doing so as part of Facebook's effort to connect the world," the spokesperson said.

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"This was widely reported beginning a decade ago. We ultimately opted not to go through with the ideas we'd explored, which Mark Zuckerberg announced in 2019," the spokesperson added.

In a separate response to Wynn-Williams' book, Meta pointed to Zuckerberg's comments on China in 2019.

At a 2019 speech at Georgetown University, Zuckerberg objected to the censorship of protests on platforms like Facebook's competitor, TikTok.

Zuckerberg then called censorship "one of the reasons we don't operate Facebook, Instagram, or our other services in China."

"I wanted our services in China because I believe in connecting the whole world, and I thought we might help create a more open society," Zuckerberg said. "I worked hard to make this happen. But we could never come to agreement on what it would take for us to operate there, and they never let us in."

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Facebook never made it across China's Great Firewall  and Meta's core products remain shut out of China's insular social media system.

The Chinese, meanwhile, operate an ecosystem of social media applications that function independently of their Western versions. Baidu, WeChat, Weibo, Xiaohongshu, and Douyin  Chinese alternatives to Google, WhatsApp, X, Instagram, and TikTok  are used in the country instead.

Representatives for Meta and the Chinese foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment from BI.

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Over 24 cars were broken into in Lake Wylie on Feb. 23, prompting the York County Sheriffs Office to seek public assistance in identifying the suspects.

In a video released by authorities, one suspect is seen opening an unlocked car and stealing its contents, while another suspect stands guard, pointing a firearm at the victims camera.

The armed suspect was also seen tauntingly dancing at the camera before moving on to the next victim.

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Deputy Trent Farris called the incident captured on video alarming.

He heard the whistle, and he points the gun up at the camera and then does a little dance like youre not going to do anything, said Farris.

One homeowner shared that they left their truck unlocked and their gun that was inside was stolen.

Take your firearms out of your car. If thats the only thing you take out of your car, that would make me and the sheriff happy, because now four firearms are in the hands of criminals to do God knows what, Farris explained. The biggest message that we want to tell folks is, for Petes sake, lock your car doors.

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ALSO READ: Multiple vehicle break-ins reported at Ballantyne apartments

According to the sheriffs office, 22 cars were also broken into on Feb. 25.

Those break-ins took place in Hyde Park Lane, Autumn Ridge Lane in the Knights Bridge subdivision, Gates Mills Drive at the Legacy Apartments, and the Bromley Village Drive Apartments in Fort Mill.

However, deputies have not confirmed if these incidents are connected.

Channel 9 spoke with Tyler Droppers, who said his parents were visiting his home in Fort Mill when their car was broken into.

It was a mess. I mean, they definitely were throwing stuff around, Droppers explained. They had left their cars open, so it was just easy pickings to go in.

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He later learned that his parents were just one of dozens of victims.

Authorities have advised the public not to confront individuals they witness breaking into cars and to call 911 immediately.

The York County Sheriffs Office encourages anyone who recognizes the suspects to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-877-409-4321.

VIDEO: Multiple vehicle break-ins reported at Ballantyne apartments








AUSTIN (KXAN)  A New York restaurant owner said he filed a lawsuit this month after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called on the Texas Senate to change the name of the New York Strip steak to the Texas Strip.

Patrick said he spoke with cattle feeders and raisers in late February, with many crediting the New York Strip as their favorite cut of meat.

Would you eat a Texas Strip?: Texas Lt. Gov. in talks to change name of this famous steak cut

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I asked why we didnt call it a Texas Strip because New York has mostly dairy cows, Patrick wrote in a social media post. Just because a New York restaurant named Texas beef a New York Strip in the 19th century doesnt mean we need to keep doing that.

That drew the attention of the Albany War Room Tavern, a restaurant and bar located in the New York capital. On March 3, a representative for the restaurants owner, Todd Shapiro, said he would file the $1 million suit against the State of Texas in the coming weeks.

In a subsequent interview with the Mendte in the Morning radio show March 5, Shapiro said his lawyers filed a lawsuit March 4 in Manhattan, citing the possibility of a jeopardized business should Texas name change gain momentum.

I think [Patricks] using a cheap publicity stunt. I mean, you know, he should worry about the measles right now as an outbreak is going on right now with Texas, Shapiro said. I mean, peoples lives are in trouble and hes worried about changing the name of the steak. I mean, that doesnt sound like good government to me.

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The state of Texas is home to 12.2 million cattle and calves, amounting to 14% of the countrys total inventory, the Texas Farm Bureau shared last month. While Texas resolution would only be applicable in the state, Patrick said in his post state leaders want this to catch on across the country and around the globe  something Shapiro said is supporting his suit.

ICYMI: Why is it called a New York strip steak, anyway?

The Albany War Room Tavern curated the restaurant around New York dishes, imagery and elements, with odes to prominent political New Yorkers like former Presidents Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Theodore Roosevelt, who both served as governor of the state.

Located in the political epicenter of the State of New York, The War Room Tavern will embrace the culture, cuisine, and political history of New York in a chic and upscale restaurant, the restaurants website read. Built into a 1890s-era brownstone located in the shadow of the historic Capitol building, the War Room has been dubbed the Planet Hollywood of State Politics.'

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Shapiro told Mendte in the Morning theres no question Texas change would impact his business.

We sell everything New York. Everything about us is New York, he said. When [customers] come in, they want a New York strip. Thats one of our biggest things is they dont want to go come in and order something that has the word Texas on it.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
When former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo faced sexual harassment allegations that threatened to end his career, he made a last-ditch effort to curry favor with the voters: He legalized weed. Maybe he hoped New Yorkers would be too stoned to remember the accusations that he had groped aides or asked female staffers to play strip poker with him.

New York's progressive legislators had been crafting a recreational marijuana bill since 2018, but the version that passed was rammed through as Cuomo fought for political survival. The bill wasn't just about legalizing cannabis; it was about righting historic wrongs by prioritizing licenses for people disproportionately impacted by prohibition. But in practice, the legislation has created a bureaucratic disaster that's failed both business owners and consumers.

Jonathan Elfand spent a decade in prison for growing and selling weeda conviction that, under New York's new laws, should have given him priority in obtaining a legal dispensary license. Instead, he found himself stuck in bureaucratic limbo, with state regulators refusing to give him a license.

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So Elfand did what any guy ballsy enough to run an illegal weed operation in the 1980s would do: He opened up anywayand New York's authorities responded with aggressive raids, trying to force the closure of his shops.

He wasn't alone. While the state stalled on issuing legal licenses, thousands of gray-market dispensaries popped up, filling the void. Instead of facilitating a smooth transition to a regulated market, New York cracked down.

Unlike other states that simply legalized weed and let businesses flourish, New York took a heavy-handed, social justicedriven approach. Regulators created criteria that would offer priority licenses to women, minorities, veterans, and those from communities that had been "disproportionately impacted" by prohibition.

Even though Elfand had served a decade in prison for weed-related charges, that wasn't enough to guarantee a license. Instead, bureaucrats picked winners and losers, leaving enterprising business owners like Elfand out in the cold.

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Shouldn't regulators let pretty much anyone open up, and allow customers to decide who they want to patronize?

But the Empire State isn't the only one that's terribly mismanaged legalization. California, with its overregulation and sky-high taxes, has also struggled to transition from an illicit market to a functioning legal one. Excessive licensing fees and burdensome regulations forced many legitimate businesses to shut down while illegal dealers continued to thrive.

New York copied quite a few components of this failed model. Taxes on legal weed are exorbitantly high, leading most consumers to continue buying from the illegal market. One cannabis industry lobbyist estimated toward the end of 2023 that as much as 90 percent of New Yorkers still purchase weed illegallytwo and a half years after legalization.

New York's law explicitly allowed public consumption, unlike places like Amsterdam, which have designated coffee shops where people can get baked in semi-private. The result? A city where the smell of marijuana permeates the streets, frustrating residents who didn't sign up for this level of exposure.

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Peter Moskos, a former Baltimore cop and professor at John Jay College, says this rise in open drug use coincided with broader declines in quality of life. "Legal weed came at the same time as rising public disorder," Moskos says. "It gets blamed for bigger problems." The fix for the rampant public disorder, both real and perceived, is somewhat obvious: Allow cops to police low-level quality-of-life offenses again, restoring order to places like the subway system. The more order you have across the city, the less pot will be viewed as the convenient scapegoat for all manner of social ills.

The law's architects justified public consumption as a way to ensure people in public housingwhere smoking indoors is illegalcould still partake. But this created more backlash than legislators and activists anticipated.

New York could have followed Amsterdam's model: designating semi-private areas for smoking while enforcing no-smoking laws elsewhere. Instead, the state prioritized social justice and government control over decent policymaking.

Elfand, despite being exactly the kind of person the law was supposed to help, remains shut out of the legal market. But he's not giving up. If he doesn't get a license, he plans to reopen anyway, daring the state to stop him.

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"I'm not going to prison again for growing a plant," he says.

New York's marijuana legalization effort was meant to correct past injustices. Instead, it has created a new class of victims: Entrepreneurs denied the opportunity to compete in a free and fair market. The real winners? The black market dealers who never stopped selling in the first place.

Music Credits: "OK igen" (Instrumental Version) - Ikhana via Epidemic Sound/"The Only Survivor" - Marten Moses via Epidemic Sound/"4X4" - Damma Beatz via Epidemic Sound/ "Central Domain" - Pulsed via Epidemic Sound/ "Quietly Tense" - Marten Moses via Epidemic Sound/"My Mental State" - Damma Beatz via Epidemic Sound

Photo Credits: Ron Sachs - CNP for NY Post/picture alliance/Consolidated News Photos/Newscom; Anthony Behar/Sipa USA/Newscom; Barry Williams/TNS/Newscom; Rick Davis / SplashNews/Newscom; Don Pollard/TNS/Newscom; Erik Mcgregor/ZUMA Press/Newscom; Richard B. Levine/Newscom; Anthony Behar/Sipa USA/Newscom; Lev Radin/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom; Lev Radin/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom; Ron Adar / SOPA Images/Sipa USA/Newscom; Bruce Cotler/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom; Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group/Newscom; Krista Kennell/ZUMA Press/Newscom; Daniel Efram/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom; Luiz C. Ribeiro/TNS/Newscom; Gina M Randazzo/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom; Anthony Behar/Sipa USA/Newscom; Deb Cohn-Orbach/UCG/Universal Images Group/Newscom; Spencer Jones/GHI-Plexi Images/UCG/Universal Images Group/Newscom; Paul Martinka / Splash News/Newscom; Angel Colmenares/EFE/Newscom; Anthony Behar/Sipa USA/Newscom; Rick Davis / SplashNews/Newscom; Erik McGregor/Sipa USA/Newscom; Paul Martinka / Splash News/Newscom; Hudspeth County Sheriff/Splash/Newscom; Billy Tompkins/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom; Gina M Randazzo/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom; Erik McGregor/Sipa USA/Newscom; Angel Colmenares/EFE/Newscom; Anthony Behar/Sipa USA/Newscom; Paul Martinka / Splash News/Newscom; Mariela Lombard/ZUMApress/Newscom; Ron Sachs - CNP for NY Post/picture alliance / Consolidated News Photos/Newscom; Stephanie Keith/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom; John Lamparski/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom/ Cliff Owen - CNP/Newscom/Deb Cohn-Orbach/UCG/Universal Images Group/Newscom/Dennis A. Clark/Polaris/Newscom/ Richard B. Levine/Newscom/imageBROKER/Stanislav Belicka/Newscom/imageBROKER/P. Mullen/Newscom/imageBROKER/Mara Brandl/Newscom/Willy Spiller/ Rare Historical Photos.Martha Cooper, NYPD Riding the Subway in the 1980/ Viewing NYC/Vergara, Camilo J. Homeless persons, Penn Station, NYC, 1988. Library of Congress.

The post New York's Weed Nightmare appeared first on Reason.com.
Senior officials from former President Joseph Kabilas political party faced military prosecutors in Kinshasa Monday, signaling a dramatic escalation in Congos political tensions amid the ongoing rebel crisis in the countrys eastern provinces.

Three high-ranking members of the Peoples Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) responded to summonses. These are Aubin Minaku, the partys vice president; Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, former interior minister and presidential candidate; and Ferdinand Kambare, national executive secretary.

Prosecutors questioned the officials regarding Minakus February 26 statements where he declared the time for silence, for clandestine actions is over, now is the time for open actions, while referring to directives from Kabila. Though no charges were filed, the interrogation underscores deepening political fissures.

President Felix Tshisekedi has recently accused his predecessor of supporting M23 rebels, who have captured eastern Congos two largest cities since January. The Rwanda-backed insurgents sweeping advances represent the most serious escalation in a longstanding regional conflict rooted in the 1994 Rwandan genocide and competition for Congos vast mineral resources.

We are taking a purely republican approach, not one of rebellion, Minaku told Reuters before the questioning, denying any links to armed groups. We clearly denounced any illicit presence of foreign forces.

This confrontation comes as Kabila has increasingly reached out to opposition politicians and civil society members to discuss the countrys future amid mounting criticism of Tshisekedis handling of the security crisis.

Rwanda continues denying material support to M23, claiming its forces act only in self-defense against hostile militias and Congolese army actions.
YOUNG COUNTY (KFDX/KJTL)  Young County Commissioners banned outdoor burning Tuesday, March 11 for three months.

In an order from commissioners, all outdoor burning is not allowed in unincorporated areas of the county.

SIMILAR NEWS: Clay County issues a burn ban

The only outdoor burning allowed is:

Firefighter training

Public utility, natural gas pipeline or mining operations

Burns conducted by a burn manager certified by Texas

Commercial or professional welding operations

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Its set to expire June 9, unless commissioners decide to end the order earlier.

Failure to comply with this ban could result in a ticket and a monetary fine.

This is a developing story. Stick with Texomas Homepage for 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 Texomashomepage.com.
Originally appeared on E! Online

The influencer community has suffered a tragic loss.

Alysha Burneywho amassed millions of followers across YouTube and TikTok by posting viral parody videosdied in her sleep on March 2 while vacationing in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, her brother Charles Burney confirmed to FOX4 News. She was 25.

"I come with great sadness that my little sister Alysha Burney has passed," Charles wrote in a statement on Instagram March 10. "PLEASE allow our family time to grieve during this time."

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Her official cause of death has not been shared.

Alysha's brother went on to shut down unsubstantiated rumors that have spread online about how she passed away.

"It is extremely difficult seeing all of the false narratives trying to defame her legacy," Charles continued, "and we are ready to take legal action for those continuing to spread false information regarding her passing."

Closing out his message, Charles expressed his gratefulness from those who have shown their support during the challenging time and emphasized that his family needed privacy to grieve their loss. As he explained, "We know so many people care about her and will share more information soon but just give us some time and please stop harassing the family."

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Charles added, "Her legacy will still live on FOREVER!!"

Alyshawho joined YouTube in February 2013was a producer, director and sketch comedian who racked up over 1.2 million subscribers on the platform, as well as over 2.4 million followers on TikTok.

Instagram

Even though she found success on social media with parody series such as "Online Classes Be Like" and "Podcasts Be Like," Charles shared that his sisterwho was living in Los Angeles leading up to her passingstill had several goals she'd yet to accomplish.

"Her lifelong goal was to be a writer and a director," he told FOX4 News in an interview published March 10. "Another goal she had was to return to Kansas City, open a production studio, and help other young creatives from Kansas City get to where she was."

For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
President Volodymyr Zelensky apologized for the heated argument in the White House between him and U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff said in a television interview with Fox News on March 10.

Witkoff is part of a U.S. delegation set to meet Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia on March 11 in the first high-level talks between the two nations since the White House clash.

"Zelensky sent a letter to the president. He apologized for that whole incident that happened in the Oval Office. I think that was an important step," Witkoff said.

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Top White House officials demanded an apology from Zelensky in the aftermath of the Oval Office clash on Feb. 28. Zelensky issued a conciliatory statement on March 4 calling the incident "regrettable" and saying he was ready to work towards peace under Trump's "strong leadership."

It is not clear whether Witkoff was framing that statement as an apology or referencing other communications between Zelensky and Trump.

Witkoff also said that there have been ongoing discussions among Ukrainian, U.S., and European officials since the incident, and expressed optimism that the upcoming talks in Saudi Arabia could revive the collapsed minerals deal between Washington and Kyiv.

"I would like to describe it as progress ... I would hope that there's a deal," Witkoff said.

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There is an "expectation" that the two sides will make "substantial progress" during the talks, he said.

"What's on the table, what's important to discuss are obviously security protocols for the Ukrainians, they care about that .... These are not complicated things," Witkoff said.

"They just need to be put on the table and everybody needs to be transparent about what their expectations are. Then we can begin to have a discussion around how we compromise."

Ukrainian-U.S. relations reached a low point following the White House clash, as Washington paused military aid to Kyiv and stopped sharing critical intelligence. Witkoff claimed earlier in the interview that the U.S. had not stopped sharing intelligence needed for defensive purposes.

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The freeze on military aid has drawn criticism even from members of Trump's own party. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said that pulling aid from Ukraine in the midst of Russia's war would "be worse than Afghanistan."

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that if the Saudi Arabia talks were successful, Washington might resume military aid to Ukraine.

Read also: Were ready  Ukraine heads into US peace talks with everything at stake

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed the release of prisoners and the return of Ukrainian children to their homeland on the eve of talks with the United States in Saudi Arabia about a possible peace deal between his country and Russia.

This "could become a key step in building trust in diplomatic efforts," Zelensky wrote on X after a meeting with the Saudi crown prince and de facto ruler of the country, Mohammed bin Salman.

"A significant part of the discussion was dedicated to the formats of security guarantees," Zelensky added.

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The Ukrainian government accuses Russia of having abducted thousands of children since Moscow started its all-out war against Ukraine in February 2022.

Two years ago, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Russia's President Vladimir Putin for allegedly abducting Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine to Russia. Moscow refers to the incidents as evacuations.

Communication on the exchange of prisoners is practically the only channel of dialogue still functioning between Kiev and Moscow. The warring parties have already exchanged thousands of prisoners in several operations. It is unclear how many prisoners there are still on either side.

Zelensky landed on Monday in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah on the Red Sea for a one-day visit including talks with Salman.

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On Tuesday, a group of Ukrainian negotiators led by Zelensky's Chancellery Chief Andrii Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov were set to stay on for talks with a US delegation led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Zelensky will not take part in the talks. The president said on Sunday that Kiev is hoping for results that would bring peace closer and lead to the continuation of US support.

Zelensky said that he was hoping for the discussions to have "practical outcomes," adding: "Ukraine's position in these talks will be fully constructive."

He also thanked Saudi Arabia for providing "a crucial platform for diplomacy" and its "readiness to expand economic cooperation and invest in Ukraine."

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"We discussed key sectors for investment, starting with security, energy, and infrastructure. We share a common vision for economic development and interaction, particularly regarding Ukraines reconstruction," Zelensky said on X.

Ukraine has been resisting Russia's invasion with Western help.

The US recently paused its support for Ukraine and restricted the transfer of intelligence information, following the February 28 contentious discussion at the White House between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

Trump has been leaning on Kiev to agree to a quick peace agreement, but has refrained from exerting additional pressure on Moscow.
President Volodymyr Zelensky held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on March 10, ahead of a planned meeting between U.S. and Ukrainian officials, the Presidential Office reported.

Zelensky's team will remain in Jeddah to meet U.S. delegates and discuss the framework for a potential peace agreement with Russia on March 11. Zelensky is not expected to participate in the negotiations.

The two leaders discussed Saudi Arabia's potential role in mediating the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) as well as the return of Ukrainian children who were illegally deported to Russia, the Presidential Office said.

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The Gulf countries have traditionally played the role of mediators between Russia and Ukraine, particularly in regard to prisoner exchanges.

Zelensky and bin Salman also discussed possible security guarantees for Ukraine and strategies for bringing about "a just and lasting peace." Zelensky spoke to the prince about Ukraine's plans to bolster defense production and the potential for cooperation with Saudi Arabia in this sector.

Ukraine is interested in further developing cooperation with Saudi Arabia in the areas of trade and energy, the Presidential Office said. The leaders discussed the potential for future Saudi investments in Ukraine and Riyadh's contributions to Kyiv's reconstruction efforts.

Zelensky initially intended to visit Saudi Arabia as part of a Middle East tour in February but delayed the trip due to bilateral U.S.-Russian talks in Riyadh on Feb. 18. The Saudi crown prince reportedly wanted Ukraine represented at that meeting, but was overruled by U.S. and Russian officials.

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The March 11 U.S.-Ukraine talks mark the first high-level meeting between the two nations since Zelensky's disastrous visit to the White House on Feb. 28. Following the meeting  during which U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Zelensky and accused him of being ungrateful  Washington froze military aid and paused intelligence sharing with Kyiv.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on March 10 that a successful meeting in Jeddah could lead to Washington resuming military aid deliveries. Rubio also said that Ukraine would need to agree to territorial concessions as part of a peace deal.

Rubio will take part in the Jeddah talks alongside Trump's Middle East Envoy, Steve Witkoff, and U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. They will meet with Zelensky's Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and Zelensky's Deputy Chief of Staff, Pavlo Palisa.

Read also: Were ready  Ukraine heads into US peace talks with everything at stake

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that during talks in Saudi Arabia, the United States has proposed a complete ceasefire for 30 days, not only with regard to missiles, drones and bombs, and not only in the Black Sea but along the entire front line.

Source: Zelenskyy in an address on 11 March

Quote: "And during the conversation today, there was a proposal from the US side to take the first step forward right now and try to establish a complete ceasefire for 30 days, not only with regard to missiles, drones and bombs, not only in the Black Sea but also along the entire front line. Ukraine embraces this proposal, we view it positively, we are ready to take such a step and the United States of America must convince Russia to do this. That is, we agree, and if the Russians agree, the ceasefire will take effect at that very moment."

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Details: Zelenskyy also noted that an important element of the conversation is America's readiness to resume military aid to Ukraine and intelligence sharing.

"Ukraine is ready for peace. Russia must show its readiness to either end the war or continue the war," he added.

Previously:

During the talks in Saudi Arabia, Ukraine said that it is willing to implement a 30-day ceasefire, provided that Russia also adheres to it.

A joint Ukraine-US statement has also indicated that Washington is lifting its pause in military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

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Andrii Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, has outlined three crucial conditions for the EU, including political and financial pressure on Russia, which will help secure lasting peace in Ukraine.

Source: Yermak in a column for The Guardian

Quote: "First, Ukraine must be given security guarantees that lend credibility to a future ceasefire agreement. Second, Europe must act decisively to strengthen and increase the sanctions against Russia. And third, Europe should take control of the frozen Russian assets to enable continued and increased support for Ukraine."

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Details: Yermak stated last week's European Council meeting demonstrated that when united, Europe can take control of its own security and future.

Quote: "It is our concern for lasting European security that drives Ukraines insistence on these conditions. Moscows decade-long aggression against Ukraine cannot be taken lightly  the leaders of Europe recognise this and we call on them at this critical time to deliver on the promising discussions in Brussels last Thursday."

Background:

On 4 March, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the first steps toward a reliable peace in Ukraine could include the release of prisoners and an immediate ceasefire in the air and at sea, provided Russia reciprocates.

French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer proposed a one-month truce in Ukraine, covering air, sea and energy sectors.

On 11 March, negotiations between the Ukrainian and US delegations on resolving the war with Russia began in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

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PETERSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY)  West Virginias containment area for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), or zombie deer disease, has expanded to another county, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) announced Tuesday.

In a release, the WVDNR said that CWD has been detected in a Grant County deer. CWD is a neurological disease that causes loss of body condition, behavioral changes, excessive salivation and eventually death, according to the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health. Deer suffering from the disease may be staggering, have bad posture and not fear humans.

This is the first case in a new county that has been detected since 2023, when Jefferson County had a confirmed case. Those two counties join Berkeley, Mineral, Morgan, Hardy and Hampshire counties in the CWD Containment Area.

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Cicadas returning to West Virginia in 2025: What counties will see them?

Grant County has been a part of the CWD Containment Area since 2015, according to WVDNR Wildlife Resources Section Chief Paul Johansen, but has only had baiting/feeding restrictions up to this point. With the discovery of this new CWD case, new restrictions on transporting carcasses will now be implemented in Grant County as well.

On top of that, baiting restrictions will now also be in effect in Pendleton Countywhich had the fourth-most buck harvests in 2024as a precaution. Feeding restrictions are already in effect. The WVDNR said that while CWD has not been detected in Pendleton County, its close proximity to known cases of the disease makes risk mitigation efforts critical.

Johansen emphasized that while theres no evidence that CWD is harmful to humans, it is important that hunters abide by the carcass transport regulations to reduce risk factors that may affect our deer population.

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If youre hunting in the CWD Containment Area and believe youve found a deer with CWD, the WVDNR offers free testing during all deer seasons. For questions and to learn more, you can contact the WVDNR District 2 office at 304-822-3551.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
What is the best internet provider in Chattanooga?

EPB is the best internet provider overall for most households in Chattanooga.The local provider offers wide coverage throughout the city, simple plan terms and blazing-fast speeds. That being said, Xfinity or AT&T Fiber are also solid picks, depending on whats available at your address.

We've also found the top options if you're hunting for the lowest prices or the fastest speeds. The cheapest internet in Chattanooga is Xfinity's offering of 300 megabits per second for $35 a month. The fastest available internet speed in Chattanooga comes from hometown hero EPB, with speeds up to 25 gigabits per second. That's 25,000Mbps. No, that's not a typo.

Our methodology

CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Chattanooga across several categories. Our evaluation includes referencing a proprietary database built over years of reviewing internet services. We validate that against provider information by spot-checking local addresses for service availability. We also do a close read of providers' terms and conditions and, when needed, will call ISPs to verify the details.

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Despite our efforts to find the most recent and accurate information, our process has some limitations you should know about. Pricing and speed data are variable: certain addresses may qualify for different service tiers, and monthly costs may vary, even within a city. The best way to identify your options is to plug your address into a provider's website.

Also, the prices, speed and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. The cards display the full range of a provider's pricing and speed across the US, according to our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs. At the same time, the text is specific to what's available in Chattanooga. The prices referenced within this article's text come from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month -- a standard industry offering. Discounts and promotions might also be available for signing a term contract or bundling multiple services.

To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.

Best internet in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other available internet providers in Chattanooga

AT&T Internet: AT&Ts legacy DSL network is available across much of Chattanooga, but dont be tempted unless you cant get a faster connection. Theres one plan for $55 per month for whatever speed is available at your address, up to 100Mbps. It could be much slower, depending on your location. There are no equipment fees or contracts, but some speed tiers come with a 1.5TB data cap.

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Satellite internet: If you live in Chattanooga, youll likely pick a wired broadband option over a satellite provider like Starlink, Viasat or HughesNet. However, rural residents with few options may need to check into satellite as one of the only ways to get online. Speeds can be variable and prices high, so check into wired options first.

Cheap internet options in Chattanooga

EPB may dominate the local broadband scene, but its not the cheapest provider around. That honor goes to Xfinitys $20-per-month 75Mbps plan. There are some compromises with that plan. The pricing is only good for a year, and equipment is not included, so youll need to bring your own gear or rent a gateway for $15 monthly.

Another way to save on Chattanooga internet is to sign up with Verizon or T-Mobiles 5G home internet service and bundle an eligible phone plan. That can lower your Verizon home internet price to as low as $35 per month or your T-Mobile home plan to as low as $30 monthly. Even if youre shopping for bargains, keep value in mind. Heavy internet users may be better off with a $55-$60 per month 300Mbps fiber plan from EPB or AT&T for equally fast uploads and downloads.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

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How to find internet deals and promotions in Chattanooga

The best internet deals and top promotions in Chattanooga depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we frequently look for the latest offers.

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Chattanooga internet providers, such as Xfinity, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, including EPB, T-Mobile Home Internet and AT&T Fiber, tend to run the same standard pricing year-round.

For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide on the best internet deals.

How fast is Chattanooga broadband?

Chattanooga has adopted the unofficial nickname Gig City for its city-wide fiber network. Recent Ookla speed test data shows Chattanooga logging a median fixed internet download speed of 241Mbps, with EPB as the fastest provider. That tops Tennessees overall median download speed of nearly 225Mbps. EPB offers some of the fastest residential broadband in the nation, but not everyone needs 25,000Mbps service. Most residents will do just fine at the 300Mbps or gig levels, which have the bonus of being much more affordable. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Whats a good internet speed?

Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines -- and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

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For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics -- browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.

5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.

40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.

100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.

500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Chattanooga

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it's impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. So what's our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary pricing, availability and speed database that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

But it doesn't end there. We go to the FCC's website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP's service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:

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Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?

Do customers get decent value for what they're paying?

Are customers happy with their service?

While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to yes on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

Whats the final word on internet providers in Chattanooga

The final word on Chattanooga internet providers is best expressed by three letters: EPB. EPBs city-wide fiber network has face-melting speeds and affordable options for people who dont need 25-gig or 10-gig plans. If budget is a big factor, then you might consider bargain-priced plans from Xfinity starting at $20 per month, but you wont get the symmetrical speeds of EPB fiber. AT&T Fiber is a decent competitor but isnt as widely available as EPB. As long as you live in Gig City, you might as well get your gigs from fiber.

Internet providers in Chattanooga FAQs

Who is the cheapest internet provider in Chattanooga?

Xfinity has its work cut out by going up against local fiber provider EPB. Still, based on a bargain-basement promotional price for its 400Mbps cable internet plan, it makes a case for consideration. The plan costs $30 per month, though equipment isnt included. That pricing is good for a year. After the honeymoon is over, the price goes up.

Which internet provider in Chattanooga offers the fastest plan?

EPB leaves everyone else in the dust with its 25,000Mbps plan for $1,500 per month. You cant just order it online, though. Youll need to schedule a residential consultation with EPB first. If thats more speed than you need, then consider the 10,000Mbps plan for $300 per month.

Is fiber internet available in Chattanooga?

Fiber internet is available to all across Chattanooga through local provider EPB. AT&T Fiber also services some parts of town. EPBs speeds top out at 25,000Mbps, while AT&T offers speeds up to 1,000Mbps or 5,000Mbps, depending on your location.

What internet provider has the best coverage in Chattanooga?

FCC data points to local fiber internet provider EPB as having the widest coverage in town. Cable ISP Xfinity also covers almost every nook and cranny of Chattanooga.
Northern Mozambique was battered by heavy rains and strong winds on Monday March 10 as Cyclone Jude became the third storm to hit the region in just four months. The cyclone made landfall in the morning with winds reaching 140 km/h (87 mph), and gusts of up to 195 km/h, according to the National Institute of Meteorology (INAM).

It later weakened to a severe tropical storm, accompanied by thunderstorms, as it moved inland.

While there were no reports of casualties by Monday afternoon, the damage from Cyclone Jude is still being assessed. The region has already been severely impacted by previous cyclones this season, which runs from November to April. Cyclone Chido struck Mozambique in December, causing the deaths of at least 120 people and destroying nearly 120,000 homes. In mid-January, Cyclone Dikeledi claimed five lives and destroyed almost 3,500 homes.

INAMs latest update indicated that Cyclone Jude is expected to weaken further as it moves inland, possibly affecting the border areas between Mozambique and Malawi. However, there are concerns that the storm could intensify as it heads southwest towards Madagascar. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, as the region braces for potential further impact.
Orient and Peanuts are both celebrating 75 years by teaming up for a Snoopy Watch, of course.

a white watch dial with Snoopy and Woodstock on it

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

It is fair to speculate that only the words Water Resistant and Automatic have graced more watch dials than Snoopy.

Charles Shultz created his charismatic, imaginative, moody cartoon beagle 75 years ago. Coincidentally, Orientproducer of pound-for-pound, the best affordable automatic dress watches on the marketwas established in 1950 as well.

The Orient Snoopy Bambino features a 1950s script Orient logo. - Credit: Orient

Orient does not often collaborate and rarely uses third-party branding on its dials. But there is no more fitting way to celebrate three-quarters of a century in watchmaking than joining the Snoopy watch club.

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The limited edition collection consists of four watches, all sporting the 1950s script Orient logo, revived for the brands first batch of anniversary watches earlier this year, on the dial. Above six oclock, each reference has a drawing of Snoopy and his avian sidekick Woodstock.

The greatest Bambino

The Orient Bambino is an outlier. No other watch offers an impeccably classic dial, a reliable stainless steel case and a workhorse automatic movement for under $400, and it isnt even close.

This is the first time Snoopy has appeared on an Orient watch. - Credit: Orient

Seven versions are available, and two of the limited edition Snoopy watches are based on the 38-millimeter Version 7. The dial has dash applied hour indices, sword hands and a small date window at three oclock.

One reference has a white dial, and the other has a cream dial, both with the 1950s script Orient logo below 12 oclock. Snoopy is lying on top of the script Water Resistant, as he is known to on his dog house, with his ears drooping between the two words.

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Woodstock is standing behind Snoopy, and wearing a much-too-large yellow crown on his head. The jovial little bird also makes an appearance once a month with his face representing one on the date counter.

All four case backs feature the same dual stamped Peanuts 75th Anniversary logo and Orient 75th Anniversary logo. - Credit: Orient

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The Orient Bambino is special because it is so attainable. All seven versions are available in a myriad of colors, and many can often be found selling for less than $300.

The white dial Snoopy Bambino is a limited edition of 7,650 pieces, and the cream dial is limited to 2,900 pieces. I believe that the touch of scarcity, combined with the unique dial, makes for the greatest Orient Bambino ever made.

But wait, theres more

Accompanying the two Bambino references are a white dial Mako Diver and an open-heart-dial model, reference RA-AR0011S. These two are limited editions of 3,650 pieces and 1,800 pieces, respectively.

The Orient Mako has the same Snoopy and Woodstock drawing, but with 20bar added. - Credit: Orient

The Mako Diver has a 40-millimeter case with a 200-meter dive rating. It features the same Snoopy and Woodstock drawing as the Bambinos, but with 20bar added underneath Water Resistant.

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The scarcest and newest Orient model to get the Snoopy treatment is the reference RA-AR0011S. It is based on the Orient reference RA-AR0004S30B, which is currently unavailable for purchase anywhere.

Changing things up a bit, Snoopy rests at the bottom of the second counting sub-dial, with Woodstock flying above him in his crown. The 60 and 15 appear hand-drawn to match the characters.

The reference RA-AR0011S has a unique Snoopy and Woodstock drawing inside the second dial. - Credit: Orient

All four Snoopy Orient watches feature a case back dual stamped with the Peanuts 75th Anniversary log and Orients 75th Anniversary logo. Each watch has its individual number engraved around the rim of the case back, along with a little flying Woodstock.

Availability and pricing

According to Orient Japans website, the entire Snoopy collection will be released on March 13th. Preorders are currently open for the Japanese market, but the Orient USA site has no information about the collection at the time of publishing.

The Orient Snoopy watch comes in a decorative box. - Credit: Orient

The Orient Bambinos are limited to 7,800 units (150 units in Japan and 7,650 units overseas) for the white dial and 3,100 units (200 units in Japan and 2,900 units overseas) for the cream dial. Both cost $385.

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The Orient Mako is a limited edition of 3,800 units (150 units in Japan and 3,650 units overseas) and costs $365. The reference RA-AR0011S is limited to 1,800 units and costs $390.

a white dial Orient dress watch with snoopy and woodstock on it

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Orient x Snoopy 75th Anniversary Bambino

Specs
Katie Pottenger and Melissa Butlers physical education classes play a game called switch in the school gym Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, at Union Gap School in Union Gap, Wash. Voters approved an $11.89 million construction bond to address overcrowding and safety features in Union Gap schools in November 2024, after three previous ballot attempts.
Looking for a break? Test your knowledge of this week's news from the Yakima Valley.
Nearly 1,000 civilians have been killed and hundreds more injured by military drone strikes across Africa over the past three years, according to a comprehensive report released Monday by Drone Wars UK. The investigation documents at least 50 separate deadly attacks by armed forces across the continent, revealing a striking pattern of civilian harm operating with minimal international oversight.

Titled Death on Delivery, the report highlights drone warfares devastating impact in six African conflicts: Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Ethiopia. The latter has seen the highest civilian toll, with Ethiopian military operations against the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front reportedly claiming more than 490 civilian lives across 26 documented strikes.

Unless the international community moves rapidly towards developing and implementing a new control regime, we are highly likely to see more examples of civilian killings from armed drones, warned researcher Cora Morris, who emphasized the contrast between intense scrutiny of drone usage in Ukraine versus limited attention to Africas rapidly escalating deployment.

Most weaponized drones in African conflicts originate from Turkey, China, and Iran, with Turkeys Bayraktar TB2 becoming increasingly prevalent. These medium altitude, long endurance (MALE) systems can conduct extended surveillance and precision strikes over vast distances.

In Burkina Faso, where government forces celebrate drone strikes against purported terrorists, researchers found contradictory evidence. One August 2023 attack on a marketplace killed at least 28 civilians, contradicting official narratives about surgical precision and technological sophistication.

The report characterizes its documented death toll of 940 civilians as conservative, suggesting actual casualties may be significantly higher.
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: PhotoMIX Company from Pexels

New research from Washington State University in collaboration with five other institutions suggests that automated insulin delivery (AID) systems are safe and effective for use by older adults with type 1 diabetes. The findings counter common assumptions that older adults would struggle to use the more advanced technology employed in the medical devices.

In an AID system, a sensor attached to the arm or belly continuously monitors blood sugar levels and communicates that data to a wearable insulin pump, which then automatically adjusts insulin dosing without the wearer having to input instructions or inject the insulin themselves. Some models connect wirelessly to smartphones, providing the wearer with detailed and real-time data about their blood sugar control.

"It's a big change for people to use technology to manage their diabetes when many of them have used multiple daily injections for 30 years or more," said Professor Naomi Chaytor, one of the principal investigators on the study and chair of the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Department of Community and Behavioral Health. "There's a stereotype that technology is harder for older adults, but they did quite well."

The study, published in NEJM Evidence, closes a knowledge gap about who can benefit from the breakthrough technology for diabetes management. Now the preferred treatment option for type 1 diabetes, automated insulin delivery improves glucose control and reduces the burden of managing a lifelong condition for both children and adults.

This study is the largest clinical trial to enroll older adults with type 1 diabetes, a group underrepresented in previous trials for AID devices. The trial focused on uniquely relevant factors for older adults, such as technology usability and preventing hypoglycemia, a particular concern in older adults since it raises the risk of cognitive decline and complications such as falls.

The study tested the efficacy of two AID systems, a hybrid closed loop system and a predictive low glucose suspend system, compared to a non-automated sensor-augmented pump system. In a randomized crossover trial, 78 participants aged 65 and older used each device for 12 weeks with regular monitoring.

Results showed that the two automated systems significantly reduced the time participants spent with dangerously low blood sugar compared to the non-automated system. The hybrid closed loop system proved most effective at keeping blood sugar in the target range, with a mean time in range of 74% compared to 67% for the predictive low glucose system and 66% for the sensor-augmented pump.

Automated systems did require more technical support initially to train participants to use the devices. Questionnaires completed during the trial, however, showed that participants were equally willing to embrace the automated devices and found them as easy to use as the non-automated device. Participants with mild cognitive impairment were also able to use the devices just as effectively as those without.

"Onboarding took more time and effort in this population than it would in younger populations, so it's important for providers to understand that it may take some upfront work to get people really comfortable with the technology," Chaytor said. "Providers should plan for that but not be discouraged."

Chaytor notes that since the trial concluded, predictive low glucose suspend systems have been discontinued in the U.S. in favor of more sophisticated hybrid closed loop systems, a move which their results support.

The multicenter study involved collaborators and enrollment sites at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, the State University of New York Upstate Medical University, and AdventHealth Translational Research Institute. The Jaeb Center for Health Research in Florida served as the clinical trial coordinating center.

More information: Yogish C. Kudva et al, Automated Insulin Delivery in Older Adults with Type 1 Diabetes, NEJM Evidence (2024). DOI: 10.1056/EVIDoa2400200 Journal information: NEJM Evidence
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Areas under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic for PromarkerD, eGFR, uACR, and eGFR + uACR in predicting the primary renal outcome (left-hand panel) and for PromarkerD in predicting primary and secondary outcomes (right-hand panel). Credit: Diagnostics (2025). DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics15060662

An Australian medical technology company, Proteomics International, has published a study demonstrating a new blood test significantly outperforms conventional tests in identifying the risk of diabetes-related chronic kidney disease (DKD). The blood test, called PromarkerD, has been previously validated for predicting renal decline up to four years in advance in type 2 diabetes.

The results were published in the journal Diagnostics in a paper titled "PromarkerD Versus Standard of Care Biochemical Measures for Assessing Future Renal Function Decline in Type 2 Diabetes."

Proteomics International Managing Director Dr. Richard Lipscombe said, "This peer-reviewed comparison against standard of care is critical in proving the power of PromarkerD to the medical community. As we acknowledge Kidney Health month in the U.S., we want to provide health care professionals with the best tools available to combat this debilitating disease."

According to the American Society of Nephrology, many patients suffer silently at first because chronic kidney disease is largely asymptomatic at the beginning. This lack of early detection can be fatal as kidney dysfunction that lasts longer than three months is most often irreparable.

Diabetes affects more than 537 million people worldwide, and chronic kidney disease is a major complication, leading to severe health outcomes and increased mortality. Diabetes has emerged as the largest single cause of end-stage renal disease (leading to dialysis or kidney transplant) in developed and developing countries.

Summary of study

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects up to 50% of people with type 2 diabetes, leading to severe health complications and increased health care costs. The current standard of care for the definition, classification, and prognosis of chronic kidney disease, defined by the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelinesthe estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urinary albumin:creatinine ratio (uACR)have severe limitations in accurately predicting disease progression.

The community-based study followed 857 adults with type 2 diabetes over four years and found that PromarkerD delivered significantly improved predictive accuracy, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.88 compared to conventional tests, which ranged between 0.63 and 0.82 (p<0.001).

Participants classified as high risk of kidney decline by PromarkerD had significantly higher odds of experiencing the primary study endpoint compared to those at low risk (odds ratio (OR) 21.34), whereas KDIGO risk categories showed only modest degrees of association with the OR for high risk versus low risk at 1.28 (p<0.001).

Critical for patient management, PromarkerD identified 84% of individuals with normal kidney function at baseline who later developed significant kidney decline, cases that would have been missed by standard classification methods.

PromarkerD also exhibited an excellent "rule-out" rate for categorizing patients at low risk of developing DKD, and demonstrated considerably fewer false positives compared to standard-of-care testing.

More information: Kirsten E. Peters et al, PromarkerD Versus Standard of Care Biochemical Measures for Assessing Future Renal Function Decline in Type 2 Diabetes, Diagnostics (2025). DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics15060662
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Among the proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid, the researchers identified biomarkers that can accurately predict the development of ICANS. Specifically, two characteristic proteins, C1RL and FUCA2, were combined for highly accurate identification. The prediction equation using the ratio of these proteins showed a very high accuracy of 0.95 in a statistical test called the ROC curve analysis. Credit: Daiki Setoyama, Kyushu University

Medical researchers in Japan have discovered a way to predict a potentially life-threatening side effect of cancer immunotherapy before it occurs. By analyzing cerebrospinal fluid collected pre-treatment, researchers at Kyushu University identified specific proteins associated with a damaging immune response that can affect the central nervous system after therapy.

Their findings, published in Leukemia, could make immunotherapy cancer treatment safer by helping doctors identify high-risk patients in advance, allowing early treatment or even prevention of this condition.

Over the past decade, cancer immunotherapywhere the patient's immune system is used to fight cancerhas become a promising new treatment strategy. One form of immunotherapy, called CAR-T-cell therapy, uses genetic engineering to reprogram a patient's immune cells (T cells) to target and destroy cancer cells.

It has proven successful in treating blood cancers but comes with serious risks, including immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), which causes inflammation in the central nervous system.

"ICANS can present with mild symptoms, such as headache or lethargy, but in more severe cases it can be life-threatening, with patients experiencing impaired consciousness, seizures or bleeding in the brain," says Dr. Yuya Kunisaki, a professor in the Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Kyushu University Hospital.

"The incidence rate of ICANS after CAR-T therapy is very high, around 64%, but until now, there hasn't been a reliable way to predict ICANS severity."

In this study, the research team analyzed the proteins in leftover cerebrospinal fluid taken from 29 patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma before they received CAR T therapy. Within that cohort, 11 patients developed ICANS while 18 patients did not.

The research team identified 864 proteins present in all spinal fluid samples. From there, they narrowed the list down to 46 proteins that showed clear differences in levels between patients who developed ICANS and those who did not, making them potential biomarkers for predicting the condition.

Ultimately, the researchers found that C1RL, a protein with elevated levels in ICANS patients, and FUCA2, a protein with lower levels in ICANS patients, were the best predictors. When looking at these proteins together, a predictive test determined their ratio had high accuracy in distinguishing patients at high risk of ICANS from those at low risk.

The team then tested the C1RL/FUCA2 biomarker on a second group of 10 patients undergoing CAR-T therapy and found that for all patients, the protein ratio correctly determined the risk of developing ICANS.

However, the researchers cautioned that despite its high accuracy, the study's small sample size means their findings are still preliminary. "We now need to conduct the study with a larger number of patients to fully validate our results," says co-first author, Dr. Tomoko Nomiyama, a clinical technologist in the Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Kyushu University Hospital.

In addition to helping doctors detect ICANS early and start treatment sooner, the researchers hope that identifying key biomarkers will allow doctors to give preventive drugs before CAR-T therapy begins, reducing the risk of ICANS developing at all. For example, C1RL, which is elevated in ICANS patients, is involved in the complement systema part of the immune system that is known to cause inflammation and may contribute to ICANS.

"If the biomarker ratio shows a patient is at high risk for ICANS, we could preemptively treat them with drugs that inhibit the complement system to lower the risk," explains Kunisaki. "This predictive test could therefore pave the way for a more personalized and safer approach to cancer treatment."

The research team also plans to test if these biomarkers are accurate for patients with other blood cancers beyond B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Finally, they are also widening their search, hoping to uncover key biomarkers in more easily collected fluids, like blood serum.

"Spinal fluid collection is an invasive and painful procedure, so most hospitals in Japan and other countries don't routinely perform it before CAR-T therapy," says Nomiyama.

"If we can identify similar biomarkers in blood, our test would become a much simpler and more accessible tool for predicting ICANS."

More information: Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteomics Exerts Predictive Potential for ICANS in CAR-T Therapy, Leukemia (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41375-025-02541-6 Journal information: Leukemia
The government will launch a HUF 440bn scheme to support companies' energy-efficiency investments to help them cut their energy expenses and become more competitive, Energy Minister Csaba Lantos said on Facebook.

The 'Jedlik Anyos Programme' aims to support energy-efficiency upgrades, installation of energy storage facilities, production of biogas and biomethane, energy research and development, utilisation of geothermal energy and district heating system upgrades, the minister said.



Public consultation on the tender invitations is due to start soon, he added.



Meanwhile Energy ministers discuss Green Energy Corridor in Budapest



Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjaro hosted the energy ministers of Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia and Romania at a meeting to discuss the Green Energy Corridor, an initiative to bring green energy from the South Caucasus to Europe, in Budapest.



Szijjarto noted that the Green Energy Corridor involved the construction of a 1,100km-long cable under the Caspian Sea. He added that a joint venture had already been established for the initiative by companies in Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Azerbaijan, and a Bulgarian partner would join by the deadline.



Szijjarto said the sides had heard a progress report on the feasibility study for the project which could be completed by the end of June.



He pointed to an increase in demand for green energy. He said Hungary was boosting nuclear and solar capacity, but also wanted to boost imports of green energy.



More than EUR 10bn will be ploughed into the the project that will improve the competitiveness of the region, he said, adding that plans to lay an optical cable were also being weighed.



Source:

MTI - The Hungarian News Agency, founded in 1881.

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The Hello, Beijing! event showcased Beijing's UNESCO-listed heritage, tourism initiatives, and growing connectivity with Hungary, highlighting its appeal as a destination for int'l travelers.

With a history spanning thousands of years, Beijing is home to some of the worlds most significant cultural and historical landmarks. In 2024, the city received special recognition as its central axis, a 7.8-kilometer stretch representing over 700 years of urban planning and imperial design, was inscribed as the eighth site on the UNESCO World Heritage List.



This landmark symbolizes Chinas traditional imperial layout and cosmic harmony, further solidifying Beijings reputation as a global cultural capital.



Beijings Charm Showcased in Budapest



On March 7, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism hosted the Hello, Beijing! cultural and tourism promotion event in Budapest. The gathering attracted nearly 100 attendees, including tourism professionals, journalists, and travel bloggers.



The event highlighted Beijings rich cultural and tourism offerings, including its eight UNESCO World Heritage sites. A key point of interest for attendees was the presentation on direct flights between Budapest and Beijing, with representatives from Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and Hainan Airlines providing insights into these travel opportunities.



New Tourism Innovations

The Hello, Beijing! event also introduced new initiatives aimed at enhancing the travel experience for international visitors. Travelers will benefit from streamlined customs clearance through a simplified one-stop authorization and border control process.



The newly launched Beijing Services airport assistance points help international visitors with payments, transportation, and communication, while innovations in banking and SIM card accessibility further simplify travel. Additionally, transit passengers can enjoy complimentary half-day city tours, which include guided experiences, transportation, and internet access.



Chang Lin, a senior official at the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, emphasized Beijings welcoming spirit and cultural richness, stating, Beijing, a city of hospitality and beauty, is not only Chinas capital but also a world-renowned cultural hub and a dynamic, international metropolis. We promise that if you visit Beijing, you will return home with wonderful memories. Beijing awaits you!



Cultural Exhibitions and Traditional Craft Workshops



Beyond the presentations, attendees had the opportunity to immerse themselves in Beijings cultural heritage. A photography exhibition showcased the citys breathtaking cultural landmarks, while traditional Chinese craft workshops proved highly popular.



Guests participated in the creation of the Chinese zodiac figurines, admired the intricate artistry of silk doll workshops, and enjoyed authentic jasmine tea, a renowned Beijing specialty. The highlight of the event was a lucky draw, where the grand prize was a three-night, four-day trip to Beijing.



Strengthening Ties Between Beijing and Budapest



Cultural and tourism exchanges between China and Hungary continue to grow, as evidenced by the success of the event. The visa-free travel policy for Hungarian tourists has significantly increased interest in Beijing as a travel destination.



Speaking at the event, Chang Lin noted, These visa-free measures have made personal and cultural exchanges between our two countries much more convenient. Now, all you need is a passport and a plane ticket for a spontaneous trip to China!



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Just weeks after the government proposed enshrining the right to use cash in the constitution, Wizz Air announced that it will eliminate cash payments from April 1 and in-flight purchases will be possible only via bank cards or digital payments.

The airline argues that the change will speed up service and improve hygiene.



Passengers can also buy preloaded vouchers via the Wizz Air app, with spending capped at 150 per passenger, the no-frills airline added.



In addition to Visa and Mastercard, Wizz Air will also accept Revolut cards.



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New York: Shares of Tesla are sliding again Monday as confidence in Elon Musk's electric car company continues to disintegrate following a post-election Trump bump. In afternoon trading Monday, Tesla shares fell $36.66, or 14%, to $226.11. That's the lowest Tesla shares have traded since late October, reflecting investors' newfound pessimism as the automaker's sales crater around the globe.

Many analysts have blamed Tesla's sagging stock  and auto sales  on Musk's support of President Donald Trump and other far right candidates around the world. Musk pumped $270 million into Trump's campaign heading into the 2024 election, appeared on stage with him and cheered Trump's victory over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in November. Tesla stock soared to $479 per share by mid-December, but have since tumbled back to earth, losing 40% of their value.

Following his big campaign donation, Musk has become the face of the Trump administration's slash-and-burn government downsizing efforts, known as the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. The department has promised massive federal worker layoffs and drastically reduced government spending.

Analysts have said that doesn't appear to sit well with potential Tesla buyers, generally perceived to be wealthy, environmentally-conscious liberals who have turned to electric vehicles in an attempt to reduce fossil fuel emissions.

Tesla sales are falling in California, the company's biggest US market, and the company recorded its first annual global sales decline last year.

The latest auto sales figure from China show that Tesla sales there have been nearly halved from February a year ago.

Similarly, Tesla sales plunged 45% in Europe in January, according to research firm Jato Dynamics, even as overall electric vehicle sales rose.

The sales numbers were particularly bad in Germany and France in January, down roughly 60% each, more than the average decline for the more than two-dozen European countries surveyed. Sales in France fell another 26% in February.

Tesla showrooms in the US have been besieged by protesters, its vehicles vandalised and bumper stickers appearing on its cars with sayings such as, I bought it before Elon went nuts. In addition to backing Trump, Musk has also shown support for the far-right, pro-Russian, anti-Muslim party in Germany, called the British prime minister an evil tyrant and called Canada  a major Tesla market "not a real country.

Tesla is not the only Musk-led company to run into trouble recently. His X social media platform crashed several times on Monday, which Musk blamed on a massive cyberattack.

Last week, a massive rocket launched by Musk's SpaceX exploded and broke apart over Florida, about two months after another of the company's rockets failed, sending flaming debris raining down on the Turks and Caicos.
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

Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead, along with their pet dog, at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico in February 2025, sparking intense online speculation about the cause of death.

In March, New Mexico's chief medical examiner, Dr. Heather Jerrell, announced that Hackman, who was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, died from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseasea combination of high blood pressure and a buildup of plaque in the arteries. Arakawa, however, died around a week before her husband from hantavirus pulmonary syndromean infection transmitted to humans from rodent feces, urine and saliva.

It's unknown how Arakawa contracted hantavirus. Usually, (farmers and forestry workers) are most at risk of exposure to infected rodents.

There are at least 38 recognized species of hantavirus across the world, 24 of which cause disease in humans. It's considered a rare virus but it's also likely to be underdiagnosed in many areas of the world because the initial symptoms can be mistaken for cold and flu-like viral infections.

Hantaviruses are typically divided into "old-world" and "new-world" types. Old world hantaviruses are found in Europe and Asia, including the puumala hantavirus, which uses the bank vole as its host, and the Hantaan virus and Seoul virus, carried by the striped field mouse and the common brown rat. These hantaviruses cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS)bleeding from various areas of the body and varying degrees of kidney impairment. Estimated to affect 150,000 people annually, this condition is usually reversible. Some patients may develop nephropathia epidemicaa milder form of the virus.

New world hantaviruses, found in North and South America, result in hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), which tends to be more severe than HFRS. It affects the lungs and heart, impairing the delivery of oxygen around the body. In North America, the most common type of hantavirus is the sin nombre virus spread by the deer mouse. In South America, the andes virus, often carried by the long-tailed pygmy rice rat, is most common.

Hantavirus transmission

The disease is caused by inhaling rodent feces, urine or salivaoften from disturbing rodent nests and droppings while cleaning. More rarely, hantavirus is transmitted by bites and scratches from infected animals.

A small number of studies have documented human-to-human spread of the andes strain in South America, but a systematic review of the research didn't find enough evidence of human-to-human transmission.

The incubation period of hantavirus is relatively long, typically two to three weeks, but can be as long as six weeks. This may be why cases are underreportedpatients may forget the potential exposure event. Diagnosis is usually based on symptoms and history, although laboratory tests can detect antibodies to hantavirus in human serum.

The virus causes a change in the permeability of the cells that line blood vessels so that fluid leaks out in places it shouldn't, such as the lungs and kidneys. It also reduces the number of platelets in the blood, reducing blood clotting so that blood leaks from organs and vessels. The hantavirus also appears to prevent apoptosiswhen the body kills cells in response viral infectionso the body is unable to get rid of infected cells as efficiently, which prolongs the virus.

The severity of the virus depends on a number of factors, including age and genetic predisposition. People over the age of 70 are most likely to die of hantavirus, while some human leukocyte antigens the immune system markers that check which cells belong in your body and which do notshow an increased risk of severe disease.

It isn't known how long immunity following hantavirus infection lasts, but immunoglobulin G antibodiesa type of protein that helps the body fight infections from viruses and bacteriaare likely to protect against subsequent symptomatic infection from the same strain. However, given the large number of hantavirus species, having had one form would be unlikely to protect against catching a different form.

Symptoms

Infection with either old or new world strains start with similar viral symptoms: fever, headache, fatigue, muscle pains, abdominal issues including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pains. The old and new strains have different disease progression. Both strains should be treated promptly to reduce risk of death.

In old-world infections leading to HFRS, patients move from the generic symptoms to low blood pressure and then reduced urinary output. Patients may need dialysis to protect the kidneys. Those infected will then experience increased urinary output to clear the excess fluid collected in the previous stage of the disease. Finally, patients enter the convalescent phase with fatigue and muscle pains.

In HPS from new-world hantavirus strains, symptoms usually appear within eight weeks of exposure. Three to five days of generic symptoms are followed by rapid deterioration as fluid fills the lungs making breathing difficult. Many patients require mechanical ventilation such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenationa kind of life support where blood is pumped outside of the body to a heart-lung machine. In the final stage of the disease, urine output will increase significantly as the body attempts to expel excess fluid. With early treatment, most people with HPS fully recover with no lasting effectsbut mortality rate can be as high as 40%.

Treatments

Treatment is targeted towards symptom management with oxygen therapy. Antiviral medication ribavirin has shown in trials to be more beneficial for HFRS than HPS. A hantavirus vaccine trailed in South Korea generated a good immune response and was well tolerated for prevention of HFRS but wider results are unclear.

As always, prevention is better than cure and the most effective way to prevent hantavirus infection in humans is to keep surroundings free from rodents. But, this is easier said than doneso cleaning with disinfectant is essential to ensure areas are free of rodent fluids and feces. Allow disinfectant or bleach to soak the area for at least five minutes before cleaning with absorbent materials. Gloves and a mask, of course, should be worn at all times.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Paying homage to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Hindavi Empire, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that the vision of infrastructure expert Nitin Gadkari, Swami Ramdev, and Acharya Balkrishna to expand Patanjalis services in the state has now materialized in a grand form. He stated that many obstacles and challenges came in the way of establishing this facility, but Swami Ramdev remained determined that no matter how many difficulties arise, this dream will be fulfilled. Today, that commitment has turned into reality.

Patanjalis primary goal is the prosperity of farmers. He further stated that, as per discussions with Acharya Balkrishna, Patanjali Food and Herbal. Park, MIHAN, Nagpur will serve as the the central hub for processing all oranges produced in the region. The sorting and grading of oranges will be done at this facility itself, and cold storage facilities will also be provided to farmers. Farmers will have the option to store their oranges here for as long as they need and sell them whenever they find a suitable market price. He emphasized that this center will be a boon for orange-producing farmers. The Maharashtra government and Patanjali have successfully realized one commitment after another, and in the coming days, this food park will establish a robust system for the regions farmers. He assured that the Maharashtra government will provide all possible support for Patanjalis noble initiative.

During the inauguration, Nitin Gadkari expressed his gratitude to Swami Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna for setting up a fruit processing industry in MIHAN, Nagpur, upon his and Fadnaviss request. He stated that Swami Ramdevs initiative is of great significance for Maharashtra, as the Patanjali food park integrates advanced technology, providing much-needed relief to farmers while creating employment opportunities for the youth. He appreciated Swami Ramdevs contribution, emphasizing that his broad vision and dedicated efforts will open new avenues for the upliftment of the underprivileged sections of society.

Shri Gadkari highlighted the agrarian crisis in Vidarbha, where over 10,000 farmers have committed suicide due to financial distress and the lack of fair prices for their produce. He remarked that Swami Ramdevs decision to set up this mega food park has given new hope to the farmers of the region. Earlier, small-sized oranges were sold at 12 per kg, but Patanjali has now assured procurement at 18 per kg, ensuring better income for farmers.

With a daily demand of 800 tons of oranges, farmers are encouraged to increase their production. He said that Agro Vision is also working on ways to increase the production of oranges, lemons, sweet limes, and other citrus fruits. Currently, Nagpur produces 4-5 tons of oranges per acre, and the goal is to increase this yield to 25-30 tons per acre.

He expressed confidence that with the combined efforts of the government and Patanjali, the farmers of Vidarbha will no longer be driven to distress and suicide.

On this occasion, Swami Ramdev described Nagpur as not only an ideal metropolis of India but also an unparalleled center for religious, cultural, spiritual, industrial, security, and economic development. Politically, it is home to two national leaders of exemplary character Devendra Fadnavis and Nitin Gadkari.

Swami Ji stated that Patanjali has established Asias largest orange processing plant in Nagpur, with an investment of approximately 1,000 crore, and there are plans to invest an additional 500 crore. This plant is equipped with high-tech machinery sourced from India and abroad.

He emphasized that orange juice is a powerful anti-aging beverage that helps slow down the aging process. He pointed out that the fruit juices currently available in the marketsuch as orange, Malta, guava, mixed fruit, and apple juicescontain only 10% actual juice, 40% sugar, and the rest is diluted water. In contrast, Nagpur will now supply 100% pure, pesticide-free, preservative-free, and sugar-free orange juice to the entire nation and the world. The plants daily processing capacity is 800 tons, which will significantly enhance farmers prosperity. Swami Ramdev declared this initiative as the beginning of a Rishi-Krishi revolution.

During the event, Acharya Balkrishna stated that the realization of the Patanjali Food and Herbal Park is the result of the remarkable contributions of three great personalities. This project embodies the farsighted vision of Pujya Swami Ji Maharaj, the deep sensitivity and commitment of Devendra Fadnavis toward Maharashtra, and the relentless dedication of Nitin Gadkari, a leader with no political adversaries, who has an unwavering determination to uplift the farmers of Vidarbha.

Pujya Swami Ji and Patanjali envision empowering everyone, making them self-reliant, and promoting self-sufficiency through Swadeshi. When a Yogi, a Rishi, or a Sannyasi dedicates himself to society, the magnitude of change that can be achieved is immense.

When one thinks of Vidarbha, the image that often comes to mind is of helpless, distressed, and suicide-prone farmers. This orange processing unit in Nagpur has been established with firm resolve to eliminate poverty, hardship, and despair among farmers. This initiative aims to transform the grim reality that has long plagued the regions farmers. We firmly believe that this transformation will soon be visible, bringing new hope and prosperity to Vidarbha.

Regional MLA Shri Ashish Deshmukh stated that the arrival of this processing unit in Nagpur is a blessing for orange farmers. He affirmed that the establishment of this plant has instilled a sense of relief and optimism among farmers, paving the way for economic prosperity in Vidarbha. He urged Swami Ramdev to eliminate the role of middlemen and commission agents to ensure farmers receive fair prices. The Patanjali Mega Food & Herbal Park, MIHAN, Nagpur is now seen as a beacon of hope for Vidarbhas farmers.

The event was also attended by regional MLA Ashish Jaiswal, BJPs National Co-Organization Secretary Shiv Prakash, MD of Patanjali Foods Ltd. Rambaharat, Shri N.P. Singh, Prof. Sadhvi Devpriya, Sister Anshul, Sister Parul, Swami Parmarth Dev, numerous farmers from Vidarbha and Maharashtra, along with members of Patanjali Mahila Yoga Samiti and various organizations of Patanjali Yogpeeth.
New Delhi: Over 30.68 crore unorganised workers have registered for social welfare benefits on the governments e-Shram portal -- with more than half of them (53.68 per cent) being women (as of March 3), Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Shobha Karandlaje, informed the Lok Sabha on Monday.

In keeping with the vision of the budget announcement on developing e-Shram as a one-stop-solution for unorganised workers to have access to various social security schemes, Ministry of Labour and Employment launched the e-ShramOne-Stop-Solution on October 21, 2024.

The "e-ShramOne-Stop-Solution entails integration of different social security schemes at a single portal. This enables unorganised workers registered on e-Shram to access social security schemes and see benefits availed by them so far, through e-Shram.

So far, 13 schemes of different Central Ministries/ Departments have already been integrated with the e-Shram including Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PM-SVANidhi), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana  Gramin (PMAY-G), Ayushman Bharat.

To enhance the accessibility of the e-Shram portal, the Ministry of Labour and Employment launched multilingual functionality on the e-Shram portal on January 7, using the Bhashini platform. This enhancement now allows workers to interact with e-Shram portal in 22 Indian languages, improving accessibility and promoting inclusivity for all, the minister said in a written reply.

To make e-Shram and associated services, readily available to unorganised workers, the Ministry launched the e-Shram mobile application on February 24. This application provides real-time access to welfare schemes integrated with e-Shram, significantly improving accessibility and convenience.

The steps taken by the Ministry to increase awareness among unorganised workers include holding periodic review meeting with states, regular meeting with Common Services Centre (CSC).

The e-Shram portal is also integrated with National Career Service (NCS) and Skill India Digital Portal to provide employment and skilling opportunities. Besides, to facilitate enrolment under pension scheme, e-Shram is integrated with Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandan (PMSYM), according to the minister.

To offer one-stop search and discovery of the government schemes, e-Shram is integrated with myScheme portal and SMS campaign is also being carried out to create awareness, the minister added.

The Ministry launched e-Shram portal (eshram.gov.in) on August 26, 2021 for creation of a comprehensive National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW) seeded with Aadhaar. e-Shram portal is meant to register and support the unorganised workers by providing them a Universal Account Number (UAN) on a self-declaration basis.
Mumbai: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has issued a regulatory warning to IIFL Capital Services regarding its due diligence in handling debt securities, the company informed the Indian bourses on Tuesday.

The brokerage firm disclosed in an exchange filing that it received an administrative warning letter from SEBI on March 7.

The order was received on March 10, following an inspection of its merchant banking divisions debt issues between April 1, 2022, and April 30, 2024, the company said in its filing.

The inspection focused on the companys compliance with the SEBI (Issue and Listing of Non-Convertible Securities) Regulations, 2021.

The market regulator raised concerns about the disclosure of issue-related expenses and the timelines for payment of fees to intermediaries in offer documents.

Following the companys response to the inspection findings, SEBI issued the warning letter highlighting these issues.

IIFL Capital has clarified that there is no financial impact on its business due to the market regulators action.

The company stated that the warning does not affect its operations or financial performance.

The companys stock remained stable as it was trading at Rs 207.85, up 1.46 per cent on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, SEBI has taken strict actions in the past against companies for violations in debt merchant banking.

It previously banned Axis Capital and JM Financial from conducting debt merchant banking activities for non-compliance with regulatory norms.

Last week, the market regulator issued an administrative warning to FMCG giant Nestle India for breaching insider trading regulations.

The warning, issued by SEBIs Deputy General Manager, was addressed to the companys Compliance Officer (CCO).

SEBI stated that the violation involved a "contra trade," which occurs when an insider buys or sells shares of the same security within six months of a previous transaction, intending to make short-term profits.
New Delhi: The Amateur, the action-packed spy thriller from 20th Century Studios, is all set to hit Indian theaters on April 10, 2025, a full day ahead of its global release. The film, directed by James Hawes, has quickly become one of the most anticipated titles of the year.

Starring Oscar-winning actor Rami Malek, The Amateur follows the gripping journey of Charlie Heller, a brilliant CIA decoder whose life is shattered when his wife is killed in a terrorist attack in London. Betrayed by his superiors who refuse to act, Heller takes matters into his own hands, using his intelligence to track down the perpetrators in a dangerous global pursuit for justice.

With a star-studded cast that includes Rachel Brosnahan, Jon Bernthal, and Caitriona Balfe, the film promises to deliver high-octane action and intense drama. The recently released trailer has already garnered widespread praise, particularly for its stunning action sequences and compelling narrative that has left fans on the edge of their seats.

Audiences in India are in for a special treat, as they will be able to experience The Amateur on the big screen before the rest of the world. Fans will see Rami Malek like never before, taking on adrenaline-pumping challenges as his character embarks on a revenge-fueled mission.

The Amateur will be available in English, exclusively in cinemas across India, starting April 10, 2025. Don't miss your chance to be among the first to witness this thrilling adventure unfold.
MUMBAI: Maharashtra Finance Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar presented the state budget for the financial year 2025-26. Presenting the budget, Pawar stated that a total outlay of Rs 36,000 crore has been proposed for the Mukhya Mantri Majhi Ladki Bahini Yojana scheme and further stated that financial benefits were being provided to 2 crore and 53 lakh beneficiary women under the scheme. "The grant received from this scheme has been used by some women's groups as seed capital for economic activities and a special scheme is under consideration to further encourage such groups," he said.

Pawar further stated that the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and Maharashtra Maritime Board were jointly developing Vadhavan Port in Palghar district, the total cost of which was Rs 76,220 crore with 26 per cent government participation. "Vadhavan Port will create an annual cargo handling capacity of about 300 million metric tons. This will be three times the current capacity of Jawaharlal Nehru Port. Cargo transport is expected to start from the new port by 2030. As this port will be included in the top 10 ports in the world in terms of container handling, the state of Maharashtra will emerge as a superpower in maritime communication in the future," he said.

Further, the Deputy CM stated that a third airport had been proposed for Mumbai near the Wadhwa port. The Mumba-Ahmedabad bullet train station connected to the Samruddhi highway would be located near this port. Giving information about the upcoming airport policy in Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar said that the development work of Shirdi Airport worth Rs 1,367 crore has been approved and the work is underway.

Shirdi Airport has been granted major airport status in 2021. Night landing facilities will also be started soon. Also, the work of Ratnagiri Airport worth Rs 147 crore is in progress. Along with this, the work of Belora Airport in Amravati has been completed and passenger services are planned to start from March 31, 2025. Survey and exploration work of the new airport in Gadchiroli is underway.

Pawar said that necessary funds will be made available for the expansion of Akola Airport. Speaking on work on monuments, Pawar said that work on the grand memorial of the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Mauje Vadhu Budruk was in progress. He further stated that the government had decided to build a grand memorial at the place where Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was under house arrest and further stated that land would be made available for this with the cooperation of the Uttar Pradesh government.

Giving information of the other monuments, he said that a grand memorial would be built in Mumbai on the occasion of the birth centenary of the late Prime Minister of India, Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The work of the first phase of the Late Balasaheb Thackeray National Memorial has been completed and a fund of Rs 220 crore has been provided by the state government for the second phase.

A memorial and women's training centre befitting the work of the pioneer teacher Gyanjyoti Savitribai Phule will be built in Naigaon, Taluka Khandala, District Satara, the birthplace of her, as per the budget. Work on the international standard memorial of Bharat Ratna Babasaheb Ambedkar on the site of Indu Mill in Chaityabhoomi Dadar in Mumbai was also underway and sufficient funds are being provided for it.

"We have also decided to build a befitting memorial in Panipat, Haryana as a symbol of the bravery of lakhs of Marathas who sacrificed for Swarajya. A place will be made available for this memorial with the help of the Haryana government," Pawar further stated. In a special mention of the Gadchiroli district, Pawar stated that the district, which was once a Naxal-affected district, was now emerging as the 'steel hub'.

Pawar further stated that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had been signed for an investment of Rs 21,830 crore for the Gadchiroli district at the World Economic Forum which was held in Davos. The MoU is expected to generate 7,500 jobs, he said. "A network of mining highways is being developed for communication in Gadchiroli district and for this, works worth about Rs 500 crore will be undertaken in the first phase," the Deputy CM further stated.

Providing information about the Samruddhi Highway, Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray said that 99 per cent of the project had been completed, on which a total of Rs 64,755 had been spent.

As per the budget, an agro-logistics hub will be developed along this highway and major facilities of cold storage, grading, packing and export handling centers will be provided in which will mainly benefit farmers in Vidarbha and Marathwada. While giving information about the 'Mukhyamantri Gram Sadak Yojana', Ajit Pawar said that the work of Mukhyamantri Gram Sadak Yojana Phase-1 had been completed and under Phase-2, the work of upgrading 9 thousand 610 kilometers of roads is planned to be completed by the end of March, 2026.

Under Mukhyamantri Gram Sadak Yojana Phase-2, an additional 7 thousand kilometers of roads will be concretized. Under Mukhyamantri Gram Sadak Yojana Phase-3, 3 thousand 582 villages with a population of more than 1 thousand will be connected to major district roads, state highways or national highways through 14 thousand kilometers of cement concrete roads. The total cost of this project is Rs 30,100 crore. Pawar said that work worth Rs 8 thousand crore will be undertaken in the first phase.

Pawar said that an externally funded project worth Rs 8,400 crore will be implemented in the coastal districts of Maharashtra to protect them from natural disasters caused by climate change and rising sea levels. Under the Rs 450 crore project "Maharashtra Sustainable Eco-Friendly Coastal Protection and Management", works worth Rs 158 crore have been approved in Devbagh in Sindhudurg district.

Pawar further stated that the state's new housing policy will be announced soon to achieve the goal of 'Housing for All' in the next five years. On this occasion, Ajit Pawar said, "In the state, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, PM Janman are centrally sponsored, while Ramai Awas, Shabari Awas, Adim Awas, Pardhi Awas, Atal Bhaka Kamgar Vasahat, Yashwantrao Chavan Mukta Vasahat, Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Awas, Modi Awas and Dharmaveer Anand Dighe Gharkul schemes are being implemented. A total of 44 lakh 7 thousand houses have been approved under them so far."

He also said that under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Rural Phase-2, out of the target of 20 lakh houses for the year 2024-25, about 18 lakh 38 thousand houses have been approved and Rs 2 thousand 200 crores have been distributed to 14 lakh 71 thousand beneficiaries for the first instalment. Maharashtra is in the first position in the country in implementing this scheme.

"In response to the demand of the people's representatives and beneficiaries, the state government will increase the subsidy of this scheme by Rs 50 thousand. Solar power sets will be installed on the roofs of all these houses," Pawar said. Presenting the policy for cutting-edge technology in the agricultural sector, Pawar said, a policy was being formulated for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and cutting-edge technology in the agricultural sector.

'Artificial intelligence' technology will be used to provide farmers with crop planning advice, reduce production costs, increase productivity, produce quality agricultural products and provide a fair and sustainable market for agricultural products. In the first phase, one lakh acres of land of 50 thousand farmers will benefit from it.

Ajit Pawar informed that 1 lakh 48 thousand 888 works worth Rs 4 thousand 227 crore have been undertaken in 5 thousand 818 villages under Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan 2.0. Pawar also said that all the works under the campaign will be completed by March 2026. Wainganga-Nalganga River Interconnection Project has been approved in principle. The estimated cost of this project is Rs 88,574 crore and the benefit area of the project is 3,71,277 hectares. This project will benefit six districts of Nagpur, Wardha, Amravati, Yavatmal, Akola and Buldhana. Detailed survey and exploration work of the project is underway, as per the budget.

The Damanganga-Ekdare-Godavari River Interconnection Project will make 3.55 TMC of water available, which will restore 9,766 hectares of the benefit area of the Jayakwadi Dam. This will also benefit 2,987 hectares of Nashik district. The estimated cost of this project is Rs 2,300 crore, Pawar said. Ajit Pawar said in the budget speech, "For the overall development of the Scheduled Caste communities, schemes such as Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj Scholarship Scheme, Student Hostels, Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Swadhar Scheme, Sahitya Ratna Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe Urban Settlement Improvement Scheme etc. are being implemented.

Many schemes were also being implemented through Mahatma Phule Backward Classes Development Corporation, Sahitya Ratna Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe Development Corporation, Sant Rohidas Leather Industries and Leather Workers Development Corporation. The provision for the Scheduled Caste Deployment Scheme has been increased by 42 percent this year compared to last year, Pawar said.
After the January 2024 row between India and Maldives following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Lakshadweep, the two countries worked hard to normalize their bilateral relations. Pro-Chinese President Mohamed Muizzu visited India and termed New Delhi a 'valued partner' while seeking debt relief, which the Modi government granted. It seemed that Muzzu realised his mistake but now, the Maldivian President is again getting closer to Beijing.

Reports suggest that the Maldives government is in discussions with China to deploy fish aggregating devices (FADs) in the Indian Ocean, raising concerns about the potential strategic implications. These devices are believed to not only track fish movements but also collect chemical and physical data on the ocean. There are concerns that China may use these devices to spy in the region as well, reported India Today.

While China is reportedly collaborating with Maldives' Meteorology Department to secure permits for installation, the Maldivian government has yet to confirm the details of the project officially.

Adding to these concerns, the Maldives Environmental Protection Agency signed an agreement with Chinas South China Sea Institute of Oceanography on February 19, reportedly for marine research.

This development comes amid Chinas growing presence in Maldivian waters. In early 2024, the Chinese research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 03, one of the most advanced in Chinas fleet, spent a month in Maldivian waters, drawing scrutiny from Indian authorities. While the Maldives Foreign Ministry stated that the ship was docked for resupply and crew changes, Indian analysts expressed concerns over potential military applications, particularly in seabed mapping that could support submarine operations. Speculation persists that Chinas research activities in the Maldives may extend beyond environmental studies, with fears that surveillance equipment could be placed under the pretext of scientific research.

Indian experts have already been raising their concerns over increasing Chinese activity in the Indian Ocean, which poses a threat to India's security. Maldives proximity with Lakshwadeep and China's aggression add to India's concerns.
NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha witnessed an uproar on Tuesday over an unparliamentary remark by Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, who apologised to the Chair while clarifying that it was meant for the government that was "trying to create a regional divide" in the country. As the Upper House took up a discussion on the working of the Education Ministry soon after the Question Hour, several opposition members were on their feet demanding an apology from minister Dharmendra Pradhan for his remarks against the Tamil Nadu government.

Pradhan on Monday slammed the Tamil Nadu government for its stand on the three-language policy under the National Education Policy (NEP), accusing it of "ruining the future of the students" in the state for politics On Tuesday, as Deputy Chairman Harivansh called Congress leader Digvijay Singh to initiate a discussion on the working of the education ministry, DMK MPs, who came dressed in black to oppose delimitation and NEP, were on their feet demanding an apology from Pradhan.

"Theek se Thokenge" :



The emergency mindset of Kharge & Congress is out in the open.



It's an open call for violence!



Rahul Gandhi earlier had said he wants to fight the Indian state. pic.twitter.com/4wW06E2Wug  Pradeep Bhandari( ) (@pradip103) March 11, 2025

Amid the uproar, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge stood up to intervene. Even though the Chair said the Congress president had already been given an opportunity to speak in the morning, Kharge said the education minister was not in the House at that time. "This is a dictatorship," he said. As the Chair said it was Singh's turn to speak, Kharge said the opposition was prepared to corner the government.

Karge used a Hindi expression to mean that the opposition would "hit back" at the government, leading to an uproar from the treasury benches that claimed the expression was "unparliamentary". Leader of the House JP Nadda intervened and said the expression used by the Leader of Opposition is condemnable.

"The language used by the Leader of Opposition, the aspersions on the chair, is condemnable... This is to be condemned by one and all. The words and language used for the Chair is unpardonable, still he should apologise and the word should be expunged," he said. Kharge immediately apologised for using the expression, and also clarified that it was not meant for the chair but for government policies. "I am sorry, I was not speaking about you, it was about government policies. I am sorry if you were hurt by my remarks, I apologise to you," he said.

"You are hurting the self-respect of a part of this country and people, and calling them uncultured and uncivilised... The minister should be asked to resign. They are talking about dividing and breaking the country," Kharge said. Nadda said it is good that Kharge apologised to the Chair, and appreciated his gesture, adding the remarks are still condemnable if they were meant for the government.

The Chair then called Digvijay Singh to speak who initiated the debate on the working of the Education Ministry. During his reply in Lok Sabha on the Central funds for the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme on Monday, Pradhan had called the MK Stalin government of Tamil Nadu "dishonest" and "uncivilised", evoking protests from the DMK MPs.
Gangster Aman Sahu has been killed in an encounter in Jharkhands Palamu district. Reports indicate that the incident took place in the Chainpur area of Andhari Dhoda. Just a day earlier, on Monday, the police had transferred Sahu from Raipur Central Jail to Jharkhand.

Aman Sahu was facing multiple criminal charges, including orchestrating a broad-daylight shooting on a coal trader in Ranchi on March 7. Following the attack, all accused fled the scene, and Sahu was identified as a key conspirator. Due to his involvement in this and other criminal activities, he was brought to Jharkhand from Raipur for legal proceedings.

According to the police, Sahu attempted to escape after a police jeep overturned. During his attempted getaway, he opened fire on the officers, injuring a Jharkhand police personnel. In response, the police fired back, leading to his death. The encounter has sparked political debate in the state, with the BJP questioning the legitimacy of the police action.

Despite being in jail, Aman Sahu was actively running his gang from behind bars. His influence was evident when his Facebook profile was updated just 15 hours before the encounter. His gang was linked to several violent crimes, including the recent attack on a coal trader in Ranchi. The Jharkhand DGP confirmed that Sahus gang was operational even from prison and was involved in multiple criminal activities across the state. His name had also surfaced in a case related to NTPC in Hazaribagh.

Aman Sahu quickly rose to become one of Jharkhands most feared gangsters, with reported links to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Over 50 criminal cases were registered against him across eight police stations, particularly in Ranchi, Palamu, Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Latehar, Bokaro, Ramgarh, and Chatra. His operations included extortion, illegal collections, and targeting businessmen, coal traders, transporters, builders, and contractors.

In the past six months, his gang was associated with multiple high-profile crimes. The group was also highly active on social media, with several accounts under his name on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

The Chhattisgarh encounter is similar to that of Uttar Pradesh's Vikash Dubey encounter in which the gangster was killed after he tried to flee post the vehicle turned turtle in which he was being transported.
New Delhi: Renowned filmmaker Hansal Mehta, celebrated for his acclaimed works such as Shahid and the hit web series Scam 1992, has expressed his strong belief that the Hindi film industry is not in crisis but rather on the brink of transformation. Responding to recent claims, including filmmaker Vivek Agnihotris article Bollywood Is Falling, which criticized the current generation of actors, Mehta stressed that Bollywood does not need saving, but a shift in priorities.

For those predicting doom for Bollywoodpause. The industry isnt dying. Its waiting to be disrupted. The problem isnt the audience losing interest. Its that investment is being funneled into the safe, the recycled, the formulaic, Mehta wrote in a detailed post on X (formerly Twitter).

Long Post :

Hindi Cinema Needs a Reset



For those predicting doom for Bollywoodpause. The industry isnt dying. Its waiting to be disrupted. The problem isnt the audience losing interest. Its that investment is being funneled into the safe, the recycled, the formulaic.



The  Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) March 10, 2025

Mehta emphasized that relying on star power alone is no longer enough to attract cinema-goers. Instead, he sees the future of Hindi cinema in directors who can craft compelling, authentic stories. The future of Hindi cinema lies in betting on raw talent, bold storytelling, and directors who can take a script and direct the hell out of it. The past few years have proved: stars dont necessarily bring audiences; conviction does.

While Agnihotris recent comments questioned the abilities of younger actors, Mehta countered by championing the new wave of talent in Bollywood. He believes that a fresh generation of performers, writers, and filmmakers are ready to redefine the industry, provided producers support them with visionary projects.

It will take producers with vision, platforms that back stories over statistics, and directors who demand authenticity over familiarity, Mehta continued. It will need solid financial discipline, an intelligent exhibition strategy, and well-thought-out marketingnot just the template paid publicity that benefits publicists more than the industry.

Among the emerging stars he sees as key to Bollywoods future, Mehta specifically singled out Raghav Juyal, Ishaan Khatter, and Zahan Kapoor.

Raghav Juyal  The Unpredictable Wildcard

Raghav Juyal is more than just a dancer or comic actorhe is instinct in motion. His performance in Kill was a revelation, showcasing an unpredictable and raw energy that set him apart. Mehta believes that if given the right space, Juyal could continually surprise audiences with his unique charm. Hindi cinema needs to take more chances on actors like him, he said, noting that such performers bring an exciting unpredictability to the screen.

Ishaan Khatter  The Untapped Dynamo

Ishaan Khatter has demonstrated remarkable versatility, from Dhadak and Beyond the Clouds to A Suitable Boy and Pippa. His sharp instincts and infectious energy make him a standout talent who deserves roles that challenge him beyond the conventional. Mehta sees a bright future for Khatter in roles that push the boundaries of his craft.

Zahan Kapoor  The Breakthrough Name

Zahan Kapoors impressive debut in Faraaz showed maturity and restraint beyond his years. His follow-up performance in Black Warrant further established him as an actor to watch. With his depth and sincerity, Kapoor is poised for a career that will leave a lasting impact on the industry.

Mehta also called on streaming platforms to reevaluate their approach, urging them to invest in emerging talent rather than relying solely on data and algorithms. You have the data. Now have some faith. In talent. Start backing actors, not algorithms, he urged.

For Mehta, directors should prioritize casting actors based on their skill and depth, rather than their familiarity with audiences. Cast actors for the role, the skill, the depth. Not just familiarity. The audience is hungry for authentic, lived-in performances, he emphasized.

In conclusion, Hansal Mehtas message was clear: Hindi cinema doesnt need saving, but it does need a fresh, bold approach. His formula for change is simple: Invest in actors, not stars. Write without fear. Direct with conviction.

Mehta acknowledged that his thoughts come from a place of genuine concern for the future of the industry and apologized in advance for any unintended omissions.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra, Xiaomi 15 India Launch: Chinese electronic brand Xiaomi has launched it's latest flagships Xiaomi 15 series in the global market including India as well recently. The newly-launched series includes the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and Xiaomi 15. Both the smartphones are available in a single memory variant each.

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is offered in Silver Chrome colour options. Meanwhile, the Xiaomi 15 comes in Black, White, and Green colour options. Notably, the new Xiaomi flagship phones made their debut in China last month, and then showcased globally at the MWC 2025 in Barcelona earlier in March. The new Xiaomi flagship smartphones are run on Android 15 with HyperOS 2.0 skin on top out-of-the-box and sport IP68-rated builds.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra Specifications

The device features a 6.73-inch AMOLED micro-curved 2K display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering 3,200 nits peak brightness and support for HDR 10+ and Dolby Vision.

The phone is protected by Xiaomi's Ceramic Glass 2.0, it ensures durability. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC. On the photography front, the smartphone features a 200MP Leica periscope lens, 50MP Leica primary, 50MP telephoto with OIS, and a 50MP ultra-wide lens. For selfies, it has a 32MP front camera.

The phone is equipped with a 5,410mAh battery with 90W wired and 80W wireless charging. Adding further, it offers IP68 rating, Dolby Atmos stereo speakers, NFC, 5G, and an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor.

Xiaomi 15 Specifications:

The device features a 6.36-inch 1.5K OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, delivering 3,200 nits peak brightness and supporting HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision. Its powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC.

The camera setup includes a 50MP LightHunter 900 primary, 50MP ultra-wide, and a 50MP 3.2x telephoto lens, along with a 32MP OmniVision OV32B40 front camera.

With a 5,240mAh battery, it supports 90W wired and 50W wireless charging. Running Android 15-based HyperOS 2.0, the device measures 8.08mm and weighs 191 grams. It also features IP68 dust and water resistance, an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, NFC, and Dolby Atmos stereo speakers.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra And Xiaomi 15 Price In India

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra has been launched in India for Rs 1,09,999, while the Xiaomi 15 is priced at Rs 64,999. Both models come in a single memory variant. Adding further, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra Photography Kit Legend Edition is available for Rs 11,999.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra And Xiaomi 15 Availability And Bank Offers

ICICI Bank customers can avail a cashback of Rs 10,000 on the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and Rs 5,000 on the Xiaomi 15. The Pre-booking starts on March 19th at 5 PM, with special offers: purchase the Xiaomi 15 and get a free Xiaomi Care Plan worth Rs 5,999, or get the Photography Kit Legend Edition for free with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra.
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

Researchers led by Imperial have unveiled primary trial results that show encouraging advances in HIV treatment driven by immune-based therapies.

The RIO trial assessed the impact of two long-acting immune therapies known as broadly neutralizing antibodies, or bNAbs, compared with placebo, among 68 people living with HIV who stopped taking their antiretroviral medicines.

The trial primary outcome results, announced at the annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), showed that three-quarters of participants who received the bNAbs were able to control the virus while off their antiretroviral therapy, compared to those who received a placebo over a 20-week period.

While the trial primary findings have not yet been published in an academic journal and are therefore not yet peer-reviewed, the RIO project teama research partnership between Imperial College London, the University of Oxford and Rockefeller University, New Yorkbelieves they mark an exciting development.

Opening up new avenues for treatment

Professor Sarah Fidler of the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial College London, and chief investigator of the study, said, "This is the first time a long-acting immune-based therapy has shown sustained viral control in multiple participants, allowing them to stop their daily antiretroviral medication for over a year.

"These results could open new avenues for HIV treatment, bringing us closer to our ultimate goal of achieving a cure." Professor Fidler is also the Co-Chair of Imperial's Global Development Hub, which focuses on the most pressing research challenges of our time, including HIV.

Professor John Frater from the University of Oxford, co-lead investigator, explained, "These bNAbs function in two waysfirst, by directly targeting and killing HIV, and second, by stimulating new and stronger immune responses. Those who developed the most robust immune responses maintained viral control for the longest period. This is the first evidence that an immune response can be harnessed to control HIV, potentially paving the way for viral eradication."

'A significant step forward'

The antibody therapies also had an impact on another element of HIV infection in trial participants.

Current antiretroviral therapy is unable to target latent HIV-infected cellsimmune system cells that are infected with HIV but are not actively producing new copies of the virus. These latent cells are known as the so-called "reservoir" of HIV infectionwhich is why at present there is no cure.

However, co-lead researchers from the Rockefeller University in New York, Professor Michel Nussenzweig, the Zanvil A. Cohn and Ralph M. Steinman Professor and co-director of Immunology for the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Institute for Global Infectious Disease Research, and Professor Marina Caskey noted, "The RIO trial has shown that long-acting bNAbs significantly reduced the size of this reservoir, even reaching undetectable levels in some participants. Since eliminating the reservoir is crucial for curing HIV, these findings represent a significant step forward."

"These results are the first time that immune-based treatments have kept viral load undetectable without ART for so long. People who respond to bNAbs could have a new option for HIV treatment," said Simon Collins, RIO leadership group community representative.

Future treatment strategies

The promising results from the RIO trial suggest that bNAb-based therapies could play a pivotal role in future HIV treatment strategies.

The study participants still in follow-up will continue to be monitored until all remaining protocol-defined endpoints are completedanticipated in 2027.

Dr. Mike McCune, head of the HIV Frontiers program at the Gates Foundation, echoed the importance of the trial results in the broader search for an HIV cure. "The results of the RIO study show that progress is possible in the effort to revolutionize HIV treatment. By demonstrating the promise of bNAbs in durable viral suppression, this study also unlocks critical insights that could help advance the development of safe, effective, and affordable gene-based HIV therapies. This type of cutting-edge research and innovation will be key to finally ending the global threat of HIV."
WASHINGTON: Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday the Trump administration had finished its six-week purge of programs of the six-decade-old U.S. Agency for International Development and he would move the 18% of aid and development programs that survived under the State Department. Meanwhile, a federal judge delivered a mixed order in one of the key court cases in the shutdown of USAID, saying the administration could no longer simply sit on the billions of dollars that Congress had provided for foreign aid  but stopping short of ordering Trump officials to use the money to revive the terminated programs.

Rubio made his announcement Monday in a post on X, in one of his few public comments on what has been a historic shift away from U.S. foreign aid and development, executed by Trump political appointees at State and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency teams. Rubio in the post thanked DOGE and our hardworking staff who worked very long hours to achieve this overdue and historic reform in foreign aid. President Donald Trump on Jan. 20 issued an executive order directing a freeze of foreign assistance funding and a review of all of the tens of billions of dollars of U.S. aid and development work abroad.

Trump charged that much of foreign assistance was wasteful and advanced a liberal agenda.Rubio's social media post Monday said that review was now officially ending," with some 5,200 of USAID's 6,200 programs eliminated.Those programs spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, (and in some cases even harmed), the core national interests of the United States, Rubio wrote.

In consultation with Congress, we intend for the remaining 18% of programs we are keeping ... to be administered more effectively under the State Department, he said. Democratic lawmakers and others call the shutdown of congressionally funded programs illegal, saying such a move requires Congress' approval. In his preliminary injunction Monday, U.S. District Judge Amir Ali said Trump could not simply ignore most of what is roughly $60 billion in foreign assistance funding that was given to USAID and State by Congress, which under the U.S. Constitution has authority to spend money. But Ali declined the request from nonprofit groups and businesses to revive the canceled contracts for foreign assistance work around the world, saying it was up to the administration to make decisions at that level.

Ali also ordered Trump officials to keep paying all of the billions of dollars it owed to aid groups and businesses that had contracts with USAID, up to mid-February, and ordered them to do it at a pace of at least 300 back payments a day. Ali's ruling came after the Supreme Court had rejected the Trump administration's appeal of the judge's order to ease the freeze on all foreign assistance funding. USAID supporters said the sweep of the cuts made it difficult to tell what U.S. efforts abroad the Trump administration actually supports.

The patterns that are emerging is the administration does not support democracy programs, they dont support civil society ... they dont support NGO programs, or health or emergency response, said Andrew Natsios, the USAID administrator for Republican former President George W. Bush. So whats left? Natsios asked. The Trump administration gave almost no details on which aid and development efforts abroad it spared as it mass-emailed contract terminations to aid groups and other USAID partners by the thousands within days earlier this month.

The rapid pace, and the steps skipped in ending contracts, left USAID supporters challenging whether any actual program-by-program reviews had taken place. Aid groups say even some life-saving programs that Rubio and others had promised to spare are in limbo or terminated, such as those providing emergency nutritional support for starving children and drinking water for sprawling camps for families uprooted by war in Sudan. Republicans broadly have made clear they want foreign assistance that would promote a far narrower interpretation of U.S. national interests going forward.

The State Department in one of multiple lawsuits it is battling over its rapid shutdown of USAID had said earlier this month it was killing more than 90% of USAID programs. Rubio gave no explanation for why his number was lower.The dismantling of USAID that followed Trump's order upended decades of policy that humanitarian and development aid abroad advanced U.S. national security by stabilizing regions and economies, strengthening alliances and building goodwill.

In the weeks after Trump's order, one of his appointees and transition team members, Pete Marocco, and Musk pulled USAID staff around the world off the job through forced leaves and firings, shut down USAID payments overnight and terminated aid and development contracts by the thousands. Contractors and staffers running efforts ranging from epidemic control to famine prevention to job and democracy training stopped work. Aid groups and other USAID partners laid off tens of thousands of their workers in the U.S. and abroad.

The shutdown has left many USAID staffers and contractors and their families still overseas, many of them awaiting back payments and travel expenses to return home. The Trump administration on Monday gave USAID staffers abroad until April 6 to move back to the United States if they want to do so on the governments tab, according to a USAID email sent to staffers and seen by The Associated Press. Staffers say the deadline gives them scant time to pull children from school, sell homes or break leases, and, for many, find somewhere to live after years away from the United States.

In Washington, the sometimes contradictory orders issued by the three men  Rubio, Musk and Marocco  overseeing the USAID cuts have left many uncertain who was calling the shots, and fueled talk of power struggles.Musk and Rubio on Monday, as Trump had last week, insisted relations between the two of them were smooth. Good working with you, Musk tweeted in response to Rubio's announcement. Tough, but necessary, Musk wrote of Rubio's announcement on the cuts.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a sharp increase in tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, citing Ontarios recent decision to impose an electricity surcharge on three US states. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, stated that the additional tariffs would take effect on March 12.

I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, he wrote.

He also called on Canada to immediately drop what he described as an anti-American farmer tariff ranging from 250% to 390% on various US dairy products. Trump labeled these tariffs outrageous and warned of further economic measures.

I will shortly be declaring a National Emergency on Electricity within the threatened area. This will allow the US to quickly do what has to be done to alleviate this abusive threat from Canada, he added.

Trump further cautioned that if Canada does not remove its egregious tariffs, he would implement additional measures targeting the Canadian automobile industry. If other egregious, long-time Tariffs are not likewise dropped by Canada, I will substantially increase, on April 2nd, the Tariffs on Cars coming into the U.S. which will, essentially, permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada, he warned.

The move follows Ontarios recent decision to impose a 25% hike in electricity export tariffs, affecting nearly 1.5 million American consumers in Minnesota, New York, and Michigan. The revised rates are set to take effect on Monday.

Earlier in the day, Trump had accused Canada of being a tariff abuser and dismissed the need for Canadian energy imports.

"Despite the fact that Canada is charging the USA from 250% to 390% Tariffs on many of our farm products, Ontario just announced a 25% surcharge on electricity, of all things, and your not even allowed to do that. Because our Tariffs are reciprocal, well just get it all back on April 2," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social platform.

"Canada is a Tariff abuser, and always has been, but the United States is not going to be subsidizing Canada any longer. We dont need your Cars, we dont need your Lumber, we dont need your Energy, and very soon, you will find that out," he added.
Jeddah: High-stakes talks between senior delegations from Ukraine and the United States on how to end Kyiv's three-year war with Moscow opened in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, hours after Russian air defences shot down 337 Ukrainian drones over Russia.

Two people were killed and 18 were injured, including three children, in the massive drone attack that spanned 10 Russian regions, officials said. No large-scale damage was reported.

In the Red Sea port city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, journalists briefly entered a room where senior Ukrainian delegation met with America's top diplomat for talks on ending Europe's biggest conflict since World War II.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio smiled for the cameras, while Ukrainian officials sat without expression at a table across from them as the meeting got underway at a luxury hotel.

There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian or US officials on the drone attack.

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister was on hand for the talks as American, Saudi and Ukrainian flags stood in the background. Officials did not answer any of the shouted questions.

The talks offer an opportunity for Kyiv officials to repair Ukraine's relationship with Trump's administration after an unprecedented argument erupted during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's February 28 visit to the White House.

Critically, Ukraine needs to persuade Washington to end the subsequent US suspension of military aid and some intelligence sharing. US officials have said that positive talks in Jeddah could mean it may be only a short suspension.

Ukrainian officials told The Associated Press on Monday that they will propose a ceasefire covering the Black Sea, which would bring safer shipping, as well long-range missile strikes that have hit civilians in Ukraine, and the release of prisoners.

The two senior officials said Kyiv is also ready to sign an agreement with the United States on access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals  a deal that US President Donald Trump is keen to secure.

On his plane to Jeddah, Rubio said the US delegation would not be proposing any specific measures to secure an end to the three-year conflict but rather wanted to hear from Ukraine about what they would be willing to consider.

I'm not going to set any conditions on what they have to or need to do, Rubio told reporters accompanying him. I think we want to listen to see how far they're willing to go and then compare that to what the Russians want and see how far apart we truly are. Rubio said the rare earths and critical minerals deal could be signed during the meeting but stressed it was not a precondition for the United States to move ahead with discussions with either Ukraine or the Russians.

He said it may, in fact, make more sense to take some time to negotiate the precise details of the agreement, which is now a broad memorandum of understanding that leaves out many specifics.

The Kremlin has not publicly offered any concessions. Russia has said it's ready to cease hostilities on condition that Ukraine drops its bid to join NATO and recognises regions that Moscow occupies as Russian. Russia has captured nearly a fifth of Ukraine's territory since the war began.

Russian forces have held the battlefield momentum for more than a year, though at a high cost in infantry and armour, and are pushing at selected points along the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line, especially in the eastern Donetsk region, against Ukraine's understrength and weary army.

Ukraine has invested heavily in developing its arms industry, especially high-tech drones that have reached deep into Russia.

Most of the Ukrainian drones fired overnight  126 of them  were shot down over the Kursk region across the border from Ukraine, parts of which Kyiv's forces control, and 91 were shot down over the Moscow region, according to a statement by Russia's Defence Ministry.

Moscow's Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said over 70 drones targeted the Russian capital and were shot down as they were flying toward it  the biggest single attack on Moscow so far in the war.

The governor of the Moscow region surrounding the capital, Andrei Vorobyov, said the attack damaged several residential buildings and a number of cars.

Another person was wounded on a highway in the Lipetsk region, Gov. Igor Artamonov said.

Sobyanin said the roof of a building in Moscow also sustained damage, which he described as insignificant.

Footage of the building, published by RIA Novosti, showed a charred spot on the facade of a multi-story residential building near the roof, with bits of the building's lining stripped off.

Flights were temporarily restricted in and out of six airports, including Domodedovo, Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo and Zhukovsky just outside Moscow, and airports in the Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod regions.
JEDDAH: A Ukrainian delegation set to meet with Americas top diplomat in Saudi Arabia about ending the 3-year war with Russia will propose a ceasefire covering the Black Sea and long-range missile strikes, as well as the release of prisoners, two senior Ukrainian officials said Monday. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about Tuesdays meeting, also told The Associated Press that the Ukrainian delegation is ready during the talks to sign an agreement with the United States on access to Ukraines rare earth minerals  a deal that U.S. President Donald Trump is keen to secure.

The officials discussed the confidence-building measures, with no further details, ahead of the Ukrainian negotiating team's meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Jeddah. Kyiv is trying to repair the damage done when Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Feb. 28 visit to Washington descended into an Oval Office argument with Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

At stake is the military aid and intelligence previously offered by the United States that had helped Ukraine in the war but is now paused as Washington pushes for a peace agreement.Rubio and Zelenskyy landed a few hours apart Monday in Saudi Arabia, though they were not expected to meet. Zelenskyy was to meet with the kingdoms powerful crown prince Monday evening. Rubio also was due to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Speaking to reporters aboard his plane, Rubio said he and national security adviser Mike Waltz would take stock of Ukraines responses in Saudi Arabia. If Ukraine and the U.S. reach an understanding acceptable to Trump, that could accelerate his administrations push to peace talks. What we want to know is, are they interested entering some sort of peace conversation and general outlines of the kinds of things they could consider, recognizing that it has been a costly and bloody war for the Ukrainians. They have suffered greatly and their people have suffered greatly, Rubio said.

And its hard in the aftermath of something like that to even talk about concessions, but thats the only way this is going to end and prevent more suffering.He added: Im not going to set any conditions on what they have to or need to do. I think we want to listen to see how far theyre willing to go and then compare that to what the Russians want and see how far apart we truly are.

Zelenskyy has said his team meeting Rubio will include his chief of staff Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. Rubio will lead the U.S. team. The rest of Europe remains skeptical about the talks as it has been sidelined by Washington. The European Union last week agreed to boost the continents defenses and to free up hundreds of billions of euros for security in response to the Trump administration's shift in stance on Ukraine.

White House special envoy Steve Witkoff told Fox News on Monday that the pause of U.S. intelligence-sharing with Ukraine has not limited defense intelligence-sharing.We never shut off intelligence for ... anything defensive that the Ukrainians need, Witkoff said. A pause on sharing U.S. intelligence that can be used for offensive purposes by Ukrainian forces remains in effect, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The official suggested that progress could be made toward reinstating intelligence-sharing with Ukraine during the Saudi talks.___Arhirova reported from Kyiv, Ukraine.
In an unusual diplomatic development, Pakistans ambassador to Turkmenistan, K.K. Wagan, was denied entry into the United States and subsequently deported. The incident marks a rare diplomatic standoff between the two nations and comes shortly after the U.S. government, under President Donald Trump, issued a travel advisory warning American citizens against visiting Pakistan due to security concerns.

Ambassador Wagan was traveling to Los Angeles when he was stopped by immigration authorities at the airport. A senior official from Pakistans Foreign Ministry confirmed that he was deported due to an 'immigration objection', said reports. Despite holding a valid U.S. visa and all necessary travel documents, he was reportedly sent back to his last port of departure.

Diplomatic sources suggest that U.S. immigration officials flagged Wagan over controversial visa references, though the exact reason for his deportation remains unclear. The decision has raised questions about diplomatic protocol and the specific concerns that led to his removal.

The matter has been escalated to Pakistans top diplomatic leadership. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Foreign Secretary Aamna Baloch have been briefed on the situation, and Pakistans Foreign Ministry has instructed its consulate in Los Angeles to investigate the issue further.
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The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is one of the most venomous snakes in North America. Photo by Norman L. Beatty, M.D., FACP

The best way to avoid getting bitten by a venomous snake is to not go looking for one in the first place.

Like eating well and exercising to feel better, the avoidance approach is fully backed by science. A new study from University of Florida Health researchers analyzed 20 years of snakebite cases seen at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville. The results were published in the Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

"This is the first time we've evaluated two decades of venomous snakebites here," said senior author and assistant professor of medicine Norman L. Beatty, M.D., FACP.

Researchers analyzed 546 de-identified patient records from 2002 to 2022 and highlighted notable conclusionsfor instance, that a third of the snakebites analyzed were preventable and caused by people intentionally engaging with wild snakes.

"Typically, people's experiences with getting bitten are due to an interaction that was inadvertentthey stumble upon a snake or reach for something without seeing one camouflaged," Beatty said. "In this case, people were seeking them out. There were a few individuals who were bitten on more than one occasion."

Most (77.8%) of the snakebites occurred in adult men while they were handling wild snakes, and most of the bites were perpetrated by the diminutive pygmy rattlesnake and the cottonmouth. The latter is named for the white lining of its mouth, which it displays when threatened.

"I was less surprised to see those species emerge as some of the most common ones people were bitten by, but the robust presence of other, less common species in the datalike the eastern coral snake, southern copperhead, timber rattlesnake and the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, was interesting," Beatty said.

The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is one of the most venomous snakes in North America.

Most patients were bitten on their hands and fingers and about 10% of them attempted outdated self-treatments no longer recommended by doctorslike sucking out the venom.

Initially, the study began as a medical student research project, thanks to a handful of medical students who worked with Beatty to review the cases. The intention was to dive deep into the circumstances of each encounter and learn more about the treatment given, as well as the outcomes.

Fourth-year medical student River Grace, the paper's first author, said the work struck a personal note.

"My dad is a reptile biologist, so I've grown up around snakes my whole life," Grace said. "He was bitten by a venomous snake many years ago and ended up hospitalized for multiple weeks, so it was interesting to keep that experience in mind while going over the data."

Grace noted that it typically took those bitten over an hour on average to travel from where the bite occurred to the hospital.

"It seems like the reason for that was people not knowing exactly what to do once they'd been bitten, or underestimating the severity of the bite," he said. "Some would just sit at home for hours."

Floridians share their home with a variety of scaly neighbors who don't always welcome visitorsaccidental or not. Ultimately, thanks to the timely care of providers, only three snake bites were fatal. However, antivenom is no panacea. Those who are lucky enough to receive it in time can still incur complications from the original snake bites, like tissue damage, or even a fatal allergic reaction to the antivenom itself.

Consequently, researchers look toward improving the processes used to triage snake bites in the emergency room, ensuring that providers are equipped with the knowledge and the know-how to shorten time to treatment.

"In the future, we think we'd love to get involved in enhancing provider education so everyone in the health care setting is confident in being able to identify and administer antivenom as quickly and safely as possible," Grace said.

More information: River C Grace et al, Snake envenomation in Florida: a 20-year analysis of epidemiology and clinical outcomes at a tertiary medical centre, Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (2025). DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trae128
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Credit: RDNE Stock project from Pexels

A new study has found that extending state Medicaid coverage did not increase the likelihood of prescription opioid or benzodiazepine misuse among people who use drugs.

People who inject drugs and experience poverty are at an increased risk of health conditions such as HIV and tuberculosis, as well as overdose. While this population stands to benefit from health services provided through Medicaid expansion, prior reports have claimed that extending Medicaid coverage to this group encourages misuse of opioids.

A new study led by researchers at Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) and Emory University Rollins School of Public Health (Rollins SPH) vigorously refutes this claim.

Published in the Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment, the study examined federal data on health and drug use among nearly 20,000 people who inject drugs and are low-income in the US, and found no association between Medicaid expansion and misuse of prescription opioids or benzodiazepines, drugs often prescribed for anxiety or insomnia.

Importantly, these findings present real-world data that disprove narratives claiming that Medicaid expansion has fueled the longstanding opioid crisis in America by increasing access to low-cost prescription opioids diverted for non-prescribed use.

The new study takes into account state-level opioid trends and individual-level characteristicssuch as race, health status, and insurance coveragethat can affect how and to what extent people may access and utilize opioids. The researchers observed no increase in non-prescribed opioid use among low-income people who use drugs, a clinically and socially vulnerable population for which expanded Medicaid coverage could fulfill unmet and costly health needs.

If Congress advances a budget blueprint that cuts funding to Medicaidwhich serves more than 1 in 5 people in the USthese critical needs could remain unmet.

"Our findings provide strong empirical data that indicate there is no link between Medicaid expansion and non-prescribed use of opioids and benzodiazepines," says study lead and corresponding author Dr. Danielle Haley, assistant professor of community health sciences at BUSPH. "This insight allows us to focus on what we do know from the literature about Medicaid expansionthat there are potential life-saving benefits for people who use drugs."

While the earlier stages of the opioid crisis were driven by an overprescribing of opioid pain medication, the US has made concerted efforts to address this problem, Dr. Haley adds.

"The timing of the opioid overdose crisis far predates the expansion of Medicaid, which began in 2014 under the Affordable Care Act," she says. "What has really driven overdose deaths over the last several years are synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl. We need to support policies that ensure individuals have access to appropriate pain medication while advancing best practices for prescribing these drugs."

For the study, Dr. Haley and colleagues from Rollins SPH, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and the Florida State University College of Nursing utilized three waves of federal health data in 2012, 2015, and 2018, among 19,728 people who inject drugs ages 1864 who were enrolled in Medicaid with an income of 138 percent of the federal poverty line or below. The participants resided in 13 states, including 10 that expanded Medicaid and 3 that did not expand Medicaid.

After accounting for numerous factors, such as race/ethnicity, income, employment, health conditions, and access to drug monitoring programs, they observed no connection between Medicaid expansion and non-prescribed use of opioids or benzodiazepines among all of the participantsnor any association based specifically on race/ethnicity or HIV status.

The researchers hope the new findings help reduce persistent stigmas and structural inequities associated with opioid use among people who inject drugs.

"FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder are very effective in treating opioid use disorder, and also reducing overdose," Dr. Haley says. "There are multiple issues that still need to be addressed, but having health insurance is a critical gateway for people to access these life-saving services. It is important to address the barriers that Medicaid enrollees who inject drugs encounter in actually receiving the treatment and services their insurance provides."

More information: Danielle F. Haley et al, Medicaid expansion is not associated with prescription opioid and benzodiazepine misuse among people who inject drugs: A serial cross-sectional observational study using generalized difference-in-differences models, Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2025.209639
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A recent retrospective study published in CHEST evaluated the effects of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator use on pregnancy outcomes in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). Conducted across 11 U.S. adult CF centers, including National Jewish Health as one of the two lead sites, the study analyzed data from 307 pregnancies between 2010 and 2021.

The class of drugs called CFTR modulators improves CFTR protein function in people with CF, vastly improving lung health, weight and quality of life. The main goal of the study was to determine how CFTR modulators impact maternal health during and after pregnancy.

"This is the biggest study in the modern era of CF pregnancies," said Jennifer Taylor-Cousar, MD, pulmonologist and senior author of the study. Dr. Taylor-Cousar is also the Co-Director of the Adult CF Program at National Jewish Health.

"There used to be 200 or fewer pregnancies for people with CF per year in the U.S. because women with CF died before childbearing age or couldn't sustain the pregnancy due to their disease. Pregnancy outcomes seem to be better for women who use modulators, and babies who were exposed to modulators during pregnancy were generally healthy."

The researchers looked at medical records of women who were either on or off modulators who became pregnant in the last 10 years. Pregnant individuals with CF who used highly effective CFTR modulators showed improvements in lung function during pregnancy, with a significant positive change in lung function [as measured by percent predicted FEV1 (ppFEV1)], while those without modulator use saw a decline in lung function.

These results suggest that CFTR modulator use during pregnancy may have a beneficial effect on maternal health, particularly lung function, and are likely safe for exposed babies. Because the results were only studied at a relatively small number of centers and the results were assessed for a relatively short period of time, the study highlights the need for further studies on modulator use during pregnancy and its long-term effects on both mothers and infants.

With 41 sites participating, The Maternal and Fetal Outcomes in the Era of Modulators (MAYFLOWERS) study is ongoing and represents the next step in this research. The study is prospectively following more than 300 women throughout the pregnancy and after the baby is born.

More information: Raksha Jain et al, Impact of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Modulators on Maternal Outcomes During and After Pregnancy, CHEST (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2024.09.019 Journal information: Chest
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As many as half of nursing home residents are cognitively impaired and may be unable to communicate symptoms such as pain or anxiety to the staff and clinicians caring for them. Therefore, information needed for the evaluation of symptoms and subsequent treatment decisions typically does not reliably exist in nursing home electronic health records (EHRs).

A new paper published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry reports on the novel adaptation of a commonly used symptom assessment instrument to more comprehensively acquire this difficult-to-obtain data with the ultimate goal of enabling knowledge-based expansion of palliative care services in nursing homes to address residents' symptoms.

In the paper, part of the large, multi-state, multi-facility UPLIFT-AD studyshort for Utilizing Palliative Leaders in Facilities to Transform care for people with Alzheimer's Diseaseresearchers, including Regenstrief Institute, the Indiana University School of Medicine and the University of Maryland School of Social Work faculty, describe how they revamped and subsequently validated a symptom assessment tool used worldwide.

The UPLIFT-AD researchers modified the instrument, originally designed for reporting by family members of individuals with dementia following their death, to enable reporting on the symptoms of current residents living with moderate to severe dementia by nursing home staff as well as family.

Led by Kathleen T. Unroe, M.D., MHA, and John G. Cagle, Ph.D., the UPLIFT-AD team reports in the peer-reviewed paper that the tool they enhanced reliably addressed physical and emotional distress as well as well-being and symptoms that are precursors to end of life. This validation was critical as the researchers developed guidance for the expansion of symptom recognition and management in any nursing home. Employing instruments used in other studies helps researchers to directly compare findings.

Dr. Unroe, Dr. Cagle and colleagues, including Wanzhu Tu, Ph.D., of the Regenstrief Institute and the IU School of Medicine, are in the late stages of the UPLIFT-AD clinical trial to enhance quality of care for individuals with dementia by building capacity for palliative care within nursing homes.

"People receive care in nursing homes because they have significant needssupport for activities of daily livingas well as for complex, serious and multiple chronic conditions. But measuring symptoms of residents, especially those who are cognitively impaired, to address these needs is challenging," said paper senior author Dr. Unroe, a Regenstrief Institute research scientist and an IU School of Medicine professor of medicine.

"In my two decades of working as a clinician in nursing homes as well as a researcher, I have seen that often the information on symptoms that we want isn't available consistently in the data that's already collected or it isn't collected at the frequency that we need to measure the impact of programs and approaches.

"And the gold standard for knowing if someone has a symptom, for example, if someone has pain or anxiety, to ask that person directly to assess the symptom, isn't always possible for cognitively impaired residents.

"That's why we took steps to validate a commonly used instrument in a wider populationindividuals currently living with cognitive impairmentand added additional needed data points.

"While hospice care is typically available, there is widespread recognition that broader palliative care is needed in nursing homes. But there is no roadmap for how to provide it well. We hope that when we have our final results in 2026, UPLIFT-AD will prove to be a replicable model for implementing this much-needed type of care."

More information: John G. Cagle et al, A Psychometric Evaluation of the StaffReported EOLDCAD Measure Among Nursing Home Residents With Cognitive Impairment, International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry (2025). DOI: 10.1002/gps.70037
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Forty-five professional associations and societies representing a broad range of medical specialties from anesthesiology to urology are backing a letter written by a UC San Diego neurosurgeon. The letter calls for the National Institutes of Health to rescind a controversial cap on indirect cost payments that significantly increases the value of federal research grants.

While the letter states that planned cuts carry "unintended consequences that threaten the sustainability of US biomedical research," putting the nation at a competitive disadvantage to the efforts of other nations, especially China, the letter invites collaboration "to advance solutions that ensure transparency, fairness, and our continued excellence on the global stage."

The American Medical Association is the biggest name among the 45 organizations that signed the letter, with others such as the American Academy of Emergency Medicine and the American Psychiatric Association also in the mix.

The letter follows a less-detailed, single-page request on Feb. 25 by an even broader group of U.S. organizations and individuals calling for Congress to back off on the current NIH funding attacks.

Concern follows guidance published on Feb. 7 by the NIH Office of the Director to more than 300,000 researchers at more than 2,500 universities, notifying them that all new and existing grants would include a 15% cap on indirect payments. These reimbursements defray ancillary expenses for shared buildings, equipment and other physical improvements and for administrative activities such as project accounting and personnel management.

These reimbursements add nearly 30%, on average, to NIH grant awards, but many research organizations have negotiated significantly larger levies. The negotiated rate at UCSD, according to the university's website, is 59% for on-campus-sponsored research and 26% for work performed off-campus.

All told, UC San Diego receives more than $100 million per year in indirect cost reimbursements, and every research university in the nation is working to determine what they will need to cut if the cap takes effect. Though the change was to begin immediately, lawsuits stopped the change before it could be implemented. On Wednesday, a federal judge extended an initial restraining order, according to the Associated Press.

With further action stalled for the moment, there is time for researchers to explainto decision-makers and the publicwhy these extra reimbursements are critical for research rather than just overhead that should be reduced significantly.

Dr. Alexander Khalessi, chair of neurosurgery at UCSD, also chairs the Washington committee of two different professional organizations in his specialty, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

His seven-page letter, including 38 footnotes, was written on behalf of those two organizations. It makes the case that reimbursements for indirect costs are a critical part of the nation's world-leading biomedical research efforts.

These funds help pay for shared resources from laboratories inside university buildings to the salaries and benefits of workers who administer clinical trials, filing the endless paperwork required by government oversight programs.

In an interview Thursday, he referenced a real-world example.

"In our department, we collect tumor tissue from every case we operate on," he said. "We know how destination labs will ultimately use that tissue, but our tissue bank is used as a shared asset when labs apply for follow-on grants.

"Indirect cost reimbursements are what actually allow us to develop these kinds of assets."

And having shared assets such as tissue banks available in a university environment, he added, has a spillover effect, providing foundational resources for young scientists, especially postdoctoral researchers, as they explore innovative ideas of their own while simultaneously helping more-established investigators pursue grant-funded investigations.

"If the goal is to shift to individual project awards alone and reduce the absolute investment, then it actually eliminates our ecosystem's ability to be tolerant of risk, because you're going to be living award to award in a way that dramatically contracts your time horizon," Khalessi said.

Some, he noted, believe that private industry, which often relies on public-funded basic research to underpin private invention that results in billion-dollar drugs, can and should take up the slack. However, the neurosurgeon says that research universities, because of their significant taxpayer support, provide infrastructure for basic research before it is clear that ideas will produce products.

"Sometimes the questions we need to ask aren't specifically tied to a commercial product or a specific disease or use case," Khalessi said.

Khalessi said he was surprised that such a constellation of professional organizations signed on to his letter in the roughly three weeks that have passed since the NIH memo announced the incidental funding cap. These organizations, he noted, generally had to get approval from their boards before they could offer their support.

"I didn't think that, in such a compressed timeline, such a large group of stakeholders would come together," Khalessi said. "I think it's an example of the system working and it shows, in my mind, the sort of broad impact that stable NIH funding is felt to have."

2025 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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When people seek mental health treatment in Washington, insurance companies are supposed to cover that care just like they would physical ailments.

Instead, people often find that coverage deniedand they aren't always told why.

A bill moving through the state Legislature aims to change that.

House Bill 1432 would require all insurers in Washington state to follow a single set of standards, recommended by doctors and publicly available, for covering mental health treatment.

The bill would also allow the Office of the Insurance Commissioner to put additional pressure on insurance companies if they don't adequately cover mental health.

"Today, insurance companies are really able to create their own rules regarding medical necessity determinations," said David Lloyd, the policy director of Inseparable, a national mental health nonprofit that helped draft the bill.

"So this legislation would finally create one set of standards, one set of rules for everyone that aligns with what is best for patients, to make sure they're getting the mental health coverage they're actually paying for."

Rep. Tarra Simmons, the primary sponsor of the bill, said the bill would increase desperately needed access to mental health treatment for Washington residents.

"We are still in a mental health crisis. This bill is about addressing real-life consequences that Washington residents experience when coverage is denied," Simmons said. "The longer we take to act, the more constituents are cut off from potential lifesaving care we need."

Coverage still lacking

Current state and federal laws already require insurance companies to cover mental health treatment in a similar way to physical healtha practice known as "mental health parity."

But coverage of mental health treatment still often lags behind, studies show.

An April 2024 report from RTI International, a research nonprofit, showed patients went out of network for behavioral health care 3.5 times as often as they did for medical or surgical treatmentan indication that many of them couldn't find care covered by insurance.

Patients also went out of network more than 10 times as often to see a psychologist, and nine times as often to see a psychiatrist than for physical ailments.

One reason parity isn't being achieved, proponents of the bill say, is that insurers are only required to cover treatment that is deemed "medically necessary"a term that, despite the name, is not determined by doctor recommendations. Instead, decisions about what is medically necessary are often based on criteria developed by private health organizations, which are then sold to insurance companies.

That system often leads to inconsistencies between what different insurance companies approve.

For example, some companies will cover higher "levels of care," or intensities of treatment, that others will leave out.

In an email to lawmakers supporting the bill, Brian Allender, the chief medical officer for King County's Behavioral Health and Recovery Division, noted that one large health organization that develops insurance guidelines, MCG Health, doesn't line up with several national psychiatric organizations.

For example, MCG doesn't include certain types of community-wraparound care programs in its criteria, he saidprograms like Wraparound with Intensive Services, or WISe, which brings together a team of professionals to help children with complex psychiatric needs live at home.

"Commercial insurers are not currently contracting for and covering this critical and evidence-based level of care," Allender wrote, "and this, in turn, is a common reason why providers are encouraging young adults who have developed a serious mental illness to get off their parents' commercial plans and onto Medicaid."

The bill would ensure that insurance companies have to follow another set of criteria, which includes more types of mental health care in its coverage.

As the bill makes its way through the House of Representatives, some lawmakers and health insurance companies have raised concerns about how such changes could affect insurance operations, as well as consumer costs.

MCG, the Seattle-based health care company that sets criteria for insurance companies and providers, pushed for some changes to the bill before it moved forward.

Donna Baker-Miller, the vice president of government affairs for MCG, said in an email that the company wants insurers to be allowed to continue using criteria from other organizations such as MCG, as long as it's not more restrictive than the medical guidelines referred to in the bill.

As of Thursday, lawmakers said that change would likely be allowed as the bill moves forward.

Some are also concerned that if insurance providers are required to cover more services, that cost would get passed on to consumers.

Jennifer Ziegler, a lobbyist for the Association of Washington Healthcare Plans, told lawmakers the bill would likely raise insurance premiums.

"Even though there's not a general fund impact to the bill, there's a consumer impact," Ziegler said.

But Lloyd, the nonprofit policy director who helped craft the bill, said it would help control health care costs by getting people necessary treatment before their problems escalate.

"One of the things about mental health and substance use disorders is that when they're not treated effectively, people with these conditions often have the highest total health care costs," he said.

Some who spoke in support of the bill also drew parallels between inaccessible mental health treatment and other widespread social problems.

"When people are in the midst of struggling with a mental health or addiction problem, they're often not good advocates for themselves," said Jurgen Unutzer, the chair of the University of Washington's Department of Psychiatry.

"A person might have good, employer-sponsored health care. But if they're struggling with behavioral health or substance use disorder, it's challenging to get timely, effective care. Things go sideways and unravel. You might lose that coverage. Then you're on Medicaid, homeless, on the streets. We could prevent all that if we had better access to mental health care."

2025 The Seattle Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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It will likely be weeks before public health agencies know the full extent of measles exposure in Virginia and Maryland following the discovery of an infected person living in Howard County, officials said.

The Maryland Department of Health reported Sunday that an unidentified patient tested positive for the highly contagious virus after recently traveling internationally to an unspecified country. That person had been in the Washington Dulles International Airport, including the baggage claim area and through Terminal A on March 5 and, two days later, was in the Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center Pediatric Emergency Department, according to the state health department.

Public health officials are urging anyone who may have been exposed to watch for symptomswhich mimic cold symptoms, plus a high fever and rash that starts as flat, red spotsuntil March 26. If symptoms manifest, people should isolate themselves at home and contact a health care provider before showing up at a health center. As of Monday afternoon, no other measles infections had been reported in Maryland.

Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center has notified anyone who may have encountered the infected patient, according to the hospital. No new infections have been found, said spokesperson Tia Mason.

Dr. Greg Schrank, an infectious diseases expert at the University Of Maryland Medical Center, said measles typically has an incubation period of up to three weeks.

"It might be a week or longer before we start to see any exposed individuals who develop infection to start to present with symptoms," Schrank said.

Will that happen? It depends, he said.

"I think it's hard to predict. It really depends on who was exposed. One thing we can lean on a bit here in Maryland is that we generally have a very highly immunized population, especially to measles."

Cases in 12 different parts of the country

Meanwhile, the Virginia Department of Health is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to identify people on the flight into Dulles who may have been exposed, said department spokesperson Brookie Crawford. The department declined to say how many people have been contacted.

Before the Maryland case, the CDC had tracked at least 222 measles cases in 12 different parts of the United States. The vast majority, 198, were in Texas. New Mexico has seen at least 10 cases.

This Maryland case was not connected to the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks, according to the state Department of Health.

Public health officials have provided no information on the infected Maryland resident. The Howard County Public School System sent a message to parents stating that it had not received any indication that the person was a student or staff member.

Maryland counted one measles infection last year, one in 2023 and, before that, five cases in 2019. The 2024 and 2023 cases also involved international travel, said Dr. Lucia Donatelli, who leads the Maryland Department of Health's Center for Immunization.

"One of the messages that I really want to get out there is that, prior to international travel, when you're planning a trip overseas, make sure you're up to date on your vaccinations," Donatelli said.

Swelling of the brain

While measles often looks only like a rash, it can cause a variety of health complications and even lead to death, especially in the very young.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms of an infection typically one to two weeks after exposure to the virus. Common symptoms include high fever (sometimes 104 degrees or higher), coughing, runny noses, and red, watery eyes. A rash usually comes three to five days after the first symptoms start.

Children younger than 5, adults over 20, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems are most likely to suffer complications. About 10% of children infected will get ear infections, and about 5% of them will get pneumoniathe leading cause of death in measles-infected young children.

In much rarer cases (about one out of 1,000 cases), infected children will develop swelling of the brain, which can lead to convulsions and result in deafness or permanent intellectual disabilities, according to the CDC.

Infections in pregnant women can lead to premature births and/or low birth weights.

In 2023, health experts estimate that about 107,500 people died globally from measles.

"As a mother, I know that every parent wants to do what's best for their child; we all do," said Monique Soileau-Burke, a pediatrician at The Pediatric Center in Columbia. "And vaccinating your children is the best way to keep them healthy, keep them safe and keep them from any long-term consequences that they may have after getting the measles or any other vaccine-preventable disease."

'Go out and get vaccinated'

Measles is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Infected droplets can remain in the room for two hours and infect those exposed to it by breathing or touching infected objects.

People with measles can spread the virus four days before and four days after a rash appears.

A single infected person can spread measles to 1218 people who are susceptible to the virus, health experts say.

Vaccination is the best way to prevent infection. According to the CDC, two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles; one dose is about 93% effective. Children are generally vaccinated after their first birthday but may be inoculated when they're as young as 6 months, especially if they will travel internationally, according to the Maryland Department of Health.

Epidemiologists say that at least 95% of a given population must be vaccinated to prevent widespread infections. Federal data show that more than 96% of Maryland kindergartners had received two doses of the MMR vaccine during the 202324 school yearone of the highest vaccination rates in the country. The national average is 92.7%, according to the CDC.

A State of Maryland survey put actual vaccination rates among this age group during that period at an even higher 99%.

"We have very high vaccination rates in general," said Donatelli. "Having said that, we do have pockets of the population that we know are undervaccinated. So, if you haven't gotten the MMR vaccine and you're not fully vaccinated, this is the time to reconsider and go out and get vaccinated."

2025 Baltimore Sun. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Due to the physical, psychological, and socioeconomic consequences of a cancer diagnosis and treatment, people with cancer are especially vulnerable during extreme weather events like hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires, which are becoming more common and damaging with climate change.

A new national study led by the American Cancer Society (ACS) and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health researchers finds patients whose facility was impacted by a wildfire disaster during recovery from lung cancer surgery had longer length of stay (LOS) than similar patients treated at the same facility, but at times when no disaster occurred. The findings are out today in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

"These data are critical as there are currently no guidelines for protecting the health and safety of patients recovering from lung cancer surgery during wildfires in the United States," said Dr. Leticia Nogueira, scientific director, health services research at the American Cancer Society and lead author of the study. "In the absence of guidelines, clinicians might resort to improvisational strategies, such as extending post-operative length of stay to support surgical recovery and better protect the health and safety of patients during wildfires."

Post-discharge recovery from lung cancer surgery is arduous and wildfire disasters pose several threats to patients' well-being that extend far beyond exposure to smoke (e.g., exposure to contaminated water and soil, stress associated with following evacuation orders while coping with mobility and cognitive challenges, disruptions in grocery and pharmacy hours of operation and supply, changes in transportation routes).

For this study, researchers selected individuals aged 18 years or older who received curative-intent lobectomy or pneumonectomy for stage I-III non-small cell lung cancer between 2004 and 2021 from the National Cancer Database.

Exposure was defined as a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) wildfire Presidential Disaster Declaration in the county of the treating facility between the date of surgery and the date of discharge from the hospital. Differences in the cumulative distribution function of LOS were evaluated between exposed and propensity score-matched unexposed patients treated at the same facility.

A new national study led by American Cancer Society researchers finds patients whose facility was impacted by a wildfire disaster during recovery from lung cancer surgery had longer length of stay (LOS) than similar patients treated at the same facility, but at times when no disaster occurred. Credit: American Cancer Society

Study results showed patients exposed to a wildfire disaster declaration in the county of the treating facility had longer LOS than unexposed patients (9.4 days compared to 7.5 days, respectively) overall and for each stage (I-III) for which surgery is the recommended treatment modality.

The authors report that the two-day difference in LOS may have important economic implications for health care systems because shorter LOS is an established quality metric tied to payment models in the U.S., and hospital stays cost approximately $1,500 per day.

"Future studies should evaluate whether extended hospital stay improves surgical care outcomes during disasters," Nogueira added. "Also, these findings should be considered for disaster preparedness guidelines tailored to vulnerable patient populations and contextual adjustments to quality care metrics."

"This study is just the tip of the iceberg showing how extreme weather may be impacting patients with chronic illnesses," said Dr. Amruta Nori-Sarma, deputy director of the center for climate, health, and the global environment at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. "As the wildfire season gets longer and more intense, and wildfires start affecting broader swathes of the U.S. population, health care providers need to be ready with updated guidance that best protects their patients' health."

ACS researcher Dr. Robin Yabroff also contributed to the study.

More information: Leticia M Nogueira et al, Facility exposure to wildfire disasters and hospital length of stay following lung cancer surgery, JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2025). DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djaf040 Journal information: Journal of the National Cancer Institute
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Prescriptions for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in England have risen 18% year on year since the pandemic. This is higher than previously reported, and masks wide regional variations in prescribing rates, finds research published in the journal BMJ Mental Health.

The trends likely reflect growing public and professional awareness of the condition, driven in part by social media, as well as the potential impact of COVID-19, suggest the researchers. But the regional variations point to inequalities in access to care, they add.

ADHD is common in children, with a global prevalence of around 7%, note the researchers, while its prevalence in symptomatic adults is also on the rise, with a reported rate of nearly 7%.

Five drugs are licensed for its treatment in the UK: three stimulants (methylphenidate, dexamfetamine, lisdexamfetamine); and two non-stimulants (atomoxetine, guanfacine). And in the absence or lack of availability of alternative treatment options, such as psychological or behavioral therapy, these drugs have a key role in ADHD management, say the researchers.

Several studies have reported an increase in ADHD prescriptions in England since the COVID-19 pandemic, but most of these studies were based on the old NHS structurebefore the introduction of 42 integrated care systemsand/or focused on specific groups or types of drug.

And little is currently known about the potential influence of other factors, such as social deprivation, inequalities, and mental health needs, they add.

To explore this further, they mined the English Prescribing Dataset from April 2019 to March 2024, looking at prescription trends for the five currently licensed ADHD drugs at national, regional, and integrated care board (ICB) levels.

The findings showed that prescriptions increased significantly from around 25 items per 1000 people in 201920, before the advent of the pandemic, to 41.55 items in 202324, with an average annual increase of 18% nationallyhigher than previously reported.

Methylphenidate remained the most frequently prescribed drug (19 items/1000 people), but the highest increase was for lisdexamfetamine, prescriptions for which increased by 55% year on year, rising from 2.86 items/1000 people in 201920 to 8.68 items in 202324.

ADHD prescriptions rose in all seven regions of England, but there were significant regional variations: London saw the highest annual increase of 28%; the Northeast and Yorkshire saw the lowest at 13%.

The second highest change in the annual prescription rate of almost 19.5% was in Southeast England.

Prescribing trends also varied widely at the ICB level. The NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB witnessed the highest increase in prescriptions of almost 51.5%, but with considerable variation within the ICB itself. The smallest increase of just over 4.5% was in NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB.

Further analysis showed significant statistical associations between socioeconomic factors and ADHD prescriptions, particularly ethnicity and deprivation, but also age and inequality.

Several factors may explain the substantial rise in prescription rates, say the researchers. "Increased public and professional awareness, partly driven by social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, has likely encouraged more people to seek assessment, diagnosis and treatment," they write.

And they caution, "There is a pressing need for research into effective methods for vetting and moderating ADHD-related information on social media platforms to ensure that awareness efforts do not inadvertently spread misinformation."

The widespread disruption and increased psychological stress levels caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may also have driven up prescribing rates, they suggest.

"While our study has identified significant changes in prescription patterns during and after the pandemic, it is crucial to determine whether these trends represent a temporary shift or a more permanent change in ADHD prescriptions," they emphasize.

And they conclude, "The significant rise in ADHD prescriptions across England highlights the urgent need for policies that address both regional and socioeconomic disparities in ADHD care access. Targeted efforts should be made to meet the needs of each region by identifying specific barriers to care and their root causes."

More information: Socioeconomic status and prescribing of ADHD medications: a study of ICB-level data in England, BMJ Mental Health (2025). DOI: 10.1136/bmjment-2024-301384 Journal information: BMJ Mental Health
Ambassador of Belarus V.Denisenko meets the Minister of Agriculture of Tajikistan

On March 11, 2025 the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Republic of Tajikistan, Viktor Denisenko, met with the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan, Chairman of the Tajik part of the Belarusian-Tajik Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, Kurbon Khakimzoda.



The parties discussed topical issues of cooperation between Belarus and Tajikistan in trade, economic and humanitarian spheres, the schedule of bilateral events for the year 2025, including the Belarusian-Tajik Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation to be held in Dushanbe this year.

Following the meeting, the parties positively assessed the dynamics of Belarusian-Tajik relations, shared a common opinion on the need to further development of mutually beneficial cooperation.

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Ambassador of Belarus S.Chepurnoi meets with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan

On March 11, 2025 the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to Turkmenistan, Stanislav Chepurnoi, met with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Myakhri Byashimova.

The parties discussed the current state and prospects of the Belarusian-Turkmen relations in the cultural and humanitarian sphere, holding the next meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Cooperation in Science and Technology, as well as issues of interaction on international platforms.

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They stood well more than 1,000 strong on an unseasonably warm late-winter morning in Missoula, with a message for politicians in Washington: Keep your hands off our public lands.

At the "Hands Off Our Public Lands" rally Sunday morning, the recently out-of-work federal land managers who addressed the crowd included Adin Kloetzel of Philipsburg, who was a mule packer in the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness and whose parents met on a trail crew in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. There was also Tracy Stone-Manning, the director of the Bureau of Land Management under former President Joe Biden and now the president of The Wilderness Society.

Whether they were mule packers, presidential appointees or somewhere between, they shared the same message, amplified by booming cheers from the sign-carrying masses: "Whose lands? Our lands!"

The rally started at 11 a.m. in McCormick Park and concluded 90 minutes later with a march  all on bike paths and sidewalk, not in roadways  to Caras Park and back, twice crossing Beartracks Bridge over the Clark Fork River. It was organized by about 60 individuals, self-described as grassroots volunteers, and advertised on social media and with flyers around town. There was no stated sponsorship from any particular organization.

But central themes of discontent were plainly evident: The mass firings of thousands of federal workers in land-management agencies and the demonization of those who remain and the agencies themselves; freezes on spending that supports land stewardship and restoration; the specter of transferring federal lands to the states, which can then easily dispose of them to private owners  a move openly embraced by many state and federal Republican leaders.

President Donald Trump and officials in his administration have said the cuts in both staff and funding, and the recently announced closures of some federal facilities, are moves to decrease government spending and make the government more efficient. They have said the cuts target wasteful programs that are unnecessary, or that were part of the agenda of the Biden administration. Dismissed workers, they argue, were not necessary to the core missions of agencies they were terminated from.

"They say this is about efficiency. This is not about government efficiency at all, so lets unpack what this is about," Stone-Manning said, referencing firings made by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, headed by Elon Musk, the world's wealthiest person. "As they gut our land-management agencies  the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service  they gut these agencies, theyre going to say, Oh my gosh, we cant manage these public lands, we have to sell them off.

"My friends, this is what this is about," she continued. "This is about them trying to sell your public lands."

Stone-Manning, like other speakers who each stuck to about five minutes or less of remarks, also lauded and encouraged federal employees  both those who remained and those who were summarily fired Feb. 14 in what Bill Hodge, the former Montana director for The Wilderness Society, called the "Valentine's Day Massacre."

State Sen. Willis Curdy, a Democrat from SD-49 on Missoula's west side, was himself a longtime federal employee for the Forest Service: Three years as a Hotshot wildland firefighter, 30 years as a smokejumper, and time as a firefighting pilot.

"I want to take a minute to encourage you to reach out to our federal employees who have been terminated. Give them a pat on the back, tell them thank you for your work, give them some encouragement," he said. "These people have put their lives in the work, and they are devastated. So please reach out to those folks and give them all the encouragement."

Sierra LaBonte, a rally attendee, was one of those workers. She worked trail crew on the Bitterroot National Forest for seven years and spent a year in the Bob Marshall before that. Overall she's spent 13 years working in conservation and trails. In 2017, she was featured in a Ravalli Republic news story about Forest Service employees from the Bitterroot National Forest traveling to Georgia to aid hurricane recovery efforts.

She recently was promoted, which meant she entered into a customary one-year probation period for her new position. It also meant she was fired Feb. 14, when the Forest Service and other agencies, under DOGE direction, dismissed all probationary workers. She learned about it while on vacation, in a phone call from her supervisor.

"I had already seen the language of the termination notifications, about how it was based on performance, and downright just know that was a lie. I know my own performance evaluations, but also I do performance evaluations for other people. They were fired, and I know exactly what is in those performance evaluations," she said. "The termination letter said that it was based on performance, it was no longer in the public interest to continue our service, which is a direct contradiction of what was in those performance evaluations."

LaBonte also pushed back on the notion, widely shared by the Trump administration and supporters of the cuts, that dismissed workers were all new to their agencies by virtue of being "probationary." She worked for the agency for seven years and was simply in the probationary period for a new position after being promoted. Others she knows who were fired, she said, were 15 years into their careers at the Forest Service.

Frustrated as she was  "I want to be the biggest pain in the ass I can possibly be to the administration that took my job away, that Ive worked my entire life for"  LaBonte said she wasn't looking for sympathy. Rather, she said, she hoped people would come to understand the services for public lands that will be lost with thousands of workers having been fired.

"I think most folks dont know how many services they actually take advantage of that come from federal workers," she said. "Thats everything from people who want to fish, car camp, use campgrounds, boat launches, roads  I mean, the list is endless. I dont really care if you dont care about my job, but I hope you care about the services that were provided for you."

That, she said  along with the fact that being untethered from the agency allowed her to speak freely  motivated her to attend the rally Sunday.

"Now that Ive been fired," she said, "I think its really important for people to understand that you are having qualified, skilled, competent people who have chosen these jobs specifically for access and specifically for public service, and they are being fired, and the reasons for their firing is a lie."

Gab Kapa was another out-of-work trail crew member, a decade into their career, who attended the rally. Kapa said they were frustrated not just that they "have been robbed of my career that I have dedicated my life to," but also that the mass firings seemed to portend a shift toward privatizing public lands. Such lands, they said, already can be and are managed for a variety of recreation and natural resource purposes.

"I came out because were looking at a shift toward privatizing our land and stealing all the resources," Kapa said. "All of my friends lost our jobs, and we need to care for our land and we need to make sure we can be public service workers. And we need to make sure that everyone can recreate and enjoy this land, and this land can be managed in a way that we are able to have resources from it and it also feeds the soul of people using it as recreationists.

"This land is still used for timber, this land is cared for in a diverse manner," they continued. "We protect it, we fight fires on it, and we need to save this land and keep it in our hands."

The rally morphed into a march along the bike path that hugs the south bank of the Clark Fork, then snaked up and over Beartracks Bridge to Caras Park. It was long enough that the first marchers arrived at the park as the last marchers were still hoofing uphill from the bike path to the south end of the bridge.

Alongside fired federal workers were much older people, children, people using wheelchairs and walkers, and no shortage of pet dogs, some with their own signs. They were hunters, anglers, mountain bikers, hikers, equestrians, motorcyclists, climbers, skiers, runners, campers and so on.

"Dogs against DOGE," read the signs worn on each side of two Labrador retrievers.

"Other everyday people are not your enemy," read the sign of one fired federal worker.

"Keep your tiny hands off our public lands," read another sign, referencing Trump's insistence since at least 2016 that he doesn't have disproportionately small hands.

Another cut straight to the central argument behind the firings.

"You wanna talk $?" it read, referencing figures in the millions. "MT Parks 2023. 5.7m visitors, spent $716m, with $362m labor income and $551m to local business."

Others yet went for humor, accusing Vice President JD Vance of hiking with a bluetooth speaker  a serious outdoors manners faux pas  or saying that Musk doesn't know how to properly handle a saw.

The enthusiastic support for public lands and the agencies that manage them  shown by a variety of polls to be broadly bipartisan in Montana and the greater West  was one of the motivations for the rally, according to co-organizer Mikela Nolin.

Even before Trump took office, she said, she appreciated that "public lands and other environmental issues is the one thing on the political spectrum many people in Montana, at least, can get together to agree upon."

Correction: The original version of this story incorrectly referred to Bill Hodge as the Montana state director for The Wilderness Society. He stepped down from that role a few months before the rally. The story has been updated.
Judicial efforts ensure public well-being

08:28, March 11, 2025 By Cao Yin ( China Daily

Chinese judicial authorities handled numerous public interest cases last year, aiming to address people's concerns and enhance access to justice, according to the annual work reports reviewed by national lawmakers.

By taking a people-centered approach, prosecutors and judges prioritized frequently disputed issues such as food safety, cyberbullying, and livestreaming sales, while also strengthening protections for vulnerable groups, including women, the elderly, and children, the reports showed.

Though these cases may seem less severe than violent crimes, their proper handling is key to protecting people's fundamental interests, safety and well-being, officials said.

The reports from the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate were submitted on Saturday to the ongoing third session of the 14th National People's Congress, China's top legislature, for review.

The SPP report said last year that prosecutors indicted 15,000 individuals on charges of endangering food and drug safety, and prosecuted 4,175 others accused of medical insurance fraud.

Prosecutors also initiated 26,000 public interest litigation cases after uncovering violations such as counterfeiting, illegal food additives and non-compliant sales in group buying, online marketing and live-streaming, according to the report.

"Upholding the philosophy of putting people first, what we do is safeguard the money people rely on for medical care, enabling them to truly feel and experience the services provided by prosecutors," Procurator-General Ying Yong said while delivering the report.

The document also addresses issues such as marriage customs, cyberbullying, and domestic violence.

According to the SPC report, Chinese courts concluded more than 5.48 million cases related to public well-being last year, including disputes over education, elder care, and healthcare, marking a 1.7 percent year-on-year increase.

While resolving cases efficiently, the SPC also issued legal documents to regulate common sources of litigation and promote social governance, the report said.

One such measure was a judicial interpretation of bride prices, a traditional practice in which a groom's family gives money or gifts to the bride's family. The interpretation defines the scope of betrothal gifts, specifies the conditions under which they should be returned, and prohibits excessive demands under the guise of tradition.

Originally meant as a gesture of goodwill, bride prices have led to high-cost transactions in recent years, fueling lawsuits and even criminal cases.

Zhang Jing, a judge from Longyan, Fujian province, said some marriage-related property disputes stemmed from exorbitant bride prices.

"When the amount is excessively high, it becomes a face-saving activity, not only imposing a heavy financial burden on families, but also creating conflicts in the newlyweds' lives," she said.

To address the issue, Zhang and her colleagues have visited rural areas to educate villagers about the law and mediate disputes before they escalate.

"Maintaining family stability and enhancing marital happiness require judicial support, cooperation among multiple departments and, most importantly, the effort of everyone," said Chen Yifang, chief judge of the SPC's First Civil Division.

The SPC has also published case summaries on betrothal gift disputes to standardize judicial rulings and raise public awareness. As a result, the growth rate of marriage-related property disputes slowed by 14 percentage points last year, according to the report.

In addition, judges intensified efforts to handle lawsuits related to emerging business models, including ride-hailing services, food delivery, and fraud schemes targeting elderly consumers in livestreaming sales. The efforts were aimed at improving internet platform regulations and addressing challenges posed by an aging population, the report said.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
The legal framework surrounding fair comment, influence-peddling, defamation and fraud in social media interactions is still evolving. As always, those exploiting social medias vast reach for business gains are ahead of regulators tasked with preventing abuse. The situation is further complicated by artificial intelligence (AI), as its role in distorting information remains unclear, along with the long-term consequences of machine learning through data aggregation.

A few weeks ago, the Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI), once again, wrote to the government seeking powers to access call and message data records through digital platforms and social media chats on platforms, such as WhatsApp and Telegram, to aid its investigation of market abuse and unauthorised financial advice. While enforcement and tax agencies already possess such powers, financial regulators do not.

According to a Reuters report , SEBI has sought powers to "take down any messages, information, links and groups on social media channels if the content violated the securities regulations. However, social media companies often deny SEBIs requests for information, citing compliance with the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act), or technical limitations due to end-to-end encryption. This means SEBI can access metadatasuch as who contacted whom and whenbut not the actual content of calls or messages, making it difficult to establish fraudulent activity. Nonetheless, SEBI has previously obtained WhatsApp messages from individuals under investigation, as evidenced in the Ketan Parekh case earlier this year ( Front-running, Dabba Trades & Angadias: Ketan Parekhs New Scam Exposes Systemic Weaknesses ).

SEBIs Demand for Access

According to Reuters, neither the US nor European regulators have direct authority to remove social media posts, but they can penalise individuals for fraud or misleading advertising. Is SEBIs demand for access justified, given the lucrative nature of fake WhatsApp and Telegram groups, fraudulent financial trainers and deceptive influencers?

SEBI has been lobbying for access to call data records (CDRs) and the power to intercept/ tap calls, for over a decade. It first sought access to CDRs in 2012, when it was promised access on a case-by-case basis (Read: Steps to protect investors against stock crash soon: SEBI ).

In 2014 (and earlier through the 2013 ordinance), an amendment to the SEBI Act gave it powers to access CDRs relevant to its investigations, but strictly in accordance with the checks & balances prescribed by law and not for fishing inquiries or call interception, based on pure suspicion.

In 2022 and again in 2024, SEBI renewed its demand to access encrypted messages and calls, particularly to combat fraudulent financial influencers (finfluencers) since ( https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-sebi-seeks-greater-access-social-media-records-say-source-memo-2025-02-13/ ) social media platforms offer complete privacy to fraudsters. However, legal frameworks still restrict SEBI from seeking information through specific channels, governed by the privacy protections of the IT Act.

The Scale of the Problem

The scale of financial fraud is, indeed, significant. So, SEBIs demand for access to call records and social media data appears valid and necessary to combat unregistered financial advisers and influencers. It has already taken steps to curb finfluencers by framing rules barring unauthorised individuals from offering stock tips or making misleading claims. Violators face penalties, debarment and suspension. Registered investment advisers must now report their social media activities biannually and SEBI has begun monitoring social media and launched a crackdown in specific cases, based on investor complaints.

For instance, in February this year, SEBI impounded as much as Rs53.67 crore of the Rs104 crore earned through alleged illegal investment advisory services run by Asmita Jitesh Patel, who ran the much-hyped Asmita Patel Global School of Trading Pvt Ltd. Its success owed to the fact that it was offering buy-sell recommendations via Telegram channels under the guise of running training programmes. In December, it called a halt to the influence-peddling of Nasiruddin Ansari who went under the name Baap of Chart.

Global Context

But the problem is not unique to India. A recent study, by www.zerobounce.net, of online fraud around the world showed that the US is worst affected by online fraud. Even rich but tiny countries such as Ireland, France, Malta and Austria report very high online fraud rates and losses. Consequently, regulators worldwide are tightening oversight. And yet, none of the top regulators has real-time, unrestricted access to call data or private social media groups. They must adhere to privacy laws and due process to prevent regulatory overreach and safeguard individual rights.

The US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) has no direct access to CDRs but it can issue civil investigative demands (CIDs) requesting communication records for specific investigations through legal process. However, it requires basic evidence of wrongdoing before it can seek access to private messages or group chats. In 2022, SEC charged eight influencers in a US$114mn (million) pump-and-dump scheme that had used platforms such as Twitter (now X) and Discord. Initial evidence came from public posts after which private messages were accessed through a legal process; but it has no real-time access.



The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) of the United Kingdom (UK) can access data under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 but only in case of a specific probe with adequate justification and a court order to ensure that privacy rights of individuals are balanced with the need for enforcement powers to ensure investor protection. FCA scrapes public posts on social media to monitor activity that raises red flags. It initiated 20,000 actions on misleading financial promotions in 2024.



European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has no direct enforcement powers or authority to access call data or social media directly; it can only operate through national regulators of individual countries. It has still cracked down on misleading statements by financial advisers leading to increased financial penalties.

Clearly, no regulator has automatic, real-time access to call data or private social media groups. They have to rely on their investigative powers and work under court orders, with privacy laws keeping them on a leash. Such legal safeguards are necessary to prevent excessive or random intrusion by regulators into individual privacy and abuse of powers.

While SEBIs demand appears justified, given the scale of financial frauds, it must align with global best practices. Instead of seeking blanket access, SEBI should enhance its AI-driven monitoring tools to identify red flags on social media. Metadata analysisidentifying patterns in communicationcan still provide crucial leads for investigations without directly accessing private content.

Ultimately, regulatory authorities must strike a balance between investor protection and privacy rights. SEBI's approach must evolve with technological advancements and legal frameworks to ensure effective oversight without infringing on fundamental freedoms.
The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) is asking the High Court to dismiss a case brought by the Katiba Institute. This case challenges the rule that requires travelers to declare their mobile devices International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers when entering Kenya at airports and other points of entry.

The CA argues that the court isnt the right place to settle this issue and suggests that alternative ways should be explored.

In 2023, the CA, together with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), started enforcing this rule. They believe its crucial for tackling tax evasion and stopping illegal imports of mobile devices. IMEI numbers are unique to each device and can be used for tracking and accessing communication history within certain limits.

However, the Katiba Institute contends that this requirement violates constitutional rights by allowing government surveillance, thus infringing on personal privacy. They also highlight the absence of public consultation, parliamentary approval, and a Data Protection Impact Assessment before the rule was put into effect. As a result, the High Court temporarily halted the directive.

In response, the CA has raised a preliminary objection, claiming the High Courts involvement is misplaced. They recommend that the issue should be addressed by the Communications and Multimedia Appeals Tribunal.

The CA also defends its position by stating that they consulted relevant stakeholders, including mobile operators and importers, and that KRA had informed travelers about these customs requirements beforehand.

The case is set for a hearing on March 21, 2024. The outcome could have significant implications for data privacy, government surveillance, and mobile device regulation in Kenya.
A night out among police officers took a deadly turn at Gigiri Police Station on Sunday when a heated argument ended in gunfire, leaving one officer dead and another injured.

Corporal Limo Kipkosgey Nahason, a protection officer assigned to Parliament, opened fire at his colleagues inside the stations canteen bar. He fatally shot Constable Eric Munga of Runda Police Station in the chest and wounded Corporal Philip Kae, who is attached to the Judiciary, in the lower abdomen.

According to a police report filed just before midnight, the officers had been drinking and dining with others at a bar within the Gigiri police lines when a disagreement spiraled out of control. Witnesses said the situation quickly turned chaotic as gunfire erupted, prompting some patrons to flee for safety.

Other officers arrived moments later and managed to disarm Nahason, confiscating his Jericho pistol loaded with 14 bullets.

Nahason, a police corporal attached to Parliament as a protection officer, appeared visibly drunk at the time of his arrest, authorities reported.

A police statement confirmed, A pistol make Jericho serial number 44332745 with 14 rounds of 9mm was recovered from the suspect and is being held as an exhibit pending ballistic analysis.

Emergency responders rushed Munga and Kae to Aga Khan University Hospital, where doctors pronounced Munga dead on arrival. Kae was admitted in stable condition.

Investigators are now working to determine the motive behind the shooting while analyzing the recovered firearm as part of the ongoing probe.
The body of Samuel Tompoi Kaetuai, a Kenyan police officer who tragically lost his life while serving on a peacekeeping mission in Haiti, has been returned to Kenya.

His arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Monday night, was marked by a solemn ceremony, attended by Deputy Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli, Kaetuais family, and his colleagues, all gathered to pay their respects.

Kaetuais death came at the hands of armed gangs during his mission in Haiti. The Multinational Security Support Mission reported that he succumbed to injuries from an operation. Despite efforts to save him, he was fatally shot by suspected gang members and did not survive after being rushed to a hospital, as confirmed by the National Police Service.

In a heartfelt message on X, Korir SingOei, the Principal Secretary for the Foreign Ministry, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of Kaetuai, noting the significant void his passing leaves behind.

Haiti is currently grappling with severe gang violence, a situation that has only worsened over time. The United Nations recorded 5,601 killings in 2024, marking an increase of 1,000 from the previous year.

The UN also noted 315 lynchings and 281 summary executions by police, with over a million Haitians displaced amid this ongoing crisis.

The peacekeeping mission, led by Kenya, encountered a funding hiccup in February when the US, under President Donald Trumps directive, temporarily halted international support. However, the mission was able to continue after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a waiver, allowing operations to resume.
Muranga Governor Irungu Kangata has lauded Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru for inspiring several transformative projects in his county, including aspects of the Muranga Youth Service (MYS), which recently saw 726 trainees graduate in its third cohort.

The MYS program is designed to combat youth unemployment by equipping young people with essential skills and financial support, setting them on a path toward economic independence.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony at Kimorori Grounds, Kangata acknowledged that several of his flagship projects were influenced by Waigurus leadership in Kirinyaga.

I have gotten a lot of inspiration from Governor Waiguru as far as development is concerned. She has built a state-of-the-art medical complex at Kerugoya Level 5, and I applied the same idea here in Muranga by building a new medical facility, he said.

Kangata also noted that he had borrowed ideas from Kirinyagas urban development projects to enhance Murangas infrastructure.

In our smart city program, we initially tarmacked roads in towns such as Kenol, Maragua, Kabati, and Gatura, but now we are installing cabro blocks, an idea I borrowed from Kagio and other towns in Kirinyaga, he said.

He emphasized the importance of collaboration and idea-sharing among leaders, commending Waiguru for her achievements.

We dont have a monopoly on ideas; we all learn and borrow great ideas from each other. And I can tell you, Governor Waiguru has done a good job. You are an inspiration, and you are hardworking, he remarked.

Waiguru Applauds Muranga Youth Service for Its Transformative Impact

Governor Anne Waiguru praised Kangatas Muranga Youth Service (MYS) initiative, highlighting its game-changing impact on the countys youth.

This initiative by Governor Kangata is a game-changer in tackling youth unemployment in Kenya. It proves that devolution works when leaders focus on the right programs, she stated.

She commended the programs unique approach, which ensures that both youth and their parents benefit financially. Waiguru emphasized that such strategies will ease the economic burden on families and encouraged counties to learn from each others successes.

How the Muranga Youth Service (MYS) Works

The Muranga Youth Service (MYS) enrolls 30 youths per ward through a transparent ballot process conducted at the Chiefs camp. The program runs for two months, after which trainees transition to TVET institutions for an additional four months of specialized training.

Each participant earns Ksh. 400 per day, with Ksh. 300 deposited into their personal account and Ksh. 100 sent to their parents via M-Pesa.

Upon graduation, beneficiaries receive Ksh. 15,000 as start-up capital to establish themselves in their chosen trades. Additionally, the county covers their business license fees for one year, making it easier for them to start their businesses.

Leaders Join to Celebrate the Success of MYS

The graduation ceremony attracted several key leaders, including Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyongo, Chief Justice Emeritus David Maraga, Muranga Senator Joe Nyutu, and members of the county assembly.

Since its launch, the Muranga Youth Service has enrolled five cohorts, benefiting over 5,600 young people across the county.
Former Machakos County Executive Committee Member, Urbanus Wambua, has moved to the Court of Appeal to challenge a High Court ruling that allowed the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to seize part of his Ksh91 million in alleged unexplained wealth.

Pending the outcome of the appeal, the High Court has temporarily barred the EACC from confiscating Wambuas assets, provided he deposits Ksh80.2 million as security.

Justice Benjamin Musyoki ordered Wambua to place the amount in an interest-earning joint bank account managed by both him and the EACC. Additionally, the court directed that Ksh10.9 million, currently held in his Co-operative Bank and Equity Bank accounts, remain untouched.

The court has also instructed Wambua, his five associates, and their four trading companies to deposit the security amount within 90 days.

According to court documents, the EACC is pursuing Wambuas assets, which he allegedly amassed by awarding county tenders to companies linked to his family and close associates.

If Wambua and his associates fail to deposit the security, the temporary orders preventing EACC from seizing the assets will automatically expire, allowing the anti-graft agency to proceed with confiscation.

Justice Benjamin Musyoki emphasized that the security deposit ensures a successful litigant is not denied the benefits of a favorable ruling.

The main point of consideration in ordering provision of security is that the court should not suspend the successful partys enjoyment of the fruits of its litigation without giving it the comfort of a safe and smooth haven should the appeal not succeed, the judge ruled.

Wealth Forfeiture Ruling

Wambua, who served under former Governor Alfred Mutua between January 2014 and July 2021, also chaired the Standing Tender Committee, a role that gave him significant influence over county procurement.

In a judgment dated October 28, 2024, the High Court ordered Wambua to forfeit key assets to the EACC, including:

A Ksh80.2 million house in Kibauni/Kamuthwa

Ksh10.9 million in cash held in Co-operative Bank and Equity Bank

Justice Patrick Otieno ruled that Wambua failed to provide a satisfactory explanation regarding the source of his wealth. The court determined that tenders awarded to companies linked to him raised serious conflict of interest concerns.

Mr. Wambua, having admitted that the companies are ultimately owned by him, and the fact that his companies were awarded tenders only and specifically during his tenure, in itself raises reasonable suspicion that he had a hand, using his office, to have the tenders so awarded, the judge stated.

The court placed the burden of proof on Wambua to justify the legitimacy of his house and bank deposits, a challenge he now hopes to overcome through his appeal.
Dennis Itumbi, the Head of Presidential Special Projects and Creative Economy, has dismissed allegations by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that he opposed some government projects during Cabinet meetings.

Following his ouster, Gachagua has repeatedly claimed that he actively opposed certain proposals during Cabinet meetings, with his latest claim being that he was the only one who rejected an alleged plan to sell Bomas of Kenya.

The issue about selling the Bomas of Kenya was brought in Cabinet; I am the only one who opposed it. The rest of the people have fear. I am the only one who stood strong and said it is a national heritage and we cannot sell it, Gachagua stated on Sunday.

However, in a statement on Monday, Itumbi refuted these assertions, citing Cabinet records that indicate Gachagua spoke fewer than seven times throughout his tenure as deputy.

Modern governance demands accountability, and it is important to set the record straight, Itumbi stated.

He specifically dismissed Gachaguas claim that he had opposed the modernization of Bomas of Kenya, insisting that records show otherwise.

Fact: Gachagua never opposed the modernisation of Bomas. He is on record in Cabinet supporting its fast-tracking, acknowledging that it was unfortunate that such a premier facility had been neglected for decades, Itumbi asserted.

He further noted that Cabinet meetings are now digitized, making it easy to verify who spoke and what was said.

Gachagua must have forgotten that Cabinet meetings are now digitised, and the record shows that he barely contributed in Cabinet meetings. Speaking less than seven times in his entire period as DP and at no time opposing anything, Itumbi added.

Meanwhile, the State has since clarified that Bomas of Kenya remains under state ownership and is only undergoing a major transformation into a world-class international conference and cultural center.
Nairobi and many parts of the country have been raining for the past few days, which has led Kenyans to speculate that these are the rains recently forecast by Kenyas met.

David Gikungu, the Director General of the Kenya Meteorological Department, has now come out to shed some more light on the status of Kenyas long rains.

Despite the recent showers, he clarified that the long rains havent truly begun. Speaking on Citizen TV on Monday, Gikungu explained that the rainfall weve seen since last Saturday is just a prelude. The real long rains are expected to kick off in the last week of March or early April.

While these current rains might taper off by mid-week, some areas, particularly in western Kenya, could still see moderate showers. So, if youre in those regions, keep an eye on the sky! For farmers, Gikungu advises waiting until early April when the long rains are in full swing to start planting. This timing should help ensure that crops have the best chance to thrive.

The recent rains, which began on March 8, are forecasted to continue until this Wednesday, with some drizzles until the weekend.

The meteorological departments weekly update highlights that eight regions, including the Highlands West and East of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, and parts of the Coastal Region, are likely to experience moderate to heavy rainfall. Counties such as Nairobi, Nyandarua, Laikipia, and Nyeri should expect rain by March 12.

Despite these showers, its important to note that temperatures are still running high, with many areas experiencing over 30C. Additionally, strong southeasterly winds are blowing through northwestern and northeastern Kenya at speeds over 25 knots.

So, while the rain might bring some relief, the heat and winds are still very much a part of the weather picture.
Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni has accused ODM leader Raila Odinga of betraying Azimio coalition partners by striking a political agreement with President William Ruto.

Speaking on Monday, March 10, 2025, Kioni lamented how the deal was made, arguing that it disregarded key protocols within the Azimio coalition.

This is quite a level of betrayalnot just to us but to Kenyans who entrusted the law that they gave to us when we put ourselves together as Azimio, Kioni stated.

He emphasized that the Jubilee Party feels particularly let down, as Railas actions contradict his previous assurances of loyalty to Azimio.

As Jubilee, we also feel betrayed because once you are in an agreement and there is a way of managing the agreement, you know the other parties have been saying that we have left Azimio and they do it through the form of arrangement, he added.

Azimio Remains Intact Despite Railas Defection

Kioni clarified that while Azimio remains a legally registered coalition, Railas decision to collaborate with Rutos UDA signifies his formal exit from the alliance. He also noted that ODMs departure does not dissolve the coalition

Raila was the party leader of Azimio because it is a coalition, not a political party. Now, by entering into a coalition agreement with UDA, he has legally exited Azimio, Kioni added.

At the same time, Kioni pointed out that ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna appeared visibly disappointed during the announcement of Railas agreement with Ruto. He suggested that this could indicate internal tensions within ODM.

You could see it on the face of ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifunahe looked completely betrayed by his own party leader, Kioni observed.

Despite the shifting political dynamics, Kioni maintained that the opposition now belongs to the people, as Kenyans are more determined than ever to challenge the governments actions.

The joy or the comfort that we have as a people is that the opposition is now made up of Kenyans themselves. If leaders decide to leave the opposition side, then theyll leave the Kenyans there because Kenyans are in the opposition like never before, he stated.
The Nairobi County Government has officially declared the Nairobi River Corridor a Special Planning Area (SPA) and is inviting residents to submit their feedback within two weeks.

This initiative follows a request from the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development, which proposed the designation to facilitate structured planning and sustainable development along the river.

In exercise of the powers conferred by Sections 52 and 53 of the Physical and Land Use Planning Act, 2019, the County Executive Committee Member for Built Environment & Urban Planning intends to declare the Nairobi River Corridor a Special Planning Area, the notice states.

Scope of the Special Planning Area

The notice, issued on March 6, 2025, and signed by Patrick Mbogo, the County Executive Committee Member for Environment, outlines the Nairobi River Corridors boundaries. The corridor stretches from Naivasha Road to Ruai, covering its tributaries.

The designated area includes a 60-meter buffer zone on each side of the river, with a 30-meter riparian corridor and an additional 30-meter development zone.

This declaration will enable the preparation of a Local Physical Development and Land Use Plan, Mbogo explained.

Objectives of the Development Plan

The proposed Local Physical Development and Land Use Plan aims to:

Revitalize Nairobi River through structured river regeneration and flood hazard mitigation.

Guide riparian land-use redevelopment and infrastructure upgrades.

Support the construction of Social and Affordable Housing alongside essential social and physical amenities.

Establish a financing structure to ensure sustainable development of the Special Planning Area (SPA).

The Nairobi City County Government will lead the multi-sectoral planning process, collaborating with:

Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development

Nairobi Rivers Commission

National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA)

Other key stakeholders

Public Participation

A detailed map of the designated area will be available at:

Chief Officer, Urban Planning & Developments office (2nd Floor, City Hall Annex)

City Hall and Ward Administration offices in targeted sub-counties

Nairobi City County official website

The county government has invited public participation, urging Nairobi residents to submit their written feedback within 14 days via email at [email protected] or by mailing their comments to P.O Box 30075-00100, Nairobi.
In Nairobi, theres a growing buzz among education experts about the potential of teaching French in Kenyas Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). At a recent gathering in Buruburu, educators from around the country came together to discuss how adding French to the curriculum could benefit students.

Learning French, they argue, could significantly enrich the educational experience, offering Kenyan students valuable skills for international opportunities. French teachers at the event highlighted how speaking multiple languages is becoming increasingly important. Proficiency in French can open doors in areas like diplomacy, international business, and cultural exchanges.

Jackson Bukachi, a teacher, noted that knowing French is particularly useful for job creation and career growth, especially in Francophone regions. He mentioned that stakeholders are recognizing the importance of French on a national level, advocating for its inclusion to help leaders and professionals seeking opportunities abroad.

Wyckliffe Nangabo, an educationist, echoed these views, emphasizing that bilingualism can break down communication barriers globally, enhance cultural diversity, and improve international interactions. With French being a widely spoken language worldwide, he argued that Kenyan students could greatly benefit from learning it.

Right now, the CBC curriculum includes indigenous African languages, but theres no formal framework for foreign languages. Despite this gap, French is already the first foreign language taught in many Kenyan schools, with over 40,000 secondary and 8,000 tertiary students enrolled in French classes.

The Ministry of Education is also working on broader reforms, like making math and science mandatory for all students, regardless of their career paths.
Arab nations condemn Israel's Gaza electricity cut

The Southern Gaza Desalination plant has stopped working after Israel cut off electricity supply to the Gaza Strip. Photo: AFP

Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan on Tuesday condemned Israel's decision to cut electricity supply to the war-battered Gaza Strip, calling in separate statements for the international community to take action.



Israel announced on Sunday it was disconnecting the only power line to a water desalination plant in Gaza, in an effort to pressure Palestinian militant group Hamas into releasing hostages amid an apparent impasse in truce talks.



Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry expressed "condemnation in the strongest terms of the Israeli occupation authorities' use of collective punishment against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip by cutting off electricity to the area".



A Qatari foreign ministry statement said the Gulf state "strongly condemns the Israeli occupation's act of cutting electricity to the Gaza Strip, considering it a blatant violation of international humanitarian law".



Jordanian foreign ministry spokesman Sufyan Qudah called the electricity cut "a clear continuation of the policy of starvation and siege imposed by Israel", about a week after Israeli authorities blocked the entry of aid into Gaza.



The United Nations has warned of "dire consequences" for Gaza's population, while Britain said it was "deeply concerned" by the Israeli move.



Saudi Arabia called on the international community to "take urgent actions immediately", while Qatar also urged "immediate action to provide the necessary protection for the Palestinian people".



Jordan's Qudah called on the world "to assume its legal and moral responsibilities, and oblige Israel to continue with the ceasefire agreement... restore electricity to Gaza" and reopen border crossings for aid deliveries.



Israeli negotiators were expected to hold talks with mediators in Qatar, part of efforts to extend a fragile truce since January that has largely halted the war in Gaza, triggered by Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. (AFP)
Former Ottawa Mayor Robert Eschbach (center), the 2024 Paul Simon-Jim Edgar Statesmanship Award recipient, will participate in a virtual discussion on municipal leadership and community involvement on Friday, March 14, with John Shaw, director of SIU Carbondales Paul Simon Institute (left). With Eschbach and Shaw is former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar at the award ceremony in August. (Photo provided)

SIUs Paul Simon Institute to host talk on municipal leadership with former Ottawa mayor

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Former Ottawa, Illinois, Mayor Robert Eschbach will join Southern Illinois University Carbondales Paul Simon Public Policy Institute for a special virtual conversation at 10 a.m. Friday, March 14.

Eschbach, who received the 2024 Paul Simon-Jim Edgar Statesmanship Award, will discuss decades of community activity and municipal leadership with John Shaw, institute director.

The discussion, via Zoom is free and open to the public, but registration to view the conversation is required. The event is part of the institutes Understanding Our New World discussion series. Visit paulsimoninstitute.org/events to register.

Robert Eschbach is the embodiment of statesmanship in Illinois, Shaw said. He has worked for decades in the public interest, bringing people together, forging coalitions and solving problems to make his community better. We should recognize the powerful and profound contributions of leaders such as Bob Eschbach and support them to make our communities  and our democracy  flourish.

A native of Ottawa, Eschbach attended Illinois Valley College and graduated from Illinois State University. He earned a law degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and then returned to Ottawa. He served as the communitys mayor from 1999 to 2019.

When Eschbach came into office, Ottawa was struggling with job loss and a badly deteriorating downtown. He focused on attracting jobs, downtown revitalization, riverfront development, city beautification and cultural events, pushing through a Comprehensive Plan in 1999 and another one in 2014 that won the Daniel Burnham Award. He also worked with colleagues on an important flood plain plan that won national awards.

Attendees are encouraged to submit questions for Eschbach 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.
(From left) Pianist Thomas Edgar, clarinetist Julia Mrazek and cellist William Cernota were among the performers at a Yellow Moon Gyroid concert in January 2025. (Photo provided by Reiko Schoen)

Yellow Moon Gyroid concert at SIUs Morris Library to focus on spring

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Four Southern Illinois University Carbondale Master of Music students will help everyone think of warmer weather ahead during a concert on Friday, March 21, in Morris Librarys third-floor rotunda.

The Yellow Moon Gyroid Concert Series will present SPRING in a free, public program that starts at 4 p.m. The program will feature the SIU School of Music talents of Myagmartseren Chinbaatar on collaborative piano, Iasmin Bonfim de Carvalho on violin, and Noah Brown and Maria del Mar Anasco Mina in viola performances.

The concert will include a variety of classical masterpieces by German composers Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven and Max Bruch; French composer Gabriel Faure, and contemporary works by American cellist Mark Summer and Paul Coletti, a viola soloist from the United Kingdom. In addition to the string pieces, the performance will also include a yatga, a Mongolian traditional harp.

Grateful for series support

Series co-directors Reiko Schoen and cellist William Cernota, who has taught SIU students, began the concert series in fall 2024 in honor of Schoens late husband, Alan Schoen, who discovered the gyroid. Reiko Schoen is a member of the Music Teacher National Association and Federation of National Music Clubs and started the Musical Sprouts piano studio in Carbondale 31 years ago. She will accompany solo pieces of the three string players on piano.

Schoen said she is grateful for generous donations from four couples and four individuals, which are allowing the series to bring more concerts this spring and in the fall. She added that she appreciates from the bottom of my heart all of the performers in this series, including SIU School of Music faculty and students and community musicians, along with the efforts of John Pollitz, dean of Library Affairs, and Richard Kelley, School of Music director.

The teamwork and enthusiastic response from the concert audience, both regular and new people, have helped in establishing this unique concert series, Schoen said.

She is acquainted with the musicians who will perform March 21.

I am so grateful for them to perform on this occasion despite their busy graduate study schedules in their final semester, Schoen said. I wanted to have them together in one more program before they stepped forward to the next musical destinations in their careers.

The rotunda is home to Yellow Moon Gyroid made by algorithmic artist Jesse Louis-Rosenberg, honoring Alan Schoens 1968 discovery while working for NASA.

A gyroid is an infinitely connected periodic minimal surface with no straight lines; a minimal surface has the smallest area possible within a given boundary. Schoen, a physicist, mathematician and computer scientist, taught at SIU Carbondale from 1973 to 1996.

For information regarding the performance, contact Reiko Schoen at reikotaka@gmail.com. For information about the School of Music, visit the School of Music website.
BusinessWire India Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 11: Combining the comfort of automation, customisation, intelligence and energy efficiency - the lighting industry is erupting with various innovations. Organised by Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India, LED Expo Mumbai is India's only dedicated platform covering everything light. With 200+ exhibitors featuring about 6,000+ products, the upcoming edition of LED Expo Mumbai will be held from 3 - 5 April 2025 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai, organised by Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India. LED Expo Mumbai will present a unique amalgamation of LED lighting solutions that not only serves the lighting industry but also delves deep into relatively new concepts such as smart lights, LEDs for design and decor, LEDs for atmospheric lighting and wellness, and problem-solving innovations such as biomimicry in lighting applications. The upcoming edition has registered growth from the electrical segment with 20+ exhibitors. Crucial industry highlights surfaced from an exhibitor survey conducted with those participating in the upcoming edition, highlighted the following: - Architectural projects and commercial buildings have shown a greater adoption of smart lighting and automation products. However, the story changes in tier-2 and tier-3 cities where the adoption of such products is on a slower pace. Common hindrances like supply chain, power outages, etc., are challenging the large-scale adoption. - Exhibitors also pointed out that many components are sourced internationally. - To make the LED lighting industry self-reliant, government schemes are encouraging the localisation of components and high-quality production of LED products. India's LED lighting industry is growing steadily with key initiatives like the Smart Cities Mission and the growing demand for housing in India. - It is also active in installing solar-based LED lights under the rural electrification programme, especially in the northeast Expressing his thoughts, Mr Raj Manek, Executive Director of Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings Ltd, stated: "The Indian infrastructure landscape has witnessed remarkable growth, opening new avenues for the LED lighting industry. Beyond illumination, LED technology is revolutionising with applications such as beautification projects, indoor and outdoor decoration, wellness, street lighting and public places lighting, amongst many others. LED lights - apart from being energy efficient, are becoming more brighter, keeping down the energy consumption. I am happy to share that the LED and the lighting industry will once again unite at LED Expo Mumbai 2025 to present the innovations for the future towards which India is advancing. Over the years, we have also observed a significant rise in participation from the electrical segment, further strengthening the ecosystem." During the show, curated knowledge sessions will bring industry experts on the dais sharing insights from their experience in the segment. 3 April 2025 | Panel Discussion -CXO Power Panel - "Balancing Design, Innovation and Manufacturing Excellence in the Lighting Industry" by Women In Lighting, India 4 April 2025 |Technical Workshops -"Acoustic Lights" by Silence Acoustics -"Biomimicry Designs & their Impact on the environment" by Studio Black Canvas - Intelligent LED Power Supplies: Importance of safety standards and energy saving! Achieve the 2050 net-zero carbon emission target through energy conservation - Panel Discussion in collaboration with Indian Society of Landscape Architecture (ISOLA) Some growing applications in India's LED lighting industry are landscape lighting in infrastructure projects and floodlights in stadiums. These are predicted to drive the growth of the luminaires segment. As India plans a rapid transformation with large-scale public projects. A recent report by Mordor Intelligence pointed out that the industrial and warehouse segment dominates the Indian LED lighting industry, with nearly 58% of the total indoor LED lighting market share in 2024. It also states that automotive headlights have emerged as the dominant segment in India's automotive utility LED lighting market, accounting for approximately 35% market share in 2024. The event has garnered support from the prestigious industry bodies and associations including: Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) - a unit of the Ministry of Power, Ministry of Energy Development Agency (MEDA), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), The Electric Merchants Association (EMA) and Women in Lighting India (WIL). The upcoming event promises to display an engaging showcase of lighting solutions that are the future of connected lighting solutions, sensor-based lighting, energy-efficient lighting, landscape lighting, decorative and architectural lights and much more, influencing the professionals' thoughtfully using lighting and LED products regularly. Prestigious brands like Aastha LED, Demak Italy, Power Plazzo, Network INC, Tektroniks, JN Lighting LLP (Tinge) and Zylos, among others are set to unveil their latest innovations. With this, LED Expo Mumbai will continue to elevate the experience of the exhibitors and visitors offering a dynamic marketplace for industry dialogues and future-ready solutions. LED Expo Mumbai is a part of Messe Frankfurt's Light + Building Technology fair portfolio, which is headlined by the biennial Light + Building event in Frankfurt, Germany. Press information and photographic material:https://www.theledexpo.com/mumbai/ Background information on Messe Frankfurtwww.messefrankfurt.com/background-information Sustainability at Messe Frankfurtwww.messefrankfurt.com/sustainability-information (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 Ministry of Commerce & Industry said in a release that the APEDA facilitated the participation of 13 leading Indian exporters, representing a diverse range of organic products, including rice, oilseeds, herbs, spices, pulses, nuts, ginger, turmeric, large cardamom, cinnamon, mango puree, and essential oils. The move will enhance India's global presence in the organic market.

The curated display underscored India's agricultural strength and commitment to sustainability, quality, and international standards, the ministry added.

In association with the Consulate General of India, APEDA organised an exclusive International Buyer-Seller Meet (IBSM) and Networking Dinner on March 4, 2025, in San Francisco, USA.

This high-profile event brought together global leaders of the organic industry, providing a platform for insightful discussions, meaningful collaborations, and business opportunities.

The India Pavilion at the Natural Products Expo West 2025 was inaugurated on March 5, 2025, by Abhishek Kumar Sharma, Consul (Commerce), Consulate General of India, San Francisco, USA.

The Pavilion showcased India's organic agricultural prowess, offering visitors an immersive experience into the country's organic farming traditions.

Attendees, dignitaries, and buyers were invited to experience India's organic richness through curated food tastings, featuring Millet Khichdi, Millet pasta, mixed vegetable paratha, turmeric latte, aloo tikki, and more. These offerings were widely appreciated throughout the event.

APEDA's participation at the Natural Products Expo West 2025 reaffirmed India's emerging role as a global leader in organic agriculture. With a rapidly expanding organic sector, India continues to offer high-quality, sustainably produced products to meet evolving international market demands.

As the global food industry pivots towards sustainability and health-conscious choices, APEDA's efforts at the Expo underscored India's commitment to superior organic products.

Through this initiative, APEDA aims to forge strategic collaborations and strengthen India's position as a trusted source of sustainable and healthy food, the ministry said.

The India Pavilion at the Expo stood as a testament to India's organic excellence, highlighting high-quality products, inspiring exporter stories, and a collective commitment to a healthier, more sustainable future.

APEDA, a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, is responsible for the development, promotion, and facilitation of agricultural and processed food product exports from India, with a focus on enhancing India's presence in the global organic food market. (ANI)
BusinessWire India Gurugram (Haryana) [India], March 11: Ballantine's, from the House of Pernod Ricard India, unveiled its latest 'Stay True' campaign celebrating the corporate tribe powering India's economic growth. From established multinational corporations to new-age workspaces, these individuals represent the changing face of India's corporate landscape. In today's world, success isn't just about the hustle--it's about staying true to your passions, seizing opportunities, and carving your own path. Whether you're a leader shaping the future, a creator redefining your industry, or an innovator challenging the norm, your journey is uniquely yours. The message resonates strongly with the brand's core audience of 30-40-year-old working professionals who are fearlessly redefining success-- not just in their 9-5 jobs but also in their 5-9 pursuits. The campaign film showcases professionals across diverse work settings - from corporate boardrooms to collaborative workspaces, from dawn team calls to midnight strategy sessions - all driven by their commitment to excellence. Kartik Mohindra, Chief Marketing Officer at Pernod Ricard India, shared: "Ballantine's has always embraced an unconventional approach, championing those who dare to Stay True to themselves. With the latest campaign, Ballantine's showcases the modern corporate professionals who are boldly redefining success on their own terms by staying true to themselves and their aspirations, both in and out of the workplace." "Conviction and passion are a powerful combination for lasting success. The new Ballantine's campaign showcases how self-belief underlines the defining moments of this new tribe of creators, innovators and path breakers, who carve destinies built on unwavering self-belief," says Nitin Srivastava, CCO, Ogilvy North. Drawing from founder George Ballantine's philosophy, 'Stay True and excellence will always be your side,' this campaign reflects Ballantine's continuous commitment to not just celebrating but actively supporting the corporate tribe who chart their own course in the modern workplace. For more information, visit https://www.ballantines.com/en/ (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)
SMPL Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 11: The education sector in India is becoming increasingly competitive, with new schools emerging each year and parents becoming more discerning about where they enroll their children. To stay ahead, schools must focus on differentiation, modern learning environments, and effective marketing strategies to drive admissions. "Schools that integrate technology, enhance infrastructure, and prioritize holistic learning will remain relevant and attract more students"-- Jyoti Vatsal, Marketing Head, LEAD Group To improve school admissions, institutions need to adopt digital smart classrooms, ICT-based learning, and a strong teacher training program. A strategic approach to school branding, digital presence, and academic excellence can set schools apart. Key Challenges Schools Face in Admissions Despite the rising demand for quality education, schools face several challenges when it comes to increasing enrollment: - Increasing Competition: Parents now have more choices than ever before. Schools must clearly define their value proposition to stand out. - Outdated Learning Models: Traditional teaching methods are losing relevance. Schools need to adopt blended learning models that combine technology with strong pedagogy. - Lack of Digital Presence: A website, social media presence, and SEO strategy are critical for attracting prospective parents. Schools that fail to invest in digital outreach risk losing visibility. - Infrastructure & Facilities Expectations: Modern parents prioritize schools with well-equipped, tech-enabled classrooms, AI-based learning systems, and future-ready infrastructure. - Parental Engagement: Effective school-to-parent communication, transparency, and engagement are now major deciding factors in admissions. To overcome these challenges, schools must embrace strategic innovations that improve holistic outcomes for students and align with the expectations of today's parents. How Schools Can Improve Admissions: 6 Proven Strategies 1. Adopt Digital Smart Classrooms A technology-driven classroom significantly enhances student engagement and learning outcomes. Schools that integrate AI-powered assessments, interactive whiteboards, and AR-based lessons can offer a more compelling learning experience. How Digital Smart Classrooms Help: - Enable interactive and personalized learning experiences- Improve student engagement through multimedia content- Attract parents looking for future-ready education environments How LEAD Group Helps: - Smart classrooms with integrated AI-based assessments- Integrated learning (Textbooks+Digital Resources+Activities) materials aligned with global standards 2. Leverage ICT Tools for Smarter Learning Schools integrating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools offer a more efficient and structured learning experience. AI-driven platforms, cloud-based LMS, and gamified learning apps have been shown to improve student performance and retention. Essential ICT Tools for Schools: - AI-powered adaptive learning systems for personalized education- Cloud-based LMS for seamless teacher-student collaboration- Automated assessment tools for real-time performance tracking How LEAD Group Helps: - Integrated digital platforms to track student progress- AI-backed learning models for customized curriculum support 3. Strengthen Teacher Training Programs An institution's reputation is built on the quality of its teachers. Schools that invest in continuous teacher training programs ensure their educators are well-equipped to handle modern pedagogical techniques and digital learning tools. Key Areas of Teacher Training: - Blended learning strategies that integrate traditional and digital teaching- Classroom management using AI-powered learning tools- Use of ICT tools for enhanced student engagement How LEAD Group Helps: - Professional development workshops and training programs- AI-supported teaching tools to assist faculty in delivering high-impact lessons 4. Build a Strong Digital Presence More than 80% of parents research schools online before making an admission decision. Having an SEO-optimized website, active social media channels, and a strong local search presence is non-negotiable in today's education sector. Digital Marketing Strategies for Schools: - Optimized school website with clear admission details- Social media engagement to highlight success stories and achievements- Google My Business & Local SEO for improved discoverability How LEAD Group Helps: - SEO and content marketing advisory for school branding- Social media strategy consulting to improve online engagement 5. Upgrade Infrastructure & Facilities A modern learning environment is a critical factor in parent decision-making. Schools must invest in future-ready classrooms, well-equipped science and computer labs, and safe, well-maintained campuses to attract more enrollments. Key Investments for Schools: - Multimodal Classrooms - Smart classrooms, digital learning tools, interactive boards, teacher tablets, and resources like TECHBOOK integrated with traditional books- STEM and coding labs for hands-on experiential learning- AI-integrated assessment and student tracking systems 6. Improve Parent-School Communication Effective parent engagement strategies can lead to higher referral admissions. Transparent communication builds trust and ensures parents remain actively involved in their child's education. Best Practices for Parent Engagement: - AI-powered chatbots to handle real-time admission inquiries- Mobile apps for school updates, performance tracking, and direct communication- Regular interactive sessions with school leadership How LEAD Group Helps: - Parent app for real-time updates- Admission automation tools for streamlined processes How LEAD Group Helps Schools Increase Admissions LEAD Group provides comprehensive education solutions designed to help schools improve student learning, modernize classrooms, and enhance their reputation and attractiveness. 1. Integrated Learning Systems - AI-powered digital platforms for personalized student engagement- NEP and NCF-aligned pedagogy for better academic outcomes 2. Digital Smart Classrooms & ICT Integration - Smartboards, AI-driven assessments, and interactive digital content- Blended learning models that combine traditional and tech-driven approaches 3. Advanced Teacher Training Programs - Continuous upskilling workshops for teachers- Support for digital classroom integration and AI-powered teaching techniques 4. Marketing & Admissions Advisory - SEO and content marketing to improve school visibility- Admissions funnel optimization to improve lead conversion rates Schools that partner with LEAD Group experience higher enrollments, stronger brand positioning, and improved student outcomes, making them leaders in modern education in India. About LEAD Group Founded in 2012 by Sumeet Mehta and Smita Deorah, LEAD Group is India's premier school-focused EdTech company, transforming education through AI-driven learning and digital smart classrooms. - Presence: 8,000+ schools across 400+ cities- Impact: 3.5 million (35 lakh) students, 50,000+ teachers- Mission: Empowering schools with modern education solutions that drive admissions and learning success For more information, contact us at: partner@leadschool.in or +91 86828 33333 (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by SMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Days after holding talks with his US counterpart in Washington, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has called a meeting with the export councils and trade representatives starting on Thursday, sources say. According to the sources, the Union Minister Goyal, along with Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal, will comprehensively discuss the impact of US tariffs on Indian exports. Sources say the meeting will also discuss the widening of the trade deficit observed for the month of January. India's trade deficit widened to USD 22.00 billion in January of the current year, up from USD 16.56 billion in January 2024, as goods exports dipped 2.38 per cent year on year to USD 36.43 billion. This marks the third consecutive month of decline. Minister Piyush Goyal, on Saturday, returned from the US after holding talks with US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Earlier in the month, on March 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Trump agreed to push forward negotiations on a multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). This mutually beneficial agreement, finalized in February 2025, aims to boost market access, reduce tariffs and non-tariff barriers, and enhance supply chain integration. To achieve this, both leaders decided to designate senior representatives to advance the negotiations. Following this, an Indian delegation led by Commerce and Industry Minister Goyal visited Washington from March 3 to 6, 2025, to meet with the US Commerce Secretary, the US Trade Representative, and their teams. These discussions are part of a broader effort to boost bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030. The agreement will focus on various sectors, including energy, defense, and technology. Going further, the experts have also opined that the government is taking proactive steps to ease trade between both countries and facilitate the industry. Talking to ANI, Ajai Sahai, DG & CEO, FIEO, said, "I think it's a very proactive move by the government. We have followed the visit of the honorable Prime Minister with the visit of the honorable commerce minister. The visit of the honorable Prime Minister has already drawn a road map where we talked about the presidential tariff arrangement to be carved out by fall of May 2025; the commerce minister is already meeting the authorities concerned in the US." (ANI)
HT Syndication New Delhi [India], March 11: Kaapi Machines, a pioneer in India's coffee revolution, proudly announces the launch of Bohne, a brand focusing on coffee technology, alongside its first machine, Bohne Bombay. This unveiling took place at AAHAR 2025 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, on March 4 2025. Bohne Bombay represents a major breakthrough in India's coffee equipment sector, combining innovative technology, energy efficiency, and smart connectivity to elevate coffee service across commercial spaces. Bohne Bombay emerges as the ultimate choice for offices, hotels, and high-footfall venues, featuring boiler-less technology that is up to 900% more energy-efficient than traditional machines. It ensures precise temperature control and consistently high-quality espresso via the GraviBrew Metallic Brewing Unit. With smart IoT connectivity, Bohne Bombay offers remote monitoring and maintenance alerts. Equipped with a 10.1-inch Android touchscreen, it allows one-touch brewing, cleaning, and customization. Bohne can produce up to 200 cups per day and includes an adjustable steam wand for specialty drinks. Speaking about the launch, Abhinav Mathur, CEO and Managing Director, Kaapi Machines, said, "We're excited to launch Bohne with its first machine, Bohne Bombay, manufactured entirely in India, tailored to meet the unique needs of Indian businesses. We are proud to introduce a product that not only delivers exceptional coffee but also prioritizes sustainability, efficiency, and smart innovation. With Bohne aligning with the government's mission of Make in India, it sets new standards in coffee service while giving coffee lovers a great experience of perfectly brewed coffee." Bohne Bombay addresses the long-standing challenges of energy efficiency, maintenance complexity, and inconsistent coffee quality in commercial coffee establishments. By delivering high-quality coffee with reduced environmental impact, it enhances customer satisfaction while promoting sustainability. Industry professionals and media representatives were invited to experience Bohne's features at AAHAR 2025, where live demonstrations highlighted its innovative capabilities and the brand's vision for India's coffee technology future. For Inquiries, Please Contact: About Kaapi Machines Kaapi Machines India Pvt. Ltd. is a pioneering coffee solutions company dedicated to transforming India's coffee culture by providing world-class coffee equipment, expert consultancy, and reliable support. Founded in 2007, Kaapi Machines has been at the forefront of introducing cutting-edge coffee technology to India, partnering with iconic global brands like Rancilio, WMF, and La Marzocco. With a strong focus on innovation, accessibility, and community engagement, Kaapi Machines empowers coffee businesses across India, from cafes and hotels to offices and homes, ensuring every cup meets the highest standards of quality and consistency. (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)
PNN Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], March 11: The World Association for Small and Medium Enterprises (WASME) commemorated International Women's Day by hosting the esteemed Women Leadership Awards 2025 under the theme "Accelerate Action." The event honored the remarkable achievements of over 50 women leaders from diverse sectors, underscoring the pivotal role of women in global economic and social advancement. The ceremony commenced with a compelling welcome address by Archana Sharma, Director of Planning and Development at WASME. She emphasized the indispensable contributions of women in shaping future economies and societies, highlighting WASME's initiatives to support women entrepreneurs through enhanced access to finance, market linkages, and technological advancements. Ms. Sharma passionately called for collective efforts to dismantle barriers hindering women's progress and urged all stakeholders to "accelerate action" towards achieving gender parity. The success of the event was bolstered by collaborations with esteemed partners: * Industry Partner: Lakshaka Tex LLP, a leader in the textile industry, renowned for promoting sustainable practices and empowering women artisans. * Academic Partner: Bennett University, recognized for its commitment to innovation and research, fostering leadership qualities among women students. * PR Partner: Heylin Spark, a premier public relations agency dedicated to amplifying the narratives of women leaders and ensuring their achievements receive widespread recognition. * Technology Partner: Netcoreinfo Business Group, whose technological support was vital in seamlessly executing the event and enhancing its global reach. The awards ceremony spotlighted over 50 exceptional women across various categories, including Entrepreneurship & Business Leadership, Innovation & Technology, Sustainability & Social Impact, and Finance & Investment Leadership. Notable awards included Rashmi Agarwal, Founder & President of MAPS International WLL, Qatar, honored for her visionary leadership in global business expansion and mentorship of aspiring women entrepreneurs; Roop Kaur, recognized for integrating technology with traditional business models to create scalable solutions; Khushoo Khanna, CEO of Netcoreinfo Business Group, lauded for promoting environmental sustainability and social responsibility within the tech industry; Brindha Mayilsamy, Managing Director of Dataspire Technologies Private Limited, celebrated for her strategic financial acumen leading to significant company growth; and Christine Mhango, Agronomist at Thema General Suppliers Ltd, Zambia, honored for enhancing agricultural trade and empowering women farmers in Africa. The event also featured insightful panel discussions addressing financial challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and strategies for scaling women-led Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the global market. Moderated by esteemed professionals, these discussions emphasized the need for tailored financial products, mentorship programs, policy interventions, and leveraging digital platforms to facilitate better access to capital and international markets. Among the distinguished women leaders recognized at the event, Pooja Chopra, Director at Felix Impex Pvt. Ltd, participated as a panelist, sharing valuable insights on business growth strategies. Divya Arora, Managing Director at Natraj Publishers, was awarded for Excellence in Publishing, celebrating her contributions to the literary and educational sectors. Harita Mehta, Senior Advocate at the High Court and Supreme Court with Mehar Legal Services, was honored for Excellence in Social Justice & Empowerment, recognizing her advocacy efforts in championing legal rights and social equity. The WASME Women Leadership Awards 2025 served as a catalyst for renewed commitment towards women's empowerment, celebrating individual achievements and sparking conversations on systemic changes required to support women leaders. WASME aims to enhance mentorship programs, advocate for policy reforms, and promote digital literacy to equip women entrepreneurs with essential skills for scaling their businesses in the modern economy. (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.)
PRNewswire Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 11: Infosys (NSE: INFY) (BSE: INFY) (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced that it has received The 2025 World's Most Ethical Companies recognition by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices. Infosys received the honor, for the fifth consecutive year, for demonstrating strong culture of ethics, integrity, ethical governance, and responsible business practices. Infosys has been recognized among 136 honorees spanning across 19 countries and 44 industries, and one of only three companies in India to receive this recognition. These companies were evaluated based on the Ethisphere Ethics Quotient, a questionnaire covering 240 different proof points on the culture of ethics; environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices; ethics and compliance program; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and initiatives that support a strong value chain. "Congratulations to Infosys for achieving recognition as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies. Behind this honor is a true dedication and a commitment to advancing business integrity. This approach is good for business - employees and other stakeholders value companies that prioritize the kinds of practices we measure with our process," said Erica Salmon Byrne, Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Chair, Ethisphere. Salil Parekh, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Infosys, said, "Infosys is deeply honoured to be recognized as one of the 2025 World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere. This prestigious accolade, awarded to us for the fifth consecutive year, is a testament to the unwavering values of ethics, integrity, and responsible business practices that we uphold. It reflects our steadfast commitment to ethical governance and our dedication to being a global leader in ethical standards. We remain committed to setting the benchmark for excellence in ethics, integrity, striving to be the best in our industry." The complete list of the 2025 World's Most Ethical Companies can be found here:https://worldsmostethicalcompanies.com/honorees Methodology & Scoring The World's Most Ethical Companies assessment is grounded in Ethisphere's proprietary Ethics Quotient, an extensive questionnaire that requires companies to provide over 240 different proof points on their culture of ethics; environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices; ethics and compliance program; diversity, equity, & inclusion; and initiatives that support a strong value chain. That data undergoes further qualitative analysis by our panel of experts who spend thousands of hours vetting and evaluating each year's group of applicants. This process serves as an operating framework to capture and codify truly best-in-class ethics and compliance practices from organizations across industries and from around the world. About Infosys Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 300,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses and communities. We enable clients in more than 56 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by cloud and AI. We enable them with an AI-first core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace. Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next. Safe Harbor Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, or our future financial or operating performance, are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding the execution of our business strategy, increased competition for talent, our ability to attract and retain personnel, increase in wages, investments to reskill our employees, our ability to effectively implement a hybrid work model, economic uncertainties and geo-political situations, technological disruptions and innovations such as Generative AI, the complex and evolving regulatory landscape including immigration regulation changes, our ESG vision, our capital allocation policy and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, liquidity, capital resources, our corporate actions including acquisitions, and cybersecurity matters. Important factors that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements are discussed in more detail in our US Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633365/4364085/Infosys_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)
NewsVoir New Delhi [India], March 11: Gurugram-based and one of India's leading property consulting firms INFRAMANTRA bagged two awards at the Economic Times Women Conclave 2025. Two influential women from the company's leadership team - Prerna Sharma, Branding & Marketing Head and Tanvi Tiwari, Head of Business Development were felicitated for their outstanding contribution in the field of branding, marketing and business development respectively. Within a span of 8 years, INFRAMANTRA has emerged as one of the leading property consulting firms. The company clocked sales worth Rs 1000 crore in FY 2023 and works closely with over 100 developers across India. Shiwang Suraj and Garvit Tiwari, Founders, INFRAMANTRA said, "We are delighted with the glory that the two women of our leadership team have brought to the company. They have displayed strong leadership skills and are an inspiration for all those who aspire to work through the odds to achieve the unthinkable. We at INFRAMANTRA believe in empowering women employees by giving them the platform and opportunity. This award will motivate more such women in the company and outside." Prerna and Tanvi have been an integral part of INFRAMANTRA's leadership team. They have contributed immensely to the growth of the company. As the Branding and Marketing Head at Inframantra, Prerna has been a driving force behind the company's brand strategy, storytelling, and impactful campaigns. With her keen vision and innovative approach, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the company's presence in the industry. A strong advocate for strategic branding and meaningful connections, she continues to set new benchmarks in the field. Prerna Sharma, Branding & Marketing Head said, "It is high time we as a society looked at women beyond the prism of their gender and bestow upon them responsibilities based on their skills. I am grateful to the founders - Shiwang and Garvit - for encouraging me to excel and perform beyond my capabilities. I dedicate this award to all the women who work tirelessly at INFRAMANTRA to help the company fulfil the aspirations of millions of homebuyers." As the Head of Business Development, Tanvi has been at the forefront of driving strategic growth, fostering innovation, and building sustainable business relationships. Her contribution extends beyond revenue generation; it is about creating impactful opportunities, empowering teams, and championing diversity in business leadership. Tanvi Tiwari, Head of Business Development said, "The year 2023-24 was exception for the company as we clocked Rs 1000 crore worth of sales and set ourselves a target to double this in 2024-25. As we are about to close this fiscal, I am proud to say that we are very much in line with our target and this award is a reflection of this dedication. Women today are at the forefront of many companies driving key business verticals and in the process inspiring young generation to dream, aim and achieve their goals against all odds. Women-led development is the key to Viksit Bharat 2047." INFRAMANTRA was founded in 2017 by two visionary entrepreneurs Shiwang Suraj and Garvit Tiwari with a mission to seamlessly guide customers through the journey of searching, discovering, purchasing, and managing residential and commercial properties built by India's top real estate developers. The company's philosophy rests on customer-centricity. To achieve this, it endeavours to find the perfect match for individual's aspirations with expertise and excellence. By focusing on personalized service and innovative solutions, the company has built a strong foundation of trust and reliability. In a span of two years, the company in 2019, touched base with over 5000 customers and clocked sales worth Rs 150 crore. By 2022, this number grew to 25,000 customers and Rs 450 crore worth of sales. In the same year, the company also expanded its presence in Noida and Pune. By the end of fiscal year 2023-24, the company clocked Rs 1000 crore worth of sales and increased its partnership to 70+ developers. ET Women Conclave 2025 highlights the contributions while encouraging further empowerment of women who have played a vital role in India's socio-economic growth, contributing equally in the all walks of life and every sphere of growth and progress such as arts, commerce, science and technology, governance, politics and entrepreneurship. The need to increase women's participation in industry and leadership positions is more pressing than ever. (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.)
NewsVoir Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 11: L'Oreal Paris, world's No.1 beauty brand, made history with a Guinness World Record for the 'Most People Untying Their Hair Simultaneously'. Over 500 women in Mumbai participated in this record-breaking event celebrating confidence, freedom, and hair health and launch of the new transformative L'Oreal Paris Hyaluron Pure Shampoo and Conditioner Range. This attempt was a part of the "Free Your Hair" campaign focussing on empowering women and encouraging them to prioritize hair care without compromise. More than just an event, this historical milestone highlights the importance of scalp health, a concern affecting millions globally. The collective act of untying hair serves as a symbol of liberation, reinforcing L'Oreal Paris' commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions for modern hair care challenges. Addressing the common issue of oily scalps and dry ends, the brand engaged women aged 18-45, inviting them to share their experiences of 'hair freedom' while discovering the transformative benefits of Hyaluron Pure. Powered by an advanced formulation combining Salicylic Acid and Hyaluronic Acid, this breakthrough range deeply cleanses excess oil from the scalp while delivering 72 hours of hydration, ensuring fresh, bouncy, and nourished hair. "The first step to maintaining hair health is recognizing common scalp concerns like excess oil and dandruff, which impacts 50% of adults at some point in their lives. With Hyaluron Pure, we are redefining what it means to have healthy, hydrated hair. This Guinness World Record attempt is a testament to the confidence and empowerment our range brings to women everywhere," said Dario Zizzi, General Manager at L'Oreal Paris India. By attempting this Guinness World Record, L'Oreal Paris strengthens its legacy of innovation and empowerment. More than just a record-breaking moment, the "Free Your Hair" movement is a bold expression of confidence, strength, and self-expression, reaffirming L'Oreal Paris' leadership in hair care innovation. L'Oreal Paris, the world's #1 beauty brand, has more than 40 years of pioneering scientific research heritage, and offers a stringent selection of the most advanced beauty care with proven efficacy and safety to its consumers. Beyond cosmetics, L'Oreal Paris creates a world of Parisian beauty to inspire every woman everywhere. In dialogue from the streets to its runways, myriad interpretations of Parisian beauty and femininity are reinvented every day. "Because you're worth it". With this world-recognized slogan, and from the beginning, L'Oreal Paris has encouraged women to live their best lives according to their own rules and desires. The brand has a rich legacy of empowering women and working with them to build a more inclusive world of tomorrow. (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 Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 11: Zaggle Prepaid Ocean Services Limited, a leading B2B SaaS FinTech company, has announced that it has contracted with Strada, a leader in end-to-end payroll, HCM and financial management solutions, to deliver a unified payroll and spend management solution that simplifies employee benefits for employers in India. * The strategic agreement integrates Zaggle Save with Strada's payroll platform in India, digitizing employee expenses, reimbursements and benefits for a seamless and automated experience. * This unified solution enhances compliance with regulatory requirements while providing centralized visibility, spending control, and real-time processing of employee expenses. * Employers in India can now enable the automated and secure delivery of flexible tax-saving benefits, reducing administrative overheads and improving employee convenience. The integrated solution digitizes employee expenses, reimbursements and benefits to eliminate manual touchpoints for real-time and hassle-free processing. This ensures accurate and timely payments while enabling organizations to efficiently deliver flexible tax benefits to employees through streamlined processes, enhancing flexibility and ease. Speaking on the partnership, Avinash Godkhindi, Managing Director and CEO, Zaggle said, "We are proud to contract with Strada to launch an end-to-end payroll and spend management solution for employers in India, which will streamline the benefits experience. For employers in India, managing employee expenses and payroll is an extremely complex process, requiring extensive manual administration. Our agreement simplifies this by providing an integrated solution to manage all employee expenses and benefits, integrated with payroll, offering centralized visibility and spending control." The Zaggle platform provides a unified ecosystem for corporate and employee expenses, featuring proprietary all-in-one cards with real-time fund visibility, automatic expense reporting, and 24/7 intelligent inquiry management. Supporting VISA and RuPay networks, it ensures 100% compliance with RBI, IT, and CBDT regulations, with frequent updates to meet evolving financial requirements. Strada's global payroll solution includes an AI-powered platform and comprehensive payroll services, available in 180+ countries. Processing $1.4T in payroll annually with 99.84% accuracy, it handles 60M+ payslips and 200M+ interactions yearly. Ranked in the top 1% for security, Strada ensures seamless integration, compliance, and efficiency for enterprises worldwide. With built-in automation and real-time compliance monitoring, businesses can stay ahead of evolving regulations while reducing manual effort and administrative overheads. "We are excited to collaborate with Zaggle to deliver a comprehensive solution that simplifies the payroll, expenses, reimbursements, and benefits experience for employers in India. By integrating our powerful payroll platform and automation capabilities with Zaggle's dynamic spend management platform, we can help businesses in India save time and reduce costs on processing employee tax benefits. Our robust solution is designed to enhance flexibility and ease for employees while minimizing administrative overheads and ensuring compliance for employers," said Anirban Dass, Head of Payroll & Professional Services - APAC, Strada. With Strada and Zaggle, employers in India can now offer a digital-first, end-to-end flexi pay solution - eliminating manual paperwork, ensuring compliance with RBI regulations, and providing employees with a smarter way to manage their benefits. Further information can be found here: https://stradaglobal.com/asia/payroll/ About Zaggle Incorporated in 2011, Zaggle (BSE: 543985) (NSE: ZAGGLE) is a leading player in spend management, with a differentiated value proposition and diversified user base. The company operates in the business-to-business-to-customer segment and is amongst a small number of uniquely positioned players with a diversified offering of financial technology products and services. Zaggle is one of the leading issuers of prepaid cards in India, in partnership with its banking partners. Additionally, Zaggle has a diversified portfolio of SaaS products and a wide touchpoint reach. It is a leading player in spend management, with more than 50 million prepaid cards issued in partnership with banking partners and more than 3.0 million+ users served as of December 31, 2024, offering a differentiated value proposition and diversified user base. Zaggle's network of corporate customers covers the banking and finance, technology, healthcare, manufacturing, FMCG, infrastructure and automobile industries. For more information, please visit company website https://www.zaggle.in/. About Strada Strada is a technology-enabled, people powered company committed to delivering world-class payroll, human capital management, and financial management solutions to organizations globally. With a team of more than 8,000 experts, Strada blends leading-edge technology with human ingenuity to help businesses across the globe design and deliver at scale. Supporting over 1,400 customers in 33 countries, Strada partners with customers at every stage of their journey, to help drive their vision forward. https://stradaglobal.com/ (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 11: ShootOrder's team of experts provides performance marketing, branding, content & social media marketing for B2C & B2B businesses in India and abroad. Explore the full range of offerings on their website. In February, Google recognized the achievements of top-performing digital marketing partners across the globe by awarding Premier Partner status as part of the Google Partners program. ShootOrder has been named a 2025 Premier Partner, which means: They're among the top 3% of Google Partners participants in their respective countries, signaling their leading expertise in Google Ads, as well as their ability to forge new client relationships and support their clients' growth. They're listed on the Google Partners directory, which helps potential clients find top Premier Partners like ShootOrder on their own dedicated page. They receive exclusive benefits that promote client growth and success with Google Ads. A Statement from Rajat Jain, CEO, ShootOrder Earning the 2025 Google Premier Partner status is a significant milestone in ShootOrder's journey. Over the years, our relentless focus on driving performance, innovation, and measurable results has helped our clients scale their businesses like never before. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our incredible team and the trust our clients place in us. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to every team member and client who has been a part of this journey. As we move forward, this recognition will serve as a catalyst for new opportunities, stronger partnerships, and even greater business impact in the coming years. About Google Partners The Partners program is designed for advertising agencies and third parties that manage Google Ads accounts on behalf of other brands or businesses. Its mission is to empower companies by providing them with innovative tools, resources, and support to help their clients succeed and grow online. About ShootOrder ShootOrder, a leading digital marketing agency, has received global recognition as one of the top agencies in the industry. Their expertise in SEO, Paid Search, Social & Display, and Content Marketing has helped their clients achieve unprecedented growth and success. Media Contact: P. Evangel Email: evangel@shootorder.in (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)
VMPL Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], March 11: India has witnessed a notable increase in child adoption trends over the past decade. According to the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) annual report there were a total of 4029 - 3,580 in-country and 449 inter-country adoptions, and children were adopted in the year 2023-2024. While the interest in child adoption increased in the past decade, the legal maze, complicated documentation, and procedural hassle continue to pose challenges for prospective parents and children awaiting to be adopted. Out of the complexities involved in the child adoption process in India, one of the biggest roadblocks is the lack of awareness surrounding the medical fitness certification for prospective parents. While it is a mandatory requirement, the unclear guidelines, confusing paperwork, and the fact that even medical professionals are unaware of the exact process, often delay the journey of becoming a parent. In such a scenario, having assistance in at least attaining genuine medical fitness certification can make child adoption easier for parents. MedicalCertificate.in has helped hundreds of prospective parents move forward with confidence by providing clear instructions, guiding them through required medical documents, and offering certificates in the correct formats for different CARA agencies. "We uphold stringent compliance and quality standards, driving efficiency and accessibility in healthcare. Our dedication fosters the integration of digital health solutions, enabling transparent healthcare delivery in alignment with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) compliance," says Parul Pandey, COO of MedicalCertificate.in, adding "Each document undergoes thorough verification to ensure authenticity, giving adoptive parents peace of mind as they navigate the adoption process. Beyond just issuing medical certificates, Pandey added, "MedicalCertificate.in guides adoptive parents through the correct process based on their state, city, or CARA agency requirements. Our trained professionals help parents understand what is actually needed at each stage, our doctors assist in understanding necessary reports, preventing unnecessary tests or confusion making the process smoother and less overwhelming. By providing accurate guidance and step-by-step assistance, we ensure that parents save time, money, and effort while fulfilling only the necessary medical requirements." The Role of Central Adoption Resource Authority: Your Adoption Ally! The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) serves as a statutory body under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, to look after and monitor both domestic and international adoption procedures. The National Authority of India under the Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption (1993) provides for the smooth, ethical, and open performance of every adoption procedure. The organization enables authorized agencies to place orphaned, surrendered, or abandoned children for adoption. A total number of approximately 18,000 adoptions were done over the past five years including both in-country and inter-country according to the official data from CARA. Highlighting a steady commitment to finding children a home with loving parents. Detailed Child Adoption Process in India: Steps to a Happy Adoption 1. Registration with CARA Registration with CARA Prospective adoptive parents start their adoption journey by signing up on the CARA online portal. Documents Needed: * Identity Proofs: Options include an Aadhar card, passport, or voter ID. * Income Certificates: This can be in the form of salary slips, bank statements, or income tax returns. * Medical Certificates: These must meet CARA standards and confirm the health status of the adoptive parents. The process of sign-up takes a few days and the registration stays valid until you complete the home study. If the parents make mistakes or leave out information when they sign up, they might need to sign up again. 2. Home Study Report After you sign up, CARA assigns a professional social worker to assess your home. The social worker looks at the adoptive parents' home environment. They check financial stability and see if they are ready to be parents through adoption. Normally this stage takes between 1 to 3 months and the validity of this study report is up for 6 months. If the social worker doesn't approve home study, then the parents will need to fix the issues they point out and go through a new assessment. 3. Matching the Child with Parents After home study approval, CARA pairs potential parents with kids based on their choices. Parents get two full days to choose whether they want to accept the match. The pairing process can take from several months up to a year. If parents say no to three referrals, CARA might cancel their registration. They can apply again after they address any issues, but they might need to wait for a new sign-up period. 4. Pre-Adoption Foster Care Once parents accept a match, they go to the child care center to build a bond with the kid. This phase can last anywhere from a few days to many months depending on how old the child is and how ready they are. For young kids (under 2 years old), the process might involve quick visits to help them get used to their new surroundings. 5. Court Approval for Adoption Right after the foster care time wraps up, the concerned adoption agency running the adoption place put through a court application. Both the child and the adoptive parents are required to appear in the judicial hearings. The process takes anything from 6 months to one year. The child will go to court, but the hearings are normally in private. The court will consider the case prior to issuing the final adoption order. If the child is too young, the court may hear the case without them, using reports and documentation to approve adoption. 6. Issuance of Birth Certificate Once the court grants approval for the adoption, the agency helps to procure a new birth certificate for the child, with the adoptive parents' names as legal guardians. The new birth certificate will contain the name of the child, date of birth, and place of birth. In case the original birth certificate is missing, the agency will work with the court to determine the required information. 7. Post-Adoption Follow-Up Once the adoption is complete, the child will be followed up by adoption agencies for two years to facilitate an easy adaptation. Once two years of follow-up are complete, parents can take the child abroad from India if moving out. The follow-up process will be based on the policies of the host country. If the child is taken abroad, they should ensure legal documents, citizenship, and continued surveillance to guarantee the well-being of the child. The whole adoption process may last anywhere from 6 months to 2 years, depending on numerous factors including the availability of children, responsiveness of agencies, and fulfillment of legal requirements. Eligibility Criteria: Are You Prepared to Adopt? Age Requirements: You are required to be 25 years and above for you to adopt a child. There should be a 25-year gap in age between you and the child you are interested in adopting. If you are single, these are the age limits for adopting according to the age of the child: * For a child who is up to 2 years old, you can be 40 years old. * For a 2 to 4-year-old child, you can be a maximum of 45 years old. * For a 4 to 8-year-old child, you can be a maximum of 50 years old. * For an 8 to 18-year-old child, you can be a maximum of 55 years old. If you are a couple, your ages should combine within these limits: * For a child aged 2 years and below, your combined age can be as much as 85 years. * For a child aged 2 to 4 years, it can be as much as 90 years. * For a child aged 4 to 8 years, it can be as much as 100 years. * For a child aged 8 to 18 years, it can be as much as 110 years. * The upper limit of the age of a child you can adopt is 18 years. * When adopting a step-child or a relative, age restrictions do not apply. Gender Requirements: * Married couples can adopt a child of any gender, no matter how many children they already have.* If you're a single female, you can adopt a child of any gender. * If you're a single male, you can only adopt a male child. Marital Status: * Anyone, whether married or single, can adopt a child. * However, if you're a couple, you need to have been married for at least two years before you can adopt. Other Conditions: * You need to be physically, mentally, and emotionally stable which is determined by the medical fitness certificate issued by a government registered doctor. * You should be financially capable of supporting a child. * If you already have two or more biological children, you generally can't adopt, unless you're adopting a special needs child, a child in immediate placement, a relative, or a step-child. Rights of the Adopted Child Indian adopted children have some important rights to ensure their health and well-being and smooth integration into new families: 1. Right to Identity: They are entitled to know about their identity and their background, along with information on biological parents if any. 2. Right to Love and Care: The adopted child should receive love, care, and nurturing from his/her adoptive family as the biological children receive. 3. Right to Education: Adopted children are also entitled to a good education, which provides them equal opportunities compared to their peers. 4. Right to Protection: They deserve protection from abuse, neglect, or discrimination. 5. Right to Participate: They can give their opinions and take part in decisions that impact their lives, making them feel like part of the family. By promoting these rights, CARA, and adoptive families provide a home environment where every child can flourish. Legal Adoption & Child Rights in India Through legal adoption, a child gains all rights, privileges, and responsibilities that belong to biological children. CARA established its framework for adoption in 2006, by following essential guidelines: 1. The best interests of the child become the deciding factor throughout each phase of the adoption process. 2. Indian citizens from the child's social and cultural surroundings get first priority for adoption. 3. All adoptions require entry into the Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System (CARINGS) making them transparent. International Adoption: Eligibility & Preferences in India UNICEF's State of the World's Children Report identified that 29.6 million (2.96 crore) children were orphaned in India in 2014. But according to CARA, fewer than 500,000 reach institutionalised care and only 3000 to 4,000 are adopted annually. International adoption in India has seen a decline in numbers post-pandemic, with 3,559 children placed for adoption in 2020-21. Eligibility criteria remain stringent, favoring Indian parents, while preferences include age, gender, and health status of children. Intercountry adoption is facilitated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development of India under CARA (Central Adoption Resource Authority), which is a nodal agency that operates under the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption (1993) to ensure adoption is performed in a fair and legal manner. NRI(Non-Resident Indian), OCI (Overseas Citizen of India), and foreign applicants are eligible, while single women can adopt any child and single men can adopt boys only. Married couples must have a minimum marital life of two years before becoming eligible for adoption. * What Are the Eligibility Criteria? One needs very good physical, mental, and emotional health. MedicalCertificate.in provides international CARA-compliant medical certificates in just 42 hours. One must be financially in good standing and compatible in marriage. Married couples have an age limit (allocated by) not passing more than 90 years-subject to the combined age. For singles, one must fall in the range of 45 years to 55 years as per the child's age. A Home Study Report from an accredited body in the respective country must be prepared. * Who Gets Priority in the Adoption Process? NRIs and OCI will have a preference for the adoption of Indian children over foreign applicants. Foreign parents will be considered only on condition that no Indian or NRI/OCI applicants select a child within that timeframe. * How Does the Adoption Process Work? The procedure begins with registration by one of the Authorized Foreign Adoption Agencies, conducting the Home Study Report. CARA does a matching of the parents with child profiles, which is followed by legal verification of adoption. The adoption gets approved by the Indian courts through a Court Process, and it is here that the child's Indian passport is issued with an adoption decree for the visa to the new country. Besides, the parents will also have to do CARA post-adoption reports.The Adoption Approval Stamp: Why the Medical Certificate Matters! Outlining that the adoptive parents are mentally, emotionally, and physically fit to take care of a child is one of the most important parameters of a child adoption process as it outlines the healthy and stable life of the adoptive child. While submitting a medical fitness certificate a CARA-compliant medical certificate is mandatory as it verifies that the adoptive parents are legally not suffering from incurable, contagious, or life-threatening diseases and are mentally and emotionally healthy to take care of a child. Here's a basis of why a medical fitness certificate for adoption is essential: * The medical certificate verifies that the adoptive parents do not have critical health problems that would affect childcare because of medical conditions. * The evaluation process determines emotional strength and searches for serious psychiatric conditions affecting parenting ability. * Confirms no past or present issues with alcoholism, drug dependency, or other addictions. * The assessment judges an adoptive parent's future health perspective to provide enduring care to their child. A suitable home environment serves as a protective safety measure for promoting child development properly. The Adoption Regulations of 2022 issued by CARA under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 lays down the medical certificate requirement. The medical certificate needs to be generated from a registered medical practitioner. CARA specifies a particular format for medical certificates used in adoption which legalizes adoption requirements and promotes authenticity and standardized assessments. MedicalCertificate.in aims to replicate the compassionate simplicity of adoption when it comes to medical certification procedures. CARA Medical Certificate Format for Adoption in India The prescribed format for this certificate exists as per guidelines set by the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) to ensure legal validity together with standardization and transparency are: * The certification requires doctor's information including their full name with NMC or State Medical Council registration number. It should also have their details and official contact information. * Complete and detailed personal information which includes names together with age and sex and residential address and contact information. * Medical Examination for physical fitness, chronic conditions (diabetes, hypertension, heart disease), mental and emotional health, substance abuse history, and overall health/life expectancy. * Doctor's Certification stands as a medical declaration that verifies the adoptive parent(s) has the fitness needed for adoption. * A doctor must include their signature together with their registration details on the medical fitness certificate. A medical certificate can be issued either on the doctor's letterhead or the letterhead of a hospital or clinic. In either of the conditions doctor's clear details like their name, education, registration details, and signature are the prime importance. They also need to ensure that a proper detailed understanding of the medical examination is mentioned in the medical fitness certificate complying with CARA's standards. There are multiple CARA approved formats that are used by different adoption agencies and thus it is always recommended to cross-check the medical fitness certificate format with the adoption agency for conformity to their particular protocols and to take the certificate from a genuine platform only. Types of CARA Medical Certificates: * Basic Medical Certificate - Confirms the physical, mental, and emotional fitness for the initial registration and home study. * Comprehensive Health Assessment Certificate - Contains a detailed health history, mental health assessment, and substance abuse screening for court or inter-country adoption. * Updated Medical Certificate - Required if the validity of the last one has expired to confirm continued fitness. * Varied Agency-Specific Formats - Custom certificates designed to meet agency-specific criteria. MedicalCertificate.in eases the entire adoption process by delivering CARA-compliant medical certificates for all stages of adoption and as per the adoption agency. They ensure medical documents are genuine, and issued with the proper investigation so as to ensure the prospective parents don't face hassle in the future. The company adheres to government compliances and issues medical certificates with doctor consultation in all formats including digital medical fitness certificates, handwritten medical fitness certificates, and custom medical fitness certificates, and also ships the handwritten document as requested. What Health Tests Are Required? While submission of your mental, physical, and emotional health is mandatory for CARA-approved medical certificates, not every format requires you to undergo multiple medical tests. Before undergoing any kind of medical test, it is recommended you get your medical certificate cross-verified by a medical practitioner to understand the format issued by your assigned agency or while you are submitting what are the necessary details. However, if you are being suggested a specific format for Caring, usually it requires a compilation of the following tests to be conducted: 1. Serology Test 2. Haemoglobin Test 3. Blood Smear Test 4. Urinalysis - Specific Gravity 5. Urinalysis - Sugar 6. Urinalysis - Albumin 7. Other vital signs must be checked as part of adoption screening to confirm adoption fitness. Understanding Who Can Issue Your Adoption Medical Certificate To get a medical certificate for adoption, you should know a couple of key things: 1. Registered Medical Practitioners: A registered MBBS doctor can give you a medical certificate for adoption. You don't need a doctor with a special "CARA-approved" status. Any doctor who has registered with the National Medical Commission (NMC) or a State Medical Council can help. This includes doctors from government hospitals, private clinics, or health tech platforms. The key is that the doctor knows about the adoption process and what specific details to put on the certificate. 2. Local Guidelines Matter: The process of medical evaluation has to adhere to local rules and regulations, which may differ per location. This implies that various locations might have extra requirements for inclusion in the medical assessment. For instance, certain areas may demand particular tests or health evaluations that others may not. 3. Consult Your Adoption Agency: It's important for prospective adoptive parents to get the right report format and specific health requirements from their Specialized Adoption Agency (SAA). Your SAA will show you what you need based on your local rules making sure you have the complete picture. 4. Purpose of These Regulations: These rules have an impact on making the adoption process easier to handle for adoptive parents. Adoptive parents should follow local area rules and team up with adoption agencies, making sure they adhere to all the rules and regulations. Documents required for adoption in India: Both domestic and international adoptions require specific documents and follow a structured legal process. The prospective adoptive parents (PAPS) are required to submit: 1. Identity proof: Aadhar Card/Passport/Voter ID/Driving license/PAN Card. 2. Address proof: Aadhar/Voter ID/Passport/Electricity/Telephone bill. 3. Proof of income: Salary slip/Income certificate/IT returns. 4. Medical certificate that states the PAPs are free from chronic, contagious, and fatal diseases. 5. Marriage/divorce certificate/death certificate of spouse (if applicable). 6. Consent from older children in the family. 7. An undertaking by a relative in the case of single adoptive parents. Where to Get a Medical Certificate for Adoption in India? Prospective adoptive parents have two options to obtain a CARA-compliant medical certificate: Option 1: Offline - Traditional Hospital or Clinic Certification 1. Register for a government-approved hospital with an MBBS-licensed medical practitioner for a thorough examination. 2. The doctor will conduct physical and mental assessments to identify medical conditions. 3. Adoptive parents fulfilling medical requirements will receive a CARA-compliant certificate from the doctor. 4. Submit the certificate physically or upload it to the CARA portal at the SAA. Option 2: Online - Digital Medical Certification For faster and hassle-free certification, adoptive parents can opt for online medical certificate services like MedicalCertificate.in: 1. Visit the website medicalcertificate.in 2. Fill in your details, medical history, and existing health conditions. 3. Submit a 15-second full-body walking video, with your height and weight and details of your vitals including blood pressure and pulse. 4. A government-registered doctor will access your details. 5. Once approved, the doctor will issue a CARA-compliant digital or handwritten medical certificate as per your preference. Why MedicalCertificate.in is a Game-Changer for Adoptive Parents? The journey of adoption is a beautiful adventure filled with hope and anticipation, but it can also feel overwhelming. That is where MedicalCertificate.in comes in - your go-to health companion in easing this process with CARA-approved medical certificates available online. All it takes are a few clicks, and aspiring parents can finalize their paperwork fast and easily, setting the ground for an uncomplicated adoption procedure. Since its inception in 2021, MedicalCertificate.in has evolved into a holistic health-tech platform committed to fulfilling the remote healthcare requirements for users across the globe. With a focus on increasing accessibility and convenience, the platform aligns with global and national healthcare standards, including the World Health Organization (WHO), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), National Medical Commission (NMC), and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). The platform provides services such as online blood testing across more than 220 cities in India and online ear and eye tests, online doctor consultation, and therapy sessions across the globe, all aimed at increasing accessibility to healthcare. Trusted by users worldwide, MedicalCertificate.in boasts a 4.9-star rating on Trustpilot with over 2,200 positive reviews. As a one-stop healthcare platform, it offers secure, reliable, and easy-to-use services. Guided by the motto "Authentic, Secure, and Convenient," we remain committed to supporting families at every step of their adoption journey with the right information and expert guidance. For more information, visit www.medicalcertificate.in, email - care@medicalcertificate.in or call on 080-685-07810 and take the first step toward a smoother, stress-free adoption journey. (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)
New Delhi [India], March 11: Every year 90% of MBBS aspirants miss important MBBS counselling notifications and hence miss the chance to get the MBBS seat in various states. The reasons are clear: tracking multiple state counseling websites daily is time-consuming, and without regular monitoring, students often miss critical updates.

Additionally, some states change their counselling websites each year, making it difficult for students to stay updated. Many counselling portals also mix notifications for different courses, causing students to overlook essential updates from that cluster.

Understanding these challenges, My Career My Future (MCMF), an entity of MCMF EDU-SERVICES PRIVATE LIMITED, which has been in MBBS counseling for over 12 years, has introduced India's first and only Notification Alert Software (NAS) addressing all these challenges of MBBS aspirants.

Amrik Singh, CEO of MCMF, shared that with NAS, students no longer need to track multiple state counseling websites manually. Instead, NAS organizes notifications into state-wise folders under each student's profile. Whenever a counseling committee releases an MBBS-related notification, it will automatically appear in the respective state's folder.

The key benefit? Students will receive instant SMS alerts on their registered mobile numbers, ensuring they never miss an important update.

Director Shikha Hans added that NAS will not only save students valuable time spent checking multiple websites but also guarantee that they never miss an opportunity for an MBBS seat.

Students can click at https://mycareermyfuture.com/neet-alert-notification/ to use MBBS Notification Alert Software.

According to Singh, the Notification Alert Software should be recommended by the National Medical Commission (NMC) to NEET aspirants to ensure that its advantages are accessible to all students.

(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)
PRNewswire Kochi (Kerala) [India], March 11: CA Krishnan R, Director & CEO of Unimoni India, has been recognized as one of the 'Most Admired BFSI Professionals of 2025' at the World BFSI Congress & Awards. The event, held in Mumbai on February 20, 2025, brought together leaders from the banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) sectors to honour excellence and innovation in the industry. The award acknowledges Krishnan's significant contributions to the BFSI sector, his leadership in driving customer-centric innovation, and his role in steering Unimoni Financial Service Ltd's growth in a rapidly evolving financial landscape. Under his guidance, the company has achieved key milestones, strengthening its position in financial services. Industry Recognition for Leadership and Innovation The World BFSI Congress & Awards is an annual platform that honours professionals and institutions demonstrating excellence in performance, innovation, and leadership. CA Krishnan R's inclusion in the 'Most Admired BFSI Professionals of 2025' category underscores his commitment to advancing the industry. His strategic approach and ability to anticipate market trends have contributed to the company's success in areas such as foreign exchange, remittances and travel-related services. Focus on Digital Innovation and Customer Experience Under CA Krishnan R's leadership, Unimoni India has launched initiatives to enhance customer experience, introduced an AI-powered travel solution named Plan A Trip, and streamlined transactions. These advancements have positioned the company at the forefront of digital innovations. By integrating technology-driven solutions, Unimoni India has improved customer convenience and expanded its financial services portfolio, reinforcing its commitment to innovation in the BFSI sector. Adapting to an Evolving Financial Landscape The BFSI sector continues to evolve with changing regulations, technological advancements, and shifting consumer expectations. CA Krishnan R has been instrumental in ensuring Unimoni remains agile and resilient amidst these changes. His leadership has helped the company adapt to industry transformations while maintaining compliance and financial integrity. His strategic direction has fostered a culture of adaptability, positioning Unimoni India as a trusted name in forex and travel services. AI and Sustainable Finance - Key Themes at the Event The World BFSI Congress & Awards 2025 focused on the theme 'Sustainable Finance Using AI', highlighting the role of artificial intelligence in shaping sustainable financial practices. The event served as a key platform for professionals from banking, insurance, mutual funds, housing finance, and fintech to exchange insights and explore future financial sustainability. Acknowledgment of Achievement Speaking about the recognition, CA Krishnan R expressed his gratitude, stating that this award was a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire Unimoni team. He added that Unimoni India continues to expand its footprint in forex and travel services, offering various solutions, including foreign exchange, outward remittances, travel solutions, innovative digital solutions such as Unimoni Digital Wallet, BBPS, education & gold loans and insurance services. "By leveraging technology and a customer-first approach, Unimoni remains committed to enhancing service delivery in the BFSI sector," he stated. For more information about Unimoni India and its services, visit https://www.unimoni.in/ or call 1800 102 0555 Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2638752/BFSI_Award_2025_Unimoni.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2543135/5209724/Unimoni_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)
NewsVoir Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 11: Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Limited, a leading name in the Indian consumer durables market, is thrilled to announce the launch of its Fresh-Mix Ultra Juicer. Designed to deliver the ultimate juicing experience, this high-performance juicer is perfect for everyday juice preparation, effortlessly handling a variety of fruits and vegetables. With growing awareness about nutrition and well-being, consumers today are actively seeking smarter, time-saving solutions to incorporate fresh, nutrient-rich juices into their daily routines. Whether it's a quick morning boost or a post-workout refreshment, they want appliances that offer efficiency without compromising on quality. The Fresh-Mix Ultra Juicer is designed to deliver a superior juicing experience, ensuring maximum extraction from a wide variety of fruits and vegetables with ease. Its unique upside-down sieve design enables maximum juice extraction, while the 72 mm wide feed allows for easy usage and hassle-free cleaning. The special juicing mode is tailored for both fruits and vegetables and helps in ensuring maximum efficiency every time. Additionally, the juice collector jar and multiple pushers enhance convenience, making the juicing process smooth and effortless. Crafted with food-grade materials, the Fresh-Mix Ultra Juicer prioritizes healthy and hygienic juicing, offering a reliable solution for maintaining a wholesome lifestyle. The product boasts several advanced features designed to enhance your juicing experience: * 500-Watt Powertron Motor: The appliance features a robust 500-watt Powertron motor, delivering efficient juicing performance for a variety of fruits and vegetables with ease. * Dual Juicing Modes: The appliance offers two juicing modes, giving the flexibility to extract juice, speed 1 or fruits and speed 2 for vegetables, ensuring maximum juice extraction. * Multiple Chutes and Accessories: It comes with various chutes. A wider chute of 72mm with pusher for fruits and a narrow chute with pusher for vegetables enhancing the juicing experience. * Large Pulp Collector: The large pulp collector provides uninterrupted juicing, making the juicing process smooth and effortless. * 2-Year Warranty on Product and Motor: This product comes with a comprehensive 2-year warranty covering both the product and its motor. It underscores the brand's confidence in the product's durability while offering users peace of mind and reliable service. Speaking about the company's newly launched product, Ketan Chaudhari, PL Head, Small Domestic Appliances at Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd., said, "At Crompton, we are committed to addressing consumer needs and enhancing the user experience with products that blend innovation, convenience and reliability. The launch of the Fresh-Mix Ultra Juicer is a step forward in our kitchen appliance range, offering an efficient and user-friendly juicing experience. As health consciousness grows, the need for specialized juicing appliances is increasing, making this product an ideal addition to support healthier living." Available at all leading outlets, this product is designed to meet the needs of modern consumers, offering both convenience and quality to customers in established as well as emerging markets. The MRP of Crompton's Fresh-Mix Ultra Juicer is INR Rupees 5,500/-. With a brand legacy of over 85 years, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd. is India's market leader in the category of fans and residential pumps. Over the years, the organization has continuously strived to produce a range of innovative products that cater to the modern consumer including superior quality and high-performance fans, pumps, lighting solutions and a range of other categories like water heaters; air coolers; small kitchen appliances like mixer grinders, air fryers, OTG, electric kettles etc.; other home appliances like irons & built-in kitchen appliances. The company has further invested in brand and innovation to not only better understand and meet consumer needs, but to also help drive energy efficiency. The consumer business also has a well-established and organized distribution network driven by a strong dealer base across the country offering a wide service network and robust after sales service to its customers. The company's consistent dedication to developing energy-efficient products has led to significant recognition. It has been honored with three prestigious National Energy Consumer Awards (NECA) by BEE, Ministry of Power. The recent award was presented by the Hon'ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu for the company's storage water heater in 2023. In 2019, the brand won in two categories: Ceiling Fans and LED Bulbs. Additionally, it was recognized as one of India's Best Managed Companies 2022 by Deloitte Private and listed among 'India's Top 500 companies 2022' by Dun & Bradstreet India. The company has also been featured in Brand Top 75 most valuable Indian brands list for 2020 released by WPP and Kantar. Furthermore, Crompton was also recognized as the Brand of the Decade 2021 by Herald Global and BARC Asia in the Consumer Electrical category. (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.)
Millie Bobby Brown, the 21-year-old star of the hit Netflix series 'Stranger Things', has spoken out against criticism of her accent, which some have accused shifted between British and American. According to E! News, in an interview, Brown addressed the backlash, saying that her ability to adapt to different accents is a natural part of her acting career. Brown, who married American Jake Bongiovi last May, explained that she has grown accustomed to switching between accents due to her time spent in both the United States and England. "When I'm around his family, I immediately go into, like, an American accent," she said, adding, "But then I was just in England, and then the second I hear my mom and dad's accent, I just go right back." Brown also noted that her acting career has played a significant role in her ability to adopt different dialects. "You want me to play these characters, but you expect me not to morph into people," she said, adding, "What I hear is what I do. It's all part of it," as per E! News. In addition to addressing accent criticism, Brown has also recently spoken out against online bullying and negativity regarding her appearance. In a video shared to her Instagram earlier this month, Brown called out specific articles that had accused her of looking too old for her age. "I want to take a moment to address something that I think is bigger than just me," she said, adding, "Something that affects every young woman who grows up under public scrutiny." Brown emphasized that she has grown and changed since her early days on 'Stranger Things' and that it is unfair to expect her to remain frozen in time. (ANI)
Amid the ongoing political row over whether the grave of Aurangzeb should be razed, lyricist and screenwriter Manoj Muntashir has said that there was no need to destroy the Mughal emperor's grave and that the government should build toilets on it. Manoj Muntashir spoke to ANI and shared that Aurangzeb's grave is not a place to be proud of but a source of national shame. Earlier, Samajwadi Party's Maharashtra President Abu Azmi had reportedly termed Aurangzeb a good administrator which triggered a political outrage. "If Aurangzeb's grave is a place for one to be proud of, then they need to think again about their patriotism..." the 'Adipurush' lyricist said. The lyricist said, "Aurangzeb's grave is a monument of national shame. Which is there in that place that any Indian should be proud of?... If Aurangzeb's grave is a place for one to be proud of, then they need to think again about their patriotism.... " He added, "When we were fighting a legal battle for the Ram Temple, they had given us advice that Ram is present in every particle, so a hospital or a school should be built there instead... I want to repeat what they said... There is no need to destroy Aurangzeb's grave. Instead, a toilet should be built on it. Swachh Bharat Mission is going on... What can be a better place than Aurangzeb's grave to build toilets in the country?..." He also took to X to share a video and captioned it, "Aurangzeb's grave should not be removed, why? Let me tell you!" https://x.com/manojmuntashir/status/1899104459457962420 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 Hindus and Muslims. Maharashtra Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Abu Asim Azmi on Friday accused the media of "maligning" him by "misrepresenting" his statement on Aurangzeb, requesting Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar to revoke his suspension. In a letter addressed to Narwekar, Azmi maintained that he was not at fault in this matter. "The media tried to malign me by misrepresenting my statement, so I humbly request that my suspension be withdrawn as I am not at fault in this matter," he said. The Maharashtra SP chief clarified that he was followed by mediapersons, who asked him for his reaction to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma invoking Aurangzeb while criticising Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. "On March 3, media representatives followed me while leaving the hall. Outside the hall, they asked me the question that the Chief Minister of Assam compared Rahul Gandhi to Aurangzeb. In this context, I quoted Meena Bhargava's article and said he helped the temples," Azmi said. "No statement has been made about Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. I showed respect for them. My image has been tarnished by attributing to me words which I didn't speak," the letter read. He highlighted that his statements about Aurangzeb were based on "historical facts" and that India was a golden sparrow during that time. He said that Aurangzeb and Chhatrapati Shivaji were not fighting for religion, but for power and land. "During the time of Aurangzeb, India's borders reached Brahmadesh and Afghanistan and people had a lot of gold in their homes and there was a golden age in India. I have said that Aurangzeb was a good administrator while quoting the above historical facts. Aurangzeb and Chhatrapati Shivaji or Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj were not fighting for religion but for power and land. I do not believe in caste and religion discrimination," Azmi said. "I have not made any objectionable statement about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj or Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. I have great respect for both the above great men," he added. (ANI)
Press Release

March 11, 2025 EDCOM 2, TEC bat for strategic interventions to address teacher education issues The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) and the Teacher Education Council (TEC) are championing strategic interventions to address critical issues in teacher education. Both organizations are committed to implementing the reforms recommended to enhance the effectiveness and relevance of teacher education programs in the Philippines. "Our Year Two report provides a clear roadmap for reforming teacher education to ensure that it is aligned with what our students need. With the Teacher Education Council operationalized, we are positioned better than ever to make significant changes to the preservice and in-service training of our teachers," Dr. Karol Mark Yee, Executive Director of EDCOM 2 said. According to its report, EDCOM 2 found that there is a misalignment between preservice teacher training and school-level needs, with 62% of high school teachers teaching subjects they did not major in. Furthermore, a significant gap in the oversight of the teaching profession persists due to insufficient monitoring and coordination by CHED and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). Despite their shared mandate to monitor school performance and teaching conditions, underperforming teacher education institutions (TEIs) continue to operate despite consistently poor licensure examination outcomes. EDCOM 2, together with TEC, has also pushed for bills that target to amend Republic Act 7836, or the Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994. House Bill No. 9979, and Senate Bill Nos. 2830, 2840, and 2913, filed by EDCOM 2 Commissioners. The aim is to address the misalignment between the teacher licensure exam and teacher education programs. The bills also allow other pathways to teacher licensure, acknowledging the diverse experiences and qualifications of teaching professionals. TEC also launched a TEI database during the January 22 #TeacherEdNaman Symposium which aimed to present the national picture of TEIs across the country, and encouraged TEIs to update or add their profile. This TEI database is still open. EDCOM 2 is also advocating for extending and structuring the duration of the practicum in teacher education programs. In January, EDCOM urged the TEC, together with CHED, to revise the teacher education curriculum to ensure that the teacher education pre-service curriculum is relevant to the realities of public schools, that it aligns with licensure examinations of PRC, and that it is accompanied by meaningful opportunities to practice teaching. Studies have highlighted the importance of practicum in providing teacher trainees with meaningful teaching experiences. These must go beyond mere observation and include active classroom management and lesson implementation. Both EDCOM 2 and the Teacher Education Council are focused on aligning teacher education curricula with current and future needs. "To ensure teacher training produces highly qualified educators and promotes continuous professional development and learning, we need to create a system that supports teachers throughout their careers," said TEC Executive Director Dr. Jennie Jocson. "This involves providing initial training that equips teachers with the necessary knowledge and skills, as well as ongoing professional development opportunities that allow them to stay up-to-date on the latest research and best practices. Additionally, we need to create a culture of learning within the teaching profession, where teachers are encouraged to reflect on their practice and continuously improve their skills," she added. To be more responsive to the needs of the sector, the TEC on March 6, 2025 launched two surveys to collect data from licensed teachers who are currently not teaching, and from teacher education graduates who have taken the LEPT but have not yet passed. From these surveys, the TEC plans to build a national database to serve as the basis of developing policies to support teacher education graduates. These surveys may be accessed through the TEC Facebook page. The TEC is also among the various education agencies working with EDCOM 2 in developing the National Education Plan aimed at tackling the current learning crisis and establishing a strategic framework that will benefit Filipino learners for decades to come.
Amitabh Bachchan is one of the biggest stars in Indian cinema, whose presence in films and the media has been constant for decades. However, at the height of his career, when almost all of his movies were superhits, the actor faced an unexpected situation during the Emergency of 1975, when some film magazines banned him from being mentioned in their content. Film critic and author Bharathi S. Pradhan spoke about the incident in an interview with ANI and explained that after the Emergency was lifted, a few film magazines believed Bachchan was involved in the censorship of their content and accused him of being responsible for "blue-penciling all copy," including articles in well-known magazines. "Just after the Emergency was lifted, a few magazines got together and banned Amitabh Bachchan because they felt that he and VC Shukla... were all one gang of Congress people and they had been blue-penciling all copy," she said. Pradhan also revealed that the boycott led to strange situations where magazines started avoiding mentioning his name. "If there was a filmography of, say, Hema Malini, and Amitabh Bachchan was her co-star, they would just put a comma instead of his name because Amitabh Bachchan was banned, so you can't put his name in the magazine," Pradhan added. Pradhan further stated that the 'Sholay' actor was well aware of the situation and, to make it easier for editors to remove his image from group photos, he used to adjust his position. "If they were doing a group picture somewhere, once he got to know that this is what they were up to, when there would be a group picture, he'd go stand on the extreme right or extreme left," she said. "He told me, 'Just to facilitate their cutting, I would stand on the extreme right or extreme left,'" Pradhan recalled. (ANI)
Actor Robert Pattinson recalled preparing for a day of shooting opposite his co-star Zendaya in the upcoming film 'The Drama', from writer-director Kristoffer Borgli. "We had a scene together in it that was driving me crazy," he said about his co-star, adding, "I was desperately looking for its meaning, to the point of writing pages and pages of textual analysis... I ended up calling Zendaya the night before shooting the scene in question," reported People. Pattinson continued, "I shared my doubts with her, I spoke for two hours, and blah blah blah, and after a while, very calmly, she finally made me understand that the line just said what it meant to say, that there was no hidden meaning." "There I was going crazy for three days...I tend to bang my head against walls. Sometimes for no reason," he added. The Drama, also starring Mamoudou Athie and Alana Haim, counts Ari Aster among its producers. The romance comedy-drama "centers on a couple whose romance takes an unexpected turn before their wedding," as per the outlet. The A24-distributed movie does not yet have a release date. 'The Drama' is another collaboration between A24 and Square Peg, who have previously worked on films like 'Hereditary,' 'Midsommar,' and 'Dream Scenario.' They also have upcoming projects like 'Death of a Unicorn' with Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega, and 'Eddington' starring Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, and Emma Stone. While discussing playing characters with a "victim side," he said, "My character from Twilight had a bit of that... I wonder where it comes from. An unconscious need for punishment? A repressed masochistic desire?," reported People. "To compensate" for that, he added that his next role might be "a character who is very self-confident." Pattinson, meanwhile, is making headlines for his titular role in writer-director Bong Joon Ho's sci-fi satire Mickey 17, in theaters now. Among his upcoming projects are Lynne Ramsay's Die, My Love opposite Jennifer Lawrence, and Christopher Nolan's adaptation of The Odyssey again sharing the screen with Zendaya, as well as Tom Holland, Matt Damon, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong'o and Anne Hathaway, reported People. (ANI)
Ramesh Sippy's iconic film 'Sholay' is regarded as one of the greatest films of all time. Directed by Ramesh Sippy, the film boasts an ensemble cast, including Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra, along with Sanjeev Kumar, Amjad Khan, Hema Malini, and Jaya Bachchan. It has captivated audiences of all ages with its memorable characters, witty dialogue, action sequences and unforgettable songs. Columnist, film critic, and author Bharathi S Pradhan recalled the "controversy" related to censorship around the movie because it was "violent". In a conversation with ANI, she said, "There was a lot of censorship of films. 'Sholay' the controversy at that time, 50 years later, I still remember it. The controversy was that it was violent. In those days, sex and violence were big things and not allowed by censors. But they allowed it in G. P. Sippy's film. And a lot of people said it's because he was very close to V C Shukla....He was very close to VC Shukla, who was the Information and Broadcasting Minister...." She also remembered, "I saw the film with RD Burman". 'Sholay' revolves around the village of Ramgarh, where retired police chief Thakur Baldev Singh (Sanjeev Kumar) plots to bring down the notorious bandit Gabbar Singh (Amjad Khan) and enlists the help of two lesser criminals, Jai (Amitabh Bachchan) and Veeru (Dharmendra). When Gabbar attacks the village, Jai and Veeru wonder why Thakur does nothing to help them. They soon learn that he has no arms and that Gabbar was the one who cut them off. Enraged by this, they redouble their efforts to help Thakur. Recently, at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards 2025 in Jaipur, the prestigious Rajmandir Cinema hosted a special screening of the iconic film 'Sholay'. Several Bollywood legends and cast members attended the event, and they shared their experiences and memories of working on the classic movie. (ANI)
Actor Vishnu Manchu on Tuesday met with Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, and appreciated his support and commitment towards the growth of the state and the Telugu film industry. Taking to X, Vishnu shared a couple of pictures from his meeting with CM Reddy. "Had the pleasure of meeting the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Telangana, Sri Revanth Reddy Garu. @revanth_anumula It was wonderful catching up and discussing a range of important topics. Appreciate his unwavering support and commitment to the growth of our state and the Telugu film industry," he wrote. https://x.com/iVishnuManchu/status/1899468865962475782 Meanwhile, on the work front, Vishnu Manchu is gearing up for the release of 'Kannappa', in which, Vishnu Manchu takes centre stage as Thinnadu, a fearless warrior who transforms into Lord Shiva's ultimate devotee. Akshay Kumar appears in the role of Lord Shiva, adding his divine presence to the tale. Mohanlal plays Kirata, while Prabhas makes a memorable entry as Rudra. Director Mukesh Kumar Singh shared his vision for the film in a press note and said, "Kannappa is more than just a story; it is a tribute to faith, devotion, and the power of transformation. Every frame has been meticulously crafted to bring this legendary tale to life in a way that resonates with modern audiences while staying true to its roots. We are excited for the world to experience the grandeur of Kannappa." Vishnu Manchu, who has dedicated over a decade to bringing 'Kannappa' to the big screen, expressed his personal connection to the project. "This film is incredibly close to my heart. It brings to life a historical tale that is often referred to as mythology. By Lord Shiva's blessings, everything has fallen into place, from the breathtaking locations to the incredible star cast," he said, adding, "The overwhelming response we received at Cannes was just the beginning, and I am eager for audiences in India to experience this epic on the big screen. This project has been a labor of love, and I believe Kannappa will leave a lasting impact."Produced by M Mohan Babu, 'Kannappa' is set to redefine mythological storytelling with its cutting-edge technology and breathtaking visuals. The film is slated for a worldwide release on April 25, 2025. (ANI)
Aam Aadmi Party MP Sandeep Pathak strongly criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party, alleging that it has 'failed' to capitalize and transform the Railways, despite the golden opportunity presented through the Railways Amendment Bill. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Rajya Sabha MP said that the core idea of this bill is to make the Railway Board more flexible so that it can function more efficiently in management. However, he argued that the central government missed a golden opportunity to completely revamp railway management through this amendment, a press release stated. "With revenues drying up and expenditures soaring, the sector is in dire straits," Pathak said. "Weak rail tracks across the country pose a safety threat, yet urgent replacements remain neglected. The erosion of a dedicated railway budget has further stifled crucial discussions, leaving India's rail network on a dangerous trajectory." "I was listening to my colleagues from the ruling party, and they kept repeating the same points. If they had raised the right issues, the minister would have found it much easier to address the concerns. We should be discussing what changes can be made in the railways to benefit the system--this should be our agenda. The direct and indirect contributions of railways to our country's economy and society cannot be measured merely in numbers," he added. The AAP Rajya Sabha MP further pointed out that the Railway Minister mentioned railways only three times in his speech. "There was a time when a separate budget session was dedicated to railways, allowing for detailed discussions. Railways serve as the economic and social lifeline of the country. Today, the sector faces multiple challenges, including high operational costs. To fix this, we need heavy investment in technology. The government must focus on capacity building and increase internal resources to sustain the railways in the long run," he added. Pathak also highlighted the declining trend in internal revenue generation for railways over the decades. "Any department operates on two basic principles--earning money and spending money. Anyone can spend, but generating revenue is the real challenge. The key issue is how much money railways earn and the profit it makes. Currently, 70 per cent of the railways' earnings are being spent solely on salaries and pensions. Questioning the Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the AAP Rajya Sabha MP asked, "Are we utilizing this massive workforce efficiently? If internal revenue generation does not improve, we may soon struggle to pay salaries and will be forced to take loans. While board-level changes are happening, the fundamental reforms that railways require are being ignored." "The ticketing process may have improved, but passengers are still struggling to get confirmed tickets. Railways have minimal earnings, but the expenditure is massive. If the system isn't making money, how will it sustain itself? The government must prioritize revenue generation to ensure there are sufficient funds for operations and development," he stated. Criticizing the government's track record on railway safety, Pathak said, "Under this government's tenure, more than 650 railway accidents have occurred, resulting in over one lakh deaths. Instead of engaging in meaningless debates, the government should focus on preventing railway accidents. There is talk of the 'Kavach' safety system, but so far, it has been installed in only 2 per cent of trains. At this rate, it will take 50 to 100 years to implement it fully." The AAP MP asserted, "On one hand, the government talks about Vande Bharat trains, but on the other, it is reducing their speed because the aging railway tracks cannot withstand higher speeds, increasing derailment risks. The country urgently needs new railway lines and doubling of tracks, but even the existing tracks require replacement. The government does not have the funds to upgrade the tracks." "We support this amendment bill and will contribute whatever we can, but a complete overhaul of railway management is necessary. Railway accidents have increased significantly--who will take responsibility? Instead of penalizing officers, the political authorities who wield power must be held accountable," he concluded. (ANI)
The BSF troops of Tripura Frontier in different operations apprehended 29 Bangladeshi nationals and seven Indian nationals including Indian tout from different locations of Tripura -- Lankamura under PS Airport, Nischintpur under PS Amtli, Harnakhola under PS Mohanpur, Railway station Agartala under District West Tripura, Railway station Churaibari & Dharmanagar under district North Tripura, Sabroom under PS Subroom under District South Tripura and L K Para under District Gomati of Tripura, the release stated.

Furthermore, BSF battalions have conducted over nine village coordination meetings in border areas to address the concerns of the local population.

The BSF continues to enhance its surveillance and intelligence capabilities to ensure the safety and security of the nation, the release stated.

BSF Tripura also enhanced surveillance along the international border to prevent smuggling and trans-border crimes along the international border.

In the first week of March 2025, BSF troops successfully thwarted several smuggling attempts and seized a significant quantity of narcotics, cattle, rice, and other contraband items worth Rs 2.88 crore and 280.67 kilograms of ganja was also seized.

To prevent smuggling and other crimes along the IB and for better coordination with counterparts, BSF has conducted 61 simultaneous coordinated patrols and organized multiple border coordination meetings with BGB at various levels, the release added. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology Chairman Nishikant Dubey and BJP MP Anil Baluni will on Tuesday table the sixth Report on action taken by the government on the observations/Recommendations of the Committee contained in their Fifty-sixth Report (Seventeenth Lok Sabha) on 'Regulation of Cable Television in India' relating to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Additionally, they will present the seventh Report on action taken by the Government on the Observations/Recommendations of the Committee contained in their Fifty-fourth Report (Seventeenth Lok Sabha) on 'Digital Payment and Online Security Measures for Data Protection' relating to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. They will also lay the Statements showing further action taken by the Government on the following reports of the Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology (2024-25) in Lok Sabha. They will also present the fifty-third report on action taken by the government on the Observations/Recommendations of the Committee contained in their Forty-seventh Report (Seventeenth Lok Sabha) on 'Review of functioning of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)' relating to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting They will also present the fifty-fifth report on action taken by the government on the Observations/Recommendations of the Committee contained in their Forty-eighth Report (Seventeenth Lok Sabha) on 'Citizens Data Security and Privacy' of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology On Monday, Opposition MPs walked out of the Rajya Sabha during the second part of the Budget session over the issues of delimitation and the New Education Policy (NEP). In the Lok Sabha as well, the MPs entered the well of the House and protested as Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in his address to the lower house of Parliament, accused the DMK of being "dishonest" and engaging in "politics" at the expense of Tamil Nadu students' future. The second part of budget session of Parliament began on Monday and will continue till April 4. (ANI)
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav slammed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for not taking action against a BJP MLA for purportedly appealing Muslims to "stay indoors" on Holi. The RJD leader said that the Chief Minister was in an 'unconscious state' and did not call out the BJP MLA for his controversial statement. Speaking to the media on Monday, Yadav said, "A BJP MLA said that Muslim brothers should not come out during Holi. Who is he to give a statement like this, where is the state's Chief Minister? In which state is he? When women raise issues on their rights and safety, then the CM does not hold back to scold them, the Dalit women and the backward classes. Does the CM have the courage to scold this BJP MLA? Where is he? He is in an unconscious state." He claimed that the BJP has a strong influence on its NDA ally JDU, stating, "There is a lot of BJP and Sangh influence on JDU; pure Sangh aur BJP ke rang mein JDU aa chuka hai." Yadav emphasised Bihar's inclusive spirit, declaring it as a state that honors both Ram and Rahim. He highlighted the unity among the people and said that regardless of political outcomes, the RJD will continue to uphold the values of Lalu Yadav's ideology and the Constitution. "This country is a country that thinks about both Ram and Rahim. This is Bihar, where 4 Hindu brothers stand to protect one muslim. Whether we get power or lose it, unless we have our party and people who believe in Lalu Yadav's ideologies and the Constitution, till then we will not let them achieve their (BJP) agenda," said Yadav. This comes after a BJP MLA from the Bisfi Assembly constituency, Haribhushan Thakur Bachaul, sparked a controversy for "appealing" Muslims to "stay indoors" on Holi, which coincides with a Friday during Ramzan. Earlier on Monday, Tejashwi Yadav met with BPSC Teacher Recruitment Exam 3.0 aspirants who have been protesting for over 50 days in Patna. The protesters are demanding a resolution regarding discrepancies in the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) TRE 3.0 exam results, in which candidates were concerned about vacant posts and issues with the declaration of results. Aspirant Ajay Mishra, speaking about his expectations after meeting Tejashwi Yadav, said, "We have a lot of expectations from him. He will surely fulfil our demands. If the ruling side is not listening to us, we will have to go to the opposition. We are constitutionally keeping our demands. We have been protesting in Gardanibagh for the last 50 days, but the Govt is not listening to us at all. Tejashwi Yadav has assured us that he will raise our demand in the Assembly and try as much as possible that our demands be fulfilled." The issue at hand stems from the BPSC TRE 3.0 examination, for which 87,774 posts were advertised. However, only 66,000 results were declared, leaving 21,000 vacancies unexplained. Aspirants were particularly concerned after noticing that the published results included duplications, with one student appearing on three different lists. Vikram Kumar, another aspirant, explained the situation: "We appeared for the BPSC TRE 3.0 exam. At that time, there were 87,774 vacant posts, but results were declared only for 66,000 posts. 21,000 posts were left, and the reason is not known. When we saw the data for those 66,000 posts, we saw that the results of only 35,000-40,000 candidates were released. One student's name is on three different lists. If that one student joins somewhere, two posts will be vacant. We demand to release a supplementary result." Kumar added, "We have been protesting in Gardanibagh for the last 49 days. No member of the ruling party has met us. We hope that the way Tejashwi Yadav has worked in 17 months, he will raise our concern on a supplementary result in the Vidhan Sabha. We hope that our demand will be fulfilled." (ANI)
Several Congress leaders and workers got injured after the stage collapsed in Bhopal during their protest on Monday. After the stage had collapsed, several leaders were left lying on the ground, injured, while people hurried to carry them to safety. Earlier, Madhya Pradesh Congress workers had staged a massive protest on Monday in the state capital of Bhopal over issues related to farmers. State Congress President Jitu Patwari, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Umang Singhar, MLA Sachin Yadav and several other party workers participated in the protest, held at Rang Mahal square in the state capital. The crowd was heading to gheraoed the state assembly, and the police used water cannons to disperse the crowd of the party workers. Congress chief Patwari told reporters, "It is the responsibility of the Congress party to protest against the BJP who made promises to women, farmers and youth of the state. Today, we held this protest with a feeling that the state government should provide Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 3100 a quintal for rice, Rs 2700 a quintal for wheat and Rs 6000 a quintal. The Union Agriculture Minister hails from the state but he does not talk about MSP." The Congress party has decided that if rice and wheat procurement is not done according to the promises made then, the party will reach each and every Mandi and hold protests with the farmers, he added. The Congress further said, "State Congress's farmers wing will continue this movement in every mandi where crop procurement takes place in the state for the next two months." LoP Umang Singhar said that the Congress party is with the farmers and the fight will last from road to the state assembly in the interest of the farmers. "I would like to ask the Kisan Sangh (linked to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) who seek votes of farmers in favour of BJP during elections, but why the Kisan Sangh has not fulfilled the promise even after one year from their government. Kisan Sangh staged fake protests. But the Congress is with the farmers and will fight from the road to the house for them," Singhar said. (ANI)
Congress MP Manickam Tagore has filed an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha to discuss the discrepancies observed in the voter lists following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Tagore raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process, especially in states like Maharashtra and Haryana, where irregularities in the voter rolls have triggered alarm. "I rise to move an adjournment motion to discuss the significant discrepancies observed in the voter lists across various states following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. These irregularities have raised serious concerns about the integrity of our electoral process, particularly in states like Maharashtra and Haryana," Tagore said in his notice. The notice says, "Notably, in Maharashtra, it was reported that over 3.9 million new names were added to the voter list before the local elections, a figure that surpasses the total additions in the previous five years combined. Similarly, concerns have been raised in Haryana, where instances of identical Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers have been reported, suggesting potential duplications in the voter list." Tagore emphasized the importance of electoral transparency, pointing out that such discrepancies could undermine the credibility of the entire electoral system. "These discrepancies undermine the credibility of the electoral rolls and, by extension, the fairness and transparency of the election process itself. The large-scale and sudden additions to the voter list, particularly in Maharashtra and Haryana, have led to questions about the validity of these new registrations," he stated. The Congress MP stressed that the irregularities must be addressed thoroughly to ensure that the integrity of the electoral process is maintained in future elections. The motion also reflects ongoing concerns raised by opposition leaders, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, regarding the fairness of the 2024 election process. Meanwhile, AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang also filed an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha concerning the increasing use of drones for drug smuggling across the international border, particularly between Punjab and Pakistan. Kang raised alarm over the growing issue of drones bypassing security measures, a problem that has led to significant concerns about the safety and well-being of the youth in Punjab. Kang noted that the Chief Minister of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann, had already expressed concerns to the Union Home Minister about the illegal transportation of drugs via drones. He also highlighted the Punjab state government's ongoing anti-drug campaign aimed at creating a drug-free and prosperous region. "I would like to ask the Government what steps have been taken to prevent the drug smuggling that occurs via drones across the borders, which bypasses the security measures, and has become a significant issue, and is profoundly affecting the future of our youth," Kang wrote in the notice. Congress MP Manish Tewari also gave an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha to deliberate upon the reported reduction of tariffs by India under external pressure. He states, "Recent statements by the President of the United States, Mr. Donald Trump, indicate that India has agreed to significant tariff reductions, raising concerns about the circumstances under which these commitments were made. While enhancing trade relations with the United States is a legitimate objective, such concessions must be made in a manner that upholds India's economic interests and strategic autonomy. Tewari questioned the rationale behind these reductions, particularly in critical sectors such as agriculture and electric vehicles. He notes, "It is imperative that the Government clarifies the rationale behind these tariff reductions, particularly in agriculture and critical sectors such as electric vehicles, and ensures that such measures do not unduly benefit foreign industries at the expense of domestic enterprises. Transparency in trade negotiations is essential to protect national economic interests and to maintain a balanced approach towards international commitments." (ANI)
CHIZ SAYS PURGING OF AIRPORT SCALAWAGS SHOULD PAVE WAY FOR MORE REFORMS TO BOOST PHL'S IMAGE

Senate President Francis "Chiz" G. Escudero on Tuesday (March 11) called on transport and justice officials to conduct a top-to-bottom cleansing of their ranks deployed to airports around the country to improve the country's image to visitors here and abroad, following the dismissal of security personnel involved in "tanim-bala" (bullet planting) scheme.

The Senate chief lauded newly installed Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon for his swift action against three employees belonging to the Office of Transportation Security, who allegedly victimized a 69-year-old woman and her family before boarding their flight to Vietnam.

No bullet nor bullet casing was found in their belongings.

According to the Senate President, the firing of transportation security personnel should pave the way for more wide-ranging initiatives that will transform the image of the country's main gateway, with a new and dynamic secretary of transportation now on board and the operation of the airports now privatized under the New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC).

"We have this window of opportunity to implement long-term initiatives that will transform the country's image and enhance the experience of visitors and domestic travelers the moment they land and when they depart to their destinations. This is long overdue," the Senate leader said.

It will be recalled that Senate President Escudero was the proponent of a special provision under the 2024 General Appropriations Act that mandated the reimbursement of passengers who missed their flights due to excessive or unnecessary questioning by immigration personnel.

Under the special provision, the reimbursement of the affected passengers would be sourced from the Bureau of Immigration's unutilized funds.
The Tenkasi, Kanyakumari, Thoothukudi, Nellai, Pudukkottai, Nagai, Ramanathapuram, and Thiruvarur districts of the state are expected to experience very heavy showers.

The Chennai Met said that an orange alert has been issued as there is a possibility of rain ranging from 12 to 20 centimeters in some of these districts.

The districts of Thoothukudi, in particular, have been cautioned due to the risks associated with rising water levels.

Authorities have issued specific advisories for public safety, urging residents living along the banks of the Thamirabarani River--from Kaliavur to Punnakayaal--as well as those in the Koramballam river and anicut areas to avoid going near the water, including swimming or visiting the riverbanks.

Residents in low-lying areas where rainwater may accumulate are also urged to stay safe. Additionally, no fishermen have been advised to venture into the sea, considering the adverse weather conditions.

District Collector Ilam Bhagwat has instructed officials at all levels to closely monitor water bodies, including the Marudhur anicut, Srivaikundam anicut, Koramballam anicut, Upparu Odai, and Uppathu Odai, ensuring that prompt action is taken if necessary.

Meanwhile, visuals show heavy rain lashing several parts of the city as IMD issues orange alert for the region.

Amidst the scorching heat of the past month, a sudden downpour has taken Chennai residents by surprise.

The Chennai Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) on Monday predicted that an upper air cyclonic circulation lies over the Equatorial Indian Ocean and the adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal, about 1.5 km above mean sea level.

The forecast indicates light to moderate rainfall at many places across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikkal, with heavy rainfall expected in isolated areas of Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, and Thoothukudi. (ANI)
The museum at the Shri Ram temple complex, depicting the life of Lord Rama, will be operational within a year, said Nripendra Mishra, the Chairman of the Construction Committee of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Mishra stated that they have signed an MoU with a company that is into technologies used in museums. "We have signed an MoU with a company which is into technologies used in museums. They need a script based on which they will tell how and where immersive technology, artefacts, etc, will be done. This process will take about two months. After this, we will float a tender for the construction of the gallery... In total, it will take a year for the museum to become operational..." Mishra said. Meanwhile, speaking about the temple's security arrangements, the Chairman stated that this is the most important construction work from the security point of view, and hence, they have decided to make permanent boundaries. He stated that it would take almost a year to complete the construction of the wall boundaries. "This will be the most important construction work from the security point of view. The fencing all around is made of steel wire and its verticals. But now it has been decided that the total boundary which will be more than four kilometres, will be made permanent...The wall will be built like the boundary wall is built in the police headquarters for security purposes. Its height will be around 14-16 feet. This construction work will be started from the northern gate. It will take about a year to be built," Mishra told ANI. Earlier, on March 8, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Construction Committee Chairman Nripendra Mishra said that the Holi festival will affect the construction of the Ram Temple complex, and it is likely to be completed by around April 15. (ANI)
In the wake of the Hampi rape and murder incident, Karnataka Police has started conducting raids and patrolling in the area. Ram L Arasiddi, the Superintendent of Police of Koppal, carried out raids on the homestays and resorts in Basapura, Anegundi and Sanapur areas and verified the documents. The police officials have heightened the security measures and increased patrolling in the areas in view of the incident. On Monday, Karnataka police apprehended the third accused in the Hampi rape case. He had been on the run since the incident. The accused has been identified as Saranabasava (27) who was working as a carpenter. He was arrested by Gangavathi Rural police from Tamil Nadu's capital city Chennai and has been brought to Karnataka. Emphasising that the security measures and patrolling have been enhanced, the official said, "As a matter of seriousness, we have increased patrolling in these areas and even inspecting these areas... Now repeatedly, we have been checking all the resorts during the night also... We have been using NDPS kits also for this and have booked ten cases in the last three months. So, in the coming days also, we will continue the surprise visits, if any contraband or any violation, we will register the case." Karnataka State Commission for Women also wrote to Koppal Superintendent of Police Ram Arasiddi and urged the latter to submit the report of the legal action taken in the Hampi rape incident. "Related to the case of gangrape of two persons including a foreigner woman near Tungabhadra left bank canal, Sanapura lake, Junglee road near Hampi on March 6 is a shocking matter for the state and the country, and the Karnataka State Women's Commission has taken this matter very seriously," the letter stated. "So, I request them to give maximum punishment to the accused in this case and to ensure that such cases do not recur in the future and to provide more protection to women in tourist places. I request you to submit the report of the legal action taken on the above case to the Karnataka State Commission for Women as soon as possible," it added. Two women, including an Israeli national, were allegedly raped by three men near the Hampi heritage site in Karnataka's Vijayanagara district on the night of March 6, Koppal police said on Saturday. A male tourist accompanying them was later found dead, they added. (ANI)
A 17-year-old Dalit student was attacked near a bus stop by three individuals in Srivaikuntam area of Thoothukudi district, police said on Tuesday. According to Thoothukudi police, the victim was a Dalit, and belonged to Ariyanayagapuram village near Srivaikuntam of Thoothukudi district. He was attacked by three youth belonging to the dominant caste of the nearby village. Sharing details, the police said, "The Class 11 boy identified as Devandhira Raj, who was on his way to school on the bus, was pushed by three outside the moving bus and was attacked with a sickle near Kattarimangalam, who then ran away from the spot. The boy was severely injured in the incident and was taken to the nearby hospital for first aid." The Police probe revealed that one of the attackers was identified as Lakshmanan (19). He was accompanied by two other youths. Lakshmanan was arrested, and the two others were detained. Following the incident, the student's father admitted his son to Srivaikuntam Government Hospital for first aid. The 17-year-old is currently admitted to Tirunelveli Government College and Hospital for further treatment. Based on the father's complaint, Srivaikuntam Police registered a case u/s 296(b), 109(2), 351(3) BNS r/w 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), 3(2)(v) SC/ST POA Act 1989. An investigation is underway in the incident. Further details on the matter are awaited. Viduthala Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) Chief MP Thirumavalvan has condemned the recent incident and called on the Tamil Nadu government to take decisive action to prevent caste-based attacks on Dalits, particularly in Southern Tamil Nadu. Thirumavalvan claimed that the attack on the Dalit boy was a result of vengeance from dominant caste youths. "Just days before the incident, Devandhira Rajan and his friends won a Kabaddi tournament representing Ariyanayagapuram village, defeating Kattiamalpuram village. They celebrated their victory with the trophy, but unable to accept the defeat, the dominant caste youths attacked Rajan and his friends as an act of revenge," Thirumavalvan said in a statement. (ANI)
According to the Nipun Agarwal, Deputy Commissioner of Police, South, Lucknow, the deceased, identified as Jitendra Singh Bhadoria, was killed on Bijnor-Gauri Road when a bullet was fired from a 315 bore licensed rifle, causing a head injury to the victim.

Upon receiving information about the incident, police and forensic teams arrived at the scene and started investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The victim Jitendra Singh Bhadoria, a businessman from Lucknow, originally hailed from Kanpur city.

While the initial investigation points to the possibility of an accident, the police are thoroughly examining all angles.

Legal action is underway, and the body has been taken into custody for further examination.

Earlier on Sunday, a young man was shot in the Ghazipur area of Delhi, according to police.

People from Ghazipur protested and blocked the Akshardham-Ghaziabad road on Monday, demanding the arrest of the accused for the murder of the young individual.

On the case, Vineet Kumar, Additional DCP-I, East District said, "We received information that a man is injured. When we went to the hospital, we found that he had been shot. In the initial investigation, 2 people have been detained and several teams are working on it."

The reason behind the murder is unknown, and the police are working to identify the deceased. (ANI)
Former Karnataka Chief Minister and MP Basavaraj Bommai has called for a thorough and comprehensive investigation into the illegal gold smuggling network linked to Kannada actress Ranya Rao. Speaking to the media in Delhi on Monday, Bommai stressed the need to expose all those involved in the network, which allegedly includes significant criminal activities connected to the actress. Bommai clarified that during his tenure, the allocation of land to Xiroda India Pvt. Ltd., where Rao was a director, never reached the Chief Minister's office. "The land was allotted to Xiroda India Pvt. Ltd. in the Sira industrial area in Tumkur district. Whenever entrepreneurs seek land, we follow the necessary agreements. A Land Audit Committee, comprising the Principal Secretary and senior officials, evaluates and recommends land allocation based on business needs. Projects worth up to Rs 500 crore are decided at the ministerial level and do not reach the Chief Minister. In my tenure, this issue did not come up. The allocation is done through the Single Window Proceeding under the leadership of the Industries Minister. Once land is allotted, a notice is issued for payment. Since payment was not made, the land was not handed over," said Bommai. The MP said that numerous applications for land are submitted in the interest of industrial development. "The current government has also allocated land worth thousands of crores. No one can predict future criminal activities. The probe into the actress smuggling gold illegally from Dubai is ongoing and it must be conducted in all dimensions, and the culprits must be punished," he said. Commenting on media reports alleging that two ministers were involved, the former CM demanded a detailed and deep investigation is necessary. "This does not appear to be an isolated incident. Such a major crime can't occur without officials' involvement. The entire network behind it must be exposed. A CBI probe will reveal who was responsible. A thorough investigation will bring out the truth," he asserted. Bommai attacked the state government for its failure in Bengaluru's administration and said that from road repairs to new road construction and drainage management. "Nothing has been handled properly. For two years, they have only spoken about Brand Bengaluru without implementing anything. Even in the budget, no practical projects have been announced. During our tenure, we had planned a World Bank loan of Rs 1,700 crore, which has now been finalized. The government is trying to cover up its failures. Even if God himself comes, the situation cannot be fixed under this government's approach," he said. "Bengaluru's expansion remains the same. Chief engineers have already been appointed for various zones, and now they are trying to appoint separate commissioners for each zone, which is not a solution. Instead, planned financial support should be provided. We had proposed developing two satellite towns to ease connectivity, and the government should consider such measures," he advised. On the state government's plan to revise ration cards, Bommai said the government should not make hasty decisions. Eligible beneficiaries must not be denied their rights. "All stakeholders, including opposition parties, should be consulted. First, a pilot implementation should be conducted in two taluks to identify challenges before extending it statewide," said Bommai. (ANI)
Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Tuesday slammed Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Bihar LoP Tejashwi Yadav following his remarks on BJP MLA Haribhushan Thakur's statement. Taking aim at his political career, Singh said that Yadav is in "arrogance" because for him it is "monarchy" and not democracy as he is son of former Bihar Chief Ministers Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi. "Tejashwi Yadav is arrogant, because for them, this is not democracy but monarchy. He didn't come into politics by struggling. He is the son of Lalu Prasad Yadav, and this is reputation. Even Ravan's arrogance was broken, who is Tejashwi and Lalu Yadav..." Singh told reporters. Earlier, Tejashwi Yadav slammed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for not taking action against a BJP MLA for purportedly appealing to Muslims to "stay indoors" on Holi. The RJD leader said that the Chief Minister was in an 'unconscious state' and did not call out the BJP MLA for his controversial statement. Speaking to the media on Monday, Yadav said, "A BJP MLA said that Muslim brothers should not come out during Holi. Who is he to give a statement like this, where is the state's Chief Minister? In which state is he? When women raise issues on their rights and safety, then the CM does not hold back to scold them, the Dalit women and the backward classes. Does the CM have the courage to scold this BJP MLA? Where is he? He is in an unconscious state." He claimed that the BJP has a strong influence on its NDA ally JDU, stating, "There is a lot of BJP and Sangh influence on JDU; pure Sangh aur BJP ke rang mein JDU aa chuka hai." Yadav emphasised Bihar's inclusive spirit, declaring it as a state that honors both Ram and Rahim. He highlighted the unity among the people and said that regardless of political outcomes, the RJD will continue to uphold the values of Lalu Yadav's ideology and the Constitution. "This country is a country that thinks about both Ram and Rahim. This is Bihar, where 4 Hindu brothers stand to protect one muslim. Whether we get power or lose it, unless we have our party and people who believe in Lalu Yadav's ideologies and the Constitution, till then we will not let them achieve their (BJP) agenda," said Yadav. This comes after a BJP MLA from the Bisfi Assembly constituency, Haribhushan Thakur Bachaul, sparked a controversy for "appealing" Muslims to "stay indoors" on Holi, which coincides with a Friday during Ramzan. (ANI)
BJP Spokesperson CR Kesavan on Tuesday slammed DMK's protest against the National Education Policy (NEP), stating that their "discriminatory mentality and divisive mindset" are harming students. Speaking to ANI, Kesavan said, "Our transformative NEP 2020 is progressive because it ensures equality of education for all and empowers our students and youth. The DMK's Dravidian model of education is divisive and regressive because it discriminates against students studying in government schools and endangers their future. DMK's discriminatory mentality and divisive mindset are causing great harm to our students." Earlier today, Congress MP K Suresh slammed the central government over the National Education Policy (NEP), accusing it of pushing the policy without consulting state governments and academicians. He alleged that the government's real intention is to "saffronise the entire education system". Speaking to ANI, K Suresh said, "Education policy change is a very serious issue. Without consulting state governments and academicians, they (central govt) brought in a new education policy. They want to saffronise the entire education system. Tamil Nadu has always been against the three-language policy, but without their consent, the union govt took the decision." K Suresh also extended support to Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in its fight against the implementation of NEP, saying, "Our party members from Tamil Nadu also support them DMK." The DMK is opposing the National Education Policy (NEP), especially the three-language formula, which it believes is an attempt to impose Hindi on Tamil Nadu. On Monday, a war of words broke out between Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the DMK party after Pradhan termed the Tamil Nadu government as "dishonest" and the people of the state as "uncivilised". Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin hit back and accused Pradhan of "arrogance" and of "insulting the people" of Tamil Nadu. In a strongly worded post in Tamil on his X, Stalin called out the Union Minister's "arrogance" and said that he was speaking like an "arrogant king." The one who had "disrespected" the people of Tamil Nadu "needs to be disciplined." Pradhan, in his remarks during Question Hour, alleged that the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government had initially agreed to implement the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme in the state but later went back on their promise. The DMK staged a protest, over the union minister's remarks that led to an adjournment of proceedings of the Lower House of Parliament. "They (DMK) are dishonest. They are not committed to the students of Tamil Nadu. They are ruining the future of Tamil Nadu students. Their only job is to raise language barriers. They are doing politics. They are undemocratic and uncivilised," Pradhan said. (ANI)
To intensify the search and rescue operation, robotic teams on Tuesday went inside the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Telangana's Nagarkurnool, where seven workers are still trapped inside the tunnel after a portion of it collapsed. 110 rescue personnel, along with Anvi Robo experts, entered the tunnel to carry out the operations. Rescue teams are likely to retrieve one more dead body soon. Due to complications, rescue teams couldn't reach the dead-end spot where dead bodies are stuck. Earlier on Sunday, the rescue teams traced the body of a worker from the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Nagarkurnool. Telangana CM Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy expressed condolences over the death of the worker, identified as Gurpreet Singh, an official statement from Telangana CMO read. The Chief Minister also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakhs for the kin of the deceased. The rescue teams had recovered one body on Sunday, as per officials. The Kerala cadaver dog squad were roped in to assist in the rescue efforts and has found human remains inside the tunnel. According to rescue officials, the deceased was found trapped in a machine inside the collapsed section of the tunnel. "We found one dead body stuck in the machine, with only the hand visible. The rescue teams are currently cutting the machine to retrieve the stuck body," said the official. On Saturday, Telangana Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies Uttam Kumar Reddy announced that robotic technology had been deployed to accelerate the ongoing rescue operations at the SLBC tunnel near Domalapenta in the Nagarkurnool district, where eight workers were trapped. Calling the incident a national disaster, he emphasised that the state government is utilizing the best global technology to overcome the challenges in the final stretch of the 14-kilometre-long tunnel. On February 22, a three-meter section of the roof of an under-construction stretch of the SLBC tunnel collapsed at the 14 km mark near Domalapenta in the Nagarkurnool district in Telangana. The collapse occurred just four days after construction work had resumed following a lengthy hiatus. While some workers managed to escape, the eight remained trapped. (ANI)
MDMK MP Vaiko has supported DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi's privilege notice against Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The notice was filed after Pradhan reportedly called Tamil Nadu MPs "uncivilised" during a parliamentary discussion about the three-language policy. He also said they would raise this issue in the Rajya Sabha as well. Speaking to the reporters, MDMK MP Vaiko said, "She (DMK MP Kanimozhi) has rightly moved the privilege notice because the minister abused Tamil MPs and Tamil Nadu CM. He used the word uncivilised. Dharmendra Pradhan is an uncivilised man and we will not leave him. We will raise this issue in the Rajya Sabha as well." After Pradhan reportedly called Tamil Nadu MPs "uncivilised" during a parliamentary discussion, which deeply angered Kanimozhi, who described the term "uncivilised" as derogatory and unparliamentary. She argued that such remarks were unacceptable, especially when directed at elected representatives. Speaking to the media, Kanimozhi said, "The words that have been used against our CM and our MPs are terrible... 'Uncivilised' is not a word we can use even against any human being in this country. It is the most derogatory word that can be used. We have given notice, and I think this will not end with this... BJP is having a problem looking at the southern states' growth because they are not able to achieve it." Kanimozhi further expressed her discontent over the central government's handling of the three-language policy. The three-language policy, which proposes teaching three languages in schools across India, has been a contentious issue, especially in southern states like Tamil Nadu, where English and Tamil have been the preferred languages of instruction. The DMK has been vocal about its opposition to imposing Hindi as part of the curriculum, calling it an unnecessary burden for students. In her statement, Kanimozhi also highlighted the disparity in development between southern and northern states, particularly in the context of population control. "Southern India has been meticulously following the family planning, and we are at the penalising point now. Now, all the CMs have started saying you increased the population. What are we looking forward to?... There are so many states with poverty, lack of education, and lack of electricity in the interiors of northern India. We are able to provide quality education, quality food, and quality of life. It's time that the central government learns to implement this in the states that have not been using it and penalise them for not using it," she said. Tamil Nadu, along with other states, has been resisting the imposition of Hindi in schools, arguing that it goes against the spirit of federalism and the autonomy of states to decide their own educational priorities. She criticized the speaker's refusal to allow a debate on the issue, further intensifying her concerns about the potential political consequences of the exercise. "We had given notice under Rule 267 for discussing the delimitation, which is taking a toll on the southern states of India, which was refused by the chair. We are asking for a healthy discussion on delimitation. We want to know what is going to be the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), what the government is going to do," Kanimozhi added. (ANI)
Press Release

March 11, 2025 Senator Bong Go calls for immediate investigation into the tragic death of an infant allegedly due to hospital neglect in Bohol The death of a nine-month-old baby, allegedly due to medical neglect at the Department of Health (DOH)-run Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, has sparked outrage and demands for accountability. Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, has called for a fair, swift and thorough investigation into the incident to determine liability and prevent similar tragedies in the future. "Nakikiramay ako sa mga magulang ng baby na namatay matapos tatlong beses na diumano tinanggihang ma-admit sa Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital, isang DOH-run hospital, sa Tagbilaran City, Bohol," said Senator Go, expressing his condolences to the grieving family. The senator did not hold back his frustration over the circumstances that allegedly led to the infrant's death, stressing that no Filipino should have to suffer such a fate due to failures in the healthcare system. "Nakakagalit, nakakalungkot kung bakit kailangang humantong sa puntong mamatay ang kawawang sanggol," he added. Senator Go has urged the DOH to conduct a fair, immediate and thorough investigation to determine if there was negligence involved. He emphasized that those found responsible must be held accountable and to be fair, policies must be revisited as well to ensure proper implementation. "Bilang chairman ng Senate Committee on Health, ako ay nananawagan sa DOH na magsagawa ng agarang imbestigasyon. Kung kailangang merong managot, panagutin. Kung merong pagkukulang, punan. Kung merong kailangang dagdagan sa suporta ng gobyerno sa mga medical front liners, gawin na kaagad," he stressed. The senator underscored that ensuring accessible and efficient healthcare services, particularly for the poor, remains one of his top priorities. "The health, welfare, and well-being of our people, particularly the poor, are my foremost concerns," said Senator Go. "Health is life and is non-negotiable for me." The issue came to light after a Facebook post by the child's mother, Maricel Igang, went viral. In her post, Igang recounted how her baby fell ill on March 2 with fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. She brought the child to the hospital three timeson March 3, 4, and 5but was repeatedly denied admission, allegedly because the medical staff did not consider the case critical. On the third visit, she pleaded with the hospital to admit her child, who by then was visibly weak and unresponsive. However, she claimed that the hospital staff continued to downplay the severity of her baby's condition. Shortly after, the baby's condition further deteriorated. Despite frantic attempts by medical staff to intervene, the child was ultimately declared dead. Senator Go acknowledged the broader issues plaguing the public health system, stating that despite ongoing efforts to improve services, many Filipinos still struggle to access timely medical care. "Buwan-buwan, nagsasagawa tayo ng regular na Senate Health Committee hearingsmula sa mga reporma sa PhilHealth, tungo sa panawagang tuluyang bayaran na ang Health Emergency Allowances ng mga healthcare workers natin, hanggang sa pagsigurong merong sapat na mga medical facilities, equipment, at qualified professional ang ating mga public health establishments," he cited. "Ngunit sa kabila nito, mailap pa rin minsan sa ating mga ordinaryong kababayan ang mga serbisyong medikal na nararapat ibigay ng ating pamahalaan. Kaya hindi tayo titigil hanggang sa maisaayos ang lahat ng ito. Tandaan na ang kalusugan ay katumbas ng buhay ng bawat Pilipino," he added. Senator Go urged Filipinos to report any complaints regarding healthcare services to his office, assuring them that their concerns would be heard and addressed. "Kaya, nananawagan din ako sa ating mga kababayan, anumang reklamo ninyo hinggil sa serbisyong ibinibigay ng gobyerno pagdating sa inyong kalusugan, bukas ang aking opisina upang makinig sa inyong mga reklamo, marinig ang inyong mga hinaing nang sa gayon ay mas lalong mapabuti natin ang mga serbisyo ng pamahalaan at mas mailalapit ang mga ito sa inyo," he said. "This Senate Health Committee is an avenue for ordinary citizens to air their concerns and be heard," he added. The viral nature of the incident has sparked intense debate on social media, with netizens demanding accountability from the hospital and health authorities. Many, including Senator Go, have called on the DOH to ensure that similar cases of alleged hospital neglect do not happen again. "Ang katumbas ng kalusugan ay buhay. And a life of a Filipino lost is a life lost forever," he concluded.
Five Bangladeshi nationals were arrested by the Delhi police from different areas of the city for illegally residing in the country. Police said that two Bangladeshis were arrested from the Sadar Bazar area, and the remaining three from the outer district. All these Bangladeshis were living illegally in India and had also made their documents, said the Delhi police. Earlier on March 8, Delhi Police conducted a verification drive against illegal immigrants at Jai Hindi Camp in the national capital's Vasant Kunj area. Speaking to ANI, Sub-Inspector Ravi Malik said that during the verification process, they ask people for their identity proofs for verification and all their details were verified. He added that if someone was found suspicious, their ID proofs are sent to their concerned districts for verification. On March 6, the Delhi Police also conducted a verification drive to identify illegal Bangladeshi immigrants living in the Sangam Vihar area. In January this year, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena directed the police to launch a special mission to identify Bangladeshi immigrants living in the national capital. Earlier at a meeting of the top officials of the Delhi Police, it was decided to intensify the measures to identify and deport illegal immigrants from Bangladesh as part of a drive against those staying illegally in the country. The LG had directed the Delhi police to launch an outreach program through print and social media to generate public awareness on the importance of verifying employees/domestic help and workers, including construction labour, in the interest of their own security. "Resident Welfare Associations/Shopkeeper Associations may also be sensitised about the need for antecedent verification before employment. For those employers who are providing employment, accommodation or shelter to such illegal immigrants without antecedent verification, suitable legal action may also be initiated," the LG's letter in January to the Delhi Police Commissioner read. In February this year, Delhi Police apprehended 16 people suspected of staying in India illegally. The officials said that the people were found overstaying in India without a valid Visa. They were produced before the Foreign Regional Registration Office (FRRO), which ordered their deportation. Accordingly, they were sent to a Detention Centre. (ANI)
Indian Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi, interacted with students and faculty of Softvision College and Research Institute, Indore, underscoring the importance of military-civil collaboration in shaping a self-reliant and globally influential India. Upendra Dwivedi's address and subsequent interaction highlighted the crucial role of youth in realising the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, emphasising the synergy between education, innovation, and national security. The COAS described education as a lifelong pursuit of growth, knowledge, and service. He stressed the Indian ethos of 'Vidya', which embodies righteous living, duty, and contribution to society, urging students to think critically, challenge ideas, and drive meaningful change. Calling India a collective vision of 140 crore citizens, he exhorted the youth while stating, "The aspirations of a rising India rest on your knowledge, innovation, and determination. The future depends on your passion and perseverance." He encouraged students to see themselves as facilitators of progress, shaping India's technological, economic, and social transformation. On national security, the COAS reiterated the Indian Army's role in ensuring stability and fostering progress. He spoke about the Army's 'Decade of Transformation', focused on modernisation, adaptability, and integration of advanced technology. "National security is a 'Whole-of-Nation Effort'--war is not fought by the military alone. Space warriors, cyber warriors, and information warriors play an equally vital role," he stated. He invited young minds to contribute to defence research and strategic innovation, highlighting the Army's Technological Battalions initiative as a step toward self-reliance in defence capabilities. Urging students to embrace leadership, innovation, and social responsibility, General Dwivedi called on them to be 'change drivers' and 'change leaders'. He said, "True leaders question, innovate, and challenge convention. Progress is built on fresh ideas and the courage to break barriers." He outlined key leadership principles--the 2Cs, 3As, and 3Ts---Commitment and Communication - Essential for success and trust-building. The 3 A's as Attitude, Adaptability and Ability - The foundation of resilience and excellence and 3T's as Truth, Trust and Transparency - Cornerstones of credibility and leadership. Describing the youth as the nation's most valuable asset, the COAS stated, "India's path to greatness is shaped by its youth--their drive, discipline, and determination will define our trajectory." The COAS emphasised that students play a pivotal role in Viksit Bharat, shaping India's journey toward becoming a self-reliant and globally influential nation. Encouraging them to challenge ideas, develop critical thinking, and contribute to nation-building, he said, "The academic years are a foundation for you to evolve into responsible and informed citizens, whose innovations and leadership will drive India's progress."Encouraging them to be initiators of transformation, he emphasised their role in technological advancement, start-ups, research, and civic initiatives. Concluding on an inspiring note, he remarked, "Our nation is brimming with opportunities. The synergy between India's youth and the Indian Army will be the driving force behind a progressive, self-reliant, and globally respected India. Aim high, seize challenges, and lead the way towards Viksit Bharat 2047." (ANI)
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Reasi, Paramvir Singh, confirmed the incident and stated that four critically injured individuals have been referred to Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu for advanced treatment.

He said, the mishap took place in Gangot, Mahore, when a tempo traveller en route from Jammu to Sanglikot met with an accident. The injured were promptly shifted to nearby medical facilities for treatment.

Local authorities, along with rescue teams, immediately reached the spot and initiated relief operations. Further investigation is underway to ascertain the cause of the accident.

The district administration expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families and assured all possible assistance to the injured. (ANI)
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], March 11 (ANI) - The mortal remains of Anil Thomas Gabriel Pereira (42) a native of Thumba who was shot dead at the Jordan-Israel border, were brought home and laid to rest. His body was received by relatives. Many people gathered at his residence to pay their final respects. The last rites were conducted at the St.John the Baptist Church, Thumba. Thomas Gabriel was shot dead by the Jordanian army on February 10 while attempting to cross the Jordan-Israel border. Gabriel, had travelled to Jordan on a tourist visa. He was accompanied by 43-year-old Edison, who was injured by a bullet during the incident. His family is now seeking financial assistance from the Indian mission According to the Indian Embassy, Jordanian forces stopped four individuals in the Karak region and opened fire. Thomas was shot in the head and died instantly, while his relative Edison sustained a bullet injury to his leg. A relative of Thomas Gabriel Periera said, " My relative's son is in London and he is the one who called and informed me about this incident. We don't know what happened exactly. He left from here on 5th (February). On 9th (February), my sister received a call, it was just for 2 minutes. He just asked to pray for him and cut the call. Then we received an email and we got to know that he died after he was shot in the head and his body is lying at a government hospital there. He once worked in Kuwait for 5 years...he didn't say anything to his wife and anyone, he left silently. He called once he reached there and then only he told where he went to." Thomas Gabriel Periera's wife said," The last time I received a call, he only spoke to me for 2 minutes. He just asked me to pray for him". Adoor Prakash, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha from Attingal, Kerala wrote a letter to EAM S Jaishanker asking the External Affairs ministry to assist the family in bringing the mortal remains of Gabirel home. On March 2, sources in the External Affairs ministry informed that Thomas Gabriel was shot and killed at by the Jordanian security when he was allegedly trying to cross over into another country illegally, (ANI)
Congress MLAs on Tuesday staged a protest against the BJP-led Odisha government outside the Legislative Assembly over the alleged rising incidents of crimes against women in the state. Speaking to ANI, Congress MLA Sofia Firdous said that this was the third day of their protest. She claimed that people in the state are scared to send their daughters out of their houses to schools and colleges due to the rise in "crime against women." "Today is the third day of our protest. We have been protesting inside and outside the House. The way crime against women has increased across the state, people are scared to send their daughters out of their houses for schools and colleges. The Government is trying to divert us from the topic, but we will not let that happen..." Firdous said. Earlier today, Congress MP Saptagiri Ulaka has brought attention to the alleged dire situation of women's safety in Odisha, filing an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha. In the adjournment motion Ulaka presented disturbing statistics, "In the last eight months in my state, Odisha, 54 gang rape cases and 1,600 instances of atrocities against women have been reported. The data of the last 4 years shows a grim reality of law and order and the condition of women in my state; 36,420 women and 8,403 children have gone missing, with 421 women and girls falling victim to trafficking, the crimes against women have increased by 8% in 2024." On Monday, the Congress MLAs protested in the Odisha Assembly premises against the alleged rise in the incidents of crimes committed against women in the state. Congress state president Bhakta Charan Das said the safety and protection of women had to be ensured by the government. Meanwhile, Biju Janata Dal members also created ruckus in the Odisha assembly. BJD MLAs while wearing black badges protested against the controversial statement of BJP MLA Jayanarayan Mishra over Koshal's merger with Odisha The BJD members were protesting the controversial statement of BJP MLA Jayanarayan Mishra over Koshal's merger with Odisha and rising crime against women in the state. BJD has demanded a clarification from the state government. Jayanarayan had said that "merger of Koshala during the formation of Odisha was a mistake and they have made a historical blunder by joining Odisha". BJD opposed the statement and protested in the well of the house of Odisha assembly. (ANI)
Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Tuesday condemned Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's remarks, calling it "very unparliamentary" and unfortunate. Congress MP Manickam Tagore said, " It is very unfortunate. The language of the Union Education Minister was very unparliamentary. It is good to see that the Speaker prevailed upon the Minister, and he withdrew the statement. The way BJP and RSS degrade the language of Parliament shows the arrogance of BJP." Congress MP Pramod Tiwari also condemned Pradhan's remarks, saying, "He should have controlled his language. He cannot abuse anyone, and we condemn his remarks." Earlier today, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi and other DMK MPs held a protest in the Parliament over the National Education Policy (NEP) and against Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over his remark in the Parliament on the three-language issue. "The Union Govt is withholding the money that has to be given to Tamil Nadu, saying that we have to sign the three-language policy and the NEP. They are ruining the future of the children of Tamil Nadu. They have no right to withhold the funds which have to come to the children of Tamil Nadu. Yesterday, he (Dharmendra Pradhan) responded in a very abusive way, saying that we are dishonest and that the people of Tamil Nadu are uncivilised. This is not the language we expect him to be speaking. This is totally undemocratic. We expect an apology," DMK MP Kanimozhi said. On Monday, a war of words broke out between Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the DMK party after Pradhan termed the Tamil Nadu government as "dishonest" and the people of the state as "uncivilised." Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin hit back and accused Pradhan of "arrogance" and of "insulting the people" of Tamil Nadu. In a strongly worded post in Tamil on his X, Stalin called out the Union Minister's "arrogance" and said that he was speaking like an "arrogant king." The one who had "disrespected" the people of Tamil Nadu "needs to be disciplined." Pradhan, in his remarks during Question Hour, alleged that the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government had initially agreed to implement the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme in the state but later went back on their promise. The DMK staged a protest over the union minister's remarks that led to an adjournment of proceedings of the Lower House of Parliament. "They (DMK) are dishonest. They are not committed to the students of Tamil Nadu. They are ruining the future of Tamil Nadu students. Their only job is to raise language barriers. They are doing politics. They are undemocratic and uncivilised," Pradhan said. (ANI)
MPs from Kerala on Tuesday held a protest in Parliament in support of ASHA workers, demanding their honorarium to be raised to Rs 21,000 and stating that they should receive Rs 5 lakh as retirement benefits. Speaking to ANI, Congress MP KC Venugopal said, "Asha workers are working 24/7 in the health sector. They are the major contributors to the health sectors in Kerala. They are getting Rs 233 per day, that too they are not it getting regularly. They are not getting retirement benefits. For the last 30 days, they have been agitating in front of the Kerala Secretariat, the issue we raised in the Parliament. That's why we are holding this protest." Revolutionary Socialist Party MP N. K. Premachandran said, " ASHA workers in Kerala have been on indefinite strike for the last 32 days. Their genuine, legitimate demand is to get better honorarium and living conditions, retirement benefits and they also want their performance incentives to be increased. Unfortunately, neither the central government nor the state government is ready to have a discussion with them...we demand the Government of India and the State government need to intervene in this matter..." The Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers were also protesting in Kerala against the Left Democratic Alliance (LDF) government, demanding a monthly honorarium of Rs 21,000 per and a retirement benefit of Rs 5 lakh. On International Women's Day, they organized a massive demonstration in front of the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, joined by women from across Kerala and various women's organizations, further intensifying the agitation. In an attempt to pacify the workers, the Kerala Health Department has decided to release two months' pending dues and relax certain eligibility criteria for honorarium payments. However, ASHA workers have refused to back down, insisting on a substantial salary hike. The National Health Mission (NHM) has directed ASHA workers on strike to resume work immediately, but with their core demands still unmet, the workers continue to protest. Earlier, on March 4, Kerala Leader of Opposition (LoP) and Congress leader VD Satheesan accused the LDF government of failing to fulfill its Rs 21,000 honorarium promise. He criticized the government's "negative attitude" and alleged attempts to suppress protesting women. Expressing Congress's support, he highlighted the heavy workload of ASHA workers and their meagre Rs 7,000 state honorarium. (ANI)
The Trinamool Congress and Congress parties have expressed strong support for the DMK's demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to apologize for his remarks on Tamil Nadu's language policy. Kalyan Banerjee, a senior TMC leader, stated that Pradhan should face consequences for the comments and called for his removal from the cabinet. Banerjee said he has sought an apology and the removal of Pradhan from the cabinet. "The language that has been used by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is unexpected. A central minister using such a language for the people of Tamil Nadu has downgraded the people of the state. Either he should seek an apology in the House, or he should be removed as a minister from the cabinet. PM Modi should hear what his ministers are doing...TMC stands in support for DMK and the people of Tamil Nadu," he said. Congress MP Karti Chidambaram also weighed in on the matter, emphasizing Tamil Nadu's stance on the issue. He said, "Tamil Nadu is very clear that a two-language curriculum serves us very well. Tamil preserves our identity and is our mother tongue, English is our link language to the world of commerce and science... we don't need a third compulsory language." Chidambaram further criticized Pradhan, stating that although the Minister withdrew his comment, an apology was still required. "The Minister should have apologized; he withdrew it but he should have apologized too," Chidambaram added. Earlier, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi and other DMK MPs held a protest in the Parliament on Tuesday over National Education Policy (NEP), the three-language issue and against Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over his remark in the Parliament on the three-language issue. "The Union Govt is withholding the money that has to be given to Tamil Nadu, saying that we have to sign the three-language policy and the NEP. They are ruining the future of the children of Tamil Nadu. They have no right to withhold the funds which have to come to the children of Tamil Nadu. Yesterday, he (Dharmendra Pradhan) responded in a very abusive way, saying that we are dishonest and that the people of Tamil Nadu are uncivilised. This is not the language we expect him to be speaking. This is totally undemocratic. We expect an apology," DMK MP Kanimozhi said. The DMK is opposing the National Education Policy (NEP), especially the three-language formula, which it believes is an attempt to impose Hindi on Tamil Nadu.DMK MP Kanimozhi accused the Centre of ruining the future of the children on Tamil Nadu. On Monday, a war of words broke out between Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the DMK party after Pradhan termed the Tamil Nadu government as "dishonest" and the people of the state as "uncivilised." Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin hit back and accused Pradhan of "arrogance" and of "insulting the people" of Tamil Nadu. Pradhan, in his remarks during Question Hour, alleged that the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government had initially agreed to implement the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme in the state but later went back on their promise. The DMK staged a protest, over the union minister's remarks that led to an adjournment of proceedings of the Lower House of Parliament. (ANI)
The Rouse Avenue court on Tuesday granted bail to Tej Pratap Yadav, Hema Yadav and other accused persons in the Land for Job scam case. They appeared before the court pursuant to summons issued to them. Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi and Misa Bharti moved exemption application. Special judge Vishal Gogne granted bail to accused persons on furnishing a personal bond of Rs. 50000 and surety bond in like amount by each accused. The court has listed the matter for hearing on March 20. The court took cognizance of all three chargesheet including conclusive charge filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The conclusive charge sheet was filed against former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and 77 other accused persons. There are 30 public servants in the accused persons and 38 candidates. In first chargesheet, three additional accused have also been added and summoned. In second chargesheet accused Bhola Yadav, Prem Chand Gupta have also been summoned. In third chargesheet Hema Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav have also been summoned. On June 7, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a conclusive chargesheet against Lalu Prasad Yadav and 77 other accused in land for job case. The court on May 29 directed CBI to file its conclusive chargesheet in land for job case. The court had also expressed its displeasure over non filing of conclusive charge sheet despite giving time. On October 4, 2023 the court had granted bail to former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, Rabri Devi and others in relation to earlier chargesheet in alleged Land for Job Scam case. According to the CBI, the second chargesheet was against 17 accused including then Union Minister of Railways, his wife, son, then GM of West Central Railways(WCR), then two CPOs of WCR, private persons, private company etc. in a case related to Land for Job Scam The CBI filed a chargesheet in Land for Job alleged scam case against former Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav including Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav and others. CBI had registered a case on May 18, 2022 against then Union Minister of Railways and others including his wife, two daughters and unknown Public servants and Private persons. It is alleged that then Union Minister of Railways during the period 2004-2009 had obtained pecuniary advantages in the form of transfer of landed property in the name of his family members etc. in lieu of appointment of Substitutes in Group "D" Post in different Zones of Railways. It was further alleged that in lieu thereof the substitutes, who were residents of Patna themselves or through their family members sold & gifted their land situated at Patna in favour of the family members of said Minister and a private company controlled by his family members, which was also involved in transfer of such immovable properties in the name of said family members. It was also alleged that no advertisement or any public notice was issued for such appointments of substitutes in Zonal Railways, yet the appointees who were residents of Patna were appointed as Substitutes in different Zonal Railways located at Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur and Hazipur. Searches were conducted at multiple places including in Delhi and Bihar, said CBI. (ANI)
Congress MP Manish Tewari on Tuesday expressed concerns over the reported reduction of tariffs by India under external pressure, questioning the government's stance on the matter. Speaking to ANI, Tewari said, "Whatever has emerged in the public space is very ambiguous. There is no clarification from the government. Are they under pressure from the US to rationalize tariffs? What happened during the Commerce Minister's visit to Washington, DC? There are a large number of questions that need to be answered because they are connected with the economic sovereignty of India." Earlier, Tewari had moved an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha to discuss the matter. His motion requested that the House suspend Zero Hour and other scheduled business to deliberate on the reported tariff reductions. The motion, which addressed the impact of external pressure on India's trade policy, stated: "I hereby give notice of my intention to ask for leave to move a motion for the adjournment of the business of the house for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent importance, namely: That this House suspend Zero Hour and the relevant rules pertaining to Question Hour and other scheduled business of the day to deliberate upon the reported reduction of tariffs by India under external pressure." Tewari pointed to recent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump, suggesting that India had agreed to significant tariff reductions, raising concerns about the circumstances under which these commitments were made. He emphasized that while enhancing trade relations with the U.S. is important, such concessions should not harm India's economic interests or strategic autonomy. He further called for clarity from the government on the rationale behind the tariff cuts, particularly in sensitive sectors like agriculture and electric vehicles. "It is imperative that the Government clarifies the rationale behind these tariff reductions and ensures that such measures do not unduly benefit foreign industries at the expense of domestic enterprises," he added. Tewari urged the government to explain the considerations leading to these reductions and the safeguards in place to protect Indian industries. He stressed that this issue has national significance, directly impacting India's economic sovereignty and trade policy. (ANI)
Press Release

March 11, 2025 Bong Go advocates for barangay welfare improved service delivery in communities during Liga ng Barangay Leyte Provincial Congress Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, through his Malasakit Team, reaffirmed his support for barangay officials and grassroots governance as his team represented him at the Liga ng Barangay Leyte Provincial Congress Batch 2 on Friday, March 7. The gathering at the IEC Convention Center in Cebu City, held to strengthen barangay leadership and governance, saw the participation of councilors, barangay captains, and other barangay officials, totaling 2,321 attendees. The Senator earlier attended the first batch during his visit to Cebu on March 4. Go extended his gratitude to all barangay leaders, emphasizing their critical role in community development and public service. He also acknowledged the leadership of Governor Jericho "Icot" Petilla, Vice Governor Sandy Javier, Board Member Maria Katrina Jessica DyLNB National President, Board Member Ma. Martina GimenezProvincial Liga President, and Councilor Celestino Martinez IIILNB National Secretary General, for their contributions in making the event possible and for their continuous support to barangay officials. "Muli akong nagpapasalamat sa ating mga barangay officials sa inyong sipag at sakripisyo sa paglilingkod sa ating mga kababayan. Kayo po ang unang nilalapitan ng tao sa panahon ng pangangailangan, kaya't dapat lang na bigyan kayo ng sapat na suporta upang maipagpatuloy ninyo ang inyong serbisyo nang mas epektibo," Go said in message. The senator underscored the need to strengthen barangay governance, ensuring that local leaders are well-equipped with resources and support from the national government. He also emphasized that effective leadership at the grassroots level translates to a stronger and more resilient nation. As part of his legislative agenda, Go is advocating for the passage of Senate Bill No. 197 or the Magna Carta for Barangays, which seeks to provide barangay officials benefits similar to those of regular government employees. Under this proposed measure, punong barangays, Sangguniang Barangay members, SK chairpersons, barangay secretaries, and treasurers will be eligible for salaries, allowances and additional benefits if enacted into law. Additionally, if passed, the bill grants barangays the autonomy to determine the appropriate number of permanent barangay tanods, ensuring that they receive proper compensation, honoraria, and other necessary support for their service in maintaining peace and order. "Ang ating mga barangay officials ang unang sumasagot sa panahon ng sakuna, gulo, at iba pang hamon sa komunidad. Kaya dapat lang na bigyan sila ng sapat na benepisyo at suporta para sa kanilang walang sawang serbisyo," Go emphasized. Apart from barangay officials, Go also underscored his support for barangay health workers (BHWs), who serve as frontline providers of healthcare services in their communities. Through SBN 2838 or the Magna Carta for Barangay Health Workers, Go aims to institutionalize fair compensation and benefits for BHWs, ensuring that they receive proper remuneration, allowances, and incentives for their invaluable contributions. "Napakahalaga ng papel ng ating mga BHWs sa pagbibigay ng serbisyong medikal sa komunidad, lalo na sa mga liblib na lugar. Kaya't patuloy nating isusulong ang kanilang kapakanan upang mas maging epektibo ang serbisyong pangkalusugan sa ating bansa," he added. As a re-electionist senator, Go reaffirmed his commitment to barangay officials, stressing that he will continue advocating for their welfare and pushing for legislative measures that empower grassroots governance. He assured local leaders that his unwavering support for their initiatives will remain a priority, ensuring that every barangay has access to essential government services and resources. Go, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, also took the opportunity to remind barangay officials about his ongoing programs that directly benefit communities, including the continued operations of Malasakit Centers, and the establishment of more Super Health Centers, and Regional Specialty Centers nationwide. These initiatives aim to bring medical services closer to Filipinos, especially those in underserved areas. "Patuloy po akong magseserbisyo sa inyo dahil bisyo ko na po ang magserbisyo at naniniwala ako na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo rin sa Diyos," Go ended. The Liga ng Barangay Leyte Provincial Congress serves as a platform for barangay leaders to discuss best practices, policy updates, and capacity-building programs.
The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi on Tuesday directed the jail authorities to allow Christian Michel James, an accused in the Augusta Westland VVIP chopper deal case, to apply for his passport to fulfil his bail conditions. James submitted before the Special CBI judge Sanjeev Aggarwal that he would need at least two months to apply for and get access to a passport as the same had expired. The accused, Michel James, needs to surrender his passport to the court authorities as one of the conditions required to be fulfilled for the grant of bail. On March 7, the Court directed Michel James to furnish a bond of Rs 5 lakh with one surety of the same amount as part of his bail conditions. The court had also directed Michel to surrender his passport. Since his passport had already expired, the court directed him to apply for a new passport with the British High Commission as per the prescribed rules. In the March 7 hearing, James had also expressed concern regarding his safety outside the jail. He had said that he wanted to remain in custody for his safety. Today, when the Special CBI judge asked Michel James whether he was ready to furnish his bail bond, the accused said, "There are some issues". Michel James has also moved another application before the court seeking directions to the Jail Superintendent to furnish the conduct report since his incarceration from January 2019 till date. The application states that the Conduct Report is crucial for Michel as it contains details of his behavior during his incarceration and access to a copy of the Conduct Report will enable him to check his eligibility for remission. The accused, Christian James Michel, was extradited from Dubai in December 2018 and has been in judicial custody in India since then. However, he has been granted bail recently and will soon be released. Michel was granted bail by the Supreme Court in the CBI case and by the Delhi High Court in the money laundering case linked to the VIP chopper deal. Special Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal had framed the conditions for Michel's release as per the apex court's order. Advocate Aljo K Joseph represented Michel James. (ANI)
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi on Tuesday again sharply criticised Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for his "abusive" remarks in the Lok Sabha, a day ago and accused the Centre of withholding funds meant for the education of children in Tamil Nadu. Kanimozhi, the MP from Lok Sabha constituency Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu, said the Union Minister's remarks were undemocratic and demanded an apology. "The Union government is withholding the money that should be given to Tamil Nadu, demanding that we sign the three-language policy and the NEP. They are ruining the future of the children of Tamil Nadu. They have no right to withhold these funds," Kanimozhi said. She further condemned Pradhan's response to the issue, calling his language "abusive" and "undemocratic." Kanimozhi stated that Union Minister Pradhan accused the Tamil Nadu government of dishonesty and referred to the people of the State as "uncivilised." "This is not the language we expect from a Union Minister. It is undemocratic, and we demand an apology for his remarks," she said. Union Education Minister Pradhan while speaking in Lok Sabha yesterday, accused the Tamil Nadu government and opposition MPs from Tamil Nadu of being "liars" and "uncivilised." The remarks were made during a discussion about the Union government's withholding of over Rs 2,000 crore in funds for Tamil Nadu's schools, contingent upon the State signing the National Education Policy (NEP) and the three-language policy. Pradhan later withdrew his words but the DMK MP condemned the 'undemocratic and unparliamentary' words used for the Tamil Nadu parliamentarians. Kanimozhi said that the State government has been rigid on their stand on the issue right from the beginning and have not changed it. Kanimozhi clarified that Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister, MK Stalin, had already communicated in writing to both the Union Minister and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing that the State government could not agree to the NEP due to disagreements on certain issues. CM Stalin requested that the funds be released without linking them to the acceptance of the NEP and three-language policy. Kanimozhi also initiated a breach of privilege notice against Union Minister Pradhan. She, accompanied by other DMK MPs, all dressed in black, held a protest in the Parliament complex today over the National Education Policy (NEP), the three-language issue and against Union Minister Pradhan. The DMK is opposing the National Education Policy (NEP), especially the three-language formula, which it believes is an attempt to impose Hindi on Tamil Nadu. Yesterday Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin accused Pradhan of "arrogance" and of "insulting the people" of Tamil Nadu. In a strongly worded post in Tamil on his X, Stalin said the Union Minister was speaking like an "arrogant king" and the one who had "disrespected" the people of Tamil Nadu "needs to be disciplined." Pradhan, in his remarks during Question Hour, alleged that the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government had initially agreed to implement the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme in the state but later went back on their promise. The DMK staged a protest, over the union minister's remarks that led to an adjournment of proceedings of the Lower House of Parliament. (ANI)
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered a probe into the allegations of 'protocol violations' at the Bengaluru International Airport and the alleged role of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao in the gold smuggling case linked to actress Ranya Rao. Karnataka's Additional Chief Secretary, Gaurav Gupta, has been appointed as the investigating officer in this case. The Chief Minister has instructed that the report be submitted within a week. It is alleged that actress Ranya Rao misused her name and the courtesy services offered to her to "evade" checks at airports and conduct "illegal" activities. The official order read, "As it has been reported in the media and newspapers for the past one week that the actress Mrs. Ranya Rao was illegally transporting gold bullion from Dubai to Bangalore when she was arrested by the officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence. Also, the etiquettes given to the top officials at the airports were given to their father by the Director General of Police of the State IPS Group, the Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation, Dr K Ramachandra Rao, IPS." "It is reported that Mrs Rao has misused her name and the courtesy services offered to her to evade checks at airports and conduct illegal activities. Therefore, the Government considers it necessary to investigate the facts and circumstances leading to the availment of courtesy facilities and the role of Shri Ramachandra Rao, IPS, Director General of Police, State IPS Squad, Managing Director, Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Corporation, in this case," it said. Investigating officer Gaurav Gupta will investigate the facts and circumstances leading to the availment of the courtesy facilities and the role of IPS Rao in this case. The order read, "In view of the points outlined in the proposal, Mr. Gaurav Gupta, Bha.A.Se. Additional Chief Secretary to the Government, Government of Karnataka Bangalore has been appointed as the investigating officer to investigate the facts and circumstances leading to the availment of the courtesy facilities and the role of Director General of Police, State IPS Squad, Managing Director, Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Corporation Shri Ramachandra Rao, IPS in this case. Investigators will begin an investigation immediately, and file an investigation report." Actress Ranya Rao was arrested on March 3 by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Kempegowda International Airport (KIAD) in Bengaluru for allegedly smuggling 14.8 kilograms of gold from Dubai. Ranya, the stepdaughter of DGP K Ramachandra Rao, was produced before a special court judge on the evening of March 4 for financial offences. 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 Bowring Hospital in Bengaluru. During her questioning, Rao claimed that her trip to Dubai was for business purposes. However, authorities suspect that her visit was linked to the illegal importation of gold. Then she was remanded to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) custody until March 10. The Economic Offences Court in Bengaluru allowed the actress to meet her advocate for half an hour each day during her 3-day DRI custody. The court, presided over by Justice Vishwanath C Gowdar, directed the DRI to provide Rao with essentials like food and a bed during her custody and cautioned the DRI against harsh treatment during the investigation. (ANI)
The incident occurred on March 6, when Santosh, the victim, withdrew approximately Rs 33 lakh from the Union Bank of India, police said.

Speaking to ANI, Haveri Superintendent of Police (SP) Anshu Kumar said, "The incident occurred on March 6 when Santosh, the victim, withdrew approximately Rs 33 lakh from the Union Bank of India. He left the money in his vehicle while he went inside his home. During this time, an interstate gang was following him. Seizing an opportunity, the gang members broke the glass of the car and stole the money in just 40-50 seconds. They immediately fled the scene on two bikes."

Santosh became aware of the theft around 5:30 pm and immediately contacted the police. In response, Haveri Police officials arrived at the scene, collected evidence, and promptly formed four teams to track down the culprits, SP Anshu Kumar said.

"After two days of intense investigation, the police arrested the accused and recovered Rs 30 lakh in cash from Andhra Pradesh," SP Anshu Kumar said. (ANI)
Forest officials on Tuesday said that they have successfully captured a leopard which had attacked four goats at the Chinnaswamy Gounder Estate in Onapalayam area of Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, a day ago. According to an official release from the Forest Department, Coimbatore, the incident occurred early in the morning, when the leopard entered the estate on Siruvani Road and took away the goats. Upon investigation, forest officials found footprints, and following orders from the Chief Forest Conservator, the Field Director of Anamalai Tiger Reserve, and the District Forest Officer, a trap was set up at the site and monitored with an automatic camera. The leopard was located in a newly built house in the Poochiyar Bhupathi Raja Nagar area of Onapalayam on the night of March 10 at around 11:35 pm. Forest department personnel, along with the Anamalai Tiger Reserve Forest Veterinarian, carefully monitored the leopard's movements and successfully captured it using a trap net before securing it in a cage. The Coimbatore Forest Department confirmed the successful capture and assured the public of continued vigilance in ensuring wildlife safety and human-animal conflict resolution. Earlier in a similar incident of human-animal interaction in Uttar Pradesh, a leopard entered a wedding ceremony at MM Lawn on Budheshwar Ring Road in the Para police station area in UP's Lucknow, an official said. The feline made its entry at 11.40 PM on Wednesday, after which, the forest officials rescued the leopard after four hours. SDO Mohanlalganj and three doctors arrived immediately at the venue. Lucknow Divisional Forest Officer Sitanshu Pandey said, "It took almost 4.5 hours to rescue the leopard from the MM Lawn Guest House. SDO Mohanlalganj and three doctors arrived here immediately. Around 203 people were present at the venue. One person from the forest staff was also injured, and he has also received treatment." Because of the dense forest around the area, the leopard strayed into the wedding venue. "There is a huge dense forest above Malihabad, which has mango trees. Beyond that, there are also Lakhimpur Kheri, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve and Pilibhit Tiger Reserve. Since the leopard is an agile animal, it could have come from anywhere," Pandey said. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Congress MLAs held a protest against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government over unemployment issues in the state infront of Mahatma Gandhi statue located on the premises of the assembly in Bhopal on Tuesday. Congress MLAs, including Leader of Opposition (LoP), Umang Singhar and Deputy LoP Hemant Katare were staging the demonstration in an unique method to convey their message by symbolically holding a fake snake in a box. They put a sticker in the name of the BJP government on the box and alleged that the BJP was biting the youths of the state. "BJP is making youth unemployed. There are thousands of vacancies in various government departments namely Agriculture, PWD, Police departments and other departments. There are around 70000-80000 vacancies but BJP is not ready to make recruitments, what is the reason. Does the Mohan Yadav government not want to think about the youth? The BJP is biting the youth of the state," Singhar told ANI. On the other hand, Deputy LoP, Katare also alleged that the BJP government killing the futiure of the youth of the state. "The BJP's actual face is the same as a black snake and in the same form, they are biting the future of youths of the state and killing it. We are doing this protest because youths here are not getting employment and the BJP government is responsible for that. There is only deception in the name of employment. Youths of Madhya Pradesh are forced to migrate to other places. The BJP government is continuously biting the youth and killing their future," Katare told ANI. Meanwhile, retaliating over the Congress's protest, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Rameshwar Sharma said that Congress was taking training to catch snakes as there are so many 'Asteen ka Saanp' (referring to backstabbers) in the Congress. "Congress is taking training to catch snakes because there are so many 'Asteen ka Saanp' in their party. Congress chief Jitu Patwari is biting LoP Umang Singar. Similarly Singar is biting veteran Congress leader Digvijaya Singh and Singh is biting former CM Kamal Nath. While Nath is stinging Rahul Gandhi. Afterall, there are so many Asteen ka Saanp in the Congress that they are now taking training for catching snakes. I extend my best wishes to them for their new work," BJP MLA Sharma said. (ANI)
The incident occurred when Sao was being brought to Ranchi by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) from Raipur in neighbouring Chhattisgarh on remand. In Palamu, under Ramgarh police station area, police vehicles were attacked by his gang.

During the attack, Sao tried to escape and also attempted to snatch a weapon from an ATS jawan. In the process, one jawan was injured by gunshots. The police responded by shooting and killing Aman Sao, according to information by Jharkhand Police.

Further details on the incident are awaited. (ANI)
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday announced a committee for the regularization of the daily wagers. The committee will be headed by the Chief Secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir government and will submit its report after six months. Speaking in the legislative assembly, CM Abdullah said, "I also wanted to know why this situation has arisen in daily wagers issue, we could not do that's why we lost in 2014. We had worked of their regularization at that time but could not do. I have taken out all the budget speeches; you have promised regularisation in your budget speeches. Then you made a committee. In 16 - 17 budget you said a high level committee has been formed.... 61000 was the number at that time and in 2018 government broke down. After that, nothing happened, and two years back, under the reorganisation act, the regularization was cancelled. Now you are taking up this issue of daily wagers... We are starting from zero now. I announce a committee for regularization of daily wagers. Six months will be given to come up with a framework, number how many daily wagers are there." Meanwhile, speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister stated that the government will bring its policy on the issue of daily wagers in the next session after the committee will submit its report. "A committee has been formed under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary. I have given him the time of 6 months. He will exercise it, and then we will bring forward our policy in the budget session," CM Abdullah told reporters. Reacting to the opposition's claims of "love-letters" to the BJP, the Chief Minister stated that its opposition works to oppose anything and the love letter they refer to is for the people of the J-K, which he doesn't "hesitate" to own. He said, "Opposition are named so. Because they want to oppose everything. We were also in opposition and we have done the same. This is the story of assembly and the Parliament. This love letter was not for BJP, but for voters of BJP, PDP, JKNC, PC, INC and was for people of Jammu and Kashmir. I don't hesitate to own this love letter." Speaking on the RSS' General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale's statement advocating for India to be officially called Bharat, CM Abdullah said that the county has three names and one can call it by whatever name they wants to. "We call it Bharat. We have three names and we call our country by Bharat, India, Hindustan. One can use whatever name they want to. On the PM's plane, India and Bharat both are written. It's called the Indian Air Force, Indian Army. Names are different but one can use whatever name they want to," the CM said. (ANI)
Former Karnataka Chief Minister and MP Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for approving Rs 100 crore for the development of the renowned pilgrimage site, Savadatti Yallamma Hill, in North Karnataka. In a post on X, he stated that under the Central PRASAD scheme, the Rs 100 crore grant for the development of the Savadatti Yallamma Temple will provide modern facilities to the thousands of devotees visiting the temple. Bommai expressed confidence that this initiative would foster a positive sentiment among the devotees towards the temple. "Thank you PM Narendra Modi, and Gajendra Shekhawat for approving the development project of Shri Renuka Yallamma Temple under the PRASHAD scheme. This initiative will enhance the pilgrimage experience and provide modern amenities to thousands of devotees. We are excited about the positive impact this will bring to our community!" posted Bommai on X. Yellamma Temple, also known as Renuka Temple, is a temple of Goddess (Devi) Renuka and a pilgrimage destination. Earlier in the day, Bommai called for a thorough investigation into the illegal gold smuggling network linked to Kannada actress Ranya Rao. Speaking to the media in Delhi on Monday, Bommai stressed the need to expose all those involved in the network, which allegedly includes significant criminal activities connected to the actress. Bommai clarified that during his tenure, the allocation of land to Xiroda India Pvt. Ltd., where Rao was a director, never reached the Chief Minister's office. Commenting on media reports alleging that two ministers were involved, the former CM demanded a detailed and deep investigation is necessary. "This does not appear to be an isolated incident. Such a major crime can't occur without officials' involvement. The entire network behind it must be exposed. A CBI probe will reveal who was responsible. A thorough investigation will bring out the truth," he asserted. Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered a probe into the allegations of 'protocol violations' at the Bengaluru International Airport and the alleged role of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao in the gold smuggling case linked to actress Ranya Rao. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Ketakee Singh on Tuesday urged Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to create a separate wing for Muslims at the new Ballia Medical College. Speaking to ANI, Ketakee Singh said, "A brave policeman in Sambhal clearly said that there are 52 'Jumme' in a year, but Holi comes only once a year. So I thought that if something happens by mistake some colour is splashed, then this crying gang will take to the streets. ...I think that if they are so scared of our people, then why not have a separate wing made for them at the medical college that is being built in Ballia, where they can come get treatment." She said that a separate medical facility for Muslims would ensure the safety of Hindus. "You must have seen videos on the Internet, spitting on fruits, spitting on vegetables, mixing urine. I demand from the CM that a separate wing should be made for them so that they can get mental and physical treatment," she added. Earlier today, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has decided that a new medical college will be constructed in the Ballia district of the state. Speaking to ANI, the Deputy Chief Minister stated it was a longstanding demand of the people and the MLA of Ballia, which the chief minister Adityanath has fulfilled now. "For a long time, the people of Balia have been demanding a medical college in the area. Ballia MLA Dayashankar Pandey, who is also state's Transport Minister, has also demanded to build a medical college in the area. UP CM has decided that a medical college will be built in Ballia. We are moving forward with this proposal with the land-acquiring process..." Pathak told ANI. The Deputy Chief Minister, who holds the portfolio of the state's Health and Welfare Ministry, also highlighted the medical preparations, stating that all medical practitioners and administrations have been advised to keep all hospitals on alert and be ready to deal with all kinds of situations. He said, "For Holi, all medical practitioners and administrations have been advised to keep all hospitals on alert and be ready to deal with all kinds of situations; leaves have been cancelled. In hospitals, all facilities will be ensured." Meanwhile, Opposition parties have slammed statement by MLA Ketakee Singh , questioning whether the BJP will support or distance itself from such comments. Juhie Singh, Spokesperson of the Samajwadi Party and the leader of the Women's Wing of the SP said, "It is sad that the Governement says that the medical college will be named after the great revolutionary Chittu Pandey and the legislator there who neither knows the history of Ballia nor knows the ideology of Chittu Pandey. "They make such irresponsible and senseless statements. Such people have no help or ability to become public representatives and the government should take action against them.... Such people have no right to go to the Assembly,' said Juhie Singh. (ANI)
IDC Urges U.S. Government to End the Brutal Violence in Syria

In Defense of Christians

Washington -- In Defense of Christians (IDC), the nation's leading advocacy organization for Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East, condemns in the strongest terms the systematic massacre of religious minorities in Syria by various Islamist factions affiliated with the group formerly known as Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), now known as the Syrian transitional government.

IDC's contacts in Syria report the wide-spread outbreak of mass executions along the Mediterranean coast in northwest Syria, centered in Latakia. In the last 72 hours, nearly 2,000 men, women, children and elderly have been killed. This current massacre is among the bloodiest atrocities in Syria since the Syrian civil war began in 2011.

In December 2024, the jihadist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) toppled the Assad regime and seized full control of the Syrian government. HTS is a loose constellation of Islamist terror groups which has operated under several names during the Syrian conflict, including "al-Qaeda" and "Jabhat al-Nusra," and is included on the United States list of Foreign Terror Organizations (FTO). In the wake of the HTS takeover in Syria, self-appointed president Ahmad al-Sharaa (formerly Muhammad al-Jolani) formed a Syrian transitional government composed exclusively of known Islamists and foreign warlords who, despite their public relations campaign of moderation, aspire to establish a theocratic Islamist government in Syria.

The magnitude and systematic nature of these crimes underscore the urgent need for an immediate and coordinated international response. IDC calls upon the United States government and the civilized international community to exercise decisive action to end the brutal violence, implement preventative measures, provide humanitarian aid, apply diplomatic pressure, and bring the perpetrators to justice.

According to IDC executive director Richard Ghazal, "at a juncture in history when minority religious communities--including Christians, Alawites, and others--face an existential threat in Syria, the international responsibility to protect (R2P), which has a firm basis in international legal doctrine and norms, must be prioritized with the utmost urgency and human compassion."
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday praised the BJP government and said that the biggest achievement of the ruling party is that it has reduced the distance between the Northeast and the rest of India. Addressing the North-East Students' and Youth Parliament organised by ABVP, Amit Shah said, "The biggest achievement of the BJP government is that it has reduced the distance between the Northeast and the rest of India. By 2027, every capital of the Northeast will be connected by train, plane and road." The Union Home Minister also highlighted the significant reduction in violence across the Northeast under the BJP government. Shah stated the number of violent incidents has decreased by 70 per cent from 11,000 incidents between 2004 and 2014 to 3,428 between 2014 and 2024. Additionally, the number of security force fatalities has dropped by 70 per cent, while civilian deaths have reduced by 89 per cent over the past decade. Shah emphasised the progress made through peace agreements, noting that his government has signed 12 major accords in the past 10 years with various armed groups across the region. Addressing the gathering, Amut Shah said, "In just 10 years, the Northeast is experiencing complete peace today, except for the violence in Manipur. There were a total of 11,000 incidents of violence from 2004 to 2014 and 3,428 incidents from 2014 to 2024, that is, a reduction of 70 per cent. The number of deaths of security forces has also come down by 70 per cent. The number of civilian deaths has come down by 89% in the last 10 years." "Our Northeast is experiencing peace today. Be it Meghalaya, Arunachal, Assam, Nagaland or Mizoram, we have signed agreements with all armed groups and more than 10,500 insurgents have laid down their arms and joined the mainstream. Our government has signed 12 important agreements in 10 years," said Amit Shah. Amit Shah praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his unparalleled focus on the development and peace of the Northeast. Speaking at the gathering, Shah emphasised that no state could achieve progress without peace, and under PM Modi's leadership, the government has worked tirelessly to bring stability to the region. Shah pointed out that the Prime Minister has allocated a significant budget for the Northeast's development, treating the region as a priority. Amit Shah also highlighted that, since India's independence, only 21 visits were made by all Prime Ministers combined to the Northeast (excluding Assam), while Narendra Modi alone has made 78 visits, showcasing the level of importance the current government places on the region. "There can be no development in a state where there is no peace and Narendra Modi's government has worked to bring peace in the North East. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a huge budget for the development of the North East. In ten years, considering the North East as his own, the Prime Minister has taken care of its development so much that he has decided that every month, one minister will stay overnight in some state of the North East. I want to tell you that the total number of visits of all the Prime Ministers to the North East since independence is 21, except Assam and the number of visits of Narendra Modi alone to the North East is 78, which shows how much importance has been given to the North East," said Shah. Shah addressed the North-East Students' and Youth Parliament organized by ABVP, announcing a major development initiative for the region and revealed that a semiconductor plant worth Rs 2,700 crore is being set up in Assam, alongside a massive Rs 2.5 lakh crore investment in the Northeast. He assured the youth that within the next 10 years, no child or youth from the region would need to leave for work elsewhere, as employment opportunities would be available within the Northeast. "Today, a semiconductor plant worth Rs 2700 crore is coming up in Assam, which will be useful for you, and not only this, an investment of Rs 2.5 lakh crore is coming. The work of laying the foundation has been done in these 10 years. Within 10 years, not a single child or youth from the North East will have to go to other parts of the country for work. You will get employment in the North East itself," Shah said. (ANI)
A National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court in Jharkhand's Ranchi has sentenced an absconding accused to rigorous imprisonment in connection with a major naxal arms and ammunition seizure case, the agency said on Tuesday. The special court found Mantu Sharma, a resident of Aurangabad in Bihar, guilty of various charges in the case. Jharkhand police originally registered the case after they raided the Silodar forest area based on input, in August 2012. The police arrested one Prafulla Kumar Malakar, member of the Arms & Ammunition Supply Unit of the banned terror outfit, CPI (Maoist). A USA-made M-16 Rifle, 14 live rounds, 02 mobile phones, and one bullet proof jacket were seized from him. Malakar's interrogation led to the arrest of another accused, Anil Kumar Yadav, who was found in possession of one 9mm pistol and two live rounds, along with Rs 9 lakh cash and two mobile phones. Yadav, a Zonal Commander of CPI (Maoist), was on his way to purchase the weapon from Malakar when he was nabbed. NIA, which took over the case in December 2012, had filed chargesheets against all three accused between 2014 and 2017, following which Malakar and Yadav were convicted and sentenced to 15 years of rigorous by the NIA Special Court in December 2024. On Monday, the special court pronounced multiple sentences of rigorous imprisonment and fine against Mantu, who continues to abscond. The sentences range from three to 15 years under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Arms Act, and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. "All sentences will run concurrently," the NIA said. As per NIA investigations, Mantu Sharma was involved in selling illegal arms and ammunitions to members of CPI (Maoist). Mantu Sharma, Malakar and Yadav were in close contact with one another. "NIA is continuing with its efforts to nab Mantu," added the agency. (ANI)
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Tuesday condemned Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's remarks in Parliament against the DMK and said that a solution to the proposed three-language policy and the ongoing conflict between the Tamil Nadu government and the Centre can only be resolved through dialogue. "A solution on the issue of three-language policy and the conflict between Tamil Nadu Government and the Union Government can only be achieved through dialogue but the arrogance shown by Dharmendra Pradhan yesterday while speaking on the floor of the House does not suit a cabinet minister. Due to their arrogance, they do not want to listen to the opposition. They need to understand that the members of DMK have also been elected just like them," Chaturvedi told ANI. Earlier today, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, addressing the Chengalpattu government welfare assistance distribution ceremony, firmly rejected the National Education Policy (NEP) and condemned Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's remarks about the state. Stalin expressed his concerns about the central government's pressure tactics and their potential negative impact on Tamil Nadu's education system. The DMK leader emphasized his State's economic development, stating, "Tamil Nadu has become the second most economically developed state in India. In the last three years, more than 10 lakh crore private investments have been ensured. If there were no hurdles, our Tamil Nadu growth would have been much better." Yesterday, Union Education Minister Pradhan while speaking in Lok Sabha, accused the Tamil Nadu government and opposition MPs from Tamil Nadu of being "liars" and "uncivilised." "They (DMK) are dishonest. They are not committed to the students of Tamil Nadu. They are ruining the future of Tamil Nadu students. Their only job is to raise language barriers. They are doing politics. They are undemocratic and uncivilised," Pradhan said. Earlier today, DMK MPs staged a protest outside Parliament against the three-language policy. (ANI)
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has called for a protest on March 17 at Delhi's Janta Mantar against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024. Addressing a press conference here today, Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, spokesperson of the AIMPLB, said that the government wants to create division between Hindus and Muslims and desires unrest in the country. "There have been continuous protests happening in various places, and press conferences are being held. We were supposed to hold a protest on March 13, but that day is Holi. On that day, the MPs will not be able to attend. Therefore, now we will hold a massive protest at Jantar Mantar on 17th March 2025," he said. "People from all communities who supported us have been invited to this protest. Many MPs have also been invited to this protest. The BJP always spreads hatred, but at least we expect that their allied parties will not support the BJP in this decision," Ilyas added. The AIMPLB spokesperson further highlighted that every endowment in the country has the same protection as the Waqf. "To say that Waqf has special protection is wrong. The clause on 'Waqf by user' in this bill pertains to properties like mosques, dargahs, and burial grounds, which are not registered but are being used by Waqf as Waqf properties. Due to this, all unregistered properties will go," he said. Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi, General Secretary of the Board said that they tried to convince the government in every possible way, through all democratic means but their concerns were not heard. "Now, we have no option but to go on a protest. The government wants to impose this amendment on us at any cost. We do not want the situation to worsen, but you (the government) want conflicts in every street and neighborhood, especially over mosques and cemeteries.We want to see a developed India, but in these circumstances, our dream cannot come true. This amendment is against the country. The government has misled our innocent Hindu brothers as well," Mujaddidi said. He also emphasized that Muslims want development, but in these conditions, it will not be possible. "We want to tell the government clearly to change its attitude. We are firm on our protest," he emphasized. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday criticised the handling of the Waqf Amendment Bill and alleged that the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) process failed to uphold democratic norms. Jairam Ramesh accused the committee of bypassing a clause-by-clause discussion and ignoring dissenting voices from opposition MPs and alleged that the Waqf Amendment Bill was "bulldozed" through the JPC. The Joint Committee of Parliament (JPC) report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was tabled in Parliament on February 13 amid uproar. The Waqf Act of 1995, enacted to regulate Waqf properties, has long been criticised for issues such as mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aims to address these challenges by introducing reforms such as digitisation, enhanced audits, improved transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties. (ANI)
Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Jagadish Shettar on Tuesday stated that actress Ranya Rao's gold smuggling case is a "very"serious matter and needs to be investigated thoroughly. Speaking to ANI, Shettar said that the CBI needs to investigate the case thoroughly as news of the involvement of ministers and political leaders is coimng. " Actress Ranya Rao's case is a very serious matter and it has to be thoroughly investigated...CBI has to investigate it thoroughly because news of the involvement of ministers and political leaders is coming," the BJP leader said. Earlier in the day, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ordered a probe into the allegations of 'protocol violations' at the Bengaluru International Airport and the alleged role of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao in the gold smuggling case linked to actress Ranya Rao. Karnataka's Additional Chief Secretary, Gaurav Gupta, has been appointed as the investigating officer in this case. The Chief Minister has instructed that the report be submitted within a week. It is alleged that actress Ranya Rao misused her name and the courtesy services offered to her to "evade" checks at airports and conduct "illegal" activities. The official order read, "As it has been reported in the media and newspapers for the past week that the actress Mrs. Ranya Rao was illegally transporting gold bullion from Dubai to Bangalore when she was arrested by the officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence. Also, the etiquettes given to the top officials at the airports were given to their father by the Director General of Police of the State IPS Group, the Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation, Dr. K. Ramachandra Rao, IPS." "It is reported that Mrs. Rao has misused her name and the courtesy services offered to her to evade checks at airports and conduct illegal activities. Therefore, the government considers it necessary to investigate the facts and circumstances leading to the availment of courtesy facilities and the role of Shri Ramachandra Rao, IPS, Director General of Police, State IPS Squad, Managing Director, Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Corporation, in this case," it said. Investigating officer Gaurav Gupta will investigate the facts and circumstances leading to the availment of the courtesy facilities and the role of IPS Rao in this case. The order read, "In view of the points outlined in the proposal, Mr. Gaurav Gupta, Bha.A.Se., Additional Chief Secretary to the Government, Government of Karnataka, Bangalore, has been appointed as the investigating officer to investigate the facts and circumstances leading to the availment of the courtesy facilities and the role of Director General of Police, State IPS Squad, Managing Director, Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Corporation, Shri Ramachandra Rao, IPS, in this case. Investigators will begin an investigation immediately and file an investigation report." Actress Ranya Rao was arrested on March 3 by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Kempegowda International Airport (KIAD) in Bengaluru for allegedly smuggling 14.8 kilograms of gold from Dubai. Ranya, the stepdaughter of DGP K Ramachandra Rao, was produced before a special court judge on the evening of March 4 for financial offences. (ANI)
After former Congress MLA Ravindra Dhangekar joined Shivsena on Monday in the presence of Maharashtra Deputy CM and party chief Eknath Shinde, Atul Londhe Patil commented on the development on Tuesday. Congress national spokesperson Atul Londhe Patil said that Shivsena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut revealed a drive being run to arrest Dhangekar's wife by the Mahayuti Government. Patil stated that people should switch parties due to political reasons instead of having fear of ED and CBI. "Sanjay Raut recently revealed that a drive to arrest Ravindra Dhangekar's wife was started by Mahayuti government. People do switch between parties, but it should be due to political reasons, not under the fear of ED, Income Tax and CBI," Patil said while speaking to ANI on Tuesday. On Monday, before joining Shivsena, Ravindra Dhangekar spoke to reporters and termed his decision to leave Congress as an "emotional" one. It marked the end of his decade-old politics in the party. Dhangekar contested the Lok Sabha from Pune city seat and the Assembly elections from Kasbapeth seat last year. On the Kasbapeth seat, he was opposed by two of his Congress colleagues Kamal Vyavhare and Mukhtar Shaikh. Kamala Vyavhare had also contested against him as independent candidates whereas Mukhtaar withdrew his nomination after intervention from seniors of the party. Reacting to Ravindra Dhangekar's decision, senior Congress leader from Pune, Mukhtar Shaikh, expressed his concerns about the party's internal dynamics. He stated that long-time party workers like himself, who have been dedicated for over 40 years, are often overlooked when it comes to assigning responsibilities. Instead, leaders like Dhangekar, who joined the party later, are given priority. Shaikh revealed that this was the reason they had opposed Dhangekar's candidature during the Assembly elections. He urged the party's top leadership to reconsider their approach to strengthening and prioritising loyal, long-serving members. According to him, the current trend of prioritising newcomers who later leave the party not only demoralises senior workers but also weakens the party's overall position in the political arena. Explaining his move, Dhangekar highlighted the importance of being in power to address the needs of his constituents effectively. "In a democracy, power is essential to serve the common people. After discussions with my supporters and constituents, I realised that without power, it was challenging to resolve their issues," he said. (ANI)
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has decided to allocate an additional grant of Rs 2 crore to the women members of State Legislative Assembly for the development works in their constituencies for the year of 2025-26, on the occasion of International Women's Day. According to a statement, the additional grant of Rs 2 crore to women is in addition to the fixed grants provided for public welfare projects. Following this women-centric decision of CM Patel, each of the 14 women MLAs representing Gujarat Legislative Assembly will receive an additional grant of Rs2 crore for various road development projects in their respective constituencies, the release stated. The women MLAs representing the state in the Legislative Assembly met CM Patel in person at the Assembly office and expressed their gratitude for this development-oriented decision. The Chief Minister urged each woman MLA to allocate Rs50 lakh from the additional Rs2 crore grant towards the "Catch the Rain" campaign, aligning with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision for rainwater harvesting and irrigation. Earlier in the day, a grand ceremony was held in Ahmedabad to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Pujya Shrimad Buddhisagar Surishwarji Maharaj. Renowned social worker Pavan Sindhi attended the event, which was also graced by the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. To commemorate the occasion, a Rs150 commemorative coin was released in Ahmedabad. This coin will serve as a memento to remember Pujya Maharajji's life and teachings. The event was organized by the Buddhivani Foundation, which aims to promote the teachings and legacy of Pujya Shrimad Buddhisagar Surishwarji Maharaj. The foundation has been working tirelessly to spread the message of non-violence, truth, and compassion, which were the core principles of Pujya Maharajji's teachings. Earlier, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel upgraded 69 municipalities with a vision to make the state's cities dynamic, vibrant, and liveable through sustainable urban development. According to an official release, this initiative reflects Gujarat's commitment to leading the development journey of Viksit Gujarat, aligning with the Viksit Bharat resolution set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The state's rapid development has led to a growing urban population. In response, this municipal upgradation aims to enhance infrastructure, expand public amenities, and accelerate the efficient execution of development-oriented projects, ensuring a higher quality of life for residents in municipal areas. (ANI)
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray on Tuesday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti government over the state budget, accusing it of lying about its manifesto promises. Speaking to mediapersons, Thackeray said that the Mahayuti government has been absolutely shameless. "The BJP has constantly lied about its manifesto promises. Rs. 2100 under the 'Ladli Behna' scheme and farmer loan waivers have been refused. The government has been absolutely shameless. They did not speak a word on the promises that made them win the elections. It's shocking," the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said. Earlier in the day, Opposition MLAs of Maharashtra held a protest outside the state assembly, alleging that the BJP-led Mahayuti government had not provided funds for welfare schemes in the state in the budget. Speaking to ANI, Congress leader Aslam Shaikh said, "There were no discussions on the promises made by the state government during elections in the Budget. But they talked about fish and mutton, which nobody is even forced to buy." Maharashtra Finance and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar presented the state budget for the financial year 2025-26 on Monday. Presenting the budget, Pawar stated that a total outlay of Rs 36,000 crore had been proposed for the Mukhya Mantri Majhi Ladki Bahini Yojana scheme and further stated that financial benefits were being provided to 2 crore and 53 lakh beneficiary women under the scheme. "The grant received from this scheme has been used by some women's groups as seed capital for economic activities, and a special scheme is under consideration to further encourage such groups," he said. Pawar further stated that the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and Maharashtra Maritime Board were jointly developing Vadhavan Port in Palghar district, with a total cost of Rs 76,220 crore and 26 percent government participation. "Vadhavan Port will create an annual cargo handling capacity of about 300 million metric tons. This will be three times the current capacity of Jawaharlal Nehru Port. Cargo transport is expected to start from the new port by 2030. As this port will be included in the top 10 ports in the world in terms of container handling, the state of Maharashtra will emerge as a superpower in maritime communication in the future," he said. Additionally, the Deputy CM mentioned that a third airport had been proposed for Mumbai near the Wadhwa port. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train station connected to the Samruddhi highway would be located near this port. Pawar mentioned that necessary funds would be made available for the expansion of Akola Airport. Giving information about other developments, he said that a grand memorial would be built in Mumbai on the occasion of the birth centenary of the late Prime Minister of India, Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Ajit Pawar said in the budget speech, "For the overall development of the Scheduled Caste communities, schemes such as the Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj Scholarship Scheme, Student Hostels, Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Swadhar Scheme, and Sahitya Ratna Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe Urban Settlement Improvement Scheme, among others, are being implemented." Many schemes were also being carried out through the Mahatma Phule Backward Classes Development Corporation, Sahitya Ratna Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe Development Corporation, and the Sant Rohidas Leather Industries and Leather Workers Development Corporation. The provision for the Scheduled Caste Deployment Scheme has been increased by 42 percent this year compared to last year, Pawar said. (ANI)
In response to RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale's recent statement, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday asserted that the country can be called by any name, emphasising the diversity of identities in India. "We call our country Bharat, India, and Hindustan. Whoever wants to call it by any other name is free to do so. We proudly refer to the Indian Air Force and Indian Army and sing 'Sare jahan se achha Hindustan humara," CM Abdullah told ANI. All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) MLA and Party General Secretary Rafiqul Islam said that RSS would have to change its name also if it continues to change the names of everything. "The statement is filled with hatred. We call our country Bharat, India, and Hindustan with pride. They will also have to change the name of RSS if they continue to change the names of everything," he said. Addressing a book launch programme on Monday, Dattatreya Hosabale questioned the use of "India" in official contexts and called for rectifying this practice and using "Bharat". "During the G-20 summit, the invitation card for Rashtrapati Bhavan and the invitation card for the PM on January 26 had Republic of Bharat written in English. Constitution of India in English and Bharat ka Samvidhan in Hindi. It is the 'Constitution of India', 'Reserve Bank of India'...why is it like this? Why do we have to do this everywhere? Such a question should be raised. It should be rectified. If the country's name is Bharat, it should only be called that way," Hosabale said. Hosabale also said, "India is living for the world. India will rise not only for its benefit. India will rise not to crush or bully other countries; India will rise for the welfare of other countries. This is India's aim." Hosabale said that Indians never felt inferior during Mughal rule, but British rule instilled a sense of superiority of English culture, leading to the persistence of "Englishism" and the prominence of English-medium education. (ANI)
All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) Spokesperson Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas on Tuesday asserted that if the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 is not withdrawn, they will hold a "democratic" and "peaceful" campaign across the country. "We believe that whatever we have said publicly, in front of the government, in front of the JPC, in front of the opposition parties and also in front of the ruling party, we believe that good sense will prevail and the government will withdraw this amendment. But if the amendment is not withdrawn and it is passed, then we will hold a campaign against it across the country. Our campaign will be completely democratic, peaceful," Qasim Ilyas told ANI. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has called for a protest on March 17 at Delhi's Janta Mantar against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024. Addressing a press conference here today, Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, spokesperson of the AIMPLB, said that the government wants to create division between Hindus and Muslims and desires unrest in the country. "There have been continuous protests happening in various places, and press conferences are being held. We were supposed to hold a protest on March 13, but that day is Holi. On that day, the MPs will not be able to attend. Therefore, now we will hold a massive protest at Jantar Mantar on 17th March 2025," he said. "People from all communities who supported us have been invited to this protest. Many MPs have also been invited to this protest. The BJP always spreads hatred, but at least we expect that their allied parties will not support the BJP in this decision," Ilyas added. The AIMPLB spokesperson further highlighted that every endowment in the country has the same protection as the Waqf. "To say that Waqf has special protection is wrong. The clause on 'Waqf by user' in this bill pertains to properties like mosques, dargahs, and burial grounds, which are not registered but are being used by Waqf as Waqf properties. Due to this, all unregistered properties will go," he said. The Waqf Act of 1995, enacted to regulate Waqf properties, has long been criticised for issues such as mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aims to address these challenges by introducing reforms such as digitisation, enhanced audits, improved transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties. (ANI)
Christian Civilians Killed in West Syria Violence

Syrian interim government security forces stopping a vehicle for inspection at a checkpoint in Syria's western city of Latakia on March 9, 2025. ( Omar Haj Kadour/AFP) A Sweden-based Christian human rights watchdog on Monday reported that at least four Christians have been killed and several Christian villages evacuated due to recent violence in western Syria.

"These massacres that unfolded [in regions along] Syria's [western] coast, while primarily targeting Alawites, who suffered the most casualties, also led to the killing of Christians," said the director of the Assyrian Monitor For Human Rights, Cemil Diyarbakirli, to Rudaw's Dilbixwin Dara.

The recent violence erupted in the Alawite-majority regions in western Syria, after loyalists of toppled Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad on Thursday launched attacks against security forces affiliated with the new leadership in Damascus.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Monday said that around 1,500 people - mostly civilians - have been killed since the violence began.

At least 973 civilians, mostly from the Alawite community which Assad belongs to, are among the death toll, the UK-based Observatory added, noting that most of them were killed by government and government-affiliated forces.

Diyarbakirli said his group documented the killing of four Christians and recorded ten incidents of raiding and looting of homes and businesses belonging to members of the Christian community.

Several Christian villages were also evacuated and subsequently looted and raided, the head of the human rights watchdog added.

The deputy director of the Syria-based Assyrian Democratic Organization, Bashir Saadi, corroborated to Rudaw that four Christians were indeed killed in the bloody clashes in west Syria. He said that while one was killed by accident due to a stray bullet, three others were executed.

Saadi said that attacks against civilians were driven by "revenge" and that what unfolded in western Syria in the past few days "changed public sentiment into dismay across all of Syria's constituents."

Of note, a well-placed source in Latakia, told Rudaw on Monday that the number of verified Christian casualties was at least eight.

Syria's defense ministry on Monday reported that its forces had pushed the "remnants of the former regime" out of central coastal provinces such as Latakia and Tartous, declaring victory in their military operations.

Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa had a day prior ordered the establishment of an "independent national committee" to investigate the deadly clashes in the western region. He also pledged to form another high-level committee to "preserve civil peace" and to engage with the people of the coastal areas in the aftermath of the recent bloodshed.
Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Tuesday slammed Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav following his remarks on BJP MLA Haribhushan Thakur's statement, saying that they have shown Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb for decades, adding that RJD people are trying to spread "religious imbalance." "Every religion, especially Hindu festivals, means that everyone celebrates festivals together. We have shown Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb for decades. A festival like Holi is one such festival when everyone celebrates together... RJD people try to spread religious imbalance, try to appease. This is not right," Chirag Paswan told reporters. Earlier today, Uttar Pradesh Minister Raghuraj Singh stated that while Muslims can offer Namaz, there should be restrictions on how and where they perform it in relation to Hindu festivals. "They can offer Namaz, we have no issues, but they can't say things like colour shouldn't fall within the distance of 20 meters or 25 meters from them because 'Pichkari' (water guns) has no measurement... it is the festival of our God," Singh said. He further said, "Those who have issues, the way they cover Mosques with tarpaulin, they can make a headscarf with tarpaulin so that their skull cap won't get drenched." Highlighting the difference between the frequency of religious events, Singh emphasized, "They can offer Namaz after 2 pm... Jumma comes every week, but what about Holi? It comes once a year only." Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav hit back at Haribhushan Thakur's appeal to Muslims to "stay indoors" with - "Baap ka raaj hai kya?." Further, Yadav slammed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for not taking action against the BJP MLA for his remarks. The RJD leader also said that the Chief Minister was in an "unconscious state' for not call out the BJP MLA for his controversial statement. This comes after a BJP MLA from the Bisfi Assembly constituency, Haribhushan Thakur Bachaul, sparked controversy for "appealing" Muslims to "stay indoors" on Holi, which coincides with a Friday during Ramzan. (ANI)
A Biju Janata Dal delegation on Tuesday went to the Election Commission and demanded that the Commission conduct a periodic "process audit" of the entire election process by independent auditors or the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). In its letter to the electoral body, the BJD also demanded to make such report public as is being done in several countries where democratic elections are held. "We had mentioned in our earlier Memorandum that discrepancies indicated therein were unusual and showed that there was either machine (EVM) error or manual error (during data entry) or process error or a combination of all these. Since doubts have been raised in the minds of voters about conduct of free and fair elections on account of such discrepancies, which further get strengthened due to non-furnishing of Forms 17C Part I & II despite repeated written requests since last seven months, the BJD would like to suggest/demand the following in the interest of free and fair elections in the country," the party said. "The Election Commission should conduct a periodic 'process audit' of the entire election process by independent auditors or the CAG and make such report public as is being done in several countries where democratic elections are held," the BJD said. It also demanded that a mechanism be developed for involving citizen groups in co-monitoring the election process from inception to the end. "Put in a mechanism for conducting concurrent audit during polling at booth level as well as during counting after satisfactory completion of which the results should be declared. Concurrent audit can be done almost real-time so that there is no undue delay in the declaration of results," the party demanded. "Tallying of all VVPAT slips with the EVM count in every booth using now available advanced counting machines," it added further. The Biju Janata Dal Delegation also demanded that there should be a 30-day time-limit for District Election Officer to furnish copies of Forms 17C Part 1 & 2, as well as all VVPATS to any citizen on payment of prescribed fees. Speaking to the media after meeting the Election Commission, BJD leader Amar Patnaik said that even if the Election Commission of India could be saying that they are doing everything properly, the perception all around is very different. "And since this perception is so different, these suggestions have been made with a view to improve this electoral process. I do not think the Election Commission of India should have any hesitation in getting an independent audit done. We do not even know whether they have an internal audit system which puts the results in the public domain," Patnaik said. "The point that our party is making is that the election is not only for political parties. What about independent candidates? What about independent candidates who cannot send agents to every vote? It is for every citizen who has voted. He has a right to believe, perceive that the election process in India is fair, transparent and that his vote has gone to the person for whom he wanted to vote or he has voted," the BJD leader said. (ANI)
In two separate operations, Assam Police seized 98,000 Yaba tablets and 38 kg of cannabis worth nearly Rs 30.30 crore in Assam's Cachar district, officials said. The police also apprehended 4 persons. Numal Mahatta, Superintendent of Police of Cachar district said that, based on a credible intelligence on March 10, the Cachar police launched a special operation against the illegal transportation of narcotics substances at Chandrapur Part II, Kakmara under the jurisdiction of Lakhipur Police Station. "During the operation, the police team apprehended one person, namely Abdul Razak (44 years old) of Chandrapur Part II, Kakmara in Cachar district and recovered 98000 Yaba tablets concealed under the ground and 10 soap cases containing suspected heroin at his residence. The person involved in the illegal transportation has been arrested. The suspected narcotics substance has been seized in the presence of independent witnesses following all formalities," Numal Mahatta said. He further said that the price of the narcotics substance in the black market is about Rs 30 crore. "The police team also recovered Rs 3.5 lakh of cash from his possession. The seized narcotic substance has been tested by drug detection kits, which resulted positive. The illegal psychotropic substance has been transported from a neighbouring state. Further legal action is being initiated," Numal Mahatta said. In a separate operation, Cachar district police seized 38 kg of cannabis. Numal Mahatta, Superintendent of Police of Cachar district, said that, based on specific credible intelligence on March 10, late evening, Cachar police launched an operation against the illegal transportation of narcotic substances in the area of Krishnapur Part II, under the jurisdiction of Silchar Police Station. "During the operation, the police team intercepted an e-rickshaw bearing registration number AS-11FC-0743 at Uttar Krishnapur Part II and recovered 36 numbers of brown colour packets, each containing suspected cannabis weighing 38 kg, and apprehended 3 persons," Numal Mahatta said. The apprehended persons were identified as Jamrul Hoque Laskar (29 years old), Nazrul Islam Laskar (23 years old) and Amjad Hussain Laskar (23 years old). "The recovered narcotic substance has been seized in the presence of independent witnesses. The price of the seized illegal substance in the black market is about Rs 30 lakh. During the preliminary investigation, it has come to light that the psychotropic substances were transported from a neighbouring state. Further investigation into the matter has been ongoing," Numal Mahatta said. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh police registered a total of eight FIRs and arrested 13 people so far in connection with a clash incident that broke out between two groups in Indore's Mhow on Sunday late at night during the victory celebration of Team India's ICC Champions Trophy win, an official said on Tuesday. These FIRs have been registered against both the communities based on the reports of the victims, the police said, adding that the situation is completely normal in the area and adequate police force have been deployed to monitor the situation. Superintendent of Police (SP, rural) Hitika Vasal told ANI, "The market has completely opened today and people are performing their normal movement in the area. There is complete peace and the police force has been deployed here. So far eight FIRs have been registered in which 13 people have been arrested. Proper security arrangements are in place everywhere and drone monitoring is also going on continuously. Forces are deployed on the high-rise buildings and the police are working promptly. There is no problem right now." Meanwhile, DIG Rural, Nimish Agarwal said that the police were committed to maintaining peace in the area and nobody would be given a chance to disturb the peace in the area. Strict action would be taken if anyone is found. "Based on the victims, a total of eight FIRs have been registered into the matter and thirteen people have been arrested so far. There are around over 50 named accused and almost equally accused have been identified. So, there have been around 100 accused in the matter till now. The FIR has been from both communities (Hindu and Muslims) as per victims. Currently, the situation is peaceful in the area. The police are committed to maintaining peace in the area and we will not allow anyone to disturb peace here," Agarwal said. He further highlighted that the police were monitoring social media as well. If anyone is trying to spread rumours, then the administration is taking action against them. After the unrest, shopkeepers belonging to both the communities running their shops side by side in the area reopened their shops on Tuesday and shared that they stay together like brothers and never face any issues. The shopkeepers highlighted that mostly people work together here and there no conflict between them at all. But due to the misdeeds of a few bad people, the common man used to suffer its consequences. The police should check the CCTV footage and take strict action against the person found guilty so that no such incident occurs again in the future, the shopkeeper said. (ANI)
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said in the state assembly on Tuesday that Assam is one of the five fastest-growing states in the country. "We are consistently clocking growth rates of 14-15%, which is much more than the national growth of 9-10%. Assam is one of the 5 fastest-growing States of the country, and the resounding success of Advantage Assam 2.0 speaks volumes about our growth journey," Sarma said on Tuesday. According to the state government's data, in 2021-22, Assam's GSDP growth rate was 21 percent, in 2022-23, it was 17 percent, in 2023-24, it was 19 percent, and in 2024-25, it was 13 percent, which is higher than the national average. The Assam Chief Minister further said that Assam's capital expenditures have seen a significant rise, from Rs 2,951 crore in 2015-16 to Rs 24,964 crore in 2024-25. "With such growth, the state is poised to become one of the leading states in terms of capital expenditures," CM Sarma added. The Assam Chief Minister also said, "Assam's debt-to-GDP ratio stands at 25%. Additionally, 17 public sector undertakings are profitable, contributing to a collective net wealth of approximately Rs 40,000 crore. The state also has Rs 58,000 crore in assets that can be encashed at any given time." According to the data, Assam's debt-to-GSDP ratio in FY 2023-24 is 24.3%. The Assam Chief Minister also said, "This is a new Assam, an Assam that aims for the sky and reaches it. This is my Assam." Earlier on Monday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed gratitude to Finance Minister Ajanta Neog over the State Budget and said that it lays a comprehensive roadmap to establish the state a "front runner". In a post on X, CM Himanta emphasized that the budget will bring new momentum to the Assam growth story. "AssamBudget2025 lays a comprehensive roadmap to establish Assam as a front runner state and builds upon the gains made over the last few years. Prime Minster Narendra Modi ji's mantra of Vikas Bhi and Virasat bhi is the foundational premise of this year's budget," he said. "Our budget, rooted in fiscal discipline, envisages a record capital expenditure of Rs 38,759.18 Cr without burdening our citizens and at 85 per cent, our budget utilisation is the highest ever. Assam's expenditure will now be at a record Rs 1.55 Lakh crore with our GSDP growth at 13 per cent, ahead of the national average of 10 per cent," CM Himanta said. The Assam Chief Minister further emphasized that the all-around progress of the state is once again the centrepiece of this year's budget. (ANI)
The event focused on fostering entrepreneurship, employment, and skill development in the state, with discussions involving officials from the Gomati, South, Sepahijala, and West districts.

During the workshop, the Chief Minister engaged in productive discussions with district officials on the most effective ways to promote job creation and skill enhancement programs across the state.

Key takeaways from the deliberations emphasized the importance of integrating skill development programs into the local economy and supporting aspiring entrepreneurs.

The Tripura government is committed to taking concrete actions based on these discussions, ensuring that the outcomes benefit the people of Tripura. With a clear focus on improving the state's economic landscape, the government aims to create more opportunities for the youth and strengthen the workforce through targeted initiatives.

The CM reiterated the administration's resolve to implement these ideas and ensure sustainable growth for the people of Tripura. (ANI)
Mumbai's session court on Tuesday granted anticipatory bail to Abu Azmi on a solvent surety bond of Rs 20,000 in connection with his alleged controversial statement about Aurangzeb made in the Maharashtra legislative assembly. Abu Azmi had filed anticipatory bail in the Mumbai Sessions Court to avoid arrest in connection with Abu Azmi's controversial statement about Aurangzeb. The court also asked him to appear before the investigating officer on March 12, 13 and 15 between 11 am and 1 pm. Additionally, he has also been asked not to tamper with the evidence. Notably, a few days ago, Abu Azmi made a controversial statement about Aurangzeb in the Legislative Assembly premises, which was opposed by leaders of all parties. After Azmi's statement, Mumbai Police registered a case under sections 299, 302, 356(1), and 356(2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Earlier, Maharashtra Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Abu Asim Azmi accused the media of "maligning" him by "misrepresenting" his statement on Aurangzeb, requesting Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar to revoke his suspension. In a letter addressed to Narwekar, Azmi maintained that he was not at fault in this matter. "The media tried to malign me by misrepresenting my statement, so I humbly request that my suspension be withdrawn as I am not at fault in this matter," he said. The Maharashtra SP chief clarified that he was followed by mediapersons, who asked him for his reaction to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma invoking Aurangzeb while criticizing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. "On March 3, media representatives followed me while leaving the hall. Outside the hall, they asked me the question that the Chief Minister of Assam compared Rahul Gandhi to Aurangzeb. In this context, I quoted Meena Bhargava's article and said he helped the temples," Azmi said. "No statement has been made about Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. I showed respect for them. My image has been tarnished by attributing to me words that I didn't speak," the letter read. He highlighted that his statements about Aurangzeb were based on "historical facts" and that India was a golden sparrow during that time. He said that Aurangzeb and Chhatrapati Shivaji were not fighting for religion but for power and land. "During the time of Aurangzeb, India's borders reached Brahmadesh and Afghanistan and people had a lot of gold in their homes and there was a golden age in India. I have said that Aurangzeb was a good administrator while quoting the above historical facts. Aurangzeb and Chhatrapati Shivaji or Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj were not fighting for religion but for power and land. I do not believe in caste and religion discrimination," Azmi said. "I have not made any objectionable statement about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj or Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. I have great respect for both the above great men," he added. (ANI)
Kashmir's influential cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, has questioned the Centre's ban on the Awami Action Committee(AAC) for five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. He headed the AAC. "Strongly condemn the ban on Awami Action Committee and declaring it an 'Unlawful Association,' Farooq, who is also the chairman of the separatist amalgam All Parties Hurriyat Conference, said in a post on X. Farooq claimed that the AAC was advocating the aspirations and rights of the people in Kashmir through "completely non-violent and democratic methods." "It has unwaveringly stood by the people of J&K advocating their aspirations and rights through completely nonviolent and democratic methods and calling for peaceful resolution of the Kashmir conflict through dialogue and deliberation, for which it's members suffered jails and incarceration and even martyrdom," Farooq said. "This move seems part of the continuation of the policy of intimidation and disempowerment that is being followed viz a viz J&K since August 2019. The voice of truth may be suppressed through force but will not be silenced," he added. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday declared the Jammu and Kashmir-based AAC an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, imposing an immediate ban for the next five years and accusing the organization of engaging in activities that threaten the country's sovereignty, integrity, and security. As per an official notification, the AAC has been involved in supporting terrorist activities and spreading anti-India propaganda to fuel separatism in Jammu and Kashmir. The ministry stated that the group has been mobilizing funds to support secessionist, separatist, and terrorist operations in the region. Additionally, it accused the AAC of showing blatant disregard for India's constitutional authority by promoting unrest, encouraging armed insurgency, and spreading hatred against the government. The notification cited multiple cases registered against AAC leaders, including Umar Farooq and other members, for their alleged involvement in anti-national speeches, incitement of violence, and stone-pelting incidents. It referenced a charge sheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2018 against AAC spokesperson Aftab Ahmad Shah and 11 others for conspiracy against the state. Several police cases dating back to 2008 were also listed, accusing AAC members of delivering inflammatory speeches, calling for election boycotts, and instigating public disorder. The government warned that failure to curb AAC's activities could lead to continued anti-national actions, including spreading separatist propaganda, inciting violence, and supporting militancy. The notification emphasized that the group's activities are detrimental to national security and public order. Exercising its powers under Section 3(1) of the UAPA, 1967, the government officially declared AAC an unlawful organization. The ban will remain in effect for five years from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette unless overturned by legal intervention. This move follows a series of actions taken against organizations accused of promoting separatism and terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. The government continues to enforce strict measures under UAPA to curb activities perceived as threats to national security. (ANI)
Karnataka Police arrested a man involved in a robbery near the Varthur police station in Bengaluru and also recovered gold worth Rs 8 lakh, the police said in a statement on Tuesday. According to the police, the accused was arrested near Varthur Lake. During the interrogation, he admitted to the theft. The complaint was filed at the Varthur Police Station by a resident living in a house located on 1st Cross, behind the Government College, within the Varthur Police Station limits.The complainant stated on January 30, they had locked their house and left for work. Upon returning home, they discovered that the front door had been broken open and the gold jewelry kept in a cupboard inside the room had been stolen. Based on this, a theft case was registered at Varthur Police Station, the statement read. The police detained the suspect near Varthur Lake and produced him before the court which remanded him to five days custody, the statement read. During extensive questioning in police custody, the accused revealed that he had handed over the stolen gold jewelry to a relative residing in Cottonpet. A notice was issued to this relative, who presented the 106 grams of gold jewelry at the station. The jewelry was seized, and its estimated value was Rs 8 lakhs, the statement added. The accused was then produced before the court, which subsequently ordered judicial custody. This successful Investigation was carried out under the guidance of Shivakumar Gunare, IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Whitefield, and Priyadarshini Ishwar Sanekoppar, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Marathahalli Subdivision, the statement added. (ANI)
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has taken the fight to the ruling DMK government in Tamil Nadu on the three-language policy and the NEP. In a post on X the Minister alleged that raking the language issue was a diversionary tactic from MK Stalin. "I stand by my statement made in the Parliament and am sharing the consent letter from Tamil Nadu School Education Department dated 15th March 2024. DMK MPs and Hon'ble CM can stack lies as high as they want, but the truth does not bother knocking when it comes crashing down. The DMK dispensation led by Hon'ble CM Stalin have a lot to answer to the people of Tamil Nadu. Raking the language issue as a diversionary tactic and denying facts as per their convenience will not shield their governance and welfare deficit," he posted on X. Earlier while speaking in the Rajya Sabha the Union Education Minister lashed out at the opposition for claiming that the government wants to divide society while using languages and said that the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will never use language to do such "sin." "There are certain things going on, let me first clarify in my Odia society Lord Jagganath is everybody. The king of Puri is not a king but a philosopher kind of person. He is the living deity to everyone. My king married to the Queen of Kanchi. My mother is from Tamil Nadu. I am the son of a Tamil Nadu lady. Another House yesterday, In my society mother and sisters are above everything. If I hurt anybody if any of my words, I beg an apology. PM Modi has always mentioned the Tamil language is an ancient language. The Tamil language is nobody's monopoly. We are committed to the Tamil language. Truth is always painful," Pradhan said in the Rajya Sabha. Pradhan mentioned his conversation with Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murthy and said that nobody is imposing anything on anyone. "I asked Sudha Murthy ji how many languages you know? In reply, she said by birth she is a Kannadiga, by profession she learned English, by practice, she learned Sanskrit, Hindi, Odia, Telegu and Marathi. What is wrong in that? Who is imposing on Sudha Murthyji to learn this language? Nobody is imposing anything on anyone. This is a democratic society and at times you must be multilingual," he added. Pradhan also said that for the first time, NEP provisions seamless transfer of toddlers from Angandvadi play schools to a common curriculum framework with collaboration from the Health, Women and Child Development and Education Department. He further said that the Central Government would take the country forward along with Tamil Nadu. "You can call me a fool, but you cannot make fool of all the Tamil Nadu people all the time. You can abuse me, you can scold me, I am ready to accept but for God's sake don't be so dramatic. Please come out of the old ideas. We all must come together and build a new country," he asserted. Earlier today, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin firmly rejected the National Education Policy (NEP) and expressed his concerns about the central government's pressure tactics and their potential negative impact on Tamil Nadu's education system. "In the name of National Education Policy, they impose policies with the intention to destroy education in Tamil Nadu fully. We will not accept the National Education Policy. I repeat, not only Rs 2000 crores, even if you give 100,000 crores, we will not accept this hazardous NEP scheme," Stalin said. ON Monday, a war of words broke out between Dharmendra Pradhan and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam after Pradhan termed the Tamil Nadu government as "dishonest" and the people of the state as "uncivilised". "They (DMK) are dishonest. They are not committed to the students of Tamil Nadu. They are ruining the future of Tamil Nadu students. Their only job is to raise language barriers. They are doing politics. They are making mischief. They are undemocratic and uncivilised," Pradhan said. Earlier today, DMK MPs staged a protest outside Parliament against the three-language policy. The controversy stems from the ongoing debate over the National Education Policy (NEP), particularly the contentious three-language policy, which Tamil Nadu strongly opposes. (ANI)
Canada's Ontario hits U.S. with 25 pct electricity tax

Xinhua) 08:49, March 11, 2025

Photo taken on March 10, 2025 shows power lines leading from Sir Adam Beck Generating Stations of Canada in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Canada's Ontario government on Monday officially applied a 25 percent surcharge on all electricity exports to three U.S. states. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)

OTTAWA, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Canada's Ontario government on Monday officially applied a 25 percent surcharge on all electricity exports to three U.S. states.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said that he will not hesitate to increase the charge or even shut off energy exports entirely should the trade war persist.

The additional tax will affect 1.5 million homes and businesses in Michigan, Minnesota and New York.

According to local media, the measure is likely to bring in up to 400,000 Canadian dollars (around 277,238 U.S. dollars) in revenue a day and add about 100 Canadian dollars (around 69 U.S. dollars) a month to some utility bills being paid by Americans in the three states.

"(U.S.) President Trump's tariffs are a disaster for the U.S. economy. They're making life more expensive for American families and businesses," Ford said in a statement.

Until the threat of tariffs is gone for good, Ontario won't back down and will use every tool in the toolkit and do whatever it takes to protect Ontario, said Ford.

Photo taken on March 10, 2025 shows power lines leading from Sir Adam Beck Generating Stations of Canada and the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant of the United States in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Canada's Ontario government on Monday officially applied a 25 percent surcharge on all electricity exports to three U.S. states. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)

Photo taken on March 10, 2025 shows transmission towers at Sir Adam Beck Generating Stations of Canada in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Canada's Ontario government on Monday officially applied a 25 percent surcharge on all electricity exports to three U.S. states. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)

Photo taken on March 10, 2025 shows the Sir Adam Beck Generating Stations of Canada in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Canada's Ontario government on Monday officially applied a 25 percent surcharge on all electricity exports to three U.S. states. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)

Photo taken on March 10, 2025 shows power lines leading from Sir Adam Beck Generating Stations of Canada in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Canada's Ontario government on Monday officially applied a 25 percent surcharge on all electricity exports to three U.S. states. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)

People walk past the Ontario Power Generation Office Building in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on March 8, 2025. Canada's Ontario government on Monday officially applied a 25 percent surcharge on all electricity exports to three U.S. states. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)

Photo taken on March 10, 2025 shows power lines leading from Sir Adam Beck Generating Stations of Canada in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Canada's Ontario government on Monday officially applied a 25 percent surcharge on all electricity exports to three U.S. states. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Friday Namaaz prayers in mosques in the cities of Haridwar in Uttarakhand and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh have been postponed to the afternoon to avoid overlapping with Holika Dahan timings on March 14, the day of Holi festival, authorities said on Tuesday. Haridwar Superintendent of Police Pankaj Gairola confirmed that a meeting with community representatives resulted in the decision to hold Friday prayers after 2:30 pm. "We called representatives of both sides from the nearby Jwalapur area. A decision has been made that the Friday Namaz will be offered after 2.30 pm. The timings of Holika Dahan were also discussed... This was a successful meeting. If anyone tries to hamper the law and order situation, then strict action will be taken," SP Gairola said. "Zones and sectors have been created in the entire district in which adequate police arrangements are being made," he said. Maulana Arif Qasmi of Jamia Ulama Uttarakhand echoed the importance of peace, emphasizing the unity between Hindus and Muslims in the region. "Because peace in the area is very important, both Hindus and Muslims have gathered here today. In our area, there has never been a situation of conflict. We have all decided that the Friday prayers in the city's mosques will be held at 2:30 pm," Maulana Qasmi said. Similarly, in Gorakhpur, Mufti Munawwar Raza, the Imam of the Mubarak Khan Dargah affirmed the significance of both religious observances and announced that Friday prayers would be held post 2 pm to avoid any conflict. "Each prayer has its own significance. Now, since both festivals are falling on the same day, a meeting was held here, and it was decided that the prayer time will be set after 2 pm" he said. BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal said on Tuesday that everyone should celebrate the festival of Holi together. "Everyone should celebrate Holi together...People from all religions should celebrate the festival properly, and everyone should also take care of the society..." Jaiswal told ANI. (ANI)
Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid moved the Delhi High Court against the trial court's order refusing custody parole to him. The High Court is expected to hear his plea on Wednesday. Engineer Rashid, who is accused in a terror case by NIA, sought a custody parole for attending the parliament session after the special NIA court dismissed his plea on Monday. Sheikh Abdul Rashid, better known as Engineer Rashid, has moved his petition through Advocate Vikhyat Oberoi and is seeking interim bail or interim custody parole to attend the ongoing Parliament Session from March 10 to April 4, 2025. Rashid's counsel, Advocate Vikhyat Oberoi, argued that his client was not a threat and had been granted custody parole earlier. Special Judge (NIA) Chander Jit Singh rejected the plea. Advocate Vikhyat Oberoi and Nishita Gupta appeared for Engineer Rashid and argued that he was not a threat. "He was given custody parole earlier also and there were three extensions. He was granted interim bail to go to Kashmir to campaign. That's next to Pakistan," Rashid's advocate stated. On the point of security arrangements, it was submitted that jail security would take him to the Parliament and leave him there. He submitted that security personnel in civil clothes can go inside. It was further submitted that he was granted custody parole for two days on February 11 and 13 in the last session. The counsel argued that if he goes there, there will be no hindrance. He can attend the session on custody parole. "How can Engineer Rashid be a threat in New Delhi when he was not one in Kashmir? He was granted custody parole to take oath in the Parliament," the counsel argued. "Engineer Rashid represents 45 per cent of the population of Kashmir. It is his duty to attend the parliament," he added. Advocate Gautam Khazanchi, special counsel for the NIA, opposed the plea. He submitted that the law is settled in the Suresh Kalmadi case, and they have no statutory right to attend the Parliament's session till they are in detention. The NIA also highlighted instances of misuse of phone facilities during earlier paroles. "It can't be said that he has a right to interim bail, as he was granted relief earlier, he added. There is no control over security by the NIA. We have seen a misuse of a phone. Custody parole should not be generated," said Khazanchi. In rebuttal arguments, the accused's counsel submitted that the detainee has no right to vote, but they have the right to contest. He also argued that Engineer Rashid has the right to attend Parliament until disqualified. He is accused and in judicial custody in a case filed by the NIA. His regular bail application is pending before the special NIA Court at Patiala House. The court has asked the counsel to file written submissions. This development comes as the Engineer Rashid, who was arrested in 2019 in connection with a terror funding case, remains in judicial custody. (ANI)
A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation led by Union Minister and West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar met with the Election Commission in Delhi to file a complaint on the alleged fake voter issue. BJP Co-incharge for West Bengal, Amit Malviya, who was part of the delegation, said that the leaders emphasized the need for an audit and voter roll revision. Speaking to mediapersons, he said that the delegation pointed out to the Election Commission that there are about 8,415 voters with similar EPIC numbers. "Today a delegation of BJP West Bengal met the Election Commission. We emphasized the need for an audit and voter roll revision. We have apprised the Election Commission that there are more than 13 lakh duplicate voters in Bengal," Malviya said. "We have also pointed out to the Election Commission that there are about 8,415 voters with similar EPIC numbers... Over the last 14 years, Mamata Banerjee and her government have systematically infiltrated the voter roll with illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingyas, he added. "We have also impressed upon the Election Commission to look at cleaning up the voter roll and identifying these illegal voters so that our democratic process is not compromised. We also brought the Election Commission's attention to the violence that marked the electoral exercise in West Bengal. The Election Commission has assured us that they will look into our demands and take appropriate steps," the BJP leader stated. This comes amid the opposition parties questioning the electoral process and voter list manipulation. On March 6, a delegation of the Trinamool Congress met Election Commission officials in Kolkata regarding their complaints about the same Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) number. 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. Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has invited suggestions from all national and state political parties by April 30 to address any unresolved electoral issues at the level of Electoral Registration Officers (ERO), District Election Officers (DEO), or Chief Electoral Officers (CEO). In a letter issued to political parties, the Commission also proposed an interaction with party presidents and senior leaders to further strengthen electoral processes in line with established laws. "Earlier, during an ECI conference last week, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had instructed CEOs, DEOs and EROs of all states/UTs to hold regular interactions with political parties, resolve any suggestions received in such meetings strictly within the legal framework already in place and submit an action taken report to the Commission by March 31, 2025. The Commission also urged political parties to proactively use this mechanism of decentralized engagement," the letter from the ECI read. Today, a Biju Janata Dal (BJD) delegation arrived at the Election Commission Office in Delhi. They submitted a follow-up memorandum on variances in the votes cast in the 2024 Parliament and Assembly Elections in Odisha to the Election Commission of India. Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, while speaking in the Lok Sabha on Monday, stated that the House needs to discuss the issue of the voters list. (ANI)
After the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) banned Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM) and Awami Action Committee Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that anyone found involved in activities against the nation's peace is bound to face the "crushing blow" of the central government. "Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen' and 'Awami Action Committee' have been declared unlawful associations under UAPA. These organizations were found inciting people to cause law and order situations, posing a threat to the unity and integrity of Bharat. Anyone found involved in activities against the nation's peace, order, and sovereignty is bound to face the crushing blow of the Modi government," Shah posted on X. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced on Tuesday that it has designated the Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM) and Jammu and Kashmir-based Awami Action Committee (AAC) as an unlawful organization and imposed an immediate five-year ban on it accusing the organization of engaging in activities that threaten the country's sovereignty, integrity, and security. As per an official notification, the AAC, led by Umar Farooq, has been involved in supporting terrorist activities and spreading anti-India propaganda to fuel separatism in Jammu and Kashmir. The ministry stated that the group has been mobilizing funds to support secessionist, separatist, and terrorist operations in the region. Additionally, it accused the AAC of showing blatant disregard for India's constitutional authority by promoting unrest, encouraging armed insurgency, and spreading hatred against the government. According to a notification, JKIM, under the leadership of Masroor Abbas Ansari, has been involved in supporting terrorist activities and spreading anti-India propaganda to fuel separatism in Jammu and Kashmir. It further stated that the organization and its members have been raising funds to facilitate unlawful activities, including separatist and terrorist operations in the region. This move follows a series of actions taken against organizations accused of promoting separatism and terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. The government continues to enforce strict measures under UAPA to curb activities perceived as threats to national security. (ANI)
Opposition leaders on Tuesday slammed Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane's statement on the 'Malhar certification' for Hindu meat traders and Uttar Pradesh BJP MLA Ketakee Singh remarks urging Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to either ban the entry of Muslims into medical colleges or create a separate block for Hindus. Speaking to ANI, Congress MLA Nana Patole claimed that a Minister cannot talk like this. "A minister cannot talk like this. It gives a message that the Chief Minister has no control over his ministers. If any minister is inciting a fight between two religions, then the CM should take action," he said. Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Chandra Pawar) faction MLA Jitendra Awhad said that such things should not happen in the holy month of Ramzan. "When everything is going well in the state, then they the (BJP government) will talk about Hindus and Muslims," he said. "Action should be taken, but why do politics on it," Awhad said on the issue of illegal loudspeakers. However, BJP MLA Sanjay Upadhyay supported Nitesh Rane's statement and said that the chemicals that are produced during 'Halal' are harmful for the body. "I don't have any issues regarding who is eating what but if someone is being fed something in a wrong way, then it should be objected...the chemicals that are produced during 'Halal' are harmful for our body...I support Nitesh Rane in this case...chicken and mutton shop should have licence," Sanjay Upadhyay said. Nitesh Rane said this certification will help in accessing "rightful mutton shops" with a "100 per cent Hindu community" and without any adulteration. Taking to social media X, Rane wrote, "Today we have taken a very important step for the Hindu community in Maharashtra. http://malharcertification.com has been launched on this occasion." "Through Malhar Certification, we will have access to our rightful mutton shops and there will be a 100 percent Hindu community and the person selling will also be a Hindu. No adulteration will be found in the mutton anywhere," he added. Rane appealed the people to use the certification and not buy mutton from places where the certification was not available. He also stated that the efforts would make the youth of the community financially empowered. "I appeal to you to use Malhar certification as much as possible and in fact, not to buy mutton from places where Malhar certification is not available. These efforts will definitely make the youth of the Hindu community financially empowered," the post further read. On the other side, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Uttar Pradesh MLA Ketakee Singh on Tuesday urged Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to create a separate wing for Muslims at the new Ballia Medical College. Speaking to ANI, Ketakee Singh said, "A brave policeman in Sambhal clearly said that there are 52 'Jumme' in a year, but Holi comes only once a year. So I thought that if something happens by mistake some colour is splashed, then this crying gang will take to the streets. ...I think that if they are so scared of our people, then why not have a separate wing made for them at the medical college that is being built in Ballia, where they can come get treatment." She said that a separate medical facility for Muslims would ensure the safety of Hindus. "You must have seen videos on the Internet, spitting on fruits, spitting on vegetables, mixing urine. I demand from the CM that a separate wing should be made for them so that they can get mental and physical treatment," she added. Reacting to this, Himachal Pradesh Minister Vikramaditya Singh condemned Ketki Singh's controversial statement urging Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to either ban the entry of Muslims into medical colleges or create a separate block for Hindus. Vikramaditya Singh termed the remarks unconstitutional, divisive, and against the core values of the country. He said that discriminating against any particular community in medical colleges or any government institution is not only unconstitutional but also harmful to the fabric of society and the country's fundamental principles. "The respected BJP MLA holds a constitutional post, and her demand to prevent a particular community from entering medical colleges is completely against the ethos and values of our nation. I urge the Chief Minister to take strict action against such statements," he said. He further said that India is not anyone's private property, where individuals can decide who gets access to public institutions and who doesn't. "This is not her father's estate where she can decide who will enter and who will not. Facilities in government institutions, hospitals, or any public offices are meant for every citizen of this country--whether they belong to the 1.3 billion people of India or the 7 million residents of Himachal Pradesh," Singh added. (ANI)
Premier biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak, in collaboration with the Centre for Karbi Studies (CKS) and the Holistic Life Transforming & Empowering Society (HLTEC), celebrated International Women's Day (IWD) 2025 with a panel discussion at Yellow Tree Cafe, Diphu, Karbi Anglong, in Assam. 55 participants from different educational and professional backgrounds participated in the event, which was organised to create awareness among women and youths about the importance of nature conservation and natural resource management, as well as issues and challenges faced by women in the 21st Century. Panel discussions were organised on four key topics deliberated by different panelists. Panelist Dr Bandita Teronpi, Assistant Professor of Lumding College, deliberated on "Women as Custodians of Nature: Traditional Roles in Biodiversity Conservation in Karbi Anglong". Panelist Serlin Beypi, Forest Range Officer of Bokajan Range of Assam Forest Department, deliberated on "Balancing Tradition and Sustainability: Women's Role in Addressing Forest Conservation, Resource Management, and Climate Change." Panelists Charisma Rongpipi, Founder of Yellow Tree Cafe, Meraki & Happy Farmers and Serleen Engti Katharpi, Founder of Choi, a popular Karbi traditional clothing brand, talked on "Empowering Karbi Society: Women Entrepreneurs as Catalysts for Sustainable Development and Equity". Jirleen Rongpipi, Centre Administrator at Sakhi--One Stop Centre in West Karbi Anglong district, deliberated on "Empowering Women in the 21st Century: Overcoming Challenges with Sakhi--One Stop Centre's Perspective." The panel discussions envisioned important prospects for women's contribution to forest and biodiversity conservation and women's entrepreneurship for sustainable development. They also focused on women's rights and the legal framework and protection system for women's safety to address the challenges faced by them today. Dr Bandita Teronpi said, "Karbi women are sustainable users and protectors of natural resources and do not encourage harm and damage to nature and natural systems as per the Karbi belief system." "Empowerment of women in my community to support them through small and micro enterprise has been my motto, and I am proud that through my interventions, women are getting opportunities and market. We must promote and use local products to support local enterprises and women involved in these," Charisma Rongpipi, a renowned entrepreneur, said, adding that the power of women to usher in change must be utilized for the community and environment. Panelist Serleen Engti Katharpi, a textile sector entrepreneur, said, "Women face multiple challenges when they try to earn for the family and themselves. Support from fellow women and men is essential to making them successful. It's important to provide them that space and celebrate even small successes." Jirleen Rongpipi, a community leader, said, "Access to the legal and judicial system by women in Karbi Anglong is a challenge. They need more access to ensure legal protection. They need more support to be successful in their life." She also highlighted 'early marriage among girls' as a big challenge for women. Sabin Rongpipi from the Center for Karbi Studies moderated the discussion efficiently, making it a participatory and brain-tinkering session for both the panellists and the participants. Dr Firoz Ahmed and Jayanta Kumar Sarma of Aaranyak briefed about Aaranyak and its initiatives across NE India and shared their views on empowerment, conservation, entrepreneurship and sustainable development opportunities in Karbi Anglong. The event was made successful with the team efforts of Aaranyak, CKS and HLTEC members, respectively. The Natural Resource Management Programme of Aaranyak remains grateful for the support of IUCN-KfW and the US Fish and Wildlife Services. Aaranyak is committed to conserving the rich biodiversity and natural heritage of NE India by supporting Indigenous people and communities in their pursuit of alternative and sustainable livelihoods and nature-based solutions. (ANI)
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the nodal agency of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) for National Waterways, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with multiple Delhi government agencies, including the Irrigation and Flood Control department, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), and the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), on Tuesday. The MoU aims to develop and boost cruise tourism on a four-kilometre stretch on River Yamuna (National Waterway 110) between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur. The MoU signing ceremony was held at Asita Park and was graced by Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Vinai Kumar Saxena, the Delhi Chief Minister, Rekha Gupta; the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister of State (MoPSW), Shantanu Thakur along with senior officials. Speaking on the occasion, Sarbananda Sonowal said, "Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, India's waterways have witnessed a Transformational revival after decades of neglect. His visionary push for sustainable and modern inland water transport has been truly alchemic--turning potential into progress. The introduction of eco-friendly cruise tourism on the Yamuna is yet another milestone in this journey, paving the way for cleaner, greener, and more efficient waterways that will boost both connectivity and tourism in the heart of Delhi. For years, the people of Delhi were saddened to see dirt and neglect floating on the Yamuna, but this initiative marks the beginning of a long-overdue correction." "With the launch of these cruises, Delhiites along with scores of tourists, who flock to the capital, will once again fall in love with their river, experiencing its beauty in a way they never imagined," he added The initiative aims to transform the Sonia Vihar-Jagatpur stretch of the Yamuna in Delhi into a hub for eco-friendly cruise operations. To ensure sustainable and non-polluting water transport, electric-solar hybrid boats--each capable of carrying 20-30 passengers--will be deployed as river cruise vessels. These boats will feature bio-toilets, Public Announcement systems, and life jackets for passenger safety. Additionally, IWAI will install two HDPE jetties to facilitate smooth ferry operations. The project is set to boost short-distance navigation and recreational activities on National Waterway 110 (NW-110), upstream of Wazirabad Barrage, while promoting green and sustainable tourism. Beyond strengthening inland water transport (IWT), the initiative is expected to redefine Delhi's tourism landscape by offering eco-friendly travel experiences along the Yamuna. The Yamuna River stretch from Jagatpur in Delhi to its confluence with the Ganges at Prayagraj, spanning 1,089 km across Delhi, Haryana, and UP, was declared National Waterway-110 in 2014. Under the visionary leadership of PM Narendra Modi and the guidance of Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, IWAI has been driving major infrastructural advancements to develop waterways into a robust engine of growth. Expanding its reach across India--from Arunachal to Gujarat and J&K to Kerala--IWAI is enhancing NW 1, NW 2, NW 3, and NW 16 with new IWT terminals, fairways, night navigation aids, and locks. Emphasising sustainability under the "Harit Nauka Guidelines," the Authority has introduced electric catamarans in Varanasi and Ayodhya, with six more set for Mathura and Guwahati. By developing cruise terminals and boosting river tourism on Ganga and Brahmaputra, IWAI is unlocking the potential of India's waterways. The partnership with the Delhi government will strengthen urban water transport, promote eco-friendly cruise tourism, and drive local economic growth while enhancing travel experiences. (ANI)
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday lashed out at Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) over its opposition to the three-language policy, accusing the Stalin government of creating a "political mess" in Tamil Nadu and denying children their "right to learn." Speaking in Lok Sabha, Sitharaman said, "New Education Policy actually says learn in your mother tongue till class 5th, if possible till 8th even better till intermediate that's what NEP says but they (DMK) want to imagine it is imposing Hindi. Wrongly they have created political mess in Tamil Nadu denying children their right to learn." Sitharaman backed Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's Monday's remark, clarifying that the minister "probably" meant the protest of DMK is "uncivilised." Sharing her personal experience in Tamil Nadu, Sitharaman added that "if you learn Hindi and Sanskrit, you are targeted "All these affection, love and emotion to the Tamil Language, Education Minister spoke the truth about how they were ready to sign the MoU then they changed their mind in the pretext of three language formula 'not suitable for us but you are imposing Hindi.' I lived in the Tamil Nadu where if you learn Hindi and Sanskrit, you are targeted. More important they wanted Honourable Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to apologise because he said it is uncivilised. He probably said that in they way you are protesting is uncivilised." Further reading an old published passage in a magazine of Dravidian leader without naming him, Sitharaman said, "He said if you learn Tamil even a begger can not survive. He says if you have learnt something else you would have something meaningful in your hand to lead your life." In the midst of Sitharaman remarks, INDIA bloc staged a walk-out from the Parliament. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi criticised Sitharaman over her statement saying, "The Finance Minister tried to show Tamil Nadu in a bad light by mentioning selective data. There have been repeated attempts by Union Ministers to defame opposition-ruled states by highlighting selective data. In protest against this, the Opposition walked out." Congress MP KC Venugopal condemned Sitharaman's remark saying, " Insult of states like Tamil Nadu by Union ministers has become an order of the House now." "This is not acceptable. Yesterday, the Education Minister did it, and today, the Finance Minister did the same." Venugopal said. On Monday, Pradhan while speaking in Lok Sabha, accused the Tamil Nadu government and opposition MPs from Tamil Nadu of being "liars" and "uncivilised." The remarks were made during a discussion about the Union government's withholding of over Rs 2,000 crore in funds for Tamil Nadu's schools, contingent upon the State signing the National Education Policy (NEP) and the three-language policy. Pradhan later withdrew his words, but the DMK MP condemned the 'undemocratic and unparliamentary' words used for the Tamil Nadu parliamentarians. Kanimozhi said that the State government has been rigid on their stand on the issue right from the beginning and have not changed it. (ANI)
The Joint Parliamentary Committee on 'One Nation One Election' has requested to depose senior counsel Harish Salve and Attorney General of India, R Venkataraman in its next meeting on March 17 to seek legal suggestions. After the meeting of the JPC on 'One Nation, One Election' concluded on Tuesday, Committee Chairman PP Chaudhary said that every member is working in the national interest. PP Chaudhary also informed that former CJI Ranjan Gogoi and former Delhi HC CJ Rajendra Menon attended the meeting and addressed the questions of all members across all parties. "Two experts attended the meeting, former CJI Ranjan Gogoi and former Delhi HC CJ Rajendra Menon. They gave a presentation and all the members of all parties asked questions with great interest... Every member of the JPC is working in the national interest," PP Chaudhary said. "I am sure we will work for 'One Nation One Election' in the national interest. All doubts are being cleared through discussions and deliberation," he said. Speaking about the meeting BJP and JPC member Bhartruhari Mahtab said, "We had a fruitful discussion in the JPC and Justice Gogoi and Justice Menon elucidated the legal viewpoints." In the last JPC meeting on February 25, many leaders questioned the "affordability and practicality" of holding simultaneous elections across the country. Some MPs also alleged that the move was designed to benefit the ruling party rather than strengthen democratic processes. Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, former Chairperson of the Law Commission and Judicial Member of Lokpal, who was present during the session, faced pointed questions from multiple MPs. They sought clarity on whether the proposed legislation would favour the ruling party and undermine the electoral process. In response, Justice Awasthi defended the bill, stating that it aimed to bring electoral stability, though concerns about potential bias persisted. Meanwhile, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra reportedly questioned the logistical challenges of conducting simultaneous elections. The Constitution Amendment Bill on One Nation, One Election, currently under review by the Joint Parliamentary Committee, proposes aligning the election cycles of the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Several opposition parties, including Congress, Trinamool Congress, and DMK, have opposed the bill. The government argues that synchronising electoral timelines will help address logistical challenges, reduce costs, and minimise disruptions caused by frequent elections. The recommendations of the High-Level Committee Report on Simultaneous Elections were accepted by the Union Cabinet on September 18, 2024. The first meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the 'One Nation One Election' bill was held on January 8. (ANI)
US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard, announced on Monday (local time) that she has embarked on a multi-nation trip to the Indo-Pacific region, during which she will visit Japan, Thailand and India. Gabbard stated that her first stop was in Honolulu. She called "building strong relationships, understanding, and open lines of communication" vital to achieving US President Donald Trump's objectives of peace, freedom, and prosperity. Sharing a post on X, Gabbard stated, "I am #WheelsUp on a multi-nation trip to the Indo-Pacific, a region I know very well having grown up as a child of the Pacific. I'll be going to Japan, Thailand, and India, with a brief stop in France enroute back to DC. Building strong relationships, understanding, and open lines of communication are vital to achieving President Trump's objectives of peace, freedom and prosperity. First stop: Honolulu where I'll visit IC partners and INDOPACOM leaders, and our troops engaging in training." https://x.com/DNIGabbard/status/1899184192656986418 Notably, this is the first visit by a top White House official to India, under the Trump administration. Her visit to India follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US in February. During his visit, PM Modi met with Tulsi Gabbard and called her a "strong votary" of the India-US friendship. Gabbard also called it an "honour" to welcome PM Modi and said she looks forward to continue strengthening the US-India friendship. This was PM Modi's first visit to the United States after Donald Trump assumed office for a second term. During his visit to the US, he met Donald Trump at the White House, the first meeting between the two leaders after Trump assumed office as the 47th US President on January 20. The two leaders shared a warm hug as Trump welcomed PM Modi at the White House. PM Modi was among the first few world leaders to visit the United States following the inauguration of President Trump and was invited to visit the US within barely three weeks of the new administration. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump has welcomed the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student who led the pro-Palestinian protests on the campus, and strongly asserted that it is the "first arrest of many to come." Trump stated on Monday (local time) that his administration would apprehend and deport the "terrorist sympathizers" from the US "never to return again." He noted that there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity and vowed to not "tolerate it." https://x.com/whitehouse/status/1899183816234697114 "Following my previously signed Executive Orders, ICE proudly apprehended and detained Mahmoud Khalil, a Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas Student on the campus of Columbia University. This is the first arrest of many to come. We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, and the Trump Administration will not tolerate it," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. "Many are not students, they are paid agitators. We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country -- never to return again. If you support terrorism, including the slaughtering of innocent men, women, and children, your presence is contrary to our national and foreign policy interests, and you are not welcome here. We expect every one of America's Colleges and Universities to comply. Thank you," he added. https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114139222625284782 Khalil was arrested by the federal immigration authorities who said they were acting on a State Department order to revoke his green card, according to his attorney. In the latest development, a federal judge in New York has blocked any efforts by President Donald Trump's administration to deport Khalil, until a conference Wednesday, according to court documents, CNN reported. "To preserve the Court's jurisdiction pending a ruling on the petition, Petitioner shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the Court orders otherwise," the Monday filing said. The arrest of Khalil during the weekend demonstrated a significant escalation of the Trump administration's crackdown on dissent at college campuses in the US, according to The Hill. During his campaign, Trump had vowed to target those who participated in anti-Israel protests on college campuses, which at times featured antisemitic rhetoric and drew widespread condemnation. Earlier in January, the US President signed an executive order seeking to fight antisemitism on college campuses and pledging action against "Hamas sympathizers" among students. In the order, Trump directed federal resources toward fighting antisemitism on campuses and demanded all federal executive agencies to report criminal and civil actions that can be used to fight antisemitism. Notably, 'antisemitic' incidents on US college campuses witnessed a rise following Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which claimed the lives of 1,100 Israelis. In response, Israel has launched an offensive against Hamas in Gaza that has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians and reduced much of Gaza to rubble. The war triggered protests at the campuses in the US last spring, with more than 2,000 arrests at universities across the country. (ANI)
According to the MND, eight out of 13 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern, southwestern and eastern ADIZ.

In a post on X, Taiwan's MND stated, " 13 sorties of PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 8 out of 13 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern, southwestern and eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly."

https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1899264007145758869

Earlier on Monday, the MND detected 11 sorties of People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft and nine People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels until 6 am (local time).

According to the MND, nine out of 11 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ.

In a post on X, Taiwan's MND stated, "11 sorties of PLA aircraft and 9 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 9 out of 11 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly."

https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1898901621406572802

US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent expressed confidence that China would not take any action against Taiwan during President Donald Trump's tenure, as reported by Taipei Times on Monday.

China views Taiwan as part of its territory and has not dismissed the possibility of using military force to assert control over it. Last Thursday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi declared that "China will achieve reunification with Taiwan, and this is inevitable."

Taipei Times reported that during an interview, Bessent was asked if he believed Chinese President Xi Jinping would take action on Taiwan. He responded, "I follow President Trump's lead, and he is confident that President Xi will not make that move during his presidency." (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday arrived at Port Louis in Mauritius where he was accorded a ceremonial welcome. Mauritius PM Navin Ramgoolam came to the Airport to receive PM Modi. Members of the Indian Community gathered at the airport were excited to catch a glimpse of the Indian Prime Minister. Sharad Barnwal, a member of the Indian diaspora, said "We are all very excited. We have gathered here since morning. The friendship between India and Mauritius has always been great, and after this visit of PM Modi, the relationship will get stronger." Dr Kadambini Acharya, Director, Cultural Centre of the High Commissioner of India to Mauritius, said "We have gathered here to welcome M Modi. We have been preparing to welcome PM Modi for the last 1 month. We will be very happy to meet and welcome him..." Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for Mauritius late Monday night on a two-day State visit. He will attend the National Day celebrations as the Chief Guest on March 12. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that the visit is towards strengthening "India-Mauritus enduring ties." "Strengthening India-Mauritus enduring ties! PM @narendramodi has embarked on a 2-day State visit to Port Louis, Mauritius. PM will participate as the Chief Guest at Mauritius' National Day Celebrations & also meet Mauritian leadership & dignitaries," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated in a post on X. https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1899169358200611012 In his departure statement on Monday, PM Modi said that he looks forward to the opportunity to engage with the Mauritius leadership during his visit to elevate bilateral partnership and strengthen friendship for security and development in the Indian Ocean Region. He called Mauritius a "close maritime neighbour, key partner in the Indian Ocean and a gateway to the African continent." "At the invitation of my friend, Prime Minister Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, I am embarking on a two-day State Visit to Mauritius to participate in the celebrations of the 57th National Day of Mauritius. We are connected by history, geography and culture. Deep mutual trust, a shared belief in the values of democracy, and celebration of our diversity are our strengths," he said. "The close and historical people-to-people connect is a source of shared pride. We have made significant strides in the past ten years with people-centric initiatives," he added. He expressed confidence that the visit would build on the foundations of the past and open a new and bright chapter in the India-Mauritius relationship. "I look forward to the opportunity to engage the Mauritius leadership to elevate our partnership in all its facets and strength our enduring friendship for the progress and prosperity of our peoples, as well as for security and development in the Indian Ocean Region, as part of our Vision SAGAR," he said. (ANI)
Construction crews began removing the large painting of the words "Black Lives Matter" on a street one block from the White House on Monday (local time) as Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser struggled to fend off threats of encroachment from both US President Donald Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress, VOA News reported. Bowser pointed to the change on the social platform X last week, writing: "The mural inspired millions of people and helped our city through a painful period, but now we can't afford to be distracted by meaningless congressional interference. The devastating impacts of the federal job cuts must be our number one concern." https://x.com/MayorBowser/status/1897039109434364388 The move shows Bowser's striking shift in tone toward Trump and congressional Republicans since the President's first term in office. https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/1899269482960298159 Bowser, a Democrat, ordered the painting and renamed the intersection Black Lives Matter Plaza as a public act of defiance in June 2020. It came after days of chaotic protests at that location over police brutality following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, as per VOA News. Her approach to the protests then brought her into direct conflict with Trump. Trump had accused Bowser of losing control of her city and threatened to invoke his power to take over the Metropolitan Police Department. He didn't follow through but declared his own multiagency lockdown that included helicopters flying at low altitudes to intimidate protesters, as per VOA News. Bowser publicly siding with Black Lives Matter activists in 2020 didn't earn her much credibility with them at the time. The local Black Lives Matter affiliate dismissed the move as "performative wokeness" and decried Bowser as overwhelmingly biased toward police. The same activists critiqued Bowser on Tuesday following her reversal, VOA News reported. During Trump's second term, Bowser worked to avoid conflict and downplay any points of contention. She traveled to Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate to meet with the president after his election and has publicly emphasized their points of agreement, such as a mutual desire to return federal workers back to their offices full time. (ANI)
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested on Tuesday in Manila on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for alleged crimes against humanity related to his war on drugs, authorities said. In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said the arrest warrant was received by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) Manila from the ICC early today, as per the Philippine News Agency (PNA). The media outlet said that Duterte arrived in the Philippines via Cathay Pacific flight CX 907 from Hong Kong at 9:20 am and the Prosecutor General presented the official ICC notification confirming the arrest warrant for Duterte. Duterte had returned to Manila after delivering a fiery speech to the city's Filipino diaspora at a campaign rally on Sunday, CNN reported adding that the ex-leader had lashed out at the ICC probe. The 79-year-old Duterte faces a charge of "the crime against humanity of murder," the ICC said, citing the deaths of tens of thousands of people killed by police and vigilantes without proof they were involved in drugs. Duterte's brutal anti-drugs crackdown, which occurred when he was president of Phillippines from 2016 to 2022. The so-called "war on drugs", deprived suspects of "due process under the law" and resulted in the deaths of thousands of people, including children, according to the complaint cited by news outlet Al Jazeera. Duterte, however, questioned the legality of his arrest on Tuesday as reported by Al Jazeera. "What is the law and what is the crime that I committed," Duterte said in a video uploaded on social media by his daughter, Veronica Duterte. "Explain to me now the legal basis for my being here as apparently I was brought here not of my own volition. It's somebody else's," he added. Meanwhile as per the PNA report, the Philippine National Police officers who enforced the warrant on Tuesday were also equipped with body cameras to ensure transparency throughout the operation. The Philippines government earlier said it would not cooperate with the ICC investigation against Duterte. However, it noted that the country will be obliged to act in its obligations to the Interpol. (ANI)
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Puma Shen has accused opposition parties, led by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), of collaborating with pro-China groups to obstruct US arms purchases and undermine Taiwan's whole-of-society defence strategy. He specifically pointed to attacks on the Kuma Academy, a non-profit civil defence organisation he co-founded, Taipei Times reported. Speaking at a news conference, Shen claimed that he and the academy are being targeted by the KMT, the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), and the Chinese Communist Party. He alleged that this was part of a broader effort to weaken Taiwan's civil defence initiatives. In recent weeks, Shen has been the focus of a cognitive warfare campaign spreading false claims, including allegations that he is a US spy, secretly receives American funding, and owns three properties in the United States. According to Taipei Times, Taipei City Councilor Hou Han-ting of the New Party has called for an investigation into Shen, claiming he received financial support from the American Institute in Taiwan to organise a training program, reported Taipei Times. Hou further alleged that Shen had remarked, "If Chinese missiles start flying [toward Taiwan], it would help us quite a lot," implying that he sought to profit from the missile threat. Shen denied these allegations, dismissing them as baseless and part of a Chinese disinformation campaign. He also clarified that his missile-related comment had been taken out of context. A criminology professor specialising in countering disinformation and Chinese propaganda warfare, Shen co-founded Kuma Academy in 2021 to train volunteers in civil defence, Taipei Times reported. The academy gained significant attention following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei in August 2022, which coincided with Chinese military exercises, including missile drills around Taiwan. These events heightened public awareness of China's military threats and emphasised the need for civilian-led defence initiatives, Taipei Times reported. Following these developments, Kuma Academy received increased support from businesses. However, Shen criticised Hou for misrepresenting the situation and accused him of distorting facts to suggest that he was exploiting Chinese missile threats for personal gain. He called such accusations "absurd." (ANI)
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has initiated a workforce reduction, leading to the closure of several key offices, including the Office of the Chief Scientist and the Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy. The decision, outlined in an internal email viewed by ANI, aligns with an executive order issued by President Trump aimed at streamlining federal agencies. The agency's restructuring efforts are being carried out in coordination with the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). In an email sent to NASA employees, Acting Administrator Janet Petro acknowledged the challenging nature of these changes but described them as necessary to align with administration priorities while maintaining operational efficiency. She noted that all federal agencies had been directed to submit plans for reductions in force (RIF) and restructuring, with NASA actively working alongside OPM to ensure compliance. While recognising the difficulties ahead, Petro emphasised that the process would be approached thoughtfully, balancing statutory responsibilities with the goal of delivering an effective and efficient agency for the American public. As part of this phased reduction, NASA officially began implementing workforce adjustments today, ahead of the agency's broader reorganisation plan. The changes include the closure of the Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy, the Office of the Chief Scientist, and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility branch within the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity. These offices have played critical roles in shaping NASA's policies and scientific initiatives, and their elimination marks a significant shift in the agency's structure. In the email, Petro acknowledged the contributions of the employees impacted by these closures, recognising their role in advancing NASA's goals in recent years. She expressed gratitude for their dedication and assured them that the agency remains committed to providing support during the transition. While details of the reorganisation are still being finalised, she reiterated NASA's intention to maintain transparency throughout the process. Employees affected by the reductions have been encouraged to utilise available resources, including the Employee Assistance Program, as they navigate the changes. In her message, Petro recognised the uncertainty such a transition may bring, urging employees to remain resilient and support one another. She reaffirmed NASA's dedication to its core mission and its workforce, emphasising that despite the challenges, the agency's strength lies in its shared commitment to exploration and innovation. (ANI)
Paank, the human rights department of Baloch National Movement has strongly condemned the ongoing enforced disappearances of Baloch citizens, carried out by Pakistani security forces. The organization has raised alarms over a disturbing rise in abductions, stating that the violations continue unchecked and without any legal justification. In a post on X, Paank stated," On March 5, 2025, renowned photographer Khalil Khalid s/o Khalid, a resident of Ball Nigwar Dasht, was abducted from Baloch Para in Gwadar. On the night of March 6, 2025, Dawood Baloch, son of Abdul Qadir, was taken from a mosque in the Srikuran area of Panjgur during prayers. On March 10, 2025, four more cases were reported: Noor Jan, son of Ishaq Baloch, was abducted from the Ronjan area of Tehsil Mashkai, Awaran. Levies Sepai Abid Baloch, son of Somar, was extrajudicially taken from his home in the Babbar Shoor area of Pasni. Taimur Baloch, s/o Karim Bakhsh, was forcibly disappeared from his home in Pasni." Paank further highlighted that these incidents are part of a broader pattern of state repression against the Baloch population. Paank has criticized the Pakistani government for what it calls a "systematic campaign of abductions," which aims to intimidate and silence the Baloch community. The organization stresses that these enforced disappearances violate fundamental human rights and international law, particularly the prohibition against arbitrary detention and the right to a fair trial. The rights department has called for immediate intervention from the international community, urging human rights organizations to hold Pakistan accountable for these grave violations. Paank's statement emphasized that the silence of global powers and institutions has allowed these abuses to continue, unchecked and unchallenged. Paank emphasised," We urge urgent intervention to ensure justice and the safe return of the disappeared." Enforced disappearances of Baloch individuals in Pakistan, especially in Balochistan, remain a critical issue. The Baloch community continues to endure persecution at the hands of state security forces, creating widespread fear and deepening concerns about the safety and human rights of people in the region. (ANI)
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah on Monday, holding discussions focused on securing a lasting peace in Ukraine and strengthening bilateral economic ties, Al Jazeera reported. Following the meeting, Zelenskyy took to social media, expressing gratitude for the Crown Prince's support and Saudi Arabia's role in diplomatic efforts. https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1899237896055615605 "I had a good meeting with Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman. I am grateful for his wise perspective on global affairs and support for Ukraine. It was especially important to hear words of confidence in Ukraine's future," Zelenskyy wrote on X (formerly Twitter). He emphasised that the discussions covered key bilateral issues as well as cooperation with international partners, acknowledging the Crown Prince's efforts in facilitating peace. Ukraine's delegation remains in Jeddah, where they are set to meet with US officials on March 11. According to Zelenskyy, the talks will be fully constructive, and Ukraine hopes for tangible progress. The Ukrainian president highlighted that his discussions with the Crown Prince included detailed conversations on the necessary steps to end the war and secure a reliable peace, with a particular focus on the release of prisoners and the return of Ukrainian children. He also underscored the importance of security guarantees in any future agreements. Zelenskyy noted Saudi Arabia's willingness to expand economic cooperation and invest in Ukraine, particularly in security, energy, and infrastructure sectors. "We share a common vision for economic development and interaction, particularly regarding Ukraine's reconstruction," he stated, adding that Saudi Arabia's ambitious economic strategy presents opportunities for collaboration. The visit comes as Ukraine faces mounting challenges on the battlefield. Russian forces have intensified their offensive in the Kursk region, applying pressure on Ukrainian troops who had initially made gains inside Russian territory last August. Ukrainian forces have been forced to pull back from some positions, with Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskii confirming reinforcements were being sent to stabilise the situation. Meanwhile, tensions remain high between Kyiv and Washington following a heated Oval Office exchange between Zelenskyy and former US President Donald Trump on February 28. The fallout from that meeting led to the suspension of US military aid to Ukraine, adding further strain to Ukraine's defence strategy. US Secretary of State Mark Rubio arrived in Jeddah shortly after Zelenskyy, leading a high-level delegation that includes National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. Speaking to reporters before the meeting, Rubio emphasised that Washington expects Ukraine to demonstrate its commitment to achieving peace, while also making difficult decisions. The Kremlin has closely monitored the developments, with Russian spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating that Ukraine must decide whether it genuinely wants peace. "What is important here is what the United States expects. And at various levels, you and I have repeatedly heard statements that the United States is waiting for a demonstration of the Ukrainians' desire for peace," Peskov said. He stressed that the responsibility lies with Kyiv to show whether it is willing to engage in meaningful negotiations. Back on the battlefield, Ukrainian troops are facing intensified Russian advances. Russian military bloggers claim that Russian forces have cleared significant territory in the Kursk region in just a few days, marking a dramatic shift in the conflict. Reports suggest Ukrainian forces have been forced into defensive positions, with concerns rising over the possibility of encirclement, Al Jazeera reported. However, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskii dismissed fears of entrapment, stating, "Currently, there is no threat of encirclement of our units in the Kursk region." He acknowledged, however, that Ukrainian troops were repositioning to more defensible lines in response to mounting Russian pressure. Ukraine's military has continued to retaliate with drone strikes targeting Russian infrastructure, including oil refineries that supply Russian military operations. "The defence forces continue to take all measures to undermine the military-economic potential of the Russian occupiers and force the Russian Federation to stop its armed aggression against Ukraine," the Ukrainian military said in a statement. The Russian Defence Ministry, however, claimed its air defences intercepted two Ukrainian drones over the Belgorod and Kursk regions, reiterating Moscow's position that Ukraine's attacks do not significantly impact Russian military operations. (ANI)
Canada's Prime Minister-designate Mark Carney said that Canada looked forward to strengthen India-Canada ties. Carney said that Canada looked forward to strengthen ties with 'like-minded' countries, one of them being India. "What Canada will be looking to do is to diversify our trading relationships with like-minded countries. And there are opportunities to rebuild the relationships with India- there needs to be a shared sense of values around that commercial relationship and if I am the Prime Minister, I look forward to the opportunity to build that," he said. Canada's next leader is a relative political novice, coming instead from a decades-long career in finance where he steered governments through major global crises and periods of upheaval -- experience he's hoping to now leverage as he prepares to take over from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, CNN reported. Carney was elected on Sunday to lead Canada's Liberal Party into the next federal elections later this year. While he has never run for elected office before, rumors have swirled for years about if -- and when -- he might foray into politics. Carney stepped up in this role as Canada seeks to counter its looming trade war with US President Donald Trump. In a post on X, he said, "Thank you. Now let's build a stronger Canada, together," adding, "We're strongest when we are united." https://x.com/MarkJCarney/status/1898923007227113574 On Sunday (local time), Carney stood up to Trump and told a crowd of Liberal Party supporters that Canada will never be a part of the US, The Hill reported. "The Americans want our resources, our water, our land, our country. Think about it: If they, if they succeeded, they would destroy our way of life," The Hill quoted Carney as saying. "And Canada never, ever will be part of America in any way, shape or form," he added. He defended the retaliatory tariffs Trudeau imposed on the US. Carney said he plans to keep the retaliatory tariffs in place until Canada is shown "respect," as per The Hill. (ANI)
As US President Donald Trump pushes for the United States to become a global leader in the production and processing of non-fuel minerals, the mineral-rich Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has proposed a deal with the US aimed at reducing its over-reliance on China, as reported by Voice of America (VOA). Experts believe that such a deal could help the US curb China's influence in the region while securing access to critical minerals. In a speech delivered on March 4 to a joint session of Congress, President Trump vowed to take "historic action" to "substantially expand production of critical minerals and rare earths" within the United States. This announcement coincided with the DRC's push to secure an agreement with the US, similar to the mineral deals the US has with Ukraine, VOA reported. The proposal was made by the DRC's President, Felix Tshisekedi, who floated the idea of a minerals-for-security deal with the United States. Shortly afterward, the country's government reached out to Republican Senator Ted Cruz, chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, outlining a "lasting partnership" with the US. According to VOA, the letter emphasized that while China has historically dominated the DRC's mineral supply chain, President Tshisekedi's recent policy shift presents a rare opportunity for the US to establish a direct and ethical supply chain with the African nation. Christian-Geraud Neema Byamungu, a senior analyst for China-Africa relations and editor of Africa Affairs at the China Global South Project, noted that while Congo has been diversifying away from China for years, the current proposals are mainly driven by "security needs" amidst ongoing global conflicts, VOA cited. The DRC's proposal seeks to achieve two key objectives that align with US interests: access to critical minerals and reducing China's grip on the sector. Chinese mining companies, including those operating in Congo, have faced accusations of violating agreements, engaging in illegal mining, and overlooking human rights violations, VOA reported. In January 2024, the DRC renegotiated its 2008 agreement with Chinese-owned Sicomine after the company failed to invest the USD 1 billion of the USD 3 billion it had pledged for infrastructure projects. Under the new terms, Sicomine has agreed to invest up to USD 7 billion in infrastructure development, as reported by VOA. Experts from the US Institute of Peace have pointed out that "China generally does not respect the terms of various agreements." This has fueled the DRC's push for a new partnership with the United States, hoping to establish a more reliable and ethical supply chain for its vast mineral resources. (ANI)
Texas authorities are investigating the killing of InfoWars reporter Jamie White, who was murdered late Sunday night in a South Austin neighbourhood, Fox News reported. InfoWars founder Alex Jones confirmed his death on Monday, calling it a "brutal murder." The attack, which marks Austin's eighth homicide of 2025, has heightened concerns about crime in the city. According to FOX 7 Austin, Austin Police Department officers responded around midnight to the 2300 block of Douglas Street, where they found White with "obvious signs of trauma." He was transported to a hospital but did not survive. Police have not disclosed details about the attack, and no suspects have been identified. The investigation remains ongoing. In a statement, InfoWars said it was "deeply saddened" to report White's death. "We are deeply saddened to inform you that InfoWars Reporter Jamie White was brutally murdered around midnight Sunday night due, in part, to the policies of the Soros Austin, TX DA Jose Garza," the outlet said. It also vowed to seek justice, stating, "We pledge that Jamie's tragic death will not be in vain, and those responsible for this senseless violence will be brought to justice. Jamie's important work will be carried on through InfoWars, our readers, and our cherished listeners." Austin has experienced a surge in crime in recent years. In 2023, during a severe police staffing shortage, the Austin Police Department advised residents to call 311 instead of 911 if robbed at an ATM, Fox News reported. In August 2024, residents of Montopolis, another Austin neighbourhood, voiced concerns over increasing violence. "It's making the hair on my arms stand up. To hear eight, nine, ten shots. Just bam, bam, bam. Where are those bullets going?" one local said. "I don't want to be shot sleeping in my bed." The investigation into White's murder is ongoing as authorities work to determine the circumstances surrounding the killing. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy apologised to Trump in a letter after an explosive public argument during an Oval Office meeting, The Hill reported. "Zelenskyy sent a letter to the president. He apologized for that whole incident that happened in the Oval Office," Witkoff said on Monday (local time), as per The Hill. "I think that it was an important step and there's been a lot of discussion between our teams and the Ukrainians and the Europeans who are relevant to this discussion as well." US and Ukrainian officials are set to meet in Saudi Arabia this week to pick up on peace negotiations to end the conflict with Russia, as per The Hill. Witkoff said Zelenskyy's act of sending the letter to apologize for the fiery meeting was "progress." In Trump's joint address to Congress, he shared that he received a letter from Zelenskyy in an effort for the countries to smooth out ties. Trump said he appreciated the letter, which came just days after the US halted military assistance to Ukraine. Shortly after the fiery meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump, the Ukrainian leader called it a "regrettable" gathering but stopped short of issuing an apology. As per Sky News, Zelenskyy will not be at the meeting with US secretary of state Marco Rubio, but his team will try to iron out the differences following his disastrous visit to Washington, which descended into an argument with US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Zelenskyy briefly met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after the end of the daily Ramadan fast on Monday. https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1899237896055615605 "I had a good meeting with Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman. I am grateful for his wise perspective on global affairs and support for Ukraine. It was especially important to hear words of confidence in Ukraine's future," Zelenskyy said in a post on X. (ANI)
Tibetan Diaspora organisation (TGO) has organised a huge protest in front of the Chinese Embassy in Vienna on the 66th anniversary of Tibetan Uprising Day. Around 200 members of the Tibetan community in Austria gathered in front of the Chinese Embassy to protest against the ongoing oppression of Tibetans by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Demonstrators raised Tibetan flags and displayed banners highlighting the CCP's genocidal actions targeting ethnic and religious minorities in China. The protest was further strengthened by the participation of approximately 60 members from the Chinese Christian and Uyghur communities. Chinese Christians voiced their concerns about the CCP's crackdown on religious freedoms, particularly the destruction of churches, removal of crosses, and persecution of religious leaders. They condemned the regime's efforts to impose state-sanctioned versions of Christianity, which they saw as an attack on their faith and liberties. Meanwhile, Uyghur activists highlighted the CCP's oppressive policies in Xinjiang, where over a million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities have been detained in so-called internment camps. In addition to the Tibetan, Chinese Christian, and Uyghur participants, Austrian organizations such as Youth for Human Rights and Save Tibet also joined the rally, expressing their strong solidarity with the oppressed communities. Their involvement emphasized a shared commitment to human rights and religious freedom. The protest culminated in a march from the Chinese Embassy to Vienna's central Stephansplatz, where participants continued to raise slogans and deliver speeches, raising awareness about the plight of Tibetans, Uyghurs, and religious minorities under the CCP. The demonstration underscored the collective determination to resist oppressive policies and advocate for justice and freedom. The Tibet Taiwan Human Rights Network stated that China invaded Tibet in 1951, leading to harsh repression of Tibetan culture, religion, and traditions. On March 10, 1959, a large-scale uprising in Lhasa was violently suppressed by the Chinese military, resulting in numerous casualties and the Dalai Lama fleeing to India, where he set up a government-in-exile. This event is recognized as the beginning of "Tibet Uprising Day." (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi while on his two day visit to Mauritius is expected to address the Indian community later in the day. Earlier the Prime Minister and the PM of Mauritius Naveen Rangoolam planted a sapling to mark the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign The offficial Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal on Tuesday briefed about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's engagements at Mauritius on his state visit. Jaiswal spoke about the warm welcome PM Modi received at the airport, and said that later in the day, he would address the Indian diaspora and would also hold a meeting with the President of Mauritius, Anerood Jugnauth. "Namaste! The Prime Minister of India, Sri Narendra Modi, has arrived in Mauritius on his historic state visit. At the airport on arrival, he was warmly received in a special gesture by Prime Minister of Mauritius, His Excellency, Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam. There were several other dignitaries to welcome him at the airport. There was ceremonial welcome. And at the hotel, we had the Indian community members giving him a rousing welcome in Mauritius," Jaiswal said. https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1899354962225971302 "Today is the first day of his state visit. He'll begin his program by paying tribute to leading lights of Mauritius, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam and Sir Anerood Jugnauth," Jaiswal added. "Thereafter, he has a meeting with the President of Mauritius, who will also be hosting a state lunch in his honor. Around evening, he meets or addresses the Indian community diaspora here in Mauritius along with the Prime Minister of Mauritius. And in the evening, he has a meeting with the Prime Minister who will also be hosting a banquet in his honor," he further said. Jaiswal said that on Wednesday, the National Day of Mauritius, PM Modi will participate as the Chief Guest. "Tomorrow is a big day, National Day of Mauritius. Prime Minister will be participating as a chief guest in the national celebrations of their Independence Day," he said. Meanwhile, Indian Naval Ship Imphal made its maiden port call at Port Louis, the capital city of Mauritius, on March 10. The ship will participate in the 57th Mauritius National Day celebrations on Wednesday. The visit of INS Imphal is in keeping with the tradition of Indian warships and aircraft participating in Mauritius National Day celebrations. The ship will field a marching contingent, naval band and helicopter for the flypast at the National Day Parade at Champs de Mars. (ANI)
The Senate Standing Committee on Interior has given unanimous approval to a bill imposing strict penalties on those practicing or promoting black magic, prescribing up to seven years of imprisonment, the Express Tribune reported. The legislation also mandates that individuals offering spiritual healing services must obtain a license from the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The committee, led by Senator Faisal Saleem, convened on Monday at Parliament House to deliberate on the proposed bill. Senator Samina Zehri presented the draft, which was reviewed alongside recommendations from the Ministry of Law. After incorporating minor amendments, the committee members collectively endorsed the legislation. The move aims to regulate spiritual practices and curb fraudulent activities linked to black magic. The bill introduces Article 297-A into the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), establishing strict penalties for engaging in occult rituals, practicing black magic, or advertising such services. Offenders will face a minimum prison sentence of six months and a maximum of seven years, in addition to a fine of up to PKR 1 million, reported the Express Tribune. The legislation also targets individuals falsely presenting themselves as spiritual healers while engaging in black magic, ensuring that only licensed practitioners registered with the Ministry of Religious Affairs are legally recognised. During discussions, PML-N Senator Talal Chaudhry made a remark suggesting that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) should be consulted since the bill concerns "dark arts." In response, PTI Senator Saifullah Abro clarified that he had no objections to the proposed legislation. The exchange briefly shifted the committee's focus before returning to the core subject of the bill. The session also addressed concerns regarding the absence of key provincial officials. Senator Saifullah Abro protested the non-attendance of Sindh's Inspector General (IG) and chief secretary, questioning their absence in a matter of national importance. Chairman Faisal Saleem criticised officials for skipping committee meetings, particularly in cases such as the murder of Mustafa Amir, which he said was being unnecessarily delayed by its association with drug-related charges, the Express Tribune reported. State Minister Talal Chaudhry cautioned against frequently summoning provincial officials, warning that excessive interference in regional matters could create political tensions. "There is a fine line when dealing with provincial matters. If our committee starts digging too deep, it could lead to unnecessary conflicts," he remarked. (ANI)
After resigning as Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau was captured exiting Parliament in a playful style -- carrying a chair and with his tongue sticking out. As per convention Canadian lawmakers are allowed to take their chairs with them when they leave Parliament, Brian Lilley, Political columnist for the Toronto Sun noted in a post on X. "When any MP leaves the Commons, they are allowed to take their chair, their seat with them. I find it a great tradition, one that I support. That said, this is a weird photo of Trudeau leaving with his. Also, perhaps another sign of a looming election", he wrote on X. https://x.com/brianlilley/status/1899196245631181159 Trudeau had in his remarks while stepping down highlighted the 'achievements' of the Liberal Party over the past decade while looking towards the future, hours ahead of the announcement of his successor as the leader of his party as per CBC News. In his speech at the Liberal Leadership Convention, Trudeau said, "I am damn proud of what we've done over these past 10 years for the middle class and the people working hard to join it." As the Liberal Party enters a new era, Trudeau told the crowd that "there is a responsibility to ensure that Canada stays the best country on Earth! In one of his last speeches as Liberal leader and Canada's PM, he urged his supporters to keep fighting for Canada as hard as they can. Trudeau resigned on January 6 as both- the Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Party amid widespread anger over his government's handling of a housing crisis and rising costs of living. Prime Minister-Designate of Canada, Mark Carney was elected on Sunday to lead Canada's Liberal Party into the next federal elections later this year. Carney stepped up in this role as Canada seeks to counter its looming trade war with US President Donald Trump. In a post on X, he said, "Thank you. Now let's build a stronger Canada, together," adding, "We're strongest when we are united." (ANI)
Three Baloch individuals, including a retired teacher, a retired doctor, and a local resident, were forcibly abducted by Pakistani security forces in Barkhan, a district in Balochistan. In a post on X, Baloch Yakjehti Committee stated that the victims were abducted around 3 PM in a coordinated operation involving personnel from the Frontier Corps (FC) and local police. The abductions have sparked outrage and renewed concerns over the ongoing cases of enforced disappearances in the region. BYC highlighted that Haji Ahmed Bakhsh, a 60-year-old retired teacher, was abducted from his residence in Basti Haji Nizam Din Balwani Baghao Barkhan. Haji Ahmed Bakhsh is well known in his community for his decades-long service as a teacher. He was taken away by FC and police personnel around 3 PM on the day of the abduction. The committee further emphasised that Muhammad Akbar, a 40-year-old retired veterinary doctor, was also abducted on the same day, from the same locality. His family is particularly concerned, as he had devoted much of his life to serving the local community's livestock. FC personnel are reportedly responsible for his disappearance. Juma Khan, a 60-year-old resident of Basti Jellani, district Barkhan, was also abducted by the Frontier Corps, as cited by BYC. The ongoing disappearances of Baloch individuals by state forces have long been a source of grave concern for human rights organizations. The Baloch community and activists continue to call for justice, demanding accountability for the security forces involved in these abductions. There has been no official statement from the Pakistani government or the security forces regarding the whereabouts of the abducted individuals or the reasons for their detention. Enforced disappearances of Baloch individuals in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan, continue to be a pressing issue. The Baloch community remains subjected to severe persecution by state security forces, fostering widespread fear and escalating concerns over the safety and human rights of the region's inhabitants. (ANI)
A collision occurred off the northeast coast of England on Monday when a Portuguese container ship, the Solong, smashed into a US military-chartered oil tanker, the Stena Immaculate, CNN reported. The incident sparked a massive fire, a daring rescue operation, and concerns about potential environmental damage. According to maritime intelligence company Lloyd's List, the Solong was carrying sodium cyanide, a highly toxic chemical. The collision occurred around 10 am local time, approximately 10 miles off the English coastline in the North Sea, as per the ship tracking tool VesselFinder. All but one of the 14 crew members on board the Solong were brought safely to shore, the vessel's owner, Ernst Russ, confirmed the rescue effort in a statement Monday evening, as per CNN. By Monday night local time, an "extensive" search for the missing crew member had ended, the British coast guard said. The missing person had not been found. Ernst Russ also said in its statement that both vessels "sustained significant damage in the impact of the collision and the subsequent fire." A US logistics firm, Crowley, which manages the Stena Immaculate, confirmed that all crew members on board the Stena Immaculate are safe after a collision with the Solong. According to Alastair Smith, Head of Operations for Lincolnshire at East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust, the incident resulted in 36 people being treated by ambulance services after reaching the shore, The Solong was carrying a hazardous cargo, including "an unknown quantity of alcohol and 15 containers of highly toxic sodium cyanide," Lloyd's List reported. It is unclear whether the cyanide has entered the water. Sodium cyanide, according to the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, releases a highly toxic hydrogen cyanide gas that interferes with the body's ability to use oxygen. According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), sodium cyanide can also turn into hydrogen cyanide on contact with water. Eyewitness videos captured the intensity of the incident, showing thick black smoke and flames engulfing at least one of the vessels. The Stena Immaculate was carrying military jet fuel and marine diesel on its way to Killingholme, England, according to a spokesperson for the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), an agency of the US Department of Defense. The tanker was on a long-term charter with DLA Energy, which manages and distributes petroleum and fuel products. It was scheduled to re-supply fuel to Killingholme before reloading and delivering fuel to locations in the Mediterranean, the spokesperson said. The Solong left the Scottish port of Grangemouth on Sunday evening and was headed for Rotterdam, the Netherlands, at the time of the collision, according to Vessel Finder. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, during his visit to Mauritius for the National Day celebrations, presented a series of symbolic gifts to Mauritius President Dharambeer Gokhool and First Lady Brinda Gokhool, reflecting India's rich cultural and spiritual heritage. In a nod to India's rich agricultural heritage, the Mauritius president was gifted Makhana, a nutritious superfood from Bihar. This gift came at a significant time, as the Government of India recently announced in the 2025 Budget the establishment of a dedicated Makhana Board in Bihar. The board aims to enhance production, processing, value addition, and marketing of makhana by organising farmers into Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and providing training and support to ensure they benefit from government schemes. For the First Lady, PM Modi gifted an exquisite Banarasi saree, a traditional masterpiece from Varanasi renowned for its luxurious silk, intricate brocades, and opulent zari work. Also among the gifts was a specially crafted brass and copper pot containing holy water from the Sangam in Prayagraj, collected during the ongoing Mahakumbh, a gesture symbolising the deep spiritual and civilisational bonds shared by India and Mauritius. Earlier in the day, PM Modi attended the Mauritius National Day celebrations as the Chief Guest, underlining the strong diplomatic and cultural ties between the two nations. During a special lunch hosted by President Gokhool, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality and reaffirmed India's commitment to its enduring partnership with Mauritius. He described the event not just as a meal but as a symbol of the vibrant and close ties between the two countries. Earlier in the day Prime Minister Modi received a traditional Bihari welcome in Mauritius with a "geet gawai" programme hosted in his honour. 'Geet gawain' is a traditional Bhojpuri musical ensemble that embodies the rich cultural heritage brought to Mauritius by women from the Bhojpuri belt of India. "Memorable welcome in Mauritius. One of the highlights was the deep rooted cultural connect, seen in the Geet-Gawai performance. It's commendable how the great Bhojpuri language thrives in the culture of Mauritius," PM Modi said in a post on X. (ANI)
The incident highlights the persistent threat posed by the waterborne microorganism, which thrives in warm, poorly chlorinated water and has been a recurring public health concern.

Maryam was admitted to the hospital on February 19 after experiencing a high fever and other severe symptoms. Despite receiving medical attention, her condition deteriorated, and on February 24, test results confirmed the presence of Naegleria. Medical teams attempted treatment, but the infection proved fatal, and she passed away in the following days.

The disease is known for its rapid progression, often leading to death within days of symptoms appearing.

District Health Officer of East Karachi, Zahid Solangi, confirmed to The Express Tribune that the woman tested positive for Naegleria, which ultimately caused her demise. He explained that the amoeba thrives in clean, warm water, particularly when temperatures exceed 35C. Officials have urged residents to take precautions, as exposure to inadequately chlorinated water poses a risk.

Solangi stated that low chlorine levels in the water supply create conditions favourable for Naegleria and other dangerous microorganisms.

Maryam Shakeel was a resident of Gulshan-e-Iqbal, and her case has prompted health authorities to issue warnings regarding water safety. A report on her death has been sent to the Director General of Health, and officials have been advised to ensure proper chlorination of water supplies to prevent further cases, the Express Tribune reported.

Solangi emphasised that maintaining adequate chlorine levels in water tanks is the only effective preventive measure.

Naegleria is an incurable disease that enters the human body through the nose, travelling to the brain and causing fatal inflammation.

Authorities have reiterated the importance of using properly treated water for daily use. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the President of Mauritius, Dharambeer Gokhool at the State House on Tuesday, where in a special gesture, he handed over OCI cards to the President and First Lady Brinda Gokhool. As per an official statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), it was noted that during the meeting the two leaders exchanged views on deepening the special and close bilateral ties between India and Mauritius. They recalled the shared history between the two countries and the existence of strong people-to-people linkages. PM noted that it was an honour for him to attend the National Day celebrations of Mauritius as Chief Guest for the second time. MEA said that in a special gesture, the Prime Minister handed over OCI cards to the President and the first lady of Mauritius. In a post on X, he said, "Had a great meeting with His Excellency Mr. Dharambeer Gokhool, President of Mauritius. He is well acquainted with India and Indian culture. Expressed gratitude for inviting me to be a part of the National Day celebrations of Mauritius. We discussed how to further boost bilateral ties across diverse sectors." https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1899433856295698734 As per the MEA, after the talks, President Gokhool hosted a State lunch in honour of Prime Minister Modi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a visit to Mauritius, gifted earlier on Tuesday, a Banarasi Saree in a Sadeli box to the first lady of Mauritius, Brinda Gokhool. PM Modi also presented holy Sangam water from Mahakumbh in a Brass and Copper pot to the Mauritius President along with superfood Makhana. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Mauritius National Day celebrations as the Chief Guest, highlighting the strong diplomatic and cultural ties between India and Mauritius, an official press release by the Ministry of External Affairs stated. During a special lunch hosted by Mauritius President Dharambeer Gokhool, PM Modi expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality and reaffirmed India's commitment to the enduring relationship between the two nations. (ANI)
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense is proposing a new bill to crack down on active military personnel who collude with enemies and compromise national security, Taipei Times reported. The Ministry of National Defense said that it plans to propose a bill to punish active military personnel who pledge loyalty to an enemy and damage military interests. The proposed amendment to the Criminal Code of the Armed Forces aims to halt the infiltration efforts of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), as per Taipei Times. The move comes after a disturbing rise in the number of Chinese spies caught in Taiwan. According to the report released earlier this year by the National Security Bureau, the number of Chinese spies prosecuted in Taiwan rose to 64 people last year, and 28 of them were active military personnel Further, the ministry stated that under the proposed bill, active military personnel who pledge loyalty to an enemy -- through speech, actions, words, pictures, digital records or other methods -- sufficiently to harm military interests would face a prison sentence of one to seven years. The ministry added that, in the past few years, the military has collaborated with national security agencies to crack down on Chinese spying, which showed that the CCP's espionage and spying activities are becoming more rampant. In most of the spying cases, active military personnel were induced by money, investments or gambling and were asked to sign documents or film videos to pledge their loyalty to the enemy, which seriously harms national security, it said. The Ministry plans to submit the bill to the Executive Yuan for review once all legal procedures are completed, according to the Taipei Times. The proposed bill emphasizes that active military personnel have a constitutional duty to remain loyal to the nation, protect its citizens, and safeguard national security. Under the Constitution and other laws, active military personnel must be loyal to the nation, protect its citizens and diligently perform their duty to safeguard national security, the ministry said. A few members of the military have committed treason and unlawful acts, and under the new bill, they would not only be despised by the public, they would also not escape the law, it said. (ANI)
Tensions escalated at University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) in Muzaffarabad when a peaceful students' protest turned violent after police intervened and used violent means to brutally torture the protesting students, as reported by local media outlet Hum English. The protest was sparked by the University administration's decision to bar students from entering examination halls due to unpaid fees, without prior notice. In response, several students staged a demonstration, demanding the right to sit for exams and called the action an unjust humiliation, according to a report by Hum English. The situation quickly spiralled out of control as police entered the City Campus, using tear gas and baton charges to disperse the crowd. According to Hum English, at least eleven students were detained, including prominent student leaders Sardar Waleed Ayub and Sardar Saqib Javed. Multiple students were reported injured due to the police's heavy-handed tactics. The crackdown has drawn widespread condemnation, with students accusing the administration of using excessive force. They stated that their grievances had been ongoing for the past three days, focusing on the unfair treatment and the removal of students from their examination halls for dues. Protesters argued that these actions had left them feeling humiliated and helpless, as reported by Hum English. In retaliation to the police action, students launched a protest march from the university campus to the Muzaffarabad Press Club, condemning what they described as "police terrorism." The march, which has gathered significant support, highlighted the growing frustration with the authorities' disregard for students' rights, Hum English reported. This incident is not an isolated one in PoJK, as similar cases of police brutality against students have been reported in the past at other institutions, including Poonch University and Poonch Medical College. In PoJK, it is not uncommon for authorities to target civilians who demand their rights. Whether it's people calling for better salaries, improvements in schools and hospitals, or basic necessities like water and electricity, the people often face repression. However, this time, educational arrangements have been disrupted, jeopardising the future of local students. (ANI)
A passenger train moving through Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan came under attack by armed men on Tuesday, leaving the driver seriously injured and raising fears for the safety of over 450 passengers and staff on board. Reacting to the attack, BJP MP Gulam Ali Khatana criticised Pakistan's handling of security and infrastructure development. "What has Pakistan done till date? It gained Independence along with India, but did not build infrastructure. They have always created problems. Sometimes in Punjab, sometimes in Kashmir, sometimes in Afghanistan. They did not pay attention to their people," he said. The Jaffar Express, which had departed from Quetta at 9 AM for Peshawar, was stopped near Mach in Balochistan's rugged terrain. Railway officials confirmed that contact has not yet been established with those onboard. Security forces and emergency teams have been mobilised, and authorities are making efforts to secure the area and assess the situation. According to local media reports, the train was ambushed between Pehro Kunri and Gadalar, where it was intercepted inside Tunnel No 8. Intense gunfire was reported, and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that Pakistani military operations in the area led to the escalation. The group claimed to have repelled the Pakistani military's ground assault and stated that if airstrikes by helicopters and drones do not cease, they will execute over 100 hostages. The standoff has created an increasingly tense security situation in the region. Following the incident, Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind confirmed that reports of heavy gunfire had been received and that security forces were facing challenges reaching the site due to difficult terrain. The government has ordered emergency measures, and hospitals in Sibi and Quetta have been placed on high alert. The Civil Hospital in Quetta has summoned all medical consultants, doctors, and paramedics as a precautionary measure. (ANI)
Prime Minister of Mauritius, Navinchandra Ramgoolam hailed the visit of PM Modi to Mauritius and thanked the Indian government for its wide-ranging activities in the country aimed at further developing Mauritius. He reiterated the historic significance of the deep rooted cultural ties between the two countries and thanked the Prime Minister for extending the OCI cards to the citizens of Mauritius. In his remarks at the Indian community event, the Mauritius PM said, "It is very rare for politicians like us not to be able to say what you want to say. I am bereft of words because I am so touched by the gesture of Prime Minister". He thanked the PM for taking out time from his schedule to come and be the chief guest for the 57th Independence Day celebration of Mauritius. "When you come here, you enrich our country as well.. in Mauritius your contribution in various sectors of the economy is really highly appreciated." He highlighted the several sectors where India has worked with Mauritius. These include the construction industry, tourism, medical field, hospitality and financial services. He noted that these are vital for the economic growth of Mauritius. "By the virtue of the deep cultural, historical ties that bind our two countries India has offered unparalleled accessibility to countless Mauritians; with this is a high demand for OCI.", he added. PM Ramgoolam shared when the indentured labourers arrived in Mauritius, they came with only the Bhagwat Gita and the Ramayana, courage in their hearts and an image of the homeland. "This is why they were intrinsically bound by unshakeable ties to the motherland." He thanked the PM and Indian Government for extending OCI cards to the seventh generation of Mauritians of Indian descent. He gave a call for more people from India to invest in Mauritius. He said that the country's investment program named "Bridge to the Future" aims to invite investors and make the process of doing businesses easier in the country. He concluded his remarks saying, "Jai Hind Jai Mauritius". (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend a major community event in Port Louis, Mauritius, where members of the Indian diaspora have gathered in anticipation of his arrival. The atmosphere at the venue is vibrant, with grand celebrations, traditional dances, and dhol performances adding to the excitement. People from various walks of life have expressed their enthusiasm, seeing the event as a moment of pride and deep cultural significance. Tanuja Padharak Bihari, an educator, highlighted the significance of PM Modi's visit: "When he came the first time, I was there. The second time, I couldn't miss it. I'm in the education system, so obviously, it's a big day for us. Having such an eminent personality come to our country, and of course, we are part and parcel of India in a way." Another attendee, Nitish Ushman, echoed similar sentiments, calling it a "big honour for Mauritius to be welcoming Modi ji." Earlier on Tuesday, during his visit for the National Day celebrations, PM Modi presented symbolic gifts to Mauritius President Dharambeer Gokhool and First Lady Brinda Gokhool, underscoring the deep cultural and historical ties between India and Mauritius. Among the gifts was Makhana, a nutrient-rich superfood from Bihar, presented to the President in recognition of India's recent efforts to promote its cultivation through the newly announced Makhana Board. This initiative, part of the 2025 Budget, aims to enhance production and marketing by supporting farmers with training and resources. The First Lady was gifted a Banarasi saree, renowned for its intricate brocade and luxurious silk, reflecting India's rich textile heritage. Another key gift was a specially crafted brass and copper pot containing holy water from the Sangam in Prayagraj, collected during the Mahakumbh--symbolising the shared spiritual heritage between the two nations. Earlier in the day, PM Modi also attended the Mauritius National Day celebrations as Chief Guest, reaffirming India's commitment to strengthening its relationship with the island nation. During a special lunch hosted by President Gokhool, he expressed gratitude for the warm reception, describing the gathering as a testament to the strong diplomatic and cultural bonds between India and Mauritius. (ANI)
Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam hosted a state dinner on Tuesday, in honour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stated that he is "immensely proud and honoured" on PM Modi accepting his invitation. Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam welcomed Prime Minister Modi to the country's National Day celebrations, expressing his pride and gratitude for Modi's presence. He also recalled being invited by PM Modi at his first swearing-in as the Prime Minister in 2014. "I am immensely proud and honoured, Prime Minister, that you have accepted my invitation to grace our National Day celebrations with your presence despite your very heavy schedule. It is a testimony of your deep feelings for Mauritius," he said. "On a personal note, I recall with great pride and a sense of profound gratitude the unique privilege you so kindly honoured me with by inviting me to your first swearing-in ceremony as Prime Minister of India in 2014. I am hopeful that you will invite me for the fourth swearing-in as well," he added. Earlier, PM Modi addressed the gathering of the Indian community in Mauritius at a special event held at the Trianon Convention Centre, shared his personal connection with Mauritius, recalling his visit in 1998 to attend the International Ramayan Conference. "I came here in 1998 to attend the International Ramayan Conference... I can still experience that faith today, which I experienced years ago." "The same emotions were witnessed last year when Lord Ram Lalla's Pran Pratishtha was organised in Ayodhya. The Mauritius government also announced a half-day holiday... This connection of faith is the base of the friendship between India and Mauritius," he added. Notably, the event saw enthusiastic participation from the Indian diaspora, including students, professionals, socio-cultural organizations, and business leaders. It was also attended by several Ministers, Members of Parliament, and other dignitaries from Mauritius. PM Modi is on an official visit to Mauritius from March 11-12. (ANI)
The United States denied entry to Pakistan's Ambassador to Turkmenistan, KK Ahsan Wagan, and deported him from Los Angeles on Tuesday, The Express Tribune reported. The report, citing a senior official from Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that Wagan was travelling with a valid US visa and all necessary travel documents when he was stopped by US immigration authorities. The official said that the issue was linked to an immigration objection. However, the exact nature of the problem is not clear yet. Reports suggest that the US immigration system flagged Wagan due to "controversial visa references," which led to his immediate deportation. The US deported him to his point of departure, raising questions regarding diplomatic protocol and the US response to the matter, according to The Express Tribune report. Later, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Wagan was travelling to the US for a personal visit. A ministry spokesperson said that a probe into the deportation is being conducted and urged the people to refrain from speculation until all the facts are clear, as per the report. The deportation of Pakistan's envoy comes amid rising concerns over potential restrictions on Pakistani nationals' travel to the US. Last week, reports indicated that Pakistan could be included on a list of nations facing tougher visa scrutiny as part of US immigration reforms, The Express Tribune reported. Pakistanis might not be placed under an outright travel ban, however, they could face tougher scrutiny when they apply for US visas. According to the reports, Pakistan could be placed in an "orange" category, which would place restrictions on certain visa types, especially business travel for wealthier individuals, while barring tourist and immigrant visas. If the rule takes effect, these restrictions could also shorten visa validity and all applicants would be required to be present for in-person interviews. (ANI)
Pakistan's security forces rescued 104 hostages held by "terrorists" after the Jaffar Express train was attacked at Bolan Pass in Balochistan, ARY News reported citing security sources. Hundreds of train passengers were held hostage by "terrorists" after the attack on the train. Security forces have rescued 104 hostages from "terrorist" captivity, including 58 men, 31 women, and 15 children, according to security sources. 16 "terrorists" have been killed and many others have been injured, officials said. According to security officials, "terrorists" suffered heavy losses in this operation and split into small groups. As many as 17 injured passengers were taken to the nearby hospital for treatment. Additional security squads were taking part in the operation in the area, according to ARY News report. Jaffar Express heading from Quetta to Peshawar was attacked by a group of "terrorists", leaving the driver with serious injuries in Balochistan's Bolan Pass and targeting innocent civilians. The terrorists stopped the train in a tunnel and held the passengers, including women and children, captive. The region is considered highly inaccessible, however, a clearance operation has been launched by security forces to rescue the hostages. The "terrorists" were surrounded by forces and an exchange of fire is underway. According to security sources, "terrorists" are in touch with their facilitators in Afghanistan and making use of women and children as human shields. An operation against the "terrorists" is being conducted with extreme caution due to the difficult terrain and the risk to the hostages' lives. Emergency was declared in all hospitals in Sibbi after the incident happened in Balochistan, ARY News reported. On Tuesday, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) in a statement said that it has taken as hostages passengers of the Jaffar Express train that it seized in Pakistan, adding that it will execute the captives if Pakistani forces launch an operation. In a statement, the BLA said that they have "completely repelled the Pakistani military's ground assault following the seizure of Jaffar Express. After intense clashes, Pakistani ground troops were forced to retreat, but airstrikes from helicopters and drones continue unabated." "The BLA issues a final warning: if the aerial bombardment is not halted immediately, all 100+ hostages will be executed within the next hour. Majeed Brigade, STOS, Fateh Squad, and ZIRAB Unit fighters are actively engaged in countermeasures, and any further military incursion will have catastrophic consequences," the statement read. "Over 100 enemy personnel remain in BLA custody. The occupying forces still have a chance to cease airstrikes and save their men, or else the Pakistani military will bear full responsibility for the execution of all hostages," the statement by Jeeyand Baloch, spokesperson for the Baloch Liberation Army read. Different trains, including the Jaffar Express, have been targeted several times in terrorist attacks in Balochistan, according to an ARY News report. Earlier in November, at least 26 people were killed and over 40 others were injured, including women and children, in an explosion that took place at a platform on Quetta railway station. (ANI)
OSAKA, Mar 11 (News On Japan) - Osakas policy of tuition-free high school education, which was implemented ahead of the national government, appears to be shifting student preference toward private schools. This trend has led to a growing number of public high schools failing to meet their enrollment quotas.

The latest admissions data, released last Friday by the Osaka Prefectural Board of Education, revealed that 65 out of 128 full-time public high schools fell below their enrollment capacity. Among them was Nekawa High School, a prestigious institution with over 110 years of history. The school, which has traditionally maintained high application numbers, saw its admissions ratio drop below 1.0 for the first timean unprecedented development.

Nekawa High School had recently increased its capacity by 40 students due to sustained high demand in previous years. However, the shift toward private schools, accelerated by the tuition-free policy, may have contributed to the sudden drop in applicants. According to the prefectural board, more students are now opting for private institutions, and public schools need to enhance their appeal to remain competitive.

Osaka began phasing in its tuition-free policy in the 2024 academic year to ease financial burdens on families. While this initiative has made private education more accessible, it has also accelerated the decline in public school enrollments.

In the latest admissions cycle, the overall number of applicants for public high schools dropped significantly compared to the previous year. While enrollment quotas were reduced by 1,539 students for 2025, the number of applicants declined by an even greater margin2,376 studentsresulting in an average application ratio of 1.02, the lowest on record and approaching the threshold of falling below full capacity.

Notably, even high-achieving public schools were not spared from this trend. Nekawa High School recorded an application ratio of just 0.95, while Yao High School (founded over 120 years ago) saw its ratio drop to 0.99. In Sakai City, Daiei High School recorded a ratio of 0.9, marking its second consecutive year below full enrollment.

The declining enrollment trend is particularly concerning because Osaka Prefecture's education policy mandates that schools failing to meet full capacity for three consecutive years may face restructuring or closure. This policy has already led to the scheduled closure of Izumitoritori High School in Hannan City due to persistent under-enrollment.

Many school administrators acknowledge that the tuition-free policy has significantly impacted public school enrollment. One principal remarked: "We are making efforts to improve academic performance, but we may not be promoting our strengths effectively. The aging school buildings also make it difficult to showcase our advantages." Another principal noted: "This is the first time we've fallen below full enrollment. Nearby public schools are also struggling. Private schools have more resources to invest in facilities, and that disparity is becoming more evident."

Officials from the Osaka Prefectural Board of Education recognize the challenges public schools face in attracting students. "With both a declining birthrate and tuition-free private education, more students are choosing private schools. We need to find better ways to communicate the strengths of public high schools," an official stated.

Education experts argue that the competition between public and private schools is fundamentally unbalanced. "Private schools have more financial flexibility to invest in facilities and hire top teachers, whereas public schools operate under strict budget constraints and centralized staffing policies," one commentator explained.

Some are calling for Osaka Prefecture to reinvest its freed-up funds into public education. "Now that the national government has implemented tuition-free policies, Osakas independent funding for the programapproximately 2.4 billion yen annuallycould be redirected to improve public schools. If both private and public schools had the same financial backing, students could make their choices based on education quality rather than cost," an expert suggested.

With the lowest public high school enrollment ratio in Osakas history, the combined effects of demographic decline and tuition-free education are reshaping the regions education landscape. Whether Osakas public schools can adapt to this shift remains an open question.

Source: ABCTVnews
Mar 12 (News On Japan) - People across Japan are remembering tens of thousands of lives lost 14 years ago.

On March 11, 2011, a massive earthquake and tsunami hit Japan's eastern Pacific coast, triggering a nuclear accident that continues to affect the region today.

People in the areas that were hit hardest have been gathering since early morning to pay their respects to the dead.

One man in Fukushima Prefecture said, "I sincerely hope those who died are resting in peace."

Another man in Iwate Prefecture paid tribute with his passion for music. As a high school student during the disaster, he visited evacuation centers to entertain people with his trumpet.

He said: "Today, it's like I'm meeting with myself as I was 14 years ago. At the same time, on this day, I'm meeting with those who passed away. It's also a time to think about hope for the future."

The official number of people who died or went missing is currently over 22,000. That figure includes deaths that happened later due to health problems or other complications related to the disaster.

The magnitude 9.0 quake struck off Japan's northeastern coast at 2:46 p.m. and was followed by a vast tsunami that reached more than 10 meters high in places.

Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant suffered meltdowns in the wake of the disaster.

The accident forced tens of thousands to flee their homes. Even now, entry to some areas around the devastated plant is restricted, and over 20,000 Fukushima residents still cannot return.
Mar 12 (News On Japan) - Nissan Motor says its president and CEO will step down. Uchida Makoto is seen as responsible for the Japanese automaker's worsening business, among other issues.

The company terminated merger talks with Honda Motor in February after just one and a half months of discussions.

The firm's board of directors decided on Tuesday that Uchida would step down. Chief Planning Officer Ivan Espinosa is slated to take up his posts from April 1.

Nissan Motor President and CEO Uchida Makoto said: "The top priority for Nissan now is to get out of this situation as soon as possible and get the company back on a growth track. I also decided that it would be best for the company to shift to new management and make a fresh start as soon as possible."

Espinosa worked for a Nissan unit in his native Mexico from 2003. He handled global product strategy and planning as a corporate officer from 2018. He assumed his current post in April last year.

Nissan's business is rapidly deteriorating.

The firm expects a net loss of 80 billion yen, or about 540 million dollars, for this fiscal year through March. That is mainly due to sales slumps in the United States and China.
NAGASAKI, Mar 12 (News On Japan) - For over half a century, Nagasaki Prefecture has waged a relentless battle against biker gangs, groups known for their reckless, illegal street racing that disturbed public order and endangered lives. Now, after years of intensified crackdowns, Nagasaki police have announced the virtual eradication of biker gangs, culminating in the recent disbandment of the last remaining group in January 2025.

Bosozoku first emerged in Japan in the 1950s, inspired by American motorcycle gangs and the Japanese kamikaze spirit from World War II. Their popularity peaked in the 1980s, when some gangs had thousands of members. Typically composed of young men, often teenagers, these gangs would modify motorcycles with extended fairings, loud exhausts, and colorful paint jobs. They rode in large groups, weaving through traffic, running red lights, and deliberately provoking police chases.

Their culture combined elements of traditional Japanese rebellion and Western biker aesthetics. Members often wore distinctive uniforms, including tokkofuku (), military-style jumpsuits adorned with slogans, kanji characters, and nationalist symbols. The aesthetic and rebellious nature of bosozoku heavily influenced Japanese pop culture, appearing in anime, manga, and films.

Nagasaki police have declared the virtual eradication of biker gangs, with the final dissolution secured through a decisive police operation that led to the arrest of six members, all between 16 and 17 years old, including high school students and young laborers. Authorities also charged five additional minors who had been passengers on the motorcycles. These individuals were required to sign pledges renouncing illegal riding, effectively dismantling the last organized gang in the prefecture. The success was the result of decades of strategic enforcement and community involvement, which gradually pushed biker gangs out of existence.

Biker gangs had long been a menace in Nagasaki, notorious for their disruptive and dangerous behavior. Weaving recklessly through city traffic, provoking police chases, and violating multiple traffic laws, these groups often disturbed the peace in urban areas. In the 1980s, when biker gang activity was at its height, some groups turned into full-fledged riots, endangering not just themselves but also innocent bystanders. Recognizing the escalating threat, Nagasaki Prefectural Police launched a full-scale effort to eradicate them, culminating in a major turning point in 1988.

That year, police convened an emergency strategy meeting, bringing together all precinct heads in the prefecture to coordinate a unified crackdown. Enforcement measures were intensified, and local communities also became involved, working alongside law enforcement to drive out the gangs. This period saw the introduction of one of the most effective operations in the fight against biker gangsthe 'Summer Night Strategy,' a relentless night-time crackdown designed to target illegal street racing during the peak summer months.

By 1991, this sustained pressure began yielding visible results. In a dramatic moment, members of a biker gang clad in their signature white uniforms gathered in front of a police station to publicly apologize for their actions. Their leader read a statement acknowledging the trouble their reckless behavior had caused to ordinary citizens and pledged to follow traffic laws moving forward. It was a symbolic victory for law enforcement, but the battle against biker gangs was far from over.

Throughout the early 1990s, despite these initial successes, biker gangs continued to persist. Between 1990 and 1992, police arrested over 100 gang members annually. Authorities even developed specialized devices to disable modified motorcycles, which were often used for reckless stunts. By 1998, however, the number of active biker gangs in Nagasaki had dwindled to single digits. This steady decline continued into the 2000s, leading to the eventual disbandment of the last remaining group in January 2025.

Although organized biker gangs have now been virtually eliminated in Nagasaki, their legacy remains in the form of independent rogue riders. Late-night disturbances caused by loud motorcycles remain a significant issue for local residents. On February 24, cameras captured several motorcycles racing through Nagasakis streets, their deafening noise prompting fresh complaints from the community. Reports of noise-related grievances exceeded 100 cases in the 2024 fiscal year alone.

Authorities believe that these riders are not remnants of former biker gangs but rather independent habitual offenders. The evolution of technology, particularly the rise of social media, has changed the way illegal street racing is organized. Unlike in previous decades, when biker gangs operated as structured groups with hierarchical leadership, modern riders can coordinate impromptu meetups without ever forming an official gang.

Former traffic division chief Hiroharu Matsuo, who was deeply involved in biker gang enforcement, noted that the digital age presents new challenges. "With SNS, people can connect without ever meeting in person. Unlike before, bikers dont need an official group to gather for reckless riding. This is a modern challenge we face," he said.

Despite the end of biker gangs as a large-scale phenomenon, Nagasakis struggle against dangerous street racing continues. While the prefecture has won a major victory in eliminating organized gangs, authorities remain vigilant against new forms of reckless driving that still threaten public safety.
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
Morocco and France have expressed their shared resolve to upgrade their legal and judicial cooperation, which has long been, as put by French Justice Minister, the backbone of bilateral relations.

This came in a joint declaration signed in Rabat on Monday by French Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, who is on a working visit to Morocco, and his Moroccan peer Abdellatif Ouahbi.

The agreement, which builds on a May 31, 2024 action plan prioritizing counterterrorism and the fight against organized crime, is meant to strengthen cooperation in legal and judicial matters as part of the longstanding strategic partnership existing between the two countries.

Besides the fight against terrorism and organized crime, the agreement also provides for the modernization of the judicial system and the strengthening of its governance, training for legal professionals, and fostering legislative development through expertise exchanges.

Both ministers underscored the growing threats posed by terrorism and organized crime nationally and internationally, and stressed the impact of the scourge on security, sovereignty, and economic stability. They pledged to intensify efforts to combat these challenges, and to mobilize legal and judicial resources to this end.

Both countries also pledged to simplify legal procedures for their nationals and support reforms in civil law to enhance access to justice.

Ouahbi hailed the agreement as a step toward resolving outstanding legal issues, including revisions to agreements governing the role of lawyers in both countries.

He also emphasized efforts to facilitate legal procedures for Moroccans settled in France, particularly regarding personal status and family law.

Darmanin praised Moroccos judiciary for its role in fighting terrorism and drug trafficking, and reiterated his sincere thanks to Morocco for its cooperation in the fight against drug traffickers.

I sincerely thank Morocco for its great cooperation in the fight against drug traffickers, the minister said after his discussions with his Moroccan counterpart, Abdellatif Ouahbi, that focused on very important issues for France. He added, We know that the Moroccan justice system is very attentive to the security of the French, insisting that without Moroccos cooperation France would be less safe.

He described this cooperation as a great sign of friendship, professionalism, and the great work we are doing together.

When he was interviewed on Sunday evening by a Moroccan TV channel, Gerald Darmanin stated that Morocco is working with France on a mechanism aimed at seizing illegally acquired funds from traffickers.

While in Rabat, Gerald Darmanin held separate talks with the First President of the Court of Cassation, Deputy President of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary (CSPJ), Mohamed Abdennabaoui, and with the Attorney General at the Court of Cassation & President of the Public Ministry, El Hassan Daki.

Talks with Abdennabaoui covered ways to strengthen judicial cooperation between the two countries, organizing joint conferences and seminars on organized crime and the fight against terrorism, as well as enhancing cooperation in training and the exchange of expertise between judges.

The two officials agreed to activate the twinning agreement between the Moroccan Court of Cassation and its French counterpart, in addition to reinforcing the judicial partnership, which plays a significant role in the overall strategic partnership between the two countries.

The meeting between the French official and El Hassan Daki reviewed the progress of the Kingdoms judicial system, highlighting Moroccos distinguished experience in terms of judicial independence in general, and the independence of the public prosecution in particular.

These discussions were also an opportunity to present data on the judicial organization and various initiatives launched by the Presidency of the Public Ministry, particularly in terms of ethics, modernization, and digitization, as well as training and qualification of human resources to strengthen judicial effectiveness, alongside several other topics of mutual interest.

Both parties expressed satisfaction with the level of judicial cooperation between the two countries, as well as the efforts made by the Moroccan Public Ministry in the fight against cross-border organized crime, particularly through the optimal activation of international judicial cooperation mechanisms for prosecuting those fleeing justice and managing requests for judicial assistance, in line with the judicial cooperation agreements signed between the two countries.
French authorities have officially addressed to Algerian authorities a list of 800 members of the Algerian ruling class, who are now banned from entering France unless they provide a valid administrative justification, reported the news outlet sahel-intelligence.

The list includes members of the administration, politicians, and military officials.

This measure, which comes as part of diplomatic tensions over geopolitical issues, and which follows other measures including thorough investigations by various intelligence services into the real estate and bank accounts directly or indirectly owned by Algerian officials in France, marks a turning point in relations between France and Algeria.

The 800 personalities banned from entry to France had privileges associated with their diplomatic passports, allowing them to travel to France without restrictions for private or personal matters. From now on, to enter French soil they will have to justify the official nature of their trip, by providing valid documents, such as an official mission order, detailing the specific reasons for their trip to France.

The French authorities have officially notified their Algerian counterparts of this new policy to avoid any embarrassing or humiliating situations when these leaders arrive in France. As a result, they are now informed that they must have clear and verifiable administrative documents to avoid embarrassment upon arrival in France.

These targeted sanctions come in a climate of political tensions that has been ongoing for several years. Algeria and France are at odds, particularly on foreign policy issues, notably the Sahara issue and Frances backing to Moroccos sovereignty over the territory. The two sides have also notable disagreements over the management of the migration crisis and the impact of illegal migration flows in Europe.

This decision is part of a set of sanctions and gradual retaliations that France plans to implement as part of its diplomatic standoff with the Algerian government.

France sends a strong signal to the Algerian government, by preventing these individuals from entering French territory for unofficial reasons, a move that could further exacerbate already complicated bilateral relations.

While the situation remains volatile and complex, this measure demonstrates Frances clear intent to respond to increasingly pronounced geopolitical disputes, while maintaining order and security on its territory.
Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has met with Burkina Fasos interim leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore, in high-level talks aimed at enhancing regional stability and fostering deeper economic partnerships.

The discussions, held in Ouagadougou on Monday (10 March), covered a range of issues, with a particular emphasis on improving relations with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), where trust among members has significantly eroded. After the closed-door meeting, Mahama acknowledged the breakdown in trust within ECOWAS, particularly with the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. He assured president Traore that he would present these concerns to fellow West African leaders at the upcoming ECOWAS summit, emphasizing the need for rebuilding trust and cooperation despite the strained ties. It will take time to rebuild it, but we must work on it so that we restore trust and confidence with each other; so that we can work together, even if we are not part of the same regional body, president Mahama said.

The security situation in the Sahel region was also a central topic. Both leaders discussed the growing threat of terrorism, particularly the spread of extremist groups from Mali to Burkina Faso and Niger. Mahama warned that a unified, collective approach is crucial to combat the expanding crisis. Economic collaboration between the two nations also featured prominently, with Mahama revealing plans for a direct Accra-Ouagadougou flight to facilitate trade, especially in agricultural products. Additionally, discussions covered boosting electricity exports from Ghana to Burkina Faso and enhancing the petroleum pipeline from Ghana to Ouagadougou to streamline fuel supplies.
Tunisias President Kais Saied has suspended ties with the IMF after shunning the reforms it conditioned for a lifeline deal that could have made it easier for Tunisia to access foreign loans.

The failure of the $1.9 billion offered by the IMF in exchange for reforms puts Tunisia in an uphill battle to access funding to spur growth, renew its ageing infrastructure and develop state enterprises.

Surfing on a populist wave, Saied said that Tunisia will have to rely on its people and its economy. This announcement, between the lines, is an omen for tough times ahead for the Tunisian people.

The IMF had conditioned a reform of state enterprises, cutting state payroll, and opting for targeted subsidies.

None of those painful measures in the short term but beneficial in the long run were accepted by the president.

His move breaks a privileged relationship with the IMF, which gave Tunis over 4 billion dollars of funding between 2013 and 2020, making the North African country the 13th largest beneficiary of the fund.

The president is also indifferent to the inflated public payroll with 56 employees per 1000 inhabitants, compared with 15 in Morocco and 18 in Jordan.

As investors shun Tunisia, President Kais Saied further entrenches the countrys economic isolation, leaving its economy relying on volatile farm exports and a tourist sector sensitive to political instability.

Meanwhile, Tunisia under Kais Saied failed to tap into its phosphates potential that is yet to reach half the level of its output in 2010.

As Tunisias economic independence erodes due to procrastination on painful but necessary reforms, Tunisias dependence on authoritarian Algeria increases. Tunis has been relying on gas supplies and grants by Algeria since Kais Saied took power. This put Tunis prey to Algerian pressure to side with its inconsistent foreign policy stands.

Tunisia was recently ranked 149th among the least economically free countries in the World, outperforming Algeria by a tiny margin, according to the Heritage Foundation Economic Freedom Index.

Tunisia, a country that lacks natural resources or significant hydrocarbons, should have accepted the 1.9 billion dollars offered by the IMF in return for implementing reforms that would safeguard public finances in the long run and help the country access other sources of foreign funding.

Without access to debt in hard currencies, Tunis could face the consequences of the Paris Club.
The recent rainfall that blessed most Moroccan fertile lands gave farmers hope after a prolonged drought compromised this years harvest.

The rainfall coupled with snow in the mountains improved the dam filling rate to 30% on March 10, from 26% last year.

While the rain could have a limited impact on grains, spring crops will largely benefit from the godsend water.

The rain has also improved pasture, relieving livestock farmers, especially sheep owners, who brace for sluggish activity this year after the King urged citizens to forgo the rite of sheep sacrifice this year, due to a 38% drop in the cattle herd in less than ten years.

Years of drought pushed Morocco to prioritize drinking water over irrigation, leading to many main farming areas such as Doukala to rely on underground water.

In some areas, like Souss, underground water has been depleted with many citrus farms halting activity.

Years of drought have also impacted Moroccos unemployment rate, which surged to 13.3% last year.
Moov Africa Gabon, the local subsidiary of Moroccos Maroc Telecom, was spared a nationalization push that affected many strategic firms in the country.

Speaking at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Gabons minister of digital economy made it clear that the sector of telecommunications was not concerned by nationalization policies.

Since Brice Oligui Nguima took power following a coup in the country, he set sight on large companies in the country in a bid to strengthen sovereignty.

Gabon has nationalized Assala Energy and the shares that Vivo Energy held in the Societe Gabonaise dEntreposage des Produits Petroliers (SGEPP), in a bid to make Gabon a significant player in the hydrocarbons industry.

An economic commission in the country had recommended the takeover of telecommunications companies.

So far Maroc Telecom has evaded the nationalization plan. The company holds a 52% market share in Gabon, while its main competitor Ariel Gabon holds 48%.
The tyrannical and corrupt Algerian regime, which has invested for years in the axis of evil threatening U.S. interests in North Africa and Middle East, has shifted lately positions after President Donald Trump returned to the White House.

In a bid to skip American sanctions, the deceitful Algerian diplomacy is trying hard by all means to seduce and convince the Trump administration that Algeria has changed, offering face-saving deals. These include normalization of relations with Israel, massive purchases of American weapons ($15 billion), intelligence cooperation, and access to Algeria natural & critical mineral resources.

But the flip-flop shows the fragility of Algerian junta, its fear and a lack of a clear strategic vision. In 2020, the Algerian regime lashed out at Trumps decision of recognizing Moroccanness of the Sahara, mocking the U.S. presidential tweet in Algerian TV stations.

In 2023, President Abdelmajid Tebboune made anti-American statements during his visit to Moscow. He also denounced the hegemony of the American dollar in a drive a join to BRICS but Algeria application was rejected.

Algeria is currently experiencing unprecedented diplomatic isolation since its creation in 1962. In deep crisis with France over the Sahara issue, Algiers has also strained relations with all neighbors, except, Tunisia of Kaiss Saied.

The Algerian juntas current panic can also be explained by growing pressure from the United States over its support for the Polisario armed militia. The Trump administration is reportedly considering the designation of the Polisario a terrorist organization. Such a move would be a diplomatic disaster for the Algerian regime which shelters, funds and arms the separatist militias for nearly five decades, undermining regional stability and the national security of Morocco, a strategic ally of the United States.

Faced with this existential dilemma, the feckless Algerian regime is trying to sell illusions, showing the depth of its diplomatic crisis exacerbated by the growing international support for Moroccos territorial integrity and sovereignty over its entire Saharan territory.

The Algerian army depends almost entirely on Russian weapons, ammunition, spare parts and training, making its transition to American defense systems technically impossible at least in the short and medium term.

According to some experts, the Algerian proposals can be an opportunity to extract sensitive data about Russian military systems without establishing a lasting partnership. The impulsive Algerian regime and its untrustworthiness make any American strategic commitment highly unlikely.
The African Network of National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI), which convened its General Assembly on Monday at Genevas Palais des Nations, officially endorsed the candidacy of the President of the Moroccan National Council for Human Rights (CNDH), Amina Bouayach, to chair the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI).

Ms. Bouayachs candidacy has garnered broad African support, demonstrating confidence in her vision and ability to lead GANHRI into the future, the CNDH said in a statement.

The name of GANHRIs new president will be officially announced on Tuesday, at the Global Alliances General Assembly, taking place in Geneva on the sidelines of the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

In January, NANHRI formally submitted Ms. Bouayachs candidacy to GANHRI, stressing that as the current Secretary of the Alliance, the Moroccan candidate had demonstrated exceptional leadership.

The pan-African body also praised Ms Bouayaches extensive experience in representing GANHRI in international forums, her strategic leadership in overseeing key processes and her long-standing commitment to the advancement of human rights, which make her an ideal candidate for this esteemed position.

The GANHRI stressed that Ms Bouayachs election would ensure continuity of leadership, uphold the Alliances values and further strengthen its mandate on the international stage.

Africa is fully behind the candidature of Amina Bouayach as the incoming Chairperson of the Global Alliance of NHRIs We have voted overwhelmingly to support her nomination, Joseph Whittal, current Chairperson of NANHRI and president of the NHRI of Ghana, was quoted in the statement as saying.

Unanimously, the African group has supported the candidacy of Ms. Amina Bouayach. As GANHRI Secretary, she has represented us effectively, noted Executive Director of NANHRI Gilbert Sebihogo, adding that Africa is counting on the President of the CNDH to bring its voice to the global stage.

Ms. Amina Bouayach is a natural choice, one that every NHRI should support, asserted Ms. Namizata Sangare, President of the NHRI of Cote dIvoire. Within the African Network, we are convinced that she will brilliantly lead GANHRI.

With Africas unified endorsement, Amina Bouayachs candidacy reflects the continents commitment to stronger human rights institutions, the statement said.
Photo: Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

There is only one great question hanging over this deeply unlikely Democratic primary for mayor of New York City: Can Andrew Cuomo run out the clock?

The former governor, bursting into a union hall a little over a week ago, put to rest many months of speculation and upended a race that already hinged on the unpredictability of Eric Adams, the once-indicted and historically unpopular incumbent. Almost no one in New York politics believes Adams, who now carries a catastrophic approval rating of 20 percent, can win again. He is set to become the citys first one-term mayor in 30 years. More than a few politicos are settling into the reality that Cuomo, who resigned in disgrace a little over three years ago, might just overpower the field with his universal name recognition and deep executive experience  the sort that the electorate might be pining for after the chaos of the Adams years. Cuomo is expected to play it relatively safe, mostly avoiding a relentless and adversarial city press corps and letting his well-funded super-PAC bludgeon his rivals into submission.

Its still a long way between now and June 24. Every Democrat running in the race, Adams included, will have one sole focus: dragging Cuomos poll numbers down. The various Cuomo antagonists  the operatives working on a significant anti-Cuomo PAC and the candidates themselves  believe there are vulnerabilities that can be exploited. There are the sexual-harassment scandals and the fact that Cuomo so aggressively battled back against the young women who accused him, dragging them through court. Theres his fraught decadelong tenure as governor, which had both undeniable successes (the rehab of La Guardia Airport) and ugly failures (the Buffalo billion corruption). His stewardship of the pandemic, beginning with how his administration tabulated deaths at nursing homes and his decision to accept more than $5 million in 2020 to write a memoir, will come in for far greater scrutiny.

Who can beat Cuomo is the easy enough rejoinder to anyone who points out his myriad flaws or the softness of his polling lead. No one, for now, comes very close. Brad Lander, the progressive city comptroller, is aiming to be the primary alternative to Cuomo and could find a way there with strong fundraising and a growing list of endorsers. His major challenge will be winning over voters beyond his affluent Brooklyn base, just as Scott Stringer, his predecessor, must try to corral support beyond the West Side of Manhattan, where hes still well known. Zellnor Myrie, a young Afro-Latino state senator from Brooklyn, might have a higher ceiling than either man (or socialist assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, who came in a distant third to Cuomo in a recent Quinnipiac poll), but hes yet to break out from the pack. All four of these Democrats have qualified for millions in public matching funds, so they must be regarded as the serious contenders in what will be an expensive, nasty race.

The panic over the possible inability of Lander-Stringer-Myrie-Mamdani to stop Cuomo has prompted Adrienne Adams, the City Council Speaker, to enter the fray. A soft-spoken and well-regarded legislative leader (who is not related to the mayor), she has a base of middle-class Black supporters in southeast Queens who are reliable primary voters. Urged to run by attorney general Letitia James, who would have been a formidable candidate herself if she chose to run, Adrienne Adams could steadily rise if large labor unions coalesce around her and shes successful at netting media attention.

Her major challenge is fundraising. She has a little more than $200,000 in her war chest and will have to play catch-up with the Democrats whove already banked multiple millions and will be ready, before her, to build out large field operations and run television ads. Adrienne Adams probably should have been a candidate three or four months ago. Had she launched in the fall, she would have qualified for public matching funds by now and been on an inside track to win over a wide array of elected officials and unions. Instead, shell be fighting for oxygen, and shell need a clear message to distinguish herself from a large field training their fire on Cuomo. If she wins, shed be New Yorks first female mayor, and perhaps that history-making potential will excite some of the electorate.

No one quite knows how ranked-choice voting will impact the race, and it will be only the second mayoral primary with RCV. In 2021, Kathryn Garcia finished third among first-place votes and then, once all the choices were tabulated  New York Democrats can rank up to five candidates  Garcia surged, coming within 10,000 votes of defeating Eric Adams. The lesson was twofold: It still pays to finish first, since Adams did win, but its very possible to rise if youre appealing to a broad range of people. There are several RCV Cuomo theories. One school of thought is that his superior name recognition will carry the day and hell show up on many ballots in many different neighborhoods, whether its in the Latino areas of the Bronx or the Black enclaves of Queens or Orthodox Jewish Brooklyn. Theres a multiracial coalition for Cuomo to build that could be larger than the one Adams assembled in 2021.

But RCV can also punish polarizing candidates. Andrew Yang, the front-runner four years ago, was dropped from a lot of ballots. Progressives are floating a new slogan, DREAM (Dont Rank Eric or Andrew for Mayor), and its easy enough to see such a movement take off in large swaths of left-leaning Brooklyn and Queens. If the Working Families Party wants to get serious about growing their influence in municipal politics again, they can fund a multimillion-dollar initiative focusing only on convincing voters to leave Cuomo off their ballots. As Election Day draws closer, the various non-Cuomo candidates could form alliances and cross-endorse. Theres evidence that a last-minute Garcia-Yang cross-endorsement four years ago netted Garcia votes from Yang supporters and drew her closer to victory.

Whats been most intimidating is Cuomos polling. His actual campaign rollout has been a bit pedestrian  and its hard to tell, for now, what that truly means. His launch video was an unwieldy 17 minutes and was ruthlessly mocked online. His endorsement roster is still shallow for a vaunted front-runner, featuring only a handful of sitting elected officials and labor unions not known for swaying citywide primaries. It is possible that his roster could grow quickly if no one else seems to be gaining traction. Major unions like 32BJ SEIU, the building-workers union, and the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council might close ranks around Cuomo, prompting other institutional forces to join him. He could very well be an unstoppable political battleship. Well know in the spring whether hell take on any water.
Photo: Justin Merriman/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Despite suggesting on Truth Social this past weekend that hed like Americans to shut up about the price of eggs, Donald Trump is actually very concerned about Americans economic problems  or at least, the plight of one specific South Africanborn Canadian American businessman.

The U.S. stock market cratered on Monday amid concerns about both the impact of Trumps chaotic trade war and the president refusing to rule out a recession this year. Trump has yet to say anything to ally these concerns (in fact, he announced additional tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum on Tuesday). But the president did offer his support to Elon Musk after shares in Tesla, his electric-car company, dropped more than 15 percent on Monday.

Tesla shares have plunged more than 50 percent from a mid-December peak as the DOGE chiefs political antics impacted the brand. Tesla sales have been falling in the U.S. and Europe, including a 76 percent decline in Tesla sales in Germany where Musk has endorsed a far-right political party. In recent weeks acts of vandalism have been reported against Tesla vehicles, dealerships, and charging stations, and there have been protests against Musks drastic cuts to the federal government at Tesla dealerships across the U.S.

So early on Tuesday morning, Trump tried to do his part by claiming, Im going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk.

Trump promoted the company outside the White House on Tuesday afternoon, posing with Musk, his son, and a line of Tesla vehicles.

Im going to buy because number one, its a great product. As good as it gets. Number two, because this man [Elon Musk] has devoted his energy and his life to doing this, and I think he has been treated unfairly, Trump told reporters.

Hours before Trump posted his initial Tesla endorsement, Sean Hannity announced (while chatting with Lara Trump, First DaughterinLaw/Fox News anchor) that he, too, will buy a Tesla to help out poor Elon. Maybe its just a gesture on my part, and I like new technology, but its just a way of saying, Look what theyre doing to this guy, the Fox host explained.

To be clear, Musk is not literally poor in any way. He remains the worlds richest man, though his net worth has dropped by $132 billion in 2025, or more than 30 percent as of March 10, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

But Americans should still take heed of Trumps Truth Social post, if not for their concerns for Musks billions, then for the presidents complaint that the Radical Left Lunatics are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla. Declining to buy a Tesla isnt currently against the law, but you might want to adjust your finances just in case that changes. A new Cybertruck costs around $80,000, so between that, skyrocketing egg prices, and the potential recession, youd better start saving.

This post was updated after Trumps Tuesday afternoon photo op.
These tariffs could lead to higher fuel prices for consumers, increased market volatility, and broader economic repercussions for industries dependent on oil and gas.

While Canadian oil imports are likely to continue despite tariffs, Mexican oil imports may see a sharp decline due to alternative sources available to Gulf Coast refiners.

President Trump's new tariffs on energy imports from Canada and Mexico are expected to significantly impact US refiners, particularly those reliant on heavy crude.

President Donald Trumps newly imposed 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and a 10% tariff on energy products from Canada have the potential to send ripples through the U.S. oil and gas market.

These tariffs, effective March 4, come after last-minute negotiations failed, raising concerns about higher costs for refiners and potential disruptions to North Americas tightly integrated energy supply chains.

How Canadian Oil Tariffs Could Disrupt U.S. Refiners

The U.S. imports approximately 4.4 million barrels per day (MMb/d) of crude oil from Canada, accounting for about 27% of total U.S. refinery demand. The Midwest (PADD 2) is particularly dependent on Canadian oil, receiving about 3.5 MMb/droughly 75% of Canadas total crude exports.

Many U.S. refiners, particularly in the Midwest and Rocky Mountain regions, have spent billions upgrading facilities to process Canadas heavy, sour crude. These refiners prefer Canadas discounted barrels because they provide the best refining margins.

A 10% tariff on Canadian crude will increase costs for these refiners, and this will both erode margins, and get passed on to consumers in the form of higher gasoline and diesel prices. Refiners do have some options for replacing this crude, but they are more expensive, and there may be logistical challenges. Further, in the short-term it will definitely cause some disruptions to U.S. refinery operations, much as Russias invasion of Ukraine did in 2022.

However, because of how deeply integrated the U.S.-Canada crude supply chain is, analysts believe that nearly 90% of Canadian oil imports will continue flowing into the U.S. despite the tariff. The bigger concern is for refiners in California and the Northeast, which rely on Canadian crude shipped from Newfoundland and Alberta. Some may seek alternative sources such as Alaskan North Slope (ANS) crude or heavier Middle Eastern grades but switching suppliers could present the aforementioned logistical and pricing challenges.

Impact on Mexican Oil Imports

The 25% tariff on Mexican crude is even more significant. The U.S. imported about 625,000 barrels per day from Mexico in 2024, mainly heavy Maya crude destined for Gulf Coast refiners (PADD 3). This heavy crude is a critical feedstock for refineries that specialize in processing lower-quality oils into usable fuels.

Unlike Canadian crude, Mexican oil imports could see a sharp decline because refiners along the Gulf Coast have more alternative sources. Venezuelan crude, Middle Eastern heavy grades, and even some Canadian barrels rerouted from PADD 2 could replace Mexican oil. However, redirecting supply chains is not seamlessit involves higher transportation costs and potential disruptions. In the short term, refiners may absorb some of the higher costs, but over time, fuel prices could inch higher as a result.

Wider Economic and Market Impacts

Beyond oil and gas prices, tariffs on energy imports can have broader economic repercussions. Higher refining costs could squeeze profit margins for U.S. refiners, potentially leading to lower capital expenditures, delayed maintenance schedules, and even job reductions in refinery-dependent regions. Additionally, any sustained increase in energy costs could impact industries that rely heavily on oil and gas, such as transportation, agriculture, and manufacturing.

Energy markets also react strongly to uncertainty. If tariffs introduce supply chain inefficiencies or raise the prospect of retaliatory actions from Mexico and Canada, crude oil futures could experience higher volatility. Canada and Mexico could respond by imposing tariffs on U.S. refined fuel exports, making American gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel more expensive in key foreign markets.

Final Thoughts

The U.S. oil market is deeply intertwined with those of Canada and Mexico, and tariffs on crude oil imports will have consequencessome immediate, others playing out over time. While U.S. refiners will still process the majority of Canadian crude despite the 10% tariff, the 25% tariff on Mexican oil could shift trade patterns and raise costs for Gulf Coast refiners.

Ultimately, the energy industry is adept at adjusting to policy shifts, but those adjustments come at a cost. It also takes time to adjust, and prices can be volatile during the adjustment period. If sustained, these tariffs could contribute to higher fuel prices, market volatility, and economic inefficienciesraising the question of whether the benefits of trade leverage outweigh the financial burden imposed on American consumers.

By Robert Rapier

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Sales of electric vehicles have been slowing down across markets, but one man believes the future remains bright. That man is Kazakh millionaire Kenges Rakishev, who made his money from oil and gas and metals, and now wants a piece of the EV pie.

The West is lagging behind China when it comes to the EV race, Rakishev, chairman of Fincraft Group, told the South China Morning Post in an interview. China started to secure supplies of lithium, cobalt, and graphite decades ago, and they are racing ahead when it comes to the price and quality of their EVs. We are a natural partner for China, especially in the growing EV sector.

Kazakhstan is perhaps most famous as an oil-producing stateand the biggest miner of uranium in the worldbut it also has substantial other mineral resources. Among these are chrome and zinc, of which Kazakhstan is a major global producer, along with copper, iron ore, lead, gold, and manganese.

In terms of copper, Kazakhstan is the worlds ninth-largest producer, with production rising at a sizable 7% compound annual growth rate between 2018 and 2022. Since then, output growth has slowed and is about to reverse, following global trends. Even so, Kazakhstan certainly has a part to play in the EV industry, and one of its wealthiest businessmen is grabbing the opportunity.

Related: EIA STEO: Oils Tight Squeeze To Create Price Pop Before the Drop

Rakishev has been making inroads into transition technology for a few years now, focusing on EVs, solar panels, and batteries. A special company was set up to produce nickel and cobalt in the eastern part of the country, which is already one of the leading mineral suppliers to Chinese businesses.

There is still much to be developed, Rakishev told the South China Morning Post. The scale of these resources presents enormous opportunities and we are eager to partner with Chinese companies who can contribute to our growth.

Meanwhile, Chinese EV makers are setting up shop in the Central Asian country. Sales of Chinese electric vehicles in Kazakhstan reached 12,587 last year, which although a small figure, represented a 60% increase on the previous year, with projections for more than 40,000 EVs in sales by 2035, not least thanks to government tax breaks emulating other countries strategy to boost EV adoption.

Kazakhstan is already Chinas biggest trade partner in Central Asia, and the countrys government has signaled a strong interest in boosting ties, specifically in the electric vehicle space in the form of critical minerals. According to Rakishev, the next step in this EV partnership could see the cars being made in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan is a large consumption economy for EVs, but we also want to see Chinese investors come and build production here, in addition to buying these metals, he told the South China Morning Post. And those EVs will not just be sold on the local market, either. The bigger prize could be Europe.

As much as 80% of Chinese goods sold in the European Union passes through Kazakhstan, according to the countrys deputy prime minister, Roman Sklyar. According to Rakishev, This means that if China invests in Kazakhstan for manufacturing  whether its cars, EV batteries, or related industries  this market could become a significant opportunity for them. And through Kazakhstan, you can have very fast access to Europe. For China, this is very important.

The only potential problem for this is the abovementioned slowdown in EV sales due to still high pricesfor non-Chinese vehiclesand governments running out of subsidy money. The problem looks especially grave in the European Union, where member state governments must now fork out fresh billions for defense spending.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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The Trump Administration is prepared to begin enforcing strictly the U.S. sanctions on Irans oil industry and exports, U.S. Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, told Bloomberg at the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference.

The U.S. has tightened sanctions on Iranian oil exports in recent months. The Biden Administration did so at the end of 2024, but the Trump Administration has already imposed two rounds of new sanctions, aimed especially at the shadow fleet facilitating Iranian oil exports to China.

According to Secretary Wright, the Biden Administration didnt enforce the sanctions strictly.

This allowed Iran to boost its exports to a six-year high in the middle of 2024.

The Trump Administration, however, doesnt plan to give Iran any leeway after U.S. President Donald Trump last month directed the Secretary of State to implement a robust and continual campaign, in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury and other relevant executive departments or agencies, to drive Irans export of oil to zero, including exports of Iranian crude to the Peoples Republic of China.

The sanctions enforcement and the target to drive Iranian oil exports to a trickle are part of the U.S. Administrations maximum pressure campaign on Iran.

Irans exports were at very low levels the previous time Trump was President, Wright told Bloomberg in an interview at the Houston conference.

Biden didnt remove those sanctions, but he stopped enforcing them, Wright said.

That enriched Iran. And now weve seen whats happened with the Houthis, Hezbollah and Hamas. Its been mayhem. So is President Trump looking to stop the mayhem and bring peace to the world? Absolutely. Can we afford the squeezing off of Iranian oil exports? Absolutely.

As of the end of February, Iranian exports to China, which buys around 90% of the Islamic Republics oil, continue as traders and middlemen rearrange tanker flows and increase ship-to-ship transfers, especially offshore Malaysia, vessel-tracking analysts say.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Uncertainty has been rife in oil markets of late as Trump's trade wars threaten global demand just as OPEC+ is set to boost supply and Ukraine peace talks get underway.

- US Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced that he plans to work with the Congress to cancel the mandated sales of 100 million barrels of strategic petroleum reserves in 2026-2031 to refill SPR stock.

- According to Wright, it would take 5-7 years to refill US strategic oil inventories at a cost of approximately $20 billion, boosting global crude demand by an additional 100,000 b/d until the end of the decade.

- US strategic stocks reached a 40-year low of 346 million barrels in July 2023 after the Biden administration released 221 million barrels in 2022 alone, recovering to 395 million barrels by the end of February 2025.

- Refilling the SPR to their pre-Ukraine war levels would imply purchasing some 300 million barrels, worth some $27 billion at current prices, potentially indicating that the Trump team wouldnt fill inventories right to the top.

Market Movers

- Canadian oil producer Whitecap Resources (TSE:WCP) will be merging with Alberta peer Veren (TSE:VRN) in a $10.5 billion merger, keeping the Whitecap banner and boosting output to 370,000 boe/d.

- Norway-focused oil firm DNO (OSL:DNO) has agreed to buy North Sea peer Sval Energi from private equity group HitecVision in a deal valued at $1.6 billion, involving a $450 million cash payment plus debt.

- UK oil major BP (NYSE:BP) is expected to sign a frontier exploration deal this month for Zone I in offshore Israel  alongside Azerbaijans Socar and NewMed Energy  covering six blocks alongside the maritime border with Cyprus.

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Fears of further trade wars and rumours of a potential Ukraine deal have contributed to choppy price movements this week, with ICE Brent still oscillating around the $70 per barrel mark. OPEC+ continues to loom large on the horizon, too, after Saudi Arabias foolhardy zeal to bring back oil in April seemed to have tamed investors bullish sentiment, making them wary of a prolonged period of oversupply in H2 2025.

IEA Softens Tone on Oil Investments. Fatih Birol, the director of the IEA, stated that there is a need for oil and gas upstream investments to address declines in existing fields, softening the agencys tone after a 2021 blanket call not to invest in new oil and gas projects to reach net-zero by 2050.

Houthis Threaten Return of Red Sea Attacks. Yemens Houthi rebels have announced that if Israel will not allow humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip by the evening of March 11, they will resume attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea following a two-month hiatus.

US Mulls Easing of Russia Sanctions. According to Reuters, the White House asked the Department of Treasury to consider ways how to ease energy sanctions on Russia quickly in case Moscow agrees to a Trump-brokered ceasefire, with Saudi Arabia set to host a Trump-Putin meeting soon.

Alberta Pushes for More US Oil Pipelines. As Canada is preparing for a new Prime Minister in Mark Carney, Alberta premier Danielle Smith signalled that if the US and Canada resolve their tariff issues, there could be two new cross-border pipelines built exporting an additional 2 million b/d by 2030.

Oil Spill Contaminates UK North Sea. The US-flagged tanker Stena Immaculate carrying jet fuel from Greece to the UK collided with a Portuguese-flagged container vessel off the coast of Yorkshire in the UK, with kerosene contaminating the waters and both vessels catching fire upon the collision.

Henry Hub Balloons Out of Control. US natural gas prices soared to $4.47 per mmBtu in Monday trading, marking the highest reading since December 2022, buoyed by Canadian gas imports dropping by 1 Bcf/d to 8.7 Bcf/d over the past week and record LNG feedgas demand.

Indias Hunger for Coal Dissipates. Indias imports of thermal coal have dropped for the sixth straight month in February, down by 15% month-over-month to 12.16 million tonnes, as higher renewable generation was amplified by a slowdown in manufacturing activity across the country.

XRG to Become the Next Energy IPO. ADNOC, the national oil company of the UAE, is considering listing its $80 billion low-carbon investment arm XRG on an exchange outside of the Emirates, asking Bank of America to advise on a future IPO strategy that could well happen on NYSE.

Venezuelan Crude Output Dips in February. Just as the Trump administration ordered US oil major Chevron to wind down operations in Venezuela by April 3, the Latin American countrys crude output posted its first monthly decline in months to 1.022 million b/d, with further downside ahead.

US-Canada Souring Leads to a Steel War. Having delayed tariffs on Canadian oil by a month, US President Trump decided to slap an additional 25% tariff on Canadas steel and aluminium imports into the United States, concurrently declaring a national emergency on electricity.

Kazakhstan Becomes OPEC+s Worst Overproducer. Seeing its production skyrocket to 2.12 million b/d, more than a 500,000 b/d above its 1.468 million b/d OPEC+ quota, the government of Kazakhstan started negotiations with Western oil majors operating there to cut output by 620,000 b/d.

US Iran Sanctions Send Iraq into Panic Mode. US President Trump rescinded a 2018 sanctions waiver that allowed Iraq to purchase electricity from Iran, prompting the Iraqi government to hastily lease a 500 Mcf/d floating LNG terminal and start negotiations on potential supplies with Qatar and Oman.

Nigerias Dangote Wants More Local Crude. Nigerias giant 650,000 b/d Dangote refinery has initiated talks to extend its existing crude supply contract with the countrys state oil firm NNPC, ending later this month, as payments are taking in place in the local naira currency, avoiding forex risks.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Oil markets have kicked off the new week on the back foot with the oil price selloff deepening amid a raft of bearish catalysts. Brent crude for May delivery fell 1.38% to trade at $69.39 per barrel at 1.44 pm ET on Monday, while WTI crude for April delivery declined 1.37% to change hands at $66.12 per barrel. The oil price decline comes as a reversal after crude oil futures rose sharply on Friday but still finished with another week of losses thanks to OPEC's decision to go ahead with production increases starting in April, uncertainty over U.S. tariffs, and a bearish build in U.S. crude stocks. Last week, a statement posted on OPEC's website revealed that Saudi Arabia, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Oman and Algeria will start unwinding a 2.2 million barrel per day cut from April. The cartels decision to add about 138,000 bpd in April appears intended to appease U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly called on OPEC to reduce the price of oil.

"There is a bit of a concern in the market that the OPEC+ decision is the start of a series of more monthly supply additions, but the statement from OPEC+ reiterates an approach in bringing back barrels only if the market can absorb them," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.

Friday's gains were triggered by remarks by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak that OPEC+ could reverse the production increase planned to begin next month: If there is an imbalance in the market, "we can always play in the other direction," Novak said, according to Reuters. Previously, we noted that the OPEC press release stressed that the return of oil may be paused or reversed subject to market conditions.

Related: Jeff Currie: The World Has Reached Peak Oil Trade



On a further bullish note, the increase in oil supply due to OPEC unwinding could even be lower due to a potential offsetting effect of an acceleration in the payback of past overproduction. Commodity analysts at Standard Chartered have reported that current market balances imply that the unwind is unlikely to produce any significant surplus, with a mild surplus expected in Q4-2025 and Q4-2026. Meanwhile, robust demand growth and a continued slowdown in U.S. oil liquids supply will create room for the cuts to be unwound. U.S. oil supply growth slowed significantly in 2024, with revised data showing U.S. crude oil output averaged 13.208 mb/d, good for a mere increase of 274 kb/d y/y following the 942 kb/d increase seen in 2023. StanChart has predicted that U.S. crude oil output will slow further to 231 kb/d in 2025 and just 66 kb/d in 2026.

Iranian Oil Returns To Markets

Meanwhile, there are growing signs that oil under sanctions is returning to the markets. Chinas crude imports during the first two months of this year were down about 5% from a year earlier, thanks to U.S. sanctions on Iran. However, Iranian oil continues being delivered to Chinese ports aboard smaller tankers.

Sanctioned flows have continued largely unfazed as the initial disruption has failed to continue for a meaningful duration, RBC Capital Markets analysts including Brian Leisen and Helima Croft wrote this week. Januarys disruption did in fact cause a physical impact and a change in crude buying behavior, but as weve seen time and again since 2023, the shadow supply chain outperformed.

Trumps first sanctions against Iran targeted 3 vessels carrying Iranian crude to China. The sanctions affected one very-large crude carrier (VLCC) and two Aframaxes that the Treasury Department said helped move Iranian oil to China. They also targeted several entities and individuals across different countries involved in the trade, on behalf of Tehrans Armed Forces General Staff and its sanctioned front company, Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars. The Trump administration imposed further sanctions on more than 30 people and vessels for selling and transporting Iranian petroleum-related products as part of the countrys"shadow fleet". The latest sanctions target tanker operators and managers in India and China; oil brokers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Hong Kong and the head of Iran's National Iranian Oil Company.

Trafigura Groups head of oil trading Ben Luckock has named U.S. foreign policy towards Iran as the biggest upside risk to crude prices in an otherwise well supplied market.The two big unknowns are  how is the US going to deal with its trade issue with China and then how is the US going to deal with Iran and I think the Iranian one is the one that we need to watch out for, Luckock said in an interview on Bloomberg TV. You may find that pressure on Iran backs it into a corner and then we have to be careful.



By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

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Key issues on the table include potential territorial concessions by Ukraine, cease-fire proposals, and the role of European allies in providing security guarantees and shaping the peace process.

The discussions come amid tensions between the US and Ukraine, particularly following a contentious White House meeting and the suspension of US military aid and intelligence sharing.

High-stakes talks between Ukrainian and US officials in Saudi Arabia focus on ending Russia's war against Ukraine, with Kyiv seeking protection of its interests and a clear vision for peace.

Senior Ukrainian and US officials have begun a high-stakes meeting in Saudi Arabia, discussing how to end Russia's war against Ukraine amid recent tensions between Kyiv and Washington and intensifying fighting on the battlefield.

Ukrainian delegation leader Andriy Yermak, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff, said that "protection of Ukrainian interests" and "a clear vision of ending the war" were on Kyiv's agenda for the one-day talks in Jeddah on March 11.

"A cease-fire in the three-year war the Russian Federation has waged on my country has never seemed closer," Yermak wrote in an op-ed published in the Guardian newspaper on day of the meeting.



"A cease-fire in Ukraine will not come through diplomatic gestures alone," he added. "This includes putting political and financial pressure on Russia to raise the cost of renewed conflict."

The talks come 11 days after a contentious White House meeting between Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump that inflamed relations between the two countries following Trumps refusal to include any security guarantees in a potential deal for joint development of Ukrainian rare minerals and other resources. In the aftermath, Washington paused military aid to Ukraine and restricted intelligence sharing on the battlefield.



Oleksandr Merezhko, the head of Ukrainian parliament's foreign affairs committee, told RFE/RL that the meeting should be seen as a "first step towards improving relations between the new Trump administration and Ukraine" and a "direct meeting" between Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump.

"I expect that we will hear from our American friends whether there is any strategy from Trump regarding Ukraine, regarding how to stop Russian aggression," he said. "Because the latest statements of President Trump, they raise a lot of questions."

Whether the United States is prepared to restore aid and intelligence sharing following the talks remains to be seen. Ahead of the meeting, Trump said that his administration had just about ended its suspension of sharing intelligence with Ukraine.

John Herbst, a former US ambassador to Ukraine, said that restoring intelligence cooperation should be seen as a positive result for Kyiv.

If it's lifted after the talks, thats a good thing, Herbst told RFE/RL. If it's not lifted, that's a sign that the Trump policy of pressuring Ukraine will continue.

What Does The US Want To Achieve At The Talks With Ukraine?

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is chairing the US negotiating team, said the talks would be focused around understanding what Ukraine would be prepared to concede in a peace deal and reiterated that Ukraine would have to make concessions over territory that Russia currently occupies as part of any agreement to end the war.

The most important thing that we have to leave here with is a strong sense that Ukraine is prepared to do difficult things, like the Russians are going to have to do difficult things to end this conflict or at least pause it in some way, shape or form, Rubio told reporters on March 10 as he flew to Jeddah.

Beyond those broad aims, few details about the meeting have been made public. Rubio declined to offer what an outline for a potential agreement would look like, and the State Department declined to comment on whether signing the minerals deal and restoring intelligence sharing would be discussed in Jeddah.

The only way this war ends is if both Russia and Ukraine come to a negotiating table, and both Russia and Ukraine will have to make tough decisions, a State Department spokesperson told RFE/RL. Participation in negotiations will quickly make apparent if both parties are serious about peace.

Rubio stated that concessions by Kyiv and Moscow would be central to diplomacy and that future talks with Russia will be required to determine what the Kremlin is willing to concede.

We dont know how far apart they truly are, Rubio said.

What Is On The Negotiating Table In Saudi Arabia?

In the meantime, the immediate US focus is on Ukraine and what Kyiv would be willing to accept as part of a peace deal.

Ahead of the talks, Kyiv said it would be prepared to accept a truce for air attacks and at sea, but not yet for fighting on the battlefield.

Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack that struck Moscow and the surrounding region overnight, a display of its capabilities in the air.

Also expected at the talks were Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and US national-security adviser Mike Waltz.

Steve Witkoff, Trumps Middle East envoy, said last week that he hoped discussions would include a framework for a potential cease-fire and peace deal during the talks. Witkoff will reportedly travel to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin later this week.

Other issues that have been floated include territorial concessions by Ukraine, reaching a cease-fire, and potentially holding elections in Ukraine.

Ukrainian opposition leaders recently said they were against the possibility of wartime elections in the country after media reports suggested US officials had approached them about the idea amid pressure from the Trump administration for Ukraine to hold elections in the event of a cease-fire or peace deal, or possibly earlier.

Zelenskyy also has repeatedly talked about the importance of exchanging hostages, and of his demand for Russia to return abducted Ukrainian children.

Herbst said sequencing in future negotiations will be crucial. While an early cease-fire can be key part of a future peace process, he stresses that it's important that it be followed by further steps towards a lasting peace deal, such as continued military shipments to Ukraine, a potential demilitarized zone, and a greater role for European countries, including their forces deployed as peacekeepers.

These are all serious ideas that have been floated, Herbst said. That might not be a just peace, because a just peace wouldnt see Ukraine have to concede territory, but it could still be a durable one that makes it very hard for Russia to renew aggression.

What Role Will Russia And Europe Play In Peace Talks?

As Ukrainian and US officials gauge each other on what is possible for future peace talks, attention also shifts to the other two players that will decide how the war ends: Russia and Kyivs European allies.

With the meeting in Jeddah under way, top military officials from more than 30 nations are set to meet in Paris on March 11 for talks on the creation of an international security force for Ukraine.

The force is being envisaged by Britain and France. Its aim is to reassure Ukraine and deter another large-scale Russian offensive after any cease-fire. The force might include heavy weaponry and weapons stockpiles that could be rushed within hours or days to aid in Ukraines defense.

Russia has so far said it is against accepting European troops in Ukraine as part of a deal.

The Kremlin has also spoken about getting Western sanctions lifted on its economy as part of a peace process, including in Saudi Arabia when US and Russian officials held talks nearly a month ago.

Marie Dumoulin, a former French diplomat and an analyst at the European Council on Foreign Relations, says that this gives European governments some leverage when the dust settles from the talks in Jeddah.

She said that doubts remain in European capitals about whether Russia is willing to make any concessions of its own and that Europe can use both its own offer of security guarantees to Ukraine and the possibility of lifting European Union sanctions on Russia as a way to shape discussions in both Moscow and Washington.

This gives Ukraine a few more cards to hold at the table, Dumoulin told RFE/RL. These can give Ukraine some room to say whether the deal being offered to them is good enough yet or not.

By RFE/RL

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ExxonMobils eighth oil project offshore Guyana will also be the biggest natural gas development of the Exxon-led consortium in the prolific Stabroek Block.

Exxon and its partners in Guyanas oil projects, U.S. Hess Corp and CNOOC of China, expect to produce up to 1.5 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) of natural gas and 290,000 barrels per day of condensate at the Longtail project, per the request for environmental authorization from Guyana seen by Reuters.

Longtail, which will include the Longtail, Tripletail, and Turbot discoveries, will be the consortiums eighth project offshore the South American country.

Exxon announced the first Longtail discovery in June 2018.

The supermajor and its partners have several oil projects on stream, collectively producing more than 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil.

The huge resources discovered offshore Guyana since 2015 have made the country one of the newest crude oil exporters. Since Exxon struck oil in the Stabroek Block, the consortium has discovered total reserves estimated at more than 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

So far, the consortium has put online six production projects in the country.

Some of the more than a dozen discoveries in the Stabroek Block have good natural gas resources, and Exxon has decided it would develop these for gas-to-power onshore and potentially for LNG exports in the future.

Last month, Alistair Routledge, president and general manager at ExxonMobil Guyana, said that the supermajor plans to boost gas production in Guyana and could consider exports at a later stage.

The Longtail development would send gas to the shore for feedstock in the fertilizer and aluminum production, Routledge said at the Guyana Energy Conference, as carried by Bloomberg. The gas could also be used for power to support data centers.

Exxon plans a final investment decision for Longtail in 2026 and could start up the project by 2029.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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The Panama Canal is considering an idea to build a pipeline to ship liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) across the key trade chokepoint to potentially bring gas from the U.S. to Japan, according to the canal administrator Ricaurte Vasquez.

We're exploring the possibility of rolling out infrastructure with the capacity to move up to a million barrels per day (bpd), but the market is much larger, Vasquez told Reuters.

The canal authorities see moving gas through Panama as a top priority, but its also highly complex, according to Vasquez.

The canal administrator cited initial studies pointing out that the possible capacity of LPG traffic through the Panama Canal could reach 2 million bpd in a decade.

The administration of the Panama Canal expects to decide over the next year whether it would proceed with the plan, Vasquez told Reuters.

The idea to move gas through the canal comes amid heightened tensions between the U.S. Administration and Panama, after President Donald Trump said America should take back the canal it had helped build.

Earlier this month, a consortium led by BlackRock bought two ports on either side of the Panama Canal just a few weeks after President Trump threatened to use force to restore U.S. control over the energy chokepoint. The deal was worth $22.8 billion and also involved a few dozen ports around the world.

The finance major paid $19 billion for the ports of Balboa and Cristobal to CK Hutchinson, which is owned by one of Asias wealthiest individuals, Hong Kong billionaire investor Li Ka-Shing. Along with the Panama ports, CK Hutchinson will also sell its controlling stakes in 43 other ports in 23 countries.

President Trump hailed the deal, saying last week in a speech in the U.S Congress that My administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal, and we've already started doing it.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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President Donald Trump has plans to set up metal refining facilities on the sites of U.S. military bases in a bid to increase domestic production of critical minerals, reducing reliance on China.

The idea will be included in an executive order that could be signed as early as Wednesday, Reuters reported, citing unnamed sources as saying the Pentagon would be directed to work with other federal agencies to build the processing facilities.

The report also cited Trumps speech to Congress from last week, in which the president said that he will take historic action to dramatically expand production of critical minerals and rare earths here in the USA.

Setting up refining facilities on military bases would speed up the process to boosting domestic supply because it would eliminate the risk of local community opposition to such operations, which is always present elsewhere in the country. The Pentagon controls some 30 million acres of land, per Reuters. The report did mention that such facilities could still encounter challenges stemming from the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act.

The Reuters sources also said that the president had no plans to establish a strategic reserve of metals modeled on the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, or apply the Buy American mandate to the Pentagons or any other federal agencys procurement practices.

Demand for critical minerals is seen by most forecasters as booming in the near to long term, mostly on the back of the energy transition. Driven by that transition, demand for critical minerals is seen rising twofold by 2040, with the size of the critical mineral market also rising, from $325 billion in 2023 to some $770 billion in 2040. President Trump has made it crystal clear he is not interested in the transition but critical minerals are also used in weapons and military equipment, which makes their supply a national security issue.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Ukrainian forces hit and damaged the Moscow Oil Refinery and a Druzhba oil pipeline facility in Oryol Oblast in a fierce overnight drone attack on Monday, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces has reported. According to Ukrainian officials, the giant refinery--capable of processing 11 million metric tons of oil per year and covers nearly half of Moscow's gasoline and diesel supplies--was hit multiple times, although Gazprom Neft, which owns the refinery, didnt respond to a Bloomberg request for a comment.

According to the General Staff, the operation "struck a number of Russian strategic objects, enabling armed aggression against Ukraine." Lately, Ukraine has launched targeted attacks on industrial and military facilities in Russia's rear in a bid to undermine Moscow's ability to wage its war.

The attacks came as a delegation of U.S. officials arrived at Saudi Arabia for peace talks with Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have revealed that Kyiv is planning to propose a ceasefire in the sea and sky during the truce meeting, with Trump telling reporters he believes the talks will result in "a lot of progress".

Last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declined a proposal by Trump to acquire approximately 50% of Ukraines rare earth mineral rights. Valued at several trillion dollars, Ukraines mineral reserves include lithium, titanium and graphite that are essential for high-tech industries. The proposal was delivered by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as part of a bid to compensate Washington for assistance to Kyiv. Trump had suggested that Ukraine owed the United States $500 billion worth of resources for its past military support.

However, Zelenskyy is seeking better terms, including U.S. and European security guarantees. Trumps initial proposal did not include provisions for future assistance, which Zelenskyy deems necessary. Zelenskyys team has developed an offer for a mineral partnership in exchange for security guarantees, which was announced earlier this month.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

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Some U.S. LNG exporters are looking to raise their delivery prices in renegotiations of contracts with buyers as rising costs have reduced the profitability of LNG projects in recent years, Reuters reports, citing sources familiar with the plans.

Energy Transfer, which is working to convert its existing Lake Charles LNG import facility in Louisiana into an LNG export facility, has already started renegotiations, company officials said on the Q4 earnings call last month.

Energy Transfer is renegotiating its sales and purchase agreement (SPAs) from 2019 and 2020, co-chief executive officer Marshal McCrea said.

We don't like those prices. So, yes, we are renegotiating those, McCrea told analysts during the call, referring to the new cost levels and the prices in the 2019-2020 deals.

We are in negotiations with every one of those. To my knowledge, not one of those has backed out yet. Everybody understands how costs have risen, the executive added.

Other LNG developers and exporters are also trying to renegotiate contract prices with buyers amid a rise in construction, liquefaction, and labor costs in recent years. These costs have made the new projects more expensive than they were when initial plans were laid out.

Venture Global has been looking to renegotiate higher prices for the supply from its CP2 project in Louisiana, sources told Reuters.

The U.S. LNG developer has yet to take a final investment decision on that plant and construction has not started yet.

Mexico Pacific, whose anchor project is Saguaro Energia LNG on the West Coast of Mexico that would market U.S. natural gas from the Permian to Asia, wants to renegotiate deals with two Chinese buyers, Chinese industry officials told Reuters. The Chinese buyers have so far rejected the proposal to renegotiate prices, according to the sources.

The U.S. remains the worlds largest LNG exporter, but U.S. LNG competitiveness could be hit by the higher costs and potentially lower prices of competing supply thats indexed to the price of oil, analysts say.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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The US has shown increasing interest in Uzbekistan's mineral wealth, with ongoing dialogues and agreements focused on collaboration and reducing reliance on other nations for critical mineral supplies.

The initiative aims to establish a domestic industrial base for manufacturing high-tech products using locally sourced minerals, while also creating opportunities for trade and investment with the United States.

Uzbekistan is initiating a $2.6 billion investment plan to develop its mineral resources, focusing on 76 projects and 28 different elements, including critical minerals like tungsten, lithium, titanium, and vanadium.

Uzbekistan has announced a $2.6-billion initiative to develop the countrys substantial mineral resources, setting the Central Asian nation up to potentially become an important source of rare earths for US businesses.

During a March 7 presentation in Tashkent, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced a three-year investment plan to develop 76 projects covering 28 different elements used in the production of durable goods. Uzbekistan has identified significant deposits of critical minerals, such as tungsten, lithium, titanium and vanadium, an element used in the construction of nuclear reactors. But to date, the deposits have not been aggressively developed, in part due to lagging investment.

The initiative aims to stimulate a home-grown industrial base, in which minerals mined in Uzbekistan are used to manufacture cars, electronics and high-tech items at plants located in the country. The plan also opens the door for new trade and investment opportunities for the United States.

The main task is to extract valuable raw materials directly from ore using modern technologies, increase the purity of minerals and create products with high added value, read a statement issued by Mirziyoyev. For example, enrichment of tungsten concentrate from the Ingichka deposit will double the added value.

The Uzbek initiative will involve funding for geological prospecting to identify new deposits, as well as the development of technology hubs in the Tashkent and Samarkand regions to train specialists in the use of new technologies and promote best mining practices.

That is where the United States can play a significant role.

The Trump administrations foreign policy has prioritized expanding US access to rare earths around the world, aiming to reduce a heavy reliance on China for critical supplies. Uzbekistan appears to be seen in Washington as an important node of opportunity.

In a February 21 phone call with his Uzbek counterpart, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed that the United States is eager to take advantage of mutually beneficial opportunities for investment in critical minerals. Within that context, the March 7 Uzbek initiative seems like an invitation to the Trump administration to back up its words with action. Uzbekistan presently lacks the know-how and technology to make Mirziyoyevs vision a reality.

US interest in Uzbekistans mineral wealth predates Trumps return to the White House. During the Biden administration, the two countries, as part of the C5+1 format, established a dialogue in September 2023 to explore collaborative opportunities concerning Uzbek deposits.

In September 2024, Uzbekistan and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding covering the development of mineral resources. The document serves as an important step in continuing the US-Uzbekistan dialogue on exploration, mining, and value-added product chain development, stated a press release issued by the Uzbek Ministry of Mining Industry and Geology.

Last November during a visit to Tashkent, then-US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu highlighted cooperation on critical minerals as a key part of a developing strategic partnership between the two states.

Both sides declared the importance of continuing close consultations and celebrated new areas of cooperation, including in critical minerals production, Lu stated. The United States and Uzbekistan have seen significant progress in the critical minerals sector with the recent signing of the Critical Minerals MOU in September and Uzbekistan joining the Minerals Security Partnership.

By Eurasianet.org

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The United States relies heavily on other countries, particularly China, for essential metals used in technology, and this dependence makes the US vulnerable to export restrictions in trade disputes.

There's no telling exactly where the Trump administration's trade war is going as the president authorizes tariffs and then quickly suspends them, only to authorize them again and suspend them again or provide waivers for certain industries. While tariffs on narrowly defined categories of goods to guard against unfair competition may be workable, the administration's shotgun approach to tariffs risks a cutoff of strategic minerals that could strangle America's tech industry.

As I've written before, the United States is dangerously dependent on other countries for a wide-ranging list of metals and, in some cases, completely dependent. (For more on that, see here, here, here and here.) Responses to tariffs do not have to take the form of retaliatory tariffs by the targeted country. They can take the form of export restrictions that deny the United States key commodities and products necessary to important industries.

China currently controls 69 percent of rare earth elements (REE) mine production and almost 90 percent of the processing of these elements. REEs are a group of metals, often found in deposits together, that are critical for modern electronics (such as computer hard disks, smartphones, and cameras); strong magnets used in hybrid cars and wind turbines; X-ray and MRI scanning equipment; aircraft engines; and crude oil refining. This is just a partial list. There are no viable substitutes for these metals available at any scale that would be meaningful.

By the way, China's share of REE processing versus its share of worldwide mine production tells us that some countries that mine REEs remain partially or wholly dependent on China to process the ore. Until the opening of a domestic processing facility in California, the United States was also dependent on China for processing.

The Chinese have already begun to restrict exports of the technology for processing REEs. In December in response to U.S. restrictions on the export of advanced computer chips and production equipment to China, China banned exports of gallium, germanium and antimony to the United States. These are not REEs. However, gallium and germanium are key building blocks for semiconductors of the kind used in advanced computer chips. Germanium is also used in infrared technology, fiber optic cables and solar cells. Antimony is used in ammunition, flame retardants, ceramics, and glass and rubber products.

Nearly all of the world's gallium mine production comes from China. Germanium mine production is not reported publicly, but the United States gets 51 percent of its germanium from China. China dominates antimony production with 60 percent of annual mine production.

The ban on Chinese exports of gallium, germanium and antimony signals that China is willing to take the economic pain involved in denying itself sales into the U. S. market in order to make a point. Don't be surprised if sometime this year, China decides to make a point about its displeasure with America's trade war by banning or seriously curtailing REE exports to the United States. If it happens, the move will show that protecting American industry is more complicated than the Trump administration realizes.

By Kurt Cobb via Resource Insights

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(Photo by Shoji Kudaka)



Starting late March through April, you would see banners and flags with the word  at local supermarkets on the island. Displayed alongside the banners are foods such as tempura, simmered pork ribs, mochi rice cake and more.

Shiimii, or seimeisai, is a tradition where Okinawans visit their family tombs. It is supposed to take place during seimei period of nijyuu-shisekki, a calendar system that divides a year into 24 seasons. Seimeis season starts around April 5 and ends around April 20, which marks the beginning of the next season, kokuu. In the case of 2025, however, the period begins on April 4.

Along with obon, a tradition to commemorate ancestors in late summer, shiimii is a big event for local families on the island.

In a sense, shiimii is like higan, a Japanese tomb-visiting season (on the mainland) around the spring equinox day in March. Locals visit tombs with food and items to offer to their deceased family members for both traditions. For shiimii, families in Okinawa often throw a picnic blanket in front of a tomb and enjoy the food there.

Some locals have their family tombs on military facilities such as Torii Station, White Beach, and Kadena Air Base. You may see them have a picnic at such on-base tombs.

If you have local Okinawans in your family, you may have a chance to join shiimii. If you do, please note that it is also an opportunity to clean family tombs. Before enjoying food, you would sweep the floor, cut grass, and rinse vases with water to put in new flowers and dedicate them to the ancestors. Flowers for shiimii are sold at local supermarkets during the period.

You may expect a tomb visit to be a serious ceremony. But shiimii is more of a relaxed event. Although the mood will be relatively quiet, you will have fun chatting with your family enjoying food and sharing the moment with your ancestors.
Mayor Jean Stothert is proposing short-term raises for police officers and a long-term pay structure that would keep Omaha Police Department pay the highest of all Nebraska law enforcement agencies.

Stothert and Police Chief Todd Schmaderer announced the proposal Tuesday. They said its their new strategy to try to bring the department up to its authorized number of 906 officers.

The proposal calls for an across-the-board 2.7% raise in 2025, and a minimum increase of 5.58% in 2026.

The starting pay for new officers, currently $73,403, would go up to $75,379 in 2025 and then to $79,580 in 2026.

Officers at the top of the pay scale currently earn $101,691. Their pay would increase to $104,436 this year and then to $110,260 in 2026.

The proposal also commits the city in the future to raising the top pay for Omaha police officers so that it remains 5% higher than any other Nebraska police agencys top pay.

This will guarantee that the Omaha police officers that are at the top of the pay scale and are our most experienced officers are always paid 5% above all other agencies in Nebraska, Stothert said.

The raises would cost the city about $2.3 million in 2025 and about $9 million next year, Stothert said. The proposal would need to be approved by the Omaha Police Officers Association union and the Omaha City Council.

Stothert said its necessary to compete with other agencies in what Schmaderer described as a bidding war.

Chief Schmaderer and I remain committed to building our excellent Police Department back to full strength, Stothert said. The competition for police officers has created a constant cycle of catch-up as other Nebraska law enforcement agencies also increased their salaries. We knew we needed a long term solution, and now we have one.

That competition was highlighted Tuesday in Stotherts and Schmaderers announcement during a press conference at Central Police Headquarters. Stothert said the City of La Vista is planning to raise its police officers pay in in October. Stothert said the 2026 raise is calculated to increase the pay for Omaha officers at the top step so it will be 5% over the upcoming La Vista pay.

If any other Nebraska agency approves a contract with an even higher salary before March 31 of 2025, the 2026 pay will be recalculated, Stothert said.

Asked whether the proposal will submit taxpayers in Omaha and its suburbs to a never-ending bidding war for police officers, Stothert said shes trying to end the competition.

Were trying to send the message that Omaha in the state of Nebraska will always be the highest paid to try to stop the bidding war, she said. To try to stop that catch-up cycle that were seeing, and so that everybody can hopefully slow down with that because you cant keep that up forever.

The raises come on the heels of a large pay hike in 2024 aimed at improving police recruitment and retention, which has flagged since the nationwide civil unrest that followed the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. At the time, Omaha was 99 officers short of its authorized number of 906 sworn personnel.

Stothert had proposed the 2024 raise, calling the issue a crisis.

Today, with 791 officers, the city is 115 officers short.

Stothert said the 2024 raises have increased the number of applicants to be police officers, but not enough.

We expected higher salaries would result in higher numbers of new applicants, and we are getting results, she said. Since the 2024 rates took effect, recruit applications are up from 345 in January 2023 to 575 last fall.

But before 2020, the city used to receive 1,600 to 1,800 applications every time it advertised for new recruits, Stothert said.

Schmaderer said crime in Omaha is down, and clearance rates and response times are going strong. He said police managers have taken steps to manage without the fully authorized number of officers.

But a couple things are going up, Schmaderer said. Our overtime is going up, and officer burnout is going up. Theres only so long that they can continue to be this efficient, this adept, this skilled at what they do without getting some reinforcement.

In addition to the salary increases, the proposal also calls for the city to accept police officer applications year-round. Currently, the city only takes applications twice a year.

Two police training academy classes would be scheduled each year. Testing for recruits would take place three or four times annually instead of the current twice-a-year schedule.

Omaha would pay the top scale to newly hired certified law enforcement officers with eight or more years of experience at another agency in metropolitan Omaha, a comparable metro agency, the Nebraska State Patrol or the Lincoln Police Department.

Also, people accepted for a police academy class could be hired as seasonal Omaha Police Department employees and assigned to the departments telephone response unit until the next class begins.

The number of Omaha police officers has been an issue in the current mayors race. Stothert is seeking reelection. She faces four challengers in the April 1 primary: John Ewing Jr., Jasmine Harris, Mike McDonnell and the Rev. Terry Brewer. McDonnell has criticized Stothert for the shortage and said he would contract with the Douglas County Sheriffs Office for help until Omaha could hire more officers.

The Omaha police union is often a force in city politics.

Stothert said the proposal announced Tuesday has nothing to do with the election, absolutely nothing.

This movement started in 2020, the summer of 2020, she said. We thought that would really remedy the problem. Its helping, but its not getting us where we want to be as soon as we want to be there. This solution that were offering today, weve been working on for months. Its nothing that we can wait until after the election to do.

Schmaderer said hes responsible for the timing of the proposal because hes asking for it now.

You can blame me for the timing, he said. We have a recruit class starting in June. I want to start advertising for the next class as soon as possible. This gets me in a position where we can start advertising this new pay scale, provided it passes the council and through the (Omaha Police Officers Association). This gets us rolling in the process.


Hb 3377 uses publci tax dollars for private restaurants

By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

Not many bills have advanced so far, but a big taxpayer pork bill in House Bill 3377 is already voted out of committee.

HB 3377 uses lottery funds to invest $10 million in a James Beard food hall.

First of all, our public tax dollars should not be used for the private benefit of a private corporation  especially when politicians say they are out of money and need to raise taxes.

Second, by taxing one restaurant in order to give the same tax dollars to another restaurant you are in fact picking and choosing which restaurants will succeed. My dear friend, the late Tom Maginnis, once ran one of the more successful pizza restaurants in Oregon. He shared on how his customers declined when the Blazers played a game. The restaurants near the Blazers saw increases. Remember, taxpayer dollars were used to subsidize the Blazer arena, and therefore tax dollars were used to draw away customers from legitimate family owned small businesses. So when, politicians say this tax-funded restaurant project will generate revenue, what they really mean is that it will steal a pile of money from one pool of restaurants and give it to another pool of restaurants.

Third, even if you allow for tax cash to build a local restaurant, would this not be the proper role for the City of Portland instead of having rural Oregon pay for a project 500 miles away?

P.S. This public market is not public because you have to pay, so taxpayers have to pay for what they already paid for.

HB 3377 summary, Authorizes lottery bonds for construction of the James Beard Public Market in Portland. HB 3377 is sponsored by Representative Hudson, Nelson, Nguyen D, Nosse, Pham H, Ruiz

 Contribute online at OregonWatchdog.com (learn about a Charitable Tax Deduction or Political Tax Credit options to promote liberty).


By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

Today in the House Revenue Committee is a hearing on HB 2079 and Hb 2087 which instruct the State Government to study property taxes and income taxes.

Sometimes these study bills are a way to spend taxpayer dollars promoting a tax. For instance, the Legislature once spent over $100,000 tax dollars studying a carbon tax and later arrived at a bill that was the worst carbon tax idea in America. A walkout led by the brave Republican leaders Sen. Herman Beartschiger and Rep. Christine Drazan helped killed that tax.

Sometimes these study bills are a placeholder to gut-and-stuff the bill with an actual tax at the very end of Legislative Session (this May/June) when people are not looking. If this is the secret hidden intent, then these bills are part of a last minuet tax-hike scheme to defraud the public.

The Taxpayers Association of Oregon recommends that the State Government not waste time studying property taxes and income taxes but rather study where our property taxes and income taxes are being spent.

Taxpayers want to know where our property tax are going:

 Why are our property tax dollars being lost by the hundreds of millions to urban renewal projects which diverts funds meant for schools and critical local government services and uses it for projects that benefit private businesses?

 Why are tens of millions of property tax dollars being spent buying vacant land (for unused public purposes) which only makes the affordable housing crisis worse while taking property off the tax rolls (causing tax revenue to decline).

 Why are property taxes being spent on building $134 million dollar bridges that do not allow cars?

Taxpayers want to know where our income tax dollars are going:

 How much of our income tax dollars are lost to paying off the $28 billion government pension debt (PERS)?

 How much of our income tax dollars are being spent on hand-outs to private companies like spending tens of millions for Hollywood film companies and building mega-restaurants?

 How much of our income tax dollars were wasted with the $1 billion dollar ODOT fiasco, the $200 million CRC bridge that was never built, or the $200 million health care website that never enrolled a single person?

 How much of our income tax dollars were wasted on preventable computer crashes by Employment Dept., Housing Department, Health Department and DMV?

We ask our lawmakers at the hearing today to amend HB 2079 and HB 2087 to instead study how our property tax and income tax dollars are wasted.

Details on the bills below:

HB 2079 summary, Requires the Legislative Revenue Officer to study the property tax system in this state. HB 2079 is sponsored by Representative Nancy Nathanson.

HB 2087 summary, Requires the Legislative Revenue Officer to study the property tax system in this state.  HB 2087 is sponsored by Representative Nancy Nathanson

 Contribute online at OregonWatchdog.com (learn about a Charitable Tax Deduction or Political Tax Credit options to promote liberty).


House Bill 3329 gives $28 million in tax dollars to private film companies

By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

HB 3329 gives a stunning 40% increase in film tax cash grants/credits to Hollywood style film companies in Oregon. It would increase the amount from $20 million to $28 million.

Remember, epic Hollywood wretch, Harvey Weinstein, funded his film empire based upon government tax credits.

Also, nothing says a long term investment of out tax dollars than a private one-time movie shoot.

This is not proper use of our tax dollars. Oregon film production tax credits are a waste of taxpayer dollars  especially when politicians are saying they are out of money and need to raise taxes.

Hb 3329 passed out of Committee yesterday and will soon be up for a floor vote.

HB 3329 summary, The measure increases the allowable amount of tax credits for certified film production contributions from $20 million to $28 million . HB 3329 is sponsored by Representative Javadi, Senator Frederick, Reynolds



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House Bill 3191 gives $8 million to art.

By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

House Bill 3191 up for a hearing this week gives an $8 million grant to various art projects in Oregon.

Wait a minute! Doesnt Oregon have one of the nations most generous and costly tax credit program for art? Yes, Oregon gives a whopping $500 cultural tax credit for people who donate to art. Apparently that tax credit, which costs Oregon tens of millions of lost dollars, is not enough. Now the State aims to dump our tax dollars to private art companies and projects. At least the cultural tax credit was a way to force art companies to attract public support  whereas HB 3191 just gives the tax cash away.

Last year, the Legislature gave tax dollars to the Portland Art Museum and instead of spending it on actual art, they spent it on wasteful movie nights to show films like Dirty Dancing and Psycho Beach Party. Tax dollars should not subsidize your movie night.

Last year, the Legislature bailed out the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. One of the reasons the Oregon Shakespeare Festival has lost money is because of their gross mismanagement and their injecting politics into their plays which drove customers away. Now the Festival is back for more funding with HB 3191.

House Bill 3191 summary reads, Appropriates $8,875,000 to 14 specified arts and culture organizations. Appropriates $400,000 to the Oregon Business Development Department (OBDD) for the Cultural Resources Economic Fund (CREF). Appropriates $50,000 to OBDD to conduct a competitive grant program awarding funding to a nonprofit organization to provide technical assistance to other organizations in applying for and receiving public funding. Updates references.

HB 3191 is sponsored by Representatives NOSSE, ANDERSEN; Representatives GRAYBER, LEVY E, MARSH, NATHANSON,SMITH G, Senators ANDERSON, FREDERICK, MANNING JR, MEEK, PATTERSON, REYNOLDS (Presession filed.)

 Contribute online at OregonWatchdog.com (learn about a Charitable Tax Deduction or Political Tax Credit options to promote liberty).
BLOOMINGTON  After enduring taste and odor issues with Bloomingtons drinking water for several months, the City Council agreed Monday to buy a $755,000 powdered activated carbon system to boost filtration when needed.

The city stopped using powdered activated carbon, or PAC, for water purification in 1994, but now with council approval, the city will invest in a new PAC storage and feed system from Chemco Systems Inc. that is expected to be operational within a year.

The city reconsidered using PAC after a switch to pumping water solely from Evergreen Lake in January led to tests showing a rise in compounds produced by algae and bacteria that, while harmless, can affect water quality.

By repurposing a liquid lime system, the city was able to establish a temporary PAC system to support its existing granulated activated carbon treatment process. Bloomington Water Director Ed Andrews said this has not been without its difficulties.

This is an outside parking lot operation so we wouldn't be doing this at minus 15 degrees, Andrews said. That's the necessity of consideration for a permanent PAC system.

The new storage and feed system will be enclosed in a silo that is divided into two compartments: an upper compartment for receiving shipments and storage of PAC, and a lower compartment where the PAC would be mixed to form a slurry applied to the raw water main outside the city's water treatment plant.

Earlier this month, methylisoborneol tested at 490 nanograms per liter, which far exceeds the level Andrews said taste and odor issues become noticeable, at 10 nanograms per liter.

Andrews had said the main driver of these levels is an algae bloom that was exacerbated by a lack of snowfall this winter. This caused a greenhouse effect, trapping warmth in the frozen-over lakes that allowed the algae to flourish.

Prior to the vote, former state Rep. Dan Brady, who is running for mayor against Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe and Alderman Cody Hendricks, spoke during public comment and said he is concerned about the annual operating costs of the system, which were estimated to be between $500,000 and $1 million. The city's current granulated activated carbon system currently operates at about $155,000 a year.

Brady suggested the pumping stations at Lake Bloomington and Evergreen Lake be inspected, and he requested those with expertise in the matter to assist with this.

That could be the quickest, most accurate and cost-effective solution to the problem for Bloomingtons citizens and the businesses affected, Brady said.

The council voted unanimously to waive bidding requirements for the system and authorize the purchase. However, Hendricks, who represents the city's Ward 6, asked about a timetable on when the compounds will return to a level where they are not recognizable by taste or smell.

Once the permanent system is operational, a "taste committee" could be formed to engage with residents about how much of the compounds in the water they find palatable, Andrews said.

Andrews said the city should strive to be below 2 nanograms per liter, but it is unclear when the city could be close to hitting that mark.

Other business

City officials also provided an overview of $81 million worth of capital projects anticipated for the fiscal 2026 budget.

In February, staff presented a $310.6 million budget, roughly $21 million less than last year.

But after the City Council approved an agreement with Catalyst construction to demolish three vacant properties in downtown Bloomington and add 137 spaces of surface parking in their place, the budget was modified.

The $3.9 million project would affect the budget twofold since it would be paid for out of the citys capital improvement fund, which would require a transfer from the general fund.

The city also plans to invest $2.8 million in sidewalk, curb and gutter replacements for fiscal 2026.

Jim Karch, assistant city engineer of Bloomington, said the city has 489 outstanding sidewalk complaints, some of which date back years.

I can thankfully say that all of those are now in the FY26 contract (and) will be taken care of and assigned for completion, Karch said.

Another $2.75 million is being committed to street and alley resurfacing, and $1.5 million is being used for pavement maintenance using slurry seal.

Karch said the engineering department will have a more thorough report on its budget expenditures during the council's March 24 meeting.

Bridge and road improvements on Fox Creek Road, from Danbury Drive to Beich Road, are estimated to cost close to $18 million. Another $14 million is being dedicated to Hamilton Road projects.

Rathbun said there are a few items related to the downtown streetscape, but they are infrastructure items that will be needed independent of the larger streetscape plan to improve the look and amenities of downtown.

Currently, no expenditures have been budgeted for the streetscape plan due to pending cost reviews, he added.

Mwilambwe also presented proclamations to two citizens for their achievements in music and sports.

The first was to Kalyani Mudumba for promoting multicultural understanding and creating opportunities for cultural exchange through the tradition of Carnatic music, a form of music originating in southern India.

Carnatic music is a timeless art, and I had the opportunity to share this with the community and also support meaningful causes, Mudumba said.

As founder of the Kalyana School of Music, Mudumba has organized numerous fundraisers over the last decade for causes including St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital. She has also won four world records in Carnatic music, which were recognized in the Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records.

The second proclamation was to Miles Simington, a Heartland Community College graduate whose professional baseball career has taken him to Schaumburg, Canada and eventually Australia.

Simington led his team, the Canberra Cavalry, in stolen bases and was instrumental in the teams league championship in the 2024-25 season, Mwilambwe said.

Although I wasnt born here, this is my home and just going worldwide and being able to represent Bloomington is a gift, Simington said.
By Aigerim Turgunbaeva and Fayazuddin Ghiasi

On February 22, 2025, during a meeting with Uzbekistan'ss Prime Minister Abdullah Aripov, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, representing the Taliban, called for Uzbek investment in repairing crucial infrastructure, including the Mazar-e-SharifHerat railway and the second Salang tunnel. These projects are seen as vital for improving communication and trade between Central and South Asia. Baradar reaffirmed the Taliban's commitment to regional stability and enhancing economic relations, while Uzbekistan expressed support for deepening cooperation and advancing joint initiatives. The Taliban's diplomacy in Central Asia is increasingly focused on economic cooperation, prioritizing infrastructure development and trade expansion.

BACKGROUND: Following the 9/11 attacks, the U.S.-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) entered Afghanistan, and Central Asian countries aligned with the US by providing military support, road access, and airspace. Initially, these countries opposed the Taliban, backing anti-Taliban movements. However, over time, as the Taliban adapted their strategy and reduced their overt support for Central Asian militant groups, some regional countries shifted to a more neutral stance on Afghanistan.

During the Doha peace process, delegates from Central Asian countries held several meetings with the Taliban negotiating team, laying the groundwork for post-U.S. withdrawal relations. When American forces withdrew in August 2021, the Taliban regained control, creating security concerns for neighboring Central Asian states. This shift in power forced regional actors to reassess their approach, balancing security risks with economic and geopolitical interests.

Despite these concerns, most of Central Asian countries kept their embassies open in Kabul and initiated political and economic engagement with the Taliban. For its part, the Taliban, facing a financial crisis due to sanctions, frozen assets, reduced foreign aid, a water crisis, and a lack of international recognition, pursued an economic-oriented foreign policy. This included announcing expanding transportation infrastructure, such as the Mazar-e-Sharif-Herat-Kandahar railway corridor (1,468 km), approved in May 2023, and the Spin Boldak-Kandahar railway, set to connect Central Asia to South Asia in 2024.

IMPLICATIONS: The Talibans return to power has significantly reshaped regional geopolitics and economic ties. With the US withdrawal creating a power vacuum, regional actors have sought to strengthen their positions. The Taliban, in turn, have sought new partnerships to break their political and economic isolation.

As Central Asian nations engage with the Taliban while remaining wary of potential instability, they have also strengthened ties with other powers like China and Russia. This shifting landscape raises critical questions about Afghanistan's evolving role in the region, particularly in terms of security cooperation, counterterrorism efforts, and border management.

Uzbekistan was the first Central Asian country to host a Taliban delegation, receiving Acting Deputy Prime Minister Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi in Termez in September 2021. Both sides signed a security and trade protocol, exchanged diplomats, and expanded economic relations. On April 13, 2023, Uzbekistan hosted the 4th meeting of Afghanistans neighboring foreign ministers in Samarkand to discuss the Afghan situation.

As the Russia-Ukraine war disrupts trade, Uzbekistanwhere three of its eight transit corridors depend on Russiahas accelerated efforts to find alternative routes. In August 2024, the Uzbek Prime Minister visited Kabul to discuss trade and investment projects, resulting in 35 MoUs worth $2.5 billion. Trade between the two countries reached $860 million. Additionally, Uzbekistan has played a key role in infrastructure development, co-signing a trilateral agreement with Afghanistan and Pakistan in July 2023 for the Trans-Afghan Railway, linking Mazar-e-Sharif to Pakistans ports, with a projected cost of $6 billion.

In February 2025, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar led a high-ranking Taliban delegation to Uzbekistan to deepen economic, trade, and transport cooperation. Tashkent also committed to completing the "Khalqlaar Bazar" border market and providing Afghan citizens with a 15-day visa-free regime.

As for Kazakhstan, Afghanistan's top wheat, flour, and edible oil supplier, it maintained its embassy in Kabul after the Talibans takeover. Both sides exchanged ambassadors, strengthening diplomatic ties. Since 2023, three business forums in Astana, Almaty, and Kabul have facilitated agreements worth $1.5 billion. In April 2024, Kazakhstans Prime Minister led a delegation to Kabul for an Afghanistan-Kazakhstan business forum, exploring investment in the chemical, mining, and metallurgical industries. Bilateral trade grew to $700 million in 9 months of 2024, a 14% increase from 2023, with projections reaching $3 billion in five years.

Kazakhstan also joined Turkmenistans initiative to build a logistics hub in Herat and expressed interest in the Trans-Afghan Railway, initially agreed upon by the Taliban, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan in 2021, to access South Asian and Gulf markets.

Historically neutral, Turkmenistan has maintained close ties with the Taliban since the 1990s. It remains a major oil and gas supplier to Afghanistan, with trade valued at over $500 million. Turkmen investments in Afghanistan exceed $1.5 billion, including infrastructure projects such as the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline. In 2024, top Taliban officials met Turkmen leaders to resume work on TAPI, sign MoUs worth $200 million, and explore oil and gas transit routes linking Russia to South Asia via Afghanistan. Additionally, the two sides signed a $7 million agreement for three railway projects in September 2024.

With a 1,360 km border with Afghanistan, Tajikistan was initially the most vocal opponent of the Taliban, demanding an inclusive government with ethnic and gender representation. Anti-Taliban figures gathered in Tajikistan, drawing criticism from Kabul. However, economic cooperation persisted, with Tajikistan continuing electricity exports and opening five joint border markets in September 2023. The Jalaluddin Mohammad Balkhi-Sher Khan Port railway project, first signed in 2019, resumed, enhancing connectivity with Central Asia. Trade between Afghanistan and Tajikistan reached $120 million in 2024. A recent unofficial meeting between top Tajik security officials and the Taliban signaled a thaw in relations.

Concerned about the rights of the Afghan Kyrgyz minority in the Pamir region, Kyrgyzstan established early contacts with the Taliban. In September 2021, Deputy Chairman of Kyrgyzstans Security Council Taalatbek Masadykov met with the Taliban Foreign Minister. Trade and transit discussions continued, with Kyrgyzstan serving as a transit route for Afghan goods to China and playing a key role in the CASA-1000 electricity transmission project.

In September 2024, Kyrgyzstans Cabinet Chairman Akylbek Japarov met with Taliban representatives, expressing interest in expanding trade, transportation, energy, and agriculture cooperation. Some Afghan Kyrgyz, facing economic hardship and limited educational opportunities, have requested relocation to Kyrgyzstan. In response, the Taliban recently established the Pamir district for the Kyrgyz ethnic minority.

CONCLUSIONS: To better understand the Talibans role in Central Asia, its crucial to examine their balancing act between China and Russia, two regional powers with different interests. While China seeks stability in Afghanistan to secure trade routes under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and prevent extremism near Xinjiang, Russia focuses on managing the security risks spilling over into its Central Asian sphere. The Taliban, in turn, is strategically leveraging its position as a buffer state, engaging both countries diplomatically while positioning itself as a key player in regional security.

Since retaking power, the Taliban have pursued economic diplomacy, reassuring Central Asian neighbors of border security and promoting trade expansion. This shift has redirected Afghanistans trade partnerships from Pakistan toward Central Asia and Russia. The Taliban have leveraged Afghanistans geographic position to sign infrastructure MoUs, including railways and transit corridors, inviting regional investment in large-scale projects.

Central Asian states are balancing their engagement with Afghanistan while securing their interests. However, ongoing security risks, potential shifts in Taliban leadership, and external geopolitical pressures could alter the regions engagement strategy. Future developments, such as increased intelligence cooperation or shifts in global economic alignments, may further impact Afghanistans regional role.

AUTHORS BIO: Aigerim Turgunbaeva is a journalist and researcher focusing on Central Asia. She writes about press freedom, human rights, and politics in the former Soviet space, and delves into Chinas interests in the region for publications like The Diplomat, The Guardian, Reuters, and Eurasianet. Dr. Fayazuddin Ghiasi is a Rumsfeld Fellow and senior Researcher on Afghanistan and Central Asia at the Centre for Afghanistan and Regional Studies. He writes about regional geo-economics and geo-strategy, connectivity and politics in various national and international news outlets and journals.
Spiders are truly remarkable creatures, woven into the fabric of human history and mythology. Across diverse cultures, the spider has been imbued with a multitude of symbolic meanings, each one adding to the complexity and depth of its representation.

The Web of Life and Interconnectedness

One of the most prominent associations with spiders is their intricate web-weaving abilities. These delicate yet resilient structures have been interpreted as a metaphor for the interconnectedness of all things. In the Hindu tradition, the spider is seen as a weaver of reality, its web representing the intricate tapestry that binds the cosmos together. This notion of the spider as a creator and distributor of wisdom has resonated profoundly with many spiritual and philosophical traditions.

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The Duality of Illusion and Enlightenment

Interestingly, the spider's web has also been linked to the concept of Maya, the Hindu idea of "illusion." The deceptive and intricate nature of the web has been seen as a representation of the veil of illusion that obscures the true nature of reality. However, this duality also suggests the spider's ability to reveal the underlying truth, guiding the seeker towards enlightenment.

The Solar Symbolism and Cosmic Significance

The spider's radial appearance and the way it constructs its web have also been associated with the sun, a celestial symbol of life and vitality. This solar connection has imbued the spider with a sense of cosmic significance, representing the harmonious balance and progression of the universe.
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Is America currently in a housing crisis? Sherri Lawson Clark says individuals at all economic levelsfrom homeless populations to middle-income homeowners are struggling with affordability.

A contributor to the 2020 national report Displaced in America, Clark's research examines the intersections of housing policy with health and welfare policies. She is developing a new housing stability measure for use throughout the U.S. in addressing housing affordability and access.

Is America facing a housing crisis?

Yes. As a cultural anthropologist, I am interested in the ways in which the housing crisis is experienced at the individual level. A homeless person is experiencing a housing crisis as is the middle-income homeowner whose housing costs have risen above their income. Right now, the question is not necessarily are we in a housing crisis, but are we in a place where we are likely to see the next Great Recession. I think we're at a place where we need to pay attention.

How does this moment compare to the 2007 subprime mortgage crisis that led to the Great Recession?

In similar ways, the 2007 subprime mortgage did not begin in 2007; it began in the mid-1990staking almost a decade before the financial crisis of 2008. Today, many Americans find themselves unable to afford housing. .According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the average homeowner or renter should spend no more than 30% of their monthly income on housing. My research shows that individuals are spending up to half of their monthly income on housing costs. This means there is little left over in their budgets for other necessities. According to the National Housing Conference, a non-profit organization dedicated to affordable housing, two issues define America's new housing crisis: one, skyrocketing housing costs and two, the low rate of Black homeownership, which is lower today than it was when segregation was legal.

What does your research show?

My current research study will shed light on the decision-making processes of homeowners and examine housing accessibility in one of East Winston-Salem, North Carolina's high-poverty census tracts. I expect the findings will greatly aid in a newly created Housing Stability measure for use throughout the US (and beyond) in addressing housing affordability and access.

How do housing affordability challenges differ between urban centers, suburbs and rural areas?

Available housing differs across urban areas with multi-family housing, suburban areas with single-family homes, and rural areas with more manufactured housing and single-family housing. However, all these areas face housing affordability concerns, which are projected to get worse with the current changes happening at the federal level.

Who's most at risk and what can be done?

The most vulnerable across all areas are being displaced. Now is the time to think outside the box to develop alternatives to the traditional housing models. For example, limited equity cooperatives provide long-term affordability to residents who own shares in a development. Reducing zoning restrictions allows for more multi-family and smaller homes to be built on land zoned for single-family homes.
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 figure shows respondents' perceptions of how many job applications out of 100 would receive a positive response if the applicant had a Muslim-sounding name. The concentration to the left of the dotted line reveals a tendency to overestimate the level of discrimination compared with the findings of an audit study using fictitious applications sent to real job vacancies. Credit: University of Copenhagen

A new study from the University of Copenhagen challenges the effectiveness of information campaigns aimed at combating discrimination. Social science research provides a clearer picture of the problem but fails to strengthen public backing for policy solutions.

Many people underestimate the extent of discrimination against ethnic minorities. Consequently, informing the public better will lead to greater support for anti-discrimination policies.

This beliefthat information leads to supportforms the foundation of many anti-discrimination campaigns and educational programs combating discrimination against minorities. And is it even true that people underestimate the extent of discrimination?

A study from the University of Copenhagen suggests that the answers are no. The findings are published in the American Journal of Political Science.

In the study, researchers surveyed 4,800 Danes, testing whether information about the prevalence of discrimination against Muslims in Denmark influenced support for various policy solutions. Surprisingly, even testimonials from experts and those directly affected by discrimination had no measurable effect.

"If you ask people to reflect for a moment on discrimination in society, most people are already aware that discrimination is a significant problem," says Merlin Schaeffer, professor of sociology at the University of Copenhagen and one of the study's three authors.

"Therefore, information campaigns are essentially preaching to the choir, and they fail to address the underlying reasons for the lack of support for anti-discrimination policies."

How the study was conducted

The study reaches its main conclusions thanks to a relatively complex survey design developed by Schaeffer, in collaboration with co-authors Asmus Leth Olsen from the Department of Political Science and Krzysztof Krakowski from King's College London.

In the survey, 4,800 ethnic Danish respondents rated the level of discrimination faced by people with Muslim-sounding names when applying for jobs or making similar inquiries to public schools, local politicians and housing landlords. The perceived level of discrimination was then compared to the actual levels documented in previous field experiments known as "audit studies." These involve sending out identical applications, differing only in the applicant's name.

At the same time, participants were asked to respond to a series of questions about their views on discrimination as a societal problem, the causes of discrimination and a range of possible policy responses.

Finally, the participantsand this is the core of the studywere presented with varying degrees of additional information in distinct groups. One group of participants only provided their initial assessment. Another group was informed of the results of the social science audit studies. The third group additionally received statements explaining the problem of discrimination from either social scientists, lawyers, or individuals with lived experience of discrimination.

By employing a series of statistical analyses, the researchers were then able to isolate and measure the impact of additional information on participants' perceptions of discrimination.

For Schaeffer, the study calls into question awareness-raising campaigns as a panacea for deeper societal challenges such as discrimination.

"While investing in information and education is relatively convenient and cheap, it is largely ineffective. Deep-seated societal problems, like discrimination, require different, more structural solutions beyond simply providing more information."

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Overestimating the extent of discrimination

Contrary to the assumption that people underestimate discrimination, the extensive data indicates that most individualsespecially those with higher levels of educationeven overestimate the extent of discrimination.

For instance, participants were asked to estimate the difference in positive responses to job applications submitted under Muslim-sounding names versus traditional Danish-sounding names. The results show a tendency to overestimate the degree of disparity.

The study reveals a consistent pattern: People tend to overestimate discrimination across various contexts, including interactions with landlords, employers, local politicians, and school principals.

At the same time, there is a resilience to support policy initiatives. Several key observations underscore this lack of effect:

Providing additional information did not significantly alter participants' general perceptions of discrimination or their willingness to endorse policy solutions. The latter could be, for example, the introduction of a requirement to anonymize job applications during processing.

Even presenting accurate data to those participants who initially underestimated the prevalence of discrimination did not lead to a change in their support for policy interventions.

When confronted with compelling explanations from researchers, legal professionals, or Muslims who have experienced it firsthand, participants' attitudes remained unchanged.

People were only more willing to donate to a center for immigrant women. However, the researchers believe that this may also be due to the guilty conscience that naturally arises when people are asked about discrimination.

Changing attitudes takes more effort

According to Schaeffer, the study's findings deliver a sobering message: Simply providing more information is not a quick or effective solution to deeply ingrained and complex social issues like discrimination. Conducting further research and soliciting expert opinions are simply insufficient.

Part of the explanation is not only that most people are already aware of discrimination and have entrenched opinions. Many also have strong opinions about possible causes, which the survey also asks about:

"With 76% agreement, the most common explanation given for discrimination against people with Muslim names is a perceived clash between non-Western and Danish norms and values. Fifty-seven percent also believe that discrimination partly stems from negative experiences people like employers or landlords have had with Muslims," Schaeffer says.

"This shows a tendency to blame the victims of unlawful discrimination, attributing the issue to minorities' failure to integrate. Effective solutions must therefore directly confront stereotypes and prejudices."

Danes' views on discrimination

The study primarily examines whether it is possible to increase support for anti-discrimination policies through more information, but it also paints a picture of Danes' views on discrimination and possible policy responses.

The responses show that a slight majority recognize the serious consequences (57%) and unfairness (55%) of discrimination against non-Western minorities. Yet, a significantly larger proportion (76%) attribute it to clashes between Danish and non-Western norms and values. Fewer respondents (56%) identify stereotypes as a contributing factor.

There is a wide range of support for various policy initiatives. Participants are most negative about proposals to make it compulsory for applications to be anonymized. In total, 49% disagree, while only 26% support the idea.

Somewhat ironically, despite the study's central finding that simply providing more information is insufficient, the most popular policy solution was raising public awareness of discrimination, garnering 55% support. According to the study, this highlights a preference for approaches perceived as convenient and cost-effective, even if they may, in fact, be less effective in practice.

More information: Merlin Schaeffer et al, Correcting misperceptions about ethnoracial discrimination: The limits of evidencebased awareness raising to promote support for equaltreatment policies, American Journal of Political Science (2024). DOI: 10.1111/ajps.12933 Journal information: American Journal of Political Science
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"You're next," said a Russian historian I interviewed in 1993 about the Soviet Union's collapse in late 1991. I was an American student in St. Petersburg, and he was referring to the United States.

His argument was informed by a pseudo-scientific demographic theory that would eventually find favor in the Kremlin, but more remarkable to me then was the hopefulness with which he spoke.

If this man is still alive, he must be feeling vindicated. America's current retreat from its engagements around the worldfrom gutting USAid to abandoning European alliesconstitutes a surrender of power comparable in living memory only to Mikhail Gorbachev's unilateral withdrawals from Afghanistan, Eastern Europe and elsewhere between 1988 and 1991right before the Soviet Union's collapse.

Accompanying both foreign policy about-faces, we can't miss profound shifts in the two states' ideological foundations.

Destabilizing master signifiers

Gorbachev justified his "restructuring" or perestroika by invoking the Soviet Union's founding father, Vladimir Lenin. He did so, however, by observing that the historical Lenin had pragmatically modified policies according to circumstances. That called into question the mythological Leninan infallible hero whose virtues could not be questioned.

The Russian-born American anthropologist Alexei Yurchak argues that Lenin was the Soviet system's "master signifier."

As long as his sacredness remained unquestioned, referring to Lenin could legitimize a range of policies and actions. Viewing Lenin through a historical lens, however, called his sacredness into question. It consequently became impossible for Soviet citizens to agree on what policies and actions were legitimate. This crisis of meaning allowed chronic political, economic and social problems to suddenly become devastating.

America's master signifier is its Constitution, reverentially enshrined in Washington, D.C., rather like Lenin's body is in Moscow. Under President Donald Trump, however, violations of the Constitution have become routine, and the federal government's legislative branch has shown little will to guard its powers from executive encroachment. Like Lenin under Gorbachev, it seems that the sacred center of America's political system has become destabilized.

As a written contract, a constitution is easier to interpret than the thoughts of a dead man. Lenin's advantage, however, was that he could embody traits considered virtuous in the Soviet system. Where could Americans look for that same type of guiding light?

For most of American history, it was George Washingtonthe first president who swore to uphold the Constitution.

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George Washington's America

As a hero of the Revolutionary War, Washington could have become king.

Army officers, frustrated at the central government's weakness after the war under the Articles of Confederation, considered a coup d'etat. Washingtonthe army's commander in chiefcould have led the overthrow (as Oliver Cromwell had or Napoleon Bonaparte would).

Washington refused, and after British capitulation in 1783, he relinquished his command to Congress.

In 1789, after the Constitution was ratified as a legal solution to the problems of confederation, Washington was unanimously elected president. After two terms, however, he rejected suggestions that he stand for a third.

He frequently stressed the importance of habit in human affairs and reasoned that, if he clung to power, Americans might not get accustomed to peaceful and regular rotation of office. By retiring, he transferred much of the reverence that had accrued to him onto the Constitution.

Remembering Washington

Washington's birthday falls on Feb. 22, and Americans began observing it while he was still alive. In 1879, U.S. Congress made the day a federal holiday, an occasion for celebrating the example of selfless public service and respect for the rule of law that "the father of his country" had embodied.

So it remained until 1971.

In that year, the Monday Holiday Act went into effect. Adopted in 1968 at the behest of the business lobby, which saw in three-day weekends an opportunity for sales, the act moved Washington's birthday commemoration to the third Monday in February.

Since many states also celebrated Abraham Lincoln's birthday and the new date fell between his and Washington's, some began calling it "Presidents' Day." When nationwide advertisers and calendar-makers adopted the term in the 1980s, it came to seem official.

The name change, of course, eroded the holiday's connection to Washington, and insofar as it remained more than a shopping day, it came to be associated with all the presidents, effectively cheapening it. Though the federal holiday officially remains "Washington's Birthday," few Americans know that.

The dangers of mythologizing

The shift happened to coincide with a wave of revisionist historiography that pointed out Washingtona slave-ownerwas not perfect.

All historiography is revisionist in the sense that historians revise existing interpretations on the basis of new evidence. For those who wanted an untainted idol, however, it appeared either that Washington could no longer fit the bill or that historical facts had to be massaged.

Ever since, historical assessments have tended to get lost in culture wars, where neither side can accept a real person with both reprehensible and admirable traits.

In the Soviet Union, however, most citizens found it difficult to think historically about Lenin because, under the conditions of dictatorship, open public debate based on factual information about him had been impossible.

Dictatorship depends on mythological thinking that worships heroes and does not expose contradictions between official pronouncements and reality. In the early 1990s, Russians failed to establish the rule of law for a similar reason: they could not overcome the habit of mythologizing, which made them prioritize personality over policy.

The personality they chose as independent Russia's first presidentBoris Yeltsinlacked Washington's respect for the rule of law.

Losing sight of Washington

Thanks to Washington, the U.S. got off to a better start. But by abandoning the widespread commemoration of his historically exceptional deference to the rule of law, Americans have lost an opportunity to practice historical thinking in the public sphere.

Not only has mythological thinking encroached, but it is now even possible for a president to style himself as a monarch and to emulate Napoleon, as Donald Trump has.

The ConstitutionAmerica's master signifierhas lost its ability to unite citizens around a shared sense of meaningfulness.

Will Washington's country be next?

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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The Earth is absorbing more sunlight and trapping more heat than it releases into space, causing our planet to warm up at an increasing rate.

New research shows that cloudy areas over oceans are reflecting less sunlight to space than before, adding to heating from rising greenhouse gas levels and causing climate change to accelerate.

The study, published in Environmental Research Letters, found this dimming effect was occurring in several regions, including cloudy areas off the coasts of California and Namibia, but also at the fringes of Antarctica, where recent significant melting of sea ice can also explain more absorption of sunlight by the oceans.

Professor Richard Allan, lead author of the study at the University of Reading, said, "Think of Earth as a mirror reflecting sunlight back to space. Over time, that mirror is getting dirtier, particularly over our oceans where clouds are changing. This means more solar energy is being absorbed rather than reflected, adding to the heating caused by greenhouse gas emissions.

"An important puzzle to solve is, are the clouds melting away as temperatures rise like a mirror steaming up? Or is declining air pollution that artificially brightened the mirror like a cleaning spray now wearing off?

"We need to find out which explanation is causing clouds to become less shiny to understand how much global warming will occur and how fast. The remarkable global dimming helps explain why we saw such unprecedented warming in 2023."

Air pollution impacts

The researchers examined the warming that occurred from 2022 to 2023 and discovered the ocean surface warmed even more rapidly than could be explained by the increased energy absorption alone. This led them to the conclusion that either the heat was concentrated in a shallower layer of ocean than normal, or extra heat stored in deeper ocean layers was returning to the surface.

The second explanation aligns with the development of El Nino conditions in 2023, when warm water from ocean depths rose to the surface in the Pacific.

The study also found that eastern China is reflecting less sunlight than expected, likely due to successful efforts to reduce air pollution. This finding is significant because, while reducing air pollution improves public health, cleaner air also allows more sunlight to pass through the atmosphere and clouds to reach Earth's surface, adding to the warming from increases in heat-trapping greenhouse gases.

The research suggests that these reductions in aerosol particles over China could be influencing climate patterns beyond its borders, potentially affecting cloudiness and temperature patterns over the North Pacific region through atmospheric wind patterns.

More information: Richard P Allan et al, Reconciling Earth's growing energy imbalance with ocean warming, Environmental Research Letters (2025). DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/adb448 Journal information: Environmental Research Letters
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Research has found that many terrorist groups with differing ideological motivations share common ground in targeting LGBTQ+ communities.

A study led by extremism expert Dr. Jared Dmello, from the University of Adelaide's School of Social Sciences, found that groups with contrasting ideologiesfrom Islamic extremist organizations to far-right terrorist groupsoverlap in their anti-queer sentiment.

"We found that a wide variety of extremist groups, which on the surface have nothing in common, are actually engaging in similar attacks on the same marginalized communities," Dr. Dmello said.

"Both Islamic extremist groups and far-right terrorist groups actively target the queer community through propaganda and violence."

Dr. Dmello was joined in the research by Professor Mia Bloom and Dr. Sophia Moskalenko, both from Georgia State University in the United States. While some overlap in anti-queer sentiment was anticipated, he said the extent was unexpected.

"It was quite surprising to me just how much the far right and Islamic extremists are engaging in similar tactics, messaging, and propaganda to justify their attacks against the LGBTQ+ community," he said.

"Sadly, this reflects broader political movements around the world that also target the human rights of this increasingly vulnerable population."

Published in PS: Political Science & Politics, the research was conducted using intensive case study methods, with researchers analyzing extremist rhetoric and actions in detail.

"The article even features propaganda created by the Russian government claiming that NATO-trained mosquitoes in Ukrainian labs were designed to spread a 'gay virus' that would selectively infect only ethnic Russians," Dr. Dmello said.

"In response, some Russian supermarkets now sell a specialized mosquito repellent designed to protect against this so-called 'gay virus.'"

The study offers a new perspective on terrorism research and provides crucial insights for professionals working with at-risk groups, such as frontline countering violent extremism (CVE) workers and violence prevention workers.

"While most research on terrorism focuses on a specific group or geographic context, this study deviates from the norm by examining a wide variety of groups," Dr. Dmello said.

"Gone are the days when risk assessments could pinpoint those most likely to engage in violence, as many existing tools focus on specific ideologies or locations. Instead, vulnerable populations are now at risk from a range of actors, meaning that response and prevention efforts need to be even more resilient to better safeguard our future."

Dr. Dmello plans to build on this research.

"This research is a case study to get the conversation started," he said.

"Given the increased vulnerability of LGBTQ+ populations, fueled by politically charged rhetoric, these findings highlight the need for more research into extremist narratives.

"A lot more is needed to understand how other groups are being targeted across the ideological spectrum."

More information: Jared R. Dmello et al, LGBTQ+ Victimization by Extremist Organizations: Charting a New Path for Research, PS: Political Science & Politics (2025). DOI: 10.1017/S1049096524001173
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CUREE, an autonomous underwater robot, is used by the researchers to collect acoustic data for analysis. Credit: Austin Greene, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Coral reefs are some of the world's most diverse ecosystems. Despite making up less than 1% of the world's oceans, one quarter of all marine species spend some portion of their life on a reef. With so much life in one spot, researchers can struggle to gain a clear understanding of which species are present and in what numbers.

In The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution combined acoustic monitoring with a neural network to identify fish activity on coral reefs by sound.

For years, researchers have used passive acoustic monitoring to track coral reef activity. Typically, an acoustic recorder would be deployed underwater, where it would spend months recording audio from a reef. Existing signal processing tools can be used to analyze large batches of acoustic data at a time, but they cannot be used to find specific soundsto do that, scientists usually need to go through all that data by hand.

"But for the people that are doing that, it's awful work, to be quite honest," said author Seth McCammon. "It's incredibly tedious work. It's miserable."

Equally as important, this type of manual analysis is too slow for practical use. With many of the world's coral reefs under threat from climate change and human activity, being able to rapidly identify and track changes in reef populations is crucial for conservation efforts.

"It takes years to analyze data to that level with humans," said McCammon. "The analysis of the data in this way is not useful at scale."

As an alternative, the researchers trained a neural network to sort through the deluge of acoustic data automatically, analyzing audio recordings in real time. Their algorithm can match the accuracy of human experts in deciphering acoustical trends on a reef, but it can do so more than 25 times faster, and it could change the way ocean monitoring and research is conducted.

"Now that we no longer need to have a human in the loop, what other sorts of devicesmoving beyond just recorderscould we use?" said McCammon.

"Some work that my co-author Aran Mooney is doing involves integrating this type of neural network onto a floating mooring that's broadcasting real-time updates of fish call counts. We are also working on putting our neural network onto our autonomous underwater vehicle, CUREE, so that it can listen for fish and map out hot spots of biological activity."

This technology also has the potential to solve a long-standing problem in marine acoustic studies: matching each unique sound to a fish.

"For the vast majority of species, we haven't gotten to the point yet where we can say with certainty that a call came from a particular species of fish," said McCammon. "That's, at least in my mind, the holy grail we're looking for. By being able to do fish call detection in real time, we can start to build devices that are able to automatically hear a call and then see what fish are nearby."

Eventually, McCammon hopes that this neural network will provide researchers with the ability to monitor fish populations in real time, identify species in trouble, and respond to disasters. This technology will help conservationists gain a clearer picture of the health of coral reefs, in an era where reefs need all the help they can get.

More information: Rapid detection of fish calls within diverse coral reef soundscapes using a convolutional neural network, The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (2025). DOI: 10.1121/10.0035829 Journal information: Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

In what's been called a "Friday night massacre" at the Pentagon, President Donald Trump removed six top generals or admirals on Feb. 21, 2025, including Air Force General C.Q. Brown and Navy Admiral Lisa Franchetti. Trump also fired military lawyers who advise senior officers on the legality of their behavior in combat and at home.

Over at the FBI, the president has tapped loyalists Kash Patel and Dan Bongino to direct the executive branch's largest internal security agency. These men have little administrative experience in federal law enforcement but have repeated Trump's lies about the 2020 election.

Trump has reportedly used denialismabout Joe Biden winning the 2020 election and that Jan. 6 entailed pro-Trump protesters violently assaulting police officersto help vet appointees for senior national security and intelligence posts. Loyalty tests can screen for appointees who will enthusiastically carry out a president's agenda and follow orderseven if asked to break the law.

Further, Trump promoted Sean Curran, his personal bodyguard, to lead the Secret Servicethe presidential guard unit. Curran's appointment meant bypassing senior service members in favor of what one news report called a "mostly anonymous U.S. Secret Service agent" who had never served in Secret Service headquarters but had a close relationship with Trump.

Such coordinated personnel changesfiring Pentagon lawyers, appointing loyalists to lead the FBI and selecting Trump's personal bodyguard to lead a security serviceare consistent with a strategy of "personalizing" the security forces.

That personalization is a hallmark of strongman rule throughout the world.

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Loyalty to the leader, not the law

Security force personalism happens when leaders reshape the country's security forces by purging nonpartisan, law-abiding officers and promoting loyal officers who would never rise through the ranks on merit.

Whereas a professional military in a democracy is loyal to the Constitution, personalist security forces are loyal to their leader.

Sometimes this process entails recruiting personnel from the leader's party or allied ethnic, tribal or extremist groups. It may even include creating a paramilitary force, presidential guard or a new special forces unit staffed with officers and rank-and-file loyal to the leader. These forces then remain outside of the normal military chain of command.

Repressing dissentand democracy

When leaders put loyalists in charge of the men with guns, it becomes easier to repress opposition from citizens, political figures and any dissenting military leaders.

That's for three reasons.

First, personalized security forces are more likely to follow the leader's orders to shoot peaceful anti-government protesters. Security forces loyal to Nicaragua's president, Daniel Ortega, killed roughly 300 protesters in 2018 and 2019 when civil society groups mobilized to protest Ortega's proposed pension cuts. Loyalist military or paramilitary forces in Russia and Belarus have similarly quashed public dissent in recent years.

Second, because citizens often know that personalized security forces are more likely to shoot citizens than to defend them against foreign threats, opposition groups are less likely to organize a protest. This makes it easier for leaders to silence independent media, jail opposition political candidates, stuff ballot boxes and steal votes so they never lose another election.

A few years after Ortega's forces killed protesters in the streets, he jailed seven opposition presidential candidates and claimed to have won the 2021 election.

Third, personalism of security forces weakens the power of other groups that might otherwise constrain the leader, such as elites in the ruling political party and even generals who oppose a leader's power grab.

If elites fear loyal security agents, they tend to keep their mouths shut when they disagree with the leaderor else, research shows, face a purge. Generals, too: Research finds that loyal security forces reduce the risk of military coup attempts.

Leaders who don't give up power

Our data on security force personalization in autocracies indicates that when leaders put loyalists in charge of security forces, removing these leaders from power peacefully through elections or protest becomes much more difficult.

Take the example of Syria, where President Hafez Assad came to power after a successful military coup in 1971. The country had experienced more than a dozen coup attempts since 1946. The biggest threat to Assad's power was another military coup.

To minimize this threat, he created a personalized security force by promoting fellow Alawites, a minority ethno-religious group, to the senior ranks of the Syrian military. Assad subsidized military housing for loyal officers and created an overlapping network of family-controlled security units outside the formal military.

Security force personalization harmed the Syrian military's capacity to fight. This is frequently the case because this process often purges competent officers and creates incentives for senior officers to lie to the leader about bad news.

But it was useful for enabling the Assad family to rob the country blind and ensure that the leader's son, Bashar Assad, succeeded his father.

Syria did not have free and fair elections under the Assads, and ruling party elites could not check the leader's power. When citizens mobilized peacefully in 2011 to oust the Assad regime, loyal security forces killed and imprisoned tens of thousands of Syrians.

The Assads' reign of terror only ended after 12 years of brutal civil war.

Follow the money

Personalized security forces need moneyboth to ensure loyalty and to acquire the weapons needed when the leader orders violent repression.

So leaders who personalize their security forces must funnel huge sums of money to the most loyal units, sometimes making them more powerful than the regular army.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, for example, receives revenue from state oil exports and controls sanction-busting smuggling networks. Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's Special Guard units, though smaller than the regular military, always had better equipment and training.

In 2003, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni assigned his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to lead a new Presidential Guard Brigade and gave this unit the job of fighting terrorism so he could control military aid from the U.S. The longtime leader's son now commands the entire Ugandan Armed Forces. Age 81 and with his son in charge of the men with guns, Museveni looks set to win his eighth term in office next year.

Security forces personalization in the US?

The purges at the Pentagon in late February will not transform the U.S. security apparatus into a personalized force overnight, nor will they likely spur the military to oust Trump. Even though the Constitution establishes civilian control over the military, senior officers can nonetheless resist pressure from Trump to quash protest.

But the firings do spark concerns about politicizing the military. So do other moves by Trump that signal greater ambitions to personalize the security forces, such as selecting loyalists to lead the FBI and Secret Service and purging the military lawyers who help soldiers abide by the law.

Look at the new faces and follow the money. Will the Trump administration bypass the senior ranks to promote junior officers whose military careers depend on Trump remaining in power? Will the US$50 billion "savings" that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants to extract from the Defense Department instead fund a new security force?

The most serious sign of security personalization in the U.S. would be the creation of a new force outside the regular military chain of commandthink the Department of Government Efficiency, but with guns. Pro-Trump military contractors are already calling for the government to fund a "small army of private citizens empowered to make arrests" and deport immigrants.

If Trump seeks an unconstitutional third term in 2028, one potential scenario could play out: A loyalist praetorian guard like that would be a threat to kill protesters and fight security units still loyal to the Constitution.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Guangxi to expand AI cooperation with ASEAN

08:54, March 11, 2025 By Shi Ruipeng, Zou Shuo ( Chinadaily.com.cn

As a frontier window between China and member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region has unique advantages for establishing a hub for artificial intelligence cooperation with ASEAN, which will inject momentum into the building of a China-ASEAN community with a shared future, said Chen Gang, Party secretary of Guangxi.

Not only is Guangxi located at a critical juncture between the huge market of China, which has 1.4 billion people, and that of ASEAN, which boasts a population of nearly 700 million, but it also has an abundant energy supply, a linguistic talent pool including those skilled in the languages of ASEAN countries, and favorable policies, Chen noted.

Therefore, the region is uniquely positioned to implement China's AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All, and to conduct AI cooperation with ASEAN, Chen told China Daily on the sidelines of the two sessions, the annual gatherings in Beijing of the nation's top legislative and political advisory bodies.

"I think that in the future, it will not be AI that defeats humans, but those who utilize AI defeating those who do not," said Chen, who is also a deputy to the National People's Congress, China's top legislature. "The same applies to the development of an enterprise, a region, and a country. Those who develop and apply AI first will lead the way."

The China-ASEAN Information Harbor, a State-level digital open platform, has established 12 terrestrial optical cables linking Guangxi with ASEAN countries. The newly approved Nanning International Telecommunications Hub, which is scheduled to be operational by late this year, is expected to make Guangxi the fastest data transmission gateway to ASEAN, which can meet ASEAN countries' demand for AI data processing, Chen said.

The upgraded China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 now includes cooperation on the digital economy, while Guangxi's AI industrial fund of 10 billion yuan ($1.38 billion) was set up in February, and multiple development zones are further bolstering cross-border innovation, Chen said.

He also noted that the region and ASEAN countries have engaged in deepened cooperation in trade, investment, people-to-people exchanges and education, and have accumulated a rich language database that can be used to train AI models.

Moreover, Guangxi has hosted the China-ASEAN Expo 21 times and the China-ASEAN AI Summit four times, with the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo, scheduled for September in Nanning, the region's capital, expected to focus on AI cooperation, he added.

Chen said that during a recent visit to Vietnam and Laos by a Guangxi delegation, which he led, the top leadership of the two ASEAN countries acknowledged the development progress of China's AI and said they looked forward to enhancing cooperation with China to develop AI models based on their own languages.

The delegation also signed landmark deals with Vietnam on cross-border logistics data flows and established the China-Laos AI Innovation Cooperation Center  the first such platform between China and ASEAN, Chen said.

Chen said there are four priorities for deepening AI collaboration.

The first priority is to attract leading Chinese and ASEAN AI enterprises to set up research and development centers in Nanning, in order to foster cross-border industrial synergy, he said.

Second, the region should aim to develop tailored AI applications for agriculture, healthcare, tourism and logistics in ASEAN markets, Chen said.

Third, an integrated industrial chain should be established that includes research and development in Beijing and Shanghai as well as Guangzhou and Shenzhen, Guangdong province; integration in Guangxi; and application in ASEAN, he said.

Fourth, the region will launch AI training programs for ASEAN officials, workers, and students.

Through a multilayer cooperation mechanism established between Guangxi and ASEAN government institutions, enterprises, research institutes and the commerce sector, ASEAN countries can equally participate in and benefit from cutting-edge AI technology and standards, which will be conducive to further strengthening the two sides' political trust, Chen said.

Moreover, the China-ASEAN AI Innovation and Cooperation Center will cultivate AI talent to empower various industries and push for the inclusive development of AI and bring real benefits to the people, he added.

Zhang Li contributed to this story.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
A Chinese lawmaker has proposed to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) to integrate key ancient kiln sites across China under the collective name "China Kilns" and seek UNESCO World Heritage recognition.

Guo Aihe, a deputy to the NPC and curator of the Luoyang Sancai Art Museum, emphasized that the initiative would help preserve China's ceramics heritage while enhancing its global cultural influence.

Guo Aihe, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress and curator of the Luoyang Sancai Art Museum, outside the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, March 5, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Guo highlighted the historical significance of ceramics in Chinese civilization, noting that they have been a vital medium for cultural exchange since the Silk Road era.

"Ceramics were among the earliest Chinese exports, representing centuries of craftsmanship, technological advancement and artistic expression," he said. As the first civilization to master porcelain-making, China has played a pivotal role in the development of global art and technology.

To date, around a hundred ancient kiln sites across the country have been designated as key national heritage conservation units, forming a comprehensive historical record of ceramic production. "These sites preserve not only physical structures and techniques but also the vibrant cultural narratives that accompany them," Guo explained.

He emphasized that securing World Heritage status would strengthen heritage protection and reinforce China's role in historical and archaeological research.

To achieve this goal, Guo suggested that the National Cultural Heritage Administration take the lead in consolidating major kiln sites, including the Yue Kilns in Zhejiang province, the Imperial Kiln of Jingdezhen, and key sites in Henan and Jiangxi provinces. He recommended drawing on the successful experience of China's Grand Canal World Heritage bid by systematically preparing nomination documents and developing a long-term conservation plan.

"Securing World Heritage status for 'China Kilns' is crucial for bolstering cultural confidence," Guo said. This effort would systematically protect ceramic heritage while showcasing the continuity, inclusivity and innovation of Chinese civilization. Furthermore, it would synergize cultural tourism and international collaboration.

China's recent achievements in heritage preservation, including UNESCO's recognition of the Spring Festival and traditional tea processing techniques, alongside the World Heritage inscription of the Beijing Central Axis and the Jingmai Mountain tea forests, highlight its growing cultural influence.

Beyond heritage preservation, Guo also views ceramics as a bridge for international cultural exchange. He suggested deepening Belt and Road cultural cooperation by engaging in joint archaeological research and craftsmanship exchanges. These efforts, he said, would foster cross-cultural dialogue and strengthen people-to-people ties.

Since 2015, Guo and his team have been developing the Luoyang Sancai (International) Ceramic Village in Luoyang, Henan province, providing children in rural areas with an introduction to art education. He hopes to inspire more young people to contribute to the preservation and development of cultural heritage and traditional arts.

The Luoyang Sancai (International) Ceramic Village, Henan province. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

"It's a common misconception that 'sancai' simply means three colors. In reality, it refers to a sophisticated ceramic glazing technique," Guo clarified. Dedicated to using ceramics to tell the story of China, his works have been collected by museums and art institutions worldwide. The Luoyang Sancai (International) Ceramic Village has also become a hub for artists from around the world, fostering creative exchanges and collaborative projects.

Looking ahead, Guo envisions expanding the global influence of China's sancai art by hosting an international arts festival, global exhibitions and academic forums. He believes that these initiatives will not only strengthen cultural diplomacy but also enhance the international visibility of China's ceramics heritage, ensuring that its legacy continues to inspire future generations.
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A man walks past a sign that reads "Drive carefully save life" in Peshawar, Pakistan, Jan. 23, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad, File

Most of the world has dirty air, with just 17% of cities globally meeting air pollution guidelines, a report Tuesday found.

Switzerland-based air quality monitoring database IQAir analyzed data from 40,000 air quality monitoring stations in 138 countries and found that Chad, Congo, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India had the dirtiest air. India had six of the nine most polluted cities with the industrial town of Byrnihat in northeastern India the worst.

Experts said the real amount of air pollution might be far greater as many parts of the world lack the monitoring needed for more accurate data. In Africa, for example, there is only one monitoring station for every 3.7 million people.

More air quality monitors are being set up to counter the issue, the report said. This year, report authors were able to incorporate data from 8,954 new locations and around a thousand new monitors as a result of efforts to better monitor air pollution.

But last week, data monitoring for air pollution was dealt a blow when the U.S. State Department announced it would no longer make public its data from its embassies and consulates around the world.

Breathing in polluted air over a long period of time can cause respiratory illness, Alzheimer's disease and cancer, said Fatimah Ahamad, chief scientist and air pollution expert at Malaysia-based Sunway Centre for Planetary Health. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution kills around 7 million people each year.

A sweeper cleans as smog envelops the area and reduces visibility in Lahore, Pakistan, Jan. 11, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary, File

Ahamad said much more needs to be done to cut air pollution levels. The WHO had earlier found that 99% of the world's population lives in places that do not meet recommended air quality levels.

"If you have bad water, no water, you can tell people to wait for half an hour a day, the water will come. But if you have bad air, you cannot tell people to pause breathing," she said.

Several cities like Beijing, Seoul, South Korea, and Rybnik in Poland have successfully improved their air quality through stricter regulations on pollution from vehicles, power plants and industry. They've also promoted cleaner energy and invested in public transportation.

Another notable effort to curb severe air pollution was the Association of Southeast Asian Nations agreement on transboundary haze pollution. Even though its had limited success so far, ten countries in the region pledged to work together to monitor and curb pollution from large forest fires, a common occurrence in the region during dry seasons.

An auto rickshaw driver covers his face to protect himself from the pollution in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Feb. 9, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu, File

Shweta Narayan, a campaign lead at the Global Climate and Health Alliance, said many of the regions witnessing the worst air pollution are also places where planet-heating gases are released extensively through the burning of coal, oil and gas. Slashing planet-warming emissions to slow the heating up of the planet can also improve air quality, she said.

Air pollution and climate crisis "are two sides of the same coin," she said.

 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Misha at the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy of Hogle Zoo. Banner photo: A cross section of Mishas molar used in the research. Credit: Brian Maffly.

Teeth recovered from a beloved zoo elephant that died in 2008 are helping University of Utah geologists develop a method for tracking the movements of large herbivores across landscapes, even for animals now extinct, such as mastodons and mammoths.

Outlined in findings recently published in Communications Biology, the technique analyzes isotope ratios of the element strontium (Sr), which accumulates in tooth enamel. For large plant-eating land mammals, the relative abundance of two strontium isotopes in teeth and tusks reflects where the creature may have roamed during its lifetime.

"Our study not only adds to our understanding of how tooth enamel records an animal's Sr isotope exposure, but also helps to reconstruct animal migrations from Sr isotope analysis," lead author Deming Yang said in a posting about the research. "It can be applied to studies of paleobiology, to answer how megaherbivores migrated in the past. It can also be applied to studies of modern conservation and forensics, to trace the origins of the illegal ivory trade and other forms of wildlife trafficking."

The star of the study is Misha, a female elephant acquired by Salt Lake City's Hogle Zoo in 2005.

Chemically similar to calcium, strontium from the environment accumulates in highly mineralized tissues, such as animals' bones and teeth.

"As animals eat and drink, they pick up this environmental signature and store it in their teeth, preserving a series of environmental exposures like historic archives," Yang wrote. This is because the geology of different places presents different isotope signatures for 87-strontium/86-strontium [87Sr/86Sr] and those isotope ratios are reflected in plants and water.

"We use other elements, but in this case, we're focusing on strontium, which has proven to be really useful because of its strong link to geology," co-author Gabe Bowen said. "Ultimately it comes down to where that element comes from, how the animal gets it into their body and from what sources."

The isotope 87Sr is radiogenic, meaning it is produced from the decay of another element, in this case rubidium, found next door to strontium on the Periodic Table, whose half-life exceeds 49 billion years, about 10 times the age of Earth. While 87Sr increases over time, the abundance of other strontium isotopes remains fixed. Accordingly, isotope ratios are a proxy for the age of rocks and typically differ from place to place.

Co-author Thure Cerling, a highly decorated distinguished U professor of both geology and biology, is a pioneer in the use of isotope analysis to shed light on ecological questions such as soil formation, animal physiology, wildlife ecology and climate change.

A cross section of Mishas molar used in the research. Credit: Brian Maffly.

Upon hearing of Misha's death in news reports in 2008, Cerling saw a rare chance to advance the science of isotope geology. He reached out to Hogle Zoo to get permission to extract the elephant's molars and a tusk before she could be buried. What made the teeth so useful to Cerling and his colleagues was the veterinary record of where Misha lived over the 27-year course of her life.

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As a postdoctoral researcher, Yang led the research to investigate how Misha's tusk and teeth recorded her strontium exposures years before her death, including her relocation history. The elephant arrived in Salt Lake City in 2005 from Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, Calif.

"It's a very simple movement history. She lived in one location for a decade or more, and then moved here [to Salt Lake City], and we know the date of that move," Bowen said. "We don't have a lot of opportunities to see these kinds of natural experiments."

The team used laser ablation to sample material from various growth lines along the elephant's tooth enamel and tusk, which was measured using a mass spectrometer capable of identifying the amounts of strontium isotopes they contained.

The researchers found that the innermost layer of enamel best preserves the isotope record and is the ideal place for sampling.

"We determined the strontium isotopes from the top to the bottom of the tooth in different parallel lines and those represent different times in the growth of Misha," said geologist Diego Fernandez, who operates the U's mass spectrometry lab. "It captured the time when Misha was moved from California to Utah."

Undergraduate Katya Podkovyroff helped Fernandez refine the lab procedures for taking samples of bioapatite, the calcium material that makes up bone and enamel.

"It was in this lab where I got my first hands-on experience with scientific research, and I immediately fell in love. One of the most thrilling aspects of the job was learning that each sample carried a history, a mystery waiting to be unraveled through chemical signatures," said Podkovyroff, now a graduate student at the University of Oregon.

"This research was both exciting and challenging: sampling ivory required extreme precision, as even minor contamination could alter results, and isotope purification is a meticulous and time-consuming process," she continued. "The most rewarding aspect of this project was its broader implications beyond a single case study: it has applications in modern conservation efforts, with the ability to trace the origins of the illegal ivory trade."

More information: Deming Yang et al, Strontium isotope mapping of elephant enamel supports an integrated microsampling-modeling workflow to reconstruct herbivore migrations, Communications Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s42003-025-07686-9 Journal information: Communications Biology
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

When the Palisades fire raged and winds whipped ash and debris into the Pacific Ocean, scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationalready out in boats doing water-quality surveysquickly gathered tainted saltwater samples, knowing the data would be vital to understanding the impacts the wildfires would have on the ocean.

When word spreads on the water that a whale or sea creature is entangled in heavy fishing gear and in danger of dying, NOAA response teams quickly assemble in a race to save its life.

And, as catastrophic storms and wild weather bring threats from snow, rain, big swells, mudslides, hurricanes and fire, National Weather Service meteorologists give early warnings so people can stay clear of harm's way.

A tidal wave of concerns has been raised in recent days as word of large-scale layoffs at NOAAand its sister weather service branchhave environmentalists and communities worried about impacts locally and across the country.

Layoffs are estimated to be up to 20% of NOAA's workforce, according to reporting by various news outlets. The cuts are part of efforts by the Trump administration's new Department of Government Efficiency, tasked with wrangling in an expansive federal government, which in recent weeks has meant offering bureaucrats severance packages to leave and cutting positions at various federal agencies.

President Thomas Jefferson in 1807 founded the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey to provide nautical charts to the maritime community for safe passage into American ports and coastline. The Weather Bureau followed in 1870, and a year later, the U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries was founded.

The groups would be America's first physical science agency, the first dedicated to the atmospheric sciences and the country's first conservation agency. In 1970, the three agencies were brought together as NOAA, an agency within the Department of Commerce.

"Our reach goes from the surface of the sun to the depths of the ocean floor as we work to keep the public informed of the changing environment around them," its website reads.

"From daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings and climate monitoring to fisheries management, coastal restoration and supporting marine commerce, NOAA's products and services support economic vitality and affect more than one-third of America's gross domestic product."

Much of the agency's work in Southern California revolves around the oceaneverything from keeping marine wildlife safe from extinction to studying the health of the ocean to warning beachgoers of big waves.

Its staffers are a critical piece of an integral puzzle of researchers who determine the health of fisheries and study whether regulations should be put in place to ensure there's enough left for future generations, said Ken Franke, president of the Sportfishing Association of California, a nonprofit based out of San Diego that represents most commercial passenger fishing fleets from there to Santa Barbara.

Commercial passenger fishing crews have been trained to collect data and do stock assessments for NOAA, Franke said. The data and samples shared for federally managed fish include tuna and rockfish, information used to determine bag limits that help those species from being overfished.

"We're just anxious looking at what it is that could potentially be impacted," he said. "And the moment we see something that is impacted, we will be quick to make sure our congressional offices are made aware."

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The economic engine in California powered by the ocean is "massive," Franke said, touching trade, food and tourism.

"There's a long list of people and entities that are connected, economically, to the activity related to recreational fishing. It's not just about a couple of fishit's about a pretty massive economic impact," he said. "And the key to the whole thing is data."

Franke is just back from Washington, D.C., where he visited legislative decision-makers to discuss the importance of data collection.

"It's a process, but it's intended to protect and sustain resources, so they are there to use in years to come," Franke said. "We're doing it really well, we just want to make sure we keep it going."

NOAA Fisheries has jurisdiction over 165 endangered and threatened species, including blue whales, Oceanic whitetip sharks, Chinook salmon, green sea turtles and several species of corals.

It's why the Center for Biological Diversity is requesting more information from the federal government about the employment cuts, and which departments will be impacted.

"If we don't stand up for science and biodiversity, we stand to lose clean water, whales and corals, hurricane protection and fisheries," said Miyoko Sakashita, oceans director at the center. "Oceans make up most of our planet and their ecosystems are vital for supporting life on Earth. We've barely begun to even learn about these precious marine species, and once they're gone we can't get them back."

Alisa Schulman-Janiger, director and coordinator of the American Cetacean Society's Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, talked about its ongoing collaboration with NOAA to document population trends, migration timing and calf production to determine the health of the whale species.

Data compiled by NOAA Fisheries, the ACS/LA Census, and others led the federal agency to declare an "unusual mortality event" in 2019, when many gray whales were skinny and washing ashore dead in the hundreds along the West Coast. The designation allowed further funding and research to figure out why they were dying in mass.

NOAA Fisheries also spearheads the Large Whale Entanglement Response Network, tracking whales that need help out at sea, as well as the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network.

Along the West Coast, there were 34 whales confirmed entangled in fishing gear in 2024, the highest number since 2018, according to NOAA Fisheries.

Crab pots are the most common form of fishing gear associated with whale entanglements, and NOAA has been working with the Dungeness crab industry to find ways to reduce entanglements, collecting data and identifying entangling gear.

Several years ago, Schulman-Janiger was on a boat in Monterey Bay when she said she spotted floats from fishing gear trailing behind a humpback whale. She contacted the NOAA response team, who rushed out with their boats to try and cut the whale loose. Though it took several weeks due to weather and the whale's movements, the efforts were successful.

That's a scenario that plays out up and down the coast, several times a year, when boat captains encounter a whale wrapped in fishing gear. In July, NOAA-led rescue teams spent six days trying to help a humpback first spotted off Palos Verdes, and later off Orange County, eventually freeing the massive mammal from the line wrapped around its tail.

"Being hit by ships or entangled, those are things caused by humans and warrant intervention. If it's entangled, there may be a possibility to respond, to cut down the possibility of the whale dying," Schulman-Janiger said. "So (they) directly save lives."

NOAA Fisheries focuses on the nation's ocean resources and their habitat, using "sound science and an ecosystem-based approach to management," its website says, ensuring "productive and sustainable fisheries, safe sources of seafood, recovery and conservation of protected resources and a healthy ecosystem."

It's also important to have federal regulators who assess the quality of seafood and test for toxins, Schulman-Janiger noted. "I don't want to eat something that is full of fire retardants."

That was why a crew aboard a NOAA research vessel knew it was important to grab samples as they saw ash falling from the sky like snowflakes on the ocean's surface when the Palisades fire erupted. The effort was described in a NOAA podcast last month by Noelle Bowlin, project lead for NOAA's Southwest Fisheries Science Center.

"Maybe it helps with remediation crews understanding what pollutants are in the air versus what makes it to the water, how far away it gets from the epicenter of the fires," she said in the podcast. "Let's collect this information, reach out to other experts in wildfire science and toxicology, and see what we can do to help with the efforts to understand what happened and how to remediate."

While NOAA cannot discuss internal personnel and management matters, the agency "remains dedicated to its mission, providing timely information, research, and resources that serve the American public and ensure our nation's environmental and economic resilience," an agency spokesperson said in an email.

Supporters of DOGE, or Trump's efforts to restructure the federal government, say looking at the federal bureaucracy is part of a much-needed effort to curtail government spending or waste and fraud. The president has directed agencies to prepare for more potential trimming of their workforce.

Among the recent cuts are the dismantling of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee, a federal committee that advises the secretary of commerce and NOAA on marine resource issues.

Dana Wharf Sportsfishing and Whale Watching manager Donna Kalez, who had submitted an application to serve another term on the committee, said she wasn't completely surprised at the news that it was cut, saying Trump had tried to dissolve it during his first term in office as well, when she was a committee member.

"I think there's concern from the fishing community," she said. "It's totally disappointing. Hopefully, they will need advice in the future and they will bring it back. We're waiting to see. Every day is a new day."

2025 MediaNews Group, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Energex crews clear a fallen tree following the passage of tropical cyclone Alfred in Brisbane on March 8, 2025.

Australian utilities raced Tuesday to reconnect more than 120,000 homes and businesses still blacked out by gales and floods that bashed the east coast.

Cyclone Alfred, which hovered just offshore before making landfall as a tropical low on Saturday, battered a 400-kilometer (250-mile) stretch of coast for five days.

The wild weather claimed one life when a 61-year-old man driving a four-wheel-drive pickup was swept off a bridge into a flooded river Friday.

The wind and rain have since eased across the coastline straddling Queensland and New South Wales but swathes of the country remained without power.

In hardest-hit southeast Queensland, where 118,000 properties were still cut off on Tuesday morning, regional provider Energex said it aimed to get 95 percent of them reconnected by Friday.

"More than 2,000 staff are on the ground again today and the weather is looking good for work and flying our choppers to assess isolated sections of the network," it said in an update.

Energex said more than 450,000 premises in Queensland lost power during the emergency, a state record for outages caused by a natural disaster.

In northeastern New South Wales, Essential Energy said 7,600 homes and businesses were still without power.

"It is expected that customers may experience the power going on and off for periods of time as crews work through the faults and damage caused by the high winds, heavy rain, fallen trees and vegetation debris," the company said.

 2025 AFP
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Credit: Stanley Morales from Pexels

With Australia's National Assessment Program (NAPLAN) beginning today, new research from the University of South Australia highlights a critical but often overlooked factor in student successwell-being.

In a study of more than 215,000 students, UniSA researchers found that while standardized tests measure academic skills, different dimensions of well-beingemotional well-being, engagement, and learning readinesscan play a crucial role in performance.

The work is published in the Journal of Learning Analytics.

Specifically, the study found that learning readinesswhich includes foundational skills such as perseverance, confidence, and engagementwas not just a desirable outcome, but a catalyst for academic success.

UniSA researcher Dr. Rebecca Marrone says there is an intricate relationship between student well-being and academic achievement.

"Well-being is increasingly recognized as a crucial factor that can shape students' academic success and overall development. Yet, it is often overlooked because education systems tend to focus on standardized academic achievement," Dr. Marrone says. "In this research we show how well-being factors, particularly learning readiness, can influence students' learning and academic performance, especially when under test conditions.

"When we talk about learning readiness, we mean how prepared a child is to learn, not just academically, but also in their ability to stay focused, to overcome challenges, and believe in their ability to succeed. It's about having good learning habits, and a motivation to learn, which together can help them perform better at school."

This study draws on data from the South Australian Well-being and Engagement Collection (WEC) to assess the impact of student well-being and engagement of students in Years 410, and their academic achievement in NAPLAN and PAT tests between 2016 and 2019.

UniSA's Benjamin Lam says the results show that schools need to shift towards a model that values both student well-being and academic achievement as integral components of a holistic education.

"Student learning is complex, and it is affected by a range of contextual and individual differences," Lam says.

"When students are mentally and emotionally healthy, they're more likely to be engaged and motivated and perform better academically. But the relationship is certainly not linear, and we can't infer that low-achieving students have low levels of well-being, or high-achieving students have high levels of well-being.

"This means that schools must look beyond test scores and take a more personal, holistic approach to supporting students' confidence, perseverance and learning readiness. They can do this by adopting learner profiles that incorporate well-being and engagement metrics alongside traditional grades, so that schools can better understand and respond to each student's needs.

"Now, as students prepare for their pending NAPLAN tests, this research serves as a reminder that education is about more than just scoresit's about building confidence, resilience, and readiness to learn."

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Department for Education Chief Executive Martin Westwell says that learning and thriving go hand-in-hand, and both must be supported by schools.

"Academic achievement and learning readiness are intrinsically interconnected, and that is recognized through our Strategy for Public Education," Westwell says.

"We not only have to build the academic knowledge of each student, but also build their confidence, resilience, and engagement to ensure they thrive both at school and in life beyond that. This research highlights that it is critical to have a well-rounded picture of young people to help them succeed at school."

Minister for Education, Training and Skills, Blair Boyer, says South Australia is focused on supporting mental health and well-being in schools.

"If a student is struggling with their mental health, we know they will be less able to focus on school, they lose connection with their friends and they start to disengage from study," Boyer says.

"This research from UniSAthe first of its kind in the worldconfirms that South Australia's focus on mental health and well-being in public education supports academic achievement.

"That's why we have invested $50 million to recruit 100 mental health and learning support specialists who are based on-site at schoolsthe largest investment of its kind. By addressing concerns at the coalface, we have the best chance of supporting our students to achieve academically."

More information: Rebecca Marrone et al, The Relationship between Wellbeing and Academic Achievement: A Comprehensive Cross-Sectional Analysis of System Wide Data From 2016-2019, Journal of Learning Analytics (2024). DOI: 10.18608/jla.2024.8357
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Researchers led by astronomers at the University of Michigan have discovered the smallest and dimmest galaxy to date that's orbiting the Andromeda system, the Milky Way's nearest major galactic neighbor. The newfound galaxy, Andromeda XXXV, is seen within the white ellipse. Credit: CFHT/MegaCam/PAndAS (Principal investigator: Alan McConnachie; Image processing: Marcos Arias)

A discovery made by a team led by researchers at the University of Michigan tugs at the seams of some key cosmic lessons we thought we had learned from our own galaxy.

This new knowledge comes from the outskirts of Andromeda, the Milky Way's nearest major galactic neighbor, where astronomers have found the system's smallest and dimmest satellite galaxy to date.

This dwarf galaxy, named Andromeda XXXV and located roughly 3 million light-years away, is forcing astronomers to rethink how galaxies evolve in different cosmic environments and survive different epochs of the universe.

Although the discovery bears more questions than answers, that's what happens when you're investigating the universe, said Marcos Arias, the lead author of the report in The Astrophysical Journal Letters that details the discovery.

The universe still harbors many mysteries, he said, but this discovery helps correct what we do know and reveals more about what we don't.

"We still have a lot to discover," said Arias, who performed this work as an undergraduate student in the Department of Astronomy and is currently a post-baccalaureate researcher in astronomy and physics.

"There are so many things that we still need to learneven about what's near to usin terms of galaxy formation, evolution and structure before we can reverse-engineer the history of the universe and understand how we came to be where we are today."

Intergalactic and very tiny

Our Milky Way system also hosts dozens of these satellites or companion galaxies, too, which explains why their story is still being written. These companions are distinct from their massive, central host galaxy, but still close enough to be caught in its gravitational grasp. The satellites are also much, much smaller.

"These are fully functional galaxies, but they're about a millionth of the size of the Milky Way," said the study's senior author, Eric Bell, U-M professor and associate chair of astronomy. "It's like having a perfectly functional human being that's the size of a grain of rice."

Because they're so much smaller, these satellite galaxies are also a lot dimmer and harder to spot. It's only been within the last couple of decades that astronomers have had technology sensitive enough to discover most of the Milky Way's known satellites. And it's currently impossible for observers to spot extremely faint satellites that are orbiting hosts farther away than Andromeda, Bell said.

Because of their proximity to us, the Milky Way's satellites have been our only source of information on these tiny galaxies. Although scientists have discovered satellite galaxies in Andromeda beforethat's why it's Andromeda XXXV and not Andromeda Ithey've been too big and bright to firmly challenge what we've learned from the Milky Way.

Not only is Andromeda XXXV the dimmest and smallest known satellite galaxy in the Andromeda system, it's about 3 million light-years away, making it very hard to spot. The ellipse within the inset shows where this companion galaxy was discovered. Credit: CFHT/MegaCam/PAndAS (Principal investigator: Alan W. McConnachie; Image Processing: Marcos Arias)

"This is, in part, why Marcos' discovery is so important. This type of galaxy was only discoverable around one system, the Milky Way, in the past," Bell said. "Now we're able to look at one around Andromeda and it's the first time we've done that outside our system."

To discover Andromeda XXXV, Arias first pored over massive observational datasets to look for signs of potential companions. Once he had compiled a list of promising candidates, he and Bell secured time on the Hubble Space Telescope to take a closer inspection.

"The opportunities for high-impact research as an undergraduate in the astronomy department at U-M are extensive," Arias said. The work was supported by the National Science Foundation and by NASA through the Space Telescope Science Institute.

Using Hubble, the researchers discovered that not only was Andromeda XXXV a satellite galaxy, but it was small enough to resculpt some of our notions of how galaxies evolve, such as how long they're able to form stars.

"It was really surprising," Bell said. "It's the faintest thing you find around, so it's just kind of a neat system. But it's also unexpected in a lot of different ways."

The team also included researchers from the University of Chicago, Utah Valley University, the Vatican Observatory, the University of La Serena in Chile, the University of Alabama, Montana State University and the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam in Germany.

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A celestial whodunit

Although the discovery was surprising, Bell also stressed that it isn't unusual for ideas in astronomy to become more complex once we leave our own backyard. "When you have only one system to analyze, you can't be sure what's a generalizable characteristic and what's an idiosyncrasy," he said.

Now, Andromeda XXXV has provided enough strong evidence to start confidently distinguishing those features. The most obvious difference between satellites in the Milky Way and in Andromeda was when they stopped forming stars.

"Most of the Milky Way satellites have very ancient star populations. They stopped forming stars about 10 billion years ago," Arias said. "What we're seeing is that similar satellites in Andromeda can form stars up to a few billion years agoaround 6 billion years."

This information also helped the researchers solve what Bell framed as a murder mystery in Andromeda.

Whether a galaxy is huge or tiny, it needs to have a store of gas that's available to condense into stars. When that gas is gone, star formation stops. A natural question to ask is whether this end comes about by a galaxy's gas supply petering out on its own, or by being sapped away by the larger host.

This map shows the Andromeda galaxy, M31, and its satellites. The newly discovered Andromeda XXXV companion galaxy is highlighted in bold red text. Credit: J. M. Arias et al. Astrophys. J. Lett. (2025) DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/adb433

For the Milky Way's satellites, their earlier shut-off tracks with the unaided option. With star formation lasting longer in Andromeda's small companions, it appears to be the latter.

"It's a little dark, but it's either did they fall or did they get pushed? These galaxies appear to have been pushed," Bell said. "With that, we've learned something qualitatively new about galaxy formation from them."

This extended star formation is even more interesting in the context of Andromeda XXXV's size and the universe's history.

Deep fried cosmology

The universe started out incredibly hot and dense, but by the time of its first billionth birthday, it had expanded and cooled off to the temperature of a cool spring day. This idyllic temperature was also conducive to the universe's gas condensing into stars, which gathered into galaxies.

But as these stars churned out energy, and as black holes formed and gobbled up matter, the universe got really hot again. For small galaxiesgalaxies with less mass than about 100,000 sunsthis was thought to be a death sentence for star formation. The heat would basically cook off the gas needed to seed stars.

"We thought they were basically all going to be fried because the entire universe turned into a vat of boiling oil," Bell said. But Andromeda XXXV was not fried.

"We thought that it would completely lose its gas, but apparently that doesn't happen, because this thing is about 20,000 solar masses and yet it was forming stars just fine for a few extra billion years."

How it survived is now an open question.

"I don't have an answer," Bell said. "It is also still true that the universe did heat up. We're just learning the consequences are more complicated than we thought."

Organizations like NASA are planning on launching missions capable of discovering more satellite galaxies over the coming years, which will help piece together new solutions.

While Arias and Bell are obviously excited for that and to learn as much as they can from the tools currently at their disposal, they're also comfortable living in the unknown. For Arias, it's what drew him to the field.

"It's the universe," he said. "There will always be something new to discover."

More information: Andromeda XXXV: The Faintest Dwarf Satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy, The Astrophysical Journal Letters (2025). DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/adb433 Journal information: Astrophysical Journal Letters
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

SpaceX is set to send up late Monday its first Falcon 9 from Florida's Space Coast since a fire destroyed a booster after it landed.

This Falcon 9 booster is flying for the 22nd time, set to launch 21 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Space Launch Complex 40, targeting an 11:21 p.m. Eastern time liftoff with backup options through 12:15 a.m. Tuesday and more opportunities starting at 10:48 p.m. Tuesday.

The booster will aim for a recovery landing downrange on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas.

It would be the 21st launch on the Space Coast so far in 2025.

The 20th didn't have a perfect ending when the booster for another Starlink launch on March 2 from Cape Canaveral landed on the company's other East Coast-based droneship "Just Read the Instructions."

"After successful landing, an off-nominal fire broke out in the aft end of the rocket," said Bill Gerstenmaier, SpaceX's vice president for build & flight reliability, SpaceX. "It damaged one of the landing legs, which resulted in the rocket tipping over."

He was speaking during a Crew-10 mission preview press conference Friday as SpaceX discusses with NASA all of the Falcon 9 anomalies on all of its launches to make sure they won't be an issue for the crewed missions.

The booster loss was the third off the Space Coast in about 15 months, having lost one in December 2023 that tipped over because of high seas, and then losing another last August when the booster caught fire and tipped over.

To date, SpaceX has managed to successfully recover 415 boosters among Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches, and has reused 385 of those on subsequent launches. Several have achieved 20 launches and its fleet leader has 26 launches under its belt.

The culprit behind the fire was a fuel leak of undetermined origin that began about 85 seconds after liftoff. It sprayed Falcon 9's rocket fuel, which is essentially kerosene, onto a hot component of the engine, Gerstenmaier said.

"It vaporized and created a flammable environment. But on the way up, there was no oxygen to interact with the fuel, so there was no problem at all during ascent and it was perfectly fine. The mission was accomplished," he said.

But about 45 seconds after the first stage landed, enough oxygen entered the engine compartment, interacting with the fuel and a still-hot portion of the engine, sparking the fire.

"The fire was pretty extensive. Did a lot of damage, but the damage is what we've expected, what is accounted for in all our procedures and processes," he said.

Gerstenmaier said it blew out a barrel panel on the side of the rocket as designed, and the fire was contained in the engine compartment, so that even if there had been a problem during ascent, it would have resulted in only one of the nine Falcon 9 engines going out, and SpaceX would have been able to complete the mission.

He said what remains of the tipped-over booster came back to Port Canaveral and its parts are still being investigated at Cape Canaveral.

"While it's disappointing to lose a rocket after a successful mission, the team will use this data to make sure that every Falcon is more reliable on ascent and landing for this mission and for every other mission going forward," he said.

2025 Orlando Sentinel. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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A general view of the marshes of Donana National Park, in Almonte, Huelva, on February 28, 2025.

A drought that has parched fields and prompted water restrictions in Spain since 2021 could be over soon thanks to recent abundant rainfall, national weather agency AEMET said on Tuesday.

When yearly precipitation figures are compared with the rain that has fallen in the past year, "we cannot speak of drought in Spain", AEMET spokesman Ruben del Campo told a press conference.

But a long-term measurement taking into account precipitation over the three previous years shows that the "amount of rain accumulated... remains below normal" in the country on the climate crisis frontline.

"With the amount of rain falling now in March, it cannot be ruled out that this situation ends up being reversed," Del Campo said, adding "it is probable that we emerge in March" from the long-term drought.

Downpours in the first nine days of March have drenched Spain with an amount of rain that usually falls during the entire month, he said.

The recent rainfall included Spain's wettest October on record, which culminated in the historic floods that devastated the eastern Valencia region and killed 232 people according to a government toll.

Scientists say climate change driven by human activity is increasing the intensity, frequency and duration of extreme weather events such as droughts and floods.

 2025 AFP
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An artist's conception of the view from one of the four planets orbiting Barnard's Star. Credit: International Gemini Observatory / NOIRLab / NSF / AURA / R. Proctor / J. Pollard

Astronomers have revealed new evidence that not just one, but four tiny planets are circling around Barnard's Star, the second-nearest star system to Earth.

The four planets, each only about 20 to 30% the mass of Earth, are so close to their home star that they zip around the entire star in a matter of days. That probably means they are too hot to be habitable, but the find is a new benchmark for discovering smaller planets around nearby stars.

The resulting paper is published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

"It's a really exciting findBarnard's Star is our cosmic neighbor, and yet we know so little about it," said Ritvik Basant, Ph.D student at the University of Chicago and first author on the study. "It's signaling a breakthrough with the precision of these new instruments from previous generations."

The finding adds weight to a November study by a team using a different telescope, which had found strong evidence for one planet around Barnard's Star and hints at others.

The new study included scientists with the Gemini Observatory/National Science Foundation NOIRLab, Heidelberg University, and the University of Amsterdam.

An artist's conception of the four planets circling around Barnard's Star. The planets are so close to the star that they zip around their sun in a matter of days. Credit: International Gemini Observatory / NOIRLab / NSF / AURA / R. Proctor / J. Pollard

Star wobbles

For a century, astronomers have been studying Barnard's Star in hopes of finding planets around it. First discovered by E. E. Barnard at Yerkes Observatory in 1916, it is the nearest system that has the same configuration that we doi.e., with only one star. (The absolute nearest star system to us, Proxima Centauri, has three stars circling each other, which changes the dynamics of planet formation and orbits).

Barnard's Star is a type called an M dwarf star, which we now know is extremely numerous in the universe. Scientists, therefore, would like to know more about what kinds of planets they host.

The trouble is that these faraway planets are far too tiny to be seen next to the brilliance of their stars, even with our most powerful telescopes. That means scientists have had to get creative to search for them.

One such effort was led by UChicago Prof. Jacob Bean, whose team created and installed an instrument called MAROON-X, which is attached to the Gemini Telescope on a Hawaiian mountaintop and designed specifically to search for distant planets.

Because stars are so much brighter than their planets, it's easier to look for effects that planets have on their starslike monitoring the wind by watching how a flag moves.

MAROON-X looks for one such effect; the gravity of each planet tugs slightly on the star's position, meaning the star seems to wobble back and forth. MAROON-X measures the color of the light so precisely that it can pick up these minor shifts, and even tease apart the number and masses of the planets that must be circling the star to have this effect.

Basant, Bean, and the team rigorously calibrated and analyzed data taken during 112 different nights over a period of three years. They found solid evidence for three planets around Barnard's Star.

When the team combined their findings with data from the November experiment by a different team, which was taken by an instrument called ESPRESSO at the Very Large Telescope in Chile, they saw good evidence of a fourth planet.

These planets are likely rocky planets, rather than gas planets like Jupiter, the scientists said. That will be difficult to pin down with certainty; the angle we see them from Earth means we can't watch them cross in front of their star, which is the usual way to find out if a planet is rocky. But by gathering information about similar planets around other stars, we can make better guesses about their makeup.

However, the team was able to rule out, with a fair degree of certainty, the existence of other planets in the habitable zone around Barnard's Star.

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'Really exciting'

Barnard's Star has been called the "great white whale" for planet hunters; several times over the past century, groups have announced evidence that suggested planets around Barnard's Star, only for them to be later disproven.

But these latest findings, independently confirmed in two different studies by the different instruments ESPRESSO and MAROON-X, mean a much larger degree of confidence than any previous result.

"We observed at different times of night on different days. They're in Chile; we're in Hawaii. Our teams didn't coordinate with each other at all," Basant said. "That gives us a lot of assurance that these aren't phantoms in the data."

These are among the smallest planets yet found with this observing technique. The scientists hope this will mark a new era of finding more and more planets in the universe.

Most of the rocky planets we've found so far are much larger than Earth, and they appear to be fairly similar across the galaxy. But there are reasons to think the smaller planets will have more widely varied compositions. As we find more of them, we can begin to tease out more information about how these planets formand what makes planets likely to have habitable conditions.

The find itself was exciting, too, the scientists said.

"We worked on this data really intensely at the end of December, and I was thinking about it all the time," Bean said. "It was like, suddenly we know something that no one else does about the universe. We just couldn't wait to get this secret out.

"A lot of what we do can be incremental, and it's sometimes hard to see the bigger picture," he said. "But we found something that humanity will hopefully know forever. That sense of discovery is incredible."

Additional University of Chicago authors on the paper were postdoctoral fellows Rafael Luque, Lily L. Zhao, Tanya Das, and David Kasper; graduate student Madison Brady; postbaccalaureate student Nina Brown; and masters student Rohan Gupta.

More information: Ritvik Basant et al, Four Sub-Earth Planets Orbiting Barnard's Star from MAROON-X and ESPRESSO, The Astrophysical Journal Letters (2025). DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/adb8d5 Journal information: Astrophysical Journal Letters
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Local and non-local conductance of a TINW proximitized by Nb. Credit: Nature Physics (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41567-025-02806-y

Physicists at the University of Cologne have taken an important step forward in the pursuit of topological quantum computing by demonstrating the first-ever observation of Crossed Andreev Reflection (CAR) in topological insulator (TI) nanowires.

This finding, published under the title "Long-range crossed Andreev reflection in topological insulator nanowires proximitized by a superconductor" in Nature Physics, deepens our understanding of superconducting effects in these materials, which is essential for realizing robust quantum bits (qubits) based on Majorana zero-modes in the TI platforma major goal of the Cluster of Excellence Matter and Light for Quantum Computing (ML4Q).

Quantum computing promises to revolutionize information processing, but current qubit technologies struggle with maintaining stability and error correction. One of the most promising approaches to overcoming these limitations is the use of topological superconductors, which can host special quantum states called Majorana zero-modes.

These exotic states have been theoretically predicted to provide an inherently stable foundation for quantum computation, immune to many common sources of error. The experimental observation of these states, however, remains controversial despite many optimistic claims.

In this latest study, Junya Feng, postdoctoral fellow in the Topological Matter Laboratory Cologne (TMLC), led by Professor Dr. Yoichi Ando explored topological insulator (TI) nanowiresmaterials that, when paired with a conventional superconductor, are predicted to support topological superconductivity more easily than other materials.

The team successfully observed Crossed Andreev Reflection (CAR), a rare quantum effect where an electron injected at one terminal of a nanowire "pairs up" with another distant electron, forming a superconducting Cooper pair. This nonlocal effect is a key signature of the long-range superconducting correlations that are a prerequisite for Majorana-based qubits.

Non-local processes involving Cooper pairs and conductance matrix as a function of V L and V R . Credit: Nature Physics (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41567-025-02806-y

"This is the first study to explore how Andreev physics works in topological insulator nanowires when they are coupled to superconductors. Understanding this is crucial for the robust creation of Majorana zero-modes in the TI platform," said Professor Ando.

"This breakthrough was enabled by Junya's innovative fabrication approach: etching high-quality nanowires from exfoliated topological insulator flakes. This method produced much cleaner structures than previous techniques, making them ideal for quantum experiments.

"Thanks to this progress, we are now performing experiments that were previously only possible with conventional semiconductor nanowires. We have also decided to focus entirely on this new fabrication method, as it has led to a series of exciting results. With these advances, the ML4Q Cluster is moving a step closer to making a topological qubit a reality."

The ability to reliably induce and control superconducting correlations in TI nanowires is a crucial step toward engineering Majorana-based qubits based on the TI platform. Next steps will focus on directly observing and controlling Majorana zero-modes in these systemsan essential milestone toward fault-tolerant quantum computing.

To achieve these results, the Cologne group collaborated with theorists at the University of Basel who helped understand the peculiar way the Andreev physics works in TI nanowires.

More information: Junya Feng et al, Long-range crossed Andreev reflection in a topological insulator nanowire proximitized by a superconductor, Nature Physics (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41567-025-02806-y Journal information: Nature Physics
The meteoric rise of China's artificial intelligence (AI) sector, exemplified by the groundbreaking success of the open-source DeepSeek large language model earlier this year, has captivated global attention.

This momentum has not gone unnoticed domestically, with AI taking center stage at China's "two sessions," the nation's most important political gathering. From the press conference and ministerial briefings to discussions of the country's lawmakers and political advisors, AI's role in China's future development has been emphasized at every step.

The first plenary meeting of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, March 5, 2025. [Photo by Wang Yiming/China.org.cn]

China's 2024 government work report marked a milestone by introducing the "AI Plus" initiative, calling for an increase in the R&D and application of big data and AI, as well as the launch of the AI Plus initiative to build digital industry clusters with international competitiveness.

One year later, AI remains a priority, with the 2025 report taking this ambition further by explicitly supporting the "extensive application of large-scale AI models" and continuing the advancement of the AI Plus initiative.

"AI plus" reshaping industries

AI technology has demonstrated immense potential across various industries, including manufacturing, retail, finance and health care, said Chen Wei, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC). He emphasized that expanding the AI Plus initiative could accelerate industrial upgrades and promote innovation-driven growth across sectors.

Liu Qingfeng, NPC deputy and chairman of iFlytek, China's leading AI and intelligent speech company, highlighted AI's transformative impact on manufacturing. He said that AI can play a significant role across various stages of manufacturing, including research, production, supply chain, sales, service and management. Liu noted that AI models, capable of rapidly assimilating enterprise knowledge, could enhance research efficiency and drive a paradigm shift in scientific innovation.

Lei Jun, founder and CEO of Xiaomi, also reinforced his company's commitment to AI-driven innovation, stating that Xiaomi will continue to integrate cutting-edge AI technologies into its product ecosystem.

The wave of AI-driven efficiency and innovation is also transforming the health care sector. Geng Funeng, chairman of Gooddoctor Pharmaceutical Group, told China.org.cn that with the advent of large-scale AI models, disease prediction is now possible. By analyzing big data and using model simulations, AI can predict the risk of chronic diseases such as strokes and heart attacks over decades. "This will help individuals manage their health and support the scientific approach to the 'preventative health care strategies' of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)," Geng said.

The NPC deputy also revealed that his company is developing AI-powered models based on DeepSeek to compile a comprehensive TCM base, paving the way for smarter, data-driven health care solutions.

In the financial sector, Tian Xuan, NPC deputy and dean of the National Institute of Financial Research at Tsinghua University, noted that leading banks and securities firms have already integrated DeepSeek into their systems. AI's ability to customize financial products, mitigate consumer risks and enhance investment decision-making is expected to drive greater market efficiency and resilience, he said.

Open AI for all

As China accelerates AI development, it is also championing an inclusive, open-source approach to technology. On the sidelines of the "two sessions," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that science and technology should be the wealth that benefits all and is shared by all.

To this end, China has launched several concrete initiatives, including the Global AI Governance Initiative and the AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All. The country has also proposed the Initiative on International Cooperation in Open Science together with Brazil, South Africa and the African Union, calling on all nations to give priority to the Global South's sci-tech capacity-building so that no country is left behind.

Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the third session of the 14th NPC, affirmed these initiatives, stressing that the Global AI Governance Initiative will help bridge the technological divide and prevent sci-tech innovation from becoming a "game of the rich countries and the wealthy."

Zhou Hongyi, an NPC deputy and CEO of 360 Group, underscored the significance of DeepSeek's open-source and transparent nature, calling it a milestone in China's evolution from an AI follower to a global leader. He noted that by making the technology freely accessible, DeepSeek is fostering cross-border collaboration and accelerating industry-wide progress.

Deputy Zhang Li, president of the China Center for Information Industry Development, noted that DeepSeek has introduced a cost-efficient, high-performance AI development model that lowers barriers to entry and promotes widespread adoption. The model's scalability, he argued, would trigger a breakthrough moment for China's AI ecosystem.

China's AI advancements have also caught the attention of international observers. Salvador Moncada, Honduran ambassador to China, praised the country's rapid progress in AI while attending the NPC session.

"DeepSeek has made artificial intelligence free-source, so the possibilities of developing applications and different types of activities based on that system have been made available for the rest of the world," he noted. "This is a fantastic technological achievement, and I believe it's only the beginning of what China will accomplish in this field."

Navigating security tightrope

While open-source models such as DeepSeek have propelled AI adoption, they have also attracted significant cyberattacks, highlighting the growing security vulnerabilities across the AI sector. This necessitates stricter safeguards and regulatory oversight.

Qi Xiangdong, a national political advisor and chairman of cybersecurity company QAX, outlined three major security threats stemming from AI's rapid proliferation. These include inherent vulnerabilities within AI models, the potential for AI-driven cyberattacks  such as deepfake fraud and phishing scams  and the systemic risks that could arise from AI's deep integration into critical infrastructure.

To mitigate these threats, Qi emphasized the need for a multi-layered security framework that includes endpoint protection, data security and model integrity. He also urged regulators to establish clear compliance standards for AI security, advocating for an "AI plus security" approach to ensure that technological progress and safety evolve in tandem.

Another pressing concern is the rise of deepfake technology, which has fueled misinformation and fraud. National lawmaker and TCL founder Li Dongsheng called for mandatory labeling of AI-generated content to curb malicious misuse and stressed the need to accelerate regulatory efforts to address these challenges.

Lei Jun also weighed in on the issue, calling for a single-subject law to combat the abuse of AI-powered face-swapping and voice-cloning technologies. He suggested strengthening evidence standards for AI-related violations and imposing stricter criminal penalties for illicit uses of these technologies.

Lyu Hongbing, a national political advisor and lawyer, echoed these concerns, advocating for dedicated administrative regulations for generative AI. He argued that such legislation should clearly define the responsibilities of developers, service providers, regulators and users to ensure a well-regulated AI ecosystem.

Li Jinghong, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and also a national political advisor, urged policymakers to elevate AI legislative efforts to a strategic level. He called for an AI promotion law that would focus on advancing AI applications, ensuring equitable access, fostering innovation, nurturing AI talent, safeguarding employment and promoting international cooperation.
UPPER TOWNSHIP  Its a tight fit for two ambulances parked in a back building at the township EMS headquarters, with the front bumper of one set tight against the garage door.

John Brittin, the deputy chief of EMS for the township, described the current situation as an endless money pit, where the township could keep funding repairs to an obsolete building or create something new.

The bare garage is set behind the township EMS building on Tuckahoe Road in the Petersburg section of the township. The core of the main building dates to 1981, a simple steel structure built for the volunteer rescue squad.

Brittin said the building does not meet the needs of the operation it houses.

A digital sign out front flashes messages, including calls for volunteers and the time and temperature. This year, the Township Committee has brought new focus to the building, with plans for an expanded new structure.

More than a new EMS building, it would be a public safety building for the township, Committee member Victor Nappen said recently. EMS and emergency management fall under Nappens responsibilities on the governing body.

Upper Township does not have its own police department, relying on State Police out of the barracks in Woodbine. There are four volunteer fire companies in the township, each with its own fire headquarters.

In addition to the paid and volunteer ambulance crews, the township has an emergency management coordinator and a Beach Patrol, which guards bathers in Strathmere and on the bayside beach in Beesleys Point.

Upper Township to seek federal money for EMS building Members of the Upper Township Committee supported seeking federal money to renovate or replace the EMS building Monday.

Last year, the township sought a federal grant to help fund a new community center. This year, the committee pivoted, seeking money instead for a new public safety building from congressionally directed spending and the 2026 federal Community Project Funding program.

At previous meetings, Mayor Curtis Corson said the need is greater at the public safety building. The committee was set to vote Monday night on a new application for federal funding for a township public safety building.

An architects evaluation completed last year found problems with the building, mostly related to the limited space, but found the building itself to be structurally sound.

The architects report estimates the cost of options addressing the deficiencies of the current building at more than $7 million, with the estimated cost of a new building at $8.78 million.

A lot wasnt included in that report, Brittin said in a recent interview. There have been problems with rust, leaks and rodents, with concerns ranging from minor to significant.

That includes an inadequate septic system, an inadequate kitchen and a need for improved facilities for first responders who staff the building at all times. As it stands, the overnight crews bring their own airbeds or cots, Brittin said. There are no bunks.

With daily overnight duty crews and potential extended shift lengths due to inclement weather or disasters, sleeping facilities are imperative for personnel to rest between calls to allow them to remain energized and alert during emergencies, he wrote in an outline of the buildings condition. The building also lacks shower facilities required for overnight operations.

Much of the building was designed for equipment and response methods of another time, Brittin said.

Firefighters battle Corbin City blaze in 4-degree weather, save pets Crews battled a Corbin City chimney fire early Wednesday morning, saving two pet birds and a cat in the process, the Tuckahoe Volunteer Fire Company said.

Some vehicles are kept outside because of the lack of room, exposed to the elements, and there is no dedicated decontamination area within the building.

The bay doors attached to the main building are too small to fit any modern-day ambulance, forcing storage of ambulances to a separate building in the rear of the property, he said. This also requires crews staffing those ambulances to exit the main building during inclement weather to access the ambulance before responding to an incident.

Space is the primary need. A new structure could allow for storage of gear for the Beach Patrol and a space where all four volunteer fire company crews could train together.

Plans will depend on the available funding, but a new structure could be considerably larger than what is there. The township also owns the lot next door to the current EMS building, the site of a vacant house that appears to be in poor condition, with a deep lot behind it.

A new structure, if funded and approved, could incorporate that lot, he said.

Through strategic planning, including input from key stakeholders throughout the townships public safety community, it is the intention of the Township Committee to not only address these deficiencies, but also to improve the overall operations of Upper Township Public Safety as a whole, Brittin said in a statement. This will include customizing the project to meet the specific needs of each public safety entity and ultimately benefiting the public  decreasing response times, increasing operational efficiency, and providing a safer quarters for responders.
Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, visits representatives of the press who covered the third session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. Wang extended greetings to the journalists. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's top political advisor Wang Huning on Monday visited representatives of the press who covered the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, extended greetings to the journalists.

He commended the contribution made by media outlets and the journalists to the annual session's success. He expressed the hope that media outlets will pay constant attention to and continue their support for the CPPCC.

The session concluded Monday in Beijing.
Entrusted by Zhao Leji, executive chairman of the presidium of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), Li Hongzhong, executive chairman of the presidium, presides over the third meeting of the presidium at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

The presidium of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, held its third meeting Monday.

Entrusted by Zhao Leji, executive chairman of the presidium, Li Hongzhong presided over the meeting.

The meeting decided to submit the draft decision on amending the Law on Deputies to the National People's Congress and to the Local People's Congresses at Various Levels to the NPC session for vote.

The meeting decided to submit three documents to the session for deliberation. They were draft resolutions on the work reports of the NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

The meeting also heard and passed a report on handling proposals put forward by NPC deputies during the session.

The presidium's executive chairpersons met before the meeting to prepare the documents.
Hanover County is growing. And its school division is feeling the growing pains as new development brings with it new families.

In the Chickahominy District, makeshift classrooms, overcrowded spaces and added learning cottages have become the new normal.

However, the School Board is one step closer to relieving its overcrowding woes. The board plans to choose one of three proposed redistricting plans at a 7 p.m. meeting on Tuesday. It will make a final decision early next month.

We are trying to do whats best for all of the students in Hanover County Public Schools, said School Board Chair Bob May. There is no consideration being given for one location or anyone. It is all about what we believe is best.

The call to redistrict is largely in part to alleviate overcrowding at Cool Spring Elementary School, which is currently at 110% capacity. By 2029, the division anticipates that figure to grow to 117%. Likewise, Atlee and Chickahominy middle and high schools are nearing at-capacity limits.

The rezoning committee, comprised of three board members, plans to recommend the Green Scenario, which will see students attending Cool Spring Elementary relocated to Washington-Henry Elementary School, which is being rebuilt.

Specifically, it would see a staggered relocation with students in the Atlee Manor, Craney Island Farms and Craney Island Estates subdivisions relocating starting in the 2025-26 school year and those in the Giles subdivision relocating during the 2027-28 school year.

Likewise, some students in the area west of Route 301 would move from Rural Point Elementary to Pearsons Corner Elementary, and some would move from Washington-Henry Elementary to Rural Point Elementary. Additionally, those south of Meadowbridge Road would move from Washington-Henry Elementary to Mechanicsville Elementary.

Middle and high schools would see minor boundary changes to adjust to the changes to the elementary school boundaries.

For many board members, the Green Scenario sees the least amount of disruptions and will significantly drop at-capacity percentages.

However, for those living in these subdivisions, the proposed plan brings about unnecessary inconveniences.

Those in the Giles community were explicitly marketed the promise of top-rated schools within walking distance as a key selling point for their homes, resident Eric Polito stated in a letter sent to the board and the American Civil Liberties Union. Developers, realtors and even local school representatives promised these schools as part of the package.

Under this plan, some neighborhoods could be split up with one going to one school and one going to another. Many parents have raised concerns regarding how this divide will occur and the impact a move might have on hundreds of students.

As presented, whether intentionally or unintentionally, (the scenarios) have pitted neighborhoods against each other. It is causing friends to fight against each other for no reason at all, Hanover parent Andy Hogue said at a previous board meeting.

Other parents raised transportation concerns, as students who could previously walk or bike to school will now be bused to their new schools.

While the Green Scenario has received criticism, so have the Blue and Purple scenarios.

The Blue Scenario resembles the Green Scenario with the only difference being the timeline. If the board adopted this plan, it would see students in the Giles neighborhood relocate first instead of those in Atlee Manor and Craney Island Farms and Estates.

The Purple Scenario, the least popular among people who have publicly addressed the board, would see Kings Charter split along Charter Lake with some students remaining at Cool Spring and others moving to Pearsons Corner.

Likewise, Craney Island Farms and Estates would move from Cool Spring to Washington-Henry, and Rutland Villages town homes would move from Pearsons Corner to Washington-Henry.

Following public input, the firm introduced an additional option coined the Indigo Scenario, which would see the entire Kings Charter neighborhood move from Cool Spring to Pearsons Corner; the majority of Rutland would move from Pearsons Corner to Washington-Henry; and Garrison Manor would move from Rural Point to Washington-Henry following its replacement.

All of the scenarios will result in adjustments to middle and high school boundaries  largely Oak Knoll Middle and Hanover High and Chickahominy Middle and Atlee High; however, there will be no changes made to Liberty Middle, Patrick Henry High, Bell Creek Middle or Mechanicsville High.

While the committee intends to recommend the Green Scenario, May said nothing is set in stone and things are always subject to change until the board makes its final call.

Folks will have a month to weigh in before the boards scheduled April 8 meeting, where it plans to make its final decision.

Were trying to do the absolute very best we can, May said. But no matter what we say or do, we dont have a chance of keeping everybody happy.
Katherine Katie Steele could have been the person collecting fees from campers in Virginias national forests this spring, or removing trash from campgrounds in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests.

But she wont because the U.S. Forest Service laid her off last month, along with 18 other probationary employees who lost their jobs in the first wave of layoffs that President Donald Trumps new administration is carrying out as part of a sweeping effort to slash the federal government workforce.

Steele, a Staunton resident who worked for nine months at Cave Mountain Lake in Natural Bridge in the Glenwood-Pedlar Ranger District, was one of four laid-off federal workers who appeared on MSNBC before Trump spoke to a joint session of Congress last week. She offered little hope that the Forest Service will replace her as visitors begin arriving at recreation areas in national forests in Virginia this spring.

The reality is, the Forest Service is now looking at closing recreation areas because we dont have the staffing to provide the essential services anymore, she said. I dont think they have any idea who we are and the essential work we do.

Steele, in an interview on Monday, said the public is likely to notice after campgrounds open on April 1.

I was there cleaning the bathrooms and picking up trash, (ensuring) visitor safety and collecting fees for the government, she said. I expect folks can expect a lot more deferred maintenance and uncleaned facilities.

The Forest Service did not confirm the cuts in Virginia. However, an unnamed spokesperson said Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins fully supports the Presidents directive to improve government, eliminate inefficiencies and strengthen the USDAs many services to the American people.

The Forest Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ultimately rehired four of the workers it had laid off, for a net loss of 15 in the two national forests that run along the spine of western Virginia, according to the Forest Service Council of the National Federation of Federal Employees. Nationally, the Forest Service laid off 1,376 union-represented workers among 2,000 employees that the administration has confirmed releasing under what the council termed the pretext of poor performance.

The ones who actually go into the woods and do the work, said Warner Vanderheul, president of the union council.

Its likely to get much worse.

The Forest Service faces the potential loss of thousands more employees under a reduction-in-force plan that it must submit to Trumps Office of Management and Budget by Thursday. E&E News reported that the agency would use a combination of layoffs and early retirements to eliminate 7,000 to 10,000 jobs, or up to one-third of its 30,000-member workforce.

I think the George Washington and Jefferson (National Forests) might be one of the first places where we start seeing the effects, Vanderheul said on Monday.

Before the cuts, the Forest Service employed about 230 people at the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, with about 60 job vacancies, the union said.

The Forest Service has been operating on a very small budget with a very lean staff for years and years and years, said Kristin Gendzier, a senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center in Charlottesville.

Its nonsensical or illogical from an efficiency perspective, Gendzier said. Its heart-wrenching from a humanitarian perspective.

The national forests have to be a lot of things for everyone, she said.

The federal cuts alarm conservation organizations that work with the Forest Service to help it manage more than 1.6 million acres of national forests in Virginia for recreational and commercial use, as well as environmental protection. The George Washington and Jefferson forests include nearly two dozen national wilderness areas that account for about 150,000 acres that include old growth forest.

It is quite concerning, not only for the Forest Service, said Ellen Stuart-Haentjens of Richmond, executive director of the Virginia Wilderness Committee, which collaborates with the agency to balance the many sometimes competing goals for managing public lands.

Stuart-Haentjens is concerned that the Trump administration is upsetting that balance in favor of using the national forests predominantly for timber, while rolling back regulations that protect other essential interests.

The regulations are in place not just for habitat and wildlife, but to keep our water clean, she said.

Genny Kotyk, a union steward for the Forest Service Council who works as a forester at the George Washington and Jefferson forests, said timber harvesting is a priority of the new administration, but predicted that the job cuts will affect the public more.

I can guess that the public is going to be more upset about recreation sites than timber sales, Kotyk said.

E&E News, citing unnamed sources, said the upcoming plan for slashing the Forest Service workforce through mass layoffs and early retirement is focusing primarily on the agencys research and development efforts, as well as urban and community forestry.

Joel Koci, a longtime board-certified arborist and educator in the Richmond area, said he expects the Trump administration also to reduce funding for urban forests that he called vital for protecting air quality, lowering heat and reducing storm runoff in populated areas.

Like anything else, when the budget gets targeted, recreation and conservation is the first place to cut, when it should be the last place to cut, Koci said.
Chetumal judge sends group to prison for 11 years

Othon P. Blanco, Q.R.  Five males arrested on narcotic and firearm charges have been sentenced to more than 11 years. On Monday, a Chetumal judge handed down an 11 year and eight month sentence to all five men.

The Attorney Generals Office in Quintana Roo, authorities obtained a conviction against David H, Ancelmo M, Samuel C, Jose C and Roman G (no photo), for drugs, stockpiling of firearms and possession of cartridges and magazines.

After intelligence work by the Security Cabinet of the Government of Mexico, elements of the Federal Ministerial Police (PFM) assigned to the Criminal Investigation Agency (AIC), with the support of the Navy, National Defense Secretariat and the National Guard (GN), carried out a search warrant in January at a home located in Nicolas Bravo, where they arrested these five people, police reported.

During the search, police located 2.1 kilos of cocaine hydrochloride, marijuana; five pistols, three rifles, five carbines, a shotgun, a replica of a firearm, cartridges, chargers and tactical equipment.

A Chetumal judge ordered a sentence of 11 years and eight months in prison for each of the five convicted.
Sheinbaum says American company violated its Riviera Maya environmental impact agreement

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  American company Vulcan violated its environmental impact agreement at its Sactun company in Riviera Maya said President Claudia Sheinbaum. She says her government is hoping to reach an agreement with the American-based company to avoid going to trial.

On Monday, Sheinbaum broached the topic during her morning press conference saying the Riviera Maya company Calica, now SacTun, violated what was established in its Environmental Impact Statement.

Sheinbaum made the comment after reports that U.S. legislators asked U.S. President Donald Trump, via a letter, to intervene in their favor.

I would like to inform the congressmen who sent the letter, both to them and to President Trump, that we are going to send a letter clarifying this for them. I asked Alicia Barcena and she is also meeting with the company to seek alternative solutions, said Sheinbaum.

On Monday, Sheinbaum clarified that there was never any expropriation of said lands, which are located on the outskirts of Playa del Carmen. The problem is that the company left the area of exploitation that it had authorized and went to other areas, affecting cenotes and aquifers.

And despite being informed, they continued the exploitation and that was when former president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador decided to change the use of the land, but there is no expropriation.

It is now a protected natural area where the exploitation of these materials is not permitted because it is seriously affecting the environment.

The company should have adhered to the environmental impact statement it had, no company can violate that statement, but they expanded their exploitation zone, said Claudia Sheinbaum.

She reiterated that she will continue talks with the company and will send letters to congressmen and the White House so that there is no misinformation and perhaps avoid a legal conflict.

If not, it will be resolved in court. The fact is that there (in Riviera Maya) exploitation cannot continue due to the environmental impacts caused by this extraction outside the area where they were permitted.
The early Protestant Reformers famously disbelieved in the freedom of the will. And yet they gave us a legacy of freedom. This paradox is at the heart of Brad Littlejohns Called to Freedom: Retrieving Christian Liberty in an Age of License. But Littlejohn, a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, is not just unpacking 16th century theology or uncovering influences. Rather, he is untangling todays confusions about freedom and exposing our actual lack of freedom, while also showing a way forward.

Professing to be free, we have become slaves, he writes. Yet the less liberty we feel, the more liberty we demand, without knowing anymore what it is we are asking for.

There are many kinds and definitions of freedom, with some of them contradicting each other. Littlejohn observes that, during the Civil War, both sides raised the Battle Cry of Freedom, with the Union fighting to free the slaves and the Confederacy fighting for the freedom to have slaves. Today conservatives tend to focus on economic freedom, while progressives fixate on sexual freedom.

Even the simplistic definition of freedom as doing whatever I want does not get us very far, since, as Littlejohn says, our desires are at war with one another. We may desire power over others, which limits their freedom, while also desiring to be loved, which subordinates our freedom to someone elses. We desire pleasure, which may lead to addictions that take away our freedom. We desire money and possessions, which may enslave us to the process of acquiring and keeping them.

Littlejohn usefully sorts out the different senses of the concept, all of which center on our distinctly human ability to exercise moral agency, which is our capacity for purposeful or meaningful action.

Littlejohn draws on Isaiah Berlins distinction between negative liberty, the freedom from outside coercion or interference, and positive liberty, the freedom of being able to do what one chooses. This is the difference between being left alone (freedom from) and being empowered (freedom to).

Another contrast is that of individual freedom and corporate freedom, the liberty of a community to order its common life. We are individuals in need of freedom, but we also need the freedom of the communities that we inhabit, as in the American Revolution. Sometimes these two kinds of freedom clash. For a church to have religious freedom, it must, to a certain extent, be able to limit the freedom of its members to believe and act as they might prefer.

Then there is outward liberty and inward liberty. The former relates to our freedom of action in the world. The latter refers to the freedom of our thoughts and inner lives. Says Littlejohn: There is a natural freedom within the human mind that no human power can take away: a freedom to form thought and beliefs, entertain desires, and form purposes. This freedom can operate amid even the most profound external oppression.

Efforts can be made to manipulate this inner freedom by propaganda or intimidation. But since tyrants cannot know what we are thinking, they are ultimately powerless to violate the sanctuary of our minds. To be sure, inward liberty also needs outward liberty. A private, personal religious faith needs to be cultivated by worship, communion with other believers, and meaningful actions in the world. But, argues Littlejohn, authentic outward liberty cannot exist at all in the absence of inner freedom.

~ ~ ~

Inward liberty is necessary for the other kinds of freedom. And this is precisely the liberty that is so lacking in todays world. Trading liberty for license, Littlejohn writes, we have accepted a profound unfreedom of soul and spirit in return for the false promise of limitless external freedom.

This is where the insights of the Protestant Reformers come in. Luther wrote two treatises that must be considered together: The Bondage of the Will and The Freedom of the Christian.

He takes seriously a recurrent New Testament theme:

Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:346) Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.  But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. (Romans 6:1618, 2122) For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1)

Sin enslaves. The common assumption today is that sin liberates, so that people want freedom to sin. But according to the Bible and universal human experience, if we are honest, sin puts us into bondage. Sin is not only a matter of the bad things we do, our slavery to our disordered desires, passions, and appetites. It is also a condition. Littlejohn writes:

If freedom is, as I have defined it, the capacity for meaningful action, then no wonder the Scriptures describe sin as slavery; for sin strips us of this capacity, separating us not only from God, the source of all ultimate meaning, but also from ourselves and our own purposes.  The power of sin causes us to lose our freedom, our capacity for meaningful action, in three main ways: forgetfulness, futility, and fear.

Our past gives us our sense of agency, and sin causes us to want to forget our past as a way to escape guilt, often by dulling our memories in fresh acts of sin. Sin creates a sense of futility by rendering the present unintelligible to us, so that we feel unable to achieve our purposes or, when we do, making them unsatisfying. Sin spoils our future because of our terror of what lies ahead; namely, that we might be harmed as a consequence of our actions, and, ultimately, that we will die.

But if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. The gospel of salvation through faith in Christs atonement frees us from guilt and so gives us back our past. It frees us from futility by assuring us of the purposefulness of our life and callings. It frees us from the fear of death by the promise of eternal life. Such faith gives inner freedom. This, in turn, bears fruit in external freedom.

To take one example, as Littlejohn says, The threat of physical death is perhaps the preeminent way that tyrants take away the freedom of their subjects. But for those who do not fear death, a tyrant has no power over them. As Jesus says, Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul (Matthew 10:28). Littlejohn sees the same freedom from fear of earthly rulers even in Romans 13, which calls Christians to submit to them: We are to have no fear of the one who is in authority if we can simply do what is good by walking in love (v. 3; cf. vv. 810). Rulers can indeed kill the body, of course, but the freedom of the unintimidated soul that allowed the martyrs to go cheerfully to their deaths creates a liberated Christian conscience that the tyrant cannot touch.

For Luther, the sinful conditiondescribed in modern terms by Littlejohncomes down to a lack of faith. To be justified by faith, as Luther taught in his Small Catechism, means realizing that Jesus Christ has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil. This frees us even from the guilt, futility, and fear of the Law. Instead of being motivated by the pressures of moralism, we are enabled to do good works freelyas Littlejohn puts it, doing the right because you want to, not because you have to. Whereupon our turning in on ourselves gives way to the love of our neighbor.

As a result, as Luther says in The Freedom of the Christian, A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. At the same time, A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all. But that service is taken on freely.

~ ~ ~

Littlejohn goes on to explore with great insight the relationship between spiritual freedom, moral freedom, and political freedomand how today they have gone horribly wrong. His point is that freedom should not be confused with autonomy. Human beings, by their nature, are dependent, on God above all but also on other people. This means that freedom requires limits; otherwise, it leads to unfreedom.

For example, Littlejohn shows that trying to find the ultimate meaning of independence and autonomy in sex cannot succeed. First, because sex involves another person. Second, because sex creates another dependent human being, hence the fervor with which the modern world has been at work to destroy the link between sexuality and natality, first with contraception and then with abortion. And, accordingly, the fervor to destroy the link between sexuality and another person, as free love promotes sex without attachment, homosexuality promotes sex with someone like oneself, and pornography promotes sex with only oneself. This reduction of sex is anything but liberating. True sexual freedom, though, is to be found in marriage, with its commitments, boundaries, and mutual dependence.

Littlejohn shows, echoing the Founders, that political self-government can be achieved only in a context of individual self-government. Indeed, freedom is self-government, the ability of individuals to govern themselves by controlling their appetites, passions, and sinful impulses. He then applies his conclusions to areas of contention today: technology, economics, and religious liberty. He traces how healthcare, once committed to restoring the body to its natural function, has reoriented itself to using medical technology to give patients what they desire. The purpose of healthcare becomes not so much health but a distorted sense of freedom. If you so choose, modern medicine will rid you of an unwanted pregnancy, surgically remove your sex organs, and even put you to death. Once human nature becomes an enemy to be conquered, observes Littlejohn, the boundary between self-transcendence and self-destruction, between freedom and slavery, becomes indistinguishable.

He also shows what can go wrong in free markets, showing how the traditional vices of greed and prodigality can lead to market failure. Ultimately, he says, a truly free market is possible only among truly free people.

Luther is the great pioneer of religious liberty, arguing in his treatise On Secular Authority that the condition of the soul is out of the reach of earthly rulers and that punishing heretics in the name of outward social order only makes them more convincing. The church, not the state, must deal with heretics by preaching and persuasion, not coercion. Eventually, Luthers view won out, and Littlejohn traces the hard-won development of religious toleration. But to tolerate someone means you still think the person is wrong. And since today disapproval is thought to limit a persons freedom, toleration must give way to affirmation. And the refusal of religious people to affirm what violates their beliefs has brought back the suppression of religious liberty.

Littlejohn concludes that, ultimately, freedom is the conformity of the soul to reality, the fit between our wills and the world. This is opposed to presuming that reality must bend to our wills, which is a formula for enslaving others and ourselves. Freedom therefore must start at the innermost heart of our being, he says, echoing Luther, as the grace of God reorients us away from ourselves alone toward the freedom that comes from finding oneself in the neighbor.

Called to Freedom is a book that everyone who invokes freedomlibertarians, liberals, postliberals, progressives, conservatives, revolutionaries, and Christian activistsmust wrestle with and learn from.
The third plenary meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

National political advisors told China.org.cn during the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing that they are impressed by China's achievements during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. They praised the nation's ability to maintain stability amid global uncertainty while making significant advancements in high-tech development.

The year 2025 marks the conclusion of China's 14th Five-Year Plan (20212025) and serves as a pivotal moment for shaping the country's next five-year strategy. This year's government policies are expected to support economic stability and lay the groundwork for long-term modernization.

Qian Wenhui, a member of the 14th CPPCC National Committee and former chairman of the Agricultural Development Bank of China, called the past five years "remarkable," highlighting that China faced exceptional challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We have largely overcome the pandemic, but its effects cannot be resolved in just a year or two. The financial difficulties encountered by many local governments today are closely linked to the challenges brought by the pandemic. Moreover, many issues and contradictions are deeply intertwined," he said. Qian added that in terms of the external environment, the central challenge remains the relationship between China and the United States.

"During the most challenging period of the pandemic, people's confidence in the future was often clouded by uncertainty," Qian said. "Amid China-U.S. tensions and relentless pressure from the Trump administration, many felt unsettled. But looking back now, we have overcome those difficulties and achieved hard-won progress. Moreover, the chaos in the West has further underscored China's stability and governance. People's expectations and confidence in the future have grown stronger, and this gain is greater than any other."

Liu Shangxi, former president of the Chinese Academy of Fiscal Sciences and a member of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, echoed this view.

"These past five years have been extraordinary," he said. "During this time, we've managed to establish certainty for China's development amid global uncertainty, which was no small feat. We have made it this far by skillfully navigating risks and challenges."

Liu noted that boosting consumption is a key objective for China during its industrial transformation.

"We need to balance supply and demand within the economic cycle," he said. "Macro policies should be more proactive and people-centered to address long-standing structural issues. Resolving these will improve economic circulation and strengthen growth momentum, though it will take time and require a concerted effort through both policy and reform."

Zhang Yi, another member of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, said China's progress in economic and social development over the past five years has been remarkable.

"Our ecological environment has significantly improved, our industrial structure has undergone important adjustments, and we've seen groundbreaking achievements in emerging industries, including technological breakthroughs. These are the aspects that have left a lasting impression on me," Zhang said.

Zhang pointed to artificial intelligence (AI) as a transformative force in traditional industries, reshaping production, upgrading industrial structures, and redefining underlying business logic to advance cognitive productivity.

"AI is a critical driver of high-quality development," he said. "However, challenges such as data ownership, copyright disputes, infringement, and the risks posed by deepfakes must be addressed. It's time to establish comprehensive AI legislation, consolidating existing policies and successful practices into a legal framework. This will promote innovation while ensuring orderly and standardized growth in the field."

The government has become more effective in formulating policies and driving economic and social development, according to Zhang. He cited a statement from this year's government work report, delivered by Premier Li Qiang on March 5.

The report said: "Policies should be introduced and implemented as soon as possible  it is better to act early than late, as this will buy valuable time to address any uncertainties that may arise. Once a policy is confirmed, we should act decisively and with ample force to achieve more effective outcomes."

"These pragmatic statements greatly boost the confidence of entrepreneurs," Zhang said. "Everyone is paying attention to the diversity, adequacy and timeliness of our policies. The premier's government work report made this clear, which has left a strong impression on everyone."

National political advisor and Newland Group CEO Wang Jing said China has made a historic leap in digital transformation over the past five years.

"What excites me most is China's strategy of building itself into a digital powerhouse," Wang said. "It has propelled cutting-edge technologies such as AI and big data from 'following' to 'running alongside' Western tech leaders and even 'leading' the way globally."

Wang noted China's strong technological resilience in social governance and industrial upgrading. She attributed this progress to the integration of the Communist Party of China Central Committee's people-centered development philosophy and the strategy of self-reliance in science and technology, highlighting the advantages of China's socialist system.

Wang expects that China will unleash the multiplier effect of institutional and technological dividends in the digital era during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. She envisions China accelerating an independent digital technology system, advancing AI large models and computing infrastructure, and strengthening digital sovereignty.

Wang said the country should promote AI's practical application in rural revitalization, public services and green development, making technology more human-centered.

She also suggested strengthening digital ethics and security governance to build an inclusive ecosystem, ensuring that China's digital initiatives become engines for high-quality development and beacons for human progress.
LE MARS, Iowa  Long before he was an Iowa district court judge upholding law and order, Jeffrey Neary was a resident adviser in Westmar College's Centennial Hall, trying to keep order in an all-male dormitory.

"It was perceived as the jocks dorm. It had that crazy, young buck attitude around it," Neary said of the four-story dorm on the college's Le Mars campus.

A back door was often left propped open so girls could sneak in after hours. It wasn't out of the ordinary to catch the scent of marijuana or hear the tell-tale sounds of alcohol consumption going on behind closed doors.

"You were always trying to police it as best as you could," Neary said, chuckling at the memories of his three years in the dorm from 1977-80.

Those memories may soon be all that's left of Centennial Hall.

The City of Le Mars, which bought the Westmar campus and its buildings in 1997 after the college closed because of financial problems, hopes to demolish the former dormitory this summer after an asbestos removal study is completed. It's been nearly 30 years since the city first took ownership, and the building has been vacant for much of that time, a couple different developers' ideas for it falling through along the way.

It's time, Le Mars Mayor Rob Bixenman said, to clear the site and move on.

"It's fair to give it some time to see if ideas or plans sort themselves out. Thirty-some years is long enough," Bixenman said.

Opened in 1968 with room for 154 students, the dormitory was named Centennial Hall a year later in conjunction with Le Mars' centennial. The building had no air conditioning, so residents propped fans in the windows to try to stay cool during the hot late-summer weeks at the beginning of the fall semester. There was no elevator. The single beds were hard to convert into a bunk-style arrangement, though that didn't stop students from trying, Neary said. Each room had a single desk in the middle that was shared by the two occupants.

"It was modern in the sense that it was functional, but that was about it," Neary said.

That basic functionality was a major reason the building has remained mostly vacant since the college's closure. Its stacked concrete cube design would make it costly to remove walls and relocate and add plumbing to renovate the building into apartments. An elevator, an expensive addition, also would be necessary. Several people showing interest in the building over the years changed their minds after looking at it and reaching the conclusion it was not economically feasible to renovate it.

"Practically speaking, I always thought it would be a difficult building to turn into something else. Just the way it was built, it was meant to be a dorm," said Neary, who became familiar with the building's limitations while serving as Le Mars' city attorney years ago.

A few developers took a shot over the years. According to a 2012 Journal article, the city sold the building that year for $10,000 to a private developer who intended to move his business there in addition to having a pellet gun course on the top two floors.

"Nothing really came to fruition there except he was living in it," Bixenman said.

Another developer bought the building about 10 years later and abandoned development plans after realizing the cost and difficulty to renovate it.

The city repurchased the building last fall with the intent to tear it down, Bixenman said. Asbestos removal and demolition are estimated to cost nearly $500,000.

"There's no other use for it," the mayor said. "The longer it waits, the more expensive it gets (to demolish it). I wish we'd torn it down 30 years ago."

After Le Mars took possession of the Westmar campus, some buildings were torn down. Other college buildings have found useful second lives. Some dormitories were renovated into apartment buildings. The Le Mars Family YMCA moved into the college's Lifesports Center. The cafeteria became the city's convention center, and another building became a day care center and preschool.

Centennial Hall and the school's former library, which was sold to a developer whose plans never panned out, are the last two Westmar buildings still vacant. The former library has become an eyesore, Bixenman said, but the city is limited with what it can do because the building is privately owned. Centennial Hall hasn't reached that point yet, but there are some broken windows, and rodents have been spotted around it.

Its condition and impending fate are no shock to Neary and other Westmar alumni.

"I'm not surprised, frankly, that we're at this point," Neary said.

The city has no current plans for the site at 1140 Third Ave. SE once Centennial Hall is demolished, Bixenman said.

Instead, it will be an empty lot, filled with memories and nostalgia. Neary said he wouldn't mind grabbing a brick or two as a Centennial Hall memento when the building is being torn down.

"I'm not going to shed any tears," he said, "but it was a special building in the sense that all buildings there were a special place."
DAKOTA CITY, NEB.  Alexandria Dreeszen is a cat's best friend.

The Dakota City woman has established a non-profit organization to help alleviate a problem with a growing stray cat population in her community. Estimates are that at least 100 stray cats are running around Dakota City.

Dreeszen and others in the community approached the Dakota City Council for assistance.

The non-profit, Save the Kitties Trap Neuter Return, will help pay to trap, neuter and then return stray cats in Dakota City to their location. The project will help control the cat population since they will not be able to reproduce. New homes will be found for those cats that are adoptable.

Save the Kitties TNR just received tax exempt status, Dreeszen said. The Dakota City Council is considering an agreement with Dreeszen to provide matching funds to pay for the sterilization of stray cats. Under the proposal, the city would match funds raised by Dreeszen in $500 increments tup to an annual total of $1,500. The agreement is to be reviewed annually. The council is to take up the matter at its next meeting.

"Its the only way to humanely reduce the stray cat population. There is something called the vacuum effect. If you euthanize cats or remove cats, more cats are going to come in and take their place but Trap Neuter Return puts cats back to where they are and they are fixed so they don't reproduce and there are no more cats are coming in," Dreeszen said.

The Journal spoke with Alexandria Dreeszen about her project, and what she sees as its future. Questions and answers have been lightly edited for clarity and style.

What got you involved with this project?

"Back in 2020, I had a cat disappear. In going out to look for her, I noticed all the cats that were roaming around, and I wanted to find a way to help them."

Have you always been an animal lover?

"Yes. Ive had animals since I was born. Weve always had too many cats and dogs."

What about cats, is it that you enjoy?

"They are independent. I dont have to take them outside to go potty. They keep you warm at night. They are good cuddle buddies. They know how to make you feel better when you are upset."

What was the name and personality of the first cat you owned?

"Magnum. I dont remember him a whole lot. I know I loved him to death. He was a black and white fluffy cat. I got him from my grandpas farm. Magnum let me use him as a pillow. He was a real easygoing, laid back, fluffy cat."

What do you hope this project turns out to be?

"A success. I hope that we succeed in Dakota City so we can prove ourselves and move on to other cities and get everything under control eventually. It will take time. But I am confident with the people that we have that we can get it done."
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Authorities in the Czech city of Brno initiated an evacuation on Monday after an unexploded aerial bomb was discovered at a construction site, police reported.

The bomb was found near the intersection of Jihlavska and Dlouha streets in the Brno-Bohunice district, prompting officials to evacuate the surrounding area and close nearby roads.

"On-site pyrotechnicians are assessing the situation and determining the next steps. The evacuation of eight apartment buildings is still ongoing," police stated on social media platform X, urging the public to follow official instructions.

According to the Czech News Agency, the evacuation may have affected hundreds of residents as local police worked to ensure public safety.

About two hours after announcing the discovery, police confirmed on X that pyrotechnicians had managed to deactivate the nearly 50-kg aerial bomb.

"They will now transport it to a safe location and subsequently dispose of it. Evacuated residents can return to their homes," police said.
SIOUX CITY -- A representative from Lutheran Services in Iowa told the Sioux City Council Monday that without federal reimbursement the nonprofit will be forced to refer immigrant and refugee families to welfare.

Nick Wuertz, director of immigrant and refugee community services for LSI, implored the council to write the Trump administration and federal lawmakers and ask them to "restore the refugee resettlement program."

"Without federal reimbursement, we will be forced to refer families to the federal welfare program, and then they will be at risk of becoming homeless," he said. "This does not have to be the outcome, and we are appealing to our federally elected officials who have already appropriated funds for these programs and established contracts with LSI to provide these services, because the federal government is not fulfilling its commitment to reimburse us for services."

LSI is laying off employees at three of its locations, including Sioux City, a little more than a month after an executive order from President Donald Trump to halt the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. Seven employees who are being let go in Sioux City attended the council's weekly meeting.

"Because the federal government is not fulfilling its commitment to reimburse us for services, it is forcing LSI to pause our services and, unfortunately, let go several of our talented team members and staff," Wuertz said.

Wuertz said LSI has helped welcome over 500 individuals to the Siouxland community from places such as Syria, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan and Venezuela. He said many refugees, who have been persecuted in their own countries and can't go home, wait in refugee camps for decades, going through years of screening and vetting before being admitted to communities in the United States.

When Trump signed the executive order on Jan. 20, Wuertz said refugee resettlement across the country was effectively paused. At that time, he said LSI had 104 individuals who had travel booked and were ready to arrive in Iowa, including the Sioux City area.

"That travel was canceled later that week. We have a family who arrived in July, whose older son was processing as a separate case. His travel was canceled, and they no longer know when or if he will be able to join them here in Iowa," Wuertz said.

On Jan. 24, Wuertz said a stop work order was issued to all resettlement agencies, effectively cutting off all federal funding, which is the main source of funding that helps families get settled in communities.

"We had just arrived 36 people here to the Siouxland community just weeks before, and now suddenly, the federal government was saying you no longer have access to the resources that will help you get people settled in the Siouxland region," said Wuertz, who thanked Siouxlanders and other Iowa residents for standing with LSI and privately supporting the nonprofit. "It is only through private support that we have been able to continue to operate for the last several months to help families get settled here."

In mid-February, Wuertz said LSI learned that several other federally funded programs, including the workforce program it operates in Sioux City, were not being reimbursed by the federal government.

"There have been no changes to the contract, no stop work orders on those contracts. However, the federal government has not reimbursed LSI and many other providers for those services," said Wuertz, who said LSI hasn't been reimbursed for a total of $1.5 million, dating back to December 2024. "The federal government is reimbursing some providers for these same services, and has offered no explanation as to why Lutheran and Catholic-affiliated organizations are not being reimbursed for services."

Councilman Matthew O'Kane said, in his opinion, the immigrant population is "maintaining" Sioux City, while Councilman Alex Watters called the situation LSI is grappling with "extraordinarily tragic."

"I hope you feel, even though it doesn't seem it right now, how much value you have to this community, to our local economy, and to the fabric of our community, really. I mean, the culture that is Sioux City, as Matthew said. I think we have such a beautifully diverse community," Watters said. "But unfortunately, there's a narrative going around right now that immigrants are, oftentimes, the scapegoat, or they're the ones that are doing these negative things, and, sometimes, that's the complete opposite of what's happening."

Watters agreed to reach out to his contacts and voice support for the restoration of the refugee resettlement program.

"I'm more than happy to make phone calls and emails and do anything I can," he said. "Hopefully, we're able to move forward in a meaningful place, but I worry that a lot of damage has been done in the interim."

Wuertz told The Journal that LSI is hosting a virtual town hall from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday. For more information, visit LSI's Facebook page.
For weeks, Harmony Cobel was nowhere to be seen on Severance, Apple TV+s hit series about a group of office workers whose minds and memories have been severed into outside-work and inside-work personas. Once the ubiquitous manager of the severed floor at the sinister Lumon Industries, overseeing all innie activities, Patricia Arquettes austere character and her mysterious trans-Atlantic accent disappeared from view while the innies, now under the auspices of former deputy Seth Milchick and the newly hired Miss Huang, ventured to the great outdoors, lost a team member, unmasked another as a fraud, and strove to solve the many mysteries of their very existence.

In last weeks Sweet Vitriolpraise KierCobel returns in style with a whole storyline dedicated just to her whereabouts. But the episode has proved divisive, drawing the displeasure of many fans and netting a 6.7 out of 10 viewer rating on IMDb, a new low in Severances two-season history. (For context, the overall rating for the series is a very respectable 8.7, the same score held by Mad Men, Twin Peaks, and Fleabag.) The complaints about the episode are variedranging from boring to it makes no sensebut ill deserved, in my opinion. Ill go on the record defending this episode: Sweet Vitriol was a good 37 minutes of television.

The episode takes place in the blighted former company town of Salts Neck. We find Cobel brushing her teeth and spitting out of her car door as a high onlooker breathes heavily into a paper bag. The terrain of this water-bound place, hundreds of miles from the town of Kier, is rugged and brutal yet beautiful, shot on a real-life island in Newfoundland, Canadaa perfect locale for Cobels brave return home.

On this trip, she finds her hometown ruined by the closure of the famed Lumon ether plant, its buildings degrading, its people ghostly. Like many real towns in modern America, Salts Neck is ravaged by post-industrialism and drug abuse. In this case, the residents who have survived here are huffing ether, the very chemical Lumon produced. We meet Cobels old chum Hampton, played by James Le Gros, who reveals that they were child laborers together at the Lumon plant. We also open the front door to the Cobel family home, where we meet Aunt Sissy Cobel (Jane Alexander), while Harmony confronts her relative, her mothers deathbed, and the ghost of her past life as a precocious and high-rising child caught in the Lumon orbit.

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Sweet Vitriol not only expands the world of Lumon in cinematically beautiful and devastating ways, but it also reveals one of the shows deepest secrets yet: Harmony Cobel herself invented the severance procedure, only for Jame Eagan, the CEO of Lumon, to claim credit as the scientific luminary behind the mind-altering operation.

Why were viewers so divided over this pivotal episode? Perhaps it was the Cobel-centrism of the episode at the expense of additional plot development and character inclusion. (Sure, its been a while since weve seen our hero Mark; to be fair, though, hes still busy almost dying from efforts to reintegrate his innie and outie selves.) Perhaps it was the awesome letdown of watching anything after the previous episode, Chikhai Bardo, which got a 9.4 out of 10 on IMDbthe shows second-best ratingand has been widely hailed as a cinematic masterpiece that revealed many of the shows secrets. Perhaps it was because Sweet Vitriol felt like something altogether familiar, something dystopian because its so bleakly relevant to modern life rather than straight out of the more fantastic annals of science fiction.

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Some viewers ranting on social media criticized the plot twist that Cobel was, in fact, a secret scientist. But the clues were always there: Not only is Cobel the floor manager of a highly important project at the very center of the Eagan familys concern, but shes demonstrated technical proficiency by covertly removing a brain chip from former employee Peteys corpse during his wake. With this new understanding come to light, shes not just a woeful middle-manager obsessed with her underlings mysterious and important work and their personal lives: Shes a genius whose work got stolen from her, and so is naturally invested in personally conducting psychological experiments with Mark and Gemmaand ordering Gemma back down to the testing floorto probe how well her invention works.

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Just as Gemma had to be virtually invisible before she shot to the forefront of the show midway through Severances second season, so did Cobel need to disappear for most of this season before coming back with a fury. We now have an established motive, skill set, and leverage for one of the strangest characters in recent television memory. The stage is set for her to cement her position as a villain or complete an about-face and become a triumphant hero. Most likely, shell continue to embody the desolation of the showsolitary, unexplained, isolated, and fuming with rage. Everyone in Cobels way better watch out, especially the upper management at Lumon Industriesand all the viewers who doubted her.
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Im no fan of the pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University, and they would certainly not be fans of mine. Although I have been outspoken in my opposition to the Trump administrations march to authoritarianism over the past several weeks, I have also publicly opposed the divestment movement, written about my Judaism and connection to Israel, and urged dialogue rather than puerile sloganeering on campuses. Student protesters, Ive made clear, must observe reasonable time and place restrictionsthey cannot disrupt the core university functions without accountability. It should go without saying that these restrictions should be content-neutral. The content of your views (unless they veer into harassment and intimidation) should have no bearing on the restrictions you face. This is fundamental to freedom of speech.

The federal government violated this principle when it sent agents to arrest Columbia University alumnus Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist who was politically engaged on the Columbia campus before graduating last spring. Initially, agents said they were revoking his student visa. But Khalil is not a student; he is a permanent resident of the United States married to an American citizen. The agents apparently changed their story when they learned this and said they were revoking his green card. According to Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, Khalil was arrested in support of President Trumps executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism. How in the world can this be grounds for an arrest?

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio doubled down on this trampling of basic rights in saying that Khalils activities were aligned with Hamas, and therefore illegal. We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported, he added. So, what next? Is everyone protesting the actions of Israel in Gaza going to be subject to arrest? Does having protested U.S. support for the bombing of civilians now put one at risk? Not a few Jewish students have participated in campus protests against the war in Gaza; will they too be deemed to be in violation of the presidents orders prohibiting antisemitism?

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University presidents must speak out against this attempt to control the political culture of our campuses from the White House. Just as we should decry antisemitism and other forms of discrimination, we should insist that students and faculty have the right to make their voices heard about the issues of the day. Neutrality here is a betrayal of our academic mission.

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I believe that those who see Hamas as an organization of freedom fighters are deeply misguided. I see Hamas as violent terrorists eager to kill Jews and make martyrs of their countrymen. But this doesnt stop me from defending members of the university community who want to protest Israels brutal war or express their outrage at our presidents call for ethnic cleansing. Whats next in this effort to ensure ideological conformity? Will those who speak out in favor of Ukraine be deemed misaligned with the pro-Putin agenda of the White House?

Related From Slate What Trumps $2 Billion Loss at the Supreme Court Really Tells Us Read More

Many academic leaders seem reluctant to defend the basic right to protest for fear of losing federal support for scientific research and financial aid. The loss of federal support would be a huge blow to biomedical research and educational opportunity, among other things. But if we dont defend the right to protest, how will we defend the freedom to teach and learn, the freedom to pursue research? If we just defend the speech or activities we like, on what basis do we resist authoritarianism?

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You dont have to be a fan of Mahmoud Khalils politics to protest this egregious violation of fundamental American rights. On Monday, a federal judge in Manhattan barred the administration from deporting Khalil and scheduled a detention hearing for Wednesday as demonstrators rallied in his support. We shouldnt have to agree in order to offer our fellow citizens respect, due process, and basic human rights. Not in the land of the free. If we are not to find ourselves permanently aligned with tyranny, we must stand up now for those being targeted by a government hell-bent on using anti-terrorism and support for Israel as a cover for its own authoritarian agenda.

Release Mahmoud Khalil! Respect freedom of speech!
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The Trump administration really does not want Charles Ezell to testify in federal court on Thursday. It isnt hard to guess why. Ezell is the acting director of the Office of Personnel Management, which allegedly ordered the illegal mass firing of federal workers. Yet he swore in a declaration that his agency did not direct these unlawful terminationsa claim contradicted by a growing mountain of evidence. Lawyers representing these workers, as well as the organizations supporting them, therefore want to cross-examine Ezell about his claims under oath. The government objected. Judge William Alsup has summoned him anyway. And it is now an open question whether he will show up.

This standoff vividly demonstrates one downside to the Trump administrations loose relationship with the truth: Lies tend to fall apart in court. In other cases, judges have responded to the Justice Departments misrepresentations with scolding from the bench and strongly worded orders that fall short of contempt. But Judge Alsup is now threatening sanctions, significantly ratcheting up the stakes. He appears committed to getting to the bottom of this dispute. So it is no surprise that Ezell doesnt want to come within 100 miles of his courtroom.

Although he is at the center of a major battle over the federal workforce, Ezell himself is something of a mystery. He served as a mid-level employee at OPMessentially the governments HR departmentfor about five years, focusing on data and analytics, before Trump plucked him out of obscurity on Jan. 20 to place him at the head of the agency. He has given just one public interview during his tenure, to byFaith, the magazine of the Presbyterian Church in America. In it, Ezell described a life steeped in devout Christianity, and analogized his rise at OPM to how Joseph must have felt when he found himself to be second in command in Egypt. He also described intense public criticism of his actions at the agency, which forced me to turn to God in ways Ive never had to before.

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What Ezell did not mention to byFaith is that, as acting director of OPM, he is the face of Trumps purge of the federal civil service. On Jan. 20, he sent a now-notorious letter ordering every agency to identify all their probationary employeestypically, individuals whove served less than one year in their positions, including those who were recently promoted. He directed agencies to determine whether those employees should be retained at the agency, with the presumption that most should be let go.

Related From Slate What Trumps $2 Billion Loss at the Supreme Court Really Tells Us Read More

On Feb. 14, Ezell attended a call during which agency heads were allegedly instructed to terminate virtually all probationary employees. His office then sent an email to agencies describing exactly how they should go about mass layoffs, providing a template letter to send out (which agencies had limited authority to alter). Multiple agency managers later attested that OPM expressly directed them to terminate almost every probationer, sparing only a small number who were mission-critical. As one agency told its employees, theres no negotiation and no limited discretion: OPM mandated the near-universal termination of probationers, and agencies had no power to push back. As a result, tens of thousands of these employees were unceremoniously booted from their jobs, and tens of thousands more face termination if the program continues.

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The problem with this mandate is that it was almost certainly illegal. OPM simply has no authority to order layoffs at other agencies, and has never claimed such a power until now. By law, it has the far more limited role of providing HR-related services to the sprawling federal bureaucracy. So a group of unions and organizations affected by the terminations sued, demanding a halt to the layoffs and the rehiring of workers. In response, the Justice Department offered a startling claim: OPM, it alleged, had not ordered a single firing, but merely offered to help agencies that voluntarily chose to reduce their workforce. To support this assertion, the Justice Department offered a single piece of evidence: a declaration from Charles Ezell, filed under penalty of perjury, stating that OPM did not direct agencies to terminate probationary employees.

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Judge Alsup didnt buy it. In late February, he issued a preliminary injunction tentatively finding that OPM had unlawfully mandated the mass terminations and ordering it to stop. He also set an evidentiary hearing for March 13 to sort out the complex factual allegationsmost prominently, the debate about whether OPM did, indeed, force agencies to lay off probationers. The plaintiffs, understandably, sought to call Ezell as a witness, seeking to cross-examine him over his declaration. Alsup agreed on Feb. 27, ordering Ezell to attend the March hearing, though he later offered him the option of testifying remotely. The Department of Justice did not initially object. Then, 10 days later, it asked the plaintiffs to accept another OPM employee instead of Ezell. When the plaintiffs refused, the DOJ filed a 19-page objection urging Alsup not to call Ezell. The DOJ lawyers declared that compelling Ezell to testify would inappropriately intrude on the workings of a coordinate branch of government and pose avoidable and unnecessary separation-of-powers concerns.

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It is, in fairness, somewhat unusual for an agency head, even an acting one, to testify in a civil dispute. But it is also unusual for an agency head to file a declaration in such a caselet alone one that makes dubious factual claims that form the entire basis of the governments defense. And as the plaintiffs pointed out, it was even more suspect for the Justice Department to proceed as if Ezell could testify, only to reverse itself days before the hearing and announce that it no longer wished to make him available. Moreover, at no point did the governments lawyers say that he was unavailable or otherwise unable to testify. They merely decided, at the last minute, that they did not want to let the plaintiffs cross-examine him.

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Alsup rejected this gambit on Monday. In a sharply worded order, he instructed Ezell to appear at the March 13 hearing. The problem here, he wrote, is that Acting Director Ezell submitted a sworn declaration in support of defendants position, but now refuses to appear to be cross examined, or to be deposed, despite government counsels embrace of that very idea just weeks ago. If Ezell does not appear, Alsup added, then the Court will have to decide the sanctionwhich may include striking Ezells declaration, or perhaps something more serious.

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It is wise of Alsup to keep his options open. A cynic surveying this evidence might reasonably conclude that Ezells declaration did not tell the full truth, and he is now fearful of being exposed by cross-examination in open court. Indeed, ample evidence compiled by the plaintiffs strongly suggests that his prior claims were false. It is noteworthy that Ezell has since revised the notorious Jan. 20 memo to say that agencies have ultimate decisionmaking authority over probationers, a statement that contradicts OPMs previous instructions to agencies. The administration is backtracking in the face of a court defeat. It presumably does not want a key player in the unlawful terminations to be grilled about his own involvement, and subsequent denials, under oath.

But it is much harder to keep the ugly details a secret when a rigorous judge like Alsup has the power to drag you onto the witness stand. Other government officials and employees have already attested that OPM was the ringleader of the purges. It is their word against Ezells. If he fails to show up on Thursday, Alsup has plenty of tools to punish him accordingly, including contempt of court. He is not one to take alleged perjury lightly. And in trying to keep Ezell off the witness stand, the Justice Department has only proven why his testimony is indispensable.
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Last week, we came one step closer to a resolution of the federal corruption case against New York Mayor Eric Adams. On Friday, Paul Clement, the lawyer Judge Dale Ho appointed to offer arguments against the Trump administrations motion to dismiss charges against Adams without prejudice, made his recommendation: dismissal, but with prejudice. As a former prosecutor at the U.S. attorneys office for the Southern District of New York, the division charged with Adams case, all I could think was: What?

Ho appointed Clement, the conservative former U.S. solicitor general under President George W. Bush, to hear arguments against the Department of Justices new position in this case. The acting U.S. attorney in charge of the case, Danielle Sassoon, had previously voiced arguments against that position, but that was in a letter to the Trump administration and resulted in her being forced to resign for not toeing the DOJ line. Other prosecutors on the case resigned, and the administration threatened to keep firing prosecutors who didnt get behind the motion. This is why the previous hearing, and briefing, on the matter before Ho was completely one-sided. As the judge made clear in his order appointing Clement amicus curiae, he wanted the benefit of adversarial briefing and adversarial testing of the Governments position.

The problem is, Clements recommendation is hardly adversarial at all. Instead of opposing the Trump administrations motion to dismiss without prejudice, Clement simply makes a counteroffer: dismissal with prejudice. Its a counteroffer that Adams should love, the equivalent of a permanent, irrevocable, get-out-of-jail-free card. And its a counteroffer that in a way gives the finger to Trump. After all, if Ho dismisses the case with prejudice, Trump loses his power to hold the threat of resuming the prosecution so that Adams supports his mass deportation strategy. In other words, under Clements recommendation, Adams would get the quid but Trump would lose the quo. Maybe looking at it that way it doesnt sound too bad. Except Clements recommendation also gives the finger to the rest of us.

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In recommending dismissal with prejudice, its not just that Clement ignores the strength of the evidence against Adams, whos facing charges that include making false statements to defraud the city of $10 million in matching funds during his previous election campaign, pressuring the citys fire department, performing a backroom deal to open a Manhattan skyscraper notwithstanding safety concerns, and receiving lavish first-class flights and hotel stays around the world as part of a quid pro quo with Turkey. Its that he ignores Supreme Court precedent that permits Ho to consider the public interest and decide entirely against a motion to dismiss. After all, it is not the government that returned the indictment against Adams, but a grand jury. And yet, in Clements brief, the public interest is given short shrift, or rather no shrift at all. Indeed, it is the people of New York City who are the victims of Adams fraud, especially with respect to the matching funds. Beyond New York, the public at large has an interest in securing that justice is done, that no one is above the law, and that we are a country where political quid pro quos are punished as a subversion of the rule of law.

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But Clement ignores the public interest. He also ignores the specifics of this case. There is a reason his brief sidesteps the strength of the evidence against Adams and the transparently self-serving reasons the Trump administration has offered in favor of dismissal. He even ignores the back-and-forth between acting Sassoon and acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, the spate of resignations, and the similarities to the Michael Flynn case during the first Trump term.

Indeed, reading Clements brief, one might forget that Trump is president and that the motion to dismiss is based on a Scratch my back and Ill scratch yours deal. Instead, the brief conveniently focuses on the separation-of-powers issues and judicial precedent in favor of construing the courts role narrowly. Clement stresses that courts have agreed that the primary purpose of [Rule 48 dismissal] is protection of a defendants rights. True, protecting a defendant from harassment has been the primary purpose of dismissal, but thats because this situationa dismissal for self-serving political reasonshas seldom, if ever, presented itself. Indeed, this scenario has been largely unimaginable and unprecedented. Instead of acknowledging that this is Trump were talking about, Clement ultimately argues that Ho should dismiss the case with prejudice and that if he does not, prosecutors will simply respond by dragging their feet or throwing in the towel and refusing to go forward, requiring the court to dismiss the case with prejudice later. Then let it be so.

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So what should Ho do? For starters, since Rule 48 permits him to consider the public interest, he should think about the publics view in all of this, especially the view of the victims. The city of New York and its taxpayers were allegedly defrauded out of $10 million when Adams made false statements to get matching funds. Presumably, the citys Law Department, which could speak for the city, might also have something to say here. At least someoneevidently not Clementthen might start speaking for the public and could truly argue against this dismissal. That would be a start.
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As Donald Trumps America is coming to be seen as a raucously unreliable ally, some longtime partners are seriously talking about not just moving toward self-defense but also replacing the U.S. as the ultimate guarantor of securityoffering their own nuclear arsenals to protect a span of countries that Washington seems to be abandoning.

Back in 2017, early on in Trumps first term, French President Emmanuel Macron raised the idea of strategic autonomya Europe able to deter and, if necessary, defeat aggression without U.S. assistancebut it didnt catch on. Few believed that Europe faced a military threat, that Trump would really pull out of NATO, or that the idea, even if worth taking seriously, was practical.

Now, with Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine, an expansionist Russia seems a plausible threat; and, in his second term, a more self-confident Trump, surrounded by nothing but lackeys, has intensified his disaffection toward the very concept of alliances and toward the trans-Atlantic alliance in particular. To most of the NATO allies, Macrons ideawhile still facing practical obstaclesis suddenly worth taking very seriously.

As a result, the allied nations, which increased military spending to some extent after Putins annexation of Crimea (and even more since his outright invasion of Ukraine), are now boosting their defense budgets to new heights.

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Less noticed but equally notable, they are holding discussionswith a earnestness that they had avoided for decades until nowabout whether Europe can and should set up its own nuclear deterrent.

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To a degree that most people dont realize, nuclear weapons still play a major role in U.S. and allied defense policy. In the first few decades of the Cold War, that degree was total: If the Soviet Union invaded even a slice of Western Europe, it was U.S. policy to strike back with nuclear weapons. This was the case whether or not the Soviets used nuclear weapons first. For many years, the U.S. didnt have enough troops or tanks in Europe to mount a conventional defense, so nukes were the only answer.

The policy was called extended deterrencei.e., the U.S. would take its nuclear-deterrence policy (If the Soviet Union attacks us, well attack the Soviet Union) and extend it to cover the allies. It was nicknamed, in a popular metaphor of the era, Americas nuclear umbrella.

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But then, in the 1960s, the Soviets started deploying their own nuclear weapons in large number, and some allies began to doubt the umbrellas credibility. The French president at the time, Charles de Gaulle, expressed these doubts most colorfully. Would an American president, he asked, really sacrifice Washington for Paris? In other words, if the Soviets invaded France (or any other Western European country), would the U.S. nuke the Soviet Union, knowing that the Soviets would probably retaliate by nuking the U.S.?

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De Gaulle not only voiced his doubts; he did something about them. He built and deployed a French nuclear arsenal. It was smaller than either of the superpowers arsenals: as many as 500 nuclear bombs and warheads at the programs peak, now 290, most of them in submarines, a few dozen on aircraft. But, de Gaulle reasoned, and his successors agreed, that that was enough to deter an attack on France.

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Now Macron, his current successor, is suggesting that this arsenal might be large enough to deter an attack on all the European members of NATO. (There is also talk of unifying or coordinating the French nuclear arsenal with Great Britains, which amounts to another 225 bombs and warheads, though Londons arsenalbased entirely on submarine-launched missilesis integrated into U.S. military planning for NATO and is even assisted by U.S. intelligence on finding and attacking enemy targets.)

Back when de Gaulle expressed doubts about U.S. credibility, President John F. Kennedys secretary of defense, Robert McNamara, tried to fend off the move toward an independent French nuclear force. At NATOs 1962 conference in Athens, in a top secret speech (since declassified), McNamara divulged that hed ordered changes in the U.S. nuclear-war plan.

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Under the previous plan, if the Soviets invaded West Germany, the U.S. would launch all its nuclear weapons, all at once, against every targetincluding hundreds of citiesin the USSR, Eastern Europe, and Communist China. (This was the plan; there was no Plan B.) Under McNamaras revised plan, the president would have the option of dropping nuclear bombs only on the Soviet Unions nuclear-weapons sites, avoiding its cities. The hope was that this would limit the damage to the U.S. if the Soviets retaliated. Another hope was that it might persuade the Soviets not to retaliate at allas the president would then threaten to unleash the rest of the U.S. arsenal, destroying Soviet cities, if they did so.

In other words, McNamara said, directing his remarks especially at de Gaulle, the American president could extend deterrence to Europe without having to sacrifice Washington for Paris. Rather, by deciding not to attack Moscow, the president might compel the Soviet premier not to attack Washington (or New York or any other city) in the first place.

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De Gaulle didnt believe it. First, he doubted that the Strategic Air Commandthe vast complex that controlled Americas nuclear weapons and planswould really carry out a restrained attack. Second, he doubted that the Soviets would play along; in other words, he thought, the Soviets would retaliate with full force, no matter what the U.S. did, and, therefore, in effect, the president would end up sacrificing Washington for Paris. Finally, he figured that once nukes started flying, escalation to all-out nuclear war was inevitable. McNamaras plan, he thought, was fantasy on several levels. In some ways, de Gaulle was right. In any case, two years after the Athens summit, he started fielding a French nuclear arsenal, entirely independent of the U.S. or NATO.

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The other NATO members refrained from following de Gaulles lead, retaining their trust in Americas umbrella, or at least saying as much. In turn, a long string of American presidents kept hoisting the umbrella, even while, in some cases, wondering whether it made any sense to keep doing so.

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In 2009, toward the end of his first year in office, President Barack Obama led a few discussions with his Cabinet secretaries over whether to declare a no-first-use policyi.e., whether he should pledge, as a matter of public policy, that in the event of a war, the United States would not be the first combatant to use nuclear weapons.

According to officials who attended those behind-closed-doors National Security Council meetings, Obama said he believed that no American president would ever be the first to use nukes. First, doing so would violate many moral and political taboos. Second, the president wouldnt need to do so. It may have been true, in the 1960s and 70s, that the U.S. had to rattle its nuclear sabers, if just as a deterrent, to counter the Soviet Unions superiority in conventional arms in Europe. But now the United States had conventional superiority. (Common scenarios envision Russia using nuclear weapons first in order to avoid losing a conventional war to NATOor, as some feared during a brief phase of its current war, to Ukraine.)

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Nonetheless, Obama decided not to declare a no-first-use policy because doing so would frighten the allies and possibly compel them to build their own nuclear weapons. When one of his Cabinet secretaries leaked that Obama was considering a no-first-use policy, Japans foreign minister flew to Washington the next day to beg him not to. (For more details on Obama and these NSC meetings, see my 2020 book The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War.)

Obamas no-first-use debates of 15 years ago seem quaint in retrospect. Today Americas allies worry that Trump has adopted a no-use-period policyi.e., they worry that in the event theyre invaded, Trump wont come to their defense at all.

Hence the revival of Gaullist ideas on nuclear deterrence, in a more expanded mode, covering the entire continent.

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What lessons does this history hold for the security of Europe today? Its not clear. The French nuclear force might deter Putin or some other aggressor from attacking France, but would it keep him from invading the Baltics? To update de Gaulles question, can a French president be trusted to sacrifice Paris for Tallinn, Riga, or Vilnius?

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At the moment, there is no French version of McNamara devising limited nuclear options that might finesse such doubts. French nuclear doctrine is what American strategists once called minimum deterrence. The nations nukes are aimed at the largest Russian cities; they arent accurate enough to hit specific targets, such as missile sites, which are hardened to resist blast; nor do their military leaders think such distinctions are worth mulling; the prospect of losing Moscow, St. Petersburg, and a few other cities is, in the French view, enough to deter any leader in the Kremlin.

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But enough to deter what? An attack on Paris? Probably. An armored invasion of Vilnius? Maybe not, especially since Russia has thousands more nuclear weapons than Franceenough to hit all of the countrys missile sites and bomber bases, with plenty left over. Given that, what if deterrence fails? What options would France have to limit the damage? Without such options, does it really have a credible deterrent to a non-nuclear invasion of Estonia or Poland? And what does Putin make of all this? Which strategiststhe French or the Americansdoes he believe? Would he impute credibility to a French nuclear umbrella covering all of Europe?

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Related From Slate Dont Be Fooled by Trumps Russia Sanctions Talk Read More

Macron understands all this. He proposed that Europeans open a strategic debate on the idea of a French umbrellanot that he plans to hoist such a thing right away. To the extent this debate results in real policy, he and his fellow European leaders will have to resolve several questions: Does France need to build more nukes, change its nuclear strategy, share nuclear technology with other European nations, or integrate its nuclear planning with Britains? (The British nuclear force consists entirely of Trident missiles loaded into four submarines. Most of these missiles, unlike Frances, have the power and accuracy to destroy blast-hardened Russian missile silos.)

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Finally, should other European nations go nuclear as well, fearingas de Gaulle feared of the Americans in an earlier erathat the French wont come to their rescue? Just last week, the prime minister of Poland, Donald Tusk, announced that his country is contemplating going nuclear too.

This is what happens when an American president demonstratesin Trumps case, all but announcesthat the United States is no longer in the business of heading alliances. Other countries, long dependent on Washingtons security guarantee, realize they have to go it alone. In the case of countries with some advanced technology, the quickest and cheapest way to do this is to build some nukes.

Its not just in Europe. In South Korea, politicians from across the spectrum, left to center to right, are openly talking about going nuclearsomething that, until a few years ago, only extremist military officers had discussed even privately. Japan, the only country ever attacked by nuclear weapons, still observes a taboo about the subject, but some have talked in close quarters about nuclear cooperation with South Korea. Germany, which for similar historical reasons has started discussing high military spending only in the past couple of years, is unlikely to build a nuclear arsenal anytime soon. But its significant that it was Friedrich Merz, Germanys incoming chancellor, who just last week revived Macrons idea of strategic autonomy (though without calling it by that name) and who suggested that the French and British nuclear forces might extend their missions to deter an attack on all of Europeif Washington folds up its umbrella.

We are stumbling into a new era of global politics, teeming with uncertainty and dangers. The grasping for nukesthe absolute weapon, the supreme symbol of securityis an understandable, even rational, reaction. But the spread of these weapons, across tense regions, can spawn its own set of dangers.
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President Donald Trump keeps on saying publicly that the Department of Government Efficiency is in charge of slashing waste and fraud in government, and also that Elon Musk is in charge of DOGE. He said as much at last weeks joint session of Congress and then again after a gathering with Musk and his Cabinet last week. These comments consistently put Justice Department attorneys into litigation-shaped pretzels as they attempt to explain to judges why neither of these things are in fact true for the purposes of the many lawsuits challenging the legality of DOGE and Musks actions. The question of whether judges should take such pronouncements literally, or seriously, or legally is a complicated one. In a New York Times opinion piece last week, Kate Shaw, co-host of the Strict Scrutiny podcast and a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, laid out the arguments for all the ways in which the Constitutions appointments clause very explicitly prohibits the installation of Musk-like characters at the highest levels of the federal government and why. On last weeks Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick spoke with Shaw about how all of this is playing out in court. Their conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Dahlia Lithwick: I keep leaning back into Schrodingers DOGE. Its always somehow alive and its not alive. Every time a judge tries to peer into the box to figure out whats going on in there, he or she gets a different story. After being pressed, and pressed, and pressed on this in the courts and by reporters, the White House filed a declaration saying that Musk is a senior adviser to Trump. In court, they say that he holds no actual or formal authority to make government decisions himself. He has no formal responsibilities. Hes not running DOGE. He is not an employee. Hes not an administrator. Hes just an employee of the White House.

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And then outside of the black box of the law, Donald Trump is announcing to a joint session of Congress that Musk is the boss of DOGE and hes making all these decisions. How much is a judge supposed to take judicial notice of the fact that there is a split screen going on here, and that what they are being informed about whats inside the box is simply not possible to reconcile with what is happening out in the world?

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Kate Shaw: I think it is very hard for judges to know how to proceed. My general view is courts should not be too eager to seize on these sorts of casual utterances made by presidents and essentially try to bind presidents or administrations to those representations. Normally, the legal position of the executive branch is provided to courts by lawyers at the Department of Justice, and if theres some tension between the two, actually the Department of Justice representation is ordinarily the one that courts should credit.

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This came up in the early DAPA litigation. President Obama was giving a speech in Chicago, extemporaneously responding to hecklers who were accusing him of doing too much deportation. And he said, Hang on, youre not paying attention to something, which is that I just took action to change the law by creating this DAPA programwhich was Deferred Action for Parents of Americans.

It was a successor to the DACA program, and a district judge in Texas, no surprise, seized on this statement as an admission, basically, that this was a legal change that the president had been without authority to make, and used that as a key basis on which to invalidate the DAPA program. And that, I thought, was misguided.

Related From Slate What Trumps $2 Billion Loss at the Supreme Court Really Tells Us Read More

The president was speaking colloquially and offered a defense of his own actions. That was not the form of a kind of formal legal description of, in fact, what he was doing. [At the same time,] I suggest that where a president is making statements that are in these highly formalized and vetted contexts, like the State of the Union or a joint address to Congress, thats a statement of the legal policy and position of the administration that courts are absolutely justified in putting stock in for purposes of ascertaining the lawfulness or meaning of some executive branch action.

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I think its totally appropriate and actually important for courts not to blind themselves to these facts in the world.

You are at that synapse in my brain that always goes to whenever there is a conversation that begins with But Trump said, because I remember early conversations with you in the first Trump era trying to do the decision tree of how much of these statements, these performative legal statements, have any legal force.

Its really helpful to hear that not every tweet does have legal force and judges cant run around interrogating every internal memo at every agency, but that there are some performative legal acts made by the president that do have some legal force, at least. I do think we have to talk for a minute about Amy Gleason. The administration announced under pressure that DOGE has an acting head, and her name is Amy Gleason. Shes some low-profile Trump official who worked on health care technology,

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I find myself wanting to know how much any judge is supposed to be digging into whether Amy Gleason is just a weird cardboard cutout, and how much they would need to have to find out that she is in fact the acting head of DOGE who is diligently working away telling Elon Musk what to do.

I do think there is a long-standing reluctance on the part of federal courts to probe too deeply into the internal workings of the executive branch, right? If there are representations made about what is happening inside the executive branch, its usually a pretty high bar thats going to move a federal judge to require this sort of institutional black box to be yanked open so a judge can actually probe what exactly is happening inside.

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One example of this is in the litigation over the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 census and the effort by the first Trump administration to add that question to the census.

There was so much bad faith in the way the Trump administration was explaining to the district court in New York why it wanted to add this question to the 2020 census that the district judge allowed some depositions of high-level officials in the Commerce Department to go forward.

The Supreme Court interceded and actually stopped the deposition of the Commerce secretary, Wilbur Ross, on the grounds that that very high bar hadnt been cleared, but allowed additional discovery into what exactly was happening inside Commerce and allowed depositions of other high-level officials.

I do think that is gonna be an important dynamic going forward as the litigation around the appointments clause and DOGE proceeds. Judges should not view themselves as disabled by this presumption from this kind of probing.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20250311/gt-voice-why-cant-us-contain-chinas-mature-chip-manufacturing-1121630384.html

GT Voice: Why Cant Us Contain Chinas Mature Chip Manufacturing?

GT Voice: Why Cant Us Contain Chinas Mature Chip Manufacturing?

Sputnik International

The Office of the US Trade Representative will hold a hearing on Tuesday into older Chinese-made "legacy" semiconductors that could be subject to more US tariffs on chips from China that power everyday goods, from autos to washing machines to telecoms gear, according to Reuters.

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This move comes amid reports that the US may further escalate efforts to curb China's burgeoning semiconductor industry. However, the effectiveness of these efforts in thwarting the ascent of China's semiconductor industry remains questionable.Despite these protectionist measures, it is becoming increasingly clear that the US may not be able to halt the progress of China's semiconductor industry. The relentless pursuit of advancement in chip technology by Chinese firms, coupled with the development of a chip manufacturing industry built on China's high-end manufacturing advantages, suggests that barriers might pose some challenges, but will not stop China's trajectory. As the US intensifies its crackdown on Chinese semiconductors, a notable trend has emerged: China's integrated circuit exports are on the rise. This phenomenon underscores a critical point - Washington's efforts to suppress China's chip industry have not thwarted its continuous growth and expansion. The development of China's semiconductor manufacturing, particularly in the realm of mature chips, is deeply rooted in the country's comprehensive industrial foundation and well-established industrial systems. This domestic strength suggests that while external pressures may pose challenges, they are unlikely to derail the momentum of China's semiconductor sector.Boasting the world's most comprehensive industrial ecosystem, China is reported to have the largest and most diverse manufacturing system globally, capable of consistently delivering a wide array of industrial products with high efficiency and low cost. Given the intricate nature of the semiconductor manufacturing supply chain - which encompasses design, packaging, testing and other critical stages - the robustness of China's industrial framework provides essential support for the development of its semiconductor sector. It is somewhat ironic that the stringent US measures against the Chinese semiconductor sector have inadvertently catalyzed the evolution of China's chip manufacturing capabilities. In recent years, China has made significant strides in establishing a comprehensive semiconductor supply chain. Although Chinese enterprises may still lag behind the global vanguard in certain aspects, they have made substantial progress in the overall capabilities across the entire semiconductor supply chain.The evolution of China's semiconductor manufacturing industry is casting a favorable light on the global manufacturing scene. On the one hand, advancements in chip manufacturing technology and reductions in costs are set to benefit downstream industries such as vehicles, green products and electronics manufacturing. This includes American companies that have established production bases not only in China but globally. On the other hand, considering the highly international nature of the semiconductor supply chain, the expansion of China's chip industry contributes positively to the global semiconductor ecosystem. For example, as reported by South Korean media outlets in 2024, amid the restructuring of global supply chains, South Korea's reliance on China for essential minerals needed for semiconductors and other products has not diminished but rather increased. While the development of China's semiconductor industry is beneficial to the global economy, we should not expect that this will lead the US to cease or weaken its crackdown on China's chip industry. Bloomberg reported in February that the Trump administration is planning to toughen semiconductor restrictions on China, continuing and expanding the Biden administration's efforts to limit China's technological prowess.Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that the US suppression of China's semiconductor industry "will backfire and hurt the US itself as well as others in the end."A recent report on mature process chips released by the US Department of Commerce showed that Chinese-made chips account for only 1.3 percent of the US market. China's chip exports to the US are far lower than its chip imports from the US. The data suggest that, contrary to Washington's fixation on suppressing China's semiconductor industry, collaboration offers a more meaningful path forward.This article originally appeared on the Global Times website.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250306/china-confident-in-trade-war-advantage-over-us--1121620685.html

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the office of the us trade representative will hold a hearing on tuesday into older chinese-made "legacy" semiconductors that could be subject to more us tariffs on chips from china that power everyday goods, from autos to washing machines to telecoms gear, according to reuters.
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It has been clearly stated in official legal opinions of the Office of Legal Affairs of the U.N. Secretariat that "the United Nations considers 'Taiwan' as a province of China with no separate status," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stressed on Monday.

When responding to a question about Taiwan at a press conference on March 7, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that the only reference to the Taiwan region in the U.N. is "Taiwan, Province of China."

"This is the U.N.'s consistent position, which is well documented," Mao said at a daily briefing in response to a query about whether Wang's statement shows the Chinese mainland's tougher policy on Taiwan.

Resolution 2758 adopted in 1971 by the U.N. General Assembly made it clear that there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is not a country, and Taiwan is part of China, the spokesperson said.

She said it also made clear that there is only one seat of China in the United Nations, and the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal representative in the U.N.

"This resolution is observed by the U.N. and its specialized agencies as evidenced by their reference to Taiwan as 'Taiwan, Province of China,'" she said.

Mao stressed that on the Taiwan question, China's position is consistent and clear.

"We stay committed to the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus. We stand ready to work with the greatest sincerity and exert utmost efforts to achieve peaceful reunification. Meanwhile, China will take all necessary measures to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and firmly oppose 'Taiwan independence' separatism and external interference," she said.
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6G Hyper-Immersive Services_1. Credit: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI)

Korean researchers have succeeded in developing a core wired network technology that enables remote conferences, collaborations, and surgeries in a 6G environment. This technology will open up a hyper-immersive metaverse world in the future 6G world.

The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) has developed the key solutions required for hyper-immersive, high-precision services. The research team has developed a network stack technology tailored to the end-to-end network performance and successfully validated the technology by demonstrating a remote conference without delay.

The current network service transmission structure has limitations that prevent it from delivering the complex network performance required by application services, such as bandwidth and latency, with precision. ETRI has technologically overcome this challenge to bring forward the next generation of 6G.

The network stack technology developed by the research team provides high bandwidth performance of 100 Gbps (gigabits) per flow and high-precision performance of 1/100,000th of a second through collaboration between applications and networks.

The research team explained that the technology will be a key solution for 6G networks with a new transmission layer structure, where application services and networks cooperate with each other to optimize service transmission quality.

So far, the biggest barrier to commercializing technologies such as the metaverse and VR/AR has been securing guaranteed performance in latency. When users shift their gaze from the screen they are viewing, there must be no frame delay to ensure smooth transitions, preventing dizziness and allowing them to see the screen properly. However, the lack of guaranteed network latency performance has slowed the commercialization of related services.

ETRI believes that if this technology is commercialized, it will be possible to experience not only remote conferences, but also remote orchestral collaborations, remote surgery, remote robot and smart factory control, holograms, and real-time VR.

The research team successfully field-tested the technology on a 458-kilometer testbed network between Daejeon and Busan in conjunction with the National Information Society Agency (NIA)'s KOREN (KOrea advanced REsearch Network).

They explained that the core technologies applied in the testbed include:

sophisticated packet scheduling technology in packet forwarding equipment

performance-customized network stack technology in service terminals

In practice, they demonstrated 3D volumetric live remote conferencing over a testbed network between Daejeon and Busan. The presenter from the Packet Network Research Lab at ETRI Daejeon Headquarters and the presenter from the 3rd floor of the Nuri Hall at Pukyong National University in Busan showed the materials and explained them, and there was no delay at all.

The two men's discussion unfolded naturally on the screen, like watching a 3D hologram. This successfully completed the transmission performance verification for high-quality end-to-end service.

The performance-customized programmable network stack developed by ETRI consists of two modules: a high-precision network (HPN) transport protocol module and a network operating system (NOS) stack.

This new transport networking stack can satisfy the diverse and complex quality of service (QoS) in 6G, which is expected to be commercialized after 2028, and can replace TCP-IP of the Internet.

It is expected that in the future, it will be widely used as services by being installed in terminal devices for:

holographic hyper-immersive communication

high-precision low-latency remote control

real-time artificial intelligence-type services

6G Hyper-Immersive Services_2. Credit: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI)

The research team cited the following as major achievements:

A method for mutual cooperation between applications and networks including a quality-guaranteed connection procedure;

A method for service transmission considering delay performance;

A method for optimizing traffic transmission considering application performance requirements;

A method for guaranteeing programmable terminal network performance.

They explained that in relation to these achievements, 17 international and domestic patents, two SCIE-indexed papers in the field of high-precision networks, one excellent academic conference paper, and one international standard was adopted.

In particular, this performance-customized programmable networking stack technology won the top prize at the 6G Original Technology Festival held on October 17, 2024 at the 15th ICT Convergence International Conference (ICTC 2024), hosted by the Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences (KICS).

Cheung Tae Sik, the assistant vice president of ETRI's Network Research Division, said, "In addition to the core technology for ultra-low latency and ultra-precision packet transmission for the 6G network, we have secured performance-customized end device network stack technology, which is a key solution that can realize end-to-end hyper-immersive and high-precision services in 6G.

"We have created an opportunity to lead the development and expansion of 6G ultra-precision services as well as the joint growth of the convergence industry."

To commercialize this technology, the research team completed the transfer of ultra-low latency transport protocol technology to Kbell Co., Ltd., a domestic network solution company, in August 2024 and is currently supporting the development of a commercial prototype.

In addition, they plan to lead the upcoming 6G hyper-immersive, high-precision service market through technology transfer to network equipment companies and metaverse solution companies.
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

From music to film, subscriptions have become essential. The average number of subscriptions an American consumer maintains is four and a half, spending nearly US$1,000 a year. The average Canadian household pays for two and a half streaming TV platforms.

As I explore in my new book, Music in Orbit: Satellite Radio in the Streaming Space Age, well before subscriptions became the norm for streaming media, satellite radio companies Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Radio convinced radio listeners to become radio subscribers at the turn of the new millennium.

The companies were marketed as radio beyond radio, expanding the range of channels available to listeners and using celebrities to convince subscribers of the value of these new services.

What is satellite radio?

Sirius and XM merged to form SiriusXM in 2008 and it's now the only satellite radio service available. Satellites are used in a broad array of communications undertakings, but SiriusXM is a unique digital radio service delivered by satellites in the geostationary orbit just over 35,000 kilometers above Earth.

Under media conglomerate Liberty Media, SiriusXM stands as one of a few massive music companies that operate in the internet-streaming-online audio-radio nexus, after having rolled out internet streaming options and purchasing American internet radio company Pandora.

The first attempt to establish satellite radio came from a company named WorldSpace, founded in 1990, which covered areas in Africa, the Middle East, a large part of western Europe, Japan, China, Southeast Asia, India and Iran. WorldSpace filed for bankruptcy in 2008.

XM launched the first American digital satellite radio service in September 2001. Sirius followed in early 2002. In 2005, the companies began service in Canada, developing a slate of Canadian music channels and bringing Canadian artists to an international audience by satellite.

When the services launched, the radio industry was focused on change. In 1999, reports claimed that radio was in prime position to take advantage of "the new media age." With the massive investments in time, research and money that Sirius and XM had put into launching satellites and establishing receivers, industry partnerships, offices and personnel, the two companies were able to capitalize on the theme of change.

From radio listener to radio subscriber

To convince everyday radio listeners that a subscription was worthwhile, the music on satellite radio had to be perceived as exceptional. The new services were said to offer 100 "super-niche" channels, with music formats that could be "splintered to appeal to never-before practical audience niches, thanks to the advantage of serving a nationwide audience, rather than the greatest common denominators in a given locale."

One XM television commercial from 2002 boasted a "revolutionary new kind of radio that delivers more choice, better sound and coast-to-coast coverage." After a satellite flashes across outer space, the commercial depicts violins, a jukebox, a grand piano and vinyl records raining down from the sky.

A limited-term free trial subscription for use in the automobile was one way that the satellite radio companies grew subscribers. The aim was to minimize "churn," the rate of subscription cancellations, and to make use of the ideal sonic space of the car to make satellite radio a part of a listener's daily life.

Celebrity musicians on air

Another way to entice listeners was to acquire celebrity talent to host shows or brand channels. The most obvious figure here is radio shock jock Howard Stern, who moved to Sirius in 2006 to take advantage of its uncensored subscription format. In the process, Sirius's subscriber numbers shot up from 600,000 when he first signed on to over six million at the end of 2006.

Many of the on-air hosts from the early days of Sirius and XM were established legacy musicians, like Bob Dylan (Theme Time Radio Hour on the Deep Tracks channel), Tom Petty (the Buried Treasure channel and show by the same name), and B.B. King (B.B. King's Bluesville).

The E Street Band's guitarist and Sopranos star "Little Steven" Van Zandt was one of the earliest musician figures on satellite radio, contributing to the long-running Underground Garage channel and working as a creative adviser for Sirius as of 2004.

One profile of Van Zandt's influence on Sirius's early days indicates the deep musical knowledge that the satellite company was eager to promote to potential subscribers. When the Outlaw Country channel was being created in 2004, Van Zandt had trouble tracking down music for the channel, suggesting that it was rare and far beyond what a commercial broadcast station would play.

On Theme Time Radio Hour, which ran on XM from 2006 to 2009, Bob Dylan played a wide range of music that had been influential on his own career, telling stories and adding context to the songs he played. In one instance, he celebrated blues guitarist Memphis Minnie through a metaphor of high-quality vintage cars.

Listening to the past

Fascination with new technology and a sense of its prestige, however, existed earlier with the origins of FM radio and its growth.

FM's association with high-quality sound meant it became associated with other music media, such as stereo and LP records. According to radio historian Christopher H. Sterling, the "cultural awakening" of the later 1950s was important to FM radio and its future in the U.S., one "expressed in increasing public interest in classical music, an interest sparked by the 1958 introduction of stereo recordings."

FM was also home to the experimental sounds of freeform radio in American in the late 1960s and 1970s, and where early Canadian campus radio stations were first licensed.

Increasing power of few corporations in music

Satellite radio's trajectory has predicted the cultural, musical and technological shifts that now define the 2020s.

Beyond anticipating the turn to subscription models, satellite radio relied heavily on celebrity musicians on the radio, a strategy that Apple Music has used to drive subscriptions and opened access to a vast amount of uncensored content that today has exploded through the internet and podcasting.

The rise of satellite radio also reflects the increasing power that few corporations have in the music industries, raising questions about the serious problems now facing working musicians and communities.

In 2016, Jan Dawson in Variety said that SiriusXM "probably isn't the first name that comes to mind when you think about subscription content, yet it's one of the most successful companies in that category." SiriusXM developed a subscription model for music listening, the very business model that has become so common in music listening in the 21st century.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Japanese automaker Nissan said chief executive Makoto Uchida will step down, which follows the failure of merger talks with rival Honda.

Struggling Japanese automaker Nissan announced on Tuesday that chief executive Makoto Uchida would step down, a move that follows the failure of merger talks with rival Honda.

Ivan Espinosa, who will take the top job from April, told reporters he wanted to continue Uchida's work "to help Nissan shine again."

"I sincerely believe that Nissan has so much more potential than what we are seeing today," Espinosa said, adding that he would work "closely with our talented team worldwide to bring stability and growth back to the company."

Nissan says it expects an annual loss of more than $500 million this financial year, after announcing thousands of job cuts and reporting a 93 percent plunge in first-half net profit.

Moody's has downgraded Nissan's credit rating to junk, citing its "weak profitability driven by slowing demand for its aging model portfolio." Fitch and S&P Global Ratings have also downgraded it to a speculative category.

Last month, Nissan and Honda said they were scrapping merger talks that would have created the world's third-biggest auto company by unit sales behind Toyota and Volkswagen.

The discussionsseen as a way to catch up to US titan Tesla and Chinese firms on electric vehiclesare believed to have unraveled after Honda proposed making Nissan a subsidiary instead of an initial plan to integrate under a new holding company.

However, media reports have since said Honda could be prepared to revive negotiations under a different Nissan boss.

And Honda's president Toshihiro Mibe has said the two automakers would continue to seek "synergy" through a strategic partnership announced in August that also includes Nissan's junior partner Mitsubishi Motors.

'Real car guy'

Espinosa joined Nissan in Mexico in 2003 and held posts in Southeast Asia before becoming a director for Mexico and Latin America in 2010.

"Given that I am unable to gain the confidence of some of our employees, and as the board made a request, I concluded that... making a fresh start will be in the best interests of Nissan," Uchida said.

He described Espinosa as a "real car guy" who is "still in his 40s and full of energy."

"I am counting on him to overcome the difficulties and strongly drive Nissan to the future," Uchida said.

The Nikkei Business weekly magazine, citing unidentified Nissan sources, has reported Nissan would likely re-consider investment from Honda under its new leadership, but "not in the form of becoming its full subsidiary."

Nissan is also eyeing a four-way cooperation that would include Taiwanese chip behemoth Foxconn as well as Mitsubishi Motors, the Nikkei Business report said.

Foxconn is the world's largest contract electronics manufacturer and builds devices for major tech companies, including Apple's iPhones.

It has recently been pushing into areas ranging from electric vehicles to semiconductors and servers.

A source close to the matter told AFP on Tuesday that after the merger talks failed, Uchida had "called for opening new discussions with potential partners" to survive in the global market.

"For Nissan to become stronger, it must find a partner in the markets that are its priority," the source said.

Tatsuo Yoshida, senior auto industry analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, said that Nissan choosing a new CEO was a "key step" to address its urgent challenges.

"Espinosa's product strategy expertise allows the firm to tackle its lack of competitive models. However, securing cash and financial stability remain critical, demanding swift action from the new leadership," he said.

 2025 AFP
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This photo taken on Jan. 20, 2023 shows the U.S. Department of the Treasury in Washington, D.C., the United States. [Photo/Xinhua]

To call the China-U.S. economic ties a "rip-off" and pursue absolute reciprocity in trade goes against the most basic economic common sense, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday, urging the United States to end its trade war.

Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks in response to a question about U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's repeated claims that China's economy is overly reliant on exports and that the U.S. side seeks fair and reciprocal trade relations.

Addressing a daily press briefing, Mao said that the China-U.S. trade, as it is now, is the result of market forces with multiple factors at play, including the two countries' economic structures and trade policies as well as the position of the U.S. dollar.

China never seeks a trade surplus, and in reality, the United States has benefited significantly from trade with China, she added.

"If you look at the breakdown of statistics, the exports of China-based U.S. companies are also counted as China's trade surplus. The high-quality products at reduced cost exported by China to the United States have essentially raised the purchasing power of U.S. consumers, and created a huge amount of jobs in the United States, particularly in sectors such as transport, wholesale, retail and e-commerce," Mao said, adding that the United States continues to run a huge surplus in trade in services.

She noted that China-U.S. trade and economic ties benefit both sides. "If one had been ripping the other off, there is no way the ties would have come this far as we see today."

The spokesperson stressed that labeling the economic ties a "rip-off" and demanding absolute reciprocity defies basic economic logic, and those who do so are underestimating the judgement of U.S. companies and consumers.

"It's been years and years since the United States initiated the trade war against the rest of the world, yet it has not stopped U.S. trade deficit from going up and reaching 918.4 billion U.S. dollars last year," Mao said, noting that whether it's a tariff war or a trade war, they invariably start by hurting others before coming back to hurt the one who launched it.

It's time for the United States to learn its lesson and end this wrong practice, the spokesperson added.
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Photo taken on March 10, 2025 shows power lines leading from Sir Adam Beck Generating Stations of Canada in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. [Photo/Xinhua]

Canada's Ontario government on Monday officially applied a 25 percent surcharge on all electricity exports to three U.S. states.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said that he will not hesitate to increase the charge or even shut off energy exports entirely should the trade war persist.

The additional tax will affect 1.5 million homes and businesses in Michigan, Minnesota and New York.

According to local media, the measure is likely to bring in up to 400,000 Canadian dollars (around 277,238 U.S. dollars) in revenue a day and add about 100 Canadian dollars (around 69 U.S. dollars) a month to some utility bills being paid by Americans in the three states.

"(U.S.) President Trump's tariffs are a disaster for the U.S. economy. They're making life more expensive for American families and businesses," Ford said in a statement.

Until the threat of tariffs is gone for good, Ontario won't back down and will use every tool in the toolkit and do whatever it takes to protect Ontario, said Ford.
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Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was taken into police custody after he returned to Manila from abroad on Tuesday, local media said.

According to the Presidential Communications Office, Interpol in Manila received the official copy of the warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday morning.

The Philippines officially withdrew from the ICC in 2019.

During his presidency, Duterte carried out the "war on drugs," which drew wide attention both domestically and internationally.
The newly elected chairperson of the S.C. African American Heritage Commission says it is her goal to strategically identify and promote the preservation of historic sites and their stories.

Orangeburg resident Vivian Glover, director of community arts and development at the Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center, was elected to serve as commission chairperson in January.

Vivian Glover Orangeburg resident Vivian Glover, director of community arts and development at the Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center, was chosen as the cha

She is poised to continue the commissions work in recognizing the importance of preserving the cultural richness of African Americans.

It is a movement which led to the passage of a joint resolution of the General Assembly in 1993 that established the S.C. African American Heritage Council and its establishment as a commission in 2001 by executive order of then-Gov. Jim Hodges.

Im hoping that we do more to positively impact peoples lives. Going forward, I want to make sure that we are being as strategic as we can in how we impact people, said Glover, who is also a member of the nonprofit Preservation South Carolina board.

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She continued, We want to interact a lot more. Our goal is to continue to evolve the way we interact with African American communities throughout South Carolina, hear their stories, promote their stories and be a resource for them if they need help.

She said the commission, for example, can assist entities such as churches with the placement of historic markers on their site, or the guidelines through which they can be placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Information on the commission and its activities can be found on its website at https://scdah.sc.gov/historic-preservation/resources/african-american-heritage/south-carolina-african-american-heritage. It also has a newsletter which outlines the commissions activities, including Glovers recent attendance at an event at Finley School.

The school, which grew to include Finley High School, was a school for African Americans in Chester, South Carolina.

A lot of the alums from that school were there. Part of what was beautiful about it is they were telling the stories of what Finley High School meant to them, what they felt they got from the school and how they felt they were high achievers as a result, Glover said.

Theres always a story or stories attached to these places where there are historic markers, she said, noting that the commission is in the process of placing more historic markers at various locations across the state.

The old sites of Orangeburg's former Wilkinson High School were honored with the placement of historical markers in 2019. Built in 1938, Wilkinson High School was the first high school that was built in Orangeburg for the education of black students. The first facility was built on Goff Avenue before a second school was built on Belleville Road.

My mother graduated from Wilkinson High School in 1945. Its places like that. Its not only the place, its the history of it, Glover said.

The commissions activities have included the recent wrap up of the commissions 2025 conference which was held Feb. 22 under the theme Uplifting Voices.

Glover said 200 people came from across the country to learn more about the states African American history and culture, with everyone having a chance to hear and interact with historians, scholars and speakers on a variety of topics from Black cuisine to current student research on African American history, culture and heritage.

I hope ideas on how we can advance the commission come out of that, she said, noting the commission will also be involved as part of work that Revolution 250 has proposed to do in across the state. Revolution 250 explores the history of the American Revolution and the ways that this story still resonates in society today.

Weve been given a grant to create a program for school. Weve finished phase one of that, and were going to be working on phase two. Thats something thats going to be interactive and virtual and have print versions of the (role of) Blacks in the American Revolution, Glover said.

She said the commission is also working on its own version of The Green Book of South Carolina, which is a travel guide to S.C. African American cultural sites.

This is being led by (Clemson University history professor) Dr. Vernon Burton. Were hoping to have scholars give us their offerings about maybe little known places that were a part of The Green Book, Glover said.

She said she hopes to be an effective chairperson of the commissions 15-member board in the continued preservation of African American history in the state.

I hope that I am always listening and in tune to all the other commissioners and take all of their suggestions, ideas and contributions into consideration. My idea in particular is to build a good brand for the commission, Glover said.

I think thats going to happen by us going out and meeting and listening to people. Its always going to be story based, she said.

More information on the commission can be found by phone at 803-896-8256.
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.
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